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TUESDAYS — YOUR INBOX — ASSUREDLY
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CURATED ECOLOGICAL NEWS
War is always about oil, regardless of the pretext: Vietnam, Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Iran, Venezuela . . .
“At his press conference, El Caudillo del Mar-a-Lago said, ‘We’re going to have our very large US oil companies, the biggest anywhere in the world, go in, spend billions of dollars, fix the badly broken oil infrastructure, and start making money’. Venezuela has the largest proven reserves of oil in the world, according to OPEC.
“One month ago, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro had called on the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to help his country counter ‘growing and illegal threats’ from the United States and its president, Donald Trump. In a letter to fellow OPEC) members, Maduro had accused the US of trying to ‘seize’ Venezuela’s oil reserves, the world’s largest.”
Ag practices that heal the soil organisms
“A December column on AGDAILY voiced frustration with the hollowness of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s use of ‘regenerative’ in the agency’s new $700 million Regenerative Pilot Program, turning it into more of a trendy buzzword than an actual, scientific approach to agriculture.
“I want to emphasize that regenerative agriculture should be accepted by everyone as the restoration of a biological system (the soil) after injury. That’s vital because we, as humans, have spent thousands of years ‘injuring’ the soil out of ignorance for how the soil was designed to function as a biological system.
“What is missing from the new pilot program is any mention of producer education that will help them develop an understanding to guide their management decisions. What would truly benefit producers is if USDA actually helped them learn how to regenerate their soil. Producers must understand what functions the soil has lost — and then learn how to restore them.
“Field to Market, a non-profit organization representing nearly 200 organizations, developed the following definition for regenerative agriculture: Using a systems-based perspective, regenerative agriculture sequesters carbon in the soil and intentionally improves soil health, biodiversity, water quality, and air quality while ensuring the viability of farm production.
“This definition is accompanied by five principles, which are based on Indigenous ways of land management and are adaptive to local conditions and culture:
- minimize disturbance
- maintain living roots in the soil
- continuously covering bare soil
- maximize diversity, and
- integrate livestock where it is feasible.
“The Center for Regenerative Agriculture at California State University at Chico states that regenerative agriculture includes no-till/minimum tillage techniques, the use of cover crops, crop rotations, compost, animal manures, the inoculation of soils with composts or compost extracts to restore soil microbial activity, and managed grazing.”
Constraints on availability of key metals
“In the world of mining, byproducts are often valuable minerals produced in the course of extracting other desired minerals from their ores. For example, zinc mines often also produce profitable quantities of lead and silver.
“I mention zinc in particular, because zinc mines are one source for gallium, a metal that is important for advanced semiconductors, aerospace, optical and medical devices, and military applications. What you will not find on planet earth are any gallium mines because geologic processes do not allow gallium to concentrate in a manner that would create a profitable ore body.
“It turns out that zinc ore is also the main source for indium. Like gallium, there are no indium mines. Its production depends on the rate of production of zinc and to a much smaller extent, copper. Zinc ores are also the source of most of the world’s germanium. You guessed it; there are no germanium mines.
“These three byproduct metals also share another thing in common: The dominant supplier of these critical metals to the world is China. China controls 98 percent of the production of gallium, 70 percent of the production of indium and about 60 percent of germanium production.
“The United States and other countries are now trying to incentivize new domestic mines for many key metals. But, so far, the focus has been on rare earth elements used for high-powered magnets, not on zinc and aluminum mines.
“Perhaps more concerning is that the entire electronics industry is dependent on these metals in their current technology. The thing about metals is that they are elements and unless you have access to the energy and pressure of something akin to the Sun, it’s very hard to turn cheaper more plentiful elements into scarce ones. We still don’t know how to turn lead into gold at a profit.”
Some of the emerging battery technologies
“You’ve seen the headlines: This battery breakthrough is going to change the electric vehicle forever. And then … silence. So we talked to battery technology experts about what’s really going on in electric vehicle batteries.
“Experts say, it can take a long time to get even small tweaks into production cars — sometimes 10 years or more. The big deal battery breakthroughs all have something in common: They’re related to the lithium-ion battery. It’s going to be hard to catch up with the dominant battery form.
“Lithium iron phosphate batteries use iron and phosphate instead of pricier and harder-to-source nickel and cobalt, which are found in conventional lithium-ion batteries. They’re also more stable and slower to degrade after multiple charges. LFP is less energy dense than alternatives, meaning you can’t pack as much charge — or range — into each battery.
“Increased nickel content in lithium nickel manganese cobalt batteries ups the energy density, meaning more range. Batteries with higher nickel content are potentially less stable, which means they carry a higher risk of cracking or thermal runaway — fires.
