Tag Archives: cities

Growing Anti-Mask Sentiment in Adelaide and Other Australian Cities

Posted on by
Reply

Elon Musk’s so-called “brand debacle” is currently unfolding in Adelaide, where residents have overwhelmingly rejected plans for a Tesla factory.

The city of Marion in South Australia is contemplating the sale of 2,664 square meters of public land. This site, which is contaminated and not accessible to the public, is being targeted by Tesla for a battery factory.

The council has engaged with the community and compiled a report detailing “geopolitical or symbolic critiques presented in submissions,” which highlight potential benefits like 100 full-time jobs, increased fee income, $56 million in economic output, and a “Tesla-led training initiative.”

Out of approximately 1,000 submissions to local councils, 95% requested the proposal be retracted, citing “anti-Tesla and anti-Elon Musk sentiments,” as well as concerns about the environmental impact and the loss of green spaces.

While environmental issues were a factor, the primary reason residents opposed the project was Musk himself.

Opponents of the proposal didn’t hold back on their reasons for rejection—indeed, the City of Marion opted to censor some of the submissions.

“Elon Musk is [redacted] Humans and a [redacted]!” one commenter stated.

“Elon Musk and Tesla are a [redacted] against humanity,” another wrote.

“Elon Musk has completely misjudged [redacted], viewing others through a dull lens. Additional submissions suggested that the site was inappropriate for Musk. [redacted] would be a sly choice.”

“We shouldn’t profit from our support of someone who [redacted] openly [redacted],” was another perspective on Tesla’s move to Marion.

Aesthetic concerns were also raised: “Dear God,” a resident complained. “This isn’t good for anyone… [and] it mainly disrupts my roller skating route.”

More than half of the 948 community submissions came from outside the council, but locals opposed the development by a ratio of 11 to 121.

Supporters appreciated the job creation, skill development, and the “novel approach” of one of the world’s wealthiest figures.

Musk continues to face backlash due to his involvement in the Trump administration, where he established the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), leading to severe cuts in government programs.

Tesla’s recent profit slump has led analysts to associate the branding crisis with Musk’s actions in the White House.

Skip past newsletter promotions

Musk has refuted claims that branding is an issue, attributing the challenges to the “macro demand for vehicles” in the current economic landscape.

Mayor of Marion, Chris Hannah, indicated that most Australians are not likely to view the project through a political lens.

“However, there is indeed a core group with strong anti-fascist sentiments, directing their criticisms towards Elon Musk and his affiliations,” he remarked.

Hannah mentioned that a “natural” community reaction combined with a political campaign aims to boost the “no” votes.

“If this decision prevents the factory from moving forward, Tesla will simply relocate it elsewhere in Australia, which wouldn’t adversely affect Elon Musk’s interests,” he stated.

Many submissions referenced Musk’s interventions in U.S. and European politics, along with his controversial salute earlier this year.

According to a piece in The Guardian, a critic remarked: [sic] …This is likely to invite protests and negative attention that the neighborhood neither needs nor wants.

Tesla and South Australian government officials have emphasized the economic advantages for the region in their supportive letter, but a handful of residents contended that the land should be allocated for productive use.

Marion City staff have officially recommended that the council proceed with the land sale to Tesla, with a proposal set to be discussed at Tuesday’s council meeting.

Source: www.theguardian.com

When the Heat Dome Strikes Texas, Certain Cities Sizzle Hotter Than the Sahara

Posted on by
Reply

Some areas in Texas will experience temperatures hotter than the Sahara desert this Thursday. Intense heat domes are driving temperatures sharply up to triple digits.

In the central and southern regions of Texas, the combined measurement of temperature and humidity is expected to reach “feel-like” temperatures between 105 and 108 degrees Fahrenheit on Thursday. These temperatures are hotter than parts of the Sahara Desert, where several cities in Morocco are forecasted to hit the high ’90s F.

Cities like Houston, San Antonio, and Austin in Texas have a chance of breaking daily temperature records on Thursday, with minimal relief anticipated from the Heat Dome in the coming days.

The oppressive heat and humidity are projected to persist through the weekend and into next week, as noted by the National Weather Service.

While Texans are accustomed to high heat and humidity, the current conditions are more typical of summer rather than May.

Heat advisories are in effect for Atascosa, Bexar, Frio, Medina, Uvalde, and Wilson counties until 8 PM local time. The National Weather Service warns that high temperatures combined with humidity “can lead to heat-related illnesses.”

As reported earlier this week on X, the weather authorities stated that people “will not adapt to this level of heat within a year, increasing the risk of heat-related health issues.”

This early heatwave has already set multiple records, with new daily highs reported in Austin and Del Rio, San Antonio, on Wednesday. Austin Bergstrom International Airport hit a record high of 100 F, surpassing the previous May 14 record of 96 F set in 2003. San Antonio recorded 102 F, breaking its previous record of 97 F from 2022.

Although it’s challenging to link specific extreme weather events to climate change, research indicates that global warming is increasing the frequency, duration, and intensity of heatwaves globally. Every decade since 1850 has seen its hottest years within the last ten years, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, with the last two years setting new global temperature records.

