scientificamerican--2020-10-23--The Disturbing History of Research into Transgender Identity

In 1975 psychiatrist Robert Stoller of the University of California , Los Angeles , wrote something bizarre in his textbook on sex and gender .
He asserted that people who were assumed to be boys when they were born but whose gender identity or expression did not match that assumption “ often have pretty faces , with fine hair , lovely complexions , graceful movements , and—especially—big , piercing , liquid eyes.
” Based on this observation , he suggested a theoretical model in which transgender girls become transgender because they are especially cute .
Society treats them more like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this experience , they start to identify as female .
As a physician-scientist , I ’ m generally of the opinion that knowledge leads to progress .
But studies focused on this particular question—those asking what determines someone ’ s gender identity—have led us down some strange and dangerous paths .
Researchers in this area appear to be in search of some objective truth , but the science is rooted in a subjective assumption : that we need to know what makes someone transgender so that they can be “ fixed.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pursued such questions , launching studies that promoted ideas that could hurt transgender children and their families .
Stoller ’ s observations motivated many of the psychological theories behind what makes people transgender .
In 1993 , a group of researchers at the Clarke Institute of Psychiatry in Toronto set out to test his hypothesis that beauty and what was then called “ gender identity disorder ” were linked .
They recruited 17 birth-assigned boys with the diagnosis and 17 birth-assigned boys without it , all around the age of eight .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and showed them to 36 college students .
The students were asked to rate the youngsters ’ physical appearance on a scale from one to five with categories such as “ attractive , ” “ handsome ” and “ beautiful.
” In the end , the college students found the children with “ gender identity disorder ” to be “ prettier ” than the cisgender boys .
The findings seem to suggest Stoller was right : perhaps , due to their appearance , people treated the youngsters in the former group more like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transgender .
Though as the authors mention later in the paper , an equally plausible theory is that these children could have altered their appearance ( long hair , et cetera ) in ways that matched their identity , leading the college students to associate them with more feminine descriptions such as “ pretty.
” A few years later , researchers revived this line of investigation , using the headshots of young birth-assigned girls with “ gender identity disorder.
” A group of college students again rated how “ ugly ” or “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with cisgender girls .
The children with “ gender identity disorder ” were rated as less beautiful , prompting the researchers to suggest that they may have been treated more like boys and thus identified as male .
It seems more likely that these children simply cut their hair shorter , so the participants attached more masculine words to them .
In the end , the study didn ’ t reveal much about what makes someone transgender , but it did promote an offensive theory with the potential to diminish the self-esteem of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the parents of such children .
Psychiatry has long been enamored with the theory of mothers harming the development of their children ( for example , the refrigerator mother theory posited that autism was caused by a lack of maternal warmth ) .
These studies similarly asked if perhaps parents were to “ blame ” for their kids ’ gender identity .
In one paper , researchers assessed whether the mothers of children with “ gender identity disorder ” had more symptoms of either depression or a condition called borderline personality disorder .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of both .
Sounds convincing , right ?
Children must become transgender because their mothers are mentally ill. What the researchers failed to discuss was that the mothers ’ symptoms could easily have been caused by the way society treated their children .
The subscale of borderline personality disorder that was higher among them was “ interpersonal conflict.
” You don ’ t need to be the parent of a transgender child to imagine that raising your kid in an unaccepting community could create substantial conflict .
In another study , researchers noted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ identity disorder ” did not place strong limits on stereotypically gender atypical behaviors such as birth-assigned boys playing with dolls or birth-assigned girls playing with blocks or transportation toys .
Perhaps this was the cause of the “ problem ” ?
If these parents had simply cracked down on this behavior early on—ripped the Barbie out of their toddler ’ s hands , say—they may have prevented it , the authors posited .
The more likely explanation is that it ’ s difficult to take a doll away from a child who desperately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that doing so makes them sad an impacts their self-esteem .
In each case , researchers were hyperfocused on finding a problem with either the kids or their parents .
But in the end , these scientists failed to establish one .
They seemed less interested in a vital reframing : perhaps the issue was not the children ’ s identity but the way society treated them .
Instead of supporting these kids , the researchers labeled them unattractive or painted their parents as mentally unstable .
These theories on the origins of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ misguided , and increasingly illegal , calls for “ therapies ” designed to make transgender people cisgender .
The logic of so-called gender identity conversion therapy is that if the environment is the cause , then we can simply alter the environment to nip things in the bud .
Most of the “ conversion ” manuals have not been released to the public , but in 2002 a psychologist at Columbia University published “ Gender Identity Disorder in Young Boys : A Parent and Peer-Based Protocol , ” which included parenting techniques such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] boy by [ the ] mother , ” forcing the child to play with same-sex friends , and removing the youngster from stereotypically gender-atypical activities such as gymnastics or ballet .
Notably , a recent study my colleagues and I conducted showed that attempts to change a child ’ s gender identity from transgender to cisgender are associated with greater odds of attempting suicide .
Several U.S. states have banned conversion therapy , but in much of the U.S. , these practices continue .
Similar research into the psychological causes of transgender @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Brown University recently conducted an anonymous survey of respondents recruited via Web sites for parents who believe peer pressure and online influences have made their children transgender .
The survey essentially asked the parents if they thought the Internet made their children trans , and the parents , not surprisingly , given that they were visiting Web sites about this idea , answered yes .
Conservative media latched onto the study , suggesting that transgender children are really just confused kids tricked into being transgender after reading something on Reddit .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these kids away from supportive online LGBTQ communities so that they can be made cisgender again .
Reading through this literature , we need to ask ourselves some questions : What is the reason for this research ?
What does it hope to accomplish ?
The tireless search reveals a thinly veiled dogma : that being transgender is a pathology to be fixed .
This belief not only harms transgender people but also undermines good science .
What good science shows us is that when we accept transgender people , they thrive .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ went “ wrong , ” we should be investing our time and energy into advocating for nondiscrimination laws , increasing access to health care and raising transgender voices in the media , so society realizes that they are vital members of our communities .
Maybe Stoller was right when he noted that those children were exceptional .
It ’ s time we celebrate that and move on .

