Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) claimed over the weekend that all her constituents are confused about why some in the party and the media are trying to force President Joe Biden to drop out of the presidential race, saying that they all continue to support Biden. Dingell made the remarks during a Sunday panel discussion on CNN’s “State of the Union” while talking about the fallout from Biden’s disastrous debate performance. “I have heard many people express their concern. They’re worried about democracy,” she said. “I think that one of the things you have to really understand, even my colleagues are worried about what’s going to happen and what will happen to democracy.” She continued: “But I will tell you, I had people in parades shout at me: ‘Tell him to stay. We have his back.’ Union halls: ‘Why are people saying this?'” WATCH: Rep. @DebDingell: Voters in battleground MI are shouting at me in parades and union halls: “Tell @JoeBiden to stay, we have his back.” pic.twitter.com/d7KdyCj0wY — Julia Hamelburg (@juliahamelburg) July 7, 2024 She added that Democrats needed to change the subject instead of continuing to focus on Biden’s cognitive decline. “We got to stop talking about this. We spent a whole week. Republicans are having a great time,” she said, later adding that “I now am going to go forget the debate.” WATCH: Rep. Debbie Dingell: “We need to get back to talking about Donald Trump and his performance and all the issues that are at stake and the contrast … how he wants to be a dictator and how he thinks Roe was the greatest thing he ever did … he thinks January 6 was a great thing.” pic.twitter.com/rQ16UtzDJW — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 7, 2024

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Hydrogen generation is frequently cited as a critical component in the shift to renewable energy. However, according to a paper published in Nature Energy by Kiane de Kleijne of Radboud University and Eindhoven University of Technology, the technique has several downsides. De Kleijne emphasizes that hydrogen production frequently raises atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels, owing to the fact that it is obtained mostly from natural gas. “Green hydrogen often, but certainly not always, leads to CO2 gains,” De Kleijne says. This is related not only to the carbon footprint of building facilities powered by renewable energy sources such as solar and wind but also to the fact that these sources are most efficient in sun-rich and windy locations such as Africa and Brazil. Transporting hydrogen from these places to where it is needed increases its carbon footprint. Iridium: a rare obstacle The proton-exchange membrane (PEM) technology, which uses water electrolysis, is one of the more environmentally friendly methods of producing hydrogen. While PEM is environmentally favorable because the only byproduct is oxygen, it is primarily reliant on iridium, one of the rarest metals on Earth, making scaling difficult. A promising new approach Researchers from the Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO) in Spain have devised a game-changing answer to this dilemma. They hope to make PEM more scalable and less reliant on rare resources by developing an anode catalyst made of more common elements such as cobalt and tungsten. The novel strategy entails impregnating a cobalt-tungsten oxide with water, the very substance in which it functions. “At the beginning of the project, we were intrigued about the potential role of water itself as the elephant in the room in water electrolysis,” said Ranit Ram, the study’s first author. “No one before had actively tailored water and interfacial water in this way.” The aqueous shield As the anode degrades and loses material during the electrolysis process, water and hydroxide fill the gaps, forming a protective aqueous shield. This unique technology considerably delays the anode’s breakdown, increasing the process’s efficiency and longevity. “We increased five times the current density, arriving to 1 A/cm² – a very challenging landmark in the field,” said Dr. Lu Xia, the study’s leading co-author. “But the key is that we also reached more than 600 hours of stability at such high density. So, we have reached the highest current density and also the highest stability for non-iridium catalysts.” Beyond cobalt: exploring alternatives While the water-impregnated cobalt-tungsten alloy has shown potential, cobalt’s mining processes raise ethical problems. To remedy this, the ICFO team is looking into alternative materials. According to ICFO professor García de Arquer, even if cobalt is more abundant than iridium, its origin remains a source of concern. “That is why we are working on alternatives based on manganese, nickel, and many other materials. We will go through the whole periodic table, if necessary. And we are going to explore and try with them this new strategy to design catalysts that we have reported in our study.” Future implications The ICFO researchers’ achievement may pave the path for more sustainable and scalable hydrogen generation. By reducing reliance on rare metals and boosting the stability and efficiency of PEM processes, this breakthrough has the potential to make hydrogen a more feasible green energy source globally. The global quest for sustainable energy alternatives drives academics to constantly rethink and innovate. This novel technique of hydrogen manufacturing, which focuses on common materials and the strategic use of water, is a huge step toward making green hydrogen more accessible and environmentally beneficial. By addressing both the carbon impact and the material shortage challenges connected with hydrogen production, this innovative approach provides a potential road forward. Continued study and development in this area are required to fulfill hydrogen’s full potential as a clean energy resource. Source study: Science—Water-hydroxide trapping in cobalt tungstate for proton exchange membrane water electrolysisThe post Breakthrough in green hydrogen production: cobalt and water replace rare iridium first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Denmark, a major pork and dairy exporter, is slated to become the first country to impose a carbon dioxide tax on livestock emissions beginning in 2030. This daring step intends to dramatically cut the agricultural sector’s carbon footprint while also inspiring other countries to take similar action. The Danish government announced the decision late last month, citing widespread agreement among key players. A milestone for climate action The CO2 tax proposal, first proposed by government-commissioned scientists in February, is part of Denmark’s ambitious ambition to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 70 percent from 1990 levels by 2030. The agriculture sector, which is the country’s greatest producer of CO2 emissions, is the main focus of this project. “We will be the first country in the world to introduce a real CO2 tax on agriculture. Other countries will be inspired by this,” stated Taxation Minister Jeppe Bruus of the Social Democrats. Broad-based support enables implementation The centrist government reached a broad agreement with farmers, industry leaders, labor unions, and environmental organizations. This agreement clears the route for legislative approval, which political experts feel is extremely likely given the widespread support. The proposed tax structure would charge farmers 300 Danish crowns ($43.16) per tonne of CO2 in 2030, rising to 750 crowns by 2035. Mitigating the economic impact on farmers To reduce farmers’ financial burdens, the government has incorporated provisions for income tax breaks and subsidies. Farmers will be eligible for a 60 percent income tax rebate, effectively lowering the cost per tonne to 120 crowns initially, rising to 300 crowns by 2035. Furthermore, subsidies will be available to help farmers change their operations to meet new environmental regulations. Minister for Economic Affairs Stephanie Lose emphasized the direct impact on customers, stating that the tax might rise around two crowns per kilogram of minced beef by 2030. Currently, minced beef costs roughly 70 crowns per kilogram in Danish bargain retailers. Implications and reactions worldwide Denmark’s move is in sharp contrast to New Zealand’s recent decision to abandon a similar tax plan due to farmer opposition. Despite initial concerns from Danish farmers about the potential impact on production and employment, the agreement was well embraced by the agricultural sector. “The agreement brings clarity when it comes to significant parts of the farmers’ conditions,” stated the L&F agriculture industry group. Towards a sustainable future Denmark’s pioneering CO2 tax on agriculture is a key step toward more sustainable farming practices and climate action. Denmark aspires to set an example for other countries by leading the way in environmental policy, proving that economic progress and environmental responsibility can coexist.The post Denmark to pioneer CO2 tax on farms in a global first first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

