PIERRE — The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks recently announced the final tail collection total for the fifth year of the Nest Predator Bounty Program as part of Gov. Kristi Noem’s Second Century Initiative. For 2023, 50,552 total tails were submitted by 2,481 participants.
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The 2023 program saw the highest level of youth participation since inception…
Donald Trump is now describing himself as some type of new avatar for the Spirit of ’76,Founding Father for the 21st century, a defender of liberty and freedom against tyranny. To that point, in fundraising emails and in other communications, Trump is proclaiming that he is waging a great battle against the so-called deep state and “Joe Biden, the Democrats, and their corrupt administration”:
Yesterday, we celebrated the 247th anniversary of our independence as a free nation.
We paid tribute to the great patriots who sacrificed everything so that we could have the chance to be free.
But sadly, our great nation is on the brink of falling…
A new study suggests the universe might be 26.7 billion years old, almost double the widely accepted age of 13.7 billion years. The new model, incorporating Zwicky’s tired light theory and Dirac’s evolving coupling constants, could explain the existence of mature, small galaxies formed just 300 million years post-Big Bang and propose a revised interpretation of the cosmological constant.
A new study proposes that the universe may be 26.7 billion years old, challenging the widely accepted estimate of 13.7 billion years based on the Lambda-CDM concordance model.
Our universe could be twice as old as current estimates, according to a new study that challenges the dominant cosmological model and sheds new light on the so-called “impossible early galaxy problem.”
“Our newly-devised model stretches the galaxy formation time by several billion years, making the universe 26.7 billion years old, and not 13.7 as previously estimated,” says author Rajendra Gupta, adjunct professor of physics in the Faculty of Science at the University of Ottawa.
“Our newly-devised model stretches the galaxy formation time by a several billion years, making the universe 26.7 billion years old, and not 13.7 as previously estimated”. Rajendra Gupta — Adjunct professor of physics in the Faculty of Science at the University of Ottawa. Credit: University of Ottawa
For years, astronomers and physicists have calculated the age of our universe by measuring the time elapsed since the Big Bang and by studying the oldest stars based on the redshift of light coming from distant galaxies. In 2021, thanks to new techniques and advances in technology, the age of our universe was thus estimated at 13.797 billion years using the Lambda-CDM concordance model.
The Lambda-CDM (Lambda-Cold Dark Matter) concordance model, also known as the standard model of cosmology, is currently the simplest and most widely accepted model that describes the evolution of the universe from its earliest moments to the present day.
However, many scientists have been puzzled by the existence of stars like the Methuselah that appear to be older than the estimated age of our universe and by the discovery of early galaxies in an advanced state of evolution made possible by the James Webb Space Telescope. These galaxies, existing a mere 300 million years or so after the Big Bang, appear to have a level of maturity and mass typically associated with billions of years of cosmic evolution. Furthermore, they’re surprisingly small in size, adding another layer of mystery to the equation.
Zwicky’s tired light theory proposes that the redshift of light from distant galaxies is due to the gradual loss of energy by photons over vast cosmic distances. However, it was seen to conflict with observations. Yet Gupta found that “by allowing this theory to coexist with the expanding universe, it becomes possible to reinterpret the redshift as a hybrid phenomenon, rather than purely due to expansion.”
“Our newly-devised model stretches the galaxy formation time by several billion years, making the universe 26.7 billion years old, and not 13.7 as previously estimated.”
— Rajendra Gupta, Adjunct professor of physics in the Faculty of Science at the University of Ottawa
In addition to Zwicky’s tired light theory, Gupta introduces the idea of evolving “coupling constants,” as hypothesized by Paul Dirac. Coupling constants are fundamental physical constants that govern the interactions between particles. According to Dirac, these constants might have varied over time. By allowing them to evolve, the timeframe for the formation of early galaxies observed by the Webb telescope at high redshifts can be extended from a few hundred million years to several billion years. This provides a more feasible explanation for the advanced level of development and mass observed in these ancient galaxies.
Moreover, Gupta suggests that the traditional interpretation of the “cosmological constant,” which represents dark energy responsible for the accelerating expansion of the universe, needs revision. Instead, he proposes a constant that accounts for the evolution of the coupling constants. This modification in the cosmological model helps address the puzzle of small galaxy sizes observed in the early universe, allowing for more accurate observations.
On July 7, 2023, the study, “JWST early Universe observations and 𝚲CDM cosmology,” was published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (MNRAS) by Oxford University Press.
