Union of Concerned Scientists

MAY 15, 2024

This blog post first appeared in Utility Dive on May 3, 2024. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission staff recently revealed that winter storms Gerri and Heather brought a grid operator to the brink of rolling blackouts sometime between January 10 and January 17, 2024. But instead of providing a detailed assessment of what went wrong, they primarily highlighted the absence of rolling blackouts and the incremental improvements that have been made since the dangerous grid failures of storms Elliot

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New Scientist

MAY 15, 2024

Animal life on Earth existed for over half a billion years before hominins hit the scene – a complex combination of environmental changes, innovations in technology and competition may have led to us

Technology 109

Technology Technology 109

Legal Planet

MAY 8, 2024

Hotter, deadlier, and more frequent heat waves have become one of the most surefire signs of a changing climate in our day-to-day lives. California recognized the need for action on this issue in 2022 by bringing to life AB 209 , one section of which centers around creating better indoor heat safety in homes. That should include mobile home communities, which are too often left out of this discussion.

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Union of Concerned Scientists

MAY 8, 2024

Call me Ishmael. Some years ago, I began to feel the most important thing I could do was learn how to replace fossil fuel with renewable energy. I had seen from an early age how oil dependency distorted and aggravated conflicts around the world, especially in the Middle East. For 30 years I have been an advocate for offshore wind development off New England’s coast and for the creation of institutions to support a transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy.

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Fossil Fuels Wind Power Ocean Renewable Energy 271

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

2024

New Scientist

MAY 13, 2024

Genetic analysis of 50,000-year-old Neanderthal skeletons has uncovered the remnants of three viruses related to modern human pathogens, and the researchers think they could be recreated

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Scientific American

MAY 14, 2024

The same massive sunspot that gave Earth multiple nights of stunning aurora displays has now produced the largest flare of the current solar cycle

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Legal Planet

MAY 9, 2024

Last week, the California Public Utilities Commission released a report evaluating the state’s GoGreen home energy financing program. Residential buildings are responsible for about 10 percent of state greenhouse gas emissions, and home decarbonization routinely ranks among the most challenging of our many emissions reduction challenges. Our buildings and electrical distribution grid are old, retrofit projects are complex and time-consuming, and few Californians have the energy–let alone the ca

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Union of Concerned Scientists

MAY 8, 2024

The clock is ticking for the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA), which provides health screenings and compensation for people sickened by radiation from U.S. nuclear weapons production. RECA is set to expire on June 7; this would mean not only an end to life-saving health screenings and compensation, but also to the hopes of thousands of downwinders and uranium industry workers who have been unfairly excluded from the program for decades.

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New Scientist

MAY 13, 2024

Mice given unlimited access to alcohol recovered faster after consuming a gel based on a milk protein, with the same treatment also preventing intoxication in another group of mice.

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Scientific American

MAY 14, 2024

Ancient tree rings show that the summer of 2023 was the hottest in the past 2,000 years because of human-caused climate change

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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.

Clean Energy

Enviromental Defense

MAY 14, 2024

Groups request environmental impact assessment of the Pathways Alliance carbon capture project Canmore | Traditional territories of the Treaty 7 Nations – Yesterday Ecojustice, on behalf of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, Alberta Wilderness Association, No to CO 2 Landowner’s Group, Environmental Defence, and the Climate Action Network, submitted a request to the Government of Alberta and the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) to conduct an environmental impact assessment of the Pathways Allia

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PA Environment Daily

MAY 14, 2024

On Mothers Day, May 12, road dumping opponent Siri Lawson in Warren County said conventional oil and gas well owners left her another “present” -- they dumped their wastewater on the road in front of her home in Farmington Township for the sixth time in the last six weeks. Lawson testified before a Senate Committee on April 17 in opposition to the dumping of conventional wastewater on dirt and gravel roads and now it happens even on paved roads.

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Union of Concerned Scientists

MAY 10, 2024

After months (and months and months) of anticipation, we are finally seeing some forward movement on a new food and farm bill. On May 1, Senate Agriculture Committee chair Debbie Stabenow of Michigan released a detailed, 94-page framework laying out her committee’s priorities for the bill. Meanwhile, on the other side of the Capitol, House Agriculture Chair G.T.

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Conservation Climate Change Greenhouse 2024 188

New Scientist

MAY 13, 2024

Outrunning prey over long distances is an efficient method of hunting for humans, and it was widely used until recently, according to an analysis of ethnographic accounts

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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.

2022

Scientific American

MAY 14, 2024

Orcas have once again attacked and sunk a boat near the Strait of Gibraltar, a behavior that has scientists stumped

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Inside Climate News

MAY 8, 2024

As millions of taxpayer dollars flow to livestock companies claiming to raise “low carbon” beef, watchdog groups scrutinize the government’s oversight. By Georgina Gustin About five miles south of Broken Bow, in the heart of central Nebraska, thousands of cattle stand in feedlots at Adams Land & Cattle Co., a supplier of beef to the meat giant Tyson Foods.

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Greenhouse 124

PA Environment Daily

MAY 8, 2024

On May 8, hundreds of Washington County residents rallied at an event calling for greater safety at fracking well pads outside a Cecil Township Board of Supervisors hearing on oil and gas ordinances. In the parking lot steps from the meeting room, homeowners called for increases to zoning setbacks for new well pads that would improve area quality of life and reduce pollution in new and existing neighborhoods.

