Weekly Science Report

December 14, 2018

 
“We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.”
Martin Luther King Jr.
 

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:
 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/weeklysciencerpt/
 Twitter: https://twitter.com/wklysciencerpt
 

News Articles
 
Paleontology, Evolution and Prehistoric Studies
 
Volcanic eruptions that depleted ocean oxygen may have set off the Great Dying
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/volcanic-eruptions-depleted-ocean-oxygen-may-have-set-
great-dying

Prehistoric Perico discovery fills Bradenton museum’s wish list

https://www.islander.org/2018/12/prehistoric-perico-discovery-fills-bradenton-museums-wish-list/?
fbclid=IwAR0LSOT0qWcKMMtp9Fvx0SdeGBIi2eVKjrrqlkU9kpUSUbGPXSg6-FRKh5c
 
South African skeleton shows humans learned to walk upright in the trees
https://phys.org/news/2018-12-south-african-skeleton-humans-upright.html?fbclid=IwAR3c-
dl9qChFbsnhGBY1nDjTGUBVGzUnghEU4I3Va09a8LGVGzYtBkvM3qc
 
Why Did Humans Lose Their Fur?
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/why-did-humans-evolve-lose-fur-180970980/?
utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=socialmedia&fbclid=IwAR3u-
M3Lt5nDYCiOh53NBMg83ZxAKzDt9AjiveIfliJfCaNfTVVO6twprm4
 
Researchers consider whether supernovae killed off large ocean animals at dawn of Pleistocene
https://phys.org/news/2018-12-supernovae-large-ocean-animals-dawn.html?
fbclid=IwAR1lCIX2c7daRl2Bq3514fyGySpfi4B3etwUHhcvy8vKJVmoPLGuNYyxSLs
 
8,300-Year-Old Stone Snake Heads Reveal Stone Age Ritual Ceremonies
https://www.livescience.com/64284-stone-age-snake-sculptures.html
 
Researchers suggest ritual finger amputation may explain missing fingers in Upper Paleolithic
people
https://phys.org/news/2018-12-ritual-finger-amputation-fingers-upper.html
 
Corn Domestication May Have Taken Thousands of Years
https://www.archaeology.org/news/7247-181214-maize-domestication-process
 
Neanderthal DNA May Affect Skull Shape of Modern Humans

https://www.archaeology.org/news/7246-181214-neanderthal-
skull-shape
 
Computing the origin of life
https://phys.org/news/2018-12-life.html
 
We Still Don’t Know Why the Reign of the Dinosaurs Ended
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/we-still-dont-know-why-reign-dinosaurs-ended-
180971040/
 
 
 

History
 
Hindu monks, large crowds call on Modi to help build Ayodhya temple
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-election-religion/hindu-monks-large-crowds-call-on-modi-
to-help-build-ayodhya-temple-idUSKBN1O805N
 
An Arab thinker invented economic theory 400 years before Adam Smith did
https://qz.com/1008371/an-arab-thinker-invented-economic-theory-400-years-before-adam-smith-
did/?fbclid=IwAR0lOh7bLCH8ksJX6Mz6odceUzD4hItuyhnPQh86kdkF9C1dP_NKE-g_g_k
 
Biography Captures The Charisma And Confidence Of Photographer Inge Morath
https://www.npr.org/2018/12/10/674579667/biography-captures-the-charisma-and-confidence-of-
photographer-inge-morath?
utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_co
ntent=2040
 
Temple Mount Activists Celebrate New Altar, but Plea to 'Practice Animal Sacrifice' Rejected
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-jerusalem-municipality-rejects-plea-to-practice-
animal-sacrifice-for-future-temple-1.6729388?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
 
Visitor Attacks Art at the Denver Art Museum
https://www.westword.com/arts/denver-art-museum-arrested-after-destroying-art-11054523?
fbclid=IwAR2wSZiwDLGaIreBUWFazITBWVxoRdCF0xjQF6XE_gj6yIY5siTtS236Xoo

Humanity is on path to self-destruction, warns UN special rapporteur

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/dec/10/humanity-is-on-path-to-self-
destruction-warns-un-special-rapporteur-nils-melzer
 
