View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Meatpacking District (@meatpackingny)

Even though famous painter Edward Hopper passed away in 1967,  New York’s Meatpacking District recently found a unique way to keep the artist alive. In late July, the district partnered with Whitney Museum of American Art to create an immersive four-day event entitled Step Into Hopper in honor of the artist's birthday. This event provided the public the chance to interact with three life-sized replicas of some of the painter's most famous pieces.

Edward Hopper was one of the most prominent figures in American Realism and is best known for his oil paintings of everyday scenes and people. A sense of melancholy or isolation is present in much of his work, and his depictions of empty and silent spaces have forever cemented him in American art history. A native New Yorker, Hopper often used New England as his creative backdrop.

For Step Into Hopper, three recreations of the artist's paintings were featured, including Soir Bleu, Early Sunday Morning, and Nighthawks, his most famous work. Local performers were hired to serve as the figures from the paintings, including a clown and a barista.

Visitors to the event were invited to pose with the performers and replicas and get their pictures taken, allowing them to interact and exist within an Edward Hopper painting. This provided many humorous selfie opportunities as everyday people took a step back in time to pose in a retro diner or with a crestfallen clown. The event organizers also tried to make each experience as realistic as possible, providing free coffee at the Nighthawks location and ensuring that Early Sunday Morning was away from the hustle and bustle of modern-day New York City, in order to capture the feeling of the original painting.

For New Yorkers interested in seeing the original pieces in person, they're in luck. Both Soir Bleu and Early Sunday Morning are currently hanging in the Whitney. But to see Nighthawks, they will have to take a trip to the Art Institute of Chicago.

In honor of Edward Hopper's 142nd birthday, New Yorkers recently had the opportunity to interact with three live replicas of his paintings in Manhattan.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Meatpacking District (@meatpackingny)

The Meatpacking District partnered with the Whitney Museum to bring Nighthawks, Soir Bleu, and Early Sunday Morning to life.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Meatpacking District (@meatpackingny)

Performers were hired to play the roles of the figures from the paintings, providing for some fantastic selfie opportunities.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Meatpacking District (@meatpackingny)

h/t: [Smithsonian Magazine]

Related Articles:

Artist Launches Project to Have People Transform Their Windows Into Interactive Art

Chalk Artist Transforms City Streets With Charming Interactive Drawings

10 Interactive Street Art Works That Rocked

China’s New 3D Interactive Art Gallery Exhibit

READ: Interactive Life-Sized Replicas Allow Public To Step Into Famous Edward Hopper Paintings in NYC

When it comes to campers, the quality of the journey matters just as much as the destination. Any seasoned traveler will want a camping trailer that is aerodynamic, easy to tow, and has low energy consumption. South Korean brand Polydrops recently unveiled their P21 camper, which not only fits these requirements but can also comfortably house a family of four.

The P21 is a roomy camper measuring 21 feet in length, with a full-size bed and an optional children's bed as well. It features ample storage room, including cleverly placed compartments and overhead bins to maximize space in the limited area. It can also be upgraded to feature a cooking station complete with a microwave and induction stovetop, allowing you to cook from the comfort of your home on wheels. A sanitation unit with a sink, shower, and portable toilet can be added for an additional fee.

From above, the shape of the camper more closely resembles a small boat rather than a trailer, and this is due to the wedge-shaped edges that taper off into a point. This unique design allows the P21 to slice through the air, making it easy to pull behind a car. The trailer also boasts a state-of-the-art suspension system, ensuring that you will be in for a smooth ride regardless of even or bumpy terrain. Weighing in between 1,500 and 2,000 pounds, the P21 is lightweight enough to be pulled behind both SUVs and sedans and works with electric and gas-powered vehicles.

In addition to being practical, the P21 is equally environmentally friendly. It is entirely electric and runs off a battery that can be recharged through the 1300W solar panel covering the trailer's roof. The electric system is highly efficient and quiet, ensuring that you can get a restful night's sleep while the camper recharges.

