committeeconstructivetomorrowcfactorg--2020-11-06--Waging war against invasive species

Waging war against invasive species

Invasive species , impact water supplies , impair hunting and fishing opportunities , interfere with energy production , exacerbate wildfires , damage America ’ s agriculture , and drive native species to extinction .
In Fiscal Year 2020 , the U.S. Department of the Interior alone is investing an estimated $ 143 million to manage invasive species .
In response to federal legislation , the Trump Administration in August released a draft strategic plan that provides a coordinated approach to combat this $ 120 billion assault on American prosperity that seeks to further align existing programs and policies across the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and private resources .
A recent report from the History channel notes that , “ The history of invasive species is usually one of unforeseen consequences .
When an animal , fish , insect , or plant is taken out of its original ecosystem and introduced to a new one – whether by accident or on purpose – it is less likely to have any natural predators.
” The report lists seven invasive species that continue to wreak havoc across the United States , including gypsy moths and nutria .
There are many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ foreign species have moved into the U.S. , collectively causing more damage to the environment , economy , and human health than all natural disasters combined , reports the U.S. Geological Society .
Just one species – feral swine ( Sus scrofa ) – causes upward of $ 1.5 billion in damages annually to all manner of agriculture , including rice , corn , and grains , according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture .
An estimated 6 million of these dangerous creatures roam the countryside in 35 states , notably Texas .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ crops , erode soil , and uproot tree seedlings , causing deforestation .
They also carry diseases , notably pseudo-rabies and swine brucellosis .
In Hawaii — far from its natural homeland of Puerto Rico ( where it is cherished ) — up to 20,000 coqui ( a tiny tree frog with a big voice ) an acre disturb the quiet , devour enough insects that native birds go hungry , and damage the ecosystem .
According to the National Park Service , the 212-square-mile island of Guam is plagued by up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outnumbering humans 10 to 1 ) that short out electrical systems and have wiped out 10 of the 12 island ’ s native bird species .
Over just the past four years , Interior ’ s Office of Insular Affairs has provided more than $ 12 million for the Brown Tree Snake Control program .
The NPS , however , says that rats are the worst of all invasive predators .
Running free on islands , rats have devoured whole seabird colonies—even whole species .
In fact , rats have caused between 40 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and reptile extinctions in the last four centuries .
Responding to what has been described as an all-out assault on the nation ’ s biodiversity , the Trump plan was designed to meet requirements of the John D. Dingell , Jr. , Conservation , Management , and Recreation Act of 2019 , and in consultation with states , Tribes , and other stakeholders .
The idea is to incorporate ongoing work by the Interior Department and its partners and to respond to emerging issues driven by the priorities of state governors .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to bolster mutual priorities , raise awareness to motivate action , strengthen prevention practices to avoid invasive species introductions and spread , improve the coordination of early detection and rapid response efforts across jurisdictions , leverage opportunities for targeted control and eradication , and improve data collection and data management to facilitate more effective decisionmaking .
“ The Trump Administration has been focused on addressing the considerable , negative impacts of invasive species by working across jurisdictional boundaries with our partners , ” said Scott Cameron , Interior ’ s Acting Assistant Secretary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The draft plan sets out a vision for effectively managing invasive species through collaborative conservation to protect our nation ’ s biodiversity and economy.
” But governments alone will not win this war .
In localities across America ( and worldwide ) , people have been banding together to fight back against zebra mussels , Asian carp , Burmese pythons , and other often deadly , definitely costly invasive species .
In Geneva Lake , Wisconsin , volunteers dive underwater to pull out starry stonewort by its roots in an effort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fishing and boating and overrunning native aquatic life .
Sometimes the best way to target an invasive species is to turn a negative into a positive .
The lionfish , native to the Pacific and Indian Oceans , has exploded in Florida and the Caribbean .
This venomous predator , with one of the highest breeding rates in the world , has gradually taken over reefs from Venezuela to New York .
The lionfish not only feasts on smaller prey fish , leaving little food for commercially valuable fish , such as snapper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ grazer ” and “ cleaner ” fish which maintain the health of the reefs that provide habitat for other species – reducing native marine life by 80 to 90 percent in just five weeks in some cases .
The $ 2.1 billion Caribbean diving industry , along with fishing and tourism , is under assault , impacting the lives of 42 million people .
The market response to the lionfish invasion has been to make its tasty white meat a popular item in restaurants and high-end grocery stores .
The fly in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poisonous spine , which requires cleaning by hand .
Another problem is that , for now , the most efficient way to catch lionfish is slow , labor-intensive spearfishing that requires SCUBA gear .
PERC reports that marketing campaigns are spurring demand for lionfish fillets .
The Reef Environmental Education Foundation ( REEF ) published a lionfish cookbook , while Whole Foods hosted “ Take a Bite Out of Lionfish , ” replete with live filleting and cooking demos and lionfish recipe videos .
Others are investigating making jewelry out of lionfish spines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Not disparaging federal and state efforts , PERC ’ s Jonathan Wood beams that , “ With every seafood dinner , necklace , spear-fishing derby , and trap , we are one step closer to overcoming the lionfish invasion ourselves.
” Of course , not everyone is on board with government or private efforts to eradicate the harm done by invasive species .
Veteran ecologist Ken Thompson , a senior research fellow in thete Department of Animal and Plant Sciences at the University of Sheffield ( United Kingdom ) , thinks there is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and animals we often vilify as invasive species only rarely threaten ecosystems .
Thompson argues that efforts to control or eliminate invasive species can be tremendously expensive , are rarely successful , and often have damaging unintended consequences [ yet introducing invasive species itself often results in unintended damages ] .
Using the wrong herbicides to kill invasive species , for example , can damage vulnerable native species .
But Thompson says the chief culprit is not the animals , fish , insects , or plants but rather the humans who traverse the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his words , “ We ’ ve chopped down forests , built dams , and turned the whole world into a giant cattle pasture , and then we ’ re surprised that some species quite like what we ’ ve done .
We shouldn ’ t be surprised.
” And there you have it .
Humans bought Burmese pythons as “ pets , ” then dumped them when they grew too big – and they grew bigger , found partners , and reproduced .
Humans also brought rats and zebra mussels and other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the time to rid their ships of these unwanted creatures .
And now it is time to pay the piper for bringing these invaders into our nation and letting them roam free , often creating havoc for local ecosystems .
It is going to take a unified nationwide effort to get the job done .

