Hawking's Brief Answers to the Big Questions: Doomsday Earth?

Summary: Doomsday Earth gets seventh place among 10 questions that theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking gathers into Brief Answers to the Big Questions.

Stephen Hawking notes that Earthlings may possibly escape from Doomsday Earth, but "The same of course may not be possible for the millions of other species that inhabit the Earth, and that will be on our conscience as a race;" Noah's Ark, 1846 oil on canvas by American Quaker folk painter Edward Hicks (April 4, 1780-Aug. 23, 1849); Philadelphia Museum of Art: Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Doomsday Earth angles into seventh place amid the 10 questions asked and answered by a world-renowned theoretical physicist for a posthumous publication, acknowledged as his last, by Bantam Books Oct. 15, 2018.

Chapter 7 on "Will We Survive on Earth?" blends Doomsday Earth into Stephen Hawking's (Jan. 8, 1942-March 14, 2018) book Brief Answers to the Big Questions. Physicists for the January 2018 Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists calculated the Doomsday Clock of economic, environmental, military and political catastrophe at two minutes to midnight in January 2018. The symbolic Doomsday Clock dates to June 1947, when its seven minutes to midnight discerned Doomsday Earth after World War II (Sept. 1, 1939-Sept. 2, 1945).

The author of A Brief History of Time, A Briefer History of Time and the former's illustrated edition eschews economic and social marginalization and political instability.

Doomsday Earth follows from world government-industrial-military complexes flouting the consequences of fostering solvable deforestation, disease, drought, extinction, famine, global warming, overpopulation, overproduction, polar meltdowns and war.

Greenhouse effects from unreflected solar energy and unsequestered carbon dioxide give Doomsday Earth sulphuric acid rain and Venus-like temperatures at 250 degrees Celsius (482 degrees Fahrenheit). A violent universe's laws of physics and probability hurtle huge asteroids against Doomsday Earth still hurting from Chernobyl April 25-26, 1986, and Fukushima March 11, 2011. Environmental catastrophe or nuclear terrorism, confrontation or accident, such as Japan's and Russia's seven and 32 years ago, is imminent sometime within the next 1,000 years.

Doomsday Earth jeopardizes millions of species without whom un-Noah-like humankind, who junk sentient animals, especially cats, journey to habitable planets before environmental catastrophe joins nuclear disaster.

A violent universe's laws of physics and probability knell midnight on the Doomsday Clock for Doomsday Earth from preventable anti-environmentalism and war-mongering and unpreventable asteroid collisions.

Political will and scientific and technological illiteracy outside government-industrial-military complexes lag Doomsday Earth behind Moon-Jupiter flights from lunar bases in the film 2001: A Space Odyssey. Fictionalized futures since Herbert George Wells (Sept. 21, 1866-Aug. 13, 1946) manifest static, scientifically and technologically literate, steady-state societies even though scientific technology realistically moves around. Scientific technology needs to nestle infinite-energy, infinite-history, infinite-space, infinite-time quantum mechanics and single-history, space-time general relativity within one complete unified theory within 100 to 1,000 years.

Max Planck's (April 23, 1858-Oct. 4, 1947) quantum theory offers particle scales of 100,000 billion billion billionth of a millimeter for mathematical equations and particle accelerators.

The complete theory of currently contradictory, ultimately unifiable general relativity and quantum mechanics presents Doomsday Earth humankind survival smarts among the violent universe's infinite-dimension, infinite-energy particles.

Complete theories queue up space exploration for space colonization away from Doomsday Earth even as genetic engineering qualifies as super-accelerated biological evolution into enhanced superhuman beings. Genetic engineering realizes pathogen- and pest-resistant edible plants and, perhaps within 1,000 years, redesigned superhumans for apocalyptic Doomsday Earth; cold, irradiated space; light-speed travel; unearthly exoplanets. Scientific and technological developments to stop the Doomsday Clock suggest respectively sophisticated biological and electronic systems for human and computer survival on and off Doomsday Earth.

Doomsday Earth perhaps tenders humankind 100 to 1,000 years to turn back climate change, turn down greenhouse effects, turn off nuclear weapons and turn up exoplanets.

Stephen Hawking foresees an "almost inevitable" crippling of Earth by "a nuclear confrontation or environmental catastrophe" in the next 1,000 years; mushroom cloud from Castle Romeo nuclear test, conducted 1954 on barge in Castle Bravo crater, Bikini Atoll, Marshall Islands; Saturday, March 27, 1954: United States Department of Energy, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

Stephen Hawking notes that Earthlings may possibly escape from Doomsday Earth, but "The same of course may not be possible for the millions of other species that inhabit the Earth, and that will be on our conscience as a race;" Noah's Ark, 1846 oil on canvas by American Quaker folk painter Edward Hicks (April 4, 1780-Aug. 23, 1849); Philadelphia Museum of Art: Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Edward_Hicks,_American_-_Noah%27s_Ark_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg

Stephen Hawking foresees an "almost inevitable" crippling of Earth by "a nuclear confrontation or environmental catastrophe" in the next 1,000 years; mushroom cloud from Castle Romeo nuclear test, conducted 1954 on barge in Castle Bravo crater, Bikini Atoll, Marshall Islands; Saturday, March 27, 1954: United States Department of Energy, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Castle_Romeo.jpg

For further information:

Hawking, Stephen. 1996. The Illustrated A Brief History of Time. Updated and Expanded Edition. New York NY: Bantam Books.

Hawking, Stephen. 1998. A Brief History of Time. Updated and Expanded. Tenth Anniversary Edition. New York NY: Bantam Books.

Hawking, Stephen; with Leonard Mlodinow. 2008. A Briefer History of Time: The Science Classic Made More Accessible. New York NY: Bantam Books.

Hawking, Stephen. 2018. "[Chapter] 7: Will We Survive on Earth?" Brief Answers to the Big Questions. New York NY: Bantam Books.

Marriner, Derdriu. 18 October 2018. "Hawking's Brief Answers to the Big Questions: Scientific Literacy." Earth and Space News. Thursday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/10/hawkings-brief-answers-to-big-questions.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 25 October 2018. "Brief Answers to Big Questions: Divine Creation, Scientific Creation?" Earth and Space News. Thursday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/10/brief-answers-to-big-questions-divine.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 1 November 2018. "Cosmological Beginnings in Hawking's Brief Answers to Big Questions." Earth and Space News. Thursday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/11/cosmological-beginnings-in-hawkings.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 8 November 2018. "Intelligent Life in Stephen Hawking's Brief Answers to Big Questions." Earth and Space News. Thursday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/11/intelligent-life-in-stephen-hawkings.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 15 November 2018. "Hawking's Brief Answers to the Big Questions: Predictable Futures?" Earth and Space News. Thursday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/11/hawkings-brief-answers-to-big-questions.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 22 November 2018. "Hawking's Brief Answers to the Big Questions: Black Hole Interiors." Earth and Space News. Thursday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/11/hawkings-brief-answers-to-big-questions_22.html

Marriner, Derdriu 29 November 2018. "Hawking's Brief Answers to the Big Questions: Is Time Travel Possible?" Earth and Space News. Thursday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/11/hawkings-brief-answers-to-big-questions_29.html

2018 December Monocerotids Peak Sunday, Dec. 9

Summary: The 2018 December Monocerotids peak Sunday, Dec. 9, as an annual minor meteor shower radiating from Monoceros the Unicorn constellation.

