Glass Wings Blog: June 2026

<https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/30/why-1bn-in-balkans-energy-contracts-are-going-to-an-obscure-company-connected-to-donald-trump>

"On a graffitied Sarajevo backstreet, a path leads past an overgrown patch of
garden to a white door. Beyond is the registered office of a company that is on
the brink of winning contracts worth more than $1bn.

The English restaurant turning hospitality on its head

Mon, 1 Jun 2026 23:41:36 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

https://www.positive.news/society/come-dine-with-us/

"On a cool late winter evening in the heart of the English Cotswolds, I get my
first glimpse of an old industrial building that I have heard so much about.
The crumbling white brick walls and ivy that snake into the broken windows make

The household battery revolution that could change energy bills … and the world

Mon, 1 Jun 2026 23:42:43 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.theguardian.com/environment/ng-interactive/2026/may/31/cheaper-energy-bills-battery-revolution-climate-crisis>

"The timing was rich with symbolism. As intense heatwaves pummelled Europe and
Asia, and oil markets around the world leapt and sputtered, the two big
chimneys of one of Australia’s largest power stations were being demolished.

The world’s largest museum of illustration is about to open its doors

Mon, 1 Jun 2026 23:43:40 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.positive.news/lifestyle/arts/landmark-illustration-museum-launches-in-the-capital/>

"The world’s largest museum devoted solely to illustration will open in
Clerkenwell, London, next week, marking the culmination of a project more than
20 years in the making.

My unsung hero of science: William Adams, the Bombay bureaucrat whose vision of a solar future was dashed by colonial conservatism

Mon, 1 Jun 2026 23:45:05 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/my-unsung-hero-of-science-william-adams-the-bombay-bureaucrat-whose-vision-of-a-solar-future-was-dashed-by-colonial-conservatism-283799>

"William Adams was entranced by energy. As a young man, his interest was nursed
by working as a clerk in a London patent office in the 1860s. This gave him an
early look at some of the first British designs for exploiting solar energy

Why Melbourne’s obsession with black clothing actually makes sense

Mon, 1 Jun 2026 23:46:03 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/why-melbournes-obsession-with-black-clothing-actually-makes-sense-281334>

"Anna Wintour, former editor in chief of Vogue, once said she would “never
ever wear head-to-toe black”. It’s not a sentiment shared by most Melburnians
who, while still generally considering themselves fashionable, will opt to wear

Is there a pianist in the house? Audience member steps up to perform in La La Land in Sydney

Tue, 2 Jun 2026 10:19:21 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jun/01/audience-member-replaces-ill-keyboardist-sydney-la-land-justin-hurwitz>

"La La Land is a much adored homage to Hollywood, where dreamers take chances
and seize unexpected moments.

Molly Crabapple's 'Here Where We Live Is Our Country'

Tue, 2 Jun 2026 10:26:43 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

https://pluralistic.net/2026/06/01/doikayt/#socialism-or-barbarism

“Molly Crabapple's Here Where We Live Is Our Country is one of the most
important, timely and salient works of history I've ever read. It's a history
of the Jewish Labor Bund, a socialist, internationalist organization that once

Shutting down federal bee labs threatens bees, beekeepers and the US food system

Tue, 2 Jun 2026 10:30:47 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/shutting-down-federal-bee-labs-threatens-bees-beekeepers-and-the-us-food-system-283358>

"America’s bees and beekeepers are losing a valuable ally just when they need
its help most.

Letters from an American: May 31, 2026

Tue, 2 Jun 2026 10:31:35 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/may-31-2026

"On June 1, 1950, Senator Margaret Chase Smith, a Republican from Maine, stood
up against Republican Senator Joe McCarthy of Wisconsin and his supporters, who
were undermining American democracy in a crusade against “communism.”

As global fuel risk rises, NZ Budget 2026 puts roads first – again

Tue, 2 Jun 2026 10:32:58 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/as-global-fuel-risk-rises-nz-budget-2026-puts-roads-first-again-283980>

"Three months into the war in Iran, the largest disruption to New Zealand’s oil
supply in living memory appears to have done nothing to change the government’s
approach to transport.

Daily pill can double survival time for world’s deadliest cancer, trial shows

Tue, 2 Jun 2026 10:49:46 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/may/31/daily-pill-daraxonrasib-double-survival-time-pancreatic-pancreas-cancer-clinical-trial>

"A daily pill can double survival time in patients with the world’s deadliest
cancer, according to the results of a clinical trial that experts are saying is
a “gamechanger” and one of the biggest breakthroughs in decades.

Gina Rinehart and Southern Cross Austereo: what do billionaire media buyouts mean for democracy?

Tue, 2 Jun 2026 19:38:04 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/gina-rinehart-and-southern-cross-austereo-what-do-billionaire-media-buyouts-mean-for-democracy-283971>

"Gina Rinehart, Australia’s richest person and one of the world’s most powerful
mining magnates, recently helped finance a deal to acquire a 10% stake in
Southern Cross Austereo – the second largest commercial media broadcaster in

State-owned land is Luke Quinn’s final refuge from council patrols — but soon even that meagre safety could disappear

Tue, 2 Jun 2026 19:44:06 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/jun/01/state-owned-land-is-luke-quinns-final-refuge-from-council-patrols-but-soon-even-that-meagre-safety-could-disappear>

"Luke Quinn dreams of the day he can get his daughter back. First, he needs a
place to live.

The attack on competence

Tue, 2 Jun 2026 19:45:40 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

https://deadsimpletech.com/blog/attack-on-competence

“New Zealand has recently suffered through our current government's latest
budget week. There were, of course, a whole lot of awful things in the budget,
but one of the most aggravating ones was what they've chosen to do to the

The SpaceX IPO works like a crypto fraud, but with AI

Tue, 2 Jun 2026 19:47:08 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://pivot-to-ai.com/2026/05/28/the-spacex-ipo-works-like-a-crypto-fraud-but-with-ai/>

"We’ve seen this film before.

Before our pivot to AI, we wrote about cryptocurrency fraud. A crypto initial

The Smithsonian Joins Unsplash With 1,000 Free Images

Tue, 2 Jun 2026 19:48:23 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.diyphotography.net/the-smithsonian-joins-unsplash-with-1000-free-images/>

"The Smithsonian Institution has joined Unsplash, bringing a curated
selection of 1,000 images from its vast archives to the free photo platform.
The gallery spans a vast range of subjects and arts, and there are plenty of

Too hot, too humid: why the sustained heatwave in India and Pakistan is so dangerous

Tue, 2 Jun 2026 19:49:05 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/too-hot-too-humid-why-the-sustained-heatwave-in-india-and-pakistan-is-so-dangerous-283762>

"India and Pakistan are no strangers to heat. This time of year is the worst,
as heat peaks before the monsoon brings cooler conditions from June.

Australia’s banking system locks many Muslims out of first home buyer schemes. Here’s how to fix it

Wed, 3 Jun 2026 04:49:34 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/australias-banking-system-locks-many-muslims-out-of-first-home-buyer-schemes-heres-how-to-fix-it-283770>

"Australia’s housing policy has come a long way over the past year, as the
Albanese government tries to help more people buy their first home.

The outdated rules – such as noise curfews – that are making it hard for electric trucks in Australia

Wed, 3 Jun 2026 04:50:31 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://thedriven.io/2026/05/29/night-time-curfews-designed-for-noisy-diesel-trucks-are-killing-business-case-for-quiet-electrics/>

"Australian companies are missing out on opportunities to save money and
pollution with electric trucks due to a lack of support and inconsistent rules.

Cities are making it rain more – but not as much as scientists thought

Wed, 3 Jun 2026 04:51:20 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/cities-are-making-it-rain-more-but-not-as-much-as-scientists-thought-284067>

"After another spell of wet weather along Australia’s east coast, with storms,
heavy rain and flash flooding across Sydney and parts of New South Wales, it is
natural to ask whether our cities are shaping the rainfall that descends upon

Gas usage has peaked and is now in structural decline across Australia, report says

Wed, 3 Jun 2026 04:52:23 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jun/01/gas-usage-australia-structural-decline>

"After more than a half a century of growth, the use of gas in Australia has
peaked in all sectors and entered a “structural decline”. But use will need to
fall fast to meet climate targets, according to new research from an

Trees and greenery can cool cities by as much as 18°C – but only if they’re the right type

Wed, 3 Jun 2026 04:53:33 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/trees-and-greenery-can-cool-cities-by-as-much-as-18-c-but-only-if-theyre-the-right-type-283071>

"Cities around the world are planting more trees to cope with rising urban
heat. But our research shows trees alone are often not enough. In some cases,
the wrong kind of greening can even make streets feel less comfortable on a hot

Stop Killing Games Gets Its First American Legislative Effort Out Of Committee in California

Wed, 3 Jun 2026 04:55:51 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.techdirt.com/2026/05/28/stop-killing-games-gets-its-first-american-legislative-effort-out-of-committee-in-california/>

"I’ve written quite a bit about the Stop Killing Games movement, in no small
part because I think it’s way more important than most people think. Preserving
cultural output is both important and, frankly, a key part of the bargain that

A dangerous dam‑building race is threatening South Asia’s shared rivers

Wed, 3 Jun 2026 13:40:52 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/a-dangerous-dam-building-race-is-threatening-south-asias-shared-rivers-283878>

"Bangladesh has just approved one of the largest river engineering projects its
history: the Padma Barrage, a vast river-control project intended to restore
water in the country’s drought-prone southwest.

