PICKS are stories from many sources, selected by our editors or recommended by our readers because they are important, surprising, troubling, enlightening, inspiring, or amusing. They appear on our site and in our daily newsletter. Please send suggested articles, videos, podcasts, etc. to picks@whowhatwhy.org.
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Climate Change Is Harming Coral Worldwide, But These Reefs Are Thriving (Maria)
The authors write, “Divers descending into azure waters far off the Texas coast dip below a horizon dotted with oil and gas platforms into an otherworldly landscape of undersea mountains crusted with yellow, orange and pink coral as far as the eye can see. Some of the world’s healthiest coral reefs can be found in the Gulf of Mexico, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) off the Texas coast. Sheltered in a deep, cool habitat far from shore, the reefs in the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary boast a stunning amount of coral coverage.”
Revealed: House Speaker Did Little to Fight Toxic ‘Burn Pit’ His Father Campaigned Against (Russ)
The authors write, “Mike Johnson’s creationist beliefs clash with environmental realities in a district where many residents hold deep concerns about pollution.”
How a City in Wisconsin Fed Military-Grade Weapons to a Mexican Cartel (Al)
The author writes, “Racine, Wisconsin is best known for factories, farming, and an extravagant televised prom celebration. But in 2018, Racine’s suburban sprawl on the edge of Lake Michigan became a source of high caliber weapons for one of Mexico’s top fentanyl trafficking gangs, the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG), U.S. federal arms-trafficking investigators allege. The cartel exploited permissive federal and state-level gun control rules to buy some of the most powerful weapons available to American civilians, according to two former agents with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and two other sources, all with knowledge of the investigation.”
America’s Housing Stock Isn’t Ready for Aging Boomers (Sean)
From Fast Company: “There’s a coming population boom in the United States that is going to put its housing stock — and maybe its entire housing system — to the test. There are currently more than 58 million people in the U.S. aged 65 or older, a number that’s expected to climb to over 80 million by 2040. Within the next decade, there will be 25 million people who are older than 75. According to a new report, the places where these older adults live are simply not designed for the needs of an aging population.”
Congress Provided $7.5B for Electric Vehicle Chargers. Built So Far: Zero. (Reader Jim)
The author writes, “Congress at the urging of the Biden administration agreed in 2021 to spend $7.5 billion to build tens of thousands of electric vehicle chargers across the country, aiming to appease anxious drivers while tackling climate change. Two years later, the program has yet to install a single charger.”
Fighting for Wildlife in a Time of War (Laura)
From Hakai Magazine: “As conflict rages around them, Ukrainian conservationists persevere in restoring the Danube Delta, one of Europe’s most prized ecosystems.”
Were Meant to Live So Much Longer — Then the Dinosaurs Ruined It (Dana)
From Popular Mechanics: “Mammals may struggle to attain long life thanks to dinosaurs. According to University of Birmingham microbiologist João Pedro de Magalhães, the age of dinosaur dominance completely shifted the evolutionary track of virtually every mammal on Earth, refocusing evolutionary efforts on rapid reproduction instead of long life. You see, there was no point in trying to live for a long time when a dinosaur would just eat you anyway. To keep a species alive, rapid reproduction proved way more useful.”
