How we chanced upon what may be the world's largest white hydrogen deposit

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How we chanced upon what may be the world's largest white hydrogen deposit     Every now and again, in science one happens to chance upon something one wasn’t looking for. Occasionally, that discovery is of greater value than the one was originally after. Call it serendipity. That’s what happened to us when we probed the subsoil in Lorraine, Southeastern France, and hit a potential deposit of naturally occurring, or white hydrogen. In the sub-soil of this region, still badly hit by deindustrialisation, could be hidden nothing less than the world’s biggest known supply of the gas to date.This was largely possible thanks to the development of the SysMoG probe, in collaboration with company Solexperts, a tool which allowed us to analyse the gas dissolved in water in rock formations up to 1200 metres in depth while respecting the environment: a world first. Continued here

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London is a major reason for the UK's inequality problem. Unfortunately, City leaders don't want to talk about it     In recent years, there has been growing evidence that the UK economy is in poor shape. While the latest economic figures suggest it performed better as the COVID pandemic receded than was previously reported, the performance of sectors such as manufacturing, construction and agriculture has been revised downwards, leading some experts to warn of a greater risk of a recession to come.Alongside these economic challenges, the UK faces many societal issues – including rising levels of inequality, with the country’s Gini coefficient projected to reach a record high of 40.8% in 2027-28. In 2022, the richest fifth of the UK population had an income more than 12 times that of the poorest fifth. Continued here

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Fyre Festival II: a psychologist on why some people fall for fraudsters over and over again     This might help explain why the founder of the disastrous 2017 Fyre Festival (a fraudulent luxury music festival), William “Billy” McFarland, has confidently announced plans for a Fyre Festival II. The main organiser, McFarland, was charged with several fraud offences, sentenced to six years in prison and ordered to forfeit US$26 million (£20 million). Continued here

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Is AI coming for our kids? Why the latest wave of pop-cultural tech anxiety should come as no surprise     As artificial intelligence becomes mainstream, its infiltration into children’s lives is causing tremendous anxiety. The global panic around AI’s co-option of children’s play and cultures has manifested unpredictably.Earlier this year, a Swiss comedian created a film trailer for an imagined remake of the beloved children’s story Heidi using the AI tool Gen-2. Continued here

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Why is truth-telling so important? Our research shows meaningful reconciliation cannot occur without it     This article mentions ongoing colonial violence towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and contains references that feature antiquated language.Truth-telling is a key demand in the Uluru Statement and is seen as a vital step for both the Voice to Parliament and a Treaty. However, there has been ongoing debate as to whether historical injustices against First Nations peoples need to be addressed today. Continued here

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Halifax's new development projects must not repeat the wrongs done to racialized communities     The African Nova Scotian community has long struggled with displacement and erasure when it comes to urban planning. In Halifax, racism has influenced planning and civic governance decisions. The demolition of Africville in the 1960s and subsequent expropriation without compensation are well-documented examples of injustices. The Halifax Regional Municipality issued a formal apology in 2015, yet racism persists. In the years since, there has been little substantial action to emplace African Nova Scotian residents in Downtown Halifax. Continued here

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Sustainable tourism needs to be built with the help of locals     Catedrático de Universidad, área de Organización de Empresas, Dirección Estratégica, Turismo (empresas y destinos) - Jubilado, Universidad de Huelva In the wake of the pandemic, tourism is experiencing a period of transition in which two trends which were already prevalent pre Covid-19 have gained momentum: Continued here

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Politics with Michelle Grattan: RedBridge's Kosmos Samaras on what the public are saying about the Voice     Over recent months, support for the Voice has fallen from a clear majority to a minority. With polling day set for October 14, the “yes” and “no” camps are battling it out to capture those still undecided.“It’s looking pretty grim for the ‘yes’ campaign,” Samaras says, with the drivers behind the public’s hesitation to the Voice “complex and diverse across the country”. Continued here

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How one student forced the government to admit the economic risks of climate change     Arjuna Dibley is a Fellow at the Centre for Policy Development, a Board Member of Environmental Justice Australia and a Board Member of Carbon Plan. Last month, a significant victory for climate change was won behind closed doors. In 2020, Katta O’Donnell, then a 23-year-old university student in Melbourne, launched a world-leading class action lawsuit against the Commonwealth government. Continued here

