Thu.Apr 25, 2024

article thumbnail

A Call for Climate Justice at the InterAmerican Court of Human Rights

Union of Concerned Scientists

This week, the InterAmerican Court of Human Rights (IACHR) started to hear testimony at the University of the West Indies , near Bridgetown, Barbados, addressing one of the most pressing global issues of our time: climate change and its implications on human rights. Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) Research Scientist Carly Philips (pictured on the left above) testified on April 24.

article thumbnail

Brain activity seems to be more complex in baby girls than boys

New Scientist

When fetuses and babies were exposed to sound stimuli, their brains' subsequent electrical activity appeared to be more complicated in the females than the males

Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

Land sparing outperforms land sharing for Amazonian bird communities regardless of surrounding landscape context

The Applied Ecologist

Benjamin Birch discusses the role of wildlife-friendly habitat in the wider surrounding landscape in promoting farmland diversity. Alongside colleagues, Birch modelled strategies of land sparing and land sharing under different levels of production. Background The conversion of natural habitats to agriculture is one of the greatest threats to biodiversity globally.

70
article thumbnail

Can India build a world-leading computer chip industry from scratch?

New Scientist

India currently has a fairly small chip-manufacturing industry, but prime minister Narendra Modi wants the country to become a dominant player in the sector in just a few years

82
article thumbnail

Manufacturing Sustainability Surge: Your Guide to Data-Driven Energy Optimization & Decarbonization

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.

article thumbnail

How to Filter Out Harmful ‘Forever Chemicals’ at Home

Scientific American

An environmental engineer provides a glimpse of the magnitude of the challenge to remove PFAS from water supplies and ways you can reduce these “forever chemicals” in your own drinking water

68
article thumbnail

Modern rose hybrids have a worrying lack of genetic diversity

New Scientist

Intensive breeding since the 19th century has created thousands of varieties of rose, but a reduction in genetic diversity could leave them vulnerable to diseases and climate change

More Trending

article thumbnail

Birthplace of red asteroid Kamo‘oalewa pinned to specific moon crater

New Scientist

The redness of asteroid 469219 Kamo‘oalewa marks it out as probably originating on the moon, and now we might know the exact impact crater it was launched from

66
article thumbnail

DEP, DCNR, Agriculture, Fish Commission, Local Partners Celebrate Turtle Creek Watershed Stream Restoration, Investments, Water Quality Improvements

PA Environment Daily

On April 25, four state agencies, legislators and two land conservancies celebrated portions of the Turtle Creek watershed in southeastern Union County being removed, or “delisted” from the federal Clean Water Act impaired waters list. The participants included the Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources joined the Fish and Boat Commission, Sen.

article thumbnail

Shellenberger Requests "Precautionary Measure" By OAS Inter-American Commission For Human Rights To Prevent Violation Of Free Speech

Environmental Progress

Pedro Vaca Villarreal, the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression, (left), and Michael Shellenberger, (right), Founder and President of Environmental Progress Environmental Progress Founder and President today filed a formal request to the Organization of American States’ Inter-American Commission For Human Rights (IACHR), and made a special appeal to Pedro Vaca Villarreal, the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression.

58
article thumbnail

EPA, Local Philadelphia Area Partners Celebrate Earth Week, Declare Trash Free Waters Begin With You!

PA Environment Daily

On April 23, leaders from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency , Philadelphia Water Department , and Partnership for the Delaware Estuary joined to celebrate Earth Week and highlight a new ad campaign, ‘Trash Free Waters Begin with YOU!’ appearing throughout the city at multiple SEPTA and PATCO stops. Focusing on the importance of keeping litter off streets and out of waters, EPA Deputy Regional Administrator Cathy Libertz, PWD Commissioner Randy E.

article thumbnail

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.

article thumbnail

Power Plant Carbon Rules: What’s Changed Since the 2023 Proposal?

