Latest Stories from Charlie
This robot dog will help identify safety issues in Pompeii
Called ‘Spot’, this four-legged robot will be exploring the ruins of Pompeii, diving underground to examine and monitor tunnels and ancient structures. A new robot ‘dog’ is being deployed in Pompeii to monitor and analyse various underground structures. The ancient archaeological park was close to becoming an ‘in peril’ heritage site due to a lack of suitable preservation methods a mere decade ago. Its hoped that this new initiative will...
Fortescue announces ‘infinity train’ powered by gravity
Forget solar power, wind, or any other traditional sustainability energy source. A new train by Fortescue will be powered by the sheer force of gravity, allowing it to potentially run forever. Ever considered how your morning commuter train is powered? Although they’re a greener option than using a car, trains are still responsible for a hefty amount of carbon emissions, making them less than ideal when discussing net-zero ambitions and 2030...
Jack White calls for labels to launch vinyl record plants
In a statement and video, Jack White urges record labels to get serious about vinyl production. He says that supply chain issues and manufacturing bottlenecks need to be addressed. Jack White has asked major record labels to begin building their own vinyl pressing plants, citing industry wide shortages and manufacturing problems as indication of consistent demand. White has released three successful solo albums but is perhaps best known for his...
Studio Ghibli’s Nizo Yamamoto sells art to support Ukraine
Yamamoto works for the legendary animation company Studio Ghibli. He is selling an original piece of art to help support Ukraine’s relief effort via UNICEF. If you’re at all into animation, then you’ll be very familiar with Studio Ghibli. Heralded as one of the most influential and well-renowned animation companies in the word, Studio Ghibli is responsible for many classic films, including Spirited Away and My Neighbour Totoro. One of its animators,...
Is the Russian ‘Z’ campaign genuine or state propaganda?
The letter ‘Z’ has been popping up across Russian media, cities, and on military equipment. Whether it is a genuine movement – and what it actually means – is up for debate. The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) has taken disciplinary action against Russian gymnast Ivan Kuliak for showing a letter ‘Z’ while on the medal podium during a World Cup event. Kuliak was stood next to Ukrainian competitor Illia Kovtun...
How to optimise Facebook to better your mental health
Prolonged Facebook use can cause unwanted stress and anxiety, but there are ways to change the experience to better suit your needs. Facebook has become a social media dinosaur over the last five years or so. Where once it was at the cutting edge of teenage and twenty-something online interaction, it has steadily gathered a reputation for being a fake news rollout machine that can significantly disrupt the status quo and...
VICE launches specially designed virtual Metaverse offices
Danish architecture firm BIG has created virtual office spaces for VICE, which it calls the Viceverse. The launch demonstrates the potential for mainstream use of the Metaverse. It seems we may finally be entering the real-life Matrix. Okay, that may be a little melodramatic, but the Metaverse’s continual growth in popularity and mainstream adoption suggests we could be using digital worlds simultaneously alongside our physical one sooner than you might think. [caption...
How has Ukraine’s music scene been affected by the war?
Economies, oil prices, humanitarian aid, and many other services have been impacted by the ongoing Ukrainian and Russian conflict. Musicians and artists have asked for the right to protest on streaming services and indie labels could be irreversibly damaged. Ukrainian musicians and industry representatives have called for streaming services – such as Spotify and Apple Music – to approve the inclusion of political messages on album artwork. Those inside Ukraine...
You can now place your NFTs in a real-life display
Bought yourself an NFT and want to show it off in your own home? You can now purchase a real display that will broadcast each NFT from various angles, like a moving picture frame. NFTs are questionable - both environmentally and economically - but that won’t stop the market from booming. This new ‘NFT Display’ by Tokenframe is the latest product to demonstrate the explosive popularity of cryptocurrency and...
National Portrait Gallery finally cutting ties with BP
Following protests in London over the last several years, BP will finally stop gifting cash to the National Portrait Gallery at the end of this year. It will remain a sponsor of the British Museum, however. BP and the National Portrait Gallery have announced that they will not be extending their partnership beyond the final month of their current contract in December 2022. It follows years of protest and public outcry...
