We've seen so many blue-sky ID school assignments that this one, which focuses on practicality, is refreshing. It's from the "Basic Knowledge of Product Development" class at Germany's Magdeburg-Stendal University of Applied Sciences, run by professor Mathias Bertram."The task was to design a connector between two predefined profiles with a volume not exceeding 75ccm. This connector was then 3D-printed using FDM and tested for load resistance with a specially defined fixture. The goal was to develop a component under given constraints that could withstand as much weight as possible before breaking. To achieve this, topology optimization analyses were applied, and the 3D printing process was fine-tuned for maximum load capacity.Here's what three different students came up with:Daniel Glatthaar Vincent AckermannAdrian Wiepcke "Although the connector was designed for FDM printing, it could also be manufactured using metal casting. Renderings illustrate how the component would look as a precisely cast part: Noise textures mimic the characteristic surface produced by sand casting, while brushed textures represent polished outer surfaces. Realistic imperfections like stains and nicks further enhance the authentic look of both shaders."This being Germany, where function is every bit as important as looks, the students were required to load-test their creations to prove out their designs.

When you first see this house, it commands immediate attention. Its vertical profile and fractured geometry challenge conventional home design. Perched atop Caddo Peak, the highest point in Johnson County, the residence offers sweeping views and a profound sense of seclusion. It embodies daring architecture that blends organic inspiration with meticulous craftsmanship. Inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright, this home pushes the boundaries of residential design, transforming the landscape into a living canvas. Designer: Unknown Constructed in 1998, this residence is not a historic Wright structure. Instead, it stands as a modern expression inspired by his principles. While Wright’s influence is evident, the home does not replicate a specific Wright style, nor is it a pure Prairie or Usonian house. Its eclectic design incorporates traditional, split-level, and other architectural elements, making it a unique interpretation of Wright’s philosophy. The home’s verticality and fractured form evoke a nod to Wright’s organic ideals, though the stylistic lineage remains eclectic rather than strictly Prairie. Exterior Design: A Manifestation of Organic Architecture The exterior design draws heavily from Wright’s philosophy of organic architecture. The façade rejects symmetry and embraces dynamic asymmetry and vertical storytelling. The foundation is wrapped in rugged stone cladding, anchoring the home against the natural slope of Caddo Peak. Above this base, angular gables, cantilevered balconies, and a crown-like rooftop observatory fracture the façade, creating a visual rhythm that captures the eye from all angles. Materials such as rock, stone, and wood siding enhance the natural feel of the house. These textures foster a sense of harmony with the landscape. A flat roof complemented by shingle accents echoes Wright’s love for layered surfaces and horizontality. The prominent feature is the vertical window stack, full-height apertures that slice through the façade. They serve a functional purpose: framing the Texas horizon and inviting unfiltered light into the interior. These windows act as portals that seamlessly connect indoor and outdoor spaces. At the peak of the home, a private rooftop lounge crowns the structure. It offers a panoramic vantage point for Texas sunsets and star-gazing—an extension of Wright’s belief that architecture should foster a spiritual bond with nature. The exterior architecture embodies a mountain-modern aesthetic that elevates the landscape rather than overpowers it. It exudes a boldness rooted in organic design principles. Interior Design: Volume, Texture, and Connection Step inside, and the interior architecture echoes Wright’s mastery of volume and natural materials. The Dutch door welcomes visitors with a rustic charm, opening into a space that combines warmth and elegance through original hardwood accents. These rich wood tones evoke Wright’s focus on craftsmanship and organic materials, blending timeless appeal with modern sensibilities. The second floor opens up with an emphasis on natural light and fluidity. Walls of windows flood the space with sunlight, transforming the interior into a bright and lively environment. The layout promotes an open flow, with no rigid partitions breaking the visual harmony. A large sectional anchors the living area, complemented by mid-century inspired glass and brass accents. Textured tile flooring and layered textiles add depth and richness, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. The kitchen continues this narrative with a focus on materiality and character. Forest green cabinets are paired with vertical walnut paneling, creating a layered and textured aesthetic. Teak countertops introduce warmth and tactile richness, while marble accents provide subtle luxury. The kitchen becomes a space designed for both functionality and expression, where every element reflects curated taste and craftsmanship. A sculptural walnut spiral staircase ascends gracefully to the rooftop retreat. This space serves as a private sky porch perfect for enjoying Texas sunsets. Its form acts as an architectural sculpture, emphasizing Wright’s appreciation for vertical movement and sculptural forms. The interior’s focus on volume, natural textures, and seamless connection to the landscape creates a dialogue between inside and out that is both inspiring and harmonious. Living Experience: Comfort, Function, and Modern The house encompasses 4,077 square feet of thoughtfully designed living space. The primary suite offers luxury amenities, including dual sinks, a jetted tub, and a walk-in closet. Multiple fireplaces add warmth and ambiance, while built-in features and high-speed wiring ensure modern functionality. Outdoor spaces extend the living experience. A private pool, pergolas, and multiple decks and balconies contribute to a layered outdoor environment. The design emphasizes exploration through height, descending from the rooftop lounge to decks and finally to water. These outdoor elements create a retreat within a retreat, fostering a sense of connection with the landscape. Set on a 1.66-acre wooded lot, the property provides privacy without feeling isolated. Located just 25 miles south of Fort Worth, it offers an ideal balance of seclusion and accessibility. Most furnishings are included, making the home move-in ready and inviting immediate enjoyment. Connection to Frank Lloyd Wright: A Personal Philosophy This house embodies Wright’s core belief that architecture should be an extension of the natural environment. The fractured, asymmetrical exterior echoes the principles of the Prairie School, emphasizing harmony, horizontality, and organic integration. However, it is important to note that the home was built in 1998 and is not a historic Wright structure. It is best described as Wright-inspired, blending traditional, split-level, and eclectic influences rather than adhering strictly to Wright’s original architectural language. The use of natural materials such as stone, wood, and textured finishes reinforces this connection. Inside, the focus on volume, natural light, and materiality recalls Wright’s Usonian homes—homes designed with purpose, harmony, and accessibility in mind. The open floor plan fosters a sense of flow, while the vertical movement from the Dutch door to the spiral staircase emphasizes Wright’s interest in spatial choreography and experiential design. The rooftop lounge and expansive windows serve as physical expressions of Wright’s belief that architecture should inspire and elevate the human spirit. This home becomes a sanctuary rooted in boldness, craftsmanship, and harmony with the natural world. Final Thoughts: An Architectural Statement This house stands as a celebration of daring design and timeless philosophy. It challenges convention by elevating the idea of a home as a sculptural extension of the landscape. Every element—fractured façade, sculptural staircase—demonstrates mastery of form and function, rooted in Wright’s principles of organic architecture. This residence offers more than shelter. It provides a space to inspire, reflect, and connect. It invites inhabitants to live consciously within a bold environment that celebrates craftsmanship, character, and harmony with nature. It is a modern masterpiece—an architectural gem that transforms the Texas landscape into a canvas of personal expression. Are you prepared to embrace the extraordinary?The post Frank Lloyd Wright Inspired: A Treehouse with Bold Character first appeared on Yanko Design.

