Back in December,
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/12/08/climate/bears-ears-
monument-trump.html" target="new">the Trump administration announced
reductions to two of Utah’s national monuments: Grand Staircase-
Escalante, which runs from the Grand Canyon to Bryce Canyon National Park, and
Bears Ears, newly established by the Obama administration just a year before.
The reduction opened up nearly 2 million acres of previously protected federal
land to fossil fuel and mineral exploitation, angering Native Americans, for
whom the land is historically and spiritually significant, as well as
environmentalists, archaeologists, and
https://theconversation.com/shrinking-the-grand-staircase-
escalante-national-monument-is-a-disaster-for-paleontology-103414" target="new">paleontologists.
Then, just this week, it was announced that
https://www.deseretnews.com/article/900033422/lawsuits-over-
monuments-will-stay-in-washington-dc-judge-orders.html" target="new">a group of lawsuits to reverse
the cuts would remain in
federal court in Washington, D.C., rather than move to Utah, a decision the
plaintiffs are celebrating. As the legal process continues, scientists are
waiting to see what will happen to the newly excluded acreage, which still
contains hundreds of thousands of sites they consider important. Will the
Department of the Interior open the land completely to oil and gas extraction?
And what specimens—ancient dinosaurs, mammals, fish, and more—could be lost?
Two paleontologists and a law professor
https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/whats-next-for-utahs-
bony-treasures/" target="new">discuss the
implications.
After Hurricane Florence hit North Carolina, historic flooding caused several
dam breaches late last week—
https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/after-florence-a-coal-ash-
controversy-in-a-north-carolina-river/" target="new">leading to a coal ash
controversy. Now, an ongoing disagreement ensues
between environmentalists and industry representatives about the levels of
coal ash in the Cape Fear River near Wilmington, North Carolina.
Last week, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, also known as JAXA, l
https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/a
-trip-to-an-asteroid-and-back/" target="new">anded
two rovers on the asteroid Ryugu. The Hayabusa2 mission will explore the
surface of the asteroid, blast an impactor into it to study the core, and
return to Earth with samples. And, Science Friday video producer Luke Groskin
talks about his visit to
a lab where scientists are mixing up recipes for
asteroids
here on Earth to help researchers test rovers for future missions.
Plus, geologists and archeologists
https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/is-this-the-dawning-of-the-age-of-
meghalayan/" target="new">debate a new potential geologic
age, starting around 4,200 years ago.
Read more
Back in December,
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/12/08/climate/bears-ears-
monument-trump.html" target="new">the Trump administration announced
reductions to two of Utah’s national monuments: Grand Staircase-
Escalante, which runs from the Grand Canyon to Bryce Canyon National Park, and
Bears Ears, newly established by the Obama administration just a year before.
The reduction opened up nearly 2 million acres of previously protected federal
land to fossil fuel and mineral exploitation, angering Native Americans, for
whom the land is historically and spiritually significant, as well as
environmentalists, archaeologists, and
https://theconversation.com/shrinking-the-grand-staircase-
escalante-national-monument-is-a-disaster-for-paleontology-103414" target="new">paleontologists.
Then, just this week, it was announced that
https://www.deseretnews.com/article/900033422/lawsuits-over-
monuments-will-stay-in-washington-dc-judge-orders.html" target="new">a group of lawsuits to reverse
the cuts would remain in
federal court in Washington, D.C., rather than move to Utah, a decision the
plaintiffs are celebrating. As the legal process continues, scientists are
waiting to see what will happen to the newly excluded acreage, which still
contains hundreds of thousands of sites they consider important. Will the
Department of the Interior open the land completely to oil and gas extraction?
And what specimens—ancient dinosaurs, mammals, fish, and more—could be lost?
Two paleontologists and a law professor
https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/whats-next-for-utahs-
bony-treasures/" target="new">discuss the
implications.
After Hurricane Florence hit North Carolina, historic flooding caused several
dam breaches late last week—
https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/after-florence-a-coal-ash-
controversy-in-a-north-carolina-river/" target="new">leading to a coal ash
controversy. Now, an ongoing disagreement ensues
between environmentalists and industry representatives about the levels of
coal ash in the Cape Fear River near Wilmington, North Carolina.
Last week, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, also known as JAXA, l
https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/a
-trip-to-an-asteroid-and-back/" target="new">anded
two rovers on the asteroid Ryugu. The Hayabusa2 mission will explore the
surface of the asteroid, blast an impactor into it to study the core, and
return to Earth with samples. And, Science Friday video producer Luke Groskin
talks about his visit to
a lab where scientists are mixing up recipes for
asteroids
here on Earth to help researchers test rovers for future missions.
Plus, geologists and archeologists
https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/is-this-the-dawning-of-the-age-of-
meghalayan/" target="new">debate a new potential geologic
age, starting around 4,200 years ago.
Read less