The US is now leading a global surge in new gas power plants being built in large part to satisfy growing energy demand for data centers. And more gas means more planet-heating pollution.
Gas-fired power generation in development globally rose by 31 percent in 2025. Almost a quarter of that added capacity is slated for the US, which has surpassed China with the biggest increase of any country. More than a third of that growth in the US is expected to directly power data centers, according to a recent analysis by the nonprofit Global Energy Monitor (GEM).
More gas means more planet-heating pollution
The rush to install more powerful hardware into expanding data centers used for generative AI has led to forecasts of skyrocketing power demand. There’s still a lot of uncertainty about whether AI will become as ingrained in everyday life as tech companies might like, and many proposed data centers could fall flat. Even so, plans to build out more gas plants in the name of AI are stalling efforts to transition to cleaner energy sources.
“There is a risk that this capacity could lock in future emissions and become stranded assets if anticipated electricity demand from AI never materializes,” Jenny Martos, project manager for GEM’s Global Oil and Gas Plant Tracker, said in a press release.
Already, 2026 is shaping up to be a record-smashing year for gas. If all of this year’s proposed projects cross the finish line, it would be an even bigger jump in added capacity than the record set in 2002. That’s pretty remarkable considering the 2000s ushered in America’s so-called “shale gas revolution,” when fracking suddenly unleashed previously hard-to-reach reserves. Gas is now a cheaper power source than coal and creates less carbon pollution when burned. But gas production releases methane, a more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide even though it doesn’t persist in the atmosphere for as long.
Image: Global Energy Monitor
Ramping up electricity generation from gas is also a sharp pivot away from global climate goals. A decade ago, nearly every country on Earth — including its two biggest greenhouse gas polluters, China and the US — signed a historic deal in Paris to limit global warming. The only way to achieve the most ambitious goals set out in the Paris agreement would be to replace fossil fuels with less-polluting alternatives like renewable energy and slash greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by around 2050.
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DALLAS — This was a night Cooper Flagg figures he’ll be talking about with his former Duke roommate Kon Knueppel for decades.
That’s probably true for almost everyone at the American Airlines Center who witnessed the thrilling display Thursday night in the first NBA meeting between the Rookie of the Year front-runners.
Flagg, the No. 1 pick, had 49 points, the most in NBA history by a teenager, breaking the Dallas Mavericks‘ rookie record he shared with Mark Aguirre, whose No. 24 was retired in a halftime ceremony during the game.
But Knueppel, the No. 4 pick, finished with 34 points and made the critical plays in the final moments to help the Charlotte Hornets earn a 123-121 win, their fifth straight. He forced Flagg into committing a turnover with 7.6 seconds remaining and hit the winning free throws after drawing a foul on his friend in transition.
Flagg’s tightly contested jumper bounced off the back of the rim at the buzzer.
“Just a crazy ending to a phenomenal game,” Knueppel said. “He was the best player on the floor tonight. Probably, I mean, that’s the best player that’s played against us all season. It’s just fun competing against the best, and obviously, being close with him, that kind of adds to the competitiveness. So, it was really fun.”
Flagg (-400) and Knueppel (+280) entered the night with the best odds to win Rookie of the Year, according to DraftKings Sportsbook, creating a unique buzz around a late-January game between two teams below .500. Flagg and Knueppel more than met the anticipation by becoming the first pair of college teammates to each score at least 30 points while playing against each other as rookies.
According to ESPN Research, their combined 83 points are the most by a pair of rookies in a game since Tiny Archibald and Pete Maravich combined for 91 in 1971.
“It’s incredible,” Flagg said of competing with Knueppel for Rookie of the Year. “I wouldn’t want to be in any other position. We’ll both be looking back on this night and this whole year in general for the rest of our lives, and we’ll be talking about it and stuff like that. It’s just so special to have this opportunity in general.”
Knueppel anticipates his odds to win that honor took a hit after Flagg’s record-setting performance.
“We’d both like to win, but we don’t talk about it,” said Knueppel, who is averaging 18.9 points with an effective field goal percentage of 61.1%, the best efficiency by a rookie who scored that much. “I mean, this was a heck of a game. I think he’s probably going to jump me with 49 and 10 [rebounds], but it is what it is. An award like that is cool, but whoever gets it, I’ll be happy for him.
“Who knows? I’m just glad we got the win. That matters more to me than anything else.”
Knueppel, who was 10-of-16 from the floor, set a Hornets franchise rookie record with eight 3-pointers on 12 attempts. He made his first three long-range attempts in the opening four-plus minutes of the game.
