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science/climate

Technology News

Tim Cook's Apple Climate Legacy Faces New Test as AI Demands Surge Energy

As Tim Cook steps down from his role as Apple CEO, his environmental legacy stands out among tech moguls — a record built on setting ambitious goals to reduce pollution from both products and suppliers. Under his leadership, Apple managed to keep its carbon footprint from growing even as the company

Technology News

El Niño Intensity Reaches 1,000-Year High Amid Warming Climate

A new study has found that El Niño events are now stronger than at any point in the last 1,000 years, providing what researchers describe as another stark warning sign of climate change impacts. The study analyzed paleoclimate records, historical data, and modern observations to reconstruct a millennium-long record

Microsoft Memo Addresses AI's Growing Environmental Footprint

Microsoft has sent an internal memo to employees addressing the environmental challenges posed by the company's expanding data center infrastructure. The memo acknowledges that the surge in AI workloads is making it difficult to fulfill some of the company's previously stated environmental commitments, though executives are

Converting Hard-to-Recycle PVC Plastic into Engine Lubricants

Researchers have discovered a technique to convert PVC (polyvinyl chloride) plastic into a key ingredient used in high-performance lubricants, including engine oils. PVC is notoriously difficult to recycle, with large quantities ending up in landfills or incinerators. The new process transforms this problematic plastic waste into a valuable chemical feedstock

Australian Red Soil Could Yield Massive Clean Hydrogen Reserve

A research team has uncovered a natural hydrogen generation process occurring within Western Australia's iron-rich geological formations. The discovery centers on the Pilbara region, where ancient rock strata appear capable of producing hydrogen through natural chemical reactions involving iron compounds. The findings suggest these vast subsurface formations could

Google Researchers Report Significant AI Improvements in Hurricane Forecasting

Hurricane forecasting is entering a new era with the integration of artificial intelligence. Google researchers have published findings showing that AI models can significantly outperform traditional numerical weather prediction methods when it comes to tracking and predicting hurricane trajectories and intensity. The research highlights how machine learning approaches can process

The Growing Water Footprint of AI: Location and Technology Matter

Data centers powering AI systems require substantial cooling to function, and as the industry expands, so does its water footprint. A recent Ars Technica analysis examines how much of a problem AI's water use actually represents. The core issue is straightforward: servers generate heat, and removing that heat