• Blockbench is a versatile modeling tool for 3D artists and Minecraft mod creators
    Blockbench puts all the tools at your disposal to make the creation process of low-poly models as easy as possible. Use cuboids to get that Minecraft aesthetic, or create complex low-poly shapes using the mesh modeling tools.Texturing ToolsCreate, edit and paint texture right inside the program. Create or import palettes, paint, or draw shapes.Blockbench can automatically create a UV map and template for your model so that you can start painting right away.You can paint directly on the model in 3D space, use the 2D texture editor, or connect your favorite external image editor or pixel art software.AnimationsBlockbench comes with a powerful animation editor. Rig your model, then use position, rotation and scale keyframes to bring it to life. Use the graph editor to fine-tune your creation.Animations can later be exported to Minecraft: Bedrock Edition, rendered in Blender or Maya, or shared on Sketchfab.PluginsCustomize Blockbench with the built-in plugin store.Plugins extend the functionality of Blockbench beyond what it's already capable of. They add new tools, support for new export formats, or model generators.You can also create your own plugin to extend Blockbench or to support your own format.Free and Open SourceBlockbench is free to use for any type of project, forever, no strings attached.The project is open source under the GPL license.What's NewKey FeaturesThese are the key features of Blockbench 4.12. You can read more about each feature at the bottom of the changelog.CollectionsCollections are a new feature in Blockbench. A collection can hold a selection of outliner groups and elements, regardless of their hierarchy.Collections allow you to better organize your project, and create partial exports.The Collections panel can be enabled from View > Panels > Collections.Added CollectionsAdded Collection PanelAdded options to export Collections using enabled codecs (#2235)Physically-based RenderingThis update adds physically based rendering options to Blockbench textures. This adds the concept of "Materials", which are optional and are an extension of texture groups.PBR materials are currently optimized for Minecraft: Bedrock Edition formats, support in other formats is planned for the future.Added materials as an extension of texture groupsAdded "Material Preview" view modeAdded option to generate PBR maps from existing texturesAdded import and export support for bedrock texture_set.json filesAdded Tone Mapping setting with 6 tone mapping presetsGroup Multi-selectYou can now select multiple groups at once in the outliner!Lasso Selection ToolThe lasso selection tool lets you select a free-form area of your texture. You can either drag to create a shape, or click multiple times to move in straight lines.Click back at the start position of your shape to complate the selection. Press Escape to cancel.UV Navigation ArrowNavigating UV maps can be complicated, especially on large models. The UV Navigation Arrow makes this easier.It's a blue arrow in the UV Editor that points to the selected face. Click it to navigate to those faces. Hold Control while clicking to zoom in on the selection as well.ModelingAdded Vertex Snap Rotation snap mode (#665)Added option to ignore axis in vertex snapAdded Apply Mirror Modeling actionAdded direction options for extrudingAdd "even extend" option for extrudingAdd unit option to Loop Cut amend edit menuMirror modeling option to not mirror UVOption in template generator to disable UV mirroring (#2218)Optional modifier for "Delete" action to keep edges or verticesImage EditingAdded lasso selection toolAdded line tool snappingAdded image export option in File menuAdded 'Overlay' blend mode for brush and layersOptimized rendering of 3D brush outline (#2559, thanks @Nestorboy)3D brush outlines now properly aligns to stretched and sheared UVs (#2529, thanks @Nestorboy)AnimationAdded timeline scrubbing audio previewMade timeline audio preview no longer clickableMenu option to edit animations and controllers externally (#1899)Added ability to rearrange animators in the timeline by draggingKeep bones in timeline when switching animationUI ImprovementsAdded linked ratio toggle for vector form inputs (#2521)Increased start screen thumbnail resolutionAdded Panels menu under ViewPanels can now be hidden in specific modes from the View menuMoved mesh tools to new independent menuMade proportional editing option visible when no meshes are selectedMinecraft FeaturesJPM import and export is now based on JEM submodels (fixes #456)Detect if texture is applied and not export as default in JEM (#2457)"Goat Horn" Reference Model for Item Models (#2248)Bedrock display settings now only exports modified slotsAdded Fit to Frame option in bedrock GUI display settings (Fixes #2592)Settings & ControlsAdded classroom mode - Mode for teachers and educators to enable on classroom computers. Restricts