The extreme heat is expected to continue affecting parts of Texas and the southern and central regions through Friday and the weekend. The National Weather Service predicts that heat index values in Texas will range from 100 F to 110 F over Saturday and Sunday.

“Whatever way you look at it, this weekend is set to be extremely hot in southern Texas,” according to the long-term forecast.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

28 Major U.S. Cities Are Sinking: Here’s Why

Posted on by
Reply

All 28 of the largest cities in the United States are gradually sinking, which could impact 34 million residents, according to new research.

Researchers at Virginia Tech’s Earth Observation and Innovation Lab utilized satellite-based radar technology to assess sedimentary land subsidence in these major urban areas.

The data revealed that in all examined cities, at least 20% of urban regions sank by a minimum of 2mm per year. In 25 out of the 28 cities, nearly two-thirds of the land exhibited signs of sinking.

“The immediate dangers of land subsidence include heightened vulnerability to localized flooding, potential structural damage to buildings, roads, bridges, and pipelines, as well as disruption of essential services,” stated Assistant Professor Manoochehr Shirzaei from Virginia Tech, as reported by BBC Science Focus.

Certain areas of Houston, Texas, are experiencing a sinking rate of 1cm per year. – Credit: Art Betting via Getty

Shirzaei noted that even slight annual movements can compromise building foundations and distort land enough to create surface cracks.

“In places like Houston and New York, local subsidence is already associated with infrastructure vulnerability and heightened flood risks during storms,” he explained.

This phenomenon of subsidence is largely driven by groundwater extraction. As urban populations grow, the demand for freshwater intensifies.

Water is drawn from aquifers, allowing for the flow of rocks containing water and other geological layers.

However, if water is extracted faster than it can be replenished, the aquifer can become compressed, leading to subsidence of the land above.

“Urban centers built on reclaimed or depositional areas, such as parts of San Francisco and New Orleans, face particular vulnerability,” added Shirzaei.

Studies indicate that cities like New York, Chicago, Seattle, and Denver experience sinking rates of about 2mm annually.

In Texas, certain cities experience sinking rates of around 5mm per year, with specific areas in Houston sinking as much as 1cm annually.

Localized zones in cities such as Houston, New York, Las Vegas, and Washington, DC, are sinking significantly faster than adjacent areas.

“As time progresses, subsidence exacerbates the effects of climate change, especially in coastal regions and flood-prone areas,” warned Shirzaei. “As the land sinks and sea levels rise, the floodplains stretch, and storm surges reach further inland.”

He emphasized that the study offers a “roadmap for aggressive, science-based planning” to assist experts and policymakers in monitoring subsidence and mitigating its impacts.

The 28 most populous cities in the United States include New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Phoenix, Philadelphia, San Antonio, San Diego, Dallas, Jacksonville, Austin, Fort Worth, Columbus, Charlotte, San Jose, Indianapolis, San Francisco, Seattle, Denver, Washington, Portland, Las Vegas, Detroit, and Memphis.

This study has been published in Natural City.

Read more:

About our experts

Manoochehr Shirzaei is an associate professor of geophysics and remote sensing at the Faculty of Geo-Science at Virginia Tech. He specializes in geodesy and geophysics, focusing on satellite geodesic theory, inverse theory, signal processing, modeling techniques, and the physics of crustal deformation.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Key U.S. Cities, Including New York and Seattle, Are Sinking at Alarming Rates

Posted on by
Reply

New York City’s skyline may undergo significant changes as major cities continue to sink.

Gary Hershorn/Getty Images

Over 20 of the largest metropolitan areas in the United States are experiencing subsidence, impacting thousands of structures and millions of residents.

This phenomenon has been noted especially in coastal areas. However, utilizing satellite technology that gauges the duration it takes radar signals to reach the Earth’s surface and return, researchers discovered that 25 out of the 28 largest cities in the country are affected.

“By analyzing multiple images taken over time from the same region, we can identify subtle vertical shifts in the ground that can reach several millimeters annually,” explains team member Manoochehr Shirzaei from Virginia Tech. “It’s akin to capturing a high-resolution time lapse of the Earth’s surface, revealing whether it is rising or sinking over time.”

Fort Worth, Houston, and Dallas demonstrate the highest rates of subsidence among major cities, averaging over 4 millimeters per year. Cities like New York, Chicago, Houston, Columbus, Seattle, and Denver show average subsidence rates surpassing 2 millimeters annually.

“Houston, the fastest sinking city among the 28 most populous in the US, has 42% of its land area sinking at rates greater than 5 mm per year, with 12% sinking faster than 10 mm annually,” researchers reported.

Most subsidence is attributed to groundwater extraction, although cities like New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC, primarily experience sinking due to “glacial isoplasm regulation.”

“During the last glacial period, these regions were covered by massive ice sheets. The considerable weight of the ice compressed the Earth’s crust, akin to resting on a memory foam mattress,” says Shirzaei. As the ice melted thousands of years ago, the pressure released and the terrain began to slowly recover,” he explains.

“However, this rebound isn’t uniform,” Shirzaei notes. “In some areas, particularly along the East Coast and in the Midwest, the land is subsiding rather than rising due to the residual weight of nearby ice and their proximity to regions currently collapsing.”

