An Ignoble Experiment: The 7: Trump’s outburst in court; a winter coronavirus surge; 289-million-year-old skin; and more

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Good morning. It's Friday, Jan. 12, and we're wondering if anyone is reading this from aboard the nine-month cruise. Now let's catch up.

U.S. and British forces struck Houthi militants in Yemen yesterday.

Locations of the strikes, according to Houthi leaders. (The Washington Post)

Why? The Iran-backed rebel group has been attacking ships in the Red Sea since November in protest of Israel's war on Gaza, disrupting global trade.
The bigger picture: The strikes will heighten tensions across the Middle East, where violence has spread since the war began. A Houthi official warned of "dire consequences."

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Donald Trump's civil fraud trial in New York wrapped up yesterday.

What happened? The former president interrupted court proceedings to attack the judge and New York Attorney General Letitia James, who filed the $370 million lawsuit.
What now? The judge has already ruled that Trump and his company committed fraud. He must now decide whether illegal acts took place, and penalties.
Before the hearing: The judge received a bomb threat to his Long Island home.

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The FAA is launching an investigation into Boeing's manufacturing process.

Why? A panel flew off a Boeing 737 Max 9 jet during an Alaska Airlines flight last week. The probe, announced yesterday, will examine Boeing's safety procedures.
What else to know: Passengers who were on the Alaska Airlines flight are suing Boeing. And some anxious travelers are finding ways to avoid flying on Max 9 planes.

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Covid killed nearly 10,000 people around the world last month.

Why? Holiday gatherings fueled the spread, the World Health Organization said this week. Officials studied data from fewer than 50 countries, mostly in the Americas and Europe.
In the U.S.: A new coronavirus variant is sweeping the nation. But disease surveillance has been scaled back, making it hard to know how this compares with previous waves.

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Severe cold could break hundreds of records this weekend.

Where? A blast of Arctic air will freeze the western and central U.S., with temperatures in some places up to 60 degrees below normal. Parts of Montana may hit minus-40.
Take care: The cold could be life-threatening — and make for frigid NFL playoff games and Iowa caucuses. (Check our tips for staying warm.)
What else to know: A storm will bring blizzards to the Plains and Midwest and the risk of tornadoes in the South. Find your city's forecast here.

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A Florida school district removed 1,600 books from libraries last year.

What books? Dictionaries, encyclopedias and reference books on topics including science and the Bible were pulled from schools in Escambia County.
Why? A state law prohibits books that mention "sexual conduct." Florida has been one of the states leading a national surge in school book challenges.

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Scientists found the oldest known pieces of preserved skin.

Scientists aren't sure what species the fossilized skin comes from, but the patterning is similar to crocodile skin. (Current Biology/Mooney et al.)

How old? About 289 million years — when Earth had a single supercontinent. The tiny pieces of fossilized skin were found in a cave in Oklahoma, paleontologists said yesterday.
Why it's significant: Skin fossilization is extremely rare. These samples could reveal more about how the ancestors of today's animals adapted to life on land.

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Before you go … what to watch this weekend: The "Mean Girls" reboot is in theaters, and it's pretty fetch. Plus: "True Detective" returns to HBO on Sunday.

And now … end your week by playing On the Record, The Post's quotable quiz. The weekend version is 10 questions, and you can risk all your points on a final bonus question. Ready to play? Click here. Or try our word game, Keyword.

The January Reset: Want to get better sleep this year? Try these five simple tips.

You're all caught up. See you Monday.