[Hcitaly] MIT Senseable City Lab Newsletter: May 2025

Newsletter | May 2025 Air pollution disrupts menstrual cycles [https://senseable.mit.edu/dust-bloom/] Ambient air pollution is responsible for over 4 million premature deaths worldwide each year, with well-documented effects on respiratory and cardiovascular health. But its impact runs deeper — all the way to women’s reproductive systems, as shown by the data analysis of over 2 million menstrual cycles. A groundbreaking new study, Dust Bloom [http://senseable.mit.edu/dust-bloom], reveals a previously underexplored connection: long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is associated with irregular menstrual cycles — a key indicator of women’s overall health. Published in The Lancet Planetary Health [https://senseable.mit.edu/papers/pdf/20250514_deSouza-etal_EvidenceAir_Lanc…], the study is a collaboration between the MIT Senseable City Lab, the University of Colorado Denver [https://www.ucdenver.edu], and Clue [https://helloclue.com], a menstrual health app used by millions globally. Researchers analyzed over 2.2 million menstrual cycles from 92,550 users across 230 cities in the United States, Mexico, and Brazil, spanning 2016 to 2020. This is one of the most comprehensive datasets ever used to investigate environmental effects on menstrual health. “Menstrual cycles are a vital sign of health, yet they’ve been largely ignored in environmental health research,” says Priyanka deSouza, co-author and professor at the University of Colorado Denver. “This study sheds light on a critical, yet often overlooked, consequence of air pollution — particularly for women.” “The integration of large-scale high-res health data and advanced environmental monitoring — including satellite-derived air quality measures — is transforming how we study public health,” says Carlo Ratti. “It’s especially crucial in regions like Latin America, where communities face disproportionate environmental harm.” Dust Bloom not only highlights the hidden costs of pollution on women’s health but also demonstrates the power of digital health data in uncovering insights that might otherwise remain invisible. When science centers sex-specific outcomes, it opens new pathways to protect and promote the well-being of all. Projects Updates, Scientific Papers [https://senseable.mit.edu/data-slots] Global overview of data privacy From tech giants to city governments, data privacy is at the center of today’s most pressing debates. In Humanities and Social Sciences Communications [https://senseable.mit.edu/papers/pdf/20250411_Mazzarello-etal_Data_Slots_HS…] we show that the public's perception of privacy isn’t as rigid as it may seem — and that trust can be built through transparency and inclusion. Based on Data Slots [https://senseable.mit.edu/data-slots], an interactive game played in-person across 18 countries and online in 78 countries, we reveal a compelling insight: people’s attitudes toward privacy shift significantly depending on the context and purpose of data use. A key takeaway for policymakers highlighted by MIT News is that when residents feel they are actively involved in shaping how data is used, privacy concerns begin to decline sharply. [https://senseable.mit.edu/beijing-inside-out/] How policies change domestic spaces A new study reveals how China's rapid urbanization has transformed not only cities but also the design of everyday homes. In Beijing Inside Out [https://senseable.mit.edu/beijing-inside-out/], we used computer vision to analyze over 2,000 apartment floor plans in Beijing, spanning from 1970 to 2020. The results, published in Humanities and Social Sciences Communications [https://senseable.mit.edu/papers/pdf/20250320_Yao-etal_BeijingUrbanization_…], show a clear evolution in domestic layouts — with increasingly defined living rooms, dining areas, and kitchens — reflecting a shift toward privacy, multifunctionality, and individuality. These changes align with broader societal trends, including rising incomes, changing family structures, and evolving national housing policies. The study illustrates how large-scale urban and political shifts manifest in the most personal of spaces: the home. More from Senseable The Venice Architecture Biennale, curated by Carlo, has received global coverage, including The Guardian [https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2025/may/09/robots-aperol-spritz-v…], Dezeen [https://www.dezeen.com/2025/05/13/robots-venice-architecture-biennale-carlo…], Archdaily [https://www.archdaily.com/1029985/architecture-is-survival-in-conversation-…], Designboom [https://www.designboom.com/architecture/architecture-future-interview-carlo…], Monocle [https://monocle.com/design/venice-biennale-architecture-best-pavilions/], Libération [https://www.liberation.fr/forums/a-venise-la-biennale-darchitecture-2025-sa…], and Wallpaper [https://www.wallpaper.com/architecture/carlo-ratti-intelligens-venice-bienn…]. In Transportation Safety and Environment [https://senseable.mit.edu/papers/pdf/20250224_Carmody-etal_IdentifyingPubli…], we propose a method to locate and rank the severity of modal travel deserts in Stockholm. For ongoing coverage of the Venice Biennale and other Lab projects, be sure to follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/senseable_city_lab/] and LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/mit-senseable-city-lab]! “Data allows us to understand the urban environment better and create real-time loops, real responses. It can turn a city into a living organism," says Carlo Ratti in his profile in the Financial Times [https://www.ft.com/content/3b805787-66dd-4ffc-965e-ec5a282398ac]. Take a peek at Data Clouds [https://journey.world/projects/data-clouds-at-la-biennale-di-venezia/], our collaboration with Journey [https://journey.world], Venice Architecture Biennale [https://www.labiennale.org/en/architecture/2025]. In Amsterdam, repurposed buildings provide occupants with better access to amenities within 15 minutes of active mobility compared to new construction, as we show in Discover Cities [https://senseable.mit.edu/papers/pdf/20250430_Aksoy-etal_EvaluatingAmenity_…]. 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