“My Special Aflac Duck,” a Robot Companion for Children with Cancer

Insurance company Aflac and health research company Sproutel unveiled a robot duck companion at this year’s CES, made for children going through cancer treatment. More than just a plush toy, the animated robot features a chest sensor with a chemotherapy PICC line attachment. This allows children to witness their toy friend go through the same treatment as themselves, and offers emotional support. Further, there’s a …

NASA’s Make-Up Kits

Astronauts take plenty of grooming products into space—soap, lotion, deodorant, toothbrushes and more—but back in 1978, NASA believed women would also want a full make-up kit. NASA’s History Office shared an image of the kit, along with a quote from Sally Ride—the first American woman to go into space: “The engineers at NASA, in their infinite wisdom, decided that women astronauts would want make-up… You …

Jay Wolke’s Images of Casinos in the 1980s

During the 1980s, the only places one could legally gamble in the USA were Atlantic City, Las Vegas and Reno. Photographer Jay Wolke was “fascinated by the intersections of people, artifice, architecture and landscape” and photographed the rapidly expanding cities. From wedding parties to beauty queens, builders and (of course) gamblers, Wolke’s subjects are both ordinary and extraordinary—and his photographs act as a time capsule …