@thetiabeestokes this made me cry….. Tears of joy. The crazy thing is is I had to give a talk on the true love of Christ and being able to love with no expectation or with no reason why just to purely love, so I sent a text out to all my siblings just to see how they would respond knowing even knowing some don’t have the financials to spare a $100…. their responses had me in tears just to know that I can reach out to any of my siblings no matter what I’m going through and they will love me & ready to serve me with no expectation or no reason why…if you notice not one of my siblings asked FOR WHAT? Or why?! They just loved and sent $. I know our parents are smiling down on all seven of us we’re not perfect not even close to it But our love is strong I love you and blessed to be the baby of SEVEN STRONG @ahquinclayjr @tonyaherbie @bigmaxyk @daqueen_irene @adamahquin and Joe and have the amazing parents that taught us how to love. Thnx siblings to…Remember JUST TO LOVE WITH NO REASON….we allll need this kind of love. Love with NO EXPECTATION like Jesus Christ. And If you can’t find it then BE IT❤️ Him. You. Me. We. “We got this” Xo Tia day 1,483 fighting leukemia • remission • living for today #fyp #emotional #challenge #siblings ♬ original sound – Tia Stokes

Cancer survivor Tia Bee Stokes, known for her viral dance videos during her health battle, recently posted a heartwarming video testing her siblings' generosity. In the video, she messaged all six of her siblings, asking for $100.

Stokes offered no explanation except that she was in a fix and needed the money sent to her Venmo, with a promise to pay them back. In each reply, all her siblings agreed without hesitation and judgment, with no questions asking for what or why. One of Stokes' brothers even gave her five times the requested amount to ensure she was fully covered.

Stokes' video reminds those of us with siblings how willing they are to support us in times of need. In the comment section, other users share equally touching stories of their siblings supporting them through challenging situations with financial assistance or other means. However, for some, Stokes' post was a realization of the lack of support from their own family members. Not everyone has support from their siblings or other family members, but Stokes' video is a reminder that having a support system—whether it be relatives or your chosen family—is important, especially during difficult times.

Diagnosed in 2020 with acute myeloid leukemia, Stokes' doctor advised her to spend 15 minutes a day doing something to keep her going. She started sharing daily dance videos on TikTok and updates on her chemo journey. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Stokes was often isolated in her hospital room due to her cancer treatment. However, she found an online community that offered her support.

“I want people to see hope,” Stokes told People. “It's been amazing, the people that message me on the daily that are going through not just cancer, but other things, whether it's mental health or whether it's suicidal thoughts, or whether it's they got diagnosed with a different type of cancer or a tumor.”

Currently in remission, Stokes still shares dancing videos to spread positivity and inspirational posts and stories.

Tia Bee Stokes, a cancer survivor known for her viral dance videos, recently tested her siblings' generosity by asking each of them for $100.

 

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All six siblings agreed without hesitation, with one even giving five times the requested amount.

 

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Stokes’ video demonstrates the deep value of sibling support and love through their unconditional willingness to help.

 

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Tia Bee Stokes: Instagram | TikTok | Youtube
h/t: [Digg, People]

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READ: Woman Asks Each of Her Six Siblings for $100 and Receives Heartwarming Response

Photo: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

Curiosity—NASA’s robotic rover on Mars—has discovered pure, yellow sulfur crystals on the surface of the Red Planet. Launched over 10 years ago, on November 27, 2011, to determine whether life was or is viable on the planet Curiosity has found evidence of Mars once having liquid water at Gale Crater, scaled the planet’s diverse terrain—lately Mount Sharp– and analyzed various geological materials. These findings have been essential in building our understanding of what Mars was like in the past and evaluating its potential as a future home. This new discovery is another piece of the puzzle.

While on an expedition in the Gediz Vallis channel—a region created billions of years ago by large floods of water and debris—Curiosity was instructed to take a panoramic photograph of distant white rocks that the researchers at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) took an interest in. Later, when the scientists reviewed the images taken by the Mastcam, they found a crushed rock in the rover’s tracks. The one-ton vehicle had accidentally cracked the rock earlier while driving over it. The researchers were astonished to discover translucent, yellow crystals inside. Upon analyzing the composition with the rover’s Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer, the team was surprised to discover that the crystals were pure sulfur.

