Andreadis introduces a diverse cast of writers and their stories in this anthology. Each takes a familiar myth or legend, such as the story of Pandora or Daedalus, and transplants it into the stars. Only the final tale, "Unearthing Uncle Bud," stays rooted entirely in the present, though with a few fantastic flourishes. Futuristic technology, alien viruses, and genetic manipulation take the place of monsters of old. As with any collection, tone and style vary considerably. However, from the spare simplicity of poetry to the gritty details of communicator repair and quantum Al, all of the entries show how the human themes of exploration, hubris, jealousy, and love remain the same no matter the setting. The myths interpreted are listed but no previous knowledge is required to appreciate these new legends. Anyone who can envision Atlantis as a doomed space-faring civilization about to be engulfed by rogue Al, or who has wondered what a bombastic, battled-hardened Odysseus would do when faced with unknown aliens while trying to escape an asteroid field, should take a look.

Question

The Salton Sea as we know it today was created by accident in 1905 when an irrigation canal from the Colorado River breached, flooding an arid low-lying basin called the Salton Sink. For thousands of years before that, a water body now called Lake Cahuilla cyclically formed and dried in the basin owing to natural flooding and course alterations of the Colorado. [11].(12) No longer hydrologically connected to the river, the sea's 20th century incarnation survived on runoff from agricultural fields to its north and south. [13]

In the 1950s and 1960s, vacationers flocked to this desert oasis, a few hours outside Los Angeles, to sunbathe, fish, and waterski in a unique setting with beautiful views of nearby mountains. But storm damage to popular marinas and resorts triggered a decline in recreation in the mid-1970s. Then, beginning in the 1980s, accumulating salts, pesticides, and fertilizers led to mass die-offs of fish, including stocked tilapia and croaker, and of migratory grebes and pelicans visiting the lake to feed.[ 14 ][ 15 ] Climate change has accelerated the lake's shrinkage by contributing to an extended drought across the western United States and increasing average temperatures, which promotes evaporation. Meanwhile, agricultural runoff has declined owing to stricter management of scarce Colorado River water, which also serves urban development in southwestern states.

Today the Salton Sea is a fraction of its former size and one and a half times as salty as the Pacific Ocean. [16] Its dust is carried from vast areas of exposed playa into communities nearby, especially south of the lake in the ImperialValley. This region has California's second- highest rates of pediatric hospitalizations and emergency department visits for asthma. [17] Researchers are working to clarify how, exactly, Salton Sea dustmay affect the respiratory health of the valley's children[ 18 ] and the rest of the approximately 180,000 residents, [19] especially given the other sources of chronic air pollution in the region.[20]

Jill Johnston, an associate professor of environmental health at the University of Southern California, sees dust generated by the drying lake as contributing to environmental injustice in this low-income, high-asthma corner of the state. "You have not only the Salton Sea but all the agricultural industry that's down there, both field work and a lot of factories that support manufacturing of various things for that industry," Johnston says. "There is a lack of easy access to primary care, so that may be driving some of the higher rates of hospitalization. It's on a route to the Mexican border, so there's a fair amount of diesel truck traffic. There's also a lot of diesel equipment used in the agricultural industry, and there's agricultural burning."

Johnston's work aims to tease apart some of these intertwining factors and better understand the role of lake dust on children's respiratory health in the Imperial Valley. Her latest research compares data from PM monitors at five local elementary schools with student survey responses and physiological measurements. She says the work was delayed by COVID-19, but should be published in summer 2023,

Not far away at the University of California, Riverside, professor of biomedical sciences David Lo is taking a closer look at the dust itself, given concerns that accumulated metals, pesticides, and other components may pose an elevated health risk. Sure enough, two recent laboratory studies he led supported the notion that the unique characteristics of Salton Sea dust may drive certain health impacts for those who breathe it.

