☕ Are we alone?

Inside claims that the US has a UFO retrieval program... [July 02, 2023]( | [View Online]( | [Sign Up]( | [Shop]( [Aerial view of tourists cooling off at a water park in summer on June 27, 2023 in Zhengzhou, Henan Province of China] Tourists cool off at a water park during a heat wave in Zhengzhou, China. VCG/VCG via Getty Images  BROWSING  [Classifieds banner image]( The wackiest headlines from the week as they would appear in a Classifieds section. Careers MARS SETTLER: Last Sunday, four scientists [entered]( a 3D-printed, 1,700-square-foot habitat that mimics the environment of Mars. They’ll spend an entire year in the structure studying humans’ ability to problem-solve in space. Here’s hoping no one brought a guitar. HIGH-SCHOOL IT EXPERT: To remedy a cybersecurity mistake, one Illinois high school reset students’ passwords to “[Ch@ngeme!]( and told them to change their password. Parents and students were furious when they realized (much more quickly than school administrators) they could now log in to any student’s account. For sale USED DISCS: A yellow Lab in West Virginia named Daisy is obsessed with finding [Frisbees]( hidden in the forest, and the 155 discs she retrieved will now be sold to help pay for the upkeep of Daisy’s local disc golf course. BRAND EXTENSIONS: The retired daytime talk show host Maury Povich created his own line of [at-home paternity tests]( not included. Personal ISO BLIMP BUDDY: Blimps are so back. A handful of startups are building [lighter-than-air vehicles]( they believe will become the hot new mode of aerial transportation. SEEKING BEYONCÉ TICKETS: Queen Bey [wrapped up]( the European leg of her Renaissance tour, and it was a doozy: She sold 1 million tickets and grossed $154.4 million from her 21 shows overseas, per Billboard. Next stop: North America.—MM  FROM THE CREW AI: Friend or foe? [The Crew]( From HAL to Skynet, AI gets a bad rap. With its fast rise, buzzy headlines, and seemingly limitless potential, it’s hard to know whether AI will help us or upend us. A pressing question on many employees’ minds: [Will AI take my job]( MIT researchers offer a picture of the future of AI in the workplace. Check out Tech Brew’s explanation of what artificial intelligence is capable of, what its probable use cases are, and the implications for your job. Hint: Predictions might be more complex and hopeful than you might expect. [Read or listen here](.  SNAPSHOTS  [Photo of the week](#) [Wildfire smoke clouds the skyline on June 28, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. ]Scott Olson/Getty Images Put this photo in a museum with the caption, “Summer 2023.”  SCIENCE  [Dept. of Progress](#) [Dexter from Dexter's lab saying ]Dexter’s Laboratory/Warner Bros. Domestic Television via Giphy Here are some illuminating scientific discoveries from the week to help you live better and maybe even opt for flatbread over pizza. Dolphins say gitchy-gitchy-goo, too. We can’t help but turn it up an octave when talking to babies, and it turns out dolphins can’t, either. Bottlenose dolphin moms whistle at a higher tone and with more variation in their pitch when addressing their offspring, marine biologists who studied a group of Florida dolphins for more than three decades have determined. The findings were true for all 19 of the mic’d-up aquatic mothers. Researchers aren’t sure why, but it might be for the same reasons that other species use [baby talk]( to catch a kid’s attention and teach them how to pronounce new sounds. The universe is churning like the ocean. Astronomers are freaking out over a new finding that all but confirms what Einstein predicted in 1916: Outer space is not stagnant; it’s constantly being stretched and rippled by [gravitational waves](. For the first time ever, scientists have detected a long-theorized, low-frequency hum throughout the cosmos that they think emanates from black holes that helped shape galaxies far, far away (and a long, long time ago). The discovery marks “the beginning of a new journey into the universe to unveil some of its unsolved mysteries,” according to Dr. Michael Keith, a member of one of the teams that provided evidence. Portrait of a pizza that’s actually flatbread. It seemed the history of tomato pies was about to be rewritten when archaeologists found what looked like pizza depicted in a 2,000-year-old painting in Pompeii…until they clarified that the delicious image in question was actually [flatbread](. Yes, there is a difference. The painting of a food platter—found on a wall adjacent to a previously buried Pompeii bakery—depicts mensa, a cheese- and tomato-less Roman flatbread that serves as an edible vehicle for other foods. Pizza as we know it wouldn’t have been possible back then since tomatoes didn’t even get to Italy until the 1500s. So, Naples, which sits just 15 miles from the city doomed by Vesuvius’s 79 BCE eruption, gets to keep its claim to fame as the 18th-century birthplace of pizza.