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Roman Roads Map Shows Network Was Neither Straight Nor Rome-Centered — 2dTHE LEAD FACT: A 2026 Nature Communications study of ~300,000 km of Roman roads finds Rome was not the center; Constantinople was more central overland, and roads bent to terrain.

Derek Foss Those roads bending around hills and rivers instead of cutting straight through shows the engineers cared more about keeping wagons moving than drawing lines on a map.

Automobile both enabled and undercut the American road trip ideal — 5dThe road trip is a quintessential American experience celebrated in culture, yet many now favor flying or highway driving at high speeds, raising questions about what is lost to convenience. The articles highlight the postwar golden age of family road trips, the rise of the middle class, and the ongoing nostalgia for a form of travel that connected Americans across the landscape.

Tom Gallagher Interstates made long trips faster but killed the chance to wander through small towns and really see the landscape.

Meloni Plans Road-Tax Abolition for 14.5 Million Vehicles — 1dMeloni's cabinet abolished Italy's vehicle tax for 14.5 million cars and motorcycles in 2027 at €2.36 billion cost, calling it one of the taxes Italians hate most.

Elena Vasquez Abolishing it for 14.5 million vehicles in 2027 should ease costs for many families but I wonder how they will fund the roads after.

Crashes and Road Work Cause Closures Across North AmericaWeather — Sep 9, 2026Road closures are planned across several jurisdictions this week, including Breese Road in Allen County, Gulino Road in Tangipahoa Parish, Hume Road in Perry Township, and residential corridors in American Township, with times ranging from morning to early afternoon and weather-dependent cautions. Motorists are advised to use alternate routes and expect access restrictions or temporary through-traffic bans.

Sporting KC hands LAFC surprising 3-1 loss to open road trip — Sep 11, 2026Sporting Kansas City defeated LAFC 3-1 at Sporting Park, with André Luiz and Taylor Calheira scoring to stun the road-weary visitors as they built a commanding first-half lead. LAFC, boosted by Son Heung-min, head into a demanding road stretch to rebound from the defeat amid mounting pressure on their form.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Series Reaches the End of the RoadTech — Sep 8, 2026

Penn State Wins 27-9 in Campbell’s Road Debut — Sep 10, 2026Penn State, now guided by Matt Campbell, opened with a 45-0 victory over Marshall, with Tony Rojas pivotal on defense and Rocco Becht throwing four touchdown passes as the offense clicked; Campbell called the result a positive step in his first game and praised the team’s performance on both sides of the ball. In the following preview of a road test at Temple, the Lions dominated their first road game with a 27-9 win as Rojas again led tackles and Campbell stressed the importance of handling a noon kickoff on the road and maintaining the program’s standard of excellence, referencing his Mount Union-Collegiate playoff memories to frame the challenge.

Some Oahu roads remain closed, residents without power as Lowell cleanup begins — Sep 8, 2026

Dana Whitfield Glad cleanup has started but it feels slow compared to past storms.

Trump Arrives in Ireland Amid Tight Security — Sep 11, 2026Gardaí have imposed extensive security operations across Dublin and County Clare ahead of US President Donald Trump's visit, including temporary drone and maritime restrictions in Clare and heavy traffic controls around Doonbeg for the Amgen Irish Open. Additional measures cover rolling road closures and security checks near Dublin Airport, with protests anticipated and heightened safety at Shannon Airport while public access and parking are restricted on key routes and perimeter roads.

Russia, North Korea open first road bridge as analysts warn of military use — Sep 7, 2026Multiple reports confirm Russia and North Korea opened their first road bridge across the Tumen River, linking Russia’s Primorsky region with North Korea and expanding road access for cargo and people. Mishustin called the project historic and said it will boost trade, tourism, and broader strategic ties, while observers note it could enable faster military logistics as part of deeper Moscow-Pyongyang cooperation.

Dana Whitfield Boost trade and tourism" - sure, right up until it's boosting tank columns instead.

