How to Boost Creativity with Instagram Navigation Tricks In this article:See more ▼Post may contain affiliate links which give us commissions at no cost to you.Ever feel like your creative spark has dimmed? Finding new ideas can be tough, especially when inspiration seems out of reach. But what if the key to unlocking your creativity was right in your pocket? Instagram isn’t just a platform for selfies and snapshots; it’s a hidden goldmine for fresh ideas. By learning some clever tricks with insta navagation, you can turn Instagram into your personal creativity tool. Curious how? We’ll explore simple, actionable ways to use Instagram features that will reignite your imagination and help you find inspiration like never before. 👋 Psst... Did you know you can get unlimited downloads of 59,000+ fonts and millions of other creative assets for just $16.95/mo? Learn more »Mastering Insta Navigation for Inspiration The Explore Tab as a Creativity Hub When it comes to fueling your creativity, the Explore Tab is your secret weapon. This section on Instagram is tailored just for you, presenting content that aligns with your interests. But how do you make the most of it? Start by engaging with content you truly enjoy. Like posts, watch Reels, and save content that sparks your interest. This trains the algorithm to show you more of what you love. Use the search bar to look up specific niches or topics. For example, if you’re into digital art, search for related hashtags or accounts. Declutter your feed by marking irrelevant posts as “not interested.” This helps refine your Explore Tab to showcase more relevant inspiration. Tap into categories like “Art,” “Travel,” or “Food” to uncover creative content in any field. The beauty of this feature is its ability to introduce you to new creators, ideas, and trends that you may have never stumbled upon otherwise. Hashtags and Creative Communities Hashtags are the gateway to discovering like-minded creators and communities on Instagram. Wondering how to leverage them effectively? Here’s how:Get 300+ Fonts for FREEEnter your email to download our 100% free "Font Lover's Bundle". For commercial & personal use. No royalties. No fees. No attribution. 100% free to use anywhere. Search hashtags related to your interests, such as #CreativeWriting or #DesignIdeas. Explore the posts under these tags and follow creators whose content resonates with you. Participate! Comment on posts or engage with Stories from your favorite communities. Want to organize your discoveries? Use story navigation instagram features to save standout Stories into personalized categories. This way, you can revisit them whenever you need a burst of creativity. Exploring hashtags isn’t just about ideas; it’s a way to network and grow within your niche. Small tweaks in how you use Instagram can unlock endless inspiration! Using Insta Story Navigation to Spark Ideas Interactive Story Features Ever thought of Stories as your brainstorming partner? Instagram’s interactive features like polls, questions, and sliders are perfect for sparking ideas and engaging your followers. These tools aren’t just fun; they provide fresh perspectives and inspiration for your content. Polls: Ask your audience what they’d like to see next or their opinions on topics. Their answers might introduce you to ideas you hadn’t considered. Questions: Pose an open-ended question in your story and watch the creative responses roll in. For example, “What inspires your art?” could uncover intriguing trends. Sliders: Use these to gauge what resonates with your audience. Share a concept and ask them to swipe based on how much they love it. Want to take it further? Incorporate follower feedback into your posts or projects. Their input can shape your next big idea. Story Highlights as Mood Boards Story Highlights aren’t just for saving precious memories; they’re also excellent for organizing inspiration. By grouping your Stories into categories, you can create visual “mood boards” for easy reference. Here’s how to do it: Save inspiring Stories to relevant Highlights, such as “Design Ideas” or “Travel Goals.” Use an eye-catching cover that reflects the theme. Revisit these Highlights when you need fresh ideas. Storing inspiration in Highlights lets you curate a personal, always-available spark of creativity. Plus, it simplifies revisiting moments that fuel your artistic or professional pursuits. Think of these as your creative toolbox, ready at any time! Advanced Tips to Level-Up Creativity Leveraging Saved Posts Saved posts on Instagram are more than just bookmarks; they can become your personal library of inspiration. Start organizing your saved content by creating themed collections for easy access. Create Clear Categories: Arrange your saved posts into collections like “DIY Ideas,” “Color Palettes,” or “Design Tricks.” This helps you quickly locate content when you need a spark. Revisit Regularly: Make it a habit to review your collections weekly. Scroll through posts to reconnect with ideas that could help with current projects. Take Notes: Add mental or written notes about why each saved post stands out. This can help you revisit them with purpose in mind. Think of these collections as the creative fuel you need whenever inspiration feels elusive. Exploring IGTV and Reels for Fresh Trends Short