This novel illuminates life (and resistance) under repression in Ethiopia

People mourn the death of Dinka Chala who was shot dead by Ethiopian forces in the Oromia region, in December 2015. Dinka Chala was accused of protesting, but his family says he was not involved. (Zacharias Abubeker/AFP/Getty Images) Last weekend thousands of people protested in Gondar, a major city in northern Ethiopia. The protest follows anti-government demonstrations in July that ended in violence in which at least 10 people died. Protests in Ethiopia’s south-central Oromia region have been ongoing since November 2015. A recent report by Human Rights Watch details excessive and lethal force by state security forces in response to the Oromo protests, estimating that more than 400 people have been killed and thousands more injured and arrested. The lack of media freedom in Ethiopia makes it difficult to get a handle on what is happening. Although social media outlets like Facebook and Twitter offer insights from citizen journalists, the Ethiopian government recently cracked down on social media, limiting it as a forum that informed the broader global community. Can a work of historical fiction shed some light on the current events in Ethiopia? In this week’s installment of the African Politics Summer Reading Spectacular, we feature a novel for the first time. Why fiction when there’s plenty of informative — even riveting — non-fictional accounts of African politics? We took a cue from fellow Monkey Cage blogger Marc Lynch, whose annual “summer beach reads” list on Middle East politics had three (!!!) novels this year. Historical fiction can be instrumental in reimagining fractured histories. In their exploration of history and culture, works like Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart” and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s “Half of a Yellow Sun” blur the lines of what is “true” and “factual.” Even as fictive accounts, these works act as historical and anthropological references. Our feature for this week, Gabriella Ghermandi’s “Queen of Flowers and Pearls,” continues this tradition. Ghermandi brings to print a novel that weaves individual memories of the Italian occupation of Ethiopia into collective history. (The novel was originally published in Italian in 2007. An English translation by Giovanna Bellesia and Victoria Offredi Poletto was published in 2015.) The novel’s protagonist is Mahlet, a young Ethiopian girl “so curious that she becomes patient,” who listens to the stories of the adults around her. Her great uncle Yacob’s account of his days as a resistance fighter during the Italian occupation in the


The most promising menus of Metropolitan Washington Restaurant Week

and Shirlington locations offer Restaurant Week menus that cost $35 for two. The meal begins with a "select three" board, where you can pick cheeses or meats, then continues with two entrees -- mac 'n cheese, grilled cheese, salad -- and wraps up with chocolate mousse for sharing. Meals at Cheesetique are affordable every day. During Restaurant Week, they're an even better deal. Cheesetique Ballston, 800 N. Glebe Rd., Arlington. 703-566-9189. Cheesetique Shirlington, 4056 Campbell Ave., Arlington. 703-933-8787. Daikaya Izakaya offers a wide range of selections during Restaurant Week. (Photo by Matt McClain/ The Washington Post) Daikaya Izakaya Daikaya's Restaurant Week menu Mintwood Place This reliable Adams Morgan eatery is offering an impressively generous Restaurant Week menu. Almost its entire regular menu is included. Build a meal of some of the greatest hits of executive chef Cedric Maupillier, who's now at the helm of Convivial but has left the kitchen at Mintwood in the very capable hands of chef de cuisine Eric McKamey. How about the can't-take-it-off-the-menu kale and burrata with tamarind dressing, followed by the five-grain risotto then the Key lime pie with speculoos crust? Even better: While this trio would ordinarily cost you $47, you'll be getting them for the special price of $35. 1813 Columbia Rd. NW. 202-234-6732. Yes, these crème fraîche wings could be yours at Kyirisan during Restaurant Week. (Deb Lindsey for The Washington Post) Kyirisan Best of luck when it comes to choosing two dishes from the eight savory options at Tim Ma's outpost in the District. Several were excellent enough to earn a mention in Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema's recent review, so let those be your guide. To wit: the fried tofu with black pepper sauce ("I've watched more than one skeptic polish off a bowl of the cubed bites, their centers as fluffy as marshmallows"), scallops and risotto with basil ice cream (a 40 Eats honoree) and Ma's signature crème fraîche chicken wings. Choose from one of five desserts; the custard cheesecake and deconstructed Black Forest cake both got the Sietsema seal of approval. 1924 Eighth St. NW. 202-525-2942. Thally Thally's Restaurant Week menu Related items: - 10 things you should really eat, drink and do before summer’s over - Pineapple and Pearls review: Dining so fine, we’re seeing 4 stars from the start - Tasting menus don’t have to cost a fortune. These new ones are all under $50.


Watch a sunflower dance in the sun: Now scientists know how it’s done

sunflowers into an indoor growth chamber, where they were subjected to continual overhead lighting. For their first few days inside, the flowers continued to swing back and forth from east to west, just as you or I would maintain a more or less 24-hour sleep cycle during the first few days of living in constant light. This suggested that the flowers' behavior was controlled by an internal rhythm, rather than a direct response to the sun. But how was that rhythm directing the sunflowers' movement? To resolve that question, Atamian (now a postdoctoral research associate at UC Davis) went outside and put ink dots on the stems of growing sunflowers and tracked how the height of each side varied slightly over the course of the morning, afternoon and night. He snipped bits of young sunflowers' stems at different times of day to sample for the activity of growth genes, and discovered that those also varied depending on the time. As sunflowers mature, and their broad brown and yellow faces begin to open up, they cease their dancing. Harmer believes that this is because overall growth slows in adulthood, making it hard to achieve the daily back and forth movement that younger sunflowers display. Instead, like kids who have grown up and finally settled down, they must pick one direction and stick to it. Almost all wind up facing east, where their faces warm up more quickly as the sun starts to rise. Why? "Bees like warm flowers," Harmer said. She and her colleagues found that east-facing flowers attracted five times as many pollinators as their western-facing counterparts. When the westerners were warmed with a portable space heater, the bumblebees started to buzz over. “The more general point,” co-author Benjamin Blackman said in a statement, “that one of the circadian clock’s adaptive functions is to regulate the timing and strength of growth responses to environmental signals, is one that I think will apply to a broad range of traits and species.” Read more: This Smithsonian scientist’s death was a mystery; 150 years later, his skeleton helped solve it Rich homes come with a greater variety of everything – including bugs To save Darwin's finches from devastation, scientists breed hordes of blood-sucking maggots Legends say China began in a great flood. Scientists just found evidence that the flood was real. Scientists just solved a 100-year-old art mystery — with a particle accelerator


Where to find the best oyster happy hours in the D.C. area

A tray of oysters is readied for a customer at Rappahannock Oyster Bar. (Photo by Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post) Oyster happy hours are popular, but not all are created equal. Our favorites deliver plump, well-shucked bivalves as well as killer beer and cocktail specials. Black's Bar and Kitchen Chesapeake Bay oysters are two for $2.25 at Jeff Black's Bethesda bar between 3 and 7 p.m. on weeknights and noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday. Wash them down with $4.75 Maryland craft beers, $5 wines and $6 Cosmos, Apple Martinis and other cocktails. 7750 Woodmont Ave., Bethesda. blacksbarandkitchen.com. Brine The Mosaic District's hottest happy hour includes $1 oysters every day from 3:30 to 7 p.m. Drink specials, including $5 beers and $7 punch, run from 3 to 7 p.m. 2985 District Ave., Suite 120, Fairfax. brinerestaurants.com. Eat the Rich Derek Brown's bar unveiled a new "Brine Time" happy hour in July, which features $1 Rappahannock River Oysters. The oysters go beautifully with a new menu of $9 salty cocktails: Think Green Hat with celery bitters or cucumber dill syrups, or briny Pisco Sours. The $6 Oyster Back starts with an oyster before moving to a shot of rye whiskey and a chaser of Gordy's Pickle Jars's Fine Brine. Deals are offered from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 5 p.m. to close on Sunday. 1839 Seventh St. NW. etrbar.com. Hank's Oyster Bar Happy hours vary by location. In Dupont Circle, where deals run from 3 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, the $1.25 oysters are paired with $5 select beers, wines, punch and sangria. On Capitol Hill, specials start at 3 p.m. daily and run until 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and all night on Sundays, and include $1.25 oysters, $4 beers and $5 wines and daily punch. All raw bar items are half-price from 10 p.m. until close every night on the Hill, and until midnight in Dupont. Capitol Hill: 633 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. Dupont Circle: 1624 Q St. NW. hanksoysterbar.com. Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak Stone Crab All oysters, house cocktails, draft beers and wines by the glass are half price from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. daily as part of Joe's "Cocktail Hour," which means oysters cost $16.95 per dozen. Cocktails are $6; draft beers are $3.50. It's a little more expensive than some happy hours, but it's worth it. 750 15th St. NW. joes.net. Old Ebbitt Grill


Artificial intelligence, real-time email, 360 video: How you can engage with The Post’s 2016 Olympics coverage

The Washington Post will be bringing you the latest results and news from the 2016 Olympic Games. Here’s how you can get your fix for all the updates from and about Rio de Janeiro: Follow Post reporters Liz Clarke, Dave Sheinin, Barry Svrluga, Adam Kilgore, Rick Maese, Dom Phillips, Joshua Partlow, and columnists Sally Jenkins and Jerry Brewer, who are all reporting from the Games. You can also follow them on Twitter: https://t.co/qtp6CODqVZ Read our guide to the 2016 Olympics, which includes a viewer’s guide to the main events and highlights athletes to watch, such as Simone Biles, Katie Ledecky and Claressa Shields. Explore the neighborhoods and meet the people of Rio de Janeiro in 360 degree video. Also, take an in-depth look at teams and atheletes like Michael Phelps, see a guide to Rio words you’ll hear over the coming weeks, watch a “Science of Sports” series breaking down the forces, kinetics and theories behind some events and more. The Post is also featuring customized, shareable pictograms for each sport—some are animated and include sound effects—that will be displayed on social cards and Olympics-related blog posts. All Olympics charts, graphics and maps will be updated throughout the Games and viewable here. Additionally, subscribers to The Post’s “Sports Break” newsletter will see popular upcoming events and the latest medal tallies whenever they open their email, even if it was sent hours earlier. Readers can subscribe here: http://wapo.st/1MEcAvv. Readers can also sign up to receive major Olympics news by email as soon as the stories publish or follow important stories about Team USA through the Games. Using new proprietary technology, The Post will also provide updates of key information, including the daily schedule of events, results for medal events, top medal tallies via a variety of channels including: The Post’s live blog, on Twitter at @WPOlympicsbot, and via The Post’s Olympics skill on Alexa-enabled devices and The Post’s bot for Messenger.


