Thu.Mar 28, 2024

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Mathematicians are bitterly divided over a controversial proof

New Scientist

An attempt to settle a decade-long argument over a controversial proof by mathematician Shinichi Mochizuki has seen a war of words on both sides, with Mochizuki dubbing the latest effort as akin to a "hallucination" produced by ChatGPT

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Song Lyrics Really Are Getting Simpler and More Repetitive, Study Finds

Scientific American

An assessment of hundreds of thousands of songs confirms that choruses and hooks have taken over—but simpler isn’t necessarily worse

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From Michigan to Nebraska, Midwest States Face an Early Wildfire Season

Inside Climate News

The blazes come after a record dry winter in the region. “Year to date, we've had close to 300 wildfires statewide,” a Wisconsin official said. “The normal year-to-date 10-year average is about 40 fires.” By Kristoffer Tigue The Midwest received some much needed moisture this week following an especially hot and dry winter that hamstrung outdoor recreation and sparked an early spring wildfire season in several states.

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Hyperelastic gel is one of the stretchiest materials known to science

New Scientist

A super-stretchy hydrogel can stretch to 15 times its original length and return to its initial shape, and could be used to make soft inflatable robots

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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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Feature- Remembering March 28, 1979 At The Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant - The Accident No One Thought Would Happen

PA Environment Daily

Forty-five years ago on March 28, 1979, Pennsylvanians woke up to a much different world -- the accident at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Dauphin County. The fear and uncertainty about what was going to happen-- Was there a “bubble”? Wasn’t there a bubble? Should we evacuate or not? Have we already been “irradiated” invisibly and don’t know it?

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Mars may have captured and split a comet to create its two moons

New Scientist

How the Red Planet acquired its two moons, Phobos and Deimos, is unknown – they could have formed after something collided with the planet, or started out as asteroids – but now there is a hint of a cometary origin

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Japan’s SLIM moon lander surprisingly survived a second lunar night

New Scientist

The Smart Lander for Investigating Moon spacecraft has sent back images after surviving its second lunar night – generally these periods are so cold they destroy spacecraft electronics

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DEP, PennDOT, Keep PA Beautiful Encourage Everyone ‘Pick Up Pennsylvania’ During Spring Litter Cleanup

PA Environment Daily

On March 28, the Departments of Environmental Protection and Transportation and Keep PA Beautiful encouraged residents, local leaders, businesses, and organizations to join in cleaning up their communities as part of the “ Pick Up Pennsylvania " spring community improvement campaign, now through May 31. Pick Up Pennsylvania is a year-long initiative, however, events scheduled from March 1 through May 31 receive free trash bags, gloves, and safety vests provided by support from DEP, PennDOT and K

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The ambitious plans to study the sun during April's solar eclipse

New Scientist

Solar scientists have been preparing for years for a 4-minute window, during the total solar eclipse on 8 April, in which they will study the sun's corona

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NASA’s OSIRIS-REx Asteroid Sample Is Already Rewriting Solar System History

Scientific American

Scientists have scarcely begun studying pristine material from asteroid Bennu brought back to Earth by the OSIRIS-REx mission, but have already found several surprises

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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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Could bone marrow transplants transmit Alzheimer's disease?

New Scientist

The mainstream view is that Alzheimer's starts in the brain, but researchers were able to transfer the condition in mice by injections of bone marrow

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Advocacy Groups File Endangered Species Act Suit Against Virginia Offshore Wind Project

Endangered Species Law

On March 18, three advocacy organizations and their members filed a lawsuit challenging an offshore wind project against the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM). The lawsuit alleges that the Biological Opinion (BiOp) issued by NMFS for Dominion Energy’s Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project violates the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) because it fails to adequately analyze the project's im

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Chair for gamers boosts player performance and prevents muscular aches

New Scientist

Gamers seemed to be more comfortable after playing in a specialist gaming chair compared with a standard office chair

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Elizabeth and Margaretta Morris, the Forgotten Sisters Who Transformed Early American Science

Scientific American

The Morris sisters made significant contributions to botany and entomology, but their stories were erased from the history of early American science, both accidentally and by design.

