One of the great joys of science is the thrill of new discoveries. And one of the “truths” that most of us grew up with was the idea that only humans (and and maybe the occasional closely-related primate) use tools. Over time, we have found numerous examples of animals using tools (not to mention cooperating…
Read More “Animals Using Tools is Literally Ancient History” »
There was a lot of incredulous self-denial around the possibility of Trump getting elected the first time around. So let’s not make the same mistake again. One free tool that may help us prepare is a new tool from the folks at Choose Democracy It’s like those old “choose your own adventure” books, only it’s…
Read More “An Interactive Journey in Defense of Democracy” »
Getting around in sprawling Los Angeles is painful whether you have a car or depend on public transportation, so LA is experimenting with a novel way to make life easier. They’re giving people money to use on public transit. Could that work where you live? What If Your City Gave You Money for Transit? https://nextcity.org/podcast/what-if-your-city-gave-you-money-for-transit
Are the students protesting the ongoing slaughter of civilians in Gaza being antisemitic? Robert Reich, the American professor, author, lawyer and political commentator who served in the administrations of four presidents, answers with a resounding No! Protesting against slaughter – as students in the US are doing – isn’t antisemitism https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/apr/23/israel-gaza-campus-protests Related Reading
Billions of cicadas will emerge soon in western and southern states in a rare twin explosion that will rewire our ecosystems for years to come, including increasing the population of many species. Thomas Jefferson was president the last time such a double event happened , and hundreds of years will pass before it happens again….
We’re eight years into experimenting with sharing e-scooters as a way to slash greenhouse emissions. Is it working? It’s complicated. 8 years into America’s e-scooter experiment, what have we learned? https://grist.org/transportation/8-years-into-americas-e-scooter-experiment-what-have-we-learned/
Humans are generating so much solid waste that, when improperly managed, it damages ecosystems, inflicts disease on people, and threatens economic prosperity. It especially victimizes women and children. Here are eight ways to overcome the crisis. Eight ways to overcome the waste pollution crisis https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/eight-ways-overcome-waste-pollution-crisis Related Reading
Cannabis and psilocybin, better known by their nicknames marijuana and magic mushrooms, have been used as medicines for thousands of years in many cultures – but not in the United States. Not until now, anyway. Now, reclassifying both from Schedule I drugs, which are highly restricted, to Schedule III, which are much less restrictive and…
Read More “Finally Some Progress for Sufferers of Chronic Pain” »
People in China can buy electric vehicles for less than $10,000, less than half the price Americans must pay for American-made EVs. If China’s EVs were to be sold here at that price, it would put more EVs on the road, help the environment, and make life easier on the American consumers. But it also…
Read More “Making Affordable Electric Vehicles Available in the US” »
