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Build it and they shall come

A study conducted at Osaka Metropolitan University found that the opening of a multifunctional facility called ONIKURU significantly increased residents' daily walking time, especially among female young adults. The results suggest that such architecture-scale interventions can contribute to building health-promoting environments.

SourceOsaka Metropolitan University·JournalScientific Reports·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMar 26, 2025

Internal displacement in Syria used to reshape the country’s political and social landscape, new study shows

A new study by the University of Exeter highlights how the Syrian regime systematically employed internal displacement as a military-political strategy to depopulate key areas and create new realities. This tactic has lasting post-war consequences, embedding displacement beyond immediate conflict and requiring policymakers to engage wi...

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalComparative Migration Studies·TypeMeta-analysis·DateMar 18, 2025

Coastal guardians pioneer a new way to protect the Florida Keys’ shorelines

Researchers created a new GIS-based multi-criteria decision tool to guide decisions on using nature-based shorelines or hybrid solutions in the Florida Keys. The study finds that nearly 8% of the shoreline is suitable for nature-based solutions, while 67% is already vegetated or represents another natural shoreline.

SourceFlorida Atlantic University·JournalJournal of Marine Science and Engineering·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 18, 2025

Whose air quality are we monitoring?

Researchers found systemic monitoring disparities for six major pollutants across US Census groups, with Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders facing the largest gaps. The study highlights the need to consider biases in datasets beyond algorithmic bias.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalJAMA·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMar 18, 2025

Wild bees thrive among diverse flower communities, Concordia study shows

A study published in Ecological Applications found that a diversity of corolla sizes in urban flower communities positively impacts wild bee biodiversity. Researchers from Concordia University collected data from 16 sites around Montreal and identified 94 different species of bees and almost 150 different species of flowers.

SourceConcordia University·JournalEcological Applications·TypeObservational study·DateMar 11, 2025

Study highlights how population density and location shape litter levels facing UK communities

A study of over 97 citizen scientists found that coastal areas have significantly more litter than inland locations, with urban areas consistently exhibiting more litter than rural areas. The research highlights the need for tailored waste management strategies to address regional differences in litter patterns.

SourceUniversity of Plymouth·JournalMarine Pollution Bulletin·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 6, 2025

Urban inequality scaling – Research indicates correlation between population size and elite wealth in urban spaces

A new study by the Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology reveals striking quantitative similarities between ancient and modern cities regarding elite wealth concentration. As cities grow larger, elite wealth increases in a sublinear way, with diminishing returns on each increase in city size.

SourceMax Planck Institute of Geoanthropology·JournalNature Cities·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMar 4, 2025

Vehicular emissions cause 342 premature deaths each year in greater Boston

Emissions from SUVs and light-duty trucks cause 90% of nitrogen dioxide-related deaths, with suburban driving linked to greatest health damages. The study's findings inform geographically targeted transportation policies and climate action plans for Boston and cities nationwide.

SourceBoston University School of Public Health·JournalScience of The Total Environment·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 3, 2025

Medicaid extension policies that cover all immigrants in a post-COVID world reduce inequities in postpartum insurance coverage

A new study found that Medicaid extension policies covering all immigrants led to a 4 percentage-point decrease in postpartum uninsurance among immigrant populations in New York City. However, Hispanic immigrants saw a smaller decline, highlighting awareness gaps as a barrier to full benefit.

SourceColumbia University's Mailman School of Public Health·JournalAmerican Journal of Public Health·DateFeb 27, 2025

Improving the distribution of green spaces in Barcelona could prevent 178 premature deaths each year

A study by Barcelona Institute for Global Health estimates that increasing green spaces in the city could prevent 178 premature deaths per year. The proposed Green Corridors plan would lead to a 3.64% increase in green space, reducing mortality rates and heat-related deaths.

SourceBarcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal)·JournalEnvironment International·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 24, 2025

Big cities fuel inequality

A study reveals that large cities have ceased to be centers of upward social and economic mobility, with population density and connectedness associated with reduced intergenerational mobility. Urban expansion has also led to decreased average social capital, contributing to growing inequality within and across generations.

