Are architects turning their backs on glass skyscrapers?
No form of architecture more perfectly epitomizes the 20th century than the glass tower. From Manhattan to Moscow, glistening skyscrapers became not only the most practical response to densely-populated cities, but the most coveted symbol of progress. With cities like Dubai and Shenzhen continuing Read More...
Why scientists are on a quest to make planet-saving pavement
Pavement may not seem complicated, but it is. Concrete is made of aggregate, tiny bits of sand, crushed stone, and gravel. Asphalt is composed of sand, gravel, and bitumen, a byproduct of oil petroleum production. Both can go into pavement. How much does just obtaining these materials tax the Read More...
This 27-year-old mayor is bringing universal basic income to his city
Stockton, California is planning to launch the first US experiment in universal basic income. The 27-year-old mayor of the city learned about it in college and believes it's one to help rehabilitate a city that declared bankruptcy in 2012. The plan is set to begin sometime in August and will Read More...
You must see the energy-efficient stadium hosting the Super Bowl
If you’re watching the upcoming NFL Super Bowl game, make sure to get a good look at the stadium it is being hosted in. It is home to the Minnesota Vikings, and it offsets 100 percent of its electricity with energy-efficient technologies and renewable energy credits. The sculptural shape of the Read More...
Volunteers have completely transformed this beach after 119 Sundays of cleaning
Just a few years ago, Versova Beach on the coast of Mumbai was blanketed in plastic. Instead of sand, all you could see was a multi-colored plastic rug carpeting the whole coastline. Now, thanks to volunteers who have worked for the past 119 Sundays, the sand can be seen again. 12,000 tons of Read More...
What metabolism experts say you should be eating for breakfast
Breakfast is an especially important meal because it can determine how you feel during the day. Eat something greasy and you may feel sluggish as you go through the day. Eat something light and you may be feeling hungry before lunch. So what should you actually have for Read More...
How mindfulness helps this top congressman stay calm in DC
After going on a mindfulness retreat in 2008, Ohio Congressman Tim Ryan has become a vocal advocate in DC for the practice. Speaking with Business Insider, Ryan explains the benefits mindfulness can have for veterans, schoolchildren, and average Read More...
Urban shrooming: This startup is putting mini mushroom farms inside restaurants
The urban farming scene is diversifying, and instead of growing veggies and greens, Smallhold is fruiting fungi in minifarms located right in the restaurants where they'll be served. The virtual explosion in indoor grow units and small vertical urban farms might be an indication that we're Read More...
Making our way toward a low-carbon future is not just possible, but profitable
Climate change is already tangible today as we see more extreme weather events across the world. The four warmest years on record globally have occurred in the past four years and, in many places, these temperature changes and associated rises in sea level are already putting pressure on key Read More...
These bold ideas aim to make plastic waste a thing of the past
When the Ellen MacArthur Foundation launched its New Plastics Economy initiative two years ago, it made a dark, headline-grabbing prediction. It said if nothing is done to arrest the rate at which plastic is entering the oceans, those oceans will contain more plastic than fish by 2050. But the Read More...