Historic

Scientists working on the scorched interior of Notre-Dame de Paris have found iron was used in the cathedral’s construction in the mid-12th century. It’s an unexpected discovery that changes how researchers thought the church was built, and provides surprising insights on the iron trade in 12th-century Paris.The findings were made possible—ironically—by the devastating fire that swept through the famous cathedral in April 2019 during planned renovations. The fire destroyed most of the church’s roof and prompted…

HSBC UK is acquiring Silicon Valley Bank UK for a symbolic £1, after a tense weekend of frantic negotiations by the UK government, regulators and a suite of other potential suitors. The deal is a massive relief to the UK technology sector, which was highly exposed to the collapse of SVB and it’s uk arm, and will be seen to have supported confidence in the financial system. HSBC said the transaction “completes immediately”. The acquisition will be funded from existing resources. The bank added in a statement: “As at…

After years of debates and discussions, nations have agreed on a High Seas Treaty to protect marine biodiversity and provide oversight of international waters. It is being lauded by researchers as an important step for conservation that encourages international research collaboration without hindering science. “We’re ecstatic,” says Kristina Gjerde, who researches marine environmental law at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey, California. “This long-awaited treaty contains many of the vital…

An illustration of Stoke Space’s fully reusable rocket.Illustration: Stoke SpaceIn 1962, John Glenn became the first U.S. citizen to orbit the Earth, riding into space on board the Friendship 7 capsule, which took off from Cape Canaveral’s Launch Complex 14. More than 60 years later, that same old launchpad will be put to new use after being assigned to a private space venture to launch its reusable rocket.Stoke Space was granted the use of Launch Complex 14 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida bySpace Launch…

After 2 weeks of intense negotiations, countries agreed this week on a historic treaty to protect biodiversity in international waters. The agreement, announced on 4 March at the United Nations, sets up a legal process for establishing marine protected areas (MPAs), a key tool for protecting at least 30% of the ocean, which an intergovernmental convention recently set as a target for 2030. The treaty also gives poorer countries a stake in conservation by…

Good morning, and welcome to the Essential California newsletter. It’s Tuesday, March 7.Nearly two weeks after historic winter storms hit Southern California, some mountain residents remain stranded and waiting for help.More than 100 inches of snow fell in the San Bernardino Mountains over the past several days alone, adding to feet of snow that has blocked off roads in and out of communities and hindered efforts to deliver vital supplies and medical aid.The snowstorms have passed, but now there’s a growing swirl of…

A historic agreement in conservation has seen 193 nations come together for the first time to agree on a High Seas Treaty, which aims to place 30% of international waters into protected areas by 2030. This treaty is necessary for the success of the landmark Global Biodiversity Framework and is a breakthrough in negotiations that have been ongoing since 2004.“Ladies and gentlemen, the ship has reached the shore,” announced Rena Lee, president of the Intergovernmental Conference on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond…

This Polystoechotes punctata or giant lacewing was collected in Fayetteville, Arkansas in 2012 by Michael Skvarla, director of Penn State’s Insect Identification Lab. The specimen is the first of its kind recorded in eastern North America in over fifty years – and the first record of the species ever in the state. Credit: Michael Skvarla / Penn StateRecent identification of the giant lacewing points to deeper ecological questions.A giant insect plucked from the façade of an Arkansas Walmart has set historic records. The…

As L.A.’s overwhelmed shelters filled up Friday, finding refuge from the pounding rain and freezing temperatures became a personal mission for most of the thousands of people who live outdoors.Some relied on makeshift solutions while others merely endured.James Blanton woke up Friday morning with snow on his tent and an ache in his body.“My hands and feet feel a lot of stinging pain,” he said. “It’s hard.”Blanton, 46, was hanging out with Chaz Hosein outside of a McDonald’s in west Lancaster on Friday morning,…

Good morning, and welcome to the Essential California newsletter. It is Saturday, Feb. 25. Here’s a look at the top stories of the last week Rare weather conditions are fueling California’s ‘major and unusual’ snow, blizzard warning. The powerful winter storm moving through California is expected to drop heaps of rain, sleet and snow across much of the state, including Southern California, where several feet of fresh powder could fall in the mountains of Los Angeles and Ventura counties at elevations as low as 1,500…