public spaces
How important is civility for democracy? For Habermas, not very.
The public sphere should be open to conflict.
Hannah Arendt: Change the world, not yourself
How the German political philosopher called out Henry David Thoreau on civil disobedience.
Too loud? In Japan, they’ll map-shame you
'Dorozoku' map crowd-sources the whereabouts of noisy kids in Japan – but who's being anti-social here, exactly?
Wikipedia at 20: Why it often overlooks stories of women in history
User-driven sites lead to user-based bias.
Actually, New York is half socialist already
1895 map of New York City shows 'concrete socialism' in red, 'private enterprises' in white.
Education vs. learning: How semantics can trigger a mind shift
The word "learning" opens up space for more people, places, and ideas.
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We need highly formal rituals in order to make life more democratic
Comfort has won, and most formality is gone.
5 lessons we can all learn from the coronavirus crisis
Sometimes the best way to make changes is when you're in the middle of a challenging time.
Face mask sales are up 319% as Americans ignore CDC calls to stop hoarding them
Hospitals are running out of critical face masks as civilians are panic-buying medical supplies en masse amidst the coronavirus global pandemic.
America’s largest public library ditches late fees
With the realization that overdue charges disproportionately affect access for low-income readers, libraries are reconsidering the value of fees.
A world map of private islands (some are a steal!)
There's something special about islands - in some cases, it's the price tag
Terraform Mars? How about Earth?
Fauna and flora refuse to go quietly into the Anthropocene.
In a world of autonomous vehicles, this is why we’ll need more public transport than ever
Combined with high-capacity public transport, AVs could remove 9 out of every 10 cars in a mid-sized European city.
Tiny homes and floating apartments: California mayors’ reply to the growing homeless problem
Ideas are plentiful; execution is another story.
Kettling: Why is this police tactic so controversial?
In any sufficiently large protest, police officers may "kettle" protesters. Critics say it violates human rights, while advocates claim its one of the few safe tools available to police during a protest.
Tinnitus and the deafening problem of noise pollution
Hearing-related problems are on the rise.
A new study claims Australians don’t see cyclists as fully human
Unfortunately, this means that drivers act more aggressively on the road when spotting cyclists.
Growing up in nature reduces mental issues by up to 55%
As we urbanize, a new study flags the need for lots of green spaces.
Is free expression online threatened by content removal?
U.S. laws regulating online speech offer broad protections for private companies, but experts worry free expression may be threatened by "better safe than sorry" voluntary censorship.
Copenhagen residents are torn over Denmark’s proposed ‘Silicon Valley’
It may create the conditions for further inequality.
Why be buried or cremated when you could become a tree?
You can become a tree or even the soil supporting it.
A world first: Luxembourg’s public transport to be free for all
Luxembourg will offer the world's first fare-free public transit system, but is there really such a thing as a free ride?
What should we do with all of those empty churches?
Thousands of churches are left behind every year in America.
Car culture and suburban sprawl create rifts in society, claims study
New research links urban planning and political polarization.
Germany denies Pastafarians religious rights
All the prayers in the world to the Flying Spaghetti Monster probably won't help.
There are 15 scientists running for Congress. Here’s what’s at stake.
Now is a good time to brush up on who's on the ballot.
Spiked drinks and food: Important facts and tips for staying safe
It's not so rare as many think.