some features and removes social media bannera.Added setting to track selection changes in undo historyAdded navigation sensitivity settingsAdded setting to adjust 2D editor zoom speedAdded pop-up to offer restart if changing a setting requires itAdded selection tolerance setting (for vertices and edges)Optional modifiers: Add inverted option for all modifiersCenter on Selection: Optional zoom modifier (#1447)Added gamepad navigation supportMiscellaneousTool config system with custom forms, currently implemented byMirror PaintingTiled ViewImage Editor Onion SkinAnimation Onion SkinProportional EditingMirror ModelingAdded option to sync GIF turntable speed to animation lengthElement property toggles (visibility, export etc.) now display their state in the icon (#952)Using undo now switches edit modesAdded Bluesky to About windowTechnical changesAdded forms as a standalone UI element that can be used outside of dialogsAdded inline multi select form optionUpdated font-awesomeUpgraded electron to 33.3.1Added PSA start screen section IDAdded plugin contributors metadata fieldOption to get alt tri normal for face in face.getNormal()Add format property node_name_regexAdded 'num_slider' as form input typeOutliner toggles now support all Blockbench icon stringsAdded Group.first_selected to get group that was first selectedAdded Group.multi_selected to get all selected groupsGroup.selected currently works as before, but will be changed to return an array of selected groups in the future.Project.materials no longer exists, materials are now saved per texture. texture.getMaterial() still worksWhen editing PBR materials, texture.getMaterial() will return the displayed material of each texture involved, while texture.getOwnMaterial() will return the individual material of each texture.FixesFixed #1185 trackpad viewport zoom too sensitiveFixed texture bleeding when using anti-aliasing (#2518, thanks @Nestorboy!)Fixed #2563 Image reference rotation isn't applied for color pickingFixed #2588 Blender keymap conflictsFixed shift clicking face in UV editor selecting it multiple timesLocalization string for toolbox menu (#2544)Fixed #2568 UV not updating when applying a texture from menuFixed issues with cluster select modeFixed #2555 pasted selection layer appears outside of canvasFixed #2603 cannot select custom macOS app to edit images externallyFixed #2593 bedrock block GUI display preset has incorrect rotationFixed #2594 support for "." and "-" in bedrock bone namesFixed #2590 animation molang properties are stored as numbersFixed plugin loader console errorFixed UI issues when editing animation controller transitions and animationsFixed X-ray Outlines setting not working with meshesFixed Move Texture with UV issueFixed box UV template generator issueFixed #2623 Paint Bucket broken in 3D view with an active selection areaFixed console error when hovering over cubes while mesh selected with knife tool
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  • WWW.DIGITALTRENDS.COM
    The Netgear Nighthawk Wi-Fi 6E Router is only $280 on Amazon today
    It takes a lot of bandwidth to run a modern Wi-Fi network, especially when you have devices like smart TVs, game consoles, and laptops connected to your network. Fortunately, when it comes to internet hardware, brands like Netgear are on the job. And today, you can score an excellent deal on one of the companys best Wi-Fi 6E routers!For a limited time, when you purchase the Netgear Nighthawk Wi-Fi 6E Router on Amazon or at Best Buy, youll only pay $271. The MSRP on this model is $600, which means youll be saving $329!Thanks to its powerful 1.8GHz quad-core processor, which is capable of delivering up to 10.8Gbps, youll be amazed at how fast your next Chrome, Safari, or Firefox browsing session is with the Nighthawk! While most of our at-home or at-the-office devices still rely on 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, the Nighthawk is backward-compatible with these older Wi-Fi frequencies and delivers up to 9x the performance of a Wi-Fi 5 network.RelatedThe Nighthawk Wi-Fi 6E provides up to 3,500 of coverage, making it an ideal choice for homes and businesses with smaller footprints. Youll also be able to connect up to 60 devices to the router at once. There are even four 1G Ethernet ports and one 2.5 Ethernet should you decide to hardwire a desktop PC, game console, or smart TV.Setup couldnt be more straightforward and the performance couldnt be better with the NetGear Nighthawk Wi-Fi 6E Router. Save $329 when you purchase this device today on Amazon or at Best Buy. We also recommend checking out our lists of the best router deals, Amazon deals, and Best Buy deals for even more discounts on top tech.Editors Recommendations
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  • WWW.WSJ.COM
    Supreme Court Upholds TikTok Shutdown
    Justices reject the Chinese apps First Amendment challenge to a federal law against foreign adversary control.
