Mon.Oct 25, 2021

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HotSpots H2O: Flooding Is Latest Strain on South Sudan

Circle of Blue

Torrential rainfall is battering one of the world’s poorest countries, laying bare its weak infrastructure. Flooding hits Bentiu, South Sudan in 2014. Photo © UN Photo/JC McIlwaine/Flickr Creative Commons. 700,000 people and counting have been affected by flooding in South Sudan. The floods are just the latest strain on the country, which is already facing widespread hunger, civil conflict, and other climatic stressors.

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Cost-Benefit Analysis: FAQs

Legal Planet

Cost-benefit analysis is required for all major regulations. It’s also highly controversial, as well as being a mysterious procedure unless you’re an economist. These FAQs will tell you what you need to know about how cost-benefit analysis (CBA) fits into the regulatory process, how it works, and why it’s controversial. Q: Let’s start with a basic question.

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What’s Up With Water – October 25, 2021

Circle of Blue

Transcript. Welcome to “What’s Up With Water,” your need-to-know news of the world’s water from Circle of Blue. I’m Eileen Wray-McCann. In the United States, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife seeks to save a threatened species of salmon, which could also preserve the livelihood of local Native American tribes. Reuters reports that the state agency’s effort to save Chinook salmon coincides with several existential threats to the species.

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A Beach Haiku

Environmental and Urban Economics

The Low Tide Beckons No more Economics Talk I will Tweet later.

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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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All-optical processors could compute any linear transformation, machine learning reveals

Physics World

Researchers in the US have shown how all-optical processors could be used to carry out a range of linear mathematical transformations, including Fourier transforms. Using machine learning techniques, Onur Kulce , Aydogan Ozcan and colleagues at the University of California, Los Angeles, generated the blueprint for set of diffractive surfaces that can be used to produce specific optical outputs from any arbitrary input.

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AI can turn a collection of 2D images into an explorable 3D world

New Scientist

A neural network can turn a selection of photographs of a scene into a 3D world that can then be viewed from any angle, and could eventually be used in the movie industry

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More Trending

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Welcome to #BlackInPhysics week 2021

Physics World

In October 2020 Physics World took part in the first ever #BlackInPhysics week , an event dedicated to celebrating Black physicists and revealing a more complete picture of what physicists look like. This year’s #BlackInPhysics week runs on 24–30 October 2021 – and we’re delighted to be involved once again. In partnership with the organizers of #BlackInPhysics week , we’ll be co-publishing with Physics Today a series of five essays by Black physicists at different stages of their careers.

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Pumpkins for Wildlife: From Backyard to the Zoo

Cool Green Science

Pumpkins aren’t just for Halloween. Animals from squirrels to sand cats love them too. The post Pumpkins for Wildlife: From Backyard to the Zoo appeared first on Cool Green Science.

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Plastic will destroy us in nine years

Inhabitant

While most of us have been focusing on goals related to decreasing CO2 levels in the atmosphere, a subset of scientists have been eying another villain. Now word from the Plastic Health Summit 2021 is that we have nine years to save the world from irreparable plastic-wrought damage.

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Glass flask catalysed famous Miller-Urey origin-of-life experiment

New Scientist

The Miller-Urey experiment showed how precursor molecules for life can be generated from simple chemicals – now we know the glass flask holding the mixture catalysed the reaction

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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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Alton Gas project cancelled after years of strong Mi’kmaw opposition

Enviromental Defense

After over seven years of court hearings, arrests and strong resistance from the Mi’kmaw community, the controversial Alton Gas project has been cancelled ! This project would have used water from the Shubenacadie River in Nova Scotia to create large, underground storage caverns for natural gas. Members of the Sipekne’katik First Nation raised concerns that the project would damage and pollute the 73-kilometre tidal river with toxic brine making it dangerously saline, especially to native fish l

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Date of the Vikings' First Atlantic Crossing Revealed by Rays from Space

Scientific American

By dating the remnants of trees felled in Newfoundland, scientists have determined that the Norse people likely first set foot in the Americas in the year A.D. 1021. -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com.

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Kalk anti-poaching e-bikes join the battle in the African bush

Inhabitant

Transportation in the African bush requires some very specific features. Vehicles need to be durable, reliable and able to handle the diverse terrain. For park rangers responsible for catching and stopping animal poachers, the stakes are even higher. They need transportation that’s also quiet and environmentally friendly. CAKE, a Swedish electric bike company, has delivered on all accounts.

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How Does The U.S EPA Report on Air Quality ?

Breezometer

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed two air quality Indexes for communicating air quality to the public, the U.S AQI and the Nowcast AQI. (N.B The Nowcast is used for all the AQI values reported on the airnow website). Understanding the US AQI Scale. In both the US AQI and the Nowcast, the higher the value, the greater the level of air pollution, and the greater the health concern.

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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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Top Businesses Increasingly Set Net Zero Goals, Science-Based Targets

Environmental Leader

An EcoAct report shows more top companies are making net zero goals, with improvements still to be made in transparency and residual emissions. The post Top Businesses Increasingly Set Net Zero Goals, Science-Based Targets appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader.

