Will You Still Need Me? Will You Bother to Inject Me? When I'm 65?

Thomas Mertens, head of Germany's Standing Committee on Vaccination (Striko) maintains that their advice to Germans has 'somehow gone wrong' (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/27/germany-signals-astrazeneca-vaccine-may-be-approved-for-over-65s). Unlike the European Medicines Agency, Striko announced that it wasn't recommending the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine for people over 65. Mertens now claims that, far from criticising the vaccine, they were only complaining about the lack of 'conclusive data'. He now suggests that they are thinking of advocating the vaccine's use in the over 65s. They might be a bit too late. Only 360000 doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine have currently been given to people in Germany. Some 1.4 million doses have been delivered. We have a saying in English that 'You create a problem, when you give a dog a bad name'. I suspect that it will be difficult to get the general population in Grmany to enthusiastically take up this vaccine. In a social media-driven world, you have to be careful what you say.

Getting Your Own Back?

A rooster, with a knife attached to its leg, being prepared for a cockfight in India, reportedly fatally injured its owner (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/27/rooster-fitted-with-blade-for-cockfight-kills-its-owner-in-india). The bird lacerated its owner's, groin causing massive loss of blood. Cockfighting is an unpleasant activity and fights can be fatal to the opponent, when just the talons are used. These male birds normally fight as a form of sexual competition.

A Pregnant Pause?

Women (especially those, in their 30s, considering having a baby) already have lots to worry about. Totally unfounded claims, now circulating on some social media, suggest being vaccinated against Covid-19, could impair fertility (https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/feb/28/covid-vaccine-does-not-affect-fertility-but-misinformation-persists). One of these claims has even been made by a disgruntled former employee of Pfizer. He suggests the vaccine can attack the placenta. All medical bodies with a focus on the mother and her baby, have emphasised that there is no biological mechanism, whereby the vaccine could impair fertility. They have also noted that, being infected with Covid-19, can be extremely dangerous to the woman and her unborn/newborn child. It is, however, very difficult to effectively counter the existing misinformation. It is, of course, not helped by the current embargo on offering the vaccines to pregnant or breastfeeding women (although this is largely down to the vaccines not having been tested yet in these people). Vaccine 'hesitancy' is likely to be more of a problem as we get to the younger age groups.

Pricing Out the Science?

In the 1850's, Queen Victoria set up the buildings around Burlington House in Central London, as a 'cultural hub' for the Arts and Sciences. Since that time, it has been home to 5 Learned Societies. These include the Geological Society, the Linnean Society, the Royal Astronomical Society, the Royal Society of Chemistry and the Society of Antiquaries of London. In 1858, Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace gave their seminal lectures on the theory of Evolution (a cornerstone of modern Biology), in the Linnean Society building. In 2014, the UK government changed its accounting policy for Burlington House (https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/feb/28/under-threat-the-birthplace-of-darwins-historic-theory). It decreed that Burlington House should, in future, be treated as an investment property. That meant extracting a rent reflecting its prime location. Between 2014 and 2020, rents for the societies have gone up more than 3000%. The societies get their finance from member's subscriptions and sometimes from profits made by their journals. There is every likelihood that this cluster of expertise will be driven out of central London. This is a great pity, because the proximities of these bodies to eachother has been a source of strength. We are always told that the UK values Science (just not as much as rent)?

Dinosaur Inbetweeners?

Katlin Schroeder (University of New Mexico) has carried out a study attempting to answer the question why smaller carnivorous dinosaurs (those weighing less than 60 kg) are so rare in many locations (https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/feb/25/fossil-record-puzzle-teenage-t-rexes-dinosaur-study). Schroeder suggests, that 'teenaged' megatherapods (such as Tyrannosaurus rex), may have 'crowded' them out. She postulates that adolescent T. rex adopted a 'grow fast, die young' life-style. Schroeder studied fossil records of dinosaur communities across the globe. She noted that communities with megatherapods, were devoid of medium-sized (in the 100-1000kg range) carnivores. Communities without megatherapods had them.

Efficacy Versus Effectiveness

I had doubts about the UK authorities deciding to change the dose regime for the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. They decided (as the vaccine was initially in short supply), to maximise the numbers of people getting first injections, by extending the time between the 2 doses from 3 weeks (as used in that vaccine's trials), to up to 12 weeks. Pfizer did not recommend this, apparently, somewhat arbitrary decision. Recent developments (e.g. studies showing that extending the time between the 2 injections, improves the effectiveness of both the Pfizer/BioNTech and Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines) and an opinion piece by David Spiegelhalter and Anthony Masters (https://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/commentisfree/2021/feb/28/both-covid-jabs-are-working-well-in-the-real-world-not-just-the-lab ), have changed my views. Spiegelhalter and Masters point out that there is a difference between a vaccine's efficacy and its effectiveness. The former (needed for vaccine approval) uses a double blind technique (to avoid bias) with carefully balanced (in terms of age, gender, fitness and ethnicity) experimental (who get the vaccine) and control (who do not) groups. Effectiveness, on the other hand, looks at the treatment's performance in the 'messy' real world (with lots of variability between subjects and no attempt to hide who gets the vaccine). There now seems little doubt that the policy of giving as many first jabs as possible is driving down hospital admissions rates for people with a Covid-19 infection. And, as we say in English, 'the proof of the pudding is in the eating'. The only provisos that I would add are that a) protection after a first dose is not immediate and b) getting the second dose is still important, to help maximise the vaccine's effects. People need be reminded about these two facts, before rushing off to their former lives after receiving the first jab.