Invasive species, impact water supplies, impair hunting and fishing opportunities, interfere with energy production, exacerbate wildfires, damage America’s agriculture, and drive native species to extinction. In Fiscal Year 2020, the U.S. Department of the Interior alone is investing an estimated $143 million to manage invasive species.
In response to federal legislation, the Trump Administration in August released a draft strategic plan that provides a coordinated approach to combat this $120 billion assault on American prosperity that seeks to further align existing programs and policies across the Interior Department and to leverage additional public and private resources.
A recent report from the History channel notes that, “The history of invasive species is usually one of unforeseen consequences. When an animal, fish, insect, or plant is taken out of its original ecosystem and introduced to a new one – whether by accident or on purpose – it is less likely to have any natural predators.”
The report lists seven invasive species that continue to wreak havoc across the United States, including gypsy moths and nutria. There are many others. Nationwide, more than 6,500 foreign species have moved into the U.S., collectively causing more damage to the environment, economy, and human health than all natural disasters combined, reports the U.S. Geological Society.
Just one species – feral swine (Sus scrofa) – causes upward of $1.5 billion in damages annually to all manner of agriculture, including rice, corn, and grains, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. An estimated 6 million of these dangerous creatures roam the countryside in 35 states, notably Texas. Their incessant rooting and voracious eating destroy crops, erode soil, and uproot tree seedlings, causing deforestation. They also carry diseases, notably pseudo-rabies and swine brucellosis.
In Hawaii — far from its natural homeland of Puerto Rico (where it is cherished) — up to 20,000 coqui (a tiny tree frog with a big voice) an acre disturb the quiet, devour enough insects that native birds go hungry, and damage the ecosystem.
According to the National Park Service, the 212-square-mile island of Guam is plagued by up to 15,000 brown snakes per square mile (outnumbering humans 10 to 1) that short out electrical systems and have wiped out 10 of the 12 island’s native bird species. Over just the past four years, Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs has provided more than $12 million for the Brown Tree Snake Control program.
The NPS, however, says that rats are the worst of all invasive predators. Running free on islands, rats have devoured whole seabird colonies—even whole species. In fact, rats have caused between 40 to 60 percent of all recorded bird and reptile extinctions in the last four centuries.
Responding to what has been described as an all-out assault on the nation’s biodiversity, the Trump plan was designed to meet requirements of the John D. Dingell, Jr., Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act of 2019, and in consultation with states, Tribes, and other stakeholders. The idea is to incorporate ongoing work by the Interior Department and its partners and to respond to emerging issues driven by the priorities of state governors.
This comprehensive approach is designed to promote partnerships to bolster mutual priorities, raise awareness to motivate action, strengthen prevention practices to avoid invasive species introductions and spread, improve the coordination of early detection and rapid response efforts across jurisdictions, leverage opportunities for targeted control and eradication, and improve data collection and data management to facilitate more effective decisionmaking.
“The Trump Administration has been focused on addressing the considerable, negative impacts of invasive species by working across jurisdictional boundaries with our partners,” said Scott Cameron, Interior’s Acting Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management, and Budget. “The draft plan sets out a vision for effectively managing invasive species through collaborative conservation to protect our nation’s biodiversity and economy.”
But governments alone will not win this war.
In localities across America (and worldwide), people have been banding together to fight back against zebra mussels, Asian carp, Burmese pythons, and other often deadly, definitely costly invasive species. In Geneva Lake, Wisconsin, volunteers dive underwater to pull out starry stonewort by its roots in an effort to stop the invasive weed from destroying fishing and boating and overrunning native aquatic life.
Sometimes the best way to target an invasive species is to turn a negative into a positive. The lionfish, native to the Pacific and Indian Oceans, has exploded in Florida and the Caribbean. This venomous predator, with one of the highest breeding rates in the world, has gradually taken over reefs from Venezuela to New York.
The lionfish not only feasts on smaller prey fish, leaving little food for commercially valuable fish, such as snapper and tuna. It also feeds on “grazer” and “cleaner” fish which maintain the health of the reefs that provide habitat for other species – reducing native marine life by 80 to 90 percent in just five weeks in some cases. The $2.1 billion Caribbean diving industry, along with fishing and tourism, is under assault, impacting the lives of 42 million people.
The market response to the lionfish invasion has been to make its tasty white meat a popular item in restaurants and high-end grocery stores. The fly in the ointment is the fish’s poisonous spine, which requires cleaning by hand. Another problem is that, for now, the most efficient way to catch lionfish is slow, labor-intensive spearfishing that requires SCUBA gear.
PERC reports that marketing campaigns are spurring demand for lionfish fillets. The Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) published a lionfish cookbook, while Whole Foods hosted “Take a Bite Out of Lionfish,” replete with live filleting and cooking demos and lionfish recipe videos. Others are investigating making jewelry out of lionfish spines or incorporating carcass scraps in fertilizers.
Not disparaging federal and state efforts, PERC’s Jonathan Wood beams that, “With every seafood dinner, necklace, spear-fishing derby, and trap, we are one step closer to overcoming the lionfish invasion ourselves.”
Of course, not everyone is on board with government or private efforts to eradicate the harm done by invasive species. Veteran ecologist Ken Thompson, a senior research fellow in thete Department of Animal and Plant Sciences at the University of Sheffield (United Kingdom), thinks there is good evidence to suggest that the plants and animals we often vilify as invasive species only rarely threaten ecosystems.
Thompson argues that efforts to control or eliminate invasive species can be tremendously expensive, are rarely successful, and often have damaging unintended consequences [yet introducing invasive species itself often results in unintended damages]. Using the wrong herbicides to kill invasive species, for example, can damage vulnerable native species.
But Thompson says the chief culprit is not the animals, fish, insects, or plants but rather the humans who traverse the world and bring them along. In his words, “We’ve chopped down forests, built dams, and turned the whole world into a giant cattle pasture, and then we’re surprised that some species quite like what we’ve done. We shouldn’t be surprised.”
And there you have it. Humans bought Burmese pythons as “pets,” then dumped them when they grew too big – and they grew bigger, found partners, and reproduced. Humans also brought rats and zebra mussels and other species largely because they did not take the time to rid their ships of these unwanted creatures.
And now it is time to pay the piper for bringing these invaders into our nation and letting them roam free, often creating havoc for local ecosystems. It is going to take a unified nationwide effort to get the job done.


committeeconstructivetomorrowcfactorg--2020-11-12--Awoo, Gray Wolves of Denver!

Awoo, Gray Wolves of Denver!

The Gray Wolf is coming back to Colorado .
And it is creating quite the stir in the Centennial State , by both those in favor and those opposed to the effort .
Last week , Colorado voters narrowly approved Proposition 114 , which orders the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission to create a plan to reintroduce the Gray Wolf to the state ’ s wildlife preserves west of its Continental Divide , and to manage the growth of said population , by 2023 .
Much like the famed story of the American Bison , the Gray Wolf was nearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moving and settling the West .
They once roamed the Old West with impressive numbers , ranging from near the Canadian border all the way to the Southwest .
However , they nearly became extinct , as hunters and trappers killed them for their beautiful furs .
Quite unlike the Bison , however , animal rights groups and environmental activists such as the Sierra Club are trying to use the State of Colorado to forcibly reunite the Gray Wolf populations in the Southwest with those in northern states such as Montana .
Colorado @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , now that the initiative has passed , may move forward , pending any legal action .
Reintroduction efforts in places such as New Mexico and Arizona have largely been guided by the Endangered Species Act , according to a report conducted by the Colorado Sun .
However , not everyone in Colorado is howling with excitement over the new law .
Indeed , if the Colorado Secretary of State is to be believed , the measure is only expected to marginally pass .
That is largely because of the property rights concerns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s conservative Western Slope .
The Stop-the-Wolf coalition and its allies argue that the population control methodologies will not be sufficient , and that livestock and property will be damaged by the wolves .
Indeed , a nearly-identical ballot initiative was rejected in Colorado in 2016 over perceived threats to the state ’ s big-game population and livestock industry conflicts .
Only time will tell how this initiative will impact Colorado ’ s biodiversity and human livelihoods going forward .

The Gray Wolf is coming back to Colorado.
And it is creating quite the stir in the Centennial State, by both those in favor and those opposed to the effort.
Last week, Colorado voters narrowly approved Proposition 114, which orders the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission to create a plan to reintroduce the Gray Wolf to the state’s wildlife preserves west of its Continental Divide, and to manage the growth of said population, by 2023.
Much like the famed story of the American Bison, the Gray Wolf was nearly hunted to extinction by trappers and hunters moving and settling the West. They once roamed the Old West with impressive numbers, ranging from near the Canadian border all the way to the Southwest. However, they nearly became extinct, as hunters and trappers killed them for their beautiful furs.
Quite unlike the Bison, however, animal rights groups and environmental activists such as the Sierra Club are trying to use the State of Colorado to forcibly reunite the Gray Wolf populations in the Southwest with those in northern states such as Montana.
Colorado is seen as the final link and, now that the initiative has passed, may move forward, pending any legal action. Reintroduction efforts in places such as New Mexico and Arizona have largely been guided by the Endangered Species Act, according to a report conducted by the Colorado Sun.
However, not everyone in Colorado is howling with excitement over the new law.
Indeed, if the Colorado Secretary of State is to be believed, the measure is only expected to marginally pass. That is largely because of the property rights concerns found by farmers and hunters in Colorado’s conservative Western Slope.
The Stop-the-Wolf coalition and its allies argue that the population control methodologies will not be sufficient, and that livestock and property will be damaged by the wolves. Indeed, a nearly-identical ballot initiative was rejected in Colorado in 2016 over perceived threats to the state’s big-game population and livestock industry conflicts.
Only time will tell how this initiative will impact Colorado’s biodiversity and human livelihoods going forward.


committeeconstructivetomorrowcfactorg--2020-11-12--NASA readying historic Saturday launch

NASA readying historic Saturday launch

NASA plans to launch a crew of four astronauts to the International Space Station this Saturday , November 14 , 2020 — weather and paint permitting .
There ’ s a tropical storm working its way up the coast of Florida that could delay the launch .
Problems with the enamel paint interfering with jet openings caused a prior delay .
However , if NASA overcomes such obstacles and the launch is a GO , this will be the first regular manned space mission launched from the United States since the end of the space shuttle .
The NASA astronauts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ SpaceX Dragon spacecraft .
A successful test flight of SpaceX Dragon splashed down in August carrying two astronauts safely home .
Saturday ’ s “ Crew-1 ” flight marks the first use of the Dragon capsule for the ISS ’ s regular crew rotation .
Here is the SpaceX Crew-1 official crew portrait with ( from left ) NASA astronauts Shannon Walker , Victor Glover , Mike Hopkins , and JAXA ( Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency ) astronaut Soichi Noguchi .
Let ’ s hope for a big success Saturday which will lead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ space flight on American rockets .