WHO calls for community cooperation to contain Ebola outbreak in DRC

Wed, 3 Jun 2026 13:42:15 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/31/who-calls-for-community-cooperation-to-contain-drc-ebola-outbreak>

"Containing the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo requires
community cooperation and is “everybody’s business”, the World Health
Organization has said.

What’s wrong with how US and Uganda plan to stop Ebola spreading

Wed, 3 Jun 2026 13:43:38 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/whats-wrong-with-how-us-and-uganda-plan-to-stop-ebola-spreading-284015>

"As public health workers in the Democratic Republic of Congo work to rein in a
growing outbreak of a rare Ebola virus, other countries are establishing
protocols for keeping their own populations safe.

Masturbation among birds is ‘natural’ and should not be punished, say experts

Wed, 3 Jun 2026 13:44:43 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/jun/01/masturbation-birds-natural-healthy-behaviour-study>

"An investigation into acts of self-pleasure among parrots and other birds has
reached a climax, with the results providing welcome relief for vets and
researchers, not to mention the birds themselves.

‘Some people’s lives matter more than others’: local responders in Sudan feel ignored as the world focuses on other crises

Wed, 3 Jun 2026 13:45:51 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/some-peoples-lives-matter-more-than-others-local-responders-in-sudan-feel-ignored-as-the-world-focuses-on-other-crises-282716>

"In April 2026, Sudan marked three years of civil war – one of the most ignored
humanitarian crises in the world.

Australia’s 178 billionaires are $25.7bn richer than last year as 3.7 million live in poverty

Wed, 3 Jun 2026 13:47:14 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jun/02/australian-billionaires-richer-than-last-year>

"The wealth of Australia’s billionaires increased by $25.67bn in the past year,
equivalent to almost $50,000 a minute, according to new Oxfam Australia
analysis of the 2026 Australian Financial Review Rich List.

AI Job Grief: The Unnamed Psychological Crisis Hitting Tech Workers

Wed, 3 Jun 2026 19:40:45 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

https://jackmaguire.org/blog/ai-job-grief/

"In the summer of 2025, an Epic Games layoff cut a worker who was a terminally
ill father. According to the most-discussed account of the episode, his family
lost his life insurance along with the job. The Reddit thread documenting it

Birth rates are declining in most of the world, including Australia. Here’s why that really matters

Wed, 3 Jun 2026 19:41:25 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/birth-rates-are-declining-in-most-of-the-world-including-australia-heres-why-that-really-matters-284175>

"Birth rates have been declining worldwide since the peak of the post-second
world war baby boom. Birth rates have now reached below replacement in most of
the world, including Australia. Put simply, populations on average aren’t

The Internet Has Become Too American to Trust

Wed, 3 Jun 2026 19:43:37 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

https://thewalrus.ca/the-internet-has-become-too-american-to-trust/

"As a species, we are extremely bad at dealing with slow-motion disasters. When
the roof leaks, we typically put a bucket under the drip and then forget about
it until the next time it rains. And if, next time, there are two drips, well,

Mysterious signals keep coming from space. We have found their ‘Rosetta stone’

Wed, 3 Jun 2026 19:44:38 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/mysterious-signals-keep-coming-from-space-we-have-found-their-rosetta-stone-281753>

"A pair of stars spiralling around each other. That’s the origin of a new
source of repeating radio bursts we’ve detected, called ASKAP J1745.

Turkish democracy on trial: how Erdoğan’s rule has undermined justice and weakened his rivals

Wed, 3 Jun 2026 19:45:34 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/turkish-democracy-on-trial-how-erdogans-rule-has-undermined-justice-and-weakened-his-rivals-283986>

"There has been unrest across Turkey after an appeals court annulled the
results of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) 2023 leadership election,
deposing the popular winner Özgür Özel.

Trump calls me ‘crooked as hell’. That’s rich coming from him

Wed, 3 Jun 2026 19:46:45 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jun/02/trump-republican-fraud-corruption-ilhan-omar>

"Donald Trump called me “crooked as hell” as he spread lies about the fraud
that occurred in Minnesota. Any keen observer will recognize the pattern of
inciting hostility against me and the Somali community whenever his own

The complex history of ‘pride’, from shame and sin to a symbol of protest and power

Thu, 4 Jun 2026 03:43:44 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/the-complex-history-of-pride-from-shame-and-sin-to-a-symbol-of-protest-and-power-283587>

"Pride is primarily a social emotion. It is about position, confidence, and
power. This is why, for the LGBTQIA+ community, collective pride is adopted as
the primary emotion to fuel unity and belonging.

Australia reached peak gas years ago, but it needs a ban on new home connections, and plans for a faster exit

Thu, 4 Jun 2026 03:45:04 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://reneweconomy.com.au/australia-reached-peak-gas-years-ago-but-it-needs-a-ban-on-new-home-connections-and-plans-for-a-faster-exit/>

"Australia must start preparing for life after gas or risk bill hikes, missed
climate targets and manufacturers shutting up shop, warns a prominent think
tank.

"Fast Food Nation" predicted today’s chronic illness epidemic, 25 years ago

Thu, 4 Jun 2026 03:46:18 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/fast-food-nation-predicted-todays-chronic-illness-epidemic-25-years-ago-275935>

"I was a junior doctor on the front lines when journalist Eric Schlosser
published Fast Food Nation 25 years ago. Back then, my days (and far too many
nights) were spent picking up the pieces of a healthcare system that already

Fake cigarettes and toys that are ‘essentially weapons’: Choice refers online retailers to regulator over unsafe products

Thu, 4 Jun 2026 03:56:26 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jun/03/choice-consumer-group-regulator-unsafe-toys-products-sold-online-accc-complaint>

"Cigarette lighters that look like toys, gel blasters, flick knives and fake
tongue studs are among the “frightening” number of unsafe and potentially
banned products being sold to Australians on online marketplaces, a Choice

Ebola may have spread beyond Africa. How are health authorities responding?

Thu, 4 Jun 2026 03:59:25 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/ebola-may-have-spread-beyond-africa-how-are-health-authorities-responding-284182>

"The latest Ebola outbreak is showing no signs of slowing.

On April 24, the first suspected case of the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola

BHP vs Fortescue in the Pilbara: Who is really building Australia’s post-diesel future?

Thu, 4 Jun 2026 04:00:11 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://reneweconomy.com.au/bhp-vs-fortescue-in-the-pilbara-who-is-really-building-australias-post-diesel-future/>

"In the Pilbara, where giant haul trucks, locomotives and gas-fired power
stations keep billion-dollar mines running, the choice is now stark: keep
extending the diesel-and-gas model, or build an electrified, renewable

A lot of ‘recycled’ plastic is being burned overseas – and causing widespread pollution linked to health problems

Fri, 5 Jun 2026 01:30:09 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/a-lot-of-recycled-plastic-is-being-burned-overseas-and-causing-widespread-pollution-linked-to-health-problems-275800>

"Picture a pile of trash the size of Manhattan and taller than one and a half
Empire State Buildings. That’s how much plastic waste the world is predicted to
be generating every year by 2050 if nothing is done to change course.

Online ads are becoming harder to spot – but we’re not powerless to stop it

Fri, 5 Jun 2026 01:31:14 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/online-ads-are-becoming-harder-to-spot-but-were-not-powerless-to-stop-it-283782>

"Profound changes are ahead for online advertising. At the recent Google
Marketing Live event, the tech giant outlined expanded artificial intelligence
(AI) systems for digital ads.

Australian firm debuts vehicle-to-vehicle fast charging platform for stranded and remote EV drivers

Fri, 5 Jun 2026 01:34:29 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://thedriven.io/2026/06/01/australian-firm-debuts-vehicle-to-vehicle-fast-charging-platform-for-stranded-and-remote-ev-drivers/>

"Australian energy and technology company Alpine Energy recently debuted a
potentially first-of-its-kind vehicle-to-vehicle DC fast charging platform.

How flu overtook COVID as Australia’s deadliest respiratory virus

Fri, 5 Jun 2026 01:35:42 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/how-flu-overtook-covid-as-australias-deadliest-respiratory-virus-284077>

"Many Australians have stopped worrying about respiratory viruses. The pandemic
has passed and attention has shifted. COVID no longer dominates the headlines,
and influenza is often dismissed as a routine winter illness.

UN says El Nino will “pour fuel on the fire of a warming world,” urges rapid shift from fossil fuels

Fri, 5 Jun 2026 01:36:30 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://reneweconomy.com.au/un-says-el-nino-will-pour-fuel-on-the-fire-of-a-warming-world-urges-rapid-shift-from-fossil-fuels/>

"The world must prepare for a potentially strong El Nino in 2026, a global
weather agency warns, which could worsen droughts and increase the risk of
heatwaves.

