Latest Stories from Jamie
Climate paper says Bitcoin mining is putting vulnerable nations at risk
A new climate paper suggests that the carbon footprint of cryptocurrency is on the rise. Putting already vulnerable nations at further risk, experts are now calling for a global ban to โproof of workโ transactions. Weโre slowly getting our heads around the confusing and ever-changing world of cryptocurrency. Putting aside the burgeoning realm of NFTs and on the fly investing for now though, itโs become one of the worst kept secrets...
Crypto investors raised $40 million to buy a copy of the US Constitution
Pipped at auction by a late bid, crypto investors were close to purchasing a rare and early copy of the US Constitution for over $40 million. Is a practical purchase ever made using cryptocurrency? Whether weโre talking of the multi-million dollar sales of eight bit gifs, the early year hijacking of the stock market, or how an OG dog meme became a profitable investment venture overnight, itโs safe...
The key takeaways from Glasgowโs COP26 climate deal
Billed as vital crunch talks to prevent climate disasters before the end of the century, delegates from around the world convened in Glasgow for COP26. Running over the summitโs original deadline, how has the final deal shaped up? If youโve been with us over the last two weeks, youโll now be accustomed to the topsy turvy nature of climate reform. One minute, youโre celebrating an important announcement from a coalition...
Olive waste is helping to heat homes in Syria
Locals in Syriaโs Idlib province have discovered an eco-friendly way of generating fuel and heating their homes using olive waste. As COP26 highlighted, the burden of innovating clean power by no means falls on developing nations. But that doesnโt mean they havenโt got sustainable and affordable ideas of their own. In Syriaโs north-western Idlib province, locals have found an ingenious alternative to diesel โ which is typically used to heat homes...
US start-up finds way to halve cost of making solar cells
A start-up called Leap Photovoltaic has reportedly slashed the cost of developing solar technology in half. Could this help the overall supply chain to grow? Over the coming weeks at COP26, crunch talks of how we can phase out fossil fuels and bring about more renewable energy will be had. During a live interview with The Economist last month, climate expert Oliver Morton paid particular attention to solar power and...
China makes underwhelming energy pledge ahead of COP26
President Xi Jinping is attempting to wean the worldโs biggest polluter off coal, with a target of peaking Chinaโs carbon emissions in 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060. Is this bold enough? In the run up to COP26, pressure is mounting against China to make some drastic commitments. If reports are to be believed, the worldโs largest polluter has yet to officially select a delegate for the summit and president...
US plastics could reportedly create more emissions than coal by 2030
The American plastics industry is being described by climate experts as โthe new coal,โ as emerging reports show a release of 232 million tons of greenhouse gases per year. By this stage youโre probably sick to the back teeth, like we are, of the daily doom scrolling through despondent climate stories. However, itโs important to underline the crucial issues we face in the build-up to COP26. We wouldnโt want those with...
COPโs biggest moments that caused public stir and grabbed headlines
As the 26th annual COP approaches, itโs time to run back major moments from prior summits that caused real public stir and the movements which preceded them. If youโre reading this now, chances are youโre relatively clued up on COP26 already thanks to the constant headlines popping up across major news outlets. In the last decade, weโve matured from debating whether climate change even exists, to largely discussing how we can...
AstroAccess to advance disability inclusion in space travel
In efforts to expand space travel beyond billionaire tech tycoons and hyper trained astronauts, AstroAccess is advancing Zero-G experiences to include the disabled. As industries go, space travel is arguably one of the very least accessible out there. However, efforts are underway to change that. Leading an inclusive space charge, a non-profit called Mission: AstroAccess has started organising Zero-G flight experiences for people with mobility or sensory disabilities. On Sunday (October...
Is climate change dimming the Earthโs shine over time?
The planet has dimmed by 0.5 percent in 20 years. Researchers believe climate change could be responsible. Half a percent of dimming in 20 years may not sound like a huge deal, but considering the Earth is 4.5 billion years old it isnโt exactly great. When talking about the Earth losing its shine, we arenโt referring to Mars exploration being the hot new topic in planetology, or making a bleak metaphorical...