Robotic probe quickly measures key properties of new materials

by
Carbon Neutral Regulation in AI Training
by
Scientists are striving to discover new semiconductor materials that could boost the efficiency of solar cells and other electronics. But the pace of innovation is bottlenecked by the speed at which researchers can manually measure important material properties. A fully autonomous robotic system developed by MIT researchers could speed things up. Their system utilizes a […]
President Donald Trump’s dismantling of climate policy means the US will add an extra 7bn tonnes of emissions to the atmosphere from now until 2030, compared to meeting its former climate pledge under the Paris Agreement. Since winning office last November, he has issued a series of executive orders and is poised to sign his […]
Welcome to Carbon Brief’s DeBriefed. An essential guide to the week’s key developments relating to climate change. This week Congress passes Trump’s ‘megabill’ TAX CREDITS CRUSHED: A major budget bill passed by US congress this week is “poised to remake American energy by slashing tax breaks for wind and solar power and electric cars”, reported the […]
by
Suggestions within a chapter on “Transforming Farming and Industry” include a call to carry out a review of the use of waste incinerators in the UK. The Healthy Air Coalition launched a blueprint for tackling air pollution in the UK on July, in which it provides the detail to support a call for the Government […]
by
Damage to the New Jersey coast caused by Hurricane Sandy in October 2012: Pre-existing models have tended to downplay the intensity of outlier events. The new model combines the benefits of physics-based models and machine learning models, to improve the accuracy of extreme-event prediction, say the researchers. A novel framework is said to offer accurate […]
by
Harmful air pollutants on UK pavements generated by diesel cars could be slashed by a third if car exhausts were positioned on the right, according to a new study. The research, led by the University of York, appears to reveal that passenger cars with exhaust pipes on the left side contribute to pollution concentrations at […]
The European Commission has set out a proposal to cut EU emissions 90% by 2040, with up to 3% coming via carbon credits purchased from other countries. In a proposed amendment to EU climate legislation, the commission has laid out what it calls a “new way to get to 2040”, including “flexibilities” to ease the […]
by
The study seems to show that ship passages can trigger clear pulses of high methane fluxes from the water to the atmosphere (image credit: Chalmers University of Technology | Amanda Nylund). Ship traffic in shallow areas, such as ports, can trigger large methane emissions by just moving through the water. The researchers in a study, […]
by
Some of the underwater coral nursery structures. A recent project leverages AI expertise to enhance coral monitoring and restoration strategies across a 100-hectare reefscape in the Red Sea. The groups behind the two-year programme say it will be using AI to fast-track reef restoration and conservation, at scale, for the first time. The AI solutions […]
by
The Flame 1750 H2 detector can pick up a 1m flame at a distance of up to 40m within 5 seconds, according to Dräger. While hydrogen has advantages that explain its ongoing use as a putative green replacement for many other fuels, it does present a quite distinct set of safety challenges. But it seems […]
by
A partnership between the City of Lisbon, recycling technology firm TOMRA and the Portuguese hospitality association AHRESP is aiming to cut litter and emissions with a “smart” deposit-return system. The system is said to be capable of removing thousands of littered cups from the city’s public spaces every night. The initiative amounts to Lisbon’s “making […]
by
Before you choose fixtures or wiring layouts, check out this modern guide to lighting a multi-purpose sports hall so every game, class and event shines. From basketball tournaments to evening yoga and academic exams, these spaces need adaptable lighting that works flawlessly. Good lighting design ensures athlete safety, spectator comfort, camera performance and operational efficiency […]
On May 29, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision in Seven County Infrastructure Coalition v. Eagle County (No. 23-975) in which it perhaps clarified, perhaps modified, or perhaps announced entirely new standards for judicial review of agency obligations under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Justice Kavanaugh delivered the majority opinion, holding […]
by
The explosive growth of AI-powered computing centers is creating an unprecedented surge in electricity demand that threatens to overwhelm power grids and derail climate goals. At the same time, artificial intelligence technologies could revolutionize energy systems, accelerating the transition to clean power. “We’re at a cusp of potentially gigantic change throughout the economy,” said William […]
We handpick and explain the most important stories at the intersection of climate, land, food and nature over the past fortnight. This is an online version of Carbon Brief’s fortnightly Cropped email newsletter. Subscribe for free here. Key developments Roadless rule ROADLESS RULE NO MORE: The US agriculture department announced last week that it plans to […]
by
Essex skipper (image credit:(c) Josh Kubale). A decade-long nature-friendly farming project has helped to increase the diversity and abundance of wildlife across farmland and prompted the return of rare species such as the butterfly orchid and red-listed birds such as the nightingale, according to the groups behind it. The Jordans Farm Partnership between The Wildlife […]
A forest area equivalent to the size of the Isle of Wight has not been planted because UK governments have failed to meet tree-planting goals since 2020, according to Carbon Brief analysis. The latest figures from Forest Research show that only 15,700 hectares of trees were planted across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland over […]
As the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACtHR) prepares to release its advisory opinion on climate change on July 3, 2025—joining earlier decisions from the International Tribunal for the Law of the Seas (ITLOS) and the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), and in anticipation of the International Court of Justice (ICJ)’s advisory opinion—The Role […]