Good Morning! Today’s edition is 1,118 words, a 4-minute read.

What’s on tap: 

• Border Control deports Brown professor

• Pepsi acquires healthy soda Poppi

• How airlines actually make money

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Big Story

Revolutionary Artificial Muscle

MIT engineers have created artificial muscle tissue that can flex in multiple directions at once.

• The breakthrough helps overcome a major hurdle in biohybrid robotics. Until now, lab-grown muscles could only pull in one direction, limiting movement capabilities. The team demonstrated their achievement by creating an artificial iris that contracts both circularly and radially, mimicking the human eye.

• To create the iris, researchers designed a 3D-printed stamp with microscopic grooves that they pressed into a super-soft hydrogel mat. When muscle cells are added to the mat, they naturally grow along these tiny channels, following the precise patterns designed by researchers.

• The idea sounds simple, but the team needed MIT’s advanced precision equipment to pull it off. The stamp is roughly the size of a single muscle cell — several of which can fit side-by-side across the width of a needle’s tip. (Watch How 3D Printers Work)

• The stamping method could potentially grow other tissue types like neurons and heart cells. This technology could have applications ranging from medical treatments for neuromuscular injuries to soft, biodegradable underwater robots that navigate better than current rigid machines.

Big Story

CBP Deports Brown Professor

Dr. Rasha Alawieh, a 34-year-old Lebanese physician and assistant professor at Brown University's medical school, was deported to Lebanon for having photos of Hezbollah leaders on her phone.

• Alawieh, who had legally held a U.S. visa since 2018, was detained at Boston's Logan International Airport after returning from visiting relatives in Lebanon.

• During questioning at Logan, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) found "sympathetic photos and videos" of Hezbollah figures in her phone's deleted folder. She explained the images were common among Shia Muslims and came from family WhatsApp groups. According to her testimony, late leader Hassan Nasrallah is "highly regarded in the Shia community" for his "teachings about spirituality and morality and not his politics." She also said she attended his funeral while in Lebanon.

• CBP canceled her visa and implemented a five-year U.S. entry ban "due to derogatory information discovered during inspection."

• Judge Leo Sorokin, an Obama appointee, had issued orders barring Alawieh's removal from Massachusetts without 48-hour notice to the court. However, CBP didn’t receive the order in time and flew her to Paris en route to Lebanon.

Big Story

Do You Clean Your Water Bottle Enough?

Your reusable water bottle is likely teeming with bacteria.

• Research shows reusable bottles can go from 75,000 bacteria per milliliter to over 1-2 million in just 24 hours. Most contamination comes from your mouth, hands, and the bottle's exterior. Non-water drinks, especially anything containing sugar, create a bacterial paradise.

• Most bacteria in water bottles won't harm you, but poor bathroom/hygiene habits can introduce E. coli and similar germs. These bacteria pose real risks, especially if your immune system is weakened or you've recently finished a course of antibiotics.

• Rinsing with cold water won't remove bacterial biofilms. Experts recommend washing with hot water (above 140°F) and soap for 10 minutes, then air-drying. Clean your bottle after each use or several times weekly.

• Metal or glass bottles may be safer than plastic, which can leach chemicals and microplastics into water. Lastly, storing your full water bottle in the fridge between drinks can limit bacterial proliferation.

Quick Stories

U.S. News

• President Trump said on Monday that pardons issued by former President Biden to Jan. 6 committee members are "VOID" because an autopen was used. An autopen mechanically reproduces signatures. (More)

• Harvard announced free tuition for students from families making under $200,000 annually. Those making under $100,000 will get everything covered - including housing and insurance. The changes start in 2025-26. (More)

• Senate Minority Leader Schumer's three book tour events for "Antisemitism in America" were postponed due to security concerns. The Senate Minority Leader recently faced backlash from progressives for supporting a government funding bill that prevented a shutdown. (More)

World

• China plans to "vigorously boost consumption" amid deflation fears. It will focus on increasing incomes and stabilizing housing prices, which fell 4.8%. Despite retail sales rising 4% early in 2025, consumer prices have dropped for two consecutive years. (More)

• Rwanda has cut all diplomatic ties with Belgium, giving diplomats 48 hours to leave. This follows Belgium’s criticism of Rwanda's support for rebels in Congo. (More)

• South Africa confirmed the U.S. is expelling its ambassador to Washington. Secretary Rubio called Rasool a "race-baiting politician" who hates America and gave him 72 hours to leave. South Africa called the move "regrettable." (More)

Business & Economy

• U.S. stock markets closed higher on Monday (S&P +0.64%, Nasdaq +0.31%, Dow +0.85%). The three major averages finished in the green for a second straight session. (More)

• PepsiCo is buying prebiotic soda brand Poppi for nearly $2 billion. Pepsi was considering launching its own health-focused soda but nixed the plans to pave the way for a deal with Poppi. (More)

• Forever 21 is filing for bankruptcy again and closing all U.S. stores. It blames competition, rising costs, and changing consumer trends. Stores remain open for now while they seek a buyer. (More)

Sports & Entertainment

• Conan O'Brien will host the 98th Oscars on March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre following his successful hosting gig at this year's Academy Awards. (More)

• Sixers' Paul George is out for the rest of the regular season after getting injections in his left groin and knee. The 34-year-old has battled multiple injuries all season. (More)

• Major League Baseball heads to Tokyo today (March 18) and tomorrow (March 19) for its sixth Japan season opener. The Tokyo Series, presented by Guggenheim, will feature the Dodgers facing the Cubs for two games at the Tokyo Dome. (More)

Science, Health, & Tech

• Texas developer Davis Lu faces 10 years in prison after sabotaging his employer's network with a "kill switch" he created after being demoted in 2018. The code locked everyone out if his credentials were deactivated. (More)

• European wolves increased by almost 60% in just a decade, with over 21,500 wolves roaming the continent by 2022. Swedish researchers found this recovery bucks the global trend of declining carnivore populations. (More)

• A University of Calgary study revealed why more women experience chronic pain than men: while both sexes develop neuropathic pain through Panx1 channels, females release leptin—a hormone linked to heightened pain sensitivity. (More)

Extra Credit

🏞️ The 10 deadliest National Parks in the U.S.

😷 People think the pandemic made us more rude.

🗽 Why NYC is always covered in scaffolding.

✈️ Watch: How airlines really make money.