Submitted by WA ContentsSelgascano and FRPO win competition for Rozafa Tower featuring a cracked colorful facadeAlbania Architecture News - Dec 17, 2024 - 13:59 html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"Spanish architecture practices Selgascano and FRPO have won an international competition for Rozafa Tower in Shkodr, Albania. The 39,000-square-metre tower features a cracked colorful facade oriented in three sides.With its lush surroundings and rich history, Shkodra, one of Albania's oldest and most culturally diverse cities, provides a distinctive setting. Its rich and varied history is reflected in its architecture.East viewThree programmatic blocks make up the tower's height: the first three stories are dedicated to commercial space, the next 20 floors are dedicated to residential space, and the final seven floors are used by the hotel.The city has a distinctive architectural context that includes neoclassical buildings, Ottoman and Venetian influences, and historic Roman and Illyrian defenses. In order to create an addition that enhances the urban landscape, respects the historical legacy, and advances Shkodra's modern growth, Selgascano and FRPO have always considered the new tower to be a part of this diversity.Given the tower's advantageous location, there is a chance to design an architectural landmark that will enhance the metropolitan skyline and encourage tourism and economic growth in the area. The tower's goal is undoubtedly to become a monument in the field of modern architecture, but the most crucial aspect of our work is to preserve the city's human scale. One of the most important aspects of the building's architecture is its size.South viewEven though it is a tower, careful consideration has been taken to make sure that the structure is viewed on a human scale and in harmony with its surroundsthat is, for the short-distance surroundings that the average person would encounter while walking around. The tower will be successful if the people believe it is a part of them, if they embrace it, and if it eventually becomes a part of this city.With the Albanian Alps to the northeast, the Rozafa Castle and the Drin and Buna rivers to the south, and the Skhodra Lake to the northwest, the tower's three main faces are oriented toward the most important views of the surrounding terrain in the area.The tower was designed with the intention of maximizing the breathtaking views of the surroundings. Depending on its orientation and viewsLakeview, Mountainview, or Rivervieweach lobe of the structure thus takes on a distinct personality. It is up to the residents to decide which is best for them.Facade detailIn order to visibly reduce its volume and produce a number of dynamic facades that react to the surrounding vistas, the tower's form is purposefully vibrating. By preventing the impression of a monolithic mass that might conflict with the natural and historical surroundings, this fragmentation also makes it possible for a more seamless integration with the urban scale. In addition to giving the structure a lighter appearance, the geometry's fracture permits more natural light to enter and provides views from other perspectives."This design decision addresses the need to make the building lighter and less imposing, maintaining a visual and symbolic connection with the key elements of Shkodra's landscape, but also making the building completely different depending on the moment of the day, transforming it in a timing machine," said Selgascano."The design of the tower is inspired by contemporary architectural trends, but the project also takes into consideration the invariants of architecture, such as sunlight and shadow.""The substantially triangular geometry of the plan denies the north orientation: the three facades are oriented to the east, south and west, which ensures sunlight all around the tower," the office added.Deep facades, which take advantage of the shadow to shelter the building from solar radiation in the summer and rain in the winter, are necessary due to Shkodra's warm Mediterranean environment, which is also extremely rainy. The proposal suggests a perimeter cushion of outdoor spaces on all floors rather than using the conventional curtain-wall method.Access viewThese terraces preserve the inside glass facade while increasing the use of residences and hotel rooms. Every terrace has a railing and a sizable parasol around the outside, which expands the amount of shade that can be cast inside and creates a sense of security that makes the terraces cozier. This ensures the building's optimal energy performance and the lovely views of the surroundings.The importance of colorsIn order to generate a sense of lightness and to stylize the building's mass, the tower's volume was built using a series of planes and horizontal lines in various color tones. The new skyscraper appears natural and appealing because all of the planes are coated in wood of various textures.To complete the chromatism of the facades, yellow, orange, and light green paint are applied to the parasols, railings, and slab edges.This palette of hues has been chosen to complement the city's climate and atmosphere, the surrounding scenery, and the sky.Each block is separated from the one directly above by a level of facilities. This method avoids concentrating gear on the roofs and shortens the ventilation ducts. Each program has its own elevators and vertical communications. Ducts and service rooms on every floor are part of the central core.Terrace viewThree vertical crevicesOn the ground floor, the tower's three entranceshotel, residential, and commercialare arranged neatly and distinctively. Three vertical cracks in the volume (to the north, southeast, and southwest) are created by the floor plan's lobed geometry, and they make the ideal locations for the entrances.In keeping with the present Rozafa Hotel entrance and drop-off location, the hotel's access is located beneath the northern crevice. The commercial access is situated in front of the intersection of Kol Idromeno Street and Bulevard Sknderbeu, near the base of the southeast crevice.The apartments' private residential entry is located in the most remote region of the entire urban boundary, across Vilson Street, next to the garage ramp, through the lower portion of the southwest crevice."The residential areas of the tower are designed to offer comfort, and exceptional views in all directions. The apartments vary in size and layout, adapting to different needs and