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Union of Concerned Scientists

MAY 13, 2024

I am into air quality. Especially when it means I can breathe outside because there is no pesticide drift, wildfire smoke, vehicle exhaust, or pungent odors. However, the reasons why I am into air quality are a bit contradictory. On the one hand, I am fascinated by air quality because I love working with sensors and monitoring equipment. I enjoy doing outreach and education about electronics with kids.

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2024 Fossil Fuels Ozone Air Pollution 156

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Sustainable Development

New Scientist

MAY 14, 2024

Underwater data centres being installed off the coasts of China, the US and Europe could be disrupted by sounds from military-grade sonar on ships and submarines, or even whales

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Scientific American

MAY 14, 2024

Scientists have recently discovered thousands of active RNA molecules that can control the human body

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Law Columbia

MAY 10, 2024

A Missed Opportunity or the First of Many Decisions to Come? The recent rulings on climate change by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) are—as others have pointed out in this blog symposium —both “historic and unprecedented” for various reasons, not least regarding the question of reparation for climate change-related harm. While redress is a pivotal question to think through in relation to climate change, it has, somewhat surprisingly, received less attention from scholars and has no

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PA Environment Daily

MAY 13, 2024

On May 13, the Department of Environmental Protection announced the award of $5,672,751 in federal funding to support eight local abandoned mine lands and mine drainage restoration projects as a part of the Abandoned Mine Lands and Acid Mine Drainage Grant Program. The projects are located in Allegheny, Bedford, Butler, Elk, Northumberland and Westmoreland counties.

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Conservation Environmental Protection 2024 Waste 110

New Scientist

MAY 13, 2024

The world’s largest "ecoacoustic" survey, listening to Costa Rican rainforests, could pave the way for a network of sensors listening to the planet’s biodiversity in real time

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Rainforest 123

Scientific American

MAY 15, 2024

Google scientists have modelled a fragment of the human brain at nanoscale resolution, all 150 million connections

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Enviromental Defense

MAY 15, 2024

Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat – Today Environmental Defence published a new report titled, Gas Is Not Green: Why Gas Does not Belong in A Canadian Sustainable Finance Taxonomy that outlines why fossil fuels like ‘natural’ gas should not be included under a sustainable finance label.

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Fossil Fuels Natural Gas Climate Scientist Renewable Energy 85

PA Environment Daily

MAY 10, 2024

A brief review of Pennsylvania’s conservation history-- -- We've Heard This Before: "We're Providing Jobs - Stopping Pollution Threatens Jobs" - Until Air Pollution Killed People, Then We Said No. [ First Pair Of Photos ] -- We've Heard This Before: "We're Providing Jobs - Stopping Pollution Threatens Jobs" - Until Hunters Could Find No Game And Anglers Could Find No Fish, Then We Said No. [ Second Pair Of Photos ] -- We've Heard This Before: "We're Providing Jobs - Stopping Pollution Threatens

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Union of Concerned Scientists

MAY 13, 2024

Me interesa mucho la calidad del aire. Especialmente cuando eso significa que puedo respirar afuera porque no nos están rociando con pesticidas, no hay humo de incendios forestales, ni gases de escape de vehículos ni olores repulsivos. Sin embargo, las razones por las que me importa la calidad del aire son un poco contradictorias. Por un lado, me fascina la calidad del aire porque me encanta trabajar con sensores.

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New Scientist

MAY 12, 2024

A study of more than 2 million people in 168 countries suggests that having access to the internet is linked to higher life satisfaction, but many questions remain unanswered

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Scientific American

MAY 13, 2024

An active hurricane season could be in store because of ocean temperatures in the North Atlantic that broke records for more than a year

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Ocean 114

Enviromental Defense

MAY 15, 2024

Statement from Keith Brooks, Programs Director Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat – Bill 165, the so-called Keeping Energy Costs Down Act, is an affront to good governance and an insult to Ontarians who are grappling with an affordability crisis. Contrary to the Bill’s ironic name, this piece of legislation will raise energy costs for nearly 4 million households in Ontario and saddle new home buyers with higher

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Fossil Fuels Government Climate Change Regulations 85

PA Environment Daily

MAY 14, 2024

The path of the May 11 tornado in Washington County ended between the McIntosh Natural Gas Compressor Station and EQT's Sara Shale Gas Well Pad, according to The Energy Age Blog. Related Articles: -- The Energy Age Blog: EQT Corp. New Act 14 Notices Of New Wells From Sarah Shale Gas Well Pad In Union Twp., Washington County Headed To Library, South Park In Allegheny County -- DEP Imposed $2.

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Natural Gas 2018 2023 93

Union of Concerned Scientists

MAY 14, 2024

Every five years or so, Congress reauthorizes a comprehensive, multibillion-dollar law that has a major impact not only on farmers and ranchers—who make up less than 2 percent of the US population—but also on the environment, public health, and the economy. Generically called the “farm” bill, it is actually a farm and food bill that supports a wide range of programs, including ones that cover crop insurance, financial credit, and export subsidies for farmers, as well as the Supplemental Nutritio

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Scientific American

MAY 14, 2024

Scientists are putting together a catalog of communications from belugas’ forehead “melon”

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