Sat.Sep 09, 2023 - Fri.Sep 15, 2023

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From Carbon Sink to Source: The Stark Changes in Arctic Lakes

Yale E360

For millennia, lakes in Greenland’s dry tundra have locked up huge loads of carbon in their sediment. But as the region becomes warmer and wetter, scientists believe these lakes are becoming sources of carbon, which could have major consequences for the world’s climate.

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Ask a Scientist: It’s Getting Easier for US Car Owners to Go Electric

Union of Concerned Scientists

Since the beginning of 2022, electric vehicle sales in the United States have been downright electrifying. Last year, US drivers bought more than 800,000 new electric vehicles (EVs), 65 percent more than in 2021, even as overall car sales declined. Those 807,956 EVs accounted for 5.8 percent of all new cars sold, an increase from 3.1 percent in 2021.

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California Passes Landmark Corporate Climate Transparency Bills

Legal Planet

State Capitol, Sacramento, California After a hard-fought battle, the California Legislature passed the second of two nation-leading corporate climate accountability bills yesterday afternoon. The bills, SB 253 and SB 261 , are important transparency measures that would, for the first time, allow Californians to meaningfully assess the carbon footprint of thousands of companies—and what those companies plan to do about the climate-related risks they face.

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Winter Storm Uri – No Summary Judgment This Time

Energy & the Law

Unit Petroleum Company v. Koch Energy Services, LLC is another force majeure case arising out of winter storm Uri. Unlike a similar case, summary judgment was denied because, said the United States District Court, The word “reasonable”, although not ambiguous, is a question of fact that must be answered by looking into the circumstances of the case at issue, including the nature of the proposed contract, the purposes of the parties, the course of dealing between them, and any relevant usages of

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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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A Summer Light Show Dims: Why Are Fireflies Disappearing?

Yale E360

Fireflies — whose shimmering, magical glows light up summer nights — are in trouble, threatened by habitat destruction, light pollution, and pesticide use. With 18 species now considered at risk of extinction in North America alone, recovery efforts are only just beginning.

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World Heritage Committee Ignores UNESCO Recommendation to List Venice as Endangered

Union of Concerned Scientists

The World Heritage Committee has voted not to put Venice, Italy, on UNESCO’s list of endangered places. The decision flies in the face of the advice of the secretariat of the World Heritage Convention which had recommended that because of slow progress in addressing the dual threats of climate change and over-tourism, Venice should be placed on its “in danger” list.

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Some Patients Who 'Died' but Survived Report Lucid 'Near-Death Experiences,' a New Study Shows

Scientific American

Scientific American is the essential guide to the most awe-inspiring advances in science and technology, explaining how they change our understanding of the world and shape our lives.

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Climate Change Hurting Water Quality in Rivers Worldwide, Study Finds

Yale E360

Bouts of intense drought and rainfall are hurting water quality in rivers around the globe, according to a sprawling new analysis.

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Extreme Summer Weather Threatens Gas Power Plants. Here’s How. 

Union of Concerned Scientists

Despite the clean energy transition that is well underway in the United States, methane gas, or natural gas, remains the largest source of U.S. electricity generation. By a lot. Renewables are continuing to increase their share of the power sector, rising to almost 23 percent of the nation’s electricity supply last year, which was higher than the generation from both coal-fired and nuclear plants.

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Amazon Deforestation is Down. Here’s Why.

Legal Planet

For several years, headlines about Amazon deforestation have all been bad. But in 2023 the script has been flipped and the good news keeps on coming. Good news in Brazil where deforestation in the Amazon declined 66.1 percent compared to last August. It’s the lowest level for the month of August since 2018 and it continues a downward trend. For the first eight months of the year, the rate of deforestation is 48 percent lower than the same period in 2022.

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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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NASA’s UFO task force has released its final report – it’s not aliens

New Scientist

An independent task force formed by NASA to look into unidentified anomalous phenomena found no evidence of alien craft, and suggests that if we want to find proof of visitors we need better data

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A Sign of Things to Come? After Last Ice Age, Europe Cooled as the Planet Warmed

Yale E360

More than 8,000 years ago, as the planet thawed following the end of the last ice age, Northern Europe abruptly cooled. New research reveals that Arctic ice melt weakened a critical ocean current, leaving Europe in the cold, a finding with important implications for future climate change.

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Humans Have Crossed 6 of 9 'Planetary Boundaries'

Scientific American

Scientific American is the essential guide to the most awe-inspiring advances in science and technology, explaining how they change our understanding of the world and shape our lives.

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Crowding Out Cougars

Inside Climate News

Expanded development on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, viewed as a climate refuge, is encroaching on prime wildlife habitat. As big cats find it harder to avoid people, many are winding up dead. By Liza Gross, Photos by Michael Kodas This story was supported in part by the Society of Environmental Journalists’ Fund for Environmental Journalism.

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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 to spot green comet Nishimura in the skies this week

New Scientist

Comet Nishimura, which was discovered just a month ago, is about to make its closest approach to the sun, giving people in the northern hemisphere a great chance of a sighting

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Close to 2,000 Environmental Activists Killed Over Last Decade

Yale E360

Between 2012 and 2022, at least 1,910 people advocating for environmental protection were killed worldwide, a new report finds.

