At one point in the not-too-distant past, winter’s lack of birds completely flummoxed some of history’s greatest thinkers. Just a few hundred years ago philosophers posited that birds buried themselves in swamps, flew to the moon, or fully transformed into other animals during the cold months. Thanks to dedicated scientific observation, we now know that birds are neither interstellar travelers nor capable of full-body alchemy.

Twice a year, across the globe, billions of birds take flight on (Earth-bound) migrations. From hundreds to thousands of miles in length, these seasonal journeys keep the beat of the natural world–heralding annual cycles and transporting nutrients and biodiversity far and wide. But why do birds go through all that work? 

The answer is harder to parse out than you might expect, with conflicting theories and limited, tough-to-collect data to go off of. Recent research highlights that there are still serious surprises to be uncovered. For decades, many ornithologists have assumed that migration must ultimately save birds effort, offering some clear energetic benefit over the course of a year. However, in a recent study tracking European blackbirds’ heart rates and body temperatures over months, scientists have found that the total energy expended by birds that stay in place through winter and those that migrate to warmer regions is about equal. These findings, published September 18 in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution, add to the migratory mystery. If there’s no outright energy savings to avoiding winter, why fly so far just to turn around a few months later?

In one sense, explaining migration is really simple, says Scott Yanco, an animal ecologist at the University of Michigan and a co-author on the September study. “It’s a response to the flux of seasonality on Earth,” he says. Migration happens because seasons change, which shifts the resources available and day-to-day conditions in a place. 

But go one level deeper and the answer to why birds migrate becomes murkier, Yanco adds. “That central question actually motivates a lot of my research,” he says. 

“It’s not the only way to deal with seasonality. There’s all kinds of other strategies that we see animals use to adapt,” Yanco tells Popular Science. For instance, there’s hibernation, metabolic torpor, brumation, seasonally-altered body composition, winter “coats”, or dietary changes. Not all birds migrate. Some deploy alternate strategies to make it through winter or nab the best breeding sites. Even amid a single species and population, a subset of individual birds may be migratory while others are year-round residents, as is the case with the partially migratory blackbirds in Yanco’s recent research. Given that, the question really becomes “why migration over the alternative options?”

Migration is difficult and dangerous. Long-distance travel can mean a struggle to find resources, exhausting endurance flights, navigating natural disasters, colliding with human infrastructure, and an increased risk of being eaten. Compared with stationary periods, some research has found that birds have more than a four times higher risk of dying while migrating. Amid all of these challenges, the only sure thing is that the benefits of migration–like all traits and behaviors honed by evolution–must outweigh (or at least equal) the downsides. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have emerged in the first place, nor continue to persist generation to generation, says Yanco.

Conversely, sticking out the winter can also be dangerous, in some cases more so than migrating. One study of European blackbirds found that migrants had a significantly higher chance of surviving harsh winters than resident birds in the same population. As a trade-off, the study authors hypothesize that resident birds have a reproductive advantage, claiming the best territory before the migrants can get back. 

There are two prevailing and competing theories for how and why bird migration emerged. In the “temperate home” hypothesis, migratory birds started out living in climates with seasonally cold winters. Slowly, over time, they evolved to migrate to warmer zones in the winter to escape the harsh weather and the risks that come with it. The alternate “tropical home” framework suggests that migratory species started in the tropics and then evolved to leave during breeding season to avoid competition and take advantage of underexploited resources. 

A 2019 review study concluded that the former explanation fits better for most birds than the latter. Based on available data, migration seems to be more about escaping harsh winters than exploring new breeding territory. However, that prompts the next question: Why come back to temperate (or even Arctic) breeding grounds, if you can comfortably live in a tropical region?

A long-standing theoretical answer to that conundrum again comes down to competition. Maybe the crowds get to be too much when all the birds flock to the tropics. But another possibility is that there’s a specific benefit to coming home. That same 2019 review suggests that birds are innately driven to return to their familiar breeding grounds, where they know the dangers, where to find the best grub, and how to build a prime nest. 

Birds often display incredible site and resource fidelity, notes Yanco–returning not just to the same region, but to the same tree and nest perch year-to-year. “There’s a lot of memory and habit that goes into these things. It may be that that’s advantageous.” 

Without firm data, which generally requires capturing, tracking, and re-capturing birds over multiple seasons, all of the above hypotheses remain educated guesses. It’s possible, Yanco says, that different species in different places are driven to migrate by different factors. “Understanding these processes is going to require understanding it for a lot of different taxa,” he says. And some research only ends up revealing just how much we still have left to learn. 

Nils Linek is the lead author of the European blackbird study published this month, and an evolutionary biologist and ecologist at the Max Planck Institute for Animal Behavior in Germany. He spent 11 months at a time in the field for three consecutive years capturing and monitoring blackbirds. In that time, he and his colleagues managed to implant 118 birds with pill-sized devices to monitor their heart rate and body temperature, as well as location transmitters. Linek, Yanco, and their co-authors were able to re-capture and analyze data from about 80 of those birds. 

They observed a couple of unforeseen results. First, migratory birds in their study displayed a never-before-seen period of metabolic deceleration in the month leading up to their departure. Their body temperatures and heart rates were significantly lower and slower than their counterparts who didn’t go on to migrate for a 28-day period. “It was very unexpected to see this [metabolic] preparation,” says Linek. “It’s a very well-hidden mechanism.”

Then, they found a surprising overall balance in the energy expended between migratory and resident birds. Based on temperature data for each location in the study, migratory birds would have had to expend far fewer resources on staying warm. Migration itself takes energy, and a corresponding spike in heart rate was visible in the data, but that increase only offset a small part of the thermoregulatory gain. In theory, the migratory birds should have been able to use far less energy overall by avoiding the cold. But still, by the time of their recapture, the migratory birds hadn’t saved any more energy than the ones who just stayed home, their hearts had beat an approximately equal number of times. “The equality of energy overall was mind blowing,” says Yanco. Somehow, the birds used up that excess energy, but how and where is unknown.

“We have ideas,” says Linek–but so far, no firm leads. The scientists suspect that the birds might be re-allocating their bodily efforts towards reproductive tissue or banking it for later as energy storage. Or it could be that life in the tropics isn’t a stress-free vacation after all–perhaps birds have to search farther and wider for suitable food or battle other birds to get the goods. Or maybe, when they’re in a warm place, birds simply move a lot more day to day than they do in the depths of winter. 

There are lots of questions remaining and lots of research left to do. “We’re just starting to pick up the puzzle pieces,” says Yanco. Yet the technology for studying birds and animal movements is the best it’s ever been and we’re getting closer to answers. With bluetooth, satellite tracking, and ever-smaller devices and implants, we have more ways to collect data than ever before. From theories of avian lunar landings to the present-day “we’ve come so far,” says Linek. Perhaps not as far as the birds do, but solving the mystery of migration may be our next destination.

This story is part of Popular Science’s Ask Us Anything series, where we answer your most outlandish, mind-burning questions, from the ordinary to the off-the-wall. Have something you’ve always wanted to know? Ask us.

