[♪ THEME MUSIC ♪] >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," WE'LL HEAR FROM THE SENATE PRESIDENT ON THE LEGISLATURE SHOWDOWN WITH MARICOPA COUNTY.

ON CRONKITE NEWS CONCERN OVER HOW ANOTHER ROUND OF STIMULUS CHECKS SHOULD BE SPENT.

AND ON BREAK IT DOWN MONITORING TIME SPENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA DURING THE PANDEMIC.

ALL OF THIS AND MORE IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS.

>>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

HOUSE MANAGERS TODAY BEGAN PRESENTING EVIDENCE AGAINST FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP OF DAY 2 OF THE TRUMP IMPEACHMENT TRIAL HE WAS DESCRIBED AS THE QUOTE, INCITER IN CHIEF.

>> THIS WAS A MAN WHO PRAISED JSHLG ENCOURAGED AND CULTIVATED VIOLENCE.

WE HAVE JUST BEGUN TO FIGHT HE SAYS.

MORE THAN A MONTH AFTER THE ELECTION HAS TAKEN PLACE, AND THAT'S BEFORE THE SECOND MILLION MEGA MARKS, A RALLY THAT ENDED IN SERIOUS VIOLENCE AND EVEN THE BURNING OF THE CHURCH, AND AS THE PRESIDENT FORECAST IT WAS ONLY THE BEGINNING.

HE TOLD HIS BASE ABOUT WHERE THE BATTLE WOULD BE THAT THEY WOULD FIGHT NEXT.

JANUARY 6TH, WOULD BE WILD HE PROMISED.

AND THAT TOO TURNED OUT TO BE TRUE.

YOU'LL SEE IN THE DAYS THAT FOLLOWED DONALD TRUMP CONTINUED TO AGGRESSIVELY PROMOTE JANUARY 6TH TO HIS FOLLOWERS.

HERE IS WHAT DONALD TRUMP TOLD THEM.

PRESIDENT TRUMP WHIPPED THE CROWD INTO A FRENZY, SAYING IF YOU DON'T FIGHT LIKE HELL, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE A COUNTRY ANYMORE.

AND THEN HE AIMED STRAIGHT AT THE CAPITOL, DECLARING, YOU WILL NEVER TAKE BACK OUR COUNTRY WITH WEAKNESS.

YOU HAVE TO SHOW STRENGTH, AND YOU HAVE TO BE STRONG.

HE TOLD THEM TO FIGHT LIKE HELL, AND THEY BROUGHT US HELL ON THAT DAY.

>> THE FORMER PRESIDENT'S LEGAL TEAM IS STILL WAITING ITS TURN TO PRESENT A DEFENSE, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO INCLUDE THE ARGUMENT THAT IMPEACHMENT AND DISQUALIFICATION FROM OFFICE VIOLATE FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S FREE SPEECH RIGHTS.

>> I THINK THAT IS A VERY WEEK ARGUMENT.

THE BASIC REASON IS, USUALLY A FIRST AMENDMENT CASE LIKE THAT IS MADE IN A CRIMINAL CASE WHEN SOMEONE IS CHARGED WITH A CRIMINAL ACTION.

AND IMPEACHMENT IS NOT A CRIMINAL PROCEEDING.

I THINK THE FIRST AMENDMENT DOESN'T APPLY AT ALL.

THE AND THE FIRST AMENDMENT AS BROOD AS IT IS, DOES NOT PROTECT ANYBODY FROM ENTERING INTO CONSPIRACIES OR COMMITTING CRIMES.

>> OUR LIVE NEWS HOUR COVERAGE OF THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL CONTINUES TOMORROW MORNING ON ARIZONA PBS.

>>> TWITTER SAYS ITS BAN ON DONALD TRUMP IS PERMANENT.

IT HAS KICKED TRUMP OFF OF HIS PLATFORM OFF LAST MONTH WITH A RISK OF FURTHER INCITEMENT OF VIOLENCE.

THAT MOVE IS NOW MADE PERMANENT.

>>> THERE IS A ANOTHER MASS VACCINATION SITE THAT HAS OPENED UP.

