Alexander Verbeek
@alexverbeek.bsky.social
Climate action | Nature | Water-Energy-Food | Sustainability | Wildlife | Innovation | Writing about the beauty of our planet on: https://theplanet.substack.com
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If you have any reach on Bluesky, please consider reposting so I can find old and new friends (and then I’ll follow you back 😊).
I'm Alexander Verbeek and publish about the climate crisis, environment, the beauty of nature, science, walking, sustainability, wildlife, photography, water, and energy.
I'm Alexander Verbeek and publish about the climate crisis, environment, the beauty of nature, science, walking, sustainability, wildlife, photography, water, and energy.
Today’s good news:
Just learned a 72-hour phone break works better than antidepressants. Also: Babylonians drew ghosts, Vatican runs on solar, and a couple found £230,000 in Tudor coins gardening.
Read more surprises:
Just learned a 72-hour phone break works better than antidepressants. Also: Babylonians drew ghosts, Vatican runs on solar, and a couple found £230,000 in Tudor coins gardening.
Read more surprises:
Taking a Phone Break Beats Antidepressants
Plus: Babylonian ghost rituals, Tudor treasure in the garden, and the world’s greenest tiny nation
medium.com
November 10, 2025 at 8:43 AM
Today’s good news:
Just learned a 72-hour phone break works better than antidepressants. Also: Babylonians drew ghosts, Vatican runs on solar, and a couple found £230,000 in Tudor coins gardening.
Read more surprises:
Just learned a 72-hour phone break works better than antidepressants. Also: Babylonians drew ghosts, Vatican runs on solar, and a couple found £230,000 in Tudor coins gardening.
Read more surprises:
When your Medium article makes The Guardian
When Your Medium Article Makes The Guardian
Plus: Sandwich Guy beats Trump’s prosecutors, Indigenous peoples protect Canada, and 111,000 spiders built the world’s largest spiderweb
medium.com
November 9, 2025 at 9:17 AM
When your Medium article makes The Guardian
After nearly 2000 days on Duolingo, I’ve learned what works for language learning. Your phone has everything you need (for free). Plus more screen skills: AI tutors, hidden translation tools, etc.
How You Can Learn a New Language for Free (And Actually Stick With It This Time)
Plus: My 2000-day Duolingo streak secret, Substack’s translation feature, and smartphone tricks
screenskills.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:12 PM
After nearly 2000 days on Duolingo, I’ve learned what works for language learning. Your phone has everything you need (for free). Plus more screen skills: AI tutors, hidden translation tools, etc.
Why Mamdani's New York Victory Gives Democrats Hope Everywhere
Why Mamdani’s New York Victory Gives Democrats Hope Everywhere
Plus: Australia’s free electricity revolution, Scotland’s forgotten heroes, and sharks saving coral reefs
alexanderverbeek.medium.com
November 7, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Why Mamdani's New York Victory Gives Democrats Hope Everywhere
Reposted by Alexander Verbeek
Thrilled to be among the authors of a new report about climate change and litigation: "Let the courts decide?" It's timely with COP30 in Brazil and backsliding by governments and others on climate pledges
www.idea.int/publications... thanks to @internationalidea.bsky.social @cop30brazil.bsky.social
www.idea.int/publications... thanks to @internationalidea.bsky.social @cop30brazil.bsky.social
Let the courts decide? The Potential and Limitations of Climate Litigation from a Democracy Perspective | International IDEA
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www.idea.int
November 6, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Thrilled to be among the authors of a new report about climate change and litigation: "Let the courts decide?" It's timely with COP30 in Brazil and backsliding by governments and others on climate pledges
www.idea.int/publications... thanks to @internationalidea.bsky.social @cop30brazil.bsky.social
www.idea.int/publications... thanks to @internationalidea.bsky.social @cop30brazil.bsky.social
Does your family use five different messaging apps, where grandma is on Facebook, kids use WhatsApp, while someone insists on texting?
This week's newsletter offers simple fixes that can be implemented in just 10 minutes so that everyone stays connected.
This week's newsletter offers simple fixes that can be implemented in just 10 minutes so that everyone stays connected.
