Name that Blob

Ambergris
(Photo by Peter Kaminski)

Modern-day folks claim to know a lot about a lot, but every now and then they publicly admit defeat.

This is one of those now-and-then times. When asked, “What’s white and doughy and regularly washes up on Newfoundland shores in various shapes and sizes,” they've come up with a resounding “Who knows?”

Although some have attributed these blobs to a type of whale goo, others have called them a “mystery substance.”  Canadian officials have simply said that it’s “under investigation.”

Add this particular mystery to many another that remains impenetrable.  It’s nice to know that there are still some ways to stump the experts.

Resources

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2024/10/17/canada-mystery-white-blobs-Newfoundland-beaches/4311729195866/

Larger than Life

Hydrothermal Vent Tubeworms
(Public Domain)

Where there’s life there’s growth, even at the very bottom of the ocean.  Although scientists knew that microbes can thrive within such extreme conditions, they had little proof that anything larger could.

Yet fairly recently a “deep-sea expedition led by the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research” discovered a host of larger life forms around the Tica Vent “on the Eastern Pacific Rise tectonic barrier.”  This lower-than-low area was surprisingly replete with snails and tubeworms.

Such discoveries lend credence to theories about extraterrestrial life.  If life is this hardy on our third rock from the sun, perhaps it can also be found on the fourth one and beyond.

Resources

https://news.yahoo.com/news/scientists-peeked-underneath-seafloor-discovered-184538431.html

A Surprising New Reason to Save the Trees

Raw Bat Guano
(Photo by Aphidwarrior)

Trees provide oxygen.  That alone could be enough of a reason for humans to quit their lumbering frenzy.

Yet a surprising but equally vital reason has recently surfaced.  Holy bat guano, another covid crisis could be on its way!

Chimps who had traditionally turned to decaying palm trees as an available sodium source have now been forced to eat guano instead.  Humans have excessively cut down these nutritious palms in order “to make strings for drying tobacco leaves.”

So what’s wrong with dining on bat guano?  A lot.  Bats are able to harbor quite a few pathogens without becoming ill.  Tiny viral killers can then be transmitted to humans via guano-eating chimps.  Direct contact isn’t even necessary.  Many such infections can be airborne.

All sorts of solutions have been proposed, not the brightest of which is to ”make fences, so that the chimpanzees can’t access the guano.”  Why stop there?  Why not just build walls throughout the jungle?

A wiser suggestion is simply this: quit cutting down so many trees!  Alternatives such as bamboo can often be used instead.  Each of those tobacco farmers can then be given a ball of jute twine when their birthdays roll around…

Resources

https://news.mongabay.com/2024/07/ugandan-chimps-are-eating-bat-guano-raising-concerns-over-human-epidemics/

 

Cheesy

(Photo by Alice Wiegand)

Long before cameras were invented, people were apparently saying “cheese” with gusto.

This became evident when a 3600-year-old Chinese mummy was found to have cheese “laid out around her neck like a piece of jewelry.”

When paleogeneticist Fu Qiaomei analyzed this post-mortem adornment, she identified it as “kefir cheese” that was fermented from the milk of cows or goats. The addition of kefir bacteria helped the lactose-intolerant Xiaohe people to healthfully digest dairy. 

Over time, humans and kefir became quite compatible.  Our immune systems learned to welcome these tiny helpers into the microbial swamps we harbor within.

Resources

https://news.yahoo.com/worlds-oldest-cheese-found-ancient-160125930.html

 

Eight Miles Low

(Fair Use)

In 1965, the Byrds had a hit song called “Eight Miles High.”  It loosely referred to the altitude that a jet flies, although jets don’t usually go higher than seven miles up.  Nevertheless, the band that brought us an Ecclesiastes hit single should be allowed some poetic license.

In 2024, eight miles low seems more in vogue.  During August of this year, geophysicists confirmed the presence of liquid water within the Martian midcrust – “6 to 12 miles below the surface.”  In fact, there's enough down there to “fill ‘oceans’ on the planet’s surface.”

