Human Geography

Book: The New Age of Adventure

May 19, 2019September 16, 2009 by Caitlin Dempsey

Published by National Geographic Adventure, this anthology features adventurous tales written by such famous writers as Sebastian Junger, Peter Matthiessen, and Philip Caputo

Tracking Trash

November 5, 2014September 13, 2009 by Caitlin Dempsey

Do you know where your trash ends up? MIT researchers are seeking to answer this question by attaching tiny tracking devices to 3,000 pieces of … Read more

World’s Deadliest Roads

November 5, 2014September 11, 2009 by Caitlin Dempsey

The World Health Organization (WHO) released a reported on global road safety which analyzed data from countries around the world. The report found that around … Read more

Facial expressions across cultures

August 16, 2015August 14, 2009 by Caitlin Dempsey

Researchers from Glasgow University took a look at how East Asians interpret facial expressions as compared to those from the West: In the study, East … Read more

Networks of principal roads (both solid and dotted lines; the thickness represents the number of lanes). (a) Boston-Cambridge area, (b) London, UK, and (c) New York City. The color of each link indicates the additional travel time needed in the Nash equilibrium if that link is cut (blue: no change, red: more than 60 seconds additional delay). Black dotted lines denote links whose removal reduces the travel time, i.e., allowing drivers to use these streets in fact creates additional congestion. This counter-intuitive phenomenon is called ”Braess’s paradox.”

Closing Roads to Help Cut Traffic

August 16, 2015August 6, 2009 by Caitlin Dempsey

Three scientists have concluded that having more routing options can actually slow down the overall rate of travel. More access routes results in Braess’s Paradox.

Currently Reading: Salt

May 19, 2019June 30, 2009 by Caitlin Dempsey

Salt: A World History is a fascinating story of an ingredient most of the world now takes for granted as easily available and affordable.

Great Wall Even Greater

November 5, 2014April 20, 2009 by Caitlin Dempsey

Infra-red and GPS technologies has helped provide the most detailed measurement of the Great Wall of China, increasing the official to now 8,850km (5,500 miles). … Read more

Geography of a Recession

August 16, 2015March 5, 2009 by Caitlin Dempsey

Interactive map of the United States showing the unemployment rate by county

Map showing the voyage described in Jules Verne's Around the World in 80 Days

Wanderlust Explored

August 8, 2014August 22, 2008 by Caitlin Dempsey

Good Magazine has a fantastic series that explores some of the most famous historical global journeys, both in real life and in fiction. The piece … Read more

Women and Motherhood Changing in the U.S.

November 5, 2014August 21, 2008 by Caitlin Dempsey

A new U.S. Census Bureau report shows that fewer women are opting for motherhood and those that do tend to have fewer children than those … Read more

Town without waste

November 5, 2014July 16, 2008 by Caitlin Dempsey

The BBC reported on the Japanese town of Kamikatsu which has no trash pickup. Residents have to composte their green waste and recyclables are sorted … Read more

New World Heritage Sites

January 31, 2016July 8, 2008 by Caitlin Dempsey

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) added nineteen new cultural and eight new natural sites to the World Heritage List. There are … Read more

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