—ML  FROM THE CREW [The Crew]( Raise your voice for that raise. Think you’re being paid below what you’re worth? [Money Scoop’s latest guide]( explains how to navigate researching, preparing, and asking for the compensation you deserve. To confidently negotiate your salary, [download the guide today](.  NEWS ANALYSIS  [Does the US have a UFO retrieval program?]( [Alien spacecraft]( Jay/Getty Images It’s a bird…it’s a plane…it’s…well, we’re actually not quite sure, so Happy World UFO Day! Today is one of two UFO holidays commemorating the crash and recovery of an unidentified flying object in Roswell, New Mexico, in 1947 during a frenzy of mysterious [aerial disc sightings](. The strange happenings spawned speculation that the government was covering up an alien visit to the town, and some diehard believers refused to drop the idea of little green men even after the Air Force admitted decades later that the “UFOs” were actually its spycraft. But in recent years, the UFO conversation has moved beyond dubious claims made by the [usual suspects](. The Pentagon recently said it is studying 800 instances of military and civilian pilots encountering unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), a term used to describe any unexplained airborne specimen. Then, last month, former military intelligence official David Grusch came forward with [claims]( that the government has kept lawmakers and the public in the dark about its UAP retrieval program. While Grusch hasn’t talked about witnessing any alien spacecraft himself, he says his work on the ​​Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force gave him access to intel suggesting that: - The military possesses “intact and partially intact” aircraft of “nonhuman origin,” as well as the remains of extraterrestrial beings. - UFO crashes are a global phenomenon, and the US government once received a craft from Italy’s Benito Mussolini with the help of Pope Pius XII. The Pentagon has denied it, but reportedly there have been other insiders who’ve made similar claims, and some of Grusch’s former colleagues vouched that his credibility was out of this world. The government is looking into it Grusch has filed a formal whistleblower complaint and submitted some of the classified material to Congress (though he has yet to provide proof to the public). Lawmakers on the House Oversight Committee plan to hold a hearing on the revelations soon. Not everyone is buying Grusch’s disclosures, but the idea that the truth is out there has some takers on Capitol Hill. - Florida Republican Senator Marco Rubio told Newsweek he’s treating the claims seriously since they come from people with “high clearances and high positions within our government.” - “I just believe it in my heart,” Republican Tennessee Rep. Tim Burchett said of the possibility that the US has found extraterrestrial aircraft. He says his views on the matter are based on conversations he’s had with military pilots. - Attending a classified military briefing in March brought Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz to a similar conclusion. He said he’d seen evidence of craft that he’s not familiar with the US, its allies, or adversaries possessing. What does the science say? Not many scientists are willing to confirm (or debunk) claims that we’ve received visitors from other planets, with most agreeing that more research is needed to find an answer. Some are plowing ahead with that research. One controversial Harvard astrophysicist started [an observatory]( dedicated to using state-of-the-art tech to spot potential extraterrestrial spacecraft. Others are coming up with a system to study UAPs in a scientifically sound way. Last fall, NASA put together an interdisciplinary team of 16 scientists to develop a roadmap for UAP studies going forward, which they’ll present to the agency this month. When asked by Morning Brew what’s missing from the way claims of UAPs are currently investigated, one of the NASA team members, oceanographer Paula Bontempi, quoted Carl Sagan in response: “Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.” The group thinks eyewitness accounts aren’t reliable, and it’s busy developing rigorous methods to evaluate strangeness in the skies. This could involve using crowdsourced data from citizen scientists. Bontempi said it’s important to combat the stigma associated with talking about UAPs by creating a reporting process that doesn’t make people fear becoming a laughing stock. What the NASA group can say for now…is that there’s no better way to tackle UAP mysteries than with the scientific method. Another pro tip from the team: Don’t alienate anyone by jumping to premature conclusions.