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Imagine climbing a five-story ladder, putting you 54 feet off the ground. How careful would you be at the tippy top? How aware of your hands and feet and surroundings would you be? If you fell off at that height, youd hit the ground at 40 MPH. Now think about how many times youve driven 40 MPH in a residential or commercial district. People who are walking across the street and get hit at 40 MPH are almost guaranteed to die, but hit at 20 MPH, theyre almost guaranteed to survive. Were super careful on normal household ladders that only put us five or six feet off the ground, let alone the 54-foot ladder (i.e. the 40 MPH ladder). But driving 40 MPH on a city street? Meh, no big deal. Last month, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles installed a bright yellow, giant ladder in front of Richmonds minor league baseball stadium. They used visual markers that equated 10, 20, 30, and 40 MPH with corresponding fall heights, making the physics of speed brutally tangible. {"blockType":"creator-network-promo","data":{"mediaUrl":"","headline":"Urbanism Speakeasy","description":"Join Andy Boenau as he explores ideas that the infrastructure status quo would rather keep quiet. To learn more, visit urbanismspeakeasy.com.","substackDomain":"https:\/\/www.urbanismspeakeasy.com\/","colorTheme":"green","redirectUrl":""}} Think about that the next time youre driving along a street that has sidewalks and crosswalks. People who tell cops and reporters the pedestrian came out of nowhere are people who were driving too fast. Speed is deadly, but nobody seems to be slowing down. Speed kills Every day in America, more than a hundred people are killed in traffic crashes. Thousands more suffer life-changing injuries. Every day, for decades. Speed is a fundamental factor in those brutal crashes. We all know fast driving is the norm, so let it sink in that the vast majority of traffic fatalities and severe injuries are preventable. In a radical departure from traditional punishments, Virginia judges can now mandate speed-limiting devices on the cars of habitual speeders as early as July 2026. These units, known as Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA), physically prevent a vehicle from exceeding posted speed limits by using GPS or sign recognition to control acceleration. In Washington State, a horrifying crash killed a mother and three children when someone barreled down the street at 112 MPH. That tragedy led to ISA legislation called the BEAM Act, named after the first initials of the four victims. Judges can offer ISA as an alternative to suspending a license, delivering a tangible, always-on safety measure rather than relying on human choice alone. This type of consequence for dangerous, antisocial behavior isnt new. For decades, vehicle-mounted breathalyzers have been installed to prevent intoxicated offenders from starting their cars. Some include cameras, GPS, Wi-Fi reporting, and driver-recognition tech, offering real-time logs of attempts and noncompliance. An attack on freedom According to Centers for Disease Control reports, breathalyzers slash repeat drunk-driving incidents by roughly 70%. Mothers Against Drunk Driving credits these devices with stopping millions of drunk-driving attempts. Dealing with drunk drivers is hardly controversial, but capping speed is seen in America as a direct attack on freedom. Still, weve reached a point where grieving family members have become effective safety advocates, helping their elected officials realize that tens of thousands of traffic fatalities and life-altering injuries could be prevented. New York lawmakers are proposing provisions forcing repeat traffic offenders to install ISA systems that cap speed to just 5 MPH over the limit. The New York City Department of Transportation tested ISA on 500 fleet vehicles, and recorded an 82% reduction in speeding on high-speed roads and a 64% overall drop. Thats reason to celebrate, because its a reminder that fleet managers can opt-in to these safety features without waiting for a court-mandated, behavioral-override technology. Just as seatbelts and airbags have become nonnegotiable safety layers, ISAand eventually impairment-aware ISAcould become layers of a systems approach to safety. {"blockType":"creator-network-promo","data":{"mediaUrl":"","headline":"Urbanism Speakeasy","description":"Join Andy Boenau as he explores ideas that the infrastructure status quo would rather keep quiet. To learn more, visit urbanismspeakeasy.com.","substackDomain":"https:\/\/www.urbanismspeakeasy.com\/","colorTheme":"green","redirectUrl":""}}
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E-Commerce
