Signs & Portents
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Pagan News Beagle: Earthy Thursday, October 27
A look at how politics has skewed the "debate" on global warming. Archaeologists reexamine the consensus on the famous terracotta warriors of China. And a plan is hatched to help keep the public educated in the wake of anti-science backlash. It's Earthy Thursday, our weekly segment on science and Earth-related news. All this and more for the Pagan News Beagle!
It would be nice if we could say that politics doesn't influence people's perception of science. But unfortunately it does. A new poll released by Pew Research shows how Clinton supporters and Trump supporters differ enormously when it comes to one critical issue: climate change.
What is energy poverty? And why should you care about it? Environmentalist website Grist explains how roughly half of the world lives without easy, reliable access to basic electric utilities and why it's an issue that needs addressing.
It's not quite as famous as the Great Wall, but it's not that far behind: the terracotta army guarding the tomb of Qin Shi Huangdi, the first Emperor of China, is one of the great historical wonders of the country. And yet much of its nature is still shrouded in mystery. National Geographic takes a look at new revelations about the army and its connections to the bloody struggle for power that followed the Emperor's death.
For those who've been following the progress of global warming two chief dangers stick out: global sea level rises and an increase in extreme weather. But the two are sometimes connected. Four years ago when Hurricane Sandy swept through New York City it left large areas of the city temporarily flooded. While the damage was eventually undone it was costly. And what's more, it's possible that due to global warming it could happen repeatedly in the future.
There is an ongoing climate of anti-science and anti-academic sentiment in our culture; that's hard to deny. But what's the best way to combat it? That's what Shawn Otto's concerned with. At the Scientific American he outlines a plan to defend science and educate the public, even as others try to block academia out.
Top image by Maros
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