The hottest Environment Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top World Politics Topics

Becoming A Geogeek

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind • 459 implied HN points • 30 Nov 23
🔬 Science Geology Education Nature Environment History
  1. Taking a geology class can change your perspective on the world. It helps you see the connections in nature and understand different landscapes.
  2. Field trips in geology are about more than just learning; they are about observing and appreciating the natural world closely.
  3. Whether living in a city or a rural area, geology influences where you go and how you experience your environment.

A Right to Be in this World

Field Guide to the Anthropocene • 334 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
🔬 Science Environment Biodiversity Conservation Climate Technology
  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.

Numlock News: September 26, 2023 • Books3, Cahow, Rupees

Numlock News • 550 implied HN points • 26 Sep 23
📰 News Economics Technology Environment Politics Literature
  1. India is withdrawing 2,000-rupee banknotes by the end of September, affecting billions of rupees worth of currency.
  2. A dataset called Books3 contains copyrighted works used to train AI systems, leading to lawsuits from writers.
  3. Oil and gas operators have used 1.5 trillion gallons of water since 2011 for well drilling, with concerns about water shortages in fracking regions.
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What if We Just Stop Oil?

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 1737 implied HN points • 06 Jul 23
🔬 Science Energy Environment Activism Policy 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.

Should we be afraid of nuclear meltdowns? I used to think so

Everything is Light • 491 implied HN points • 16 Feb 23
🔬 Science Nuclear Energy Environment Public Health Natural Disasters Energy Sources
  1. Most alternatives to nuclear energy are much worse in terms of risks and consequences.
  2. Nuclear meltdowns are rare and often poorly understood, leading to unnecessary fear.
  3. Compared to other energy sources like coal and oil, nuclear energy is safer and causes less harm to the environment and human health.

When poor people occupy land without paying, it’s squatting. When the rich do it, it’s parking

The Newsletter of (Not Quite) Everything • 491 implied HN points • 01 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture Books Society Global Issues Transportation Environment
  1. When poor people occupy land without paying, it's called squatting. When the rich do it, it's labeled as parking.
  2. The growth of cars and road infrastructure in cities like Mumbai mirrors past mistakes made in the West.
  3. Car ownership, particularly in developing countries, poses environmental and economic challenges that need addressing.

Imagine I’m jogging in the Great North Woods

Pinch of Dirt • 235 implied HN points • 13 Jan 24
🔬 Science Environment Animals Health Space Discovery
  1. Imagining jogging in serene environments like the Great North Woods can provide a peaceful escape from city life.
  2. Awareness is growing about the environmental impact of chemicals like PFAS, leading outdoor companies to phase them out.
  3. Controversies arise over moon lander payloads with human remains, prompting discussions on ethics and space pollution.

Sowing Solidarity: How Lebanon’s Wineries Remain Rooted

Vittles • 159 implied HN points • 11 Nov 24
🍲 Food & Drink Wine Culture Environment Economy Agriculture
  1. Lebanon's wineries are facing tough times due to conflict and destruction. Many winemakers are shifting their focus from producing wine to supporting their communities.
  2. The connection to the land is really important for these winemakers. They feel a strong pride in their heritage and want to preserve their agricultural traditions amidst the chaos.
  3. Support from abroad is crucial for the survival of Lebanon's wine industry. Winemakers need strong export partnerships to keep their businesses alive as local markets struggle.

Why It's Great News That The Earth Sucks

Everything Is Amazing • 963 implied HN points • 20 Jun 23
🔬 Science Geology Oceanography Environment Extraterrestrial Life Technology
  1. The Earth has fascinating and dangerous underwater sinkholes, like the Great Blue Hole and the Yongle Blue Hole.
  2. Exploring the geological impact on our lives can reveal intriguing connections to our world's history and future.
  3. Scientists finding deep-sea features like the Taam ja' Blue Hole may provide insights into life on other planets.

Cheeseburgers In Paradise

Body of Work: Belle de Jour • 353 implied HN points • 03 Sep 23
🎭️ Culture Music Society Environment Community Family
  1. Jimmy Buffett's music and image resonate with a specific audience, offering a carefree escape.
  2. Living off-grid highlights the challenges of self-sufficiency and the importance of community.
  3. Burning Man and similar events may showcase ideals of self-reliance, but in reality, they can highlight societal disparities and the necessity of infrastructure and support systems.

