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Global food systems are responsible for around one third of planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions each year. Agriculture is also, by far, the biggest driver of deforestation and biodiversity loss. Producing less meat, using less synthetic fertiliser, stopping food waste and integrating nature into farms are among the ways that scientists say can reduce environmental harms from producing food. However, some critics of these approaches note the possible trade-offs, […]
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Gas boilers now biggest source of air pollution in central London
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The study focused on an area surrounding the BT Tower. A new study has revealed a significant shift in the sources of nitrogen oxides (NOx) pollution in central London, with gas boilers used for heating now identified as the primary contributor. The research found that the combustion of natural gas in boilers accounted for 72 […]
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Incineration costs skyrocket for Scottish councils
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The cost of incinerating waste is rising for Scottish councils, and will cost each one over £1 million more per year, on average, by 2028, according to analysis from Friends of the Earth Scotland, UKWIN and Fidra. The groups have criticised what they say is the Scottish Government’s failure to take action to reduce incineration […]
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Sustainable Water Treatment at Home: How Softening Supports a Greener Lifestyle
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You want to live sustainably—reducing waste, conserving resources, and minimizing your environmental footprint. But have you considered how your home’s clean water quality affects your green goals? Hard water isn’t just an annoyance; it’s a hidden source of inefficiency, waste, and unnecessary environmental strain. The solution? Water softening. Indeed, processed clean water has far-reaching benefits […]
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MusicGPT Review: This AI Music Tool Will Blow Your Mind
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Have you ever wished you could create the perfect background track for your video but had no idea where to start? MusicGPT might be the perfect place! It’s a tool used to turn your ideas into full, original songs in minutes. Whether you’re a musician looking for inspiration, a content creator in need of a […]
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Amazon’s Alexa+: A New Era of AI-Powered Personal Assistants
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AI-powered personal assistants have become essential in our fast-paced lives, helping us manage tasks, control smart devices, and stay organized. Among them, Amazon Alexa has led the way, bringing voice control into millions of homes. Now, Amazon is taking things to the next level with the launch of Alexa+, a new and improved version powered […]
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The State of AI in 2025: Key Takeaways from Stanford’s Latest AI Index Report
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Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to redefine various sectors of society, from healthcare and education to business and daily life. As this technology evolves, understanding its current state and future trends becomes increasingly important. The Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI (HAI) has been tracking AI’s growth and challenges through its annual AI Index Report, offering a […]
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Unlocking the Strategic Potential of Payroll With AI
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Payroll is undergoing a transformation. Once seen as a purely administrative task, it’s now being recognised for what it truly is: a rich, untapped source of data that can influence business decisions across HR, Finance, and Operations. And yet, while other areas of the business, from customer service to fraud detection, have embraced AI at […]
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Evan Brown, Executive Director of EDGE at the Oklahoma Department of Commerce
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Evan Brown serves as the Executive Director of EDGE (Economic Development Growth and Expansion) at the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. With previous roles as Deputy Secretary of State and Deputy Director of Business Development and Legislative Director at the Department of Commerce, Evan brings a wealth of experience in public service and economic strategy. At […]
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Michigan Court of Appeals Considers Challenge to New Process for Siting Renewables
Over the last five years, several states, including New York (2020), California (2022), Illinois (2023), and Michigan (2023) have adopted comprehensive permitting reforms that curtail the power of local governments to block development of large-scale renewable energy projects. Amicus brief filed by the Sabin Center and Goodman Acker P.C. on behalf of landowners in Milan […]
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Can AI Pass Human Cognitive Tests? Exploring the Limits of Artificial Intelligence
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Artificial Intelligence (AI) has significantly advanced, from powering self-driving cars to assisting in medical diagnoses. However, one important question remains: Could AI ever pass a cognitive test designed for humans? While AI has achieved impressive results in areas such as language processing and problem-solving, it still struggles to replicate the complexity of human thought. AI […]
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Q&A: Nations agree carbon-pricing system to steer shipping towards net-zero
Nations have agreed to introduce a worldwide carbon-pricing system for international shipping to drive the sector towards net-zero emissions by 2050. A pivotal meeting at the UN’s International Maritime Organization (IMO) in London revolved around efforts to make ship owners pay for their emissions and transition to cleaner fuels. Negotiations were fractious, with Pacific island […]
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DeBriefed 11 April 2025: Trump tariff chaos; Climate penalties for shipping; Why is biodiversity loss overlooked?
Welcome to Carbon Brief’s DeBriefed. An essential guide to the week’s key developments relating to climate change. This week Trump tariff chaos 90-DAY PAUSE: Donald Trump has announced a 90-day pause for most countries hit by higher tariffs, but escalated his trade war with China, BBC News reported, as US foreign policies continued to send ripples […]
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Q&A: What does the new German coalition government mean for climate and energy?
Since the German election took place in February, which saw the centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) win the most seats, parties have been negotiating to form a new coalition government. Earlier this week, the CDU reached a deal with the centre-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) to govern Europe’s largest economy and biggest emitter. Led by […]
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UK’s first water-monitoring centre aims to act as early warning system for disease outbreaks
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Professor Barbara Kasprzyk-Hordern is a co-Director of CWBE (image credit: Lauri Lapworth, University of Bath) The University of Bath is launching what’s described as the UK’s first early-warning public health surveillance system based on detecting tiny traces of chemicals and biological markers found in water. The Centre of Excellence in Water-Based Early-Warning Systems for Health […]
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‘Record renewables generation underscores untapped potential of commercial solar’
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An installation by solar solutions firm Solivus (image credit: Solivus). Recent UK renewables statistics showcase significant progress but also highlight the crucial role that commercial rooftop solar installations must play in the country’s renewable energy transition, says solar solutions firm Solivus. According to the latest Energy Trends report from the Department of Energy Security and […]
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‘Some insects are declining but what’s happening to the other 99%?’
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Research has mostly focused on butterflies, bumblebees and dragonflies in parts of Europe and North America (image: A white-tailed bumble bee, a common UK species) (words: UKCEH). Despite fears over ‘insectageddon’, there is a lack of data about virtually all insect species globally, according to a study led by the UK Centre for Ecology & […]
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New method efficiently safeguards sensitive AI training data
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Data privacy comes with a cost. There are security techniques that protect sensitive user data, like customer addresses, from attackers who may attempt to extract them from AI models — but they often make those models less accurate. MIT researchers recently developed a framework, based on a new privacy metric called PAC Privacy, that could […]
Carbon Neutral Regulation in AI Training