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Ant No Stopping Us Now: Ant With Potent Bite Marching Across US (Maria)
The author writes, “Last year, Dan Suiter, a professor of urban entomology at the University of Georgia, received at least three calls from people who had been stung by an Asian needle ant — or knew someone who had been — and went into anaphylaxis, an allergic reaction that can be life-threatening. While there is no new evidence on the continued spread of the ants in the U.S. — detected now in 20 states — Suiter and his colleagues are determined to raise public awareness of the risks the species poses.”
Can You Still Trust the US Government’s Vaccine Recommendations? (Laryn)
From Vox: “For the past 60 years, a committee of independent experts has advised the federal government on vaccine policy, providing guidance on which shots people should get and when. Government public health officials have almost always followed the panel’s recommendations, all but making it the final word on public health policy in the US for most of its existence. And over those decades, the United States has made tremendous health gains over that time through mass vaccination campaigns. But on [last week], Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired all 17 sitting members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), a move that stunned doctors and scientists across the country. And it means that the CDC’s days as the clear and unchallenged authority on US vaccine policy appear numbered.”
The Golden Age of Scams (Dana)
From The American Prospect: “There’s an economic principle named after a 16th-century British financier — Sir Thomas Gresham — who urged Queen Elizabeth I to clean up the sorry state of the national currency. Gresham’s Law states that ‘bad money drives out good,’ and while Sir Thomas meant ‘bad money’ in terms of coinage that didn’t carry the intrinsic value of gold or silver, the principle applies just as well to the business world. Simply put, honest companies have a hard time competing with dishonest ones. This is intuitive if you think about it. An auto dealership that only sells lemons and lies about it will earn well above fair value for their vehicles. Snake oil doesn’t cost as much to make as a useful medication. Robbing your customers is more lucrative than making sure they’re satisfied. If you accept this premise, then you should recognize that we’re about to see a lot of honest businesses either turn to the dark side or close up shop.”
Trump Breaks Historic Columbia River Deal Between US Government, Tribes, Northwest States (Reader Steve)
The author writes, “A ‘historic’ deal made two years ago between the U.S. government, four tribes, Northwest states and environmentalists to put legal battles aside and invest in restoring endangered Columbia River fish runs is now off. President Donald Trump on Thursday signed a presidential memorandum withdrawing the U.S. government from a Dec. 14, 2023 agreement to help restore salmon, steelhead and other native fish being decimated by federal hydroelectric dams in the Columbia River Basin. The memorandum refers to the commitments as ‘onerous,’ ‘misguided’ and as placing ‘concerns about climate change above the nation’s interests in reliable energy resources.’”
Mayors Are Making Climate Action Personal. It’s Working. (Laura)
From Grist: “As American cities have grown in size and population and gotten hotter, they — not the federal government — have become crucibles for climate action: Cities are electrifying their public transportation, forcing builders to make structures more energy efficient, and encouraging rooftop solar. Together with ambitious state governments, hundreds of cities large and small are pursuing climate action plans — documents that lay out how they will reduce emissions and adapt to extreme weather — with or without support from the feds.”
Scientists Are ‘Playing With God’s Dice’ by Using Quantum Entanglement for This Game-Changing Random Number Generator (Sean)
The author writes, “National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) scientists have created the first random number generator that uses quantum entanglement, providing traceable and certifiable confirmation that the numbers generated are truly random. Once considered unattainable, certifiable systems that generate a truly random outcome could play a critical role in digital security and allow auditors to select a truly random sample for analysis.”