What It Takes to Preserve Floppy Disks

Fri, 5 Jun 2026 01:37:40 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

https://spectrum.ieee.org/floppy-disk-data-preservation-archives

"Floppy disks are several decades old—many of the disks are degrading and the
data stored on them is at risk of being lost. In response, Leontien Talboom, a
technical analyst at Cambridge University Libraries and Archives, led a roughly

Threat Model - Cybersecurity: June 2, 2026

Fri, 5 Jun 2026 10:36:52 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

https://www.patreon.com/posts/cybersecurity-2-159904656

"This week: Microsoft gets hit with infosec backlash for threatening
researchers (who promise revenge), Adafruit blog goes dark after disclosure
threats, Huawei thanks the US for changing the chip market in their favor,

Dead but deportable: US immigration judge signed order to eject teen murder victim

Fri, 5 Jun 2026 10:39:09 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/03/north-carolina-judge-deport-teen-murder-victim>

"An immigration judge in Charlotte, North Carolina, recently ordered the
deportation of a young man who was killed in 2024, citing his failure to appear
in court.

Japan sees shortage of plastic bags, trays and gloves, as Iran war-induced naphtha shortage worsens

Fri, 5 Jun 2026 11:06:35 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/04/japan-naphtha-shortage-plastic-bag>

"Takeaways, supermarkets, and bakeries in Japan are running out of plastic
bags, trays and food service gloves amid widening shortages of the key plastic
ingredient, naphtha, due to the Middle East crisis.

‘An equal and habitable world is possible’: academics set out sweeping vision for planetary survival

Fri, 5 Jun 2026 11:08:09 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jun/04/world-inequality-lab-equality-academics-planetary-survival>

"Humanity can raise living standards, reduce inequality and keep global heating
within a 2C rise, according to a sweeping vision for planetary survival.

AI and a world without migrants

Fri, 5 Jun 2026 11:13:17 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

https://pluralistic.net/2026/05/27/unnecessariat/#rubbuts-stole-my-jerb

"I don't care who you are, there will always be times when hell is other
people. Not because other people are horrible – quite the opposite! Other
people are wonderful, but boy are they ever stubborn.

Climate change may shift hailstorms towards Earth’s poles – new study

Fri, 5 Jun 2026 11:14:22 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/climate-change-may-shift-hailstorms-towards-earths-poles-new-study-284292>

"Everyone has a storm story – whether it’s that time you just escaped a
downpour, or the hailstorm that wrote off your car. Even though hailstorms are
relatively rare, they cause significant damages. Two new studies shed light on

Economists Just “Proved” UBI Can’t Stop AI Layoffs — Here’s What They Actually Proved

Fri, 5 Jun 2026 19:02:52 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://briefing.forwardfuture.ai/p/economists-just-proved-ubi-can-t-stop-ai-layoffs-here-s-what-they-actually-proved>

"There's a new paper making the rounds called The AI Layoff Trap, by Brett
Hemenway Falk and Gerry Tsoukalas, and it arrives with a headline that's catnip
for anyone looking to wave off basic income. Among the policies that can't

Debris with telemetry: the cyber pathway to Kessler

Fri, 5 Jun 2026 19:04:38 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

https://www.thespacereview.com/article/5234/1

"It is a Tuesday morning in the late 2020s. At a satellite operations center on
the Eastern Seaboard of the United States, a duty controller is halfway through
a coffee when the first telemetry anomaly arrives. A spacecraft in the

Chatbot teddies for three‑year‑olds? Why AI toys are risky for kids

Fri, 5 Jun 2026 19:05:22 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/chatbot-teddies-for-three-year-olds-why-ai-toys-are-risky-for-kids-284195>

"ChattyBear, a soft, brown-furred teddy bear, begins every conversation with a
jubilant, “Hello, my buddy!”

Electrifying: EV sales are multiplying as fossil fuels lose control of Australia’s car market

Fri, 5 Jun 2026 19:06:06 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://thedriven.io/2026/06/04/electrifying-ev-sales-are-multiplying-as-fossil-fuels-lose-control-of-australias-car-market/>

"Australia’s latest VFACTS and EVC data confirms what we’ve been charting all
year: EV sales are multiplying, ICE is slowly losing control of the market, and
the power EV dealers are supplying is genuinely electrifying.

What we still get wrong about how people from non‑Western backgrounds recover from trauma

Fri, 5 Jun 2026 19:06:55 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/what-we-still-get-wrong-about-how-people-from-non-western-backgrounds-recover-from-trauma-279106>

"Over the past few decades, researchers have developed effective treatments for
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a psychiatric disorder some people
develop after experiencing trauma. These treatments often involve talking

Diphtheria outbreak: residents of remote NT community say health clinic has no hand sanitiser

Fri, 5 Jun 2026 19:08:41 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jun/04/diphtheria-outbreak-nt-aboriginal-community-health-clinic-ntwnfb>

"A remote Aboriginal community at the centre of the Northern Territory’s
diphtheria outbreak is struggling to cope with rising case numbers, with locals
saying there is no hand sanitiser at the health clinic and limited information

Hidden in plain sight: the race to discover new species before they’re gone

Sat, 6 Jun 2026 12:14:56 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/hidden-in-plain-sight-the-race-to-discover-new-species-before-theyre-gone-283594>

"When most people imagine scientists discovering new species, they probably
still picture an expedition into the unknown.

Outrage in Argentina after two teen girls murdered as femicide crisis endures

Sat, 6 Jun 2026 12:16:01 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/04/argentina-teen-girls-murdered-femicide-crisis>

"Argentina has reacted with fury after the bodies of two murdered teenage girls
were found just two days apart. The latest killings underscore the South
American country’s enduring femicide crisis despite years of feminist

What’s a living wake? The end‑of‑life ritual that lets you say goodbye on your own terms

Sat, 6 Jun 2026 12:16:40 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/whats-a-living-wake-the-end-of-life-ritual-that-lets-you-say-goodbye-on-your-own-terms-282599>

"What would attending your own wake be like? To say goodbye to the people in
your life in person? What stories would you tell in your own eulogy?

Starmer accuses Musk of trying to ‘whip up division’ in UK over Henry Nowak murder

Sat, 6 Jun 2026 12:17:27 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jun/04/keir-starmer-elon-musk-division-henry-nowak>

"Elon Musk is “interfering in our politics” and attempting to create division,
Keir Starmer has said, in a significant toughening of government language about
the X owner.

See a new map of the universe’s magnetic fields – the largest and most detailed ever made

Sat, 6 Jun 2026 12:18:08 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/see-a-new-map-of-the-universes-magnetic-fields-the-largest-and-most-detailed-ever-made-284157>

"Magnetic fields are a fundamental part of the universe. They govern how small
particles – the building blocks of planets, stars, and ultimately galaxies –
move through space.

School Phone Bans: Great Politics, Mediocre Education Policy

Sat, 6 Jun 2026 12:19:00 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/02/school-phone-bans-great-politics-mediocre-education-policy/>

"Before the current wave of laws banning mobile phones in schools, we had
published a piece from some researchers who had looked at how similar bans had
worked in Australia, with the conclusion that… they didn’t. At best, the

Exoskeletons for people with cerebral palsy are now a reality – but there’s still much to figure out

Sat, 6 Jun 2026 19:34:43 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/exoskeletons-for-people-with-cerebral-palsy-are-now-a-reality-but-theres-still-much-to-figure-out-280809>

"Cerebral palsy is the most common disability that starts in childhood,
affecting about 50 million people worldwide.

Remote control robots that talk to each other are building solar farms in Australia

Sat, 6 Jun 2026 19:38:24 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://reneweconomy.com.au/remote-control-robots-that-talk-to-each-other-are-building-solar-farms-in-australia/>

"One of the solar-building robot companies operating in Australia could now,
theoretically at least, build large chunks of a solar farm from the comfort of
their port-side offices – in Boston.

UN report warns AI could soon use 3% of world’s electricity and more water than we need to drink

Sat, 6 Jun 2026 19:39:15 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/un-report-warns-ai-could-soon-use-3-of-worlds-electricity-and-more-water-than-we-need-to-drink-284442>

"One argument often used to quell concerns about the rising energy and resource
demand of data centres is that artificial intelligence (AI) models will need
less in the future as they improve and become more efficient.

Fix The News 341: Freedom. Pancreatic cancer. Alligator Alcatraz. Australian batteries.

Sat, 6 Jun 2026 19:40:10 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

https://fixthenews.com/p/341-freedom-pancreatic-cancer-alligator

"Centuries before social media, people were wrestling with misinformation,
censorship, information overload and technological disruption. In this first
episode of our new podcast, A Short History of Saving the World, join Fix

Jason Momoa’s 1920s Harleys become electric hybrids in wildest EV conversions yet

Sat, 6 Jun 2026 19:41:43 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://electrek.co/2026/06/05/jason-momoa-1920s-harleys-land-rovers-electric-conversion-electrogenic/>

"UK-based EV conversion specialist Electrogenic has converted five of Jason
Momoa’s cherished vintage vehicles to electric power — including three
100-year-old Harley-Davidson motorcycles reimagined as plug-in hybrids. The

Why the electric SUV boom is a problem for climate, health and equity

Sat, 6 Jun 2026 19:42:36 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/why-the-electric-suv-boom-is-a-problem-for-climate-health-and-equity-284262>

"Governments and car manufacturers sell electric cars as the future of green
transport. But a less visible trend is challenging this story: many electric
cars are getting bigger.

