Weekly Science Report

December 28, 2018

 
“And civilization is not the only thing to be saved from destruction.  There is also its fragile
record.  The pages of history, or at any rate what remains of them, clearly show that the
record of the collective civilization that has inhabited this planet since humans started
painting in caves is subject to destruction and loss with no possibility of recovery.”
William E. Burrows
 

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
 
Earliest records of three plant groups uncovered in the Permian of Jordan
https://phys.org/news/2018-12-earliest-groups-uncovered-permian-jordan.html
 
 

History
 
‘I Feel Invisible’: Native Students Languish in Public Schools
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/28/us/native-american-education.html
 
This Bronze Age Regicide May Be World’s Oldest-Known Political Murder
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/bronze-age-regicide-may-be-worlds-oldest-known-
political-murder-180971107/?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=socialmedia
 
Simcha Rotem, Jewish resistance fighter and Holocaust survivor, dies at 94
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/simcha-rotem-jewish-resistance-fighter-and-
holocaust-survivor-dies-at-94/2018/12/24/b775c070-0791-11e9-a3f0-71c95106d96a_story.html?
utm_term=.21e910ec6770
 
Dutch policy on Nazi-loot restitutions under fire
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/dutch-policy-on-nazi-loot-restitutions-under-fire
 
To Save Their Endangered Language, 2 Cherokee Brothers Learn As They Teach
https://www.npr.org/2018/12/24/674509385/to-save-their-endangered-language-2-cherokee-
brothers-learn-as-they-teach?sc=tw
 
One Man Exposed the Secrets of the Freemasons. His Disappearance Led to Their Downfall
https://www.history.com/news/freemason-secrets-revealed
 
Christmas across Indian Country
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/national-museum-american-indian/2018/12/25/christmas-
in-indian-country/
 
The True Story of the Case Ruth Bader Ginsburg Argues in ‘On the Basis of Sex’
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/true-story-case-center-basis-sex-180971110/?
utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=socialmedia
 
Her nude body was found 30 years ago, slashed and heartless. Who killed Lisa Sanders?
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/crime/article223547230.html?
fbclid=IwAR19XpzMtndyvABNWe7oLF1LznH4QkD32zuGno0_TrqcHqQ-9oYBtS8OnRc
 
The ‘White Slavery’ Law That Brought Down Jack Johnson is Still in Effect
https://www.history.com/news/white-slave-mann-act-jack-johnson-pardon?
cmpid=FACEBOOK_FBPAGE__20181226&linkId=61580464
 
The Genetic Legacy of the Spanish Inquisition
https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2018/12/dna-reveals-the-hidden-jewish-ancestry-of-
latin-americans/578509/?utm_campaign=the-
atlantic&utm_content=5c232a7d3ed3f0000133fbe4_ta&utm_medium=social&utm_source=faceboo
k&fbclid=IwAR2SA-ONKMTFxxWQkKMBZUwKqGuQOGW9rQZ1XfAtM29v1tyA-
M3zqUL7UqU
 
The national security adviser who colluded with foreign powers — decades before Michael Flynn
https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2018/12/26/national-security-adviser-who-colluded-with-
foreign-powers-decades-before-michael-flynn/?
fbclid=IwAR0DP6r2bXloGdtl10vndCD_R43L1Fmi5d8cE5bJskmZo4vwRmyoET5CBRE&utm_ter
m=.ecc90e30af9d
 
Museum Openings that we’re excited about in 2019
https://www.museumnext.com/2018/12/museum-openings-that-were-excited-about-in-2019/
#.XCWMdD7GevQ.facebook
 
Germany to Compensate Child Refugees Who Escaped the Nazis on the Kindertransport to Britain
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/germany-will-pay-child-refugees-who-escaped-
nazis-kindertransport-britain-180971078/?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=socialmedia
 
Church Leaders Sue Princeton Over ‘Stolen’ Manuscripts
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/14/arts/design/princeton-eastern-orthodox-church.html
 
Which national parks are open during the federal government shutdown?
https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/destinations/2018/12/27/national-parks-closed-during-
federal-government-shutdown/2424786002/
 
Smithsonian And National Zoo To Close After New Year's Day In Government Shutdown
https://www.npr.org/2018/12/27/680596210/smithsonian-and-national-zoo-to-close-after-new-
years-day-in-government-shutdown?sc=tw
 
