Alec Luhn
@alecluhn.com
Environment reporter @NewScientist.com | Kavli, Schmidt & Covering Climate Now winner π | 2x Emmy nominee | non-beefeater π | icemushroom.substack.com βοΈ
Pinned
Alec Luhn
@alecluhn.com
Β· Nov 14
Why Are Alaska's Rivers Turning Orange?
Streams in Alaska are turning orange with iron and sulfuric acid. Scientists are trying to figure out why
www.scientificamerican.com
'Why Are Alaska's Rivers Turning Orange?' won a Kavli π
I'm humbled & thankful to AAAS to be recognized with the oldest US science journalism award.
Covering climate science feels more high-stakes than ever before...
sjawards.aaas.org/news/2024-aa...
www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-...
I'm humbled & thankful to AAAS to be recognized with the oldest US science journalism award.
Covering climate science feels more high-stakes than ever before...
sjawards.aaas.org/news/2024-aa...
www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-...
ICE now trying to deport Native Americans. Guys, their name literally spells it out for you
Looks like ICE is now cracking down on β¦ Native Americans.
This letter was just posted by the chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in North/South Dakota:
βOur Nation is a sovereign government and our members are not immigrants. We are not subject to immigration enforcement on our own lands.β
This letter was just posted by the chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in North/South Dakota:
βOur Nation is a sovereign government and our members are not immigrants. We are not subject to immigration enforcement on our own lands.β
January 10, 2026 at 2:20 PM
ICE now trying to deport Native Americans. Guys, their name literally spells it out for you
Cutting & dumping boreal trees into rivers flowing to the Arctic Ocean, where they would sink, could be a cheap way to remove atmospheric CO2.
Pros: It's happened before, & wildfires are increasingly burning down the forest
Cons: Almost every step could backfire www.newscientist.com/article/2510...
Pros: It's happened before, & wildfires are increasingly burning down the forest
Cons: Almost every step could backfire www.newscientist.com/article/2510...
Sinking trees in Arctic Ocean could remove 1 billion tonnes of CO2
Cutting down boreal forest and sinking the felled trees in the depths of the Arctic Ocean could remove up to 1 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere each year β but it could come at a c...
www.newscientist.com
January 10, 2026 at 1:56 PM
Cutting & dumping boreal trees into rivers flowing to the Arctic Ocean, where they would sink, could be a cheap way to remove atmospheric CO2.
Pros: It's happened before, & wildfires are increasingly burning down the forest
Cons: Almost every step could backfire www.newscientist.com/article/2510...
Pros: It's happened before, & wildfires are increasingly burning down the forest
Cons: Almost every step could backfire www.newscientist.com/article/2510...
Banning business class could halve aviation emissions, along with flying most efficient current planes & loading them fuller www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Revealed: how aviation emissions could be halved without cutting journeys
Exclusive: Getting rid of premium seats, ensuring flights are near full and using efficient aircraft could slash CO2, analysis suggests
www.theguardian.com
January 7, 2026 at 11:52 AM
Banning business class could halve aviation emissions, along with flying most efficient current planes & loading them fuller www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Subsidizing green tech now & putting a price on CO2 emissions in 2035 could get the US most of the way to net zero by 2050β& cost far less than delaying.
But current US policy inconsistencyβTrump canceling Biden green subsidiesβis the "worst case on all fronts" www.newscientist.com/article/2509...
But current US policy inconsistencyβTrump canceling Biden green subsidiesβis the "worst case on all fronts" www.newscientist.com/article/2509...
US will need both carrots and sticks to reach net zero
Modelling suggests both carbon taxes and green subsidies will be necessary to decarbonise the US economy, but the inconsistent policies of successive presidents are the "worst case" scenario
www.newscientist.com
January 6, 2026 at 12:29 PM
Subsidizing green tech now & putting a price on CO2 emissions in 2035 could get the US most of the way to net zero by 2050β& cost far less than delaying.
But current US policy inconsistencyβTrump canceling Biden green subsidiesβis the "worst case on all fronts" www.newscientist.com/article/2509...
But current US policy inconsistencyβTrump canceling Biden green subsidiesβis the "worst case on all fronts" www.newscientist.com/article/2509...
The Arctic is going to suffer 1.5C of βirreversibleβ warming even if we reduce global temperatures to preindustrial.
Meaning continued melt of sea ice & the Greenland ice sheet, in the best case.
This is one of several Arctic stories in my latest newsletter: icemushroom.substack.com/p/december-i...
Meaning continued melt of sea ice & the Greenland ice sheet, in the best case.