In 1975 psychiatrist Robert Stoller of the University of California, Los Angeles, wrote something bizarre in his textbook on sex and gender. He asserted that people who were assumed to be boys when they were born but whose gender identity or expression did not match that assumption “often have pretty faces, with fine hair, lovely complexions, graceful movements, and—especially—big, piercing, liquid eyes.” Based on this observation, he suggested a theoretical model in which transgender girls become transgender because they are especially cute. Society treats them more like girls, he reasoned, and because of this experience, they start to identify as female.
As a physician-scientist, I’m generally of the opinion that knowledge leads to progress. But studies focused on this particular question—those asking what determines someone’s gender identity—have led us down some strange and dangerous paths. Researchers in this area appear to be in search of some objective truth, but the science is rooted in a subjective assumption: that we need to know what makes someone transgender so that they can be “fixed.” As a result, scientists have relentlessly pursued such questions, launching studies that promoted ideas that could hurt transgender children and their families.
Stoller’s observations motivated many of the psychological theories behind what makes people transgender. In 1993 a group of researchers at the Clarke Institute of Psychiatry in Toronto set out to test his hypothesis that beauty and what was then called “gender identity disorder” were linked. They recruited 17 birth-assigned boys with the diagnosis and 17 birth-assigned boys without it, all around the age of eight. The researchers then took headshots of the children and showed them to 36 college students. The students were asked to rate the youngsters’ physical appearance on a scale from one to five with categories such as “attractive,” “handsome” and “beautiful.” In the end, the college students found the children with “gender identity disorder” to be “prettier” than the cisgender boys. The findings seem to suggest Stoller was right: perhaps, because of their appearance, people treated the youngsters in the former group more like girls, and consequently, they became transgender. Though as the authors mention later in the paper, an equally plausible theory is that these children could have altered their appearance (long hair, et cetera) in ways that matched their identity, leading the college students to associate them with more feminine descriptions such as “pretty.”
A few years later, researchers revived this line of investigation, using the headshots of young birth-assigned girls with “gender identity disorder.” A group of college students again rated how “ugly” or “pretty” these children appeared, compared with cisgender girls. The children with “gender identity disorder” were rated as less beautiful, prompting the researchers to suggest that they may have been treated more like boys and thus identified as male. It seems more likely that these children simply cut their hair shorter, so the participants attached more masculine words to them. In the end, the study didn’t reveal much about what makes someone transgender, but it did promote an offensive theory with the potential to diminish the self-esteem of vulnerable transgender youth.
Researchers also studied the parents of such children. Psychiatry has long been enamored with the theory of mothers harming the development of their children (for example, the refrigerator mother theory posited that autism was caused by a lack of maternal warmth). These studies similarly asked if perhaps parents were to “blame” for their kids’ gender identity. In one paper, researchers assessed whether the mothers of children with “gender identity disorder” had more symptoms of either depression or a condition called borderline personality disorder. They found these mothers had more symptoms of both. Sounds convincing, right? Children must become transgender because their mothers are mentally ill.
What the researchers failed to discuss was that the mothers’ symptoms could easily have been caused by the way society treated their children. The subscale of borderline personality disorder that was higher among them was “interpersonal conflict.” You don’t need to be the parent of a transgender child to imagine that raising your kid in an unaccepting community could create substantial conflict.
In another study, researchers noted that parents of children with “gender identity disorder” did not place strong limits on stereotypically gender atypical behaviors such as birth-assigned boys playing with dolls or birth-assigned girls playing with blocks or transportation toys. Perhaps this was the cause of the “problem”? If these parents had simply cracked down on this behavior early on—ripped the Barbie out of their toddler’s hands, say—they may have prevented it, the authors posited. The more likely explanation is that it’s difficult to take a doll away from a child who desperately wants to play with it. And that doing so makes them sad and impacts their self-esteem.
In each case, researchers were hyperfocused on finding a problem with either the kids or their parents. But in the end, these scientists failed to establish one. They seemed less interested in a vital reframing: perhaps the issue was not the children’s identity but the way society treated them. Instead of supporting these kids, the researchers labeled them unattractive or painted their parents as mentally unstable.
These theories on the origins of gender identity have only added to the misguided, and increasingly illegal, calls for “therapies” designed to make transgender people cisgender. The logic of so-called gender identity conversion therapy is that if the environment is the cause, then we can simply alter the environment to nip things in the bud. Most of the “conversion” manuals have not been released to the public, but in 2002 a psychologist at Columbia University published “Gender Identity Disorder in Young Boys: A Parent and Peer-Based Protocol,” which included parenting techniques such as “letting go of [the] boy by [the] mother,” forcing the child to play with same-sex friends, and removing the youngster from stereotypically gender-atypical activities such as gymnastics or ballet. Notably, a recent study my colleagues and I conducted showed that attempts to change a child’s gender identity from transgender to cisgender are associated with greater odds of attempting suicide. Several U.S. states have banned conversion therapy, but in much of the U.S., these practices continue.
Similar research into the psychological causes of transgender identity continues even today. A physician at Brown University recently conducted an anonymous survey of respondents recruited via Web sites for parents who believe peer pressure and online influences have made their children transgender. The survey essentially asked the parents if they thought the Internet made their children trans, and the parents, not surprisingly, given that they were visiting Web sites about this idea, answered yes. Conservative media latched onto the study, suggesting that transgender children are really just confused kids tricked into being transgender after reading something on Reddit. The implication is that we need to take these kids away from supportive online LGBTQ communities so that they can be made cisgender again. Reading through this literature, we need to ask ourselves some questions: What is the reason for this research? What does it hope to accomplish? The tireless search reveals a thinly veiled dogma: that being transgender is a pathology to be fixed. This belief not only harms transgender people but also undermines good science.
What good science shows us is that when we accept transgender people, they thrive. Instead of trying to figure out what went “wrong,” we should be investing our time and energy into advocating for nondiscrimination laws, increasing access to health care and raising transgender voices in the media, so society realizes that they are vital members of our communities. Maybe Stoller was right when he noted that those children were exceptional. It’s time we celebrate that and move on.


scientificamerican--2020-10-23--A Medical Student Contemplates Pandemic-Era Isolation...and Connection