Eroding a virtue: AI trains people to expect instant answers – and that’s bad news for patience

Sun, 7 Jun 2026 06:49:54 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/eroding-a-virtue-ai-trains-people-to-expect-instant-answers-and-thats-bad-news-for-patience-280759>

"When I was growing up, teachers would assign research papers that required
going to the library, or later, searching for relevant material on the
internet. If the paper was going to turn out well, we students needed to

Enshittification, Despotification, and the Open Internet

Sun, 7 Jun 2026 06:51:05 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.liberalism.org/p/enshittification-despotification-and-the-open-internet>

"In January 2011, somewhere in the crush of bodies in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, a
man held up a handwritten sign. It read: “Facebook: against every unjust”
[sic]. He probably didn’t think of himself as making a statement about

In an Australian city, birds are collecting handcuffs, medicine jars and banknotes. This is why

Sun, 7 Jun 2026 06:52:26 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/birds/great-bowerbird-urban-courtship>

"What do an Australian banknote, a fluorescent mouth guard and a pair of
handcuffs have in common? No, it’s not some Australian Rules football-related
bank heist. The answer is they are all items used by city-dwelling Australian

How to use NO as a complete sentence

Sun, 7 Jun 2026 06:53:38 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://buttondown.com/monteiro/archive/how-to-use-no-as-a-complete-sentence/>

"This week’s question comes to us anonymously:

I did my job fine before AI came along. Now my workplace ‘suggests’ we use it.

Three new Ebola vaccines are being developed. An infectious disease expert explains

Sun, 7 Jun 2026 06:54:20 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/three-new-ebola-vaccines-are-being-developed-an-infectious-disease-expert-explains-284290>

"When it comes to Ebola outbreaks, it’s not often we have two pieces of good
news in one week.

Australia’s best apartment designs for 2026 – in pictures

Sun, 7 Jun 2026 06:55:09 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/gallery/2026/jun/05/australia-best-apartment-designs-2026-in-pictures>

"The 2026 Houses awards shortlist celebrates the country’s most ‘intelligent,
dynamic and visually compelling homes’. For the apartment category, jury chair
Alexa Kempton says judges looked for ‘density done well’.

People are using AI to communicate without disclosing it. Is this morally wrong?

Sun, 7 Jun 2026 16:01:49 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/people-are-using-ai-to-communicate-without-disclosing-it-is-this-morally-wrong-283773>

"Imagine you have used a generative artificial intelligence (AI) tool such as
ChatGPT to tidy up notes you took while in a meeting. Your colleague comments
on how clear they are. You don’t disclose it was the AI that made the notes

A horrific murder – and a civil war threatening to tear apart the British right

Sun, 7 Jun 2026 16:03:40 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jun/02/civil-war-british-right-rupert-lowe-nigel-farage-henry-nowak>

"The video of the murder of 18-year-old Henry Nowak at the hands of Vickrum
Digwa in Southampton is horrifying. But Nigel Farage’s decision to respond to
these events by calling for “pure cold rage” and insisting we recognise that

Kerbside parking is great for drivers – but terrible for everyone else. Could we get rid of it?

Sun, 7 Jun 2026 16:04:37 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/kerbside-parking-is-great-for-drivers-but-terrible-for-everyone-else-could-we-get-rid-of-it-283687>

"It may seem like it’s impossible to find a car park on the street.

As a recent Grattan Institute report makes clear, Australia actually has an

Scientists warn Trump plan to axe US ocean monitoring system will leave world ‘flying blind’

Sun, 7 Jun 2026 16:05:44 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jun/05/trump-plan-ocean-monitoring-system-concern-scientists>

"The Trump administration’s plan to dismantle an ocean observation system vital
to understanding the climate crisis and marine ecosystems would “severely
degrade” the accuracy of weather predictions and El Niño forecasts, with

Patients find help with therapy donkeys at psychiatric hospital near Paris

Sun, 7 Jun 2026 16:07:24 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://apnews.com/article/france-donkey-therapy-mental-health-hospital-a751b540ba27e82797a2cf5a64baf045>

"NEUILLY-SUR-MARNE, France (AP) — Therapy donkeys are helping patients with
mental health conditions recover in a psychiatric hospital unit outside Paris
that’s unique to France.

National insecurity: what happens when countries start to lose their sense of identity?

Sun, 7 Jun 2026 16:08:52 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/national-insecurity-what-happens-when-countries-start-to-lose-their-sense-of-identity-284530>

"You need only glance at the headlines these days to know that the current
state of international relations is dangerous.

How a Starbucks marketing stunt spiralled into mass boycotts in South Korea

Sun, 7 Jun 2026 22:38:51 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/06/starbucks-south-korea-tank-day-promotion-blunder>

"It was a PR nightmare: customers smashing Starbucks branded tumblers and mugs
as fans deleted loyalty apps and cashed out prepaid balances. Amid the uproar,
government ministries cut ties with the coffee chain and apology notices were

How Do We Pay for Universal Basic Income? Tax Stock the Way Companies Already Issue It.

Sun, 7 Jun 2026 22:40:23 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://scottsantens.substack.com/p/how-to-pay-for-ubi-stock-dilution-tax>

"Corporations issue new stock all the time — to raise cash, to pay executives,
to swallow up other companies. So here’s a question: what if they had to issue
a little new stock to the rest of us, too? I call it a stock dilution tax, and

US threatens to reconsider role in Bosnia and Herzegovina amid rift with Europe

Sun, 7 Jun 2026 22:41:07 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/06/us-threatens-to-reconsider-role-in-bosnia-and-herzegovina-amid-rift-with-europe>

"A deepening US-European rift over the future of Bosnia and Herzegovina has
broken open with a dispute over a top administrative post, leading to a US
threat to “reconsider” its role in international peacekeeping.

Dutch kids declared the world’s happiest (again). Here’s why

Sun, 7 Jun 2026 22:42:13 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.positive.news/lifestyle/wellbeing/dutch-kids-declared-the-worlds-happiest-again-heres-why/>

"A mother cycles determinedly through the drizzle while her togged-up toddler
sits on the crossbar squinting in the rain. The sky is black and the cycle
lanes are busy. An onlooking American tourist asks no one in particular what it

Armenia heads to polls amid Russian pressure and threat of ‘Ukrainian scenario’

Sun, 7 Jun 2026 22:43:04 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/06/russia-putin-armenia-election>

"The bottling line at the Abovyan cognac factory in Armenia is running at full
tilt.

The schools giving children a say in how they are run

Sun, 7 Jun 2026 22:44:23 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.positive.news/society/democracy/why-children-are-being-given-a-say-in-how-their-school-is-run/>

"Democracy has always had its doubters. But there are worrying signs it’s
getting worse. Support for far-right movements is rising. Fewer citizens today
feel that getting involved in politics can change things. Young people may be

‘Mogging’ is suddenly everywhere. Is that a problem?

Mon, 8 Jun 2026 11:15:49 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/jun/06/mogging-is-suddenly-everywhere-is-that-a-problem>

"Until recently, if someone had said “mog” to me, I probably would have assumed
they were talking about the children’s book cat created by the late great
Judith Kerr. If asked about “mogging” or being “mogged,” I would have been

Radical change can lead to a fairer and greener world, says new report

Mon, 8 Jun 2026 11:18:27 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.positive.news/society/radical-change-can-lead-to-a-fairer-and-greener-world/>

"For years, the climate debate has often been framed as a choice between two
unappealing futures. Either the world carries on consuming and emitting until
the planet becomes increasingly unstable, or it cuts back so sharply that

The Muralist Turning Walls Into Impossible Three-Dimensional Illusions Across Europe

Mon, 8 Jun 2026 11:19:22 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://designyoutrust.com/2026/05/the-muralist-turning-walls-into-impossible-three-dimensional-illusions-across-europe/>

"Peeta is a muralist, oil painter, and sculptor based in South Holland, known
for large-scale anamorphic murals and spatial optical illusions. His practice
fuses street art, painting, and sculpture into works that change dramatically

Emergency doctors are ‘begging for beds’ and planning to quit

Mon, 8 Jun 2026 11:20:39 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.watoday.com.au/national/nsw/emergency-doctors-are-begging-for-beds-and-planning-to-quit-20260529-p601xx.html>

"Emergency physicians are planning to leave the profession in overwhelming
numbers after years of patient overcrowding and excessive stress, raising
serious concerns about the future of Australia’s already short-staffed

The long shadow of long COVID

Mon, 8 Jun 2026 11:22:48 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

https://archive.md/LfFH3

"Shopping at a greenhouse with her father left Beth Wood unable to leave her
Halifax home for days.

