Zach Wendling
@zachwendling.bsky.social
Environmental Performance Index at the Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy | Ph.D. | Energy & climate policy, Quant, YIMBY | Opinions are my own
Reposted by Zach Wendling
Today my @nytimes.com colleagues and I are launching a new series called Lost Science. We interview US scientists who can no longer discover something new about our world, thanks to this year‘s cuts. Here is my first interview with a scientist who studied bees and fires. Gift link: nyti.ms/3IWXbiE
nyti.ms
October 8, 2025 at 11:29 PM
Today my @nytimes.com colleagues and I are launching a new series called Lost Science. We interview US scientists who can no longer discover something new about our world, thanks to this year‘s cuts. Here is my first interview with a scientist who studied bees and fires. Gift link: nyti.ms/3IWXbiE
Reposted by Zach Wendling
“Fine-particulate air pollution can drive devastating forms of dementia by triggering the formation of toxic clumps of protein that destroy nerve cells as they spread through the brain, research suggests.”
“Unlike age or genetics, this is something we can change.”
“Unlike age or genetics, this is something we can change.”
Air pollution can drive devastating forms of dementia, research suggests
Airborne particles cause toxic clumps of proteins in brain that are hallmarks of Lewy body dementia, study indicates
www.theguardian.com
September 10, 2025 at 2:37 PM
“Fine-particulate air pollution can drive devastating forms of dementia by triggering the formation of toxic clumps of protein that destroy nerve cells as they spread through the brain, research suggests.”
“Unlike age or genetics, this is something we can change.”
“Unlike age or genetics, this is something we can change.”
Reposted by Zach Wendling
🧵 Authoritarianism, Democratization, and Coalition Politics.
The consensus around here is, more or less, that the United States is currently a consolidating authoritarian regime controlled by a mix of reactionary populists and fascists.
The consensus around here is, more or less, that the United States is currently a consolidating authoritarian regime controlled by a mix of reactionary populists and fascists.
August 30, 2025 at 8:10 PM
🧵 Authoritarianism, Democratization, and Coalition Politics.
The consensus around here is, more or less, that the United States is currently a consolidating authoritarian regime controlled by a mix of reactionary populists and fascists.
The consensus around here is, more or less, that the United States is currently a consolidating authoritarian regime controlled by a mix of reactionary populists and fascists.
Reposted by Zach Wendling
After 60 years of trying to electrify populations with fossil fuels, people finally figured out there was a much better way. One with less corruption. Electricity poverty is real and clean energy is now at scale to solve it. This will unleash human flourishing.
For a long time renewable energy uptake in Africa was lacklustre at best.
But that is changing: Solar panel imports to Africa have surged over the past year—a shift poised to touch nearly every country on the continent as new Ember analysis shows.
But that is changing: Solar panel imports to Africa have surged over the past year—a shift poised to touch nearly every country on the continent as new Ember analysis shows.
August 27, 2025 at 9:50 PM
After 60 years of trying to electrify populations with fossil fuels, people finally figured out there was a much better way. One with less corruption. Electricity poverty is real and clean energy is now at scale to solve it. This will unleash human flourishing.
Reposted by Zach Wendling
My lab's been attacked by an anti-wind group and their lawyers. They threatened the science funding of my whole university, to shut me and my undergraduate research assistants up.
NYT just covered it. 1/n
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/25/c...
NYT just covered it. 1/n
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/25/c...
Law Firm Pressures Brown University to Erase Research on Anti-Wind Groups
www.nytimes.com
August 25, 2025 at 11:32 AM
My lab's been attacked by an anti-wind group and their lawyers. They threatened the science funding of my whole university, to shut me and my undergraduate research assistants up.
NYT just covered it. 1/n
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/25/c...
NYT just covered it. 1/n
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/25/c...
Reposted by Zach Wendling
The Trump administration is making us less well-informed now and in the future.
Trump admin strips ocean and air pollution monitoring from next-gen weather satellites | CNN
The Trump administration will remove ocean and air pollution monitoring instruments from the upcoming fleet of weather satellites, and cut the number of satellites, as well.
edition.cnn.com
August 21, 2025 at 1:34 PM
The Trump administration is making us less well-informed now and in the future.
Reposted by Zach Wendling
Here is a perfect example of the cruelty inherent in this kind of camp, even when it's not a death factory. No one is machine-gunning or gassing detainees. But if we keep human beings in a dangerous setting, with facilities optimized to put them at risk, the camp itself will harm them. [16/17]
July 17, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Here is a perfect example of the cruelty inherent in this kind of camp, even when it's not a death factory. No one is machine-gunning or gassing detainees. But if we keep human beings in a dangerous setting, with facilities optimized to put them at risk, the camp itself will harm them. [16/17]
Reposted by Zach Wendling
“The fact that organized protest can break the spiral of silence, and correct our impressions of what other Americans think, is one of the most immediate and important values of protesting in the first place. Scientists have [shown] protests update our impressions of what other citizens believe.”
