Black Spot?

Melanoma is a form of skin cancer, that kills circa 132,000 people globally each year. Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines now seem to offer personalised cancer vaccine treatments for melanoma sufferers. A sample of tumour is surgically removed from the patient. This is then DNA sequenced and Artificial Intelligence used to identify the sample's neoantigens. Neoantigens are markers on tumour cells, that can be potentially recognised by the patient's immune system. Custom-built mRNA vaccines, coding for up to 32 neoantigens, can then be produced for each patient. These are given, along side Keytruda immunotherapy (a booster for the immune system). In theory, cancer cells can be recognised and destroyed anywhere in the patient's body. Preliminary data appears very promising and University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is about to enter Phase 3 (final tests, before therapy is approved) trials. Throughout the UK, selected NHS hospitals, will produce data on more than a thousand patients for a full evaluation (https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/apr/26/cancer-mrna-vaccine-melanoma-trial). mRNA vaccines, of course, came to prominence as providing treatments for Covid19 infections. Personalised mRNA vaccines are also being tested for lung, bladder and kidney cancers. It seems the way to go but it won't come cheap! Early diagnosis is important for even such hi-tech therapies to work.

Seeing the Changes 2017

An Angle shades (Phlogophora meticulosa) moth inflated its wings in my Loughor garden.

What's In a Critter's Name? 17. Goose barnacle

Nobody had ever seen a migratory Barnacle goose nest or lay eggs. Folk, consequently, decided they must emerge, by spontaneous generation, from Goose barnacles (Lepas anatifera), attached to the wooden hulls of sailing ships. This edible crustacean effectively got its name, because its shell looks a little like the goose's head.

What's In a Critter's Name? 16. Turkey

Although the Turkey originated in America, its was named after the Eurasian country. This was because folk thought it resembled another bird, nicknamed the 'turkey-cock', imported, at that time, from Turkey.

What's In a Critter's Name? 15. Orangutan

In the Malay language, Orangutan, means 'man of the forest'.

Seeing the Changes 2016

Further flowers in Bynea. Pineapple mayweed (Chamomilla suaveolens) and feral Cultivated apple (Malus domestica) put in appearances.

What's In a Critter's Name? 14. Chipmunk

This mammal's common name may have originally been 'chitmunk'. It was, perhaps, derived from the native Odawa (Ottawa) word 'jidmoonh' meaning a 'red squirrel'.

What's In a Critter's Name? 13. Koala bear

The Aboriginal name for the 'Koala' is 'Koolah'. It's not, of course, a bear but Europeans thought it resembled one.

What's In a Critter's Name? 12. Wallaby

The term 'wallaby' is derived from the word 'walabi' or 'waliba', coming from the Eora Aboriginal people of New South Wales.

What's In a Critter's Name? 11. Comma butterfly

The Comma butterfly (Polygonia c-album) gets its name from the punctuation-like mark, on the underside of its wings.

What's In a Critter's Name? 10. Weevil

Weevils are a group of beetles, said to derive their name from the 'woven' appearance of their larval cases.

Plastics: Even If We Don't Make Them, They Come To Us!

Plastics are, of course, another 'mixed blessing', brought to us by 'Big Oil'. Globally, some 400 million tonnes of plastics are produced each year. Much of this is incinerated; finishes up in landfill or sets sail on the oceans. A UN meeting in Ottawa (Canada) hopes to get nations to 'come together' to agree a treaty to reduce the soaring levels of plastic waste. Large plastic waste is unsightly (and can be dangerous to some other living organisms) but microplastics are probably a greater concern. Microplastics are infiltrating themselves into all living animals, including humans. It will be interesting to see if an effective treaty is forthcoming. As with the case of 'greenhouse gas' emissions, the major producers of plastics, make their mess available to the rest of the world. Much of that mess impacts on countries that, themselves, produce no plastics (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/apr/23/world-must-come-together-to-tackle-plastic-pollution-says-chair-of-un-talks). A very graphic illustration of the problem is the observation that the Marine iguanas of Galapagos are living on rafts of plastic waste (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/apr/23/currents-bring-life-and-plastics-animals-of-galapagos-live-amid-mounds-of-waste). The remote Galapagos islands (of Charles Darwin fame) are volcanic peaks in the Pacific Ocean. They are thousands of miles away from any site of plastics manufacture. Although they are visited by 'ecotourists', such folk are unlikely to discard their plastic waste locally. Most of that plastic must, consequently, arrive on ocean currents.

Handbags and Glad-rags?

The designer, Nancy Gonzalez has been sentenced to 18 months in prison by a US court. She illegally arranged for numerous 'couriers' to bring crocodile and python handbags, into the US, from her native Columbia. The handbags, were made from the skins of captive bred Caimen and snakes. Prosecutors pointed out, however, that the technique used for importation was not 'a million miles' away from that used for illegal drugs (https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2024/apr/23/designer-nancy-gonzalez-sentenced-to-prison-for-smuggling-crocodile-and-python-handbags). It's important that people who are caught contravening laws, designed to protect endangered species, are punished. This must also apply to celebrity fashionistas with well-known clients and a compelling backstory.

In My 'Mind's Eye' ?

