An unusually intense spring heat wave is bringing blistering heat to large portions of Pakistan and India, with the potential for monthly records for April to fall this week in some areas.
Why it matters: Millions in this heavily populated region lack access to air conditioning, and could suffer from heat-related illnesses, which can be deadly. In addition, the heat will make outdoor work untenable for portions of the day, slowing construction projects and impacting the economy.
Zeno Power,a developer of advanced power systems that use radioisotopes, has raised a $20 million Series A funding round led by Tribe Capital, the company first told Axios.
Why it matters: The startup is aiming to scale up the production of small-scale nuclear batteries that can power spacecraft and undersea technologies for years.
Elon Musk’s purchase of Twitter is being greeted warily by the climate science community.
Why it matters: For scientists and activists, Twitter has long been a place for sharing research ideas and interacting with journalists and the public. It has also helped kindle and sustain the climate activist movement.
The "mass timber" movement is a growing worldwide effort to build high-rises and other buildings out of wood composites rather than steel and concrete, for environmental reasons.
Why it matters: Lightweight, attractive and sturdy, mass timber buildings are considered carbon-friendly alternatives to conventional ones — and some people prefer their warmth, character and texture.
The battery storage company Yotta Energy raised an additional $3.5 million in Series A finance and announced a nearly $2 million Defense Department award for a microgrid project at a Nevada Air Force Base.
Why it matters: Expanded use of battery storage helps accommodate growing amounts of zero-carbon but intermittent solar and wind energy, and boosts the resilience of electricity systems.
The British politician who helped prevent a fractious United Nations climate summit from collapsing last year now faces another daunting task: keeping climate on the global agenda amid Russia's unprovoked war in Ukraine.
Driving the news: Alok Sharma spoke with Axios over the weekend, offering revelations about his strategy in the uphill battle to keep the Paris Agreement's targets from slipping away.
The pandemic has changed what Americans want from their homes, and builders say they expect those changes to last.
The big picture: A ton of pandemic-era adaptations are becoming common fixtures in new homes. The model homes that builders are showing off today are meant for working, living and learning, not just coming home and crashing at the end of the day.
New Mexico's governor signed an emergency declaration for 33 drought-affected counties over the weekend, as dozens of wildfires raged across several U.S. states in the Southwest and Midwest.
The big picture: The blazes have razed tens of thousands of acres and scores of structures over the past week and triggered evacuations over the weekend of some 4,000 homes in New Mexico and Nebraska — where the death of a retired fire chief was confirmed Sunday.
