Mmm…wonder if it works?
There’s been a lot of talk from certain sectors about colonizing Mars in the future and as awesome as that sounds, there are a lot of reasons that it probably won’t work out. Which is to say, sorry, we won’t be able to to just get a new planet because we’ve run this one through the ringer. Check out this article for a pretty comprehensive overview of why.
Europe was really, really hot this past week and the jury is in: The heatwave was made worse by man made climate factors. Yes. We did this to ourselves and it’s time to start working on fixing these things. The heatwave may have happened without our help but it was made far more likely with the damage of the climate crises.
It’s a scorcher out there and even though the heatwave has passed, the summer is not over. We all have to stay cool because we’re human and if we get too hot, we’ll die so here’s some tips and tricks to keep your temperature down.
Humans can survive in a lot of varied climates but our ability to survive the heat may be meeting its limits in some places. Not because it’s too hot but because it’s (just) too hot but the humidity. Turns out a wet heat really is worse than a dry heat.
Sparkling, glass skyscrapers are a really common feature on most city skylines these days but did you realize that they function like giant greenhouses that trap heat? Probably not because of air conditioning but in the time of climate crisis, we should rethink this common design choice.
Trees can’t talk to us which is a shame because they could probably tell us a lot about our changing world. After all, they’ve been around for a very, very long time. Somebody else thought about that too and thanks to technology, gave one tree a way to “talk” to us, no Lorax needed. A northern red oak has been outfitted with sensors and its observations are tweeted.
When we think of a future impacted by climate change it’s all catastrophes and dystopias. I know, it’s scary but science fiction has our back and can help us see a world where things are pretty rough but humanity is trying. Solarpunk is the balm for your climate weary souls. Check out this list of books that will help restore your faith in the future.
There are many ideas for things we can do on the ground to help lesson the damage of climate change, many of which are already in development or being used today. That being said, there’s still room for radical solutions like dumping sulfate particles into the stratosphere, called stratospheric aerosol injection, to protect us from the sun. Science fiction sounding? Yes but it’s a real suggestion.
Carbon sinks are a great way to help offset emissions. One of the biggest that the UK has areas that are just waiting to sink that carbon but they need a little TLC. Bringing back wet pet bogs can help reduce carbon but it’s really expensive.
There are a lot of questions about the viability of electric cars. Cost, travel restrictions, accessibility, etc. Hardly anyone talks about just driving them but it turns out that if you’re used to traditional cars, an electric one is a bit different. Check out this article that gives a break down for what it’s like to drive an electric car.
Not having to do laundry ever again is the future we all want. And bonus, less laundry is better for the environment. There are a couple of brands that offer clothes that can last without a tumble in the wash but are they really better and do they actually work? As it turns out, the answer is yes.
What we eat is a big factor in what’s happening with the climate. Farming and livestock are contributing to many negative aspects of the climate crisis. In order to get back on track, some changes need to be made. In the UK, these changes need to be drastic in order to be sustainable.
Summer is hot. It’s SO HOT. And only going to get hotter so it’s important to dress for the weather but what’s better for you, black or white clothes? Not sure? Check out this neat little article about the the matter. Turns out, the answer depends.
Everyone hopes that they will never be in an emergency situation but it’s better to prepared just in case. No matter what the emergency is, you need clean water to get through it. Here’s a handy website (with printouts!) that can help you figure out how to best purify water for drinking.
Electric cars are a step in the right direction! They’re cleaner and far better for the environment than the current standard of cars. Adopting them is an important step in cutting back on emissions, however, they are not a cure all. The real goal should be lower car use when we can.
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