Good Morning! Today’s edition is 1,216 words, a 4-minute read.

What’s on tap: 

• Brain turning to glass mystery

• Measles cases increasing

• How to motivate yourself to work out

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Big Story

Air traffic Controller Hiring Supercharge

Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced a new plan to boost the hiring of air traffic controllers during a press conference at the FAA Academy.

• To solve a 10-year staffing shortage, the FAA is accepting applications for air traffic controller positions from February 27 to March 17, 2025. As part of the new plan, starting salaries for academy candidates will increase by 30% (from $17.61 to $22.84 per hour). Certified controllers can earn an average of over $160,000 per year.

• The Trump administration is also streamlining the hiring process from 8 steps to 5 steps, cutting more than four months from the hiring timeline. The new merit-based recruitment will focus on finding top candidates and prioritize those who score "Well Qualified" on the Air Traffic Skills Assessment Test.

• After academy training, new controllers will be assigned to facilities nationwide, where they'll work toward certification with experienced controllers.

• The plan comes after a spike in near misses and deadly crashes in the US due to a lack of warning systems at airports and staff shortages of air traffic controllers.

Big Story

Gene Hackman and Wife Found Dead

Actor Gene Hackman, 95, and his wife Betsy Arakawa, 64, were found dead in their Santa Fe, New Mexico home during a welfare check on Wednesday afternoon.

• Authorities found the couple after a neighbor called in about their well-being. A dead German shepherd was also found at the scene, though two other dogs were discovered alive. Police believe they had died a while ago.

• The deaths were described as "suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation" due to the circumstances at the scene. Hackman was found on the floor in the mud room, appearing to have fallen suddenly. Arakawa was discovered lying in a bathroom with a space heater nearby. An opened prescription bottle with scattered pills was found on a counter near her body.

• Authorities found no obvious signs of forced entry or theft at the residence. The front door was open when maintenance workers first arrived. The Santa Fe City Fire Department found no evidence of carbon monoxide leaks, and the New Mexico Gas Company reported no problems with pipes in or around the home.

• While the exact cause and manner of death remain unknown, the sheriff's office has said it doesn’t suspect foul play.

Big Story

Brain Turning to Glass Mystery

Scientists found something bizarre in the remains of a man who died when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 A.D.

• His brain appears to have turned into glass-like material. The specimen was discovered in Herculaneum, a town near Pompeii that was destroyed by the same volcanic eruption. Researchers have debated whether the material is actually brain tissue, but new evidence suggests it is, including preserved brain cells within the glassy substance.

• Scientists initially couldn't explain how this glassification occurred since Vesuvius’ pyroclastic flows (mixtures of hot gas, ash, and rock) weren't hot enough to cause this transformation. A new study published on February 27 proposes that an extremely hot ash cloud came before the pyroclastic flows. The cloud would have rapidly heated the man's brain to more than 950°F and then quickly cooled it, creating the glass-like material.

• Some scientists now believe an early hot ash cloud was the initial "killer" at Herculaneum, with the burial of the city happening later in the eruption. Body positions of victims show they died instantly, without time to notice or suffer.

Quick Stories

US News

• Pro-Palestinian protesters at Barnard College stormed an academic building for an hours-long sit-in Wednesday, assaulting and hospitalizing one college employee. Over 50 masked demonstrators chanted, displayed Palestinian flags, and spray-painted slogans on walls (More)

• A Cleveland school bus caught fire with 15 students aboard. The driver evacuated all the students safely after the fire started near a rear wheel while the bus was in motion. (More)

• President Trump announced his proposed 25% tariffs on Mexican and Canadian goods and an additional 10% tariff on Chinese imports will take effect on March 4. The new Chinese tariff will stack on a previous 10% tariff implemented on February 4. (More)

World

• During a White House news conference, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the UK is ready to put "boots on the ground" to support a Ukraine peace deal. (More)

• South Korea saw births rise for the first time since 2015, with 238,300 babies born in 2024—8,300 more than in 2023. The fertility rate increased slightly from 0.72 to 0.75. (More)

• Thailand deported dozens of Uyghurs (Turkic ethnic group) to China despite human rights groups warning about the risks of torture and imprisonment. The detainees were part of a group of some 300 Uyghurs that Thailand arrested in 2014 after they fled China. (More)

Business & Economy

• US stock markets closed lower on Thursday (S&P -1.59%, Nasdaq -2.78%, Dow -0.45%). President Trump’s confirmation that proposed tariffs would take effect and Nvidia’s 8.5% drop pulled major indexes down. (More)

• January home sales hit record lows as high mortgage rates and prices deterred buyers. Pending sales dropped 4.6% from December and 5.2% from last year, reaching the lowest level since tracking began in 2001. (More)

• The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is dropping its lawsuit against Capital One that claimed the bank cheated customers out of $2 billion. The CFPB dismissed the case Thursday "with prejudice," meaning it can’t be revived later. (More)

Sports & Entertainment

• Zendaya has joined the cast of "Shrek 5" as Felicia, the daughter of Shrek and Fiona. The film reunites original stars Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, and Eddie Murphy. (More)

• Jake Knapp shot a bogey-free 59 in Thursday's Cognizant Classic opening round, becoming just the 15th player in PGA Tour history to break 60. The world's 99th-ranked golfer started hot with five straight birdies. (More)

• Travis Kelce confirmed he will play for the Chiefs in the 2025 season, according to a text shared by Pat McAfee. Kelce plans to get in the "best shape" this offseason and is motivated by his poor performance in Super Bowl LIX. (More)

Science, Health, & Tech

• OpenAI launched GPT-4.5 (Orion) on Thursday, its largest AI model yet, requiring more computing power and data than previous versions. ChatGPT Pro subscribers can access it immediately, while Plus and Team users will get access next week. (More)

• NASA's new SPHEREx observatory launches Sunday to map over 450 million galaxies. The mission will scan the entire sky four times over two years, helping scientists understand galaxy formation and evolution. (More)

• Measles cases are increasing across the US while officials battle a Texas outbreak that has infected 124 people and caused one child's death. Kentucky reported its first case in two years from international travel, while New Jersey confirmed two new cases. (More)

Extra Credit

🐟️ When wild fish can tell humans apart.

🏋️ How to motivate yourself to work out. 

👀 The people who see foreign languages.

🐊 The Florida Man Games return for a second year.