Thu.Jan 02, 2025

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The Growing Human Footprint on Earth, as Seen from Space

Yale E360

Last year saw warming reach startling new highs, with record heat fueling extreme weather around the world. As farms and cities grow, pollution is spreading and overheating the planet. The evidence of our impact is so profound that it can be seen from space.

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AI chatbots fail to diagnose patients by talking with them

New Scientist

Although popular AI models score highly on medical exams, their accuracy drops significantly when making a diagnosis based on a conversation with a simulated patient

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Elevated Levels of Radium Found in Western Pennsylvania’s Freshwater Mussels 

Inside Climate News

Researchers detected increased radioactivity in mussels downstream of oil and gas wastewater discharge points, raising concerns about effects up the food chain. By Kiley Bense Sixty-two years ago, Rachel Carsons Silent Spring connected disappearing populations of bald eagles to the presence of the pesticide DDT in the birds food chain. Because bald eagles are apex predators, their dose of the toxic chemical was magnified and became fatal to their ability to reproduce.

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Crystal-based cooling could make fridges more sustainable

New Scientist

A new type of crystal that absorbs heat when released from extreme pressure could lead to climate-friendly refrigerators and air conditioners

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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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Nanotech Scientists Build on an Insect’s Odd Soccer Ball-Like Excretions to Design Ingenious Camouflage

Scientific American

Artificial versions of nanoscale soccer-ball-like structures called brochosomes might be used to make new forms of military camouflage, self-cleaning surfaces or hydrogen fuel

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Delicate robot hands know just how hard to squeeze

New Scientist

A robotic hand uses fingertip sensors and AI to determine how firmly to grip before closing in on an object, overcoming a persistent problem for prosthetics

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More Trending

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Analysis: IEA warns that the world is struggling to wean itself off coal

A Greener Life

A coal plant in the Chinese province of Gansu. Photo credit: Aerial Perspectives / Getty Images. By Anders Lorenzen In 2024, the UK, the birthplace of the industrial revolution and powering modern civilisation, became the first developed economy to have completely weaned itself off coal. Campaigners and advocates for dealing with the climate crisis would have hoped this would set a new global trend for declining coal usage.

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Brodhead Watershed Association: Protecting Clean Water Together - Become A Master Watershed Steward

PA Environment Daily

By Carol Hillestad for Brodhead Watershed Association , Monroe County Maybe youre a hiker, birder or hunter. Or maybe you love fishing, nature photography, trail running or mountain biking. And maybe youre a curious kind of person, someone who enjoys learning about the world and sharing what you know with others. If so, you might have what it takes to become a Penn State Extension Master Watershed Steward.

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The Overlooked Carbon Storage Potential of Tidal Marshes

Cool Green Science

Tidal marshes may not build forests, but they do build soil. And in that soil they trap, deposit and secure carbon. A whole lot of carbon. The post The Overlooked Carbon Storage Potential of Tidal Marshes appeared first on Cool Green Science.

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December Monthly Roundup

National Law Center

Roundup As December and 2024 have ended, the staff at the National Agricultural Law Center continue to bring trusted research and. The post December Monthly Roundup appeared first on National Agricultural Law Center.

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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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Geothermal Data Repository (GDR)

Environmental News Bits

The Geothermal Data Repository (GDR) provides free access to data generated from efforts funded by the Geothermal Technologies Office of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and supporting projects and partnerships.

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APHIS Restarts Permitting and “Am I Regulated” Processes for Products of Biotechnology

Nanotech

As reported in our December 5, 2024, blog item, on December 4, 2024, the U.S. Department of Agricultures (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced that it acknowledges the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Californias December 2, 2024, ruling prospectively vacating USDAs May 2020 final rule for organisms developed using genetic engineering.

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Climate Toolkit for Interior Design

Environmental News Bits

Metropolis Magazine’s Climate Toolkit for Interior Design provides resources and strategies to address the carbon emissions of interior design at every stage of a project, from bringing clients on board through the design phase, product selection. and the close-out phase.

