Wed.Sep 22, 2021

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Toxin Levels Spike, Prompting Drinking Water Emergency in Northern California

Circle of Blue

Cyanotoxins in the state’s second-largest freshwater lake soared this month amid a hot, dry summer. Colorful blooms of cyanobacteria, also called blue-green algae, paint the nearshore waters of Clear Lake, California’s second-largest freshwater lake. Toxin levels in the blooms broke records in this hot, dry summer. Photo courtesy of Frank Costner.

2014 363
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Extreme Heat Is a Killer. A New Federal Initiative Prioritizes Worker Health and Safety.

Union of Concerned Scientists

The White House has tasked OSHA with launching a multi-pronged initiative to protect workers exposed to extreme heat. That's great news -- but there's a rub.

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In Climate Talks, Plans to Keep Planet from Overheating Should Not Ignore Water

Circle of Blue

Carbon-reduction plans, if not well designed, can worsen water scarcity and pollution. Transmission lines in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, stretch to the horizon. Photo © J. Carl Ganter/Circle of Blue. Plans to reduce carbon emissions should take water into account. Some low-carbon energy options require significant amounts of water. Water can also be a climate solution.

Biofuels 363
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Michigan Plans to Build First U.S. Road Outfitted for Wireless EV Charging

Yale E360

Michigan is planning to build the first public road in the United States where electric vehicles can charge wirelessly while driving, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced Tuesday at the Motor Bella auto show in Pontiac. Read more on E360 ?.

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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, September 22, 2021: Water in the Largest U.S. Freshwater Aquifer Is Depleting Faster Than Ever Before

Circle of Blue

YOUR GLOBAL RUNDOWN. If passed, a major infrastructure package in the United States could help clean up decades of water pollution at abandoned coal mines. The UAE announces three major desalination projects aimed at meeting water security goals. High costs for fishing are impeding the way of life of Zimbabwe’s ‘great river people.’. Drinking water reservoirs in Mumbai are near capacity.

2021 130
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Free and open-source software is driving physics forwards

Physics World

In this episode of the Physics World Stories podcast you will hear from scientists and software engineers at the vanguard of developing free and open-source software for physics research. Guests talk about the role of open software in astronomical imaging, the search for dark matter, medical physics and other fields. Software also plays a big role in the wider open-science movement but there are ongoing debates around how to provide suitable recognition to software developers who have contribute

More Trending

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Spatial Equilibrium and Haitian Immigration to the U.S

Environmental and Urban Economics

Politico reports on t he policy challenge that the Biden Administration faces. There are thousands of Haitian immigrants living in squalid conditions under the Del Rio International Bridge. A dynamic incentives issue arises. If the Biden Administration engages in humane policies to help these immigrants then this will attract more immigrants to move to the area as they will anticipate that they will be treated well.

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Moiré superlattice makes magic-angle laser

Physics World

A team of researchers from Peking University in China has fabricated an optical analogue of “magic-angle” graphene bilayers in a photonic nanocrystal. They have used the structure to create a completely new type of highly-efficient nanolaser. Graphene is a flat crystal of carbon just one atom thick. When two such sheets are placed on top of each other with a small angle misalignment, they form a Moiré superlattice.

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China Says It Will Stop Financing Coal Power Abroad

Scientific American

The announcement came as the U.S. promised quadruple its international climate finance contributions. -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com.

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Ask me anything: Joanne O’Meara – ‘there is nothing better than sharing your passion for science and seeing it ignite in someone else’

Physics World

What skills do you use every day in your job? Communication is very important. I do a lot of outreach with different groups from little schoolchildren to the general public, so knowing how to modify what you’re saying for the target audience is really important, as is knowing how to make connections with them. Also, I don’t know if this is a skill, but in my teaching work empathy is hugely important for connecting with my students.

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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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Sustainability Is a Long-Term Commitment, Most Companies Believe: Honeywell Survey

Environmental Leader

Honeywell survey explores sustainability commitments from US businesses in terms of the buildings they occupy. The post Sustainability Is a Long-Term Commitment, Most Companies Believe: Honeywell Survey appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader.

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Research by women shared less than work by male colleagues, study finds

Physics World

Female academics are less successful at disseminating their research online according to an analysis of the activity of over half a million scientists. The imbalance, the authors of the study suggest, is probably due to women doing less self-promotion as well as biased perceptions of the quality of their work. Led by network and data scientist Em?ke-Ágnes Horvát from Northwestern University in the US, the study examined the gender of scientists who had at least one research article shared online

2012 115
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WHO calls for lower limits on air pollution to save millions of lives

New Scientist

The World Health Organization has released guidelines for strict limits on air pollution from cars, power stations and other sources.

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Removing urban highways can improve neighborhoods blighted by decades of racist policies

Environmental News Bits

by Joan Fitzgerald (Northeastern University) and Julian Agyeman (Tufts University) The US$1.2 trillion infrastructure bill now moving through Congress will bring money to cities for much-needed investments in roads, bridges, public transit networks, water infrastructure, electric power grids, broadband networks and traffic safety.

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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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Phasing out Fossil Gas: A Plan for Green Buildings, Jobs and Prosperity for Ontario

Enviromental Defense

We’re in the midst of an escalating climate crisis, but the Ontario government is acting like the crisis isn’t happening. Take for example Ontario’s plans to expand gas infrastructure into rural and northern communities and build more gas plants. Instead of ramping up fossil gas (aka natural gas) consumption, we need to bring it down. A new report explains how the provincial government can do just that, while also creating jobs and growing the economy.

