Discovery

If you want to find something you first need to look for it.  That's not to say you won't stumble across something interesting totally by accident, but too often we walk by remarkable things daily and never notice them because our head is down and our thoughts are locked onto the daily tasks.

Pay attention to the things around you.  It might be as simple as an insect crawling on the porch rail or an Indigo Bunting peering from a nearby tree branch.  It could be as complex as the way nature recycles nutrients that inspires an earth-changing invention.  It could be in observing the interactions between two people that lets you know that your understanding is flawed.

Observations should trigger questions.  Too often we look but don't truly see.  We hear but don't really listen.  We notice but don't observe critically.  By critically I don't refer to being critical but to thinking about what we see, hear, etc.  We tend to be so wrapped up in ourselves that we miss much of what is around us.

Discovery is not only the realm of Explorers and Scientists.  Discovery is available to everyone who opens their eyes and asks questions -- especially the question, "Why?"  It is key to growth.

In previous posts I have used photos of Turk's Cap (Malvaviscus arboreus).  It is growing wild behind a short retaining wall at the entrance to our place.  It almost went undiscovered by me due to its location which not only is hidden by the brick wall, but is surrounded by trees, weeds, and a gate that is left open.  I obviously wondered how it got there.  I suspect it is there because some bird ingested a seed elsewhere and later deposited it along with some nitrogen-dense fertilizer while sitting on the retaining wall.  Now I have to keep the invasive weeds from covering it back up.  Sometimes discovery requires work.

 There Be Dragons

As one who enjoys Science Fiction and Fantasy, I have encountered many dragons in my reading.  Sometimes they are described as being friendly, but most are more like Smaug, the dragon in The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien.  They are greedy, deceitful and extremely dangerous.

I think that describe some people as well -- many of whom become elected officials.

There is another type of dragon that sometimes finds its way into books.  It is the dragonfly.  I am especially reminded of the Ornithopters used on Arrakis (Dune) in the movie adaptation of the book Dune, written by Frank Herbert.   The propulsion system makes them appear like dragonflies with beating wings -- a little like a helicopter but with the rotors replaced by beating wings.  I can't imagine the difficulties of maintaining such a system -- especially in an extreme desert environment such as Arrakis.

I think dragonflies are among the most interesting of insects.  Although they are predatory, they don't bite or sting humans and their aerial maneuvers are impressive.  Read the Wikipedia entry here.  It is long but worth the effort.

In Old England they were considered evil, hence the name Dragonfly.  The word dragon is associated with the devil and fly as well, flying insect.  They are featured in many native American cultures such as the Navajo who linked them with pure water.  Recently, utilizing drone-like technology, flying optical transmitters have mimicked dragonflies.

Below is a photo of a Common Whitetail Dragonfly (Plathemis lydia), also known as a Long-tailed Skimmer which landed on our front porch for a rest yesterday evening.  Most of them I see have a solid white tail.

 Questions

I ask lots of questions.  I always have.  Often, people take my questions in the wrong way.

I question because I want to learn.  People sometimes take my questions to mean that I doubt what they are saying.  I really just want to understand.

My kids hated it when they were young because they were questioned about their day, about school, about other kids.  They thought I was prying into their lives.  The reality is that I was just curious.  To me knowledge is the key to doors that lead to better places.

It's not just questions.  I read a wide variety of material.  Certainly, I enjoy fiction, but I read a lot of non-fiction too.  Even fiction is a source of knowledge.  Creativity is stimulated by reality.  Science fiction is a great example.  Many things have appeared first in science fiction long before science was able to produce them -- rockets for one.  Concepts based on fragmentary knowledge often leads to creative linkages that lead discovery.

New discoveries begin with questions.  They begin with "what if" and "I wonder" and similar thoughts.

It doesn't just apply to science.  It applies to virtually everything.  We should be asking questions like, "What if the Peace with Iran fails?"  "How will policy change after the next election?"  "How will the New World Screwworm affect the cattle markets?"  "How can I help my grandchildren that will prepare them for the future?" and the list goes on.

I wish that everyone asked more questions.  Instead, it seems that our children are taught "not to question" but to simply obey.  As a parent I understand that.  For the military I understand that.  In society in general I believe it is a mistake.  We should respectfully question "authority" and others who wield power.  Far too many are manipulated by those who wield the power -- both economically and politically.  We need to be questioning them.

The flower below is a Crepe Myrtle.  It has absolutely nothing to do with the subject of this post, but I like it.  We have many growing on our place, but the photograph was taken yesterday about an hour away from here as we were traveling.  Now the obvious question is "Why were you traveling?"  The answer is curiosity.  We wanted to see what was out there.

