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Data & Eggs

Volume 266

In this week’s edition: Taiwanese bubble tea’s takeover, California’s extremely wet winter, and Russia’ unsuccessful offensive attack.

01

The demand for bubble tea — a classic Asian drink that originated in Taiwan — has exploded in the United States over the last few years. Trade data from 2022 shows that tapioca balls in bubble tea are now the US’s biggest food import from Taiwan. The drink’s surging popularity has been fueled by its prevalence on TikTok, as well as the growing influence of Korea’s entertainment industry.

How Taiwanese Bubble Tea Has Taken Over the US

Culture $ (Possible Paywall)

The demand for bubble tea — a classic Asian drink that originated in Taiwan — has exploded in the United States over the last few years. Trade data from 2022 shows that tapioca balls in bubble tea are now the US’s biggest food import from Taiwan. The drink’s surging popularity has been fueled by its prevalence on TikTok, as well as the growing influence of Korea’s entertainment industry.

Read It

02

We all know that getting the proper amount of sleep is crucial to our overall health. But so many of us still force our bodies to fight sleep by consuming caffeinated beverages by day, drinking alcohol at night, and exposing ourselves to digital screens and artificial light. New research shows just how damaging it can be to have our daily routines out of sync with our biological cycles.

Many of us fight sleep. Here’s why we should stop.

Health & Wellness

We all know that getting the proper amount of sleep is crucial to our overall health. But so many of us still force our bodies to fight sleep by consuming caffeinated beverages by day, drinking alcohol at night, and exposing ourselves to digital screens and artificial light. New research shows just how damaging it can be to have our daily routines out of sync with our biological cycles.

Read It

03

Atmospheric rivers and cold winter storms have pummeled much of the western United States since December, bringing record-setting rainfall and snowpack levels. But what’s behind this endless barrage of storms? As this article from The Washington Post shows, climatologists have a decent explanation — but one lurking variable here is climate change.

The science behind California’s extremely wet winter, in maps

Environment $

Atmospheric rivers and cold winter storms have pummeled much of the western United States since December, bringing record-setting rainfall and snowpack levels. But what’s behind this endless barrage of storms? As this article from The Washington Post shows, climatologists have a decent explanation — but one lurking variable here is climate change.

Read It

04

After months of pouring soldiers into eastern Ukraine, Russia doesn’t have much to show for its effort. Its progress essentially amounts to the capture of three small settlements and part of Bakhmut, a well-known city with limited strategic value. Compare that with what Moscow had hoped to achieve through its winter offensive — seizing control of the entire Donbas region — and a breakthrough for Russia seems increasingly unlikely.

How Russia’s Offensive Ran Aground

World Affairs $

After months of pouring soldiers into eastern Ukraine, Russia doesn’t have much to show for its effort. Its progress essentially amounts to the capture of three small settlements and part of Bakhmut, a well-known city with limited strategic value. Compare that with what Moscow had hoped to achieve through its winter offensive — seizing control of the entire Donbas region — and a breakthrough for Russia seems increasingly unlikely.

Read It

05

For centuries, nobody set out to systematically and accurately map the British isles in their entirety. But then in the early 1800s, the Ordnance Survey — Britain’s national mapping agency — started creating a comprehensive picture of Britain, sheet by sheet. This article from The Economist tells the story of this famed cartographic project, which would take eight decades to complete.

How intrepid Victorian surveyors mapped the length and breadth of Britain

History

For centuries, nobody set out to systematically and accurately map the British isles in their entirety. But then in the early 1800s, the Ordnance Survey — Britain’s national mapping agency — started creating a comprehensive picture of Britain, sheet by sheet. This article from The Economist tells the story of this famed cartographic project, which would take eight decades to complete.

Read It

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