Weekly Science Report

February 22, 2019

 
“History is a vast early warning system.”
Norman Cousins
 

Introduction
 
Steve Detwiler created this publication with the support of Graham Hancock and the late John
Anthony West to share news and information on various disciplines to include but not limited to
paleontology, space sciences, genetics and archaeology.  His goal behind sharing this publication
has always been very simple, by sharing knowledge we can make our world a better place.  This
publication is Mr. Detwiler’s contribution to bring people together and share ideas and discoveries
with his fellow humans.
 
I hope you enjoy this publication and that the content challenges and inspires you!
 
The Weekly Science Report is also on social media at:
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 Twitter: https://twitter.com/wklysciencerpt
 

News Articles
 
Paleontology, Evolution and Prehistoric Studies
 
Zambia’s Most Famous Skulls Might Finally Be Headed Home
https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2019/02/zambian-skull-londons-natural-history-
museum/582820/?utm_source=twitter&utm_content=edit-promo&utm_term=2019-02-
18T14%3A34%3A02&utm_campaign=the-atlantic&utm_medium=social
 

Obsidian Trade in Poland Dates Back At Least 20,000 Years

https://www.archaeology.org/news/7428-190222-paleolithic-poland-obsidian
 
Neanderthals Were Inbreeding. Did it Help Cause Their Extinction?
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/crux/2019/02/23/mounting-evidence-for-neanderthal-
inbreeding/#.XHIIKKzsbIU
 
Half-a-billion-year-old weird wonder worm finally gets its place in the tree of life
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-02/uob-hww021819.php
 
Extinct weasel relative with confounding skull likely ate meat with a side of veggies
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-02/amon-ewr022219.php
 
Foxes were domesticated by humans in the Bronze Age
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-02/f-sf-fwd022119.php
 
Did Great White Sharks Drive Megalodon to Extinction?
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/great-white-sharks-could-be-responsible-
megalodons-extinction-180971512/
 
 
 
 
 

History
 
Colonial Williamsburg Serves Up The Past So You Can Try A Taste Of History
https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2019/02/17/693507713/colonial-williamsburg-serves-up-the-
past-so-you-can-try-a-taste-of-history
 
When Nazis Took Manhattan
https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2019/02/20/695941323/when-nazis-took-manhattan?sc=tw
 
Tasmania's dark history involved dozens of Aboriginal massacres, how should we recognise them?
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-02-13/bid-to-mark-tasmanian-aboriginal-massacres-like-cape-
grim/10803516
 
Charles Dickens Tried to Banish His Wife to an Asylum, Letters Show
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/23/world/europe/charles-dickens-wife-asylum.html?smid=tw-
nytimesworld&smtyp=cur
 
A Ride to Valhalla
https://www.archaeology.org/issues/332-1903/trenches/7375-trenches-iceland-viking-horse-burials
 
Was There A Real King Arthur?
https://www.archaeology.org/issues/322-1901/sidebars/7285-was-there-a-real-king-arthur
 
Emma, Carrie, Vivian: How A Family Became A Test Case For Forced Sterilizations
https://www.npr.org/2019/02/17/695574984/emma-carrie-vivian-how-a-family-became-a-test-case-
for-forced-sterilizations
 
In Search of George Washington Carver’s True Legacy
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/search-george-washington-carvers-true-legacy-
180971538/
 
‘Prosecuting Evil’ Review: At 98, His Passion for Justice Hasn’t Dimmed
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/21/movies/prosecuting-evil-review.html?
fbclid=IwAR1ardsNxFrHo0qEF9I5eHcwloGBaq0GVbs-ATpJST6GqTeL1kaz-ktB7i4
 
Archaeology
 
ASU archaeologist appointed to NAGPRA federal advisory committee
https://asunow.asu.edu/20190221-asu-archaeologist-appointed-nagpra-federal-advisory-committee
 
Excavations at Kunal village open up more doors to pre-Harappan period
https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/excavations-at-kunal-village-open-up-more-doors-to-
pre-harappan-period/article26299035.ece
 
Saudi Arabia seeks to entice visitors with pre-Islamic sites
https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2019/02/saudi-seeks-to-entice-visitors-with-pre-
islamic-sites.html
 
