A new book by Nobel prize-winning economist Angus Deaton”feels like an existential crisis,” writes Fast Company, “as he questions his own legacy — and wonders whether policies prescribed by economists over the years have unintentionally contributed to inequality” in America. Angus Deaton: People who have a four-year college degree are Read more…
This week Bloomberg explored so-called “zombie viruses” — that is, long-dormant microbes which they call “yet another risk that climate change poses to public health” as ground that’s been frozen for “milleniums” suddenly starts thawing — for example, in the Arctic, which they write is warming “faster than any other Read more…
“Australian design student Alexander Burton has developed a prototype kit for cheaply converting petrol or diesel cars to hybrid electric,” reports Dezeen magazine, “winning the country’s national James Dyson Award in the process.” Titled REVR (Rapid Electric Vehicle Retrofits), the kit is meant to provide a cheaper, easier alternative to Read more…
Scientists in China say their latest quantum computer has solved an ultra-complicated mathematical problem within a millionth of a second — more than 20 billion years quicker than the world’s fastest supercomputer could achieve the same task. The JiuZhang 3 prototype also smashed the record set by its predecessor in Read more…
U.S. President Joe Biden traveled to Philadelphia on Friday to announce the recipients of $7 billion in federal grants across 16 states for the development of seven regional hydrogen hubs, advancing a key part of a plan to decarbonize the U.S. economy. The announcement of the funding to boost manufacturing Read more…
Long-time Slashdot reader SonicSpike shared the Washington Post’s speculation about the possibility of a gigantic solar storm leaving millions without phone or internet access, and requiring months or years of rebuilding: The odds are low that in any given year a storm big enough to cause effects this widespread will Read more…
