Neuroscientists at the Max Planck Institute for Brain Research in Germany have deployed machine-learning algorithms to decode communication recorded in mole rat colonies, and documented the importance of varying dialects. This technology (already utilized in the analysis of human language) has also been applied to mice, bats, crows, sperm whales and more—sometimes opening fledgling pathways for humans to communicate back. Though we are far from a “Google Translate for animals,” the analysis has begun to reveal more to the nuance of animal communication. Read about the unexpected breakthroughs, the potential to ascertain meaning and other next steps at The New York Times.
Image courtesy of Mehgan Murphy, Smithsonian’s National Zoo
Earlier we looked at Stackabl, a line of furniture produced from industrial off-cuts. Designed by Toronto-based design firm Stacklab in collaboration with New York gallery space and furniture retailer Maison Gerard, the Stackabl online configurator allows designers to create their own furniture pieces out of surplus felted wool.
2021 furniture by Benoist F Drut and Champalimaud Design. Photo credit: Sean McBride
The line launched last year with seating, but this year they’ve expanded into some rather unusual pendant lighting.
2022 Hombre pendants by Anthony Frank Keeler. Photo credit: Patrick Biller
Stackabl founder Jeff Forrest with 2022 Hombre pendant by Anthony Frank Keeler. Photo credit: Patrick Biller
“If Stackabl’s 2021 furniture is its “haute couture” line, then its 2022 pendant collection can be considered its “ready-to-wear” offering. Also made of upcycled felt and aluminum, and using powerful, yet energy-saving LEDs, the lights are just as easy to configure, but users have significantly more control over price point, allowing for a broader audience to consume responsibly.”
Stackabl founder Jeff Forrest (and Charles) with 2022 pendants by Sarah Coleman. Photo credit: Patrick Biller
2022 pendants by Sarah Coleman. Photo credit: Patrick Biller
2022 Shotgun Shell by Sarah Coleman. Photo credit: Patrick Biller
Detail of 2022 cigarette pendant by Sarah Coleman. Photo credit: Patrick Biller
“With the help of Anthony Frank Keeler, formerly of Rich Brilliant Willing and AvroKO, Stackabl took a holistic approach, designing both the lights’ internal and external elements around the original system, reusing most of the same components found in the furniture collection, and using the very same network of regional suppliers and manufacturers.”
2022 pendants by Wisse Trooster. Photo credit: Patrick Biller
Detail of 2022 Hugo pendant by Wisse Trooster. Photo credit: Patrick Biller
“The pendants are modular products: consumers can customize any of the configurator’s five SKUs as they wish, choosing the length of the internal structure, as well as the diameter of the felt discs. Like track lighting, consumers dictate the location and frequency of the luminaires, in this case a cast-acrylic diffuser with embedded LEDs. Lightweight, dimmable, sound-dampening, environmentally responsible, fully customizable, and competitively priced, the pendants are ideal for innumerable environments, from residential to contract to hospitality.”
Wood’s tendency to warp has long been a hindrance to designers, but researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem are trying to change that. Using wood-waste micro-particles (called “wood flour”) and cellulose nanocrystals and xyloglucan (natural binders extracted from plants), the researchers developed an environmentally friendly water-based ink that harnesses wood’s ability to morph. When the ink is used in a 3D printer, the researchers were able to determine how the wood morphs, based on the way its laid down. (Printing concentric circles, for instance, leads to shrinkage akin to a Pringle chip.) With this knowledge, the team can program a print speed and form that creates a purposeful morphed shape with the goal of printing more complicated structures, like chairs, down the line. “Eventually, it might be feasible to license the technology for home use so consumers could design and print their own wooden objects with a regular 3D printer,” says principal researcher Eran Sharon. Read more about this at Core77.
I needed to transport a load of 12′ oak fence boards for our front pasture. My neighbor lent me his hitch extender, which looks like this:
Well, I promptly bent and ruined it. My truck has a wimpy 5′ bed, and with 7′ of boards sticking out of the back, the weight of the oak bent the horizontal arm of the extender.
I now need to buy him a new one, and while searching for a replacement, came across this:
That’s the Sheett Bed Extender, a largely metal-free, fabric-based alternative to hitch extenders, made by U.S. manufacturer Loadd. A dual-layer, UV-resistant canvas and vinyl sheet is wrapped around the protruding end of the load, while straps secure it to the tiedown points in the bed. Included ratchet straps snug everything up.
