Articles tagged with Cities
The ancient Maya created a water filtration system nearly 2,000 years ago, using crystalline quartz and zeolite to remove harmful microbes and toxins from drinking water. This innovative system would still be effective today.
A new study by New York University sociologist Jacob Faber found that New Deal housing programs dramatically increased segregation in American cities and towns, creating racial disparities that continue to characterize life today.
Researchers found toxic levels of mercury and blue-green algae in ancient Maya reservoirs, suggesting droughts may have contributed to the city's abandonment. The pollutants made the water toxic to drink, even if boiled, highlighting the importance of understanding environmental factors in ancient civilizations.
A study by University of Washington professor Dafeng Xu found that bike-share systems can drive a population to commute by bike, increasing rates by 20% in US cities. Larger bike-share systems experience sharper increases in bicycle commuting, making cycling a more accessible and appealing option for commuters.
A study by NYU Wagner found that participatory budgeting in NYC has led to smaller, more numerous capital projects and potentially increased political patronage. The process allows citizens to determine priorities for public spending, but the analysis suggests that city legislators may be using it to dispense patronage instead.
A study analyzing Barcelona's 'Superblocks' program reveals how political struggles for municipal power hindered its implementation. The program aimed to reduce car traffic and emissions, but resistance from local forces and public participation issues threatened its success.
Researchers found that residents of smaller cities are more likely to buy apartments in Moscow region suburbs due to affordability. In contrast, city dwellers prioritize central locations. These findings highlight the impact of regional inequality on urban development and migration patterns.
The study found that suburban expansion is the predominant pattern in cities worldwide, driving inefficient and unsustainable development. Notable exceptions exist in East and Southeast Asia, where high-rise construction is on the rise.
Researchers found that Manchester-based indie music fans define their musical tastes around specific places like cafes, live music venues, and neighbourhoods. The study highlights the importance of experience in shaping musical tastes and suggests that where people live plays a significant role in forming associations with certain genres.
A study by Arizona State University found that urban agriculture can meet 90% of Phoenix's current annual fresh produce consumption. The city could also increase green space by 17% and reduce CO2 emissions by displacing energy use equivalent to 6,000 homes.
A five-year study aims to examine the impact of ecological restoration on health and wellness in low-income Detroit neighborhoods. Researchers will assess the health of 700 residents while restoring parks, measuring physical wellbeing and stress levels.
A Kanazawa University study found Indonesian street vendors in Bandung are adapting to changing society by building networks, employing protection, and adopting new techniques. These efforts show that vendors can resist aggressive urbanization through subtle forms of resistance.
The 2017 pneumonic plague outbreak in Madagascar was characterized by a dominance of the pneumonic form, which accounted for 78% of reported clinical cases. The number of confirmed cases doubled every five days after the initial stage of the outbreak.
Researchers have long debated the causes of Angkor's demise, but new evidence suggests that land use declined gradually over 100 years before the supposed collapse. The study shows that forest disturbance and soil erosion decreased, and the moat was eventually covered in floating vegetation, indicating a lack of maintenance.
Researchers discovered a link between air quality and happiness in Chinese cities, finding that higher pollution levels are associated with decreased happiness. Women and those on higher incomes were found to be more sensitive to pollution's impact.
A new algorithm developed by Yale Ph.D. student TC Chakraborty creates a more comprehensive and consistent estimate of urban heat islands worldwide. The Global Surface UHI Explorer map uses urban agglomerations instead of administrative city boundaries, providing surface UHI intensity estimates for over 10,000 urban clusters.
A post-city is characterized by dissociation, both social and cultural, leading to a lack of interaction between different demographics and a decline in traditional face-to-face communications. Urban residents are also post-nomads, mobile and dynamic, with multiple roles and activities.
A CU Boulder study found a surprisingly strong correlation between warmer winters and higher violent crime rates in the US. The research used powerful climate analysis techniques to investigate year-to-year fluctuations in climate and crime rates, revealing a strong relationship between temperature and crime in winter months.
Researchers found that pro-leave and remain supporters were clustered around areas with similar voting patterns, contradicting the assumption that echo chambers are solely online phenomena. The study analyzed 33,889 Twitter posts from the Brexit referendum campaign period.
