ENVIRONMENT

May 05 2026POLITICS

Power Shifts: Who Really Wins When Rules Change?

The debate about loosening California’s environmental review law, CEQA, is more than a cost‑cutting argument. A new push backed by well‑known business leaders, including a major tech figure’s political action committee, claims it will save money for the state. In truth, the savings would be felt by

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May 05 2026ENVIRONMENT

How War Destroys Nature—and Peace Could Help Fix It

Over a year ago, fighters in a long-running conflict put their weapons down in a dramatic gesture. The scene wasn’t newsworthy just because of the symbolic act—it was notable because the fighters were asking a bigger question: What happens to the land and nature after war ends? This isn’t just about

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May 04 2026ENVIRONMENT

When Earth Moves: How Swiss Pollution Spots Risk Contaminating Water

Switzerland keeps track of about 38, 000 spots where soil or ground water has been polluted. These can be old dumps, factory yards, shooting ranges, or places where accidents happened years ago. Most of us don’t notice them, but nature sometimes does. Heavy rain can turn quiet slopes into fast-movin

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May 03 2026ENVIRONMENT

Solar Power: Facts, Fears and the Real Cost of Clean Energy

The world has seen two kinds of science in recent years: life‑saving vaccines and myths that scare people away from clean energy. Solar panels are a clear example of the former, yet some communities still think they bring danger. Solar energy captures light from the sky instead of burning coal, so

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May 02 2026ENVIRONMENT

Data Centers: Big Power, Big Pollution

A recent study shows that data centers across the United States are not just busy with computers; they also generate a hefty environmental toll. The research, carried out by an economist at Carnegie Mellon, looked at almost 2, 800 data centers in operation in 2025. Using public information fro

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May 02 2026SCIENCE

Alaska’s Climate Shift: A Personal Farewell

For three decades, deadlines have been a constant companion, shaping the rhythm of my work. The pressure once felt like an ache, but repeated exposure turned it into a familiar habit. I have spent many years navigating the complex world of scientific communication, sharing findings with local newspa

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May 02 2026ENVIRONMENT

Earth Day Ideas From Vermont’s Young Writers

Vermont teachers and students joined forces to celebrate Earth Day by writing essays, poems, and short stories about the state’s natural beauty. The contest ran from February to mid‑April and welcomed fourth, fifth, and sixth graders from towns like Bennington, Burlington, and Windsor. More than

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May 02 2026POLITICS

Drone war widens in Ukraine as daytime strikes surge

Early last month, Ukrainian skies turned into a battleground not just at night but from morning through afternoon. Over 400 drones flooded the airspace in just seven and a half hours. Most never reached their targets. Nighttime strikes have long been Russia’s preferred playbook since the conflict be

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May 02 2026OPINION

Science in America: Who’s Really Calling the Shots?

Earlier this year, a group of top science advisors got the boot. All twenty-two members of the National Science Board—experts nominated for their lifetime achievements—were removed before their terms ended. These weren’t random picks; they were carefully chosen from universities, industries, and res

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May 01 2026POLITICS

Why the EPA budget fight matters beyond Washington

Lawmakers squared off this week over future funding for the nation’s main pollution watchdog, the EPA. Democrats argued the agency is abandoning its job to keep air and water clean, warning that half-funding requests would gut state programs that test wells, treat wastewater, and track cancer-causin

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