2020-11-01 iD

84 Pages·2020·82.86 MB·English

T
he very best hunting knives possess a perfect balance of form and
function. They’re carefully constructed from fine materials, but
also have that little something extra to connect the owner with nature.
If you’re on the hunt for a knife that combines impeccable craftsmanship
with a sense of wonder, the $79 Huntsman Blade is the trophy you’re
looking for.
The blade is full tang, meaning it doesn’t stop at the handle but
extends to the length of the grip for the ultimate in strength. The
blade is made from 420 surgical steel, famed for its sharpness and its
resistance to corrosion.
The handle is made from genuine natural bone, and features
decorative wood spacers and a hand-carved motif of two overlapping
feathers— a reminder for you to respect and connect with the
natural world.
This fusion of substance and style can garner a high price tag out
in the marketplace. In fact, we found full tang, stainless steel blades
with bone handles in excess of $2,000. Well, that won’t cut it
around here. We have mastered the hunt
for the best deal, and in turn pass the
spoils on to our customers.
But we don’t stop there. While supplies
last, we’ll include a pair of $99 8x21 power
compact binoculars and a genuine leather
sheath FREE when you purchase the
Huntsman Blade.
Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed.
Feel the knife in your hands, wear it
on your hip, inspect the impeccable
craftsmanship. If you don’t feel like we
cut you a fair deal, send it back within
30 days for a complete refund of the
item price.
Limited Reserves. A deal like this won’t
last long. We have only 1120 Huntsman
Blades for this ad only. Don’t let this
beauty slip through your fingers. Call today!

Stauer… Afford the Extraordinary.®

Full tang stainless steel blade with natural
bone handle —now ONLY $79!

BONUS! Call today and
you’ll also receive this
genuine leather sheath!

Not shown
actual size.

14101 Southcross Drive W., Ste 155, Dept. HUK252-01
Burnsville, Minnesota 55337 www.stauer.com
Stauer
®

*Discount is only for customers who use the offer code versus the
listed original Stauer.com price.
California residents please call 1-800-333-2045 regarding
Proposition 65 regulations before purchasing this product.

Rating of A+

Bad to the Bone

EXCLUSIVE
FREE

Stauer® 8x21
Compact
Binoculars
-a $99 value-
with purchase of
Huntsman Blade

Huntsman Blade $249*
Offer Code Price Only $79 + S&P Save $170
1-800-333-2045

Your Insider Offer Code: HUK252-01
You must use the insider offer code to get our special price.

• 12” overall length;ࡘ࢓ΤΜdzʼnŐıĹńłĵʼnʼnʼnŐĵĵłĶőłłŐıńķIJłıĴĵȈ
ĵńőĹńĵIJŅńĵĸıńĴłĵ
œĹŐĸIJňıʼnʼnĸıńĴķőıňĴƬIJŅłʼnŐĵňʼnȈńijłőĴĵʼnķĵńőĹńĵłĵıŐĸĵňʼnĸĵıŐĸ

What Stauer Clients
ňĵıŕĹńķIJŅőŐ
Our Knives
ÌÌÌÌÌ
“This knife is beautiful!”
— J., La Crescent, MN
ÌÌÌÌÌ
“The feel of this knife
is unbelievable...this
is an incredibly fine
instrument.”
— H., Arvada, CO

TOXIC
PEOPLE
How to
Defend
Against
Energy
Vampires

BATTLING
BACTERIA
The Arsenal

It Takes to

Beat Bad

Bugs

EXTREME WEATHER
The Awesome Fury
of Nature Unleashed

DREAMER’S
DICTIONARY

A GUIDE TO DECIPHERING

THE STRANGE, UNSETTLING

MESSAGES FROM THE

SUBCONSCIOUS

MIND

UNDERCOVER

SUPERHEROES

The Secret Life of Bats

LOW AS
$3395

each

It’s a crime.

Most Americans living today have never
held a hefty, gleaming U.S. silver dollar
in their hands.