Here’s how it works:
They run $170 for a 5.5′ extender, and $190 for an 8′ extender. I’ll be buying my neighbor (and maybe myself) the longer one, if they agree to the swap. It’s pricey, but I’ve made more expensive mistakes on this farm.
When you spend a lot of time on your work area, you need to surround yourself with things that can amuse or delight you in the midst of the long to do lists and endless emails. I like placing random, cute, and unique stationery pieces or decorations just so I have something nice to look at and sometimes, they’re useful too. Of course you need to take a break every once in a while from work so sometimes you need to have something to “play with” that’s not a screen.
Designer: Arundhati Malkhede
Wobbler is a product concept for a penholder that looks like the way it sounds. It’s a thingamajig to hold your pens and other small pieces of stationery and supplies. But instead of being stable and actually stationary, it wobbles around in order to amuse or distract you. It actually looks like a lamp with its circular and cylindrical design but instead of lighting your desk, it’s actually keeps your office or school stuff organized.
The cylindrical part that looks a bit like an hourglass is where the pens are placed. It’s transparent so you’ll still be able to see the various colors and designs of your pens, scissors, or whatever long office item you want to put there. There’s also space underneath that to put paper clips, staple wires, rubber bands, or other small items you want to keep nearby. There’s a section underneath that opens up as a small storage compartment to put erasers, small staplers, and other small items.
There’s a weighted bottom that keeps the entire thing from toppling over even as it wobbles. But if you want to keep it steady or if it’s becoming too heavy, you can remove the ring from the top and use it as a stable base. The product renders show various colors and color combinations so you can also get a splash of color on your desk, aside from the wobbly design. I’d like to add this to my collection of unique desk knick knacks even if I might eventually get dizzy from all the wobbling.
The Bjarke Ingels Group or popularly known as BIG recently unveiled its plans for the Masterplan Esbjerg Strand – a campus environment and innovation hub that attempts to bring a new and fresh approach to education. This astounding structure will be surrounded by water and located in Jutland, Denmark. It will be nestled in the seaside town of Esbjerg, and is BIG’s attempt to recreate an entire city in one building! Are you as awestruck as we are?!
The geometrically intriguing structure will be elevated on a platform, seven meters above sea level, and can be accessed only via bridges. It will occupy 13,700 square meters and feature a roofscape that zig-zags around, as well as a central park. This impressive park will be protected from wind and noise. It will function as an oasis, creating an intriguing contrast between the peaceful campus, and the busy industrial harbor. The perimeter wall is quite a fascinating one, featuring angular white walls, that are accentuated with massive windows to provide stunning views of the park and the sea. The walls will artfully adjust around the irregular shape of the building, folding effortlessly around the central park, and then changing in height to form the roofscape.
You might find the shape, size, and layout of the structure quite irregular and eccentric. But BIG chose such a design to protect the building from the natural restraints on the site – such as extreme climatic conditions, turbulent waters, or even floods. In fact, the base of the structure has been raised by seven meters to provide protection against floods!
“The new masterplan is informed by present environmental parameters at the site: noise from the harbor, dominant westerly winds, high tides and storm surges, and sunlight,” the studio said.
Sustainability is also an important factor being incorporated into the construction of the campus. The entire site will be powered by renewable energy, and it will achieve 11 out of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. A beautiful green roof will also be added at the top of the building – which will feature a 1000-meter-long pathway.
“Education, development, and new communities will create the frame for a life, where the island with all its functions and possibilities works as a sustainable, human-made ecosystem in the middle of a city,” said the studio. “The vision for the project Masterplan Esbjerg Strand is to form the framework for a city and campus environment that will rethink the approach to education,” they also added.
The Masterplan Esbjerg Strand is truly a groundbreaking architectural proposal in these modern times. It perfectly encapsulates a site that not only paves the path for the progression of education and innovation – but manages to do so in a sustainable and eco-friendly environment.
It’s 2022 and we need to get as eco-friendly as we can! We can no more continue living the way we always have, ignoring the needs of the environment and being insensitive to Mother Earth. Living a more conscious life also includes taking into consideration our energy sources. Curbing fossil fuel consumption has now become a priority, and we have a more positive energy source in mind as an alternative – the Sun! Solar power is taking the world by storm. Designers and architects are coming up with solar-powered products, homes, hotels, offices, and automobiles! Solar energy can be used to power almost every object we use in our day-to-day lives. Hence, we’ve curated a collection of product designs backed up by the sun for you – from a Tesla trailer with solar panels to a luxury yacht that runs 100% on solar energy!
