Peter Aldhous

🧵As we race toward the U.S. midterm elections, checking in on our update @insideclimatenews.org charts of oil and fuel prices 1/ Brent crude oil

2/ Gasoline

3/ Diesel

ICYMI during the week

Peter Aldhous@peteraldhous.com

🧵NEW from me, launching a collaboration between @urbanjournalism.bsky.social and ccij.io into deaths from extreme heat: Over 50,000 estimated to have died across European cities in summer 2026, with the climate crisis responsible for two-thirds of these deaths urbanjournalism.org/the-most-dan...

bbc.co.ukWatch: Moment part of Brighton's historic West Pier collapsesFootage taken during Storm Austen shows a section of the famous landmark battered by large waves and collapsing into the water.

I remember touring the structure when there was still hope to restore the pier. That must have been before 2001. Then came arson attacks in 2003. And now a battle with the waves. www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/...

veza.newsThe most dangerously hot summer that Europe has experienced — VEZAMore than 50,000 people are estimated to have died across European cities, with the climate crisis responsible for two thirds of these deaths

NEW: This piece launches a ccij.io collaboration with @urbanjournalism.bsky.social on a project to quantify the toll from extreme heat, backed by @journalismfund.bsky.social and advised by @pmasselot.bsky.social of @lshtm.bsky.social veza.news/article/2026...

Thanks to @hendriklehmann.bsky.social and David Meidinger for interactive graphics!

Watch this space: Going forward, the collaboration, with scientific advice from @pmasselot.bsky.social and funding from @journalismfund.bsky.social, aims to put estimates of deaths from extreme heat for individual cities into the hands of journalists across the European continent.

Great to work with @gabykhazalova.bsky.social, @hendriklehmann.bsky.social and others @urbanjournalism.bsky.social. Read the stories from editorial partners around Europe: urbanjournalism.org/the-heatwave...

forbes.comBillionaires Palmer Luckey And Ben Lamm Spin Up Startup To Genetically Engineer Military DogsBen Lamm of de-extinction startup Colossal has teamed up with Palmer Luckey’s team at Anduril to create a dog that’s optimized for military use. The new “warhounds” will be cloned and gene edited.

In a movie they would end up being mauled to death by their own creations and nobody would shed a tear for them

Amy Feldman@amyfeldman7.bsky.social

*NEW* Colossal Biosciences’ Ben Lamm and Anduril’s Palmer Luckey team up on a new startup to genetically engineer war dogs for the military. Warhound comes out of stealth at $1.2B valuation For @forbes.com with @iainmartin.bsky.social and @mhunterhart.bsky.social www.forbes.com/sites/amyfel...

thenation.comThe Fall of “Scientific American”When the beloved science publication got too political, its corporate owners stepped in. Now its future is uncertain.

Springer Nature had already sold the soul of Scientific American before they sold the publication ... www.thenation.com/article/soci...

Lovely evening

Great to join our @ucscscicomm.bsky.social students at Point Reyes National Seashore and Tomales Bay, exploring local environmental issues and more. Thanks to Martha Mendoza for organizing!

Here’s the full group including Martha

theguardian.comFake Linda and me: the Agatha Christie-worthy mystery of the fraudster who stole my bylineHow a string of bizarre events led writer Linda Geddes to don her sleuthing cap and dig into a world of shadowy impersonators

Good piece from @lindageddes.bsky.social on her experience with "byline theft," probably facilitated by AI. Freelancing is hard enough without this ... www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

Peter Aldhous reposted

Daniel Swain

@weatherwest.bsky.social

Just did some number crunching using latest (Oct 1) ECMWF seasonal data, and I must say that I've never seen such high predictive confidence in a very wet California winter. This is a truly extraordinary forecast amid a record-strength El Niño event. [Thread: please read to end.]

insideclimatenews.orgNew California Law Aims to Stop 'Predatory' Developers from Moving In on Wildfire-Ravaged Community - Inside Climate NewsAs many as 200 to 300 new structures have been permitted in Altadena, but homeowners who survived the Eaton Fire are struggling to rebuild.

Interesting

James Balamuta@coatless.bsky.social

webrarian is a new R package. It turns a folder of R scripts and data into a static website where R runs in the visitor's browser, with no compute server and nothing to install. blog.thecoatlessprofessor.com/posts/introd... #rstats #webr #webassembly

Peter Aldhous reposted

Steven Rodas

@stevenrodas.bsky.social

we spent months reporting in Altadena for @insideclimatenews.org and found outside parties have advanced development faster than owners of homes that burned in Eaton Fire Upwards of 300 new structures, from what families call “predatory” developers, have been approved; wt @ninardietz.bsky.social

Peter Aldhous reposted

Zahra Hirji

@zhirji.bsky.social

A new analysis that looked at just one piece of reforms detailed in the tentative Senate deal & for just part of the US, the reforms could cut CO2 emissions by 71 million metric tons, or 9%, in 2035 compared to a non-reform scenario. Story @bloomberg.com: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

bloomberg.comWhat the Senate Permitting Deal Means for US Climate EmissionsExperts say the bill, which would speed clean-energy and fossil-fuel projects alike, would probably reduce greenhouse gas emissions overall.

insideclimatenews.orgIncoming El Niño Is so Extreme It Doesn’t Have a Scientific Name - Inside Climate NewsAs a record breaking El Niño continues to grow in the Eastern Pacific, climate scientist Daniel Swain explains what may be in store for the next year as we brace for an El Niño “so far above anything ...

