For Madison Lovelle, her late father's home contains difficult memories dating back nearly four decades to her childhood.
The home — which he left to her as a rental property after his death in 2024 — she discovered soon after was not very well kept. While cleaning it out last year, she discovered a box containing old teeth and some unexpected house guests — brown recluse spiders, and more.
Jeff Bezos backs a platform that lets anyone invest in rental homes for as little as $100 — 6 ways to build wealth like a landlord without actually being one
Dave Ramsey warns nearly 50% of Americans are making 1 big Social Security mistake. Here's what it is and 3 simple steps to fix it ASAP
A single line on your car insurance policy could be inflating your premium by up to 30% — here's what to change

#rental

Frequent board commenter Solanus tracks an enormous amount of pitcher and catcher data, tabulating each game result by hand. Last year, he gave me enough insight into his spreadsheets where I was able to re-create much of the data he hand tabulates (I'm way too lazy for that!) and I wanted to peak at some of those data points and see what we could learn about the defensive side of their catching corps.
The data itself comes from a mix of sources. Statcast data for actual line-ups and game events (who pitched, who caught, which innings, etc.). Baseball reference.com for overall pitching lines for each game, and with Fangraphs because of course there has to be differences in how the data is constructed that doesn't make it easy. Team ids between sites are different. Player Ids are different. Even game Ids are different, and all three have to be brewed together to knit the data into one consistent result.
I wrote the code. The methods are all Solanus. I simply copied his logic into R code and ran it. So he gets all the credit.
I chose to query both the 2025 and 2026 seasons (you will likely understand why when I go through it). Here is the raw data, and following that some of the interesting morsels I discovered and thought about some.
2026

#data #game #solanus

Manchester United are considering an ambitious January move for Leeds United striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin as Michael Carrick searches for solutions to his side's growing attacking concerns.
According to Laurie Whitwell and Beren Cross of The Athletic, United have begun ****** sing potential centre-forward targets ahead of the winter transfer window, with Calvert-Lewin emerging as a player of interest.
The 29-year-old England international has rediscovered his goalscoring touch at Elland Road, making him an intriguing option for a Manchester United side facing an increasingly complicated period without Benjamin Sesko.
However, persuading Leeds to part with their leading striker could prove exceptionally difficult.
Calvert-Lewin's resurgence represents one of the more compelling stories in English football. Having endured several injury-disrupted seasons at Everton, the striker has rebuilt his reputation since joining Leeds on a free transfer in the summer of 2025.

#leeds

Oct. 29—VERMILLION, S.D. — Long before Austyn Modrzewski became the starting quarterback at the University of South Dakota, he was a first grader in Littleton, Colorado, who had already discovered something special about throwing a football.
He initially lined up at running back when he started playing tackle football. But it did not take long for those around him to recognize that the ball belonged in his hands, and preferably in the air. Even at that age, Modrzewski was doing something rare for a young player in his area: leading an offense that could throw the football.
By second grade, he was training specifically to play quarterback. Sunday mornings and several days throughout the week became practices for his mechanics, improving his footwork and developing a position that had already become his passion. By third grade, he was learning to read defenses.
Football was never simply something Modrzewski played. It was something he worked to understand. He competed across state lines, trained year-round and developed an appreciation for the quarterback position long before most children his age had even thought about their athletic futures.
"I always wanted to be a running growing up back because they always get the ball," Austyn Modrzewski said earlier this season. "And in the first practice, we didn't have a quarterback so I kind of just stepped up and started throwing some ****** . I had fun doing it, and I was like, 'I'm not half bad at throwing.'"