Inca Ritual Baths Fed by Waterfall Reveals More of Its Secrets
https://www.livescience.com/64845-inca-ceremonial-baths-archaeology.html
 
Customs Letter About a Long-Lost Suitcase Leads to Artifacts from Desert with Early 'Jesus'
Painting
https://www.livescience.com/64798-lost-artifacts-shivta.html?utm_source=notification
 
Libya's ancient ruins blighted by theft, shunned by tourists
https://www.euronews.com/2019/02/20/libyas-ancient-ruins-blighted-by-theft-shunned-by-tourists
 

Egyptology
 
Egypt's Eternal City
https://www.archaeology.org/issues/331-1903/features/7371-egypt-heliopolis-excavations
 
 
 
 
 

General Science
 
CAN THIS QUANTUM-COMPUTING GENIUS BEAT OUT IBM AND GOOGLE?
https://www.ozy.com/rising-stars/can-this-quantum-computing-genius-beat-out-ibm-and-google/
79169
 
 

Physics, Earth and Space Sciences

 
Space probe fires bullet into asteroid
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/space-probe-fires-bullet-into-asteroid/ar-BBTUeHB?
ocid=se
 
Watch SpaceX Launch the First Private Lunar Lander
https://www.wired.com/story/watch-as-spacex-launches-the-first-private-lunar-lander/?
CNDID=41291302&CNDID=41291302&bxid=MjM5NjgxMjIxODk5S0&hasha=3ed15b3d4270f5
2ce4da5de4e5031836&hashb=9085a9ae56cc45a4e9bae24e2eaeaade6e04a43e&mbid=nl_022219_d
aily_list3_p2&source=DAILY_NEWSLETTER&utm_brand=wired&utm_mailing=WIRED%20NL
%20022219%20(1)&utm_medium=email&utm_source=nl
 
NASA’s Space Shuttle Rises From the Dead to Power New Vehicles
https://www.wired.com/story/nasas-space-shuttle-rises-from-the-dead-to-power-new-vehicles/?
CNDID=41291302&CNDID=41291302&bxid=MjM5NjgxMjIxODk5S0&hasha=3ed15b3d4270f5
2ce4da5de4e5031836&hashb=9085a9ae56cc45a4e9bae24e2eaeaade6e04a43e&mbid=nl_022219_d
aily_list1_p4&source=DAILY_NEWSLETTER&utm_brand=wired&utm_mailing=WIRED%20NL
%20022219%20(1)&utm_medium=email&utm_source=nl
 
Boaty McBoatface Gears Up for Epic Swim Across the Arctic
https://www.wired.com/story/boaty-mcboatface-gears-up-for-an-epic-swim-across-the-arctic/?
CNDID=41291302&CNDID=41291302&bxid=MjM5NjgxMjIxODk5S0&hasha=3ed15b3d4270f5
2ce4da5de4e5031836&hashb=9085a9ae56cc45a4e9bae24e2eaeaade6e04a43e&mbid=nl_022019_d
aily_list1_p1&source=DAILY_NEWSLETTER&utm_brand=wired&utm_mailing=WIRED%20NL
%20022019%20(1)&utm_medium=email&utm_source=nl
 
Protecting human heritage on the moon: Don’t let ‘one small step’ become one giant mistake
https://theconversation.com/protecting-human-heritage-on-the-moon-dont-let-one-small-step-
become-one-giant-mistake-111020
 
Virgin Galactic reaches edge of space again in step toward launching paying passengers
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/virgin-galactic-test-flight-spaceshiptwo-launch-reaches-edge-of-
space-again-launching-paying-passengers-today/
 
New Horizons spacecraft returns its sharpest views of Ultima Thule
https://phys.org/news/2019-02-horizons-spacecraft-sharpest-views-ultima.html
 
After a reset, Сuriosity is operating normally
https://phys.org/news/2019-02-reset-uriosity.html
 
NASA greenlights SpaceX crew capsule test to ISS
https://phys.org/news/2019-02-nasa-greenlights-spacex-crew-capsule.html
 
Israel’s Private Lunar Lander Blasts Off for the Moon
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/first-private-lunar-lander-blasts-off-moon-
180971544/
 
Boy, 12, said to have created nuclear reaction in playroom lab
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/feb/22/boy-12-said-to-have-created-nuclear-
reaction-in-playroom-lab
 
