The project, which can be explored online using Google Earth Engine, maps out areas that are critical for rare species to survive, high biodiversity areas, and regions that large animals visit seasonally. It also maps out areas of wilderness that may not be the highest priority for biodiversity but are still intact examples of different ecosystems, along with areas that can play an important role in sequestering carbon. The map also includes potential wildlife corridors that animals could use to migrate between natural areas. … [Read more...] about This interactive map shows the key places that must be protected to curb climate change
Climate change
COVID-19 Impact | Seven ways the pandemic has changed how we shop for food
“I love my Foodtown brothers,” he said. “You realize what a crucial link of the chain these guys are. There are a bunch of people creating this thing that we are deeply dependent on for something so intimate, for what we put in our bodies. It has completely changed how I think about grocery shopping.” … [Read more...] about COVID-19 Impact | Seven ways the pandemic has changed how we shop for food
This Gates-backed startup is building a better battery for electric cars
A shift to a solid-state battery will mean that a more affordable car can suddenly have a range like the best luxury cars. Just as importantly, the battery can charge to 80% capacity in just 15 minutes. While some EV owners can plug in overnight at home—meaning that charging time isn’t as critical—apartment-dwellers and others have to sit at public charging stations. A fast charge makes the cars much more appealing for consumers who are comparing it to cars that run on gas, and that can help speed the transition to electric vehicles that’s already underway. … [Read more...] about This Gates-backed startup is building a better battery for electric cars
Look at the West Coast’s apocalyptic hell sky
The immediate cause is a recent heat wave—temperatures reached 120 degrees in parts of California) and strong winds—but the deeper problem is a combination of three factors. First, climate change, which is increasing temperatures, resulting in drier fuel, which makes fires easier to start and more likely to expand. Second, the failure of the government to manage wooded areas through controlled burns of their own, which would mitigate the effect of naturally occurring fires. And third, the continued migration of people forced out of cities by high costs, who are moving further and further into wooded areas that are more likely to burn. Until all three are fixed, West Coasters might expect these remarkable skies to simply become their new late summer normal. … [Read more...] about Look at the West Coast’s apocalyptic hell sky
The Big, Hot, Expensive Problem Facing Cities Now
In the 1800s, a British scientist named Luke Howard observed that the temperature in London was consistently higher than nearby areas. Today that phenomenon is called the urban heat island effect: Asphalt, dense architecture, energy usage, and a lack of green space all conspire to make cities much warmer than areas nearby–which actually cascades to dramatically alter the weather patterns around cities in general. The effect also compounds climate change in cities, which see hotter temperatures than what the rest of the world experiences. … [Read more...] about The Big, Hot, Expensive Problem Facing Cities Now