Sulfur is nothing new on the planet. Former Mars exploration rovers Spirit and Opportunity, both launched in 2003, had detected sulfates in soil on Mars’ surface. However, this discovery marks the first time the element has been found in its pure form.

Curiosity had previously discovered the element combined with other minerals on Mars, such as in the form of sulfates, a type of salt that was left behind when the planet’s water dried up. While the area where the rover found the crystals is known for having ample amounts of sulfates, pure sulfur is different from sulfates as it’s not bonded to oxygen and is entirely composed of sulfur atoms.

Briony Horgan, co-researcher on the Perseverance rover mission, told CNN, “Pure elemental sulfur is a very weird finding because on Earth we mostly find it in places like hydrothermal vents. Think Yellowstone! So it’s a big mystery to me as to how this rock formed in Mt. Sharp.”

Researchers are still unable to determine what caused the formation of the elemental sulfur, but they continue to analyze the surrounding area.

NASA’s Curiosity rover has found yellow sulfur crystals on Mars, marking the first discovery of sulfur in its pure form on the Red Planet.

Photo: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

While the element has been previously found on Mars in the form of sulfates, this discovery is unique because the sulfur is in its elemental form and not bonded to oxygen.

Photo: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

Researchers are still investigating how these sulfur crystals formed, adding to Curiosity's mission of understanding Mars' history and assessing its potential for future habitation.

Photo: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

h/t: [CNN]

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READ: NASA’s Curiosity Rover Discovers Crystals of Pure Sulfur on Mars

Photo: Atlantic Records via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

On July 12, “The Rain (Super Dupa Fly)” by Missy Elliott became the second song to be transmitted into space, following The Beatles' “Across the Universe” transmission in 2008. With the help of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the hip-hop track was beamed across 158 million miles to Elliott's favorite planet, Venus, in 14 minutes.

Brittany Brown, the director of digital and technological communication, originally pitched the idea to Elliott's team. In NASA's announcement, she explains that the collaboration was inspired by Missy Elliott's frequent use of space imagery. Elliott's music videos often feature futuristic themes with a cyberpunk-like aesthetic. This style also extends to her latest tour, “Out Of This World,” which has a surrealist spacecraft-inspired atmosphere. She often wears metallic fabrics and bold colors while performing, reflecting a combination of retro and new-world styles.

“The Rain” was transmitted at the speed of light through the Deep Space Network (DSN), giant radio antennas used for missions around Earth and with other planets. From a radio dish near Barstow, California, the DSN used large antennas typically employed to track spacecrafts, send commands, and receive data. Additionally, the DSN is capable of communicating with spacecrafts that range in distance from a few thousand kilometers away to beyond the solar system. This advanced technology made it possible to send Missy Elliott's song to Venus precisely and quickly.

The broadcasted song, which contains a sample of Ann Peebles' 1973 single “I Can't Stand the Rain,” was written and composed by Don Bryant, Bernard Miller, Missy Elliott, and producer Timbaland for her debut album Supa Dupa Fly in 1997. Elliott received two Grammy Award nominations for the album: Best Rap Album and Best Rap Solo Performance for “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly).”

NASA's choice of Missy Elliott—who recently became the first female hip-hop artist in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame—may have been influenced by more than just her futuristic branding. The artist has produced revolutionary songs addressing topics such as feminism, gender equality, and sex and body positivity, making her a pioneer for a new generation of female artists.

While it's unclear why NASA has chosen to transmit a song after over a decade, since the transmission of the Beatles “Across the Universe” to North Star, Polaris, the decision to send Elliott's hit song into space reflects the organization's commitment to blend culture and science. Elliott's innovative and creative work as an artist aligns with NASA's goal of bringing artistic expression into space exploration.

On July 12, NASA transmitted Missy Elliott’s hit song “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)” to Venus, making it the second song to ever be sent into space.

Supa-flying to Venus!

For the first time, a hip-hop song was transmitted #OutOfThisWorld. @MissyElliott‘s “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)” traveled 158 million miles to Venus through NASA's Deep Space Network from @NASAJPL‘s Deep Space Station 13 in California: https://t.co/Gg5ibm80hb pic.twitter.com/BwsdTNNqCv

— NASA (@NASA) July 15, 2024

YOOO this is crazy! We just went #OutOfThisWorld with @NASA and sent the FIRST hip hop song into space through the Deep Space Network. My song “The Rain” has officially been transmitted all the way to Venus, the planet that symbolizes strength, beauty and empowerment. The sky is… pic.twitter.com/g6HofNQSt1

— Missy Elliott (@MissyElliott) July 15, 2024

Elliott’s music often features space-themed imagery and a futuristic aesthetic, making her a fitting choice for a collaboration that blends culture with space exploration.

