New kid on the walk
More than four million people have been affected by floods across six countries in western and central Africa. / CBC
Heavy rainfall caused parts of the Saraha Desert to turn green. / NASA Earth Observatory
New analysis suggests that one in seven scientific papers is at least partly fake. / Retraction Watch
A global economy of spammers and entrepreneurs is using AI to fill the web with "slop." / Intelligencer
Today's political polling is said to be no more reliable than what we had a century ago. / The American Prospect
Traffic to right wing news websites plunged over the past four years. / TheRighting
Related: Men explain why they leave comments on pornography websites. / The Cut
Unrelated: A brief history of online fashion fandom. / Ssense
A photographer makes composite images to depict the pressures of trying to be a "perfect" mother. / It's Nice That
Photos from inside a high-status female leader's throne room in ancient Peru. / Colossal
Video of the first performance of an unknown Mozart piece recently discovered in Germany's Leipzig Municipal Libraries. / Open Culture
Can you copyright a rhythm? A court is soon to decide. / Pitchfork
Billie Eilish is partnering with Google Maps to help fans find more "sustainable" transport to her upcoming concerts. / NME
Cycling safety increases when bikes roll through stop signs and drivers are informed that this is okay. / electrek
For your weekly wanderlust: a north-to-south bike trip through Iceland. Also, where and when to see fall foliage this year in the US. / The Radavist, Smoky Mountains
If you carry a Nike Elite backpack, beware teenagers trying to steal your zippers. / Fast Company
Another trend on TikTok? Young people going on silent strolls. "Gen Z thinks it just invented walking." / The New York Times [+]
And now a brief chat with a new Sustaining Member, Katie K.!
Katie, you joined us through the Tournament of Books, is that right? Yeah, I was brought into the ToB by my friend Margot. I enjoy the yearly reading list and conversations with Margot about all the ToB choices and commentary. (While she participates in the community, I'm just a reader.) I signed up for the Headlines newsletter after a few years of ToB. Both the newsletter and the ToB are important to me.
That's wonderful. What led you to become a supporter today? I've been close to supporting for a few years now (yikes!). And so close about a month ago when another reader's reasoning almost got me. But it was the Honest Broker's article this week about Parasite Culture that did it. I'm here now. Thank you.
Thank you, Katie! And huge thanks to all of our supporters.
🦠 If this newsletter is important to you, too, become a Sustaining Member today—and thank you!
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Your headlines are sourced and composed by Rosecrans Baldwin (☜) and Andrew Womack, Monday through Saturday. View this edition and the latest headlines at TMN.