Good morning and Happy Bacchanal! Here are some headlines before you run out the door!
Happening in the World: An international team of scientists have found what appears to be a ‘fossil graveyard,’ furthering the theory that the dinosaurs became extinct 66 million years ago due to an asteroid. Teams from the University of Kansas and University of Manchester found a “tangled mass of freshwater fish, terrestrial vertebrates, trees, branches, logs, marine ammonites, and other marine creatures” at the Tanis Site in North Dakota’s Hell Creek Formation according to graduate student, Robert DePalma. Several paleontologists have made statements showing excitement over the site, however, many are still apprehensive about the role of dinosaurs in this site, as only a partial hip bone was found of one, and hope more will be found. (CNN)
Happening in the US: The State Department has revoked the visa of the International Criminal Court (ICC)’s chief prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda. This comes after Bensouda was asked by the ICC to open an investigation into the allegations that U.S. personnel and Afghanistan personnel might have committed war crimes in Afghanistan, principally during the 2003-2004. However, in 2002, the United States Congress passed the American Service-Members Protection Act, leading the framework to deny such investigations from the ICC. (NPR)
Happening in NYC: Congestion pricing is on its way to New York. The new tolls entering Manhattan are expected to go into effect in 2021, but not after serious backlash from certain interest groups. Congestion pricing was created as a way to hopefully decrease traffic and the number of cars in the city while gaining $15 billion to be used to fix the subway system. But, truck drivers, as well as various New Jersey mayors and governor have opposed the plan, saying it will unnecessarily make the lives of people who have no other option but commute into the city more difficult. (NYTimes)
Happening on Campus: Happy Bacchanal! Also Admitted Students events at Columbia and Barnard are going on starting Sunday, the future is upon us!
Documentary of the Week: It’s a Youtube video, but How It’s Made, Decorative Candles is truly a sight to behold. Who knew carving wax candles was so time-consuming and so cool! It’s only 5 minutes so if you’re feeling stressed, I highly recommend you watch it.
hell yea, hell creek (Montana version) via Wikimedia Commons