Accurate, Focused Research on Law, Technology and Knowledge Discovery With Daily Postings Since 2002
Remarks presented to York University’s Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies Graduating Class of 2023 The human condition is…not good. We’re in the polycrisis, a widening gyre of climate emergency, inequality, infrastructure neglect, rising authoritarianism and zoonotic plagues. But that’s not the bad part. Stuff breaks. The Second Law of Thermodynamics is not up …
Quartz: “Wildfires in northern and central California increased fivefold between 1971 and 2021, according to a new study published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). The scientists behind the study found that those fires were mostly caused by anthropogenic climate change, the kind accelerated by human actions like burning fossil fuels …
Purdue Plant Doctor – Enter the name of the plant, plant problem, pest, or disease, or click your way to identify and manage your pest or disease. “The Purdue Plant Doctor was a collaboration between Dr. Janna Beckerman (Department of Botany and Plant Pathology) and Dr. Cliff Sadof (Department of Entomology), who contributed equally to …
“This year’s Living Planet Report is filled with ground-breaking figures, with most of the indicators describing a tremendous decline in ecosystem health. The calculation of the Living Planet Index shows an average 69% decline in population sizes of monitored mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and fish since the year 1970. Just as the R-number in epidemiology …
Axios: “Some stargazers have to travel more than 200 miles to see a sky devoid of light pollution. Why it matters: Dark skies are vital for the function of local ecosystems and our understanding of the universe. As light pollution grows each year, truly dark skies might get harder to find. By the numbers: The …
The New York Times Wire Cutter: “Heat pumps are good for your wallet—and the world. They’re the cheapest and most efficient way to handle both heating and cooling for your home, no matter where you live. They’re also better for the environment. In fact, most experts agree they’re one of the best ways for homeowners …
Managed retreat: a nationwide study of the local, racially segmented resettlement of homeowners from rising flood risks, by James R Elliott and Zheye Wang Published 15 June 2023. Environmental Research Letters, Volume 18 Number 6 Focus on Natural Hazards, Disasters, and Extreme Events “The government-funded retreat of homeowners from flood-prone housing is a globally ascendant …
“The art and science of enjoying the birds in your own backyard. Are you a Slow Birder? I am! I take the time to watch the birds I see. I learn about them. I am not a motor birder, speeding from one roadside to another to add a bird or two to the day’s list. …
Via Drought.gov: “The research-based website NationalSoilMoisture.com provides high-resolution gridded soil moisture products derived from in situ soil moisture measurements, Natural Resources Conservation Service SSURGO soil characteristics, and PRISM data. The project combines data from multiple federal, regional, and state agencies to create comprehensive data products for the United States, including Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. These products …
Global Stocktake Explorer – “Analysing, organising, and democratising data about climate change policies and laws. Climate Policy Radar is a not-for-profit climate startup on a mission to organise, analyse and democratise data on climate law and policy using augmented intelligence – a human-centered partnership model of people and AI. We build open and free tools …
“The Canadian Wildland Fire Information System monitors fire danger conditions and fire occurrence across Canada. Daily weather conditions are collected from across Canada and used to produce fire weather and fire behavior maps. In addition, satellites are used to detect fires, and reported fire locations are collected from fire management agencies. This site is divided …
United States Government Accountability Office, Highlights of GAO-22-105166, a report to congressional addressees September 2022. Technology Assessment. Large Constellations of Satellites Mitigating Environmental and Other Effects. “What GAO found – There are almost 5,500 active satellites in orbit as of spring 2022, and one estimate predicts the launch of an additional 58,000 by 2030. Large …
