The Download: Biden’s executive order, and calling out AI harms

Rebecca George doesn’t thoughts the vultures that complain from the bushes that encompass the Western Carolina College physique farm. George research human decomposition, and a part of decomposing is changing into meals. Scavengers are welcome.

George, a forensic anthropologist, locations the physique of a donor within the Forensic Osteology Analysis Station—often known as the FOREST. That is Enclosure One, the place donors decompose naturally above floor. Close by is Enclosure Two, the place researchers examine our bodies which were buried in soil. She is the power’s curator, and displays the donors—generally for years—as they change into nothing however bones.

Within the US, about 20,000 folks or their households donate their our bodies to scientific analysis and schooling every year. Regardless of the motive, the choice turns into a present. Western Carolina’s FOREST is among the many locations the place watchful caretakers know that the lifeless and the dwelling are deeply related, and the way in which you deal with the primary displays the way you deal with the second. Read the full story.

—Abby Ohlheiser

We are able to nonetheless have good issues

A spot for consolation, enjoyable and distraction in these bizarre occasions. (Received any concepts? Drop me a line or tweet ’em at me.)

+ The US’s sole museum devoted to ouija boards sounds terrifying—particularly after darkish.
+ I’m not satisfied Sylvester Stallone or Arnold Schwarzenegger are going to win any pumpkin carving competitions.
+ Charles Darwin the tortoise has a novel means of opening a brand new college constructing.
+ When you’re after a critically scary horror movie, you can do worse than take a look at this list.
+ Okay, that’s sufficient ambience for one night.