What a ‘Spiral of Silence’ Can Do to a Democracy
Protests show people they are not alone in caring about an issue.
www.aol.com
July 12, 2025 at 3:05 PM
“The fact that organized protest can break the spiral of silence, and correct our impressions of what other Americans think, is one of the most immediate and important values of protesting in the first place. Scientists have [shown] protests update our impressions of what other citizens believe.”
Reposted by Zach Wendling
I really liked this idea of using a histogram as a legend in a choropleth map (since land isn't unemployed; people are), so I made a little guide to doing it with #rstats, {ggplot2}, and {patchwork}
www.andrewheiss.com/blog/2025/02...
www.andrewheiss.com/blog/2025/02...
February 19, 2025 at 5:58 PM
I really liked this idea of using a histogram as a legend in a choropleth map (since land isn't unemployed; people are), so I made a little guide to doing it with #rstats, {ggplot2}, and {patchwork}
www.andrewheiss.com/blog/2025/02...
www.andrewheiss.com/blog/2025/02...
Reposted by Zach Wendling
[setting out dishwasher to run overnight instead of during the peak hours] I’m a virtual power plant operator
June 24, 2025 at 2:21 AM
[setting out dishwasher to run overnight instead of during the peak hours] I’m a virtual power plant operator
One of many reasons Vatican City isn't in the Environmental Performance Index
May 8, 2025 at 5:13 PM
One of many reasons Vatican City isn't in the Environmental Performance Index
Reposted by Zach Wendling
New paper compares non-exhaust pollution (brake and tire particulates) from ICE and EV cars.
Conclusion: EV's create more tire pollution b/c they're heavier, but less brake pollution due to regenerative braking.
EVs come out ahead overall if >15% of driving is in a city.
doi.org/10.1016/j.tr...
Conclusion: EV's create more tire pollution b/c they're heavier, but less brake pollution due to regenerative braking.
EVs come out ahead overall if >15% of driving is in a city.
doi.org/10.1016/j.tr...
March 23, 2025 at 2:20 PM
New paper compares non-exhaust pollution (brake and tire particulates) from ICE and EV cars.
Conclusion: EV's create more tire pollution b/c they're heavier, but less brake pollution due to regenerative braking.
EVs come out ahead overall if >15% of driving is in a city.
doi.org/10.1016/j.tr...
Conclusion: EV's create more tire pollution b/c they're heavier, but less brake pollution due to regenerative braking.
EVs come out ahead overall if >15% of driving is in a city.
doi.org/10.1016/j.tr...
Reposted by Zach Wendling
Even without a spike from tariffs, the cost of car ownership (gas, insurance, maintenance, and the car itself) jumped 44% from 2007 to 2023. (Source: www.bts.gov/content/aver...)
Americans pay a massive surcharge for living in a car-dependent nation.
Americans pay a massive surcharge for living in a car-dependent nation.
March 3, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Even without a spike from tariffs, the cost of car ownership (gas, insurance, maintenance, and the car itself) jumped 44% from 2007 to 2023. (Source: www.bts.gov/content/aver...)
Americans pay a massive surcharge for living in a car-dependent nation.
Americans pay a massive surcharge for living in a car-dependent nation.
Reposted by Zach Wendling
This is really important: When stuff works well it tends to become invisible.
Radicalism in politics should be thought of as the confidence that you and your movement can replicate all of the invisible stuff that you break.
Radicalism in politics should be thought of as the confidence that you and your movement can replicate all of the invisible stuff that you break.
March 1, 2025 at 3:44 PM
This is really important: When stuff works well it tends to become invisible.
Radicalism in politics should be thought of as the confidence that you and your movement can replicate all of the invisible stuff that you break.
Radicalism in politics should be thought of as the confidence that you and your movement can replicate all of the invisible stuff that you break.
Reposted by Zach Wendling
something lost in the USAID situation:
that agency is crucial to the developing energy grids in many countries right now.
pulling them out threatens not only climate progress but seriously threatens energy access in many regions of the world.
via @jeva.bsky.social heatmap.news/politics/usa...
that agency is crucial to the developing energy grids in many countries right now.
pulling them out threatens not only climate progress but seriously threatens energy access in many regions of the world.
via @jeva.bsky.social heatmap.news/politics/usa...
Elon Musk Pulled the Plug on America’s Energy Soft Power
For now at least, USAID’s future looks — literally — dark.
heatmap.news
February 4, 2025 at 11:57 PM
something lost in the USAID situation:
that agency is crucial to the developing energy grids in many countries right now.
pulling them out threatens not only climate progress but seriously threatens energy access in many regions of the world.
via @jeva.bsky.social heatmap.news/politics/usa...
that agency is crucial to the developing energy grids in many countries right now.
pulling them out threatens not only climate progress but seriously threatens energy access in many regions of the world.
via @jeva.bsky.social heatmap.news/politics/usa...
Reposted by Zach Wendling
An acre of land can power a car to go 13,000 miles per year using biofuel (corn ethanol), or 900,000 miles per year using solar.
February 4, 2025 at 4:56 AM
An acre of land can power a car to go 13,000 miles per year using biofuel (corn ethanol), or 900,000 miles per year using solar.
Reposted by Zach Wendling
People sometimes make fun of science that sounds stupid and random.
