Questions and Answers about
Climate
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in PlacesWhat unexpected ‘feature’ did the 2023 Burning Man festival introduce to its attendees?
Answer: In a twist of events that Mother Nature probably found amusing, the 2023 Burning Man festival in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada surprised attendees with a natural mud spa treatment as heavy rains transformed the festival grounds into vast cement-like mud puddles. This unexpected ‘feature’ left over 70,000 attendees stranded, turning their desert…
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in ClimateWhat’s an Omega block in the world of weather?
Answer: This meteorological marvel, named for its resemblance to the Greek letter Omega (Ω), is essentially a high-pressure zone sandwiched between two low-pressure zones. This atmospheric arrangement was responsible for Storm Daniel’s birth and path around Sept. 4, 2023. Storm Daniel later wreaked havoc in Greece, Libya, and other surrounding countries. causing unprecedented damage. More than…
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in HistoryWhich of these blazing events took the flaming crown for the deadliest US wildfire in history?
Answer: The 1918 Minnesota wildfires, better known as the Cloquet fire in Minnesota and Wisconsin, claimed a scorching 453 lives, making it the deadliest wildfire the US has ever seen. Fast forward to 2023, as the Maui Wildfires tried to compete, causing devastation in August and killing 89, earning the undesired title of second-deadliest wildfire…
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in TechnologyWhat does the first lab-grown meat approved for sale in the US taste like?
Answer: The US Department of Agriculture approved the first-ever lab-grown chicken in the US on June 21, 2023. Two California companies, Upside Foods, and Good Meat. have the go-ahead to offer chicken derived from animal cells in restaurants and later in supermarkets. The process involves taking a small sample of cells from a live chicken…
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in ClimateWhat was the reason behind the 2023 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix cancellation?
Answer: The Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in Italy, scheduled for May 21, 2023. was canceled due to sudden floods, its management announced on May 17. It was the first Grand Prix canceled since the 2020 Australian Grand Prix, which was called off due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The floods had disastrous effects on the Emilia…
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in ClimateHow did global carbon dioxide emissions change in 2022?
Answer: According to the International Energy Agency, global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from energy production grew by 0.9 percent in 2022. reaching a record high of more than 36.8 billion metric tons. As reported on Mar. 2, 2023, this was mainly driven by the rebound in air travel, the switch from natural gas to coal…
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in PlacesWhat is California’s largest lake?
Answer: With 343 square miles (889 sq km) of surface area, the Salton Sea is California’s biggest lake by surface area. It’s been shrinking for decades despite water cuts and conservation efforts, causing health and environmental problems. The New York Times reported on Feb. 25 that the Salton Sea faces another water crisis, affecting farmers…
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in ClimateHow many times has the UK ever seen a Red Extreme Heat warning?
Answer: A red warning for extreme heat, spanning from London in the south to Manchester and Leeds in the north, was issued in the UK for the first time on July 18 and 19, 2022. On July 19 afternoon, the UK Met Office weather agency registered a temporary reading of over 40 degrees Celsius (104…
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in PlacesHow many US states share the Colorado River water?
Answer: Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming share the Colorado River water. Colorado’s two largest reservoirs, Lake Mead and Lake Powell, have reached “dangerously low” water levels as of 2022 and hover at around 25% capacity. Federal officials called on the seven states to cut their overall usage of Colorado River water by…
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in AnimalsWhat is the world’s largest penguin?
Answer: The emperor is the world’s largest penguin and one of only two penguin species endemic to Antarctica. The emperor penguin is at severe risk of extinction in the next 30 to 40 years as a result of climate change, according to biologist Marcela Libertelli of the Argentine Antarctic Institute (IAA).
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in ClimateHow many people suffer from kidney stones over their lifetime in the US?
Answer: About one in 10 people in the US, and 12% of the world population, suffer from kidney stones over their lifetime._x000D_
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in TVWhat is The Green Planet?
Answer: The Green Planet is a five-part series presented by the veteran naturalist David Attenborough about plants. The series started airing on the UK’s BBC One on Jan. 9, 2022.
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in ScienceWhat is unique about the Thwaites glacier?
Answer: Thwaites glacier in western Antarctica is the widest glacier on Earth, spanning about 80 miles (120 kilometers) and extending to a depth of about 2,600 to 3,900 feet (800 to 1,200 meters). Rapid deterioration could end with the ice shelf’s complete collapse in just a few years, raising sea level to 10 feet (3…
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in BusinessOil companies like Exxon, Chevron, Shell, and BP saw what in 2021?
Answer: The largest oil and gas companies, including Exxon, Chevron, Shell, and BP, made a combined $174bn in profits in the first nine months of 2021, as gasoline prices climbed in the US, according to a new report provided exclusively to the Guardian. More answers inside!
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in PoliticsThe 2021 climate talks ended with a first deal on what?
Answer: The 2021 COP26 UN climate talks ended with a deal that targeted fossil fuels as the key driver of global warming for the first time. More answers inside!
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in PoliticsSheikh Hasina Leads Which Country?
Sheikh Hasina, 74, is Prime Minister of Bangladesh. She’s been in the position since January 2009, making her the 7th current longest-serving prime minister worldwide._x000D_
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in ArtsWhat’s Spencer Tunick best known for?
American artist Spencer Tunick is a 54-year-old photographer best known for his large-scale nude photoshoots. He has staged dozens worldwide, including outside Sydney Opera House and in London’s Selfridges.
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in PoliticsWhat is the Earthshot Prize?
The Earthshot Prize is Prince William’s environmental program that aims to find new ideas to tackle climate change. The prize’s name takes inspiration from the Apollo moon landings, nicknamed Moonshot, which helped advance humankind’s technological achievements._x000D_
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in ScienceHow much of the world’s population live in urban areas?
In recent decades, hundreds of millions of people have moved from rural areas to cities, home to more than half the world’s population._x000D_
