Inducing Heritable Structural Variation in Plants: A New Simple, Affordable, Safe, and Accessible Method Using the Cancer Drug Etoposide Can Replace Irradiation

     Radiation, or irradiation, has been used to induce mutation in plants, but it has safety issues, is impractical, and is random. It is used to induce genetic variety in plants. Selective farming of crops for centuries has led to more limited genetic variety and more difficulty in dealing with stresses such as dry conditions, high temperatures, and salty soil.

     A new method, known as etoposide mutagenesis, developed by researchers at the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, uses etoposide, a cancer medication, to induce genetic variety in plants. It is also rather random, but researchers can select among the traits induced. As documented by Leslie Sattler for The Cool Down:

“When sprouting seeds encounter this drug, it disrupts an enzyme responsible for organizing DNA as cells multiply. Mistakes made during the cell's attempt to fix the resulting damage can scramble

“The technique requires only common lab supplies. Seeds initially grow in a solution containing the medication before being planted in soil to mature.”

"I was surprised at how efficient it was," said Mary Gehring, who teaches biology at MIT and led the research team, per Phys.org. "The diversity of new traits that you could see just by looking at the plants in the first generation was extensive."

     Testing indicates that about 66% of the treated samples led to new genetic traits. The method was first tested on the Arabidopsis thaliana plant. The researchers are now using the technique on pigeon peas, a legume food plant with great nutrition and protein profiles, but that has a limited gene pool. Better breeding for it can lead to it being a staple food for more people, especially across Africa and Asia. Pigeon peas are also in a lot of modern plant-based food products as the main protein source. Breeding more plants for the different heat, drought, and salinity conditions will lead to more successful crop yields and food with better nutrition.

“The process relies on standard laboratory tools: seeds are germinated on growth medium containing the drug, then transferred to soil to complete their life cycle.”

     Deletions, duplications, and rearrangements of DNA segments lead to the new genetic traits.

"All of the traits that we might want to see in pigeon pea are not present in the existing population," says Gehring. "The idea is to do a large-scale mutation experiment to increase genetic diversity."

     Another potential benefit of this new method is that it can be used on plants that are more challenging for gene-editing techniques like CRISPR to work.

“The new method complements existing genetic tools rather than replacing them. By providing a more accessible alternative to irradiation, chemical mutation could expand the availability of large-scale genetic changes and novel plant varieties.”

     Breeding by selection involves tapping the natural variation in the traits exhibited. However, that natural variation in traits may be limited now due to plant domestication and past selective breeding. The new method involves inducing new genetic traits. The new method is simple, affordable, and potentially applicable to a wide variety of plant species. Like irradiation, there is a random induction of traits.

     After treatment with etoposide, the mutants exhibited a variety of phenotypes and a spectrum of structural variation types. Etoposide treatment has been deemed an efficient method of inducing structural variation in plants.

 

Etoposide Mutagenesis Has Several Advantages and Can Replace Irradiation

     As detailed below, this new method can replace irradiation as a method of mutagenesis and be more accessible to more researchers.

 

   

References:

 

A simple method to efficiently generate structural variation in plants. Lindsey L. Bechen, Naiyara Ahsan, Alefiyah Bahrainwala, Mary Gehring, and Prasad R. V. Satyaki. PLoS Genetics 21(12): e1011977. A simple method to efficiently generate structural variation in plants | PLOS Genetics

Researchers make incredible breakthrough that could revolutionize how we grow food: 'I was surprised at how efficient it was'. Leslie Sattler. The Cool Down. February 8, 2026. Researchers make incredible breakthrough that could revolutionize how we grow food: 'I was surprised at how efficient it was'

New chemical method makes it easier to select desirable traits in crops. MacKenzie White, Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research. edited by Sadie Harley, reviewed by Robert Egan.Phys.org. January 9, 2026. New chemical method makes it easier to select desirable traits in crops

The UN Needs Reforms, But It Also Needs to Be Relevant and Effective

     I will make no bones. There are serious issues with the UN. Some sections, like the International Criminal Court, the International Court of Justice, and the Human Rights Council, are biased and ineffective. There is a strong and unnecessary bias against Israel. I believe Russia should be booted from the UN Security Council for its criminal and imperialist behavior. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), the refugee agency in Gaza, has been proven to be full of Hamas operatives – basically a UN agency amply populated with terrorists, which is entirely unacceptable.