The post Why do birds migrate? Scientists have a few major theories. appeared first on Popular Science.

A former Colorado Springs motel has been transformed into a 12-unit transitional housing complex for formerly homeless residents, reports Debbie Kelley in The Gazette.

The shuttered motel underwent a $1 million renovation by Springs Rescue Mission, an organization headquartered a block away from the motel that provides services, meals, and housing. “The new complex is one of three buildings that comprise The Studios; the other two are to the south. They also were former motels that Springs Rescue Mission converted to transitional housing for homeless people; one is for men and the third accommodates seniors and people with mobility issues.”

“Each unit has a separate bedroom with a single cot and bathroom with a shower, and through a locking door shares an adjoining kitchenette with the next-door neighbor. The kitchen includes a microwave, mini fridge, sink and cupboards.” Residents will sign 18-month leases and pay program fees not to exceed $750 per month.

• Colorado Springs
• Supportive Housing
• Homelessness
• Homeless Services
• Hotel Conversion
• Affordable Housing
• Urban Planning

Like a creature from a Doctor Seuss book, the sea robin is an unusual looking fish. It’s built with the body of a typical fish, the “wings” of a bird, and legs like a crustacean. Those six crab-like legs make it particularly well-suited for scurrying, digging, and finding food on the bottom of the ocean. However, its legs also aren’t just used for getting around. Instead, they are full sensory organs that sea robins use to find buried prey while digging in the sand. The findings are detailed in two studies published September 26 in the Cell Press journal Current Biology.

Sea robins are long fish with bony heads that are found in temperate seas around the world.  Their signature “legs” are extensions of their pectoral fins, of which they have three on each side. Sea robins are so good at finding food that other fish sometimes stay around them to get some of the leftovers. 

In 2019, study co-author and Harvard University postdoctoral fellow Corey Allard observed these legged fish at Cape Cod’s Marine Biological Laboratory and had to know more.

“We saw they had some sea robins in a tank, and they showed them to us, because they know we like weird animals,” Allard said in a statement. “Sea robins are an example of a species with a very unusual, very novel trait. We wanted to use them as a model to ask, ‘How do you make a new organ?’”

[Related: Boo! New species of ghost shark uncovered in New Zealand.]

Allard collaborated with researchers from Stanford University that were studying the sea robin’s developmental genetics. They first sought to determine if the legs are sensory organs, which had been suspected, but not confirmed. 

Allard ran experiments using captive sea robins hunting prey. While hunting they switch between these short bursts of swimming and walking around on their legs. They will also scratch at the surface of the sand from time to time to find mussels, shellfish, or other buried prey without needing to see it. 

The team realized that the legs were sensitive to chemical and mechanical stimuli during the experiments. Even when they buried capsules that contained only one chemical, the fish could locate them. 

VIDEO CREDIT: Current Biology Allard Herbert Krueger et al.

In the middle of the study, the team received additional shipment of fish. While they looked like the original fish, they didn’t dig and find buried capsules or prey like the others.

“I thought they were just some duds, or maybe the setup didn’t work,” study co-author and Harvard University molecular biologist Nicholas Bellono said in a statement.

The team had actually acquired a different species of sea robins. They ended up categorizing both in these studies. Prionotus carolinus dig to find buried prey and are highly sensitive to touch and chemical signals. Prionotus evolans do not have these sensory capabilities. Instead, they use their legs for probing and movement, but not for digging.  

When they examined the differences in the legs of both species, they noticed some key differences. Prionotus carolinus–thes ones who dig–had more shovel-shaped legs covered in some protrusions called papillae. These are similar to the taste buds on our tongue. The non-digging fish’s legs were rod-shaped and didn’t have papillae. The team believes that the papillae are evolutionary sub-specializations.

Figuring out how these special appendages evolved could help scientists understand how evolution allows for adaptations to very specific environments. Roughly six million years ago, our own species learned to walk upright. Bipedalism separated us from our primate ancestors, but we only know a small bit about how, when, and why that switch occurred. Sea robins and their adaptations to living at the bottom of the ocean could have some clues. The genetic transcription factors that handle the development of sea robins’ legs are also found in other animals’ limbs–including our own. 

The second study focused on genetics and included David Kingsley and Amy Herbert from Stanford, Italian physicist Agnese Seminara, biologist Maude Baldwin from the Max Planck Institute in Germany. The team examined the genetic underpinnings of this unusual walking trait. 

“Although many traits look new, they are usually built from genes and modules that have existed for a long time,” study co-author David Kingsley said in a statement. “That’s how evolution works: by tinkering with old pieces to build new things.”

[Related: This eyeless cavefish grows extra taste buds on its head.]

In that study, they used techniques including transcriptomic and genomic editing to pinpoint which gene transcription factors are used in leg formation and function. They also created hybrids between two sea robin species that have distinct leg shapes to explore the genetic basis for these differences.

“Amy and Corey did a lot to describe this animal, and I think it’s pretty rare to go from the description of the behavior, to the description of the molecules, to the description of an evolutionary hypothesis,” Bellono said. “I think this is a nice blueprint for how one poses a scientific question and rigorous follows it with a curious and open mind.”

The post This fish has 6 legs that act like tongues appeared first on Popular Science.

Attendees to the Texas State Fair have multiple non-driving options for getting to the event grounds, according to an article by Ileana Garland in Lone Star Live.

Rather than paying $30 for a parking spot, people visiting the fair can use the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) system to access the fairgrounds. “DART is increasing train frequency and extending operating hours throughout the fair’s 24-day run. It also has a special schedule on Saturday, Oct. 12, for the Red River Showdown at Fair Park’s Cotton Bowl Stadium.”

The Denton County A-Train and Trinity Railway Express also connect with DART lines that can reach the fair.

Garland notes that the fair also has designated drop-off areas for rideshare services and bike racks at several entrances.

• Dallas
• Texas State Fair
• Public Transit

• iPhone 16 Silicone/Clear Case - $29.99 with code APPLEFIVE, down from $49.00


• iPhone 16 Pro Silicone/Clear Case - $29.99 with code APPLEFIVE, down from $49.00


• iPhone 16 Pro Max Silicone/Clear Case - $29.99 with code APPLEFIVE, down from $49.00

The New York State Department of Transportation is planning another expansion to the Cross Bronx Expressway, according to an article by Dave Colon in Streetsblog NYC. The information came from a Freedom of Information law request filed by Streetsblog.

“As part of a project to replace an elevated section of the Cross Bronx Expressway between Webster and Third avenues beginning in 2027, the state DOT is also moving ahead with a second piece of its so-called ‘community connector’ beyond what it is already planning between Boston Road and Rosedale Avenue.” While the agency claims the project will “tentatively include” a bus priority lane and shared use path, Colon calls this ‘greenwashing.’

Colon adds, “The project is being pitched as stitching the Bronx back together after it was torn apart by highways, but it is, as a practical matter, a five-mile long service road for the Cross Bronx itself.” 

