16th Century Scientific Flap Illustrations

As understanding of the human body and organ-interconnectedness developed during the Renaissance, artists began interpreting scholarly scientific knowledge in new ways. One such manifestation was anatomical flap illustrations, or layer upon layer of drawings outlining the positions of major organs. It wasn’t just doctors drawn to these works, the broader public found these illustration educational too. Learn more about the history of anatomical flap drawings …

Nikka Whisky Distillery, Hokkaido

A serene hub for spirits production on Japan's northernmost island

One of the most well-known Japanese whisky brands, Nikka‘s origins date back to 1934 when Masataka Taketsuru built the Yoichi Distillery (named after the town in which it’s located) on the island of Hokkaido. Taketsuru (the son of a sake producer) had returned from an extended stay in Scotland, during which time he studied the craft of whisky-making while apprenticing at local distilleries—all while working …

Dan Deacon: Opal Toad Segment

Off a forthcoming experimental music compilation, I Said No Doctors!, from NYC-based music label Dymaxion Groove, musician Dan Deacon’s “Opal Toad Segment” conveys a different sort of chaotic charm than we’ve come to expect from the mastermind. Here, a vibrant tinkling—of “MIDI-triggered pinpoint notes from an acoustic grand piano”—rises and falls with a binaural boldness. It’s quite beautiful and entirely out of the ordinary.