Learn from @weatherwest.bsky.social how the incoming El Niño is literally off the charts and defying existing scientific categorization for strong events insideclimatenews.org/news/2909202...

Peter Aldhous reposted

Mark Follman

@markfollman.bsky.social

Story after story right now about OpenAI models failing on safety, but it’s all been in the context of cybersecurity. What about ChatGPT fueling school shooters? We just published a major investigation exposing that further and the details are beyond disturbing www.wsj.com/tech/ai/open...

wsj.comExclusive | OpenAI Scraps Release of New AI Model Over Safety ConcernsThe model, dubbed GPT-6.1 Astra, was due to debut inside ChatGPT and Codex in October.

Peter Aldhous reposted

Brendan Nyhan

@brendannyhan.bsky.social

One of humanity's greatest heroes

Ed Maibach@maibached.bsky.social

Happy Stanislav Petrov Day He passed in 2017. As Encyclopedia Britannica puts it, “He is survived by his two children, two grandchildren, and the entire human race.” If you don't know his story, please take 3 minutes now to learn it. @gchalliance.bsky.social @docsforclimate.bsky.social

sammatey.substack.comHappy Stanislav Petrov DayTake five minutes to not destroy civilization

Peter Aldhous reposted

Inside Climate News

@insideclimatenews.org

The 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly opened with clashing worldviews: one arguing for shared climate policy, protecting forests and regulating AI. The other boasted climate denial, celebrated fossil fuel expansion and attacked global climate regulation.

insideclimatenews.orgCompeting Climate Visions Clash at UN General Assembly - Inside Climate NewsWhile President Donald Trump pushed against cutting emissions and regulating technology, environmentalists called for world leaders to reject conflict and build a stable future with clean energy.

nasw.orgAnnouncing the 2026 NASW Science in Society Journalism Award winnersThe National Association of Science Writers and its Awards Committee are pleased to announce the winners of the <strong>2026 NASW Science in Society Journalism Awards.</strong> This year, NASW is awar...

Congrats to all winners @sciencewriters.org Science in Society Journalism Awards, including @ucscscicomm.bsky.social alum Zack Savitsky! www.nasw.org/2026Sciencei...

Also great to see my friend and former colleague @danvergano.bsky.social among the finalists, getting recognition for his work for @sciam.bsky.social. A shame the publication itself treated Dan and other fine journalists so shabbily.

Great to be back at @ucscscicomm.bsky.social with the new class, and many thanks @paulrogerssjm.bsky.social for an inspiring and informative guest spot talking about finding story ideas!

Peter Aldhous reposted

Phil McKenna

@mckennapr.bsky.social

insideclimatenews.orgClimate Super-Pollutant from China’s Electric Grid Is Cooking the Planet - Inside Climate NewsThe nation’s electric utilities release vast quantities of the world’s most potent greenhouse gas. Recycling efforts could slash emissions at little cost, an Inside Climate News analysis reveals.

Replying to @mckennapr.bsky.social

Recycling efforts could slash emissions at little cost. Read our full @insideclimatenews.org e analysis here insideclimatenews.org/news/2009202... with Rudy Lu and @peteraldhous.com, graphics by @paulhornographic.bsky.social.

Peter Aldhous reposted

Gretchen King

@gbtking.bsky.social

21 Sept

Wolves are an easy target, but what's really harming ranchers' bottomline? @jakebolster.bsky.social & @peteraldhous.com take a look for @insideclimatenews.org insideclimatenews.org/news/1809202...

insideclimatenews.orgTrump Targets Big Bad Wolves, but Ranchers Say Other Administration Actions Drive Their Woes - Inside Climate NewsWhile ranchers support eliminating federal protections for wolves, data shows the predators kill few cattle. Trump’s lifting of tariffs on foreign beef, however, is hitting cattlemen’s wallets.

21 Sept

Pleased to provide some help/advice to @mckennapr.bsky.social in covering this neglected but crucial issue! insideclimatenews.org/news/2009202...

insideclimatenews.org来自中国电网的超级气候污染物正在炙烤地球 - Inside Climate News中国电力企业排放了大量世界上最强效的温室气体。一项Inside Climate News的分析显示，回收措施可以在极低的成本下大幅削减排放。

21 Sept

Chinese translation: insideclimatenews.org/news/2009202...

