The unimportant news thread

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

White supremacist renounces his belief after taking MDMA (ecstacy).

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20230614-how-a-dose-of-mdma-transformed-a-white-supremacist

[T. D.]

White supremacist renounces his belief after taking MDMA (ecstacy).

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20230614-how-a-dose-of-mdma-transformed-a-white-supremacist

I saw that story a few days ago, but am highly sceptical. Wouldn't be surprised if it proves to be a hoax whereby the asshole thinks he "owned the libs".

Meanwhile, "I tried lab-grown meat":

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jan/23/lab-grown-meat-animals-climate

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

I saw that story a few days ago, but am highly sceptical. It could be an elaborate hoax whereas the asshole thinks he "owned the libs".

Meanwhile, "I tried lab-grown meat":

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jan/23/lab-grown-meat-animals-climate

Yes I have a mixed feeling about a causal effect too.

[Karl Henning]

White supremacist renounces his belief after taking MDMA (ecstacy).

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20230614-how-a-dose-of-mdma-transformed-a-white-supremacist

I saw that story a few days ago, but am highly sceptical. Wouldn't be surprised if it proves to be a hoax whereby the asshole thinks he "owned the libs".

Reminds me of a jokey plot point in Woody Allen's Everyone Says I Love You.

[Karl Henning]

Scientists genetically engineer transparent squid, allowing the first-ever visual study of the nervous system of a living cephalopod

[Karl Henning]

Researchers were surprised to learn the vessel dated to between the 12th and 10th centuries B.C.E, which they say makes it the oldest entirely hand-sewn boat in the Mediterranean.

[LKB]

Scientists genetically engineer transparent squid, allowing the first-ever visual study of the nervous system of a living cephalopod

They need to apply the technique to American politicians, then voters will have a better idea of who are truly worthy. 

[AnotherSpin]

They need to apply the technique to American politicians, then voters will have a better idea of who are truly worthy. 

For God's sake, no way! No one should see what's inside others, there's no point in ruining faith in humanity completely.

[Karl Henning]

This year might be the worst tick season ever.

[T. D.]

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-66028401

A cleaner destroyed decades of "groundbreaking" work by shutting off a lab freezer containing key samples over an "annoying" alarm sound, US lawyers have claimed.

A sign explained how to mute the beep, but a breaker was reportedly switched off after a reading error.

Samples stored at -80C (-112F) were left "unsalvageable", causing $1m in damages, lawyers said.

The lab's school is suing the cleaner's employer for improper training.

[Brian]

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-66028401

A cleaner destroyed decades of "groundbreaking" work by shutting off a lab freezer containing key samples over an "annoying" alarm sound, US lawyers have claimed.

A sign explained how to mute the beep, but a breaker was reportedly switched off after a reading error.

Samples stored at -80C (-112F) were left "unsalvageable", causing $1m in damages, lawyers said.

The lab's school is suing the cleaner's employer for improper training.

My girlfriend works in precisely such a lab, with multiple -80 freezers. The precautions taken around the equipment are at an extremely high state of vigilance (e.g. any power outage or water leak at any building results in a text alert to all the scientists; the university has its own independent backup power plant). She was surprised at the $1M valuation of the lost materials, but maybe they are running some experiment with really unusual stuff.

[Karl Henning]

Not even a record for that school: New Jersey high school sees 11 sets of twins graduate.

[DavidW]

Not even a record for that school: New Jersey high school sees 11 sets of twins graduate.

I once taught two separate pairs of identical twins in the same year.  One year I taught identical twins that were named Calvin and Kelvin.  My Nevada accent can't properly differentiate between the two names!

[Spotted Horses]

My girlfriend works in precisely such a lab, with multiple -80 freezers. The precautions taken around the equipment are at an extremely high state of vigilance (e.g. any power outage or water leak at any building results in a text alert to all the scientists; the university has its own independent backup power plant). She was surprised at the $1M valuation of the lost materials, but maybe they are running some experiment with really unusual stuff.

I would assume that the freezer contained cell cultures or other materials that were created as part of the research, and are one of a kind (not something they purchased from a supplier). Probably cell cultures in which they had genetically modified to produce different protein variants, etc. They would have to repeat the experiments that they originally performed to re-create them.

This is nothing compared to what happened when Superstorm Sandy flooded the basement of a research building at New York University, where all a large array of freezers was kept.

[Brian]

I would assume that the freezer contained cell cultures or other materials that were created as part of the research, and are one of a kind (not something they purchased from a supplier). Probably cell cultures in which they had genetically modified to produce different protein variants, etc. They would have to repeat the experiments that they originally performed to re-create them.

This is nothing compared to what happened when Superstorm Sandy flooded the basement of a research building at New York University, where all a large array of freezers was kept.

Yeah, it might be a line they have genetically modified and developed for "generations" themselves. My partner certainly works with expensive stuff that she admonishes other labs not to waste, or that cause all manner of headaches if someone messes up or a robot eats a dish, but nothing to that level.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

This year might be the worst tick season ever.

I'd love to see a reference or references please.    I do know that with warmer winters, one will be experiencing more tick issues (sadly).  And, yes, I've been expecting that the numbers will be going up. 

PD

[Pohjolas Daughter]

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-66028401

A cleaner destroyed decades of "groundbreaking" work by shutting off a lab freezer containing key samples over an "annoying" alarm sound, US lawyers have claimed.

A sign explained how to mute the beep, but a breaker was reportedly switched off after a reading error.

Samples stored at -80C (-112F) were left "unsalvageable", causing $1m in damages, lawyers said.

The lab's school is suing the cleaner's employer for improper training.

Yes, I read that earlier.  A very sad story; from what I read, the person involved had thought that they were helping too.

PD

[Pohjolas Daughter]

My girlfriend works in precisely such a lab, with multiple -80 freezers. The precautions taken around the equipment are at an extremely high state of vigilance (e.g. any power outage or water leak at any building results in a text alert to all the scientists; the university has its own independent backup power plant). She was surprised at the $1M valuation of the lost materials, but maybe they are running some experiment with really unusual stuff.

Sounds like the place that she is working at has its game on.  A question (after thinking a bit about the matter):  If they had had similar alarms in place, if the fact that they had turned off the breaker, would they still have received any sort of alarm?  As in, it wasn't a power outage nor a leak, but a physical act on someone's part to shut off the breaker.

PD

[T. D.]

My girlfriend works in precisely such a lab, with multiple -80 freezers. The precautions taken around the equipment are at an extremely high state of vigilance (e.g. any power outage or water leak at any building results in a text alert to all the scientists; the university has its own independent backup power plant). She was surprised at the $1M valuation of the lost materials, but maybe they are running some experiment with really unusual stuff.

Kind of weird this is going to a lawsuit. There must be an ongoing storyline not revealed in the article.

One would have to look into the details of the University's various insurance policies and coverage limits (I presume they're insured to some degree). The "cleaning company" itself is not likely to have the money to pay damages, unless it's part of a larger corporation.

Perhaps an insurance company somewhere in the chain has refused to pay. Or the University did not have applicable insurance (in which case, good luck trying to collect).

[Karl Henning]

I'd love to see a reference or references please.    I do know that with warmer winters, one will be experiencing more tick issues (sadly).  And, yes, I've been expecting that the numbers will be going up. 

PD

Here ya go, PD.
2023 Might Be the Worst Tick Season Ever. Here's Why | Time