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3,200 deaths a year: 1 of many reasons air pollution in Australia demands urgent national action     Australia is holding its collective breath ahead of a bushfire season that may bring a return of the smoke linked to 400 deaths and 4,500 hospitalisations and emergency department visits during the 2019–20 Black Summer fires.Air pollution is the world’s single greatest environmental cause of preventable disease and premature death. In Australia, it’s linked to more than 3,200 deaths a year at an estimated cost of A$6.2 billion. Continued here

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Life and Death in America’s Hottest City     The record-setting heat wave in Phoenix this summer, thirty-one consecutive days of temperatures exceeding a hundred and ten degrees, finally broke on Monday, July 31st. But, by the following Friday, August 4th, the thermometer was creeping up toward a hundred and fifteen degrees. Residents liked to joke that anything below the "teens" was comfortable. Jessica Lindstrom, who was thirty-four, was no longer a resident. She and her husband, Daniel, had bought a house in Central Point, Oregon, in 2015. But she had grown up in greater Phoenix and, that week, had brought her expanding family to Arizona to stay with her parents. The next day, they were going to celebrate the baptism of their second-oldest son, in the chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.Lindstrom was relieved to have her parents' help. She might not have wanted to admit it—she could be a perfectionist, and her family called her a supermom—but she was exhausted. In Oregon, not only was she raising four young sons (her oldest was just ten) but she was also a nurse, working night shifts at a hospital, in an in-patient rehab. In between, she ran the children's religious-education program at her local church. Her husband worked full time as a pharmacist. So, that Friday morning, happy to be home, back in the desert, she decided to take some time for herself. At 8:30 A.M., while her parents watched the kids, she headed to the nearby Deem Hills Recreation Area—a small mountain, scratched over by hiking trails. Continued here

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Life insurers can charge more or decline cover based on your genetic test results. New laws must change this     Genetic tests can provide life-saving information. They can help diagnose disease, enable access to preventive care, prompt early screening and treatment, and guide patients’ therapeutic options. In Australia, life insurance companies can legally use the results of genetic tests to discriminate. They can decline to provide life insurance coverage, increase the cost of premiums, or place exclusions on an individual’s cover. This is known as “genetic discrimination”. Continued here

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South Korean president's anti-communist taunts are opening up deep divisions as country ponders alliance with Japan and US     Recent heated debate in South Korea about how its colonial-era independence movement should be remembered has exposed the deep faultlines that run through the country’s politics, between the conservative and liberal-progressive camps. At the end of August, the Korean Military Academy announced its intention to relocate the statue of independence activist General Hong Beom-do from its front lawn, along with that of four other independence activists. In addition, South Korea’s defence minister, Lee Jong-sup, openly considered renaming a navy submarine that had also been named after General Hong. Continued here

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Washington’s Age-Old Problem     In January, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell passed a career milestone: he became the Senate's longest-serving party leader. Since then, McConnell has suffered a number of health setbacks. This includes a fall and subsequent concussion in March and, most recently, a medical episode at a press conference in which he abruptly froze while taking questions, standing silent and motionless for more than thirty seconds. At age eighty-one, McConnell is hardly the only politician showing his years: the two leading Presidential candidates, Joe Biden and Donald Trump, are the two oldest Presidents in history. Susan B. Glasser, a staff writer and a co-host of the Political Scene's Washington Roundtable, recently wrote a piece for The New Yorker about what she calls "America's fragile gerontocracy." She joins Tyler Foggatt to discuss how baby boomers continue to dominate our political system, and what this could mean for the 2024 Presidential election.By signing up, you agree to our User Agreement and Privacy Policy & Cookie Statement. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Continued here

