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- Issue #319: Mote’s Tech Targets Red Tide | Title-Washing Fraud Grows | Why this Gator Crossed the Road
Issue #319: Mote’s Tech Targets Red Tide | Title-Washing Fraud Grows | Why this Gator Crossed the Road
2/25/2025
Ted Grellner
25 Feb
Keep your finger on the Pulse!
GOOD MORNING
This was a particularly fun issue to edit today. Enjoy
Dr Ted
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In this issue of NewTampa | WesleyChapel
Local Pulse
Our Event Calendar
Local News
— Mote Marine Lab’s New Tech Kills 70% of Red Tide in Venice Test
Crime
— Hillsborough Man Arrested Again in Expanding Title-Washing Fraud
OMG!
— Why Did the Gator Cross the Road? To Carry a Turtle!
Science News
— Venom Is Everywhere: Study Finds Hidden Toxins in Plants, Fungi & Bacteria
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Mote Marine Lab’s New Tech Kills 70% of Red Tide in Venice Test
Scientists at Mote Marine Laboratory are optimistic after testing two new red tide-fighting products in Venice canals. The products, called Clear and Xtreme, achieved a 70% kill rate against Karenia brevis, the algae responsible for red tide blooms.
Developed through the Florida Red Tide Mitigation and Technology Development Initiative, these plant-based compounds were deployed using a system adapted from oil spill and hazardous waste cleanup technology.
Residents near the test sites reported that red tide had made it unbearable to be outdoors, with dead fish littering the waterways. Scientists stress that while the goal isn’t to eliminate red tide entirely, reducing its intensity can lessen ecological damage.
Mote Marine Laboratory now aims to scale up deployment pending EPA approval. Their goal is to target active blooms more aggressively to protect Florida’s waters.
Hillsborough Man Arrested Again in Expanding
Title-Washing Fraud
A Hillsborough County man, Ahmed Njie, 40, has been arrested again, now facing 21 charges related to an alleged title-washing scheme. This follows his January arrest on 12 similar charges.
Njie is accused of altering VIN numbers on vehicles and obtaining fraudulent titles in different states, effectively erasing their history before reselling them. Authorities say he has moved up to 20 vehicles, some valued between $85,000 and $100,000.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Auto Theft Unit began investigating Njie last March when he allegedly attempted to re-title a Mercedes-Benz with a lien in Plant City.
Officials warn used car buyers to double-check VIN numbers in hidden locations to avoid purchasing stolen vehicles. The Hillsborough State Attorney’s Office is investigating additional title-washing cases in the Bay Area.
Njie, a self-described car salesman, remains held without bond after his latest court appearance.
One astonishing fact about automobile crime is that some high-tech car thieves can steal vehicles in under 30 seconds—without ever touching the keys.
Using a method called relay theft, criminals use wireless signal amplifiers to trick keyless entry systems into thinking the key fob is nearby. This allows them to unlock, start, and drive away with the car effortlessly.
What’s even more shocking? Many stolen cars are never recovered because they’re shipped overseas within hours to be resold in international black markets. Some are even disassembled for parts before law enforcement can trace them!
Why Did the Gator Cross the Road? To Carry a Turtle!
In a rare wildlife moment, an alligator in Florida halted traffic at Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge while carrying a turtle in its mouth. The scene was captured on video by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), alligators are opportunistic feeders, with adults typically eating rough fish, snakes, turtles, and small mammals. However, it remains unclear whether this particular turtle was prey or simply getting a free ride.
This unusual encounter is a reminder that alligators are common in Florida’s freshwater areas. The FWC advises residents and visitors to be cautious near water, avoid feeding alligators, and report potential threats to the Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 1‐866‐FWC‐GATOR.
While this gator's motives are unknown, it certainly gave Floridians a wildlife traffic jam to remember.
Read More: fox13news.com — See video AND FWC tips to stay safe around alligators
Venom Is Everywhere: Study Finds Hidden Toxins in Plants, Fungi & Bacteria
A new study published in Toxins challenges the long-held belief that venom is exclusive to animals, revealing that plants, fungi, protists, bacteria, and even viruses use venom-like mechanisms for defense, predation, and competition.
Researchers found that many non-animal organisms possess toxin delivery systems similar to those of venomous animals. For example:
Plants like nettles and Dieffenbachia use stinging hairs and microscopic crystals to inject toxins.
Fungi deploy specialized structures to penetrate and poison prey.
Protists use harpoon-like organelles to paralyze victims.
Bacteria utilize hypodermic needle-like nanomachines to inject toxins.
Viruses hijack host cells with mechanisms resembling venom delivery.
This discovery reshapes our understanding of venom evolution, showing it as an ancient and widespread biological adaptation beyond the animal kingdom.
Read More: new-medical.net — a very interesting article
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