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  • WWW.WSJ.COM
    Ultimate Pastry Crawl: The New York Bakeries to Visit Now
    Right now some of the finest dining in the city can be had on the go, for under $10, thanks to a new generation of pastry chefs striking out on their own and changing the game one croissant, cookie and cardamom bun at a time.
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  • WWW.NEWSCIENTIST.COM
    World's first AI chatbot has finally been resurrected after decades
    Joseph Weizenbaum created the ELIZA chatbot at MITFrom the image archive of the documentary film Weizenbaum. Rebel at WorkA groundbreaking chatbot created in the 1960s has been painstakingly reconstructed from archived records and run for the first time in over half a century, as part of an effort to preserve one of the earliest examples of artificial intelligence.ELIZA was written by computer scientist Joseph Weizenbaum at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in just 420 lines of code. The AI model is extremely rudimentary compared with todays large language models (LLMs) like the one behind ChatGPT, but
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  • WWW.BUSINESSINSIDER.COM
    Mark Zuckerberg praises Sheryl Sandberg and denies report that said he blamed her for an inclusivity program at Facebook
    Mark Zuckerberg praised Sheryl Sandberg in a Threads post on Friday.He also denied a report that said he blamed Sandberg for an inclusivity program at Facebook.Meta recently said it was rolling back its DEI initiatives.Mark Zuckerberg praised former Meta COO Sheryl Sandberg on Friday and denied reporting that said he had blamed her for an inclusivity program at the company."Sheryl did amazing work at Meta and will forever be a legend in the industry. She built one of the greatest businesses of all time and taught me much of what I know," Zuckerberg said in a post on Threads.The post was sent in response to another user who shared a Business Insider article from last year with the headline, "Mark Zuckerberg jokes that Sheryl Sandberg raised him 'like a parent.'" The user said it "didn't age well."Sandberg responded in a Threads post: "Thank you, @zuck. I will always be grateful for the many years we spent building a great business together and for your friendship that got me through some of the hardest times of my life and continues to this day."Representatives for Sandberg declined to comment when reached by BI. Neither Meta nor Zuckerberg responded to Business Insider's request for comment.In a Threads post sent a few hours later, Zuckerberg wrote: "I answered a question about where the phrase 'bring your whole self to work' came from, and now there's a whole bogus narrative saying I blamed Sheryl for a bunch of stuff that I never did and never will."The quote "bring your whole self to work" has previously been attributed to Sandberg, whohas pushed for women's empowerment in the workplace and wrote the book "Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead."Zuckerberg appeared to be referencing a New York Times report published Thursday that described a meeting between the Meta CEO and Stephen Miller, an advisor to President-elect Donald Trump, at Mar-a-Lago late last year.The Times said Miller told Zuckerberg Trump would target DEI culture, including at companies like Meta. Zuckerberg assured Miller he would not stand in Trump's way, the Times reported, citing three unnamed sources.The outlet also reported that one source said Zuckerberg blamed Sandberg for an inclusivity initiative at Facebook during the same meeting.The reporting was met with some backlash online and support for Sandberg, who was sometimes referred to as the "adult in the room" at Facebook while she was there.Zuckerberg appears to be reshaping Meta ahead of the incoming Trump administration. Meta told employees last week it was rolling back its DEI programs in addition to ending the use of third-party fact-checkers in favor of a community notes system.During an appearance on Joe Rogan's podcast last week, Zuckerberg said "masculine energy" was needed in the workplace."Masculine energy, I think, is good, and obviously society has plenty of that, but I think that corporate culture was really trying to get away from it," he said in an interview on the "Joe Rogan Experience" podcast. "It's like you want feminine energy; you want masculine energy."January 17, 2025: This story has been updated to include a post from Mark Zuckerberg denying reportingthat he blamed Sheryl Sandberg.
