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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), took home their first-ever win at the state elections of West Bengal this week, sparking celebrations and controversy across the nation. West Bengal, known for its beautiful language and unique culture, connects Eastern India to Northeast India, the latter of which consists of seven states located between Bangladesh, Myanmar, and China. The state is also home to Kolkata, the largest city in Eastern India, which maintains a population of around 15 million people and is an industrial hub of the east. However, the state also faces serious issues, particularly over illegal immigrants and the dichotomy of religions that the region faces. As Britain allowed India to achieve independence, they split the country into three, turning what was formerly India into modern-day India, modern-day Pakistan, and modern-day Bangladesh. As the British did in many of their territories, they drew national lines straight through religious communities in an attempt to create infighting and violence in the area– many regions of modern-day West Bengal saw Muslim and Hindu communities forced to move because they had been split by Partition. Because of this, West Bengal maintains a significant Muslim population, with one of the highest percentages in the country. The BJP, a Hindu-nationalist party, had never been able to win state elections in West Bengal for a combination of reasons, making the state a stronghold for opposition party leader Mamata Banerjee. Banerjee and her supporters have been some of the largest outright critics of Modi, India's current prime minister who has served since 2014. Since then, India has seen incredible improvement in many areas, like business and development, and recent polls show that more than 80% of Indians have a favorable view of Modi. The nation is now the world's fastest-growing economy, and infrastructure has rapidly advanced, with new highway and airport projects currently being completed all over India. He has also implemented large-scale initiatives to assist with poverty while boosting job growth in sectors like manufacturing and finance. However, Banerjee's party claims that the Hindu-nationalist nature of the BJP has severely impacted Muslims living in India. Many report increases of hate speech and violence against Muslims, and some feel that certain BJP policies have made Muslims feel like second-class citizens. Because of this, when Modi's party took home their first-ever win at West Bengal's state elections, celebrations and cries erupted across the country. Members and supporters of BJP celebrated the victory, claiming that it would bring new progress to West Bengal and further solidify Kolkata as the capital of the East with new growth and infrastructure projects supported by the Modi government. However, Banerjee's party was quick to point out a major controversy over the election. Millions of names, many of them Muslims, were struck from ballots just days before the election, causing these people to mysteriously lose their right to vote. Supporters of Banerjee accused the BJP of cheating and fraud, but supporters of BJP argued that those struck off ballots were likely Bangladeshi illegal immigrants. Banerjee was consistently accused by the BJP of leaving borders open during her time as Chief Minister of West Bengal, allowing illegal immigrants – most of them Muslim – to enter the nation. Nevertheless, whether those struck from the ballots were legally or illegally in India, the BJP now maintains control over West Bengal as well, extending the party and Prime Minister Modi's reach over the growing nation. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): More than 90% of survivors of the 9/11 terror attacks delayed evacuation to save their work, shut down computers, change shoes, or visit the bathroom. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.(Martin Luther King Jr.) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Augur (verb, AW-gur) - To augur is to show or suggest, especially from omens, that something might happen in the future. Used most often in formal speech or writing, augur is often followed by an adverb, such as well. In a Sentence: The downturn augurs badly for the success of the business. Image credit to AFP

The US-Iran conflict has re-escalated once again, with Iran striking the UAE and the United States retaliating with strikes on Iranian ships. The two parties established a ceasefire on April 8 to assist in negotiations, which are still ongoing, but they seem to have degraded. Both sides still failed to agree with each other, as is usual– wars take years, not weeks, to bring to an end, and a cooperative stance from both sides is necessary. Currently, Iran has sent the United States a 14-point counterproposal aimed on ending the war, but Trump said that he would likely reject the ceasefire because of its lack of certain key points. Since the ceasefire, Iran had not launched strikes on a fellow Gulf nation– until now. The escalation began yesterday, when Iran announced that they had hit a US Navy warship with two ballistic missiles near Jask Island– a claim that the United States CENTCOM later denied. Then, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) jumped into the argument with a claim that Iran had launched two drones at an oil tanker belonging to the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company. According to the UAE, the tanker was not carrying oil and no one was injured, but they labeled the drone strike an act of "maritime piracy." Hours later, their defense forces engaged with a barrage of Iranian attacks– a total of 12 ballistic missiles, three cruise missiles, and four drones. Of these projectiles, at least one drone survived the UAE's defense systems, striking the Fujairah Petroleum Industries Zone. The explosion sparked a significant fire and sent black plumes into the sky above