Abstracts: Florida Destruction, Cassini, and More
• Hurricane Irma swept through Florida yesterday, leaving millions without power and killing at least five people. Though the state was spared some of the most destructive predicted impacts, the death toll in the Caribbean has risen to 27. (New York Times)
• After having studied Saturn for 13 years, the international probe Cassini is set to self-destruct by the end of the week. The probe has discovered six moons, contributed findings to nearly 4,000 research papers, and taken 453,000 photos of Saturn, its rings, and its moon, Titan, since it was launched. (BBC)
• Though officials and residents are still determining the extent of Irma’s devastation in Florida, experts believe that it will have an unprecedented lasting impact on the state. While some state and local officials in the largely Republican state are preparing for stronger storms and sea level rise, many politicians are still reluctant to acknowledge climate change’s contribution to Irma and other major storms. (E&E News)
• A new study has identified the first high-status female Viking. Her body was discovered 130 years ago among thousands of Viking graves, but scientists had assumed she was a man until a DNA test was performed. (Science)
• Just 90 corporations are to blame for more than a quarter of sea level rise and half of the warming that took place between 1880 and 2010, according to a new paper. The research team, which includes representatives from the Union of Concerned Scientists and two universities, built on findings released earlier this year that nearly two-thirds of historic emissions came from 90 companies. (InsideClimate News)
• Even science cannot successfully predict whether two people will fall in love. More specifically, a new statistical analysis of 350 heterosexual college students found that no traits or preferences predicted whether participants felt romantically attracted to someone after a four-minute speed date. (Science News)
• A new study looking at the costs of cancer medications found that the price of drugs in the United States after approval is much higher than the preapproval research and development costs. Though the study’s sample size was relatively small, many researchers are praising it for showing the extent of rising drug costs. (New York Times)
• And finally, an ancient Egyptian tomb containing mummies, jewels, statues, and sarcophagi was just discovered near Egypt’s Valley of the Kings. (The Guardian)