People told me medical school would be a flood of information , a prolonged inundation , but in the beginning , it felt dry and incomplete .
After moving from New York City to North Carolina to begin medical school , I decorated a new apartment with photographs of places I wish I were , leased a car for the first time , and sat on Zoom for hundreds of hours between orientation , classes and research .
Despite months of being in a new school , I have met about eight people in person , befriended half that number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campus , and have yet to meet any professor or physician or surgeon or research mentor in the flesh .
Preclinical medical education was already taking place largely online prior to the pandemic , and was suggested as one of the fields that wouldn ’ t be affected by the abrupt Zoom migration .
But there was still a white coat ceremony .
There was still the opportunity to work with physicians to start dipping your toes in different specialties .
There was the chance for starting clinical research and engaging with patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There was collective anxiety before exams , jitters for patient interviews and physicals , the novelty of administering flu shots to peers , and shared stresses of navigating finances and long-distance relationships .
There was the excitement of attending conferences and lectures by physicians who were a version of our future selves .
There was the shared worry of a huge life commitment and the celebration of pursuing a career in something the world was always needing .
But it is difficult to feel these things from a couch or kitchen table @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of something without ever being in a shared space ?
In July of 2020 , I lost a friend to suicide .
It was crushing .
He was a year ahead of me in medical school , and , since then , the isolation of pandemic learning has felt sharper , more palpable .
I have had friends and peers with depression and suicidal ideation in the past , but they presented evidence of suffering that could be met with support .
This suicide , this loss , this unimaginable reality of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ body amidst strewn bullet cartridges and a carefully crafted letter , was totally completely unpredictable .
I write this essay because he looked like me , he looked like you from afar .
My friend was smart and kind and diligent .
We met in college and worked in neurology labs on the same floor .
We studied for the MCAT together and took it on the same day .
We celebrated with Zingerman ’ s sandwiches and pesto-crusted smiles .
I couldn ’ t see or sense his suffering , not in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he learned and tutored his friends or invited me for beers after every exam we took .
I booked my MCAT at a testing site far from school , reserved a hotel room the night before , because of people like him .
There were days that I envied the seemingly effortless ways he absorbed information , applied that knowledge with results that followed consistently .
We imagined our futures as doctors , dreaming about where we ’ d place for residency and then more permanently : New York , Chicago , L.A. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I watched the Zoom funeral from the bathtub of my New York apartment , as movers shuffled through my unit carrying furniture that was North Carolina–bound .
In the speeches shared by his family , I listened carefully , latching onto his mother ’ s hopes for better mental health care in medical training .
I sent an e-mail to the dean of my new medical school , and we devised a plan for sharing my friend ’ s story .
But as the months of Zoom fatigue slowly morphed into mundanity , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and lack of concrete support .
Though my inbox is flooded with free online yoga classes , mindfulness seminars , wellness surveys , surveys on survey fatigue , and mental health workshops , I feel disconnected from school , from the hospital , from the profession I have now committed my life to .
Friendships and professional relationships were never mandatory , but they gave the process of assimilation and continued learning its crackle .
Now that this online world is somewhat functioning , people say we won ’ t go back to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I don ’ t think that ’ s true .
We need the warmth of strangers , sweaty handshakes , stilted laughs and tender embraces .
We need sharp gazes and wrinkling eyes above parting smiles , we need to be seen and heard and touched .
There are days when I notice I haven ’ t opened my mouth to speak to anyone in tens of hours .
My daily interactions are limited to the Whole Foods cashier or FedEx delivery man .
I recite antivirals and antifungals to my computer screen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , one after another , hoping my vocal cords don ’ t shrivel up and turn to dust .
And in these moments , the isolation sometimes makes it hard to see what it ’ s all for .
In these moments , I think about the missed calls , FaceTimes , unopened Snapchats from my friend .
I regret the times he reached out to me but I failed to respond .
I feel guilty for putting off our coffee dates or letting texts go unanswered .
I think about the hours @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rather than on my bed or kitchen floor out of laziness , fatigue or just because .
I think there ’ s more I can do , we can do .
I feel so grateful for the people who act ; they all remind of my friend .
The people who follow through .
Thank you , thank you , thank you , I want to tell the girl in my small group who drove me to the airport .
To the dean who gave me his phone number and called every now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president who messaged me on Facebook saying hi , checking in .
To the classmate who set a goal to FaceTime with every single person in our medical school year .
To the friends who became distant after college but managed to find a way back .
To the grad school colleague who mails postcards out of the blue .
To the cookie delivery and surprise shipment of scrubs .
I think , if my friend were still alive , he would want this .
For friends to check in on friends , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It is to easy to fall into the socially isolated routine of waking up and going to the hospital or watching hours of lectures and calling it quits .
It is easy to not call .
It is easy to stay home and to not wear a mask or exercise precaution .
There is only so much my institution can do to offer free resources and counseling and yoga .
And maybe one of these sticks , and that is enough .
But maybe we can carve a little time in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a thoughtful text , to take a walk together , to pause and look someone in the eyes , to ask them how they really are .
Try and feel their presence , try and be seen , try to see .
I thank the family of Noah Cutler for providing permission to share this story .

People told me medical school would be a flood of information, a prolonged inundation, but in the beginning, it felt dry and incomplete. After moving from New York City to North Carolina to begin medical school, I decorated a new apartment with photographs of places I wish I were, leased a car for the first time, and sat on Zoom for hundreds of hours between orientation, classes and research. Despite months of being in a new school, I have met about eight people in person, befriended half that number, set foot in one building on campus, and have yet to meet any professor or physician or surgeon or research mentor in the flesh.
Preclinical medical education was already taking place largely online prior to the pandemic, and was suggested as one of the fields that wouldn’t be affected by the abrupt Zoom migration. But there was still a white coat ceremony. There was still the opportunity to work with physicians to start dipping your toes in different specialties. There was the chance for starting clinical research and engaging with patients as a scientist for the first time. There was collective anxiety before exams, jitters for patient interviews and physicals, the novelty of administering flu shots to peers, and shared stresses of navigating finances and long-distance relationships. There was the excitement of attending conferences and lectures by physicians who were a version of our future selves. There was the shared worry of a huge life commitment and the celebration of pursuing a career in something the world was always needing. But it is difficult to feel these things from a couch or kitchen table.
Is there a way to feel part of something without ever being in a shared space?
In July of 2020, I lost a friend to suicide. It was crushing. He was a year ahead of me in medical school, and, since then, the isolation of pandemic learning has felt sharper, more palpable. I have had friends and peers with depression and suicidal ideation in the past, but they presented evidence of suffering that could be met with support. This suicide, this loss, this unimaginable reality of a father finding his son’s body amidst strewn bullet cartridges and a carefully crafted letter, was totally completely unpredictable.
I write this essay because he looked like me, he looked like you from afar. My friend was smart and kind and diligent. We met in college and worked in neurology labs on the same floor. We studied for the MCAT together and took it on the same day. We celebrated with Zingerman’s sandwiches and pesto-crusted smiles. I couldn’t see or sense his suffering, not in his grades or the ease with which he learned and tutored his friends or invited me for beers after every exam we took. I booked my MCAT at a testing site far from school, reserved a hotel room the night before, because of people like him. There were days that I envied the seemingly effortless ways he absorbed information, applied that knowledge with results that followed consistently. We imagined our futures as doctors, dreaming about where we’d place for residency and then more permanently: New York, Chicago, L.A., Boston.
When he died, I watched the Zoom funeral from the bathtub of my New York apartment, as movers shuffled through my unit carrying furniture that was North Carolina–bound. In the speeches shared by his family, I listened carefully, latching onto his mother’s hopes for better mental health care in medical training. I sent an e-mail to the dean of my new medical school, and we devised a plan for sharing my friend’s story.
But as the months of Zoom fatigue slowly morphed into mundanity, online medical school normalized a distanced reality and lack of concrete support. Though my inbox is flooded with free online yoga classes, mindfulness seminars, wellness surveys, surveys on survey fatigue, and mental health workshops, I feel disconnected from school, from the hospital, from the profession I have now committed my life to. Friendships and professional relationships were never mandatory, but they gave the process of assimilation and continued learning its crackle. Now that this online world is somewhat functioning, people say we won’t go back to offices or campuses or work, but I don’t think that’s true. We need the warmth of strangers, sweaty handshakes, stilted laughs and tender embraces. We need sharp gazes and wrinkling eyes above parting smiles, we need to be seen and heard and touched.
There are days when I notice I haven’t opened my mouth to speak to anyone in tens of hours. My daily interactions are limited to the Whole Foods cashier or FedEx delivery man. I recite antivirals and antifungals to my computer screen as I click through Anki flash cards, one after another, hoping my vocal cords don’t shrivel up and turn to dust. And in these moments, the isolation sometimes makes it hard to see what it’s all for. In these moments, I think about the missed calls, FaceTimes, unopened Snapchats from my friend. I regret the times he reached out to me but I failed to respond. I feel guilty for putting off our coffee dates or letting texts go unanswered. I think about the hours I could have spent with him, rather than on my bed or kitchen floor out of laziness, fatigue or just because.
I think there’s more I can do, we can do. I feel so grateful for the people who act; they all remind of my friend. The people who follow through. Thank you, thank you, thank you, I want to tell the girl in my small group who drove me to the airport. To the dean who gave me his phone number and called every now and then. To the student government president who messaged me on Facebook saying hi, checking in. To the classmate who set a goal to FaceTime with every single person in our medical school year. To the friends who became distant after college but managed to find a way back. To the grad school colleague who mails postcards out of the blue. To the cookie delivery and surprise shipment of scrubs.
I think, if my friend were still alive, he would want this. For friends to check in on friends, for strangers to extend warmth to strangers. It is to easy to fall into the socially isolated routine of waking up and going to the hospital or watching hours of lectures and calling it quits. It is easy to not call. It is easy to stay home and to not wear a mask or exercise precaution. There is only so much my institution can do to offer free resources and counseling and yoga. And maybe one of these sticks, and that is enough. But maybe we can carve a little time in the evening to catch up, to craft a thoughtful text, to take a walk together, to pause and look someone in the eyes, to ask them how they really are. Try and feel their presence, try and be seen, try to see.
I thank the family of Noah Cutler for providing permission to share this story.