NASA plans to launch a crew of four astronauts to the International Space Station this Saturday, November 14, 2020 — weather and paint permitting.
There’s a tropical storm working its way up the coast of Florida that could delay the launch. Problems with the enamel paint interfering with jet openings caused a prior delay.
However, if NASA overcomes such obstacles and the launch is a GO, this will be the first regular manned space mission launched from the United States since the end of the space shuttle.
The NASA astronauts will head to the ISS aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.
A successful test flight of SpaceX Dragon splashed down in August carrying two astronauts safely home.
Saturday’s “Crew-1” flight marks the first use of the Dragon capsule for the ISS’s regular crew rotation.
Here is the SpaceX Crew-1 official crew portrait with (from left) NASA astronauts Shannon Walker, Victor Glover, Mike Hopkins, and JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Soichi Noguchi.
Let’s hope for a big success Saturday which will lead to frequent, routine, affordable manned space flight on American rockets.
Follow the launch at NASA.


committeeconstructivetomorrowcfactorg--2020-11-12--EP 118: Gabriella’s First Deer, Wyoming’s Black Hills, & Previewing Upcoming Guests

In Episode 118 of District of Conservation , Gabriella recounts her Wyoming whitetail doe hunt from over the weekend and @ @ @ @ @ discusses her thoughts on crossing the big game threshold , why it was nice to @ @ @ @ @ who she interfaced with , hunting/spending time with veterans , and much more .
She @ @ @ @ @ guest , previewed some guests and topics , and what sportsmen and women need to @ @ @ @ @ administration .

In Episode 118 of District of Conservation, Gabriella recounts her Wyoming whitetail doe hunt from over the weekend and its life-changing nature. She discusses her thoughts on crossing the big game threshold, why it was nice to get away from DC, who she interfaced with, hunting/spending time with veterans, and much more. She also teased Monday’s guest, previewed some guests and topics, and what sportsmen and women need to brace for in a new administration.


committeeconstructivetomorrowcfactorg--2020-11-13--Denmark set to cull 17 million mink in effort stop virus spread

The Danish government recently announced plans to kill off all of its 17 million mink in the country , a measure intended to stem the potential spread of a mutated strain of a virus found in the creatures .
The reason for the action is that 12 people had been infected with a mink-related mutant strain – a strain that purportedly causes COVID-19 .
Denmark ’ s State Serum Institute ( SSI ) , in a report released this week , noted that laboratory tests showed “ that the new strain had mutations on its so-called spike protein , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infects healthy cells.
” If left unchecked , this mink-based virus can pose a risk to future COVID-19 vaccines that work by disabling the spike protein , the SSI said .
The timeline of the developments leading to the need for culling nation ’ s mink , as reported in the Epoch Times , is as follows : “ Danish Health Minister Magnus Heunicke said last Thursday that the mutated virus had been found in 12 people—11 in northern Denmark and one in western Denmark .
On Friday , seven municipalities in northern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country ’ s mink farms , went into lockdown to stem the spread of the new variant of the CCP virus ” .
Legal challenges are sure to mount , as it is unlikely the government has the authority to issue the killings .
Denmark is the world ’ s largest mink fur exporter and annually produces roughly 17 million furs .
If not overturned by the courts , Danish fur farmers claim the cull may spell the end of the industry in the country .
The full story in the Epoch Times @ @ @ @ @

The Danish government recently announced plans to kill off all of its 17 million mink in the country, a measure intended to stem the potential spread of a mutated strain of a virus found in the creatures.
The reason for the action is that 12 people had been infected with a mink-related mutant strain – a strain that purportedly causes COVID-19.
Denmark’s State Serum Institute (SSI), in a report released this week, noted that laboratory tests showed “that the new strain had mutations on its so-called spike protein, a part of the virus that invades and infects healthy cells.”
If left unchecked, this mink-based virus can pose a risk to future COVID-19 vaccines that work by disabling the spike protein, the SSI said.
The timeline of the developments leading to the need for culling nation’s mink, as reported in the Epoch Times, is as follows:
“Danish Health Minister Magnus Heunicke said last Thursday that the mutated virus had been found in 12 people—11 in northern Denmark and one in western Denmark.
On Friday, seven municipalities in northern Denmark, home to most of the country’s mink farms, went into lockdown to stem the spread of the new variant of the CCP virus”.
Legal challenges are sure to mount, as it is unlikely the government has the authority to issue the killings. Denmark is the world’s largest mink fur exporter and annually produces roughly 17 million furs.
If not overturned by the courts, Danish fur farmers claim the cull may spell the end of the industry in the country.
The full story in the Epoch Times can be read here.


committeeconstructivetomorrowcfactorg--2020-11-13--Watch here live: NASA prepares to launch Crew-1 rocket

Liftoff of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft , carrying NASA astronauts Michael Hopkins , Victor Glover , and Shannon Walker of NASA , and astronaut Soichi Noguchi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency ( JAXA ) , is scheduled for Saturday , Nov. 14 , at 7:49 p.m. EST , from Kennedy ’ s Launch Complex 39A .
Beginning at 10 a.m. today , watch a briefing with NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine at Kennedy ’ s historic countdown clock .
Participants are : Later today , key managers and officials from NASA and SpaceX will convene @ @ @ @ @ @ @ final planned review before the Crew-1 mission begins .
A live prelaunch news conference ( on NASA TV and the agency ’ s website ) will follow , approximately one hour after the review ends , with the following participants : The U.S. Air Force 45th Weather Squadron predicts a 70 % chance of favorable weather conditions at the launch pad for liftoff of Crew-1 based on Falcon 9 Crew Dragon launch weather criteria .
The primary weather concerns for the launch area are cumulus clouds and flight through precipitation .
Teams also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ launch area and downrange .

From NASA:
Liftoff of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft, carrying NASA astronauts Michael Hopkins, Victor Glover, and Shannon Walker of NASA, and astronaut Soichi Noguchi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 14, at 7:49 p.m. EST, from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A.
Beginning at 10 a.m. today, watch a briefing with NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine at Kennedy’s historic countdown clock. Participants are:
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine
Steve Dickson, administrator, Federal Aviation Administration
Kennedy Center Director Bob Cabana
Hiroshi Sasaki, vice president and director general, JAXA’s Human Spaceflight Technology Directorate
NASA astronaut Jonny Kim
NASA astronaut Sunita Williams
Later today, key managers and officials from NASA and SpaceX will convene for the Launch Readiness Review — the final planned review before the Crew-1 mission begins. A live prelaunch news conference (on NASA TV and the agency’s website) will follow, approximately one hour after the review ends, with the following participants:
Steve Stich, manager, Commercial Crew Program, Kennedy
Joel Montalbano, manager, International Space Station, Johnson
Kirt Costello, chief scientist, International Space Station Program, Johnson
Norm Knight, deputy manager, Flight Operations Directorate, Johnson
Benji Reed, senior director, Human Spaceflight Programs, SpaceX
Arlena Moses, launch weather officer, U.S. Air Force 45th Weather Squadron
The U.S. Air Force 45th Weather Squadron predicts a 70% chance of favorable weather conditions at the launch pad for liftoff of Crew-1 based on Falcon 9 Crew Dragon launch weather criteria. The primary weather concerns for the launch area are cumulus clouds and flight through precipitation.
Teams also will monitor weather conditions both for the launch area and downrange.
FORECAST DETAILS
Clouds Coverage Bases (feet) Tops (feet)
Cumulus Scattered 3,000 8,000
Weather/Visibility: Isolated showers/7 miles
Temperature: 78 degrees


committeeconstructivetomorrowcfactorg--2020-11-14--A drug lord’s exotic animals are helping Colombia’s environment

“ Say hello to my little…hippo ?
” The infamous drug lord Pablo Escobar brought violence , crime , and terror to Colombia and much of the region during his reign .
But Escobar also brought in exotic pets for his estate , that have now escaped and are roaming the Colombian countryside .
Of particular interest are the hippopotamuses that now roam free , which have grown from the original four Escobar kept in an impressive herd of 80 animals .
While some consider them to be a nuisance , others say they are actually filling a needed role @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This is because the hippos eat the same food , weigh about the same , and act generally similar to the now extinct Hemiauchenia paradoxa , which was not unlike today ’ s llama .
The llama-like creature roamed the region of Colombia about 100,000 years ago and was much bigger than its contemporary brothers .
Now , with hippos on the scene , there is another large herbivore trampling vegetation into grasslands , eating excess vegetation , and excreting similar compounds to help fertilize the area .
But could the species @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like Escobar ’ s hippo tribe , be filling the glaring gap they left behind ?
A new study published Monday in PNAS that compares qualities of ancient fauna with their newly introduced counterparts argues that creatures that have ended up far from their evolutionary homes , like camels in Australia or feral horses in the Americas , are stepping in the ecological shoes of animals long extinct .
“ While they might look really different , in terms of how they influence ecosystems , they are actually not that different , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the University of Massachusetts Amherst .
A hippo and an ancient llama might sound pretty distinct from one another , but they eat equivalent food , weigh about the same , and digest their meals similarly .
In fact , this example may prove to be an instructive moment to scientists and conservationists – as from now on they may take a second look at attempting to remove a species that isn ’ t necessarily residing today in the same precise location from which it originally came .
To read the Popular Science @ @ @ @ @

