Sports Terms, Extraterrestrials, and Google Maps: Lux Recommends #143
Welcome to Lux Recommends #143, this week’s edition of what we at Lux are reading and thinking about (and want to receive this by email? Sign up here).
Articles
As Google Maps Renames Neighborhoods, Residents Fume: “The swift rebranding of the roughly 170-year-old district is just one example of how Google Maps has now become the primary arbiter of place names. With decisions made by a few Google cartographers, the identity of a city, town or neighborhood can be reshaped, illustrating the outsize influence that Silicon Valley increasingly has in the real world.” — Sam
I Don’t Believe in Aliens Anymore: “Humanity must learn to find meaning without relying on gods or extraterrestrials.” — Sam
Metamaterial-equipped endoscope reveals your innermost secrets: “Metamaterial provides a clearer view of hidden tissues.” — Adam G
The Wonder Plant That Could Slash Fertilizer Use: “An indigenous Mexican corn gets its nitrogen from the air.” — Sam
We Use Sports Terms All the Time. But Where Do They Come From? Hat in the Ring, Wild-Goose Chase, Hands Down, and more. — Josh
Videos
Paul Krugman Explaining Macroeconomics on a Roller Coaster — Sam
Very cool example of the Stroboscopic Effect (shutter speed matching the rpm of a spinning top) — Adam K
Disney has invented a robotic stuntman — Adam K
There’s Waldo: a robot that finds Waldo — Sam
This is the world’s largest elevator. It can lift a ship 40 stories high in just 10 minutes — no elevator music required — Adam K
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