Glass Wings Blog: February 2026
We know how to cool our cities and towns. So why aren’t we doing it?
Sun, 1 Feb 2026 12:36:38 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/we-know-how-to-cool-our-cities-and-towns-so-why-arent-we-doing-it-273341>
"This week, Victoria recorded its hottest day in nearly six years. On Tuesday,
the northwest towns of Walpeup and Hopetoun reached 48.9°C, and the temperature
in parts of Melbourne soared over 45°C. Towns in South Australia also broke
(More...)
EV total cost of ownership in Australia: The economics have turned
Sun, 1 Feb 2026 12:38:01 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://thedriven.io/2026/01/29/ev-total-cost-of-ownership-in-australia-the-economics-have-turned/>
"For much of the past decade, electric vehicles in Australia have been viewed
as a strategic or environmental investment rather than a financial one.
(More...)
The job losses are real — but the AI excuse is fake
Sun, 1 Feb 2026 12:39:53 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://pivot-to-ai.com/2026/01/29/the-job-losses-are-real-but-the-ai-excuse-is-fake/>
"Both of these statements are true:
1. Across the whole US economy, there’s not really a visible effect of AI on
(More...)
EV Battery Recycling Could Be The End Of Mining!
Sun, 1 Feb 2026 12:41:03 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zY8aRCQ0CgY
"In this episode, Imogen visits Altilium in Plymouth to see how old electric
vehicle batteries are being transformed into brand-new battery materials, using
a process that can recover over 95% of critical minerals including lithium,
(More...)
Australia’s high speed rail ambitions could be funded through an aviation fuel excise
Sun, 1 Feb 2026 12:42:40 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://reneweconomy.com.au/australias-high-speed-rail-ambitions-could-be-funded-through-an-aviation-fuel-excise/>
"Australia has contemplated high speed rail (HSR) for over 40 years. CSIRO
produced a high level proposal in 1984 titled “A Fast railway between Sydney,
Canberra and Melbourne”. Since then, feasibility studies for an east coast HSR
(More...)
Solarpunk at the BSFA Awards
Sun, 1 Feb 2026 12:44:23 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://brightgreenfutures.substack.com/p/solarpunk-at-the-bsfa-awards
"While the podcast is a fantastic medium for discussions with authors and for
making my long-form essays accessible to those who only do audio (not reading
the newsletter), podcasts take a lot of time to create… which ironically leaves
(More...)
The cold war maps that can help us rethink today’s Arctic conflict
Sun, 1 Feb 2026 19:07:57 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/the-cold-war-maps-that-can-help-us-rethink-todays-arctic-conflict-274058>
"The late 1940s and early 1950s were a golden age for polar mapmaking in the
US. Major magazines such as
Time,
Life and
Fortune commissioned a
generation of famous cartographers – who had come of age in the second world
(More...)
Four positive tipping points that could trigger unstoppable change
Sun, 1 Feb 2026 19:09:23 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.positive.news/society/four-positive-tipping-points-that-could-trigger-unstoppable-change/>
"Imagine sitting on an ordinary chair. Now, lean back gently. Depending on
where exactly you are balanced, you could tilt forward to safety, or go
crashing backwards. A fraction of a degree is enough to determine your fate.
(More...)
The ‘pleasant fiction’ of a rules-based order has been blown apart. It’s time for Australia to codify a bill of rights
Sun, 1 Feb 2026 19:12:09 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jan/31/australia-charter-bill-of-rights>
"For decades, Labor governments have been waiting for a “catalysing political
trigger” to convince the opposition that there was a real and urgent need for a
comprehensive, codified Australian charter of rights as exists in all other
(More...)
Geopolitics will cast a long shadow over the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympic Games
Sun, 1 Feb 2026 19:13:02 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/geopolitics-will-cast-a-long-shadow-over-the-2026-milan-cortina-winter-olympic-games-273764>
"This winter’s Olympic games will not be a normal international sporting event.
A cloud of geopolitical tension looms over the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics,
as well as the upcoming FIFA Men’s World Cup.
(More...)
‘I’ve found my community’: the woman bringing AI and climate science together
Sun, 1 Feb 2026 19:13:53 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.positive.news/society/ive-found-my-community-the-woman-bringing-ai-and-climate-science-together/>
"What links artificial intelligence and the climate crisis? On the one hand,
they’re both driven by fossil fuels. The link between dirty energy and an
ever-heating climate is well-established. As for AI’s connection, energy hungry
(More...)
