Doomsday creeps closer; low engagement at work; mass-shooting contagion

Plus, how a seed bank can save us from climate change. [View this email online]( [NPR]( by Suzanne Nuyen Good morning. [Everything, Everywhere, All At Once]( dominated the Oscar noms yesterday. These are our takeaways from the academy's picks. Here's what we're following today: 🥇 First up [The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists announced that it has moved the minute hand of the Doomsday Clock to 90 seconds to midnight. From left,, Siegfried Hecker, Daniel Holz, Sharon Squassoni, Mary Robinson and Elbegdorj Tsakhia with the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists remove a cloth covering the Doomsday Clock at a news conference at the National Press Club in Washington on Tuesday.]( Patrick Semansky/AP The world is closer to catastrophe than ever before, according to the Doomsday Clock, which was [reset to 90 seconds before midnigh]( on Tuesday. The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists said this was due "largely, though not exclusively," to the war in Ukraine. After weeks of pressure from allies, Germany has agreed to send its state-of-the-art [Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine](. The decision is a marked shift from its leaders' previous reluctance to significantly increase military support to help Ukraine fight Russia. America has a work problem. A new Gallup poll finds that large numbers of workers, especially Gen Zers and young millennials, are [not engaged with their jobs](. Young people in particular reported feeling less cared about at work and having fewer opportunities to learn and grow. Residents in California are shaken after two mass shootings killed at least 18 people in the span of three days. The shootings in Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay [share devastating similarities](. ➡️ Some scientists wouldn't be surprised about the timing of the incidents. Research shows perpetrators are often [inspired by media coverage]( of other shootings. 🎧 Listen to [how these shootings can be contagious](. It seems everyone and their mom has classified documents these days. The FBI found a "[small number of documents bearing classified markings]( that were inadvertently boxed and transported" to Mike Pence's Indiana home. --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- 📷 Picture show [ICARDA lab employee Bilal Inaty cuts a lentil plant in order to test it for various diseases at the ICARDA research station in the village of Terbol in Lebanon's Bekaa valley, on Dec. 21, 2022.]( Dalia Khamissy for NPR Some of the tens of thousands of seeds stored at a facility in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley may hold keys to helping the planet's food supply [adapt to climate change](. 🎧 Listen to the story of this "[insurance policy]( for humanity. --------------------------------------------------------------- 🎧 Today’s listen [F. Murray Abraham says his White Lotus character Bert is "nothing but a male chauvinist pig" but that the women who respond to him "understand that he really has a good heart."]( Fabio Lovino /HBO When White Lotus star F. Murray Abraham won the 1985 Best Actor Oscar for Amadeus, his ego got to him. He began turning down film roles — and after a while, the phone stopped ringing. 🎧 Listen to [how he bounced back]( or [read the story](. --------------------------------------------------------------- 🛑 Before you go [A portrait of Tyre Nichols is displayed at a memorial service for him on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023 in Memphis, Tenn. Nichols was killed during a traffic stop with Memphis Police on Jan. 7.]( Adrian Sainz/AP - Two Memphis City Fire Department employees have been "relieved of duty" after the [death of Tyre Nichols](. Five police officers were also fired. Nichols died days after being pulled over by the police. - Things are about to get calmer at the disco. Panic! at the Disco is ending its run and breaking up after [seven albums and nearly two decades](. - Goodbye, M&M spokescandies. The chocolate company is [replacing the iconic candies]( with Maya Rudolph. 🎧 Listen to how [Tucker Carlson]( played a role in the change. - Adult Swim is ending its association with Justin Roiland, the co-creator and star of one of the network's most popular shows, Rick and Morty. Roiland is [facing two felony charges]( related to an alleged domestic violence incident from 2020. --------------------------------------------------------------- Stream your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. [Find a Station]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can [sign up here](. Looking for more great content? [Check out all of our newsletter offerings]( — including Music, Politics, Health and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Daily News emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy]( [NPR logo]