NRDC

The EPA's finalized rules for carbon emissions from the power sector have just been released. Here's how they've evolved.

article thumbnail

Heights Philadelphia, EPA Announce New Partnership Aiding Black, Brown And First-Generation Students’ Pathways to Environmental Studies & Careers

PA Environment Daily

On April 22 - Earth Day - Heights Philadelphia and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency formally announced a new partnership to support Heights’ mission of creating student pathways to college and careers, especially for low-income, Black and Brown, and first generation to college students. Furthering Heights' vision that all students achieve economic mobility through education and career success, the EPA will now offer opportunities for students supported by Heights in college programming a

article thumbnail

How Temperate Forests Could Help Limit Climate Change

Scientific American

People understand how saving tropical forests is good for the planet, but temperate forests are equally indispensable in fighting climate change

60
article thumbnail

Lancaster Conservancy, Partners Hold Lancaster Water Week June 7-15

PA Environment Daily

The Lancaster Conservancy and many partners will hold the 8th Annual Lancaster Water Week on June 7 - 15 to celebrate the 1,400 miles of streams and rivers in Lancaster County. Lancaster Water Week features over 60 events as we paddle, explore, volunteer, and take action as a community to protect our streams and rivers for the future! These waterways are the source of drinking water, drive economic and agricultural growth, and allow us to escape into nature to fish, paddle, and swim.

article thumbnail

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.

article thumbnail

Sustainable Finance 101: Transforming Finance for a Sustainable Future

Enviromental Defense

Canada promised to cut its greenhouse gas emissions after the 2016 Paris Agreement. It was part of the global agreement where 195 countries all agreed to reduce their emissions, and Canada has set this promise into law. While other G7 countries are slashing emissions, Canada lags far behind. In order to meet our targets, every sector of the Canadian economy must row in the same direction.

article thumbnail

EPA Issues Emergency Fuel Waiver for E15 Sales

Nanotech

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on April 19, 2024, that it issued an emergency fuel waiver for E15 sales. EPA states that the waiver will help consumers protect themselves against fuel supply shocks by reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels while also supporting American agriculture and manufacturing. EPA notes that current estimates indicate that “on average, E15 is about $0.25 a gallon cheaper than E10.

article thumbnail

Amos Miller and the Regulation of Raw Milk

National Law Center

Discussions among legislators, public health officials, and consumers persist across the United States as the debate over raw milk sales continues. The post Amos Miller and the Regulation of Raw Milk appeared first on National Agricultural Law Center.

article thumbnail

Let’s Talk About Tarpon

Ocean Conservancy

Nearly every night during our bedtime routine of reading countless books, my kids will ask me, “Why haven’t we met a dinosaur yet?” And, nearly every night, I begrudgingly admit that dinosaurs are extinct, and we probably won’t see one walking down the street anytime soon. But then I got to thinking … are they really extinct? Sure, we don’t share morning commutes with pterodactyls or velociraptors.

Ocean 52
article thumbnail

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.

article thumbnail

Delamination Techniques of Waste Solar Panels: A Review

Environmental News Bits

Ghahremani, Ali, Scott D. Adams, Michael Norton, Sui Yang Khoo, and Abbas Z. Kouzani. 2024. “Delamination Techniques of Waste Solar Panels: A Review” Clean Technologies 6(1), 280-298.

Waste 52
article thumbnail

Utility of Consortia Advocacy — A Conversation with Heather J. Blankinship

Nanotech

This week I discuss with my colleague, Heather Blankinship, Senior Scientist/Regulatory Consultant for B&C and The Acta Group, and Senior Manager for B&C® Consortia Management, L.L.C. (BCCM) to discuss the value of coalition advocacy, and its essentiality in the chemical space, especially now. Heather manages many chemical coalitions and does a masterful job of managing issues and people.

