Good Morning! Today’s edition is 861 words, a 3-minute read.

What’s on tap: 

• Ticketmaster Probe

• Food Dye Turns Mice Skin Transparent

• The Maori’s New Queen

• Taco Bell Nationwide Cost Mapping

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Big Story

Ticketmaster Investigation

The U.K.’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is investigating how over a million tickets for Oasis’ 2024 reunion concerts were sold.

• They are focusing on Ticketmaster’s use of “dynamic pricing,” where ticket prices change based on demand. Many fans complained that they had to pay more than double the expected price for tickets, with some costing £355 ($470) instead of £148 ($195).

• Fans and critics argue that dynamic pricing for such high-demand concerts was unfair and misleading. The CMA is examining whether Ticketmaster gave clear information about possible price changes and whether fans were pressured to buy tickets quickly at higher prices.

• Oasis members said they were unaware dynamic pricing would be used. Ticketmaster said it doesn’t set ticket prices, and the band emphasized that pricing decisions were left to their promoters. In response to the backlash, new concert dates were added, and dynamic pricing won’t be used for those tickets.

• Ticketmaster’s parent company Live Nation is also facing an antitrust lawsuit in the U.S. that could force the breakup of the two companies. Together they are one of the world’s biggest concert promoters.

Big Story

Hunter Biden Pleads Guilty

Hunter Biden pleaded guilty to nine federal tax charges.

• Biden admitted he didn’t pay $1.4 million in taxes over four years while dealing with drug addiction. Originally, he wanted to use an "Alford plea," where he admits guilt but maintains his innocence. However, prosecutors objected, and he entered a traditional guilty plea instead.

• Biden’s guilty plea comes after being convicted earlier for lying about his drug use on a federal gun purchase form. His plea helps him avoid another trial that could have embarrassed him and his family by bringing more attention to his past struggles with addiction.

• Hunter faces up to 17 years in prison for the tax charges, with sentencing set for Dec. 16. He’s already waiting for sentencing in his gun case, which could add up to 25 years. President Biden has promised not to pardon his son.

Big Story

Food Dye Lets Scientist See Through Skin

Scientists found that a common food dye can temporarily make a mouse's skin, tissues, and muscles transparent.

• Tartrazine allows researchers to see blood vessels, nerves, and organs clearly when applied. While this has only been tested on mice, it opens up possibilities for better understanding and treatment of medical conditions.

• The dye, found in FD&C Yellow 5, was applied to a mouse’s abdomen, making its internal organs visible down to tiny details. The process works by reducing light scattering in the body’s tissues, which allows light to penetrate deeper into the body. The transparency effect can be reversed by simply rinsing off the dye with water.

• The discovery could help in medical procedures like drawing blood, removing tattoos, and detecting cancers early. Scientists believe this method may also lead to new ways to treat injuries and monitor diseases.

Little Stories

• Donald Trump said he would ask Elon Musk to lead a "government efficiency commission" if he becomes president again. Speaking in New York, Trump explained Musk would oversee a full review of the federal government's spending and performance, and make recommendations for major reforms. Musk confirmed on social media that he’s open to the role, saying he doesn’t need a title or payment. (More)

• Verizon is buying Frontier Communications for $20 billion to boost its fiber network. The deal will help Verizon with artificial intelligence and smart devices. Frontier has spent $4.1 billion over the past four years to improve its fiber network, and now over half of its income comes from fiber products. (More)

• Two-time Women’s World Cup champion Alex Morgan announced on Thursday that she’s retiring from soccer. In an emotional video, the 35-year-old said she’s proud of helping to "push the game forward" for young girls. Morgan also shared that she’s expecting her second child. Her final game is Saturday with the San Diego Wave football club. (More)

• The Maori of New Zealand crowned a new monarch on Thursday, making 27-year-old Nga Wai Hono i te Po their second-ever queen. This followed a week of mourning for the previous king, Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII, who passed away at age 69 after heart surgery. The new queen, his youngest child and only daughter, was chosen by tribal representatives, as the monarch’s role isn’t inherited. (More)

• A federal survey found that 500,000 fewer teens used e-cigarettes this year compared to last year, thanks to efforts like cracking down on Elf Bar products. This is the lowest level in a decade. The survey reported that 1.6 million middle and high school students use e-cigarettes, down from 2.1 million last year. About 7.8% of high schoolers and 3.5% of middle schoolers use e-cigarettes. (More)

Extra Credit

🍬 Altoids Sours are back…with a catch.

☄️ Asteroid ignites into a fireball above the Philippines.

📷️ August’s best science photos.

🌮 Mapping how expensive Taco Bell is across America.