“Say hello to my little…hippo?”
The infamous drug lord Pablo Escobar brought violence, crime, and terror to Colombia and much of the region during his reign.
But Escobar also brought in exotic pets for his estate, that have now escaped and are roaming the Colombian countryside.
Of particular interest are the hippopotamuses that now roam free, which have grown from the original four Escobar kept in an impressive herd of 80 animals. While some consider them to be a nuisance, others say they are actually filling a needed role in Colombia’s environment and ecosystem.
This is because the hippos eat the same food, weigh about the same, and act generally similar to the now extinct Hemiauchenia paradoxa, which was not unlike today’s llama.
The llama-like creature roamed the region of Colombia about 100,000 years ago and was much bigger than its contemporary brothers.
Now, with hippos on the scene, there is another large herbivore trampling vegetation into grasslands, eating excess vegetation, and excreting similar compounds to help fertilize the area.
Popular Science reports:
But could the species that we consider ‘invasive,’ like Escobar’s hippo tribe, be filling the glaring gap they left behind?
A new study published Monday in PNAS that compares qualities of ancient fauna with their newly introduced counterparts argues that creatures that have ended up far from their evolutionary homes, like camels in Australia or feral horses in the Americas, are stepping in the ecological shoes of animals long extinct.
“While they might look really different, in terms of how they influence ecosystems, they are actually not that different,” says study author John Rowan , a paleontologist at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. A hippo and an ancient llama might sound pretty distinct from one another, but they eat equivalent food, weigh about the same, and digest their meals similarly.
In fact, this example may prove to be an instructive moment to scientists and conservationists – as from now on they may take a second look at attempting to remove a species that isn’t necessarily residing today in the same precise location from which it originally came.
To read the Popular Science article, click here.


committeeconstructivetomorrowcfactorg--2020-11-15--China makes efforts to revive endangered Pangolins

Pangolins , interestingly , are the only mammal in the world that have scales .
They traditionally live in flatland forests and wetter climates .
They are also the most trafficked mammal in the world .
Previously , it was believed that the scales of the Pangolin contained medicinal properties , specifically , that they increase the amount of breastmilk in new mothers .
The scales , as well as the meat , of the Pangolin , are very highly valued .
Due to numbers of the Pangolin dramatically decreasing in recent years , Chinese officials have since revised health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supposed medicinal properties of the Pangolin .
“ Three of the four species [ of the Pangolin ] native to Asia are considered critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature red list , according to The Guardian .
“ The delisting of the pangolin from the traditional Chinese medicine ( TCM ) pharmacopoeia comes a week after the State Forestry and Grassland Administration ( SFGA ) raised their protection status .
They are now at Class 1 , the highest conservation level also enjoyed by pandas , National Geographic pointed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trade and use of the animals is now prohibited.
” To read more about this issue , visit the article on EcoWatch here .

Pangolins, interestingly, are the only mammal in the world that have scales. They traditionally live in flatland forests and wetter climates. They are also the most trafficked mammal in the world.
Previously, it was believed that the scales of the Pangolin contained medicinal properties, specifically, that they increase the amount of breastmilk in new mothers. The scales, as well as the meat, of the Pangolin, are very highly valued.
Due to numbers of the Pangolin dramatically decreasing in recent years, Chinese officials have since revised health recommendations to remove any references to the supposed medicinal properties of the Pangolin.
According to EcoWatch:
“Three of the four species [of the Pangolin] native to Asia are considered critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature red list, according to The Guardian.
“The delisting of the pangolin from the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) pharmacopoeia comes a week after the State Forestry and Grassland Administration (SFGA) raised their protection status. They are now at Class 1, the highest conservation level also enjoyed by pandas, National Geographic pointed out. It means almost all domestic trade and use of the animals is now prohibited.”
To read more about this issue, visit the article on EcoWatch here.


committeeconstructivetomorrowcfactorg--2020-11-16--EP 119: WY Game & Fish Commissioner Mike Schmid

In Episode 119 of District of Conservation , Gabriella Hoffman chats with Mike Schmid—owner and operator of Solitude Ranch & Outfitters , LLC and .Wyoming Game and Fish Department Commissioner in District 3 .
He ’ s also the president and CEO of SOS Well Services , LLC .
Mike has 40 years of experience in oilfield services , including managing roustabout crews ; constructing well field roads and drill pads , managing trucks , equipment , and hundreds of employees ; and administering complex Oil & Gas projects .
Today , Mike oversees the operations of all three of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Wyoming Game & Fish Commissioner , appointed By Governor Mead in 2017 to serve a 6-year term .
He also serves as a Board of Directors member for the Wyoming State 4-H Foundation .
Mike was also one of the organizing members of the now successful 10-year-old “ Old West Turkey Shoot ” ( OWITS ) that is held in Hulett , WY every May .
The event was organized to promote turkey hunting in Wyoming and to raise funds for the Greater Hulett Community Center ( GHCC ) which serves the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , WY .
The event raises well over 100,000.00/year for this cause .

In Episode 119 of District of Conservation, Gabriella Hoffman chats with Mike Schmid—owner and operator of Solitude Ranch & Outfitters, LLC and .Wyoming Game and Fish Department Commissioner in District 3. He’s also the president and CEO of SOS Well Services, LLC. Mike has 40 years of experience in oilfield services, including managing roustabout crews; constructing well field roads and drill pads, managing trucks, equipment, and hundreds of employees; and administering complex Oil & Gas projects.
Today, Mike oversees the operations of all three of his companies as well as serving as a Wyoming Game & Fish Commissioner, appointed By Governor Mead in 2017 to serve a 6-year term. He also serves as a Board of Directors member for the Wyoming State 4-H Foundation.
Mike was also one of the organizing members of the now successful 10-year-old “Old West Turkey Shoot” (OWITS) that is held in Hulett, WY every May. The event was organized to promote turkey hunting in Wyoming and to raise funds for the Greater Hulett Community Center (GHCC) which serves the rural ranching families and community of Hulett, WY. The event raises well over 100,000.00/year for this cause.


committeeconstructivetomorrowcfactorg--2020-11-16--Researchers confirm two new species of Australian gliders

While studying the impact of the tragic Australian bushfires on wildlife , researchers have discovered a surprising piece of good news : there are two new species of “ gliders ” on the scene in Australia .
Gliders are small marsupials that can jump incredibly far distances .
Membranes in the creature ’ s limbs allow it to glide while in the air .
The two new species of gliders have been genetically determined as different from their fellow glider-counterparts .
The main differences are in body mass , as certain species are larger than others .
As reported in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the two species in the journal Scientific Reports .
Greater gliders have been generally identified as Petauroides volans .
P. v. minor and P. v. volans has been listed as subspecies based on their body size , fur color , and geographic distribution .
“ For the first time , researchers confirm genetic evidence of three distinct P. Volans species , resurrecting the subspecies name P. armillatus first described in 1923 .
The two greater glider species P. minor and P. armillatus have been controversial due to the lack of published evidence.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Science Times here .

While studying the impact of the tragic Australian bushfires on wildlife, researchers have discovered a surprising piece of good news: there are two new species of “gliders” on the scene in Australia.
Gliders are small marsupials that can jump incredibly far distances. Membranes in the creature’s limbs allow it to glide while in the air.
The two new species of gliders have been genetically determined as different from their fellow glider-counterparts. The main differences are in body mass, as certain species are larger than others.
As reported in The Science Times:
“Scientists described the two species in the journal Scientific Reports. Greater gliders have been generally identified as Petauroides volans. P. v. minor and P. v. volans has been listed as subspecies based on their body size, fur color, and geographic distribution.
“For the first time, researchers confirm genetic evidence of three distinct P. Volans species, resurrecting the subspecies name P. armillatus first described in 1923. The two greater glider species P. minor and P. armillatus have been controversial due to the lack of published evidence.”
You can read the full article in The Science Times here.


committeeconstructivetomorrowcfactorg--2020-11-15--Watch NASA Crew-1 launch here live!  7:27 PM Sunday 11/15/20

Tune in starting at 3:15 p.m. EST and get ready to !
Join us for live coverage of SpaceX Crew-1 @ @ @ @ @ flight to the International Space Station by a U.S. commercial spacecraft .
The Crew Dragon @ @ @ @ @ astronauts Michael Hopkins , Victor Glover , and Shannon Walker of NASA and Soichi Noguchi @ @ @ @ @ Exploration Agency ) to the station .
Liftoff is now targeted at 7:27 p.m. EST @ @ @ @ @ from Launch Complex 39A at NASA ’ s Kennedy Space Center in Florida .
Learn @ @ @ @ @

