Sat.Jun 08, 2024 - Fri.Jun 14, 2024

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‘Project 2025’ Would Be Disastrous for Our Nation and Our Climate

Union of Concerned Scientists

The Heritage Foundation’s “Project 2025” is a dangerous and detailed guide to undermining our democracy and a broadside attack on our health and well-being, not to mention our economic prosperity. Among other things, it takes specific aim at the federal government’s ability to address the climate crisis and instead doubles down on actions to worsen it.

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A Brazen California Water Heist Revealed, Prosecuted & Punished

Legal Planet

Former Panoche Drainage District Manager & Convicted Water Thief Dennis Falaschi (credit: Fresno Bee) Recently, former Panoche Drainage District general manager Dennis Falaschi pled guilty in federal district court in Fresno to having conspired to steal millions of gallons of publicly-owned water from California’s Central Valley Project (CVP) for private gain.

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CIRCULAR REVOLUTION – BLACK GOLD

Cleannovate

I offloaded the sack in my storeroom. Now I had fuel that could last me for weeks. You see, charcoal is our most common fuel in Africa. And as an ardent African, I would not disappoint. The charcoal sack weighed probably slightly over sixty kilos.

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Lung-targeted CRISPR therapy offers hope for cystic fibrosis

New Scientist

Gene therapies for cystic fibrosis have previously struggled to reach the faulty lung cells, but a new approach has succeeded in achieving long-lasting modifications in mice

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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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Who’s Doing Chevron’s Dirty Work in California?

Union of Concerned Scientists

Questioning fossil fuel companies is part of our mission, but each year the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) gets a chance to aim some choice words directly at corporate leaders during their annual shareholders’ meetings. At the end of May, I asked Chevron directors about a fake grassroots—or “astroturf”—group the company funded to the tune of $5.8 million last year to pump out disinformation about California’s energy policies.

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How are California’s New Climate Adaptation and Resilience Grant Programs Performing?

Legal Planet

California is rapidly experiencing the impacts of a changing climate, from devastating wildfires and persistent droughts to rising sea levels, extreme heat, and erratic precipitation patterns. Climate adaptation is crucial for building resilience to these and other risks, thereby protecting California’s communities, economy, environment, and public health.

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Light-activated drugs could keep sleep-deprived military pilots alert

New Scientist

A US military program led by DARPA is modifying the stimulant drug dextroamphetamine so it can be switched on or off in the brain using near-infrared light, avoiding risks like addiction

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Voyager 1 Is Back! NASA Spacecraft Safely Resumes All Science Observations

Scientific American

NASA’s venerable Voyager 1 spacecraft has resumed normal science operations with all four functioning instruments for the first time in more than six months

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Reforming California’s Financial Penalties for Water Theft Will Create an Effective Deterrent

Legal Planet

Shasta River Water Association president & illegal water diverter Jim Scala (credit: Sacramento Bee) In a Legal Planet Post earlier this week , I recounted the saga of how federal prosecutors recently secured the criminal conviction of Dennis Falaschi, the former San Joaquin Valley water district general manager who oversaw the decades-long theft of millions of gallons of publicly-owned water from California’s Central Valley Project.

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CIRCULAR REVOLUTION – THE SOLAR ENERGY DILEMMA

Cleannovate

I drove the nails through the roof, descended from the ladder and entered my living room. I had been nailing some solar panels onto my roof. I checked the battery, inverter, charge controller and the multiplug connected to the lights and other electronics. I was satisfied.

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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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Cosmic cloud exposed Earth to interstellar space 3 million years ago

New Scientist

The protective bubble around the sun retreated dramatically after colliding with a freezing interstellar cloud, leaving much of the solar system exposed to radiation that shaped our evolution, a study suggests

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The Problems with Liquefied Natural Gas

Ocean Conservancy

With more than 90% of global trade moving by ocean transport, maritime shipping is a major driver of the world economy. However, shipping has a serious pollution problem that threatens our climate, communities and the marine environment. If we are to avert climate catastrophe, the shipping sector must immediately begin to eliminate the 1 billion-plus metric tons of greenhouse gases it emits every year.

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Indigenous science has a lot to contribute to ecology

The Applied Ecologist

Martin Nuñez is a Senior Editor for Journal of Applied Ecology. He is also a Professor at Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Argentina, as well as a researcher at CONICET (National Scientific and Technical Research Council), Argentina. Martin’s research interests include biological invasions, conservation, mycorrhizal ecology and forestry. In this blog post, he shares his experience at the 2024 Turtle Island Indigenous Science Conference.

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Clean Energy Spending Will Surpass $2 Trillion This Year

Scientific American

Investments in carbon-free energy will be twice as large as fossil fuel spending in 2024, the International Energy Agency predicts

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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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Elephants seem to invent names for each other

New Scientist

An analysis of their vocalisations suggests that African savannah elephants invent names for each other, making them the only animals other than humans thought to do so

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The Mysterious World of Pyrosomes

Ocean Conservancy

“Sea pickles,” “sea worms,” “fire bodies”— these are just a few of the wacky nicknames for one of our ocean’s most mysterious creatures: pyrosomes. Pyrosomes (Family Pyrosomatidae) may look like bizarre jellyfish at first glance, but these quirky critters are uniquely beautiful and play an important role in our ocean’s ecosystems and food web. Name The name “pyrosome” comes from the Greek words for fire (pyro) and body (soma).