The Family Group Chat Guide That Keeps Everyone Connected
Plus: Shared photo albums, AI help for tech support, and Substack’s new chat features
screenskills.substack.com
November 5, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Does your family use five different messaging apps, where grandma is on Facebook, kids use WhatsApp, while someone insists on texting?
This week's newsletter offers simple fixes that can be implemented in just 10 minutes so that everyone stays connected.
This week's newsletter offers simple fixes that can be implemented in just 10 minutes so that everyone stays connected.
Your daily dose of ten good news stories:
Forget Wellness Trends: Museums Are the New Medicine (and Nine More Good News Stories)
Plus: Evolution’s female-driven surprise, Florida’s hero otter, and the world’s new tallest church
medium.com
November 5, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Your daily dose of ten good news stories:
Your daily dose of ten good news stories: 😊
Your Daily Dose of Ten Good News Stories
Plus: Manet learned from Morisot, why women need less exercise, Portugal gets beavers back, a lost European bird found in New York, and…
medium.com
November 4, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Your daily dose of ten good news stories: 😊
Marie Antoinette may never have said, "Let them eat cake," but Trump's actions speak precisely that indifference towards the American people.
#politics #news
#politics #news
Trump’s Marie Antoinette Moment
Marie Antoinette may never have said, “Let them eat cake,” but Trump’s actions speak precisely that indifference towards the American…
medium.com
November 3, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Fighting Trump's Fascism Requires Hope, Not Just Horror Stories
Fighting Trump’s Fascism Requires Hope, Not Just Horror Stories
Plus: Halloween pumpkins, Ancient plagues that built our immune systems, golden toilets as protest art, and why doctors prescribe forest…
medium.com
November 1, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Fighting Trump's Fascism Requires Hope, Not Just Horror Stories
Do you already use smart shopping lists? These apps are so smart that they know what you need before you do.
#shopping #apps
#shopping #apps
Smart Shopping Lists: The Apps That Know What You Need Before You Do
Plus: WhatsApp passkey backups, Threads privacy controls, and fridge-to-meal AI prompts
open.substack.com
October 31, 2025 at 2:32 PM
While Texas sues Tylenol makers over fake autism claims & Trump talks third terms, here's your antidote: lemurs still evolving, Spain protecting oceans & real science making breakthroughs 🌍 Read for hope:
How Europe Watches America’s Democracy Unravel
Plus: Madagascar’s evolutionary surprise, geometric breakthrough, condors return home, and ocean victories
medium.com
October 29, 2025 at 10:33 AM
While Texas sues Tylenol makers over fake autism claims & Trump talks third terms, here's your antidote: lemurs still evolving, Spain protecting oceans & real science making breakthroughs 🌍 Read for hope:
Biden Calls for Optimism in "Dark Days;" Hope Lives in This New Publication.
#GoodNews #Science #politics #nature
#GoodNews #Science #politics #nature
Biden Calls for Optimism in “Dark Days.” Hope Lives in This New Publication: The Good News
The Good News: where optimism meets evidence
alexanderverbeek.medium.com
October 28, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Still using passwords? There's something better already on your phone.
Passkeys are easier to use AND impossible to steal. Today's Screen Skills newsletter shows you how to set them up in 2 minutes.
Passkeys are easier to use AND impossible to steal. Today's Screen Skills newsletter shows you how to set them up in 2 minutes.
Passkeys: The Password Replacement That’s Already on Your Phone
Plus: Romance scam warnings, password and passkeys manager apps, and Substack security
open.substack.com
October 27, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Still using passwords? There's something better already on your phone.
Passkeys are easier to use AND impossible to steal. Today's Screen Skills newsletter shows you how to set them up in 2 minutes.
Passkeys are easier to use AND impossible to steal. Today's Screen Skills newsletter shows you how to set them up in 2 minutes.
Trump literally takes a wrecking ball to the White House. The East Wing is rubble. The "ballroom" looks like Vegas. And he lied about all of it.
This is what democracy's physical destruction looks like.
#EastWing #WhiteHouse
This is what democracy's physical destruction looks like.
