Good Morning! Today’s edition is 1,082 words, a 4-minute read.

What’s on tap: 

• Simone Biles wins Sportsperson of the Year

• Denver gets a women’s soccer team

• Most on-time airlines of 2024

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Big Story

New Asthma Test

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh developed a nasal swab test to better identify asthma subtypes by analyzing RNA.

• Asthma, a lung disease affecting over 4.6 million US children, comes in two main types: T2-high and T2-low. T2-high asthma is linked to inflammation caused by certain immune cells, while T2-low is a catchall for two other forms.

• Identifying the type of asthma is crucial for moderate or severe cases, but current tests, like blood tests or breath measurements, are limited and only detect T2-high asthma.

• The nasal test can detect all three forms. For two asthma subtypes, researchers look for specific genes related to inflammation. The third type is identified when those genes are not present. Studies on over 450 children showed the test accurately diagnosed each asthma subtype, with T2-low being the most common.

• The new test could lead to more personalized asthma treatments, especially for T2-low cases. Current treatments like inhaled steroids usually don’t work for all, but targeted therapies could improve outcomes.

Big Story

Sportsperson of the Year

Simone Biles was named Sports Illustrated's Sportsperson of the Year after a record-breaking 2024, where she became the most decorated US gymnast in Olympic history.

• The honor makes her the first Olympian to earn the title since LeBron James in 2012. At the 2024 Games, Biles won four medals, including three golds in the team competition, individual all-around, and vault.

• Biles' 11 Olympic medals and seven golds tie her with Věra Čáslavská of Czechoslovakia for the second-most by a female gymnast. She has solidified her place as the world's greatest active gymnast and one of the best in history. However, Biles is uncertain about competing in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics because of the sacrifices it would require.

• Biles will be celebrated at the Sportsperson of the Year awards ceremony on January 7 in Las Vegas.

Big Story

Dinosaur Highway Discovery

A worker in a limestone quarry in southern England found unusual bumps that led to the discovery of a "dinosaur highway" with nearly 200 tracks dating back 166 million years.

• Four sets of tracks belong to sauropods, large plant-eating dinosaurs like the 60-foot-long Cetiosaurus. A fifth set of tracks, with distinctive claw marks, was made by the Megalosaurus, a fierce predator and the first dinosaur to be named scientifically.

• Researchers noted overlapping tracks in some areas, meaning there were possible interactions between the herbivores and carnivores.

• The team documented the site using over 20,000 digital images and drones to create 3D models of the prints. These tools captured the fine details of how dinosaur feet deformed the muddy ground, helping scientists better understand their size, movement, and speed.

• The discovery will be featured in a museum exhibit and the BBC’s Digging for Britain program.

Quick Stories

US News

• A US appeals court ruled the FCC lacks the authority to reinstate net neutrality rules, which ensure internet providers treat data and users equally, without blocking, slowing, or restricting access to content. (More)

• President Biden will award the Presidential Citizens Medal to former Representatives Liz Cheney and Bennie Thompson for their leadership in investigating the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack. (More)

• Ten people were injured in a shooting outside a crowded music venue in Queens, New York, late Wednesday night. According to police, three to four suspects fired into a line of people waiting to enter the venue. (More)

World

• South Korean authorities entered President Yoon Suk Yeol's compound on Friday to execute an arrest warrant. However, the Presidential Security Service has barred police from entering. It is unclear if they will allow an arrest. (More)

• Israeli airstrikes on Thursday killed at least 68 people in Gaza, including senior Hamas officials and civilians in a tent camp. The strikes targeted Al-Mawasi, a zone designated for humanitarian use. (More)

• China's Commerce Ministry announced the addition of 28 US entities, including defense giants like Boeing Defense, Lockheed Martin, and Raytheon Missiles & Defense, to its export control list to safeguard "national security and interests." (More)

Business & Economy

• US stock markets closed lower on Thursday (S&P -0.16%, Nasdaq -0.36%, Dow -0.22%). The S&P and Nasdaq fell for a 5th consecutive trading session. (More)

• Tesla’s annual vehicle sales fell slightly in 2024, the first decline in over a decade. Despite a record-breaking fourth quarter, the company delivered 1.79 million vehicles, narrowly missing 2023's total and analysts’ projections. (More)

• US mortgage rates have reached their highest levels since July. The 30-year fixed rate rose to 6.91% from 6.85% last week, compared to 6.62% a year ago. The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage climbed to 6.13%, up from 6% last week, also higher than the 5.89% rate a year ago, per Freddie Mac. (More)

Sports & Entertainment

• Notre Dame moved on to the CFP semifinals with its 23-10 Sugar Bowl victory over Georgia. The Irish will face Penn State in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 9 at 7:30 ET, and Texas will meet Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 10 at 7:30 ET. (More)

• Denver has been awarded a National Women’s Soccer League franchise, making it the league's 16th team. The ownership group is paying a record $110 million expansion fee, the highest ever for a US women's sports team. (More)

• Domestic box office sales for 2024 totaled $8.7 billion, down 3.3% from 2023's $9.04 billion and 23.5% from the pre-pandemic $11.3 billion in 2019, according to Comscore. (More)

Science, Health, & Tech

• Behavioral scientists at University College London found that smoking just one cigarette can reduce a long-term smoker’s lifespan by about 20 minutes. (More)

• The Kenya Space Agency reported that a massive metallic ring, about eight feet wide and weighing 1,000 pounds, fell from the sky into Mukuku village. The ring was "red-hot" when it landed. Its origin is unknown. (More)

• A study published in Water Resources Research has revealed a connection between drinking water quality and coastal tourism in North Carolina. It found that rising salinity in tap water, driven by coastal flooding, negatively impacts local tourism. (More)

Extra Credit

🍺 America’s drunkest and driest counties.

✈️ Aeromexico was the most on-time airline in 2024.

🛰️ The biggest space mishaps of 2024.

🛳️ Royal Caribbean guests sue over hidden cameras in cabins.