In The News: Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering
The American Southwest is running dry—literally. Lake Mead, the lifeline of Las Vegas, is shrinking at an alarming rate, and the city that defied nature is now facing one of its toughest challenges yet. But in true Vegas fashion, this city of reinvention is fighting back. From pioneering water conservation efforts to groundbreaking innovations like WAVR, a system that harvests water straight from the air, scientists and engineers are racing against time to secure the region’s future. Meanwhile, researchers are turning to an unlikely hero—cacti—as a potential solution for drought-resistant agriculture and even biofuel.
The impact of the construction industry is obvious during the daily commute. From roads and plumbing to power lines and even the grocery store — everything was previously a construction site, said Mac Bybee, CEO of the Associated Builders and Contractors in Nevada, or ABC Nevada.
As the warmer temperature months approach, a community-led effort to improve pedestrian safety provided a final round of reflective jacket distributions to those most in need.
There are few people who would disagree with the assertion that Las Vegas drivers are among the worst in the nation. Using Big Brother surveillance tactics to issue those reckless drivers a slew of citations, however, won’t make our streets any safer.
The Nevada Legislature is once again considering the installation of red light cameras at intersections, a proposal aimed at reducing traffic fatalities but raising concerns over civil liberties.
Doesn’t it seem that no matter how much effort, talk or enforcement is put into reducing traffic deaths, nothing works in Southern Nevada? Case in point: traffic deaths for Nevada were up again last year. Officials said 412 people died in 377 crashes, making it the fourth deadliest year on record.
Nevada saw its deadliest year on record for pedestrian fatalities in 2024. The Silver State recorded 112 pedestrian deaths, surpassing 107 reported in 2023, according to Zero Fatalities Nevada, a statewide traffic safety initiative.
As kids, we learn the basic rules of the road using three distinct colors: red, green and yellow. Their safety connotations are ingrained in our brains from early on. So if you’ve ever spotted a pink traffic sign, you’re probably wondering when the heck that came into play.
Last year proved one of the deadliest on Nevada roads, with 412 deaths resulting from vehicle crashes.
As Las Vegas continues to innovate in hospitality and gaming, it is now also becoming a testbed for the “future” of transportation. Zoox, an Amazon subsidiary that’s developing autonomous vehicle (AV) technology, will welcome its first public riders this year in its robotaxis. The company promises the robotaxis will add a new layer of efficient transportation for both residents and tourists.
Among the steady stream of vehicles cruising the Las Vegas Strip, onlookers might notice a boxy car with seats facing each other and cameras mounted at each corner. Take a closer look, though, and something else sets it apart: There is no driver.
Community members are raising concerns about an intersection near a northwest valley middle school after two children crossing a street were hospitalized in two separate crashes.