Greek athlete tests positive for banned substance, has left Olympic Village

The official start of the Olympic Games: the elaborate and colorful Opening Ceremonies or the first headlines announcing athletes getting busted for doping? Either way, rest assured the Rio Olympics are now underway. The Greek Olympic Committee announced just hours before the Opening Ceremonies that one of its athletes tested positive for a banned substance and has left the Olympic Village. The athlete was not named nor was his or her sport identified. The committee said the athlete’s A sample failed a test conducted last month in Athens. The Greek athlete is the second to get booted from the Rio Games for a doping violation. Irish boxer Michael O’Reilly was provisionally suspended Thursday.


In case you missed it: Looking back on the Opening Ceremonies in Rio

in order to get some rest for later in the weekend. But just because he had to bounce, and his fellow American swimming ninja Katie Ledecky was unable to attend, didn’t mean that there was a lack of additional highlights: - The Australian team entered wearing blazers with the names of every gold medalist from its country in Olympic history printed on the inside lining. - Several countries asked their top tennis playing stars to double as flag bearers. - The flag bearer from Botswana, Nijel Amos, is also that country’s only medal winner. - Multiple U.S. men’s basketball players getting their photo on (though where was Kyrie Irving anyway?) - France showing plenty of resolve after what’s been a most painful year. But perhaps the most impressive, most powerful moment of the night came near the end of the event, when the Olympic Refugee Team took its turn and received a standing ovation. Brazil’s interim president, Michel Temer, was booed as he made the opening of the Games official shortly thereafter, but there was so much good will toward the refugee team still percolating in Maracana Stadium that it didn’t register all that much on TV. Oh yeah, TV. There were too many commercials. Co-anchors Matt Lauer, Meredith Viera and Hoda Kotb talked too much (although shouts to Hoda for the sheer volume of references to parties and drinking wine with which she imbued her commentary). And NBC’s explanation for the one-hour tape delay was . . . questionable at best. Part of NBC’s explanation for the tape delay and I’m sorry but WHAT??? (h/t @itwasfourone) https://t.co/2h9dDCoN8Y https://t.co/wYT8rMLXV1 Still, for the most part, things got off to a pretty okay start. There were no major mishaps, technically or otherwise. The athletes seemed to be enjoying themselves from the looks of the broadcast. And the reaction of the Internet was mostly positive, too. This is seriously cool. #OpeningCeremony https://t.co/JXBVrNLzTv https://twitter.com/DavidGiove/status/761784560422117376 When that Samba beat drops and you just gotta dance #OpeningCeremony #rio2016 https://t.co/acpKzPDZkW So that #OpeningCeremony... https://t.co/d96zevTN5f All the way up. #OpeningCeremony #Rio2016 https://t.co/k44UWdttjQ The first-ever Refugee Olympic Team walks in. No snark, just an amazing moment. #OpeningCeremony https://t.co/FfjpXfnSy6 Great to see the refugee team — and the standing overation they’re getting from the crowd #Rio2016 #OpeningCeremony Not bad at all. So, it’s Saturday, and there’s competition to be watched all day starting bright and early. Let the Games begin.


American doctor weighs Rio’s health concerns, wins women’s rowing heat

varsity eight crew to an undefeated national championship, Stone put her acceptance to Tufts School of Medicine on hold so that she could train for the 2008 Olympics. She failed to make the cut. Undeterred, Stone spent the ensuing years balancing med school and crew training. She ended up qualifying for the 2012 London Games, where she finished seventh. Stone is considered a medal contender by dint of her fourth-place finish at last year’s world championships. “I don’t take any of the concerns lightly. At all,” Stone wrote. “I’m a doctor, and I try to be very rational about everything. But how can I be completely rational about a once-in-a-lifetime (or in my case, a twice-in-a-lifetime) opportunity like the Olympics?” Stone continued by pointing out that while high-profile athletes like professional golfers enjoy large salaries and regular exposure, many lesser-known athletes recognize the Olympics as the pinnacle of their respective sports. Jason Day, Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy — Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4 in the golf world rankings, respectively — all cited concerns over the Zika virus in their decisions to skip the Rio Games. “I simply think that those of us who are from sports where the Olympics are the pinnacle of competition look at the issues in Rio differently than professional golfers — for whom an Olympic gold medal would be prestigious, but for whom a Masters victory would be even more prestigious — when considering whether to compete.” Stone takes comfort in knowing that people who competed in a regatta in Rio last year are all in good health. Still, she’s not leaving much to chance this week. “You take precautions not to get water onto your face or in your mouth or eyes,” Stone said. “You have to put your water bottle inside a plastic bag, that’s a big one. You make sure nothing your mouth is touching has touched the water. And then you clean your hands thoroughly . . . before you eat. You don’t touch your face until you’ve sanitized your hands. I’m going with tons of bug spray and mouthwash and hand sanitizer.” When it comes down to it, Stone just needs to avoid ending up like the Serbian men’s team Saturday morning. Things can go upside down sometimes #rowing #Rio2016 #RioOlympics2016 https://t.co/gtcmI7ftTL Team Serbia watching their crew mates from the bank. #facepalm #rowing #Olympics #capsize #rio2016 https://t.co/M9efOjzeNU


Head of Kenya’s track team exits Rio amid doping allegations

The head of Kenya’s track and field team has left the Rio Olympics amid allegations that he offered to tip off athletes with the timing of drug tests before they competed in events, according to a joint investigation by The Sunday Times and the German broadcaster ARD. The Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya will investigate the claims into Major Michael Rotich, who was filmed last winter telling athletes that he could give them a 12-hour warning on anti-doping tests in exchange for thousands of dollars. In a bizarre twist, Rotich said he had gone along with the sting operation when he was presented with the allegations in order to “help protect” his athletes, according to The Sunday Times. Rotich has returned to Kenya, per the report, after he was presented with the allegations before Friday’s Opening Ceremonies. He was supposed to be with the team during the Parade of Nations but apparently didn’t make it. More than 40 Kenyan athletes have failed doping tests since 2011, according to the BBC, and the country was only removed from the World Anti-Doping Agency’s list of “non-compliant” countries on Friday before the beginning of the Games.


How to put an end to the dark side of the Olympics

Logo of the 2016 Rio Olympics. The Olympics are a great sports event. But they also cause great harm. Host cities routinely lose enormous amounts of money on the games, and end up with decaying stadiums that have little or no value. Even worse, governments often forcibly displace large numbers of people from their homes and businesses in order to make room for Olympic venues. Over 1 million people lost their homes for the 2008 Beijing games alone. Brazil has similarly evicted large numbers of people for the currently ongoing Rio Olympics, and even more to build stadiums for the 2014 World Cup. Most of those evicted are the poor and people lacking in political power. The Olympics also often become propaganda showcases for authoritarian regimes, as happened with the 2008 Olympics in China, and the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. In an earlier era, the same problem arose on an even more egregious scale with the 1936 Olympics in Nazi Berlin, and the 1980 games in the Soviet Union. None of this has to happen. We can reform the Olympics to put an end to it. The forcible evictions are perhaps the easiest problem to fix. The International Olympic Committee and the international community more generally should insist that organizers commit to building the necessary venues without forcibly displacing residents. If a city cannot or will not do that, it should not be allowed to host the games. No sports event is worth the forcible displacement of innocent people from their homes. We can also put an end to the economic harm caused by the Olympics by insisting on private funding, instead of government subsidies. The 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, almost the only modern games to avoid massive losses, did so by relying on almost entirely on private funds. Government subsidies for sports facilities have a strong tendency to cause more economic harm than benefit. Private investors have stronger incentives to use resources efficiently, since their own money is at stake. And if they do err, at least the taxpayers won’t be left holding the bag. Finally, we can end the use of the games as propaganda tool for repressive regimes by limiting host rights to liberal democracies. If the IOC again awards the games to authoritarians, the West should boycott. The mere threat of a large-scale boycott might well disincentivize such regimes from trying to host in


In case you missed it: Looking back on Day 2 in Rio

Biles and Aly Raisman. Elsewhere, Alexander Massialas gave the U.S. its first medal in individual men’s foil fencing since 1960, when he took silver. American Corey Cogdell took bronze in women’s trap shooting, while her husband, Bears defensive lineman Mitch Unrein, cheered her on from Chicago’s training camp. A disappointment for the U.S. came in the 141-kilometer-long women’s road race, where Mara Abbott was overtaken in the final 150 meters by the three women who would celebrate on the podium. That wasn’t nearly as painful an experience, though, as that of the Netherlands’ Anna van Vleuten, who was leading the race before suffering a horrific crash which left her with spinal fractures and a concussion. The top-seeded doubles team of Venus and Serena Williams took its first-ever loss in Olympic play, although the latter won her singles match, salvaging something from a poor showing thus far by American tennis players. The U.S. men’s team volleyball squad got off to a rough start, dropping its first match to lower-seeded Canada in three sets. Memorable moments for other countries included Kosovo’s first medal, and a gold at that, won by Majlinda Kelmendi in the women’s under-52-kilogram weight category. China’s Wu Minxia, 30, became the first women’s diver to win a gold medal in four consecutive Games and the oldest woman to win an Olympic diving gold medal. Chnia also celebrated a dramatic gold medal for Long Qingquan, the 56kg weightlifter and 2008 champion who set a world record with his final effort, in the process edging North Korea’s Om Yun-Chol, the 2012 gold medalist. A head-to-head matchup between Novak Djokovic and Juan Martin del Potro saw the world’s No. 1 player get ousted, this after del Potro spent 40 minutes stuck in an elevator before being rescued by members of the Argentinean handball team. Day 3 brings the debut of fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad, the first U.S. athlete to compete in the Games while wearing a hijab, and whose teammate, Mariel Zagunis, begins her quest for a third gold. Phelps will swim in his first individual event, the 200-meter butterfly prelims, while in another pool, the U.S. men’s water polo team takes on Spain. Monday also brings the first action for Marti Malloy, who won a judo bronze for the U.S. in 2012, and a shot at redemption for teammate Nick Delpopolo, who was kicked out of the London Games after testing positive


