The month is ending and the short downhill slide into Summer is on its way….just some news that you may find entertaining and/or informative….enjoy.
Locally–Tomorrow is the day that most people down here dread….opening day of hurricane season….otherwise the temps at night have been cooler and a few days of rain the problem is even with cooler temps the humidity is still around 90%…welcome to Summer.
Personal–The first ripe plums are coming in finally….the blueberries are starting to ripen and now I can enjoy fresh blueberries with walnuts and honey…..and my figs should be ready in a couple of weeks.
Had a CT scan last week and I am waiting for the doctor to call and let me know the news of the finding….(fingers crossed)….
Time to get to the grits and gravy….
Were you conned into sending your DNA to 23andme? If so then your data is in the hands of a company that is in biotech research field which means it could be used against you later….
Biotech company Regeneron Pharmaceuticals is buying 23andMe for $256 million, reports the AP, two months after the genetic testing company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The Wall Street Journal foresees instant “privacy concerns,” given that Regeneron would acquire the genetic data of millions of people under the deal. The sale includes all of 23andMe’s personal genome services, which would continue uninterrupted. The deal does not include the Lemonaid Health subsidiary, a telehealth services provider that 23andMe plans to wind down.
Regeneron said Monday it would comply with 23andMe’s existing privacy policies, protections, and existing laws, which had been a requirement of the sale. “We are pleased to have reached a transaction that … enables the mission of 23andMe to live on, while maintaining critical protections around customer privacy, choice and consent with respect to their genetic data,” said Mark Jensen, chair and member of the special committee of 23andMe’s board.
A court hearing to consider approval of the transaction is currently scheduled for June 17. The deal, which still needs approval from the US Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, is expected to close in the third quarter. Regeneron will be keeping all of 23andMe’s employees.
I would not trust this company to keep your data private.
Have you ever wondered about penguin poop? Me neither.
Cow burps may contribute to climate change—but it turns out penguin droppings may do the reverse. New research shows that ammonia released from penguin colonies via their guano could actually help cool Antarctica by boosting cloud formation. For their analysis published in Communications Earth & Environment, researchers measured air near Marambio Base between January and March 2023. When winds came from the direction of a colony of 60,000 Adelie penguins 5 miles away, the air’s ammonia concentration skyrocketed: generally 10.5 parts per trillion, it surged 1,000 times to 13.5 parts per billion.
The uptick remained significant even after the birds migrated for the season; guano at the colony continuing to give off ammonia, pushing levels 100 times greater than the baseline. A press release explains the science: Ammonia interacts with sulfur-containing gases to generate aerosol particles that “give water vapor a surface to condense upon,” ultimately forming clouds. These clouds can act as an insulating layer that helps lower surface temperatures and maintain sea ice cover. As part of the study, the researchers confirmed that when the wind blew from the colony, the aerosol particle count did increase, and that fog set in.
As for why there is so much ammonia in their guano, the Washington Post explains the birds’ diet of fish and krill result in large amounts of nitrogen in their waste that breaks down into ammonia. “There are connections between things that happen on our natural planet that we just don’t necessarily expect,” lead author Matthew Boyer tells the Post. “And this is one of them.”
As long as we are in the butt region….ever heard of ‘fart walking’?
I’ll give you three guesses to work out what “fart walking” entails.
The latest TikTok trend recommends you go for a walk after eating to help boost digestion and relieve gas and bloating. A bit like silent walking, it’s hardly revolutionary, but I guess a catchy name doesn’t hurt marketing.
If you tend to save your post-meal walks for overindulgent holiday seasons (I personally love nothing more than a walk after Christmas dinner), there might be a benefit from doing it more often.
Those in favor say it’s good for your digestive health and balancing blood sugar, with research — like this study published in Sports Medicine — showing light and gentle movement can be beneficial for managing sugar levels after a meal.
Though specifically on “fart walking?” There’s not a huge amount of scientific evidence on that topic, funnily enough. But it is free and pretty safe and accessible. Here’s everything you need to know.
Anything to add?
Do you drink Red Bull or any other energy drink….then there is something you need to know…..
A common energy drink ingredient has been linked to the progression of the blood cancer leukemia, prompting researchers to voice concerns about the consumption of those beverages.
Taurine — an amino acid that occurs naturally in proteins like meat and fish — is a common ingredient in energy drinks like Red Bull. As the Mayo Clinic explains it can help balance fluids, salts and minerals.
PEOPLE has reached out to Red Bull for comment.
But according to research published inNature, taurine may promote leukaemogenesis — the development of leukemia cells — and “identifies taurine as a key regulator of myeloid malignancies,” which, like leukemia, are cancers that begin in the blood.
The study says cancer cells in mice are fueled by taurine: “Taurine supplements could significantly accelerate disease progression in immunocompetent mice (around threefold higher likelihood of death… indicating that taurine can promote leukaemic progression.”
https://people.com/common-energy-drink-ingredient-linked-to-blood-cancer-11735858
I have no worries for I drink lots of water and coffee….you?
This part is FYI….keeping with those idiot GOPers….this is a list of the books they do not want read….
Book bans aren’t just a thing of the past—they’re happening right now, and they’re targeting stories that matter.
Data from the American Library Association (ALA) shows a massive spike in book challenges, with 2023 marking the highest number of banned titles ever recorded. Over 4,200 unique books were challenged in 2023 alone, which is a 65% jump from 2022.
And here’s the kicker: nearly half (47%) of the books targeted focus on the experiences of LGBTQ+ and BIPOC individuals. It’s clear that this wave of censorship is hitting marginalized voices the hardest.
https://www.intomore.com/entertainment/books/20-banned-books-they-dont-want-you-to-read/
Notice that the Handmaiden’s Tale is on that list…..will the GOP go after the series?
Finally something for my ‘alien’ files…..In South America an orb was found….
Scientists in Mexico are reportedly studying a metal orb that they think could have extraterrestrial origins after it was recovered in Colombia earlier this year, piquing online interest of a potential unidentified flying object (UFO).
The sphere marked with decorative etchings was filmed floating erratically through the sky before it crashed near Buga, Colombia, in March and captured the attention of UFO enthusiasts.
A video posted online that has racked up more than half a million views shows researcher Jose Luis Velazquez discussing the multilayered sphere with “no welds or joints” that would be expected of a man-made object of its kind.
Velazquez said in the video that an X-ray found the three layers of the sphere to be of different densities.
Julia Mossbridge, founder of the Mossbridge Institute and an affiliate professor in the physics department at the University of San Diego, told Fox News that she doubts the “Buga sphere” has alien origins, though.
https://thehill.com/policy/technology/5318230-colombia-ufo-orb-metal-mystery/
Where did it originate?
That does it for me for today….I hope you found something of interest and/or informative….I do the best I can.
Go out and enjoy your Saturday and as always….Be Well and Be Safe….
I Read, I Write, You Know
“lego ergo scribo”