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The US no longer has a perfect credit rating

How are we going to get a loan on that trillion-dollar fighter jet? On Friday, credit rating agency Moody’s downgraded US debt from a perfect AAA to Aa1, citing growing deficits, rising interest costs, and slower economic growth, marking the end of America’s perfect Moody’s rating since 1917.

American imperfection

For over a century, Moody’s kept the US at its highest credit rating (see explanation), unlike two other major credit agencies, S&P and Fitch, which downgraded in 2011 and 2023.

However, that streak ended last week, as Moody’s lowered the US one notch on its 21-unit rating scale:

• Moody’s mainly blamed years of unchecked spending by both parties for pushing the US debt to unsustainable levels.

• Basically, the US has been spending way more—and racking up more interest—than other comparable countries for years.

It’s not all that bad. The credit rating company emphasized that, despite the debt, the US still has very strong fundamentals, including its massive, robust economy, policy flexibility, and the dollar’s global dominance.

US debt is going crazy

Moody’s said that over the past decade, several US administrations have “failed to agree on” policies that can reduce the national debt, and they’re certainly right:

• Last year, the US shelled out more than $1.1 trillion just to service its debt. That’s a bigger bill than the entire annual defense budget (which is huge).

That’s a bit concerning. Moody’s fears the US may struggle to collect enough taxes to cover interest payments on its debt. This means the US would have to borrow money to pay the interest on, well, money it already borrowed.

The company said it only expects things to get worse:

• Moody’s projected US debt will jump from 98% of GDP to 134% by 2035, with the deficit nearing 9% of GDP (see deficit overview).

However, investment could weaken the impact: Turns out, credit downgrades haven’t scared off foreign buyers. Since Fitch’s 2011 downgrade, foreign holdings of US debt have doubled, adding $1.5 trillion in the past year alone, according to data from the US Treasury Department.

Brooklyn Bridge collision leaves two dead aboard Mexican naval ship

The tragic crash was caught on video as bystanders watched in awe. A Mexican naval ship crashed into New York City’s Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday, killing two crew members and injuring 20 others. Authorities have begun preliminary investigations into why the incident occurred.

A routine tour

The Cuauhtémoc, a 300-foot-tall Mexican training ship carrying 277 Mexican cadets, was on an annual goodwill tour of 15 countries when it unexpectedly veered off course and crashed after docking in Manhattan. Its next scheduled stop was Iceland.

• The boat was seen reversing into the East River when it struck the iconic bridge, snapping all three of its masts (see photos).

• The collision caused crew members, many of whom were standing on the masts, to be thrown off completely (see videos).

Despite the severity of the accident, the Brooklyn Bridge sustained no major damage and was reopened to traffic after a short closure.

How did this happen? Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are examining potential causes, however, initial findings suggest a mix of turbulent waters, strong currents, and possible mechanical failures contributed to the incident.

• A distress call was reportedly made just 45 seconds before impact, though it's unclear whether it originated from the ship or its assisting tugboat, which attempted to correct the ship’s course.

• The Cuauhtémoc remains docked in Manhattan as investigations by the NTSB and US Coast Guard continue.

Looking forward: The collision has sparked concerns surrounding maritime safety in busy ports such as New York Harbor, especially as the city prepares for a major tall ship event in 2026.

Harvard paid $27 for an original Magna Carta

Now that’s what we call a bargain. Harvard just discovered that a replica of the Magna Carta that it purchased for less than $30 in 1946 is actually an extraordinarily rare, nearly 750-year-old, original copy.

Carbon Copy

Two British historians rummaging through the university’s digital archives recently revealed that the medieval document is just one of seven surviving originals from 1300.

• In 1946, Harvard Law School purchased what it believed was a copy of the Magna Carta for $27.50 (now $477).

• Fast forward almost 80 years, and that presumed “copy” has been authenticated as a genuine Magna Carta, issued from King Edward I in 1300 AD.

How did they know it was real? After finding a highly detailed image of the document online (see picture here), the historians used spectral imaging and ultraviolet light to analyze its physical traits, later confirming its authenticity by comparing it to other originals.

