A decade of redevelopment has breathed life into downtown Durham. But the city’s remarkable turnaround is about more than bricks and mortar.

A sparrow’s song may seem a simple melody, but it’s actually the product of some pretty sophisticated brainwork. In fact, studying how birds sing may give us new insights about our own ability to speak, move, and think.

Not quite—but in today’s hypercompetitive environment, it takes something special to stand out.