Two years ago, Ebola became a public health emergency. Here are 5 lessons for fighting Zika

interviewees told me that most people they knew were driven by personal responsibility and concerns for their reputations. One said, “No one wanted to look like they weren’t contributing.” When some people could no longer work in difficult situations, they faced no punishment. Health workers at Kakata Hospital — where 13 of 17 health workers who contracted Ebola died — empathized with the few workers who were traumatized and quit but also said that others continued the work. 5. If communities don’t trust the government, the government can’t act effectively. Early in the epidemic, many Liberians were “Ebola deniers” who distrusted the government — and, therefore, its pronouncements about the disease. In August 2014, the government quarantined the neighborhood of West Point. That led to riots, a security crackdown and one death. Distrust and suspicion were so strong that Liberia had to lift the quarantine early. According to government and NGO officials, it was not until the government brought traditional chiefs, Christian and Muslim leaders, and local health representatives into the formal decision-making processes that tensions lessened. Local representatives expressed the need for training, health information, and bleach and personal protective equipment. They proposed safe but culturally sensitive burial practices for Ebola victims that did not include cremation. The government and NGOs responded. They trained and supplied clinic and community workers, increasing their confidence that they could safely provide care without infecting themselves or other patients. One nurse said, “Once we had training, I felt safer in the hospital than outside, because outside you didn’t know who you were going to touch or be with.” Interviewees involved with the government response acknowledged that the more openly and honestly the government discussed the facts of the epidemic, the more willingly communities cooperated with local health care workers. These echo lessons from the AIDS response and the polio eradication campaigns. Inclusive, transparent actions foster trust — and that’s essential for protecting public health. So here’s what public health professionals can take away As health experts look to combat other infectious diseases that cross international borders, such as Zika, they must think local. Public health officials need to consider how to bring in community leaders and to use traditional practices in culturally appropriate ways. Amy S. Patterson is professor of politics at the University of the South in the United States. She is completing a book on African responses to global health policies.


A muddy field in South Sudan is at the center of an intractable war

bowl of the sour drink. Men drink locally made beer called Acelea. (Jane Hahn for The Washington Post) “The fighting is back, and we are ready to fight,” one young man said. He pointed beyond the fence ostensibly separating him from armed combatants. “Our guns are out there,” he said. The camp’s residents had fled their homes after war broke out in late 2013 between the forces of President Salva Kiir and those of Vice President Riek Machar. Tens of thousands of people were killed in what became an ethnically driven conflict. There were hopes that the violence would end when a peace agreement was signed last August. But fighting broke out last month in the capital, Juba, and everyone expected it to spread. The Indian battalion of the U.N. peacekeeping force patrols the perimeter of the Protection of Civilians site at the U.N. compound. (Jane Hahn for The Washington Post) A member of the Indian battalion of the U.N. peacekeeping force waves to a comrade from the Rwandan battalion during a nighttime patrol. (Jane Hahn for The Washington Post) One morning, when it seemed unavoidable that the violence would converge on the camp, we were lost again. I looked for signs of people preparing to protect themselves. But even when the site seemed as if it was on the verge of collapse, there were moments of eerie calm. A teenager in a Dallas Cowboys hat sat on a bench and cut his fingernails. Children played tug of war with a piece of fishing net. A man parked his truck near a small outdoor market. Above the windshield, someone had painted the words “New Sudan.” That was the camp: a city condensed into a muddy field, where desperation and anger and violence and perseverance swirled around one another. Depending on which corner you turned, or which tent you entered, you could find any of those things, one small fragment of this refuge that is hardly a refuge, at the center of an intractable war. Children collect dirt to reinforce their shelters during the rainy season. (Jane Hahn for The Washington Post) A group of people gather at a small bridge. (Jane Hahn for The Washington Post) Church members. (Jane Hahn for The Washington Post) A woman prays at a Pentecostal church. (Jane Hahn for The Washington Post) A man weaves a fishing net in his shelter. (Jane Hahn for The


Gallup: More than 33 million American adults currently use marijuana

smoke marijuana has nearly doubled over the past three years. In 2013, only 7 percent of adults said they were marijuana smokers. When Gallup asked again in July of this year, 13 percent admitted to current marijuana use. That works out to more than 33 million adult marijuana users in the U.S. If America's marijuana users resided in one state, it would be bigger than Texas and second only to California in population. There are currently about 40 million cigarette smokers in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Given that cigarette use is in decline, marijuana use could become more prevalent than cigarette use in just a few years' time. There are likely several factors driving these numbers. Since 2013, recreational marijuana markets opened in Colorado and Washington, and several other states voted to legalize marijuana in the fall 2014. It's likely that adults in those places are taking advantage of the new opportunities to indulge legally. Part of the rise may also be due to decreased social stigma surrounding marijuana use. National surveys show support for legal marijuana hovering in the 55 percent to 60 percent range. Certain legislators have called for restrictions on marijuana to be loosened at the federal level use or to legalize it completely. Recreational marijuana use remains illegal at the federal level and in most states. Police are arresting people for possessing marijuana at record-high rates -- more than 1,700 per day, according to 2014 data from the FBI. Still, attitudes toward marijuana use have come a long way from the "this is your brain on drugs" era of the 1980s and '90s, when Ronald Reagan was calling marijuana "the most dangerous drug in the United States" and top law enforcement officials were publicly calling for marijuana smokers to be "taken out and shot." Much of this shift in attitudes could be due to lived experience. In the late 1960s, fewer than 5 percent of adults told Gallup they had ever smoked marijuana. Today that number is up to 43 percent. Regardless of whether they use it currently, nearly half of American adults now have first-hand experience using marijuana. More from Wonkblog: Chronic marijuana use is about as bad for your health as not flossing, researchers find Something interesting happens to weed after it's legal Serious researchers studied how sex is different when you're high vs. when you're drunk


We’re trashing the oceans — and they’re returning the favor by making us sick

Vibrio bacteria, tiny marine organisms capable of causing deadly infections in both human and also fish, are becoming more prevalent in North Atlantic coastal regions as ocean waters warm. (We’re causing that overall trend of warming, of course, by driving climate change, though there are also natural oscillations at work here.) Indeed, human infections caused by these critters are also on the rise. The research finds these are growing at an “unprecedented rate” along the U.S. Atlantic coast and also the coasts of Northern Europe. “We were able to demonstrate that there was an increase in the numbers of vibrios, probably a two or threefold increase, correlated with the increase in climate temperature, and then correlated with outbreaks of vibrio infections that have been recorded in the medical records,” said Rita Colwell, a microbiologist at the University of Maryland who is a co-author of the study, and who was also formerly administrator of the U.S. National Science Foundation. Colwell published the study along with researchers from the University of Genoa in Italy, the University of Plymouth in the UK, and other U.S. and global institutions. Vibrio are very simple organisms, but nonetheless capable of causing severe damage. Vibrio also come in many species — some are responsible for causing cholera. Another species, Vibrio vulnificus, was described as “highly lethal and…responsible for the overwhelming majority of reported seafood-related deaths in the United States” in a recent scientific paper. This species of vibrio can not only poison us through food, but can cause deadly infections to people who swim with cuts or wounds, into which the bacteria can enter. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are 80,000 cases of vibriosis in the U.S. annually, the vast majority from consuming seafood. Vibrio also thrive in warmer sea waters, suggesting the risk is greater in the summer — which, of course, is when people are in the water or near beaches, consuming seafood. The new study examined 133 samples of long-term marine plankton levels from across the North Atlantic region, and then analyzed the vibrio content within them, in proportion to other bacteria levels. The samples dated back about a half century. In eight out of nine regions of the North Atlantic, the study found that as temperatures warmed, numbers of vibrio bacteria also grew. Furthermore, it also showed a relationship between growing vibrio numbers and growing vibrio cases in


found that as temperatures warmed, numbers of vibrio bacteria also grew. Furthermore, it also showed a relationship between growing vibrio numbers and growing vibrio cases in humans, a relationship that was particularly pronounced during heat waves. “An increased Vibrio concentration in seawater as a result of ocean warming can be concluded to be linked with increased incidence of environmentally acquired infections,” the study concludes. When asked if growing numbers of vibrio are just one kind of deleterious changes to the ocean brought on by climate change — changes that, in turn, can harm us — Colwell responded, “The answer to that would be yes. It’s a disruption of the natural pattern, and it will be selecting for a number of species, and that’s the problem.” “What this new research does is present evidence of the increased prevalence of these bacteria over broad regions of the North Atlantic from preserved samples collected over 54 years,” said marine ecologist Donald Boesch, president of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, who was not involved in the research. “The prevalence of these bacteria has increased as the ocean has warmed, both as result of global warming and multi-decadal variations in ocean circulation. This trend may be caused by changes in the plankton community rather than just the temperature alone. In other words, increased prevalence may be an ecosystem-level effect of climate change.” “The relationship of these trends with the incidence of the human diseases reported caused by Vibrio species as reported in the paper is less-convincing, particularly because the long-term plankton monitoring was not conducted off the US coast,” adds Boesch. “Nonetheless, there is ample other information on this relationship to counsel increased vigilance in protecting public health from these natural environmental pathogens in our warming world.” So in sum, it’s more evidence supporting Jackson’s point — we don’t just damage the oceans with impunity. Rather, from harm to fisheries to direct human health threats, that damage hurts us, too. “I think the public would not expect that the oceans would have that direct impact on human health,” said Colwell. Read more at Energy Environment: What Trump gets wrong about energy in America Obama has done more to save energy than any other president The surprisingly bright future of American’s forgotten renewable energy source: water For more, you can sign up for our weekly newsletter here, and follow us on Twitter here.


