PICKS are stories from many sources, selected by our editors or recommended by our readers because they are important, surprising, troubling, enlightening, inspiring, or amusing. They appear on our site and in our daily newsletter. Please send suggested articles, videos, podcasts, etc. to picks@whowhatwhy.org.
Majority of US States Eying Nuclear Power for Emission Cuts (Maria)
The author writes, “As climate change pushes states in the US to dramatically cut their use of fossil fuels, many are coming to the conclusion that solar, wind and other renewable power sources might not be enough to keep the lights on. Nuclear power is emerging as an answer to fill the gap as states transition away from coal, oil and natural gas to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and stave off the worst effects of a warming planet.”
Feds Furious They Were Not Told About Police Training Slide (Reader Steve)
The author writes, “Lawyers from the U.S. Department of Justice have told Portland’s police chief and city attorney to give them all ‘original, unredacted’ Portland police Rapid Response Team training materials, furious the city didn’t make them aware when it knew months ago of a right-wing police training slide that advocated for violence against protesters.”
Librarians Decry GOP Moves to Ban Books in Schools (DonkeyHotey)
The author writes, “Outraged at the parents and politicians who are trying to rid school libraries of books they denounce as inappropriate or even pornographic, a band of Texas school librarians is fighting back. Shortly after Texas state Rep. Matt Krause called for the state’s school libraries to review a list of 850 books for possible removal, four librarians formed ‘#FReadom Fighters’ to resist what they call ‘a war on books.’”
Will COVID-19 Become Less Dangerous as It Evolves? (Sean)
The author writes, “The pandemic has been awash with slogans, but in recent weeks, two have been repeated with increasing frequency: ‘Variants will evolve to be milder’ and ‘Covid will become endemic.’ Yet experts warn that neither of these things can be taken for granted. Those stating that viruses become less deadly over time often cite influenza. Both of the flu viruses responsible for the 1918 Spanish flu and 2009 swine flu pandemics eventually evolved to become less dangerous. However, the 1918 virus is thought to have become more deadly before it became milder. And other viruses, such as Ebola, have become more dangerous over time.”
How Black Communities Become ‘Sacrifice Zones’ for Industrial Air Pollution (Laura)
From Mountain State Spotlight: “One of the most dangerous chemical plants in America sits in one of West Virginia’s only majority-Black communities. For decades, residents of Institute have raised alarms about air pollution. They say concerns have ‘fallen on deaf ears.’”
Microbes in the Ocean Depths Can Make Oxygen Without Sun. This Discovery Could Be Huge (Mili)
The author writes, “For most of life on Earth, oxygen is essential, and sunlight is usually needed to produce that oxygen. But in an exciting twist, researchers have caught a common, ocean-dwelling microbe breaking all the rules. Scientists have found that a microbe called Nitrosopumilus maritimus and several of its cousins, called ammonia oxidizing archaea (AOA), are able to survive in dark, oxygen-depleted environments by producing oxygen on their own. They do so using a biological process that hasn’t been seen before.”
Sotheby’s Unveils 555.55-Carat Black Diamond Thought to Come From Outer Space (Dana)
The author writes, “Auction house Sotheby’s Dubai has unveiled a diamond that’s literally from out of this world. Sotheby’s calls the 555.55-carat black diamond — believed to have come from outer space — ‘The Enigma.’ The rare gem was shown off on Monday to journalists as part of a tour in Dubai and Los Angeles before it is due to be auctioned off in February in London.”