lifestyles. Each residential unit is oriented to maximize natural light and panoramic views, creating living spaces connected to the environment," the studio explained."The perimeter terraces are protected by usable railings and parasols to expand the interior uses and give each home a special place to enjoy the views, the sun and the breeze. Floors, walls and ceilings are covered with wood of different shades and textures, giving the interior an exceptional warmth.""The exterior skin is completely glazed to maximize views and natural light, but at the same time is protected from the exterior by cast shadows," the office added.Rooftop poolTower top Hotel: an oasis with panoramic viewsThe hotel, which offers luxurious rooms, suites, and amenities, occupies the highest level of the tower. At the highest levels of the tower, where a number of verdant gardens provide a comprehensive view of outside areas, the hotel's floors are spaced to create a rich and varied spatial experience.There are several different types of rooms and suites with varying views and orientations spread across the hotel's levels. Terraces, balconies, and steps connect the hotel's services to the outdoor areas.With their swimming pools and lounging spots, the tower's rooftop terraces provide a one-of-a-kind experience while taking in the breathtaking panoramic views.This area is intended to serve as an urban sanctuary where residents and hotel visitors can relax and have fun. The bottom floor provides access to meeting spaces, dining options, bars, and a sophisticated lobby. A two-story block joins the tower to the existing Rozafa hotel, making it easier for visitors to enter and providing a seamless, unified area.Interior viewA commercial socle for urban lifeCommercial use is planned for the tower's bottom level, which will house stores, cafes, and other retail establishments. This business district blends harmoniously with the city, offering locals and tourists a vibrant gathering place. In contrast to the remainder of the tower, this section's facade uses a sequence of translucent glazed broken surfaces that animate urban life and create a visual interplay between the inside and external. One of the project's main components is its connection to the current Rozafa hotel.Both buildings are connected by a two-story block, which facilitates a constant flow of people and services. In addition to benefiting hotel visitors, this integration enhances the area's tourism offerings by offering a more comprehensive and alluring experience.AccessSensibilitytiredly referred to as "sustainability" these daysis a guiding concept in the tower's design. The building could employ a number of strategies to lessen its environmental impact, such as: using recyclable and locally sourced materials to reduce its carbon footprint; using renewable energy systems, like heat pumps and geothermal, to meet its energy needs; using energy-efficient lighting, natural ventilation, and water management technologies; and creating green spaces and landscaped terraces that enhance air quality and offer recreational areas.SitePlan schemeSolar diagramDiagramsAxonometric schemeGround level planCommercial level planHotel upper level planTypical housing floor panTypical housing floor panHotel pool floor planHotel Rooftop terraceHotel Rooftop roomsSectionModelSelgascano also won the first prize in an international competition to design an exhibition hall in Beijing, China. In addition, the firm and Diego Cano designed a house wrapped by recycled aluminum colourful tubes in Los Angeles hills in the United States.Project factsProject name:Rozafa TowerArchitects:Pablo Oriol, Fernando Rodrguez, Jos Selgas, Luca CanoFRPO:Adrin Snchez, Loreto MazariegosSelgascano:Paolo Tringali, Ins OlavarrietaLocation:Shkodr, AlbaniaConsultants:Mecanismo (engineering)Model:Gilberto Ruiz LopesArea: 39,000m2Date: July 2024All images Drawfield.All drawings Selgascano, FRPO.> via Selgascano

US practice working with Lipton Rogers on plans to replace current head office of law firm LinklatersEarly sketch of SOM's plans for the 1 Silk Street site1/3show captionLipton Rogers is working up plans with US practice SOM to replace a 1980s office complex next to the Barbican with two new build towers.The firm is acting as development manager for investment manager La Salle on the 21-storey scheme at 1 Silk Street, the current base of magic circle law firm Linklaters.The project team for the 100,000 sq m development also includes Spice Architects, the practice set up two years ago by Karen Cook, one of the co-founders of PLP and the lead architect on Lipton Rogers 22 Bishopsgate, currently the Citys tallest tower.Other firms working on the scheme include engineer Arup and planning consultant DP9.The 1 Silk Street site is currently occupied by two linked buildings of 13 and 17 storeys, Milton House and Shire House, which were built in 1982 and extensively remodelled in 1996.Lipton Rogers said the two blocks will soon be made unlettable due to requirements for commercial buildings to have a minimum EPC rating of C set to come into force next year.The firm is planning to demolish them down to their foundations and build two new linked blocks on the site featuring several greenery-covered terraces, according to an early document submitted to the City by environmental consultant Trium.A full planning application is expected to be submitted next year, with demolition of the site expected to take around 12 months and construction of the new scheme taking three and a half years. The completed building is scheduled to open in 2032.The existing building at 1 Silk StreetLipton Rogers said it had looked at refurbishment options for the site but concluded this would only deliver a compromised solution which would not resolve the existing buildings poor quality office space.It said a new build option would provide a more energy efficient building with flexible and more daylight-filled workspace, and more space on the ground floor for retail.Linklaters, the current sites main occupier, is set to move into new headquarters next year at 20 Ropemaker, the 25-storey building in the east of the City designed by Make and built by Skanska which was being fitted out by ISG before the contractors collapse, with the interior work subsequently being taken on by Structure Tone.The 1 Silk Street site neighbours another major office development designed by Make,the refurbishment of the 1980s building at 48 Chiswell Street for Berkeley Estate Asset Management.

