Thu.Jul 18, 2024

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Lithium Critical to the Energy Transition is Coming at the Expense of Water

Inside Climate News

By Wyatt Myskow Lithium needed for batteries that power electric vehicles and store electricity from renewable energy projects is likely to deplete—and in some cases, contaminate—local water supplies, according to a new paper published this week.

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Many people think AI is already sentient - and that's a big problem

New Scientist

A survey of people in the US has revealed the widespread belief that artificial intelligence models are already self-aware, which is very far from the truth

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Montana Is a Frontier for Deep Carbon Storage, and the Controversies Surrounding the Potential Climate Solution

Inside Climate News

The Big Sky State hopes to get federal incentives to store captured carbon under public lands, but for many residents near the project, the threat is greater than the opportunity. By Najifa Farhat A new project aims to take carbon dioxide pollution, likely from two natural gas processing plants in Wyoming, and store it thousands of feet underground beneath the wide-open prairies of southeastern Montana.

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Are animals conscious? We’re finally realising that many species are

New Scientist

Science is at last confirming what many people have long suspected - that mammals, birds and perhaps some invertebrates have elements of consciousness

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The Key to Sustainable Energy Optimization: A Data-Driven Approach for Manufacturing

Speaker: Kevin Kai Wong, President of Emergent Energy Solutions

In today's industrial landscape, the pursuit of sustainable energy optimization and decarbonization has become paramount. ♻️ Manufacturing corporations across the U.S. are facing the urgent need to align with decarbonization goals while enhancing efficiency and productivity. Unfortunately, the lack of comprehensive energy data poses a significant challenge for manufacturing managers striving to meet their targets. 📊 Join us for a practical webinar hosted by Kevin Kai Wong of Emergent Ene

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Regulation of Food for GLP-1 Drug Users: Labeling Claims

National Law Center

In May 2024, Nestle announced its development of a new food brand created for customers who are users of GLP-1 weight-loss. The post Regulation of Food for GLP-1 Drug Users: Labeling Claims appeared first on National Agricultural Law Center.

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New species of Portuguese man o' war discovered in the Tasman Sea

New Scientist

Genetic analysis shows that there are four varieties of Portuguese man o’ war, or bluebottle, including an Antipodean species that has yet to be named

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NASA's cancelled moon rover calls 2026 crewed landing into question

New Scientist

The VIPER moon rover was due to launch in 2025 but NASA has suddenly cancelled it, citing budgetary issues, despite the spacecraft being fully built

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FEMA Flood Rule Will Lead to Safer Rebuilding Post-Disaster

NRDC

The rule is among the first adopted by a federal agency that will require federally funded projects to be sited and designed with future climate impacts in mind.

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Retinol's anti-ageing effects may work by changing your skin microbes

New Scientist

Retinol, which is commonly added to anti-ageing skincare products, may improve hydration by interacting with bacteria on the skin

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A Big Legal Win for Beluga Whales and Alaskan Communities

NRDC

An Alaska federal court suspended a Cook Inlet oil and gas lease in response to a lawsuit filed by NRDC and our partners. This is a major victory for critically endangered Cook Inlet beluga whales, whose population has plummeted in the.

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Implementing D.E.J.I. Strategies in Energy, Environment, and Transportation

Speaker: Antoine M. Thompson, Executive Director of the Greater Washington Region Clean Cities Coalition

Diversity, Equity, Justice, and Inclusion (DEJI) policies, programs, and initiatives are critically important as we move forward with public and private sector climate and sustainability goals and plans. Underserved and socially, economically, and racially disadvantaged communities bear the burden of pollution, higher energy costs, limited resources, and limited investments in the clean energy and transportation sectors.

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Why the UK was so ill prepared for the covid-19 pandemic

New Scientist

The UK had no plans for preventing or limiting the spread of a covid-19-like infection because it assumed the next pandemic would be caused by an unstoppable flu virus, an inquiry into the outbreak has revealed

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PA Assn. Of Conservation Districts Recognizes Conservation Award Winners

PA Environment Daily

On July 18, the PA Association of Conservation Districts annual conference was held in State College and several conservationists were recognized during the awards luncheon. “Pennsylvania’s 66 conservation districts and their partners are dedicated to ensuring clean water and healthy soil for future generations. Today, we pause to celebrate the exceptional efforts of some of these remarkable individuals,” said Brenda Shambaugh, PACD Executive Director.

