Tue.Jan 09, 2024

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Mind the Gaps: How the UN Climate Plan Fails to Follow the Science

Yale E360

The U.N. climate conference in Dubai agreed on a plan to keep global warming to 1.5 degrees C and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. But researchers are warning that these pledges are not grounded in sound science and will fail to prevent the worst impacts of climate change.

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La poca fiabilidad de las centrales eléctricas de gas: tres cosas que debes saber

Union of Concerned Scientists

Los Estados Unidos ha visto avances impresionantes en el desarrollo de la energía limpia en los años recientes. En 2022, más del 22 por ciento de la electricidad en el país se generó con fuentes renovables como el viento, el sol y el agua, casi el doble de su contribución en 2012. Sin embargo, las centrales eléctricas que usan como combustible el gas metano (tradicionalmente conocido como gas natural) siguen siendo hoy una gran parte del suministro de electricidad en los Estados Unidos.

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The Energy Policy and Conservation Act – Still – Preempts Berkeley’s Ban on New Natural Gas Connections

Law and Environment

Last week, the 9 th Circuit voted against rehearing en banc its decision from last April finding the City of Berkeley’s ban on natural gas connections in new construction to be preempted by the Energy Policy and Conservation Act. Judge Friedland, joined by seven other judges (and three senior judges!) dissented from the denial, writing a lengthy opinion fairly explicitly directed at judges from other Courts of Appeal that might hear cases addressing similar bans.

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We’re finally working out why the Mediterranean diet is so good for us

New Scientist

We have known for decades that the Mediterranean diet lowers the risk of heart attack and other conditions – now we are starting to understand how certain components of the diet work their magic

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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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More Than 900 Widely Used Chemicals May Increase Breast Cancer Risk

Inside Climate News

Ninety percent of the chemicals identified as potential breast carcinogens in a new study are found in everyday products in homes and workplaces. By Liza Gross More than 900 chemicals in widespread use could be increasing breast cancer risk, scientists reported in a peer-reviewed study published today.

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AI comes up with battery design that uses 70 per cent less lithium

New Scientist

Researchers used AI to design a new material that they used to build a working battery – it requires up to 70 percent less lithium than some competing designs.

More Trending

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‘Islands’ poking out of black holes may solve the information paradox

New Scientist

Measuring “entanglement islands” that contain copies of information that black holes have lost could help us find an answer to Stephen Hawking’s black hole paradox

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New Research Explores a Restorative Climate Path for the Earth

Inside Climate News

Existing green growth policies are leading nowhere fast, so scientists say it’s worth exploring alternatives like degrowth to stay within planetary boundaries. By Bob Berwyn With Earth’s average annual temperature speeding toward 1.5 degrees Celsius faster than expected and global climate policy on a treadmill , an increasing number of researchers say it’s time to consider a “restorative pathway” to avoid the worst ecological and social outcomes of global warming.

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Prototype rocket engine burns itself up for fuel as it flies

New Scientist

After a rocket uses up its fuel, the tank generally just becomes dead weight, but a prototype rocket that burns its own fuselage as propellant could solve that problem

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Driving Ambition, Action, and Equity at COP28 (Part 2)

NRDC

At COP28, countries, companies, investors, and other decision-makers sent a clear signal to spur greater action now and increase ambition this decisive decade.

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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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Mysterious radio burst came from group of galaxies in distant universe

New Scientist

The Hubble Space Telescope has pinpointed the origin of the most distant known fast radio burst, which hit our planet in 2022

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Coast Redwoods Are Enduring, Adaptable Marvels

Scientific American

Redwoods, like all trees, are engineered marvels that offer life lessons about adapting over time

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It might rain diamonds on more than 1900 exoplanets across the galaxy

New Scientist

It may be easier than researchers thought to form diamonds inside giant planets, which means that it might rain diamonds on up to a third of the planets we have discovered so far

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Who Owns the Business? Corporate Transparency Act and Foreign Entity Disclosures

National Law Center

As previously discussed, the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act (“AFIDA”) (7 U.S.C. §§ 3501–3508) contains reporting requirements mandating that certain foreign. The post Who Owns the Business? Corporate Transparency Act and Foreign Entity Disclosures appeared first on National Agricultural Law Center.

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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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6 exquisite images from Close-up Photographer of the Year

New Scientist

A moray eel, a robber fly and an ice-topped slime mould appear in winning images from the Close-Up Photographer of the Year competition

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New PA Parks & Forests Foundation Video Explores The Benefits Of Nature & Silence

PA Environment Daily

The PA Parks and Forests Foundation set out to learn about the health and experience of a quiet environment. “ The Role of Quiet” video explores the science of how sounds affect us, the benefits to our mental health, and tips for making the most out of visits submerged in nature. In the video, Peter Newman, Pennsylvania State University Martin Professor and Head of Recreation, Parks and Tourism Management talks about his findings as he researched and conducted studies, looking at sounds from peo

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Why moon missions in 2024 could reveal both our history and our future

New Scientist

Several moon missions are planned for 2024, including some that will attempt to mine for ice on the moon and test out new lunar rovers – and they can teach us about Earth’s history