Pakistan plans to relax visa policy in bid to revive tourism
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pakistan-tourism-idUSKCN1OL05G?
utm_campaign=trueAnthem
%3A+Trending+Content&utm_content=5c1df04e04d301400e867c5f&utm_medium=trueAnthem&
utm_source=facebook
 
 
 
 

Archaeology
 
Laser-Shooting Planes Uncover the Horror and Humanity of World War I
https://www.wired.com/story/lidar-archaeology-world-war-1-ypres-salient-belgium/?
CNDID=41291302&CNDID=41291302&bxid=MjM5NjgxMjIxODk5S0&hasha=3ed15b3d4270f5
2ce4da5de4e5031836&hashb=9085a9ae56cc45a4e9bae24e2eaeaade6e04a43e&mbid=nl_122918_d
aily_list1_p3&utm_brand=wired&utm_mailing=WIRED%20NL
%20122918%20(1)&utm_medium=email&utm_source=nl
 
Long-Hidden 'Pyramid' Found in Indonesia Was Likely an Ancient Temple
https://www.livescience.com/64320-hidden-temple-pyramid-java.html
 
Lake Titicaca: Underwater museum brings hope to shores
https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/world-latin-america-46374651
 
Raise a Toast to the Aurochs
https://www.archaeology.org/issues/325-1901/trenches/7214-trenches-medieval-aurochs-horns
 
Kenya is starting to track its valuable stolen artifacts worldwide—with German help
https://qz.com/africa/1492817/kenyas-national-museums-the-nest-shift-to-count-stolen-art/
 
St Mark’s administrators accuse Italian government of failing to protect Basilica
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/st-mark-s-administrators-accuse-italian-government-of-
failing-to-protect-church
 
How TV shows use serious archaeology to promote bogus history
https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2018/12/28/how-tv-shows-use-serious-archaeology-
promote-bogus-history/?utm_term=.5619e66c2711
 
Chilling discovery: ice house found under London street
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/dec/28/chilling-discovery-archaeologists-uncover-lost-
ice-house-under-london-street
 
Archaeologists May Have Found 2,500-year-old Persian Military Base in Northern Israel
https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium.MAGAZINE-archaeologists-may-have-found-2-
500-year-old-persian-military-base-in-northern-israe-1.6765220
 
Dig reveals some of Quebec City’s archaeological secrets, but location of Champlain’s tomb
remains a mystery
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-dig-reveals-some-of-quebec-citys-archaeological-
secrets-but-location/
 
Archaeologists find remains of horses in ancient Pompeii stable
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/dec/23/archaeologists-find-remains-of-horses-in-
ancient-pompeii-stable
 
Archaeologists find human sacrificial pit in Inner Mongolia
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-12/24/c_137695707.htm
 
 
Egyptology
 
Astonishing discoveries in 2018
http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/News/26129.aspx
 
 
 
 
 
 

General Science
 
Hybrid qubits solve key hurdle to quantum computing
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-12/r-hqs122718.php
 
Using ablation to examine the structure of artificial neural networks
https://techxplore.com/news/2018-12-ablation-artificial-neural-networks.html
 
 
 

Physics, Earth and Space Sciences

 
The mystery of the ISS hole just got even weirder
https://www.popsci.com/iss-hole-russia-drill-inside?
src=SOC&dom=fb&fbclid=IwAR23g9Hi3tPWZKYMUExLYtL9v3hIWDIj4UGNtka5j2iLK_IzOd
xXh869zVY
 
50 Years Ago, Earthrise Gave Us the View of a Lifetime
https://www.wired.com/story/50-years-ago-earthrise-gave-us-the-view-of-a-lifetime/?
CNDID=41291302&CNDID=41291302&bxid=MjM5NjgxMjIxODk5S0&hasha=3ed15b3d4270f5
2ce4da5de4e5031836&hashb=9085a9ae56cc45a4e9bae24e2eaeaade6e04a43e&mbid=nl_122418_d
aily_list1_p4&utm_brand=wired&utm_mailing=WIRED%20NL
%20122418%20(1)&utm_medium=email&utm_source=nl
 
Forget Mars. Here’s Where We Should Build Our First Off-World Colonies
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/crux/2014/09/08/where-build-off-world-colonies/?
utm_source=dscfb&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=dscfb&fbclid=IwAR0G5YmZ4PiR-
DvDPF0B7u-s88LoupjwJHwlUbkPjhCe6hMofgerfkhpSI0#.XCVAdFVKhQI
 