“It’s not good,” Flagg said, recalling his thoughts as Knueppel got off to a hot start. “I played with him last year, and when he sees some easy ones go in to start the game, it’s never a good thing. That’s how it is with a lot of great shooters. You never want to let him tee up open shots and start a game and get into a rhythm.”
Flagg, who moved past Knueppel as the rookie scoring leader at 19.5 points per game, got rolling in the second quarter with 23 points. He had 40 by the end of the third, joining LeBron James and Anthony Edwards as the only teenagers in NBA history to record multiple 40-point performances.
The stage was set for Flagg to finish his spectacular performance in storybook fashion. He hit a pull-up 3 with 33.5 seconds left to tie the score at 121-121 and grabbed a defensive rebound on the ensuing possession. But the Hornets schemed to keep Flagg from being the hero, doubling him to force the ball out of his hands as he dribbled several feet above the 3-point arc. Knueppel timed his double-team well, deflecting Flagg’s pass, and their fellow former Duke teammate Sion James saved the ball to Knueppel to start a fast break.
“By no surprise, our guy ends up making the biggest play of the game down the stretch and just continue to impact winning,” said Hornets coach Charles Lee, who praised Knueppel’s defensive effort pregame. “[He had] the instincts to come and double-team, seeing a situation where the floor is balanced in a way that that’s probably the right spot to bring a double. A guy has 49 points, so you want to try to slow him down, obviously, and make somebody else have to beat you at that point of the game.”
Flagg, the league’s youngest player at 19, took fault for poor execution with the game on the line.
“I’m trying to learn still end-of-game situations,” said Flagg, who swapped jerseys postgame with Hornets rookie Liam McNeeley, his high school teammate at Montverde Academy. “I’m always trying to get better. That’s something I don’t want to say I struggle with, but I have seen a ton of double-teams and stuff, so just figuring out how I can be effective in those moments. It’s got to be a lot better.”
Flagg finished 20-of-29 from the floor, becoming the first rookie with at least 20 made field goals since Milwaukee‘s Brandon Jennings had 21 in his 55-point performance in November 2009. Flagg was 3-of-5 from 3-point range, but he did the majority of his damage in the paint, where he scored 28 points.
“He’s not about numbers. He’s about wins and losses,” Mavs coach Jason Kidd said. “That’s who he is. For a young man who thinks that way, he’s going to be a champion sooner than later. He continues to keep working. He tried to will his team to a win tonight.”
Grammys 2026: How Addison Rae, Alex Warren and More Scored Their Best New Artist Nominations
Alex Warren doesn’t have an ordinary relationship with his mentor.
The “Ordinary” singer joked that Ed Sheeran stopped responding to his emails because of how frequently he sends him messages.
In fact, Alex revealed that his last note to the “Shape of You” singer, in which he apologized for his nonstop correspondence, went unanswered.
“I swear to god, I can show you right now,” Alex exclusively told Erin Lim Rhodes during Live From E! Stream: Spotify Best New Artist Party 2026 on Jan. 29, recalling that the email said, “So sorry for emailing you. My New Year’s resolution is to email you less.”
And though Alex may be making light of their communication habits, he insisted that he really does plan to pull back.
“My New Year’s resolution is to email him less,” the 25-year-old admitted. “Because I email him every single time the slightest convenience happens in my life.”
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“Maybe the parameters have changed,” Dunleavy said. “Maybe the goalposts have moved.”
One of the key roster-building checkpoints on the NBA calendar is one week away. In advance of the Feb. 5 trade deadline, the Warriors have several questions to answer, beginning with the ramifications of Butler’s injury.
In the days since, team sources have described their approach as more future focused. With Butler in the lineup, they were exploring smaller-scale upgrades, attempting to use Jonathan Kuminga‘s $22.5 million salary to boost a surging team they believed was a fringe contender.
Realistic contention evaporated when Butler went down, reducing the front office’s appetite to spend an asset for a strictly win-now swing. It’s feasible they find a deal that raises the ceiling of this season’s team, but their focus is on better setting up the roster to enter the contention conversation for 2026-27 and beyond.
The Warriors’ prime target is the same dream name that has been on their radar for nearly a decade: Giannis Antetokounmpo. The big difference now is that Milwaukee’s door appears to finally be cracked open. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Wednesday that Bucks general manager Jon Horst has recently become willing to entertain the conversation.
What can the Warriors offer for Giannis?
League sources told ESPN that the Warriors have contacted the Bucks in the past week and expressed their firm interest in Antetokounmpo and their willingness to put a substantial offer on the table regardless of his calf strain and undetermined return timetable.