Mountain Range More Rugged Than the Rockies Found Buried Deep Within Earth
https://www.livescience.com/64811-rugged-mountains-earth-mantle.html?utm_source=notification
Environment, Climate Change and Alternative Energy
Sources
 
Danish economist chosen as new UN environment chief
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/feb/15/danish-economist-inger-andersen-chosen-new-un-
environment-chief
 

New Hydrogen-Powered Hyundai: a Gas to Drive, a Pain to

Fuel
https://www.wired.com/story/hyundai-nexo-review-hydrogen-fuel-cell-electric/?
CNDID=41291302&CNDID=41291302&bxid=MjM5NjgxMjIxODk5S0&hasha=3ed15b3d4270f5
2ce4da5de4e5031836&hashb=9085a9ae56cc45a4e9bae24e2eaeaade6e04a43e&mbid=nl_022219_d
aily_list1_p2&source=DAILY_NEWSLETTER&utm_brand=wired&utm_mailing=WIRED%20NL
%20022219%20(1)&utm_medium=email&utm_source=nl
 
Massive Loss Of Thousands Of Hives Afflicts Orchard Growers And Beekeepers
https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2019/02/18/694301239/massive-loss-of-thousands-of-hives-
afflicts-orchard-growers-and-beekeepers?sc=tw
 
Where Jesus once preached, the holy waters are draining away
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/feb/23/israel-where-jesus-preached-holy-waters-draining-
away-sea-of-galilee-river-jordan?CMP=twt_gu
 

Record-breaking jet stream accelerates air travel; flight clocks

in at 801 mph

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/record-breaking-jet-stream-
accelerates-air-travel-el-nino-polar-vortex/
 
Captured carbon dioxide converts into oxalic acid to process rare earth elements
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-02/mtu-ccd022219.php
 
Ikea curtains break down pollutants, highlight interest in fabric purifiers
https://techxplore.com/news/2019-02-ikea-curtains-pollutants-highlight-fabric.html
 
Solving the jet/cocoon riddle of a gravitational wave event
https://phys.org/news/2019-02-jetcocoon-riddle-gravitational-event.html
 
An approach for motion planning on asteroid surfaces with irregular gravity fields
https://techxplore.com/news/2019-02-approach-motion-asteroid-surfaces-irregular.html
 
In Siberia, Toxic Black Snow Reveals the Toll of Coal Mining
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/siberia-toxic-black-snow-reveals-toll-coal-mining-
180971525/
 
ARCTIC CAULDRON
https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2018/national/arctic-lakes-are-bubbling-and-hissing-
with-dangerous-greenhouse-gases/?fbclid=IwAR1Tr5hdYSBd56Xwnu-
m3wflL2wv5jbn1hrh0Jy_z30UcXOEZYuJFHsjJJI&utm_term=.b59b8c3d5123
 

Biological, Genetics and Medical Sciences

 
Scientific Duo Gets Back To Basics To Make Childbirth Safer
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/02/18/693635055/scientific-duo-gets-back-to-
basics-to-make-childbirth-safer

 
Life after cancer: More survivors live longer, face new health challenges
https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/50-states/2019/02/13/life-after-cancer-survivors-
oncology-survivorship-plans-long-term-health/2794121002/
 
Scientists Release Controversial Genetically Modified Mosquitoes In High-Security Lab
https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2019/02/20/693735499/scientists-release-controversial-
genetically-modified-mosquitoes-in-high-securit?sc=tw
 
Pioneering study could offer protection to patients with rare genetic disease
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-02/uob-psc022119.php
 
 

Other
 
For a Black Mathematician, What It’s Like to Be the ‘Only One’
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/18/us/edray-goins-black-mathematicians.html?smid=tw-
nytimes&smtyp=cur
 
Uranium Ore Stored At Grand Canyon Park Museum May Or May Not Pose Health Risk
https://www.npr.org/2019/02/19/696001017/grand-canyon-museum-reportedly-had-buckets-of-
uranium-sitting-around-for-18-year?sc=tw
 
Is There Another 'You' Out There In A Parallel Universe?
https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2016/11/18/is-there-another-you-out-there-in-a-
parallel-universe/#76e26440634f
 
The Secret Origins of the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence
http://discovermagazine.com/2019/mar/setis-secret-origin-story