Vaccination Curbs Covid-19 Transmission

Doctors in Cambridge University have found that a single dose of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine markedly reduces asymptomatic infections in health workers (https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/feb/26/single-pfizer-jab-can-reduce-asymptomatic-covid-infections-by-75). There was a 75% fall in infections within 12 days of being vaccinated. This appears to be evidence that this vaccine can protect the treated individual and people that they might (in their work) transmit the disease to. We need much more evidence but it looks as if vaccines can curb transmission.

Poor Cows

More than 850 cows have been 'marooned' for 2 months on a ship, the Karim Allah, stuck in Cartagena harbour, Spain (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/27/cattle-stranded-on-ship-in-mediterranean-must-be-destroyed-say-vets). Nobody wanted to buy the cows, because it was suspected they might have Blue tongue, an insect-vectored disease of cattle. The animals are in such bad condition (several died and others are unaccounted for), that Spanish vets have ruled they are unfit for travel and must be humanely destroyed. The ship's owners are resisting this. I thought the rules on humane transport would be more strictly observed? It really doesn't set a good example.

Switching Off Our Atlantic Heating System?

The UK 'neck of the woods' has always been warmer than one would expect from its northerly latitude. Andrew Meijers (British Antarctic Survey) has pointed out that our privileged weather (we do like to talk about it), depends to a large extent on the Atlantic Meridonal Overturning Circulation (AMOC). This is a powerful current that brings heat energy northward at a rate equivalent to 10 Hiroshima bombs per second (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/feb/26/atlantic-currents-climate-oceans-next-century). Meijers points out that the AMOC is a global 'tipping point'. It's strength has declined by 15% since it was first measured in 1871. The AMOC, now at its weakest for more than a thousand years. This decline seems directly related to human-mediated climate change. Modelling and the use of 'proxy measurements' (it's difficult to measure changes directly), suggest the current's strength might well halve by 2100. The weather here would be generally colder. There would be less summer rainfall, resulting in declining growth of crops. Ocean productivity of fish would also fall dramatically. These all sound like excellent self-interested reasons to drive down climate change. Save our AMOC!

Seeing the Changes 1515

Unseasonally warm in Loughor. Horsechestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) was in bud. The catkins of Goat willow (Salix capra) and Alder (Alnus glutinosa) were both evident. A Drone fly (Eristalis tenax) basked.

E-Waste!

The UK government is considering how to set up and finance kerbside collection of broken or unwanted electrical appliances and gadgets (https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/feb/26/kerbside-scheme-collect-electronic-waste-uk). E-waste is a particular problem as it often needs separate treatment from most of the traditional material collected from homes. Since 2014, companies annually selling more than 5 tonnes of electrical goods have had to finance the costs of collection, treatment and recovery for their old washing machines, computers and toasters. Remarkably, however, online sellers are currently under no such obligations.

Flights of Fancy?

In 2019 and 2020, Airbus sold more than 1400 planes. It has now been estimated that, over their operational lifetimes, these machines will produce over 1 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide (https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/feb/26/airbus-reveals-planes-sold-in-last-two-years-will-emit-over-1bn-tonnes-of-co2). Aviation currently generates nearly 2% of all global 'greenhouse gas' but a rapid rise in its emissions is expected, when coronavirus lockdowns are eased. As mentioned previously, fuel for aircraft is relatively untaxed and it is difficult to allocate carbon taxes for flying to particular countries (should the operators, the start locations, the countries over which they fly or the landing destinations be held to be liable?). It would be nice to have similar emissions data for the US Boeing corporation's products. Optimistic talk of 'green aviation' seems, however, just 'pie in the sky'.

Scratching the Bottom (Trawlers)?

It has been obvious for sometime, that the protection offered by being designated a 'Marine Protected Area' (MPA) by the UK, is fairly minimal. Most (74/76) of such areas off the UK coast, are still open or partly open to destructive fishing. One of the most destructive techniques is 'bottom trawling', where weighted nets are dragged along the seabed. What they don't catch, they destroy. Patrols of MPAs are few and severe penalties for inappropriate actions are hardly ever incurred. Greenpeace are now taking direct action (https://guernseypress.com/news/uk-news/2021/02/26/greenpeace-builds-boulder-barrier-to-protect-marine-site-from-fishing/). The organisation is dropping huge granite boulders (adorned with the names of celebrities) from their ship (Esperanza) into the sea along the margins of MPAs. The intention is to make bottom trawling in such areas mechanically impossible. Esperanza has done this off the Dogger Bank in the North Sea and is continuing the activity off the coast of Brighton. The fishermen are, predictably, unhappy, describing the action as 'illegal and dangerous'.

Way To Go For Potato Heads?

Mr Potato Head has been a simple toy for children for decades. Makers Hasbro, is now attempting a relaunch with a 'create your potato head family kit' (https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/mister-no-more-mr-potato-head-goes-gender-neutral-n1258877). The kit enables children to create potato parents and a potato baby 'for modern families'. They claim the kit is now 'gender neutral'. This is, however, in modern parlence, just stratching the potato skin. Why even stick to humans? Potatoes can be anything they want to be!

Loose Talk Can Cost Lives

The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine has been fully approved as a protection for Covid-19 by the European Medicines Agency. There has, however, been much griping from politicians in France and Germany about the vaccine's a) availability (not much point if they don't want to use it), b) appropriateness for people over 65 and c) possible side effects. Their populations are now distinctively unenthusiastic about the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine (https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/fury-as-french-and-german-citizens-reject-astrazeneca-vaccine-after-macron-scaremongering/ar-BB1dTD1k ). There is a long tradition of vaccine-resistance in France and Germany. One might, consequently, reasonably pose the question 'What did the politicians expect would be the response to their words?' A clear illustration of the actual outcome, can be seen in the experience of the Tegel vaccination centre in Berlin. The centre exclusively uses the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine. On some days, only 200 people turn up for the scheduled 3,800 daily appointments. In addition, health workers, in France (who one would expect to be better informed than the general population), appear intent on waiting for the Pfizer vaccine. This is all very sad, as it further slows the EU's mass vaccination programme. Vaccine is available and it could be saving lives as well as reducing the generation of new Covid-19 variants.

'Return' of the Black-browed Babbler?

The beastie shown is a Bali starling (it's not easy to get to Borneo at present and I'm not too used to working in rainforests). In Borneo itself, there has been a first sighting of a bird not seen since the 1840s (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/feb/25/black-browed-babbler-found-in-borneo-180-years-after-last-sighting). The bird in question is the Black-browed babbler (Malacocincla perspicillata). A single bird was collected by a nephew of Napoleon, whilst on an expedition to the 'East Indies'. It has been preserved as a faded museum specimen but the bird was never (until now) recorded in the wild again. Two bird enthusiasts have now caught and photographed a new specimen of the babbler in the rainforests of Borneo. This 'rediscovery' type of story always generates more interest than reports of extinctions. It's a sad fact of life that 'rediscoveries' are much more unusual than extinctions (and you can't prove a negative in science).

An Entire Tree

It's a amazing what can turn up when resurfacing a road. A complete fossilised tree has been found on the Greek island of Lesbos (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/25/unique-petrified-tree-up-to-20m-years-old-found-intact-in-lesbos). The 20 million year old fossil, is almost 20m long with all its roots, branches and leaves. The tree had been buried in ash after one of the many volcanic eruptions in this area. The most interesting thing about the fossil is that it is completely different from the species now dominating the island. This tree was clearly a species adapted to hotter climates.

Swinging the Lead

Pheasant shooting is big business (with the act of shooting seeming to be a greater attraction to its participants, than any generated food items). A recent study examined 180 pheasant carcasses, obtained from game dealers, butchers and supermarkets across England and Scotland (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-56158777). Only one bird was found not to contain toxic lead shot. This comes a full year after 5 shooting organisations signed up to a 5 year transition, to using non-toxic gun ammunition. It's also after the uppercrust supermarket, Waitrose, banned lead shot meat from 2020 (I wonder, if the outlier bird came from there). There are alternatives to using lead shot. Ceramic or steel pellets can be used. There are even companies, like BioAmmo, selling cartridges (with a choice of lead or steel pellets) with fully biodegradable cases and wads. Although the presence of lead pellets is presented as a human health consideration, their impact on wildlife is more serious. It has been known, since the 1960s, that many ducks and other waterbirds that are found dead, have been poisoned by ingesting lead pellets whilst feeding. If they must shoot birds, the aficionados should be compelled to stop using lead shot. There's not much point in having 'green', biodegradable cartridges if you are spraying toxic lead into the environment!

Marmalade

Seville is using the gas from fermenting left-over oranges to provide electricity for powering its water plant (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/feb/23/how-seville-is-turning-leftover-oranges-into-electricity). This is a useful thing to do, so long as 'greenhouse gas' emissions are controlled. It's certainly better than placing the organic material in landfill.

Meat Off the Menu in Lyon

The 'green' mayor of Lyon has, for now, taken meat off the city's school menus (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/24/meatless-school-menu-sparks-political-row-in-france). The mayor, Gregory Doucet, claims that 29,000 children cannot be served with a choice of a meat-dominated or vegetarian meal, in the 2 available hours for socially-distanced lunches. Everyone needs to eat less meat, if we want to actively counter climate change. I suspect that there would also be a fuss if vegetarians couldn't get their meal. Removal of meat was, however, always guaranteed to cause uproar amongst the farmers and restaurateurs of France! It's the end of the world!

