Seeing the Changes 2038

A Lackey moth (Malacosoma neustria) larva on Bynea cycle route.

Is Homo sapiens Like the Grey Squirrel?

Grey squirrels, introduced from North America, largely eradicated the UK's native Reds. A contributing factor was the transmission of Squirrel pox. The Reds are much more sensitive to this viral disease than their Grey cousins. Large numbers of infected Reds died. Jonathan Kennedy (Queen Mary University College, London) suggests something similar happened, when Homo sapiens 'out-competed' Neanderthals (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/may/30/50000-year-old-herpes-virus-humans-dna-homo-sapiens-neanderthals). It's now accepted that Neanderthals were remarkably sophisticated. Some current human populations also carry 2% of Neanderthal genes. This proves there was interbreeding between these two hominid species. Kennedy notes, however, that Homo sapiens evolved nearer the equator. This made them more likely to carry a range of viral infections than Neanderthals. He says that recent advances in studying ancient DNA, have enabled scientists to identify viruses found in fossiled human remains. For example, a 50,000 year-old virus has now been identified in skeletal tooth plaque. Kennedy opines that Homo sapiens might have 'finished off' Neanderthals, by infecting them with deadly viral diseases. Plagues have been quite common in human history. Not so different, then, from the Grey squirrel story?

What's In a Critter's Name? 119. Fieldfare

Fieldfare is derived from the Anglo-Saxon 'feldware', simply meaning 'traveller of the fields'. That's what they do!

What's In a Critter's Name? 118. Gannet

Gannet is derived from the Old English 'ganot', meaning 'strong or masculine'. It's ultimately from the same Old Germanic root as 'gander'.

What's In a Critter's Name? 117. Curlew

The name 'Curlew' may have been influenced by the Old French 'corliu' (messenger), from 'courir' (to run).

Hidden In the 'Cloud'

I'm unsure whether I should be actually posting this, as it may undercut my already mildly 'green' credentials? Mariana Mazzucato (University College of London) very effectively, however, reiterates that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is far from being the environmentally 'benign' force it portrays itself as. She opines that, in actuality, AI is 'guzzling resources at planet-eating rates' (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/may/30/ugly-truth-ai-chatgpt-guzzling-resources-environment). Mazzucato points out that infrastructure used by 'the cloud' data storage devices, generates more 'greenhouse gases' than global commercial airflights. Enormous quantities of water (circa 700,000 litres) were also used to cool the machines used to train ChatGPT-3 at Microsoft's data facilities. That cooling is, of course, still required in all cloud infrastructure. She suggests that things will only get worse, as 'Big Data' tends to site new facilities in 'Sunshine States'. Electricity can be generated there, using solar power. These locations, however, are also prone to water shortages. The electronics used in e-commerce, also require increased mining of rare lithium, cobalt etc. This activity, also generates many environmental problems. Mazzucato notes that the planned Google 'global datacenter' and Meta's new AI 'Research SuperCluster', will both be incredibly energy-intensive. It's notable that neither company have made any reference to this! There's gold in them thar clouds!

What's In a Critter's Name? 116. Mynah

Mynah comes from 'maina', the Hindi word for any native starling species. They were kept at pets and can mimic human speech and other sounds.

What's In a Critter's Name? 115. Grouper

The grouper's name is from the Portuguese 'garoupa'. It's thought, in turn, to come from an indigenous South American language.

What's In a Critter's Name? 114. Mongoose

In the 16th Century, this animal's English name was spelt 'mungoose'. It's derived from names used in India, such as 'mungus' or 'mangus' in Classical Hindi.

Water, Water Everywhere?

Lots of excitememts currently surround England's Privatised Water Companies. These 'cash-cow' monopolies (they have been 'milked', for substantial rewards to share-holders and CEOs), seem to now be 'going down the drain' (forgive the pun). A spate of cryptosporosis in Brixham (Devon), was linked to South West Water's supply of tapwater. Cryptosporosis results from water supply contamination by animal faeces. The human infection is very unpleasant, causing vomiting and diarrhoea. There's a consequent risk of dehydration. Predictably, holiday makers currently don't feel inclined to stay in Brixham (https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/article/2024/may/18/brixham-devon-water-infection-cryptosporidium-cases). Thames Water (serving London) has now also had customers in its Beckenham area, also afflicted with vomiting and diarrhoea. The company have slowly been carrying out tests for cryptosporosis in a very limited area (https://www.theguardian.com/business/article/2024/may/29/thames-water-urged-to-test-supply-urgently-after-reported-illnesses). Thames Water also currently claims to be in a precarious financial position. Its shareholders are refusing to provide funding for mandatory upgrades to its Victorian infrastructure. Ofwat is the regulator, responsible for regulating the UK's Water Companies. The companies would like the regulator to approve massive increases in charges for water supplies/sewage treatment. This would effectively make the customers pay for any upgrades. Ofwat are apparently not 'poised' to agree the kind of charges the Water Companies would like (https://www.theguardian.com/business/article/2024/may/28/water-watchdog-suppliers-price-rises-ofwat-bills-thames-water). The regulator is, however, 'minded' to reduce the fines to financially-struggling Water Companies, for their illegal pollution of rivers and coastal areas (https://www.theguardian.com/business/article/2024/may/29/ofwat-reduce-sewage-fines-financially-struggling-water-firms). More s*** in water discharges but less direct cost to customers! Water Company activity in England appears to be a uniformly dirty business. Who said water privatisation was a good idea?

