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Three elite runners, Jessica McClain, Emma Grace Hurley, and Ednah Kurgat, who were leading the USA Track & Field Half Marathon Championships in Atlanta earlier this month, were inadvertently led off course by a guide vehicle. This chaotic turn of events resulted in them finishing in ninth, 12th, and 13th place, respectively, more than two minutes behind the winner, Molly Born.The incident deprived them of the top prize of $20,000 and the three qualifying places for the World Road Running Championships. However, USATF announced on Wednesday that World Athletics had granted permission to expand its team from four to seven, allowing McClain, Hurley, and Kurgat to compete in Copenhagen this September.“From the moment this happened, our focus was on doing right by the athletes,” said USATF CEO Max Siegel. “Jessica, Emma Grace, and Ednah had clearly separated themselves in the race and we are sorry they did not get to celebrate their accomplishment by breaking the tape.”The USATF team for the championships will include Born, Carrie Ellwood, and Annie Rodenfels, along with a final athlete determined by the world rankings in May. The team will consist of four “scoring athletes” and three “non-scoring athletes,” with USATF funding prize money for the non-scoring athletes.

A garden log pile is a surprisingly vibrant ecosystem, teeming with life. The pile, composed of various tree species like apple, walnut, and oak, attracts a diverse range of insects and fungi. The diversity of logs supports a greater variety of life, with different species inhabiting different parts of the pile.The log pile is home to frogs, wrens, and other animals, and even supports the growth of fungi like jelly ear. The arrangement of the wood also plays a crucial role in attracting different species, with buried wood attracting stag beetles and wood at height attracting wasp beetles.The author of the article, Kate Bradbury, carefully dismantles the log pile to make room for a hedgehog box, uncovering a variety of creatures like beetles, springtails, and centipedes in the process. The log pile is then rebuilt, with softer logs on the soil and drier ones around the box, creating a new home for a female hedgehog and other animals.

Deal Overview Crusoe will purchase 12 gigawatt‑hours of Form Energy's 100‑hour iron‑air batteries. Delivery is scheduled for 2027, providing Crusoe with multi‑day backup capability. The agreement follows Form Energy's recent 30 GWh contract for Google in Minnesota, valued at roughly $1 billion. Redwood Materials will supply an additional 8 megawatts of power using repurposed EV batteries, augmenting Crusoe's existing 12 MW, 63 MWh microgrid installation. Financial and Market Implications Assuming a similar price per gigawatt‑hour as the Google deal (~$33 million/GWh), Crusoe's 12 GWh purchase could generate roughly $400 million in revenue for Form Energy, qualifying as “hundreds of millions” for the company. Form Energy is currently raising a $500 million funding round; the Crusoe contract adds tangible traction, supporting valuation uplift. Form has raised $1.4 billion to date, positioning it to scale production from its West Virginia factory. For Crusoe, the combined storage capacity (≈12 GWh + 63 MWh) reduces reliance on grid power, potentially lowering operating costs by an estimated 5‑7% annually for its data centers. Technology Insight Iron‑air batteries store energy via oxidation of iron pebbles; discharge produces rust and electricity, while charging reverses the reaction. The 100‑hour discharge rating enables multi‑day backup, a key differentiator from conventional lithium‑ion systems that typically last only a few hours. Redwood Materials focuses on second‑life EV batteries, extending their useful life and reducing material costs for large‑scale storage. Strategic Impact for Crusoe Enhanced resilience against grid outages and renewable intermittency, critical for high‑performance computing workloads. Demonstrates a commitment to sustainable operations, aligning with corporate ESG goals and attracting climate‑focused investors. Positions Crusoe as an early adopter of long‑duration storage, potentially setting an industry benchmark for data center energy strategy.

