Latest news with #MichaelMann
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Who is UPenn climate professor Michael Mann? A look at his career, controversies, and contributions to climate science
Michael Mann. (Getty Images) Michael Mann , a renowned climate scientist and professor at the University of Pennsylvania, has recently been in the news due to a controversial comment he made on social media. In response to President Donald Trump's refusal to comply with a federal court ruling blocking his attempts to dismantle the Department of Education, Mann suggested the US might be entering "Second Amendment territory. " This remark drew significant criticism, highlighting how heated and polarized political discourse has become, especially regarding climate change and related policies. This controversy adds to a long history of public scrutiny and legal battles Mann has faced over his climate research and outspoken advocacy. Despite ongoing attacks and disputes, Mann remains a key figure in climate science, widely respected for his groundbreaking research on global temperature trends and his persistent efforts to raise public awareness and push for climate action. Early life and education Born in 1965, Michael Mann earned undergraduate degrees in physics and applied mathematics from the University of California, Berkeley in 1989. He then pursued graduate studies at Yale University, receiving a Master of Science in physics in 1991, followed by a Ph.D. in geology and geophysics in 1998. His dissertation at Yale, which focused on reconstructing past climate variations using natural records like tree rings and ice cores, earned him the prestigious Phillip M. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Lifetime Office 2024 License for Mumbai [Order] prime software Undo Orville Prize for outstanding work in earth sciences. Academic career and the hockey stick graph In 1999, Mann began his academic career as an assistant professor in environmental sciences at the University of Virginia. By 2005, he moved to Pennsylvania State University, where he quickly rose to full professor by 2009 and was named a distinguished professor in 2013. In fall 2022, Mann joined the University of Pennsylvania as a presidential distinguished professor, holding appointments in the Earth and Environmental Science department and the Annenberg School for Communication. Read Also: UPenn climate professor under fire after invoking 'second amendment territory' over Trump education ruling Mann's most famous scientific contribution is the "hockey stick" graph, published in 1998, which reconstructs Northern Hemisphere temperatures over the past 1,000 years. The graph depicts a sharp uptick in temperatures during the 20th century, symbolizing human-driven climate change. Featured prominently in the 2001 IPCC Third Assessment Report, the hockey stick became a powerful visual in climate science communication. However, it also attracted intense criticism and political controversy, with skeptics questioning its methodology despite multiple independent studies affirming its validity. Legal battles and political attacks Over the years, Mann has been targeted by critics and political figures who have attempted to discredit his work. He was a central figure in the 2009 "Climategate" email controversy, which involved hacked emails from the University of East Anglia's Climate Research Unit. Multiple investigations, including those by the EPA and National Science Foundation, cleared Mann and his colleagues of wrongdoing. In 2010, Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli's effort to subpoena Mann's university records was widely condemned as a political attack on scientific freedom. Mann has also engaged in several defamation lawsuits. Notably, in 2012, he sued conservative commentators Mark Steyn and Rand Simberg for false accusations of scientific fraud. Mann won punitive damages of $1 million against Steyn in February 2024, although the award was later reduced. However, a 2025 ruling ordered Mann to pay over half a million dollars in attorney fees to the National Review, with the court criticizing his lawsuit as "meritless" and citing bad-faith trial conduct by his legal team. Scientific contributions and recognition Mann has authored more than 200 peer-reviewed publications and received numerous prestigious awards throughout his career. These include the 2019 Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement, election to the National Academy of Sciences in 2020, the Hans Oeschger Medal from the European Geosciences Union, and the Leo Szilard Lectureship Award from the American Physical Society. He has also been recognized for his exceptional science communication, earning the American Association for the Advancement of Science's Public Engagement with Science award in 2018 and the American Geophysical Union's Climate Communication Prize in 2018. Public advocacy and outreach Beyond academia, Mann co-founded the RealClimate website in 2004 alongside other climate scientists, providing accessible, expert commentary on climate science for journalists and the public. He is an outspoken advocate for climate action, frequently engaging with media, writing books, and speaking at public events. Mann supports calls for a World War II–scale mobilization against climate change to achieve rapid reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. He also serves on advisory boards for groups like The Climate Mobilization, which advocates for ambitious climate policies and urgent decarbonization efforts. Mann consistently emphasizes that current climate goals, such as those set by the G7 nations for 2050 or 2100, are insufficient to avoid dangerous warming. Legacy and ongoing impact Michael Mann's career embodies the intersection of rigorous scientific research and dedicated public advocacy, often under intense political and legal pressure. His contributions have significantly shaped climate science and policy discussions worldwide. While controversies and challenges continue, Mann remains committed to educating the public and influencing policies aimed at combating climate change. Ready to empower your child for the AI era? Join our program now! Hurry, only a few seats left.
