Large Hadron Collider Sabotaging Itself? From the Future!?

Two physicists working on the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) have developed a theory that the Higgs boson, or "God particle," may well be sabotaging itself... from the future! According to the two, the Higgs boson may be "so abhorrent to nature" that nature is "rippling back through time" to sabotage the LHC before the machine can create one.

The papers have been published online and a recent article in The New York Times explained that while there would be a paradox if one went back in time and killed one's own grandfather, there would be no paradox if one traveled back through time and stopped one's grandfather from, say, being hit by a bus. Thus, nature may be keeping the LHC from starting so that it can never create the Higgs boson. One of the writers told the NYT that, in effect, "...we have a model for God."

The LHC was set to start in 2008, but it overheated. It is rescheduled to start-up this December, but many have questioned the safety of an atom-crushing machine. Foremost in their reported fears is creating a black hole on Earth which will destroy the planet and everything on it.

More than one wry commenter has noted the LHC will eventually work... in 2012 (the year the Mayan Calendar posits for the end of the world).

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Patagonian Tribe's Last Stand

The Chilean Indian tribe, the Patagonia, is years away from being extinct. While the Patagonia tribe once thrived in the remote Patagonia region of South America, there are only an estimated 12 - 20, full-blooded tribe members left. "It ends with our generation," a member of the Kawesqar tribe said.

As with many remote tribes similar to this one, respiratory illness contracted from contact with Europeans has wiped them out. The first outbreak occurred in the 1800s, with another in the 1940s. The youngest full-blooded members of the Kawesqar tribe are in their 40s and one of them already married outside the tribe. A leading authority estimates around 200 descendants of mixed Kawesqarian heritage. Soon, not only will their culture disappear, but their language as well.

However, some descendants have willingly relocated, noting the isolation, silence, and lack of modern necessities, such as education and medical treatment.

© C Harris Lynn, 2008

Climate Changes Endangering Birds

Climate changes have affected one-in-eight species of birds, according to a new global study.

Droughts and other extreme weather stresses key habitats and significantly threatens over 1000 avian species. Eight were put on the Critically Endangered list this year.

The list is compiled and reviewed every four years by Birdlife International, a conservation charity. Conservationists suggested we heed recent trends toward less carbon emissions and lessening our "carbon footprint." But though climate changes have been most important, other factors are also at-play.

For the full article, click here.

© C Harris Lynn, 2008

Extinction Could Come at a Price

Scientists and doctors are once again warning us about the dangers of extinction and how it could keep us from discovering new medical cures.

Not too long ago, we reported on a similar warning concerning flora, but this time, researchers are discussing fauna. They mention a particular type of toad which raised its young in the females' stomach; researchers said studies were being conducted on them to develop treatments for stomach ulcers and similar conditions, but the last time the toad was recorded in the wild was 1981.

© C Harris Lynn, 2008

The Lynx Returns to Italy

Growing up, the lynx was my favorite animal. Who the hell has a favorite animal? Well, we were kids - we had favorite everythings! - and I had a subscription to National Geographic World, so I was always getting carried-away by things like that. I remember wanting to go to Clown College for years after the issue featuring that arrived...

But the lynx is nearing extinction; wildlife conservationists think there may be as few as 100 left in the Swiss Alps. They were nearly hunted to extinction in the early 20^th-Century by hunters, as well as farmers who feared for the safety of their livestock.

One lynx that was tagged in February after being caught in Switzerland crossed the border into Italy. Conservationists say it does not pose a threat to livestock, as it preys primarily on small animals, such as wild hares, but they are concerned for the cat's safety, as many farmers in the area have not taken simple precautions, such as electric fences and dogs trained to protect cattle. Lynx do sometimes prey on animals as large as deer.

Lynx were reintroduced in Switzerland in the 1970s.

© C Harris Lynn, 2008

Medicinal Plants Face Extinction

Another one of those that got shuffled into the wrong bookmark folder and lost, until now...

Researchers from the Botanical Gardens Conservation International surveyed 600 (earlier this year) of its members and identified at least 400 species of plant that are facing extinction. The group represents botanic gardens from over 120 countries. This is incredibly dangerous to Man, as some of the plants are those from which important medical drugs are culled, including the yew tree, which is used in the manufacture of one of the most widely-used cancer drugs!

While many of the other plants on the list are not medicinally-related, as the researchers say, who knows what the future may bring? There exists the very real possibility that, should these plants go extinct, we may lost the cure for any number of diseases before we even discover them!

