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Hidden Hydrogen: Does Earth Hold Vast Stores of a Renewable, Carbon-Free Fuel? (Maria)
The author writes, “The Malian discovery [of natural hydrogen from a dry well borehole] was vivid evidence for what a small group of scientists … had been saying for years: Contrary to conventional wisdom, large stores of natural hydrogen may exist all over the world, like oil and gas — but not in the same places. These researchers say water-rock reactions deep within the Earth continuously generate hydrogen, which percolates up through the crust and sometimes accumulates in underground traps. There might be enough natural hydrogen to meet burgeoning global demand for thousands of years, according to a US Geological Survey model that was presented in October 2022 at a meeting of the Geological Society of America.”
How to Stop China’s Spy Balloons (Sean)
From UnHerd: “Despite the events of the past week, the United States and its allies should not now divert military funds to build enormously costly national air defenses specifically designed to detect and shoot down a handful of aerostats as soon as they enter their national airspace. Such defenses are justified to defeat aerial attacks, not to see off a few balloons. Instead of guarding their territory, both the United States and its allies must deter intrusions by inducing fears of prompt and effective retaliation in Beijing — first and foremost by further restricting investments in China, as well as technology transfers.”
What Fox News Says When You’re Not Listening (Russ)
From The New York Times: “As an explosive new court filing in Dominion Voting Systems’ defamation lawsuit against Fox News demonstrates, in trying to explain why [Tucker] Carlson and many of his colleagues do what they do, we shouldn’t underestimate simple greed. The brief, a motion for summary judgment in a case stemming from Fox’s egregiously false claims of Dominion-abetted election fraud, offers a portrait of extravagant cynicism. It reveals how obsessed Carlson and other leading Fox News figures were with audience share, and their fear of being outflanked by even further-right outlets like Newsmax.”
Security Experts Warn of Foreign Cyber Threat to 2024 Voting (Reader Steve)
The author writes, “Top state election and cybersecurity officials on Thursday warned about threats posed by Russia and other foreign adversaries ahead of the 2024 elections, noting that America’s decentralized system of thousands of local voting jurisdictions creates a particular vulnerability. Russia and Iran have meddled in previous elections, including attempts to tap into internet-connected electronic voter databases. Distracted by war and protests, neither country appeared to disrupt last year’s midterm elections, but security officials said they expect U.S. foes to be more active as the next presidential election season draws near. The first primaries are less than a year away.”
Nearly 1,000 Contributors Protest New York Times’ Coverage of Trans People (DonkeyHotey)
The author writes, “Nearly 1,000 New York Times contributors, in addition to tens of thousands of subscribers and readers of the Times, signed an open letter on Wednesday to the paper’s standards editor condemning the publication’s coverage of transgender, non-binary and gender non-conforming people. A second letter organized by the nonprofit GLAAD (the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) on Wednesday spoke against what it called ‘irresponsible, biased coverage of transgender people’ in the Times.”
So-Called Doomsday Glacier Is ‘in Trouble,’ Scientists Say After Finding Surprising Formations Under Ice Shelf (Mili)
The author writes, “Antarctica’s ‘Doomsday Glacier’ — nicknamed because its collapse could drive catastrophic sea level rise — is melting rapidly in unexpected ways, according to new research. The Thwaites Glacier is roughly the size of Florida and is located in West Antarctica. Part of what holds it in place is an ice shelf that juts out onto the surface of the ocean. The shelf acts like a cork, holding the glacier back on the land and providing an important defense against sea level rise. But the crucial ice shelf is highly vulnerable as the ocean warms.”
Cockatoos and Macaws That Outlive Owners Given New Homes at Victor Harbor Wildlife Park (Dana)
From the ABC: “Orphaned blue and gold macaws Monty and Bee Bee are a couple of clowns that have outlived their owner. It isn’t unusual or even surprising given the birds can live into their 70s and 80s and sometimes beyond, which means most macaws kept as pets in Australia outlive their first, and perhaps even their second, owners. When Monty and Bee Bee’s owner was diagnosed with cancer, his family contacted the owners of Victor Harbor’s Urimbirra Wildlife Park in South Australia to ask if they could take care of his beloved birds. The team built a special enclosure for the pair, and soon later Callie, another female macaw, in need of a new place to live moved in.”
