Origins of life

During the era known as the late heavy bombardment, from 3.8 billion to 4.5 billion years ago, comets and asteroids peppered Earth and delivered extraterrestrial organic materials, including tons of carbon each year. The new data suggest that meteorites delivered much higher abundances of amino acids to the early Earth than previously suspected. "The higher the contents of key molecules in primitive extraterrestrial materials, the more likely it is that exogenous material played a role in the origin of life," says Alexander.

- Science News (subscriber-only article, no link provided)

It sure would be nice to find an amino acid bearing meteorite in my garden.

Giant marine life

Scientists who conducted the most comprehensive survey to date of New Zealand's Antarctic waters were surprised by the size of some specimens found, including jellyfish with 12-foot tentacles and 2-foot-wide starfish.

- AP/Star Tribune (link here)

We do not get many of these in Hales Corners.

Mass murder of bison

At least 32 bison have been shot and killed on a private ranch about 15 miles southeast of Hartsel, triggering an extensive investigation by three agencies.

- Denver Post (link here)

Bizarre does not even begin to describe the initial coverage of this story.

Absinthe

After an absence of nearly 100 years, absinthe is back -- with a vengeance.

The lifting of the U.S. ban, which dates to 1912, has opened a floodgate.

Of the four absinthes approved for sale in the U.S., Kubler Absinthe Superieure ($50) has the longest history, dating to 1863. It continues to be distilled in Switzerland from locally grown plants and herbs, including the trinity and other traditional ingredients: hyssop, lemon balm, petite wormwood, mint, coriander and star anise.

"We also use some secret herbs," said Peter Karl, export director for the firm. Despite all the herbs, the Kubler absinthe is clear inside its green bottle. It is a clandestine absinthe, a style created months after the 1910 Swiss ban; the clear liquid was easier to hide than the green version.

The strong taste of absinthe nearly requires it never be drunk neat or, worse yet, in shots. "You might as well inject Novocain directly into your tongue," said Nathan-Maister.

- Chicago Tribune (link here)

I have a bottle of the Kubler described above. It is an acquired taste, and I have not yet drunk enough to acquire it.

And, of course, I am drinking the straight shots.

Argentea

With its neatly tiered branches and quietly white-margined leaves, this form of our native Pagoda Dogwood is an ideal small tree for a city back yard or for the woodland garden, where the variegation adds a ray of sunlight, even on a gloomy day. Its superbly graceful form deserves a prominent position. Ideal small tree for city gardens or woodlands.

- White Flower Farm (link here)

We have a pagoda dogwood, but ours is the old-fashioned variety.

Kartchner Caverns

The next time I travel to Arizona, I would like to visit Kartchner Caverns.

Interesting video link here.

Cimicifuga

We are honored to bring this exceptional Cimicifuga cultivar to American gardeners. It boasts the darkest, most dramatic foliage we have ever seen on this native American perennials, paired with abundant spikes of white blooms held straight upwards so that they appear to float in the late-afternoon and evening light. Very dramatic, this easily-grown perennial is highly desirable in the fully to partly shaded border.

- Wayside Gardens (link here)

I am always looking for shade tolerant plants, and this looks like a good one.

Coaster brook trout

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced it is considering placing the beleaguered coaster brook trout on the federal endangered species list.

Agency officials said a petition by conservation groups to list the trout has merit, and that the agency now will closely evaluate the status of the fish that’s found only in the Great Lakes and their tributaries.

- Duluth News Tribune (link here)

Global warming near Mackinac Island

Thanks to my Dad for forwarding the picture of Lake Huron near Mackinac Island.

Impressive amount of ice.

Mummified dinosaur

Using tiny brushes and chisels, workers picking at a big greenish-black rock in the basement of North Dakota's state museum are meticulously uncovering something amazing: a nearly complete dinosaur, skin and all.

- AP/Las Vegas Review-Journal (link here)

I sure wish I could find one of these in my garden, but that is somewhat unlikely, given that the geology is all wrong.

