John Vaillant
@johnvaillant.bsky.social
I write about collisions between human ambition and the natural world: The Golden Spruce, The Tiger, The Jaguar's Children,
FIRE WEATHER: @pulitzerprizes.bsky.social
10 Best Books: @nytimes.com
https://www.lyceumagency.com/speakers/john-vailla
FIRE WEATHER: @pulitzerprizes.bsky.social
10 Best Books: @nytimes.com
https://www.lyceumagency.com/speakers/john-vailla
Reposted by John Vaillant
Reposted by John Vaillant
Amazon doesn't admit how many data centers they run. It's already over 900.
Amazon has twice as many data centres worldwide as previously reported
Amazon uses far more data centres across the globe—and has a bigger impact on the environment—than previously reported, leaked data reveals.
www.source-material.org
November 25, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Amazon doesn't admit how many data centers they run. It's already over 900.
Reposted by John Vaillant
Reposted by John Vaillant
Two miles of ice core on the shelf at our national ice core facility in Lakewood, Colorado. The WAIS Divide core from West Antarctica is a 3400m long (deepest US core, 2nd deepest ice core ever) 68,000 year old record of high resolution climate.
November 24, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Two miles of ice core on the shelf at our national ice core facility in Lakewood, Colorado. The WAIS Divide core from West Antarctica is a 3400m long (deepest US core, 2nd deepest ice core ever) 68,000 year old record of high resolution climate.
Reposted by John Vaillant
The perception of Canada has soured as news about fossil fuel subsidies, an LNG project, a gas pipeline and even reports about a new bitumen pipeline all landed during the climate negotiations. www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/24/o...
A tough climate summit for Canada
Labeled the "Fossil of the Day" at COP30, Canada faces accusations of pulling back climate policies while pushing forward fossil subsidies and projects. But the committee seemed particularly stung by ...
www.nationalobserver.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:30 PM
The perception of Canada has soured as news about fossil fuel subsidies, an LNG project, a gas pipeline and even reports about a new bitumen pipeline all landed during the climate negotiations. www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/24/o...
Reposted by John Vaillant
Meta halted internal research that purportedly showed (young) people who stopped using Facebook became less depressed and anxious, according to an unredacted legal filing released on Friday. www.cnbc.com/2025/11/23/m...
Meta halted internal research suggesting social media harm, court filing alleges
Meta is alleged to have halted internal research suggesting social media harm, according to court documents.
www.cnbc.com
November 24, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Meta halted internal research that purportedly showed (young) people who stopped using Facebook became less depressed and anxious, according to an unredacted legal filing released on Friday. www.cnbc.com/2025/11/23/m...
The Siletz tribe took apart the 20,000 pound humpback after it was euthanized Monday.
‘An incredible privilege and a daunting task’: Oregon tribe harvests beached whale for the first time in generations
The Siletz tribe took apart the 20,000 pound humpback after it was euthanized Monday.
www.oregonlive.com
November 24, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Reposted by John Vaillant
Reposted by John Vaillant
The Siletz tribe took apart the 20,000 pound humpback after it was euthanized Monday.
‘An incredible privilege and a daunting task’: Oregon tribe harvests beached whale for the first time in generations
The Siletz tribe took apart the 20,000 pound humpback after it was euthanized Monday.
www.oregonlive.com
November 22, 2025 at 4:30 AM
The Siletz tribe took apart the 20,000 pound humpback after it was euthanized Monday.
Reposted by John Vaillant
Jimmy Cliff has crossed the last of his many rivers.
RIP to a maestro.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/a...
RIP to a maestro.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/a...
Jimmy Cliff, Reggae Icon, Dies at 81
www.nytimes.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Jimmy Cliff has crossed the last of his many rivers.
RIP to a maestro.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/a...
RIP to a maestro.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/a...
Reposted by John Vaillant
Boston's Mayor Wu playing with Yo-Yo Ma at Symphony Hall
November 23, 2025 at 5:11 AM
Boston's Mayor Wu playing with Yo-Yo Ma at Symphony Hall
To say that I was elated a few days ago when I found out that a Peter Matthiessen biography (by Lance Richardson) had been published is selling it short. His Far Tortuga, which is phonetically and structurally challenging, is one of the finest novelistic achievements in American fiction.
November 23, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Reposted by John Vaillant
way too many metaphors out there right now www.nytimes.com/2025/11/20/c...
Fire Breaks Out at COP30 Climate Talks in Brazil
www.nytimes.com
November 22, 2025 at 11:43 PM
way too many metaphors out there right now www.nytimes.com/2025/11/20/c...
Reposted by John Vaillant
Have seen this first-hand when travelling through Kenya and Ethiopia - every town had a 'solar shop' and mobile phones had leapfrogged landlines, with mobile credit a defacto currency.
