Today’s Big Story

That’s Fire

Why humans are drawn to extremely spicy or sour foods

Maybe it’s the rush. Or maybe it’s the satisfaction of knowing you can withstand something that others cannot. But there’s a real thrill to eating something extremely sour or spicy right? Hell, there’s even a popular show devoted to watching famous people endure the spiciest of chicken wings. So popular that it spawned its own line of hot sauces.

A firery bag of chips. An extemely sour pickle or candy … they come with a side of excitement, right? But why are we drawn to these foods that are seemingly painful? This is exactly the question scientists set out to answer by studying why humans are drawn to the perceived danger of extremely hot, acidic and sour foods.

Like watching a horror movie, the experience stimulates a fight-or-flight response during which the brain releases endorphins and dopamine, hormones that make people feel good. After the brain determines everything is safe, there’s a sense of accomplishment in overcoming a dangerous situation. No need to rock climb or ride roller coasters, just order the dish on the menu with the most hot pepper graphics.

Interestingly, researchers have discoverd that sour and spicy foods generate different responses by activating different nerves in the body. When saliva breaks down spicy food, capsaicin—the chemical compound that gives chili peppers their heat—travels to the throat, nose and esophagus and activates nerves involved in the sense of touch, one doctor explained to NBC News. The ensuing pain is similar to touching a hot stove. “You can feel spice everywhere,” he said.

On the other hand, sourness activates taste nerves. When people eat sour foods, the body initiates a pain reaction because it detects an acidic substance that could be harmful if ingested. In both cases, the brain can override the initial pain reaction. “That’s where the pleasure comes,” says Paul Rozin, a professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania. “From the fact that you’re overriding your body’s signal not to do this.”

Russia Withdraws Some Forces From Ukraine

Ukraine attacks with drones and says it is advancing deeper into Russian territory

Ukraine pounded Russian regions with missiles and drones on Wednesday as Kyiv said it was advancing deeper in the biggest foreign incursion into Russia for decades, which the White House said posed a “real dilemma” for President Vladimir Putin.

In repsonse, Russia is withdrawing some of its military forces from Ukraine to respond to the attacks—the first sign that Kyiv’s incursion is forcing Moscow to rejigger its invasion force. U.S. officials said their still seeking to determine the significance of Russia’s move and didn’t say how many troops the U.S. assesses Russia is shifting. But the American assessment bolsters claims by Ukrainian officials who said last week’s surprise invasion of Kursk province had drawn Russian forces away from Ukraine, where Moscow’s advantage in manpower and equipment is allowing them to grind forward in several places.

“Russia brought war to others, and now it is coming home,” President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine said in an address to the nation. However, this is a major gamble, especially since Russia dominates much of the frontline in Ukraine and has made significant inroads in the east. If Ukrainian troops are able to hold territory, they could stretch the capacity of Russian troops, deliver a major embarrassment for Putin and get a bargaining chip for any peace negotiations.

Feds to Expand Bird Flu Testing

The WHO added 24 pathogens to its pandemic watchlist, hoping to predict the next global outbreak

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said on Tuesday it will expand bird-flu testing of beef entering the food supply as part of its response to the ongoing outbreak among dairy cattle, adding that U.S. beef and dairy products remain safe to consume.

According to Reuters, USDA officials said the tests will begin in mid-September and urged livestock workers to remain vigilant. They are focusing on identifying infected animals and removing them from processing lines before the virus can be spread. The agency will also use the opportunity for contact tracing and epidemiological research.

Meanwhile, in the first update since Covid-19 swept the planet, a World Health Organization panel has dramatically expanded the scope of its index of so-called “priority pathogens”. Already notorious diseases like Zika, yellow fever and avian influenza are on the list, but now it’s adding bird flu and monkeypox (along with 22 other threats) to the official watchlist of the pathogens that could trigger the next pandemic.

That’s All, Folks!

Warner Bros. Discovery is deleting beloved cartoons—and some may be gone forever

To my fellow elder millenials, let’s pour one out for another part of childhood. The Cartoon Network is no more. Well, the website for Cartoon Network, which had existed online since 1998, has been scrubbed from the internet. What once was a video-heavy portal for shows, including The Powerpuff Girls, Adventure Time, Teen Titans Go! and Steven Universe, now redirects users to the streaming service Max, also owned by Warner Bros. Discovery.

As of Thursday, a pop-up message greeting users to the Max site reads, in part, "Looking for episodes of your favorite Cartoon Network shows? Check out what's available to stream on Max (subscription required)." Slate decries this as a pretty ugly tactic: “In recent years, we’ve seen once inescapable media disappear from the internet at a frightening rate” and calls it “a cheap ploy engineered to force viewers into signing up for paid streamers.”

In a statement, a spokesperson told Variety: “We are focusing on the Cartoon Network shows and social media where we find consumers are the most engaged and there is a meaningful potential for growth.” The rep noted that on linear TV, the Cartoon Network will continue to offer 11 hours of programming from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. But who the hell is watching much regular TV these days?

The Long Read

George Clooney and Brad Pitt are Hollywood’s BFFs

It’s not about doing everything at once …