This is one of several Arctic stories in my latest newsletter: icemushroom.substack.com/p/december-i...
January 6, 2026 at 9:56 AM
The Arctic is going to suffer 1.5C of βirreversibleβ warming even if we reduce global temperatures to preindustrial.
Meaning continued melt of sea ice & the Greenland ice sheet, in the best case.
This is one of several Arctic stories in my latest newsletter: icemushroom.substack.com/p/december-i...
Meaning continued melt of sea ice & the Greenland ice sheet, in the best case.
This is one of several Arctic stories in my latest newsletter: icemushroom.substack.com/p/december-i...
One of the 1st sediment cores from Greenland shows a 500m thick ice dome melted entirely at warming similar to what we'll likely see by 2100.
"This is very direct evidence that the ice sheet is as sensitive as we feared to even a relatively small amount of warming." newscientist.com/article/2510...
"This is very direct evidence that the ice sheet is as sensitive as we feared to even a relatively small amount of warming." newscientist.com/article/2510...
Northern Greenland ice dome melted before and could melt again
Prudhoe Ice Dome disappeared during a warm period 7000 years ago. Global warming could cause similar temperatures by 2100, showing the ice sheetβs vulnerability
newscientist.com
January 5, 2026 at 6:55 PM
One of the 1st sediment cores from Greenland shows a 500m thick ice dome melted entirely at warming similar to what we'll likely see by 2100.
"This is very direct evidence that the ice sheet is as sensitive as we feared to even a relatively small amount of warming." newscientist.com/article/2510...
"This is very direct evidence that the ice sheet is as sensitive as we feared to even a relatively small amount of warming." newscientist.com/article/2510...
Reposted by Alec Luhn
An explorer and a glaciologist are kite-skiing across Antarctica with a ground-penetrating radar to gather data that will help understand the past and future of the ice sheet
The duo kite-skiing 4000 kilometres across Antarctica for science
An explorer and a glaciologist are kite-skiing across Antarctica with a ground-penetrating radar to gather data that will help understand the past and future of the ice sheet
www.newscientist.com
January 5, 2026 at 6:42 PM
An explorer and a glaciologist are kite-skiing across Antarctica with a ground-penetrating radar to gather data that will help understand the past and future of the ice sheet
Well, that should get Trump to back down news.sky.com/story/uk-gov...
Starmer says he stands with Greenland after Trump threatens to take it over
Donald Trump has said the US "does need Greenland", prompting concern he will invade the Danish territory after attacking Venezuela and capturing the country's president.
news.sky.com
January 5, 2026 at 12:58 PM
Well, that should get Trump to back down news.sky.com/story/uk-gov...
Reposted by Alec Luhn
What could go wrong? π€·π»ββοΈ
U.S. Ran a War Game on Ousting Maduro. Venezuela Fell Into Chaos.
www.nytimes.com
January 4, 2026 at 10:31 AM
What could go wrong? π€·π»ββοΈ
Reposted by Alec Luhn
Let the party begin:
βMyers said in an interview he is planning a trip to Venezuela with officials from top hedge funds and asset managers to determine whether there are investment prospects in the country under new leadership.β (H/t @antoniajuhasz.bsky.social) www.wsj.com/livecoverage...
βMyers said in an interview he is planning a trip to Venezuela with officials from top hedge funds and asset managers to determine whether there are investment prospects in the country under new leadership.β (H/t @antoniajuhasz.bsky.social) www.wsj.com/livecoverage...
Finance Industry Eyes Investment Opportunities in Venezuela
Some on Wall Street are already considering possible investment opportunities in Venezuela following the capture of NicolΓ‘s Maduro, according to Charles Myers, chairman of consulting firm Signum Globa...
www.wsj.com
January 3, 2026 at 7:57 PM
Let the party begin:
βMyers said in an interview he is planning a trip to Venezuela with officials from top hedge funds and asset managers to determine whether there are investment prospects in the country under new leadership.β (H/t @antoniajuhasz.bsky.social) www.wsj.com/livecoverage...
βMyers said in an interview he is planning a trip to Venezuela with officials from top hedge funds and asset managers to determine whether there are investment prospects in the country under new leadership.β (H/t @antoniajuhasz.bsky.social) www.wsj.com/livecoverage...
Reposted by Alec Luhn
I still canβt get used to Marjorie Taylor Greene being the person in Congress thatβs most meeting the moment.
January 3, 2026 at 7:48 PM
I still canβt get used to Marjorie Taylor Greene being the person in Congress thatβs most meeting the moment.
