Inside the Dirty, Dystopian World of AI Data Centers The race to power AI is already remaking the physical world.

The AI industry could completely transform our energy systems and bring us into a carbon-free future—but companies’ impatience could threaten communities and the environment instead, @matteowong.bsky.social reports:

A World On Fire Needs More Climate Reporting — Not Less — Covering Climate Now The effects of a warming Earth are worsening. Climate disinformation is rampant. Wars around the world are pitting petrostates against one another. So why are much of the world’s media backsliding…

The effects of climate change are worsening, so why are much of the world’s media backsliding when it comes to the coverage of climate change?

Read more in this week's #ClimateBeat; plus, journalism job opportunities, resources to help you cover climate, and more:

I was getting ready to do that anyway, but this makes me feel a bit more optimistic! 🤞

House Republicans have just introduced a bill that would result in a NATIONWIDE book ban. Oh, the bill is also specifically transphobic. Contact your House Rep and ask them to publicly oppose this legislation. A few more thoughts in the thread about this action. bookriot.com/hr7661-book-...

“Firefall” at Yosemite created a beautiful illusion of lava cascading down El Capitan.

The fiery effect only appears in winter on clear evenings when water is flowing.

Ugh. That’s so frustrating and hard. I’m sorry. 😞

Maybe another toiletry item like lip balm, mouthwash, lotion, toothpaste?

China has planted so many trees around the Taklamakan Desert that it's turned this 'biological void' into a carbon sink

China's massive tree-planting efforts around the Taklamakan Desert have transformed this 'biological void' into a significant carbon sink! 🌱 A truly impressive feat for global carbon absorption. #ClimateAction #DesertGreening #CarbonSink

Trump’s huge gift to the fossil fuel industry Scrapping the endangerment finding is a setback, but there are other ways to fight climate change

open.substack.com/pub/steveval...

What repealing the 'endangerment finding' means for public health The EPA has scrapped a rule stating that climate change harms human health. Here’s what that could mean

The repeal of the "endangerment finding" will make it harder for future administrations to regulate carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act without a new law or amendment passed by Congress—with serious public health and climate consequences

Trump Administration Erases the Government’s Power to Fight Climate Change

The Trump EPA has fully abandoned its duty to protect the American people from greenhouse gas pollution and climate change.

The only winners today are Trump’s fossil fuel megadonors.

Artifacts of Alt-History: Mining Museum Objects for SFF Inspiration - SFWA - The Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association by Sarah Karwisch. Historical artifacts can bring inspiration to speculative fiction. Here's how you can use museum objects to drive plot turns in your stories, spark conflict, and shape your worldbui...

Love this!

Artifacts of Alt-History: Mining Museum Objects for SFF Inspiration www.sfwa.org/2026/02/10/a...

Congress Maintains Most Federal Funding for Libraries, Museums, and Archives. Rebuking President Trump, Congress maintains most of the federal funding for libraries, museums, and archives.

I know this is really weird to say but...there was some good news...out of Congress! Rebuking President Trump, Congress votes to maintain most of the federal funding for libraries, museums, & archives. From our friends @everylibrary.bsky.social This doesn't happen without your activism. Keep it up!

Special Guests #2 Join us! We’d love to have your voice, your insights, your expertise, and your energy! Laurie Ann Thompson Rachel Michelle Wilson Elaine Miller Bond

I think I’m just a normal guest, but it’s nice to be called special. 😉 Join me?

Special Guests #2 nerdcampbham.wordpress.com/2026/02/11/s... via @nErDcampBham

Me: I’ll be able to catch up on everything this weekend.

Also me: It’s the weekend, I’m not supposed to do anything productive.

… and the cycle continues. 🫠

#WALeg Action!
We all have growing concerns about the rising energy demand from data centers, and WA lawmakers are considering critical bills to ensure this buildout is done well.
Click this link to send an email urging your lawmakers to support these bills!
climatesolutions.sec...

Thanks, Katie! 💙

Thanks, Dawn! 💙

Shows book covers for all four books in the Meet Your World series, with the text, “Complete set now available in board book format!”

Today is publication day for the You Are a Robin! and You Are a Garter Snake! board books. Now your little one can own the whole set! 🐝🦝🐦‍⬛🐍

More info at lauriethompson.com/books/meet-y...

Unbelievable. Why on Earth did it take this long?

Book cover images for You Are a Robin! and You Are a Garter Snake! with the text "Board books availalbe 1/27!" Also an image of all four books in the Meet Your World series with text, "Complete the series:".

Books 3 and 4 in the Meet Your World series will soon be available in board book format, so your littlest readers can own the whole set. Pre-order now, wherever books are sold!

lauriethompson.com/books/meet-y...

EveryLibrary EveryLibrary builds support for libraries and helps Americans fight book banning in their communities.

Senator Reed (RI) and Rep Grijalva (AZ-07) have introduced the Right to Read Act (H.R.6640/S.3365), landmark legislation that invests in school libraries, strengthens literacy, and defends students' freedom to read.

Ask Congress to support the bill:
action.everylibrary.org/hr6640s3365

The Paris climate treaty changed the world. Here’s how | Rebecca Solnit There’s much more to do, but we should be encouraged by the progress we have made

An uplifting and encouraging--yet realistic--article about climate progress.

"There’s much more to do, but we should be encouraged by the progress we have made."

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

A screenshot of an email, which reads, “Hi Laurie, I tried leaving a review for your book on Amazon, but it didn’t seem to go through on my end. I’m not sure what happened. Before I try again, do you have a Goodreads link or another place where I can share my review? I’d really like to make sure you get the feedback. Looking forward to your reply! Best Regards, Sarah”

What is the point of these, and why am I suddenly getting at least ten a day? I’m starting to think the biggest threat of AI to creatives is how much of our time it sucks up into the void just to dodge all the scams! 🤬

Aw, thank you, Katie! I’m glad the kiddo likes it! 💙

Today: Unlock $250k for Earth's lobbying team | Citizens’ Climate Lobby Corporations spend millions on lobbying every year for one simple reason: lobbying works. Citizens’ Climate trains and supports a nonpartisan lobbying team for the climate. Today only, your gift unloc...

Want to help fight climate change? Please visit citizensclimatelobby.org/donate/
this #GivingTuesday!

TODAY ONLY, your impact goes twice as far. Your support powers the citizen lobbyists (like me!) who shape climate action where it counts.

I decided to catch up on the news before getting to work. Now I feel utterly defeated. How can writing a children’s book combat all that is wrong in this world? 😞 (I know how, but some days it’s still hard.)

Time to Wake Up 303: Recapping COP30 YouTube video by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse

Excellent speech by Senator Whitehouse, worth a watch: www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvW4...

I once asked a bookseller at a large indie store how many people would have to buy a book for it to get the attention of the store buyer and cause an additional order and they said: Three.