Elaine J. Hanford's Bulletin Boards: 1) Geoscience; 2) Environmental Science; 3) Coastal Zone Management - 8 January 2024

 

Geoscience Bulletin Board – 8 January 2024 – compiled by Elaine J. Hanford

Two new Cretaceous species of dinosaur group discovered in Montana & southern Alberta

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/two-new-iconic-and-bizarre-dinosaur-species-discovered/ar-AA1m6Iof 
• Paper:  https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/spp2.1535 

Review of geological activity & research in Yellowstone in 2023

• https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/yvo/news/yellowstone-volcano-observatory-reviews-2023-year-was 

Earthshaking geology stories of 2023

• https://aiptcomics.com/2023/12/31/geology-earthquake-2023-volcano-moon/ 

Landsat 2030 (Landsat Next) announced – new satellite system intended to use 26 bands to document global land, surface water & resource use

• https://www.usgs.gov/landsat-missions/landsat-next 
• https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/interior-department-announces-landsat-2030-international-partnership-initiative 
• https://landsat.gsfc.nasa.gov/satellites/landsat-next/ 

Retrospective on 1922 study that deciphered the Channeled Scablands of eastern Washington

• https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2023/dec/31/100-years-ago-j-harlen-bretz-figured-out-eastern-w/ 

Elevated seismic activity south of the summit of Kīlauea

• https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/news/usgs-hvo-information-statement-kilauea-summit-unrest 

China puts L-SAR 01 satellite group into use after in-orbit tests – will provide high-resolution operation deformation monitoring services

• https://www.spacedaily.com/reports/L_SAR_01_Satellite_Group_Begins_Operations_Enhancing_Chinas_Disaster_Response_999.html 

Demise of Monte Cristo in major flood 43 years ago – town at the heart of the Cascades Gold Rush - video

• https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/a-look-back-at-the-demise-of-monte-cristo-the-town-at-the-heart-of-the-cascades-gold-rush 

200th anniversary of the first scientific description of a dinosaur – about 50 new species each year

• https://www.kake.com/story/50292092/200-years-of-dinosaurs-what-weve-learned-and-what-we-still-dont-know 

Molecular fossils from more than 1 byo

• https://www.labmanager.com/molecular-fossils-shed-light-on-ancient-life-31455 
• Paper:  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-43545-z 

Frosty the Volcano in the Aleutian Islands

• https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/152223/frosty-the-volcano 

Risks upgraded from the fault that triggered the 2014 west Napa Fault earthquake

• https://abc7news.com/west-napa-fault-usgs-line-earthquake/14227633/
• Technical Report:  https://earthquake.usgs.gov/cfusion/external_grants/reports/05HQAG0002.pdf 

Photo-essay:  Kapsia Cave in Peloponese – stalactites & stalagmites abounding

• https://greekcitytimes.com/2023/12/27/kapsia-cave-3/

75th anniversary of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources

• https://littermedia.com/2024/01/odnr-celebrates-75th-anniversary-in-2024/ 

If you think of dinosaurs, do you think of New Jersey?  Well, you should

• https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/local/2023/12/27/new-jersey-dinosaurs-history/71904282007/ 

3rd edition of “Code of Practice for Risk Management of Tunnel Works”

• https://www.newcivilengineer.com/the-future-of/future-of-tunnelling-greater-focus-on-undervalued-high-impact-low-probability-events-needed-in-risk-management-02-01-2024/ 

Path of solar eclipse will cross the Eastern US on 8 April 2024

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/2024-brings-a-rare-solar-eclipse-that-won-t-happen-again-for-decades-here-s-what-to-know/ar-AA1mpINa 

The oceans are crowded with human activity – most vessels are not publicly tracked

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/how-crowded-are-the-oceans-new-maps-show-what-flew-under-the-radar-until-now/ar-AA1mpJ34 
• Paper:  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06825-8 

Fossil “toddler T. rex” is actually a separate species - Nanotyrannus lancensis

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/mystery-of-the-toddler-t-rex-fossil-finally-solved-and-could-cost-millions/ar-AA1moohu 
• Paper:  https://www.mdpi.com/2813-6284/2/1/1 

Cyathophycus balori – new 315 myo species of fossil sponge discovered in the Cliffs of Moher in County Clare, Ireland

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/tripideas/exceptional-315-million-year-old-fossil-sponge-found-in-irish-cliffs/ar-AA1mpGaA 
• Paper:  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0016699523000736 

