The hottest Environment Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top World Politics Topics

Race, Gender and IQ

David Friedman’s Substack • 323 implied HN points • 25 May 23
🔬 Science Environment
  1. Publicly discussing racial and gender differences in IQ can lead to accusations of prejudice, as seen in the cases of James Watson and Lawrence Summers.
  2. Evidence suggests that the genetic IQ of Africans is comparable to that of whites, challenging previous assumptions of lower intelligence.
  3. Nurture may play a smaller role than nature in influencing outcomes, as seen in a study of Korean-American children placed for adoption.

Reasons to Be Grateful for Biotechnology

Asimov Press • 303 implied HN points • 12 Jun 23
🔬 Science Environment
  1. Insulin is now made by engineered bacteria instead of pancreas glands from animals.
  2. Gene-edited hens can lay eggs producing only female chicks, reducing male chick culling.
  3. Biotechnology advancements have led to solutions like a malaria vaccine and gene therapies for diseases.

Zero Waste

Castalia • 139 implied HN points • 30 Oct 22
🎭️ Culture Environment
  1. Quilty was a charming and talkative general who shared engaging stories about his experiences, especially regarding 9/11.
  2. His wife, Joelle, had a very different perspective, reflecting on the impact of war and her life as a military spouse with honesty.
  3. Joelle emphasized the need to recognize the moral complexities of military life, revealing a desire to distance herself from that past.

My TED Talk is now live

Sustainability by numbers • 241 implied HN points • 22 Sep 23
🔬 Science Environment
  1. We can improve human wellbeing while tackling environmental problems together.
  2. Global progress has been made in reducing child mortality and extreme poverty.
  3. Transitioning to renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, is becoming more affordable and can help combat air pollution.

The Summer of the Whale

Men Yell at Me • 268 implied HN points • 28 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Environment
  1. People are supporting whales in a recent wave of attacks on boats, siding with the orcas due to their anti-capitalist symbolism.
  2. Americans relate to the struggles of whales due to growing income inequality, stagnant wages, and other socio-economic issues.
  3. There is a sense of commonality between people and sea creatures like whales in feeling targeted by a system that harms and kills them both.
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WEEKLY BRIEFLY NOTED: For 2025-01-20 Mo

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 53 implied HN points • 20 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics 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.

Fragments #2

aproposofnothing • 39 implied HN points • 16 Jun 23
💾 History Environment
  1. Turning 30 can signify a new chapter of growth and purpose in life.
  2. In ancient Greece, music and study were important cultural practices before the age of 30.
  3. Plato's ideas on leadership, military training, and noble lies still hold relevance today.

Japan impressions

Something About Cats • 39 implied HN points • 01 Oct 23
🏝 Travel Environment
  1. Japan has high standards in cleanliness, efficiency, and food quality.
  2. Japan feels like a well-designed video game with intriguing zoning and attention to detail.
  3. Japan excels in hardware craftsmanship but lags behind in modern tech innovations.

Saturday Sprouting Reads (Tribal Superfoods, Big 6 Platform-Ecosystem Agritech Gameplays, 75 Years of Herbicides)

Agribusiness Matters • 39 implied HN points • 04 Mar 23
💼 Business Environment
  1. The article discusses 3 tribal superfoods from India that might become popular in 2023.
  2. It explores the strategies of big agritech companies in building ecosystems and platforms.
  3. The text reflects on the history of herbicides over 75 years, focusing on challenges like resistance and the need for innovation.

Compilation Post #3

Extropic Thoughts • 39 implied HN points • 15 Apr 23
🔬 Science Environment
  1. Child mortality rates have drastically decreased over centuries, signifying significant progress in global healthcare.
  2. America's GDP and economic dominance have continued to grow, especially when compared to its developed peers like in 1990.
  3. AI advancements like ChatGPT's 'iPhone moment' and BloombergGPT are reshaping industries with their capabilities.

