Week in 5: Mar 16-22, 2025
Astronauts return safely after record mission, measles spike prompts vaccination boost, Yale study unlocks infant memory secrets, a 9-year-old hero saves a classmate, and twins marry twins.
📰 Top 3 in…
🇺🇸 U.S. News
After being stranded in space for 286 days due to issues with Boeing’s Starliner capsule, NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams safely returned to Earth aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon. Originally planned as an eight-day mission, their flight was extended for months while NASA resolved spacecraft problems and coordinated new crew rotations, amid political spin and global attention. CBS
Astronauts return safely from space off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida. | Credit: NASA/Keegan Barber Measles cases in the U.S. have surged to over 350 in early 2025, surpassing all of 2024 and prompting a rise in vaccinations, particularly in Texas and New Mexico where two unvaccinated individuals have died. The CDC cites 309 cases in Texas and 42 in New Mexico, with national concern growing ahead of an April vaccine advisory panel meeting. BBC
Columbia University agreed to overhaul its protest rules and campus security to keep $400 million in federal funding, marking a major shift in how colleges may respond to political pressure. Critics call it a surrender to Trump’s administration, while conservatives praise it as long-overdue accountability in academia. NYT
Trump ordered the dismantling of the U.S. Education Department, raising concerns about school funding and student loans. The agency oversees aid for low-income and disabled students, but Trump calls it wasteful. Critics worry states could misuse federal funds without oversight. Student loans will move to the Small Business Administration, likely causing disruptions. Lawsuits may slow the plan. AP
🌎 World News
Protests broke out across Turkey after popular Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was arrested just days before he was set to run for president. Authorities claim corruption and terror links, but critics call it a political move by Erdogan’s government to silence a top rival. BBC
Israel launched widespread airstrikes across Gaza, killing over 400 people, after Hamas rejected a new ceasefire proposal, effectively ending a fragile truce and raising fears of all-out war. The mid-January ceasefire had paused major fighting in the 17-month conflict, but collapsed after Israel cut off aid and demanded Hamas release more hostages without offering further prisoner exchanges; Netanyahu, under domestic pressure and facing political turmoil, said the operation would escalate, while Hamas accused Israel of violating the deal. Time
Donald Trump's efforts to quickly broker a Ukraine ceasefire have stalled due to misjudged diplomacy, resistance from Vladimir Putin, and strategic missteps with Kyiv. Despite initial promises to end the war swiftly, Trump has conceded he was "a little bit sarcastic," as complex realities—including failed phone diplomacy with Putin, U.S. pressure on Ukraine, and disputes over ceasefire terms—have slowed progress. BBC
🧪 Tech & Science
Norwegian startup 1X will begin in-home testing of its humanoid robot Neo Gamma in late 2025, placing units in hundreds of households to gather data and refine AI behavior. Though not fully autonomous, Neo Gamma can perform basic tasks with help from remote human operators, as 1X aims to train its AI using real-world home interactions. Tech Crunch
The Bot Company, a robotics startup founded by ex-Cruise CEO Kyle Vogt, has raised $150 million at a $2 billion valuation despite having no product or revenue. Backed by Greenoaks and earlier investors like Spark Capital, the company aims to build non-humanoid at-home robots using AI to assist with daily tasks, tapping into a surge of investor interest in robotics fueled by advances in large language models. Reuters
A new Yale study reveals that infants can encode specific memories, challenging the belief that early-life amnesia stems from an underdeveloped hippocampus. Using fMRI on awake babies, researchers found that greater hippocampal activity during image viewing predicted later recognition, especially in infants over 12 months. The findings suggest “infantile amnesia” may be a memory retrieval issue, not an encoding failure. Link
Tesla’s Cybertruck faced its eighth recall as U.S. regulators ordered fixes for over 46,000 vehicles due to windshield trim panels that can detach while driving. The issue affects all 2024–2025 models, adding to a growing list of safety concerns for the vehicle, as Tesla battles intensifying EV competition, rising vandalism, and a 42% stock plunge in 2025. AP
📺 Sports & Culture
The Boston Celtics have been sold to a group led by private equity investor Bill Chisholm for a record $6.1 billion, the highest price ever for a North American sports franchise. Chisholm will acquire a majority stake pending NBA approval, while current CEO Wyc Grousbeck will remain in charge through 2028. The sale could also accelerate NBA expansion talks. ESPN
Pixar has officially announced Coco 2, with a theatrical release planned for 2029 and the original creative team returning.** Disney CEO Bob Iger confirmed the sequel is in early development, reuniting director Lee Unkrich and co-director Adrian Molina. The original Coco won two Oscars and inspired a new ride coming to Disney California Adventure. Variety
Mariah Carey won a copyright lawsuit over her hit "All I Want for Christmas Is You" after a judge ruled it wasn’t similar enough to a 1989 country song with the same title to constitute infringement. The court cited differences in melody, lyrics, and structure, and ordered the plaintiffs to pay part of Carey’s legal fees. Reuters
🏎️ Fast Five
Heathrow Airport began resuming flights Friday after a major power outage caused by a fire at a nearby electrical substation grounded over 1,300 flights and disrupted travel for hundreds of thousands. While no foul play is confirmed, counterterrorism officers are investigating due to the infrastructure impact. WSJ
Boxing legend and grill icon George Foreman has died at 76, his family announced. A two-time heavyweight champion and Olympic gold medalist, Foreman later became a household name through his bestselling George Foreman Grill. People
Alphabet has spun off its laser-based internet project Taara as an independent company positioned to rival Starlink in connecting remote areas. Taara’s tech, which beams data via light between towers, offers faster, cheaper bandwidth than satellite options and now operates in 12 countries, with plans to commercialize a compact chip version by 2026. The Verge
Identifcal twins married identical twins in a joint wedding. Each couple had a daughter who are cousin, but genetically siblings. Link w/video
A 9-year-old North Carolina boy became a hero after using the Heimlich maneuver to save his choking classmate—skills he learned on YouTube. Caught on video, Jayceon Branch’s swift action saved 7-year-old Donye Moore, earning him a schoolwide celebration for his life-saving bravery. Link w/video
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