Energy & Environment

Decades of cloud seeding didn’t cause Dubai’s historic flooding, as UAE officials clarified that their weather modification planes weren’t involved in the storm system. With infrastructure and climate change playing significant roles, the city’s lack of preparation for heavy rainfall led to chaos. Despite ongoing cloud seeding experiments, the real issue lies in the city’s inadequacies in handling such precipitation, highlighting the need for improved urban planning to mitigate future flooding instances in Dubai.

Global temperatures continue to soar, breaking records and placing Earth in uncharted territory. With the hottest March on record and temperatures persistently exceeding 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, the situation is dire. Some attribute this to the El Niño weather pattern, but the unprecedented rise in temperatures suggests a fundamental shift in the climate system. To combat this, drastic reductions in greenhouse gas emissions are crucial, especially from the main contributors highlighted in the Carbon Majors Database.

Tesla’s decision to abandon the Model 2 in favor of self-driving robotaxis, as reported by Reuters, signals a major shift in strategy for the embattled automaker. With challenges mounting and fierce competition from China looming large, Elon Musk’s focus on autonomous technology raises eyebrows. While critics question the move’s timing and feasibility, Tesla’s financial woes and the evolving EV landscape make this a high-stakes gamble. Investors and industry watchers are left wondering: is Musk steering Tesla towards success or setting it up for a bumpy ride?

Two rare regional “Broods” of cicadas, Brood XIX and Brood XIII, are about to emerge in parts of the United States, with experts predicting a trillion of these screeching insects to descend upon the unsuspecting populace, a phenomenon not seen in centuries. The upcoming “Emergence” of these cicadas, each with a wingspan of two to three inches, is expected to be a massive spectacle, with one expert comparing the sheer numbers to a “cicada train” that could reach the Moon and back 33 times.

The Carbon Majors Database blames 57 entities for the majority of global emissions, highlighting oil companies like ExxonMobil and state-owned corporations such as Saudi Aramco as top offenders. Founded by Richard Heede, the database aims to hold polluters accountable and shift focus from consumers to corporations driving climate change. With 88% of emissions attributed to these entities, the push for corporate responsibility is crucial in combating climate crisis.

York, England, renowned for its Ancient Roman ruins and Viking Age artifacts, has recently surprised archaeologists with a new type of buried treasure – microplastics! British researchers discovered microplastics in historic sediment excavated in the 1980s, shedding light on the pervasive plastic pollution even in supposedly pristine archaeological sites. This discovery prompts a reevaluation of the impact of plastic contamination on the integrity and significance of archaeological deposits, raising new challenges for future excavations.

Scientists successfully revived a dead coral reef by using steel frames to support transplanted coral growth, demonstrating the potential for restoring damaged reefs. This innovative approach, detailed in a study published in Current Biology, offers hope for coral reefs threatened by climate change and human activities. The project, conducted in Indonesia, highlights the feasibility of reef restoration efforts in combating the widespread decline of coral ecosystems.