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  • WWW.VOX.COM
    What happens when the California fires go out? More gentrification.
    It is often said that climate disasters are great equalizers. They rip through neighborhoods, rich and poor, devastating communities and upending lives without discriminating between them.But it is, of course, not that simple. As the wildfires blaze through Southern California, class divides are as evident as ever. It is true that even the rich and famous could not spare their homes from burning to the ground. But it is also true that while most residents have to wait for public assistance, the wealthy have more resources to come to their rescue. Private firefighters, for example, have been in high demand in some cases, even protecting individual mansions to prevent the fires from touching them. One real estate investor pleaded for help on social media, asking if anyone has access to private firefighters that could save his home. Will pay any amount, he wrote on X.RelatedWhat happens when a wildfire reaches a city?No matter how much money you have, natural disasters can still be unforgiving, and losing a home is always a tragedy.But once the fires finally go out, inequality will almost certainly rise because of the class divides that are already entrenched in Los Angeles. Rich people will be able to rebuild their homes and neighborhoods, while middle- and low-income families might be permanently displaced. Studies of past California wildfires have shown that they drove gentrification something that Hawaii residents have been dealing with since deadly wildfires ravaged through residential areas on Maui. Already, there have been reports of landlords hiking rents in and around Los Angeles, despite the fact that dramatically increasing rents during a state of emergency is illegal in California. The ongoing wildfires have already destroyed more than 12,000 structures, including homes, schools, and houses of worship. The question for some of these communities especially those in middle- and low-income areas is whether theyll ever come back, or whether the post-disaster gentrification will render them unrecognizable.How wildfires fuel gentrificationWhen a natural disaster strikes a community, housing prices almost always rise. In the short term, the reason is obvious: Apartments and houses have been damaged or destroyed, so there are fewer of them, and that decline in supply causes rents to spike. But as rebuilding efforts drag on, many middle- and low-income people never return to their neighborhoods because they cant afford to. One of the reasons gentrification happens is that everything just becomes more expensive, said Jennifer Gray Thompson, founder and CEO of After the Fire, a nonprofit that helps communities prepare for and recover from wildfires. One reason is the high cost of building, but there are others, including landlords taking advantage of high demand to raise rents and real estate investors buying up properties to try to profit off of them later.Rebuilding can be a slow and arduous process. In late 2018, a wildfire effectively leveled the town of Paradise, California, burning through 95 percent of its buildings. Five years after the fire, only about a third of the towns pre-fire population of 27,000 had returned, and the median home price skyrocketed from $236,000 to $440,000. As a result, many victims of the fire have been permanently priced out, and the town has started to draw people in from wealthier regions like the Bay Area. In Paradise they are a little over six years post-disaster they are about 30 percent rebuilt and their population has changed dramatically because a lot of their population was elderly and not well resourced at all, Thompson said. When you get those two combinations, youre almost always going to have a massive change of demographics.Nicole Lambrou, a professor of urban and regional planning at California State Polytechnic University Pomona, has found similar patterns. Lambrou has studied wildfires and the displacement that happens in their wake, and while she notes that theres no single, concrete measure of gentrification, she and her colleagues found many signs of deepening inequality after the disasters. We looked at American Community Survey data [in communities affected by wildfires], and we have found that disabilities decreased, education rates increased, renter occupied housing decreased, and median age also decreased because there is a vulnerability in wildfires thats associated with age, Lambrou said all markers of gentrification, with more vulnerable populations leaving impacted areas for good.Disaster or climate gentrification that is, a neighborhood drawing in wealthier newcomers while pricing out longtime residents after a natural disaster like a wildfire or hurricane is not exactly new. Many communities destroyed by various storms have struggled to bring back their lower-income residents. And while it generally has the same contours as non-disaster-related gentrification, it tends to accelerate the process because natural disasters immediately displace a sizable population and open up a lot of land for speculators to cash in on. Thats why in Lahaina, Hawaii, where wildfires killed over 100 people and destroyed more than 2,000 buildings in 2023, residents have been