Reposted by Alec Luhn
Theyβve got Twitter up on the big screens in Trumpβs Mar-a-Lago makeshift βsituation room.β
Photos from Trumpβs Truth Social account.
Photos from Trumpβs Truth Social account.
January 3, 2026 at 6:13 PM
Theyβve got Twitter up on the big screens in Trumpβs Mar-a-Lago makeshift βsituation room.β
Photos from Trumpβs Truth Social account.
Photos from Trumpβs Truth Social account.
Reposted by Alec Luhn
International law won't constrain Trump's thirst for oil. But every solar panel that goes up makes crude reserves that much less valuable
billmckibben.substack.com/p/just-possi...
billmckibben.substack.com/p/just-possi...
Just possibly it's the oil?
A solar panel is the new peace sign
billmckibben.substack.com
January 3, 2026 at 4:11 PM
International law won't constrain Trump's thirst for oil. But every solar panel that goes up makes crude reserves that much less valuable
billmckibben.substack.com/p/just-possi...
billmckibben.substack.com/p/just-possi...
Itβs one of those times when old @theonion.com headlines become newly relevant
January 3, 2026 at 6:20 PM
Itβs one of those times when old @theonion.com headlines become newly relevant
Reposted by Alec Luhn
The Washington Post editorial board comes out in favor of the Venezuela attack/operation to capture Maduro
January 3, 2026 at 4:01 PM
The Washington Post editorial board comes out in favor of the Venezuela attack/operation to capture Maduro
Reposted by Alec Luhn
Trump just said what it is all about.
The sooner the world sheds its addiction to fossil fuels, the better. The alternatives are available, plentiful and cheaper.
The sooner the world sheds its addiction to fossil fuels, the better. The alternatives are available, plentiful and cheaper.
January 3, 2026 at 5:24 PM
Trump just said what it is all about.
The sooner the world sheds its addiction to fossil fuels, the better. The alternatives are available, plentiful and cheaper.
The sooner the world sheds its addiction to fossil fuels, the better. The alternatives are available, plentiful and cheaper.
Reposted by Alec Luhn
This all seems pretty unbecoming of a FIFA Peace Prize winner
January 3, 2026 at 2:42 PM
This all seems pretty unbecoming of a FIFA Peace Prize winner
Reposted by Alec Luhn
If your position is that regime change should be forced on countries where the president does not respect democratic norms and regularly kidnaps opponents using an officially sanctioned paramiliatary, have I got news for you about your position on the United States
January 3, 2026 at 1:45 PM
If your position is that regime change should be forced on countries where the president does not respect democratic norms and regularly kidnaps opponents using an officially sanctioned paramiliatary, have I got news for you about your position on the United States
Me a few hours ago: Wow, Trump is actually going to get away with this.
Me now: Heβs not going to get away with this.
Me now: Heβs not going to get away with this.
Trump on Venezuela: "We're going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper, and judicious transition"
January 3, 2026 at 5:07 PM
Me a few hours ago: Wow, Trump is actually going to get away with this.
Me now: Heβs not going to get away with this.
Me now: Heβs not going to get away with this.
Reposted by Alec Luhn
2026 has been a long year.
January 3, 2026 at 10:07 AM
2026 has been a long year.
Not strategic, not legal, not popular:
January 3, 2026 at 10:10 AM
Not strategic, not legal, not popular:
Reposted by Alec Luhn
Happy 2026! To start the year, here's a tree ring chiton, a 5cm ocean mollusk that sticks to rocks. Instead of having obvious eyes on a head, it's got 100s of tiny eyes embedded in the hard plates on its back, each with a rock crystal to focus light. Its top is one big eye spying on the world above
January 1, 2026 at 7:38 AM
Happy 2026! To start the year, here's a tree ring chiton, a 5cm ocean mollusk that sticks to rocks. Instead of having obvious eyes on a head, it's got 100s of tiny eyes embedded in the hard plates on its back, each with a rock crystal to focus light. Its top is one big eye spying on the world above
Reposted by Alec Luhn
2025 was the warmest year on record for Central England in a dataset that starts in 1659.
(Daily data available since 1772.)
www.metoffice.gov.uk/hadobs/hadce...
(Daily data available since 1772.)
www.metoffice.gov.uk/hadobs/hadce...
January 1, 2026 at 2:56 PM
2025 was the warmest year on record for Central England in a dataset that starts in 1659.
(Daily data available since 1772.)
www.metoffice.gov.uk/hadobs/hadce...
(Daily data available since 1772.)
www.metoffice.gov.uk/hadobs/hadce...