Automated chess robot breaks finger of seven-year-old challenger
A small child had their finger broken by a robot during a chess game at the Moscow Open, according to Russian media. Should we be wary of potentially dangerous automation? For most, an innocuous game of chess does not come with the potential for violence, much less a broken...
Current in Culture
AI-generated piece controversially wins art competition
This year at the Colorado State Fair, a piece of AI-generated art won an award for Emerging Digital Artists. In the days since, online debate about what constitutes ‘real art’ has ignited. If you keep up with Thred, you’ll already be completely in the loop regarding AI-generated ‘text-to-image’ programs and...
Five healthy alternatives to popular breakfast dishes
Looking for something to swap out for your usual breakfast choices? Here’s a quick guide to get you started. After 2 years of chaos, Covid-19 has not completely disappeared, with experts asserting that new waves of infection will reoccur on an annual basis. This seems like the perfect time to improve...
‘Friends’ Marta Kauffman apologises for trans misrepresentation
Kauffman has vocalised her regret over misgendering Chandler Bing’s trans parent – played by Kathleen Turner – for the first time. Well, it’s finally happened. After decades of wince-worthy jokes and a cast as white as Wonderbread, ‘Friends’ co-creator Marta Kauffman is addressing the show’s past mistakes. It may be long...
Why did Agnes Denes grow a field of wheat in New York?
In the 1980s, Artist Agnes Denes created a wheat field in central New York, protesting the imbalance of wealth, global warming, and the patriarchy. In the midst of this unprecedented heatwave, her work feels more relevant than ever. The idea of creating a two-acre large wheat field in central...
Experts believe sex for procreation could soon be obsolete
Despite the ethical concerns of many, reproductive options including designer babies and even ‘artificial wombs’ appear to be inevitable. Some experts even believe that sex for procreation may soon be obsolete. Imagine that. If this isn’t the weirdest thing you’ve read today, then I recommend deleting your browser history immediately. One...
99% of Glastonbury tents were taken home by public
Emily Eavis has announced on Twitter that 99% of tents were taken home from Glastonbury, after the festival appealed for ticket goers to ‘leave no trace’ once they left. For music lovers, this summer has been particularly special. Festivals are finally back in full swing after two years of stalled, cancelled, postponed, or heavily reduced gigs and music events. Perhaps the biggest of them all – at least in the UK...
‘In the Black Fantastic’ dubbed best exhibition of summer
London’s Hayward Gallery opens a new show featuring 11 artists from the African diaspora and, according to critics, it’s must-see. Kara Walker and Nick Cave are just two of the artists showing in the Hayward Gallery’s ‘In The Black Fantastic’, which opened this June. Curated by Ekow Eshun, chair of the Fourth Plinth (a London-based art commission bringing free contemporary art to Trafalgar Square), ‘In the Black Fantastic’ uses fantasy...
Production workers for The Simpsons and Family Guy unionise
The Animation Guild is now unionising with production workers from The Simpsons, American Dad!, and Family Guy, having previously been left out compared to animators, writers, and actors. Production workers at The Simpsons, American Dad!, and Family Guy have gained voluntary recognition from 20th Television Animation, their parent company, to join The Animation Guild. It’s part of a wider push by The Animation Guild to expand the type of memberships...
Why are we watching the new Minions film in suits?
A new TikTok trend has Gen Zers flocking to their local cinemas in fully fitted suits to watch Minions: The Rise of Gru. Is it a genuine social media trend or a carefully calculated marketing scheme? The new Minions: Rise of Gru film is a bizarre entanglement of pop culture references and memes. Its musical soundtrack has a top tier features list, boasting appearances from Tame Impala, Diana Ross, Brockhampton, Phoebe...