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Watch bees defend their nest by slapping ants with their wings

New Scientist

When ants try to invade their nest, Japanese honeybees flutter their wings and tilt their bodies to beat away their enemies

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Blasting Virtual Aliens Could Help Dyslexic Kids Parse Words

Scientific American

Children at risk of dyslexia who played Space Invaders Extreme 2 showed improvement at a word-identification task

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Shaping a Resilient Future: Climate Impact on Vulnerable Populations

Speaker: Laurie Schoeman Director, Climate & Sustainability, Capital

As households and communities across the nation face challenges such as hurricanes, wildfires, drought, extreme heat and cold, and thawing permafrost and flooding, we are increasingly searching for ways to mitigate and prevent climate impacts. During this event, national climate and housing expert Laurie Schoeman will discuss topics including: The two paths for climate action: decarbonization and adaptation.

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Is sharing your smartphone PIN part of a healthy relationship?

New Scientist

Smartphones contain some of our most intimate data, but are you willing to share it with your most intimate partner?

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Astronauts Would Need an Unusual Pot to Boil Food in Space

Scientific American

Astronauts still survive on freeze-dried meals. Could better food, aided by cooking gadgets designed to be used in microgravity, help them to thrive?

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How to unsnarl a tangle of threads, according to physics

New Scientist

A jiggling robot has revealed the ideal vibrating speed to free jumbled fibres

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U.S. Gulf States Risk ‘Knock-Out Blow’ from Successive Disasters

Scientific American

Repeated extreme weather events in states along the Gulf of Mexico such as Louisiana, Alabama, Texas, Mississippi and Florida can erode a community’s ability to take care of itself

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Sustainability at Retail

Sustainability impacts every nation, company, and person around the world. So much so that, in 2015, the United Nations (UN) issued a call for action by all countries to work toward sustainable development. In response to this and as part of a global Sustainability at Retail initiative, Shop! worked collaboratively with its global affiliates to address these critical issues in this white paper.

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1.5 Degrees of Global Warming—Are We There Yet?

NRDC

Here’s where the world stands in its fight against climate change. The end goal remains the same.

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Meet our Commissioning Editor: Kulbhushansingh Suryawanshi

The Applied Ecologist

In this latest installation of Journal of Applied Ecology’s Meet the Editor series, we’re joined by our new Commissioning Editor, Kulbhushansingh Suryawanshi! What can you tell us about the first paper you published? That was a dream come true and the beginning of a life-long commitment to ecological research. I had completed my master’s dissertation studying the blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur) in the Himalaya.

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Natural Lands Acts To Preserve 14 Acre Painter Farmstead In Chester County's Hopewell Big Woods

PA Environment Daily

On July 18, Natural Lands announced the permanent preservation of the Painter farmstead in Warwick Township, Chester County. The 14-acre property is now protected by a conservation easement that will ensure its meadows and woodlands will remain forever. “The Painter property is quintessential Chester County: stone farm buildings surrounded by picture-perfect pastures, meadows, and forest,” said Jack Stefferud, senior director of land protection for Natural Lands.

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The UK off track to meet climate targets, new UK government told

A Greener Life

By Anders Lorenzen Just over a week after Ed Miliband , the Energy and Net Zero Secretary of State who is charged with spearheading the barely two-week-old Labour Government response to the climate crisis, appointed the former head of the independent climate advisors to the government, the Climate Change Committee (CCC) Chris Stark, to Mission Control, an initiative to meet the country’s 2030 clean energy targets, his former employees warned the government that the UK is off-track to meet its ne

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Penn State Extension Hosts Aug. 20 Online Solar Law Symposium

PA Environment Daily

On August 20, Penn State Extension will host an online Solar Law Symposium from Noon to 4:30 p.m. to explore insights on grid-scale solar, photovoltaic advancements, and rural impact research. Co-sponsored by Penn State Extension, Penn State’s Center for Energy Law and Policy, and the Penn State Center for Agricultural and Shale Law, this event is tailored for attorneys, energy professionals and those with beginning and intermediate levels of solar law knowledge.