 Rising Mists

This morning as I watch the mists rising from the pond my mind twists with two forces pulling my thoughts; one is the scientific explanation that the water is warmer than the air this morning and the second is the simple, poetic beauty of rising mists.  The mists become a curtain hiding the surface where unknown dangers might lurk.

I sometimes think there is a war between reason and fantasy being fought within our minds.  Reason is based in our desire to understand and control where fantasy is rooted in our understanding that we are not in control but ride the currents of a reality that is beyond comprehension.  In the world of reason, we are limited to what we deem to be real.  The world of fantasy is unlimited -- unbounded by what we know or can imagine.  In it the unexpected is expected.

What is it that drives our tendency to fantasize?  Is it disappointment or disillusionment with reality or is it something calling us to reach beyond the circumstances that bind us to place and time?  

I think reality and fantasy are linked.  Fantasy -- imagination -- is what allows us to discover and understand the amazing and marvelous reality that surrounds us.  Our mind asks, "what if?" before it seeks new paths of understanding.  We are wired to crave knowledge and that wiring creates pathways to exploration of the unknown.

Yesterday we took a short walk simply to look at the various plants we could find growing around our property.  Our focus is on identifying those foreign to our soil and those which are native.  We identify and decide whether to remove or retain and encourage.

Growing in the ditch along our county road we encountered a small cluster of Pink Ladies (Oenothera speciosa).  They are also known as the Evening Primrose.  They are native to Texas and often seen along roadsides.  Identifying these plants is part of our quest for knowledge but it also provides fodder for the imagination.  Perhaps they are really fairies in pink skirts dancing in the wind.

Chasing a White Rabbit

I was walking in the woods the other day and came across something I had never seen before; it was down in the hollow base of a large tree.  Looking into the cavity, there appeared to be a round, white, puffy ball lodged in a hole.  My first thought was that some animal, such as a white rabbit, had become lodged in there and was stuck.  Of course, my eyesight isn't quite what it once was, so I just wasn't certain what it was that was down in that hole.  It almost looked like a ball of snow, but we hadn't had any, so I knew it couldn't be that.

I took the logical approach and poked it with a stick.  That didn't tell me much, so I then proceeded to dig it out with the stick.  It was stuck and didn't come out easily and in fact, came out in pieces.  I wish I had thought to take an image of it before I tore it up.  It was very cold and a bit squishy to the touch. 

I, of course, had to research a bit to find out what this cold, squishy ball of rubbery stuff might be so I searched first on iNaturalist.  There, I found it to be a Lion's Mane Mushroom, Hericium erinaceus.  It is edible and has medicinal properties.  Some of the benefits are related to immune function, anxiety and depression, cognitive health, heart health, cancer, diabetes, digestive health, wound healing and nervous system recovery.  Seems like an important mushroom with which to become acquainted!

You never know what you will find if you just get out and explore a bit.

What Do You See?

This image was taken in far western New Mexico just off of U.S. Highway 60 back in 2010.  I noticed what looked to be a cave off to the south and stopped to get a photograph only to discover that it wasn't a cave, but an arch.  When I looked at the image this morning, I saw something completely different.  I saw R2D2.

I'm not sure what he is dragging along behind him, but that's definitely R2D2 on the left.  For the two of you out there who might not know, R2D2 is a robot from the Star Wars series.  He speaks in high-pitched beeps and whistles and is in charge of navigation on Luke's fighter -- along with many other duties such as carrying stolen Death Star plans and crucial maps of the Universe.  He has even been known to produce other items out of a hidden compartment, such as Luke's light-saber, at critical moments.

I am definitely a Star Wars fan, but my wife is a fanatic.  I suspect she can quote the script of every character in every one of the movies -- not only quote them, but her timing on them is impeccable.  I may know the gist of what is coming, but she speaks the words as they are spoken in the scene as it plays out in front of you.

There are many who do not care for Science Fiction, but it is my favorite genre of fiction.  It is where we can delve into societal issues in an imaginative world of the future.  Sometimes the creative vision of the author plays out and at other times it doesn't -- I'm thinking Jules Verne.  Science Fiction has been around for a long time.

What are your favorite Science Fiction books?  Your comments would be appreciated.  My favorite is probably "Stranger in a Strange Land" by Robert A. Heinlein.  I wouldn't recommend it for everyone, but it is one that will definitely get you to thinking.  I look forward to your lists!

Water, Conveniences and Contaminants

As I continue my journey back through old images from Mission San Jose in San Antonio, I am struck by this one of a water well.  Here in this country we take clean, readily-available water for granted although it is critical for our survival.

