Weekly Science Report

June 28, 2019

 
“A person's dignity does not depend on them being a citizen, a migrant, or a refugee. Saving
the life of someone fleeing war and poverty is an act of humanity.”
Pope Francis
 

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
 
Miners discover fossil of 70-million-year-old 'sea monster' in mine near Lethbridge
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/mososaur-fossil-ammomite-mine-lethbridge-1.5187842
 
12-foot bird lived alongside early human relatives, fossils reveal
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/12-foot-bird-lived-alongside-early-human-relatives-
fossils-reveal/ar-AADtkoD?ocid=ob-fb-enus-
580&fbclid=IwAR1vrRZgCb4ULIWerJlFNBfw3piQtMuknEuc5MgFVE5i1asDJeZuItA-dX0
 
Neanderthals made repeated use of the ancient settlement of 'Ein Qashish, Israel
https://phys.org/news/2019-06-neanderthals-ancient-settlement-ein-qashish.html?
fbclid=IwAR1uvp7zj5NAtgzxU11o84y7ZoHE9BY39q6yY_By1UjYeiWgjGuC_6q0umU
 
When the dinosaurs died, lichens thrived
https://phys.org/news/2019-06-dinosaurs-died-lichens.html
 
Ancient DNA help scientists study human evolution: 'It's like a time capsule'
https://phys.org/news/2019-06-ancient-dna-scientists-human-evolution.html
 
 
 

History
 
‘A kind of creeping oppression’: Anne Frank’s haunting newly published letters to her grandmother
https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2019/06/25/kind-creeping-oppression-anne-franks-
haunting-newly-published-letters-her-grandmother/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.2f925179b007
 
Helen Keller and Mark Twain Had an Unlikely Friendship That Spanned More Than a Decade
https://www.biography.com/news/helen-keller-mark-twain-friendship?
cid=sf104533566&fbclid=IwAR0Pj44s5tIcdHD_H3JC9htfsIyQlpUvsFougzjqTJ9I-
kYEXgZVDQWPrjI
 
In 1945, a Japanese Balloon Bomb Killed Six Americans, Five of Them Children, in Oregon
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/1945-japanese-balloon-bomb-killed-six-americansfive-
them-children-oregon-180972259/?
utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=socialmedia&fbclid=IwAR3rJA5wDamHudhQw7cI5hC
7T2tQg4EN6EnY_KyhRWl6kb1o8OIk7RyCZBY
 
Lonnie Bunch isn’t afraid to address white supremacy. What else will that change for the
Smithsonian?
https://www.aam-us.org/wire/washington-post/lonnie-bunch-isnt-afraid-to-address-white-
supremacy-what-else-will-that-change-for-the-smithsonian/
 
Italy Pledges to Lend 2,000 Ancient Artifacts to Brazil’s Devastated National Museum
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/national-museum-fire-damage-italy-1579687
 
Tuskegee Airman Who Flew 142 WWII Combat Missions Dies at 99
https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Tuskegee-Airman-Who-Flew-142-WWII-Combat-
Missions-Dies-at-99-511690001.html
 
Treasury Department Launches Investigation Into Delays Behind Harriet Tubman $20 Bill
https://www.npr.org/2019/06/24/735525569/treasury-department-launches-investigation-into-
delays-behind-harriet-tubman-20-
 
Nanda Devi: Bodies of missing climbers recovered in Himalayas
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-48738142?
ns_linkname=news_central&ns_source=facebook&ns_campaign=bbcnews&ns_mchannel=social&
ocid=socialflow_facebook
 
The power of ordinary people facing totalitarianism
https://theconversation.com/the-power-of-ordinary-people-facing-totalitarianism-73589
 
What Really Happened at the Battle of the Little Bighorn?
https://www.history.com/news/little-bighorn-battle-facts-causes?
source=history&platform=facebook&postid=sf104584658&sf104584658=1&fbclid=IwAR0Xyzqo
46TgLYmUiaIqy4jtCZllwl8I74wHwhDFyX9udkgtqcAE_NOZDF8
 
To Decipher Peru’s Nazca Lines, Think Like an Ornithologist
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/nazca-lines-birds-ornithology?
fbclid=IwAR1zOdAEkLV6VYPGBGaszHVQrM5sPQt_seoLVdn_db45F_u16JRVjFSwA40
 
