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In recent decades, California residents have experienced a whiplash of weather conditions. After a few years of severe drought, heavy rains came in early 2023 that soaked the state for weeks. That rain led to mudslides, which were worsened by the fact that years of drought had dried out the soil, so it couldnt absorb the rainfall. That rain also then led to an explosion of vegetation growth, which would dry out when the next drought period hit and fuel devastating wildfires. This rapid transition between wet and dry weather conditions is a hallmark of climate change, and its also an accelerating climate threat. This phenomenon is called precipitation whiplashes, and the forces that bring these drastic swings between drought and floods are speeding up. In a recent study, researchers say we could see an increase in precipitation whiplashes as early as 2028. What causes precipitation whiplashes? Weather systems are constantly swirling around our planet, like the Arctic polar vortex, a swath of cold, low-pressure air that sits at our planets poles; or the El Nio-Southern Oscillation, a cyclical climate pattern that brings a change in winds and sea surface temperatures. Another one of these weather systems is called the Madden-Julian Oscillation, or MJO. Its a mass of clouds, rainfall, winds, and air pressure that passes over the tropics, moving eastwardly around the planet. Though its above the tropics (and can bring events like tropical cyclones), it impacts weather around the world, including global rainfall patterns, atmospheric rivers, and more. The MJO circles the planet in periods of 30 to 90 days, and it includes two phases: a period of enhanced rainfall, and then a period of suppressed rainfall. But warming from greenhouse gases is speeding that cycle up, research has already found. In a new study from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and published in the journal Nature Communications, researchers used advanced climate models to look more closely at how rising greenhouse gasses could exactly change the MJOs behavior. Those models predicted a 40% increase in fast-propagating MJO events by the late 21st century, from 2064 to 2099, compared to historical data (19792014). But well start to see that frequency pick up as early as 2028, the researchers note. They also expect not only for this weather system to move faster, but for there to be an increased risk of jumping MJOsmeaning an abrupt shift in the phases between precipitationbeginning before 2030, too. Why precipitation whiplash can be so dangerous More frequent fast and jumping MJO events are expected to trigger disruptive weather fluctuations worldwide, the researchers writelike precipitation whiplash: rapid swings between really wet and really dry extremes. Researchers expect the precipitation impacts of these accelerated and jumping MJO events to be unprecedentedly severe. Around the world, a few areas are expected to be hotspots for precipitation whiplash including central Africa, the Middle East, the lower part of the Yangtze River basin in China, the northern Amazon rainforest, the East Coast of the continental United States, and coastal Argentina, to name a few. These hotspots can result in various forms of cascading hazards, the researchers write, that pose unprecedented stress to ecosystem services, existing infrastructure, water and food security, and human safety.” Those cascading hazards include events like what California has already witnessed: drought to rain to mudslides to vegetation growth to drought to wildfires. And as MJO events accelerate because of climate change, that will also significantly shorten response times against compound hazards, study author Cheng Tat-Fan says in a statement, catching societies off guard unless adaptation measures are in place. The impacts of precipitation whiplash, then, should be considered when it comes to future infrastructure, urban planning, and agricultural practices, the researchers say. Fortunately, these fast-propagating MJOs can be a bit more predictable. But still, researchers need to improve their forecast models to better understand this weather behavior. If they do, and if they could then forecast these extremes four to five weeks in advance, that could improve disaster preparedness and save lives.
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For architecture enthusiasts, a longtime dream may have just come within reach: A Frank Lloyd Wright home just hit the market, and it could be yours for a cool $2.5 million. The home, located in Jackson, Mississippi, was designed by Wright in 1948when the late architect was 81for a local oil speculator named J. Willis Hughes and his family. Originally called the Hughes House, the home has since adopted the nickname Fountainhead, courtesy of an elaborate backyard water feature and pool. (Wright was also said to have served as inspiration for Ayn Rand when she wrote her classic novel of the same name.) The three-bedroom home has more than 3,500 square feet of interior space and a scenic view from its position tucked into the wooded hillside. And, while Fountainhead may boast a hefty price tag today, it was originally made to be affordable. [Screenshot: Sothebys] The home is one of just around 60 houses that are considered Usonian, a style created and coined by Wright in the 1940s and 50s. Usonian homes were Wrights answer to the postwar era: Designed to be accessible to the American middle class, they tend to make use of simple layouts, open floor plans, and natural materials. Given that Wrights total portfolio of designs includes more than 1,000 buildings, this style is now considered quite rare. When approaching the homes design, Wright took his cues from the surrounding environment. The contours of the building site determined the homes parallelogram form, which is characterized by a multitude of low, horizontal leading lines. Furnishings like sofas, tables, beds, and dressers are all seamlessly built into the homes auburn wood walls. The parallelogram design is etched in the floors, and dictates the placement of walls, the size of the doors, and the shape of the spaces, the homes listing on Sothebys International reads. It goes on to note that Fountainhead was built with no stud walls in the house, no Sheetrock, brick, tile, or paint and boasts of exquisite, exceptionally durable Heart Tidewater Red Cypress wood for the walls and ceilings. According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, the house saw some fairly significant wear and tear during the 25 years that it served as the Hughes family residence. However, the most recent owner, architect Robert Parker Adams, alongside his former wife, Mary, devoted years to restoring the home to its former glory. Adams has lived at the property since 1979. Ive been here 40-something years; Ive had my experience, Adams told The Journal, adding that he hopes to share his experience and knowledge with the next owner.