52
article thumbnail

Emergy Analysis and Life Cycle Assessment for Evaluating the Sustainability of Solar-Integrated Ecotechnologies in Winery Wastewater Treatment

Environmental News Bits

Praveen, K., Abinandan, S., Venkateswarlu, K., & Megharaj, M. (2024). “Emergy Analysis and Life Cycle Assessment for Evaluating the Sustainability of Solar-Integrated Ecotechnologies in Winery Wastewater Treatment.” ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering 12(11), 4676–4689. [link] Abstract Innovative approaches in sustainable wastewater management are vital in addressing climate change.

article thumbnail

Rat neuron injection lets mice that can’t smell sniff out cookies

New Scientist

Mice that had been genetically modified to lack the ability to smell could sniff out hidden cookies when sensory neurons from rats were grown in their brains

55
article thumbnail

Tornadoes, wildfires and other disasters tell a story of vulnerability and recovery in America

Environmental News Bits

Tricia Wachtendorf, University of Delaware and James Kendra, University of Delaware People often think of disasters as great equalizers. After all, a tornado, wildfire or hurricane doesn’t discriminate against those in its path. But the consequences for those impacted are not “one-size-fits-all.” That’s evident in recent storms and wildfire disasters and in the U.S.

52
article thumbnail

Extrovert or Introvert: Most People Are Actually Ambiverts

Scientific American

Research on personality types in the middle of the extroversion-introversion scale is limited—yet the majority of people fall into this category

52
article thumbnail

Supermassive black holes may provide a nursery for mini ones to grow

New Scientist

The supermassive black holes at the centres of galaxies may capture smaller black holes.

66
article thumbnail

Elizabeth Bates and the Search for the Roots of Human Language

Scientific American

In the 1970s a young psychologist challenged a popular theory of how we acquire language, launching a fierce debate that continues to this day

52
article thumbnail

India’s healthcare system falls short despite Modi’s improvements

New Scientist

More than 1.4 billion people live in India, giving its healthcare system a major role in planetary well-being.

56
article thumbnail

We Are in the Golden Age of Bird-Watching

Scientific American

There has never been a better time to be or become a birder

79
article thumbnail

Join Master Watershed Stewards In Lancaster County For June 13 Waterways On Wheels Bike Tour

PA Environment Daily

Join the Lancaster County Master Watershed Stewards , in partnership with the Lancaster Conservancy , on a June 13 bike tour of the watersheds of the Northwest Lancaster County River Trail from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. The tour will highlight various watershed features, trail history, and geologic history. The tour is an out-and-back bike ride from the East Donegal Township Riverfront Park to the Fishermans Wharf Trail access at the northern terminus in Falmouth.

2024 45
article thumbnail

From nature to the lab: U of T startup brews more sustainable food ingredients

Environmental News Bits

Read the full story from the University of Toronto. Ardra Inc. aims to replace natural flavour ingredients in food with more sustainable alternatives manufactured using precision fermentation. Think of the fermenting tanks in a brewery, but instead of yeast, Ardra’s technology involves microbes that are genetically engineered to produce high-value compounds rather than ethanol.

article thumbnail

Call For Proposals: 2024 Chesapeake Watershed Forum Oct. 18-20 In WV

PA Environment Daily

The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay is now accepting presentation proposals for the 2024 Chesapeake Watershed Forum on October 18-20 in Shepherdstown, WV. The deadline for submissions is May 19. The theme for this year's Forum is-- Making It Last - Proven Tactics For Building Enduring Projects, Partnerships And Organizations.” With this year’s theme, the Alliance seeks to showcase the projects, partnerships, and organizations that have continued to flourish for at least five years after establis

2024 59
article thumbnail

38 trillion dollars in damages each year: World economy already committed to income reduction of 19% due to climate change

Environmental News Bits

Read the full story from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK). Even if CO2 emissions were to be drastically cut down starting today, the world economy is already committed to an income reduction of 19% until 2050 due to climate change, a new study finds.

article thumbnail

Philadelphia Solar Energy Assn./DEP Publish New Go Solar And Save Toolkit For Schools

PA Environment Daily

The Philadelphia Solar Energy Association , in partnership with DEP, published a new Go Solar and Save Toolkit for schools. The Toolkit details the process in ten steps, provides access to all the new federal tax credits, grants and loans available, provides a sample Request for Proposal (RFP), and two powerful proformas. One proforma is for a Power Purchase Agreement and the other is for Direct Ownership, to help schools run the numbers in a range of scenarios to decide how to optimize the bene

2024 59