Ghost Bikes: A Global Ritual to Memorialize and Protest Cycling Deaths
The all-white bikes, placed at locations of fatal bicycle crashes, serve as an infrastructure of grief—part memorial, part protest symbol.
Infrastructure
Conservationists Are Creating Safer Animal Crossings
To help animals navigate our fast-paced highway systems nature conservationists have started building infrastructure designed specifically for critters.
Environmentalists Are Raising Concerns Over China's Belt and Road Initiative
Environmental experts warn that many of these projects could cause irreversible damage in highly biodiverse areas.
London Is Adding 250 New Trains to Improve the Efficiency of Its Subways
It's going to cost the city around $2 billion to increase the capacity of the four "Deep Tube" lines by 10 trains an hour.
Federal Agencies Are Expected to Sign an Agreement Speeding Up Environmental Reviews
President Donald Trump is expected to preside over a signing ceremony today for a memorandum to reduce redundancies in the federal permitting process.
Congress Is Still Struggling to Fund the Government
A number of controversial issues have emerged in recent weeks as roadblocks to a new budget bill.
The Beleaguered State of Inner-City Schools
Poorly built schools have detrimental effects on the students who attend them, but no easy solution is in sight.
The Potential Ramifications of Trump's Proposed Infrastructure Plan
The president's proposed $1 trillion infrastructure investment could heat up the debate around the role of the federal government in local planning and policy.
Could Climate Change Be Behind the Rise in Traffic Deaths?
A new study seems to suggest so.
Are the Floating Houses of the Netherlands a Solution Against the Rising Seas?
Houseboats have long been a common sight in the Netherlands. But a new community of floating homes may signal a solution for rising sea levels across the globe.
Trump to Roll Back Obama-Era Flood Protections
The 2015 rule would require higher upfront construction costs, but would ultimately save lives.
Meet the Man Determined to Map the Entire Internet
Paul Barford is leading a team of researchers determined to show us what the Internet—in all its wire-bound glory—actually looks like.
Tunnel Collapse at a Former Nuclear Production Site in Washington State Forces Workers to Take Cover
There were no injuries reported, but workers near the tunnel were evacuated.
This Chart Illustrates Why Infrastructure Investment Is a Good Idea
Why, where, and how to put federal dollars into our aging infrastructure system.
Changing Tides
A 25-acre property in New Orleans will soon become part of a series of small but important steps toward more effective and sustainable water management in the Big Easy.
Can We Use Data to Stop Deadly Car Crashes?
Major cities are taking a big-picture look at traffic deaths—and it's working.
The Rising Danger of Flooding In Egypt
As global temperatures rise, an unprepared Egypt braces itself for more extreme rainstorms.
The Future of Work: A Proposal for the Age of Automation
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.
It's Time for a New Gas Tax
The main federal fund for roads and bridges runs at a deep deficit. If even red states can raise the gas tax, why can’t Congress?
Streetlights Might Not Make You Safer
In the ongoing debate over whether streetlights reduce crime, a new British study suggests they don't—and cities could save money and energy by cutting back.
Rebuilding After Tragedy
A complicated blend of economics, culture, and infrastructure make it hard to find any right way to restore a city after disaster.
The Earthquake Experiment: An Outside Reading List
A short list of the stories we wish we’d written.