The Daily Valet. - 7/5/23, Wednesday
✔️ This Is Literally Everywhere
Wednesday, July 5th Edition
By Cory Ohlendorf, Valet. Editor
And we're back ... I love starting the week off on a Wednesday.
Today’s Big Story
Concrete Is Everywhere
Concrete is now the second-most consumed substance on Earth behind only water. And That’s a problem.
Look around or out your window ... how much concrete do you see? Our modern world is only made possible by concrete. It makes up our buildings, our roads, sidewalks, piers and parking lots. From subway tunnels to airport runways and all the water pipes and sewers in between. Even our electricity relies on it: dams and power plants need it, and so do the foundations of wind turbines.Noema magazine dove deep into the subject and points out that concrete is modern, yet ancient. “Around 100 B.C., Romans discovered that volcanic ash from the slopes of Mount Vesuvius could be mixed with lime and wetted to create a cement, to which they added aggregate. Roman concrete was used to build structures like the Pantheon and the Colosseum, original parts of which still stand today.” They also dig into the numbers and the amount of concrete used today is downright shocking.Thirty-three billion tons of concrete are used each year—making it by far the most abundant human-made material in history. It's the second-most consumed substance on Earth, behind only water. Of course, to make concrete you need cement. And that means we now require around 4 billion tons of cement every year—over a billion tons more than the food we eat annually.That's not great for the environment. As Noema says, “such a monstrous scale of production has monstrous consequences.” Concrete production currently accounts for over 8% of global carbon dioxide emissions—but the bulk of that comes from the burning of fossil fuels such as oil and natural gas, which are used to heat up a mix of limestone and clay that make cement to more than 1,400 degrees Celsius—similar to the temperature inside a volcano.Thankfully, a slew of innovative startups are queuing up to solve the environmental and emissions problem. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology has found that new additives could turn concrete into an effective carbon sink. And for next year's Olympics in Paris, the athlete's village has been built using a new, ultra-low carbon cement by Ireland-based Ecocem—it uses a hydraulic binder that doesn't involve a high-heat, high-emissions combustion process. This is promising. Concrete doesn't have to go away, but maybe the ugly part of manufacturing can.
Dig Deeper:
Want to see how countries stack up? Here are the 20 largest cement-producing countries in the world.
We Just Had the Hottest Day Ever
Global Average Temps Just Set a New Record, Breaking a previous High From 2016
Did you step outside over the weekend and find the heat uncomfortable? Well, it's not just you. The average temperature around the world has been so high that it set a new record on Monday. The highest average global temperature ever recorded.The Guardian reports that the previous record was set in August of 2016, but now brutally high temps across the globe have contributed to an all new record. Specifically, China, Northern Africa and the American Southwest have all been experiencing sweltering temperatures—not only making life difficult for the people living there but making the average global temperature rise too.According to New Scientist, accelerating El Niño conditions—which sees sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean rise above average—play a role too. Vox recently explored the impact of El Niño on the coming summer weather. That article cited a statement from World Meteorological Organization Secretary-General Petteri Taalas, who said, “A warming El Niño is expected to develop in the coming months and this will combine with human-induced climate change to push global temperatures into uncharted territory.” Now, that's come to pass.
Meanwhile:
The White House released a Congress-ordered report on blocking sunlight from the Earth’s surface to limit global warming.
In our weird economic moment, concert tickets remain a priority for many Americans—even as prices reach astronomical heights.”
- The Atlantic on why live music costs so much
Canada Bans Animal Testing for Cosmetics
They’re joining a number of other countries and American states to outlaw the practice
Canada has just officially banned testing cosmetics on animals. They're now joining the European Union, Australia, the U.K., South Korea, and several other countries that have banned the practice.A total of 44 countries have passed laws banning cosmetic animal testing, according to the Humane Society International. Here in the U.S., 10 states have banned the practice (New York, Virginia, California, Louisiana, New Jersey, Maine, Hawaii, Nevada, Illinois and Maryland), but there's not yet a national restriction.China is the only country in the world where the government requires animal testing on cosmetic products, and some brands still perform animal tests so that they're able to sell in China. But the testing on animals involves toxicity tests, which not only can cause pain and suffering, but are less effective than newer assessment methods like computer modeling and tests using human cells.
FYI:
In 2013, the EU banned the marketing of cosmetics containing ingredients that had been tested on animals.
Here Comes the First Flying Car
Alef can begin flight tests for its “Model A” electric flying car
Ready to start looking up for your Uber? Alef Aeronautics just announced that its fully electric “Model A” flying car has been granted approval by the Federal Aviation Administration.What does that mean, exactly? According to CNN, it means that the Model A now has legal clearance to fly. Pre-orders have already opened for the $300,000 car that can take off and land vertically, and drive on the road as a low-speed vehicle. The California-based startup aims to begin deliveries to customers by the end of 2025.Unlike other oversized-drone like personal flying machines, Alef's car stands out from its contemporaries in that its proportions make it a normal fit for roads and parking lots. But don't expect to see Model As zipping through the skies near you. As the company noted in its announcement, this type of certification from the FAA “limits the locations and purpose for which Alef is permitted to fly.” This is in part due to the FAA still working out its policies for cars that have the capacity for vertical take-off and landing.
FYI:
The “Model A” has a driving range of 200 miles and flight range of around 110 miles.
In Other News
American pregnancy-related deaths have more than doubled in the last 20 years.
Have you heard about ...
Slow Down Time
Feel like the summer is speeding by?
“Where does the time go?” We've all asked this at one time or another and it only gets more common the older you get. Remember how long holiday breaks or summer vacation felt like when we were kids? Now, we leave the office on a Friday evening only to be jolted into the realization that it's now Sunday night and we barely recall anything from the weekend. Entire years seem to speed by so fast nowadays, right?This perception of time moving at a leisurely pace in childhood, and then quickening as we become adults, is a common experience, according to neuroscientists. It's due to a few factors, says Dr. Santosh Kesari, a board-certified neurologist and director of Neuro-oncology at Pacific Neuroscience Institute. But there are some expert-recommended ways to make your life richer and more memorable, thus allowing your time to expand.
Read:
Shopping
What We’re Buying
Made in the USA sneakers
Blame it on Independence Day. But we're feeling these Made in the USA sneakers ($184.99) right now. The 990 sneaker from New Balance debuted in 1982 as a serious running shoe. Sporting an elegantly understated grey colorway (and a then unheard of three-figure price tag), it was so good that the brand never stopped making it. This modern American-made version offers a streamlined take on the mesh and suede overlays and a few fine-tuned adjustments to the cushioning.
Want More?
The five stylish items you should be buying this week.
Morning Motto
Change your view, change your perspective.
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