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Welcome to the week.
Let’s start it off right with some updates on the world’s biggest issues, and as always, some Action steps.
Here we go.
This week:
🪸Deep sea mining debates
😷mpox in Africa
🌊Desalination in Spain
🔬AI scientists
And more
Have a great week,
— Willow
This is science for people who give a shit.
Every week, we help {{active_subscriber_count}}+ humans understand and unfuck the rapidly changing world around us. It feels great, and we’d love for you to join us.
🙋♀️ Vote!
How are you most likely to take action on causes or issues you care about?
Last week, we asked: How likely are you to support a candidate who prioritizes climate action?
You said:
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Very likely (64%)
“Climate action is the most urgent and far reaching issue. It cannot be ignored.”
🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Somewhat likely (11%)
“I want a workable approach to legislation and enforcement. No pie in the sky OR blatant denial…. No infighting and power empire building…. Workable paths that are doable and hold us all accountable for both successes and failures. Responsible. ”
⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Somewhat unlikely (7%)
“Looking for candidates willing to enforce current laws, a science education/background, and live in the area of operations.”
🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Very unlikely (17%)
“We have more important things to worry about.”
New Shit Giver Drew is here “because I enjoy learning. I am always looking to gain more knowledge and life experience. I also enjoy being exposed to different perspectives, being objective in every aspect of life, I feel, can only help me grow as an individual. Through personal growth, never ending learning, and humility, I hope to one day be in a position to pass on what I’ve learned to someone else. Maybe the knowledge I hope to gain, and use will allow me to leave my mark on the world. I still don’t know what I have to offer the world just yet so it’s an ongoing adventure.“
So glad you’re here!
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⚡️ Climate change:
Workers in 13 cities are organizing to fight for better heat protections
Climate disasters put further strain on the affordable housing crisis
🌎 Global banks aren’t holding up their end of the bargain to cut CO2 emissions (or even planning adequate cuts)
🌎 The debate around deep-sea mining continues as the International Seabed Authority weighs the economic benefits with environmental concerns
IRA’s plans to create more high-quality, clean energy jobs seem to be working, for now, especially in conservative states
🦠 Health & Bio:
🌍 Public health organizations like WHO and Africa CDC have declared mpox a public (and global) health emergency
The company whose FDA application for MDMA-assisted PTSD treatment was recently rejection has also retracted 3 papers on MDMA-assisted therapy
🌍 While dengue continues to break records, check out this research roundup and primer to get a thorough understanding on the current state of things
Extreme heat may cause mail-order medications to lose potency while en route
Biden’s cancer moonshot program is handing out $150 million in research awards to find new methods of precision cancer surgery
💦 Food & Water:
🌎 A new study has found that over half the world’s population — 4.4 billion people — don’t have access to safe household drinking water
🌍 Climate change is probably coming for your favorite wine
🌏 Spain in increasingly relying on desalination to meet its water needs
Many green hydrogen projects in the US are planned to be built in the Southwest, and critics are concerned this may put more stress on water shortages
🌎 South African countries impacted by extreme drought will need to rely on imports of at least 3 million additional tons of corn
👩💻 Beep Boop:
A new AI Scientist can automate the entire research process from brainstorming to peer-reviewing and everything in between
An Iranian hacker group targeted both presidential campaigns
🌎 The global race for AI dominance is leading to a fragmented internet as nations take different approaches to harnessing AI’s benefits and regulating its risks
Meta has shutdown CrowdTangle, a social media research tool used to better understand the spread of information on Facebook and Instagram
Surveillance along the US-Mexico border is the new normal
🌎 = Global news
Why state and local elections matter 👇
Last week’s most popular Action Step was joining your local YIMBY chapter to advocate for affordable housing and sustainable communities.
Donate to the National Education Equity Lab to advance economic and social mobility opportunities for highly talented students in underserved communities.
🌏 Volunteer with the Measles and Rubella Partnership to help prevent childhood disease.
🌍 Get educated about the health and wellbeing of Indigenous peoples worldwide by reading (or submitting) research for and by Indigenous researchers in The Lowitja Journal.
Be heard about keeping water systems intact and lead-free and ask your representative to support the WATER Act.
Invest in sustainable businesses and build your green portfolio with Earthfolio.
🌎 = Global Action Step
Together With Bookshop
Want to read what the people working on the frontlines of the future are reading?
Every week, I ask our podcast guest, "What’s a book you’ve read this year that’s opened your mind to a topic you haven’t considered before, or that’s changed your thinking in some way?"
And every week, we add their picks to a list on Bookshop, where every purchase on the site financially supports independent bookstores.
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The best stovetop you can buy.
Get our recommendations and have all your questions about induction cooking (and how IRA can help you cover it) right here 👇
What are forever chemicals?
And why are they in…everything? Catch up on everything you need to know about forever chemicals (PFAS) and what you can do about them with our explainer here 👇
🤝 Thanks for reading. Here’s how we can help you directly:
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