Tune in starting at 3:15 p.m. EST and get ready to
! Join us for live coverage of SpaceX Crew-1, the first crew rotation flight to the International Space Station by a U.S. commercial spacecraft. The Crew Dragon ‘Resilience’ will carry astronauts Michael Hopkins, Victor Glover, and Shannon Walker of NASA and Soichi Noguchi of JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) to the station. Liftoff is now targeted at 7:27 p.m. EST, Sunday, Nov. 15 from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Learn more about the mission:


committeeconstructivetomorrowcfactorg--2020-11-17--The structure of complex issues

The structure of complex issues

We live in a world of complex issues , which can be very frustrating .
I have been doing research on the generic structure of issues for a long time .
There is an underlying pattern that might be helpful to know about .
I call it the issue tree .
What follows is necessarily simplified to fit into a short article , but it is still a big step forward .
By a complex issue I mean one that generates a lot of discussion .
Policy issues are a good example , as these can involve hundreds or even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issue tree explains how this happens .
The graphic below shows a simple start to an issue tree .
First there is a starter statement , followed by three responses , each of which also gets three responses .
In policy cases the starter might be a radical proposal for dealing with a perceived problem .
Or it might be the controversial claim that a major problem exists .
There are two levels of responses .
First level responses can be objections to the starter statement , questions , additional information , etc @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there are responses to previous level responses .
In many cases there are two or more sides to the issue , generating lots of discussion over time .
At this point you may say , so what ?
There are just 13 statements .
How is this complex ?
Here the arithmetic gets interesting .
First of all , in a major issue the tree can get very big .
This tree has a branching rate of three , that is , every node that has branches going down has three such branches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as many responses as the one above it .
The number of nodes at level n is three to the nth power .
At this branching rate , which is common in policy debates , the number of nodes gets very large , very quickly as the discussion continues .
At just the tenth level there will be almost 60,000 nodes !
The whole tree will have around 100,000 nodes .
I call this the big tree problem .
In a major issue it is not unusual to have 100,000 sentences written , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , consider this question : What is cancer and how should we deal with it ?
There are over 100,000 research papers alone each year on this , plus a world of other writing .
The issue tree of cancer research is enormous .
As a result of the big tree problem people are simply swamped by the complexity of the thinking .
They sense correctly that there is a lot more to the issue than they know and this is frustrating .
Or perhaps they feel that there is not more ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ understand why people do not agree with them .
What one can do under these big tree circumstances is to ( 1 ) master the top of the tree , ( 2 ) dig into a few sub issues and ( 3 ) understand the magnitude of the issue .
Note that grasping the top of the tree can be difficult under certain circumstances , especially where the responses are not written down for reference .
In a meeting to discuss a new issue the branching rate is often well below two , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to early responses .
Another source of frustration is what I call the jumping problem .
This happens with writing and talking about a complex issue .
It occurs because writing and talking are both physically linear , in the sense that we only produce one sentence at a time , one after another .
Because we do that it is not possible for each response to immediately follow the statement it is responding to .
As a result we are frequently forced to jump from one place in the issue tree to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a series of responses down several levels , then jump back up toward the top , to consider another high level response .
Jumping can easily cause misunderstanding , which is very frustrating .
When a jump occurs the statement being made is not directly related to the statement that preceded it .
It may be a response to a much earlier statement .
When reading or hearing such a jump statement it is easy to fail to make the proper response connection .
Getting back to the issue tree , of course @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or degrees of importance .
Who says what may also be important .
We can also consider how big various sub issues are , or look for places where important responses are lacking , so there is no sub issue at all .
WE can watch a sub tree come to life and grow rapidly because it is the present center of attention .
In fact there is a whole new science here , which I call issue analysis .
For people who want to know more I have a free online : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the use of issue trees and the nature of complex reasoning.
” It is rather crude because I did it just for my own classroom use , on an ancient mechanical device called a typewriter , in 1975 .
I discovered the issue tree in 1973 and here is a bit on the : The point is that all big issues have this fundamental treelike structure .
Technically it is called a logical form .
Hopefully just knowing the big tree is there and growing can reduce frustration when dealing with a complex @ @

We live in a world of complex issues, which can be very frustrating. I have been doing research on the generic structure of issues for a long time. There is an underlying pattern that might be helpful to know about. I call it the issue tree. What follows is necessarily simplified to fit into a short article, but it is still a big step forward.
By a complex issue I mean one that generates a lot of discussion. Policy issues are a good example, as these can involve hundreds or even thousands of articles and comments. The issue tree explains how this happens.
The graphic below shows a simple start to an issue tree. First there is a starter statement, followed by three responses, each of which also gets three responses. In policy cases the starter might be a radical proposal for dealing with a perceived problem. Or it might be the controversial claim that a major problem exists.
There are two levels of responses. First level responses can be objections to the starter statement, questions, additional information, etc. At the second and successive levels there are responses to previous level responses. In many cases there are two or more sides to the issue, generating lots of discussion over time. At this point you may say, so what? There are just 13 statements. How is this complex? Here the arithmetic gets interesting.
First of all, in a major issue the tree can get very big. This tree has a branching rate of three, that is, every node that has branches going down has three such branches. Thus each level has three times as many responses as the one above it. The number of nodes at level n is three to the nth power.
At this branching rate, which is common in policy debates, the number of nodes gets very large, very quickly as the discussion continues. At just the tenth level there will be almost 60,000 nodes! The whole tree will have around 100,000 nodes.
I call this the big tree problem. In a major issue it is not unusual to have 100,000 sentences written, or even a million. For example, consider this question: What is cancer and how should we deal with it? There are over 100,000 research papers alone each year on this, plus a world of other writing. The issue tree of cancer research is enormous.
As a result of the big tree problem people are simply swamped by the complexity of the thinking. They sense correctly that there is a lot more to the issue than they know and this is frustrating. Or perhaps they feel that there is not more (which is incorrect) and cannot understand why people do not agree with them.
What one can do under these big tree circumstances is to (1) master the top of the tree, (2) dig into a few sub issues and (3) understand the magnitude of the issue.
Note that grasping the top of the tree can be difficult under certain circumstances, especially where the responses are not written down for reference. In a meeting to discuss a new issue the branching rate is often well below two, because it is hard to get back to early responses.
Another source of frustration is what I call the jumping problem. This happens with writing and talking about a complex issue. It occurs because writing and talking are both physically linear, in the sense that we only produce one sentence at a time, one after another. Because we do that it is not possible for each response to immediately follow the statement it is responding to.
As a result we are frequently forced to jump from one place in the issue tree to another. For example if you follow a series of responses down several levels, then jump back up toward the top, to consider another high level response.
Jumping can easily cause misunderstanding, which is very frustrating. When a jump occurs the statement being made is not directly related to the statement that preceded it. It may be a response to a much earlier statement. When reading or hearing such a jump statement it is easy to fail to make the proper response connection.
Getting back to the issue tree, of course different responses may have very different strengths or degrees of importance. Who says what may also be important. We can also consider how big various sub issues are, or look for places where important responses are lacking, so there is no sub issue at all. WE can watch a sub tree come to life and grow rapidly because it is the present center of attention.
In fact there is a whole new science here, which I call issue analysis.
For people who want to know more I have a free textbook online: “Issue Analysis, an introduction to the use of issue trees and the nature of complex reasoning.”
http://www.stemed.info/reports/Wojick_Issue_Analysis_txt.pdf
It is rather crude because I did it just for my own classroom use, on an ancient mechanical device called a typewriter, in 1975. I discovered the issue tree in 1973 and here is a bit on the early history :
http://www.stemed.info/engineer_tackles_confusion.html
The point is that all big issues have this fundamental treelike structure. Technically it is called a logical form. Hopefully just knowing the big tree is there and growing can reduce frustration when dealing with a complex issue.


committeeconstructivetomorrowcfactorg--2020-11-18--EP 120: Senator-elect Cynthia Lummis (R-WY)

In Episode 120 of District of Conservation , Gabriella welcomes Senator-elect Cynthia Lummis ( R-WY ) to the podcast .
Lummis will begin her term in January 2021 .
She previously served in the House of Representatives from 2009 to 2017 .
Cynthia is a dedicated champion of Wyoming ’ s mineral and energy resources .
In Washington , she fought off attacks from the environmental left while advocating for market opportunities both at home and abroad .
She is the proud godmother of the ANSAC Wyoming , a commercial shipping vessel transporting trona from the U.S. to Southeast Asia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ achievement award from the Washington Coal Club .
Cynthia worked to keep public lands open to the public and available for multiple use .
She successfully passed the National Forest System Trails Stewardship Act in 2016 , a bipartisan effort led by Cynthia to maintain over 157,000 miles of trails within our national forests .
Prior to serving in Congress , she spent eight years as Wyoming State Treasurer and 14 years as a member of the Wyoming State House and Senate .
Cynthia also worked as general counsel to Wyoming Governor Jim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State Lands and Investments , as well as a law clerk at the Wyoming Supreme Court .
Today , Cynthia operates her family ’ s cattle ranches , and the Sweetgrass development in Laramie County , with her brother and sister .
She is a three-time graduate of the University of Wyoming in animal science , biology and law .
Cynthia and her late-husband , Al Wiederspahn , have one daughter , Annaliese , son-in-law Will Cole and grandson Doran Augustus Cole , affectionately known as Gus .