THE VACCINATIONS ARE SCHEDULED TO START ON FEBRUARY 18TH, REGISTRATION WILL START ON THE 16TH.

>>> ALSO JOHNSON & JOHNSON SAID IT'S VACCINE IS, QUOTE, READY TO GO.

ABOUT 10 MILLION DOSES OF THE VACCINE ARE INDEED READY TO GO IF AUTHORIZED.

>>> AS FOR TODAY'S COVID REPORT, THE STATE CONTINUES TO SHOW DECLINES IN NEW CASES.

A LITTLE UNDER 2000 REPORTED TODAY.

THE STATE SEVEN-DAY AVERAGE IMPROVED TO TENTH HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY, AND HOSPITALS ARE REPORTING FEWER COVID PATIENTS IN ICU BEDS.

>> I THINK THEY ARE HEADED DOWN.

IN FACT, WE'RE NOW AT A POINT WHERE WE'RE BELOW THE PEAK OF LAST SUMMER, SO THINGS ARE BETTER, BUT NOT AS GOOD AS THEY WERE BY THE END OF SUMMER, SO WE'RE DEFINITELY HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

>> THAT SAID, ARIZONA'S DEATH COUNT IS STILL TROUBLING.

176 NEW FATALITIES REPORTED TODAY.

OUR SEVEN-DAY AVERAGE FOURTH HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY.

>>> THE CDC SHOWED THAT DOUBLE MASKING GIVES EXTRA PROTECTION.

THE STUDY ALSO FOUND THAT TYING KNOTS IN THE EAR LOOPS ALSO OFFERS MORE PROTECTION.

THIS WEEK'S LEGISLATIVE UPDATE WELCOMES KAREN FANN WHO TALKS ABOUT THE BATTLE OVER ELECTION AUDITS, AND WHAT COMES NEXT.

SENATE PRESIDENT FANN, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

WE HAVE GOT YOU TODAY ON YOUR OWN, AND WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THAT.

LET'S GET STARTED WITH THE FIGHT WITH MARICOPA COUNTY, REGARDING SUBPOENAS, ELECTION AUDITS, THE WHOLE NINE YARDS.

THE VOTE TO HOLD COUNTY OFFICIALS IN CONTEMPT.

THAT FAILED.

WHAT NEXTED?

>> WELL, THERE IS A LOT OF MISINFORMATION OUT THERE, AND WE ARE NOT ABOUT OVERTURNING ELECTIONS, WE HAVE 54% OF THE REPUBLICANS IN ARIZONA WHETHER RIGHTLY OR WRONGLY SO, THE QUESTION IS OF OUR ELECTORAL SYSTEM HERE.

AND THIS IS THE SOLE PURPOSE WHY WE ARE DOING THIS.

THEY SAID YES, WE NEED TO DO THESE AUDITS TO PUT TRUST BACK INTO OUR ELECTORAL SYSTEM.

SO THIS IS WHY WE'RE DOING THIS.

WHY IT KEEPS GETTING JAMMED UP, I'M NOT QUITE SURE.

FIRST THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T DO THE AUDIT, BECAUSE THERE WERE TOO MANY LAWSUITS GOING ON.

THEN THEY SAID WE'RE GOING TO DO TWO AUDITS AND PICK TWO INDEPENDENT TEAMS TO DO THIS.

I SAID AWESOME.

THEY VOTED TO HIRE TWO COMPANIES THAT ARE ONLY AUTHORIZED TO CERTIFY MACHINES, AND I SAID, GUYS, THIS ISN'T GOING TO WORK.

THIS ISN'T GOING TO ANSWER THE VOTERS' QUESTIONS.

WE NEED TO HIRE ANOTHER AUDITOR.

I SAID THE SENATE WILL PAY FOR IT.

AND INSTEAD OF AGREEING TO THAT, THEY GO BACK INTO EXECUTIVE AND CAME BACK OUT AND SAID NO, WE'RE HAPPY WITH OUR TWO.

