Global Challenges
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Will there be a digital doomsday?
Our modern information society is stored on computer hard drives – a technology never meant for long-term storage. (New Scientist)
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Putting the squeeze on corruption
Indian NGO promotes “zero rupee” notes that help victims defy petty corruption. (World Bank blog)
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Network theory and nature
Ecologists have begun applying network theory to ecosystems, and are gaining insight into how species are interconnected. (Yale Environment 360)
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They don’t have to be perfect – they still work
Can’t afford the high cost of solar panels? Scrounge up chipped or cracked ones from local maintenance departments. (CleanTechnica.com)
International Relations
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A Daughter of Haiti
Writer Francie Latour recounts her thoughts and feelings during the days following the earthquake. (Boston Globe)
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Want to be a millionaire?
Try writing in Nabati, an ancient form of Arabic folk poetry. (Boston Globe)
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Funny in Arabic
Laughter unites Arabs from New York to Amman. (In These Times)
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An Eyeful
Satellite images reveal parts of North Korea’s hidden world. (BBC)
Economy
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America’s top economics bloggers
The first-ever survey of econobloggers, an opinionated group with diverse viewpoints on one of the vital issues of the day. (Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation)
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The three E’s: Ecology, Education, Economy
The modern economy is a threat to our existence. Our priorities are all wrong. Ecology should always come first. (Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives)
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The Future Colossus
By the year 2040, China’s economy could reach $123 trillion – double current global GDP. (Foreign Policy)
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Sarkozy at the Davos World Economic Forum
At Davos, French president Nicolas Sarkozy urges profound changes in capitalism. The captains of finance are not amused. (BBC)
Climate Change
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NASA: emissions police?
A NASA satellite that can measure carbon emissions from specific sources may be used to enforce future climate treaties. (New Scientist)
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Major Antarctic glacier past its tipping point
The collapse of Antarctica’s Pine Island glacier could cause a half-meter rise in sea levels. (Climate Code Red)
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Water vapor caused one-third of global warming in 1990s
A recent study on water vapor’s role in global warming highlights the need to adjust how computer modeling accounts for it. (Guardian / UK)
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A farming model to sustain the world
By eschewing petrochemical inputs and using traditional knowledge, Indian agriculture is becoming a model for sustainability. (ZSpace)
