Nature & Science Thread

[Samoa Looch]

Australia experiencing a heat wave at the moment.

• Victoria reaches above 47 °C (117 °F) in temperature for the first time since the 2019 Black Summer season.
• Extreme heat wave warnings and fire risk warnings are imposed across multiple regions of Australia, with temperatures reaching 12–16°C above average across multiple settlements.

Temperatures soar across the nation as heatwave continues

A widespread heatwave has large parts of the country's interior expected to reach highs of above 40 degrees Celsius throughout the day on Monday. See what's happening in your state.

www.abc.net.au

Everyone down there, please stay safe.

 

[Samoa Looch]

X's declining user base: Elon Musk's platform projected to lose millions of users in 2025

Millions of people have and will continue to leave X.

mashable.com

 

[Chris]

‘Murder Hornet’ Has Been Eradicated From the U.S., Officials Say

The hornet was discovered in a corner of Washington State. Five years later, a massive mobilization has eliminated the invasive species, at least for now.

www.nytimes.com

The hunt for the “murder hornet” in the northwest corner of Washington State began like a criminal investigation, with bee carcasses creating a crime scene and the public being asked to send tips about the potential culprit’s whereabouts.

Search grids were created. Traps were set. Soon, state entomologists were able to capture some of the wayward hornets, affixing tiny tracking devices on the insects to trace them back to their lairs. Crews wearing otherworldly protective equipment moved in to eliminate the nests.

Officials believe it all worked. On Wednesday, five years after the invasive hornets were sighted for the first time in Washington State, state and federal agencies announced that they had successfully eradicated the species from that hot spot and the nation. That dispelled their initial fears that the hornet might spread rapidly enough to establish itself in the United States for good.

 

[Grimoire Lenin]

If it's what I'm thinking of, yeah, the Japanese hornet is no joke.

 

[Chris]

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/12/19/fda-eli-lilly-weight-loss-drug-zepbound-no-longer-in-shortage.html

The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday said the active ingredient in Eli Lilly’s

weight loss drug Zepbound is no longer in shortage, a decision that will eventually bar compounding pharmacies from making cheaper, unbranded versions of the injection.

“FDA has determined that the shortage of tirzepatide injection products, which first began in December 2022, is resolved,” the agency said in a letter. “FDA continues to monitor supply and demand for these products.”

 

[Chris]

Puerto Rico plunges into darkness as power outage hits more than 1.3 million customers on New Year's Eve

Power outages are a frustratingly frequent occurrence for many Puerto Ricans. A string of blackouts during the summer prompted protests and a state of emergency.

www.nbcnews.com

Puerto Rico suffered the latest in a string of widespread power outages Tuesday that has left 1.3 million customers, some 80% of the entire island, in the dark.

More than 1 million energy customers were without power across the U.S. territory since 5:30 a.m. due to an infrastructure problem at a power plant on the island's southern coast, energy company LUMA said in an update on X.

LUMA said in a statement that the fault appeared to be an underground cable and that it was working with partners to restart the island's power network.

 

[Grimoire Lenin]

I'm sure some thoughts, prayers, and of course toilet paper is gonna make it all better.

 

[Road Runner]

If it's what I'm thinking of, yeah, the Japanese hornet is no joke.

Thankfully I never have to deal with them. I would probably go to the hospital to get treatment if one of those mean hornets stung me.

 

[Chris]

Surgeon General Calls for Cancer Warnings on Alcohol

Dr. Vivek Murthy’s report cites studies linking alcoholic beverages to at least seven malignancies, including breast cancer. But to add warning labels, Congress would have to act.

www.nytimes.com

Alcohol is a leading preventable cause of cancer, and alcoholic beverages should carry a warning label as packs of cigarettes do, the U.S. surgeon general said on Friday.

It is the latest salvo in a fierce debate about the risks and benefits of moderate drinking as the influential U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans are about to be updated. For decades, moderate drinking was said to help prevent heart attacks and strokes.

That perception has been embedded in the dietary advice given to Americans. But growing research has linked drinking, sometimes even within the recommended limits, to various types of cancer.