 

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Beyond creating innovative beats, the four-time Grammy Award-winning artist has made an impact with her music by addressing themes such as feminism and gender equality.

I’m just Waiting on that Spaceship to take y’all #OUTOFTHISWORLD it’s gone be crazzzzzzy facts#outofthisworldtour pic.twitter.com/xbsPFLcLZd

— Missy Elliott (@MissyElliott) June 9, 2024

Elliott has an influential role in shaping contemporary music by inspiring a new generation of artists and creating cultural milestones, including her recent achievement of having her work reach outer space.

OH SNAPWe bout to go #OUTOFTHISWORLD on this tour 4real tho! The ENERGY gone be through the ROOF! Look up in the sky & see where the SPACESHIP gonna land next @ciara @BustaRhymes @Timbaland https://t.co/f6wE0hldEQ pic.twitter.com/eovTLnUfoL

— Missy Elliott (@MissyElliott) May 13, 2024

Missy Elliott: Website | Instagram | X
h/t: [IFL Science]

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READ: From Earth to Venus: NASA Sends Missy Elliott’s Hit Song ‘The Rain’ Into Space

Photo: Flukes69 via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Czech artist David Černý is known for his provocative sculptures—military vehicles, babies, men urinating—that often comment on political and social themes. In 2022, Černý created Lilith, a nearly 80-foot-tall, 35-ton figure of a woman made of metal. Based in Prague, she hugs the side of an apartment building, leaning towards the structure with her legs slightly placed apart. The statue isn’t stationary either—Lilith periodically turns her head 180 degrees.

Lilith is no ordinary figure: Černý’s statue represents the female biblical figure from Jewish mythology, Adam’s first wife who was banished from the Garden of Eden for her defiance. Lilith is often seen and depicted as a devil, but the artist intended to use her as a symbol of feminism and independence.

Lilith consists of four parts: the main sculpture on the side of the building, a leg extending from the bottom, a hand supporting from below in a similar fashion, and a hand clenching onto what appears to be a cylindrical facility building. Beyond her intended symbolism, the sculpture appears to comment on modern development or humanity’s involvement in technology due to its integration with the urban landscape.

Černý has received criticism from other artists like Pavel Karous, another Czech sculptor, who argues that the art piece doesn’t contribute to the architecture or urban planning of the area, nor does it respect the interests of the local residents. An art curator, Marie Foltýnová, claims that Černý’s understanding of Lilith as a symbol of feminism is wrong. She reasons that because Lilith is known as a demon and a witch responsible for the death of women and small children during childbirth, it stands against women, and thus cannot be a symbol of feminism. Černý’s portrayal could additionally be seen as potentially controversial in his choice to emphasize her nudity and stature.

Černý is famous for his other kinetic sculptures, such as the Head of Franz Kafka and METALmorphosis, both of which feature moving parts. Regardless of its meaning or message, Lilith is another remarkable example of how we can incorporate art into our urban landscapes.

Czech sculptor David Černý created Lilith, an massive metal sculpture in Prague.

 

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The 80-foot-tall sculpture of a mythological woman is seen embracing the side of an apartment building.

 

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The statue uniquely turns her head 180 degrees, and various other metal body parts can be found interacting with the apartment complex.

 

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Černý is known for incorporating motifs like babies, tanks, heads, and other large-scale elements in his work, which can be found in and around Prague.

 

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David Černý: Website | Facebook | Instagram
h/t: [Atlas Obscura]

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Join us again in congratulating the 47th #KennedyCenterHonorees!

“Our Honorees this year have each played an invaluable, pioneering role in developing American culture…with their decades-long devotion to pushing creative boundaries.” –@kencen President Deborah F. Rutter. pic.twitter.com/nVUBQkCmZS

— The Kennedy Center (@kencen) July 18, 2024

John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has recently revealed the five artists who will receive the 47th Kennedy Center Honors this winter. The recipients of the awards this year are Francis Ford Coppola, members of The Grateful Dead—Mickey Hart, Billy Kreutzmann, Phil Lesh, and Bobby Weir—Bonnie Raitt, Arturo Sandoval, and The Apollo Theater in New York.

