Development

Chemical stench, green in color: Urban runoff is not just rain, Tijuana community says

Environment

The Tijuana River watershed straddles both sides of the US-Mexico border. For decades, economic policies have promoted industrial expansion on the border, impacting residential communities in both countries.

Bringing history back to life: How Iranians are reviving old homes into cultural gems

Development

Australian researchers study oysters’ resilience in face of climate change

Natural disasters

Construction underway on the world’s longest tunnel immersed underwater

Transportation

La Paz’s cable car system — the world’s longest and highest — is cutting down commute times

Transportation

A century-old British tram gets restored to its former glory

Transit

In the early 1900s, Brighton, England, was full of electric trams. But at the start of World War II, they were scrapped for the war effort. All of the trams were lost — or so historians thought. Then in 2009, one was discovered on a pig farm, and a team of locals have been working ever since to restore the tram to its original glory. Now, the group behind the restoration is hoping to get it running on tracks again, soon. 

Innovators develop devices to tap vast stores of ocean energy

Energy

Ocean energy technologies are catching up to wind and solar power. By 2050, Europe aims to tap 100 gigawatts of electricity from ocean waves, tides, currents and even salt gradients.

USAID freeze could lead to instability in Latin America and encourage migration

Foreign policy

A US shutdown of foreign aid is starting to have devastating impacts around the world. Health programs and even military assistance are now paused in many countries. In Latin America, some fear that the aid freeze could hurt economic programs and encourage more people to migrate to the United States.

Move over Orlando, Brazil’s Balneário Camboriú is on the rise

Development

Balneário Camboriú is known as Brazil’s Dubai for the rows of skyscrapers that line the beachfront. It’s home to the three tallest buildings in Brazil. But there’s another city that Balneário Camboriú seems to be increasingly emulating: Orlando, Florida, for its theme parks.

New book explores the world of unbuilt architecture

In the world of architecture, there are many plans that never actually get built. A new book, “Atlas of Never Built Architecture,” by Greg Goldin and Sam Lubell, is a compendium of buildings, city plans and other structures that were designed, but never actually got off the ground.