First-Ever Photo of a Supermassive Black Hole

Truly a quantum leap, astronomers have “seen the unseeable” and captured an image of a supermassive black hole—a “smoke ring framing a one-way portal to eternity,” Dennis Overbye writes for the New York Times. A planet-sized network of eight radio telescopes—called the Event Horizon Telescope—peered through interstellar dust and gas to reveal the black hole, located in a galaxy called Messier 87, which exists some …

Tulum’s Charming Casa Pueblo

This 16-room hotel offers community atmosphere, and a sanctuary from the beach scene

Hacienda-style hotel Casa Pueblo—helmed by Derek Klein and Omar Rodriguez—offers a lush oasis just meters from Tulum’s bustling downtown. Right on Av Tulum 106, the central hotel still feels like a retreat, from the sun-dappled backyard to the bright atrium. And, with just 16 guest rooms and a friendly team, there’s a decidedly familial atmosphere. The mood is nothing if not laid-back and natural; in …

Katsushika Hokusai’s Iconic Artwork Bound for Japanese Currency

An instantly recognizable artwork—Katsushika Hokusai’s woodblock print The Great Wave off Kanagawa—is set to appear on Japan’s 1,000-yen banknote. Just one of several new designs announced—others including images of industrialist, Eiichi Shibusawa; educational reformist, Tsuda Umeko; and more—the Hokusai note will depict Nobel Prize-nominated bacteriologist Shibasaburo Kitasato on the other side. The new designs will be circulating by 2024. See more at CNN.