Bicycles: An Antidote To Throw-Away Culture

Fight to Repair • 39 implied HN points • 28 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Environment
  1. Bicycles can serve as a model for repairing and reusing items, fostering community connections, and resisting over-consumption.
  2. Understanding how to repair objects we rely on makes us more self-reliant, teaches us to help others, and deepens our respect for the materials and work that go into creating these objects.
  3. Promoting intentional ownership and repair of items, like bicycles, can help shift our global consumption habits, build community through repair organizations, and reduce waste in our society.

The Impact of AI on the Environment: A Critical Analysis

Rod’s Blog • 19 implied HN points • 05 Feb 24
🔬 Science Environment
  1. AI has both direct and indirect impacts on the environment. It can lead to high energy consumption and carbon emissions due to the computational complexity and rapid innovation cycle of AI systems.
  2. The way AI is used can either help or harm the environment. It can optimize energy efficiency and support sustainable development, but it can also increase resource demand, pollution, and disrupt ecosystems.
  3. To lessen the negative environmental effects of AI, collaborative efforts are essential. This includes implementing ethical guidelines, promoting green AI research, educating about AI's environmental impact, and incentivizing energy-efficient AI solutions.

Camp Century

Gordian Knot News • 183 implied HN points • 01 Nov 23
💾 History Environment
  1. Camp Century was a unique nuclear plant experiment in an extreme environment
  2. The project showed the potential of non-traditional approaches in nuclear power
  3. Camp Century contributed valuable insights into climate history and nuclear reactor technology

Rabbit Holes 🕳️ #120

Creative Destruction • 22 implied HN points • 18 Jun 25
🎭️ Culture Environment
  1. Hypernormalization describes how people keep living their lives normally, even when their systems are clearly breaking down. It’s about feeling overwhelmed by the problems around us but still trying to get by.
  2. We often focus on and follow the lives of millionaires rather than connecting with those around us. This habit can distract us from the stories of ordinary people, which are just as important.
  3. China is shifting from being a petrostates to an electrostate, relying more on electricity and clean energy. This change could affect how other countries see energy and their own progress in technology.

Bidets and butt wipes

The Rectangle • 141 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Environment
  1. Toilet paper isn't the best option for cleaning, bidets and wipes are better.
  2. The use of toilet paper is linked to consumerism and capitalism.
  3. Switching to bidets can bring hygiene benefits and help the environment, but cultural habits and aversions may be obstacles.

An Ode to Our Backyard

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind • 139 implied HN points • 23 Jun 22
🔬 Science Environment
  1. A beautiful backyard can transform a house into a home. The presence of large trees and wildlife makes the space special and enjoyable.
  2. Seeing local wildlife, like bald eagles and Cooper's hawks, enriches daily life and connects people to nature. It's exciting to observe their behaviors and know they're nearby.
  3. Urban areas can still hold wildness and beauty, making life more interesting. Appreciating the nature around us can create a sense of wonder and gratitude.

Train Derailment

The Polymerist • 249 implied HN points • 21 Feb 23
🔬 Science Environment
  1. Train derailments involving hazardous chemicals occur frequently and pose significant risks to communities.
  2. Enforcement of regulations by agencies like the EPA and DOT is crucial for preventing future incidents.
  3. Long-term solutions to reduce these incidents may require shifting towards safer, more sustainable practices in the chemical industry.

Blast from the Past: The Supersonic Comeback Tour

Startupology • 19 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Environment
  1. Supersonic flight is making a comeback after facing challenges like high operation costs and noise complaints.
  2. Exciting projects by NASA and private companies aim to bring back supersonic flight with advancements like 'sonic thumps' and sustainable fuels.
  3. The future of supersonic flight faces challenges like technical limitations, environmental concerns, safety precautions, and regulatory hurdles.

Summer Soundscape

Dada Drummer Almanach • 163 implied HN points • 08 Aug 23
🔬 Science Environment
  1. The soundscape in many neighborhoods has changed due to human activities like construction and climate change.
  2. Scientists have observed a significant decline in the number of insects and birds in certain environments over the years.
  3. The decline in insects has led to a decrease in bird populations as well, affecting ecosystems.

