Sometimes, surprises are lurking in everyday data.Take a category of consumers that Doug Rubins startup, Northwind Climate, calls climate doers. Theyre concerned about climate change and tend to prioritize climate-friendly purchases, the sort of identifiers who might be stereotypically associated with things like buying organic foods or prioritizing local businesses.Turns out that the climate doers category actually are the consumers who most frequent fast-food restaurants, Rubin told TechCrunch. Whats more, some 30% of climate doers are Republicans, he added.Northwind Climate evolved from Rubins work in the political world, where surveys are vital to understanding shifts in public sentiment and identifying likely voters. The startup has raised a $1.05 million pre-seed round, it exclusively told TechCrunch, with participation from angel investors, including Tom Steyer, former Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick, and Alexander Hoffmann of Susty Ventures.Rather than divide people into demographic buckets that might segment along political, generational, or regional lines, Northwind Climate analyzes survey responses for behavioral clues that can be used to classify consumers.In addition to climate doers, who comprise about 15% of all U.S. consumers, Northwind Climate has identified four other behavioral groups, ranging from climate distressed, or people who are slightly less concerned about climate change and arent as financially secure as the climate doers, to the climate deniers, who tend to be retirees who think the media is exaggerating the problem.But, Rubin adds, even in that [climate deniers] bucket, there are messages and ways that work with them.Northwind Climate has found five discrete segments that describe consumers views on climate change.Image Credits:Northwind ClimateTake some analysis Northwind did on electric vehicles. For climate doers and climate distressed, two categories of consumers who are most likely to buy an EV, the startup suggests that automakers frame the cars as matter of choice. Were providing choices for those who care about reducing pollution, saving money on gas, and helping address climate change, reads one of Northwinds suggested pitches.But for climate doubters and deniers, who are less likely to buy one, the focus of the pitch shifts from choice to freedom: Americans should have the freedom to drive what they want. We want to make electric vehicles clean, affordable, and practical for the millions of Americans who want one.The startup has built a database that consists of 20,000 survey respondents across eight surveys, and Rubin says its growing by 2,500 respondents per month. Every three months, Northwind also runs an industry-specific survey to capture deeper insights for different customers.Companies that subscribe to the service, which costs $10,000 per quarter or $40,000 per year for a typical customer, can add up to four of their own questions every quarter, which Rubin said is less than what theyd shell out for one annual survey.Within the platform, customers get access to the data Northwind has collected, questions it has asked, and some basic analyses like cross tabulations. The startup is building a chatbot to allow users to ask for more specific analyses using plain language queries.Concerned consumers might cast a wary eye on such a platform, worried that it might help companies greenwash their businesses. But Rubin isnt concerned, saying surveys have shown that consumers are pretty savvy. Our data shows there is a clear risk to brands and their reputations from making claims that are exaggerated or otherwise untrue, Rubin said.Rubin said that Northwind is also developing what he calls a virtual focus group. Its essentially an AI model, trained on survey responses, that can analyze a companys marketing materials like TV spots or social media ads and provide feedback, just like a human focus group would. The startup hopes to have it available in the next four to five months, Rubin said, though it will use new data to continually refine the model.Rubin is convinced that companies have been missing opportunities to connect with climate-conscious consumers. If you look at the data and where consumers are and its across the board, its not just Democrats or Independents they really want this, and they will reward companies who are willing to be smart about it, he said.

