#urban-planning
269 episodes · Page 10 of 12
#1163: Divided by Concrete: Israel’s Civil Defense Crisis
Over half of Israeli homes lack a safe room. We explore the dangerous gap between high-tech defense and the crumbling concrete reality.
#1059: When Digital Twins Leave the Game
Google DeepMind is moving beyond chatbots to build consistent, physics-aware digital twins of our entire world.
#1022: Spatial Hacking: The Art of Radical Staycationing
Stop traveling to escape and start exploring where you live. Discover the psychology of spatial hacking and the art of the radical staycation.
#982: Jerusalem’s Street Cats: A History of Urban Evolution
Explore how Jerusalem became one of the world's most cat-dense cities, from British Mandate rat catchers to modern urban survivors.
#978: The Donkey's Alma Mater: Storrs and the Land-Grant Legacy
Explore the agricultural roots and mysterious past of the world's most educated donkey in the quiet village of Storrs, Connecticut.
#908: Why Did We Forget How to Build Cheap Subways?
Why does a mile of subway cost billions today? Herman and Corn explore the hidden complexities and rising costs of modern urban transit.
#892: Proximity vs. Mass: The Shelter Trade-Off
Compare the physics of home safe rooms versus deep underground car parks to find the safest spot during a ballistic missile attack.
#888: Why Analog Sirens Still Matter
Discover the physics and high-tech engineering behind air-raid sirens, the "last line of defense" that protects millions in an instant.
#862: Beyond the Yellow Line: Gaza’s New Governance Models
Can a boardroom of experts fix a crisis? We explore the "Board of Peace" proposal and the high-stakes future of governance in Gaza.
#827: When Military Tunnel Tech Maps the City Below
Explore the cutting-edge technology used to map the hidden world beneath our feet, from military tunnels to urban infrastructure.
#824: When Bureaucracy Fails the Final Yard
When the sirens sound, why are the doors locked? We explore the "UX of survival" and the dangerous gaps in our public shelter infrastructure.
#793: Ninety Seconds to Choose: How to Pick a Building During a Siren
Learn the structural engineering secrets behind why stairwells and specific floors offer the best protection during an urban emergency.
#754: Can Trackless Trams and Mesh Networks Kill the Traffic Jam?
Are electric vehicles just a temporary fix? Explore how autonomous mesh networks and public transit could create a truly car-free future.
#737: The Physics of Quiet: Engineering Soundproofing for Urban Life
Tired of city noise invading your home? Discover the science of acoustic windows and why egg cartons won't save your sleep.
#736: When Streetlights Hijack Your Sleep Clock
Are harsh streetlights ruining your sleep? Explore the science of why cities are switching to red and amber lighting for better health.
#653: The Chemical Cocktail: Why Desert Dust Makes Smog Deadlier
Discover the science behind the "chemical cocktail"—a toxic mix of desert dust and urban emissions turning city skies into a gritty, yellow haze.
#619: The Village and the Vibe: Kids, Cafes, and Clean Air
Should kids be in bars and cafes? Herman and Corn explore the "social apprenticeship" of third places and the battle for smoke-free public air.
#615: Beyond the Vibe: How Experts Rank Public Transport
Explore the professional yardsticks used to rank global transit, from reliability metrics to the psychology of ticket inspectors.
#611: Jerusalem’s Light Rail: Public Transit or Private Power?
Corn and Herman explore the aggressive "enforcement theater" on Jerusalem’s light rail and how residents can organize against systemic harassment.
#602: Seismic Shifts: Can Israel Withstand the Big One?
Are Israel's old buildings ready for the Big One? Explore the engineering of Tama 38 and how safe rooms provide a hidden seismic spine.
#601: Where to Run When the Sirens Sound
How do you survive a missile strike? Corn and Herman dive into the structural secrets of MAMADs, stairwells, and underground bunkers.
#592: When Experts Run Things: The Technocrat vs. Politician Debate
Does a Minister of Health need to be a doctor? Explore the high-stakes tension between technical expertise and political leadership.
#577: The Shadow City: Why Sewers Are Civilization's Last Frontier
Explore the hidden world of urban infrastructure, from Victorian brickwork to AI-powered robots and the battle against the "fatberg."
#576: The Sinai Years: Israel’s 15-Year Desert Experiment
From the white-stucco homes of Yamit to the Red Sea reefs, explore the 15-year history of Israeli life and settlement in the Sinai Peninsula.