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New York Asks Residents To Turn Off Outdoor Lights To Save Migrating Birds (Maria)
The author writes, “New York state is calling on residents to turn off non-essential outdoor lighting during migration seasons to prevent bird deaths caused by light pollution. The Department of Environmental Conservation and Office of General Services are promoting the ‘Lights Out’ initiative, which directs state-owned and managed buildings to dim nonessential outdoor lighting from 11 p.m. to dawn during peak migration periods.”
Supreme Court Ruling Derails 28 Lawsuits Defending Minority Voting Rights (Dana)
From Democracy Docket: “For more than six decades, the Voting Rights Act (VRA) restricted racial gerrymanders and banned racial discrimination in voting. Then, on Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) issued a ruling in Louisiana v. Callais gutting the landmark civil rights legislation’s critical Section 2 and delivering a crippling blow to voting rights. The ruling opens the door for even more Republican gerrymanders and the dismantling of majority-minority voting districts aimed at ensuring that Black and brown Americans’ voices are heard. The effects will be felt almost immediately. According to exclusive research by Democracy Docket, the Supreme Court’s ruling will likely derail at least 28 pro-voting lawsuits that aim to stop state legislatures from drawing electoral maps that dilute the voting power of racial minorities.”
What Happened to the Meals From the White House Correspondents’ Dinner? (Reader Jim)
The author writes, “Thousands of meals went unserved Saturday during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, as gunfire outside the Washington Hilton ballroom sparked panic and cut the annual event short. Guests at the dinner received the first part of their meal — a spring pea & burrata salad — but the prime chateaubriand steak and Maine lobster was not served. But, the food didn’t go to waste, after all.”
The Invisible Force Making Food Less Nutritious (Russ)
The authors write, “Many of humanity’s most important crops — including wheat, potatoes, beans — contain fewer vitamins and minerals than they did a generation ago. The invisible culprit behind this damaging phenomenon? Carbon dioxide pollution.”
AI Just Discovered New Physics in the Fourth State of Matter (Mili)
The author writes, “Physicists have taken a major step toward using AI not just to analyze data, but to uncover entirely new laws of nature. By combining a specially designed neural network with precise 3D tracking of particles in a dusty plasma — a strange ‘fourth state of matter’ found from space to wildfires — the team revealed hidden patterns in how particles interact. Their model captured complex, one-way (non-reciprocal) forces with over 99% accuracy and even overturned long-held assumptions about how these forces behave.”
Costco Offers New Option for Its $1.50 Hot Dog Combo (Reader Steve)
From The Seattle Times: “The internet is blowing up over the first change to Costco’s $1.50 hot dog combo in 40 years. But don’t worry — the Issaquah-based big-box store isn’t budging on the price. Shoppers who need respite from the chaos of the Costco checkout area can now opt for a 16.9-ounce bottle of Kirkland Signature water instead of a fountain soda to wash down their steaming, often slightly wet hot dog. You might be thinking, ‘Who cares?’ Apparently, a lot of people. The seemingly minor change has generated major headlines.”