#modrzewski #long #austyn #even

Meghan Markle's half-sister, Samantha Markle, has accused their brother, Thomas Markle Jr., of trying to "destroy" their father, Thomas Markle Sr. Her allegations come as the 82-year-old former television lighting and photography director faces an investigation in the Philippines over allegations that he possessed child ***** ual abuse material.
As reported by The Sun, Markle Jr. discovered the material at their father's home in the Philippines and alerted the police, prompting the authorities to investigate the matter.
Meghan Markle's half-sister, Samantha Markle, has accused their brother, Thomas Markle Jr., of wanting to "destroy" their father, Thomas Markle Sr., amid an ongoing investigation into allegations that he possessed child ***** ual abuse material. According to the Daily Mail, the ***** ss of Sussex's father has denied the allegations, describing them as "sick lies."
Meanwhile, Samantha has publicly defended her father and hit back at Thomas Markle Jr., calling him a "liar" and the allegations against their dad "disgusting." Speaking to the Daily Mail, Meghan's half-sister dismissed the accusations and questioned her brother's motives. "There is no merit in these disgusting allegations whatsoever and my brother is disgusting for making them up. He wants to destroy our dad. Shame on him," she claimed.
Samantha further alleged that her brother's accusations were motivated by financial gain. According to her, the dispute began after their father stopped providing him with money. She told the publication, "My brother first came out with these lies a few weeks ago when the cash from my dad was cut off. He has used dad as a cash cow for years, and once the money stopped, he made up the most outrageous lies he could to try and make money from the media."

#brother #sister

Real Madrid rediscovered their sparkle with an emphatic rout of Sevilla in a match that saw Arda Güler take charge, while Madrid fans celebrated Kylian Mbappé's clinical finishing and Yan Diomandé's emergence. However, the victory was not without controversy, as Sevilla were left furious with the officiating.
Rounding out the football action are a domestic transfer market stirred by Getafe's interest in Sergio Ramos, a struggling ***** nal's resilience in the Premier League, and Nico Paz's unstoppable form under Cesc Fàbregas in Italy.
Real Madrid delivered a commanding performance with a 4-1 victory over Sevilla at the Santiago Bernabéu, inspired by a stellar display from Arda Güler. José Mourinho's side showed a dramatic improvement in their fluidity to set up a comfortable win, sealed by a brilliant Kylian Mbappé brace and another standout goal from youngster Yan Diomandé, establishing the Turkish midfielder as a cornerstone of Madrid's midfield for the immediate future.
The defeat left the Sevilla camp deeply aggrieved, with outrage spreading from the dressing room to the press room and the club's official channels as they left Madrid's ground. Coach Luis García Plaza and players including Kike Salas and Juan Iglesias openly argued that Güler should have been sent off for a heavy challenge on Peque, directing their criticism squarely at the handling of VAR.
On the transfer front, Getafe once again grabbed the headlines after president Ángel Torres surprisingly confirmed in public that Sergio Ramos is among the club's potential signings. Having already secured Dani Carvajal—who is ready to make his debut immediately—the Coliseum club's board is seeking another historic, headline-grabbing coup in Spanish football by bolstering its defence with the veteran former Real Madrid centre-back.

#kylian

Real Madrid rediscovered their sparkle with an emphatic thrashing of Sevilla in a clash where Arda Güler took charge, as Madrid fans celebrated Kylian Mbappé's clinical finishing and Yan Diomandé's emergence. However, the victory was not without controversy, with Sevilla furious over the officiating.
The football roundup also features a domestic transfer market stirred by Getafe's ambitions to sign Sergio Ramos, a struggling ******* nal's resilience in the Premier League, and Nico Paz's unstoppable form under Cesc Fàbregas in Italy.
Real Madrid delivered an impressive performance with a 4-1 victory over Sevilla at the Santiago Bernabéu, inspired by a stellar display from Arda Güler. José Mourinho's side showed dramatically improved fluidity to secure a comfortable win, sealed by a brilliant Kylian Mbappé brace and another eye-catching goal from youngster Yan Diomandé, with the Turkish midfielder staking his claim as a cornerstone of Madrid's midfield in the immediate future.
The defeat left the Sevilla camp deeply frustrated as they departed Madrid's home ground, with outrage spreading from the dressing room to the press room and the club's official channels. Coach Luis García Plaza and players including Kike Salas and Juan Iglesias openly argued that Güler should have been sent off for a heavy challenge on Peque, directing their criticism squarely at the handling of VAR.
In transfer news, Getafe once again grabbed the headlines following a surprise admission from president Ángel Torres, who publicly confirmed that Sergio Ramos is on the club's list of potential signings. Having already secured Dani Carvajal—who is ready to make his debut immediately—the Coliseum club's board is seeking another historic, headline-grabbing coup in Spanish football by strengthening its defence with the veteran former Real Madrid centre-back.