The vast majority of the proposed road would be new construction, and Colon points out that “The project itself also works directly against the goals of the project to cap below grade sections of the Cross Bronx Expressway, which the federal, state and city DOT are currently working on. If the connector road project was completed as envisioned, the parks created on the capped sections of the highway would be bound in by the 45-mile-per-hour connector road.”

• New York City
• Cross Bronx Expressway
• Road Widening
• Multimodal Transportation
• reconnecting communities
• Bus Lanes

What do DIYers and the author of Fifty Shades of Grey have in common? A hard time finding the perfect color. *Ba dum tss.* Okay, maybe E.L. James had other things on her mind, but for the rest of us, finding the right color to paint our living room is somehow harder than deciding where to have dinner on Friday night.

You might look at a perfectly ripe avocado and think, “Wow, that’s the perfect shade of green for the bedroom,” but you can’t just use Photoshop’s color-dropper tool in real life … or can you? That’s exactly what the Nix Mini 3 does, and it’s just $79.99 (reg. $97).

So, you’ve got the avocado in hand, but how do you get that beautiful shade of pale green onto your walls ASAP? That’s easy. Take the Nix Mini 3 (paired to your phone) and gently scan it across the fruit’s surface. Yes, avocado is fruit.

Then, the Nix Toolkit app shows you perfect paint matches to brand-name colors from its database of over 200,000 options. Save your favorites so you don’t have to walk into the hardware store with a brown avocado and look like a freak with spoiled fruit and dreams.

The app also shares RGB, HEX, and CMYK codes if you’re into digital art and want to use the avocado shade in your graphic design projects. You could do an entire art piece on shades inspired by real fruits and call it Fifty Shades of Fruit. 

While the scanner is fun for projects, it’s also incredibly useful for paint touch-ups. You’ll never have to guess if that was eggshell white or creamy beige ever again. Seriously, it’s a game-changer.

Grab the Nix Mini 3 digital color scanner while they’re $79.99 (reg. $97).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

The post 50 shades of gray? Pfft. Here’s how to use an avocado to paint your bedroom appeared first on Popular Science.

1. Open Settings on your iPhone or iPad.


2. Tap Accessibility.


3. Tap Motion.
   
   
4. Tap Show Vehicle Motion Cues.


5. Choose On or Automatic.
   

1. Invoke Control Center with a diagonal swipe from the top-right corner of the screen (or with a swipe up from the bottom if your iPhone or iPad has a Home button).


2. Press and hold on any space in the Control Center to enter the customize mode, then tap Add a Control at the bottom.


3. Swipe up to the "Vision Accessibility" controls or search "Motion" in the input field, then choose Vehicle Motion Cues.
   
   
4. Press and hold a space in the Control Center to exit the customize mode.


5. Tap the Vehicle Motion Cues button, then choose On or Only in Vehicle.
   

If you’ve finally decided to give vinyl a shot (or to dust off your old collection), you’ll need to hook your turntable up to a good pair of speakers. To truly experience sonic excellence, every link in your chain must perform as well as possible. The good news is that, with a little forethought and the right components, you can hook a record player up to any set of speakers. The bad news is all those options can introduce choice paralysis. Don’t worry, however, as we’ve done thorough research and testing to identify the best turntable speakers—such as our best overall pick, the Klipsch The Nines—to buy right now.

• Best overall: Klipsch The Nines
• Best smart: Sonos Era 300
• Best floorstanding: Fluance Ai81 Elite
• Best compact: Andover Audio Spinbase MAX
• Best bookshelf: PSB Alpha iQ Streaming Powered Speakers
• Best passive: KEF LS50 Meta
• Best budget: Edifier R1280DBs

The reporters at PopSci take audio quality very seriously but want to make the journey of finding the right turntable and everything associated with it as simple as possible for you. Yes, we’ll dive into some nerdy speaker specs for those who want it, but our approach was to make our findings digestible for anybody. We factored in everything from price to the size of your room and other equipment you may or may not want in your audio setup. Want the connectivity and processing of an AV receiver? That’s perfectly fine. Live in a small space? We have you covered. Want to use the same set of speakers for both analog and digital equipment? Sure thing. Chances are you’re not going to replace or upgrade your turntable speakers frequently, so it’s important to consider your current and future needs to select the right pair.

Choosing turntable speakers is all about getting the best sound from your records. That simple axiom should be your North Star while choosing speakers, the same way it was for us during our tests and research. Our recommendations cover the spectrum of cost, connectivity options, shapes, and sizes, so anyone can find a pair they can be happy with.

Specs

• Dimensions: 13.38 x 9.5 x 19.13 inches
• Powered: Yes
• Drivers: 1-inch titanium tweeters on Tractrix horns, 8-inch woofer
• Ports: 1 x RCA, 1 x USB, 1 x Optical, 1 x AUX, 1 x HDMI, 1 x Subwoofer out
• Bluetooth: Yes
• Price: $1,499 MSRP (Pair)

Pros

• Concert-like sound
• Suitable for turntables and high-res audio files
• Built-in phono preamp

Cons

• Cost

Want a set of speakers with a connection panel dressed to the nines? That’s not why Klipsch named its latest set of powered speakers (it’s because the Nines are bigger than the Fives and the Sevens), but it’s fitting. And during our time with the Nines, we found Klipsch knocked it out of the park.

Our tests included hooking the speakers up to an Audio-Technica AT-LP140XP direct-drive turntable. While the speakers’ built-in preamp was bested by a standalone ART DJ Pre II phono preamp, we found the convenience of using The Nines as-is to be very compelling. We’re also fans of the fact that Klipsch’s speakers feature a grounding peg, so your music won’t have to compete with an annoying hum. In our listening area—a 15×20-foot room—the speakers filled the room with well-balanced sound. Though it has a subwoofer output, we never considered plugging one in thanks to the bass responsive of each speaker’s massive woofer. While they worked well out of the box, we were able to make EQ tweaks using Klipsch’s mobile app.

A big part of The Nines’ appeal is that they’re an all-in-one audio system for lively sound afficiandos. Yes, a sound system with multiple discrete components can sound better, but you’d end up spending more money and taking up more space. Again, convenience without much compromise makes a compelling case for these speakers. Admittedly, The Nines are larger than standard bookshelf speakers (they’re more of a standmount speaker), but they’re still relatively compact considering the punchy, almost tower-sized sound the horn-loaded tweeters and 8-inch woofers can produce. While we’re recommending The Nines wholeheartedly for use with a turntable, digital music listeners will appreciate the fact that their DAC supports native playback for 24-bit/192 kHz resolution audio files. Whether you hook them up to a record player, TV, or computer, you’re going to get a consistent experience.

This set of turntable speakers is part of a series designed for listeners who sweat the details, and we could recommend all those speakers for analog music enthusiasts. But The Nines remain a cut (and several decibels of dynamic bass) above.