Worries grow decision will slip into January despite being promised for end of last monthMakes proposals for the ITV Studios siteThe project team on the redevelopment of ITVs former London headquarters on the South Bank is bracing itself for a decision on whether it goes ahead or not to be made in the new year.A ruling on a legal challenge against former communities secretary Michael Goves decision to give the job, designed by Make, the green light earlier this year had been due by the end of last month.A two-day hearing into the scheme finished at the High Court in the middle of October and Mr Justice Mould said he would issue his verdict by the end of November.But worries are growing the decision will now slip into January if it is not made by the end of this week.A local campaign group called Save Our South Bank has argued the former ITV tower could be refurbished to provide 200 homes and 500,000 sq ft of offices while saving a huge amount of embodied carbon compared to Makes full redevelopment approach.Source: ShutterstockThe ITV building has already been wrapped in scaffolding ahead of its possible demolition by McGeeThe job has been mired in a series of planning wrangles for close to three years and the hold-up has seen original contractor Lendlease replaced by Multiplex with the value of the job now worth around 500m.Development manager on the scheme is CO-RE while the funder is Mitsubishi Estate. Others working on the job include including QS T&T Alinea, landscape architect Grant Associates and engineer Arup.McGee is slated to start demolition work if the scheme finally gets the green light ahead of project completion in early 2029.

The government plans to create a new fund as a way for developers to meet their environmental obligations in a bid to boost housebuilding.Currently, developers often have to establish mitigation measures for environmental harm on individual schemes before they are granted planning permission.Source: ShutterstockNutrient neutrality rules have held up tens of thousands of homesHousebuilders have long said such environmental rules add costs and delay delivery, but environmental advocates say it is essential to prevent species decline and the degradation of natural habitats.The government hopes its new Natural Restoration Fund will allow development to continue at pace while providing funds for natural recovery.Rather than paying for individual site level assessments and delivering mitigation measures themselves, developers will pay into a fund, overseen by a delivery body such as Natural England, which will be responsible for securing positive environmental outcomes, for instance delivering a reduction in nutrient pollutants.In opposition, Labour blocked Michael Goves attempt at nutrient neutrality reforms, but after being elected in July the environment secretary Steve Reed and housing secretary Angela Rayner acknowledged thatthe status quo is not working.TheHome Builders Federationhas previously estimated that the policy has held up building nearly 100,000 homes.In November, the governmentnamed seven councils set to benefit from 47m in funding to unblock around 28,000 homes stalled due to nutrient neutrality rules.For years, vital housing and infrastructure projects have been tied up in red tape leaving communities without the homes, infrastructure and jobs they need, said Angela Rayner, housing secretary, describing the plans as a win-win for development and the environment.Under the new system, the government will lead a single strategic assessment and delivery plan for an area, rather than taking a site-by-site approach.>>See also:Housebuilders hail very welcome shake up of nutrient neutrality rulesThe proposals have been set out in a working paper and the government is seeking views from stakeholders in order to develop the policy.Tony Juniper, chair of Natural England, said: It is evident that we need to take urgent action to address the worsening decline of nature, and we must also lean into the challenges posed by housing shortages.We will continue to work with the Government to help deliver their plans but the two key issues of today, nature and economic recovery, should not be pitted against one another, as we step up efforts to avoid losing what protected remnants of nature remain while also restoring some of what has gone.Instead, we should consider the huge opportunities which can be unlocked through better strategic planning which considers environmental improvements, economic development and green spaces for public enjoyment on a landscape scale.

