Sometimes you need a hug, and sometimes the softest bed sheets are just as good, if not better. Bedrooms are often referred to as sanctuaries, so it is no wonder that outfitting your bed with the best sheets is a path to serenity while you sleep.AD editors know that ending the day with high-quality bedding is a worthwhile investment. We’ve put on Sleep Week for the last five years to prove it, spotlighting our team’s favorite essentials to get a good night’s rest. We have tested dozens of brands—including Brooklinen, Boll & Branch, and Quince—that include luxury sheets, Amazon best sellers, and sets with special qualities like temperature regulation. Here, 15 of the softest sheets that will convince you that crawling into bed at 9 p.m. is equivalent to self-care.Our Top Picks for the Softest Bed Sheets:The Softest Bed Sheets, Overall: Boll & Branch Linen Sheet Set, $349Hotel-Quality Cotton Sheets: Matouk Bergamo Fitted Sheet, $374Silky Bamboo Sheets: Quince Bamboo Sheet Set, $130A Luxe Sateen Set: Brooklinen Luxe Sateen Core Sheet Set, $189For Hot Sleepers: Sijo AiryWeight Eucalyptus Sheet Set, $185A T-Shirt-Inspired Set: Parachute Brushed Cotton Fitted Sheet, $110 $77Browse by CategoryThe softest bed sheets, overallPhoto: Yelena Moroz AlpertPhoto: Yelena Moroz AlpertBoll & Branch Linen Sheet SetUpsides & DownsidesUpsidesSix colorwaysKing with standard case optionDeep fitted sheet pockets, 17 inchesMade in Fair Trade-certified factoryDownsidesExpensiveMay feel oversizedSize OptionsTwin, twin XL, full, queen, king, king with standard cases, California king, split KingWhat's included1 flat sheet, 1 fitted sheet, 2 pillowcasesTwin and twin XL sets include 1 pillowcaseSplit King sets include 2 twin XL fitted sheets and 2 king pillowcasesMaterial100% European flaxWhen it comes to the linen sheets, contributor Yelena Alpert, who has quite literally compared four linen bedding brands side to side in one day, says that the Boll & Branch linen sheet set definitely stands out for its softness factor. “It’s a noticeable difference,” says Alpert in her review. “The linen is almost velvety and drapes like a cozy embrace over my body. Whenever these are on, I never want to leave and sometimes end up working from bed in my PJs.” While these are not inexpensive, the set can be used all year and is an investment, but you can request free swatches before committing. “I don’t see myself swapping these out anytime soon,” she says.Hotel-quality cotton sheetsMatouk Bergamo BeddingUpsides & DownsidesUpsidesCooling500 thread countDeep pockets, 17 inchesDownsidesExpensiveOnly two colors, white and boneSize OptionsFull, queen, king, California kingWhat's included1 fitted sheetMaterialEgyptian cotton percaleThe Matouk Bergamo fitted sheet may look simple, but the airy percale is as soft as silk—all thanks to a unique combination of Giza 87 and 92 Egyptian cotton yarns. Allie Weiss, US digital director, calls it the “cream-of-the-crop bedding” in the best bed sheets review. “I hate scratchy sheets, and breathed a sigh of relief when I slipped into these,” she says. “They are both lightweight, crisp looking, and soft to the touch—talk about a win-win.”Silky bamboo sheetsNashia BakerNashia BakerQuince Bamboo Sheet SetUpsides & DownsidesUpsides11 colors availableAvailable in a duvet bundleOption with or without flat sheetHypoallergenicDownsidesUsing fabric softener in laundry care routine can cause pillingSize OptionsTwin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California kingWhat's included1 fitted sheet, 1 flat sheet, and pillowcase(s) [(1 standard included in twin size, 2 standard included with full/queen, 2 king included with king/cal king]Material100% viscose from organic bambooLeave it to Quince, a beloved AD brand for all things bedding, to offer organic bamboo sheets that feel like a decadent cocoon. “This set feels smooth and cool to the touch but still cozy enough to bundle up with during the winter months,” says senior commerce editor Nashia Baker, who has the brand’s sheets in a warm hue that evokes earthy desert tones and transforms her bedroom into a serene escape. That’s one reason these sheets ended up as a top pick on our best bamboo sheets list. What’s more, the 300 thread count sheet set is also hypoallergenic.A luxe sateen setBrooklinen Luxe Sateen Core Sheet SetUpsides & DownsidesUpsides21 colors availableAvailable in a duvet bundle?High thread count (480)DownsidesPopular colors sell out quicklySize OptionsTwin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California kingWhat’s included1 flat sheet, 1 fitted sheet, and 2 pillowcasesTwin and twin XL sets include 1 pillowcaseKing and California king sets include king-size pillowcasesMaterial100% long-staple cottonBrooklinen does a lot of things well, but the Luxe Sateen Core sheet set is unmatched in terms of softness. In fact, two AD team members love them. This set is “super classic, smooth, and has a crisp feel,” says commerce director Rachel Fletcher in her review. It’s also perfect for anyone with sensitive skin, she adds, emphasizing that the fabric is that “not at all scratchy or harsh on my skin, like some of the less expensive options I’ve tried in the past.” For contributor Erika Owen these sheets are just what she needs, battling a New York City heatwave. It comes in more than 20 colorways, including the abstract Sunshell pattern that looks like a cross between a shell and a flower.For hot sleepersSijo AiryWeight Eucalyptus Sheet SetUpsides & DownsidesUpsides13 colors availableOption with or without flat sheetDownsidesCan snag if washed with items that contain zippersSize OptionsTwin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California kingWhat’s included(1) fitted sheet, (1) optional flat/top sheet, and (2) pillowcases. Twin and twin XL sets include (1) pillowcaseMaterial100% Tencel lyocell (eucalyptus fibers)For tester Mel Studach, AD PRO senior editor, sheet fabric “has to be ultra-soft” and the Sijo AiryWeight eucalyptus sheet set reminds her of a favorite silk shirt that is “airy and comfortable yet elegant.” Studach uses these year-round because they feel lightweight and breathable in the summer and still cozy under a down comforter in the winter. “I’ve certainly noticed a less humid sleep experience in comparison to my past sheet sets,” she says. The earthy clay hue reads modern, while the grey stripe can go coastal or cottagecore.A T-shirt-inspired setRachel FletcherParachute Brushed Cotton Fitted SheetUpsides & DownsidesUpsidesOeko-Tex Standard 10060 days to returnDownsidesCompared to other sheets, limited colorway (6)Size OptionsFull, queen, king, California kingWhat's included(1) fitted sheetMaterial100% cottonThe Parachute brushed cotton fitted sheet has over 800 five-star reviews, and for good reason. This durable bedding is comforting thanks to its plain weave construction that’s a cross between cozy cotton sheets and your favorite t-shirt. “There’s no stretchy action like you might expect with sheets of a lesser quality,” says Fletcher. They’re also made in Portugal, which is known for producing excellent linens, and the factory that Parachute works with has been family-owned for generations, adds Fletcher, who originally tested the organic fitted sheet.More AD-Approved Soft Bed SheetsBrooklinen Classic Percale Core Sheet SetUpsides & DownsidesUpsides18 colors availableLong-staple cotton and matte finishOeko-Tex certifiedDownsidesReturns are subject to a $9.95 return fee deducted from your refund amountSize OptionsTwin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California kingWhat's included1 flat sheet, 1 fitted