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in the words of nene leakes: it’s getting weird
Hey chat! 💬
You already know what time it is 🙂 hope you’re feeling fresh and well this week, and that you’re staying warm with temperatures dropping suddenly all over the place! ❄️
This week we’ve got several interesting stories for you, two focused on culture (to spray or not to spray?) as well some some positive news in both environment and tech (AI for climate good?). We’ll wrap things up with a reproductive science story that’s causing huge debate, and finally, a little recommendation at the end.
Let’s dive in!
💬 culture corner
Gen Z don’t know how to feel about perfume in public – thred
A debate around perfume has hit the internet, with users going head-to-head about whether spraying fragrances in public (or spraying more than 1-2 pumps before going leaving the house) is appropriate or not. Though Gen Z is obsessed with finding their ‘signature scent,’ causing a huge boom in perfume sales, many of them agree people need to exercise more etiquette around perfume-wearing in shared spaces. Fragrance designers have weighed in, saying the goal should always be for your perfume to sit close to you rather than fill the room or leave a lasting trail behind. Doctors also warn about a health angle people should be aware of. Strong scents are known to cause headaches, allergies, or respiratory issues in some people, which explains why many workplaces and schools push for scent-free zones. There isn’t a serious problem with enjoying your favourite perfume, but it’s important to be aware that other people have to breathe the same air as you… and they might not always share the same preferences.
Palestine Is Everywhere: A new book is demanding art world solidarity – dazed digital
Palestine Is Everywhere is a new collection of essays, poems, letters, art and photography from artists, writers, and activists in Gaza and the diaspora. Created under extreme conditions like blackouts, destroyed infrastructure, and constant danger from Israeli bombardment, its authors say the idea of putting the project together was hatched during 2023 when mainstream coverage failed to convey the reality lived by Palestinians, and when social media enabled conversations around the subject to turn hostile. The book features an accompanying digital platform, featuring video, sound, and multimedia works, that bring together cultural expression and resistance efforts. Photographer Adam Rouhana contributed beautiful black-and-white images from his ongoing project Blood Memories, which looks at daily life in the West Bank. The team behind the book + digital platform hope the project pushes people in the creative sector toward material support for Palestinian artists, sending the message that true solidarity requires action, not just words.
😊 positive news
App launches to help people to discover nature on their doorstep – positive.news
In this busy and demanding world, it’s not always easy to make time for nature. A new app called Wildling wants to change that. The app collates more than 1,500 UK green spots into one simple map, offering users a quick and convenient way to locate fresher air, some foliage, and a bit of peace whether they’re close to home or travelling. Backed by a number of major conservation groups in Britain, the app says it aims to boost mental wellbeing while getting more people connected to local nature. Within the app, Wildling also offers practical tips, such as kid-friendly activities and guides for making the most of your time spent outside. There are also dedicated sections for optional donations and volunteering links, so that users of Wilding help look after the nature they enjoy so much.
Google turns 2 billion smartphones into a global earthquake warning system – good news network
Google is turning millions of its Android phones and smartwatches into a worldwide earthquake detector to help make alert services available to everyone who needs them. As of last year, its Android Earthquakes Alert system (AEA) reached over 2 billion devices, making use of tiny vibration signals picked up by accelerometers installed inside smart devices, which help spot early signs of a quake. Treating the global Android network like a huge crowdsourced sensor allows AEA to estimate the area a quake is starting and how strong it might become. The technology has already sent alerts for 11,000 earthquakes in 98 countries, making it a valuable and welcome boost for areas where advanced warning infrastructures aren’t in place. For now, the system isn’t perfect, but even a few seconds of advance notice could help save lives. Google is also applying this kind of tech to other disasters, issuing tens of millions of flood alerts across South Asia, an area prone to extreme flooding, especially in recent months.
🤖 tech talk
AI is guzzling energy for slop content – could it be reimagined to help the climate? – guardian
Looking at the wider timeline of technology, it’d be easy to say AI is still in its early days. Still, when it comes to climate, its reputation already looks pretty bleak. The energy demand of massive data centers (especially in the US) is skyrocketing, with current projections suggesting that AI growth could result in emissions equivalent to millions of new cars on the road globally. But at COP30 in Brazil, a group of researchers and policymakers are working to convince world leaders that AI it could actually help cut emissions if used responsibly. They’ve launched the AI Climate Institute to help countries use artificial intelligence for things like smarter public transit, better food systems, improved energy grids and sharper weather forecasting. In theory, AI could make it easier to track pollution, spot risks early, and plan for both short-term disasters as well as long-term climate shifts. While this may be true, most experts agree that the environmental cost of major AI systems currently outweighs any benefits they might offer. Until that changes, it’s hard to see how the use of AI in climate mitigation entirely makes sense.
Robot with artificial womb could give birth to humans by next year – vice
A Chinese company called Kaiwa Technology is developing a humanoid robot with a synthetic uterus. Yep, the robot has been specfiically designed to grow a human baby from embryo to birth and it could be on the market within a year for about $14,000 per… baby? The device, called GEAIR, differs from current reproductive technology in that it doesn’t support human pregnancies… it’s aim is to replace them. Reactions to the futuristic technology has sparked fascination and fear online, with millions of users debating whether this is a breakthrough for reproductive freedom or an dystopian step towards a future that’s totally manufactured. For now, highly important details like how fertilisation works or how the machine would mimic maternal hormones are still unanswered by the robot’s designers. And although womb tech has existed in animal trials on sheep, applying it to humans raises a ton of moral questions, including means to be human, and whether it’s safe or ethical to outsource pregnancy and childbirth to robots at all.
👾 recommendation
While I’m not really sure if this is a healthier alternative to social media, it does feel like one for me. Rather than scrolling through social media (yes that includes Substack!) while waiting in a queue, for a train, etc. I’ve been playing a game on my phone. I’m not telling you which one, because you’ll probably call me a neek. But just find one you like – educational, story . It’s bound to be better than doomscrolling… right?
