ICYMI: Sacrificing Wind for Coal, Snowy California, What—No Lamprey Pie? & A Stand-Up Iceberg

A weekly roundup for busy people

By Paul Rauber

May 5, 2023

Illustration by Peter Arkle

Germany dismantles a wind farm in order to expand a coal mine.

The White House says that Toyota—after prodding by environmentalists—is “fully committed” to electrifying its fleet. 

The United Auto Workers withholds its endorsement of President Biden’s re-election bid because they want him to push for higher wages and benefits at electric-vehicle plants.

EVs make California’s air cleaner, but disproportionately in wealthier areas

Yet another late-season snowstorm in California. As the state’s massive snowpack begins to melt, flows in Yosemite National Park’s waterfalls are twice that of normal. 

Several hundred pounds of cooked pasta is left alongside a creek in New Jersey’s Old Bridge Township. 

Eleven chemical plants in China and one in the US freely emit “super-pollutant” nitrous oxide in an amount equivalent to the greenhouse gas emissions of 31 million cars. 

Chinese raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) are absolved of starting the COVID-19 contagion.

Removing invasive rats from Irooj Island in the Marshall Islands proves to be successful in restoring native plant and animal populations. 

Five thousand Polynesian tree snails, extinct in the wild, are airlifted thousands of miles to be reintroduced to the islands of Tahiti and Moorea.

A South African rhinoceros breeder, having failed to win legalization of trade in rhino horns, tries to sell his ranch that is home to one-eighth of the world’s white rhinos.

EPA employees are warned not to use ChatGPT or other AI tools for their agency work.  

Because of climate concerns, Spanish football club FC Barcelona takes the train to a match in Madrid rather than the customary private plane. 

King Charles III will not enjoy a lamprey pie from Gloucester upon his coronation, a departure from an 800-year-old tradition, as the eel-like fish is now endangered there.

A new study finds microplastics in human testes and semen. 

A phallic iceberg off the coast of Newfoundland gives everyone something to laugh about.