How to Construct Buildings That Have a Positive Impact on Climate and Biodiversity
Our built environment—from houses to offices, schools and shops—is not environmentally benign. Buildings and the construction industry are, in fact, the world’s biggest consumer of raw materials and contribute 25–40% of global carbon dioxide emissions (F. Pomponi & A. J. Moncaster Clean. Prod. 143, 710–718; 2017). Making buildings part of a circular economy that minimizes the waste
The New Era of Biofuels Raises Environmental Concerns
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is squeezing global oil supplies and inflation is jacking up prices at the pumps. Although petrol prices have started to fall in recent months, the situation has delivered a powerful reminder of the world’s dependence on fossil fuels. It also means biofuels are having a moment. The corn-ethanol industry boasts that
Overturning Roe and Other Important Reproductive Health Stories of 2022
Reproductive health issues came to political center stage in 2022 with the Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization ruling, which ended federal protections on abortion and left the procedure for states to regulate. Almost immediately, getting an abortion became almost impossible in certain parts of the U.S., despite the scientific evidence that this
Pigeon Neurons Use Much Less Energy Than Those of Mammals
Weirdly efficient neurons power birds’ dense brains Credit: Education Images/Getty ImagesScientists once thought bigger brains made smarter animals. But birds fly in the face of that logic: with a brain smaller than a walnut, they can develop sophisticated tools and remember where they hid food. Now research published in Current Biology suggests birds can pull
The 60-Second Podcast Takes a Short Break–but Wait, There’s More
So long, stopwatch logo! Credit: Ryan ReidScientific American’s short-form podcast has been going for 16 years, three months and seven days, counting today. But it’s time for us to evolve.Jeffery DelViscio: Hello 60-Second Science fans, this is Jeff DelViscio, the executive producer of the podcast. First, I really just want to thank you all for being loyal listeners–for however
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