Daily Mail
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Collateral: Trailer, certificate and where to watch
Michael Mann directs Tom Cruise in one of his rare bad guy roles - as a contract killer 2004
Digital Trends
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Digital Trends
3 underrated Amazon Prime Video movies you should watch this weekend (May 16-18)
When you're trying to settle down for the evening, one of the most reliable methods is firing up a movie on a streaming service like Amazon Prime Video. Because Amazon is packed with so many titles, though, you can wind up spending more time searching for something to watch than you actually spend watching anything. If that's the case for you, then we've got you covered. We've pulled together three great movies that are all available on Prime Video, and each one is a title you might be inclined to skip over. Trust us, though, you really shouldn't: Recommended Videos The Game (1997) David Fincher is widely regarded as a master, but The Game is one of his more unseen films. The film follows Michael Douglas as an isolated but hugely successful banker whose eccentric brother shows up to give him a gift for his birthday. The gift in question is a life-changing game. What initially seems fairly harmless, though, quickly turns into a game that totally upends Douglas's entire life and leaves him questioning his reality. Douglas is wonderful here, and strangely, The Game is one of Fincher's most uplifting movies. You can watch The Game on Amazon Prime Video. Manhunter (1986) Michael Mann is widely beloved for his obsession with process and masculinity, but Manhunter is one of his less well-known films. That's probably at least partially because The Silence of the Lambs came along just a few years later and stole all of this movie's mojo. Manhunter is a worthy addition to the Hannibal Lecter canon. It follows Will Graham, an FBI profiler called out of retirement to assist in the capture of a serial killer. When he enlists Hannibal's help to get to the bottom of the case, he quickly finds himself spiraling out of control and unsure who he can trust. You can watch Manhunter on Amazon Prime Video. Sound of Metal (2020) One of several great Amazon Original movies that got slightly buried during the pandemic, Sound of Metal tells the story of a metal drummer who develops rapid hearing loss. As he begins to adjust to the reality of life without his hearing, he remains insistent that he can get the money together to pay for cochlear implants, restore his hearing, and go back to the life he was living before. Anchored by a brilliant central performance by Riz Ahmed and strong supporting work from Olivia Cooke and Paul Racy, Sound of Metal is subtle and profound in equal measure. You can watch Sound of Metal on Amazon Prime Video.
Buzz Feed
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
11 Blockbusters Inspired By Lesser-Known Movies
A great movie can do many things. Movies can push you toward a career path, they can help heal you emotionally, and sometimes, movies inspire filmmakers to make other movies. And as a certified Person Who Likes Watching Movies, that truly is the ideal outcome for me. They say that there are no original ideas anymore, and I certainly don't think that's a bad thing. But you might be surprised to hear which of your favorite blockbuster hits took inspiration from movies you might not have seen. And if you haven't encountered them yet, you have worlds waiting for you to enjoy. So, I've rounded up 11 times some of your favorite filmmakers cited the direct inspirations for their work. Let's dive in, shall we? The Dark Knight, 2008 / Heat, 1995 Starting out strong with one of the most beloved action movies from the 2000s, which was inspired by possibly the best heist movie of all time, The Dark Knight director Christopher Nolan has spoken multiple times about being inspired by Michael Mann's classic. While the movie has a ton of recognizable references, the most notable is probably the opening scene, which shows Joker running a bank robbery followed by a shootout on the street, just like in Heat. And if the similarities between the sequences weren't enough, William Fichtner plays the mob's banker in both movies. Reservoir Dogs, 1992 / City on Fire, 1987 The precursor to Pulp Fiction, Quentin Tarantino's diamond heist is iconic for so many scenes, a number of which were directly inspired by shots in Ringo Lam's '80s Hong Kong action flick. When asked about the similarities between the two films, Quentin confirmed that he had been inspired quite a bit. Remember the Mexican standoff at the end of Reservoir Dogs? You can find that scene in City on Fire as well. The Shape of Water, 2017 / Creature from the Black Lagoon, 1954 Not only was the 1954 monster movie Guillermo del Toro's inspiration behind The Shape of Water, it was also his main motivation for making the movie in the first place — namely, due to his dissatisfaction with the ending. At 6 years old, mind you! Guillermo said that while watching Creature from the Black Lagoon, he fully expected the protagonist to end up with the creature, romantic-styles. He was so disappointed that they didn't, that he made his own movie to heal his heart. The Magnificent Seven, 1960 / Seven Samurai, 1954 This is my official plea for you to familiarize yourself with