Fri.Aug 06, 2021

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The Stream, August 6, 2021: The Drought Edition

Circle of Blue

YOUR GLOBAL RUNDOWN. In the American West, drought and wildfire are threatening California’s power grid and Nestle will continue bottling water in a drought-stricken Colorado county. Drought in Hawaii results in the state’s largest wildfire on record. Ranch cattle are starving to death in Mexico amid a historic drought. In South America, snowfall on the Andes Mountain range is at a historic low.

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The Biden Administration’s Clean Car Proposal Shows How to Turn the Industry Around—But it Takes a Wrong Turn

Union of Concerned Scientists

This isn’t about lofty aspirations—it’s about addressing climate change in a way consistent with the science of what is needed.

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The unsung theory: why thermodynamics is as important as quantum mechanics and general relativity

Physics World

Like many science writers, I have often adopted the conceit that quantum mechanics and general relativity are our two principal (if incompatible) theories of the physical world. With his superb new book Einstein’s Fridge: the Science of Fire, Ice and the Universe , documentary filmmaker Paul Sen has made me doubt that this is the right way to express it.

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The Inequities of Keeping Cool in Urban Heat Islands

Union of Concerned Scientists

Another heat wave threatens the US Southwest, and may pose more risks to people living in cities like Houston and Phoenix, due to the urban heat island phenomenon.

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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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Neutron-science pioneer John Enderby dies aged 90

Physics World

The British physicist John Enderby has died aged 90. He is best known scientifically for his development of new techniques using neutrons to study the structure of liquids. Knighted for his services to physics in 2004, Enderby had a long association with Institute of Physics Publishing (IOPP) in Bristol, where he served for many years as scientific advisor.

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New Climate Report Will Detail Grim Future of Hotter, Extreme Weather and Rising Seas

Scientific American

The first assessment from the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change in eight years will sound the alarm on soaring temperatures and other effects of unchecked carbon pollution. -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com.

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The Computer Scientist Training AI to Think With Analogies

Scientific American

Melanie Mitchell says digital minds will never truly be like ours until they can make analogies. -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com.

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New evidence supports dark-spot theory for Betelgeuse’s ‘Great Dimming’

Physics World

Early last year, the astronomy world was abuzz with speculation that Betelgeuse, a red giant star in the constellation Orion, might be about to go nova. This speculation was prompted by observations that Betelgeuse, which is normally one of the brightest stars in the sky, had dropped from magnitude +0.5 down to a mere +1.64 in a matter of months – something that could have been the precursor to a supernova of a magnitude not witnessed on Earth since the creation of the Crab Nebula in 1054.

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Ag & Food Law Daily Update: August 6, 2021

National Law Center

A comprehensive summary of today’s judicial, legislative, and regulatory developments in agriculture and food. Email important additions HERE. REGULATORY: AMS, The post Ag & Food Law Daily Update: August 6, 2021 appeared first on National Agricultural Law Center.

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Dolphins spotted trapping fish in mud rings in the Caribbean

New Scientist

Some dolphins churn up seafloor mud to form a ring that traps fish – and now we know the technique has been developed independently by dolphins near Belize and near Florida

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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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BlueWave, Laketricity Sign Joint Venture For Floatovoltaics In Northeast U.S.

Environmental Leader

BlueWave Solar, a solar and energy storage developer, and Laketricity, a company from floatovoltaics pioneer Ciel & Terre, have signed a joint venture for projects in Massachusetts as well as plans to expand throughout the Northeast U.S region. BlueWave has developed and sold more than 155 MW of solar projects. Read more ». The post BlueWave, Laketricity Sign Joint Venture For Floatovoltaics In Northeast U.S. appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader.

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Ancient lake in Mars’s Gale crater may have actually been a small pond

New Scientist

Gale crater, which NASA’s Curiosity rover has been exploring for the past eight years, was thought to have once held a huge lake – but it may have been more like a puddle

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Fort Benning Generates Big Bucks with Project to Boost Energy Savings

Environmental Leader

Honeywell announced today the next phase of a modernization project with Fort Benning, a US Army post located on the border of Alabama and Georgia, to improve energy resilience. The upcoming steps of this project will help significantly reduce energy consumption and generate…. The post Fort Benning Generates Big Bucks with Project to Boost Energy Savings appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader.

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Bottled water's impact is 3,500 times higher than tap water

Inhabitant

Research led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) has found that bottled water's environmental impact is 3,500 times higher than tap water's.

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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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NASA's Perseverance Mars Rover Foiled in First Attempt to Grab Rock for Return to Earth

Scientific American

Seeking to collect its inaugural core sample, the mission hopes to begin what could be humanity’s boldest search for extraterrestrial life. -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com.