The Energetics Will Kill Them Off

Animal behaviour is always a costs versus benefits calculation (animals generally only perform activities, when the benefits outweigh the costs). It has been estimated that the loss of Arctic ice, now requires Polar bears to use four times the energy that was formerly required just to survive (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/24/arctic-ice-loss-forces-polar-bears-to-use-four-times-as-much-energy-to-survive-study). The extra energy required by Polar bears, will reduce their fat stores for hibernation, leave less energy for moving and rearing cubs etc. It is very likely that this extra energy requirement (especially, as it will be seen over an extended period), will make this animal's life-style completely untenable. In fact, most Arctic predators (including Narwhals) will find it impossible to survive in an Arctic that can be largely ice-free in locations for many days.

(Almost) As Accurate as PCR and Faster Than the Lateral Flow Test?

The 'holy grail' of a fast and accurate test for determining if someone has a Covid-19 infection, may have a candidate. The Cor Dial1 test is at an early stage of development and requires lots more testing, before it can be considered for approval. Initial studies by researchers at the Universities of Lille and Marseilles, however, sound very promising (https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/french-researchers-trial-more-accurate-fast-covid-19-test-1.5322033). The Cor Dial1 technique grafts tiny nanobodies, incorporating the especially stable Covid-19 antibodies from Camellids (camels, llamas etc), on to the surfaces of electrodes. The electrodes are a component of the testing apparatus, which looks rather like a large USB stick. When the coated electrode comes into contact with the spike protein from the Sars-CoV-2 virus, the electric current passing across it is changed. The test apparatus can then be plugged into a smartphone, where the current shows up as a signal on a graph, confirming the presence of the spike protein. The whole procedure takes less than 10 minutes. Initial trials suggest the Cor Dial1 test has 90% of the accuracy of the 'gold standard' Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test. PCR, however, requires several hours in a laboratory to get a result. The Lateral Flow test (much used in the UK) takes 20-30 minutes but has nothing like the accuracy of the PCR test. If Cor Dial1 passes all its hurdles, we may have a test with excellent accuracy, delivering test results in the 'field', within 10 minutes. Such a test would have lots of applications. Its results could even be used to automatically warn contacts of the tested subject.

BMI Blunder

It's amazing that the UK NHS apparently trusts people to calculate their own Body Mass Index (BMI). This somewhat crude measure is advertised as being useful to determine "if you're a healthy weight". The BMI calculation is quite easy. You divide your weight, in kilograms, by the square of your height, in metres. It seems, however, that the NHS sometimes has difficulties itself with the metric. A healthy 32 year old, 6 feet 2 inch ('old metric) journalist was contacted by his General Practitioner to go for an urgent Covid-19 vaccination (https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/feb/18/6cm-tall-man-offered-covid-vaccine-after-nhs-blunder-liam-thorp). When the journalist telephoned to ask why he had such a high priority, he was told they had his height down as 6.2cm. This generated a BMI approaching 28,000 (anything above 25 is overweight). Being overweight is an established risk factor in a Covid-19 infection but I don't understand how they expected him to travel for his injection. A BMI of 28,000 would require a low-loader!

Should We Treat Covid-19 Like Influenza or Like Measles?

I have heard some authorities claiming that we simply have to accept that Covid-19 will now always be with us (in one form or another), like season influenza. The mutating virus will, if this turns out to be the case, require continued (but, this time, properly working) test, trace and isolation systems. People would also face periodic (likely to be as winter approaches, when we are forced indoors) booster doses of vaccines. Other people would prefer us to attempt to eradicate the virus, as was almost done for Measles. Measles was pretty well-controlled by the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine that was given to children. This was before the claim (in a medical journal and newspapers) that the vaccine 'caused' Autism. The parental panic that was induced, produced a marked decline in the take-up of MMR, a loss of herd immunity and a resurgence of Measles. The Autism claim was completely debunked but vaccination never completely recovered. Clearly, however, some viral infections can be largely eliminated by well-supported vaccination programmes. I too, would prefer the latter approach but I think the odds are against it. Covid-19, Seasonal Influenza and Measles are all highly contagious viral infections, spread by the coughing by infected patients. Covid-19, like influenza (but not Measles), exists as infections in other animals (e.g. mink, cats etc). These can act as reservoirs for reinfection of humans. Covid-19 is also pretty ubiquitous across the globe, so simultaneous eradication would be next to impossible, even in our own species. It is also clear that asymptomatic people (who are difficult to detect) can spread Sars-CoV-2 but, people infected with Measles, develop spots (a bit of a give-away?). Unfortunately, I don't think we will be able to completely rid ourselves of Sars-CoV-2 and all its variants.