Reference: “JWST early Universe observations and ΛCDM cosmology” by R Gupta, 7 July 2023, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. DOI: 10.1093/mnras/stad2032
Yellowstone National Park hosted an event Thursday showcasing a new expansion at the bison conservation transfer facility. (Photo: NBC Montana)
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BOZEMAN, Mont. — Yellowstone National Park hosted an event Thursday showcasing a new expansion at the bison conservation transfer facility.
Stakeholders gathered for the occasion, and tribal members held a blessing to kick off the event.
Yellowstone National Park Superintendent Cam Sholly had high praise for those involved with the bison conservation transfer program, saying without their efforts, the bison population wouldn’t be where it is today.
“Things that have to come together and all the partnerships that have to work to make something like this happen is really incredible, and it transcends Yellowstone,” said Sholly.
The bison conservation transfer facility expanded to five more pens, which hold 40 bison per pen. Now the facility’s capacity is 200 bison.
The program helped grow the bison population in Yellowstone.
Park officials said the bison population is thriving and continuing to climb. Last year, the herds grew to almost 6,000 animals.
Since 2019, workers transferred nearly 300 brucellosis-free bison to the Fort Peck Indian Reservation.
The park also assisted the Fort Peck Tribes and Intertribal Buffalo Council in transferring 170 bison from the Fort Peck Indian Reservation to 23 other tribes across 12 states.
Tribal leaders are looking forward to their continued partnership with Yellowstone to keep relocating bison across the country.
“Continuing the collaboration for years, not only to us, but the promise to Indian country and the trust obligation and the responsibilities that they all have to see that our relatives are returned home to every reservation throughout the United States, and no more slaughtering, so that way they can free roam and be where they need to be and where they have always belonged,” said executive board member Bryce Kirk, with the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes.
Right now, transferring and holding more bison at the bison conservation transfer facility needs further discussion and more planning to safely manage the growing population.
“We’ve got to take into consideration all the different aspects of our collaborators and partners and where we can safely increase the population over time. If that’s possible, we’ll do that,” said Sholly.
A USDA study draws concern that deer-adapted strains of COVID may impact human immunity. (WCHS)
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SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WCHS) — A U.S. Department of Agriculture study shows that somehow COVID spreads from people to white-tailed deer and may rarely go the other way.
The concern is that deer-adapted strains might spill over back to humans and impact existing immunity.
At this point, mutations or new variants are more likely to come from people. Wildlife biologist Paul Johansen said deer meat is still safe.
“I certainly wouldn’t indicate or want to indicate to anybody that this looks like an imminent threat to humans,” Johansen said. “At the end of the day, the primary reservoir for SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19 remains humans. There is some preliminary information that indicates – although the probability is very low – that there can be reverse transmission as well from deer to humans.”
The study sampled 11,000 deer. First year numbers showed 12.2% of deer had the virus while nearly a third of the animals had previous exposure.
At 12.9%, West Virginia numbers were higher but have dipped significantly in the second year.
West Virginia is also taking part in the research. The Division of Natural Resources said during the first year of testing, about 12% of the deer had COVID. In the second year, that number was down to just a little below 2%.
“If you’re really looking for protection against infection by COVID-19, consider getting a vaccination,” Johansen said.
Deer shed the virus in about a week and don’t get sick and die while elderly West Virginians are still dying from COVID at a rate of about one a day based on this week’s numbers from state officials.
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The study appears to show that some COVID variants that pushed deaths up earlier in the pandemic were mutating and spreading between deer.
WASHINGTON − In 2020, voters saw the coronavirus pandemic as the biggest global threat. Now, as Americans consider2024 presidential candidates, a different fear is top of mind: a battle of superpowers armed with nuclear weapons.
Americans with strong feelings about U.S. foreign policy decisions are torn between helping Ukraine win a war against Russia andshifting the focus eastwardto what they regard as the larger danger.
“What keeps me up at night is China,” said Ginny Kerr, 77, a retired medical technologist and independent voter. “I fear China more than Russia, and I think people ought to wake up to that.”
Though President Joe Biden and the Republican presidential contenders say they would prefer to discuss how to combat the rising influence of China, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his war against Ukraine have beenimpossible to ignore…
Published:Jul. 12, 2023 at 10:09 PM PDT|Updated:Jul. 13, 2023 at 12:04 PM PDT
PACIFIC HEIGHTS (HawaiiNewsNow) – A feral pig problem has some Pacific Heights residents getting help from hunters this weekend, but some residents are against it.
Martha Noyes says she’s scared that smaller swine mean bigger feral pigs by her house.
“They snorted and started moving toward us,” said Noyes.
Residents have spotted them in yards, on the street, and even pigging out on their property.
“We have got to get rid of them,” said resident Stanford Masui. “We have to eradicate or contain them.”