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A new biography of Donald Horne examines a life of indefatigable energy and intellectual curiosity     In May 2004, little over a year before he died, Donald Horne took to the stage at the Sydney Writer’s Festival for an event to mark the launch of the fourth edition of Griffith Review: Making Perfect Bodies. Donald had written an essay called “Mind, body, age” that vigorously burst from the page with life, while addressing death. He was 82.With a voice frayed by age and the breathlessness that would eventually claim his life, Donald talked about the medical emergencies that had shadowed him since the “complications” accompanying his birth on Boxing Day 1921. He was frail but determined, outshining the other panellists, enjoying the adulation that came from the packed audience, proving the National Trust right in appointing him, a few years earlier, as a Living National Treasure. Continued here

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Proud Boy to Be in Prison Until He Is Elderly Boy     WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report)—After receiving a twenty-two-year sentence, a former Proud Boy acknowledged that he will be in prison until he is an Elderly Boy.“Yes, I will eventually be an Elderly Boy,” Enrique Tarrio told reporters. “However, let’s be clear: while we Proud Boys are considering changing the name of our group, ‘Elderly Boys’ is not one of the options in the mix.” Continued here

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Nudge theory: what 15 years of research tells us about its promises and politics     It’s been 15 years since a particular concept of behavioural science went mainstream. “Nudge theory”, the notion that our behaviour can be successfully influenced through “soft” interventions, has subsequently appealed to plenty of people seeking to change the way we live. The 2008 book which set out the idea – Nudge: Improving Decisions about Health, Wealth and Happiness – sold more than 2 million copies. But its influence went way beyond sales figures. Continued here

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Air traffic control chaos: how human error can lead a tiny glitch to spiral out of control     Several thousand passengers were stranded at airports, hotels and connection depots following the recent system-wide glitch of the UK air traffic control systems. Some passengers were told of flight cancellations in advance, so they could make alternative travel plans. Unfortunately, following some 2,000 flight cancellations over 48 hours, most passengers were either sleeping on airport floors or sitting on planes which were unable to take off. So what was the glitch and how did it create so much chaos? Continued here

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I 'self-experimented' to compare a vegan diet with eating meat - this is what I found out     Three years ago I was briefly dating a primary school teacher who happened to be a part-time animal rights activist. The experience made me make a decision I’ve been living with ever since. Veganism.Last year I concluded that as a scientist I finally needed to study what effect this decision was having on me and decide whether I should stick to veganism for life or give it up. Continued here

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A slacker's guide to climate-friendly gardening     A pristine garden can come with an environmental cost. The chemicals we use to kill weeds and bugs rely on fossil fuels, and can disrupt local wildlife. But gardening doesn’t have to be a guilt-inducing chore. In fact, it can be a liberating act of eco-conscious laziness. Continued here

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Knee pain: here's why it happens and how you can fix it     Director, Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds Knee pain is a common problem. Global estimates suggest more than one in five people over the age of 40 have a form of chronic knee pain. This is something that can have a big impact on people’s lives, affecting not only how active they are, but also their emotional wellbeing. Continued here

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On hot days, up to 87% of heat gain in our homes is through windows. On cold days, it's 40% of heat loss. Here's how we can fix that     Climate change and energy costs mean we need to rethink how we design and build our homes. The updated National Construction Code has lifted the required energy performance of new housing from 6 stars to 7 stars (10 stars being the best). Windows are an obvious focus for improving the energy efficiency of Australian homes. On hot days, most of the heat that gets into our homes is through the windows. On cold days, windows account for almost half the heat loss. High-performance insulating windows have been installed in Australian homes at a fraction of the rates for New Zealand, the United States and the United Kingdom. Continued here

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China is switching away from its aggressive 'wolf warrior' foreign policy - here's why     As India prepares to host the G20 summit on September 9, there’s one person not readying his plane for the gathering of world leaders. China’s president Xi Jinping, who has attended every meeting of this summit since 2013, is not going.Xi is busy dealing with significant economic problems at home, while also rejigging his foreign policy approach away from the aggressive “wolf warrior” diplomacy, a strategy he has pursued since 2017. He is now trying to position China as more of a global peacemaker and is testing out new ways of creating alliances with the west and in Asia. Continued here

