Data centers strain energy, raising questions of fairness, sustainability, and survival in a continent already struggling with scarcity, writes William Burns.

Sizable Energy raised $8M to build a demonstration plant that stores energy for long durations by pumping brine between inflatable reservoirs in the sea.

At COP30, a key UN leader warns that as "disasters decimate the lives of millions" and "when we already have the solutions," inaction on the climate crisis "will never, ever be forgiven."

The United States has in recent years become a stronghold for climate change skepticism, especially since the country’s declaration in 2001 that it would not participate in the Kyoto Protocol. Nevertheless, though it is a well-documented fact, it might surprise you to learn that, a far cry from the United States’ recent ambivalence with respect to the modern scientific theory of man-made climate change, the country’s founders were keen observers of climatic trends and might even be counted among the first climate change advocates.

From the start, the project to colonize North America had proceeded on the understanding that climate followed latitude; so dependent was climate on the angle of the sun to the earth’s surface, it was believed, that the word ‘climate’ was defined in terms of parallels of latitude. New England was expected to be as mild as England, and Virginia as hot as Italy and Spain. Surprised by harsh conditions in the New World, however, a great number of the early settlers did not outlast their first winter in the colonies. Many of the survivors returned to Europe, and in fact, the majority of 17th-century colonies in North America were abandoned.

COP30, which is also known as the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference, is underway—and Trump won’t be attending. He’ll be glad he decided to skip it too, as several world leaders at the event are throwing shade his way.

Without saying Trump’s name, Brazil’s President Lula da Silva called out the “extremist forces that fabricate fake news and are condemning future generations to life on a planet altered forever by global warming.” While French President Emmanuel Macron stated: “climate misinformation today poses a threat to our democracies.”

Others were more direct, like Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who said: “Trump is against humankind.” And Chilean President Gabriel Boric blasted Trump for calling climate science a “hoax” and “con job,” stating: “That is a lie … We might have legitimate discussions about how to face these things, but we cannot deny them.”

The data-center capital of the world elected a Democratic governor and strengthened its House Democratic majority. Will they save its landmark clean…

A federal court judge is allowing the Trump administration to reconsider the approval of a major federal permit for a Massachusetts offshore wind farm, which was granted days before the president’s inauguration

Portland General Electric used Gridcare’s software to identify extra space on its grid — available to any existing data center willing to be flexible.

A United Nations assessment released ahead of COP30 warns that countries' latest pledges to cut greenhouse gas emissions under the Paris Agreement could push global temperatures to 2.3-2.5°C above preindustrial levels.

“Are we just going to turn everybody loose and let the fires burn our houses down?” Nevada just did — and others may follow.

MASHPEE – Mashpee residents have approved a wastewater treatment system to benefit Mashpee Wakeby Pond. Town meeting had previously approved the borrowing of about $26 million for the new system to be constructed on Gunters Lane.

The project will also clean up Popponesset Bay.

Studies show that virtually every American—more than 97% of the population, according to one study—has at least one endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC) in their body. These synthetic compounds can interfere with the body's hormone system, which regulates essential functions including growth, metabolism, reproduction, and more.

Countless everyday products contain EDCs, including:

Export controls highlight China’s influence in tech supply chains at a moment when the EU is ramping up AI ambitions, reports Raluca Besliu.

The Charles River is a "Class B" river, meaning that it's suitable for boating and swimming, writes Frederick Hewett. But now authorities want to downgrade it so they don’t have to solve our sewage problem.

Many economists and business leaders are raising alarms about falling birthrates. But advocates for lower human populations say a less crowded world will be happier and more sustainable.

The experimental technology promoted by the governor, the nuclear industry, and some academic institutions is still on the drawing board and has no proven cost parameters

What if a storm like Melissa hit the northeast US?

Australia's extensive solar power penetration makes so much energy that the government wants to offer free electricity at peak hours.

Boston and Cambridge’s decades-old district energy system is being retooled to shift away from gas and toward heat pumps and electric boilers.

As China has begun to impose restrictions on rare earths, a one-year pause not withstanding, the U.S. is racing to build up its own supply chain.

Self-driving cars are slowly becoming less sci-fi and more real-world as companies like Waymo, the autonomous arm of Google's parent, Alphabet, expand into more areas. 

On Monday, Waymo said it's bringing its ride-hailing service to three new cities: Las Vegas, San Diego and Detroit. As part of the rollout, Waymo is deploying both its Jaguar I-Pace fleet, which already operates in a handful of other cities, as well as the newer Zeeker RT vehicles that are equipped with Waymo's latest, sixth-generation self-driving technology. The company plans to open up to public riders in the new locations next year. 

Waymo currently operates fully autonomous rides for the general public in Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Austin, Texas, which use the all-electric Jaguar I-Pace. The vehicles can be summoned either via the Waymo app or Uber, depending on the city. 

Waymo's expansions have ramped up in recent months, with Nashville, New York, Denver and Seattle joining the roster of upcoming robotaxi locations. In an Aug. 29 blog post, Waymo said it's "entering a new chapter and accelerating our commercial expansion." 

HYANNIS – Development has stopped for a proposed wind energy project in the waters south of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. Oil and energy companies BP and JERA have canceled Beacon Wind, which wa…