In Seattle, Portland, and San Francisco, plate tectonics may account for some of the subsidence.

“We must address sinking as a gradually unfolding disaster,” Shirzaei argues. Researchers also noted that cities can sink at varying rates in different locations or sink continuously in one area while other regions remain stable. “This uneven movement can create angular distortions and stress, resulting in cracks in walls and foundations, misalignments in windows and doors, or even significant structural failures,” Shirzaei warns.

Jesse Cars from Kyoto University in Japan demonstrated similar findings using satellite data, showing that many cities in New Zealand are also experiencing subsidence. “A crucial challenge for the geophysical community remains understanding how the observed trends stem from particular causes, whether they are artificial or naturally occurring geological processes,” he states.

Topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Millions of Deaths in European Cities Linked to Extreme Temperatures

Posted on by
Reply

Tourists are trying to cool down in Rome, which is expected to increase significantly by heat stroke by 2099

Massimo Valickia/Nurphoto (via Getty Image)

Researchers predict that if there are no further measures to restrict global warming and adapt to global warming, 2.3 million people will die in major European cities by 2099. I am. However, in cold northern northern countries, such as the United Kingdom, the number of deaths associated with the temperature of the cold will decrease due to the increase in the number of deaths due to the cold.

“It's presumed that there are some pure reductions, but it's very small compared to the significant increase in the Mediterranean region,” says. Pierre Maslot At London Hygiene Tropical Medicine School.

Masero's team first investigated epidemiological research on how the number of deaths increased during the intense heat or extreme cold period. Next, his team uses these statistical links to estimate how excessive deaths change in the next century in a variety of global warming scenarios.

The study is for 850 cities where 40 % of European population lives, but not in rural areas. This is because if many people live in a narrow area and are exposed to almost the same conditions, the statistical connection will be stronger.

If the city does not adapt, the ultimate impact of climate change will increase in exponential functions as global warming progresses. In the same scenario as the current scenario, the temperature -related number of excess deaths will increase by 50 % to 136 per year by 2099 by 2099 by 2099.

According to Masero, this figure will decrease if we take measures such as spreading air conditioners and planting trees in the city center, but to significantly reduce the vulnerabilities of the people in the heat. It is necessary. “This is far beyond what we have already observed in many countries around the world.”

The estimated value of the research team is based on the daily average temperature in the global warming scenario, and there is no possibility that extreme heat waves may be generated. “I know that this is usually enough to be able to associate death and temperature,” Maserotto says.

He says this is the most comprehensive study of this kind of study so far. It contains more countries, and for the first time, it was suggested that the number of deaths related to temperature increased as the continent warmed in France and Germany.

He says that rising temperature will have a wide range of effects from people's health to productivity. “The destiny to die is only part of the story.”

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Cao Fei: Illuminating China’s Past and Future Through Neon Cities, Cyber Nightmares, and Dim Sum

Posted on by
Reply

WWhen contemporary Chinese artist Cao Fei was negotiating a solo show at Nara Badu, the contemporary art department of the Art Gallery of New South Wales, she said it would be a traditional “white rectangular box illuminated.” He firmly insisted that there would be no such attempt.

The Guangzhou-born artist has strong ties to Sydney (the vast Chinese port city’s sister city) and wanted to capture the sass and hustle and bustle of bustling malls and markets in her show.

As a result, in “Cao Fei: My City is Yours”, gallery walls are abandoned for scaffolding, and music and sound effects from her various installations, including theaters, restaurants, and factories, play into each other. They blend together and compete for the viewer’s charm. Note.




Cao Fei’s My City is Yours includes key works from her 20-year career. Photo: Diana Panuccio

“This is not a criticism of European countries.” [style]But usually I watch a lot of video shows. [installed] Inside the white cube…you’ll see the curator turn down the volume. Quieter or cleaner,” Mr Cao told Guardian Australia.

“But I want my exhibition to reflect my personality and experience. There is always a lot of construction, demolition and reconstruction going on in my city. This is my material.”

‘My City is Yours’ is the Beijing-based artist’s first major solo exhibition in Australia, featuring major works from his 20-year career including film, photography, metaverse experiments and large-scale interactive installations at AGNSW and Sydney It is on display at the Museum of Contemporary Art.

Much of Cao’s career has been spent investigating the incredible technological and social transformations that have taken place in China over the past quarter century. She has held solo exhibitions in Beijing, London, Paris, and New York, and last year was in the world’s top 10. ArtReview’s Power 100 listwhere she was described as “a key figure in envisioning our metaverse-colored future.”




“Konatsu Foyer” is a reproduction of the foyer of the currently demolished Hong Summer Theater, which was used by artists as a studio space for six years before it was demolished. Photo: Cao Fei

Source: www.theguardian.com

Cities are becoming uninhabitable due to extreme heat – how can we adapt?