Since 1978, the Kennedy Center has honored contributors to the performing arts for their role in enriching American culture. David M. Rubenstein, a chairman of the organization, explained in a statement why each artist this year was selected.

Three-time Grammy-Award-winning Bonnie Raitt was chosen for her significant contributions across multiple music genres, including blues, folk, and RnB. Arturo Sandoval, a renowned Cuban-American jazz trumpeter and pianist, was chosen for his stylistic blend of Afro-Cuban music and modern jazz.

While the awards are typically given to individual artists, this year, a musical group is also being recognized. Members of the Grateful Dead—Mickey Hart, Billy Kreutzmann, Phil Lesh, and Bobby Weir—are awarded for their innovative approach to rock music, becoming a staple of American music.

In response to their selection, the Grateful Dead acknowledged the role of their fans in their music: “To be recognized alongside the artists who have in the past received this honor is beyond humbling. The Grateful Dead has always been about community, creativity, and exploration in music and presentation. We've always felt that the music we make embodies and imparts something beyond the notes and phrases being played—and that is something we are privileged to share with all who are drawn to what we do—so it also must be said that our music belongs as much to our fans, the Dead Heads, as it does to us. This honor, then, is as much theirs as ours.”

According to Rubenstein, Francis Coppola, a renowned film director, is also being honored due to the impact his films have had on American culture. Coppola, who currently holds five Academy Awards, is known for his works such as The Godfather series and Apocalypse Now.

Until this point, the Kennedy Center has never awarded an organization for their contributions to the performing arts. However, this year, the Apollo Theater is being celebrated for its history of launching the careers of many artists and raising the voices of Black individuals in the arts.

In addition to recommendations from the general public, the Kennedy Center has established an advisory committee comprising board members, past honorees, and notable artists to assist in the selection process. The board then chooses five artists based on their distinction in performing arts, ranging from music and dance to theater, opera, and television.

While the event is invitation-based, CBS will broadcast the award ceremony from Washington, D.C., on December 28, 2024. The event will also be available to stream on Paramount+. The host for this year has not been announced yet. However, in the past six years, Cuban-American singer Gloria Estefan has hosted three times, including last year, making her a potential candidate again.

By continuously recognizing remarkable artists, the Kennedy Center Honors cements their place in history and reminds us of the impact performing arts have on American society.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has announced the five recipients of the 47th Kennedy Center Honors:

Francis Ford Coppola

 

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Mickey Hart, Billy Kreutzmann, Phil Lesh, and Bobby Weir from The Grateful Dead

 

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Bonnie Raitt

 

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Arturo Sandoval

 

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The Apollo Theater

 

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The ceremony, set for December 23, will be broadcast on CBS and streamed on Paramount+.

 

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Annually, recipients of the Honors are selected for their significant contributions to American culture and the performing arts.

 

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The Kennedy Center: Website | Facebook | Instagram
h/t: [NPR]

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READ: 47th Kennedy Center Honors Announces Five Recipients Including The Apollo Theater

Photo: Stephen Atkinson (CC BY 4.0)

Water, food, and oxygen are the most basic elements needed to sustain life. Since their discovery, water bears, or tardigrades, have defied that fact by surviving without food for long periods and withstanding extreme temperatures and environments. However, while they don’t have respiratory organs, tardigrades do require oxygen to live. But what if there is an animal that doesn’t need oxygen, one of the essentials to life?

In 2020, a research team led by Dayana Yahalomi, a bioinformatics software engineer, answered this question by investigating the parasite Henneguya salminicola. The multicellular organism, commonly found in salmon, belongs to the Myxozoa clade within Cnidaria, a group of animals containing jellyfish, sea ​​anemones, and various marine parasites. The team’s findings, published in the PNAS, found that salminicola is unique among multicellular organisms because it doesn’t require aerobic respiration and therefore does not intake oxygen. Instead, the H. salminicola sustains itself by directly taking nutrients and molecules from its salmon host.