In Episode 120 of District of Conservation, Gabriella welcomes Senator-elect Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) to the podcast. Lummis will begin her term in January 2021. She previously served in the House of Representatives from 2009 to 2017.
Here’s her biography.
Cynthia is a dedicated champion of Wyoming’s mineral and energy resources. In Washington, she fought off attacks from the environmental left while advocating for market opportunities both at home and abroad. She is the proud godmother of the ANSAC Wyoming, a commercial shipping vessel transporting trona from the U.S. to Southeast Asia and is the recipient of the lifetime achievement award from the Washington Coal Club.
Cynthia worked to keep public lands open to the public and available for multiple use. She successfully passed the National Forest System Trails Stewardship Act in 2016, a bipartisan effort led by Cynthia to maintain over 157,000 miles of trails within our national forests.
Prior to serving in Congress, she spent eight years as Wyoming State Treasurer and 14 years as a member of the Wyoming State House and Senate. Cynthia also worked as general counsel to Wyoming Governor Jim Geringer and Director of the Office of State Lands and Investments, as well as a law clerk at the Wyoming Supreme Court.
Today, Cynthia operates her family’s cattle ranches, and the Sweetgrass development in Laramie County, with her brother and sister. She is a three-time graduate of the University of Wyoming in animal science, biology and law. Cynthia and her late-husband, Al Wiederspahn, have one daughter, Annaliese, son-in-law Will Cole and grandson Doran Augustus Cole, affectionately known as Gus.
Listen on Apple Podcasts
Listen on Spotify


committeeconstructivetomorrowcfactorg--2020-11-19--Amphibians face a pandemic of their own

Amphibians face a pandemic of their own

As humanity grapples with the consequences of coronavirus , both in tragic deaths and disruption of life from lockdowns , another pandemic is making its way around the world .
This pandemic only poses an indirect threat to humans , thankfully , as this new pandemic is wreaking havoc on amphibians around the world .
A type of fungus is causing skin diseases in amphibians , which can lead to what are essentially heart attacks for these creatures .
Specifically , at fault is the chytrid fungi Batrachochytrium dendrobatis ( Bd ) .
This fungus originated in Asia , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , salamanders , and more .
Smithsonian Magazine reports that “ Bd is now known as one of the most destructive pathogens ever recorded in wild animals.
” So , what can be done ?
It is tough to tell .
It is likely that human activity has had an impact , after all , there is no way the Asian Bd fungus would have found its way to the Americas without human migration and travel .
Some scientists suggest that shrinking habitat is reducing these species ’ chances at ever coming back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t threatening the health of humans , extensive loss of amphibians could cause disruption in ecosystems , food chains , and eventually farming , livestock , or other industries .
Yet , despite these concerns , hope remains .
Randomly , some species that were thought to be extinct have reappeared from the wild , albeit in very small populations .
These near-extinct species seem to be recovering – still not far from the brink of extinction , and this gives some hope for amphibians in these darker times .
These surviving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the silent killer Bd .
We could say that is good news , but it does not mean that we do not have to do anything about this pathogen , as species survival is not yet guaranteed .
We are still dealing with a disastrous killer pathogen and finding solutions to stop it is one of our greatest conservation challenges .
Scientists have been making strong efforts to understand how these rediscovered frogs are now able to fight this pathogen on their own .
The main objective of this information is to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whose survival is at risk from this pathogen .
You can read more about this story in Smithsonian Magazine , here .

As humanity grapples with the consequences of coronavirus, both in tragic deaths and disruption of life from lockdowns, another pandemic is making its way around the world.
This pandemic only poses an indirect threat to humans, thankfully, as this new pandemic is wreaking havoc on amphibians around the world.
A type of fungus is causing skin diseases in amphibians, which can lead to what are essentially heart attacks for these creatures. Specifically, at fault is the chytrid fungi Batrachochytrium dendrobatis (Bd). This fungus originated in Asia, and now threatens over 500 species of frogs, salamanders, and more.
Smithsonian Magazine reports that “Bd is now known as one of the most destructive pathogens ever recorded in wild animals.”
So, what can be done? It is tough to tell. It is likely that human activity has had an impact, after all, there is no way the Asian Bd fungus would have found its way to the Americas without human migration and travel. Some scientists suggest that shrinking habitat is reducing these species’ chances at ever coming back strong.
And while this pandemic isn’t threatening the health of humans, extensive loss of amphibians could cause disruption in ecosystems, food chains, and eventually farming, livestock, or other industries.
Yet, despite these concerns, hope remains.
Randomly, some species that were thought to be extinct have reappeared from the wild, albeit in very small populations.
Smithsonian Magazine reports:
These near-extinct species seem to be recovering – still not far from the brink of extinction, and this gives some hope for amphibians in these darker times. These surviving species seem to have developed a resistance to the silent killer Bd. We could say that is good news, but it does not mean that we do not have to do anything about this pathogen, as species survival is not yet guaranteed.
We are still dealing with a disastrous killer pathogen and finding solutions to stop it is one of our greatest conservation challenges. Scientists have been making strong efforts to understand how these rediscovered frogs are now able to fight this pathogen on their own. The main objective of this information is to be used to help protect those species whose survival is at risk from this pathogen.
You can read more about this story in Smithsonian Magazine, here.


committeeconstructivetomorrowcfactorg--2020-11-20--Threat to woodlands heightened as “jumping worms” leap onto scene

When you think of things that “ jump , ” worms probably don ’ t come to mind .
Nevertheless , a species of so-called “ jumping worms ” has leapt onto the scene and this has conservationists concerned about the health of our forests and woodlands .
These jumping worms are a species of earthworms that are voraciously devouring protective forest leaf litter and leaving behind bare , denuded soil .
They displace other earthworms , centipedes , salamanders and ground-nesting birds , and disrupt forest food chains .
They can invade more than five hectares in a single @ @ @ @ @ @ @ communities as they go .
And they don ’ t even need mates to reproduce !
As reported on the University of Wisconsin , Madison Arboretum website : “ To date , scientists have worried most about the worms ’ effects on ground cover .
Prior to a jumping worm invasion , the soft layer of decomposing leaves , bark and sticks covering the forest floor might be more than a dozen centimeters thick .
What ’ s left afterward is bare soil with a different structure and mineral content , says Sam @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oregon Sea Grant at Oregon State University in Corvallis .
Worms can reduce leaf litter by 95 percent in a single season , he says .
That in turn can reduce or remove the forest understory , providing less nutrients or protection for the creatures that live there or for seedlings to grow .
Eventually , different plants come in , usually invasive , nonnative species , says Bradley Herrick , an ecologist and research program manager at the University of Wisconsin–Madison Arboretum .
And now , new research shows the worms are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fungi , bacteria and microbes that live in the soils.
” Originally from Japan and the Korean Peninsula , these worms have now been in the United States for over 100 years .
However , in the past 15 years they ’ ve crawled and wriggled their way to more and more states , broadening their impact .
Collectively known as Asian jumping worms , crazy worms , snake worms or Alabama jumpers , they ’ ve become well established across the South and Mid-Atlantic and have reached parts of the Northeast , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the article in its entirety at the University of Wisconsin , Madison website , click here .

When you think of things that “jump,” worms probably don’t come to mind.
Nevertheless, a species of so-called “jumping worms” has leapt onto the scene and this has conservationists concerned about the health of our forests and woodlands.
These jumping worms are a species of earthworms that are voraciously devouring protective forest leaf litter and leaving behind bare, denuded soil. They displace other earthworms, centipedes, salamanders and ground-nesting birds, and disrupt forest food chains. They can invade more than five hectares in a single year, changing soil chemistry and microbial communities as they go. And they don’t even need mates to reproduce!
As reported on the University of Wisconsin, Madison Arboretum website:
“To date, scientists have worried most about the worms’ effects on ground cover. Prior to a jumping worm invasion, the soft layer of decomposing leaves, bark and sticks covering the forest floor might be more than a dozen centimeters thick. What’s left afterward is bare soil with a different structure and mineral content, says Sam Chan, an invasive species specialist with Oregon Sea Grant at Oregon State University in Corvallis. Worms can reduce leaf litter by 95 percent in a single season, he says.
That in turn can reduce or remove the forest understory, providing less nutrients or protection for the creatures that live there or for seedlings to grow. Eventually, different plants come in, usually invasive, nonnative species, says Bradley Herrick, an ecologist and research program manager at the University of Wisconsin–Madison Arboretum. And now, new research shows the worms are also changing the soil chemistry and the fungi, bacteria and microbes that live in the soils.”
Originally from Japan and the Korean Peninsula, these worms have now been in the United States for over 100 years. However, in the past 15 years they’ve crawled and wriggled their way to more and more states, broadening their impact. Collectively known as Asian jumping worms, crazy worms, snake worms or Alabama jumpers, they’ve become well established across the South and Mid-Atlantic and have reached parts of the Northeast, Upper Midwest and West.
To read the article in its entirety at the University of Wisconsin, Madison website, click here.


