Sat.May 08, 2021 - Fri.May 14, 2021

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As the Climate Warms, Could the U.S. Face Another Dust Bowl?

Yale E360

Improved agricultural practices and widespread irrigation may stave off another agricultural calamity in the Great Plains. But scientists are now warning that two inescapable realities — rising temperatures and worsening drought — could still spawn a modern-day Dust Bowl. Read more on E360 ?.

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How to Stop the Dismantling of Democracy

Union of Concerned Scientists

In the last few years, many elected leaders have attacked voting rights, cast doubt on free and fair elections, and served private interests over the public good. To pull American democracy back from the brink, we must use the full force of the law—and four laws will, if passed, set us on the right track. […].

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Why is future sea level rise still so uncertain?

Real Climate

Three new papers in the last couple of weeks have each made separate claims about whether sea level rise from the loss of ice in West Antarctica is more or less than you might have thought last month and with more or less certainty. Each of these papers make good points, but anyone looking for coherent picture to emerge from all this work will be disappointed.

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Making Corporate Commitments Credible

Legal Planet

Companies across many different economic sectors have announced ambitious goals like being climate neutral by 2050. Commitments on ESG – Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance — are a growing corporate emphasis. Talk is cheap, however. How can we know they’re serious? How can we even be sure that the information they release about their environmental performance is true?

Law 183
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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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Species Solidarity: Rediscovering Our Connection to the Web of Life

Yale E360

As climate change intensifies and human activity impacts every corner of the planet, repairing our world increasingly means realizing that our fate is intertwined with that of other animal and plant species — not separate from theirs — and that we must think and act accordingly. Read more on E360 ?.

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Clean Cars Minnesota: A win for public health, innovation, and the environment

Union of Concerned Scientists

On Friday, a Minnesota administrative law judge ruled the state can proceed with finalizing new clean car standards that will give Minnesotans more control over air quality improvements and progress toward the state’s greenhouse gas reduction goals, as well as increase vehicle model choices for Minnesota car buyers and save drivers money at the pump.

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Two Creeks, a Marsh and Two Lakes Sue a Florida Real Estate Developer

Greenbuilding Law

Two creeks, a marsh and two lakes are plaintiffs in a first of its kind complaint filed last month against a real estate developer and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Wilde Cypress Branch, Boggy Branch, Crosby Island Marsh, Lake Hart and Lake Mary Jane, tributaries of the Kissimmee River are seeking declaratory and injunctive relief that Beachline South Residential, LLC’s proposed “Meridian Parks Remainder” mixed use real estate development violates the water bodies’ own righ

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Soaring Greenhouse Gas Emissions Are Shrinking the Stratosphere, Study Shows

Yale E360

The rapid growth of CO2 emissions in recent decades is heating and expanding the lower atmosphere, leading to its intrusion into the stratosphere, according to a new study. Read more on E360 ?.

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Why “Infrastructure” Includes the Ground Beneath Our Feet

Union of Concerned Scientists

We’ve heard a lot of opinions about what is, and isn’t, infrastructure. Now I’ll add my hot take: Soil is infrastructure.

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How Does Applied Microeconomic Research Accelerate Climate Change Adaptation?

Environmental and Urban Economics

In May 2021, I am quite aware that I am now an "old guy" in the academic economics profession. While this has obvious costs, it offers at least one benefit. I can blog and offer "big thoughts". With that preamble, let's begin. We face a serious climate change adaptation challenge. How does economics research inform our path forward? I encounter such pessimism among the young about their future.

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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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A Long-Running Dispute Over an Acquisition Agreement is Returned to the Trial Court

Energy & the Law

Co-author Rusty Tucker. This is another chapter in the dispute between Eagle Oil & Gas Co. and. TRO-X, L.P. The litigation arises out of an agreement to acquire and sell oil and gas leases. Here, TRO-X alleges that Eagle failed to remit a share of revenues from production that commenced after the first suit between the parties ended. Background.

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THE CHEMICAL LEGION: THE PARADOX OF COSMETICS

Cleannovate

Cosmetics make a whole lot of a difference. We love it when our wives look good courtesy of them. Infact at times we cheer them on to use them. In no way is this article meant to paint cosmetics badly. After all great multinationals such as L’Oreal and Nivea have grown due to the insatiable demand for cosmetics and personal care products around the world.