Shell HQ Aberdeen The Tullos Campus (1973-92) by McInnes Gardner &Partners Source:Used by kind permission of DC Thomson & Co LtdBrutalist former headquarters of Shell for more than 50 years, comprising four interlinked buildings. Demolition began early this year after Shell relocated its HQ to central Aberdeen. The company is understood to be exploring options for the now-empty site alongside the city council.Aberdeen is not blessed with much great, even good, contemporary architecture. But the Shell building in the Tullos Campus was certainly worth a visit. It had an honesty and integrity in its robust, concrete finishes and ziggurat form. It was easily one of the most distinctive and interesting buildings in the city. Alan Dunlop, founder, Alan Dunlop ArchitectsFiddlers Ferry Cooling Towers, Merseyside (1967-71) by Gordon Graham Source:ShutterstockDecommissioned coal-fired power station, in operation until 2020. Phased demolition began in 2023, with the dramatic detonation of four out of eight iconic cooling towers. Site-owner Peel NRE is behind plans for its residential-led regeneration.AdvertisementCascading to the ground like a quartet of dissipated drunks, the 114m-high towers were there one minute and gone the next. Demolitions of unloved or obsolete structures cooling towers, chimney stacks, council estates have become the modern equivalent of public executions. We feel a visceral thrill as the dynamite does its work.Catherine Slessor, architecture critic, writing in the AJBohemian cottage, Oxford (1923) by Clough Williams-EllisCommissioned by early-20th-century feminist Lily Dougall and her same-sex partner Sophie Earp. Lost to a demolition and rebuild scheme put forward by new owners in 2022 following a failed listing attempt by The Twentieth Century Society.In this case the architect, the client and the building itself all had clear historic interest, so it was enormously frustrating to see it turned down for listing and the bulldozers roll in. Farewell quaint interwar cottage. Hello generic suburban new-build. Sometimes you just despair. Coco Whittaker, head of casework at The Twentieth Century SocietyFrench Railways House, Piccadilly (1960-62) by Shaw & Lloyd with signage by Ern Goldfinger and interiors by Charlotte Perriand Source:LoopNetFormer British headquarters for Frances state railway, SNCF. The building is being dismantled the steel structure set for a new life elsewhere and replaced with new offices designed by Make for Great Portland Estates and The Crown Estate.I feel real pain every time I walk past this site. The taut, confident, cosmopolitan design of French Railways House expressed the best of mid-century Modernism, and its streetfront signage was triumphant and joyous. Tim Waterman, professor at the Bartlett School of ArchitectureAdvertisementInterior of City Hall, Southwark (2000-02), by Foster + Partners Source:ShutterstockPurpose-built to house the newly-formed Greater London Authority and Mayor of Londons office in 2000. Vacant since 2020 when the GLA moved to new premises in the Royal Docks, the building has been gutted ready for an office-led overhaul by Gensler.As the mayors office, Fosters City Hall had heft. As a gutted hulk repurposed for a mixed-use office and sandwich mall, it has none. Edwin Heathcote, architecture and design critic at the Financial TimesPortsmouth News Centre, Hilsea (1966-67) by AE Cogswell & Sons Source:ShutterstockThe former headquarters and printing hall of the Portsmouth Evening News is being replaced with a bus depot for First Bus under permitted development rights.On the face of it, the News Building was obsolete and the proposals to create a bus depot capable of housing up to 90 electric vehicles can only be welcomed. So a win for green transport, right? Not quite. The distinctive curved office building that fronted the site, with space-age mosaic NEWS signage and landscaped ornamental pond, could so easily have been retained as part of the new bus depot to the rear. Once again, a failure of imagination and a boon for landfill. Oli Marshall, campaigns director at The Twentieth Century SocietyGlasgow ABC cinema, Glasgow (1875 and 1929) by CJ McNair Source:Will IngArt Deco cinema consisting of a renovated main structure dating back to 1875 when it was a diorama theatre, and a 1929 entrance portico by cinema architect Charles J McNair. Declared unsafe by Glasgow City Council following a 2018 fire, it will be replaced by student housing for Vita by architecture practice HAUS Collective.The much-loved cinema sat in the heart of the new Sauchiehall Street Culture and Heritage District. Charles McNairs grand Classical entrance was an authentic symbol of the golden age of cinema, and could have been retained and repurposed for the civic good. Niall Murphy, conservation architect and Glasgow City Heritage Trust director2024-12-17Anna Highfieldcomment and share

Our Experts Written by Laurie Kelso, Taylor Leamey Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement Why You Can Trust CNET 16171819202122232425+ Years of Experience 14151617181920212223 Hands-on Product Reviewers 6,0007,0008,0009,00010,00011,00012,00013,00014,00015,000 Sq. Feet of Lab Space How we test CNETs expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise. What to consider Prescription Some blue light blocking glasses allow you to add your prescription to the lenses. Blue-light-blocking capabilities Blue-light-blocking glasses will vary in how much blue light they block out based on the tint of the lenses. Frame style You get to choose the shape, style and material of your glasses. Additional features Some blue-light glasses have additional features like anti-glare, UV protection and an anti-scratch coating. Price Determining your budget will help you narrow down which blue-light glasses are within your price range. Table of Contents Our Picks Best overall