In 2003, Chicago’s mayor sent bulldozers to carve six giant Xs into an airport runway overnight, stranding 16 planes; 12 years later, the former airfield reopened with 40 acres of prairie, wetlands and wildlife habitat

In 2003, Chicago’s mayor sent bulldozers to carve six giant Xs into an airport runway overnight, stranding 16 planes; 12 years later, the former airfield reopened with 40 acres of prairie, wetlands and wildlife habitat

Meigs Field in 1997 (Image Credit: Wikipedia) When Chicago residents woke up on March 31, 2003, one of the city’s most recognisable small airports had effectively disappeared overnight. Under orders from then-Mayor Richard M. Daley, construction crews arrived at Meigs Field in the early hours and carved six enormous X-shaped gouges into the runway, making … Read more

Moroccan women once walked hours to collect water; now giant nets harvest drinking water from mountain fog

Moroccan women once walked hours to collect water; now giant nets harvest drinking water from mountain fog

Representative Image of engineered mesh capturing fog droplets on Mount Boutmezguida for water collection (AI-generated image) High on Mount Boutmezguida in southwest Morocco, more than 4,000 feet above sea level, rows of black mesh stand directly in the path of Atlantic fog rolling through the Anti-Atlas Mountains. As the fog passes through the mesh, tiny … Read more

In 2011, Myanmar suspended a giant China-backed dam after public outrage; it now plans to restart a project that could flood an area the size of Singapore

In 2011, Myanmar suspended a giant China-backed dam after public outrage; it now plans to restart a project that could flood an area the size of Singapore

Ethnic Kachin people visit Myitsone, the confluence of the Mali and Nmai rivers, outside Myitkyina, capital city of Kachin state, Myanmar Fourteen years after public protests forced construction to stop, Myanmar is preparing to restart the $3.6 billion (£2.8 billion) Myitsone hydropower project in Kachin State. The China-backed dam would create a reservoir roughly the … Read more

World’s longest national road in Australia is 14,500 km long and forms a giant loop around the continent, crossing deserts, rainforests and major cities

World’s longest national road in Australia is 14,500 km long and forms a giant loop around the continent, crossing deserts, rainforests and major cities

Highway 1, Australia. Image Credit: Tony Bowden/Wikipedia Australia has the world’s longest national highway, which is a marvelous engineering example known simply as ‘Highway 1.’ Spanning approximately 14,500 kilometres, this massive highway covers around the entire mainland continent like a belt, acting as an important transport base that connects every state capital city from Sydney … Read more

In the 1960s, Florida drained land for a giant subdivision; in 2026, restoration finished after removing 260 miles of roads and plugging 48 miles of canals across 55,000 acres

In the 1960s, Florida drained land for a giant subdivision; in 2026, restoration finished after removing 260 miles of roads and plugging 48 miles of canals across 55,000 acres

Restoration work at Picayune Strand is helping restore wetlands across 55,000 acres in Southwest Florida. A major restoration project in Southwest Florida has been completed after years of work to bring the natural flow of water back to 55,000 acres of wetlands.According to officials, the Picayune Strand Restoration Project covers area between Alligator Alley and … Read more

A giant snake vanished from parts of the US decades ago. Scientists are now releasing 42 eastern indigo snakes to bring it back

A giant snake vanished from parts of the US decades ago. Scientists are now releasing 42 eastern indigo snakes to bring it back

In Spring 2026, conservationists released 42 eastern indigo snakes into their historical habitats in Florida and Alabama. After a year of specialized care, these reptiles have adapted well, with monitoring indicating successful survival and breeding in the wild. This significant reintroduction effort seeks to restore self-sustaining populations of this unique snake species to their native … Read more