Spy agencies brief people in power. We brief you. Each week we bring you one story that matters, and a few that don’t!

Your Brief for January 23, 2025: Russian Bone Vinyl, Tina Turner's long-lost record, life without light, discovery in Pompeii and more!

News

New Glenn Launch

Last Thursday, Blue Origin successfully launched its New Glenn rocket on its first orbital mission. The 320-foot rocket carried Blue Ring, a spacecraft designed to reposition satellites, into orbit from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The launch marks a significant step forward for Blue Origin as it seeks to compete with SpaceX in the private space race. New Glenn, a partially reusable, seven-engine rocket, is designed to support a range of missions, from deploying satellites to interplanetary exploration. The craft is contracted with NASA to launch a lunar lander for the Artemis III mission in 2027, which aims to return humans to the moon. Blue Origin anticipates up to eight New Glenn launches this year.

Image Credit: Blue Origin

True Spies

You Me, Same Same

Could you make friends and influence people?

Almost everyone in our lives is an asset. We size them up. We earn their trust - or not. And in exchange for our time, friendship, insight, and expertise, we gain something. A good laugh. A sympathetic ear. An informed opinion. An attractive sum of money. And sometimes all of the above. If that sounds rather cynical, set aside the black-and-white mindset and put yourself in the shoes of a spy…

As a CIA case officer, Ryan Hillsberg recruited assets for the Agency by transforming himself into their ideal companion—a confidante par excellence. But maintaining a degree of professional detachment isn't always easy. In his time with the CIA, Ryan honed the ability to turn people he’d just met into close personal friends—a skill he put to work to recruit foreign assets for the Agency. But it’s a fine line between persuasion and manipulation, and Ryan emphasizes that what makes a good operations officer is the ability to live in the gray. A lot of people that have a black-and-white mentality don't do well!

Who are your friends? How do you know who to trust? Join Hillsberg on a secretive operation in this week’s podcast selection, ‘You Me, Same Same’, and learn what it takes to recruit for the CIA! We can’t share too many specifics. But we can say his mission unfolded somewhere in Europe… Somewhere in the world of the gray!

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History

Discovery In Pompeii

What secrets lie beneath Pompeii’s ashes?

Archaeologists have uncovered a lavish private bathhouse in Pompeii, potentially the largest ever found in the city. This grand complex includes hot, warm, and cold rooms, intricate frescoes, and a massive plunge pool. The excavation, which spanned two years, offers a glimpse into the luxury enjoyed by ancient Romans. The dig also revealed a chilling reminder of the city’s tragic past: two skeletons were discovered in the house. One belonged to a woman, aged between 35 and 50, found clutching jewelry and coins. The other was a younger man, likely in his teens or early 20s. Both had barricaded themselves in a small room, only to succumb to the pyroclastic flow—a deadly surge of volcanic gas and ash—that destroyed Pompeii in AD79.

Image Credit: Parco Archeologico di Pompei

Technology

Digital Identification

Will passports and licenses soon be digital?

The UK is set to introduce digital driving licenses this year as part of a broader push to modernize public services. Accessible through an app, the digital licenses could be used to identify individuals who purchase alcohol, vote, or board domestic flights. The app will employ advanced security features like biometrics and multifactor authentication, ensuring only the license owner can access it. One proposed feature could let users hide their addresses in specific settings, such as bars or shops, to increase safety. With over 34 million license holders in England, the initiative could streamline access to public services while maintaining user privacy. Government officials are also exploring additional features: tax payments, benefits claims, and national insurance numbers.

Culture

Russian Bone Vinyl

Why did Russians turn X-rays into vinyl records?

In post-WWII Soviet Russia, Stalin’s government banned Western music, leaving fans desperate for alternatives. 19-year-old sound engineer Ruslan Bogoslowski discovered an ingenious workaround: discarded X-rays could be used as makeshift vinyl. With traditional materials scarce, hospital waste provided a creative and accessible solution for music lovers defying censorship!

Known as "bone music" or "bone vinyl," these records featured ghostly images of ribs and skulls etched into their surface and carried the sounds of banned Western hits. This underground movement became a powerful symbol of defiance, as music lovers risked severe punishment to preserve their connection to the world beyond the Iron Curtain. Over the next two decades, more than a million of these fragile records were pressed, giving Russians a secret window into global music trends. Despite government restrictions, “bone vinyl” helped keep the spirit of creativity alive during an era of intense cultural repression.

Image Credit: X-Ray Audio/Stephen Coates

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Science

New Depression Treatment

Could this nasal spray transform depression treatment?

The FDA has approved Johnson & Johnson’s Spravato as the first standalone nasal spray for treatment-resistant depression—a possible breakthrough for the 7 million Americans whose depression doesn’t respond to standard therapies. Derived from ketamine, Spravato provides relief within 24 hours—weeks faster than traditional antidepressants. Administered in certified clinics under supervision, the drug is expected to see rising demand, with sales projected to reach $5 billion annually. Spravato was first approved in 2019 for use alongside oral antidepressants, but this new authorization increases its role in mental health care.

Image Credit: Johnson & Johnson

Music

Tina Turner's Long-Lost Record

Have you heard Tina Turner’s rediscovered track?

A long-lost Tina Turner song, ‘Hot For You, Baby’, recorded during sessions for her iconic 1984 album Private Dancer, has been rediscovered and played on BBC Radio 2 for the first time! Originally intended as an album track, the master tape was found while her label prepared a 40th-anniversary re-release.

The up-tempo rocker, rich with 1980s flair, was written by George Young and Harry Vanda and first recorded by John Paul Young in 1979. Produced by John Grant, the track reflects Turner's powerful vocal style. Private Dancer marked her triumphant return after overcoming personal and professional struggles, including her escape from an abusive marriage. With endorsements from stars like Rod Stewart, the Rolling Stones, and David Bowie, Turner’s second act in music became legendary. Listen here for a glimpse into Turner’s artistry during a pivotal era of music.

Image Credit: Shutterstock/Blueee77/Tina Turner

Nature

Life Without Light

Does oxygen production require sunlight?

Scientists studying metal nodules on the ocean floor have discovered that the lumps produce oxygen in total darkness. Traditionally, oxygen production was thought to require sunlight for photosynthesis, but this process—happening over 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) beneath the sea—suggests life-supporting oxygen could form in environments without light!

The implications could be profound. Similar processes on other planets or moons could create oxygen-rich environments where life might thrive. The discovery has sparked debates among scientists and raised concerns from seabed mining companies as harvesting metals from nodules could disrupt unique ecosystems. In collaboration with NASA, researchers plan to study this phenomenon further, using remotely operated vehicles to explore the ocean’s deepest regions and test its potential for extraterrestrial life.

Image Credit: Andrew Sweetman/SAMS

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