Thu.Jun 17, 2021

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As a Hot, Dry Summer Begins in California, More Water Wells Are Failing

Circle of Blue

Government agencies and nonprofit groups are preparing for difficult months ahead. Guillermina Andrade (left) and Vicente Tapia filled barrels from a water depot outside the East Porterville, California, fire station. When this photo was taken, in April 2015, the well at their nearby home had been dry for 18 months and they visited the depot twice a week for water.

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As Climate Warms, a Rearrangement of World’s Plant Life Looms

Yale E360

Previous periods of rapid warming millions of years ago drastically altered plants and forests on Earth. Now, scientists see the beginnings of a more sudden, disruptive rearrangement of the world’s flora — a trend that will intensify if greenhouse gas emissions are not reined in. Read more on E360 ?.

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Why I Was Wrong About Methane

Legal Planet

I didn’t use to think that eliminating methane emissions should be a priority. True, methane is a potent greenhouse gas. But it’s also a short-lived one, which only stays in the atmosphere for twenty years or so. In contrast, CO 2 emissions cause warming for 2-3 centuries or more. So methane emissions seemed to be something that could be addressed at any point we got around to them.

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Juneteenth Is Now a Federal Holiday, But Justice is Delayed (Again) for Black Farmers

Union of Concerned Scientists

Injustice has been intertwined with agriculture since the beginning of this country. It's still here.

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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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The Stream, June 17, 2021: Peru’s Water Sector Finally Invests In Natural Infrastructure

Circle of Blue

YOUR GLOBAL RUNDOWN. A movement to build and maintain natural infrastructure in Peru is gaining ground. A judge in Louisiana blocks a Biden administration order that paused new oil and gas leases on federal lands and waters. Over 8,000 women and children have been displaced and lack clean water due to gang violence in Haiti. A top Iranian meteorological official says the country received less than five inches of rain in the last nine months.

2021 130
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Novel brachytherapy device treats eye cancer with intensity-modulated radiation

Physics World

“That may be one of the reasons why people in the medical physics world are interested in getting a conformal brachytherapy treatment for the eye.”. David Medich , an associate professor of physics at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, was explaining why internal radiation, or brachytherapy, may be preferable for treating ocular melanomas over external-beam radiation therapy: using brachytherapy to deliver radiation to an ocular tumour also protects healthy tissues and critical structures, like th

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Accelerating quantum start-ups, meet the CEO of D-Wave Systems

Physics World

In just a few short years, quantum science and technology has gone from the lab to the boardroom with companies ranging from tech giants to tiny start-ups seeking to commercialize quantum devices and algorithms. In this special Quantum Week edition of the Physics World Weekly podcast, we look at the challenges facing young companies and also hear from a firm that has been in the quantum business for over two decades.

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3 things to know before you start a a sustainability-based company

Environmental News Bits

Read the full story at Fast Company. The growing sector of businesses working on environmental change can be hard to navigate. These tips will help you focus.

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Texas Electricity Users Asked to Conserve; ERCOT Expects No Rolling Blackouts

Environmental Leader

ERCOT asked Texas electricity users to cut back on electricity consumption this week. A significant number of power plants were offline simultaneously on Monday, and as of Wednesday afternoon, about 9,000 megawatts of electricity were still offline, an ERCOT spokesperson said. This week’s heat led to high electricity demand — that factor, combined with the downed units, meant that the.

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The places paving the way to 100 percent renewable energy

Environmental News Bits

Read the full story at The Verge. President Joe Biden is setting the US on a path to run entirely on clean electricity by 2035. That’s not an easy target, considering renewables only make up about 20 percent of the country’s power mix today.

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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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AI Could Spot Wildfires Faster Than Humans

Scientific American

A prediction system undergoes testing as the U.S. West braces for another potentially devastating wildfire season. -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com.

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Court Sets Aside Pesticide Registration For ESA Violations

National Law Center

The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia recently issued an order vacating an action from Environmental Protection. The post Court Sets Aside Pesticide Registration For ESA Violations appeared first on National Agricultural Law Center.

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Nebraska to Install Hydrogen-Capable Turbines to Back Up Utility-Scale Solar Installation

Environmental Leader

Two SGT6-5000F turbines will be installed to power Omaha Public Power District’s (OPPD) new Turtle Creek Station Peaking Plant in Papillion, Nebraska. The post Nebraska to Install Hydrogen-Capable Turbines to Back Up Utility-Scale Solar Installation appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader.

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Hidden Black Scientists Proved The Polio Vaccine Worked

Scientific American

Tuskegee Institute researchers showed Jonas Salk’s vaccine protected children by developing a key test. -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com.

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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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Specimen Preparation: A Preservation of Time

Academy of Natural Sciences

The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University has one of the 10 largest and most taxonomically diverse collections of birds in the world. Our Ornithology Department has over 215,000 study skins from over 7,000 species of birds. Bird specimens in the Ornithology Collection. The Specimen Preparation Process. The preparation of bird specimens is vital for preserving them for long-term use.