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Meet the Bat Woman and Bat Man of India

Scientific American

They sealed their love with dead bats. Now these researchers are on a mission to save India’s endangered chiropteran species together. -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com.

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These shipping container tiny homes provide for the unhoused

Inhabitant

The pandemic showed us all how close anyone can come to having nothing. Many people are much closer to losing everything than they even want to know. Monarch Village, created by Studio 804, offers a shelter solution to meet the needs of unhoused people and families.

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Dune review: Action aplenty, but a lack of depth and emotion

New Scientist

Denis Villeneuve's big-budget remake boasts a stellar cast and spectacular effects, yet the big scenes fail to deliver on the deeper ecological and anti-colonial message of the novel

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Prescribed Fire Season Kicks Off in Eastern Washington

Washington Nature

Fire professionals and trainees from across Washington state are planning on conducting prescribed burns in Kittitas County from Sept. 20 through October. These burns will increase the ability of fire professionals to mitigate the risk of unplanned summer fires that put nearby communities at risk of catastrophic impacts. These prescribed burns also build fire management skills for local fire practitioners.

2018 98
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Uncovering the Real James Bond

Academy of Natural Sciences

From Sean Connery to Daniel Craig, the intrepid agent of the British Secret Intelligence Service—James Bond, designated Agent 007—has epitomized masculine cool. Everyone knows how he likes his vodka martinis. Everyone knows about his favorite car and his love for the ladies… but did you know that the real James Bond was born in Philadelphia, and lived in this area until his death in 1989?

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UN: ‘We are likely to miss climate targets’

A Greener Life

Photo credit: Istock. By Anders Lorenzen. Just months before the crucial COP26 climate summit begins, the UN has issued a stark warning that we are far off the speed needed to tackle the climate crisis. They say that contrary to some reports during the height of the pandemic the pace of climate change has not been slowed by COVID-19 and that the world remains locked in the battle to urgently cut its emissions.

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Private Student Loan Update: Second Circuit Finds “Educational Benefit” Category of Section 523 Does Not Apply to Private Student Loans

Arnold Porter

The US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit recently ruled in favor of a private student loan borrower and found that his loans were discharged without his meeting the undue hardship requirement usually applied to student loans.[[N: Homadian v. Sallie Mae, Inc. , 3 F.4th 595 (2d Cir. 2021).]] The court found that the borrower’s loans were not an “obligation to repay funds received as an educational benefit” and were therefore subject to discharge.

2009 96
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Winged Microchips Glide like Tree Seeds

Scientific American

The tiny sensors could gather and transmit environmental data as they drift through the air. -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com.

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Ryder Cup Sets Up Energy Efficient Tournament

Environmental Leader

The Ryder Cup is setting up its 43rd championship with energy efficiency in mind. The golf tournament taking place Sept. 24-26 at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin, will use generators, batteries and miles of cable to power the entire set up from the course to grandstands and facilities. The process. Read more ». The post Ryder Cup Sets Up Energy Efficient Tournament appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader.

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Ag & Food Law Daily Update: September 22, 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: September 22, 2021 appeared first on National Agricultural Law Center.

Law 94
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Covid-19 news: Record cases in school children in England

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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Off-grid design helps rebuild school structures lost in fire

Inhabitant

Frederick Fisher & Partners recently completed a project at the Ojai Valley School’s Upper Campus in Ojai, California, replacing structures previously lost to the Thomas Fire in 2017.

2017 91
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Why covid-19 hospitalisations may soar in England despite vaccination

New Scientist

Modelling suggests covid-19 hospitalisations in England could soon be as high as 7000 a day, but that is only one of several different possible scenarios

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Earth911 Podcast: Torii Industries Plots Hot-Water-as-a-Service for the Home

Earth 911

Earth911 explores the circular economy potential of subscription hot-water-as-a-service programs with Gordon Olson, co-founder and. The post Earth911 Podcast: Torii Industries Plots Hot-Water-as-a-Service for the Home appeared first on Earth911.

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The Nail-Biting Journey of NASA's James Webb Space Telescope Is about to Begin

Scientific American

Before it can study the first stars and galaxies, the observatory must endure a sea voyage, a rocket launch and an all-or-nothing deployment sequence in deep space. -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com.

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Story of epic human voyages across Polynesia revealed by genetics

New Scientist

By studying DNA from people living in Polynesia, geneticists have worked out the order in which the islands – some thousands of kilometres apart– were populated

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How Facebook Hinders Misinformation Research

Scientific American

The platform strictly limits and controls data access, which stymies scientists. -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com.

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Sustainability Is a Long-Term Commitment, Most Companies Believe: Honeywell Survey

Environmental Leader

Honeywell survey explores sustainability commitments from US businesses in terms of the buildings they occupy. The post Sustainability Is a Long-Term Commitment, Most Companies Believe: Honeywell Survey appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader.

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P.E.I. farmers test out ways to reduce greenhouse gases and store carbon

Environmental News Bits

Read the full story from the CBC. Mark and Sally Bernard of Barnyard Organics in Freetown, P.E.I., are part of the new P.E.I. Agriculture Climate Solutions Program, funded by the provincial and federal governments.