Mastodawn

https://theconversation.com/ai-laws-overlook-environmental-damage-heres-what-needs-to-change-279047; https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17579961.2025.2593781#d1e163 (full text). "AI is an energy-intensive & thirsty industry. It leads to huge #greenhouse #gas #emissions, #pollution & loss of #nature... The manufacture of components relies on the extraction of #rareearth elements. This can contaminate #soil & #water, pollute the #air & lead to loss of nature & #forest #habitats. Training AI models is incredibly #energy- & #water- intensive."

AI laws overlook environmental damage – here’s what needs to change

By integrating sustainability into AI laws, the planet can be somewhat safeguarded alongside AI’s rapid expansion.

The Conversation

💧🌏 Greg Cocks 1d ago

Beavers Must Be Backed, As Stirling [University] Study Shows Biodiversity Boost Animals Bring To Wetlands [UK/Finland] - Beavers Can Have A Major Impact In The Fight Against Biodiversity Loss.
(Research has shown that beaver-created wetlands had 19% more species than other types of wetland)
--
https://www.stir.ac.uk/news/2026/march-2026-news/beavers-must-be-backed-as-stirling-study-shows-biodiversity-boost-animals-bring-to-wetlands/ <-- shared technical article
--
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-026-02303-4 <-- shared paper
--
#beavers #benefits #natural #biodiversity #species #wetlands #habitats #Evo #Finland #Europe #ecology #ecosystems #environment #water #hydrology #waterresources #hydrography #planning #management #reintroduction #waterflow #restoration #dams #waterbodies #impoundment
#SterlingUniversity

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Nonilex 1d ago

…ALL members of the committee are #Trump appointees, including #Interior Secretary #DougBurgum & #EPA Administrator #LeeZeldin.
 The God Squad last met in 1992 to consider whether Oregon timber sales threatened the northern spotted owl, where exemptions were granted only after lengthy hearings. [this single meeting lasted all of 15 minutes]

#law #EnvironmentalLaw #science #conservation #habitats #ecosystems #wildlife #MarineLife #FossilFuels #ClimateChange #climate #ClimateCrisis #PublicHealth

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Nonilex 1d ago

…The center said the decision will also hurt the populations of #SeaTurtles, #WhoopingCranes & other #endangered #wildlife. The advocacy group challenged the Tuesday meeting in court, but a judge ruled last week that the meeting could go forward.
 Environmental advocates blasted the committee’s unanimous approval of the exemption.

#Trump #law #EnvironmentalLaw #science #conservation #habitats #ecosystems #whales #MarineLife #FossilFuels #ClimateChange #climate #ClimateCrisis #PublicHealth

Nonilex 1d ago

‼️🚨‼️🚨‼️

#FDT

#US panel votes to exempt #GulfOfMexico #drilling from #EndangeredSpeciesAct
 The committee — nicknamed the “God Squad” for its ability to decide the fate of #species — voted to exempt #oil & #gas firms from federal #wildlife protections, citing the #IranWar.

#Trump #law #EnvironmentalLaw #science #conservation #habitats #ecosystems #MarineLife #FossilFuels #ClimateChange #climate #ClimateCrisis #PublicHealth
https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2026/03/31/trump-god-squad-rices-whales-endangered-species/

U.S. panel votes to exempt Gulf of Mexico drilling from Endangered Species Act

In its first meeting in three decades, the Endangered Species Committee voted to revoke protections for the endangered Rice’s whales and sea turtles.

The Washington Post

Mark 5d ago

#Beavers breathe new life into Dorset as dams built, #biodiversity returns

Providing end-of-year report, the #NationalTrust project, said it's thrilled beavers were reshaping their home in #Dorset; they felled #trees to construct a 35m #dam, slowing flow of a stream & creating a deep, #wildlife-rich pool

#Coppicing trees allowed more light in & improved #habitats for #plants, #insects, #amphibians, #birds, #bats; may stop flooding on nearby road

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/mar/27/beavers-dorset-dams-biodiversity-national-trust

#nature #wildlife

Beavers ‘breathe new life’ into Dorset as dams built and biodiversity returns

National Trust says one year after reintroduction they are enriching habitats and may be having kits this summer

The Guardian

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Spaceflight 🚀Mar 25

Researchers at the #Ohio State #University proposed using a specialized laser-based #3Dprinting method to turn lunar regolith into hardened building material. This technology could also lead to resilient #habitats that will enable a long-term human presence on the #Moon, #Mars, and beyond 🪐 https://spectrum.ieee.org/lunar-base-3d-printing

#ISRU #MoonBase #Artemis #NASA

Laser 3D Printing Could Build Lunar Base Structures

Researchers at The Ohio State University propose laser 3D printing for durable lunar structures made of moon rocks.

IEEE Spectrum

Spaceflight 🚀Mar 25

RE: https://mastodon.social/@arstechnica/116285702941728946

The lunar 🌙 base would be established through three phases, each of these three phases would cost on the order of $10 billion. The first of these, running through 📆 2028, is estimated to comprise 21 landings, putting a total of 4 metric tons of payload on the #Moon. Phase two, running from 2029 to 2032, is projected to entail 27 landings with a total mass of 60 metric tons. The final phase, from 2032 to 2036, will establish #habitats for long-term human 🧑‍🚀 presence

#NASA #MoonBase

Stefan F. Wirth Mar 16

RE: https://scicomm.xyz/@dantheclamman/116196703399022292

How do #animals #aggregate?#Mites can find each other based on #pheromones, while #sight is important for herd-forming #mammals. In #marine #habitats, #hearing plays a major role. D.McAfee et al.(2022) showed that #oyster #larvae react to the #soundscape of a healthy #reef via #statocysts in front of their bodies, thus finding their adult conspecifics for #reefformation. Reef formation can be artificially #stimulated via artificial #soundwaves.
©#StefanFWirth 2026
Ref
https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.14307

Stefan F. Wirth Feb 26

The #mandrake #Mandragora #officinarum (#Solanaceae) is native to the #Mediterranean region,evtl. except for the Levant, where it might be M. #autumnalis. It prefers open and drier #habitats. Its #roots can vaguely resemble #humanfigures, which is why it had #spiritual significance in the Middle Ages. G. Benítez et al.(2023) studied its history as a #medicinalplant.
©#StefanFWirth

Please support me with a coffee:
https://ko-fi.com/sfwirth

Ref
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2022.115874