Wilfredo Benitez

$40 Billion of National Park Assets at Risk Due to Climate Change

June 24, 2015 By Wilfredo Benitez 1 Comment

National parks have 40 billion in assets at risk due to climate change

An anniversary is usually a cause for celebration. Gifts are exchanged. Happiness is spread. Memories are shared. The U.S. Department of the Interior has a different idea about how it will mark the two-year anniversary of President Obama’s Climate Action Plan.

Today, Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell released a report calling attention to the infrastructure of national parks and the historical resources within them. Scientists from Western Carolina University and the National Park Service worked jointly to conduct the study.

The report revealed that more than $40 billion worth of these park assets are at considerable risk of damage due to rising sea levels. What’s more concerning is that the study only included 40 parks and is ongoing, and they still have 78 more on their list to evaluate, which could bring the at-risk asset total to over $100 billion.

Climate change is a large culprit behind the risks of rising sea levels and a result of such drastic changes. Even though climate change has and continues to impact parks throughout the country, “[T]his report underscores the economic importance of cutting carbon pollution and making public lands more resilient to [climate change’s] dangerous impacts,” said Secretary Jewell.

For obvious reasons, coastal parks are of a great concern to the scientists. While there are variations depending on region and time of the year, scientists expect to see a 1-meter rise in sea levels within the next 100-150 years. On the other hand, in some areas such as parts of Alaska, climate change is expected to result in rising land mass as land glaciers and ice sheets continue to melt at extraordinary rates.

There are 118 parks considered by the National Park Service to be at risk to rising sea levels. The authors of the study studied 40 of these parks which included heavily visited urban areas in New York City and San Francisco’s Golden Gate National Recreation Area. The “assets” in the report refer to historic sites, museum collections, visitor centers, lighthouses, bridges, and other resources and infrastructure within the parks. The authors note that the $40 billion value does not include the extra loss of billions of dollars due to lost land and tourism.

One meter may not seem like a lot, but National Park Service Director Jonathan Jarvis thinks differently. According to Jarvis, “Coupled with sea level rise, big storms have that extra volume of water that can damage or destroy roads, bridges, and buildings, and we saw what that looks like with Hurricane Sandy in 2012.” Much of the Ellis Island museum collection still remains stored elsewhere as repairs to Sandy-damaged areas continue today. Those behind the study hope the report can help determine which parks and preventative measures should be considered a priority.

“Through sound science and collaboration, we will use this research to help protect some of America’s most iconic places,” said Interior Secretary Jewell. The report may not be the greatest two-year anniversary celebration, but it is a necessary guide to help policy makers prepare for and possibly prevent some of the looming effects of climate change and rising sea levels.

We Have Entered a New Period of Extinction

June 21, 2015 By Wilfredo Benitez 2 Comments

We have started a new mass extinction on the planet

You can probably guess with a good degree of certainty just which creatures were wiped out during the last mass extinction on Earth. That’s right: the dinosaurs. Well, to be more accurate, it was the non-avian dinosaurs that were wiped out. That happened about 65 million years ago and it appears as if our planet has entered into another extinction phase.

Scientists from Stanford, Princeton, and UC Berkeley have published a report in which they claim Earth has entered a new period of extinction. This would be the 6th mass extinction period of our planet.

Perhaps most noteworthy of the report is the conservative approach to the study the lead authors claim to have taken. Even with the conservative analysis, the numbers are astonishing. In the last century, the Earth has seen a much more vast number of vertebrates become extinct than would have without human influence. To be precise, the rate of vertebrates’ disappearance from the planet has been 114 times greater in the last century than it would have been sans the destructive tendencies and actions of humans.

The scientists note over 400 vertebrates have experienced extinction since 1900, with the greatest numbers belonging to amphibian species at 146 and fish at 158 species lost. Mammals (69 species lost), birds (80), and reptiles (24) were on the lower end of the number of species lost, but still had staggering numbers for such a short period of time.

In the report, Professor Paul Ehrlich of Stanford University called the species on the path toward extinction the “walking dead,” but it is not just the animal species that these researchers are worried about.

The report is not just a cause for concern for the animal and nature lovers among us. The scientists would say that every individual on the planet should be worried and interested in this report. Speaking about this new period of extinction, one of the lead authors, Dr. Gerardo Ceballos of the Universidad Autonoma de Mexico, says in the published report, “If it is allowed to continue, life would take many millions of years to recover, and our species itself would likely disappear early on.” It would only take about three generations for humans to feel significant effects of this sixth period of extinction.

What would expedite the destruction of the human population would be the amount of immense stress on certain necessary ecosystems. For example, the bee population, especially essential for crop pollination, could be lost, which would further stress the production of food crops essential to feeding an increasingly overpopulated planet. The loss of large herbivores could create empty landscapes.

The authors state our window for preventing the numerous effects of this continued pace of extinction is “rapidly closing.” But there is still a window. Efforts would need to be “greatly intensified…to conserve already threatened species and to alleviate pressures on their habitats.” When we realize that these pressures on species include combating rapid habitat loss and climate change, we see preventing this phase of extinction will be no small feat. Rapid action is necessary and humans need to heed this call to action.

