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naturalgasbad @lemmy.ca
Posts 257
Comments 665
english.elpais.com The planet’s vision is getting worse: 50% of the population will have myopia by 2050

Experts point out that the overuse of screens and decline in outdoor activity are some of the factors behind the rise of the condition which, if not corrected, increases the risk of blindness

The planet’s vision is getting worse: 50% of the population will have myopia by 2050
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www.lemonde.fr French elections: Far-right candidate to withdraw after Nazi cap picture emerges

Rassemblement National candidate Ludivine Daoudi is expected to withdraw from the second round of the parliamentary elections after a photo of her wearing a Nazi cap circulated on social media.

French elections: Far-right candidate to withdraw after Nazi cap picture emerges
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asia.nikkei.com China to see biggest millionaire exodus in 2024 as many head to U.S.

'Perfect storm' of tensions and uncertainty spurs record global wealth shift, report shows

China to see biggest millionaire exodus in 2024 as many head to U.S.
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apnews.com China calls on scientists of all nations to study lunar samples, but notes obstacle with the US

China’s space officials said Thursday they welcomed scientists from across the world to apply to study the lunar rock samples the Chang’e 6 probe brought back to Earth in a historic mission, but noted there were limits to that cooperation, specifically with the U.S.

China calls on scientists of all nations to study lunar samples, but notes obstacle with the US
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'You can't kill all of us': Kenya protesters vow to march again as authorities kill 22
  • This is where China's "debt trap diplomacy" might actually be beneficial for Kenya...

    China's loans serve to improve the top-line (economic growth), and China's loan concessions don't affect that. When Kenya puts Mombasa Port's 50-year operating and port fees up for collateral, that's a hit on the bottom line (Kenya's government revenues) but does not change the fact that the port still exists to drive economic growth. Moreover, often the short-term hit in port revenues is less than the interest that would've been paid on the loan, so these collateralized loans are often cashflow neutral or even cashflow positive to default on.

    The IMF and World Bank are more focused on padding the bottom line (tax revenues) by increasing taxes and decreasing subsidies. What an insane policy.

    If a country can't grow, how can you expect it to pay off it's loans? The entire principle of government loans in the 21st century is that GDP growth makes loans progressively less expensive. The IMF and World Bank exist only to keep developing countries poor.

  • How light can vaporize water without the need for heat | MIT

    news.mit.edu How light can vaporize water without the need for heat

    MIT researchers discovered that light can cause evaporation of water from a surface without the need for heat. This “photomolecular effect” could be important for understanding climate change and for improving some industrial processes.

    How light can vaporize water without the need for heat
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    BYD releases 5th-generation hybrid car technology with 2,100-km range
  • Well, the trade war is also a factor, but what I'm saying is that Chinese government policy is what's keeping EV manufacturers from selling abroad. The EV supply chain has gotten so robust and cost-efficient in China that the government has to bribe manufacturers to focus their efforts on the domestic market instead of just eating the cake of everyone else.

  • BYD releases 5th-generation hybrid car technology with 2,100-km range
  • The open secret is that China's EV subsidies are designed to keep sales within the country, because otherwise Chinese EV companies could make obscenely higher margins selling overseas.

    The BYD Seagull ($9700 in China) is being sold as the BYD Dolphin Mini in Mexico... For $21000.

    The BYD Seal U (€19400 in China) is being sold in Germany for €41990.

  • Taiwan's Lai needs to rethink nuclear shutdown plan
  • Lai is a short-sighted idiot that would rather be dependent on external seaborne LNG imports than maintain any degree of energy independence with nuclear.

    I don't think I need to say anything about how bad natural gas is.

  • asia.nikkei.com Taiwan's Lai needs to rethink nuclear shutdown plan

    Vibrant manufacturing-led economy cannot afford loss of reliable power source

    Taiwan's Lai needs to rethink nuclear shutdown plan
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    www.theguardian.com ‘The time is right’ for US to catch up on high-speed rail, says British Amtrak exec

    With half a dozen US rail projects in the works, Andy Byford thinks Americans will soon clamor for 200mph train lines

    ‘The time is right’ for US to catch up on high-speed rail, says British Amtrak exec
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    US Olympic and other teams will bring their own AC units to Paris, undercutting environmental plan
  • Heat is actually surprisingly easy to moderate with green spaces, water, shade, and wind.

    Unfortunately, roads, roofs, and buildings fuck that all up.

    Plant trees along every road. Line every building roof with greenery. Water that greenery, and centrally control how it's watered to create temperature/humidity differentials and thus wind throughout the entire city.

  • China's commercial 'artificial sun' achieves first discharge
  • Building, or built? Either way, maybe these companies will come out with a better design than Tokamak, but until then they're literally just research ventures because the vast majority of investment at actually scaling fusion is happening for Tokamak tractors.

  • www.euronews.com Three missing after heavy storms cause landslide in Switzerland

    Rainfall in the Swiss canton of Valais has caused severe flooding, isolating Zermatt and prompting evacuations as authorities raise alert levels.

    Three missing after heavy storms cause landslide in Switzerland
    0
    US Olympic and other teams will bring their own AC units to Paris, undercutting environmental plan
  • I don't think you understand thermodynamics.

    ACs are heat pumps that use temperature differentials to move heat from one side to another. There are inherent losses there (e.g., moving 1000kJ of heat out of a room might take 500kJ, for 200% efficiency). That excess 500kJ is dumped outside into the world along with the 1000kJvof heat, creating a local heat island effect. That's why ACs consume electricity, and that's where the energy goes.

    The radiator behind the freezer isn't mega hot because of advances in insulation that limit the amount of heat that needs to be moved and advances in efficiency when operating in specific temperature regimes. A modern fridge consumes 400kWh a year, which averages out to 1.1kWh/day, or 45W continuous draw. That's about the same as a laptop charger. But, well, obviously your house is much larger than your fridge. A fridge might average 400L in volume, but your house averages more like 600000L (1500x more).

    If you could move heat around without incurring losses, you could use that to construct a perpetual motion machine. Conservation of energy is a thing and entropy always increases.

  • montreal.ctvnews.ca Hydro-Quebec plans to charge higher rates for large homes that use 'excessive' amount of electricity

    Hydro-Quebec says it plans to charge higher rates for large homes that use 'excessive' amounts of electricity as part of an action plan to encourage Quebecers to use energy efficiently.

    Hydro-Quebec plans to charge higher rates for large homes that use 'excessive' amount of electricity
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    apnews.com US Olympic and other teams will bring their own AC units to Paris, undercutting environmental plan

    The U.S. Olympic team is one of a handful that will supply air conditioners for their athletes at the Paris Games in a move that undercuts organizers’ plans to cut carbon emissions.

    US Olympic and other teams will bring their own AC units to Paris, undercutting environmental plan
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    China spent $230 billion to build its electric car industry, CSIS says

    www.cnbc.com China has spent at least $230 billion to build its EV industry, new study finds

    China spent $230.8 billion over more than a decade to develop its electric car industry, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

    China has spent at least $230 billion to build its EV industry, new study finds
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