I predicted that even if their AI found ways to improve efficiency, Google's energy use would go up, not down. Seven years later and this is where we're at:

1: Next week at the flagship #IEEECLOUD 2026 conference in Sydney, @westkath.bsky.social, @jamesnurdin.bsky.social, and Philipp Thamm will be presenting three full papers resulting from collaborative research at @glasgow.ac.uk and @humboldtuni.bsky.social. 🧵👇

1: Happy to have received two copies of the new edited book Workflow Systems for Large-Scale Scientific Data Analysis, to which we contributed two chapters. 📘📘 A brief summary of our contributions follows. 🧵

I have an annual update on these projections vs actuals for CCS (didn't get around to it last Dec), including comparisons to fossil fuel industry and IPCC projections. This is from Dec 2024 - not just an IEA problem. Widespread across many scenarios ketanjoshi.co/2024/11/24/2...

Dr. Jonathan Foley@globalecoguy.bsky.social · last mo.

I especially love this diagram.

How average and extreme summer temperatures are changing in Western Europe. Graph: Robert Rohde. This will continue until we reach net zero emissions, whether you like it or not: it’s physics. @rarohde.bsky.social

The top frame is from 2015, when French meteorologists did a “forecast” from a #climate heated August 2050 - a warning on what could possibly happen in 35 years time. Bottom frame: well, it’s happened in barely a decade, only it’s already *much* worse than predicted. It’s a runaway train.

There is more time to submit your work on low-carbon and sustainable computing to the #LOCO2026 #workshop, with the deadline extended to 30 June! 💻 🔬 🌱

Lauritz Thamsen@lauritzthamsen.org · 4mo ago

1/3: Very happy that LOCO, the International #Workshop on #Low #Carbon #Computing we started two years ago, is going to take place again! Adrian Friday and team will host #LOCO2026 in Lancaster and online on September 10 and 11 this year! 💻 🌱 lancaster-university.github.io/loco2026/

ArXiv is going to ban researchers for a year if they are caught submitting AI slop. ArXiv told us it's a one strike rule: do it once, you're out. www.404media.co/new-arxiv-ru...

ArXiv to Ban Researchers for a Year if They Submit AI Slop

The change comes as arXiv and others struggle to manage an influx of AI-generated materials masquerading as rigorous science.

404media.co

What started from a bedroom in Govanhill during the pandemic has now received international recognition. Greater Govanhill has won the European category at the 2026 AMIC International Awards for Local Media in Barcelona. www.greatergovanhill.com/latest/great...

Greater Govanhill wins European local media award! — Greater Govanhill

What started from a bedroom in Govanhill during the pandemic has now received international recognition. Greater Govanhill has won the European category at the 2026 AMIC International Awards for Local...

greatergovanhill.com

EU proposes end to ‘five tabs, three apps and a prayer’ for cross-border train bookings

EU proposes end to ‘five tabs, three apps and a prayer’ for cross-border train bookings

New rules would enable single-ticket bookings across multiple rail operators throughout Europe Cross-border train journeys through several European countries are the stuff of many a holidaymaker’s dreams. But the reality of trying to buy the tickets, navigating multiple websites without knowing who can help if a connection is missed, can prove less than relaxing. As one MEP puts it, it can often require “five tabs, three apps and a prayer”. Continue reading...

theguardian.com

A long but good read. www.theguardian.com/media/ng-int...

How to survive the information crisis: ‘We once talked about fake news – now reality itself feels fake’

In this age of crisis, technology is pulling us apart. At its best, journalism can bring us together again, writes Guardian editor-in-chief Katharine Viner

theguardian.com

‘Point of no return’: New Orleans relocation must start now due to sea level, study finds

‘Point of no return’: New Orleans relocation must start now due to sea level, study finds

Louisiana’s cultural hotspot could be surrounded by Gulf of Mexico before end of this century, authors say

theguardian.com

Let's take a huge sip of coffee and check in on how tech companies are going with their climate targets.... fossilfree.greenweb.org/2026/

"Asked by Axios last week at an energy conference in Houston about how natural gas jives with the company’s clean energy goals and overall strategy, Google’s head of advanced energy, Michael Terrell, said: “We don’t have anything to say on that.”" www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

1/3: Very happy that LOCO, the International #Workshop on #Low #Carbon #Computing we started two years ago, is going to take place again! Adrian Friday and team will host #LOCO2026 in Lancaster and online on September 10 and 11 this year! 💻 🌱 lancaster-university.github.io/loco2026/

Breaking: New study using observational constraints projects that the Atlantic Ocean circulation #AMOC will weaken ~50% by 2100, even for medium emissions and without Greenland melting. 🌊 More realistic models means stronger weakening - not entirely unexpected. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

More evidence that Big Tech is locking us into a new generation of fossil fuel infrastructure and destabilizing our climate: the 5 largest hyperscalers have announced 16GW of power deals this year, and only 3GW have been for clean power.

