Has Russia overplayed its energy hand?

+ college in the metaverse US Edition - Today's top story: Can wealthy nations stop buying Russian oil? [View in browser]( US Edition | 1 March 2022 [The Conversation]( Russia is one of the world’s top three oil producers and reaps billions of dollars from oil sales. As democratic nations seek ways to punish Moscow for invading Ukraine, they are openly discussing reducing purchases of Russian oil. The effects of such action aren’t clear, according to Tufts University energy expert Amy Myers Jaffe. Releasing oil from national reserves and increasing production in other countries could help replace Russian crude, although few oil producers have spare capacity right now. But Russia has already had to sell some shipments at steep discounts, and if wealthy nations cut their purchases, [Moscow’s influence as an energy provider could erode further](. Also today: - [How food affects your genes]( - [Protecting Earth from the next big asteroid]( - [Did NATO expand too far?]( Jennifer Weeks Senior Environment + Energy Editor Oil tanks get filled on Russia’s Mendeleev Prospect oil tanker in Primorsk on the Baltic Sea. Alexander Ryumin\TASS via Getty Images [Can wealthy nations stop buying Russian oil?]( Amy Myers Jaffe, Tufts University Russia is one of the world’s top three oil producers and a major oil exporter. How will it, and global oil markets, respond if its wealthiest customers turn off the tap? Environment + Energy - [US Climate risks are rising – a scientist looks at the dangers her children will have to adapt to, from wildfires to coastal flooding and water scarcity]( Erica A.H. Smithwick, Penn State The author’s 9-year-old son and kids his age will likely face about four times as many extreme events in their lifetimes as older adults today. A new report explains the impacts already being felt. - [1 in 10 Americans say they don’t eat meat – a growing share of the population]( F. Bailey Norwood, Oklahoma State University; Courtney Bir, Oklahoma State University Plentiful meat substitutes might be making plant-based diets more popular. Economy + Business - [Ordinary Russians are already feeling the economic pain of sanctions over Ukraine invasion]( Peter Rutland, Wesleyan University Soaring inflation and a run on the banks signal that punishing sanctions resulting from the invasion of Ukraine are already inflicting economic pain. Education - [College could take place in the metaverse, but these problems must be overcome first]( Nir Eisikovits, UMass Boston While the metaverse offers new virtual space for classrooms of the future, it is also rife with potential pitfalls, a scholar of philosophy writes. Politics + Society - [Putin is on a quest for historical significance by invading Ukraine and gambling on his own and Russia’s glory]( Arie Kruglanski, University of Maryland Everyone wants to feel a sense of significance and dignity. But those desires can motivate extremist behavior. - [Ukraine war follows decades of warnings that NATO expansion into Eastern Europe could provoke Russia]( Ronald Suny, University of Michigan Lost in the outrage over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is the fact that many in the West have long warned that widespread NATO expansion into Eastern Europe could spark just such a conflict. Health + Medicine - [What you eat can reprogram your genes – an expert explains the emerging science of nutrigenomics]( Monica Dus, University of Michigan Medical School Scientists are just beginning to decode the genetic messages in your food – and how that may affect your health. Ethics + Religion - [Why translating ‘God’s law’ to government law isn’t easy]( Samuel L. Boyd, University of Colorado Boulder A scholar who studies biblical texts explains how the Bible, its laws, and ancient debates were set within a complex vision of society at that time. Science + Technology - [Intelligence, information warfare, cyber warfare, electronic warfare – what they are and how Russia is using them in Ukraine]( Justin Pelletier, Rochester Institute of Technology From jamming satellite signals to spreading disinformation, Russia’s military has sophisticated technologies it’s bringing to the battlefield in Ukraine. - [The tech industry talks about boosting diversity, but research shows little improvement]( Donald T. Tomaskovic-Devey, UMass Amherst; JooHee Han, University of Oslo Most tech sector firms are stuck in a low- inclusion rut, and a disturbing set of firms are moving backward. A handful of firms, however, demonstrate that diversity now is possible. - [An asteroid impact could wipe out an entire city – a space security expert explains NASA’s plans to prevent a potential catastrophe]( Svetla Ben-Itzhak, Air University NASA has only mapped 40% of the potentially dangerous asteroids that could crash into Earth. New projects will boost that number, and upcoming missions will test tech that could prevent collisions. - [A rocket is going to crash into the Moon – the accidental experiment will shed light on the physics of impacts in space]( Paul Hayne, University of Colorado Boulder Across the solar system, asteroids and comets crash into moons and planets every day. The rocket collision will provide researchers with important data on how these collisions work. From our international editions - [Afghanistan’s libraries go into blackout: ‘It is painful to see the distance between people and books grow’]( - [Lord of the Rings: debunking the backlash against non-white actors in Amazon’s new adaption]( - [Juries are subject to all kinds of biases when it comes to deciding on a trial]( Today's graphic [The OECD tracks four primary sources of climate finance: bilateral, between a funder and recipient; multilateral, often managed by development banks; export credits; and private finance mobilized by public investments.]( From the story, [Wealthy countries still haven’t met their $100 billion pledge to help poor countries face climate change, and the risks are rising]( - More from The Conversation US - Like this newsletter? 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