Thu.Dec 14, 2023

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How Gas Plants Fail and Lead to Power Outages in Extreme Winter Weather

Union of Concerned Scientists

Winter is once again here, bringing great festivities and respite via holidays, but also great worries to energy regulators, grid operators, and communities about dangerous winter storms that can spread across large parts of the United States and negatively affect electric grid reliability. Power plants that use methane gas as a fuel will be relied upon to keep people warm and out of the dark, since gas plants are the country’s largest source of generating capacity.

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Who is responsible for the negligence of the “company man” on the well?

Energy & the Law

Parkman v. W&T Offshore, Inc., et al features two contractors playing hot potato over liability for a company man’s alleged negligence. The takeaway: Write your Master Service Agreement to address your liability concerns, and then pay attention to what really happens on the location, regardless of what the MSA says. (And good luck monitoring that second factor!

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Mobilizing the Student Vote: 4 Takeaways from the Students Learn, Students Vote Summit

Union of Concerned Scientists

In 2024 students are determined to show up to vote, make their voices heard, and overcome any systemic, institutional, and individual challenges that stand in their way. That’s my biggest takeaway from attending the inspiring Students Learn, Students Vote Summit at the University of Maryland last month. The two-day gathering brought together nearly 240 students, faculty, and nonprofit partners from dozens of groups, campuses, and 25 different states who collectively focus on one thing: Turning o

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UK House of Lords Considers New Bill on Mandatory Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence

Clean Energy Law

The Private Members Bill, if passed, would establish the UK’s first law mandating business due diligence on human rights and the environment. By Paul A. Davies , Michael D. Green , and James Bee On 28 November 2023, Baroness Young of Hornsey (Baroness Young) introduced the Commercial Organisations and Public Authorities Duty (Human Rights and Environment) Bill (the Bill) to the UK House of Lords.

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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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Nature Got a More Prominent Place at the Table at COP28

Inside Climate News

Animals’ roles in the carbon cycle have long been overlooked. At the climate conference in Dubai, scientists showed how rewilding ecosystems can have big climate benefits. By Bob Berwyn DUBAI, United Arab Emirates— As COP28 ended with just a faint glimmer of hope that the world will take seriously the need to decarbonize by 2050, leading scientists at the conference said it’s time to “put the protection and restoration of wild ecosystems at the heart of global climate policy” as a viable option

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DeepMind AI with built-in fact-checker makes mathematical discoveries

New Scientist

The AI company DeepMind claims it has developed a way to harness the creativity of chatbots to solve mathematical problems while filtering out mistakes

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More Trending

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How To Keep AI From Stealing the Sound of Your Voice

Scientific American

A new technology called AntiFake prevents the theft of the sound of your voice by making it more difficult for AI tools to analyze vocal recordings

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Ultrasound could spot battery defects that might lead to fires

New Scientist

Potentially dangerous battery damage that would normally be hidden from sight could be revealed quickly and at low cost using ultrasound waves

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Driving Ambition, Action, and Equity at COP28 (Part 1)

NRDC

World leaders in Dubai sent a clear signal: the end of the fossil fuel era has begun, and the world is rapidly transitioning to a clean energy economy.

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Cyanide in the ocean of Saturn's moon Enceladus could be good for life

New Scientist

Hydrogen cyanide, ethane and traces of methanol are present in the water spewing from Enceladus's ocean – all of which could be building blocks of life

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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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We Need Healthy Farm Ecosystems – Not Harmful Pesticides

NRDC

EPA should do more to protect pollinators – and we need to ramp up resources to help farmers build healthy ecosystems themselves.

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Tap-dancing spider rediscovered after disappearing for 92 years

New Scientist

Fagilde’s trapdoor spider seemingly vanished after it was first described in 1931, but now scientists have finally spotted it again in northern Portugal

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Pebble Mine 2023: Tribes Win Veto, State Hail Marys SCOTUS

NRDC

After EPA issues rare veto of massive Bristol Bay mine, Dunleavy Administration throws lifeline to Canadian owner, lodging dubious claims in U.S. Supreme Court.

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Enhancing riparian protection: A call for clear objectives and measurable targets

The Applied Ecologist

Lenka Kuglerová, John S. Richardson, Timo Muotka, Darshanaa Chellaiah and Jussi Jyväsjärvi talk to us about their latest perspective article which suggests that locally developed and adjusted targets for riparian buffers must move away from vague objectives. A switch towards quantifiable goals that specify what is supposed to be achieved and protected will help to implement, monitor and evaluate targets.

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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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First of its Kind: A White House Ocean Justice Strategy

NRDC

During COP28, the White House released a strategy to guide federal agencies towards incorporating justice and equity in ocean use and conservation.

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What is a Blob Sculpin?

Ocean Conservancy

We know the deep sea is full of some exceptional animals—for proof, look no further than the gulper eel , lizardfish or snailfish. Today, we’re diving into another weird and wonderful deep-sea fish: the blob sculpin. Despite its somewhat lackluster name, the blob sculpin has flashy adaptations that allow it to thrive in the harsh conditions of the deep sea.

