scientificamerican--2020-11-13--A Butterfly's Brilliant Blue Wings Lead to Less Toxic Paint

The vibrant blue hues of morpho butterflies ’ wings have long captivated not only lepidopterists but also chemists .
The latter ’ s interest stems from the intricate nanoscale protein structures that are layered within the wings : their shapes act like prisms , reflecting a stunning cerulean color .
Materials scientists hope to eventually harness these structures ’ properties to make products such as paint and cosmetics—without dyes and pigments that can be harmful to human health and the environment .
Figuring out how to affordably apply this “ structural color ” concept to a wide range of products @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at a Berkeley , Calif.–based start-up called Cypris Materials say they are closing in on a way to do so .
Without using dyes or pigments , they say , they have developed colorants that can produce hues in the ultraviolet , visible and near-infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum—and that can be used in applications from automotive paints to printer inks and nail polish .
“ They ’ ve made progress in a field that desperately needs innovation , and it looks like they ’ ve made the jump from the laboratory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s super impressive , ” says John Warner , a distinguished research fellow at the company Zymergen and a pioneer of green chemistry , who was not involved in Cypris Materials ’ work .
Traditional pigments and dyes have been used for centuries to add color to fabric and paints and for other everyday applications .
They impart various hues through the way they absorb or reflect light .
Red dye in a shirt , for example , contains molecular components called chromophores , which absorb the wavelengths of light in all colors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see .
But some of the chemicals involved , such as azo dyes , contain materials linked to cancer and other harmful effects .
Many countries have banned them .
Structural color , however , comes from microscopic structures whose varying shapes reflect or refract light in different ways .
The tiny scales on a morpho butterfly ’ s wings , for example , are covered with minuscule ridges that have cross-ribs—a little like the profile of a fir tree .
These formations refract specific light wavelengths to produce a brilliant blue .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ example , helically arranged cellulose microfibers make marble berries glisten with a shiny , metallic shade of blue .
Scientists are still studying the finer details of the ways structural color manifests in nature .
But they already know that the sizes and volumes of the features in a structure and the material itself are what principally determine how light bounces off that structure—and what color results .
Cypris Materials creates structure-based colorants using what are known as self-assembling block copolymers .
They are long chains of molecules that in this case stitch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plastics , such as polyacrylates or polyesters .
When formulated into a paint or ink and applied to a surface , these copolymers arrange themselves into neatly ordered layered structures that refract light .
To grasp how this works , imagine gummy worms that are half yellow and half green , with each color representing a different plastic .
If a big bagful of these worms were arranged so that each gummy ’ s yellow and green parts only touched the same colored halves of other gummies , they would form a multilayered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this on their own when put into a solution , with the length of the polymer chain determining the wavelength of light reflected .
Short copolymer chains refract shorter wavelengths of light : ultraviolet , blues and greens .
Longer chains refract longer wavelengths in the orange , red and near-infrared parts of the spectrum .
Self-assembling copolymers are not new , but the company says it has made two key advancements : its materials self-assemble under everyday environmental conditions , such as when paint is applied , and can create the longer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Being able to get it out into the redder colors—no one has been able to do that ” with structural color , says Robert Grubbs , a Nobel Prize–winning chemistry professor at the California Institute of Technology and a co-founder of the company who works in an advisory role .
“ They ’ ve come a lot further than I thought was going to be possible.
” The new colorants come in a powdered form that Cypris Materials says can be incorporated into manufacturing processes—added to paint in an automotive spray @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into nail polish .
The colorants also act like binders , chemicals that are added to hold pigments and dyes in solution while the paint dries on a surface .
“ We ’ re simplifying paint , ” says the company ’ s co-founder and acting CEO Ryan Pearson .
Traditionally , “ people need to add in pigment .
They also need to add in extra additives just to stabilize the paint .
Not only are we removing the need for pigments and dyes , we ’ re taking out the need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stabilize it.
” Other chemicals frequently added to paints to help stabilize the pigments include surfactants .
It remains to be seen if the new colorants will render those chemicals unnecessary , but “ if they ’ re able to replace surfactants or formulate without the use of alkylphenols [ chemicals widely used in paints to prevent separation ] , that would certainly be a positive development in our view , ” says Teresa McGrath , chief research officer at the Healthy Building Network , a nonprofit organization that promotes the use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not linked to Cypris Materials .
The new method contrasts with other applications of structural color , such as those used to create films that can be applied to windows to improve insulation and save energy .
That technique involves creating and combining many layers of film to achieve a structure that reflects infrared light .
But those films can only be applied to certain surfaces , making the new structural color technology potentially more versatile .
The start-up ’ s colorants still have hurdles to overcome and possible limitations .
For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to compete pricewise with some pigments , such as titanium dioxide .
The company also still needs to do a full analysis of its copolymers and manufacturing processes to confirm that its colorants are indeed safer and more environmentally friendly than traditional dyes and pigments .
“ It ’ s not going to be perfect , ” Warner says .
But “ the enemy of the excellent is the perfect .
Science works by these kinds of steps forward .
”

The vibrant blue hues of morpho butterflies’ wings have long captivated not only lepidopterists but also chemists. The latter’s interest stems from the intricate nanoscale protein structures that are layered within the wings: their shapes act like prisms, reflecting a stunning cerulean color. Materials scientists hope to eventually harness these structures’ properties to make products such as paint and cosmetics—without dyes and pigments that can be harmful to human health and the environment.
Figuring out how to affordably apply this “structural color” concept to a wide range of products has been tricky. But now chemists at a Berkeley, Calif.–based start-up called Cypris Materials say they are closing in on a way to do so. Without using dyes or pigments, they say, they have developed colorants that can produce hues in the ultraviolet, visible and near-infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum—and that can be used in applications from automotive paints to printer inks and nail polish. “They’ve made progress in a field that desperately needs innovation, and it looks like they’ve made the jump from the laboratory to the real world. That’s super impressive,” says John Warner, a distinguished research fellow at the company Zymergen and a pioneer of green chemistry, who was not involved in Cypris Materials’ work.
Traditional pigments and dyes have been used for centuries to add color to fabric and paints and for other everyday applications. They impart various hues through the way they absorb or reflect light. Red dye in a shirt, for example, contains molecular components called chromophores, which absorb the wavelengths of light in all colors except for red—so red is what we see. But some of the chemicals involved, such as azo dyes, contain materials linked to cancer and other harmful effects. Many countries have banned them.
Structural color, however, comes from microscopic structures whose varying shapes reflect or refract light in different ways. The tiny scales on a morpho butterfly’s wings, for example, are covered with minuscule ridges that have cross-ribs—a little like the profile of a fir tree. These formations refract specific light wavelengths to produce a brilliant blue. Other structures create similar effects: for example, helically arranged cellulose microfibers make marble berries glisten with a shiny, metallic shade of blue. Scientists are still studying the finer details of the ways structural color manifests in nature. But they already know that the sizes and volumes of the features in a structure and the material itself are what principally determine how light bounces off that structure—and what color results.
A sampple of Cypris Materials’ opalescent structural color spanning the visible spectrum. Credit: Ryan Pearson
Cypris Materials creates structure-based colorants using what are known as self-assembling block copolymers. They are long chains of molecules that in this case stitch together two different types of commonly used plastics, such as polyacrylates or polyesters. When formulated into a paint or ink and applied to a surface, these copolymers arrange themselves into neatly ordered layered structures that refract light. To grasp how this works, imagine gummy worms that are half yellow and half green, with each color representing a different plastic. If a big bagful of these worms were arranged so that each gummy’s yellow and green parts only touched the same colored halves of other gummies, they would form a multilayered structure. Cypris’s copolymers do this on their own when put into a solution, with the length of the polymer chain determining the wavelength of light reflected. Short copolymer chains refract shorter wavelengths of light: ultraviolet, blues and greens. Longer chains refract longer wavelengths in the orange, red and near-infrared parts of the spectrum.
Self-assembling copolymers are not new, but the company says it has made two key advancements: its materials self-assemble under everyday environmental conditions, such as when paint is applied, and can create the longer chains that reflect long wavelengths of light. “Being able to get it out into the redder colors—no one has been able to do that” with structural color, says Robert Grubbs, a Nobel Prize–winning chemistry professor at the California Institute of Technology and a co-founder of the company who works in an advisory role. “They’ve come a lot further than I thought was going to be possible.”
The new colorants come in a powdered form that Cypris Materials says can be incorporated into manufacturing processes—added to paint in an automotive spray gun, for example, or mixed into nail polish. The colorants also act like binders, chemicals that are added to hold pigments and dyes in solution while the paint dries on a surface. “We’re simplifying paint,” says the company’s co-founder and acting CEO Ryan Pearson. Traditionally, “people need to add in pigment. They also need to add in extra additives just to stabilize the paint. Not only are we removing the need for pigments and dyes, we’re taking out the need for all of the stuff around it to stabilize it.”
Other chemicals frequently added to paints to help stabilize the pigments include surfactants. It remains to be seen if the new colorants will render those chemicals unnecessary, but “if they’re able to replace surfactants or formulate without the use of alkylphenols [chemicals widely used in paints to prevent separation], that would certainly be a positive development in our view,” says Teresa McGrath, chief research officer at the Healthy Building Network, a nonprofit organization that promotes the use of sustainable and less toxic materials and is not linked to Cypris Materials.
The new method contrasts with other applications of structural color, such as those used to create films that can be applied to windows to improve insulation and save energy. That technique involves creating and combining many layers of film to achieve a structure that reflects infrared light. But those films can only be applied to certain surfaces, making the new structural color technology potentially more versatile.
The start-up’s colorants still have hurdles to overcome and possible limitations. For example, they may not be able to compete pricewise with some pigments, such as titanium dioxide. The company also still needs to do a full analysis of its copolymers and manufacturing processes to confirm that its colorants are indeed safer and more environmentally friendly than traditional dyes and pigments. “It’s not going to be perfect,” Warner says. But “the enemy of the excellent is the perfect. Science works by these kinds of steps forward.”