ICE not only looks and acts like a paramilitary force – it is one, and that makes it harder to curb
Mon, 2 Feb 2026 06:32:25 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/ice-not-only-looks-and-acts-like-a-paramilitary-force-it-is-one-and-that-makes-it-harder-to-curb-274580>
"As the operations of Immigration and Customs Enforcement have intensified over
the past year, politicians and journalists alike have begun referring to ICE as
a “paramilitary force.”
(More...)
‘It’s a virtuous spiral, and it’s just beginning’: electric vehicles as mini power plants
Mon, 2 Feb 2026 06:34:50 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.positive.news/society/its-a-virtuous-spiral-and-its-just-beginning-electric-vehicles-as-mini-power-plants/>
"We’ve all heard it. That phrase trotted out with deadening familiarity by
green sceptics: “Solar and wind are all very well, but what happens when the
breeze doesn’t blow and the sun doesn’t shine? Have you thought of that, eh?”
(More...)
Russia’s drone pipeline: How Iran helps Moscow produce an ever-evolving unmanned fleet
Mon, 2 Feb 2026 06:35:43 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/russias-drone-pipeline-how-iran-helps-moscow-produce-an-ever-evolving-unmanned-fleet-272016>
"With Russian ground troops bogged down in a grinding war of attrition, Moscow
is striving to press home its advantage in the skies – through an ever-evolving
army of drones, courtesy of Iran.
(More...)
It’s easy making green: Muppets continue to make a profit 50 years into their run
Mon, 2 Feb 2026 06:38:30 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/its-easy-making-green-muppets-continue-to-make-a-profit-50-years-into-their-run-272855>
"A variety show that’s still revered for its absurdist, slapstick humor debuted
50 years ago. It starred an irreverent band of characters made of foam and
fleece.
(More...)
Lab-cultured fish: the newest alt-protein making a splash
Mon, 2 Feb 2026 06:40:01 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.positive.news/society/lab-cultured-fish-the-newest-alt-protein-making-a-splash/>
"The sight of lab-coated technicians operating shiny steel vats takes some
getting used to. It’s a far cry from industrial chicken barns and abattoirs.
This is cellular agriculture; farming on a microscopic scale, cultivating cells
(More...)
Letters from an American: January 31, 2026
Mon, 2 Feb 2026 12:13:26 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/january-31-2026
"White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller posted on social media this
morning:
(More...)
The motley (star-studded) crew that paved the way for Norway’s EV revolution
Mon, 2 Feb 2026 12:15:04 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.positive.news/society/the-crew-that-paved-the-way-for-norway-ev-revolution/>
"The halcyon days of the mid-80s – ripped jeans, hair mousse, and that tune:
A-ha’s
Take on Me, blasting from radios, lighting up
MTV.
(More...)
US formally withdraws from World Health Organization, leaving debt
Mon, 2 Feb 2026 12:16:13 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/public-health/us-formally-withdraws-world-health-organization-leaving-debt>
"Today the United States officially withdrew from the World Health Organization
(WHO), one year after the Trump administration shared its intention to leave
the global agency.
(More...)
The City Where Traffic Fatalities Vanished
Mon, 2 Feb 2026 12:17:49 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://reasonstobecheerful.world/the-city-where-traffic-fatalities-vanished/>
"A U.S. city of 60,000 people would typically see around six to eight traffic
fatalities every year. But Hoboken, New Jersey? They haven’t had a single fatal
crash for nine years — since January 17, 2017, to be exact.
(More...)
Researchers: Not testing for Covid-19 is creating problems
Mon, 2 Feb 2026 12:19:14 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.sciencenorway.no/covid19-long-covid-mental-health/researchers-not-testing-for-covid-19-is-creating-problems/2606109>
"Several Nordic studies point in the same direction: People are visiting
doctors more often, and more are absent from work than before the pandemic. Is
this due to after-effects of Covid-19, or something entirely different?
(More...)
Inside the Teen-Run Hotline Meeting America’s Mental Health Crisis
Mon, 2 Feb 2026 12:20:36 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://reasonstobecheerful.world/teen-mental-health-peer-support-hotline-california/>
"On weekday evenings between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. PST, the small, softly lit Teen
Line office in Century City, CA, begins to buzz. A handful of high schoolers —
many still in their school sweatshirts — settle into cubicles, put on headsets
(More...)