the emirate of Fujairah, in addition to drawing criticism over Iran's retaliation from nations all over the world. Meanwhile, the United States has currently shifted their focus to guaranteeing the safety of ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. They continue to impose a blockade on all ships heading towards or coming from Iranian ports, but some ships from other Gulf nations are being escorted by the US military. Trump has named the operation "Project Freedom", though its inherently dangerous nature makes each and every journey incredibly risky. Yesterday, as the US Navy escorted two commercial vessels through the strait, they detected a barrage of Iranian missiles, which they were successfully able to intercept. Then, using the position of these missiles, they triangulated the position of and later destroyed seven small Iranian boats that had been patrolling the strait. Nevertheless, these journeys are also incredibly expensive. Striking seven boats requires seven missiles, which can range in the single-digit millions in terms of pricing. Meanwhile, intercepting incoming drones also requires defense systems that can cost millions more for each drone interception. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Employees at Molson Coors get three free cases of beer each month, in addition to having access to beer and cider on location at certain brewery locations after a work day. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): We don’t need holy wars. What we need is tolerance and brotherhood and simple humanity. (Arlen Specter) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Scrupulous (adj, SKROO-pyuh-lus) - Scrupulous describes someone who is very careful about doing something correctly, or something marked by such carefulness. Scrupulous can also describe someone who is careful about doing what is honest and morally right. In a Sentence: She was always scrupulous about her work. Image credit to Reuters

Three people are dead aboard a cruise ship and three other passengers are in critical condition amid a hantavirus outbreak onboard. The orthohantavirus, also referred to as the hantavirus, is a virus found in rodents all over the world, with different strains across all six habitable continents. Symptoms begin several weeks after contracting the virus, with fever, fatigue, and acute muscle pain setting in. Within a few days of the symptoms beginning, the virus progresses rapidly, particularly impacting certain organs based on the strain. In the Americas, hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) is a common result of leaving the virus untreated, and directly leads to death– the lungs begin to fill with fluid, causing extreme coughing and shortness of breath. The mortality rate for HPS is incredibly high, ranging between 30% and 60%. Across Europe and Asia, the virus can lead to hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), which causes fever, diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, issues with blood clotting, and eventual kidney failure. The mortality rate for HFRS is much lower but still high, ranging between 1% and 15%. The virus is transmitted through the inhalation of airborne particles from infected saliva, urine, and droppings, but it can also be transmitted by making contact with the aforementioned items and then touching the nose or the mouth. However, the hantavirus rarely spreads from person-to-person; rather, in most cases where multiple contract the virus, they all come into contact with the initial airborne particles. Spreading between people has been recorded by scientists, but it is extremely rare and has only been found to occur with the Andes strain of the virus in South America. Because of this, the outbreak aboard a cruise ship this week was found to be quite peculiar– though it proved to be deadly. The MV Hondius, a relatively small ship that holds around 170 passengers and 70 crew, was sailing from Argentina to South Africa when the passengers contracted the virus. Three of those infected, including an elderly couple from the Netherlands, passed away from the virus, while three others remain alive. One passenger is currently in intensive care at a local hospital in Cape Verde, and two crew members infected by the virus are still aboard the ship. The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched an investigation into how the virus spread– it could have been a rare case of the Andes virus, but all six people also could have come into contact with the same contaminated particles. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): It takes longer to drown in saltwater than in freshwater. Because of this, around 90% of drownings occur in freshwater. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): To be happy in life, develop at least four hobbies: one to bring you money, one to keep you healthy, one to bring you joy, and one to bring you peace. (Stan Jacobs) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Métier (noun, MET-yay) - Métier, sometimes styled metier, is a formal word that refers to something that a person does very well. In a Sentence: After trying several careers, she found her true métier in computer science. Image credit to AFP

