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Monday, 5:18 AM

August 4, 2025

Good morning news friend! Step into today’s defining moments and see how they shape the future. 📰🌟

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China’s Mineral Chokehold

China controls about 90% of rare earth minerals essential for U.S. defense equipment, including drone motors, missile guidance, and jet fighter engines.

In early 2025, China tightened export controls amid trade tensions, blocking minerals used specifically for defense. U.S. manufacturers face delays—up to two months for key drone magnets—and prices have surged, with samarium costs rising 60-fold.

These restrictions expose U.S. military dependence on Chinese supplies and grant China strategic leverage. The Pentagon and U.S. companies are increasing investments to develop alternative, non-Chinese sources.

The ability to diversify critical mineral supply chains in coming months is crucial to maintaining U.S. defense readiness.

Sources: Tradingview, Livemint, Investinglive, WallStreetJournal.

The Thrift Renaissance

In 2025, 88% of Americans adopted thrift habits, with 62% turning to secondhand shopping partly due to tariffs. The U.S. secondhand fashion market is projected to reach $26 billion, growing eight times faster than conventional apparel.

Brands like Levi's, Zara, and Lululemon launched resale programs attracting 40% of Gen-Z shoppers. Archive raised $30 million for its resale platform. Direct-to-consumer brands such as Oura and Glossier use hybrid retail, with Oura growing sales over 50% in 2024.

Patagonia and Gucci offer circular fashion collections, boosting retention 20-30%. Non-alcoholic beverage sales hit $565 million, with Liquid Death valued at $1 billion. Investors focus on AI resale, sustainable fashion, hybrid DTC models, and health-conscious beverages.

Sources: Ainvest, WallStreetJournal.

OPEC+ Sparks Glut Fears

OPEC+ will increase oil production by 547,000 barrels per day starting September 2025, fully reversing a 2.2 million barrel-per-day cut from 2023. This adds to previous monthly hikes totaling roughly 2.5 million barrels per day since April.

Brent and WTI prices dropped near $69 and $67 per barrel, respectively. The UAE will boost output by 300,000 barrels daily, with Saudi Arabia also leading increases. Despite warnings of a looming supply surplus from the International Energy Agency, OPEC+ cites strong global demand, especially in Asia, and higher refinery profits.

The group plans another meeting on September 7 to consider reinstating cuts of 1.65 million barrels daily through 2026. Geopolitical tensions with Russia and Iran add market uncertainty.

Sources: Bloomberg, NYTimes, EuroNews, CNBC.

Boeing Defense Workers Strike

Over 3,200 Boeing defense workers in St. Louis and Illinois struck on August 4, 2025, rejecting a contract offering a 20% wage increase, a $5,000 bonus, and an average 40% wage growth over four years.

The union represents workers building F-15 and F/A-18 jets, T-7 trainers, and MQ-25 drones. This is Boeing’s first defense strike since 1996. The company faces ongoing challenges after a costly 2024 passenger jet strike and reduced aircraft deliveries.

Boeing is expanding St. Louis facilities to build the new F-47A fighter jet. CEO Kelly Ortberg said Boeing will use non-union workers to maintain operations during the strike.

Sources: BBC, AP News, Bloomberg, Reuters.

Yogurt as a Tissue Repair Gel

Columbia researchers developed an injectable hydrogel from extracellular vesicles (EVs) extracted from yogurt, which act as healing agents and provide the gel’s structure through polymer crosslinking.

This hydrogel mimics living tissue and promotes angiogenesis and anti-inflammatory immune responses in mice without adverse effects. Yogurt offers a low-cost, abundant EV source, enabling large-scale production.

The hydrogel’s injectability allows targeted delivery to damaged tissues for sustained healing, addressing limitations of current treatments. The platform also works with EVs from mammalian cells and bacteria, broadening medical applications in wound healing and regenerative medicine.

Sources: SciTechDaily, Sciencedaily, Cosmosmagazine, DiscoverMag.

New Bioplastic Invented

Researchers have created BCBN, a bioplastic grown by bacteria in a spinning bioreactor that aligns cellulose fibers, achieving tensile strength up to 436 MPa—similar to low-carbon steel.

Adding hexagonal boron nitride nanosheets raises strength to 553 MPa and triples heat dissipation. This method embeds nanoscale additives during growth, enabling tailored properties. BCBN’s biodegradability presents a sustainable substitute for petroleum-based plastics, with potential applications in electronics, energy storage, and thermal management.

Meanwhile, glass bottles were found to release up to 50 times more microplastics into drinks than plastic or cans, partly due to paint on caps. BCBN could reduce plastic pollution through greener materials.

Sources: Sciencealert, Zmescience.

“There are men in this world built like those false-front stores you see out west—a grand, painted facade that promises a palace, but if you step inside, you find it's just a dusty little shack with nothing on the shelves.”

Did you know we also write in-depth deep dives? They are long, packed with insights, and have received rave reviews. If you’re up for a detailed, action-packed read, check them out:

• Surge in Fraud Cases in the Age of DeepFakes

• Cognitive Decline

• The American Healthcare System

Baked with love,

Anna Eisenberg ❤️