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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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Save Carbon County Files Lawsuit In Philadelphia Court Against Stronghold Digital, DEP, Governor, PUC Over Cryptocurrency Operations At Panther Creek Power Plant

PA Environment Daily

On March 26, Save Carbon County filed a lawsuit against Stronghold Digital , DEP, the Governor and the Public Utility Commission over pollution from the cryptocurrency operations at the Panther Creek Power Plant. Save Carbon County hopes to see a decrease in the pollution of our air and water produced by Panther Creek Power located in Nesquehoning. Stronghold Digital owns two “bitcoin mining operations” in Pennsylvania and these facilities use enough electricity to power approximately 1.15 milli

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Aimée McIntosh: Modelling harvest of Greenland barnacle geese and its implications in mitigating human–wildlife conflict

The Applied Ecologist

Shortlisted for the 2023 Southwood Prize Aimée McIntosh talks us through how she and colleagues constructed an integrated population model to assess the cumulative impact of all shooting harvest on the Greenland barnacle goose. Findings demonstrate the impact of local harvests on global abundance, emphasising the importance of internationally coordinated monitoring and management strategies of migratory species.

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Residents Express Concerns At US DOE's Listening Session On ARCH2 Hydrogen Hub Proposal In PA, WV, OH

PA Environment Daily

Concerns about the Appalachian Regional Hydrogen Hub’s (ARCH2) health and safety risks, technical viability, economic impacts, and commitment to community engagement dominated the US Department of Energy’s virtual ARCH2 listening session on Wednesday, March 27. Dozens of community members, many representing organizations throughout ARCH2’s three-state footprint, registered to attend the virtual listening session.

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FIFRA Hot Topic Issues — A Conversation with Jim Aidala

Nanotech

This week, I was excited to sit down with Jim Aidala, Senior Government Affairs Consultant at B&C and its consulting affiliate, The Acta Group, to discuss FIFRA hot topics. For those of us who work in the complicated and ever-changing area of agricultural and biocidal products, federal and state regulation of ag products is often hard to understand and to monitor.

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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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Penn State Extension Hosting Series Of 6 Workshops On Watershed Teaching Tools For Educators Starting April 23

PA Environment Daily

Penn State Extension invites classroom teachers and educators working with 6-12 grade students to participate in free, in-person workshops aimed at enhancing water education from April 23 to May 16. These workshops, supported by the Department of Environmental Protection’s Environmental Education Grants Program, offer curriculum activity kits and training to integrate water topics across various subjects.

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What Google’s New AI Fruit Fly Can Teach Us about Real Behavior

Scientific American

To learn how to move, groom itself and flap its wings, a fruit fly AI devoured hours of video of real insects

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Agriculture Secretary Highlights New Consumer Labeling Requirements Of Fertilizer Law To Save Money, Protect Environment

PA Environment Daily

On March 28, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding visited Cashman’s Hardware Store in Adams County to promote Pennsylvania’s updated fertilizer law and educate consumers on best practices to manage their lawn care in a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable way. The revisions to the Pennsylvania Fertilizer Law, signed by Gov. Shapiro in 2023, brought new responsibilities to homeowners and residents who apply fertilizer to their lawns, ensures clearer fertilizer labels to help homeowners

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EPA Bans Ongoing Uses of Asbestos

Nanotech

On March 28, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final rule under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to address to the extent necessary the unreasonable risk of injury to health presented by chrysotile asbestos based on the risks posed by certain conditions of use (COU). 89 Fed. Reg. 21970. According to the final rule, the injuries to human health include mesothelioma and lung, ovarian, and laryngeal cancers resulting from chronic inhalation The post EPA Bans Ongoi

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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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PA Environmental Council Now Accepting Applications For Pocono Forests & Waters Conservation Landscape Mini Grants

PA Environment Daily

The PA Environmental Council is now accepting applications for Pocono Forests and Waters Conservation Landscape Mini Grants for projects in Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, and Wayne counties. The deadline to apply is April 29. PEC was awarded a total of $60,000 from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources through their Community Conservation Partnership Program to administer the 2024-2025 Pocono Forests and Waters Conservation Landscape Mini Grant Program.

