Researchers use satellite imagery to study how six major cities change over time, describing measurable patterns as an “urban pulse.” The project examines Dubai, Lagos, Mexico City, Mumbai, Seattle and Shenzhen. According to the reporting, the researchers apply a new method designed to document dynamic urban changes in near real time, rather than relying only on periodic or historical imagery. The study frames city development as exhibiting time-varying processes that can resemble biological activity in how cities “grow,” “transform,” and eventually show signs of slowing or decline. However, the researchers do not claim cities are living organisms; instead, they treat urban change as observable signals captured from space. Across the sources, the focus is on the methodology and the identification of distinctive, city-specific patterns of change for each of the six urban areas. The reporting emphasizes that satellite observations can provide a consistent way to monitor urban dynamics as they unfold, enabling comparisons across different regions and city types.