In BriefPosted:10:23 AM PDT April 1, 2025Image Credits:Paul Morigi/Haddad Media / Getty ImagesMetas head of AI research plans to leave the companyMetas VP of AI research, Joelle Pineau, is planning to leave the company, she announced in a post on Facebook Tuesday. Pineau said shes leaving in May after more than two years overseeing FAIR, Metas internal AI research lab led by Yann LeCun.Pineaus exit comes as Meta ramps up its AI efforts, with the company planning to spend $65 billion on AI infrastructure in 2025.In a statement to Bloomberg News, a Meta spokesperson said the company does not have an immediate replacement for Pineau but is conducting a search for her successor. Last year, Meta reportedly reorganized the company to have its AI research unit report to the companys chief product officer, Chris Cox.As for Pineau, the executive said shell take some time off before jumping into an unnamed new adventure.Topics

When John Knoll first heard about Star Wars: Skeleton Crew in the fall of 2021, it was through a familiar channel: ILMs Rob Bredow, asking if hed be interested in heading up visual effects on one of Lucasfilms new streaming projects. For Knoll, the prospect was immediately appealing, not just because of the storys tone or its place within what ILM affectionately calls the Favre-verse (the Jon FavreauDave Filoni era of Star Wars TV)but also because production was based in Manhattan Beach Studios, a welcome proximity bonus given how many countries projects could now shoot in.What sealed the deal, though, were the scripts. John Knoll was taken with their humour and spirit of the project (with early Speliberg overtones). His early meetings with director Jon Watts made it clear this was a collaboration built on trust and shared creative instinct.And that trust was crucial. Knoll prefers to show VFX work earlyearly enough to course-correct meaningfully, but not so early that a client might panic at a rough version. With Watts, he found a Director open to that kind of iterative process. That kind of openness meant fewer surprises laterand, more importantly, visuals that aligned closely with the storys intent.Noe the use of practicals (but with a viewing gauze on the truckFinal shotThe puzzle of working with kids (and their doubles)One of the unique challenges of Skeleton Crew was the cast itself: the show centers on a group of kids navigating a Star Wars-scale adventure. That meant tight work schedules, limited hours on set, and a heavy reliance on planning. Knoll and the team strategically structured shoot days, starting with adult doubles for wide shots and saving close-ups with the child actors for their limited hours.The use of doubles, who were carefully matched in proportions and costuming, proved more effective than expected. In some cases, edits progressed far into post before anyone even realized a particular shot featured a double, not the child actor. There are more shots than youd guess, Knoll noted. They were pretty darn good doubles.Blending miniatures and digital: the art behind the illusionSkeleton Crew continues ILMs modern embrace of miniature photography, something thats become a staple on Star Wars shows like The Mandalorian and Ahsoka. But for Knoll, this isnt about nostalgia or marketing opticsits about results.He recalls how The Mandalorian kicked off the return to miniatures with a bit of uncertainty. An early Razor Crest flyby received mixed feedback from Favreausomething about it just wasnt selling. What began as a suggestion to build a reference model for lighting escalated into a full miniature shoot, complete with motion control. The resulting footage wasnt just usableit was inspiring. ILM ended up reworking their CG Razor Crest to match the practical version, and the result was indistinguishable. That pattern repeated on Ahsoka, and again with Skeleton Crew.For Knoll, the process has become a proven workflow: shoot a beautiful miniature, use it to inform the CG model, and evolve the digital version until its virtually indistinguishable from the real thing. Whether its subtle scuff marks, directional scratches on metal panels, or the play of stylized bounce cards sculpting highlights in space, the final CG shots benefit immeasurably from miniature-informed lighting and texture references.A puppet with personality: SM-33When it came to SM-33, the shows quirky droid character, Knoll leaned on a tried-and-true method: full-body puppetry with puppeteers removed in posta technique that traces back to his work on The Phantom Menace. Drawing inspiration from Japanese Bunraku puppetry, the approach allowed for expressive, in-camera performances.https://www.fxguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Skeleton-Crew-Creatures-Droids.mp4Legacy Effects built a beautifully detailed puppet, and the performance imbued it with a distinct, slightly wobbly charm. For the shots where the puppet couldnt do what was neededrunning, fighting, complex movementCG took over. But by carefully matching the puppets physical quirks in animation, the handoff between real and digital remained seamless. In many shots, viewers wouldnt know the switch had occurred at all. Knoll recalls a shot of SM-33 where he starts as a puppet, turns and walks away using a seamless handoff from puppet to fully CG animation part way through the shot.Invisible VFX: from faceplates to falling childrenNot all of the effects in Skeleton Crew are big establishing shots or complex visual effects space sequences. Some of the most difficult were the ones viewers arent meant to notice.Take KBs visor, for instance: a piece of costume design that needed to shift positions on her face. The mechanical motion couldnt be practically achieved, so ILM animated it