Author: Daily Inbox

Human beings are capable of awe-inspiring things. The air we breathe is 79% nitrogen and we're capable of breathing that air into brilliantly complex ideas and functions, making the world an extraordinary place. This is not a story about inhaling air and exhaling excellence. This is a story of doing something ridiculous, getting caught on camera, and dealing with the swift and severe repercussions. In yet another display of ill-conceived ideations, our species is continuing to show that we are capable of such idiocy that we take pause to consider our cognitive superiority. Let's go to Canada. In the northeast United States, it rained a lot recently. One Canadian man, driving a utility van down the streets of Ottowa, was purposely driving through standing water on the roadside in ord...

Trump announced on August 2 that his administration plans to roll back environmental emission standards. In response, nearly 20 states have pledged to sue the administration. The current emission standards have been in place for 50 years, but Trump wants to lower the fuel efficiency standards for cars to only 29 miles a gallon by 2025. For context, the Obama administration set a more fuel-efficient standard. The current requirement plans to achieve 43 miles per gallon in the same time frame. The 13 states that have been granted the fuel-efficiency waiver have said that the new plan posed by the administration is illegal. According to them, lowering fuel efficiency standards will raise gas prices for consumers while simultaneously contributing to increased levels of air pollution. Som...

California is no doubt the United States' biggest source of clean, sustainable energy in the country. So far the state has utilized several grids to sustain its eco-friendly agenda. But as Trump threatens the Clean Air Act of California, a major question has been posed: will California share its energy? There are pros and cons to California sharing and expanding its decarbonized grid with nearby markets. Pros include lower prices and new methods of integrating different forms of renewable energy. The cons, however, deal with the deregulation of the electricity market. Even though the U.S. would move toward a more sustainable future, it would become "one of the largest energy markets in the country," according to Vox. This would push the country toward making a final decision regarding ...

Ridesharing services Uber and Lyft have done a great deal of good in expanding the definition and convenience of transportation. With these newer technologies come the growing pains that are associated with uncharted waters. Lyft and Uber both have made great strides in keeping their user bases, both passengers and drivers, safe, above reproach, and as comfortable using their services as possible. But, there are exceptions. On a night out, it's safe for groups of friends who've been out drinking together to share one of the ride services home for the night. Uber and Lyft driver Jason Gargac had another idea. Gargac drives a big Chevy Silverado, perfect for picking up large groups after bar hopping. A new truck might cost an average of $40,696, but you can't put a price on good content. ...

Focusing on roads that played vital roles in our country's history, PBS is releasing a three episode documentary titled "10 Streets that Changed America." Boston Post Road, a famous route from New York City to Boston that was first recorded in 1673, is featured in the special as a street that "drove America toward revolution," in the words of PBS. The basis of such a claim lies in the road's crucial role as a means of communication. As the name suggests, mail was frequently transported along the route, spreading news from New York City to the rest of the colonies. By forming a communication network among colonial leaders, information regarding independence could flow easily and create a stronger, more unified force. Peter Drummey, who works as librarian of the Massachusetts Historical...

A new species of ankylosaurid, a type of armored dinosaur, was discovered in Salt Lake City, Utah this July. Though the species had relatives across North America, the new species, dubbed "Thorny Head," is the first species in this genus range. It's full name is Akainacephalus johnsoni, named after the museum volunteer and retired chemist, Randy Johnson, who helped prepare its almost perfectly preserved skull. It gets its thorn-inspired nickname from its oddly-bumped head. This fossil is the most complete ankylosaur found in the southwest United States to date, with a nearly complete tail, skull, spiked plates, and several vertebrae. The dinosaur is expected to have measured between 13 and 16 feet in length and only about three-and-a-half feet tall. This herbivorous dinosaur relied on i...