sheet, and 2 pillowcasesTwin and twin XL sets include 1 pillowcaseKing and California king sets include king-size pillowcasesMaterial100% long-staple cotton, 270 thread countThe Brooklinen percale core set may be known to keep hot sleepers comfortable, but the matte finish of these sheets, made with long-staple cotton fibers is ridiculously smooth. “Usually, percale cotton is just airy, but these sheets are light but actually feel as if they cameo as something like sateen,” says contributor Yelena Alpert, who tested these in the blue Oyster pattern. “I love them so much that I got the duvet cover in the same material and now my bed is this oasis of softness.” The magic sauce lies in Brooklinen using long-staple cotton, which keeps the fibers from fraying and feeling rough.The Company Store x Rifle Paper Co. Sateen Sheet SetUpsides & DownsidesUpsidesOeko-Tex Standard 100Fitted sheets accommodate mattresses of up to 18 in. deepPairs with matching duvet cover, comforter, shams and shower curtain (sold separately)DownsidesNot included in promotionsOnly three color optionsSize OptionsTwin, full, queen, kingWhat's included1 flat sheet, 1 fitted sheet, and 2 standard pillowcasesTwin sets include 1 pillowcaseKing sets include king-size pillowcasesMaterial100% combed cotton sateen, 300 thread countSuper soft sheets tend to come in more traditional patterns and solid colorways—not the ones from the Company Store x Rifle Paper Co. “I was originally drawn to the peacock print because it is just so whimsical and livens up my guest bedroom,” says Alpert, who has them in queen size. “But these are also buttery soft. Maybe too soft—my guests never want to leave.” The higher thread count, 300, is surely part of the reason. If it wasn’t for the true-to-Rifle print, you’d think these are hotel sheets.Sferra Grande Hotel Flat SheetUpsides & DownsidesUpsides16 colors availableSignature satin stitch embroideryGet softer with every washDownsidesExpensiveSome colors out of stockNot available in California kingSize OptionsTwin, full/queen, kingWhat's includedFlat SheetMaterial100% long-staple cotton“Whenever I put these percale sheets with a double row of satin stitch embroidery I feel as if I am on a set of Wes Anderson’s Grand Budapest Hotel,” Alpert says. “I’ve had these for a year and they only get softer and softer with every wash.” At this price, the sheets are definitely in the luxury bedding category and might spoil you into thinking that all cotton sheets should feel like this (they don’t).Buffy Breeze Sheet SetUpsides & DownsidesUpsides34 colors availableOeko-Tex certifiedIncludes three year protection planFree 7 day sleep trialVegan, does not contain silkDownsidesPopular colors sold outSize OptionsTwin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California kingWhat's included1 flat sheet, 1 fitted sheet, and 2 pillowcasesTwin and twin XL sets include 1 pillowcaseKing and California king sets include king-size pillowcasesMaterial100% Tencel lyocell from eucalyptus, 300 thread countBuffy Breeze cooling sheets are moisture-wicking but still velvety because the brand uses SilkShape fabric (but it is vegan and doesn’t actually use silk) which is made of strands that feel easy on the skin. “I am a little obsessed with my Breeze pillowcases,” says Alpert, who has them in the earth colorway. “It’s like I am sleeping on a cloud. As a side sleeper, I am always rubbing my cheeks against the pillow case and these have absolutely no friction.”Ettitude CleanBamboo Signature Sateen Sheet SetUpsides & DownsidesUpsides8 colors availableOeko-Tex Standard 100HypoallergenicDownsidesPriceySize OptionsTwin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California kingWhat's included1 flat sheet, 1 fitted Sheet, and 2 pillowcasesTwin and twin XL sets include 1 pillowcaseKing and California king sets include king-size pillowcasesMaterial100% CleanBamboo Lyocell (organic, FSC-certified bamboo)More than 5,000 customers gave the Ettitude CleanBamboo sheet sets a five-star rating and for good reason, these silky smooth sheets are worth the hype. "These sheets are buttery—pun intended,” says Baker, who has the set in the Butter colorway. “Sinking into these sheets is a dream thanks to their glossy feel that rivals the best silk sheets out there. It also doesn't hurt that the set comes in a warm yellow hue, which just so happens to be my favorite color!" The company makes the sheets in Peru and focuses on sustainability—the bedding is made from FSC-certified bamboo.Cozy Earth Bamboo Sheet SetUpsides & DownsidesUpsides11 colors availableFitted sheet fits well on both regular and deep pocket mattresses up to 20 inchesOeko-Tex certifiedDownsidesPopular colors and sizes sell out quicklySize OptionsTwin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king, split king

The Internet has greatly shortened product life cycles. Objects that stood the test of time offer lessons for today. So do designs that are intentionally ephemeral.Designing applications or websites means your designs don’t survive very long. Even if your product or app survives for a decade or more, there will be pressure to update the design every few years. This got me wondering how long designs of other things stay around. So here is a curated survey of how long our designs survive.Sticky NotesThe sticky note… a lab experiment gone awry(average lifespan: several hours) — The ubiquitous sticky note famously emerged from a lab experiment gone awry. Glue that wasn’t very sticky. Although sticky notes have been around for 45 years, the life of any single sticky note is probably measured in hours, not days. Nevertheless they have been a boon to brainstorming sessions and design sprints around the world. Their ephemeral nature is the key to their value. Don’t like what you wrote? Throw it out and write another one. Don’t think it belongs in this group? Move it to another. Sticky notes are the rare object that is as easily used digitally as their physical counterparts.Sand MandalaA finished sand mandala — Attribution: By the original uploader was Colonel Warden at English Wikipedia. — Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons by SMasters using CommonsHelper., CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=16371236(in use for a few days or weeks) — A sand mandala is a symbolic representation of the universe made of colored sand. Creating them is a ceremonial act practiced by Tibetan monks and nuns and takes a few days to several weeks to create. Constructing one is an act of meditation requiring immense focus. After the mandala is finished, it is on view for only a short period of time. It is then destroyed in a dissolution ceremony meant to emphasize the impermanence of all things. Finally the sand is released into a river to transfer the spirits embodied in the mandala back into nature and the rest of the world.The first time I saw a video of this process, it shocked my world. The design was vivid, ornate, and beautiful. To see something so beautiful then destroyed by the people who made it jolted me. When swept into a pile, the vivid pigments quickly become a single gray mass. They are an amazing lesson about the nature of our lives and the world of things.WebsitesThe SF bay area edition of Craigslist.com barely changed from when it launched in 1995!(in use for 32 years) — The lifespan of your average website is about 2 years according to this post. Many sites are up for much longer but even those tend to need a refresh. Craigslist is the notable exception by still proudly sporting its original 1995 web 1.0 look and feel. I’ve worked on around 14 websites and apps. Of those, only 2 (7%) are live and still reflect the design I worked on. As dominant as the Internet is in today’s culture, “built to last” simply does not apply. Permanence is an anti-pattern.Thonet №14 ChairThe Thonet №14 Chair — Attribution: This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.