Wildlife Is the Frontier of COVID-19 Research

Researchers are enduring cold, snow and potentially dangerous animals to collect data on SAR CoV-2 spreading in wild animals.  Working on an Indian reservation near the Canadian border, they test deer, moose, bears and wolves for the virus in the same way humans are tested, with nose swabs. That procedure required they get up close to the animals, for example crawling into a hibernating bear den head first.  The scientist is held by the feet in case a quick exit is required.  The sleeping bear is administered a drug just in case it wakes up while a sample is taken. [photo credit: AP]

swabbing a bear

Scientists are concerned that the virus may establish an animal reservoir where it can mutate into variants resistant to current vaccines.  The pandemic has brought home the hard lesson that human and wildlife health is connected.  Most experts think that the virus that causes COVID-19 spread from bats to animals at a meat market in Wuhan where they are handled and consumed by humans.  The virus has now been confirmed in to exist in wildlife in twenty-four US states. An early study in Canada showed that a person contracted a highly mutated strain from a deer in Ontario.  The potential spread of mutated viruses spreading from wildlife to humans will increase as Spring progresses and animals begin to move around more.

The research is meant to forewarn public health authorities and the public. Coronaviruses take over host cells by 'unlocking' protective cell membranes with their protein spike 'key'.  Living in animals allow the pathogen time to mutate its protein spikes to fit different species cells.  Eventually, the virus hits on a mutation that works in humans, allowing it to re-infect a population. Omicron is an example of this process in action.  A virologist told AP that unknown coronaviruses were found in New York City sewage, likely coming from rodents.  Abundant white-tailed deer are a possible animal reservoir.   A third of deer tested in an Iowa study between September and January 2021 were infected. Other researchers found COVID-19 antibodies in deer in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Illinois and New York.  Infected deer generally have no symptoms.Encroaching on animals' habitat is a large contributor to this potential deadly problem and will likely increase in the future as wild habitat continues to shrink around the globe. Another connection to Nature modern man ignores at his peril.

Agoura Hills Wildlife Bridge Set to Begin Construction

Years in the planning and development, {25.11.19} the Agoura Hills wildlife overpass is schedule to break ground on Earth Day, April 1st. The bridge over Hwy 101 connects two nature reserves in the Santa Monica Mountains. The heavily travelled highway has taken an enormous toll on wildlife attempting to cross ten lanes of traffic. Especially hard hit are the remaining mountain lions hanging on to rapidly disappearing habitat. It will be the largest in the world, over 2oo ft long. The project will cost an estimated $90 million and is scheduled for completion in 2025. Sixty percent of the project cost is funded by private donations. Governor Gavin called the bridge an "inspiring example" of public-private partnership not to mention a huge win for wildlife conservation. 

The 'poster cat' for the bridge is P-22, a mountain lion who became famous for crossing two freeways to make a Los Angeles park his home. He is one example of the native cats risking life and limb to find suitable homes in one of the largest metropolis in the world. Drivers will speed through Liberty Canyon beneath the 65-foot wide bridge covered in natural vegetation, including trees, growing on top. Many motorists will hardly notice another overpass, but wildlife will be able to cross without becoming roadkill. Designers took pains to make it blend in with the local topography with berms and hollows to block out highway noise and lights. The project has widespread public support, unusual for a transportation project. The enviornmental impact statement received 9,000 public comments with only 15 expressing opposition to the crossing.

East Antarctic Ice Shelf Collapses

Scientists announced on Friday that an ice shelf the size of New York City collapsed after record high temperatures in the region. {23.03.22} The event is significant because it occurred in the Greater Antarctic region adjacent to the Indian Ocean that has previously been stable.  The collapse of the 460 square mile Conger ice shelf between 14 and 16 March will contribute to the rise of sea levels around the globe. Climate scientists are concern the collapse may indicate they have been overestimating the resistance of East Antarctic ice cap to melting.

