Good morning! The weekend edition is 701 words, a 3-minute read.

What’s on tap: 

• Women have more sensitive hearing than men

• Military dog reunion

• Science of pooping in space

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Today’s Big Story

Southeast Asia Earthquake

A 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar and Thailand on Friday, killing over 150 people with hundreds more injured.

• The quake in Myanmar destroyed buildings, a bridge, a dam, and the famous Ma Soe Yane monastery. At least 144 people are confirmed dead and 730 more are injured. Given the ongoing civil war and limited access to affected areas, officials warn that "the death toll and injuries are expected to rise."

• In Bangkok, the earthquake caused a 33-story building under construction to collapse into a cloud of dust, killing 10 people with 101 still missing. The Thai capital, rarely affected by earthquakes, saw unprecedented panic as transit systems shut down and residents fled swaying buildings.

• The shallow earthquake, only 6.2 miles deep, also caused damage and injuries in China's border regions. The United Nations is mobilizing to respond to Myanmar's appeal for help. However, aid organizations worry it may take weeks to understand the full extent of the destruction in areas already suffering from ongoing humanitarian crises.

Saturday’s Quick Hits

• Another wild weather weekend is heading for the US, with severe storms threatening the Mississippi and Ohio valleys into the Southeast. Expect damaging winds, large hail, and tornadoes. Northern regions will face wintry conditions. March has already seen over 220 tornadoes — nearly four times last year's count. (More)

• The NBA is eyeing expansion after the Boston Celtics' $6.1 billion sale agreement. Commissioner Adam Silver says they're "very focused" on Seattle, though no timeline exists yet. The SuperSonics left Seattle 17 years ago after playing there for 40 seasons, relocating to Oklahoma City as the Thunder. (More)

• Columbia University's interim president Katrina Armstrong is stepping down just a week after making a deal with the Trump administration about federal funding. She'll return to the university's medical center as planned. Board of trustees co-chair Claire Shipman takes over immediately while Columbia searches for a permanent president. (More)

• A global study across 13 populations found women have significantly more sensitive hearing than men – about two decibels better on average. Researchers discovered sex impacts hearing more than age does. Environment plays the second biggest role, with forest dwellers having the best hearing and those at high altitudes the worst. (More)

• A federal judge ordered Johnson & Johnson's Janssen unit to pay $1.64 billion for illegally promoting HIV drugs Prezista and Intelence. Two whistleblowers, former sales reps, exposed the company for marketing drugs for unapproved uses and paying doctors kickbacks for promoting the drugs at industry events. The penalty includes $360 million for violating the False Claims Act and $1.28 billion in fines. (More)

• The Department of Education is investigating a new California law that stops schools from telling parents about their kids' sexual orientation. California could lose up to $7.9 billion in funding if found breaking federal rules. The inquiry aligns with Trump's recent actions on gender identity in schools, including his January executive order recognizing only two sexes. (More)

Weekly Dose of Positive

• A 21-year-old New Yorker has been cured of sickle-cell anemia using a breakthrough treatment called Lyfgenia. (More)

• The American Humane Society reunited military dog Frenky with Staff Sergeant Kristin after separating in 2021. They served together for over four years, including combat tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. (More)

• Thousands of UK multiple sclerosis patients will soon get a game-changing tablet they can take at home. It requires just 20 days of treatment over four years, replacing hospital visits and regular self-injections. (More)

• Nvidia is launching "Signs," an AI platform that helps people learn sign language more easily. Created with the American Society for Deaf Children, it starts with 100 signs and aims to expand to 1,000. (More)

Extra Credit

🚘️ Ranking the most reliable car brands of 2025.

🍳 How to clean your cast iron skillet the right way.

🙏 Visualizing the religious landscape of the US.

💩 The science behind pooping in space.