Daily Business Report-July 21, 2020
Earth’s magnetic field. (Image: NASA)
Simulations shows magnetic field can change
10 times faster than previously thought
A new study by scientists at Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the University of Leeds in England reveals that changes in the direction of the Earth’s magnetic field may take place 10 times faster than previously thought.
The study gives new insight into the flow of iron 2,800 kilometers (1,730 miles) below the planet’s surface and how it has influenced the movement of the magnetic field during the past 100,000 years.
Earth’s magnetic field is generated and maintained by a convective flow of molten metal that forms the Earth’s outer core. Motion of the liquid iron creates the electric currents that power the field, which provides guidance for navigational systems, helps shield us from harmful extra-terrestrial radiation, and holds our atmosphere in place.
The magnetic field is constantly changing. Satellites provide modern means to measure and track its current shifts but the field existed long before the invention of human-made recording devices. To capture the evolution of the magnetic field back through geological time, scientists analyze the magnetic fields recorded by sediments, lava flows and human-made artifacts. Accurately tracking the signal from Earth’s core field is extremely challenging and so the rates of field change estimated by these types of analysis are still debated.
Now, geophysicist Catherine Constable from Scripps Oceanography and Chris Davies at Leeds University have taken a different approach. They combined computer simulations of the field generation process with a recently published reconstruction of time variations in Earth’s magnetic field spanning the last 100,000 years.
Their study in Nature Communications, nearly a decade in the making, shows that changes in the direction of Earth’s magnetic field reached rates that are up to 10 times larger than the fastest currently reported variations of up to one degree per year.
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Keeping innocent people out of
jail using the science of perception
People wrongfully accused of a crime often wait years—if ever—to be exonerated. Many of these wrongfully accused cases stem from unreliable eyewitness testimony. Now, Salk scientists have identified a new way of presenting a lineup to an eyewitness that could improve the likelihood that the correct suspect is identified and reduce the number of innocent people sentenced to jail. Their report is published in Nature Communications on July 14, 2020.
“Misidentification by eyewitnesses is a long-standing problem in our society. Our new lineup method uncovers the structure of eyewitness memory, removes decision bias from the identification process, and quantifies performance of individual witnesses,” says Salk Professor Thomas D. Albright, co-corresponding author of the study. “This study is a great example of using laboratory science to bring about criminal justice reform.”
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California parents scramble for alternatives
to online learning for their children
CalMatters
It’s official: At least 90 percent of California students will begin the school year with online learning.
The order, which Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Friday, marks an unprecedented level of state intervention into the operations of more than 1,000 local districts. It also carries massive implications for working parents, the battered economy, and learning gaps already exacerbated by distance learning in the spring.
Newsom: “Our students, our teachers, staff and certainly parents, we all prefer in-classroom instruction for all the obvious reasons — social and emotional, foundationally — but only, only if it can be done safely.”
Assemblymember Kevin Kiley, a Rocklin Republican: “(Friday’s) decision elevates the appearance of safety over actual safety. … The impacts of school closures will be devastating for working parents, academic equity, and mental health.”
Under the new mandate — which applies to both public and private schools — campuses in the 33 counties being monitored by the state for virus spread are prohibited from reopening until they spend 14 consecutive days off the watch list.
In schools allowed to reopen, staff and students in third grade and above are required to wear face masks. Staff must keep six feet apart from students and each other and will be tested regularly. If more than 5 percent of staff and students test positive, the school must close. If more than 25 percent of schools in a district close, the district must close.
Audrey Shoemaker, a Spring Valley parent: “Today you can’t have two parents working if you want your kid to have an education.”
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Researchers study spiders’ silk
for potential use by U.S. troops
The silk that a common variety spider spins to trap its prey is the focus of new San Diego State University research, being supported by the Department of Defense for its potential breakthroughs in producing bio-inspired materials U.S. troops may use someday.
Gregory Holland, associate professor of analytical chemistry and an authority on the super-strong properties of spider silk, is studying a specialized silk spun by a spider in the orb weaver family. The species is common to San Diego, found along the trails of Torrey Pines and the Silver Strand, among other areas.
“Lucky us,” said Holland. “They’re in our backyard.”
The U.S. Army Research Office has awarded Holland a $365,000, three-year grant to pursue the work.
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Cubic awarded contract to continue
support for British Army training
Cubic Defence U.K., which operates within its Cubic Global Defense business division, was awarded a contract worth more than $16 million to continue the support of British Army training.
