What civil engineers are reading this week

• Ollie the Civil Engineer comes to life for children in new book

  Lisa Schleuter discusses Ollie, her career in civil engineering, and how she came to find herself as a newly minted author in the latest episode of the ASCE Plot Points podcast.

• 5 hidden ways microplastics may damage your brain

  A new study reveals five mechanisms by which microplastics can trigger inflammation and cause damage in the brain.

• ‘Breakthrough system’ provides new way to charge

  A highway in Indiana designed for electric vehicles could help lessen the cost and availability issues that accompany these vehicles.

• How China – not the US – became the main climate solution story in 2025

  The U.S. has become a “side character” in the global story of renewable energy, experts say. China dominates the sector, with positive implications for the climate and its economy.

• California gets a C- from ASCE members in new state infrastructure report card

  For a state that is its own global economy with some of the nation’s most complex infrastructure systems, the overall grade is unchanged from 2019, but there are surprise shifts in the categories.

• When it comes to infrastructure projects, the risks are real; here’s how you can avoid them

  A survey by an architecture, engineering, and construction software provider highlights key risks jeopardizing ambitious infrastructure efforts. What are the five key challenges?