No Survivors, Many Questions

Happy Friday, curiosity crew!!

Welcome to today's lineup of surprises, including a non-opioid painkiller, an epic all-star concert that lifted LA's spirits, and a random text that became a real-life fairytale. Let's dive right in!

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Your roadmap to today’s key stories:

Let's start with the hard truth: one of the worst air disasters in nearly 25 years happened over the Potomac River when a regional jet collided with a Black Hawk helicopter. All 67 people aboard both aircraft were killed. No survivors.

Investigators have pulled the black boxes from the icy waters, and the NTSB says it’s working all hours to determine what happened. Reports say the helicopter might have been flying higher than its 200-foot limit, but no one is sure.

It's heartbreaking how families are mourning, DC is reeling, and the FAA's stretched air traffic workforce is under scrutiny again after this tragic accident. Here's hoping they piece together the truth and keep this from happening again.

Fame Flames

You can fight terrifying wildfires by getting Green Day, Katy Perry, Stevie Wonder, and about two dozen other celebs together for a pair of epic concerts, which is exactly what happened. FireAid was held at two venues (the Kia Forum and the Intuit Dome) and had some jaw-dropping surprises: The reunion of Nirvana, Dr. Dre crashing the stage with Anderson .Paak, and Lady Gaga's new song.

Big names like U2 jumped in with million-dollar checks, then matched them thanks to pledges to help rebuild LA communities scorched by fires this month (29 lives lost, billions in damage). No Doubt might have told us “Don’t Speak,” but we can’t help it: This was one for the history books—and it all benefits folks who really need it.

Pain Fellowship

Move over, oxy. The FDA just approved a new prescription pain reliever—its first in 25 years—that blocks pain at the source instead of doping your brain. Suzetrigine (brand name Journavx) is based on the same genetic quirk that lets a family of "fire walkers" in Pakistan barely feel hot coals.

Even better: Experts say it’s not addictive, though it may cost around $15.50 a dose. So, if you want to avoid opioids (and the risk of getting high), here's a fresh, albeit expensive, alternative.

Text Roulette

After reading this, you might think twice about ignoring that mystery text. Picture an 18-year-old sending random “Hello” texts just to show off his new phone. Who answers? His future wife, of course! That's how Donovan met Kirsty in 1998. They spent months chatting before they met in Coventry.

Fast forward a few years: They're married, have two kids, and still laugh about that night Donovan's phone bill went crazy. Proof that sometimes “Wrong Number?” can be so, so right.

💬 Beyond the Core

Zynkies: The story of how Zyn took over America's mouth.

Size Matters: The world's tallest building officially restarts construction.

My Dear Exhaustion: Why do some of us age faster than others?

💡 Core Wisdom

📸 Lens to Life

Winners of the 2024 Audubon Photography Awards.

🧮 Core Count: 94%

This is how much coffee prices have risen in the past year, hurting demand.

🗓️ Flashback:

1865 - The 13th Amendment to the US Constitution is passed by 121-24, abolishing slavery in the United States except for punishment for a crime.

1943 - German Field Marshal Friedrich Paulus surrendered to Soviet troops at Stalingrad.

1950 - US President Harry Truman announced that he supported the development of the hydrogen bomb.

1985 - South African President P. W. Botha offers to release Nelson Mandela if he renounces violence.

I'm glad we could get together here. Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow!

Fatih Taskiran