A typical superyacht can generate over 7,000 tons of CO2 a year – about what the average American would pollute in six lifetimes. Russian-Israeli billionaire Roman Abramovich’s “Eclipse” emits three times that amount. And the main reason Tesla CEO Elon Musk has such a comparatively low carbon footprint – for a billionaire – is that he doesn’t own such a massive boat.

These are just a few of the astounding facts I learned while editing an article on billionaire carbon footprints by Richard Wilk and Beatriz Barros, anthropologists at Indiana University. They combed Forbes’ annual list of the world’s richest people, pored over dozens of databases to track down the mega-rich’s most polluting assets and scoured press accounts and satellite photos to quantify the carbon cost of leading the most lavish lifestyles money can buy.

This week we also liked articles about COVID-19 vaccines, Black sororities and Deb Haaland, President Joe Biden’s nominee for secretary of the interior.

Bryan Keogh

Senior Editor, Economy + Business

Yachts, such as Roman Abramovich’s “Eclipse,” make up the biggest share of emissions for billionaires who own one. AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau

Private planes, mansions and superyachts: What gives billionaires like Musk and Abramovich such a massive carbon footprint

Richard Wilk, Indiana University; Beatriz Barros, Indiana University

Billionaires have carbon footprints hundreds of times higher than the average American. Two scholars tried to put a number on it.

Black students are underrepresented in gifted education programs. ER Productions Limited via DigitalVision/Getty Images Plus

How public schools fail to recognize Black prodigies

Donna Ford, The Ohio State University

Anti-Black bias and lack of teacher referrals are keeping Black students out of gifted school programs, a scholar suggests.

U.S. Rep. Deb Haaland speaks in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Oct. 1, 2018. Mark Ralston/AFP via Getty Images

‘Indian Country’ is excited about the first Native American secretary of the interior – and the promise she has for addressing issues of importance to all Americans

Traci Morris, PhD, Arizona State University

If confirmed, US Rep. Deb Haaland of New Mexico would be the first Native American to run the agency that interacts with tribal nations. But her agenda extends far beyond Indian Country.