El Niño Is Set To Take Hold This Summer, Driving Up Global Temperatures

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Strong El Niño Likely To Take Hold This Summer, Driving Up Global Temperatures: NOAA Forecast (Maria)

The author writes, “A potentially strong El Niño weather pattern will likely emerge this summer and persist through the rest of the year, according to the latest official forecast by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Forecasters estimate there is a 62% chance that El Niño will emerge between June and August. El Niño occurs when trade winds weaken, allowing volumes of warm ocean water to move from the Eastern Pacific toward the Americas. … A strong El Niño would drive up average global temperatures.”

Six Vessels Attacked in Gulf, Strait of Hormuz as War Puts Merchant Ships on Front Lines (Sean)

The authors write, “Explosive-laden Iranian boats appear to have attacked two fuel tankers in Iraqi waters, setting them ablaze and killing one crew member on Wednesday, after projectiles struck four vessels in Gulf waters, said port, maritime ​security and risk firms. The latest attacks on ships linked to the U.S. and Europe mark an escalation in the conflict between Iran and U.S.-Israeli forces, raising the number of ships struck in the region since fighting began ‌to at least 16.”

Whistleblower Claims Ex-DOGE Member Says He Took Social Security Data To New Job (DonkeyHotey)

The authors write, “The Social Security Administration’s internal watchdog is investigating a complaint that alleges a former U.S. DOGE Service employee claimed he had access to two highly sensitive agency databases and planned to share the information with his private employer — a claim that, if true, would constitute an unprecedented breach of security protocols at an agency that serves more than 70 million Americans.”

I Went to Florida to See the 31-Year-Old Candidate Thrilling Gen Z. We’re in Trouble. (Russ)

From The New York Times: “Last Tuesday, James Fishback, a 31-year-old running for governor in Florida, was speaking to a packed house at the Queens Harbour Yacht and Country Club in Jacksonville. Every one of the room’s almost 100 seats were taken, and people were standing several rows deep around the perimeter, with more listening from the lobby outside. The crowd was mostly male and very young; several attendees told me they were in high school. A few wore the ‘America First’ baseball caps popular with followers of Nick Fuentes, the influential white nationalist troll. Slight and bespectacled, Fishback has a geeky charisma and the verbal dexterity of a former competitive high school debater. His policies are a mishmash of extreme conservatism and economic progressivism; nationalism tinged with socialism, if you will.” 

Indonesia Takes Action Against Mining Firms After Floods Devastate Population of World’s Rarest Ape (Laura)

From The Guardian: “The floods and landslides that tore through Indonesia’s fragile Batang Toru ecosystem in November 2024 – killing up to 11% of the world’s Tapanuli orangutan population — prompted widespread scrutiny of the extractive companies operating in the area at the time of the ecological catastrophe. For weeks, investigators searched for evidence that the companies may have damaged the Batang Toru and Garoga watersheds before the disaster, which washed torrents of mud and logs into villages, claiming the lives of more than 1,100 people. Now, the government is taking action.”

Scientists Say This Simple Diet Change Could Transform Your Gut Health (Mili)

The author writes, “A growing trend called ‘fibermaxxing’ is putting dietary fiber in the spotlight — and for good reason. Fiber plays a powerful role in keeping the body healthy, from supporting digestion and feeding beneficial gut microbes to helping regulate blood sugar and cholesterol. Researchers say getting enough fiber may even lower the risk of conditions like obesity, diabetes, and certain cancers.”

NASA Lost a Lunar Spacecraft One Day After Launch. A New Report Details What Went Wrong (Dana)

From NPR: “On February 26, 2025, a NASA probe called Lunar Trailblazer lifted off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Its mission was to map the water on the moon. But a day after launch, mission managers lost contact with the spacecraft, and it was never heard from again. One year later, NPR has learned exactly why the $72 million dollar mission failed. A report by a review panel convened by NASA to explore what went wrong contains the explanation. Software that was supposed to point the spacecraft solar panels toward the sun instead pointed them 180 degrees away from the sun.”