The P21 is currently available for pre-order on Polydrops' website, with the base price starting at $38,900. A $100 security deposit is also required to place a pre-order.

The Polydrops P21 is a roomy, aerodynamic camper capable of fitting a family of four.

It includes a double bed, and a child-sized bed can be added for an additional fee.

For an additional fee, cooking and sanitary stations can also be added.

The P21 is lightweight enough to be towed behind most cars, including a sedan.

The camper is entirely electric and powered by a 1300W solar panel that covers the roof.

Polydrops: Website | Instagram | YouTube
h/t: [Gear Patrol]

All images via Polydrops.

Related Articles:

Luxury Off-Road Camper Features Stainless Steel Kitchen and Private Shower

Airstream ‘eStream’ Concept Camper Is Navigating Towards the Future of Sustainable Travel

This Double-Decker Luxury Camper Van Has a Pop-Up Second Floor

400,000 LEGO Used to Create Full-Size Volkswagen Camper with Retro Interior

READ: Aerodynamic Solar Panel Powered Camper Holds up to Four People

Al-Ula is one of the most famous locations in Saudi Arabia. Best known for its well-preserved archaeological remains and historical ties to the early Islamic world, the region's geographical makeup is full of beautiful sandstone rock formations that include ridges, cliffs, and canyons. Norah Alsuairy is a digital artist who uses this beautiful natural landscape as the backdrop for her latest AI-generated art series.

In her work, Alsuairy combines her love of basketball with the sprawling sandstone canyons of al-Ula. Thanks to the power of AI, she generates images that re-imagine basketball courts carved into the rock faces of ravines. The court's outline blends seamlessly with its natural surroundings, as neutral tans and browns fade against the stark white sidelines. Hot desert sun darts between the rock overhang and casts bright streaks and shadows on the ground below.

Since AI is imperfect, Alsuairy's work underwent several iterations and prompt engineering modifications before she finalized her designs. The result is an athletic setting of epic proportions, as the court is enhanced by its bold natural surroundings, making for a dramatic sporting arena reminiscent of grand Roman amphitheaters. One can only imagine what sort of awe-inspiring basketball games could be played in such a stunning location.

While much of Alsuairy's work uses her native Saudi Arabia as a setting, basketball is far from the only sport she focuses on. A quick glance at the artist's Instagram reveals that she also has an affinity for tennis, often designing courts in stunning geographical landscapes, including caves and mountains. She has also designed scenes centered around golf, soccer, and boxing.

Designer Norah Alsuairy uses AI to generate surreal outdoor sports scenes.

Recently, she reimagined the famous sandstone canyons in al-Ula, Saudi Arabia, complete with basketball courts carved into the natural rock face.

Her images represent a stunning fusion of natural landscape and modern athletic arena.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Norah Alsuairy (@norahdesignco)

In addition to her mesmerizing basketball courts, Alsuairy has also reimagined al-Ula's landscape as a skatepark.

Norah Alsuairy: Instagram
h/t: [designboom]

All images via Norah Alsuairy.

Related Articles:

Vibrant Basketball Court Pops Up Between Two Buildings in Paris

Basketball Backboards Given an Elegant Upgrade with Stained Glass and Jewels

Artist Uses Japanese Art of Kintsugi to Fill in Basketball Court’s Cracks With Gold

Street Artist Uses Basketball Court as His Canvas to Celebrate Reopening of a Community

READ: Surreal AI Images Imagine Basketball Courts Carved Into Desert Sandstone Canyons

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Guinness World Records (@guinnessworldrecords)

The first Stegosaurus fossil to be presented at auction was just sold for a record-breaking $44.6 million. For more than 15 minutes, prospective buyers at Sotheby's in New York increased their bids to nearly 11 times the fossil's estimated value of $6 million. In the end, the Stegosaurus sold for the highest price of any dinosaur skeleton in history, beating the record of $31.8 million set by Stan the Tyrannosaurus Rex in 2020.

