Thu.Oct 31, 2024

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How to Grow a Forest: It Takes More than Just Planting Trees

Yale E360

In an e360 interview, microbial ecologist Jake M. Robinson, of Australia’s Flinders University, takes a critical look at tree planting campaigns and discusses scientists’ varied approaches to both “planting” and “growing” forests to restore their ecological functions.

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No More ‘House of Horrors’ Thanks to These New Laws

Legal Planet

Halloween is the one time when we welcome ghouls, ghosts, and goblins coming to our homes (and, if your neighborhood is anything like mine, a variety of tiny superheroes). This season, however, the Legislature is dealing with a different kind house of horrors: dangerous chemicals in everyday products that affect millions of Californians’ health. From cancer-causing food dyes to lung-damaging fiberglass in our furniture, California’s State Legislature and the Governor have enacted legislation thi

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COP29 Must Increase Climate Finance and Stand Up to the Fossil Fuel Industry 

Union of Concerned Scientists

After spending a week in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, I’m now gearing up to attend the 29 th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the Framework Convention on Climate Change in Baku, Azerbaijan, from November 11-22. I am grateful to have met and learned from people who experience on a daily basis the devastation wrought by fossil fuel production and fossil fuel-driven climate change—and who are now campaigning for a fossil-free Niger Delta.

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Reducing Financing Costs for New Transmission in California

Legal Planet

California will need a significant build-out of new high-voltage transmission lines to meet state goals for renewable energy deployment and a decarbonized grid by 2045, which requires quadrupling its current in-state solar and wind capacity. But if this new infrastructure is paid for solely through electricity rates, it could increase them significantly, when they have already increased roughly 50% over the past three years for investor-owned utility customers.

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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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Will UN Climate Talks in Azerbaijan Deliver on Finance and Emission Reductions? 

Union of Concerned Scientists

The annual UN climate talks, COP29, will kick off on November 11, just days after the US elections and in a year of numerous consequential elections around the world. Coming at the end of what is certain to be the hottest year on record , with millions of people experiencing devastating climate-fueled disasters and global heat-trapping emissions still rising , this COP has a sobering backdrop.

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Halloween Ideas for a Warming Planet

Legal Planet

Children will be roaming the streets tonight dressed as Superheroes, Princesses, and Evil Villains. But really, these invented figures can’t hold a candle to the real ones in our world. Continuing a longstanding tradition — three years in a row! — here are some possibilities for this year: The Villains Cruela de Coal. This is an easy make-over of the Disney costume.

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Chimpanzees will never randomly type the complete works of Shakespeare

New Scientist

The Infinite Monkey Theorem states that illiterate primates could write great literature with enough time, but the amount of time needed is much longer than the lifespan of the universe

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Environmental Groups File Notice Of Intent To Sue The Shell Petrochemical Plant In Beaver County For Air Pollution Violations: Similar Action In 2023 Resulted In $10 Million Settlement

PA Environment Daily

On October 23, 2024, the Clean Air Council and the Environment Integrity Project filed a notice of intent to sue the Shell Petrochemical Plant in Beaver County for emitting particulate matter (PM 2.5) and nitrogen oxides in violation of the federal Clean Air Act, the state Air Pollution Control Act and the plant's permit. "As of the date of this letter, neither EPA nor DEP have commenced a civil action in federal or state court, nor has DEP initiated litigation before the Pennsylvania Environmen

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Data centres may soon burn as much extra gas as California uses daily

New Scientist

In support of their AI ambitions, tech companies are rapidly expanding US data centres, and this growth is on track to significantly increase US gas demand by 2030

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DCNR: Last Fall Foliage Report: Still Plenty Of Fall Color In Pennsylvania’s Southern Tier This Coming Week

PA Environment Daily

On October 31, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources issued its last Fall Foliage Report saying the prolonged dryness, cold nights, and some windy days have taken many of the leaves that remained on Pennsylvania’s trees. Despite these factors, there is still plenty of fall color in the Commonwealth’s southern tier, especially in oak, beech, and hickory forests.

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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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War-era sugar rationing boosted health of UK people conceived in 1940s

New Scientist

People conceived during the UK's 1940s and 50s sugar rationing have a lower risk of type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure than those conceived after rationing ended

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The Once in a Generation Chance to Fix Corporate Emissions Reporting

NRDC

The world’s largest corporate climate reporting standards are getting a makeover. Watch out for a new corporate loophole posing as a climate solution.

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A bizarre skeleton from a Roman grave has bones from seven people

New Scientist

Radiocarbon dating and DNA analysis have revealed that a complete skeleton found in a 2nd-century cemetery is made up of bones from many people spanning thousands of years – but we don’t know who assembled it or why

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USGS Releases New Video: Susquehanna River Story - What Does The Science Say About Water Quality?

PA Environment Daily

The US Geological Survey’s Pennsylvania Water Science Center released a new video on what the science says about water quality in the Susquehanna River. The wide and majestic Susquehanna River is one of the oldest rivers in the world. Despite its beauty, the Susquehanna River and the Chesapeake Bay downstream has been facing the detrimental effects of excess nutrients.

