Skimm'd while celebrating our 9th birthday

"20 to 50 goats" – What Hawaii is giving away in a lottery to protect its historic park. A graze investment.

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The Story

Richard Branson just became the first billionaire to test out his own spacecraft.

Didn't know that was a contest.

It is. Yesterday, Branson and five other crew members hopped aboard Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo Unity – a space plane. Family and friends (and Khalid) waved as Unity went to infinity and beyond. A mother ship carried Unity about 50,000 feet into the air before letting the space plane fly on its own. Unity fired up its engine and traveled three times the speed of sound to the edge of space (or a little over 53 miles above the New Mexico desert). And gave all its passengers a three- to four-minute taste of weightlessness and a snapshot of the Earth's curve before safely gliding back home. The flight lasted about an hour. And since the passengers reached an altitude that's classified as the edge of space, they earned their astronaut wings.

Out of this world.

Metaphorically, yes. Up until now, space agencies like NASA had been dominating the space exploration game by carrying out missions and training for astronauts. But the plan(et)s are changing as private companies take flight. Just last year, Elon Musk's SpaceX became the first in nearly a decade to carry out a spaceflight from US soil. (And the first private company to send people into orbit.) Boeing and Axiom Space have plans in the works, too. And then there's Blue Origin, which will take off in eight days with Jeff Bezos on board. The Amazon founder may be hoping to beat the hype around Branson – especially since Virgin Galactic's flight was coincidentally (or not) moved up after Bezos revealed his plan for takeoff.

Billionaires, amirite?

Yes, but not everyone's seeing stars. After more than a year of living through a pandemic that's killed over 4 million people worldwide, some are saying 'space is great and all but we've got some sh*t to figure out on this planet.' Including things like the growing effects of climate change and how space tourism could play into that. And Branson's 'childhood dream come true' comes after his airline (Virgin Atlantic) asked employees to take eight weeks of unpaid leave last year. And following Branson's request for a gov bailout to help the airline. Virgin Atlantic ultimately filed for bankruptcy protection in the US. Not flying high. Still, there seems to be a wow factor about inching closer to space tourism. Branson's company plans to send (very rich) regular people into space in 2022. Tickets for 'zero gravity coming right up' have reportedly sold for $250,000.

theSkimm

Space tourism is on the lift off. And could bring nearly $4 billion in annual revenue by the end of the decade. But while billionaires enjoy the thrill of space, others are focused on dealing with Earth's problems.

And Also...This

What people are watching...

Cuba. Yesterday, thousands of people took to the streets to join the biggest anti-government protests there in decades. In several of the island's towns, Cubans expressed anger and frustration over high prices, food and medicine shortages, and concern over the gov's handling of the pandemic. For years, the country – already struggling under its oppressive Communist government – has seen a worsening economic crisis. The gov's partly blamed US sanctions for its decline. Now, the pandemic has made the economic situation worse as shutdowns have slowed tourism – a lifeline for revenue, food, and fuel. The protests – not seen in decades – are rare for a country that's known to crack down on dissent. Demonstrators took to streaming the protests on Facebook. But some of them reportedly went missing. And the authorities soon after shut down the internet.

• A divided front: Many protesters shouted "Freedom" and reportedly called on President Miguel Díaz-Canel to step down. But some were apparently met with pro-gov supporters who instead shouted slogans in favor of late President Fidel Castro and the revolution.

Where people are feeling the heat…

The Western US. It's dealing with its third heat wave this summer. On Friday, California's Death Valley reached 130°F. On Saturday, Las Vegas hit 117°F. St. George, Utah, did too – it tied an all-time high state record. About 30 million people were under excessive heat alerts, including in Arizona, Utah, Oregon, and Idaho. This comes as wildfires in the West continue to rage in the region, burning over 80,000 acres. Strong winds are driving the flames. Dozens of buildings have been destroyed and it's led to evacuations including in California, Nevada, and Oregon. Two firefighters have died in Arizona.

• Warning bells: Over a week ago, a severe heat wave struck the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia, killing hundreds of people. Surprise, a study found that human-caused climate change made a heat wave in the PNW 150 times more likely. And scientists warn that unless things change, the warming climate will lead to more frequent heat waves and wildfires.

Why back-to-school sales are looking extra nice…

The CDC's new guidance. On Friday, health officials said 'let's get kids back to school in the fall.' And offered some guidelines to help local govs make it work. Think: no masks needed for fully vaxxed kids and adults. (Those who haven't been jabbed should still mask up.) And keeping ventilation, cleaning, and social distancing on the lesson plan. Great news for overwhelmed parents. But also for kids, since data shows students have fallen behind in their learning since attending Zoom university.