The Whimsical Floating Schools of Kashmir
Mon, 2 Feb 2026 19:29:41 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://reasonstobecheerful.world/floating-schools-of-kashmir-dal-lake/
"Each weekday morning, as mist lifts off Dal Lake, a quiet movement begins.
Wooden boats set out from houseboats and island homes carrying children dressed
in school uniforms, their backpacks tucked between oars and lunch pails. Some
(More...)
What Could Go Right? A Bovine Backscratcher
Mon, 2 Feb 2026 19:34:39 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://theprogressnetwork.substack.com/p/a-bovine-backscratcher
"Here at
The Progress Network, we have an explicit editorial mandate not to
tip over into the type of good news that feels warm and fuzzy but has little
serious impact. With the national mood so grim last week, however, I had to
(More...)
A chatbot entirely powered by humans, not artificial intelligence? This Chilean community shows why
Mon, 2 Feb 2026 19:35:55 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://apnews.com/article/ai-human-chatbot-chile-quiliai-data-centers-water-a798d7d1ae3b2fd7646ec5dbfc8a18dd>
"About 50 residents of a community outside Chile’s capital spent Saturday
trying their best to power an entirely human-operated chatbot that could answer
questions and make silly pictures on command, in a message to highlight the
(More...)
Ethnic Cleansing in Ohio?
Mon, 2 Feb 2026 19:37:12 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://snyder.substack.com/p/ethnic-cleansing-in-ohio
"In the schools and churches of Springfield, Ohio, people are making hasty
preparations for a “large deportation” promised by the president. To all
appearances, and according to local sources, the city is two or three days away
(More...)
Kentucky’s Rural and Urban Communities Unite over Climate Change
Mon, 2 Feb 2026 19:38:23 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://reasonstobecheerful.world/kentucky-communities-unite-over-climate-change/>
"Two myths tend to shape how people talk about Kentucky and climate change. One
is that the state is a “climate haven,” insulated from the worst effects of
global warming. The other is that Kentuckians are hostile to climate action.
(More...)
AI is failing ‘Humanity’s Last Exam’. So what does that mean for machine intelligence?
Mon, 2 Feb 2026 19:41:12 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/ai-is-failing-humanitys-last-exam-so-what-does-that-mean-for-machine-intelligence-274620>
"How do you translate ancient Palmyrene script from a Roman tombstone? How many
paired tendons are supported by a specific sesamoid bone in a hummingbird? Can
you identify closed syllables in Biblical Hebrew based on the latest
(More...)
Calls grow in Iran for independent inquiry into protest death toll
Tue, 3 Feb 2026 04:35:05 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/01/calls-grow-in-iran-for-independent-inquiry-into-protest-death-toll>
"Calls are growing inside Iran for an independent inquiry into the number of
people killed during recent protests after the government said it would oversee
the publication of the names of the deceased.
(More...)
Australia needs to get real about Trump’s changing America
Tue, 3 Feb 2026 04:36:10 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/australia-needs-to-get-real-about-trumps-changing-america-274424>
"Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Davos speech should unsettle Australian
strategic thinkers, who have been raised in the belief the US alliance is the
unshakeable foundation of Australia’s regional security.
(More...)
From cute dogs to Turning Point: the journey of an influencer aiming to breathe rightwing Christian values into Australian politics
Tue, 3 Feb 2026 04:37:10 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/feb/02/turning-point-australia-rightwing-christian-politics>
"When George Mamalis started an Instagram account a decade ago, it was filled
with beaches, sunsets, cute dogs and aesthetically pleasing food shots.
(More...)
Funny, tender, goofy – Catherine O'Hara lit up the screen every time she showed up
Tue, 3 Feb 2026 04:38:25 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/funny-tender-goofy-catherine-ohara-lit-up-the-screen-every-time-she-showed-up-274816>
"Catherine O’Hara, the beloved actor and comedian who has died aged 71,
occupied that rare position in contemporary screen culture: a comic actor, a
cult figure and a mainstream star.
(More...)
Russian drone attack on bus carrying mine workers in Ukraine kills at least 12
Tue, 3 Feb 2026 04:39:40 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/01/russian-drone-attack-on-bus-carrying-mine-workers-ukraine-kills>
"A Russian drone attack on a bus carrying mine workers in Ukraine’s
central-eastern Dnipropetrovsk region has killed at least 12 people, officials
said.
