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AHL GlanceNew Mexico man awarded $412 million medical malpractice payout for botched injectionsLOS ANGELES — Go to Phoenix on Monday, play Tuesday. Fly to San Antonio late Tuesday and play the next day. Back to Los Angeles late on Thanksgiving eve, off for the holiday and then play the Thunder on Friday. Fly to Utah the next day, play the Jazz on Sunday. Then off to Minnesota on Sunday night, land late and play the Timberwolves on Monday. Then go to Miami for a game Wednesday. Then go to Atlanta for a game Friday. Off for a day, then host Portland on Sunday. And then, for the first time in weeks, exhale for 48 hours. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
Person accused of accosting Rep. Nancy Mace at Capitol pleads not guilty to assault chargeWaste Management Inc. stock underperforms Wednesday when compared to competitors
The big picture: Most hydrogen production still relies on natural gas. However, a new technique that uses only sunlight and water could allow humanity to move away from using fossil fuels to produce cleaner energy. Researchers at Shinshu University in Japan have built a novel reactor to manufacture renewable hydrogen fuel directly from sunlight and water. It's still an early prototype, but the system could eventually provide a way to produce zero-emission fuel cheaply and sustainably. The reactor is 1,076 sq ft and employs unique photocatalytic panels to split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. This conversion leverages a two-step process. First, the reactor extracts oxygen. The second step separates the hydrogen atoms. The device can then siphon off the hydrogen and store it as a clean-burning fuel for powering vehicles, generators, or other machines. This method differs from today's "one-step" catalysts that split water into hydrogen and oxygen in one go. Although the traditional method is easier, it is also terribly inefficient because the hydrogen fuel requires refinement using natural gas. The team initially tested the reactor with UV light, which showed promise. Under actual sunlight, it yielded even better results, with around 50 percent higher solar energy conversion. The system sounds quite promising. However, there's a catch. The reactor only converts about one percent of sunlight into hydrogen fuel under standard simulated conditions. That's an improvement over previous attempts, but it's still too low for wide-scale adoption. The researchers note that an approximately five percent efficiency is needed to make it commercially viable. The scientists believe that increasing the reactor scale and developing new, higher-performing photocatalysts is critical. However, achieving viable efficiency will require a broader scientific effort focused on enhancing the photocatalysts. "The most important aspect to develop is the efficiency of solar-to-chemical energy conversion by photocatalysts," senior author Kazunari Domen said. "If it is improved to a practical level, many researchers will work seriously on the development of mass production technology and gas separation processes, as well as large-scale plant construction. This will also change the way many people, including policymakers, think about solar energy conversion, and accelerate the development of infrastructure, laws, and regulations related to solar fuels." Despite the remaining technical hurdles, the concept shows great promise. If scientists can refine the catalysts and scale up the reactors, we could be getting our fuel fix from two of the most plentiful resources on Earth rather than finite fossil fuels. Masthead credit: Philip Graves
Syrian President Assad's Dramatic Exile Amidst Rebel TakeoverNone
Liberal Senator Alex Antic has delivered a petition with more than 30,000 signatures against the Misinformation and Disinformation bill to Communications Minister Michelle Rowland. The bill, due to be debated in the Senate next weekend, would give the government the power to fine social media companies for spreading misinformation and disinformation online. Accompanied by Michael Shellenberger, Chair of Politics, Censorship, and Free Speech at the University of Austin’s Centre for Bureaucratic Reform, Senator Antic expressed gratitude to those who supported the petition. The Senator added, “We hope that it’s dead on arrival” to the Senate, before reflecting “We’ve still got some work to do.” Independent and minor party Senators including Jacqui Lambie, Lidia Thorpe, Fatima Payman, David Van, Malcolm Roberts, and others, alongside the Coalition, have voiced objections. In a recent speech to the Senate on Nov. 19, Independent Senator David Van joined other independent Senators who have spoken out against the bill to criticise the bill. “Our role in this place is not merely to pass or reject laws but to improve them and ensure they strengthen our way of life, including our freedoms.” Liberal Senator Dean Smith also noted the legislation threatens to “undermine the democratic culture that has been a cornerstone of Australian society. “While misinformation and disinformation are genuine challenges in our digital age, the solution cannot be one that gives excessive power to the government, stifles open debate and compromises freedom of speech,” he said. “Australians have every reason to be alarmed. As a nation that has consistently ranked among the top democracies in the world, we have now slipped to 14th place under the Albanese government’s watch.” One Nation Senators Pauline Hanson and Malcolm Roberts plan to move a motion to remove the Bill from the Senate legislative agenda. Serious harm includes content that harms public health, the integrity of an Australian electoral process, or the vilification of a group in Australian society. Further, it includes imminent harm to the Australian economy, damage to critical infrastructure, disruption of emergency services, and intentionally inflicted physical industry. Australia’s media watchdog the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) would have the power to hold digital platforms accountable for information spread on their platforms. These powers would include imposing fines through injunctions and civil penalties, making rules, and issuing formal warnings and remedial directions against social media platforms.
Louisville scores 52 second-half points to race past No. 14 Indiana 89-61 in the Battle 4 AtlantisNone