December Monocerotids appear to originate in Monoceros the Unicorn constellation: Longway Planetarium @LongwayPlanetarium, via Facebook April 16, 2018

The 2018 December Monocerotids peak Sunday, Dec. 9, as an annual minor meteor shower with an apparent point of origin, known as the radiant, in Monoceros the Unicorn constellation.

American amateur astronomer Robert Lunsford, who writes the weekly Meteor Activity Outlook columns for the American Meteor Society (AMS) and for the International Meteor Organization (IMO), recommends 0100 local standard time as best viewing time for the December Monocerotids. The radiant is highest above the horizon as of that hour. Dr. Jürgen Rendtel of northeastern Germany’s Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam (AIP) notes the visibility of the December Monocerotids in both the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere. He points out that “the radiant area is available virtually all night for much of the globe, culminating at about 01h30m local time.”

Lunsford describes December Monocerotid meteors as entering Earth’s atmosphere with a medium velocity. December Monocerotid meteors have an entry velocity of around 41 kilometers per second (around 25 miles per second).

Dr. Rendtel has compiled the International Meteor Organization’s annual meteor shower calendar since 2016. He observes in the IMO’s 2018 Meteor Shower Calendar: “This very minor shower’s details need further improvement by observational data.”

Dr. Rendtel gives activity dates of Nov. 27 to Dec. 17 for the December Monocerotids. The 2018 calendar’s Working List of Visual Meteor Showers (Table 5) confines activity to Dec. 5 to Dec. 20. The 2018 calendar’s Table 5 agrees with the 2017 calendar’s Table 5 in activity dates. The 2017 calendar lists Friday, Dec. 8 as peak.

Dr. Rendtel bases the Sunday, Dec. 9, upon visual data. Video data from 2011 to 2016, however, reveal Dec. 14 as the date of maximum activity.

Lunsford offers activity dates of Nov. 28 through Dec. 27 for the 2017 Monocerotids. Peak is predicted on Wednesday, Dec. 13. Activity for the 2016 December Monocerotids runs from Nov. 27 through Dec. 17. Maximum activity in 2016 occurs Friday, Dec. 9.

American amateur astronomer Gary W. Kronke identifies activity dates of Nov. 9 to Dec. 18. He also notes that Czech and American astronomer Zdenek Sekanina’s revived Radio Meteor Project (1968-1969) indicated a duration of Nov. 16 to Dec. 14. Kronke places annual peak around Dec. 11.

The December Monocerotid meteor shower’s name connects the annual display with an apparent point of origin in Monoceros the Unicorn constellation. December Monocerotid meteors appear to radiate outward from the Unicorn.

Monoceros straddles the celestial equator, the imaginary circle projected by astronomy and navigation from Earth’s equator outward into space. The Unicorn stretches northward into the Northern Celestial Hemisphere and southward into the Southern Celestial Hemisphere. Astronomy and navigation project Earth’s surface outward into space as an imaginary sphere that mirrors Earth’s hemispheres.

Monoceros claims well-known constellations as neighbors. Orion the Hunter lies to the west. Gemini the Twins constellation touches the Unicorn’s northern border. Canis Major the Greater Dog, with the night sky’s brightest star, Sirius (Alpha Canis Majoris, α Canis Majoris; Alpha CMa, α CMa), borders Monoceros to the south. Hydra the Sea Serpent, largest of the 88 modern constellations, slithers along the Unicorn’s eastern boundary.

Monoceros separates Canis Major from Canis Minor the Lesser Dog constellation. Canis Minor harbors the night sky’s eighth brightest star, Procyon (Alpha Canis Minoris, α Canis Minoris; Alpha CMi, α CMi).

In the week prior to peak activity, Saturday, Nov. 25, to Friday, Dec. 1, 2017, Lunsford finds the radiant in northern Orion, at 3 degrees northwest of Betelgeuse (Alpha Orionis, α Orionis; Alpha Ori, α Ori). Reddish Betelgeuse is the night sky’s ninth brightest star.

In the week of peak activity, Saturday, Dec. 9, to Friday, Dec. 15, 2017, Lunsford identifies the radiant position as lying in northwestern Monoceros, at 4 degrees southwest of Xi Geminorum (ξ Geminorum; Ksi Gem, ξ Gem) in Gemini the Twins constellation. Lunsford cautions that the radiant’s location lies only 7 degrees south of the November Orionid meteor shower’s radiant.

In the week of peak activity Saturday, Dec. 3, to Friday, Dec. 9, 2016, Lunsford finds the December Monocerotid radiant in northwestern Monoceros, at 7 degrees east of Betelgeuse. He notes the radiant’s position lies only 6 degrees south of the November Orionid meteor shower’s radiant. He cautions care in distinguishing the two showers’ radiants as observers trace back meteor paths.

In the week succeeding peak activity, Saturday, Dec. 10, to Friday, Dec. 16, 2016, Lunsford places the radiant in northern Monoceros. Its position is 5 degrees south of Xi Geminorum.

The takeaway for the 2018 December Monocerotids’ peak Sunday, Dec. 9, is that the minor shower’s meteors compete with November Orionid meteors of similar velocity radiating from the same area of the sky.