scientificamerican--2020-10-23--Quantum Time Twist Offers a Way to Create Schrödinger's Clock

Albert Einstein ’ s twin paradox is one of the most famous thought experiments in physics .
It postulates that if you send one of two twins on a return trip to a star at near light speed , they will be younger than their identical sibling when they return home .
The age difference is a consequence of something called time dilation , which is described by Einstein ’ s special theory of relativity : the faster you travel , the slower time appears to pass .
But what if we introduce quantum theory into the problem ?
Physicists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dartmouth College and Mehdi Ahmadi of Santa Clara University tackle this idea in a study published today in the journal Nature Communications .
The scientists imagine measuring a quantum atomic clock experiencing two different times while it is placed in superposition—a quirk of quantum mechanics in which something appears to exist in two places at once .
“ We know from Einstein ’ s special theory of relativity that when a clock moves relative to another clock , the time shown on it slows down , ” Smith says .
“ But quantum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what happens if this clock were to move in a superposition of two different speeds.
” Superposition is a strange aspect of quantum physics where an object can initially be in multiple locations simultaneously , yet when it is observed , only one of those states becomes true .
Particles can be placed in superposition in certain experiments , such as those using a beam splitter to divide photons of light , to show the phenomenon in action .
Both of the particles in superposition appear to share information until they are observed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as encryption and quantum communications .
Some atoms , meanwhile , can act as atomic clocks , with their rate of decay noting the passage of time .
In their paper , Smith and Ahmadi describe how an atomic clock placed in superposition could experience time dilation , just like Einstein ’ s twins experiment , if one of the superposition states is moved at several meters per second while the other remains stationary .
Instead of the atom simply being in two states at once—as described in the Schrödinger ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It ’ s kind of like ‘ Schrödinger ’ s clock , ’ ” Smith says .
Vlatko Vedral , a physicist at the University of Oxford , who was not involved in the study , says the idea allows for a rare opportunity to merge quantum mechanics with relativity—two areas of physics that infamously do not mix well .
“ You can actually combine the superposition principle in quantum mechanics with this notion of time dilation in relativity , ” he says .
“ It ’ s exactly Einstein ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same system .
That ’ s the twist .
The final state is really amazing , because the atom is back in the same position where you started , but internally , it feels two different times .
It ’ s in a superposition of being older and younger at the same time.
” Though the effect is far too small to be noticeable to humans , this idea of quantum time dilation could have repercussions for high-precision quantum clocks .
And crucially , the new study suggests it might be possible to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m hoping this paper really prompts people to try to do this in the lab , ” Vedral says .
And Smith suggests an experimental proposal could be drafted in the near future , perhaps using spectroscopy to split light , to look for this signature of quantum time dilation .
“ We might be able to see this in the next five to ten years , ” he says .
“ I don ’ t think it ’ s science fiction by any means .
”

Albert Einstein’s twin paradox is one of the most famous thought experiments in physics. It postulates that if you send one of two twins on a return trip to a star at near light speed, they will be younger than their identical sibling when they return home. The age difference is a consequence of something called time dilation, which is described by Einstein’s special theory of relativity: the faster you travel, the slower time appears to pass.
But what if we introduce quantum theory into the problem? Physicists Alexander Smith of Saint Anselm College and Dartmouth College and Mehdi Ahmadi of Santa Clara University tackle this idea in a study published today in the journal Nature Communications. The scientists imagine measuring a quantum atomic clock experiencing two different times while it is placed in superposition—a quirk of quantum mechanics in which something appears to exist in two places at once. “We know from Einstein’s special theory of relativity that when a clock moves relative to another clock, the time shown on it slows down,” Smith says. “But quantum mechanics allows you to start thinking about what happens if this clock were to move in a superposition of two different speeds.”
Superposition is a strange aspect of quantum physics where an object can initially be in multiple locations simultaneously, yet when it is observed, only one of those states becomes true. Particles can be placed in superposition in certain experiments, such as those using a beam splitter to divide photons of light, to show the phenomenon in action. Both of the particles in superposition appear to share information until they are observed, making the phenomenon useful for applications such as encryption and quantum communications.
Some atoms, meanwhile, can act as atomic clocks, with their rate of decay noting the passage of time. In their paper, Smith and Ahmadi describe how an atomic clock placed in superposition could experience time dilation, just like Einstein’s twins experiment, if one of the superposition states is moved at several meters per second while the other remains stationary. Instead of the atom simply being in two states at once—as described in the Schrödinger’s cat experiment—the states would actually age differently. “It’s kind of like ‘Schrödinger’s clock,’” Smith says.
Vlatko Vedral, a physicist at the University of Oxford, who was not involved in the study, says the idea allows for a rare opportunity to merge quantum mechanics with relativity—two areas of physics that infamously do not mix well. “You can actually combine the superposition principle in quantum mechanics with this notion of time dilation in relativity,” he says. “It’s exactly Einstein’s twins but now applied to the same system. That’s the twist. The final state is really amazing, because the atom is back in the same position where you started, but internally, it feels two different times. It’s in a superposition of being older and younger at the same time.”
Though the effect is far too small to be noticeable to humans, this idea of quantum time dilation could have repercussions for high-precision quantum clocks. And crucially, the new study suggests it might be possible to measure the effect experimentally. “I’m hoping this paper really prompts people to try to do this in the lab,” Vedral says. And Smith suggests an experimental proposal could be drafted in the near future, perhaps using spectroscopy to split light, to look for this signature of quantum time dilation. “We might be able to see this in the next five to 10 years,” he says. “I don’t think it’s science fiction by any means.”