SO THAT BRINGS US UP TO THE NEXT PROCEDURAL MOVEMENT WE HAD TO DO TO FOLLOW THROUGH, WHETHER IT'S GOING TO COURT OR THE AG'S OFFICE, WE MUST HAVE THIS RESOLUTION OF CONTEMPT.

SO I AM ONE REPUBLICAN MEMBER THAT DID NOT VOTE FOR IT.

WHICH MEANT IT FAILED.

HIS STATEMENT WAS HE WOULD LIKE TO GIVE THE SUPERVISORS A FEW MORE THINGS TO DO THE RIGHT THING, AND IF WE DON'T GET THIS RESOLVED THROUGH THE SUPREME COURT OR IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE, HE WOULD BE WILLING TO PUT IT BACK UP TO THE BOARD AND VOTE ON IT.

>> AND SO MANY PEOPLE IN ARIZONA DON'T HAVE TRUST IN THE ELECTION PROCESS.

WHY DON'T YOU AND OTHER REPUBLICANS -- AND THESE ARE MOSTLY REPUBLICANS FOR WHATEVER REASON -- AND GOODNESS ONLY KNOWS WHY -- THEY DON'T TRUST THE ELECTION PROCESS.

THE GOVERNOR TRUSTS IT.

WHY DON'T REPUBLICANS LAWMAKERS COME OUT AND SAY, IT'S SQUARE.

THERE'S NO PROBLEM HERE.

LET'S MOVE ON.

THE TRUST WOULD BUILD, I THINK IF REPUBLICAN LEADERS WOULD SAY IT'S TRUSTWORTHY.

>> HOW CAN I TELL THEM IT'S TRUSTWORTHY WITHOUT DOING SOMETHING THAT SAYS LET ME PROVE THAT IT IS TRUSTWORTHY.

I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF ALLEGATIONS OUT THERE THAT ARE UNFOUNDED, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TESTIMONY FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE SAID, THEY RECEIVED 20 BALLOTS AT THEIR HOMES FOR TWO PEOPLE LIVING THERE.

SO THIS ISN'T NECESSARILY ABOUT FRAUD, BECAUSE I HAVE NEVER USED THAT WORD FRAUD.

WHAT I DO BELIEVE, THOUGH -- AND QUITE HONESTLY, I'M HOPING AND PRAYING THERE IS NO FRAUD, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WOULD SHAKE THE CORE OF OUR ENTIRE SYSTEM.

HOWEVER, WE DO KNOW THERE ARE IRREGULARITIES THAT HAPPEN, AND IF WE CAN UNCOVER THOSE AND ANSWER THE QUESTIONS THAT, NO, THERE WASN'T TWO BOXES OF BALLOTS UNDER A TABLE, THAT'S WHAT THE FORENSIC AUDIT DOES.

IT GOES THROUGH ALL OF THAT AND A VERIFIES THOSE THINGS DIDN'T HAPPEN.

>> BUT YOU REALIZE, AGAIN, THAT IF EVERYONE FROM THE GOVERNOR ON DOWN BASICALLY SAID, THIS ELECTION IS UNLIKE EVERY OTHER.

EVERYTHING IS ON THE UP AND UP, LET'S MOVE AHEAD.

YOU CAN FIGHT FOR YOUR SIDE FOR 2021.

LET'S MOVE ON.

I THINK THAT WOULD DO A LOT TO QUELL THIS UNCERTAINTY.

>> TED, I UNDERSTAND, AND IT PROBABLY WOULD QUELL SOME OF THEM, BUT IT IS NOT GOING TO QUELL THE MASS MAJORITY, I DON'T BELIEVE, OF THOSE THAT ARE QUESTIONING.

AND WE ARE ELECTED OFFICIALS.

MY JOB IS TO -- IS TO REPRESENT MY CONSTITUENTS AND DO WHATEVER POSSIBLE TO MAKE THEM HAVE FAITH IN THE SYSTEM.

FOR ME TO JUST SAY GO AWAY, TRUST ME, I'M NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.

WE WOULD LIKE TO GET THE ANSWERS AND SAY YOU DESERVE ANSWERS.

