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The logic behind electric vehicles benefiting public health has long been solid: More EVs means fewer internal combustion engines on the road, and a reduction in harmful tailpipe emissions. But now researchers have confirmed, to the greatest extent yet, that this is indeed whats actually happening on the ground. Whats more, they found that even relatively small upticks in EV adoption can have a measurably positive impact on a community. Whereas previous work has largely been based on modeling, a study published this month in the journal Lancet Planetary Health used satellites to measure actual emissions. The study, conducted between 2019 and 2023, focused on California, which has among the highest rates of EV use in the country, and nitrogen dioxide, one of the gases released during combustion, including when fossil fuels are burned. Exposure to the pollutant can contribute to heart and lung issues, or even premature death. Across nearly 1,700 ZIP codes, the analysis showed that, for every increase of 200 electric vehicles, nitrogen dioxide emissions decreased by 1.1 percent. A pretty small addition of cars at the ZIP code level led to a decline in air pollution, said Sandrah Eckel, a public health professor at the University of Southern Californias Keck School of Medicine and lead author of the study. Its remarkable. The group had tried to establish this link using Environmental Protection Agency air monitors before, but because there are only about 100 of them in California, the results werent statistically significant. The data also were from 2013 through 2019, when there were fewer electric vehicles on the road. Although the satellite instrument they ultimately used only detected nitrogen dioxide, it did allow researchers to gather data for virtually the entire state, and this time the findings were clear. Its making a real difference in our neighborhoods, said Eckel, who said a methodology like theirs could be used anywhere in the world. The advent of such powerful satellites allows scientists to look at other sources of emissions, such as factories or homes, too. Its a revolutionary approach. Mary Johnson, who researches environmental health at Harvard Universitys T.H. Chan School of Public Health and was not involved in the study, said shes not aware of a similar study of this size, or one that uses satellite data so extensively. Their analysis seems sound, she said, noting that the authors controlled for variables such as the COVID-19 pandemic and shifts toward working from home. The results, Johnson added, totally make sense and align with other research in this area. When London implemented congestion pricing in 2003, for example, it reduced traffic and emissions and increased life expectancy. That is the direction this latest research could go too. They didnt take the next step and look at health data, she said, which I think would be interesting.Daniel Horton, who leads Northwestern Universitys climate change research group, also sees value in this latest work. The results help to confirm the sort of predictions that numerical air quality modelers have been making for the past decade, he said, adding that it could also lay the foundation for similar research. This proof of concept paper is a great start and augurs good things to come.Eckel hopes that, eventually, advances in satellite technology will allow for more widespread detection of other types of emissions too, such as fine particulate matter. That could even help account for some of the potential downsides of EVs, which are heavier and could therefore kick up more tire or brake dust than their gasoline counterparts. On the whole, though, she believes the picture overwhelmingly illustrates how driving an electric car is better not just for the planet but for people. Research like this, she says, underscores the importance of continued EV adoption, the sales of which have slumped recently, and the need to do so equitably. Although lower-income neighborhoods have historically borne the brunt of pollution from highways and traffic, they cant always afford the relatively high cost of EVs. Eckel hopes that research like this can help guide policymakers. There are concerns that some of the communities that really stand to benefit the most from reductions in air pollution are also some of the communities that are really at risk of being left behind in the transition, she said. Previous research has shown that EVs could alleviate harms such as asthma in children, and detailed data like this latest study can help highlight both where more work needs to be done and whats working. Its really exciting that we were able to show that there were these measurable improvements in the air that were all breathing, she said. Another arguably hopeful finding was that the median increase in electric vehicle usage during the study was 272 per ZIP code. That, Eckel says, means there is plenty of opportunity to make our air even cleaner. Correction: This story originally misidentified the pollutant studied. It is nitrogen dioxide. This article originally appeared in Grist. Grist is a nonprofit, independent media organization dedicated to telling stories of climate solutions and a just future. Learn more at Grist.org
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The European Union on Friday accused TikTok of breaching the bloc’s digital rules with “addictive design” features that lead to compulsive use by children, in preliminary charges that strike at the heart of the popular video sharing app’s operating model.EU regulators said their two-year investigation found that TikTok hasn’t done enough to assess how features such as autoplay and infinite scroll could harm the physical and mental health of users, including minors and “vulnerable adults.”The European Commission said it believes TikTok should change the “basic design” of its service. The commission is the EU’s executive arm and enforcer of the 27-nation bloc’s Digital Services Act, a sweeping rulebook that requires social media companies to clean up their platforms and protect users, under threat of hefty fines.TikTok denied the accusations.