Get out of my head
Cars and car infrastructure are very expensive. I see that as a growing problem, with resources (budgets) needing to be allocated to more important things.
If you keep "a few" cars, the policy transforms cars into highly desirable status signals due to being luxury products that have some large access privilege. This alone is a huge danger because people in this civilization are raised to be obsessed with chasing status and giving a small minority the huge advantage of cars and car system would probably lead to some type of mafia, political corruption, all kinds of bad shit. And it would maintain DESIRE for cars, and desire is key to creating demand.
The goal should be to eradicate the technology of cars entirely. That's going to allow for more efficient use of other systems, more efficient use of resources, less pollution, way less class conflict.
I'm not saying that it will eliminate class conflict, because we know that there's a history of "classes" in public transportation, even in buses. That's segregation by class (in the US that class system was also mirrored in "race"). That's a problem we should figure out separately.
Essentially, any time you support the production and use of a luxury, you're destabilizing society and creating dangerous racing conditions ("race to the bottom", "rat race", "arms race") which means that it's unsustainable socially and politically.
I am actually from Eastern Europe and in my country, during the "Socialist" regime, there still were cars and they were rare. It drove the people nuts, it was a huge privilege to drive on, to buy one, to fuel one. After 1989 getting cars became a free for all, if you had money, so now the place is almost literally paved with cars in the big cities and most of them are second-hand, with a large number of them being junkers that cause horrible pollution (yes, we are in the EU). I've seen it happen, this tragedy. Which is why I say that there can be no stable state of "just a few cars".
It doesn't even work industrially, these car factories and car parts factories rely on economies of scale and large production. The lower the production, the more expensive and manual it has to get. Remember, cars started out as a rich people's dangerous toys.
Similar dynamics apply to car infrastructure. That shit's expensive. Do you think you're going to have highways across the land for a fraction of the current car users?
SARS-CoV-2 first emerged in humans in 2019. Despite much noise generated by lab leak proponents, the evidence indicates a natural origin.
> CW: images from fur farms > > > ! > > >Put simply, if SARS-CoV-2 came about by frequent recombination through contact with common virus-carrying animals in the wild, we would expect it to display a mix of genome segments shared between it and several of their close cousins. However, if SARS-CoV-2 came about through manipulation in a lab, such as through gain-of-function research, we would expect a close match to one and only one “initial” strain, with the remainder of the genome failing to match any other wild strains. The discovery that SARS-CoV-2 does indeed have what biologists call a mosaic genome makes it abundantly clear that it could not have arisen through laboratory manipulation of an initial, single strain, through gain-of-function research or otherwise.
This is not up for debate here, science denial will lead to bans.
SARS-CoV-2 first emerged in humans in 2019. Despite much noise generated by lab leak proponents, the evidence indicates a natural origin.
CW: images from fur farms
>Put simply, if SARS-CoV-2 came about by frequent recombination through contact with common virus-carrying animals in the wild, we would expect it to display a mix of genome segments shared between it and several of their close cousins. However, if SARS-CoV-2 came about through manipulation in a lab, such as through gain-of-function research, we would expect a close match to one and only one “initial” strain, with the remainder of the genome failing to match any other wild strains. The discovery that SARS-CoV-2 does indeed have what biologists call a mosaic genome makes it abundantly clear that it could not have arisen through laboratory manipulation of an initial, single strain, through gain-of-function research or otherwise.
Fuck fireworks!
An abundance of research has linked red meat with an increased risk of cancer, but now scientists think they have discovered a key reason why.
> Over-consumption of iron-rich red meat and hereditary or genetic iron overload are associated with an increased risk of colorectal carcinogenesis, yet the mechanistic basis of how metal-mediated signaling leads to oncogenesis remains enigmatic. Using fresh colorectal cancer samples we identify Pirin, an iron sensor, that overcomes a rate-limiting step in oncogenesis, by reactivating the dormant human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) subunit of the telomerase holoenzyme in an iron-(Fe3+)-dependent manner and thereby drives colorectal cancers. Chemical genetic screens combined with isothermal dose-response fingerprinting and mass spectrometry identified a small molecule SP2509 that specifically inhibits Pirin-mediated hTERT reactivation in colorectal cancers by competing with iron-(Fe3+) binding. Our findings, first to document how metal ions reactivate telomerase, provide a molecular mechanism for the well-known association between red meat and increased incidence of colorectal cancers. Small molecules like SP2509 represent a novel modality to target telomerase that acts as a driver of 90% of human cancers and is yet to be targeted in clinic. > > Significance: We show how iron-(Fe3+) in collusion with genetic factors reactivates telomerase, providing a molecular mechanism for the association between iron overload and increased incidence of colorectal cancers. Although no enzymatic inhibitors of telomerase have entered the clinic, we identify SP2509, a small molecule that targets telomerase reactivation and function in colorectal cancers.