Many of the chemicals garnered from plants are now made synthetically, but over-harvesting and deforestation of the plants' indigenous areas are the leading threats.

As many as 5 million people worldwide depend on flora-based medicines.

© C Harris Lynn, 2008

More Monkeying-Around by Conservationists

Conservationists, Jane Goodall amongst them, are making a stink about the use of chimps in entertainment.

Accordingly, they insist that the use of chimps in movies, TV, and commercials is deceiving the public into not recognizing the animals as the endangered species they are. Research they provided to bolster their claims included studies which showed that most people considered gorillas and orangutans [more] endangered than chimps and pointed to the latter's use in film and television as the reason.

These scientists and conservationists may have a point, but it's a small one and this is a waste of time. Who cares if they consider them endangered? What the hell does that even mean? Chimpanzees need a fricking PR campaign to polish their endangered species image? Really?

This time, money, and effort could be better spent on at least a half-dozen things that come to mind just sitting here - things that might actually help chimps and their endangered species status. Just ridiculous.

These people have their collective head up their collective ass, as usual!

© C Harris Lynn, 2008

Tiger Population Halved in Past 25 Years

The World Wildlife Federation said there may be less than 1500 tigers left and, if actions were not taken soon, both the Sumatran Tiger ans the South China Tiger could be extinct within years.

A coordinator from Nepal said he believes there may be as few as 3500 tigers, as opposed to the estimated 5,000 - 7,000 in 1982. At the start of the 20^th-Century, there were thought to be around 40,000. The Nepalese coordinator suggested there may be as few as 1400 in India today - 60% less than in 2002.

Tigers in India are in danger from poor farmers, seeking to protect their livestock from the predators. Those in Indonesia are losing their territory to loggers. While those in China are being intentionally hunted to extinction, as their body parts are used in medicines and sexual "potions," and tiger penis is considered a delicacy.

© C Harris Lynn, 2008

Freshwater Dolphin Extinct

A rare, freshwater dolphin known to be found on ly in the Yangzte River is now thought to be completely extinct, thanks to recent research carried out over a 6-week period in which absolutely none were found or spotted. The team involved blamed unregulated fishing. This would be the first known extinction of a large vertebrate in over 50 years. It should come as no surprise it happened In China.

The six-week research endeavor was carried out using both visual and sonar equipment in December 2006 and January 2007. They also noted that other human involvement, such as boat collisions and the destruction of dams, have likely contributed. But they also noted that some small schools and individuals might have been overlooked. Still, the overwhelmingly depressing results indicate the species may very well extinct or, at the very least, severely endangered.

-Source: BBC

Fewer Leaves Led to Frogs' Decline

Now We Know What Happened to Pepe!

Scientists working in Costa Rica have come to a startling conclusion as to the decline of the frogs' species in the region after studying 35+ years' worth of data: Fewer leaves on the ground seem to be the cause.

A fungal infection was previously assumed to be the culprit, but scientists noticed that the population of lizards who were immune to the infection were also in decline.  Amphibians have declined by up to 75% since 1970, yet scientists insist there is no human cause-effect relationship -- such as the destruction of their habitat by encroaching industrial efforts.  This percentage in decline directly correlated with the decline in leaf litter on the ground, which provides the creatures with both food and shelter.

The new suspect?

Global warming.

UPDATE:  "Global Warming" or -- as we Old Folk were taught to call it --"The Greenhouse Effect," is a very real, and very direct, by-product of Industrial pollution -- specifically, fossil fuel consumption and the eradication of millions of miles of trees and foliage (especially in tropical rainforests, such as the Amazon).  The "Scientific Community" refuses to acknowledge this because they are intellectually dishonest, and corrupt to the core; they would rather soak-up "free" grant money (that we taxpayers are forced to provide to further such MISO) than stand-up to the corporate giants responsible.  The few who do often wind-up featured on this blog as dead or missing.

However, there are some (too few) within the scientific community who refuse to be terrorized into silence and submission.  They never receive "mainstream" coverage but, once again, they do receive coverage on The OddBlog.  Then they wind-up dead or missing (so we get two posts out of the deal).

Fewer leaves on the ground means fewer trees, not "Global Warming."  That's common sense -- which is why mainstream "scientists" can't seem to figure that out.  We hope they enjoy cashing the checks we (and the oil companies) provide. - 2018