blue light glasses Benicci Stylish Blue Light Glasses View details $18 at Amazon View details Best prescription blue light glasses Warby Parker Blue Light Glasses View details $145 at Warby Parker View details Best budget blue light glasses Peepers Clark Focus Blue Light Glasses View details $29 at Amazon View details Best designer-inspired blue light glasses Prive Revaux Alchemist Blue Light Glasses View details $30 at Amazon View details Best luxury blue light glasses Felix Gray Roebling View details $74 at Felix Gray View details Best prescription blue light glasses Eyeconic, Cole Haan CH4008 View details $104 at Amazon View details Best vintage style blue light glasses Ray-Ban Evolve Aviators View details $135 at Amazon View details Table of Contents Whether for work or entertainment, many of us spend too much time staring at our phones and computer screens. It can have both short- and long-term side effects. For example, it can negatively impact our sleep quality or lead to digital eyestrain. Many people have turned to blue light-blocking lenses to effectively filter harmful blue light encountered by increased screen time. While there isn't any solid research backing the use of blue light lenses for eye health, having blue light filtering lenses may help improve sleep quality or lessen eye discomfort.Read more: 20 of the Best Gifts Under $25 for 2024We're here to help you find a good pair ofblue light glasses that suits your needs. CNET has covered eye care and well-being for years, so we tested the top-rated blue light-filtering glasses and narrowed the list down to our favorite pairs.What are the best overall blue light glasses?Benicci glasses are our choice for the best overall blue light glasses. They're a no-fuss option that gives you blue-light protection while looking good. They're the kind of blue-light glasses that will work for anyone because they have a classic look, no tint and are lightweight. If you stare at screens all day or watch TV late at night, you'll benefit from a pair of Benicci blue-light glasses.The only drawback to the Benicci blue light glasses is that they don't have a prescription option. So you won't be able to wear them all the time if you normally wear glasses. If you're new to blue light glasses and looking for a dependable option, you'll like Benicci blue light glasses.Best blue light glasses of 2024 Photo Gallery 1/1 $18 at Amazon $28 at Walmart Pros Neutral style that suits most face shapes Anti-glare Affordable Cons Cannot add prescription to them No virtual try on Includes Test kit, cleaning cloth and case.Measurements 135mm outer frame width, 53mm lens width, 39mm frame height, 17mm nasal spacing, 137mm mirror leg widthReturn policy 90 daysPrice range $ $18 at Amazon $28 at Walmart If you're new to the blue light glasses game, start with a simple, dependable option, like Benicci blue light glasses. They're our pick for the best overall blue-light-blocking glasses because they're comfortable and neutral-looking. They have a classic frame style that just about anyone will like. Unlike many other blue-light glasses, this pair has no tint. (Not everyone likes the blue or yellow tint to the lenses. These have clear lenses.) They're also so light you almost forget you're wearing them. The Benicci blue-light glasses also include a case and cloth -- a nice addition that some brands don't have.These glasses are not prescription glasses, so they're only suited for people who just want a pair of blue light glasses to cut down on headaches and sleep better at night. They can't fix vision problems.

The social network Bluesky has been growing at a rapid rate ever since the US presidential election concluded. The site has added over 11 million users since the election on Nov. 5, pushing it to over 25 million users by Dec. 17. Star Wars starMark Hamill recently joined the site, proclaiming himself a "Twitter quitter." AndRep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York became the first person to reach over 1 million followers on the platform. That's the first for any Bluesky account except the company's own. Ocasio-Cortez has 1.1 million followers as of Tuesday.There are at least two ever-changing counters created by Bluesky users that track the site's numbers. One counter is from Theo Sanderson, a professor at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine; another counter is by a user who simply goes by Natalie on the site.Read more: Bluesky Starter Packs: How to Find and Create ThemA representative for the company said in an email last month that the site had added over 1 million users a day in the period immediately after the election. That rate equals about 12 new users per second. The 25 million user mark compares to 9 million users in September.Bluesky may be surging, but the site has a way to go to catch competing sites.Forbes reports that X has 588 million global users as of September, a drop from 611 million in April.Threads, Meta's competitor to X, has more than 275 million daily users.The X factorAlthough there's no way to determine how many new users left because of X owner Elon Musk's public support for President-elect Donald Trump, many Bluesky users are referencing the election in their first posts. Wired reports that many Taylor Swift fans, a group that once had a large presence on X, are switching to Bluesky.Bluesky is a social media platform that shares many similarities with X, formerly known as Twitter. X underwent a number of changes after billionaire Muskbought the siteand retired legacyblue check marks showing verified accounts,reinstated previously banned accountsand started anew subscription program.On Oct. 16,X announced that it was changing its block function, which allowed people to stop others from seeing their messages on the site. Accounts that have been blocked can now see that person's posts on X if the posts are