Greenland sheds new light on underwater carbon sink

Mon, 8 Jun 2026 11:23:47 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.positive.news/environment/greenland-sheds-new-light-on-underwater-carbon-sink/>

"An international team of scientists has shed new light on how coastal seaweed
forests help lock away planet-warming carbon.

A 270-foot solar airship longer than a 747 just spent 12 days in the stratosphere on lithium-sulfur batteries that pack more energy than any EV’s

Mon, 8 Jun 2026 19:26:33 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.autonocion.com/us/sceyes-airship-stratosphere-lithium-sulfur-batteries/>

"Airships have spent the better part of a century as a punchline. We picture
the Hindenburg, or a Goodyear blimp wallowing over a stadium at halftime, and
quietly file the whole lighter-than-air idea under “nice try, wrong decade.” So

The Last Museum

Mon, 8 Jun 2026 19:27:31 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

https://lastmuseum.com/

"The Last Museum is the largest search engine for museum art. It uses
semantic search, allowing you to search for artworks by theme, style, subject,
vibes, or any description you can imagine.

In Los Angeles, 70 Artists Transform a Vacant Hospital into a Sprawling Art Experience

Mon, 8 Jun 2026 19:29:01 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2026/06/in-los-angeles-70-artists-transform-a-vacant-hospital/>

"A few miles northwest of Downtown Los Angeles and Skid Row, St. Vincent
Medical Center is considered one of the city’s most historical hospitals,
having supported Angelenos since the 19th century. Vacant since 2020, the

A priceless book of Yiddish songs from the Holocaust lay in a Sydney cupboard for decades – now it has been rescued

Mon, 8 Jun 2026 19:31:48 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/08/book-of-yiddish-jewish-songs-holocaust-translated-revived-sydney-ntwnfb>

"Even under conditions of extreme inhumanity, humanity has the capacity to find
solace in creative expression.

From exporting spyware to surveilling activists – how democracies became the new digital authoritarians

Mon, 8 Jun 2026 19:32:39 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/from-exporting-spyware-to-surveilling-activists-how-democracies-became-the-new-digital-authoritarians-264354>

"“Digital authoritarianism” refers to governments using technology for
surveillance and censorship to repress dissent.

Pete Hegseth’s D-day speech on immigration condemned as ‘grotesque stupidity’

Mon, 8 Jun 2026 19:33:45 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/07/pete-hegseth-d-day-speech-immigration-grotesque-stupidity>

"The US defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, has been accused by historians and
rights campaigners of “grotesque stupidity” and desecrating the memory of the
soldiers who stormed the beaches of Normandy after he sought to link

Half of Australia’s bookshops closed within a decade. Should the government help?

Tue, 9 Jun 2026 03:20:08 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/half-of-australias-bookshops-closed-within-a-decade-should-the-government-help-283605>

"In the past year alone, at least 13 independent bookshops have closed in
Australia. Some have operated for decades. Perth’s Boffins Books recently
announced it would close after 37 years, citing rising costs and “shifting CBD

A high court justice warned of US-style judge ‘stacking’ and created a new front in Australia’s culture wars

Tue, 9 Jun 2026 03:29:02 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.theguardian.com/law/2026/jun/08/high-court-justice-us-style-judge-stacking-australia-culture-wars>

"High court justice Robert Beech-Jones started his speech at a Townsville
resort and casino last month with a joke.

Marjane Satrapi’s masterpiece Persepolis transformed the world’s understanding of Iran

Tue, 9 Jun 2026 03:30:32 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/marjane-satrapis-masterpiece-persepolis-transformed-the-worlds-understanding-of-iran-284650>

"Marjane Satrapi, best known for her memoir and film Persepolis, has died,
aged 56. The death of this much loved Iranian–French artist, graphic novelist,
film-maker and activist has been met with widespread celebration of her life –

Australia wants social media to be ‘safe by design’. What does that actually look like?

Tue, 9 Jun 2026 03:34:25 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/australia-wants-social-media-to-be-safe-by-design-what-does-that-actually-look-like-284424>

"Australia is world-leading in taking active measures to keep people safe
online – home to the world’s first dedicated online safety regulator, the
eSafety Commissioner, and the first country to introduce enforceable industry

‘We forget how bloody good we are’: old quarry atop extinct volcano transformed into Sydney’s newest bushland park

Tue, 9 Jun 2026 03:35:52 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jun/08/hornsby-park-redevelopment-sydney-quarry-extinct-volcano-bushland>

"I’m a denizen of the inner city, more used to plane trees than eucalypts. But
Hornsby Park won me over immediately.

Are Australia’s carbon farming schemes just hot air? Hardly – forests are regrowing almost everywhere

Tue, 9 Jun 2026 03:38:15 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/are-australias-carbon-farming-schemes-just-hot-air-hardly-forests-are-regrowing-almost-everywhere-266251>

"Trees take carbon dioxide from the air and turn it into wood, storing it for
decades. This is why Australian authorities have made forest regeneration
eligible for carbon credits.

The fight to save Australia’s ‘incredibly captivating’ endangered spiny crayfish

Tue, 9 Jun 2026 11:00:06 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jun/08/australia-endangered-spiny-crayfish-protection>

"Nightfall comes early under the dense cloak of the rainforest canopy and Ollie
Scully – boots off and barefoot – is wading through the cool water with his
torch scouring the rocky bottom of a shallow creek.

How the food industry shapes your child’s fussy eating

Tue, 9 Jun 2026 11:03:23 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/how-the-food-industry-shapes-your-childs-fussy-eating-283572>

"Your toddler demands a Bluey-themed yoghurt and has a tantrum when offered
something else. If it’s not a Nutella sandwich, your child’s lunchbox comes
home uneaten. And the dinner table can become a battleground unless there are

340 Local News Outlets Now Blocking The Internet Archive

Tue, 9 Jun 2026 11:05:27 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.techdirt.com/2026/06/05/340-local-news-outlets-now-blocking-the-internet-archive/>

"Earlier this year Nieman Lab broke the story that major news publishers,
including The New York Times, The Guardian, and USA Today Co., had
started blocking the Internet Archive for fear that AI companies might scrape

Russian drone hits building storing spent nuclear fuel near Chornobyl

Tue, 9 Jun 2026 11:07:29 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/07/russian-drone-hits-building-spent-nuclear-fuel-chornobyl>

"A Russian Shahed drone has substantially damaged a building used to store
spent nuclear fuel close to the disused Chornobyl nuclear power plant, in what
Ukraine’s president described as a deliberate and “extremely vile” attack.

China just put the world’s largest all-electric container ship into commercial service

Tue, 9 Jun 2026 11:08:35 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

https://www.autonocion.com/us/china-largest-electric-container-ship/

"Almost everything in your house arrived by boat. The phone, the couch, the
running shoes, the coffee maker. At some point most of it sat in a steel box on
a container ship crossing an ocean, and that ship was almost certainly burning

I’m launching Tech Influence Watch as AI follows crypto into politics

Tue, 9 Jun 2026 11:10:36 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

https://www.citationneeded.news/tech-influence-watch/

"I’ve been running my website Follow the Crypto since 2024, tracking the
cryptocurrency industry’s influence on our democracy. The industry spent more
than $130 million buying the 2024 elections, and the strategy worked.

Ok computer: Rare folk instruments and lost melodies find a digital future

Tue, 9 Jun 2026 19:32:02 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.euronews.com/culture/2026/05/16/ok-computer-rare-folk-instruments-and-lost-melodies-find-a-digital-future>

"A thin, breathy note escapes from a bone flute. A surnay cuts sharply through
the air, while layered percussion echoes like distant footsteps across mountain
villages.

Seahorses and shark fins are illegally trafficked. An AI tool could help stop this crime

Tue, 9 Jun 2026 19:33:03 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/seahorses-and-shark-fins-are-illegally-trafficked-an-ai-tool-could-help-stop-this-crime-284448>

"Shark fins on a plane, seahorses in your bag and sea cucumbers in the post –
these are just a few examples of illegal marine wildlife trafficking.

Elusive gull drifts thousands of kilometres off course to Australia, turning birdwatching into ‘extreme sport’

Tue, 9 Jun 2026 19:34:01 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jun/08/elusive-gull-drifts-thousands-of-kilometres-off-course-to-australia-turning-birdwatching-into-extreme-sport>

"A lone seabird has caused a stir in the nation’s birdwatching community after
landing on the Western Australian coast, thousands of kilometres off its usual
migratory flight path.

Australian homes lead the world in solar. But businesses are falling behind

Tue, 9 Jun 2026 19:35:06 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jun/09/australia-rooftop-solar-panels-households-business>

"Australia’s revolution in rooftop solar has left behind commercial and
industrial buildings, where installations have lagged far behind homes,
according to new analysis.

We desperately need skilled workers. So why is vocational education treated as the ‘back‑up plan’ for school leavers?

