California Rail Breaks Ground

The California high-speed bullet train that would connect San Francisco and Los Angeles will finally break ground this week after years of delays. While the estimated $68 billion project is still shrouded in uncertainty, and many of the legal and financial pieces of the massive undertaking are still being assembled, the project will soon begin construction on its first 29 miles in order to meet …

Anouk Wipprecht’s “Spiderdress”

Unveiled at this year’s CES in downtown Las Vegas, the “Spiderdress” by Dutch designer and engineer Anouk Wipprecht takes a new approach at wearable technology. Made through 3D printing and composed of plastic, the spider-like exoskeleton is meant to be a self-defense aid for women with protective arms that sit upon the wearer’s shoulders. Sensors are able to track and analyze the wearer’s body language …

Tom Robbins Lost Interview

In PBS’ latest episode of Blank on Blank, which sets lost interview recordings to colorful animation, renowned serio-comedy author Tom Robbins takes us through the mind of a writer. Through a previously unheard interview with Tod Mesirow from 1994, Robbins discusses one of his first stories involving a stranded pilot and brown cow, why he destroyed his typewriter with a two-by-four, and his dreams of …