Portland International Airport (PDX) has opened its newly expanded main terminal, showcasing the world’s largest mass timber structure in an airport setting. The $2 billion renovation, designed by ZGF Architects, doubles the airport’s capacity, enabling it to handle up to 35 million passengers annually by 2045. This ambitious project highlights the Pacific Northwest’s natural beauty and timber industry, with a 9-acre mass timber roof that evokes the feeling of walking through a forest. Using locally sourced wood from small family-owned forests, non-profits, and tribal nations within a 300-mile radius underscores the project’s commitment to sustainability and community support. The innovative design not only enhances the airport’s functionality but also reflects Oregon’s tradition of forest product innovation.

The terminal’s design prioritizes passenger comfort, integrating natural elements and biophilic principles to create a serene and welcoming environment. The mass timber roof, with its intricate lattice design and skylights, floods the terminal with natural light, reducing the need for artificial lighting and enhancing the space’s overall atmosphere. The terminal also features a reconfigured layout inspired by Portland’s walkable neighborhoods, ensuring a smooth and intuitive flow from check-in to boarding. The project, which significantly reduces embodied carbon and energy use, sets a new benchmark in sustainable airport design. As the first phase of a larger expansion, PDX’s new terminal not only meets current demands but also positions itself as a model for future airport developments worldwide.

Los Angeles is famous for its broad, congested highways full of cars inching bumper to bumper through traffic. These legendary many-lane highways teeming with vehicles are annoying to commuters, but they’re deadly to local wildlife and can end up as roadkill. Highway 101 runs through Los Angeles County, dividing the habitats of the Santa Monica Mountains and the Simi Hills in the Santa Susana range. This has particularly created extra problems for mountain lions—with the population in the Santa Monica Mountains running into dangerous inbreeding that’s bad for the species. Wildlife bridges are a solution. In late May 2024, the final horizontal girders were added to a wildlife bridge over Highway 101, completing an important phase in the construction. The project began in 2022 as a collaboration between private organizations and governmental institutions. It is to be known as the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, and construction is anticipated to be completed in late 2025 or early 2026.

But getting the girders laid, and creating the base structure of the bridge, is a critical step. The first girder was laid on April 15, 2024. Crews worked hard each night, closing lanes of the highway to lay over 80 concrete masses weighing from 126 to 140 tons each. Now spanning eight lanes of road, the girders will support continuing work to build a concrete floor and then cover the bridge with native plant life. Wildlife will be funneled over the bridge by fences that channel their migration. Cougars, snakes, coyotes, deer, and even insects will be able to roam freely into previously difficult-to-access regions. The hope is this will prevent the sort of injuries discovered on P-22, the famous mountain lion of Griffith Park. When he was sadly euthanized, examination of his organs and bones indicated he’d likely been hit by a car before. The bridge will also allow the mountain lions to range freely, finding new genetics to mate with and strengthening the species. For updates as the work on the bridge continues, you can follow along with announcements on the bridge’s website.

Liverpool, renowned for its maritime heritage, is poised to embark on an ambitious endeavor that could reshape its energy landscape and fortify its resilience against environmental challenges. With the River Mersey and the Bay of Liverpool as its invaluable resources, the city is spearheading the development of the world’s largest tidal power project. In a bold move to outpace national targets and transition towards a net-zero economy, Liverpool City Region is advancing into the third phase of planning for this monumental initiative. Drawing on a century-old aspiration to harness the relentless power of the tides, Mersey Tidal Power aims to not only provide sustainable energy for a million households but also shield the city from the threat of flooding, all while preserving the delicate estuarine ecosystem.

At the heart of this pioneering scheme lies a vision that blends innovation with environmental stewardship. Although details are scarce, initial plans suggest the construction of a vast dam that would act as a barrier between the Irish Sea and a tidal basin. Beneath its surface, colossal turbines and sluice gates would harness the kinetic energy of the tides, opening and closing in synchrony with the gravitational pull of the moon. Liverpool’s mayor, Steve Rotherham, sees this project not just as a means to power homes but as a testament to the city’s commitment to a sustainable future. Leveraging expertise from established tidal power plants like the Rance facility in France and Sihwa Lake in South Korea, Liverpool is poised to embark on a transformative journey that could redefine its energy landscape for generations to come. While acknowledging the formidable challenges ahead, the city remains resolute in its belief that this endeavor will pave the way for a cleaner, greener, and more prosperous tomorrow.

In 2020, a viral photo on Twitter captured the attention of the internet, featuring what appeared to be a human-sized bat in the Philippines. Initially dismissed as fake, the image was later confirmed to be authentic, showcasing the impressive size of the golden-crowned flying fox, also known as the golden-capped fruit bat. As one of the world’s largest bat species, these endangered megabats can weigh up to three pounds, boasting a wingspan reaching five and a half feet. Although the Twitter photo utilized forced perspective, making the bat seem even colossal, it accurately highlighted the remarkable size of this species.

Despite their intimidating appearance, giant golden-crowned flying foxes pose no threat to humans, primarily feasting on figs and leaves. Nocturnal in nature, they forage during the night and spend their days resting. Unfortunately, their existence faces challenges such as predation by large birds of prey, reticulated pythons, and human activities like hunting for bushmeat. Placed on the IUCN Red List in 2016 due to declining populations, the giant golden-crowned flying fox is vital to maintaining ecological balance. With their numbers dwindling, conservation efforts are crucial to protect the remaining subspecies, ensuring the continued contribution of bats to a healthy ecosystem by controlling insect populations and serving as essential seed spreaders and plant pollinators.