Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
Alphabet publishes fourth-quarter earnings. It’s the first report since founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin stepped down last month. Investors want to see if the fertile “Google other” revenue source, which includes cloud services, the app store, and hardware, keeps growing exuberantly.
The Iowa caucuses take place… The Democratic presidential hopeful who wins the Iowa vote, the first of the primaries, usually gets a boost in funding and attention. The famously low-tech voting process in Iowa is under scrutiny over hacking fears.
…while Donald Trump’s trial heads to a finale. Meanwhile senators hear closing arguments Monday, debate Tuesday, and vote, likely to acquit the president, Wednesday.
Over the weekend
The Kansas City Chiefs won their first Super Bowl in five decades. Superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes led the team to a comeback victory against the San Francisco 49ers with two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter.
China’s stock markets tanked on the first day of trading after an extended holiday. Firms trading in the Shanghai and the Shenzhen stock exchanges shed more than 8%, reflecting China’s increasing isolation from the global economy due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The US announced more evacuations from China. Secretary of state Mike Pompeo said on Monday that more flights will remove US citizens from the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak, days after the US said it would bar foreigners who had visited China from entering the country.
The UK promised to tighten restrictions on terrorism convicts. Tougher rules might include the end of early release, after it emerged that an attacker who injured two people with a knife in London on Sunday had left prison halfway into his sentence. The government had made similar promises after an incident in November.
India released its national budget. Under the plan, the government will increase spending and reduce income taxes in a bid to resuscitate growth, which has fallen to a 10-year low. Plans to rein in the fiscal deficit will be delayed.
Quartz Membership
Hundreds of startups exist to sell you a better night’s rest. The $70 billion sleep aid industry is thriving, with high-tech mattresses, sleep trackers, and even cuddly robots promising to solve the world’s insomnia. Quartz looks at how sleep startups monetized a basic function of life—and why consumers are buying in.
Quartz Daily Obsession
Halftime shows had an unexpected beginning. Super Bowl viewers in particular have come to expect a megastar-studded spectacle, but the sporting interlude began as a way to market a new breed of dog. Don’t change the channel, it’s the Quartz Daily Obsession.
Matters of debate
High-speed rail services can increase the talent pool for your company board. Researchers studied the impact of expensive, fast trains in Europe.
Electric scooters are the key to green transit. Changing road laws to formally legalize scooters will pave the way for other alternatives to cars.
The teen vaping “epidemic” might not exist. Complete figures from a US government survey suggest good news for young people’s health.
Surprising discoveries
More and more cities are declaring climate emergencies. Quartz’s charts show you the scale of the problem.
A shoe released in 1983 is still incredibly popular today. Nike’s Air Force 1 was the second top-selling sneaker in the US in 2019.
Detectives can now date fingerprints accurately. By examining how hand oils corrode over time, scientists can tell when a print was made, give or take a day.
Albatrosses strapped with sensors are spying on illegal fishing boats. They can travel vast distances and are attracted to the vessels.
A famous Italian soccer team has now fielded three generations of the same family. Daniel Maldini follows his father Paolo, and grandfather Cesare, at AC Milan.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, basic sneakers, and cheap foam beds to hi@qz.com. Get the most out of Quartz by downloading our app on iOS or Android, and becoming a member. Today’s Daily Brief was brought to you by Luiz Romero and Hasit Shah.