DERELICTION OF DUTY
In 2022, environmental justice groups in Louisiana escalated their fight against pollution by filing complaints with the EPA, accusing the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) of racial discrimination. This led to a significant civil rights investigation by the EPA into LDEQ’s practices. However, Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, now the state’s governor, sued the EPA, challenging its authority to enforce the Civil Rights Act based on the disparate impact standard. This standard argues that policies causing disproportionate harm to people of color violate the act. Following Landry’s lawsuit, the EPA dropped its investigation, leaving the residents of Cancer Alley, a highly polluted area between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, without federal support. This move is seen as a broader retreat by the EPA from environmental justice cases nationwide, fearing that Landry’s suit or similar actions might reach a conservative Supreme Court and limit federal agencies’ ability to enforce civil rights law. The case reflects the growing tension and uncertainty surrounding the enforcement of environmental justice and civil rights standards in the face of legal challenges and political opposition. (The Intercept)
AMERICA’S RIVERS ARE POORLY.
The Environmental Protection Agency’s latest assessment reveals persistent nutrient pollution in the nation’s rivers and streams, primarily due to agricultural runoff into the Mississippi River basin. Over half of the basin’s waterways are in poor condition due to high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus from fertilizers. Despite efforts, controlling farm runoff, the main source of this pollution, remains a challenge, worsened by climate change-induced intense storms. The report, based on data from 2018 and 2019, shows unchanged nitrogen levels and slightly reduced phosphorus levels. The health of river ecosystems is also concerning, with about half of river miles in poor condition for key aquatic species. While the EPA has made efforts to reduce the Gulf of Mexico’s ‘dead zone’ and improve drinking water, the reliance on voluntary measures for farm runoff reduction has not yielded significant progress. New regulations, alongside incentives for sustainable farming practices, are suggested to address this persistent environmental issue. (Associated Press)
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JOURNAL EDITORS BRIBED BY PAPER MILLS.
In June 2023, Nicholas Wise, a researcher at the University of Cambridge, discovered an alarming new trend in the world of academic fraud while investigating shady Facebook groups. He found that paper mills, which profit by producing fraudulent scientific papers, were now targeting journal editors, offering them large sums of money to ensure the publication of their papers. This was a shift from the traditional approach of targeting authors and reviewers. The industry, estimated to involve tens of millions of dollars annually, had previously been known for generating a massive volume of low-quality, plagiarized, or fabricated research papers. Publishers have responded by retracting suspicious papers and investing in detection tools. However, the paper mills adapted by bribing editors and infiltrating editorial boards. Investigations revealed the involvement of more than 30 editors from reputable journals in these schemes, indicating a widespread issue. The situation highlights the challenges faced by the academic publishing industry in maintaining integrity amidst the sophisticated and organized tactics of fraudulent actors. (Science)
JAPAN ACHIEVES SOFT LANDING.
Japan has marked a significant achievement in lunar exploration by becoming the fifth country to successfully soft-land a spacecraft on the Moon with unparalleled precision near the Shioli crater. However, the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) faces power issues, operating on battery after solar cells failed to generate electricity. This power shortfall may limit SLIM’s operational time to a few hours. Despite this setback, the mission represents a leap in landing accuracy, showcasing advanced vision-based navigation technology. The mission’s success is seen as a major win for Asia in the space race, particularly following a previous Japanese commercial lander’s crash and a recent unsuccessful US commercial mission. While the status of SLIM’s orientation and the deployment of two small robots remain uncertain, the mission holds the potential to resurrect if sunlight reaches its solar panels. If operational, SLIM aims to investigate olivine on the lunar surface, offering insights into the Moon’s geological history and its relationship with Earth. The mission’s precise landing technology is also expected to contribute significantly to future lunar explorations, including the US-led Artemis Program and the joint India-Japan Lunar Polar Exploration Mission (LUPEX). (Nature)
GMO PIG LIVER INTRODUCED INTO HUMAN BODY.
Surgeons at the University of Pennsylvania have achieved a medical breakthrough by successfully attaching a genetically modified pig liver to a brain-dead person, with the organ functioning normally for 72 hours. This experiment, a stride towards potentially using pig organs for critically ill patients, indicates that pig livers could provide temporary support for patients awaiting liver transplants or those whose livers might recover. Despite the liver’s multifaceted roles in the human body, liver failure remains a critical issue, often requiring transplants that are limited by donor availability. The pig liver used in the experiment, developed by eGenesis, underwent 69 genetic edits to minimize immune rejection and adapt it for human use. While this approach mirrors past attempts in the 1960s and 1970s and aligns with the current need to address organ shortages, further research and refinement are essential to assess the long-term viability and safety of using genetically modified pig organs for human patients. (Wired)
TANZANIA TAKES ON BLAST FISHING.
Blast fishing, a harmful practice where explosives are used to stun and capture fish, poses a significant threat to Tanzania’s marine ecosystems, artisanal fisheries, and tourism. Kennedy Osuka, a University of Liverpool fish ecologist, emphasizes the urgent need to halt this practice, which has destroyed coral reefs in Tanzania. Originating in the 1960s, blast fishing peaked in the 2010s, facilitated by the easy access to explosives from mining and construction sectors. Although government initiatives curbed this activity around 2000 and 2020, it’s resurging. To combat this, the Tanzanian government has launched the Heshimu Bahari project, focusing on strengthening marine protection, enhancing climate resilience, and curbing illegal fishing practices. Efforts to eradicate blast fishing involve disrupting the explosives supply, enhancing monitoring, and imposing strict penalties. Despite challenges like enforcement corruption and the difficulty in tracing blast-caught fish, there’s optimism that governmental measures will eventually control and eliminate blast fishing. (Hakai Magazine)
HELLO AGAIN.
Cary Fowler, the State Department’s global envoy for food security, is redefining U.S. foreign policy on agriculture. Breaking away from decades of promoting staple grains in developing countries, Fowler advocates for “opportunity crops” like cowpeas, cassava, and millets. These traditional crops are resilient, nutrient-rich, and better suited to withstand climate change. Despite its modest $100 million budget, this initiative is deemed potentially revolutionary by Secretary of State Antony Blinken. It aims to enhance agricultural productivity of neglected crops by leveraging indigenous knowledge and modern plant breeding, though concerns linger about its execution and the impact on small-scale farmers. With a focus on diversifying crops and acknowledging indigenous agricultural practices, Fowler’s approach promotes a more sustainable and resilient food system, aligning with his longstanding commitment to preserving seed diversity, exemplified by his involvement in the Arctic seed vault. (New York Times)
BURN BEETLE BURN.
In Custer, South Dakota, the annual Burning Beetle fest marks a symbolic battle against the mountain pine beetle, known for its devastating effects on Black Hills forests. The 11th edition of this event saw hundreds of participants marching with torches to set ablaze a towering beetle effigy, symbolizing the community’s struggle against this destructive pest. Accompanied by drumming and chants, the fiery spectacle aims to raise awareness of the beetle’s impact while ensuring safety under firefighter supervision. Alongside the pyre burning, the event features a talent show and a “bug crawl,” celebrating local arts. The mountain pine beetle, recognized by the US Forest Service as a major threat to western U.S. and Canadian forests, has caused significant damage to the Black Hills over the years, with the most recent outbreak spanning from 1996 to 2016 and affecting 703 square miles. (The Guardian)
Thanks for reading. Let’s be careful out there.
WORDS: The Biology Guy.
IMAGE CREDIT: Team New Orleans, US Army Corps of Engineers.
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