trying to raise money for a community land trust buying up plots of land before speculators do, and renting or selling homes at more affordable rates. One striking trend that contributes to making post-disaster communities less affordable is that people looking to buy a second home swoop in. When Lambrou and her colleagues were doing their fieldwork in Paradise to study the impacts of the fire, housing agents told them that they noticed a trend of Bay Area residents, who only live a couple of hours away, buying second homes. We did in fact find that thats the case if you look at the data, Lambrou said. Secondary home ownership goes up substantially in these areas.What can California do to prevent more gentrificationWhile wildfires undoubtedly displace many people, it doesnt mean that all communities follow the same pattern of gentrification in the ashes. For starters, Paradise was almost entirely burned down, while current fires are devastating a much smaller portion of the greater Los Angeles area by comparison. The LA metropolitan area might also fare better than places like Paradise in part because the citys strong, diverse economy means that people who lose their jobs to the fire can more easily find employment and are more likely to stick around. If you have a place like Santa Rosa, which is part of a larger metropolitan region or even a place like Ventura, which is so close to the greater LA area, you can find alternative employment, you can find alternatives for your children, Lambrou said, adding that those areas tended to have quicker recoveries after previous wildfires and keep a larger portion of the pre-fire population. Conversely, in Paradise, they lost a lot of their schools, their major employer was the Adventist hospital, which burned down and they decided to not rebuild, and so they lost a lot.Still, recovery efforts can be designed to minimize the potential for disaster-related gentrification, and the state has already taken some steps to do just that. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, for example, issued an executive order that cuts red tape by suspending environmental reviews, which will help communities affected by the fires to rebuild at a faster pace. The executive order also ensures that homeowners wont see their property taxes soar after they rebuild their homes by maintaining their pre-fire tax assessments.The state also needs to make sure that it administers funds in an equitable manner. In the past, research has shown that wealthier and whiter communities are more likely to receive government support after a fire.But ultimately, California was already home to some of the most expensive real estate in the world. The state has not been able to keep up with its housing production goals, and the ongoing housing shortage which is only exacerbated by the fires has been the main driver of gentrification. Doubling down on building more housing and increasing population density is key to bringing home prices down in the long run. Victims of the wildfires, however, arent going to be able to wait that long to see housing prices come down. So what the state does next, and how it directs its resources, will be critical in allowing communities to rebuild. After all, the reason natural disasters arent great equalizers comes down to how a government responds.Update, January 17 at 6 pm ET: This piece was originally published on January 17 and was updated to include more context from Jennifer Gray Thompson.Youve read 1 article in the last monthHere at Vox, we're unwavering in our commitment to covering the issues that matter most to you threats to democracy, immigration, reproductive rights, the environment, and the rising polarization across this country.Our mission is to provide clear, accessible journalism that empowers you to stay informed and engaged in shaping our world. By becoming a Vox Member, you directly strengthen our ability to deliver in-depth, independent reporting that drives meaningful change.We rely on readers like you join us.Swati SharmaVox Editor-in-ChiefSee More:
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  • GIZMODO.COM
    With an 82% Discount, Americas Favorite VPN Is Now More Affordable Than Ever
    Theres no reason to worry about being tracked and hunted by data brokers and snoopers any more. Starting today, you can save 82% on Private Internet Access and secure your data for two quids.PIA VPNs 2-year deal saw a massive drop in price in January 2025. This allows you to steal the VPN at only $2.19/mo and have PIA VPN add 2 FREE months on top. This timeless beauty doesnt end there read on to discover more PIA VPN discounts, features, and options available for new users.See at Private Internet AccessPIA VPN Features: Why Should I Get This VPN?You should always have a VPN if youre privacy-conscious.When that provider is Private Internet Access, you can expect tons of features. The VPN offers unlimited simultaneous connections and clients for all your devices.Moreover, it packs 256-bit AES encryption paired with Multi-hop to sway off potential threats. Youll also enjoy PIA for its fast speeds and unlimited bandwidth, all endorsing streaming, P2P, and VPN-powered gaming.This exclusive deal brings in things like IPv6 leak protection, RAM-only servers, a zero-logging policy, and over 30,000 global