scientificamerican--2020-11-13--Coronavirus News Roundup, November 7-November 13

The items below are highlights from the free newsletter , “ Smart , useful , science stuff about COVID-19.
” To receive newsletter issues daily in your inbox , sign up here .
You probably heard about Pfizer and BioNTech 's announcement on Monday ( 11/9/20 ) that early results of their large-scale Phase 3 human study of a vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 show that it has a whopping 90 percent effectiveness .
The results have not yet been published or scrutinized by outside experts , but no one anticipated such a positive result and many scientists are excited ( although @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , director of the University of Minnesota ’ s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy , in Matthew Herper ’ s 11/9/20 story at STAT ) .
In an 11/11/20 episode of health-care policy wonk Andy Slavitt ’ s “ In the Bubble ” podcast , cardiologist Dr. Eric Topol of Scripps Research Translational Institute said that the Pfizer/BioNTech announcement bodes well for Moderna 's vaccine candidate , which relies in similar genetic technology .
This approach involves injections of synthetic messenger-RNA ( mRNA ) that `` cause the body to create @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immune system then recognizes the virus and learns to attack , ” Herper writes .
With such a high level of protection , herd immunity could be achieved more quickly than previously expected , Topol said .
Many reports forecast that doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine ( and possibly Moderna ’ s too ) could start to be administered to health care workers and people at very high-risk for severe COVID-19 , on an emergency authorization basis , before the end of the year , Topol said .
He also noted that it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a newly discovered pathogenic virus to a vaccine against it within merely the space of one year .
This Twitter thread by Dr. Bob Wachter at the University of California , San Francisco , provides some accessible details of what the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine news means and what ’ s next , including the fact that the group likely won ’ t apply for emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration until later this month , by which time more safety data is expected .
Here ’ s an excellent in-depth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and developments that led to genetic technology using mRNA .
The story focuses on the 2010 founding of Moderna by Harvard Medical School stem cell biologist Derrick Rossi , biomedical engineer and inventor Robert Langer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology , venture capitalist Noubar Afeyan , and an unnamed Harvard researcher .
This technology is so new that any approval of an mRNA vaccine would be a first .
By Damian Garde at STAT and Jonathan Salesman at the Boston Globe ( 11/10/20 ) .
Findings published 11/5/20 in Nature on SARS-CoV-2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that children are infectious for fewer days than adults are and that children clear the virus faster than adults do , reports Apoorva Mandavilli at The New York Times ( 11/5/20 ) .
Strangely , the reason seems to be that children ’ s immune response to the virus is more limited and weaker than adult ’ s response is .
“ A weaker immune response in children may paradoxically indicate that they vanquish the virus before it has a chance to wreak havoc on the body , ” Mandavilli writes .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronaviruses and children : Gina Kolata at The New York Times reports on a paper published 11/6/20 in Science finding that children are more likely to have antibodies to cold-causing coronaviruses than are adults , and some of these antibodies also protect against the new coronavirus ( SARS-CoV-2 ) .
Children ’ s propensity to come down with common colds may “ flood ” their systems “ almost continuously ” with antibodies to cold-causing coronaviruses , Kolata writes , leaving their immune systems with so-called memory cells that can easily mount attacks on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as many colds ; and even when they do , they might lose this immune memory over time , says a Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women ’ s Hospital geneticist quoted in the story .
On top of that , the new coronavirus “ may interfere with the activation of the memory cells able to respond to the infection , ” the story states ( 11/10/20 ) .
Cellphone data in 10 U.S. cities this spring suggest that efforts to reduce the occupancy of indoor venues is effective at reducing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 11/10/20 study in Nature covered by Benedict Carey at The New York Times on the same day .
“ Restaurants , gyms , cafes and other crowded indoor venues accounted for some 8 in 10 new infections in the early months ” of what is now a pandemic , Carey writes .
Restaurants were about four times riskier places to catch the virus than were gyms and cafes , Carey reports : The U.S. Centers for Disease Control has updated its SARS-CoV-2 guidance for the public to state that wearing a face mask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people , reports Maria Godoy at NPR ( 11/11/20 ) .
The change is based on recent studies , including one of 124 households in Beijing in which the risk of transmission dropped nearly 80 percent when everyone living together wore a face mask “ indoors as a precaution before they knew anyone who lived there was sick , ” as Godoy reported 6/21/20 .
In another study , infected passengers on a long airplane flight did not transmit the virus to other passengers “ when mask wearing was strictly enforced , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Using your mental health benefits : A hero ’ s journey , ” by Caitlin Kunkel and Erica Lies , for McSweeney ’ s .

The items below are highlights from the free newsletter, “Smart, useful, science stuff about COVID-19.” To receive newsletter issues daily in your inbox, sign up here.
You probably heard about Pfizer and BioNTech's announcement on Monday (11/9/20) that early results of their large-scale Phase 3 human study of a vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 show that it has a whopping 90 percent effectiveness. The results have not yet been published or scrutinized by outside experts, but no one anticipated such a positive result and many scientists are excited (although note cautious reaction of Dr. Michael Osterholm, director of the University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, in Matthew Herper’s 11/9/20 story at STAT).
In an 11/11/20 episode of health-care policy wonk Andy Slavitt’s “In the Bubble” podcast, cardiologist Dr. Eric Topol of Scripps Research Translational Institute said that the Pfizer/BioNTech announcement bodes well for Moderna's vaccine candidate, which relies in similar genetic technology. This approach involves injections of synthetic messenger-RNA (mRNA) that "cause the body to create a protein from the virus; the immune system then recognizes the virus and learns to attack,” Herper writes. With such a high level of protection, herd immunity could be achieved more quickly than previously expected, Topol said. Many reports forecast that doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine (and possibly Moderna’s too) could start to be administered to health care workers and people at very high-risk for severe COVID-19, on an emergency authorization basis, before the end of the year, Topol said. He also noted that it’s remarkable to go from sequencing a newly discovered pathogenic virus to a vaccine against it within merely the space of one year.
This Twitter thread by Dr. Bob Wachter at the University of California, San Francisco, provides some accessible details of what the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine news means and what’s next, including the fact that the group likely won’t apply for emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration until later this month, by which time more safety data is expected.
Here’s an excellent in-depth story on the sequence of recent discoveries and developments that led to genetic technology using mRNA. The story focuses on the 2010 founding of Moderna by Harvard Medical School stem cell biologist Derrick Rossi, biomedical engineer and inventor Robert Langer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, venture capitalist Noubar Afeyan, and an unnamed Harvard researcher. This technology is so new that any approval of an mRNA vaccine would be a first. By Damian Garde at STAT and Jonathan Salesman at the Boston Globe (11/10/20).
Findings published 11/5/20 in Nature on SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in children and in adults suggest that children are infectious for fewer days than adults are and that children clear the virus faster than adults do, reports Apoorva Mandavilli at The New York Times (11/5/20). Strangely, the reason seems to be that children’s immune response to the virus is more limited and weaker than adult’s response is. “A weaker immune response in children may paradoxically indicate that they vanquish the virus before it has a chance to wreak havoc on the body,” Mandavilli writes.
And here’s another intriguing insight into coronaviruses and children: Gina Kolata at The New York Times reports on a paper published 11/6/20 in Science finding that children are more likely to have antibodies to cold-causing coronaviruses than are adults, and some of these antibodies also protect against the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). Children’s propensity to come down with common colds may “flood” their systems “almost continuously” with antibodies to cold-causing coronaviruses, Kolata writes, leaving their immune systems with so-called memory cells that can easily mount attacks on re-infections. Adults don’t get as many colds; and even when they do, they might lose this immune memory over time, says a Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital geneticist quoted in the story. On top of that, the new coronavirus “may interfere with the activation of the memory cells able to respond to the infection,” the story states (11/10/20).
Cellphone data in 10 U.S. cities this spring suggest that efforts to reduce the occupancy of indoor venues is effective at reducing the spread of SARS-CoV-2, according to an 11/10/20 study in Nature covered by Benedict Carey at The New York Times on the same day. “Restaurants, gyms, cafes and other crowded indoor venues accounted for some 8 in 10 new infections in the early months” of what is now a pandemic, Carey writes. Restaurants were about four times riskier places to catch the virus than were gyms and cafes, Carey reports:
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control has updated its SARS-CoV-2 guidance for the public to state that wearing a face mask protects the wearer, not just other people, reports Maria Godoy at NPR (11/11/20). The change is based on recent studies, including one of 124 households in Beijing in which the risk of transmission dropped nearly 80 percent when everyone living together wore a face mask “indoors as a precaution before they knew anyone who lived there was sick,” as Godoy reported 6/21/20. In another study, infected passengers on a long airplane flight did not transmit the virus to other passengers “when mask wearing was strictly enforced,” Godoy reports.
You might enjoy, “Using your mental health benefits: A hero’s journey,” by Caitlin Kunkel and Erica Lies, for McSweeney’s.


scientificamerican--2020-11-13--Dating During the Pandemic: Can You Trust an 'Antibody Positive' Claim?