Masui says the Pacific Heights pig problem has gotten bad over the past two years.
LIHUE, Hawaii (KHON2) — Out in the wild, there are only five akikiki — a species of native Hawaiian honeycreeper — left, according to the Department of Land and Natural Resources.
Justin Hite, the field supervisor for the Kauai Forest Bird Recovery Project, has said attempts at saving the birds could have some negative impacts.
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“We have suspended any attempts at bringing the last five of these birds into safety, as they are molting currently and capturing them is too stressful and would likely lead to their demise,” said Hite.
The birds are facing threats of avian malaria.
While rescuing the last five akikiki may be difficult, crews have successfully collected unhatched eggs from nests in the wild; and most of the collected eggs have hatched.
The rescued chicks have been taken to bird conservation centers, located on Kauai and Maui, that are managed by the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.
An undated photo of a worker transporting eggs of the endangered native Hawaiian akikiki in Hawaii. (Graham Talaber via DLNR)
The chicks have joined other akikiki being raised under the wing of the conservation centers until there are no threats of avian malaria in the wild.
According to David Smith, the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife administrator, there are three species of honeycreepers that are on the verge of extinction.Hawaiian honeycreeper ʻakikiki on verge of extinction
“Literally, some of these species like akikiki and akekee on Kauai and kiwikiu on Maui could go extinct within months,” said Smith. “They’re just falling out of the sky.”
Smith cited increasing temperatures causing mosquitoes to move further up the mountains, bringing avian malaria with them.
An undated photo of the endangered native Hawaiian akikiki in Hawaii. (Graham Talaber via DLNR)
A project is proposed to begin on Kauai in fall 2023, following regulatory approvals and an environmental assessment.
This project is proposed to implement incompatible insect technique, which would release male mosquitoes that have a strain of naturally occurring bacteria that differs from the strain in the female mosquitoes.8,000 endangered Hawaiian snails travel at 50 mph
The difference in the bacteria would make the females unable to produce viable offspring and eggs, and Smith said suppressing mosquitoes would have more positive effects than negative.
According to Smith, IIT has been used for more than 50 years to reduce populations of mosquitos that caused diseases in humans.
Orcas have been ramming boats near Spain and Portugal; Gray whales in Baja Mexico frequently approach boats and let humans pet them.
Orcas are targeting boats near Spain while gray whales in Baja let humans pet them.
A marine ecologist said she expects more interactions like this as the animals recover from whaling.
Why the whales interact with humans in these ways it still unknown to scientists.
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“As whale populations recover from whaling and humans venture more into the oceans for various things, including ecotourism, we’re going to have more of these interactions between whales and humans that we don’t quite understand,” Leigh Torres, a marine ecologist and professor at Oregon State University’s Marine Mammal Institute, told Insider.
The population of killer whales near the Iberian Peninsula has especially caused concern. A few years ago they started targeting boats, causing at least three to sink. Since 2020, scientists have documented hundreds of instances of killer whales approaching or striking a boat.
While experts doubt the encounters are actually attacks — a more likely explanation is that the orcas are playing — they certainly feel violent to the people on board and pose a risk to both the whales and humans.
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An ocean away, whales are engaging with humans in a different kind. Gray whales that spend the winters nursing their calves in the warm, shallow waters of the lagoons on the Pacific coast of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula frequently swim up to the side of boats, even letting humans pet them.
“The whale turns on its side, looks you in the eye. It clearly is very curious about people,” Andrew Trites, director of the Marine Mammal Research Unit at the University of British Columbia, told Insider. “It isn’t people running up to whales, it’s whales coming to people.”
The gray whales befriending boats is especially interesting because just decades ago they were hunted to the brink of extinction in those same lagoons. But after conservation measures made whaling illegal, the North Pacific gray whales have dramatically recovered, allowing for these more friendly, social interactions between whales and humans.
And it’s not just the gray whales. Commercial whaling in the 18th and 19th centuries put many species at risk of extinction, including fin, humpback, and blue whales. Each of those species has seen varying population increases in recent decades, though it’s worth noting some species, including fin, blue, and North Atlantic right whales, are still endangered.
Torres said both the gray whales in Baja and the orcas near Spain and Portugal are examples of fascinating behaviors that have popped up recently that scientists don’t quite understand, and that she expects more to arise as whales continue their recovery.
She also urged caution when it comes to interacting with whales, as humans often tend to see animals through our own bias and may not fully understand what a whale is doing.
“We do need to be careful about those interactions,” she said. “This is their habitat and we’re sort of visiting, so we need to give them the space that they need to do what they need to do.”
Exposing the Big Game 