And it's the perfect solution if you can't get a Nintendo Switch 2.

This tricked out walking pad has the highest incline capability I’ve seen on the market.

After Meta blocked news from its platforms in Canada, hyperpartisan and misleading content from popular right-wing Facebook pages such as Canada Proud has filled the gap.

Apple's latest ad spot demonstrates how Apple Intelligence can make your dating profile better, thanks to Clean Up in iOS 18 Photos.A still from Apple's new Clean Up ad spot - Image Credit: AppleOne of the early features of Apple Intelligence, Clean Up is a Photos tool that can be used to remove unwanted objects from within a picture. Its effectiveness is aptly demonstrated in a new ad from Apple.Posted to YouTube on Monday, the video titled "Clean Up Photos: Flex" shows a young man showing off his physique to the iPhone 16's camera. The photographs are all taken by an older woman, using an iPhone 16. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Here’s a funny new musical ode to ZGF’s award-winning mass timber roof design at Portland International Airport, containing some inspired lyrics ("We’ve got so many, and they grow so tall/now the airport doesn’t look like a mall") and shots of the 9-acre feature that opened last August after a five-year, $2.15 billion renovation. You can credit consultant Arup with the acoustics cameo. The hype adds to the project's recent Honor Award from the 2025 AIA New York Design Awards. ZGF is currently looking to add a talented BIM Coordinator to their Vancouver studio via Archinect Jobs.

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Numerous rumors and leaks later for The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered, Bethesda Softworks has announced a surprise livestream for April 22nd, 8 AM PT, on YouTube and Twitch. Teasing with the title “All will be revealed,” the thumbnail features a giant “4” in Roman numeral. What else could it be but the remaster’s announcement? Based on reports thus far, it’s possible that it could launch shortly after the livestream, if not later this week. Stay tuned for updates. The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered is rumored to be a significant revamp over the original, developed on Unreal Engine 5 from the ground up by Virtuos. It’s coming to Xbox, PlayStation, and PC (alongside Game Pass), and offers improvements to stamina, combat, archery, stealth, and more. Recent rumors indicate it includes all the DLC, like Shivering Isles and the legendary horse armor. It’s allegedly quite hefty on PC, demanding nearly 121 GB of installation space. Check out our feature for other reported details you should know.