committeeconstructivetomorrowcfactorg--2020-11-19--Nuclear power provides clean energy that works

The truth about nuclear power is that it provides a viable and safe means for satisfying the world ’ s growing need for electricity .
While the US is truly awash in oil and gas and coal as well , the rest of the world is not so lucky .
Fortunately outside of the US there is renewed interest in building nuclear power plants .
Misunderstood safety concerns are beginning to fade from memory .
The once well known event at Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania resulted from faulty instrumentation that gave erroneous readings for the reactor vessel environment .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ human errors , the reactor core was compromised , and it underwent a partial meltdown .
Even so , radioactive water released from the reactor core was safely confined within the containment building structure , and very little radiation was released into the environment .
The Three Mile Island incident actually underscores the relative safety of nuclear power plants : The safety devices worked as designed and prevented any injury from occurring to humans , animals , or the environment anywhere near the its location .
Moreover , the accident directly resulted in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and safety systems .
U.S. nuclear reactor power plants are now substantially safer as a result .
Three Mile Island ’ s Unit One is still operating with an impeccable record .
The worst nuclear power plant disaster in history occurred when the Chernobyl reactor in Ukraine experienced a heat ( not nuclear ) explosion .
If such an explosion were to have occurred in a Western nuclear power plant , it would have been contained because all Western plants are required to have a containment building—a solid structure of steel-reinforced concrete completely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chernobyl plant did not have this fundamental safety structure , and so the explosion blew off the top of the reactor building , spewing radiation and reactor core pieces into the air .
It was not the explosion , however , but the subsequent fire that spread radioisotopes around the area .
The graphite reactor burned ferociously—which could not have happened if the plant had included a containment building from which oxygen could be excluded .
The design of the Chernobyl plant was inferior in other ways as well .
Western power plant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power coefficients of reactivity under operating conditions .
This means when control of the reaction is lost , the reaction slows down instead of speeding up , making such a runaway accident impossible .
The flawed Chernobyl nuclear power plant would never have been licensed to operate in the United States or any other Western country , and the accident that occurred there simply could not occur elsewhere .
The circumstances surrounding the accident were in many ways the worst possible , with an exposed reactor core , an open building , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers and firemen died directly from radiation exposure at Chernobyl .
In September 2000 , the United Nations ’ Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation ( UNSCEAR ) published its Report to the General Assembly , a document of some 1,220 pages in that deals with exposures and effects of the Chernobyl accident .
Apart from about 1,800 thyroid cancer cases registered in children and in some adults—of which more than 99 percent were cured—the U.N. report concluded there is no evidence of any major public health impact attributable to radiation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same result was experienced after the tragedy at Fukushima in 2011where as many as 20,000 died from flooding and pollution from the tsunami but not one from radiation .
At Fukushima there has been no increase in overall cancer incidence or mortality or in non-malignant disorders that could be related to radiation exposure .
The incidence of leukemia , which due to its short latency time is a good indicator of radiation harm .
It has not been elevated among the approximately five million inhabitants of the contaminated regions , nor among the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ No deaths directly attributable to exposure from the Chernobyl radiation have been found in the population of the contaminated regions .
In fact , cancer incidence rates over the most-contaminated regions of Ukraine near Chernobyl have been consistently lower than rates in the country as a whole .
The incidence of solid cancers among Russian recovery operation workers have also been lower than among the general population .
This is why radiation therapy exists in medicine .
While a lot is very bad , a little can be very good This is consistent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ atomic bomb blasts , where small doses of radiation received far from ground zero produced lower cancer rates than among the general population .
It is also consistent with medical research indicating low-dose radiation actually serves to protect at-risk individuals from the development of cancer .
The whole-body radiation dose due to the Chernobyl fallout received during the past 25 years by individuals in the most-contaminated parts of the former Soviet Union ( about 1 mSv per year ) is 10 to 100 times lower than the dose of ionizing radiation from natural @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the world .
Neither radiation-induced diseases nor any genetic disorders have ever been found in these regions .
While clearly there have been fatalities related to mining coal , drilling for oil and burning natural gas , it turns out that nuclear power has surprisingly been the safest way to produce electricity .
In the US , however , it can no longer compete economically with fossil fuel due to unnecessary redundant safety requirements .
Fortunately other countries like France , Korea and China are producing nuclear power safely at much lower @ @

The truth about nuclear power is that it provides a viable and safe means for satisfying the world’s growing need for electricity. While the US is truly awash in oil and gas and coal as well, the rest of the world is not so lucky. Fortunately outside of the US there is renewed interest in building nuclear power plants.
Misunderstood safety concerns are beginning to fade from memory. The once well known event at Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania resulted from faulty instrumentation that gave erroneous readings for the reactor vessel environment. After a series of equipment failures and human errors, the reactor core was compromised, and it underwent a partial meltdown.
Even so, radioactive water released from the reactor core was safely confined within the containment building structure, and very little radiation was released into the environment.
The Three Mile Island incident actually underscores the relative safety of nuclear power plants: The safety devices worked as designed and prevented any injury from occurring to humans, animals, or the environment anywhere near the its location.
Moreover, the accident directly resulted in further improvements in procedures, instrumentation, and safety systems. U.S. nuclear reactor power plants are now substantially safer as a result. Three Mile Island’s Unit One is still operating with an impeccable record.
Chernobyl an Anomaly
The worst nuclear power plant disaster in history occurred when the Chernobyl reactor in Ukraine experienced a heat (not nuclear) explosion. If such an explosion were to have occurred in a Western nuclear power plant, it would have been contained because all Western plants are required to have a containment building—a solid structure of steel-reinforced concrete completely encapsulating the nuclear reactor vessel.
The Chernobyl plant did not have this fundamental safety structure, and so the explosion blew off the top of the reactor building, spewing radiation and reactor core pieces into the air.
It was not the explosion, however, but the subsequent fire that spread radioisotopes around the area. The graphite reactor burned ferociously—which could not have happened if the plant had included a containment building from which oxygen could be excluded.
The design of the Chernobyl plant was inferior in other ways as well. Western power plant nuclear reactors are designed to have negative power coefficients of reactivity under operating conditions. This means when control of the reaction is lost, the reaction slows down instead of speeding up, making such a runaway accident impossible.
The flawed Chernobyl nuclear power plant would never have been licensed to operate in the United States or any other Western country, and the accident that occurred there simply could not occur elsewhere.
The circumstances surrounding the accident were in many ways the worst possible, with an exposed reactor core, an open building, and poorly trained operators. Forty nine plant workers and firemen died directly from radiation exposure at Chernobyl.
Public Effects Were Minor
In September 2000, the United Nations’ Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) published its Report to the General Assembly , a document of some 1,220 pages in that deals with exposures and effects of the Chernobyl accident.
Apart from about 1,800 thyroid cancer cases registered in children and in some adults—of which more than 99 percent were cured—the U.N. report concluded there is no evidence of any major public health impact attributable to radiation exposure after the accident. The very same result was experienced after the tragedy at Fukushima in 2011where as many as 20,000 died from flooding and pollution from the tsunami but not one from radiation.
At Fukushima there has been no increase in overall cancer incidence or mortality or in non-malignant disorders that could be related to radiation exposure. The incidence of leukemia, which due to its short latency time is a good indicator of radiation harm. It has not been elevated among the approximately five million inhabitants of the contaminated regions, nor among the evacuated persons or recovery operation workers.
No deaths directly attributable to exposure from the Chernobyl radiation have been found in the population of the contaminated regions.
In fact, cancer incidence rates over the most-contaminated regions of Ukraine near Chernobyl have been consistently lower than rates in the country as a whole. The incidence of solid cancers among Russian recovery operation workers have also been lower than among the general population. This is why radiation therapy exists in medicine. While a lot is very bad, a little can be very good
This is consistent with studies from the World War II atomic bomb blasts, where small doses of radiation received far from ground zero produced lower cancer rates than among the general population. It is also consistent with medical research indicating low-dose radiation actually serves to protect at-risk individuals from the development of cancer.
The whole-body radiation dose due to the Chernobyl fallout received during the past 25 years by individuals in the most-contaminated parts of the former Soviet Union (about 1 mSv per year) is 10 to 100 times lower than the dose of ionizing radiation from natural sources received by individuals in many regions of the world. Neither radiation-induced diseases nor any genetic disorders have ever been found in these regions.
While clearly there have been fatalities related to mining coal, drilling for oil and burning natural gas, it turns out that nuclear power has surprisingly been the safest way to produce electricity. In the US, however, it can no longer compete economically with fossil fuel due to unnecessary redundant safety requirements. Fortunately other countries like France, Korea and China are producing nuclear power safely at much lower costs.