(in use for 166 years) — Michael Thonet’s №14 Chair is a design classic. Simple and minimal. Introduced in 1859, It was the first chair to be mass produced but does not look like an industrial product. It is sometimes called the cafe chair due to its strong association with Parisian cafes. It was also sometimes referred to as the “lion-tamer chair”. You can see one in use in this post.BicycleThe ‘Flying Pigeon’ bicycle. Since the 1950s, over 500 million of these bikes have been produced and sold.(in use for 208 years) — The bicycle was invented in Germany and introduced in Paris around 1817. It is an amazing design object matched only by its engineering simplicity. The basic triangular geometry is minimal, strong, and still recognizable 200 years after being invented. There have been many improvements to the underlying technologies but the basic design remains.BuildingsThe Pantheon of Rome — Attribution: By Macrons — Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=49683083The Pantheon in Rome was completed around 126 AD and has been in continuous use for almost 2000 years. It is widely considered the oldest building still in continuous use today. It began as a Roman temple. For the ceiling of the Parthenon, the Romans used cement mixed with ash which kept it light but strong. In the 7th century, it became a Christian church, the Basilica of St. Mary and the Martyrs. Adaptive reuse helped preserve it through centuries of war, weather, and regime changes.“Built to last” is a phrase sometimes used for things like old cars, buildings, and walls. It certainly applies to the pyramids and the Pantheon. It is much less frequently applied to objects today. It doen’t apply to the majority of objects we use in our daily lives. Consumer culture has driven us towards a throw away culture. This impacts the environment and our ability to build things to last.What does it take to build something that will last?This is a question asked by Louis Kahn, one of the great American architects. His Exeter Library is his answer. He wanted to pursue an architecture that would stand the test of time. He wanted to build something that would be monumental, strong and, like the pyramids, remain beautiful even in ruin.The interior of the Phillips Exeter Academy Library showing the raw, monumental cement building structure. Image source: https://www.reddit.com/r/ArchitecturePornCities(in use for 11,000 years) — The title of oldest continuously inhabited city is a subject of debate but Damascus is often credited as the oldest city still in use today. Jericho is older but was not in continuous use. Jerusalem & Athens both date back about 5000 years. From a design perspective, I marvel at Venice. It’s been in existence for over 1000 years. Its lasting beauty is amazing when you realize it was originally built to escape invaders on the mainland. The buildings, plazas, along with the canals and bridges that connect them are an amazing experience.The Bucentaur Returns to the Pier at the Doge’s Palace (c. 1730) by Canaletto — Attribution: Google Arts & Culture — mwEV7sO9uSFCpw, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=22572210Mortar & PestleThe mortar & pestle — symbol of the pharmacist — Attribution: Image by Evan-Amos — Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12038229Beyond using our teeth, we’ve been grinding up food and other materials for about 37,000 years. The Mortar & Pestle was likely used initially to prepare grains and seeds to be more digestible but they had many other uses.They are still widely used today (guacamole anyone?) and have come to symbolize the pharmaceutical profession. As someone who cooks, I’m glad we figured out ground spices makes tastier dishes.Pyramids(built 4000 years ago) — The Great Pyramid of Giza was the tallest human-made structure in the world for 3800 years. I’m including pyramids for age reference only. How long they’ve been “in use” raises tricky questions. Should we measure use by the initial construction; as amazing ruins we only look at; or as a tomb for a dead pharaoh? They certainly were amazing feats of engineering.Bow & arrow / stone arrowheads(in use for 37,000–74,000 years) — These two designs are best taken as a connected journey. Arrows are an evolution of the stone-tipped spear. The bow & arrow was a leap in the efficiency and precision of throwing a spear. The innovation allowed hunters to remain farther away from their prey. The bow, arrow, and stone arrowhead built on the previous technology (an interesting concept known as “the adjacent possible” richly described by Steven Johnson in, ‘Where Good Ideas Come From’). Each element required an increase in precision and skill and offered advances over the previous tool. Older arrowheads were mostly focused on the general shape and cutting edges. Later versions were shaped to be more firmly lashed to wooden spears. As the first to enter the battlefield, U.S. Marines sometimes refer to themselves as, “the tip of the spear”. A 74,000 year old metaphor that is still understandable today.Hand axeIllustration of a hand axe.Imagine designing a product that was so good it was used for a million years. That’s 1,000,000 years! I remember seeing a hand axe in the “Tools: Extending Our Reach” exhibit at the Smithsonian’s Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum. I pondered it as a design object that dwarfed my career as a designer. The hand axe is a physical testament to both the slowness of early hominid evolution and the enduring utility of the object. The key innovation was the ever more skilled chipping away of flakes to create the cutting edge. Older versions of the axe are barely recognizable as being intentionally created. Later versions however, show two distinct functional requirements. The part that you held needed to be broad and round so as to be comfortable in the hand. While “the business end” had sharp, carefully-shaped cutting edges. I marvel at anything being used for this incomprehensible span of time.Final thoughts“If you want to go quickly, go alone. But if you want to go far, go together.” — African ProverbAs I wrote this post, I thought about the lessons of these very different objects. Here are my takeaways.Monumental acts take monumental teams — It takes incredible effort by many people to build something that has great impact and will last. Monumental achievements are never accomplished by one person. Each hand axe was likely created by one person but the concept we now know as the hand axe happened over a million years of usage. Venice is a singular experience. But building it required the work of many people over centuries.Adaptation is key to survival — The Pantheon survived in part because it is a space flexible in use. If your designs are to survive, you must hand them off to others. Loving caretakers are as important as passionate creators.Celebrate the ephemeral — Sand mandalas and sticky notes allow us to create something without becoming too attached to it. Having worked on lots of long-term projects, I’ve always found making dinner to be a positive antidote. Chopping vegetables can be meditative. A meal is finished in an hour or 2 and then you get to enjoy the creation. Simple acts are still creative.A graph showing how long these designs have been use. The hand axe was excluded