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The Benefits of Conducting a Proactive EHS System Analysis with Capaccio (Now ALL4)

Capaccio

The Benefits of Conducting a Proactive EHS System Analysis with Capaccio ( Now ALL4 ) Much of how companies engage with their Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) initiatives is driven by reactive responses to risk factors and addressing compliance issues as problems arise. This paradigm tends to keep EHS teams on the backfoot—always scrambling to put out fires in a cycle that can hobble the advancement of more ambitious sustainability measures and undercut the chance of genuine innovation.

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PennVEST Makes $257 Million Investment In 18 Water Infrastructure Projects In 13 Counties

PA Environment Daily

On July 17, the PA Infrastructure Investment Authority announced the investment of $257.5 million for 18 drinking water, wastewater, and non-point source projects across 13 counties through the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority. The projects include replacing lead or other corrosive pipes, rehabilitating aging systems, upgrading service capabilities, extending service to more communities, and reducing environmental contaminants through compliance with current regulatory levels and

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Spatial Investigation of Legacy Pollutants within a Confirmed Cancer Cluster in Three Houston, TX Neighborhoods

Environmental News Bits

Hillin, J., Canada, A., Fawkes, L.S. et al. “Spatial Investigation of Legacy Pollutants within a Confirmed Cancer Cluster in Three Houston, TX Neighborhoods.” Water Air & Soil Pollution 235, 370 (2024). [link] Abstract Two cancer clusters near potential contamination sites have recently been identified in Northeast Houston, Texas.

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Registration Open! Penn State Extension 5-Part Backyard Stream Repair Webinar Series

PA Environment Daily

Penn State Extension is now accepting registrations for its five-part Backyard Stream Repair webinar series that starts on August 27. Is your stream getting deeper or wider? Are you losing some of your land every time it rains? Have you wondered why your streambanks are changing so rapidly and what you can do about that? Join Penn State Extension for the Backyard Stream Repair Series focused on repairing your backyard stream.

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Enhanced thermochemical valorization of coconut husk through carbon dioxide integration: A sustainable approach to agricultural residue utilization

Environmental News Bits

Kwon, D., Kim, Y., Choi, D., Jung, S., Tsang, Y. F., & Kwon, E. E. (2024). Enhanced thermochemical valorization of coconut husk through carbon dioxide integration: A sustainable approach to agricultural residue utilization. Applied Energy, 369, 123576.

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Protect PT Hosts Aug. 1 Training Session On Using Its App To Report Problems At Oil & Gas Infrastructure Sites

PA Environment Daily

Westmoreland County-based Protect PT will host an August 1 in-person training session on using its Mobile Reporting App to file a variety of observations relating to oil and gas development, including noise, air pollution, dust, traffic incidents, water pollution, health impacts. Protect PT will teach you everything you need to know here at our Community Education Center about downloading and using the app so you can better protect your family's health.

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Breaking Barriers to Low Carbon Concrete Pavements

Environmental News Bits

Lopez, S., Sutter, L., Douglas Hooton, R., Van Dam, T., Innis, A., & Senn, K. (2024). Breaking Barriers to Low Carbon Concrete Pavements. Transportation Research Record, 0(0). [link] Abstract Several benefits, including low cost, versatility, robustness, and local availability, contribute to concrete being humankind’s most widely used construction material.

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HCS 2024 — A Conversation with Karin F. Baron

Nanotech

This week, I welcomed back to the studio Karin F. Baron, Director of Hazard Communication and International Registration Strategy at B&C and our consulting affiliate, The Acta Group. And none too soon. Just when you were giving up hope in tackling the monster final Hazard Communication Standard rule issued on May 20, you realized Karin and I are devoting an entire podcast to the final rule!

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Anchoring a just transition: The ambivalent roles of Norwegian trade unions

Environmental News Bits

Jordhus-Lier, D., Henriksson, J. M., Houeland, C., Quirino, G., & Holland, I. A. (2024). Anchoring a just transition: The ambivalent roles of Norwegian trade unions. Energy Research & Social Science, 114, 103619.

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The Psychological Effects of the Trump Assassination Attempt

Scientific American

Political violence has a different effect on people today than it did in the past because of social media and extreme partisanship

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