Credit: michaelmjc/Getty Images (chalkboard); Scientific American (words and design) Topics: Biofuels, Civilization, Climate Change, Existentialism Climate change is already disrupting the lives of billions of people. What was once considered a problem for the future is raging all around us right now. This reality has helped convince a majority of the public that we must act toContinue reading “Outcomes, Language and Syntax…”
Category Archives: Climate Change
CEM for SEI…
Panel A shows how the native SEI on Li metal is passivating to nitrogen gas, which means that no reactivity with Li metal is possible. Panel B shows that a proton donor like Ethanol will disrupt the SEI passivation and enable Li metal to react with nitrogen species. Panel C describes 3 potential mechanisms throughContinue reading “CEM for SEI…”
Kindred and Us…
Image source: Carter Matt dot com Topics: Civics, Civil Rights, Civilization, Climate Change, Existentialism, Star Trek Note: Apologies for the late and last 2022 blog post. My laptop has had its own mind lately. My “Rotten Tomatoes” review: “I’ve been a fan of Octavia Butler since reading my first novel by her, “Mind of MyContinue reading “Kindred and Us…”
Permafrost Zombies…
Topics: Biology, Biosecurity, Climate Change Thirteen viruses from tens of thousands of years ago have been recovered and reactivated, according to a preprint paper published in BioRxiv. These threats had been idling in the Siberian tundra for approximately 30,000 to 50,000 years before being brought back. Thanks to climate change, the thawing of the frozen terrain could revive anContinue reading “Permafrost Zombies…”
Caveat Emptor…
Topics: Alternate Energy, Applied Physics, Climate Change, Energy, Global Warming, Lasers, Nuclear Fusion After the heady, breathtaking coverage of pop science journalism, I dove into the grim world inhabited by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists on their take on the first-ever fusion reaction. I can say that I wasn’t surprised. With all this publicity,Continue reading “Caveat Emptor…”
Death by Whataboutism…
Topics: Civics, Civil Rights, Civilization, Climate Change, Environment, Existentialism, Fascism, Human Rights Nikolas Cruz was sentenced in the Parkland Shooting to life without the possibility of parole, torpedoing his request to die by the state executioner. Alex Jones owes a bucketload of money to the Sandy Hook families who have had to endure his liesContinue reading “Death by Whataboutism…”
Himalayas…
Topics: Civilization, Climate Change, Environment, Existentialism, Global Warming Everything about Earth and the organization of human civilization is about the control of resources. We’ve come up with arbitrary “rules” about who is worthy of those resources, and how much they can horde, or obtain. Pharaohs, priests, secret societies, and guilds all have “knowledge” they jealouslyContinue reading “Himalayas…”
Solar Lilly Pads…
Topics: Climate Change, Energy, Environment, Materials Science, Solar Power Leaf-like devices that are light enough to float on water could be used to generate fuel from solar farms located on open water sources. This avenue hasn’t been explored before, according to researchers from the University of Cambridge in the UK who developed them. The newContinue reading “Solar Lilly Pads…”
Cooling Centers…
Topics: Climate Change, Environment, Existentialism The heat index in Jefferson County reached 105 degrees by noon Monday — and it’s only getting hotter. More than 50 million Americans face scorching temperatures as a heatwave spreads over most of the country this week. Louisville could see heat indices as high as 115 degrees, putting many residents at risk of heatContinue reading “Cooling Centers…”
Counting in Counties…
Topics: Civics, Civil Rights, Civilization, Climate Change, Existentialism, Politics Reality literally bites. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the link between politics and health became glaringly obvious. Democrat-leaning “blue” states were more likely to enact mask requirements and vaccine and social distancing mandates. Republican-leaning “red” states were much more resistant to health measures. The consequences of thoseContinue reading “Counting in Counties…”
Physics and Nano 