I love the great variety of "Science and Technology" topics that are discovered and it's so good to consider both sides of this flipping coin. There are wonderful advances and discoveries, but then we discover others news items that remind us the coin can and does flip to remind us that our Earth School still has much work to do.
But bit, by bit good people, groups or investigative news sources undcover new data that still points the finger at old and continuing issues.
On the subject of ozone depleting compounds that were banned in 2010, no one understood why the levels were still so high until the NY Times did an investigation. They found that China is emitting some 40,000 tons of carbon tetrachloride annually. Here's a story on it:
https://www.sciencealert.com/more-evidence-identifies-china-as-the-source-of-those-mysterious-ozone-destroying-emissions?perpetual=yes&limitstart= 1" target="true"> https://www.sciencealert.com/more-evidence-identifies-china-as-the-source-of-those-mysterious-ozone-destroying-emissions?perpetual=yes&limitstart=1
The first-ever vaccine for insects now exists, thanks to scientists at the University of Helsinki in Finland hoping to save one of the most crucial pollinators in the world: the honey bee.
https://www.americanveterinarian.com/news/buzzworthy-news-firstever-vaccine-for-insects
Advances in the efficiency and safety of genome editing have been made. Read about it here:
https://phys.org/news/2018-12-scientists-crispr-code-precise-human.html
"Deep Seagrass Bed Could Stall Climate Change." Read about it here:
I read this article this morning: Tesla may use new battery supplier for cars made in China factory
By Eric C. Evarts
“Tesla is reportedly exploring the idea of buying local batteries for its factory in China, from a supplier other than Panasonic.”
“Panasonic has been Tesla’s partner in creating batteries for its electric cars from the outset of Model S production and co-owns the Nevada battery-production Gigafactory that produces far more electric-car batteries than any other.” My immediate thought was “Is Tesla concerned with other electric-car companies’ disclosures of higher performance numbers than is possible using lithium-ion technology?
According to AstroJane in a January 20, 2019 article: Panasonic is teaming up with Toyota for a venture to produce electric-car batteries in 2020 and will work to develop future solid-state lithium batteries.
I am concerned with more lithium being used for batteries regardless of what the technology is. If other electric-car manufacturers are using safer, more abundant, and less toxic materials than lithium, the Earth will benefit.
NWDoug,
Very interesting. In the past most of the our lithium for batteries etc. was discovered and harvested from South America's deserts (and dried out by solar power for use) but now Australia is mining rock and using crushers to break it down enough to ship to China for further processing using far more energy intensive processing.
That would explain why factories in China would be logical for Tesla's own production then staying with more energy efficient methodoligy in general.
It sure makes me wonder what else might be happening with Tesla's industries and financial thinking in all areas. So many products, inventions, interests in planets and above/on/and under our own planet at once!
On another front, I heard this week that California is requiring all new homes to have solar panels. Adding 10% in the costs to the price of a new home but saving considerably in energy use.
Unfortunately even solar energy panel production still may have further to advance before current products are outdated and/or develop aging issues.
Keep the thoughts coming and discussions going! So much to learn and keep us with but it sure helps to jumpstart our thinking and share news and thoughts!
It has just been announced that scientists have experimented with the genetic modification of chickens whereby they literally produce properties of several drugs that will then naturally occur in their eggs.
It was based on the initial discovery that chicken collagen eased the problems of rheumatoid arthritis and it would only require eating 3 genetically modified chicken's eggs a day to get the same effects as the current antibiotic pills a day taken by RA suffers.
Other work developed adding a second drug/chemical characteristic into their egg creating another egg property that would help with many cancers.
The positive side is trying to cut down on the current proliferation of drugs creating antibiotic resistant super bugs totally unaffected by current drugs that were used used to treat a number of infections diseases and immune system disorders.
And of course, this problem was only further increasing many or new drug resistant diseases and the suffering of so many people in the world.
The flip side is well, genetic modification.
Thoughts?