Chinook salmon, or lack thereof

The almost complete collapse of the richest and most dependable source of Chinook salmon south of Alaska left gloomy fisheries experts struggling for reliable explanations — and coming up dry.

- NY Times (link here)

Very bad for the fishermen.

Returned from the desert

Finally returned from the beautiful Arizona desert. The weather was gorgeous the entire time.

Hiked at the Desert Botanical Garden, ASU Hayden Butte Preserve, and South Mountain Pima Canyon.

Already looking forward to a return visit, maybe in June, when it is so hot that Elizabeth describes it as "like sticking your head in an oven."

But at least it is a dry heat.

Moonlight

Schizophragma hydrangeoides 'Moonlight'

Climbing Hydrangea

This rare cultivar shows lovely pewter mottling on each heart-shaped leaf. In midsummer, large, lacy heads of hydrangea-like flowers form along its self-adhering stems, providing a dazzling, truly moonlit display. Perfect for illuminating dark, difficult sites. Easily covers walls on the north side of the home or trunks of large trees.

- Heronswood (link here)

Redneck mansion

Thanks to Brian for this picture.

Project Budburst

(Thanks to Elizabeth for calling my attention to this)

Join us in collecting important climate change data on the timing of leafing and flowering in your area through Project BudBurst! This national field campaign targets native tree and flower species across the country. With your help, we will be compiling valuable environmental and climate change information around the United States.

- University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (link here)

Grand Canyon age controversy

Visitors to the Grand Canyon always want to know: How old is it?

Park rangers are instructed to tell them that the canyon has been carved by the Colorado River for the past 5 or 6 million years. The park's Web site, under Frequently Asked Questions, notes that the rocks exposed by the canyon are up to 2 billion years old, and then adds: "The Canyon itself -- an erosional feature -- has formed only in the past five or six million years. Geologically speaking, Grand Canyon is very young."

That might need revision. The canyon is more like 17 million years old, according to a study published today in the journal Science.

Not so fast, said Joel Pederson, a geomorphologist at Utah State University who has spent his career studying the Grand Canyon. He said the estimated age of 5 million to 6 million years is based on abundant evidence amassed by scientists over many decades. Seventeen million is impossible, he said, because there is no evidence of a large quantity of sediment flowing out of a canyon before 6 million years ago.

- Washington Post (link here)

Always love a good science controversy.

Shed hunting

People have long gathered antlers in the spring, but shed hunting has grown very popular in recent years. I believe the increased interest can be attributed to the quality deer management movement -- through which landowners are taking greater interest in managing their lands and studying deer on their property -- and the craft and cabin décor industry. Artisans routinely make antler knife handles, cribbage boards, lamps, fireplace tool handles and an endless array of other antler crafts and decorations like buttons, drawer pulls and door handles.

- travelwisconsin.com (link here)

Interesting article on hunting for shed antlers.

California wolverine

A research project aimed at weasels has turned up a bigger prize: a picture of a wolverine, an elusive animal scientists feared may have been driven out of the Sierra Nevada long ago by human activity.

- AP/azcentral (link here)

Do not eat the yellow snow

A recent study found that snow -- even in relatively pristine spots like Montana and the Yukon -- contains large amounts of bacteria.

Parents who warn their kids not to eat dirty snow (especially the yellow variety) are left wondering whether to stop them from tasting the new-fallen stuff, too, because of Pseudomonas syringae, bacteria that can cause diseases in bean and tomato plants.

"It's a very ubiquitous bacteria that's everywhere," says Dr. Penelope Dennehy, a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics' committee on infectious diseases. "Basically, none of the food we eat is sterile. We eat bacteria all the time."

- AP/weather.com (link here)

Pest control

More than two dozen porkers patrol his orchard, gobbling down fallen, immature apples containing the beetle's larvae. After a successful trial run late last spring, he and some researchers at Michigan State University are preparing for year two of the experiment at AlMar Orchards and Cidery in eastern Michigan.

- AP/azcentral (link here)

Chipmunks

Yesterday was the first chipmunk sighting in the garden for 2008.

Very difficult for them to forage with the huge snow piles.