Where did they go? Well, in 1918,
to provide aid to the British during
WWI, the U.S. government melted
down nearly half of the entire
mintage—over 270 million silver
dollars. If all those missing silver
dollars could be stacked, they would
tower over 400 miles into the sky! If laid
in a chain, they would span 6,400 miles—
enough to stretch from New York to Los
Angeles more than 2½ times!

These vanished coins were not just any silver
dollar–they were America’s largest circulated coin,
the beloved Morgan Silver Dollar. Each Morgan Dollar
is struck from nearly an ounce of 90% fi ne silver and measures
a massive 38.1mm in diameter. Morgan Silver Dollars were the
engine of the American dream for decades. Created by famed
American coin designer, George T. Morgan, they feature Lady
Liberty’s radiant profi le and a majestic eagle, symbols of American
strength and prosperity. Since their inception in 1878, they jingled
in the pockets of famous and infamous Americans like John D.
Rockefeller and Teddy Roosevelt, and desperadoes Jesse James
and Al Capone. Today, Morgan Silver Dollars are one of the most
collected coins in America.
Lady Liberty takes a Final Bow
Just three years after the massive meltdown, the government gave
the Morgan Silver Dollar a fi nal chance to shine. In 1921, facing
a serious shortage, the mint struck Morgan Silver Dollars for one
more brief, historic year. Today, the last-ever 1921 Morgan Silver
Dollar belongs in the hands of collectors, history buffs, or anyone
who values the artistry and legacy of this American classic.
A Never-Ending Hunt for Collector Quality
Millions more silver dollars were melted over the past ninety years
and today, private hoards account for virtually all the surviving
Morgan Silver Dollars. We should know—we’re constantly on the
hunt for these historic Silver Dollars, and jump at the chance to
secure coins in collector-worthy condition. And what luck—we’ve
managed to locate more than a thousand 1921 Morgan Silver
Dollars, all in fantastic Extremely Fine (XF) condition. These coins
actually circulated in American commerce nearly 100 years ago!

Saved from Destruction, but Bound for Extinction
It’s been estimated that as few as 15% of all the Morgan Dollars
ever minted have survived to the present day. And the number grows
smaller with each passing year. The 1921 Morgan Silver Dollar
is the last of its kind. But you can get one now before they’re only
a memory. Your chance to own this legend won’t last long, so get
yours today—and at a fantastic value!
Don’t Miss Out on this Incredible Low Price Offer
Today, you can secure your very own 1921 Morgan Silver Dollar—
the last Morgan Silver Dollar ever struck—for the incredibly
low price of just $34.95 each! Plus, you can buy with complete
confi dence. If you aren’t completely satisfi ed with your Morgan
Silver Dollars, you can return your coins within 30-days for a full
refund (less s/h). So don’t wait—order your 1921 Morgan Silver
Dollars today!

1921 Last Morgan Silver Dollar
1-4
$34.95 ea. + s/h
5-9
$34.45 ea. + s/h
10+
$33.95 ea. FREE SHIPPING

FREE SHIPPING on 5 or More!

Limited time only. Product total over $149 before taxes (if any).
Standard domestic shipping only. Not valid on previous purchases.

Call today toll-free for fastest service
1-800-973-9208

Offer Code MDS166-12
Please mention this code when you call

But collectors get an unexpected second chance

Government Melts Over
270 Million Silver Dollars

Actual size
is 38.1 mm

GovMint.com® is a retail distributor of coin and currency issues and is not affi liated with the U.S. government. The
collectible coin market is unregulated, highly speculative and involves risk. GovMint.com reserves the right to decline to
consummate any sale, within its discretion, including due to pricing errors. Prices, facts, fi gures and populations deemed
accurate as of the date of publication but may change signifi cantly over time. All purchases are expressly conditioned upon
your acceptance of GovMint.com’s Terms and Conditions (www.govmint.com/terms-conditions or call 1-800-721-0320);
to decline, return your purchase pursuant to GovMint.com’s Return Policy. © 2020 GovMint.com. All rights reserved.