committeeconstructivetomorrowcfactorg--2020-11-21--Regulators delay Dungeness Crab season

Regulators delay Dungeness Crab season

If ever there was a seafood delicacy that doubles as a Thanksgiving tradition , it is the Dungeness Crab .
Specifically in the San Francisco Bay area , they are routinely eaten on and around the Thanksgiving day celebration .
It makes sense : their season starts about a week before Thanksgiving ( officially 15 November ) .
This year , in what has become almost a hallmark of the season itself , the California Department of Fish and Wildlife has delayed the season .
The rationale is simple : the migratory patterns of whales and sea turtles moving down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Winter has been delayed , and state Wildlife officials are afraid that the crabbers ’ nets may ensnare the migrating marine life .
The Dungeness Crab Fishing Gear Working Group , essentially a sounding board between large-scale commercial crabbers and environmentalists , has supported the delay , as have statewide fishing unions such as the California Coast Crab Association .
Small-scale crabbers , however , weren ’ t so enthusiastic .
While recreational crabbing has gone virtually untouched , commercial crabbing delays have been routine since 2015 .
This hasn ’ t gone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forced many commercial crabbers to consider retiring from the fleet and finding work elsewhere .
After all , if they only crab recreationally , they won ’ t face onerous regulations , although they may bring in less meat .
Additionally , the delays cause further problems for the crabbers .
Forcing them to go out in December means they must brave the harsh waters off California ’ s northern coast , which are especially perilous in the winter .
The industry is also facing economic concerns as well , as many crabbers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( such as salmon or halibut ) to support their lifestyle .
Their margins of profit are razor-thin , and any seemingly-trivial fluctuation in the price point could cause the industry to face collapse , a fear that keeps many crabbers awake at night .
The locals are protesting the claim that the crabbers and fishermen are the threats to the whales .
They blame the shipping industry for the harm to marine life and stated , in an article in the Daily Journal , that fishermen and crabbers rarely ever ensnare whales @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distribution of biodegradable netting , the threat to marine life from these fishermen will hopefully dissipate soon .
Much like hunters , fishermen have great respect for marine life , and they don ’ t want to harm the ocean habitat .
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife ought not to continue such a burdensome regulatory scheme .
Doing so only hurts local businesses , including crabbers and restauranteurs , and ultimately , the crabs they seek to protect .

If ever there was a seafood delicacy that doubles as a Thanksgiving tradition, it is the Dungeness Crab. Specifically in the San Francisco Bay area, they are routinely eaten on and around the Thanksgiving day celebration. It makes sense: their season starts about a week before Thanksgiving (officially 15 November).
This year, in what has become almost a hallmark of the season itself, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife has delayed the season. The rationale is simple: the migratory patterns of whales and sea turtles moving down the coastline for warmer waters in the Winter has been delayed, and state Wildlife officials are afraid that the crabbers’ nets may ensnare the migrating marine life. The Dungeness Crab Fishing Gear Working Group, essentially a sounding board between large-scale commercial crabbers and environmentalists, has supported the delay, as have statewide fishing unions such as the California Coast Crab Association.
Small-scale crabbers, however, weren’t so enthusiastic. While recreational crabbing has gone virtually untouched, commercial crabbing delays have been routine since 2015. This hasn’t gone unnoticed. In fact, it has forced many commercial crabbers to consider retiring from the fleet and finding work elsewhere. After all, if they only crab recreationally, they won’t face onerous regulations, although they may bring in less meat.
Additionally, the delays cause further problems for the crabbers. Forcing them to go out in December means they must brave the harsh waters off California’s northern coast, which are especially perilous in the winter. The industry is also facing economic concerns as well, as many crabbers rely on catching other types of fish (such as salmon or halibut) to support their lifestyle. Their margins of profit are razor-thin, and any seemingly-trivial fluctuation in the price point could cause the industry to face collapse, a fear that keeps many crabbers awake at night.
The locals are protesting the claim that the crabbers and fishermen are the threats to the whales. They blame the shipping industry for the harm to marine life and stated, in an article in the Daily Journal, that fishermen and crabbers rarely ever ensnare whales. Additionally, with the invention and distribution of biodegradable netting, the threat to marine life from these fishermen will hopefully dissipate soon. Much like hunters, fishermen have great respect for marine life, and they don’t want to harm the ocean habitat.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife ought not to continue such a burdensome regulatory scheme. Doing so only hurts local businesses, including crabbers and restauranteurs, and ultimately, the crabs they seek to protect.


committeeconstructivetomorrowcfactorg--2020-11-22--Scientists develop earth-friendly process to recycle lithium-ion batteries

Lithium-ion batteries have their pluses .
Their energy density is typically twice that of the tradition nickel-cadmium ones .
They are low maintenance .
And their discharge is less than half compared to regular batteries .
Despite these advantages , however , they do have some environmental drawbacks .
One is the fact that they use rare-earth metals like cobalt and nickel – metals that are not only expensive , but are often mined in developing countries with minimal environmental standards .
For this reason , a number of firms have been transitioning over to lithium iron phosphate ( LFP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t LFP ’ s not rely on rare-earths , but they also have longer lifetimes and are safer .
That ’ s why a number of businesses are beginning to employ them in power tools , electric buses and energy grids .
They are also the battery of choice for Tesla ’ s Model 3 .
Of course , even these more eco-friendly LFP batteries have drawbacks – the biggest of which is that they are expensive and difficult to recycle .
Now that may be about to change .
In a recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several scientists have developed a new process they claim will lower costs , make LFP batteries recyclable , and use better materials that are even more earth-friendly .
As reported in the University of California , San Diego News Center : The new recycling process … does the job at low temperatures ( 60 to 80 C ) and ambient pressure , making it less power hungry than other methods .
Also , the chemicals it uses—lithium salt , nitrogen , water and citric acid—are inexpensive and benign .
The researchers first cycled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ half their energy storage capacity .
They took the cells apart , collected the cathode powders , and soaked them in a solution containing lithium salt and citric acid .
Then they washed the solution with water , dried the powders and heated them .
The researchers made new cathodes from the powders and tested them in both coin cells and pouch cells .
Their electrochemical performance , chemical makeup and structure were all fully restored to their original states .
The process restores the cathode ’ s structure by replenishing lithium ions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lithium ions to switch back to their original spots .
The latter is accomplished using citric acid , which acts as a reducing agent—a substance that donates an electron to another substance .
Citric acid transfers electrons to the iron ions , making them less positively charged .
This minimizes the electronic repulsion forces that prevent the iron ions from moving back into their original spots in the crystal structure , and also releases the lithium ions back into circulation .
To read the article in its entirety at the UCSD News Center @ @ @ @

Lithium-ion batteries have their pluses. Their energy density is typically twice that of the tradition nickel-cadmium ones. They are low maintenance. And their discharge is less than half compared to regular batteries.
Despite these advantages, however, they do have some environmental drawbacks.
One is the fact that they use rare-earth metals like cobalt and nickel – metals that are not only expensive, but are often mined in developing countries with minimal environmental standards.
For this reason, a number of firms have been transitioning over to lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. Not only don’t LFP’s not rely on rare-earths, but they also have longer lifetimes and are safer. That’s why a number of businesses are beginning to employ them in power tools, electric buses and energy grids. They are also the battery of choice for Tesla’s Model 3.
Of course, even these more eco-friendly LFP batteries have drawbacks – the biggest of which is that they are expensive and difficult to recycle.
Now that may be about to change.
In a recent paper published in the journal Joule, several scientists have developed a new process they claim will lower costs, make LFP batteries recyclable, and use better materials that are even more earth-friendly.
As reported in the University of California, San Diego News Center:
The new recycling process … does the job at low temperatures (60 to 80 C) and ambient pressure, making it less power hungry than other methods. Also, the chemicals it uses—lithium salt, nitrogen, water and citric acid—are inexpensive and benign.
The researchers first cycled commercial LFP cells until they had lost half their energy storage capacity. They took the cells apart, collected the cathode powders, and soaked them in a solution containing lithium salt and citric acid. Then they washed the solution with water, dried the powders and heated them.
The researchers made new cathodes from the powders and tested them in both coin cells and pouch cells. Their electrochemical performance, chemical makeup and structure were all fully restored to their original states.
The process restores the cathode’s structure by replenishing lithium ions and making it easy for iron and lithium ions to switch back to their original spots. The latter is accomplished using citric acid, which acts as a reducing agent—a substance that donates an electron to another substance. Citric acid transfers electrons to the iron ions, making them less positively charged. This minimizes the electronic repulsion forces that prevent the iron ions from moving back into their original spots in the crystal structure, and also releases the lithium ions back into circulation.
To read the article in its entirety at the UCSD News Center, click here.