Sat.Mar 30, 2024 - Fri.Apr 05, 2024

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Four Reasons You Should Care about California Snow

Union of Concerned Scientists

Last week, I visited Yosemite National Park and walked along a gorgeous trail surrounded by snow-blanketed sequoia trees. Beyond the horizon of pine trees to the south lies the Sierra National Forest, and beyond the rocky horizon to the north lies the Stanislaus National Forest. Further beyond these national forests lies the rest of the expansive Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, spanning 400 miles.

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Much ado about acceleration

Real Climate

There has been a lot of commentary about perceived disagreements among climate scientists about whether climate change is, or will soon, accelerate. As with most punditry, there is less here than it might seem. Last year, Jim Hansen and colleagues published a long paper that included a figure suggesting that they expected that global temperature trends from 2011 to increase above the recent linear trends.

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We finally know why Stephen Hawking's black hole equation works

New Scientist

Stephen Hawking and Jacob Bekenstein calculated the entropy of a black hole in the 1970s, but it took physicists until now to figure out the quantum effects that make the formula work

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Renewable Energy Shatters Records in the U.S.

Scientific American

The U.S. has never had as much wind, solar and hydropower.

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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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As its Lone Climate Scientist Board Member Departs, ExxonMobil Still Heads in the Wrong Direction

Union of Concerned Scientists

As ExxonMobil prepares for its annual general meeting (AGM) this spring, the corporation is facing calls to drop an unprecedented lawsuit against shareholders who are asking for deeper global warming emissions reductions. There has been comparatively less attention to the decision by climate scientist Dr. Susan Avery not to seek re-election to the ExxonMobil board of directors.

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Highway 413 is Still Going Nowhere

Enviromental Defense

You’ve probably seen Highway 413 in the news quite a bit lately. Last month, instead of standing up for Ontario’s environment, the federal government made a deal with Premier Ford. Together, they filed documents to cancel the federal government’s current environmental assessment. So, what does this mean? Is Ontario getting ready to bulldoze their way through farmland, wetlands and the Greenbelt?

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Three Times Eclipses Eclipsed Previous Science

Scientific American

Total solar eclipses have set the stage for major scientific advancements—everything from the discovery of helium to the testing of Einstein’s general theory of relativity.

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How Tobacco Companies Created the Disinformation Playbook

Union of Concerned Scientists

This article was originally published by the Substack newsletter SciLight on April 4, 2024. In this current age, a meme on Facebook, a video on TikTok, or a comment thread on Reddit can have substantial influence over people’s views and perspectives. For instance, half of adults in the United States obtain their news at least sometimes from social media.

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Forever Chemicals From a Forever Fire: Alabama Residents Aim to Test Blood or Urine for PFAS Amid Underground Moody Landfill Fire

Inside Climate News

Community members are working with a local environmental nonprofit to facilitate the potential testing, but Alabama’s top environment regulator said prior testing for PFAS in water sources served “no purpose.” By Lee Hedgepeth MOODY, Ala.—When Danielle Cusimano brought her newborn baby, Saylor, home from the hospital in December 2022, it was hard to keep the smoke out.

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How mass bleaching has pushed the Great Barrier Reef to the brink

New Scientist

Diving at One Tree Island in one of the most highly protected parts of the Great Barrier Reef reveals the shocking extent of the latest mass bleaching event

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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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Geoengineering Test Quietly Launches Salt Crystals into Atmosphere

Scientific American

A solar geoengineering experiment in San Francisco could lead to brighter clouds that reflect sunlight.

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The Fossil Fuel Industry Continues Producing Heat-Trapping Emissions that Drive Climate Change

Union of Concerned Scientists

A new dataset released by InfluenceMap provides information on heat-trapping emissions traced to the 122 largest investor and state-owned fossil fuel companies in the world. Fossil fuels are the main driver of climate change and the terrifying effects of it that we see happening across the world. That makes this dataset a powerful tool for understanding how each of these entity’s heat-trapping emissions have contributed to climate change.

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Rebutting 33 False Claims About Solar, Wind, and Electric Vehicles

Law Columbia

Achieving the United States’ ambitious emissions reduction goals depends in large part on the rapid adoption of wind and solar energy and the electrification of consumer vehicles. However, misinformation and coordinated disinformation about renewable energy is widespread and threatens to undermine public support for the transition. In a new report , the Sabin Center identifies and examines 33 of the most pervasive false claims about solar energy, wind energy, and electric vehicles, with the aim

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The new evidence that explains what anxiety really is

New Scientist

What anxiety actually is has puzzled scientists for decades.

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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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Landfills Leak More Planet-Baking Methane Than We Thought

Scientific American

U.S.