Interesting. Time to get the plant-based heme iron out. :)
"Plant Chompers" had a nice documentary on iron: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOK3NS2bD3M
This reminds me of those solar cars. https://wonderfulengineering.com/family-solar-car-stella-runs-completely-on-solar-energy/
What's the "Remind Me" bot here? +2.7 ℃ looks doable by 2050.
Trump’s win shows that misinformation is here to stay.
> ## The Bottom Line > > Despite widespread consensus on the reality of climate change, misinformation about both the causes and solutions for climate change took hold during the 2024 presidential election. As this type of misinformation continues to impact public discourse, the need for greater media literacy becomes crucial, particularly to counteract the influence of political leaders and foreign-backed campaigns on voter behavior.
The last time Trump was in power, the liberal #Resistance was a joke. This time, we have to mount a real one.
It's even worse. The places that sell carbon offsets are often poorer parts of the world. The selling is essentially a privatization of carbon sinks. As is tradition, these privatizations are very under-priced. Worse still, as they're selling carbon sinks, they will not have those carbon sinks for themselves in the future if they choose to "develop" and emit more GHGs... they'll have to buy carbon credits from some other fools and the prices are not likely to be lower.
It's all very silly.
it's safe
but is there time?
Conservatives all are about exceptionalism
Wasn't she a huge disappointment when she unilaterally suspended/deferred congestion pricing supposedly after divine interventionmeeting an angel some random person in a restaurant? What a piece of shit.
Technically, instead of bananas it could be feed crops.
The article is paywalled, so good luck with it. Isn't "Lemon de" on the conservative carbrain side?
And, yes, speed limits need to be enforced somehow for all motorized vehicles within their contexts. Sidewalks are not for riding fast and bike paths aren't for riding fast either. Speed limiters are most definitely needed, as is a lot of education. Civilization is 100% not ready for "sharable" scooters either.
Wait till you hear about grazing.
They're probably doing that rich hunter shit where they have someone release the birds and they shoot them soon after they get into the air.
The great filter is here. Time to see if this global civilization and shrink its ego enough to fit through it.
>People who are prejudiced against one social group also tend to be prejudiced against other social groups, that is, they show generalized prejudice. Many scholars have noted parallels between the devaluation and exploitation of certain human groups (e.g., racism, sexism, and other forms of prejudice) and the treatment of non-human animals (often referred to as speciesism), suggesting that generalized prejudice may even extend across species lines. I tested this hypothesis using panel data with large and demographically diverse participant samples and different operationalizations of the devaluation of humans and animals. Study 1 (56,759 participants from 46 European countries) revealed a positive association between human-directed prejudice and human supremacy beliefs and this association was still observed when controlling for various socio-demographic factors (e.g., gender, educational attainment, religiosity, political orientation). Study 2 (1,566 Dutch participants) revealed positive associations between human-directed prejudice and a host of attitudes, beliefs, emotional responses, and behaviors related to meat consumption. For the majority of tests, this positive association was still observed when controlling for socio-demographic factors. Thus, both studies suggest that people who devalue human groups also tend to devalue the welfare and interests of animals. The current findings support recent theorizing on the common psychological roots of human-directed and animal-directed prejudice and attest to the generality of generalized prejudice.
Article about this paper: https://faunalytics.org/devaluation-of-animals-is-linked-to-devaluation-of-humans/
Unraveling a $130 million web of climate denial, political extremism, and Trump campaign ties.
>For decades, oil and gas magnate Charles G. Koch and his late brother David fought vigorously for environmental deregulation, including by supporting groups that sow doubt about the science of manmade climate change. Foundations linked to Koch gave at least $9.6 billion to 15 Project 2025 groups since 2020. But four of the lesser-known families — Bradley, Scaife, Seid, and Uihlein — gave even more, and all six family fortunes helped to fund Project 2025 groups that have denied the science of manmade climate change.
Almost 20% of the Kayapó Indigenous Territory has burned in this year’s Amazon drought, the worst ever recorded in Brazil.
