Weekly Science Report

July 17, 2020

 
“These virtues do not have ineffable meaning but offer a sense of morality-a way to be, and a
way to behave, as a member of the human family.”
Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah of the Kingdom of Jordan on being Muslim
 

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
 
Spinosaurus Makes Waves
https://www.npr.org/2020/05/19/859162022/spinosaurus-makes-waves?
utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_term=nprnews&utm_campaign=npr
 
Study finds asteroid impact, not volcanoes, made the Earth uninhabitable for dinosaurs: 'Only
plausible explanation'
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/06/30/dinosaurs-earth-killed-asteroid-impact-
new-study-confirms/5350191002/
 
120,000-year-old necklace tells of the origin of string
https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/07/ancient-seashell-beads-may-help-unravel-the-origins-of-
string/?fbclid=IwAR20EFJ8It8jeLE6XrlXFFTtsAF5uHj0btGsq471U8NDGP8tUi7GNhqluVc
 
Archaeologists date earliest known occupation of North America
https://phys.org/news/2020-07-archaeologists-date-earliest-occupation-north.html
 
Hand Axe Made 1.4 Million Years Ago Shows Unexpected Sophistication
https://www.haaretz.com/amp/archaeology/.premium-hand-axe-made-1-4-million-years-ago-was-
oddly-sophisticated-1.8990818
 
How we found the earliest glass production south of the Sahara, and what it means
https://phys.org/news/2020-07-earliest-glass-production-south-sahara.html
 
 
 

History
 
Tulsa’s ugly racial history: From Trail of Tears to deadly 1921 race massacre
https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2020/06/20/tulsa-timeline-race-massacre-trump-rally-
juneteenth/?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook
 
How Christians Destroyed the Ancient World
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/08/books/review/catherine-nixey-darkening-age.html
 
Historians question Trump’s choice of ‘heroes’ for national
garden monument

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/historians-question-
trumps-choice-of-heroes-for-national-garden-monument/
2020/07/04/4a33932a-be33-11ea-80b9-
40ece9a701dc_story.html?
fbclid=IwAR2obCC2TAayskLLFPOGS9NfNU052prgzV-
OGXi0mPnfngA9SdkBfqKos-c

 
Reclaiming Rumi: How Islam was erased from the Persian poet's work
https://english.alaraby.co.uk/english/society/2020/6/16/how-islam-was-erased-from-rumis-poetry?
fbclid=IwAR2ypSps5C1x1b1-vr5xjDXSc9yDl8BpcB_jzPSDGnNK3ZSI1MiHSQBUmhg
 
What Woodrow Wilson Cost My Grandfather
https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/24/opinion/what-woodrow-wilson-cost-my-grandfather.html?
fbclid=IwAR2xM0-KBCA-gNWkVaIh8W03tDgz2AtW_yAkRwphk0Pyt3E3OiUn4OpLO-A
 
Islam’s anti-racist message from the 7th century still resonates today
https://theconversation.com/islams-anti-racist-message-from-the-7th-century-still-resonates-today-
141575
 
Indigenous Americans had contact with Polynesians 800 years ago, DNA reveals
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/08/indigenous-americans-polynesians-dna-800-years-
ago?
CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Gmail&fbclid=IwAR3abkY8lmt1SHimMmVojCuPg0r61lc6CI_4U_zAf
ph4VyF-q2tkg5D8y1Y
 
The Fight Over Monuments of Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest Holds a Lesson About
Whiteness in America
https://time.com/5865573/nathan-bedford-forrest-statues/?
fbclid=IwAR1Bzd6Wn9IGnnQLiS522qMrLqbYhDmc0I00nohRoPQhuG5Dcu_Zf1z1Sl0
 
25 years after Srebrenica massacre, int'l crimes are still difficult to prosecute
https://www.pri.org/stories/2020-07-10/25-years-after-srebrenica-massacre-intl-crimes-are-still-
difficult-prosecute?utm_source=R%26I%20Clips%20(Reporters)&utm_campaign=5fb7b079a0-
EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_08_15_02_10_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_023b6
bc2e1-5fb7b079a0-391847017&ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000090&fbclid=IwAR2_szELxjDqVxhM-
51OsXhnR05OhFjVEdjous9ys-ubJm1gYn_s5JE_sVs
 
Statues Of Conquistador Juan De Oñate Come Down As New Mexico Wrestles With History
https://www.npr.org/2020/07/13/890122729/statues-of-conquistador-juan-de-o-ate-come-down-as-
new-mexico-wrestles-with-hist?
utm_source=facebook.com&utm_term=nprnews&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr
 
Rwanda's Genocide Ended 26 Years Ago. Survivors Are Still Finding Mass Graves
https://www.npr.org/2020/07/16/891815028/rwandas-genocide-ended-26-years-ago-survivors-are-
still-finding-mass-graves?sc=18&f=1001
 
