Architecture
January 2, 2021

8 Incredible Structures Around the World That Use Tensegrity to Defy Gravity

Think back to your high school physics class. You may remember drawing force diagrams with arrows signifying gravity and some outside variables. The arrows were probably forces that work in compression. The ancient pyramids are a classic example of this form of building. By creating a larger base and stacking taller and taller, a structure can be created. Tensegrity is precisely the opposite—rather than focusing on a heavy foundation, tensegrity structures work through tension.

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History
January 1, 2021

Discovery of a 9,000 Year-Old Burial of a Female Hunter Challenges Prehistoric Gender Roles

It is common knowledge that our prehistoric ancestors were hunters and gatherers. Men stalked game while women collected edible plants—or so the accepted story goes. A new paper published in Science Advances upends this accepted division of gendered labor. In 2018, a team of anthropologists discovered an important 9,000-year-old grave at Wilamaya Patjxa, a site in the Peruvian Andes.

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Architecture
December 31, 2020

Swelling Rattan Columns in Bangkok Restaurant Mimic the Act of Pouring a Beer

You might not give the columns in a building more than a passing glance, but that will change when you enter Spice & Barley. The Bangkok restaurant is filled with impressive rattan columns that complement the warm interior color palette. Architects Enter Projects Asia designed the structures using parametric digital modeling technology in conjunction with traditional craft knowledge of rattan—a renewable material made from plants that is often used to create woven baskets.

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Sculpture
December 31, 2020

Diorama Artist Crafts Tiny Versions of Real Places To Pay Homage To Beloved Locales

Taiwanese artist Hank Cheng crafts incredible dioramas that are so realistic that you can almost imagine tiny people living inside them. From run-down neighborhood grocery stores to cluttered bedrooms, every piece captures real-life places from the artist’s memory and pays homage to his community. Cheng made his first model five years ago when he was inspired to recreate a Japanese restaurant he frequently visited as a student.

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My Modern Met

Celebrating creativity and promoting a positive culture by spotlighting the best sides of humanity—from the lighthearted and fun to the thought-provoking and enlightening.