Travel
February 19, 2019

Japan’s Most Luxurious Scenic Train Is Coming to Hokkaido

If you love a scenic train ride, you might want to book your next trip to Asia. Known for the efficiency and luxury of its rail service, Japan has taken things to the next level. Private rail companies continue to operate in Japan, so they are constantly bettering the quality of their services—particularly when it comes to tourist trains. Now, one company is expanding its offerings to help more travelers experience the beauty of Hokkaido.

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Technology
February 16, 2019

This Website Uses AI Technology to Generate Faces That Aren’t Real

The above photos may look like your average portraits or photo ID pictures, but there's much more than meets the eye. Using new advances in AI developed by researchers at NVIDIA, software engineer Phillip Wang created the website This Person Does Not Exist. That's correct—none of the “people” pictured are real. Wang, who posted his work in the Artificial Intelligence & Deep Learning Facebook group, created the website to raise awareness about the technology.

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Environment
February 14, 2019

Ingenious Mexican Company Turns Avocado Seeds into Biodegradable Straws and Cutlery

Today, many eco-friendly companies are creating products that will help stop the single-use plastic problem. These innovations include a portable, metal straw, a “living seawall,” and, thanks to Mexican company Biofase, biodegradable utensils made entirely out of avocado seeds. Using pits predominantly leftover from guacamole and oil manufacturers, Biofase creates forks, spoons, knives, and straws. Like disposable plastic tools, these utensils are durable and suitable for hot and cold contents.

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Resources
February 12, 2019

‘Atlas of Endangered Alphabets’ Preserves Indigenous Scripts from Around the Globe

With appreciation for typography, hand-lettering, and calligraphy on the rise, there's more attention than ever on the diversity of scripts that exist in the world. While many of us are familiar with the basic Arabic, Chinese, Latin or Cyrillic alphabets, there is incredible variety in global writing systems. Since 2009, Tim Brookes, the founder of non-profit Endangered Alphabets, has made a concerted effort to help preserve writing systems in danger of disappearing.

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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.