American astronaut will return to Earth on Russian spacecraft despite Ukraine invasion, NASA says.
These maps from satellite data show how much Earth has changed in only five years
Fast Company: “In a new global map based on the European Space Agency’s Sentinel-2 satellite data from 2017-2021, the mapping company Esri has created a detailed rendering of the current state of the planet that anyone can explore. In the past, land use mapping has been slow, because it’s done pixel-by-pixel and requires a long process of review…Esri and Impact Observatory used artificial intelligence and machine learning to quickly crunch through the satellite data, which has 26 pictures of every point on the planet throughout the year. (Microsoft donated the use of its servers to run the program.) Data that might have taken months or a year to process in the past can now be processed in around a week…”
- See also – ArcGIS Living Atlas of the World is the foremost collection of geographic information from around the globe. It includes maps, apps, and data layers to support your work.
2022 10 Breakthrough Technologies
MIT Technology Review: “Our annual list of 10 Breakthrough Technologies highlights the technological advances that we think will have the biggest impact on the world in the years to come. Every year, our reporters and editors survey a wide range of topics, from medicine to energy to digital technologies, to select advances that will affect our lives in meaningful ways. Some have already started to change the way we live and work, while others are poised to do so soon. This is the 21st year we’ve published this list. We hope you enjoy this glimpse into the future.”
SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern and variants under investigation in England (PDF) UK Health Security Agency
An omicron ‘subvariant’ is doubling in NY, just as mandates lift Gothamist. BA.2. “The city has also adopted the CDC’s new color-coded system for judging a community’s risk of severe disease. It places a larger emphasis on hospital burden rather than the past habit of mostly focusing on case rates.” In other words, the city will recognize and react to a surge only when it’s too late to contain.
Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, March 13 Institute for the Study of War
Russian airstrike escalates offensive in western Ukraine AP
Pentagon push to send more trainers to Ukraine was scrapped in December amid White House fears of provoking Russia Politiico. Hmm. Really?
‘False flag’ chemical attack in Ukraine: a coming attraction Gilbert Doctorow. Good thing we’ve got the OPCW to referee. Oh, wait….
* * * US and China to meet in Rome for high-level talks focusing on Ukraine FT
How China Can End the War in Ukraine Project Syndicate
Besides China, Putin Has Another Potential De-dollarization Partner in Asia Council on Foreign Relations
Alternative theory Telegraph India
Many Africans Reject Washington’s Position on Ukraine Crisis Borkena
The west v Russia: why the global south isn’t taking sides Guardian
* * * The West Needs an Off-Ramp From Sanctions, Too John Authers, Bloomberg