The amount of microplastics in the ocean is growing exponentially. As long as so much microplastic is being dumped, attempts to clean up the ocean are futile.

*Rising temperatures in tropics to lead to lower coffee yields and higher prices, study suggests.*

*Norfolk Southern's "Safety Plan" Includes Automation That Could Further Endanger Workers.*

It also replaces workers with machines that can't check for all the problems human workers can spot.

*[Rep. Ilhan] Omar Unveils Bill to Block US [military] Aid to Human Rights Abusers.*

With the world dividing into blocs, and repressive regimes on every side, I don't know if the US is in a strong enough position to refuse alliance with all of those regimes. I think that in the 1990s it could have done so, but it did not give priority to that goal.

Large areas of farmland in New Zealand were permanently ruined for agriculture by the erosion of Cyclone Gabrielle.

Parts could be restored through years of work — but is it worth the trouble? How soon will another cyclone do similar damage?