Five-Million-Year-Old Deer Fossils Unearthed in Tennessee

Posted on August 20, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Paleontologists have unearthed fossilized remnants of the extinct deer species eocoileus gentryorum at an early Pliocene grey fossil site located in northeastern Tennessee, USA. This specimen stands as one of the earliest records of the deer family in North America and is the sole pre-factory record of deer from the Appalachian highlands.

Belize white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus nelsoni) with a woman. Image credit: Charles J. Sharp/CC By-SA 4.0.

“Grey fossil sites continue to unveil remarkable findings that enhance our knowledge of ancient life,” remarked Dr. Blaine Schubert, executive director of the Gray Fossil Site and Museum.

“Our team’s collaboration illustrates a fascinating narrative about how ecosystems have transformed over millions of years.”

“From tapirs and mastodons to these early deer, we reveal the remarkable diversity that once thrived in Tennessee, along with the resilience of deer-like species during this geological epoch.”

In a recent study, paleontologists analyzed fragmentary artifacts—including skulls, upper molars, and various limb bones—of eocoileus gentryorum, an extinct deer species first described in 2000.

Previously, eocoileus gentryorum was known only from Florida; the discoveries in Tennessee are pivotal for understanding how swiftly these early deer dispersed across the continent.

Interestingly, these ancient deer were considerably smaller than most modern species.

“These early deer are generally smaller than contemporary deer species in the New World,” stated Olivia Williams, a paleontologist at East Tennessee State University.

“Today, the only smaller species are the important deer found in Florida and the Brocket deer from Central and South America.”

“Fossil evidence from Washington and Florida indicates that these early deer rapidly diversified and adapted to various habitats, extending from coastal areas to Appalachian highlands after their arrival in North America.”

“Deer have maintained the same ecological role in Appalachian forests for nearly 5 million years, thriving through significant climate and habitat changes that have eradicated other large herbivores.”

The findings are detailed in a paper published in the journal Palaeontologia Electronica.

____

Joshua X. Samuel et al. 2025. Early Pliocene deer from a grey fossil site, Highlands, Appalachia, Tennessee, USA. Palaeontologia Electronica 28(2): A36; doi: 10.26879/1560

Source: www.sci.news

Tired of Negativity, Tennessee Town Sets the Record Straight in Play About Hosted Scope Trials

Posted on July 11, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

In directing this play, which commemorates the centenary of the trial, Buck emphasizes that leaders in Dayton are pursuing the same mission as their predecessors a hundred years ago.

“I’ve generated interest in this town, and I’m thrilled about the people here, positioning Dayton on the map,” Buck stated. “Perhaps we’re utilizing this narrative and trial to shine a spotlight on this unique location.”

Descendants

Jacob Smith, 23, only realized his connection to the iconic trials after delving into history. His great-great-grandmother’s brother was Walter White, the county’s school chief and a pivotal figure who brought the trial to Dayton.

Smith portrays Dudley Field Malone, Scope’s defense attorney, who delivered equally passionate and memorable speeches during the trial, in a manner reminiscent of Brian and Darrow. One of Smith’s favorite lines references the contentious nature of the courtroom battle.

“He essentially states, ‘There’s never a duel with the truth,’” Smith explained. “He argues, ‘It always prevails. It doesn’t conspire or require suspension of laws, governments, or ‘Mr. Brian’.”

Now a county archivist, Smith is eager to see visitors discover the original courthouse in Dayton, with its creaky, polished wooden floors, lofty windows, and impressive staircase leading up to the expansive courtroom on the second level.

“Like the lawyers before them, they could ascend to that circuit court and grip the railing, and back in 1925, the entire audience would have turned their gaze,” Smith noted.

“The Great General”

Larry Jones, who has been acting in community and local theatres since childhood, thought he knew the story of the Scope Trial following his performance in “The Wind Inheritance.”

He soon realized that renowned plays often embraced creative liberties, transforming into a commentary on something else that had captivated the nation at the time, such as McCarthyism.

Jones portrays Brian, a notable Christian orator and populist politician. He mentions that the most challenging aspect wasn’t memorizing Brian’s lengthy speeches, but rather responding to Darrow’s unexpected challenges that demand a defense of the literal truth of the Bible.

“I have to react instinctively and appear spontaneous each time,” Jones remarked. “Part of me thinks, ‘Oh, is that the right cue? Will I say the correct thing?’

Jones asserts that the audience will connect to the trial’s enduring narrative as it echoes into the next century. The discourse continues.

“Discussions about the same themes persist,” Jones explained. “What role should federal or state governments play in public education? What should or shouldn’t be allowed? How should parents guide their children’s education? Whether concerning evolution, literature, or numerous contemporary political issues, the debate remains alive.”

There Is No Conclusion

The trial’s outcome came as little surprise, with the jury swiftly deeming the scope guilty after mere minutes of deliberation. Nonetheless, the defense’s aim has always focused on establishing legal precedents in higher courts.