 
 
Judaism and Christianity Both Rely on the Hebrew Bible. Why Do They Interpret It So Differently?
https://time.com/5606942/jewish-christian-bible/?
xid=time_socialflow_twitter&utm_medium=socialflowtw&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaig
n=time
 
Death in Ice Valley: New clues in Isdal Woman mystery
https://www.bbc.com/news/stories-48736937?
ns_source=facebook&ns_mchannel=social&ocid=socialflow_facebook&ns_campaign=bbcnews&f
bclid=IwAR0kYovm4iLUmSmq39o2-nMlJODDX2z9RTptsSBbUhUtRUWzDzh050yB1-E
 
Europeans’ First Contact With Iroquois Happened up to 100 Years Later Than Expected
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/d-brief/2018/12/05/new-dates-change-history-of-indigenous-
iroquois-first-contact-europeans/?
utm_source=dscfb&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=dscfb&fbclid=IwAR3515g5q9Tau9FBlZ
LVHLpsJxXWsUXznRN2fLuLeg4Y8r2vRl30xWyG7dI#.XRNyMuhKiiM
 
Proposed bill would rescind Medals of Honor given for Wounded Knee massacre
https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/26/politics/medal-of-honor-wounded-knee-trnd/index.html?
utm_content=2019-06-
27T03%3A00%3A05&utm_medium=social&utm_source=fbCNN&utm_term=link
 
The Myth of Masada: How Reliable Was Josephus, Anyway?

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium.MAGAZINE-
the-myth-of-masada-how-reliable-was-josephus-anyway-
1.7375157
 
Early Celts in Burgundy appropriated Mediterranean products and feasting practices
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-06/p-eci061219.php
 
Mysterious Etchings in Peruvian Desert Prove to Be Foreign Birds. What Did They Mean to the
Pre-Incans?
https://www.livescience.com/65755-mysterious-nazca-lines-birds-identified.html
 
An Ancient Greek Philosopher Was Exiled for Claiming the Moon Was a Rock, Not a God
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/ancient-greek-philosopher-was-exiled-claiming-
moon-was-rock-not-god-180972447/
 
 
 

Archaeology
 
Europe's Oldest Mosque May Be Buried Underground in This Visigothic City
https://www.livescience.com/65760-visigoth-reccopolis-city-revealed.html
 
Mysterious 2,000-year-old wooden arm found in English well may have been a spiritual offering
https://www.foxnews.com/science/wooden-arm-found-england
 

Iraq drought uncovers ruins of ancient palace

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/iraq-drought-uncovers-ruins-of-ancient-palace/ar-
AADyBk8?ocid=se
 
Statue of St. George Undergoes ‘Unrestoration’ to Salvage Botched Paint Job
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/spanish-statue-st-george-undergoes-unrestoration-
remove-botched-paint-job-180972481/
 
Norway is returning Easter Island artefacts to Chile
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/04/norway-is-returning-easter-island-artefacts-to-chile?
utm_source=Facebook%20Videos&utm_medium=Facebook%20Videos&utm_campaign=Facebook
%20Video%20Blogs
 
Gold Refining Techniques Of A Medieval Islamic City Revealed By Experimental Archaeology
https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidanderson/2019/06/18/gold-refining-techniques-of-a-medieval-
islamic-city-revealed-by-experimental-archaeology/amp/?__twitter_impression=true
 
Graves of 30 US servicemen found on Pacific WWII battlefield
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/graves-of-30-us-servicemen-found-on-pacific-wwii-
battlefield/ar-AADqZmS?ocid=se
 
Declassified U2 Spy Photos Reveal New Archaeological Findings
https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidanderson/2019/06/25/declassified-u2-spy-photos-reveal-new-
archaeological-findings/#3c5a6bdb474f
 
4,000-Year-Old Burial Revealed on Britain's 'Island of Druids'
https://www.livescience.com/65822-burial-mound-island-of-druids.html
 
Archaeologists Discover Ancient Baptismal Font Hidden Inside Jesus' Traditional Birthplace
https://www.livescience.com/65826-jesus-birthplace-baptismal-fonts-found.html
 
Archaeologists have a new way to unlock the secrets of ancient burned bones
https://www.latimes.com/science/new-way-to-decode-burned-bones-story.html
 
