Feeling the Heat: How City Design Can Drive Inequality

The Urban Heat Island Effect and Environmental Racism: Understanding the Disparities

Did you know that the concrete and asphalt that make up our cities can actually make them much hotter than surrounding rural areas? This phenomenon is called the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect, and it’s not just about feeling a bit warmer. The way our cities are built, and have been historically planned, has created … Read more

Pack Your Dramamine: What 18th-Century Travelers Carried (And Why It Still Matters)

18th Century Travel: What People Carried for Personal Care and Health

It’s fascinating to consider how much travel has changed. My work often takes me to archives and historical sites, and a recent thought experiment about packing for an 18th-century journey got me thinking about the essentials. Specifically, what did people carry for their personal care and well-being? Imagine embarking on a journey across Europe in … Read more

AI Finance App Ramp Valued at $22.5 Billion: What It Means for Your Money

AI Finance App Ramp Valued at $22.5 Billion: What It Means

It’s pretty incredible to see how fast AI is reshaping the financial world. Just recently, an AI-powered finance app called Ramp pulled in a massive $22.5 billion valuation in its latest funding round. This isn’t just a big number; it’s a clear signal about where investment is heading. For those who might not be familiar, … Read more

From Flint to Forging: Unearthing Stories in Ancient Bones

Neolithic and Galloroman Skeletal Remains: Unearthing Ancient Lives

It might seem odd to connect the Neolithic period with the Galloroman era, but for a historian like me, especially one who spends a good deal of time digging through archives, the continuity and change found in skeletal remains across these vast periods are incredibly revealing. My recent research has taken me deep into the … Read more

Climate Change Isn’t Fair: Why Black Communities Bear the Brunt

Climate Change Impacts: Disproportionate Burden on Black Communities

As someone who studies our planet’s atmosphere, I’ve spent years looking at data, running models, and understanding how our climate is changing. It’s complex, and the science is clear: our planet is warming, and human activity is the primary driver. But today, I want to talk about something equally important: how these changes aren’t impacting … Read more

Garden’s Bounty: Simple Summer Dishes from My Backyard

Summer Garden Recipes: Fresh Flavors from Your Backyard Harvest

The height of summer is always a magical time in my garden. As the days stretch long and the sun warms the soil, my backyard transforms into a vibrant larder. This year, like every year, I’m inspired to bring the freshest flavors from my plants straight to my table. Right now, my garden is overflowing … Read more

Tiny Artificial Cells Learn to Keep Time, Mimicking Life’s Rhythms

Artificial Cells Keep Time, Mimicking Biological Rhythms

Did you know that most living organisms have an internal clock? These biological clocks, also known as circadian rhythms, dictate everything from when we feel sleepy to when plants bloom. They’re fundamental to life as we know it. Now, researchers have taken a fascinating step towards understanding and replicating these natural timekeepers. Recently, scientists have … Read more

AI on the Job: Commonwealth Bank’s Shift and What It Means for Us

Commonwealth Bank AI Job Changes: What You Need to Know

It’s 2025, and the conversation around Artificial Intelligence in the workplace is hotter than ever. One of the more talked-about developments recently comes from Commonwealth Bank, which has been making headlines for its increasing integration of AI, leading to a reduction in certain human roles. As someone who spent decades in the software industry, I’ve … Read more

From Gears to Gigahertz: Tracing the Dawn of Electronic Computing

The Evolution of Early Computing Devices: From Gears to Electronic Brains

As an archivist, I’ve spent countless hours sifting through dusty documents, often feeling like I’m stepping back in time. Today, I want to take you on a journey through a particularly fascinating period: the very beginnings of electronic computing. It’s a story of ingenious minds and remarkable leaps in technology. Long before the sleek devices … Read more