CO2 in the air: Carbon dioxide concentration in our atmosphere has hit a new high

6/8/21 7:00PM

The latest data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) makes for grim reading. The NOAA reveals that the amount of Carbon Dioxide in our atmosphere averaged 419 parts per million in May — the highest reading on record.

Not only is that the highest reading on record, it's also way above any previous peaks from the last 800,000 years, which scientists are able to estimate by using air bubbles that have been trapped in mile-thick ice cores. Some estimates suggest that 419ppm hasn't been seen in Earth's atmosphere for an even longer time period — potentially millions of years.

The fact that the pandemic reduced human emissions by 6-7% was good news, but it still meant that we collectively pumped millions of kilograms of CO2 into our atmosphere.

P.S. National Geographic has a good 2 minute refresher video on global warming, and how CO2 contributes to it.

J. Edward Moreno11/4/25

Starbucks sells control of China business for $4 billion

Starbucks disclosed on Monday evening in a regulatory filing that it will sell control of its ailing China business to Boyu Capital for about $4 billion.

Under the agreement, Boyu will own a 60% stake in the China segment, which will become a joint venture between Boyu and Starbucks. The coffee chain will retain a 40% interest in the entity and will continue to own and license the brand and intellectual property.

Bloomberg reported earlier this year that the company was looking to sell its China segment. The American coffee giant has struggled to succeed in China, its second-largest market after the US.

Tom Jones

10/6/25

OPEC and others are boosting oil production as the race to catch up with the US goes on

This month’s 137,000-barrel-a-day boost is a little more modest than some expected.

Millie Giles

RED FLAG, GREEN FLAG

9/25/25

China, the world’s largest carbon polluter, has pledged to cut emissions for the first time

President Xi Jinping has announced that China is aiming to slash carbon emissions by up to 10% in the next decade.

solar power station on the rooftop of the factory

Claire Yubin Oh9/19/25

John Wayne Airport in Orange County tops the list of North America’s favorite airports

Despite a record year of passenger numbers, flight cancellations, and delays, a new survey has revealed that flyers have been increasingly satisfied about their experiences in North American airports.

According to this year’s North America Airport Satisfaction Study from data analysts at J.D. Power, overall passenger satisfaction scores were up 10 points (on a 1,000-point scale), largely from “improvements in food, beverage and retail and ease of travel through the airport.” The annual survey measures overall traveler satisfaction across the region’s airports in seven categories (in order of importance): ease of travel, level of trust, terminal facilities, airport staff, airport departure experience, food and retail, and airport arrival experience.

Here are the region’s favorites:

Millie Giles

DOT-COM BUBBLE

9/12/25

More than 40% of American adults now report being online “almost constantly”

While a new survey showed Japan has the greatest share of perpetually online people, there was a significant number reporting not using the internet at all.

CO2 in the air: Carbon dioxide concentration in our atmosphere has hit a new high

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Starbucks sells control of China business for $4 billion

John Wayne Airport in Orange County tops the list of North America’s favorite airports

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