It’s unclear if Antetokounmpo would consider the Warriors on his wish list. But his desires, like any superstar soon to be extension eligible, matter within the conversation. A deadline trade for Kevin Durant last February fell through after Durant made it clear he didn’t want a reunion with the Warriors. A temperature check with Antetokounmpo will be needed, ensuring he would embrace a partnership with the Warriors even if they weren’t his first choice.
But the Bucks are in the driver’s seat of a car full of crowded motives, able to trade Antetokounmpo in the next week or wait until a fuller market might develop in the summer. If they opt to strike now, the Warriors — among the expected aggressive suitors — have arguably the most appealing pick package. The quicker Milwaukee acts, league executives believe, the better chance Golden State has to win the bidding war.
The Warriors can offer up to four first-rounders: 2026, 2028, 2032 unprotected and 2030 if it falls within the 1-20 range (top-20 protected owed to Washington as part of the Jordan Poole for Chris Paul trade). Because of Milwaukee’s outgoing picks, it could only command one additional pick swap.
In previous conversations about lower-level deals, the Warriors have been protective of their draft picks beyond the Stephen Curry era. This isn’t a lower-level conversation. The picks beyond the Curry era would be available to Milwaukee and valuable (though less so because the post-Curry era would suddenly include Antetokounmpo in his mid-30s).
“It would take a good amount [to move the post-Curry picks],” Dunleavy said. “Positionally, play style, archetype, all that. I would leave it pretty broad and open. But if there’s a great player to be had, we’ve got everything in the war chest that we would be willing to use.”
The Warriors have voiced to Butler a plan to keep him despite the ACL tear, believing he will rehab and boost them upon his return at some point next season. Dunleavy said he didn’t “envision” trading Butler. They are not actively shopping his contract, team sources said, but everything is on the table in an Antetokounmpo conversation — and Butler is the clear salary match, though a deal involving Draymond Green and several other rotation players is also plausible.
Rival teams — such as the New York Knicks (Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby) and Miami Heat (Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware) — have superior young or mid-prime players to offer the Bucks. But Milwaukee has shown an interest in Kuminga dating to the summer, league sources said, and he would be viewed as an upside swing on a controllable contract as part of the return package.
Third-year guard Brandin Podziemski could also help nudge the needle, league sources said. The Milwaukee native is under contract next season at $5.7 million, the final year of his rookie contract. To help salary match, the Warriors could also absorb one of Milwaukee’s other veterans owed long-term money, such as Bobby Portis (three years, $43.5 million remaining) or Kyle Kuzma (two years, $42.7 million remaining).
What is the alternative plan?
If the Warriors don’t acquire Antetokounmpo, there isn’t anyone on the current trade market who will force this level of asset aggression from them, team sources said.
They’ve maintained a level of interest in New Orleans Pelicans wing Trey Murphy III, but have been stonewalled in conversations by a Joe Dumars-Troy Weaver front office that has so far voiced an unwillingness to move most of their young core, league sources said.
The Warriors have been linked to other midtier players such as the Brooklyn Nets‘ Michael Porter Jr. and Miami’s Andrew Wiggins, but team sources continue to throw cold water on those ideas. One team source said they haven’t and don’t plan to engage with Miami about a reunion with Wiggins.
What does it mean for Kuminga?
Despite Kuminga’s desire for a fresh start and a more consistent role away from the Warriors, Dunleavy has made it clear dating to the summer that he won’t move Kuminga if he doesn’t like the value of the deal.
Before the Butler injury, the front office had been more open to flipping Kuminga for a rotation player on a short-term deal who could help this season’s team compete.
But the Butler injury simultaneously stripped their title hopes — barring a big trade materializing — while also elevating Kuminga from out of the rotation to at least a 20-to 25-minute player.
“Now that Jimmy’s out, I mean there’s no question he’s going to play,” Kerr told ESPN. “He’s going to have a role. So I hope he gets back soon [from a minor bone bruise] because it’s a great opportunity for him and we need him. We need what he brings.”
The Warriors are still exploring Kuminga’s trade market, but team sources have described it as less likely he is moved in the wake of the Butler injury. He has a $24.3 million team option that could be utilized in the summer and a clearer path to playing time in the immediate, which could help boost his value and get both sides what they ultimately desire.
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Jonathan Kuminga injures ankle, knee and leaves game in 2Q
Jonathan Kuminga leaves the game after injuring his ankle and knee late in the second quarter against the Mavericks.
What does it mean for the last chapter of the Curry-Kerr era?
The Warriors are 27-22, currently planted at No. 8 in the Western Conference, living in the play-in realm they’ve often inhabited the past half-decade.
“Our goals haven’t changed. We’re still trying to win,” Kerr said. “But obviously our ceiling isn’t as high. I mean, Jimmy’s one of the best players in the league and we felt pretty strongly that if you gave us a chance in the playoffs, we could make a run like we did last year.
“With Jimmy gone, obviously it’s just going to be so much harder to do that. But you still go for it. You still try to do everything you can to put yourself in position, get to the playoffs, and you never know what can happen.”
Curry turns 38 in March. The clock is ticking.
Kerr has maintained his belief that it is unwise for the franchise to burn valuable assets for marginal upgrades, but it’s clear those on the ground level would welcome an extra February boost, if reasonably obtainable.
“It’s up to Mike and Joe [Lacob],” Kerr said. “I’m in the last year of my contract, so nothing is guaranteed going forward. I always believe that they should do whatever makes the most sense for the franchise. But you do have Steph Curry and Steph’s still playing at high level and if there’s something we can do to give Steph more help, we should do it. What that means, it’s always in the details, what’s out there and what we have to give up.”
Kerr didn’t seek a contract extension entering the season. He believes the open-ended nature of his future is healthiest for both sides. He said he still isn’t leaning one way or the other about whether he will return for a 13th season coaching the Warriors.
“Let’s wait until the end of the year and see if everybody’s aligned,” Kerr said. “If we are, then we’ll keep going. If not, then we won’t. [It’ll depend] how the season ends, what the future looks like, all of that factors in. And they, meaning Joe and management, they’ve got a lot to think about. It’s a really interesting time for the organization.”
I’ve never been more optimistic about the future of Lux and Halide. Today we launched the public preview of Halide Mark III, and the reception is more positive than we possibly could have hoped.
As we mentioned in the announcement post today, we’ve been working with legendary team at The Iconfactory on Mark III. We’re also super excited to be collaborating with the renowned colorist Cullen Kelly on the new looks in Mark III.
Ten years ago I started Halide, and for ten years, I lead product, ran the business, and coded almost everything. Except for the paywall. I hate working on payment screens. But I built everything else, and design was always a collaborative experience.
So in short, Halide is going nowhere. This has been my full time job since 2019, and I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.
So, how does Ringo feel about Barry portraying him on the big screen? “I heard the guy who’s playing me was taking drum lessons,” he told Entertainment Tonight in 2024, quipping, “and I asked someone to tell him not to take too many.”
Directed by Sam Mendes, each movie in the multi-part project will center around one member of The Beatles.
“My life as a lad, John’s life, Paul’s life, George’s life, I mean, it must interact in some way,” Ringo explained to People last year. “There’ll be Beatles in mine around when I joined, and there’ll be Beatles in Paul’s. We’ll all be there. So, I’m excited.”
To see how other celebrities transformed themselves to play other famous figures, keep reading…
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Pamela Maldonado is a sports betting analyst for ESPN.
Multiple Authors
The PGA Tour heads to San Diego for the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines, a rotation event that separates patience from impulse.
Players split rounds between the North and South courses before the weekend, then everything funnels to the South, the longer and more demanding test.
Scoring is rarely explosive here. Last year, Harris English won at eight under par, with just a handful of players finishing five under or better. That tells you what kind of week this is.
Torrey rewards players who manage misses, scramble efficiently, and stay composed on Poa annua greens. Distance helps, but recovery matters more.
The players I like for top-20s are the same profiles I trust to contend for a win. I tend to take the plus money where it makes sense, but the outright numbers are there if you want to lean into longer shots.
English brings stability on a course that punishes volatility. Torrey Pines rewards patience, scrambling and the ability to survive long stretches where par is a good score. That’s English in a nutshell. He contends by missing in the right spots, getting up and down when others can’t and staying mentally steady when scoring stalls. His history here is a benefit, a course he understands, visually and strategically. His elite scrambling profile paired with his long-term Poa annua comfort, where putting can feel random, is where his comfort level raises his floor. If the putter cooperates even a little, the win equity is real.
Torrey Pines rewards the one thing that Matsuyama does better than almost anyone in this field: elite ball striking that travels on tougher courses. Since this isn’t a birdie fest, surviving the elements of Torrey is more important than going low. Matsuyama consistently gains strokes tee-to-green here, which means he’s hitting greens, avoiding big numbers and forcing himself into stress-free pars. That’s the key stat that matters for non-golf bettors: Matsuyama keeps the ball out of trouble. He’s not elite at putting, but if he can even be average on the greens, that could be enough when his irons are dialed. On a demanding setup, Matsuyama’s profile produces a high floor and that’s what you want for a Top 20 wager.
