Women in Sports
In Lincoln, Nebraska, history was made as a new world record was set for women’s sports attendance. Over 92,000 people packed Memorial Stadium for the University of Nebraska vs. University of Nebraska Omaha women’s college volleyball game. This beats the previous world record crowd for a women’s sporting event set at a soccer match between Barcelona and Wolfsburg. Ticket prices for the game were soaring at nearly $400 the day of the event. University of Nebraska won all three sets, dominating the unranked University of Nebraska Omaha. Now dubbed “Volleyball Day in Nebraska,” students hope to set a new record next year.
Ukrainian Refuge
As Ukrainians fled their country, many were uncertain of where they would call home. In response, the U.S. opened Uniting for Ukraine, a program that allowed people in the U.S. to sponsor Ukrainian refugees. Having been in their shoes before, an immigrant couple, Orhan and Anastasia Veli, felt the urge to help. The Velis immediately started filling out the paperwork to bring Anastasia’s niece and daughter to America through the Uniting for Ukraine program. Following that, they sponsored another friend, eventually helping 11 people in total. The Velis have provided housing, helped refugees apply for jobs, and even opened bank accounts.
Pacific Waste Cleanup
Ocean Cleanup, a non-profit organization dedicated to developing technologies to rid the oceans of plastic, debuted their new System 03 model earlier this month. According to Forbes, the company has recently made giant strides in its goal to eliminate 90% of the garbage in the Pacific Ocean by 2040. Nearly three times longer than the original, the System 03 model is capable of cleaning the area of a football field every five seconds. The new model is made of a floating barrier that is towed between two vessels. Once the trash is extracted, a crew on board sorts and recycles it. Since 2021, the company has extracted more than 275 tons of plastic from the Pacific, playing a vital role in the health of the Pacific Ocean.
Reticulated Giraffe
According to the Giraffe Conservation Foundation, the “Reticulated Giraffe” was added to the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List as an endangered species in 2018. But in late July 2023, at Brights Zoo in Tennessee, a female reticulated giraffe was born. This was the first appearance of a reticulated giraffe since 1970. Most giraffes are born with brown spots, however, this rare female giraffe was born a solid brown color, classifying it as a Reticulated Giraffe. While it was thought to be the only living spotless giraffe in the world, a second giraffe was found in early September at a reserve in Africa. Originally threatened by habitat loss and degradation, improved conservation measures are working to ensure the giraffe population continues its growth.