because its million years of use reduces the other objects to tiny, barely visible bars.ReferenceTimeline of oldest human inventions — WikipediaOldest still standing buildings — WikipediaHow long designs survive was originally published in UX Collective on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Paris’s 16th arrondissement is home to myriad landmarks with ties to fashion, art, and design—Musée Marmottan Monet, Frank Gehry’s Fondation Louis Vuitton, and Maison de Balzac, to name but a few. A 17th-century mansion, the former headquarters of fashion label Yves Saint Laurent, is also there. The fashion house was based  in the historic neighborhood between 1974 and 2002. In 2017, Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris opened there, together with its Moroccan counterpart, Musée Yves Saint Laurent Marrakech. Both venues host retrospectives and temporary exhibits. Now, Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris is being renovated by Selldorf Architects and Studio La Boétie, a Paris office. The project is a collaboration with Fondation Pierre Bergé—the philanthropic wing of Pierre Bergé, the French industrialist who cofounded Yves Saint Laurent. “The architectural project will double the public exhibition space, open unprecedented access to iconic areas such as Pierre Bergé’s office and enhance the visitor experience for their growing audience,” Selldorf Architects shared. The museum is home to the couturier’s former studio. (Arroser/Wikimedia Commons /CC0 1.0) Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris is sited at 5 Avenue Marceau and contains more than 2,000 works, and the couturier’s former studio. It’s a Musée de France, or one of the country’s main state museums. The venue predates the French Revolution, like much of the 16th arrondissement’s urban fabric. Thomas Gobert, King Louis XIV’s primary builder–planner, completed the building at 5 Avenue Marceau in 1685. Saint Laurent creative director Hedi Slimane oversaw its renovation prior to the museum’s 2017 opening. It’s since hosted Saint Laurent Couture fashion campaigns. The forthcoming renovation will deliver a new Documentation and Research Center that will preserve Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé’s archives. The news comes not long after other major milestone museum projects for Selldorf Architects, including the Frick’s reopening in New York, and the Sainsbury Wing’s renovation in London. “While preserving the existing architecture of the building, formerly the home of the couture house, the project aims to double the surface area accessible to the public while allowing access to iconic spaces—such as Pierre Bergé’s office—and improving the experience of an increasing visitor base,” Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris said in a statement. “The project will also optimize the conservation conditions of the museum’s collection, thanks to the permanent relocation of part of its reserves to an off-site location.” Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris will temporarily close for the renovation starting this month. It’s slated to reopen in fall 2027.

May 16, 20253 min readTornadoes Expected to Strike Multiple States This Weekend in One of the Worst Seasons This DecadeTornadoes are predicted across swaths of the U.S. in the coming days, likely adding to this year’s already high tally of such stormsBy Meghan Bartels edited by Dean Visser Thomas Trott/Getty ImagesTornadoes threaten huge swaths of the U.S. this weekend amid a season already marked by unusually high storm activity, even as the National Weather Service faces budget cuts likely to impede its ability to respond to severe weather.What to ExpectThe National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center has forecast severe thunderstorms with scattered tornadoes—some of them intense—across parts of Kentucky, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Tennessee, Arkansas and Ohio for the afternoon and evening of May 16.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.“Today we’re expecting a severe weather outbreak across the mid-Mississippi, Tennessee and Ohio valleys,” says Jenni Pittman, a meteorologist and deputy chief of the Science and Technology Integration division at the National Weather Service’s Central Region Headquarters. These regions stretch farther east than the historically prevalent “Tornado Alley” of the mid- to late 1900s.“Then we see a renewed chance for severe weather Sunday, continuing Monday and continuing Tuesday as well,” Pittman says. “A lot of the risks on Sunday through Tuesday are going to be from the High Plains pretty much through the Midwest.” National Weather Service maps show these risks concentrated in Kansas and Oklahoma.This weekend’s predicted tornadoes would follow a slight lull in the region, she adds. “We’ve had a little bit of a break here in May, which is typically a pretty busy severe weather month,” Pittman says. “April was very active, and the rest of May does look pretty active as well.”This Year in TornadoesAs of May 15, the National Weather Service has tallied 779 tornadoes in its local storm reports—a preliminary number but a helpful metric for tracking the season’s severity. For comparison, between 2005 and 2015, that same tally averaged 624; between 2010 and 2024, it was 592.“As of mid-May, the U.S. is running well above the typical number of tornadoes to this point in the year,” says Rich Thompson, chief of forecast operations for the Storm Prediction Center.This year to date also stands out against individual years. The most active tornado season of recent years was 2011, when hundreds of storms struck in late April; by mid-May the tally stood at more than 1,300 storms, with more than 2,200 by the end of the year.That year also demonstrated the close connection between just a few days of serious storms and a bad season. “Intense tornadoes are disproportionately responsible for damage, injuries and deaths, and such tornadoes are more common on a few ‘outbreak’ days,” Thompson says. “Thus, the number of outbreak days often determines the severity of the season, with 2011 being the prime example of multiple high-impact tornado outbreaks.”Overall, this year is more on par with last year, which had seen 815 tornado reports by this point in the season. Notably, one third of those storms have occurred during just three outbreak days in March and April, Thompson says.Matthew TwomblyWhat to KnowIf you live in an area where tornadoes are forecast, follow local weather and emergency response offices closely. In general, experts recommend having supplies available to shelter in place and having a safety plan for pets as well as humans. Pittman also recommends that people have multiple ways to stay on top of weather alerts (such as through broadcasts on television and on battery-powered radios, outdoor sirens and fully charged mobile phones).During an event, the National Weather Service recommends that people living where a severe thunderstorm watch is active head to “an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building.”If you’re caught away from shelter, the calculus becomes more complicated. In a vehicle, if a storm is still at a distance, you may be able evade it by driving at a right angle to the tornado’s apparent approach. If already caught in the winds, park instead, and either keep your seat belt fastened and protect your head and neck or get out of the car if there’s someplace safe to lie below the elevation of the roadway. Avoid sheltering under bridges, however, which don’t offer much protection, experts note.