—SK  BREW'S BEST  # [To-do list graphic] Meal prep: When you want to eat bread but feel the need to eat a salad, try [panzanella](. Book rec: If multigenerational sagas are your genre of choice, you’ll love [Banyan Moon]( by Thao Thai. For chili crisp fans: Did you know Fly By Jing makes [apparel]( Apparently, “that Sichuan tingle just tastes different when you’re suited up.” In theaters: Like Shawshank Redemption or Clueless, there are some movies you simply have to watch before you die. Celine Song’s newest film, [Past Lives]( is one of them. Art rec: Photographer Darren Pearson’s [work]( seems to ask, “Why paint with paint when you can paint with [light]( Podcast: Writer Jia Tolentino discusses “the 1% of life that makes it all worth it” in this [pod](. Real deal: Earn a $200 welcome bonus when you spend $500 in your first three months with [this card]( plus an intro 0% APR for your first 15 months. [The deets]( *This is sponsored advertising content.  DESTINATIONS  [Place to be: Nathan’s Famous hot dog stand](#) [Nathan's Famous on the Coney Island Boardwalk.]Anne Czichos/Getty Images It’s a big world out there. In this section, we’ll teleport you to an interesting location—and hopefully give you travel ideas in the process. On the Fourth of July, the eyes of the nation will fixate on a tiny peninsula in Brooklyn to watch just how much salt and meat trimmings the human digestive system can handle before it shuts down. We’re talking, of course, about Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest on Coney Island, a Fourth of July tradition that dates back to 1916. That year, 24-year-old Jewish immigrant Nathan Handwerker stopped slicing bread at a restaurant to invent the next best thing: a [hot dog stand]( at the corner of Stillwell and Surf Avenues that served up fast, cheap, and savory finger food. Fast forward to today, and Nathan’s Famous is a publicly traded corporation with franchises all over the world. Not only is the original shop in Coney Island still standing, but it’s a lot bigger and sells a variety of delights (cheeseburgers, lobster rolls, frog’s legs) you can bring with you on a stroll along the boardwalk. Meanwhile, the hot dog contest held at Nathan’s has ballooned into a full-blown television event: ESPN has owned the broadcasting rights for the past 20 years. You can even [place wagers on it]( though don’t expect to make much money if you bet on Joey Chestnut or Miki Sudo to win. These two gastronomically talented athletes dominate the men’s and women’s divisions, and last year Chestnut won by 15 dogs while (expertly) [subduing]( a protester who rushed the stage during the event.—NF  COMMUNITY  [Crowd work](#) Last week we asked: What is the strangest thing that you’ve witnessed at a music festival? Here are our favorite responses: - “I saw Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, and the Grateful Dead many years ago, and people were climbing over the wall to get to the floor of the Metrodome in Minneapolis to get in backrub circles.”—Becky from Minnetonka, MN - “Saw a group smuggle a 24-pack of beer in a baby stroller. It was one of the most elaborate—and impressive—festival cons I’ve seen.”—Amanda from Fort Worth, TX - “I met someone who plugged an air fryer into an outlet he found in a telephone pole, in which he cooked mini corn dogs and took them to a set to share with the crowd and even gave one to the artist onstage.”—Hailey from Pittsburgh, PA - “Was at WE Fest, a country music festival in Detroit Lakes, MN, and on the last night, a bunch of kids lit a whole row of port-a-potties on fire .”—Miranda from Fairmont, MN - "On the second day of the Chickenstock Music Festival in Chicken, AK, they hold a 5k race first thing in the morning. The route goes up a steep road, down the side of a hill, through the woods, and through streams. It’s marked with signs teasing people about being hungover. Also, the festival’s host wears a chicken suit, and they drop Peeps from a bush plane.”—Molly from Eugene, OR This week’s question You can only pick one to add to your house: a porch, patio, yard, rooftop, or deck. Which are you going with and why? Matty’s response to get the juices flowing: “Maybe it’s because there aren’t enough in Chicago, but a rooftop is the most glam summer hangout spot in my eyes. If you invite me to a rooftop party, I’ll be there.” [Share your response here](.  SHARE THE BREW  # [Share Morning Brew]( with your friends, acquire free Brew swag, and then acquire more friends as a result of your fresh Brew swag. We’re saying we’ll give you free stuff and more friends if you share a link. One link. Your referral count: 0 [Click to Share]( Or copy & paste your referral link to others: [morningbrew.com/daily/r/?kid=a905682a](  AROUND THE BREW  [A post-Yeezy Adidas]( [ ]( Marketers [weigh in]( on how Adidas can refocus its brand strategy after ending its iconic celebrity partnerships. Moving in with a partner or a roommate? Before making any big decisions, make sure you’re both [on the same page](. Learn how to improve your marketing strategy with [this interview]( with Ajay Kapoor, global director of performance-driven marketing at General Motors. Written by [Neal Freyman]( [Cassandra Cassidy]( [Molly Liebergall]( [Abigail Rubenstein]( Sam Klebanov, and [Matty Merritt]( Was this email forwarded to you? 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