The hottest Climate Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Science Topics

The sound of the sea breathing

lifeboat • 884 implied HN points • 07 Feb 24
🔬 Science Climate
  1. The sound of the sea breathing is created by billions of tiny air bubbles.
  2. The sea's interaction with atmospheric gases and weather is influenced by the waves' movement.
  3. The energy released as sound in a stormy sea comes from the impact of water onto water, creating a monumental roar.

Some 2026 Predictions

The Future, Now and Then • 126 implied HN points • 22 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Climate
  1. Trump’s governing coalition looks brittle and likely to fracture from internal infighting, which will reduce their capacity to attack opponents and could help Democrats win narrow congressional majorities, though authoritarian moves may still intensify.
  2. The AI boom will keep inflating but trigger a strong cultural backlash as low-quality AI output becomes ubiquitous; the government may prop up AI finance to avoid a crash while crypto likely slips into another winter as investors pull back.
  3. Broader systems are worsening: billionaires will consolidate media, platforms and public agencies may fail to handle disasters or health crises, and rising emissions and preventable deaths could cause long-term harm even if political power shifts.

Gaining Steam

Doomberg • 9401 implied HN points • 06 May 23
🌍 World Politics Climate
  1. Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau expressed serious commitment to nuclear power for the country's future energy needs.
  2. Grassroots efforts led by groups like Canadians for Nuclear Energy have influenced political outcomes in favor of nuclear power.
  3. Support for nuclear energy is growing in the US as leaders recognize its necessity for significant decarbonization of the economy.

It's Only Ice (Like Nothing You've Ever Seen)

Everything Is Amazing • 1697 implied HN points • 07 Feb 25
🔬 Science Climate
  1. Ice flowers are unique formations in the Arctic created by a process called sublimation, where water vapor turns directly into ice. They can actually support microbes even though they are very salty.
  2. Hair ice is another strange phenomenon that resembles frozen hair, formed by a fungus that stabilizes thin strands of ice. This shows how nature can create artistic ice structures.
  3. Pykrete is a mix of ice and sawdust proposed as a material for building a large aircraft carrier during World War II. Although interesting, it was deemed impractical because it required constant cold temperatures to maintain its structure.

World roundup: January 10 2024

Foreign Exchanges • 766 implied HN points • 11 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Climate
  1. 2023 was the hottest year on record with global temperatures reaching 1.48 degrees Celsius higher than in the 19th century.
  2. There is concern whether the increasing temperatures are a one-time spike or the new normal.
  3. Humanity is close to breaching the 1.5 degrees Celsius warming threshold set in the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement.
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The Church of England's Road to Davos moment.

The Free Mind • 1257 implied HN points • 29 May 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Climate
  1. The Church of England has a focus on 'Net Zero', which may be worrisome due to associations with past movements that led to destruction.
  2. Individuality and self-individuation are crucial in resisting mass movements, as emphasized by Carl Jung.
  3. Religion can offer meaning, purpose, and social stability, but caution is needed when religious zealotry shifts towards extreme ideals such as 'Net Zero'.

What I read this week...

chamathreads • 1022 implied HN points • 12 May 23
🕹 Technology Climate
  1. The article discusses various topics like fertility rates, drug prices, and the presidential diet.
  2. There's a mention of Microsoft betting on fusion power, Andreessen Horowitz and the changing tech landscape, and the financial status of tech workers.
  3. Updates on AI predicting pancreatic cancer, America's high drug prices, corporate acquisitions of primary care practices, and more.

Things don't only get better

imperfect offerings • 379 implied HN points • 26 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Climate
  1. Improvements in AI models are not always guaranteed, as evidenced by instances of models getting worse over time due to tweaks and updates.
  2. Investment in AI technology is booming, generating wealth for billionaires while possibly hindering investment in viable low-carbon tech solutions for climate change.
  3. The narrative surrounding AI portrays it as a powerful force for the future, but practical solutions for climate crisis require more than just technological advancements - they also need systemic changes and investments.