Macworld Hey, it’s Friday! If you have plans to, I dunno, maybe hang out at the bar (or pub, for the UKers) or something like that with a bunch of PC-loving friends, well, ya’ll will have something to talk about tonight. Microsoft fired a salvo at Apple in the form of a video short that claims that “top Copilot+ PCs” are faster than the beloved MacBook Air. You can waste 12 seconds of your life watching it below. (I’ll give you a moment to wipe the spit take from your screen. Sorry about that, I should’ve warned you.) Cheesy production aside (“Was this comically low budget ad made with Windows Movie Maker 2 and a 5 MP camera from 2003?” commented @ItsRichieT), the major sticking point about this ad is that it makes comparisons to the M3 MacBook Air–you know, the laptop that was released in 2024 and replaced earlier this year by the M4 MacBook Air. So the M3 Air isn’t in Apple’s active product lineup. Granted, you can buy the M3 MacBook Air from third-party retailers and at Apple’s Certified Refurbished store. But it doesn’t look good when a company compares “top” products to competitors that aren’t being made anymore and have been replaced by something better. The thing is, Microsoft also claims the “top Copilot+ PCs” are faster than the M4 MacBook Air–it’s right on their website. But the results are nothing like the “up to 58 percent” touted in the ad. Microsoft says it recorded a Cinebench 2024 Multi-Core score of 866 for the M4 Air, and that eight Copilot+ PCs “all scored higher.” So, let me take the opportunity to do what Microsoft didn’t want to show you: how much faster those eight Copilot+ PCs are than the M4 MacBook Air (the Cinebench 2024 Multi-Core score is in parentheses). ASUS Vivobook S 14 with AMD Ryzen AI 9 365: 5.3 percent (912) Dell XPS 13 9345 with Snapdragon X Elite: 8.9 percent (943.3) HP OmniBook Ultra 14 with AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375: 11.4 percent (965) Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x 14″ with Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite: 18.9 percent (1029.6) Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x 14″ with Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite 19.4 percent (1033.6) Lenovo Yoga Pro 7 with AMD Ryzen AI 9 365: 17.9 percent (1021.3) Microsoft Surface Laptop 15″ with Snapdragon X Elite: 9.7 percent (950) Microsoft Surface Laptop 13.8″ with Snapdragon X Elite: 2.7 percent (889.6) The Lenovo devices are the fastest of the bunch (I don’t know why the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x 14″ is tested twice; drop me a line if you can fill me in), but those improvements aren’t big enough to make an impression. Imagine that video, but instead it says, “Top Copilot+ PCs are up to 19.4 percent faster than a MacBook Air with M4.” That will just get you stupid looks from the Microsoft marketing department. Heck, we here at Macworld see 15 to 25 percent improvement from one M-series chip to another, and our reaction to that is lukewarm. You can imagine what we think about a Copilot+ PCs offering a less than 20 percent boost over the M4 MacBook Air: Pfft. As for all the other PCs? You won’t notice the difference at all. We ran the same Cinebench 2024 test and got a score of 797 for the M4 MacBook Air, so clearly, results may vary. To sum up, for your PC-lovin’ buddies who want to bring up this ad over a few pints: Your “top Copilot+ PCs” are “up to 58 percent” faster than a discontinued MacBook Air? Cool! The “top Copilot+ PCs” faster than the M4 MacBook Air? That may be true, but no one can notice the difference in real-world usage. But hey, nice of you to catch up! The 12-second ad? Just another example of a corporation trying to relate to the young folks. And if they still won’t listen, just remember that they have to use Windows.