'Toontime: This Week in Trump

credit: M. de Adder, San Francisco Chronicle,
BC Idonwanna sez:  That's Democracy lying in the weeds!

More:  A participant in the planning of the Ellipse rally, told Rolling Stone that chief of staff Mark Meadows was involved in the creating the attack on the Capitol including making iy look like they had nothing to do with it. Scott Johnson told the Committee and press interviewers that he overheard Mark Meadows, then-former President Trump’s chief of staff, and Katrina Pierson, Trump’s national campaign spokesperson, talking with Kylie Kremer, the executive director of Women For America First, about plans for a march to the Capitol.  He heard their conversation on a speaker as he drove Kremer between rallies in late December. No one, according to Johnson, wanted to apply for a traceable rally permit, so they settled on holding the event without an official permit that would have cost extra for security. 

 

{25.03.22}There were significant developments this week in Herr Trumpillini's war on democracy. When former Manhattan prosecutor, Mark Pomerantz resigned from the investigation of Trump's fraudulent business dealings, US Person speculated that the reason was a disagreement with Alvin Bragg, the new DA, over whether to prosecute the former president--the first in history--for financial crimes. This week the New York Times published his resignation letter, In it he wrote that Braggs' decision not to bring charges against Trump now to be "misguided and completely contrary to the public interest." Pommerantz told Bragg that there is enough evidence against the reality TV star turned politican to convince an impartial jury of his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Further delay, in his opinion, would only make prosecution of his "numerous felonies" more difficult. Bragg has not publicly commented on the letter. His office only restated previous announcements that the prosecution is ongoing under a staff attorney. Pomerantz was brought in by the previous DA, Cyrus Vance, because of his experience in prosecuting mobsters. Pomerantz told Bragg, he could no longer participate in "a grave failure of justice".  Trump's minions continue to adhere to the propaganda line that all investigations into Trumpworld are politically motivated.  A Trump Org spokeswomen smeared Pomerantz, a career federal prosecutor, as a "radical left lawyer".

Trumpillini is not known for his loyalty to associates, and Alabama Repugnant Mo Brooks got a taste of his treachery this week.  Trump withdrew his endorsement of the Representative who is currently running third in his race for a Senate seat.  Angered by the move, Brooks retaliated against his former leader by telling an NBC interviewer that Trump asked him to "rescind" the 2020 election, remove Biden from office, and hold a new special election.  Brooks said he had drawn Trump infamous displeasure when he told him that could not be done under the Constitution.  His berserk request came in September 2021, seven months after Biden's inauguration.  Brooks spoke at the January 6th rally on the Ellipse from which an inflamed mob marched on the Capitol to interfere in the official tally of Electoral College votes. Trump's state of mind seems to swing widely between delusional and cynically corrupt.  

The January 6th Committee will consider more criminal contempt of Congress citations next week. The subjects are two of Herr Trumpillini's most senior aides,  Dan Scavino and Peter Navarro for refusing to comply with their subpoenas for testimony and document production.  The panel is expected to vote unanimously for referring the citations to the full House for a vote and criminal referral to the Department of Justice.  They will join Steve Bannon and Mark Meadows in facing possible criminal prosecution for their failure to cooperate with the investigation of the wide ranging conspiracy to overthrow the duly elected government of the United States  No high level official has been indicted for their participation in events leading to the insurrection, another "grave failure of justice" this country can ill afford, and is a measure of the corruption in high places.

Ukraine is No Push-over

It becoming increasing obvious that Putin's war on Ukraine is anything but a blitzkrieg.  Fighting on their native land, a motivated Ukrainian army has stalled the armored spear thrust toward Kyiv.  Now the defenders are mounting successful counterattacks, driving the invader back twenty. miles or more.  Mariupol, despite being reduced to rubble by shelling and missiles. refuses to capitulate, which is somewhat ironic given that the city was home to ethnic Russians.  Civilians are trapped in basements beneath the ruins of their apartment homes. So far there has been few evacuation arrangements made between the waring sides.  Kharkiv, the second largest city, is also withstanding the Russian's constant brutal hammering. Some 500 buildings have been destroyed.  Photos show a wasteland similar to the devastation imposed on Germany during WWII.

