everyday-systems
How the power grid keeps up when demand changes
A light switch draws on a shared network. See how operators move electricity and respond when use departs from the forecast.
CONTEXT CHANGES THE PICTURE.
For the curious. For the everyday.
More to
the story.
A headline is a beginning.
We go a little further — into the evidence, the systems and the ideas that help it make sense.
The publication
From the journal.
wider-view
How a time-use survey builds an average day
In one U.S. survey, 19 minutes and 88 minutes describe the same activity. The difference is whose diary went into the calculation.
science-society
Why a forest can look red in a satellite image
Colours on a satellite image can represent measurements beyond the visible spectrum. The band combination tells you how to read them.
wider-view
What a bus punctuality percentage can tell you
An agency’s on-time figure depends on where it watches the buses, how it defines punctual and which departures it counts.
everyday-systems
How water gets from a reservoir to your tap
A typical surface-water plant uses several steps to remove particles and control germs. A local water report shows which source and tests apply to your system.
everyday-systems
What happens when a browser looks up a website
A domain name is easy to type. A chain of lookups and temporary records helps a browser work out where to connect.
science-society
Where rain goes after it hits a city street
One downpour can produce very different paths through grass, roofs and storm drains. Follow the water to see what changes.
wider-view
Which town counts a student in the census?
The 2020 U.S. count used rules for where people usually lived. College housing is a useful way to see how those rules work.
science-society
What shade changes on a hot city street
The pavement, the air and the heat you feel can give different readings. City heat maps show one part of that picture.