Fossil remains show Repenomamus robustus (mammal) preying on Psittacosaurus lugiantunensis (beaked dinosaur) in combat when buried alive by volcanic mudflow in Liaoning Province, China - video

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/ancient-mammal-s-audacious-assault-on-dinosaur-uncovered-by-fossil/ar-AA1mrdQH 
• Paper:   https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-37545-8 

Wind plays key role in salinity changes in Marion Cove – a narrow fjord on SW side of King George Island

• https://eos.org/research-spotlights/seawater-dynamics-in-an-underexplored-antarctic-fjord 
• Paper:  https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2023JC020111 

Fingerprinting sand to trace supply sources & identify illegal sand mining

• https://eos.org/articles/sandy-fingerprints-trace-supply-sources 
• Paper:  https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-023-01071-2 

Large earthquakes dynamically trigger seismic shaking on distant faults in Costa Rica

• https://eos.org/articles/costa-rican-faults-quiver-in-response-to-distant-earthquakes 
• Abstract:  https://agu.confex.com/agu/fm23/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/1388805 

Characterizing Nord Stream pipeline events using seismic & infrasonic signals

• https://phys.org/news/2024-01-seismic-infrasonic-characterize-nord-stream.html 
• Paper:  https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/ssa/tsr/article/4/1/1/631976/The-26-September-2022-Nord-Stream-Events-Insights 

Interpretation versus observation of Plate Tectonics in the Archean geological record

• https://phys.org/news/2024-01-plate-tectonics-archean.html

Measuring magnetic signature in bricks to date Biblical events

• https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-780745 
• https://www.patternsofevidence.com/2022/11/04/earths-magnetic-field-used-to-verify-biblical-battles/
• Paper:   https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2209117119 

Devonian volcano in what is now New Jersey

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/tripideas/a-geological-marvel-and-a-historical-gem-the-concealed-volcano-of-new-jersey/ar-AA1mrzIs

First photosynthesizing bacterial at least 1.75 byo

• https://cosmosmagazine.com/nature/evolution/biologists-pinpoint-fossils-of-first-photosynthesising-bacteria/ 

Volcanic tourism – comes with risks of personal injury or death

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/lava-chasers-and-volcanic-tourism/ar-AA1grmuT 

Warning of M7.0 magnitude or greater earthquake on East Anatolian Fault

• https://www.duvarenglish.com/turkish-veteran-seismologist-warns-of-major-quake-in-east-anatolian-fault-news-63599 

Questions remain about melting glacial ice

• https://www.inverse.com/science/glaciologist-reveals-secrets-polar-ice-climate-change 

New theoretical framework helps understand synchronization of turbulent dynamics – weather & ocean eddies

• https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1029626 

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Environmental Science Bulletin Board – 8 January 2024 – compiled by Elaine J. Hanford 

Call for greater protection of groundwater – vital to preserve biodiversity

• https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1030279 
• Paper:  https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/gcb.17066 
• Report:  https://press.uni-mainz.de/second-report-on-the-status-of-global-water-resources-published/ 

Man took two doses of Mounjaro for diabetes now has gastroparesis
another lawsuit against Big Pharma as drug maker warns against use for “cosmetic weight loss”  - potential side effects & complications

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/a-38-year-old-man-says-2-doses-of-mounjaro-permanently-paralyzed-his-stomach-he-s-suing-eli-lilly/ar-AA1mexwO

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/eli-lilly-cracks-down-on-the-use-of-weight-loss-drugs-mounjaro-and-zepbound-for-cosmetic-reasons-instead-of-for-diabetes-and-obesity/ar-AA1mtLe4 
• https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/weightloss/we-ve-had-a-cheaper-more-potent-ozempic-alternative-for-decades/ar-AA1al1Je 

California overstating “benefits” of dairy manure methane digesters – counting emission source as reduction

• https://insideclimatenews.org/news/30122023/milking-it-california-overstating-climate-benefit-dairy-manure-methane-digesters/ 

 

Qualities of people with Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) – sounds like someone we all know

• https://currently.att.yahoo.com/lifestyle/8-things-narcissist-absolutely-hates-001000852.html

USDA approved GMO “short corn” for consumption in the US – good news is it will not be available for a few more years – EPA & importing nations still not approved it – called “safe” for human consumption

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/us-finds-bayer-s-genetically-modified-corn-can-be-safely-grown-but-there-s-a-big-catch/ar-AA1mfYOl 

Washington Department of Ecology has authority to require companies to disclose toxic chemical ingredients in products & to enforce mitigation or complete elimination of them using hazards-based approach which invokes Precautionary Principle versus problem solving under TSCA

• https://insideclimatenews.org/news/01012024/washington-state-regulates-toxic-chemicals/ 

Does this new FDA rule make our donated blood supply less safe?

