The modern winter climate history of the Central U.S. was rewritten this week, as more than 130 monthly high temperature records were set from Texas to Michigan.
Why it matters: The historic winter heat wave illustrates how extreme day to day weather can act in concert with climate change to set new milestones.
This year's most environmentally friendly car is the plug-in hybrid electric Toyota Prius Prime SE, according to a report from the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE).
Why it matters: The hybrid, which can be driven using nothing but electric power, edged out ahead of the most "green" electric vehicle (EV), the Lexus RZ 300e.
Millions of Americans are facing extreme weather whiplash this week — notably in cities including Chicago and Dallas, which were forecast to swing from record highs to wintry lows.
The big picture: Ground stops were temporarily declared at Chicago Midway and O'Hare airports into early Wednesday amid multiple reports of tornadoes, powerful winds and "golf ball-size hail" in the area, as a supercell swept across parts of Illinois and into Ohio Valley.
X-energy, a startup developing small modular reactors (SMRs), sees an attractive market in slaking the energy thirst of the rapidly unfolding artificial intelligence boom.
Why it matters: The company's ambitions underscore AI's role as an emerging demand source — and atomic power's unique but underdeveloped position as one of world's carbon-free energy sources.
Exxon and its Chinese partner in Guyana may try and exercise their ability to obtain Hess' stake in a massive offshore field there.
Why it matters: There's suddenly a dash of uncertaintyaround Chevron's blockbuster $53 billion deal to acquire Hess, a company coveted partly for its Guyana holdings.
