An Ignoble Experiment: The 7: Why Earth is getting a second moon; Mark Robinson’s campaign in chaos; our ancient climate; and more

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Good morning. It's Friday, Sept. 20, and we're relieved the woman who spent two hours in a 13-foot python's coils is okay. Don't watch if you're scared of snakes. Now let's get to the news.

Israel's military launched strikes on Lebanon.

The latest: Israel said its warplanes struck rocket launchers and other infrastructure belonging to the militant group Hezbollah. Follow live updates here.
What it means: It's another escalation related to the Israel-Gaza war. This week, thousands of devices exploded in Lebanon in a presumed Israeli attack, killing at least 37 people.
In the U.S.: The events in Lebanon have dealt a blow American efforts to reduce tensions in the Middle East.

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Donald Trump said he would blame Jewish voters if he loses the election.

Yesterday: The Republican presidential nominee suggested that Jewish voters owe him their support because of his position on Israel. He has repeatedly criticized Jewish Democrats.
On the Democratic side: Kamala Harris held an emotional event with Oprah Winfrey. And more voters expect the vice president to win in November — here's why that matters.

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A CNN story threw a Republican governor candidate's campaign into turmoil.

The details: Mark Robinson, who's running in North Carolina, reportedly called himself a "black NAZI!" on a pornographic website's forum in 2010. He denied CNN's report.
The fallout: Some North Carolina Republicans suggested Robinson should drop out of the governor race — one of the most competitive in the country. He said he would not do so.

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A Kentucky judge was fatally shot by a sheriff, police said.

Yesterday: Judge Kevin Mullins was killed in his chambers after an argument with Letcher County Sheriff Shawn Stines, local officials said. Stines was charged with murder.
In Alaska: A man was arrested after allegedly threatening to torture and assassinate six Supreme Court justices and their relatives, the Justice Department said yesterday.

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Scientists calculated Earth's climate over the last 485 million years.

How? By combining fossil evidence with modern science. It revealed far hotter temperatures than we knew about — and offered a warning about warming caused by humans.
Other climate news: Rising global heat connects recent catastrophic floods on four continents. And heavy rainfall has turned parts of the Sahara desert green.

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New audio disputes the ruling that stripped Jordan Chiles of her medal.

(Video: Jordan Chiles Appeal Before the Swiss Supreme Court)

What to know: The U.S. gymnast lost her bronze at the Paris Olympics after a court said her floor routine score was appealed too late. But new evidence shows her coach appealed on time.
Other sports news: The Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani became the first MLB player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a season last night in Miami.

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Earth will have a second moon this fall.

Why? A passing asteroid will be pulled in by Earth's gravity for a few weeks before returning to its normal orbit around the sun. That will make it our temporary new mini-moon.
If you want to say hello to our guest: The bus-size asteroid will join us from Sept. 29 to Nov. 25. But you'll need a professional telescope to take a look.

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Before you go … start some healthy habits this weekend: Here are five simple stretches to test your flexibility. Plus: How to lose weight — and keep it off.

One more good read: Why Washington and the West are struggling for a way forward with President Vladimir Putin's Russia.

From The Post archive: With autumn arriving Sunday, make plans to ditch the car and take a scenic train trip to see the leaves changing colors.

And finally … end your week by playing On the Record, The Post's quotable quiz. The weekend version is 10 questions, and you can risk all your points on a final bonus question. Ready to play? Click here. Or try our word game, Keyword.

You're all caught up. See you Monday.