Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Danielle Venton

Michael Wara @michaelwara.bsky.social · 15h

It looks as if Governor Newsom opted not to sign SB326: www.gov.ca.gov/2025/10/10/g...

Danielle Venton @dventon.bsky.social · 17h

New from me: under-the-radar bill could be mst important piece of the wildfire bill package. Will @governor.ca.gov Newsom sign it? We'll know in days: www.kqed.org/science/1998... With thanks to those who spoke w/ me State Sen. @joshbecker.bsky.social, www.megafire.org & @michaelwara.bsky.social.

Will Newsom Sign California’s ‘Biggest Step’ Toward Saving Fire-Prone Neighborhoods? | KQED

A little-known bill will accelerate fire mitigation efforts by clearing space around housing across the state.

www.kqed.org

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Danielle Venton @dventon.bsky.social · 1d

I'm going to make it through, but I'm closing out the week IN ABSOLUTE AWE of everyone who does this on the reg. There are not enough gold stars in the world to award all that you deserve.

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Danielle Venton @dventon.bsky.social · 1d

reading!

it's a major stinking bummer!

Danielle Venton @dventon.bsky.social · 1d

update, please?

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Danielle Venton @dventon.bsky.social · 1d

New guy seems cool

Lucius Fox In The Box @carnegro.bsky.social · 1d

Pope Leo is spitting.

www.npr.org/2025/10/09/n...

Leo questioned a world where the wealth of the elite grows
"exponentially" while many "millions of people die of hunger or survive in conditions unfit for human beings." He also criticized "ideologies that defend the absolute autonomy of the marketplace and financial speculation,"
with false promises "that a free-market economy will automatically solve the problem of poverty."

Leo described a "new tyranny," which shuns any kind of oversight and where the economy is structured "in such a way that sacrifices are demanded of the masses in order to serve the needs of the powerful." The poor, he wrote, are only allowed "drops that trickle down."

The pope openly challenged "prosperity theology" and called Christians to the practice of giving charity. "It will not solve the problem of world poverty, yet it must still be carried out, with intelligence, diligence and social responsibility," he wrote.

Popular movements that challenge "the empire of money," invite people to take on the cause to combat poverty alongside the poor, instead of on their behalf, and "make history," the pope said. It our duty, Leo said, to "make their voices heard, albeit in different ways, in order to point out and denounce such structural issues, even at the cost of appearing foolish or naïve."

Danielle Venton @dventon.bsky.social · 1d

I am single parenting this week and I really don't know how folks do this and keep careers going

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Danielle Venton @dventon.bsky.social · 2d

Jon Batiste offers us a little bit of climate action joy:

Yale Climate Connections @climateconnections.bsky.social · 2d

😍 Jon Batiste has released a climate change song. 😍https://www.jonbatiste.com/petrichor/#/

Petrichor - Jon Batiste

Official Website

www.jonbatiste.com

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Danielle Venton @dventon.bsky.social · 9d

“The reason this work is important is because climate change feels abstract and nebulous. You hear about two degrees Celsius of warming. To most people, that’s just an imperceivable difference on their home thermostat. But our findings here are tangible.” www.kqed.org/science/1998...

California’s Ancient Glaciers Are Melting Away for the First Time in Human History | KQED

New research shows that California's Sierra Nevada glaciers, which will vanish in decades, have remained intact for at least 10,000 years.

www.kqed.org

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Danielle Venton @dventon.bsky.social · 9d

Aw, thank you. It's more out of disorganization and laziness! I just need to get my act together

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Danielle Venton @dventon.bsky.social · 9d

much more sensible

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Danielle Venton @dventon.bsky.social · 11d

Help a journalist friend?

Krista Langlois @cestmoilanglois.bsky.social · 17d

Do you work in conservation science, particularly outside the U.S.? Did you lose your job or funding for your job because of cuts to U.S. federal agencies? Do you want to talk about it? DM me please. (This is for a @biographic.bsky.social story)

[Iceland photo for attention only]

Grassy dunes, the ocean, and jagged mountains in Iceland

Reposted by Danielle Venton

Madeleine Bonsma-Fisher, PhD @mbonsma.bsky.social · 11d

Dr. Hayhoe's framing has changed my life. I talk to people often who are cynical and despondent. I'm an anxious overthinker myself, but acting like I have hope, doing the practice of hope, has given me actual hope too. Why not act like you can make a difference? Why not try?

Katharine Hayhoe @katharinehayhoe.com · Jan 9

I define hope as the belief that our actions can make a difference. For me, it's not an emotion but rather a daily practice.

Every week I share good news of climate solutions, not-so-good news on how climate change is affecting our lives, and something concrete we can do about it.

Subscribe here:

Talking Climate | Katharine Hayhoe | Substack

Subscribe to Katharine's newsletter for a clear-eyed and hopeful look at climate science and solutions. Receive weekly climate updates, good climate news, event information, ideas on things to do and ...

www.talkingclimate.ca

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Danielle Venton @dventon.bsky.social · 17d

Enjoying exploring the new Drawdown tool

Project Drawdown @projectdrawdown.bsky.social · 17d

The Drawdown Explorer has launched! Get ready to:
build with it, invest with it, plan with it, lead with it!