     One of the big critiques of USAID before it was unceremoniously dismantled was that it was inefficient, paid NGOs, some with extreme biases, and with “wokeness.” While those critiques are valid, dismantling the whole program was a terrible move. It was overkill. It dismantled important U.S. soft power around the world. As I have written about elsewhere, the U.S. was not the biggest contributor per capita, or per GNI, to international aid. It was individual countries in Europe. China does not give much in comparison to both.

     UN chief António Guterres warned about a week ago that the UN is in dire straits because of members not paying their dues, in particular the U.S. Specifically, he said it is at risk of "imminent financial collapse."

“It comes after the UN's largest contributor, the US, refused to contribute to its regular and peacekeeping budgets, and withdrew from several agencies it called a "waste of taxpayer dollars".

     He also noted that 77% of 2025’s dues remain unpaid.

He wrote: "The bottom line is clear: either all member states honour their obligations to pay in full and on time – or member states must fundamentally overhaul our financial rules to prevent an imminent financial collapse."

     In January, the U.S. withdrew from 31 UN agencies in order to "end American taxpayer funding and involvement in entities that advance globalist agendas over US priorities". Apparently, America First means punishing international organizations and anti-globalism. The U.S. warned the UN must “adapt or die.”

     The situation is that the U.S., now led by a cadre of billionaires (13 billionaires in the cabinet alone and more as advisors), is pulling funding from the UN, the world’s main international organization. There may be some possible alternatives, like Trump’s Board of Peace, which plans to be funded by wealthy heads of state and other wealthy individuals. Now, I can understand why they do not want the UN to lead things in Gaza after the UNRWA catastrophe, but they will likely be involved anyway.

     In 2022, the U.S. funded UN humanitarian programs with $17 billion. In late December 2025, the U.S. pledged just $2 billion for humanitarian aid, more than eight times less. Below is some unpaid funding data as of April 30, 2025.

     Program cuts and layoffs have already begun at the UN in response. An opinion article in the New York Post by Paul du Quenoy basically says good riddance, calling the UN “morally and financially bankrupt.”

     Things now on the table include closing its iconic Manhattan headquarters and cancelling its annual General Assembly meeting in September. He also writes, however, that it is the current U.S. administration that is responsible for the shortfall. It is basically another of the many, many “shakedowns” the Trump administration has engaged in.

“A towering 95% of its projected $2.2 billion shortfall is money the UN says the United States owes in unpaid dues from 2025 and as-yet-unpaid dues for 2026, per a senior UN official who briefed the press on the would-be world government’s rapidly impending insolvency.”

     As I noted before, I am not a fan of Guterres. While his humanitarian credentials are very good and worthy of praise, his political bent as an avowed socialist is not in line with good governance.

     The UN does have reform plans in progress. Guterres announced in March 2025 the UN80 Initiative, which is designed to make the UN more “agile, integrated, and better equipped to respond to contemporary global challenges.” The initiative includes budget cuts and consolidations. The plan was to trim its budget by 20% in 2026. According to an article in the Council on Foreign Relations:

“The UN80 Task Force is also exploring moving the home bases of various agencies out of hubs, including New York and Geneva, to be closer to their service areas and cut costs.”

     Declining trust, financial pressures, and bureaucracy are pushing the world body to reform.

     There are real concerns for real people about funding cuts as well:

“Unless there’s a bit of a turnaround on the budget front… there is going to be human suffering,” Gowan said. “There will be fewer people being fed. There will be fewer people being vaccinated or sheltered by the United Nations if the cuts are not, at least in part, reversed.”

      Is this what we want? No, I say. It’s one thing to punish the UN and completely another to punish human beings by abandoning them when they are in need. One good thing, perhaps, is that Guterres’ term is set to end in December 2026, and perhaps a reset with a more pragmatic leader can help reduce waste, bloat, and ineffectiveness. While the Trump people exert maximum leverage against the UN, there is little hope of ‘business as usual’ and very real concerns of a downsizing that also includes a real human toll. I do hope the U.S. will reconsider funding more vital humanitarian programs. I also hope the UN will announce some more substantial reforms.

