As Biden Sets Ambitious Climate Agenda, U.S. Emissions Rise

America went backward on climate in 2021. U.S. emissions rose 7 percent through the end of October, according to Carbon Monitor, an academic group that tracks emissions. The finding was echoed by the U.S. Energy Information Administration, which is also projecting a 7 percent increase in energy-related emissions. The increase puts the United States on a steep … Read more

Beth Singler interview: The dangers of treating AI like a god

By Emily Bates Beth Singler, anthropologist of AI at the University of Cambridge Dave Stock We are growing used to the idea of artificial intelligence influencing our daily lives, but for some people, it is an opaque technology that poses more of a threat than an opportunity. Anthropologist Beth Singler studies our relationship with AI … Read more

James Webb Space Telescope has unfolded 1st wing of massive golden mirror

The iconic golden mirror of NASA’s massive new observatory is taking shape. The James Webb Space Telescope unfolded the panel that carries the three leftmost segments of its hexagonal gold-coated primary mirror on Friday (Jan. 7). Nearly two weeks after the observatory’s launch, the successful maneuver brings the telescope close to its final form. “Webb’s … Read more

Fossils: Spider remains shed light on Australia’s ancient rainforest ecosystem

A suite of plant and animal fossils from a site in New South Wales date back about 16 million years to a time when the region was blanketed in lush rainforests Life 7 January 2022 By Chen Ly Fossil of a mygalomorph spider from the McGraths Flat, Australia Michael Frese An immaculately preserved fossil of … Read more

Mind-Blowing New Fossil Site Found in The ‘Dead’ Heart of Australia

The arid heart of Australia may not easily support life now, but once, many aeons ago, it was lush and teeming. What is now arid desert and dry shrub- and grasslands was once thick with dense forests, alive with life.   In one of these grasslands, in the Central Tablelands of NSW, paleontologists have found … Read more

Methane: Record levels of greenhouse gas are a ‘fire alarm moment’, scientists say

Average atmospheric concentrations of methane reached 1900 parts per billion last September, the highest in nearly four decades of records Environment 7 January 2022 By Adam Vaughan Wetlands such as the Pantanal in Brazil are a major source of methane emissions CARL DE SOUZA/AFP via Getty Images Rising levels of the powerful greenhouse gas methane … Read more

Watch the James Webb Space Telescope soar through space in this livestream today!

Catch a livestream of the James Webb Space Telescope as it zips towards its celestial perch today (Jan. 7).  Starting at 4:30 p.m. EST (2130 GMT), astrophysicist Gianluca Masi of the Virtual Telescope Project in Italy will stream live telescope views of the James Webb Space Telescope. You can watch the webcast live in the … Read more

Methane: Record levels of greenhouse gas are a ‘fire alarm moment’, scientists say

Average atmospheric concentrations of methane reached 1900 parts per billion last September, the highest in nearly four decades of records Environment 7 January 2022 By Adam Vaughan Wetlands such as the Pantanal in Brazil are a major source of methane emissions CARL DE SOUZA/AFP via Getty Images Rising levels of the powerful greenhouse gas methane … Read more

Astronomers discover ‘Maggie,’ a giant atomic cloud stretching across the Milky Way

Stretching thousands of light-years across the Milky Way, a newly discovered filament of hydrogen named Maggie is one of the biggest structures ever discovered in our galaxy, and researchers think there could be others like it. A group of astronomers led by researchers at the Max Planck Institute of Astronomy (MPIA) in Germany has spotted … Read more

Energy bills: What can the UK government do to avoid a cost of living crisis?

By Adam Vaughan Protesters demand action on fuel poverty in London in November 2021 Vuk Valcic/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images The shock of rising energy bills due to sky-high wholesale gas prices has already squeezed UK household budgets, disrupted industrial plants and triggered the collapse of 28 energy suppliers including Bulb. Now the issue is … Read more