December Monocerotids’ radiant constellation, Monoceros the Unicorn, claims distinctive neighbors: Learn to Skywatch @Learntoskywatch, via Twitter Jan. 25, 2016

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

December Monocerotids appear to originate in Monoceros the Unicorn constellation: Longway Planetarium @LongwayPlanetarium, via Facebook April 16, 2018, @ https://www.facebook.com/LongwayPlanetarium/posts/1880684941976037

December Monocerotids’ radiant constellation, Monoceros the Unicorn, claims distinctive neighbors: Learn to Skywatch @Learntoskywatch, via Twitter Jan. 25, 2016, @ https://twitter.com/Learntoskywatch/status/691697483261415424

For further information:

“00019 MON December Monocerotids.” IAU (International Astronomical Union) Meteor Data Center > List of All Meteor Showers.
Available @ https://www.ta3.sk/IAUC22DB/MDC2007/Roje/pojedynczy_obiekt.php?kodstrumienia=00019&colecimy=0&kodmin=00001&kodmax=01032&sortowanie=0

“Constellations by Month.” Constellation Guide.
Available @ http://www.constellation-guide.com/constellations-by-month/

Espenak, Fred. “Phases of the Moon: 2001 to 2100.” Astro Pixels > Ephemeris > Moon.
Available @ http://astropixels.com/ephemeris/phasescat/phases2001.html

Helen Bird ‏@BirdHelen. “On Dec. 13, 2017, the network reported 178 fireballs. (107 Geminids, 59 sporadics, 4 sigma Hydrids, 3 December Monocerotids, 2 December Leonis Minorids, 1 , 1 Comae Berenicid, 1) more.” Twitter. Dec. 13, 2017.
Available @ https://twitter.com/BirdHelen/status/940999561643950080

Jenniskens, Peter. Meteor Showers and Their Parent Comets. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 2006.

Kresáková, M. (Margita). “Meteors of Periodic Comet Mellish and the Geminids.” Bulletin of the Astronomical Institute of Czechoslovakia, vol. 25, no. 1 (1974): 20-33.
Available via Harvard ADSABS (NASA Astrophysics Data System Abstracts) @ http://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-iarticle_query?1974BAICz..25...20K.pdf

Kronk, Gary W. Meteor Showers: An Annotated Catalogue. The Patrick Moore Practical Astronomy Series. Second edition. New York NY: Springer Science+Business Media, 2014.

Kronk, Gary W. “Observing December Monocerotids.” Meteor Showers Online > Meteor Shower Calendar > December.
Available @ http://meteorshowersonline.com/showers/december_monocerotids.html

Learn to Skywatch ‏@Learntoskywatch. “Tonight's Target: Can you find "Monoceros" the Unicorn? Look for it in the Winter Triangle next to Orion in the S.” Twitter. Jan. 25, 2016.
Available @ https://twitter.com/Learntoskywatch/status/691697483261415424

Lindblad, B.A. (Bertil Anders); and D. (Duncan) Olsson-Steel. “The Monocerotid Meteor Stream and Comet Mellish.” Bulletin of the Astronomical Institute of Czechoslovakia, vol. 41, no. 3 (1990): 193-2000.
Available via Harvard ADSABS @ http://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-iarticle_query?1990BAICz..41..193L.pdf

Longway Planetarium @LongwayPlanetarium. “Following Orion in the night sky, Monoceros the Unicorn is a tougher constellation to find. Unicorns are elusive creatures.” Facebook. April 16, 2018.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/LongwayPlanetarium/posts/1880684941976037

Lunsford, Robert. “Meteor Activity Outlook for 10-16 December 2016.” MeteorNews. Dec. 8, 2016.
Available @ https://www.meteornews.net/2016/12/08/meteor-activity-outlook-10-16-december-2016/

Lunsford, Robert. “Meteor Activity Outlook for December 2-8, 2017.” American Meteor Society. Nov. 30, 2017.
Available @ https://www.amsmeteors.org/2017/11/meteor-activity-outlook-for-december-2-8-2017/

Lunsford, Robert. “Meteor Activity Outlook for December 3-9, 2016.” International Meteor Organization. Dec. 4, 2016.
Available @ https://www.imo.net/meteor-activity-outlook-for-december-3-9-2016/

Lunsford, Robert. “Meteor Activity Outlook for December 9-15, 2017.” American Meteor Society. Dec. 8, 2017.
Available @ https://www.amsmeteors.org/2017/12/meteor-activity-outlook-for-december-9-15-2017/

Lunsford, Robert. “Meteor Activity Outlook for November 25-December 1, 2017.” American Meteor Society. Nov. 23, 2017.
Available @ https://www.amsmeteors.org/2017/11/meteor-activity-outlook-for-november-25-december-1-2017/

Lunsford, Robert. Meteors and How to Observe Them. Astronomers’ Observing Guides. New York NY: Springer Science+Business Media, 2009.

Mackenzie, Robert A. Solar System Debris. Monographs in Solar System Astronomy, vol. 1. Dover, England: British Meteor Society, 1980.

Marriner, Derdriu. “Winter Triangle Is Asterism Within Winter Hexagon Asterism.” Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2017/01/winter-triangle-is-asterism-within.html

McBeath, Alistair. “Monocerotids (019 MON).” International Meteor Organization 2016 Meteor Shower Calendar > 6. October to December: 19.
Available @ https://www.imo.net/files/meteor-shower/cal2015.pdf

“Moon Phases December 2018.” Calendar-12.com > Moon Calendar > 2018.
Available @ https://www.calendar-12.com/moon_calendar/2018/december

Rendtel, Jürgen. International Meteor Organization 2017 Meteor Shower Calendar > 6. October to December: 14.
Available @ https://www.imo.net/files/meteor-shower/cal2017.pdf

Rendtel, Jürgen. “Monocerotids (019 MON).” 2018 Meteor Shower Calendar > 6. October to December: 19-20.
Available @ https://www.imo.net/files/meteor-shower/cal2018.pdf

Whipple, Fred L. “Photographic Meteor Orbits and Their Distribution in Space.” The Astronomical Journal, vol. 59, no. 6 (July 1954, no. 1218): 201-217.
Available via Harvard ADSABS @ http://adsabs.harvard.edu/full/1954AJ.....59..201W

Il Trittico Is the Dec. 8, 2018, Met Opera Saturday Matinee Broadcast

Summary: Puccini’s Il Trittico is the Dec. 8, 2018, Met Opera Saturday matinee broadcast, numbering second of 24 in the 2018-2019 season’s schedule.

Puccini’s Il Trittico, on air Saturday, Dec. 8, is the second in the 2018-2019 Met Opera season’s Saturday matinee radio broadcast schedule: The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Facebook Feb. 15, 2018

Giacomo Puccini’s Il Trittico is the Dec. 8, 2018, Met Opera Saturday matinee broadcast, airing as the second of the 2018-2019 Met Opera season’s schedule of 24 Saturday matinee radio broadcasts.

Il Trittico (The Triptych) by Italian opera composer Giacomo Puccini (Dec. 22, 1858-Nov. 29, 1924) comprises a trio of one-act operas linked by the concealment of death. Puccini composed the musical scores for the Italian language librettos.

Italian librettist and playwright Giuseppe Adami (Feb. 4, 1878-Oct. 12, 1946) is credited with the Italian libretto for Il Tabarro (The Cloak). The one-act opera’s literary source is La Houppelande: Drame en Un Acte, a one-act French play by Didier Gold (1874-Jan. 2, 1931). La Houppelande debuted in 1910 at Théâtre Marigny in the Parisian 8th arrondissement (8e arrondissement de Paris), on the Seine’s right bank (la Rive gauche de la Seine). The theatre-in-the-round is sited near the junction of the Champs-Élysées with Avenue Marigny.