 

[Samoa Looch]

Video from someone driving through Asheville, NC, three months after Hurricane Helene. Really devastating to watch.

Just don't take a look at the comments. 60-70% in there are idiots blaming Biden and Democrats... as to be expected

 

[Chris]

https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/06/health/bird-flu-death-louisiana/index.html

The first person to have a severe case of H5N1 bird flu in the United States has died, according to the Louisiana Department of Health. This is the first human death from bird flu in the US.

The person, who was over 65 and reportedly had underlying medical conditions, was hospitalized with the flu after exposure to a backyard flock of birds and to wild birds.

Louisiana health officials said that their investigation found no other human cases linked to this person’s infection.

 

[Chris]

Tibet earthquake: Scores dead in Shigatse as magnitude 7.1 quake hits

The earthquake, which killed at least 126 people, is one of China's deadliest in recent years.

www.bbc.com

Rescue workers are searching for survivors after a major earthquake killed dozens of people and damaged more than 1,000 buildings in a remote region of Tibet, near Everest.

At least 126 people were killed, with another 188 injured, after the earthquake hit the foothills of the Himalayas at around 09:00 local time (01:00 GMT) on Tuesday, according to Chinese state media.

A large-scale rescue operation was launched, with survivors under additional pressure as temperatures were predicted to fall as low as -16C (3.2F) overnight.

Earthquakes are common in the region, which lies on a major geological fault line, but Tuesday's was one of China's deadliest in recent years.

 

[Chris]

Firefighters battle 200-acre Pacific Palisades brush fire as high winds slam Southern California

Firefighters are battling a brush fire in the Pacific Palisades that quickly spread to 200 acres Tuesday and triggered mandatory evacuations amid warnings from weather forecasters of "extreme" wildfire risks.

www.cbsnews.com

Firefighters are battling a brush fire in the Pacific Palisades that quickly spread to 200 acres Tuesday and triggered mandatory evacuations amid warnings from weather forecasters of "extreme" wildfire risks.

With the blaze exploding in size within an hour, fire authorities issued mandatory evacuation orders for homes in the area around noon along with some evacuation warnings. At 10:30 a.m., the Los Angeles Fire Department first reported the blaze, saying it sparked near 1190 North Piedra Morada Dr. and was estimated to be 20 acres at that time.

An hour later, at about 11:30 a.m., the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, estimated the wildfire was 200 acres.

 

[Chris]

Firefighters battle 200-acre Pacific Palisades brush fire as high winds slam Southern California

Firefighters are battling a brush fire in the Pacific Palisades that quickly spread to 200 acres Tuesday and triggered mandatory evacuations amid warnings from weather forecasters of "extreme" wildfire risks.

www.cbsnews.com

Firefighters are battling a brush fire in the Pacific Palisades that quickly spread to 200 acres Tuesday and triggered mandatory evacuations amid warnings from weather forecasters of "extreme" wildfire risks.

With the blaze exploding in size within an hour, fire authorities issued mandatory evacuation orders for homes in the area around noon along with some evacuation warnings. At 10:30 a.m., the Los Angeles Fire Department first reported the blaze, saying it sparked near 1190 North Piedra Morada Dr. and was estimated to be 20 acres at that time.

An hour later, at about 11:30 a.m., the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, estimated the wildfire was 200 acres.

'Evacuate now': Residents ordered out as Pacific Palisades fire rages in California

A wildfire erupted Tuesday in Los Angeles and grew to 200 acres within 90 minutes, spurring evacuation orders for thousands in Pacific Palisades.

www.usatoday.com

A brush fire fueled by dangerously high-speed Santa Ana winds threatened homes in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles on Tuesday, prompting mass evacuation orders for thousands of residents and power shutoffs.

"Evacuate now from the area of Palisades Area," the City of Los Angeles warned on X. "Those not in the evacuation area should shelter in place."

Pacific Palisades, a neighborhood of Los Angeles, has 9,400 homes with 27,000 residents, according to the Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce. The area has been touted by real estate brokers as an oasis of tranquility and understated elegance and home to numerous A-list celebrities.