🌞 Covid Surge – November 12 2021

*Stock data as of market close, cryptocurrency data as of 5:00am ET. 

The Lead: Here's Something We Can Agree On

credit: Reuters

The United States and China are not friends, but the climate crisis makes lovers of us all. The world’s two largest economies (and the two largest greenhouse gas producers) announced a joint declaration Wednesday at COP26.

According to the declaration, “the two sides are intent on seizing this critical moment to engage in expanded individual and combined efforts to accelerate the transition to a global net-zero economy.”

The declaration addresses methane and CO2 emissions and deforestation, among other issues. Critics are cautiously optimistic-ish, but they want more concrete and ambitious goals before they throw a party.

Three Pumps of Extra Wages

credit: Starbucks

The vote is on for employees at three Starbucks locations in Buffalo, NY, who could be about to go union. 

The coffee giant is resisting. It tried to stop the vote and executives have been popping up in the city to hold meetings with employees. 

The company claims it is not interfering, but wonders if Buffalo employees happened to notice that they get healthcare and company stock. And don’t forget the coming pay raise!

Employees are receiving ballots in the mail now, which will be counted December 9. And the union fever is spreading: employees at three other Starbucks in the area filed petitions to unionize.

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Oh Deer, This Is Not Good

credit: giphy

An increasing number of white-tailed deer are catching Covid, and researchers are worried.

According to NPR, veterinarians at The Pennsylvania State University found SARS-CoV-2 in 30% of the white-tailed deer they tested in Iowa in 2020. They also think infections are prevalent in other parts of the United States.

The virus doesn’t seem to affect the deer, so that’s not the problem. But, as virologist Linda Saif told NPR, “Now the question is: Can the virus spill back from deer to humans? Or can deer transmit the virus effectively to grazing livestock? We don't know the answers to those questions yet, but if they are true, they're obviously concerning.”

If transmission is possible, there’s the problem of a Covid resurgence, but the deer could also be a place for the virus to hide out, mutate, and keep infecting immune humans with new versions of itself.

There are an estimated 30 million white-tailed deer in the U.S., and they’re also native to the rest of North America, Central America, and the top edge of South America.

Oh, deer indeed. 

The Meat Factor

credit: shake shack

Put down that burger! Not only do meat-eaters prop up an industry that is pushing us further to the climate-crisis point of no return, our carnivorous poop is killing coral reefs.

Eating protein adds a bunch of nitrogen to our poop, which then makes algae bloom faster. The algae uses up oxygen, releases toxins, and kills surrounding ecosystems.

According to the study, “Wastewater inputs of pathogens and nitrogen into coastal oceans present clear challenges to coastal ecosystems, public health, and economies across the planet. Beyond these direct impacts, our results suggest that wastewater inputs are likely to interact with the plethora of anthropogenic stressors to coastal ecosystems, leading to declining fisheries, habitat loss and degradation, and human health impacts. Climate change is compounding these threats globally.”

News By The Numbers

20 minutes. That is how long South Korea estimates it would take an urban air mobility vehicle (UAM) to travel the same distance it would take an hour to travel by car. They’re hoping to have UAMs up and running by 2025 because we live in the future.

14.8 ounces. That is how much the world’s most premature baby to survive weighed when he was born. He was 132 days premature.

9. That is how many U.S. governors urged lawmakers to pass a bill for semiconductor funding. A shortage of the chips has been pricey for the automotive industry.

50%. That is how many people in the U.S. admit to using slang words they don’t understand. That is so on fleek.

What's Trending?

credit: Panthers

#CamNewton is trending because the Panthers agreed to terms with the quarterback. Brought to you by Lowes apparently. 

#RedTaylorsVersion is trending because Taylor Swift releases her re-recorded album Red (Taylor’s Version) today.

Lowtax is trending because Richard “Lowtax” Kyanka, founder of early internet comedy website Something Awful, died at the age of 45.

Gambit is trending because X-Men fans are debating which mutant is the most overrated.

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