Human Environment
Public and private places and buildings, including cities, monuments, parks and reservations
Will Hound Hunting in California Be Banned?
Hunters say that the practice brings to life a natural drama between black bears and canine predators. But to many others, the practice is little more than wildlife harassment
September 13, 2012 |
By Alastair Bland
Dryptosaurus Needs a Hand
Artist Tyler Keillor wants to bring Dryptosaurus--an unsung tyrannosaur--back to life
September 11, 2012 |
By Brian Switek
America’s Smaller Cities Are Becoming More Diverse
The U.S. is becoming increasingly diverse outside of its traditional "melting pot" urban centers, according to a new study from Brown University
September 11, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
The Anti-Skyscraper Law That Shaped Sydney, Australia
What happens when public safety clashes with modern architecture?
September 10, 2012 |
By Matt Novak
An Unofficial Guide to the Breweries of California’s North Coast
From the Anderson Valley Brewing Company, in Boonville, to the often irreverent Lagunitas brewpub, in Petaluma, here are several breweries worth pedaling for
September 06, 2012 |
By Alastair Bland
Big Apple Apocalypse: 200 Years of Destroying New York City
What is it about New York that compels us to see it obliterated in fiction over and over again?
September 06, 2012 |
By Matt Novak
NYC Has Its Own Ant, the “ManhattAnt”
A new ant species joins a menagerie of other creatures cut off from their kind in isolated patches of urban green in NYC
September 05, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Collage of Arts and Sciences: Now In Session
Our newest blog explores the fertile ground where art and science meet
September 04, 2012 |
By Megan Gambino
The Best Backroad Bike Rides of the California North Coast
Cycling the West Coast is easy, whether you're riding from Canada to Mexico or Portland to San Francisco. To add some spice to this predictable and popular route, I've taken to the backroads
September 04, 2012 |
By Alastair Bland
Why is Rem Koolhaas the World's Most Controversial Architect?
Age has not tempered the Dutch architect, who at 67 continues to shake up the cultural landscape with his provocative designs
September 2012 |
By Nicolai Ouroussoff
Wolves Are Returning to Oregon–but Not All Locals Want Them
In 1947, the last wolf in Oregon was killed for a bounty fee of $5 just outside of Crater Lake National Park. Now, after more than 50 years of absence, the animals are staging a comeback
August 31, 2012 |
By Alastair Bland
My Robot Helper of Tomorrow
Forget flying cars and jetbacks, whatever happened to my cereal-serving robot?
August 31, 2012 |
By Matt Novak
Storeowners Hope Cute Little Baby Faces Will Stop Crime
One street in London is hoping to dissuade potential looters by putting a gigantic baby face between them and their loot
August 30, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
At a Glance: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of the Oregon Coast
The coastal Highway 101 route, through rainforest and redwoods, is as beautiful as it is popular
August 29, 2012 |
By Alastair Bland
Transit Users Trust Distorted Subway Maps Way Too Much
Subway map design might have a lot bigger impact on the way you travel than you might think
August 29, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
Your Unofficial Guide to Portland, Oregon’s Many Brewpubs and Breweries
In parts of Portland, Oregon, one must hardly walk three blocks before running into another bar that pours its very own beer. Locally brewed? The concept takes on a whole new scale of meaning in Portland
August 24, 2012 |
By Alastair Bland
The Smoothest Con Man That Ever Lived
"Count" Victor Lustig once sold the Eiffel Tower to an unsuspecting scrap-metal dealer. Then he started thinking really big
August 22, 2012 |
By Gilbert King
Is Portland, Oregon the Best City for Bikes in the Country?
With dedicated bike lanes and businesses catering to cyclists, the Oregon city is a true pedaler's paradise
August 22, 2012 |
By Alastair Bland
Better, Faster, Taller – How Big can Buildings Really Get?
The race for the tallest structure in the world has been with us since humans built structures, and today it is going strong. But where's the limit?
August 20, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
NASA’s Nodosaur Track
Over 110 million years ago, dinosaurs roamed where a major NASA facility now sits
August 20, 2012 |
By Brian Switek

