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‘Green Roofs Deliver for Biodiversity’: How Basel Put Nature on Top (Maria)

The author writes, “Susanne Hablützel breaks up her work day by staring out the window at a rooftop garden. The view is not spectacular: a pile of dead wood sits atop an untidy plot that houses chicory, toadflax, thistle and moss. But Hablützel, a biologist in charge of nature projects in Basel [Switzerland], is enthralled by the plants and creatures the roof has brought in. … Hidden high above the streets of Basel is an unappreciated environmental wonder: thousands of gardens perched on otherwise unused roofs. As a result of policies set decades ago, the city boasts some of the greenest rooftops in Europe — averaging more than 50 square feet per person in 2019, or about the size of a large balcony.” 

New England Has Become a Hotbed of Anti-Trump Litigation. It’s Not a Coincidence. (Reader Steve)

From the Boston Globe: “It may be one of the smallest federal court circuits in the country, but in the early days of the Trump administration, New England is emerging as a top battleground to sue the Trump administration. It’s a change from President Trump’s first term in office, when lawsuits against his policies were heavily clustered on the West Coast. But experts say it’s no coincidence, as the appellate region that makes up the First Circuit has become one of the most advantageous places for those challenging Trump policies to file their litigation, for a variety of reasons including its all-Democratic appointee makeup at the appellate level.”

One Word Describes Trump (Reader Pat)

The author writes, “A century ago, a German sociologist explained precisely how the president thinks about the world.”

In Pentagon Shakeup, Some See Bid for More Secret Actions, Less Oversight (Al)

From Defense One: “The selection of John Daniel Caine as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff may signal a new emphasis on irregular warfare, covert and clandestine operations, enabling swifter action with fewer legal constraints and less congressional scrutiny, say former military and senior defense officials who have worked in the intelligence community, special operations, the Defense Department, and the White House.”

Campus Police Are Using Israeli Spy Tech to Crack Down on Student Protest (Laura)

From Truthout: “Israeli-made surveillance technologies are accelerating the militarization of campus police departments across the US.”

Deny and Delay? California Seeks Penalties for Insurers That Repeatedly Get It Wrong (Mili)

The author writes, “While insurance denials are on the rise, surveys show few Americans appeal them. … Various analyses have found that many who escalate complaints to government regulators successfully get denials overturned. Consumer advocates and policymakers say that’s a clear sign insurance companies routinely deny care they shouldn’t. Now a proposal in the California Legislature seeks to penalize insurers who repeatedly make the wrong call.”

The Unnatural History of Bird Flu (Sean)

From Nautilus: “Since the COVID-19 pandemic, few scientific questions have received as much public attention as the origin of the deadly virus: people or nature.  It was the subject of journalists’ investigations and government hearings and academic recrimination; it became part of the culture war. It is perhaps strange, then, that little attention is paid to the role people have played in another potential pandemic virus: H5N1 avian influenza, a creation of modern poultry production systems.”

Archaeologists Found Ancient Tools That Contradict the Timeline of Civilization (Dana)

The author writes, “In the history of studying the proliferation of humanity across the globe, there has long been one question that has stumped researchers: How did the islands of Southeast Asia (ISEA) become so well-inhabited so long ago? It likely required technological seafaring advancements beyond what was considered likely during the Paleolithic era. But those experts may have a surprising new answer thanks to new research that shows the ancient people of the Philippines and ISEA may have mastered seafaring well before anyone else.”