The concept is simple — add ink to water. The results are extraordinary. The Macro Room captures the planets suspended in a tank of water as it's injected with colored ink, creating colors and shapes that mimic the space dust and stars of the Milky Way — the backdrop of our solar system.
It was a love affair, a cultural phenomenon, a shift in how Hollywood made movies — and brought a whole generation of kids to the stars. Football helmets became X-Wing lids, flashlights were lightsabers in darkened rooms, and looking up at the sky and wondering who was saving the galaxy was a legitimate question. 40 years after the release of Star Wars, here's a tribute to all the imaginations that were changed forever.
Mobile device customization is a rarity. Manufacturers might offer a few different colors and there are a plethora of cases, but you're probably carrying the same black or white rectangle in your pocket that everyone else is. But if you have a Samsung Galaxy S8, there's a DIY option that is sure to make you stand out in the crowd — JerryRigEverything's tutorial on making the back of the phone totally clear. Although it voids your warranty, it's also a call back to one of the best handheld gaming systems of all time. If you're brave enough to try it yourself, check ou the full walkthrough here.
RiseGuide is bringing AI coaching to one of the most anxiety-inducing modern skills: public speaking. The platform's new Speech Analyzer listens to up to 60 seconds of recorded speech, then evaluates pacing, confidence, pauses, filler words, and structure before delivering a score alongside targeted feedback for improvement. Built into RiseGuide's Charisma Mastery program, the feature feels less like another passive self-help tool and more like a speaking coach that fits in your pocket, helping users sharpen clarity, cadence, and presence through real-time analysis and repetition.
Private Label QR turns ordinary household labels into dynamic digital reference points, using durable QR stickers that link physical objects to editable information accessible from any smartphone camera. Once attached to a box, appliance, container, suitcase, or keepsake, each label can store notes, photos, instructions, contact details, or organizational data that can be updated anytime without replacing the sticker itself. The system feels especially useful for the kind of real-world friction most smart-home products ignore, from labeling moving boxes and organizing pantry goods to leaving appliance instructions for Airbnb guests or preserving the stories tied to family heirlooms. With no app required and built-in controls for private, public, or group visibility, the platform lands somewhere between modern inventory management and a digital memory layer for everyday objects.
It's a lesson nearly as old as film itself: Show the audience what you want them to know instead of explicitly telling them. Like the saying "actions speak louder than words", how a character reacts to situations gives a much sharper definition to the role than reeling off chunks of dialogue. In this video essay, Lessons from the Screenplay takes on the touchy subject of critiquing Rogue One and The Force Awakens, contrasting the character of Jin with Rey, and how Rey's far more active role in shaping the story makes her a more engaging character.
Elon Musk hates Los Angeles' infamously terrible traffic as much as anyone. While you might think his electric car company Tesla and his dream of fully autonomous cars might solve that problem, there isn't much that satisfies a supervillain. Now he wants to disrupt the construction industry with The Boring Company and build tunnels underneath cities to transport cars on electric sleds at speeds of up to 124 MPH. This demonstration video shows Elon's idea to relieve congestion in cities once and for all.
Close-ups, medium shots, long shots, panning shots, tracking shots, zooms, dolly zooms — there are a million different ways to shoot a scene. That makes trying to categorize and then pick the best of each a monumental task, one which Cinefix is up too. In the first part of their Best Shots of All Time, they work through the close-up, medium, long, extreme close-up, and extreme long shots in their search.
Mathematics and art are two things that aren't usually thought of as going together. The geometric spirals of Stanford professor John Edmark combine the two in animated sculptures that seem to bloom and fade and bloom again — a never-ending cycle of life captured in a time-lapse. SciFri visited John to discuss his process, inspiration and the role of math in his art.
The Monterey Overshirt from Collars & Co leans into the kind of effortless layering piece that works year-round without overthinking it. Cut from a lightweight cotton-linen blend with a touch of stretch, it delivers breathable comfort with just enough structure to hold its shape, striking a balance between relaxed and refined. Details like patch pockets, working buttons, and a clean pointed collar keep things classic, while the unlined construction makes it easy to throw over a tee or polo as temperatures shift. Machine washable and designed for a true-to-size fit, it's a straightforward staple that slots easily into a daily rotation without feeling like an afterthought.
Streamlining nutrition down to a single scoop, the Factor Meal Shake is built for efficiency without sacrificing substance. Each serving delivers 30 grams of whey protein, 7 grams of fiber, and a full spectrum of vitamins and minerals, creating a balanced, meal-level profile that supports energy, satiety, and muscle maintenance. Designed to mix in under a minute, it fits into busy routines as easily as a morning coffee, while a clean formula free of artificial flavors and seed oils keeps things straightforward. The result is a no-frills, high-function shake that replaces complexity with consistency, turning daily nutrition into something you can actually keep up with.
From its base in the Pacific Ocean, Hawaii's inactive volcano Mauna Kea rises over 33,000 feet, with 14,000 of that above sea level. Atop the mountain is the Mauna Kea Observatories that form some of the most important astronomical observation sites in the world. The dry atmosphere and subsequent lack of clouds make it a perfect place to watch the stars. The light pollution project Sky Glow Project spent a day on the mountain, capturing this incredible time lapse of the crystal-clear skies above Hawaii.
The annual Activision cash cow is returning from space and getting back to its roots. The 14th entry in the venerable first-person shooter franchise takes us to the beaches of Normandy during the D-Day invasion. The hyper-realistic CGI sequences are nearly Saving Private Ryan-worthy, but the actual gameplay remains to be seen. Call of Duty: WWII is planned to release later this year on multiple platforms.