>> DO YOU THINK WE MAY -- IF YOU GET AN AUDIT, IF THIS WHOLE THING SHOWS THERE IS NO FUNNY BUSINESS GOING ON, DO YOU THINK THOSE PEOPLE WILL BE SATISFIED?

>> I THINK THERE IS A SMALL PERCENTAGE THAT WON'T BE SATISFIED.

BUT I AM HOPING THAT I CAN GET AT LEAST 90 OR 95% OF THEM TO SAY, OKAY, WE BELIEVE YOU, BUT WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO SHORE UP SOME ELECTION LAWS SO WE HAVE MORE CONFIDENCE.

>> BEFORE WE GET YOU GO HERE, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE IDEA OF EXPANDING GAMING IN ARIZONA.

THE IDEA OF MAYBE SPORTS GAMBLING IN ARIZONA.

SOUNDS LIKE IT'S BEING KICKED AROUND AT THE CAPITOL, WHAT IS THE LATEST?

>> THERE ARE A COUPLE OF BILLS GOING THROUGH THAT ARE IN TANDEM WITH THE GOVERNOR SIGNING A NEW GAMING TAX WITH THESE TRIBES.

THERE'S NOT ANYBODY DOWN HERE FOR THE MOST PART THAT SAYS WE ARE ABSOLUTELY OPPOSED IT TO, BUT THE VAST MAJORITY OF MY MEMBERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE ARE SAYING WE'RE NOT COME NORTHABLE VOTING ON THESE TWO BILLS THAT ARE TIED TO A GAMING BACK THAT NONE OF US HAVE SEEN.

WE HAVE NEVER BEEN GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE GAMING TAX AND UNDERSTAND IT, AND READ IT, SO WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON.

AND THAT'S A HUGE CONCERN.

>> DO YOU BELIEVE THE GOVERNOR HAS THE SOLE AUTHORITY TO NEGOTIATE AND RENEGOTIATE THESE GAMING CONTRACTS?

>> I BELIEVE HE HAS SOME AUTHORITY.

THE QUESTION IS HOW MUCH AUTHORITY DOES HE HAVE?

THEIR ATTORNEYS BELIEVE HE DOES HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO WHAT HE WANTS IN THIS GAMING TAX, BUT REMEMBER, MANY OF THE THINGS THAT THEY NEGOTIATED ARE IN THESE OTHER TWO BILLS, THOSE THINGS ARE TIED TO THEM.

SO MY QUESTION IS, IS HOW CAN WE VOTE ON THIS, IF WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IS OVER HERE?

IT'S A DILEMMA.

I THINK THEY NEED TO GIVE US MORE INFORMATION.

>> AND I THINK THE CONCERN IS THAT -- OBVIOUSLY THE TRIBAL GAMING CONTRACT, THE TRIBES HAVE TO SIGN OFF OF THE GAMING, BUT THIS IDEA OF SPORTS GAMBLING AND OFF-TRIBE GAMING, THAT'S WHERE THE GOVERNOR MAY NOT HAVE FULL AUTHORITY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON OUR LEGISLATIVE UPDATE.

>>> THANKS, TED.

>>> UP NEXT, A CLOSER LOOK AT PRESIDENT BIDEN'S AMBITIOUS PLANS TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE.

>>> ONE OF PRESIDENT BIDEN'S FIRST ACTS IN OFFICE WAS TO BRING THE U.S. BACK INTO THE PARIS CLIMATE ACCORDING, BUT HIS PLANS TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE DON'T STOP THERE.

WE HEAR MORE FROM PETER.

PETER, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

THE PRESIDENT HAS ANNOUNCED CLIMATE CHANGE ASSEN A EXISTENTIAL THREAT.

DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT?

>> YES, I DO.

IN A WAY WE ACTUALLY SEE THE EXPRESSION OF THE THREAT, WHICH IS A GLOBAL THREAT, BUT WE SEE IT LOCALLY.

IN PHOENIX, WE HAVE WILDFIRES, DROUGHT, CALIFORNIA WE HAVE WILDFIRES, WE HAVE SMOG.

WE HAVE RECORD HEAT, AND RECORD DEATHS RELATED TO HEAT.