The skeleton was found near the town of Dinosaur in Moffat County, Colorado, in 2022. As the town name may suggest, the area is highly prized by paleontologists, due to the abundance of Jurassic era fossils found there. This particular skeleton was discovered when paleontologist Jason Cooper went on a birthday hike on his property and noticed part of a massive femur protruding from a nearby rock. The fossil was unearthed by Cooper and his team a year later, and the man worked closely with Sotheby's during the dinosaur's restoration and mounting process.

The Stegosaurus, named Apex by Cooper, is 11 feet tall and nearly 27 feet long from head to tail, making it the best-preserved fossil of its kind to ever be found. It is 70% intact, consists of 319 skeletal pieces, and is approximately a third larger than Sophie, the famous Stegosaurus displayed at the Natural History Museum in London.

Even though Apex now resides in a private collection, there is a possibility that the public could still get a chance to see the skeleton. The buyer, Citadel founder Ken Griffin, is currently exploring options to loan the dinosaur to American museums. In the coming years, Apex may have another the chance to wander North America just like he did when he was alive.

A giant Stegosaurus fossil named Apex recently broke a world record for being the highest-selling dinosaur fossil.

h/t: [Hypebeast]

Related Articles:

Three Young Boys Discover Rare Tyrannosaurus Rex Fossil While on a Hike

72-Million-Year-Old Fossil of Ancient “Sea Dragon” Discovered in Japan

Amateur Paleontologist Discovers 70-Million-Year-Old Fossil While Walking His Dog

Three Young Boys Discover Rare Tyrannosaurus Rex Fossil While on a Hike

READ: Stegosaurus Worth $45M Becomes the Most Expensive Dinosaur Fossil Ever Sold at Auction

Rendering of the E9X plane flying over clouds. (Photo: Elysian)

Air travel contributes to nearly 2.5% of all global carbon dioxide emissions, giving it one of the highest carbon footprints of any form of transportation. At the moment, the sustainable aviation industry provides flyers with extremely limited options for green air travel, but this shows signs of changing. It was previously thought that battery powered aircrafts would be a luxury reserved only for small planes, but Dutch startup Elysian is challenging this notion by engineering plans for the first electric 90-seater passenger aircraft.

Elysian's design for the plane, known as the E9X, includes the ability to fly 500 miles on a single charge. Though it currently only exists on paper, the company has hopes of having a full-scale model built within two to three years, and a working prototype up and running by 2030.

With eight propeller engines and a wingspan that makes it slightly larger than a Boeing 737 or an Airbus A320, the E9X could look unlike anything that frequent travelers are used to seeing. In practice, this would most likely result in the airplane having a reduced propeller diameter with larger wings and a smaller body, meaning that it could resemble old passenger planes from the 1960s.

Upon completion, the E9X's climate impact could be 75-90% lower than the comparable fuel jets that are used today. But for flyers, the benefits of electric air travel are more than just environmental. Due to the battery, the E9X should provide passengers with a more quiet flight experience than fuel jets. Elysian also aims to solve the issue of limited luggage storage space in order to prioritize passenger comfort and relaxation.

Currently, the biggest challenge facing the Elysian team involves reducing the time it would take for a battery of this scale to charge. They are aiming for a maximum of 45 minutes to get it fully charged, but would prefer a half-hour charge to ensure that the charging process takes no longer than the standard refueling process many airlines are used to.

You can read the full research paper on TU Delft Research Repository.

Dutch startup Elysian has designed an electric airplane that is capable of seating 90 passengers and flying 500 miles on a single charge.

Rendering of the E9X plane. (Photo: Elysian)

Rendering of the E9X plane. (Photo: Elysian)

Elysian: Website
h/t: [CNN]

Related Articles:

Environmentally Friendly ‘Airlander’ Could Be the Future of Zero-Carbon Air Travel

Expedia 2023 Air Report Reveals the Best Times to Fly

This 5,000-Person Sky Hotel Can Stay Airborne for Years

Interview: Aerial Photos of Countless Grounded Airplanes Document COVID-19’s Impact on Travel

READ: Electric Airplane Designed To Hold 90 Passengers and Fly up to 500 Miles Without Needing to Recharge

English is ranked as the third most spoken language in the world. With over 332 million global speakers spread across all seven continents, this geographical variety has caused many accents and dialects to form among English speakers. In fact, the United Kingdom alone has the most local accents of any English speaking country, with almost 40 different dialects that sound completely different from one another. And in terms of accents, there are over 160 recognized English accents around the world.

