Friday Poem

Environmental & Science Education, Poetry, Art & Environment

Ed Hessler

The Perfect Life by John Koethe.

Publication information and biography are included at the link.

Vaccinations Worldwide

Environmental & Science Education, STEM, Health, Medicine, Science & Society, Data

Ed Hessler

"Every ten seconds, one child is saved by a vaccine against a fatal disease."--Hannah Ritchie, Our World in Data, May 6, 2024

Our World in Data specializes in charts and graphs followed by discussion.The original source of the data are documented. The endnotes include some useful information about the article, e.g.,estimated reading time. Below are the topics.

On May 6. Ritchie's entry examines data on vaccines for the world, most are for 50 years. These are the headings.

--Number of lives saved by vaccinations from 1974

--Cumulative number of lives saved from vaccination since 1974

--Global infant mortality rate, with and without vaccines, 1974 - 2024

--Share of one-year-olds vaccinated against diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus

--Deaths caused by vaccine-preventable diseases, world

Read it here.

What Role Does AG Play in Cancer Rates? Iowa

 Environmental & Science Education, STEM, Agriculture, Science & Society, Health, Medicine, Pollution, Sustainability, Global Change, Climate Change

Ed Hessler

On April 28, the StarTribune republished a long essay by Erin Jordan of the (Cedar Rapids)  Gazette. I recommend you read "What Role Does Ag Play in Cancer Rates?" It was published under "Agriculture," the page appears to be sponsored by Bremer Banks.

As you know by now, the StarTribune article is behind a subscription paywall but The Gazette's original story is available on-line.

Some of what the reporting covers:

--"Iowa is the No. 1 corn-producing state. It also leads the nation in the production of pork, eggs and ethanol."

--Oncologist, Dr. Richard Deming described the state as "'a bath of ag chemicals: herbicides, pesticides, fertilizers, nitrates'."  No one knows whether every one of them gets into water supplies or on our skin, causes cancer but Deming suspects '"that we'll find (when compared to other states)  that might also be one of the contributing factors'."

--The experience of farmer (small scale vegetable and poultry) didn't use pesticides -his neighbors die - who was '"doused by a crop duster'." He asks, "'Who knows which of those things provided the tipping point?'." He works with the Pesticide Action Network since 2020.

--I didn't know that "farmers, in general, are healthier than the average public" and Jordan lists some possibilities. This was another surprise, "farmers have a lower rate of cancer overall" but "for some types of cancer "have higher rates (listed)."

--Jordan includes a bullet point list of ag risks.

--Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, Missouri, Minnesota and Wisconsin "used more than 20 million tons (40,000,000,000 pounds or 18,143,694,800 kg) of synthetic fertilizer." Jordan discusses, at some length, the phenomenon of one of them: "'excess nitrogen washing'."

--There is a discussion of the link to certainty which includes remarks by Senator Ken Rosenboom. When is there is "enough evidence to take action?'."  David Cwiertny, director of the University of Iowa's Center for Health Effects of Environmental Contamination (CHEEC) is critical of the delays - talk, need for more studies and hints at what he thinks is sufficient evidence.

Thanks to the StarTribune, The Gazette and Bremer Banks if it sponsors this page in the StarTribune, for publishing this timely article.

The Mozart Effect: An Explanation

Environmental & Science Education, STEM, Brain, Society, Culture, Miscellaneous

Ed Hessler

The creation of a myth: the Mozart Effect.

You remember the hype about playing Mozart to a baby will make them smart.

Jonathan Jarry of the Office for Science & Society, McGill University, Montreal, Canada explains 

 

--the creation of a myth: the Mozart effect, 

 

--the tension between the media and scientists, 

 

--its beginning with the publication of a paper in the journal Nature, 

 

--replication studies,

 

--the role of a Georgia governor in promoting the idea in a state funded program (Jarry's summary "a mutation into borderline lunacy"), 

 

--how journalists covered this story over time (early promotion),

 

--the difficulty in putting a legend to rest, 

 

 --the role of some scientists in promoting it in spite of evidence, 

 

 --the use of a composer's music in opposition to Mozart's where "it was denounced as “nonenhancing” and “predictable,” too repetitive, even unpleasant." Early in the essay, Jarry states that  "most importantly, (this story is) about how minimalist composer Philip Glass’ music was unfairly demonized in an attempt to prove a theory."