digitally. But that motion had secondary consequenceslike changing her hairstyle as the visor moved, requiring CG hair replacement. Then there were the safety concerns: the visors mesh obscured vision in dark scenes, so it was sometimes omitted entirely and replaced digitally. It was clearly unsafe to have child actors walking around complex dark sets with restricted vision.Similarly, scenes involving stunts or hazardous terrain often relied on digital doubles. For example, when the kids are ejected from garbage tubes onto a beach, that fall was entirely CGno safe or practical way to shoot it live, Knoll commented. In many cases, ILM used a combination of adult stunt doubles and CG, depending on the shot and risk level.The volume and the value of real sunlightSkeletal Crew also made extensive use of ILMs StageCraft volume. But Knoll is quick to point out: its not a blanket solution. For him, its a tool best used when it makes creative and logistical sense. The real benefit comes in longer scenes, where the ability to amortize the upfront content build over many pages of dialogue outweighs the cost of per-shot VFX.And yet, despite the advances in LED volumes, Knoll remains a staunch advocate for real sunlight when it comes to outdoor scenes. Bad daytime exteriors on a soundstage, he says, are the bane of my existence. He comes armed with a library of examplesgood and badto help DPs and production designers understand the visual trade-offs. With the right planning, he says, everyone can align early to avoid the common pitfalls. Controlled chaos: simulated destruction and stylized spaceOf course, Skeleton Crew still has its share of large-scale spectacle. From tug-of-war sequences between ships and garbage munchers, to debris-littered space battles, Knolls team tackled destruction scenes by starting with animation to define story intent, and then layering simulations to support and enhance the motion.And in space, visual stylization remains key. The lighting philosophy draws from the original trilogya willingness to place mysterious bounce cards in the void for the sake of sculpted forms and cinematic readability. Youre not trying to replicate NASA footage, Knoll explains. Youre trying to make something beautiful and clear. A playbook for better VFXKnoll keeps a mental list of top production pitfalls, and he runs through them with every new team. From improperly lit interiors with mismatched window comps, to awkward soundstage exteriors, to vehicle shots with static lightinghes seen the same mistakes repeat across the industry.Knoll has compiled a personal playbook of common VFX pitfalls, which he shares with production teams early on and he shared with fxguide. His Top 5Pitfalls for VFX includes:Daytime exteriors on a soundstage.Daytime interiors with blown-out window blue screens.Static lighting on moving vehicles.Poorly designed shots with no visual solution.Imbalanced composites that simply need regrading.Most of what goes wrong on VFX shows, he says, falls into one of those buckets.But his goal isnt just to avoid problems; its to empower productions to get it right from the start, and that ethos runs through every frame of Skeleton Crew. Its a show where high-end visual effects serve a heartfelt, youthful adventureand where the seamless blend of puppetry, miniatures, CG, and practical lighting creates a galaxy that feels every bit as lived-in and magical as the Star Wars of our childhoods that inspired so many of us to enter Visual Effects.

Architect Sketches | Marvin Meyer via UnsplashArchitecture is undergoing a digital transformation. Emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, 3D modeling, and parametric design are reshaping how architects conceptualize, plan, and execute their work. These tools accelerate workflows, increase design precision, and enable more sustainable outcomes.Architecture magazines such as ArchEyes play a vital role in documenting this shift. By highlighting forward-thinking projects, digital workflows, and tech-integrated design philosophies, ArchEyes helps bridge the gap between innovation and inspiration for a global audience of architects and students.To keep pace with these changes, architecture students often seek academic support through services like diplomarbeit ghostwriter. These platforms help manage the growing demands of design education by assisting with research and writing, allowing students to focus on developing digital skills and design thinking.This article examines how digital tools are redefining design processes.Architectural Technology: The Foundation of Modern DesignArchitectural technology blends advanced systems with creative processes to improve building conception and construction. Real-time 3D modeling, AI-driven analysis, and automated workflows have become essential to modern practice.Key Benefits:Automation & Efficiency: Digital tools speed up repetitive tasks, allowing architects to focus on design quality.Precision & Accuracy: AI supports spatial planning and structural logic, reducing the risk of human error.Sustainability & Innovation: Architects can assess environmental impacts early in the design process, leading to greener buildings.These technologies enhance performance and efficiency and unlock new creative possibilities, empowering architects to design for the future.AI in Architecture: Merging Logic with ImaginationAI-powered design tools allow architects to explore various solutions by setting parameters such as site conditions, climate factors, or spatial needs. These tools assist in developing optimized building forms, reducing energy usage, and maximizing natural light.For example, Zaha Hadid Architects reports a 50% increase in design-phase productivity after