Belgium’s Africa Museum Had a Racist Image. Can It Change That?
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/08/arts/design/africa-museum-belgium.html?
action=click&module=Features&pgtype=Homepage&fbclid=IwAR3GffISrJikO8P9DjU0-
lbvUkQNGeo-o66tG8NV4cWs0dn4ENddvuLzQ5o
 
Mystery Blast Sank The USS San Diego in 1918. New Report Reveals What Happened
https://www.npr.org/2018/12/11/675661414/mystery-blast-sank-the-uss-san-diego-in-1918-new-
report-reveals-what-happened?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
 
Why a library fire feels like an ‘attack on humanity’
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/why-a-library-fire-feels-like-an-attack-on-humanity?
fbclid=IwAR3bTaF2ZSC7IYbpVr9ApsheBYqefoYASifSPOhqEjHFWgIUjgnwobPmkM8
 
Aboriginal outrage over Lake Malbena fishing tour plans to include visits to sacred cultural site
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-27/lake-malbena-developement-concerns-for-tas-aboriginal-
community/10553720
 
Recently Deciphered 4,500-Year-Old Pillar Shows First Known Record of a Border Dispute
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/pillar-first-evidence-neighbors-behaving-badly-
180970969/
 
Ancient cemetery from the Mochica culture discovered in Chiclayo
https://perureports.com/ancient-cemetery-from-the-mochica-culture-discovered-in-chiclayo/8752/
 
Google opens virtual version of fire-ravaged Brazil museum
https://www.engadget.com/2018/12/13/google-national-museum-of-brazil-virtual-tour-street-view/?
fbclid=IwAR193_i1-D0f43gv8RfpAnaBQ4cO-L1detpiOAys2gL12qE9ls9A8ImzMSk

Archaeology
 
Bodies of missing climbers discovered in Himalayas 30 years after disappearance
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/bodies-of-missing-climbers-discovered-in-himalayas-30-
years-after-disappearance/ar-BBQMQni?li=BBnb7Kz&ocid=SL5FDHP
 
Israeli Excavation Reveals New Findings About the Ark of the Covenant
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-israeli-excavation-reveals-new-findings-about-the-
ark-of-the-covenant-1.6727179
 
Land of rock art and singing stones- Video
https://www.cnn.com/videos/travel/2018/11/30/gobustan-petroglyphs-gavel-dash.cnn?
sr=twCNN120618301247PMVODtop
 
Man Unknowingly Buys 4,000-Year-Old Pottery at Flea Market, Uses It As Toothbrush Holder
https://www.livescience.com/64247-pottery-made-before-jesus-flea-market.html
 
3D-printed reconstructions provide clues to ancient site
https://popular-archaeology.com/article/3d-printed-reconstructions-provide-clues-to-ancient-site/
 
Ancient grape seeds may link Sri Lankan trading port to Roman world
https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2018/12/ancient-grape-seeds-may-link-sri-lankan-trading-port-
roman-world
 
4,000-Year-Old Game Board Carved into the Earth Shows How Nomads Had Fun
https://www.livescience.com/64267-ancient-board-game-nomads-discovered.html
 
Earthquake struck Machu Picchu in 1450 study concludes
https://www.peruviantimes.com/13/earthquake-struck-machu-picchu-in-1450-study-concludes/
31027/
 
Inside a Native Stronghold
https://www.archaeology.org/issues/319-1811/letter-from/7074-california-modoc-war
 
 
 
 

Egyptology
 
Antiquities minister reveals major theft at Egyptian Museum
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20181210-antiquities-minister-reveals-major-theft-at-egyptian-
museum/?
fbclid=IwAR0GRvNFlSLc0b5UDD1zjGUeKkeL9tkPJOb72ELCE4EMggjHO0o_YJ_v39E
 
Swedish mission discovers 18th Dynasty tomb in Upper Egypt's Aswan
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/320034/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/Swedish-mission-
discovers-th-Dynasty-tomb-in-Upper.aspx
 
 
 
 
 
 