Jarry closes with the obvious observation that you can play music for your baby and cites several examples from the classical repertoire but that "None of this will turn your progeny into geniuses. But music for the sake of music is good for the spirit."

Jarry includes a box of three take-home messages.

The essay may be read here.

About the history of the OfS&S.

Scopolamine

Environmental & Science Education, STEM, Medicine, Science & Society

In this essay Dr. Joe Schwarcz, Director of the Office for Science and Society, University of Montreal tells us the truth about truth serums, notably the drug scopolamine.

Schwarcz begins by recounting a film adaptation of the novel, The Guns of Navarone. As Wiki points out there are important differences between the two stories. The official trailer from the film (3m 42s).

It is the mention of scopolamine in the film that caught Schwarcz's interest. In the essay he explores the chemistry, history and surprising uses of the drug as well as whether it forces people to tell the truth.

 

At the end Schwarz closes with a reference to another classic novel, Raymond Chandler's Farewell, My Lovely, "in which detective Philip Marlowe gives a picturesque description of being doped with the drug." It was also made into a film and I found a trailer on Rotten Tomatoes (2m 21s).

Dr. Joe Schwarcz provided two versions, essay and video. Here, in the video series, The Right Chemistry (4m 48s),  Dr. Schwarcz, with some stage props, tells us about the uses and misuses of scopolamine.

Actually, I found it nice to have both versions.

Here's to truth, to science's way of thinking. In the words of Carl Sagan, "(science) is a way of skeptically investigating the universe with a fine understanding of human fallibility."

Little Nature Books

Environmental & Science Education, STEM, Earth & Space Science, Biodiversity, Biological Evolution, Astronomy, Cosmology, Paleontology, Wildlife, Nature

Ed Hessler

A standard office metaphor, now long gone, was "At the Watercooler" to denote meetings for conversation, gossip, and office news.

For Jim Williams. bird columnist for the Star Tribune it is "The Feeder" (May 4, 2024) where he described "four seriously little books (4 by 6 inches  or 10 by 15 cm), (about 160 pages each), with the information punch of bigger brothers, They are part of a series "Little Books of Nature (8)" Princeton University Press. The first four were released in April.

Williams mentioned 4 (Spiders, Butterflies, Beetles and Trees) The other 4 to be released this month are Whales, Fungi, Weather and Dinosaurs). Each is written by experts and Williams notes that they "are not ID guides, rather more a lifestyle examination, well illustrated, and absolutely beautifully made, with sewn bindings and linen covers."

Williams described them as books of facts which are beautifully illustrated, accessible "and enjoyable mini reference books." Williams received promo copies and found them exactly as described - " will beguile any nature lover."

 

This announcement made me think how much I would have enjoyed these growing up, even now. I also thought of another series, perhaps it is their pocket-size and same number of pages as well as, for the time of their publication, their lavish illustrations. 

 

The Golden Guides were different with an emphasis on identification. I have gotten rid of most of my books - I have some regrets but am glad I donated them to Books for Africa and to the annual neighborhood library sale. However, among those I saved I kept about a dozen of them which I often pick up and thumb through. If you click on the Wiki link, I think you will be surprised by their number as well as changing emphasis over the years. They are still beautiful.

I wish there was a peek inside of the new Princeton series which are described at Princeton University Press and at Amazon. I list Amazon because I suspect there will be verified reviews by customers who purchase them.  

 

John E. Riutta at The Well-read Naturalist has some comments which are worth reading.  On his recommended list.