The four-year contract called SCOPIC 2 is for a fully managed service where Cubic will provide its Synthetic Wrap capability to enhance collective training at Salisbury Plain Training Area (SPTA) in the United Kingdom; British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS) in Alberta, Canada; and British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK).
“We are proud to continue supporting the British Army in achieving mission readiness by delivering expeditionary and complex tactical training at all levels,” said Mike Knowles, president of Cubic Global Defense. “This contract award builds on the work we have accomplished with both the existing SCOPIC contract and our recent AWES award to deliver a world-class training experience.”
The SCOPIC 2 system replaces battlefield capabilities that are difficult to replicate in live collective training with simulation. These may be complex systems such as unmanned air systems (UAS) feeds or additional force elements providing context, including flanking or depth activity.
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Ellen Browning Scripps Foundation gifts
$100,000 to Maritime Museum of San Diego
The Maritime Museum of San Diego, which was forced to close in March because of the COVID-19 pandemic, has received a $100,000 donation from The Ellen Browning Scripps Foundation.
The mandatory closure removed virtually every form of operational revenue the museum had depended on, according to Raymond Ashley, president and CEO of the museum. “Going forward, such generous expressions of support and endorsement of our value to the community as embodied by The Ellen Browning Scripps Foundation grant, combined with numerous other donations on the part of individuals and institutions, will still be the determining factor in the sustainability of our ships and our institution,” said Ashley. “We will be eternally grateful for these contributions as we set our sights on sustaining operations and work toward a return to welcome visitors, educators, students, and maritime history enthusiasts for years to come.”
Maritime Museum of San Diego contributes to the local community by offering special outdoor oceanic learning curriculum, maintains the city’s iconic landmark ship Star of India, the oldest active sailing ship in the world, and preserves a unique fleet of historic vessels and exhibits moored along the waterfront, and shared with tourists, regional families, school and youth groups.
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Autism researchers map brain
circuitry of social preference
Some individuals love meeting new people, while others abhor the idea. For individuals with conditions such as autism, unfamiliar social interactions can produce negative emotions such as fear and anxiety. A new study from Scripps Research reveals how two key neural circuits dictate the choice between social approach and avoidance.
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San Diego Food System Alliance seeks
community input for Food Vision 2030
The San Diego Food System Alliance is kicking off a digital engagement opportunity to plan for the future of food in San Diego County. This is part of Food Vision 2030, a 10-year strategic plan for moving the region toward a healthier, more sustainable and more just food system.
“We launched Food Vision 2030 with the understanding that the time to reimagine our food system is now,” said Elly Brown, executive director of the San Diego Food System Alliance. “There is no question that our current path is unsustainable and transformations must take root at the community level. We want to incorporate the thoughts and ideas of our community and learn about the issues that are most important to them.”
To ensure broad participation, the Alliance is creating an inclusive process that engages the full community—open to the public and all San Diegans—including people that produce, prepare, distribute, serve, and eat food. “
The online platform will include features like a virtual post-it note wall, short survey, and resources to learn about our food system. The digital engagement opportunity is open to the public now and through the month of July. To engage, please visit engage.sdfsa.org.
For more information on the San Diego Food System Alliance and to get involved in Food Vision 2030, visit http://www.sdfsa.org.
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S.D. Women’s Week Leadership Conference Goes Global
New virtual format with no boundaries features Daymond John, Linda Cureton, Ed Smart, Amy Trask
San Diego Women’s Week, celebrating 11 years of inspiring, empowering and connecting women is now virtual with leadership events for all ages and professions. Attendees enjoy virtual networking, keynote speakers, panel discussions, and more, all wrapped around creative solutions to everyday issues affecting leaders in the workplace and in their daily lives.
WHEN: Wednesday, Aug. 26 – Friday, Aug. 28, 2020
WHO: Keynotes for 2020 Leadership conference include:
- Daymond John from Shark Tank: Powershift, Transform Any Situation, Close Any Deal, and Achieve Any Outcome.
- Linda Cureton, Former CIO – NASA: Managing and Leading in a Tough Environment.
- Ed Smart, Father of Elizabeth Smart: Two Miracles, and Standing up for Yourself.
- Amy Trask, Former NFL Team Executive – Los Angeles Raiders: Leadership Vulnerabilities.
WHERE: Wednesday – Virtual Women and Wine 6-7:30 p.m.
Friday – Virtual Leadership Conference 8:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Click here for complete list of speakers and additional details.
