Richard Mille Planetarium Tellurium

by Watchismo

I'm proud to be one of the first to unveil the Richard Mille Planetarium Tellurium. It's a massive achievement in horology with an entirely new mechanical interpretation of a centuries-old tradition—depicting the universe as clockwork. Created by the revolutionary independent watch brand, Richard Mille (with obvious watch case design), it was developed by mastermind Stephen Forsey of CompliTime and is made using titanium, steel, brass, gold, silver and red corundum. For an exclusive look into his original drawings for the Planetary Tellurium and more info, go here.

Aerogel

by Tim Yu

You might have seen the Aerogel in some newspapers and online already but we felt the need to add our two cents because of its truly world-changing potential. The porous substance is composed of dehydrogenated silicon dioxide filled with gas. Described as "frozen smoke" or the "ultimate sponge," it's the most lightweight and least dense solid on earth. A miracle material of sorts, it can withstand explosions, insulate against extreme temperatures and filter pollutants. NASA introduced it several years ago, but only recently has it been applied to commercial products.

Hugo Boss created a line of winter jackets out of the material but was pulled because they received complaints that it was too hot. The same complaints surfaced for some mountaineering boots developed for a climb up Mount Everest. Even Dunlop, a racket sports company, is currently incorporating the material into their tennis and squash rackets to deliver more power and strength.

Green, strong, light, protective and relatively easy to make, scientists need only to figure out how to better regulate temperatures when used. Otherwise, expect to see it incorporated into winter jackets, space suits, military fatigues and the like soon.

via Times Online

A.D.: New Orleans After the Deluge

by Jacob Resneck

Chronicling the lives of real people who lived through the hurricane and its aftermath, Brooklyn comic artist Josh Neufeld has created New Orleans After the Deluge, an online webcomic that captures the human comedy and tragedy of one the most devastating natural disasters in our lifetime.

"The characters are real, the dialog is taken from direct quotes, the depictions of the inside of their homes are what the inside of their homes look like, down to the DVDs on their shelves and collars on their dogs," states Neufeld, who previously worked with Harvey Pekar on American Splendor comics. His style is detailed; often a character's statement is conveyed through an illustrated facial expression rather than through dialogue.

Neufeld made several trips to the Gulf States and shot footage of the people and places he's written about. The audio and video of these interviews are also posted on SMITH Magazine's website, adding to the authenticity.

Now in its sixth chapter, After the Deluge is perfectly timed for the second anniversary of the storm. Several newspapers have taken notice, including the Toronto Star. Readers are also able to leave comments under each panel, which Neufeld told the Toronto Star, has influenced him as he creates each chapter. The result has been a uniquely interactive graphic novel where the reader is exerts some influence on the final product.

The comic will run a total of a dozen episodes, wrapping up at the end of this year.

mShopper

by Ami Kealoha

Adding to the ever-expanding list of things you can do with your cell phone, a Boulder-based startup called mShopper recently debuted a mobile shopping platform that combines the visual and tactile pleasure of brick and mortar shopping with the efficiency and cost- effectiveness of online shopping. Using mShopper's free service, consumers can easily compare the price of an item they'd like to buy from anywhere they get cell phone reception, and if they find that the price is right, make the purchase.

Say you're in a store drooling over a hi-def flat screen television but wondering if there is a better price elsewhere. Simply enter the first two letters of a brand and model to find out. For example, the search query for a Panasonic HDTV could be "pan" and "hdt", with the option to add more specific product numbers or information.

At present mShopper has more than seven million products in its database and adds countless more each month. The smooth and simple interface was designed from the ground up for simplicity and mobility, and is certain to revolutionize the shopping experience for the Blackberry, Treo and iPhone-wielding masses.

To try it for yourself, point your phone's web browser to shop.mshopper.com.

Urban Cactus

by Lost At E Minor

On the harbour in Vuurplaat, Rotterdam, a proposed Urban Cactus rises from the usually boxy Dutch architectural landscape. Responding to the natural setting of being on the harbour, UCX Architects envisage a housing project that is green with stacked undulating floor plates, giving large outdoor terraces to each apartment and allowing for light penetration. Details of eco-attributes have yet to be released but a cactus starting point could be a good sign.