fastcompany:

This is your body on soda

mothernaturenetwork:

Artist envisions NYC on other planets

In hopes of inspiring others to appreciate Earth, Nickolay Lamm transplanted the Big Apple to all of the planets in our solar system.

latimes:

It’s time for finals - but what are kids using to help them study?

A new study has found that while 12% of teenagers have taken stimulant medication intended for those with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder for non-medical purposes, just 1% of parents think that’s the case, regardless of whether that use is for last-minute studying or recreation.

So why the concern about students using such drugs?

Use of stimulant medication by children without ADHD can lead to acute exhaustion, abnormal heart rhythms, and — if an adolescent becomes addicted and goes into withdrawal — to confusion and psychosis.

Plus, there’s still no scientific consensus on whether medication intended for ADHD actually improves academic performance.

Read more via Science Now.

Photo: Keith Beaty / Toronto Star

climateadaptation:

How prepared are American cities for increased natural disasters? Over the years, Americans have insisted on expanding and building cities and suburbs in locations that are clearly threatened by natural hazards. This week’s monster tornado in Oklahoma demonstrates this. Cities and states have encouraged people to live in these areas through city planning, architectural design, and the so-called need for “economic development.”

Thus, instead of encouraging people to not live in these hazard zones, city leaders have created methods to help people survive relatively normal lives there. Houses in California must meet specific earthquake design standards, buildings in Oklahoma have “safe rooms,” and countless structures must be stable enough to handle floods and erosion along American coastlines. These are adaptations. Not good adaptations (I believe people should not be encouraged to live in these areas), but there it is.

With the climate changing, the impacts on communities are likely to increase. Incidences of natural disasters are expected to rise, costing many lives and causing a need for an endless stream of disaster aid.

Researchers at MIT teamed up with the non-profit ICLEI to survey cities around the world. The goal was to compare how they were adapting to climate change impacts, or preparing for future impacts. Progress, the researchers found, is very slow in the US, while cities around the world are far more advanced. 

It’s a great read, very visual so if you don’t have time you can skim it.

Survey: U.S. Cities Report Increase in Climate Change Impacts, Lag Global Cities in Planning

(via treehugger)

springwise:

Subscription service offers a taste of a different city’s culture each month

We’ve already seen the GothamBox subscription service give New York and San Francisco residents the chance to try each other’s local cuisine through monthly parcels. But what about those wanting to sample culture from further afield? Try The World is offering boxes of products sourced from a different corner of the world each month. READ MORE…