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Songbirds Play Optical Tricks to Make Their Plumage ‘Pop’ (Maria)

The author writes, “For painters, it’s the oldest trick in the book: prepare a bare canvas with a base layer of neutral paint, and you can manipulate the saturation and vibrancy of colors. … But humans aren’t the only masters of illusion. New research in Science Advances shows that some songbirds play a similar trick by having a backdrop of black or white plumage underneath their bright feathers.”

Public Record Contradicts US Spy Chief’s Russia-Gate ‘Conspiracy’ Accusations (Sean)

From Defense One: “The head of US intelligence made misleading claims about what Obama-administration officials said about Russian meddling in the 2016 election, while accusing them of a ‘conspiracy’ to ‘politicize’ intelligence and asking the Justice Department to launch a criminal investigation. On Sunday, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said her office would send a memo, which was released on Friday with a statement, and its supporting documents to the U.S. Justice Department for use in potential criminal prosecutions of unnamed Obama-era intelligence officials.”

The Epstein Case Is Different (Bethany)

The author writes, “A lot of people left of center are confused by the conservative outrage over Trump’s insistence that the Epstein client list is a hoax. Medicaid cuts, classified data shared on Signal, tariff price fluctuations, the sight of neighbors thrown into unmarked vans by masked men in paramilitary gear, but Epstein is where they draw the line? Yes. Absolutely yes. Here’s why: Cast your mind back over these last few years: what are the most common insults leveled against the liberal enemy? Groomer. Degenerate. Pedophile. Librarians who allow books that mention the existence of gay people? Pedophiles. Drag queens reading books to children? Groomers. Pride parades? Gender affirming care? Gay men with kids? Pedophile, pedophile, pedophile.”

US Rep. Gabe Evans Misrepresented Family’s Immigration History (Reader Steve)

From News From the States: “‘Without my family, I’m nothing,’ read the subject line of an email sent by then-state Rep. Gabe Evans to supporters on Sept. 10, 2023. The email announced Evans’ candidacy for Colorado’s toss-up 8th Congressional District, and it began with a story the Fort Lupton Republican has told countless times throughout his political career — the story of his grandfather, Cuauhtemoc Chavez, who was born in Mexico and earned U.S. citizenship through his Army service in World War II. … But Evans has mischaracterized the story of how his Depression-era ancestors achieved the American dream, and misstated key dates and details in his grandfather’s biography, according to documents obtained by Newsline through archival research and government records requests. Those records show that the Chavez family, and a young Cuauhtemoc in particular, were squarely on the wrong side of the ‘strong immigration policies’ his grandson now invokes his name to champion.”

Cognitive Collapse and the Nuclear Codes: When Leaders Lose Control (Mili)

The author writes, “A shocking study reveals that many leaders of nuclear-armed nations — including US presidents and Israeli prime ministers — were afflicted by serious health problems while in office, sometimes with their conditions hidden from the public. From dementia and depression to addiction and chronic diseases, these impairments may have affected their decision-making during pivotal global crises.”

These Women Are Raising Endangered Butterfly Larvae From Prison: ‘They Reconnect With Their Own Brilliance’ (Laura)

From The Guardian: “[Trista] Egli is one of seven women incarcerated at the Mission Creek correctional facility, located a two-hour drive from Seattle, who are part of a year-long program that takes captured butterflies, harvests their eggs, and oversees the growth of the larvae before they are released into the wild where they will turn into adults. Last year, scientists working with the team released more than 10,000 larvae. The adult butterflies live for just a handful of fabulous, wing-fluttering days. Many of the women speak of their pride working on a project that feels like it is making a positive contribution to the world.”

Astronomers Crack 1,000-Year-Old Betelgeuse Mystery With 1st-Ever Sighting of Secret Companion (Dana)

The author writes, “After a long wait, astronomers have finally seen the stellar companion of the famous star Betelgeuse. This companion star orbits Betelgeuse in an incredibly tight orbit, which could explain one of Betelgeuse’s longstanding mysteries. The star is doomed, however, and the team behind this discovery predicts that Betelgeuse will cannibalize it in a few thousand years. The fact that Betelgeuse is one of the brightest stars in the sky over Earth, visible with the naked eye, has made it one of the most well-known celestial bodies. And ever since the first astronomers began inspecting this fixture in the night sky, they have been baffled by the fact that its brightness varies over periods of six years. This mystery is now solved.”