Pompeii, Herculaneum Scrolls and the Vesuvius Challenge

Pompeii and Herculaneum

• In 79 AD, Mount Vesuvius erupted, burying the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum.
• In 1752, over 1,800 papyrus scrolls were found in a Herculaneum mansion's library.
• The scrolls were charred on the outside but well-preserved inside due to the lack of oxygen.

Attempts to Unfold the Scrolls

• Researchers have attempted to unfold the scrolls to gain insights into ancient life.
• Mechanical unrolling caused the scrolls to crumble.

X-Ray Technology and AI

• In 2009, Brent Seales developed X-ray technology to image the scrolls without opening them.
• X-ray scans revealed letters and some words.
• Carbon-based ink blended with the charred papyrus, making them difficult to read.
• An AI program was created to identify letters and symbols.
• In March 2023, students were invited to help decode the scrolls as part of the "Vesuvius Challenge".
• The AI program and 3D X-ray images were released with cash prizes for contributions.

Deciphering the Scrolls

• In October 2023, Luke Farritor decoded the first word, "porphyras," Greek for purple.
• Youssef Nader found the same word shortly after.
• Farritor and Nader shared the "First Letters Prize" of $50,000.
• Farritor received $40,000 and Nader received $10,000.
• Farritor and Nader teamed up with Julian Schillinger to compete for the top prize of $700,000.
• The trio decoded 85 percent of the characters in four passages.
• A total of 5 percent of the scroll was decoded.
• The decoded passages were attributed to the philosopher Philodemus.
• The texts pondered whether an abundance of goods affects one's joy.
• A $100,000 cash prize will be given to the first team that can decipher at least 90 percent of all four scrolls by the end of 2024.

Alex Morgan Retires

• Alex Morgan, a US soccer icon, announced her retirement on September 5, 2024, after a 15-year career.
• Morgan, age 35, is expecting her second child.
• She wants to focus on her young family.
• She played in 22 World Cup appearances and 16 Olympic matches.
• Morgan debuted with the US Women's National Team (USWNT) in 2009.
• In debut year, she scored four international goals and earned the nickname "Baby Horse".
• She played a key role in the USA winning the FIFA Women's World Cup in 2015 and 2019.
• Morgan played in 13 of 14 matches, scoring seven goals and providing four assists.
• She scored the decisive goal against Canada in the 2012 Olympic semifinals.
• She ranks fifth all-time in USWNT history with 176 combined goals and assists.
• Morgan has been an advocate for women's rights and sports equality.
• In 2019, she and 28 USWNT players sued the US Soccer Federation for gender discrimination and won in 2022.
• Players received $22 million in back pay.
• In 2023, Morgan founded the Alex Morgan Foundation to promote equity for girls and women.
• Her final game was for the San Diego Wave on September 8, 2024.

Bronze Sword Discovery

• On September 5, 2024, archeologists revealed a bronze sword bearing the insignia of Ramses II.
• The sword was found inside a mud barrack room at Tell Al-Abqain, a 3,200-year-old military fort.
• The emblem of Ramses II suggests it belonged to a military official.
• The sword suggests the fort was well-defended and possibly had an on-site weapons production area.
• The sword might have been a gift to a high-ranking officer.
• Storerooms and ovens were found, indicating a self-sufficient community.
• Remains of clay pots contained bones of fish and other animals, signifying a diverse diet.
• Bead necklaces and a kohl eyeliner applicator were found.
• Two limestone blocks were discovered, one engraved with the name "Bay," and the other mentioned Ramses.
• Ramses II, also known as Ramses the Great, ruled for 66 years.
• He ruled from 1279 to 1213 BCE.
• He was known for his military strength.
• Egypt's borders expanded significantly under his rule.

Hurricane Helene

• On September 26, 2024, Hurricane Helene made landfall near Perry, Florida, as a Category 4 storm.
• It had sustained winds of over 140 miles per hour (225 km/h).
• The hurricane weakened to a tropical storm after landfall.
• It brought torrential rains and tornadoes.
• Strong winds and floodwaters washed away roads and destroyed buildings.
• Millions of people lost power and cell service.
• As of October 2, 2024, 170 storm-related deaths have been confirmed.
• The city of Asheville and its surrounding areas were among the hardest hit.
• The region saw its wettest three-day period on record from September 25-27, 2024.
• The town of Chimney Rock was devastated by flooding.
• On October 2, 2024, President Joe Biden authorized the deployment of 1,000 soldiers.
• He approved a major disaster declaration for Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
• The National Football League has pledged $8 million to help those in need.

Earthworms and Soil Enrichment

• Earthworms can enrich and improve soil.
• Earthworms boost crop yields and protect plants from microplastics.
• In late 2023, a study reported that earthworms are responsible for 6.5 percent of global food production annually.
• This is comparable to Russia's annual grain harvest.
• The earthworms' impact was significant in developing countries.
• They helped increase grain yields by 10 percent in Sub-Saharan Africa and 8 percent in Latin America.
• Earthworms help loosen and aerate the soil.
• The worms movement helps churn the soil's organic matter.
• Earthworms can also protect plants from microplastic pollution.
• Earthworms boost the tomato plants’ immune systems.

Orb-Weaver Spiders

• Orb-weaver spiders manipulate mating signals of male fireflies to catch prey.
• Araneus ventricosus is a nocturnal orb-weaver spider found in China, Japan, and Korea.
• Female fireflies emit single flashes to attract males.
• Male fireflies use two flashes to attract females.
• The orb-weaver spider webs contained many male fireflies emitting a single flash.
• To determine if the altered signal was the reason for the larger number of males, Fu and his team decided to investigate further.
• The researchers found that most fireflies were trapped by the first group of webs with both spiders and male fireflies present.
• Spiders wrap the fireflies in a light layer of silk.
• Male fireflies only emitted single, female-like signals when a spider was nearby.
• The spiders may be manipulating the fireflies' signals to attract more prey.
• The spiders use venom to manipulate the male firefly signals.
• Venom disrupts normal flashing behavior by interfering with the delivery of oxygen supply.

US Presidential Election

• The US Presidential election is on November 5, 2024.
• Voters will select either Kamala Harris or Donald Trump.
• The candidate must get the majority of the electoral votes to secure the presidency.
• Voters cast their ballots for members of the Electoral College, known as electors.
• Electors vote on behalf of the states.
• Each state receives two electoral votes for its two senators, plus additional votes based on the number of Representatives in the House.
• There are 538 total electoral votes.
• The candidate needs at least 270 votes to win.
• Most states follow a winner-takes-all system.
• Candidates do not need to win by a large margin to secure a state’s electoral votes.
• Some Americans think the Electoral College should be abolished.
• Supporters of the Electoral College argue that it ensures that people in less populated areas have an equal say.
• The new president's term officially begins after the inauguration ceremony.
• It is typically held on January 20 of the following year.

Octopuses as Leaders

• Octopuses are among the smartest marine animals.
• Octopuses can also be strong leaders.
• Dr. Eduardo Sampaio's team collected over 120 hours of underwater footage of 13 hunting groups in the Red Sea.
• Each group comprised a big blue octopus (Octopus cyanea) and a group of fish.
• As the hunting group moved, the fish swarmed around the octopus, seemingly suggesting different directions.
• The octopus would then choose where to go.