Better Oblivion Community Center: Dylan Thomas

After the critical success of supergroup boygenius, musician Phoebe Bridgers has embarked upon another collaborative project worth all the chatter. Better Oblivion Community Center, formed with longtime indie darling Conor Oberst, released their debut self-titled album on 24 January—and now a music video for the standout track, “Dylan Thomas.” Directed by Japanese Breakfast’s Michelle Zauner, the video blends blindfolded activities with live performance and virtual reality, …

Germ Communities in Our Gut Talk to Our Brain

There are trillions of microbes inside the human body, and University College Cork professor Dr John Cryan’s studies indicate that these germ communities appear to influence both the brain and its behaviors. Since that groundbreaking and contested 2014 announcement, much more research has continued to support the idea that the human microbiome impacts depression, dementia, autism, schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s and even Parkinson’s disease. All of this …

Pioneer of Office Design, Florence Knoll Bassett Dies at 101

Anyone familiar with open floor plans, straight lines and simplicity within their office knows the work of Florence Knoll Bassett. The acclaimed architect and designer reimagined corporate workspaces through her system of “total design,” which removed heavier drapes and desks and championed sleek, modern additions. As the design director of Knoll Associates, for more than 20 years, she pioneered minimalist direction. Her vision still inspires today. Read …