Wombat Cubes

The Wombat is an Australian Marsupial (pouched) Mammal that produces unusual cube-shaped faeces (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/29/box-seat-scientists-solve-the-mystery-of-why-wombats-have-cube-shaped-poo). The faeces are probably used to signal to other Wombats (they are used in other species, to mark territory or to leave information about the depositer's sex, status and/or receptivity). Cuboidal faeces have the obvious advantage that they will not (unlike rounded pellets) roll from where they are deposited. There has been much speculation about how the shape is achieved. Some people have claimed Wombats must have a square anus (they haven't) or they pat each pellet into shape (they don't). Dr Scott Carver (University of Tasmania) has now confirmed (in the journal 'Soft Matter') that the shape is achieved within the last metre of the animal's digestive tract. This organ has regions where the thickness of muscle varies. There are essentially 2 stiff and 2 more flexible regions. Their actions squeeze the faecal matter into cuboidal shapes before the pellets leave the Wombat's anus.

Vaccine Nationalism?

Vaccines designed to deal with the Sars-CoV-2 pandemic are becoming political. This is, perhaps, best illustrated by the unedifying 3-way spat involving the EU, the UK and AstraZeneca (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/31/how-eus-floundering-vaccine-effort-hit-a-fresh-crisis-with-exports-row). Before we become too vaccine nationalistic ("my vaccine is better than your vaccine and my mass vaccination programme is going faster than your mass vaccination programme"), there are things we should all be aware of. Firstly, the plethora of vaccines (e.g. Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, Oxford/AstraZeneca, Novavax, Janssen et cetera, et cetera) have been developed (many with novel technologies) much more quickly than we had any right to expect. The vaccines have also been conceived, developed and evaluated by multinational teams. The sharing of scientific information (such as the genetic code for the virus) has also played a role. Secondly, it is clearly in our collective interest to rapidly reduce infections in all parts of the world. The more infections there are, the more opportunities the virus has to mutate, generating new (sometimes more problamatic) variants. The world is also, so interconnected (by air et cetera), that it is next to impossible (even with highly effective quarantine systems) to prevent the virus re-importing itself to countries striving to eliminate it. It may be a pessimistic view but there is a strong probability Sars-CoV-2, will become a bit like seasonal influenza, requiring tweaked vaccine injections on an annual basis. It seems unlikely that the world will be able to eliminate this virus in the way we did Smallpox and Polio (largely). Thirdly, it is highly likely that other pandemics will follow Sars-CoV-2. We need International cooperation to monitor such developments and to deal with the outbreaks and their consequences. A depressing feature of vaccine nationalism is that it plays very well amongst voters. A majority (forget the antivaxxers for the timebeing) of people would like to be protected from the effects of this virus (it causes death, ill-health, educational problems, economic turmoil, mental health issues et cetera, et cetera). There are political penalties for seeming to be too slow to obtain, validate and distribute the vaccines (hence the panic in the EU?). There are also cheap points to be gained, by appearing to have done well in the rolling out of the vaccines. Most people have not been too impressed by the UK government's overall performance in the pandemic (well over 100,000 deaths and rising) but their ratings have received a boost after 'getting on' with mass vaccination (https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/jan/31/success-of-vaccine-rollout-pushes-tories-ahead-of-labour-in-the-polls ).

The Lack of Viral 'War Memorials'

I agree with Jonathan Freedland, that it is remarkable how quickly we humans tend to forget human deaths generated by disease, whereas war dead are routinely commemorated (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jan/29/history-forget-pandemic-spanish-flu-covid). The First World War (1914-1918) generated about 17m human fatalities and there are memorials to the event, in thousands of little villages and towns in Europe and elsewhere. On the other hand, the 'Spanish 'flu' epidemic of 1918, killed between 50 and 100m people and yet has virtually no monuments. Freedland points to a view that humans (story-telling animals) like linear stories with heroes and villains. Human wars lend themselves to this, whereas disease pandemics do not (the virus is a 'faceless', invisible 'enemy'). Like Freedland, I believe this is a mistake. If pandemics are really so dangerous (and the UK death toll already exceeds 100,000), we really ought to remember them (so we put effort into stopping the next one). It would also be sad not to remember the 'victims' of the current pandemic (especially as the normal mourning process has been curtailed). Perhaps, we should recognise that viruses can be more dangerous to human life than our conspecifics?

Not To Be Sniffed At?