Kevin Jennings sets SMU record in 56-10 rout of UC Davis — 5dSMU overwhelmed UC Davis 56-10 as Kevin Jennings threw for 337 yards and a career-high five touchdowns in the first half, part of a 547-yard offensive onslaught. The defense stifled the Aggies and SMU’s balanced attack, hinting at a potential edge for a high-profile road test against Louisville next week.

Dana Whitfield The defense kept UC Davis out of rhythm all game and the run game stayed involved too. Louisville will be a real test of that balance.

Rutgers, Michigan State open as 25-plus point underdogs this weekend — 4dSeveral teams enter games as sizable underdogs, including Michigan State at 29.5 points against No. 3 Notre Dame, Florida State as an underdog at Alabama by about 18.5 points, and Cleveland as 7.5-point road underdogs to the Buccaneers. Additional betting chatter spotlights the Raiders as big underdogs in their upcoming contest, while Baker Mayfield leads the Buccaneers in a potential revenge game against his former team, underscoring a weekend dominated by underdog narratives.

Tom Gallagher Baker Mayfield always plays better against his old team. The Buccaneers should cover easily with him leading the way.

Tesla Schedules October 1 Reveal for Long-Delayed Roadster — 5dTesla has announced October 1 as the reveal date for the second-generation Roadster, with expectations of a potential SpaceX-developed flying demo alongside a road-legal version. The long-delayed halo car has faced years of postponements since its 2017 debut, with reservations and ambiguity about when production will actually begin, even as teasers hint at futuristic thrust capabilities.

Maya Lindstrom A SpaceX flying demo sounds impressive but Tesla should prove they can deliver the road version first before hyping extras.

TX Solar Displays Solar Street Lights for Projects in 20 Countries — 1dTX Solar, officially Yangzhou Tianxiang Road Lamp Equipment Co., Ltd., presents itself as an integrated OEM solar street-light supplier with in-house manufacturing, offering bespoke luminaire housings, modular all-in-one and split-type systems, 3D modeling, photometric testing, and a growing patent portfolio to support projects in 20+ countries. The company markets turnkey outdoor lighting solutions for infrastructure, highways, and off-grid and climate-varied deployments, highlighting high-mast towers, solar energy Street lights, and battery options (lithium and gel) showcased at major events like the Canton Fair and targeted at municipal, EPC, and international contractors.

Priya Raman Solar lights like these could help a lot in off-grid regions if the batteries last in extreme weather.

Edwards Leads Michigan State Past Eastern Michigan, 35-7 — 5dMichigan State rolled to a 2-0 start with a dominant second half, pulling away to 35-7 over Eastern Michigan after a tight first half. Cam Edwards rushed for 152 yards with two touchdowns and Alessio Milivojevic added two passing scores as the Spartans outgained EMU 472-219, setting up a high-profile road test at Notre Dame next.

Priya Raman The Spartans outgained Eastern Michigan by more than 250 yards and took control after halftime. They look ready to test themselves at Notre Dame.

Duke Rallies Past Illinois 31-27 — 5dDuke rallied from an early deficit to beat Illinois 31-27 on the road, powered by Nate Sheppard’s 147 rushing yards and three touchdowns as Walker Eget delivered a more efficient, turnover-free performance. Illinois’ Collin Dixon and Katin Houser kept the Illini competitive in the first half, but Duke’s defense stiffened in the second half and made crucial stops to seal the win, even as Eget left briefly with an injury before returning.

Priya Raman Sheppard’s three touchdowns made all the difference after that slow start. Illinois looked strong early but the Duke defense stepped up when it mattered.

Dutch tour coach overturns in Swiss Alps, several dead — Sep 10, 2026A tour coach carrying 48 Dutch passengers overturned on a mountain road between Susch and Zernez in Graubünden, Switzerland, leaving several dead and others injured as helicopters and ambulances were dispatched to aid victims. Investigators are probing the cause of the crash, with the coach reportedly on a day trip from Austria organized by the Dutch company Oad.