9,000 years ago, a community with modern urban problems
https://popular-archaeology.com/article/9000-years-ago-a-community-with-modern-urban-
problems/
 
New finds from underwater research on historic Greek island of Salamis
https://www.tornosnews.gr/en/greek-news/culture/35934-new-finds-from-underwater-research-on-
historic-greek-island-of-salamis.html

Egyptology
 
Archeologists Discover a Perfectly Preserved 4,000-Year-Old Tomb in Egypt
https://mymodernmet.com/khuwy-egyptian-tomb-saqqara/?
fbclid=IwAR1IRW718e6ZBpnKNcr362fd5c9Pc5-JOktoBvZ2QuN_8dZ_cObCUEhlF_8
 
Tutankhamun's sunshade may have been attached to his chariot, scholar theorises
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/44/336553/Heritage/Museums/Tutankhamuns-
sunshade-may-have-been-attached-to-hi.aspx
 
 
 
 
 
 

General Science
 
New theory for trapping light particles aims to advance development of quantum computers
https://phys.org/news/2019-06-theory-particles-aims-advance-quantum.html?
fbclid=IwAR2C5h990sGDZvh2EgRwjX2D7Oy7Qt5Tb0I1lCf04ZHbQgLy6mOoKzp36is
 
The US Air Force has a new weapon called THOR that can take out swarms of drones
https://www.theverge.com/2019/6/21/18701267/us-air-force-thor-new-weapon-drone-swarms
 
Smart materials provide real-time insight into wearers' emotions
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-06/lu-smp062119.php
 
 

Physics, Earth and Space Sciences

 
Abandoned tents, human waste piling up on Mount Everest
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/abandoned-tents-human-waste-piling-up-on-mount-
everest/ar-AADk7oU?ocid=se
 
'Bathtub rings' around Titan's lakes might be made of alien crystals
https://phys.org/news/2019-06-bathtub-titan-lakes-alien-crystals.html
 
Watch SpaceX Launch a Solar Sail the Size of a Boxing Ring
https://www.wired.com/story/spacex-is-launching-a-solar-sail-the-size-of-a-boxing-ring/?
CNDID=41291302&CNDID=41291302&bxid=MjM5NjgxMjIxODk5S0&hasha=3ed15b3d4270f5
2ce4da5de4e5031836&hashb=9085a9ae56cc45a4e9bae24e2eaeaade6e04a43e&mbid=nl_062419_d
aily_list3_p2&source=DAILY_NEWSLETTER&utm_brand=wired&utm_mailing=WIRED%20NL
%20062419%20(1)&utm_medium=email&utm_source=nl
 
Mysterious Extragalactic Flash Pinpointed for 2nd Time Ever
https://www.space.com/fast-radio-burst-origin-pinpointed.html?utm_source=notification
 
Scientists have discovered a sea of fresh water under the ocean
https://qz.com/1650613/scientists-discover-sea-of-fresh-water-under-the-ocean/
 
Cyanide Compounds Discovered in Meteorites May Hold Clues to the Origin of Life
https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/goddard/2019/cyanide-in-meteorites
 
Scientist develops novel algorithm to aid search for exoplanets
https://phys.org/news/2019-06-scientist-algorithm-aid-exoplanets.html
 
Researcher shows physics suggests life could exist in a 2-D universe
https://phys.org/news/2019-06-physics-life-d-universe.html?fbclid=IwAR073Fj-by4YoMejy-
TtBwNNL8qsHjKjXlZBNhQn_c6r-xz2X0Nw06uwW1g
 
NASA plans to send a flying robot to Saturn’s moon Titan
https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/nasa-plans-to-send-a-flying-robot-to-saturns-moon/
2019/06/27/7bf6ecd8-98ee-11e9-830a-21b9b36b64ad_story.html?utm_term=.325112140eb0
 
NASA to launch deep-space atomic clock that could transform space exploration
https://www.nbcnews.com/mach/science/nasa-launch-deep-space-atomic-clock-could-transform-
space-exploration-ncna1021016?cid=sm_npd_nn_fb_ma&fbclid=IwAR32TP-8AGEr-
8PGpTGvAlnZupiGIrozUOe1LIpGScNxOIme6B7NTf9z0KY
 
