Three Things That Might Be Gone Soon

At first glance, Mexican porpoises, stoves, and the influenza virus have little in common. But with a title suggesting that the three subjects of this post may disappear in the not-too-distant-future, you are becoming more interested. At least two of these things, stoves and the influenza virus, seem to be fixtures in our lives, right?

If you had told me even a year ago that stoves are an endangered species and may someday be replaced in most peoples’ homes, I would have laughed. But technology has rendered other dependable institutions (like bookstores) nearly obsolete, so why not the stove? As far as the influenza virus, again, it is part of life. Sometime during a typical winter, many of us are pretty much guaranteed to get a dose of either the common cold or some seasonal flu.

And then there’s that Mexican porpoise. They are critically endangered, as you will read soon. In fact, let’s move onto that part of the story next: you reading about all of these things. Enough with introductions. I’m now done with the part where I tell you what I’m going to tell you and am proceeding to the part where I am telling it to you straight.

Vaquitas are Disappearing Quickly

Many animal species are endangered, meaning they face the danger of becoming extinct. Critically endangered animals are those whose viability on Planet Earth hangs by a string. None fits this category any better than the poor Vaquita, a kind of Mexican porpoise that lives in the Gulf of California (a.k.a. Sea of Cortez). At last official count (more than a year ago), there were only about 30 vaquitas left in the world and their numbers are dwindling quickly, possibly already in the range of just 12-15 animals remaining.

Vaquita. Source: WWF, Zoological Society of London.

The main culprit is illegal fishing. Vaquitas are the smallest porpoise/dolphin in the world, just 4-5 feet (135-140 cm). They only produce one offspring every other year. Vaquitas are rarely are seen above water, but they get caught really easily in gill nets (fishing nets). The Mexican government had an opportunity to step in and combat the problem, tackling illegal fishing in the Gulf to help this species to survive longer. But we are probably past the point of viability now and it seems likely that this porpoise will become extinct within a few years.

There are other critically endangered animals in the world. For most of them, habitat loss is the biggest reason why. Throw in pollution, a warming planet, invasive species, and a few more things that humans have tweaked. Those would probably explain why.

Stoves

Let’s move on to something more uplifting. Do you really need a stove to cook anymore? A number of top restaurants have taken out their stoves. What is the alternative? No, they are not using microwave ovens, which probably would not earn them any Michelin stars.

The alternative is the equivalent of a portable, single burner hot plate. But this kind probably is not responsible for as many house fires as the gas burners. And anyway, as I think I mentioned, top restaurants are relying on it.

Photo: Adriano Design via fastcompany.com (link below).

The device is an induction plate. It’s not new and it’s not rocket science. People have been using these for more than a decade. But now, there is a commercial product that is replacing stoves in these fancy restaurants.

It hangs on the wall like those magnetic racks for pots and pans. Space is freed up for other cooking activities or whatever you want to do with that counter or tabletop space. And then – Presto! – you pull it down, cover it with a pot or pan, and cook what you want before stowing it once again.

Photo: Adriano Design via fastcompany.com (link below).

Potential issues might include ventilation because putting these just about anywhere may spread cooking smells and stains to just about anywhere. There are claims that it’s attractive, but I don’t think that it is; maybe Disney could do something design-oriented that involves mouse ears. Also, some chefs don’t like electric because they love their gas stoves. But aside from those concerns, perhaps there is no reason that these could not expand to residential applications in the near future. The space saving feature would have plenty of fans for sure.

Influenza

Killer T-cells, peptides, chimeric hemagglutinin…for perhaps the first time ever, there are MULTIPLE promising vaccines that have reached Phase 3 studies, each of them have different attack strategies. The goal is a universal flu vaccine, one that prevents all forms of the disease. And it seems like one may be within reach in the coming years.

Influenza kills a number of people every year and weakens many others who must take time out from their lives to deal with the illness. The current vaccines are imperfect partly because the medical authorities must plan to vaccine well in advance. They can only guess at which actual strains of flu will be dominant by the time the vaccine gets rolled out.

A universal flu vaccine would attack all kinds of this disease. Can you imagine taking one shot and not getting the flu again anymore? It could be possible. Between stoves, Mexican porpoises, and the flu, I know which one I’d like to eliminate in the future.

EDIT, March 6, 2019: Today, the LA Times reported that the Mexican government announced that 22 Vaquita porpoises remain. https://www.latimes.com/world/la-fg-mexico-vaquita-porpoises-20190306-story.html

References:

https://www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/first-universal-flu-vaccine-to-enter-phase-3-trial-65073
https://www.fastcompany.com/90313508/why-top-restaurants-are-getting-rid-of-stoves-and-why-you-might-too
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaquita
https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/vaquita

Images are public domain unless credited separately in the text.