Good Morning! Today’s edition is 1,035 words, a 4-minute read.

What’s on tap: 

• Iran rejects direct nuclear program negotiations

• Fish use tools to get food

• Incredible shots of the world’s skies

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Big Story

Cholesterol Drug Trial

A single dose of an experimental drug, lepodisiran, has shown great results against lipoprotein(a), a deadly form of cholesterol previously thought untreatable.

• In a Phase 2 clinical trial with 320 participants, one injection reduced Lp(a) levels by 93.9% after six months and maintained an 88.5% reduction after a year. A second dose at six months resulted in a 94.8% reduction at the one-year mark.

• Lepodisiran works by targeting messenger RNA that instructs the body to produce Lp(a). By blocking these instructions—essentially "shooting the messenger"—the drug prevents Lp(a) production.

• Approximately 64 million American adults have high Lp(a) levels, putting them at extreme risk for heart attacks, strokes, and early cardiovascular death. Unlike regular cholesterol, it can't be lowered through diet, exercise, or existing medications.

Big Story

Iran Nuclear Program

Iran has firmly closed the door on direct negotiations with the United States regarding its advancing nuclear program.

• President Masoud Pezeshkian announced Sunday that while Tehran has rejected face-to-face talks, indirect discussions remain possible through Omani intermediaries. The flip-flop is a turnaround for Pezeshkian, who campaigned on re-engaging with Western countries.

• Iran’s response comes after President Trump sent a letter to Iran's Supreme Leader, reportedly warning of military action if negotiations fail. "If they don't make a deal, there will be bombing and it will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before," Trump told NBC News.

• Meanwhile, tensions continue to escalate with Iran enriching uranium at near weapons-grade levels. Both Israel and the US have vowed never to allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons, raising fears of potential military confrontation in a region already destabilized by the Israel-Hamas war and ongoing conflicts with Iranian-backed groups. (Read about Iran’s nuclear capabilities here)

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Big Story

German Test Rocket Explosion

German startup Isar Aerospace’s Spectrum rocket exploded less than a minute after liftoff from Norway's Andøya spaceport on Sunday.

• The uncrewed rocket began smoking from its sides before plummeting back to Earth in a fiery blast. It is designed to eventually carry satellites weighing up to one metric ton.

• Despite the crash, Isar Aerospace considers the test partially successful, because it gathered "substantial flight data" during the 30-second launch. The company had previously said that a half-minute flight would meet their success criteria for the initial test.

• Europe is pushing for space independence amid strained relations with Russia, which was a key launch partner before its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Several European countries, including Sweden and Britain, are developing spaceports to capture a slice of the growing commercial space industry, projected to generate over $1 trillion within two decades.

Quick Stories

US News

• Arsonists set fire to the New Mexico GOP headquarters. The organization said that someone also spray-painted the words “ICE/KKK” on an exterior wall. (More)

• American citizen Faye Hall has been freed from Taliban custody in Afghanistan. She's now with Qatari officials in Kabul and will soon return home, according to former US Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad. (More)

• President Trump suggested he might seek a third term despite Constitutional prohibition, claiming "a lot of people want me to do it" and there are "methods" to do so. (More)

World

• The death toll from the 7.7-magnitude earthquake that hit Myanmar and Thailand Friday is now around 1,700 people with 3,400 injured and 300 missing. Hospitals are overwhelmed and rescue efforts are struggling with limited resources. (More)

• South Korea, China, and Japan held their first economic talks in five years Sunday, agreeing to cooperate on a regional free trade agreement as they prepare for potential challenges from Trump's tariffs. (More)

• A French minister accused US diplomats of interference after embassy staff reportedly sent letters to French companies suggesting Trump's rollback of diversity initiatives could apply internationally. (More)

Business & Economy

• US stock markets closed lower on Friday (S&P -1.97%, Nasdaq -2.70%, Dow -1.69%). The Nasdaq is on pace for an 8% monthly decline, its worst month since Dec. 2022. (More)

• Elon Musk announced xAI has merged with X in an all-stock deal, valuing the AI company at $80 billion and X at $33 billion. The combined companies will "blend advanced AI capability with X's massive reach," according to Musk. (More)

• Gold hit a new record above $3,093 per ounce after four weeks of gains. Rising demand for safe investments is driving prices up. (More)

Sports & Entertainment

• All four No.1 seeds advanced to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament. Houston will face Duke and Houston will take on Florida. (More) Paige Bueckers dropped a career-high 40 points in UConn’s Women’s Sweet Sixteen win over Oklahoma. (More)

• The Yankees hit a record nine homers in their 20-9 win over Milwaukee using new "torpedo bats," which feature wood moved lower in the barrel with a bowling pin-shaped end. (More)

• Richard Chamberlain, the 90-year-old actor famous for "Dr. Kildare" and many miniseries, died Saturday in Hawaii after a stroke. (More)

Science, Health, & Tech

• Scientists have debunked the idea that tool use is unique to mammals and birds after documenting tropical fish smashing shellfish against rocks to access the meat. (More)

• Scientists at Rice University cracked the mystery of "strange metals" using quantum concepts. Their breakthrough could advance superconductors and transform energy transmission by eliminating power loss. (More)

• Curiosity rover found the largest organic molecules ever on Mars. They could potentially be fragments of fatty acids like those in cell membranes. The discovery could provide insight into past microbial life. (More)

Extra Credit

🐈️ Meet Mr. Pugsley Adams, the domestic cat with the world’s longest tail.

📬️ USPS releases Betty White stamps.

🌋 Watch: The man who makes pizza on an active volcano.

📷️ Astrophotographer’s incredible shots of the world’s skies.