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/for-decades-he-wasn-t-allowed-to-donate-blood-under-new-fda-rule-he-can/ar-AA1mgODJ 

California to pay for healthcare for 0.7M illegals despite looming $68B deficit

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/california-to-offer-700-000-illegal-immigrants-free-healthcare-as-deficit-soars-and-population-shrinks/ar-AA1mfUXR

Commonly prescribed statins raise risk of diabetes

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/one-of-most-commonly-prescribed-statins-raises-diabetes-risk-study/ar-AA1itbNt

Ireland may become first European Country to constitutionally recognize rights of ecosystems

• https://insideclimatenews.org/news/01012024/ireland-rights-of-nature-human-right-to-clean-environment/ 

Hopefully, wasting your tax dollars on supporting the Queer Muslim Project in India is included on the 2023 Festivus Report

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/the-queer-muslim-project-is-the-latest-recipient-of-an-american-taxpayer-funded-grant/ar-AA1mhO3D 
• https://www.analyzingamerica.org/2023/12/730940/ 
• 2023 Festivus Report:  https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/Festivus-2023.pdf 

Linking “good cholesterol” with higher risk of dementia

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/good-cholesterol-and-dementia-researchers-chart-a-correlation/ar-AA1miLl5
• Paper:  https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanwpc/article/PIIS2666-6065(23)00281-X/fulltext 

Not extinct – just very hard to find

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/animals-believed-to-be-extinct-were-found-all-over-the-world-this-year/ar-AA1miR2j 

Romancing the River:  Thinking like a river – applying the advice of Aldo Leopold

• https://sibleysrivers.com/romancing-the-river-thinking-like-a-river/ 

Neurotrophic viral infections may increase risk of Alzheimer’s disease

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/a-study-of-500-000-medical-records-links-viruses-to-alzheimer-s-again-and-again/ar-AA1mnoKi 

Petition filed by coalition of 6 organizations urges USEPA go halt use of glyphosate herbicide – harmful effects on human health (liver, kidneys, reproductive system & cancer) and environment

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/a-coalition-is-urging-the-epa-to-immediately-suspend-the-use-of-a-widely-used-weedkiller-no-legal-legs-to-stand-on/ar-AA1miBBI

Human evolution, cultural adaptation to exploit the environmental resources – reached physical limits of  biosphere & claimed most resources – barely understand the problem of long-term evolutionary trap

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/evolution-might-stop-humans-from-solving-climate-change-researchers-say/ar-AA1mn7da 

Brussels, Belgium, begins controlling e-scooters – clamping down on chaos

• https://www.themayor.eu/en/a/view/brussels-drastically-cuts-the-number-of-e-scooters-from-february-2024-12267

Robust opposition in Youngstown, Ohio, to first of 30 proposed recycled tire waste-to-energy plants using pyrolysis – high potential for adverse environmental and human health impacts

• https://insideclimatenews.org/news/03012024/youngstown-ohio-tires-synthetic-gas-plant/ 

Spain to phase out nuclear power by 2035 – managing radioactive waste & dismantling nuclear plants estimated to cost $22.4B

• https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/spain-confirms-nuclear-power-phase-out-extends-renewable-projects-deadlines-2023-12-27/ 

Terrorism:  State capitals shut down following emailed threat received by at least 23 state officials – no explosives found in searches

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/multiple-state-capitols-evacuated-due-to-mass-emailed-threat/ar-AA1mq8Nc 

The value of wildlife crossings – improve traffic safety & protect biodiversity

• https://highways.dot.gov/public-roads/winter-2024/07 

Iraq broke ground on construction of $2B residential city outside Baghdad

• https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/iraq-breaks-ground-on-2-billion-project-to-build-new-city-1.2016197 

Illegal aliens causing problems in so many communities across the US – this one my alma mater

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/whitewater-wisconsin-now-flooded-with-illegal-migrants-conservatives-blaming-biden-for-ruining-small-american-town/ar-AA1mrRzc 

CDC warns of outbreaks of pertussis (whooping cough) in the eastern US – cases in vaccinated children & their parents

