your science briefing for 02.26.2025

Golf vs. renewable energy projects, surprise funding cuts threaten JWST as it hits its prime, why our children isn't learning good, and more...

Given the excitement over renewable energy projects, you would think that countless acres of land are being covered in windmills and solar farms. But the reality isn’t quite as rosy. Golf courses alone take up more space than any wind or solar farm across the world, with the potential for generating 842 GW of solar energy, or 659 GW from wind combined should that land be converted. Of course, the authors of the study showing these stats aren’t arguing for getting rid of golf courses, but trying to show the benefit of using seemingly small areas of mostly empty land for good… (EurekaAlert)

Imagine taking well paid, highly educated software engineers and IT admins who work on critical government projects, the kind of things a developed, modern nation needs done every day to function. Then imagine reassigning them from maintaining a nation to looking through millions of documents for any sign of liberal wrongthink, and calling this a great use of government time and money… (404 Media)

NASA’s most sophisticated and highest performing space origami project, the JWST, is set to see its funding slashed by 20% despite exceeding every benchmark ever set for it and discovering amazing details challenging our understanding of solar systems and the basics of cosmology. The rationale for these cuts appears to be “this will own the libs big time” based on current reporting… (Space.com)

Back in 2002, then president George W. Bush asked the key question “is our children learning?” to drum up support for his far-reaching No Child Left Behind Act. After two decades of incessant testing and an ocean of alarming data, we can say that no, they is not. But a fanatical focus on ill-defined testing and unrealistic benchmarks is pretty much purpose built to be the worst way to teach students, especially when you want them to be curious, innovative, and passionate about learning, according to experts in psychology and education… (Psychology Today)

Because unfortunately this needs to be said given the fact that a malicious ignoramus is now in charge of vaccinations and handling infectious disease, COVID vaccines for children are very safe, extremely effective at preventing Long COVID, and your should absolutely be getting yourself and your kids regular booster shots… (ArsTechnica)