Despite this wide range, it's rare to be in a setting with more than a handful of accents, let alone 65. But a video uploaded by YouTuber Dan Vineberg of The New Travel is kind enough to treat viewers to nearly 14 minutes of people from all around the world speaking the English language in their unique accent. In the video, Vineberg interviews 65 people, asking them where they're from and how many languages they speak.

No two sources featured in the video are the same. Vineberg includes native English speakers as well as people who picked it up as a second, third, or even fourth language. He also interviews people who are still learning the language and are excited for the opportunity to speak it more. The vlogger even manages to interview people from six out of seven continents, Antarctica being the exception.

Ultimately, the video serves as an insightful viewing experience into the differences in English speakers from around the world. It also educates people on how unified different cultures can be through language. The comments section of the video illustrates this perfectly, with users from different countries weighing in and talking about their accent being shown.

A particularly heartwarming comment reads, “Before I watched this video, I had been hesitant to speak English with my strong Japanese accent for a very long time because I wanted to sound perfect like a native speaker. But now, I feel a bit more confident with my accent. This video made me [realize] that there are many accents in the world, and I don’t need to be ashamed of mine.”

The New Travel: YouTube | Instagram | X
h/t: [digg]

Related Articles:

Isolated Antarctic Scientists Are Beginning To Develop Their Own Unique Accent

Listen to This English Accent Coach Do One Phrase in 20 Different Accents

Woman Seamlessly Switches Between 10 Accents in One Minute Video

Linguists Discover “Miami English” as New Language Dialect Thriving in Southern Florida

READ: Listen to How 65 Different Accents Capture the Beauty and Versatility of the English Language

Photo: HandmadePicture/Depositphotos

In mid-July, a TikTok video reuploaded to X (formerly Twitter) started going viral. In the video, a food server demonstrates the “proper way” to use a salt and pepper shaker. Contrary to their name, salt and pepper shakers aren't actually meant to be shaken. The woman in the video argues that the correct way to add the powdery condiments to a dish is to tilt one shaker upside down and then rub the two bases of the shakers together in a circular motion.

The small ridges lining the outside of the typical shaker base are the key to making this work. As the woman rubs the bases of the shakers together, the ridges hit one another, causing the shaker on the bottom to vibrate and release a controlled amount of either salt or pepper. This means that as cute as many specialty salt and pepper shakers are, this technique will unfortunately only work if the shakers have built-in ridges.

The video has caused quite a bit of controversy online, as internet users seem split on the validity of the advice. Many point out that despite the helpful tip, salt and pepper shakers are still called shakers, which does suggest that they are meant to be shaken. Other people claim the ridges on the bottom are for ease of grip rather than ease of pouring. Alternatively, some people seem to have been doing this for years, and are surprised that others are only just now finding out about the trick.

For an ingredient as abundant as salt and pepper, you would think people could come to a consensus about how to properly add them to a meal. But when a similar post went viral in 2019, internet users were just as split then as they are now. It seems as though the shakers aren't the only thing that's salty.

A video demonstrating how to properly use salt and pepper shakers recently went viral and sent internet users into a frenzy.

@cody.93 How old were you when you learned the proper way to use a salt and pepper shaker? #chef #crazy #learnontiktok #lifehacks #fyp #foryou #foryoupage ♬ original sound – Cody

Many took issue with the woman in the video pouring the salt and pepper by rubbing the two shaker bases together.

The bottoms of S&P shakers are often disgusting. I wouldn't want to rub them over my food.

— Chili Knight (@ChiliKnight00) July 13, 2024

Guess that’s where you get the term „shaker“ ‍♂️

— ダンョードッグ (@D4NY0D0G) July 13, 2024

Others disagreed that the ridges were even supposed to be used for pouring purposes.

