Science, Wildlife

Octopus, squid and cuttlefish numbers boom in changing oceans

A surprising 60-year boom in global octopus, squid and cuttlefish numbers points to long-term changes taking place in the world’s oceans, scientists say.

Research published in Current Biology today shows a steady increase in the world cephalopod population — the class of molluscs comprising octopus, squid and cuttlefish — since the 1950s, at a time of increased fishing, growing pollution and ocean warming.

The data analysis, led by Dr Zoe Doubleday from Australia’s Environment Institute at the University of Adelaide, has confounded previous expectations that cephalopod populations go through cyclical booms and busts.

Anecdotal evidence had suggested the population may experience cyclical booms and busts over time, but there is instead a very consistent increase, she said — via redwolf.newsvine.com

Craft

Science-Themed Quilts / Pale Gray Labs

When an animated film creator and science author join forces with a monster-sized robot quilting machine experimental embroidery emerges upon their blankets. Nina Paley and Pop Sci columnist Theodore Gray use their unique skills to create quilts that display the entire periodic table, for example, as well as a design that beautifully displays more than 100 digits of the transcendental number ? — via Cool Hunting

Art

Minimalist Library Illustrations / André Chiote

André Chiote’s newest series of illustrations focuses on the unique architectural characteristics of modern and contemporary world libraries. Using the building façades as a starting point, Chiote turns the complex exterior geometries and shadows into more minimalist representations of facilities that include: OMA’s Seattle Public Library, Scmidt Hammer Lassen’s University of Aberdeen New Library, and Dominique Perrault’s National Library of France — via ArchDaily

Entertainment

Balance / Tim Sessler

We humans we create, we work, we stay busy from birth to death and never rest. We build, aim higher, work harder, accomplish more, and to what end? Balance takes an abstract look at our modern world, the full and the empty spaces and time in which we live and choose to make our lives — via Balance from Tim Sessler on Vimeo

Politics

Old People Don’t Care About Climate Change / Funny Or Die

Screw it. They don’t care about climate change — why should you? Hear from professional old people who certainly won’t be alive long enough to see the effects of climate change continue to plague our planet. The esteemed bearers of bad news featured in this video include film and comedy legends Cloris Leachman, Ed Asner, M Emmet Walsh, Michael Lerner and Bill Cobbs. They all think you are terrible — via Youtube

Design

Cowling Chair / Fallen Furniture

Fallen Furniture is a studio in Bath, UK that takes old aircraft parts and turns them into luxurious pieces of furniture. This chair made from the cowling of a Boeing 737 engine is among them. Its polished aluminium cover brightens up a room. And despite the weight, it’s perfectly balanced, so it spins easily — via Neatorama

Science

Boaty McBoatface snubbed as name for UK research vessel

The British Government has chosen to name its now-famous polar research ship the RRS Sir David Attenborough, on the verge of the naturalist’s 90th birthday, in a snub to the popular choice, Boaty McBoatface.

In a media release and series of tweets, UK Science Minister Jo Johnson said that Boaty McBoatface will live on as the name of one of the high-tech remotely operated sub-sea vehicles — via redwolf.newsvine.com

Craft

Making a Knife from Wrought Iron Wagon Wheels: Recycling History / Niels Provos

Tony Pederson and Niels Provos recycle history by turning antique wagon wheels into a heirloom blade. This video shows the whole process from preparing the wrought iron to the finished knife. First, the wagon tire is forged and prepared for melting in the crucible. A crucible steel bar is forged from the ingot and then turned into a powerful blade. Finally, everything is put together and you can marvel at the carbide grain structure of the blade — via Youtube

Design

Berlinetta / Effeffe

If you have money to spare, you could always point in the direction of this stunning Effeffe Berlinetta sports car. Amazingly, this isn’t a vintage car. The Berlinetta is described as a tribute to Italian GT car building half a century ago, bringing back both the looks, the mechanics and the production values of that era — via Retro to Go