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House Hearing: Penn State Center For Dirt & Gravel Road Studies Says Road Spreading Oil & Gas Wastewater Is Not An Effective Dust Suppressant, Does Not Meet Environmental Testing Standards

PA Environment Daily

On June 10, Eric Chase, Assistant Teaching Professor and Assistant Director of the Penn State Center for Dirt and Gravel Road Studies said road spreading oil and gas wastewater is “not effective at suppressing dust and pose potential environmental harm and due to high levels of chloride and radium would not pass the testing requirements to be eligible for Program funds.

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Do Scientists Make Good Presidents?

Scientific American

Following Mexico’s election of a woman with a scientific pedigree, Nature reviewed the legacy of well-known politicians with backgrounds in science and engineering.

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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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Russia faces $32 billion bill for carbon emissions from Ukraine war

New Scientist

The estimated greenhouse gas emissions caused by the war in Ukraine are equivalent to around 175 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, and Ukraine plans to include the associated climate damage in its compensation claim against Russia

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Keeping Stormwater at Bay: a Brooklyn Green Roof Offers a Look at a Climate Resilient Future

Inside Climate News

Green infrastructure mitigates the impacts of stormwater on New York City’s sewer systems, limiting the flow of sewage to local waterways. By Lauren Dalban NEW YORK—Every Friday afternoon, the Kingsland Wildflower Green Roof opens its doors to the local community. Tall grass and brightly-colored flowers greet visitors after their four-floor trek to the top of the building—a green oasis in Brooklyn, surrounded on all sides by heavy industrial activity.

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House Hearing: Protect PT - Road Dumping Oil & Gas Wastewater ‘Is Disproportionately Responsible For Negative Impacts On Human Health,’ Especially From Radioactive Radium

PA Environment Daily

On June 10, Tom Pike, an Environmental Policy Advocate with Westmoreland County-base Protect PT , told a House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee hearing on House Bill 2384 (Vitali-D-Delaware) that road spreading of oil and gas wastewater “is disproportionately responsible for negative impacts on human health.” “The process of gas drilling brings radioactive material from underground to the surface.

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How to Improve Prospective Memory, the Ability to Remember to Remember

Scientific American

Prospective memory is a skill that can be practiced, making it more likely that someone can remember an appointment or meet a deadline

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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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Astronaut medical records reveal the health toll of space travel

New Scientist

The largest collection yet of detailed medical data and tissue samples from astronauts should help researchers better understand the impacts of space flight on health

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Intensifying Tropical Storms Threaten Seabirds, New Research Shows

Inside Climate News

Thousands of birds on an Australian island died where they sat when they were overwhelmed by Tropical Cyclone Ilsa in 2023, many of them buried alive in sand and mud. By Bob Berwyn More intense and frequent tropical cyclones and hurricanes are threatening some seabird populations more than previously thought, scientists said this week as they released a new study showing how a 2023 tropical cyclone wiped out 80 to 90 percent of the populations of three species of birds on Bedout Island off Weste

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PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - June 15

PA Environment Daily

The following notices were published in the June 15 PA Bulletin related to oil and gas industry facilities. Many of the notices offer the opportunity for public comments. Land Recycling/Brownfield Cleanups -- Chesapeake Appalachia LLC - Amcor Shale Gas Well Pad: DEP received a Final Report on remediation of soil contaminated with production wastewater to meet the Statewide Health Standards at the pad located in Meshoppen Twp., Wyoming County. ( PA Bulletin, page 3477 ) -- EQT Corporation - Polec

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This Strange Fungal Condition Makes You Drunk without Drinking

Scientific American

Greater awareness is needed around auto-brewery syndrome, which can cause dangerous accidents and trigger social ostracism if it is not correctly diagnosed

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Marine fungus can break down floating plastic pollution

New Scientist

The plastic-digesting capabilities of the fungus Parengyodontium album could be harnessed to degrade polyethylene, the most abundant type of plastic in the ocean

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Glaciers in Peru’s Central Andes Might Be Gone by 2050s, Study Says

Inside Climate News

New insights could help government manage water resources and preserve the mountains. By Alexa Robles-Gil In a village in Checacupe, in the southern region of Cusco in the Peruvian Andes, there used to be a ceremony to prepare a glacier lagoon to gather water, said Richart Aybar Quispe Soto, a local hospital worker. It was a ritual that revered the apus , the spirits of the mountains and water, he said.

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Developments in Opposition to Renewable Energy Facilities Through December 2023

Law Columbia

Local opposition has proven to be a significant barrier to the rapid expansion of renewable energy facilities across the United States. A new edition of the Sabin Center’s Opposition to Renewable Energy Facilities in the United States report identifies 378 renewable energy projects across 47 states that have encountered significant opposition. The report also identifies 395 local restrictions across 41 states, along with 19 state-level restrictions, that are so severe that they could have the e

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Ag & the ESA: When a Species is Listed “Wherever Found”

National Law Center

The Endangered Species Act (“ESA”) is widely recognized as one of the strongest wildlife protection laws in the world. The primary. The post Ag & the ESA: When a Species is Listed “Wherever Found” appeared first on National Agricultural Law Center.

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Hybrid design could make nuclear fusion reactors more efficient

New Scientist

Two types of fusion reactor called tokamaks and stellarators both have drawbacks – but a new design combining parts from both could offer the best of both worlds

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Centre for Environment and Sustainability: Meet Ben Siggery

The Applied Ecologist

In this new series, The Applied Ecologist is amplifying the staff and student voices from the University of Surrey’s Centre for Environment and Sustainability to showcase their diverse, interdisciplinary body of work and to help inspire the next generation. In this post, we share below recent research by Ben Siggery.