As many single people know , searching for love can be a challenge even in the best of times .
But looking for it online during a global pandemic is something truly complex—and involves some tricky new dangers .
Though some speculative swiping on dating apps has continued throughout quarantines and semi-lockdowns in the U.S. , single people are reporting that in-person dating had basically frozen to a standstill until recent months .
As cases surge again , many wonder whether it is safe to even consider meeting new people in any social context—let alone potential sexual partners .
Some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ normal and proudly declare on their profiles that they are “ COVID-antibody-positive , ” apparently implying they have already had the virus and are now in the clear to freely comingle .
The COVID-19 pandemic is still solidly entrenched around the globe , with no immediately available vaccine or cure .
Does an antibody-positive test result translate to a pandemic dating hall pass ?
“ The data is clear that we don ’ t know what is clear , ” says Peter Chin-Hong , an infectious disease specialist and a professor of medicine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Francisco .
Even though antibody tests help determine whether someone has previously been infected with the virus , that information may not be helpful in the dating realm .
“ There are a variety of tests , so just stating you ’ re ‘ antibody-positive ’ doesn ’ t provide evidence that equips someone to discern whether the test is [ Food and Drug Administration–validated ] or specific to COVID .
And we don ’ t know how long antibodies from natural infections last .
We ’ re already starting to see reinfections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positive test result X time ago , that does n't mean they ’ re currently protected .
It ’ s not a passport to sexual freedom.
” A case study published in the Lancet Infectious Disease Journal in October described two instances of infection with SARS-CoV-2 ( the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 ) in the same individual , a 25-year-old Nevada man who experienced more severe symptoms during his second bout .
The authors concluded that “ all individuals , whether previously diagnosed with COVID-19 or not , should take identical precautions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been at least four other confirmed reinfection cases , one each in Hong Kong , Belgium , the Netherlands and Ecuador .
Researchers from Imperial College London recently found that the COVID-19 antibody response wanes over time .
“ It remains unclear what level of immunity antibodies provide , ” they concluded , “ or for how long this immunity lasts.
” And of course , questions around antibodies apply to all social situations , not just online dating .
That means upcoming holiday gatherings , weddings , parties and even just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ uncertainty .
Dana ( not her real name ) , a 38-year-old Tinder user in Portland , Ore. , says she has encountered plenty of COVID-related content peppering the profiles of potential partners .
“ I ’ ve seen the occasional ‘ COVID-free ’ disclaimer in bios , which—like with STI status , how can anyone 100 percent trust [ that ] ?
” she says , referring to the practice of disclosing sexually transmitted infections ( STIs ) in dating profiles in the spirit of full transparency .
But even though some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID ( because both can have implications for partners ’ health ) , experts are quick to point out that the two categories are not equivalent .
“ With HIV , for example , the antibody test is pretty durable , and we know what it means , ” Chin-Hong says .
“ People use it on the apps for similar reasons , but it has a completely different meaning .
With the COVID antibody test , people are intending to show that they ’ re ‘ protected.
’ But that ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Y-shaped proteins that bind to viruses or other invaders in the body and trigger the immune system to destroy the harmful intruders .
“ Antibodies are the soldiers .
I think of them as a viral stun gun that neutralizes a virus , ” Chin-Hong says .
“ You can get them artificially by having them infused .
Or if you get the virus , you can develop them to protect you if you ’ re exposed again.
” The issue , however , is that science does not yet know enough specifically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a positive test result actually indicates immunity .
Humans had never identified the novel coronavirus before this pandemic , and there are still plenty of unknowns surrounding the variability of its impact .
Some infected individuals produce high-quality antibodies that efficiently and accurately identify and eliminate the virus .
Others produce weaker ones that afford partial protection .
And some produce none at all .
The current antibody tests do not account for that variability , making it impossible to know what level of immunity a person has ( if any ) or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to physician James Zehnder director of clinical pathology at Stanford Medicine , the inherent uncertainty of COVID-19 antibody testing makes it an unreliable method for screening dates .
“ Not everyone who has COVID has an antibody response , ” he says .
“ There are some false positive tests , and it ’ s not clear for how long or how effectively these antibodies are protective.
” Zehnder says the best current test for excluding SARS-CoV-2 infection is a system called viral reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction ( RT-PCR ) , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are within the realm of possibility .
Charlie , a 37-year-old Grindr user in Brighton , England , who asked to be identified only by his first name , says he deleted the app early on in the pandemic but has slowly started swiping again .
“ I had a couple of guys try to convince me that they 'd already had COVID and have the antibodies , and used it like a hall pass for sex during the pandemic.
” Dana says she has encountered straightforward dismissal of COVID-19 safety precautions .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ from guys is , essentially ‘ The world is on fire .
Let ’ s throw caution to the wind and have sex as soon as possible , ’ ” she says .
“ We ’ re carnal beings .
I don ’ t deny that .
But it ’ s preposterous to me that in the middle of a global pandemic , some folks truly believe their handful of photos and a single sentence of noninfo is enticing enough for a girl to put her health at risk .
Come on , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us laugh first.
” Chin-Hong says he understands the impulse to comment on antibody testing in the context of a dating profile .
“ Existentially , it says , ‘ I care about COVID , and I want to display that I took time out of my day to get tested and to show you that I ’ m willing to go the extra mile to engage with you , ’ ” he says .
“ And it also says , ‘ I ’ m lonely , and I want to take things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m done with FaceTime and being socially distant.
’ ” Camille ( not her real name ) , a 30-year-old from California ’ s Orange County , says she has encountered plenty of COVID-related remarks on the dating apps Hinge and Coffee Meets Bagel .
When she matched with a hospital worker who expressed serious concern about the virus , she felt an in-person meeting could be a reality .
“ We started chatting and then met a few times over video calls until we both felt comfortable meeting up for coffee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says .
But then Camille ’ s would-be date contracted COVID-19 .
He was eager to reschedule , even before receiving a negative test result .
“ I was still uncomfortable and asked that we wait .
He did n't take that very well , ” she says .
“ He expressed that he didn ’ t have to share that he had COVID at all , which , to me , was terrifying—that there are probably people out there on dating apps , with COVID , not being considerate of who they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ uncertainty , many people are still grappling with COVID-related questions , such as whether a person who currently has active antibodies can still transmit the virus to someone who does not .
According to Chin-Hong , this is one scenario we may not need to obsess over .
“ It ’ s unlikely that an antibody-positive person will be able to efficiently transmit SARS-CoV-2 to an uninfected partner in general , ” Chin-Hong says .
“ There is a theoretical risk that an antibody-positive person could act as a large surface—like a doorknob @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your nose or mouth and theoretically get infected .
But that ’ s unlikely , as it ’ s not the best transmission route.
” So what are singles to do in this atypical time ?
“ My advice would be to take time to get to know someone before you meet in person , ” says Melissa Cushing , director of transfusion medicine and vice chair of laboratory medicine at New York–Presbyterian Hospital and Weill Cornell Medicine .
“ Make sure you understand the COVID risks they take in their everyday life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ large gatherings , et cetera ) because their risks will become your risks .
You should be comfortable with how they are handling COVID .
A single laboratory test result will be much less important than everyday behaviors.
” In an attempt to alleviate some of the uncertainty-fueled pressure , apps are offering new digital dating options such as Bumble ’ s `` virtual dating tools.
” And Tinder recently launched “ Face to Face , ” a new video chat feature .
The app also consulted with Peter Pitts , president of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Interest to develop what Tinder calls “ 5 tips for getting back to IRL dating.
” In addition to advocating mask wearing and social distancing during in-person meetups , Pitts encourages Tinder users to “ get tested if you can but remember , even if you have antibodies , to always practice good health and hygiene .
It is not yet clear that antibodies protect you or make you less of a carrier.
” Forty-year-old San Francisco resident Teresa ( not her real name ) has been using dating apps throughout the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new normal of single life in the COVID era .
“ I ’ m going to keep dating , ” she says .
“ I ’ m a responsible person , and I ’ m dating responsibly .
You never know if someone is telling the truth anyway , so all you can do is take precautions and trust your gut.
” Read more about the coronavirus outbreak from Scientific American here .
And read coverage from our international network of magazines here .

