Thu.Sep 19, 2024

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Phantastic Job!

Real Climate

A truly impressive paper was published this week with a new reconstruction of global temperatures over the last ~500 million years. There is something tremendously satisfying about seeing a project start, and then many years later see the results actually emerge and done better than you could have imagined. Especially one as challenging as accurately tracking half a billion years of Earth’s climate.

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Is Russia Helping China Expand Its Nuclear Weapons Program? 

Union of Concerned Scientists

This blog was co-authored with UCS China Analyst Robert Rust. Open-source estimates of China’s past fissile material production indicate that China does not have enough plutonium to make the more than 1,000 nuclear warheads the Pentagon claims China will deploy by 2035. The extra plutonium needed to produce new weapons, the Pentagon says, will come from China’s new fast breeder reactors , a type of nuclear reactor that produces more plutonium than the uranium and plutonium it consumes for fuel.

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Solar Growth Continues to Defy Predictions

Yale E360

The world is set to install a third more solar capacity this year than it did in 2023, surpassing forecasts by both industry experts and independent analysts.

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The Electricity Distribution System Can Stay Resilient in Extreme Weather

Union of Concerned Scientists

When Hurricane Beryl hit Texas this past July, millions of customers lost their power, some for over a week. This event, though saddening, is not a unique one. In recent years the frequency of extreme weather events has skyrocketed, and many events have included power outages that threaten people’s safety and even lives. Extreme weather, which is increasing due to climate change , can degrade the electricity system and cause these failures.

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How to Modernize Manufacturing Without Losing Control

Speaker: Andrew Skoog, Founder of MachinistX & President of Hexis Representatives

Manufacturing is evolving, and the right technology can empower—not replace—your workforce. Smart automation and AI-driven software are revolutionizing decision-making, optimizing processes, and improving efficiency. But how do you implement these tools with confidence and ensure they complement human expertise rather than override it? Join industry expert Andrew Skoog as he explores how manufacturers can leverage automation to enhance operations, streamline workflows, and make smarter, data-dri

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Oil and Gas Sponsorships in Major League Sports

Legal Planet

If California Attorney General Rob Bonta attends a home game to cheer on his local NBA team—the Sacramento Kings—he may encounter sponsorship ads promoting not one but two of the oil companies he’s suing for allegedly deceiving the public about climate change. Then again, Attorney General Bonta, a former soccer player and self-described soccer dad , might be more likely to attend a Los Angeles Football Club game at BMO Stadium while working in L.A.

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Evidence points to Wuhan market as source of covid-19 outbreak

New Scientist

Genetic testing on samples collected during the earliest days of the covid-19 outbreak suggests it is likely that the virus spread from animals to humans at the Huanan seafood market

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Bacteria on the space station are evolving for life in space

New Scientist

Genetic analysis shows that microbes growing inside the International Space Station have adaptations for radiation and low gravity, and may pose a threat to astronauts

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Obesity-Drug Pioneers Win Prestigious Lasker Award for Medical Science

Scientific American

Three scientists are honored for developing a class of blockbuster weight-loss drugs. Is a Nobel prize on the way?

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Special electrodes can split seawater to produce hydrogen fuel

New Scientist

Making hydrogen from seawater can be tricky because the salt is corrosive and the process can create toxic chlorine gas – new electrodes can split ocean water to make the clean fuel more easily

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The Strange Story of the Algorithm Meant to Solve Life, the Universe and Everything

Scientific American

Some researchers dream of solving all mysteries with a common method—but a mathematical paradox may keep such solutions out of reach

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The Key to Sustainable Energy Optimization: A Data-Driven Approach for Manufacturing

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

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Giant rats trained to sniff out illegal wildlife trade

New Scientist

African giant pouched rats proved adept at detecting four commonly trafficked products derived from endangered species including rhino horn and elephant ivory

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What the Newest Energy Jobs Report Says About the Clean Energy Economy

NRDC

Market forces and government incentives are creating a growing number of renewable energy jobs.

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Strange binary star system has three Earth-sized exoplanets

New Scientist

Exoplanets in binary star systems usually orbit both stars, but astronomers have now spotted three planets orbiting one or the other star in a pair

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‘Grim Outlook’ for Thwaites Glacier

Inside Climate News

A new science briefing from an international research team can’t rule out some of the worst-case sea level rise scenarios, including six feet by 2100. By Bob Berwyn ​​After six years of probing, poking and sampling a Florida-sized chunk of ice in West Antarctica with submarines, satellites and drills, scientists with the International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration said Thursday that a worst-case meltdown scenario still can’t be ruled out, since emissions of climate-heating greenhouse gases cont

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How to Drive Cost Savings, Efficiency Gains, and Sustainability Wins with MES

Speaker: Nikhil Joshi, Founder & President of Snic Solutions

Is your manufacturing operation reaching its efficiency potential? A Manufacturing Execution System (MES) could be the game-changer, helping you reduce waste, cut costs, and lower your carbon footprint. Join Nikhil Joshi, Founder & President of Snic Solutions, in this value-packed webinar as he breaks down how MES can drive operational excellence and sustainability.

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Most effective migraine drugs revealed by review of trial data

New Scientist

A meta-analysis of 137 clinical trials finds triptan drugs are among the most effective for treating migraines, while newer ditan and gepant drugs were rated less highly

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Was Thalidomide Safe? Frances Oldham Kelsey Was Not Convinced

Scientific American

In the U.S. in the early 1960s the distributor of a thalidomide drug was impatient to get it on the market.