1. The Tesla Solar Range Extending Trailer
It isn’t quite like Tesla to do anything without fanfare, yet at the IdeenExpo in Hannover Germany, the EV giant unveiled a prototype of yet another product they’re working on – a trailer that attaches to the back of your EV, with fold-out solar panels and battery packs that help expand your EV’s range
Why is it noteworthy?
The Tesla Solar Range Extending Trailer is pretty massive. It would perfectly complement your Cybertruck when hooked onto it, and it boasts a set of fold-out solar panels that charge a huge battery pack below it. The impressive trailer even sports a built-in SpaceX Starlink satellite internet receiver providing you with a smooth internet connection, irrespective of where you are.
What we like
Features a SpaceX Starlink internet terminal
What we dislike
We don’t know if or when it will be launched
2. The Parelio
The Parelio is a solar-powered beach umbrella that is able to harness the power of the sun to create sustainable energy. The lawn and beach accessory can absorb sunlight and convert it into electricity for things like coolers, mini-refrigerators, phone chargers, and even to power machinery.
Why is it noteworthy?
Instead of the usual beach umbrella design that folds down towards the earth, this one folds upward towards the sun as it absorbs its energy. The inspiration for the design is a combination of origami and the solar systems on NASA spacecraft.
What we like
Amped with foldable photovoltaic panels
What we dislike
No complaints!
3. The Adidas RPT-02 SOL
Dubbed the Adidas RPT-02 SOL, these pair of over-the-ear cans juice up with natural light or even artificial light. So, they’ll not need to recharge any time soon.
Why is it noteworthy?
These headphones are a follow-up to the RPT-01(not solar-powered) and promise almost double the playback time at around 80 hours. Not to forget that the RPT-02 SOL are solar powered, and the battery keeps topping up as long as you are exposed to good lighting conditions.
What we like
Crafted out of recycled plastic
Used a highly flexible light-cell material by Powerfoyle
What we dislike
No complaints!
4. Solgaard Solarbank Boombox
Finding a decent Bluetooth speaker may be easy because there are many options. But getting the best or the most affordable one isn’t always the goal. The aim now is to make “greener” choices for the future of the planet. For this reason, the new Solgaard Solarbank Boombox portable speaker enters the market with a sustainable design.
Why is it noteworthy?
The upcycled plastic design refers to speaker cloth and outer shell from plastic waste. These are waste materials but had been upcycled and used instead. This process is part of the brand’s initiative to pull about 5lbs of plastic for every product sold.
What we like
The Solgaard Solarbank Boombox lets you enjoy music while the battery harnesses the power of the sun
The Solarbank Boombox is also now sand-proof, water-proof, and drop-proof
What we dislike
No complaints!
5. The Urbanista Phoenix
Don’t you hate it when you pop your AirPods into your ears only to get a notification that you forgot to charge them? Well, the Urbanista Phoenix seems to have an unusually sensible fix. Equipped with a Powerfoyle solar panel on the charging case, the Phoenix just keeps charging your TWS Earbuds whenever it has access to sunlight or any bright light.
Why is it noteworthy?
The Phoenix builds on that rather clever idea by introducing solar panels onto the charging case instead (because the TWS earbuds themselves are too small to put solar panels on). This effectively allows the earbuds to charge in their case without you needing to physically plug them in or place them on a wireless charging mat.
What we like
Has built-in active noise canceling
IPX4 water resistance
What we dislike
No complaints!
6. The Cladrus
Borrowing from the LightYear One EV’s framework, the Polestar Cladrus concept car comes with transparent solar panels built into its roof, which feeds energy to the car’s graphene-based battery and body panel. If that wasn’t cutting-edge enough, the car’s also been envisioned with level 5 autonomy, thanks to the presence of a Waymo-esque sensor hub on the front of the roof.
Why is it noteworthy?
The Cladrus embodies everything Polestar stands for. It’s cutting-edge, runs on an electrical grid, puts drivers in the lap of luxury, and boasts of a Scandinavian design language that gives the car its signature clean aesthetic. The car also details the partnership agreement between Polestar and Waymo by delivering something that looks rather palpable.
What we like
Use of recycled metals and plastics in the entire car
Comes with a sprawling sun-roof that goes from the front all the way to the back
What we dislike
No complaints!
