Axios

Google on Thursday unveiled measurements of energy, water use and emissions from text prompts using its Gemini Apps AI assistant — and it's calling for greater industry consistency in tallying AI's environmental effects.

Why it matters: The artificial intelligence boom is bringing a surge in power-thirsty data centers, but the energy needs and climate footprint remain a moving and often hazy target.

Anthropic and the U.S. government's nuclear experts have developed a new tool that can spot the difference between a scientist asking Claude about nuclear reactors and a spy probing it for secrets about weapons development.

Why it matters: Scientists can benefit from the productivity boosts of Claude and other AI models — but distinguishing between legitimate research inquiries and potentially harmful uses has been tricky to do.

When thousands of New Orleans homes flooded in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the city lost more than half its population overnight.

Why it matters: They went somewhere, and we're finally getting a clearer idea of where they landed.

The U.S. Gulf Coast is facing billions of dollars in yearly property damage by 2050 due to extreme weather tied to climate change, per a new analysis.

Why it matters: Even as Gulf states are still reckoning with the aftermath of 2005's Hurricane Katrina two decades later, more pain and loss seems inevitable.

Editor's note: Read the latest on Hurricane Erin here.

Hurricane Erin was bringing tropical storm conditions at or near portions of North Carolina's coast on Wednesday night — as the "large" storm's outer bands brushed the N.C. Outer Banks, forcing officials to close a section of highway.

The big picture: The National Hurricane Center warned U.S. East Coast beachgoers on Wednesday against swimming at most beaches due to "life-threatening surf and currents," while the Outer Banks region was also under threat from "life-threatening" surge flooding and tropical conditions.

Volcanologists are closely monitoring an underwater volcano off the Oregon coast that seems poised to erupt this year.

Why it matters: The eruption poses no risks to human life, scientists said, but it will help researchers better understand how volcanos work on land.

Gasoline is a bigger household expense than electricity bills nationwide — but the difference varies a lot by state, a new analysis finds.

Why it matters: The report is a great snapshot of total and relative energy expenses as the topic rises on the political radar.

Gov. Gavin Newsom's bid to redraw California's congressional seats to create more Democrat-friendly districts has a 22-point advantage in support among the state's voters, Newsom's longtime pollster writes in an internal memo obtained by Axios.

Why it matters: California's vote this November on what's known as Proposition 50 will have tremendous consequences for the 2026 midterms and the 2028 presidential election.

Editor's note: Read the latest on Hurricane Erin here.

Hurricane Erin's threats prompted North Carolina's governor to declare a state of emergency as the massive storm began bringing huge swells that were impacting the N.C. Outer Banks on Tuesday.

The big picture: The storm is not forecast to make landfall in the United States, but forecasters warned of "life-threatening" storm surges, coastal overwash and flooding along the U.S. East Coast this week.