  

References:

 

Let the morally and financially bankrupt UN perish. Opinion by Paul du Quenoy. New York Post. February 7, 2026. Let the morally and financially bankrupt UN perish

UN risks 'imminent financial collapse', secretary general warns. Maia Davies. BBC. January 30, 2026. UN risks 'imminent financial collapse', secretary general warns

The UN80 Initiative: What to Know About the United Nations’ Reform Plan. Council on Foreign Relations. September 15, 2025. The UN80 Initiative: What to Know About the United Nations’ Reform Plan | Council on Foreign Relations

Meteor Impact Structures (Astroblemes) in Southern Ohio and Eastern Kentucky: Confirmed, Probable, and Possible

      There are impact structures, also known as astroblemes, all over the world. The impacts may be made by either planetoidal bodies (meteors) or comets. Wikipedia describes impact structures and impact craters as follows:

“An impact structure is a generally circular or craterlike geologic structure of deformed bedrock or sediment produced by impact on a planetary surface, whatever the stage of erosion of the structure. In contrast, an impact crater is the surface expression of an impact structure. In many cases, on Earth, the impact crater has been destroyed by erosion, leaving only the deformed rock or sediment of the impact structure behind.

“In an impact structure, the typical visible and topographic expressions of an impact crater are no longer obvious. Any meteorite fragments that may once have been present would be long since eroded away. Possible impact structures may be initially recognized by their anomalous geological character or geophysical expression. These may still be confirmed as impact structures by the presence of shocked minerals (particularly shocked quartz), shatter cones, geochemical evidence of extraterrestrial material or other methods.”

     These structures used to be called crypto-explosive structures or, in some cases, crypto-volcanic structures since their origins were often unclear. Most were later confirmed as meteor impact structures, and the previous terms have fallen out of use. Impact craters are often eroded, which can further complicate interpretation. 

     A model of an impact is shown below:

     The Earth Impact Database, begun in 1955, recognizes 190 confirmed impact structures worldwide. The last new one confirmed was in 2019. Other lists contain many more possible and probable impact structure sites. Impact structures have also been mapped in the subsurface. 

     I know of at least one mapped and interpreted in the Ohio subsurface by a colleague. I don’t know how big it is deemed to be, but I think it was discovered through mapping Silurian-aged rocks in the subsurface by picking formation tops from oil & gas geophysical well logs. In the area of concern, the wells were closely spaced, which likely improved the mapping. If I recall correctly, it was in northeastern Ohio.

     There are three mapped impact structures in Kentucky and one in Ohio, not including the one mapped in the subsurface. Ohio’s Serpent Mound impact structure is well studied. According to the Earth Impact Database, the Serpent Mound Structure in Ohio and the Middlesboro Structure in Kentucky are confirmed impact craters. The Jeptha Knob Structure in Kentucky is a probable impact structure, and the Versailles Structure in Kentucky is a possible impact structure. The one mapped in the subsurface would also be a possible impact structure. Below is an old map of faults and structures of Eastern Kentucky with the three impact structures included. The Serpent Mound impact structure is just to the north near the Glenville Front suture zone.

     Around the world, some of the most important meteor impact sites include the impact crater offshore the Yucatan Peninsula that is considered to be the impact event that destroyed the dinosaurs and much of Cretaceous-aged life about 66 million years ago. It is considered one of the most significant mass extinction events. That crater is very large at 170 km in diameter. The largest one in the U.S. is the 60km diameter crater in Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay. Canada has two larger than that, with the largest one in North America at Sudbury, Ontario, at 250km in diameter.

     The largest known meteor impact that ever hit the Earth is thought to be 520 km (323 miles) in diameter. This suspected meteor impact is buried in the subsurface of Australia. It was discovered and analyzed with geophysical methods, including seismic and aeromagnetic surveys. This impact is buried about 4000 meters below the surface, and the impact is thought to have occurred between 440 and over 500 million years ago. If confirmed, it would be larger than the previous largest known one at 300 km in diameter in South Africa. According to a 2023 Forbes story by geologist David Bressan about the buried crater and other impact structures:

“About 200 terrestrial impact craters are currently known. Over half are located in Europe, North America and Australia. The ages of the great majority of preserved impact structures are less than 200 million years, and structures smaller than 5 kilometers are greatly underrepresented. The observed distributions of crater sizes and ages have been biased by post-impact processes. Erosion tends to quickly destroy or bury craters (especially the smaller ones) in tectonically active areas, like near fault zones or on the seafloor. Impact craters are best preserved inside the stable cores of the continents, like the Canadian-, Fennoscandian- and Australian Cratons.”

