Science News Roundup, March 21, 2025
by Jon Scaccia March 21, 2025With all the insanity going on, I feel definitely overwhelmed.
I missed Pi Day! Seriously.
So, here’s what we have next week, and some recent news.
If industry-backed law passes, EPA couldn’t use the science behind hundreds of environmental protections
Legislation threatening the EPA’s Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) could undermine the agency’s ability to assess chemical toxicity, potentially stripping away protections against toxic pollutants that affect public health. This move, supported by chemical industry representatives, stands in stark contrast to the interests of communities who rely on IRIS assessments as a foundation to combat pollution and safeguard against carcinogenic exposure. The impending bills pose a critical challenge to environmental and public health advocacy, underscoring the need for public awareness and action to maintain stringent environmental regulations.
Inside Google’s Two-Year Frenzy to Catch Up With OpenAI
In a profound transformation following OpenAI’s release of ChatGPT, Google experienced a tumultuous but innovative period characterized by significant strategic shifts and cultural changes to reclaim leadership in AI. Despite Google’s accelerated efforts, spearheaded by collaborations and restructurings, including the launch of Bard and the development of the Gemini language model, it faced challenges such as missteps in AI accuracy, internal and external pressure, and the imperative to maintain profitability amidst growing antitrust scrutiny, all while navigating the ethical and environmental implications of generative AI technology.
L.A.’s own Willy Wonka? The ‘father’ of the Xbox is now perfecting lab-grown chocolate
Seamus Blackley, known for creating Microsoft’s Xbox, is embarking on an ambitious project to grow and cultivate cacao trees in Los Angeles with the aim of launching a unique chocolate company that emphasizes Los Angeles-grown cocoa, using his science-driven approach to capture the pure taste of local chocolate. This initiative showcases Blackley’s passion for blending his creative and scientific interests, exemplifying how curiosity and a problem-solving mindset can lead to innovative, place-based culinary experiences.
Pacific studies axed in Pentagon research cuts
The abrupt cancellation of Pentagon-funded research projects, including a study on the potential for fisheries-related conflict driven by illegal fishing and climate change, underscores a concerning shift in U.S. defense priorities by the Trump administration, dismissing climate change considerations as irrelevant to national security. This decision, reflective of a broader rollback on addressing environmental issues, overlooks how climate-induced shifts in fish migration and resources in regions like the Pacific and Arctic could exacerbate geopolitical tensions, thereby weakening the U.S.’s strategic foresight and capacity to respond to emerging global security threat
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