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‘Nature Finds a Way’: Thought Extinct Since 1914, Rare Forest Mammal Makes Incredible Comeback (Maria)

 The author writes, “In a dense pocket of Atlantic Forest in southeastern Brazil, camera traps recently captured something no one expected: a family of South American tapirs quietly moving through the undergrowth. The sighting, confirmed in Cunhambebe State Park, marks the first confirmed return of the species to the region in more than 110 years. Their reappearance wasn’t part of a controlled release or rewilding experiment; the animals came back on their own. Conservationists describe the event as nothing short of a ‘biological milestone.’”

Democrats Are Winning the Shutdown Fight (Dana)

From The Bulwark: “Here’s how you can tell Democrats have the upper hand in the week-old shutdown fight: Marjorie Taylor Greene just endorsed their key demand. ‘WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE ABSOLUTELY INSANE COST OF INSURANCE FOR AMERICANS,’ the Georgia House Republican tweeted Monday evening. And she made clear that ‘something’ in this case means extending the temporary Affordable Care Act subsidies set to expire at year’s end, which is the most visible item on the Democratic agenda.”

Germany Deploys Laser System to Protect Munich Airport Amid Ongoing Drone Incidents (Sean)

The author writes, “German police have reportedly deployed a laser-based system to secure Munich Airport following repeated drone sightings that disrupted air traffic in recent days, Bild reported on October 5. The outlet said the laser device was positioned near one of the airport’s runways to help detect and track unauthorized drones approaching the facility. According to Bild, the system is designed to determine the distance to aerial targets, giving police improved situational awareness and supporting possible interception operations. The newspaper cited security sources who described the move as part of an expanded response following a series of flight suspensions caused by drone activity.”

Donald Trump or Jimmy Kimmel? New Poll Shows Who Has the Higher Favorability Ratings (Reader Steve)

From The Oregonian: “President Donald Trump called late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel ‘ratings challenged’ and ‘not funny’ last month and incorrectly said ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ had been canceled after Kimmel’s controversial comments in the wake of the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Kimmel was back on the air less than a week after ABC suspended him, however. And based on the results of a new poll, maybe it is Trump who has the bigger issue with his ratings.”

Endangered Whooping Crane Dies of Avian Flu at Wisconsin Wildlife Refuge (Laura)

From the AP: “Ducky is dead. The International Crane Foundation announced Monday that Ducky, an endangered female whooping crane the foundation planned to release into the wilds of Wisconsin this fall, died on Thursday after becoming infected with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, a strain of avian flu. Foundation officials said in a news release that Ducky’s death marks the first time the strain has killed a whooping crane. Only about 700 wild whooping cranes are left in North America, according to the foundation. Ducky’s death translates to a 1% decline in the eastern migratory population, which stands at fewer than 70 birds.”

Scientists Discover Brain Layers That Get Stronger With Age (Mili)

The author writes, “Researchers have discovered that parts of the human brain age more slowly than previously thought — particularly in the region that processes touch. By using ultra-high-resolution brain scans, they found that while some layers of the cerebral cortex thin with age, others remain stable or even grow thicker, suggesting remarkable adaptability. This layered resilience could explain why certain skills endure into old age, while others fade, and even reveals built-in compensatory mechanisms that help preserve function.”