October, 2024

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What’s Causing the Recent Spike in Global Temperatures?

Yale E360

Since early 2023, the world has seen a steep rise in temperatures that scientists are struggling to explain. E360 contributor Elizabeth Kolbert talked with Gavin Schmidt, NASA’s top climate scientist, about possible causes of the warming and why experts cannot account for the heat.

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COP29 Must Increase Climate Finance and Stand Up to the Fossil Fuel Industry 

Union of Concerned Scientists

After spending a week in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, I’m now gearing up to attend the 29 th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the Framework Convention on Climate Change in Baku, Azerbaijan, from November 11-22. I am grateful to have met and learned from people who experience on a daily basis the devastation wrought by fossil fuel production and fossil fuel-driven climate change—and who are now campaigning for a fossil-free Niger Delta.

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Earth is now gaining less heat than it has for several years

New Scientist

The recent surge in warming led to fears that climate change may be accelerating beyond model projections, but a fall in how much heat Earth is gaining makes this less likely

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New Report Shows How Human-Caused Warming Intensified the 10 Deadliest Climate Disasters Since 2004

Inside Climate News

A decade of attribution research shows that “burning fossil fuels causes climate change and climate change causes death and destruction.” By Bob Berwyn The 10 deadliest weather disasters since 2004, including three tropical cyclones, four heatwaves, two floods and a drought, killed at least 570,000 people, and a new study shows how all of them were intensified by global warming, “caused by the burning of oil, gas and coal and deforestation.

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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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Impact Groups Address Insufficient Draft Environmental Impact Report for Dangerous Wood Pellet Project

NRDC

Today, Golden State Natural Resources released the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) on its industrial-scale wood pellet project proposal. The project would include two industrial-scale wood pellet plants, one in the central Sierras and another in Northern California, as well.

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Do Spiders Dream Like Humans Do?

Scientific American

During the pandemic, researcher Daniela Rößler couldn't go out, so she started looking around her for her next research project. Then she found a really big one, and it had been right in front of her all along.

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More Trending

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Intimidation Tactics Exposed in Oregon Climate Case vs. Fossil Fuel Industry 

Union of Concerned Scientists

In 2021, a record-breaking heat dome enveloped Oregon , tragically claiming the lives of 72 people. In response, Multnomah County, which includes Portland, filed a lawsuit for over $51 billion against major fossil fuel entities–one of the largest claims for a climate case to date. The case names ExxonMobil, the American Petroleum Institute, McKinsey & Co., and others, including the recently added NW Natural , a gas utility, alleging that their contributions to climate change—and their disinf

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Amateur sleuth finds largest known prime number with 41 million digits

New Scientist

The largest prime number is now 16 million digits longer than the previous record found in 2018, thanks to an amateur hunter and his large collection of high-power graphics cards

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Climate Change Made Hurricane Milton Stronger, With Heavier Rain, Scientists Conclude

Inside Climate News

A rapid analysis of rainfall trends and Gulf of Mexico temperatures shows many similarities to Hurricane Helene less than two weeks earlier. By Sean Sublette A preliminary analysis from the team of scientists at World Weather Attribution indicates the rainfall from Hurricane Milton across Florida was 20 percent to 30 percent heavier and rainfall intensity was about twice as likely as it would have been in the climate of the late 19th century.

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Priorities for Success at the Biodiversity COP

NRDC

The world has a strategic plan to reverse global biodiversity loss. We must follow through by working with each other to address the critical issues and build a new relationship with nature.

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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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Nobel Prize in Physics Awarded for Breakthroughs in Machine Learning

Scientific American

The 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics was given to John Hopfield and Geoffrey Hinton for development of techniques that laid the foundation for revolutionary advances in artificial intelligence

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On Navajo Lands, Ancient Ways Are Restoring the Parched Earth

Yale E360

Farming once thrived in the Black Mesa region, before overgrazing and climate change wreaked havoc with the land. Today, the Navajo are restoring their watersheds — and boosting their food sovereignty — with earthen berms and small dams made of woven brush, sticks, and rocks.

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Hurricane Helene’s Massive Destruction Was Supercharged by Climate Change, Here’s How You Can Help 

Union of Concerned Scientists

Hurricane Helene has left an 800-mile path of destruction across Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and Kentucky. Right now, people are desperately waiting to hear from loved ones to confirm their safety, while others are living their worst fears as the death toll rises. My heart is heavy. The grief of yet another climate-changed event is overwhelming.

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6G phone networks could be 9000 times faster than 5G

New Scientist

Next-generation phone networks could dramatically outperform current ones thanks to a new technique for transmitting multiple streams of data over a wide range of frequencies

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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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How Climate Change Intensified Helene and the Appalachian Floods

Inside Climate News

Rain just before the storm set the stage for a catastrophe. By Sean Sublette Helene is the fourth Gulf Coast hurricane to make landfall this year. Only five other years had that many since comprehensive hurricane records began in 1851.