videos on IGTV and Reels are a goldmine for trends and ideas. They’re not just entertaining; they offer innovative takes on various topics. Search Topics Beyond Your Niche: Explore creators outside your field who use clever visuals or storytelling techniques. Use Reels Trends: Check Instagram’s “Reels Trends” section for popular audio or formats. Recreate these with your own twist to add fresh energy to your content. Watch Tutorials: From quick crafts to marketing hacks, IGTV and Reels are full of how-tos that can spark fresh perspectives. The key is to stay curious. Engaging with creative content across formats ensures you’re always connected to fresh, impactful ideas. Final Words Instagram is more than scrolling; it’s a creativity engine. From organizing saved posts to uncovering inspiration with story features and Reels, you now have tools to keep ideas flowing. Use mood boards, explore fresh trends, and connect with creative communities to transform your content. Now it’s your turn. Take these tips and make Instagram work for you. Create, organize, and explore. Start that DIY project, plan your next post, or build a theme collection. The spark you’re looking for is just a tap away! Jack Nolan Jack Nolan is a freelance graphic designer with over 10 years of experience helping brands stand out through bold, impactful design. Specializing in logo design, visual identity, and digital illustrations, Jack has worked with startups, small businesses, and global clients to bring creative ideas to life. His passion for clean, timeless design is matched only by his commitment to understanding client needs and delivering work that exceeds expectations. When he's not designing, Jack enjoys hiking, experimenting with photography, and exploring the latest trends in design. Make Your Instagram Unstoppable: Boost Engagement with AI-Powered PostsInstagram is more than simply photo-sharing apps in the current digital world; it is a powerful tool for brand development,...TikTok for Designers: Using Creativity to Stand Out and GrowIf you’re a designer, you probably know by now that TikTok goes beyond dance routines and memes – it’s a...From Boring to Viral: Transform Your Instagram Feed with AI-Powered PostsIn the fast-paced world of social media, standing out is more challenging than ever. A visually appealing and engaging Instagram...

Who do you think is the best publisher? (Capcom) The Friday letters page tries to work out what’s been going on with Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders this week, as one reader gives up on the Xbox format. To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@metro.co.uk East vs. West I agree with the reader yesterday, who said that Capcom, and other similar companies, improve their reputation simply by putting out good games and not being anti-consumer, whether you’re interested in a particular title or not. I also agree that failure of Western publishers to earn that sort of popularity is why no one is loyal to them.So that got me thinking: who is the best third party publisher at the moment, i.e. not Nintendo, Sony, or Microsoft? I’d say it probably is Capcom, but there’s a lot of Japanese publishers that are doing good work at the moment, where I’m automatically interested in almost anything they do. But what about Western companies? It’s not EA or Activision or Ubisoft, I’m sure most people would agree. Or Warner Bros. or Take-Two, who have barely released anything in years. Bethesda’s track record is very bumpy and the who else even is there anymore? No wonder people think first party games are so important.Dempsy Astronomically big It’s crazy to think that GTA 6 is big enough that even releasing a game next autumn is a risk. It’s like a black hole, creating a gravity well so deep that nothing can escape. I’d like to see Resident Evil 9 next year, but I understand Capcom not wanting to risk that. I think instead we’ll get a minor release, like the Resident Evil Zero remake, to keep things ticking along and that’s it.I think the situation is going to be mirrored to a degree by the Switch 2, which is going to have a big launch this summer but then still be the hottest thing this Christmas. Nintendo must be over the moon about the GTA 6 delay, but I have to agree with recent letters that their post-launch line-up is not very exciting, and I’m surprised at that, given how long they’ve had to get ready.Danson Final Edition Is there a chance in the future, providing the manufacturers don’t stop adding discs, the companies will sell game of the year editions on disc? By this I mean a fully patched and finalised game can be bought from Xbox or PlayStation stores and sent to your house for you to keep and display. Companies like Limited Run and PlayAsia do something like this and it seems popular.It would be a middle ground of giving more options and providing sales maybe a year after release. Every time I look at Limited Run they’ve sold out.Bobwallett GC: It sort of happens sometimes, with things like The Last Of Us compilation, but you’re right in suggesting that places like Limited Run are the only ones likely to do it on a regular basis. But even then we don’t think they guarantee that downloads are not necessary. Email your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.uk Bad timing I downloaded Nine Sols