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Earth got even hotter than we thought during past 500 million years

New Scientist

The average surface temperature varied more widely and was even hotter than previously thought during much of the past 500 million years, according to the most rigorous study so far

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UPCYCLING: POTATO PEELS, STARCH & BIOPLASTICS

Cleannovate

Potato chips colour our parties. They are the go-to meal when we just want that fast filling, sumptuous and easy to fix snack. A few of us like to cook potatoes with the skin. But for those of us who peel them, where do we dispose of these wastes? Well, there are a few places where peels could find use. Composting them helps return their nutrients back to the soil… Incorporating them into animal feeds helps enrich livestock diets.

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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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We’ve just doubled the number of gravitational waves we can find

New Scientist

Nearly imperceptible quantum flickers used to limit how precisely we could detect the way space-time ripples, but squeezing the laser light used in detectors overcomes this and doubles the number of gravitational waves we can see

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Grassland nature reserves safeguard a high species richness and biomass of grasshoppers

The Applied Ecologist

This blog post is also available in German here. Dominik Poniatowski and colleagues describe how they evaluated the environmental drivers of species richness and biomass of grasshoppers in grasslands, comparing this between nature reserves and intensively-used agriculture landscape. Grassland exhibiting low land-use intensity is considered a hotspot of biodiversity in Central Europe.

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The cactus family’s surprising evolutionary journey

New Scientist

We are finally untangling the ancient history of the cactus family, revealing some surprising forces that shaped these plants – ­­­­­­and prompting concern for their future

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Homeowner Complaint Results In DEP Emergency Plugging Of A Penn Resources, Inc. Conventional Oil Well Leaking Gas, Oil, Wastewater In McKean County

PA Environment Daily

On September 9, 2024, the Department of Environmental Protection began an emergency contract to plug a conventional oil well leaking oil, wastewater and gas in the front yard of a home in Lafayette Township, McKean County. The well-- Lewis Run Hudson Lease 2 OP 2-- is owned by Penn Resources, Inc. with a business address in the wealthy Philadelphia Main Line community of Bala Cynwyd, Montgomery County.

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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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Ultra-Precise Particle Measurement Narrows Pathway to ‘New Physics’

Scientific American

A long-awaited calculation of the W boson’s mass agrees with theory, contradicting a previous anomaly that had raised the possibility of new physics beyond the Standard Model

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PA Assn. Of Environmental Professionals Recognize Kristina Thompson & PennDOT District 5-0 With Walter Lyon Award; Former DEP Secretary David Hess With Karl Mason Award

PA Environment Daily

On September 12, the PA Association of Environmental Professionals recognized Kristina Thompson and PennDOT District 5-0 with the 2024 Walter Lyon Award and former DEP Secretary David Hess with the Karl Mason Award. PAEP presents these awards to Pennsylvanians who made unique and creative contributions to the field of environmental management in Pennsylvania with preference given to the fields of administration, law, regulation and community organization.

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This Elegant Math Problem Could Help You Make the Best Choice in House-Hunting and Even Love

Scientific American

Math’s “best-choice problem” could help humans become better decision-makers, at everything from choosing the best job candidate to finding a romantic partner

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Thursday PA Environment & Energy NewsClips - 9.19.24

PA Environment Daily

“The people have a right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and esthetic values of the environment. Pennsylvania's public natural resources are the common property of all the people, including generations yet to come. As trustee of these resources, the Commonwealth shall conserve and maintain them for the benefit of all the people.” - - Article I, Section 27 Pennsylvania Constitution [It’s Not A Suggestion] Senate Fall Voting Schedule -- September

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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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Statement: Canadian Climate Institute’s Early Estimates of National Emissions in 2023 Show an Oil and Gas Emissions Cap is Urgently Needed

Enviromental Defense

Statement by Aly Hyder Ali, Oil and Gas Program Manager, Environmental Defence Ottawa | Traditional, unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg People – New analysis confirms that a cap on emissions from the oil and gas industry is crucial to achieve Canada’s climate commitments. Today’s report from the Canadian Climate Institute provides an early estimate of Canada’s national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2023.

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When Wetlands Go Dry: Prior Converted Cropland under Swampbuster and the CWA

National Law Center

The Wetland Conservation provisions of the Food Security Act of 1985, known colloquially as “Swampbuster,” introduced a new program to promote. The post When Wetlands Go Dry: Prior Converted Cropland under Swampbuster and the CWA appeared first on National Agricultural Law Center.

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Center For Rural Pennsylvania Hosts Oct. 7 Webinar On Utility-Scale Solar Energy Facility Development

PA Environment Daily

On September 19, the Center for Rural Pennsylvania announced it will host an October 7 webinar on Utility-Scale Solar Energy Facility Development from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. The webinar will feature researchers who worked on the Center’s recent series of report on solar energy development in Pennsylvania-- -- Baseline Assessment, Development Process And Regulatory Context Of Solar Power In Rural PA -- Understanding And Addressing The Impact Of Solar Development The speakers scheduled to participate

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Revival of Three Mile Island Nuclear Plant to Support Microsoft’s AI Growth

Green Bang

The notorious Three Mile Island nuclear facility in Pennsylvania is poised to restart operations after a five-year hiatus. This move comes as part of a strategic agreement between Constellation Energy, the plant's operator, and Microsoft, which seeks to power its rapidly expanding artificial intelligence initiatives. Three Mile Island is historically significant for experiencing the worst nuclear incident in U.S. history in March 1979, when a malfunctioning valve led to a coolant loss and o

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Call For Presentations! Bucknell University 2024 River Symposium Nov. 8-9

PA Environment Daily

The Bucknell University Center for Sustainability and the Environment is now accepting presentation proposals for the 2024 River Symposium to be held November 8-9 at the Elaine Langone Center in Lewisburg, Union County. The deadline for submissions is October 22. The symposium brings together academics, consultants, state, federal, and regional agencies, conservation groups, and the public to discuss ongoing scientific research and innovative projects, share ideas, and increase awareness of cons

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