3 November 2025
Hello again, friend of science,
Ndewo ọzọ, enyi sayensị,
[Over 40 million people of Nigeria speak Igbo]
Let’s start with a bit of science fun. The above Quantum Steampunk Power Generator was designed by quantum thermodynamics physicist Dr. Nicole Yunger Halpern. Built in collaboration with artist Bruce Rosenbaum, the “Generator” above is a facsimile of an engine that could extract energy by breaking quantum entanglement. The Steampunk Generator helps Dr. Halpern explain how a ‘real’ quantum generator would work. The Steampunk motif ties in nicely with Halpern’s book, Quantum Steampunk: The Physics of Yesterday’s Tomorrow.
Now for a bit of not-so-fun science: last week the current Administration eliminated the journal Preventing Chronic Disease that is published by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC]. All six of the journal staff have been terminated.
RECOMMENDATION
“Skeptics Guide to the Universe” is an entertaining weekly science podcast with fun and astute panelists. It was the perfect soundtrack as i put up our Halloween decorations.
BIOLOGY / ETHOLOGY
¿Whales over 200 years old? Here are some findings of recent research: (1) When cultured Bowhead Whale cells were exposed to cold (they live mostly in arctic waters) CRIBP protein concentrations increased. (2) When researchers increased CRIBP protein levels in fruit flies, they became much better at repairing damaged DNA and lived much longer. ¿Does this mean that there are health benefits to the practice of winter swimming, as practiced by some folk? Stay tuned!
¿Can you navigate by the stars as well as a dung beetle? Many species of dung beetle fashion dung into a ball during the night and roll it away in a straight line. Scientists, intrigued by the straightness of their paths, experimented with some dung beetles wearing hoods (so they could not see the sky) and others without hoods under varying sky conditions: Moon, no Moon, and overcast. The beetles without hoods maintained their straight lines except with an overcast sky. Beetles with hoods were unable to maintain a straight line. Inference: they are able to use stars to navigate.
CLIMATE
Tell me it’s not true! Ah but it is true. “Milk chocolate” is disappearing from candy such as Rolos, Almond Joy, and Mr. Goodbar. Because climate change has made cocoa butter so expensive, candy manufacturers are using less expensive fats, and that disqualifies them from using the term “milk chocolate.” Instead they use the term “chocolate candy.”
Traffic engineers are turning toward roundabouts instead of traffic signals for several good reasons: (1) reduction in commute times since going slowly is faster than stopping behind a red light; (2) reduction in serious accidents: no t-bone or head-on collisions; (3) better vehicle mileage which means lower greenhouse gas emissions. The down side: violations and disagreements around who has the right-of-way. Some roundabouts in Italy support a cacophony of car horns and curses.
The world’s largest sailing cargo vessel – Neoliner Origin – just docked in Baltimore following its transatlantic voyage from Nantes, France. The 136 meter ship carries 5,300 tonnes of freight and cruises at 20 kph (11 knots). Larger sailing cargo ships are planned with the intent of reducing the climate impact of global ocean shipping that currently accounts for 3% of all greenhouse gas emissions.
My partner keeps an air filter going next to the bed. ¿What if that HEPA filter instead of just trapping dust, it also trapped CO2? That is now possible. Researchers found that nanofibers of carbon coated with a polyethylenimine (PEI) polymer did exactly that. Every household air filter could participate in removing CO2 from the atmosphere via DAC – Direct Air Capture. In order for this to be practical, some enterprising folk would (1) come by your house to sell you fresh filters in exchange for the dusty CO2-saturated filters; (2) take the used filters where they can be made ‘fresh’ by stripping away the dust and CO2; (3) sequestering the CO2 underground – – or wherever; and (4) returning to your house with ‘freshened’ filters. That doesn’t sound like a great business model, but . . . .
FUN NERDY VIDEOS
Low Frequency Ripples in Space-Time – Cleo Abram – 1 min
Mission to Explore Earth’s Exosphere – NASA – 3.5 mins
2025 Physics Nobel Prize – Sabine Hossenfelder – 5.5 mins
Negative Ion Quackery – The Right Chemistry – Joe Schwarcz – 6 mins
New Method of Measuring the Hubble Constant – Dr. Becky Smethurst – 7 mins
Physics of Shaking Hands with an Alien – SciShow – Madelyn Leembruggen – 10 mins
It’s Not Easy Being a Gigantic Dinosaur – PBS Eons – Kallie Moore – 12.5 mins
Passenger Pigeon Extinction (& De-Extinction?) – Bizarre Beasts – Hank Green – 14 mins
Carbon Capture & Storage Scam – Just Have a Think – Dave Borlace – 14 mins
Quantum Retrocausality Is Wrong – Arvin Ash – 15 mins
Deepfakes and Scams – StarTalk – Neil deGrasse Tyson & Alex Cosoi – 17.5 mins
Implications of the Lack of Aliens on Earth – Big Think – David Kipping – 25 mins
Mercury – Tales from the Periodic Table – Ron Hipschman – 34 mins
Creating Life in the Lab – StarTalk – Kersten Gõpfrich & Neil deGrasse Tyson – 43 mins
Hunt for the Oldest DNA – PBS NOVA – 51 mins
Have a wonderful week,
Dave Almandsmith, Bay Area Skeptics
(Tucker Hyatt, the founder of Wonderfest, was interviewed by Colleen Bidwell of the Marin Independent Journal:
Q For people who say they’re not interested in science, what would you say to them?
A I honestly believe people’s lives are enriched by their increasing understanding of the natural world, and I will enlarge that by saying it’s beneficial for a society that has people like this, people who are curious and come to understand how the world really works. Many people don’t know where to turn to get accurate information. I think science organizations, including Wonderfest, are helping people and help ground people’s understanding of the world in reality. People who can’t face reality are headed for deep trouble.