Birdsong

The Commonplace • 1120 implied HN points • 10 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture Nature Philosophy Environment Beauty Literature
  1. Take time to observe the beauty around you, like birdsongs and nature, instead of being consumed by technology.
  2. There is enchantment in the everyday environment if we open ourselves to see and hear it.
  3. Utilize technology, like bird identification apps, to learn more about the world around you and the beauty of nature.

Welcome to Clearwater

Splattern • 139 implied HN points • 25 Feb 24
🏝 Travel Adventure Environment Culture Health Food
  1. A supportive community can really help during tough times. Even when feeling unmotivated, kind gestures from others can make a difference.
  2. The experience of tech workers can vary greatly. Some feel overworked and undervalued, leading to tough personal challenges.
  3. Life experiences shape how we view the world. For older generations, like Jean, their difficult upbringing has taught them to appreciate nature and health even more.

210: It's (Not Necessarily) Fair to Mock Apple's "Mother Nature" Video

Hardcore Software • 396 implied HN points • 14 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Environment Manufacturing Sustainability Supply Chain
  1. Apple's efforts to fight climate change go beyond the criticized video and involve significant, strategic initiatives.
  2. Apple's vertical integration approach to packaging optimizes materials, reduces waste, and enhances profitability.
  3. Apple's focus on sustainability extends to materials used in products, manufacturing processes, and transit efficiency, all contributing to environmental and financial benefits.

The Powerful and Flawed Brain

Holodoxa • 179 implied HN points • 08 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Genetics Evolution Environment
  1. Mental illness is a complex interplay of genes, environment, and evolutionary history, contributing to conditions like depression or schizophrenia.
  2. Genetic factors significantly influence the risk of psychiatric conditions, but they interact with environmental and social factors, emphasizing the importance of a holistic approach.
  3. Mutation can play a key role in mental illness, with spontaneous genetic variations like de novo mutations or somatic variants contributing to conditions like schizophrenia or autism.

The Case For and Against California Forever

The New Urban Order • 139 implied HN points • 31 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Urbanism Housing Tech Environment Politics
  1. California Forever aims to address California's housing crisis by offering a new city with up to 400,000 residents and 160,000 dwelling units.
  2. Critics argue that California Forever's development threatens natural resources, increases wildfire risk, and diverts attention and resources from existing infrastructure improvements.
  3. The project prompts debate on the balance between housing expansion and environmental impact, as well as the effectiveness of starting a new city versus revitalizing existing communities.

E-scooters are good and Britain should legalise them

Odds and Ends of History • 1072 implied HN points • 17 Apr 23
💼 Business Transportation Urban planning Regulation Environment Infrastructure
  1. E-scooters can help reduce car usage and congestion in cities due to their compact design and ability to take up less space.
  2. Legalizing e-scooters can lead to positive downstream consequences, such as reducing car dependence, reshaping urban geography, and creating a more sustainable environment.
  3. Regulating e-scooters through legalization can improve safety standards, encourage responsible riding behavior, and prompt the development of infrastructure to accommodate different modes of transportation.

What I Learned About AI in 2023

Cybernetic Forests • 179 implied HN points • 17 Dec 23
🕹 Technology AI Environment Education Security Art
  1. Advancements in AI may not always lead to true improvement or problem-solving, as new technologies continue to replace previous ones without learning from past failures.
  2. There is evidence that AI may be making things worse, even in areas it is meant to excel in, such as ethics and safety, leading to a loss of expertise and rush to incorporate generative AI algorithms.
  3. AI models can have significant environmental impacts, using vast amounts of energy and water, highlighting the importance of developing more sustainable computational infrastructure and greener algorithms.

Friday Links

Niko McCarty • 39 implied HN points • 31 May 24
🔬 Science Chemistry Biology Technology Health Environment
  1. Forever chemicals are really tough to break down because of their chemical structure. Researchers are looking for ways to engineer microbes that can help eliminate these harmful substances.
  2. SGLT2 inhibitors can help the immune system clear out old cells, which could be important for health. There’s growing interest in how these inhibitors can benefit kidney treatment.
  3. Advances in cotton plant genomes could make it easier to breed better plants in the future. This could lead to improvements in cotton production and farming.