on Game Pass, as I like the games it was said to be a mix of: Hollow Knight and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. The combat is centred around parrying.It’s been rough though. I’m just not that great at parrying in games and that’s why l found Sekiro the most difficult FromSoftware game to get to grips with. The Soulsborne games difficulty are less about reaction skills and about harsh punishment on death and a lack of handholding. Although I’m rubbish, I think I’ll persist. Everything about the game is very intriguing and high quality so far, I’m surprised it seems to have been largely overlooked. Also, like any parry-based combat, when you nail it it’s very satisfying.Simundo GC: It’s probably the game we most regret not reviewing in the last few years, as we’re big fans of Red Candle Games. We still haven’t played it, as both its release dates were at very inconvenient times. Correct opinion I’ve been going through the Mass Effect trilogy and have just finished 2. That last mission is one of the best last levels in any game, in my opinion. Pure action and I just didn’t know who was going to die and thankfully the teammates I wasn’t fond off all got killed and I kept the ones I like alive (Garrus, Miranda, and Mordin). Great end to a great game.I know it was a disappointment at the time, but I’m looking forward to going through 3 again and giving it another go. I remember at the time the ending didn’t bother me too much, but I’ll see how I feel about it this time!Simon PS: I managed to get the entire regular crew of the Normandy killed, so that wasn’t quite so good! A new crew awaits in 3…Calling it a day I have been meaning to write with a list of things that annoyed me with Xbox over the years, none of them were deal breakers until the Xbox One.The massive original controller for the original Xbox. Why? The enormous external power supply things. Something else to gather dust. The introduction of avatars during the Xbox 360 era. We know why, but why? My Xbox One turning itself on and staying on. This was the nail in the coffin for Xbox and me. Forza Motorsport (not Horizon), when racing in first person view, especially when racing against American cars, the car in front used to take up too much of the screen. It was like racing in the slipstream of a garage door, not a racing car. It lacked graphical and physical finesse. This last one was when I gave up on Forza Horizon 4. I used to drive to and from work every day, some of the journeys were quite arduous and stressful. Later in the evening when I got a chance to play Forza Horizon 4 I was forced to drive greater distances between races or to another garage find. I thought to myself, ‘Hang on, this isn’t fun. This is just adding to my daily commute.’ I think this was another case of games becoming larger than necessary. So that was that, I gave up on Forza Horizon and I gave up on Xbox. The fact is, I enjoyed the original Xbox, Project Gotham Racing, Jet Set Radio, and Splinter Cell. I used the Xbox 360 mostly for racing games, including Ridge Racer and Burnout, which I loved. But by the Xbox One the choice had worsened. I have bought and kept all the mainstream consoles and handhelds (and some of the less mainstream) since the SNES era and I still love gaming. But Xbox will probably fail to get my attention again. I have an extensive games backlog and Nintendo and PlayStation will probably continue to provide me with enough enjoyment for the rest of my days.Ed PS: it’s taken me a very long time to mention this, but the Xbox 360 controller got a lot of praise when it first came out, which was deserved, but did anyone else think that ergonomically it was very similar to the GameCube Wavebird? Button configuration very different obviously.Try it yourself Just thought I’d mention there is a good free demo on Xbox (maybe PlayStation 5 too?) for Star Wars Outlaws. I was very impressed.I will be getting the full game at some point.Johnny Alpha SD Currently playing: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Halo infinite, and Doom EternalGC: As we’ve said before, it’s really not a bad game. It’s not a great game either, certainly not compared to something like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, but we do feel its reputation is unfairly earned. Rolling the dice I’ve been watching the pre-orders of the Switch 2 with interest. I ordered mine when they opened last month, however having bought every Nintendo console on day one since the N64 I have been burnt a few times with a lack of software support, early price cuts, and a shortened lifespan (Wii U and 3DS, I’m looking at you… although the 3DS turned out fine in the end).With these previous experiences I always find it a nervy time when Nintendo launch their latest; have I invested in a dud (Wii U) or will it be a resounding success and a great purchase (Switch 1 and Wii)? Only time will tell, however to me the Switch was the perfect console, and the Switch 2 seems to have refined this further. How can it be anything other than a colossal hit? Of course, in my eyes, all Nintendo consoles have been brilliant in their own right, with excellent first party games on each. Perhaps the spike in availability in the past few days has been to do with Nintendo redistributing North American stock following Trump’s