Global Energy Demand Soars While Millions Still Lack Electricity
The world's insatiable appetite for energy is reaching unprecedented levels, driven by demands for heating, cooling, lighting, computing power, and transportation, according to Vox. While fossil fuel consumption hit a record high in 2025, an estimated 733 million people worldwide still lack access to electricity, highlighting a stark disparity in global energy access, Vox reports.
The increasing demand is fueled, in part, by the rapid expansion of data centers needed to power technologies like artificial intelligence, leading to a surge in the construction of new power plants in countries like the US and China, according to Umair Irfan, a correspondent at Vox.
Meanwhile, in Kyiv, Ukraine, residents are facing a fourth winter of war with Russia, enduring brutal conditions and energy grid attacks, according to NPR News. "The fourth winter of Russia's war on Ukraine has been the most brutal in recent times, and the Russians have weaponized this by repeatedly attacking Ukraine's energy grid," Joanna Kakissis of NPR reported. Candles have become a last resort for light during frequent blackouts, a stark reminder of the ongoing conflict and its impact on daily life. "Candles are now a last option for light when emergency power sources fail," Kakissis noted, "They also hint at loss."
Beyond energy access, housing affordability remains a significant challenge in the United States. According to Vox, American urban planning has historically favored single-family homes, effectively limiting the construction of apartment buildings. Marina Bolotnikova, a senior reporter for Vox, stated that for more than a century, urban planning has been devoted to layering on ways to all but ban apartment buildings. This has contributed to the ongoing housing crisis, as apartments are generally more affordable and safer than single-family homes, according to Vox.
In other news, preparations are underway for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy. Despite some last-minute construction challenges, the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena is expected to be ready to host the men's and women's ice hockey competitions, according to Time. The arena will welcome NHL players back into the Olympic fold after a 12-year absence.
In a separate study, Kenneth Diller, a professor of biomedical engineering at the University of Texas at Austin, found that warming your hands and feet before bed can improve sleep quality. According to Time, Diller's research suggests that people with warm hands and feet fall asleep faster than those with cold extremities. "When you're getting ready for sleep, your body needs to cool down to signal that it's time to rest," Diller said. "Ironically, warming your hands and feet helps that happen, because your body uses them as heat-release zones."
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