Posted on by
Reply

Humidity makes Shanghai’s heat even more unbearable

lukyeee1976/Getty Images

“My office was like a steamer on Monday morning,” Chinese influencer Bi Dao wrote in a social media post in August. He removed a drink from what appeared to be a cold water dispenser, and its temperature was 40.8°C (105°F). Bi, who lives in Hangzhou, a provincial city on China’s east coast, decided to walk around the city with a temperature gun and point it at things to find out exactly how much the temperature was rising. “The ground was 72.6 degrees Celsius, the seat of a shared bike was 56.5 degrees Celsius, the handrails of the subway station were 45 degrees Celsius, and even the bark of a tree was 38.7 degrees Celsius,” he wrote. He concluded his post by thanking Willis Carrier, who invented air conditioning.

Hangzhou is known for its beautiful lakes, large pagodas, and rolling green tea fields, but it’s not known for its heat. But Bi witnessed just one of the 60 “hot days” above 35 degrees Celsius that have scorched the city and its 12.5 million residents this year. It’s not just Hangzhou. Many cities around the world are feeling the heat. The situation has gotten so bad that more and more people are facing temperatures that are beyond what humans can tolerate.

Approximately 500,000 people die each year due to these conditions. This rate will inevitably rise as climate change increases the number and intensity of heat waves around the world. Cities are on the front lines of this ongoing crisis. And China’s vast, densely populated metropolises are leading the way. At the same time we can get a glimpse of the situation we are in…

Source: www.newscientist.com

11 US Cities with the Highest Crime Rates

Posted on by
Reply

Looking for information on the most dangerous cities in America? With thousands of cities and millions of people living in close quarters, there are bound to be areas with high crime rates. The FBI has compiled data tracking the most dangerous cities in America and has ranked the top 11 worst cities for crime based on serious felonies per 100,000 people in a year. These felonies include murder, manslaughter, assault, robbery, and other serious crimes. While some numbers may seem alarming, overall crime rates in the United States have been decreasing in recent years.

11. San Bernardino, California

Aerial view of a residential area in San Bernardino, California. Photo by Steve Proehl/Getty Images – Credit: Steve Proehl

San Bernardino, with a population of approximately 222,000, is California’s 18th largest city and one of the state’s oldest settlements. It’s known for its mining history and as the location of the first McDonald’s. In 2019, the city had a violent crime rate of 1,319 per 100,000 residents, with 46 people killed that year. Although crime numbers have since dropped, they remain above California’s average.

10. Indianapolis, Indiana

An aerial view of the downtown area of Indianapolis looking east-northeast. The Indiana State Capitol is visible in the foreground. Photo credit: TpsDave/Wikipedia

Indianapolis, known for the Indy 500 and its museums, also has a high violent crime rate, with 1,333.96 crimes per 100,000 people in 2019. Efforts like the Indiana Crime Gun Task Force aim to decrease violent crime rates and have shown some success in recent years.

9. Albuquerque, New Mexico

Monsoon season in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. This is the view from the Sandia Mountains at the Embud Canyon Trailhead. Photo by Mona Makela/Getty Images

Albuquerque, the most populous city in New Mexico, faces a violent crime rate of 1,369.14 felonies per 100,000 people. Efforts to combat this high crime rate include funding for law enforcement technology like gunshot recognition technology.

… (content continues)

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Explore two historic cities along the Silk Road in Uzbekistan

Posted on by
Reply

These two medieval cities, named Tashbulak and Tugubulak, are among the largest cities ever recorded on the mountainous Silk Road, a vast network of ancient trade routes that connected Europe and East Asia. is.

A drone captured this image of Tugumburak in 2018. Image credit: M. Frachetti.

Tashbulac and Tugumbrac are located on rugged terrain between 2,000 and 2,200 meters above sea level (roughly comparable to Machu Picchu in Peru), making them rare examples of thriving mountain cities.

The small city of Tashbulak had an area of ​​about 12 hectares, while the larger city of Tugubulak reached 120 hectares, making it one of the largest provincial cities of the time.

“These would have been important urban centers in Central Asia, especially if they moved from lowland oases to more difficult highlands,” said archaeologist Professor Michael Frachetti of Washington University in St. Louis.

“Although typically seen as barriers to trade and movement on the Silk Road, the mountains were actually major centers of exchange.”

“Animals, minerals, and other valuable resources likely drove their prosperity.”

“The Tugumbrak site had an elaborate urban structure with a specific material culture that was very different from the sedentary culture of the lowlands,” added Dr. Farkhod Makhdov, director of the National Archaeological Center of Uzbekistan.

“It is clear that the people who lived in Tugumburak more than a thousand years ago were nomads who maintained their own independent culture and political economy.”

Combined lidar view of Tugumburak. Image credit: SAIElab / J.Berner / M. Frachetti.

Drone-based lidar scanning revealed squares, fortresses, roads and settlements in Tashbulak and Tugubulak.

“These are some of the highest resolution lidar images of the site ever published,” Dr. Frachetti said.

“They are made possible, in part, because of the unique erosion dynamics in this mountainous environment.”

“Both cities need more thorough testing,” he added.

“Preliminary excavations at one of the fortified structures in Tugumburak show that this fortification (a building protected by a three-meter-thick rammed earth wall) was constructed by a local metal smith who used the rich iron ore deposits to create steel. This suggests that it may have been a processing factory.

“Such an industry would have been an important feature of the city and its economy.”

It is already clear that Tashbulak and Tugubulak were not just remote outposts or resting places.