As many single people know, searching for love can be a challenge even in the best of times. But looking for it online during a global pandemic is something truly complex—and involves some tricky new dangers. Though some speculative swiping on dating apps has continued throughout quarantines and semi-lockdowns in the U.S., single people are reporting that in-person dating had basically frozen to a standstill until recent months. As cases surge again, many wonder whether it is safe to even consider meeting new people in any social context—let alone potential sexual partners.
Some online daters have adapted to the new normal and proudly declare on their profiles that they are “COVID-antibody-positive,” apparently implying they have already had the virus and are now in the clear to freely comingle. The COVID-19 pandemic is still solidly entrenched around the globe, with no immediately available vaccine or cure. Does an antibody-positive test result translate to a pandemic dating hall pass?
“The data is clear that we don’t know what is clear,” says Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease specialist and a professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. Even though antibody tests help determine whether someone has previously been infected with the virus, that information may not be helpful in the dating realm. “There are a variety of tests, so just stating you’re ‘antibody-positive’ doesn’t provide evidence that equips someone to discern whether the test is [Food and Drug Administration–validated] or specific to COVID. And we don’t know how long antibodies from natural infections last. We’re already starting to see reinfections emerge. Even if someone got a positive test result X time ago, that doesn't mean they’re currently protected. It’s not a passport to sexual freedom.”
A case study published in the Lancet Infectious Disease Journal in October described two instances of infection with SARS-CoV-2 (the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19) in the same individual, a 25-year-old Nevada man who experienced more severe symptoms during his second bout. The authors concluded that “all individuals, whether previously diagnosed with COVID-19 or not, should take identical precautions to avoid infection with SARS-CoV-2.” There have been at least four other confirmed reinfection cases, one each in Hong Kong, Belgium, the Netherlands and Ecuador. Researchers from Imperial College London recently found that the COVID-19 antibody response wanes over time. “It remains unclear what level of immunity antibodies provide,” they concluded, “or for how long this immunity lasts.” And of course, questions around antibodies apply to all social situations, not just online dating. That means upcoming holiday gatherings, weddings, parties and even just casual hangouts with friends are rife with uncertainty.
Dana (not her real name), a 38-year-old Tinder user in Portland, Ore., says she has encountered plenty of COVID-related content peppering the profiles of potential partners. “I’ve seen the occasional ‘COVID-free’ disclaimer in bios, which—like with STI status, how can anyone 100 percent trust [that]?” she says, referring to the practice of disclosing sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in dating profiles in the spirit of full transparency. But even though some parallels can be drawn between STIs and COVID (because both can have implications for partners’ health), experts are quick to point out that the two categories are not equivalent.
“With HIV, for example, the antibody test is pretty durable, and we know what it means,” Chin-Hong says. “People use it on the apps for similar reasons, but it has a completely different meaning. With the COVID antibody test, people are intending to show that they’re ‘protected.’ But that’s not how antibodies work.”
Antibodies are Y-shaped proteins that bind to viruses or other invaders in the body and trigger the immune system to destroy the harmful intruders. “Antibodies are the soldiers. I think of them as a viral stun gun that neutralizes a virus,” Chin-Hong says. “You can get them artificially by having them infused. Or if you get the virus, you can develop them to protect you if you’re exposed again.” The issue, however, is that science does not yet know enough specifically about COVID-19 antibodies to be certain whether a positive test result actually indicates immunity.
Humans had never identified the novel coronavirus before this pandemic, and there are still plenty of unknowns surrounding the variability of its impact on our health . Some infected individuals produce high-quality antibodies that efficiently and accurately identify and eliminate the virus. Others produce weaker ones that afford partial protection. And some produce none at all. The current antibody tests do not account for that variability, making it impossible to know what level of immunity a person has (if any) or how long it may last.
According to physician James Zehnder , director of clinical pathology at Stanford Medicine, the inherent uncertainty of COVID-19 antibody testing makes it an unreliable method for screening dates. “Not everyone who has COVID has an antibody response,” he says. “There are some false positive tests, and it’s not clear for how long or how effectively these antibodies are protective.” Zehnder says the best current test for excluding SARS-CoV-2 infection is a system called viral reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) , but even with that approach, false negatives are within the realm of possibility.
Charlie, a 37-year-old Grindr user in Brighton, England, who asked to be identified only by his first name, says he deleted the app early on in the pandemic but has slowly started swiping again. “I had a couple of guys try to convince me that they'd already had COVID and have the antibodies, and used it like a hall pass for sex during the pandemic.”
Dana says she has encountered straightforward dismissal of COVID-19 safety precautions. “The overwhelming direct message I get from guys is, essentially ‘The world is on fire. Let’s throw caution to the wind and have sex as soon as possible,’” she says. “We’re carnal beings. I don’t deny that. But it’s preposterous to me that in the middle of a global pandemic, some folks truly believe their handful of photos and a single sentence of noninfo is enticing enough for a girl to put her health at risk. Come on, gents, at least try and make us laugh first.”
Chin-Hong says he understands the impulse to comment on antibody testing in the context of a dating profile. “Existentially, it says, ‘I care about COVID, and I want to display that I took time out of my day to get tested and to show you that I’m willing to go the extra mile to engage with you,’” he says. “And it also says, ‘I’m lonely, and I want to take things to the next level, and I’m done with FaceTime and being socially distant.’”
Camille (not her real name), a 30-year-old from California’s Orange County, says she has encountered plenty of COVID-related remarks on the dating apps Hinge and Coffee Meets Bagel. When she matched with a hospital worker who expressed serious concern about the virus, she felt an in-person meeting could be a reality. “We started chatting and then met a few times over video calls until we both felt comfortable meeting up for coffee safely and socially distanced,” she says. But then Camille’s would-be date contracted COVID-19. He was eager to reschedule, even before receiving a negative test result. “I was still uncomfortable and asked that we wait. He didn't take that very well,” she says. “He expressed that he didn’t have to share that he had COVID at all, which, to me, was terrifying—that there are probably people out there on dating apps, with COVID, not being considerate of who they’re meeting.”
After months of uncertainty, many people are still grappling with COVID-related questions, such as whether a person who currently has active antibodies can still transmit the virus to someone who does not. According to Chin-Hong, this is one scenario we may not need to obsess over. “It’s unlikely that an antibody-positive person will be able to efficiently transmit SARS-CoV-2 to an uninfected partner in general,” Chin-Hong says. “There is a theoretical risk that an antibody-positive person could act as a large surface—like a doorknob, you touch them and then touch your nose or mouth and theoretically get infected. But that’s unlikely, as it’s not the best transmission route.”
So what are singles to do in this atypical time? “My advice would be to take time to get to know someone before you meet in person,” says Melissa Cushing, director of transfusion medicine and vice chair of laboratory medicine at New York–Presbyterian Hospital and Weill Cornell Medicine. “Make sure you understand the COVID risks they take in their everyday life (not wearing a mask or avoiding large gatherings, et cetera) because their risks will become your risks. You should be comfortable with how they are handling COVID. A single laboratory test result will be much less important than everyday behaviors.”
In an attempt to alleviate some of the uncertainty-fueled pressure, apps are offering new digital dating options such as Bumble’s "virtual dating tools.” And Tinder recently launched “Face to Face,” a new video chat feature. The app also consulted with Peter Pitts, president of the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest , to develop what Tinder calls “5 tips for getting back to IRL dating.” In addition to advocating mask wearing and social distancing during in-person meetups, Pitts encourages Tinder users to “get tested if you can but remember, even if you have antibodies, to always practice good health and hygiene. It is not yet clear that antibodies protect you or make you less of a carrier.”
Forty-year-old San Francisco resident Teresa (not her real name) has been using dating apps throughout the pandemic and says she is settling into the new normal of single life in the COVID era. “I’m going to keep dating,” she says. “I’m a responsible person, and I’m dating responsibly. You never know if someone is telling the truth anyway, so all you can do is take precautions and trust your gut.”
Read more about the coronavirus outbreak from Scientific American here. And read coverage from our international network of magazines here.


scientificamerican--2020-11-13--Biden and Electric Utilities Are Split on Emissions Goals

