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10-28: Bill Nye's optimism, cherish winter

As winter erodes, the 'Science Guy' is hopeful science will soon return to public policy. Let's hope he's right.

Top news for Saturday, Oct. 28: Environmental philanthropy, Antarctic glacial melt, and more


Carmaker focuses on oceans, marine resilience

"The Honda Marine Science Foundation formed in 2016 and went public this year, with a mission to "help restore marine ecosystems and facilitate climate change resilience," Inside Philanthropy reports.

The foundation expects to make two to three grants per year of between $25,000 and $75,000.

Takeaway: "An interesting move for Honda, signaling that this is going to become a signature topic for the corporation."

Read the full story here.

What happens when two glaciers collapse?

In Antarctica, you could release enough ice to raise sea levels four feet.

That scenario is underway now with the Pine Island and Thwaites glaciers.

New York Times has breath-taking time-lapse photos. Share this with your kids.

Cherish winter

Associated Press' Seth Borenstein has a look at why Jack Frost seems to be arriving later each fall.

PS, it's not a conspiracy.

Concord Monitor has the story.

Bill Nye's science optimism

Hard to be an optimist in this Twitter-fueled age about science driving policy.

But Bill Nye is. Ecowatch checks in with him on why he's bullish on the future.

Key quote: "As what I hope is the last gasp of the anti-science movement, we have this extraordinary administration with extraordinary people heading up the Department of Education and Environmental Protection Agency."

"But that's going to pass."

Sandy5: Five years after Hurricane Sandy

Five years after Hurricane Sandy swept over New York and New Jersey, many are still coping with aftershocks.

NYT, of course, is on the story: On Staten Island, haunting memories of those killed by Hurricane Sandy

But check out the #Sandy5 coverage on Twitter. Props for one of the best slogans ever: Rise Together.

Solar panels installed on a rolling hill.

China ramps up solar and wind power as clean energy output shatters global records

China installed enough solar and wind power between January and May to match the total electricity use of countries like Indonesia or Turkey, even as its clean energy industry faces deep financial strain.

Amy Hawkins reports for The Guardian.

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a cruise ship with an iceberg in the background.

Melting ice and microplastics signal deepening disruption in Antarctica’s climate system

A team of international scientists circumnavigating Antarctica has documented widespread environmental decline, including microplastics in ice and seawater, receding glaciers, and falling ocean salinity.

Soledad Domínguez reports for Mongabay.

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Food waste & agricultural inefficiencies.

New technologies promise to transform farming, but most haven’t delivered yet

Scientists and entrepreneurs are racing to reinvent agriculture to feed a booming population and fight climate change, but their high-tech solutions keep falling short.

Elizabeth Kolbert reports for The New Yorker.

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Farmworkers in a field on a hot day.

New rules to protect U.S. workers from extreme heat face political delays

As dangerous heat grips much of the country, a Biden-era plan to shield outdoor workers from heat illness is stalling under the Trump administration.

Sky Chadde reports for Investigate Midwest.

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Graphic image of white freight truck being charged.

California struggles to electrify trucks as Trump administration blocks state rules

California’s push to cut truck pollution and electrify freight fleets faces legal and political setbacks under President Trump, threatening public health in polluted regions like the San Joaquin Valley.

Benton Graham reports for Grist.

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Rare earth mining toxic pollution
Credit: 1photo/BigStock Photo ID: 18776198

The hidden cost of powering your phone might be someone else’s cancer

As the world races to secure rare earth elements for tech and defense, residents of Baotou, China bear the brunt of toxic pollution and displacement.

Amy Hawkins reports for The Guardian.

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Small creek with water running over rocks.

Toxic mine runoff cleanup revives West Virginia waterways and extracts rare earth elements

Once-lifeless streams across West Virginia are being revived by community-led efforts to treat coal mine pollution, which is now also yielding valuable rare earth metals.

Mira Rojanasakul reports for The New York Times.

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From our Newsroom
Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro speaks with the state flag and American flag behind him.

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

silhouette of people holding hands by a lake at sunset

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

wildfire retardants being sprayed by plane

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.

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