Italian librettist and playwright Giovacchino Forzano (Nov. 19, 1884-Oct. 28, 1970) is credited with the Italian libretto for Il Trittico’s last two parts, Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi. The literary source for Gianni Schicchi is an incident in The Divine Comedy (Divina Commedia) by Late Medieval Italian poet Durante degli Alighieri (ca. May/June 1265-Sept. 14, 1321), known commonly as Dante Alighieri or Dante. Dante’s Gianni Schicchi appears in Inferno Canto XXX during Dante’s visit to Hell’s Circle of Impersonators.

The Metropolitan Opera was the venue for the world premiere of Puccini’s Il Trittico during the opera house’s 1918-1919 season. Il Trittico’s world premiere took place Dec. 14, 1918. Italian conductor Roberto Moranzoni (Oct. 5, 1880-Dec. 14, 1959) conducted the world premiere.

Seven performances of Il Trittico are scheduled for the 2018-2019 Met Opera season. The season premiere occurs Friday, Nov. 23, at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

Two additional performances are given in November. The month’s additional Il Trittico performances take place Monday, Nov. 26, at 7:30 p.m. and Friday, Nov. 30, at 7:30 p.m.

Il Trittico’s four winter performances take place in December. The month’s performances happen Wednesday, Dec. 5, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 8, at 12:30 p.m.; Wednesday, Dec. 12, at 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday, Dec. 15, at 8:30 p.m.

Il Trittico is estimated to run for 3 hours 46 minutes. Act I (Il Tabarro) spans 51 minutes, followed by a 38-minute intermission. Act II (Suor Angelica) runs for 54 minutes. The intermission between Act II and Act III spans 33 minutes. Act III (Gianni Schicchi) lasts for 50 minutes.

Bertrand de Billy conducts all seven performances, including the Dec. 8 Saturday matinee broadcast. The French conductor’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened March 16, 1998, in the opera company’s 294th performance of Roméo et Juliette by French composer Charles-François Gounod (June 17, 1818-Oct. 18, 1893).

Amber Wagner appears in six performances, including the Dec. 8 Saturday matinee broadcast, as Il Tabarro’s Giorgetta. She sings Giorgetta for three November performances (Friday, Nov. 23; Monday, Nov. 26; Friday, Nov. 30) and three December performances (Wednesday, Dec. 5; Saturday, Dec. 8; Saturday, Dec. 15). The American soprano’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened Sept. 27, 2011, as Anna in the opera company’s 46th performance of Nabucco by Italian opera composer Giuseppe Verdi (Oct. 10, 1813-Jan. 27, 1901).

Amber Wagner shares the role of Il Tabarro’s Giorgetta with Tatiana Melnychenko, who appears in the Wednesday, Dec. 12, performance. The Ukrainian dramatic soprano’s Metropolitan Opera debut occurred Dec. 27, 2016, as Abigaille in the opera company’s 62nd performance of Verdi’s Nabucco.

Stephanie Blythe appears in all seven performances with roles in all of Il Trittico’s operatic trio. She sings Frugola in Il Tabarro, La Principessa in Suor Angelica and Zita in Gianni Schicchi. The American mezzo-soprano’s Metropolitan Opera debut occurred April 14, 1995, as the Voice in the opera company’s 273rd performance of Parsifal by 19th century German composer and librettist Richard Wagner (May 22, 1813-Feb. 13, 1883). In the 2018-2019 season, Stephanie Blythe also appears as the Marquise of Berkenfield in La Fille du Régiment by Italian bel canto composer Gaetano Donizetti (Nov. 29, 1797-April 8, 1848).

Marcelo Álvarez appears in all seven performances as Il Tabarro’s Luigi. The Argentine lyric tenor’s Metropolitan Opera debut took place Nov. 23, 1998, as Alfredo in the opera company’s 819th performance of Verdi’s La Traviata.

George Gagnidze appears in six performances, including the Dec. 8 Saturday matinee broadcast, as Il Tabarro’s Michele. He sings Michele in three November performances (Friday, Nov. 23; Monday, Nov. 26; Friday, Nov. 30) and three December performances (Wednesday, Dec. 5; Saturday, Dec. 8; Saturday, Dec. 15). The Georgian operatic baritone’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened Jan. 27, 2009, as the title role in the opera company’s 817th performance of Verdi Rigoletto. In the 2018-2019 Met Opera season, he revisits his debut role.

George Gagnidze shares the role of Michele with Lucio Gallo, who appears in the Wednesday, Dec. 12, performance. The Italian baritone’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened Nov. 7, 1991, as Guglielmo in Così fan tutte by Classical Era composer Wolfgang Mozart (Jan. 27, 1756-Dec. 5, 1791).

Maurizio Muraro appears in all performances in the roles of Talpa and Simone in Il Tabarro. The Italian operatic bass-baritone’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened Nov. 2, 2005, as Dr. Bartolo in the opera company’s 419th performance of Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro. In the 2018-2019 Met Opera season, Maurizio Muraro also appears as Prince of Bouillon in Adriana Lecouvreur by Italian composer Francesco Cilea (July 23, 1866-Nov. 20, 1950) and as Sulpice in Donizetti’s La Fille du Régiment.

Kristine Opolais appears in six performances, including the Dec. 8 Saturday matinee broadcast, in the title role of Suor Angelica. She sings Suor Angelica three November performances (Friday, Nov. 23; Monday, Nov. 26; Friday, Nov. 30) and three December performances (Wednesday, Dec. 5; Saturday, Dec. 8; Saturday, Dec. 15). The Latvian operatic soprano’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened Jan. 11, 2013, as Magda in the opera company’s 29th performance of Puccini’s La Rondine.

Kristine Opolais shares the role of Suor Angelica with Elena Stikhina, who appears in the Wednesday, Dec. 12, performance. The Russian soprano’s appearance in the title role marks her Metropolitan Opera debut.

Maureen McKay appears in all performances, including the Dec. 8 Saturday matinee broadcast, as Suor Angelica’s Sister Genovieffa. The American soprano’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened Dec. 28, 2018, as Gretel in the opera company’s 275th performance of Hänsel und Gretel by German composer Engelbert Humperdinck (Sept. 1, 1854-Sept. 27, 1921).

Kristina Mkhitaryan appears in all performances, including the Dec. 8 Saturday matinee broadcast, as Gianni Schicchi’s Lauretta. The Russian soprano’s appearance as Lauretta marks her Metropolitan Opera debut.

