Merging Scandinavian design, luxury and sustainability, California-based Bowlus has just launched the Volterra: the world’s first all-electric RV that can be kept off the grid entirely, thanks to solar-powered energy. Its electricity stems from AeroSolar, a lightweight yet efficient system that charges the RV while it’s being driven, absorbing up to 480 watts of energy and providing 65 miles of EV charging. It also powers Volterra’s …
More than a serene getaway, Bali abounds with nightlife, surf culture, innovative bamboo architecture and more. It was this lush amalgamation that inspired Elora Hardy to found her sustainable design and architecture firm, IBUKU, after growing up on the island. In Bali Mystique, published by Assouline, Hardy traverses multifaceted destinations within the tropical locale through 200+ images and personal anecdotes that serve as an ode to …
Researchers from the University of Massachusetts Amherst have engineered a bacteria-based battery that can produce power from human sweat. The key to their innovation is bacterium Geobacter sulfurreducens, a bacteria that can produce electricity and has been used to explore microbial batteries. However, its need to be fed a constant diet has limited its functionality. To get around this, the researchers grew the bacteria sustainably …
Researchers have found the fossils of a previously unknown dinosaur—named the Jakapil kaniukura—in the La Buitrera palaeontological zone in Patagonia’s Río Negro province. The dinosaur existed during the Cretaceous period (between 145.5 and 65.5 million years ago) and would have been well-protected thanks to disc-shaped armor covering its neck, back and tail. Its armored body means it belonged to the thyreophoran dinosaur group which also …
Launched by the Institute for Palestine Studies and The Palestinian Museum in Birzeit, the Interactive Encyclopedia of the Palestine Question is a free interactive resource that journeys through Palestine’s history, art and culture. The platform, which is in English as well as Arabic, is comprised of four chapters: Beginners commences in 1795 with the development of icon painting; Pathfinders stretches across a period of art …
Slated to board the International Space Station in 2024, MIRA—which stands for Miniaturized In-Vivo Robotic Assistance—is a remote-controlled surgical robot created by Virtual Incision Corporation, a Nebraska-based medical technology company that recently signed a contract with NASA. The robot is purported to perform medical surgeries by being remotely guided from Earth, a service that could provide longterm help aboard deep space missions. MIRA is uniquely …
The Spirulina Botanical Bar is a thoughtfully fragrant and nourishing product from scent and skincare line Redoux NYC. Weaving lavender, ylang ylang, palmarosa and eucalyptus essential oils, the aroma evokes bathhouses and their cleansing properties. Meanwhile, spirulina helps diminish acne and support collagen production, and rice milk, a centuries-old Chinese and Korean ingredient for skincare, fights inflammation.
Brandi Carlile’s memoir, Broken Horses, charts the singer-songwriter and producer’s upbringing in the impoverished outskirts of Seattle, as well as her experience being openly gay within a homophobic faith. As the book describes, these difficult moments shaped Carlile as well as her art, from her early days singing in local competitions to opening for Dave Matthews Band. Honest and insightful, the memoir is an unflinching look …
Pieter “Parra” Janssen’s colorful curves and post-pop imagery translate to multicolored apparel and, even more fittingly, swim shorts from the Dutch artist’s own clothing brand, By Parra. These 100% nylon trunks feature a soft mesh inner, rear pockets with closures, patch panels and, of course, Parra’s signature waves.
Laura K Zimmermann’s magical children’s book Mushroom Rain glows with dazzling fungi illustrations by Jamie Green. The fascinating, informative work includes insight on the mysterious power of mushrooms, from helping to create rain to smelling like bubblegum. With lyrical descriptions as well as additional facts and activities in the back matter, the book is an enchanting and educational tour of ecology.
Just a few days ago, serpentwithfeet (aka Josiah Wise) released a song made with Moby; today, he shares “I’m Pressed,” a house-inflected track carried by the experimental artist’s undulating vocals. The energetic beat is balanced by Wise’s smooth, haunting voice—altogether creating a mellifluous piece.
Composed for The Birdsong Project, an extensive musical endeavor helmed by producer Randall Poster that calls attention to the value of, and issues threatening, birds, “Your Birthday At The Huntington” finds acclaimed harpist Mary Lattimore channeling inspiration from the warbles of birds she overheard in LA’s Huntington Library and Gardens. For the accompanying music video, which was overseen by executive producer Rebecca Reagan, director Leila Jeffries …
Gift Guides
Organized for the holiday season and special occasions all year long
In 2019 we were invited by Ferrari to participate in their Tailor Made customization program with the encouragement to expand and explore the use of colors, materials and finishes further than the luxury automaker has ever done before. We had just returned from our CH Japan trip, and as we were still inspired by indigo and traditional Japanese crafts we decided to bring some of …
Following the chart-topping debut of her seventh studio album, Renaissance, at the end of July, Beyoncé returns this week in a timeless duet with Ronald Isley of the legendary music group The Isley Brothers. The soulful collaboration, “Make Me Say It Again, Girl,” is a cover of an Isley Brothers’ classic from 1975, which Beyoncé infuses with her exquisite vocals.
Following Who Cares?, the second studio album of Rex Orange County (aka Alex O’Connor), “Threat” is a breezy and synth-laden departure from the English recording artist’s previous oeuvre of quirky, jazz-tinged bedroom pop. The one-off single marries relaxed percussion, easygoing melody and uplifting guitar with lyrics of insecurity, paranoia and vulnerability. Despite the somber themes, the song’s laidback yet cheerful energy makes for a quintessential summertime bop.
In a new study, researchers from the University of Konstanz in Germany discovered that spiders, specifically the jumping spider species Evarcha arcuata, experience moments of rapidly shifting eye movement while they sleep—a sign that indicates they may be dreaming. These twitches are similar to that of other animals who experience REM sleep, the phase in slumber in which dreaming occurs. To find more concrete proof …
Made from GOTS-certified organic cotton, this pale pink shirt rightly and defiantly proclaims “Abortion is Healthcare” across the front, while the back features a uterus giving the finger. CHNGE will donate 50% of the proceeds from the cheeky top to three organizations: SisterSong, which advocates for the reproductive justice of Indigenous women and people of color; The National Network of Abortion Funds, which removes financial and …
