Leben (Life aka misc) The Planet (on, and off)
California’s Trees Are Dying, and Might Not Be Coming Back
[N]ew research from the University of California, Irvine reports that trees in California’s mountain ranges and open spaces are dying from wildfires and other pressures — and fewer new trees are filling the void. “The forests are not keeping up with these large fires,” said study co-author James Randerson, the Read more…
Leben (Life aka misc) Technology The Planet (on, and off)
Working All Day in VR Does Not Increase Productivity, Comfort or Wellbeing, Study Says
A new study from Germany has found that working in virtual reality does not increase productivity, comfort, or wellbeing, but does say the report will help identify opportunities for improving the experience of working in VR in the future. The project was headed by Dr Jens Grubert, a specialist in Read more…
Leben (Life aka misc) The Planet (on, and off)
More Than 200 Congressional Staffers Urge Pelosi and Schumer To Act on Climate
In a rare move, more than 200 congressional staffers have sent a letter to Democratic leadership in the House and Senate, demanding they close the deal on a climate and clean energy package and warning that failure could doom younger generations. “We’ve crafted the legislation necessary to avert climate catastrophe. Read more…
Leben (Life aka misc)
Panasonic To Build $4 Billion Battery Plant In Kansas To Meet Tesla Demand
Panasonic will invest $4 billion in a second U.S. electric vehicle battery factory in Kansas, its subsidiary Panasonic Energy announced on Thursday, confirming an earlier Nikkei report. The factory is expected to hire as many as 4,000 employees and supply a new high-capacity battery for Tesla. The decision follows Tesla’s Read more…
Leben (Life aka misc)
Some Beijing Travelers Asked To Wear COVID Monitoring Bracelets
Some Beijing residents returning from domestic travel were asked by local authorities to wear COVID-19 monitoring bracelets, prompting widespread criticism on Chinese social media by users concerned about excessive government surveillance. Reuters reports: According to posts published on Wednesday evening and Thursday morning on microblogging platform Weibo, some Beijing residents Read more…
Leben (Life aka misc)
As Y Chromosomes Vanish With Age, Heart Risks May Grow
A new paper, published in the journal Science, found that when the Y chromosome was gone from blood cells in male mice genetically engineered to lose their Y chromosomes, scar tissue built up in the heart, leading to heart failure and a shortened life span. The New York Times reports: Read more…