Opinion:
¶ “Neuralink And Elon Musk Want To Control Your Brain” • Neuralink, a company cofounded in 2016 by Elon Musk and scientists, received permission from the US Food And Drug Administration to begin human trials of brain implants. Elon Musk takes many of his ideas from science fiction. Do you really want him poking around in your head? [CleanTechnica]
Neuralink advertisement (Neuralink image)
Science and Technology:
¶ “NOAA: How Greenhouse Gas Pollution Amplified Global Warming In 2022” • Greenhouse gas pollution from human activity trapped 49% more heat in the atmosphere in 2022 than those same gases did in 1990, an annual NOAA report says. The biggest culprit in global warm is the carbon dioxide emitted when fuels are burned. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “California’s Redwood Forest: Scientists Are Using Lasers To Age The World’s Tallest Trees” • Until recently, the only way of working out just how big these trees were was to climb up them, approximate using the diameter of their trunks, or cut them down. But these methods are not particularly reliable. Scientists found a way to use lasers for the job. [Euronews]
Redwoods (Bruno Wolff, Unsplash)
¶ “Bring Back The Seabirds, Save The Climate” • Some estimates say the overall world seabird population has dropped by as much as 90% in the last two hundred years, with a decline of 70% since 1950. Seabirds are the most threatened birds and among most endangered groups of species, the International Union for the Conservation of Natures says. [Wired]
World:
¶ “Europe Is Trying To Ditch Planes For Trains. Here’s How That’s Going” • There’s definitely been progress in Europe for the move from planes to trains. Airlines including Dutch carrier KLM are entering into rail partnerships on certain routes, while countries like Austria and France are seeking to restrict internal routes where trains are available. [CNN]
German bullet train (Markus Winkler, Unsplash)
¶ “‘Murderers,’ ‘Criminals’: Meteorologists Face Unprecedented Harassment From Conspiracy Theorists” • “We are watching you.” “Murderers.” “Criminals.” These are just a handful of the threats and abuse sent to meteorologists across the world in recent months. Abuse and harassment “have always happened,” but they have been increasing recently. [CNN]
¶ “Wind Energy Has A Waste Problem. New Technologies May Be A Step Closer To Solving It” • Wind turbine blades have been difficult to recycle, but Danish wind company Vestas announced a “breakthrough solution.” New Vestas technology would allow wind turbine blades to be recycled without needing to change their design or materials. [CNN]
Wind turbines at Copenhagen (Mads Eneqvist, Unsplash)
¶ “Volvo Proves Anti-EV Trolls Wrong” • Volvo found a way to truly stick it to the trolls that attack EVs. Addressing emissions throughout the entire production process and lifespan of the Volvo EX30, the automaker has successfully reduced the vehicle’s total carbon footprint to under 30 tonnes over a driving distance of 200,000 kilometers. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Extinction Rebellion Protest In Netherlands Ends With 1,500 Arrested” • Over 1,500 climate protesters have been arrested by police in the Netherlands after blocking a major motorway in The Hague. In the protest, organised by Extinction Rebellion, activists walked onto the A12 highway demanding an end to fossil fuel subsidies. [BBC]
A12 Motorway (No author given, CC-BY-SA 3.0, cropped)
¶ “France Cuts Red Tape For Nuclear Power Despite Cracks In Reactors” • The construction time for new nuclear reactors could be reduced by at least two years thanks to a bill that simplifies administrative procedures and planning documents. What the bill cannot address is the large cracks found in pipes at nuclear plants, leading to shutdowns. [The Connexion]
US:
¶ “Mammoths, Sloths, And Camels Are Hurting The Renewable Revolution” • The US needs new transmission lines but faces opposition. The most recent transmission line fiasco comes in the form of the Greenlink West project, which is to pass through an area famous for the fossils of wooly mammoths, giant sloths, and ancient American camels. [Oil Price]
Mammoth in a museum (Thomas Quine, CC-BY-SA 2.0)
¶ “Nebraska Renewable Energy Training Programs Struggle To Recruit Students Amid National Worker Shortage” • A teacher training students about wind turbines at Central Community College has a problem: there aren’t enough students. That struggle is shared by Nebraska’s other community-college based renewable energy training program. [Star-Herald]
¶ “Proposed Texas Permitting Regime Could Shrink Wind And Solar Development” • The ammendment approved by the Texas Senate last week would require wind farms within ten miles, and solar farms within five miles, of a river, park, historic site, or wildlife management area to get a special permit from the Texas Public Utility Commission. [Environment America]
Have a gracefully developing day.
geoharvey 