General Science
 
The Revolution Will Be Driverless: Autonomous Cars Usher In Big Changes
https://www.npr.org/2018/12/10/675254096/the-revolution-will-be-driverless-autonomous-cars-
usher-in-big-changes?sc=tw
 
Quantum Computing Needs You to Help Solve Its Core Mystery
https://www.wired.com/story/quantum-computing-needs-you-to-help-solve-its-core-mystery/?
CNDID=41291302&CNDID=41291302&bxid=MjM5NjgxMjIxODk5S0&hasha=3ed15b3d4270f5
2ce4da5de4e5031836&hashb=9085a9ae56cc45a4e9bae24e2eaeaade6e04a43e&mbid=nl_121218_d
aily_list1_p1&utm_brand=wired&utm_mailing=WIRED%20NL
%20121218%20(1)&utm_medium=email&utm_source=nl
 
NYU researchers pioneer machine learning to speed chemical discoveries, reduce waste
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-12/ntso-nrp121318.php
 
 
 

Physics, Earth and Space Sciences

As Virgin Galactic Reaches Space, Pilots Become Astronauts

https://www.wired.com/story/virgin-galactic-space-vss-unity-
flight/?
CNDID=41291302&CNDID=41291302&bxid=MjM5NjgxMjIx
ODk5S0&hasha=3ed15b3d4270f52ce4da5de4e5031836&hashb
=9085a9ae56cc45a4e9bae24e2eaeaade6e04a43e&mbid=nl_121
418_daily_list1_p3&utm_brand=wired&utm_mailing=WIRE
D%20NL
%20121418%20(1)&utm_medium=email&utm_source=nl
 
It’s a Briefcase! It’s a Pizza Box! No, It’s a Mini Satellite
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/11/science/satellites-space-nasa.html
 
Giant Lasers Bring Distant Twinkling Stars Into Sharp Focus
https://www.wired.com/story/giant-lasers-distant-twinkling-stars-focus/?
CNDID=41291302&CNDID=41291302&bxid=MjM5NjgxMjIxODk5S0&hasha=3ed15b3d4270f5
2ce4da5de4e5031836&hashb=9085a9ae56cc45a4e9bae24e2eaeaade6e04a43e&mbid=nl_121518_d
aily_list1_p3&utm_brand=wired&utm_mailing=WIRED%20NL
%20121518%20(1)&utm_medium=email&utm_source=nl
 
Time travel is possible – but only if you have an object with infinite mass
https://theconversation.com/time-travel-is-possible-but-only-if-you-have-an-object-with-infinite-
mass-107063
 
Scientists identify vast underground ecosystem containing billions of micro-organisms
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/dec/10/tread-softly-because-you-tread-on-23bn-tonnes-
of-micro-organisms?
CMP=fb_gu&fbclid=IwAR13Oy10zV4n_q7NW82g8MP2EGlSkttf86TvTfOiNv1tLT2LNvhJ9qNC
CRE
 
OSIRIS-REx discovers water on asteroid, confirms Bennu as excellent mission target
https://phys.org/news/2018-12-osiris-rex-asteroid-bennu-excellent-mission.html
 
NASA's Voyager 2 probe enters interstellar space
https://m.phys.org/news/2018-12-nasa-voyager-probe-interstellar-space.html
 
China Launches Probe Bound For A Historic Exploration Of The Far Side Of The Moon
https://www.npr.org/2018/12/08/675006412/china-launches-probe-bound-for-a-historic-exploration-
of-the-far-side-of-the-moo?sc=tw
 
A young star caught forming like a planet
https://phys.org/news/2018-12-young-star-caught-planet.html
 
NASA Won’t Be Going ‘Back’ to the Moon—It Wants to Go Beyond It
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/nasa-wont-go-back-moon-it-wants-go-
beyond-180971033/
 
 
 
 
 
Environment, Climate Change and Alternative Energy
Sources
 
Do climate policies ‘kill jobs’? An economist on why they don’t cause massive unemployment
https://theconversation.com/do-climate-policies-kill-jobs-an-economist-on-why-they-dont-cause-
massive-unemployment-106928
 
Switch to clean energy and save $500 mln, aid agencies told
http://news.trust.org/item/20181210140941-i4oar
 