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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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Filming Transylvania’s Elusive Wildlife

PBS Nature

Learn about the personal passion and stories that went into the creation of "Dracula’s Hidden Kingdom," as Irish director John Murray sets out to reveal the natural wonders of Transylvania. To reveal Transylvania's creatures' intimate lives, the production company teamed up with filmmakers from Romania and set about filming and setting camera traps across the region.

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Spies can eavesdrop on phone calls by sensing vibrations with radar

New Scientist

An off-the-shelf millimetre wave sensor can pick out the tiny vibrations made by a smartphone's speaker, enabling an AI model to transcribe the conversation, even at a distance in a noisy room

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Catastrophic Floods in Spain Kill at Least 95 People

Scientific American

Torrential rain, made worse by climate change, has lashed Spain, with Valencia bearing the brunt of the floodwaters

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Lakes are losing winter ice cover at an astonishing rate

New Scientist

Fewer lakes are freezing over each winter compared with past years, posing environmental and economic consequences around the world

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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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The Universe in 100 Colors Provides a Stunning Tour through Science

Scientific American

A science photo book probes the colors we can see—and even “forbidden” colors we can’t

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Dirty Work: Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership Adding 130,000 New Trees During Fall Planting Season In Pennsylvania

PA Environment Daily

On October 31, the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership said it is at it again, doing the dirty work of adding 130,000 new trees for Pennsylvania during the fall planting season. “We were able to distribute the trees across 30 different locations throughout Pennsylvania, to over 100 of our partners,” said Marley McKind, Manager of the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF).

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Dora Richardson Took Her Research Underground to Develop Lifesaving Tamoxifen

Scientific American

When chemist Dora Richardson’s employer decided to terminate the breast cancer research on the drug Tamoxifen in the early 1970s, she and her colleagues continued the work in secret.

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Susquehanna River Basin Commission Now Accepting Applications For Consumptive Use Mitigation Grants; Nov. 20 Webinar

PA Environment Daily

On October 31, the Susquehanna River Basin Commission announced it is now accepting applications for $6 million in Consumptive Use Mitigation Grants to improve the drought resiliency of the river basin. The deadline for application is January 31. Consumptive use refers to water that is used but not returned to the basin. The SRBC is seeking projects focused on reducing or offsetting CU and improving the sustainability of both streamflows and groundwater during critical low flow periods including

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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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H5N1 Detected in Pig Highlights the Risk of Bird Flu Mixing with Seasonal Flu

Scientific American

Humans and pigs could both serve as mixing vessels for a bird flu–seasonal flu hybrid, posing a risk of wider spread

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Why experts agree there must be no additional exposure to toxins in the tar sands

Enviromental Defense

When oil companies started mining the tar sands for bitumen at a large scale in the 1960s, they quickly realized they’d also be producing huge volumes of toxic waste. The industry pumped this waste into what they called a “tailings pond”, but is actually just a hole in the ground without any lining to protect the surrounding environment. Then they waited, hoping the problem would go away.

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Why Election Polling Has Become Less Reliable

Scientific American

Election polls are increasingly vulnerable to huge mistakes

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CBF: New Chesapeake Bay Assessment Reveals Concerns, New Restoration Data Tool Offers Hope

PA Environment Daily

Despite a slight improvement from previous years, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation said more than two-thirds of the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal rivers and streams did not meet clean water standards between 2020 and 2022, according to an assessment by the EPA’s Chesapeake Bay Program released October 31. However, a new Bay restoration tool offers hope for the future.

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Is Election Anxiety Keeping You Awake? Sleep Experts Share Advice

Scientific American

Scientific American staff and sleep experts share advice on how to get better sleep in the stressful days leading up to the U.S.

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A bizarre skeleton from a Roman grave has bones from eight people

New Scientist

Radiocarbon dating and DNA analysis have revealed that a complete skeleton found in a 2nd-century cemetery is made up of bones from many people spanning thousands of years – but we don’t know who assembled it or why

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The Climate and the Health of our Children Is on the Ballot on November 5

Scientific American

The 2024 presidential election will have enormous consequences for the climate, and the health and future of children

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Spearfishing-fish behavioural interactions as predator-prey systems to envision better management

The Applied Ecologist

Author Valerio Sbragaglia and his colleagues guide us through a recent study which advances the understanding of spearfisher-fish behavioural interaction by integrating ecological indicators (i.e., flight and post flight behaviour of fish) with spearfishers’ likelihood to catch a fish. Through modelling and simulating scenarios, their study sheds light on management implications in exploited fish populations.

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What Made This Bizarre ‘Dandelion’ Supernova?

Scientific American

A strange supernova remnant first appeared as a “guest star” seen in 1181 by sky watchers in China and Japan

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A Conversation with Deputy Commissioner Jim Jones

Nanotech

This week I had the pleasure of speaking with U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods, Jim Jones, about all the amazing initiatives Jim is overseeing as the first FDA Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods. Many of us in the chemical community know Jim and his extraordinary career at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) leading both the EPA pesticides and toxics program offices, culminating his EPA career as Assistant Administrator for The post A Conver