The rainfall brought on by Harvey has set a new record for the continental United States, dumping more than 50 inches of rain on parts of Houston. That has resulted in catastrophic flooding, evidenced by river gauges in the city reporting severe flood levels and a nearby levee failing under intense pressure.
Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios
A braver man than me holds a speciment of the Asian giant hornet. Photo: Karen Ducey/Getty Images
Entomologists in Washington state on Thursday discovered the first Asian giant hornet nest in the U.S.
Why it matters: You may know this insect species by its nom de guerre: "the murder hornet." While the threat they pose to humans has been overstated, the invading hornets could decimate local honeybee populations if they establish themselves.
Joe Biden. Photo: Sean Rayford/Getty Images
After spending an additional $45.2 million on political ads this week, former Vice President Joe Biden has become the highest-spending political candidate on TV ads ever, according to data from Advertising Analytics.
By the numbers: In total, the Biden campaign has spent $582.7 million on TV ads between 2019 and 2020, officially surpassing Michael Bloomberg's record spend of roughly $582 million. Biden's spend includes his primary and general election advertising.