Autonomous vehicles could revolutionise the way we move around our cities, but leaders must manage the technology so that it benefits everyone

Source: Driverless cars – the future of transport in cities? | Guardian Sustainable Business | The Guardian

Santens is 37 years old, and he’s a leader in the basic income movement—a worldwide network of thousands of advocates (26,000 on Reddit alone) who believe that governments should provide every citizen with a monthly stipend big enough to cover life’s basic necessities. The idea of a basic income has been around for decades, and it once drew support from leaders as different as Martin Luther King Jr. and Richard Nixon. But rather than waiting for governments to act, Santens has started crowdfunding his own basic income of $1,000 per month. He’s nearly halfway to his his goal.Santens, for his part, believes that job growth is no longer keeping pace with automation, and he sees a government-provided income as a viable remedy. “It’s not just a matter of needing basic income in the future; we need it now,” says Santens, who lives in New Orleans. “People don’t see it, but we are already seeing the effects all around us, in the jobs and pay we take, the hours we accept, the extremes inequality is reaching, and in the loss of consumer spending power.”

Source: What If Everybody Didn’t Have to Work to Get Paid? – The Atlantic

Plans to introduce autonomous trucks that will carry cargo along Route 83 are underway, with vehicles such as the self-driving Inspiration Truck being included in a blueprint that will see vehicle corridors specifically designed for the autonomous fleet being introduced on the long stretch of road.

Source: Self-Driving Trucks Could Soon Follow Route 83 from Canada, to the US, to Mexico – CraveOnline

Leather has always been a byproduct of the meat industry, and as Americans’ beef consumption grew over the 20th century, the leather industry grew with it. The past three decades, though, have seen a decline of about 28 percent in Americans’ appetite for beef, and the supply of hides has dwindled accordingly. At the same time, drought in the Midwest has pushed up feed prices. The result is that America has fewer and more expensive cows. Meanwhile, the world’s consumers still want leather goods.

Source: Your Salad Lunches Are Killing American Leather – Bloomberg Business

It is inevitable that more men will earn less than their female partners in years to come. To pull their weight, they will have to do more at home. There are few signs that women want househusbands; but though they don’t want a man who does all the housework they often want one who does more of it. And doing more chores could ultimately make blue-collar men happier, because it would help them forge happy relationships. As the experience of white-collar men shows, more equal unions can be just as rewarding for men as the old-fashioned sort.When men live with women on more equal terms, they may grow closer to their children. Fathers may find they like being attentive, and it would certainly be good for their kids, especially the boys. As one man whose dad abandoned him lamented on Fathers’ Day in 2008:“[Fathers] are teachers and coaches. They are mentors and role models. They are examples of success and the men who constantly push us toward it. But if we are honest with ourselves, we’ll admit that what too many fathers also are is missing—missing from too many lives and too many homes. They have abandoned their responsibilities, acting like boys instead of men. And the foundations of our families are weaker because of it.”

Source: Manhood | The Economist

In March 2014 one of the oldest boats ever constructed was found at the bottom of Zambratija Cove, in Croatia. Marine archaeologist, Giulia Boetto discovered the Bronze Age sewn boat, which dated all the way back to 1,200 BC. The vessel was a type of wooden boat that was sewn together using rope, roots and willow branches. The relic measured 7 metres in length and 2.5 metres in width and was still in remarkable condition, with some stitching still visible. A remarkable achievement, especially considering it was over 3,000 years old!

Source: 4. Bronze Age Sewn Boat. Croatia | 20 Underwater Wonders of Our Blue Planet | EarthTripper| Page 1

Since possibly the beginning of man, we’ve unwaveringly mused at the existence of other forms of life out in the universe. The vastness of it all – the trillions upon trillions of stars, each making up just one of billions of galaxies, the size and scope of which are literally unfathomable. And here we are, one tiny planet in one solar system, revolving around one star, in an endless sea of others.The more we discover about the universe, the more our feeble existence begs the question, “are we alone?” And what if, not only were we not alone, but “visitors” had been watching us up close this entire time.

Source: No One Can Explain This Unknown Object That Has Been Orbiting Earth For The Last 60 Years – OMG Facts – The World’s #1 Fact Source

These sensitive photovoltaics can draw power from lunar energy and artificial lights in addition to the sun’s rays. Their relatively low price per unit reinforces the sensibility of simply putting them on all sides of a structure, including those with less natural light.

Source: Future of Fenestration: Every Window Will Generate Solar Power | Urbanist

We interview and photograph real people who live in tiny homes, most being less than 200 square feet. That’s smaller than the average master bedroom in the United States – a country where 2,600 square foot homes are commonplace. These customized, handcrafted tiny dwellings grant their owners financial freedom with a minimalist lifestyle and a small footprint.

Source: These People Live In Houses Smaller Than Your Bedroom | Bored Panda