The Planet (on, and off)

Rising temperatures are threatening the future of Napa Valley’s prized cabernet sauvignon, forcing winemakers to adapt to increasingly severe heat waves. Some vineyards are experimenting with heat-tolerant grape varieties to blend with cabernet, while others are investing in cooling technologies. The shift poses significant risks for Napa’s multibillion-dollar wine industry. Read more…

Volvo now says it will push back its deadline to sell only electric vehicles by 2030, citing the need for stronger government support. The new plans call for 90 to 100% of global sales to be electrified, including EVs and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), the other up to 10% will be Read more…

“Earth.com has an interesting article about the temporary “disappearance” of Saturn’s rings in about six months,” writes longtime Slashdot reader YVRGeek. From the report: Come March 2025, Saturn’s majestic rings will become virtually invisible to earth-based observers. This phenomenon occurs due to the unique tilt of Saturn’s axis, which will Read more…

Children under the age of two should not be exposed to any screens whatsoever and teenagers should have no more than three hours of screen time a day, according to guidelines announced by health authorities in Sweden. Parents and guardians should think about how they use screens with their children Read more…

Night trains are experiencing a resurgence across Europe as travelers seek more environmentally friendly alternatives to flying. European Sleeper, a Dutch cooperative, recently launched a new overnight route from Brussels to Prague, extending its existing service to Berlin. The 13-hour journey traverses Germany in refurbished 1970s-era carriages, accommodating up to Read more…

1.9 million solar panels began operating this year in California — at a Mortenson facility with 120,000 installed batteries that give it a storage capacity of 3,280 megawatts. An article in El Pais notes that this helped California pass 10,000 megawatts of photovoltaic storage in April — enough to meet Read more…

Contrary to what you may have heard about U.S. sales of electric vehicles — sales are up. JD Power is projecting that 1.2 million EVs will be sold in the US by the end of 2024, an increase over 1 million sold last year. That’s 9 percent of total vehicles Read more…