The Covid pandemic lockdowns have resulted in a great increase in the numbers of people in the UK buying dogs (https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/jan/30/excremental-growth-uk-sniffs-a-pandemic-puppy-poo-problem). There is nothing wrong with having a dog (for companionship and exercise) but many of the new owners are not proving fastidious by cleaning up after their animals. The problem is compounded by pressures on local councils. Provision of waste bags for poo and their collection are consequently not high priorities. The UK has about 9 million dogs. It has been estimated their total daily faecal production is more than 3000 tonnes of evil-smelling and bacteria-ridden material. Even, when bagged, dog poo is put into landfill where it cannot degrade. If dog poo is not bagged, it is a health hazard, especially for children, who often use the same areas. It would be a good idea if people assumed more responsibility for their pet's business, especially in the present circumstances.

Friend of the Kent Virus?

They are certainly now coming out of the woodwork! A man from Chatham, in Kent, has been charged with posting a presumed 'explosive device' to a Wockhardt site in Wrexham, North Wales (https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/jan/30/man-charged-with-sending-suspicious-package-to-welsh-covid-vaccine-plant). Receipt of the package predictably forced the Wockhardt site's complete evacuation. The site provides a 'fill-and-finish' service (basically putting materials in vials and labelling) for the Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine. So the device at least delayed vaccine processing. It's odd that the suspect comes from the same location, as the more infective B117 variant of Sars-CoV-2, that is spreading across the UK.

Game of Chicken in Wales

The county of Powys in Wales has 8.5m chickens, concentrated in about 100 Intensive Poultry Farms (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/30/welsh-council-admits-it-should-not-have-approved-vast-poultry-farm). After a Crowdfunded challenge by Sustainable Food Knighton (a body concerned with traditional farming), the Council have admitted they should not have approved yet another 110,000 chicken farm, near Berriew in Powys. The Council were unable to prove the development will not have further detrimental environmental influences on people living around the area. One of the problems is that chicken faeces are disposed of by spreading them on fields around each farm. This material inevitably washes into watercourses and has already produced intense algal blooms in the nearby River Wye (the waters of which, have illegally high levels of phosphates). Algal blooms kill off much of the life in rivers. It sounds as if there are already too many IPFs in this area and that alternative disposal methods for chicken droppings need to be urgently considered.

Seeing the Changes 1509

Ripe Ivy (Hedera helix) berries in Loughor.

The Futility of Partial Quarantine?

It seems, at times, that the UK can get anything wrong is its attempts to curtail the Covid-19 pandemic! I entirely agree with Gabriel Scally (Bristol University and Independent SAGE), that the new 'toughened' regulations for International travel are a fiasco (https://www.theguardian.com/world/commentisfree/2021/jan/28/uk-covid-travel-quarantine-hotel). As Scally notes there is no such thing as 'partial quarantine'. The new regulations are said to require travellers, coming from 22 'high risk countries', to isolate on arrival in the UK. This is at their own expense, in airport hotels (that's a recipe for avoidance and other inappropriate behaviours). Another major difficulty with this requirement, is that where someone started from, doesn't give you the whole story about risk. Passengers change planes and they often sit in airport lounges, for extended periods, with people from all over the globe. Even worse, some 60 occupations or groups will be potentially exempt from the isolation requirement. This even includes some people who commute Internationally on a weekly basis (repeated trips must increase the risk of carrying the virus). Exemptions, also make it less likely that others will stick firmly to the rules. The UK borders seem excessively porous for Covid-19, in all its varieties.

Seeing the Changes 1508

A large Fox moth (Macrothylacia rubi) larva was active on the road in Bynea.

No Moths on Novavax?

The US company Novavax seems to have a strong candidate to be the 4th Covid-19 vaccine, approved for use in the UK (https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/jan/28/novavax-covid-vaccine-shown-to-be-nearly-90-effective-in-uk-trial). Novavax's technology involves introducing a baclovirus, containing a spike gene for Sars-CoV-2, into moth cells. The infected moth cells produce proteins, that combine to form spikes (like those on the coronavirus). The spikes are then formed into nanoparticles, that can be injected into humans, to elicit the immune response, without introducing an actual Sars-CoV-2 virus. Phase 3 trials have been carried out in the UK on 15,000 subjects with almost 4000 being in the 65 and over age group. The vaccine (NVX-CoV2373) appears to be almost 90% effective in its protective effect. NVX-CoV2373 has also been shown to work well against the more infective B117 ('Kent') variant of Covid-19. Trials in South Africa are only at the phase 2 stage. This vaccine is not currently (it can be tweaked) as effective against the Covid-19 variant in that country. NVX-CoV2373 will be made in the North of England and 60m doses have been purchased by the government. It looks like we are getting quite a range of different and novel vaccine technologies?

