Study discovers cellular activity that hints recycling is in our DNA Phys.org
Scientists Confirm Exercise Slows Down The Perception of Time Science Alert
Bending Reality: Einstein Meets Quantum Mechanics in Antarctic Ice SciTech Daily
Massage Guns the Likely Culprit in Two Cases of Acute Vertigo MedPage Today
Climate/Environment
Pennsylvania wastewater could meet 40% of US’ lithium needs: Study Interesting Engineering. Wastewater from fracking.
The Extracted Earth GRANTA
Pandemics
Biodiversity loss is biggest driver of infectious disease outbreaks, says study The Guardian
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Virome Sequencing Identifies H5N1 Avian Influenza in Wastewater from Nine Cities. medRxIV. Texas. From the abstract: “…we report the detection of H5N1 in wastewater in nine Texas cities, with a total catchment area population in the millions…A variant analysis suggests avian or bovine origin but other potential sources, especially humans, could not be excluded.”
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Nations Struggle to Draft ‘Pandemic Treaty’ to Avoid Mistakes Made During COVID Associated Press
Majority of long Covid insurance claims rejected in Switzerland Swissinfo.ch
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TB outbreak in California’s Long Beach: 1 dead, 170 likely to be exposed The Economic Times
Africa
The IMF has hypnotized Africa’s Policymakers Grieve Chelwa, Africa Watch
Making lasting peace in the Sahel An Africanist Perspective
India
Restoring the Sun God In Kashmir Open Magazine
Canada arrests fourth Indian for suspected role in Hardeep Nijjar’s killing Business Standard
China?
The Migrant Workers Who Never Made It Home Pekingnology. On the Guangdong Province highway collapse. A brief summary: “Longyan experienced considerable environmental degradation due to extensive mining operations. As the local economy shifted and mining companies ceased operations, villagers sought new employment opportunities, primarily migrating to factories in Guangdong to work in the electronics and machinery sectors….it was noted that many victims of the recent disaster were employees at an auto parts city in Guangzhou, working continuously with no weekends, only returning home during national holidays…the depth of damage in this incident on the Meizhou Expressway to be exceptionally rare, suggesting that overlooked factors during initial surveys, such as underlying layers or structural faults, inadequate drainage design for extreme weather, or lack of anti-slip measures during construction, might have played roles.”
Power and Financial Interdependence Brad Setser, The French Institute of International Relations. From the abstract: “Both parties [the US and China] thus worry about the possibility that financial interdependence can be weaponized yet find it hard to extricate themselves from the inevitability of financial interdependence absent a clean break from an entrenched pattern of trade imbalances.”
Syraqistan
Gaza truce talks ‘back to square one’ as tens of thousands flee Rafah The Cradle
Causalities, including women, children, in Israeli airstrikes in northern Gaza Anadolu Agency
We are now at the point where the IDF is dropping flyers in the north telling Palestinians to flee to the south and in the south telling them to flee to the north
— Bruno Maçães (@MacaesBruno) May 11, 2024
Another 80 Bodies Found in Three Mass Graves in Gaza TeleSur
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Israel likely violated intl law in Gaza, ‘no evidence’ to stop arms transfers: White House The Cradle
The US continues to provide cover for Israel’s genocide in Gaza Middle East Monitor
US offers intel on Hamas in exchange for Israel killing less Palestinians in Rafah attack Middle East Eye
European Disunion
Germany’s biggest newspaper has printed pictures of lecturers who signed an open letter against the brutal eviction of a student protest camp, calling them perpetrators pic.twitter.com/IwLJbAeRx4
— James Jackson (@derJamesJackson) May 10, 2024
A state leader of Germany’s most popular party has suggested the domestic intelligence service investigate professors for “Islamism and left-wing extremism”. pic.twitter.com/oGLsYIr0G1
— James Jackson (@derJamesJackson) May 11, 2024
The EU is turning into a Remainer nightmare Thomas Fazi
Eurovision’s Songs of Shame Tribune
New Not-So-Cold War
Ukraine SitRep: The ‘Sanitary Zone’ On The Northern Border With Russia Moon of Alabama
Travel Notes, St Petersburg, April-May 2024: fourth and final installment Gilbert Doctorow. “…Russian forces have de facto created a ‘sanitary zone’ from which the Ukrainians can no longer fire artillery , drones and short range missiles into the residential neighborhoods of the Belgorod region on the other side of the border, killing civilians and creating havoc as they have been doing for months.”
🇷🇺 The roof of the building in Belgorod, targeted by the Kiev regime, has collapsed on the emergency service personnel who were trying to rescue people from under the rubble. pic.twitter.com/lodXe0iTys
— DD Geopolitics (@DD_Geopolitics) May 12, 2024
“Report from Donbas.” The Floutist
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NATO risks World War III in Ukraine — while lining the defense industry’s pockets Douglas MacKinnon, The Hill. Don’t worry, the Atlanticists have capabilities and contingency plans:
What happens if Russia employs a nuclear weapon? The reality is that no one really knows.
However, what is equally true is that NATO is prepared for this type of scenario, and we have capabilities and contingency plans in place.
Some thoughts on what this might entail. 👇🧵 1/7 pic.twitter.com/YfVArctgod
— Fabian Hoffmann (@FRHoffmann1) May 11, 2024
Poke the Bear and Find Out Tarik Cyril Amar
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German MPs propose that NATO intercept drones over Ukraine Ukrainska Pravda
German Defense Minister: Restart conscription, pursue 3 percent GDP on defense Breaking Defense
The Zeitenwende, Two Years On International Centre for Defense and Security
Imperial Collapse Watch
She Was at the Top of the State Department. Now She’s Ready to Talk. Politico. Life is apparently “wonderful” for ‘Toria’ Nuland in case you were concerned, and she is open to returning to government despite her March “retirement.”