set to public, though they cannot reply, like or repost them. "That's not blocking," one X user replied. "That's supporting stalking."The following day, Oct. 17,Bluesky shared a postannouncing that it had welcomed 500,000 people in just one day. "First day here,"one Bluesky userwrote in response to the company's post about its growth. "Just getting my feet wet. Was a longtime Twitter user but it's a shell of what it used to be."X has also updated its terms of service so that any lawsuits by users against the service must be handled by a federal court in north Texas "whose judges frequently deliver victories to conservative litigants in political cases," The Globe and Mail reports.These latest changes may have sparked the rise of interest in Bluesky, which saw a surge in user accounts earlier this year when X was blocked by courts in Brazil (the block was later lifted when X paid a fine). According to The New York Times, users say Bluesky is the app that comes closest to mimicking X.Read more: Bluesky Is the Small Comfort I'd Been Looking For. Let's Hope It LastsHere's a look at what you need to know about Bluesky. How do I sign up? To join, just go to the main page tocreate an account. You can download the Bluesky app for iOS or Android, or use Bluesky on your desktop. It'll ask for your email address and phone number (to send an authentication code) and tell you to choose a username and password. Then you're in. How is Bluesky similar to X and Threads? If you're accustomed to X, Bluesky's design and purpose should make sense to you. The site uses vertically scrolling messages with small round photo avatars for users and icons under messages showing how many comments, likes and reposts they've received. It looks pretty similar to X's format and Meta's Threads, which is the current No. 2 free app on the App Store, behind Bluesky. Read more:Time to Cut Off Your X (Twitter)? Here's How Who's behind it? Here's another Twitter/X connection: Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey was formerly on the board of directors, and the Bluesky projectbegan in 2019when he was Twitter CEO.Jay Graberis the Bluesky CEO. Even Bluesky's name is related to X's former name. Dorsey confirmed a Bluesky user's speculation that the name ties in to Twitter's bird mascot, the idea being the bird could fly even more freely in an open blue sky. Dorsey left the board in May, apparently because the service added moderation tools.Even though the name of the site doesn't capitalize the S in "sky," it's pronounced "blue sky." Don't rhyme it with "brewski." The app is built on something called theauthenticated transport protocol, or AT, a social media framework created by the company and made up of a network of many different sites. And how is Bluesky different? Domains as handles For one thing, you can set your domain as your handle, if you wish. This could help with verification, which became a heated issue for Twitter once Musk began removing blue check marks from verified accounts that refused to pay a monthly fee. "For example, a newsroom like NPR could set their handle to be @npr.org," theBluesky Social company blog notes. "Then, any journalists that NPR wants to verify could use subdomains to set their handles to be @name.npr.org. Brand accounts could set their handle to be their domain as well." Moderation Moderation is also different. Another blog post says that Bluesky is already using automated moderating, and has a system of community labeling, which is described as "something similar to shared mute/block lists." Users of many social media platforms are shown posts from a feed selected for them by an algorithm, though you can influence that by following or blocking certain accounts. But Bluesky wants to give you a chance to pick from a variety of different algorithms to determine what you see. You can mute accounts, which prevents you from seeing any notifications or top-level posts from them, or you can block accounts, which takes that a step further, meaning you and the other account both cannot see or interact with each other's posts. And you can report posts or accounts for abuse. The blocking option may be of special interest to users who were unhappy with X's recent change in its blocking behavior.A couple of features -- being able to hide replies to your posts and detach your posts from other users' posts that quote yours -- are designed to stop pile-ons and other toxicbehavior. Keeping connections It's possible that creators who acquire a following on Bluesky might one day be able to keep connections with those who follow them, even if the service itself changes. If you want to follow the people you followed on X, the third-party Sky Follower Bridge is a free tool that scans your follower list and follows accounts with the same names on Bluesky. You'll get a few false positives and a lot of dormant Bluesky accounts, but overall we've found it works very well. Custom feeds Algorithms are the rules that determine how content is filtered and recommended to users. Bluesky has something it calls custom feeds, which allows you to choose the algorithm that determines what you see. "Imagine you want your timeline to only be posts from your mutuals, or only posts that have cat photos, or only posts related to sports -- you can simply pick your feed of choice from an open marketplace," a blog post on the site says. A longer post goes into more detail about custom feeds and algorithmic choice. Click the hashtag icon on the bottom of the app to add and discover new feeds. Developers can use the site'sfeed generator starter kitto create a custom feed, and the site promises that eventually, the tools will be easy enough that the rest of us can build custom feeds.Starter packsWant to jump right in to Bluesky by following a curated list of people? You can follow starter packs, which are lists created by users and