Gerard is my feel play of the week. If you miss greens, can you still walk away with par? That’s what I’m looking for. It’s the key skill that Gerard has quietly been excellent around the green, which could matter more here than raw birdie making. His recent form backs it up: back-to-back runner-up finishes, showing confidence, with improved putting in both events. With a T15 here last year, and a couple of Top 25 finishes on comparable courses, Gerard could be comfortable surviving this course. If he can avoid blow up holes and manage misses, then he can keep stress off the scorecard.
Wyndham Clark, $8,500: He’s a playable mix of ceiling and survivability. The real fantasy hook is his weighted strokes gained putting (second) and he’s also positive around the green, plus top 10 on Poa putting (7th). His Torrey results are volatile because the ball striking can wobble, but when the putter cooperates, he can rack up birdie runs and bonus points. He’s a tournament play, not a wager cash play.
Christiaan Bezuidenhout, $7,300: He’s a floor-first decision with sneaky upside. His scrambling ranks near the top of the field, which comes into play when greens are missed in bulk. He also putts well overall and on these green types, removing the surface risk that sinks cheaper plays. He’s not a bomber, and he won’t overwhelm par 5s, but Bezuidenhout avoids disasters and keeps rounds intact. In fantasy, that means four rounds, steady points and salary relief without punting equity.
DFS player to fade
Cameron Young, $10,000: This is a bad allocation of salary this week, paying for raw talent rather than a scoring path that fits Torrey. His results here (a T20 and a missed cut) are underwhelming for this price, his Poa putting is unreliable and his fantasy value relies on birdie bursts that this course actively suppresses. At this price, you need either elite course fit or elite putting, and Young brings neither. He could finish T12, but this price is asking to win tournaments. You’d be burning cap that could buy two cleaner mid-range profiles with better cut equity and comparable upside.
Everything that happens in sports has additional context when viewed from a sports betting perspective. From season-changing injuries to record-setting moments and so much more, the sports news cycle will constantly and significantly affect the sports betting industry.
Our Super Bowl betting buzz file, with contributions from David Purdum, Doug Greenberg and others, aims to provide fans a look at the sports betting stories that are driving the conversation leading up to the big game.
Jan 26: Tracking the largest bets on Super Bowl LX so far
By Doug Greenberg
The matchup for Super Bowl LX is set with the Seattle Seahawks favored over the New England Patriots to take home the Lombardi Trophy. The biggest single event in American sports always brings out the big bets.
Since the summer, bettors have been speculating on the result of this game, and the wagers will finally settle on Feb. 8. Here are some of the largest bets — by odds, stakes and potential winnings — tracked thus far:
In August, a retail bettor at BetMGM in Nevada placed three separate $50,000 futures on the Seahawks, as first reported by Yahoo Sports and confirmed to ESPN by the sportsbook. Seahawks to make the playoffs at +185 cashed for $92,500 and Seahawks to win the NFC at +2800 cashed for $1.4 million. The bettor still has a Seattle Super Bowl ticket at +6000 odds that will net $3 million if successful.
On Monday, Circa Sports director of operations Jeffrey Benson announced that the sportsbook took a $1.1 million wager on the Patriots money line at +188 that would net nearly $2.1 million if New England wins outright.
DraftKings took a $10,000 futures bet on the Patriots to win the Super Bowl at +8000 that would pay winnings of $800,000.
In November, BetMGM accepted a $30,000 wager on New England to win the Super Bowl at +2200, a net of $660,000 if successful.
In late August, Circa took a $100 bet on the exact result of the Super Bowl being Seahawks over Patriots at an astonishing 3100-1. The bettor would win $310,000 if the exacta comes to fruition.
On Jan. 14, Caesars Sportsbook took a $32,000 wager on the Seahawks at +275 odds for winnings of $88,000; less than two weeks later, it took a $40,000 bet on the Patriots at +260 for a potential net win of $104,000.
DraftKings accepted a $500 bet on the Seahawks at +65000 to win $32,500.
At Caesars, a bettor in Nevada placed a $55,000 wager on Patriots +4.5 (-108) for an approximate $51,000 win, while a bettor in New Jersey put in a $36,000 bet on Seahawks -4.5 (-109) for an approximate $33,000 win, according to the sportsbook’s head of football Joey Feazel, who said the wagers came in “within seconds” of the odds going up following the NFC championship.
