Link About It: This Week’s Picks

An orchid discovery in plain sight, upcycling 4,000 plastic bottles into a home, a collision of art and electronics and more

Pentagon Says Extraterrestrials May Have Already Visited Earth

According to a draft document (which is under review) released by the Pentagon, intelligent extraterrestrial beings might have already visited Earth and even be monitoring life here via research devices—or probes. Written by Sean Kirkpatrick (director of the Pentagon’s All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office) and Avi Loeb (chairman of Harvard’s astronomy department and founder of the Galileo Project), the research paper says, “Since most stars formed more than …

Turmeric Brightening and Exfoliating Mask

$68

Containing an exfoliating powder and turmeric, this two-in-one treatment from KORA is both a scrub and a mask that softens and brightens skin. The refreshing formulation includes aspen bark (a natural BHA), rosehip seeds (which is rich in antioxidants and helps to polish skin) and peppermint, together yielding a subtle aroma. Made with certified organic ingredients, the gentle formula feels luxurious to use and leaves skin feeling supple …

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Link About It

Stories from around the web that we think you should read

Sculptor Shunsuke Kawasaki’s Art Speakers

Osaka-born artist Shunsuke Kawasaki’s upcoming show The Shape of Frequency at Somewhere Tokyo (on 14-30 April) will showcase his industrial, metal sculptures and functional speakers. Using aluminum, plastic, acrylic and wood, Kawasaki creates these striking pieces—some of which are retro-tinged, while others look like futuristic robots or have been inspired by ninja throwing stars—in editions of five. Bluetooth compatible and wired, these creations are beguiling …

The Twisting Chuzhi House, Made From Recycled Plastic Bottles and Mud

In rural South India, the Chuzhi house from Wallmakers  (an architectural firm founded by Vinu Daniel) twists and turns between rocky outcrops and trees, intricately maneuvering through its challenging terrain. The residence’s structure takes after a snake coiling under a rock and not only works with the landscape in a visual sense but is respectful of it. Made up of almost 4,000 plastic bottles that littered the …

Scientists Reveal How The Brain Changes During DMT Trips

The hallucinogen dimethyltryptamine—better known as DMT—is used commonly to initiate vivid visions, remarkable feelings, near-death experiences and even to contact interdimensional beings. The psychedelic compound is found in various plants including Psychotria viridis, which is used to brew ayahuasca—a spiritual medicine utilized by Indigenous people in the Amazon basin. Only recently have scientists scanned and studied brain activity during a DMT trip. For their research, …

New But Ancient Orchid Species Discovered in Japan

Japan’s most recognizable orchid, the Spiranthes australis, has been cherished for centuries (it even features in The Man’yōshū, the oldest collection of Japanese waka poetry, dating back to 759AD) and it’s just been discovered to have an almost identical twin: the Spiranthes hachijoensis. The flower was actually hiding in plain sight—in private gardens, balconies, parks and more—and the common belief was “that all the Spiranthes …

Amarula, The Spirits Brand Dedicated to Protecting Native Elephants

This South African producer of liqueur and gin aims to help protect one of the planet's most majestic creatures

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The latest additions to our shoppable directory

MENAGE Ring

$225

Appearing like molten lava that trapped gemstones within, the MENAGE Ring from Seattle-based jewelry brand FARIS (founded by Faris du Graf) is available in sterling silver or gold-plated iterations. The silver features citrine, topaz and a freshwater pearl, while the gold is adorned with garnet, citrine and a freshwater pearl. The piece possesses an organic element that’s charming and dramatic.

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The “Paw-fect” Bed

$305

Handmade in Portland, Oregon by Proba, The “Paw-fect” Bed elevates the humble pet cushion through its playful form and alluring colors. The splotch-shaped product pairs a 100% cotton outer (making it easy to wash) with recycled foam inside. This cushy, comfy spot is available in small, medium or large.

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Cock Pump Soap Dispenser

$200

Designed and sculpted by CH favorite Pansy Ass Ceramics in their Toronto studio, this Cock Pump Soap Dispenser makes a statement. Available in black, white or pale pink, it stands approximately nine inches tall and features a glossy finish.