#sevilla #arda

Jen Hamilton discussed her estranged husband, Brian Hamilton, on Kylie Kelce's podcast
The registered nurse and influencer noted that she discovered alleged infidelity after 13 years of marriage
She said support from her parents and coworkers helped her embrace a new chapter
Jen Hamilton is a new woman.
The registered nurse and influencer opened up about her split from her estranged husband, Brian Hamilton, after 13 years of marriage.

#registered

Prince William has been branded a "beautiful human" after his interaction with a four-week-old baby, which took place on Tuesday during an engagement in Ilminster. The royal, who is a dad of three, was also on hand to offer up light-hearted advice for the new mum.
In the video above, William can be seen meeting the tiny newborn, and he asked: "How old?" When the mum replied, "Four weeks," he exclaimed, "Four weeks!" He then proceeded to ask if it was her "first one" and when he discovered it was her second, he waved his hand in the air and said: "Dab hand," in a reassuring tone.
Prince William is a doting dad to three children (@ Getty Images)
The talk then turned to sleep, as it does with most parents, and when discovering the little one isn't the best sleeper, he jokingly instructed the woman: "Don't move," as the baby was sound asleep on her during the whole interaction.
When the clip circulated online, fans praised William for stopping to speak to the parent. One wrote: "William is a beautiful human being who is so much like his Mum was," and another added: "This is why people love William. So natural and caring, asking about the baby sleeping! Future king with such a kind heart."

#william #beautiful #interaction #weeks

The $200 million in payments dwarfs previous amounts disclosed in the case.
The former CIA officer arrested after authorities discovered roughly $40 million worth of gold bars in his Virginia home pleaded guilty in federal court on Tuesday to a single count of wire fraud, admitting he defrauded the U.S. government out of nearly $200 million for his personal benefit.
David Rush was previously described by prosecutors as a "master manipulator" who used his clandestine position to amass millions worth of gold bars and luxury watches -. though the government revealed in Tuesday's hearing the extent of his alleged deception far exceeded what was previously known to the public.
The nearly $200 million in payments to Rush, which dwarfs previous amounts disclosed as part of his case, will likely only further draw public and congressional scrutiny to the intelligence community to provide more transparency regarding its methods in doling out taxpayer dollars to agents and the oversight that follows such exchanges.
The case has drawn widespread intrigue and raised major questions regarding the intelligence community's management in overseeing the secretive systems that grant officials like Rush the ability to amass high-value ****** ets tied to their work.

#million #payments #dwarfs

AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV) was trading at around $263 on October 5, up 14.18% over twelve months. Its payout ratio is 190.40%. The company distributes nearly twice what it reports as profit.
A dividend that large is either about to be cut or is being paid out of something the earnings line does not show.
READ ALSO: Here is Why Tripadvisor (TRIP) is a Bad Investment at Today's Price
AbbVie reported net income of $6.27 billion and generated $16.87 billion of free cash flow. Dividends are paid from the second number, so a ratio measured against the first is describing depressed earnings rather than a company living beyond its means.
The margins show what depresses them. Operating margin is 40.04%. Net margin is 9.80%. Thirty points vanish between those lines, and where they vanish matters. Costs that high sitting below the operating line are not the business failing to earn. They are the amortization of a drug portfolio AbbVie bought rather than discovered, plus interest on the debt that bought it.

