Cities

A New Study Has Identified a Dominant Force Driving Evolution on Earth Today

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Mounting evidence suggests humans are now a major driving force of evolution on Earth. From selective breeding to environmental modifications, we’re altering so much of our world that we’re not only now driving the climate, but the direction of life itself.   Now, in a massive project involving 287 scientists across 160 cities in 26 … Read more

Creatures living in our cities are evolving in some surprising ways

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From mosquitoes and rats to foxes and birds, the urban environment is transforming animals that live among us – but which new species should we expect next? Life 9 March 2022 By Rob Dunn Pigeons, as well as crows, jays and owls, are thriving in the urban jungle Bjorn Grotting/Alamy TO THE naturalist in me, … Read more

In The Year 2080, Your City Will Feel Like It’s 500 Miles Away

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When you’re older, your home town will feel different. That’s true for everybody. But for people living today, the changes will be impossible to ignore. We usually measure climate change in terms of rising temperatures. But scientists say there’s another way of thinking about it: spatial displacement.   In a study from 2019, researchers found … Read more

The Key Actions From The UN’s Major New Climate Report

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Rising global temperatures bring dire threats, such as floods, heat-related injuries, water scarcity, and hunger, making up to 3.6 billion people – nearly half of the world’s population – highly vulnerable to climate change.   That’s according to a major report, released Monday, from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change – a UN body that … Read more

Here’s The Impact That Walkable Neighborhoods Can Have on Your Physical Health

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How we plan neighborhoods can shape the health of entire communities. When more than half the world now lives in urban areas, it’s more important than ever to design streets and parks conducive to walking, running, and cycling.   A review of large, population-based studies describes numerous ways walkable, activity-friendly cities are linked to improved … Read more

Diabetes and obesity: Pedestrian-friendly cities have lower rates

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A review of 170 studies finds consistent evidence that people are less likely to be obese or have diabetes if they live in cities where walking and cycling is safe and convenient Health 24 February 2022 By Matthew Sparkes Pedestrians in Montpellier, France Manfred Gottschalk/Getty Images Diabetes and obesity rates can be reduced by transforming … Read more

The Pandemic Showed the Promise of Cities with Fewer Cars

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Residents learned what was possible. Some politicians fought to keep it that way Credit: James Olstein Advertisement During COVID’s first wave, the streets of New York and other major cities became eerily empty. Mournful sirens replaced the usual bustle and din. But urban dwellers also heard something new: an abundance of birdsong. During walks outside—the … Read more