 
Abigail Kawananakoa donates $15,000 to help Iolani Palace pay its bills
https://www.staradvertiser.com/2020/07/16/breaking-news/abigail-kawananakoa-donates-15000-to-
help-iolani-palace-pay-its-bills/
 
Holocaust survivor reunites with family of U.S. soldier who left her life-changing note
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/holocaust-survivor-reunites-family-u-s-soldier-who-left-her-
n1233755
 
Huge Atlas statue to guard Sicily's Temple of Zeus once more

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2020/jul/14/huge-atlas-
statue-to-guard-sicilys-temple-of-zeus-once-more
 
Multi-disciplinary study provides evidence of forced migration by pre-colonial Incas
https://phys.org/news/2020-07-multi-disciplinary-evidence-migration-pre-colonial-incas.html
 
Rewriting history: New evidence challenges Euro-centric narrative of early colonization
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-07/wuis-rhn071520.php
 
 

Archaeology
 
A Long Revered Relic Is Found to Be Europe’s Oldest Surviving Wooden Statue
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/19/world/europe/christ-statue-lucca-italy.html?smid=fb-
nytimes&smtyp=cur
 
Climate change is having a calamitous effect on Indigenous archeological sites in Canada’s North
https://www.universityaffairs.ca/news/news-article/climate-change-is-having-a-calamitous-effect-
on-indigenous-archeological-sites-in-canadas-north/?
fbclid=IwAR3nUMeXLj6GZF9oFRLC5N_MWOHZB-N01Wvc9Z31VmhZnXOR4pOWVdCdZo4
 
Digging up forgotten kingdoms, Saudis unearth ancient identity
https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2020/0601/Digging-up-forgotten-kingdoms-Saudis-
unearth-ancient-identity?cmpid=kwcpc&kwp_0=1675615&kwp_4=4952925&kwp_1=2103402
 
Archaeologists find ancient Aboriginal sites underwater, off the coast of Australia
https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/01/australia/aboriginal-archaeological-sites-underwater-scli-intl-scn/
index.html
 
11,000-year-old mine in underwater cave surprises archaeologists
https://api.nationalgeographic.com/distribution/public/amp/history/2020/07/11000-year-old-mine-
underwater-cave-surprises-archaeologists
 
Why the Whiteness of Archaeology Is a Problem
https://www.sapiens.org/archaeology/archaeology-diversity/?
fbclid=IwAR0FPdxI6UWlPd9i_6q1xtlRU3MnC4uAij07n40F2ecILjrNDPoauM46C_0
 
Excavation Begins For Possible Mass Grave From 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre
https://www.npr.org/sections/live-updates-protests-for-racial-justice/2020/07/14/890785747/
excavation-begins-for-possible-mass-grave-from-1921-tulsa-race-massacre?sc=18&f=1001
 

Stonehenge tunnel decision delayed by archaeological find

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-wiltshire-53420160
 
Biblical site of Ziklag finally identified?
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/biblical-site-of-ziklag-finally-identified-635127
 
How Germany’s 4,000-year-old answer to Stonehenge shows that Brexit is 'nonsense'
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/germany-s-stonehenge-sheds-light-on-prehistoric-ties-to-
britain
 
 

Egyptology
 
‘Invasion’ of ancient Egypt may have actually been immigrant uprising
https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/07/invasion-ancient-egypt-may-have-actually-been-
immigrant-uprising
 
Egyptian archaeological team opens door on ancient treasure trove
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1705196/art-culture
 
CT scan reveals the story behind the ‘mummy of the screaming woman’ from Deir El-Bahari’s
Royal Cachette
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContentP/9/374722/Heritage/CT-scan-reveals-the-story-behind-
the-%E2%80%98mummy-of-the.aspx
 
Ancient Egyptian wall discovered in Nagaa Hamadi
https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/89702/Ancient-Egyptian-wall-discovered-in-Nagaa-Hamadi
 
'Sensational' Egypt find offers clues in hunt for Cleopatra’s tomb
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/jul/12/sensational-egypt-find-offers-clues-in-hunt-for-
cleopatras-tomb
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

General Science
 
Nothing to report

Physics, Earth and Space Sciences

The Rebel Physicist on the Hunt for a Better Story Than

Quantum Mechanics
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/25/magazine/angelo-bassi-quantum-mechanic.html
 
NASA Discovers Huge Potential Caches of Metal On the Moon
https://futurism.com/nasa-potential-caches-metal-moon
 
International Asteroid Day: A look at NASA's first planetary defense mission
https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/30/world/asteroid-day-2020-nasa-dimorphos-dart-scn-trnd/
index.html
 
Separating gamma-ray bursts: Students make critical breakthrough
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-07/uoc-sgb071720.php
 
New insight into the origin of water on the earth
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-07/hu-nii071720.php
 
Solar Orbiter returns first data, snaps closest pictures of the Sun
https://phys.org/news/2020-07-solar-orbiter-snaps-closest-pictures.html
 
 
 