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Rose Wylie Hooded Sweatshirt

$200

Limited to 150 pieces, this collaborative hoodie is adorned with a screenprint of beloved British painter Rose Wylie’s “Black Cat (Bones) (Study)” artwork on the back and her signature along the left sleeve. From the exclusive online art market Platform, known as a trove for captivating works from emerging artists at independent galleries, the comfortable garment is made in the USA and screenprinted in Red Hook, Brooklyn.

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Lucinda Chua feat. Yeule: Something Other Than Years

A slow-moving ballad by London-based recording artist Lucinda Chua featuring Singaporean producer Yeule (aka Nat Ćmiel), “Something Other Than Years” is gentle yet entirely arresting. Chua tapped Yeule for the enchanting track, which appears on the upcoming album YIAN (燕) (which means swallow in Chinese and pays homage to the singer-songwriter’s Chinese heritage).

Let’s Eat Grandma: From The Morning (Nick Drake Cover)

To be released 7 July, the tribute album The Endless Coloured Ways – The Songs Of Nick Drake will feature 25 cover versions of tracks by the influential, almost mythic English singer-songwriter. Among the illustrious roster, British avant-pop act Let’s Eat Grandma contributes a moving rendition of  “From The Morning,” the ethereal closing track on Drake’s third and final studio album, Pink Moon. “I’ve always …

Gift Guides

Organized for the holiday season and special occasions all year long

Victorinox’s Durable, Dynamic Spectra.30 Travel Gear

An abundance of functional attributes within a polycarbonate shell crafted from proprietary recycled material

Anyone who has glanced upon a baggage claim carousel recently might have been struck not by the differences in the luggage circulating but rather by the general sameness. A few brands repeat time and again and anyone who owns one of those must identify their belongings by way of stickers and tags. This is one of many reasons why the durable Spectra 3.0 collection (especially in its …

Interview: Imogene Strauss on The Creative Direction Behind Caroline Polachek’s “The Spiraling Tour”

The multi-disciplinary creative tells us about collaborating, career and navigating a male-dominated industry

Lady Gaga on Her Latest Dom Pérignon Collaboration

An intimate look at the world of vintage bubbles through Gaga’s creative lens

Hannah Jadagu: Warning Sign

At first, “Warning Sign,” the latest single from Hannah Jadagu’s forthcoming debut album, Aperture, sounds sparse and soft, but then it transforms with surprising instrumentation. Abrupt percussion, gentle keys and spatial strings turn the indie-pop song into a textured listen. It’s yet another sublime, melodious track from the Texas-born singer, songwriter, producer and student.

The Japanese House: Boyhood

The Japanese House (aka British singer-songwriter Amber Bain) returns with the moving single “Boyhood.” Featuring spacious, buoyant production and shimmering strings, the single captures the complexities of identity, from gender to the seemingly futile quest of being more than the sum of your circumstances. Bain shares, “When Katie and I were young and in love, we fantasized about riding off into the distance on her …

Hipstamatic Photo App Relaunches

A classic within smartphone history, this playful photo app is back with a community component

Originally released in 2009, Hipstamatic was an icon of its time: an iPhone app that allowed users to take photos and apply retro-looking filters, colorful flashes and more. Based on the analog Hipstamatic 100 camera, the app also offered extra paid features. While playful, the app fell out of favor some years ago but it’s now being relaunched today exclusively for iOS. The most notable difference …

Museum of Arts and Design’s “Funk You Too!” Group Exhibit Celebrates Playful, Subversive Ceramics

26 artists converge at the NYC institution to contextualize historical and contemporary Funk Art

Breitling’s New Top Time B01 Classic Cars Wristwatch Collection

Ford's Thunderbird and Mustang, the Chevrolet Corvette and the Shelby Cobra inspire impeccably designed timepieces

Following the success of Breitling‘s Top Time Classic Cars collection, composed of eye-catching chronographs inspired by iconic ’60s automobiles, the pioneering Swiss watchmaker returns with enhanced models and a scorching new addition. The timepieces within the 2021 debut collection tapped into the vivaciousness of the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Corvette and Shelby Cobra; the Top Time B01 Classic Cars collection incorporates a show-stopping fourth watch that nods to the …