“The Commission’s preliminary findings present a categorically false and entirely meritless depiction of our platform, and we will take whatever steps are necessary to challenge these findings through every means available to us,” the company said in a statement.TikTok’s features including infinite scrolling, autoplay, push notifications, and highly personalized recommender systems “lead to the compulsive use of the app, especially for our kids, and this poses major risks to their mental health and wellbeing,” Commission spokesman Thomas Regnier said at a press briefing in Brussels.“The measures that TikTok has in place are simply not enough,” he said.The company now has a chance to defend itself and reply to the commission’s findings. Regnier said “if they don’t do this properly,” Brussels could issue a so-called non-compliance decision and possible fine worth up to 6% of the company’s total annual revenue. There was no deadline specified for the commission to make a final decision.The preliminary findings are the latest example of pressure that TikTok and other social media platforms are facing over youth addiction.Australia has banned social media for under-16s while governments in Spain, France, Britain,Denmark,Malaysia and Egypt want to introduce similar measures. In the U.S., TikTok last month settled a landmark social media addiction lawsuit while two other companies named in the suit Meta’s Instagram and Google’s YouTube still face claims that their platforms deliberately addict and harm children.TikTok has 170 million users in the European Union and “most of these are children,” Regnier said. He added that 7% of children aged 12 to 15 spend four to five hours daily on TikTok, and it’s “by far” the platform most used after midnight by children aged 13 to 18, citing unspecified data.“These statistics are extremely alarming,” he said.The commission said that TikTok fuels the urge to keep scrolling because it constantly rewards users with new content, leading to reduced self control.It said TikTok ignores signs that someone is compulsively using the app, such as the amount of time that minors spend on it at night, and how often the app is opened.The company has failed to put in place “reasonable, proportionate and effective” measures to offset the risks, it said.The commission said TikTok’s existing time management controls are easy to dismiss and “introduce limited friction,” while parental tools need “additional time and skills” from parents.Changes that the commission wants TikTok to make include disabling features like infinite scroll; putting in more effective breaks for screen time, including at night; and changing its “highly personalized” recommender system, which feeds users an endless stream of video shorts based on their preferences.TikTok says it has numerous tools, such as custom screen time limits and sleep reminders, that let users make “intentional decisions” about how they spend their time on the app. The company also noted it has teen accounts that let parents impose time limits on use, and prompt teen users to switch off in the evenings. Associated Press journalist Sam McNeil contributed to this report. Kelvin Chan, AP Business Writer
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Just because youre an ultra-talented global celebrity doesnt mean youre a shoo-in for an amazing gig. In fact, even stars have to apply to jobs, just like the rest of us. Just ask Charlie Puth, wholl be singing The Star-Spangled Banner at Super Bowl LX Sunday night. It shows how humility fuels success for even someone at the top of their gamein this case, a dream opportunity for one of pops biggest stars on entertainments biggest stage. In a recent Rolling Stone interview, the We Dont Talk Anymore singer spoke frankly last month about how he applied and auditioned to sing the national anthem, and how hes elated for the gig. He shared that performing the national anthem at the Super Bowl was a dream goal and seemed like he didnt expect any preferential treatment: I applied. I auditioned for it, but I made up my own audition because Ive always wanted to do it. He adds, because I love it musically, he told the magazine: Its the best song. Musically, its so special.” “I actually have always wanted to do this, and I recorded a little demo, just me singing with the Rhodes and sent it to Roc Nation. Ive been told Jay-Z loved it, and it got Goodell and they all said that I could do it,” the 34-year-old said. The New Jersey native is a prime example of how even high-achievers and applicants at the height of their industry audition or apply for jobs. Its that blend of humility and experience that can lead people to great things: Humility can be a very impressive personality trait, and the kind of authenticity that shows in Puths Rolling Stone answers is the kind that tells a hiring manager youre grateful for the opportunity, and communicates real passion. Theres even research to back up that humility is a trait that can make you a more desirable candidate for a job. Puth kept that humility when talking about iconic Super Bowl performances from the past: “Im going to be inspired by what Whitney did, but I cant ever touch what she did, he told Rolling Stone. I just wanna show people that I can do it. I feel like people dont really think of me as, like, a stand-alone vocalist at times. To channel your inner Charlie Puth humility, try these strategies: Balance it with confidence: Thats especially the case for leaders. Have trust in your talents, but also be adaptable, empathetic, and open to learning from other people in your field. Model it for others: Sometimes deciding to be a model of supportive collaboration, trustful integrity, and taking responsibility can bring out your inner humility, which others can in turn learn from and be inspired by. Talk less about yourself: An easy way to unlock inner humility, this also helps you not compare yourself too much to others. Another element of a professional business persona is not to respond negatively to those who arent happy with your achievements. Puth responded with grace on X back in December after a snide social media post from a doubter. Striking a diplomatic tone, he wrote: Ill never claim to be as good of a singer as Whitney Houston ever was. But I assure you were putting a really special arrangement togetherin D major. Itll be one of my best vocal performances.
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