1780s-era Potomac plantation lists for $715,000

The 18th-century planation at 9813 Kendale Rd. in Potomac, Md., is listing for $715,000. (John Gregory) If historic preservation tempts you, there’s a chance that you can buy one of the few surviving homes from the 18th century in Potomac, Md. The original section of the home at 9813 Kendale Rd. in Potomac was built by Joseph Magruder in 1787 as the Constitutional Convention was being held in Philadelphia. Magruder was part of the Committee of Safety in Maryland and later became a captain commanding Maryland’s forces in the American Revolution. The house was part of his 400-acre tobacco plantation where as many as 13 slaves were kept. Today, the house sits on a half-acre lot and has been expanded twice, with a fieldstone section added in 1822 and a brick addition in the 1960s. Listed at $715,000, this property needs considerable work to restore it. However, homeowners can take advantage of a 25 percent historic preservation tax credit from Montgomery County and a 20 percent tax credit from the state of Maryland for restoration costs. For more information, contact real estate agents Delia McCormick and John Gregory with Washington Fine Properties at 202-944-5000. To pass on a tip or item, contact us at realestate@washpost.com and put “Town Square” in the subject line.


Why Detroit opposes Obama’s big trade deal

contribute to these increases, according to the commission. Malaysia and Vietnam would eliminate tariffs on U.S. cars. Japan would agree to accept several U.S. safety standards instead of imposing its own on American cars and would also exempt a larger number of exported vehicles from its unusual environmental and safety examinations, which experts say make it unnecessarily expensive for U.S. automakers to market their products there. Although more cars would be built in the United States, there would also be more cars built with foreign parts, according to the commission. Ratifying the deal would reduce U.S. car-parts manufacturers' output by about $1.4 billion by 2032, compared to current rules. For the industry as a whole, though, the commission's report nonetheless forecasts a modest increase in production — a prediction that contrasts with Trump's tone in Detroit on Monday. In his speech, Trump cited research by Robert E. Scott, an economist at the liberal Economic Policy Institute in Washington. Scott rejected the forecasts in the commission's report on the deal, saying he doubted U.S. automakers would gain meaningful access to markets in Japan. Scott — like many people in the automotive industry — is particularly frustrated that the deal does not contain enforceable restrictions on currency manipulation. By reducing the price of the yen, he said, the Japanese government can effectively increase the price of foreign cars, as he and other experts have accused Tokyo of doing in the past. "They maintain a currency that’s designed to keep Japanese goods — cars — competitive, but they also are one of the most closed markets in the world," Scott said. Ford's Stephen Biegun made the same critique in explaining to Congress why his company opposed the deal earlier this year. "The unearned trade subsidy derived from currency manipulation makes Japanese vehicles more competitive around the world," he testified. "Ford Motor Company can compete against Japanese automakers, but it cannot compete against the Bank of Japan." Recently, though, there has been little evidence of Japanese manipulation. The Treasury Department recently concluded that Japan was not manipulating its currency, and Jeff Schott of the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington concurred with that assessment. "A decade ago, it was a really big problem," Schott said. "It hasn’t been a problem for a number of years." In any case, American automakers confront another problem in selling their products overseas. Despite improvements in the quality


Kareem Fahim named new Istanbul bureau chief

Announcement from Foreign Editor Douglas Jehl and Deputy Foreign Editor Mary Beth Sheridan: We’re very happy to announce that Kareem Fahim, who has distinguished himself as a Middle East correspondent for the New York Times since 2011, will join The Washington Post next month as Istanbul bureau chief. This is a newly created position that fills our desire to broaden our coverage of the conflicts, political upheaval and humanitarian crises transforming the Middle East and beyond. More than ever before, Turkey is finding itself part of that swirl, not just in the spillover from battles in neighboring Syria and Iraq but also in contending with internal instability after last month’s failed coup. There may be no one better suited to take on this challenge than Kareem, who got his start as a journalist covering the American-led invasion of Iraq and has spent the past five years based in Cairo for the Times but traveling widely around the region. He wrote from Tunisia at the outset of the Arab uprisings and went on to report extensively from Libya, Egypt, Yemen, Jordan, Syria, Iraq and Bahrain, chronicling the dizzying changes with a focus on the consequences for everyday citizens throughout the region. He is a courageous and perceptive reporter, a graceful and insightful writer, and he is known across the region for his decency and generosity as a colleague. These qualities make Kareem an ideal addition to a Middle East team whose on-the-ground coverage of the region’s upheaval has been among the best in the business. Kareem will roam widely, with primary responsibility for Turkey and a critical role in coverage of the Arab world including Iraq and Syria. Kareem will head an Istanbul-based team that includes Erin Cunningham, who will spend time in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as covering Turkey. Kareem is a graduate of Occidental College and the Columbia University Graduate School of International and Public Affairs. He began his career at the Village Voice before moving to the Times in 2005. He grew up in California and Kuwait, attended boarding school in New England, and speaks conversational Arabic. Kareem will start work in the newsroom on Sept. 6, and will spend a few weeks getting to know The Post and seeking the necessary accreditation before taking up his duties in the region.


My pregnant patients want to move to avoid Zika. Not all women have that luxury.

a rare bacteria. I reassured my patient that mosquito season will probalby pass before Zika makes its way to central Virginia. But her comment left me worrying about the women who don’t have the means or job flexibility to move to Maine for nine months. More than 40 percent of U.S. births are funded by Medicaid; about 21 percent of children born here grow up in poverty. For them, there are few options. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends avoiding mosquito bites by staying inside and wearing long sleeves and pants. That’s a daunting, maybe impossible task, in the humid, 90-degree summer of the South, particularly for women who work outside. Making sure all windows are screened or closed is another important preventive measure. For lower-income women, who may not have air-conditioning, this recommendation can pose a challenge. Another option is insect-repellent. Although it is proved to be safe (and definitely safer than contracting Zika), many women still worry about the risks of using sprays or lotions containing DEET while they are pregnant. The only real way to protect these women is through collective action. We need to improve our mosquito control, both in affected areas and in places where Zika might spread. We also need to increase our research into a vaccine or a cure. And we need to make it easy and cheap for people (especially pregnant women) to get tested for the virus. These efforts take money that, so far, our politicians seem reluctant to provide. This summer, the White House asked Congress for $1.9 billion in emergency funding. And though Zika affects Democrats and Republicans, Congress did not allocate resources to combat this public health emergency, before leaving for their summer recess. Perhaps it was partisan bickering that prevented a spending bill’s being passed. Or maybe it is because poorer women, those without air-conditioning or window screens, are disproportionately at risk. Or maybe Congress does not see this threat as a real one. Spending an afternoon in my office, listening to the fear in my pregnant patient’s questions would dispel this myth. There is much talk in Congress about the need to protect unborn children. If they are serious about this priority, they need to allot the money to achieve it. Obstetricians across America are doing our jobs by educating, listening to and reassuring our pregnant patients; it is time that Congress does theirs.


Report: A scientific superstar at Smithsonian is fighting for his job

Kristofer Helgen, curator of mammals at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, introduces a new species of carnivore that he and a team discovered in 2013. (Alex Wong/Getty Images) Kristofer Helgen, a young, rising star in the world of zoology, could soon be out of a job at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, according to an article published online Tuesday in the Verge. The museum investigated Helgen, 36, after allegations by staffers that he attempted to carry scientific specimens out of Kenya without the proper permits, the article states. An initial inquiry by the Smithsonian's inspector general found no wrongdoing, and the IG recommended that the case be closed. But, as the Verge story reports, a second internal inquiry led his department chair to recommend Helgen's termination. “There was no misconduct. I think this case has been very poorly handled," Helgen's attorney, Michael Kator, said Tuesday. Kator confirmed the major details of the published account and said the Smithsonian could reach a final decision by the end of the summer. He said Helgen has been on administrative leave since July and is prohibited from speaking about the case. “He’s obviously devastated by this whole thing. One of the critical things to him, he is a prolific scientist. He produces a lot of work, and he has a massive research program, and it's been shuttered for 10 months while this investigation has been going on," Kator said. "This is all very damaging to the museum and to the Smithsonian as a whole.” The museum, which lists Helgen as "curator in charge" of its mammals staff, issued a terse statement when contacted Tuesday: "To preserve the integrity of our personnel processes, and to respect and protect the privacy of our employees, the Smithsonian does not discuss or comment on personnel matters." Much of the Verge article is based on anonymous sources. It depicts Helgen as a popular but demanding scientist who ran afoul of some colleagues, in part because of the attention he received in the scientific press, and because of his willingness to shake things up at a venerable but hidebound institution. Soon after the 2015 expedition ended, writer Michael Balter details, "Helgen was accused by his staff of trying to illegally export animal specimens from Kenya. Eventually the charge sheet included allegations that he had instructed his employees to hide samples from wildlife inspectors, and that he


The water in the Olympic diving pool is suddenly very, very green

The water conditions for Tom Daley and Daniel Goodfellow on Monday, left, were a bit different than what Tonia Couch and Lois Toulson encountered Tuesday. (Michael Dalder/Reuters; Matt Dunham/AP Photo) Something happened to the Olympic diving pool in Rio recently and on Tuesday, divers were competing in water that had turned from typical blue into a discomforting shade of green. Great Britain’s Tom Daley, who (along with partner Daniel Goodfellow) won bronze in the men’s synchronized event on Monday, and others watching the women’s synchronized 10-meter final Tuesday posted photos on social media that show the green-and-cloudy diving pool next to the water polo pool, which appears blue and clear. Ermmm...what happened?! https://t.co/pdta7EpP2k one of these pools is...not like the other https://t.co/2wJP4SyQ4t What the hell has happened to the colour of the diving pool??? #Rio2016 #RioProblems @Olympics https://t.co/H7rkA9AtEj Did someone forgot to put the chlorine in the diving pool..... #green #olympics Rio 2016 officials said Tuesday night that they are investigating the cause, but added that “there were no risks for the athletes.” The water quality at the Maria Lenk Aquatics Centre was tested and there were no risks for the athletes. We are investigating the cause. Outdoor pool water can turn green with the presence of algae, which indicates that there is not enough chlorine in the water. Despite some observers expressing concern, several divers told reporters after the competition that they were undisturbed by the conditions. “Why are people asking about the water? I think the water is normal for an outdoor pool,” silver medalist Pandelela Rinong of Malaysia said, “so it’s not a big deal for us as long as it doesn’t affect our performance.” Mexico’s Paola Espinosa, who finished sixth, agreed. “We noticed it, but it didn’t smell, and nothing is left on our skin,” she said, “so it didn’t really affect us.” Rick Maese contributed to this report.