The ridges on the bottom are for grip. Don’t be fooled by this.

— Sac49er©️ (@itsgoldouthere) July 13, 2024

And others seem to have known about this for years.

I honestly thought this was common knowledge.

— Justin D. Smith (@clevepride140) July 13, 2024

Related Articles:

TikToker Reveals Potato Peeler Hack to Make the Most Out of the Common Kitchen Tool

Woman’s Ingenious Life Hack Shows How We’ve All Been Closing a Cereal Box Wrong

TikTok Grandma Shares Easy Pumpkin Carving Trick That Is Blowing People’s Minds

READ: Woman Shows How to Properly Use Salt & Pepper Shakers and People Are Blown Away

In many ways, Junxi Lu is an average 9-year-old boy. He enjoys playing with his friends and dressing up in colorful clothes and wigs. But he also has a passion for music that far exceeds his age, as he is incredibly skilled at playing both the classical and electric guitar.

The young guitar prodigy, better known as Maituo, began learning the classical guitar in 2020 and picked up the electrical guitar in 2021. Being that he was born on March 8, 2015, it means that he was only 5 years old when he started his musical journey in mastering these instruments. While this isn't necessarily unusual, Maituo's skill with the guitar is what is truly extraordinary and sets him apart from his peers. At only 9 years old, he's able to play songs with the musical prowess of people far older than him.

Maituo's musical portfolio is as expansive as it is impressive. He soulfully plays blues songs, almost seeming like a mini B.B. King as he closes his eyes, feeling each string being plucked like a tugging of his own heartstrings. He can also shred along to hard rock and metal songs, recently coming up on stage during a performance in Thailand to play the iconic guitar solo in Sweet Child O' Mine by Guns ‘N Roses. Even more impressively, he plays all of these songs on a full-size adult guitar. Even when the track requires him to stretch his arms all the way out to hit certain notes along the fingerboard, Maituo never misses a note. His lightning-quick fingerpicking is also a wonder to marvel at.

So how did this child become so good at playing the guitar? It seems that Maituo's skill is a mix of practice and perhaps genetics, as the young boy isn't the only talented musician in his family. His father is also a guitarist and many of the guitars that Maituo plays on are from his father's personal collection. It goes without saying but the child's father is also his tutor. Maituo also has a 7-year-old sister who is extremely gifted on the drums. She's able to play an impressive number of songs with her eyes closed. The brother-sister duo often rock out together at their in-home studio. Maituo's father records and then uploads their performances to their social media pages.

To keep up to date with the young guitarist, you can follow Maituo on Instagram and YouTube.

Maituo is a gifted 9-year-old guitar prodigy.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Junxi Lu (@maituoguitarlujunxi)

He started learning classical guitar at the age of 5 and began learning the electric guitar just a year later.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Junxi Lu (@maituoguitarlujunxi)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Junxi Lu (@maituoguitarlujunxi)

Maituo has an extensive musical repertoire, and plays everything from soothing blues to fast-paced metal and hard rock.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Junxi Lu (@maituoguitarlujunxi)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Junxi Lu (@maituoguitarlujunxi)

His 7-year-old sister is also incredibly talented with the drums, and the two often rock out together at their in-home studio.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Junxi Lu (@maituoguitarlujunxi)

Maituo: Instagram | YouTube

Related Articles:

Dave Grohl Plays Metallica Cover With a Talented 10-Year-Old Fan

Guitarist Asks Stranger To Sing With Him and Is Shocked by His Amazing Performance

Jack Black Will Reunite With ‘School of Rock’ Co-Stars for 20th Anniversary

‘Queen’ Guitarist Brian May Is Knighted by King Charles III at Buckingham Palace

READ: 9-Year-Old Guitar Prodigy Soulfully Plays the Blues Better Than Many Adults

In the Midwest state of Minnesota, sunfish, or centrarchidae, are valued as delicious freshwater fish since they are extremely common and easy to catch. But when a lake resident named Holly Jorgensen encountered a green sunfish on the edge of her dock nine years ago, she saw the creature as a friend rather than food.

