There is something unhealthy about curiosity, not for the reasons usually given, but because it leads inexorably to exhaustion — Javier Marías
I look to the new year with excitement and hope, but also with a bit of exhaustion. After fifteen years working at the same place, I moved on. After thirteen years, on the same social media platform, I moved elsewhere. Both are turning out to be excellent decisions.
What happened this week? I thought you’d never ask. ;)
NASA launched a billion-dollar satellite to keep track of all the water on Earth. Scientists achieved a major breakthrough in nuclear fusion in the lab. Artemis safely landed from its mission to the Moon.
(Note to self: plenty of topics to choose from for my next science column).
For my column this week in Hindustan Times, I went back to viruses, Australia, and invasive species. Readers of this newsletter will know that I’ve written about the time Australia deliberately leaked a virus to kill rabbits. Here’s a brief excerpt from the column —
Australia wants to release a virus to kill carp.
Last month, officials in that country released a report with a plan to use cyprinid herpes virus 3 – virus that causes disease and death in fish belonging to the carp family – as a means of biological control of rapidly increasing populations of European carp.
European carp was first introduced in Australia by Europeans over a hundred years ago. Since introduction, carp populations have decimated local ecosystems in Australia, with estimates that carp make up over 80 percent of the fish biomass in the Murray-Darling Basin System.
It is natural to wonder why European carp can’t be caught and marketed as food. Carp is eaten in many parts of Asia and even in some parts of Europe. Other species of carp such as rohu, katla, and mrigel are consumed almost daily in Eastern India. While much of the world suffers from a paucity of affordable, high-quality protein, wouldn’t Australia’s approach seem like a waste of an edible fish?
It might, but the fact is that European carp is not eaten in Australia. The fish does not fillet well. It has fatty layers which are considered undesirable. And its flavor has been described as “muddy” because of its feeding habits. It also suffers from a problem of perception as a trash fish in parts of the world where it has been introduced…
A final decision has not been made on whether to release the virus. If biological control of carp is successful and the virus spreads among fish populations, there’s the question of how to remove the enormous biomass of dead fish that would clog up and start to decompose in waterways.
The report also does not definitively say that native fish are safe from infection. Indeed, without further studies on host range of the virus that will be difficult to assess.
But even if no other fish are infected, releasing a biological agent requires close observation. Viruses are not under selection pressure to mutate as long as they have susceptible hosts (in this case, carp) that they can infect. But once, carp populations dwindle or surviving carp show resistance to the virus, the host range of the virus might change.
A beautiful new owl has been discovered, but the race is on to save it from extinction.
“Researchers have discovered a new owl species called the Príncipe scops-owl, known for its unique call and genetic make-up. They found it on Príncipe, a small island off the western coast of central Africa — and they say it's critically endangered.”
This is a wonderful story that highlights the perseverance of scientists —after all it took them nearly two decades to discover this owl. But it also highlights the frailty of life on this planet.
Visit for the cute owl photos. Stay for the clarion call for conservation.
Cholera in Haiti
The World Health Organization reports that after more than three years with no reported cases, Haiti is now in the middle of a major cholera outbreak likely afflicting more than 13,600.
Respiratory infections are on the rise in the northern hemisphere.
After two horrible winter seasons of COVID-19, the CDC reports that we may be in for the worst cold and flu season in decades and that it has started early.
Greenland was once literally green.
The oldest recovered DNA has been sequenced to reveal a lush habitat and large animals like mastodon in Greenland nearly two million years ago.
I want to end by sharing an unbelievable crime story that just got published in Bloomberg but has nothing to do with science. :)
In 2019, more than 100 agents boarded the MSC Gayane as it arrived in Philadelphia for what was supposed to be a quick stop on its way to Rotterdam. Deep below deck, hidden in containers packed with wine and nuts, the agents discovered nearly 20 tons of cocaine, worth $1 billion. The enormous drug bust set off a legal battle between the US and the world’s largest shipping giant that has largely been out of public view — until now.
That’s it from me.
In the new year, may you be filled with hope and awe. May you have good health and good thoughts. May you be kind to others and to yourself. May you find peace inside of you.
Stay well, friends.
Anirban
Congratulations on your two moves! Such things take courage and are stressful to boot. But were well within your capabilities obviously. Thank you for the well wishes you extended to your readers.. they're greatly appreciated.🙂 May you and those you care for prosper, flourish, and thrive in all ways in this coming year.
(And may glorious France prevail today!)
Releasing virus is dangerous isn't it? As a layman it seems scary .