7. The Matte Works Solar Watches
In a world dominated by smartwatches with disposable lithium-ion batteries and planned obsolescence life cycles, the Matte Works solar watches are refreshing in more ways than one. Not only are they pretty remarkable wristwatches with an evergreen aesthetic, but they also come with solar panels hiding discreetly under the watch dial
Why is it noteworthy?
Unlike a smartwatch that ends up becoming ‘old news’ after the company launches its next version a year later, the Matte Works solar watches stay classy and functional for years, while underscoring the importance of relying on renewable energy.
What we like
The watch comes with a classic aesthetic that conceals its powerful feature underneath a tinted dial
What we dislike
No complaints!
8. Sunnyside
Meet Sunnyside, a nifty bento box with a self-heating AND cooling feature that brings your lunch to the right temperature just before your meal. A heating coil around the metal container helps evenly conduct thermal energy around your food, keeping hot stuff hot, or if you’ve got something like an egg/potato salad that’s out in the sun, a pair of fans located on the bottom of the lunchbox pull out warm air, ensuring your food doesn’t spoil in the heat
Why is it noteworthy?
However, the most impressive bit is? Sunnyside relies almost entirely on a solar panel built right into its lid, working off renewable energy. A solar panel built into the lid helps charge the Sunnyside’s internal 10,000mAh battery that powers the lunchbox’s heating and cooling features, and a tiny LCD screen and buttons on the side help you control your Sunnyside, choosing how hot or cool you want the contents of your box to be.
What we like
Doubles up as a wireless power bank to charge your phone, AirPods, or even your laptop
What we dislike
No complaints!
9. The Oneiric
Christened the Oneiric, this twin-hulled catamaran sports Zaha Hadid Architects’ signature fluid design and comes with a solar-paneled roof that lets the yacht run entirely on renewable energy.
Why is it noteworthy?
The Oneiric is a 42-meter-long yacht (or a catamaran to be precise) with a twin-hull design that gives it a broader footprint. Its organic, fluid design falls well within the identity of the design language Zaha Hadid Architects is known for. The main deck features a saloon containing a bar and integrated sofas that open onto a second deck with an inbuilt hot tub and two sets of steps that lead down into the sea.
What we like
Has the ability to switch to 100% solar energy
What we dislike
No complaints!
10. Solego 2.0
Clean, green, and renewable energy is nowhere more needed than in locations where electricity is not only expensive but also as rare as gold. These are areas where power generators are the go-to solution of homeowners and businesses, which often translates to gasoline generators. These, after all, are nearly ubiquitous, which means they’re easy to find and, more often than not, inexpensive. They are, however, also the worst in almost all other aspects, so more efficient and more economical options are always in high demand.
Why is it noteworthy?
Solego 2.0 addresses those needs by being green in two ways, with the most obvious being how it charges its batteries from the sun. The design is modular so that each battery “pack” can be stacked or extended to provide more power as needed.
What we like
The battery uses LiFePO4 or Lithium iron phosphate that doesn’t contain rare earths
Our selections along with insight from programmers Liz Rosenthal and Michel Reilhac
It’s a milestone year for the Venice Immersive division of this year’s Venice International Film Festival, which includes 75 in-person experiences set into 5,000 square meters of exhibition space on Isola del Lazzaretto Vecchio—aptly renamed Venice Immersive Island. This is coupled with a VRChat gathering space built for “world-hopping” through virtual projects. Liz Rosenthal and Michel Reilhac, Venice Immersive’s two programmers, meticulously staged the section like an art exhibition dedicated to the future. Their curation includes works in competition, out of competition, a section entitled Worlds Gallery and the Biennale College Cinema VR section, along with events and a special screening.
This year marks a transition from the category’s former name Venice VR Expanded to Venice Immersive, and with it comes a solidification of identity. “We felt very strongly that the field of immersive arts was growing, diversifying and quickly developing its own grammar and vocabulary,” the programmers share via email. “At the same time we are seeing that user experience design, interactivity, presence, agency, spatial mobility… All that typifies immersive arts can now be supported by a wider range of technologies, no longer limited to VR per se.” As such, they wanted their event “to widely reflect the expanse of the creative experience rather than the choice of one technology.”
The title change is quite appropriate as this year’s slate represents so many different styles of storytelling that work with and defy various advancing technologies. “‘Immersive,’ to us, is defined by criteria relating to the user experience: interactivity, spatial agency, sense of presence breaking the fourth wall, brain flexibility in perception and management of multiple realities, facilitating chosen identities, sense of playfulness,” they continue.