At a time when everything seems bad, here’s a bit of good news. In 1991, lithium-ion batteries cost around $9,200 per kilowatt-hour — 33 years later, they cost just $78. This helps us move towards electrification of transport and energy storage in homes ourworldindata.org/battery-pric...

Happy to share the details of the keynote talks and accepted papers that will make up the program of the 4th International Workshop on Testing Distributed Internet of Things Systems #TDIS2026, which will take place on 27 April with ACM #EuroSys 2026 in Edinburgh! More info: tdis.gitlab.io/tdis26/

When I started working on UK energy in 2007, fossil fuels provided ~78% of electricity. Coal alone: 34%. Wind & solar: less than 2%. Today: wind & solar 33%, fossil fuels 28%, coal 0%. The chart below tells the story better than words can.

🔈 Deadline extended to 19 February (AoE)!

Lauritz Thamsen@lauritzthamsen.org · 8mo ago

1/2: We are organizing #TDIS again, our workshop on testbeds, benchmarking, and experimentation tools for distributed systems in the IoT/edge/cloud continuum. The workshop will be held again alongside ACM #EuroSys, which will take place at the end of April 2026 in #Edinburgh!

Submissions for #TDIS2026 are due in 3.5 weeks. If you have new ideas, methods, or tools around how #experimentation with #IoT or #edge systems could be improved, please take a look at our CfP. We are looking for workshop papers (4/6 pages) by 5 Feb to be presented in #Edinburgh on 27 Apr. 📱 🖥️ 🛰️ 🚉 ⚡

Lauritz Thamsen@lauritzthamsen.org · 8mo ago

1/2: We are organizing #TDIS again, our workshop on testbeds, benchmarking, and experimentation tools for distributed systems in the IoT/edge/cloud continuum. The workshop will be held again alongside ACM #EuroSys, which will take place at the end of April 2026 in #Edinburgh!

1/2: We are organizing #TDIS again, our workshop on testbeds, benchmarking, and experimentation tools for distributed systems in the IoT/edge/cloud continuum. The workshop will be held again alongside ACM #EuroSys, which will take place at the end of April 2026 in #Edinburgh!

📣 Applications Now Open! 🌊 Dive into mission-driven interdisciplinary #STEM research with a fully funded 4-year PhD starting Sept 2026 ✅ Co-create your project ✅ Enhanced stipend ✅ Cohort-based experience ✅Partner network 📅 Applicant Webinar: Nov 26 👉More info & registration: www.divein.org.uk/apply

Could you be our next Head of School? We're seeking an innovative, forward-thinking leader to join us in this academic leadership role, accountable for providing a coherent academic vision and direction for the School. Apply by 30 November: www.jobs.gla.ac.uk/job/professo...

Part 1 covers the 2nd Programming for the Planet conference (@propl.dev) organised by @kcsrk.info @dorchard.bsky.social and me. There were talks, demos and discussions about what we can do as computer scientists to avert the climate and biodiversity crises anil.recoil.org/notes/icfp25... 🌍

Programming for the Planet at ICFP/SPLASH 2025

anil.recoil.org

📣THREAD: It’s surprising to me that so many people were surprised to learn that Signal runs partly on AWS (something we can do because we use encryption to make sure no one but you–not AWS, not Signal, not anyone–can access your comms). It’s also concerning. 1/

Meredith Whittaker @meredithmeredith.bsky.social · 10mo ago

PSA: we're aware that Signal is down for some people. This appears to be related to a major AWS outage. Stand by.

Thinking about a PhD in Computing Science? Join us on 12 Nov at 12:30 PM in the Sir Alwyn Williams Building (Room 422/423, Level 4) for our PhD information session! Come along and ask questions, get advice, and network with academics and current PhD students. @uofgcompsci.bsky.social

Edinburgh castle failing to render, likely thanks to the AWS outage

⌛Countdown is on! Applications to join DiveIn in 2026 open in November 🥽Ready to DiveIn? Here's what awaits: 💷£4K enhanced stipend 🧠Co-create your PhD research project 🔗Interdisciplinary support 🌍Inclusive research culture 🤝Career-focused external partners 💡Express interest: www.divein.org.uk/apply/