Science News Round Up, May 19, 2025

by Jon Scaccia May 19, 2025

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As Colorado wildfires worsen, Sen. John Hickenlooper’s bill aims to reduce risks. But it worries some environmentalists.

The Fix our Forests Act, supported by several western U.S. senators including Colorado’s John Hickenlooper, seeks to expedite logging and forest management activities to mitigate wildfire risks intensified by climate change. While the bill garners support from various environmental and governmental entities, it faces criticism for potentially reducing public involvement and weakening environmental review processes, raising concerns about increased governmental control and potential exploitation by the timber industry.

Change needed after alarming overlap in fires in Australia, North America

Climate change is exacerbating the overlap between fire seasons in Australia and North America, challenging their traditional resource-sharing agreements and demanding both regions to significantly enhance their own firefighting capacities. With fire seasons increasingly coinciding—now overlapping by about seven weeks annually— and with projections indicating further overlap due to climate change and variable rainfall patterns, there is an urgent need for investment in permanent firefighting infrastructure and proactive fire management strategies.

How Insurance is Adapting to the Shifting Cyber Landscape

Amidst the persistent and devastating backdrop of gun violence in the United States, there is a growing effort to leverage technology, such as AI-enhanced surveillance and gunshot detection systems, to enhance safety across public spaces and institutions. While promising, these technological advancements come with their own set of challenges including privacy concerns, potential biases, and significant costs, emphasizing the need for thoughtful implementation and innovative funding solutions to ensure widespread adoption and effectiveness in protecting communities.