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Tuesday, 5:13 AM

March 31, 2026

Good morning news friend! Discover today’s defining stories and the future they set in motion. 📰🌟

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Moonshot Redux

NASA plans Artemis II, its first crewed lunar mission in 53 years, set for April 1, 2026. Four astronauts, including one Canadian, will orbit the moon for about 10 days to test the SLS rocket and Orion capsule.

Artemis II follows an uncrewed 2022 test and precedes Artemis III in 2027, which will dock with commercial lunar landers. The program aims for a crewed moon landing by 2028 at the lunar south pole.

Total Artemis costs may exceed $93 billion, with each launch over $4 billion. The program faces technical delays, including hydrogen leaks and new docking challenges, and emphasizes diversity and commercial partnerships amid rising global space competition.

Sources: AP News, Reuters, Bloomberg

Hormuz Pressure Mounts

The U.S. and Iran remain in a tense standoff as the war enters its fifth week. President Trump threatened attacks on Iran’s electricity, oil, and desalination facilities if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, disrupting 20% of global oil and LNG shipments.

The U.S. deployed 3,500 troops on the USS Tripoli, signaling increased military readiness, amid ongoing secret peace talks complicated by Iran’s internal divisions. Israel and Iran exchanged strikes, including attacks near Tehran, Haifa, and Baghdad.

Over 4,750 dead and 4 million displaced. Brent crude hit $108/barrel, up 90% since January. Iran rejected the U.S. peace plan, proposing reparations and ceasefires. Regional leaders urge de-escalation amid rising energy market strains.

President Trump is mulling over to end the U.S. military campaign against Iran soon. He told aides he would stop even if the Strait of Hormuz stays mostly closed.

Sources: Bloomberg, WallStreetJournal

Fed’s Tough Choice

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said the Fed will keep interest rates steady at 3.50%-3.75% amid the energy shock from the Iran war, which disrupted shipping and raised U.S. gasoline prices to about $4 per gallon.

Powell warned that prolonged supply shocks risk raising long-term inflation expectations after five years of inflation above the 2% target. The Fed expects rates to remain steady unless inflation falls or the labor market weakens.

Markets now price a one-in-three chance of a rate hike by year-end. Powell's term expires May 15; President Trump nominated Kevin Warsh, but no Senate hearing is scheduled amid a DOJ probe involving Powell.

Sources: WallStreetJournal, Reuters

Oil to Cuba

A Russian tanker carrying 730,000 barrels of Urals crude oil reached Cuba, breaking a two-month U.S. blockade that began in January.

The shipment aims to ease severe fuel shortages causing nationwide blackouts, halted transport, and closed universities. President Trump allowed the delivery but maintains no full policy shift without political reform in Havana. R

elief will take weeks as the oil requires refining, and no second tanker is scheduled. The U.S. plans limited fuel sales to Cuba’s private sector, pending licensing.

Cuba blocked U.S. Embassy fuel deliveries, fueling tensions. Havana hints at economic reforms, but resistance remains, and the political standoff continues.

Sources: WallStreetJournal, AP News, BBC

ChatGPT’s Math Proof

Researchers at the Free University of Brussels demonstrated that ChatGPT-5.2 solved an unproven 2024 geometry conjecture by mathematicians Ran and Teng, creating an original mathematical proof.

The proof required seven chat sessions and multiple revisions, with ChatGPT generating most of the structure and human researchers verifying and completing it.

This approach, called "vibe-proving," enables AI to explore complex theories beyond training data. Though AI speeds idea formulation, human oversight remains essential for accuracy.

The breakthrough suggests a future where AI collaborates in original mathematical discoveries, marking a shift in theoretical research methods.

Sources: SciTechDaily

Gut Boosts Brain

A 2024 twin study tested daily inulin or fructooligosaccharide (FOS) supplements in 72 adults over 60. After 12 weeks, those taking prebiotics showed improved visual memory and learning compared to their placebo twins.

The supplements increased beneficial gut Bifidobacterium, which is linked to better gut-brain communication and reduced cognitive decline in animal models. No effects were found on muscle loss.

Most participants were women, who face higher Alzheimer's risk, potentially tied to midlife LDL cholesterol. Gut bacteria imbalances are increasingly connected to diseases like multiple sclerosis.

These affordable supplements could slow cognitive decline, but larger, longer trials are necessary.

Sources: Sciencealert

“Talk is nothing but the shadow cast by a deed. To put it plainly, words are just the lace on a Sunday shirt, but actions are the heavy denim overalls that actually get the plowing done.”

Baked with love,

Anna Eisenberg ❤️