     Thus, the ones we know are not the whole story. Many smaller ones have been eroded or deformed so that they can no longer be observed. Others have likely not been found yet. Many others are likely buried as well.

     Many years ago, I visited the Serpent Mound region of the impact crater and even collected a few interesting rocks, which I think are carbonates, either Limestone or Dolomite, likely of Silurian age. The impressive Native American earthwork is built within the southern part of the impact crater. The native people likely noticed some kind of geological anomaly there.

     These structures will often exhibit post-impact rebound. This is perhaps one reason why Jeptha Knob exhibits the highest elevation in Kentucky’s bluegrass region, rising some 300 feet higher than the surrounding terrain.

     

        Impact Structures of Southern Ohio and Eastern Kentucky

     As noted below, impact structures exhibit the presence of shocked quartz, such as coesite, which indicates high pressure from impact. They also may exhibit breccia and shatter cones, indicative of impact metamorphism.

References:

 

Impact structure. Wikipedia. Impact structure - Wikipedia

Earth Impact Database. Wikipedia. Earth Impact Database - Wikipedia

The Serpent Mound Impact Structure. Ohio Department of Natural Resources. The Serpent Mound Impact Structure | Ohio Department of Natural Resources

Guide to the Serpent Mound Impact Structure, South-Central Ohio. Keith A. Milam. Department of Geological Sciences. Ohio University. Field Trip 1 of the Geological Society of America North-Central Section 46th Annual Meeting. Dayton, Ohio, April 22–24, 2012. GB22_Milam_2016_EOGS10023.pdf

Did You Know That Meteorites Have Hit Kentucky? Kentucky Geological Survey. Meteorites Have Hit Kentucky, Kentucky Geological Survey, University of Kentucky

Geophysical Evidence Suggests That the World’s Largest Impact Crater Is Buried Deep Beneath Australia. David Bressan. Forbes. August 11, 2023. Geophysical Evidence Suggests That The World’s Largest Impact Crater Is Buried Deep Beneath Australia

List of impact structures in North America. Wikipedia. List of impact structures in North America - Wikipedia

Jeptha Knob. Wikipedia. Jeptha Knob - Wikipedia

Middlesboro crater. Wikipedia. Middlesboro crater - Wikipedia

 

Norge Mining’s Phosphate Deposit in Norway is Assessed as the World’s Largest with First Mine Expected Online in 2029

     Norway’s Norge Mining completed exploration of the largest phosphate discovery in the world in Norway in mid-2023. They tagged the resource at 70 billion tons. About 90% of mined phosphorus is used to make fertilizer. The other 10% is used in lithium-iron-phosphate batteries, solar panels, and other green technologies. Before this discovery, the largest global phosphate deposit was deemed to be in Morocco in the western Sahara region, where 50 billion tons have been identified. The next largest amount is 3.2 billion tons in China, 2.8 billion tons in Egypt, and 2.2 billion tons. billion tons in Algeria. Thus, this is a huge find. The EU is currently entirely dependent on imports for phosphate, and a European source would be most welcome.

     The company is engaged with ESG goals and is aiming to achieve carbon-neutral mining operations. According to Norge’s 2024 annual report:

“Norge Mineraler aims to leverage low-emission technologies by supplying critical minerals produced through carbon neutral operations. This will be achieved by implementing future-ready infrastructure such as electric machinery and energy-efficient technologies to reduce emissions and operational costs in the long-term. The incremental costs associated with low-emission technologies, compared to traditional alternatives, could serve as a competitive advantage for Norge Mining.”

     There is still concern about the environmental footprint, however, since extracting and refining phosphate is energy-intensive. Norway is already a leader in low-emissions industrial processes. Thus, it is expected that this project will have high environmental standards. The company plans to include carbon capture and storage to mitigate emissions from the mining and processing.

     Norge’s massive phosphate discovery basically doubles known global phosphate reserves, which were at 71 billion tons. Vanadium and titanium can also be produced from the site, which reinforces its strategic importance for the EU.

     According to the Geological Survey of Norway:

“A large variety of phosphate-rock deposits and occurrences are found in Norway and references therein. They include sedimentary, igneous and hydrothermal deposits.”

