Scientific American Magazine

Mayors are often better equipped than presidents to cut greenhouse gases

New science reveals why cities become more productive and efficient as they grow

The attacks of 9/11 supposedly ended the age of the skyscraper. A decade on we're building more than ever

Most of humanity now lives in a metropolis. That simple fact helps to fuel our continued success as a species

Shantytowns, favelas and jhopadpattis turn out to be places of surprising innovation

We walk a line between the anarchy of choice and Disney-fication, says the author of Neuromancer

Meeting the biggest challenges starts with the city

What innovation—technological or otherwise—would make any city a substantially more livable place? We put this question to urban leaders and our own readers. Here's what they said

Municipalities worldwide are exploiting a host of creative solutions to reduce energy consumption, water use, waste and emissions, while also making it easier for people to get around

The best way to harness a city's potential for creativity and innovation is to jack people into the network and get out of the way

Retrofitting is the best way to clean up urban living

To rejuvenate urban centers, look to teachers and entrepreneurs