This bodes well for the theory that life once existed on Mars.  It  suggests that life might still exist within the depths of our crusty neighbor.  There are creatures at the bottom of Earth’s oceans, so why not “eight miles low” on Mars? 

Resources

https://news.yahoo.com/news/scientists-first-kind-discovery-mars-190058737.html

 

Rats!

Temple of Karni Mata Deshnoke
(Gunther Jontes)

Although many humans are not the least bit fond of rats, favorable views of such creatures range from “tasty” to “downright divine.”

When folks aren’t studying, coddling, eating or even worshipping rats, they’re bent on exterminating them.  That’s because these mammalian “cousins” can be lethal to people and other species.

So what's a body to do if Mickey and Minnie come scampering their way?  Those who dwell on the Alaskan island of St. Paul (a "Galapagos of the north") will spring right into action. Known as a bird haven, St. Paul can’t afford to have rodents gnawing their way through “eggs, chicks or even adults and upending once-vibrant ecosystems.”  

Its citizens have therefore embarked upon an intense search for a single specimen that one resident allegedly saw.  Because “it took nearly a year to catch the last known rat on St. Paul,” folks will not give up until they are convinced that the island is completely Rodentia-free.

Resources

https://time.com/7023280/st-paul-island-alaska-rats/ 

It isn't what it isn't

 

Blausen.com staff (2014)

“It is what it is” is more often a sigh of resignation than it is a sign of Buddhist equanimity.  This is unfortunately the case when it comes to women’s health care.

Women, especially African-American women, tend to wait longer than men for emergency-room services.  They are often given psychological diagnoses for physical ailments such as endometriosis, fibromyalgia and cardiovascular disease.

Medical professionals might best take a cue from Michelangelo, who famously declared: “Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it.”  Many female patients have a bodily malfunction and it is the task of the physician to discover it. 

Coming up with quick “it’s all in your head” conclusions may seem easier than whittling away at rote responses, but can ultimately be a lot less effective for all concerned.

Resources

https://news.yahoo.com/america-health-care-system-fails-100000151.html

What's in a name?

(Public Domain)

Sometimes an MMM-MMM-good name becomes MMM-MMM-NOT-so-good over time.  A rose must remain a rose no matter what, but corporations get to loom beyond where they’re planted.

So as Campbells began using their noodles to morph beyond soup, a name change was definitely in order. If you’ve ever munched on cheesy Goldfish or craved Pepperidge Farm sweets, you may now thank a Campbells executive.

Never mind that such snacks are usually not up to the nutritional value of soup.  Never mind that they usually overload the body with sugar, salt and chemicals.  It’s a brave new world when it comes to food conglomerates, and the name says it all.  Campbells is no longer just a meal, it is now a company with a capital C.

Resources

https://www.iheart.com/content/2024-09-11-campbell-soup-company-to-change-its-name/?mid=1349675&rid=98364581&sc=email&pname=newsletter&cid=NATIONAL&keyid=National%20iHeart%20Daily%20NewsTalk&campid=headline6_readmore

 

 

Buried

Daric Coin

A stash of valuable gold coins had been hidden for thousands of years within the ancient equivalent of a neighborhood bank. Archaeologists recently discovered this buried treasure beneath the floor of a fifth-century BC home.

They believe it belonged to a mercenary soldier who fought and died “when tension was high” between Greeks and Persians.  This soldier had likely been paid with said coins, thus exchanging health for wealth, and life for death.

Chances are that he never got to benefit from his valiant efforts.  Chances are that he was never even buried as carefully as these coins.  Chances are that people the world over are still making bets that hearts broken by strife will go on beating indefinitely.

Resources

https://news.yahoo.com/pot-gold-coins-uncovered-turkey-234247857.html 

Flying High with Hydrogen

(Fair Use)

Yesterday’s science fiction is fast becoming today’s fact.  Who would have thought that George Jetson’s aerocar might soon be ours?