     As can be seen below, the titanium revenue stream is expected to be slightly larger than the phosphate revenue stream, with the vanadium revenue stream small by comparison. Some magnetite iron ore will be mined as well.

     Norway’s Rogaland region in the southwest of the country hosts the Precambrian-aged igneous rock that contains the bulk of the phosphate. One advantage of igneous rock phosphate deposits over sedimentary rock phosphate deposits is the igneous rock’s low heavy-metal content (unlike sedimentary phosphates), which eases processing burdens. The Eigersund Project will be the first mining area developed.

  

 

 

References:

 

Norway announces the discovery of a 70 billion tonne phosphate deposit. WillAgri. April 29, 2025. Norway announces the discovery of a 70 billion tonne phosphate deposit - Willagri - Comprendre les enjeux de l'agriculture

Geologists Uncover World’s Largest Phosphate Deposit Worth $12 Trillion in Totally Unexpected Location: In a location no one expected, Geologists have uncovered a buried resource of staggering scale. Valued in the trillions, this find could quietly disrupt global industries. Arezki Amiri. Daily Galaxy. May 6, 2025. Geologists Uncover World’s Largest Phosphate Deposit Worth $12 Trillion in Totally Unexpected Location

Norway's new phosphate deposits are so massive they could guarantee solar power and electric cars keep running for the next 50 years. George Glover. Business Insider. July 8, 2023. Norway: Huge Mineral Find Will Help Electric Cars of Future Keep Running - Business Insider

Norway to develop massive phosphate deposit: Norge Mining has completed an exploration, uncovering 70 billion tonnes of phosphate. Florence Jones. Mining Technology. July 4, 2023. Norway to develop giant phosphate deposit

Norge Mining Annual Report for the Year Ended 30 June 2024. Norge Mining. Norge-AR2024_final__encrypted_-SIGNED.pdf

Phosphate rock resources in Norway. Geological Survey of Norway. Potential phosphate rock resources in Norway | NGU

Norway Phosphate Discovery: A Game-Changer for Critical Raw Materials: Unearthing Rogaland's Hidden Treasures – Phosphate, Titanium, and Vanadium Reserves That Could Power the Future. Paulo Fernando de Barros. The Boreal Times. November 15, 2025. Norway Phosphate Discovery: A Game-Changer for Critical Raw Materials - The Boreal Times

Soil Salinization Influences Inorganic Carbon Storage and Distribution, According to Study

 

      A new global study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) shows that increases in soil salinity are also changing the storage and distribution of soil inorganic carbon (SIC). The Chinese Academy of Sciences led the study, which integrated 94,515 soil profile samples from depths of 0–200 cm with land-use, climate, geomorphological, and soil-type information. The researchers then combined these data with machine learning-based spatial modeling.

     The researchers found that areas with high soil salinity, typically arid and semi-arid areas in Central Asia, West Asia, North Africa, western North America, and parts of South America, have disproportionately higher stocks of SIC. Soil electrical conductivity (EC), a standard salinity indicator, was used as a reliable proxy for SIC in surface and shallow soil layers (0–40 cm) across most environmental settings. EC correlated with SIC for most settings. However, the relationship was not universal, and there were some exceptions based on thresholds, land use factors, and soil depth.

“When EC increases beyond a moderate level (approximately 4 dS/m) or is found in deeper soil layers below 40 cm, though, the relationship between salinity and inorganic carbon weakens and can even reverse in some regions.”

“These patterns indicate that under high-salinity and alkaline conditions, changes in ionic composition, pH, and increased water transport can affect the long-term stability of the inorganic carbon pool.”

"Our results show that soil salinization does not lead to a simple linear increase in inorganic carbon storage," said Xue. "Instead, it largely depends on salinity levels, soil depth, and environmental context. Recognizing these limiting factors is crucial for accurately assessing the role of saline soils in the global carbon cycle."

“This study systematically reveals a conditional, threshold-dependent relationship between soil salinization and inorganic carbon on a global scale, filling a long-standing gap in understanding SIC and its driving mechanisms in global carbon cycle research. The findings provide new constraints for global carbon assessments and underscore the need to incorporate soil chemical processes into land degradation assessments and carbon neutrality strategies.”