Can you imagine living where the water you drink and use for washing is all hand-dipped from a well?  There are numerous places where that is the case even today.  Often, the water in those open wells is contaminated with debris along with bacteria, insect larva, fecal material and chemicals which leach into it or, fall from above.  Many times, they are the source of disease or, other contaminant-induced illnesses.

In 2009, on a trip to Niger, I saw large community wells that provided the drinking water to many people.  I recall peering into one and seeing quantities of trash -- plastic bags, containers, wood, other debris -- that had blown in from the surrounding streets, yet the people lowered their buckets and drew out the water for consumption.  It is no wonder their mortality rate is high.

The same thing happens in this country, but we aren't usually aware of it.  Roadside trash washes into our streams, rivers and lakes which often serve as reservoirs of drinking water for our cities.  If it wasn't for the decontamination processes of our municipal services -- which includes chemical treatment to kill organisms in the water -- we would be in similar circumstances as the poor in other countries.  Fortunately, we have built infrastructure to cleanse the majority of contaminants from the water before we consume it.

Notice my use of the word "majority" in the previous comment; one thing we fail to completely remove is the micro-plastics -- microscopic pieces of plastic that come from the tons of plastic items we use  on a daily basis.  Those plastics include things like food wraps, straws, drink containers, toys, storage containers, tires and many other things.  Plastics are so pervasive in our lives that we no longer take notice of them.

There are many different kinds of plastic.  They are sometimes rigid, sometimes flexible, some contain dyes while others are clear, they are often combined with other materials such as in footwear.  They are a major component of tires which leave tiny fragments on our roadways as we drive.  Those fragments are washed into ditches and eventually into our waterways.

The consumption of all of those micro-plastics is something being studied by numerous scientists.  As of this time, little is known about the impact they may, or may not have, on our health.  I don't know about you, but I'm not particularly thrilled to know that I am consuming it.

Modern technology is amazing in the the things that make our lives better; sometimes, though, there are unintended consequences that come along for the ride.  I am trying to use fewer plastic objects.  I also am attempting to do as my grandparents and reuse or, re-purpose items more frequently.  There is not only a benefit to the environment, but also an economic benefit.  I wish more people would do the same.

Often it is difficult to connect all the dots between our consumptive behavior and the environment; water is one area that falls into that category.  The next time you grab that plastic wrap, think about where it will end up.  It might be that you are feeding it to your grandchildren....

Diversity and Strange Lifeforms

Have you ever really noticed how strange life can be?  I'm not talking about the events that occur in our life, I am referring to life forms.  Take for example this Horseshoe Crab I saw on the beach on Marco Island, Florida, some years ago.  To me it is one of the strangest looking creatures I have ever seen.  I believe this one is the Limulus polyphemus which is commonly known as the American or Atlantic horseshoe crab.

They are not really crabs.  They are not even a Crustacean although, like Crustaceans, they are in the Phylum Arthropoda.  They have two primary eyes and seven secondary eyes -- two of which are on their underside.  Their mouth sits in the middle of their legs.

Despite their strangeness, horseshoe crabs are the source of a compound that is important to humans.  Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) is derived from their blood and is used for the detection of bacterial endotoxins in medical applications.  Prior to 1986, they were the only source of the compound which placed tremendous pressure on the animals due to demand for their blood which was extracted from them after capture.  They were then usually released back into the ocean, but a significant percentage of them died or, were unable to reproduce.  In 2003 a synthetic substitute for the product was developed and is now commercially available.

A number of times I have mentioned that we have a tendency to celebrate and congregate with those most like ourselves.  Sometimes being different is important.  The amazing differences in the life forms of various plants and animals provide a diversity from which to draw many things which are important to us.  I think if we give those who are different than ourselves a chance, we will find that they also have much to offer.  I hope there is diversity in your life and in your work.  Those differences may lead to important discoveries that make this world a better place.

Imagination and Scenic Places

Some places fuel the imagination; White Sands National Monument is one of them.  This image is one sent to me by my daughter from their recent trip to New Mexico.  It is a place I have never been, although I have been very close to it.

The monument is within the Tularosa Basin which is also contains Holloman Airforce Base and the U.S. Missile Test Range.  The basin was home to many ancient cultures before the entry of the Spaniards in the 1500's.  Few places have seen such a sweeping transition culminating in the testing of missile defense systems and nuclear weapons.

The white dunes are composed of gypsum which is widely mined and used for such things as fertilizer, plaster, sidewalk chalk and drywall.  It is a wonder the dunes are intact rather than a part of someone's living room!  Alabaster is a variety of gypsum and was used by sculptors in ancient civilizations for some of the most beautiful pieces ever created because of its whiteness.

