[Kid News Daily: Pandas, Politics, Pharmacy Closures, and Moon Trees]-[10.16.2024]

The Return of the Gentle Giants: Pandas in D.C.

The National Zoo in Washington, D.C., has welcomed two new "A-listers" to its facility: pandas Bao Li and Qing Bao. Arriving via the "Panda Express" FedEx plane after departing from China, these "international diplomats" are on a 10-year loan. Visitors will need to exercise patience, as the pandas are currently in "quarantine" to ensure they do not spread germs to other animals, and they require time to "adjust to their new surroundings." Wildlife experts note that these animals have a massive appetite, with each panda consuming up to "84 pounds of bamboo every day."

Weather Shifts and Election Updates

Millions of Americans across the East Coast and Midwest are experiencing a sharp temperature drop as a "cold front has dropped down from Canada." This weather pattern has brought the "lowest temperatures in six months," making it feel more like November than October. Meanwhile, the U.S. presidential election is "just 19 days away." With "record numbers" of voters turning out in Georgia and early voting beginning in North Carolina, the race remains tight. A recent NBC News poll indicates that former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are "deadlocked," suggesting the election could result in a "photo finish."

Business Challenges for Walgreens

In the retail sector, Walgreens has announced a major restructuring, planning to close "1,200 U.S. stores over the next three years." This decision stems from financial struggles, as the pharmacy chain reported that "one in four of its stores are currently unprofitable." The first 500 locations are scheduled to go dark in 2025, though the company has yet to release a specific list of the affected branches.

Science and Education: The Moon Tree Project

Students at the Santiago Steam Magnet School in California have participated in a unique scientific mission: planting a "moon tree." These trees are "giant sequoia" saplings grown from seeds that traveled into space during the "Artemis 1 mission in 2022." This initiative aims to "promote science and conservation education." The project serves as an inspiration for students, with one sixth-grader remarking that the experience motivates her interest in space exploration.

Animal Science: Righty or Lefty Elephants?

Rounding out the news is a fascinating study on "Pachyderms." Research published in the Royal Society Open Science journal reveals that elephants, like humans, have a preferred side. Scientists can identify whether an elephant is a "righty or a lefty" by observing "wrinkles and whiskers." Because elephants lean to one side to pick up food, that side develops more wrinkles, and the whiskers are better protected. While the split in an elephant herd is "50-50," the human population is quite different, with only about "10 percent" of people being left-handed.