     The abstract, shown below, points out that:

“These findings elucidate the dynamics of carbon–salt coupling in the soil–atmosphere–water system, offering pivotal scientific insights for carbon-neutrality strategies.”

References:

 

Increased soil salinity alters global inorganic carbon storage, finds study. Zhang Nannan. Phys.org. January 22, 2026. Increased soil salinity alters global inorganic carbon storage, finds study

The contribution of increased global soil salinity to changes in inorganic carbon. Xiaofang Jiang and Xian Xue. PNAS. Vol. 123 | No. 4.  January 21, 2026. The contribution of increased global soil salinity to changes in inorganic carbon | PNAS

 

The Grain Belt Express Transmission Project: Will It Get Built? Maybe: Eminent Domain Cited as an Issue in Defunding Loan Guarantee

     The Trump administration has been exemplary in deeming wind energy to be unnecessary. Along with cancelling offshore wind projects, it has also defunded a $4.9 billion loan guarantee for a major transmission project, Invenergy’s $11 billion Grain Belt Express. While the canceled loan guarantee won’t effectively cancel the project, it will make it necessary to get alternative financing for that portion, which will be subject to higher interest rates. The project is slated to install about 800 miles of new transmission.

     There are several parts to this story. 1) needed transmission to move wind power from windy Kansas to more populated regions to the east to Indiana and beyond, connecting four power regions, 2) significant opposition to the project from farmers, ranchers, and other landowners affected, with eminent domain expected to be employed, 3) an administration that does not seek to advance clean energy, seemingly in any way, 4) higher energy demand in the regions that would be serviced by the transmission line.

     It is unclear if the project will ultimately get built, but there is little doubt that it will be slowed down. Missouri Senator Josh Hawley advocated for the DOE to defund the loan guarantee, citing public opposition and eminent domain issues.

“Even if we do all the planned power plants, and all the planned wind and solar farms, we still won’t have enough electricity to meet all the planned AI data centers,” said Otto Lynch, CEO of Power Line Systems, a software company that designs transmission infrastructure. “We need 35 gigawatts of electricity by 2030 just to meet the demand from data centers. And that's just the ones that are planned. The Grain Belt line is still needed—we’ve got to get that energy.”

     Financial analysis and modeling suggest that the project would save ratepayers $52 billion over 15 years. The Missouri Public Service Commission found that Missouri alone would save $17 billion in lower electric bills—savings that would flow directly to homeowners and businesses. Jobs, both temporary construction jobs and permanent jobs, will be created by the project. It would also provide a connected energy market across four power regions, which should make the overall grid more flexible in meeting demand.

     Energy Sage reports on the project:

“The loan guarantee program has a strong track record. In its 20-year history, the Department of Energy's Loan Programs Office has actually turned a profit for taxpayers by collecting interest and principal payments from borrowers. This wasn't a government giveaway—it was a financial tool designed to help critical infrastructure projects access capital markets at reasonable rates.”

“By late 2024, the Grain Belt Express had overcome every major hurdle. State approvals from Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana were secured after years of regulatory review. The Biden administration had approved the conditional loan guarantee following extensive due diligence.

Invenergy had awarded $1.7 billion in contracts to U.S. contractors to begin construction, with the line set to start operation in 2026.”

“Then politics intervened.”

“Missouri Senator Josh Hawley successfully lobbied President Trump and Energy Secretary Chris Wright to cancel the loan guarantee, calling it a "boondoggle loan" and a "green scam." The July 23 cancellation notice cited that "the conditions necessary to issue the guarantee are unlikely to be met and it is not critical for the federal government to have a role in supporting this project."

“In response, Invenergy called the cancellation "bizarre," noting that "Senator Hawley is trying to deprive Americans of billions of dollars in energy cost savings, thousands of jobs, and grid reliability and national security."

     Basically, it is a political defunding and a part of the Trump administration’s overt war on wind power. While many see this project as a critical infrastructure project, others see it as a “green scam” simply because it involves wind energy. Invenergy says they think the project will still be built with private financing, but they do lament the lack of government support for this critical infrastructure project.