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Minnesota Publishes New Information Concerning PFAS in Products

Nanotech

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) announced on March 26, 2024, that it has published new information concerning per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in products. This information includes: MPCA will publish details on other product categories in response to questions it has received. The post Minnesota Publishes New Information Concerning PFAS in Products appeared first on Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.

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Delaware County Hosts 3rd Annual Sustainability Conference May 30 At Widener University

PA Environment Daily

The Delaware County Office of Sustainability will hold the 3rd Annual Delaware County Sustainability Conference on May 30 at Widener University from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. This year’s conference will continue to expand on these topics, focusing on Sustainability in Action: equipping participants with the tools they need to take action within their communities.

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EC Publishes Communication on Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing, Announces Targeted Actions

Nanotech

The European Commission (EC) announced on March 20, 2024, that it has proposed a series of targeted actions to boost biotechnology and biomanufacturing in the European Union (EU). The EC states that its March 20, 2024, Communication on Building the future with nature: Boosting Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing in the EU “identifies the challenges and barriers and proposes to tackle them, in line with the Communication on the long-term competitiveness of the EU.

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April 30 Webinar: Invasive Catfish and PFAS 'Forever Chemicals' - Forever Problems?

PA Environment Daily

Penn State Extension will host an April 30 webinar on Invasive Catfish and PFAS 'Forever Chemicals' - Forever Problems? starting at Noon. Flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris) is an aquatic invasive species in Eastern Pennsylvania that poses a major threat to a number of different rivers and aquatic ecosystems. It is also a popular sportfish and commonly eaten, but due to the habits of this species it tends to accumulate toxins at a higher level than smaller species of fish.

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Women in Conservation

Washington Nature

by Leah Palmer, TNC Writer/Editor From scientists to burn bosses, lobbyists to land stewards, DEI practitioners to fundraisers, the women and femmes staff at The Nature Conservancy in Washington contribute some of the leading interventions in conservation, while simultaneously facing unique challenges in a field dominated by men. This Women’s History Month, 2024, we’re exploring the backdrop of our colleagues’ triumphs by turning attention to gender inequity in the conservation field. © Joel Rog

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Reminder: PennVEST Accepting Chesapeake Bay Watershed Clean Water Procurement Program Proposals Until April 17

PA Environment Daily

The PA Infrastructure Investment Authority is now accepting applications for the Clean Water Project Procurement Program. The deadline to apply is April 17. The goal of the program is to improve water quality in the Commonwealth through the purchase of verified nutrient (nitrogen/phosphorus) or sediment reduction resulting from the installation of best management practices that are effective and practical to manage nutrient and sediment to protect surface water and groundwater, with the goal of

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The Feed: Volume 2, Issue 6

National Law Center

The Feed newsletter highlights recent legal developments affecting agriculture, with issues released twice a month. Click below to sign up for. The post The Feed: Volume 2, Issue 6 appeared first on National Agricultural Law Center.

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Prospective life cycle assessment to avoid unintended consequences of net-zero solutions and its challenges

Environmental News Bits

Rajaeifar, M. A., & Heidrich, O. (2023). “Prospective life cycle assessment to avoid unintended consequences of net-zero solutions and its challenges.” The 11th International Conference on Industrial Ecology (ISIE2023).

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Poisonous Benefits?

Acoel

Posted on March 28, 2024 by Dennis H. Treacy Credit: Encyclopedia Virginia. Credit: Encyclopedia Virginia. Credit: Encyclopedia Virginia. Fifty years ago the Commonwealth of Virginia experienced a human health and environmental crisis when the insecticide Kepone was discovered in the blood of manufacturing workers and in the fish and sediment of the James River at Hopewell Virginia.