A Brooklyn Museum exhibition looks at the history of “zines.” Ukrainian type foundry produces faces that reflect Ukraine’s Soviet history as well as the current war. Judas! The Boston Typewriter Orchestra has gone electric. Turn any paper into a sticky note. Graphene-enhanced infrared wallpaper for efficient home heating. Learn all about piphilology in time for pi day. Will AI wipe out humanity? A perfume based on all the smells indicated in the Book of Revelation. Laurie Anderson uses AI to “communicate” with late husband Lou Reed. New app always points to supermassive black hole at the center of the galaxy, very helpful for navigation. Le Sac Swoosh is a not very useful designer handbag shaped like Nike’s iconic branding. Subway has developed a tote bag for storing footlongs. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.
A Sgt. Pepper-esque tribute to the celebrities who passed away in 2023. Behind some book cover redesigns from hardcover to paperback. A Minneapolis store where you can buy vintage, discarded channel letters. A fun 1824 primer on punctuation. A coffee table that is also a touchscreen display. “What was life like before the Internet?” A start-up is developing an app that lets a smartphone evaluate air quality. Graphene-based batteries now for pre-sale! The economics of time travel. Protesting Pontianak, Indonesia’s proposed “ghost statue.” Oscar Mayer is hiring Wienermobile drivers. Fruit Stripe gum has been discontinued. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.
A new London exhibition looks at Charles Dickens’ relationship with fog. Antibacterial graphene-infused socks. Digital natives can have trouble operating office equipment. “The singular natural event that caused the loudest sound in the world.” A history of “Groucho Glasses.” “Air bag jeans” for motorcyclists. The winners of Madison, Wis.’s snowplow naming contest. An airline’s “vegan meal” consists of a single banana. Starbucks is adding olive oil to coffee, for some reason. Ford’s patent for a “repossession system computer” is the dystopian future of driving we don’t need. A duet for piano and car alarm. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly AI-free miscellany.
How worried should creative professionals be about artificial intelligence? A Florence, Italy, street artist who applies whimsical stickers to traffic signs. CNet looks at some dubious introductions at last week’s CES. The FTC has proposed banning companies from requiring that employees sign noncompete agreements. Researchers have found a “cousin” to graphene, which they have dubbed “graphullerene.” Kia’s new logo is illegible. New Wordle-esque game lets you guess the list prices of houses for sale. Good news for mice this week researchers are prolonging their lives and improving their memories. The James Webb Space Telescope finds its first exoplanet. A fire in a Wisconsin daily causes melted butter to flood nearby streams. Ronzoni discontinues its Pastina and the Internet sees stars. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.
The emerging field of “liquid electronics” and graphene is there! Redesigning corporate logos with a Medieval theme. The Great ReShuffling: meet the new buzzword, same as the old buzzword. An actual, physical object will be the most expensive photograph, bizarrely. Google introduces Roboto Serif. Self-adjusting water-based eyeglasses in low- and high-tech versions. Coca-Cola’s tepid approach to its refillable bottle program. Beam a 3D hologram of yourself with PORTL. An update on robot restaurant servers. Also: the first robot hotel. A boat full of luxury cars bursts into flames. A robot fish powered by heart cells. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.