      

 

References:

 

Trump administration cancels pending loan for massive power line project: The decision lands after Missouri GOP Sen. Josh Hawley said the administration would kill the financing at his urging. Kelsey Tamborrino and James Bikales. Politico. July 23, 2025. Trump administration cancels pending loan for massive power line project - POLITICO

Federal officials cancel $4.9 billion grid upgrade set to employ thousands: 'The project promised substantial economic benefits'. Costs will be passed on to consumers. Kristen Lawrence. The Cool Down. September 3, 2025. Federal officials cancel $4.9 billion grid upgrade set to employ thousands: 'The project promised substantial economic benefits'

Grain Belt Express: An Invenergy Project. Home - Grain Belt Express

America's power crunch gets worse as $5 billion transmission project loses federal backing

The Grain Belt Express could bring $52 billion in energy savings over the next 15 years. Justin R. Wolf. Edited by: Alix Langone. Energy Sage. Updated Aug 13, 2025. America's Power Crunch Gets Worse As $5 Billion Transmission Project Loses Federal Backing | EnergySage

Venezuelan Oil Industry Expats Helped to Develop the Canadian Oilsands: A Missing Piece of the Story of Venezuelan Oil (as reported by Reuters)

     Having read and written about the history of Venezuelan oil development, I was surprised to learn that many of the PDVSA expats migrated to Canada after the strikes, where they utilized their expertise in working with heavy oil in the Orinoco Belt to help develop the Canadian oilsands. These oilsands are the biggest source of oil imported into the U.S. Canada is the world’s largest producer of heavy crude.

     A story in Reuters by Amanda Stephenson covers the human side of the story. Most of these people emigrated in the 2000s during the regime of Hugo Chavez. Most are over 55 and do not plan on returning to Venezuela. There are significant numbers of engineers, geologists, and other scientists, all with valuable skills. The cities of Calgary and Edmonton were destinations, as was Fort McMurray, nearer to operations. There are other oil and gas plays in Alberta as well.  

     Around 7,450 Venezuelans migrated to Canada between 2001 and 2010. Many were skilled oil industry workers. They have built successful lives in Canada. It was a talent exodus perpetrated by Chavez, and that loss of talent was a major contributing factor to the degradation of the country’s oil industry after they left.

     Lino Carrillo was recruited by Canada’s Suncor in 2004.

"People appreciated the Venezuelan knowledge," said Carrillo. "I believe Canada would have accomplished what it did with the development of the oil sands anyway, but what they did was they brought in people with 15, 20 years of experience and that helped shortcut the path."  

     More recently, Carillo has worked on opposition party leader Maria Machado's energy platform. He also says many Venezuelans won’t go back.

"Venezuelan expats have lots of conversations about 'will they go back, how can they help their country recover,'" said Pereira. "But it's two generations that have passed now, and the ones that have expertise, most of them are at least 55 years old."

     For more details, see the Reuters article in the references.

   

 

References:

 

Venezuelan expats who helped propel Canada oil sands growth see return home as unlikely. Amanda Stephenson. Reuters. February 4, 2026. Venezuelan expats who helped propel Canada oil sands growth see return home as unlikely

Aging Septic Systems are Contaminating Water in Florida with Nitrogen and Pathogens: A Shallow Water Table and Porous Soil Allow it to Spread

      The type of septic system installed, how deep, and sometimes how large the leach field is, depends on the characteristics of the soil. Septic leach fields are installed as shallow as possible to take advantage of higher oxygen levels in the soil nearer the surface so that the aerobic bacteria can thrive to break down the organic matter in the effluent coming from the septic tank. They are also installed shallow to stay above the water table. Other types of systems do not utilize a leach field, but some type of chamber filled with mulch or sand where the water is treated. In Florida, the soil is generally quite porous, and the water table is high. This complicates septic system optimization and can lead to failed and dysfunctional systems where the effluent is not being adequately treated.

     Florida’s problem is mainly aging septic systems that are no longer functioning adequately. According to environmental scientist Iuliia Istratiy, reporting for the Sun Sentinel:

“Florida has more than 2 million septic systems, one of the highest numbers in the country. Many of them were installed decades ago, long before today’s environmental standards and rapid population growth. While septic systems are often seen as a private household issue, taken together, they have become a major public and environmental concern."