Tue, 9 Jun 2026 19:35:44 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/we-desperately-need-skilled-workers-so-why-is-vocational-education-treated-as-the-back-up-plan-for-school-leavers-284649>

"At the end of each school year, we see the same ritual play out. Year 12
results are released and newspapers publish league tables, ranking schools by
their exam results.

If Australian datacentres are going to power the AI revolution, we deserve a fair return

Tue, 9 Jun 2026 19:36:33 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jun/09/australia-datacentres-artificial-intelligence-ai-revolution-industry-fairness>

"Over the past few months, tens of thousands of Australians have emailed their
local MP calling for a 25% tax on gas exports. More than 2,200 people have even
chipped in their own money to fund billboards promoting the idea.

As Japan’s popularity booms, a new survey shows strong anti‑foreigner sentiment

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 03:27:29 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/as-japans-popularity-booms-a-new-survey-shows-strong-anti-foreigner-sentiment-283979>

"Japan is experiencing historically high numbers of foreigners. Its population
is shrinking, and its workforce is ageing, driving foreign labour to historic
levels.

Scania lands its biggest ever electric bus deal

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 03:28:11 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://thedriven.io/2026/06/06/scania-lands-it-biggest-ever-electric-bus-deal/>

"Swedish commercial vehicle manufacturer Scania says it will supply 91 battery
electric buses to a local transport operator, in its largest order to date and
one of the largest electric bus deals in the country.

Revealed: the ‘less lethal’ weapons Australian police don’t want you to know about

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 03:28:56 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/ng-interactive/2026/jun/09/australia-police-less-lethal-weapons-tasers-pepper-spray-crowds>

"Projectiles that release powder designed to burn the eyes and throat.
Flashbang grenades. Teargas. Launchers that resemble semi-automatic rifles.

“Significant milestone:” Off-grid mine runs 155 consecutive hours on 100 pct renewables and engines off

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 03:29:50 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://reneweconomy.com.au/significant-milestone-off-grid-mine-runs-155-consecutive-hours-on-100-pct-renewables-and-engines-off/>

"The Bellevue gold mine in a remote part of Western Australia is claiming
another major record after completing 155 consecutive hours running the
facility on 100 per cent renewables, and with “engines off.”

How the invention of glassblowing changed everyday life in ancient Rome

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 03:30:40 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/how-the-invention-of-glassblowing-changed-everyday-life-in-ancient-rome-282054>

"We see glass objects every day, and often don’t think much about them.
Mass-produced glass has become so cheap we barely think about the things it
allows us to do.

Australia is leading the world on PV generation, but risks losing its seat at the global solar table

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 03:31:36 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://reneweconomy.com.au/australia-is-leading-the-world-on-pv-generation-but-risks-losing-its-seat-at-the-global-solar-table/>

"Australia is often celebrated as a global solar success story.

We lead the world in rooftop solar uptake per capita, have some of the highest

Broken speaker? Finicky zipper? Anticonsumerist Repair Cafes urge you to fix it instead of pitch it

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 22:17:56 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://apnews.com/article/repair-cafes-economy-anticonsumerism-affordability-buy-nothing-d3acac3ec2aae5e85294b34f0f4764b8>

"NEW PALTZ, N.Y. (AP) — On a drizzly Saturday morning late last month, the
basement of the New Paltz United Methodist Church filled with old lamps, blunt
knives, malfunctioning sound mixers and balky zippers.

How The Heck Do Solar Panels Work?

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 22:19:06 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

https://perthirtysix.com/how-the-heck-do-solar-panels-work

"Every hour, the Earth receives enough sunlight to power all of human
civilization for a year. It arrives silently, from all directions, at no cost.
We've known for decades how to convert this energy into usable electricity at

Where did language come from? Nobody really knows, but the theories are fascinating

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 22:20:00 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/where-did-language-come-from-nobody-really-knows-but-the-theories-are-fascinating-284081>

"Humans are the only species known to use fully symbolic language: a system
capable of expressing abstract ideas, imaginary worlds and endless combinations
of meaning. But how did we get there?

Bowen urged to “lead with vision and ambition” as he takes helm of Bonn climate talks

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 22:21:07 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://reneweconomy.com.au/bowen-urged-to-lead-with-vision-and-ambition-as-he-takes-helm-of-bonn-climate-talks/>

"Greenpeace is calling on Australia’s climate and energy minister Chris Bowen
“to lead with vision and ambition” as he heads to Bonn to take the helm of key
interim climate negotiations that are held each year in the former German

Italian prosciutto in place of Yunnan ham: how Chinese migrants navigate food in Australia

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 22:21:48 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/italian-prosciutto-in-place-of-yunnan-ham-how-chinese-migrants-navigate-food-in-australia-281873>

"Chinese food heritage is diverse and vast, and embodies the distinct
geographical and historical traces of various cultural identities.

Australia endorses ambitious new global electrification target to hasten exit from fossil fuels

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 22:22:44 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://reneweconomy.com.au/australia-endorses-ambitious-new-global-electrification-target-to-hasten-exit-from-fossil-fuels/>

"Australia energy and climate minister Chris Bowen has endorsed an ambitious
new global electrification target – 35 per cent by 2035 – that is designed to
hasten the exit of fossil fuels and help the world meet its climate targets.

How waves, ponds and green algae are accelerating sea ice melt in Antarctica

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 22:01:57 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/how-waves-ponds-and-green-algae-are-accelerating-sea-ice-melt-in-antarctica-280456>

"Picture sea ice in your mind. You probably imagine brilliant white,
snow-covered floes floating on the surface of the ocean, home to penguins in
the south of the globe or polar bears in the north.

China opens world’s first undersea data centre, powered by offshore wind turbines

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 22:03:13 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://reneweconomy.com.au/china-opens-worlds-first-undersea-data-centre-powered-by-offshore-wind-turbines/>

"The world’s first undersea data centre has begun operating off the coast from
Shanghai, powered by a direct offshore wind connection, according to China
state media.

Meet the internet movement trying to tackle the manosphere. It’s called BreadTube

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 22:04:05 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/meet-the-internet-movement-trying-to-tackle-the-manosphere-its-called-breadtube-281876>

"The manosphere has frequently featured in news headlines this year. Some of
these have focused on how the movement looks on YouTube – a platform that
research suggests uses recommender algorithms to boost extreme content.

‘Osprey cam’ streams life of nesting seabirds perched at tip of 55 metre-long Queensland rainforest canopy crane

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 22:04:52 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jun/10/osprey-cam-streams-nesting-seabirds-queensland-rainforest-canopy-crane>

"It started by chance – but it should have come as no surprise that two ospreys
would pick a hi-tech research facility to make their home.

Russia Revives Soviet-Era Controls to Police Women’s Bodies and Futures

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 22:07:14 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://united24media.com/investigations/russia-revives-soviet-era-controls-to-police-womens-bodies-and-futures-19654>

“Russian authorities have made women's bodies a domestic "second front" of the
war, reviving Stalin-era controls over reproduction and private life, according
to the Feminist Anti-War Resistance, a leading Russian opposition movement.

Brushing your teeth in hospital could reduce the chance of catching pneumonia

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 22:08:06 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/brushing-your-teeth-in-hospital-could-reduce-the-chance-of-catching-pneumonia-283574>

"You go to hospital for treatment and to get better. But sometimes, you get
something much less welcome: an infection.

John Bennett didn’t factor a war into his farm’s finances. Now he’s at risk of losing $600,000

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 04:31:22 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jun/09/iran-war-hormuz-oil-prices-fuel-crisis-australia-fertiliser-impact-farming>

"“Wars are not good,” says the Wimmera farmer John Bennett from inside a
workshop on his 10,000 hectare farm.

‘Technostress’: why many older people feel shut out by the digital world

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 04:32:21 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/technostress-why-many-older-people-feel-shut-out-by-the-digital-world-283879>

"From personal health portals to AI assistants that draft emails, the digital
age has simplified endless everyday tasks.

Concerns over US company’s gas fracking plan for world’s most intact tropical savanna in WA revealed

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 04:33:41 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jun/10/wa-fracking-gas-us-company-federal-environment-department-concern>

"The federal government has repeatedly raised concerns about an American
company’s bid to frack for gas in Western Australia’s Kimberley region, part of
the world’s largest and most intact tropical savanna.

World’s first AI‑designed vaccine explained

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 04:36:43 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/worlds-first-ai-designed-vaccine-explained-284668>

"Researchers at the University of Cambridge have developed what they describe
as a fundamentally new type of vaccine using artificial intelligence (AI). The
vaccine’s key component was designed entirely by AI and has now been tested in

It was Britain’s most expensive house. Why is its only resident a homeless man who lives on the porch?

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 04:37:50 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/jun/10/homeless-man-porch-rutland-gate>

"When it last changed hands, in 2020, 2-8A Rutland Gate was Britain’s most
expensive house, selling for £210m. The word “house” hardly does it justice;
palace is probably more accurate. It is in Knightsbridge, one of the most

Jane Yolen (1939–2026)

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 13:36:40 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

https://locusmag.com/2026/06/jane-yolen-1939-2026/

"Author Jane Yolen, 87, died peacefully in her home, surrounded by family, in
Hatfield MA on June 11, 2026.