scientificamerican--2020-10-24--Acorn Woodpeckers Fight Long Bloody Territorial Wars

What you ’ re hearing is war—among woodpeckers .
A species called acorn woodpeckers .
The birds fight long , bloody battles over access to trees , where these woodpeckers nest and store their food—you guessed it , acorns .
“ They build these giant acorn granaries , and these are basically acorn storage structures , where they store thousands of acorns every fall.
” Sahas Barve , with the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History .
“ In bark and in dead parts of trees they make individual holes in which they store one acorn at a time .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ thousands of holes.
” When woodpeckers that hold high quality territory die , others come to claim it for themselves .
That ’ s when the fighting begins .
“ It ’ s a lot of energy that they put in , and that sort of tells you how valuable the granaries are for them .
They put in a lot of effort in the short term for this big long-term prize.
” Barve and his colleagues tracked acorn woodpeckers during these power struggles .
The researchers observed up to 12 groups of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ typically with three or four birds per clan .
Individual birds may fight more than 10 hours a day , for several days .
“ We didn ’ t know that bird conflicts could last that long…it 's really amazing .
You can imagine the oak savannah of California , big oak trees , and you can just hear birds calling , because they give these very distinct ‘ wacka wacka ’ calls , when they are fighting each other .
You can hear it from far away , because there are so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go closer , you see birds flying around pretty chaotically , there are birds posturing , so most coalitions will group together , every now and then , and spread out their wings on a very prominent branch of the tree , and show basically who they are and that they are together .
But these conflicts are often very violent , so you will see birds with big injuries .
So you 'll see bloodied feathers , you can see eyes gouged out , birds with some injuries that are obviously fatal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wings .
And also , birds fall to the ground fighting each other .
Like I often say , these birds have spears for mouths , so they can do a lot of damage to each other.
” Other woodpeckers flew in from up to three kilometers away just to watch the fighting—and to glean social information .
The study is in the journal Current Biology .
[ Sahas Barve et al , Tracking the warriors and spectators of acorn woodpecker wars ] The scientists say these battles reveal a lot about animal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of birds as not very intelligent animals , but we are discovering very quickly that we are not the only busybody , nosy , super-curious social animal out there .
And birds are doing that all the time .
Social complexity is something that 's evolved multiple times in the animal kingdom , and we are just one of them .
”

Full Transcript
[CLIP: Acorn woodpeckers fight]
What you’re hearing is war—among woodpeckers, a species called acorn woodpeckers. The birds fight long, bloody battles over access to trees, where these woodpeckers nest and store their food: you guessed it, acorns.
“They build these giant acorn granaries, and these are basically acorn-storage structures, where they store thousands of acorns every fall.”
Sahas Barve, with the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.
“In bark and in dead parts of trees, they make individual holes in which they store one acorn at a time. And some granaries may have tens of thousands of holes.”
When woodpeckers that hold high-quality territory die, others come to claim it for themselves. That’s when the fighting begins.
“It’s a lot of energy that they put in, and that sort of tells you how valuable the granaries are for them. They put in a lot of effort in the short term for this big long-term prize.”
Barve and his colleagues tracked acorn woodpeckers during these power struggles. The researchers observed up to 12 groups of birds sparring for a single territory, typically with three or four birds per clan. Individual birds may fight more than 10 hours a day for several days.
“We didn’t know that bird conflicts could last that long; it’s really amazing. You can imagine the oak savanna of California—big oak trees. And you can just hear birds calling, because they give these very distinct ‘wacka wacka’ calls when they are fighting each other. You can hear it from far away, because there are so many birds calling, and when you go closer, you see birds flying around pretty chaotically. There are birds posturing, so most coalitions will group together, every now and then, and spread out their wings on a very prominent branch of the tree and show, basically, who they are and that they are together. But these conflicts are often very violent, so you will see birds with big injuries. So you’ll see bloodied feathers. You can see eyes gouged out, birds with some injuries that are obviously fatal. We’ve seen birds with broken wings. And also birds fall to the ground fighting each other. Like I often say, these birds have spears for mouths, so they can do a lot of damage to each other.”
Other woodpeckers flew in from up to three kilometers away just to watch the fighting—and to glean social information. The study is in the journal Current Biology. [Sahas Barve et al., Tracking the warriors and spectators of acorn woodpecker wars]
The scientists say these battles reveal a lot about animal social behavior.
“We often think of birds as not very intelligent animals, but we are discovering, very quickly, that we are not the only busybody, nosy, supercurious social animal out there. And birds are doing that all the time. Social complexity is something that’s evolved multiple times in the animal kingdom, and we are just one of them.”
—Annie Sneed
[The above text is a transcript of this podcast.]


scientificamerican--2020-10-23--Coronavirus News Roundup, October 17-October 23

The items below are highlights from the free newsletter , “ Smart , useful , science stuff about COVID-19.
” To receive newsletter issues daily in your inbox , sign up here .
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control ( CDC ) this week broadened its definition of a “ close contact ” with an infected person , thereby expanding “ the pool of people considered at risk of contracting the novel coronavirus , ” writes Lena H. Sun at The Washington Post ( 10/21/20 ) .
To be considered a “ close contact , ” the 15-minute exposure time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cumulative or total time during a 24-hour period , not sequential , consecutive time .
State and county health departments use the definition for contract tracing efforts , the story states .
The CDC ’ s change “ is likely to have its biggest impact in schools , workplaces , and other group settings where people are in contact with others for long periods of time , ” Sun writes .
Epidemiologists offer advice on how to avoid SARS-CoV-2 while voting or working as a poll worker in this 10/14/20 piece by Jim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ masks , socially distancing , and disinfecting surfaces and voting equipment , tips in the piece include : 1 ) choose a booth that is next to an empty booth and wipe down the booth before touching anything in it ; 2 ) vote at off-hour times that could be less crowded ; 3 ) participate in “ early voting ” if available in your region ; and 4 ) study up on your ballot choices so once you ’ re in the booth , you can vote quickly .
SARS-CoV-2 cares not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state ” or a “ blue state ” in the U.S. , as this dramatic , animated graphic by web developer Dan Goodspeed illustrates .
The graphic , based on data from The New York Times , shows U.S. case growth over time , from June to present , sorted by U.S. state and political leaning .
The Center for Digital Health , a partnership between Brown University 's Medical School and a Rhode Island health care system , has published an easy-to-use online calculator for what appears to be one ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The site asks visitors for such information as zip code , planned activity , duration of activity , and percent of people wearing a mask .
A 10/16/20 essay in Science sums up the latest evidence for children ’ s limited role in spreading SARS-CoV-2 and the harms that result from school closures .
Matthew D. Snape of the University of Oxford , who studies vaccines for children , and pediatrician Russell M. Viner of University College London conclude that re-opened schools so far play “ only a limited role in transmission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The writers discourage the use of school closures to address future waves of COVID-19 for various reasons .
“ Emerging evidence suggests ” that outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2 among children are not a key route for spreading the coronavirus , the authors write .
“ When household outbreaks of infection have occurred , it appears that children were responsible for only a small minority of household introductions of the virus , ” the authors write .
However , efforts to curb the pandemic have resulted in indirect “ harms being disproportionately borne by children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The harms include school closures , reduced skills , illness due to kids not getting vaccinations for diseases such as measles , a rise in kids getting injured at home , and possible mental health effects .
Schools should remain vigilant and keep transmission-prevention measures in place , the essay suggests , such as face mask wearing , creating separate cohorts or “ bubbles , ” regular screenings of students and staffers , and social distancing .
The rise in SARS-CoV-2 infections in the U.S. is now driven by “ small gatherings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to officials with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control , reports Carolyn Crist for WebMD ( 10/14/20 ) .
People should continue to wear face-masks and to practice social distancing “ since most people have still not been exposed to the coronavirus worldwide , '' the researchers suggest , Crist writes .
Some trombone , flute , trumpet , saxophone , and tuba players in the U.S. have devised masks that allow them to “ reduce the risk of COVID-19 without silencing the music , ” reports Laura Ungar for Kaiser Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , air filters , magnets , bolts of fabric , and `` surgical masks with slits cut in them , ” the story states ( 10/16/20 ) .
The photos in this piece are fun .
You might enjoy , “ Vaccines I ’ m Working On , ” by Jack Handey at The New Yorker ( 10/19/20 ) .