AND MORE FREQUENTLY WE SEE THE FALLOUT OF THIS GLOBAL CRISIS PLAY OUT IN OUR BACKYARD.

>> AND THE PRESIDENT'S -- AMONG THE IDEAS HERE -- AND I WANT TO GET YOUR RESPONSE -- HE WANTS TO DECARBONIZE THE U.S. POWER SECTOR BY 2035.

CAN IT BE DONE?

SHOULD IT BE DONE?

>> LET ME TAKE SHOULD IT BE DONE FIRST?

I THINK IT SHOULD BE DONE.

IT HAS TO BE DONE.

BECAUSE IF WE ARE NOT DOING IT, THE PLANET WILL KEEP HEATING UP INTO A PLACE WHERE EXPERTS SAY WE WOULD GET INTO DANGEROUS INTERFERENCE WITH THE CLIMATE SYSTEM, AND AS I JUST SAID, WE ARE ALREADY SEEING THAT.

DECARBONIZING GETS TO THE ROOT CAUSE OF WHY WE HAVE CLIMATE CHANGE.

THE BIG DRIVER OF CLIMATE CHANGE IS THE WAY WE SUPPLY ENERGY TO A GROWING POPULATION.

AND THAT'S BURNING CARBON FUEL, AND IT CREATES GREENHOUSE GAS, WHICH PREVENTS RADIATION FROM LEAVING THE PLANET INTO OUTER SPACE, SO WE HAVE TO TRANSITION THE ENERGY SYSTEM.

>> AND ALSO WE WANTS A 60-DAY PAUSE ON NEW OIL-DRILLING PERMITS ON FEDERAL LAND.

THE KEY STONE PIPELINE, HE WANTS CONSTRUCTION OF THAT DELAYED.

WILL THESE THINGS MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

>> THEY ARE ACTUALLY PART OF CHANGING THE ENERGY SYSTEM, GOING AWAY FROM FOSSIL FUEL.

STOP DRILLING FOR GAS OR EXPLORING THAT.

STOP TRANSPORTING GAS THROUGH THE KEYSTONE PIPELINE INTO THE GULF.

SO THAT IS ALL PART OF THAT TRANSITION.

>> PART OF THE TRANSITION, BUT YOU HAVE GOT TO MAKE THAT TRANSITION.

CRITICS ARE SAYING, WHEN YOU STOP THESE DRILLING PERMITS -- THEY ALL IT AN ASSAULT ON RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT AND JOBS.

WILL THERE BE GREEN JOBS TO TAKE OVER?

>> THERE WILL BE NEW INDUSTRIES THAT BRING JOBS ALONG.

THERE WILL BE TRILLION DOLLAR INDUSTRIES IN THE BUILD-UP OF THE RENEWABLE ENERGY INDUSTRY.

THERE ALSO WILL BE INDUSTRIES IN OTHER MEASURES THAT WE HAVE TO DO.

FOR EXAMPLE, TAKING CARBON DIOXIDE BACK OUT OF THE ATMOSPHERE, WHICH IS ONE PART OF THE SET OF ACTIONS WE HAVE TO TAKE TO GET CARBON NEUTRAL BY 2050, THE MIDDLE OF THE CENTURY.

>> YEAH, AND THAT'S ANOTHER ONE OF THE GOALS THE PRESIDENT ANNOUNCED.

THE PARIS CLIMATE ACCORDS, WE'RE APPARENTLY GOING TO BE BACK IN THIS.

WHAT IS THE REAL IMPACT THERE?

>> THE REAL IMPACT IS THAT -- YOU KNOW, IT TOOK A LONG TIME FOR THE NATIONS AROUND THE GLOBE TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT TO, YOU KNOW, MEET TARGETS THAT CUT EMISSIONS AND TAKE MEASURES TO, YOU KNOW, DECREASE GREENHOUSE GASES IN THE ATMOSPHERE.

IF MAJOR ECONOMIES, SUCH AS THE U.S. ARE PULLING OUT OF THAT, IT PUTS IN DANGER THAT -- THE NATIONS STICKING TOGETHER, WORK TOGETHER TO REACH THAT GOAL.