The ongoing conflict in Gaza has led to a devastating impact on the daily lives of Palestinians, with severe fuel and gas shortages crippling the enclave. The destruction of Gaza's public power network during Israel's war has forced residents to rely on private generators, which have become increasingly expensive.The cost of electricity has risen sharply, with the price per kilowatt-hour increasing from about 2.5 shekels ($0.80) to between 20 and 30 shekels ($7 and $10) – nearly 10 times higher. This surge in prices has placed electricity beyond the reach of many households, forcing them to seek alternative, often inadequate, solutions.Abdullah Jamal, a baker, is one of the many Palestinians struggling to cope with the crisis. He has resorted to using wood to bake bread for displaced families living nearby, highlighting the desperate measures people are taking to survive.The gas crisis has been ongoing for over two years, with limited quantities of gas being allowed into the enclave. Each family receives only 8kg (17lbs) of gas every two to three months, leading to rationing and fears of supply cut-offs.Fuel prices remain volatile, with diesel prices roughly triple their pre-war levels. The shortage of fuel and gas has disrupted the economic and service sectors, with some facilities forced to operate by buying gas originally allocated to stations or households.According to Gaza government data, Israeli authorities have only allowed 1,190 fuel trucks into the enclave out of the 8,050 expected since the ceasefire began, a compliance rate of just 14.7 percent. The territory requires between 350 and 400 cooking gas trucks per month, as well as 15 million litres (4 million gallons) of diesel and 2.5 million litres (660,000 gallons) of gasoline.The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to worsen, with over 75,000 Palestinians killed and more than 2 million people facing overlapping crises affecting all aspects of life. The situation remains dire, with hopes of improvement dependent on Israeli procedures controlling the crossings into Gaza.

Tiger Woods is poised to make a highly anticipated return to competitive golf at the Tomorrow's Golf League (TGL) finals in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. The golf legend will tee off at Jupiter Links Golf Club on Tuesday, marking a significant milestone in his recovery from recent injuries.Woods has been serving as an adviser and cheerleader for his TGL team while working his way back from lumbar disc replacement surgery in October and a left Achilles tendon rupture that occurred last spring. This comeback is particularly noteworthy given that Woods, 50, has undergone seven surgeries throughout his career.The TGL finals conclude with the second match and, if necessary, a decisive third match on Tuesday night. Woods' participation in this event comes ahead of the Masters next month, where he expressed uncertainty about his ability to compete due to ongoing recovery challenges.“I said I’ve been working on it. Sometimes I have good days, sometimes I have bad days. Disc replacement is not a lot of fun,” Woods said last week. “The body doesn’t quite heal like it was when I was 24. Doesn't quite bounce back.”In related golf news, Sahith Theegala birdied the final hole to secure a 6-5 comeback win for Los Angeles Golf Club over Jupiter Links Golf Club in the first match of the TGL title series on Monday.

The escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have triggered a worldwide energy crisis that is affecting lives far from the conflict zones. Alagesan, 35, a small business owner in Coimbatore, India, faces the potential collapse of his roadside drink and snack shop due to an acute shortage of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) caused by the conflict."I am far away from the Middle East, but my life is affected," Alagesan stated. "The gas cylinder is not available because of the war. I don't know what to do."The closure of the Strait of Hormuz – through which one-fifth of the world's oil travels – has created a critical supply disruption, pushing international oil prices to approximately $100 per barrel. This surge is translating into higher costs for gasoline, petrol, and numerous consumer goods, placing significant pressure on households and economies globally.In response to the crisis, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has issued a series of recommendations including remote work where feasible, reduced highway speed limits, shifting from private vehicles to public transportation, carpooling, electric cooking alternatives, and avoiding non-essential air travel."The war in the Middle East is creating a major energy crisis, including the largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market," stated IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol. "In the absence of a swift resolution, the impacts on energy markets and economies are set to become more and more severe."Individuals worldwide are implementing various coping strategies in response to fuel shortages and price increases. Many have restricted driving to essential journeys only, increased cycling, and utilized public transportation more frequently.In regions with cooler climates, heating oil usage has been drastically curtailed due to "skyrocketing prices," with some households heating only single rooms, burning wood, and adding extra layers of clothing. Others have cancelled vacations, citing inappropriate fuel consumption during heightened demand.While some expressed relief at having electric vehicles and solar panels providing "control" over their energy sources, many with limited public transport options have no alternative but to continue driving to work and essential activities, forcing difficult budget adjustments elsewhere.In India, where 60% of LPG is imported and 90% of it passes through the Strait of Hormuz, the crisis has led to severe rationing. Gangesh, 57, from Kerala, reported "most hotels are suffering the worst shortage" with "a large number of eateries shutting down leading to unemployment." One woman noted a "35-day wait for the next instalment of gas cylinders."The personal stories of adaptation continue across continents. Sue, 73, in the UK has "banned" car use except for hospital trips, opting for bicycles and a tricycle instead. Katie, 71, in Massachusetts faces impossible choices between food and gasoline for her son's essential medical care, requiring 100-mile round trips."We now consider carefully almost every mile we must drive and are trying to cut back expenses every way we can," Katie explained.In the UK, where an estimated 1.7 million households rely on heating oil, and in Northern Ireland where it serves as the primary heating source for nearly two-thirds of households, the crisis has reached critical levels. David in Londonderry expressed concern about "additional and immediate increases" in fuel costs, particularly for those with respiratory conditions requiring stable temperatures.Anne*, 50, in Perthshire, Scotland, saw the price of 1,000 liters of paraffin jump from £600 to £1,450, forcing her family to use firewood cut from fallen trees instead. "It's laborious work," she noted. "Hot-water bottles are also good. Very old school."Amanda*, 48, in Devon, UK, has only about three weeks of heating oil remaining: "I have had to turn it off as I do not have the extra money to pay the current prices. It's difficult because you obviously want to keep them [her sons] warm, and you feel guilty that you can't provide for them."Meanwhile, Alex, 46, in New South Wales, Australia, has reduced driving and increased public transport use, not only due to rising costs but also to avoid "panic buying" that could leave her without fuel. "War isn't about security or defending borders. War is what greed looks like in public," she reflected.