For the last four years , as President Trump worked to roll back environmental regulations and boost fossil fuels , utilities forged ahead with ambitious plans to reduce emissions .
Now , their climate goals will be put to the test .
The environmental plans of power companies are eclipsed by President-elect Joe Biden ’ s climate ambitions .
While 33 utilities have pledged to eliminate their emissions by 2050 , Biden campaigned on a promise to achieve 100 % clean electricity by 2035 .
Many utility executives think that timeline is unrealistic , arguing that the technology does not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Nov. 3 ) .
Achieving a successful climate policy may depend on both sides coming to a resolution .
Utilities have almost singlehandedly driven down carbon dioxide emissions across the U.S. economy in recent years ( Climatewire , Jan. 7 ) .
And most plans for decarbonizing other sectors , like transportation and buildings , call for swapping out fossil fuels with carbon-free electricity .
But while many power companies have committed to long-term goals for cleaning up their electricity supply , climate scientists say emissions reductions will need to come more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the worst impacts of a warming climate .
The United Nations ’ International Panel on Climate Change said the world needs to slash greenhouse gas emissions 7.6 % every year for the next decade to keep global temperatures from rising more than 1.5 degrees Celsius .
Global emissions have steadily risen , with few exceptions , until this year , when the coronavirus pandemic devastated the global economy .
That means power companies will face pressure to reduce emissions by up to 90 % by 2030 , said Mark Dyson , an analyst @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Institutes .
“ There is an acknowledgment in the new president ’ s policy agenda that is built on climate science and recognizes that emissions in the next 10 years are more important than getting to zero by 2050 , ” he said .
Greens and utilities largely agree that 70 % to 90 % of emission reductions can be achieved with existing technology .
They disagree over how to address the remaining 10 % to 30 % , Dyson said .
“ What I hope is we can bypass that historic and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we can do in the next 10 years , ” he said .
The dynamic is illustrated by some of America ’ s largest polluters .
Duke Energy Corp. and Southern Co. rank as the second- and third-largest CO emitters , respectively , among U.S. power companies ( Climatewire , July 8 ) .
Both have targeted net-zero emissions by 2050 .
But both companies ’ near-term goal is far more modest .
Southern is eyeing a 50 % reduction in emissions from 2007 levels by 2030 .
The Atlanta-based power company has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emissions , giving it 10 years to cut 6 % .
Duke is targeting a 50 % reduction by 2030 and has already cut 39 % .
American Electric Power , the country ’ s fourth-largest emitter , is in a similar boat .
The company recently announced it would retire a pair of large coal plants in Texas as it works toward its goal of cutting carbon dioxide emissions 70 % of 2000 levels by 2030 .
It had already achieved a 65 % reduction as of last year .
At the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plans to operate three large coal plants through 2040 .
Those plants produced 24 million tons of CO last year , according to EPA data , or about 40 % of the utility ’ s total emissions last year .
“ When we ’ re looking at the outcome of the election and these utility pledges , we do look at them with a hefty degree of skepticism , '' said Mary Anne Hitt , the Sierra Club ’ s national director of campaigns .
“ It is easy to promise things in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t have benchmark dates for retiring coal or stopping to build new gas.
” Utilities contend they are working quickly to green their power supply , saying they must do so without jeopardizing reliability and affordability .
In North Carolina , Duke has filed plans with utility regulators that contemplate several decarbonization pathways , including scenarios that call for no new gas construction , complete coal retirements by 2030 and a 70 % emissions reduction over the next decade .
The company ’ s base case scenarios call for a large build-out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 56 % to 59 % , depending on whether carbon policies are enacted ( Energywire , Oct. 13 ) .
Southern , meanwhile , is working to complete two nuclear units and has seen coal generation plummet .
In a recent interview with E & E News , Southern CEO Tom Fanning called Biden ’ s 2035 goal achievable , but said it would require dramatic changes to the industry ( Energywire , Oct. 30 ) .
“ I think we are acutely aware that we need to figure out what we can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as an industry is to coalesce around what is doable , ” said Emily Fisher , general counsel for the Edison Electric Institute , a trade association representing investor-owned utilities .
“ We are going to make a lot more progress between 2020 and 2035 , ” she added .
“ We anticipate increased reductions as members continue to shut down coal and bring on renewables .
How fast that goes really depends on supportive policies and technology investments.
” What those policies might look like under Biden is unclear .
There are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his 2035 clean electricity campaign promise .
The Senate will be finely balanced , regardless of whether Republicans or Democrats take the majority following two runoff elections in Georgia in early January .
And Biden ’ s ability to pursue executive action is complicated by a strengthened conservative majority on the Supreme Court , which is unlikely to look approvingly at the type of regulatory initiatives pursued by the Obama administration .
But if the political landscape is more challenging than the one Biden faced as vice president , then the economic and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The cost of solar and wind have fallen dramatically , creating an economic opportunity for utilities to invest in renewables .
That could make utilities amendable to working with Biden , though it might disappoint progressives , said Frank Maisano , a senior principal at Bracewell LLP .
He likened the dynamic to a football game .
“ The difference is that progressives are looking for that Hail Mary pass .
They are looking to throw the deep ball all the time , ” Maisano said .
“ Biden is a ground game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to be forced that way with an electorate that didn ’ t go all in on the blue wave.
” He added , “ Whether it is some sort of Clean Power Plan regulation or some version of a commitment to reduce emissions dramatically , the energy sector , especially in the utility space , is already moving in that direction.
” Cheryl LaFleur , who chaired the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for several years during the Obama administration , expressed hope for cooperation between utilities and the incoming administration .
Power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , consumers and state regulators to green their power supply , she noted .
That could increase if the Biden administration can harness public opinion to support further efforts to green the grid .
But LaFleur expressed skepticism that Biden would be able to enact ambitious climate policies , like a national carbon cap-and-trade program .
She said she expects the administration to offer carrots to industry in the form of tax incentives , research and development , and streamlined permitting to help speed the transition to clean electricity .
Whether that would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ climate targets is unclear .
“ If you look backward , you can tell the story of less greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation , ” LaFleur said .
“ If you look to the future , trying to meet the Kyoto and Paris targets , we ’ ve got a long way to go.
” Reprinted from Climatewire with permission from E & E News .
E & E provides daily coverage of essential energy and environmental news at www.eenews.net .

For the last four years, as President Trump worked to roll back environmental regulations and boost fossil fuels, utilities forged ahead with ambitious plans to reduce emissions.
Now, their climate goals will be put to the test.
The environmental plans of power companies are eclipsed by President-elect Joe Biden’s climate ambitions. While 33 utilities have pledged to eliminate their emissions by 2050, Biden campaigned on a promise to achieve 100% clean electricity by 2035.
Many utility executives think that timeline is unrealistic, arguing that the technology does not exist or is too costly (Climatewire, Nov. 3).
Achieving a successful climate policy may depend on both sides coming to a resolution. Utilities have almost singlehandedly driven down carbon dioxide emissions across the U.S. economy in recent years (Climatewire, Jan. 7). And most plans for decarbonizing other sectors, like transportation and buildings, call for swapping out fossil fuels with carbon-free electricity.
But while many power companies have committed to long-term goals for cleaning up their electricity supply, climate scientists say emissions reductions will need to come more quickly if the world is to avoid the worst impacts of a warming climate.
The United Nations’ International Panel on Climate Change said the world needs to slash greenhouse gas emissions 7.6% every year for the next decade to keep global temperatures from rising more than 1.5 degrees Celsius. Global emissions have steadily risen, with few exceptions, until this year, when the coronavirus pandemic devastated the global economy.
That means power companies will face pressure to reduce emissions by up to 90% by 2030, said Mark Dyson, an analyst who tracks utilities at the Rocky Mountain Institutes.
“There is an acknowledgment in the new president’s policy agenda that is built on climate science and recognizes that emissions in the next 10 years are more important than getting to zero by 2050,” he said.
Greens and utilities largely agree that 70% to 90% of emission reductions can be achieved with existing technology. They disagree over how to address the remaining 10% to 30%, Dyson said.
“What I hope is we can bypass that historic and annoying debate and prioritize what we know we can do in the next 10 years,” he said.
The dynamic is illustrated by some of America’s largest polluters. Duke Energy Corp. and Southern Co. rank as the second- and third-largest CO 2 emitters, respectively, among U.S. power companies (Climatewire, July 8). Both have targeted net-zero emissions by 2050.
But both companies’ near-term goal is far more modest.
Southern is eyeing a 50% reduction in emissions from 2007 levels by 2030. The Atlanta-based power company has already achieved a 44% cut in emissions, giving it 10 years to cut 6%. Duke is targeting a 50% reduction by 2030 and has already cut 39%.
American Electric Power, the country’s fourth-largest emitter, is in a similar boat. The company recently announced it would retire a pair of large coal plants in Texas as it works toward its goal of cutting carbon dioxide emissions 70% of 2000 levels by 2030.
It had already achieved a 65% reduction as of last year. At the same time, AEP has said it plans to operate three large coal plants through 2040. Those plants produced 24 million tons of CO 2 last year, according to EPA data, or about 40% of the utility’s total emissions last year.
“When we’re looking at the outcome of the election and these utility pledges, we do look at them with a hefty degree of skepticism," said Mary Anne Hitt, the Sierra Club’s national director of campaigns. “It is easy to promise things in 2050, but they often don’t have benchmark dates for retiring coal or stopping to build new gas.”
Utilities contend they are working quickly to green their power supply, saying they must do so without jeopardizing reliability and affordability.
In North Carolina, Duke has filed plans with utility regulators that contemplate several decarbonization pathways, including scenarios that call for no new gas construction, complete coal retirements by 2030 and a 70% emissions reduction over the next decade.
The company’s base case scenarios call for a large build-out of natural gas and emissions reductions ranging from 56% to 59%, depending on whether carbon policies are enacted (Energywire, Oct. 13).
Southern, meanwhile, is working to complete two nuclear units and has seen coal generation plummet. In a recent interview with E&E News, Southern CEO Tom Fanning called Biden’s 2035 goal achievable, but said it would require dramatic changes to the industry (Energywire, Oct. 30).
“I think we are acutely aware that we need to figure out what we can do by 2030, and our goal as an industry is to coalesce around what is doable,” said Emily Fisher, general counsel for the Edison Electric Institute, a trade association representing investor-owned utilities.
“We are going to make a lot more progress between 2020 and 2035,” she added. “We anticipate increased reductions as members continue to shut down coal and bring on renewables. How fast that goes really depends on supportive policies and technology investments.”
What those policies might look like under Biden is unclear.
There are serious questions about whether he can achieve his 2035 clean electricity campaign promise. The Senate will be finely balanced, regardless of whether Republicans or Democrats take the majority following two runoff elections in Georgia in early January.
And Biden’s ability to pursue executive action is complicated by a strengthened conservative majority on the Supreme Court, which is unlikely to look approvingly at the type of regulatory initiatives pursued by the Obama administration.
But if the political landscape is more challenging than the one Biden faced as vice president, then the economic and technological trends are far more favorable. The cost of solar and wind have fallen dramatically, creating an economic opportunity for utilities to invest in renewables.
That could make utilities amendable to working with Biden, though it might disappoint progressives, said Frank Maisano, a senior principal at Bracewell LLP. He likened the dynamic to a football game.
“The difference is that progressives are looking for that Hail Mary pass. They are looking to throw the deep ball all the time,” Maisano said. “Biden is a ground game type of guy, and he is going to be forced that way with an electorate that didn’t go all in on the blue wave.”
He added, “Whether it is some sort of Clean Power Plan regulation or some version of a commitment to reduce emissions dramatically, the energy sector, especially in the utility space, is already moving in that direction.”
Cheryl LaFleur, who chaired the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for several years during the Obama administration, expressed hope for cooperation between utilities and the incoming administration.
Power companies are already receiving pressure from investors, consumers and state regulators to green their power supply, she noted. That could increase if the Biden administration can harness public opinion to support further efforts to green the grid.
But LaFleur expressed skepticism that Biden would be able to enact ambitious climate policies, like a national carbon cap-and-trade program. She said she expects the administration to offer carrots to industry in the form of tax incentives, research and development, and streamlined permitting to help speed the transition to clean electricity.
Whether that would be enough to meet America’s climate targets is unclear.
“If you look backward, you can tell the story of less greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation,” LaFleur said. “If you look to the future, trying to meet the Kyoto and Paris targets, we’ve got a long way to go.”
Reprinted from Climatewire with permission from E&E News. E&E provides daily coverage of essential energy and environmental news at www.eenews.net.