tariffs, maybe it’s a lack of interest or it has plateaued, perhaps it’s too expensive for most families in these hard times or perhaps Nintendo have simply made more to meet demand. It has certainly been more readily available and easier to pre-order than I anticipated, a good thing as far as battling scalpers is concerned. But a part of me looks at the preorders every time a new Nintendo console is released and wonders…will this one get the support a Nintendo console deserves? I should really wait it out and see what happens, but I just cant resist a shiny new Nintendo console.Elliott GC: The stock issue has been puzzling the last few days, but originally the plan was that there would be enough to go around and there wouldn’t be any shortages. It may be that initially everything was diverted to the US, to get in before the tariffs, and now things are beginning to even out. Inbox also-rans Very are selling two Nintendo Switch 2 bundles as I’m writing this.DavidGC: Thank you. Very has had bundles available for the last two days. Which ones they are varies a lot, but they’ve never entirely run out of stock. Wow… just finished Act 1 in Clair Obscur: 33 Expedition… I’m not crying. A fly flew into my eye. What a game! Enjoying every moment, highly recommend if you haven’t picked it up just yet.Adam_Lion_23 (gamertag/PSN ID) More Trending Email your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.uk The small printNew Inbox updates appear every weekday morning, with special Hot Topic Inboxes at the weekend. Readers’ letters are used on merit and may be edited for length and content. You can also submit your own 500 to 600-word Reader’s Feature at any time via email or our Submit Stuff page, which if used will be shown in the next available weekend slot. You can also leave your comments below and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter. Arrow MORE: Games Inbox: Is it weird to not like GTA games? GameCentral Sign up for exclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

One of the most striking things about Bungie’s Marathon is its presentation. The sci-fi extraction shooter combines bleak settings with bright colors in a way that makes it feel a bit like a sneaker promo meets Ghost in the Shell, or as designer Jeremy Skoog put it, “Y2K Cyberpunk mixed with Acid Graphic Design Posters.” But it now looks like at least a few of the visual design elements that appeared in the recent alpha test were lifted from an eight-year old work by an outside artist. Suggested ReadingThe Week In Games: A Star Wars Classic Returns & More New Releases Share SubtitlesOffEnglishview videoSuggested ReadingThe Week In Games: A Star Wars Classic Returns & More New Releases Share SubtitlesOffEnglish“The Marathon alpha released recently and its environments are covered with assets lifted from poster designs i made in 2017,” Bluesky user antire.al‬ posted on Thursday. She shared two images showing elements of her work and where they appeared in Marathon’s gameplay, including a rotated version of her own logo. A poster full of small repeating icon patterns also seems to be all but recreated in Marathon’s press kit ARG and website. “Bungie is of course not obligated to hire me when making a game that draws overwhelmingly from the same design language I have refined for the last decade, but clearly my work was good enough to pillage for ideas and plaster all over their game without pay or attribution,” antire.al wrote. “I don’t have the resources nor the energy to spare to pursue this legally but I have lost count of the number of times a major company has deemed it easier to pay a designer to imitate or steal my work than to write me an email.”Screenshot: Bungie / antire.al / BlueksyScreenshot: Bungie / Antire.al / BlueskyHow could something like this have happened? One possibility is that the art was used for placeholder assets that were supposed to be replaced or overhauled later on but never were. A less generous version is that someone at Bungie or the agencies it outsources to cut corners and knowingly lifted the work or used it as inspiration without compensation or attribution. Bungie didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.This isn’t the first time the PlayStation-owned studio has gotten into hot water for this sort of thing. In 2023, Destiny 2 fanart turned up in a major cutscene for the massive sci-fi MMO. In 2024, old fan art was plagiarized for an Ace of Space Exotic ornament and NERF gun replica. Bungie agreed to pay the artists and apologized in both instances. The studio has also been on the receiving end as well, with last year’s The First Descendant lifting ability and perk icons directly from Destiny 2 before later removing them.Marathon’s alpha wrapped up earlier this month, leaving fans impressed by the shooting and moment-to-moment feel but torn on its implementation of the extraction shooter formula. What’s not in doubt is that the worldbuilding and sci-fi interiors are some of the most intriguing work Bungie’s done in years, a virtue now partly tarnished by allegations of plagiarism in certain aspects of the aesthetic. “In 10 years I have never made a consistent income from this work and I am tired of designers from huge companies moodboarding and parasitising my designs while I struggle to make a living,” antire.al wrote. .