I remember a a child taking trips to southwestern Oklahoma to visit my Dad's family.  Just outside of Duke, Oklahoma, is the American Gypsum plant.  The soil in that area is full of gypsum.

In many places across the southeastern part of the Texas Panhandle, in the Rolling Plains region, especially near the rivers which cross the area, are outcroppings of gypsum.  Sometimes it is in friable crystalline layers embedded within the red clay soil and in other places forms large crystals.  The Old English word for gypsum translated as "spear stone" because of these large crystals which resembled a spear tip.

As a fertilizer, gypsum is a source of sulfur and was once known as sulfate of lime.  In areas where the soil is deficient in sulfur and calcium it created almost miraculous results.

Gypsum can be a problem in the water -- especially in natural water sources where it is at concentrated levels.  It causes a brackish taste and potentially, diarrhea.   If concentrations are too high, livestock will seek other sources of water.

To me, the dunes inspire thoughts of alien landscapes.  Apparently Steven Spielberg thought the same thing because if you are a fan of "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" you will recognize the landscape in part of the movie.  Click on the link to read about it.

Pistachios and Poison Ivy

My daughter knows of my interest in all things agriculture and sent to me this image of a Pistachio orchard in New Mexico which she took on a recent trip there.  Pistacia vera is the primary cultivar of Pistachio grown in the United States.  The tree is a native of Central Asia and Iran still accounts for over half of the world's production.  The U.S. is the second largest producer with about half what is produced by Iran.

Like a number of other fruit and nut trees, Pistachios are vulnerable to many diseases so, they are frequently grafted onto root stocks from species that are more resistant.  Oak and Mesquite are commonly used to provide the root stock for many of the Pistachio orchards in the U.S.  Since Pistachios do best in dry climates, drought tolerance is also a consideration.  In the image above, there appears to be an irrigation system.

Pistachios are members of the Anacardiaceae Family which also includes poison ivy, sumac, mango and cashew.  Plants of that Family produce an oily substance called urushiol which is an irritant.  I am very familiar with this particular irritant since I am currently recovering from a recent brush with poison ivy.  Apparently there is varying sensitivity among people to the urushiol and I seem to be among the more sensitive.  The concentration of urushiol on the leaf surface of the poison ivy is often highest in the fall.  Silly me, I figured spring was the time to most fear the plant.

Urushiol is an oleoresin that is absorbed very quickly by the skin.  The toxin is recognized by the dendridic cells (Langerhans cells) which then migrate to the lymph nodes where they present the template for the toxin to the T-lymphocytes (aka "killer" T-cells), stimulating them to travel to the site of contact and begin production of cytokines and cytotoxins that seek out and destroy the urushiol.  This reaction is what causes the blistering and eventual death of the skin cells at the point of contact.  The T-cells literally kill the infected cells to rid the body of the toxin.

I have never been a big fan of Pistachios.  Others in my family absolutely love them.  I wonder if the affinity/adversity to them is related to susceptibility to the effects of the urushiol?  Something to ponder on this fine Monday morning....

Treating Ignorance (lack of knowledge)

Raising cattle requires controlling parasites.  There are many that attack the animals both internally and externally.  The large, flying critter you see in this photo is a horse fly resting upon the back of one of our calves.  If you look more closely, to put it in perspective, you will see a number of horn flies toward the edges of the photo.  There is quite a difference in their size.  Both are irritants to the cattle.

The horse flies are a source of the organism that causes Anaplasmosis.  They carry tiny rickettsial parasites called Anaplasma marginale or Anaplasma centrale which cause severe anemia.  The parasites can also be carried by ticks, but in our area, the horse flies seem to be the primary vector.  Fortunately, it is easily treatable with tetracycline.  Without treatment an animal -- especially mature ones -- will usually die within a matter of a few weeks.

The movement by many toward livestock production without the use of chemicals or, antibiotics is one based in ignorance.  No rancher uses such things unless they are necessary to protect their animals from disease and possibly death.  All products available for use on animals have been tested and the rates at which they disappear from being present in the blood, or tissue of the animal through normal metabolic processes has been determined.  This provides for a known withdrawal date on any products that are used.  Most are completely gone from the animal within a very short time.  Animals can't be harvested for meat if there is any residue and are tested at the harvest facility for such.

One of the arguments against the use of antibiotics in animals is that it causes organisms to become resistant and therefore the treatment becomes less effective over time.  There is certainly some validity to the point, however, the majority of organisms that are treated are species specific and not zoonotic.  Zoonosis is the transfer of pathogens between species -- such as tuberculosis -- but the list of such diseases is fairly short and when they occur in livestock they are reported to the state Animal Health Commission and steps are taken to isolate any infected animals and prevent the spread.