integrating AI into their workflows. The firm leverages AI to explore innovative geometries and accelerate iterationan approach that would have been impractical through manual processes alone.AI also allows architects to focus more on creativity while maintaining technical accuracya balance that defines great design.3D Modeling: A New Dimension in Visualization and Execution3D modeling is now integral to architectural workflows. It allows architects to precisely simulate and refine design ideas before a single brick is laid.Key Applications:Design Development: Explore complex geometries and material options through parametric modeling.Client Communication: Use immersive models to present concepts clearly and convincingly.Collaboration: Coordinate effectively with engineers and consultants using shared models.Real-Time Adjustments: Make data-driven decisions quickly with parametric or BIM tools.Construction Planning: Generate accurate documentation to reduce on-site delays and misinterpretations.3D modeling strengthens every process stage, helping architects design more creatively and build more efficiently.Expert Writing Support for Architectural and Design Students Ryan Ancill via Unsplash Ryan Ancill via UnsplashAcademic Support: Balancing Innovation and EducationAs architecture becomes more technologically demanding, students face increasing pressure to balance studio work, research, and theoretical studies. Managing academic responsibilities while keeping up with evolving software and tools can be overwhelming.Many turn to ghostwriting erfahrungen to find trusted services that support academic success. These platforms assist with structuring research, writing academic papers, and documenting projectsallowing students to focus on design execution and skill-building with confidence.When used ethically, these tools provide practical value to emerging architects navigating academic and professional expectations.Architectural Innovation: Pushing the Boundaries of PracticeInnovative technologies are redefining whats possible in architecture. From generative design and responsive facades to robotic fabrication and smart building systems, architecture is increasingly data-informed, adaptive, and performance-oriented.Digital publications like ArchEyes serve as essential platforms for showcasing these advancements. ArchEyes helps architects stay current with the future of design and construction by documenting experimental projects and tech-forward methods.Digital Design Tools: The Architects New EssentialsTo succeed in this evolving landscape, architects must master various digital tools. These are some of the most widely used and impactful in contemporary design practice:Rhino + Grasshopper: Essential for parametric and algorithmic design, enabling advanced geometries.Revit: A leading BIM platform that facilitates real-time collaboration and detailed documentation.SketchUp: An intuitive tool for quick concept development and visualization.Lumion: Real-time rendering software for creating high-quality architectural visualizations.AutoCAD: Industry-standard software for precise 2D drafting and construction drawings.These tools form the core of a modern architects digital toolkiteach one expanding the ability to design smarter, faster, and more creatively.ConclusionThe intersection of architecture and technology is a fertile ground for innovation. From AI to 3D modeling and beyond, architects are now equipped with tools that allow them to design with unprecedented speed, precision, and sustainability. Publications like ArchEyes play a vital role in documenting and disseminating these shiftshelping students and professionals alike stay informed and inspired in a rapidly evolving field.technology by ArchEyes TeamLeave a comment

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The blue marble and the blue planet are both well-known descriptions of the rock that is our home. But Earthly eyeball? Thats a new one.But when viewed through the International Space Stations Cupola module, thats exactly how it looks according to NASA astronaut Don Pettit.Recommended VideosPettit posted his striking footage on social media on Tuesday. The American astronaut used a wide-angle lens to get the entirety of the seven-window Cupola module in the video, using the panels to frame Earth in a way that makes it look rather like you guessed it an eyeball.The image is just the latest in a string of impressive imagery shared by Pettit during his six-month stay aboard the space station.RelatedCurrently NASAs oldest serving astronaut, the 69-year-old ISS inhabitant has become adept at capturing dramatic star trails using long exposures. Pettit has also shared some breathtaking shots of aurora as seen from way above Earth, and also managed to capture a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft on its homeward journey at the end of the historic Polaris Dawn mission, which included the first commercial spacewalk.Other photos by Pettit make parts of Earth resemble an artists canvas, including this remarkable image of rivers in the Amazon basin, and this one showing the Betsiboka River estuary in Madagascar.Fans of Pettits space-based photography will be sad to learn that the astronaut will be heading back to terra firma this month.Speaking last year about why he enjoys taking photos from 250 miles up, Pettit said: Images from space help tell the story to people on Earth that dont have the opportunity to go into space, adding that alongside capturing memories of his time in orbit, the photographs help complete the story of what it means for human beings to expand into space and expand into this frontier.Editors Recommendations