“The Silk Road was not just about China and its western terminus,” Dr. Frachetti said.

“Major political forces were active in Central Asia. Complex centers of networks were also drivers of innovation.”

team's result Published in this month's magazine nature.

_____

MD Frachetti others. 2024. Large-scale medieval urbanization tracked by UAV lidar in the highlands of Central Asia. nature 634, 1118-1124; doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-08086-5

Source: www.sci.news

Artificial turf equipped with self-cooling technology offers solution for cities facing extreme weather

Posted on by
Reply

At a test site in Amsterdam, self-cooling artificial turf was tested against regular artificial turf.

Joris Forten

By absorbing rainwater and allowing it to evaporate on hot days, artificial turf stays much cooler than regular artificial grass. Self-cooling turf protects athletes from burns and heat stroke and helps cities manage stormwater.

Such surfaces are already in use in Amsterdam, London and Kobe, Japan, he said. Marjolein van Huygevoort At the KWR Water Resources Institute in Nieuwegein, The Netherlands.

“A normal lawn stays cool because the grass itself evaporates,” she says, “so this system mimics that natural situation by letting the water rise and evaporate.”

Van Huygevoort says many cities and sports venues are installing artificial turf fields because overuse can damage natural grass. Even in warm climates like those in Northern Europe, the sun can heat the plastic surface to about 70°C (158°F), not only damaging the health of athletes but also warming the air in urban areas, a situation that will only get worse with global warming, he says.

Inspired by A “blue-green roof” that collects rainwater for a cooling effectVan Huygevoort and her colleagues built a toy-sized mock-up of the playground in a climate-controlled lab, with a water-retention unit below the surface topped with a two-centimeter-thick cushioning pad with thin irrigation cylinders embedded inside.

Filled with mineral wool fibres that act like a sponge, these “capillaries” slowly wick water up into a thin layer of sand at the bottom of the artificial turf surface. In a heated laboratory environment, the irrigated water evaporates from the sand, creating a cooling effect on the surface.

Encouraged by these results, the team built a 25-square-metre test site in Amsterdam containing irrigated natural grass. During a heatwave that recorded a maximum temperature of 29.8°C (86°F), the conventional artificial grass reached 62.5°C (145°F). The researchers found that Self-cooling lawnBut the temperature never rose above 37°C (99°F), just 1.7°C warmer than on a natural grass field. Even the air above the water-cooled turf was cooler, which helped keep temperatures down across the city, van Huygevoort said.

The system is based on a design in which the rate at which the water level rises and the evaporative cooling process depend on various natural factors, such as weather conditions. “So water only evaporates when there is a demand for cooling,” says van Huygevoort.

A reservoir beneath the grass can store about 512,000 litres of rainwater beneath the floor of a standard 100-metre by 64-metre football pitch, she says, and capillaries in the buffer pad can store another 96,000 litres, meaning the field should be useful for absorbing large amounts of water during storms, van Huygevoort says.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

The most effective method to cool cities: White and reflective roofs.

Posted on by
Reply

White roofs in London would help keep the city cool during the hottest days.

NagyxMe/Imago/Alamy

In cities like London, painting roofs white or adding reflective coatings is the best way to cool them down during the heatwaves, and these “cool roofs” could work better than solar panels, green roofs or adding more trees to the ground.

Oskar Bruss Researchers at University College London ran a climate simulation to look at how temperatures in London would have changed on the hottest two days of the summer of 2018 if the city had implemented widespread cooling measures, from cooled roofs to air conditioners to cooling solar panels. The highest temperature was 35.6℃ (96.1°F).

The researchers found that the cool roofs outperformed all other countermeasures, reducing the city's average outdoor temperature by 1.2°C over the two days, and by as much as 2°C in some places. By comparison, adding more trees reduced temperatures by just 0.3°C, and solar panels reduced temperatures by 0.5°C.

The study found that while widespread air conditioning may keep indoor temperatures lower, it could increase outdoor temperatures by up to 1°C in parts of central London. “In London, cool roofs were the most effective at reducing outdoor temperatures at pedestrian level,” Bruce says.

While the study only used two days of data for its simulations, Bruce said: Similar published studies.

Applying reflective coatings or brightening roof surfaces across cities would be a relatively simple, low-cost climate adaptation measure, Bruce says. “In fact, I think it's probably the easiest thing to implement,” he says. “I see very little reason not to do this more widely.”

Beyond cooling, he says there are other reasons to install technologies: trees and green roofs can boost biodiversity and resident well-being, for example, and solar panels can provide clean electricity.

2023 Report A report by the Greater London Authority suggests that cool roofs could become a policy focus for the city government as summer temperatures rise due to climate change. “As temperatures in London are expected to rise and heatwaves become more frequent, reflective roofs are likely to become a key element of climate adaptation strategies,” the report said.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

The ghost cities of Amazon are reshaping civilization’s history

Posted on by
Reply

Sasithorn Puapangkasemsuk/Getty Images

When you imagine an environment that has been largely untouched by humans, the Amazon rainforest might come to mind. After all, most of this South American landscape is covered with dense vegetation, suggesting a corner of the world that humans never had control over. Here, there must have been no deforestation, no agricultural revolution, no cities. It seems like a pristine environment.