For those still wrestling with e-mails, the thought of eVTOLs is mind-boggling.  An eVTOL is “an electric vertical takeoff and landing craft,” a recent version of which “flew over 500 miles… powered by hydrogen fuel cells and electric technology.”  Such travel can occur “with no emissions except water.”

While soaring past highway routes and traffic, you can get from place to place in record time.  Forget about airport hassles, this aerobic buggy can fly high from numerous locations.

Although the element hydrogen is widespread here on earth, isolating and storing it can be a daunting task.  Joby Aviation seems up for the challenge.  It aims to begin air-taxi “commercial operations in the U.S. in 2025.” 

Resources

https://news.yahoo.com/news/tech/aircraft-developer-completes-over-500-073000340.html

Can't keep a good tree down

Breadfruit
(Photo by Hans Hillewaert)

For many, Lahaina’s famous banyan tree is a symbol of all that went awry when colonial powers dispossessed Native Hawaiians of their land, language and culture.  It was shipped from India back in 1873 to commemorate “the arrival of the first Protestant missionaries.”

Yet for others, this leafy wonder has been a nurturing force. It has provided shade and sustenance for species galore and has been a symbol of endurance for 150 years.

Now more than ever, this endurance is front and center.  After fires swept Maui in 2023, “the intense heat… dried out much of the tree,” and “about half of its branches died.” 

It was then time for good karma to come around full circle.  Folks  who had appreciated the tree’s bounty and beauty got right to work.  They lopped off the dead branches in order to help save the rest.  

As the banyan slowly makes a comeback, plans are afoot “to install vertical tubes to help the tree’s aerial roots.”  These tubes will funnel water and nutrients to newfound growth.

One good tree deserves another.  And another.  And another…  The group Treecovery is therefore working to restore the ulu (breadfruit) and other species that had thrived in Maui before colonial and commercial times.

Resources

https://news.yahoo.com/news/lahainas-more-150-old-banyan-042037546.html 

DJ Priest

Mini-Moog Synthesizer
(Photo by Krash)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was electrifying.  It was therefore just a matter of time before the Word went electro.

Also called electro-funk, this fusion of drum machines, electronic sounds and synthesized vocals has enjoyed surges of popularity since the early 1980s.  So why not let Gospel truth ride those supercharged waves into the minds and hearts of dancing fans?

At least that’s what a Portugese priest named Don Guilherme Peixoto concluded.  After attending DJ school, Father Guilherme began his electro mission.  Mixing “bits of techno with excerpts of homilies by Pope Francis and the late John Paul II,” he got right down to it.  Soon there were throngs of frolicking folks listening to his every exhortation.

After landing a selfie with Father Guilherme, one young follower exclaimed, “This priest is really cool!”  

Resources

https://news.yahoo.com/news/entertainment/celestial-mixes-portugals-star-dj-135319118.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electro_(music)

 

           

 

Luka and Loki

Loki
(Public Domain)

The Encyclopedia Britannica describes the Norse god Loki as “a cunning trickster” who helped “the great gods Odin and Thor… with his clever plans,” but sometimes caused “embarrassment and difficulty for them and himself.”

Upon reading this description, NBA fans might be asking themselves, “Why does this sound so familiar?”  Could it be that Luka Doncic, “god” of the Dallas Mavericks, has more in common with the classical version of Loki than most mere mortals?

As the ultimate player, Luka has tricked many an opponent with his wily passes and miraculous buckets.  And yet…  Doncic’s dramatic antics have sometimes caused “embarrassment and difficulty” for teammates and himself.  

Despite and/or because of their mischievous natures, these beloved “bad boys” will live long and prosper, to quote yet another superstar.

Resources

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Loki

  

Millennial Saint

Carlo Acutis
(Fair Use)

Say what you want about millennials, one of them is now well on his way to sainthood.

The late Carlo Acutis, who died of leukemia at age 15 in 2006, has already been beatified by Pope Francis.  Known as “God’s Influencer,” Acutis used his digital skills to inspire others spiritually rather than to glorify himself. 