The items below are highlights from the free newsletter, “Smart, useful, science stuff about COVID-19.” To receive newsletter issues daily in your inbox, sign up here.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) this week broadened its definition of a “close contact” with an infected person, thereby expanding “the pool of people considered at risk of contracting the novel coronavirus,” writes Lena H. Sun at The Washington Post (10/21/20). To be considered a “close contact,” the 15-minute exposure time for individuals within six feet is now cumulative or total time during a 24-hour period, not sequential, consecutive time. State and county health departments use the definition for contract tracing efforts, the story states. The CDC’s change “is likely to have its biggest impact in schools, workplaces, and other group settings where people are in contact with others for long periods of time,” Sun writes.
Epidemiologists offer advice on how to avoid SARS-CoV-2 while voting or working as a poll worker in this 10/14/20 piece by Jim Daley for Scientific American. Beyond wearing masks, socially distancing, and disinfecting surfaces and voting equipment, tips in the piece include: 1) choose a booth that is next to an empty booth and wipe down the booth before touching anything in it; 2) vote at off-hour times that could be less crowded; 3) participate in “early voting” if available in your region; and 4) study up on your ballot choices so once you’re in the booth, you can vote quickly.
SARS-CoV-2 cares not if you live in a “red state” or a “blue state” in the U.S., as this dramatic, animated graphic by web developer Dan Goodspeed illustrates. The graphic, based on data from The New York Times, shows U.S. case growth over time, from June to present, sorted by U.S. state and political leaning.
The Center for Digital Health, a partnership between Brown University's Medical School and a Rhode Island health care system, has published an easy-to-use online calculator for what appears to be one’s risk of catching SARS-CoV-2 in various settings. The site asks visitors for such information as zip code, planned activity, duration of activity, and percent of people wearing a mask.
A 10/16/20 essay in Science sums up the latest evidence for children’s limited role in spreading SARS-CoV-2 and the harms that result from school closures. Matthew D. Snape of the University of Oxford, who studies vaccines for children, and pediatrician Russell M. Viner of University College London conclude that re-opened schools so far play “only a limited role in transmission when mitigation measures are in place.” The writers discourage the use of school closures to address future waves of COVID-19 for various reasons. “Emerging evidence suggests” that outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2 among children are not a key route for spreading the coronavirus, the authors write. “When household outbreaks of infection have occurred, it appears that children were responsible for only a small minority of household introductions of the virus,” the authors write. However, efforts to curb the pandemic have resulted in indirect “harms being disproportionately borne by children and teenagers,” the essay states. The harms include school closures, reduced skills, illness due to kids not getting vaccinations for diseases such as measles, a rise in kids getting injured at home, and possible mental health effects. Schools should remain vigilant and keep transmission-prevention measures in place, the essay suggests, such as face mask wearing, creating separate cohorts or “bubbles,” regular screenings of students and staffers, and social distancing.
The rise in SARS-CoV-2 infections in the U.S. is now driven by “small gatherings in people’s homes,” according to officials with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, reports Carolyn Crist for WebMD (10/14/20). People should continue to wear face-masks and to practice social distancing “since most people have still not been exposed to the coronavirus worldwide," the researchers suggest, Crist writes.
Some trombone, flute, trumpet, saxophone, and tuba players in the U.S. have devised masks that allow them to “reduce the risk of COVID-19 without silencing the music,” reports Laura Ungar for Kaiser Health News. Improvisations include pantyhose, pillowcases, air filters, magnets, bolts of fabric, and "surgical masks with slits cut in them,” the story states (10/16/20). The photos in this piece are fun.
You might enjoy, “Vaccines I’m Working On,” by Jack Handey at The New Yorker (10/19/20).


scientificamerican--2020-10-23--This Beetle's Stab-Proof Exoskeleton Makes It Almost Indestructible

They don ’ t call it the diabolical ironclad beetle for nothing : Phloeodes diabolicus , a rugged insect native to western North America , has an almost supernatural ability to resist compression and blunt hits .
Now , 3D scans have revealed that layered structures in its interlocking wing cases make the beetle twice as hardy as some of its relatives — and could inspire engineers to create more durable designs .
Phloeodes diabolicus ’ s toughness is thought to be unique among beetles .
The 2.5-centimetre-long insect is notorious among collectors for being difficult to pin to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pushed into its exoskeleton , says entomologist Max Barclay , a senior curator at the Natural History Museum in London .
The creature ’ s lifespan of around two years , compared with the weeks or months of typical beetles , “ might justify such an extreme investment in protection ” , he says .
Most beetles fly using their hind wings , which are protected by a pair of hardened wing cases — modified versions of the forewings found in other insects .
However , P. diabolicus is flightless , and its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as an adaptation to dry environments .
“ It evolved as a strategy for maintaining moisture , ” says Barclay .
To understand what makes diabolical ironclad beetles so resilient , materials scientist David Kisailus at the University of California , Irvine , and his collaborators imaged the creature using various techniques , including micro computed tomography scans using an X-ray synchrotron , a particle accelerator that produces bright beams of X-ray energy .
Team member Jesus Rivera , a materials scientist at the University of California , Riverside , rigged up a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s body inside a scanner while subjecting it to various levels of compression .
Their study , published on October 22 in Nature , shows how the beetle ’ s wing cases , which lock together and to the insect ’ s abdomen like a 3D jigsaw puzzle , are able to withstand pressure .
The researchers were surprised to see that the interlocking parts of the jigsaw pieces are able to shed layers like an onion as pressure approaches breaking point , rather than being ripped off .
“ You ’ d @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that and pulled them apart , they would break at the neck region , ” Kisailus says .
This allows the wing cases to take some damage without compromising their overall structural integrity .
The team then 3D-printed similar layered structures and found them to be twice as resistant to being pulled apart as was a type of joint commonly used by engineers .
Designs inspired by these beetles could prove especially useful when joining materials with different properties , Kisailus says — for example , the metal- and carbon-based materials that are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is reproduced with permission and was first published on October 21 2020 .