And help us spread the word! ⬇️

#drawdownexplorer #climatesolutions #projectdrawdown

drawdown.org/explorer

Drawdown® Explorer

We know what we need to do: stop climate change as quickly as possible. Now, with the Drawdown Explorer, we know how to do it.

drawdown.org

Reposted by Danielle Venton

Sharon Lerner @fastlerner.bsky.social · Aug 22

After reading through the descriptions of the autism-related research projects that were cut, I was struck by how complicated the science is — especially when compared to the simple (and debunked) theory that vaccines cause autism.

www.propublica.org/article/rfk-...

RFK Jr. Vowed to Find the Environmental Causes of Autism. Then He Shut Down Research Trying to Do Just That.

While touting a $50 million initiative to identify the causes of autism, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is helping lead an administration that is rolling back protections against pollution and toxic chemicals,...

www.propublica.org

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Reposted by Danielle Venton

Sara Gaiser @akrazia.bsky.social · Aug 21

We get a really really big deportation machine.

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Danielle Venton @dventon.bsky.social · Aug 21

All this tax increase and we don't even get awesome schools, universal healthcare, transportation infrastructure and cleaner air and water

Kai Ryssdal @kairyssdal.bsky.social · Aug 21

What Danielle said.

According to the Yale Budget Lab, the average effective tariff rate in this economy right now is 18.2%

Let me put that another way.

President Trump has raised taxes on American businesses and consumers by -- on average -- 18.2%

Danielle Kurtzleben @titonka.bsky.social · Aug 21

A thing I really need people to keep in mind: 15% tariffs are high, historically speaking. 10% tariffs are high.

The average effective tariff rate before this term was just over 2%. Anything double-digits is high!

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Reposted by Danielle Venton

Danielle Kurtzleben @titonka.bsky.social · Aug 19

Chopping wood. Fishing. Dropping an f-bomb. Kettlebell swings for the love of God. Beard. “I’m very angry.”

My political ad guy-meter just broke.

Graham Platner for Senate @grahamformaine.bsky.social · Aug 19

My name is Graham Platner and I’m running for US Senate to defeat Susan Collins and topple the oligarchy that’s destroying our country.

I’m a veteran, oysterman, and working class Mainer who’s seen this state become unlivable for working people. And that makes me deeply angry.

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Danielle Venton @dventon.bsky.social · Aug 16

I'm so sorry to hear that. That sounds horrifying.

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Danielle Venton @dventon.bsky.social · Aug 15

Yikes

KQED Science @kqedscience.bsky.social · Aug 15

Valley fever, a fungal infection once seen mostly in California’s Central Valley, is now appearing more often in parts of the Bay Area.

California Valley Fever Cases on Track for Record High | KQED

Valley fever, a fungal infection once seen mostly in California’s Central Valley, is now appearing more often in parts of the Bay Area.

www.kqed.org

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Danielle Venton @dventon.bsky.social · Aug 14

this is an incredible video. thanks for sharing

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Reposted by Danielle Venton

KQED News @kqednews.kqed.org · Aug 13

Residents In California’s Most Polluted Communities Call For Local Climate Change Focus

This comes as the legislature is expected to debate the future of the state's program to fight climate change next week.

dlvr.it

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Danielle Venton @dventon.bsky.social · Aug 13

I'll admit to having a soft, warm spot in my otherwise cold, cold heart for geothermal

The Climate Center @theclimatecenter.bsky.social · Aug 13

✨ Recent advances in geothermal technology mean that generating clean, round-the-clock geothermal power could soon be possible almost anywhere. On August 28, join us to learn more about Advanced Geothermal Energy Systems. Register now: https://loom.ly/EUYy2bg

@asmdianepapan.bsky.social

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Reposted by Danielle Venton

Brian Watt @radiobwatt.bsky.social · Aug 13

www.kqed.org/news/1205190...

Casual Carpooling Has Officially Returned to the Bay Area | KQED

A widely publicized launch from an Oakland site may have produced modest results, but advocates celebrated the first time communal carpools have rolled across the Bay Bridge in more than five years.

www.kqed.org

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Reposted by Danielle Venton

Terre Logsdon @terreal.bsky.social · Aug 12

If you care about the climate, give this a listen. Sobering.

Daniel Swain @weatherwest.bsky.social · Aug 11

I published a video focused on my perspective on the 1.5°C temperature target and what it will mean to exceed it. This monologue is an honest (and unvarnished) scientifically-informed personal reflection, so I hope you'll give it a listen. #ClimateChange www.youtube.com/watc...

Thoughts from a climate scientist on what it means to exceed the 1.5°C global warming target

In 2015, global nations pledged to take actions to limit global warming to 1.5°C (2.7°F) above the pre-industrial baseline temperature in what has come to be known as the "Paris Agreement." In 2023 and 2024, global temperatures approached or even exceeded that warming target on a temporary basis--an

www.youtube.com

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