'They've become a net drain and are costing us enormously'

Trans Kids Are The New Fashion Accessories Among Hollywood’s Most Deranged Moms

What a chaotic workout

Target has announced plans to stop accepting a classic form of payment starting next week. Target will no longer accept personal checks from customers starting on July 15. To justify the decision, the massive nationwide retailer cited that shoppers rarely utilized the traditional payment method.“Due to extremely low volumes, we’ll no longer accept personal checks starting July 15,” a representative for the company wrote in a statement, according to KTLA. “We have taken several measures to notify guests in advance to aid an easy and efficient checkout experience.”The Target spokesperson attempted to calm the fears of check users by pointing out all of the forms of payment that the Minnesota-based retail behemoth does accept. “Target is committed to creating an easy and convenient checkout experience, and that includes providing our guests with numerous ways to pay, including our new Target Circle Cards (formerly known as Target RedCard); cash; digital wallets; SNAP/EBT; buy now, pay later services; and credit and debit cards,” the spokesperson said. Target's website notes that its stores do not accept the following payment options: Foreign checks and currency: Target doesn’t accept currency or coins from foreign countries. However, depending on where the Target store is located, stores may be able to accept Canadian dollars or Mexican pesos. Target stores update exchange rates weekly. Mall Certificates and Chamber Bucks: Exception - select stores accept payments using mall certificates or chamber bucks. Call your local store to find out if they are accepted. Money orders and cashier's checks: Only accepted as payment on credit accountsBusiness checks are not accepted.Merchant gift cards (e.g., Disney), except Starbucks gift cards (which can be used at the in-store Starbucks registers)The Federal Reserve has noticed that the use of personal checks has declined significantly in recent years. The Federal Reserve Payments Study – which collected data for the 2021 calendar year – discovered that checks used for payments declined at a rate of 7.2% per year since 2018, dropping to 11.2 billion in sales. Despite the drop in the number of checks used, the value of checks increased from $1,908 in 2018 to $2,430 in 2021. The increase stems from fewer checks being written, but they were still used for higher-priced transactions such as rent and automobile purchases. Accelerating the decline of personal checks was the COVID-19 pandemic, as more customers and businesses adopted contactless and digital payment methods.Experts believe the use of personal checks will only continue to decline as more people utilize typical digital payments and up-and-coming cryptocurrencies. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Dude, What? Eric Swalwell Is Latest Lefty With an Unhinged Theory About Project 2025

Biden Question Scandal Brings Consequences for Radio Host and Earns Scathing Response From Station

As the Democrats' pressure on Joe Biden to step aside continues following the first presidential debate on June 27, several ranking lawmakers on Sunday told House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries that the president needs to step aside, CNN reported.