Ancient Beetles

A farmer, in East Anglia in 1970, dug up a piece of old wood in one of his boggy fields. When he was splitting it for the fire, he was horrified to find some large, dead beetes entombed in the bored wood. Worried that his farm could be infested with a new beetle pest, he sent the wood (plus beetles) to the Natural History Museum in London, where the insects were identified as Oak capricorn beetles. The farmer was assured he would not have an infestation, as the beetles were non-native, being usually found in Southern France and Hungary. More than 40 years later, accurate dating technology was applied to the beetles (https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2021/jan/28/east-anglian-beetles-shed-light-on-uk-climate-4000-years-ago). Remarkably, the beetle carcasses were found to be 3800 years old! The scientists suggest (they might well be right) this finding tells us something about the climate (much hotter?) in that part of England almost 4000 years ago. There is, of course, another possibility. The wood could have come from a human artefact (a ship?) made in southern Europe, at the time the pharoahs were building the pyramids.

Buying the End of Disease?

Rowan Hooper does on interesting exercise, considering what medical advances we could purchase for a trillion dollars (https://www.theguardian.com/news/2021/jan/28/could-we-cure-disease-with-trillion-dollars-coronavirus). Hooper points out that, although it sounds a lot of money, it is quite easy for countries to create such amounts, by processes such as quantitative easing (they did it for the financial crash). A number of items are presented for investment consideration such as e.g. funding universal health care in e.g. Ethopia, to demonstate how it could be done, as well as emphasing the health gains implicit in having such systems. The opinion piece also considers the investments needed e.g. to:- completely solve the Covid-19 pandemic, deal with malaria and its mosquito vector, fund vaccine research for a variety of ailments, set up systems for detecting the next pandemic et cetera, et cetera. I agree that a trillion dollars could purchase an awful lot of medical improvements (it's finance that generally holds lots of things back). The trouble is, as I see it, that humans will always be a medical problem for their own (as well as other) species. We are just too good grabbing all the limited resources, being a resource ourselves for other organisms and damaging ourselves and our environment by our behaviours (humans cause many of their own diseases e.g. by eating the wrong things, drinking too much alcohol and smoking etc). I don't think we can ever abolish all causes of ill-health. We could, with the right investments, certainly improve things for the majority. Having said that (to quote Albert Einstein) "Two things are infinite: The universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe". I suspect that human stupidity will ensure, that ill-health is always with us, no matter how much we spend on its alleviation.

The Same Data: Different Conclusions

It is somewhat disconcerting that Germany's Robert Koch Institute is not advising the use of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine on people over 65 (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/28/germany-recommends-oxford-astrazeneca-covid-vaccine-not-used-over-65s). The Koch Institute have decided that there is insufficient data on older patients. They do regard this vaccine, as being wholly appropriate for people under 64. This is, of course, completely at variance with the UK, who actually started their mass vaccination programme with the over-80s (because they are an especially vulnerable group). If the Germans stick to the Koch Institute recommendation, the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine will not be used in care homes for the elderly (although these people as particularly at risk, when contracting a Covid-19 infection). It will be interesting to see if the German view changes with a) the accumulating UK data on the use of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine in older age groups or b) the imminent recommendation of the European Medicines Agency, which advises the entire EU and must be using the same data given to the German Institute. It just confirms that interpretation of the same body of data can lead to different conclusions.

Green Homes Grants Turn Mouldy?

Another example of talking the talk without walking the walk? The UK government instituted its £2bn 'Green Homes Grants' scheme, intended to help 600,000 householders make their homes less carbon intensive (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/28/green-homes-grant-uk-standards-body-calls-on-government-to-pay-up). The scheme's grants are between £5,000 and £10,000. The grants are given to help pay for the replacement of fossil fuel-powered (largely gas) heating systems and/or improvements in home insulation. The grants were intended to help the UK fulfil its undertaking to move to a more energy-efficient future, with reduced production of 'greenhouse gases'. The Microgeneration Certification Scheme (the industry standards body for renewable energy installers) have claimed, however, that there have been failures to pay businesses for work carried out. This is said to have resulted in debts and job losses. Some businesses are now refusing to undertake any new work, unless accounts are settled. This is going to slow the drive to make our housing a bit 'greener'! It also won't reflect well on our chairmanship of COP26 in Glasgow this year.