Today, Dayton embraces its historical significance during the annual trial celebration. Businesses promote “Monkey Trials,” and locals have adopted the phrase “Dayton has evolved.”

“We’re discarding very old tales, yet they feel refreshingly new,” Buck expressed. “It’s so, so very relevant now.”

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Elon Musk’s Xai Secures Approval for Methane Gas Generator in Tennessee

Posted on July 4, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Elon Musk’s AI venture, Xai, has received authorization to use methane gas generators at a significant data center located in Memphis, Tennessee. The county health department approved permits for 15 generators on Wednesday, a decision that has ignited protests from local communities and environmental advocates who argue that the generators will pollute the area.

“Our local officials are meant to safeguard our right to clean air, yet we are witnessing their failures,” stated Keshaun Pearson, the director of the Memphis community environmental nonprofit.

Xai established a sizable data center in Memphis about a year ago and introduced several portable methane gas generators to address the facility’s high energy demands. Although Xai lacked permissions for these generators, they seem to have exploited a loophole allowing the turbines to operate unless stationed at the same site for over 364 days.

In January, Xai sought approval for 15 generators. After extensive public meetings and community protests, the Shelby County Health Department approved the request. Satellite images provided to the Guardian by the Southern Environmental Law Center, a reputable nonprofit, reveal that at least 24 turbines remain operational at the Xai facility as of Tuesday.

“Xai welcomes the decision announced today,” said a company spokesperson in a statement. “Our on-site power generation utilizes state-of-the-art emission control technology, making this facility one of the cleanest in the nation.”

Skip past newsletter promotions

Environmental organizations question the actual emissions from Xai’s electricity usage. Research by the Southern Environmental Law Center indicates that these turbines could emit thousands of tons of harmful nitrogen oxides and toxic substances like formaldehyde.

“The decision to issue air permits to Xai for contaminated gas turbines dismisses the opinions of countless Memphians who opposed this permit,” remarked Amanda Garcia, a senior lawyer at the Southern Environmental Law Center. She noted that the health department is permitting another contaminant to set up operations in an already burdened community without adequate safety measures.

Situated in an industrial area of Memphis, Xai is surrounded by neighborhoods that have long struggled with pollution issues. This historically black community faces elevated rates of respiratory diseases and asthma and has a shorter lifespan compared to other regions of the city. Studies indicate that these areas show a cancer risk four times higher than the national average.

The pollution from Xai’s operations, particularly affecting nearby black neighborhoods, has drawn attention from civil rights groups like the NAACP, which has filed a lawsuit against the company. They allege that Xai is in breach of the Clean Air Act by unlawfully installing and operating a methane gas generator.

“The NAACP is hopeful that the 15 generators at Xai will enhance transparency and accountability regarding methane emissions, yet this decision overlooks the objections of the community. We remain committed to holding both Xai and the health department accountable,” they stated.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Tennessee legislator outlaws geoengineering, talks about ‘chemtrails’

Posted on April 2, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The Tennessee House of Representatives passed a bill on Monday aimed at preventing geoengineering, the deliberate modification of the atmosphere to address global warming.

The bill, which has already been approved by the state Senate, includes various technological interventions. These range from theoretical concepts like solar modulation to practical methods like cloud seeding, which is used to enhance precipitation.

Most geoengineering options are still theoretical and untested. Federal researchers have only taken preliminary steps towards feasibility studies, and atmospheric scientists emphasize the lack of evidence for large-scale implementation.

On the surface, Tennessee’s bill seeks to restrict experimentation and deployment of such technologies.

However, discussions among lawmakers around the proposal blur the lines between fact and fiction, with some suggesting ongoing solar geoengineering projects and expressing fears and misunderstandings that trace back to “chemtrail” conspiracy theories.

“This will be my wife’s favorite bill of the year. She has been concerned about this for a long time. It’s been happening for years,” said Republican Sen. Frank Knisley during a public hearing on the bill last month. “If you look up, one day it will be clear. The next day it will look like angels playing tic-tac-toe. They are everywhere. There’s a photo with an X in it. They denied any involvement for years.”

None of the six Senate sponsors responded to requests for comment. Nicely, who voted in favor of the bill, also did not respond after the House vote. Republican Rep. Monty Fritz, the bill’s House sponsor, only agreed to an in-person interview, which could not be arranged before the vote by NBC News.

The chemtrail theory posits that planes are not leaving contrails but rather spraying government-created chemicals for control purposes. It is a collection of unsubstantiated ideas.

Various conspiracy theories related to chemtrails have emerged recently, with believers claiming that contrails are actually aerosols designed to manipulate weather and climate. Republican Sen. Steve Sutherland, one of the bill’s sponsors, mentioned the chemtrail theory while presenting his case for the bill to reporters, as reported by the Tennessee Lookout, a nonprofit news outlet.