Specs

• Dimensions: 7.44 x 10.24 x 6.65 inches
• Powered: Yes
• Drivers: 4 x tweeters, 2 x woofers
• Ports: 1x USB-C
• Bluetooth: Yes
• Price: $449 MSRP (Each)

Pros

• Immersive audio from a compact cinched design
• Accomodates high-fidelity streaming via Wi-Fi, as well as Bluetooth sources (via SBC and AAC codecs)
• Has custom-designed acoustic accompaniment in the form of Victrola’s Stream Onyx turntable
• Can accomodate preamp-equipped turntables via a $19 USB-C dongle featuring a 3.5mm line-in jack

Cons

• Can’t replicate the soundstage width of a properly oriented stereo pair
• Not going to produce the low end of many of our other choices
• Requires a dongle and some sort of preamp for turntable playback

In the Venn diagram of immediate-immersive-impressive, the Era 300 sits in a roomy overlap. With six positional drivers in a completely original acoustic design, it’s purpose-built to produce expansive playback without a room-filling setup. Inside each Era 300 are four tweeters (one forward-firing, two side-firing, one up-firing), and two woofers (left/right). Each custom driver is powered by a dedicated class-D amplifier and paired with a custom waveguide to help direct and correct its response for clarity. And, thanks to a USB-C port that can accept a custom adapter with a 3.5mm aux input, the Era 300 can harken back to an earlier analog era when paired with a preamp-equipped turntable and an appropriate patch cable. (Want to skip all that? Get one of the Works With Sonos turntables like the network-enabled Victrola Stream Carbon Turntable.)

Say you want to compare an Apple Music Dolby Atmos mix of the Beach Boys’ “Good Vibrations” with a 180g stereo pressing … the Era 300 will let you do that, once you understand how to navigate sources (as discussed in our full review). There’s a simplicity and complexity to the setup. For instance, to earn the smart speaker designation we’ve bestowed, the Era 300 also supports Alexa and Sonos Voice Control on top of Apple’s AirPlay 2, and it uses Trueplay auto-calibration to optimize the response to your environment. Admittedly, Sonos has had significant issues with its app after a redesign, but the company has committed to reworking its faults until they’re eliminated. And the Era 300 is still a speaker that easily slots into a whole-home audio system or just sits pretty next to a sturdy plinth (and, unlike the other options, it’s the best portable option).

Specs

• Dimensions: 37.8 x 8.50 x 10.24 inches
• Powered: Yes
• Drivers: 1 x 1-inch tweeter, 2 x 6.5-inch woofers
• Ports: 2 x RCA, 1 x Optical, 1 x Subwoofer out
• Bluetooth: Yes
• Price: $499 MSRP (Pair)

Pros

• Acoustic bass enhancement built into the design
• Good frequency response
• Can be paired with a subwoofer
• Easy connectivity from multiple sources

Cons

• Requires multiple power outlets
• No active bass

Usher your home audio into the stratosphere with the Fluance Ai81. Eschewing the need for an AV receiver or amplifier, these two-channel speakers are internally powered, with 150 watts of RMS divided between the two units. Each speaker contains two 6.5-inch woven glass fiber drivers and a neodymium tweeter. The speakers are also built around a down-firing natural concavity that enhances bass acoustically. With a 30 Hz–20 kHz response (DSP enhanced), these speakers do a solid job with most of the audio spectrum passing through your living room. However, their 30 Hz low-end might not have enough oomph for some, but that’s okay because connecting a subwoofer to this system is easy. And, at only $499 a pair, these speakers leave you with enough money in your budget for some external augmentation or high-end sources … maybe a turntable upgrade, like the Audio-Technica AT-LP120XBT-USB-BK Wireless Direct-Drive Turntable?

With walnut, ash, or bamboo sides, this beautiful speaker system will augment any listening station visually and audibly. With multiple connection options—including RCA, Optical, and Bluetooth 5.0—it’s ready for anything you want to play, though a preamp is required before the RCA input. Attractive and articulate, these powered 2-way tower speakers can let your vinyl speak volumes.

Specs

• Dimensions: 22.3 x 19.6 x 8.5 inches
• Powered: Yes
• Drivers: 2 x 1-inch tweeters, 2 x 3.5-inch woofers
• Ports: 1 x RCA, 1 x AUX, 1 x Subwoofer output
• Wireless: Yes
• Price: $499 MSRP (Each)

Pros

• All-in-one design
• Built-in phono preamp
• IsoGroove Technology keeps it from rattling your turntable

Cons

• Stereo separation isn’t as good as multi-speaker setups

If you’re short on space but don’t want to skimp on sound, Andover Audio’s SpinBase MAX is the right turntable speaker for you. Rather than building two separate speakers that need to be connected with a cable, Andover Audio fit all of the components into a soundbar-looking platform designed to sit directly below your record player. In our tests, the vibration from this speaker didn’t make a turntable’s needle jump even when listening to bassier music at a moderate volume level.

The SpinBase MAX’s understated look complements its integrated design. All of the speaker’s inputs and outputs are located on its backside, while the front features its large volume knob. Turning the volume knob clockwise turns it on, while turning it counterclockwise turns it off. We have to admit, a turntable does look pretty cool sitting on top of this speaker, and aesthetics have always mattered in audio—though not nearly as much as sound.

Thankfully, Andover Audio sweated the details there, too. The SpinBase MAX produced music that was detailed and textured when paired with Victrola’s Stream Onyx turntable (which is tailormade to play wirelessly with Sonos gear, such as the Era 300 above, as we discuss in our full review). We could easily pick out individual instruments in rock, pop, and jazz music across the entire frequency range. You can also tweak its sound by twisting bass and treble knobs on the back of the speaker. Your experience will depend on your turntable, the condition of your albums, and how the music was mixed and mastered, but if you hear bad sound, it’s not because of this speaker.

The one place where Andover Audio’s SpinBase Max falls down is in stereo separation, though the situation isn’t as dire as it may seem. The speaker’s drivers are pointed outward, so sound does come at you from multiple directions to create a respectable soundstage. Still, it’s not quite as accurate as the one you’d get from a two-speaker system, which gives you full control over each one’s angle. On the plus side, you never need to worry about whether two speakers are spaced equidistantly from a wall, or whether you’re sitting in the “sweet spot.”

The SpinBase MAX succeeds at being a great solution for turntable enthusiasts without enough room for a huge audio system, and its Bluetooth support is a nice bonus if you also like listening to digital music. The company also offers a smaller version of the speaker for $299.

Specs

• Dimensions: 6.22 x 5.98 x 4.09 inches
• Powered: Yes
• Drivers: 1 x 3/4-inch aluminum dome tweeter w/ neodymium magnet and ferrofluid cooling, 1 x 4-inch polypropylene mid-bass driver w/ steel basket and rubber surround
• Ports: 1 x RCA, 1 x AUX, 1 x Optical, 1 x Ethernet, 1 x USB, 1 x HDMI eARC, 1 x MM phono input
• Bluetooth: Bluetooth (SBC, AAC, aptX HD), plus Wi-Fi
• Price: $1,299 MSRP (Pair)

Pros

• Can handle any format, from dusty to digital
• Moving Magnet phono preamp built in
• DSP crossover and tuned rear-firing ports for bass extension
• BluOS whole-house audio setup compatibility
• Subwoofer output

Cons

• You’re only going to get so much bass out of a 4″ woofer
• While sized to fit any shelf, these speakers are still best for small rooms

The ALPHA iQ powered pair from Ontario, Canada’s PSB Speakers is compact enough to fit any shelf—tucked beside LPs, flanking a laptop, or bookending a turntable, naturally—and offer natural, nuanced playback from any imaginable source. Yes, they’re $1,299 a set (in satin white or black) and may not look like much for that price, but you’d be mistaken. Packed with class D amplifiers and wirelessly paired together, the primary and secondary speakers only require two wall sockets and Wi-Fi to give you access to AirPlay 2 and countless high-resolution streaming services through the BluOS app (while also allows you to sync/pass off audio between compatible speakers on your home network, such as the Omni-Hybrid PULSE M).