Vaccine Wars: Mark 2

As one might have expected, when vaccines to treat Covid-19 are in short supply, arguments about access to medicines break out. It is claimed the UK is on a 'collision course' with the EU, as Brussels refuses to accept that the 'British have first claim on doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine' produced in its local plants. The row appears to come down to an antagonism between the focus of public health (protecting vulnerable people in all locations) and the, very human (selfish genes, anyone?), response of wanting first protections for one's relatives and friends. Add politics to this heady mix and there is a recipe for serious tensions. It's difficult to work out where a balance could be struck (both views have some merit). I appreciate, that a viewpoint offered by AstraZeneca is likely to be somewhat partial but it does appear lay out the basic issues (https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/jan/27/eu-covid-vaccines-row-astrazeneca-boss-reveals-problems). AstraZeneca confirmed that the EU ordered 80m doses of their not-for-profit vaccine but claim they did this rather late. The company maintain the contract was signed on a 'best efforts to deliver' basis. AstraZeneca claim that they have tried to set up vaccine production and processing facilities close to the populations that will be using them. In Europe, the drug substance (the vaccine), is produced in The Netherlands and Belgium but the drug product (putting it into vials), is carried out in Italy and Germany. There seems to be a particular problem with vaccine production in the Belgian plant. AstraZeneca maintain that 'teething problems' in vaccine production are not unknown (that's why they signed on a 'best efforts to deliver' basis). They point out that the UK ordered 100m doses but did this much earlier than the EU. There has, consequently, been more time to 'iron out' production problems in the UK. The company also note that it was easier to set up operations in Britain because they simply had to scale up a system developed by Oxford University. The UK also fast-tracked approval of the vaccine. AstraZeneca appreciate that the EU (which is said to be coming under pressure for the presumed slowness of its vaccination programmes) will be disappointed by the company's ability to deliver 'only' 31m doses in the first phase and around 50% of later orders. This will certainly delay mass vaccination programmes. They do not see, however, why vaccine should be diverted from UK plants, before the company has fulfilled its contractual obligations to the UK. I can't see any way the UK government is going to agree to 'British vaccine' going to Europe, in the immediate future, as the relative speed of their vaccination programme is the only positive success that they can (and do) point to. There is no doubt that vaccination needs to occur very widely before we (and our economies) can be safely insulated from Covid-19. Just imagine, however, the frictions that are likely to develop about access to vaccines when poorer areas of the world become involved?

Getting the Hump

Middle East respiratory syndrome (Mers) is caused by a coronavirus 10 times more deadly than that producing Covid-19. Mers is another zoonotic, where the virus made a jump from animals (in this case camels) to humans (in Covid-19 it was probably from bats to humans). Mers killed more than 1,700 people in Saudi Arabia in 2012. Eventually, the disease was contained. Scientists are now worried about the virus making a second jump to humans, in Northern Kenya (https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20210122-the-coronavirus-10-times-more-deadly-than-covid). in this location, climate change is forcing people to abandon rearing cows and to rely more and more on camels for meat, milk and transport. Forcing people into closer contact with the camels seems a recipe for the virus to make another leap. If you think Covid-19 is bad?

Monoclonal Cocktails and Covid-19

There is some encouraging news on the use of cocktails of monoclonal antibodies, in so-called 'passive immunisation'. In this treatment, patients get ready-made antibodies, rather than being stimulated to produce their own by vaccination (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-regeneron-pharms-idUSKBN29V1DY?utm_campaign=trueAnthem%3A%20Trending%20Content&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_). Regeneron Pharmaceuticals have reported a trial of their 2-antibody cocktail REGEN-COV. The preparation was given to 400 participants, living in households, where a member was already infected with Covid-19. It produced 100% reduction in symptomatic infection and a roughly 50% decline in overall infection. Eli Lilley have claimed that, in a trial, their bamlanivimab preparation cut the risk of a Covid-19 infection by 80% in vulnerable nursing home residents. There was a death and a hospitalisation in the placebo group but people getting active preparations were fine. It's still early days but things are looking good for these preparations. They are likely to become a treatment of last resort.

Live Animal Exports

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) have noted, that the global number of live farm animals (cattle, chicken, goats, pigs and sheep) crossing borders, has quadrupled in the last 50 years (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/27/eu-revealed-to-be-worlds-biggest-live-animal-exporter). The FAO recorded that 1.8bn live farm animals were exported in 2019, with 1.6bn of these, originating in the Economic Union (EU). The EU is actually responsible for 80% of the global trade in live farm animals. This trade is, of course, associated with animal welfare issues. There can be problems with transport (which can be stressful), treatment of animals in their destination countries and possible disease transfer. Different species have different issues. 95% of the animals crossing a border were chickens (mainly chicks), whereas cattle accounted for less than 1%. Rather obviously, chicks have different requirements from cows. Individual EU countries seem to specialise in particular species of farm animal. For example, Denmark is the world's largest exporter (they moved 15.7m in 2019) of pigs (mainly piglets, for rearing and fattening). Germany exported 312m (mainly immature) poultry in the same year. Roumania sent (with the aid of EU subsidies), 3m sheep to Saudi Arabia for rictual slaughter. The EU figures are probably somewhat inflated by geography. It is easy to move farm animals across actual borders in the EU. Whereas, moving an animal from one state to another, in the US, might involve similar distances and issues but it wouldn't count as exporting (unless the beast finished up in Canada or Mexico). Having said that, there ought to be scope, in the EU, to reduce live animal exports and to, at least, ensure common welfare standards for transportation and treatment. They should probably look again at their use of subsidies?