‘I’m hoping to meet a river goddess’: a wild journey through Britain’s mythic waterways

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 13:38:18 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2026/jun/11/wild-journey-through-britain-mythic-waterways-river-goddess>

"It’s just past midday and I appear to be inside a rain cloud. Soaked to the
skin, my walking boots squelching through tufts of grass and black bog mud, I
can hear hundreds of streams rolling off this wide mid-Wales peak, each vying

A philosopher’s take on NZ’s bill to define who counts as a woman or man

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 13:39:36 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/a-philosophers-take-on-nzs-bill-to-define-who-counts-as-a-woman-or-man-284288>

"In August 2006, at the general assembly of the International Astronomical
Union in Prague, astronomers voted on a new definition of a planet, and Pluto
was demoted.

When is rare good news on climate science actually bad? When News Corp misrepresents it

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 13:40:49 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jun/11/climate-crisis-science-emissions-good-news-corp-misrepresentation>

"In a world where people accept global heating is bad, news that we had avoided
a boiling-in-our-own-juices version of the planet’s future might have been
welcomed.

As SpaceX, OpenAI and Anthropic plan blockbuster launches, will it make AI giants more accountable?

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 13:42:12 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/as-spacex-openai-and-anthropic-plan-blockbuster-launches-will-it-make-ai-giants-more-accountable-284665>

"A huge change is coming to the world’s booming artificial intelligence (AI)
sector.

El Niño forms in Pacific as experts say it will likely turbocharge extreme weather

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 13:43:23 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/11/el-nino-forms-historic-strength>

"El Niño, the climate phenomenon that supercharges weather around the world,
has officially arrived and could intensify to historic levels in the fall, US
officials said on Thursday.

Climate change has already made Australians in one state much poorer, and more’s to come

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 19:21:28 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/climate-change-has-already-made-australians-in-one-state-much-poorer-and-mores-to-come-284547>

"The world’s hottest years over the past decade have coincided with stagnant
economic productivity, rising prices and geopolitical instability.

Climate scientists warn of record rate of global warming, carbon budget to be exhausted in 3 years

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 19:22:21 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://reneweconomy.com.au/climate-scientists-warn-of-record-rate-of-global-warming-carbon-budget-to-be-exhausted-in-3-years/>

"Emissions of climate-warming pollutants are at an all-time high, mainly from
the burning of fossil fuels.

I don’t want to kill the spiders, ants and other bugs in my house. What should I do instead?

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 19:23:03 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/i-dont-want-to-kill-the-spiders-ants-and-other-bugs-in-my-house-what-should-i-do-instead-282053>

"We’ve all been there: just as you’re about to fall asleep, you notice a
huntsman spider on the ceiling. Or you walk into your kitchen and find a long
trail of ants snaking into your pantry.

Consultants might profess a commitment to net zero, but they are core to fossil fuel propaganda playbook

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 19:24:07 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://reneweconomy.com.au/consultants-might-profess-a-commitment-to-net-zero-but-they-are-core-to-fossil-fuel-propaganda-playbook/>

"The fossil fuel industry playbook is so predictable, it is almost tedious.

They continue to plan for ever-expanding oil, gas and coal production. They

Do mandatory body cameras actually reduce police brutality?

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 19:24:53 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/do-mandatory-body-cameras-actually-reduce-police-brutality-284555>

"In early June, an ABC Four Corners investigation into NSW Police showcased
first-hand accounts of police using excessive force against the public.

Indonesia’s growing EV fleet is saving billions from the oil price shock

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 19:25:35 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://thedriven.io/2026/06/12/indonesias-growing-ev-fleet-is-saving-billions-from-the-oil-price-shock/>

"As oil prices blow past $100 a barrel amid war in the Middle East, Indonesia’s
fast-growing fleet of electric vehicles (EVs) is quietly easing fiscal pressure
on the government.

Demolishing homes after climate disasters can be devastating. Here’s how we reused precious materials

Sat, 13 Jun 2026 03:54:54 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/demolishing-homes-after-climate-disasters-can-be-devastating-heres-how-we-reused-precious-materials-284192>

"Following the devastating Northern Rivers floods in New South Wales in 2022,
roughly 14,000 truckloads of water-damaged materials were sent to landfill.

A Single Strand of Hair

Sat, 13 Jun 2026 03:56:29 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

https://theprogressnetwork.substack.com/p/a-single-strand-of-hair

"About thirty years ago, a small computer graphics studio in Richmond,
California, was struggling. Financial losses had forced a sell-off of the
company’s hardware division. More than half of its employees had been sacked.

Warming winters are changing NZ’s landscapes, bringing insect pests, smaller fruit and carbon loss

Sat, 13 Jun 2026 03:57:10 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/warming-winters-are-changing-nzs-landscapes-bringing-insect-pests-smaller-fruit-and-carbon-loss-284418>

"Summer heatwaves are currently receiving a lot of attention in Europe because
they now cause more deaths than floods or storms.

How To End A War: Lessons from Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Juan Manuel Santos

Sat, 13 Jun 2026 03:57:54 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

https://fixthenews.com/p/how-to-end-a-war-lessons-from-nobel

"Juan Manuel Santos is the former President of Colombia, a winner of the Nobel
Peace Prize, and the Chair of The Elders. In 2016, under his leadership,
Colombia signed a peace agreement with FARC, the country’s largest rebel group,

Australia’s huge ‘forever chemical’ lawsuit focuses on the cleanup – not human health. Why?

Sat, 13 Jun 2026 03:58:31 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/australias-huge-forever-chemical-lawsuit-focuses-on-the-cleanup-not-human-health-why-284548>

"The Australian government has launched its largest-ever lawsuit, suing
American chemical giant 3M and its local subsidiary. The government is seeking
A$2 billion in damages for the past and future cost of investigating and

Tracing Digital Links Between Viory and Ruptly

Sat, 13 Jun 2026 03:59:42 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/06/04/viory-ruptly-rt-russia-uae-propaganda-video-news/>

"“In the age of misinformation, the line between fact and fiction is blurrier
than ever.”

I used sound waves to make espresso. It could cut coffee‑brewing energy use by 75%

Sat, 13 Jun 2026 19:08:05 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/i-used-sound-waves-to-make-espresso-it-could-cut-coffee-brewing-energy-use-by-75-284929>

"Most of us think of espresso as a hot, high-pressure ritual. Finely ground
coffee goes into a machine, boiling water is forced through it, and in about 30
seconds we get a concentrated shot with crema, aroma, bitterness, body and

COVID-19 still kills over 30,000 a year in Japan; old people at risk

Sat, 13 Jun 2026 19:09:45 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/16560974

"Annual deaths from COVID-19 continue to top 30,000 in Japan, even three years
since the seriousness of the infectious disease was downgraded to the level of
seasonal influenza.

Plots, love letters and remedies: The medieval secrets being revealed by AI

Sat, 13 Jun 2026 19:11:49 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20260527-plots-love-letters-and-diplomacy-the-medieval-secrets-being-revealed-by-ai>

“Deep in the archives of the Vatican library, a mysterious hand-written book,
scrawled with strange symbols, had lain unread for more than 400 years. Its
cryptic pages apparently concealed secret remedies "for afflictions of the

Consciousness likely not unique to earthlings, paper says

Sat, 13 Jun 2026 19:14:21 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

https://phys.org/news/2026-06-consciousness-unique-earthlings-paper.html

“Does consciousness depend on flesh and blood? The answer is almost certainly
no, according to Eric Schwitzgebel, a distinguished professor of philosophy at
the University of California, Riverside. In a new working paper, Schwitzgebel

Making History: Indiana Jones and the birth of a new classic with Raiders of the Lost Ark

Sat, 13 Jun 2026 19:18:41 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://letterboxd.com/journal/indiana-jones-raiders-of-the-lost-ark-retrospective-anniversary/>

"Hollywood’s ability to make a new cinematic hero rather than diving into IP
may as well be buried in an anonymous warehouse among nondescript crates. Even
the great Indiana Jones almost never happened. The character, stepping onto the

The SpaceX IPO made Musk a trillionaire. The old rules of capitalism no longer apply

Sat, 13 Jun 2026 19:19:33 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jun/12/spacex-ipo-elon-musk-trillionaire>

"Elon Musk is now the world’s first trillionaire, after his SpaceX exploration
and satellite company went public on the Nasdaq on Friday.

Slums are bearing the brunt of the climate crisis — and devising solutions

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 03:31:01 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://knowablemagazine.org/content/article/society/2026/slums-bear-brunt-climate-crisis-solutions-are-emerging>

"Since moving into a public housing project in Mumbai nearly 20 years ago,
Parveen Shaikh has grown familiar with the ravages of extreme heat. She has
acquired a new vocabulary, adding terms like “low blood pressure” — which she

The 5 simple tweaks to make social media less addictive

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 03:32:07 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://stories.theconversation.com/the-5-simple-tweaks-to-make-social-media-less-addictive/>

"We’ve all been there: lying on the sofa at an awkward angle, phone in hand,
scrolling through reels. It’s so easy to lose track of time, and so hard to
disconnect.