Trump plan to reclassify nuclear waste alarms environmental groups
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/trump-plan-reclassify-nuclear-waste-alarms-
environmental-groups-n946126?cid=sm_npd_nn_fb_ma
 
That was awkward — at world’s biggest climate conference, U.S. promotes fossil fuels
https://www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/world/europe/that-was-awkward--at-worlds-biggest-
climate-conference-us-promotes-fossil-fuels/2018/12/10/aa8600c4-f8ae-11e8-8642-
c9718a256cbd_story.html
 
Illegal Mining, ‘Worse Than at Any Other Time,’ Threatens Amazon, Study Finds
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/10/world/americas/amazon-illegal-mining.html?
smtyp=cur&smid=tw-nytimesworld
 
Act on climate change to cut 'outrageous' pollution deaths - WHO
http://news.trust.org/item/20181205175558-h1rdb/
 
Interior Dept. officials downplayed federal wildlife experts' concerns about Trump’s border wall,
documents show
https://www.washingtonpost.com/energy-environment/2018/12/11/interior-officials-downplayed-
federal-wildlife-experts-concerns-about-trumps-border-wall-documents-show/?
fbclid=IwAR0zRdlbaP0zRG1Z2V5SDqyLeE7L-
Uf_68kwnom_kzYfvdY9qrpxsFjbaOE&utm_term=.425ca2827d14
 
Ocean Cleanup fail? System in Great Pacific Garbage Patch to corral plastic needs redesign
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2018/12/06/ocean-cleanup-system-great-pacific-garbage-
patch-wont-hold-plastic/2231554002/
 
The Magic Kingdom Is Going Green
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/09/business/energy-environment/the-magic-kingdom-is-going-
green.html?fbclid=IwAR3k0VV__nu49ro13KjcKAsvzlPm-
wGH8SbupPfERg3U2m9h7NXs3GLywkw
 
Degrading permafrost puts Arctic infrastructure at risk by mid-century
https://phys.org/news/2018-12-degrading-permafrost-arctic-infrastructure-mid-century.html?
fbclid=IwAR1_JmTW-n5Rf3cVH5Pn-Yugf8ctVScZmuxGvgitCyy7UYYccNE0TXV29hg
 
 
 
 
 

Biological, Genetics and Medical Sciences

Two new books explore the science and history of the 1918 flu
pandemic

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/new-books-explore-
science-history-1918-flu-pandemic?tgt=nr

 
This needle-studded patch could help heart patients heal
https://www.nbcnews.com/mach/science/needle-studded-patch-could-help-heart-patients-heal-
ncna944791?cid=sm_npd_nn_tw_ma
 
McDonald's sets timeline to cut antibiotics in beef supply
http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2018/12/mcdonalds-sets-timeline-cut-antibiotics-
beef-supply
 
Counting the breaths of wild porpoises reveals their revved-up metabolism
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/counting-breaths-wild-porpoises-reveals-their-revved-
metabolism
 
 

Other
 
Star Trek Popular Fan Film 'Axanar' Resumes Production
https://comicbook.com/startrek/2018/12/09/star-trek-axanar-resumes-production/?
fbclid=IwAR3j5NKcelgLDjXk48hHrex6Qo6wdYKv-qWYbGYBJAZk4zyUFpAareBvEcg
 
Two contract employees die in Antarctica
https://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=297454&org=NSF&from=news
 
Dept. of Education to cancel $150 million in student loan debt
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/dept-education-cancel-150-million-student-loan-debt-
n947821?cid=sm_npd_nn_fb_ma
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Additional Informational
 
Imagine a World Without Hate- Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KyvlMJefR4
 
The World is Better Because of Museums
https://www.aam-us.org/2018/12/07/the-world-is-better-because-of-museums/
 
America Before: The Key to Earth’s Lost Civilization by Graham Hancock Talk, Apr 4: London,
UK
https://www.alternatives.org.uk/event/america-key-earth%E2%80%99s-lost-civilization?
fbclid=IwAR2jeoHdu8Ld-iTcbQQwhLY0eObG8pwZwL0oTpnPEfCjEENOk-v2m9ZyLhs