“Dry electrode process cuts down on the solvents by mixing the materials in dry powder form before application and lamination. Less solvent means fewer environmental and health and safety concerns. Using dry powders can be more technically complicated.
“Cell-to-pack method puts cells directly into a pack structure without the middle module step, so battery makers can fit more battery into the same space. Without modules, it can be harder to control thermal runaway, and makes replacing a faulty battery cell much harder.
“Lithium-ion batteries have graphite anodes. Adding silicon to the mix, though, means more energy storage, and faster charging — six to ten minutes to top up. Silicon alloyed with lithium expands and contracts which can cause mechanical stress and even fracturing.
“Sodium-ion batteries are cheaper and easier to build, seem to perform better in extreme temperatures, and are more stable. Sodium ions are heavier than their lithium counterparts, so they could make them a better fit for battery storage than for vehicles.
“Solid state batteries subs the liquid or gel electrolytes in a conventional li-ion battery for a solid electrolyte. The big advantages are more energy density, faster charging, more durability, fewer safety risks. The biggest issues, however, have to do with manufacturing. Putting together these new batteries requires new equipment. It’s really hard to build defect-free layers of electrolyte.”
Beyond beta — are self-driving cars really better?
“Aesop’s Fables may be the first known written expression of ‘Necessity is the mother of invention’. Trouble is, it’s all too easy to apply this idea to any invention and assume that ‘necessity’ refers to some common problem.
“So, when I saw that Waymo’s autonomous taxis had shut down, not once, but twice about five days apart in San Francisco, I asked myself what necessity is pushing the deployment of autonomous vehicles? To state the obvious, cars with drivers are able to adapt to the outage of traffic signals.
“First, I asked whether there is a shortage of taxi rides available for lack of drivers. With the rise of Uber, Lyft and other ride-hailing services alongside taxicab companies, there appears to be adequate availability. Second, I wondered whether autonomous vehicles are safer for riders. One of the largest accident studies yet suggests self-driving cars struggle more than humans during low-light conditions and when performing turns — routine parts of driving.
“It’s true that autonomous vehicles don’t get drunk or get tired. It’s worth noting that so far we are referring to autonomous vehicles as ride-hailing services. The drivers for those services are required to be sober and alert. But then the human backup crew behind the cars, that is constantly in touch with these vehicles, could get tired or be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
“My third question was whether there is a shortage of truck drivers. This is relevant as trucking companies begin to test autonomous trucks. Assuming for the moment that there is a shortage of truck drivers, it turns out there’s a solution. Walmart just upped its starting pay for truck drivers to $115,000 per year, and grown its trucking workforce by 33% in the last three years.
“So, after considering all this, I asked myself what ‘necessity’ is really driving the autonomous vehicle push. The only answer I can think of is that employers want to minimize labor costs and also the aggravation of having to deal with people.”
Coal ash threatens 44,000 sq. mi. of “American Amazon”
“Here, in the nation’s second-largest delta, the waters of the Deep South wind through the pines and cypresses of the Yellowhammer State, snaking their way into Mobile Bay and on to the Gulf. Among the most biodiverse regions in the country, the Mobile-Tensaw Delta drains 44,000 square miles of Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi. It’s where the rivers — the Mobile, Tensaw, Blakely, Apalachee, Middle, and Spanish Rivers — meet in land dubbed the ‘American Amazon’ by E.O. Wilson, a renowned naturalist born in the state.
“But all of that is at risk because of Alabama Power’s coal ash waste. One 600-acre pit of the toxic coal ash lies along the banks of the Mobile River, an unlined pond filled with more than 21 million tons of the toxic residue. Holding back the toxic waste from the Mobile River? Earthen dikes.
“Alyson Tucker, media relations manager for Alabama Power, said ‘Our plans for closure and groundwater protection fully comply with current state and federal law’. Leaving coal waste in place under engineered caps, company representatives have long argued, is safe and protective of groundwater — claims that state regulators have accepted, but both environmental groups and federal regulators dispute.
“Alabama’s American Amazon isn’t the only area placed at risk by Alabama Power’s ghosts of energy past. Hundreds of square miles of land and waterways would be at risk of inundation in the event of a breach of the barriers. In total, more than 117 million tons of coal sludge are at issue, stored along Alabama’s waterways.”
Ecological progress despite the Donald
“Despite major environmental reversals taken by DJT in 2025, conservationists, lawmakers and researchers still notched key wins at local and state levels.
“California launches methane-tracking satellite to spot major leaks in near real time. One satellite is already in orbit, with seven more expected to launch in the coming years. Hawaii researchers identify microplastic-eating fungi that break down polyurethane. Researchers are now determining whether other fungi can break down more stubborn, less degradable plastics such as polyethylene.