A new study suggests that individual perceptions of safety and school quality play critical roles in how people define their communities. Researchers found that zip code remains the biggest predictor, but other factors have predictive power, especially for whites and Hispanics. The findings highlight the importance of considering lived...
A new study found that Airbnb rental properties in US cities are distributed based on factors such as the number of residents working in creative industries, average household income, and distance to public places of interest. The researchers built a predictive model that could help regulators create policies for short-term rentals.
Researchers analyzed over 51 million tweets to find that people are more likely to interact with those geographically near, even in the age of digital technologies. This study challenges the idea that geography is dead and instead highlights the importance of distance in human interactions.
Researchers mapped Barcelona's urban vitality using a new methodology that combines Jane Jacobs' theories with data analysis. The study reveals high levels of street life in peripheral and poor districts, challenging traditional views of vital areas.
A new study by Vanderbilt University researchers reveals that urban water conservation policies are closely tied to a city's political leaning, with left-leaning cities adopting stronger water-saving measures. This finding suggests that water conservation may be more politicized than previously thought, and could have important implica...
Research suggests that cities like Portland and Copenhagen benefit from high-rugosity layouts, with diverse uses and green spaces supporting resilience and growth. By integrating farms and greenways, developers can accommodate more population while reducing the urban heat island effect and improving stormwater management.
A Drexel University study found that mayors' political beliefs influence their opinions on civic policies reducing health disparities. Approximately 8% of socially conservative mayors believed city policies could have a major impact, compared to 29% of liberal mayors.
Researchers at Technical University of Munich studied three architectural projects in Graz, Lucerne, and Wolfsburg to investigate their effects. Positive economic impacts were found, but no clear repositioning of the cities was observed.
Researchers from FAU are studying German cities' bids for European Capital of Culture to understand the impact on EU culture and identity. Initial findings suggest that cities prioritize cooperation over competition, highlighting the initiative's potential as a counter-balance to EU politics.
A study found that police officers are highly responsive to rules and supervision, leading to more conservative tactics after the NYPD mandated detailed stop reports. The intervention increased the perceived level of supervision, resulting in a sharp drop in unnecessary stops and a rise in the hit rate.
A researcher from MSU has discovered complex changes in temperature and relative humidity in Moscow over the past century. Urban heat island intensity stabilized in the second half of the 20th century but increased in recent years due to urban densification.
A new study uses high-resolution geospatial modeling to quantify the effects of urban infrastructures on US rivers and streams. The research found that urban land transformation and electricity production together affect seven percent of U.S. streams, influencing habitats for over 60 percent of North American freshwater fish species.
A study by University at Buffalo researchers found that diverse immigrant populations lead to higher wages in cities with inclusive institutions, whereas anti-immigrant policies stunt wage growth for US-born employees. The study tracked data from 33 million people across 160 metropolitan areas and showed a significant wage increase of ...
A new Indiana University study found that adding more black police officers does not reduce police-involved homicides of black citizens. In fact, it may even increase the number of such shootings until a critical mass of 35-40% is reached.
A new study by Dr. Jan Blustein reveals China's cesarean rate is substantially lower than the WHO's reported figure of 46.2%, with a rate of 34.9% in 2014. The study highlights geographic variations in cesarean rates across different regions of China.
A study found that West African cities with lower male circumcision rates in 1950 tended to have higher HIV-2 prevalence from 1985. Male circumcision is known to reduce HIV-1 prevalence, suggesting that lack of circumcision may have driven initial HIV-2 emergence.
A new study reveals that Democratic voters are more likely to perceive a higher probability of flood damage, expect climate change to increase the risk, and invest in individual protection measures. Republicans, on the other hand, are less likely to trust government to address flood risks and receive federal disaster relief.
A Yale-led study provides a spatially explicit dataset of urban centers from 3700 BC to A.D. 2000, offering insights into long-term historical urbanization trends and patterns. The dataset allows researchers to map and visualize city-level population changes through time, shedding light on human interactions with the environment.
Researchers argue that Wendell Scott's racing career was a form of political practice for moving freely in the segregated South. The study highlights the struggle for equal rights and access to transportation today, particularly for people of color.
A Michigan State University study found that relocating a farmers' market to downtown Flint has increased customers from low-income neighborhoods, who now have better access to fresh produce. The market's move also boosted local economic activity and attracted more bus riders.
