December 2, 2024: Oil rigs used as reefs, how to connect with an old friend, and what caused a jagged seven-mile scar on Australia's outback. —Andrea Gawrylewski, Chief Newsletter Editor | | | Scientists think this footprint was made by a Paranthropus boisei individual. Kevin G. Hatala | | | • United Nations members hoped a summit held last week would yield a landmark treaty to tackle global plastic pollution. But the meeting ended in disappointment after oil- and gas-producing countries pushed back on limiting production. | 4 min read | | | • Last year, a caver poring over satellite images of the Nullarbor Plain in Australia's outback discovered a seven-mile scar etched into the land. Now scientists know what caused it. | 4 min read | | | When a decommissioned platform is removed, so, too, goes habitat area for sea lions and certain fish species.Joe Platko | | | In December 2023 the California Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement recommended that all 23 defunct California oil rigs standing in federal waters be fully removed by the end of the decade. But some biologists argue that parts of the rigs should remain. The reason? The underwater bases of the rigs have become homes to a thriving assortment of ocean life, effectively making them artificial reefs. Rigs as reefs have bolstered fish populations elsewhere, particularly in the Gulf of Mexico. A 2014 study found that oil platforms off California are some of the most productive marine fish habitats in the world.
How it works: First, oil wells are plugged and sealed. Experts conduct an environmental review of the site. If a rig is selected to become an artificial reef, the top portions of the rig above the surface (steel, offices and cranes) and down to about 80 to 85 feet below the water are removed to prevent damage to passing ships. The rest of the rig is left to the fish, mussels, sea anemones and other creatures that have latched on to the structure.
What the experts say: Not everyone is sold on the idea, with some experts and advocates saying it lets oil and gas companies off the hook for environmental damage (for example, rig equipment can be toxic to some animals) and that the seafloor should be restored to its natural state. On the other hand, "I just think it's criminal to kill huge numbers of animals because they settled on a piece of steel instead of a rock," says Milton Love, a biologist at the Marine Science Institute at the University of California, Santa Barbara. --Andrea Thompson, sustainability editor | | | Psychologists surveyed 2,400 participants in multiple studies and found that, at most, a mere third of people will reach out to old friends they've lost touch with, if encouraged. The researchers tried to make the task easier for participants by having them write only short messages and allaying fears of rejection (reassuring them that recipients were usually happy to hear from an old friend). But nothing changed the outcome.
Why this is interesting: After further surveying, the researchers found that people's hesitation around messaging old friends is similar to the anxieties of speaking to a stranger. In a new round of testing, researchers asked study participants to do a three-minute warm-up exercise in which they sent messages to current friends and acquaintances, and then could message an old friend if they wished. About 50 percent of participants in that group went on to message old friends.
What the experts say: Social relationships are a key source of happiness, and can stave off brain decline and dementia. "Having at least one person to count on in times of need is one of the top predictors of life satisfaction around the globe," write Lara B. Aknin and Gillian M. Sandstrom, both researchers in psychology. | | | • The transmission of diseases is not necessarily linked to symptoms. For example, early outbreak data from the COVID pandemic showed rampant spread by asymptomatic individuals. "Preventing future pandemics requires greater investment in targeted public health interventions to reduce transmission—including from infected individuals who feel fine," writes Joshua S. Weitz, a professor of biology at the University of Maryland. Tackling the silent spread of future diseases will require real-time risk assessment, large-scale rapid testing, context-specific masking and improved indoor air quality, he says. | 5 min read | | | Let's keep in touch! I love reading your notes and reply to as many as I can. Keep sending ideas and suggestions to: newsletters@sciam.com. See you tomorrow. | —Andrea Gawrylewski, Chief Newsletter Editor | | Subscribe to this and all of our newsletters . | | | | Scientific American
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