“He looked at me like I've never had a fish look at me,” Jorgensen told a local news outlet when reminiscing about their first encounter.

To this day, that feeling remains. “He sure does seem like a special fish. He just acts different from other fish.”

Since that first encounter, Jorgensen and “Greenie”—as she has dubbed him—have formed a unique human-animal bond. Every summer, after the lake's ice thaws, she returns to the dock to feed the sunfish fresh worms and other snacks. Greenie seems to have benefited from this tender loving care; he is as big as a medium-sized frying pan, making him particularly large for his species.

Regardless of the obvious lure of food, the sunfish seems to relish in Jorgensen's company. He's always more than willing to accept a chin scratch, making him stand out from other fish in her lake. And sometimes, when Jorgensen jumps into the water for a swim, Greenie will accompany her all the way to the other side of the lake.

While the sunfish has brought other friends along with him, including a smaller sunfish named Spot and a bass named Slim, Greenie has remained a constant in Jorgensen's life, returning to her dock every summer since they first met. Her friendship with the fish has impacted her so much, in fact, that she is working on a book about him called Greenie and the Girl, and she regularly posts updates about it on her website. You can also watch videos of Greenie, as well as other animals around Jorgensen's property, on YouTube.

For more on Jorgensen and Greenie, check out the video below.

Holly Jorgensen formed a unique friendship with Greenie, a sunfish living in the lake beside her home. He returned to her dock this summer, making their friendship nine years old.

Holly Jorgensen: Website | YouTube
h/t: [Reddit]

Related Articles:

Japanese Man Nurses Fish Back to Health and Remains Friend for Life

Divers Discover Incredibly Rare Handfish While Exploring Sunken Ship

Tiny Fish the Size of a Fingernail Can Produce Noises as Loud as an Elephant

World’s Deepest Fish Caught on Camera for the First Time at 27,000 Feet Deep

READ: Unlikely Friendship Between a Minnesota Woman and a Sunfish Enters Its Ninth Year

Welder Ren Bailin lives in Shandong Province, China, and is known for his highly realistic miniature replicas of Chinese aircraft carriers. The former elevator welder quit his job in 2012 to create handmade models full-time. Bailin's work reflects his previous occupation, as his creations showcase the skill and attention to detail required to make these detailed models. His videos routinely go viral on Douyin, China's version of TikTok, and he has gained almost a million followers on his account thanks to his metalwork.

As impressive as his replicas are, with their sleek stainless steel exterior and scaled-down features, that isn't the coolest thing about them. Bailin's replicas are also fully functional. One of his miniature aircraft carriers includes a lifting platform that can rise and fall in order to elevate a plane before it takes off. Regarding planes, the models often feature an entire fleet of flyable helicopters and fighter jets that can be controlled remotely with a handset. They can also shoot off missiles in the form of small firecrackers, making for a truly dazzling display of sound and color. His models work on both land and water, truly making them one of a kind.

While some dads may try to keep their kids away from their painstaking creations, Bailin's videos often feature his children playing with his replicas once they are finished. He believes that their interest is a great way for them to learn about naval ships and weaponry, and his children seem to have a special affinity for flying miniature aircraft, with one boy even saluting a jet as it “takes off” from the carrier.

To keep up with Bailin's creations, follow him on his Douyin. You can learn more about Bailin's work by watching the video below.

Ren Bailin is a welder who makes highly realistic miniature replicas of Chinese aircraft carriers.

Ren Bailin: Douyin
h/t: [Reddit]

Related Articles:

Detailed Photographs of Various Aircrafts from Below

Adorable 82-Foot-Tall Rabbit Covers an Old Aircraft Hangar in Taiwan

Metal Artist Reimagines VW’s Iconic “Hippie Van” as Charming Wood Burning Grill

READ: Talented Welder Makes Working Aircraft Carrier Replica for His Children