Income Inequality: It's Also Bad for Your Health
University of Wisconsin | READ STORY

A study from researchers at the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute examined a series of risk factors that help explain the health (or sickness) of counties in the United States. In addition to the suspects you might expect -a high smoking rate, a lot of violent crime- the researchers found that people in unequal communities were more likely to die before the age of 75 than people in more equal communities, even if the average incomes were the same.

Two Dramas in Slow Motion
PEW Research Center | READ STORY

The fact that our population is becoming majority non-white while a record share is going grey has generated big generation gaps that will put stress on our politics, families, pocketbooks, entitlement programs and social cohesion. The Pew Research Center tracks these transformations with public opinion surveys and demographic and economic analyses. Our new book, The Next America, draws on this research to paint a data-rich portrait of the many ways our nation is changing and the challenges we face in the decades ahead.

Another Reason to Promote Social Equity in U.S. Metros: Job Growth
The Atlantic | READ STORY

A recent report by the International Monetary Fund found that more equitable countries tended to have longer national economic growth spells; a new study of U.S. metros by researchers at University of California at Davis finds the same thing holds true at a city level. The study fits into a larger body of research suggesting that greater engagement between different businesses, community organizations, and racial and socio-economic groups has a positive effect on growth and equity.

Where's All the Water Going?
Livestrong | READ STORY

Americans consume about 100 gallons of water a day. Adding in everyday goods and services, the water footprint can reach as high as 2,000 gallons a day. This infographic illustrates typical usages of water in our society.

The Economics of California's Drought
The Atlantic | READ STORY

California has just concluded its hottest winter ever, registering average temperatures 4.4 degrees warmer than the state's 20th-century average. Given the importance of California's agriculture to the food supply of the United States, and the rest of the world, the state's drought is far from just a local concern.

Scientists Record Warmest Day Ever in Antarctica
Weather Underground | READ STORY

Two Antarctic weather stations recorded unprecedentedly high temperatures in March-offering grim evidence of accelerating climate change. A potential Antarctica record high of 63.5 degrees Fahrenheit was recorded on March 24 at the Esperanza Base, just south of the southern tip of Argentina-a temperature exceeding any figure yet observed on the Antarctic landmass or Peninsula, according to the Weather Underground blog.