Up until very recently, employees often had to endure costly and lengthy commutes to faraway cities to work from a single headquarters office on a daily basis. Today, accelerated by the pandemic and driven by the rapid digitization of the workplace, the widespread adoption of hybrid and platform working has revolutionized howand wherepeople work. Todays more flexible ways of working have become the default model for a significant proportion of white-collar workers. We see daily headlines about companies calling their employees back to the office, but the nuance of where employees are returning to is often missing. Today, companies are increasingly empowering their employees to work across multiple locations, splitting their time between some combination of local workspaces, a central office, and home. The map of where work gets done has been completely redrawnand often doesnt center around one headquarters. This new way of working is also a rebalancing of where economic value is created. Work goes local Over the past few years, leading academics, industry commentators, and business leaders alike have begun to recognize the significant benefits of this new way of working for both companies and their employees. At International Workplace Group, we recently partnered with global consultancy Arup to gain a deeper understanding of the productivity benefits of hybrid and more localized working arrangements for businesses of all sizes, as well as the economic implications for companies and local communities. Our collective findings confirm that working from local offices and workspaces closer to where people live not only improves the quality of life for employees, but also delivers significant productivity benefits for businesses, cities, and entire economies. Our study forecasts that by 2030, flexible working arrangements could boost productivity 11%, contributing a staggering $219 billion to the U.S. economy annually. By 2045, that impact could rise to $566 billion annually, the equivalent of adding entire cities the size of Austin, Texas, to the map. Why? Because local workspaces offer the kind of environment that supports real productivity: fewer distractions than at home, less time spent commuting to a faraway office, and more freedom to work in a way that suits them. In fact, employees using flexible spaces are 67% more likely to rate their productivity as excellent compared to those working from home. Transforming the commute Commutingone of the great inefficiencies of the 20th-century workplaceis finally being reconsidered. By working locally, employees can reclaim a significant portion of their day. In the U.S., workers spend an average of 55 minutes a day commuting, with many supercommuters spending much more time in transit. However, when people work closer to home, up to 40% of this recovered time is directly allocated to additional work, while the rest is reinvested in family life, personal well-being, and local communities. Beyond boosting local economies, this also has real financial benefits for employees. Separate research concludes U.S. workers who ditch the daily city commute can save up to $30,332 a year, a particularly notable figure for Gen Z workers embarking on their careers who can look forward to significant lifetime savings. Flexibility rules Its no surprise, then, that our research shows that employees are three times more likely to stay in roles that allow them to work flexibly. This dramatically reduces costly turnover and can lead to a stronger, more engaged company culture. Businesses that embrace this model dont just save money on overheadthey also become more attractive employers, drawing the best talent in an increasingly competitive market. Additionally, with more locations to expand their search for talent, employers can focus on finding the right employees, rather than just the nearest ones. The new office So what does this look like? Were increasingly seeing workspaces pop up in small towns, such as Franklin, Texas, and Berwyn, Pa., which each boast fewer than 10,000 residents. This growing trend is no coincidenceit reflects rising demand for professional, flexible workspace options closer to where people live. Larger organizations are scaling back traditional city-center headquarters to invest in local workspaces or suburban hubs. Businesses are also utilizing flexible spaces to expand rapidly and explore new markets without the burden of long-term, expensive leases. Our recent research shows that this ongoing shift could reduce real estate costs for businesses by up to $122 billion in the U.S. The future of work is not about a single skyscraper in the city; its about a network of locations that enable people to work just minutes from home. Its in towns where people want to live, not just work. And this approach scales, whether youre a startup growing quickly, a multinational diversifying its footprint, or any size business wanting to empower your people to work from wherever is most productive and convenient. Driven by its unmatched ability to drive measurable increases in long-term productivity and employee satisfaction, the workplace of tomorrow is flexibleits also within walking distance of your home.