Very cool to see community innovation just take over!
share.google/Hih4QsBTqwGS...
Very cool to see community innovation just take over!
share.google/Hih4QsBTqwGS...
Accessible, cheap clean energy could spark a new world order
Unshackled from legacy fossil fuel interests, the world’s clean energy future is being forged in the bustling cities of the global south.
share.google
November 22, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Have seen this first-hand when travelling through Kenya and Ethiopia - every town had a 'solar shop' and mobile phones had leapfrogged landlines, with mobile credit a defacto currency.
Very cool to see community innovation just take over!
share.google/Hih4QsBTqwGS...
Very cool to see community innovation just take over!
share.google/Hih4QsBTqwGS...
Reposted by John Vaillant
💬 "Wars cannot be ended by major powers over the heads of the countries involved," German Chancellor Merz says.
November 22, 2025 at 4:11 PM
💬 "Wars cannot be ended by major powers over the heads of the countries involved," German Chancellor Merz says.
US ambassador Pete Hoekstra's 'diplomacy' in Canada uses the same bullying, coercive playbook as Trump's "peace plan' for #Ukraine @liberalca.bsky.social @markcarneyforpm.bsky.social
November 22, 2025 at 3:30 PM
US ambassador Pete Hoekstra's 'diplomacy' in Canada uses the same bullying, coercive playbook as Trump's "peace plan' for #Ukraine @liberalca.bsky.social @markcarneyforpm.bsky.social
Reposted by John Vaillant
Despite challenges Amtrak closes FY 25 with record ridership and revenue. People want to ride trains! Give the people more trains!
www.masstransitmag.com/rail/news/55...
www.masstransitmag.com/rail/news/55...
Amtrak closes FY25 with record ridership, revenue
The company spent the past fiscal year launching new services and improving the customer experience with new trains and upgraded safety policies.
www.masstransitmag.com
November 21, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Despite challenges Amtrak closes FY 25 with record ridership and revenue. People want to ride trains! Give the people more trains!
www.masstransitmag.com/rail/news/55...
www.masstransitmag.com/rail/news/55...
And leave her free to celebrate Jan. 6 in her own unique fashion
Ah, that explains MTG's odd resignation date; the Congressional pension vests after five years.
November 22, 2025 at 3:23 PM
And leave her free to celebrate Jan. 6 in her own unique fashion
Reposted by John Vaillant
A climate deal without explicit language calling for a fossil fuel phaseout is like a ceasefire without explicit language calling for a suspension of hostilities.
#COP30
#COP30
November 22, 2025 at 2:54 PM
A climate deal without explicit language calling for a fossil fuel phaseout is like a ceasefire without explicit language calling for a suspension of hostilities.
#COP30
#COP30
Reposted by John Vaillant
Bright Auroras over Stonehenge tonight.
Go out and look up tonight. Auroras are expected to be even more bright and vivid tonight.
Some info about these auroras: Red auroras occur about 125–250 miles high, green about 60–90 miles, and pink around 55–75 miles above Earth’s surface.
Go out and look up tonight. Auroras are expected to be even more bright and vivid tonight.
Some info about these auroras: Red auroras occur about 125–250 miles high, green about 60–90 miles, and pink around 55–75 miles above Earth’s surface.
November 21, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Bright Auroras over Stonehenge tonight.
Go out and look up tonight. Auroras are expected to be even more bright and vivid tonight.
Some info about these auroras: Red auroras occur about 125–250 miles high, green about 60–90 miles, and pink around 55–75 miles above Earth’s surface.
Go out and look up tonight. Auroras are expected to be even more bright and vivid tonight.
Some info about these auroras: Red auroras occur about 125–250 miles high, green about 60–90 miles, and pink around 55–75 miles above Earth’s surface.
Reposted by John Vaillant
the son he always wanted
November 21, 2025 at 9:25 PM
the son he always wanted
Reposted by John Vaillant
Toyota's Woven City is a lot more than just a test course for AVs. Here's what we know so far.
insideevs.com/news/779686/...
insideevs.com/news/779686/...
Toyota Built This Entire City Around Autonomous Vehicles. Here's What Life Is Like There
Toyota's Woven City is more than just a test course for AVs. Plus: Nvidia's car business is booming, and the Biden-era EV charging investments are paying off.
insideevs.com
November 21, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Toyota's Woven City is a lot more than just a test course for AVs. Here's what we know so far.
insideevs.com/news/779686/...
insideevs.com/news/779686/...
Reposted by John Vaillant
Almost a year now since I received this absolutely classic burn from the Canadian government.
November 21, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Almost a year now since I received this absolutely classic burn from the Canadian government.