Complementary colors, positioned opposite each other on the color wheel, can produce some of the most vibrant and visually compelling images in photography. By understanding and strategically using them, photographers can create striking, balanced compositions that immediately captivate viewers. Here’s how to effectively harness this to infuse your photographs with drama and visual tension. Understanding Complementary Colors Complementary colors—like red and green, blue and orange, or yellow and purple—create powerful visual contrasts. When placed together, these colors enhance each other’s intensity, leading to dynamic and eye-catching images. Understanding the emotional impact of complementary colors can significantly improve your photographic storytelling: Red and Green: evoke passion and vitality Blue and Orange: provide depth and warmth Yellow and Purple: suggest creativity and vibrancy Creating Balance and Visual Tension with Complementary Colors The key to successfully using complementary colors lies in achieving visual harmony. Allow one color to dominate the scene while using its complementary counterpart as a strategic accent. Thoughtful placement of these colors can effectively guide the viewer’s attention and create powerful visual interest without overwhelming the frame. Utilizing Lighting to Enhance Color Contrasts Lighting significantly influences how colors interact and appear in photographs: Natural Lighting: During golden hour or blue hour, natural lighting emphasizes color contrasts, enhancing warmth or coolness. Artificial Lighting: Controlled artificial lighting, such as colored gels or studio lights, can intensify color relationships and dramatize your compositions. Composition Techniques Effective complementary color photography involves intentional composition: Simplify your frame by removing unnecessary distractions to help colors stand out clearly. Use neutral or uncluttered backgrounds to make colors truly pop. Thoughtfully integrate complementary colors within your background to further enhance your subject. Refining Your Image in Post-Processing Post-processing plays an important role in finalizing the visual drama of your complementary color images: Adjust contrast, saturation, and color balance to strengthen color relationships. Enhance the overall aesthetic appeal and cohesiveness of your composition through careful editing. Harnessing complementary colors effectively is a dynamic skill that enables photographers to convey vivid emotions, highlight intriguing narratives, and produce unforgettable imagery. By thoughtfully balancing composition, lighting, and post-processing, you can utilize colors contrast to create powerful and visually captivating photographs that resonate deeply with viewers. Explore the potential of complementary colors and elevate your photographic vision with bold, impactful compositions. Extended reading: Transforming ordinary scenes with vibrant colors The post Harnessing Complementary Colors for Visual Drama appeared first on 500px.

I love movies and TV shows of all kinds, but I have to admit I have a soft spot for HBO. The channel is responsible for some of my favorite TV experiences of all time: Game of Thrones, Barry, Silicon Valley, and now The Last of Us all come to mind. I'll watch anything on any platform that looks intriguing enough, but when HBO is attached, I'm even more likely to watch. That's why it made absolutely no sense at all for Warner Bros. Discovery to remove the name of one of the most respected brands in show business, truncating HBO Max to just Max. HBO hasn't gone away: The channel is still a massive part of the streaming service, offering its past catalogue as well as producing new shows as it always has. But there are also "Max Originals," which are not HBO shows but available on the platform formerly known as HBO Max. Not confusing at all. It's been two years since the name change, and it seems like the decision has been a success. Oh, sorry, did I say success? I don't have access to Warner Bros. Discovery's internal data, but I imagine it hasn't been a success, seeing as the company is now bringing back HBO Max from the dead. Somehow, HBO Max returnedIt's true: Warner Bros. Discovery is returning HBO to its platforms' name this summer. No longer will you need to tell your friends to open Max to watch the latest episode of Hacks or The White Lotus (were there many of us still calling this anything but HBO anyway?) The company won't necessarily admit the name change was a bad idea, but it does offer a corporate explanation. JB Perrette, the company's President and CEO of Streaming, said that “This evolution has also been influenced by changing consumer needs...No consumer today is saying they want more content, but most consumers are saying they want better content.” Perrette also said they've been "iterating" on the idea for the past two years, which sounds to me like the company had immediate regrets after ditching the HBO brand. Perrette references Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav's, who reportedly championed the idea that the company should "go back to including HBO in the brand, because nothing stands for distinction and quality more than HBO.” Well, duh. At least the official HBO X account is having a fun time with the news: This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games here Since the very beginning, Fortnite has kept players engaged by releasing new features with each Chapter and Season, altering the battle royale experience. Epic Games continuously reinvents the game, from new weaponry and map updates to vehicles like the Quadcrasher in Chapter 1 Season 6 and creative systems like Creative Mode. Pet Back Blings dominated Chapter 1 in its early days. Introduced in Season 6, these animated companions, such as Bonesy the dog and Camo the chameleon, reacted to player activities ranging from gliding off the Battle Bus to celebrating Victory Royales. However, new releases declined after 2021 due to high production costs and little use. But despite that, fans have long wished for their return, recalling their unique animations and social petting function. An intriguing