Notices by Ada Palmer (adapalmer@wandering.shop)

Japan's greenhouse emissions fall to record low, down 23% from 2013 peak, marking the lowest level since record-keeping began in 1990. The decline was driven by reduced energy consumption and increased renewable energy, which now accounts for 22.9% of Japan's electricity. Japan hopes to cut emissions 46% from 2013 levels by 2030. Reuters https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/japans-greenhouse-gas-emissions-fall-4-fy2324-record-low-2025-04-25/?ref=fixthenews.com
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@bookstodon @ergative @HistoPol

It’s a TV quote (Firefly)

In my book I use it for a moment during a revolution in Milan when the Ghibellines suddenly betrayed the Guelphs, inevitable because it replayed an old factional pattern inescapable in the region over 300 years, but sudden b/c that specific political switch (suddenly supporting the attacking force) was sudden & caught everyone by surprise. Thus Milan’s republic fell suddenly but inevitably like so many neighbrs

A landmark ruling against a rancher who destroyed 175 penguin nests has catalysed unprecedented wildlife protections in Argentina. The nation’s first “environmental crime trial” has prompted the government to establish a specialised environmental prosecutor's office, and consider adding wildlife crimes to the national penal code. As well as expanding the protected area with the penguin nests from 500 to nearly 4,000 acres. National Geographic https://archive.md/4xa6I
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Almost all schools in England have banned mobile phone use by pupils, according to the first national survey conducted on this issue. The survey of more than 15,000 schools found that 99.8% of primary schools and 90% of secondary schools now have some form of ban in place. The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/education/2025/apr/10/majority-of-schools-in-england-ban-mobile-phone-use-survey-shows?ref=fixthenews.com
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@ergative @bookstodon That betrayal was so sudden yet so inevitable!

Finland almost coal-free four years ahead of schedule. Finland has virtually eliminated coal power, dropping to less than 1% of its energy mix. Wind energy has more than doubled since 2020, now supplying 25% of the country's electricity while reducing consumer prices. The transition has cut Finland's emissions by 5% and boosted energy independence by ending reliance on Russian imports. Euronews https://www.euronews.com/green/2025/04/01/finland-ahead-of-schedule-on-coal-phase-out-as-helsinkis-salmisaari-plant-closes?ref=fixthenews.com&utm_content=buffere8d75&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
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Paralyzed man stands again after pioneering stem cell spinal treatment. In a world-first trial, two of four paralyzed men regained significant mobility after receiving injections of neural stem cells. The most dramatic recovery enabled its recipient to stand independently: “that person is now training to walk.” Another man regained motion in his arms and legs. Larger trials are in the works, but researchers thus far report no serious side effects. Nature https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-00863-0?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
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EVs in Australia now able to power homes and their earn owners money. Regulatory changes now allow Australia's 300,000 electric vehicles to feed power back to the grid, potentially adding 13.5 GWh of storage. Bidirectional charging could generate up to $3,000 yearly for EV owners. "We’re counting on it to help solve a lot of our grid issues." AFR https://archive.md/Kih1N
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Researchers in Texas have developed a system that transforms common biomass—food scraps, branches, seashells—into water-harvesting materials. The system requires minimal energy while being scalable for off-grid communities, and produces 14.19 litres of water daily per kilogram of material, triple the output of conventional methods. Advanced Materials https://cockrell.utexas.edu/news/archive/10158-from-scraps-to-sips-everyday-biomass-produces-drinking-water-from-thin-air?ref=fixthenews.com
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Europe’s wild predators stage a stunning comeback. Since 2016, golden jackal numbers have surged by 46% to 150,000, wolves have increased by 35% to 23,000, brown bears by 17% to 20,500, and Eurasian lynx and wolverine populations expanded by 12% and 16% to 9,400 and 1,300 animals respectively. The best recovery? Iberian lynx numbers are up from 100 at the turn of the century to over 2,000 today. Guardian https://buff.ly/KBxDcd9
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So easy getting a measles booster!

Went in for my spring COVID booster & it was trivial asking for a Measles (MMR) jab too! Places like Walgreens & CVS keep it on hand, & the vaccine is cheaper to make than the test to see if you’re still resistant so Doc recommends just getting it, no down side!

Coming soon: the world's 'most colourful' map of the cosmos.
NASA's SPHEREx telescope, launching today, will create an unprecedented multi-coloured map of the entire sky by dividing light into 96 distinct spectral bands. Unlike Webb and Hubble, which examine tiny portions of space in high detail, this compact but powerful instrument will survey the full sky every six months, cataloging over 450 million galaxies and 100 million stars. The Conversation https://buff.ly/3EZCqRi
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Roman concrete's 2,000-year durability secret finally decoded
The exceptional strength comes from 'hot mixing' quicklime directly with volcanic ash at high temperatures. This creates distinctive lime clasts that grant remarkable self-healing properties - when cracks form, water reacts with these clasts to form calcium carbonate that naturally repairs damage. Science Alert https://buff.ly/3EQOcxi
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German farmers are transforming peatlands into carbon-capturing marshes. A series of new initiatives in Germany are not only 'rewetting' peatlands but also creating markets for the native grasses, reeds, and sedges they support. Following a successful pilot project on a ten hectare site, they've teamed up with German retailer Otto Group, to promote a form of marsh farming called “paludiculture.” Yale360 https://buff.ly/41oPUyK
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It’s from this edition of ZWAAN, a piece of what’s basically sixteenth-century borderline-pornographic fanfic featuring Sir Lancelot having sex with a swan, a much-reprinted pamphlet, transformed every time with infinite additions & fake authors. 2/?

BOOK BURNING!

Challenge: you will NEVER guess what book this woodcut illustration of a book burning is from, *or* why it's there! 1/?

(A little thread for the countdown to the release of Inventing the Renaissance)

Scientists have reconstructed the insane weather of Tylos, a world so hot, and so close to its sun that the clouds are made of vaporised metal, and where it rains liquid sapphires and rubies. Using the European Space Observatory's telescopes in Chile to look into the exoplanet's atmosphere, they've discovered the fastest atmospheric jet stream ever recorded, made of 'iron winds' that blow faster than the planet rotates. Science Alert https://buff.ly/41a3GnB
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United States achieves historic 95% clean energy milestone
America has reached an unprecedented clean energy tipping point, with carbon-free sources providing 95% of all new power capacity in 2024. The nation added 48.2GW of clean energy—enough to power 36 million homes—a 47% jump from the previous year. Traditionally fossil fuel-dependent states like Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana are now leading the solar surge. Distilled https://buff.ly/3EFJ3bh
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No more 40 hours: Spanish government reduces workweek
The Spanish government has taken the first legislative steps towards reducing the working week from 40 to 37.5 hours, without loss of pay. The reduction, agreed after more than a year of political wrangling, would affect around 12 million workers, and would make Spain one of the world's first major economies to implement such a policy. Euractive https://buff.ly/3EAIfUS
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Clothing recycling takes a giant leap forward in Sweden
A Swedish company has developed technology to produce a material from old textiles that can be used to manufacture brand new clothing - as compared to simple products such as upholstery fillings - and can help reduce the huge amounts of water and other resources used by the fashion industry, which also generates 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. RTBC https://buff.ly/3CKxHSB
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