My Greatest Fear

Daniel Pinchbeck’s Newsletter • 14 implied HN points • 10 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Climate
  1. Signs like racist propaganda, violent incidents, and policy moves are normalizing dehumanization and could be preparing society for harsher, more organized repression.
  2. A small but powerful class of wealthy, amoral elites is manipulating institutions and media while revelations expose deep corruption, making authoritarian strategies more feasible.
  3. Humanity faces ecological overshoot and must choose between chaotic collapse, a cooperative managed descent, or a violent techno‑fascist response, and current trends raise the risk of the worst path emerging.

Hello!

Kibao • 119 implied HN points • 04 Jun 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate
  1. Kibao means 'a lot' in Swahili and also refers to a notice board. The author writes about various topics like energy, climate, tech, and Africa.
  2. The author offers a unique perspective as an African, scientist, policy wonk, feminist, and former stand-up comedian, bringing fresh insights to a range of subjects.
  3. The author welcomes feedback and comments from readers, aiming to engage in discussions and learn from others.

A Right to Be in this World

Field Guide to the Anthropocene • 334 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
🔬 Science Climate
  1. All living things have a right to exist in this world according to the Endangered Species Act.
  2. Conservation efforts need more support to combat political and industry threats to environmental protections.
  3. Future of the ESA requires broader landscape-scale conservation, increased funding, and alignment with modern conservation strategies.

Blueprints: Exploring System Change

Surfing the Future • 279 implied HN points • 27 Jan 24
🔬 Science Climate
  1. 2024 marks the 50th year of the author engaging professionally in sustainability agendas.
  2. The author plans a 'Blueprints' discovery process throughout the year, involving thinkers and practitioners of system change.
  3. Key themes of the discovery process include the role of science fiction in systemic solutions, younger generations' views, scaling sustainability solutions, market-based ecosystem regeneration, and AI's future applications.

The most epic (and literal) gaslighting of all time

The Crucial Years • 1903 implied HN points • 05 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Climate
  1. Exxon prioritizes profit over renewable energy, stating wind and solar power don't offer sufficient returns for shareholders.
  2. Exxon's history of deceit and denial regarding climate change has hindered progress for decades.
  3. The need for government intervention to address the climate crisis is highlighted, as market profits often impede meaningful solutions.

THB Insider #12

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 628 implied HN points • 19 Dec 24
🔬 Science Climate
  1. The author will soon evaluate their predictions for 2024 and will post about the upcoming 2025 predictions. It's a fun way to look back and see how accurate they were.
  2. A new paper has been posted for feedback and will be revised based on comments received. This is a chance for readers to engage and contribute their thoughts.
  3. The author is planning a Q&A session and is inviting readers to submit their questions. It's an opportunity for direct interaction and to discuss important topics.

The Molecular Genetics of Cold Winters Theory

Anglo Reaction • 412 implied HN points • 07 Mar 23
🔬 Science Climate
  1. The theory of Cold Winters suggests that intelligence was a response to the harshness of nature.
  2. Intelligence is higher among individuals further from the equator due to seasonal ecologies.
  3. Genetic studies indicate that human intelligence increased after leaving Africa, aligning with the Cold Winters Theory.

The Internet is Teetering

OK Doomer • 59 implied HN points • 20 Nov 25
🕹 Technology Climate
  1. The internet is facing more outages and disruptions than ever before. These problems are likely to increase, and we may not always be warned about them.
  2. It's important to prepare for a future where the internet might not be reliable. This means considering how to survive without it.
  3. As a response to this instability, there's a renewed interest in printed books and offline resources. People are looking for ways to stay informed and entertained without relying on the internet.

Consciousness is Organic - redux

Field Guide to the Anthropocene • 196 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
🔬 Science Climate
  1. Consciousness is organic - a reminder that our minds are intertwined with the natural world, emphasizing the need to live in harmony with the environment.
  2. The concept of planetary intelligence explores the collective knowledge and responsibility of civilizations on a global scale, urging a shift towards more mindful and balanced technological growth.
  3. The human mind is identified as a key threat in the Anthropocene era, highlighting the necessity for self-improvement to address the planet's pressing issues.

