AI statement : Consent is NOT granted to use the content of this blog for the purposes of AI training or similar activity. Consent CANNOT be assumed, it has to be granted.
AI Footprint
With all the hype around AI, not many people are talking about how this is impacting on the environment, power consumption and water usage (for cooling)
AI statement : Consent is NOT granted to use the content of this blog for the purposes of AI training or similar activity. Consent CANNOT be assumed, it has to be granted.
Ecology jobs and research opportunities.
If you're interested in jobs within Ecology and Environment it may be worth following @jobsecoevo on the fediverse. As opportunities seem to get posted on a regular basis.
Note: That these seem to be generally PostDoc opportunities, but fedi is also about making connections too.
AI statement : Consent is NOT granted to use the content of this blog for the purposes of AI training or similar activity. Consent CANNOT be assumed, it has to be granted.
Citizen scientists join fight to clean up rivers
This looks like something everyone can really get involved in, monitoring the water quality in rivers and other water. There is more details in a recent BBC Article
I will look in to this and see how to get involved, as it may also be something the Paignton Library STEM Group could get involved with.
Will post updates to my Fediverse for further discussion.
AI statement : Consent is NOT granted to use the content of this blog for the purposes of AI training or similar activity. Consent CANNOT be assumed, it has to be granted.
300th Birthday: Axel Fredrik Cronstedt & Biodegradable Plastic
Just sharing these posts posted by Chemistry Views on Mastodon.
Axel Fredrik Cronstedt is credited with the discovery of the Metallic Element Nickel, and is also considered the considered a founder of modern mineralogy.
In other news “Biodegradable High-Density Plastics: Polyethylene-like material can be composted industrially and hydrolyzed by enzymes”
AI statement : Consent is NOT granted to use the content of this blog for the purposes of AI training or similar activity. Consent CANNOT be assumed, it has to be granted.
Lithium Mining
This graphic was posted to Mastodon, I am sharing here as it demonstrates a really good point.
While the pipeline is probably going to be oil or gas, the so called green alternatives seems to have a huge environmental impact.
Before lockdown in 2020 I was planning a STEM activity around this topic, or more specifically the effect of Lithium mining on local groundwater, and how this takes groundwater away from farmers etc.
So compared to Oil / Gas, using lithium to power cars does not release gasses such as $CO2$, $NO2$ and $CO$ so the batteries are cleaner, but are they cleaner if you look at the whole lifecycle of the battery from getting the raw materials ?
AI statement : Consent is NOT granted to use the content of this blog for the purposes of AI training or similar activity. Consent CANNOT be assumed, it has to be granted.
Novel food solutions for a more sustainable future – CNA
Interesting article from Channel News Asia (CNA) on sustainable food production.
As climate change and disasters jeopardise food security, could the switch to alternative proteins be the solution to the region’s need for a sustainable food ecosystem? Money Mind reports.
Looks like some good innovation here. This was posted by GreenPeace [1] to Mastodon. The article [2] is worth reading so I am not going to try and paraphrase and sum up here as the message could end up getting lost that way. If you are not sure what Jackfruit are, I have also included a link to a BBC Food page on this [3].
I wasn't however aware that rice production was being affected by climate change. This really isn't good given how widespread rice is, for so many in Asia.
AI statement : Consent is NOT granted to use the content of this blog for the purposes of AI training or similar activity. Consent CANNOT be assumed, it has to be granted.
World’s largest solar powered green Hydrogen plant begins operation in China
Another post on Mastodon this one posted by SilverSpookGames. Sharing here as I doubt that the BBC et al will bother even giving this a mention.
Looks like a really good project, shows what CAN be achieved too.
AI statement : Consent is NOT granted to use the content of this blog for the purposes of AI training or similar activity. Consent CANNOT be assumed, it has to be granted.
Mauritius Oil
Back in October, there was a Major oil spill in Mauritius. Thanks to other news, this has largely been forgotton about.
This is the worst ecological disaster that the country has ever known.
Before the leak was stopped, around 1000 tonnes of oil leaked from the ship and severely contaminated the precious shoreline and lagoons.
A reminder that this happened, an article from, back in October, by Ecowatch is here
Really good article, if there is a follow up to show what the long term consequences of this were I will post it.
For anyone unsure of where Mauritius is, there is a map below from Open Street Map.
AI statement : Consent is NOT granted to use the content of this blog for the purposes of AI training or similar activity. Consent CANNOT be assumed, it has to be granted.
Hackers Against Climate Change
Another interesting climate group on the Fediverse.
“Hackers Against Climate Change” originated as a series of self-organized sessions at 35c3. Since then we have worked with other climate activist groups, supplying them with technical knowledge, as well as trying to raise awareness for the current climate crisis in the hacker community.
AI statement : Consent is NOT granted to use the content of this blog for the purposes of AI training or similar activity. Consent CANNOT be assumed, it has to be granted.