#paid

Some actors spend so much time speaking in a particular accent that audiences eventually forget it is not their natural voice. Years of American roles can make a British actor seem completely American, while there are more Australian infiltrating our ranks than you can possibly imagine. The effect can be especially strange when you hear someone in an interview for the first time after watching them for years. A few of these actors have even admitted that audiences are surprised by their real accents. Once you know where they are actually from, some of their biggest roles sound completely different.
After years of playing Dr. Gregory House with an American accent, Hugh Laurie surprised many viewers when they discovered that he is English and naturally speaks with a British accent.
Batman, Patrick Bateman, and several other major roles helped make Christian Bale's American accent extremely familiar, but the actor was born in Wales and speaks with a British accent in real life.
Margot Robbie has used American accents in many of her biggest films, including The Wolf of Wall Street, Suicide Squad, and Barbie, so hearing her natural Australian accent can catch viewers off guard.
His American accent in Get Out was convincing enough to make many viewers forget that Kaluuya is from London and naturally speaks with an English accent.

#make #australian

General Hospital alum Chris McKenna just revealed he needs emergency jaw surgery this week.
The former Jack recently shared a health update on X, posting an X-ray of his jaw and writing, "I had a broken crown fixed last month and they discovered a spot on my x-ray."
He continued, explaining what this means for his mouth: "Turns out I need emergency surgery in the morning to remove a cyst that has eaten away at my jawbone and have a bone graft. Good thing I broke that tooth! This is gonna hurt but lucky we caught it."
While this certainly isn't something McKenna wanted to hear, the former soap star is making the best of the scary situation. Shortly after his announcement, he posted, "The good news is I'm gonna be on pain meds for weeks and my tweets might be hilarious."
Photo: Disney/Christine Bartolucci

#former #hospital #jack

What is the Taraia Object?
What artifacts were discovered on Nikumaroro Atoll?
How many passengers were on the Winter Haven High School bus?
Full Summary
An expedition began on Oct. 2 as researchers left Purdue University on a mission that hopes to find the lost plane of aviator Amelia Earhart, who went missing along with her navigator Fred Noonan in 1937.

#winter

Andrew Jones, vice president of the Noah’s Ark Research Project, told Fox News Digital about the project’s latest field season at Turkey’s Durupınar formation, where researchers collected more than 300 soil samples and conducted deep-core drilling.
A team investigating a boat-shaped formation in eastern Turkey says new evidence is strengthening its case that the site could hold the remains of Noah's Ark.
"In archaeology, you deal with probabilities, and we're inching towards where we believe we will have confirmation this winter after our soil ******* ysis is done with Sivas University, who's our partner in this," Noah's Ark Scans founder Andrew Jones told "Saturday in America."
The focus of the investigation is the Durupınar formation, an approximately 538-foot-long geological structure near Mount Ararat. Its shape and proximity to the region identified in the biblical account have fascinated Ark hunters for decades.
The boat-shaped formation was first discovered in 1959 and has long-drawn speculation over a possible connection to Noah's Ark.

#turkey

A U.S. service member was arrested on suspicion of murder and robbery after a ******* anese woman's body was discovered in a hotel in Okinawa, local officials said, describing the alleged killing as a "heinous" incident that prompted the ******* anese government to lodge a protest with the United States.
Shinjiro Koizumi, the ******* anese minister of defense, said a U.S. Marine lance corporal was arrested on Sunday after the woman's body was found early on Saturday in Naha, the capital city of the Okinawa prefecture.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said the Okinawa Prefectural Police were investigating the incident as a murder.
"The occurrence of such an extremely brutal and heinous incident is a matter of profound regret, and as the Government of ******* an, we have lodged a strong protest with the U.S. side," she said on social media.
NHK, ******* an's public broadcaster, identified the suspect as Devin Jacob Ballard, 20, who was stationed at U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, a base a few miles outside Naha. The broadcaster identified the alleged victim as Yagi Anna, 39, saying she was ******* ounced dead at the scene.

#minister #arrested #body

Scientists have discovered a new species of lizard in the Peruvian Andes, the Natural History Museum of San Marcos University said Saturday.
The lizard measures between six and eight centimeters (2.4-3.2 inches) and has distinct coloration depending on ****** .
Females have square-shaped spots on their backs, while males have oblique spots and white scales that help them blend into their rocky surroundings.
The lizard feeds on plants and small arthropods, including spiders, beetles, true bugs and insect larvae.
The new species was found at an altitude of more than 4,800 meters (15,750 feet) in the southern Andean region of Arequipa and was given the name Liolaemus archipensis.