“We are witnessing significant changes,” said Justin Mankin, a climate scientist at Dartmouth College. The challenge arises from the fact that the entire chemtrail conspiracy accommodates various technologies with distinct goals, making it challenging to separate them. ”

Besides Tennessee, other states like Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and South Dakota have introduced or are contemplating similar anti-geoengineering legislation.

This trend indicates a blend of conspiracy theories, confusion, and genuine environmental concerns gaining ground in public awareness and among certain Republican circles.

“People in states like Tennessee, Pennsylvania, and New Hampshire fear that the chemtrail theory is factual,” Mankin explained. “By enacting legislation, policymakers are legitimizing conspiracy theories instead of relying on science to disprove them adequately.”

Josh Horton, a senior fellow studying solar geoengineering policy at the Harvard Kennedy School, mentioned that as far as he knows, Tennessee is the first state to pass such a bill in both chambers of the legislature.

If the governor signs the bill, it would prohibit the deliberate release of chemicals into the atmosphere for the purpose of influencing temperature, weather, or sunlight intensity.

The bill suggests that the “federal government” or its agents have implicated in geoengineering experiments by intentionally spraying chemicals into the atmosphere.

A White House official clarified that the government is not involved in outdoor solar radiation control testing or implementation. They mentioned engaging in limited research activities like modeling, measurement, monitoring, and laboratory studies.

The vote in Tennessee on Monday evening sparked controversy.

Democratic Rep. John Ray Clemons playfully attached an amendment to the bill suggesting that geoengineering could endanger Sasquatch habitat. His amendment did not pass.

“It’s fitting that this bill is on the calendar on April 1,” quipped Rep. Beau Mitchell, another Democrat.

The bill’s House sponsor, Fritz, cited federal funding for aerosol research as proof of the government’s intentions.

“There is intent and a plan,” he asserted. “Some individuals looking into solar radiation modification are aiming to reflect sunlight from Earth by injecting chemicals, compounds, substances, and devices into the upper atmosphere. I believe so.”

It is not surprising that lawmakers are grappling with the complexities of geoengineering. The term is broad and poorly defined, encompassing many speculative ideas from scientists brainstorming ways to combat global warming.

“It’s not fully fleshed out. It doesn’t exist,” Horton remarked. “There is jargon everywhere.”

Solar geoengineering, which the Tennessee bill seeks to prohibit, falls under this broad category. It includes activities like stratospheric aerosol injection, an unproven theory aimed at cooling the planet by injecting particles into the stratosphere from high-altitude aircraft.

Other geoengineering methods like ocean cloud brightening, cirrus thinning, and using ice cubes to absorb heat are not covered in the bill.

Tennessee’s bill also outlaws weather modification, including cloud seeding, a practice used for decades in Western states to enhance rainfall.

While some states regulate cloud seeding efforts to boost snowfall in mountainous regions, most other forms of geoengineering remain unregulated. “The Wild West of the regulation world,” Mankin noted.

The committee hearings on the bill led to a mix of truth, insinuations, and fiction.

The bill’s sponsor, Dr. Dennis Sibley, testified before both chambers of the legislature and insinuated that the federal government was releasing chemicals into the atmosphere.

“There’s no denying that weather modification is happening in our state,” Sibley stated, adding, “I am opposed to the intentional use of particulate aerosols or heavy metals to block sunlight.”

She referenced a 2023 White House Report as evidence, portraying a concept paper on geoengineering research without detailing an actual program.

Sibley did not respond to requests for comment.

During the hearing, lawmakers conflated contrails with “chemtrails,” questioning whether cloud seeding caused wildfires in Western states or if geoengineering led to higher cancer rates.

Republican Rep. Bud Hulsey even speculated if geoengineering was responsible for the decline of honey bees.

“Exactly—that’s why the bees are disappearing,” replied testimonial support David Perry, who claimed to have been a licensed healthcare provider for four decades. “Their ecosystem is impacted by these aerosols.”

There is no evidence to support Perry’s assertions. A Tennessee chiropractor with the same name mentioned during the testimony did not provide a response to requests for comment. Bees face real threats like pest pressure, habitat loss, and insecticide exposure.

“All these concepts—weather modification, chemtrails, contrails, and geoengineering—are getting muddled and intertwined,” Horton explained after reviewing recent congressional testimony.

Democratic State Sen. Heidi Campbell voted against the bill.

“It’s alarming how conspiracy theories resonate so strongly here,” Campbell expressed, also pointing out that the bill diverts attention from the primary climate issue.

Mankin and Houghton concurred that important discussions are warranted on guiding and regulating solar geoengineering research, a controversial topic among many scientists.

“Is the Tennessee Legislature the appropriate venue for this deliberation?” Horton wondered. “Probably not.”