Latest Stories from Jamie
Why India will struggle to break up with coal
In the final negotiations of the COP26 deal, India actively opposed the ideal of phasing out coal before the mid-century. Here’s why. In the closing stages of Glasgow’s climate negotiations, and with a promising deal in sight, India insisted that promises to ‘phase out’ coal be tempered in the final bill’s language. Backed by China and a few other countries in the pressing hours of Saturday, this resistance to cutting out...
New York’s multi-billion plan to thwart climate change impacts
Architecture is now beginning to consider the ecological ramifications of new builds, but resiliency projects will be needed to protect cities from the more immediate impacts of climate change. On that front, plans for New York City are already well underway. Constantly the backdrop for fictional menaces and mass destruction, whether that be at the hands of a giant marshmallow man, a rampaging gorilla, the Cloverfield monster, a tornado of...
Cambo oil field development halted indefinitely
Days after Shell pulled out of the Cambo oil field development, Siccar Point Energy has now put the whole build on pause indefinitely. Citing time constraints as a big hindrance, could this finally be the end of the controversial project? Who would’ve thought building a multi-million pound fossil fuel factory amidst a climate crisis would create so much controversy? Uneconomic and ill advised plans to drill for oil deep under the...
High-tech methane detectors are helping the US crack down on emissions
80 times more detrimental to our climate than carbon dioxide, methane is responsible for 30% of all warming since pre-industrial times. Here’s how the US is utilising tech to tackle such emissions domestically. If you kept up with the key developments of COP26 last month, you’ll know that any chance of meeting the Paris Agreement all but relies on driving methane emissions down – as well as carbon dioxide, obviously. While...
World’s first ‘living robots’ can now technically reproduce
It’s but a matter of time until humanity is completely redundant… well not really, but this is definitely big. Living robots can now technically reproduce. If you’re expecting some kind of kinky rendition of Transformers, take your dirty mind and head elsewhere. There’s nothing arousing about this, though it is amazing. In 2020, while most of us were resigned to a life of solitude, a cohort of US scientists were busy...
Decentraland is a crypto metaverse where virtual land is worth millions
If you thought Facebook’s Metaverse was confusing, strap in for Decentraland. Running on a blockchain system, this virtual world allows people to create avatars, buy virtual land, attend events, and set up crypto businesses. Imagine The Sims, but with very real ramifications and you get Decentraland. Billed as the world’s first fully-decentralised virtual world, this metaverse spawned in 2017 and has steadily grown in popularity alongside cryptocurrency. Running on an Ethereum blockchain...
Nurdles are causing as much natural damage as oil spills
Nurdles are probably the worst form of toxic waste you’ve never heard of. Floating in the oceans, billions of these tiny plastic pellets are causing as much damage as oil spills today. We’re at the stage where it feels like humanity is deliberately sabotaging its own planet. Case in point number 100,000: nurdles. By definition, nurdles are technically a form of micro-plastic because they’re small and – you guessed it –...
Biotech start-up uses plant protein to slash production costs of cellular meat
Many point to lab cultivated meat as the future of food systems, yet manufacturing has been hindered by large production costs. Biotech start-up Tiamat Sciences aims to change that. The concept of non-sentient meat is one we can all get behind. Making it a reality, however, is proving difficult. Granted, it sounds a little outlandish to grow meat within the four walls of a lab, but several biotech outfits hailing from...
Companies are now 3D printing entire low cost communities
With the 3D printing market projected to reach nearly $56 billion by 2027, companies are now using the technology to build affordable housing and plan to utilise it in disaster zones. 3D printing is fast expanding beyond sneaker designs, children’s toys, and elaborate cosplay costumes. Though there’s definitely a future for the tech within more mainstream industries, the potential for real positive impact is what makes it so exciting. In recent...
Map outlines Earth’s most important natural carbon banks
‘Irrevocable’ carbon banks – we’re talking tropical forests, mangroves, peatlands, and other natural areas – store massive amounts of greenhouse gases. Which areas are currently most vulnerable to spilling over? The term ‘irrevocable’ is often used to describe natural carbon banks. This is because they sequester so much carbon that if it were to start being released – due to deforestation, wildfires, and logging – it wouldn’t be possible to recapture...
