Hurricane Relief Efforts

• On October 2, 2024, President Biden approved deploying 1,000 soldiers to aid communities impacted by the hurricane with food, water, and supplies.
• These soldiers will support more than 4,800 federal personnel already providing assistance.
• Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina have a major disaster declaration, enabling residents to apply for federal aid.
• The president intends to ask Congress to pass an emergency funding package for recovery efforts.
• The American Red Cross and other nonprofits are offering temporary shelters and meals to tens of thousands.
• The NFL has pledged $8 million to support those in need.
• State governments, corporations, and businesses are donating cash and essential supplies for relief.

Earthworms Impact

• Studies revealed earthworms increase crop yields and protect plants from microplastics.
• In late 2023, Colorado State University (CSU) found earthworms produce 6.5% of global food production annually, about 140 million tons
• This amount is comparable to Russia's annual grain harvest, the world's fourth largest.

CSU Study Details

• CSU's study surveyed earthworm populations, soil properties, and crop yields worldwide, focusing on rice, maize, wheat, barley, soybeans, and peas.
• Earthworms significantly impacted developing countries, increasing grain yields by 10% in Sub-Saharan Africa and 8% in Latin America.
• Farmers in these regions may depend on earthworm-rich organic matter due to limited fertilizer and pesticide access.
• Sustainable soil management can leverage biodiversity to produce more sustainable agroecosystems.

How Earthworms Help

• Earthworm burrowing loosens and aerates the soil, enhancing water drainage and underground storage.
• Constant movement helps churn soil organic matter, improving nutrient availability for plants.

Microplastic Protection

• A 2024 Nankai University study found earthworms protect plants from microplastic pollution.
• Tomato plants in soil with microplastics thrived when earthworms were present and resisted common plant-eating bugs.
• Earthworms may boost the tomato plants’ immune systems, increasing resilience to environmental changes.

Spider Deception

• Orb-weaver spiders manipulate male firefly mating signals to catch more prey.
• Araneus ventricosus spiders are nocturnal orb-weavers in China, Japan, and Korea.
• They build webs when fireflies emerge to attract mates.
• Female fireflies emit single flashes for mating, while males emit two flashes.

Xinhua Fu's Observation

• Xinhua Fu observed many male fireflies but few females in orb-weaver spider webs.
• Ensnared fireflies emitted a single flash, mimicking female fireflies.

Experiment Details

• Researchers divided 161 orb weaver webs into four groups to determine if the altered signal attracted more males:
  • Male firefly on a web with a spider present
  • Male firefly but no spider
  • Male firefly and spider, firefly's light blocked
  • Control group (no fireflies or spiders)
• The first group, with both spiders and male fireflies, trapped the most fireflies.
• Captured fireflies were wrapped in a thin layer of silk, keeping their flashes visible.
• Male fireflies emitted single, female-like signals only when a spider was nearby.

Venom Use

• Fireflies resumed normal flashing after removal from the web and a short recovery period.
• Researchers suspect the spider's venom causes fireflies to emit one flash instead of two.
• The venom might disrupt normal flashing by interfering with oxygen supply delivery, as spiders target soft body parts instead of the light-emitting lantern.
• Research will continue to find similar behaviors

2024 US Presidential Election

• The US Presidential election is on November 5, 2024, with Kamala Harris and Donald Trump as candidates.
• Both candidates must win the majority of electoral votes to secure the presidency.

Electoral College

• Americans vote for electors who then vote on behalf of each state.
• If a candidate wins the popular vote in a state, that state's electors vote for them.
• Each state gets two electoral votes for its senators, and additional votes based on the number of House Representatives.
• The number of House members corresponds to the state's population.
• California has 54 electoral votes and smaller states have at least three electors.
• 270 electoral votes are needed to win the presidency out of 538 total.

Winner Takes All

• Most states use a winner-takes-all system, where the candidate with the most votes receives all of the state's electoral votes.
• This means it is possible to win the presidency without winning the national popular vote.
• Al Gore won the popular vote in 2000, but George W. Bush won the presidency with 271 electoral votes.

Abolishing the Electoral College

• Some believe the Electoral College should be abolished as it does not ensure victory for the most preferred candidate.
• The system may deter voting, especially in states that heavily lean toward a specific party.
• Supporters argue the Electoral College ensures people in less populated areas have equal say.
• Without the system, candidates might focus only on populous states like California, New York, and Texas.