Popular With People But Will It Result in Policies From Politicians?

The UN Developmental Programme has surveyed 1.2 million people in 50 countries (omitting large chunks of Africa and Central Asia), assessing their attitudes to the climate crisis and potential actions to counter it (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/27/un-global-climate-poll-peoples-voice-is-clear-they-want-action). The survey revealed there was little disagreement between the generations. 69% of those aged 14-18 and 58% of those over 60, wanted action on the climate emergency (so, it's not just the young who worry about such trifles). Majorities were evident, even in countries that currently use lots of oil and gas, to get their governments to switch to using more renewables (solar and wind energies). The figures were 65% for the US; 76% for Australia and 51% for Russia. Majorities were also evident, that favoured more conservation of trees, even in countries, where forest destruction is rife. The figures were 60% in Brazil and 57% in Indonesia. These majorities on renewables and forest conservation, suggest that people favour changes in the current direction of their own government's policies, to avert the climate crisis. Overall, there is popular, world-wide support from people (around two thirds of the respondents) for many of the actions designed to counter climate change. The only partial solution that failed to get majority support, was the plan to encourage people to move to a plant-based diet (only 30% supported this idea). I suppose it is more difficult to get people to change, what they have to do for themselves? Old habits die hard but 30% is a start.

The Original 'Conscientious Objectors'?

I was surprised to hear that the term 'conscientious objector' was first applied to people who were vaccine hesitant, rather than to folk who objected to taking up arms in war. Laura Spinney poses the question 'Could understanding the history of anti-vaccine sentiment help us to overcome it? (https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/jan/26/could-understanding-the-history-of-anti-vaccine-sentiment-help-us-to-overcome-it). Spinney cites Paula Larrson, who pointed out that vaccine hesitancy, is at least as old as vaccines per se. It is certainly true that the history of vaccine use has not been without occassional 'horrors' (from unsanitary treatments and bad batches to people being vaccinated at gunpoint). Larrson noted that the antivaxx modus operandi is consistent. An early example, was the activity of a Dr Alexander Ross in the Montreal Smallpox outbreak of 1885. Ross set himself up as a 'white knight'. He firstly talked down the severity of the disease and exaggerated the vaccine threat. Ross then hinted at a bigger conspiracy by 'authorities' and enlisted the support of other well-connected people, who challenged the consensus (bizzarely, Ross got himself vaccinated against Smallpox). There was also a cultural issue at work here, as Francophones didn't want to be injected by English-speaking doctors. Spinney feels that trust (rather than education) is the real issue. As she says, public health experts generally stress the benefits of vaccination to society, whereas vaccine-related injuries (from a sore arm to death) are experienced personally. This issue of the 'common good' versus 'my individual concerns' seem to be the crux of the problem. People are perhaps also more likely to respond positively to individuals with whom they can identify. So you may need vaccination advocates from a number of ethnic backgrounds. Being a vaccination advocate means, however, honestly describing the dangers of Covid-19 but also being clear about possible side-effects to vaccination. The 'white knights' can only be countered by gaining the trust of your 'people'.

Dog Days?

Earlier studies have claimed that some dogs (2 Border collies) could learn the names of hundreds of objects by play. A new study carried out at the Hungarian Eotvos Lorand University on another Border collie and a Yorkshire terrier, investigated this phenomenom in more detail (https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/jan/26/you-can-teach-an-old-dog-new-words-researchers-find). The study found that these dogs (recommended for their 'intelligence' by their owners) could often choose the right object by a process of elimination. They were faced with objects they knew by name and a novel object. The dogs could select the novel object, when it was requested (by name). It seems that some dogs (it's apparently a minority), are more intelligent than we give them credit for.

Primed to Go in 2021!

It is predicted that billions of adult Cicadas (noisy, sap-feeding insects) will emerge in the states of New York, Ohio, Illinois and Georgia in May 2021 (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/26/cicadas-emerge-eastern-us). Cicadas spend most of their lives, living underground as their juvenile (nymph) form. The last major emergence in these states, was 17 years ago, in 2004. Seventeen is a prime number (one that can only be divided by itself). It has long been suggested, that the insect arranges its mass emergence in this way, because no specialist Cicada-eater could evolve to synchronise with it (it would have to wait 17 years between feasts). Cicadas still get eaten but only by relatively-unskilled non-specialists.