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Biden Administration Pushes for Science-Informed Ban on Menthol Cigarettes

Union of Concerned Scientists

Earlier this month, the Biden administration announced its intent to ban the sale of menthol flavored cigarettes. If finalized, public health experts and anti-tobacco advocates believe this would be a big step forward in tobacco regulation and could help address health disparities experienced by communities of color. The harms caused by flavored cigarettes, including menthol, […].

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How to celebrate 17-year cicadas – eat one!

Academy of Natural Sciences

The 17-year cicadas, Magicicada spp. , are nearly here! They have risen to the surface of the soil and it is only a matter of days before they complete their final molt, expand their wings, and take to the sky. The tree canopies will fill with the other-worldly chorus of their mating calls, which sounds different from our annual cicadas. After mating, the females will lay eggs in the tree twigs, the eggs will hatch, and the tiny hatchlings will fall to the ground and burrow down to the depths wh

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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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Tiny black holes could cause white dwarf stars to explode

Physics World

A new explanation for how white dwarf stars explode as type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) has been proposed by astrophysicists in Brazil and Mexico. Their model suggests that the explosions are ignited when primordial black holes (PBHs) collide with white dwarfs. PBHs are hypothetical black holes that are about as massive as an asteroid and are believed to be left over from the universe’s earliest moments.

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Is Highway 413 dead, or just on snooze?

Enviromental Defense

Great news: On May 3rd, the federal government announced they were stepping in to perform a thorough environmental assessment of the proposed Highway 413 west of Toronto. Why is it great news? Ontario’s dangerous plan to weaken their own environmental assessment process and race to construction means that federal intervention is necessary. Highway 413 would destroy critical farmland, 400 acres of Greenbelt, wetlands, forests, and endangered species.

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Illinois To See Significant Public Health Benefits in a 100% Carbon-Free Future

Union of Concerned Scientists

We need to quickly transition to a clean energy future in Illinois to prevent additional negative public health impacts from fossil fuel plants. The Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA) HB 0804/ SB1718 is the only bill that puts Illinois on a path to 100% carbon-free electricity by 2030 and 100% renewable energy by 2050. The public health benefits of transitioning to a clean energy future in Illinois are abundant and underscore the need for expedient action.

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In California’s Farm Country, Climate Change Is Likely to Trigger More Pesticide Use, Fouling Waterways

Inside Climate News

Warmer temperatures would boost pest populations, causing farmers to use more insecticides that, with more frequent and severe storms, turn into toxic runoff. By Liza Gross Every spring, California farmers brace themselves for signs of wriggling organisms destined to launch multigenerational attacks on their crops.

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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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General relativity passes crucial neutron-star test

Physics World

Multimessenger observations of neutron stars have been used by astrophysicists in the US to put Einstein’s general theory of relativity to the test – and the 106 year old theory has passed with flying colours. A neutron star is the dense, core remnant of a massive star that has exploded as a supernova. Containing more mass than the Sun but only spanning 10–12 km in radius, neutron stars are incredibly dense and generate huge gravitational fields.

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Do roads pose a significant barrier to bee movement?

The Applied Ecologist

Did the bee cross the road? If not, why not – and what does this mean for the flowers on the other side? In their latest research, Fitch & Vaidya investigate the influence of roads on pollinator movement and pollination by examining patterns of pigment transfer between focal plants of two species.

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Ohio Needs to Strengthen, Not Restrict Voting Rights Protections

Union of Concerned Scientists

Ensuring that everyone’s vote counts the same is also a crucial aspect of electoral integrity, as measured through bias in results, including malapportionment, and racial and partisan gerrymandering. Ohio is one of many states where legislatures are now moving to enact new restrictions, facing pressure from extremists motivated by false allegations that the 2020 election was “stolen.

2020 245
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Air Pollution From Raising Livestock Accounts for Most of the 16,000 US Deaths Each Year Tied to Food Production, Study Finds

Inside Climate News

Substituting poultry for red meat could prevent 6,300 deaths, the study found, and a shift to vegetarian, vegan or flexitarian diets could save 10,700. By Georgina Gustin Food production, primarily the raising of livestock, causes poor air quality that is responsible for about 16,000 deaths a year in the United States, roughly the same number from other sources of air pollution, including transportation and electricity generation, according to research published Monday.