Atalla Ayan appears in all performances, including the Dec. 8 Saturday matinee broadcast, as Gianni Schicchi’s Rinuccio. The Brazilian tenor’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened March 29, 2017, as Alfredo in the opera company’s 1,006th performance of Verdi’s La Traviata.

Plácido Domingo appears in all performances, including the Dec. 8 Saturday matinee broadcast, in the title role of Gianni Schicchi. The Spanish opera singer’s Metropolitan Opera house debut happened Sept. 28, 1968, as Maurizio in the opera company’s 16th performance of Cilea’s Adriana Lecouvreur. In the 2018-2019 Met Opera season, Plácido Domingo also appears as Germont in Verdi’s La Traviata.

The Metropolitan Opera last performed Puccini’s Il Trittico in the 2009-2010 season. The 2018-2019 Met Opera season’s performances of Il Trittico count as the second revival of Jack O’Brien’s production. The American director and producer’s staging of Il Trittico debuted April 20, 2007, as a new production in the Metropolitan Opera’s 60th performance of Il Trittico.

The new production’s debut also marked Metropolitan Opera debuts by Jack O’Brien and his production team. His production team comprises Douglas W. Schmidt, set designer; Jess Goldstein, costume designer; and Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer, lighting designers.

The takeaway for Il Trittico as the 2018-2019 Saturday matinee broadcast Dec. 8 is that the season's second Saturday matinee broadcast occurs about a week short of the 100th anniversary of Il Trittico's world premiere, held at the Metropolitan Opera Dec. 14, 1918.

The world premiere cast of Il Trittico's Gianni Schicchi segment featured Italian baritone Giuseppe De Luca (Dec. 25, 1876-Aug. 26, 1950) in the title role, English dramatic soprano Florence Easton (Oct. 25, 1882-Aug. 13, 1955) as Lauretta and Italian operatic tenor Giulio Crimi (May 10, 1885-Oct. 29, 1939) as Rinuccio: The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Facebook Dec. 14, 2017

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

Puccini’s Il Trittico, on air Saturday, Dec. 8, is the second in the 2018-2019 Met Opera season’s Saturday matinee radio broadcast schedule: The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Facebook Feb. 15, 2018, @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/photos/a.134969600532.229232.20807115532/10160137120580533/

The world premiere cast of Il Trittico's Gianni Schicchi segment featured Italian baritone Giuseppe De Luca (Dec. 25, 1876 Aug. 26, 1950) in the title role, English dramatic soprano Florence Easton (Oct. 25, 1882-Aug. 13, 1955) as Lauretta and Italian operatic tenor Giulio Crimi (May 10, 1885-Oct. 29, 1939) as Rinuccio: The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Facebook Dec. 14, 2017, @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/photos/a.134969600532.229232.20807115532/10159854181810533/

For further information:

“Debut: Amber Wagner.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 354051 Nabucco {46} Metropolitan Opera House: 09/27/2011.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=354051

“Debut: George Gagnidze.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 352823 Rigoletto {817} Metropolitan Opera House: 01/27/2009.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=352823

“Debut: Maureen McKay.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 356833 Hänsel und Gretel {275} Matinee ed. Metropolitan Opera House: 12/28/2017.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=356833

“Debut: Plácido Domingo.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 216130 Adriana Lecouvreur {16} Metropolitan Opera House: 09/28/1968.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=216130

“Debut: Tatiana Melnychenko.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 356576 Nabucco {62} Metropolitan Opera House: 12/27/2016.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=356576

“Debuts: Alfred Walker, Bertrand de Billy.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 330528 Roméo et Juliette {294} Metropolitan Opera House: 03/16/1998.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=330528

“Debuts: Atalla Ayan, Aaron Blake.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 356675 La Traviata {1006} Metropolitan Opera House: 03/29/2017.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=356675

“Debuts: Kristine Opolais . . .” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 354783 La Rondine {29} Metropolitan Opera House: 01/11/2013.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=354783

“Debuts: Mark Wigglesworth, Maurizio Muraro . . .” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 351338 Le Nozze di Figaro {419} Metropolitan Opera House: 11/02/2005.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=351338

“Debuts: Peter Van Praet, Paolo Fanale, Carlo Bosi, Christian Van Horn.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 355173 Falstaff {176} Metropolitan Opera House: 12/06/2013.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=355173

“Debuts: Stephanie Blythe, Anthony Dean Griffey.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 320010 Parsifal {273} Metropolitan Opera House: 04/14/1995.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=320010

Marriner, Derdriu. “2018-2019 Met Opera Season Premiere of Il Trittico Is Friday, Nov. 23.” Earth and Space News. Monday, Nov. 12, 2018.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/11/2018-2019-met-opera-season-premiere-of_12.html

Marriner, Derdriu. “Mefistofele Is First 2018-2019 Saturday Matinee Broadcast Dec. 1.” Earth and Space News. Monday, Nov. 26, 2018.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/11/mefistofele-is-first-2018-2019-saturday.html

The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera. “Puccini’s triple bill features first-class casting . . .” Facebook. Feb. 15, 2018.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/photos/a.134969600532.229232.20807115532/10160137120580533/

The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera. “ #TBT On this day in 1918, Il Trittico, a trio of one-act operas by Giacomo Puccini, made its world premiere at the Met. . . .” Facebook. Dec. 14, 2017.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/photos/a.134969600532.229232.20807115532/10159854181810533/

“World Premiere: Il Trittico.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 70380 World Premiere Il Trittico {1} Il Tabarro {1} Suor Angelica {1} Gianni Schicchi {1} Metropolitan Opera House: 12/14/1918.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=70380

Yellowstone Gray Wolves: Fatal Ambush of Alpha Female Spitfire

Summary: The fatal ambush of Yellowstone National Park alpha female Spitfire Nov. 24, 2018, exposes human violence against gray wolves, not vice versa.

Spitfire at Soda Butte, Yellowstone National Park; Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016; photo by David Taylor: The 06 Legacy @The06Legacy, via Facebook Dec. 2, 2018

A trophy hunter achieved the fatal ambush of alpha gray wolf Spitfire two days after Thanksgiving, Nov. 22, 2018, and 51 days after worldwide Blessing of the Animals Day Oct. 4, 2018.

The Lamar Canyon icon Nov. 24, 2018, became the third family member betrayed by Yellowstone National Park's unbuffered borders with Cooke City and Silver Gate, Montana. A trophy rifleman cut Yellowstone's 10-pack, 100-wolf population with a bullet to the black-headed, black-legged, lush-coated seven-year-old mother of Little T and grandmother of five pups. The crowd-pleasing, defenseless, long-legged, radio-collared 926F, research-serving tourist-draw died the same death as her research-collared mother, 726F, Dec. 6, 2012, and uncle, 754M, Nov. 11, 2012.

