Prof. Peter Ward has been active in paleontology, biology, and astrobiology for decades. In the first half, he discussed mass extinction and major changes in the oceans. If you look at all of Earth's history, we are in the 10th extinction period, he stated. Ward cited overfishing from the last decades as causing the death or reduction of many species. On a recent trip to the deep waters of Papua New Guinea, he observed a surprising lack of sharks that used to be there, as they'd been heavily fished. This opened the door to octopus and squid, which were formerly protected species, but had greatly increased their population without natural predators. The snow crab population has become decimated in the waters off Washington state, Alaska, and British Columbia, he added, when the water warmed by three degrees centigrade. The creatures could not reproduce-- "we're talking billions of crabs. It's one of the greatest disappearances of marine life in history."
Critical of the 'Gaia Hypothesis' which suggests that the Earth itself is a living organism that can heal itself, Ward instead has proposed what he calls the 'Medea Hypothesis.' This is the idea that different or new life forms can be deadly to other forms, damaging or changing the existing ecosystem. He also revisited his 'Rare Earth Hypothesis,' which explores the difficult and specific conditions that start life on a planet. His latest thinking points to an ocean's tide, as controlled by a moon, possibly being a crucial factor.
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For 30 years, author Susan Smith Jones has taught students, staff, and faculty at UCLA how to be healthy and fit. In the latter half, she shared how to use ageless wisdom to start the new year on a positive note, find better fitness, and generate prosperity. Many studies show that maintaining a positive attitude helps you release neurotransmitters that make you feel good, as well as boost your immunity and lengthen your lifespan, she reported. This is a good time of year to declutter your home and office, as clutter can cause depression and stress, she said, adding that by finding time each day for silence, quiet, meditation, or prayer, we can strengthen our faith and self-confidence.
Jones spoke about the benefits of earthing or grounding, such as walking barefoot outside. She also cited the importance of getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, and spending time in nature. A probiotic that contains the bifidobacteria may be helpful in combating or avoiding COVID, she said, as well as Vitamin D. By carrying a sense of gratitude with you, it changes your brain's neural activity, and can be like a magnetic force that improves the world, and brings more positivity into your life, Jones continued. One way to do this is to keep a 'gratitude journal' and each day write down at least three things for which you are grateful.
News segment guests: Howard Bloom, Mish Shedlock