In the first study.[21] published in October 2021, Lo and his team observed a unique inflammatory response in mice exposed for 7 days to aerosolized Salton Sea water. That response was absent in control mice exposed to Pacific Ocean aerosols. In the second study,[ 22] published in January 2023, Lo's team exposed mice to aqueous extracts of dust from both the Salton Sea and the nearby desert. They discovered that the lake dust caused distinct inflammatory responses similar to those elicited by well-known innate immune triggers derived from bacteria. As a result, the authors postulated there may be pro-inflammatory microbial components entrained in the playa dust that are "likely to worsen the pulmonary health of already vulnerable nearby communities."[22]

Lo explains, "When we collected dust near the Salton Sea and then did exposures in our chamber studies, the mice had pretty impressive lung inflammatory responses. When we collected dust from farther away, we didn't see any effect at all. So our findings support the idea that what's in the dust matters at least as much as just breathing dust."

2. Next, narrow down your topic to something specific that fits into the general topic. (Ex: If you have chosen your main topic as "Invasive Species", your narrowed topic might discuss how a particular invasive species, such as the Red Lionfish, is negatively impacting the ocean.)

1. Introduction paragraph

B. Background Information- inland Sea

Body paragraph #1- Cause

Body paragraph #2- Examples

V. Conclusion Paragraph - Summarize main points and conclude the essay

A Wrap up the essay he's the most important information that has been already mentioned

Complete the essay using the information given

Answer 1

The Environmental Consequences of the Declining Salton Sea

In recent decades, the Salton Sea, a once-thriving desert oasis in California, has transformed into a troubling environmental issue. Created by accident in 1905 when an irrigation canal from the Colorado River breached, this low-lying basin flooded and formed a new water body. Over the years, agricultural runoff helped maintain the sea's water levels, but declining agricultural input due to management changes, alongside climate change and natural evaporation, has caused it to shrink dramatically. This reduction has led to environmental challenges, particularly concerning air quality and public health in surrounding communities.

The Salton Sea's decline can be attributed to a combination of human activity and climatic changes. Initially, the sea prospered, attracting vacationers in the mid-20th century. However, by the 1970s, storm damage to resorts and increasing salinity due to agricultural runoff began degrading its ecosystem. Furthermore, with climate change resulting in prolonged droughts across the western United States, the Salton Sea faced accelerated evaporation, further contributing to its decline. Although agricultural practices once helped sustain the sea's water levels, stricter water management policies have led to reduced runoff, diminishing the water supply available to the sea. Consequently, the Salton Sea is now a fraction of its former size and exhibits significantly higher salinity than the Pacific Ocean, thereby transforming it from a vibrant ecosystem into a nearly barren landscape.

As the waters recede, the consequences extend beyond simple ecological degradation; they also present significant health risks to local populations. The dust generated from the exposed playa surrounding the shrinking sea poses serious respiratory health concerns, particularly for vulnerable children in nearby communities in the Imperial Valley. Research shows that exposure to the dust correlates with increased hospitalization rates for respiratory issues, including pediatric asthma. Jill Johnston, an associate professor of environmental health at the University of Southern California, highlights the connection between environmental injustice and the implications of Salton Sea dust. The accumulation of pollutants, proximity to agricultural manufacturing, and increased diesel traffic compound the existing health risks, placing lower-income residents at a higher disadvantage.

Research initiatives are underway to better understand the health impacts of the dust from the Salton Sea. Notably, biomedical sciences professor David Lo from the University of California, Riverside, has led studies investigating the unique properties of the Salton Sea's dust. Laboratory studies revealed a distinctive inflammatory response in mice exposed to aerosolized Salton Sea water, with pro-inflammatory properties that could exacerbate pulmonary health issues for those living nearby. The findings emphasized that the characteristics of the dust, rather than the mere act of inhaling it, significantly influenced health outcomes.

As the Salton Sea continues to dwindle, its repercussions stretch far beyond ecological concerns, becoming an urgent public health issue. The declining water body not only threatens local wildlife but also critically impacts the health of surrounding communities already burdened by environmental inequity. Addressing these issues will require collaborative efforts from researchers, policymakers, and local communities to develop strategies for managing the Salton Sea and mitigating its adverse effects on both the environment and public health. In conclusion, as the sea transforms, so too must our approaches to safeguarding both the ecosystem and the health of those impacted by its degradation. The Salton Sea serves as a stark reminder of how human actions and climate change can intertwine to create significant environmental challenges that require immediate attention.