Mon.Aug 05, 2024

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New England’s Offshore Wind Resource Is a Winter Powerhouse

Union of Concerned Scientists

It was a bitter cold day on January 5, 2018, and Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker had no choice. An Arctic air mass had descended on New England, causing temperatures in Boston to remain below 20 degrees Fahrenheit for a week. Outside, the windchill was negative 15 degrees, and the regional grid operator was warning that the situation was dire. Demand for electricity was high, but there was not enough gas available to keep all the gas-fired power plants running.

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Fossils show Greenland was once ice-free – and could be again

New Scientist

Ancient plants, seeds and insects preserved beneath Greenland’s ice sheet reveal that it once melted completely, raising concerns about sea level rise if it happens again

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Inside the IPCC 61st Plenary Meeting: Debates and Decisions Shaping Climate Policy

Union of Concerned Scientists

This post was co-authored by UCS Principal Climate Scientist Kristina Dahl. Last week, we participated in an IPCC plenary meeting held in Sofia, Bulgaria. Delegates from around the world convened with three main, substantive tasks: approving outlines for a new special report on cities and climate change; approving outlines for a methodology report on short-lived climate pollutants; and agreeing on a timeline for the publishing the three main IPCC working group reports for the organization’s seve

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New Study Reveals Signs of an Ancient Tundra Ecosystem Beneath Greenland’s Thickest Ice

Inside Climate News

An analysis of long-forgotten sediment samples identified fungi, willow wood, insect remains and a solitary seed of an Arctic poppy. By Bob Berwyn Sometime in the past 1.1 million years, the thickest part of the Greenland Ice Sheet melted completely, scientists said in a study released today that analyzed fossilized bits of moss, wood shards, insect and fungi fragments, as well as the seed of an Arctic poppy.

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How to Drive Cost Savings, Efficiency Gains, and Sustainability Wins with MES

Speaker: Nikhil Joshi, Founder & President of Snic Solutions

Is your manufacturing operation reaching its efficiency potential? A Manufacturing Execution System (MES) could be the game-changer, helping you reduce waste, cut costs, and lower your carbon footprint. Join Nikhil Joshi, Founder & President of Snic Solutions, in this value-packed webinar as he breaks down how MES can drive operational excellence and sustainability.

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Saltmarsh Sparrow: The “Canary” of Sea-Level Rise

Cool Green Science

The saltmarsh sparrow is literally adapted to keep its head above water. But the seas are rising. The post Saltmarsh Sparrow: The “Canary” of Sea-Level Rise appeared first on Cool Green Science.

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Rising methane emissions from wetlands may undermine climate targets

New Scientist

Countries are starting to take steps to cut human sources of methane emissions, but climate change is increasing emissions of the potent greenhouse gas from wetlands

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How clues in honey can help fight our biggest biodiversity challenges

New Scientist

There are secrets aplenty in a pot of honey – from information about bees' "micro-bee-ota" to DNA from the environment – that can help us fight food fraud and even monitor shifts in climate

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State Museum Of PA Hosts Aug. 16 Virtual Program On How The PA Geological Survey Uses Satellite Data And You Can Too

PA Environment Daily

On August 16, the State Museum of Pennsylvania will host a webinar on How The Pennsylvania Geological Survey Uses Satellite Data starting at 12:15 p.m. Join Ellen Fehrs, Senior Geoscientist with DCNR's Pennsylvania Geological Survey to learn how satellites can help us address landslides and other hazards, predict the occurrence of caves and sinkholes, and plan fieldwork for our geologists.

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Banana-shaped galaxies are helping unpeel the mysteries of dark matter

New Scientist

Astronomers have been spotting strange banana-shaped galaxies and the evidence seems to indicate that filaments of dark matter make them take this shape

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Center For Coalfield Justice Hosts Aug. 20 In-Person Program On Investigations Into Rare Childhood Cancers In Washington County

PA Environment Daily

The Center For Coalfield Justice hosts an in-person August 20 program featuring local reporter David Templeton discussing his investigations into rare childhood cancers in Southwest PA that lead to the recent University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health studies. The program will be held at the California United Methodist Church, 227 3rd Street in Washington County starting at 6:30 p.m.

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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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Keto diet helps with weight loss but also raises cholesterol levels

New Scientist

A low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet is linked to greater fat loss than a low-sugar diet, but also higher cholesterol levels

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Hazardous Melting Ice Could Sink Arctic Shipping

Scientific American

Warmer temperatures were supposed to make Arctic shipping easier.

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City Of Lock Haven, PA Municipal League And KABOOM! Unveil Kid-Designed, Community-Built Playground At Hoberman Park In Clinton County

PA Environment Daily

On August 3, children and teens at Hoberman Park in the City of Lock Haven, Clinton County celebrated the debut of a new kid-designed playground. The months-long collaboration culminated last week as volunteers installed the new playspace which will spark joy and foster a sense of belonging for kids in Lock Haven. It was made possible through the partnership between the City of Lock Haven , The PA Municipal League , and KABOOM!

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Best 30 Books on Climate Change: Essential Reads for 2024

Earthava

The post Best 30 Books on Climate Change: Essential Reads for 2024 appeared first on Earthava. Climate change is a pressing global issue that affects everyone. Books on this topic can help us understand the causes, impacts, and potential solutions. They offer insights from scientists, policymakers, and activists who are working to address this challenge.

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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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New Pipes Equal Safer Family

NRDC

I just had my lead service line replaced, and I couldn’t be happier.