There’s TIDAL Connect with MQA decoding, and Spotify Connect built-in. There’s also Bluetooth 5.0 (SBC, AAC, aptX HD), a Toslink optical input, and you can play (up to) 24-bit/192 kHz digital files off an external USB drives. An HDMI input lets you make it a movie (or gaming) night. But we’re here because of analog albums, and these pint-sized but persuasive connected speakers include a moving magnet phono input (or 3.5mm aux-in for preamp-equipped platters) that invites any top-notch record player to the party. The ALPHA iQs impart the warmth and lucidity of well-maintained grooves, though a low-impedance cartridge can leave you wanting for more volume (and don’t forget to turn off the BluOS tone-shaping options).

A comprehensive hub for expressive audio, the active, two-way design maintains its composure and delivers full-fidelity finesse no matter how you feed the Alpha iQ. Balance and separation are top-notch, aided by PSB’s signature driver inversion—the woofer on top/tweeter on bottom configuration helps keep frequencies in phase, whether standing or sitting. And the pair’s proportions can be deceiving; the ALPHA iQ speakers push impressive air for their size, capable of reaching a punchy 90 dB without breaking up (not recommended for medical reasons). No, they can’t defy physics, so fans of hip-hop, hyperpop, etc., may wish for more bass, but there’s more than you’d expect and a subwoofer output if you require reinforcement. In a typically sized room (or tighter space), the ALPHA iQ will allow you to fill the space with sound, not cords. They may not be cheap, but if it’s compact connectivity you’re looking for, they may be your best value.

Specs

• Dimensions: 7.87 x 11.02 x 11.89 inches
• Powered: No
• Drivers: 12th-generation Uni-Q driver, embedding 1 x 1-inch tweeter in 1 x 5.25-inch aluminum cone woofer
• Ports: N/A
• Bluetooth: No
• Price: $1,599 MSRP (Pair)

Pros

• Entirely transparent sound
• Extraordinary detail
• Expansive sweet spot
• Singular style

Cons

• Pricey
• Not as good in the low end as some passive speakers

KEF speakers, particularly 2012’s LS50, have dazzled audiophiles for years, but the updated LS50 Meta two-way bass-reflex speakers take the stunning clarity of sound to an even higher level. A new 12th-generation Uni-Q driver embeds the 1-inch tweeter within the 5.25-inch woofer, giving the LS50 Meta ($1,499 a pair) a stark, single-cone look and stunning off-axis response (as you can see in the $2,499 KEF LS50 Wireless II above, which shares a driver assembly with the LS50 Meta).

New, proprietary Metamaterial Absorption Technology (MAT) is integrated behind the driver to reduce distortion. The result is a beautiful design and an even more satisfying sound, which is why they are one of our favorite speakers for music. These hi-fi speakers deliver a frequency response of 47Hz-45kHz and a maximum output of 106dB from a relatively compact enclosure of 11.89 inches (H) by 7.87 inches (W) by 10.94 inches (D). Because the LS50 Meta is a passive system, you’ll need to supply it with ample power. While you could opt for a bulky receiver, another option is a stack of separates, like the ARCAM Radia series, or an all-in-one player like the Cambridge EVO 150—an attractive, audiophile 150W-per-channel streaming amp/DAC for building the best-sounding system to project powerful audio without taking up much area (it’s also a convenient hub for digital and analog connections, including a MM phono preamp).

If you’d prefer to achieve the same pinpoint imaging in self-contained, self-amplified speakers, the KEF LS50 Wireless II is the best wireless pair because it takes the foundation of the LS50 Meta and folds in 100W of power; HDMI, analog, and digital audio ports; plus Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, including 24-bit/96kHz wireless streaming and compatibility with AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Roon, HD and Ultra HD music from Amazon Music, and more. Though you will need an external preamp to bring the signal up to appropriate levels. DSP helps the bass hit lower and harder than the Meta, while the impact that the sonically and aesthetically complementary KEF KC62 subwoofer can add to either for extending the low end and opening up the headroom cannot be overstated. Want to dig even deeper into every track? Step up to a pair of the $4,999 KEF LS60 compact tower speakers, the best premium pick with two force-cancelling bass-driver arrangements per cabinet (shown next to the LS50 below).

Specs

• Dimensions: 5.75 x 7.72 x 9.21 inches
• Powered: Yes
• Drivers: 1x .75-inch tweeter, 1 x 4-inch woofer
• Ports: 2 x RCA, 1 x Optical, 1 x Coax, 1 x Subwoofer output
• Bluetooth: Yes
• Price: $159 MSRP (Pair)

Pros

• Price
• On-speaker EQ controls
• Wireless connectivity

Cons

• No built-in preamp

The R1280DBs typify Edifier’s mission to bring excellent value to the world of audio, and are a great entry point if you’ve gotten your first turntable. The speakers feature a multi-driver audio system with a subwoofer output in case you need more bass, several connectivity options, and Bluetooth support. A pair EQ knobs on the right speaker allow you to tweak the R1280DBs’ bass and treble to your taste, which is a feature most speakers lack.

Edifier even includes a remote, so you can switch inputs or adjust the speaker’s volume from across the room, and three sets of cables so you can begin using them immediately. For $150, you’re not going to get the same quality of sound that you would get from the PSB ALPHA iQs above, but those speakers are almost ten times as expensive. That said, in our experience, Edifier’s speakers have always performed very well for their price.

The only trouble you may run into when using the R1280DBs is their lack of an integrated phono preamp. If your turntable has a preamp—or you’ve already picked up a standalone one—this won’t be an issue, but it’s something to keep in mind while you’re building your system. Beyond that, Edifier’s R1280DBs are an excellent self-contained digital audio system on top of being an excellent set of turntable speakers.

There are an infinitesimal number of considerations one could make before picking up a pair of turntable speakers (or anything, really), but we’ve prioritized style, size, connectivity options, upgradability and budget while addressing some frequently asked questions.

The first decision to make before picking up a pair of turntable speakers is whether you want a powered or passive pair. Powered speakers have built-in amplification (and sometimes even a phono preamp), so you can plug your record player directly into them without any other equipment. If you’re short on space, or don’t want to think about juggling multiple components, they make a lot of sense. Most powered speakers also have multiple inputs—including Bluetooth antennas—which make them a lot more versatile. And this means they may also have a built-in preamp—electronics that increase output by between 40 – 50 dB and apply a standardized RIAA equalization curve. This allows you to integrate any turntable directly into your speakers, not just platters with their own signal-boosting setup or ones running through an additional external component into RCA inputs. Plus, you only need to dedicate at most three power outlets to your entire turntable setup.

