Impact

The big ideas that are changing the world.

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7mo

Detroit killed the sedan. We may all live to regret it

Last week, General Motors announced that it would end production of the Chevrolet Malibu, marking a shift in consumer preferencecs towards larger vehicles.⁠ But with the Malibu’s demise, General Motors will no longer sell any affordable sedans in the U.S. That decision is bad news for road users, the environment, and budget-conscious consumers—and it may ultimately come around to bite the big car companies in Detroit.⁠ Read more about the demise of the sedan at the link.

a woman standing at a podium with microphones in front of her and the caption reads, $ 100 million investment in women's healthcare isn't enough

POV: A $100 million investment in women’s healthcare isn’t enough. This is what we need

Women’s health is finally being recognized by the White House as an area of opportunity for investment and development—and also a growing state of emergency and neglect.⁠ First Lady Jill Biden recently announced $100 million in funding for women’s health initiatives coupled with President Joe Biden’s $12 billion proposal to grow this space. Read more on why women’s healthcare needs more than the White House at the link.

This may contain: an advertisement for the campaign i am not a typo campaign wants to get autocored to stop fixing ethnic names

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Be Silly

About Uk

Tech Companies

‘I Am Not a Typo’ campaign wants to get autocorrect to stop ‘fixing’ ethnic names

Tech devices often autocorrect ethnic names to the nearest Anglo name, or to other words altogether. A new campaign that could expand to the U.S. seeks to call attention to this bias.⁠ The campaign, I Am Not a Typo, was organized by various independent contributors, including designers, creatives, and academics in the U.K. seeking to call attention that while classic autocorrect mistakes can be silly, your own name is a different story. ⁠Read more about how I Am Not a Typo at the link.

a large group of people sitting in a room with tall pillars and columns around them

‘Green’ Ramadan aligns with Islam’s long tradition of environmental sustainability

For many Muslims breaking fast in mosques this Ramadan, something will be missing: plastics.⁠ The communal experience of iftars—the after-sunset meal that brings people together during the holy month—often necessitates the use of plastic knives, forks, and bottles of water. But to encourage Muslims to be more mindful of Ramadan's environmental impact, mosques are increasingly phasing out plastics and reducing food waste and overconsumption.⁠ Read more about "green" Ramadan at the link.

Nearly 43,000 people die in traffic accidents each year in the U.S., a number that has continued to rise even while other high-income nations have seen traffic fatalities fall.⁠ Many cities have tried to turn the tide with Vision Zero, a framework imported from Europe for improving street safety through better design. A few have seen some success, like Hoboken, New Jersey, which hasn’t had a traffic death in seven years. Read more on Vision Zero's progress so far at the link. Street Safety, Hoboken New Jersey, Higher Income, Road Safety, Birds Eye View, Best Practices, Birds Eye, Big Picture

How ‘daylighting’ helped Hoboken make its streets safer—and how other cities can follow its lead

Nearly 43,000 people die in traffic accidents each year in the U.S., a number that has continued to rise even while other high-income nations have seen traffic fatalities fall.⁠ Many cities have tried to turn the tide with Vision Zero, a framework imported from Europe for improving street safety through better design. A few have seen some success, like Hoboken, New Jersey, which hasn’t had a traffic death in seven years. Read more on Vision Zero's progress so far at the link.

Scientists have long known that microplastics can infiltrate the human body, but new research shows its negative effects. According to the findings, people with microplastics in their heart are at higher risk for heart attack, stroke, and death. The results come as global plastic production is projected to double by 2040 and triple by 2060, and the majority of that rise is in single-use plastics.⁠ Read more on the study's implications at the link. Plastic In The Sea, Medicine Journal, Gluten Intolerance, Circulatory System, Paper News, Health Facts, Oil And Gas, Scientists, Human Body

New microplastics research shows the scary ways they’re harming your body

Scientists have long known that microplastics can infiltrate the human body, but new research shows its negative effects. According to the findings, people with microplastics in their heart are at higher risk for heart attack, stroke, and death. The results come as global plastic production is projected to double by 2040 and triple by 2060, and the majority of that rise is in single-use plastics.⁠ Read more on the study's implications at the link.

This may contain: an image of a machine that is in the process of recycling

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This recycling robot is saving millions of bottles from the landfill

At materials recovery facilities ("MRFs"), machines and workers sort through hundreds of tons of recycled waste a day. Valuable recyclables often get missed and accidentally sent to the landfill, but a startup called Glacier is looking to change that with AI-powered recycling robots.⁠ The AI can identify more than 30 different materials, picking 45 items a minute. By sorting materials into cleaner bales, MRFs can earn more money selling the recyclables.⁠ Read more on the tech at the link.

