Severe flooding, Kentucky Derby, and cow cuddling.

Adam Rogers
May 06, 2024

Happy Monday! Today’s edition is 710 words, a 3 minute read.

First-time reader? Sign up here!

Big Stories

A record-breaking 2,877 satellites were launched in 2023, raising concerns about orbital congestion.

The surge, fueled by companies like SpaceX, brings the total number of Earth-orbiting satellites to over 12,500. Most satellites (89%) are commercial and operate in Low-Earth Orbit (LEO), which is already crowded with inactive satellites.
Collisions due to overcrowding could create dangerous debris and render parts of space unusable. Geosynchronous Orbit (GEO), crucial for communication, weather, and missile defense is also becoming congested. The average distance between GEO satellites has shrunk significantly, raising concerns about the fragility of critical infrastructure systems.
The record growth in the satellite industry presents a double-edged sword. While it signifies technological advancements, it also requires solutions to address the growing challenges of space congestion and debris.

Heavy rain caused rivers to swell across South Texas, flooding homes and businesses.

Thousands of people were displaced, with at least 224 people and 153 pets rescued from homes and vehicles in Harris County. One death has been reported as of Sunday night.
The Houston area is still under a severe thunderstorm watch, with a chance of heavy rain that could worsen existing flooding. The flooding is 85% worse than it was during Hurricane Harvey. Fortunately, dry weather and sunshine are expected later in the week to speed up the drying process.
The recent storms were the latest in a series of severe weather events that have impacted Texas since April. Some areas received months' worth of rain in just five days, causing rivers to rise to historic levels.

Israel ordered the closure of Qatar-based Al Jazeera's offices, citing security concerns and accusing the network of incitement.

This is the first time Israel has shut down a foreign news outlet. The move comes as Qatar, which hosts exiled Hamas leaders, mediates ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas.
Al Jazeera vowed legal action and called the closure a violation of press freedom. International press organizations voiced the same concerns about journalistic freedom. Human Rights Watch criticized Israel and urged them to stop committing atrocities instead of silencing reports on them.
Israel has had a tense relationship with Al Jazeera in recent years and the killing of an Al Jazeera journalist during the war has further strained relations.
Meanwhile, three Israeli soldiers were killed in a rocket attack near Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. Hamas's armed wing claimed the attack. Concurrently, Palestinian health officials reported at least 19 deaths from Israeli fire in the same area. Hamas also claimed responsibility for launching rockets at the Kerem Shalom crossing, resulting in the closure of aid truck access to Gaza. Following this, an Israeli airstrike in Rafah killed three people and injured several others, according to Palestinian medics.

Mystik Dan, a big underdog, won the Kentucky Derby in a photo finish over the favorites. It was the first Derby win for both jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. and trainer Kenny McPeek. (More)

Movie releases have gotten off to a slow start this summer. Overall ticket sales were significantly lower compared to the same period last year — numbers are down 53% from 2023 and 66% from 2022. (More)

A car crashed into a White House security barrier on Saturday night. The driver died, but authorities are investigating it as a traffic accident and say there was no threat to the White House. (More)

Nearly half (around 130) of the 282 arrested at Columbia and City College pro-Palestinian protests weren't students. Mayor Adams previously claimed "outside agitators" led the protests. NYPD data shows 29% of Columbia arrests and 60% of City College arrests were non-students. (More)

Vegetables aren’t real…from a botany standpoint. Botanically, "fruit" refers to anything with seeds, while "vegetable" is a general term for edible plant parts. So carrots are roots, lettuces are leaves, broccoli are immature flowers, and peppers/tomatoes are technically fruits (like cucumbers and avocados). (More)

Bird flu threatens to put a damper on cow cuddling.

The original Harry Potter book cover art goes to auction.

Americans have bought $1.6 billion worth of ramen over the last year.

Your feedback helps us provide the best newsletter possible.