leak has aroused excitement that hints pets may return as “Companions” in Chapter 6 Season 3. Fortnite leak suggests Pets are coming back very soon According to trusted Fortnite leakers such as Loolo_WRLD, Companions, codenamed “Mimosa,” will travel alongside players on the map as dynamic in-game entities, rather than just accessories. The leaked Companions try to fill the gaping hole left by Pets with improved features. They will take up a designated locker spot, be visible to party members, and allow full-body previews. Players can supposedly name their Companions, which adds a personal touch and allows for customisation such as skins and motions. Pets are returning to Fortnite as companions. Image by VideoGamer. According to djlorenzouasset, returning pets (Claptrap, Camo, Remus, and Kitsune) will receive updated animations, as well as new ones such as Superman’s Krypto from a DC collab in 2025. There’s a lot of speculation concerning gameplay integration. Unlike back blings, Companions may accompany players dynamically, maybe reacting to combat or exploration. While Epic Games has not confirmed the leaks, the timeframe is consistent with Chapter 6, Season 3’s superhero theme, which follows the Star Wars-centric finale on June 7, 2025. If true, Companions could surpass the appeal of original pets by combining nostalgia and innovation. Fortnite Platform(s): Android, iOS, macOS, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X Genre(s): Action, Massively Multiplayer, Shooter 9 VideoGamer Subscribe to our newsletters! By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime. Share

Electronic waste is one of the top contributors to the world’s ever-growing trash problem. As long as we keep producing new gadgets and devices, there will be all kinds of waste that will probably end up in the landfill eventually once they reach end of life. Good thing there are designers that are constantly seeking innovative ways to integrate sustainability into their creations. One of those designers is Joe Doucet, known for his thought-provoking and often minimalist aesthetic. This time he has taken this sustainability challenge by creating a piece of furniture that is also a compelling statement about the potential for repurposing discarded materials and transforming them into objects of beauty and functionality. The OLO Table is constructed from discarded electronic waste with old refrigerators, keyboards, and computer mice are given a new lease on life. Designer: Joe Doucet The material at the heart of this innovative table is Polygood Oyster, a testament to the transformative power of recycling. This unique material is meticulously crafted from polystyrene, carefully extracted from a diverse range of electronic waste. Once harvested, the polystyrene undergoes a process of thermoforming, where heat and pressure are applied to shape it into the desired forms, in this case, the table’s base. The inherent beauty of Polygood lies in its composition. The recycling process leaves behind a captivating tapestry of colorful flecks and fragments, remnants of the electronics from which it originated. These visual inclusions aren’t imperfections; they serve as a tangible layer of history, each table subtly narrating the story of its past life. This intriguing visual element adds depth and character to the piece, making it a unique object of conversation. Furthermore, the fluid geometry of the OLO table, with its seamless and monolithic top flowing into semi-circular legs, directly embodies the closed-loop design philosophy championed by both Joe Doucet and The Good Plastic Company, the manufacturers of Polygood. This continuous form visually represents the cyclical nature of the material, where discarded resources are given new purpose in a closed system, minimizing waste and maximizing material value. The OLO table is more than just an aesthetically pleasing piece of furniture; it embodies a powerful message about circularity and the value of waste. By utilizing discarded electronics, Doucet addresses the growing problem of e-waste, transforming what is typically considered refuse into a desirable and functional object. This approach challenges our perception of waste and highlights the potential for innovative upcycling in the design industry. However, you probably won’t be able to add this to your space as it’s a one-off creation and there are no plans to produce more in the future. The post Terrazzo-like table brings electronic waste to life with closed-loop design first appeared on Yanko Design.

Join our daily and weekly newsletters for the latest updates and exclusive content on industry-leading AI coverage. Learn More Google DeepMind today pulled the curtain back on AlphaEvolve, an artificial-intelligence agent that can invent brand-new computer algorithms — then put them straight to work inside the company’s vast computing empire. AlphaEvolve pairs Google’s Gemini large language models with an evolutionary approach that tests, refines, and improves algorithms automatically. The system has already been deployed across Google’s data centers, chip designs, and AI training systems — boosting efficiency and solving mathematical problems that have stumped researchers for decades. “AlphaEvolve is a Gemini-powered AI coding agent that is able to make new discoveries in computing and mathematics,” explained Matej Balog, a researcher at Google DeepMind, in an interview with VentureBeat. “It can discover algorithms of remarkable complexity — spanning hundreds of lines of code with sophisticated logical structures that go far beyond simple functions.” The system dramatically expands upon Google’s previous work with FunSearch by evolving entire codebases rather than single functions. It represents a major leap in AI’s ability to develop sophisticated algorithms for both scientific challenges and everyday computing problems. Inside Google’s 0.7% efficiency boost: How AI-crafted algorithms run the company’s data centers AlphaEvolve has been quietly at work inside Google for over a year. The results are already significant. One algorithm it discovered has been powering Borg, Google’s massive cluster management system. This