Major Joe to ground control

Shortly after Barbie found her voice in 1968, we were introduced to the out of this world Talking G.I. Joe. Not only did the toy astronaut have some choice catchphrases, he came with life-like hair 🤣

It’s been a while since you completed daring space missions with your G.I. Joe, but astronauts haven’t stopped theirs. After a recent stroll around the International Space Station, NASA vet Suni Williams just set a new record for spacewalking! 

Next she’ll be competing with Sting ;)

(Love nostalgia? Play today’s trivia below for a chance to win a $25 Amazon eGift Card!)

There’s just something special about train travel through Europe, and European Sleeper is taking full advantage of the resurging trend, adding another new route to be offered this year.

The rail company got several rounds of funding in 2023 that allowed it to begin offering slow rides from Brussels to Berlin via Antwerp, Rotterdam and Amsterdam, and in 2024, it began offering a route to Dresden, Saxon Switzerland, the Elbe Valley, and Prague.

This year, travellers will be able to take a European Sleeper train from Brussels to Venice via Eindhoven, Cologne, Munich, Innsbruck, Bolzano and Verona, with the value of connecting people to winter sports destinations firmly top of mind.

“This launch is a significant milestone for European Sleeper," says Chris Engelsman, the rail company’s co-founder. "Our mission is to reconnect Europe’s cities by night, providing travellers with more options for sustainable and comfortable travel. With stops in iconic locations like Innsbruck and connections to ski resorts and cultural landmarks, this route truly captures the spirit of adventure and discovery.”

Prices start fairly low for the most basic fares, but for those looking to take advantage of the full sleeper experience, fares on a three-person basis start at $125 and go up to $250, USD.

Curcumin is the ingredient in turmeric that gives it its bright yellow color, and it may also be the key to solving the rising crisis of antibiotic-resistant superbug bacteria.

Until antibiotics were discovered, infectious diseases were the leading global cause of death, and their discovery led to an average increase of 23 years in the human lifespan.

Bacterial heterogeneity allows different populations to display different cell behaviour and adapt or mutate. Over time, that heterogeneity has led to resistance to several vitally important antibiotics.

Researchers at Texas A&M published a study to show that feeding bacteria turmeric and then exposing it to light can blunt the natural variation that leads to such antibiotic resistance.

“When bacteria start becoming resistant to conventional antibiotics, we have what we call an antibiotic catastrophe,” said Dr. Vanderlei Bagnato, professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering and senior author on the study. “To overcome this challenge, we need alternative ways to either kill the superbugs or find a novel way to modify natural processes within the bacteria so that antibiotics start to act again.” 

Bagnato and his team found the turmeric experiment led to “deleterious reactions” in the antibiotic-resistant microbes, ultimately killing them and restoring antibiotic supremacy.

The Doobie Brothers announced they’ll launch a North American tour this August in celebration of their reunion album with Michael McDonald.

"We're so looking forward to the 2025 summer tour!" Patrick Simmons said in an official statement. "We'll be celebrating the release of our new album, Walk This Road, and we're excited to be performing new songs from the record."

One of the biggest and most important American rock bands of all time, the Brothers Doob got their start in San Jose 55 years ago, shining light on a Bay Area that desperately needed it after the wave known as the Summer of Love crested and rolled back out into the ocean.

Their meteoric rise led to the typical fallings out of drug-addicted rock bands struggling to deal with the pressures of fame, and by 1981, the wheels had fallen off.

Though a reunion happened several years later, the new record will be the first since 1980 that McDonald is featured on, and then it’s off to the races.

"We'll warm up with shows in the U.K. and Ireland then hit the road back in the good old U.S.A.," Simmons added. "Can't wait to see you all and bring some new music to our fans. Having the Coral Reefer Band on board with us at these shows really makes this a special experience for the audience and all of us." You can check out the tour dates here.

Coca Cola is tapping into nostalgia again with the launch of its Orange Cream flavor after consumers overwhelmingly requested it.

It’s the first play of its kind after Coke phased out “Spiced,” which combined classic Coke with raspberry and “spices.” The Orange Cream flavor will taste exactly like what you think, bringing back memories of hot summer days when you were just a wee one.

The flavor was invented around 1905, according to Food Dive, but its popularity has been steadily resurfacing for around a decade, according to data provided by Google Trends.

It’s the latest beverage to be launched as part of Coke’s Creations platform, which it launched in 2022 as a way to attract younger customers while still maintaining the business of long-time loyal fans of the Atlanta-based brand.

Getting new customers in the door will, according to Coke, lead them to the wide variety of other types of beverages besides soft drinks, including teas, waters, sports drinks, hydration drinks, and juices.

When it comes to variety and comedy, you can’t do much better than The Carol Burnett Show. You can probably still remember sitting on the carpet in the living room in absolute stitches over Carol and the cast 🤣 

If you’re looking to relive those memories, then look no further! Open up today’s trivia and prepare for some laughs. Complete the game and earn yourself a shot at a $25 Amazon eGift Card ;)

Winner will be announced tomorrow afternoon—keep an eye on your inbox!*

Have a great day ahead Staker!

Today’s issue written by Michael Cowan, Joey Cowan, and Maureen Norman.


*SEE FULL STAKE TRIVIA CONTEST RULES HERE.