Wolf biologist Doug Smith explains, "Wolf hunters talk about seeing a pack of park wolves outside the boundary and being able to pick the one they want."

One spring month, two springtime months and the 18 following months fit into feasibly nine- to 20-year life cycles as respectively breeding, gestating and parenting months.

Six weeks into 63-day gestations, physically and sexually mature two-plus-year-old female gray wolves get 15.75-inch- (40-centimeter) high, 25.59-inch- (65-centimeter-) wide dens ready in sandy, well-drained hillsides. Abandoned badger setts and porcupine dens, as wolf burrows, have maternal and pup chambers at respective 6- and 12-foot (1.83- and 3.66-meter) slants from den entrances. Hypothetical one- to 11-pup litters infrequently include less or more than 5 to 6 black-brown, blind, deaf, helpless, nursing, semi-crawling, squeaking, squirming, wriggling 16-ounce (453.59-gram) pups.

Gray wolves juggle hearing and sight as two- to three-week-olds; howls as three- to four-week-olds; meat and walking as three-week-olds; rendezvous sites as seven- to eight-week-olds.

Hillside timber, surface water and unsheltered meadows keep gray wolf packs together until 10- and 18-month-olds know body language, hunting and socialization skills and physical maturity.

Sexually mature two-year-old females linger on 30.12- to 810.82-square-mile (78- to 2,100-square-kilometer) birth-pack home territories that males leave the year before their sexual maturity as three-year-olds. They manifest black-edged ears; four-molar lower and six-molar upper jaws, each with six incisors, two 1.97-inch- (5-centimeter-) long canines and eight premolars; five-toed forefeet; four-toed hind-feet. Gray wolves, named scientifically Canis lupus (wolf dog) by Carl Linnaeus (May 23, 1707-Jan. 10, 1778), net 4.97-plus-mile- (8-plus-kilometer-) loud howls and 23.61-plus-mile (38-plus-kilometer) hourly speeds.

Alpha 25.98- to 31.89-inch (66- to 81-centimeter) shoulder-high males obtain 39.37- to 59.06-inch (100- to 150-centimeter) head-body and 11.81- to 19.68-inch (30- to 50-centimeter) tail lengths.

Alpha 19.49- to 28.82-inch- (49.5- to 73.2-centimeter-) shoulder-high females present 33.46- to 53.15-inch (85 to 135-centimeter) head-body and 10.04- to 17.72-inch (25.5- to 45-centimeter) tail lengths.

Yellow-eyed, wide-headed, short-eared, pale-chested, pale-bellied, bushy-tailed females and males queue up respective 48.50- to 138.89-pound (22- to 63-kilogram) and 59.52- to 149.91-pound (27- to 68-kilogram) weights. Gray wolves recognize smells and sounds from 1.24- and 1.86-mile (2- and 3-kilometer) distances; remain active dusk through dawn; reside north of 20 degrees north latitude. Six- to 20-member packs survive two-plus weeks without edible beavers, birds, blackberries, boar, caribou, deer, elk, figs, frogs, fruits, grapes, moose, muskox, potatoes, reindeer and voles.

Federals, locals and riflemen took gray wolves off endangered species lists, turned down buffered borders and terminated Spitfire, for whom tourists, scientists, everyone throngs Lamar Canyon.

Spitfire (Yellowstone wolf 926F) in Yellowstone National Park in 2013; photo by Spencer Wilhelm/Wolf Conservation Center: Wolf Conservation Center @nywolforg, via Facebook Nov. 29, 2018

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

Spitfire at Soda Butte, Yellowstone National Park; Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016; photo by David Taylor: The 06 Legacy @The06Legacy, via Facebook Dec. 2, 2018, @ https://www.facebook.com/The06Legacy/photos/a.1912135485749283/1954628158166682/

Spitfire (Yellowstone wolf 926F) in Yellowstone National Park in 2013; photo by Spencer Wilhelm/Wolf Conservation Center: Wolf Conservation Center @nywolforg, via Facebook Nov. 29, 2018, @ https://www.facebook.com/nywolforg/posts/10156169934442635?__tn__=-R

For further information:

The 06 Legacy @The06Legacy. 2 December 2018. "Thank you so much David Taylor for sharing this memory of 926F with us. Here she is running wild and free in the valley of the wolves with her pack nearby. . . ." Facebook.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/The06Legacy/photos/a.1912135485749283/1954628158166682/

Horton, Alex. 2 December 2018. "A Hunter Killed a Legendary Yellowstone Wolf. Years Later, Her Cub Died the Same Way." The Washington Post > Science > Animals.
Available @ https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2018/12/02/hunter-killed-legendary-yellowstone-wolf-years-later-her-daughter-died-same-way/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.0164881833f2

Linnaeus, Caroli. 1758. "11.2. Canis. Lupus." Systema naturæ per regna tria naturæ, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus I: 39-40. [Stockholm, Sweden]: Laurentii Salvii [Laurentius Salvius].
Available via Biodiversity Heritage Library @ https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/726932

Malcolm, James. "Gray Wolf: Canis lupus." In: Michael Hutchins, Devra G. Kleiman, Valerius Geist and Melissa C. McDade, eds. Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia. Volume 14, Mammals III:. Farmington Hills MI: Gale Group, 2003.

Rahman, Khaleda. 3 December 2018. "Yellowstone's Beloved Wild Wolf 'Spitfire' Is Killed by a Trophy Hunter After Wandering Outside the National Park." Daily Mail > News.
Available @ https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6454433/Beloved-wild-wolf-nicknamed-Spitfire-killed-trophy-hunter.html

Robbins, Jim. 30 November 2018. "A Famous Alpha Wolf's Daughter, Spitfire, Is Killed by a Hunter." The New York Times > Science.
Available @ https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/30/science/wolf-spitfire-killed.html

Schweber, Nate. 8 December 2012. "'Famous' Wolf Is Killed Outside Yellowstone." The New York Times > Science > Earth.
Available @ https://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/09/science/earth/famous-wolf-is-killed-outside-yellowstone.html?module=inline

Smith, D.W.; D.R. Stahler; E. Stahler; M. Metz; K. Quimby; R. McIntyre; C. Ruhl; H. Martin; R. Kindermann; N. Bowersock; and M. McDevitt. 2013. Yellowstone Wolf Project: Annual Report, 2012. National Park Service, Yellowstone Center for Resources, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, YCR-20130-02.
Available @ https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/upload/wolf_ar_2012_final.pdf

Wolf Conservation Center @nywolforg. 29 November 2018. "Beloved Yellowstone Wolf 926F, known to some as Spitfire, Shot Dead Just Outside Yellowstone. Her mother, wolf "06", was killed the same way. . . ." Facebook.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/nywolforg/posts/10156169934442635?__tn__=-R

"Wolves." Encyclopedia of Mammals. Volume 16, Wha-Zeb: 2394-2419. Tarrytown NY: Marshall Cavendish Corporation.