A Fishy Tale

The World's Forgotten Fishes report (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/feb/23/global-freshwater-fish-populations-at-risk-of-extinction-study-finds) highlights the dire state of the planet's freshwater fish species. Freshwater fish populations have declined by 76% since 1970 and large fish (those around 30kg) have been eliminated from most of the world's rivers. Sadly, 16 freshwater fish species were declared extinct last year. The reasons for the declines and extinctions are both predictable and obvious. Pollution, overfishing and climate change are the main problems faced by these animals. The human tendency to put dams into rivers for irrigation and hydroelectricity also makes lives difficult for species migrating between freshwater and the sea. It is notable, that even a rich country like the UK, apparently cannot maintain any of its rivers in a healthy condition.

Can't See the Woods

It is a good idea to plant trees inorder to reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide, as one aid to achieving control of global heating. I appreciate that the Covid-19 pandemic, has resulted in other problems being prioritised. It is still disappointing, however, to read that the UK Forestry Commission (they work in the open air), achieved less than 10% of its target for planting 30,000 hectares in the year ending March 2020. It is also saddening that their mantra still seems to be 'count the trees, rather than worry about their qualities' (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/feb/23/row-over-uk-tree-planting-drive-we-want-the-right-trees-in-the-right-place). The Forestry Commission are currently being attacked by a variety of conservation groups, for their non-native, conifer-dominated planting policies. Inappropriate tree planting clearly damages peatlands (such as a location in Cumbria, where the Forestry Commission now admits it should not have put in conifers), in spite of peatlands being important 'carbon sinks'. The Forestry Commission's planting policies also imperil rare species and habitats in other locations. This is clearly illustrated by the collective decision of Plantlife, Butterfly Conservation and the Dorset Wildlife Trust (who are expert about the locality), to object to the Commission's plan to replant Dorset's Wareham Forest with conifers. I (and many others) have said it before, but we need to say it again, "We certainly need more trees, but we need the right trees in the right places".

Chicken Stricken?

Almost 500 cases of Salmonella poisoning occurred in the UK last year, with a third requiring hospital treatment (https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/feb/22/deadly-salmonella-outbreak-in-uk-linked-to-chicken-products). The Foods Standards Agency has linked these infections to cheap, breaded chicken products containing poultry from a range of Polish farms. The now recalled products (there are many, with inviting names like Chicken Poppets and Roosters Breaded Poppin Chicken), have been available in many UK supermarkets. As one might predict, more than 200 children have been infected with Salmonella from such sources (and, now, is not a great time to have to go to hospital). People are advised to be very careful about the storage and cooking (it can vary from batch to batch) of such products. One death was formally linked to Salmonella in the recent outbreak.

The First Cut is the Deepest?

Scientists (from the Universities of Edinburgh and Strathclyde, together with Public Health Scotland) have demonstrated that a first dose, of either the Pfizer/BioNTech or the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, profoundly reduces hospital admissions with Covid-19 infections (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/22/scotland-covid-vaccination-drive-linked-to-big-drop-in-hospital-admissions). The scientists compared people who had had received a vaccine, with counterparts who had not. Four weeks after their first injection, the vaccinated groups, showed reduced risks of hospital admission of, respectively, up to 85 and 94%, for the two vaccines. In the over-80s (an especially vulnerable group who were targeted for the first vaccinations), there was an 80%+ reduction in hospital admissions in patients receiving either vaccine. It appears that the targeted vaccination programmes should, within weeks, reduce pressures on hospitals. In this study, the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine was mainly used in the older age groups. This vaccine appeared to have a particularly good protective effect on the elderly. This should raise a question for EU countries, who are currently only recommending it for the under 65s.

Seeing the Changes 1514

Suddenly and atypically, much warmer in Loughor. The Crocus; Daffodil and Snowdrop, were joined by Primrose (Primula vulgaris); Crab apple (Malus sylvestris) and Common dog violet (Viola riviana).

Are Extremists Trying to Simplify a World They Find Too Complex?

An interesting (but, I suspect, very likely to incense sections of the media) study has been published by Dr Leor Zmigrod et al. of Cambridge University (https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/feb/22/people-with-extremist-views-less-able-to-do-complex-mental-tasks-research-suggests). Their study was carried out on 330 US-based participants, between 22 and 63 years of age. Over a 2 week period, their subjects had to perform almost 40 'neutral' neuropsychological tasks and completed more than 20 personality surveys. The results showed that "Individuals or brains that struggle to process and plan complex action sequences, may be more drawn to extreme ideologies". This is powerful stuff, as it essentially claims that, people who find the world challenging, are more likely to epouse dogmatic (extremist) beliefs (and vice versa?)! Zmigrod et al. also suggest, that people who find the neuropsychological tasks more difficult, would be easier to radicalise. There is, of course, the thorny question of what counts as an 'extremist view'. Are some 'extremist views' more acceptable than others?

When Academic Parents Teach Their Own Children?