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Spinal cord stimulator dramatically reduces phantom limb pain

New Scientist

Pressure sensors on a prosthetic foot that send electrical pulses to the spinal cord help improve walking stability – and they also reduce phantom limb pain by an average of 70 per cent

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DCNR To Celebrate 'Connecting More in 2024' During First Day Hikes Jan. 1 Across Pennsylvania Public Lands

PA Environment Daily

On December 14, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources announced it will host nearly 60 guided hikes in 43 state parks and two forest districts on New Year’s Day, as part of the nationwide “First Day Hike” efforts. These guided hikes, all taking place on January 1, are designed to promote a healthy start in the new year while offering families an opportunity to forge new and stronger connections with the outdoors.

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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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Opinion: COP28 – you can’t argue with the laws of physics

A Greener Life

By Anders Lorenzen Life on Earth is, however much we try to live in ways that do not match reality, still within some constraints. All the resources of our planet do have their limits even though they are renewable resources. Fossil fuels as the name suggests had their beginning in the fossil age. The energy sources we now know as coal, oil and gas were generated from decaying biomass, started millions of years ago long before the first human emerged.

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Recent Federal and State Legislation to Amend Child Labor Laws

National Law Center

Agriculture can be a hazardous occupation, and adding child workers into the equation can lead to even more dangerous situations. During. The post Recent Federal and State Legislation to Amend Child Labor Laws appeared first on National Agricultural Law Center.

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Do Video Doorbells Really Prevent Crime?

Scientific American

More people are using doorbell cameras and sharing the footage with the police, but there are few data showing their effectiveness

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Recycling Mystery: Antifreeze

Earth 911

Antifreeze: Wise car owners have some stored in the garage to keep their engines running. The post Recycling Mystery: Antifreeze appeared first on Earth911.

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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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Dr. Marco Hatch: Merging Ocean Science and Community-Driven Environmental Restoration

Washington Nature

By Anya Blaney Ocean scientist and TNC in Washington trustee Marco Hatch creates opportunities for under-resourced students to pursue higher education while revitalizing ancestral clam gardens. As climate challenges unfold, clam gardens remain a testament to the resilience of Indigenous people and nature. These intertidal structures—where the land and sea meet during low and high tides—are vital to maintaining healthy waters and sustainable food systems.

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Pebble Mine 2023: Tribes Win Veto, State Hail Marys SCOTUS

NRDC

After EPA issues rare veto of massive Bristol Bay mine, Dunleavy Administration throws lifeline to Canadian owner, lodging dubious claims in U.S. Supreme Court.

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A Rare Visual Disorder Twists Faces Out of Shape

Scientific American

New studies unlock the mysteries of prosopometamorphopsia, a disorder that distorts faces.

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Arctic seals have weird bones in their noses that help them stay warm

New Scientist

Maze-like bones in the noses of Arctic seals turn out to be an adaptation for keeping warm in chilly conditions

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Statement From Ashley Wallis, Associate Director: Preservation of the Beer Store’s Recycling and Reuse Program Should Prompt Complementary Deposit Return System for All Other Beverage Containers

Enviromental Defense

Ontario’s blue bin system is failing to keep non-alcoholic beverage containers out of landfills and the environment Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat – We are relieved to learn that The Beer Store’s successful reuse and recycling program will be preserved. The existing deposit return program keeps hundreds of millions of reusable glass beer bottles in circulation, and even more cans and plastic container

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COP28's Climate Rhetoric Is in Stark Contrast to Our Dependence on Fossil Fuels

Scientific American

Even as the COP28 climate meeting agreed to transition away from fossil fuels, global emissions are on the rise, coal consumption is set to break records, and oil and gas production is booming in the U.S.

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DEP Issues Violation Notice Against Keystone Landfill For Failure To Control Odors In Lackawanna County

PA Environment Daily

On December 14, the Department of Environmental Protection announced it has issued a Notice of Violation (NOV) to Keystone Sanitary Landfill in Lackawanna County for failure to control odors at its facility in the boroughs of Dunmore and Throop. The action comes after the DEP confirmed landfill gas odors numerous times in the past several months. During the months of November and December, DEP staff conducted after-hours odor patrols twice daily, including nights and weekends and were able to co

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Cats Play Fetch, Too--But Only on Their Own Terms

Scientific American

Retrieving isn’t just for dogs, but the emerging science of cat play can’t fully explain the feline phenomenon

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EPA’s Proposed Registration of a Sprayable RNAi Biopesticide — A Conversation with Meibao Zhuang, Ph.D.

Nanotech

This week, listeners are in for a real treat as I sit down with Dr. Meibao Zhuang, Senior Scientist/Regulatory Consultant with B&C and our consulting affiliate, The Acta Group, to discuss double-stranded ribonucleic acid interference, better known as ds RNAi. Ds RNAi is a technology that allows scientists to silence (or interfere with) a particular gene.

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A Rare Visual Disorder Twists Faces Out of Shape

Scientific American

New studies unlock the mysteries of prosopometamorphopsia, a disorder that distorts faces.

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