The $212 Billion Dollar Food ingredient poisoning your Brain? RE: What I've Learned
>Seed oils like canola give you "Oil Brain" and we would be dumb without fish according to What I've Learned. Let's see if the claims add up.
The "how I failed to learn" YouTube channel is at it again.
Characterizing the Areal Extent of PFAS Contamination in Fish Species Downgradient of AFFF Source Zones
>Most monitoring programs next to large per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) sources focus on drinking water contamination near source zones. However, less is understood about how these sources affect downgradient hydrological systems and food webs. Here, we report paired PFAS measurements in water, sediment, and aquatic biota along a hydrological gradient away from source zones contaminated by the use of legacy aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) manufactured using electrochemical fluorination. Clustering analysis indicates that the PFAS composition characteristic of AFFF is detectable in water and fishes >8 km from the source. Concentrations of 38 targeted PFAS and extractable organofluorine (EOF) decreased in fishes downgradient of the AFFF-contaminated source zones. However, PFAS concentrations remained above consumption limits at all locations within the affected watershed. Perfluoroalkyl sulfonamide precursors accounted for approximately half of targeted PFAS in fish tissues, which explain >90% of EOF across all sampling locations. Suspect screening analyses revealed the presence of a polyfluoroketone pharmaceutical in fish species, and a fluorinated agrochemical in water that likely does not accumulate in biological tissues, suggesting the presence of diffuse sources such as septic system and agrochemical inputs throughout the watershed in addition to AFFF contamination. Based on these results, monitoring programs that consider all hydrologically connected regions within watersheds affected by large PFAS sources would help ensure public health protection.
Mazda's New "Pay-Per-Honk" Plan Leaves Drivers Speechless
cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/20824402
> Automaker's latest subscription model takes nickel-and-diming to new heights
Weeds are currently present in a wide range of ecosystems worldwide. Although the beginning of their evolution is largely unknown, researchers assumed that they developed in tandem with cultivation since the appearance of agricultural habitats some 12,000 years ago. These rapidly-evolving plants inv...
>Weeds are currently present in a wide range of ecosystems worldwide. Although the beginning of their evolution is largely unknown, researchers assumed that they developed in tandem with cultivation since the appearance of agricultural habitats some 12,000 years ago. These rapidly-evolving plants invaded the human disturbed areas and thrived in the new habitat. Here we present unprecedented new findings of the presence of “proto-weeds” and small-scale trial cultivation in Ohalo II, a 23,000-year-old hunter-gatherers' sedentary camp on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, Israel. We examined the plant remains retrieved from the site (ca. 150,000 specimens), placing particular emphasis on the search for evidence of plant cultivation by Ohalo II people and the presence of weed species. The archaeobotanically-rich plant assemblage demonstrates extensive human gathering of over 140 plant species and food preparation by grinding wild wheat and barley. Among these, we identified 13 well-known current weeds mixed with numerous seeds of wild emmer, barley, and oat. This collection provides the earliest evidence of a human-disturbed environment—at least 11 millennia before the onset of agriculture—that provided the conditions for the development of "proto-weeds", a prerequisite for weed evolution. Finally, we suggest that their presence indicates the earliest, small-scale attempt to cultivate wild cereals seen in the archaeological record.
Animal-welfare-labelled meat is not a stepping stone to animal-free diets: empirical evidence from a survey
>A survey is used to test a stepping stone model for meat reduction and farm animal suffering elimination. People’s preferences to eat conventional meat, animal-welfare-certified meat and plant-based meat substitutes are measured in hypothetical situations where everyone else eats certified meat or plant-based meat substitutes. These preferences reflect social norms about food. When everyone else follows a harmful social norm, such as eating conventional meat, violating this norm by following a different diet becomes costly due to social sanctions. Either the survey method has a low sensitivity to detect real stepping stones, or the survey evidence suggests that animal-welfare-labelled meat is not a stepping stone towards the reduction and elimination of animal-based meat. If people transition to eating welfare-labelled meat, they may become less likely to eliminate meat from their diet. Everyone eating welfare-labelled meat is an absorbing state, which prevents a further transition to animal-free meat substitutes. The survey shows very weak and mixed evidence that the introduction of an animal welfare label could be counterproductive for animal welfare. In the long run it could result in a locked-in equilibrium with a less harmful social norm, i.e. a suboptimal state of animal farming that still contains animal suffering.