Blackhole Week - Three Days of It

Environmental & Science Education, STEM, Astronomy, Cosmology, Astrophysics

Ed Hessler

It's Blackhole Week at NASA.

Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) has taken notice and I point out three  Visualization: A Black Hole Accretion Disk (May 8), Black Hole Accreting With Jet (May 7), and The Galaxy, the Jet, and a Famous Black Hole (May 9). The order here is my preference for viewing them.

Each has an explanation and a link to Blackhole Week at NASA which has information, photographs, etc. It is filled with information.

Friday Poem

Environmental & Science Education, Poetry, Art & Environment

Ed Hessler

Meeting And Passing by Robert Frost.

The poem was published in 1916 in Mountain Interval, Henry Holt And Company.

Grizzly Bear Research Project on Orphaned Cubs

Environmental & Science Education, STEM, Behavior, Wildlife, Nature, Global Change, Sustainability,  Biodiversity, Science & Society, Data Science

Ed Hessler

--You can't manage out of ignorance. You have to know what species do, whom they eat, what role these prey species play. When you know that, you can make some intelligent decisions.--Robert T. Paine, quoted in an essay about Paine by Katherine Long in The Seattle Times (August 2, 2023 and also from an essay by Lesley Evans Ogden in Quanta Magazine in which ecologist Ann Salomon, a former Paine Ph.D student told Ogden she tells her students this quote.

A friend of mine handed me a copy of ScienceTimes from the New York Times published July 27, 2023 saying that I might like it, knowing my interest in wildlife management.. I liked it and am going to highlight this major story by Canadian science writer and dramatist, Alanna Mitchell. In my newspaper copy it is titled "Rescuing Orphans" ; online it is titled "It's a Grizzly Survival Program. For Grizzly Bears."  The online version is behind a paywall.

The article extends Paine's quote to include other factors, including a field experiment to test an idea before making an intelligent decision about a full-time intervention. 

--Grizzly bear cubs need their mothers for about two years if they are to learn the life skills if they are to survive. Orphaned grizzlies are not unusual, e.g., a result of hunting or other human-grizzly bear interactions.

--Mitchell focuses on the work of researchers and gamekeepers and organizations. They include Lana Ciarniello, Angelika Langen, Northern Lights Wildlife Shelter, Grizzly Bear Foundation, the IUCN SSC Bear Specialist Group and  Expert Leadership Team.  That list must include a place: the Great Bear Rainforest located near Bella Coola. For information about the IUCN see the IUCN Red List.

--Dr. Ciarniello "began her study two years ago (2021) was contracted by the Grizzly Bear Foundation to answer the question, whether raising orphaned grizzlies for return to the wild make sense?" These bears are referred to as "'rewilded'." (John Beecham, below, noted that "rewilding grizzlies "s controversial among biologists.") Ciarnello wondered "'Are we doing it just because it makes us feel good?"' She also wants to know whether this intervention is actually contributing to the population.'"

--Ciarniello is following what happened to "the seven cubs that have been released" (two last year (2022) and five this year (2023 - four are females.""

--The orphans are taken from the field (Great Bear Rainforest) then transported by helicopter to the Northern Lights Wildlife Shelter.   The shelter, supported "exclusively by donations," is "set on 220 acres of aspen quivering wilderness." A "pilot project was approved by British Columbia officials in 2007. The shelter "has reared 33 grizzly cubs."

--The teaching program for these cubs "is based on pioneering work conducted with black bears in the 1970s by John Beecham, an Idaho-based biologist" ( for a bio of Dr. Beecham see link above IUCN SCC Bear Group). Beecham also advised the Langens in setting up their program.).  One  ingredient was missing: data about the fate of the rewilded grizzlies. What was missing in this effort is data about the fate of rewilded grizzlies.  The Grizzly Bear Foundation decided to contract with Dr. Ciarniello.

--The shelter environment limits human bear interactions to "a single caregiver (and) provides only natural materials for them to play with. (There are viewing platforms which allow researchers to observe their behavior.) It also limits their diet of protein to non-domesticated animals." 