(Photo courtesy of Geek Calendar)

Bird Flu Outbreak Causing Egg Shortage and Rising Prices

June 11, 2015 By Wilfredo Benitez 2 Comments

The bird flu is causing an egg shortage and rising prices in the US

Did you notice a recent price increase for the carton of eggs you just bought? If so, it is likely due to a flu outbreak that is rapidly spreading throughout the United States. A recent shortage in eggs in America has been caused by an avian flu outbreak that is affecting farmers, businesses, and consumers. This comes after egg prices rose in certain areas due to a recent California egg law.

The epidemic has already infected at least 8% of egg-laying hens, which has led to a hike in prices seen throughout the country. According to a report from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), they have seen the average price for a dozen eggs almost double since the end of May.

Needless to say, this shortage is having a major impact on businesses and consumers alike. Tom Jones, who owns Tommy’s Cafe in Davenport, Iowa, has had to raise prices for his egg-containing meals to match the increase he’s experiencing on the business end. According to the cafe owner, he paid just over $16 for a case of 16 eggs in early May, but on June 1st, the same amount of eggs cost a staggering $40.98.

For egg-loving Americans in certain states, it is increasingly difficult and pricey to make their egg sandwiches a reality. This is due to the mass killing of turkeys and chickens that is occurring to stem the spread of influenza. Jones’ state of Iowa has declared a state of emergency due to the national crisis, and millions of chickens have had to be slaughtered.

Texas has also had to deal with the egg crisis in its own way, even though the outbreak is not reported to have hit the state yet. “We do not produce enough eggs to meet our own demand in the state. So Texas has to import eggs from other states,” says Dr. Craig Coufal, an Associate Professor at Texas A&M University.

The solution for dealing with the egg shortage that many businesses are resorting to is rationing eggs to consumers. The national supermarket store H-E-B decided to not sell eggs for commercial sale and posted signs in their Texas stores stating the decision. Even Texas-based fast-food company Whataburger decided that pressing the pause button on their breakfast menu was the best way for them to handle the current situation.

The entire poultry industry and private businesses are being hit hard by the flu outbreak, but consumers are certainly feeling the ramifications of the epidemic. When the bulk price of a dozen eggs was just $0.63 by the dozen before the crisis, consumers are now paying as much as or upwards of $1.50.

And it’s not just the oval egg food itself that consumers need to suffer higher prices to purchase. A national shortage of eggs will not just drive up egg prices, but products that includes eggs in the ingredients such as breads, dessert goods, candies, and many more foods that call for whole eggs, yolks, or egg whites in the recipe.

Americans all over the country would like to see this bird flu epidemic break as soon as possible. Small businesses don’t like driving up prices if they don’t have to and consumers do not like paying more if they can avoid it. Plus, if this shortage continues throughout the remaining months of 2015, holiday festivities could be a bit less festive due to a scarcity of or increased price for the popular holiday eggnog beverage, and nobody would want that.

(Photo courtesy of Austin Kirk)

New Study Shows Your Toothbrush Is Likely Covered in A Light Mist of Poop

June 7, 2015 By Wilfredo Benitez 1 Comment

Did you live in a residence hall when you were in college or are you currently sharing a bathroom with roommates or family? If you answered yes to either question, you may find a new published study particularly interesting (and perhaps a bit horrifying).

Researchers from Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut just presented a study where they analyzed the toothbrushes of college students who shared a communal bathroom with an average of 9 other roommates. The results showed that 60% of the toothbrushes analyzed were contaminated with fecal coliforms. Of those contaminated toothbrushes, 80% had the fecal matter of someone else present in the results.

It appears, from this study, that the use of toothbrushes in a shared bathroom is almost a sure-fire way of spreading viruses and bacteria. The way that feces is found on the likes of your toothbrush is through a process called “aerosolization of feces.” Whenever dried feces are disturbed or when one’s fecal matter is flushed down the toilet, a fecal mist that is invisible to us rises and settles on nearby surfaces. This makes toothbrushes an easy target for the settling fecal coliform as the sink where toothbrushes are usually kept, is generally next to the toilet. This also means, though, that our clothes and other surfaces are likely experiencing some contamination from flushing the toilet.

What can be considered a strange relief is that you need not worry about the feces contamination if you do not share a bathroom with anyone else. You likely still have fecal matter on your toothbrush, but it is not a major issue according to the researchers. “The main concern is not with the presence of your own fecal matter on your toothbrush, but rather when a toothbrush is contaminated with fecal from someone else,” said the study’s lead author Lauren Aber in a press release. The reason why your own contamination is not too concerning, according to the researchers is that the bacteria, viruses, and parasites that are possibly in your fecal matter are already part of your normal microbial flora.

What should be even more worrying about this study is that the contaminants were present regardless of how the residents stored their toothbrushes. Is there any way to prevent brushing your teeth with a feces-covered toothbrush? Not really. But the researchers did make some suggestions:

Do not share toothbrushes
Rinse toothbrushes before and after use
Avoid keeping toothbrushes close together

The study was presented last week in New Orleans by Aber and her Quinnipiac University colleagues at the annual meeting of the American Society for Microbiology.