Ko'a Black Coral for Hawaii Five-0 2010's Truth Comes From the Night

Summary: Truth Comes From the Night anticipates midnight sentinel origin stories on Hawaii Five-0 2010 Nov. 30, 2018, and those of ancestors of Ko'a black coral.

deep water black coral Leiopathes annosa in waters around Niʻihau: NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)/HURL (Hawai'i Undersea Research Laboratory)/Christopher "Chris" Kelley, via Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument

The Hawaii Five-0 2010 active police procedural television series episode Truth Comes From the Night Nov. 30, 2018, alludes to the creation chant where perhaps ancestors of ko'a black coral arrived third.

Director Brad Tanenbaum and writers Christos Gage and Ruth Fletcher Gage borrow from the Hawaiian creation chant and hula prayer for the ninth season's ninth episode. The 202nd series episode overall communicates "the unbelievable origin story" of the Mysterious Night Sentinel and convokes the Kumulipo ("beginning in deep darkness"), 18th-century creation chant. Hula'ers divulge, "Mai ka pō mai ka 'oia'i'o, i hō'i'o i luna, i hua i luna ("Truth from the night, formed flesh above, formed fruit below").

The 16-wā ("era"), 2,102-line cosmogonic genealogy expresses a chant that elaborates birth order (mele kō'ihonua) of sea and land life forms and of Hawaiian royal ancestors.

Keaulumoku, ancestor of Queen Lydia Lili'uokalani (Sept. 2, 1838-Nov. 11, 1917) and composer in 1700, furnished seven ages of pō ("darkness") before nine of ao ("light").

Chanters Ahukai and Hewahewa gave a memorable performance for Alapa'i-wahine, grandmother of King David Kalākaua (Nov. 16, 1836-Jan. 20, 1891) and Queen Lili'uokalani, at Koko, O'ahu. Their line 15 honored the first animal: "Hanau ka 'Uka'ko'ako'a, hanau kana, he 'Ako'ako'a, puka" ("Born was the coral polyp, born was the coral, came forth"). Ko'a black coral, of the 140 black coral species worldwide, indicates any one of 14 black coral species that inhabit coastal waters off the Hawaiian islands.

Jewelry-friendly glossy black skeletons beneath bright-colored polyps (bumpy surface projections) justify ko'a black coral as official gem of the State of Hawaii since April 22, 1987.

Robert B. Dunbar, Thomas B. Guilderson, B. Lynn Ingram and E. Brendan Roark know of ko'a black coral as one of the world's oldest marine organisms.

Radiocarbon-based ages and sizes led the four researchers to list ko'a black coral samples from deep-sea beds Dec. 7, 2006, as 4,221 to 4,309 years old. Long-lived ko'a manages, Leiopathes glaberrima-like (from Greek λεῖος, leîos, "smooth" and πάθος, páthos, "condition" and same-spelled Latin, "smoothest"), at 967.85- to 1,758.53-foot (295- to 536-meter) depths. The Antipatharia (from Greek ἀντί, antí, "against" and πάθος, pathos, "feeling") black coral member, scientifically named Leiopathes annosa ("long-lived") nestles into fan-shaped, 3-plus-foot- (0.91-plus-meter) tall colonies.

Ko'a black coral, outlined June 22, 2015, by Dennis M. Opresko and Daniel Wagner, occurs from Hawaii eastward and northward to Johnston Atoll and Salmon Bank.

Long-lived ko'a black coral possesses the different-sized, irregular, tree-like branches on concentric-layered, protein-secreted, spiny skeletons of Leiopathes acanthophora, bullosa, expansa, glaberrima, grimaldii, montana, secunda and valdiviae.

Long-lived ko'a queues up disordered, hemispherical 0.009-inch (225-micrometer) spines multi-lobed on 0.016-inch (0.4-millimeter) terminal branches and 0.13-inch (3.35-millimeter), 1.97- to 2.36-inch- (5- to 6-centimeter-) dense polyps. Glaberrima black coral reveals simple, smooth, triangular 0.0008- to 0.0024-inch (20- to 60-micrometer) spines, 0.039-inch (1-millimeter) diameter polyps, 0.39- to 0.79-inch (1- to 2-centimeter) terminal branches. All-female and all-male colonies spawn eggs and sperm into water columns, subdivide polyps and survive on plankton stuck on mucus-covered coral skeletons or sucked into mouthparts.

Ko'a black coral took that first step for all creation, near where the Hawaii Five-0 task force and the Midnight Sentinel turn up in troubled times.

Hawaii Five-0 Task Force members Lieutenant Commander Steve McGarrett (Alex O'Loughlin) and Adam Noshimuri (Ian Anthony Dale) in CBS TV's Hawaii Five-0, season 9, episode 9, Mai Ka Po Mai Ka 'O'ia'i'o: CBS Hawaii Five-0 episode 9.09 promotional photo, via SpoilerTV Nov. 30, 2018

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

deep water black coral Leiopathes annosa in waters around Niʻihau: NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)/HURL (Hawai'i Undersea Research Laboratory)/Christopher "Chris" Kelley, via Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument @ https://www.papahanaumokuakea.gov/news/new_species_black_coral.html

Hawaii Five-0 Task Force members Lieutenant Commander Steve McGarrett (Alex O'Loughlin) and Adam Noshimuri (Ian Anthony Dale) in CBS TV's Hawaii Five-0, season 9, episode 9, Mai Ka Po Mai Ka 'O'ia'i'o: CBS Hawaii Five-0 episode 9.09 promotional photo, via SpoilerTV Nov. 30, 2018, @ https://www.spoilertv.com/2018/11/hawaii-five-0-episode-909-mai-ka-po-mai.html

For further information:

An Account of the Creation of the World According to Hawaiian Tradition. Translated from Original Manuscripts Preserved Exclusively in Her Majesty's Family by Liliuokalani of Hawaii.  Prayer of Dedication. The Creation for Ka Ii Mamao from Him to His Daughter Alapai Waine, Liliuokalani's Great-Grandmother. Composed by Keaulumoku in 1700 and Translated by Liliuokalani during Her Imprisonment in 1895 at Iolani Palace and Afterwards at Washington Place, Honolulu. Was Completed at Washington D.C. May 20, 1897. Boston MA: Lee and Shepard, 1897.
Available via Sacred Texts @ http://www.sacred-texts.com/pac/lku/lku00.htm

Ane, Chana. 7 March 2016. "The Coral Polyp and the Origin of Life." Coral Reef Alliance.
Available @ https://coral.org/blog/the-coral-polyp-and-the-origin-of-life/

France, Scott C. "Black Coral: Antipathella fiordensis." In: Michael Hutchins, Dennis A. Thoney and Neil Schlager, eds. Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia. Volume 1, Lower Metazoans and Lesser Deuterostomes: 115. Farmington Hill MI: Gale Group, 2003.