It is important that the cubs be as big as possible before they are returned to their natural environment, ""so they are kept out of hibernation by feeding them items such as wild vegetables, berries, even dandelions, and  fish, moose and deer.Upon release they "roughly twice the size of ones reared in the wild.".

--Alaska Fish and Game wildlife biologist i "noted that half the grizzly cubs raised in the wild perish." This was mentioned in a discussion of the difficulty of finding homes for orphaned cubs to zoos (in the U.S. including Alaska, a handful each year). Mitchell noted that Laurine A. Wolf, Montana Bureau Chief of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, told her that in "captivity they can live for decades and need a lot of care."

--Before release "they have been implanted with a microchip (nose), a tattoo (upper lip), ear tags (both ears) and fitted with. a radio collar for use in GPS tracking" (paraphrased).

--Dr. Ciarniello referred to female-male group as the "Fab Five." They were taken first by truck - a 16-hour drive by truck to Bella Coola, then airlifted by two helicopters to the release site. All "were in excellent health." One of the helicopters returned with a bear in the carrying net. Ciarniello had to tune into the bear's collar to find out who it was. It was missing. That bear had died during the flight when one of the two sisters, the heavier one "lurched on top of her sister, killing her."

--Field work can have its own disappointments and setbacks. One cub's transmitter failed. A long search to find him failed but then Ciarniello received an alert in the middle of the night (the collar is programmed to text her if a bear fails to move for 12 hours. It is called the "mortality mode."). Moritz was found near a winter den he was preparing. The collar was found first followed "by a lower jaw, shards of leg bone and entrails...in a food cache." 

The cache was "most likely made by a big male grizzly near the site Moritz ws preparing as a winter den.. The salmon runs had failed (climate change or overfishing or both). Moritz had not learned to stay away from such caches. As grizzly bear research scientist Gordon B. Stenhouse put it, according to Mitchell, "his studies showed that translocated bears often make poor decisions." Research paper here. It is definitely worth a look. And about fRI, the group he works with see here. Stenhouse et. al., provide another method of collecting data on this question.

--Mitchell has a great section on changes in numbers and distribution of grizzly bears in the continental United States 1850. Their distribution in the continental United States was in what are now four states: Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and Washington. Because they were "seen as a threat to humans and livestock" grizzly bears were systematically eradicated in the United States and parts of Canada. Current numbers and endangerment status  may be found in the I.U.C.N, redbook, Canadian wildlife records and also in  records from British Columbia and Alberta. 

--Dr. Beecham mentioned a phrase I'd never heard: "gun chosen." He was referring to European grizzlies, about which Mitchell writes "so many of which have been killed over the centuries that the species has become shy rather than controversial."

--And what happened to the four survivors of the "Fab Five?" Mitchell reports that three remain together  in the lowlands of an estuary, close to their release area. (One) has found good grizzly habitat in the subalpine and alpine areas of the forest. She roams widely. It is possible, Dr. Ciarniello said, that she is looking for her lost sister."

 

--While this report from CBC news is also a year old it includes a video of Ciarniello inside a den built by the three orphaned cubs. A CBC Gem production titled Grizzly Rewild about the Fab Five is highlighted at the end. Access requires a subscription and I didn't look into those details.

The Grizzly Bear Foundation has a report on Ciarniello's research. 

Alanna Mitchell reported a complex story, one I enjoyed and appreciated. I hope the NYT will do a follow up when the project is over on findings and recommendations for management of grizzly bears.

Quirks & Quarks: Gone to the Dogs

Environmental & Science Education, STEM, Behavior, Biological Evolution, Biodiversity, Science & Society

Ed Hessler

CBC Radio's Quirks & Quarks for May 4, 2024 with Bob McDonald has "gone to the dogs." 

 

The entire 59m 10s podcast is a dog science special.

Here are the topics and podcast.