Hyperphantasia is a condition where an individual has a particularly vivid 'mind's eye'. They can visualise recent events in graphic detail. They can even imagine (like William Blake) mystical things. Hyperphantasia may, however, be far from rare. 1 in 30 claim to evidence this form of neurodiversity. Hyperphantasia has now become a topic of scientfic study. It's hoped it will give insights into everything from creative inspiration to mental conditions, like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and psychosis (https://www.theguardian.com/science/2024/apr/20/like-a-film-in-my-mind-hyperphantasia-and-the-quest-to-understand-vivid-imaginations). What then of folk, like myself, with Aphantasia? We effectively have no 'mind's eye'. We can't even 'see' the face of a loved one in our minds! Perhaps, we are completely without 'creative inspiration'? I would argue that we may have other skills. When operating in science, we seem less likely to be distracted by imagined 'solutions' (although Charles Darwin was reportedly Hyperphantasic). Aphantasics are probably more likely stick to the facts, rather than follow expectations. I've actual enjoyed finding things that run contrary to popular predictiuons. We may also prove to be less prone to PTSD and other mental conditions. It seems worth looking as us, as well. In deed, neurodiversity may have survival value for the human species. Different strokes for different folks?

What's In a Critter's Name? 9. Oil beetle

The Oil beetle (Meloe violaceous) gets its name from its defensive strategy of releasing oily droplets, of bright orange haemolymph, from its joints. This secretion is poisonous, deterring predators and Entomologists.

What's In a Critter's Name? 8. Devil's coach horse beetle

In Ireland, what we now call the Devil's coach horse beetle (Staphylinus olens), was simply known as 'Dar Daol' or 'the Devil's beetle'. It was thought to deliver curses to humans, by pointing at them with its upraised body.

Watering Down the Shark's Profits?

The 'stand-off' between London's privatised Water Company, Thames Water, and Ofwat (the agency charged with protecting water user's interests) continues. Thames Water needs to fix its leaking pipes and to start sticking to the environmental rules on dumping raw sewage into rivers. Both will cost money. As its shareholders are unwilling to pay, this monopoly's latest plan, could raise bills for its customers by 44% (excluding inflation) (https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/apr/22/thames-water-bills-fix-leaks). Thames Water wouldn't, however, now need to find so much money, if it had earlier invested more of its considerable yearly profits into obviously-required infrastructural improvements. Clearly, too much of their cash went to rewarding shareholders and CEOs. Profits before service? Renationalisation is apparently still an option. The money that was historically 'creamed off' will never, however, be returned. Only current shareholders and/or Thames Water customers will end up paying for this fiasco.

Disposing of the 'Unwearables'?

In the UK, massive quantities of textiles are annually sent to landfill or to be incinerated. Environmentally, this obviously makes no sense. There've been attempts to reduce this emissions-generating wastage. One is the 'Shwopping' tie-up between Marks and Spencer (M&S) and the charity, Oxfam. It rewards M&S customers, donating 'wearable' clothing to the supermarket. 'Wearable' clothing is defined as 'clean, dry, in good condition and ready to be worn'. Such items are then sold, as 'preloved' garments, in Oxfam's stores and on its website. It's been estimated, however, that UK folk alone, have more than 1.6bn items of unworn clothing in their wardrobes. The M&S/Oxfam tie-up will now offer UK folk the opportunity to dispose of all their unwanted clothing in a single operation. People will be able to request pre-paid post bags from the Oxfam website. They will be then asked to place 'wearable' and 'unwearable' items in separate sacks, within the bag. 'Unwearables' are items 'damaged in some way, for instance torn, stained, faded or stretched'. It's thought that this opportunity will increase the likelihood of folk having a wardrobe 'clear-out' (https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/apr/22/m-and-s-and-oxfam-trial-postal-donation-bags-for-unwearable-clothes). The only downside to the scheme, is that users do not appear clear about what's 'wearable' and what's 'unwearable'. For example, tearing and fading can be distinctly fashionable for some folk. This, however, should be sortable. 'Wearable' items will continue to be sold by Oxfam. Clearly currently 'unwearable' garments, will be recycled by a UK Fashion and Textile Project. The project aims to turn most the material into new garments. The scheme will also deal with unwanted bedding and towels. This is what they call 'a circular economy'.

Seeing the Changes 2015

Put my moth trap out in my South Wales garden for the first time in 2024. Not one moth visited, not even a tiny micro! Only a few flies were in residence. Sometimes, zilch tells you something!

Seeing the Changes 2014

More bloomers! Ramping fumitory (Fumaria capreolata) in Bynea. Yellow corydalis (Corydalis lutea) in Loughor.

What's In a Critter's Name? 7. Ladybird

The word 'ladybird' is believed to have been inspired by early depictions of the virgin Mary. She appeared wearing a red cloak.

What's In a Critter's Name? 6. Jackdaw

Some folk believe the Jackdaw (Corvus monedula) name is linked to the sound of its 'tchack' call. Others think 'daw' or 'dawe' is an Old English name for the bird and that 'jack' means 'small'.

Seeing the Changes 2013

More plant activity in the Llanelli Millennium Wetland. Reeds (Phragmites australis) in flower and Field horsetails (Equisetum arvense) transitioning. Heath speedwell (Veronica officinalis) and Marsh marigold (Caltha palustris), blooming.

Birder's Bonus 234

Welcomed to LLanelli's Millennium Wetlands by a European robin (Erithacus rubecula). Lots of Black cap (Sylvia atricapilla) activity in the trees coming into leaf.