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

Nature Must Have Its Say

Calling all mates!
(Photo by Robert Evans Snodgrass)

If you’re awakened by the whining roar of a jet plane but you’re nowhere near an airport, think again.  It might just be the sound of cicadas on the prowl.

After lolling underground for the past umpteen years, these buggers are seeking a mate.  What better way to do so than to sing a raucous song?  After all, that’s how rock and roll got its groupies.

When trillions of cicadas emerge all at once, their chorus can be maddening.  At least that’s what some South Carolinians thought as they rang up the local sheriff.  Yet natural law often supersedes human law.  For better or for worse, Mother Nature has plenty to say.

Resources

https://apnews.com/article/noisy-cicadas-south-carolina-police-39f2bd760a51c8c1d28d88b12473840e

A Yen for Mount Fuji

Mount Fuji
(Photo by suicasmo)

When reviewing an ongoing situation in the Japanese town of Fujikawaguchiko, two things come to mind: watch what you ask for, and too much of a good thing can be a bad thing.

Whereas Fujikawaguchiko had yearned for tourists, it didn’t expect the chaos that ensued.  Because the town boasts some clear views of Mount Fuji, visitors have been tripping over themselves and each other for that perfect photo op.

When Fats Waller sang “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” he wasn’t referring to these folks.  The free-for-all that’s been occurring in streets, parking lots and yards has included the following: “littering, crossing the road with busy traffic, ignoring traffic lights [and] trespassing into private properties.”

It’s gotten so bad that the town is constructing a giant dark screen in order to block favorite views.  Lesser methods such as polite signage and security guards just haven’t worked.  If humans would only heed gentle prods, they wouldn’t need extreme pokes.

Resources

https://apnews.com/article/japan-fuji-tourists-screen-9ac5d8f02062ff3c1e573870a6787f16