SUMMARY: On September 1, notable historical events include the 1985 discovery of the Titanic wreck off Newfoundland by a U.S.-French expedition. In 1715, King Louis XIV of France died, succeeded by his great-grandson Louis XV. Boston opened North America’s first subway in 1897. The last passenger pigeon, Martha, died in 1914, marking the species’ extinction. In 1923, a deadly earthquake hit Tokyo and Yokohama, killing about 140,000. Nazi Germany invaded Poland in 1939, starting WWII. Other milestones include Masanori Murakami becoming the first Japanese MLB player in 1964, Gadhafi’s 1969 coup in Libya, and the tragic 2004 Beslan school siege.

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SUMMARY: In South Florida’s Everglades, robotic rabbits are being used to lure and capture invasive Burmese pythons threatening native wildlife. These solar-powered, heat-emitting, scent-releasing robots mimic real rabbits’ movements to attract pythons, overcoming challenges in detecting the camouflaged snakes. Developed by the South Florida Water Management District and University of Florida researchers, 120 units were deployed this summer at $4,000 each. Burmese pythons, non-native predators responsible for devastating small mammal and bird populations, number in the tens of thousands to possibly 300,000 in Florida. While the project’s success remains early, officials are optimistic about its potential impact in controlling the python menace.

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SUMMARY: Delta Air Lines agreed to pay $79 million to settle a 2020 class-action lawsuit after a Boeing 777-200, experiencing engine trouble shortly after departing Los Angeles for Shanghai, dumped 15,000 gallons of fuel over populated areas, including schoolyards in Cudahy, California. Nearly 60 schoolchildren and teachers suffered minor skin and lung irritations. Teachers and homeowners filed lawsuits citing exposure to jet fuel and related physical and emotional harm. Delta explained the fuel dump was necessary to reduce the plane’s weight for a safe landing after one engine lost thrust. The airline settled without admitting liability to avoid trial costs and business disruption.

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