Environment

Auto Added by WPeMatico

Connecting research to policy on Capitol Hill

This spring, 25 MIT students and postdocs traveled to Washington to meet with congressional staffers and advocate for sustained federal investment in scientific research. With recent cuts to National Science Foundation programs and continued uncertainty surrounding the federal research budget, these conversations were especially timely. Over the course of just two days, participants met with 62 […]

Connecting research to policy on Capitol Hill Read More »

Queensland and NT reject Labor’s push to ensure that power-hungry AI datacentres use renewable energy

Federal-state stoush comes as rating agency warns that electricity bills could skyrocketFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastQueensland and the Northern Territory have rejected the federal government’s plans to mandate that AI datacentres use renewable power, rubbishing Anthony Albanese’s proposals to regulate the

Queensland and NT reject Labor’s push to ensure that power-hungry AI datacentres use renewable energy Read More »

Mega datacentre planned for outer Melbourne will be almost six times the size of Chadstone shopping centre

More than 3,600 people sign petition for careful assessment of proposed AI hub, now a flashpoint for national debate on datacentre boomGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastFor some residents it started with a letter in the mailbox. It was a “friendly introduction from the team behind the Victorian AI hub”.“I

Mega datacentre planned for outer Melbourne will be almost six times the size of Chadstone shopping centre Read More »

Trump says nearly 200 firms have signed pledge to protect Americans from costs arising from datacenters

‘Ratepayer Protection Pledge’ president has touted is non-binding as people continue to struggle with rising billsDonald Trump has announced that some 200 entities have signed onto his non-binding “Ratepayer Protection Pledge,” expanding a voluntary commitment which claims to ensure US consumers will not bear the cost of the AI datacenter build-out.Trump delivered remarks on Thursday

Trump says nearly 200 firms have signed pledge to protect Americans from costs arising from datacenters Read More »

Not enough water for UK’s datacentre plans, trade body says

Industry says government’s failure to address cooling demands means AI growth plans are ‘fatally flawed’The UK will not have enough water for future datacentres, the water industry has said in stark criticism of the government’s AI growth plans.Datacentres rely on large amounts of water to manage the heat generated by densely packed servers. Cooling towers,

Not enough water for UK’s datacentre plans, trade body says Read More »

Al-altered images on birdwatching forums putting research at risk

Experts warn increase in enhanced photos on birding platforms creating fake sightings, threatening credibility of tool used by scientistsFor many birdwatchers, recording a species outside its normal range is the holy grail. In the UK, the discoveries often make national headlinesThe western reef heron, for example, usually found in Africa and southern Europe, spotted in

Al-altered images on birdwatching forums putting research at risk Read More »

Drivers charging electric cars handed shock parking fines

EV owners were sent hefty PCNs but say some signs in private car parks fail to warn of fees to park and recharge carDoes refuelling your car class as parking? The answer appears to be yes if it’s an electric vehicle. Guardian Money has been contacted by several readers who were fined after charging their

Drivers charging electric cars handed shock parking fines Read More »

Hello from the outside: heat domes impeding radio and other signals in US midwest

Higher temperatures can cause radio, TV and microwave signals to travel hundreds of miles farther, upsetting communicationsIt was 3am in north-east Indiana’s Huntington county when the outdoor emergency alarm went off on 1 July.The only issue? There wasn’t a storm, tornado or any other emergency weather event forecast or present anywhere for hundreds of miles.

Hello from the outside: heat domes impeding radio and other signals in US midwest Read More »

Datacentres drive emissions of Microsoft, Amazon and Google to half those of France

All three companies say they still aim to achieve net zero carbon output despite construction boomMicrosoft, Amazon and Google’s collective carbon emissions have increased by nearly a fifth in the past year, driven largely by datacentre construction.In the financial year ending March 2026, the three tech companies emitted 119m mTCO₂e (metric tonnes of carbon dioxide

Datacentres drive emissions of Microsoft, Amazon and Google to half those of France Read More »

‘A lot of red flags’: plans for New Zealand’s first datacentre spark concern as locals demand greater transparency

Plans to build a NZ$3.5bn datacentre in Makarewa in the country’s south has drawn concern about electricity and water use, and potential noise pollutionPeople living near the site of New Zealand’s first planned AI datacentre are calling for more transparency about the project, especially about how the centre’s huge electricity and water use and potential

‘A lot of red flags’: plans for New Zealand’s first datacentre spark concern as locals demand greater transparency Read More »