Robert Montenegro

Drought-stricken Los Angeles County fired silver iodide into clouds during this winter’s El Niño as part of a process designed to elicit up to 15% more rainfall. This form of weather-manipulation is called cloud-seeding.

The Federal Highway Administration has rescinded its approval for the use of an alternative roadside typeface called Clearview, once again making the 70-year-old Highway Gothic typeface the single standard for directional signage.

Norway announced plans this week to construct a system of cycleways safely connecting nine of its biggest cities to outer suburbs. The project is estimated to cost just under $1 billion and is part of a broader transportation initiative to be completed by 2030.

All teachers should strive to instill in their students the ability to think rationally and clearly communicate their conclusions. One educator has recommended using heavy metal as a focal topic in teaching sound thinking. 

New bikes could be on their way to your local bikeshare system. PBSC Urban Solutions, the largest supplier of bicycles and stations in North America, has unleashed a pair of brand-new models designed to give riders a broader choice of how they use the system.

A Spanish collective has transformed an old abandoned church into La Iglesia Skate: a modern skatepark and cultural center, complete with a brand-new paint job by renowned interior artist Okuda San Miguel.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg defended the tenets of encryption and privacy yesterday in an event in Spain. Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates was much more opaque when asked to describe his opinion.

You’d think in the age of Uber and Airbnb someone would have figured out how to put Big Textbook in its place. Unfortunately, it’s a lot more complicated than just waving a magical disruption wand and putting Follett out of business.

The recent Mid-Atlantic blizzard demonstrated how cities can do a lot better to serve the disabled residents whose lives are most impacted by controversial snow-clearing policies.

A learning collaboration between Pixar and Khan Academy helps aspiring animators familiarize themselves with the basics of the craft. The free course is called Pixar in A Box.

The self-driving car is the future of personal transportation. Wireless charging is the future of battery-powered devices. Marrying the two technologies makes sense.

College textbooks are a racket. Financial aid infrequently covers their cost. A significant percentage of students are forced to use credit cards to purchase them. This is one of the unseen contributors to student debt.

A record number of American convicts were exonerated in 2015. Most of them were minorities, many mentally handicapped. A new report presents data that suggests there are hundreds (potentially thousands) of other innocent people behind bars in the United States.

European metropolises in the Netherlands and Denmark dominate the annual rankings of top bicycling cities, due mostly to major investment in cycling infrastructure. These cities’ dedication to bicycling leads to major environmental, economic, and health benefits. American cities such as Minneapolis and Portland, Oregon, have made major infrastructure improvements in recent years.

Rural states dominate the list of those most dependent on the $43 billion firearm industry for jobs, tax revenue, political contributions, and gun ownership, a fact that could prove decisive for Bernie Sanders this month.

Professional women are at a disadvantage due to what’s called “the confidence gap,” an idea popularized by Claire Shipman and Katty Kay. Shine is a new company that seeks to close that gap one text message at a time.

Designed by Uruguayan-born, New York-based architect Rafael Viñoly, the new Laguna Garzón Bridge aims to reduce the speed of crossing cars and encourage drivers to enjoy the view.

Ontological design is way cool.

The Chinese middle class is growing, and its members need a place to live.

The American Hispanic electorate is growing rapidly, but facts about voting trends among minorities and youths indicate they’re still years away from holding real power.

Researchers strive for technology designed for extrasensory perception.

Indiana Jones would have been a lot less irritable if he had access to machine learning.

New research demonstrates for the first time the domestic canine’s ability to discern between positive and negative emotions in humans.

Part art installation, part green design. Completely cool.

A new study shows that preventative care has curbed fatal cases of treatable types of cancer, though other forms of the disease still present a serious mortal danger.

The implications of this new research could eventually extend to giving the mute the ability to speak.

Out with the old, in with the new.

If you’re the kind of person who chronically abandons New Year’s resolutions, try “temptation bundling” in 2016.

All remaining research chimps will be retired and relocated to sanctuaries.

In cities where defunct industry caused a population exodus, officials may be competing for immigrants.