What we know about Pseudomonas, the potentially deadly bacteria found at a Maryland hospital

deaths of two infants at Prince George’s Hospital Center led to the detection of a deadly bacteria in the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit, the transfer of other infants out of the unit and questions about how such vulnerable patients were put at risk. But the bacteria, called Pseudomonas, is not new, and has struck the region before. Here’s what we know: 1. Pseudomonas is everywhere. The bacteria is “found widely in the environment,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and can attack those with weakened immune systems, especially “patients in hospitals, especially those on breathing machines, those with devices such as catheters, and patients with wounds from surgery or from burns are potentially at risk for serious, life-threatening infections.” 2. It’s spread by health-care workers. Like other frightening bacteria such as MRSA, Pseudomonas is waterborne and spread on the hands of hospital staff and on tainted equipment, but can be fought with handwashing and proper hygiene. At Prince George’s Hospital Center, it was found in pipes near the NICU — although its presence hasn’t been linked to the infants’ deaths. The CDC also advises: “Avoid hot tubs or pools that may be poorly maintained, and keep contact lenses, equipment, and solutions from becoming contaminated.” A medical illustration of Pseudomonas. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) 3. A similar case has happened before. In 1984, three premature babies at the University of Maryland Hospital were killed by Pseudomonas. Staff blamed faulty sterilization. “Somebody slipped,” an administrator said at the time. ” . . . Things were not as thorough as they ought to have been.” In 2007, the military was worried about Pseudomonas infections and other bacterial infections among more than 600 injured troops at Walter Reed. And the Food and Drug Administration was wondering about appropriate sterilization of specialized scopes used in medical procedures just last year. “We have known about this even as early as 1983 or 1984,” one expert said. 4. There is treatment — but it might not work. Pseudomonas can be treated with antibiotics, but they may not be effective. As doctors warn about a “post-antibiotic age” in which once-easily treated maladies such as staph infections kill again, Pseudomonas could prove an ever-deadlier threat. “Unfortunately, in hospitalized patients, Pseudomonas infections, like those caused by many other hospital bacteria, are becoming more difficult to treat because of increasing antibiotic resistance,” the CDC writes.


Eight years after Beijing Olympics, IOC is still sorting out doping disqualifications

analytical methods, in order to possibly detect prohibited substances that could not be identified by the analysis performed at the time of these editions of the Olympic Games. This all seems well and good until one considers that this plan has done nothing to stop doping from dominating the conversation at these Games. Sure, there’s always a new drug out there that will someone faster or stronger and go undetected by testing. But what sort of deterrence is there when previous offenders are being allowed to participate in the Rio Olympics just weeks after receiving sanctions related to doping? Pyatnytsya, for instance, didn’t even offer a defense to the IOC for his doping violation, according to Tuesday’s report, but he is still slated to compete in the 2016 Olympic javelin competition beginning next Wednesday. Essentially, he conceded to cheating without so much as a fight. But, according to the IOC, its reach only goes so far in these cases. “The consequences of an anti-doping rule violation pursuant to the Rules are limited to consequences in connection with the 2012 Olympic Games,” the IOC wrote in its report, noting that any additional sanctions would need to come from the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF). The entire Russian delegation, meanwhile, is still allowed to participate in these Games despite being embroiled in a widespread doping scandal dating back to the 2014 Sochi Games during the weeks leading into competition. Yet, Russia has been banned for participating in the 2016 Paralympics later this month as a result of its doping. Three other athletes are also facing sanctions after they were named in Tuesday’s IOC report. Turkey’s Nurcan Taylan was disqualified from the women’s 48kg weightlifting event in Beijing (which she didn’t even finish); Armenian weightlifter Hripsime Khurshudyan (75kg) was disqualified from Beijing, where she placed 11th; and Pavel Kryvitski of Belarus was disqualified from London, where he placed 28th in the men’s hammer throw. The controversy, and inconsistency, surrounding the IOC’s doping policies certainly hasn’t gone unnoticed by athletes that consider themselves “clean.” On Monday, U.S. Olympic swimmer Lilly King backed up some strong words regarding previous doping charges levied against Russian swimmer Yulia Efimova by beating Efimova for the gold medal in the 200-meter breaststroke Monday night. Judging from the precedent set so far by the IOC, though we’ll likely have to wait a while to know for sure if any


In case you missed it: Looking back on Day 4 in Rio

For comparison, the drop from Russia to eighth-place Brazil was just 4.601 points. More history was made on the rugby pitch Tuesday, when Patriots safety Nate Ebner became the first active NFL player to compete in the Summer Olympics. He even scored a try (while Bill Belichick wore a shirt in his honor at New England’s training camp), but the U.S. fell to Argentina, 17-14. Then there was 52-year-old Phillip Dutton, who didn’t let being America’s oldest Olympian stop him from getting his first individual medal (okay, his horse, Mighty Nice, was heavily involved, as well). Dutton won bronze in eventing, the team version of which had garnered him golds, as a member of the Australian squad, in 1996 and 2000. Day 4 wasn’t entirely full of smiles for U.S. athletes, especially on the tennis court, where top-seeded Serena Williams was ousted in stunning upset. Appearing to still be hampered by a shoulder injury that had caused her to withdraw from the Rogers Cup in late July, Williams committed 37 unforced errors in dropping a 6-4, 6-3 third-round match to Elina Svitolina. The Ukrainian player, ranked 20th on the WTA tour, had only taken one set off Williams in four previous meetings. The U.S. women’s soccer team didn’t lose to Colombia, but it might have felt that way, especially to Hope Solo, who let a ball go through her legs for a goal. Another ball, struck from a tight angle, went over her head in the 90th minute for a score that evened the match at a somewhat deflating 2-2 result, although it was enough to let the USWNT win its group. A bright spot was 18-year-old Mallory Pugh scoring on an impressive play that made her the youngest person to have an Olympic goal for the U.S. The Day 4 gold medal for wackiness went to the diving pool, which turned a decidedly unappealing shade of green. Fortunately, the divers themselves didn’t seem to mind, if only because, as one put it, “nothing is left on our skin.” So what does Day 5 have in store? More chances for American swimming gold, as one might expect, in the men’s 100-meter freestyle and 200-meter breaststroke, as well as the women’s 200-meter freestyle relay (Ledecky alert!). Elsewhere, a pair of U.S.-Serbia matchups loom, in women’s basketball and women’s volleyball, while the U.S. men’s basketball team takes on Matthew Dellavedova and Australia.


Challenge to presidential candidates: Debate about science

hear from Hillary Clinton. The Democratic nominee has sections on her campaign website dedicated to her stances on climate change, protection of wildlife, biomedical research, the opioid addiction crisis and investing in science and technology research, among other issues. Clinton also declared in her recent speech at the Democratic National Convention, " I believe in science. I believe climate change is real and that we can save our planet while creating millions of good-paying clean energy jobs." 2015 is on track to be the hottest year on record. Climate change is not only real, it's already present. Meanwhile, Republican nominee Donald Trump repeatedly has said he isn’t “a believer” that humans have played a significant role in the Earth’s changing climate. In his own tweets, Trump has called the concept of global warming everything from a “hoax” to “bulls—” to a scheme “created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive.” (He later said he was joking about the China tweet). In a wide-ranging meeting with The Washington Post editorial board in March, he again dismissed man-made climate change. Instead, he said the type of climate change we should worry most about is nuclear weapons — an apparent reference to Cold War-era fears over a “nuclear winter.” Ice storm rolls from Texas to Tennessee - I'm in Los Angeles and it's freezing. Global warming is a total, and very expensive, hoax! Trump’s stance on climate change, of course, puts him at odds with the vast majority of scientists. But the questions being asked by ScienceDebate.org go far beyond that topic, touching on research and development investments, long-term energy plans, how science and math are taught in schools and views on public health campaigns aimed at reducing smoking and drunk driving. The 20 questions, which the group said it also will submit to Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson and Green Party candidate Jill Stein, are posted below: - Science and engineering have been responsible for over half of the growth of the U.S. economy since WWII. But some reports question America’s continued leadership in these areas. What policies will best ensure that America remains at the forefront of innovation? - Many scientific advances require long-term investment to fund research over a period of longer than the two, four, or six year terms that govern political cycles. In the current climate of budgetary constraints, what are your science


He fought in Afghanistan. Now he’s battling for a ‘War on Terror’ memorial in D.C.

