YouTube science channel Minute Earth produces videos that explain some of the planet's more interesting tidbits of science. In this recent upload, Minute Earth describes why some species of plants and animals thrive in our concrete jungle, while other die out.

Urban development can be tough on wildlife. But some plants and animals are adapting to our cities in surprising ways.

New York City's iconic skyline is undergoing a significant transformation, epitomized by the controversial 262 Fifth Avenue skyscraper. This new 262-meter-tall, pencil-thin tower is drawing criticism from New Yorkers for obstructing views of the beloved Empire State Building and for its design, which prioritizes luxury, whole-floor residences over addressing the city's severe housing crisis. With only 26 properties, averaging 3,200 sq ft each, the building is perceived as a "safety deposit box for the uber-wealthy" and a symbol of "zombie urbanism," where properties are owned but rarely occupied. This development highlights the tension between maximizing financial returns in real estate and the growing need for affordable housing, leading many to question if New York is losing its soul as it continues to expand without sightline protections.

Staten Island's Freshkills Park, once the world's largest landfill, has been remarkably transformed into one of New York City's largest wildland areas. For decades this was the world’s largest landfill, where 150 million tons of garbage was dumped along the banks of the Fresh Kills estuary in New York City’s Staten Island. But today these 200-foot tall mounds of trash have been transformed into a wildland recreation area nearly three times the size of Central Park. To see it first hand, my friends at Open House New York organized a sunset group walk with Mark Murphy, President of this impressive project, and Field Educator Jen Gallo. Discover the innovative landfill waste management techniques that led to this environmental sustainability success story on Staten Island, New York. Witness the ongoing ecological restoration efforts that are bringing new life to this urban green space.