Is the end of the awkward, faceless Zoom call near?

Getty Images Have you ever been on a phone call with someone new or had to speak on a video conference to a screen full of faceless squares, with everyone’s appearance left to guesswork? You may not have to use your imagination in these scenarios for much longer. Researchers at MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial… Continue reading Is the end of the awkward, faceless Zoom call near?

7 sure signs spring is here: Our favorite reader-submitted photos of the day

“Confinement From My Window”. Carla Francisco For this week’s Photos of the Day gallery, I’ve got spring on the brain. You know what they say: April showers bring May flowers, and this Californian Southern transplant is learning that this is very true in Alabama. But for all the torrential downpours and booming thunderstorms, the payoff… Continue reading 7 sure signs spring is here: Our favorite reader-submitted photos of the day

Museums, galleries, and alternative spaces in the metaverse

Enter the marble hall at Musee Dezentral, and you’ll be greeted by tall ceilings, exquisite columns, classical sculptures, and a palatial water fountain. But as in most museums, the main draw is the art on the walls. In this first hall—the Hall of Fame—you’ll find NFTs, or non-fungible tokens, from now-iconic crypto art collections: CryptoPunks,… Continue reading Museums, galleries, and alternative spaces in the metaverse

Photographing Formula Drift with an instant camera

Kristen Lee / The Drive This article originally appeared on The Drive In addition to seeing awesome cars throw themselves sideways around turns, another wonderful thing Formula Drift gives us is the opportunity to practice photography. You’re usually sitting close enough that you can grab at least a couple of really cool photos. Just for fun, I thought I’d bring… Continue reading Photographing Formula Drift with an instant camera

See the winners of Smithsonian Magazine’s 19th annual photo contest

“Najin Resting With Her Caretaker”. Matjaz Krivic Smithsonian Magazine just announced the winners of its 19th annual photo contest, and the results are simply spectacular. In six categories, the winners capture pandemic life, American identity, far-flung locales, and the intricacies of nature.  About the contest Over the 19 years that Smithsonian Magazine has run the… Continue reading See the winners of Smithsonian Magazine’s 19th annual photo contest

Pet photography: Fail-proof strategies to capture our furry friends

In the United States, approximately 23 million households brought an animal into their lives as they navigated the pandemic. It’s no wonder they did—across various studies, having a pet has been linked to decreased loneliness and boosted feelings of well-being. Plus, amid the isolation of 2020-21, many of our pets encouraged us to get outside… Continue reading Pet photography: Fail-proof strategies to capture our furry friends