An Ignoble Experiment: The 7: Why states are banning ‘forever chemicals’; a devastating crash in India; a medieval comedy script; and more

2023/06/05

Good morning. It's Monday, June 5, and our soundtrack of the day is Peso Pluma. Now let's catch up from the weekend.

What happened? A train took the wrong track and collided with another train. Soon after, a third train crashed into the other two. Early reports point to problems with railroad signals.
This is one of the worst transportation disasters in India's history: It's raising safety concerns about the 19th-century rail network, first built by the British.

What to know: President Biden signed the bill to suspend the debt limit on Saturday, just in time to avoid a default. The U.S. would have run out of money to pay its bills today.
Digging deeper: The legislation also ended hope of another extension to the pause on federal student loan payments after more than three years. Payments are set to resume by Sept. 1.

What happened? Fighter jets from Joint Base Andrews scrambled to intercept a private plane over Virginia, officials said. The explosive sound shook houses and startled residents.
The latest: Authorities said the private plane was unresponsive and later crashed in southwestern Virginia. We don't yet know why the Cessna didn't respond or why it crashed.

Why? It violates the right to free speech, according to Friday's ruling. The first-of-its-kind law bans drag shows in public. Tennessee is expected to appeal the decision.
The big picture: A wave of anti-LGBTQ legislation has passed this year, including a ban in Texas on gender-affirming care signed into law on Friday. But advocates say this ruling could be a turning point.

What are they? These chemicals — known as PFAs — don't break down naturally. They're found in many everyday products and are linked to a long list of health problems.
What to know: This year, 195 bills have been introduced in dozens of state legislatures seeking to ban or restrict PFAs. The wave follows decades of inaction from the federal government.

Where? At the tech company's annual software showcase.
What product? A mixed-reality headset meant to blend the digital and real world. Imagine using it for things like digital meetings and workouts.
Why it matters: This technology is divisive. Some see it as just a "science project," while others think it could be the thing that moves augmented reality forward.

What to know: The document, written in England around 1480, includes the comedy script of a traveling entertainer. It gives us a rare glimpse into the medieval live comedy scene.
The jokes: The script includes riffs on incontinence, killer rabbits and binge drinking, new research found. It also poked fun at priests, kings and the audience.

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You're all caught up. See you tomorrow.