#species #peruvian #history

Gypsy Rose Blanchard has spoken out about the death of her fiancé and the father of her child, Ken Urker. He died Thursday, on his 34th birthday.
Blanchard, 35, confirmed Urker's death in a Thursday night statement to TMZ, saying: "Ken was an amazing father and a man who was deeply loved."
She added that he "will forever be my soulmate and my red string, a connection that time, distance, and even death can never erase."
The Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office confirmed in a statement shared with The Independent that police found Urker dead at his Louisiana home after receiving a call at 6:15 p.m. Thursday. Investigators found him next to "a brown powdery substance," a syringe, handgun and two shot glasses.
"At this time, we are continuing the death investigation," a police spokesperson said. "To this point, we have discovered no signs of foul play."

#thursday #time

Kate Wasserbach Moore is pregnant and expecting her third baby with her husband, Travis Moore
The founder and creative director of Abel Honor New York is due this coming March
Kate and Travis are already parents to daughter Carson, 2, and son Julian, 14 months
Kate Wasserbach Moore is pregnant again!
The founder and creative director of Abel Honor New York is expecting her third baby with her husband, Travis Moore, sharing the news exclusively with PEOPLE. Wasserbach Moore, who is already mom to daughter Carson, 2, and son Julian, 14 months, will be welcoming her third baby this coming March and tells PEOPLE she first discovered her pregnancy when she noticed some of her food cravings.

#kate #baby #york #march

Ken Urker, partner of Gypsy Rose Blanchard and father of her daughter Aurora, was found dead at a Louisiana home on Thursday, Oct. 1
The Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office tells PEOPLE that the investigation into his death is ongoing, but they have "found no evidence of foul play" thus far
Blanchard told PEOPLE she believes Urker, who "was not in a good state of mind lately," overdosed
An investigation into the death of Gypsy Rose Blanchard's partner, Ken Urker, remains ongoing.
Urker was found dead at a Louisiana home on Thursday, Oct. 1, after being discovered by a family member, a source confirmed to PEOPLE. The Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office also confirmed Urker's death at 34.

#urker #found #rose #blanchard

Mexican TikTok influencer Cindy Tamez, her partner and three kids were reportedly discovered shot to death on Sept. 30 in what is being investigated as a murder-suicide
Tamez's and her 2-year-old son Gustavo were found dead at around 9:40 a.m. on Sept. 30 inside a Jeep in Montemorelos, Mexico, reported local outlets Reforma, Meganoticias, Milenio and El Financiero
Her two other children, Christian, 12, and Bruno, 11, as well as her partner, Leodegario Moya, were also found shot to death at their home three blocks away, the outlets also reported
A Mexican influencer, her partner and three kids were reportedly discovered shot to death in what is being investigated as a murder-suicide.
Cinthia Abigail Tamez Rivera — a 34-year-old content creator known on TikTok as Cindy Tamez — and her 2-year-old son Gustavo were found dead at around 9:40 a.m. on Sept. 30 inside a Jeep in Montemorelos, Mexico, reported local outlets Reforma, Meganoticias, Milenio and El Financiero.

#tamez #shot #death #outlets

The twin sister of the late Aaron Carter has confirmed she is expecting a baby boy with husband Corey Conrad.
The news comes seven years after the couple welcomed daughter Harper.
In a 1 October Instagram post, Harper posed with an ultrasound photo as her parents held hands in the background.
Alongside a blue heart emoji, Angel wrote, "Harper is getting a new ***** le... Big Sister."
Angel detailed their "long journey" to pregnancy in an interview with People magazine.
"We were fortunate to get pregnant naturally with Harper, but when we decided we wanted another baby, we discovered that IVF was the only option for us," she explained.