An article based only on the experiences of three atypically overqualified parents, is always going to be of limited value. It does, however, raise some interesting issues (https://www.theguardian.com/education/2021/feb/20/im-a-maths-lecturer-and-i-had-to-get-my-children-to-teach-me). The article is based on the experiences of two university academics (a Mathematician and an Environmental Microbiologist) and a Novelist. As a result of the Covid-19 lockdowns, these individuals found themselves having to teach Mathematics, Science and English to their own primary-aged children. I suspect that, until this point, all three had had only had a vague idea of the curricula being followed by their children. The Mathematician was (as am I), unfamiliar with terms like 'bar model' and 'part-whole model' and had to get his children to explain. He was also dismayed by the number of 'different intimidating methods and models' primary school children were expected to use (often, with no later relevance to mathematics). He was also unhappy about the 'lies' (probably presented as simplifications) to which children are exposed. For example, at an early stage, they are categorically told there are 'no numbers between zero and one'. They later have to do a complete volte face to deal with fractions (although they already knew an orange could be cut in half). The very idea of negative numbers does not get an airing. I think he now has a better idea why he has had to correct the thinking of undergraduates, when they start Mathematics at University. The experience of the Scientist was much more positive. This may, however, have reflected the fact that her children's work, at this time, was on basic environmental issues. It would be interesting to see how other areas of science are dealt with later in the curriculum. The Novelist was much less impressed by the English curriculum. She claimed to have learned lots about grammar but found 'nothing of value in it'. Her impression was, that children were being taught 'writing by numbers', rather than being guided to write effectively and convincingly. The experiences of these three are obviously very different from the majority of parents forced into home schooling roles. Perhaps, however, we should all take more interest in what our young people are exposed to by ever-mutating curricula. Few of us understand how rapidly things change (not always for the better), in early education. We can only rarely rely on our own experiences (and jargon) that we acquired at a similar age.

Outside Sports For Children?

In spite of being a 'top scientist' (I hate this term), Professor Mark Woolhouse (Edinburgh University) is right to advise the UK government it would be timely to end the ban on outside sports for children (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/20/ban-on-outside-sport-can-end-top-scientist-urges-johnson). The 'science' confirms that a) most children have a relatively low risk of developing serious consequences, if they contract a Covid-19 infection; b) outside locations are considerably safer than interiors in viral-transmission terms and c) many young people clearly need outdoor sports for their physical and social development. Clearly, the regulation of outside sports for children will require a small number of supervising and organising adults. Adults are more at risk when infected by the virus. These individuals would also have to adjust their behaviour. Supervisors/referees should wear PPE and should not 'bellow from the sidelines' (aerosol transmission). Some outside sports are easier to regulate than others. A football or tennis match would be easier than cross-country running. There are also activities, intrinsic to outside sports, that could be problematic. These include a) sitting close together on substitute's benches; b) sharing of food and drink and c) changing and showering arrangements. Pretty obviously, parental observation would have to be very limited (some might, because of past scandals, worry about child safety). Would people also be tempted to exclude children with underlaying health problems? A bit of careful thought, however, ought to make the return of outside sports for children a realistic prospect.

Sky Parks

James Corner is an architect credited with 'revitalising' part of New York (https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/feb/21/manhattan-makeover-for-london-with-floating-green-walkway-plan). Corner converted a disused, elevated railway into the 'High Line'. The 'High Line' is 'a ribbon of parkland floating over Manhattan'. This walking area has become a much-visited and appreciated feature for both New Yorkers and tourists. Corner has now been appointed as lead architect for doing something similar for London. The aim is to create a linear park on the 1.2 km of railway viaduct, running from Camden to Kings Cross station. This sounds like a good idea as it will turn a redundant structure into something useable by the general public. This modest development is obviously considerably cheaper than the abandoned 'Garden bridge' across the Thames. It is also much more likely to be used, than the Emirates Air Line cable car (perhaps it won't even need sponsorship?).

Hopefully, Strictly For the Birds?

The H5N8 strain of of bird 'flu is deadly to our avian friends. Domestic poultry are presumed to pick up this infection from wild birds. For presumably the first time, the H5N8 strain has infected 7 poultry workers in Siberia (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/20/bird-flu-humans-infected-with-h5n8-strain-for-first-time-in-russia). Fortunately, the poultry workers have now all recovered and there was no evidence of human to human transmission. There is, of course, always the possibility that mutations in the multiple strains of bird 'flu virus, will make human to human transmission possible. After all, this is what happened with Covid-19.

Finland's Nerd Immunity

In the 2019 media literacy rankings for Europe, Finland emerged top and the UK 12th (near the bottom). Finland's success was achieved by a 2014 decision, to embed media literacy into the curriculum for all school children (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/climate-and-people/finlands-secret-weapon-fight-against-fake-news-kindergarten/ ). From the age of 6, children in Finland are taught to critically read sources. Pupils are even encouraged to bring items into school, to be fact checked and evaluated. Websites are also examined for their truthfulness (perhaps including this one?). The approach is applied across all disciplines. In art, they might look at image manipulation. In mathematics, the misleading presentation of statistics. In science, claims about the Covid-19 vaccines. Media literacy, of course, takes time, if one goes down the Finnish route. The generations of 'silver surfers' (and much younger), who have never considered media literacy, are perhaps a more intractable problem?