Meanwhile, a study of lizard saliva turned into a peptide medication, which was turned into a diabetes medication, which was turned into a GLP1 weight loss drug, that just became the first therapy every approved for … sleep apnea
Meanwhile, a study of lizard saliva turned into a peptide medication, which was turned into a diabetes medication, which was turned into a GLP1 weight loss drug, that just became the first therapy every approved for … sleep apnea
Breaking News: The FDA approved use of the weight loss drug Zepbound for a common form of sleep apnea. It is the first drug authorized to treat the disorder.
F.D.A. Approves Weight-Loss Drug to Treat Sleep Apnea
Zepbound is the first prescription drug approved specifically to treat the common condition.
www.nytimes.com
December 21, 2024 at 12:41 AM
People sometimes make fun of science that sounds stupid and random.
Meanwhile, a study of lizard saliva turned into a peptide medication, which was turned into a diabetes medication, which was turned into a GLP1 weight loss drug, that just became the first therapy every approved for … sleep apnea
Meanwhile, a study of lizard saliva turned into a peptide medication, which was turned into a diabetes medication, which was turned into a GLP1 weight loss drug, that just became the first therapy every approved for … sleep apnea
Reposted by Zach Wendling
Every year I do a big presentation on decarbonization. Here's a preview: India now consumes more coal, on an energy basis, than Europe and North America combined.
November 24, 2024 at 12:15 AM
Every year I do a big presentation on decarbonization. Here's a preview: India now consumes more coal, on an energy basis, than Europe and North America combined.
Reposted by Zach Wendling
We need to deploy 2-5 GW and $25B by 2030 to achieve #liftoff in enhanced #geothermal. This will bring the price down far enough to unlock 90 GW by 2040.
liftoff.energy.gov/next-generat...
liftoff.energy.gov/next-generat...
Next-Generation Geothermal Power - Pathways to Commercial Liftoff
Learn more about the U.S. Department of Energy’s Pathways to Commercial Liftoff Report on Next-Generation Geothermal Power
liftoff.energy.gov
November 17, 2024 at 4:14 AM
We need to deploy 2-5 GW and $25B by 2030 to achieve #liftoff in enhanced #geothermal. This will bring the price down far enough to unlock 90 GW by 2040.
liftoff.energy.gov/next-generat...
liftoff.energy.gov/next-generat...
Reposted by Zach Wendling
We've just made it much easier to reuse the data on Our World in Data.
Here is an overview of our new features: enhanced data downloads and the Chart Data API.
ourworldindata.org/easier-to-re...
Here is an overview of our new features: enhanced data downloads and the Chart Data API.
ourworldindata.org/easier-to-re...
We've made it much easier to reuse our data
An overview of our new features: enhanced data downloads and the Chart Data API.
ourworldindata.org
November 21, 2024 at 10:07 AM
We've just made it much easier to reuse the data on Our World in Data.
Here is an overview of our new features: enhanced data downloads and the Chart Data API.
ourworldindata.org/easier-to-re...
Here is an overview of our new features: enhanced data downloads and the Chart Data API.
ourworldindata.org/easier-to-re...
Reposted by Zach Wendling
Our paper quantifying the negative effects of urban freeways on local neighborhood quality of life appears in the September issue of REStat. doi.org/10.1162/rest...
Freeway Revolts! The Quality of Life Effects of Highways
Abstract. Why do freeways affect spatial structure? We identify and quantify the local disamenity effects of freeways. Freeways cause slower growth in central neighborhoods (where local disamenities e...
doi.org
November 19, 2024 at 2:03 AM
Our paper quantifying the negative effects of urban freeways on local neighborhood quality of life appears in the September issue of REStat. doi.org/10.1162/rest...
Reposted by Zach Wendling
'This process includes the replacement of all first-rate talents, regardless of their political loyalties, with crackpots and fools whose lack of intelligence and creativity is the best guarantee of their loyalty.' (The Origins of Totalitarianism, renewed version, A Harvest Book New York, 1976, 339)
October 23, 2024 at 1:46 PM
'This process includes the replacement of all first-rate talents, regardless of their political loyalties, with crackpots and fools whose lack of intelligence and creativity is the best guarantee of their loyalty.' (The Origins of Totalitarianism, renewed version, A Harvest Book New York, 1976, 339)
Reposted by Zach Wendling
Hello all: It is with a heavy heart that I remove my Starter Pack of "Trustworthy Mesopotamian Copper Ingot Merchants Within the City-State of Ur."
I have been informed about some pretty unfortunate oversights on my part and ultimately platformed some creators who should not have been platformed.
I have been informed about some pretty unfortunate oversights on my part and ultimately platformed some creators who should not have been platformed.
November 13, 2024 at 3:25 AM
Hello all: It is with a heavy heart that I remove my Starter Pack of "Trustworthy Mesopotamian Copper Ingot Merchants Within the City-State of Ur."
I have been informed about some pretty unfortunate oversights on my part and ultimately platformed some creators who should not have been platformed.
I have been informed about some pretty unfortunate oversights on my part and ultimately platformed some creators who should not have been platformed.