scientificamerican--2020-11-13--Green Hydrogen Could Fill Big Gaps in Renewable Energy

When hydrogen burns , the only by-product is water—which is why hydrogen has been an alluring zero-carbon energy source for decades .
Yet the traditional process for producing hydrogen , in which fossil fuels are exposed to steam , is not even remotely zero-carbon .
Hydrogen produced this way is called gray hydrogen ; if the CO is captured and sequestered , it is called blue hydrogen .
Green hydrogen is different .
It is produced through electrolysis , in which machines split water into hydrogen and oxygen , with no other by-products .
Historically , electrolysis required so much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ produce hydrogen that way .
The situation is changing for two reasons .
First , significant amounts of excess renewable electricity have become available at grid scale ; rather than storing excess electricity in arrays of batteries , the extra electricity can be used to drive the electrolysis of water , “ storing ” the electricity in the form of hydrogen .
Second , electrolyzers are getting more efficient .
Companies are working to develop electrolyzers that can produce green hydrogen as cheaply as gray or blue hydrogen , and analysts expect them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decade .
Meanwhile energy companies are starting to integrate electrolyzers directly into renewable power projects .
For example , a consortium of companies behind a project called Gigastack plan to equip Ørsted 's Hornsea Two offshore wind farm with 100 megawatts of electrolyzers to generate green hydrogen at an industrial scale .
Current renewable technologies such as solar and wind can decarbonize the energy sector by as much as 85 percent by replacing gas and coal with clean electricity .
Other parts of the economy , such as shipping and manufacturing , are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fuel that is high in energy density or heat at high temperatures .
Green hydrogen has potential in these sectors .
The Energy Transitions Commission , an industry group , says green hydrogen is one of four technologies necessary for meeting the Paris Agreement goal of abating more than 10 gigatons of carbon dioxide a year from the most challenging industrial sectors , among them mining , construction and chemicals .
Although green hydrogen is still in its infancy , countries—especially those with cheap renewable energy—are investing in the technology .
Australia wants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ using its plentiful solar and wind power .
Chile has plans for hydrogen in the country 's arid north , where solar electricity is abundant .
China aims to put one million hydrogen fuel–cell vehicles on the road by 2030 .
Similar projects are underway in South Korea , Malaysia , Norway and the U.S. , where the state of California is working to phase out fossil-fuel buses by 2040 .
And the European Commission 's recently published 2030 hydrogen strategy calls for increasing hydrogen capacity from 0.1 gigawatt today to 500 gigawatts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why , earlier this year , Goldman Sachs predicted that green hydrogen will become a $ 12-trillion market by 2050 .

When hydrogen burns, the only by-product is water—which is why hydrogen has been an alluring zero-carbon energy source for decades. Yet the traditional process for producing hydrogen, in which fossil fuels are exposed to steam, is not even remotely zero-carbon. Hydrogen produced this way is called gray hydrogen; if the CO 2 is captured and sequestered, it is called blue hydrogen.
Green hydrogen is different. It is produced through electrolysis, in which machines split water into hydrogen and oxygen, with no other by-products. Historically, electrolysis required so much electricity that it made little sense to produce hydrogen that way. The situation is changing for two reasons. First, significant amounts of excess renewable electricity have become available at grid scale; rather than storing excess electricity in arrays of batteries, the extra electricity can be used to drive the electrolysis of water, “storing” the electricity in the form of hydrogen. Second, electrolyzers are getting more efficient.
Companies are working to develop electrolyzers that can produce green hydrogen as cheaply as gray or blue hydrogen, and analysts expect them to reach that goal in the next decade. Meanwhile energy companies are starting to integrate electrolyzers directly into renewable power projects. For example, a consortium of companies behind a project called Gigastack plan to equip Ørsted's Hornsea Two offshore wind farm with 100 megawatts of electrolyzers to generate green hydrogen at an industrial scale.
Current renewable technologies such as solar and wind can decarbonize the energy sector by as much as 85 percent by replacing gas and coal with clean electricity. Other parts of the economy, such as shipping and manufacturing, are harder to electrify because they often require fuel that is high in energy density or heat at high temperatures. Green hydrogen has potential in these sectors. The Energy Transitions Commission, an industry group, says green hydrogen is one of four technologies necessary for meeting the Paris Agreement goal of abating more than 10 gigatons of carbon dioxide a year from the most challenging industrial sectors, among them mining, construction and chemicals.
Although green hydrogen is still in its infancy, countries—especially those with cheap renewable energy—are investing in the technology. Australia wants to export hydrogen that it would produce using its plentiful solar and wind power. Chile has plans for hydrogen in the country's arid north, where solar electricity is abundant. China aims to put one million hydrogen fuel–cell vehicles on the road by 2030.
Similar projects are underway in South Korea, Malaysia, Norway and the U.S., where the state of California is working to phase out fossil-fuel buses by 2040. And the European Commission's recently published 2030 hydrogen strategy calls for increasing hydrogen capacity from 0.1 gigawatt today to 500 gigawatts by 2050. All of which is why, earlier this year, Goldman Sachs predicted that green hydrogen will become a $12-trillion market by 2050.