Spirit Airlines has completely ceased all operations after a $500 million bail-out from the government failed to save the ailing travel company. The airline filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in November 2024 after failing to recover from the struggles of the coronavirus pandemic. They secured a merger with fellow low-cost carrier JetBlue in early 2024, but a federal judge blocked the deal due to the reduction in competition that would follow. Soaring labor costs raised operating costs, and the failed merger further damaged the airline's financial situation– by the time they filed for bankruptcy, the company already had billions in debt. Meanwhile, many travelers switched over to other low-cost carriers like Southwest, Frontier, Allegiant, and JetBlue due to Spirit's poor ratings– the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) consistently ranked Spirit as one of the most dissatisfactory airlines for numerous reasons, including baggage mishandling and high additional fees. After filing for bankruptcy, Spirit confirmed that they had secured $300 million in financing to help reorganize their debt and restructure the company, aiming for a full comeback by early 2025. Then, in August 2025, Spirit filed for bankruptcy again. This time, they attempted to secure a $500 million bail-out from the Trump administration, hoping to do what they failed to accomplish the year before. However, the massive spike in jet fuel costs that followed the Iran war and the subsequent closure of the Strait of Hormuz raised operating costs for Spirit once again, sinking a company that was already barely afloat. Negotiations for the bail-out deal broke down at the end of April, and Spirit announced yesterday that they would be winding down all operations, effective immediately. All of Spirit's holdings are set to be liquidated, and their 17,000 employees will be left without jobs as the airline shuts down. Over 5,000 flight attendants, along with pilots, customer service agents, and ground handling staff will all need to search for new jobs, particularly those at Spirit hubs like Fort Lauderdale, Detroit, and Orlando. The carrier is the first major US airline to go out of business in more than 25 years, and its shutdown will have a massive impact on the travel industry and the economy as a whole. Additionally, thousands of passengers have been stranded all over the United States, and thousands more have had their travel plans disrupted by the sudden cancelation of thousands of Spirit flights. The airline is offering refunds to all customers, but in many cases, money cannot make up for the massive disruptions caused by the cancelations. Many passengers found out about the shutdown at airports as they prepared to board their flights, only to find that Spirit had shut down and canceled all flights. As a response, several major airlines like Delta, Southwest, and JetBlue are offering discounted ticket prices to those affected by the Spirit shutdown, allowing stranded passengers to return home without paying significantly more, but these limited offers are only open for a short period of time and require extensive verification. Airlines are also creating job openings and accelerating their hiring processes to accommodate Spirit employees, attempting to minimize the impact on the travel industry. Labor unions are also working to facilitate and further expedite this process, preventing their members from entering long-term unemployment. Meanwhile, experts predict that airlines will be eager to snap up parts of Spirit's business, like certain planes or routes, in order to bolster their own businesses. However, Spirit Airlines had a long history with the American people– many will not miss the extremely low-cost, budget carrier, but there are many others who will. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Approximately 1,000,000 dogs in the United States are named as the heirs of their owners’ wills. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Be happy with being you. Love your flaws. Own your quirks. And know that you are just as perfect as anyone else, exactly as you are. (Ariana Grande) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Exasperate (verb, ig-ZASS-puh-rayt) - To exasperate someone is to cause them irritation or annoyance, or to make them angry. In a Sentence: We were all exasperated by the delays. Image credit to AP

May Day protests all over the world, including the United States, shifted their focus this year from labor unions to the Trump administration and the Israeli government, who they blame for their current troubles. May Day, celebrated every year on May 1, commemorates International Workers' Day and is also known as Labor Day in many nations. Usually, major protests take place all over the world, with labor unions and individual employees advocating for higher pay, less inequality in the workplace, and more benefits for the work they do. However, this year, the protests turned into anti-American and anti-Israeli rallies, with citizens across the globe placing the blame for their troubles on the United States and Israel. Rising costs of living and sky-high energy and gas prices over the last few months can largely be attributed to the US and Israel's war in Iran, which has throttled the crucial Strait of Hormuz. Fertilizer and urea shortages have sparked price hikes at supermarkets and grocery stores, while the drastic drop in oil supply has driven gas prices to extreme highs. Others have criticized the increases in military spending across Europe and Asia, driven by Trump's push for the world to militarize itself. The protests took place in major cities in various continents– examples include massive rallies in Paris, France; Casablanca, Morocco; Madrid, Spain; Munich, Germany; Istanbul, Türkiye; Manila, the Philippines; Baghdad, Iraq; Sydney, Australia; and Seoul, South Korea. Many of the rallies ended in conflict, with police having to use tear gas and water cannons to disperse crowds of angry protesters. Within the United States, demonstrations filled the streets of Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Boston, Baltimore, and Washington D.C. Protesters advocated against what they labeled as "endless wars" and demanded for American support for Israel to come to a complete halt. Many also propagated the slogan, "Workers Over Billionaires"; in particular, this comes during a time where the United States' very own president, Donald Trump, is facing countless accusations of having used the presidency to bolster his personal and family wealth. Furthermore, many rallies in the United States took a larger array of Trump-era policies into account, with citizens advocating against ICE and demanding greater immigrant protections. United States officials argued that they were fighting for the free world and going against tyranny, despite the anti-capitalist and anti-American protests. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): It snowed in the Sahara desert for 30 minutes on February 18, 1979, during a brief blizzard in southern Algeria. In fact, it also snowed in the Sahara in 2016, 2017, and 2018. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Genius is seldom recognized for what it is: a great capacity for hard work. (Henry Ford) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Beltane (noun, BEL-tayn) - Beltane refers to the Celtic May Day festival. In a Sentence: Beltane falls each year approximately halfway between the spring equinox and the summer solstice. Image credit to AFP