It's Material World Week!

Material World • 175 implied HN points • 12 Jun 23
💼 Business Environment
  1. Writing and selling a book is a unique process for a journalist, involving a mix of excitement and awkward self-promotion.
  2. The book 'Material World' became even more relevant because of rapidly changing industrial and political landscapes.
  3. The future of technologies like e-fuels and batteries is likely to be diverse, not dominated by a single solution.

Fight to Repair Weekly: November, 28 2022

Fight to Repair • 39 implied HN points • 30 Nov 22
🕹 Technology Environment
  1. EU is implementing new repair rules for electronics to reduce environmental impact, but advocates feel it falls short of a true "right to repair" needed to extend device lifespans.
  2. Upcoming EU policy changes will require access to parts, maintenance for devices after retiring, durability standards, and repair labeling, but critics push for stronger policies.
  3. Samsung is working on a new mobile app called 'Self Repair Assistant' to boost DIY repairs, while Apple seeks to restrict repair through patents. Advocacy efforts continue to push for right to repair laws.

Black Guck on a Duck

Brands Mean a Lot • 145 implied HN points • 15 Aug 23
🎭️ Culture Environment
  1. An analysis of a Dawn commercial raises questions about how we perceive man-made disasters
  2. The ad implies that we are desensitized to environmental disasters
  3. Consumer products are starting to leverage disasters to prove their effectiveness

Bamboo & Fungi in the Digital Age

The Digital Anthropologist • 19 implied HN points • 24 Nov 23
🔬 Science Environment
  1. Bamboo, fungi, DNA, and organic molecules may play a vital role in our survival and growth in the digital age by being integrated into digital technologies.
  2. Using natural materials like bamboo and mycelium in digital technologies can lead to decreased reliance on rare earth materials and reduced environmental impact.
  3. The future of digital technologies may involve embedding information in molecules, utilizing the efficiency of nature, and integrating organic materials for innovative advancements.

Obsolescence Pays: The Epson Printer Saga Continues

Fight to Repair • 39 implied HN points • 19 Oct 22
💼 Business Environment
  1. Printer companies like Epson use software tactics to hinder repairability and push customers to buy new products, impacting consumer choice and environmental sustainability.
  2. Companies like Epson create narratives around complexity and danger to deter customers from repairing their devices, steering them towards buying new models or using authorized repair services.
  3. Advocating for longer-lasting, repairable products and changing the incentives for companies built on waste and obsolescence can help reduce e-waste and promote sustainable consumption in the electronics industry.

The Week In Repair: May 29 - June 4

Fight to Repair • 59 implied HN points • 06 Jun 22
🕹 Technology Environment
  1. New York Assembly passes first electronics right to repair bill, becoming the first state in the nation to do so. This is a milestone achievement for right to repair advocates after years of unsuccessful attempts.
  2. A report highlights the importance of a legal right to repair for wheelchair owners to ensure prompt, high-quality service at an affordable price. This emphasizes the need for a fair market for repair and service.
  3. An overload of lawsuits against John Deere regarding right to repair issues is being consolidated in a federal court in Illinois. This illustrates the ongoing legal battles in the fight for right to repair.

Welcome to DOC NYC

Splattern • 19 implied HN points • 13 Nov 23
🎭️ Culture Environment
  1. Attending film festivals can provide inspiration for new projects, especially when you see how different filmmakers tackle similar issues like climate change and culture.
  2. Protecting indigenous cultures and ways of life is crucial, as modern influences can threaten their traditions and connection to the land.
  3. Wealth is often measured by generosity and community support rather than money, highlighting the importance of sharing and helping one another.

Just Blowing Off Steam

Daniel Pinchbeck’s Newsletter • 26 implied HN points • 28 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Environment
  1. The café scene highlights a disconnect between daily life and serious societal issues. While people seem focused on their routines, there's an urgency to address larger problems like rising authoritarianism.
  2. Climate change is a pressing threat, with rising temperatures and potential disasters looming. Experts warn that we might see drastic effects much sooner than we think, like severe droughts and natural disasters.
  3. Many wealthy individuals remain unaware or unresponsive to these challenges. Their distractions and comforts keep them detached from the emerging crises, which creates a risk of inaction when urgent responses are needed.