I’ve been working as a data science consultant for the past three years, and I’ve had the opportunity to work on multiple projects across various industries. Yet, I noticed one common denominator among most of the clients I worked with: They rarely have a clear idea of the project objective. This is one of the main obstacles data scientists face, especially now that Gen AI is taking over every domain. But let’s suppose that after some back and forth, the objective becomes clear. We managed to pin down a specific question to answer. For example: I want to classify my customers into two groups according to their probability to churn: “high likelihood to churn” and “low likelihood to churn” Well, now what? Easy, let’s start building some models! Wrong! If having a clear objective is rare, having a reliable benchmark is even rarer. In my opinion, one of the most important steps in delivering a data science project is defining and agreeing on a set of benchmarks with the client. In this blog post, I’ll explain: What a benchmark is, Why it is important to have a benchmark, How I would build one using an example scenario and Some potential drawbacks to keep in mind What is a benchmark? A benchmark is a standardized way to evaluate the performance of a model. It provides a reference point against which new models can be compared. A benchmark needs two key components to be considered complete: A set of metrics to evaluate the performance A set of simple models to use as baselines The concept at its core is simple: every time I develop a new model I compare it against both previous versions and the baseline models. This ensures improvements are real and tracked. It is essential to understand that this baseline shouldn’t be model or dataset-specific, but rather business-case-specific. It should be a general benchmark for a given business case. If I encounter a new dataset, with the same business objective, this benchmark should be a reliable reference point. Why building a benchmark is important Now that we’ve defined what a benchmark is, let’s dive into why I believe it’s worth spending an extra project week on the development of a strong benchmark. Without a Benchmark you’re aiming for perfection — If you are working without a clear reference point any result will lose meaning. “My model has a MAE of 30.000” Is that good? IDK! Maybe with a simple mean you would get a MAE of 25.000. By comparing your model to a baseline, you can measure both performance and improvement. Improves Communicating with Clients — Clients and business teams might not immediately understand the standard output of a model. However, by engaging them with simple baselines from the start, it becomes easier to demonstrate improvements later. In many cases benchmarks could come directly from the business in different shapes or forms. Helps in Model Selection — A benchmark gives a starting point to compare multiple models fairly. Without it, you might waste time testing models that aren’t worth considering. Model Drift Detection and Monitoring — Models can degrade over time. By having a benchmark you might be able to intercept drifts early by comparing new model outputs against past benchmarks and baselines. Consistency Between Different Datasets — Datasets evolve. By having a fixed set of metrics and models you ensure that performance comparisons remain valid over time. With a clear benchmark, every step in the model development will provide immediate feedback, making the whole process more intentional and data-driven. How I would build a benchmark I hope I’ve convinced you of the importance of having a benchmark. Now, let’s actually build one. Let’s start from the business question we presented at the very beginning of this blog post: I want to classify my customers into two groups according to their probability to churn: “high likelihood to churn” and “low likelihood to churn” For simplicity, I’ll assume no additional business constraints, but in real-world scenarios, constraints often exist. For this example, I am using this dataset (CC0: Public Domain). The data contains some attributes from a company’s customer base (e.g., age, sex, number of products, …) along with their churn status. Now that we have something to work on let’s build the benchmark: 1. Defining the metrics We are dealing with a churn use case, in particular, this is a binary classification problem. Thus the main metrics that we could use are: Precision — Percentage of correctly predicted churners among all predicted churners Recall — Percentage of actual churners correctly identified F1 score — Balances precision and recall True Positives, False Positives, True Negative and False Negatives These are some of the “simple” metrics that could be used to evaluate the output of a model. However, it is not an exhaustive list, standard metrics aren’t always enough. In many use cases, it might be useful to build custom metrics. Let’s assume that in our business case the customers labeled as “high likelihood to churn” are offered a discount. This creates: A cost ($250) when offering the discount to a non-churning customer A profit ($1000) when retaining a churning customer Following on this definition we can build a custom metric that will be crucial in our scenario: # Defining the business case-specific reference metric def financial_gain(y_true, y_pred): loss_from_fp = np.sum(np.logical_and(y_pred == 1, y_true == 0)) * 250 gain_from_tp = np.sum(np.logical_and(y_pred == 1, y_true == 1)) * 1000 return gain_from_tp - loss_from_fp When you are building business-driven metrics these are usually the most relevant. Such metrics could take any shape or form: Financial goals, minimum requirements, percentage of coverage and more. 2. Defining the benchmarks Now that we’ve defined our metrics, we can define a set of baseline models to be used as a reference. In this phase, you should define a list of simple-to-implement model in their simplest possible setup. There is no reason at this state to spend time and resources on the optimization of these models, my mindset is: If I had 15 minutes, how would I implement this model? In later phases of the model, you can add mode baseline models as the project proceeds. In this case, I will use the following models: Random Model — Assigns labels randomly Majority Model — Always predicts the most frequent class Simple XGB Simple KNN import numpy as np import xgboost as xgb from sklearn.neighbors import KNeighborsClassifier class BinaryMean(): @staticmethod def run_benchmark(df_train, df_test): np.random.seed(21) return np.random.choice(a=[1, 0], size=len(df_test), p=[df_train['y'].mean(), 1 - df_train['y'].mean()]) class SimpleXbg(): @staticmethod def run_benchmark(df_train, df_test): model = xgb.XGBClassifier() model.fit(df_train.select_dtypes(include=np.number).drop(columns='y'), df_train['y']) return model.predict(df_test.select_dtypes(include=np.number).drop(columns='y')) class MajorityClass(): @staticmethod def run_benchmark(df_train, df_test): majority_class = df_train['y'].mode()[0] return np.full(len(df_test), majority_class) class SimpleKNN(): @staticmethod def run_benchmark(df_train, df_test): model = KNeighborsClassifier() model.fit(df_train.select_dtypes(include=np.number).drop(columns='y'), df_train['y']) return model.predict(df_test.select_dtypes(include=np.number).drop(columns='y')) Again, as in the case of the metrics, we can build custom benchmarks. Let’s assume that in our business case the the marketing team contacts every client who’s: Over 50 y/o and That is not active anymore Following this rule we can build this model: # Defining the business case-specific benchmark class BusinessBenchmark(): @staticmethod def run_benchmark(df_train, df_test): df = df_test.copy() df.loc[:,'y_hat'] = 0 df.loc[(df['IsActiveMember'] == 0) & (df['Age'] >= 50), 'y_hat'] = 1 return df['y_hat'] Running the benchmark To run the benchmark I will use the following class. The entry point is the method compare_with_benchmark() that, given a prediction, runs all the models and calculates all the metrics. import numpy as np class ChurnBinaryBenchmark(): def __init__( self, metrics = [], benchmark_models = [], ): self.metrics = metrics self.benchmark_models = benchmark_models def compare_pred_with_benchmark( self, df_train, df_test, my_predictions, ): output_metrics = { 'Prediction': self._calculate_metrics(df_test['y'], my_predictions) } dct_benchmarks = {} for model in self.benchmark_models: dct_benchmarks[model.