usually themed. CNET has a lengthy explanation here, but in short, they're similar to what X calls lists, and are a good way to get a solid feed going that caters to your interests.Read more: It's Easy to Find Your X (Twitter) Favorites on Bluesky. Here's How to Do It Who's using it? Here's a small list of some of the people and groups you'll see posting on Bluesky. Star Wars star Mark HamillRep. Alexandria Ocasio-CortezPop legend Dionne WarwickSingerLizzoActor Ben StillerMovie director Guillermo del ToroThe X personality who goes by dril(real name:Paul Dochney)US Senator for Minnesota Tina SmithAuthorStephen KingHumor site The OnionOriginal EGOT Barbra StreisandStar Trek starGeorge Takei17th-century diarist Samuel PepysWeb cartoonist Randall Monroe, aka XKCDAuthorColson WhiteheadWWW inventor Tim Berners-LeeActor and game-show host Drew CareyAuthorand Defector writerDrew MagaryThe New York TimesSci-fi author William GibsonGodOh, and CNET

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December 17, 20243 min readHear How Baby Humpback Whales Burp and Bark to Beg for FoodThe burps, barks and snorts humpback whales make when asking their mother for milk are the first recorded instances of begginglike behavior in a baleen whaleBy Jack TamisieaAerial view of a humpback whale mother-calf pair off Sainte Marie Island, also known as Nosy Boraha. Ctamada AssociationNewborn humpback whales can measure more than 15 feet from nose to tail fluke and weigh as much as full-grown giraffes. But these hefty calves still need to pack on the pounds quickly to reach their parents even more prodigious proportions. Each day, a humpback calf guzzles hundreds of liters of its mothers milk, which is as thick as toothpaste and loaded with fats.And just like a human baby shows off its impressive lung capacity when hungry, a baby humpback whale with a hankering for milk lets its mother hear it. According to a new study published Wednesday in Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, hungry humpback calves produce low-frequency vocalizations to signal their nourishment needs. These noises, which sound like burps, barks and snorts, are the first recorded instances of begginglike behavior in a baleen whale.A newborn humpback whale calf resting on its mother's back.Ctamada AssociationOn supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.Humpback whales possess an impressive vocal repertoire that helps them communicate over long distances and through murky waters. Adult males compose haunting songs to woo mates. And all humpbacks produce less structured calls that they use in a variety of social situations.Scientists have studied these calls for decades, but relatively little research has focused on the vocalizations between humpback calves and their mother, says lead study author Maevatiana Ratsimbazafindranahaka, who studies bioacoustics and conducted the research as a doctoral student at the Paris-Saclay Institute of Neuroscience in France. This obscures a major aspect of a humpbacks social upbringing. These early interactions likely play a significant role in shaping the social behaviors of humpback whales, even beyond weaning, he says.To listen in on such interactions, Ratsimbazafindranahaka teamed up with researchers in Madagascar to study humpback calves swimming near Sainte Marie Island, also known as Nosy Boraha, which sits along a thruway for migrating whales. The team outfitted eight humpback calves with video cameras and hydrophones, devices that recorded their vocalizations. Back in the lab, the scientists sifted through nearly 33 hours of recordings and isolated the calves vocalizations. They then synced up the calls to the various behaviors, including playing, traveling and resting, that the calves exhibited during the corresponding videos.The researchers identified more than 500 social calls among the cadre of whale calves and found that the calves were mostly silent during activities such as resting and traveling and louder while playing.The whale calves were particularly noisy before nursing. On average, suckling sessions produced the most calls of any of the behaviors the team examined. These vocalizations were usually low-frequency burps, barks, snorts and grunts, which surprised the researchers. We expected that young animals would use high-pitched, whining sounds to communicate their needs, Ratsimbazafindranahaka says.The researchers posit that the calves use these rumbling vocalizations to beg for milk from their mother. Anyone with a pet dog is familiar with begging, but the behavior is common across the animal kingdom and seen in everything from beetles and poison dart frogs to fledgling birds. Other marine mammals, including bottlenose and Araguaian river dolphins, have also displayed begginglike behaviors.Ratsimbazafindranahaka says its likely that humpback calves are not the only whales wailing for milk. He predicts that other baleen whales exhibit begginglike behavior, albeit with different vocal elements. For example, blue whale calves may voice their hunger with even lower-frequency rumbles because of their mind-boggling size: newborn blue whales are more than twice as heavy as baby humpbacks.According to Julia Zeh, a research biologist at the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, who studies humpback whale acoustics, humpbacks expansive vocal repertoire makes it difficult to link their calls with specific behaviors. But she thinks the new findings help improve our understanding of how these whales communicate during an important chapter of their lives.Detailing the complexity of mother-calf communications also underscores how these creatures are threatened by anthropogenic disruptions, such as shipping and seismic surveying, that are making oceans noisier. Whales need to continue to be able to hear each other and effectively communicate to survive, Zeh says.

