Sat.Jul 03, 2021 - Fri.Jul 09, 2021

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Rapid attribution of PNW heatwave

Real Climate

Summary: It was almost impossible for the temperatures seen recently in the Pacific North West heatwave to have occurred without global warming. And only improbable with it. It’s been clear for at least a decade that global warming has been in general increasing the intensity of heat waves, with clear trends in observed maximum temperatures that match what climate models have been predicting.

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Once a Rich Desert River, the Gila Struggles to Keep Flowing

Yale E360

The Gila was once a vibrant desert river, providing a lifeline for the riparian habitat and wildlife that depended on it in the U.S. Southwest. But population growth, agricultural withdrawals, and, increasingly, climate change have badly diminished the river and threaten its future. Read more on E360 ?.

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Constant, Compounding Disasters Are Exhausting Emergency Response

Circle of Blue

Fires, droughts, floods, power outages. The interval between disasters is shortening, or in some cases disappearing altogether. New homes rise from the post-fire rubble in Talent, Oregon. The Alameda Fire destroyed thousands of homes in Talent and nearby Phoenix in early September 2020. Photo © Brett Walton/Circle of Blue. By Brett Walton, Circle of Blue — July 6, 2021.

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Ask a Scientist: Defending the Right to Vote

Union of Concerned Scientists

Talking to Taryn MacKinney, an investigative researcher with our Center for Science and Democracy, about how science is intertwined with democracy and the prospects for voting reform bills on Capitol Hill.

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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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Jefferson’s Bridge

Legal Planet

Today being the Fourth of July, it seems appropriate to think about how the author of the Declaration of Independence felt about nature. A revealing example involves some land Jefferson owned between Lexington and Roanoke, which he sought to preserve. Two years before the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson purchased 157 acres of land from the King.

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With Growth of Arctic Shipping, Canada Must Prepare for Major Oil Spills, Study Says

Yale E360

Melting sea ice is spurring a shipping boom in the Northwest Passage, raising the specter of oil spills in the Arctic. A new study evaluates the impact of such a disaster in Canada's Rankin Inlet and finds an oil spill there would be uniquely devastating, owing to the challenge of mounting a cleanup in such a harsh environment. Read more on E360 ?.

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More Trending

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Risk Managed? New Report Finds Chemical Disaster Risks from Climate Change

Union of Concerned Scientists

Today, the Union of Concerned Scientists, Earthjustice, and the Center for Progressive Reform released a policy brief estimating the risks posed by natural disasters to Risk Management Program (RMP) facilities and the surrounding communities. There are thousands of industrial facilities throughout the United States that are storing, transporting, and utilizing chemicals that have the potential to be lethal, carcinogenic, or just generally harmful to human health.

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Elemental forms of metals discovered in brains of Alzheimer’s patients

Physics World

Approximately 10 metals occur in the human body naturally as chemical compounds that are stored and used by tissues. Copper and iron oxides, in particular, are required for cellular activities throughout the body. When the body mishandles or incorrectly processes these copper and iron oxides, however, tissue damage – especially in the brain – can occur.

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A Week After the Pacific Northwest Heat Wave, Study Shows it Was ‘Almost Impossible’ Without Global Warming

Inside Climate News

The extreme temperatures have shaken scientists’ fundamental understanding of heat waves and triggered concerns about a climate tipping point. By Bob Berwyn The high temperatures in late June that killed hundreds of people in Oregon, Washington and Canada were so unusual that they couldn’t have happened without a boost from human-caused global warming, researchers said Wednesday when they released a rapid climate attribution study of the heat wave in the Pacific Northwest.

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The Stream, July 8, 2021: Dams in California Hurt Ability of Streamside Trees to Adapt to Climate Change

Circle of Blue

YOUR GLOBAL RUNDOWN. Intensively managed dams and canals in California are weakening streamside trees’ ability to adapt to a changing climate. Saudi Arabia supports Egypt and Sudan amid negotiations over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. A federal appeals court refuses to intervene in the Flint drinking water crisis case after groups accused the presiding judge of bias.

