Hi, Quartz members!
This week, the US Environmental Protection Agency officially determined that the lead emitted from small planes that fly in and out of general aviation airports is a danger to public health. You might recall a special series Quartz ran in 2022 about the dangers of leaded airplane fuel and the US government’s frustrating resistance to phasing it out. In the wake of our investigation, a Congressional subcommittee held a hearing on the matter last summer.
The toxic fuel isn’t outlawed yet. But this week’s development is a sign that it may soon go the way of leaded gasoline for automobiles, which started disappearing in the 1970s and was formally banned by the EPA in 1996.
Know of a scandal hiding in plain sight that you wish someone would do something about? As always, we’d love to hear from you.
5 things we especially liked on Quartz
Bezos’ big bet. How did Amazon beat Google, Meta, and Apple in the race to put satellites in space? The tl;dr from Tim Fernholz: “It took a founder, Jeff Bezos, who is serious about space; a team of engineers driven away from SpaceX by Elon Musk; and a company whose credibility in the markets let it plan at least $10 billion in capital expenditures without yet shaking the confidence of investors.” But seriously, do read the full piece.
Carbon-negative construction. In the Bahamas, a building material made from recycled industrial waste is sucking carbon out of the atmosphere. Faustine Ngila reports on the emergence of Partanna Global’s cement alternative, and what it could mean for island nations on the front lines of climate change.
In the News. With Starboard Value sinking its teeth into News Corp., Clarisa Diaz updates a Quartz classic on the activist fund’s greatest hits.
Only 1300% over budget. The Sydney Opera House turned 50 this week. Ananya Bhattarcharya built you a slideshow with fun facts and of course some beautiful photos of the iconic cultural landmark.
Resigned to return to office. If you were rooting for remote work, we have bad news for you. In Quartz at Work, Anna Oakes reads the tea leaves on RTO.
5 great stories from elsewhere
Invested in it. Lululemon Athletica founder Chip Wilson is pumping $100 million into efforts to cure the rare form of muscular dystrophy he was diagnosed with 36 years ago. Is this capitalism at work? Bloomberg News tells the story of the man who invented women’s athleisure—and explores the philosophical questions raised when rich people get to decide which diseases get research funding.
History lesson. Leaving aside the fact that the Yom Kippur War was between sovereign states, the 1973 invasion of Israel led by Egypt and Syria has notable parallels to the attack on Israel this month by Hamas. Foreign Affairs lays out the remarkable similarities in the surprise incursions, and in the potential pathways to peace that remain.
Certified controversy. More than two dozen B Corporations are asking the group that certified them, B Lab, to strip four Havas Media subsidiaries of their B Corp designation and revisit the rules for membership in the corporate do-gooding community. Adweek reports on the outrage triggered by Havas’ winning bid for Shell’s media business, and how B Lab might treat future B Corp applicants that work with fossil fuel companies.
Box, box. With fun graphics and enlightening explanations, The Washington Post tells you everything you ever wanted to know about the art of the Formula One pit stop.
Better competitors. The Lakers had the Celtics, Chris Evert had Martina Navratilova, and now the Las Vegas Aces have the New York Liberty. The New Yorker examines the most dynamic rivalry in the WNBA, analyzing how each team has changed the other.
🗓️ What to watch for this week
Here’s what our newsroom will be keeping an eye on in the coming week:
- Monday: Will we know the winner of Argentina’s presidential election? Will he have four cloned dogs named after conservative American economists?
- Tuesday: Britney Spears releases her memoir, but if you’re more into reading income statements, watch these earnings: Microsoft, Alphabet, Coca-Cola, GM, Spotify, and Snap...
- Wednesday: …then Meta’s…
- Thursday: …then Amazon’s…
- Friday: …then ExxonMobil’s
Thanks for reading! Here’s to the week ahead, and don’t hesitate to reach out with comments, questions, feedback, cement alternatives, and exciting team rivalries. Sunday Reads was brought to you by Heather Landy and Morgan Haefner.