Magnitude and Direction
Robot stand-up, self-destructing websites, and a giant banana orbiting the Earth
Welcome to the latest installment of my bi-weekly newsletter, covering some of my favorite new developments in the fields of biotech, data science, engineering, and more. If this is your first issue, it's great to have you! For everyone else, thanks for coming back!
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Notes
Can’t think of anything particularly profound to include here this time. I hope you’re having a good Friday, and this edition’s font is called Showcard Gothic.
Hardware, Prototyping, and Fabrication
🦾🤖🎭 This stand-up act features a robotic arm.
💽✉ Bhutan's playable vinyl record stamps from the 1970s are definitely something somebody should bring back.
💻🛠 In an world of increasingly closed-source hardware and technology, the Framework laptop offers a refreshing departure.
Software and Programming
🕹 Tetris isn't usually a game you'd associate with disorientation, but the first person variety might very well leave you dizzy.
💥 This website will self-destruct.
🔘 For a button that does nothing, there's an awful lot going on here.
🐍👾 Sinuous is a fun little web game that's part Snake, part Space Invaders, 100% addicting.
Science, Engineering, and Biomedicine
⚛ Here's a new, 3D map of the standard model of physics (at least, as we know it right now).
🥛🎨 The secret to a better workout? The color of your drink.
🌙🌏🛰 If the Moon orbited the Earth at the same distance as the ISS it would, (1) very quickly lead to the destruction of the planet and (2) look absolutely terrifying from the ground.
🍌 Bonus round: Here's what it would look like if a giant banana was orbiting the earth.
Mapping, History, and Data Science
🍗💵 From The Prepared: This is how the price of restaurant dining has changed over time.
🥪📈📉 How has London's COVID recovery been going? Look no further than grab-and-go lunch chain Pret a Manger.
💰🦘 Who owns Australia? (Hint: it's not always Australians)
👩 The mannequin many of us learned CPR on has a pretty macabre history.
🗳🏙 New York City's mayoral primary (and de facto mayoral election) may be over, but I think we're still sufficiently in the refractory period to share this interesting analysis of the "Political Boroughs" of NYC.
Events and Opportunities
A little bit of the usual slowdown as we prepare to head into the July 4th holiday, but I’ll be curious to see what the rest of the summer will look like. (I can say that there’ll be at least one event I’m personally involved in 😉)
TODAY, 6/25 Genspace Trivia Night Fundraiser. Join Genspace for a night of friendly — in person — competition! Come as a solo or a duo and be ready to test your trivia skills at Genspace’s first ever Trivia Night Fundraiser to kick off the summer, Brooklyn rooftop style. Enjoy food, drinks, raffle prizes, and fellowship while supporting the Genspace team to continue to provide the programming and initiatives they've nurtured over the last decade.
Thursday, 7/1 The Art and Sciences of Bio Ink for 3D Bioprinting. It is well known that additive manufacturing biological materials, functional tissues, or even organs will rely heavily on the chemical and mechanical properties of the bioinks. While this is an area of active research, the perfect recipe to increase cell viability, biomimicry mechanical properties, and eventual tissue function is still elusive to many. Join 3DHEALS for this virtual event with world-class scientists and entrepreneurs to learn the basics and deep dive into the art and sciences of bioinks.
Thursday, 7/8 3D Bioprinting Bone. Hosted by 3DHEALS and moderated by yours truly, this webinar will feature a panel of scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs, all of whom are working to produce ready-made bone replacements. With a range of fabrication technologies and biological approaches being featured, this panel of speakers promises to span the breadth and depth of orthopedic-based bioprinting and I’m super excited to be leading the discussion.
Map of the Month
🚇 This map of all New York's subway lines that never got built will definitely take at least a month to go through.