__name__] = model.run_benchmark(df_train = df_train, df_test = df_test) output_metrics[f'Benchmark - {model.__name__}'] = self._calculate_metrics(df_test['y'], dct_benchmarks[model.__name__]) return output_metrics def _calculate_metrics(self, y_true, y_pred): return {getattr(func, '__name__', 'Unknown') : func(y_true = y_true, y_pred = y_pred) for func in self.metrics} Now all we need is a prediction. For this example, I made a quick feature engineering and some hyperparameter tuning. The last step is just to run the benchmark: binary_benchmark = ChurnBinaryBenchmark( metrics=[f1_score, precision_score, recall_score, tp, tn, fp, fn, financial_gain], benchmark_models=[BinaryMean, SimpleXbg, MajorityClass, SimpleKNN, BusinessBenchmark] ) res = binary_benchmark.compare_pred_with_benchmark( df_train=df_train, df_test=df_test, my_predictions=preds, ) pd.DataFrame(res) Benchmark metrics comparison | Image by Author This generates a comparison table of all models across all metrics. Using this table, it is possible to draw concrete conclusions on the model’s predictions and make informed decisions on the following steps of the process. Some drawbacks As we’ve seen there are plenty of reasons why it is useful to have a benchmark. However, even though benchmarks are incredibly useful, there are some pitfalls to watch out for: Non-Informative Benchmark — When the metrics or models are poorly defined the marginal impact of having a benchmark decreases. Always define meaningful baselines. Misinterpretation by Stakeholders — Communication with the client is essential, it is important to state clearly what the metrics are measuring. The best model might not be the best on all the defined metrics. Overfitting to the Benchmark — You might end up trying to create features that are too specific, that might beat the benchmark, but do not generalize well in prediction. Don’t focus on beating the benchmark, but on creating the best solution possible to the problem. Change of Objective — Objectives defined might change, due to miscommunication or changes in plans. Keep your benchmark flexible so it can adapt when needed. Final thoughts Benchmarks provide clarity, ensure improvements are measurable, and create a shared reference point between data scientists and clients. They help avoid the trap of assuming a model is performing well without proof and ensure that every iteration brings real value. They also act as a communication tool, making it easier to explain progress to clients. Instead of just presenting numbers, you can show clear comparisons that highlight improvements. Here you can find a notebook with a full implementation from this blog post. The post How To Build a Benchmark for Your Models appeared first on Towards Data Science.

OpenAI’s next “low-key research preview” has arrived.This time, it’s not ChatGPT, but a coding agent dubbed Codex that is being made available to ChatGPT Pro, Enterprise, and Team subscribers starting Friday. By drumming up comparisons to how ChatGPT was first described, CEO Sam Altman and other company leaders are positioning Codex as the company’s next major product. It doesn’t cost extra to use for now, though OpenAI plans to eventually charge for access once it gets a sense of demand.The goal for Codex is to make ChatGPT a “virtual coworker” for engineers, Josh Tobin, OpenAI’s research lead for agents, said during a press call I attended this week. Like other vibe coding tools, Codex generates code from natural language. It can act independently on sandboxed code to fix bugs, run tests, and suggest changes to how code should run in the real world. This process can take anywhere up to 30 minutes, and OpenAI plans to let Codex work in the background for longer over time. Codex is integrated into ChatGPT’s web app to start, but it’s intentionally cut off from being able to access the internet to mitigate security risks. It’s powered by a version of OpenAI’s o3 reasoning model that is customized for coding and called codex-1.According to Tobin, the company sees Codex as complementary to more granular AI coding assistants like Cursor and Windsurf, the latter of which OpenAI is in talks to acquire for roughly $3 billion. Inside OpenAI, Codex is already being used by engineers as a “morning to-do list” that helps them run multiple tasks in parallel. They have it spin up multiple tasks in parallel that they can come back to check on, according to Alexander Embiricos, Codex’s product lead. He said that a handful of companies that have tested it externally are seeing Codex used by on-call engineers who oversee a service’s stability.For now, Codex is relatively limited in what it can do autonomously. Eventually, OpenAI’s goal is for it to fully abstract away the complexity of coding. “The way that we think most development will happen in the future is that the agent will work on its own computer, and we’ll delegate to it,” said Embiricos. During a recent talk, Altman described coding as “central to the future of OpenAI.” There’s a belief in Silicon Valley that whoever creates a general-purpose AI engineer, which Codex is supposed to become, will have an edge in the race to build artificial general intelligence. Codex was what OpenAI called its first AI coding tool way back in 2021, before ChatGPT was released. Now, models helping people code is perhaps the hottest area of AI, with Anthropic and others betting heavily on it as a business. On Thursday, Windsurf announced its own suite of coding models. And earlier this week, Google’s Gemini added the ability to connect to GitHub and announced AlphaEvolve, an AI coding agent specifically designed for developing algorithms. Speaking of Google, the company’s annual conference, I/O, happens to be next week. Given the rivalry between OpenAI and Google, the timing of this week’s Codex announcement is likely not a coincidence. We’ll see how Google responds.ElsewhereAirbnb’s Apple envy: A minimal, all-black stage. A company founder in a black shirt showing live demos from an iPhone to an audience. Jony Ive sitting in the front row. You may be thinking of an early Apple keynote, but that was what I witnessed in Los Angeles earlier this week at Airbnb’s “Summer Release” event. There, CEO Brian Chesky announced a new “Services” offering, a reboot of Airbnb Experiences, and an app redesign that would make Scott Forstall grin. Steve Jobs has inspired a generation of founders who want to present like him. I understand the impulse, but I’m ready to see a fresh take on what a tech keynote can be. That said, if you’re curious about this week’s Airbnb news, I’d recommend two longreads from Wired and The Wall Street Journal. AI news rapid fire: Microsoft laid off three percent of employees, mainly targeting engineers. / Databricks bought the database startup Neon for $1 billion. / Meta delayed the release of its Llama 4.0 “Behemoth” frontier model. / Perplexity integrated with PayPal and Venmo to allow for purchases. / Cohere missed its revenue forecast by 85 percent. / Chegg laid off 22 percent of employees in large part due to the impact of AI.Overheard“On May 14 at approximately 3:15 AM PST, an unauthorized modification was made to the Grok response bot’s prompt on X. ” - xAI’s post explaining why Grok was suddenly trying to debunk claims of white genocide in South Africa.