At least, that's what we thought. But a very different picture is emerging. Archaeologists working with indigenous communities are being shown the remains of crumbling cities, and remote sensing techniques such as lidar are revealing traces of vast ghost cities. With so much evidence of ancient human activity, it is believed that millions of people lived in the pre-Columbian Amazon, some of them in large urban centres complete with road networks, temples and pyramids.

But this study reveals more than that. It also provides evidence that, paradoxically, conventional views of the Amazon are not entirely off the mark. For example, although ancient Amazonians managed the land intensively, they did not deforest. And, although they developed complex societies, they never underwent a major agricultural revolution. This may suggest that pre-Columbian Amazonians broke the mold of human cultural development traditionally thought of as an inexorable progression from hunting and gathering to agriculture to urban complexity. The truth is more surprising. In fact, we are now coming to understand that there was no such mold. Civilizations arose in different ways. What seems like an anomaly in the Amazon is actually a shining example of a process as vibrant and diverse as the rainforest itself.

in spite of…

Source: www.newscientist.com

As heat waves loom, cities innovate to protect residents and prevent casualties.

Posted on by
Reply

In North Carolina, for instance, Ward and colleagues have assisted counties in formulating heat preparedness plans to identify their most vulnerable residents.

He emphasized that government officials should approach the rise in heat and humidity in a similar manner to how they handle hurricanes, tornadoes, and other emergencies.

“Emergency management and public health officials are already well-prepared for various extreme weather events, but they are not as well-prepared for heat-related incidents,” Ward explained.

The events of last summer raised concerns, she noted.

“It was a Category 5 heat event,” Ward explained. “The severity of what we experienced last summer was enough to bring attention to this issue.”

Research indicates that climate change is leading to an increase in the frequency, duration, and intensity of heatwaves worldwide. Last year marked the hottest year on record, and the warming trend continues. According to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Agency, April saw World temperature records being set for 11 consecutive months.

Forecasts suggest that temperatures will be higher than usual across much of the United States in the next three months, as per the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s predictions. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Ward expressed optimism that cities were taking the threat of heatwaves seriously, although significant challenges lie ahead. Securing funding for preparing for extreme heatwaves, particularly in rural regions, is a major challenge.

Addressing the root social issues that exacerbate during heatwaves, such as homelessness, soaring energy costs, and economic disparities, is an even greater challenge.

However, Ward remains hopeful that the experiences of last summer have motivated some local governments to take action.

“Moving forward, I would like to see a stronger emphasis on preventive measures to reduce these exposures in the first place, so we are not constantly in response mode,” she stated.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

The US’s Top 10 Most Dangerous Cities

Posted on by
Reply

America is often described as the land of the free and the home of the brave. However, some parts of the country grapple with issues surrounding violent crime.

According to data from the FBI, dangerous cities are ranked based on the number of serious felonies reported per 100,000 people in a year. These felonies include murder, manslaughter, assault, and robbery.

Recent data indicates a general decline in violent crime across the United States. Technological advancements, such as real-time crime maps and gun detection software, are being utilized to enhance safety in urban areas. However, here are some of America’s most dangerous cities.

10. Indianapolis, Indiana

An aerial view of the downtown area of ​​Indianapolis looking east-northeast. The Indiana State Capitol is visible in the foreground.Photo credit: TpsDave/Wikipedia

Indianapolis, known for hosting the Indy 500, boasts museums and green spaces. However, the city also struggles with a high incidence of violent crime, with 1,333.96 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported in 2019.

Efforts to lower violent crime rates include initiatives like the Indiana Crime Gun Task Force, which aims to combat the flow of firearms into the city.

9. Albuquerque, New Mexico

Monsoon season in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. This is the view from the Sandia Mountains of the Embud His Canyon Trailhead.Photo by Mona Makela/Getty Images

Albuquerque, known for its culture and history, faces a violent crime rate of 1,369.14 felonies per 100,000 people, placing it as the 9th most dangerous city. The number of crimes continued to rise from 2019 to 2023.

To address the high crime rate, funding has been increased for local law enforcement agencies to implement technology like video surveillance, live mapping, acoustic monitoring, and gunshot recognition technology.

8. Stockton, California

Stockton has one of the highest crime rates in California.Photo by Luis Cinco/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images

Stockton, a port city, with a relatively small population, faces a high violent crime rate of 1,414.56 felonies per 100,000 people, ranking it as the 8th most dangerous city.

The city declared bankruptcy in 2012, mainly due to real estate value decline and high unemployment rates from the 2008 financial crisis. Efforts to combat crime include additional taxes for police enforcement and anti-gang programs.

7. Cleveland, Ohio

Cleveland waterfront on the Cuyahoga River, USA. Photo by Kenneth Sponsler/Getty Images

Cleveland, located on Lake Erie, is known for its port, heavy industry, and advancements in the medical field. Unfortunately, the city faces a violent crime rate of 1,556.76 crimes per 100,000 people.

While crime had been decreasing, there was a significant rise in crime rates in 2020 and 2021, attributed to increased poverty rates and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on local police forces.