Swimsuits don't have a resale market, so they usually end up in the trash — but J. Crew is trying to change that through a partnership with SuperCircle, a reverse logistics platform focused on recycling.⁠ The partnership's take-back program will turn old swimwear into fiber that can be reused in new garments, and for each swimsuit given back in-store or returned via a free online shipping label, customers earn a $5 credit. Read more on the initiative at the link. Reverse Logistics, Online Shipping, Shipping Label, Giving Back, Free Online, J Crew, Recycling, In Store

J. Crew wants to turn your old swimsuits into new ones

Swimsuits don't have a resale market, so they usually end up in the trash — but J. Crew is trying to change that through a partnership with SuperCircle, a reverse logistics platform focused on recycling.⁠ The partnership's take-back program will turn old swimwear into fiber that can be reused in new garments, and for each swimsuit given back in-store or returned via a free online shipping label, customers earn a $5 credit. Read more on the initiative at the link.

the cover of an article about extreme heat is making may the new july for tourism

May is the new July; Norway is the new Italy: How extreme heat is changing tourism

Tourists who flocked to Italy last summer for ancient history, rugged coastlines, and fresh pasta also had to endure relentless heat. According to NASA, it was the hottest summer on record.⁠ In bookings for 2024, there are already signs of travelers opting for different times of the year. If trends continue to shift, we could see summer staples like the Mediterranean replaced by Finland, Poland, and Slovenia. ⁠Read more about how the travel industry may have to evolve to fit new demands.

a cat's face with the caption cats are killing machines and they're eating every other animal

Cats are killing machines—and they’re eating every other animal

One of the most problematic invasive species might just be our cute feline friends.⁠ A new study says cats around the world hunt and eat at least 2,084 different prey—including skinks (a type of lizard, not a typo!), shrews, sparrows, hummingbirds, rabbits, even green sea turtles, and emus. The study is the first to comprehensively quantify, on a global scale, the prey that cats kill and eat. Read what this means—and what humans can do about it—at the link.

Related searches

Why Alchemist, brewer of the popular IPA Heady Topper, decided to launch a beer called Just Say Gay

In May 2023, the same month Florida Governor Ron DeSantis further expanded his “Don’t Say Gay” law into the educational system, Vermont-based Alchemist Brewery released the American IPA, “Just Say Gay.” The beer was printed with a message collaboratively composed by the cofounders and their staff: “When people in power make laws to specifically dehumanize other people, we need to stand up.” Read more at the link.

an older woman standing in front of a house with trees and bushes around her feet

Florida Houses

Florida Panhandle

University Of Central Florida

In Florida, these houses are being built to withstand hurricanes and slash electric bills

In Florida, houses are now being built to both withstand hurricanes and slash electric bills. ⁠As climate change worsens, so do extreme weather patterns. Five years ago, many homes on the Florida panhandle were damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Michael, a catastrophic Category 5 storm. Now, several companies are focusing on building weather-resistant homes that are also sustainable for the environment—and new communities are sprouting up alongside them.⁠ Read more about the efforts at the link.

If you buy a cashmere sweater from Johnstons of Elgin, a 226-year-old Scottish wool mill, you might pay $450. Other brands charge thousands. But it’s also possible to buy a cashmere sweater elsewhere for $50.⁠ Fast fashion democratized a product that used to be a luxury, but the quality, unsurprisingly, isn’t good. As more and more cashmere clothing sells, it’s destroying the environment where the material is produced. Read more about the history and future of cashmere at the link. Cashmere Clothing, Cashmere Outfits, Fashion Seasons, Cashmere Sweater, Clothing Company, Fast Fashion, Cashmere Sweaters, Piece Of Clothing, The History

The problem with your cashmere sweater

If you buy a cashmere sweater from Johnstons of Elgin, a 226-year-old Scottish wool mill, you might pay $450. Other brands charge thousands. But it’s also possible to buy a cashmere sweater elsewhere for $50.⁠ Fast fashion democratized a product that used to be a luxury, but the quality, unsurprisingly, isn’t good. As more and more cashmere clothing sells, it’s destroying the environment where the material is produced. Read more about the history and future of cashmere at the link.

Los Angeles Neighborhoods

Why leaf blowers are being banned across the country

Across the U.S., some 11 million leaf blowers roar into action every year, obliterating delicate debris with 200-mile-per-hour winds. ⁠But restrictions on them have been spreading across the country, permitting some lucky locales to experience the season at a humane decibel level. Another factor behind the bans is research showing that leaf blowers emit a shocking amount of air pollution—so much so that it might be time to abandon them.⁠ Learn more about the fate of the leaf blower at the link.