Urban environments – Science & research news

How light from street lamps and trees influences the activity of urban bats

May 23, 2019

The team found that the response of bats to artificial light was intensified in areas with high tree cover. Credit: Christian Giese. A German study sheds new light on how [...]

Urban biodiversity to reduce chronic disease

April 11, 2019

'Rewilding' the urban environment with native microbes could restore the human microbiome and reduce our risk of chronic disease; Frontiers in Microbiology [...]

In the battle of cats vs. rats, the rats are winning

October 1, 2018

Image of a cat and a rat. Study shows any benefit of using cats to control city rats is outweighed by the threat they pose to birds and other urban wildlife: Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution

Any benefit of using cats to control city rats is outweighed by the threat they pose to birds and other urban wildlife: Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution [...]

Social media images of culture can predict economic trends in cities

June 25, 2018

Images of exhibitions, festivals and other cultural events on social media can successfully predict the economic rise of certain neighborhoods in London and New York City - including gentrification: Frontiers in Physics

Images of exhibitions, festivals and other cultural events on Flickr can predict the economic rise of certain neighborhoods in London and New York City: Frontiers in Physics [...]

New low-cost, sustainable material for reducing air and water pollution

April 13, 2018

A new 'green' material made from solid wastes and natural polymers promises better results than activated carbon in adsorbing pollution: Frontiers in Chemistry [...]

No more deer in the headlight

November 27, 2017

Deer shown to use wildlife road crossing underpasses

Large mammals do use road crossing structures, finds a study in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution [...]

Waterside lighting drastically disrupts wildlife in the surrounding ecosystem

October 24, 2017

waterside-lighting-ecosystem-bioverdiversity

Streetlights affect insects and spiders living beneath the lights, finds a study in Frontiers in Environmental Science [...]

Study reveals risk factors for substance use problems, as well as resilience

October 17, 2017

A study of African-American and Latino adults in a high-risk urban community challenges stereotypes by revealing not only risk factors for substance use problems, but also resilience. [...]

House sparrow decline linked to air pollution and poor diet

October 6, 2017

City sparrows have higher levels of free-radical damage than their country cousins, especially during breeding season, finds a study in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. [...]

Birds avoid crossing roads to prevent predation

August 8, 2017

Birds can find roads challenging - they are less likely to be found next to roads and are hesitant to cross them.

Recent research, in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, demonstrates that roads can be problematic to birds, especially small, forest-dwelling species. [...]

Birds and the City

April 3, 2017

Songbirds’ innovative behavioral adaptation in urban environments has fitness costs and benefits. [...]

A section for the study of cities

January 18, 2017

Urban Science is the new specialty section in Frontiers in Built Environment, open for submissions [...]

Sustainable and resilient structural design to combat earthquake disturbances

October 26, 2016

By Eva Brown, Frontiers Science Writer To help buildings become more resilient to earthquakes, scientists have taken measures to analyze various vibrational modes with the [...]

Study shows where you are is who you are

May 10, 2016

A recent study suggests that who we are might be more integrated with where we are than previously thought. Demonstrating how architects and urban planners might take [...]

Study shows best way to reduce energy consumption

April 7, 2016

By Fernando Bolaños, Science Writer We know adjusting the thermostat, using blinds, opening windows or using electronics such as a heater or air conditioning unit has an [...]

Transportation and Transit Systems: now open for submissions

February 18, 2016

Transportation and Transit Systems is led by Chief Editors Dr. Sakdirat Kaewunruen, Dr. Akira Matsumoto and Prof. Joseph M. Sussman. [...]

Latest section “Urban Ecology” now open for submissions

April 22, 2015

Urban Ecology is a new specialty section available through the community-run open-access journals Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. “Urban ecology is highly [...]