The researchers used deep sequencing approaches that were supported by fluorescence micrographs to determine that the parasite has no mitochondrial genome and is thus unable to perform cellular respiration. In most organisms, mitochondria are responsible for converting food into energy. In addition to the missing genome, the scientists also found that H. salminicola has lost nearly all nuclear genes related to mitochondrial genome replication and transcription.

In the publication, the researchers explain that to adapt to low-oxygen environments, several organisms have lost the ability to perform cellular respiration and have instead adopted new anaerobic metabolic mechanisms.

For the investigation’s control group, the analysts used the same sequencing and annotation methods to show that a closely related myxozoan, Myxobolus squamalis, has a mitochondrial genome. The study's results showed the presence of mitochondrial DNA in M. squamalis, but not in H. salminicola.

The discovery of Henneguya salminicola has changed science as we know it, being the first known multicellular organism that does not require oxygen to survive. Its finding brings up the question of life in extreme environments, including those found in space. As research on extraordinary organisms continues, our understanding of the fundamentals of life will continue to evolve.

In 2020, researchers discovered Henneguya Salminicola, a multicellular parasite found in salmon, which does not require oxygen for survival.

Photo: Stephen Atkinson (CC BY 4.0)

This organism lacks a mitochondrial genome necessary for aerobic respiration and instead relies on nutrient absorption from its host.

Photo: Stephen Atkinson (CC BY 4.0)

The research emphasizes the adaptability of biological systems under environmental pressures and suggests possibilities for life in extreme regions, including space.

Photo: Stephen Atkinson (CC BY 4.0)

h/t: [ScienceAlert]

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READ: Scientists Discover First-Ever Organism That Doesn’t Need Oxygen To Survive

Photo: Newretreads via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Dingoes are as ubiquitous in Australia as kangaroos or koalas, yet we know surprisingly little about the origins of these medium-sized wild dogs.  Thanks to ancient dingo DNA, researchers have recently solved some mysteries about their origins and learned more about their evolutionary relationships to other canines.

While dingoes were introduced to Australia by humans from Southeast Asia, they are still considered native to the continent. Dingoes—with their distinct sandy coat, bushy tails, and erect ears—hold a prominent place in Australia's natural and cultural identity as one of its most iconic animals. As one of the continent's few native land mammals, they have been connected with Aboriginal and Indigenous cultures for millennia.

Unfortunately, while typically considered a non-aggressive species, dingoes have been known to attack livestock, pets, and humans. As a result, they are often considered pests and have been killed by farmers for their behavior.

However, new research published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences could help the public understand these animals better and conserve their population. By comparing the DNA from 42 ancient dingo skeletons to DNA from various canines, modern dingoes, domestic dogs, wolves, and New Guinea singing dogs, several myths are also dispelled.

For instance, contrary to popular belief, the study shows that dingoes largely did not interbreed with domestic dogs, indicating that they are a unique species.

The study also suggested that modern dingoes share little genetic ancestry with domestic dogs. Rather, their ancestors are ancient dogs and wolves from China and the Tibetan plateau. The findings suggest that dingoes likely arrived in Australia between 3,000 and 8,000 years ago, potentially transported by traders across the Pacific Ocean. Additionally, ancient DNA analysis revealed shared ancestry between modern New Guinea singing dogs—one of the rarest wild dogs—and dingoes.

The dingo remains used for the study came from museums and ranged in age from 400 to over 2,746 years old. Before their life in a museum, they were discovered in various parts of the continent, with two distinct regional populations split along the Great Dividing Range.

It was also discovered that humans did not affect the divide between southeastern and northwestern dingo populations, as commonly believed. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a 3,500-mile dingo fence to deter dingoes was built, and it was thought that this manmade intervention caused the population to split. However, the study revealed that the populations had been separated for over 2,000 years. With this information, researchers hypothesize that dingoes migrated in two distinct events to different parts of Australia and remained isolated due to the continent's terrain.

The findings of this new DNA study emphasize the importance of preserving dingoes, as they confirm that they are a distinct species. As such, laws about shooting them could change, and they have a better chance of receiving special conservation status.

“We have to respect these ancient remains because they are telling us a story,” Dr Sally Wasef, an expert on ancient DNA from the Queensland University of Technology and a lead author of the research, tells The Guardian.

Understanding the dingo's role as a predator and symbol of Australia's cultural and natural landscape is essential for conserving its unique place in the continent's ecosystem and heritage.

