Latest news with #CoolDown
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Experts Sound the Alarm on New Invasion Threatening Christmas Tree Farms
Invasive insects that resemble tiny wasps are quietly spreading across the United States, threatening pine trees, and experts say Christmas tree farms could be next. The Cool Down reported that European pine sawflies (Neodiprion sertifer) have been actively feeding on pine needles in Washington's Pierce County, and their slow but steady spread could pose a real risk to ornamental and plantation pines this summer. Sawfly larvae, which hatch from eggs laid in pine needles in the spring, can feed together in groups of dozens, stripping older needles clean, even if younger foliage remains safe. While they don't typically kill large trees, repeated feeding can stunt growth and create unsightly bald patches, which is a significant concern for growers and homeowners alike. These insects were first spotted in Washington in 2008, but their spread has been gradual since adult sawflies are poor fliers. Instead, they hitch rides on infested nursery stock, mulch, or soil, making nurseries and Christmas tree farms particularly vulnerable. The aesthetic damage is more than just cosmetic. 'It's the most common sawfly found infesting landscapes and Christmas tree plantations,' according to the University of Wisconsin, which notes these sawflies thrive in pines like Scots, red, Jack, and Mugo—common species in holiday tree lots. If you spot pine needles stripped bare like a bottle brush, you may have a sawfly infestation. These larvae can consume huge patches of older needles before moving on. While trees usually survive, the lasting effects can take a toll on growth and appearance. Experts recommend regular monitoring from spring through early summer. For light infestations, simply knocking larvae off or pruning affected branches may do the trick. Horticultural oils and insecticidal soaps can help against young larvae, while more persistent outbreaks may require targeted insecticides like acephate or spinosad. Natural predators, including certain birds, wasps, and small mammals, also feed on sawflies and their cocoons, offering a built-in defense mechanism. For Christmas tree farmers and homeowners who value healthy pines, early detection and control are key. Combined with native plantings that support wildlife, these steps can help prevent sawfly damage and protect future holiday trees. So, before you hang that ornament or wreath, take a close look at your pine branches. A handful of hungry sawflies now could mean a thinner, weaker tree come Sound the Alarm on New Invasion Threatening Christmas Tree Farms first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 3, 2025
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
TV Meteorologist Issues Stark Warning as Storm Forecasts Grow Less Reliable
Hurricane season just got a lot more personal. In a rare and unfiltered moment, veteran meteorologist John Morales went off-script on live TV, delivering a grave message that's resonating far beyond Miami. During a segment that began with archived footage of Hurricane Dorian, Morales did something that stunned viewers, the Cool Down reported. After decades of calmly guiding South Floridians through storm season, he admitted he may not be able to offer that same assurance this year. 'I am here to tell you I'm not sure I can do that this year,' he said. His reasoning? Cuts. Devastating ones. Morales pointed to what he called a 'sledgehammer attack on science,' referencing years of reduced funding and staff at NOAA, the National Weather Service, and FEMA. The result is a multigenerational setback to the systems Americans rely on for timely, accurate storm predictions. He warned that weather balloon launches, a critical tool for modeling storm paths, have been slashed by 20%, leading to degraded forecasts. 'The quality of the forecast is becoming degraded,' Morales said bluntly. It was more than just a moment of candor. It was a stark warning from someone who has made a career out of staying calm under pressure. And it speaks volumes about the state of hurricane preparedness heading into a season already predicted to be 'above average' in person replied, "I know a lot of people in Florida and I'm truly worried for them this year. Not only for the degraded weather predictions but for the new FEMA head who didn't know about hurricane season." As meteorologists across the country raise red flags, Americans in hurricane zones are being urged to act now. That means creating a go-bag, preparing for power outages, and staying informed, especially if forecast reliability is no longer a given. Morales may not be able to offer the same confidence this year. But his message was clear: ignore this warning at your own Meteorologist Issues Stark Warning as Storm Forecasts Grow Less Reliable first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 12, 2025
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Warning Signs for Tesla: New Model Y Struggles to Find Buyers
Tesla's latest Model Y release was supposed to be a game-changer. Instead, it's raising eyebrows across the automotive industry for all the wrong reasons. The Cool Down reports that industry analysts reveal a troubling pattern: Tesla's new Model Y models are sitting untouched on dealership lots across the country, a surprising twist for a vehicle hyped as one of the year's biggest EV launches. The telltale signs are there. Tesla is already offering 0% financing on the Model Y—an unusually aggressive tactic for a model so fresh out of the gate. 'Why would you discount and have all these incentives and offers literally out of the gate?' asked Loren McDonald, chief analyst at EV data firm Paren. 'That just doesn't make sense when your margins are already at multi-year lows. That suggests very strongly that there is a demand problem.' While Tesla's global EV dominance remains intact, the cracks are showing. Sales of competing EVs from rivals like Ford, Hyundai, and even upstarts like Rivian and BYD have surged, while Tesla's numbers have been slipping. Some blame the growing competition, while others point to the controversies surrounding CEO Elon Musk that have cast a shadow over the Model Y sales stalling, Tesla isn't sitting idle. The company has been promoting the model with heavy incentives and continues work on future projects like the much-discussed Cybertaxi. There are also whispers of cheaper versions of the Model Y and Model S in the pipeline. But for now, the Model Y's underwhelming launch highlights a new reality for Tesla: the days of instant sellouts and long waitlists may be numbered. Warning Signs for Tesla: New Model Y Struggles to Find Buyers first appeared on Men's Journal on May 26, 2025
