Cars
Vehicle Pollution Disproportionately Affects People of Color in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic
A report from the Union of Concerned Scientists finds that, across 12 states, non-white residents bear disproportionate pollution from cars and trucks.
Guns Now Kill More People Than Cars Do
Cars have gotten much safer. Maybe we could start treating firearms the same way?
Uber Increases Mass Transit Ridership
New research finds the ride-sharing service is more of a complement to public transportation than a substitute.
Trump's Ethanol Deregulation Could Hurt More People Than It Helps
Ethanol won't save us from oil dependence—or climate change.
Silent Killer: In London, Air Pollution Has Become a Matter of Life and Death
According to researchers, air pollution kills thousands in the city every year.
Germany Fines Volkswagen $1.2 Billion for Cheating Diesel Emissions
Because of Volkswagen's deceptive actions, 10.7 million defective vehicles were sold to customers around the world.
The EPA Plans to Weaken Fuel Emissions Standards. California Plans on Fighting Back.
The effect of lax federal fuel standards on the climate fight depends largely on the fate of the California waiver.
Viewfinder: A Car-Free Day in Colombia
A woman takes a picture while riding her bike during a car-free day in Bogotá, Colombia, on February 1st, 2018.
Counting Cars to Understand Demographics
What Google Street View images tell us about our neighborhoods—and ourselves.
The Environmental Consequences of Your Second Car
New research finds Californians who buy a fuel-efficient car often purchase a bigger, less environmentally friendly second vehicle.
Could Climate Change Be Behind the Rise in Traffic Deaths?
A new study seems to suggest so.
Five Ways You Can Help Mitigate Climate Change
A number of little actions can go a long way.
The Public Transit Paradox
Gas is crazy cheap. Car sales are through the roof. So why isn’t taxpayer support for mass transit tanking?
Can a Negative Outlook Create a Dangerous Driver?
A Chinese study finds people who pay more attention to what's bad about the world also get in more accidents.
The Weird Ways People React to Driving Bans
As cities try to control their air pollution with driving bans, research finds citizens react by buying more cars, watching more television, and, sometimes, by driving less and contributing to lower pollution in their towns.
What Cheating Emissions Standards Tells Us About Ourselves
To understand the outrage over the Volkswagen scandal and recall, consider the meat industry.
The Future of Work: But What Will Humans Do?
The latest entry in a special project in which business and labor leaders, social scientists, technology visionaries, activists, and journalists weigh in on the most consequential changes in the workplace.
How to Make Our Cars Less Deadly
As folks gear up for end-of-summer road trips, Levi Tillemann makes the case for a synthetic market for automotive safety.
Trade In? Maybe Don't
Economists find that trading in a used car bumps up the price of the new one you take home—by a lot.
Why We Rage on the Roads—and How to Stop
A perfect combination of fear and overconfidence produces dangerous escalations of tiny incidents. The best course of action is to allow the guy flipping you the bird to drive right past.
Self-Driving Cars Won’t Fix Our Transit Woes
Real transportation futurism looks more like a fleet of self-driving buses.
Why Does the Gas Station Across the Street Have Higher Prices?
A combination of location, credit card fees, and brand: basically, nothing worth paying for.
Odometer Fraud Continues to Plague Used Car Sales
The tools and methods have evolved over the decades, but the crime remains the same.
Does Expensive Parking Really Discourage City Driving?
A pioneer large-scale study suggests the common strategy to get people riding public transportation does, in fact, work.