Ret. Gen. Mark Milley says the US has committed so many war crimes over the years, it has no right to criticize Israel’s devastation of Gaza
Palantir CEO Alex Karp chimes in: “The peace activists are actually the war activists, and we’re the peace activists.”
Karp says of Gaza… pic.twitter.com/Ktc5H4uYJi
— Max Blumenthal (@MaxBlumenthal) May 8, 2024
O Canada
Israeli flag-raising event going ahead at Toronto city hall Toronto Star
Biden Administration
How Airline Lobbyists Just Got Humiliated BIG by Matt Stoller
Big Oil is doing way better under Biden than under Trump Yahoo Finance
Groves of Academe
Protest and dissent can absolutely push the empire to retreat on Gaza Caitlin Johnstone, Pearls and Irritations
Campus protest crackdowns claim to be about antisemitism – but they’re part of a rightwing plan The Guardian
What My Students and I Learned in Jail After Protesting on the UTD Campus D Magazine
NYU:
9 students facing suspension after Bobst demonstration, PSC says Washington Square News
To be clear, at this point, NYU has now taken disciplinary action against ALL FIVE NEGOTIATORS
— hi it’s Ryna (they/them) (@r_w2023) May 11, 2024
University of Alberta:
Hundreds return to campus after University of Alberta, EPS dismantle pro-Palestine encampment Edmonton Journal
People are claiming that sending police after @UAlberta students is okay because the University grounds are private property and the students were thus trespassing.
As a law professor, let me state that this is a gross mischaracterization of the law.
— Florence Ashley (@ButNotTheCity) May 11, 2024
Japan:
Part of the Palestine solidarity encampment at the University of Tokyo in Japan. pic.twitter.com/Qh5iJXOKJj
— PALESTINE ONLINE 🇵🇸 (@OnlinePalEng) May 11, 2024
The movement of solidarity with Palestine has reached Japan.❤️🇵🇸
Chants of ‘Boycott Israel!’ resonated throughout the street of Shibuya in Tokyo. pic.twitter.com/mgVyORzWRg
— 𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐦 (@Malcolm_Ishmeal) May 12, 2024
Europe:
Pro-Palestinian protests continue across Europe Anadolu Agency
Harvard:
More Than 180 Harvard Faculty Sign Letter Urging Garber to End Pro-Palestine Encampment The Crimson
In Defense of Punching Left. The problem with ‘Solidarity.’ Jonathan Chait, New York Magazine. Commentary:
Honestly surprised by how many people have reached out to say they’re getting a copy of SOLIDARITY based on the fact that Chait is not a fan.
Regardless, “punch up, not left” is a far better motto to live by than the one he offers. Or better yet, “don’t punch, organize.” https://t.co/d2NuHaN38u
— Astra Taylor (@astradisastra) May 11, 2024
Our Famously Free Press
This is what campus protests against the genocide in Gaza look like to readers of the New Yorker.
Weirdly, many of the demonic, rage-filled, red-eyed protestors are depicted as superannuated senior citizens. I’m not sure what subliminal message that’s supposed to send. pic.twitter.com/7YiMvgJX68
— Seth Harp (@sethharpesq) May 11, 2024
2024
Three Bob Fergusons now running for governor as race takes turn for the weird Washington State Standard
Trump
IRS Audit of Trump Could Cost Former President More Than $100 Million ProPublica
Trump nixes Haley for VP Axios
The Supremes
Justices Thomas, Alito complain about ‘nastiness’ and ‘imperiled’ freedom of religion USA Today
Boeing
Boeing plane carrying 85 people catches fire and skids off the runway in Senegal, injuring 10 Associated Press
AI
AI chatbots turn conspiracy theorists into skeptics through dialogue ZME Science. But what if the conspiracy theory, or SCAD, happens to be true?
Sports Desk
Sports Is Betting It All On Gambling Defector
Police State Watch
NEW @BW feature investigation: Corporate America Never Really Quit Forced Labor.
Inmates do billions of dollars of work, touching almost every corner of US life. A trafficking lawsuit claims many are kept in prison because the business is just too good:https://t.co/Fpoi3cSrjf
— Josh Eidelson (@josheidelson) May 11, 2024
California is spending more on fewer inmates. Why isn’t Newsom closing more prisons? Cal Matters
Financial aid for California students takes a hit in Gavin Newsom’s new budget proposal Cal Matters
Zeitgeist Watch
Ex-Fatburger CEO accused of using company money for Rolls Royce Phantom, other items in $47M scheme ABC7
Class Warfare
Steve Albini, the Facilitator Tribune. “Albini, who has died aged 61, was one of the most uncompromising figures to ever defend art against its corruption by market forces, and for musicians to be considered as workers who deserved the full fruits of their labour.”
How Can Labor Win at Scale? Labor Politics
Today, We Remember Striking Workers in Occupied Europe Jacobin
How revolutions happen: Trotsky on party and class Counterfire
Fall of Civilizations: The histories of greatness and ruin that mirror modern decay Middle East Eye
The mystery and magic of Petra Wrong Side of History
Antidote du jour (via):
See yesterday’s Links and Antidote du Jour here.