Leonardo da Vinci’s Ultra-Rare Eye Condition

According to new research, Leonardo da Vinci’s ability to understand distance and depth is the result of an ultra-rare eye condition known as exotropia. This condition turns one pupil outward, limiting the traditional understanding of depth when looking at things—which essentially would have turned the world around da Vinci into a flat canvas. This unique perspective, the new study claims, made it easier for the …

Beirut: Gallipoli

Truly an amalgamation of sound and style, “Gallipoli” announces Beirut’s return—and an album of the same name. With brass instruments that beg for a parade of celebratory footfall and percussion that creates nostalgia for something lost, the track (like much Beirut music) is bound to no time or place. Beirut’s Zach Condon wrote the entire song in one session, in rural Italy. It certainly stirs …

Prague’s Mesmerizing Signal Festival, 2018

Exploring the annual celebration of light art and emerging technologies

Prague abounds with historic quaintness. Hotel lobbies are traditionally opulent and grand, established restaurants serve time-honored food paired with Czech dumplings and beer, streets bear the names of residents from times gone by, and the magnificent Prague Castle above the city speaks of the royalty that once presided over the country. It is with this classic backdrop as a canvas that Prague hosts something intriguing and …