A true piece of history

Originally signed by King John of England in 1215, the Magna Carta established the idea that no one—not even a monarch—is above the law, becoming Europe’s first constitution (see interactive overview). It became a cornerstone for modern legal systems and influenced foundational documents worldwide, including the US Constitution.

• Known as the Confirmation of the Charters, the 1300 version doubled down on the Magna Carta’s principles and helped pave the way for modern constitutional law.

How did Harvard end up with it? Researchers believe the document was first sent to the English town of Appleby-in-Westmorland and picked up by London book dealers, where a Royal Air Force Veteran bought it and later sold it to Harvard Law School.

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This baby was saved by the world’s first personalized CRISPR treatment

Think they’ll get rid of my cold for $20? In a groundbreaking medical achievement, a nine-month-old infant became the first person to be successfully treated by a customized CRISPR gene-editing therapy. The first-of-its-kind breakthrough could help others with rare diseases in the future.

Genetic lifeline

KJ Muldoon, an infant born with severe CPS1 deficiency—a rare and often fatal metabolic disorder—was given less than a 50% chance to live. CPS1 deficiency affects about one in 1.3 million children and causes deadly levels of ammonia to build up in the blood.

• Historically, the only long-term treatment for such a condition would be a liver transplant.

However, a collaborative team from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and Penn Medicine developed a custom gene-editing solution within six months, a process that usually takes years.

Historic treatment

Using a cutting-edge CRISPR method called base editing, scientists were able to correct faulty DNA one letter at a time, like using autocorrect for genes (see video).

They then delivered three doses directly to KJ’s liver using nanoparticles. This is what happened over six months:

• KJ gained weight, now sitting in the 35th to 40th percentile compared to the 8th or 9th percentile before therapy.

• His dependence on medication decreased drastically.

• KJ can ingest more protein, sit up in his crib, and eat a variety of foods, which he wasn’t able to do before.

Looking forward: While it isn’t clear if KJ is fully cured or not, the groundbreaking treatment offers hope for similar personalized treatments for other rare genetic disorders. Eventually, scientists hope to produce rapid development of individualized therapies in the future for others like KJ.

Big cities are making a comeback as people move from rural areas

The finding comes after many cities suffered population losses after the pandemic. New census figures released last week revealed that nearly all of America’s largest urban areas posted population gains from 2023 to 2024, signaling a broader recovery in city living.

City slickers

Major cities around the US have been seeing population declines for years, in part due to falling birth rates, the pandemic, and a general disinterest in city living. Recently, however, that trend has started to reverse.

Major urban centers across the board recorded growth, with New York City and Los Angeles recording large numeric increases. That being said, the Sun Belt dominated the numbers:

• Five of the 15 fastest-growing major cities were in Texas and Florida, with Fort Worth and Jacksonville each surpassing 1 million residents.

• Princeton, Texas, led the nation with an astounding 30.6% growth rate over one year alone.

Why the trend? Part of the reason is that there are simply more people. The US population grew at its fastest rate in 23 years, surpassing 340 million residents in 2024 and growing by nearly 1%.

• The 1% growth was largely driven by immigration, which accounted for 84% of the 3.3 million-person increase.

Compared to 2023, cities of all sizes demonstrated faster growth and larger gains because of immigration, except for super small cities in the South, whose average growth rate remained consistent.

FAST FACTS
Catch up on this week’s weird news

Eating In: A new report shows off-premises dining—meaning takeout, drive-thru, and delivery—now makes up nearly 75% of restaurant traffic, showing consumers increasingly like to eat at home.

Daughter Donation: In a heartwarming tale of resilience, a Louisiana mother-daughter duo celebrated their shared nursing school graduation, two years after the mother donated her kidney to save her daughter's life.

Bladder Breakthrough: In a groundbreaking medical achievement, surgeons at UCLA and USC have successfully completed the first-ever human bladder transplant, offering new hope to patients with severe bladder dysfunction.

Disease Disruption: A recent study from Weill Cornell Medicine reveals that the malaria parasite can evade immune detection by deactivating certain genes, making efforts to eliminate the disease even more difficult.

Clinic Bomb: A man detonated a car bomb outside a fertility clinic in Palm Springs, California, killing himself and injuring four others. Authorities believe the incident was an act of terrorism motivated by his anti-natalist and pro-mortalist beliefs.