Today’s picks
1. Plants move to get away from their decaying brethren
Rotting plant tissue teems with microbes, yet plants are not merely passive victims. A new discovery shows that plants shift their growth to move away from their decaying neighbours, lowering the risk of infection. The finding reshapes how we think about plant self-defence, and it is worth reading closely.
2. The town that Disney built
This article examines Celebration, the Florida community Disney built, asking whether its nostalgic small-town image can also be a serious urban-planning experiment. It explores the tension between backward-looking design and New Urbanist ambition, and what Disney’s role reveals about American town-making. Worth reading for a grounded look at how nostalgia, commerce, and urban ideas converge in a place often dismissed as mere theme park.
3. The data centre backlash
This week’s weekly podcast on America examines the backlash against data centres and asks why these buildings are so unpopular with voters. It explores the sources of local opposition and the political stakes as infrastructure expansion meets community concerns. A concise listen for understanding the friction between tech growth and local politics.
4. 5 ways to make Halloween decorations friendlier to wildlife
Halloween decorations such as fake cobwebs and plastic string can entangle or harm real owls, bats, and snakes. This article offers five ways to keep the spooky atmosphere while making decorations safer for wildlife. It is a practical guide worth reading for anyone who wants festive fun with less ecological harm.