What's In a Critter's Name? 113. Dunnock

Dunnock is the diminutive of the English word 'dun' (dingy-brown). So, it means 'little brown bird'.

What's In a Critter's Name? 112. Cormorant

Cormorant is derived, in reference to its black plumage, from the Latin 'corvus marinus' i.e. 'sea raven'.

What's In a Critter's Name? 111. Merganser

Merganser comes from the Latin 'mergus' (plunging) and 'anser' (goose), so roughly translating as 'plunging goose'.

Will the Four R's Save Humanity?

Sir David King is an eminent Cambridge chemist, who was also a former Chief Scientific Officer for the UK. He's now Chair of the Global Climate Crisis Advisory Group. King opines that 'survival of humanity is still within our grasp-just'. Nice to know? (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/may/27/humanity-survival-emissions-resilience-ecosystems-greenhouse-gases). King outlines the 'radical steps' needed to ensure survival of human society. They might be designated 'The Four R's'. Namely:- 1. Reducing emissions; 2. Removing excess 'greenhouse gases' already in the atmosphere; 3. Repairing ecosystems and 4. Resilience- strengthening local and global defences against inevitable climate impacts. King's 'prescription' is the kind of eminently-sensible list a Chemist might produce. The 'fly in the ointment', however, is human behaviour. All the indications, are that politicians and their publics are now generally becoming even further obsessed with 'economic growth'; migration and conflict (as opposed to cooperation), than was the case at the time of the Paris Accord. It's also going to require a completely different 'mindset', to maintain our currently 'human-friendly' planet. Instigating and fulfilling 'The Four R's' isn't going to be easy, with so many voices raised against action!

What's In a Critter's Name? 110. Coot

Coot was 1st used in the 1700's to refer to a harmless, simple person. The bird was probably named from its 'elderly', bobbing gait.

What's In a Critter's Name? 109. Pelican

Pelican comes from the Ancient Greek 'pelekan' via 'pelekys', meaning 'axe'. This name was also classically applied to woodpeckers.

What's In a Critter's Name? 108. Monitor lizards

They get their name from the Latin verb 'monere', meaning 'to warn'. These lizards, habitually stand on their hind legs, as if checking out their surroundings.

Crumbling Colours?

Plastics are produced from oil. Microplastics are tiny particles of these now ubiquitous materials. They are everywhere (in human bodies, all food chains and even rain drops) with probable negative effects on health. A 3-year Leicester University study, found that UV light (as in sunlight) causes brightly-coloured (red, green and blue) plastics to crumble much more quickly than black, white or silver alternatives. This, of course, means the brightly-coloured versions more speedily decompose into microplastics (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/may/27/ditch-brightly-coloured-plastic-anti-waste-researchers-tell-firms). Waste researchers, not unreasonably, suggest that manufacturers should (where possible?) ditch brightly-coloured plastic items. Perhaps someone should tell Lego?

Chickens Making 'em 'Chicken'?

Villagers in Snettingham (Norfolk, UK) claim to be 'terrorised' by '100 feral chickens'. The birds roost in neighbouring woodland. It's uncertain how accurate this number is, but folk believe the population is increasing (hardly surprising, if there's sufficient food, water and nesting sites). Villagers maintain 'their' gardens (animals have no concept of human ownership), are being 'destroyed' (holes made in flower beds?). Folk also moan about being woken by birds, becoming vocal around 4am. They are also distressed that visitors, coming to see the chickens, leave them food. This, they say, is attracting rats, creating a health hazard. I don't suppose they have ever left any edibles outside, themselves? (https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/article/2024/may/26/out-of-control-flock-of-100-feral-chickens-torments-village-norfolk). It's all part of living in proximity to other species. Fortunately, the good folk of Snettingham don't have to cope with tigers, wild elephant or even feral monkeys. They might find these circumstances more of a challenge?

