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When Will Fall Foliage Peak Near You? Predictions for Nature’s Dazzling Autumn Show (Maria)

The author writes, “It’s officially fall in the Northern Hemisphere, which means bright, beautiful foliage isn’t far behind. Parts of the U.S. will soon start to see — if they haven’t already — leaves and shrubs trade their green hues for vibrant shades of orange, yellow and red as the days get shorter and temperatures chillier. Trees shed their leaves to store and recycle valuable nutrients in their trunks and branches before winter’s ice and snow can rip them off. Chlorophyll — the pigment that makes leaves appear green — starts breaking down, revealing the yellows and oranges they’ve had all along.”

Trump’s ‘Tough It Out’ Advice To Expectant Moms Is the Latest Example of Men Opining on Women’s Pain (Reader Steve)

From the AP: “From the pulpit of the presidency, Donald Trump offered some advice to pregnant women: ‘Tough it out’ before taking Tylenol. Nine times in all, Trump said expectant mothers should suffer through their discomfort instead of reaching for acetaminophen to cure their fevers or headaches, despite the drug being one of the few painkillers that pregnant women are allowed to take. ‘Fight like hell not to take it,’ Trump instructed at a Monday news conference meant to address autism. … What many women and experts heard was the latest example of a man telling women how much physical pain they should endure — and an age-old effort to blame mothers for their babies’ autism.”

Italian Prime Minister Condemns Drone Attacks on Gaza Aid Flotilla Boats (Sean)

From The Guardian, “Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni has condemned an overnight drone attack on a flotilla trying to deliver aid to Gaza, but also criticised the mission as ‘dangerous and irresponsible’ and claimed it was aimed at ‘creating problems’ for her government. Meloni’s comments came after Italy said it was sending a navy ship to assist the convoy of about 50 vessels, which have on board many pro-Palestinian activists, including the Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg, after it was attacked in international waters off Greece. … The attack late on Tuesday marked the third time this month that the flotilla had been targeted by drones. There have been no reports of injuries.”

Congressman Calmly Explains There Are ‘Entities’ Coming From ‘Five or Six Deepwater Areas’ (Laura)

From Futurism: “[Last week], a baffling video started making the rounds on social media showing Tennessee representative Tim Burchett casually claim that alien entities are here on Earth, and that they’re rising out of the ocean. ‘What if, these are entities that are here on this earth, that have been on this earth for who knows how long, and we think they’re coming from way out,’ he says while strolling along the streets of DC, the Capital rotunda glowing in the distance. ‘Maybe they did a millennia ago, but they’re here, and they’re in these deep water areas.’ Throughout the minute long cell phone video, the representative stays remarkably serene as he paints a picture of what sounds like an HP Lovecraft story come to life.”

The Pigeon Heist: How Million-Dollar Pigeons Became the Target of Organized Crime (Russ)

The author writes, “Chinese tycoons turned pigeon racing into one of the world’s most lucrative sports. Then the thefts began.”

Cannabis Use May Quadruple Diabetes Risk (Mili)

The author writes, “Cannabis use is increasing globally with an estimated 219 million users in 2021, but its long-term metabolic effects remain unknown. While some studies have suggested potential anti-inflammatory or weight management properties, others have raised concerns regarding glucose metabolism and insulin resistance, and the magnitude of the risk for developing diabetes hasn’t been clear.”

The Curious Case of the Tigers Who Changed Their Stripes (Dana)

From National Geographic: “A century ago, India’s tigers were on the brink of extinction. Slowly, their numbers have rebounded. But that ecological success has prompted a dire problem — and a race to save many of them from genetic collapse.”