popularized by President George W. Bush, the name has been derided by those who say the U.S. fight is with specific terror networks. The Obama administration largely retired the phrase. Brennan, however, notes that the phrase “Global War on Terrorism” is written on service medals authorized by the Department of Defense. And he says the men and women who fought deserve recognition. In many ways, this is a war of firsts: the country’s first all-volunteer military campaign, the first time American women have served in combat, the first time service members have faced so much upheaval in their lives, enduring multiple redeployments. It is the first time U.S. service members have fought abroad in response to terrorist attacks on U.S. soil, on 9/11. U.S. casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to Department of Defense records, total nearly 7,000 dead and more than 50,000 wounded. [After being shot by a bicyclist, ‘Major Mike’ received a burial worthy of the decorated war dog he was] Petraeus, the retired general who commanded forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, supports the memorial. “I understand the criticism of the term ‘war on terror’ very well. And I am certainly not wedded to it,” he said in an email. “The key is to have a memorial to the service and sacrifice of those who served in the wars of the post-9/11 period.” Brennan knows this sacrifice. As he went through training in Fort Polk, La., a warrant officer told him that the trauma of war is different for the aviation community than it is for ground troops. Aviators often do not witness death in the same way; they wake one morning to suddenly find the guy in the cot next to them isn’t there. Andrew Brennan, former Army Captain, on a military base in Afghanistan in 2011. Brennan is leading the charge to build a memorial to post- 9/11 veterans on the Mall. (Photo courtesy of Andrew Brennan). Sure enough, many months later, in August 2011, Brennan left his tent one morning to find the U.S. flag flying at half-staff. Then someone told him: After midnight, a Chinook helicopter had been shot down. Thirty Americans died that day, along with seven Afghan soldiers and an interpreter. One of them was pilot Bryan Nichols, one of Brennan’s friends whom he had worked with to plan raids and supply missions. “I wear a KIA, Killed In Action bracelet for


Business Rx: They created a new kind of smoothie. Now they need to tell the world about it.

(Photo courtesy of BrightGreens) This week, the founders of a D.C. smoothie company look for advice on how to gain attention, and win space in the freezer aisle. — Dan Beyers The entrepreneur For the last decade, Brian Mitchell has worked in natural foods industry. It was more than his profession. Most mornings, Mitchell would make green smoothies for himself and his wife. Then they had two little girls, and everyday life with kids made getting out the blender and chopping veggies and fruits too complicated for the breakfast routine. But without their daily smoothies, Mitchell and his wife weren’t feeling as good. He figured there had to be an easier way to get the nutrients and benefits of a fresh green smoothie. Mitchell came across freezing as an alternative to preserve the flavor and nutrients in fruits and veggies. Through trial-and-error, Mitchell figured out a way to make and freeze cubes of smoothies so that they could be reconstituted with just a splash of hot water and a good shake. At first, Mitchell and his wife were just shaking up daily smoothies for themselves. But then after talking to people at work, he realized this was big problem for a lot of health-conscious individuals that he had the solution to in his freezer at home. The pitch Sean Wainwright, co-founder and chief operating officer, BrightGreens Smoothie Shakers “BrightGreens Smoothie Shakers are low in sugar and high in fiber. They taste incredibly fresh and they are so easy to make. You put the BrightGreens smoothie cubes in a screw-top jar, add a splash of hot water, and shake it up just as you would a cocktail. We offer four varieties, each with five to seven ingredients – all fruits and vegetables. “As soon as I tried one of these smoothies, I offered to help start the business. I’m a lawyer who had spent the past nearly seven years working at start-ups. In May 2015, I joined up with Brian and we started selling to friends and family and online. Then in August of last year, we got into our first Whole Foods market in Washington in Logan Circle. Through in-store sampling and word-of-mouth, we began to grow throughout the region. Now we are in all Whole Foods stores in the mid-Atlantic region, in Mom’s Organic Market and a number of other smaller stores in the region. We are currently based


a lot of health-conscious individuals that he had the solution to in his freezer at home. The pitch Sean Wainwright, co-founder and chief operating officer, BrightGreens Smoothie Shakers “BrightGreens Smoothie Shakers are low in sugar and high in fiber. They taste incredibly fresh and they are so easy to make. You put the BrightGreens smoothie cubes in a screw-top jar, add a splash of hot water, and shake it up just as you would a cocktail. We offer four varieties, each with five to seven ingredients – all fruits and vegetables. “As soon as I tried one of these smoothies, I offered to help start the business. I’m a lawyer who had spent the past nearly seven years working at start-ups. In May 2015, I joined up with Brian and we started selling to friends and family and online. Then in August of last year, we got into our first Whole Foods market in Washington in Logan Circle. Through in-store sampling and word-of-mouth, we began to grow throughout the region. Now we are in all Whole Foods stores in the mid-Atlantic region, in Mom’s Organic Market and a number of other smaller stores in the region. We are currently based in D.C.’s Union Market. “The velocity of sales in the frozen section is not the same as some of the other sections of the market, so we need to be in a lot of stores. For us, that’s the game — get into as many stores as we can. The more stores we can get into, the easier it is to tell our story: ‘If you want a really fresh-tasting, really good-for-you smoothie, walk over to the freezer section.’ That leads into our challenge. “For us, we’ve created a new thing. There is no real similar product out there that is truly fresh and good for you that is super convenient and also frozen. How do we create a new segment of the frozen aisle and then spread the word about it? How do we tell that story in the most effective way?” The advice Elana Fine, managing director of the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business “Consider rethinking your target market. You might be preaching to the choir in some sense with Whole Foods shoppers. Yes, everybody needs to be healthier; but people who are shopping at Whole Foods are


These are the day jobs Olympians work while they chase their dreams

American Edward Etzel competes in the small bore rifle shooting event at the summer Olympics in Los Angeles on July 30, 1984. (AP/Paul Vreeker) Last week, while sitting in traffic, I noticed a weathered bumper sticker with a little acoustic guitar on it that said: “Real musicians have day jobs.” I presume most of us do have real day jobs, but as the Rio Olympics unfold, for some reason — maybe because I’m an ex-Olympic shooter — I wondered about the hundreds of young women and men who have tried (with many failing) to represent the United States at the Games. Real musicians and Olympians seem to have a lot in common. They have ambition and enthusiasm for their craft. But like musicians, these talented young people have to pay their electric bills, too. How do they support themselves and their families, all while having to diligently train, often several hours a day over the course of years? How did I pull it off? Many might assume that since athletes are at the pinnacles of their respective sports, they’re all able to live comfortably, either from endorsements or competing professionally. After all, Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps’s estimated net worth is about $55 million. But most who do make it to Rio receive very little funding, and most don’t make a lot of money off their sport, either. For example, two-time Olympic javelin thrower Cyrus Hostetler recently told The Washington Post that the most he’s ever earned in a year is $3,000. Sure, there are many celebrity athletes who are professionals, have corporate endorsements and have their airbrushed faces on a Wheaties box. NBA stars such as Kevin Durant and Jimmy Butler will take a hiatus from their NBA training camps, compete in the Olympic Games and then return to a life of material comfort. But these folks are few and far between. The average U.S. Olympian simply does not live in the highest level of the financial stratosphere. According to the Track and Field Athletic Association, there’s a “steep pyramid of income opportunities” for track and field athletes, with only a “select few” able to earn a very good living. Fifty percent of track athletes who rank in the top 10 in the United States in their event earn less than $15,000 annually from the sport. Unlike many other countries, the United States federal government doesn’t fund Olympic programs, although


Zika may be linked to the disability that Donald Trump mocked

some do. Previous research has suggested it might be neurological, having to do with dysfunction of the spinal cord or brain, or maybe something involving a lack of fetal movement due to insufficient room in the uterus. The condition probably has many different causes. A new study published in the BMJ on Tuesday suggests another intriguing possibility — that arthrogryposis may be yet another condition linked to Zika. (The BMJ was formerly known as the British Medical Journal.) The mosquito-borne virus, which is raging in South America and has now reached Florida, causes microcephaly, in which the head is abnormally small, and other brain damage in fetuses. Possibly thousands of babies have been born with microcephaly due to Zika. It has also been linked to at least two neurological issues in adults: Guillain-Barré syndrome, in which the immune system attacks the nerves, and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, or ADEM, which is similar to multiple sclerosis. The BMJ study was based in Recife, the city in Brazil that is at the epicenter of the Zika epidemic, and the study was tiny. It’s important to note that no definitive conclusions can be drawn because of the small sample size and because of the study’s design, which was observational. The work involved studying high-definition brain and joint images of seven children who had arthrogryposis and who appeared to have been infected with Zika. Researcher Vanessa van der Linden from the Barão de Lucena Hospital and colleagues found two interesting things. First, none of the children had traditional signs of joint abnormalities. This led them to theorize that the arthrogryposis wasn’t due to abnormalities in the joints but in the nerves that control them. But all of them did show signs of something else abnormal: calcium buildup in their brains, a condition that had previously been linked to Zika. The virus may be destroying brain cells during fetal development, and scars where calcium is deposited formed in those areas. The researchers wondered whether the condition might influence the way motor neurons carry signals. They concluded that while more studies are needed, there appears to be enough information that “congenital Zika syndrome should be added to the differential diagnosis of congenital infections and arthrogryposis.” Read more: The origins of Donald Trump’s autism/vaccine theory and how it was completely debunked eons ago Is Donald Trump a textbook narcissist? Pundits, take note: Narcissists aren’t “crazy.” They also aren’t


