07.11.2023

China Kindergarten Massacre

Six people, including three children, are dead and one other injured after a man allegedly armed with a knife attacked a kindergarten in southeastern China's Guangdong province yesterday.

The 25-year-old suspect, identified as a man named Wu, was arrested in Lianjiang, a city of nearly 1.9 million people. Police have not yet identified an official motive; however, local media reports suggest the assailant may have been motivated by a vehicular incident involving his child outside the school—the other vehicle's driver is allegedly among the deceased.

The massacre is one of several similar incidents targeting schools—at least 17 knife attacks in schools have occurred in China since 2010—often involving knives or homemade explosives due to China's strict gun laws. Some experts have attributed the attacks to mental health issues, while others have suggested they could be driven by personal grudges stemming from broad social tensions.

Northeast Flash Floods

Heavy rainfall in New England has generated widespread flooding across the northeastern US, including in southwestern New Hampshire and southern Vermont, drawing comparisons to flooding from Hurricane Irene in 2011. At least one person has died in New York state, while the National Weather Service warned of life-threatening flooding in Vermont through today. 

The severe weather has led to road closures, transit disruptions, and power outages across the region. Some areas of New York saw as much as 8 inches of rain, while Vermont has seen up to 6 inches of rain; Vermont is expected to see an additional 6 inches by today. See photos of the damage here. 

Separately, at least 22 people are dead in India's northern Himalayan region following flash floods and landslides triggered by monsoon rains. Additionally, at least two are dead and six are missing in southwest Japan following floods and mudslides. 

The floods come as extreme rainfall events are becoming more common worldwide. Experts say for every 1.8-degree Fahrenheit increase in global temperature, the amount of moisture in the atmosphere increases by 6%-7%, resulting in more intense and frequent precipitation. See more on the Clausius-Clapeyron equation here.

Tylenol Murders Suspect Dead

James Lewis, the only suspect in the 1982 Tylenol murders, was found dead

Sunday in his apartment outside Boston, according to reports yesterday. Lewis, 76, had served 12 years in prison for extortion charges related to the incident but was never charged with murder. The case remains open over 40 years later.

In September 1982, seven people died within a 24-hour period in the Chicago area, immediately after taking over-the-counter Extra Strength Tylenol. Investigators later discovered the Tylenol had been laced with cyanide poison, causing a scare across the nation and ultimately leading to the development of tamper-proof packaging.

Lewis was arrested three months later for writing a letter to Tylenol-maker Johnson & Johnson demanding a $1M payment to stop the killings, prompting the then-largest search in US history. He denied involvement in the murders, claiming the letter was a hoax on his wife's ex-boss. Read a narrative of the case here or listen to a podcast retelling here.

Science & Technology

Business & Markets

Politics & World Affairs

In-Depth

> Nigeria's Romance Scammers

Atavist | Carlos Barragán. A journalist dives into the world of online romance scams after his mother in Spain falls for one of Nigeria's "Yahoo Boys." (Read)

> Finding Closure After 50 Years

The Walrus | Angela Sterritt. Inside a decadeslong journey of a family seeking justice, and ultimately finding closure, for the unsolved murder of a teenage Indigenous girl in Canada. (Read)

A look at America's best aquariums.

A record number of Americans are living alone.

Visualizing shark attacks in the US.

How to avoid mosquito bites this summer.

Weather forecaster sneaks song lyrics into his live forecasts (w/video).

When animals lock eyes with a photographer (w/photos).

Instructions for every Lego set ever.

Twix reveals the hidden meaning behind its name.

Clickbait: Grumpy locals sabotage robotaxis. 

Historybook: President John Quincy Adams born (1767); Vice President Aaron Burr mortally wounds Alexander Hamilton in duel (1804); "To Kill a Mockingbird" is published (1960); Iconic actor Laurence Olivier dies (1989); Former first lady Lady Bird Johnson dies (2007).