'alexa, Play Talking Tech Flash Briefing'

Environmentalists fear leaks, explosions, earthquakes, and more from a carbon capture bill with bipartisan support. Amid a divided state Legislature, Pennsylvania Democrats and Republicans are finding rare common ground in a bill designed to usher in a new industry for capturing climate-altering carbon dioxide and burying it underground.

Picture this: You’re hiking in a remote, high alpine area of the national forest in southwest Colorado. You haven’t seen another human in many miles, if at all, and so you’re a little more than startled when you encounter a herd of cows wandering through the recreation area. Don’t panic. The livestock are supposed to be there – and you are, too. Recreation and agriculture are two of Colorado’s largest economic drivers, and they often coexist in regions where there are abundant public lands.

The tech giant is partnering with GiveDirectly and the International Rescue Committee. It’s one example of using AI for good. When a disaster hits, it usually takes time for aid to arrive. But Google is now using AI to predict severe flooding in advance—and the company’s nonprofit arm is working with humanitarian organizations to give people cash to prepare in the days before a flood happens.

After a decade of efforts to bring a floating pool to the East River, a statewide investment in swimming is helping make +Pool a reality. In the 1970s, tight restrictions on beaches in New York Harbor made sense. Oil spills, industrial waste, and untreated sewage had ruined the Hudson and East Rivers for swimming.

If you’ve been working during PTO, you’re not alone. But it can mean returning to the office more drained than ever. Here’s how to fight that temptation. If your upcoming vacation also includes a guilt trip for leaving the office behind, you’re not alone. According to a survey from communications and growth firm Movchan Agency, 47% of people feel guilty if they don’t work on vacation, 63% feel anxious about not checking email, and 59% struggle to switch off while away.

Enlarge (credit: Aurich Lawson | Id | GDC) John Romero remembers the moment he realized what the future of gaming would look like. In late 1991, Romero and his colleagues at id Software had just released Catacomb 3-D, a crude-looking, EGA-colored first-person shooter that was nonetheless revolutionary compared to other first-person games of the time.