Good morning! The weekend edition is 720 words, a 3-minute read.

What’s on tap: 

• Rubio & Trump give ultimatum on Ukraine peace talks

• Nonprofit pays off $30 B in medical debt

• 101 facts to share with your friends

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Today’s Big Story

Lab-Grown Chicken Nuggets

Japanese researchers have created the world's largest lab-grown chicken—a nugget-sized chunk 2.7 inches wide and 0.7 inches thick.

• Their method uses a bioreactor with 50 hollow fibers functioning as artificial veins to deliver nutrients throughout the tissue, keeping cells alive across previously impossible distances.

• Earlier lab meat technology produced only scattered, millimeter-thick cell clusters that needed edible scaffolding to hold tiny meat pieces together, which made the end product look like ground meat. This new method, however, guides cells to grow in specific directions, potentially enabling structured cuts that better mimic natural muscle texture.

• Despite the advancement, challenges remain: the prototype isn't food-grade, the texture needs improvement, and manually removing the tiny fibers must be automated before commercialization.

• Cultured meat faces mixed consumer reception. About one-third of Americans say they wouldn't try lab-grown chicken, citing concerns about "unnaturalness." Currently, cultured meat can only be legally sold in Singapore, the US, and Israel, with some US states like Florida and Alabama banning sales entirely.

Saturday’s Quick Hits

• The 2025 NBA playoff bracket is set after the Play-In Tournament concluded last night. On Tuesday, the Warriors and Magic secured the seventh seeds in their respective conferences. The Heat and Grizzlies claimed the eighth seeds Friday by defeating the Hawks and Mavericks. All first-round series begin this weekend, starting with the Pacers vs. Bucks at 1 p.m. ET today. (More)

• Federal regulators approved Capital One's $35 billion Discover Financial acquisition, removing the final obstacles for creating America's largest credit-card issuer with $250 billion in total loan volume. The Federal Reserve and Office of the Comptroller concluded the merger won't harm competition or community banking needs. However, Capital One must address Discover's enforcement issues, including $1.35 billion in fines and restitution for merchant overcharging. (More)

• Secretary of State Rubio issued a firm ultimatum after Ukraine peace talks in Paris, declaring the US will abandon negotiations without quick results. "We need to figure out within days whether this is doable," Rubio stated, emphasizing, "It's not our war." President Trump later reinforced the position, threatening to "take a pass" if either party proves difficult. (More)

• Scientists at UC Berkeley created a new, never-before-seen color by firing laser pulses into volunteers' eyes. The researchers named the blue-green hue "olo," which appears extraordinarily saturated beyond natural perception limits. (More)

• A US judge rejected Sean "Diddy" Combs' request to postpone his sex-trafficking trial. Judge Subramanian denied the motion because it came too close to the May 5 jury selection date. Combs faces five criminal counts, including racketeering and sex trafficking. His lawyers maintain the sexual activities were consensual. (More)

• Trump's trade policies and rhetoric are cooling international tourism to the US, potentially costing $90 billion in lost revenue this year. Canadian tourism has dropped the most, with February visits down 12.5% and March visits down 18% year-over-year. Western European visitors dropped off by 12% in March. (More)

Weekly Dose of Positive

• TikToker Tamie Konzier raised $328,739 for Betty, an 81-year-old Pittsburgh waitress struggling with back pain. After overhearing that Betty couldn't retire on her Social Security, Konzier created a viral TikTok and GoFundMe that changed Betty’s life. (More)

• Four Baltimore women created the Bmore Community Fridge Network, mapping free food locations across the city. They created the resource to help those unable to reach traditional food pantries and to guide potential donors. (More)

• Nonprofit Undue Medical Debt is paying off $30 billion of medical debt in a single transaction with a debt trading company. The payments will protect 20 million people, primarily in Texas and Florida, from collection agencies. (More)

• Utah's governor signed a bill replacing the reduced-cost lunch program with free meals for all qualifying students. Starting July 1, 40,000 additional K-6 students will receive free lunches, with more eligible next year. (More)

Extra Credit

🚁 It’s raining marshmallows in Detroit.

📸 See the winners of Sony’s 2025 World Photography Awards.

👰 The uncomfortable history of the garter toss tradition.

🧠 101 random facts to impress your friends with.