scientificamerican--2020-11-14--50, 100 & 150 Years Ago: November 2020

50, 100 & 150 Years Ago: November 2020

“ The need to generate enormous additional amounts of electric power while at the same time protecting the environment is taking form as one of the major social and technological problems that our society must resolve over the next few decades .
Nuclear reactors of the breeder type hold great promise as the solution to this problem .
Producing more nuclear fuel than they consume , they would make it feasible to utilize enormous quantities of low-grade uranium and thorium ores dispersed in the rocks of the earth as a source of low-cost energy for thousands of years .
—Glenn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Today more than 400 nuclear power plants are in commercial operation worldwide ; only two are fast-breeder reactors .
“ During the past hurricane season in the West Indies the U. S. Weather Bureau has carried out a program of upper-air observations in order to determine what relation , if any , exists between the ‘ winds aloft ’ ( as winds in the upper air are now called by the Bureau ) and the movements of hurricanes .
Pilot-balloon observations have been made twice a day at stations maintained by the Bureau @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Porto Rico , and at stations maintained by the Navy at Colon and Santo Domingo ; data obtained at the Weather Bureau and Army aerological stations in Texas are expected to help in the investigation.
” “ Dr .
William Scheppegrell publishes statistics showing the beginning and ending of the spring and autumn hay-fever seasons in each State of the Union ; the plants chiefly responsible ; and a list of ‘ hay-fever resorts ’ for all States where such places are known .
These resorts are free from hay-fever pollens , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the disease .
As the pollen of most hay-fever plants is very buoyant and will traverse 5 or 6 miles when the winds are favorable , very few places in the country are absolutely free from this troublesome disease.
” “ The accompanying illustration of Redmond 's patented steam plow is an accurate copy of a photograph taken of the machine at work in the field .
Many attempts at locomotive steam plowing have heretofore proved failures , from the simple fact that the hold of the traction engine on the ground @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the plows .
In the machine here represented that hold on the ground is secured by the protrusion of a series of twelve anchors through the rim of each wheel .
The fuel necessary to keep up steam in these tubular boilers is very little , probably not over six hundred pounds of best coal per day.
” Plants , seeded , grown and harvested for us or livestock , are the basic building blocks of our civilization .
Issues of Scientific American from the early decades after its founding in 1845 reflected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are filled with mechanical contraptions ( including the steam-powered plow shown above ) that look like their inventors were trying to ease the backbreaking labor of farming .
By 1967 only 5 percent of the labor force worked in agriculture , thanks to widespread introduction of better technology ( such as the mechanical cherry picker—seen at the left—from that year ) and the application of biological and chemical sciences to improve crop yields and decrease harvesting costs .

1970
The Promise of Nuclear
“The need to generate enormous additional amounts of electric power while at the same time protecting the environment is taking form as one of the major social and technological problems that our society must resolve over the next few decades. Nuclear reactors of the breeder type hold great promise as the solution to this problem. Producing more nuclear fuel than they consume, they would make it feasible to utilize enormous quantities of low-grade uranium and thorium ores dispersed in the rocks of the earth as a source of low-cost energy for thousands of years. —Glenn T. Seaborg and Justin L. Bloom”
Today more than 400 nuclear power plants are in commercial operation worldwide; only two are fast-breeder reactors.
1920
Weather Data
“During the past hurricane season in the West Indies the U. S. Weather Bureau has carried out a program of upper-air observations in order to determine what relation, if any, exists between the ‘winds aloft’ (as winds in the upper air are now called by the Bureau) and the movements of hurricanes. Pilot-balloon observations have been made twice a day at stations maintained by the Bureau at Key West and at San Juan, Porto Rico, and at stations maintained by the Navy at Colon and Santo Domingo; data obtained at the Weather Bureau and Army aerological stations in Texas are expected to help in the investigation.”
Before Antihistamines
“Dr. William Scheppegrell publishes statistics showing the beginning and ending of the spring and autumn hay-fever seasons in each State of the Union; the plants chiefly responsible; and a list of ‘hay-fever resorts’ for all States where such places are known. These resorts are free from hay-fever pollens, where the hay-fever patient can find relief from the disease. As the pollen of most hay-fever plants is very buoyant and will traverse 5 or 6 miles when the winds are favorable, very few places in the country are absolutely free from this troublesome disease.”
1870
Steam Power for Farmers
“The accompanying illustration of Redmond's patented steam plow is an accurate copy of a photograph taken of the machine at work in the field. Many attempts at locomotive steam plowing have heretofore proved failures, from the simple fact that the hold of the traction engine on the ground was not equal to the resistance of the plows. In the machine here represented that hold on the ground is secured by the protrusion of a series of twelve anchors through the rim of each wheel. The fuel necessary to keep up steam in these tubular boilers is very little, probably not over six hundred pounds of best coal per day.”
Mechanized Agriculture
1967 Mechanical cherry picker. The machine shown was made by the Friday Tractor Company in Hartford, Mich. Credit: Scientific American, Vol. 217, No. 2; August 1967. Painting by Philip Hays
Plants, seeded, grown and harvested for us or livestock, are the basic building blocks of our civilization. Issues of Scientific American from the early decades after its founding in 1845 reflected a mostly rural nation. The pages are filled with mechanical contraptions (including the steam-powered plow shown above) that look like their inventors were trying to ease the backbreaking labor of farming. By 1967 only 5 percent of the labor force worked in agriculture, thanks to widespread introduction of better technology (such as the mechanical cherry picker—seen at the left—from that year) and the application of biological and chemical sciences to improve crop yields and decrease harvesting costs.


scientificamerican--2020-11-14--Biden Stocks Transition Teams with Climate Experts

From the Pentagon to the General Services Administration , President-elect Joe Biden has embedded climate-minded officials throughout his sprawling transition team .
Climate experts , former Obama administration officials and green activists abound among the teams managing the transition for EPA ; the Energy , Interior and Agriculture departments ; and the White House Council on Environmental Quality .
Unlike past transitions , officials with significant climate or clean energy experience also pop up in departments like State , Defense , Treasury and Justice .
They ’ re even handling the transition at agencies that , so far , have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , like the Small Business Administration and the Federal Reserve .
Of Biden ’ s 39 agency review teams , at least 19 have one or more officials with some climate background .
Perhaps just as telling , many of the transition officials had a hand in the 2009 stimulus , to date the largest government investment in clean energy and the model for Biden ’ s climate plan .
The teams include a cross section of union representatives , progressive policy experts , establishment loyalists , activist scholars , corporate envoys and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ test of the Biden team ’ s balancing act between progressives , whom it courted during the campaign , and the establishment veterans who have proliferated in the former vice president ’ s orbit for years .
Raw ideological fights might have to wait , though .
In the short term , some of the Biden transition ’ s biggest challenges will come from simply restaffing and rebuilding the agencies that were deconstructed under President Trump , said Aaron Weiss of the Center for Western Priorities .
“ These folks are going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in many cases , been eviscerated , ” he said , pointing to the exodus of scientists and career staffers from the federal government over the past four years .
EPA , for example , shed more than 700 scientists under Trump and had only filled about 350 of those positions as of January , according to a Washington Post analysis .
“ The amount of rebuilding that will need to be done is unprecedented , ” Weiss said .
The exit of so much essential staff over the last four years presents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ director of Duke University ’ s Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions .
“ But it ’ s also an opportunity in terms of recruiting new , motivated talented civil servants who would be dedicated to the mission of addressing climate change in the federal government , ” he said .
Profeta helped lead the Climate 21 Project , or C21 , which yesterday unveiled 300 pages of recommendations for a new administration to prepare for a full-court press on climate change ( Greenwire , Nov. 11 ) .
The group ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and departments from the Office of Management and Budget to EPA to the State Department .
It also calls for a new White House policy council to oversee work on climate across the federal agencies .
The C21 plan was written in part by members of Biden ’ s transition team .
One is Joseph Goffman , serving on the EPA transition .
He was EPA ’ s top lawyer on climate and air issues in the Obama administration , and he played a leading role in crafting the Clean Power Plan and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operations .
Another is Robert Bonnie , leading the transition at USDA .
Bonnie was climate adviser to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack—himself a close Biden ally—and later served as the department ’ s undersecretary for natural resources and environment .
The EPA landing team will be helmed by Patrice Simms of Earthjustice , an environmental lawyer who began his career at EPA and served in the Obama administration as a deputy assistant attorney general in the Environment and Natural Resources Division at the Justice Department .
Also on the team are Cynthia Giles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ top official for compliance and enforcement under Obama , and Ken Kopocis , its top chief for water quality .
The Interior team includes Maggie Thomas , who was a climate adviser to the Democratic presidential campaigns of Washington Gov .
Jay Inslee and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren , both of whom proposed ending Interior ’ s oil , gas and coal leasing .
It also includes Kate Kelly , director of the Center for American Progress ’ public lands program ; Elizabeth Klein , an Interior veteran who is close with David @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Clinton and Obama administrations ; Kevin Washburn , who was assistant secretary for Indian Affairs ; and Bob Anderson , an attorney specializing in Native American law who was co-lead of Obama ’ s Interior transition .
The Energy Department team is led by Arun Majumdar , the initial director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy , which started under Obama .
Also on that team is the AFL-CIO ’ s Brad Markell , a strong advocate of carbon capture technology .
The CEQ team is headed by Cecilia Martinez , the environmental @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Biden campaign ’ s climate engagement advisory council .
She ’ ll be joined by Nikki Buffa , who was deputy chief of staff at Obama ’ s Interior , and Bloomberg Philanthropies ’ Shara Mohtadi , who helped lead America ’ s Pledge and the group ’ s anti-coal work .
The Department of Justice team includes Richard Lazarus , a Harvard University professor who worked on the landmark Massachusetts v. EPA Supreme Court case , which in 2007 established EPA ’ s obligation to regulate greenhouse gas emissions under the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he published a book called “ The Rule of Five ” about the people and issues that shaped that case ( Greenwire , Sept. 14 ) .
Sue Biniaz , the State Department ’ s top attorney on climate change under four presidents , is a member of State ’ s landing team .
She ’ s credited with saving the Paris Agreement at least twice by supplying diplomatic words in late-night scrums at climate conferences .
That helped the U.S. negotiating team bring home a deal that wouldn ’ t require Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the agreement would still have teeth .
“ Everybody always used to say that Sue knows where every comma is in the Paris Agreement , ” said Nathaniel Keohane , senior vice president at the Environmental Defense Fund and a veteran of Obama ’ s White House .
The Treasury team includes Andy Green , now of the Center for American Progress , who worked on pricing climate risk as a lawyer for the Securities and Exchange Commission .
Another Treasury transition official is Marisa Lago , who handled climate finance under the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chair of the New York City Planning Commission .
The Department of Transportation team includes Patty Monahan , a member of the California Energy Commission and a vocal advocate of electric vehicles , as well as Austin Brown , who was assistant director for clean energy and transportation in Obama ’ s Office of Science and Technology Policy .
The team for the General Services Administration—which oversees federal procurement and will figure heavily into Biden ’ s plan to decarbonize the government—includes Josh Sawislak , a former CEQ official who is now a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Energy Solutions .
The Small Business Administration team includes Cliff Kellogg , executive director of the C-PACE Alliance , which works on financing energy efficiency and renewables projects .
The Defense Department team includes Sharon Burke , the former DOD assistant secretary who has focused on climate change ’ s impact on the military .
The Department of Homeland Security team includes Craig Fugate , the Obama administration ’ s Federal Emergency Management Agency director .
The team for the Federal Reserve includes Amanda Fischer , a vocal advocate of the Fed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chief of staff to progressive Rep. Katie Porter ( D-Calif. ) .
The transition team for the United Nations includes Leonardo Martinez-Diaz , global director of the World Resources Institute ’ s sustainable finance center .
He was formerly the Treasury Department ’ s deputy assistant secretary for energy and environment .
And the National Security Council team is headed by Jeff Prescott , who published an op-ed last year comparing Trump ’ s climate denial to the administrative failures that led to the Chernobyl nuclear disaster .
Reprinted from Climatewire with permission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ & E provides daily coverage of essential energy and environmental news at www.eenews.net .