SO I THINK IT IS ACTUALLY REALLY ESSENTIAL, AND IT'S A SIGN TO THE REST OF THE WORLD THAT THE U.S. IS REJOINING AND RECOMMITTING TO BE A MAJOR PART OF REACHING THAT GOAL, WHICH WILL BENEFIT HUMANITY -- NOT JUST IN THE U.S., BUT FOR THE GLOBAL AS A WHOLE.

>> SO LAST QUESTION HERE.

IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE OPTIMISTIC AS FAR AS ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE IS CONCERNED?

>> I'M OPTIMISTIC FROM THE PERSPECTIVE THAT WE HAVE THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FIGURED OUT HOW TO GET THERE.

NOT A SMOOTH PATH, BUT I'M PRETTY SURE WE CAN DO IT.

I'M LESS OPTIMISTIC IN TERMS OF THE WILLINGNESS OF DECISION MAKERS, OF PEOPLE TO TAKE THAT ON AND FOLLOW THAT PATHWAY.

I THINK THAT IS THE MORE TRICKY PART, BUT, AGAIN, I HOPE THAT BY SEEING MORE, AND EXPERIENCING MORE, MORE PEOPLE ARE GETTING CLOSER TO THE AREAS OF CRISIS, AND I HOPE THIS WILL RAISE THEM UP AND MAKE THEM WILLING TO COME UP WITH DIFFERENT CHOICES, DIFFERENT FROM THE CHOICES THAT GOT US INTO THAT CRISIS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, SIR, WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>>> THE PANDEMIC HAS EVERYONE THINKING ABOUT GERMS, BUT WHILE COVID IS A VIRUS, MANY OTHER INFECTIONS ARE CAUSED BY BACTERIA, SOME OF WHICH IS BECOMING DRUG RESISTANT, WHICH MEANS SCIENCE IS CHALLENGED BY FINDING NEW MICROBIALS.

♪ >> I WAS WORKING AT A WILDERNESS PROGRAM FOR TROUBLED YOUTH, AND LEARNING A LOT OF PRIMITIVE SKILLS, AND FINDING RUINS AND POTTERY SHARDS AND JUST EXPERIENCING THE CULTURE OF THE ANZE -- ANSAWSY.

AND I WAS INSPIRED THAT THEY WERE GETTING ALL OF THE MATERIAL TO MAKE THIS BEAUTIFUL POTTERY JUST BY THE LAND AROUND THEM.

IT REALLY CREATED THIS BOND WITH THE EARTH.

>> THE USE OF CLAY WITH POTTERY MAKING IS STILL VERY COMMON TODAY.

HOWEVER, A RESEARCHER AT ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY IS TAKING CLAY INTO AN UNEXPECTED DIRECTION.

DR. SHELLEY IS STUDYING HOW CLAY CAN BE A FORM OF TREATMENT TO TREAT SKIN INFECTIONS.

>> I HAD A BAND-AID ON MY THUMB, BECAUSE I HAD AN INJURY FROM OPENING UP WATER BATTLES THAT STARTED HURTING A LOT.

>> SHE WENT TO THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT AND AS AN APPENDAGE STARTS TO SWELL WITH INFECTION, YOU CAN GET WHAT IS CALLED COMPARTMENT SYNDROME, WHICH IS WHERE THE TISSUE IN THAT AREA STARTS TO DIE BECAUSE THERE IS NO BLOOD FLOWING TO THAT AREA.

>> HER THUMB WAS INFLECTED WITH MERSA, ALSO KNOWN AS THE FLESH-EATING VIRUS.

>> WHEN THEY SAID CUT THE THUMB OFF, I WAS THINKING, THAT WOULD SOLVE THE PAIN, BUT I REALLY DON'T WANT TO LOSE MY THUMB.

>> ALL OF THIS WAS SWOLLEN, AND THEY MADE A SMALL INCISION AND THEY STARTED SQUEEZING.

