Much like harvesting natural resources on Earth, mining asteroids presents a number of socioeconomic and normal destruction-of-Earth issues, though we do have a good set of rules and regulations designed to address those issues. Oh wait, we meant *don’t have.
So You Want to Mine an Asteroid?
Uber Says It Can’t Be Regulated Because NYC Is Bad At Urban Planning
This week, New York wants to cap ridesharing vehicles to reduce traffic congestion, but Uber claims it’s immune from regulation because New York is bad at urban planning. If only that logic worked for the rest of us. Also, Los Angeles thinks it’s found a way to store excess solar and wind energy – by harnessing the power of the Hoover Dam. Plus, the story of the property in Manhattan that’s the size of a pizza slice and London could have had a futuristic pod system built on top of the Thames.
The Great Streetcar Conspiracy Strikes Again
This week, Gwinnett County’s approval of rail expansion comes in the wake of a recent report highlighting the efforts of a conservative lobbying group to kill local transit projects throughout the country. This is reminiscent of General Motors’ effort decades ago to kill trolley ridership in favor of cars. Plus, we’ve introduced a new chart to put Atlanta’s temperatures into a historical context.
Ignore the Data on Gentrification
As the Economist recently showed, gentrification is about more than just the economics of shuffling people around housing units. Unfortunately, it was the magazine’s complete disinterest in addressing the complexities of the issue that proved the point.
You Probably Shouldn’t Ride Your Scooter on the Highway, Despite Atlanta’s Recommendation
This week, Atlanta holds a meeting on dockless scooters after posting a bizarre Facebook message. Also, the number of reported hate crimes continues to rise and a record number of Americans now believe that humans are influencing global warming. **Update, we now know the post was from a satirical account, but we’ve maintained the original article title for consistency.
The Supreme Court Can’t Solve the Water Wars
The Supreme Court’s recent opinion in Florida v. Georgia shows why we shouldn’t ask the justices to create critical water policy.
The Blockchain Will Save Private Property Rights
“Documenting property ownership” is perhaps one of the most boring phrases one could mutter, but it’s a critical component of a free, democratic society that is lacking in developing countries – the blockchain wants to help. Plus, National Geographic is opening its archive of amazing maps, the Chesapeake Bay is ready to give you seafood again, and descendants of the famous Isaac Newton apple tree are spread across the world.
Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Florida in Water Wars Case
The Court rejected the special master’s recommendation that the suit be dismissed, giving Florida the opportunity to show that the Court can craft a helpful and workable decree apportioning water between Georgia and Florida.