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Shenango River Watchers, US Army Corps Of Engineers Host 4th Annual Eagle Fest At Shenango River Lake Jan. 13 In Mercer County

PA Environment Daily

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District , in partnership with the Shenango River Watchers , will host the fourth annual Eagle Fest at Shenango River Lake , January 13 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Community members are invited to attend at the Chestnut Run Swim Beach at 500 Saranac Drive (SR 846), Transfer, Mercer County. The event will start at 9:00 a.m. with a presentation by the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

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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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Star cluster is heading for destruction at the heart of the Milky Way

New Scientist

The closest star cluster to the centre of the Milky Way we have seen seems to be falling in, which could teach us about how shredded clusters have helped make the galactic centre so dense

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Wildlife For Everyone Foundation Accepting Applications For Student Scholarships

PA Environment Daily

The Wildlife for Everyone Foundation is now accepting applications for up to five $1,000 student scholarships. The deadline to apply is February 9. The Foundation invites undergraduate students who are aspiring conservationists, naturalists, biologists, ecologists, and wildlife enthusiasts to apply. Awards may be used to offset expenses related to education or for participation in related conferences, workshops and field experiences.

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NASA is delaying its Artemis missions to the moon

New Scientist

NASA’s Artemis II and Artemis III missions to the moon have been delayed by a year after a series of problems with the spacecraft were revealed during testing

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AI Weather Forecasting Can't Replace Humans--Yet

Scientific American

GraphCast and other artificial intelligence-based forecasting tools offer a whole new way to predict the weather, but they have limits

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Fire ants form rafts that have weird properties when stretched

New Scientist

Fire ants link together to form rafts when their nests are flooded, and unlike most materials the rafts don’t become thinner when they are stretched

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Losing (More) Ground: Updated Severe Repetitive Loss Data

NRDC

Updated data show that the nation is falling further behind in addressing risk to the most repeatedly flooded homes.

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AI Safety Research Only Enables the Dangers of Runaway Superintelligence

Scientific American

AI will become inscrutable and uncontrollable.

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Penn State Extension Hosts 9-Part Woods In Your Backyard Webinar Series Starting Jan. 17

PA Environment Daily

Explore planning and implementing simple stewardship practices on your forest lot to create and enhance natural areas and make a positive impact on the environment during Penn State Extension’s nine-part Woods In Your Backyard webinar series. The webinars will be held Thursdays from January 17 to March 13 in one-hour sessions. The manual used for this workshop, The Woods in Your Backyard: Learning to Create and Enhance Natural Areas Around Your Home , is a self-directed book.

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How Supergenes Shape Evolution

Scientific American

By locking together traits that work well together, supergenes provide striking evolutionary advantages.

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Interim DEP Secretary Shirley Tells Citizens Advisory Council Priorities Of Permitting Reform, Environmental Justice, Customer Service, Moving Forward

PA Environment Daily

On January 9, Interim Acting DEP Secretary Jessica Shirley told DEP’s Citizens Advisory Council the initiatives started by former DEP Secretary Richard Negrin are moving forward. “We are continuing, I would say, business as usual with all of the previous plans related to permitting reform, compliance and enforcement, environmental justice, customer service that were put into place under Secretary Negrin,” said Shirley.

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2023 was officially the hottest year on record

New Scientist

The global average temperature for 2023 was 1.

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Penn State Extension Community Trees Update: DCNR Helping Communities Map Trees; Input Needed On Forestry Programing; Education Opportunities

PA Environment Daily

The latest Community Trees newsletter from Penn State Extension features articles on DCNR help mapping trees, asking for input into forestry programing and green infrastructure training opportunities. DCNR Help Mapping Trees Assessing and mapping a community’s street and park trees can be a valuable tool in the management of our urban forests. Many municipalities don’t have street and park tree inventories, while others might have collected some data on paper years ago, but don’t know how to use

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EPA Releases Decision Framework to Assess Eye Irritation or Corrosion in New Chemicals

Nanotech

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released on January 8, 2024, a decision framework for identifying eye irritation or corrosion hazards for new chemicals reviewed under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). 89 Fed. Reg. 1093. EPA states that the “New Chemicals Program Decision Framework for Hazard Identification of Eye Irritation and Corrosion” provides a decision framework for use by the Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT) New Chemicals Division (NCD) to identify ey

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NRCS-PA: Pennsylvania State Technical Advisory Committee Meeting Jan. 18

PA Environment Daily

The Natural Resources Conservation Service-PA State Technical Advisory Committee will meet January 18 from 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. The agenda includes a Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) presentation regarding implementing a strategy to rapidly restore ag-impaired streams in Central Pennsylvania, and technical reports from NRCS Engineering and Eco-Sciences.

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EPA Announces 2024 Annual Pesticide Maintenance Fee Forms Available to Download from EPA Website — Deadline for Paying Is January 16, 2024

Nanotech

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released the annual pesticide registration maintenance fee materials for fiscal year 2024. The January 16, 2024, deadline for payment of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) annual maintenance fee for pesticide registrations is fast approaching. The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) Section 4(i)(1)(A) requires everyone who holds an active or suspended pesticide registration granted under FIFRA Sections 3 and

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