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NEED TO CATCH up? The Journal brings you a round-up of today’s news.
#UKRAINE The USA has serious concerns about Ukraine’s ability to make significant gains in an upcoming counteroffensive, as well as Kyiv’s capacity to keep defending against Russian strikes, according to leaked documents.
#GERMANY It’s to shut down its last three nuclear power plants this Saturday in spite of the country’s recent energy difficulties resulting from the war in Ukraine.
PARTING SHOT
There was big news on the train front today with the long-awaited return of the tea trolleys.
Having been cut during the pandemic, onboard catering services are to be available on a “sporadic” basis on the Cork to Dublin line this week for the first time in three years.
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I’m sure this is how the apocalypse comes about.
These mossies will mutate and humanity will be s c r e w e d..
They’d have to mutate in a specific way, and the range of possible mutations will have been computed and assumed stable and harmless. But still, it’s an assumption and those are the mother of all …
This is mankind displying it’s marvelous control over nature, what could possibly go wrong !
@winston smith: isn’t this the opening sequence of a dozen zombie movies.
Jeebus! Releasing millions of genetically engineered bugs into the wild!! What could possibly go wrong eh!?
Worst case scenario, hey have to release 100 million genetically modified superbugs that will feed on the Mosquitos
I for one will welcome our six-legged flying overlords.
@Harry Whitehead: Sorry, missed Elma Phudd’s comment.
@Dub_Right: where does it say genetically engineered? The mossies are infected with a naturally occurring bacterium, that’s not genetic engineering.
@Simon White: Ah yeah, but it’s more fun to say they’re genetically engineered and to start frothing at the mouth in anger and stock up on tinned foods.
I can’t wait til the true life trilogy is released; Planet of the mosquitoes . It will involve a crazy president who is not in tune with the world and some crazy scientists, and one golfer who survives because he avoids an inevitable doom by turning down his chance represent his country at a tournament.
As was said in Jurassic Park – life will always find a way!!! Im sceptical about this..
@Lydia McLoughlin: yes. Mans attempt to manipulate and control nature has had many negative outcomes. The best strategy is biological control if possible. Inhibit their habitats and increase natural predators. Birds, bats, frogs will gobble up many insects.
Can we do this with humans, experiment with Trump supporters and then FF/FG supporters if it’s a success?
Humans messing with nature…. never goes wrong.
@Dave Thomas: Reminds me of myxomatosis to be honest.
@Dave Thomas: Most of the time humans messing with nature goes pretty well.
Think antibiotics, cancer drugs (any medications really), GM superfoods, prosthetic limbs, vaccines, etc.
Nature isn’t always very nice to us (see: mosquitos causing millions dead) so we often have to fix it in our favour.
Well, I for one welcome..
@Elma Phudd: …..our mosquito overlords
Someone better tell Rory Mc illroy
Erm…What?
Google X… Doesn’t sound dodgy at all, does it.
Pandora’s box opened.I hope they have thought out all the possible permutations.
Not that we in Ireland have anything to be worried about ,we have our own host parasites .
Google are supposed to be killing bugs not releasing them !
@eastsmer #IRExit: soon you’ll have to pay Semantec 50 quid a year to keep you safe from Google bugs.
You didn’t atone after the plague of locusts
Mosquitos will see you all repent
Repent
It’s a matter of time before it is a global problem. Mosquito related diseases have been around for a long time originating in Africa. It’s only in recent years that Zika, for example, has spread like wildfire in such a short span of time. This is because anybody can travel anywhere in the world now.
Nine out of ten people don’t show any symptoms and so become unknowing carriers. The rising heat of the planet caused by global warming is allowing the Mosquito to alter its life cycle; as temperatures rise some can go from the larva stage to adult in as little as two days. This coupled with the fact they can now survive winters in places they never could before, like Washington D.C, means that they are adapting to the cold. It’s plausible they could live in any climate in the future…
Does Caesar know about this?
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