I See No Air Pollution

It has been estimated that 90% of the world's human populations live with air pollution, a largely invisible threat. A study (published in the British Journal of Opthalmology) was carried out by scientists at the University College of London, on 116,000 people aged 40-69 years, who had no eye problems at the start of their investigation (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/26/air-pollution-linked-to-higher-risk-of-irreversible-sight-loss). The study revealed that small increases in dirty air were linked to an increase (around 8%) in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Higher pollution produced more AMD. Macular degeneration is the death of light-receptor cells in the retina of the eye and is the major cause of irreversible blindness. It seems that our eyes are paricularily vulnerable to the effects of particulate pollution, because they have a high blood flow. Air pollution has also be linked (to greater and lesser extents) to other degenerative eye conditions, such as glaucoma and cataracts.The effects on our eyes, provide an additional excellent reason for curbing air pollution (especially that concerned with transport).

'Passive Vaccinations' in Germany

Germany have purchased many doses of the expensive but, still as yet experimental, cocktails of monoclonal (manufactured in the laboratory) antibodies, trialled in the treatment of Covid-19 infections (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/25/germany-to-administer-covid-antibody-cocktailsdrugs-used-treat-donald-trump). The cocktails purchased are Bamlanivimab (produced by Eli Lilly) and REGN-COV-2 (manufactured by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals). The cocktails seemed to work on Donald Trump but proper evaluations have not yet been carried out. The technique is called 'passive vaccination', as the patient doesn't manufacture their own antibodies. The cocktail's antibodies directly attack the viral spike proteins. The cocktails will largely be employed in specialist clinics, to treat people with weak immune systems, who couldn't show a robust response to a vaccine. People undergoing transplants (taking immunosuppressives) and AIDS victims are likely recipients. Cocktails might even be given, in emergencies, to lactating mothers, as they cannot be vaccinated. It would be appreciated, if the German clinics took the opportunity to do some controlled studies, assessing the efficacies of these preparations.

World Beating Brits

It seems that the English and the Scots have one characteristic where they really out-perform the rest of the world. The Global Drugs Survey for 2020 has found, in a 25 nation survey, that they get drunk (i.e. lose their balance and slur their speech) much more frequently (around 30 times per year), than people from the other nations (https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/jan/25/english-and-scottish-get-drunk-most-often-25-nation-survey-finds ). Alcohol can be a serious problem for some of the British. Around 5% of young Brits, under 25, have required hospital treatment, after getting drunk (hopefully, this is older data). This compares to a global average of 2%. Although alcohol is legal, it is nevertheless a drug. In excess, alcohol causes both physical and behavioural problems. I suspect that lockdown, in the course of the Covid-19 pandemic, has dramatically increased home drinking in the UK population. Now, of course, is not a good time (was there ever a good time?) to be taken to a hospital, as a result of intoxification. It's neither good for the individual nor the over-stretched hospital.

Another Shot At It?

Back in the bad old days, shot gun pellets were made of lead. It was found (surprise, surprise) that these pellets discharged into the environment were toxic to all sorts of organisms (including birds). Eventually, the lead pellets were banned and replaced by hard plastic. A Spanish company, BioAmmo, then became concerned that the plastic pellets were just another form of pollution (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/25/green-shoots-spanish-firm-tackles-plastic-waste-from-shotgun-cartridges). They developed (and now market, in around 20 countries), shot gun cartridges that are 100% plastic free, biodegradable and biocompostable (so no metal caps either?). I suppose that this is an environmental improvement but they could always stop shooting birds?

Ice, Ice, Baby!

The journal 'The Cryosphere' (concerned with ice-dominated areas of the globe), has published an article revealing that, world-wide, the melting of ice is accelerating at a record rate (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/25/global-ice-loss-accelerating-at-record-rate-study-finds). The Greenland and the Antarctic ice-sheets are the most rapidly disappearing. These changes are in line with the worst case scenarios, proposed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The paper estimates that the planet lost 28tn tonnes of ice between 1994 and 20l7 (and the rate must have subsequently speeded up, as 'greenhouse gases' have continued to climb). About 67% of the melt seems due to an increase in mean atmospheric temperature (those 'greenhouse gases' again), with the remainder down to an increase in sea temperature (picked up from the air). Pretty obviously, the melting ice increases sea levels, a serious problem for low-laying coastal or island communities (and most of our major cities are coastal). Less obvious, is the impact on further global heating. The more ice melts, the less solar energy is reflected back into space. The faster the planet heats up. The more the ice melts. And so on ad infinitum (or at least until the ice runs out).

Kaleidoscope 2

Images from ice, cars, orchids and cactus flowers.

Bee Bereavement?

