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Poverty

Drinking fountain on the Halifax County Courthouse (North Carolina) in April 1938.

New Research

Racism Harms Children’s Health, Survey Finds

Racism may not be a disease, exactly. But a growing body of research finds that it has lasting physical and mental effects on its victims

The "Black Sunday" dust storm was 1,000 miles long and lasted for hours. It blacked out the sky, killed animals, and even blinded a man.

This 1000-Mile Long Storm Showed the Horror of Life in the Dust Bowl

In the American history of extreme weather events, ‘Black Sunday’ sticks out

These washing machines represent dignity for homeless people in Rome.

Cool Finds

This Free Laundromat Has a Famous Sponsor: the Pope

Rome’s homeless people will be able to do their laundry on the Vatican’s dime

Begging has a long, complicated history in England and the U.S. and professional beggars were often seen as people not deserving of aid.

The Myth of Professional Beggars Spawned Today’s Enduring Stereotypes

In England and the United States, the fear of beggars gave rise to a number of justifications for why they shouldn’t be helped

As part of his survival plan, Watney uses vacuum-packed potatoes to start his own farm on Mars.

Scientists Successfully Grow Potatoes in Mars-Like Soils

Can potatoes grow on the red planet? The International Potato Center is on the case

The first edition of A Christmas Carol. The illustration on the left is of Mr. Fezziwig's ball, one of Scrooge's good memories.

Why Charles Dickens Wrote ‘A Christmas Carol’

The beloved story sold 6,000 copies in its first week in print and 15,000 in its first year

Men smoke pipes and drink on the London streets. Booth's police notebooks reveal the everyday habits of Londoners.

Cool Finds

Explore the Seedy Reality of a London Long Gone

Charles Booth explored the poorest parts of England’s capital—and changed the way social scientists think about the world

Martha, a farmworker in California, says a group of white locals often harass her, yelling that immigrants take U.S. jobs. “Why don’t they work in the fields?” she asked.

A Photographic Chronicle of America’s Working Poor

Smithsonian journeyed from Maine to California to update a landmark study of American life

An Evaptainer is a lightweight storage unit that uses evaporative cooling to cut down on food spoilage.

The Innovative Spirit fy17

Could This Cooler Help Combat Global Hunger?

The Evaptainer keeps perishable food fresh for up to two weeks–no electricity required

A prototype shelter from The Mobile Factory

The Mobile Factory Turns Earthquake Rubble Into Bricks For Permanent Homes

The Netherlands-based company makes Lego-like blocks from debris using portable equipment that fits in two shipping containers

The low wages in the neighborhoods around Hull House can be seen in these maps, which illustrate income based on household. Each square shows an apartment building, and incomes are shown on the legend below. Black squares earned just $5 a week or less.

Cool Finds

These Early Infographics Illustrated the Plight of America’s Poor

Florence Kelley used hard numbers to effect change

Cauam Cardoso

Technology for the Poor Should Help, Not Hurt: An Interview With MIT’s Cauam Cardoso

The PhD candidate is working on ways to systematically evaluate new technologies for the developing world

Rio's favelas, like Santa Marta (shown here), are no longer blank spaces on Google Maps.

Mapping Rio’s Favelas

Ahead of the Olympics, Google and a Brazilian nonprofit have been recruiting locals to pinpoint businesses and other landmarks in the city’s shantytowns

Cool Finds

Why the Humble Sweet Potato Won the World Food Prize

Researchers are helping to fight malnutrion and childhood blindness in Africa with new varieties of starchy, orange-fleshed sweet potatoes

Self-driving busses, cars that communicate with streetlights, and more will be headed to Columbus.

Trending Today

Columbus, Ohio Wins $140 Million to Become the Transporation City of Tomorrow

The city beat out 77 others vying for the chance to update its infrastructure with the latest and greatest technology

Residents of Makoko look on its floating school at night in December. Today, the school is nothing more than an empty, broken platform.

Trending Today

This Floating School Was a Design Nerd’s Dream

…until it sank

Mongolia Adopts Address System That Uses Three-Word Names

What3words’ geo-coding system divides the Earth’s surface into 57 trillion squares, and assigns each a unique, memorable string of names

Poverty doesn't just affect a child's chances for the future—it appears to change poor kids' very DNA.

New Research

Poverty Linked to DNA Changes That Could Lead to Mental Illness

Could a better understanding of the biomarkers of lower socieconomic status help raise kids out of poverty?

"Our Modern Prison," by Banksy.

Trending Today

Video Calls Are Replacing In-Person Visits at Some Prisons

For some companies, bans on in-person prison visits mean big business

Organizers hope a new mini golf course will start a conversation about how gentrification affects Los Angeles' poorest residents.

Trending Today

Los Angeles’ Skid Row Is Getting a Golf Course

It’s a hole-in-one for performers with a point to make about gentrification

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