Wednesday, October 16, 2024

In today’s newsletter, we hunt zombies, enter the ‘hell caves’ that birthed Halloween, find the healthiest nuts for you; discover creatures living under the deep ocean bed; learn how scientists hope to detect the next major quake ... and find Europe’s best cities for coffee and beer.

Sheep graze peacefully near caves, where 2,000 years ago, animal sacrifices were part of an ancient root of what we now call Halloween. Variants of these rituals, passed down by generations, morphed through migration to America’s sugar-addled holiday that has ricocheted back worldwide. What happened in these caves?

Related: The blood-curdling origins of vampires, zombies, and werewolves

Also: How witches got stereotyped as villains?

The next major earthquake: Can we get enough early detection to save thousands of lives? AI is aiding geophysicists like Zachary Ross (above) turbocharge their search. Can you guess how?

A. Finding millions of nearly previously hidden tiny quakes
B. Illuminating an intricate network of faults and fault features
C. Coming up with new bunches of unfamiliar-sounding quakes, later confirmed by human scientists
D. All of the above. 

Related: Alien life is out there. Can AI find it?

Also: You biggest AI questions, answered  

Europe’s capital of coffee? This Italian city, home to a worldwide expresso king, even has a “university” of coffee. What city are we in? 

A. Milan
B. Florence
C. Perugia
D. Trieste 

Related: Are these coffee alternatives worth the hype?

Also: 8 of Europe’s best beer cities 

Today’s Soundtrack: Tropicalia, Beck

Thanks for reading today’s newsletter, which was edited and curated by David Beard and produced by Amanda Williams-Bryant. Got an idea or suggestion for us? Do you have a favorite type of coffee or coffee alternative?  Let us know.