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Montana Supreme Court Finds Constitutional Right to Stable Climate

MGKF Law

In an opinion published on December 18, 2024, the Montana Supreme Court found that a provision in the Montana Constitution providing for the right to a “clean and healthful environment” guarantees the right to a stable climate system. In Held v. State of Montana , 2024 MT 312 (Mont. 2024), the Montana Supreme Court affirmed a trial court decision striking down state law provisions that barred state agencies from considering greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions in permitting d

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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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What happens when climate denialism and misogyny intersect? Enter: ‘petro-masculinity’

Environmental News Bits

Read the full story at The 19th. Cara Daggett, an associate professor of political science at Virginia Tech University, coined the term petro-masculinty in a paper she published in 2018. She used the term to describe the rise of authoritarian movements in the Western hemisphere and how they were being shaped by climate change denialism … Continue reading What happens when climate denialism and misogyny intersect?

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How to Vet Presidential Nominees for Their Science Savvy—a Handy Checklist for Senators

Union of Concerned Scientists

Senators have the herculean task of ensuring that our nations future is in the hands of appropriate leaders. Through the Senate confirmation process , they are responsible for vetting nominees for the most senior leadership positions in federal agencies. There are more than 1,300 positions requiring Senate confirmation, many of whom will shape policies and programs that rely heavily on scientific expertise and knowledge.

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Shale drilling techniques could lead to a geothermal surge, IEA says

Environmental News Bits

Read the full story from Reuters. The shale drilling techniques that led to a boom in oil and gas output have also spurred the development of geothermal, which in theory could provide a stable source of power equal to the demand of India and the United States combined, the IEA said on Friday.

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What to Expect When You’re Expecting Trump: Looking Ahead to 2025

Legal Planet

Trumps picks for office provide a strong hint of what next year will look like. In Trumps first term, government actions were often overturned by the courts. Agencies made basic mistakes: skipping mandatory procedural steps, ignoring important evidence, or failing to address opposing arguments. Many people thought he had learned his lesson and pick competent, experienced administrators this time.

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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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New climate chemistry model finds “non-negligible” impacts of potential hydrogen fuel leakage

Environmental News Bits

Read the full story from MIT News. An MIT study confirms the climate impacts of hydrogen, recommends leak prevention be a priority as infrastructure for handling this clean-burning fuel is built.

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USEPA Extends Deadline for Installation of Variable Refrigerant Flow Systems Using Regulated Hydrofluorocarbons

SPR Law

On December 12, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) published its final rule extending the time for certain new variable refrigerant flow (VRF) air conditioning and heat pump systems to comply with the hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) phasedown requirements of the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2020 (AIM Act). HFCs are greenhouse gases with global… The post USEPA Extends Deadline for Installation of Variable Refrigerant Flow Systems Using Regulated Hydrofluorocarbon

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Turning waste glass into sustainable fertilizer

Environmental News Bits

Read the full story from ASME. As the worlds second-most consumed resource after water, sand supplied essential material for concrete, glass production, insulation, water filtration, and landscaping. Yet, at a staggering 50 billion metric tons consumed annually, sand disappeared faster than nature could replenish it.

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Thursday PA Environment & Energy NewsClips - 1.2.25

PA Environment Daily

NOTICE: Due To A Significant Family Health Issue, The Schedule For Publishing The PA Environment Digest Will Be Uncertain Thru At Least January 6. 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.

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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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Geoscientists demystify baseball’s magic mud

Environmental News Bits

Read the full story at EOS. Before it flies from a pitchers fingers, every ball thrown in Major League Baseball (MLB) games is massaged with a finger-sized dollop of mud to improve its grip and remove its glossy sheen.

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Three firms redefining design through community-led processes

Environmental News Bits

Read the full story in Metropolis Magazine. As part of their Alternative Practices project, Verda Alexander and Maya Bird-Murphy spotlight firms that are turning traditional Western design thinking on its head.

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Building Transition: Financing Market Transformation

Environmental News Bits

Download the report. In the developed world, most of the buildings we will use in 2050 are already standing. This means hundreds of millions, if not billions, of existing buildings globally must rapidly improve their performance.

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Trump transition team plans sweeping rollback of Biden EV, emissions policies

Environmental News Bits

Read the full story from Reuters. Incoming U.S. President Donald Trumps transition team is recommending sweeping changes to cut off support for electric vehicles and charging stations and to strengthen measures blocking cars, components and battery materials from China, according to a document seen by Reuters.