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Paddle board is made from old wind turbine blades, quantum technology for sustainability

Physics World

Stand-up paddle boarding is up near the top of my bucket list, so I was pleased to learn that researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Wood Research, Wilhelm-Klauditz-Institut have created a board that is made from 100% renewable materials – instead of the usual petroleum-based materials. What is more, the light-weight material that they have developed for paddle boards can be used in buildings, cars and ships.

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Climate Change Is Hitting Farmers Hard

Scientific American

Insurance claims for crop losses are soaring. -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com.

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What the smart roads of the future might look like

Inhabitant

While the first flying cars are actually achieving lift off already, nations around the world are investing in new infrastructure, with varying results that could be the new normal in a few years' time.

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Science Book Talk, Episode 1: The Many Mysteries of Fish

Scientific American

In Science Book Talk, a new four-part podcast miniseries, host Deboki Chakravarti acts as literary guide to two science books that share a beautiful and sometimes deeply. -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com.

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Both boys and girls tend to write stories about boys

New Scientist

Stories written by children in the UK aged 5 to 13 are far more likely to feature male characters – regardless of whether the writer is a boy or a girl

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A New Idea That Could Help Us Understand Autism

Scientific American

Some of the condition’s most challenging traits might be explained by deficits in predictive skills. -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com.

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The Gulf Stream may be near collapse

Inhabitant

The ocean current commonly known as the Gulf Stream is hurtling towards a terrifying tipping point, according to scientists in an article published in the journal Nature Climate Change. Its collapse could threaten civilization as we know it.

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C&I Companies Benefit from Microgrid Innovation as Financing Becomes Easier

Environmental Leader

As of early 2021, commercial and industrial companies have been benefitting from innovation within the energy-as-a-service (EaaS) market when it comes to microgrids. Though these types of customers have available capital — and often own portfolios of similar-sized building sites — they tend to be averse to risk and do not necessarily want to take on the risk of….

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Congress: Support Health Care Professionals in Preventing Gun Violence

Scientific American

Back President Joe Biden’s plan to invest $5 billion in programs proved to reduce shootings. -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com.

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Garden City brings a breath of fresh air to urban Paris

Inhabitant

The project, Garden City of the Crescent Moon, seeks to showcase what the design of the future can look like.

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Does this city’s progress on removing lead water lines show the potential for U. S.-wide replacement?

Environmental News Bits

Read the full story at Ensia. Faced with a lead crisis that drew comparisons to Flint, Michigan’s, some people have called Newark, New Jersey’s response a “national model.” Still, eliminating lead from drinking water nationwide will not be an easy task.

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Organic blobs built in lab may be small step towards synthetic life

New Scientist

Microscopic organic blobs created from scratch could provide clues about how biological cells formed spontaneously on early Earth – and further efforts to generate synthetic life

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Excess fertilizer causes a new challenge: Low crop yields during drought

Environmental News Bits

Read the full story at Civil Eats. New research suggests that farmers who over-fertilize grassland crops like corn and wheat could face significant problems in dry conditions.

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NASA's Perseverance Mars Rover Grabs First Rock for Return to Earth

Scientific American

Collecting its inaugural core sample, the mission begins what could be humanity’s boldest search for extraterrestrial life. -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com.

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Corporate ‘greenwashing’ poses growing threat to ESG goals: report

Environmental News Bits

Read the full story at CFO Dive. Sustainability-related financing has tripled since 2015, with a tenfold increase in flows to environmental, social and governance (ESG) funds, an eight-fold increase in sustainable debt issuance and a doubling in the value of ESG-related deals by private equity and venture capital firms, according to a report by Generation Investment Management.

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Why do cats purr?

New Scientist

Cats are thought to purr for a number of different reasons, not just when they are content

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Major Atlantic ocean current system might be approaching critical threshold

Environmental News Bits

Read the full story from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. The major Atlantic ocean current, to which also the Gulf stream belongs, may have been losing stability in the course of the last century. This is shown in a new study published in Nature Climate Change.

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EFSA Updates Guidance on Nanomaterials Risk Assessment to Be Applied in Food and Feed Chain: Human and Animal Health

Nanotech

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has updated its “ Guidance on risk assessment of nanomaterials to be applied in the food and feed chain: human and animal health.” The updated guidance, published on August 3, 2021, covers the application areas within EFSA’s remit, including novel foods, food contact materials, food and feed additives, and pesticides.

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Why clearing Brazil’s forests for farming can make it harder to grow crops

Environmental News Bits

Read the full story from NPR. Millions of acres of Brazil’s forest and grasslands have been cleared over the past 30 years to grow soybeans, making the country the world’s biggest soybean producer.