On the other hand, passive speakers—which require amplification from an audio/video receiver, digital audio converter (DAC)-amp combo, or discrete amplifier component—have their own set of advantages. Because they have less circuitry in them, they won’t go out of date—you could pick up a vintage pair from the 1970s and connect them to an AV receiver released this year and have an excellent experience. Additionally, you could integrate your turntable speakers into a traditional home theater audio system, which could be important if you watch a lot of movies and TV shows. Remember, you’ll also need to consider what speaker wire to get if you go the passive speaker route.

Once you’ve determined what style of speaker you want, it’s time to think about their size. It’s possible to get floor-standing turntable speakers, which are several feet tall, or a bookshelf pair that is much more modest. Typically, bookshelf speakers with 5- or 6-inch drivers are ideal for use in offices, dens, and other small rooms. Conversely, standmount speakers and floorstanding models with 8-inch drivers are best suited for bigger rooms, like home theatres.

Larger speakers have room for more drivers, which can add to richer, better-balanced sound, but that doesn’t matter if you don’t have a place to put them. Similarly, larger speakers with bigger drivers allow you to listen to music at higher volumes, but that extra overhead won’t matter if you have neighbors or don’t tend to kick out the jams. We’ve decided to favor recommending bookshelf speakers because they offer the best balance of audio performance, space requirements, and cost.

Most of the factors one should consider when choosing turntable speakers have to do with the audio equipment itself, but you also need to think about where you plan on spinning your records. As we mentioned earlier, a big set of floorstanding speakers may have more oomph, but who cares if you don’t have the opportunity to use it. On the other hand, picking a pair of smaller speakers and cranking up the volume to near-maximum levels to fill your space will put constant stress on their drivers, which may lower their life.

Is the music you love most all about that bass? If so, it may make sense to get a pair of speakers that allow you to supplement their bass driver with a subwoofer, which can fill out the low frequencies. Using a subwoofer means dedicating even more space to your turntable audio system, but it will make an immediate, noticeable difference. Explosions in movies and video games will sound more realistic, and you’ll be able to hear certain instruments more clearly. The nice thing about a subwoofer is that you can add it as a supplement to your turntable speakers at any time, not only at the time of purchase. If you decide you’re happy with the bass response of your audio system without it, there’s no reason to add one.

If you opt to connect your turntable to a pair of powered speakers, you should also consider its other connectivity options. Audio companies have outfitted their speakers with USB, HDMI, and Optical inputs to allow you to hook up a wide range of electronics to them simultaneously. If your record player is near your computer, it may make sense to get a pair of turntable speakers that can be connected to both. If all of your audio and video equipment is located in a centralized area, consider getting turntable speakers that can be connected to a TV, which would be a big upgrade over the set’s built-in audio system. We’re all for getting a single piece of gear that can serve multiple purposes, because it improves its value, and may make it easier to justify getting a higher-end component.

Yes. Any speakers are potentially turntable speakers, but you may need additional equipment—a preamp or AV receiver, for instance—to ensure the setup works.

The best ways to optimize the sound from your turntable are keeping its needle clean and cleaning your albums between spins. The signal chain of the turntable—from the needle to the cables to any outboard processing to the speakes you pick from this very roundup—will also impact the sound of your audio.

Yes. Having a turntable with a built-in preamp, a standalone preamp, or powered speakers with a preamp is required to use a turntable. Many newer turntables and powered speakers have a built-in preamp, so you don’t need to get a standalone model.

This depends on their size, whether they’re powered or passive, their connectivity options, or the size and quality of their drivers. Our turntable speaker recommendations range between $140 and $1,600.

• Best overall: Klipsch The Nines
• Best smart: Sonos Era 300
• Best floorstanding: Fluance Ai81 Elite
• Best compact: Andover Audio Spinbase MAX
• Best bookshelf: PSB Alpha iQ Streaming Powered Speakers
• Best passive: KEF LS50 Meta
• Best budget: Edifier R1280DBs

Regardless of the model you chose, the best turntable speakers will offer the best audio quality—and additional features—at their price point. The only task you have is ordering your priorities. We’ve leaned more heavily on recommending powered speakers because of their versatility, which can extend their life and value if you decide to shelve your vinyl for a while, or you rely on streaming to determine the albums that deserve a place on your shelf. Remember, there’s no wrong answer here, just the one that’s most right for your needs.

The post The best turntable speakers for 2024, tested and reviewed appeared first on Popular Science.

Among the raft of bills signed by California Governor Newsom last week is Assembly Bill 3177, which prohibits local governments and agencies from requiring road widening next to new housing developments to achieve higher traffic flow, known as “level of service,” or “to achieve a desired roadway width.”

Under the new law, local governments would need to provide “substantial evidence” to require setting aside land for new roadway space, explains Melanie Curry in Streetsblog California. The law explicitly calls out a Los Angeles city law that calls for piecemeal “spot widening” in front of new developments, which often results in a zig-zag pattern that doesn’t improve traffic and eliminates thousands of square feet of land that could have been used for additional housing. While AB 3177 will eliminate this requirement for residential projects, the Los Angeles law will still apply to other types of developments.

According to the bill’s analysis, “A 2016 research study published in the Journal of Transport and Land Use found that road widening requirements in Los Angeles can cost developers over $10,000 per unit, resulting in up to hundreds of thousands of dollars being added to projects subjected to these requirements in certain instances.” 

• Road Widening
• Housing Development
• Developer Agreements
• Housing Supply
• Housing Crisis
• Cost of Housing
• Housing Costs
• Affordable Housing
• Urban Planning

Modern cars are starting to nag you more–and it’s for your safety. Many drivers have already learned to accept their vehicles beeping and blaring at them for going too fast or veering out of lanes. Now, some new Nissan drivers may get a gentle electronic scolding for driving too slowly. 

New cars using Nissan’s ProPilot assist 2.1 advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) will alert drivers to move into the left passing lane (also called the “fast lane”) if the vehicle in front of them is moving slowly. Importantly, the ADAS system will also send out an additional alert nudging drivers to move back out of the fast lane if they’ve stayed there too long instead of using it strictly for passing as intended. In theory, those nudges could prevent drivers from unintentionally clogging up roads. 

The new features, spotted this week by The Drive, are part of a new setting Nissan is calling Passing Assist. Vehicles equipped with the feature use intelligent cruise control (ICC) to maintain a safe distance behind the car in front of it. Intelligence Lane Intervention Tech (ILI) automatically adjusts the steering wheel to keep the vehicle near the center of the lane. These two separate technologies combine together to ensure the car can maintain distance and stay centered without the driver holding the steering wheel. If the vehicle ahead is slowing down traffic, Passing Assist will issue an alert on the driver’s digital dashboard reading “slow vehicle ahead,” and recommend a lane change.