Nerd Immunity in Taiwan

The 'Infodemic' of false news is proving very dangerous. There have been widely-circulated bogus claims about e.g. the Covid-19 pandemic, the safety of vaccines for this viral infection, the challenges of 5G, the role of lazers in space in relation to California wildfires, honesty of voting systems etc, etc. The term 'fake news' has even been used to denigrate inconvenient accurate statements. False news, not only misinforms, it can actually endanger people and the societies in which they live. Too frequently, social media platforms appear too slow (or even make no attempt), to counter the misinformation they have carried. This is worrying to many governments (especially in the Covid-19 pandemic). The approach taken by Taiwan is particularly impressive and might serve as a model for others (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/feb/17/humour-over-rumour-taiwan-fake-news). Taiwan attempts to 'squash' faked news, using a 2-2-2 'humour over rumour' strategy. They make a response, to the faked news item, within 20 minutes. Speed appears to be of the essence. The government response is encapsulated within 200 words or less and is accompanied by 2 'fun' images. Rapid ridiculing seems a very effective technique for dealing with misinformation. Of course, one would have to be very sure one has the facts right. Attacking something, that later turns out to be true, would quickly destroy faith in the system. The technique also might be less effective in countries with less IT literacy than that prevailing in Taiwan.

I'm Only Using a Domestic Wood Burner For Aesthetic Reasons!

The serious heart and lung conditions associated with using domestic wood burners are well-documented (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/feb/20/hearths-on-fire-uk-residents-incensed-by-pollution-from-wood-burners). Some 38% of small particle (2.5 micron-sized) pollution is generated by open and closed wood fires. It has been suggested that this situation has 'crept up on us', whilst the focus has been on diesel car emissions. Many of the domestic wood burners, in the UK, are apparently used by people of high socioeconomic status (A and B groups), often in cottage retreats. A survey found that only 8% of people are generating this form of pollution. Most (around 67%) were completely unconcerned about the health impact of the smoke on their neighbours. When asked, why they use domestic wood burners, almost a half claim they do it for 'aesthetic' or 'traditional' reasons (in spite of having central heating in their homes). Very few have to burn wood to save money. As might be expected, this combination of factors is a recipe for bitter disputes between wood burning stove operators and their neighbours. There are online campaigns and legal complaints. Things are only likely to get worse, as sales of wood burning stoves have been bouyant over the Covid-19 lockdowns. Some people claim they need the fire to fully relax.

Vaccines: For the Herd or For Leverage?

Covid-19 vaccines are being used very differently by, on one hand, Canada, the UK and the US and, on the other, by China, India and Russia (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/19/coronavirus-vaccine-diplomacy-west-falling-behind-russia-china-race-influence). The former bloc seem largely intent on striving for rapid herd immunity in their own populations, before wheeling out the vaccines (often via the UN) to the rest of the world. That bloc also appears largely happy to view vaccines as purely money-making enterprises by pharmaceutical companies. The latter bloc appear to see vaccines as 'diplomatic tools' that can be used to increase their influence and curry favour. Between them, China and Russia have supplied more than 800 million doses of vaccine to 41 countries (sometimes released with great fanfares). Perhaps vaccine diplomacy is most strikingly illustrated by India? The Serum Institute of India was given the information to make the Oxford University/ AstraZeneca vaccine. So, they were given the information to produce a jab designed by an English University and manufactured/marketed by a Swedish/UK pharmaceutical company. Delhi have now sent the vaccine to neighbouring governments in South Asia (often where they compete with China), prominently labelled 'Gift from the People and Government of India'. How to make friends and influence people?

Fire! Fire!

Changing drying patterns are resulting in wildfires spreading to fuel-abundant regions, formerly less prone to burning (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/ng-interactive/2021/feb/19/how-fires-have-spread-to-previously-untouched-parts-of-the-world). Fires have recently devastated areas of Australia, California, the Pantanal (a natural region in South America) and Siberia. Changes in the regional fire pattern are seen in more forests burning. This is worrying, as this releases more carbon dioxide and, in the case of Siberia, methane into the atmosphere. These 'greenhouse gases' will obviously intensify global heating and make the change in drying patterns even more obvious (a vicious cycle). Changes in the regional fire pattern are also seen in there being fewer fires in grasslands (such the African savannah). This is also worrying as grasslands are adapted to fire. When fires don't occur, it puts their bio-vitality at risk. This complex global pattern, highlights the difficulty of encapsulating the effects of climate change.

The 'New' Pandemic?