#angel #sister

Gypsy-Rose Blanchard's fiancé Ken Urker died at his Louisiana home on his birthday on Thursday, Oct. 1
The pair share a daughter, Aurora Raina, who was born in December 2024
The couple reconnected in April 2024 after years apart and Blanchard's split from Ryan Anderson
Gypsy-Rose Blanchard's fiancé, Ken Urker, has died.
Urker was found unresponsive on Thursday, Oct. 1, his birthday. He was discovered by a family member inside a Louisiana home, a source close to the family confirmed to PEOPLE. TMZ was first to report his death.

#louisiana #fianc #home #birthday

Busy Philipps tells PEOPLE her oncologist confirmed her latest scan was clear after she was diagnosed with a brain tumor
Doctors discovered the rare tumor during a full-body MRI in February
Philipps underwent two surgeries and did not need chemotherapy or radiation
Busy Philipps shared a positive update amid her ongoing health journey after she was diagnosed with a brain tumor earlier this year.
"I chatted with my oncologist today," the Cupertino star, 47, tells PEOPLE exclusively at the Wednesday, Sept. 30, premiere of the CBS show in New York City. The Silicon Valley-set legal drama was her doctor's preferred topic of conversation, Philipps shars.

#tumor #people

Ben Affleck says losing both of his parents within the same year has changed the way he looks back at the family and home that shaped him. His father, Timothy Affleck, died in April, followed by his mother, Chris Anne Affleck, in June.
The actor addressed the losses publicly during the September 30 episode of Kerry Washington's Street You Grew Up On podcast. Affleck called losing both parents "sort of a big thing" and said it had caused him to revisit his childhood in ways that felt different from before.
Much of that shift centers on his mother, who died June 2 at age 83 after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in December 2025. After her death, Affleck discovered letters she had written to her own parents as a young woman and began reading about ambitions, interests and experiences that existed decades before he knew her as his mother.
That discovery gave Affleck a fuller view of what she later devoted to raising him and his younger brother, Casey. It also fit a broader change in perspective he has described as an adult. Seeing his parents not simply through the roles they played in his childhood, but as people with their own histories, struggles and capacity for change.
The letters came from Chris Anne's younger years, including periods when she was living in California and deciding what kind of work she wanted to pursue. PEOPLE reported that Affleck found references to possible careers in teaching and social work, protests and time spent traveling to Mississippi.

#losing #childhood

Amanda Peet's advice for protecting your health? Keep an eye out for the warning signs.
The actress and "Your Friends & Neighbors" star, who was diagnosed with breast cancer last fall, opened up about the medical ordeal in a new interview on the "Today" show Thursday, Oct. 1.
"I feel great," Peet, 54, told host Savannah Guthrie, nine months after receiving her first clear scan in January. "I think about how lucky I was in so many ways."
Peet revealed her cancer battle in a March essay for The New Yorker. The actress said that in August 2025, she went in for a "routine scan" to monitor her "'dense' and 'busy' ****** ." During the appointment, her physician discovered a small tumor on an ultrasound. A subsequent MRI showed Peet had a second tumor, later determined to be benign.
Amanda Peet health: Actress's intimate essay revealing cancer is a 'way to cope a little'

#scan #essay #friends

Bringing Up Bates alum Gil Bates suffered a heart attack after experiencing unusual chest sensations and occasional jaw pain for two weeks
Doctors discovered an 80% blockage in his LAD artery and a 95% blockage in his RCA artery, leading to the placement of two stents
Gil's wife, Kelly Jo Bates, said he is heading home and will begin cardiac therapy next week
Gil Bates is recovering after suffering a heart attack.
The Bringing Up Bates alum, 61, was hospitalized earlier this week after experiencing an unusual sensation in his chest for approximately two weeks, his wife, Kelly Jo Bates, revealed in an Instagram post on Wednesday, Sept. 30.