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E-Commerce
In a world where sports are dominated by youth and speed, some athletes in their late 30s and even 40s are not just keeping upthey are thriving. Novak Djokovic is still outlasting opponents nearly half his age on tenniss biggest stages. LeBron James continues to dictate the pace of NBA games, defending centers and orchestrating plays like a point guard. Allyson Felix won her 11th Olympic medal in track and field at age 35. And Tom Brady won a Super Bowl at 43, long after most NFL quarterbacks retire. The sustained excellence of these athletes is not just due to talent or gritits biology in action. Staying at the top of their game reflects a trainable convergence of brain, body, and mindset. Im a performance scientist and a physical therapist who has spent over two decades studying how athletes train, taper, recover, and stay sharp. These insights arent just for high-level athletesthey hold true for anyone navigating big life changes or working to stay healthy. Increasingly, research shows that the systems that support high performancefrom motor control to stress regulation to recoveryare not fixed traits but trainable capacities. In a world of accelerating change and disruption, the ability to adapt to new changes may be the most important skill of all. So, what makes this adaptability possiblebiologically, cognitively, and emotionally? The amygdala and prefrontal cortex Neuroscience research shows that with repeated exposure to high-stakes situations, the brain begins to adapt. The prefrontal cortexthe region most responsible for planning, focus, and decision-makingbecomes more efficient in managing attention and making decisions, even under pressure. During stressful situations, such as facing match point in a Grand Slam final, this area of the brain can help an athlete stay composed and make smart choicesbut only if its well trained. In contrast, the amygdala, our brains threat detector, can hijack performance by triggering panic, freezing motor responses, or fueling reckless decisions. With repeated exposure to high-stakes moments, elite athletes gradually reshape this brain circuit. They learn to tune down amygdala reactivity and keep the prefrontal cortex online, even when the pressure spikes. This refined brain circuitry enables experienced performers to maintain their emotional control. Creating a brain-body loop Brain-derived neurotrophic factor, or BDNF, is a molecule that supports adapting to changes quickly. Think of it as fertilizer for the brain. It enhances neuroplasticity: the brains ability to rewire itself through experience and repetition. This rewiring helps athletes build and reinforce the patterns of connections between brain cells to control their emotion, manage their attention, and move with precision. BDNF levels increase with intense physical activity, mental focus, and deliberate practice, especially when combined with recovery strategies such as sleep and deep breathing. Elevated BDNF levels are linked to better resilience against stress and may support faster motor learning, which is the process of developing or refining movement patterns. For example, after losing a set, Djokovic often resets by taking deep, slow breathsnot just to calm his nerves, but to pause and regain control. This conscious breathing helps him restore focus and likely quiets the stress signals in his brain. In moments like these, higher BDNF availability likely allows him to regulate his emotions and recalibrate his motor response, helping him to return to peak performance faster than his opponent. Rewiring your brain In essence, athletes who repeatedly train and compete in pressure-filled environments are rewiring their brain to respond more effectively to those demands. This rewiring, from repeated exposures, helps boost BDNF levels and in turn keeps the prefrontal cortex sharp and dials down the amygdalas tendency to overreact. This kind of biological tuning is what scientists call cognitive reserve and allostasisthe process the body uses to make changes in response to stress or environmental demands to remain stable. It helps the brain and body be flexible, not fragile. Importantly, this adaptation isnt exclusive to elite athletes. Studies on adults of all ages show that regular physical activityparticularly exercises that challenge both body and mindcan raise BDNF levels, improve the brains ability to adapt and respond to new challenges, and reduce stress reactivity. Programs that combine aerobic movement with coordination tasks, such as dancing, complex drills, or even fast-paced walking while problem-solving have been shown to preserve skills such as focus, planning, impulse control, and emotional regulation over time. After an intense training session or a match, you will often see athletes hopping on a bike or spending some time in the pool. These low-impact, gentle movements, known as active recovery, help tone down the nervous system gradually. Outside of active recovery, sleep is where the real reset and repair happen. Sleep aids in learning and strengthens the neural connections challenged during training and competition. Over time, this convergence creates a trainable loop between the brain and body that is better equipped to adapt, recover, and perform. Lessons beyond sport While the spotlight may shine on sporting arenas, you dont need to be a pro athlete to train these same skills. The ability to perform under pressure is a result of continuing adaptation. Whether youre navigating a career pivot, caring for family members, or simply striving to stay mentally sharp as the world changes, the principles are the same: Expose yourself to challenges, regulate stress, and recover deliberately. While speed, agility, and power may decline with age, some sport-specific skills such as anticipation, decision-making, and strategic awareness actually improve. Athletes with years of experience develop faster mental models of how a play will unfold, which allows them to make better and faster choices with minimal effort. This efficiency is a result of years of reinforcing neural circuits that doesnt immediately vanish with age. This is one reason experienced athletes often excel even if they are well past their physical prime. Physical activity, especially dynamic and coordinated movement, boosts the brains capacity to adapt. So does learning new skills, practicing mindfulness, and even rehearsing performance under pressure. In daily life, this might be a surgeon practicing a critical procedure in simulation, a teacher preparing for a tricky parent meeting, or a speaker practicing a high-stakes presentation to stay calm and composed when it counts. These arent elite ritualstheyre accessible strategies for building resilience, motor efficiency, and emotional control. Humans are built to adaptwith the right strategies, you can sustain excellence at any stage of life. Fiddy Davis Jaihind Jothikaran is an associate professor of kinesiology at Hope College. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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E-Commerce
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