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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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AI and particle physics: a powerful partnership

Physics World

Detailed view Jessica Esquivel is seeking to measure the muon’s magnetic moment at the Muon g-2 experiment, with only a 140 part per billion error. That’s like 7128 puzzles, with each puzzle each having 1000 pieces and only having one missing puzzle piece in total. (Courtesy: Fermilab). As a postdoc at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab) , I was interested to find out we have a long history of implementing neural networks, a subset of AI, on particle physics data.

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Canada takes first step toward much-needed regulatory action to address plastic pollution

Enviromental Defense

OCEANA CANADA, ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE, DAVID SUZUKI FOUNDATION, ECOJUSTICE, TORONTO ENVIRONMENTAL ALLIANCE. Environmental groups urge government to proceed quickly with promised ban on non-essential single-use plastics. Toronto, Ont. — Environmental groups applaud Canada’s decision today to list “plastic manufactured items” on Schedule 1 under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) and urge the federal government to move quickly to finalize a meaningful ban on nonessential single-

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CA’s Clean Miles Standard Can Benefit Environment, Ridehailing Drivers- If Companies Step Up

Union of Concerned Scientists

On May 20th, CARB will vote on the Clean Miles Standard, a first-of its kind regulation that would require ridehailing companies like Uber and Lyft to electrify their fleets by 2030. If approved, the Clean Miles Standard would cut pollution in cities across California by requiring that 90% of ride hailing miles traveled take place in electric vehicles by 2030, and that ridehailing companies cut their greenhouse gas emissions to zero grams per passenger mile on the same timeline.

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Innovative Prescribed Fire Training Comes to NE Washington for First Time

Washington Nature

Local fire professionals have come together in northeast Washington state in April and May to build skills and harness the power of fire for good in a Prescribed Fire Training Exchange (TREX). This is the first time that this innovative training has been hosted in northeast Washington, building on five years of successful events throughout the state.

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Observing the weather on brown dwarfs, powerful laser puts matter under extreme conditions

Physics World

This Sunday, 16 May, is the UNESCO International Day of Light so this episode of the Physics World Weekly podcast focuses on the humble photon and some of the amazing science and technology that it makes possible. Our first guest is the astronomer Megan Tannock of Canada’s University of Western Ontario, who talks about brown dwarfs – objects that are too small to be stars, but are larger than planets.

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Six Island Species to be Removed from ESA Protections

Endangered Species Law

In the first week of May, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (“USFWS”) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (“NMFS”) proposed rules to remove six species from the lists of endangered and threatened wildlife and plants under the Endangered Species Act (“ESA”). On May 4, 2021, NMFS issued a proposed rule to remove Siderastrea glynni , a coral originally found at Urabá Island, Panama Gulf, from the ESA lists.

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How Can Scientific Organizations Support Science Advocacy? 5 Ways to Get Started

Union of Concerned Scientists

Scientists have many reasons to organize, mobilize, and advocate — whether it’s to stand up for democracy and voting rights, to push for evidence-informed solutions to threats like climate change or the COVID-19 pandemic, or to demand structural changes that make the scientific enterprise itself more inclusive and anti-racist.

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Themed Issue Open for Submissions: Data-intensive water systems management and Operation

Water Research & Technology

Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology seeks your high-impact research for our upcoming Themed Issue on Data-intensive water systems management and Operation. Guest Edited by Branko Kerkez (University of Michigan, USA), Kris Villez (Oak Ridge National Laboratory, USA) and Eveline Volcke (Ghent University, Belgium). The water sector increasingly looks at intensified instrumentation, data collection and automation as tools for daily use.

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‘Crystal critters’ self-eject from salty solution

Physics World

Globules of crystallizing minerals can spontaneously eject themselves from a salt solution as they evaporate. This unexpected phenomenon, which was observed by researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), might be harnessed to prevent damage to pipes and other structures in prolonged contact with seawater. According to study leader Kripa Varanasi , the effect might even allow untreated salty water to be used in certain industrial cooling systems.

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Warming Trends: Farming for City Dwellers, an Upbeat Climate Podcast and Soil Bacteria That May Outsmart Warming

Inside Climate News

A column highlighting climate-related studies, innovations, books, cultural events and other developments from the global warming frontier. By Katelyn Weisbrod For those who want to start a farm but live in a city, a desert or perpetually cold region, this company will help you grow produce inside a shipping container. The Greenery S is the latest generation of Freight F.