Geoengineering Now!

Maximum Progress • 334 implied HN points • 08 Nov 23
🔬 Science Climate
  1. Solar geoengineering can offset temperature rise relatively inexpensively.
  2. Geoengineering could help delay and mitigate damages of climate change.
  3. Arguments against geoengineering include concerns about unintended effects and moral hazard.

The AI Wave Accelerates

Nonzero Newsletter • 485 implied HN points • 24 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Climate
  1. New AI technology like OpenAI's Operator can help with tasks, but it's still not perfect and makes mistakes. This shows that AI is getting better, but we need to manage our expectations.
  2. There's a growing belief among experts that advanced AI could be here sooner than expected. This brings both excitement and concern about what it means for jobs and society.
  3. Recent events highlight the importance of careful thinking and understanding before jumping to conclusions, like in the case of undersea cable damages where initial fears of sabotage were proven wrong.

Is Global Climate Policy Working?

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 1158 implied HN points • 04 Mar 24
🔬 Science Climate
  1. Climate policies need a deeper focus on decarbonization of the global economy.
  2. The Kaya Identity offers a simplified yet powerful tool for evaluating climate policies.
  3. A shift towards measuring decarbonization progress rather than just emissions reduction can provide better insights into the effectiveness of climate policies.

The Rays of the Sun

The Crucial Years • 1614 implied HN points • 07 Oct 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate
  1. The sun is causing overheating on the planet due to gases in the atmosphere.
  2. Solar power is rapidly growing as a solution to our climate crisis.
  3. Renewable energy like solar and wind power are key to combating the rise in global temperatures.

"Think of the Implications of Publishing"

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 1707 implied HN points • 17 Jul 23
🔬 Science Climate
  1. A whistleblower exposed corruption in peer review in climate science, leading to the retraction of a paper.
  2. The process revealed how activist scientists influenced the publishing process behind the scenes.
  3. The case highlights ongoing challenges in climate science and the politicization of scientific publishing.

What if We Just Stop Oil?

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 1737 implied HN points • 06 Jul 23
🔬 Science Climate
  1. The world still needs new sources of oil supply to meet demand, even with efforts to phase out oil consumption by 2050.
  2. Natural gas is expected to play a central role in future global energy consumption, with significant investment needed to meet demand.
  3. There are no scenarios suggesting it is possible to eliminate fossil fuel use within the next 8 years, leading to a global energy crisis if oil and gas were abruptly stopped.

December 17, 2025

Letters from an American • 25 implied HN points • 18 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Climate
  1. Republicans are split over extending ACA premium tax credits, with a few vulnerable GOP members joining Democrats to force a vote because letting the credits lapse would sharply raise premiums and cost millions their coverage while leadership backs a cost-cutting alternative.
  2. The administration is politicizing federal programs and science. It admitted withholding grants from Democratic-leaning states and is moving to cut or dismantle climate research at NCAR, raising public-safety and national-security concerns.
  3. Special counsel Jack Smith told Congress he has proof that the former president led a criminal scheme to overturn the 2020 election, and his subpoenas and closed-door testimony have escalated partisan attacks and deepened congressional fights over the investigations.

Top Links 582 The EU-US divergence. Climate adaptation. Consuming Baghdad. Class is not a thing its a happening.

Chartbook • 414 implied HN points • 09 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Climate
  1. There's a noticeable difference between how the EU and US are handling policies and strategies. This divergence affects various areas like trade and climate issues.
  2. As climate change impacts increase, there's a growing need for effective adaptation strategies to deal with these changes. Communities worldwide are developing plans to better cope with climate impacts.
  3. The concept of class is evolving; it's seen more as a dynamic process influenced by current events rather than a fixed social status. This view can change our understanding of social structures.

When the flood comes

The Land Desk • 255 implied HN points • 05 Sep 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate
  1. The author realized a climate disaster was imminent when a weather app predicted heavy rain in Greece.
  2. They were surprised by the forecast of five inches of rain in a single day.
  3. The post discusses the impacts of extreme weather events related to climate change.