Non-IT News Thread
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Wildfires: How are they linked to climate change?
Recent heatwaves and wildfires around the world have caused alarm - with warnings that parts of Europe and North America could be experiencing the worst fire season ever.
Parts of the western US have seen record-breaking temperatures this year, which - along with severe drought conditions - have triggered a series of major wildfires. So far this year in California, more than twice as many acres of land have been burned by wildfires compared with the five-year average. Dr Susan Prichard, from the School of Environmental and Forest Sciences at the University of Washington, says: "We now have the conflagrations in California that we feared, following the record-setting heatwaves. -
Council policies often inconsistent with climate goals
More than a third of English councils support policies that could increase carbon emissions despite having declared a "climate emergency", BBC research suggests.
Road building and airport expansion are among examples provided by 45 out of 121 questionnaire respondents who say they have passed climate motions. Environmentalists say the findings reveal "inconsistencies" in approach. Local leaders insist they are taking action but need more funding. Between March and June the BBC surveyed all 149 top tier councils in England, of which 136 responded. The government has committed to cutting greenhouse gases to almost zero by 2050 - this target is known as net zero. This means reducing emissions as far as possible, then balancing out any remaining releases by, for example, tree planting. The similar term of carbon neutrality refers to doing this for CO2 emissions rather than all greenhouse gases. -
Report: U.S. Citizens Trapped By Taliban In Kabul As State Department Demands Foreign Nationals Be Allowed To Leave
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Haiti earthquake: Death toll climbs to 1,297 as storm nears
Rescue workers are rushing to locate survivors of the deadly earthquake that struck Haiti on Saturday as a tropical storm is heading towards the Caribbean nation.
At least 1,297 people are known to have died in the 7.2-magnitude quake and an unknown number are still missing. Tropical Depression Grace is expected to pass over the worst affected area later on Monday. It is feared heavy rain brought by Grace could trigger landslides. Roads already made impassable by the quake could be further damaged by the rains, so aid teams are racing to get essential provisions to the quake-hit region before Grace hits. -
US lab stands on threshold of key nuclear fusion goal
A US science institute is on the verge of achieving a longstanding goal in nuclear fusion research.
The National Ignition Facility uses a powerful laser to heat and compress hydrogen fuel, initiating fusion. An experiment suggests the goal of "ignition", where the energy released by fusion exceeds that delivered by the laser, is now within touching distance. Harnessing fusion, the process that powers the Sun, could provide a limitless, clean energy source. In a process called inertial confinement fusion, 192 beams from NIF's laser - the highest-energy example in the world - are directed towards a peppercorn-sized capsule containing deuterium and tritium, which are different forms of the element hydrogen. -
@mlnews said in Non-IT News Thread:
US lab stands on threshold of key nuclear fusion goal
A US science institute is on the verge of achieving a longstanding goal in nuclear fusion research.
The National Ignition Facility uses a powerful laser to heat and compress hydrogen fuel, initiating fusion. An experiment suggests the goal of "ignition", where the energy released by fusion exceeds that delivered by the laser, is now within touching distance. Harnessing fusion, the process that powers the Sun, could provide a limitless, clean energy source. In a process called inertial confinement fusion, 192 beams from NIF's laser - the highest-energy example in the world - are directed towards a peppercorn-sized capsule containing deuterium and tritium, which are different forms of the element hydrogen.Images of Stargate Atlantis come to mind. Specifically where Rodney wipes out a Solar System.
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@nadnerb said in Non-IT News Thread:
@mlnews said in Non-IT News Thread:
US lab stands on threshold of key nuclear fusion goal
A US science institute is on the verge of achieving a longstanding goal in nuclear fusion research.
The National Ignition Facility uses a powerful laser to heat and compress hydrogen fuel, initiating fusion. An experiment suggests the goal of "ignition", where the energy released by fusion exceeds that delivered by the laser, is now within touching distance. Harnessing fusion, the process that powers the Sun, could provide a limitless, clean energy source. In a process called inertial confinement fusion, 192 beams from NIF's laser - the highest-energy example in the world - are directed towards a peppercorn-sized capsule containing deuterium and tritium, which are different forms of the element hydrogen.Images of Stargate Atlantis come to mind. Specifically where Rodney wipes out a Solar System.
I thought that's what the Large Hadron Collider was for?
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Hurricane heading to Mexico's Yucatan. Expected to be pretty rough. Our office there is preparing with stockpiling water and getting ready to go offline.
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@scottalanmiller said in Non-IT News Thread:
Hurricane heading to Mexico's Yucatan. Expected to be pretty rough. Our office there is preparing with stockpiling water and getting ready to go offline.
Was watching some of the recent notices on the National Hurricane Center and visualizing where the office is and how it would track your direction.
Stay safe - do you know where 'higher' ground is and the route to get there?
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@gjacobse said in Non-IT News Thread:
@scottalanmiller said in Non-IT News Thread:
Hurricane heading to Mexico's Yucatan. Expected to be pretty rough. Our office there is preparing with stockpiling water and getting ready to go offline.
Was watching some of the recent notices on the National Hurricane Center and visualizing where the office is and how it would track your direction.
Stay safe - do you know where 'higher' ground is and the route to get there?
As he is on the pacific coast and in Nicaragua, not the Yucatán peninsula, not close.
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@jaredbusch said in Non-IT News Thread:
@gjacobse said in Non-IT News Thread:
@scottalanmiller said in Non-IT News Thread:
Hurricane heading to Mexico's Yucatan. Expected to be pretty rough. Our office there is preparing with stockpiling water and getting ready to go offline.
Was watching some of the recent notices on the National Hurricane Center and visualizing where the office is and how it would track your direction.