#EastWing #WhiteHouse
The White House 90,000-square-foot ballroom that would make Ceaușescu blush
Trump’s wrecking ball vision for America
medium.com
October 23, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Trump literally takes a wrecking ball to the White House. The East Wing is rubble. The "ballroom" looks like Vegas. And he lied about all of it.
This is what democracy's physical destruction looks like.
#EastWing #WhiteHouse
This is what democracy's physical destruction looks like.
#EastWing #WhiteHouse
OpenAI just launched a browser where ChatGPT does your browsing for you. It can fill forms, compare prices & summarize pages. But should you trust it with your data?
Plus WhatsApp updates & iPhone safety tips
Plus WhatsApp updates & iPhone safety tips
The New ChatGPT Browser That Changes How You Use the Internet
Plus WhatsApp’s latest features, iPhone’s Check In safety tool, energy-saving search tips, and Substack’s hidden “Saved” feature
open.substack.com
October 22, 2025 at 6:43 PM
OpenAI just launched a browser where ChatGPT does your browsing for you. It can fill forms, compare prices & summarize pages. But should you trust it with your data?
Plus WhatsApp updates & iPhone safety tips
Plus WhatsApp updates & iPhone safety tips
Trump is demolishing the White House East Wing for a personal ballroom. It's part of a 40-year pattern of cultural vandalism that follows the fascist playbook.
From Art Deco to Kennedy Center: Why dictators fear artists.
From Art Deco to Kennedy Center: Why dictators fear artists.
The War on American Culture
How the East Wing demolition fits a forty-year pattern of destroying beauty and law
medium.com
October 22, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Trump is demolishing the White House East Wing for a personal ballroom. It's part of a 40-year pattern of cultural vandalism that follows the fascist playbook.
From Art Deco to Kennedy Center: Why dictators fear artists.
From Art Deco to Kennedy Center: Why dictators fear artists.
Your brain peaks at 60, not 20!
Today's good news: glowing sharks discovered, simple blood test for Alzheimer's, solar nets save turtles, plus ancient surprises & pumpkin boat races 🎃
Read more:
Today's good news: glowing sharks discovered, simple blood test for Alzheimer's, solar nets save turtles, plus ancient surprises & pumpkin boat races 🎃
Read more:
Your Brain Peaks at 60 and More Good News and Surprising Scientific Discoveries
Plus: Deep-sea wonders, medical advances, and Italy by luxury train
open.substack.com
October 21, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Your brain peaks at 60, not 20!
Today's good news: glowing sharks discovered, simple blood test for Alzheimer's, solar nets save turtles, plus ancient surprises & pumpkin boat races 🎃
Read more:
Today's good news: glowing sharks discovered, simple blood test for Alzheimer's, solar nets save turtles, plus ancient surprises & pumpkin boat races 🎃
Read more:
78 years after Hollywood blacklists, millions flood US streets in No Kings protests. Why Americans won't repeat 1947's silence.
Plus: ten good news stories in today's Daybreak Notes & Beans
Plus: ten good news stories in today's Daybreak Notes & Beans
From McCarthyism to Millions in the Streets: This time America Fights Back
Plus: Orange cats' genetic secret, Monet's Venice obsession, and sheep reclaiming Madrid
open.substack.com
October 20, 2025 at 8:33 PM
78 years after Hollywood blacklists, millions flood US streets in No Kings protests. Why Americans won't repeat 1947's silence.
Plus: ten good news stories in today's Daybreak Notes & Beans
Plus: ten good news stories in today's Daybreak Notes & Beans
Google Maps has dozens of hidden features most people never find. Learn to save favorites, create custom lists & share location safely. Plus: why you should update to iOS 26 & the best QR code readers 📍🗺️
The Top Five Google Maps Features That Will Change How You Navigate
Plus QR code safety tips, essential iOS update advice, a scam alert, and how to search for Substack newsletters
open.substack.com
October 20, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Google Maps has dozens of hidden features most people never find. Learn to save favorites, create custom lists & share location safely. Plus: why you should update to iOS 26 & the best QR code readers 📍🗺️