(More...)
The only remaining US-Russia nuclear treaty expires this week. Could a new arms race soon accelerate?
Tue, 3 Feb 2026 04:43:02 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
(More...)
Battery prices plunge 60 pct in two years, changing face of grid and the nature of contracts
Tue, 3 Feb 2026 12:20:01 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://reneweconomy.com.au/battery-prices-plunge-60-pct-in-two-years-changing-face-of-grid-and-the-nature-of-contracts/>
"The new owner of one of the most successful battery storage and renewable
energy developers in Australia and the world, says battery storage costs have
fallen 60 per cent and changed the face of the grid as well as the nature of
(More...)
Why the Voice referendum failed – and what the government hasn’t learned from it
Tue, 3 Feb 2026 12:21:11 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/why-the-voice-referendum-failed-and-what-the-government-hasnt-learned-from-it-255969>
"More than two years on, you’d be forgiven for thinking the story of the
failure of the referendum on an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice has
been neatly folded away and filed as a story of inevitable loss. Bipartisanship
(More...)
The Final Coding Bootcamp: A Eulogy for Lighthouse Labs
Tue, 3 Feb 2026 12:22:17 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://brennan.day/the-final-coding-bootcamp-a-eulogy-for-lighthouse-labs/>
"On a damp October evening in 2013, a handful of developers in Vancouver's
Gastown gathered around folding tables. It was a wonderful, ideal concept they
discussed as their MacBook screens glowed.
What if you didn't need four years
(More...)
Household rat poisons found to be ‘unacceptable risk’ to native animals. So why aren’t they banned?
Tue, 3 Feb 2026 12:34:14 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/household-rat-poisons-found-to-be-unacceptable-risk-to-native-animals-so-why-arent-they-banned-272346>
"The Australian authority that regulates pesticides has finally released its
long-delayed review of the rodenticide poisons used by millions of Australians
to combat rat and mice infestations.
(More...)
The ‘Social Media Addiction’ Narrative May Be More Harmful Than Social Media Itself
Tue, 3 Feb 2026 12:36:08 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.techdirt.com/2026/01/29/the-social-media-addiction-narrative-may-be-more-harmful-than-social-media-itself/>
"This week, a major trial kicked off in Los Angeles in which hundreds of
families sued Meta, TikTok, Snap, and YouTube, accusing the companies of
intentionally designing their products to be addictive (though Snap and TikTok
(More...)
US Warns Canada "Buy the F-35, or Else"
Tue, 3 Feb 2026 12:37:27 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://freedium-mirror.cfd/https://wesodonnell.medium.com/us-warns-canada-buy-the-f-35-or-else-e1e22a85ce0a>
"Canada didn't ask for a fighter jet referendum wrapped in a sovereignty
crisis, but that's more or less what it's been handed.
(More...)
Fortescue’s low temperature green iron process ready for real world testing
Tue, 3 Feb 2026 19:39:45 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://reneweconomy.com.au/fortescues-low-temperature-green-iron-process-ready-for-real-world-testing/>
"A project to turn Australia’s low grade iron ore into high grade magnetite at
very low temperatures is out of the lab and ready for real world testing, with
a government-funded trial proving the concept works.
(More...)
Speak Its Name: Yes, This Is Naziism
Tue, 3 Feb 2026 19:41:23 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.techdirt.com/2026/01/29/speak-its-name-yes-this-is-naziism/
"History never repeats exactly the same, which is how it can be hard to
recognize when it is indeed repeating—too many little things may be different
the second time around for subsequent events to be a perfect twin of the
(More...)
Many Western Christians Are Going the Way of the Reich Church
Tue, 3 Feb 2026 19:43:04 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://freedium-mirror.cfd/https://medium.com/the-panopticon-publication/many-western-christians-are-going-the-way-of-the-reich-church-c2430d5c803c>
"There's an internet adage known as Godwin's Law that states the longer an
internet argument progresses, the probability that someone will invoke Hitler
or the Nazis into the discussion will inevitably happen.
(More...)
New data show where the parties got their money from in the lead-up to the 2025 election
Tue, 3 Feb 2026 19:45:01 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/new-data-show-where-the-parties-got-their-money-from-in-the-lead-up-to-the-2025-election-274739>
"Australia’s political parties set new records in funds raised and spent in the
lead-up to the 2025 federal election. Now, nine months later, Australians
finally get a look at who funded the parties’ election campaigns.