Assembly Line of Enzymes

The Polymerist • 132 implied HN points • 09 May 23
🔬 Science Environment
  1. Enzyme immobilization can reduce costs and increase accessibility of technology for commodity chemicals
  2. Cascade Biocatalysts technology offers better thermal stability, more reuse, and higher activity compared to conventional methods
  3. Immobilized enzymes can pave the way for a shift towards environmentally friendly and cost-effective synthetic processes in various industries

The Two Bets

The Future, Now and Then • 113 implied HN points • 09 Aug 23
🎭️ Culture Environment
  1. Two bets from the past illustrate contrasting viewpoints on the trajectory of society.
  2. The outcome of these bets reveals the complexities of predicting future trends.
  3. The tension between techno-optimism and environmental concerns continues to shape societal narratives.

VFYW: Tackling What You See

The Weekly Dish • 26 implied HN points • 18 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Environment
  1. Many people are affected by recent wildfires, with heavy losses to homes and communities. It's important to support those who are displaced.
  2. One family's experience during the fires shows the fear and uncertainty that many felt. They evacuated but were relieved to find their home intact while mourning others' losses.
  3. People are encouraged to send help instead of giving opinions during such crises. Donations can make a real difference for those affected.

Seeking the First-Person Plural

Apposition • 19 implied HN points • 15 Apr 23
📖 Philosophy Environment
  1. Conservatism and environmentalism can find common ground in the concept of 'green conservatism'.
  2. Bottom-up approaches to resource management, rooted in local communities, can be more effective than top-down solutions.
  3. A sense of belonging and love for our surroundings, known as oikophilia, can drive good stewardship of the earth.

The ocean, the flood

Nick Merrill • 19 implied HN points • 09 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Environment
  1. The internet and AI are interconnected, each influencing and shaping the other.
  2. The relationship between the internet and war is intertwined, with each being a cause and an effect of the other.
  3. Human impact on the climate is tied to the myth of human dominance over nature, reflecting in our actions and environmental consequences.

Chromebook Churn could sink school budgets (and the planet)

Fight to Repair • 19 implied HN points • 20 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Environment
  1. Many school districts rushed to purchase Chromebooks for students during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to a potential tsunami of e-waste as these devices near the end of their support life.
  2. Extending the lifespan of Chromebooks could save school districts billions of dollars and help reduce the environmental impact of replacing these devices.
  3. Manufacturers need to make Chromebooks more repairable by offering replacement parts and designing devices that support repairability, which could make repair more economical and sustainable.

Is Colorado The Most Repair-Friendly State in the US? Recent Victories Say “Yes.”

Fight to Repair • 19 implied HN points • 14 Apr 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Environment
  1. Colorado is making significant strides in becoming the most repair-friendly state in the US, passing laws supporting agricultural and power-wheelchair repair, setting an example for others to follow.
  2. Massachusetts has historically been a leader in progressive policies, including same-sex marriage legalization and universal healthcare, and has been at the forefront of the right to repair movement, influencing national policies.
  3. The Federal Trade Commission is actively supporting the right to repair movement, testifying in states like California, highlighting the importance of consumer access to repair information and parts.

Birding at 60

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind • 99 implied HN points • 10 Feb 22
🎭️ Culture Environment
  1. Watching for red-tailed hawks and bald eagles while driving can make trips more enjoyable. These birds are often spotted perched near the road or soaring above.
  2. Red-tailed hawks are important for controlling vole populations, but driving can pose dangers for them. It's crucial to be aware of wildlife when driving to help keep them safe.
  3. If you notice a dead bird on the road, you can report it to help with conservation efforts. Also, avoiding harmful rodent poisons can protect birds of prey from getting sick.