They don’t call it the diabolical ironclad beetle for nothing: Phloeodes diabolicus, a rugged insect native to western North America, has an almost supernatural ability to resist compression and blunt hits. Now, 3D scans have revealed that layered structures in its interlocking wing cases make the beetle twice as hardy as some of its relatives — and could inspire engineers to create more durable designs.
Phloeodes diabolicus’s toughness is thought to be unique among beetles. The 2.5-centimetre-long insect is notorious among collectors for being difficult to pin to a board: pins tend to bend when pushed into its exoskeleton, says entomologist Max Barclay, a senior curator at the Natural History Museum in London. The creature’s lifespan of around two years, compared with the weeks or months of typical beetles, “might justify such an extreme investment in protection”, he says.
Most beetles fly using their hind wings, which are protected by a pair of hardened wing cases — modified versions of the forewings found in other insects. However, P. diabolicus is flightless, and its wing cases have become permanently locked together as an adaptation to dry environments. “It evolved as a strategy for maintaining moisture,” says Barclay.
To understand what makes diabolical ironclad beetles so resilient, materials scientist David Kisailus at the University of California, Irvine, and his collaborators imaged the creature using various techniques, including micro computed tomography scans using an X-ray synchrotron, a particle accelerator that produces bright beams of X-ray energy. Team member Jesus Rivera, a materials scientist at the University of California, Riverside, rigged up a device that could rotate the insect’s body inside a scanner while subjecting it to various levels of compression.
Their study, published on October 22 in Nature, shows how the beetle’s wing cases, which lock together and to the insect’s abdomen like a 3D jigsaw puzzle, are able to withstand pressure. The researchers were surprised to see that the interlocking parts of the jigsaw pieces are able to shed layers like an onion as pressure approaches breaking point, rather than being ripped off. “You’d think that if you took pieces like that and pulled them apart, they would break at the neck region,” Kisailus says. This allows the wing cases to take some damage without compromising their overall structural integrity.
The team then 3D-printed similar layered structures and found them to be twice as resistant to being pulled apart as was a type of joint commonly used by engineers. Designs inspired by these beetles could prove especially useful when joining materials with different properties, Kisailus says — for example, the metal- and carbon-based materials that are used in aerospace engineering.
This article is reproduced with permission and was first published on October 21 2020.


scientificamerican--2020-10-23--Climate Portion of Final Trump-Biden Debate Revolved Around Ending Oil, Wind 'Fumes'

President Trump loves `` beautiful '' factories but is worried about `` fumes '' from wind turbines .
Joe Biden would n't ban fracking but wants to `` transition '' away from it .
Yesterday 's presidential debate saw one of the most substantive exchanges on climate policy in the history of general election matchups , largely because it 's an issue that rarely gets such valuable airtime .
The climate section of the roughly 90-minute event clocked in at about 10 minutes and delved into topics rarely heard on the presidential debate stage , just 12 days before the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ environmental racism , the effects of manufacturing wind turbines and the plight of frontline communities in polluted areas .
For the last 20 years , climate was absent from presidential debates in the general election .
This year , amid a highly active hurricane season and record wildfires , climate change has become a major topic on par with health care , the economy and the coronavirus response .
Altogether , climate was discussed for more than 30 minutes between two debates with Trump and Biden , and one featuring their running mates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kamala Harris of California .
The exchanges last night highlighted the stark differences between the two septuagenarians .
In one notable exchange , moderator Kristen Welker of NBC News asked the candidates how they would protect communities of color from industrial pollution .
`` The families we are talking about are employed heavily and are making more money than they have ever made , '' Trump said about people who live near polluting chemical plants and oil refineries .
`` If you look at the numbers we produced for Hispanic or Black or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the percentage gained in three years than it was under eight years of the two of them . ''
In fact , studies have shown that people who live near industrial facilities do n't necessarily benefit from them and , more frequently , are hurt by the polluted air and water caused by the operation of the plants .
Biden responded that Trump `` does n't understand '' what a frontline community is .
`` Those frontline communities , it does n't matter what you 're paying them , '' Biden said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ safe , what do you do , and you impose restrictions on the pollutants coming out of those fence line communities . ''
The debate , held at Belmont University in Nashville , was the final chance for Trump and Biden to use a national appearance to appeal to voters .
The event was decidedly more civil than their pugilistic matchup three weeks ago , with Welker quickly moving the candidates off familiar talking points .
There appeared to be no breakout moments last night that threatened to shift the race in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at a time when more than 42 million Americans have already voted .
The Trump campaign complained earlier in the week that climate change had already been covered at previous debates and unsuccessfully pushed for it to be removed .
Instead , Welker avoided the type of questions asked by previous moderators , Chris Wallace of Fox News and Susan Page of USA Today , both of whom pressed the candidates on whether they accepted climate science .
Instead , Welker asked the candidates what they planned to do about rising temperatures and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Both candidates were able to roll out a few familiar zingers .
Trump again repeated his claims that he was an environmentalist who wanted clean air and clean water while preserving the economy .
`` We are working so well with industry , '' Trump said , summing up his climate policy .
Biden talked about ending oil and gas subsidies and dinged Trump for rejecting climate science .
`` We 're going to choose science over fiction , '' Biden said .
`` It 's all a pipe dream , you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump added .
Trump attacked Biden 's $ 2 trillion climate plan , which would strive to make the electric grid carbon free by 2035 , and for investing heavily in renewable energy , which Trump said was unreliable , expensive and would cost energy industry jobs .
He falsely claimed Biden 's plan would cost $ 100 trillion .
Trump also said Biden 's proposal to make 4 million buildings more energy efficient would lead to small windows , and he claimed that manufacturing wind turbines causes more pollution than the natural @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` I know more about wind than you do , '' Trump told Biden , suggesting that turbine manufacturing is dirtier than the drilling , transportation and production of natural gas .
`` If you 're a believer in carbon emissions , the fumes coming up is more than anything we 're talking about with natural gas . ''
Trump 's broadsides against Biden 's climate plan may not help him with swing voters .
It 's one of the issues on which Biden enjoys widespread support from voters , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this week .
Biden 's $ 2 trillion plan to aggressively increase the nation 's reliance on clean energy is supported by 66 % of respondents and opposed by 26 % , the poll found .
Support for fracking was evenly split , with 44 % for it and 42 % against it .
During the debate , Biden 's allies portrayed his climate policy as something that would add American jobs .
`` When @ JoeBiden thinks about climate change , he sees jobs , '' tweeted Gina McCarthy , who served @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` When Trump does , he sees a hoax . ''
Trump has spent weeks highlighting Biden 's past comments about fracking , telling voters that Biden would shut down America 's energy industry .
In March , Biden said in a primary debate that he would ban fracking but clarified afterward that he was only talking about a ban on federal lands .
The Trump campaign has run ads for weeks highlighting the blunder .
On Tuesday , Trump played the ad at a rally in western Pennsylvania .
In one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Biden suggested he supports ending the use of oil and gas in the future .
That promises to be used against him in energy-rich battleground states like Pennsylvania .
`` I would transition from the oil industry , yes , '' Biden said .
`` Oh , that 's a big statement , '' Trump said , smiling .
`` It is a big statement , '' Biden said .
Trump 's allies immediately seized on the comment , offering it as proof that Biden wants to end the fracking industry .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ clean up the quote by saying he was talking about a transition that would happen over decades .
`` Every Democrat incumbent & candidate in House races across the country must answer whether they agree with @ JoeBiden that we should 'end the oil industry , ' '' Rep. Liz Cheney ( R-Wyo . )
wrote on Twitter .
`` This is ludicrous policy that would devastate communities , eliminate millions of jobs & drive our economy into a depression . ''
Reprinted from Climatewire with permission from E & E News .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ essential energy and environmental news at www.eenews.net .

