Good morning, Quartz readers!
Here’s what you need to know
China ordered the US to shut its consulate in Chengdu. It’s retaliation for the closure of China’s Houston diplomatic outpost by today. US secretary of state Mike Pompeo made an urgent call for “free nations” to stand up to the “new tyranny” of China, and Asian markets slid on news of the tensions.
Major movies are delayed again. Even as theaters in many countries open their doors and are desperate for paying customers, Disney decided to postpone the new Avatar and Star Wars films, and remove Mulan from schedules completely.
Thousands of people continue to protest in Portland. For the 56th day in a row, a mostly white crowd of protesters gathered to voice their disapproval of police brutality and racial injustice. Anonymous federal agents have been deployed in the city, further stoking tensions.
President Trump canceled the Florida part of the GOP convention. He’ll still receive his formal nomination for November’s presidential election in North Carolina, but Florida’s Covid-19 “flare-up” means that the bigger event won’t happen.
Taylor Swift released a new album. The musician announced Folklore to her fans just hours before it dropped. “I’ve told these stories to the best of my ability with all the love, wonder, and whimsy they deserve,” she said.
The details of China’s Mars mission
🚀 Yesterday, China launched Tianwen-1, an ambitious mission to put a sensor-covered spacecraft in orbit around Mars and land a rover on the surface.
📃 Tianwen means “Heavenly Question” or “quest for heavenly truth,” a reference to classic verses by the third-century poet Qu Yuan that also inspired Pink Floyd.
🔭 The space mission’s questions focus on the composition of Mars, including water there, how the planet evolved, and the possible presence of extraterrestrial life.
⏰ Why now? The Earth and Mars are as close as they will be for the next 26 months. The United Arab Emirates launched a mission last week, and the US is launching the largest Mars rover ever on July 30.
🌏 The space race isn’t over. Chinese leaders believe landing on Mars will enhance their nation’s global prestige and demonstrate an alternative to US technology leadership.
Get the latest on all things space by signing for Quartz’s free weekly Space Business newsletter 👇
Charting electric bike sales
The electric bicycle’s popularity continues to surge. Through May, e-bike sales more than doubled in the US (✦ Quartz member exclusive) compared to 2019, and consulting firm Deloitte expects 300 million of them on streets globally by 2023. The pandemic has spurred interest in e-bikes as an option for commuters who want to avoid public transportation, as well as people looking for a new way to have fun outdoors.
✦ For members: Execs are getting skittish about AI
Companies increasingly rely on artificial intelligence to automate crucial tasks—like deciding who should get credit and triaging patients seeking health care—and corporate boards are starting to worry about the ethical ramifications of turning so much power over to the machines.
But recent surveys of executives show that those concerns haven’t necessarily led to actions:
60%: AI executives who reported feeling top-down pressure from their boards to beef up their efforts on ethics
33%: AI execs surveyed who are creating ethics policies or oversight boards to do something about their concerns
56% Companies that said they are slowing adoption of AI tools because of the risks involved
“Interest is increasing, but we’re starting from a surprisingly low baseline,” said McKinsey technology consultant Michael Chui.
✦ Read more about how companies are handling these ethical dilemmas in our field guide on AI’s power problem, which you can access by signing up for a Quartz membership, now 40% off.
You asked about cloth masks
What’s the best cloth mask?
The best mask is the one you’ll wear! But if you’re looking for the most effective reusable mask, the World Health Organization has issued some recommendations for superior droplet protection. First things first, you want a three-layer mask; more layers = more filtration. To amp it up, each layer should be made with a different fabric to serve a different role. Next to your mouth goes cotton or something else soft and woven. The middle should be a non-woven material, like a Kleenex or the polypropylene in reusable shopping bags, to increase filtration. And the outside should be something that repels moisture, like a nylon or polyester blend. We haven’t seen any masks marketed that look like this, so you may have to DIY for now.
Surprising discoveries
Qantas pilots drew a kangaroo tail in the sky. The aerial art marked the airline’s final Boeing 747 flight.
Ritter Sport’s square chocolate bars carried the day. A German court ruled that the brand can claim sole permission to use the square shape.
Mosquitos are just really thirsty. Our bodies’ ability to store water explains why one species prefers humans to other animals.
Robotic dolphins could be coming to an aquarium near you. The surprisingly realistic animatronics cost $26 million each.
Endurance athletes are setting a record number of records. With official races canceled, many are searching for a different form of glory.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, aerial kangaroos, and robotic dolphins to hi@qz.com. Get the most out of Quartz by downloading our app on iOS and becoming a member. Today’s Daily Brief was brought to you by Hasit Shah, Tim Fernholz, Dan Kopf, Nicolás Rivero, Katherine Ellen Foley, and Liz Webber.