Hope in the Fight against Rhino Poaching | March 5, 2025

Summary

In this episode of CNN10, host Coy covers a range of topics starting with a powerful March storm affecting the US, including tornadoes and severe thunderstorm risks. The show also explores the start of Ramadan, the critical endangerment of rhinos, and innovative conservation efforts using radioactive isotopes to deter poaching. A viral side hustle, furniture flipping, is highlighted as people turn DIY projects into extra income. Lastly, a powerful dust storm, or haboob, halts traffic in New Mexico and Texas. The episode wraps up with a shout-out to viewers and an uplifting message about happiness.

Takeaways

• 🌪️ A powerful March storm is sweeping across the U.S., bringing dangerous conditions like tornadoes, tempestuous winds, and severe thunderstorms. Millions of people are at risk on the East Coast.
• 🕌 Ramadan, the holiest month of the Muslim calendar, began on February 28th, and nearly two billion Muslims around the world are fasting from sunrise to sunset until March 30th.
• 💔 Amid ongoing tensions, Palestinians gathered on the first day of Ramadan to break their fast in Gaza, even as a fragile ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel remained in jeopardy.
• 🐘 The closest living relative of the rhinoceros is the taper, a member of the same order of odd-toed animals, which also includes horses and zebras.
• 🦏 A unique wildlife conservation project in Africa uses radioactive isotopes to help reduce rhino poaching by making their horns detectable in security systems, without harming the animals.
• 💡 South Africa's Nuclear Energy Corporation has partnered with conservationists to develop isotopes for rhino horns, ensuring their safety while making poaching less profitable.
• 💰 Furniture flipping, a viral side hustle, has become a lucrative way for people to repurpose old furniture and turn it into extra income. Some have even replaced their full-time income by flipping just a few pieces each month.
• 📉 A 2022 Bankrate survey reveals that one in three Americans rely on side hustles, such as furniture flipping, to earn an average of $890 a month in extra income.
• 🛠️ Flipping furniture involves finding good quality, solid wood pieces, often from estate sales, garage sales, and online marketplaces, then refurbishing and reselling them for profit.
• 🌪️ A massive dust storm, known as a haboob, halted traffic in New Mexico and Texas, with low visibility forcing thousands to shelter indoors and officials closing highways.
• 🏫 Strong Vincent Middle School in Erie, Pennsylvania, earned a shoutout for submitting the vocab word of the day, 'tempestuous,' which means characterized by strong, turbulent emotions or very stormy conditions.

Q & A

What is the main weather event discussed in the script?

The main weather event discussed is a powerful March storm that began in the Rockies and spread across the U.S., bringing various hazards, including tornadoes and severe thunderstorms. The storm affected areas from Texas to the east coast.

What is Ramadan, and why is it significant?

Ramadan is the holiest month of the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide. It involves fasting from sunrise to sunset and is marked by communal meals at sundown, called Iftar. This year, Ramadan started on February 28th and will end on March 30th.

What innovative approach is being used to protect rhinos in Africa?

The innovative approach involves incorporating radioactive isotopes into rhino horns, making them detectable by modern security systems. This method aims to reduce poaching by making the horns less valuable to poachers while ensuring the safety of the rhinos.

How does the radioactive isotopes project work to protect rhinos?

The project uses small doses of radiation, equivalent to about two CT scans per year, to mark rhino horns. This radiation is undetectable to the human eye but can be detected by security systems, helping authorities spot illegally trafficked horns.

What is the primary risk to rhinos that this project aims to address?

The primary risk to rhinos is poaching for their horns, which are highly valued on the black market. The project seeks to deter poachers by making the horns detectable and less valuable.

What viral trend is discussed in the script, and how does it work?

The viral trend discussed is 'furniture flipping,' where people buy old, unwanted furniture, restore it, and sell it for a profit. This trend has become a popular side hustle, allowing people to make extra income by creatively upcycling furniture.

How did Lily Sco Doll use furniture flipping to pay off her debt?

Lily Sco Doll used furniture flipping to generate extra income after facing a $10,000 dental bill. She started by flipping inexpensive furniture, and in five months, she was able to pay off the entire bill.

What are some of the challenges people face when starting furniture flipping as a side hustle?

Challenges include sourcing quality furniture, estimating repair costs, and finding buyers. People also need to manage time effectively, especially if they are balancing a side hustle with a full-time job or family commitments.

What are 'haboobs,' and where did one occur recently?

Haboobs are massive dust storms driven by strong winds that can last for hours. A recent haboob affected parts of New Mexico and Texas, reducing visibility to near zero and forcing thousands of people to shelter indoors.

What does the term 'tempestuous' mean, as used in the script?

In the script, 'tempestuous' is used as an adjective meaning characterized by strong and turbulent emotions or very stormy. It was the vocab word of the day, submitted by a viewer from Erie, Pennsylvania.