AND IT WAS LIKE A BIG PIMPLE THAT YOU SEE WITH ALL OF THE PUS AND PULLING OUT THIS TISSUE, AND AT THAT MOMENT, I LOOKED AT HER THUMB, AND WENT, HUM.

>> THIS INSPIRED THE DOCTOR AND HER RESEARCH TEAM TO FIND A FORM OF TREATMENT WITH CLAY FOR MERSA AND OTHER INFECTIONS.

>> THE RESEARCH THAT I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN AS FAR AS THE CLAYS, WE DEMONSTRATED THEY ARE ANTI-BACTERIAL, WHICH IS CRAZY.

BECAUSE IT IS IN THE GROUND.

IT'S IN THE DIRT.

CERTAIN TYPES OF CLAY COULD BE USED TO TREAT THIS REALLY, REALLY DIFFICULT TO TREAT SKIN INFECTION.

>> THEY TURNED THEIR ATTENTION TO A COUPLE OF CLAYS THAT CAME FROM FRANCE.

THE CLAYS WERE USED TO TREAT A CONDITION THAT IS A SKIN CONDITION.

>> MOST OF THE CLAYS ARE LIKE LITTLE MEDICINE CABINETS OF MINERALS AND IRONS THAT BACTERIA AND VIRUSES IN HUMANS NEED TO GROW AND SURVIVE, SO WE CAN USE THOSE TO SUPPLY NUTRIENTS.

IF WE'RE GOING TO CREATE SOMETHING THAT IS CONSISTENT, SAFE, AND CAN BE USED BY CONSUMERS OR IN THE MEDICAL FIELD, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO CONTROL IT, AND MAKE IT IN THE LABORATORY.

SO MY COLLABORATOR CAN DO THAT.

WHAT WE FOUND OUT WAS THAT WHEN YOU TAKE THE CLAYS, AND YOU MIX THEM WITH WATER, THEY RELEASED METAL IONS, AND IT WAS THOSE METAL IONS IN THAT PARTICULAR ENVIRONMENT THAT WERE ABLE TO KILL BACTERIA.

>> THE RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THE CLAYS DID PRODUCE AS MANY AS FIVE CHEMICAL IONS THAT CAN KILL BACTERIA, BUT THEY COULD ALSO PRODUCE IONS THAT COULD BE HARMFUL TO PEOPLE, AND CLAYS CAN CHANGE OVERTIME.

BUT THE ANSWER TO THAT CHALLENGE MAY LIE IN OTHER SUBSTANCES.

>> IT HAS THE PHYSICAL DIMENSION IN NANO SCALE.

>> IMAGINE THERE IS A CHAIN-LINK FENCE, AND THERE ARE 500 CHAIN-LINK FENCES PILED ON TOP OF EACH OTHER.

SO THAT'S WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.

>> THIS REPRESENTS ATOMS.

ALL OF THE ATOMS FORM THESE CHEMICAL BONDS.

>> AND WHEN WE TAKE IT INTO A SMALL ENVIRONMENT, IT'S LIKE A LITTLE BITTY SPONGE, AND ALL OF THOSE SYMPTOMS THAT ARE CAUSING PROBLEMS ON YOUR TISSUE GET STUCK ON THATNANO PALMER, SO IF THEY ARE STUCK HERE, THEY CAN'T CAUSE THE DAMAGE IN YOUR TISSUE.

IT IS GOING TO BE THE BE ALL END ALL?

NO, BUT IT CERTAINLY CAN HELP, AND BE ANOTHER TOOL THAT WE HAVE IN OUR TOOL KIT.

>>> THE DOCTOR AND HER TEAM ARE WORKING WITH ENGINEERS AND CHEMISTS TO CREATE AN INSTRUMENT THAT TAKES LESS THAN TWO HOURS TO SEE IF AN INFECTION IS RESISTANT TO ANTIBIOTICS.

>>> THAT IS IT FOR YOU.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

♪ >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HALF HOUR OF LOEBING CALL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS.

FROM CRONKITE NEWS A REPORT FROM WASHINGTON.

AND ON BREAK IT DOWN, HOW TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM THE DANGERS OF SOCIAL MEDIA.