6. Milwaukee, Wisconsin

A police car drives down Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Milwaukee. Photo credit: Vincent Desjardins/Wikipedia

Milwaukee, famed for its beer and cheese, suffers from a declining population and a violent crime rate of 1,597.36 felonies per 100,000 people.

The city aims to attract residents back through new investments and building developments.

5. Kansas City, Missouri

Kansas City skyline. Photo by Tony Dezenzio/Getty Images

Kansas City, famous for its barbecue and jazz, faces a rising crime rate with 1,724.31 violent crimes per 100,000 people recorded in 2019.

To combat crime, the Kansas City Police Department collaborates with community organizations to implement citywide strategies, addressing poverty, mental health, and violence prevention.

4. Memphis, Tennessee

A Memphis police car is parked on Beale Street in Memphis, USA. Photo courtesy of Zodebala/Getty Images

Memphis, known for blues and rock music, struggles with a high violent crime rate, recording nearly 400 murders in 2023.

Efforts to combat crime include federal funding and the Violent Crime Initiative, aiming to revitalize the city and improve safety.

3. Baltimore, Maryland

Contrast between residential and industrial areas on President Street in Baltimore, USA. You can see the downtown skyline in the distance. Photo credit: Alex Potemkin/Getty Images

Baltimore, a vital port city, faces a high violent crime rate of 2,027.01 felonies per 100,000 people.

New strategies implemented in 2021, treating violent crime as a public health issue, have significantly reduced crime rates and offer a promising future for residents.

2. Detroit, Michigan

An abandoned building on Franklin Street in downtown Detroit, USA.Photo by Ayman Heikal/Getty Images

Detroit, once thriving with industrial history, faces a violent crime rate of 2,056.67 crimes per 100,000 people due to population decline and economic challenges.

Recent improvements in wages, poverty levels, and crime rates are leading to a potential resurgence in Detroit.

1. St. Louis, Missouri

Goodfellow Boulevard (shown in this image) forms the boundary of what is known as “Hayden's Rectangle.” This is a rectangular piece of land in the northern part of the city, an area of ​​high crime and poverty.Photo by Jahi Chikwendu/Washington Post/Getty Images

St. Louis is the most dangerous city, with 2,082.29 violent crimes per 100,000 people in 2019, attributed to high poverty and racial disparities.

Efforts to combat crime include new camera technology to help reduce crime rates and create a safer environment for residents.

Read More:

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Have we Actually Considered the Possibility of Cities on Mars?

Posted on by
Reply

SpaceX launched one of the largest rockets ever built on November 18, 2023. The Starship rocket has the potential to revolutionize humanity’s interaction with space, including the Mars base. This reusable rocket is so powerful that it could transport the entire International Space Station’s mass in just a few launches, possibly at a lower cost.

While the dreams of the Apollo era were initially shattered due to the high costs of space access, Starship’s launch has reignited the debate about the significance of space exploration for humans. Despite facing setbacks and challenges in achieving its goals, the space enthusiast community views the Starship launch as a success, given the valuable data collected during the flight.

Is a Mars base really worth the investment?

Space advocates believe that space offers hope, opportunities for resource extraction from asteroids, environmental protection, and the establishment of a second home for humanity. However, some question the allocation of resources to space exploration instead of addressing pressing issues on Earth.

The space industry is rapidly growing and is projected to reach a value of over $1 trillion in the next two decades. Investments in space exploration often lead to innovations in navigation, data transmission, and environmental monitoring, benefiting both space and Earth. The share of government spending on space, particularly NASA, is minimal compared to other sectors.

Concerns about space billionaires building Martian fortresses as a safeguard against Earth’s destruction remain speculative. While asteroid mining and space resource utilization hold potential, the practical challenges and time required for extraction may limit immediate benefits. Therefore, it is crucial to approach space exploration with caution and realistic expectations.

Credit: Alamy

A Mars base will involve complex life.

Extraterrestrial resource utilization may offer new opportunities, but the majority of Earth’s wealth derives from ideas and technologies rather than material resources. Building infrastructure in space to reduce Earth’s burden and provide a sustainable living environment poses significant challenges and requires substantial investment.

Practical considerations for Mars bases include long travel times, harsh environmental conditions, and limited resources. Establishing a sustainable colony on Mars involves complex engineering solutions and adaptation to the planet’s inhospitable environment.

Big questions about Mars biology

Challenges in Mars biology include reproduction in low gravity, creating enclosed ecosystems for sustenance, and understanding the long-term effects of living on Mars. Addressing these biological questions requires extensive research and investment, which may not align with current priorities in space exploration.

Despite the uncertainties and challenges of Mars colonization, space exploration continues to offer economic benefits, valuable knowledge, and opportunities for progress. While the feasibility of large-scale space migration remains uncertain, the exploration of space contributes to our understanding of the universe and benefits our society as a whole.

read more:

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Coastal Cities in the US Facing Increased Flooding Risk Due to Rising Sea Levels by 2050

Posted on by
Reply

New Orleans is at risk of more flooding than expected due to land subsidence

William A. Morgan/Shutterstock

Sea levels are rising faster than expected in U.S. coastal cities, primarily due to land subsidence from groundwater and fossil fuel extraction. This means up to 518,000 additional people living in these areas could be at risk of major flooding by 2050 if adequate protection is not in place.