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We often focus on the visible obstacles stopping women from getting ahead: pay inequality, missed promotions and opportunities, and those boardroom tables with not quite enough seats. Yet there is another, less-visible hindrance to womens career success: our internal habits, harder to name and even harder to shake. The opportunity passed over not because it was out of reach, but because our inner dialogue said it wasnt ours to take. The apology slipped into an email that didnt need one. The shrinking, the over-preparing, and the relentless self-editing. These arent flaws. They are learned responses to a system that taught women to be capable but cautious, competent but not disruptive, and yes, to have a voice, but not one that was too loud. These unexamined habits are shaping the careers we never meant to build. 1. Confusing competence with visibility The sabotage: Many women believe if they work hard enough, someone will notice. Excellence in silence is rarely rewarded. Doing exceptional work and not drawing attention to it isnt noble. Its often just an efficient way of handing credit to someone else. The insight: Hard work that goes unseen and waiting politely for ones turn builds resentment. Being good at your job isnt the same as being known for it, and in competitive environments, what isnt seen often doesnt count. How to avoid it: Dont wait to be discovered. Learn to self-promote and name what you do, so no one else gets to define it for you. Regularly share winsboth yours and those of othersin team settings. 2. Waiting for certainty The sabotage: This is self-doubt amplified. When it comes to promotions, unless almost every box is ticked, women are reluctant to put themselves forward. One unchecked box and its a hard stop . . . until next time. The insight: What if there is no next time? When rejecting an opportunity, what might the perception being sent to your boss be? Your boss isnt a mind reader, magically understanding your thoughts moving back and forth. Instead, they take it on surface value, assuming youre not so engaged or interested in being here. And hesitations compound over time: not just in missed opportunities, but in lost wealth, confidence, reputation, and influence. How to avoid it: Adopt a progress, not perfection mindset. Practice tentative boldness and redefine your readiness, taking steps forward and refining as you go. 3. Being modest with achievements The sabotage: Women often downplay workplace achievements, opting for humility over self-advocacy. The reluctance to self-promote is confused with bragging and arrogance. But being comfortable in naming your achievement is necessary for self-worth. The insight: What begins as humility can morph into invisibility. Habitually softening your impact and deflecting praise reinforces a narrative where your work is assumed rather than acknowledged. It can train those around you to expect performance without credit. Visibility isnt vanity. Its professional accountability. How to avoid it: Replace vague self-effacement with concrete contribution. Say, Heres what I contributed to that outcome, rather than, I just helped out a bit. Plus, adopt an internal mantra: Its not arrogance if its accurate. 4. Seeking career advice from the wrong counsel The sabotage: Turning only to people who mirror your fears instead of challenging your growth. Often these are friends, family, or colleagues. Their intention might be for the best, but they have a bias to protect. The insight: Whats the point? Friends and family often want to shield us from discomfort. But their advice can reflect their own fears, rather than your potential. And not every colleague has honorable intentions. Discussions like this can snowball, reinforcing not only why you shouldnt take up the opportunity, but any other advancements, ever. The validation might feel safer, but it doesnt help. Its damaging. How to avoid it: Seek advice from those who will challenge your thinking, not just nod along. Limit conversations that turn into bandwagoning. Seek to have actions as a result of purposeful career discussions, even if they are micro-moves. Take responsibility for your decisions: When coming to a decision, do you say, I have decided or My partner and I think more often? Clarity begins with ownership. 5. Being busy instead of strategic The sabotage: Investing in extra work tasks that dont pay dividends. This is saying yes to everything in the name of being helpful while it slowly erodes your capacity. The insight: Over-functioning is not the same as overachieving. The cost is invisibly paid in missed raises, burnout, and career stagnation. The perception of your busyness might be that you are not in control of your workload. How to avoid it: Be discerning and politely decline what dilutes your focus. Track value over volume and pick strategic tasks that upskill and serve your growth. Practice saying no not with guilt, but with respect for where youre headed.
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