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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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We’re in a Climate Crisis. Congress Must Go Big on Climate Action Now.

Union of Concerned Scientists

Top priorities for Congressional action on climate change.

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High-resolution microscope is made from LEGO bricks

Physics World

Simple design: the LEGO microscope (left) and a technical drawing of the instrument. The black eyepiece is at the top, and also visible is the black wheel that is used to adjust the position of the objective lens. (Courtesy: Timo Betz). A fully functional modular microscope has been built using LEGO bricks and low-cost smartphone lenses. Designed by researchers, teachers and schoolchildren in Germany, the instrument is easy to build, yet it can resolve micrometre-sized objects such as individual

2013 145
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Ice Dam Bursts Threaten to Increase Sunny Day Floods as Hotter Temperatures Melt Glaciers

Inside Climate News

Scientists say meltwater flooding will increase as the ice continues to retreat, but will eventually stop—when all the ice is melted and the glaciers are no more. By Haley Dunleavy As residents of southeast Alaska welcomed the return of sunny, warm weather this week after two months of heavy rains, they probably did not expect floods to be in the forecast.

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The Stream, July 6, 2021: Tropical Storm Elsa Moves Through Caribbean

Circle of Blue

YOUR GLOBAL RUNDOWN. Tropical Storm Elsa tears through parts of the Caribbean, including Cuba. A cold front is moving over parts of Australia after a weekend of heavy rain. A company cancels its plans to build an oil pipeline through parts of Tennessee and Mississippi , directly over a major aquifer. Heavy rains pummel parts of Japan , causing landslides.

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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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Fighting Climate Change Might Have Just Gotten Easier

Union of Concerned Scientists

A court in The Netherlands has ruled that Royal Dutch Shell must reduce its carbon emissions—and more.

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Lower Duffins Creek Wetland is finally protected from destruction

Enviromental Defense

ECOJUSTICE, ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE, ONTARIO NATURE. Ontario government revokes MZO following pressure from local, environmental and Indigenous Groups. Toronto, Ont./ Traditional territories of several First Nations including the Williams Treaties First Nations, Huron-Wendat, the Anishnaabeg, Haudenosaunee, Chippewas, and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation – Ecojustice, Environmental Defence and Ontario Nature are celebrating an important victory for the Provincially Significant Wetlands

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Traded wild animals carry 75 per cent of diseases humans can catch

New Scientist

More than a quarter of mammals bought and sold in the wildlife trade play host to three quarters of infectious diseases capable of spilling over from animals to humans

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Porsche Demands 1,300 Suppliers Use Renewable Energy

Environmental Leader

Bolstering its efforts to achieve ambitious emissions reduction goals, Porsche is requiring its nearly 1,300 suppliers to use renewable energy to manufacture its vehicle components. Porsche aims to be carbon neutral in its supply chain by 2030. Companies are increasingly doubling down on their supply chain sustainability efforts. For instance, Read more ».

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How One Science Nerd Became Involved in Movement Building

Union of Concerned Scientists

Figuring out your path as a science advocate doesn’t happen overnight.

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Quantum computer is smallest ever, claim physicists

Physics World

The smallest quantum computer to date has been claimed by a team of researchers in Austria, Switzerland, and Germany. Using strings of trapped ions that are addressed using laser pulses, Ivan Pogorelov at the University of Innsbruck and colleagues created a system that contains 24 fully-entangled quantum bits (qubits) and is housed in two industry-standard server racks.

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Can a robot ever be conscious and how would we know if it were?

New Scientist

Some people think we could easily build and identify a conscious robot, while others insist that it’s impossible – it all depends on what you think consciousness is.

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Denial of Evolution Is a Form of White Supremacy

Scientific American

As museums reopen let’s introduce ourselves, and our children, to the original Black ancestors of all human beings. -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com.

