The big environmental costs of rising demand for big data to power the internet

In the past two decades, the oyster population in Mississippi's Gulf waters has been devastated by both natural and manmade disasters. Among those working to restore oyster habitats is ninth grader Demi Johnson, who was recently recognized by the National Geographic Society for growing more than 1,000 oysters, which are likely to spawn millions more. John Yang speaks with Johnson about her work. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The rise of artificial intelligence is requiring faster and bigger computations for even simple tasks compared to, say, a Google search. It's adding to the demand for more internet data centers, but these facilities come at a big environmental cost, especially for the communities that host them. Science journalist Sachi Kitajima Mulkey joins Ali Rogin to discuss. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

In our news wrap Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu called Biden's proposal to end the war in Gaza a "nonstarter" until Israel's conditions are met, a barrage of Russian missiles and drones targeted Ukraine's power grid, South Africa's ANC party lost its majority in parliament for the first time in 30 years, and another attempt to launch Boeing's first astronaut flight was called off. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Nearly 115,000 people are currently waiting for a new organ. But the shortage crisis is nothing new, as 5,600 people die each year waiting for an organ. Ali Rogin spoke with Barry Friedman, the former executive director of the AdventHealth Transplant Institute, about what can be done to revamp the nation's organ donation and transplant process. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

As the planet warms and sea levels rise, eighty-five percent of Generation Z is concerned about climate change, according to a January Marist poll. In response, states like California, Connecticut and New Jersey are teaching kids about climate change in the classroom. Lauren Madden, a professor of elementary science education at the College of New Jersey, joins Laura Barrón-López to discuss. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The outbreak of bird flu in the U.S. has alarmed researchers and prompted new efforts to track the virus that's already killed millions of birds from Europe to Antarctica. As H5N1 continues to jump into mammals, many scientists are concerned that we're not watching closely enough as this virus spreads. William Brangham reports. A warning: This story contains scenes of animals in distress. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

In our news wrap Saturday, Israel issued more evacuation orders forcing tens of thousands of Palestinians to flee Rafah, Russian forces took control of five villages outside Kharkiv amid a renewed offensive in Ukraine's northeast, flash floods in Afghanistan, Brazil and Kenya have killed hundreds of people, and unusually strong solar storms are producing brilliant northern lights on Earth. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

To most people, the sun is a steady, never-changing source of heat and light. But to scientists, it's a dynamic star, constantly in flux, sending energy out into space. Experts say the sun is now in its most active period in two decades, causing potential disruptions to radio and satellite communications. John Yang speaks with Bill Murtagh of NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center to learn more. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

New research is revealing the secrets of Io, the mysterious volcanic moon of Jupiter. Four centuries after Galileo discovered Io in 1610, NASA sent a spacecraft called Juno on a five-year mission to Jupiter and its moons. Last week, NASA released animated artists' conceptions of Io based on data Juno collected during two flybys. John Yang reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Data shows that global levels of the three main heat-trapping greenhouse gases -- carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide -- all reached record highs in 2023 for the second year in the row, and experts say there's no end in sight. But a new book, 'H Is for Hope,' says there is reason for hope in the fight against climate change. William Brangham speaks with its author, Elizabeth Kolbert. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders