Urban Ecosystems, Turing Nanopatterns, and Serving Sizes

The amount of green space can affect the distribution of wildlife in urban areas, but what role do socioeconomic features play in determining the ecology of cities? Researchers from Urban Wildlife Institute in Chicago mapped out how coyotes, raccoons, and opossums were affected by the “concrete jungle.” Brandon Keim, a freelance science reporter, discusses this story and other science news from the week.

Plus, think back to the last time you were snacking on a bag of chips. Did you turn the bag over—after many mouthfuls of salty, crunchy goodness—to the Nutrition Facts label, only to find that it contained more than one serving size? Twenty years after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) introduced the Nutrition Facts label, it now plans to update serving sizes in accordance with the amount of food people are really eating these days. But some are concerned that this change won’t lead to more informed consumers, but rather, increased consumption. Roberto Ferdman, a reporter for The Washington Post’s Wonkblog, explains the good and bad of the FDA’s move to overhaul serving sizes.