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Slime Mold Helps to Map the Universe’s Tendrils of Dark Matter

Scientific American

A single-celled organism’s pathfinding reveals connections in the universe’s vast “cosmic web”

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Robo-tuna reveals how foldable fins help the speedy fish manoeuvre

New Scientist

A robot mimics the clever fin-folding mechanism used by tuna fish, which increased the bot's turning velocity by almost 33 per cent

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August 5 - Weekly PA Environment Digest Now Available

PA Environment Daily

“The people have a right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and esthetic values of the environment. Pennsylvania's public natural resources are the common property of all the people, including generations yet to come. As trustee of these resources, the Commonwealth shall conserve and maintain them for the benefit of all the people.” -- Article I, Section 27 Pennsylvania Constitution [It’s Not A Suggestion] Click Here To View Or Print The Entire Aug

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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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Cancer Case Rates Are Rising Across Generations and a SpaceX Private Spacewalk is Delayed

Scientific American

A new blood test for cancer, helpful cat parasites, and a new kind of wood in this week's news roundup.

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Pittsburgh-based Volpatt Construction, Partners Diverted More Than 275 Tons Of Waste From Landfills As Part Of 'Dumpster Last' Philosophy

PA Environment Daily

On August 5, Volpatt Construction , a general contractor and construction management firm serving the Western PA Tri-State area, announced that since January of 2024 and with the help of local partners, the company has diverted more than 275 tons of waste from landfills. That amount is equivalent to 63% of all waste collected across multiple job sites.

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'Cry It Out' Sleep Training Won’t Hurt a Parent or Baby. Bad Sleep Will

Scientific American

Despite conflicting advice, letting your baby “cry it out” can help parents and babies alike

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State Conservation Commission Now Accepting Applications For $13 Million In REAP Farm Conservation Tax Credits - First-Come, First-Served

PA Environment Daily

On August 5, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding invited Pennsylvania farmers to apply for $13 million in Resource Enhancement and Protection Farm Conservation Tax Credits available to support their efforts to improve soil health and water quality now through September 1. Applications are considered on a first-come, first-served basis from agricultural producers who implement best management practices or purchase equipment to reduce nutrient and sediment runoff, enhance soil health and improve

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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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Kyoto Tells Us How Humanity Can Come Together on Climate Change

Scientific American

A play celebrates the agreement that opened nations worldwide to accepting the science of climate change

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Ashwin Murthy joins the Sabin Center as Negative Emissions Fellow

Law Columbia

This month, Ashwin Murthy joins the Sabin Center as a Negative Emissions Fellow. His work focuses on the legal frameworks governing ocean-based carbon dioxide removal, at both the national and international levels. Ashwin graduated from Columbia Law School in 2024 with an LL.M. Prior to studying at Columbia, Ashwin worked at Kim & Chang in Korea, and at Khaitan & Co. in India, as an arbitration and dispute resolution lawyer.

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Susquehanna River Basin Commission Now Accepting Applications For Watershed Restoration, Improvement Grants; 2 Applicant Webinars Coming Up

PA Environment Daily

On August 5, the Susquehanna River Basin Commission announced it is now accepting applications for its Stream & Watershed Enhancement Grant Program to support local organizations dedicated to the health and wellness of our local waterways. The deadline for applications is October 31. Awards will be announced this December. The grant program provides funding for community-based environmental and water resource projects or events that improve, restore or protect our Basin’s watersheds.

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When scientific citations go rogue: Uncovering ‘sneaked references’

Environmental News Bits

by Lonni Besançon, Linköping University and Guillaume Cabanac, Institut de Recherche en Informatique de Toulouse A researcher working alone – apart from the world and the rest of the wider scientific community – is a classic yet misguided image.

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CPCS Finds Amazon Responsible under CPSA for Hazardous Products Sold by Third-Party Sellers on Amazon.com

Nanotech

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced on July 30, 2024, that it issued a Decision and Order against Amazon.com, Inc. (Amazon). CPCS states that, in a unanimous vote, it “determined that Amazon was a ‘distributor’ of products that are defective or fail to meet federal consumer product safety standards, and therefore bears legal responsibility for their recall.

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Tips From the Best: Sustainability Ideas for Your Processing Plant

Environmental News Bits

Aug 15, 2024, noon CDTRegister here. Food and beverage processors are under more pressure than ever to show consumers that they’re taking sustainability initiatives in their operations. But these initiatives also make economic sense, saving valuable resources in a competitive manufacturing environment.

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Self-Managed Abortions Have Increased Since Fall of ‘Roe'

Scientific American

Privacy concerns were one of the most common reasons for seeking a self-managed abortion, a recent study found

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How Google, Meta, Salesforce and other companies are joining forces to fund climate action

Environmental News Bits

Read the full story at Trellis. In June, Salesforce announced that it had joined Frontier, an advance market commitment (AMC) from over a dozen companies for the purchase of credits for durable carbon removal credits.

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Centre for Environment and Sustainability: Meet Zoe Harris

The Applied Ecologist

In this new series, The Applied Ecologist is amplifying the staff and student voices from the University of Surrey’s Centre for Environment and Sustainability to showcase their diverse, interdisciplinary body of work and to help inspire the next generation. In this post, Zoe talks about the Taeda Tech Project. Meet Zoe Harris I am a Senior Lecture at the Centre and the University of Surrey.

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State Scientific Surveys Legislative Histories

Environmental News Bits

Download the report. This document includes research on the extensive legislative histories of the Illinois Natural History Survey, Illinois State Archaeological Survey, Illinois State Geological Survey, Illinois State Water Survey, and Illinois Sustainable Technology Center.