History and Design of the Bathroom Part 7: Putting a Price on Poop and Pee
I took some serious abuse in comments when I wrote Gates Foundation Throwing $42 Million Into The Toilet, questioning whether we needed a high-tech toilet solution.
The History of the Bathroom Part 5: Alexander Kira and Designing for People, Not Plumbing
Have a look at your sink after you brush your teeth or shave. There is stuff all over it that you have to clean up. You can't wash your hair in it. Alexander Kira of Cornell University looked at the
The History of the Bathroom Part 3: Putting Plumbing Before People
The really amazing thing about this standard "bathroom" from 1915, ninety-seven years ago, is how much it looks like the standard bathrooms of today. How did it get this way, and how did we get stuck
The History of the Bathroom Part 2: Awash in Water and Waste
In 1854 there was a major outbreak of cholera in Soho, London. Nobody knew what caused cholera, but John Snow carefully mapped the location of every victim, (documented wonderfully in Stephen Johnson's book The Ghost
The History of the Bathroom Part 1: Before the Flush
Victor Hugo wrote in Les Miserables that "the history of men is reflected in the history of sewers."... The sewer is the conscience of the city. Everything there converges and confronts everything else. "
Rent Stabilization Tops Washington Democrats’ Housing Agenda for 2025 Session - The Urbanist
# Democratic leaders are saying this is the year that the Washington State Legislature will finally pass rent stabilization, with momentum building behind Rep. Emily Alvarado's bill.
9:00am—The battle against wildfires in Los Angeles is almost entirely won by aerial firefighting. Helicopters and airplanes dropping water and retardants on fires and along perimeters saved Hollywo…
How much livable land is there on Earth? - Geographic FAQ Hub: Answers to Your Global Questions
How much livable land is there on Earth? According to the available data, there are approximately 24,642,757 square miles or 15.77 billion acres of habitable land on Earth. How much land is available per person on the earth? Based on the estimated total land area of Earth, which is about 57,308,738 square miles, and with … How much livable land is there on Earth? Read More »
Global Land Cover and Land Use Change, 2000-2020 | GLAD
The Global Land Cover and Land Use Change, 2000-2020 The GLAD Global Land Cover and Land Use Change dataset quantifies changes in forest extent and height, cropland, built-up lands, surface water, and perennial snow and ice extent from the year 2000 to 2020 at 30-m spatial resolution. The global dataset derived from the GLAD Landsat Analysis Ready Data. Each thematic product
WSDOT Report Proposes Expansion Path for Washington’s Intercity Bus Network - The Urbanist
# Washington State's updated intercity bus plan outlines potential improvements to enhance connectivity statewide, including added trips and new routes.
Ingenious DIY setup powers home for 8 years with over 1,000 repurposed laptop batteries
This remarkable feat has been running successfully for an astonishing eight years without a single battery replacement, as detailed by the creator, Glubux, on the online forum...
Eight Clams Control This Polish City’s Water Supply
In the city of Poznań, Poland, a group of eight clams controls the local water supply through a clever bio-monitoring system:
These biological systems are comprised of eight mussels with sensors hot-glued to their shells. They work together with a netw
Battery-Electric Ships: Coming Soon To A Harbor Near You?
When ships moved from muscle- and wind power to burning coal and other fossil fuels for their propulsion, they also became significantly faster and larger. Today’s cargo ships and ferries hav…
Every year, millions of eyes turn to Times Square on New Year’s Eve. The ball drops, confetti flies, and people around the world celebrate as one of the most iconic urban spaces transforms into a glowing, glittering symbol of hope and renewal. But this carefully orchestrated spectacle didn’t just happen. Times Square, now synonymous with
Why thermal batteries could replace lithium-ion batteries for energy storage
Thermal batteries store renewable energy as heat, offering a cost-effective way for industries like steel and cement to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.