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/health-experts-warn-of-whooping-cough-outbreaks-in-these-areas/ar-AA1mqAJJ 

New antibiotic may be effective against resistant Acinetobacter baumannii that causes potentially deadly hospital acquired infections – has not yet had opportunity to develop resistance but it will

• https://currently.att.yahoo.com/news/potent-antibiotic-emerged-battle-against-160058569.html 
• https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-04086-z 
• Paper:  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06873-0 

First dive survey of sediments & lake bed of Lake Tahoe – high amounts of plastic & other litter

• https://phys.org/news/2024-01-survey-lake-tahoe-lakebed-high.html 
• Paper:  https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00037028231201174 

California jumped to the conclusion that heavy winter snowpack in Sierra Nevada “ended” the long-term drought – snowpack this winter is at lowest level in 10 years – reservoirs are not full

• https://phys.org/news/2024-01-sierra-nevada-snowpack-lowest-years.html 

So much for “global warming” – Sweden recording coldest weather in quarter of a century

• https://phys.org/news/2024-01-sweden-coldest-weather-years.html 

News flash:  low-cost & quick to install safety measures help reduce auto crashes at T-intersections

• https://www.theadvocate.com/acadiana/news/weather_traffic/roadway-safety-measures-help-decrease-traffic-accidents-at-t-intersections-acadiana/article_51a8105c-a66c-11ee-add1-577ccc1c8098.html 

Emerging pathogens in 2024?  As long as it does not result in another plandemic as humans continue to drive antimicrobial resistance

• https://www.clinicallab.com/emerging-pathogens-a-look-toward-2024-27676 

Honey production declined over decades due to land use changes, soil productivity & widespread herbicide use

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/bees-are-making-less-honey-and-five-decades-of-data-reveals-why/ar-AA1mt5Fx 
• Paper:  https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/acff0c 

US Court of International Trade Judge ordered removal of wind farm from Osage Nation – could not obtain necessary mining lease permit

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/judge-orders-removal-of-wind-farm-in-osage-county/ar-AA1mvWvG 

Humans continue to evolve – ongoing process including genetic drift – brains getting smaller – eventual extinction as cultural evolution out-paces genetic evolution creating new dangers

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/humans-continue-to-experience-evolution-natural-selection-is-ongoing-newsweek/ar-AA1mdmAu 
• https://www.realclearscience.com/articles/2020/05/08/when_will_humans_go_extinct_111387.html

Development of “artificial womb” raises ethical questions – FDA considering steps for human trial

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/artificial-womb-for-premature-babies-could-be-available-this-year/ar-AA1mtwuE 

No evidence that number is violent extremists in US military is disproportionate to population as a whole

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/quiet-release-of-dod-extremism-report-sparks-conservative-backlash/ar-AA1mvFgn
• Report:  https://www.ida.org/research-and-publications/publications/all/p/pr/prohibited-extremist-activities-in-the-us-department-of-defense 

Increasing human population results in increasing number of wild horses hit by vehicles in Nevada

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/nevada-s-wild-horses-increasingly-hit-by-vehicles-as-human-population-in-area-grows/ar-AA1mudYA 

Endangered Formosan black bear under further threat from poachers in Taiwan – as few as 200 remain in the wild

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/crisis-threatening-endangered-bear-species-it-is-impossible-to-know-what-the-consequences-of-mass-extinction-would-be/ar-AA1muH3R 

FEAR MONGERING:  Headline reads “covid cases mapped as hospitalizations and deaths surge to horror levels across US” -   less than 1K deaths per week compared to peak 25K+ in 2020 or 22K+ per week in 2022

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/covid-cases-mapped-as-hospitalizations-and-deaths-surge-to-horror-levels-across-us/ar-AA1mwpS8 
• CDC data:  https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#trends_weeklydeaths_select_00 

Technological hazard:  “social media” in a generation hypersensitive to feedback has immense deleterious impact especially on younger generation – addicted and “high on likes”

• https://amgreatness.com/2024/01/06/high-on-likes-driving-under-the-influence-of-social-media-at-the-crossroad-of-freedom-and-serfdom/ 

Victims of life-changing injuries & adverse reactions from vaxx are being censored on social media

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/we-re-being-censored-claim-victims-of-astrazeneca-covid-vaccine/ar-AA1myu1d

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Coastal Zone Management Bulletin Board 8 January 2024 - compiled by Elaine J. Hanford 

