Paid Leave, Northern Lights, and Wrinkle the Duck.

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Big Stories

On Mother’s Day, Paid Leave Still a National Issue

The US is one of the few developed countries without a national paid family leave policy.

• More new parents were on paid leave than ever this Mother’s Day weekend. However, most still aren’t; only 13 states and DC offer paid leave to care for newborns or family members. Disagreements about funding have stalled federal efforts, with Democrats typically leaning toward financing such initiatives via payroll taxes. Republicans tend to support tax incentives aimed at encouraging rather than mandating employers to provide paid leave.

• The lack of paid leave falls hardest on low-wage workers, who can least afford to take unpaid time. This forces many parents back to work before they're ready, disrupting childcare and potentially impacting breastfeeding duration.

• Bipartisan efforts at the federal level and ongoing state-level initiatives suggest that broader reform for paid family leave may be on the horizon. Colorado's new paid leave program provides some workers with up to 12 weeks of paid leave for family needs. Successful union negotiations, like those for Southwest Airlines flight attendants, are securing paid leave for some employees.

Recipient of First Pig Kidney Transplant Dies

Richard Slayman, the first person to receive a genetically modified pig kidney transplant, died unexpectedly two months after the surgery.

• The pig kidney used in the transplant came from a genetically modified pig created by eGenesis. They used CRISPR-Cas9 technology to remove genes in the pig that would cause rejection by the human body and added human genes to make the organ more compatible with the recipient.

• Slayman had previously received a human kidney transplant but it failed after several years. He suffered from Type 2 diabetes and hypertension for many years and was on dialysis before receiving the pig kidney. The cause of death is unknown but Massachusetts General Hospital says it was not related to the transplant.

• Slayman's family expressed their hope that his participation in the pioneering surgery inspires others in the field of xenotransplantation — using animal organs for human transplants. They credit him with giving hope to many patients waiting for transplants.

Northern Lights

A powerful solar storm caused bright auroras over much of the northern US this weekend.

• The auroras, also known as northern lights, are caused by charged particles from the sun interacting with Earth's atmosphere. During a solar storm, the sun releases a flood of these particles, which travel towards Earth. When they reach our planet, they're directed by Earth's magnetic field towards the poles. There, they collide with atoms and molecules in the upper atmosphere, causing them to light up in vibrant colors.

• The sun is currently in an active phase of its 11-year cycle, known as the solar cycle. It will reach its peak activity period (solar maximum) in mid-2024. This means more frequent solar storms and auroras are likely. Saturday, the aurora was strong enough to reach parts of Florida.

• If you want to see the auroras, guides are available online to help with photography and viewing. Look for areas with little light pollution and clear skies.

• It's important to know that extreme solar storms can also disrupt infrastructure. This weekend's event caused irregularities in power grids and degraded GPS and communication systems.

Little Stories

• Over 150 men participated in a finger wrestling competition called "Fingerhakeln" in Bernbeuren, Germany this weekend. Finger wrestling is a traditional sport in the Bavarian Alps, often used to settle disputes. Competitors hook their middle fingers together and try to pull their opponent across a table. The winner advances to the next round. (More)

• A wildfire burning near Fort Nelson, British Columbia has grown rapidly and forced the evacuation of 3,000 people. The fire started Friday night due to high winds knocking over a tree and sparking a power line. (More)

• There were protests in support of Palestine at several college graduations this weekend, including Duke University, Virginia Commonwealth, UC Berkeley, Emerson College, and Wisconsin-Madison. Thousands of protestors have been arrested on campuses nationwide, but this past weekend's ceremonies were mostly peaceful. (More)

• The Atlanta Hawks defied the odds (only 3% chance) and won the NBA draft lottery, securing the number one pick. This is a major win for the team, especially considering their recent struggles (losing streak and play-in tournament loss). (More)

• Swiss singer Nemo (age 24) won the 68th Eurovision Song Contest by singing "The Code." This marks Switzerland's first Eurovision win since 1988 (when Celine Dion represented them). (More)

Extra Credit

Why do most maple syrup bottles have a tiny handle? 

One in every 24 people in NYC are millionaires. 

Northern Lights light up the sky. 

Wrinkle the Duck has run four marathons.