Time to stop blaming bats and newts for blocking development? A new fund could support nature and ease building delays

Tens of thousands of planned new homes are said to be stuck in limbo because of concerns about their effect on nature.

Ian Thornhill, Senior Lecturer in Planning and Environmental Management, University of Manchester • conversation
March 24, 2025 ~7 min

How much does scientific progress cost? Without government dollars for research infrastructure, breakthroughs become improbable

It costs money to maintain the various facilities, utilities and personnel that allow scientists to conduct research in the first place. Without federal support, institutions are left scrambling.

Aliasger K. Salem, Bighley Chair and Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Iowa • conversation
Feb. 12, 2025 ~10 min


Supreme Court could narrow the scope of federal environmental reviews, with less consideration of how projects would contribute to climate change

The Supreme Court will consider how far outward federal agencies should look when they analyze how a proposed action could affect the environment.

J.B. Ruhl, Professor of Law, Director, Program on Law and Innovation, and Co-director, Energy, Environment and Land Use Program, Vanderbilt University • conversation
Dec. 4, 2024 ~11 min

Cycling can make seniors healthier and more independent − here’s how to design bikes and networks that meet their needs

Cycling provides many physical and mental health benefits, but older riders have specific concerns, such as balance. A bike network expert explains what seniors need to be comfortable pedaling.

Anne Lusk, Lecturer in Urban Agriculture, Boston University • conversation
Nov. 27, 2024 ~10 min

Charging, not range, is becoming a top concern for electric car drivers

The issue isn’t just the number of chargers – it’s also the quality of drivers’ experiences with them.

Alan Jenn, Associate Professional Researcher in Transportation, University of California, Davis • conversation
Oct. 10, 2024 ~7 min

How to reverse Britain’s chronic underinvestment in energy – and who needs to pay

We’ll need huge investments in wind farms, electric cars, new ways to heat homes, and much more.

Rosa Fernandez Martin, Senior Lecturer in Economics and Finance, Keele University • conversation
Oct. 4, 2024 ~7 min

Who’s to blame when climate change turns the lights off?

The UK is deciding who has ultimate responsibility for infrastructure weathering a harsher climate.

Chris Medland, PhD Candidate in Climate Change Resilience, University of Surrey • conversation
Sept. 23, 2024 ~7 min

Los Angeles is in a 4-year sprint to deliver a car-free 2028 Olympics

Can a city that’s synonymous with freeways and gridlock deliver a car-free Olympic Games? Los Angeles has picked up the torch.

Jay L. Zagorsky, Associate Professor of Markets, Public Policy and Law, Boston University • conversation
Aug. 21, 2024 ~8 min


Stuck bridges, buckling roads − extreme heat is wreaking havoc on America’s aging infrastructure

A civil engineer explains why roadways and rails warp and crack in the heat − and points to some innovative ways to keep the US transportation system healthy as long as possible.

Suyun Paul Ham, Associate Professor of Civil Engineering, University of Texas at Arlington • conversation
Aug. 5, 2024 ~8 min

With a record-breaking 2024 Atlantic hurricane forecast, here’s how scientists are helping Caribbean communities adapt to a warming world

Hardening electric transmission systems and monitoring ocean temperatures are two key priorities.

Jorge González-Cruz, Professor of Atmospheric & Environmental Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York • conversation
June 5, 2024 ~8 min

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