Coastal cities often experience subsidence, where the land gradually sinks over time. One of the biggest factors causing this is the compaction of the earth by extracting resources such as water and fossil fuels from the ground.

To investigate how land subsidence and sea level rise will impact coastal communities. leonard owenhen The Virginia Tech researchers created a model based on land elevation changes in 32 major coastal cities, including Boston and San Francisco, and sea level rise projections through 2050.

Researchers found that cities on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, such as New Orleans, have lower elevations and are sinking faster. It is sinking at least two millimeters more per year than other cities in the region, increasing the risk of future flooding. . Urban areas along the Pacific coast are better protected from rising sea levels because of their higher elevations.

“We were surprised to see that Biloxi, Mississippi, experienced the most rapid subsidence,” Owenhen says.

They also found that existing flood risk assessments in the United States do not take into account the combined effects of land subsidence, underestimating its threat. Researchers have found that nearly 1,400 square kilometers more land will be at risk of flooding by 2050 than current estimates. That means, in total, 1 in 50 people and 1 in 35 homes in 32 cities are at risk. .

This would put an additional 518,000 people and more than 288,000 homes at risk of flooding.

The study looked at flood risk for dozens of coastal U.S. cities by 2050.

Image courtesy of Leonard Owenhen

These findings highlight the urgent need to strengthen U.S. flood protection now, team members say Manuchel Shirzai, also at Virginia Tech. “Individual cities will need to adapt differently. New Orleans will need to strengthen city-wide flood protection, while San Francisco will probably only need to protect its critical infrastructure.”

Other things could be done to reduce the threat. “If land subsidence is being caused by groundwater extraction, oil and gas development, or other human-induced stresses, we need to do everything we can to reverse these trends before it’s too late.” he says. Simon Anisfeld At Yale University.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Can Technology-Backed Planners Revive the Lost Art of City-Building in California’s Big Cities?

Posted on by
Reply

I
As we were chopping garlic and herbs at Burning Man, we met Gabriel Metcalf, an urban planner hired to design a new city in California with the backing of a tech billionaire.
new york times
The mystery of who was secretly buying up more than 50,000 acres of farmland in Solano County, about 80 miles northeast of San Francisco, has just been uncovered.

The buyers included Silicon Valley investors who were committed to ambitious plans for a new “California Dream” city with walkable neighborhoods, climate-friendly infrastructure, green energy jobs, and affordable housing. It turns out that the list includes celebrities.

Many people are deeply suspicious of tech elites throwing money around thinking they can solve everything. And the way California Forever, an investor-backed company, secretly bought up nearly $1 billion worth of land without the knowledge of local residents or officials, also discouraged people from getting excited about the project. In the months since the project was announced, residents, officials and environmentalists have raised serious questions about the feasibility of turning rural land into a bustling city.

I followed up with Metcalfe to see if what sounded like a bold vision when shared in a pop-up city in the Nevada desert actually makes sense in the real world. . Metcalf, who comes across as more of a pragmatic urban design geek than a Silicon Valley techie, admits he understands where the skeptics are coming from.

“This has never been done before, at least not in this way or on this scale. There's a lot of work to do to get people on board and understand the vision,” he said over coffee in San Francisco's Dogpatch district. he said while drinking. “We're not proposing a utopia. We're just proposing a city. We're not claiming that this will solve all your problems. But this is another tool. I would argue that it can be helpful.”




Farmland in rural Solano County, California. Counties where California Forever wants to build.
Photo: Godofredo A. Vasquez/AP

California faces difficult housing issues that Metcalf, a respected urban planner, believes can only be addressed through bold action.

Metcalf ran Spar, a San Francisco-based urban planning think tank, for a decade and a half, where he advocated for building more cities.
public housingways to address the region's housing crisis include increasing public transportation and increasing the minimum wage.

…

Source: www.theguardian.com

The World’s Top 10 Largest Cities

Posted on by
Reply

Since the world’s population reached 8 billion on November 15, 2022, various predictions have been made about when the world’s population will reach its peak. Studies vary, with some suggesting that the world’s population will peak at 8.8 billion by mid-century and then begin to decline. Other predictions, such as those made by the United Nations, world population By the 2080s, the number could exceed 10 billion.

In any case, the massive increase in population has created significant congestion in some of the world’s largest cities, raising major concerns about pollution and overcrowding.

To put this list in some perspective, Greater London in the UK has a whopping 8.9 million people, and New York in the US has a population of about 8.5 million.

Here are the 10 most populous cities on Earth and what it’s like to live there.

10. Osaka, Japan – 19.2 million people

Aerial view of Osaka city.Photo credit: Getty Images

Approximately 19.2 million people live in the Keihanshin metropolitan area, which includes Japan’s third-largest city, Osaka. Historically an important center of commerce and industry, the city remains a financial center with many of Japan’s largest companies based there.

Osaka is famous for its food culture and modern architecture, making it a popular destination for tourists. And thanks to a middling public transport system, unheard of in the UK, the city’s Underground carries more than 900 million passengers a year.

…

read more:

To be amazed by more science, check out our ultimate Interesting information page.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com