     These systems were generally not designed to remove nitrogen, and with the porosity of the soils, the effluents are able to bring nitrogen into the local shallow groundwater and even into nearby canals, rivers, and coastal waters. Excess nitrogen feeds algae, reduces oxygen levels in water, and damages freshwater and coastal ecosystems. It also contributes to ongoing coastal issues like red tides and eutrophication. Florida is basically a coastal plain, a low-lying area where water can collect. The coastal regions are the most vulnerable. Rising sea levels, flooding, and storm surges can further allow the contaminated water to move around. Istratiy writes:

“Florida has taken steps to address water quality problems, but progress in upgrading outdated septic systems has been slow and uneven. Replacing old systems or connecting homes to sewer lines can be expensive, yet the cost of doing nothing continues to grow. Environmental damage, health risks and economic losses place a much heavier burden on communities over time.”

“Solving this problem will require coordinated action. State and local governments need to prioritize funding for septic-to-sewer conversions in the most vulnerable areas, improve maintenance and inspection requirements, and help homeowners manage the cost of necessary upgrades. Public awareness also plays a key role. When people understand how individual septic systems affect shared water resources, the issue becomes a matter of collective responsibility.”

     I have worked as a regulator and inspector in the past of household sewage treatment systems (ie, septic systems) in an area where it was common for some older systems and occasionally even some newer systems to fail. I know that for regular people, it becomes a significant economic issue. In modern times, it can be very expensive to replace a failing septic system, and it can even be financially inconvenient to pay to have it maintained and inspected. Thus, cost tends to slow down mitigation and replacement.

     In January 2025, Florida moved its onsite sewage program regulation and permitting for 16 counties from the County Health departments to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Below is an update from the Florida DEP about the improved permitting and inspection numbers in the target counties.

     Researchers from Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute looked at water quality in southwest Florida, tracking microbes, and found that septic systems were a major contributor to water quality degradation. According to Florida Atlantic University:

“…there are about 39,768 “known” and about 57,054 “likely” septic systems in Southwest Florida’s Lee County (about 100,000 total). To identify sources of pollution contributing to the water quality woes, researchers examined septic system- groundwater- surface water couplings through the analysis of various parameters.”

      The researchers tracked microbes and nutrients and distinguished them into human and animal origins. Their research was published in September 2022 in the journal Science of the Total Environment. They utilized several tracers and indicators. One effective indicator for human waste was sucralose. The researchers found that human waste was definitely contributing to harmful algae blooms (HABs). One very important conclusion is that:

“Most (>80%) water table depth measurements were too shallow to support septic system functioning (<1.07 m).”

     This basically means that more than 80% of the septic systems in this region are basically dysfunctional, or what we used to call “failing.”

     The study showed that both groundwater and surface water were significantly contaminated with septic system waste, from both pathogens and nitrogen. Pathogens are indicated by fecal bacteria indicators like coliform bacteria.

     The researchers concluded:

“Urban water quality is complex because it is affected by myriad environmental, economic, and political issues. This means that resource managers must be able to identify sources contributing to water quality decline and then prioritize mitigation and abatement strategies. Due to the nature of human waste inputs (i.e., reactive nutrients, pathogens, bacteria, pharmaceuticals, etc.), improved wastewater infrastructure and management, including advanced wastewater treatment (nutrient removal), in …”

 

 

References:

 

Aging septic systems fuel Florida’s growing water quality crisis. Opinion by Iuliia Istratiy. Tampa Bay Times. February 2, 2026. Aging septic systems fuel Florida’s growing water quality crisis | Column

Water Quality Woes in S.W. Florida Linked to Seeping Septic Systems. Gisele Galoustian. Florida Atlantic University News Desk. August 9, 2022. FAU | Water Quality Woes in S.W. Florida Linked to Seeping Septic Systems

The Onsite Sewage Program has moved to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Florida Department of Health. 2025. Septic Systems - Florida Department of Health

Program Update - Phase I Transition. Division of Water Resource Management. Onsite Sewage Program. Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Program Update - Phase I Transition | Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Septic system–groundwater–surface water couplings in waterfront communities contribute to harmful algal blooms in Southwest Florida. Rachel A. Brewton, Lisa B. Kreiger, Kevin N. Tyre, Diana Baladi, Lynn E. Wilking, Laura W. Herren, and Brian E. Lapointe. Science of The Total Environment. Volume 837, 1 September 2022, 155319. Septic system–groundwater–surface water couplings in waterfront communities contribute to harmful algal blooms in Southwest Florida - ScienceDirect