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EPA Grant Program Helps to Accelerate Transition to Cleaner Ports

Union of Concerned Scientists

Air pollution from ports comes from many sources: ships, trains, tugboats, cargo equipment, and – quite importantly – the trucks that move cargo containers to and from ports. The vehicles, vessels, and equipment that move our freight create hot spots of some of the worst air quality in the country and contribute significantly to climate change. However, zero-emission options for these workhorses of the economy are growing rapidly and some ports are beginning to move towards cleaner operations.

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Unforced variations: Apr 2024

Real Climate

This month’s open thread on climate topics. Lots more discussion about 2023 , aerosols, heat content and imbalances to come I expect… Note, comments should be substantive even if you are arguing with who you perceive to be the worst person in the world. Comments that are mainly personal attacks will just get deleted. The post Unforced variations: Apr 2024 first appeared on RealClimate.

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How a total solar eclipse in 1919 left physicists 'more or less agog'

New Scientist

One total solar eclipse changed physics forever – and even to this day these celestial phenomena are astonishing viewers and teaching us crucial lessons about the universe

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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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How to Watch the Total Solar Eclipse Online

Scientific American

Will you be outside the path of totality during the 2024 total solar eclipse? What if clouds block your view?

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A Handy New Chart Shows Clean Energy’s Remarkable Progress

Union of Concerned Scientists

Spring is a glorious time for renewable energy. Whatever the weather in March and beyond—in-like-a-lion blustery or out-like-a-lamb sunny—spring tends to be a season of strong electricity production from solar and wind in particular. Spring is also a glorious time for taking stock, since the official data on the previous year’s US electricity generation become available.

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A River in Flux

Inside Climate News

Extreme flooding and droughts may be the new norm for the Amazon, challenging its people and ecosystems. By Daniel Grossman This project was originally published in Science magazine. The story was supported by the Pulitzer Center and the Pendleton Mazer Family Fund.

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Bird flu confirmed in person who had contact with infected dairy cows

New Scientist

A person in Texas has been infected with bird flu after exposure to dairy cows who had the virus – it is the first time a human has contracted the disease from a mammal

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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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In Countries Facing Scorching Heat, Shade Trees and Cheap Cooling Strategies Gain Traction

Scientific American

Countries from Sierra Leone to Mexico are looking for low-cost, easy ways to protect residents from extreme heat, such as planting shade trees and setting up warning systems

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EPA Announces Awards for a National Clean Energy Finance Network

NRDC

The GGRF will direct long-overdue funding to projects that reduce pollution, lower energy costs for families across the United States, and create good-quality jobs – all while catalyzing an unprecedented wave of private sector investment.

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50 Fish, 50 States: Bass of the Waterfalls

Cool Green Science

The shoal bass faces some serious threats. But a new legion of fans bring hope for this species. The post 50 Fish, 50 States: Bass of the Waterfalls appeared first on Cool Green Science.

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Great apes threatened by mining for electric vehicle batteries

New Scientist

A surge of mining in some African countries for materials used to make green energy technologies puts gorillas, chimpanzees and bonobos at risk

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Inside the Race to Protect Artists from Artificial Intelligence

Scientific American

AI-generated art is creating new ethical issues—and competition—for digital artists. Nightshade and Glaze are two tools helping creators fight back.

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PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - April 6

PA Environment Daily

The following DEP notices were published in the April 6 PA Bulletin related to oil and gas industry facilities. Many of the notices offer the opportunity for public comments. Only 1 Shale Gas Permit Under Review -- DEP reported in its Oil and Gas Workload Report for the week ending March 29 that it has only 1 shale gas well permit under review, which has huge implications for the revenue coming in to run its entire Oil and Gas Regulatory Program.

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As Florida Smalltooth Sawfish Spin and Whirl, a New Effort to Rescue Them Begins

Inside Climate News

At least 32 of the endangered sawfish have been reported dead. The cause of their bizarre behavior remains a mystery By Amy Green An unprecedented federal effort to rescue and rehabilitate endangered smalltooth sawfish is getting underway this week in the Florida Keys, where unusual and concerning behavior has been documented including spinning and whirling, signs the fish are in distress.

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Babies recognise spoken nursery rhymes they heard in the uterus

New Scientist

Previous research suggests that babies can recognise nursery rhymes that were sung to them while they were in the uterus.

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A Solar Eclipse Is Too Special to See Through Your Smartphone

Scientific American

To make the most of any total solar eclipse, put down your gadgets and bask in one of our solar system’s most glorious spectacles

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DEP Posted 75 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In April 6 PA Bulletin

PA Environment Daily

Highlights of the environmental and energy notices in the April 6 PA Bulletin -- -- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices/Opportunities To Comment - April 6 [PaEN] -- DEP Reports Only 1 Shale Gas Well Permit Under Review Drastically Reducing The Revenue Needed To Run Its Entire Oil & Gas Regulatory Program [PaEN] -- The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the April 6 PA Bulletin inviting comments on draft Technical Guidance Setting Closure Requirements