Akira Kurosawa if you aren't already a Letterboxd user. If you love this classic Western, you'll love the samurai epic it's based on. John Sturges's The Magnificent Seven is a full remake of the Japanese original, changing the setting and swapping samurai for gunslingers, but the two movies share the same fighting spirit. Midsommar, 2019 / The Wicker Man, 1973 Director Ari Aster spoke about the influence that the 1973 folk horror classic had on his follow-up to Hereditary, but it might not be in the way you expect. While the two films share similar premises (outsiders encountering a sacrificial pagan/folk festival), Ari said that Midsommar leads the viewer to expect The Wicker Man's ending, but ultimately the film goes in a different direction. Watch both, and you'll totally know what he's talking about. The Favourite, 2018 / Amadeus, 1984 While Yorgos Lanthimos cited multiple movies when speaking about the inspiration behind The Favourite, one is the 1984 film Amadeus, which follows the life of Mozart through the perspective of his rival, Salieri. Yorgos said that as a regency period film, it was 'inspiring for trying to do something different with the genre.' And if you've seen both, you'll notice the similarity between the grandeur and emotional theatrics. The Matrix, 1999 / Ghost in the Shell, 1995 While Mamoru Oshii's Ghost in the Shell has inspired a ton of stuff in Hollywood, one of the most notable is definitely The Matrix. The Wachowski sisters, who directed the film, reportedly approached producer Joel Silver with a copy of Ghost in the Shell and said, 'We want to do this for real.' The similarities can be seen in some of The Matrix's most iconic sequences, such as the green text, which appears in the opening for Ghost in the Shell. Luca, 2021 / Porco Rosso, 1992 While Luca's director, Enrico Casarosa, has cited multiple Studio Ghibli films as influences for his adorable sea-monster tale, viewers might spot that the town in the movie, Portorosso, is a direct play on words from the Ghibli film Porco Rosso, which is also set in Italy. While the two movies definitely differ in narrative styles, they share themes about nature, and both feature non-human protagonists interacting with their human counterparts. The Hateful Eight, 2015 / The Thing, 1982 John Carpenter's The Thing was reportedly required viewing on the set of Quentin Tarantino's The Hateful Eight, and if that doesn't scream homage, I don't know what does. Quentin described the similarities between the two movies and highlighted that they were both 'studies of paranoia' and described the feeling of paranoia in The Thing as 'so thick and so bottled up in that shelter that it bounced on the walls until it had nowhere else to go but through the fourth wall and into the audience,' which was what he aimed to replicate. Chicken Run, 2000 / The Great Escape, 1963 Boy oh boy, was I scared of this movie as a kid. This and Flushed Away. Regardless, this Aardman feature is a tongue-in-cheek parody of the classic war movie, The Great Escape. If you have the guts to rewatch it as an adult, you'll notice the similarities — the American newcomer who helps a bunch of Brits escape being the overarching theme. The wildest part is that the chicken coop is, well, Auschwitz. Which isn't really a sentence you expect to write. Avatar, 2009 / Princess Mononoke, 1997 If you love James Cameron's Avatar and you haven't ever encountered Hayao Miyazaki's Princess Mononoke, I'm about to change your life. While the two are visually completely different, they share themes of preservation of the natural world, warrior societies, and a ton more. James has cited the influence of this and another Ghibli film, saying that life on Pandora was partially inspired by Princess Mononoke and the floating islands in Castle in the Sky. Which is another one you need to watch. And that's all! Let me know if you've spotted similarities between any of your favorite movies.
Irish Times
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
The Movie Quiz: Which is the only Bridget Jones not to feature Hugh Grant?
Which discipline has, after years of lobbying, been announced as a new Oscar category? Stunt design Choreography Animal performance Catering What is the highest grossing English-language film of the year so far? Minecraft A Minecraft Movie Minecraft: The Movie Everyone's Gone to Minecraft Which is largely set the furthest north? Taxi Driver Bad Boys Good Will Hunting Bullitt Who is missing: Michael Mann, Jonathan Demme, Brett Ratner, Peter Webber? Ridley Scott Christopher Nolan Sam Mendes David Fincher Which is the only Bridget Jones not to feature a performance by Hugh Grant? Bridget Jones's Diary Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason Bridget Jones's Baby Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy Which is incomplete? Oliver! (1968) Airplane! (1980) Moulin Rouge! (2001) Everybody Wants Some! (2016) Which character doesn't belong? King Arthur Aladdin Sherlock Holmes Dracula Who is missing from Sandra, Carlo and Deanna? Kay Fay Ray Jay Which doesn't belong? Bringer of fire Self-governing country in the British empire An agreement (particularly with God) Brother of Remus Who doesn't share a surname with a sometime winner of the Snooker World Championship? Jane to Johnny Weissmuller's Tarzan Bucky Barnes Willow Star Wars composer