Bees are very important insect pollinators. Some species are, of course, also commercially-important because they produce honey and bees-wax. A survey of museum, university and citizen science records has revealed, however, that 25% of the world's bee species have not been seen since the 1990's (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/22/quarter-of-known-bee-species-have-not-been-recorded-since-1990). The failure to find certain bee species in more recent records (2006-2015), does not mean they are now extinct but it clearly confirms the declining numbers of all such insects. Habitat destruction and the use of pesticides (especially neonicotinoids) are probably major factors in this phenomenon.

'Sold' down the River?

Perhaps, if we purchase from Amazon, we should think about another of Jeff Bezos's cunning plans, largely funded by its profits. His 'Blue Origin' (a misnomer if ever there was one!) company will charge small groups of very rich folk for brief visits to 'space' (https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/jan/22/spacewatch-bezos-blue-origin-really-close-flying-humans). Tests with Blue Origin's New Shephard rocket are almost complete and it is almost ready to take passengers. It appears to be a race against competitors who are developing similar 'enterprises'. What seems to be overlooked in media treatment of, what well might be a lucrative enterprise, is the impact on global heating and climate change. There is not much point cutting back on commercial aviation to reduce the release of 'greenhouse gases', if space tourism 'takes off'. The New Shepherd rockets (as will the competition's crafts) will leave enormous carbon footprints, for a few minutes of entertainment (bucket list anyone?). The climate change produced, might well be another nail in the coffin of the original Amazon (and the rest of the planet).

Monkey Business

Primatologists (people who study lemurs, monkeys and apes) are being advised not to use 'selfies' holding their study subjects in advertising. It is thought that this inappropriately encourages the pet trade (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/24/no-more-monkey-selfies-scientists-told-images-could-drive-pet-trade-aoe). The claim is that 'selfies' with a primate give the wrong impressions about the a) Conservation status of the species; b) Behavioural attributes of the animal and c) Ease of keeping it in the home. I agree but I'm not really sure that pictures of the primatologist holding a toy monkey are any better.

Local 'Rules' For Local People?

The UK government's Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is based here in Swansea (Wales). Since September 2020, it has had 535 Covid-19 cases amongst its 1800 workforce (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/23/minister-faces-fury-over-mass-covid-outbreak-at-top-government-agency). These levels of Covid-19, make the DVLA the location with the highest workplace-related outbreak in the UK. It makes 'gig economy' employers, in comparison, look good. Many staff are said to have felt pressured to physically attend their place of work. People with Covid infection symptoms seem to have been encouraged to return to work. It has even been claimed, that staff are asked to turn off test-and-trace apps on their mobiles, to stop the device from pinging. Absences related to Covid are also (apparently), counted against the worker's statutory sick leave and, anything over 10 days, results in a formal warning. Finally, it appears that some vulnerable staff have been refused permission to work from home. None of this sits at all well with government 'advice', on what people need to do, to reduce transmission of the virus. There, again, an awful lot of government finance flows through the DVLA, as it processes driving licences, collects payment of 'road tax' et cetera.

Vaccine Merry-Go-Round: Here We Go Again!

I seem to have been going on about, what I regarded, at the time, as a 'punt' (rather than a science-led decision). This was the UK decision to increase the timing between the 2 doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech mRNA vaccine, from 3 weeks (as used in its trials) to a maximum of 12 weeks. I fully understood that the authorities wanted to maximise the number of vulnerable people being vaccinated (when available vaccine doses were limited). I worried, however, about whether a) Vaccinated patients would understand that a 1st jab only gave them limited protection and b) Extending the time of the 2nd jab to 12 weeks (after the first), would still result in the vaccine being as effective, as seen in its trials. The British Medical Association have joined in the debate, suggesting there should be a maximum of 6 weeks between the first and second doses (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/23/doctors-call-shorter-gap-pfizer-covid-vaccine-doses-uk). This looks like a compromise? Given the debates about new variants of Covid-19 (with some being, perhaps, resistent to current antibodies), along with the possible need to modify existing vaccines, now, does not seem a good time to be 'playing' with the dose regime.

Don't Say 'Cheese'

An award-winning Cheshire cheese maker has discovered that he cannot run a viable mail order system, supplying his cheeses to EU-based home customers from the UK (https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/jan/23/cheshire-cheesemaker-says-business-left-with-250000-brexit-hole).The cheeseman had no problem sending bulk orders to wholesalers (like supermarkets), accompanied by the required £180 health certificate. He has now discovered that mail-ordered home packs of wax-encased Cheshire cheese (costing between £25 and £30), also require individual health certificates. The mail-ordered packs can be supplied to locations like Canada and Australia but not the EU. This has resulted in an overnight loss of 20% of his sales (around £250,000) and a decision to move a £1m investment intended to create a new distribution centre from Macclesfield (Cheshire) to France. Hard cheese.

