Preserving some 986,243 seed species, in zero degrees Fahrenheit, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault protects the legacy of Earth’s fauna. For those who’ve long dreamed of seeing the site themselves, a visitor center known as The Arc is set to open in 2022. Design firm Snøhetta will lead, and their vision is two-fold. First, a mirrored, modernist main building (on a suspended timber frame, so …
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Featuring the brand’s popular Post-Poo Drops, along with their Olous Aromatique Room Spray and Body Cleansing Soap Slab, Aesop’s “The Melodist” set aims to alleviate unwanted scents from people and the places they visit—as all are in travel-safe sizes. One of five new sets, “The Melodist” is housed within a reusable tan amenities case that’s wrapped in an illustration of Euterpe by artist Giovanni Garcia-Fenech.
Israeli designer Yaara Nusboim created these wooden therapy toys in collaboration with child psychologists for kids to work through various struggles (including trauma) during play therapy. This kind of treatment was developed by psychoanalyst Melanie Klein some 80 years ago, and encourages children to express themselves through play rather than conversation—offering a comfortable distance for them from whatever issue they are facing. Nusboim says, “The …
For China-based BGI, the secret to living longer and healthier lies in interpreting our genetic sequences (a notion that’s often met with privacy concerns). Along with regular exercise and a healthy diet, tapping into our DNA to determine which diseases or ailments we’re susceptible to may prolong life 20+ years above the international average, which hovers around 71. The genetics giant (along with plenty of …
The corner of Grand Ave and 11th St in Fort Smith, Arkansas has been transformed by women-led global creative house Justkids and French artist Camille Walala. Named Walala Pump & Go, the ’50s-era gas station is now a bright, bold and playful piece of public art. The colorful patterns that now cover the structure were inspired by the artist’s “travels, the Memphis movement, optical art …
Created at Wisconsin-based custom Porsche build shop, Kelly-Moss, this 1984 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2 is like no other. Built as an off-road vehicle, it features MOMO rims and fat, rugged tires that are made for going off piste. Along with “custom-made aluminum bodywork, Eibach springs, Brembo brakes, and LED light bars,” the car also features sport racing seats, steering wheel and pedals. Despite having just …
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A camera accessory for those who shoot on the move, Tamron’s 18-400mm ultra-telephoto 22.2X all-in-one zoom lens offers an undeniable sharpness at all focal lengths. Whether shooting expansive cityscapes or close-up details, it’s up to the challenge. Moisture-resistant, weighing under 25 ounces, and available for Nikon and Canon APS-C camera bodies, it’s practical, useful and easy to use in almost any circumstance. Right now through …
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Blue Blue Japan pays homage to their home country with these socks featuring the rising sun. Woven into the ankle of these reinforced, cotton-blend items, a red circle references the nation’s flag: the Hinomaru. As they’re finished off with tapered cuffs, these socks won’t lose their shape or slide down when worn.
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The Iwachu workshop has been hand-crafting cast iron since 1902, and their team of artisans also does an incredible job updating its collections to include more contemporary pieces—all while remaining true to their traditional processes. The Morioka-based makers turned a typical cast iron teapot into a sculptural work with distinct personality and ultra-functional features. Plus, the deep blue hue, because of the texture of the …
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Written by pro skater Karl Watson and illustrated by Henry Jones, the aptly titled My First Skateboard was written to inspire kids to get active—on skateboards and within the skating community. The positive tale follows Jonas through his journey: from his desire for a skateboard to shredding the San Francisco streets, and then meeting people from all over the world through the sport. Explicitly saying that …
Joyful and a tad flirtatious, Toronto-based Andy Shauf’s “Try Again” depicts an awkward run in with an ex. But it’s far more than a note about loneliness: Shauf does an excellent job at developing the cast of characters, an impressive feat for the just-under-four-minute track. “Somewhere between drunkenness and jealousy / I watch her talking to some old friend / What a reunion, he recognized …
Danger Mouse (aka Brian Burton) has unveiled a previously unreleased song made in collaboration with Sparklehorse, the inimitable MF DOOM and Patrick Carney of the Black Keys. When Burton recorded 2010’s Dark Night of the Soul with Sparklehorse, he produced more music with frontman Mark Linkous, who’d pass away a few months before the record’s release. “Mark and I worked on a lot of music …
Rather than localizing the millions of gamers that go online each day to consoles with limitations in each person’s home, Google Stadia aims to bring the entirety of the gaming industry online. The proposition, when introduced earlier in 2019, raised eyebrows as no longer would gamers claim physical ownership of their console or games, as purchases would be relegated to a distant server under Google‘s …
TNGHT (aka Hudson Mohawke and Lunice), after seven years apart, return with their widely anticipated II EP. From it comes “WHAT_IT_IS,” a noisy, Timbaland-esque track with vocal samples, drums and space-like sounds. The end result proves enjoyably odd, courtesy of an unconventional formula. Other tracks on the EP follow suit, although most are darker and more aggressive. From boom-bap and early 2000s hip-hop to modern electronic, …
Neon Indian (aka Alan Palomo) returns with his first song entirely in Spanish, “Toyota Man.” Upbeat and glitzy, it’s a pro-immigrant tune with a little playful satire. In the music video (also directed by the artist), Palomo creates an alternate self-history that stars a piñata version of Trump. Palomo says that more recently, “the story of my family, which before felt commonly American, was suddenly …
The first World’s Fair took place in 1851 under the title Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations, at London’s Crystal Palace. Telescopes, the world’s biggest diamond, daguerreotypes, and pay toilets were some of main attractions. The event has been the reason for many impressive feats, perhaps the most famous being the Eiffel Tower, which was constructed for the 1889 fair in …
Many booze brands subscribe to the idea that if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it. When you have a delicious elixir that the public clamors over, it seems mad to change it. But, the most interesting brands are curious, inventive and experimental. And Royal Salute, the storied, Speyside-based whiskey company, continues to innovate for those reasons, but also to set the bar within the industry. …