As TikToks future in the U.S. remains uncertain, a fresh contender backed by entrepreneur and Shark Tank star Mark Cuban is ready to shake things up: Skylight.Available now on the App Store and Google Play, Skylight promises a creator-friendly, open alternative designed to rival TikTok. Cubans involvement adds star power, but its Skylights engaging, user-friendly vibe that could really catch on. And most importantly, if TikTok ends up banned in the United States, it has one major one-up over the popular app: its accessible.Recommended VideosSkylight lets users shoot, edit, and share quick, vertical videos that people can interact with through swipes, likes, and follows, just like TikTok. The big difference? Skylight isnt limited to a single app. Instead, videos posted to Skylight can be viewed across several different platforms. Its also built on the AT Protocol, the same technology Blueksy was built on, which means it will be available to nearly 34 million users on Bluesky, so its not siloed into one experience. All Bluesky users will be able to interact with the content on Skylight without having to make separate accounts.The idea for Skylight started with co-founder Tori White, a travel influencer who feared losing her audience amid talk of a potential TikTok ban. White documented the apps development right on TikTok, using her own following to garner attention. Cuban caught wind of the app this way after making it known he was interested in funding a TikTok alternative built on the AT Protocol.Skylight is just getting started, but the team already has big plans, including adding popular features like duets, audio clips, and stitched video responses.Theyre also promising fun new ways to customize your content feed. With Cubans backing (as well as Leslie Feinzaigs Graham & Walker Venture Fund) and a creator-centric approach, Skylight could be a viable contender in the TikTok alternative war.Editors Recommendations

might not be cheap, though Honda will sell off historic racing parts, including bits of Sennas V10 Honda will also find new homes for some heritage IndyCars and MotoGP bikes. Jonathan M. Gitlin Apr 1, 2025 10:00 pm | 1 This is a Honda RA100E 3.5 L V10 engine. It was used in McLaren's 1990 F1 season, during which time the team won the constructors championship and Ayrton Senna won the driver's title. Credit: Honda Racing Corporation This is a Honda RA100E 3.5 L V10 engine. It was used in McLaren's 1990 F1 season, during which time the team won the constructors championship and Ayrton Senna won the driver's title. Credit: Honda Racing Corporation Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreHonda's motorsport division must be doing some spring cleaning. Today, the Honda Racing Corporation announced that it's getting into the memorabilia business, offering up parts and even whole vehicles for fans and collectors. And to kick things off, it's going to auction some components from the RA100E V10 engines that powered the McLaren Honda MP4/5Bs of Ayrton Senna and Gerhard Berger to both F1 titles in 1990."We aim to make this a valuable business that allows fans who love F1, MotoGP and various other races to share in the history of Honda's challenges in racing since the 1950s," said Koi Watanabe, president of HRC, "including our fans to own a part of Honda's racing history is not intended to be a one-time endeavor, but rather a continuous business that we will nurture and grow."The bits from Senna's and Berger's V10s will go up for auction at Monterey Car Week later this year, and the lots will include some of the parts seen in the photo above: cam covers, camshafts, pistons, and conrods, with a certificate of authenticity and a display case. And HRC is going through its collections to see what else it might part with, including "heritage machines and parts" from IndyCar, and "significant racing motorcycles."The fact that the parts are going to be auctioned at Car Week suggests the RA100E parts won't be cheapthe annual gathering in Northern California attracts extremely well-heeled car enthusiasts, and the tickets for events like the Quail or the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance will put a hefty dent in your wallet.If your idea of fun isn't hanging out with a bunch of the 0.1 percent at a golf course looking at pre-war carsand I'll admit the lure of Car Week has worn pretty thin on me these last few yearsand your budget is more down to earth, fear not: F1 components are still within reach via an Etsy vendor in the UK. There's been some inflation in 12 years, but you can find F1 parts as gifts for under $100. Credit: Ledon Gifts I've had a coin tidy made from the 1st gear of one of Honda's late-2000s F1 cars sitting on my desk for 12 years now, and I can report it makes the most satisfying noise if you roll it back and forth along the gear teeth when you should be working.Jonathan M. GitlinAutomotive EditorJonathan M. GitlinAutomotive Editor Jonathan is the Automotive Editor at Ars Technica. He has a BSc and PhD in Pharmacology. In 2014 he decided to indulge his lifelong passion for the car by leaving the National Human Genome Research Institute and launching Ars Technica's automotive coverage. He lives in Washington, DC. 1 Comments

The only nation-wide assessment of drug use in the US is a critical tool in fighting the opioid epidemicShutterstock / Kimberly BoylesOn 1 April, the US government abruptly laid off all 17 people running the countrys only nationwide survey on substance use and mental health. For more than half a century, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) has tracked these issues across the US, helping inform doctors, researchers and policy-makers. Its future is now uncertain, as it isnt clear who if anyone will take over the task.