No, America’s battery plant boom isn’t going bust – construction is on track for the biggest factories, with over 23,000 jobs planned

The future of these job-generating gigafactories, many of them in Republican states, could be at risk if the next president tries to wipe out the programs that made them possible.

Nathan Jensen, Professor of Government, The University of Texas at Austin • conversation
Nov. 1, 2024 ~7 min

Three ingenious ways architects are designing buildings to stay cool in a heatwave without air conditioning

Architects around the world are developing designs that not only respond to their local climates and cultural contexts but also push the boundaries of sustainable design.

Sara Saadouni, Lecturer, Sustainable Technology and Building Engineering Services, Nottingham Trent University • conversation
Sept. 4, 2024 ~6 min


5 lessons from ancient civilizations for keeping homes cool in hot, dry climates

Builders knew how to keep people cool in hot, dry climates thousands of years ago. It’s time to get that knowledge back.

Adriana Zuniga-Teran, Assistant Professor of Urban Geography, University of Arizona • conversation
Aug. 30, 2024 ~8 min

5 lessons from ancient civilizations for staying cool in hot, dry climates that today’s builders often ignore

Builders knew how to keep people cool in hot, dry climates thousands of years ago. It’s time to get that knowledge back.

Adriana Zuniga-Teran, Assistant Professor of Urban Geography, University of Arizona • conversation
Aug. 30, 2024 ~8 min

Ancient Rome had ways to counter the urban heat island effect – how history’s lessons apply to cities today

As summer temperatures rise, finding ways to build cities that don’t hold in the heat and can provide some cooling is increasingly important.

Brian Stone Jr., Professor of Environmental Planning, Georgia Institute of Technology • conversation
Aug. 19, 2024 ~8 min

Demolishing buildings is bad for the planet – here’s an alternative

A passport for construction materials could keep resources in circulation for as long as possible.

Rabia Charef, Research Associate, Lancaster University • conversation
July 23, 2024 ~6 min

Drones could revolutionise the construction industry, supporting a new UK housing boom

Drones could carry out safety inspections more safely and ferry materials between floors.

Peter Winter, Senior Research Associate, Science and Technology Studies, University of Bristol • conversation
July 18, 2024 ~7 min

How to protect your home from wildfires – here’s what fire prevention experts say is most important

Roofs, windows and siding all affect how vulnerable a home is and how likely it is to survive a wildfire. So does what’s around it in the ‘home ignition zone.’

Chris Moran, Post-doctoral Researcher, Fire Center, University of Montana • conversation
July 16, 2024 ~7 min


How do you build tunnels and bridges underwater? A geotechnical engineer explains the construction tricks

Underwater construction is a complex and difficult task, but engineers have developed several ways to build underwater … mostly by not building underwater at all.

Ari Perez, Associate Professor of Civil Engineering, Quinnipiac University • conversation
June 10, 2024 ~9 min

What are roads made of? A pavement materials engineer explains the science behind the asphalt you drive on

Summer means road construction − but what kind of engineering goes into laying down pavement?

Mansour Solaimanian, Associate Research Professor, Larson Pennsylvania Transportation Institute, Penn State • conversation
May 10, 2024 ~7 min

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