Speaking of world wars: a new one would undoubtably be nuclear.  Europe would suffer immense damage, huge casualties, and an unimaginable refugee crisis.  Major European centers might end up like Hiroshima and Nagasaki.  This outcome is what western leaders must avoid, even if it prolongs the war on Ukraine.  That sound somewhat heartless, but the calculations are clear.  Zelenskiy is calling for a no-fly zone, which borders on the irresponsible, but his country is being attacked by a much larger and well-equipped army willing to inflict mass casualties.  A no-fly zone cannot be effectively enforced by the West without direct conflict with the Russian military.  Such a zone would do little to protect Ukraine from long-range missile strikes emanating from within Russia.  Destroying those assets would involve a direct attack on Russian soil, giving Putin the perfect excuse to drop a nuke somewhere in Europe. Better to give Zelenskiy SA-300 surface-to-air missiles in the inventory of several NATO nations.  If NATO can replace fighter jets without the Russians finding out about it, that should be done too.  In the age of satellite surveillance, such an effort would be difficult and dangerous, perhaps overland indirectly by rail or truck. US Person is not sure a twelve ton MIG jet can be partially dismantled for covert shipment.  

Never underestimate a cornered, angry bear. Western leaders are concerned Putin might resort to chemical weapons such as tear gas (banned by the 1925 Geneva convention) and white phosphorus munitions (Zelenskiy has accused the Russian of deploying it).  No need to disastrously over-react, the economic war is working, but if chemical weapons have been deployed, Europe as a whole must double down and totally embargo Russian oil and primarily gas.  Oil money is what fuels the Russian war machine, and the war is getting very expensive in terms of money and men.

Ukraine is putting up a brave and somewhat surprising resistance. It is improbable that they could force all of Russia's troops out of the country through military operations alone, but they can force Putin to negotiate.  The longer the war goes on, the more likely that will happen.  Ukraine enjoys the advantages of familiar terrain, decentralized command and control, interior resupply lines, and effective anti-armor weaponry supplied by NATO.  It has a large population willing to fight, and as Napoleon might have said, morale is to numbers as 3 is to 1. [photo credit: AFP] And by the way, someone should tell US police forces that tear gas is considered a chemical weapon in the civilized world.

COTW: Freakish Heat at the Poles

 

Record setting temperatures are occurring at the Earth's poles, yet another unmistakable sign of global warming. Parts of Antarctica are as much as 70℉ warmer than average, and Arctic temperatures are 50℉ warmer [red areas on charts].  A scientist at the National Snow and Ice Data Center in Boulder, CO said the temperatures in opposite seasons was, "definitely an unusual occurrence", in a stroke of masterful understatement.  Climate scientists are worried that this freakish situation could be a signal of faster climate breakdown than previously estimated.

Antartica's warming is unusual because it is occurring in part of the continent that was largely unaffected until now.  Attention has been focused on the peninsula, which is loosing ice and warming rapidly.  Antarctica's ice sheet melted to a record low point in February loosing 741,000 miles².  The two-mile high Vostok station beat its previous record high temperature of 0℉ by 27 degrees.

Two Transparent Frog Species New to Science Found

Two transparent frog species were recently located in the same Ecuadorian rainforest reserve. Though similar, the two species are genetically distinct enough to be classified as separate. Hyalinobatrachium mashpi is found on the south side of the Guayllabamba river valley, while the other frog, hyalinobatrachium nouns lives in the other parts of the same valley about thirteen miles apart. The remarkable photograph of H. mashpi above shows a female loaded with eggs (white). Northwest Ecuador is home to the Tropical Andes Biome that is richer in amphibian species than the Amazon, which is rather flat in comparison. The terrain barriers of the Andean landscape provide isolation in which species differentiate, a process referred to as endemism. [photo credits: J. Culebras]