#chest #weeks

Ben Affleck once escaped a terrifying teenage mugging after recognizing the boys holding him at knifepoint. Years later, he learned one of those boys had killed someone and served 20 years in prison.
The actor recently revisited the encounter while reflecting on his childhood in Cambridge, Massachusetts. What began as a frightening walk home eventually became a memory that followed him into parenthood.
Affleck shared the story during an interview with Kerry Washington on her Street You Grew Up On podcast. He recalled walking home from high school at around 15 when two boys in hoods crossed the street toward him. Affleck initially considered running but decided against it. "They pass me, grab me, take a knife out: 'Gimme your money,'" he recalled. "And I was like, 'Oh!' I was scared."
The situation changed when Affleck recognized the teenagers from playing baseball. The boys also recognized him, turning the encounter from a mugging into a strange neighborhood exchange. "So I was like, 'I guess I'm off the hook?'" he remembered. Affleck later discovered that one of the boys had taken a much darker path. "That kid who robbed me ended up three or four years later killing somebody with a knife and going to prison for 20 years," he said.
He also admitted that he never told his mother about the incident. Affleck said he avoided worrying her and now regretted keeping difficult experiences to himself. "I didn't wanna worry her. I didn't wanna scare her," he explained. That silence became especially meaningful after Affleck became a father. "You guys know you can tell me anything. Anything! I'm so cool with anything you have to say," he recalled telling his children.

#mugging #prison

Opening a Bible that once belonged to Thomas Jefferson, staff at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in 2011 discovered a reddish-blond hair pressed between the pages. That hair, suspected to have belonged to Jefferson himself, launched a DNA investigation spanning more than a decade that’s now providing a long-missing puzzle piece regarding Jefferson’s relationship with Sally Hemings, an enslaved woman in his household.
After spending years reconstructing DNA fragments, scientists have revealed the most compelling evidence to date that Jefferson, a founding father of the United States, also fathered children with Hemings — a relationship that has been long rumored but never definitively proven. How that investigation unfolded is documented in the book “History by a Hair: Thomas Jefferson, Sally Hemings & Solving a 200-Year-Old Mystery,” written by Richard Kurin, a distinguished scholar and ambassador-at-large at the Smithsonian, and published on September 22.
Kurin is also senior author of a paper describing the methods that connected the former US president to Hemings’ descendants, which involved delving deep into the genetics of the Jefferson and Hemings family trees. The paper, published September 21 on the preprint platform bioRXiv, has not yet been peer-reviewed.
In addition to testing the hair found in the Bible, the researchers also collected genetic material from multiple confirmed samples of Jefferson’s hair, held in the collection of the Smithsonian. They compared that with DNA from descendants of multiple lineages: Jefferson and his wife Martha, Jefferson’s brother Randolph, and two of Hemings’ sons, Eston and Madison. (Hemings had four children who lived to adulthood, but only Eston and Madison claimed Jefferson as their father).
Matches in the DNA suggest the chance that Thomas Jefferson fathered at least one of Sally Hemings’ children was 99.96%.

#jefferson #children #bible #history

A small, spotted tiger cat from Bolivia may just be
the beginning of a wave of new small cat species.
In 2016, Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz, a biologist and National Geographic Explorer working in Bolivia, received a call from a local wildlife sanctuary that had just been given what they described as “a weird cat.” It came from a local man who found it as a kitten on a road near a forest. The man took the animal home, believing it to be a domestic breed. But after about a year of living with the clearly wild animal, he realized it would be better off at a sanctuary.
As the lead scientist and founder of the Bolivian Felids Research Program (Programa de Investigación de Félidos Bolivia), Nogales-Ascarrunz was intrigued. The animal had a small, scrunched-up face, short and round ears, and long whiskers. It was, indeed, too small to be a housecat, and, most notably, it was covered in leopard-like spots. So she went to visit the creature at the Senda Verde wildlife sanctuary on the subtropical flank of the Bolivian Andes.
“I took a hundred pictures of it,” remembers Nogales-Ascarrunz. “I was so fascinated.”
What she couldn’t know at the time was that this curious cat had a secret. It would become the first new species of felid (i.e. the cat family) discovered in over 100 years, according to a study published today in the journal Current Biology. What’s exciting is the discovery is not a validation of a species proposed in the distant past, nor a previously recognized subspecies raised to species status—which are both more commonly reported and important findings. No, this cat was something totally new to science.

#ascarrunz #bolivian