What Is the Best Use for Old Railroad Tracks? New Yorkers Have Opinions.
The long‑abandoned Rockaway Beach Branch in Queens is at the center of a dispute between advocates of the QueensWay park project and supporters of the QueensLink subway extension. Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s 2026 budget earmarks $43 million for the first phase of QueensWay, a 5‑acre linear park slated to break ground later this year, while QueensLink proponents argue the corridor could host a $3.5‑$5.9 billion M‑train extension serving up to 75,000 daily riders. A $117 million federal grant for a Phase 2 park expansion was withdrawn, intensifying concerns that once construction begins, the chance of adding rail service will diminish. The outcome will shape how New York balances green space, transit equity, and cost‑effective infrastructure reuse.
For First Time, Americans Are Getting More of Their Electricity From Solar than Coal
Solar power supplied 12.8% of U.S. electricity in May 2026, overtaking coal’s 12.2% for the first time on record. The shift marks a rapid rise from less than half that share five years ago, while coal’s share fell from about...
Louisiana Lawmakers Rush to Support an Industry They ‘Do Not Know a Lot About’
Louisiana lawmakers unanimously passed House Bill 670, a package of tax breaks, workforce training and streamlined permitting aimed at expanding wood‑pellet manufacturing in the state. The bill targets an industry that currently ships about $1 billion of pellets annually, largely from...
In the Smoky Mountains, a Volunteer Effort Aims to Document Every Species — Before It’s Too Late
Retired scientists and volunteers, calling themselves GRISLD, are intensifying the Great Smoky Mountains’ All‑Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (ATBI). Their year‑round fieldwork has pushed the park’s species count past 22,000, including more than 1,000 organisms new to science. As climate change fuels...
The Hidden Cost of Owning an EV: Expensive Insurance
A new Insurify report finds that insuring an electric vehicle (EV) costs an average of $3,159 per year—roughly $1,000 more than a comparable gasoline car. The insurance gap, 42 percent overall, swings dramatically by state, from a $2,270 premium premium...
Nike’s Recycled World Cup Uniforms Reveal the Limits of ‘Circular’ Fashion
Nike unveiled World Cup uniforms made from 100% textile waste, using advanced chemical recycling in partnership with Syre and Loop Industries. The move is billed as a milestone for circular fashion, promising fabrics that can be repeatedly broken down to...
As Seas Rise, Where Will Louisiana’s Fishers Go?
A new Nature Sustainability paper warns that rising seas could surround New Orleans with water by century’s end, projecting 3‑7 m (10‑23 ft) sea‑level rise and a 100 km inland shoreline shift. The authors advocate managed retreat for coastal Louisiana, sparking backlash from locals...
The Iran War Is Destroying Oil Demand. Could It Also Spark a Shift to Clean Energy?
The Iran‑War‑triggered oil shock has pushed U.S. gasoline above $4.50 per gallon, a 40% jump since February, prompting 44% of adults to curb driving and turn to public transit, rideshares and electric‑hybrid vehicles. The International Energy Agency now projects a...
Māori Climate Risk Worsened by Colonization, Report Finds
The 2026 National Climate Change Risk Assessment in New Zealand includes a dedicated companion report on Māori communities, concluding that centuries of colonisation have amplified climate risks to Māori land, health, culture and economy. It identifies seven interlinked risk domains and...
Energy Bills Keep Rising. These Candidates in Georgia Say They Can Help.
Ten candidates are vying for two Georgia Public Service Commission seats in the May 19 primary, a body that sets rates for Georgia Power, telecoms and natural gas. After voters ousted two Republican incumbents last year, Democrats briefly held a historic...
As Tick Bites Surge, Conspiracy Theories Follow
Rising temperatures are driving a surge in tick activity across the United States, with Maine seeing up to 90% of moose calves dying from winter tick infestations. The CDC has recorded the highest early‑season emergency‑room visits for tick bites since...
First Crypto, Now Data Centers: How Tech Is Reshaping This North Carolina Community
In western North Carolina, former cryptocurrency mines are being repurposed as artificial‑intelligence data centers, exemplified by Core Scientific’s conversion of a Marble facility. The 250,000‑square‑foot site consumes electricity comparable to a medium‑sized town and has sparked local backlash over noise,...
Wall Street Is Betting Big on Clean Energy Tech
Fervo Energy, a geothermal power developer, announced a U.S. IPO that could raise up to $1.8 billion, valuing the company at roughly $7.4 billion. The firm leverages horizontal drilling and fiber‑optic sensing—techniques borrowed from oil and gas—to lower geothermal costs from about...
How Climate Change Could Help Hantavirus Find More Hosts
A cruise ship departing Ushuaia was forced to return after an outbreak of Andes hantavirus, the only known hantavirus that can spread between humans. The virus, carried by rodents, has killed three passengers and infected several others, highlighting the rarity...
The Solution to Urban Heat Is Much, Much Simpler than You Think
Two recent studies show that expanding urban tree canopy can halve the heat‑island effect and cut excess temperatures by up to 40 percent in underserved neighborhoods. Researchers measured a "cooling dividend" of nearly 4 °F between low‑ and high‑canopy areas across...