Environment, Climate Change and Alternative Energy

Sources
 
California developer of 'micro' nuclear reactor aims to prove environmentalist doubters wrong
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/energy/california-developer-of-micro-nuclear-reactor-
aims-to-prove-environmentalist-doubters-wrong
 
Bacteria that eats metal accidentally discovered by scientists
https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2020/07/16/world/metal-eating-bacteria-intl-scli-scn/index.html
 
Tulane scientists build high-performing hybrid solar energy converter
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-07/tu-tsb071520.php
 
Fish reef domes a boon for environment, recreational fishing
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-07/uons-frd071520.php
 
A call to arms: Enlisting private land owners in conservation
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-07/sje-act071720.php
 
Replacing lithium with sodium in batteries
https://phys.org/news/2020-07-lithium-sodium-batteries.html
 
 

Biological, Genetics and Medical Sciences

 
60% of fish species could be unable to survive in current areas by 2100 – study
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jul/02/fish-species-survival-climate-warming-
study
 
A Family Secret Inspired A New Book About Leprosy
https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/07/16/891362870/a-family-secret-inspired-a-new-
book-about-leprosy?sc=18&f=1001
 
Experts' high-flying study reveals secrets of soaring birds
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-07/su-ehs071420.php
 
Mexico City buried its rivers to prevent disease and unwittingly created a dry, polluted city
where COVID-19 now thrives
https://theconversation.com/mexico-city-buried-its-rivers-to-prevent-disease-and-unwittingly-
created-a-dry-polluted-city-where-covid-19-now-thrives-139622
 
Device found able to reduce noise in simulated neonatal intensive care unit
https://techxplore.com/news/2020-07-device-noise-simulated-neonatal-intensive.html
 
Sperm discovery reveals clue to genetic 'immortality'
https://phys.org/news/2020-07-sperm-discovery-reveals-clue-genetic.html
 
 
Other
 
Experts call for regulation after latest botched art restoration in Spain
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2020/jun/22/experts-call-for-regulation-after-latest-
botched-art-restoration-in-spain
 
Are UFOs a threat? We need to investigate, says former head of secret US program
https://www.livescience.com/unidentified-ufos-history-channel.html?
fbclid=IwAR1PvKmZLGpDw8zqBNs_w5VDYvmNpsgRFKSFpqasYCByfL2lmFL-6ml8Bqs
 
What Buddhism and science can teach each other – and us – about the universe
https://theconversation.com/what-buddhism-and-science-can-teach-each-other-and-us-about-the-
universe-134322
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Additional Informational
 
SOCIAL SCIENTISTS AWARDED NATIONAL PARKS SERVICE GRANT
https://msutoday.msu.edu/news/2020/social-scientists-awarded-national-parks-service-grant/?
fbclid=IwAR1qz0vV49m0JAd-sPm1iwSzhW6LLdS5IXR4He3PZDb_N-
_5FNoNgQpmYW0#.Xwcf3OMOYrE.facebook
 
The Cross of Redemption: Uncollected Writings 
https://www.amazon.com/Cross-Redemption-Uncollected-Writings-International/dp/0307275965/
ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=The+Cross+of+Redemption
%3A+Uncollected+Writings&qid=1593536675&sr=8-1
 
VIDEO: Frederick Douglass' Descendants Deliver His 'Fourth Of July' Speech
https://www.npr.org/2020/07/03/884832594/video-frederick-douglass-descendants-read-his-fourth-
of-july-speech?
utm_campaign=npr&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_term=nprnews&utm_medium=social
 
Reverse Inclusion During Lockdown. The Experience of the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts,
Moscow
https://icom.museum/en/news/reverse-inclusion-during-lockdown-the-experience-of-the-pushkin-
state-museum-of-fine-arts-moscow/
 
How Museums in Botswana are Contributing to the Fight Against Climate Change
https://icom.museum/en/news/how-botswanian-museums-are-contributing-to-the-fight-against-
climate-change/
 
Community Responsive Programming at the Myseum of Toronto during COVID-19
https://icom.museum/en/news/community-responsive-programming-at-the-myseum-of-toronto-
during-covid-19/
 
Museums for Equality: The Time is Now
https://icom.museum/en/news/museums-for-equality-the-time-is-now/
 
Asteroid Day Digital
https://mailchi.mp/asteroidday/asteroid-day-2020-thats-a-wrap?e=dee220d1a0
 
The Good Ancestor: How to Think Long Term in a Short Term World
https://www.amazon.com/Good-Ancestor-Think-Long-Term-Short-Term-ebook/dp/B08519T8NM/
ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=The+Good+Ancestor
%3A+How+to+Think+Long+Term+in+a+Short+Term+World&qid=1595009606&sr=8-1
 
Hair Trigger
This game was developed to engage new audiences about nuclear threats, specifically the dangers
of the risky hair-trigger status of U.S. and Russian nuclear weapons.
https://hairtriggergame.org/