Axios

The ongoing fourth global coral bleaching event is officially the largest on record and still growing, according to NOAA.

Why it matters: Coral reefs act as nurseries for vital global fisheries. Their health is vital for sustaining diverse coastal marine species populations, drawing tourists and even reducing the impacts of powerful storms.

A fascinating — and frustrating — through-line in the discussion of AI's energy demand is the stack of variables that make the future cloudy as hell.

Why it matters: Powerful data centers are fueling wider growth in electricity use, but estimates of how much and how fast are all over the map.

Three weeks after Tropical Storm Helene turned quaint creeks and rivers into deadly forces of nature in western North Carolina on Sept. 27, statistics still feel inadequate to describe the depth of its wounds.

State of play: At least 95 people died from Helene in North Carolina, according to figures the state provided to Axios Friday, but a local public radio station using local officials' data puts the number at 125.