We're Toast 57

This post is a collection of links that support my increasingly strong feeling that the human race (or at least our technological civilization) is doomed. 

Birds in the fog

• An Extremely Violent Global Pandemic” – Mysterious Disease Wipes Out Sea Urchins Worldwide. “This is an extremely violent global pandemic. The Caribbean, Red Sea, and the Indian Ocean are critical regions for the world’s coral reefs, and mortality rates for sea urchins in these areas are very high — over 90 percent. As of now, we have no evidence of this pathogen in Pacific Ocean sea urchins (where some of the world’s largest and most vital coral reefs are located), but this is something we are actively investigating.”
• A Second Type of H5N1 Bird Flu Jumped From Cows to Humans. "The latest human case of H5N1 is the first in the state of Nevada."
• Human and nature dynamics (HANDY): Modeling inequality and use of resources in the collapse or sustainability of societies. "The new dynamics of this model can also reproduce the irreversible collapses found in history. Collapse can be avoided, and population can reach a steady state at maximum carrying capacity if the rate of depletion of nature is reduced to a sustainable level and if resources are distributed equitably." And how likely do you think that is?
• Unprecedented Starlink reentries. "What we're observing is a giant uncontrolled experiment in atmospheric chemistry. The demise of just one Gen1 Starlink satellite produces about 30 kilograms (66 pounds) of aluminum oxide, a compound that eats away at the ozone layer. A new study finds these oxides have increased 8-fold between 2016 and 2022, and the recent surge is increasing the pollution even more."
• Climate change target of 2C is ‘dead’, says renowned climate scientist. "Prof James Hansen says pace of global heating has been significantly underestimated, though other scientists disagree." Typical journalist bothsideism. I expected better from The Guardian. The 2C target might have been sustainable if Harris had won the US presidential election, but now? I think not.
• Scientists brace ‘for the worst’ as Trump purges climate mentions from websites. "Trump administration pulling references online ‘won’t make crisis’ stop affecting Americans’ lives, say experts." See this article for a positive reaction to what's happening. 
• Differences between Influenza H5N1, A/H1N1 2009, and SARS-CoV-2 in a pandemic risk scenario. "Urgent action is required to mitigate the negative impact of H5N1 on the animal and ecosystem health spheres if we are to reduce its ecological impact and the risk to human health." I'm not holding my breath for that to happen, but I am stocking up on KN95 masks. 
• Donald Trump’s Second Term Will Be Bad News for Endangered Ocean and Coastal Animals. "The waters around the United States are home to many threatened species who need science-based conservation policies to save them from extinction. They won’t get that for the next four years." Nor will any other species, including us. 
• Earth's oceans are filled with what scientists are calling "dark vessels". "The findings reveal staggering gaps in public tracking systems, raising urgent concerns about maritime transparency, environmental sustainability, and global security."
• Sand and dust storms: a growing global health threat calls for international health studies to support policy action. "Sand and dust storms increasingly threaten global environmental and public health. To date, 150 countries are directly affected, with more than 100 classified as non-dust source regions."