(Photo courtesy of Pip R. Lagenta)

Glide Foundation Lunch with Warren Buffett Costs $2.3 Million in 2015

June 6, 2015 By Wilfredo Benitez 2 Comments

Ever gone out to lunch with someone and offered to pick up the tab? What did it cost you? Twenty, maybe thirty dollars for a nice social outing? Generally not an amount that would really break the bank. But would you do the same if you knew the bill would top $2.3 million? Well, there is a certain Chinese company that would gladly pay that amount.

On Friday, Dalian Zeus Entertainment Co., a Beijing-based online game developer, submitted the winning bid of $2,345,678 to clinch the top spot in a Glide Foundation charity auction. With that bid, the Chinese firm will have a private lunch with finance guru and billionaire Warren Buffett. The CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, Buffett’s advice is frequently sought out due to his expertise in finance and philanthropy.

The Glide Foundation, who set up the eBay charity auction, will use the proceeds to carry out their mission of fighting poverty and homelessness in San Francisco. “What we try to do is work to empower our people, to make sure that people find some way to have hope,” says Reverend Cecil Williams, a Glide co-founder. Buffett is clearly on board with their mission, as he agreed to the charity auction. “Every year it’s an interesting experience for me. I’ve met a lot of great people in connection with it,” said the 84-year old finance wiz.

The winner of the auction, Dalian Zeus Entertainment Co., can invite 7 others to dine with Buffett at this year’s designated location of Smith & Wollensky steakhouse in New York City. The restaurant also donates $10,000 to Glide to host the lunch each year.

With about three hours for the lunch date, the 8 lunch guests can talk with Buffett about almost anything. The topics of discussion are generally broad, with only his and Berkshire Hathaway’s investments being off-limits.

If you thought the winning bid of $2.3 million was a hefty price, you would have been stunned in 2012. That year, the winners of the Glide online auction agreed to pay what is still the highest price for a charity item sold on eBay: a whopping $3,456,789.

Still, this year’s winning bid is very high, and it rose to that point fairly quickly with the high bid reaching 7 figures in just the first day the auction went live. The rapid rise in the price was probably why only 8 bidders were in contention for this year’s prized lunch.

Not everyone has the money to bid on this type of auction or the opportunity to dine with the likes of Warren Buffett. Still, you don’t have to dine with him to get a benefit of some of his sound financial advice, even if some of it might seem boring.

(Photo courtesy of Fortune Live Media)

Your Contact Lenses Increase Your Chance of Eye Infections

June 1, 2015 By Wilfredo Benitez 1 Comment

Contact lenses increase the likelihood of eye infections

If you wear contacts, you may be far more familiar than you’d like to be when it comes to eye infections and the costs associated with them. Even if you have been able to avoid such nuisances, according to a new study, it’s likely that your contact lenses are jeopardizing the health of your eyes. A research team from NYU Langone Medical Center has found that there is more diversity of bacteria on the eye’s surface of those who wear contact lenses than there are on those who do not wear them.

Twenty people took part in the study, which was presented in New Orleans at the annual meeting of the American Society for Microbiology. Nine of the 20 individuals were contact lens-wearers while the remaining eleven men and women did not wear contacts. According to the research, the NYU Langone scientists found when the two groups’ results were compared, the bacterial diversity in the eye microbiome of the contact lens-wearers was more similar to that of their skin.

NYU Langone microbiologist, and the study’s senior investigator, Maria Gloria Dominguez-Bello says, “Our research clearly shows that putting a foreign object, such as a contact lens, on the eye is not a neutral act.”

During the research, the scientists took hundreds of swabs of parts of the eye and of the skin directly beneath the eye. These swabs, and even used contact lenses, were then analyzed in a lab to determine which and how many bacteria were in existence in the eye microbiome.

Interestingly, while the researchers did discover high bacterial diversity in the eyes of contact lens wearers, and three times the usual proportion of Methylobacterium, Lactobacillus, Acinetobacter, and Pseudomonas bacteria, the results from the lab showed a greater collection of bacteria in the individuals who did not wear contact lenses. 5,592 strains and subtypes of bacteria were found in those without vision-correcting lenses compared to the 5,245 strains of those who wore contacts. Likewise, results from the swabs taken from the skin beneath the eye identified 3,849 strains from the non-contact wearers compared to the 2,133 bacterial strains found on the swabs of the contact lens-wearing group.

The researchers do not yet have an explanation for these disparities, including why more Staphylococcus bacteria — greatly linked to eye infections — were found in the eyes of those not wearing contact lenses. It is likely that further research will continue, possibly discovering along the way a reason for why greater infection occurs in contact lens-wearers despite the discrepancies of the strains of bacteria in each group.

Dominguez-Bello, the senior investigator for the study, and her team also hope that further research will show if the alterations of the eye microbiome are a result of non-contact lens wearers’ fingers frequently touching their eyes or if they are from pressure on the eyes caused by the lens.

Contact lens wearers probably shouldn’t despair as a result of these findings, but washing one’s hands before putting on or taking off contact lenses is probably a good place to start to reduce the risk of infection.

(Photo courtesy of n4i)