A Mysterious WTC Photographer

James Turrell's light prints, a $1 microscope, contamination-detecting chopsticks and more in our weekly look at the web

In his research for the National Geographic Channel documentary “9/10: The Final Hours,” filmmaker Erik Nelson was missing one vital piece. While he had more than enough exterior footage of the two towers, he had very little of what the buildings looked like inside. Thanks to an internet miracle, one of his film researchers discovered a wealth of images on the Estonian photo site Fotki. …

James Turrell in Print

James Turrell's light prints, a $1 microscope, contamination-detecting chopsticks and more in our weekly look at the web

Renowned light artist James Turrell is known for his expansive installations that encapsulate the viewer in a meditative, spiritual cocoon of visual warmth. It comes as something of an (exciting) surprise that his upcoming work will be on paper. “Prints and Process” translates Turrell’s critically acclaimed Guggenheim show into posters with the help of master printer and craftsman Yasu Shibata. The exhibition is on view …

Poison-Sensitive Chopsticks

James Turrell's light prints, a $1 microscope, contamination-detecting chopsticks and more in our weekly look at the web

Anyone who has ever suffered from food poisoning can attest to the value of smart chopsticks—a new development from a Chinese tech firm Baidu. Sensors in the chopsticks pick up certain chemical combinations in food, and trigger an indicator LED. Blue means safe, red means beware. As a final perk, the chopsticks also connect to smartphones for a full breakdown on why an alert was …