The first direct flight from the United States to Venezuela in seven years touched down in Caracas yesterday, allowing locals, Venezuelan-Americans, and even tourists to celebrate the new connection. Seven years ago, the Department of Homeland Security imposed an indefinite suspension of all direct flights to and from Venezuela after Maduro illegally assumed the presidency despite losing the 2019 election. The regime of Nicolás Maduro had pushed the nation even deeper into authoritarianism, and ferrying passengers there was no longer safe. Then, in January of this year, the United States announced that they had captured Maduro via a covert CIA operation in the capital city of Caracas. An interim leader, Delcy Rodríguez, was selected by the US, despite calls for Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado to take the position. Many view Rodríguez as a figurehead for the US, particularly due to the massive oil exports that have taken place after Maduro's ouster. Meanwhile, others believe that she still maintains strong ties with previous Venezuelan allies like Russia and China and should be considered as a practical and complex leader. Last month, progress towards normalization continued, with the US reopening their embassy in Caracas after it was shut down in 2019. Diplomatic relations were fully restored, and American Airlines quickly announced that they would be the first airline to resume flights to Venezuela. Finally, yesterday, a jet from Envoy Air – a subsidiary of American Airlines – touched down at Simón Bolivar International Airport in Caracas. The flight, which took off from Miami, lasted just three hours but marked the official restoration of seven years' worth of diplomatic relations. Passengers arrived bearing red, yellow, and blue flags to celebrate the national colors of Venezuela, with many anticipating a long-awaited reunion with their families. Approximately 1.2 million people of Venezuelan origin currently reside in the United States, with Miami maintaining the highest-concentration of Venezuelans in the country. Many of these immigrants have been unable to visit their family and friends or see their homeland in years. Many American airlines like Delta and United pulled out of Venezuela in 2017, but American was the last to leave, shutting down operations in 2019. Now, American Airlines is the first to return, and they hope to help reunite these families with their new route to Caracas. They also plan to open up a second daily route to the capital on May 21 and could establish routes to other Venezuelan cities like Maracaibo in the near future. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): In the 2014 movie Godzilla, the monster is actually only seen for about 8 minutes in the entire film. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Seek not greater wealth, but simpler pleasure; not higher fortune, but deeper felicity. (Mahatma Gandhi) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Interlocutor (noun, in-ter-LAH-kyuh-ter) - Interlocutor is a formal word that means “one who takes part in dialogue or conversation.” In a Sentence: It is crucial in our age of email scams to verify the validity of one’s online interlocutors before sharing sensitive information. Image credit to Reuters

The sharp rise in demand for critical minerals is deepening poverty, creating water insecurity, and destroying vulnerable communities, according to a new UN study. The study, conducted by the United Nations University's Institute for Water, Environment, and Health, found that the demand for critical minerals is at an all-time high. The world's transition to artificial intelligence, renewable energy, and electric cars, among others, is driving this change, as oil is no longer needed to generate power. Instead, countries need batteries and microchips, which are made of rare earth minerals like lithium, cobalt, and nickel. The UN study confirmed that developed nations like the US, Europe, and China are disproportionately receiving the benefits of this shift to renewables and AI, allowing them to better their infrastructure and create a stronger society. However, it comes at the expense of vulnerable developing nations. Some of the most mineral-rich regions of the world are in the Global South. Around 60% of the world's lithium is located within an area known as the Lithium Triangle in South America, encompassing parts of Bolivia, Argentina, and Chile. The Democratic Republic of the Congo, in central Africa, possesses between 40-50% of the world's cobalt and the nation holds around $24 trillion worth of rare earths. In the United States, more than 75% of mineral-rich areas are located on or near Native American lands, raising fears that increased rare earths mining could impact their communities as well. Particularly, the incredible amounts of water used in the extraction process have created extreme water insecurity in certain areas. According to the report, the world's global lithium output in 2024 – 265,000 tons – required more than 120 billion gallons of water; enough to satisfy the annual water needs of 