Wooden Tops 1. Acacia

Acacia wood is ideal for outdoor furniture. It's resistant to insect pests, fungi and rot. Acacia wood can also be used to make household cutting boards and decorative plates.

Do We Need a Natural History Qualification For UK Secondary Schools?

Conservationists and 'greens' have instigated and supported an Ordinary level General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) in Natural History. The Oxford, Cambridge and Royal Society of Arts board, have worked on a programme for this proposal. In 2022, the former UK government eventually agreed to impliment this. The present government have now, however, put the development 'on hold'. This is frustrating its supporters (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/dec/02/natural-history-gcse-on-hold-as-qualification-seen-as-tory-initiative-claims-campaigner ). Perhaps, reasons for the delay include the basic question 'what's it for'? Some folk may simply see an Ordinary level GCSE in Natural History as a 'dilution' of Biological Sciences. It could certainly exclude many of the chemical, genetic and medical elements of traditional Biological Science. Ordinary level GCSE in Natural History could be accessed by folk with a minimal science background. There are, however, issues that can be included in a GCSE in Natural History that could prove beneficial even to students with a strong arts, languages, humanities or mathematical bias. Everyone, needs to appreciate they are part of the natural world. They also need to be reminded that, maintaining a human-friendly planet relies on the recycling of materials. A vibrant natural history (biodiversity) is part of that. It's also worth educating folk that appreciating natural history can be beneficial to their mental health, as well as being a source of inspiration for the arts etc. People need to appreciate that conserving particular organisms involves making choices. A GCSE in Natural History may actually help more of the populace appreciate the importance of recycling and limiting human environmental impacts. It wouldn't be a viable qualification for students intent on careers in biotechnology, medicine, dentistry or nursing. It could still, however, serve a useful purpose!

Keep On Running?

Runners are often sternly warned they will damage their knees. Short-term knee injuries can be relatively common. These are, however, generally consequences of poor running technique; wearing the wrong footwear and/or increasing the amount and intensity of this activity too quickly. What about chronic joint pain (osteoarthritis) in the knees and hips? Osteoarthritis is actually less common in recreational and competitive runners, than in non-running counterparts. A meta-analysis of 25 studies,with a total of circa 115,000 subjects, showed running to actually protect the knees and hips as the individual ages (https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/dec/02/is-it-true-that-running-destroys-your-knees). The consequent 'take home' messages are to a) be sensible in your running and your footwear and b) keep on running! Employing myths and half-truths, to dissuade folk from running isn't sensible.

Does the Future Really Love Human Brains?

'Brillient, young' neuroscientist Dr Ariel Zeleznikow-Johnston has a book entitled 'The Future Loves You: How and Why We Should Abolish Death'. In it, he suggests that we already have the ability to 'press the pause button' on death. Zeleznikow-Johnston argues that human brains can be preserved indefinitely, 'for the cost of a mid-range car'. He postulates that (eventually?) medical advances will enable us to reactivate these organs, restoring a sembalance of life (https://www.theguardian.com/science/2024/dec/01/with-brain-preservation-nobody-has-to-die-meet-the-neuroscientist-who-believes-life-could-be-eternal). Zeleznikow-Johnston may be right about preservation of tissue and medical advances. Would the future (if there is one) really benefit by having up to 8.5 bn preserved brains to reactivate? Perhaps, only a small minority of the planet's human population would actually want to go through such a process. Even that, could involve masses of materials and storage facilities, as well as ethical dilemmas. A relatively large mass of human material could fail to be recycled in biogeochemical cycles. That could grow and grow with succeeding generations. Would the poor or folk with damaged brains be excluded from the exercise? Would the 'insights' revealed by preserved ancient brains actually help things in the future. Zeleznikow-Johnston's ideas are not a million miles away from the early cryogenic exercises. These were reportedly engaged in by Walt Disney and others. That was clearly a 'rich man's game'. Rather than 'abolishing death', it might be better to concentrate on having a good and productive life. The viability of the planet relies on recycling of materials as well as ideas.

Hopefully, It Wasn't Named After Me!

After a public vote, 'brain rot' has become the Oxford word (pedant corner, it's two words) of the year. The term is applied to the trivial use of social media. A medium that was supposed to education has become a mechanism for switching off thinking https://www.theguardian.com/media/2024/dec/02/brain-rot-oxford-word-of-the-year-2024). The excitement about a smooth Mars Bar must qualify as an example? (https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/nov/30/smooth-mars-bar-wins-aylesbury-man-2-compensation-and-internet-fame).

Seeing the Changes 2103

Wet in Loughor. Bracket fungus thriving and Yellow corydalis (Pseudofumaria lutea) in bloom again.

UK EVs: A Lack of Joined Up Thinking?

Electric vehicles (EVs) generate fewer harmful emissions than petrol or diesel-fuelled counterparts. They, consequently, have a much lesser impact on both global heating and poor air quality. EVs, however, cost more than current fossil-fuelled vehicles. Some countries have been much more successful than others, in their encouragement of EV uptake (think Norway). The UK is proving exceptionally poor in this respect. A previous UK government brought in laws imposing, after 2030, a £15,000 penalty on its car manufacturers for each petrol or diesel vehicle sold outside a quota. Sluggish EV sales and these proposed fines, are consequently convincing car and van manufacturers that the UK simply isn't a good place to operate or invest. The current government has the problem of wanting to a) continue the transition to carbon zero and b) retain its car/van manufacturing industries. It's currently considering possible changes to the penalties and giving of cheaper loans, to encourage EV purchase (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/dec/01/loans-uk-motorists-electric-ev-fines). Concomittantly, London's mayor is upsetting electric van operators. Electric vans are used for home deliveries in the capital by some companies. These vans are expensive as well as not being easily rechargeable in some locations. A major inducement for their adoption, however, has been their being exempt from the daily congestion charge applied to other vehicles. The mayor proposes that, by Christmas 2025, such electric vans will get the same congestion charge as diesel-powered alternatives. Money is needed to pay for roads but this seems a badly-timed response (https://vanfleetworld.co.uk/scrapping-congestion-charge-exemption-will-choke-off-electric-van-switch/#:~:text=from%20Christmas%202025.-,Drivers%20of%20electric%20vans%20currently%20receive%20a%20100%25%20discount%20on,end%20by%2025%20December%202025.). Adoption of EVs is especially important in a congested city like London. London has traffic problems and poor air quality. EV uptake can be mandated for regulated vehicles, like buses, fire engines, taxis, police cars and waste collection trucks. Now, however, doesn't seem the time to discourage private delivery van fleets from making the same transition.