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Haunting lemur songs have a rhythm similar to human music

New Scientist

Human music often has a natural rhythm to it, and the roots of that rhythm might stretch back to the ancestors we shared with indris, a type of lemur

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Burning back burnout

Physics World

Burnout is a multi-faceted phenomenon, and everyone’s experience of it is different. Remarkably, though, these unique experiences often get boiled down to similar descriptors: “I feel exhausted,” “I don’t feel like it,” or “This feels impossible.” Among the millions of professionals across all fields who experience burnout each year, the common thread is that activities they once found empowering and energizing have become exhausting and taxing.

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Ag & Food Law Daily Update: October 25, 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 & Food Law Daily Update: October 25, 2021 appeared first on National Agricultural Law Center.

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Covid-19 news: Javid hints at mandatory vaccines for NHS staff

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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Giant Lemurs Are the First Mammals (Besides Us) Found To Use Rhythm

Scientific American

Indris’ dramatic family ‘songs’ show repeatable timing patterns. -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com.

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Medical Device Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities: New FDA Guidance on Informing Patients

Arnold Porter

The Center for Devices and Radiological Health of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has finalized a set of best practices for informing patients and caregivers about cybersecurity vulnerabilities affecting medical devices ( Cybersecurity Best Practices ). The publication, designed to help industry stakeholders and federal participants “when designing a communication approach for patients and caregivers about cybersecurity vulnerabilities,” is a revised version of a proposal that

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Scientists discover parasite that eats and replaces fish tongues

Inhabitant

Officials at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department have discovered a strange parasite that eats a fish's tongue and takes its place. In a first-of-its-kind discovery, the officials found that the parasite not only eats a fish's tongue, but it replaces the organ and starts feasting on the mucus in its mouth.

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Surprising Tales of Toxic Animals

Cool Green Science

Take a new look at venomous and poisonous creatures. Including ruffed grouse. Seriously. The post Surprising Tales of Toxic Animals appeared first on Cool Green Science.

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Flow Pollinator House is a limited-edition honey bee home

Inhabitant

Buzz into a healthier bee population with the addition of a limited-release shelter option, available only in the United States. The Flow Pollinator House not only benefits bee populations in your yard, but the proceeds also support advocacy groups across the country.

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Promising radio signal isn’t aliens, just human-generated interference

New Scientist

The Breakthrough Listen project detected radio waves that seemed to be the best candidate yet for an alien signal, but it turns out it was just human technology

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MHTN shifts focus towards carbon-reducing building elements

Inhabitant

The construction industry bears a heavy responsibility in reversing the ongoing environmental impact caused by materials and transport emissions during construction and operational carbon once the building is complete. MHTN Architects take the responsibility seriously, placing sustainable solutions on the company’s list of core values.

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Hundreds of ancient ceremonial sites found in southern Mexico

New Scientist

Researchers have uncovered 478 ceremonial sites that were probably built by the Olmec and the Maya thousands of years ago

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Earth911 Podcast: Forust Co-founder Ronald Rael on 3D-Printed Wood

Earth 911

Ronald Rael, co-founder of 3D-printed wood maker Forust and chair of the Architecture department at. The post Earth911 Podcast: Forust Co-founder Ronald Rael on 3D-Printed Wood appeared first on Earth911.

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El Salvador's bitcoin adoption hit by an easy money-making loophole

New Scientist

El Salvador recently became the first country in the world to make bitcoin legal tender, but traders have been exploiting the state issued bitcoin "wallet app" to make a quick profit

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Remora is ready to roll with carbon capture for trucks

Environmental News Bits

Read the full story from GreenBiz. Climate tech solutions can sometimes seem vexingly distant on the horizon, but as climate impacts bear down hard, the urgency of the problem is palpable.

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What to expect from the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow

New Scientist

The COP26 climate summit will be held in Glasgow from 31 October to 12 November and will include more than 100 heads of state, who will hash out timetables to limit carbon emissions and address other issues such as adaptations to climate change

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Polystyrene may soon be banned from Florida grocery stores and markets

Environmental News Bits

Read the full story from WUSF. Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Secretary Nikki Fried announced she will direct all grocery stores, markets, and convenience stores they regulate across the state to begin phasing out the use of polystyrene products.

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Waters off French coast in winter may be a deadly trap for small, foraging turtles

Frontiers

By Tania Fitzgeorge-Balfour, Science writer. A tracked loggerhead turtle on the beach with satellite tracker attached to its shell. Image: Oceane Cottier Aquarium La Rochelle SAS. Turtle habitat boundaries should be updated to include European waters, suggests a new study tracking stranded turtles rescued from the French coast. Their movements after release back into the Bay of Biscay appear related to their size, with larger individuals swimming westwards towards their birth home in the US or A

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EcoCommons – mapping the future in environmentally challenging times??

Environmental News Bits

Read the full story from Griffith University. Griffith University is driving the construction of EcoCommons, a world-first collaborative platform for analysing and modelling ecological and environmental challenges.

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