“We hope people making decisions about dingoes today now see these amazing animals have been around a long time and had time to harmonize with the environment,” adds another lead author, Dr Yassine Souilmi, of the University of Adelaide’s Australian Centre for Ancient DNA and Environment Institute.

Recent DNA analysis of ancient dingo skeletons has clarified their origins and evolutionary history, showing minimal genetic overlap with domestic dogs.

Genetic analysis of 42 ancient dingo specimens sheds light on their evolution. Today’s dingoes likely resulted from a single wave of migration into Australia. Southeastern populations mixed with New Guinea singing dogs around 2,500 years ago. In PNAS: https://t.co/BwmRg6jRjo pic.twitter.com/CyQz871wpT

— PNASNews (@PNASNews) July 11, 2024

Pacific traders likely transported dingoes, which originated from ancient dogs and wolves in China and Tibet, to Australia thousands of years ago.

Photo: filedimage/Depositphotos

This study underscores the importance of conserving dingoes as a unique species necessary to Australia's natural and cultural heritage.

Photo: filedimage/Depositphotos

h/t: [Smithsonian Magazine]

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READ: Ancient Dingo DNA Reveals the Surprising Origins of Australia’s Iconic Wild Dog

 

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The evolution of technology has increasingly introduced accessible features. Smartphones have implemented specialized assistive technologies like voice commands, screen readers, and customizable interfaces. And improvements in smart home devices, such as voice-activated lights, help improve everyday convenience and accessibility for people with mobility and sensory impairments.

In line with this trend, Tennessee has added all-terrain wheelchairs to 10 more state parks, bringing the total number of parks with mobility assistive devices to 22. These specialized wheelchairs are designed to navigate various terrains, allowing people with disabilities to participate in outdoor activities and explore natural environments that were previously more challenging to access.

According to Tennessee State Parks, the wheelchairs were obtained from a local company called Sunrise Medical which designs and manufactures the devices. The new wheelchairs are completely free to use and are suitable for both children and adults.

Some popular parks in the state that offer all-terrain wheelchairs are Fall Creek Falls State Park, Cumberland Mountain State Park, and Radnor Lake State Park.

In addition to offering all-terrain wheelchairs, Tennessee State Parks enhance mobility by offering wheelchair-friendly paved trails and facilities such as accessible kayak and canoe launches.

National parks have also made important strides toward accessibility through various programs and services like the Access Pass. The Access Pass is a free, lifetime pass that grants U.S. citizens with disabilities entry to more than 2,000 recreation sites nationwide, including national parks, wildlife refuges, and forests. Furthermore, national parks provide specialized recreational equipment like adaptive bicycles, similar to Tennessee State Parks' all-terrain wheelchairs.

By continuously promoting accessibility, state-protected parks open up spaces where everyone, regardless of ability, can enjoy the beauty of Tennessee. Beyond improving a visitor’s experience, these measures foster inclusivity and belonging in America’s shared parks.

Tennessee State Parks now offer free, all-terrain wheelchairs in 10 parks, making them accessible in a total of 22 parks.

The parks also provide wheelchair-friendly paved trails and accessible facilities such as mobility-friendly kayak and canoe launches.

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These efforts enhance visitor experiences and promote inclusivity so that anyone can experience the beauty of Tennessee's parks.

 

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Tennessee State Parks: Website | Instagram | Facebook
h/t: [Scripps News]

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READ: 22 Tennessee State Parks Provide All-Terrain Wheelchairs to Enhance Accessibility for All

A priceless watch forged by Pirro has become a treasured timepiece of Albania. The Primordial Passion watch pays homage to Albania’s cultural heritage and stands among the world’s most expensive timepieces. Valued at over $1.3 million, the watch is designed more as a piece of art rather than for its practical function.

The most notable part of Primordial Passion lies in the 16 gold figures on the dial: 12 Albanian folk dancers, hand-in-hand around four musicians playing distinct instruments. According to Pirro, to mark the hours, each dancer represents a different region of Albania, wearing traditional dress from their respective backgrounds. Despite their size—measuring only 9-10mm in height—the golden figures are engraved with incredible detail, indicating the exceptional craftsmanship of Pirro.