(More...)
Some companies claim they can ‘resurrect’ species. Does that make people more comfortable with extinction?
Tue, 3 Feb 2026 19:45:55 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/some-companies-claim-they-can-resurrect-species-does-that-make-people-more-comfortable-with-extinction-273583>
"Less than a year ago, United States company Colossal Biosciences announced it
had “resurrected” the dire wolf, a megafauna-hunting wolf species that had been
extinct for 10,000 years.
(More...)
Genetically modified purple tomatoes get green light to be sold in Australia
Tue, 3 Feb 2026 19:47:13 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/feb/03/genetically-modified-purple-tomatoes-australia>
"Caprese salads could take on a new hue after genetically modified purple
tomatoes cleared regulatory hurdles, raising expectations they would become the
first GM fresh food available in Australian green grocers.
(More...)
Australia’s Pacific worker scheme is far from perfect – but we can make it better
Wed, 4 Feb 2026 03:54:22 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/australias-pacific-worker-scheme-is-far-from-perfect-but-we-can-make-it-better-274618>
"The Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme (PALM) is a crucial source of
workers across regional Australia. About 32,000 people from nine Pacific
nations and Timor-Leste work in Australia under PALM.
(More...)
China Has Scaled Floating Solar PV — Will the World Follow?
Wed, 4 Feb 2026 03:55:59 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://freedium-mirror.cfd/https://medium.com/the-new-climate/china-has-scaled-floating-solar-pv-will-the-world-follow-ec8277b877ee>
“Have you heard the one about the reservoir in LA that was covered in 96
million black plastic balls? True story. Each ball cost 36 cents, costing the
city $300 million. A delighted Mayor Eric Garcetti — who released them at a
(More...)
Tiny radio transmitters reveal a hidden survival tactic in birds
Wed, 4 Feb 2026 03:58:07 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/tiny-radio-transmitters-reveal-a-hidden-survival-tactic-in-birds-274517>
"In Sturt National Park, near Tibooburra in central Australia where
temperatures can range from freezing to nearly 50°C, there lives a small bird
with a white back, forked tail and – as we’ve just discovered – a very clever
(More...)
In Bangladesh, Thousands of Volunteers Are Battling Climate-Fuelled Disease at its Source
Wed, 4 Feb 2026 03:59:39 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.asiandispatch.net/volunteers-are-battling-climate-fuelled-disease-at-its-source-bangladesh>
"It is a cloudy, humid September morning near the end of monsoon season in
Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh and one of the world's most densely populated
cities. Streets normally bustling are quiet as residents of the Uttara
(More...)
Here's how Epstein broke the internet
Wed, 4 Feb 2026 04:01:26 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.garbageday.email/p/here-s-how-epstein-broke-the-internet
"I spent most of my 20s covering what we now call the global populism wave. I
got my start in newsrooms writing 4chan explainers and trawling through school
shooter manifestos and eventually that work took me around the world.
(More...)
The Iberian Lynx’s Remarkable Recovery Story | WILD HOPE
Wed, 4 Feb 2026 04:02:28 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6p6bCyoDYI
"Once on the brink of extinction, the Iberian lynx has been given a chance to
thrive again — thanks, in part, to the unyielding dedication of biologist
Rodrigo Serra.
(More...)
She Listened to Women’s Pain. Then She Transformed How It Was Treated.
Wed, 4 Feb 2026 11:55:42 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://archive.md/PD3Kk
"As a veteran doctor treating pregnant women in the suburbs of Paris, Ghada
Hatem-Gantzer realized that most of her patients needed more than she could
offer them.
(More...)
US exit from the World Health Organization marks a new era in global health policy – here’s what the US, and world, will lose
Wed, 4 Feb 2026 11:56:34 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/us-exit-from-the-world-health-organization-marks-a-new-era-in-global-health-policy-heres-what-the-us-and-world-will-lose-274277>
"The U.S. departure from the World Health Organization became official in late
January 2026, according to the Trump administration – a year after President
Donald Trump signed an executive order on inauguration day of his second term
(More...)
How to fireproof a city
Wed, 4 Feb 2026 11:57:52 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.theverge.com/features/861950/fire-resilient-home-neighborhood>
"Down the street from the Los Angeles Angels’ stadium in Anaheim, a crowd
gathers to watch two homes burn.