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See the Lineup for the 2023 New Yorker Festival     For the twenty-fourth year, the pages of The New Yorker will come to life for three days in New York City. The 2023 New Yorker Festival, hosted by the magazine’s writers and editors, will take place October 6th through 8th, featuring onstage interviews, musical performances, live cartooning, and panels on topics ranging from artificial intelligence to the craft of investigative journalism. Guests will include authors, artists, filmmakers, actors, comedians, and musicians, all sharing the distinction of being at the forefront of their fields. Subscribers to The New Yorker now have exclusive access to the twenty-four-hour ticket presale. Tickets become available to the general public on Thursday, September 7th, at 10 A.M. E.T.In addition to presale access, subscribers get twenty per cent off most tickets during both the presale and the general sale. (Not a subscriber? Become one today.) Continued here

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China's concerning new strategy on human rights: unite the world behind a 'selective' approach     For more than three decades, China has struggled to contain criticism of its human rights record. It faced a storm of outrage over the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989 and condemnation of its mass incarceration of Muslim Uyghurs in recent years. Each time, the Chinese government has had to deal with the diplomatic fallout of its own repression. To deflect this criticism, Chinese diplomats and propagandists have promulgated a series of different claims. Continued here

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Farmers are famously self-reliant. Why not use farm dams as mini-hydro plants?     Farmers often pride themselves on their self-reliance. When you live far from the cities, it makes sense to do as much as possible yourself. Australia’s sheer size has meant many remote farms have long been off grid as it’s often simply too expensive to get a power connection. But for those still on the grid, there are now new options. As solar gets cheaper, more and more farms are aiming to become self-reliant in power. But until now, getting fully off the grid has had a sticking point – solar intermittency. Solar power might be cheaper than ever, but if you don’t have storage or backup, you’re still reliant on the grid when the sun doesn’t shine. Continued here

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It can be tough getting a GP appointment. Nurse practitioners could take some of the load     Australians are living longer than ever. But these extra years of life come with higher rates of long-term and complex conditions and greater health care needs. The government wants to improve Australians’ access to primary care services. These services would usually be delivered by a GP. But as part of this change, a new review is exploring how other health professionals could expand their current scope of work to meet growing needs. Continued here

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Why “Alone” Is the Best Reality Show Ever Made     The best reality-television shows answer hypothetical questions. What happens when ten strangers live in a house together? What if the wealthiest, most glamorous housewives of Beverly Hills (and other metropolitan areas) aren't actually happy? How long does it take for eight young partyers on the Jersey Shore to start grinding on each other?For the seemingly limitless number of survival shows—"Naked and Afraid," "Outlast," "Race to Survive," and "Alone"—the question is relatively straightforward: How do people act when all the comforts of modern life are stripped away? All of these shows are variations on "Survivor," the longest-running reality show, which will soon begin its forty-fifth season, but they have metastasized into something more intense. "Survivor" has always presented itself as a psychological game, and the wilderness part is mostly a vehicle for interpersonal drama. The new breed of survival programming takes the nature part much more seriously, and combines the last-man-standing structure of "Survivor" with the wilderness bravado of Bear Grylls's shows. Continued here

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Your iPhone will soon be able to track your mental health with iOS 17, but what are the implications for your well-being?     When Apple’s latest software updates drop this month, users will have access to mental health and wellness features unlike anything currently available in a smartphone. With the Apple Watch and iOS health app, Apple has long striven to cement itself in the health-care tech space. But the new features go beyond the standard heart rate, sleep, calorie and fitness trackers that have become universal in smart tech. A new mood tracker (dubbed “State of Mind”) will ask users to rate how they feel both in random moments (from unpleasant to pleasant) and daily. Mental health questionnaires will provide users with a preliminary screening for depression (using the PHQ-9 screening tool) and anxiety (using the GAD-7 screening tool) that can alert them to their risk levels and connect them to licensed professionals in their area. Continued here

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How recycling could solve the shortage of minerals essential to clean energy     What do silver, silicon and gallium have in common? These expensive raw materials are essential components of our various solar energy technologies. What about neodymium, praseodymium and dysprosium? These rare earth metals are used to build the powerful magnets in wind turbines. Keeping our planet liveable requires accelerated clean energy transitions by governments — global carbon emissions must halve by 2030 and achieve net-zero by 2050. Continued here