Robert Montenegro
Ideafeed Editor
Robert Montenegro is a writer and dramaturg who regularly contributes to Big Think and Crooked Scoreboard. He lives in Washington DC and is a graduate of Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.
Twitter: @Monteneggroll. Website: robertmontenegro.com.
Los Angeles County is “Seeding” Clouds to Produce More Rain
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 surprisingly bitter controversy over American highway fonts
The Federal Highway Administration has rescinded its approval for the use of an alternative roadside typeface called Clearview, once again making the 70-year-old Highway Gothic typeface the single standard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’s Latest Green Initiative: $1 Billion Bicycle Superhighways
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.
Want to Teach the Difference Between Correlation and Causality? Use Heavy Metal.
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.
Lightweight and Electric Bikes Could Be Coming to Your Local Bikeshare System
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.
Immaculate Construction: The Abandoned Church That Became a Skatepark
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.
Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates Strike Very Different Tones on Apple-FBI Fight
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.
Why It’s So Hard to Disrupt the Textbook Industry
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.
When snowfall stops a city, the disabled get forgotten
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.
Pixar and Khan Academy Join Forces for a Super Cool Learning Collaboration
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.
Google’s Self-Driving Car Just Got a Whole Lot More Futuristic
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.
Don’t Forget about Textbooks When Calculating Student Debt
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.
America has a horrific wrongful conviction problem
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.
The Top Bicycle-Friendly Cities in the World
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.
The U.S. States Most Dependent on the Gun Industry
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.
The Startup That Pumps Inspiration Straight to Your Mobile Phone
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.
This ringed bridge in Uruguay is awesome for so many reasons
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.
This Incredible Office Building Is Designed to Promote Employee Wellness
Ontological design is way cool.
The American Suburb Finds a Second Life in China
The Chinese middle class is growing, and its members need a place to live.
4 Reasons Candidates Won’t Go After the Latino Vote This Election
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.
How a Directional Belt for the Blind Could Create a Sixth Sense
Researchers strive for technology designed for extrasensory perception.
The Nifty Tool That Could Make Archaeologists’ Lives a Lot Easier
Indiana Jones would have been a lot less irritable if he had access to machine learning.
Dogs Are Better at Reading Emotions than We Thought
New research demonstrates for the first time the domestic canine's ability to discern between positive and negative emotions in humans.
Rotterdam Is about to Install a Floating Forest
Part art installation, part green design. Completely cool.
Cancer Deaths Hit Lowest Point in 25 Years, But the News isn’t All Good
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.
Japanese Researchers Read Thoughts before They’re Put into Words
The implications of this new research could eventually extend to giving the mute the ability to speak.
New York City Is Converting Its Outdated Pay Phones into Free Wi-Fi Hotspots
Out with the old, in with the new.
Use Behavioral Economics to Trick Yourself into Breaking Bad Habits
If you're the kind of person who chronically abandons New Year's resolutions, try "temptation bundling" in 2016.
All Gov’t Research Chimpanzees to Get Legal Protection. Era of Scientific Research Ends.
All remaining research chimps will be retired and relocated to sanctuaries.
A U.S. City is Practically Begging to Accept More Refugees
In cities where defunct industry caused a population exodus, officials may be competing for immigrants.