(More...)
Ten of the Most Exciting Ways to Commemorate America’s 250th This Year
Wed, 4 Feb 2026 12:00:05 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/ten-of-the-most-exciting-ways-to-commemorate-americas-250th-this-year-180988106/>
"America is celebrating 250 years of independence in 2026 with a bevy of
activities, events, exhibitions, concerts, performances and festivities from
coast-to-coast. As one would expect, the Smithsonian Institution is joining in
(More...)
Boy swims four hours in rough seas to save mother and siblings off Western Australia
Wed, 4 Feb 2026 12:26:19 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/feb/03/boy-swims-four-hours-rescue-family-western-australia>
"A teenager has saved his mother and two younger siblings by making a four-hour
swim to raise the alarm despite fading light and rough conditions after the
family was swept out to sea in Western Australia.
(More...)
Africa fights rising hunger by looking to foods of the past
Wed, 4 Feb 2026 12:29:37 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.technologyreview.com/2024/10/14/1105070/africa-crops-maize-kenya-climate-change-agriculture/>
"The first time the rains failed, the farmers of Kanaani were prepared for it.
It was April of 2021, and as climate change had made the weather increasingly
erratic, families in the eastern Kenyan village had grown used to saving food
(More...)
Australian state opens its first overhead gantry-charged bus depot
Wed, 4 Feb 2026 19:10:03 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://thedriven.io/2026/02/02/australian-state-opens-its-first-overhead-gantry-charged-bus-depot/>
"The first over-head gantry-charged electric bus depot in the state of Victoria
has been opened, marking a significant milestone in the transition to
zero-emission public transport in its capital city.
(More...)
Time to do more nothing: the art of deep hanging out
Wed, 4 Feb 2026 19:11:12 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.positive.news/lifestyle/wander-notice-be-where-you-are-the-creative-power-of-deep-hanging-out/>
"Modern life can feel relentless, but for many leaders, making space for
uncertainty fuels creativity and resilience. Writer and broadcaster Margaret
Heffernan, a professor at the University of Bath whose Ted Talks have been
(More...)
In Putin’s Orbit: The Crypto Politics of Jeffrey Epstein and Peter Thiel
Wed, 4 Feb 2026 19:12:40 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://bylinetimes.com/2026/02/03/in-putins-orbit-the-crypto-politics-of-jeffrey-epstein-and-peter-thiel/>
"When Sputnik was launched by the USSR as the first satellite in space in 1957,
the West was caught flat‑footed by a moment of technical and cultural
revolution which had gone largely undetected over the preceding decade.
(More...)
This tech could keep EVs from stressing the grid — and save everyone money
Wed, 4 Feb 2026 19:13:47 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://grist.org/transportation/this-tech-could-keep-evs-from-stressing-the-grid-and-save-everyone-money/>
"If you’re a typical American, you get home from work and start flipping
switches and turning knobs — doing laundry, cooking dinner, watching TV. With
so many other folks doing the same, the strain on the electrical grid in
(More...)
Accessibility for Everyone
Wed, 4 Feb 2026 19:14:56 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://accessibilityforeveryone.site/
"We first published
Accessibility For Everyone with A Book Apart back in
2017. This means the book is now 9 years old. Accessibility best practices
haven’t really changed, and you should still find this book valuable. However,
(More...)
How to know if that job will crush your soul
Wed, 4 Feb 2026 19:16:20 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.anildash.com/2026/01/12/will-that-job-crush-your-soul/
"Last week, we talked about one huge question, “How the hell are you supposed
to have a career in tech in 2026?” That’s pretty specific to this current
moment, but there are some timeless, more perennial questions I've been sharing
(More...)
Free V2X chargers will let Massachusetts EVs power the grid
Thu, 5 Feb 2026 04:29:22 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://electrek.co/2026/02/03/free-v2x-chargers-will-let-massachusetts-evs-power-the-grid/>
"Massachusetts is turning EVs into grid assets, starting with free,
bi-directional (V2X) chargers for schools, towns, and residents.
(More...)
Judge rules Department of Energy’s climate working group was illegal
Thu, 5 Feb 2026 04:30:18 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://arstechnica.com/science/2026/02/us-forced-to-disclose-its-climate-working-groups-communications/>
"On Friday, a judge ruled that the Trump administration violated the law in
forming its Climate Working Group, which released a report that was intended to
undercut the rationale behind greenhouse gas regulations. The judge overseeing
(More...)