Intro to Economic Life 1: Creatures on a Planet

Altered States of Monetary Consciousness • 410 implied HN points • 22 Feb 24
🚌 Education Economics Philosophy History Environment Political
  1. The economy is not separate from the planet, but rather a part of it, with everything deriving from the ecological systems of Earth. This interconnectedness should be a foundational element of economic analysis.
  2. Products we see as separate entities are actually collections of human labor and resources from the planet, with objects being made up of multiple acts of labor combined with natural elements like sunlight, air, water, and food.
  3. The illusion of separation in the economy can hide exploitative practices and hinder our ability to make informed decisions, leading to disconnection, confusion, and alienation. Understanding these interconnected processes is crucial to developing a holistic view of the economy.

Rabbit Holes 🕳️ #96

Creative Destruction • 34 implied HN points • 30 Oct 24
🎭️ Culture Sociology Philosophy Psychology Environment Marketing
  1. Accountability sinks make it hard to hold people responsible for their decisions. This can lead to a loss of trust in organizations and institutions.
  2. Kama muta is a feeling of being moved by love, which often happens at significant life events. This feeling can strengthen our relationships and motivate us to be kinder.
  3. Productive inefficiency means getting things done without feeling rushed. Slowing down can actually help improve our overall well-being and relationships.

WEEKLY BRIEFLY NOTED: For 2025-01-20 Mo

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 53 implied HN points • 20 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy Economics Insurance History Environment
  1. Watching a video about the Bel Air Fire of 1961 can give you insight into historical events and their impacts. It's important to learn from past events to understand current issues better.
  2. Insurance costs for properties are changing and it's something to keep an eye on. Rising costs can affect how we plan our finances when it comes to home and property.
  3. Subscribing to informative newsletters can lead to valuable knowledge. Engaging with these types of content can help you stay updated and informed.

What's got my attention this week #14

The Shift With Sam Baker • 239 implied HN points • 11 Aug 23
🎭️ Culture Books Age Environment Health Music
  1. Edinburgh festival season is here, featuring an interview with author Maggie O'Farrell at Fringe By The Sea about 'The Marriage Portrait'.
  2. An article discusses how newsletters are now akin to women's magazines in providing engaging content.
  3. There is a trend in adults reading children's books, an interesting lawsuit by women against the Swiss government over climate change, and other intriguing topics shared on The Shift With Sam Baker.

Supply AND Demand

Knowledge Problem • 235 implied HN points • 05 May 23
🔬 Science Energy Technology Economics Environment Digital
  1. Market value is determined by the interaction of supply and demand, allowing for price discovery.
  2. The traditional assumption in the electricity industry of fixed supply catering to demand is becoming obsolete due to digital technologies enabling flexible demand.
  3. Digital technologies and dynamic pricing are empowering consumers to have more control over their electricity bills and contribute to a greener future.

Sabine Hossenfelder promoting fossil fuels over electric vehicles

aukehoekstra • 59 implied HN points • 23 Apr 24
🔬 Science Environment Electric Vehicles Climate change Physics Energy
  1. Sabine Hossenfelder, a popular figure known for her physics background, has been criticized for promoting gasoline cars over electric vehicles.
  2. Electric vehicles can help solve grid issues and contribute positively to the energy system by offering flexibility and potential cost savings.
  3. The sales of electric vehicles continue to rise, with advancements in technology making them more environmentally friendly and cost-effective compared to fossil fuel cars.

Searching for Posthumanist AI

Cybernetic Forests • 259 implied HN points • 26 Mar 23
🔬 Science AI Technology Ethics Philosophy Environment
  1. Large Language Models are anthropocentric and pose challenges to moving beyond human-centric ideologies
  2. Post-humanism emphasizes decentering humanity and focusing on the health of the planet and interconnected natural systems
  3. AI's current state reflects human biases and design decisions, and a posthumanist approach would require a shift towards technologies that facilitate listening and understanding the world outside ourselves

Life Abounds

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind • 219 implied HN points • 10 Aug 23
🎭️ Culture Nature Wildlife Adventure Family Environment
  1. Baby animals, like marmots and geoducks, can be very cute and inspire joy in nature. People often feel a nurturing instinct towards baby animals, similar to how they feel about human babies.
  2. The recovery of wildlife can surprise researchers, as seen with western toads at Mt. St. Helens after the eruption, which thrived in new conditions.
  3. Many baby marmots survive their first winter, which is good news for their populations. Cute baby animals help us connect with nature and remind us of the importance of wildlife conservation.