Follow Kerouac’s Tiretracks

A Ken Burns iPad app, touchscreen subway maps, swapping sexism and more in our weekly look at the web

The literary masterpiece “On the Road” inspired an entire generation onward—not that many people seek to follow the tricky turn-by-turn trek Jack Kerouac’s main character Sal Paradise took across the States. Now, thanks to German student Gregor Weichbrodt, there’s a 45-page e-book with the specifics on how to do it. Weichbrodt achieved this feat simply by writing a little bit of code, which plugged all …

Stool Stools

A Ken Burns iPad app, touchscreen subway maps, swapping sexism and more in our weekly look at the web

Using a homemade machine, Edinburgh College of Art student Peter Trimble has created a way to mass manufacture biodegradable furniture using just three organic ingredients—sand, urine and naturally occurring bacteria. With the bacteria acting as glue, the sand hardens over the course of two days to form a concrete-like state capable of supporting 91 kilograms, in the case of the stool. Future applications could see …

Farewell, Philip Seymour Hoffman

Philip Seymour Hoffman's inimitable talent, architecture in ice, bionic hands and more in our weekly look at the web

The number of thoughtful tributes and articles about the tragic passing of Philip Seymour Hoffman is a veritable testament to the huge loss the public feels—let alone that of his colleagues, friends and family. Tom Junod of Esquire explains the character actor’s impact and the reason we all—as complete strangers—felt connected to him. One of Hoffman’s many talents was bringing to life characters that were …