Fri.Feb 09, 2024

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New study suggests the Atlantic overturning circulation AMOC “is on tipping course”

Real Climate

A new paper was published in Science Advances today. Its title says what it is about: “Physics-based early warning signal shows that AMOC is on tipping course.” The study follows one by Danish colleagues which made headlines last July, likewise looking for early warning signals for approaching an AMOC tipping point (we discussed it here ), but using rather different data and methods.

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Ask a Scientist: Gas Plants Disproportionately Harm Marginalized Communities

Union of Concerned Scientists

Just how bad is fossil “natural” gas? Its primary component is methane. Responsible for 12 percent of all US global warming emissions from human activities, methane traps significantly more heat per molecule than carbon dioxide, making it 86 times more harmful for the first 20 years after it is released into the atmosphere. And, as it turns out, the infrastructure used to produce, store, distribute, transmit, and burn gas leaks like a sieve , making gas as bad as coal for the climate.

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After a Long Stretch of Record Heat, El Niño Begins to Wane

Yale E360

El Niño, when warm waters in the eastern Pacific fuel hotter weather globally, is beginning to recede, scientists say.

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Extreme Climate Impacts From Collapse of a Key Atlantic Ocean Current Could be Worse Than Expected, a New Study Warns

Inside Climate News

Disruption of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Current could freeze Europe, scorch the tropics and increase sea level rise in the North Atlantic. The tipping point may be closer than predicted in the IPCC’s latest assessment. By Bob Berwyn A new study affirms that a critical system of Atlantic Ocean currents that shunt warm and cold water between the poles is “on course” to a tipping point.

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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.

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Atlantic current shutdown is a real danger, suggests simulation

New Scientist

The most detailed computer model run so far shows that melting ice sheets could cause the collapse of the major ocean current that warms Europe, but it's still unclear how likely this is to happen

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Embattled Climate Scientist Michael Mann Wins $1 Million in Defamation Lawsuit

Scientific American

Michael Mann secured a win in his legal battle against conservative bloggers who said the climatologist “molested and tortured data” and compared him to a convicted child abuser

More Trending

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PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - February 10

PA Environment Daily

The following DEP notices were published in the February 10 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 - Sensinger Shale Gas Well Pad: DEP received a Final Report on remediation of soil contaminated with production wastewater to the Statewide Health Standards at the well pad located in Franklin Twp., Bradford County. ( PA Bulletin, page 682 ) -- Standing Sto

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SpaceX aims to let astronauts avoid a radio blackout during re-entry

New Scientist

When spacecraft re-enter Earth’s atmosphere, friction heats them up and creates a plasma sheath that stops communications – but SpaceX thinks its Starlink satellites could solve the problem

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Aggression Disorders Are Serious, Stigmatized and Treatable

Scientific American

Researchers have a clearer picture than ever before of how common conditions that involve aggressive behavior emerge and how treatment can help

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Old milk can be used to extract gold and other metals from e-waste

New Scientist

To extract valuable metals from discarded computer motherboards, researchers have developed a gold-absorbing material made from old milk

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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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Second Private U.S. Moon Lander Readies for Launch

Scientific American

Intuitive Machines’ IM-1 is aiming to be the first commercial mission to softly land on another celestial body—and the first to deliver NASA equipment to the moon

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New York State Proposes ‘Rapid Act’ and Other Bill to Aid in Transition to Renewable Energy and Away From Natural Gas

E2 Law Blog

Governor Kathy Hochul’s Executive Budget proposal (the Transportation, Economic Development, and Environmental Conservation budget bill (A.8808/S.8308)) includes two pivotal energy proposals: the Renewable Action Through Project Interconnection and Deployment Act and the Affordable Gas Transition Act. The Governor is seeking to advance the achievement of the ambitious emissions reduction and renewable energy procurement mandates set forth in the landmark Climate Leadership and Community Protecti

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Sensitive prosthetic lets man feel hot and cold in his missing hand

New Scientist

By applying heat or cold in certain locations on the upper arm, an adapted prosthetic with sensors can give people with an amputation the sensation of temperature in their phantom limb

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DEP Posted 74 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In February 10 PA Bulletin

PA Environment Daily

Highlights of the environmental and energy notices in the February 10 PA Bulletin -- -- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - February 10 [PaEN] -- The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the February 10 PA Bulletin of a March 12 hearing on a proposed Air Quality Plan Approval for the Holcim Solutions & Products US, LLC facility in Youngwood Borough, Westmoreland County. ( PA Bulletin, page 659 ) Read more here. -- The State

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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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Hominins may have left Africa 700,000 years earlier than we thought

New Scientist

Our hominin ancestors originated in Africa and the consensus is that they didn't leave there until about 1.

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Help Wanted: Landforce Job Training Work Readiness Manager

PA Environment Daily

Pittsburgh-based Landforce is seeking qualified candidates to fill the position of Work Readiness Manager. Landforce administers a paid job training program which not only helps restore and maintain green community assets, it supports development of strong, capable employees for future employers. They are seeking an energetic, collaborative, people-person that brings deep knowledge of community resources and counseling/casework practices with high-risk populations, including mental health treatm

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Minecraft could be the key to creating adaptable AI

New Scientist

Researchers have a new way to assess an AI model’s intelligence: drop it into a game of Minecraft, with no information about its surroundings, and see how well it plays

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JWST's Puzzling Early Galaxies Don't Break Cosmology--But They Do Bend Astrophysics

Scientific American

Rather than ripping up our fundamental models of the universe, the unexpectedly big and bright galaxies spied in the early universe by JWST probably have astrophysical explanations

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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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DEP Hosts March 12 Hearing On Air Quality Permit For Holcim Solutions & Products US, LLC Facility, Westmoreland County

PA Environment Daily

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the February 10 PA Bulletin inviting comments at a March 12 hearing on a proposed Air Quality Plan Approval for the Holcim Solutions & Products US, LLC facility in Youngwood Borough, Westmoreland County. ( PA Bulletin, page 659 ) The hearing will be held at DEP’s Southwest Regional Office, 400 Waterfront Dr., Pittsburgh from 9:30 to 10:00 a.m.

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What Taylor Swift Conspiracies Reveal, According to Science

Scientific American

Yes, conspiracy narratives are everywhere.

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Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy To Host March 8 Perkiomen Stormwater Management Symposium In Montgomery County

PA Environment Daily

Join the Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy and many of their regional partners March 8 Perkiomen Stormwater Symposium to learn about stormwater management in Montgomery County. Discover the different methods local organizations are using to tackle stormwater issues. Municipalities will walk away with educational materials and volunteer opportunities for their residents.

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Planets Orbiting Dead Stars Foretell the Solar System's Far-Future Fate

Scientific American

Images of possible planets around white dwarf stars suggest that some gas-giant worlds survive the deaths of their stellar host

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NIOSH Collaborates Globally on Workplace Safety of Nanomaterials

Nanotech

On February 1, 2024, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) posted a NIOSH Science Blog item entitled “NIOSH Global Collaborations on Workplace Safety of Nanomaterials.” According to the blog item, NIOSH’s global collaboration efforts “build on the strong NIOSH [Nanotechnology Research Center (NTRC)] research and guidance efforts contributing to the global technical information and guidance about protecting workers and aim to facilitate international collaborations for

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How April's Eclipse Will Solve Solar Mysteries

Scientific American

Experiments planned for the 2024 total solar eclipse aim to figure out how the sun works.

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EPA Will Hold Webinar on February 20, 2024, on Five Chemicals Undergoing TSCA Prioritization

Nanotech

On January 31, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it will hold a webinar on February 20, 2024, at 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. (EST) on the five chemicals currently undergoing prioritization under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). EPA states that the webinar is open to all, “but EPA is particularly interested in learning more about how these chemicals are used and how people could potentially be exposed at different points in The post EPA Will Hold Webinar on Fe

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T-Rex Vs. Jurassic Sea Monster

PBS Nature

Sir David Attenborough investigates the discovery of a lifetime: the giant skull of a prehistoric sea monster, known as a Pliosaur – the Tyrannosaurus Rex of the seas.

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Helium is an essential material for research and medical equipment, but it’s nonrenewable and difficult to recycle

Environmental News Bits

by Nicholas Fitzkee, Mississippi State University The next time you pick up balloons for your big party, remember the helium gas in those balloons is destined for the stars. Helium is so light that it easily escapes Earth’s gravity, and all helium will eventually make its way into space.

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Bilingualism Is Reworking This Language's Rainbow

Scientific American

The Tsimane’ language divides the rainbow into blackish, reddish and whitish.

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The Knitting Nanas

Environmental News Bits

Knitting Nannas describes itself as: “an international disorganisation where people come together to ensure that our land, air and water are preserved for our children and grandchildren.

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California Water Challenges Remain Despite Significant Precipitation in 2023

Clean Energy Law

State and federal officials move forward plans and policies for water conservation, conveyance, and climate resilience. By Michael G. Romey , Lucas I. Quass , John Detrich , Cody M. Kermanian , and Julie Miles The winter of 2022-23 brought historic levels of precipitation to California after years of deep drought , dwindling reservoirs, and groundwater depletion.

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Behold the THETA Cycle: A new way to turn E.coli into tiny factories that grab CO2 from thin air

Environmental News Bits

Read the full story at Anthropocene Magazine. Using synthetic biology, scientists have designed a pathway to convert CO2 into valuable industrial chemicals.

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Six Ways to Make Ocean-Friendly Fashion Choices

Ocean Conservancy

While more than 200,000 people flock to New York Fashion Week shows to get ahead of the curve on the next fashion trends, at Ocean Conservancy we have been doing some fashion analysis of our own. Our ocean experts have concluded that while some fashion trends may come and go like the daily tides, sustainable fashion is always “in” when it comes to protecting our ocean from plastic pollution.

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Climate change behind sharp drop in snowpack since 1980s

Environmental News Bits

Read the full story from Dartmouth College. A new study confirms that spring snowpacks across the Northern Hemisphere have shrunk significantly over the past 40 years due to human-driven climate change, putting hundreds of millions of people worldwide at risk of a water crisis. The Southwestern and Northeastern U.S.