THE BEST SOURCE FOR COINS WORLDWIDE™

GovMint.com • 14101 Southcross Dr. W., Suite 175, Dept. MDS166-12, Burnsville, MN 55337

readerfeedback

You talk, we listen! Here’s what you had to say about previous issues

of iD. Thanks for your feedback and suggestions. Keep ’em coming.

Letters to the editor may be edited for clarity and length.

PHOTO: Getty Images.

iD UPDATE: PULSATING STARS

The Q&A of the July issue discussed stars that periodically
fluctuate in size, causing a change in their brightness. They
pulsate across time scales ranging from less than a minute
to several years, and the newest addition to this pantheon is
a small number of blue stars that pulsate during a period of
40 to 70 minutes, a cycle that had been unknown until now.
Pulsating stars have long been known to astronomers, and
the rhythmic pulsations of a star’s surface can occur in stars
of any age and may be due to a variety of causes. But so far
all these stars had this much in common: The pulsations are
visible on all sides of the star. Recently a tear-shaped star that
pulsates largely on one side has been identifi ed: HD74423,
which has nearly twice the mass of our Sun and is located
1,500 light-years away. It makes up a binary system with a red
dwarf, which researchers suspect is the cause of the shape
and unusual pulsations. “We’ve known theoretically that stars
like this should exist since the 1980s, and now we have fi nally
found one,” says astronomer Donald Kurtz. He and his team
have been observing light variations in stars that are caused
by sound waves within the stars. “This makes the stars very
similar to musical instruments, so this is the real Music of the
Spheres,” says Kurtz. “We can then ‘see with sound’—just as
a bat echolocates to see its environment, or as technicians
in a hospital can image the face of a fetus using ultrasound.”

OUT TO SEA AND UNAWARES

In this issue there’s an article about the people aboard a
nuclear submarine being the last to know if the world ended.
In the September issue we talked about another vessel, the
Avontuur, which has undergone comparable circumstances.
While the world hasn’t ended per se (though some would
argue it’s the end of the world as we know it), the crew of the
Avontuur was unaware of the pandemic conditions unfolding

around the globe. A crew that set out in
February received a message from the
ship’s owner, Cornelius Bockerman, via
satellite phone in mid-March: “Dramatic
times! You will not fi nd the world the way
it was before you set sail.” Crew member
Christiaan De Beukelaer’s view: “We are
so disconnected. It’s like the pandemic
is happening in a distant galaxy.”

KEEPING ART IN GOOD SHAPE

I want to share my appreciation of an article in the science
section of your magazine, “How Do You Earthquake-proof
an Icon of Art History?” in the May issue. I have always
been fascinated by the great works of the Renaissance
period—Leonardo, Michelangelo, and many others. When
I read this article, I felt a sense of admiration for all those
professionals who have the task of preserving the cultural
wonders of our planet. I wish all of them many successes,
and I know that thanks to their painstaking restoration
work and perseverance in obtaining funds to carry out this
hard work, our future generations will continue to admire
these works. I don’t know at this time if even the restorers
will be able to continue their efforts with David or if the
“Fates of Greek Mythology” will continue spinning his end.
Oraldo Cruz, Miami, FL

The works of the Renaissance masters are so tremendous in
scope and talent, it would be much more than a mere shame
to allow them to succumb to the passage of time. Indeed just
like anything humans have built, works of art will eventually
require care so they can be protected from the ravages of
decay and preserved for posterity, and those who render
this care are to be lauded. But such efforts do not always work
out as intended. Recently a failed preservation effort in Spain
made the news after a Baroque painting
of the Immaculate Conception became a
casualty of botched conservation work.
The Virgin Mary’s face in the painting
is now horrendously unrecognizable.
Sadly there are plenty of other examples
of art that’s been ruined by shoddy care.
Such non-professional interventions can
result in damage that’s irreversible.