Laura Spinney is right to be concerned about the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/feb/15/creating-conditions-next-pandemic-antibiotics). Spinney is even right to point out that declining efficacies of antibiotics may come to play a role in infections such as that by Covid-19. Although viruses are not treatable with antibiotics, infected patients often get secondary bacterial infections. My main bone of contention is the impression that this phenomenon is, in any sense, 'new' (I have been teaching this to undergraduates for at least 15 years!). The problems have always been that there is a) a limited range of antibiotics (and, at least until recently, little incentive to pharmaceutical companies to develop new ones) and b) gross overuse of these medications. Overuse includes patients pestering for an antibiotic prescription for a viral infection (like influenza or the common cold) and the use of these compounds as growth enhancers by the meat farming industry. Pretty obviously, exposing bacteria to antibiotics, exerts extreme selection pressure on these organisms. Only bacteria surviving the treatment, get to multiply in the next generation (they can develop a variety of mechanisms to facilitate resistance and some can even be genetically transferred to other bacterial species). Antibiotic use is why major clusters of antibiotic resistant bacteria are found in hospitals, gyms etc. The WHO (and other scientific bodies) have warned for decades of a likely return to a pre-antibiotic age, where relatively minor infections can kill. Infections by antibiotic resistant bacteria currently cost countries billions of dollars. We really do need to find mechanisms for continuously extending the range of available antibiotics, as well as cutting down on inappropriate use.

Beware Day trippers?

Lately, you tend to get judgement well before the analysis. One of the stories inflaming the passions of newspapers and TV, in the summer of 2020, were the 'senseless, super-spreader' events seen on UK beaches. People emerging from the first lockdown of the Covid-19 pandemic, went to the seaside in 'large' numbers. This was condemned as being highly antisocial. Professor Mark Woolhouse (Edinburgh University) has now revealed that no outbreaks have been linked to this activity (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/19/how-the-beach-super-spreader-myth-can-inform-uks-future-covid-response). The media response now seems to have been an over-reaction. The events all occurred outside, in strong sunshine. Although the beaches appeared crowded (shots often appeared to be designed to make the density seem as high as possible), most individuals seemed to cluster as family groups (a bit like the approved 'bubbles'). We now know that Covid-19's major mode of transfer is via aerosols from coughing, breathing and talking. The conditions (unlike being confined in a room, participating in an illegal 'rave' or packing on to a passenger plane), did not lend themselves to this mode of transmission. The major irritation was the suspicion that some people seemed to be enjoying themselves too much?

Cheap Clothing in the UK Can Carry a Death Sentence?

The organisation Labour Behind the Label (LBL) claim that UK women sewing machinists have a much higher death risk from Covid-19 infections, than females in any other subgroup (https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/feb/18/uk-garment-factory-workers-at-higher-risk-of-dying-with-covid-study). LBL point out that female machinists in the poorly-regulated, cheap clothing industries of the English midlands, routinely work long hours, crowded together in poorly-ventilated buildings. Toilet and washing facilities are also frequently primitive. Their bosses can be very demanding, some insisting that workers, irrespective of symptoms, turn up to complete contracts with tight deadlines. It is difficult to establish an accurate death rate. LBL claim that that for UK sewing machinists is 65 per 100,000. The independent ONS says, because of the small cohort size, it could actually be between 35 and 110 per 100,000. All these numbers are, however, considerably higher than the 17 per 100,000 quoted for all women in the UK (this last figure includes the really elderly in care homes, where Covid infections were rife). It really does not look good that workers in this industry face such risks. It's not as if this should be news to anyone.

Ignoble?

River Action is starting a campaign against agribusinesses, causing damage to UK rivers with apparent impunity (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/feb/18/river-action-targets-agri-businesses-in-campaign-to-stop-pollution). River Action have initially focused on Noble Foods a company operating enormous 'free-range' poultry farms near the river Wye. Run-off from the farms (containing lots of nitrogenous waste), is clearly causing substantial damage to this river. The company sell their eggs as being more ethical than counterparts produced in factory farms. River Action feel that such companies must take responsibility for their environmental impacts on rivers, if they intend to advertise the virtues of their products. River Action are writing to them but they are largely doing so, because zero action has been taken about the pollution by environmental agencies.

A Confidence Trickster of a Fungus

Fusarium xyrophilum is a fungus that has an unusual propagation method (https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/feb/17/plantwatch-fungus-creates-fake-fragrant-flowers-xyris-to-fool-bees). The fungus is found in Guyana (South America), where it infects Xyris grasses. When it infects, it stops the grass making its own flowers. It 'hijacks' the plant's reproductive system, creating fake 'flowers', made entirely of fungal material. The 'petals' of these structures, even have elements reflecting UV light (like the 'honey-guides'on flowers that attract insects to the 'nectary'). The false flowers even produce floral-like odours. Bees and other pollinators, arriving to collect nectar and pollen, become coated with fungal spores. The insects then fly off to infect other Xyris grasses. Ingenious but simply a product of evolution (this is not a cunning fungus planning world domination)!

Aliens to the Rescue?

With the exception of one species on Orme's Head in North Wales, Cotoneasters are introduced, ornamental, evergreen shrubs. They can go 'wild' in some locations such as former quarries on the Island of Portland (Dorset). The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) found that one hairy-leaved species, Cotoneaster franchetii, is 20% better at absorbing air pollution than any other tested hedging species e.g. Hawthorn (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/feb/18/experts-identify-super-plant-that-absorbs-roadside-air-pollution). The RHS consequently recommend planting hedges of this shrub, alongside busy roads. This seems a useful and, not unattractive, aid (just don't let it run too wild).