After two years with pioneering online components, this year will feature the aforementioned Venice Immersive World 2022 on VRChat. “Anyone connecting with our VR world will be able to access any of the 32 worlds we have selected through portals that we have gathered together in one big virtual hall under the spawning/meeting place,” they explain. “All the making-of presentation videos produced by the artists featured in this year’s official selection will also be presented in a 24-hour loop on the screen of our amphitheater in our virtual garden. And the world will be a meeting place for people not physically present in Venice with us.”
“Venice Immersive is still to this day the only official competition of creative immersive content within the frame of an A-list international film festival,” Rosenthal and Reilhac conclude. “The three awards that are given to the best experiences receive the same lion trophy as the feature films, on the same closing gala night. This helps elevate the global perception of immersive as a fully fledged new art form on the same level as cinema. Even though the language of immersive is growing into its own, different from the language of cinema, the festival brings the glamour and prestige that gives visible legitimacy to the new art of immersive content.” And, they add, “In exchange, the immersive competition brings a flair of open mindedness, exploration and a new energy to the traditional film industry.”
The seven highlights below represent a broad range of in-competition works from the 79th annual La Biennale di Venezia.
Fight Back
A highly imaginative and engaging 40-minute animated adventure, director Celine Tricart’s Fight Backallows participants to play the part of a newborn star and defend sister stars from the darkness. Beneath this layer of storytelling, however, are actually—physical—lessons on self-defense, as Tricart’s mission aims to combat gender-based violence. The VR work employs state-of-the-art hand-tracking technology to transform the game into something more.
Dazzle: a Re-Assembly of Bodies
Directed by Ruth Gibson, Bruno Martelli, Alexa Pollmann and Bine Roth, Dazzle: a Re-Assembly of Bodies is a performance-based work featuring live dancers, that incorporates real-time virtual production. Running for 45 minutes, the extraordinary experience addresses the unique sensation of embodiment in mixed realities.
Thank You For Sharing Your World
Produced by Japan’s Kodansha VR Lab, Ltd and directed by Yu Sakudo, Thank You For Sharing Your World is a vivid depiction of scenes imagined by a blind boy named Takashi who lost his sight at age 10. The 33-minute interactive VR animation is a testament to imagination, along with the enduring power of friendship.
Recontre(s)
An imaginative, multi-sensory 360-degree animated film, Recontre(s) brings participants back to 1921 and into the shop of famed perfumer Ernest Beaux. The 10-minute work—from writer/director Mathias Chelebourg, founder of the Atelier Daruma production company, in collaboration with a team from Chanel (who acted as co-authors and art directors)—features the voice of Marion Cotillard and delves into the mythic creation of Chanel N°5.
Mrs Benz
The untold story of the passion and drive behind Bertha Benz, wife of Karl Benz (creator of the world’s first motorcar), the 45-minute animated work Mrs Benztransports viewers back to Germany in 1886. Directed by Eloise Singer, the VR piece empowers participants as they explore the workshop, history and life of a woman who changed the course of the world.
The Man Who Couldn’t Leave
From Taipei-based production companies The Walkers Films and Outland Film Production, and commissioned by Taiwan’s National Human Rights Museum, The Man Who Couldn’t Leave finds protagonist A-Kuen (a political prisoner) sharing emotional stories of detainment from the 1950s in the former Green Island prison. Directed by Chen Singing, the moving 35-minute virtual reality work references real experiences from the time.
Framerate: Pulse of the Earth
A time-lapse film divided across multiple screens in one immersive installation, Framerate: Pulse of the Earth knits together landscape-scale footage captured with a LiDAR 3D scanning system by directors William Trossell and Matthew Shaw (founders of the UK-based creative studio ScanLAB Projects). Running on continuous 20-minute loops, the poetic presentation of real-life change happening on our planet is a demonstration of immense technology and built upon scientific data.
Hero image from Dazzle: a Re-Assembly of Bodies, courtesy of Ruth Gibson, Bruno Martelli, Alexa Pollmann, Bine Roth
Packed with micro-crystals (evenly ground magnesium oxide particles), Soft Services’ bright blue Buffing Bar exfoliates the body and provides immediate results. This utilitarian creation (which comes in simple recycled packaging) feels like a hybrid of the humble bar of soap and pumice stone. The tiny crystals are ideal for keratosis pilaris, rough and dry skin, as well as areas that are prone to ingrown hairs. Use once a week for soft, smooth and fresh-feeling skin. Price is for a set of two.
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