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Scientific American
4 days ago
- Scientific American
Marjorie Taylor Greene Plans Probe into Geoengineering
CLIMATEWIRE | On a day when the EPA administrator elevated concerns about weather modification as his agency downplayed those worries, an outspoken House Republican said she would hold a hearing on the issue. In a statement provided to POLITICO's E&E News, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) said she plans to use her perch as a subcommittee chair on the House Oversight and Government Reform panel to investigate geoengineering, a nascent field in which chemicals are dispersed in the air to lower temperatures. 'Let's be clear: Weather modification is no longer a 'conspiracy theory.' It's real, it's happening, and the American people deserve a voice,' said Greene, who in the past has peddled fringe theories. On supporting science journalism If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today. Such baseless assertions have been widespread in the aftermath of the deadly floods in Texas this past weekend, including that cloud seeding may have played a role in the disaster. On Thursday, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin released a video empathizing with people who have questions about contrails and geoengineering, which have been fodder for online conspiracists. He did not mention the floods in Texas; the new EPA webpages mostly debunked "chemtrails" and other such theories. In her statement Thursday, Greene said that she planned to hold a hearing of her DOGE subcommittee "on this critical issue and advancing my legislation to make it a felony to inject, release, or disperse chemicals into the atmosphere for the purpose of altering weather, climate, temperature, or sunlight.' Moreover, this past weekend, Greene posted on social media that she planned to introduce legislation to bar such weather-changing technology. She said she was heartened by EPA's actions. In his video Thursday, Zeldin said, 'To anyone who's ever looked up to the streaks in the sky and asked, 'What the heck is going on?' or seen headlines about private actors and even governments looking to blot out the sun in the name of stopping global warming, we've endeavored to answer all of your questions at the links on your screen." He added, 'In fact, EPA shares many of the same concerns when it comes to potential threats to human health and the environment, especially from solar geoengineering activities.' Democratic lawmakers mocked the EPA administrator for discussing contrails — the benign condensation often seen from aircraft. One called him 'a full-on kook.' In her statement, Greene said she spoke with Zeldin on Thursday morning. 'I'm glad weather modification and geoengineering are finally getting the attention and transparency they deserve, and I'm greatly appreciative to the Trump administration for it,' the lawmaker said. Some have suspected cloud seeding could have caused the drenching rain in Kerr County, Texas, leading to flooding that killed more than 100 people. That has been deemed impossible by experts, The Washington Post reported, and dismissed by elected officials, including Republicans in the state. 'Let's put an end to the conspiracy theories and stop blaming others,' Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller said in a statement Wednesday. This story also appears in E&E Daily.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Ancient donkey sacrifice ritual unearthed in Israel sheds light on Egyptian trade links
The donkeys, found buried under a Bronze Age house in ancient Gath, near Tell es-Safi, were determined to have originated from ancient Egypt. A team of archaeologists has made a groundbreaking discovery in Israel, uncovering the remains of four donkeys that were ritually sacrificed over 4,500 years ago. The donkeys, found buried under a Bronze Age house in ancient Gath, near Tell es-Safi, around 20 km. northwest of Hebron, were determined to have originated from ancient Egypt. According to a new study published in the journal PLOS One, the donkeys were likely used for agricultural labor and trade, and their sacrifice may have been a display of wealth and social status. The researchers found that the donkeys were all female, in their prime age, and had been buried with their legs tied together. The discovery of the donkeys' remains has shed new light on the ritual practices of the ancient Canaanites, who inhabited the region during the Early Bronze Age III (circa 2900 to 2550 BCE). The researchers believe that the donkeys' Egyptian origin may indicate that their owners were merchants and traders who had connections with Egypt. Donkey remains have been consistently found at ancient Gath. After finding a decapitated donkey in 2010, with its head having been 'fully cut off and carefully placed on the abdomen facing in the opposite direction' according to the study, researchers continued searching for other donkeys in the area. Using chemical analysis and testing isotopes and the donkey's tooth enamel, researchers determined the donkey was originally from the Nile Valley. These results were also published in PLOS One in 2016. Researchers added that the choice to sacrifice a donkey, rather than any other animal, at the time was likely a sign of power and wealth, based on the demand for the animal in such a critical transportation role. Donkeys and similar animals were used in the ancient world primarily for hard agricultural labor. This included, but was not limited to, plowing and pulling heavy loads, as well as transportation of goods. These donkeys were also female, which was particularly valuable, and were believed to be replaceable by the sacrificing parties, according to the recently published study. All of their skulls pointed eastward, and their front and back legs had been tied together. Finding the four sacrificial animals depicts the mules' vital roles in both ritual practices and the economy. 'This finding highlights the importance of donkeys in the ancient world, not only for economic and trade purposes but also for ritual practices,' Elizabeth Arnold, an anthropologist and environmental archaeologist at Grand Valley State University in Michigan, told LiveScience. The researchers used isotopic analysis to help determine the origin of the donkeys, and the results revealed that they had lived in the Nile Valley. This discovery suggests that the donkeys were brought to ancient Gath from Egypt, likely as part of a trade or economic exchange. The study's findings provide a fascinating glimpse into the lives of ancient animals and their role in human society. As the researchers continue to study the remains of the donkeys, they hope to learn more about the complex relationships between humans and animals in the ancient world.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Yahoo
Divers exploring ancient shipwreck find artifacts, retrieve wreckage
Divers exploring the centuries-old Antikythera wreck retrieved intact pieces of the ship and found artifacts that shed light on life aboard the craft. The Antikythera shipwreck dates back to the first century, according to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. The wreck site is near Crete. The ship was a trading or cargo vessel. First discovered in the spring of 1900, it has been the subject of multiple investigations since then. Previously, divers found life-size marble statues of horses, jewelry and hundreds of works of art and other artifacts. Human remains were also found aboard the ship in the 1970s. The most recent expedition was led by the Swiss School of Archaeology in Greece and took place between May and June 2025, according to a news release. One of the main goals of the expedition was to retrieve three outer planks joined to the ship's internal frame. This "rare set" of hull fragments was found in 2024, but could not be removed from the wreck until this dive, the school said. The recovery of the planks and frame confirm the construction method used to create the ship, and offers "valuable insight into ancient naval techniques," the school said. The wood itself appears to be elm and oak and may date back as far as 235 BCE, the school said. The construction method used, where the outer hull is built before the internal parts of the ship, dates to between the fourth and first century BCE. It's not clear if the pieces are from the ship's upper segment, a smaller vessel or a repair that may have been done. Researchers are studying the pieces to learn more about them, the school said. The divers also found small fragments of a nude male statue. The statue's marble base and part of the left leg was clearly identified. Other fragments are trapped within the wreck site and cannot currently be extracted, the school said. A terracotta mortar used for crushing and mixing food was also found in the wreck. Meanwhile, a number of Chian amphorae, a type of Ancient Greek jar used for storage and transport, were found "spread across two distinct zones of the wreck," the school said. The divers exploring the wreck had to take extra steps to ensure they could safely search the area, the school said. The wreck is about 140 to 170 feet below the surface, which is too deep for standard scuba diving but too shallow for remotely-operated vehicles, according to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. The Swiss School of Archaeology divers used closed-circuit rebreathers with gas mixes to ensure they could safely explore the wreck. Underwater drones also monitored the dive in real-time. Sneak peek: Who Killed Aileen Seiden in Room 15? Everything we know so far about the deadly Texas floods Philadelphia nonprofit teaches kids how to ride horses and transforms lives
