Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse says that dark money funding from the fossil fuel industry and others “has polluted our politics.” Dark money and climate denial “are two sides of the same coin,” he says.
business & industry
Underground Robots: How Robotics Is Changing the Mining Industry
From exploring flooded sites to providing alerts, use of robotics aims to “increase the arsenal of tools that can help miners work more safely and efficiently.”
Putting the Cloud to Work for Seismology
The cloud infrastructure developed in the business community has made access to cluster computing possible for even the smallest research groups, enabling new kinds of research workflows in geophysics.
Sand from Greenland’s Melting Ice Sheet Could Bring in Business
The effects of climate change could fuel a new sand mining industry in Greenland.
Congressional Task Force Outlines Its Approach to Climate Change
The Green New Deal created space to talk about market-based innovation, investment, and business and defense approaches, says a cochair of the New Democrat Coalition’s Climate Change Task Force.
Scientists, Explorers Keen to Locate Water-Bearing Asteroids
Hydrated minerals on near-Earth asteroids offer both scientific revelations and economic incentives for companies looking to refuel satellites with material from nearby space.
First Privately Developed Lander En Route to the Moon
The lander, built by an Israeli company, will survive on the surface for just a few days. It will capture magnetic field data and conduct an experiment with a lunar orbiter.
White House Science Adviser Outlines Vision
In his first major address, the director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy emphasized the roles of the private sector and the federal government.
“Eco-friendly” Flame Retardant May Have Eco-poor Breakdown
These flame retardants replaced earlier chemicals known to degrade into environmentally harmful by-products. The newer compounds may do the same thing.
Mayor Signs Landmark Clean Energy Law for D.C.
The new law, which gained widespread support, including in the environmental and business communities, requires that all electricity sold in the city come from renewable energy sources by 2032.