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New study finds PFAS chemicals hiding in some “long-lasting” and “waterproof” makeup 

Enviromental Defense

“Lipstick wearers may inadvertently eat several pounds of lipstick in their lifetime. But unlike food, chemicals in lipstick and other makeup products are almost entirely unregulated in the U.S. and Canada,” warns Graham Peaslee, senior author of a new study that came out earlier this week. The study found high levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) or “forever” chemicals in most waterproof mascara, liquid lipsticks and foundations tested.

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Risk of covid-19 infection plummets 21 days after a vaccination

New Scientist

The chance of getting covid-19 falls sharply three weeks after a first dose of either the Pfizer/BioNTech or Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines, UK statistics show

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The SEC’s Record-Breaking Whistleblower Award Run: Practical Considerations for Companies

Arnold Porter

After fiscal year (FY) 2020, when the Office of the Whistleblower (OWB) of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC or Commission) awarded a record-breaking $175 million to 39 individuals, FY 2021 has proven to be even more active. With more than three months still left, the Commission already has awarded approximately $370 million to whistleblowers, setting up the year to surpass FY 2020 for an all-time high.

2020 96
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Cruise ships, shipping vessels can now earn a "Whale-Safe" label

Inhabitant

An Italian NGO has launched a new eco-label that will be awarded to freight and cruise companies that take steps to prevent their ships from colliding with whales.

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LIGO mirrors cooled to near absolute zero could probe quantum gravity

New Scientist

A set of mirrors used to detect gravitational waves is the largest system ever to be brought close to a frigid quantum state at a temperature of just 77 nanokelvin

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Why the Supergiant Star Betelgeuse Went Mysteriously Dim Last Year

Scientific American

High-resolution images suggest the star spewed out so much dust that its brightness dropped by two thirds in 2020. -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com.

2020 100
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Covid-19 news: Prior coronavirus infection may not protect long-term

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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From $1-Million Lotteries to Free Beer: Do COVID Vaccination Incentives Work?

Scientific American

Doling out cash rewards and lifting mask mandates could increase vaccine uptake, some research suggests. -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com.

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COVID-Related Conditional Suspension of CEQA Public Filing, Posting, Notice, and Other Requirements To Sunset On September 30, 2021 Under New Executive Order

CEQA Developments

Pursuant to Governor Newsom’s June 11, 2021 Executive Order N-08-21, the conditional suspension of certain public agency requirements related to the filing and posting of CEQA notices (i.e., NOEs, NODs, and notices of intent and availability) will end on September 30, 2021. The COVID-related suspension had previously been ordered in April 2020 by Executive Order N-54-20; it was later indefinitely extended by Executive Order N-80-20, as discussed in a prior October 12, 2020 post by Arielle Harri

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Insight into early embryos could explain why some pregnancies fail

New Scientist

Scientists have discovered key molecular events that shape embryonic development in the second week of gestation, a critical stage when many pregnancies are lost

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Supreme Court Upholds the Affordable Care Act--Again

Scientific American

By a vote of 7-2, the court declined to overturn the landmark health care law for the third time. -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com.

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Google and Facebook hit by faulty chips that can silently corrupt data

New Scientist

Internet giants Google and Facebook have discovered they are experiencing computer chip failures that can corrupt data or make it difficult to unlock encrypted files

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From $1-Million Lotteries to Free Beer: Do COVID Vaccination Incentives Work?

Scientific American

Doling out cash rewards and lifting mask mandates could increase vaccine uptake, some research suggests. -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com.

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New Technique Sheds Light on PFAS in Coastal Watersheds

Environmental News Bits

Download the document and read the associated journal article. A new analytical workflow, developed by NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP) grantees, can identify and characterize previously undetected per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) compounds in contaminated watersheds. The team is led by Elsie Sunderland, Ph.D.

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GM Bets Big on Electric Vehicles

Scientific American

The automaker will spend $35 billion through 2025 on batteries, cars, even trains. -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com.

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Can removing highways fix America’s cities?

Environmental News Bits

Read the full story in the New York Times. As midcentury highways reach the end of their life spans, cities across the country are having to choose whether to rebuild or reconsider them. And a growing number, like Rochester, are choosing to take them down.

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China Launches Astronauts to New Space Station

Scientific American

The nation’s first crewed liftoff in nearly five years is the third of 11 planned launches to complete the station’s construction. -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com.

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Lower-income ZIP code residents feel worse effects of extreme heat, ozone pollution: study

Environmental News Bits

Read the full story at Smart Cities Dive. The combined health effects of ozone pollution and extreme heat disproportionately hurt poorer areas, according to a new study analyzing hospitalizations by ZIP code in California.

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Flaw in old mobile phone encryption code could be used for snooping

New Scientist

An algorithm from the 1990s used to encrypt mobile phone data was deliberately weakened to allow eavesdropping, claims a team of cryptanalysts.

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