Scotsman
27-04-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Edinburgh Marathon brewers given go ahead to serve pints at finish line this year and at future events
Watch more of our videos on and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565 Visit Shots! now The Edinburgh Marathon brewers have been given the go ahead to keep serving pints at future events by East Lothian licensing chiefs. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Bellfield Brewery were granted a licence to sell alcohol at this year's finish line in Musselburgh by the county licensing board this week. And they were told they would not have to appear before the board in future years unless there were major changes to their operating plans with future licences delegated to officers. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The decision, which was unanimously backed, came after the board acknowledged the brewery had been 'grilled' over their plans at last year's meeting. Musselburgh plays host to the Edinburgh marathon each year | Google Maps The drinks licence for the annual event, which takes place on Sunday, May 25 this year, has in the past required to be brought to the board because of its early start time with drinks sold from 10am – an hour ahead of the board's Sunday policy. However board chairperson Councillor John McMillan said there would be no need to come back before the board as long as the annual application remained the same in future years. The decision was unanimously support by board members. Bellfield Brewery will operate three bars at this year's event. Two will serve draught beers while a third 'can bar' will offer soft drinks alongside the specially brewed low alcohol marathon Cool Down lager. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The bars will be sited in the charity village at the finish line on Pinkie Playing Fields, in the town. The Edinburgh Marathon has been held every year since 2003 with the exception of two years during the Covid pandemic. Originally following a route throughout Edinburgh starting at Meadowbank Stadium and heading down to the former Royal Yacht Britannia, the route changed in 2007 and starts in the city before the majority of the run takes place along the East Lothian coast looping back to finish in Musselburgh.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Company challenges outdated crypto practices with revolutionary new platform — and competitors may need to adapt
Next-gen blockchain technology from Ripple Labs has the potential to revolutionize the cryptocurrency landscape with energy-efficient protocols supporting the company's 2020 pledge to reach carbon net-zero by 2030. The company's RippleNet Infinity platform aims to improve cryptocurrency transactions with increased security, faster processing, and greater energy efficiency, as reported by CoinTrust in February. Ripple uses a digital asset called XRP, with transactions recorded through its decentralized XRP Ledger. Traditional crypto mining — the process of solving computational problems to add transactions to the blockchain — is not used on this platform (as Forbes and other outlets have explained), which means far less energy is consumed, per the company. Ripple has touted its XRP Ledger as "the first major global blockchain to be carbon-neutral, a milestone achieved in October of 2020." The Cool Down was unable to find an independent verification of this claim, but being carbon-neutral means a system removes or mitigates as much carbon from the air as it emits. The company has previously claimed its Federated Consensus protocol helps reduce energy consumption compared to competing platforms. CoinTrust reported that RippleNet Infinity can efficiently manage up to 100,000 transactions per second. While cryptocurrencies have revolutionized digital transactions, platforms like Bitcoin have become a drain on electricity resources. That system utilizes a proof-of-work protocol, which requires energy-intensive mining operations to validate transactions, as Investopedia has noted. These cryptocurrency mining setups, which can sometimes be illegally operated, have at least in some places been putting a strain on the electricity grid. In addition, there are significant cooling demands for data centers, which add to the resource consumption of such operations. The U.S. Energy Information Administration has estimated that the annual electricity use associated with domestic cryptocurrency mining operations now represents up to 2.3% of the total electricity consumption in the country. "We intend to continue to analyze and write about the energy implications of cryptocurrency mining activities in the United States," said former EIA Administrator Joe DeCarolis in a press release in 2024. "We will specifically focus on how the energy demand for cryptocurrency mining is evolving, identify geographic areas of high growth, and quantify the sources of electricity used to meet cryptocurrency mining demand." Do you think our power grid needs to be upgraded? Definitely Only in some states Not really I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. That said, agency efforts to collect information were later blocked and discontinued. In 2022, President Joe Biden signed an executive order to support intelligent advances and responsible development of digital assets systems, with an eye on reducing negative climate impacts, and RippleNet Infinity seems to be aligned with these goals. "A Tesla and a Hummer can both get you from point A to point B, but the carbon emissions from each are vastly different. The same thinking should be applied to blockchains and how they are used today," Ripple Labs explained about its broader efforts in 2022. In terms of energy use, The Fintech Times cited a 2021 report rating Ripple's XRP as the least energy-intensive of the seven leading crypto coins it assessed, consuming just 0.00112% of the energy used for Bitcoin transactions. "As the first major blockchain company to pledge to be carbon net-zero by 2030, Ripple continues to create and champion a network of engaged partners with a like-minded commitment to sustainability," the company wrote in 2022. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