The watchband and watch dial feature rich shades of red and black, likely paying homage to Albania’s national flag with its bright red background and black eagle. The dial showcases a spiraling arrangement of 1,500 Murano glass stones, crafted in eight different colors and 64 distinct cuts, enhancing its intricacy.

Continuing the motif inspired by the national flag, the watch’s hour and minute hands are shaped like eagle talons as a reference to Albania’s national emblem. Pirro’s attention to detail also extends to the watch’s back cover, where an image of the 12 folk dancers, as seen on the watch dial, encircle the company’s emblem.

According to Pirro, it took five years to bring Primordial Passion to reality. While Pirro is typically known for crafting jewelry, figurines, medals, and trophies, the company took on the challenge of producing Albania’s first high-end watch while simultaneously creating a timeless piece of art.

Pirro’s Primordial Passion is more than a watch; it is a fusion of tradition, innovation, and artistry. The timepiece stands as a testament to artistic ingenuity and a homage to Albania’s beautiful and rich heritage evident in every intricate element.

Primordial Passion by Pirro is a renowned Albanian luxury watch valued at over $1.3 million, celebrated for its cultural dedication and artistic design.

 

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Featuring 16 gold figures depicting Albanian folk dancers and musicians from different regions, the watch exemplifies Pirro's exceptional craftsmanship.

 

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Over five years in the making, Primordial Passion combines artistic ingenuity and Albanian culture to create a timeless masterpiece that celebrates heritage with admirable craftsmanship.

Pirro: Website | Instagram | Facebook

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Designer Kathryn Reid is not your typical jeweler. Her high-quality and unique designs break away from traditional norms in the jewelry industry. This is particularly evident in her latest Nose Ring collection. These uniquely crafted accessories are not your typical “nose rings” meant for human noses. Instead, they are rings meant for the human finger that happen to be shaped like animal noses.

Reid's snout-shaped finger rings feature six different animals: a dog, a cat, a horse, a pig, a cow, and a bull. Her artistry is evident in the details of each schnoz, where a combination of textures and shaping allows the different noses to be easily distinguished. The rings are all at once hyper-detailed and playful. There's no denying the craftsmanship of each handmade piece of jewelry, but there's also an irrefutable sense of humor and whimsy about them. The bull ring even comes equipped with its very own nose ring, making it inherently humorous (and meta).

According to Reid, her inspiration for the rings comes from her upbringing on the North Coast of Ireland, where she grew up on a farm. After graduating form Edinburgh College of Art, the jewelry designer moved back to Ballymoney, Northern Ireland, where she established a small business—aptly called Kathryn Reid Jewellery—on her family farm. Her creations draw from her personal experiences, reflecting the captivating beauty of Northern Ireland and her cherished farm life. The dog nose ring, inspired by her late dog Theo, was crafted as a tribute to all beloved pets that have been loved and lost.

Each piece from the collection caters perfectly to pet owners, animal lovers, and anyone seeking a uniquely crafted piece. Reid’s other collection, Cracked, is also evidently inspired by her life on the farm. In this series, she utilizes the symbol of a cracked eggshell as the centerpiece of delicate and whimsical jewelry pieces. Reid's artistic vision allows her to transform everyday farm elements into beautiful, wearable art.

To stay up to date with her latest collections and jewelry release announcements, you can follow Reid on Instagram. To purchase a piece for yourself, head over to the Kathryn Reid Jewellery website.

Jewelry designer Kathryn Reid's unique Nose Ring collection features rings shaped like different animal snouts.

Bull Nose Ring (mixed metal)

Dog Nose Ring

Cat Nose Ring

Each ring is a handmade piece that defies traditional jewelry norms.

Pig Nose Ring

Cow Nose Ring

Horse Nose Ring

Bull Nose Ring

Inspired by her upbringing on a Northern Irish farm, Reid infuses personal experiences into her artistry, often transforming farm symbols like eggshells into wearable art.

Since founding Kathryn Reid Jewellery, she has garnered a dedicated following on various social platforms, showcasing her broad appeal and special approach to jewelry design.

 

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Watch how she creates one of her incredible designs.

 

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Kathryn Reid Jewellery: Website | Instagram | Facebook
h/t: [Core77]

All images via Kathryn Reid Jewellery.

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READ: Handmade “Nose Rings” Designed To Look Just Like Different Animal Noses