US Senate passes the nation’s first ever climate legislation
Getting the Inflation Reduction Act passed is one of Joe Biden’s most impactful moves as President yet. It will seek to avert global climate catastrophe by drastically reducing US greenhouse emissions, but also lower prescription drug costs for citizens, and increase taxes paid by large corporations. Environmentalists, climate activists, and...
Current in Culture
The Jaguar Foundation reports poor gender equality in dance music
A new report titled ‘Progressing Gender Representation in UK Dance Music’ by The Jaguar Foundation finds that the industry is heavily skewed toward male artists. I’m sure you’ve no doubt read or heard about the gender equality problem within the music industry. Whether it’s song writing, performing, festival organising, headline...
Corona’s sustainable island pushes the meaning of eco-tourism
Registration is now open for a full-blown ‘Corona Island’ retreat launching next year off the coast of Colombia. It is entirely plastic free, focuses on reconnecting with nature, and holds sustainability as a core value. Okay, so we’ll try our best not to make this article read like PR, but...
Fanni Sandor’s tiny wildlife sculptures encourage eco-sensitivity
Hungarian artist Fanni Sandor has created tiny, biologically accurate sculptures that encourage viewers to appreciate the delicacy of even the smallest patches of wildlife. Anyone remember that primary school banger of a hymn that told us God has the ‘whole world in his hands?’ Hungarian artist Fanni Sandor has created...
London Zoo places handbag on display to raise poaching awareness
To make a clear statement about animal poaching and the illegal wildlife trade, the London Zoo has displayed a brown crocodile skin bag where its Siamese crocodiles usually reside. Visiting London Zoo presents an exciting opportunity to observe some of the world’s most elusive creatures without ever having to leave...
Beyoncé removes ableist slur from new album after backlash
The singer’s decision to withdraw the lyric from her new song ‘HEATED’ has drawn a mixed response. Beyoncé’s ‘Renaissance’, a prodigious, 62 minute cacophony of dance and ballroom culture, has revived us – fawning and jubilant – from the slog of an endless heatwave. As we throw our limbs about to...
The Samsung ‘Balance Mouse’ runs away if you overwork
Samsung has developed a one of a kind computer mouse that will scurry away if you begin to overwork. It’s a neat idea that reflects the modern desire for a more pronounced work/life balance. If you’re one of the remaining few who refuse to punch out when the working day is over, you could do with this quirky contraption. Samsung may be developing an office accessory that takes human agency completely...
Saudi Arabia announces plans for a futuristic city named The Line
The future of architecture could forever be changed by the design of a new vertical city in Saudi Arabia. Fresh details about the project pose it as an epicentre of sustainability, productivity, seamless living, and leisure for millions of people. Of all prosperous nations in the world, Saudi Arabia looks the most motivated to position itself as a leader of the future. Abandoning its dependency on revenue from oil reserves is...
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 bone or limb. That’s apparently not the case at the Moscow Open this year, however. According to Russian media, a seven-year-old...
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 their recent emergence. Canny visual software like DALL-E, NightCafe, and – in this instance – Midjourney, are able to take our...