From the Pentagon to the General Services Administration, President-elect Joe Biden has embedded climate-minded officials throughout his sprawling transition team.
Climate experts, former Obama administration officials and green activists abound among the teams managing the transition for EPA; the Energy, Interior and Agriculture departments; and the White House Council on Environmental Quality.
Unlike past transitions, officials with significant climate or clean energy experience also pop up in departments like State, Defense, Treasury and Justice.
They’re even handling the transition at agencies that, so far, have been on the periphery of climate policy, like the Small Business Administration and the Federal Reserve.
Of Biden’s 39 agency review teams, at least 19 have one or more officials with some climate background.
Perhaps just as telling, many of the transition officials had a hand in the 2009 stimulus, to date the largest government investment in clean energy and the model for Biden’s climate plan.
The teams include a cross section of union representatives, progressive policy experts, establishment loyalists, activist scholars, corporate envoys and technocrats.
It’s the latest test of the Biden team’s balancing act between progressives, whom it courted during the campaign, and the establishment veterans who have proliferated in the former vice president’s orbit for years.
Raw ideological fights might have to wait, though.
In the short term, some of the Biden transition’s biggest challenges will come from simply restaffing and rebuilding the agencies that were deconstructed under President Trump, said Aaron Weiss of the Center for Western Priorities.
“These folks are going to be coming into departments that have, in many cases, been eviscerated,” he said, pointing to the exodus of scientists and career staffers from the federal government over the past four years.
EPA, for example, shed more than 700 scientists under Trump and had only filled about 350 of those positions as of January, according to a Washington Post analysis.
“The amount of rebuilding that will need to be done is unprecedented,” Weiss said.
The exit of so much essential staff over the last four years presents a challenge, said Tim Profeta, director of Duke University’s Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions.
“But it’s also an opportunity in terms of recruiting new, motivated talented civil servants who would be dedicated to the mission of addressing climate change in the federal government,” he said.
Profeta helped lead the Climate 21 Project, or C21, which yesterday unveiled 300 pages of recommendations for a new administration to prepare for a full-court press on climate change (Greenwire, Nov. 11).
The group’s suggestions cover 11 government offices, agencies and departments from the Office of Management and Budget to EPA to the State Department. It also calls for a new White House policy council to oversee work on climate across the federal agencies.
The C21 plan was written in part by members of Biden’s transition team.
One is Joseph Goffman, serving on the EPA transition. He was EPA’s top lawyer on climate and air issues in the Obama administration, and he played a leading role in crafting the Clean Power Plan and regulations for methane from oil and gas operations.
Another is Robert Bonnie, leading the transition at USDA. Bonnie was climate adviser to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack—himself a close Biden ally—and later served as the department’s undersecretary for natural resources and environment.
The EPA landing team will be helmed by Patrice Simms of Earthjustice, an environmental lawyer who began his career at EPA and served in the Obama administration as a deputy assistant attorney general in the Environment and Natural Resources Division at the Justice Department.
Also on the team are Cynthia Giles, who served as EPA’s top official for compliance and enforcement under Obama, and Ken Kopocis, its top chief for water quality.
The Interior team includes Maggie Thomas, who was a climate adviser to the Democratic presidential campaigns of Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, both of whom proposed ending Interior’s oil, gas and coal leasing.
It also includes Kate Kelly, director of the Center for American Progress’ public lands program; Elizabeth Klein, an Interior veteran who is close with David Hayes, the deputy secretary under the Clinton and Obama administrations; Kevin Washburn, who was assistant secretary for Indian Affairs; and Bob Anderson, an attorney specializing in Native American law who was co-lead of Obama’s Interior transition.
The Energy Department team is led by Arun Majumdar, the initial director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, which started under Obama. Also on that team is the AFL-CIO’s Brad Markell, a strong advocate of carbon capture technology.
The CEQ team is headed by Cecilia Martinez, the environmental justice advocate who was a member of the Biden campaign’s climate engagement advisory council. She’ll be joined by Nikki Buffa, who was deputy chief of staff at Obama’s Interior, and Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Shara Mohtadi, who helped lead America’s Pledge and the group’s anti-coal work.
The Department of Justice team includes Richard Lazarus, a Harvard University professor who worked on the landmark Massachusetts v. EPA Supreme Court case, which in 2007 established EPA’s obligation to regulate greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. Earlier this year he published a book called “The Rule of Five” about the people and issues that shaped that case (Greenwire, Sept. 14).
Sue Biniaz, the State Department’s top attorney on climate change under four presidents, is a member of State’s landing team. She’s credited with saving the Paris Agreement at least twice by supplying diplomatic words in late-night scrums at climate conferences. That helped the U.S. negotiating team bring home a deal that wouldn’t require Senate ratification while satisfying other global players that the agreement would still have teeth.
“Everybody always used to say that Sue knows where every comma is in the Paris Agreement,” said Nathaniel Keohane, senior vice president at the Environmental Defense Fund and a veteran of Obama’s White House.
The Treasury team includes Andy Green, now of the Center for American Progress, who worked on pricing climate risk as a lawyer for the Securities and Exchange Commission. Another Treasury transition official is Marisa Lago, who handled climate finance under the Obama administration and oversaw adaptation projects as chair of the New York City Planning Commission.
The Department of Transportation team includes Patty Monahan, a member of the California Energy Commission and a vocal advocate of electric vehicles, as well as Austin Brown, who was assistant director for clean energy and transportation in Obama’s Office of Science and Technology Policy.
The team for the General Services Administration—which oversees federal procurement and will figure heavily into Biden’s plan to decarbonize the government—includes Josh Sawislak, a former CEQ official who is now a senior adviser to the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions.
The Small Business Administration team includes Cliff Kellogg, executive director of the C-PACE Alliance, which works on financing energy efficiency and renewables projects.
The Defense Department team includes Sharon Burke, the former DOD assistant secretary who has focused on climate change’s impact on the military.
The Department of Homeland Security team includes Craig Fugate, the Obama administration’s Federal Emergency Management Agency director.
The team for the Federal Reserve includes Amanda Fischer, a vocal advocate of the Fed accounting for climate risk and a former chief of staff to progressive Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.).
The transition team for the United Nations includes Leonardo Martinez-Diaz, global director of the World Resources Institute’s sustainable finance center. He was formerly the Treasury Department’s deputy assistant secretary for energy and environment.
And the National Security Council team is headed by Jeff Prescott, who published an op-ed last year comparing Trump’s climate denial to the administrative failures that led to the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.
Reporters Maxine Joselow, Thomas Frank, Avery Ellfeldt and Benjamin Storrow contributed
Reprinted from Climatewire with permission from E&E News. E&E provides daily coverage of essential energy and environmental news at www.eenews.net.