Peter Aldhous reposted

Phil McKenna

@mckennapr.bsky.social

20 Sept

Exclusive: China’s electric grid releases vast quantities of the world’s most potent greenhouse gas. A low-cost recycling program could go a long way toward curbing that, an @insideclimatenews.org analysis reveals. My latest, w/ Rudy Lu and @peteraldhous.com insideclimatenews.org/news/2009202...

Peter Aldhous reposted

Jake Bolster

@jakebolster.bsky.social

18 Sept

Hear from both ranchers and conservationists about why Trump's executive order to begin delisting wolves may not offer ranches much financial relief from some of his other policies. Always a pleasure to team up with @peteraldhous.com. insideclimatenews.org/news/1809202...

lookout.coFire reignites at Moss Landing battery plant; Monterey County officials issue shelter-in-place orderResidents near the Moss Landing battery plant were under a shelter-in-place order after a fire erupted at the facility early Friday morning.

18 Sept

Here we go again ... lookout.co/fire-reignit...

18 Sept

NEW from @jakebolster.bsky.social and I for @insideclimatenews.org: Trump Targets Big Bad Wolves, but Ranchers Say Other Administration Actions Drive Their Woes insideclimatenews.org/news/1809202...

wwno.orgNew Orleans ICE office has the second-highest arrest rate in the country, data showsImmigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrest data obtained by the Deportation Data Project shows that the New Orleans ICE office's area of responsibility has the second-highest arrest rate in the ...

17 Sept

Pleased to help out with this @gulfstatesnewsroom.bsky.social story. As well as showing the high rate of ICE arrests in the region relative to the immigrant noncitizen population, we found wide variation from state to state in cooperation from county/parish jails. www.wwno.org/immigration/...

github.comGitHub - The-CCIJ/gulf-states-ice-arrests: Analysis of arrests by ICE during the second Trump administration, focusing on Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi. Data from the Deportation Data Project.Analysis of arrests by ICE during the second Trump administration, focusing on Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi. Data from the Deportation Data Project. - The-CCIJ/gulf-states-ice-arrests

17 Sept

My involvement through Center for Collaborative Investigative Journalism. Analysis here: github.com/The-CCIJ/gul...

insideclimatenews.orgHow the End of USAID Eroded Global Environmental Goals - Inside Climate NewsAn analysis finds the cancellation of $1 billion in annual funding weakened protections around the world and undermined U.S. interests.

15 Sept

How the End of USAID Eroded Global Environmental Goals insideclimatenews.org/news/1509202...

veza.newsWhat Africa lost under Trump: at least $5 billion. What it got in return: “true chaos.” — VEZAA CCIJ analysis details the depth of U.S. aid cuts to Africa. The slashed programs fight famine, shelter refugees, combat diseases. They even promote America’s national pastime, baseball. Now: “True c...

15 Sept

For more on the terrible effects of DOGE's assault on USAID: veza.news/article/2025...

theconversation.comDRC’s cobalt exports contain unreported uranium – our study estimates the global nuclear riskThe amount of undeclared uranium from the DRC’s cobalt mines could – if processed – produce enough material for 600-1,500 nuclear weapons.

11 Sept

Here's @ramanzuk.bsky.social in @theconversation.com describing the research that underpinned our @lighthousereports.com @data.ft.com investigation into the DRC's hidden uranium exports theconversation.com/drcs-cobalt-...

lighthousereports.comCongo’s Hidden Uranium ExportsHow a leaked memo prompted scientists and reporters to investigate the supply of cobalt from mines in the DRC to China, revealing the departure of strategic quantities of uranium

11 Sept

Investigation published here www.lighthousereports.com/investigatio... www.ft.com/content/7781...

nytimes.comPhoto of Road Runner Snagged by Coyote Shows That Cartoons Were a LieHere’s some bad news: Sometimes the coyote does win.

5 Sept

Photo from just before the anvil hit? www.nytimes.com/2026/09/04/u...

Peter Aldhous reposted

Covering Climate Now

@coveringclimatenow.org

4 Sept

European emissions: France’s wildfires sent 1.5 million metric tons of carbon into the atmosphere, the largest amount since tracking began in 2003, according to a new report from the EU’s @copernicusecmwf.bsky.social observation service buff.ly/MT8UUxd

lemonde.frFrance's summer 2026 wildfires caused unprecedented carbon emissionsThe EU's Copernicus Earth observation service has reported more than 1.5 million metric tons of carbon were released in the fires, a figure not seen since measurements began in 2003. The findings…

2 Sept

ICYMI yesterday: The Trump EPA Is a Toothless Friend of Polluting Industries, Analysis Shows 1 / Civil judicial complaints, the strongest way for the EPA to enforce the nation’s environmental laws, have fallen off a cliff insideclimatenews.org/news/0109202...

3 Sept

2/ Administrative enforcement actions have shifted away from penalty orders that impose fines on violators toward orders that merely set a timeline for offenders to bring themselves into compliance insideclimatenews.org/news/0109202...