3
Nov 2020
ideasanddiscoveries.com

contents

They fl it through the night with sharp senses and sharp
fangs, inducing dread in many a human. But these fl ying
mammals have their good points, too.
PAGE 10

The largest dam on the face of the planet was built for
the good of a nation. But inherent in this huge structure
is a huge threat to its surrounding areas.
PAGE 52

Who hasn’t come across a toxic person or two in life?
They can drag us down and wear us out, but there are
ways to identify them and shake them off.
PAGE 34

When we go to sleep we dream, but what are dreams?
What can dreams tell us about ourselves? And what do
the images in our dreams mean?
PAGE 16

Our digestive system is remarkable. But scientists are
only starting to scratch the surface on the connection
between the brain and the bowels.
PAGE 66

Cut off from the world at large, the occupants of nuclear
submarines would be among the last to know if a global
disaster were to come to pass…
PAGE 40

COVER
STORY

COVER
STORY

COVER
STORY

4
Nov 2020
ideasanddiscoveries.com

COVER PHOTOS: Witta Priester; SPL/Agentur Focus; Mafaldita, D-Keine, Alan Thornton, Hans Neleman, redhumv, quickshooting,
Bruno Ehrs, Image by Dan Foy (orangeacid), JGI/Tom Grill, Sjo, Faultier, Dorling Kindersley, Viktor_Gladkov—all /Getty Images.

iD (Ideas & Discoveries) (ISSN 2161-2641) Published bimonthly (once every two months)
by Heinrich Bauer Publishing Company, L.P. 270 Sylvan Ave. Englewood Cliffs NJ 07632.
The subscription price for 6 issues is $17.94. Canadian and Foreign orders are $23.94 prepaid
in U.S. funds. Periodicals postage paid at Englewood NJ and additional mailing offices.
POSTMASTER Please send all subscription inquiries and address changes to: iD magazine
PO Box 37174 Boone, IA 50037. Canada Post: Publications Mail Agreement #40612608.
Canada returns to be sent to IMEX Global Solutions, PO Box 25542, London, ON N6C 6B2.
Printed in the USA. All rights reserved.
Mailing Lists: From time to time we make our subscriber list available to companies that
sell goods and services by mail which we believe would interest our readers. If you
would rather not receive such mailings, please send your full name, complete mailing
address, and name of the magazine title to which you subscribe to: Bauer Publishing,
Attn: Circulation, 270 Sylvan Avenue, Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632.

Let’s keep in touch!
Go to facebook.com/ideasanddiscoveries and hit the “like” button.

NATURE

10 The Secret Life of Bats

Why these oft-maligned creatures are not actually malignant

74 Microweather: Is There Such a Thing as a Tornado Machine?

Surprising manifestations of Mother Nature

BODY & MIND

16 The Dark Power of Dreams

Peer into the playground of the subconscious

34 How Can I Defend Myself Against Toxic People?

Free yourself of the drain of energy vampires
66 Can My Gut Make Me Feel Depressed?

Demystifying the processes that take place inside us

SCIENCE

28 The Science of Stings

How insects bring the pain

46 iD LAB: Bacteria

Why fi ghting fi re with fi re can backfi re
51 Smarter in 60 Seconds: Bacteria

TECHNOLOGY

40 Who Would Be the Last to Know If the World Came to an End?

Traveling the globe while isolated from civilization

CURRENT EVENTS

52 Does One Dam Threaten 400 Million People?

An ambitious undertaking could be China’s downfall

IN EVERY ISSUE

6 A Photo and Its Story

Fascinating pictures and the story behind them

60 Questions & Answers

Marvels that can change our perception of the world

82 What Counts in the End

The Real Ghostbusters

To our readers:

Just in time for Halloween, this issue of iD is filled to the brim with scary stories.
From the terrors of the natural world to those of man’s own devising, each article
covers a topic that evokes fear in some way. Perhaps the most terrifying things are
those that take place within us. However, what we fear can have positive aspects—
after all, even Frankenstein’s monster had its redeeming qualities…

Cover stories marked in red

“An investment in
knowledge pays the
best interest.”