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The Bering Sea Snow Crab Collapse: A Climate-Driven Crisis

Ocean Conservancy

October is National Seafood Month, a time to celebrate the incredible diversity of ocean life and the hardworking communities that rely on the ocean for food, livelihoods, recreation and other benefits. At Ocean Conservancy, we are dedicated to protecting these marine ecosystems and supporting the sustainable fisheries that rely on them. However, this year, we must also recognize the severe challenges facing one of Alaska’s most iconic and most valuable fisheries: Bering Sea snow crab.

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We Need More Meds, Not Beds, to Help People Recovering from Addiction

Scientific American

People recovering from substance use disorders need homes, jobs and medication-centered, quality health care, not just a bed in a residential treatment center

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As Storm Disinformation Swirls, Meteorologists Are Facing Threats

Yale E360

Predicting large and dangerous storms has always been challenging. It’s gotten tougher, says meteorologist James Marshall Shepherd, as a growing fringe has started to harass, verbally abuse, and threaten scientists and forecasters who link ferocious weather with climate change.

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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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Hurricanes Helene and Milton Further Proof We’re Not Ready for Fossil Fuel-Caused Climate Change  

Union of Concerned Scientists

In August, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued its updated forecast for the 2024 hurricane season. It was to be above normal in every regard: more named storms and stronger hurricanes than usual. One of the main reasons for this forecast? Significantly warmer than usual surface temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean, which come largely as a result of human-caused climate change.

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Mathematicians have found a new way to identify prime numbers

New Scientist

The first breakthrough in finding prime numbers for over 25 years has mathematicians celebrating, with hopes that the techniques behind the new proof could further advance other areas of maths

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Why Hurricane Helene Could Finally Change the Conversation Around Climate Change

Inside Climate News

The massive personal and economic toll of unexpected inland flooding may represent a turning point. Interview by Steve Curwood, Living on Earth From our collaborating partner Living on Earth, public radio’s environmental news magazine , an interview by host Steve Curwood with Abrahm Lustgarten, author of “On the Move: The Overheating Earth and the Uprooting of America.

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New Analysis Indicates Truck Makers are Manufacturing a False Crisis

NRDC

Despite public promises to embrace zero-emission trucks, some manufacturers are quietly sabotaging the shift to cleaner vehicles, putting public health at risk.

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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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As Hurricane Floodwaters Recede, a Public Health Threat Rises

Scientific American

A potable water shortage and a toxic stew of sewage and other pollutants that Hurricane Helene’s flooding left behind have prompted a race to avert a public health crisis in North Carolina

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Researchers Parse the Future of Plankton in an Ever-Warmer World

Yale E360

Plankton form the base of the world’s food chain, but warmer and more acidic oceans are affecting their numbers and variety. Some species, on which fish rely, are in decline; others, which soak up carbon, are on the rise, while others are shifting their range and bloom times.

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Are There Mountain Lions in New Jersey?

Cool Green Science

Sightings of mountain lions abound in the eastern United States. What’s the real story? The post Are There Mountain Lions in New Jersey? appeared first on Cool Green Science.

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Quantum theory is challenging long-standing ideas about entropy

New Scientist

A mathematical study finds that three definitions of what it means for entropy to increase, which have previously been considered equivalent, can produce different results in the quantum realm

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Greening of Antarctica is Another Sign of Significant Climate Shift on the Frozen Continent

Inside Climate News

New research documents accelerating plant growth on the Antarctic Peninsula and nearby islands. By Bob Berwyn When satellites first started peering down on the craggy, glaciated Antarctic Peninsula about 40 years ago, they saw only a few tiny patches of vegetation covering a total of about 8,000 square feet—less than a football field.

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Getting from Here to There: Scaling Up Climate Finance for the NCQG

NRDC

Explore a new model illustrating potential pathways to scale up international climate funding for the Paris Agreement's new collective quantified goal on climate finance

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Iconic Bird of American Horror Stories Faces Its Own Terrifying Fate

Scientific American

The Whip-Poor-Will’s shrill, death-proclaiming song populates the works of Stephen King and H.P. Lovecraft. But the bird itself has fallen on hard times. Could it become a ghost of Halloweens past?

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Ukraine Rewilding: Will Nature Be Allowed to Thrive When War Ends?

Yale E360

Amid the war’s destruction, Ukrainian scientists are seeing signs of an ecological recovery. When the conflict ends, they say, the nation should not rebuild its massive Soviet-era infrastructure and instead continue the rewilding by letting nature keep restoring itself.

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Restoring Landscapes: a community effort to restore the Solent’s seagrass

The Applied Ecologist

In the ‘Restoring Landscapes’ blog series, we are promoting knowledge exchange from restoration projects around the world. As part of Solent Seascape Project, the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust and Project Seagrass are partnering to restore a combined total of seven hectares of seagrass beds.

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Quantum batteries could discharge more power than they store

New Scientist

Simulations suggest that when a quantum battery shares a quantum state with the device it is powering, the device can gain more charge than was stored in the battery to begin with

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