December 17, 20244 min readThe Unbelievable Slowness of ThinkingThe brain is sometimes called the most complex machine in the known universe. But the thoughts that it outputs putter along at a trifling 10 bits per second, the pace of a conversationBy Rachel Nuwer Aitor Diago/Getty ImagesPeople tend to have the sense that their inner thoughts and feelings are much richer than what they are capable of expressing in real time. Elon Musk has spoken publicly about this bandwidth problem, as he described it to podcaster Joe Rogan. Musk is so bothered by this, in fact, that he has made it one of his long-term goals to create an interface that allows the human brain to communicate directly with a computer, unencumbered by the slow speed of speaking or writing.If Musk succeeded, he would probably be disappointed. According to new research published in Neuron, human beings think at a fixed, excruciatingly slow speed of about 10 bits per secondthey remember, make decisions and imagine things at that pace. In contrast, human sensory systems gather data at about one billion bits per second. This biological paradox, highlighted in the new paper, likely contributes to the false feeling that our mind can engage in seemingly infinite thoughts simultaneouslya phenomenon the study authors deem the Musk illusion.The human brain is much less impressive than we might think, says study co-author Markus Meister, a neuroscientist at the California Institute of Technology. Its incredibly slow when it comes to making decisions, and its ridiculously slower than any of the devices we interact with.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.Meister and co-author Jieyu Zheng, a doctoral candidate in neurobiology at Caltech, also highlight in their paper that our brain can only do one thingslowlyat a time. So even if Musk managed to hook his brain up to a computer, Meister says, he still wouldnt be able to communicate with it any faster than he could if he used a telephone.The new research builds on decades of psychology studies showing that humans selectively perceive only a small portion of information from their sensory experience. We can only pay attention to so much, and thats what becomes our conscious experience and enters memory, Meister says. What has been missing from past studies, he continues, is any sense of numbers. He and Zheng undertook their new review paper to try to fill that quantitative gap.Meister and Zheng collated data from studies across different fields, including psychology, neuroscience, technology and human performance. They used those various datafrom the processing speed of single neurons to the cognitive prowess of memory championsto run many of their own calculations so they could make comparisons across studies.From research spanning nearly a century, they found that human cognition has repeatedly been measured as functioning between about 5 and 20 bits per second, with a ballpark figure of around 10 bits per second. This was a very surprising number, Zheng says. Based on this finding, she adds, she and Meister also calculated that the total amount of information a person can learn across their lifetime could comfortably fit on a small thumb drive.Human sensory systems such as sight, smell and sound, on the other hand, operate much faster, the authors foundabout 100,000,000 times the rate that cognition does. When you put these numbers together, you realize, oh my god, theres this huge gap, Meister says. From that paradox comes interesting new opportunities for science to organize research differently.The rich information relayed by our senses also contributes to a false notion that we register the extreme detail and contrast all around us. But thats demonstrably not true, Meister says. When people are asked to describe what they see outside of the center of their gaze, they barely make out anything, he says. Because our eyes have the capability of focusing on any detail around us, he continues, our mind gives us the illusion that these things are present simultaneously all the time, even though in actuality we have to focus on specific visual details to register them. A similar phenomenon occurs with mental ability. In principle, we could be having lots of different thoughts and direct our cognition in lots of different ways, but in practice, we can only have one thought at a time, Meister says.Another problem that contributes to our overinflated sense of our own mind, he adds, is that we have no marker of comparison. Theres no way to step outside ourselves to recognize that this is really not much to brag about, he says.The findings raise questions across many domains, from evolution and technology to cross-species comparisons, the authors write. One of the questions Meister and Zheng are most curious about, though, is why the prefrontal cortexthought to be the seat of personality and behavioral controlhouses billions of neurons yet has a fixed decision-making capability that processes information at just 10 bits per second. The authors suspect that the answer might have something to do with the brains need to frequently switch tasks and integrate information across different circuits. But more complex behavioral studies will be needed to test that hypothesis.Another important unanswered question, Meister says, is why the human brain can only do one thing at a time. If we could have 1,000 thoughts in parallel, each at 10 bits per second, the discrepancy wouldnt be as big as it is, he says. Why humans are incapable of doing this is a deep mystery that almost nothing is known about.Tony Zador, a neuroscientist at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in New York State, who was not involved in the work but is mentioned in the papers acknowledgments section, says the wonderful and thought-provoking paper presents what seems to be a newly recognized fundamental truth about the brains upper limit of roughly the pace of casual typing or conversation.Nature, it seems, has built a speed limit into our conscious thoughts, and no amount of neural engineering may be able to bypass it, Zador says. Why? We really dont know, but its likely the result of our evolutionary history.Nicole Rust, a neuroscientist at the University of Pennsylvania, who also was not involved in the research, says the new study could reshape how neuroscientists approach some of their work.Why can our peripheral nervous system process thousands of items in parallel, but we can only do one thing at a time? she says. Any theory of the brain that seeks to account for all the fascinating things we can do, like planning and problem solving, will have to account for this paradox.