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"Those who can't remember the past are doomed to repeat it" This famous quote by writer and philosopher George Santayana are harrowing words that apply today. Archeological finds on Islands near Venice are indicating how the city dealt with the Black Plague that swept through Europe 700 years ago. These finds show the extreme measures that were ordered to try and get the pandemic under control.
In the mid 1400's Venice was hit by the bubonic plague, (aka The Black Death) that was responsible for approximately 25 million dead throughout Europe. The islands with the archeological finds are called Lazzaretto Vecchio and Lazzaretto Nuovo. One island was used to house those with the plague and the other island housed a hospital to treat them. This effort was made to separate or "quarantine" the infected from the rest of the population. One island (Nuovo) was also used to quarantine sailors and merchants for 40 days before they could go on the mainland. This is how the word quarantine came into existence for the Italian words "quaranta giorini for 40 days. Doctors and nurses in the hospital wore beak-like masks to protect themselves from the disease. Unfortunately, City officials were not able to convince the public that strict distancing measures needed to be followed for an extended period of time and the Black Death spread through Europe, creating numerous waves of the disease over the next centuries! At that time, the knowledge of how disease spread did not exist so they focused on isolation of those with symptoms. Had they continued with stringent physical distancing and isolation of those who showed symptoms, the Black Death may not have been so deadly in Europe. This is why it is essential for our government leaders to listen to our medical scientists for recommendations on extending physical distancing restrictions until it is safe enough to ease restrictions. "Those leaders who can't remember the past, are doomed to repeat it". Maddalena Environmental Inc. Al Maddalena Fact described above are based on the Discovery article below:
https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/venices-black-death-and-the-dawn-of-quarantine
Image Courtesy of NASA
In the Milky Way Galaxy, there are 3 types of stars that are best suited to contain planets within the "Goldilocks Zones". These are the zones around a star that are not too hot, not too cold but are just right to contain planets capable of retaining liquid water, an atmosphere and thus can potentially contain life as we know it. Our Sun is an G-type Star with a life-span of about 10 billion years. It is considered to be the hottest of the 3 types that can contain life in the Goldilocks zone. K-type stars have a lifespan of about 40 Billion years and outnumber stars like our Sun by 25 times in our galaxy. The 3rd type of Star that is most abundant in our galaxy is the M-type Star. This star type is about 400 times more numerous than our Sun, and has a lifespan of about 100 Billion years! However, M-type Stars emit x-ray and UV- radiation at levels that are too high for life to survive on any planets within the habitable zone so they are not considered the best candidates for life. As it turns out, it is the K-type Star that is the most likely to contain planets with potential for life. These K-Dwarf Stars are 25 times more numerous than our Sun (in our Galaxy) and have a 40 billion year life span. They emit x-ray and UV-radiation that is tolerable by nearby planets so all these factors make them the best possible candidates for habitable planets. Our Sun is about half way through its life cycle of 10 billion years and our Earth will not likely be habitable in about 1-2 billion years. Therefore K-type Star systems are the best systems to look for habitable worlds. The human race will need to find another habitable world and develop the technology to get there in the next billion years!! (assuming humans survive that long). Maddalena Environmental Inc. Al Maddalena Check out the latest article from NASA
https://go.nasa.gov/3bP9oQA
I am one of the Planet Hunters at Zooniverse. We analyze thousands of light curves from NASA's Transitting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) to look for potential habitable planets. This is the first of many planets within the Star's habitable zone that will be discovered. Maddalena Environmental Inc. Al Maddalena
People and businesses will be forced to live differently after COVID-19. The fact of the matter is that this virus will be with us for a long time. It may never be completely eradicated even when there is a vaccine.
Businesses that survive will have re-think they way they interact with customers to maintain physical distancing. Restaurants will be the last businesses to open so to survive, they will need to focus on take out and curb-side order service. Individuals staying at home have been forced to purchase items online to a greater extent than before. Therefore, they will be converting to online shopping in droves. For all of us, the future will be strong for those who improvise, adapt and overcome! Let's hope that most small businesses will be able, and willing to do so. Check out the article in Discover Magazine describing how the world will work after COVID-19.
https://www.discovermagazine.com/health/how-the-covid-19-pandemic-will-change-the-way-we-live?utm_source=Yesmail&utm_medium=email&utm_email=almaddalena@hotmail.com&utm_campaign=News0_DSC_200423_000000
People are starting to empty grocery stores to stock up in preparation for fear of the Corona virus. Look, it's important that everyone should not panic. We need to be cautious but sensible. The best thing everyone can do is follow directions of the Niagara Region at this website (https://www.niagararegion.ca/health/covid-19/prevention.aspx) Use these tips to protect yourself and others. This will also prevent the virus from spreading.
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