Being a woman in China is getting harder. But in Chengdu, female-only spaces are flourishing

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 03:33:28 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/10/chengdu-female-only-spaces-china-women-feminist-revival>

"In a small, unassuming bookstore in south-west China, a discreet community of
women dream of a more equal future. Here in Chengdu, 42-year-old Shen Shen runs
one of the country’s leading feminist bookstores.

Good news for renewables: southern Australia’s offshore winds will stay strong even as the climate changes

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 03:34:13 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/good-news-for-renewables-southern-australias-offshore-winds-will-stay-strong-even-as-the-climate-changes-276400>

"If you’ve ever stood on a Victorian beach and felt the wind from the Southern
Ocean, you’ll know this is not a gentle force. Whipped up across thousands of
kilometres of cold ocean, these winds are relentless and powerful.

Cars burn in Belfast, bricks fly in Southampton – and the ubiquitous cry of ‘civil war’ goes up again

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 03:35:29 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jun/10/belfast-southampton-civil-war-anti-immigrant-online>

"It was the summer of 2024 when it all decisively started, with the horrific
murders in Southport, countrywide violence and Elon Musk’s observation that a
British civil war was somehow “inevitable”. A year later came a hot season of

Private space tourism is taking off – but laws on outer space are from another era

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 03:36:10 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/private-space-tourism-is-taking-off-but-laws-on-outer-space-are-from-another-era-283761>

"Private commercial operators are launching more rockets into space, carrying
more people and pursuing more ambitious missions than ever before.

The Guardian view on far-right violence: digital radicalisation is threatening democracy

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 11:23:48 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jun/10/the-guardian-view-on-far-right-violence-digital-radicalisation-is-threatening-democracy>

"Masked men who drive terrorised families out of their homes cannot be called
protesters, since the word implies legitimate grievance. The outbreak of racist
violence in Northern Ireland this week is connected to the politics of

Referees, athletes, fans: how the US border crackdowns are tarnishing the World Cup

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 11:24:31 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/referees-athletes-fans-how-the-us-border-crackdowns-are-tarnishing-the-world-cup-284957>

"This was supposed to be the most spectacular FIFA men’s World Cup in history.
There are more national teams (48), more host countries (three) and more
matches (104) than ever before.

Jimmy Carter’s solar farm is still powering his hometown and his legacy

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 11:25:15 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

https://gasanature.org/jimmy-carter-solar-farm/

"In February 2017, Jimmy Carter stood in a field in Plains, Georgia, the same
small town where he was born, where he farmed peanuts, where he would
eventually die at 100 years old, and watched a ribbon get cut on a solar farm

A High Court ruling could allow hundreds of former detainees to sue the government. A legal expert explains why

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 11:27:20 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/a-high-court-ruling-could-allow-hundreds-of-former-detainees-to-sue-the-government-a-legal-expert-explains-why-285052>

"For nearly 20 years, the Commonwealth operated under the mistaken assumption
that it was allowed to hold people in immigration detention indefinitely. In
2023, the High Court’s landmark ruling confirmed otherwise.

Record winter temperatures in Antarctic raise fears over speed of climate breakdown

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 11:29:12 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jun/10/record-winter-temperatures-in-antarctic-raise-fears-over-speed-of-climate-breakdown>

"Temperatures in the Antarctic climbed above 15C this month, shattering the
previous winter heat record for the usually frozen region and raising concerns
about the speed of climate breakdown.

Trump’s ‘narco‑terrorism’ war in Latin America evokes Reagan – then as now, it’s more about fighting leftists than drug runners

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 22:15:42 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/trumps-narco-terrorism-war-in-latin-america-evokes-reagan-then-as-now-its-more-about-fighting-leftists-than-drug-runners-284287>

"More than any other U.S. president in decades, Donald Trump has aggressively
pursued military interventions in Latin America.

Survey highlights greater burden of long COVID in Native Americans

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 22:16:59 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/survey-highlights-greater-burden-long-covid-native-americans>

"From 2021 to 2023, American Indian and Alaska Natives (AIANs) reported higher
rates of COVID-19 and long COVID than their non-AIAN counterparts, according to
a non–peer-reviewed study published on the Research Square preprint platform.

The Gulf Stream suddenly moved north during an ancient cold snap – and it’s a warning for our future

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 22:17:47 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/the-gulf-stream-suddenly-moved-north-during-an-ancient-cold-snap-and-its-a-warning-for-our-future-285081>

"Around 13,000 years ago, as the world was emerging from the grip of the last
ice age, much of the North Atlantic region plunged back into near-glacial
conditions.

Every social justice movement is impacted by the Long COVID crisis

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 22:18:54 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://thesicktimes.org/2026/06/09/every-social-justice-movement-is-impacted-by-the-long-covid-crisis/>

"During the summer of 2025, 65-year-old romance novelist Suzanne Brockmann and
her husband took part in a weekly protest. Every Wednesday at lunchtime, they
joined others standing and sitting outside of the Immigration and Customs

Will ‘move on’ orders for rough sleepers make cities safer – or revive Victorian‑era cruelty?

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 22:20:02 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

<https://theconversation.com/will-move-on-orders-for-rough-sleepers-make-cities-safer-or-revive-victorian-era-cruelty-284549>

"A proposed law currently before New Zealand’s parliament would give police the
power to move people on from public spaces if they are found begging, rough
sleeping or otherwise causing a disturbance.

Due Process for People, Precaution for Pathogens

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 22:21:00 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

https://whn.global/due-process-for-people-precaution-for-pathogens/

"Discussions of public health precautions for emerging diseases like Andes
hantavirus, often include, “We shouldn’t overreact before we have definitive
proof.” Sometimes this idea is framed explicitly or implicitly through one of

Glass Wings Blog: June 2026

Why $1bn in Balkans energy contracts are going to an obscure company connected to Donald Trump

Mon, 1 Jun 2026 23:40:28 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

The English restaurant turning hospitality on its head

Mon, 1 Jun 2026 23:41:36 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

The household battery revolution that could change energy bills … and the world

Mon, 1 Jun 2026 23:42:43 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

The world’s largest museum of illustration is about to open its doors

Mon, 1 Jun 2026 23:43:40 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

My unsung hero of science: William Adams, the Bombay bureaucrat whose vision of a solar future was dashed by colonial conservatism

Mon, 1 Jun 2026 23:45:05 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Why Melbourne’s obsession with black clothing actually makes sense

Mon, 1 Jun 2026 23:46:03 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Is there a pianist in the house? Audience member steps up to perform in La La Land in Sydney

Tue, 2 Jun 2026 10:19:21 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Molly Crabapple's 'Here Where We Live Is Our Country'

Tue, 2 Jun 2026 10:26:43 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Shutting down federal bee labs threatens bees, beekeepers and the US food system

Tue, 2 Jun 2026 10:30:47 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Letters from an American: May 31, 2026

Tue, 2 Jun 2026 10:31:35 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

As global fuel risk rises, NZ Budget 2026 puts roads first – again

Tue, 2 Jun 2026 10:32:58 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Daily pill can double survival time for world’s deadliest cancer, trial shows

Tue, 2 Jun 2026 10:49:46 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Gina Rinehart and Southern Cross Austereo: what do billionaire media buyouts mean for democracy?

Tue, 2 Jun 2026 19:38:04 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

State-owned land is Luke Quinn’s final refuge from council patrols — but soon even that meagre safety could disappear

Tue, 2 Jun 2026 19:44:06 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

The attack on competence

Tue, 2 Jun 2026 19:45:40 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

The SpaceX IPO works like a crypto fraud, but with AI

Tue, 2 Jun 2026 19:47:08 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

The Smithsonian Joins Unsplash With 1,000 Free Images

Tue, 2 Jun 2026 19:48:23 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Too hot, too humid: why the sustained heatwave in India and Pakistan is so dangerous

Tue, 2 Jun 2026 19:49:05 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Australia’s banking system locks many Muslims out of first home buyer schemes. Here’s how to fix it

Wed, 3 Jun 2026 04:49:34 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

The outdated rules – such as noise curfews – that are making it hard for electric trucks in Australia

Wed, 3 Jun 2026 04:50:31 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Cities are making it rain more – but not as much as scientists thought

Wed, 3 Jun 2026 04:51:20 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Gas usage has peaked and is now in structural decline across Australia, report says

Wed, 3 Jun 2026 04:52:23 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Trees and greenery can cool cities by as much as 18°C – but only if they’re the right type

Wed, 3 Jun 2026 04:53:33 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Stop Killing Games Gets Its First American Legislative Effort Out Of Committee in California

Wed, 3 Jun 2026 04:55:51 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

A dangerous dam‑building race is threatening South Asia’s shared rivers

Wed, 3 Jun 2026 13:40:52 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

WHO calls for community cooperation to contain Ebola outbreak in DRC

Wed, 3 Jun 2026 13:42:15 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

What’s wrong with how US and Uganda plan to stop Ebola spreading