“Scientists have identified key viral drivers behind the massive honeybee die-off. However, researchers have also cautioned that the climate crisis, pesticide exposure, and shrinking forage also contribute. Hypoxia levels in Long Island Sound reach lowest levels in 40 years. Scientists credit decades of local and state-led efforts to cut nitrogen pollution.
“San Diego researchers develop new gel to restore coral reefs at six times the rate of untreated surfaces. New Mexico invests $50m into wildlife crossings to protect elk, mule deer, pronghorn, bighorn sheep, black bears and cougars. Researchers reduce sea turtle bycatch through solar-powered fishing nets by 63% compared with conventional nets.”
Perceived reality, though inaccurate, can be a useful device
“In this quest to move past dualism, I hope to cast dualism as an embarrassing, destructive, and self-centered phase of adolescent excess. We’ll start with Flat Earth beliefs. Earth as a flat plane that extends farther than we will ever walk requires little thought and serves well enough. But astute sailors knew something fishy was afloat well before the voyage of Columbus, based on how ships and land reliably sink below the horizon.
“Yet Flat Earth belief prevailed until recently. Most people still had no need for anything but a Flat Earth model. Restricted to a small locale, the larger truth was neither evident nor relevant. A Flat Earth model is not at all inappropriate — if in a limited context. All mental models are incomplete and wrong in some way(s), after all.
“Copernicus led the charge in demoting Earth from its central status, which was a profound shock to a culture believing itself to be made in God’s image on an Earth that was the central focus of all creation.
“Darwin made huge waves when pointing out that animals evolve into their present, temporary forms, and that humans are no different. Prior to this, it seemed obvious that humans outranked all other beings. One could thrive by embracing mastery and justifying any action — no matter how heinous to other life — on the basis of superiority and entitled dominion.
“We bridle at any hint of limitations: speaking of inexhaustible ingenuity, endless growth, expansion into space, and even immortality. Modern mythology regards humans as transcendent beings. To be fair, evidence of humans breaking limits is not hard to find, so again this mental model is not illogical — just narrowly/incompletely contextualized.
“Importantly, our minds (mental models) have no authority over physics. Perhaps that’s the sentence best encapsulating this series. Any clever actions we take must work within physics. But, just as for the earlier examples of prevalent mental models that were fundamentally wrong, limiting context allows us to pretend that we are a special exception to the rules that apply everywhere else.
“Notice that the more we learn — the more context we take on — the less special humans become. Does anyone here think we’re finished, or might additional demotions be in store? Whatever the case, mental models form a crucial interface to the world. They are familiar, reassuring, and easily mistaken for actual reality.
“The main flaw in these (flat, geocentric, creationist) examples is the missing context (or ignored, avoided context). And that’s okay. It’s to be expected — couldn’t be any other way, really. Our senses and cognitive capacities are limited.”
Cost comparison of nuclear vs renewable energy
“One of the most critical metrics for evaluating energy sources is the Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) — which is a measure of the total cost of building and operating a power plant over its lifetime and expressed in dollars per megawatt-hour.
“According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the LCOE for advanced nuclear power was estimated at $110/MWh in 2023 and forecasted to remain the same up to 2050, while solar PV estimated to be $55/MWh in 2023 and expected to decline to $25/MWh in 2050.
“Onshore wind was $40/MWh in 2023 and expected to decline to $35/MWh in 2050 making renewables significantly cheaper in many cases. Similar trends were observed in the report for EU, China and India. Meanwhile, the cost of battery storage projects experienced a significant decline, falling by 89% from 2010 to 2023.
“In contrast, nuclear power continues to face cost overruns and long construction timelines. According to the 2023 World Nuclear Industry Status Report As of 2023, 58 nuclear reactors are under construction globally, with an average of 6 years having passed since construction began.
“Seven reactors have been under construction for a decade or more, including Brazil’s Angra-3, India’s Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR), Kakrapar-4, and Rajasthan-7 & -8, Japan’s Shimane-3, and France’s Flamanville-3 (FL3). Projects in France and India have faced further delays, while the Japanese reactor still lacks a provisional startup date.
“The debate between nuclear power and renewables remains complex. While nuclear energy offers high-capacity, low-carbon baseload power, it is often hindered by long construction timelines, cost overruns, waste issues and decommissioning challenges. Conversely, renewables such as solar and wind continue to experience declining costs and rapid deployment, supported by government subsidies and technological advancements. However, integrating intermittent renewables into the grid requires significant investment in storage and infrastructure.”
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