I use fly spray to help control the pesky horse flies and horn flies which attack my cattle.  I've used the same sprays in my kitchen!  It seems beyond cruel to me to allow the flies to constantly attack the cattle and potentially make them sick through the parasites they carry.  The female horse flies have strong cutting mandibles which they use to slice open the skin.  They then will sit and drink the blood from the seeping wound.  As they do so, the parasites they carry within their saliva enter the wound and the blood stream of the animal and present the risk of disease.  If the cattle show signs of sickness I immediately treat them with an antibiotic targeted at the disease.

If you are one who is on the bandwagon of the crusaders who wish to ban the use of such products in livestock, please take a minute to consider the cruelty that will be inflicted on those animals.  Today we are able to produce a safe and wholesome product because those tools are available.  Without them, a lot of animals would die a slow death from disease.

I suppose this seems like a morbid subject early in the morning.  It is on my mind because I am about to head out to doctor a sick calf.  Those animals are my responsibility as long as they are in my care.  I will do my best to raise them in a manner that respects them and provides the best environment in which they can thrive.

Sometimes You Have to Dig for the Reason

It being Friday the 13th with a Full Moon, I thought it only appropriate that I use the photo of a 4-leaf clover in my post, however, I have committed to only use original photos and not something "borrowed" from the Internet and I didn't have one of a 4-leaf clover.  Instead, I will use this Brazos Rain-lily (Zephyranthes chlorosolen) as a substitute.  We had a number of them make their appearance in our pasture after the rain we had a couple of weeks ago.  They aren't large -- about 12" tall consisting of a single stem shooting up out of the ground with a flower approximately 2" in diameter.

To the extent possible, we try to identify the plants we find growing in our pastures.  Some plants are toxic to cattle and we especially watch out for them.  Such plants typically only appear sporadically such as after a drought or, in a particularly rainy stretch at a time of year when it doesn't normally rain as much.  Knowing the flora and fauna on the land within your care is important for that reason, but also for others.

There are numerous rare or, endangered species of plants and animals.  When you speak of such things, most ranchers cringe because of the bad experiences of some where their land was restricted in its use due to the presence of such items.  Various government agencies have a good deal of power to do such and so, most occurrences of threatened plants and animals go unreported due to fear, or to willful ignorance.  I fully sympathize with that.  No one wants how they utilize their land to be restricted due to the presence of some rare salamander, or minnow, or weed.

It is difficult, even for someone who is very much a conservationist at heart, to reconcile the preservation of every single species against the rights and needs of individuals.  I am a firm believer that "less government" is the best government.  Personal property rights are one of the most important foundations of our liberty; without them, there is no free enterprise and very little incentive to grow and create.

A willingness by many to restrict such rights is typically due to a jealousy of the "have nots" toward those who have been able to acquire substantial property.  Is the system rigged?  You bet it is.  Those who have accumulated property have considerably more power than those who haven't.  That is why there is a need for appropriate regulation of the rights of ownership that weigh the needs of the many against the "rights" of the individual.  It is why we have labor laws and regulations against certain monopolistic practices.

When it comes to things of a more esoteric nature -- such as rare plants and animals -- it is sometimes difficult to determine where the needs/rights of the individual end and public needs/rights begin.  I don't pretend to have deep specialized knowledge regarding such issues, but in general, I understand the concept that we need to maintain biodiversity.  Even the most well-trained scientists only understand the "surface" of the intricate workings of various ecosystems.  Each time a species goes extinct, there is the danger of a cascading effect that can cause widespread disruption.  There also is the potential commercial/social value that many plants and animals offer as food or, as sources of medicines and other potentially important compounds.  In summation, we don't know enough to know what we don't know, therefore the wise course is to preserve.

Fortunately for me, the Lily in the photo is not an endangered or, threatened species.  It does however, produce an alkaloid called lycorine, a fungicide, which protects the plant against Phymatotrichum root rot.  That characteristic alone could make it valuable given gene splicing technology such as CRISPR.  The genes from the Brazos rain-lily that cause it to produce the lycorine might could be spliced into the DNA of a cotton plant for instance, giving it the ability to resist root rot in times of too much rain.

Maybe there is a reason to protect those plants and animals after all....

Preserving the Unknown for the Future

Normally webworms are found up in the trees.  This is some type of tall weed of which I don't know the identity.  It was standing along the edge of a hay meadow near a dense cope of trees.  There were a few webs up in the trees, but they were not as dense as these.

If you zoom in on the photo you will see that the leaves have turned snowy white and are completely enclosed by the webs.  It is as if each leaf is the center of a collapsed paper bag.  I could not see any active worms within the bags, yet they seemed intact.