—Benjamin Franklin

Next issue on stands

November 6

SUBSCRIBE AND
SAVE 62%
That’s $5 off per issue!

FASTEST WAY TO SUBSCRIBE
ids-mag.com/subscribe

Most of us will end up on the receiving end of an insect’s
unwanted attention. Whether with a bite or sting, bugs
are well equipped to get under our skin.
PAGE 28

Some weather events are quite rare and remarkable,
and they can be so astounding and so fi erce that we
can only look on in awe.
PAGE 74

They’re all around us and even inside us, and usually
we get along fi ne. But when the balance is thrown off,
an invading force must be routed.
PAGE 46

COVER
STORY

COVER
STORY

Volume 10, Issue 11

EMERGENCY, EMERGENCY,

AND MY INSTRUCTOR HAS

...THIS MY FIRST F

Max Sylvester is flying at 6,200 feet when the most dramatic 45 minutes of his life begin.
The audio of his conversation with the air traffic controller shows several heroes at work…

A photo and its story

6
Nov 2020
ideasanddiscoveries.com

EMERGENCY!

PASSED OUT!

HEAR ME?

FLYING LESSON,

CAN YOU
M

ax Sylvester is now
almost an hour into
his fl ight and fl ying
at about 6,200 feet.
The student pilot’s
heart is no longer
pounding and he can feel the tension
in his muscles relax as he looks down
on the gleaming Indian Ocean off the
coast of Perth in Western Australia.
The single engine of the Cessna 152
is throbbing peacefully. Fascinated
by the incredible view, the 29-year-old
pilot is fi nally beginning to enjoy his
fl ying lesson when he feels a dull blow
to his shoulder. As he turns, he sees
it’s the head of his instructor,
Robert Mollard, who has
just passed out cold with
no warning. Suddenly Sylvester’s
heart is pounding far more than before
as the adrenaline fl oods his system.
He shakes Mollard’s body but gets
no response. Right away he reaches
for the radio: “Emergency, Emergency,
Emergency! This is Tango, Foxtrot,
Romeo—can you hear me? My fl ight
instructor has passed out!”

EMERGENCY AT 6,200 FEET
The young man, who has never fl own
a plane on his own, let alone landed
one, is now in command of a Cessna
152 fl ying at 6,200 feet above Perth,
a city of more than 2 million people.
Down on the ground, the air traffi c
controller is immediately and keenly
aware of the danger Sylvester faces.
The situation is life-threatening—not
just for Sylvester and his instructor,
but also for potentially hundreds of
people on the ground.
“Tango, Foxtrot, Romeo, I can hear
you. Do you know how to operate the
airplane?” Sylvester replies honestly:
“Very, very little. It’s my fi rst lesson.
And my instructor is leaning against
my shoulder. I’m trying to keep him
upright, but he keeps falling over.” >

Sylvester had, in fact, taken two flight
lessons before, but never with this
aircraft, and he’d never tried to land.
The response comes in a calm voice:
“Your job right now is just to keep
focusing on that aircraft,” says the
tower. “We’re tracking you. I know
this is very stressful, but we’re going
to help you get down to the ground.”
As the tower tells him what to do next,
Sylvester can feel his initial panic start
giving way to focused concentration.
The air traffic controller has quickly
brought someone experienced with
the Cessna to the tower. Sylvester is
familiar with the instruments in theory,
but now an expert will explain them
to him in detail.
With guidance from the tower,
Sylvester circles Perth’s Jandakot
Airport for almost an hour, practicing
approaches and trying to get a feel
for what lies ahead. “You are doing
an amazing job,” says the tower. “Just
keep an eye on your speed, so that

