Jennifer Marohasy

a forum for the discussion of issues concerning the natural environment

Archives for February 6, 2008

Evidence for Abiogenic Oil from a New Paper Published in the Journal ‘Science’

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Some readers of this blog may recall that Louis Hissink sometimes brings up the subject of at least some oil being ‘abiogenic’ or ‘abiotic’ rather than fossil in origin. Most of us remain sceptical of such claims, which seem to be backed by anecdotal evidence at best.

However, an article published in Science on 1st February 2008 entitled, ‘Abiogenic Hydrocarbon Production at Lost City Hydrothermal Field’ states in the Abstract that, ” Our findings illustrate that the abiotic synthesis of hydrocarbons in nature may occur in the presence of ultramafic rocks, water, and moderate amounts of heat.”

So, there is now evidence of a mechanism for the abiotic synthesis of hydrocarbons. This is not to say that significant amounts of oil are abiotic in origin, but it is interesting nevertheless.

Readers may also remember my recent blog post, ‘Natural Gas from Bacteria: A Renewable Resource Linked to Climate Change?’

Imagine that – oil and natural gas as renewable resources!

Science and Public Policy by Aynsley Kellow: Part 1, DDT

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It is not often I read a book that summarizes a lot of issues that I have really wanted summarized. In fact, I think ‘Science and Public Policy – The Virtuous Corruption of Virtual Environmental Science’ by Professor Aynsley Kellow is the first.

I particularly appreciated and enjoyed chapter 2 – the political ecology of conservation biology. But I am going to start tonight with an extract from chapter 5 – sound science and political science.

On page 139 of that chapter Professor Kellow writes,

“The thesis of this book is that noble cause corruption gives as much cause for concern about the reliability of science as the pernicious influence of money …”

And then on page 152, with respect to DDT he writes,

“Multinational chemical companies were enthusiastic supporters of a phase-out of DDT in developing countries during the negotiation of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, because it was out of patent and there was benefit in a policy that advantaged their more expensive patented alternatives…

“The banning of DDT is regarded by some as a case of scientific fraud, because many of the effects attributed to the chemical are supported by weak evidence at best. For example, the most notorious putative effect of DDT was it causing the near extinction of bald eagles and peregrine falcons by thinning their eggshells as a result of biomagnification up through the food chain.

“Yet bald eagles were threatened with extinction in the lower 48 US states as early as the 1920s, and peregrine falcons were reduced to 170 breeding pairs in the Eastern USA by 1940. DDT was not manufactured anywhere until 1943 and while a paper by Bitman et al (1970) published in Science reported thinning of shells with DDT exposure and reduced levels of dietary calcium, Science refused to publish the subsequent findings that shells were not thinned by DDT exposure when there was adequate calcium…

“DDT was not banned because of any environmental effects, but because it was judged by US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator William Ruckelshaus to be a human carcinogen. An extensive review by the EPA in 1972 concluded that DDT was not a carcinogenic hazard for man yet Ruckelshaus banned it two months later …”

The Spectacular Scarlet Bean

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Ramiflorum.jpg

Plants that flower and fruit from their main stems or woody trunks rather than from new growth and shoots, are described as cauliflorous or cormiflorous; those that flower from the branches are ramiflorous. The Scarlet Bean (Archidendron ramiflorum ssp. Cooper Creek) is a spectacular example of both which is currently in bloom.

The buds appear in clusters about the trunk and branches and open to reveal a stunning cascade of white filaments up to 75 mm long. The flowering is very short-lived, lasting only one day. About eight months later, glabrous fruit develops into a coil, from 80 to 250 mm long, in a discrete shade of green, until turning dramatically red as a prelude to opening. The bright yellow-orange inner tissue reveals distinctive black seeds as an invitation to a diversity of feathered distributors.

Archidendron.jpg

How Many Dugongs Are Killed Each Year in Northern Australia?

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Last month I suggested about 1,000 dugongs are killed each year in northern Australian waters and that this is too many. Today, ABC Online is quoting fisherman Peter Manning suggesting a figure of 1,600 dugongs. Mr Manning says all Australians should be concerned about the impact of Indigenous hunting on dugong stocks.

Read more from Peter Manning here: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/02/06/2155453.htm

My blog post of January 21, 2008, can be found here: https://jennifermarohasy.com.dev.internet-thinking.com.au/blog/archives/002704.html

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