Welcome to the ‘Homogenocene’: how humans are making the world’s wildlife dangerously samey
Thu, 5 Feb 2026 04:31:35 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/welcome-to-the-homogenocene-how-humans-are-making-the-worlds-wildlife-dangerously-samey-274092>
"The age of humans is increasingly an age of sameness. Across the planet,
distinctive plants and animals are disappearing, replaced by species that are
lucky enough to thrive alongside humans and travel with us easily. Some
(More...)
With just weeks left on her Australian student visa, one Iranian woman fears she will be executed if she has to return
Thu, 5 Feb 2026 04:33:24 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/feb/04/iranian-woman-australian-student-visa-expiring-fears-execution>
"When bullets fired by Iran’s paramilitary force were sprayed at her home
during a 2022 protest, Atefeh* realised her country was in a “hostage
situation”.
(More...)
We ate space mushrooms and survived to tell the tale
Thu, 5 Feb 2026 04:34:12 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/we-ate-space-mushrooms-and-survived-to-tell-the-tale-274112>
"The mushrooms spread out on the chopping board seemed normal enough. They were
rich and dense, and had a strong earthy aroma. In the saucepan, they melted –
along with the cheese – to form a creamy pasta sauce.
(More...)
Campaign group behind attack ads on Labor, Greens and teal candidates was funded by coal industry lobby
Thu, 5 Feb 2026 04:35:21 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/feb/04/coal-australia-industry-lobby-attack-ads-labor-green-teal>
"A campaign group that attacked Labor, the Greens and teal independent
candidates at the last federal election was almost entirely funded by a coal
industry lobby group, analysis of political disclosures reveals.
(More...)
The Voice would have renewed Australian democracy. Its failure leaves us all worse off
Thu, 5 Feb 2026 12:23:46 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/the-voice-would-have-renewed-australian-democracy-its-failure-leaves-us-all-worse-off-271836>
"There’s long been a fundamental issue underpinning Australia’s approach to
Indigenous affairs. The state makes laws specifically about Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander peoples without any protected mechanism giving them a
(More...)
Zelenskyy accuses Russia of violating Trump-brokered truce amid cold snap
Thu, 5 Feb 2026 12:24:57 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/03/thousands-without-heating-ukraine-russia-winter-attacks-before-talks>
"Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia on Tuesday of violating an agreement with
Donald Trump to hold off from attacking Ukraine’s energy systems in the depths
of a freezing winter, as its forces carried out large-scale airstrikes on Kyiv
(More...)
These voices are the loudest in Australia’s ‘climate wars’
Thu, 5 Feb 2026 12:28:19 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/these-voices-are-the-loudest-in-australias-climate-wars-272347>
"There’s a reason political commentators refer to Australia’s “climate wars”.
Every time a climate policy is put on the table, supporters and opponents come
out in force and duke it out.
(More...)
New research shows Australians support buying local for different reasons – and not all will pay more
Thu, 5 Feb 2026 12:29:03 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/new-research-shows-australians-support-buying-local-for-different-reasons-and-not-all-will-pay-more-274731>
"We have now passed the annual Australia Day peak of calls urging us to “buy
Australian” – especially lamb. The iconic green-and-gold “Australian Made,
Australian Grown” logo, launched by then-Prime Minister Bob Hawke in 1986,
(More...)
Potoroos digging for ‘truffles’ keep their forests healthy – but for how long?
Thu, 5 Feb 2026 12:30:35 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/potoroos-digging-for-truffles-keep-their-forests-healthy-but-for-how-long-271844>
"Think truffles and you’ll probably think of France. But Australia is actually
a global hotspot for truffle-like fungi, boasting hundreds of different
species. Like culinary truffles, these truffle-like fungi produce underground
(More...)
China’s new literary star had 19 jobs before ‘writer’ – including bike courier and bakery apprentice
Thu, 5 Feb 2026 12:31:54 +1100
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/chinas-new-literary-star-had-19-jobs-before-writer-including-bike-courier-and-bakery-apprentice-272447>
"
Review: I Deliver Parcels in Beijing – Hu Anyan (Allen Lane)
Delivering parcels is just one of the 19 different jobs Hu Anyan cycles through
(More...)
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