SourcePNAS Nexus·JournalPNAS Nexus·DateFeb 4, 2025

Black immigrants attract white residents to neighborhoods

A study by Ohio State University researcher Nima Dahir found that Black immigrants can act as a buffer between Black and white residents, increasing the white population in neighborhoods with a high native-born Black presence. The influx of Black immigrants led to a decrease in native-born Black residents and an increase in non-Hispani...

SourceOhio State University·JournalRSF The Russell Sage Foundation Journal of the Social Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 22, 2025

Coyote genes may show urban evolution at work

A new study explores how city life is influencing the evolution of urban coyotes, revealing genetic changes related to diet, health, thermoregulation, behavior, cognition, and reproduction. The research also highlights the challenges of studying urban coyotes, which are increasingly common in urban areas throughout the US.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalGenome Biology and Evolution·DateJan 15, 2025

Deep dive into genome of dogs within Chornobyl Exclusion Zone shows genetic differences are not due to mutations

A new study published in PLOS ONE found that the genomes of dogs within the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone did not exhibit genetic mutations from radiation exposure. Instead, researchers suggest that low-level environmental toxin exposure over many years may have contributed to genetic differences between dog populations. The findings offer ...

Researchers reveal key factors behind Japan’s plastic waste removal rates in rivers

A nationwide analysis of Japan's plastic litter removal from rivers found that natural disasters and extreme weather events contribute to spikes in collected plastic waste. The study, led by Tokyo University of Science, also identified positive correlations between basin population, plastic litter recovery, and cleanup activities.

SourceTokyo University of Science·JournalMarine Pollution Bulletin·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 12, 2024

Milan under stress due to heat waves: study reveals districts most at risk of cardiovascular emergencies

A study by Politecnico di Milano reveals districts most at risk of cardiovascular emergencies during heat waves in Milan. The research found that 23% of the city's population in 18 vulnerable districts face a 22% increased risk, while 20 low-vulnerability districts show no significant increase.

SourcePolitecnico di Milano·JournalPopulation and Environment·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 10, 2024

A third of people from Chicago carry concealed handguns in public before they reach middle age, major 25-year study finds

A major US study found that around a third of Chicago residents carry concealed firearms by middle age, with differences in gun carrying between men and women. Gun carrying in adolescence often occurs in response to direct experiences of violence, while adults are more likely to carry due to perceived threats to public safety.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalScience Advances·DateDec 4, 2024

Study finds suburban school districts diversified in 20 years, but urban districts saw more racial isolation

Research from the University of Kansas found that suburban school districts are becoming more diverse, while urban districts are experiencing increased racial isolation. This study analyzed census data and geographic mapping technology to compare demographic changes in schools across the country.

SourceUniversity of Kansas·JournalAERA Open·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateNov 25, 2024

Black men — including transit workers — are targets for aggression on public transportation, study shows

A new study by Gwendolyn Purifoye found that Black men are targeted with aggression on buses and trains, leading to erosion of their sense of dignity and self-worth. The researchers observed repeated avoidance behaviors by non-Black passengers and surveillance by authority figures.

SourceUniversity of Notre Dame·JournalSociology of Race and Ethnicity·TypeObservational study·DateNov 22, 2024

Study calls for city fashion waste shakeup

A study published in Nature Cities analyzed textile waste in various cities, finding that most donated clothes are exported or thrown away. Experts call for a change in how cities handle fashion waste, suggesting the need for local recycling and reuse facilities.

SourceRMIT University·JournalNature Cities·TypeCase study·DateNov 20, 2024

Refugees face high housing instability

Researchers from the Complexity Science Hub found that refugees in Austria experience significantly greater housing instability, with an average of 3.8 moves within a year. This can lead to challenges such as financial strain, limited access to education and healthcare, and unstable relationships within neighborhoods.

SourceComplexity Science Hub·JournalGenus·TypeCase study·DateNov 18, 2024