Science & Technology Archives | Dallas Observer https://www.dallasobserver.com The Leading Independent News Source in Dallas, Texas Mon, 10 Aug 2026 20:51:49 +0000 Mon, 10 Aug 2026 20:51:49 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.7 Copyright 2025 Dallas Observer. All rights reserved. This RSS file is offered to individuals, Dallas Observer readers, and non-commercial organizations only. Any commercial websites wishing to use this RSS file, please contact Dallas Observer. letters@dallasobserver.com (Dallas Observer Editor) web@voicemediagroup.com (Dallas Observer Webmaster) https://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss https://www.dallasobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/RSS-DAL_1320x825-100.jpg Dallas Observer The Leading Independent News Source in Dallas, Texas https://www.dallasobserver.com 144 90 Abbott and Trump disagree on data centers, what should we know about them in Dallas? https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/dallas-data-center-data-centers-development-40703749/ https://www.dallasobserver.com/?p=40703749 Kelly Dearmore https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/dallas-data-center-data-centers-development-40703749/#respond Tue, 11 Aug 2026 08:00:00 -0500 The advancement of AI often feels inevitable, but some officials in Texas wonder if data centers need to be slowed. ]]> https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/dallas-data-center-data-centers-development-40703749/feed/ 0 Dallas Observer As solar and batteries dominate in Texas, Republican lawmakers consider natural gas minimums https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/as-solar-and-batteries-dominate-in-texas-republican-lawmakers-consider-natural-gas-minimums-40702598/ https://www.dallasobserver.com/?p=40702598 Arcelia Martin, Inside Climate News https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/as-solar-and-batteries-dominate-in-texas-republican-lawmakers-consider-natural-gas-minimums-40702598/#respond Mon, 10 Aug 2026 08:00:00 -0500 Renewables make up 70% of the state’s future electricity generation, outcompeting fossil fuels in the marketplace.]]> https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/as-solar-and-batteries-dominate-in-texas-republican-lawmakers-consider-natural-gas-minimums-40702598/feed/ 0 Dallas Observer ‘A deal with the devil’: Religion motivates data center opponents in Texas https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/eligion-motivates-data-center-opponents-in-texas-40700714/ https://www.dallasobserver.com/?p=40700714 Ellie Ashby, The Texas Tribune https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/eligion-motivates-data-center-opponents-in-texas-40700714/#respond Mon, 03 Aug 2026 08:00:00 -0500 News Some see the AI facilities as a sign of the apocalypse, others see an opportunity to advocate for environmental stewardship.]]> https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/eligion-motivates-data-center-opponents-in-texas-40700714/feed/ 0 Dallas Observer Why 78 degrees isn’t the right thermostat setting for everyone during a heat wave https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/why-78-degrees-isnt-the-right-thermostat-setting-for-everyone-during-a-heat-wave-40700029/ https://www.dallasobserver.com/?p=40700029 Destenie Nock, The Conversation https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/why-78-degrees-isnt-the-right-thermostat-setting-for-everyone-during-a-heat-wave-40700029/#respond Wed, 29 Jul 2026 09:00:00 -0500 News Many public officials and corporate websites suggest people set their thermostats to 78 degrees as a way to stay relatively cool without breaking the bank. We don't think so. ]]> https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/why-78-degrees-isnt-the-right-thermostat-setting-for-everyone-during-a-heat-wave-40700029/feed/ 0 Dallas Observer White Rock Lake, Trinity River affected by scourge of microplastic pollution https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/dallas-white-rock-lake-microplastic-pollution-40699588/ https://www.dallasobserver.com/?p=40699588 Emma Ruby https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/dallas-white-rock-lake-microplastic-pollution-40699588/#respond Mon, 27 Jul 2026 08:41:59 -0500 The U.S. disposes of enough plastic to fill AT&T Stadium every 16 hours, a study by the Environment Texas Research and Policy Center found.]]> https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/dallas-white-rock-lake-microplastic-pollution-40699588/feed/ 0 Dallas Observer Texas took away Dallas students’ cellphones. They turned to reading instead https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/disd-texas-student-cell-phone-ban-impact-40697886/ https://www.dallasobserver.com/?p=40697886 Emma Ruby https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/disd-texas-student-cell-phone-ban-impact-40697886/#respond Wed, 22 Jul 2026 08:54:44 -0500 School districts have largely reported satisfaction with the statewide ban on cell phones in the classroom.]]> https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/disd-texas-student-cell-phone-ban-impact-40697886/feed/ 0 Dallas Observer Drone delivery could cut pollution. Can communities live with the noise? https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/richardson-drone-delivery-cuts-pollution-increases-noise-40697618/ https://www.dallasobserver.com/?p=40697618 Andrew Liu https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/richardson-drone-delivery-cuts-pollution-increases-noise-40697618/#respond Mon, 20 Jul 2026 08:00:00 -0500 News Electric drones could make small package deliveries cleaner. But in North Texas, Amazon’s Prime Air program faces a challenge: winning over people beneath the flight path.]]> https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/richardson-drone-delivery-cuts-pollution-increases-noise-40697618/feed/ 0 Dallas Observer Exploding diarrhea: We ask a leading Texas scientist how worried you should be https://www.dallasobserver.com/food-drink/texas-cyclospora-outbreak-how-worried-should-you-be-about-your-salad-40695877/ https://www.dallasobserver.com/?p=40695877 Lauren Drewes Daniels https://www.dallasobserver.com/food-drink/texas-cyclospora-outbreak-how-worried-should-you-be-about-your-salad-40695877/#respond Wed, 15 Jul 2026 15:27:29 -0500 Food & Drink And if it's safe to go out to eat (yes) and what to feed the kids for dinner tonight (fruit). ]]> https://www.dallasobserver.com/food-drink/texas-cyclospora-outbreak-how-worried-should-you-be-about-your-salad-40695877/feed/ 0 Dallas Observer Opposition mounts to police camera ‘surveillance state’ in Dallas-Fort Worth https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/opposition-mounts-to-police-camera-surveillance-state-in-dallas-fort-worth-40694004/ https://www.dallasobserver.com/?p=40694004 Austin Wood https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/opposition-mounts-to-police-camera-surveillance-state-in-dallas-fort-worth-40694004/#respond Wed, 08 Jul 2026 10:28:40 -0500 News There are over 600 AI-powered cameras monitoring Dallas streets. Advocates are concerned about data privacy and use by federal immigration enforcement.]]> https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/opposition-mounts-to-police-camera-surveillance-state-in-dallas-fort-worth-40694004/feed/ 0 Dallas Observer SMU report suggests driverless cars could cut congestion in DFW, concerns remain https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/smu-report-suggests-driverless-cars-could-cut-congestion-in-dfw-concerns-remain-40692306/ https://www.dallasobserver.com/?p=40692306 Austin Wood https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/smu-report-suggests-driverless-cars-could-cut-congestion-in-dfw-concerns-remain-40692306/#respond Mon, 06 Jul 2026 08:00:00 -0500 News Advocates for AI-driven AVs have argued that the vehicles could cut commute times, a claim supported by a new SMU study, although many are still skeptical. ]]> https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/smu-report-suggests-driverless-cars-could-cut-congestion-in-dfw-concerns-remain-40692306/feed/ 0 Dallas Observer