🌎 Shift Happens

Honda launched (and landed) its own reusable rocket

If it has the reliability of an Accord, the space race is over. Honda successfully launched and landed its own “experimental reusable rocket” on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido this week.

The unexpected announcement is the automotive giant’s first space-related update since it revealed in 2021 that it was exploring space technology.

Roads to Rockets

The test was conducted at a Honda facility in Taiki, a town on Japan’s northern island, which, according to the company, has been discreetly developed as a “space town.”

• Honda said it launched the 20-foot-tall rocket on Tuesday, reaching an altitude of nearly 1,000 feet and flying for about a minute before landing within 14 inches of its target (watch the rocket launch here).

The rocket—developed by Honda R&D, the carmaker’s research division—brings Japan’s second-largest automaker a step closer to its goal of reaching suborbital space by 2029. While Honda hasn’t finalized any commercialization plans, it highlighted the rising demand for satellites.

It’s a growing industry: SpaceX remains the frontrunner in reusable commercial rocket technology, though competitors like Blue Origin and startups in China and Europe are gaining ground. Goldman Sachs projects the market could grow from $15 billion today to $108 billion by 2035.

Streaming just left traditional TV in the dust

Probably because you just binged Dexter for the fifth time. For the first time ever, Americans are watching more TV on streaming platforms than on cable and broadcast television combined, reflecting the growing dominance of streaming services.

Stream machine

According to recent Nielsen data, Americans spent nearly 45% of their total TV viewing time on streaming platforms like Netflix and YouTube, surpassing the combined share of cable and broadcast networks at 44%.

• Streaming viewership is up 71% since May 2021, while broadcast and cable viewership have fallen 21% and 39%, per Nielsen’s CEO.

• When Nielsen began tracking data in 2021, streaming accounted for just 26% of TV viewing time, while traditional TV made up nearly 67%.

The milestone is more than just statistics: it highlights a fundamental shift in how people watch TV, as streaming firmly overtakes linear television and rewrites the rules for content delivery and ad sales.

What’s driving the surge?

The rise of streaming, which first got a massive boost during the Covid-19 pandemic when people were forced to watch entertainment at home, largely reflects a change in consumer tastes.

So, what’s made streaming so popular, you ask?

• Convenience: Viewers increasingly prefer on-demand content to scheduled TV programs.

• Cost-effectiveness: Free and ad-supported services (which consumers tend to prefer) deliver troves of content at little to no cost.

• Quality content: Services continue to shell out money on movies and shows that keep viewers coming back.

Streaming platforms that strike a balance of all three have typically come out on top. YouTube leads all platforms in total TV viewership, with 12.5%, followed by Netflix (7.5%) and Disney (5%).

Boomers are fueling the move: Viewers over 65 are now the fastest-growing group watching YouTube on TV, showing streaming isn’t just a young person’s game anymore, according to the NYT.

Seven men charged in “largest jewelry heist” in US history

Some will do anything for some bling. Seven California men were charged with allegedly stealing $100 million of jewelry from an armored truck in what prosecutors call the biggest jewel heist the US has ever seen.

How did they do it?

In July 2022, the suspects, aged 31 to 60, tailed a Brink’s armored truck for roughly 300 miles from a jewelry expo near San Francisco to a remote rest stop north of Los Angeles.

Around 2 am, when one guard fell asleep and another went to get food, the men made their move:

• They stole 24 bags of valuables containing $100 million in gold, diamonds, emeralds, rubies, luxury watches, and more (see photos).

Investigators say the thieves tracked the truck using phone signals, deactivated their devices post-heist, and employed a coordinated system involving scouts, lookouts, and burglars.

How were they caught?

Authorities stated that cellphone records and surveillance footage were crucial in identifying multiple suspects, several of whom are allegedly connected to additional thefts.

• Two individuals were arrested Monday, one is currently incarcerated on unrelated charges, and four others are still at large.

The seven men face federal charges for conspiracy and theft from interstate shipment, with five facing additional robbery-related charges under the Hobbs Act. Each carries up to 20 years in prison.