If any of you who read this know what this critter is, please post the identity in the comments for me.  If they only attack weeds I may start raising them as a cash crop!

There are many things in nature that we don't understand.  Why did these "bugs" attack this specific plant and leave all of those surrounding it alone?  Is there some critical nutrient they were seeking that drew them to it?  There were other weeds of the same type nearby that were untouched.  The lower leaves on this plant were also untouched.  I should have taken a photo of them for comparison, but it didn't occur to me as I was checking cows yesterday.

I suppose I'm a little weird, but things like this intrigue me.  Did you know that many of our medicines come from plants?  Could it be that the same chemicals that drew the web-makers to this weed have the potential to cure cancer or, other diseases?  Is there something special about this plant, which I see occasionally, but is not common on our land?

Maybe it isn't the plant that is special but, perhaps there is something in this patch of soil that has been taken up by the plant?  Could creatures like these "webworms?" be genetically programmed to seek out specific chemicals?  Could they be programmed to mine potential basic molecules from plants to be used in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals?

Like I said, I suppose I'm a little weird, but I know that there are things occurring in nature that we don't understand that could be of great benefit to us.  We must take care to maintain large natural areas where such interesting and unique processes occur simply for the fact that they are a laboratory for research into what we don't know.

We also need to train scientists to incorporate the observation of nature into their quest for the "new and better" which may be something that has been around for millennia in a natural process that we just don't yet realize is occurring.  Without wild places that would be impossible.

Just my thoughts this morning.  Again, if you know exactly what caused the webs on this plant, please comment.  I would appreciate it!

A Little Cow Science in a Poem

There are some things in nature

That are marvelous to see;

When you truly think of them

Astounded you will be.

Take a cow for instance,

How she wanders on four feet,

Just harvesting the grasses

When she wants something to eat.

Her tongue is long and rough

And perfect for the chore

Of gathering her sustenance

And going back for more.

It passes to her rumen

Where it is broken down

In a place so full of microbes

That really go to town

Breaking down the fibers

In this fermentation vat,

Releasing fatty acids

Where the nutrients are at.

And she has this strange reticulum

That looks like honey-comb

Where heavy objects lodge

Instead of passing on.

If you've seen her chew her cud

As she lies there in rest

It's because she's breaking up the lumps

And then she'll re-ingest.

And yes, microbial action

That is breaking down the grass

Produces lots of methane

And carbon dioxide she must pass.

Then passing from the rumen

The feed just marches on

Into what's called Omassum

Named for its many folds

That provides surface for extraction

Of the nutrient-laden juice.

Then into the Abomassum

Where it finds further use

From what is found in what once

Was grasses, leaves and weeds

And maybe here and there

The grains of all ripening seeds.

In the Abomassum, like your stomach,

There are acids and enzymes

That further break the feed right down

And I'm running out of rhymes

But, we'll keep going 'cause

It's interesting to see

How this mobile fermentation vat

Is made especially

For taking energy that's captured

In the leaves of growing plants

That came from the sunshine

Which excited chloroplasts

Which manufactured sugars

And other carbohydrates

From molecules within the air and soil

That end up on our plate

As something quite nutritious

And more tasty than a leaf;

And nothing beats the smell and taste

Of freshly grilled beef!

Chemical Trails, Snakes and Agriculture

The photo is of a Speckled Kingsnake (Lampropeltis holbrooki) taken in one of our pastures a few years ago.  Most people have a strong aversion to snakes.  Their immediate reaction is to kill them without thought about how they are often beneficial.  The Speckled Kingsnake is known for killing and feeding on other snakes and their eggs.  They are best known for attacking and eating Rattlesnakes.

After the posts of the last few days, I thought snakes would be a great followup, since I have been talking about chemical signals in nature.  Snakes tongues are used to gather chemical signals from the air around them.  They flick in-and-out gathering air samples which are laden with the chemical trails of plants and animals in the vicinity.  The chemicals are deposited onto the floor of the mouth.  From there they are sensed by the Jacobson's Organ in the roof of the mouth which converts the different chemicals into electrical signals that are then transmitted to the brain.  Those signals identify the source of the chemicals and allow the snake to follow them to prey, or to avoid things such as humans.

The fact that the snake's tongue is forked is important.  Each of the tips gathers chemicals from the air and deposits them in separate areas of the mouth.  By quantifying the amount of chemical sampled by each tip, the snake can determine direction of the source of the signal based on which tip carried the greater or, lesser amount.  It allows them to zero in quickly on their target.

Chemical processes -- reactions -- cause electrons to move.  The movement of electrons is what we call electricity.  Nature uses electrochemistry continuously as a means of communicating various signals and processes from one point to another.