Short Termism is a Home Truth?

The UK government will not bring in new house energy standards until 2025, 'because it increases the purchase cost for new homes'. House builders strongly advocated this delay (perhaps to keep their sales buoyant?). This seems likely to cost householders, who have purchased a new-built home in the next 4 years, some £20,000 each (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/23/buyers-of-brand-new-homes-face-20000-bill-to-make-them-greener). The UK government has committed the country to being carbon neutral by 2050 (a touch slow, given the urgency of the situation?). To stand a chance of achieving this, housing will have to be brought up to high energy efficiency standards (calculated as costing around £5000 per new-built house). This means, for example, replacing gas boilers with heat pumps. The £20,000 bill per householder, reflects the much greater cost of retrofitting the required changes. The total bill for doing this for the whole UK is around £20bn. Requiring house builders to conform to the higher energy efficient standards now would be better. Higher energy efficiency will reduce the running costs for the house buyer. The purchaser might pay more for the house but it would be cheaper to run. Instead, each new home owner seems likely to get an inflated bill, when they have to make the changes in 2025.

The Eagles Are Landing

Ten years after worried outdoor pig farmers blocked a proposal to reintroduce the White-tailed eagle to Norfolk, the scheme has received backing from more than 20 landowners in the area (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/22/farmers-back-plan-to-reintroduce-white-tailed-eagle-to-norfolk). The site chosen is coastal, as the White-tailed eagle is the UK's biggest bird of prey (it has been reintroduced elsewhere), and largely feeds on fish (rather than piglets). Its proposed home also has reintroduced beavers.

Electric Inflection Point?

There is a serious need to replace diesel and petrol-fuelled cars with electric alternatives. The change is necessary to both reduce health-damaging air pollution and to curb climate change. Experts now agree that we are fast approaching an inflection point, at which electric vehicles are cheaper than the traditional alternatives, without the need to employ grants and tax breaks (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/22/electric-vehicles-close-to-tipping-point-of-mass-adoption). The experts suggest that this 'tipping point' (along with battery improvements) will, inevitably, lead to a mass adoption of this cleaner mode of transport. Their conclusion is supported by a finding that more than 90% of electric car owners, would not want to return to petrol-fuelled vehicles.

Taking Back Control of Overfished Stocks?

The charity Oceania have audited 104 stocks of fish (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/22/only-a-third-of-uks-key-fish-populations-are-not-overfished). Most of the fish in UK waters are overfished, with only Mackerel (in NE Atlantic); Haddock (in the North Sea) and Langoustines (West of Scotland) in a healthy state. Oceania feel that the taking of Cod, should be markedly reduced in some areas and cease altogether in others (the Celtic Sea). Herring, Whiting, Blue whiting, Scallops and Crabs all show ominous signs of overfishing in some areas. It will be interesting to see whether these stocks will, in future, be better protected from commercial fishing.

US Rivers Don't Just Roll On

A study of satellite images of major US rivers, taken between 1984 and 2018, have found that around a third have changed their colour in less than 40 years (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/22/one-third-us-rivers-changed-color-recent-decades). Some rivers (e.g. the Mississippi) show seasonal colour change but alterations elsewhere seem related to climate and/or human intervention. For example, Lake Mead (part of the Colorado river) has changed from blue-green to yellow in colour as a result of declining water levels. The Double Mountain Fork Brazos river in Texas, has done the reverse after the creation of a dam in that region. This kind of analysis is helpful, in terms of tracking what is happening to the environment. It could also be applied to other geographical features.

The Worm Turns?

Researchers have discovered 20m year old fossils of giant 2m long burrows in sandstone in Taiwan (https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/jan/21/giant-worm-undersea-lair-discovered-fossil-hunters-taiwan). After considering many options, they have concluded that the burrows were once occupied by enormous versions of Bobbit worms (Eunice aphroditois). These soft-bodied worms have powerful jaws and ambush marine creatures that swim by their burrows, pulling their victims (e.g. fish) down into the sands. The burrows of these worms are strengthened with mucus but the entrances have to be replaced after each attack. This produces a 'feathered' pattern, like that seen in the fossils. So, once, the early worm could catch the 'bird'.

Duties and Duty

I have constantly railed (get it?) about the environmental impact of fast fashion. Another problem is now becoming apparent. Many UK clothes (and other) companies do much of their business by mail order. The customer, of course, has the right to return items that are unsuitable. The new trading arrangements with the continent mean, that people there are increasingly likely to refuse to pay duties on returns. Such items then become stuck with courier services on the continent. The UK companies are finding it cheaper to write off (or even just burn) these items, rather than pay the duties themselves (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-55757931). More waste. More global warming. And it's not only cheap, fast fashion that is involved!