Electric vehicles (EVs) could become cheaper to own than gasoline-powered cars in Africa by 2040, according to recent analyses, potentially reshaping the continent's transportation landscape. This shift is driven by declining battery costs and the potential of solar off-grid charging, as reported by both MIT Technology Review sources.
The economic viability of EVs in Africa is gaining momentum, with projections indicating that electric two-wheelers, cars, and even minibuses could compete with fossil fuel alternatives in many African countries within the next 15 years. However, significant hurdles remain, including unreliable power grids, limited charging infrastructure, and a lack of access to affordable financing, as highlighted by MIT Technology Review (Source 1). Despite these challenges, the falling costs of batteries and EVs are making the economic case for their adoption increasingly compelling.
In other news, the outgoing Federal Reserve chairman, Jerome Powell, may leave behind a legacy of further interest rate cuts, potentially setting the stage for his successor, Kevin Warsh, to continue the trend. While the White House had sought sharp rate cuts, Powell's stance throughout much of 2025 was "wait-and-see," according to Fortune (Source 2). Deteriorating economic data may prompt the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) to act before Powell's tenure ends in May, potentially leading to more cuts than initially anticipated.
In the realm of environmental advocacy, Dorceta Taylor, the first Black woman to earn a doctoral degree from the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, is a prominent figure. Taylor created the first comprehensive report for monitoring racial, gender, and socioeconomic diversity in the field, as reported by Nature News (Source 3). The series highlights initiatives that could be applied to other scientific workplaces.
Meanwhile, the impact of climate change is becoming increasingly evident in winter sports. A Greenlandic Olympian, speaking to Time (Source 4), noted the challenges faced by the sport due to rising temperatures. At the Biathlon World Championships in Nove Mesto, Czechia in 2024, the athlete skied on a narrow strip of artificial snow, surrounded by grass and mud, with temperatures nearing 10 degrees Celsius in February. The athlete emphasized the need for winter sports to take a clear stand on climate action.
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