Crucially, the driver has to have their hands on the steering wheel for the lane switch assistance to work. Hands-off mode then automatically resumes once the car enters the next lane. If the vehicle remains in the passing lane for too long, the ADAS system will send out another alert suggesting the driver move back over the right. Nissan did not immediately respond when Popular Science asked how long drivers could remain in the passing lane before an alert is issued. It’s ultimately the driver’s decision whether they take that advice or not. Drivers can ignore the alerts or simply turn off the feature altogether. Passing Assist will debut in the 2025 Rogue and will eventually be introduced in other Nissan and Infiniti models moving forward. 

[Related: Speeding cars could start beeping to nag their drivers into slowing down.]

Slow drivers hanging out in passing lanes can lead to backups that worsen traffic. Somewhat counterintuitively, driving slow on the highway is also dangerous. A Institute of Transportation Engineers Study study cited by the National Motorist Association claims people who drive 10 mph or more below a speed limit maye be six times as likely to be involved in an accident. Overall, the Federal Highway Administration estimates speed—both too slow and too fast—is a factor in around 30% of fatal crashes and 12% of all crashes. 

Nissan isn’t the only car company using tech to help keep passing lanes clear. Autopilot-equipped Teslas and some GM cars utilizing the company’s Super Cruise ADAS  feature can already maintain their speed and weave in and out of lanes once a driver has engaged their turn signal. Nissan’s approach is unique, however, in that it still requires a human driver to make the lane change and keeps that change optional. Rather than simply rely on software to make the decision for the driver, this suggestion may actually help educate them to improve their overall driving etiquette. 

Text alerts, chimes, beeps, and flashing lights have become a mainstay of modern consumer vehicles. These additions, while at times grating, do seem to improve safety. A report from the 

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), a nonprofit group, estimates rear view cameras and parking assist features commonplace in many new cars have contributed to a 42% reduction in backing crashes in the US between 2012–2015. A separate report claims the lane departure warning system may have reduced relevant crashes by 11% between 2009-2015. 

Newer driver assistance features like Intelligent Speed Assist (ISA) go a step further by issuing alerts that may potentially alter driver behavior. ISA generally works by taking a vehicle’s GPS location and speed and comparing it against a database of speed limit data. If the system determines a driver is driving over the speed limit, it will emit a brief auditory alert advising them to slow down. Starting this year, all new cars sold in the European Union must include ISA capability. The California state senate recently passed a bill that would require 50% of all new passenger vehicles sold or manufactured in the state to include ISA by 2029. Supporters of these efforts argue they could help cut down on speeding related fatalities, which have ticked upwards in recent years. 

Some newer vehicles even use small cameras inside a cars’ cabin to scan a driver’s face in to help determine if they are fatigued or potentially falling prey to highway hypnosis. In both of these cases, the vehicle will send out audible sounds and sometimes place visual alerts on the dashboard advising the supposedly tired driver to pull over. When combined, these monitoring  features and safety alerts are essentially real-world reminders encouraging drivers to operate their vehicles more responsibly.

At the same time, too much technology may have the opposite effect. A recent Insurance Institute for Highway Safety study of drivers using ADAS systems offered by Tesla and Volva found those drivers were much more likely to check their phones or engage in other potentially dangerous activities while the assistance features were enabled. Though the sci-fi vision of fully driverless cars conjures up scenes of commuters taking meetings and watching movies as their car zips them around town, that reality is still far away. Instead, ADAS exists in a middle ground that provides some convenient automated features while still requiring a driver’s full attention. Tesla, in particular, has drawn scrutiny from lawmakers over claims overstating the automated capabilities of its ADAS systems. 

ADAS features are increasing in their popularity. A 2021 report from market research firm Canalys estimates around 33% of new cars sold worldwide come equipped with some form of ADAS. That’s up from just 10% of new cars the year prior. In other words, it looks like drivers will have to get used to their cars yelling at them, whether they like it or not. 

The post Nissan cars will yell at you for hogging the fast lane appeared first on Popular Science.

A new initiative from the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) will reward shared bike and scooter riders with free transit trips, according to an article in Mass Transit. The program applies to riders who park in designated areas at any of the 14 Link light rail stations.

“Riders will earn enough points to cover their transit trip by parking a Lime bike or scooter in preferred parking spots near the light-rail stations and taking their next transit ride within 24 hours.” SDOT installed additional bike parking at the stations to accommodate more riders.

Riders can use their points on Sound Transit Link light-rail and Express bus service, King County Metro buses, the Seattle Streetcar, Kitsap Transit bus service and King County Water Taxi.

The program is funded via the voter-approved Seattle Transit Measure.

• Seattle
• Shared Mobility
• Public Transit
• Link Light Rail
• connectivity
• Lime
• bike share
• Bikeshare
• Shared Scooters
• Transit Incentives
• Transit Connectivity
• King County Metro Transit

Power grid infrastructure worldwide has not kept pace with the significant growth of renewable energy, according to an article from international media outlet Nikkei. The world increased renewable power capacity by an impressive 64 percent last year, reports Nikkei staff writer Misa Hama reports. But many of the projects lack grid access, meaning much of the energy produced  — the equivalent of 480 nuclear reactors worth, to be precise  — is going to waste.

It’s primarily wind and solar power that’s going to waste in the United States, where “the capacity of renewable facilities without grid access reached 1,500 GW on an output basis in 2023, a ninefold increase since 2015, according to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California,” the article reads. A source interviewed for the piece attributes the sharp increase in part to the Inflation Reduction Act, which promotes renewable energy through tax incentives.

The lack of grid capacity could stall the transition away from fossil fuels and to renewable and clean energy. Fortunately, Hama reports, “Recognizing this risk, some governments are taking steps to address the issue. In early August, the U.S. announced an additional $2.2 billion investment to upgrade its power grids” and other governments worldwide are following suit.

• Renewable Energy
• Power Grid
• Solar Energy
• Wind Energy
• Energy Infrastructure

Just because no one asked for it doesn’t mean it isn’t a delight to see in action: YouTuber and animatronics creator Matt Denton recently completed his monthslong project to construct a rideable replica of LEGO’s iconic Technic 8810 Cafe Racer set. Using copious amounts of PolyLite and polycarbonate materials, Denton carefully designed and 3D printed faithful recreations of the plastic building blocks that he could actually snap together before bolting to an electric “monkey bike” frame.

First released in 1991, the 80-piece LEGO Technic 8810 Cafe Racer quickly became one of the toy line’s most recognizable models. Instead of assembling a full-scale iteration of the motorbike, however, Denton opted for a scaled down version using an e-bike kit that included a motor controller, screen, disc brakes, tires, and brake levers. The size and design is meant to mirror a (comically) tiny two-wheeler monkey bike, a nickname affectionately first applied to the Honda Z series. Originally installed for a children’s ride in Japan’s Tama Tech amusement park in 1961, the Z motorbikes hit wider markets a few years later.

While monkey bikes were perfectly suited for its initial amusement park demographic, adults found that piloting early iterations like the Honda Z100 could be a bit difficult. Piloting one usually required leaning forward in a way that looked apelike—hence the subsequent “monkey bike” moniker. And Denton’s own test drive lives up to the name.