Psst...Still got questions about mask guidelines? We've got some answers.

Who's singing 'we are the champions'...

These athletes. UFC fighter Dustin Poirier came out on top. In the Wimbledon world, tennis star Ashleigh Barty gets to throw a party. And Novak Djokovic is now part of a three-way tie with his 20th Grand Slam title. Things got Messi when Argentina beat Brazil 1-0 in the Copa América final – scoring their first major title since 1993. And Italy is drinking from the Euro Cup. Salute.

What's seeing change…

Charlottesville, VA. On Saturday, the city removed the statues of Confederate Generals Robert E Lee and Stonewall Jackson. It comes nearly four years after the deadly "Unite the Right" rally that saw white supremacists (carrying Confederate and Nazi flags) protesting the removal of said statues.

What's got people saying 'that's the sh*t'...

This eco-friendly toilet.

You heard it here first: It's our 9th bday this week. And we don't think we should be the only one getting presents. So every day through Friday, we're celebrating by giving you, our party guests, exclusive discounts from our fave brands. But act fast: Each only lasts 24 hours.

First up: We've got 15% off Thrive Causemetics, the conscious beauty brand with high-performance products that give back.* And 20% off activewear and more at Girlfriend Collective. You can check it all out here.

Also this week: We're revealing Skimm'rs favorite products of the year (so far). The presents just don't stop coming. Today, peep our problem-solving faves plus all-around top products.

Here are today's recs to help you live a smarter life…

1. How to turn your basket of laundry into a bed of roses. The Laundress teamed up with world-class perfumers to create their No.723 collection. Think: highly effective detergent, fabric conditioner, and fabric freshener in the best rose, geranium, and jasmine scent. Here's 25% off.*

2. Must-have items to help you organize your closet. Because getting dressed on the reg is a thing again. And fishing through a pool of mismatched shoes doesn't make getting ready any easier.

3. Sustainable online grocery shopping that doesn't require a subscription. Hive makes it easy to order your favorite products, from pantry items to snacks to things for your pet. Every order is carbon neutral and is filled with 100% recyclable packing materials. Time to stock up.

4. A set of false eyelashes that'll add natural-looking volume. They're pre-trimmed, cruelty-free, and made with a lightweight nylon band. You'll still be able to apply eyeliner. And with just enough length, they'll upgrade your look without being distracting. Fabulash.

Skimm’rs

We like to celebrate the wins, big and small. Let us know how your friends, neighbors, coworkers (and yes, even you) are making career moves, checking off goals, or making an impact in the community.

Winner, winner...Jasmine H (NC). She launched Compass Coordinators, a resource helping those experiencing the loss of a loved one or divorce. And helps people navigate the legal paperwork that comes with it. She also won first prize in Daring to Disrupt as an inspiring woman entrepreneur.

Between the pages...Samantha S (MN). Her debut novel, Dovetails in Tall Grass, comes out on August 24th. It's Inspired by the true story of the 38 Dakota-Sioux men hanged in 1862. And she is offering a writing scholarship for Native/Indigenous woman writers. Apply here.

(Some) Birthdays...Ellen Jaffe (FL), Lindsey Marshall (NY), Kat Kahanic (NY), Maureen Langhammer (MA), Solaire Atallah (GA), Amanda Davis (KS), Lauren Henderson (IN), Ellen DeFrance (OH), Daniel Robbins (IL), Lydia Clinkscales (TX), Dana Bruneau (NY), Kayla Young (OH), Rishona Campbell (PA), Lauren Henderson (IN), Ally Baron (GA)

*Paging all members of theSkimm. Reach out here for a chance to be featured.

Skimm More

We've got product recs to help solve all your annoying summer problems. Like deodorant that works, a drink chiller, and leave-in cream to help with frizzy hair.

And if you're looking for other smart ways to spend your time…

• Listen to our news podcast "Skimm This" for clarity on the biggest stories of the week.

• Tune in to our career podcast "Skimm'd from the Couch" for tips to build your resume.

• Subscribe to our "Skimm Money" newsletter to keep up to date with your wallet.

• Sign up for our "Skimm Your Life" newsletter for curated shopping, reads, and entertainment recs.

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Skimm’d by Rashaan Ayesh, Maria del Carmen Corpus, Mariza Smajlaj, Clem Robineau, and Julie Shain