62 million people living through water scarcity in sub-Saharan Africa. In these areas, groundwater sources are being depleted at an alarming rate, and water tables are plummeting. This high water consumption also prevents that same water from being used for domestic agriculture, meaning that many farms become unable to produce. Meanwhile, runoff from mines enters the water table and allows heavy metals to enter drinking water supplies. The impacts of heavy metal poisoning are severe, resulting in birth defects and adverse health issues for people living in mineral-rich areas. As a whole, critical minerals are being used for the right purposes, but the way we extract them does just as much damage – if not more damage – to local environments. The report states that for every ton of rare earths that are extracted, around 2,000 tons of toxic waste are generated. Vulnerable communities are suffering the impacts of this, with locals experiencing water insecurity, poisoning from dangerous heavy metals, and even more vulnerability than they already go through. Instead of demanding a halt to critical minerals mining, the UN study acknowledges that mining for rare earths is crucial for a shift towards a greener future. However, the report urges governments and companies to place guidelines and rules in place to restrict mineral mining to a point where it can benefit the community rather than destroy it. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Cranes are built using cranes. Yes, they build themselves. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Excellence is the unlimited ability to improve the quality of what you have to offer. (Rick Pitino) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Speculate (verb, SPEK-yuh-layt) - In general contexts, speculate means "to form ideas or theories about something usually when there are many things not known about it." In contexts relating to business or finance, it means "to invest money in ways that could produce a large profit but that also involve a lot of risk." In a Sentence: Scientists speculate that the newly discovered exoplanet could host liquid water. Image credit to Tom Hagan

The United Arab Emirates has officially withdrawn from OPEC and OPEC+ to prioritize their national interests– a shock move for most of the world. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) was formed in 1960 as an alliance between the world's top exporters, aiming to stabilize global oil prices with quotas for each member country. The group's primary objective was to secure consistent income for producers while facilitating the sale of their oil to consumers. Today, the organization maintains 12 members, concentrated across the Middle East and Africa. In 2016, OPEC+ was formed, establishing an alliance between OPEC and non-OPEC oil producers like Russia, Kazakhstan, Bahrain, Mexico, and Malaysia. Together, OPEC+ members control around 59% of the global oil market, led by Saudi Arabia, which is the world's second-largest oil producer behind the United States. Now, the UAE has announced that they will leave both organizations, effective immediately. This move is primarily due to the Iran war, which has strangled Gulf states' capacities to export and sell oil to the rest of the world. The UAE perceives demand for oil as high in the world's current state, and they believe that avoiding OPEC's production quotas is best for their national interests. The move also comes amid rising tensions with Saudi Arabia in Yemen, where Saudi-backed proxies are engaging in conflicts with the UAE's own proxies in the region. The move will allow the UAE to ramp up oil production by up to 2 million barrels per day– OPEC-set production cuts limited their exports to 3 million barrels per day, but they have the capacity to reach 5 million by 2027. The move will also allow the nation to become a larger player on the world stage as their influence over the oil market increases. However, how that increase in capacity will impact global oil prices is yet to be seen. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): There are no significant visual differences between male and female herons, though there are subtle differences that are usually noticed only by experts. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Sometimes luck can be that driving force that catapults your life into a storm of success along with hard work, dedication and perseverance. (Zak Frazer) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Evanescent (adj, ev-uh-NESS-unt) - Evanescent is a formal and literary word that describes something that only lasts a very short time. In a Sentence: Our acting coach always reminded us that fame is evanescent, and that we should pursue a life in the theater purely for the love of the art. Image credit to Invezz

According to a new study, global military spending has reached an all-time high, with Europe leading the way in the increases. The new study, conducted by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, marks the 11th straight year of growth in military spending as global security concerns ramp up and individual militarization efforts ramp up. The study found global military spending in 2025 to be almost $2.9 trillion– around 2.5% of the world's gross domestic product (GDP). The United States, China, and Russia, as the top three spenders, accounted for more than 51% of global spending– the US alone spent more than $954 billion, which was a 7.5% decline from 2024. China's spending increased by 7.4% to $336 billion, and Russia's military expenditures increased by 5.9% to $190 billion. As a whole, NATO accounted for $1.58 trillion of the world's $2.9 trillion in military spending, making up a whopping 55% of the global total. NATO also happened to be the largest driver of growth in global spending, particularly in Europe. Over the last year, US President Donald Trump has urged member nations to individually militarize and contribute