[Related: LEGO built a full-scale, drivable McLaren P1 model.]

As DesignBoom notes, each 3D-printed brick was specifically customized to fit over the e-bike’s frame and wiring to conceal anything that did not support the overall LEGO look. Denton even designed a water bottle and bottle holder to cover the battery, as well as 3D-printed a transparent lens cover for the working front headlight. For the wheels, he repurposed a pair from a previous LEGO mini go-kart project.

“The steering on this properly janky,” Denton says while taking his ride for its first test loops inside his workshop. Because its front forks are perfectly straight, the bike essentially refuses to self-center, which also meant he needed to constantly maintain stability. Despite these difficulties, Denton managed to ramp up the power a bit, and even took it outside for a spin on a tennis court while maxing out at 10 mph. A quick cameo from Adam Savage also earned the Mythbuster alum’s seal of approval.

“I would pay five bucks to do this!” Savage said while testing out the bike.

As for the original monkey bike, Honda retired its Z series in 2017 due to Japan’s revised emission regulations. But its legacy lives on today in many other similar minibikes such as the company’s Navi models—and DIY projects from hobbyists like Denton.

The post Engineer builds rideable LEGO motorbike using oversized 3D-printed bricks appeared first on Popular Science.

Less than half of funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act has been allocated, according to a fact sheet from the U.S. Department of Transportation. As Julie Strupp explains in Construction Dive, this includes preliminary and non-binding announcements.

“Much of the law’s funding is available until expended, so it is expected to fuel construction projects past the five-year period. However, other funds are appropriated in specified amounts for specified fiscal years from 2022 to 2026.” IIJA funding flows to over 400 programs administered by different levels of government.

So far, the IIJA is funding some 60,000 projects and over 175,000 miles of roadway upgrades. These include 10,200 bridge projects, 1,100 airport projects, 500 port and waterway projects, 170 rail projects, and 11,200 public transit projects.

• Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
• Infrastructure Spending
• Federal Infrastructure Funding
• Urban Planning
• Federal Funding

• "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown": Saturday, October 19 and Sunday, October 20


• "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving": Saturday, November 23 and Sunday, November 24


• "A Charlie Brown Christmas": Saturday, December 14 and Sunday, December 15

Mammals are defined by how and what we eat every single day of our lives. It is no wonder then that jaws are a pretty big deal for our anatomy and biology. Now, a 225-million-year-old fossilized jaw joint appears to represent the oldest example of a type of joint that has helped make mammals what they are today. This skeletal structure reveals that similar structures may have evolved in early mammal species that are not closely related. This jaw also could have evolved roughly 17 million years earlier than paleontologists previously believed. The jaw-dropping details are described in a study published September 25 in the journal Nature. 

[Related: We’re one step closer to identifying the first-ever mammals.]

In addition to being vertebrates with body hair and providing milk for their young, a hinge-like jaw joint is one of the key features of being a mammal. Among other vertebrates, modern mammals are also exceptional for their ability to control jaws for more precise chewing. This makes fossils of early mammalian jaws essential clues to how this unique jaw set up arose over the course of evolution. 

“Mammals are defined by what mammals eat with–jaws and teeth,” study co-author and University of Chicago paleontologist Zhe-Xi Luo tells Popular Science. “Mammalian jaw hinge is unique in that the tooth-bearing dentary bone is directly connected to the jaw hinge so mammals can take more forces from chewing and biting, than other vertebrates with jaws.”

Modern mammals evolved from within a larger group of animals called cynodonts. Their early forms had a jaw joint that was made of two completely different bones–the quadrate of the skull and the articular in the lower jaw and the quadrate in the skull. Paleontologists previously believed that all mammal sister-groups, and many of their jaw characteristics were mammal-like, but the jaws fossils hadn’t been reexamined using micro-computed-tomography (CT) scans.

In the new study, the team used some roughly 225-million-year-old fossils uncovered in present-day Brazil.

“These amazing fossil sites date back to the Triassic period where important animal groups like mammals, dinosaurs, crocodilians, turtles, lizards, and more were first evolving, making them really important for understanding the origin of those groups and modern ecosystems in general,” study co-author and University of Bristol paleontologist James Rawson tells Popular Science. “The quality of the fossils is also incredible, many are preserved intact and also in 3D!”

The specimens are of two extinct cynodont species–Brasilodon quadrangularis and Riograndia guaibensis. Both species were tiny, at about six to 11 inches long. They likely spent a good deal of time in burrows hiding from predators, similar to small living mammals. Brasilodon’s teeth suggest that it likely would have eaten insects and other small animals. Riograndia had more rodent-like incisors and leaf shaped postcanine, which indicate it would have eaten more plant material.

“Brasilodon and Riograndia really stand out because they are very closely related to mammaliaforms, the group that includes modern mammals and their ancestors,” says Rawson. “And so their lifestyle and anatomy gives us valuable clues into how mammals evolved their most defining features.

[Related: Baby teeth reveal surprisingly long lifespans of small Jurassic mammals.]

The team used CT scanning to reconstruct the jaw joint anatomy of both animals. Riograndia’s jaw joint appears more similar to modern mammals, despite Brasilodon being more closely related to living mammals. This jaw joint called the dentary–squamosal contact in Riograndia likely evolved entirely separately and around 17 million years earlier.

That this feature evolved earlier and more than once reveals a much more complex picture of jaw evolution in mammals. 

“Humans are mammals. We chew and bite to eat,” says Zhe-Xi. “Our life depends on our feeding function, which requires our jaw hinge. Isn’t it interesting to reflect on our history: our jaw hinge that made us the mammals unique among vertebrates actually started out some 225 million years, during the time when mammals and their relatives lived in the dark Age of Dinosaurs.”

The post A 225-million-year-old fossilized jaw joint shifts evolutionary timeline appeared first on Popular Science.

The downward spiral for intercity bus service continues months after Coach USA, one of the nation’s biggest operators, filed for bankruptcy. Shortly after, Megabus announced it would suspend service in many of its markets, leaving passengers in a lurch. 

In a piece for Streetsblog USA, Aaron Short outlines the history of modern intercity bus service and its struggle to maintain service after the pandemic, as well as its impacts on passengers who depend on it.

The disruption is the latest blow to a long-overlooked segment of the transportation sector that has failed to recover since the pandemic, been picked apart by private equity, and received little assistance from federal and state governments.

Meanwhile, bus stations with amenities are shuttering around the country as Greyhound sells off its properties, forcing bus passengers to wait for buses on poorly lit sidewalks or parking lots with no access to restrooms, shelter, or ticket agents. Few cities, such as Washington, D.C., are actively supporting intercity bus service by providing space for buses at major transit stations.

But that isn’t the case for most cities. “In some parts of the country, Megabus’s absence could prompt people to purchase vehicles or lead to less travel for job opportunities, education, and health care.”

• Intercity Buses
• Intercity Bus Service
• MegaBus
• greyhound
• Buses
• Urban Planning
• Transportation Planning