“When AR really works, I think that will wow people” - Google CEO Sundar Pichai on the All-In podcast.“Flat design is over. The future is colorful and dimensional.” - Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky trying to will it into existence on X.Personnel logAnand Swaminathan, Tesla’s senior manager of Optimus, left to be head of delivery flight performance for Zipline. Benjamin Joe is Meta’s new VP of Asia Pacific. Susie Dickson, Meta’s head of content design, left after 12 years.Alston Cheek, Snap’s former director of platform partnerships, joined Airbnb in the same role. Sterling Anderson, Aurora’s co-founder, joined GM as chief product officer. Richard Gringras, Google’s VP of News, left after 14 years. Christina Wootton, Roblox’s chief partnerships officer, left after over 11 years.Link listMore to click on:If you haven’t already, don’t forget to subscribe to The Verge, which includes unlimited access to Command Line and all of our reporting.As always, I welcome your feedback, especially if you have thoughts on this issue or a story idea to share. You can respond here or ping me securely on Signal.Thanks for subscribing.See More:

Nails by Kumi. Image © Kumi Chantrill Fresh Sets: Tembe Denton-Hurst Celebrates 35 Boundary-Pushing Nail Artists May 16, 2025 BooksDesign Jackie Andres From the birth of the first modern nail parlor in 19th-century Paris to the rise of the Vietnamese nail industry in America after the fall of Saigon, nail beautification has always been connected to the world it adorns. Author Tembe Denton-Hurst reminds us of this in her new book, Fresh Sets: Contemporary Nail Art from Around the World. Setting the scene with her own experience of falling in love with manicures as a child in Brooklyn and a brief survey of the transformative history of nail embellishment throughout time, the book showcases 35 standout artists thriving today. Nails by Kumi. Image © Kiel Wode. All photos courtesy of Prestel Publishing, shared with permission While basic sets remain timeless, there’s no doubt that in the 21st century, contemporary aesthetics have flourished in a subversive, powerful way. From birthday candle pedicures and maximalist jeweled acrylics to moss-covered fingertips and sculpted claws channeling cyber sigilism, Fresh Sets features 300 vibrant images highlighting ongoing innovations in the medium. The democratization of nail art has allowed the creative form to flourish across time and space. Extravagant designs once only seen sauntering down the catwalk, for instance, are now within reach for daily wear. The rise of nail artists has uniquely blurred this line between luxury and everyday accessory, forging paths and connecting worlds. One such artist featured in Fresh Sets is Lauren Michelle Pires. With a methodical precision, she approaches her practice as a designer, collecting extensive archives of color combinations and references images. Once a fashion student, Pires now works with designer brands such as Loewe, Diesel, Miu Miu, and more. “I view being a nail artist as a very intricate and pristine job, and I definitely try to capture beauty in my work,” she explains. “But, over time, I’ve really learned how to experiment more and to lean into the awkwardness of beauty.” Nails by Kumi. Image © Kiel Wode As the realm of nail design continues to evolve in tremendous fashion, transforming one’s own fingernails as if they were ten tiny canvases—each a site for creating an extension of self, asserting identity, and even signifying resistance—has and always will be a deeply resonant gesture for many. As Denton-Hurst shares in the introduction, “long nails have become part of me, as identifiable as the brown of my skin or my loud laugh.” You can find your own copy of Fresh Sets on Bookshop. See more from Tembe Denton-Hurst on Instagram. Nails by Iksoxo. Image © Alona Sobolevska Nails by Dxpper Acrylics. Image © Black Archives Nails and image © Tomoya Nakagawa Nails and image © Naomi Yasuda Nails by Juan. Image © Juan Alvear Nails by Yeswhat Nails. Image © Violetta Kurilenko Nails and image © Tomoya Nakagawa Nails and image © Nikki Panic Next article

TechCrunch is joining forces with VivaTech, Europe’s biggest startup and tech event, to select startups for the prestigious VivaTech Innovation of the Year at VivaTech 2025. This partnership will highlight exceptional creativity, technological ingenuity, and industry-transforming potential among exhibiting startups. The VivaTech Innovation of the Year Award acknowledges and celebrates exhibiting startups at VivaTech 2025 that showcase outstanding innovation, advanced technological capabilities, and significant potential to revolutionize their respective industry. TechCrunch will curate a shortlist of the top 30 candidates, appoint a jury member to help select the final top 5, and participate on stage at VivaTech on June 11 alongside the full jury during the final award presentation. On June 12, TechCrunch will also serve as the official host of the VivaTech Global Awards Ceremony, where the winners of the 5 VivaTech Awards will be announced, providing the Master of Ceremony to lead the event with introductions, award transitions, and the closing moment. Five finalists will receive a valuable opportunity to pitch on the VivaTech stage on June 11, gain introductions to venture capitalists, enjoy exclusive networking with jury members, achieve high visibility across VivaTech marketing channels, and receive two additional 4-day passes to attend VivaTech 2025.The Innovation of the Year award winner will also secure a place in the highly competitive Disrupt Startup Battlefield 200, with eligibility to present at TechCrunch’s flagship annual event held in San Francisco, CA in October 2025. VivaTech Innovation of the Year Award eligibility guidelines: Must be an exhibiting startup at VivaTech 2025 Founded in or after 2020 Fewer than 50 employees Selection of 5 Finalists – June 4 Finalists’ Pitch Session at VivaTech – June 11 VivaTech Global Awards Ceremony – June 12 Book your pass now About Viva Technology VivaTech accelerates innovation by connecting startups, tech leaders, major companies and investors responding to our world’s biggest challenges. Techcrunch event Join us at TechCrunch Sessions: AI Secure your spot for our leading AI industry event with speakers from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Cohere. For a limited time, tickets are just $292 for an entire day of expert talks, workshops, and potent networking. Exhibit at TechCrunch Sessions: AI Secure your spot at TC Sessions: AI and show 1,200+ decision-makers what you’ve built — without the big spend. Available through May 9 or while tables last. Berkeley, CA | June 5 REGISTER NOW Each year, over four exciting days in Paris, VivaTech creates Europe’s biggest technology and startup event, exploring the most disruptive topics in tech with world-premiere demos, launches and conferences in a collaborative ecosystem. This is where business meets innovation. Take part to the ninth edition of VivaTech 11-14 June 2025.