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Kraft Heinz is going all natural after FDA order

RIP to the vibrant red hue of cherry Jell-O. Kraft Heinz has announced it will remove all synthetic food, drug, and cosmetic dyes from its entire US product lineup by the end of 2027, becoming the first major food company to do so.

Dyer straights

The food giant, behind many beloved brands, including Kool-Aid, Lunchables, Velveeta, and more, is the first major industry player to commit to removing the synthetic food colorings following the FDA’s phaseout plan (see here).

• Kraft Heinz claims that nearly 90% of its US product sales are already free of synthetic dyes.

• Additionally, the company said it will cease launching any new products with petroleum-based color additives, effective immediately.

The food giant stated that many of its products in Europe and Canada (minus some beverages) already use natural alternatives like beet juice and vegetable extracts, which it will now incorporate into its US products.

What’s the FDA’s plan?

The move comes amid pressure from HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the FDA, who are calling on food companies to phase out synthetic dyes by 2026 due to potential health risks, including hyperactivity in children and cancer in lab studies.

Consumer groups praise the changes as long overdue, a sentiment most Americans also agree with:

• About two-thirds of Americans support cutting added sugar and dyes from processed foods, per a new AP-NORC poll.

• Among the targeted additives are Red 40, Yellow 5, and Blue 1, which collectively represent 90% of dye usage in the United States.

Catching up: Some dyes, like Red 3, are already banned in Europe, and many others require warning labels in order to be sold.

Purdue Pharma to pay $7.4 billion for its role in the opioid crisis

I mean, is it that big of a surprise? On Tuesday, Purdue Pharma and its owners reached a $7.4 billion settlement with all 50 US states and territories, resolving thousands of lawsuits related to the company’s involvement in the opioid crisis.

Purdue’s deadly role

First released by Purdue Pharma in the 1990s, OxyContin has been widely cited as a central driver of the opioid epidemic, which has contributed to more than 645,000 deaths in the US since 1999.

• The company declared bankruptcy in 2019 to address mounting lawsuits over claims it misrepresented the drug’s addictive properties.

Five years later, the Supreme Court overturned a $6 billion settlement, ruling that bankruptcy can’t shield companies from future lawsuits. The new deal removes that clause, allowing Purdue to move forward with its bankruptcy.

What’s their punishment?

The agreement between the attorneys general, who represent all US states and territories, and Purdue Pharma forces the Sacklers family (Purdue’s owners) to exit the company and bans them from making or marketing opioids in the US, ending their control over the company.

They’ll have to pay some hefty fines on top of the ban:

• The Sacklers and Purdue will pay $1.5 billion and $900 million upfront, respectively.

• In addition, they will have to pay annual payments of $500 million after one year, another $500 million next year, and $400 million after three years.

• The settlement will also allocate over $850 million directly to victims, in addition to funding prevention, treatment, and recovery programs.

With billions set aside for communities and victims, it signals a crucial step in both accountability and recovery, but only once it clears court review and public approval.

Looking forward: The agreement now heads to a bankruptcy judge for review, with a potential approval expected by November 2025. If approved, local governments and individual claimants will vote on it by September 30.

FAST FACTS
Catch up on this week’s weird news

Dog Dinner: Joey Chestnut, 16-time champion of Nathan’s Fourth of July hot dog eating contest, has resolved his contract dispute and will return to the competition this year. 

Tentacle Taste: A new Harvard study found octopuses have been shown to chemically sense microbes with their arms—essentially "tasting" hidden patterns in their world—using advanced microbiome signals.

Prison Problems: R. Kelly was hospitalized after allegedly receiving an overdose of anxiety and sleep medication in prison. Kelly later said there was a murder-for-hire plot involving prison officials.

AI Assist: OpenAI has secured a one‑year, $200 million contract from the US Department of Defense to develop prototype AI tools for national security, cyber defense, and military healthcare.

President Phone: The Trump Organization has launched Trump Mobile, a US-manufactured smartphone priced at $499, along with a $47.45/month “47 Plan” offering unlimited calls, texts, data, and other perks.