Stay safe - do you know where 'higher' ground is and the route to get there?
As he is on the pacific coast and in Nicaragua, not the Yucatán peninsula, not close.
While it may have seemed implied - but I do know where House Miller is - and just how much farther South it is to most historically tracked hurricanes.
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Nature: Rattlesnakes' sound 'trick' fools human ears
Rattlesnakes have evolved a clever method of convincing humans that danger is closer than they think, say scientists.
The sounds of their shaking tail get louder as a person approaches, but then suddenly switches to a much higher frequency. In tests, the rapid change in sound made participants believe the snake was much nearer than it was in reality. The researchers say the trait evolved to help snakes avoid being trampled on. The sibilant sound of the rattlesnake's tail has long been a movie cliché. The tell tale rattle is made by the rapid shaking together of hard rings of keratin at the tip of the reptiles' tails. Keratin is same protein that makes up our fingernails and hair. -
Something we have discussed in here a few times.
Elon Musk says we need universal basic income because 'in the future, physical work will be a choice'
Tesla CEO Elon Musk is stepping behind the universal basic income movement because of the potential rise of robots — in fact, he's working on one himself.
During a Thursday presentation on artificial intelligence (AI) hosted by Tesla, Musk said he is working on creating a "Tesla Bot," or a robot that would do "dangerous, repetitive, and boring tasks" so humans don't have to. But Musk recognized that the creation of this robot might take the place of jobs that people are currently getting paid for, which is why he said a guaranteed income will likely be necessary in the future.
"Essentially, in the future, physical work will be a choice," Musk said during the presentation. "This is why I think long term there will need to be a universal basic income," he added.
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@jaredbusch said in Non-IT News Thread:
Something we have discussed in here a few times.
Elon Musk says we need universal basic income because 'in the future, physical work will be a choice'
Tesla CEO Elon Musk is stepping behind the universal basic income movement because of the potential rise of robots — in fact, he's working on one himself.
During a Thursday presentation on artificial intelligence (AI) hosted by Tesla, Musk said he is working on creating a "Tesla Bot," or a robot that would do "dangerous, repetitive, and boring tasks" so humans don't have to. But Musk recognized that the creation of this robot might take the place of jobs that people are currently getting paid for, which is why he said a guaranteed income will likely be necessary in the future.
"Essentially, in the future, physical work will be a choice," Musk said during the presentation. "This is why I think long term there will need to be a universal basic income," he added.
Us all in the future
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Afghanistan: The desperate scramble to escape
"Get back, get back," screamed the British soldier at a crowd gathered in front of the secure compound where those being evacuated by the UK embassy are taken before flying out.
In front of him, many frantically waved their British passports in the air, hoping to be allowed through but a group of Afghan security guards wielding rubber hoses tried to push them back. Many in the crowd had not received any indication they would be evacuated, but had pitched up in any case, desperate for a route out of Afghanistan. Others, however, had received emails from the embassy telling them arrive here, and wait to be processed for a flight. -
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Pfizer becomes first Covid vaccine to gain full FDA approval
Pfizer's two-dose Covid-19 vaccine has received full approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) - the first jab to be licensed in the nation.
The vaccine had initially been given emergency use authorisation. Its two jabs, three weeks apart, are now fully approved for those aged 16 and older. The approval is expected to set off more vaccine mandates by employers and organisations across the country. It comes amid lingering vaccine hesitancy among many Americans. In a statement, the FDA said its review for approval included data from approximately 44,000 people. The vaccine, which will now be marketed as Comirnaty, was found to be 91% effective in preventing Covid disease. Acting FDA commissioner Janet Woodcock said that the public "can be very confident" the vaccine meets high safety, effectiveness and manufacturing quality standards. -
Airbnb offers free accommodation for 20,000 Afghan refugees
Online accommodation platform Airbnb has said it will house 20,000 Afghan refugees at no charge to help them resettle across the world.
The company's boss said the move was in response to "one of the biggest humanitarian crises of our time". He said the firm felt a responsibility to step up. Chief executive Brian Chesky added: "I hope this inspires other business leaders to do the same. There's no time to waste." "As tens of thousands of Afghan refugees resettle around the world, where they stay will be the first chapter in their new lives. For these 20,000 refugees, my hope is that the Airbnb community will provide them with not only a safe place to rest and start over, but also a warm welcome home." he said. -
South Korea becomes first major Asian economy to raise interest rates
South Korea has become the first major Asian economy to raise interest rates since the coronavirus pandemic began.
The Bank of Korea increased its base rate of interest from a record low of 0.5% to 0.75%. The move is aimed at helping curb the country's household debt and home prices, which soared in recent months. Central banks around the world are trying to balance the impact of ongoing Covid-19 infections against economic risks such as high inflation. It is the first time the Bank of Korea has raised its main interest rate for almost three years. The decision comes as the central bank attempts to balance helping to support the country's economic recovery against the risks of surging debt and rising inflation. Policy makers for Asia's fourth largest economy had been signalling that they were ready to increase the cost of borrowing since May. -
Covid: Vaccine complications dwarfed by virus risks
A major review of vaccines suggests the AstraZeneca jab does raise the risk of blood clots and another serious condition that can cause bleeding.
But the study found the risk of such problems following a coronavirus infection was still much higher. The University of Oxford-led team also found an increased risk of stroke after the Pfizer jab - but again at a much lower rate than after infection. The team said it once again showed the "substantial" benefit of vaccination. It comes after a coroner ruled on Thursday that BBC Radio Newcastle presenter Lisa Shaw died because of complications from the AstraZeneca jab. The 44-year-old died in May after developing headaches a week after getting her first dose. She suffered blood clots in the brain.
