HackerNews Summary (2023-05-27 05AM)

Source: Direct air capture: a technology to fight climate change

Summary
Climeworks uses renewable energy to power its plants and aims to reduce energy consumption by 4%. Its carbon dioxide removal service physically removes CO₂ emissions from the air and permanently stores it for thousands of years. Climeworks plant’s carbon footprint is less than 10% of captured carbon dioxide.

Fact

💡 Climeworks uses only renewable energy sources, energy-from-waste, or other waste heat to power plants.

🔄 Carbon offsetting is different from Climeworks’ carbon dioxide removal service because it physically removes CO₂ emissions from the air and doesn’t just avoid them.

🌿 The carbon footprint of Climeworks plants is less than 10% of the captured carbon dioxide (with renewable electricity). Their goal is to reduce it to 4%.

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Source: Henry Kissinger

Summary
Henry Kissinger is an American diplomat and politician who served as a former United States Secretary of State and National Security Advisor. Kissinger has been associated with several controversial policies during his tenure, and founded the international geopolitical consulting firm, Kissinger Associates after leaving the government.

Facts

📚 Kissinger has written over a dozen books on diplomatic history and international relations.

👴🏼 Kissinger is the oldest living former U.S. Cabinet member and the last surviving member of Nixon’s Cabinet.

🏆 Kissinger received the 1973 Nobel Peace Prize under controversial circumstances for negotiating a ceasefire in Vietnam.

🌍 Kissinger played a prominent role in United States foreign policy between 1969 and 1977, pioneering the policy of detente with the Soviet Union, and engaging in shuttle diplomacy to end the Yom Kippur War.

🌐 Kissinger has been both venerated and condemned for allegedly tolerating or supporting war crimes committed by allied nation states during his tenure.

🧑‍🎓 A 2015 survey of top international relations scholars ranked Kissinger as the most effective U.S. Secretary of State in the 50 years to 2015.

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Source: Downtown San Francisco is at a tipping-point

ou look around and see how far we’ve fallen,” says Matt Haney, a supervisor whose district includes the Tenderloin. “We have to come up with a comprehensive plan, or we’re going to keep moving in the wrong direction.”Summary
San Francisco’s problems are two-fold: homelessness, drug use and property crime; and financial, with a near-record 30% office vacancy rate, which could lead to a declining pot of money and reduced services for residents.

Facts

🏠  Nearly 7,800 people are homeless in San Francisco, and rough sleepers are concentrated in the Tenderloin neighbourhood.

💼 The office-vacancy rate in San Francisco is nearing 30%, a record high and the city generated at least 75% of its GDP in 2021 from downtown.

💰 The city is facing a $780m deficit over the next two fiscal years and could see a decline in property taxes paid by offices by up to 35% by 2028.

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Source: Flowers for Turing

Summary
Manchester honors Alan Turing on his birthday by surrounding his statue with flowers and raising funds for Special Effect, a UK-based charity that improves the lives of people with disabilities through technology.

Fact

👨‍💻 Alan Turing was a pioneering computer scientist and World War II codebreaker.

🌺 His statue in Sackville Gardens, Manchester is decorated with flowers every year on his birthday, June 23rd.

💰 Since 2013, over £12,700 has been raised for the UK charity Special Effect.

🎮 Special Effect uses video games and technology to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities.

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