Intense heat and flooding are wreaking havoc on power and water systems as climate change batters America’s aging infrastructure

A heat wave that pushed California’s power grid to the limit, and the water system failure in Jackson, Mississippi, are just two examples.

Paul Chinowsky, Professor of Civil Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder • conversation
Sept. 7, 2022 ~8 min

Intense heat waves and flooding are battering electricity and water systems, as America's aging infrastructure sags under the pressure of climate change

A heat wave that pushed California’s power grid to the limit, and the water system failure in Jackson, Mississippi, are just two examples.

Paul Chinowsky, Professor of Civil Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder • conversation
Sept. 7, 2022 ~8 min


America's summer of floods: What cities can learn from today's climate crises to prepare for tomorrow's

Flood risks are rising as the climate warms. The risks are complex, as a levee or new roadway in one place can worsen flooding somewhere else.

Richard B. (Ricky) Rood, Professor of Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering and School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan • conversation
Aug. 25, 2022 ~9 min

Electric school buses are taking students back to school – bringing cleaner air and lower maintenance costs to school districts across the country

They look like conventional school buses, but electric versions are cleaner, quieter and cheaper to maintain. States, utilities and federal agencies are helping school districts make the switch.

Andrea Marpillero-Colomina, Adjunct Lecturer in Urban Studies, The New School • conversation
Aug. 17, 2022 ~9 min

What is a flash flood? A civil engineer explains

As recent deluges in St. Louis and Kentucky show, flash flooding can happen in urban and rural areas, with deadly results in either setting.

Janey Camp, Research Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Vanderbilt University • conversation
Aug. 2, 2022 ~5 min

Debunking stereotypes about mobile homes could make them a new face of affordable housing

Manufactured housing – the preferred name for what were once called mobile homes – has changed dramatically in recent decades. Three planning experts call for giving it a new look.

Linda Shi, Assistant Professor of City and Regional Planning, Cornell University • conversation
July 28, 2022 ~11 min

Why UK railways can't deal with heatwaves – and what might help

The UK rail industry struggles to create tracks that can cope with both high and low temperatures.

Kangkang Tang, Senior Lecturer in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Brunel University London • conversation
July 22, 2022 ~6 min

Britain isn't built to withstand 40°C – here is where infrastructure is most likely to fail

An expert assesses the weak links in a warming UK.

Kiran Tota-Maharaj, Reader in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Aston University • conversation
July 19, 2022 ~6 min


Protecting biodiversity – and making it accessible – has paid off for Costa Rica

Tourism revenues account for almost 10% of Costa Rica’s gross domestic product. New research shows that charismatic wildlife is necessary but not sufficient to attract ecotourists.

Jeffrey R. Smith, Postdoctoral Researcher in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University • conversation
April 22, 2022 ~9 min

Would gas tax breaks make a big difference when prices are skyrocketing? We asked 4 experts

Consumers are feeling pain at the pump and demanding solutions. Some politicians are pushing gasoline tax waivers – but that means less money to fix roads, and often not much economic relief.

Theodore J. Kury, Director of Energy Studies, University of Florida • conversation
March 24, 2022 ~10 min

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