scheduling heuristic recovers an average of 0.7% of Google’s worldwide computing resources continuously — a staggering efficiency gain at Google’s scale. The discovery directly targets “stranded resources” — machines that have run out of one resource type (like memory) while still having others (like CPU) available. AlphaEvolve’s solution is especially valuable because it produces simple, human-readable code that engineers can easily interpret, debug, and deploy. The AI agent hasn’t stopped at data centers. It rewrote part of Google’s hardware design, finding a way to eliminate unnecessary bits in a crucial arithmetic circuit for Tensor Processing Units (TPUs). TPU designers validated the change for correctness, and it’s now headed into an upcoming chip design. Perhaps most impressively, AlphaEvolve improved the very systems that power itself. It optimized a matrix multiplication kernel used to train Gemini models, achieving a 23% speedup for that operation and cutting overall training time by 1%. For AI systems that train on massive computational grids, this efficiency gain translates to substantial energy and resource savings. “We try to identify critical pieces that can be accelerated and have as much impact as possible,” said Alexander Novikov, another DeepMind researcher, in an interview with VentureBeat. “We were able to optimize the practical running time of [a vital kernel] by 23%, which translated into 1% end-to-end savings on the entire Gemini training card.” Breaking Strassen’s 56-year-old matrix multiplication record: AI solves what humans couldn’t AlphaEvolve solves mathematical problems that stumped human experts for decades while advancing existing systems. The system designed a novel gradient-based optimization procedure that discovered multiple new matrix multiplication algorithms. One discovery toppled a mathematical record that had stood for 56 years. “What we found, to our surprise, to be honest, is that AlphaEvolve, despite being a more general technology, obtained even better results than AlphaTensor,” said Balog, referring to DeepMind’s previous specialized matrix multiplication system. “For these four by four matrices, AlphaEvolve found an algorithm that surpasses Strassen’s algorithm from 1969 for the first time in that setting.” The breakthrough allows two 4×4 complex-valued matrices to be multiplied using 48 scalar multiplications instead of 49 — a discovery that had eluded mathematicians since Volker Strassen’s landmark work. According to the research paper, AlphaEvolve “improves the state of the art for 14 matrix multiplication algorithms.” The system’s mathematical reach extends far beyond matrix multiplication. When tested against over 50 open problems in mathematical analysis, geometry, combinatorics, and number theory, AlphaEvolve matched state-of-the-art solutions in about 75% of cases. In approximately 20% of cases, it improved upon the best known solutions. One victory came in the “kissing number problem” — a centuries-old geometric challenge to determine how many non-overlapping unit spheres can simultaneously touch a central sphere. In 11 dimensions, AlphaEvolve found a configuration with 593 spheres, breaking the previous record of 592. How it works: Gemini language models plus evolution create a digital algorithm factory What makes AlphaEvolve different from other AI coding systems is its evolutionary approach. The system deploys both Gemini Flash (for speed) and Gemini Pro (for depth) to propose changes to existing code. These changes get tested by automated evaluators that score each variation. The most successful algorithms then guide the next round of evolution. AlphaEvolve doesn’t just generate code from its training data. It actively explores the solution space, discovers novel approaches, and refines them through an automated evaluation process — creating solutions humans might never have conceived. “One critical idea in our approach is that we focus on problems with clear evaluators. For any proposed solution or piece of code, we can automatically verify its validity and measure its quality,” Novikov explained. “This allows us to establish fast and reliable feedback loops to improve the system.” This approach is particularly valuable because the system can work on any problem with a clear evaluation metric — whether it’s energy efficiency in a data center or the elegance of a mathematical proof. From cloud computing to drug discovery: Where Google’s algorithm-inventing AI goes next While currently deployed within Google’s infrastructure and mathematical research, AlphaEvolve’s potential reaches much further. Google DeepMind envisions applications in material sciences, drug discovery, and other fields requiring complex algorithmic solutions. “The best human-AI collaboration can help solve open scientific challenges and also apply them at Google scale,” said Novikov, highlighting the system’s collaborative potential. Google DeepMind is now developing a user interface with its People + AI Research team and plans to launch an Early Access Program for selected academic researchers. The company is also exploring broader availability. The system’s flexibility marks a significant advantage. Balog noted that “at least previously, when I worked in machine learning research, it wasn’t my experience that you could build a scientific tool and immediately see real-world impact at this scale. This is quite unusual.” As large language models advance, AlphaEvolve’s capabilities will grow alongside them. The system demonstrates an intriguing evolution in AI itself — starting within the digital confines of Google’s servers, optimizing the very hardware and software that gives it life, and now reaching outward to solve problems that have challenged human intellect for decades or centuries. Daily insights on business use cases with VB Daily If you want to impress your boss, VB Daily has you covered. We give you the inside scoop on what companies are doing with generative AI, from regulatory shifts to practical deployments, so you can share insights for maximum ROI. Read our Privacy Policy Thanks for subscribing. Check out more VB newsletters here. An error occured.