President Trump loves "beautiful" factories but is worried about "fumes" from wind turbines. Joe Biden wouldn't ban fracking but wants to "transition" away from it.
Yesterday's presidential debate saw one of the most substantive exchanges on climate policy in the history of general election matchups, largely because it's an issue that rarely gets such valuable airtime.
The climate section of the roughly 90-minute event clocked in at about 10 minutes and delved into topics rarely heard on the presidential debate stage, just 12 days before the election.
That included brief discussions about environmental racism, the effects of manufacturing wind turbines and the plight of frontline communities in polluted areas.
For the last 20 years, climate was absent from presidential debates in the general election. This year, amid a highly active hurricane season and record wildfires, climate change has become a major topic on par with health care, the economy and the coronavirus response.
Altogether, climate was discussed for more than 30 minutes between two debates with Trump and Biden, and one featuring their running mates Vice President Mike Pence and Democratic Sen. Kamala Harris of California.
The exchanges last night highlighted the stark differences between the two septuagenarians.
In one notable exchange, moderator Kristen Welker of NBC News asked the candidates how they would protect communities of color from industrial pollution.
"The families we are talking about are employed heavily and are making more money than they have ever made," Trump said about people who live near polluting chemical plants and oil refineries. "If you look at the numbers we produced for Hispanic or Black or Asian, it is nine times greater the percentage gained in three years than it was under eight years of the two of them."
In fact, studies have shown that people who live near industrial facilities don't necessarily benefit from them and, more frequently, are hurt by the polluted air and water caused by the operation of the plants.
Biden responded that Trump "doesn't understand" what a frontline community is.
"Those frontline communities, it doesn't matter what you're paying them," Biden said. "It matters how you keep them safe, what do you do, and you impose restrictions on the pollutants coming out of those fence line communities."
The debate, held at Belmont University in Nashville, was the final chance for Trump and Biden to use a national appearance to appeal to voters.
The event was decidedly more civil than their pugilistic matchup three weeks ago, with Welker quickly moving the candidates off familiar talking points. There appeared to be no breakout moments last night that threatened to shift the race in a meaningful way, and it was held at a time when more than 42 million Americans have already voted.
The Trump campaign complained earlier in the week that climate change had already been covered at previous debates and unsuccessfully pushed for it to be removed. Instead, Welker avoided the type of questions asked by previous moderators, Chris Wallace of Fox News and Susan Page of USA Today, both of whom pressed the candidates on whether they accepted climate science.
Instead, Welker asked the candidates what they planned to do about rising temperatures and its effect on families and the economy. Both candidates were able to roll out a few familiar zingers.
Trump again repeated his claims that he was an environmentalist who wanted clean air and clean water while preserving the economy.
"We are working so well with industry," Trump said, summing up his climate policy.
Biden talked about ending oil and gas subsidies and dinged Trump for rejecting climate science.
"We're going to choose science over fiction," Biden said.
"It's all a pipe dream, you want to kill the economy," Trump added.
Trump attacked Biden's $2 trillion climate plan, which would strive to make the electric grid carbon free by 2035, and for investing heavily in renewable energy, which Trump said was unreliable, expensive and would cost energy industry jobs. He falsely claimed Biden's plan would cost $100 trillion.
Trump also said Biden's proposal to make 4 million buildings more energy efficient would lead to small windows, and he claimed that manufacturing wind turbines causes more pollution than the natural gas industry. Neither claim is true.
"I know more about wind than you do," Trump told Biden, suggesting that turbine manufacturing is dirtier than the drilling, transportation and production of natural gas. "If you're a believer in carbon emissions, the fumes coming up is more than anything we're talking about with natural gas."
Trump's broadsides against Biden's climate plan may not help him with swing voters. It's one of the issues on which Biden enjoys widespread support from voters, according to a New York Times/Siena College poll released this week.
Biden's $2 trillion plan to aggressively increase the nation's reliance on clean energy is supported by 66% of respondents and opposed by 26%, the poll found. Support for fracking was evenly split, with 44% for it and 42% against it.
During the debate, Biden's allies portrayed his climate policy as something that would add American jobs.
"When @JoeBiden thinks about climate change, he sees jobs," tweeted Gina McCarthy, who served as EPA administrator in the Obama administration. "When Trump does, he sees a hoax."
Trump has spent weeks highlighting Biden's past comments about fracking, telling voters that Biden would shut down America's energy industry. In March, Biden said in a primary debate that he would ban fracking but clarified afterward that he was only talking about a ban on federal lands.
The Trump campaign has run ads for weeks highlighting the blunder. On Tuesday, Trump played the ad at a rally in western Pennsylvania.
In one of the more significant exchanges last night, Biden suggested he supports ending the use of oil and gas in the future. That promises to be used against him in energy-rich battleground states like Pennsylvania.
"I would transition from the oil industry, yes," Biden said.
"Oh, that's a big statement," Trump said, smiling.
"It is a big statement," Biden said.
Trump's allies immediately seized on the comment, offering it as proof that Biden wants to end the fracking industry. After the debate, Biden struggled to clean up the quote by saying he was talking about a transition that would happen over decades.
"Every Democrat incumbent & candidate in House races across the country must answer whether they agree with @JoeBiden that we should 'end the oil industry,'" Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) wrote on Twitter. "This is ludicrous policy that would devastate communities, eliminate millions of jobs & drive our economy into a depression."
Reprinted from Climatewire with permission from E&E News. E&E provides daily coverage of essential energy and environmental news at www.eenews.net.


scientificamerican--2020-10-23--A Medical Student Contemplates Pandemic-Era Isolation--and Connection