An Ignoble Experiment: The 7: Why Ukraine wants tanks; Trump’s Facebook and Instagram accounts; how a ‘bionic nose’ could bring back your smell; and more

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Good morning. It's Thursday, Jan. 26, and you've got to see this video of a college basketball game being interrupted by what looks like a McDonald's delivery. We're loving it. Now let's catch up.

The U.S. will send 31 of its most powerful battle tanks to Ukraine.

What to know: President Biden committed yesterday to delivering the M1 Abrams — among the most advanced tanks in the world — in a big escalation of U.S. military aid to Ukraine.
Why it matters: This deal convinced Germany to supply tanks to Ukraine, too. Its equipment will get there faster and could give Ukraine the upper hand against Russia this spring.

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Donald Trump will get his Facebook and Instagram accounts back soon.

What to know: Meta made the announcement yesterday. The former president's accounts were suspended for two years, after he praised the rioters who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
Why this matters: Trump is running for president again in 2024. This will give him direct access to a large and important audience.

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California is mourning the victims of recent mass attacks.

What to know: At least 19 people have been fatally shot in attacks since Saturday evening — the first in Monterey Park, then two others in the Bay Area on Monday, including one in Oakland.
In Monterey Park: Eleven people were killed. Most of the victims were Asian and in their 50s, 60s and 70s. Yesterday, authorities said the gunman didn't appear to know them.
Around Half Moon Bay: Five men and two women of Hispanic and Asian descent were killed, officials said. The names and ages of six of them were released yesterday.

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Backlash is growing over Florida's rejection of an AP Black history course.

Yesterday: Students and Black leaders protested at the state capitol, and a civil rights lawyer threatened to sue.
How we got here: The state's Department of Education said earlier this month that the class violates a new law about how race can be taught in schools.
The big picture: This ties into a larger wave of laws across the U.S. restricting what teachers can say at school.

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The U.S. restored key protections in America's largest national forest.

What happened? The Biden administration banned new roads and logging in 9.3 million acres of Alaska's Tongass National Forest yesterday. The rule goes into effect this week.
Why this matters: The forest is a vital carbon sink, holding nearly twice as much CO2 as the U.S. emits from burning fossil fuels each year.

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Google will stop letting political campaigns dodge its email spam filters.

How we got here: The company introduced the controversial exemption last year after Republican lawmakers blamed Gmail's spam filters for poor fundraising performance.
When will the emails stop? By the end of this month, Google's lawyers said this week.

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A "bionic nose" could help millions struggling with a loss of smell.

The idea: To bypass damaged smelling cells using a sensor that can stimulate the brain through a receiver inside the skull.
Why it's needed: Nearly 15 million adults worldwide may have smell problems because of the coronavirus. But the technology could take five to 10 years to fully develop.

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You're all caught up. See you tomorrow.

But before you go … looking for an effective post-workout drink? Try nonalcoholic beer — seriously. Researchers say it can be good for your recovery.