servers in 91+ countries.Its worth noting that the VPN unblocks Netflix and gives you Smart DNS to allow streaming on all devices even the ancient ones.In a full-on PIA VPN test published on our site, we go in-depth on its features, apps, and functions. This is just a sneak peek of this VPNs greatness that has permeated its existence since its inception.How to Save 82% on PIA VPN in 2025Now, lets get down to business.Gizmodo lets you claim PIA VPNs discounts through any of the links (buttons) in the article.Click on one and youll be brought to the website. The deal in the middle is the one were debating. Youll see its meager price of $2.19/mo and 2 free months. Private Internet AccessSimply press Select Plan or Get Started Now, pay for it, and follow the steps to set up your account.Once you install Private Internet Access on your device(s), connect to a server, and enjoy your privacy. It takes virtually 5 minutes and even that is an overstretch if you have fast fingers.Antivirus & Dedicated IP SavingsPrivate Internet Access offers two more extras to consider:Antivirus for Windows at 1.45/mo, 68% offDedicated IP at $2.50/mo, 50% offThese are separate purchases that you can make to enhance your privacy and/or enjoy an IP address shared with no one.As part of this exclusive January discount, PIA includes 500 GB of pCloud storage for FREE (for a year), allowing you to protect your most vital files at no price increase.The icing on the cake is a 30-day refund policy to allow for reimbursements, should you find the offer underwhelming.See at Private Internet Access
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  • WWW.ARCHDAILY.COM
    CS Residence / TAKATINA
    CS Residence / TAKATINASave this picture! Man PhotographyResidential Architecture, HousesCold Spring, United StatesArchitects: TAKATINA LLCAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:3400 ftYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2024 PhotographsPhotographs:Man PhotographyManufacturersBrands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers: Design Within Reach, Lambert & fils, Moruzzi, Tri-Lox, Wittus Lead Architects: Takaaki Kawabata More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. The CS Residence is a modern house that was originally built in 2004. It sits quietly atop a hill overlooking a sprawling six-acre landscape surrounded by abundant trees. TAKATINA was approached by the clients, a medical doctor and his partner, a former patissiere, for a renovation and addition including a new dining pavilion and new furnishings to elevate the space to meet their lifestyle needs. A Japanese-influenced garden pavilion was also introduced to enhance the entry experience and view from the living room.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The L-shaped blackened cedar slat fencing is carefully composed at the front of the house which creates a contrast with the monolithic CMU (concrete block walls). This separates the narrow entry pathway and garden while blocking the carport view from the living room. The Pietra Royal stepping stone leads one to the blackened cedar entrance door that is hidden. The approach gives a peak into the garden through the slat fence. This was to create a moment to pause and experience the serene environment similar to a pathway leading to a tea pavilion in Kyoto. The concealed gutter was added to further reinforce the clean monolithic appearance.Save this picture!The dining room pavilion was added in the former sunroom location with a dramatic floor-to-ceiling aluminum storefront glass system capturing a southern view and creating access to the new stone garden terrace with outdoor seating. The walnut wood flooring is juxtaposed with the surrounding concrete flooring. The expandable walnut dining table and black stained oak chairs with sculptural Dot pendant light add warmth to the space. The shaker firewood stove elegantly sits and anchors the small seating area in the pavilion.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The garden pavilion feels as though it's expanding into the living room through the sliding door. It provides a calm backdrop to view the seasonal changes as a focal point in the space. The highly tactile and visually warm palette is introduced in the furnishings which balances the contrast between the polished concrete flooring and gallery-like atmosphere. The custom marble coffee table anchors the space and the chocolate-colored leather sofa and white boucle swivel armchairs are arranged to capture the outside view while enjoying the corner Stuv wood stove inside. The new timeless light fixture layout was installed to highlight the client's minimal design aesthetic preference. The journey will continue to phase 2 kitchen and bathroom renovations to complete our master plan.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessAbout this officeTAKATINA LLCOfficeMaterialConcreteMaterials and TagsPublished on January 17, 2025Cite: "CS Residence / TAKATINA" 17 Jan 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1025515/cs-residence-takatina&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream
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  • WWW.DISCOVERMAGAZINE.COM
    A Diet Discovery Reveals That Our Ancestors Were Once Vegetarian
