Good and bad news in our race between Armageddon and awesome

The good news Hope amid climate chaos: ‘We are in a race between Armageddon and awesome’ Renewables, decarbonisation, activism, cooperation … The challenge is immense, but the situation is far from hopeless … “We have everything we need in terms of technology and, in terms of the actual physics, we know what we need to do,” says Solitaire Townsend, co-founder of change agency Futerra. “The vast majority of solutions have a really significant benefit to our health and wellbeing, income and standard of living around the world. We are in a race between Armageddon and awesome.” Wax worm saliva rapidly breaks down plastic bags, scientists discover Enzymes that rapidly break down plastic bags have been discovered in the saliva of wax worms, which are moth larvae that infest beehives. The enzymes are the first reported to break down polyethylene within hours at room temperature and could lead to cost-effective ways of recycling the plastic.

The bad news Study links in utero ‘forever chemical’ exposure to low sperm count and mobility PFAS, now found in nearly all umbilical cord blood around the world, interfere with hormones crucial to testicle development Colder early winter in Europe could worsen cost of living crisis, say forecasters Europe is likely to experience a colder, drier and less windy early winter, according to meteorologists, as the UK energy regulator warned there is a “significant risk” of gas shortages this winter.

Essential reads ‘You can’t unsee this’: Richard Mosse’s all-consuming plea to save the Amazon Four women chosen to run Antarctic outpost and count penguins