a larger portion to the organization, as the US accounts for more than 60% of NATO's current expenditures. In 2025, military spending in Europe exploded by 14%, rising to $864 billion, the highest-ever recorded level for the continent. Among all member nations, Poland had the highest military spending relative to economic size, making up 4.5% of GDP. Ukraine, on the other hand, spent $84.1 billion on military – more than 40% of their GDP – as the Russia-Ukraine conflict continues. Military spending also rose by 8.1% in Asia and Oceania, driven by increases in China (7.4%), Taiwan (14%), and Japan (9.7%). Africa saw an increase by 8.5% as well, but developed African countries like South Africa tend to spend much less on military to avoid the prospect of additional warfare. Algeria (11%) and Morocco (6.6%) drove the increase in spending due to rising tensions between the two– Algeria and Morocco spent $25.4 billion and $6.3 billion, respectively, on military in 2024. Together, they made up over 54% of Africa's total expenditures, which were around $58.4 billion. As a whole, the world's military spending increased by 2.9% in 2025, which was the lowest increase in years. This reduction in growth was largely driven by the United States, where the Trump administration has refused to provide military aid to Ukraine in their war against Russia. Military aid is classified under total expenditures by the study, meaning that the lack of aid contributed to a significant drop in American military spending. However, the rest of the globe ramped up military spending by a staggering 9.2% in 2025– a sign of rising global tensions and an increased likelihood of conflict. Also, the US has already approved a military budget of more than $1 trillion for 2026, meaning that the numbers found by year's study are likely to increase even further. View the full study here. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): The smallest thing ever photographed is the shadow of an atom. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): It is fatal to enter any war without the will to win it. (General Douglas MacArthur) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Boondoggle (noun, BOON-dah-gul) - A boondoggle is an expensive and wasteful project usually paid for with public money. Boondoggle is also a word for a braided cord worn by Boy Scouts as a neckerchief slide, hatband, or ornament. In a Sentence: Critics say the dam is a complete boondoggle—over budget, behind schedule, and unnecessary. Image credit to US Army

Yesterday, April 26, marked 40 years since the Chernobyl nuclear disaster– here's what's happening in the region and how the area around the failed power plant is faring. Chernobyl, a nuclear power plant in northern Ukraine, saw the world's worst-ever nuclear disaster during a reactor meltdown in 1986, devastating the region. Several dangerous experiments conducted by local scientists in addition to structural problems with the reactor resulted in a partial meltdown. Meanwhile, the out-of-control reactions taking place sparked a massive fireball that blew the top off the reactor, releasing hazardous radioactive material into the atmosphere. 40 years on, the region around Chernobyl is largely abandoned. A massive, 1,600-square-mile exclusion zone encompasses the reactor site and several towns surrounding the area, including a portion of southern Belarus across the border. Despite the radiation, unique animals thrive in the region, which is completely devoid of human life. Scientists are still conducting tests on local wildlife, but they have found adaptations to live with the radiation– for example, one study found that frogs within the exclusion zone have developed darker skin, likely to protect against the radiation. These genetic mutations can help scientists further understand the impacts of radiation on animals and even humans, in addition to providing valuable insight into these mutations and how they occur in the first place. The exclusion area almost acts as a nature preserve, allowing massive populations of deer, elk, bison, horses, and other animals to thrive. Ideas for how to use the land had been propagated for decades, including ideas like conversion to a solar farm or using the land to store other nations' nuclear waste, which has become a growing problem. Nevertheless, that has been impacted by Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, which has put all plans on hold. Ukrainian soldiers routinely practice defending the plant, as a Russian occupation of Chernobyl could impact restoration efforts and block scientists from conducting further studies to determine the safety of the area. Mishaps also happen occasionally, like radiation fires, which must be handled before worsening the situation. Conflict is inherently dangerous to Chernobyl as a whole– in 2022, Russia flew an Iranian Shahed drone into the $2.5 billion steel shell that encloses the collapsed reactor, creating a hole that allowed dangerous radiation to escape. The drone cost just $50,000, but the repairs to fix the hole will cost over $500 million because of the difficult nature of the task. Due to the radiation, humans will likely never be able to return to Chernobyl, but its protection is necessary for the health and safety of both humans and the environment. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Doug Engelbart created the very first computer mouse from a curved shell of wood in 1964 at the Stanford Research Institute. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Genius is the capacity to see ten things where the ordinary man sees one. (Ezra Pound) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Onerous (adj, AH-nuh-rus) - Onerous means "involving, imposing, or constituting a burden." It typically describes something that is difficult and unpleasant to do or deal with. In a Sentence: They were assigned the onerous task of post-show cleanup. Image credit to Shutterstock