Kumulipo: A Hawaiian Creation Chant. Edited and Translated by Martha Warren Beckwith. Interlinearization by David Stampe. Chicago IL: University of Chicago Press, 1951.
Available @ http://blogs.ksbe.edu/adakina/files/2008/02/kumulipo-text.pdf

"Mai Ka Po Mai Ka 'oia'i'o: Truth Comes from the Night." Hawaii Five-0 2010: The Ninth Season. Los Angeles CA: Paramount, Nov. 30, 2018.

Marriner, Derdriu. 17 November 2018. “Hawaiian Goose Nēnē: Birds of a Feather Episode on Hawaii Five-0 2010.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/11/hawaiian-goose-nene-birds-of-feather.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 10 November 2018. “Hawaiian Horses, Chang and McGarrett: Hawaii Five-0 2010 200th Episode.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/11/hawaiian-horses-chang-and-mcgarrett.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 3 November 2018. “Olonā Hawaiian Nettle Shrubs for Hawaii Five-0 Emergency Landings?” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/11/olona-hawaiian-nettle-shrubs-for-hawaii.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 27 October 2018. “Gernika Genocide Survivor Art Before Hawaii Five-0 Prophetic Child Art.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/10/gernika-genocide-survivor-art-before.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 20 October 2018. “Hawaiian Beach Sand: Hawaii Five-0 2010's On the Slope of the Cliff.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/10/hawaiian-beach-sand-hawaii-five-0-2010s.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 13 October 2018. “Proverbial Cowrie Sea Snails for the Hawaii Five-0 2010 Ninth Season.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/10/proverbial-cowrie-sea-snails-for-hawaii.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 7 October 2018. “Lamian or Ramen Noodles: Hawaii Five-0's The Man Who Fell From the Sky.” Earth and Space News. Sunday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/10/lamian-or-ramen-noodles-hawaii-five-os.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 29 September 2018. “Gutta-Percha Trees and Hawaii Five-0 2010 Ninth Season Premiere Cocoon.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/09/gutta-percha-trees-and-hawaii-five-o.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 23 September 2018. “Ki'i Pōhaku Petroglyphs: Ancients Exposed on Five-0's Waiho Wale Kahiko.” Earth and Space News. Sunday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/09/kii-pohaku-petroglyphs-ancients-exposed.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 13 May 2018. “Hawaiian Rain Gardens for Five-0's Tough Branch That Does Not Break.” Earth and Space News. Sunday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/05/hawaiian-rain-gardens-for-five-0s-tough.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 6 May 2018. “Noni for Hawaii Five-0's Ka Hana A Ka Makua, O Ka Hana No Ia A Keiki.” Earth and Space News. Sunday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/05/noni-for-hawaii-five-0s-ka-hana-ka.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 29 April 2018. “'Āliamanu Salt Lake and Five-0's Kopi Wale No I Ka I'a A 'Eu No Ka Ilo.” Earth and Space News. Sunday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/04/aliamanu-salt-lake-and-five-0s-kopi.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 21 April 2018. “Hawaii Five-0 Episode Ahuwale Ka Nane Hina: Uku Hawaiian Gray Snappers.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/04/hawaii-five-0-episde-ahuwale-ka-nane.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 14 April 2018. “'Iwa Great Frigatebirds: Five-0's He Lokomaika'i Ka Manu O Kaiona.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/04/iwa-great-frigatebirds-five-0s-he.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 8 April 2018. “Chinese Juniper Shrubs on Hawaii Five-0 2010's Aohe Mea Make I Ka Hewa.” Earth and Space News. Sunday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/04/chinese-juniper-shrubs-on-hawaii-five-0.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 7 April 2018. “Bonsai Gardening on Hawaii Five-0 2010 Episode Aohe Mea Make I Ka Hewa.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/04/bonsai-gardening-on-hawaii-five-0-2010.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 31 March 2018. “'Ulu Hawaiian Breadfruit To Do One's Duty on Five-0's E Ho'oko Kuleana.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/03/ulu-hawaiian-breadfruit-to-do-ones-duty.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 11 March 2018. “Chlorine Gas on Hawaii Five-0 2010's Holapu Ke Ahi Koe Iho Ka Lehu.” Earth and Space News. Sunday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/03/chlorine-gas-on-hawaii-five-0-2010s.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 10 March 2018. “Golden Plovers and Stars of Heaven Know Where Pae Is on Hawaii Five-0.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/03/golden-plovers-and-stars-of-heaven-know.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 3 February 2018. “A Coral Reef Strengthens Out to Land on Hawaii Five-0 with Lobe Corals.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/02/a-coral-reef-strengthens-out-to-land-on.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 20 January 2018. “No Southern House Mosquitoes on Hawaii Five-0's Na Keikia Kalaihaohia.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/01/no-southern-house-mosquitoes-on-hawaii.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 13 January 2018. “What Is Gone Is Not Hawaiian Bobtail Squid on Hawaii Five-0 2010.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/01/what-is-gone-is-not-hawaiian-bobtail.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 7 January 2018. “Criminals Rare as Guernsey Dairy Cattle on Hawaii Five-0 The Roundup.” Earth and Space News. Sunday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/01/criminals-rare-as-guernsey-dairy-cattle.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 6 January 2018. “Hawaiian Cattle Roundups and Hawaii Five-0 2010 The Roundup Criminals.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/01/hawaiian-cattle-roundups-and-hawaii.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 19 November 2010. “Hawaii Shave Ice Images and Take-Outs on Hawaii Five-0 2010 Ho'apono.” Earth and Space News. Friday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2010/11/hawaii-shave-ice-images-and-take-outs.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 14 November 2010. “Hawaiian Wild Boars Around Hawaii Five-0 2010's North Shore of O'ahu.” Earth and Space News. Sunday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2010/11/hawaiian-wild-boars-around-hawaii-five.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 13 November 2010. “Limu Lipoa Hawaiian Seaweed on Hawaii Five-0 2010 Episode Nalowale.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2010/11/limu-lipoa-hawaiian-seaweed-on-hawaii.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 12 November 2010. “Hawaiian Blueberry Botanical Illustrations for Hawaii Five-0 Pancakes.” Earth and Space News. Friday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2010/11/hawaiian-blueberry-botanical.html

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Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2010/11/hawaii-five-0-2010-respect-land-and.html

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Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2010/11/pygmy-hippopotamuses-for-grace-of.html

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