Researchers found a correlation between low-income neighborhoods and high BMI in Lausanne, Switzerland. The study suggests that urban environment plays a role in obesity, independent of common factors.
A new study published in Current Anthropology found that religion often created strong ties within communities, impeding the creation of state institutions. In contrast, elites in other regions used their religious roles to mediate between their communities and gods, leading to conflict with traditional leaders.
A study ranks six American cities on their preparedness for climate change, with Portland ranking number one. The research found that the political culture of a city plays a significant role in its ability to prepare for extreme weather events linked to climate change.
Researchers from Mainz University excavate the ancient Elamite site of Haft Tappeh, discovering a mass grave containing hundreds of skeletal remains, indicating a tragic event in the city's history. The excavation sheds light on the urban development and trade relations of the city during its peak.
Research finds that climate variability played a significant role in the emergence, decline, and re-establishment of ancient agrarian states in Mexico and Peru. The study analyzed climate records from stalagmites and ice caps to understand how climate conditions influenced the growth and instability of these civilizations.
A new survey from Rice University's Kinder Institute for Urban Research reveals that Copenhagen residents are less welcoming to immigrants, with only 29.5% rating relations between Danes and non-Western immigrants as 'excellent' or 'good'. In contrast, 48% of Houstonians said the same about their city.
Research found higher levels of inflammatory markers in young adults living in polluted cities, indicating a greater risk of heart attack. Long-term air pollution exposure was linked to increased levels of CRP, hsCRP, homocysteine, and fibrinogen.
Arizona State University's Decision Center for a Desert City will explore transformational changes to sustain water supplies in the Colorado River Basin region, enabling cities like Colorado, Nevada, and California to build capacity for sustainable water management. The four-year award brings total NSF investment to $18 million.
Research shows racial segregation is manifesting in different ways, including increasing macro-segregation between suburbs and cities. Segregation is still high in America, with whites leaving urban areas for suburban communities, leading to increased racial homogeneity.
The study found that out of 25 cities, five had the worst commutes in 2011, while cities like Omaha and Las Vegas had the shortest. The UC study also analyzed how commuting travel changed between 1990 and 2002 and from 2002 to 2011, providing new insights into the impact of planners' efforts on traffic congestion.
Research reveals that cities in Spain have a 15-year memory, while those in the US have a 25-year memory, influenced by historical events. The study also shows that city growth is linked to neighboring cities and their surrounding areas.
A University of California, Berkeley study reveals that a 650-year period of below-average rainfall led to the abandonment of Cantona, a major city in highland Mexico. Climate change is considered one of the major causes of the collapse.
Researchers analyzed over 180 million geocoded tweets to understand how people in 95 cities worldwide reacted to the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. Citizens expressed emotions based on geography, social connections, and cultural ties to Boston.
The Kresge Foundation has awarded Wayne State University a $100,000 grant to support CitizenDetroit, a community outreach program that educates and mobilizes residents on political discourse. The program aims to create informed civic activists by challenging myths and educating voters about current issues.
A Concordia University study found that businesses located furthest from market expansion have higher profits than those chasing customers. Retailers should analyze the market and secure good locations early on to maximize profits.
A comprehensive US study reveals that city governments closely match citizens' politics and policies, with liberal cities taxing and spending more. The research challenges the popular image of local governance being under the sway of machine politics or big-money interests.
Research by Virginia Parks found that African-Americans spend more time commuting than any other group, with a 25% increase over average urban commutes. The study highlights the negative impact of racial segregation on low-wage workers, particularly black women who have the longest commutes.
A new study confirms that big-city legislation is passed at lower rates than smaller bills, citing infighting within city delegations as the primary cause. Despite larger representation, urban areas struggle to pass legislation due to internal divisions and party politics.
A doctoral candidate used historical proxies, including coins, to create an interactive map of ancient Antioch's boundaries. She found the city's influence extended farther than previously theorized and was particularly abundant along a known trade route.
A new study by MIT researchers uses network data to show communication patterns and divisions in many major nations, including Britain, Italy, and Belgium. The study found that only a small percentage of communications cross regional boundaries, highlighting invisible borders between communities.
A study by Princeton University finds that black mayoral candidates in Southern cities tend to win close elections with higher voter turnout than their opponents. This is attributed to effective voter mobilization strategies that targeted unregistered African-American voters, making it cheaper for black campaigns to get these votes out.