He did so by faithfully documenting Eucharistic miracles and Marian apparitions.  Two miracles have since been attributed to Acutis himself.

Carlo’s body, dressed in his usual “jeans, sneakers, and a sweater,” lies visibly within the Sanctuary of Spoliation at Assisi, Italy.  Holiness can therefore be viewed “not as a distant thing but as something very much within everyone’s reach…”

Resources

https://people.com/gods-influencer-milennial-saint-pope-francis-second-miracle-8653532

Math Path

(Fair Use)

If ever there were a universal language, that language has got to be math (unless it’s music, which seems to be math with the volume turned up).

Nevertheless, many of us rebelled against math in grade school.  We thought to ourselves, “When will I ever use this stuff, so why bother?”

Yet someone has risen from our midst to answer that pressing question.  His name isn’t Newton, Einstein or Hawking: It’s merely Stefan Mandel.

Mandel found a way to beat the lottery system.  He did this not once, but time and again, making millions along the way.  And what was this way?  The math path!

Mandel figured that there were finite choices to win with.  He therefore “looked for lotteries that had jackpots for more than the amount it would take to buy a ticket for every number combination.”  After this strategy bore juicy fruit in his native Romania, he then took off for other countries.

While in America, Mandel noticed that Virginia had only 44 numbers, as opposed to the 54 in other states.  When Virginia’s jackpot “reached 27 million,” he hired a team to buy tickets for almost all possibilities.  This hit a huge payday, at least until the authorities sued him.  The lengthy legal follow-up cost Mandel all his winnings.

It turns out that math cannot outwit the highest common denominator after all.

Resources

https://www.iheart.com/content/2024-06-20-man-uses-loophole-to-win-lottery-14-times-but-then-it-backfires-on-him/?mid=1304544&rid=98364581&sc=email&pname=newsletter&cid=NATIONAL&keyid=National%20iHeart%20Daily%20NewsTalk%20[Combo%20#1]&campid=headline3_readmore

 

 

Sweet and Sour

Bee Careful!
(USDA Photo)

If money is honey, then things can get pretty sticky at times.  Have you ever seen what happens after funeral flowers wilt and the will is disputed? 

That might be nothing as compared to when one family member wins a big-time prize.  Alleged statements suddenly become fodder for future lawsuits.

Such has occurred between the winner of a $1.35 billion Maine jackpot and “the mother of his daughter.”  She says that he vowed to share the wealth should he get that lucky. He says that she “violated a non-disclosure agreement.”  His father got in on the act by claiming that Junior “made several unsolicited high-dollar promises.”

Winning the lottery sounds great in theory, but if you clutch too much honey, you might get stung.

Resources

https://www.iheart.com/content/2024-05-15-135-billion-mega-millions-jackpot-winner-sued-by-family/?mid=1285188&rid=98364581&sc=email&pname=newsletter&cid=NATIONAL&keyid=National%20iHeart%20Daily%20NewsTalk&campid=headline3_readmore

 

Thou Shalt Not Murder in Space

Sherlock Holmes
(Illustrated by Sidney Paget)

Since God’s entire creation seems to extend far beyond our third rock from the sun, His commandments likely apply anywhere and everywhere.

Murder would therefore be as heinous within outer space as it is here on earth.  Terra firma parents tend to warn their wayfaring kids, “Wherever you go, there you are.”  The best and worst of human behaviors will inevitably follow astronauts, too.

With that in mind, forensic scientists have already begun researching the effects of zero gravity upon the splattering of blood.  By shooting “fake blood droplets” from a “hydraulic syringe” within microgravity conditions, they found that the liquid’s surface tension makes for less splattering once the opposing force of gravity is weakened.

Gone are the days of Wild West romanticism.  Today’s explorations emphasize the fine art of getting along well enough to survive and thrive.  Kill someone on day 374 of your tight-knit journey to Mars, and the Sherlocks back on Earth will have it all figured out.  Your return passport might then be marked "Null and Void." 

