Relevant and even prescient commentary on news, politics and the economy.

Crude Oil Reserves Fall

According to recent reports, as of January 2025, US crude oil inventory is considered to be in a “good shape” with levels slightly below the five-year average. This indicates a comfortable supply situation going into the new year 2025. Recent inventory drops have been less than expected. Analysts are still cautious about potential future market […]

Global CO2 levels increased in 2024

Juan Cole has a recap of the 2024 global warming picture. It ain’t pretty: “The World Meteorological Organization projected total global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in 2024 to be 41.6 billion tons. Some 37.4 billion of that was from humans burning petroleum, fossil gas, and coal. The rest was from deforestation. 2024 was the hottest […]

Progress in renewable electricity storage

The problem with renewable energy like solar and wind is intermittency. When sun goes down or when the wind isn’t blowing, no generation happens. Lithium batteries are one solution. Pumped hydroelectric is another. Lithium-ion batteries store power in their electrodes. Flow batteries store power in their liquid electrolytes. “Electrolyte solutions are stored in external tanks […]

Shale Oil Production Decreasing

Consolidation of Shale oil Drillers and Processer. Fewer wildcat drillers bought out by the larger oil producers. Greater interest in financial returns. Fields are maturing, sweet spots dwindle, and greater interest in investors. Prices for gasoline will eventually increase. Drillers pushed U.S. production to a record of over 13 million barrels a day under President […]

Global warming and the economics of plant nutrition

Climate change denialists are fond of pointing out that rising CO2 levels will mean that plant life will flourish, since plants “breathe” carbon dioxide. And it’s true that, up to a point, plants do grow faster with higher CO2 levels. But those plants have less nutritional value for the animals that depend on them for […]

Whales Outliving Humans

Who would have though a whale could out live a human. Taking into consideration, they were hunted for their oil, run into by large ships, and suffered from the human caused pollution of their oceans. Study reveals right whales live 130 years—or more – University of Alaska Fairbanks New research published in Science Advances reveals that right whales can survive […]

Global Warming

Introduction to a new Newsletter – The Daily Yonder written by Sarah Melotte. This is the inaugural post of our data newsletter, the Rural Index, headed by Sarah Melotte, the Daily Yonder’s data reporter. Subscribe to get a weekly map straight to your inbox.  Do You Think Global Warming Will Harm You Personally? – by Sarah […]

Ancient Aqueduct Being Used Again for Supplying Water

The revival of an old Roman method of supplying water (non potable) for use in other needs besides drinking or cooking. The aqueduct still works and Greece is putting the old supply line to good use after hundred of years. Hadrian’s Aqueduct supplied water to Greece’s capital for centuries but was then largely abandoned. It’s […]

Solutions for a salty future

One of David Zetland’s students who posts to his Blog The one-handed economist. Each year Prof. Zetland allows some of his students to write on various topics and he posts their words on his site. You can either comment here on AB or post to David Zealand’s site. The link is above. Pleease be polite. […]

Global Health and Climate Change

“9 local story ideas from the 2024 Lancet Countdown report on climate change and health” – by Naseem S. Miller The Journal’s Resource Health threats from climate change are reaching record-breaking levels, affecting people in every country, according to the eighth annual Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change report, which provides an up-to-date assessment of […]