Telescope #80
“I don't think about how to be successful in a job; I think about what would prevent that work. Once I remove the obstacles, the work will work itself out.” Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
Editor's note: How could risk management be defined better than this?
SUSTAINABILITY
IPCC President Jim Skea said that if current policies continue, global warming may reach 3 degrees by the end of the century, and that the priority in combating climate change is to continue the maintenance in the energy sector. DETAIL
At least 72 people across the United States have died from weather-related causes after more than a week of frigid winter storms and brutally cold temperatures, according to reports from state officials, police departments, medical examiners and news outlets. DETAIL
After the secret meeting of the far-right party Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) in Germany, where plans to deport immigrants abroad were discussed, went to the press, more than 100 thousand people from different parts of the country protested against the AfD. Protesters marched with posters saying "Defend democracy", "Nazis out" and "Fight together against fascism". DETAIL
Most big banks in Europe are failing to adjust their business to the looming decarbonisation of the bloc's economy and thus face increased financial, reputational and legal risk, the European Central Bank (ECB) said on Tuesday. "Our analysis of 95 banks covering 75% of euro area loans shows that currently banks’ credit portfolios are substantially misaligned with the goals of the Paris Agreement, leading to elevated transition risks for roughly 90% of these banks," ECB board member Frank Elderson said in a blog post. DETAIL
Scientists have made history by successfully transferring a rhinoceros embryo for the first time, conservationists announced Wednesday, an achievement that could help save the embattled species from the growing threat of poachers. The development is a milestone that scientists say opens the way to saving the endangered northern white rhino. Only two females exist in the world, Najin and daughter Fatu, and both are unable to carry pregnancies. Najin and Fatu live at Kenya’s Ol Pejeta Conservancy, which was also home to Sudan, the last male northern white rhino, which died in 2018. DETAIL
The report — copublished by three nonprofits, Environment America, U.S. Public Interest Research Group Education Fund, and Frontier Group — draws on industry and government data to suggest that plastic bag bans can eliminate nearly 300 single-use plastic bags per person per year. DETAIL
The planet had its hottest year ever recorded last year due to human-caused climate change from the burning of fossil fuels like oil, gas and coal. According to a new report from nonprofit Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), YouTube is making millions annually from advertisements on channels that put forth inaccurate climate change information, reported Reuters. DETAIL
HEALTH
People with mild haemophilia, a condition that reduces blood clotting, seem to have a slightly longer life expectancy than those without it. This may be because they are less likely to have strokes and heart attacks, which can be caused by blood clots. DETAIL
A new study will make individuals who regularly use medication or have injections very happy. The newly developed wearable patch can help administer different medications painlessly through the skin via a smartphone. DETAIL
Toxic strands of RNA known to cause cells to self-destruct have been found in both Alzheimer's and aging brains, suggesting a new approach to treating neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia. DETAIL
DIGITAL / TECHNOLOGY / SCIENCE /AI
In a surprise Instagram Reel, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that the company is developing open source artificial general intelligence (AGI). It is bringing two of of its AI research teams – FAIR and GenAI – closer together with the goal of building full general intelligence and open sourcing it as much as possible. DETAIL
Data center operator Equinix and Nvidia said on Wednesday they had partnered up to offer the chip firm's supercomputing systems to corporate clients. The service will make it easier for companies to own artificial intelligence computing systems and have better control over their data, instead of renting out Nvidia's market-leading chips from cloud computing providers like Amazon.com or Microsoft. DETAIL
Europe's startups will get easier access to artificial intelligence-dedicated supercomputers to help them develop general purpose AI models as part of a new one-stop shop to boost take up of the technology, the European Commission said on Wednesday. DETAIL
Tiny tardigrades have three claims to fame: their charmingly pudgy appearance, delightful common names (water bear and moss piglet) and stunning resilience in the face of threats ranging from the vacuum of space to temperatures near absolute zero. Now scientists have identified a key mechanism contributing to tardigrades’ resilience—a molecular switch of sorts that triggers a hardy dormant state of being. The researchers hope that the new work, published on January 17 in the journal PLOS ONE, will encourage further exploration of the microscopic creatures’ ability to withstand extreme conditions. DETAIL
ENERGY / TRANSPORTATION
Archer Aviation, a developer of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, has signed a Space Act Agreement with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The collaboration will kick off with an initial project focused on studying high-performance battery cells and safety testing targeted for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) and space applications. DETAIL
Corvus Energy, a provider of zero-emissions energy solutions for maritime, offshore and port applications, secured an investment from Woven Capital, Toyota’s growth fund, to accelerate the development of its growing product portfolio in battery storage and hydrogen fuel cells, and to support expansion into new geographies. DETAIL
Nuclear power, whose proponents have so often felt pushed to the margins of climate policy, is now firmly at the center of the climate conversation. At last month’s United Nations climate summit (known as COP28), 22 countries pledged to triple 2020’s nuclear energy capacity by 2050. DETAIL
An intense drought has led to a 36% decline in traffic for the Panama Canal, one of the most important maritime trade routes in the world. Officials have denied ship crossings 36% as the canal has decreasing water levels from the drought, The Associated Press reported. DETAIL
CYBERSECURITY
France’s data privacy watchdog, the CNIL, has fined Amazon’s logistics subsidiary in France €32 million, or $35 million at today’s exchange rate. The CNIL says that Amazon France Logistique has implemented a “surveillance system” that is “overly intrusive.” DETAIL
Italy's government is set to propose tougher jail terms for cybercrime and stricter disclosure rules for public bodies that come under attack from hackers, according to a draft law seen by Reuters on Wednesday. DETAIL