As technology allows us to become better at sensing the chemical and electrical processes occurring constantly in nature, we will be able to target areas needing fertilizer, or water, or help fighting insect, bacterial, or fungal infection with very high specificity.  Imagine a "mechanical" snake wandering through the field of ripening tomatoes.  It's "tongue" is flicking in-and-out, sampling the air when suddenly it detects an early infection of tomato blight in a few plants.  It converts those signals into an electrical impulse which informs its "brain" of the problem which it then relays to a computer designed to monitor for such alarms.  The computer then dispatches a robot to the area where it scans the diseased plants and is able to either remove the few infected leaves, or take more drastic action depending on a set of decision parameters programmed into it.

Science is kind of cool if you ask me....

Patterns in Nature

Patterns;
Repetitive sequences;
Mathematical models;
Predictive.

Fibonacci;
Spiraling progression;
Exact ratios;
Natural.

Tessellations;
Latticework layers;
Visual wonders;
Structure.

Waves;
Oscillating patterns;
Vectored forces;
Movement.

Meanders;
Least resistance;
Gravity driven;
Equilibrium.

Fractals;
Branching upward;
Ever seeking;
Growth.

Nature is amazing.

Building Blocks and Questions

This morning as I look forward to the week, my mind keeps turning toward things about which I wish I knew more.  One area that intrigues me is molecular biology.  Ultimately, what makes each of us unique is encoded in or DNA.  Not only does it make us unique as individuals, but it makes us unique as a species.

I recall many years ago an individual who worked for me discussing evolution and how there was only 1% difference in the genetic makeup between man, chimpanzees and gorillas.  He used that as an argument that it is "obvious" that we (humans) evolved from apes.  From a certain point of view his reasoning makes sense, but it certainly isn't conclusive.

If you think about it, we have many basic body features in common with apes such as the way our arms move (brachiation) and the relationship between our upper and lower bodies.  It would make sense that the genes which build such structures would be essentially the same between the species.  Structurally, we are much alike.

That 1% difference could also be explained by creationism.  If I build something that works in a certain way, it would only make sense that I reproduce those features which function as I desire into the next project that may be different.  In other words, I may use the same frame in 2 different models of cars, but the body I put on that frame may be very different.

The concept of time is also brought into play when discussing evolution.  The various rock strata on earth are frequently used to establish a timeline for the evolution of different species.  The layer of rock which holds fossil remains provides a type of measure to determine "when" something occurred.

Time is a slippery concept -- especially if you place a Creator outside of our perceived time which you must inevitably do since a Creator is not part of the created.  Therefore, time as we perceive it is irrelevant to that Creator.  What to him might be a day, could equate to millions of years to us.

Changes in species over what we might perceive as millions of years may in fact have happened minutes apart when perceived from outside our present timeline.  What instigated those changes?  The common explanation is genetic mutation caused by transcription errors.  It could as easily be explained by deliberate altering, much as man has learned to do through what to us is new technology to manipulate genes such as CRISPR.

I suppose my whole point in this brief commentary is that I wish I better understood all of the processes and links at the molecular level.  The whole thing starts with base pairs of molecules called purines and pyrimidines.  These, in groups of 3 base pairs, form codons which in turn determine the structure of amino acids which are strung together into proteins.  In other words, the order of the base pairs determines which proteins are produced. 

What I have described is an extreme simplification.  What intrigues me is that we now have the technology to "clip out" sections of the DNA strand and "splice" in a replacement.  Just suppose the Creator has been doing that as well....

History, Science and Art

I am back to the book of "300 Writing Prompts" for inspiration this morning.  The question is: "Would you rather spend the day at an art museum, science museum, or history museum?"

My answer is a resounding, "Yes."  I like all three.

We don't go to museums frequently, however we have been to all three types through the years.  When it comes to an art museum, my favorite is probably the Amon Carter in Fort Worth.  It holds works by both Remington and Russell who are my favorite western artists.  The action and authenticity of their work amazes me.  They aren't "like a photograph" but, they convey even more, I think, than a photograph could do.  The figures seem to leap off the canvas for me.

As for science museum, my most memorable experience was the museum at Los Alamos National Laboratory when the museum was still located on the laboratory property outside of Los Alamos.  I went as a youngster and was amazed even then at the nuclear technology.  We have since been to it after it was moved to the Bradbury building in downtown Los Alamos and it was very good, but it was too "programmed" to suit me.  Modern museum displays are all the same with buttons and interactive gadgets.  The original museum had a much more "raw" feel to it.  To me, it was as though you were truly "touching" history, whereas the modern exhibits feel more "educational" in nature.

