Baektu Mountain volcano -PHOTOGRAPH BY NASA/METI/AIST/JAPAN SPACE SYSTEMS, AND U.S./JAPAN ASTER SCIENCE TEAM

10 Stunning Pictures from NASA’s Release of 3 Million Images: NASA has made nearly 3 million images taken by ASTER—a Japan-U.S. instrument aboard NASA’s flagship Terra satellite—freely available to the public.

The Intelligent Life of the City Raccoon: Our month long editorial focus on urban wildlife wrapped up at the end of March, but we’re still keeping our eyes open for stories like this one: “City raccoons also appear smarter than their rural counterparts. Suzanne MacDonald, a comparative psychologist who studies raccoon behavior at York University in Toronto, has compared the problem-solving skills of rural and city raccoons. The result? Urbanites trump their country cousins in both intelligence and ability.”

The Great Hope of Fixing America’s Broken Public Transit Systems Rests With Millennials: The quality of a country’s infrastructure is directly linked to its competitiveness because it makes businesses more productive and improves the quality of life. Why has the US let its public transit slip so far?

Concerts Create A Huge Amount Of Waste, And Jack Johnson Is Tackling It Head On: Instead of blue M&Ms and champagne, Johnson demands LED bulbs and bike valets in his concert show rider.

The Best Plants for Bedrooms and Bathrooms: Because landscape architects care about the plants inside too. “Indoor plants go hand in hand with quality rest and relaxation – they’re proven to boost moods, decrease stress and filter indoor air toxins. We also love their look and vibe – plants have the power to transform your personal space into a spa-like retreat.”