Resources

https://www.iheart.com/content/2024-05-14-scientists-conduct-experiments-to-see-what-murder-would-look-like-in-space/?mid=1284423&rid=98364581&sc=email&pname=newsletter&cid=NATIONAL&keyid=National%20iHeart%20Daily%20NewsTalk&campid=headline2_readmore 

Double Trouble

 

(Public Domain)

The word “double” has long been associated with favorable outcomes.  Back in the day, the Wrigley Company ran commercials that featured attractive twins, along with the slogan “Double your pleasure, double your fun...”

And then there’s that age-old riddle: What’s the best way to double your money?  Fold it in half!

Nowadays, however, warnings have been issued regarding folded dollar bills.  It turns out that drug dealers sometimes stash toxic powders within these folds.  When people, thinking it’s their lucky day, come upon such bills in yards or on sidewalks, they tend to snatch them up.  Poisoning can then occur because drugs such as Fentanyl can seep through the skin.

Exchanging health for wealth more often doubles down on pain and debt than on pleasure and fun. Chew on that before stooping to the “Almighty Dollar.”

Resources

https://www.iheart.com/content/2024-05-10-police-warn-not-to-pick-up-folded-dollar-bills-you-might-find-in-your-yard/?mid=1282886&rid=98364581&sc=email&pname=newsletter&cid=NATIONAL&keyid=National%20iHeart%20Daily%20NewsTalk&campid=headline2_readmore

AI yai yai...

George Santos
(Public Domain)

We’ve been repeatedly warned by some of the greatest scientists this side of Einstein to beware of AI.

And now, even within its fledgling phase of development, AI has already learned to deceive humans.  “Thou shalt not lie” does not seem applicable to robots.

You might recall that New York’s former congressional representative, George Santos, lied through his pearly whites about pretty much all his credentials.  He did so in order to pump up his chances of being elected.

Science Daily recently reported that many an AI system is adept at deceiving humans, “even systems that have been trained to be honest and helpful.”  Peter S. Park, “an AI existential safety postdoctoral fellow at MIT,” theorizes that AI deceives in order to better obtain its goals.

Not a far cry from George Santos, who also chose expediency over integrity.  Slow and steady might better win the race – unless, of course, it’s a race to the bottom.

Resources

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240510111440.htm

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/republican-rep-elect-george-santos-admits-to-lying-about-his-credentials

Foul Feathered Friend

You don't say!
(Photo by L. Miguel Bugallo Sanchez) 

The truth often prevails, even when lies abound.  It can come from the mouths of babes, but also from the tongues of parrots.

Long before AI was invented, parrots were able to convincingly mimic their owners’ voices.  Case in point: When a woman approached a staff member of an English zoo and was seeking to donate her African grey parrot, there was just one catch. This  household pet had learned some rather salty words from her husband, or so she alleged.

The trouble was, the wayward pet then cursed up a storm in a voice that sounded exactly like hers… 

Resources

https://www.npr.org/2024/01/25/1226911707/parrots-swear-profanities-british-zoo 

Two-Ton Vasuki

Statue of Shiva
(Photo by Thejas Panarkandy)

Whereas pint-sized snakes can be scary, two-ton snakes can be monstrous.  But can snakes ever really grow that large? A thoroughly investigated fossil indicates that they can.

Named Vasuki indicus after the “mythical snake king Vasuki, who wraps around the neck of the Hindu deity Shiva,” this ancient serpent slithered through India’s swamps approximately 47 million years ago.  At an estimated 50 feet long, it may have wrapped itself around Shiva’s stalwart neck several times over.

Such a snake may have come in particularly handy when Shiva, sometimes known as “The Destroyer,” was battling demons.  One look at this ophidian necklace could be enough to send Andhaka himself fleeing.

Resources

https://apnews.com/article/ancient-giant-snake-india-8ca7b6b971b0a1b6c79ce50819d337c6

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiva