Wed.Nov 17, 2021

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The Stream, November 17, 2021: Meet The Activist Saving a Polluted Chinese Lake

Circle of Blue

YOUR GLOBAL RUNDOWN. Heavy rainstorms wreaked havoc in the Canadian province of British Columbia , forcing the evacuation of an entire small town. A new report finds water and energy use from Oahu hotels did not decrease in 2020 despite lockdown orders. A study from the S. Environmental Protection Agency links proximity to agricultural land to high levels of toxic algal blooms in Midwestern lakes.

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US Offshore Wind: 3 Key Opportunities to Advance Equity

Union of Concerned Scientists

We can promote offshore wind and equity at the same time.

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Wireless implant uses optogenetics to control spinal cord activity in mice

Physics World

Optogenetics – a technique that uses light to control the activity of neurons or other types of cell – has revolutionized our ability to manipulate and discern the mechanisms underlying brain function. Spinal cord activity underpins control of movement and several other basic physiological functions. But compared with the brain, optogenetics in the spinal cord presents a series of challenges that require the development of new light-delivery technologies.

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Young Filipino Entrepreneur Looks to Build Southeast Asia's Biggest Solar Plant

Yale E360

Leandro Leviste, a 28-year-old Filipino entrepreneur, is planning to build what would be the largest solar installation in Southeast Asia, a 500-megawatt plant around 80 miles north of Manila, Bloomberg reported. Read more on E360 ?.

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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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Merging neutron stars create more gold than collisions involving black holes

Physics World

The amounts of heavy elements such as gold created when black holes merge with neutron stars have been calculated and compared with the amounts expected when pairs of neutron stars merge. The calculations were done by Hsin-Yu Chen and Salvatore Vitale at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Francois Foucart at the University of New Hampshire using advanced simulations and gravitational-wave observations made by the LIGO–Virgo collaboration.

2017 143
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Mysteries of Ancient Egypt's Sacred Baboons Revealed

Scientific American

Studies of living and mummified baboons hint at why ancient Egyptians revered these pesky primates and uncover the probable location of the fabled kingdom from which they imported the animals. -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com.

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More Trending

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Contrasting Adapting to Contagious Disease Risk with Adapting to Climate Change

Environmental and Urban Economics

Bill Gates argues that we were insufficiently prepared for COVID-19. Does our failure to adequately prepare for this crisis portend a future under-investment to invest in self-protection to reduce our exposure to climate change risk? In the case of COVID, we had enjoyed 100 years of little exposure to vast contagion. This certainly played a role in lulling us into a complacent mindset.

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Scientists Plan Private Mission to Hunt for Earths around Alpha Centauri

Scientific American

A privately funded telescope called Toliman will seek habitable worlds in our nearest neighboring star system, potentially sparking a new wave of exoplanetary exploration. -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com.

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Physicists create discrete time crystals in a programmable quantum simulator

Physics World

Time crystals are special quantum systems that exhibit periodicity in time, just as crystalline materials are periodic in space. Since 2012, when they were first proposed theoretically , several groups have built experimental systems that demonstrate key characteristics of time crystals, but these results lacked a method to generally stabilize the time crystalline phase.

2012 135
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COVID Can Cause Strange Eye and Ear Symptoms

Scientific American

From conjunctivitis to vertigo, coronavirus infections can affect disparate senses. -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com.

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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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From geckos’ feet to Formula 1: how surface science underpins our world

Physics World

I have to come clean about something. I thought I understood the science of surfaces. As a physicist working on nanomaterials for light-emitting diodes (LEDs) , solar panels and sensors, I literally spend my days playing with polymers. The devices I build are multi-layered structures, where you have to really know what’s going to happen when you deposit one layer on top of another.

2015 120
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We Must Improve Equity in Cancer Screening

Scientific American

Eliminating disparities in routine examinations will require outreach, availability and cultural consideration. -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com.

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Ag and Food Law Daily Update: November 17, 2021

National Law Center

A comprehensive summary of today’s judicial, legislative, and regulatory developments in agriculture and food. Email important additions HERE. REGULATORY: EPA, The post Ag and Food Law Daily Update: November 17, 2021 appeared first on National Agricultural Law Center.

Law 108
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Why are we conscious? The answer lies in other animals’ heads

New Scientist

It’s easy to think human conscious experience is unique, but a better understanding of consciousness’s mysteries comes by tracing it back in the evolutionary tree

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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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The NHL and Chemours Are Spreading ‘Dangerous Misinformation’ About Ice-Rink Refrigerants, a New Report Says

Inside Climate News

The league is promoting the company’s synthetic Opteon refrigerants as “sustainable,” even though they are thousands of times more warming of the atmosphere than carbon dioxide. By Phil McKenna The National Hockey League and Chemours have formed a partnership to promote the chemical company’s synthetic Opteon refrigerants as “environmentally sustainable,” despite them being far worse for the climate than ammonia, the most widely used ice-rink refrigerant, a Washington-based environmental advocac

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Iodine-powered satellite successfully tested in space for first time

New Scientist

Many satellites use xenon as a propellant to help them change orbit or avoid collisions, but the gas is expensive – now we know iodine provides a cheaper alternative

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What happened at COP26 in Glasgow?

Enviromental Defense

COPs break my heart. Pretty much every time. . Global injustices get put under a microscope, and magnified for the world to see. Ministers from poor, vulnerable countries call on those from rich, industrialized countries to do more: reduce their high levels of greenhouse gas emissions and assist people in the Global south to better cope with the climate disasters that keep mounting.

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mRNA vaccine against tick bites could help prevent Lyme disease

New Scientist

An mRNA vaccine that causes a red, itchy skin rash in response to bites by ticks may allow them to be removed before they transmit Lyme disease-causing bacteria

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Mission Moment: Wonder and Respect for a Life-Giving System

Washington Nature

by Bob Carey, Director of Strategic Partnerships I recently volunteered on a restoration project up near Marblemount along the upper Skagit River, about 75 miles from Puget Sound. After the restoration work was done, I bushwacked into a nearby slough, knowing it was a place salmon spawned—and boy was it!! Over the next hour or so I saw thousands of spawning and spawned out pink salmon…as well as lots of bear sign, who had obviously been enjoying a feast.

Ocean 98
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Covid-19 news: Hackers targeted labs crucial to UK’s pandemic response

New Scientist

The latest coronavirus news updated every day including coronavirus cases, the latest news, features and interviews from New Scientist and essential information about the covid-19 pandemic

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O'Neill and Marotta Named 2021'Top Lobbyists' by the National Institute for Lobbying and Ethics

Arnold Porter

Arnold & Porter Legislative & Public Policy practice group chair Kevin O'Neill and associate Marne Marotta were recognized by the National Institute for Lobbying and Ethics for their outstanding legislative work in the group's 2021 "Top Lobbyists" list. The National Institute for Lobbying and Ethics is the trade association for the lobbying and government affairs profession.

2021 98
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Pale barn owls in UK and Ireland hint at ancient land bridge

New Scientist

The barn owls of northern Europe are typically dark-feathered, making the pale-feathered barn owls of the UK and Ireland an anomaly - now a study suggests they arrived via an ancient land bridge connecting the area to Iberia

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Chicago’s 2008 Climate Action Plan came up short, new analysis shows

Environmental News Bits

Read the full story from WTTW. Three mayors in the past 15 years — Richard M. Daley, Rahm Emanuel and Lori Lightfoot — have all promised to combat the effects of global climate change.

2008 91
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Why is the universe intelligible? Things aren’t as clear as we think

New Scientist

We have made huge progress in understanding some bits of the cosmos, but we’ve hit a brick wall with things like quantum theory and our own minds. Is there a way round?

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The Importance of Spotting Cancer's Warning Signs

Scientific American

Despite the vast resources aimed at finding ways to detect cancer early, more needs to be done. -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com.

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A beautiful reminder of where Earth's two worlds meet

New Scientist

Dazzling photos of the world above and below the ocean waterline, showcased in David Doubilet's book Two Worlds: Above and below the sea, reveal Earth’s rich duality

Ocean 129
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A billion-dollar solar investment is coming to Texas

Inhabitant

Chem-Energy has announced a planned investment of $1 billion in a solar and battery plant. Development will take place in Central Texas starting spring 2022. The petroleum products giant is among the many firms in the industry seeking to diversify as the world phases out fossil fuels.

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Anti-satellite weapons: Will further tests make space more dangerous?

New Scientist

After the Russian military smashed a defunct satellite, creating a cloud of dangerous debris, other powers may wish to prove they have similar capabilities

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Great Apes' Biggest Threat Is Human Activity, Not Habitat Loss

Scientific American

An assessment of chimpanzees, gorillas and bonobos reveals that our economic “footprint” is the primary driver of great apes’ fate. -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com.

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Donated embryo offers rare glimpse of development after implantation

New Scientist

We know little about human development just after implantation, but an embryo donated by one individual offers a rare look at the process

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'Portable Oasis' Extracts Water from Dry Desert Air

Scientific American

An ultraporous humidity sponge could provide 300 gallons of fresh water a day. -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com.

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Frontiers’ statement on UNESCO Open Science Recommendation

Frontiers

Frontiers’ chief executive editor Dr. Frederick Fenter : “Frontiers welcomes the news on the unanimous adaptation of The UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science. Together with UNESCO, we recognize the urgency of addressing complex and interconnected environmental, social and economic challenges facing the world and the vital importance of science, technology and innovation in response to these challenges.

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World's largest mass extinction may have begun with volcanic winter

New Scientist

The end-Permian mass extinction 252 million years ago might have begun when eruptions triggered a volcanic winter

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Climate change is destroying Indigenous rock art

Inhabitant

Indigenous rock art has survived tens of thousands of years. But global warming might be the death of it. As extreme weather events like fires, cyclones, floods and erosion intensify, rock art fades and disappears. A report at a recent symposium declared the damage is now irreversible.