What's In a Critter's Name? 107. Lion tamarins

They, predictably, get their name from their lion-like mane of hair.

What's In a Critter's Name? 106. Coal tit

In the early days of mining, Coal tits were used by operatives, to extract peanut-sized pieces of coal from narrow seams.

What's In a Critter's Name? 105. Chaffinch

Chaffinch comes from the Old English 'ceaffinc' from 'ceaf' (chaff) and 'finc' (finch). This was probably from their habit of picking through discarded chaff on farms, to obtain grain.

This Rice is Nice!

Precautionary Principle or not, I think it's a grave mistake for Greenpeace to have helped finance a court action to block the growing of 'Golden Rice' in the Philippines. 'Golden Rice' is a genetically modified (GM) crop, with a gene that produces carotene in the grains. Carotene is a basic building block for Vitamin A. Many people, especially in the Southern Hemisphere, suffer from Vitamin A deficiency ('Beri-beri'). Beri-beri kills tens of thousands of children each year. This crop's planting was being encouraged by the non-profit Golden Rice Humanitarian Board (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/may/25/greenpeace-blocks-planting-of-lifesaving-golden-rice-philippines). The Philippine judge ruled that Golden Rice has 'not been shown to be safe'. Neither, of course, was 'normal' rice or particular strains of this grain. We have assumed they are safe, because people have eaten them for generations. A Greenpeace official suggested that folk, who are at risk of Vitamin A deficiency, could get their carotene by consuming other crops. That, of course, depends on growing them, people having the finance to purchase these items and children wanting to eat them (I hate carrots). Rice is a staple food in many parts of the world. Is there any suggestion that, eating a meal combining rice and carrots, will less safe than eating the items separately? The Golden Rice Humanitarian Board are worried the Philippine ruling will discourage the crop's introduction to other countries, such as India. We are also going to need the help of GM crops to deal with some of the consequences of climate change. The days of blanket (almost religious?) antipathy to GM must surely be over.

Do They Know Something We Don't?

The UK's Deputy Prime Minister (PM) repeated his 'resilience speech', on the same day, his boss called a General Election. The Deputy PM says all citizens should stock up with a radio (presumably battery operated); spare batteries, 3 days of canned food and 10 litres of water. This is, allegedly, to enable the country to come through impending biosecurity hazards; catastrophic risks etc., etc. He takes no account of the fact that, substantial numbers of folk, find paying for their family's daily meals problematic. Such stocking up, is relatively rich person's game. Food banks are unlikely to give people extra food, to deal with unspecified emergencies. They might eat it! (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/may/26/biohazards-putin-extremism-well-need-more-than-a-few-tins-of-beans). Perhaps, this 4th of July General Election, is going to be more fraught than usual?

Politicians and the Precautionary Principle

The Precautionary Principle maintains that "when an activity raises threats of harm to human health or the environment, precautionary measures should be taken, even if some cause-and-effect relationships are not fully established scientifically". Politicians generally seem to ignore this, preferring to hope that things will 'turn out fine, again'. This is clearly illustrated by comments made at Wales' Hay Festival by the UK's former Chief Scientist. He was in place, through the Covid19 pandemic. Another pandemic, he now says, is 'absolutely inevitable'. His clear judgement is also that 'we are not ready yet' to deal with any such event. The Precautionary Principle, of course, dictates that we should sensibly use what was learned in the Covid19 pandemic, to deal effectively with the next mass disease event (https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/article/2024/may/25/another-pandemic-is-absolutely-inevitable-says-patrick-vallance-covid). In 2021, he advised leaders of the G7 (the rich nations), what could be done better (curbing the spread of disease and quickly devising tests and safe, effective vaccines). He thinks, however, by 2023, they have 'sort of forgotten' all he said. Perhaps they haven't forgotten? Maybe, they are just reverting to type and hoping a new pandemic doesn't happen on their 'watch'. Their attitude to climate change often seems just as blinkered.

What's In a Critter's Name? 104. Buzzard

Buzzard, derives from the Old French 'basart', meaning hawk. This, in turn, is probably from the Latin 'buteonem'.

What's In a Critter's Name? 103. Brambling

The original English name, in 1544, was 'bramlyng' from 'bram' (loud) and 'lyng' (lung). Later, in the 16th Century, the current spelling was used.

What's In a Critter's Name? 102. Godwit

Its name is thought to derive from the Old English 'god wicht' (good creature). Perhaps, reflecting its 'starring role', as a gourmet dish, in the 15th and 16th Centuries.