you’re not going into the red too much.
Keep those wings level and keep your
nose nice and level on the horizon.”
Watching it all with bated breath as
Sylvester makes his approach are his

wife and three children. As he nears
the end of the runway, the tower calls
out: “Power off, power off, power off.
Raise the nose gently, and you’re
down on the ground.” Then: “You did
it, mate. Well done!”
The flight school’s owner, Chuck
McElwee, is pleased as well: “There
was no damage to the plane. Matter
of fact, it was a perfect landing.” The
instructor is in stable condition and
is taken to a hospital. Sylvester’s wife
and kids, who watched as the drama
unfolded, are absolutely thrilled to
have their husband and father back
safe and sound. Sylvester himself is
visibly relieved, elated, and proud: “If
I hadn’t studied, I wouldn’t be here,”
he says. And the experience has not
dampened his enthusiasm for flying
at all: “Of course I’ll be flying again.
You have to, because you must show
your kids that when you encounter a
problem like this, you’ve got to just
power through.”

NO TIME TO PANIC
When his flight instructor passed out,
Max Sylvester (above) realized he was
on his own. But the air traffic control
tower came to his rescue, giving the
29-year-old precise instructions for
safely landing the Cessna 152.

MAX SYLVESTER, student pilot

PHOTOS: DPA; Instagram; PR.

“My instructor is
leaning against
my shoulder. I’m
trying to keep him
upright, but he
keeps falling over.”

8
Nov 2020
ideasanddiscoveries.com

� Never miss

an issue

� Get it before

it’s in stores

� Delivered

right to your
doorstep

YES, I want 6 issues at only $2.99 an issue

FASTEST WAY TO SUBSCRIBE

SUBSCRIBE BY MAIL

SUBSCRIBE ONLINE AT

ids-mag.com/subscribe

Fill out the coupon and mail to iD magazine, PO Box 37174, Boone, IA 50037 for 6 issues at $17.94. Canadian and foreign orders must enclose $23.94
(in U.S. funds) for 6 issues. Please allow 8 to 10 weeks for subscription to begin. *Savings for subscriptions mailed within the United States.

Name

Address

City

State

Zip

Credit card #

Exp. date

Signature

Mail to:
iD
PO Box 37174
Boone, IA 50037

Payment enclosed

Charge my credit card

Visa
MasterCard
Discover
AmEx

Bill me later

A0L11A

MANAGING EDITOR

Seta Papazian

ASSOCIATE CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Harold Velarde

CONSULTING EDITOR
Carol Brooks

ARTICLES EDITOR

John Winbigler

Be sure to

check out our
next issue, on
newsstands
NOVEMBER 6

HEINRICH BAUER PUBLISHING, L.P.

270 Sylvan Avenue, Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632

201-569-6699

CEO, PRESIDENT

Steven Kotok

CFO

William P. Houston

EVP, CONSUMER REVENUE

Eric Szegda

SVP, SUBSCRIPTIONS, LICENSING

Dennis Cohen

VP, CONSUMER MARKETING

Holly Oakes

SVP, PRODUCTION
Gena Kelly

SENIOR DIRECTOR OF PUBLISHING SERVICES

Jacqui LaMorte

DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION

John Ricotta

GROUP PRODUCTION MANAGER

Kevin Fee

EVP, ADVERTISING REVENUE

Jeff Wellington

INTEGRATED MARKETING

MANAGER

Tara Rotondo

EXEC. DIR., CREATIVE SERVICES

Steve Weredyk

INTEGRATED ACCOUNT

DIRECTORS

Elaine Mehler

Christine Strifas

Maggie Connolly

STRATEGIC MARKETING

MANAGER

Michele McCarthy-

Jacabacci

DIRECTOR, DIRECT RESPONSE

Jessica Bunucci

SALES ASSISTANTS

Rachel LaRotonda

Claudia Guariglia

CHICAGO OFFICE:

312-502-4938