There Will Be Crime in Space
https://slate.com/technology/2019/06/crime-space-settlement-mars.amp
 
Proposed set of conservation laws find order in the chaos of turbulence
https://phys.org/news/2019-06-laws-chaos-turbulence.html?
fbclid=IwAR1qSYBVUXXE8DU6CQ8B4SDVVtlsq-RYKbFPpBFl8FUcCyHIh8GLKWkSZtw
 
Queen's Brian May Outlines Asteroid Deflection Mission
https://www.space.com/brian-may-video-asteroid-mission-hera.html?utm_source=notification
 
 
 
 
Plant seeding and panspermia
https://phys.org/news/2019-06-seeding-panspermia.html?
fbclid=IwAR290wtueD35oEtFpXm3khHWoG6rQHXbwdrHxu6xe1G58w3HIe0dNck5Nzc
 
New property of light discovered
https://phys.org/news/2019-06-property.html?fbclid=IwAR0B99nZN-
5wAwXy5Gl0OqBCzRt5qpDY2IWrXlSVK1zt9401hZFLroVKoCw
 
Mysterious Cosmic Rays Shooting from the Ground in Antarctica Could Break Physics
https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/d3jdmk/mysterious-cosmic-rays-shooting-from-the-ground-in-
antarctica-could-break-physics?
utm_source=vicefbus&fbclid=IwAR3LMbFw8F6cvzVV5BIalOVeBbdbXHg0rsvGfKm2wNF6Snr
5WddN9BVYwsU
 
Researchers decipher the history of supermassive black holes in the early universe
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-06/uowo-rdt062819.php
 
NASA: Intense work under way on rocket for future moonshots
https://phys.org/news/2019-06-nasa-intense-rocket-future-moonshots.html
 
Cosmic waves discovery could unlock mysteries of intergalactic space
https://phys.org/news/2019-06-astronomers-history.html
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Environment, Climate Change and Alternative Energy

Sources
 
Norway’s Newest Ships Give a Glimpse Into the Future of Sustainable Seafaring
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/norways-newest-ships-give-glimpse-into-future-of-
sustainable-seafaring-180970326/
 
Desalination Is Booming as Cities Run out of Water
https://www.wired.com/story/desalination-is-booming-as-cities-run-out-of-water/?
CNDID=41291302&CNDID=41291302&bxid=MjM5NjgxMjIxODk5S0&hasha=3ed15b3d4270f5
2ce4da5de4e5031836&hashb=9085a9ae56cc45a4e9bae24e2eaeaade6e04a43e&mbid=nl_062919_d
aily_list3_p3&source=DAILY_NEWSLETTER&utm_brand=wired&utm_mailing=WIRED%20NL
%20062919%20(1)&utm_medium=email&utm_source=nl
 
Going 'Zero Carbon' Is All The Rage. But Will It Slow Climate Change?
https://www.npr.org/2019/06/18/724343789/going-zero-carbon-is-all-the-rage-but-will-it-slow-
climate-change?
utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_source=facebook.com&fbcli
d=IwAR1MojdwdWx8Lp-UZIR8rRGc-XJSC2vRqC5N1gztggiRA65njpbwUcbTdpM
 
How floating solar farms could make fuel and help solve the climate crisis
https://www.nbcnews.com/mach/science/how-floating-solar-farms-could-make-fuel-help-solve-
climate-ncna1020336?cid=sm_npd_nn_tw_mc
 
Researchers provide new evidence on the reliability of climate modeling
https://phys.org/news/2019-06-evidence-reliability-climate.html
 
We battled hordes of tourists to put a weather station in Everest's 'death zone'
https://www.popsci.com/death-zone-weather-station/?
utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR2D5zsvj2tueER229lIwZSmVcjEpAYy
NTT4-7hsZtCYLBWnhiUg-feir_I
 
Researchers explore use of new materials to create more efficient solar cells
https://phys.org/news/2019-06-explore-materials-efficient-solar-cells.html
 
Global agriculture: Impending threats to biodiversity
https://phys.org/news/2019-06-global-agriculture-impending-threats-biodiversity.html
 