An illustration of what the Amniote (early reptile) would look like from 350 million years ago. CREDIT: Martin Ambrozik. Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. One of the most impactful stories in evolution is getting a rewrite, thanks to the exciting discovery of the earliest known set of reptile footprints. Craig A. Eury and John Eason, two amateur paleontologists exploring the fossil-rich Snowy Plains Formation in Australia, found a rock with an intriguing set of fossilized prints. They brought the intriguing specimen to professional paleontologists, who soon discovered that the roughly 356 million-year-old fossilized claw prints likely belong to an amniote–an early reptile relative.  Though small in stature, amniotes were a large evolutionary leap forward towards land-dwelling, four-limbed animals called tetrapods. The age of these prints suggest that amniotes evolved millions of years earlier than expected, according to a study published May 14 in the journal Nature.  “I’m stunned,” Per Ahlberg, a paleontologist at Uppsala University in Sweden who coordinated the study, said in a statement. “A single track-bearing slab, which one person can lift, calls into question everything we thought we knew about when modern tetrapods evolved.” When fish grew legs Tetrapods include all vertebrates with four limbs that primarily live on land, including everything from frogs to turtles to eagles, to tigers to humans. Their story began as fish left the water between 390 and 360 million years ago. Their descendants began to diversify into the ancestors of modern amphibians and amniotes–the group that includes birds, reptiles, and mammals. Originally, the timeline for how this massive diversification of life occurred was fairly clear-cut. The first tetrapods evolved roughly 390 million years ago during the Devonian period. Amniotoes and the earliest members of the modern groups of animals we see today followed fishapods during the Carboniferous period. Previously, the earliest amniote fossils dated back to  about 320 million years old to the late Carboniferous. Based on this new evidence, researchers concluded the start of the point on the evolutionary tree where the ancestors of amphibians and amniotes split actually happened in the earliest days of the Carboniferous or 356 million years ago.   Proof in the prints The newly discovered 356 million-year-old sandstone slab from this new study potentially changes this entire timeline by about 35 to 40 million years. The well-preserved footprints of long-toed feet with distinct claw impressions at the tips dot the stone and are the earliest known clawed footprints. Two sets of tracks were identified on the stone, seemingly from the same animal.  Footprints are important for paleontologists, as they can indicate the types of behaviors an extinct animal may have exhibited. The team compared the ancient tracks with a modern water monitor (Varanus salvator) lizard, since they have similarly shaped feet to what is seen on the footprints. They examined the spacing between the front and hind footprints against that living lizard’s feet. With these measurements, the team estimates that the ancient amniote may have been around 2.5 feet long, but that the exact proportions of the animal are still unknown. “Claws are present in all early amniotes, but almost never in other groups of tetrapods,” Ahlberg said. “The combination of the claw scratches and the shape of the feet suggests that the track maker was a primitive reptile.” If this new interpretation is correct, it pushes the origin of reptiles, and thus amniotes as a whole, back by roughly 40 million years to the earliest Carboniferous. A new set of fossil reptile footprints uncovered all the way across the globe in Poland are also detailed in the study and bolster the evidence. These European footprints are not as old as the ones from Australia, but are still older than previous specimens.  “The implications of this discovery for the early evolution of tetrapods are profound,” John Long, a study co-author and paleontologist at Flinders University in Australia, said. “All stem-tetrapod and stem-amniote lineages must have originated during the Devonian period – but tetrapod evolution proceeded much faster, and the Devonian tetrapod record is much less complete than we have believed.” A place on the evolutionary tree According to the team, this recalibration of the origin of reptiles has a ripple effect on the whole timeline of tetrapod evolution. Tetrapods must be older than even the earliest amniotes, since it has a deeper branching point on the evolutionary tree.  “It’s all about the relative length of different branches in the tree,” said Ahlberg. “In a family tree based on DNA data from living animals, branches will have different lengths reflecting the number of genetic changes along each branch segment. This does not depend on fossils, so it’s really helpful for studying phases of evolution with a poor fossil record.” The fossil trackways with the different tracks on it highlighted. CREDIT: Flinders University The team believes that amphibians and ammonites split apart further into the Devonian period and were likely a contemporary of the primitive, transitional “fishapod” called Tiktaalik. This evidence indicates that a diverse group of tetrapods existed when only transitional “fishapods” were believed to be dragging themselves around muddy shorelines and starting to explore the land.  If this new theory holds, it is likely that the evolution of tetrapods from aquatic creatures to those fully living on land may have occurred even faster than previously believed.   “The Australian footprint slab is about 50 cm [1.5 feet] across,” said Ahlberg, “and at present it represents the entire fossil record of tetrapods from the earliest Carboniferous of Gondwana – a gigantic supercontinent comprising Africa, South America, Antarctica, Australia and India. Who knows what else lived there?”   “The most interesting discoveries are yet to come and that there is still much to be found in the field,” added study co-author and paleontologist Grzegorz Niedźwiedzki. “These footprints from Australia are just one example of this.”