    Long before humans acquired an appetite for meat, one of our earliest hominin ancestors Australopithecus stuck to a vegetarian diet. The ancient hominin, living in eastern and southern Africa around 3.5 million years ago, ate primarily plant-based foods, according to a new study that analyzed their fossilized teeth.The study, published in the journal Science, marks the latest chapter in the hunt to unearth the foundation of humans carnivorous tendencies. Scientists have regularly speculated about when our ancestors began to consume meat, coinciding with the growth of the brain and the development of tools.It appears that Australopithecus did not start this trend, as the study concluded that they likely did not hunt animals for consumption like later hominins did. Teeth From the Cradle of HumankindThe process used by researchers to confirm Australopithecus' vegetarian diet involving a new technique to measure nitrogen isotope ratios in fossilized teeth has proven to be an instrumental tool in studying ancient diets.The research team turned to tooth enamel from Australopithecus individuals originally found in the Sterkfontein cave near Johannesburg, South Africa; this cave is part of a system of influential archaeological sites, famously known as the Cradle of Humankind and recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.The researchers compared isotopic data of the Australopithecus enamel with tooth samples from coexisting animals, including monkeys, antelopes, and large predators like hyenas, jackals, and big cats.Fossilized teeth analysis has become the crux of numerous archaeological studies, mainly because the teeth act like records of ancient diets.Tooth enamel is the hardest tissue of the mammalian body and can preserve the isotopic fingerprint of an animals diet for millions of years, said geochemist Tina Ldecke of the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry and the Johannesburg-based University of the Witwatersrand, in a statement.An Ancient Plant-Based DietWhen studying what a species ate millions of years ago, the nitrogen isotopes found in teeth provide valuable answers. This is due to the ratio of light and heavy isotopes of nitrogen (nitrogen-14 and nitrogen-15 respectively) in the body, which varies based on the type of food a species consumes.Products of bodily waste, such as urine, feces, and sweat, tend to contain high proportions of light nitrogen, leading to an increase in the ratio of heavy nitrogen to light nitrogen in comparison to the food eaten by a species. Essentially, the ratio between heavy and light nitrogen increases in higher levels of the food chain. Herbivores have a higher nitrogen isotope ratio than the plants they eat, and carnivores have a higher nitrogen isotope ratio than the prey they eat.The research team found that nitrogen isotope ratios in the tooth enamel of Australopithecus were consistently low, similar to ones examined in herbivores and also lower than ones examined in contemporary carnivores.This suggests that the diet of Australopithecus mostly consisted of plant-based foods, albeit with some variation; they wouldnt have hunted large mammals for consumption, an activity that appeared in Homo erectus and Neanderthals a few million years later. Although Australopithecus seemingly had no need to nourish themselves with meat from larger animals, the researchers say there is a chance they still ate some animal protein sources like eggs or termites.Previous research has shown that Australopithecus afarensis, a species of australopithecine that lived in East Africa from around 3.9 million years to 3 million years ago, likely had a diet of grasses, sedges, and succulents typically found in tropical savannas and deserts.Read More: Which Animals Did Early Humans Mainly Hunt?Continuing the Carnivore SearchNow that researchers are certain that Australopithecus isnt the starting point of early humans' affinity toward meat-based diets, they will now seek data from different hominin species.The team plans on examining fossils from additional sites across southern and eastern Africa, as well as southeast Asia, to obtain clues on the origins of human meat consumption. Questions on this puzzle and its implications for evolution persist, but they may one day be answered by looking at what lies within the teeth of extinct species.This method opens up exciting possibilities for understanding human evolution, and it has the potential to answer crucial questions, for example, when did our ancestors begin to incorporate meat in their diet? And was the onset of meat consumption linked to an increase in brain volume? said geochemist Alfredo Martnez-Garca of the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, in the release. Article SourcesOur writers at Discovermagazine.com use peer-reviewed studies and high-quality sources for our articles, and our editors review for scientific accuracy and editorial standards. Review the sources used below for this article:Natural History Museum. Australopithecus afarensis, Lucy's speciesJack Knudson is an assistant editor at Discover with a strong interest in environmental science and history. Before joining Discover in 2023, he studied journalism at the Scripps College of Communication at Ohio University and previously interned at Recycling Today magazine.
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