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Slow music in tunnels can keep drivers focused and safe

Frontiers

By Mischa Dijkstra, Frontiers science writer. Image credit: Gemenacom / Shutterstock.com. Scientists show for the first time with a VR simulation and neurophysiology measurements that playback of slow music inside road tunnels keeps drivers alert, relaxed, and focused on safety. For maximal vigilance, alarm sounds like sirens should be played at the tunnel’s entry and exit, where the risk of accidents is greatest.

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Is the quantum Internet finally here?

Physics World

If you’ve ever attended the premiere of a film or an event where a new type of car is presented, you’ll know that there’s a slight buzz of excitement that comes from not knowing what to expect. I’ve been feeling that buzz for the past two weeks, leading up to an event that promised a “world premiere live demonstration of the next step in quantum cryptography”.

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Ag & Food Law Daily Update: July 7, 2021

National Law Center

A comprehensive summary of today’s judicial, legislative, and regulatory developments in agriculture and food. Email important additions HERE. REGULATORY: AMS, The post Ag & Food Law Daily Update: July 7, 2021 appeared first on National Agricultural Law Center.

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The Time May Finally Be Ripe for a National Climate Service

Scientific American

This umbrella service could make it easier for communities to find information on climate risks, from drought to floods. -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com.

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Celebrating 10 million views of kid-friendly science!

Frontiers

Frontiers for Young Minds has achieved a super exciting milestone in recent weeks – our articles have been viewed over 10 million times! The journal has reached a huge global audience with its freely-available scientific articles, all written for – and edited by – young people. — By Jenny Lycett. Small Beginnings. As the saying goes, ‘great oaks grow from small acorns’.

2013 128
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Deflecting asteroids and exploring a metal world

Physics World

You could be forgiven for thinking the themes in this month’s episode of Physics World Stories have been stolen from Hollywood. Podcast host Andrew Glester profiles two upcoming NASA missions to asteroids: one that will explore an all-metal world, and the other will deliberately smash into a near-Earth asteroid. Glester’s first guest is Jim Bell from Arizona State University who is involved in the mission to the asteroid Psyche , which launches in 2022 and arrives in 2026.

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Ag & Food Law Daily Update: July 8, 2021

National Law Center

A comprehensive summary of today’s judicial, legislative, and regulatory developments in agriculture and food. Email important additions HERE. REGULATORY: FWS, The post Ag & Food Law Daily Update: July 8, 2021 appeared first on National Agricultural Law Center.

Law 124
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Your Brain Does Something Amazing between Bouts of Intense Learning

Scientific American

New research shows that lightning-quick neural rehearsal can supercharge learning and memory. -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com.

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Extreme Weather & Wildfires: Showing the Whole Environmental Picture

Breezometer

As heatwaves, wildfires, and extreme weather conditions create nightmare scenarios for residents and businesses in the Northern Hemisphere and a number of European countries, it's essential we consider how different environmental factors impact each other. The Summer of 2021: What’s Been Happening? Although the summer season has yet to reach its peak, the catastrophic impact on both public health and the environment has already started.

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Beware of the ‘alliars’ when it comes to diversity in science

Physics World

During my childhood I received abuse on a daily basis, whether it was about my disability, my non-binary dress sense or the colour of my skin. Such discrimination and prejudice prompted me to continue into higher education to study science rather than to go straight into employment. Academia, it seemed, offered shelter from the frightening outside world and looked to be so promisingly full of allies and forward-thinking people.

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Ag & Food Law Daily Update: July 9, 2021

National Law Center

A comprehensive summary of today’s judicial, legislative, and regulatory developments in agriculture and food. Email important additions HERE. REGULATORY: FSIS. The post Ag & Food Law Daily Update: July 9, 2021 appeared first on National Agricultural Law Center.

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The NFL's Racist 'Race Norming' Is an Afterlife of Slavery

Scientific American

A statistical manipulation that underpaid Black players in concussion settlements exemplifies American football’s immersion in the legacy of slavery. -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com.

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