Einstein was right, the Pope visits Mexico, Kanye sneaker investments
Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
A high-stakes Democratic debate. Vermont senator Bernie Sanders has major momentum after walloping Hillary Clinton in the New Hampshire primary. Nevada and South Carolina, both states with large minority populations, are next to vote, and the candidates will focus on adjusting their messaging. Clinton is also gearing up for another release of emails from her private server this weekend.
Pope Francis arrives in Mexico. The pontiff will spend six days with the world’s second-largest Catholic population. He will meet president Enrique Peña Nieto and visit Ciudad Juarez, a notorious border town and drug hub where violence has subsided and the economy has improved recently.
A high-level security meeting. US secretary of state John Kerry, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, Ukraine’s president Petro Poroshenko, and Jordan’s King Abdullah gather in Munich, Germany for a conference on security that will focus on the refugee crisis and the Syrian peace talks. 50,000 additional people have been displaced since the regime’s siege of Aleppo last week.
While you were sleeping
Scientists discovered the last puzzle piece of Einstein’s theory of relativity. Researchers found evidence of gravitational waves, caused by massive objects like black holes accelerating through space. These incredibly tiny, nearly indetectable waves now offer a way to look into the universe and learn more about the Big Bang—and they make a sound.
A Mexico prison riot turned deadly. At least 52 people were killed and 12 injured when a riot broke out between members of rival drug cartels at Topo Chico prison near Monterrey. Authorities have struggled to manage correctional facilities in Mexico, some of which are “self-run” by inmates.
A standoff at an Oregon wildlife preserve ended. Four protesters turned themselves over to the FBI after 40 days occupying a government building in eastern Oregon in a dispute over ranchers’ rights which no one seemed to fully understand.
NATO targeted refugee smugglers. Defense ministers in Brussels ordered three warships to the Aegean Sea after Turkey, Germany, and Greece asked for more help in apprehending human traffickers. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg insisted the effort was “not about stopping or pushing back refugee boats.”
Credit Suisse sank to a nearly 30-year low. The bank’s shares closed at 12.31 Swiss francs ($12.66) after Europe’s second largest bank, France’s Société Générale, warned investors that it may miss profit targets for this year. Credit Suisse shares have fallen about 43% this year—worse than its decline during Europe’s 2011 fiscal crisis.
Quartz obsession interlude
Quartz’s Thomas Page McBee on why men fight. “Men have to fight someone or something at some point, don’t they? For my entire life, and certainly for the four years since I began injecting testosterone, I’ve been fighting, whether it’s myself, the world or my place in it.” Read more here.
Markets haiku
A bear approaches
Matters of debate
Kanye West’s sneakers are the new gold. They’re a better investment than any other asset class.
Europe’s future may hinge on the fate of Aleppo. If the city falls to Assad, it will weaken NATO and embolden Russia.
Smartphones are killing fashion shows. Consumers are being exposed to trends too quickly.
Surprising discoveries
Some whales have Caribbean accents. Scientists say “culture” explains their unique vocal patterns.
Childhood vaccinations are a huge bargain. Every dollar spent saves $44 in future healthcare costs.
A parasite may make chimpanzees unafraid of leopards. Toxoplasmosis travels from the primates’ brains to feline tummies.
The UK is prosecuting Disney over workplace safety on Millennium Falcon. Harrison Ford broke his leg during filming of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
A college degree is more expensive for women than men. That’s because they pay off their debts more slowly.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, accented whales, and fear-eliminating parasites to [email protected]. You can follow us on Twitter for updates throughout the day.