Watching all the sand get washed away in California --- all that money that was foolishly spent to re-nourish beaches – when will they ever learn? - words of wisdom from North Carolina

• https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-12-30/heavy-surf-and-rain-as-storm-moves-into-southern-california
• https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/30/weather/california-oregon-waves-flooding-saturday/index.html 
• https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/dec/29/california-storms-weather-latest-waves 
• $14M:  https://www.san-clemente.org/departments-services/planning-services/long-range-planning-projects/beach-restoration-project 
• $18M: https://www.encinitasadvocate.com/news/story/2023-09-10/coronado-and-oceanside-have-fastest-eroding-beaches-report-says 
• $37M:  https://coastalcare.org/2023/06/carlsbad-considers-joining-other-coastal-cities-in-yet-another-sand-replenishment-project-the-san-diego-union-tribune/ 
• $256M over 50 years:  https://laist.com/news/climate-environment/south-oc-has-a-newish-beach-heres-how-they-saved-the-sand 
• Meanwhile in NC:  https://www.wfae.org/energy-environment/2022-03-30/we-keep-rebuilding-our-beaches-but-what-are-the-long-term-costs 

Yet another cargo ship fire caused by lithium-ion batteries – Genius Star XI being kept offshore in Alaska for safety

• https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/2023/12/29/coast-guard-assisting-cargo-ship-that-caught-fire-southwest-of-dutch-harbor/ 
• Others:  https://theloadstar.com/li-ion-batteries-pose-a-risk-to-freight-ro-ro-services/ 

The beautification of Corpus Christ, Texas

• https://www.kristv.com/coastal-bend-history/the-beautification-of-corpus-christi 

M7.6 earthquake hits coastal town of Anamizu in Noto province on Honshu Island, Japan – tsunami follows – evacuation ordered - videos

• https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-asia-67856117 
• https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/01/japan-issues-major-tsunami-warning-for-coastal-prefecture-after-76-magnitude-earthquake 
• https://earthquaketrack.com/p/japan/recent
• https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us6000m0xl/executive 

Weathered WWII-era inert practice bomb washed up on beach in Santa Cruz County, California

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/a-weathered-bomb-washed-up-on-a-california-beach-authorities-determined-it-was-a-wwii-era-practice-bomb/ar-AA1mmVGk 

Southern California to begin cleanup following mega swells and storms while awaiting King Tide event

• https://phys.org/news/2024-01-mega-storms-southern-california-underway.html

$2B Baytown Chemical Expansion Project alongside Houston Ship Channel in Texas – will produce performance polymers & linear alpha olefins – center of the petrochemical universe

• https://www.bicmagazine.com/projects-expansions/downstream/exxonmobil-expands-chemical-production-baytown-texas/ 

OMG, big surprise along the submergent East Coast – cities from Florida to New Hampshire are sinking

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/east-coast-cities-from-florida-to-new-hampshire-are-sinking-study/ar-AA1mqjbF 
• Paper:  https://academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/article/3/1/pgad426/7504900 

Contract for massive Empire Wind 2 project off the coast of New York is cancelled

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/giant-offshore-wind-project-axed-in-blow-to-biden-s-green-goals/ar-AA1mqkRJ

Venice, Italy, architectural firm proposing designs for Floating City

• https://www.asce.org/publications-and-news/civil-engineering-source/civil-engineering-magazine/article/2024/01/floating-city-offers-urban-solution-to-rising-sea-levels 

Cancer (hemocytic neoplasia) spreading among clams on tidal flats of Cape Cod

• https://www.whoi.edu/oceanus/feature/puzzling-over-a-mollusk-mystery/ 

As one of the largest cities in the US & second-fastest growing metro area, Houston now rethinking resilience of aging water infrastructure

• https://www.waterworld.com/drinking-water/distribution/article/14303251/to-rehab-or-replace-aging-water-infrastructure 

Underwater dump sites off Los Angeles coast contain WWII anti-submarine weapons & smoke devices and industrial & chemical waste from the 1930s through the 1970s – acid waste may contain DDT

• https://phys.org/news/2024-01-wwii-era-munitions-survey-southern.html 
• 2nd Survey:  https://scripps.ucsd.edu/news/second-seafloor-survey-dumpsite-coast-southern-california-completed 
• 2021 Survey Paper:  https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.3c01256 

Website:  https://scripps.ucsd.edu/ddtcoastaldumpsite


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"Every revolution evaporates and leaves behind only the slime of a new bureaucracy." - Franz Kafka