8 new restaurants you should try right now

A margherita pizza at Casolare, Michael Schlow's new restaurant in Glover Park. (Dayna Smith for The Washington Post) Need help wading through the never-ceasing string of new arrivals to the D.C. area dining scene? These are eight spots vetted by Washington Post writers that are worth your time and money. Casolare Chef and restaurateur Michael Schlow's fifth local dining room is in the Kimpton Glover Park Hotel. This one focuses on coastal Italian fare, particularly of the seafood variety, along with pasta and very good pizza. A bread course in three parts at Pineapple and Pearls. (Dixie D. Vereen for The Washington Post) Pineapple and Pearls Aaron Silverman of Rose's Luxury nails it at his prix fixe outpost, which is the first restaurant awarded four stars by Post Food critic Tom Sietsema straight out of the gate. "Heaven? Close," he says. Leek torchio with goat sausage at Kingbird. (Dixie D. Vereen for The Washington Post) Kingbird Chef Michael Santoro is sending out some appealing plates -- tempura soft-shell crab, rack of lamb -- at the Watergate in Foggy Bottom, which just opened after a years-long, multi-million dollar renovation. The rum baba dessert at RPM Italian. (Dayna Smith for The Washington Post) RPM Italian You might recognize two of the celebrity backers at this swanky Italian restaurant in Mount Vernon Triangle: Bill and Giuliana Rancic. But Sietsema says: "Even in its infancy, RPM Italian shows signs of promise." The seafood pancake at Hazel, served with their house-made hot sauce. (Dixie D. Vereen for The Washington Post) Hazel "Sophisticated but not stuffy, Hazel feels like the right restaurant at the right time," Sietsema says. On the menu: A Korean-style seafood pancake (served with house-made Fire Panda hot sauce), zucchini bread with foie gras and "gnocchi bokki." The chicken kabob at Samovar. (Deb Lindsey for The Washington Post) Samovar "There is nothing else quite like it in the region," The Post's Maura Judkis says of this Rockville restaurant. The menu is inspired by the chef-owner's native Tajikistan and includes smoked fish, salo (a plate of cured pork fat) and lagman (a Central Asian soup prepared Uyghur-style with noodles). Bantam King's fried chicken and sides. (Dixie D. Vereen for The Washington Post) Bantam King This Chinatown eatery is no copycat of nearby sibling Daikaya. Not only does it specialize in chicken ramen, Bantam King makes a mean fried chicken. Tuna panzanella at Suma. (Dayna


After yet another Tesla crash, do autopilot critics have a point?

cases, as will become increasingly common in the future, investigators have looked closely at data recordings that show exactly what a car was doing in the moments before a crash. The data can help analysts pinpoint whether a driver had their hands on the steering wheel, how far the accelerator was being pressed, whether the brakes were applied and other information. Although authorities on the scene may perform an initial assessment of a crash and write a ticket or make an arrest right away, the data from the recorders can improve the odds of correctly assigning blame, analysts say. Humans tend to trust technologies pretty quickly once they actually get a taste of it and understand what's possible with it. In the automotive space, we don't have to reach that far back in history to find a comparable example. "When anti-lock brakes first came on the scene as a technology, insurance companies were frustrated because their actuarial tables showed that people with anti-lock brakes cars were getting in more accidents," said Brauer. The results were deadly: A 1996 study backed by the insurance industry found that people were 45 percent more likely to die in a car with ABS than in a car without the new technology. While these findings understandably led to some initial alarm, the reason for the increased crashes ultimately boiled down to people becoming too comfortable too quickly with a technology they didn't understand. "Not only were they driving less carefully with anti-lock brakes on, but they weren't [educated] to properly utilize them when they needed them," said Brauer. That problem has since been overcome. But it took a great deal of driver education — informing drivers not to expect too much of their anti-lock brakes — and some revisions to the technology, such as eliminating the rapid vibrating sensation in the brake pedal associated with ABS that can surprise drivers. So to see some drivers willingly giving their lives over to a feature that calls itself "autopilot" comes as little surprise. The very word conjures images of airliners that fly gracefully from point A to point B, all by themselves. Although the reality is often more complicated — aircraft autopilot is turned on only under the appropriate conditions, and a real-world human pilot still must be prepared to take over if something goes wrong. That's a detail we can be all too willing to overlook.


The Justice Department’s stunning report on the Baltimore Police Department

a search of a teenager out walking with his girlfriend near his home: One of the officers pushed the teenager up against a wall and frisked him. This search did not yield contraband. The officer then stripped off the teenager’s jacket and sweatshirt and frisked him again in front of his teenage girlfriend. When this search likewise found no contraband, the officer ordered the teenager to “give your girl your phone, I’m checking you right now.” The officer then pulled down the teenager’s pants and boxer shorts and strip-searched him in full view of the street and his girlfriend. The officers’ report of the incident disputes this account, claiming that they did not conduct a strip search and instead recovered narcotics from the teenager during a consensual pat down. No narcotics were ever produced to the teenager’s public defender, however, and the State’s Attorney’s Office dismissed the drug charges for lack of evidence. And here’s another: [I]n 2015 an African American man filed a complaint stating that he was strip-searched by an officer whom BPD eventually fired in 2016 after numerous allegations of misconduct. The man stated that the officer ordered him out of his vehicle during a traffic stop and searched the vehicle without the man’s consent. When the stop of the vehicle did not uncover contraband, the officer pulled down the man’s pants and underwear, exposing his genitals on the side of a public street, and then stripsearched him. The officer seized marijuana and cash during the strip search and allegedly told the man that the officer would return his money and drugs if the man provided information about more serious crimes. The complaint stated that when the man did not provide this information, the officer arrested him and turned over only part of the confiscated money, keeping more than $500. Despite the serious charges in this complaint and the officer’s lengthy record of alleged misconduct, IA deemed it “administratively closed” without interviewing the complainant. The report describes routine, almost banal arrests of people for nothing other than standing in a public space without a satisfactory explanation. And here again, the police reports don’t even bother attempting to come up with a lawful explanation for these arrests. They either mistakenly believe the arrests are legal, or BPD culture is so bad that it doesn’t matter. DOJ found a “blueprint” one shift commander emailed his officers instructing them to


‘Let’s get some perspective’: Researchers say species face bigger threats than climate change

different types of ecosystems across all continents. After analyzing the threat information for these species, the authors found that exploitation and agriculture are the biggest drivers of declines in biodiversity. Of the threatened or near-threatened species they included, 72 percent faced challenges from hunting, fishing, and other practices that take organisms) and 62 percent were being threatened by the expansion of agriculture. The authors noted that climate change was affecting just 19 percent of threatened or near-threatened species. In the comment, the authors suggest there’s an increasing tendency to focus on climate change when discussing the challenges faced by biodiversity. “When thinking about climate change, it became obvious to me that we’ve got to sort out the current problems first,” said Funding for conservation efforts is limited, Watson said, and a lot of it is currently being poured into the fight against “novel threats,” such as climate change or emerging diseases. While he feels these threats are important, he also suggested that there’s been less funding going back into the fight against the “old foes” — exploitation and agricultural development. But there’s a chance to get things back on track coming up next month, the authors have noted. In September, the That said, other experts caution we don’t yet fully understand how severely climate change will affect plants and animals in the future — so it’s important to keep directing resources toward that type of research. “Most scientists would agree that current threats to species extinction are largely dominated by exploitation and habitat degradation,” said Mark Urban, director of the University of Connecticut’s newly established Institute of Biological Risk, who was not involved with the new comment. “But I think we also can’t lose sight of the accelerating risks of extinction from climate change.” He agreed that resources for conservation tend to be limited and should be carefully appropriated — but he added that it’s possible to address both the most immediate challenges to biodiversity while still investing in research on the future impacts of emerging threats like climate change. “One of the things that I’ve been highlighting is the fact that we know little about how climate change will affect extinctions and we need to come up with ways to address those gaps in our data and our understanding,” he said. And Watson also acknowledged that climate change will likely continue to increase as a risk factor in the


change or emerging diseases. While he feels these threats are important, he also suggested that there’s been less funding going back into the fight against the “old foes” — exploitation and agricultural development. But there’s a chance to get things back on track coming up next month, the authors have noted. In September, the That said, other experts caution we don’t yet fully understand how severely climate change will affect plants and animals in the future — so it’s important to keep directing resources toward that type of research. “Most scientists would agree that current threats to species extinction are largely dominated by exploitation and habitat degradation,” said Mark Urban, director of the University of Connecticut’s newly established Institute of Biological Risk, who was not involved with the new comment. “But I think we also can’t lose sight of the accelerating risks of extinction from climate change.” He agreed that resources for conservation tend to be limited and should be carefully appropriated — but he added that it’s possible to address both the most immediate challenges to biodiversity while still investing in research on the future impacts of emerging threats like climate change. “One of the things that I’ve been highlighting is the fact that we know little about how climate change will affect extinctions and we need to come up with ways to address those gaps in our data and our understanding,” he said. And Watson also acknowledged that climate change will likely continue to increase as a risk factor in the future. But he added that bolstering ecosystems against the most pressing threats now may help protect them against other threats in the future. “If you solve threats like agricultural expansion in bad places, if you solve overexploitation, that is the best way to solve the climate change problem as well,” he said. “You give ecosystems a chance, you make them more resilient to climate change.” For the time being, he said, the biggest priorities should include establishing more protected areas and creating better incentives for more sustainable land use, hunting and fishing. Such strategies will likely be addressed at the upcoming IUCN Congress. “Climate change is very important, there’s no doubt about it, but let’s get some perspective on what’s threatening biodiversity now,” Watson said. “If we do that, then we’re going to give biodiversity a chance in the long term when the climate does rapidly change.”


Bon Appétit might like D.C.’s dining scene — but they don’t know the Obamas’ eating habits

The first couple know a thing or two about Washington’s dining scene. (Joshua Roberts/Reuters) The folks at Bon Appétit, which on Wednesday revealed Washington as the magazine’s “Restaurant City of the Year,” might know their way around Washington’s dining scene. But the New York-based glossy has a few Beltway blind spots. In his note Secondly, the couple (just look for the intense guys with earpieces) have already been to several of the eateries Bon Appétit recommended to them. Rose’s Luxury? They skipped the line. Maketto? The first lady could suggest a must-order dish or two. And Masseria? Please, she’s practically a regular. One more thing: Knowlton might be getting his intel on Vice President Biden from the Onion rather than from in-the-know Beltway regulars. One thing he mentioned that the Obamas would miss about Washington was “all those late-night ragers with Vice President Biden…(c’mon, that guy parties!).” While the Veep loves to socialize, he definitely doesn’t drink.