The UK government's decision to delay new regulations on low-carbon housing in England has sparked concerns that homebuyers will be locked into high gas prices for years to come. The updated regulations, known as the 'Future Homes Standard' (FHS), will require most newly built homes to be equipped with solar panels and heat pumps from March 2028.However, a loophole allowing wood-burning stoves in new homes could undermine efforts to achieve fully carbon-free homes. The FHS aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 75% compared to existing 2013 standards, but experts warn that wood-burning stoves, which are highly polluting, may account for some of the remaining 25% of emissions.The delay is expected to result in hundreds of thousands of new homes being built with gas heating, despite rising energy costs. Experts argue that this is unacceptable given the availability of low-carbon alternatives like heat pumps. Jan Rosenow, a professor of energy at the University of Oxford, stated, 'It is outrageous that people will be buying homes that are expensively heated with gas when we have perfectly good technology – heat pumps – that can be installed instead.'The government claims that households will save around £1,000 per year on energy bills thanks to the new standards. However, critics argue that the delay and loopholes will hinder progress toward a carbon-free future and leave homeowners vulnerable to energy market fluctuations.

Cape Town's iconic Bo-Kaap neighborhood, known for its brightly colored houses and rich cultural heritage, is under threat from rising property prices and foreign investment. The area, situated at the foot of Table Mountain, has long been a hub for the city's Muslim community, with its historic mosque, Auwal Masjid, dating back to 1794.However, the neighborhood's growing popularity with tourists and investors has led to a surge in property prices, making it increasingly difficult for long-time residents to afford to stay. Foreign buyers have accounted for around $168m in property sales across Cape Town's prime property market in the past year, according to data from the Seeff Property Group.Residents say the consequences are unfolding inside the neighborhood itself, with homes that once housed generations of the same families being sold to foreign investors or converted into short-term rentals like Airbnb. Younger residents are finding it hard to remain in the neighborhood, with many being priced out of the market.The Bo-Kaap Civic and Ratepayers Association has expressed concerns about the impact of gentrification on the community, with chairperson Sheikh Dawood Terblanche stating that residents are being displaced due to rising property prices and municipal rates.The City of Cape Town has acknowledged the challenges facing neighborhoods like Bo-Kaap, citing rapid population growth and economic conditions as contributing factors. However, residents say more needs to be done to protect the community's cultural heritage and ensure that long-time residents are not priced out of their ancestral homes.

Raye's sophomore album, 'This Music May Contain Hope', is a bold, 73-minute concept album divided into four sections. The album tells the story of an emotional breakdown caused by romantic woe, online criticism, and a troubling call from her grandmother.The album features a wide range of musical styles, from retro soul to swing-era jazz, house music, and show tunes. Raye's soprano is occasionally deployed in distinctly operatic style, while her vocals take on the careful enunciation of a musical theatre star.The album boasts rococo orchestration reminiscent of Hollywood's golden era, with guest stars like Al Green and Hans Zimmer. While the album occasionally feels like A Bit Much, its highlights are 'skyscraping,' with tracks like 'Nightingale Lane' and 'Beware … the South London Loverboy' showcasing Raye's incredible vocal range and genre-bending style.Despite some flaws, the album pays off more often than it fails, making it a rare event in the 21st-century music scene: a wildly ambitious and fascinatingly messy miscellany of ideas that refuses to be pigeonholed.