My favorite history museum is the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum in Canyon, Texas.  There are many reasons for this choice.  1)  It is primarily focused on the area of the country where I grew up.  2)  It is very "western" in nature.  3)  It includes many amazing pieces of art as well as historical artifacts.  4)  It is one of the largest historical museums in the country.  I have visited many times through the years and they change their displays on a reasonably regular basis.  It also has evolved through time to have that more "educational" feel about it, but many of the artifacts remain the same such as Charles Goodnight's original chuckwagon.  It is definitely worth the trip if you are ever in the Amarillo area.  It is also only a short distance from Palo Duro Canyon.  If you visit one, I would encourage you to visit both.  If during the summer season, make plans to take in the outdoor dramatic presentation of "Texas."  It is worth your time.

Historical museums (which include science museums) are important for giving us perspective.  Understanding where we have been helps us to understand why things are as they are today.  Most change is gradual and technology evolves through stages -- this includes weapons which evolved from rocks and clubs to modern rockets and space-based weaponry.  It includes tools such as those used in the cattle industry which range from the lariat to modern DNA analytic technologies.  Every industry develops through an evolutionary process.  Even political issues go through an evolution over time.

To me, art museums, although overlapping in some areas with history, are a different creature altogether.  They allow us to touch a "higher" self.  Quality art is uplifting, it is enlightening and it is inspiring.  Some of what is passed off as art today is not enduring except as a curiosity.  The better museums, however, will have works that have endured for centuries alongside more modern works that are likely to endure or, which represent current "fads."  Often, the displays portray history.  Viewing a Revolutionary War battlefield from the perspective of an artist of that time -- who witnessed the battle -- provides insight into our historical perceptions.

Perhaps, upon reflection, I would prefer to spend my day in an art museum.  All three appeal to me, but as I have written this, my thoughts have clarified.  Man's attempt to "touch" perfection is most clearly displayed through art.  I think down deep, that is something we all desire.

Ties That Bind

In between the earth and space
There stands an organism
That ties the two together.

With arms that stretch toward the sky
It seeks the sun's vast energy
And scours the air for molecules

While sending deep into the earth
Its toes to drink the moisture there
And mine for needed minerals.

Upon its limbs in summer garb
Are tiny engines made to capture
Light that falls upon them.

That light excites the cells to bind
The carbon waste of others
And free the oxygen of life

To be breathed by those who need
This catalyst for their vital function.
It stores the carbon in itself

In fibrous growth that help it stand
Against the storms and winds
And ravages that assail

To give it strength which makes
It valued by the builder for
Shelter and other usefulness.

It breaks the earth with its strong feet
Allowing microbes to enter there
And further free the needed wealth

Of minerals contained therein
Which enrich the lives of smaller plants
That need such nutrition

To then be used by beings
Higher still to create the cycle
Until decomposed they fill the earth again.

A tree
Is key.

Logical Creationism

If I decided to play God and build life, how would I logically start?

One thought is that I might start with a simple protein.  I could then replicate that protein with slight variations until I had a number of them that could be combined for a particular function -- much like modules in a computer software are developed.  By continuing the process of replication and alteration, I could begin to build more and more complex organisms.

In order to shortcut the process, it would be logical to build proteins that were capable of multiple functions depending on specific coded switches within them to determine how they would act.  Again, software is built similarly.  Over time, various modules could be "plugged" together to create a wide variety of organisms/biological machines that would display a huge variety of characteristics.

It would also be logical for simplicity sake to make the organisms self-sustaining through the ability to feed themselves and to reproduce.

If, at the end of a relatively long period of time, the knowledge to create these organisms was lost, it would be a matter of examining the wide variety of then living organisms to begin the process of analyzing them for clues of how they were made.  From the evidence available, it would appear that an evolutionary process occurred that involved tiny mutations at the most basic structural level (the protein) in order for such variety to arise.  A "Theory of Evolution" from an unknown source (primordial soup) of the original proteins would be a logical conclusion.  Although incorrect, such a theory would be "intuitively obvious" because of the minute differences in the makeup of various beings.  In fact, the genetic makeup of organisms as different as chimpanzees and humans would vary by only a tiny percentage.

Suppose the purpose of the creation process was ultimately to create a thinking being that would over time grow to a developmental level that would provide companionship for the original creator?  Suppose that to enter into such a relationship required the "leap" into a realm beyond the physical limitations of the created order?  Suppose that a "roadmap" was created to provide guidance to the created, self-replicating, thinking beings to find the "keys" to make that leap into the next realm which was in itself a "sifting" process?

Hmmm....like in most things, I won't get the patent on this one.  It seems to me that it has already been done.

If you are interested in what the current scientific thought on this might be, try the article linked here.