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Mathematicians Solve 50-Year-Old Möbius Strip Puzzle

Scientific American

Scientific American is the essential guide to the most awe-inspiring advances in science and technology, explaining how they change our understanding of the world and shape our lives.

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Like Canaries in a Coal Mine, Dragonflies Signal Threats to Freshwater Ecosystems

Inside Climate News

Research shows that some dragonfly and damselfly species may decline to near-extinction by 2100 as a result of climate change and human intervention in their habitats. Yet some freshwater ecosystems could see an increase in such species and more generally in biodiversity. By Juanita Gordon In gauging the growing threats to freshwater biodiversity, dragonflies and damselflies are viewed by ecologists as sentinels, reacting to threats by seeking out more stable homes.

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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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Humans use a quarter of all the biomass created by plants on land

New Scientist

To stay within safe planetary boundaries, humans should only use around 10 per cent of the biomass produced each year by plants on land, but we are currently way above that level

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Rewild or Restore – how about doing both?

The Applied Ecologist

James Bullock and Nathalie Pettorelli summarise their Perspective piece that highlight the potential for integrating restoration and rewilding agendas into whole landscape approaches. As biodiversity continues to decline at an alarming pace, it is becoming more urgent to not only halt these losses but to reverse them.

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Food Can Be Literally Addictive, New Evidence Suggests

Scientific American

Scientific American is the essential guide to the most awe-inspiring advances in science and technology, explaining how they change our understanding of the world and shape our lives.

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What High Heat in the Classroom Is Doing to Millions of American Children

Inside Climate News

With too many schools ill-prepared for the impacts of climate change, research shows that excessive temperatures affect students’ ability to concentrate, perform and think clearly. From our collaborating partner “Living on Earth,” public radio’s environmental news magazine , an interview by Producer Paloma Beltran with Dr. Joseph Allen of Harvard University’s T.H.

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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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Male cockatoos make customised drumsticks for their mating displays

New Scientist

Palm cockatoos fashion sticks for drumming on trees by snapping off branches and whittling them with their beaks, and the males design their tools with their own personal style

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Frontiers launches new section in partnership with the Society for Brain Mapping and Therapeutics 

Frontiers

Gold open access publisher Frontiers and the Society for Brain Mapping and Therapeutics (SBMT), a renowned biomedical and educational non-profit organization, have signed a new agreement aimed at advancing brain mapping and therapeutics research.  Credit: Frontiers Building on a shared commitment to fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and driving scientific discovery, Frontiers and SBMT are joining forces to create a forum to showcase the work of researchers, clinicians, engineers, policy

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Forgotten Memories May Remain Intact in the Brain

Scientific American

Scientific American is the essential guide to the most awe-inspiring advances in science and technology, explaining how they change our understanding of the world and shape our lives.

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Oil & Gas Industry Spills, Releases Created Over 575 New Brownfield Sites So Far In Pennsylvania, With More Every Week

PA Environment Daily

DEP reports spills and releases from the oil and gas industry have created over 575 brownfield sites being cleaned up under the Act 2 Land Recycling Program , as of September 12, 2023. And more are being created every week, according to PA Environment Digest’s weekly review of notices in the PA Bulletin. There are at least 196 oil and gas-related sites in the process of being cleaned up-- nearly 34% of the sites in process-- and 379 oil and gas sites have been completed-- about 14% of the sites

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Facebook change to control covid-19 vaccine misinformation failed

New Scientist

The removal of a major anti-vaccine page in November 2020 by Facebook didn’t reduce misinformation and instead led to remaining anti-vaccine content becoming more extreme and getting more engagement

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Bear With Us: How to Keep Yourself (And Grizzlies) Safe

Cool Green Science

Even in the Greater Yellowstone, your chances of a grizzly encounter are low. Follow these simple tips while in bear country. The post Bear With Us: How to Keep Yourself (And Grizzlies) Safe appeared first on Cool Green Science.

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Mathematician Solves 50-Year-Old Möbius Strip Puzzle

Scientific American

Scientific American is the essential guide to the most awe-inspiring advances in science and technology, explaining how they change our understanding of the world and shape our lives.

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Dickinson College Ranked First Among Baccalaureate Institutions In Comprehensive Sustainability Report; CMU, Penn, Penn State, Muhlenberg Also Recognized

PA Environment Daily

On September 14, Dickinson College announced, for the second year in a row, it has earned the top position among baccalaureate institutions in the prestigious Sustainable Campus Index , a publication of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). Other Pennsylvania colleges and universities were recognized in the Sustainable Campus Index in these categories-- -- Buildings: Carnegie Mellon University (Doctoral), Pittsburgh -- Food & Dining: University of

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Key immune cells may help protect against inflammatory bowel disease

New Scientist

A group of specialised immune cells in the gut seems to have a protective role in people with Crohn's disease, and may help doctors predict how the illness will progress

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The EU pledges support for the wind energy sector

A Greener Life

Offshore wind turbines of the coast of Esbjerg, Denmark. Photo credit: AP Photo / Heribert Proepper. By Anders Lorenzen Amidst the trouble faced by the wind sector in Europe, the EU has pledged a package of support measures. Inflation, supply chain issues and rising costs are just some of the problems that Europe ’s wind sector is currently facing, which are slowing down and reducing projects.