A 'super blood wolf moon' and five eclipses are among 2019's major astronomy events
https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/27/world/five-eclipses-in-2019-and-super-blood-wolf-moon-trnd/
index.html?no-st=1546006127
 
Pluto Is Far in the Rearview. Next Stop: Ultima Thule
https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/pluto-is-far-in-the-rearview-next-stop-ultima-
thule/?
utm_medium=social&utm_content=organic&utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=SciAm_&sf205
029572=1
 
Our universe: An expanding bubble in an extra dimension
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-12/uu-oua122818.php
 
The 17th-Century Astronomer Who Made the First Atlas of the Moon
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/17th-century-astronomer-who-made-first-atlas-
moon-180971103/
 
 
 

Environment, Climate Change and Alternative Energy

Sources
 
Paris wants to build a forest 5 times larger than Central Park
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/02/paris-wants-to-build-a-massive-forest-that-would-be-5-
times-larger-than-central-park
 
On the right path to fusion energy
http://news.mit.edu/2018/nas-report-right-path-fusion-energy-1221
 
Risks of 'domino effect' of tipping points greater than thought, study says
https://amp.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/20/risks-of-domino-effect-of-tipping-points-
greater-than-thought-study-says
 
Democrats Establish a New House ‘Climate Crisis’ Committee
https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2018/12/house-democrats-form-new-committee-
climate-crisis/579109/?utm_campaign=the-atlantic&utm_source=facebook&utm_term=2018-12-
28T16%3A17%3A22&utm_content=edit-
promo&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwAR28dTxzhWGSB0WH898tmxsuJ791bpnn7lRXLo-
8VnQOwVz84g1ilXCbhBA

Biological, Genetics and Medical Sciences

 
IWC withdrawal: Japan to resume commercial whaling in 2019
https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/25/asia/japan-withdrawal-international-whaling-commission-intl/
index.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=fbCNNi&utm_content=2018-12-
26T05%3A00%3A12&utm_term=link
 
A Policy Knot Leaves Oklahomans From Marshall Islands Struggling To Get Health Care
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/12/25/671159555/a-policy-knot-leaves-oklahomans-
from-marshall-islands-struggling-to-get-health-c?
utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_
content=2055
 
Eyes and Ears 3D-Printed From Flesh Could Boost Our Senses
https://www.wired.com/story/3d-printed-flesh-body-parts/?
CNDID=41291302&CNDID=41291302&bxid=MjM5NjgxMjIxODk5S0&hasha=3ed15b3d4270f5
2ce4da5de4e5031836&hashb=9085a9ae56cc45a4e9bae24e2eaeaade6e04a43e&mbid=nl_122218_d
aily_list3_p1&utm_brand=wired&utm_mailing=WIRED%20NL
%20122218%20(1)&utm_medium=email&utm_source=nl
 
Rerouting nerves during amputation reduces phantom limb pain before it starts
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-12/m-rnd121818.php
 
Artificial activation of cancer cells to destroy them
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-12/fefu-aao122518.php
 
Bacteria found in ancient Irish soil halts growth of superbugs—new hope for tackling antibiotic
resistance
https://phys.org/news/2018-12-bacteria-ancient-irish-soil-halts.html
 
 
 

Other
 
Nothing to report
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Additional Informational
 
The World Was a Much More Interesting Place Not That Long Ago: Best Paleoanthropology of
2018
http://fossilhistorypaige.com/2018/12/best-of-2018/
 
Toponyms, Directions and Tribal Names in the Indus Script
https://www.harappa.com/content/toponyms-directions-and-tribal-names-indus-script
 
Archeological Mysteries on the St. Marks Refuge
https://blog.wfsu.org/blog-coastal-health/?p=11138
 
Space Photos of the Week: Meet TESS, the Exoplanet Hunter
https://www.wired.com/story/space-photos-meet-tess-the-exoplanet-hunder/?
CNDID=41291302&CNDID=41291302&bxid=MjM5NjgxMjIxODk5S0&hasha=3ed15b3d4270f5
2ce4da5de4e5031836&hashb=9085a9ae56cc45a4e9bae24e2eaeaade6e04a43e&mbid=nl_122218_d
aily_list3_p3&utm_brand=wired&utm_mailing=WIRED%20NL
%20122218%20(1)&utm_medium=email&utm_source=nl