The Olympics are tough for all athletes. For North Koreans, they’re worse.

in the games — quite possibly an attempt to control their lines of communications. Tighter control on North Korean athletes may also be an attempt to block defections. Foreign sporting events have long seen athletes from authoritarian countries run away or claim asylum — at least 45 members of the Eritrean soccer team have defected during various foreign trips over recent years. During the 2012 London Olympic Games, a variety of athletes disappeared and were later found to have defected. However, there have been no known defectors from North Korea during any Olympics in which the country has competed. It's possible this lack of defections is due to the tight control exerted by North Korean security forces and potential punishments for families left behind. But it's also clear from watching the games that North Korean athletes may be genuinely in thrall to their country and have a real desire to make it proud. And besides, those who win gold medals may receive considerable rewards from the state. "Successful athletes have done very well in recent years, receiving better housing in Pyongyang and other gifts from the government for their efforts," Green says. "Sports have always been important to the government, but the resources have not always been there to develop talent; now there is more money going into sports facilities for elite athlete development, which is a reward of a sort, too." Aside from medals, the behavior of North Korean athletes at the Rio games has reflected well, so far. A good-natured selfie taken by 27-year-old North Korean Olympic veteran Hong Un Jong and her 17-year-old South Korean rival Lee Eun-ju caught global attention this week, with IOC President Thomas Bach describing it as a "great gesture." Less heralded in the West has been the behavior of the North Korean weightlifter Om, whose gregarious and humble nature was noted in domestic South Korean media. "I am not a hero in North Korea, because I didn't win the gold," Om told reporters after his silver-medal win Sunday. From body parts washing up near the beach volleyball venue to insensitive commentary about gymnast Simone Biles, here’s a look at moments that have roiled the Games. Read more: The weird world of North Korea’s restaurants abroad North Korea releases list of U.S. ‘human rights abuses: ‘The U.S. is a living hell’ We scrutinized North Korean ‘Viagra’ — and discovered it might actually work


If Metro had an artificial brain, maybe it wouldn’t be so dangerous

A Metro train derailed near the East Falls Church Station on July 29, 2016. (Photo by Mark Maskell) Maybe if Metro had a brain it might not be so dangerous. Like Hong Kong’s subway system, for example. The MTR transit system is routinely praised as one of the finest on the planet. Over the years, travelers have gushed about its cleanliness, reliability, its efficiency, its WiFi, and even its payment system, according to stories like this and this. A 2014 article in New Scientist noted that Hong Kong’s system had a 99.9 percent on-time record, which beat London and New York’s subways. The New Scientist article also suggested a reason for MTR’s success: When it comes to scheduling track repairs on the system, the privately owned and operated MTR — formerly known as the Mass Transit Railway Corporation — relies on artificial intelligence. The work is still carried out by humans, but the AI boss sifts data from across the system to decide what needs to be done. The system, designed by Andy Chun at Hong Kong University, uses a model of the entire system and crunches huge amounts of data to figure out what repairs are most urgent, and when there are available service windows in which to do them. “The AI overseer saves MTR two days a week of wrangling over the repair schedule. Also, MTR’s repair teams now have 30 minutes longer to finish their night’s work – a small time boost that saves MTR $800,000 a year,” the article says. This would be a boon to Metro, which earlier this year was criticized for its inability to learn from past mistakes. Metro General Manager Paul J. Wiedefeld has impressed many people as a pretty sharp guy since taking over last November. He has been trying to make up for years of neglect and years of putting service ahead of safety. And yet even with him at the helm, Metro continued to run trains on a dangerously worn stretch of track where a Silver Line that was carrying passengers derailed last month. Federal investigators later found rotted crossties, loose and missing fasteners, wobbly rails and places where the width between the rails was just off enough to cause the wheels of a train to jump the tracks. Yet Metro officials decided to keep it open so that SafeTrack work could continue. On Wednesday, Wiedefeld acknowledged during a


The Natural History Museum’s taxidermy is super creepy. Bring your kids!

Still, I had seen enough dead things, so I headed upstairs to the insect zoo. As I entered, I noticed a familiar red diamond painted on one of the walls — the Orkin logo. Corporate sponsorship is certainly nothing new, but this particular pairing took me aback, as Orkin is a company better known for killing bugs than promoting their importance in the complex web of life. Corporate money must go a long way because the insect zoo is spectacular. Everywhere you look, you’re confronted with creatures so amazing, they belong in sci-fi flicks. One terrarium contained multitudes of bugs shaped exactly like leaves, down to their curling brown edges. Another held giant bugs that look like sticks. At least, that’s what the sign said. I spent several minutes squinting at sticks and leaves before a small girl, about 3 years old, showed me where the bug was. “Oh cool,” I said as I suddenly detected the 3-inch-long insect that had been right in front of me the You don’t have to kill bugs at the O. Orkin insect zoo. whole time. In an adjoining room, a Smithsonian volunteer was holding an enormous tarantula, demonstrating that the spiders aren’t nearly as fearsome as they look. “Her venom is very weak,” assured the volunteer. “If she were to bite me, it’d be like a bee sting.” The volunteer explained that, though the tarantula has eight eyes, she can only sense light and dark with them. Instead, she uses her body hairs, which are exquisitely sensitive, to detect minute changes in air pressure. “She can ‘see’ all 13 of you, and tell every time you breathe,” the volunteer said. The exhibit make me wonder what it’s like to be a bug, and I wasn’t alone. To my right, children were tumbling out of a giant termite mound — or rather, a model of an actual termite mound that was found in Kenya. “I’m a soldier, you’re the worker,” one of the kids shouted, showing off his newfound knowledge about the termite caste system. This Egyptian mummy contains a kitten that was probably strangled. (Smithsonian) I passed a diorama of giant prehistoric insects and found myself, once again, face to face with dead animals. The insect zoo led me directly to an exhibit about ancient Egypt, with several displays of animal mummies. Ancient Egyptians, the signs explained, sacrificed and mummified cats, birds, snakes


The government asked innovators to combat Zika. Here are their ideas.

the virus earlier this week. Now, officials at USAID hope some of the ideas generated as part of their “grand challenge” can help slow the spread of the virus and eventually prevent future outbreaks, said Wendy Taylor, the director of the agency’s Center for Accelerating Innovation and Impact. The ideas were chosen based on the size of their impact and how quickly they could be used in the field, she said. Monash University in Australia and Michigan State University were among the winners . Both schools have projects whereby mosquitoes in a lab are exposed to wolbachia, a natural bacterium, and then mate with mosquitoes in nature. Wolbachia is transmitted to the resulting offspring, making them incapable of spreading Zika and other diseases to humans. Two research teams at Stanford were also awarded grants. One has developed an app for flip phones (which are still used in the developing world) called MosquitoFreq. It can identify a species of mosquito based on sound emitted from its wings. Some scientists think mosquitoes infected with Zika may fly differently and thus produce a unique sound, Taylor said. An entire category of the competition called for innovative ideas to protect individuals and households from mosquito bites. The winning proposals include sandals, outdoor fabric and indoor wall hangings that are treated with long-lasting mosquito repellent so that they protect people even when people don’t remember to apply repellent regularly. The “grand challenges” have become a way for USAID to cast a wide net for solutions to global problems. The agency funded 14 projects to combat Ebola as part of a grand challenge in 2014. Taylor said half of those projects are on the market today, with others poised to follow suit. “It really has been quite an effective tool. It’s opened up these problems to a whole new array of solvers throughout the world and really allowed us to get much more creative and innovative solutions,” Taylor said. As USAID learned with the Ebola challenge, disease outbreaks don’t happen on an innovator’s timeline. The solutions are needed now, whether or not the technology is ready. This time around, however, the agency funded projects that are likely to come to market in the near term, as well as ideas that may not be ready until the next major health crisis. ” [Zika] is something we expect to be around for the next several years as it


Why the DEA just said ‘no’ to loosening marijuana restrictions

in other schedules" -- a departure from the official line held as recently as last year. "That strikes some people as odd, but the criteria for inclusion in Schedule 1 is not relative danger," he wrote. Rather, it lies primarily with the medical designations discussed above. As the nation's top drug cop, Rosenberg's close, by-the-letter reading of the law makes sense. But it overlooks a wide range of research showing that marijuana, in whole plant form, can be effective at treating a wide array of ailments — chronic pain chief among them. This research is a major reason many states have gone ahead with their own medical marijuana policies in defiance of the federal government. Doctors generally say that they support giving marijuana to patients if it provides them relief from serious conditions. Many state legislatures — not wanting to stand between doctors and their patients — have enacted state legal frameworks allowing them to do so. Despite this, the DEA says it cannot change the legal status of marijuana unless the FDA determines it has a medical use. The FDA cannot determine it has a medical use in part because of the highly restrictive legal status of the drug. It's a classic bureaucratic Catch-22. The only body that can truly resolve this conflict, now, is Congress — by amending the Controlled Substances Act to treat marijuana differently. Most federal lawmakers seem to agree that this needs to happen, but there's disagreement on how to do it. More conservative approaches — championed even by some of Congress's most strident opponents of marijuana legalization, like Maryland's Rep. Andy Harris (R) -- would create a special carve-out for marijuana within Schedule 1. This would include a number of provisions making it easier for researchers to work with the drug. Another bill in the Senate would explicitly move marijuana to Schedule 2. Still other lawmakers — Sen. Bernie Sanders (Vt.) most prominent among them — are calling for marijuana to be removed from the Controlled Substances Act completely. All of this is happening as a number of states — including California, Massachusetts, Nevada and Arizona — will vote on whether to legalize recreational marijuana this fall. If they do so, the gap between state and federal marijuana policy will grow even larger, creating even more confusion and headaches for the doctors, patients, researchers and businesses trying to thread the needle between the two.