Biological, Genetics and Medical Sciences

 
The Two Technologies Changing the Future of Cancer Treatment
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2019/06/immunotherapies-make-cancer-treatment-less-
brutal/592378/?utm_content=edit-promo&utm_medium=social&utm_term=2019-06-
25T13%3A30%3A25&utm_campaign=the-atlantic&utm_source=facebook
 
Scientists capture first-ever video of giant squid in U.S. waters
https://phys.org/news/2019-06-scientists-capture-first-ever-video-giant.html?
fbclid=IwAR3uLiDHdDuR3qWKPC7EIrBTw9RzCMp5n_LZMnw1c-p6lQ3mSYD8YbZTqUY
 
FDA Clears First Soft Robotic Exo-Suit for Stroke Rehab
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/914121
 
'Mystical' psychedelic compound found in normal brains
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2019-06-mystical-psychedelic-compound-brains.html?
fbclid=IwAR1NDcKIIFVFxkzKoOVw0r_D5bUw4VEIkV-YDyxwrof35cHh34g8b52Y8iU
 
Hopes raised of cervical cancer eradication
https://www.bbc.com/news/health-48758730?
ocid=socialflow_facebook&ns_campaign=bbcnews&ns_mchannel=social&ns_source=facebook&f
bclid=IwAR2TpRW_ptEW_ZTZAl_JtKquJ5Ngtsdbk26bSpwoHgllazQ_YfYMWuLv4h4&fbclid=I
wAR1ms9TltRwmbtw8EZF2uld-NzWvAXmc79uGC4D6eRDU7ySOtQHVbOAGBzc
 
Thousands of whales are dying. Scientists have run out of public beaches for the carcasses to rot
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2019/06/21/climate-change-thousands-gray-whales-dying-
no-place-rot/1521620001/?fbclid=IwAR1blYFNsSXtDN5N7kuAKDqd-CASbeK0-
4HvVbznWYyAP6YAY1MGX0i5SDw
 
A New Way To Test For Signs Of Consciousness In Unresponsive, Brain-Injured Patients
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/06/27/736382903/a-new-way-to-test-for-signs-of-
consciousness-in-brain-injured-patients?sc=tw
 
Genetically modified virus combats prostate cancer
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2019-06-genetically-virus-combats-prostate-cancer.html?
fbclid=IwAR3fFLt2zb-Eb0KqdUmQ-6f-Nqwhf28yf7g8bFBSzHrcDsjTu5dtxTLmwLM
 
Medicines made of solid gold to help the immune system
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-06/udg-mmo062819.php
 
Controlling deadly malaria without chemicals
https://phys.org/news/2019-06-deadly-malaria-chemicals.html
 
Coral found to prefer eating microplastic to natural food
https://phys.org/news/2019-06-coral-microplastic-natural-food.html
 
 
Other
 
8 fascinating and fearsome frontiers of science you should know about
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/11/frontiers-of-science-research-global-future-councils-
2018
 
The Science Behind How Mindfulness Can Help Break Negative Thought Patterns
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeenacho/2016/12/27/the-science-behind-how-mindfulness-helps-you-
to-break-negative-thought-patterns/?
utm_source=TWITTER&utm_medium=social&utm_term=Malorie%2F#3eed14df4119
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Additional Informational
 
Council on Foreign Relations, Envisioning a Green New Deal: A Global Comparison
https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/envisioning-green-new-deal-global-comparison?
utm_source=fb&utm_content=062519&utm_medium=social_owned&fbclid=IwAR05LO35_bTSO
feFgS2VpnMcoGGK7UQepztuDh0gx8nGQndKvH4ODvdg9aQ
 
Planet Earth Takes Center Stage in 2019 Global Summits
https://www.cfr.org/councilofcouncils/global_memos/p39196?utm_term=summits-to-
watch&utm_content=062419&utm_medium=social_owned&utm_source=tw
 
35 Innovators under 35 Pioneers, Jinxing Li
https://www.technologyreview.com/lists/innovators-under-35/2019/pioneer/jinxing-li/?
utm_campaign=site_visitor.unpaid.engagement&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=tr_social
 
The UNESCO Courier: Welcome to the Anthropocene
https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000261900
 
Protecting Cultural Heritage in a Dynamic and Unpredictable World
https://www.uschamberfoundation.org/blog/post/protecting-cultural-heritage-dynamic-and-
unpredictable-world?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Read
%20more&utm_campaign=digest