Stem Cell Therapies Could Treat Parkinson’s Disease by Rebuilding Lost Circuitry in the Brain, Studies Suggest Two small clinical trials tested the safety of injecting stem cells into the brains of Parkinson’s patients and found no adverse effects Lillian Ali - Staff Contributor April 21, 2025 1:23 p.m. A cell culture plate with pluripotent stem cells, which can differentiate into any kind of cell in the body. National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences A treatment that could replenish cells in the brains of Parkinson’s disease patients caused no major negative reactions in two small, early-stage clinical trials. The research offers hope that stem cell transplants may be able to replace the loss of certain cells that leads to Parkinson’s symptoms. Both studies injected stem cell-derived neurons into the brains of Parkinson’s patients and primarily tested the procedure’s safety. The pair of studies, published in the journal Nature last week, were both very small—one tested 12 patients, while the other tested seven—so researchers can’t yet conclude the effectiveness of stem cell treatments overall. Still, the studies are “a big leap in the field,” Malin Parmar, a stem cell biologist at Lund University in Sweden who was not involved with the new research, tells Nature’s Smriti Mallapaty. “These cell products are safe and show signs of cell survival.” Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative brain condition estimated to affect at least 1 percent of people over age 60 across the world. It causes deterioration in the basal ganglia, a brain area associated with motor control. The resulting changes in brain chemistry lead to the disease’s characteristic symptoms: slow movements, muscle tremors, stiffness and difficulty walking. The cell loss caused by Parkinson’s results in a lack of dopamine—a key neurotransmitter—in the brain, so many Parkinson’s treatments seek to boost dopamine levels. These include medicines that increase available dopamine, resemble dopamine or block its natural breakdown. While these treatments can slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease, researchers do not have a cure for the condition. Experimental stem cell treatments offer another potential way to manage Parkinson’s—these techniques seek not only to replace or mimic dopamine, but to repair the brain circuitry lost due to Parkinson’s disease. “The idea is to place these neuron progenitors [derived from stem cells] right where you need them to connect with other neurons in the brain,” Viviane Tabar, a neurosurgeon at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and lead author of the 12-participant study, tells NPR’s Jon Hamilton. Stem cells are your body’s “master cells.” They are found in almost every tissue and, depending on the type of stem cell, can become any other kind of cell. The generation of stem cells to replace disease-affected cells is called regenerative medicine. For example, some patients with leukemia receive bone marrow transplants, which replace the diseased blood stem cells in the bone marrow with healthy ones. The new trials used stem cell therapy to replace lost dopamine-producing neurons. In each study, researchers observed whether the new cells survived and whether dopamine production increased. One study, which treated 12 patients in the U.S. and Canada, used stem cells from donated human embryos, while the other study injected seven patients with donated adult stem cells in Kyoto, Japan. In the larger of the two studies, the team gave a “low dose” of 0.9 million cells to five people and a “high dose” of 2.7 million cells to seven people. They expected a high rate of cell death, predicting that 100,000 and 300,000 cells would survive the surgery in each group, respectively, according to Nature. They measured the outcomes of treatment on a standard scale of Parkinson’s progression. A typical Parkinson’s patient “would expect every year to get two or three points worse,” Lorenz Studer, a co-author of the larger study and a stem cell biologist at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, tells NPR. “The high-dose group, they got about 20 points better.” The low-dose group improved by about nine points. The smaller study also noted some symptom improvement and a lack of adverse reactions, such as tumor development or uncontrolled bleeding. Jun Takahashi, senior author of the second study and a researcher at Kyoto University, tells Science News’ Laura Sanders Stem cell therapies for Parkinson’s disease are not a new idea. But while some patients in past trials have shown improvement in symptoms, researchers had also found evidence suggesting Parkinson’s spread to the implanted, healthy cells. “There have been times of hype versus hope, and ‘is this for real, or is this not for real?’” Tabar tells Science News. Tabar adds that the new studies point toward hope. The findings underscore the stem cell treatment’s safety, and hints of improvements in some patients are pushing these trials forward. Both studies are moving toward larger trials, which may offer stronger evidence of the treatment’s efficacy and open it up to more patients. Mya Schiess, a neurosurgeon at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston who was not involved in the trials, tells NPR that “now we have the potential to really, really halt this disease in its tracks.” Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday.