Lyse Martel is a Berlin-based “Color, Materials, and Finish” (CMF) designer and strategist in the mobility and consumer electronics industries. Her work combines craftsmanship and emerging technology to shape design strategy, drive material innovation, and create new sensory experiences. Lyse is fascinated by design’s power to shape how people feel and act. She believes design can foster emotional connection and wellbeing at a time when AI and automation are making their way into many new consumer product experiences, from the car to the living room. Below, Martel explores the emotional dimension of circular design and how the CMF field is evolving to meet the global challenges of circularity and sustainability. Fast Company: Please introduce yourself to our readers.Lyse MartelLyse Martel: I’m Lyse Martel, a CMF designer and design strategist, working primarily in automotive and consumer electronics. CMF, which stands for Color, Materials, and Finish, is about how a product looks, feels, and connects emotionally. So my work focuses on those elements as well as on strategy, brand identity, and sustainability. Although I mainly work in automotive and consumer electronics, CMF can apply to many different areas. Over the years I’ve worked with brands like Bang & Olufsen, Hopium, and NIO. And most recently I was directing a circular design project at Volkswagen Group—designing for circularity from the start with a large team of designers from different disciplines. How did you find your way into this field? It was step by step. My love for design was always there, even before I knew what to call it. It was shaped by my family’s craftsmanship, as well as my own curiosity for shapes, textures, colors, and sensory experiences. On my father’s side, I grew up around a lot of woodworking and carpentry. And on my mother’s side are generations of tailors. So that gave me an appreciation for textiles and textures and detailing and crafts. And I’ve always loved illustration and drawing and building small architectures with natural elements—everything that could involve materials and aesthetics. And I think that brought me to materiality and storytelling and eventually to CMF design. Were you able to find an educational path that encouraged your interests? I went to a specialized high school for applied arts and design, where I grew immensely as a creative person, and had a teacher who supported me and saw my potential with conceptual thinking. At university another teacher encouraged me to apply to a design internship in the automotive sector in Paris, and that’s how I formally entered the CMF design field. I was immediately drawn to the innovation and complexity of using material and color to shape the brand identity for a mobility project. [Photo: Lyse Martel]How do you stay on top of trends in color and material?Much of it is intuitive, but we also learn to connect the dots and see trends. I’m very much inspired by psychology and by what’s going on in the world—anything that could possibly impact human experiences and emotions. I’m paying attention to developments in architecture, interiors, digital and physical design, and material innovation. I’m also looking at global trends that have nothing to do with the design industry, including culture and the natural world. Nature plays a big role because you can look at how light interacts, how materials evolve with time, the functioning of ecosystems, and agriculture. I’m also very interested in how CMF design intersects with concepts like wellbeing and happiness, so I follow influential practitioners like Ivy Ross from Google, and Susan Magsamen, who works on neuroaesthetics, and Carol Gilligan, the psychologist and philosopher. Could you share more about neuroaesthetics? Neuroaesthetics looks at how design makes people feel: how beauty and art and design influence our brain, and how things like color, textures, light, and sound make us react cognitively or emotionally. We know that certain visual experiences will calm or excite us, while others make us feel uncomfortable. Designers can leverage those insights to create more meaningful and intuitive interactions. I’ve always been fascinated by how design makes people feel, and neuroaesthetics gives us the scientific reasoning behind those ideas. For instance, when I’m working with color and material for a car interior, I can decide to craft a more calming atmosphere with natural materials, or use soft lighting or a color gradient that can guide the user’s eye. I can think about how textures and tactility will influence the user’s feeling of comfort, or their perception of product quality or durability. When it comes to sustainability, there are a lot of materials that may not be readily acceptable to a user. In that case it can be helpful to lean into the authenticity of that material, perhaps by making it warmer or softer, or relating it to nature through colors or grain. So if we can somehow elevate or upscale the experience with that material, then we can start to shift the mindset to embrace sustainable materials or choices. Earlier you mentioned your work in circular design. Could you share more about that? Circular design is rethinking how we create and use products. It means designing for longevity, adaptability, and regeneration. We seek out the right materials, we design for easy reuse and repair, and we try to ensure that the product stays in circulation for as long as possible. Longevity is the number one criteria, because the longer you use a product, the less impact it has in terms of greenhouse gas emissions and other waste metrics. With circularity do you encounter pushback from industries that simply need consumers to keep buying more stuff? It does clash with short-term profit models, so it’s not easy for businesses to embrace it completely. But there is momentum for circular design, which is driven by consumer expectations, tighter regulations, and a growing recognition that resource efficiency is also smart business. I’ve seen mobility and consumer electronics firms try out concepts like modularity, repairability, and designing with disassembly in mind. Neuroaesthetics seems to be a strategy for tapping into people’s innate preferences for certain colors, materials, and finishes. But could also instigate behavior change, by tapping into the emotional layer of circularity? Absolutely, it can be surprisingly comforting, even if the materials are unexpected. When designing a circular product, you’re often working with waste, like a polymer that’s meant to circulate between cars. The challenge is making that material feel good, both emotionally and physically. What works is embracing the material’s character, maybe it has a soft texture or a slight irregularity, like a grain or uneven thread. Or it comes in a natural color that feels ultra-fresh. These little details shift the focus from what it is to how it makes you feel. You might not even realize it’s recycled plastic, but it just feels right. Sometimes, a car interior can feel like a cozy cabin, all because of the right textures and tones. That emotional layer is what really connects circularity.How could neuroaesthetics help make people comfortable with something new, like self-driving cars? It’s really about how shapes, colors and textures support the digital experience; all the micro-details working together to help the user feel at ease. I’ve been testing self-driving vehicles recently, and it’s surprising how much the environment impacts your reaction. In one case, the layout was minimal, with just the right number of buttons, and that simplicity helped me relax. But I also tested a car that was entirely gray, and it felt dull and dated. Light tones or soft gradients, something that evokes a sunrise or sunset, can go a long way in making the space feel more inviting.With automation, trust becomes a key part of the brief. How easily will someone understand what’s happening? Are they okay letting go of the wheel? That’s where CMF design needs to be fully integrated. I have to work closely with the interior and UX designers so that everything speaks the same language. If I propose a soft, natural palette and the shapes are cold or aggressive, it creates a disconnect.[AI Image: courtesy Lyse Martel]Can you share how you use AI in your work, or how AI factors into the CMF design process? It’s part of my creative process in that it helps me visualize materials, colors, and sensory experiences I’m considering for a project. It’s a great way to communicate an idea visually, and also to put it out there so someone else can pick it up and build on it. So for me, it’s really a tool that helps us be more precise in how we express and share ideas.There are also really promising use cases in circular design, where AI can help us map local resources and integrate them more intelligently into products. For example, there’s a lot of bamboo in China, linen in the north of France, or paper waste around Berlin. So what can we do with that knowledge? We can see where materials are available, but also think about how to reduce waste, predict life cycles, or imagine new reuse scenarios. Anything that involves localizing or optimizing can be supported by AI.And as the digital world increasingly shapes the physical one, I think there’s real potential in using these new, hyper-sensory AI-generated visuals to inspire physical experiences. Neuroaesthetics helps us design for emotion, and AI can help translate those emotional cues into visual concepts that, when made real, feel meaningful and multi-sensory. Do you ever get any pushback for the decisions that you or your team might make as CMF designers? Sometimes there’s a strong reaction to a particular color or material choice. I remember working on a concept car called Eve, developed with a strong focus on emerging markets and innovative design languages. I proposed an exterior in a rose gold tone, which could be read as pink. That sparked some discomfort in the room. I think it challenged certain expectations of what a car should look like, especially in Western automotive culture. But in China, rose gold is often associated with refinement and quality. It’s not seen as gendered in the same way. So for me, it was an opportunity to bring a fresh, culturally relevant aesthetic into the project. I understood the hesitation, but that’s part of the role. Sometimes CMF invites us to gently shift the visual language and open up new emotional possibilities.[Image: Felix Godard Design]Are there certain colors and finishes that are timeless and others that are more transitory? In the last decade we used a lot of neutrals, like beige and gray. Many brands also decided to shape themselves around their core colors—“our black,” “our white,” etc. And they would build up from there to include more exciting colors into their identity. Today I see those approaches being challenged. Gen Z is coming in and they have other ideas about what’s fresh. In the past few years we saw a lot of yellows. Recently, dark reds have been popping up everywhere, and they’re a powerful, timeless choice that adds richness and sophistication. These colors grab attention and can work well, but we need to be mindful of their relevance for long-term products.I believe there is still a need for that core timelessness. You might use black as a core color, but you might tint it blue to make it more interesting or less intense. When I was at Bang & Olufsen, we often discussed how to stand out from typical black consumer electronics. For a more lifestyle-oriented, subtle design in the home, why not use gray?[Image: courtesy NIO]Are you ever surprised when a particular color takes off? The latest Pantone color of the year is a brown-beige shade, which honestly surprised me. I’ve used warm grays before when I wanted to give a product a cozier, inviting feel, but this one doesn’t feel as fresh to me. I’m not sure it resonates with the moment in the same way other trends do. I love when a heritage brand takes an unexpected turn, like the paper company GF Smith, which recently rebranded with vibrant, poppy colors and introduced a bespoke, rounded sans-serif typeface, GF Smith Homie. I like to see they are brushing off the history to embrace different values and just be human. They want to stand for inclusivity, so they’re going to speak up about that and make sure it’s seen in the brand.Where do you draw creative inspiration? It’s really what makes me burn, what is calling my heart. I also need to talk to people—not only creatives, but people from all walks of life. I enjoy traveling through my city and looking at how people live. I learn a lot simply from riding the train, overhearing conversations, and observing how the mood changes with the seasons. I also read the news and check out certain magazines. There’s one I like, Imagine5, that focuses on how to make sustainability joyful. It explores that from all angles and it’s very accessible. You don’t have to be a sustainability expert to enjoy it. [Image: courtesy NIO]Could you share some of the projects you’ve worked on that you’re most proud of? I joined the global smart EV brand NIO in its early stages, when the brand vision was still taking shape, and contributed to the initial direction of color, materials, and finishes as part of the design team. The objective was to align with their vision of “Blue Sky Coming,” so we had to come up with progressive aesthetics and human-centered design, which later evolved into design principles. Shaping that brand was extremely rich for me in terms of learning and collaborating with so many talented designers. I also led a couple of projects – one was the previously mentioned concept car called Eve. I had the opportunity to introduce more natural materials and different colors that were not commonly used in the automotive space.Introducing new aesthetics became an important theme for my later work with Bang & Olufsen, which was about connecting the dots between sound and material and design. And then more recently, the circularity project I’ve been leading for Volkswagen Group is really close to my heart. The brief was to introduce longevity, adaptability, and recyclability across all design touch points for Volkswagen. To that end we provided creative direction that considered everything from exterior design, interior, user experience, and materiality.It was an interesting challenge to find the emotional layer of circularity, while staying on brand for Volkswagen. Circularity has a lot of very technical aspects, but as designers we can make circularity tangible. How do you deal with mistakes or failure in the creative process? I view mistakes or failure as an opportunity to test more, to rethink, and to reframe. If a design doesn’t work, how can we regroup and find a solution that’s way more interesting and beyond the obvious? In the creative process there can be a lot of fear associated with going against the grain. What I’ve noticed is that if we stay in that fear space, we close ourselves off to opportunities. It’s important to be in an open space of creativity and curiosity. Allow mistakes and failure to happen. When there is joy in the process and a strong intuition, you produce better results in the end. What advice would you give to aspiring designers, but also anyone who wants to enter the world you inhabit? Great design comes from a constantly growing and inspired mind. Stay curious and know that inspiration comes from everywhere. Embrace your uniqueness, but also be able to evolve from that. Be open to change and to new perspectives. There will be tough feedback and creative disagreements, but the important thing is how you receive those situations. Maintain a mindset of abundance and try to see the positive in anything you do. Finally, as creatives it’s important for us to take time alone to recharge, to reflect, and to work on our magic. When you’re feeling well and thriving individually, your creativity also does. At that point it’s crucial to rejoin the collective, where you have a chance to collaborate and experience the diversity of perspectives that fuels creativity. It can be a tough road for aspiring designers, but I would encourage them to proceed with care and openness, and to leave their fears behind. 

Transparent design is the intentional use of see-through or translucent materials and visual strategies to evoke openness, honesty, and fluidity in both spatial and product design. It enhances light flow, visibility, and interaction, blurring boundaries between spaces or revealing inner layers of products. In interiors, this manifests through glass walls, acrylic dividers, and open layouts that invite natural light and visual connection. Transparency in product design often exposes internal mechanisms in products, fostering trust and curiosity by making functions visible. It focuses on simplicity, clarity, and minimalist form, creating seamless connections between objects and their environments. Let’s now explore how transparency shapes the function, experience, and emotional impact of spatial and product design. Transparent Spatial Design Transparency in spatial design serves as a powerful architectural language that transcends mere material choice, creating profound connections between spaces and their inhabitants. By employing translucent or clear elements, designers can dissolve traditional boundaries, allowing light to penetrate deeply into interiors while establishing visual relationships between previously separated areas. This permeability creates a dynamic spatial experience where environments flow into one another, expanding perceived dimensions and fostering a sense of openness. The strategic use of transparent elements – whether through glass partitions, open floor plans, or permeable screens – transforms rigid spatial hierarchies into fluid, interconnected zones that respond to contemporary needs for flexibility and connection with both surrounding spaces and natural environments. Beyond its physical manifestations, transparency embodies deeper philosophical principles in design, representing honesty, clarity, and accessibility. It democratizes space by removing visual barriers that traditionally signaled exclusion or privacy, instead promoting inclusivity and shared experience. In public buildings, transparent features invite engagement and participation, while in residential contexts, they nurture connection to nature and enhance wellbeing through abundant natural light. This approach challenges designers to thoughtfully balance openness with necessary privacy, creating nuanced spatial sequences that can reveal or conceal as needed. When skillfully implemented, transparency becomes more than an aesthetic choice, it becomes a fundamental design strategy that shapes how we experience, navigate, and emotionally respond to our built environment. 1. Expands Perception of Space Transparency in spatial design enhances how people perceive space by blurring the boundaries between rooms and creating a seamless connection between the indoors and the outdoors. Materials like glass and acrylic create visual continuity, making interiors feel larger, more open, and seamlessly integrated. This approach encourages a fluid transition between spaces, eliminates confinement, and promotes spatial freedom. As a result, transparent design contributes to an inviting atmosphere while maximising natural views and light penetration throughout the environment. Nestled in St. Donat near Montreal, the Apple Tree House by ACDF Architecture is a striking example of transparent design rooted in emotional memory. Wrapped around a central courtyard with a symbolic apple tree, the low-slung home features expansive glass walls that create continuous visual access to nature. The transparent layout not only blurs the boundaries between indoors and outdoors but also transforms the apple tree into a living focal point and is visible from multiple angles and spaces within the house. This thoughtful transparency allows natural light to flood the interiors while connecting the home’s occupants with the changing seasons outside. The home’s square-shaped plan includes three black-clad volumes that house bedrooms, a lounge, and service areas. Despite the openness, privacy is preserved through deliberate wall placements. Wooden ceilings and concrete floors add warmth and texture, but it’s the full-height glazing that defines the home that frames nature as a permanent, ever-evolving artwork at its heart. 2. Enhances the Feeling of Openness One of the core benefits of transparent design is its ability to harness natural light, transforming enclosed areas into luminous, uplifting environments. By using translucent or clear materials, designers reduce the need for artificial lighting and minimize visual barriers. This not only improves energy efficiency but also fosters emotional well-being by connecting occupants to daylight and exterior views. Ultimately, transparency promotes a feeling of openness and calm, aligning with minimalist and modern architectural principles. The Living O’Pod by UN10 Design Studio is a transparent, two-story pod designed as a minimalist retreat that fully immerses its occupants in nature. Built with a steel frame and glass panels all around, this glass bubble offers uninterrupted panoramic views of the Finnish wilderness. Its remote location provides the privacy needed to embrace transparency, allowing residents to enjoy stunning sunrises, sunsets, and starry nights from within. The open design blurs the line between indoors and outdoors, creating a unique connection with the environment. Located in Repovesi, Finland, the pod’s interiors feature warm plywood floors and walls that complement the natural setting. A standout feature is its 360° rotation, which allows the entire structure to turn and capture optimal light and views throughout the day. Equipped with thermal insulation and heating, the Living O’Pod ensures comfort year-round and builds a harmonious relationship between people and nature. 3. Encourages Interaction Transparent design reimagines interiors as active participants in the user experience, rather than passive backgrounds. Open sightlines and clear partitions encourage movement, visibility, and spontaneous interaction among occupants. This layout strategy fosters social connectivity, enhances spatial navigation, and aligns with contemporary needs for collaboration and flexibility. Whether in residential, commercial, or public spaces, transparency supports an intuitive spatial flow that strengthens the emotional and functional relationship between people and their environment. The Beach Cabin on the Baltic Sea, designed by Peter Kuczia, is a striking architectural piece located near Gdansk in northern Poland. This small gastronomy facility combines simplicity with bold design, harmoniously fitting into the beach environment while standing out through its innovative form. The structure is composed of two distinct parts: an enclosed space and an expansive open living and dining area that maximizes natural light and offers shelter. This dual arrangement creates a balanced yet dynamic architectural composition that respects the surrounding landscape. A defining feature of the cabin is its open dining area, which is divided into two sections—one traditional cabin-style and the other constructed entirely of glass. The transparent glass facade provides uninterrupted panoramic views of the Baltic Sea, the shoreline, and the sky, enhancing the connection between interior and nature. Elevated on stilts, the building appears to float above the sand, minimizing environmental impact and contributing to its ethereal, dreamlike quality. Transparent Product Design In product design, transparency serves as both a functional strategy and a powerful communicative tool that transforms the relationship between users and objects. By revealing internal components and operational mechanisms through clear or translucent materials, designers create an immediate visual understanding of how products function, demystifying technology and inviting engagement. This design approach establishes an honest dialogue with consumers, building trust through visibility rather than concealment. Beyond mere aesthetics, transparent design celebrates the beauty of engineering, turning circuit boards, gears, and mechanical elements into intentional visual features that tell the product’s story. From the nostalgic appeal of see-through gaming consoles to modern tech accessories, this approach satisfies our innate curiosity about how things work while creating a more informed user experience. The psychological impact of transparency in products extends beyond functional clarity to create deeper emotional connections. When users can observe a product’s inner workings, they develop increased confidence in its quality and craftsmanship, fostering a sense of reliability that opaque designs often struggle to convey. This visibility also democratizes understanding, making complex technologies more accessible and less intimidating to diverse users. Transparent design elements can evoke powerful nostalgic associations while simultaneously appearing futuristic and innovative, creating a timeless appeal that transcends trends. By embracing transparency, designers reject the notion that complexity should be hidden, instead celebrating the intricate engineering that powers our everyday objects. This philosophy aligns perfectly with contemporary values of authenticity and mindful consumption, where users increasingly seek products that communicate honesty in both form and function. 1. Reveals Functionality Transparent product design exposes internal components like wiring, gears, or circuits, turning functional parts into visual features. This approach demystifies the object, inviting users to understand how it works rather than hiding its complexity. It fosters appreciation for craftsmanship and engineering while encouraging educational curiosity. By showcasing what lies beneath the surface, designers build an honest relationship with consumers that is based on clarity, trust, and visible function. Packing a backpack often means tossing everything in and hoping for the best—until you need something fast. This transparent modular backpack concept reimagines that daily hassle with a clear, compartmentalized design that lets you see all your gear at a glance. No more digging through a dark abyss—every item has its visible place. The bag features four detachable, differently sized boxes that snap together with straps, letting you customize what you carry. Grab just the tech module or gym gear block and go—simple, efficient, and streamlined. Unlike traditional organizers that hide contents in pouches, the transparent material keeps everything in plain sight, saving time and frustration. While it raises valid concerns around privacy and security, the clarity and convenience it offers make it ideal for fast-paced, on-the-go lifestyles. With form meeting function, this concept shows how transparent design can transform not just how a bag looks, but how it works. 2. Enhances User Engagement When users can see how a product operates, they feel more confident using it. Transparent casings invite interaction by reducing uncertainty about internal processes. This visible clarity reassures users about the product’s integrity and quality, creating a psychological sense of openness and reliability. Especially in tech and appliances, this strategy deepens user trust and adds emotional value by allowing a more intimate connection with the design’s purpose and construction. The transparent Sony Glass Blue WF-C710N earbuds represent something more meaningful than a mere aesthetic choice, embodying a refreshing philosophy of technological honesty. While most devices conceal their inner workings behind opaque shells, Sony’s decision to reveal the intricate circuitry and precision components celebrates the engineering artistry that makes these tiny audio marvels possible. As you catch glimpses of copper coils and circuit boards through the crystal-clear housing, there’s a renewed appreciation for the invisible complexity that delivers your favorite music, serving as a visual reminder that sometimes the most beautiful designs are those that have nothing to hide. 3. Celebrates Aesthetic Engineering Transparency turns utilitarian details into design features, allowing users to visually experience the beauty of inner mechanisms. This trend, seen in everything from vintage electronics to modern gadgets and watches, values technical artistry as much as outer form. Transparent design redefines aesthetics by focusing on the raw, mechanical truth of a product. It appeals to minimalism and industrial design lovers, offering visual depth and storytelling through exposed structure rather than decorative surface embellishment. DAB Motors’ 1α Transparent Edition brings retro tech flair into modern mobility with its striking transparent bodywork. Inspired by the see-through gadgets of the ”90s—like the Game Boy Color and clear Nintendo controllers—this electric motorcycle reveals its inner mechanics with style. The semi-translucent panels offer a rare peek at the bike’s intricate engineering, blending nostalgia with innovation. Carbon fiber elements, sourced from repurposed Airbus materials, complement the lightweight transparency, creating a visual experience that’s both futuristic and rooted in classic design aesthetics. The see-through design isn’t just for looks—it enhances the connection between rider and machine. Exposed components like the integrated LCD dashboard, lenticular headlight, and visible frame structure emphasize function and precision. This openness aligns with a broader transparent design philosophy, where clarity and honesty in construction are celebrated. The DAB 1α turns heads not by hiding complexity, but by proudly displaying it, making every ride a statement in motion. Beyond just materials, transparent design also reflects a deeper design philosophy that values clarity in purpose, function, and sustainability. It supports minimalist thinking by focusing on what’s essential, reducing visual clutter, and making spaces or products easier to understand and engage with. Whether in interiors or objects, transparency helps create a more honest, functional, and connected user experienceThe post Transparent Design: How See-Through Materials Are Revolutionizing Architecture & Product Design first appeared on Yanko Design.

HBO original The Gilded Age returns for a third season on June 22. This series tells a fictionalized story set during America’s Gilded Age. A time of rapidly increasing prosperity and industry, for those lucky enough to capitalize on it. New York City’s social scene is forced to adapt as people with old money (inherited wealth) and those with new money (wealth from rising industries) clash. Carrie Coon, Morgan Spector, Taissa Farmiga, Cynthia Nixon, and more star in this compelling drama. Fans of The Hunger Games series will be happy to find all four movies in the series on Max from the first of the month. If you need a break from Sunrise on the Reaping theories or simply want to revisit the story that started it all, Max is the place to be. A Minecraft Movie will also be available to stream on Max this month, though the date has yet to be revealed by Warner Bros. Discovery. Here’s everything coming to HBO and Max in June. HBO and Max New Releases – June 2025 June 1 A Hologram for the King (2016)A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010)A Perfect Getaway (2009)Backtrack (2016)Batman and Superman: Battle of the Super Sons (2022)Black Patch (1957)Blues in the Night (1941)Casino (1995)Fight Club (1999)Gentleman Jim (1942)Hellboy (2004)I Am Not Your Negro (2017)Igor (2008)Illegal (1955)In the Good Old Summertime (1949)Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)Kid Glove Killer (1942)Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)My Scientology Movie (2017)Numbered Men (1930)One Foot in Heaven (1941)Parasite (2019)Presenting Lily Mars (1943)Pride & Prejudice (2005)Public Enemies (2009)Reign of the Supermen (2019)Serenade (1956)Silver River (1948)Spaceballs (1987)Split (2017)Strike Up the Band (1940)Summer Stock (1950)Superman: Man of Tomorrow (2020)Superman: Red Son (2020)Superman: Unbound (2013)Superman/Batman: Public Enemies (2009)Thank Your Lucky Stars (1943)The Death of Superman (2018)The Fighting 69th (1940)The Harvey Girls (1946)The Hunger Games (2012)The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 (2014)The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 (2015)The Man Who Invented Christmas (2017)The Match King (1932)The Mayor of Hell (1933)The Mortician (HBO Original)The Nitwits (1935)The Prince and the Pauper (1937)The Sea Chase (1955)The Sea Hawk (1940)The Sunlit Night (2019)The Verdict (1946)They Made Me a Criminal (1939)This Side of the Law (1950)Three Faces East (1930)Three Strangers (1946)Total Drama Island, Season 2 (Cartoon Network)Wagons West (1952)Words and Music (1948)You’ll Find Out (1940)Ziegfeld Follies (1946)June 2 BBQ Brawl, Season 6 (Food Network)June 3 Bullet Train (2022)Ugliest House in America, Season 6 (HGTV)June 4 1000-lb Roomies, Season 1 (TLC)Fatal Destination, Season 1 (ID)June 5 Bea’s Block, Season 1C (Max Original)Chespirito: Not Really on Purpose, Season 1 (Max Original)June 6 House Hunters International: Volume 9, Season 201 (HGTV)Parthenope (A24) June 10 Virgins, Season 1 (TLC) Join our mailing list Get the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox! June 11 Guy’s Grocery Games, Season 38 (Food Network)June 12 Bitchin’ Rides, Season 11Mini Beat Power Rockers: A Superheroic Night (Discovery International)June 13 Cleaner (2025)House Hunters: Volume 10, Season 240 (HGTV)Maine Cabin Masters, Season 10 (Magnolia Network)Super Sara (Max Original)Toad & Friends, Season 1BJune 16 Hero Ball, Season 3BJune 17 Dr. Sanjay Gupta Reports: Animal Pharm (CNN Originals, 2025)Super Mega Cakes, Season 1 (Food Network) June 19 Expedition Unknown, Season 15 (Discovery)Mystery At Blind Frog Ranch, Season 5 (Discovery)June 20 House Hunters: Volume 10, Season 241 (HGTV)Lu & The Bally Bunch, Season 1C (Cartoon Network)Now or Never: FC Montfermeil (Max Original)Teen Titans Go!, Season 9B (Cartoon Network)June 21 The Kitchen, Season 38 (Food Network)The Never Ever Mets, Season 2 (OWN)June 22The Gilded Age, Season 3 (HBO Original) June 23 Match Me Abroad, Season 2 (TLC)June 24 Enigma (HBO Original)Mean Girl Murders, Season 3 (ID)The Invitation (2022) June 25 Rehab Addict, Season 10 (HGTV)June 27 House Hunters: Volume 10, Season 242 (HGTV)My Mom Jayne (HBO Original)Pati, Seasons 1&2 (Max Original)The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie (2025)June 29 #Somebody’s Son, Season 1 (OWN)Family or Fiancé, Season 4 (OWN)June 30 90 Day Fiancé: Pillow Talk, Season 11 (TLC)Truck U, Season 21

NASA Wants Your Help to Study These Rare, High-Altitude Clouds That Appear to Glow at Sunrise and Sunset Noctilucent clouds usually form close to the poles, but in recent decades, they’re being spotted closer to the Equator Noctilucent clouds over the Baltic Sea, as seen from Germany in 2019. Typically seen in polar regions, the clouds are increasingly appearing at mid- and low latitudes. Matthias Süßen via Wikimedia Commons under CC BY-SA 4.0 While astronomy and clouds don’t usually mix, a rare type of atmospheric phenomenon, called noctilucent or night-shining clouds, offers an exception, as reported by Space.com’s Anthony Wood. Noctilucent clouds are wispy, silvery-blue clouds found at much higher altitudes than usual. While most clouds form in the troposphere between Earth’s surface and about 11 miles above the ground, these appear in the mesosphere, up to 50 miles high. They become visible right after sunset or right before sunrise, when the sun illuminates them from beyond the horizon. The rare clouds likely come into being as ice crystallizes on meteor dust, when the mesosphere is rich with water and very cold, per EarthSky. Paradoxically, noctilucent clouds usually form in the summer. That’s because during the hottest months of the year, surface air warms up and rises, expanding and cooling as it does so. Alongside other processes, this cools the mesosphere to temperatures as low as minus 210 degrees Fahrenheit, according to EarthSky. This happens around Earth’s poles, so people are thus most likely to see noctilucent clouds in polar regions during the summer—for the Northern Hemisphere, the clouds tend to appear between late May and mid-August. What are noctilucent clouds and how can you see them? Watch on More recently, however, the rare phenomenon has been spotted closer and closer to the Equator. As such, NASA published a statement earlier this month asking citizen scientists to submit their observations and photographs of noctilucent clouds—even pictures taken in the past—to a crowdsourced research project called Space Cloud Watch. “Combined with satellite data and model simulations, your data can help us figure out why these noctilucent clouds are more frequently appearing at mid-low latitudes,” the agency explains. According to Royal Museums Greenwich, some scholars suggest climate change is responsible for that shift, as well as rocket launches. Rocket exhaust trails consist of small ice particles and water vapor, which can contribute to noctilucent clouds once they reach the mesosphere. Last summer, Europe saw especially spectacular noctilucent clouds, despite the fact that strong solar activity—such as what we’re experiencing now at the solar maximum—would normally have dissipated them, as reported by Spaceweather.com. This might be partially explained by the underwater volcano near Tonga that erupted in 2022 and threw a plume of water vapor into the atmosphere. “That was two years ago, but it takes about two years for the vapor to circulate up to the mesosphere, where NLCs [noctilucent clouds] form. Water is a key ingredient for NLCs, so Tonga’s moisture could be turbocharging the clouds,” Spaceweather.com reported in June 2024, adding that the 124 rocket launches so far that year likely also played a role. If you’re hoping to spot the night-shining clouds yourself this summer, the good news is that they’re visible to the naked eye. The bad news is that the only ways to predict their natural appearance are by checking for ideal upper atmospheric conditions and keeping an eye on north-facing webcams in regions east of your location, as reported by Stuart Atkinson for BBC Sky at Night Magazine last year. If noctilucent clouds are forming in those eastern skies, where the sun sets earlier, chances are that they might be soon visible in your area. And if you do happen to catch a glimpse, don’t forget to snap a photo for science. “I find these clouds fascinating and can’t wait to see the amazing pictures,” Space Cloud Watch project lead Chihoko Cullens, a research scientist at the University of Colorado, Boulder, says in NASA’s statement. Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday.

39 Summer Fonts That Really ‘Sizzle’ In this article:See more ▼Post may contain affiliate links which give us commissions at no cost to you.As a graphic designer who lives for those long, lazy summer days, I can’t help but get excited when it’s time to break out the summer fonts. There’s something absolutely magical about typography that captures the essence of sunshine, beach vibes, and endless possibilities. Summer fonts are more than just pretty letters on a screen – they’re visual vacation postcards that transport viewers straight to sandy beaches, backyard barbecues, and those perfect golden hour moments. I’ve spent countless hours (probably too many!) curating the perfect collection of typefaces that embody everything we love about the warmest season of the year. Whether you’re designing festival posters, ice cream shop branding, or social media graphics that scream “summer vibes,” the right font can make all the difference. It’s not just about looking good (though these fonts absolutely do); it’s about evoking that carefree, sun-kissed feeling that makes summer so special. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll dive deep into the most sizzling summer fonts of 2025, explore what makes a font feel summery, and discover how to use these typefaces to bring that vacation energy to any project. So grab your favorite cold drink, find a spot in the shade, and let’s embark on this typographic summer adventure together! 👋 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 »The Hottest Summer Fonts of 2025 Not all fonts are created equal when it comes to capturing that perfect summer essence. I’ve handpicked the most vibrant, energetic typefaces that’ll make your designs feel like a breath of fresh ocean air. Here are my top picks: Summer Sunshine Summer Sunshine is a vibrant decorative font that exudes warmth and cheer. Its playful letterforms and sunny aesthetic make it perfect for summer-themed designs and joyful projects.Summer Days Summer Days is a lively script font that captures the essence of carefree summer vibes. Its fluid, handwritten style and energetic character make it ideal for creating designs with a fresh and vibrant feel.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. Summer Crab Summer Crab is a unique serif font with a handwritten twist, perfect for summer-themed typography. Its quirky design combines elegance with a touch of whimsy, making it suitable for both formal and casual summer projects.Sunrise Waves Sunrise Waves is a brushy sans-serif font that evokes the calm and beauty of a beach at dawn. Its smooth lines and balanced proportions make it versatile for various summer and coastal-themed designs.Summer Wednesday Summer Wednesday is a charming script font that captures the essence of lazy summer days. Its relaxed, handwritten style is perfect for creating designs with a casual, vacation-like atmosphere.Summers Typeface + BONUS vector Summers Typeface is a versatile script font that comes with bonus vector elements. Its flowing monoline letterforms and additional graphics make it an excellent choice for creating comprehensive summer-themed designs and branding materials.Sunroof & Summer Sunroof & Summer is a carefree handwritten font that embodies the spirit of summer road trips. Its natural, spontaneous style is perfect for creating designs with a laid-back and adventurous feel.Summerica Typeface Summerica Typeface is a playful serif font with a hint of nostalgia. Its unique blend of classic and whimsical elements makes it ideal for summer holiday designs and retro-inspired projects.Summer Heaven Summer Heaven is a delightful script font that radiates warmth and happiness. Its sunny disposition and fluid letterforms make it perfect for creating designs that evoke the joy of perfect summer days.Summer – Handwriting Font Summer is a versatile handwriting font that combines sans-serif elements with a script-like flow. Its natural, easy-going style makes it suitable for a wide range of summer-themed designs and personal projects.AL – Blue Season AL – Blue Season is a refreshing cursive font that captures the essence of cool summer breezes. Its flowing letterforms and subtle blue hues make it perfect for creating designs with a calm, seasonal atmosphere.Summer Fruits – Layered Font Summer Fruits is a playful layered font that adds depth and vibrancy to designs. Its fruity aesthetic and customizable layers make it ideal for creating eye-catching summer-themed typography and graphics.Sunburned Tropic – Summer Brush Font Sunburned Tropic is a bold brush font that exudes tropical summer vibes. Its rough, organic texture and energetic strokes make it perfect for creating designs with a beachy, sun-soaked feel.FLIES SUMMER FLIES SUMMER is a modern sans-serif display font with a unique twist. Its clean lines and subtle summer-inspired details make it versatile for various design projects, from branding to editorial layouts.Summer Festival Summer Festival is a lively decorative fun font that captures the excitement of outdoor events. Its playful letterforms and festive character make it ideal for creating designs for summer concerts, fairs, and celebrations.Summer Journey Summer Journey is a versatile font that combines decorative and sans-serif elements. Its unique design evokes a sense of adventure, making it perfect for travel-themed projects and summer vacation designs.Summer Times Summer Times is a chunky, fun script font that radiates positivity with its mid-century font style. Its bold letterforms and playful style make it excellent for creating eye-catching headlines and designs with a cheerful summer vibe.Summer Foliage Font Summer Foliage Font is a nature-inspired typeface that blends sans-serif and script elements. Its organic shapes and leafy details make it perfect for creating designs with a fresh, summery botanical theme.Summer Dust Font Summer Dust Font is a clean and airy typeface that combines sans-serif and handwritten styles. Its light, breezy character makes it ideal for creating designs with a soft, summery atmosphere.Summer Splash Summer Splash is a vibrant splashy water font with a decorative flair. Its energetic letterforms and splashy details make it perfect for creating designs that evoke the fun and excitement of summer water activities.Summer Vibes Summer Vibes is a relaxed sans-serif font with a handwritten feel. Its casual style and subtle imperfections make it ideal for creating designs with a laid-back, beachy atmosphere.Summer Dance Summer Dance is a lively script font with decorative elements. Its fluid, rhythmic letterforms make it perfect for creating designs that convey movement and joy, ideal for summer event promotions.Summer Show Summer Show is a bold display font that combines sans-serif and decorative features. Its striking design and summer-inspired details make it excellent for creating eye-catching headlines and promotional materials.Summer Tropics Summer Tropics is a fun and chunky script font that exudes tropical vibes. Its playful letterforms and bold character make it perfect for creating designs with a lively, vacation-like atmosphere.Summer Diary Summer Diary is a charming decorative font with a personal touch. Its handwritten-style letterforms and subtle embellishments make it ideal for creating designs that evoke memories of summer adventures.Salty Bash Handwriting Script Salty Bash is a carefree handwriting script with a beachy vibe. Its natural flow and slightly weathered appearance make it perfect for creating designs with a relaxed, coastal feel.Summer Flash Summer Flash is a dynamic decorative font with a sense of energy and movement. Its bold, eye-catching design makes it ideal for creating impactful summer-themed headlines and promotional materials.Summer Tropica – Playful Font Summer Tropica is a fun and vibrant font that combines script and sans-serif elements. Its playful character and tropical flair make it perfect for creating designs with a lively summer atmosphere.Ocean – Hand Writing Summer Font Ocean is a refreshing wavy font with a beachy feel. Its natural flow and subtle irregularities make it ideal for creating designs that evoke the relaxed atmosphere of seaside vacations.Summer Party Summer Party is an energetic script font that captures the excitement of summer festivities. Its lively letterforms and dynamic style make it perfect for creating designs for summer events and celebrations.Summer Funny – Summer Display Font Summer Funny is a quirky and playful display font with a chunky design. Its fun character and bold presence make it ideal for creating eye-catching headlines and designs with a lighthearted summer vibe.Summer Lemonade + Extras Summer Lemonade is a refreshing script font that comes with extra design elements. Its crisp, fluid letterforms and additional graphics make it perfect for creating comprehensive summer-themed branding and designs.Tropical Summer Font Tropical Summer Font is an exotic blend of script and decorative elements. Its lush, organic design and tropical motifs make it ideal for creating designs with a vibrant, paradise-like atmosphere.Fest Summer Font Fest Summer Font is a bold and chunky script that radiates fun and excitement. Its playful letterforms and energetic style make it perfect for creating designs for summer festivals and outdoor events.Fresh Kids – Fun Display Font Fresh Kids is a lively bubble font designed with children in mind. Its playful character and cheerful design make it ideal for creating kid-friendly summer designs and educational materials.Summer Blaze – Summer Brush Font Summer Blaze is an energetic brush font that captures the heat of summer. Its bold strokes and dynamic character make it perfect for creating designs with a sun-soaked, beachy vibe.Beach Vibe – Summer font Beach Vibe is a laid-back sans-serif font with a summer twist. Its relaxed style and subtle coastal elements make it ideal for creating designs with a cool, holiday atmosphere.SUMMER QUICK – Fun Font SUMMER QUICK is a lively sans-serif display font with a fun, casual feel. Its quirky letterforms and energetic style make it perfect for creating designs with a spontaneous summer vibe.Benji Holidas Summer Display Font Benji Holidas is a charming decorative font with a summery disposition. Its unique letterforms and playful design make it ideal for creating eye-catching headlines and designs for summer holidays and events.What Makes a Font Feel Like Summer? Ever wondered what gives certain fonts that unmistakable summer vibe? It’s not magic (though it might feel like it) – there are specific design elements that trigger those warm, sunny associations in our minds. Relaxed, Flowing Letterforms Summer fonts often feature loose, organic shapes that mirror the laid-back nature of the season. Think flowing scripts that feel like ocean waves or casual handwritten styles that look like they were penned on a beach towel. These relaxed letterforms create an instant sense of ease and vacation mode. The beauty lies in their imperfection – slightly uneven baselines, varying letter sizes, and that wonderful hand-drawn quality that says “life’s too short to stress about perfect alignment.” Bright, Energetic Personality Summer fonts radiate energy and optimism. They’re the typographic equivalent of a sunny day – bold when they need to be, playful in their character variations, and always ready to put a smile on your face. Many summer fonts incorporate fun details like decorative flourishes, tropical motifs, or beach-inspired elements that add personality and charm. These little touches transform ordinary letters into summer storytelling devices. Vintage Beach Resort Vibes There’s something irresistibly nostalgic about classic summer typography. Fonts that reference vintage surf culture, retro vacation postcards, or mid-century beach resort signage tap into our collective summer memories. These typefaces often feature bold, confident letterforms with a touch of that authentic vintage wear – like sun-faded signs that have weathered countless summers and still look absolutely perfect. Where to Use Summer Fonts Summer fonts are incredibly versatile, bringing that vacation energy to a wide range of design applications. Their cheerful, relaxed nature makes them perfect for projects that want to feel approachable and fun. Event and Festival Branding Summer fonts are absolute stars when it comes to music festivals, beach parties, food truck events, and outdoor celebrations. Their energetic personality helps capture the excitement and community spirit of summer gatherings. From concert posters that need to grab attention from across a crowded street to wristbands that become summer souvenirs, the right summer font sets the perfect tone for memorable experiences. Hospitality and Tourism Beach resorts, vacation rentals, travel agencies, and tropical restaurants all benefit from summer fonts that instantly communicate relaxation and escape. These typefaces help potential guests imagine themselves already on vacation. Whether it’s a boutique hotel’s website, a restaurant’s poolside menu, or a travel blog’s header, summer fonts create that crucial emotional connection with wanderlust. Food and Beverage Ice cream shops, juice bars, beachside cafes, and summer pop-up stands rely on fonts that feel as refreshing as their offerings. Summer fonts help communicate that products are fresh, fun, and perfect for hot weather. From smoothie shop logos to popsicle packaging, these fonts add flavor before customers even take their first taste. Social Media and Digital Design Summer fonts absolutely shine in digital spaces where catching attention is crucial. Instagram posts, Pinterest graphics, blog headers, and email newsletters all benefit from typography that stops the scroll and says “summer!” Where to Avoid Summer Fonts While summer fonts bring joy and energy to many projects, there are definitely situations where their casual, playful nature might not be the best fit. Corporate and Professional Contexts Financial institutions, law firms, medical practices, and other professional services typically need fonts that convey trust, reliability, and expertise. Summer fonts, with their relaxed and playful nature, might undermine the serious tone these industries require. Save the beach vibes for beach-related projects, and opt for more traditional, authoritative typefaces when professionalism is paramount. Technical Documentation User manuals, software interfaces, scientific reports, and instructional materials need maximum clarity and readability. Summer fonts, while beautiful, can sometimes sacrifice legibility for personality – not ideal when clear communication is critical. Formal Occasions Wedding invitations (unless it’s a beach wedding!), memorial services, graduation ceremonies, and other formal events typically call for more elegant, traditional typography that matches the occasion’s gravity and importance. How to Choose the Perfect Summer Font Selecting the ideal summer font involves balancing aesthetic appeal with practical considerations. Here’s how to nail that perfect summer typography choice: Consider Your Audience Think about who you’re designing for. A family beach resort might want fonts that feel welcoming to all ages, while a trendy rooftop bar could go for something more sophisticated and contemporary. Young festival-goers respond to different visual cues than luxury vacation travelers. Match the Summer Vibe Summer encompasses many different moods – from energetic beach parties to serene sunset dinners. Identify the specific summer feeling you want to evoke. Is it playful and energetic? Relaxed and tropical? Nostalgic and vintage? Let this guide your font selection. Test Readability Summer fonts often prioritize personality over perfection, but your message still needs to be clear. Test your chosen font at various sizes and in different contexts to ensure it maintains readability across all applications. Consider Seasonal Flexibility If you’re designing for a brand that operates year-round, consider how your summer font choice will work in off-season communications. Some fonts are specifically summery, while others have enough versatility to work across seasons with different color palettes or supporting elements. Alternatives to Traditional Summer Fonts While dedicated summer fonts are fantastic, there are other typographic approaches that can capture seasonal energy: Tropical Script Fonts Flowing scripts with exotic flair can evoke tropical paradise without being explicitly summer-themed. These work beautifully for destination weddings, luxury resorts, and high-end travel brands. Vintage Surf Typography Fonts inspired by classic surf culture bring authentic beach credibility to modern designs. These work especially well for brands that want to tap into surf and beach lifestyle culture. Hand-Lettered Styles Custom hand-lettered looks feel personal and authentic – perfect for small businesses, artisanal products, and brands that want to feel approachable and genuine. Common Summer Font Questions Let’s tackle some frequently asked questions about summer typography: What makes a font look summery? Summer fonts typically feature relaxed, flowing letterforms, bright energetic personalities, and often include decorative elements that reference beach, tropical, or vacation themes. They tend to feel casual, approachable, and optimistic. Can I use summer fonts year-round? While some summer fonts are specifically seasonal, many can work year-round with the right warm color palette and supporting design elements. The key is choosing fonts with enough versatility to adapt to different seasonal moods. Are summer fonts professional enough for business use? It depends on your business! Summer fonts are perfect for hospitality, food service, entertainment, and lifestyle brands. However, they might not be appropriate for more conservative industries like finance or healthcare. How do I pair summer fonts with other typefaces? Summer fonts often work well paired with clean, simple sans-serifs for body text. The contrast between a playful summer display font and a readable sans-serif creates visual hierarchy while maintaining that seasonal energy. Making Your Designs Sizzle Summer fonts are more than just typography – they’re instant mood boosters that transform ordinary designs into sunshine-filled experiences. Whether you’re creating a beach resort’s brand identity, designing the perfect festival poster, or crafting social media graphics that capture those golden hour vibes, the right summer font sets the stage for memorable design. Remember, the best summer font isn’t necessarily the most decorative or tropical-looking one. It’s the font that perfectly captures the specific summer mood you’re trying to create while still serving your project’s practical needs. So go ahead, embrace those warm-weather vibes in your next design project. Choose fonts that make people want to kick off their shoes, grab a cold drink, and soak up some vitamin D. After all, life’s too short for boring typography – especially in summer! What’s your favorite summer font? I’d love to hear about the typefaces that make you dream of beach days and endless sunshine! Riley Morgan Riley Morgan is a globe-trotting graphic designer with a sharp eye for color, typography, and intuitive design. They are a color lover and blend creativity with culture, drawing inspiration from cities, landscapes, and stories around the world. When they’re not designing sleek visuals for clients, they’re blogging about trends, tools, and the art of making design feel like home—wherever that may be. 17 Cutest Kawaii Fonts That are So AdorableKawaii fonts are exactly what they sound like – typefaces that embody the Japanese concept of “kawaii” (meaning cute). These...26 Billboard Fonts You Can Read at 80 MPHWhen you’re racing down the highway at 80 mph, you’ve got about 3 seconds to grab someone’s attention with your...40 Christmas Fonts that are ‘Santa-Approved’As a designer with a serious case of Christmas spirit, I can’t help but get giddy when it’s time to...

Last year Hunger Games social media accounts made shocking news when they announced there would be a new book and movie in the series. Shortly afterward, Collins released the novel on March 18, 2025 where it promptly sold 1.2 million copies in its first week in the U.S.—three times more than what Mockingjay, which closed out Collins’ original Hunger Games trilogy, did in the same time frame.  Sunrise on the Reaping follows Peeta and Katniss’ mentor, Haymitch Abernathy, when he is chosen to compete in the 50th Hunger Games, which due to the anniversary means there will be double the amount of tributes. The novel tells the story of Haymitch’s life in District 12 and his rebellion against the Capitol, which led him to become the unfriendly mentor we know from the original series.  This is the second prequel Collins has released after The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, which followed a young Coriolanus Snow on his journey to becoming the ruthless president in the original trilogy. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes movie grossed $349 million worldwide, and Collins and Lionsgate are likely eager to repeat that success at the box office with a Sunrise on the Reaping film.  The most successful movie in the franchise has been The Hunger Games: Catching Fire with a worldwide box office gross of almost $845 million. Hunger Games hasn’t been able to recreate those numbers since. But the Sunrise on the Reaping movie will follow a character the audience already connects with (as opposed to despite like Coriolanus), which may encourage more casual fans to see it. The announcement of Sunrise on the Reaping release brought new life to the Hunger Games audience, with many fans speculating about casting and production choices for the already confirmed movie adaptation, which is set to release in November 2026.  The Sunrise on the Reaping movie starts production in July and reportedly has a budget of over $150 million, according to a Deadline report, which could make it the largest budget Hunger Games movie to date. Fans of the franchise have been eagerly awaiting information about the highly anticipated movie adaptation, and they won’t have to wait long to get it. Here’s a look at some of the casting choices so far and what the expectations are for the upcoming film.  Amazon Joseph Zada as Haymitch Abernathy There were many fan castings following the release of the book involving popular actors such as Outer Banks’ Rudy Pankow and Harris Dickinson from Babygirl. Instead the lead role went to industry newcomer Joseph Zada, who will bring a fresh perspective. Zada is an Australian actor who began his career in 2019 in a film directed by his father, Jeremy Cumpston. He continued acting and has only been involved in four projects before his casting in Hunger Games, two movies (Bilched and The Speedway Murders), one small role in the Australian TV show Total Control, and a lead role in the currently airing Australian show, Invisible Boys. The Sunrise on the Reaping movie will be Zada’s first Hollywood blockbuster role.    In Sunrise on the Reaping, Haymitch’s character suffers unimaginable loss and faces treacherous conditions in the arena, so it will be interesting to see what Zada brings to the emotional impact of his journey.  Zada will also be starring in another anticipated book-adaptation, We Were Liars, which is set to release in June. Also of note, at age 20, Zada is actually the appropriate age to be playing a 16-year-old, which differs from both fan casting and a franchise that previously has cast actors over 25 as teenagers. Photo by: Nick Morgulis Mckenna Grace as Maysilee Donner Maysilee is a fierce but kindhearted character, which is not uncommon ground for Mckenna Grace. Grace is one of the more well-known additions to the cast, having starred in Gifted alongside Chris Evans, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, and Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. Many fans were in favor of this choice on social media as well.   Grace will have the task of conveying the multiple layers to Maysilee’s arc. At the start of the novel, the character is viewed as a stuck-up rich girl but as the story progresses, Haymitch realizes there is more to her that meets the eye, and the two characters form a strong bond. Grace’s performance will ride on her ability to capture Maysilee’s development in a way that will have audiences empathizing with her until the very end. Grace already has almost three million followers on Instagram and five million on TikTok because of her popularity with a Gen Z audience, which likely appealed to the Lionsgate marketing department as well. She’s also only 18 years old, making this another case of the filmmakers again avoiding the common Hollywood issue of folks pushing 30 playing teens.  A24 Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee Plutarch is a recurring character in the original trilogy, having a pivotal role in Mockingjay where he helps Katniss take down President Snow and the Capitol. In the film version, he was played by Philip Seymour Hoffman in one of the actor’s final roles. In Sunrise on the Reaping, we see Plutarch’s rise to power and how he gained the trust of the president while also helping the rebel cause. Join our mailing list Get the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox! Jesse Plemons was cast to play a younger Plutarch in the upcoming movie. It will be hard to live up to Hoffman’s charisma and talent, but Plemons seems up for the job. In fact, Plemons and Hoffman have actually shared the screen together when Plemons played Hoffman’s son in the 2012 film The Master. Plemons has been in the industry for a while and, most notably, played a role in the popular TV series Breaking Bad. He was also nominated for an Oscar as a supporting actor in The Power of the Dog. Max/WBD Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove Whitney Peak was cast to play Lenore Dove, the musical, free-spirited girlfriend of Haymitch, who is a part of the traveling musical band in District 12, or the “Covey.” Peak is a relatively new actress, best known for her roles in teen dramas like Chilling Adventures of Sabrina on Netflix and the Gossip Girl reboot on Max.  We will see if Peak can capture the same wild, whimsical energy that Rachel Zegler did when she played a very similar role as Lucy Gray Baird in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes movie. Zegler captured the hearts of Hunger Games fans, helping her to land roles afterward like Y2K and the latest Broadway production of  Romeo and Juliet. Zegler has already expressed her support for Peak’s casting on social media, writing, “I know she’s gonna do the Baird name proud.” Searchlight Pictures Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Beetee Beetee is a major character in the second Hunger Games novel, Catching Fire, where he uses his intelligence and knowledge of the arena to help stop the Games. In Sunrise on the Reaping, we learn about his family and his previous involvement in the rebellion, making his actions in the original trilogy more impactful. Young Beetee will be played by Kelvin Harrison Jr. who has had roles in other major movies like Elvis, The Trial of Chicago 7, Luce, and Waves and has been acting since 2013.  The character was previously played by Jeffrey Wright in the original trilogy, who unsurprisingly did a good job of coming across as shy and dorky while simultaneously using his intelligence to take down the Capitol. Harrison will act as a mentor to young Haymitch in Sunrise on the Reaping and aid him in his rebellion against the Capitol, showing that just because he’s nerdy doesn’t mean he’s not dangerous.  Netflix Maya Hawke as Wiress  Wiress is one of Haymitch’s mentors in the novel who won the Hunger Games the year before by outsmarting the gamemakers and the other tributes. Wiress will be played by Maya Hawke, who is known for being the daughter of famous actors Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman as well as her role in the popular TV series Stranger Things. Many fans of her and the franchise were satisfied with the charismatic choice.  Like Beetee, Wiress’s character is introduced in Catching Fire as the smart but mentally disturbed tribute from District 3. In Sunrise on the Reaping, we see that she used to be able to communicate normally before the Capitol tortured her for her involvement in the rebellion. She was played in the original movies by Amanda Plummer, who embodied her eccentric, odd demeanor well, but Hawke will be playing a more sane and coherent version of Wiress. She will have to embody the young, capable victor who encourages the District 12 kids to use their intelligence to succeed in the Hunger Games without having to kill.  Amazon Prime Lili Taylor as Mags The kind and loveable mentor Mags will be played by Lili Taylor. The American actress has had roles in many successful movies, including Mystic Pizza, The Conjuring, I Shot Andy Warhol and Dogfight. Mags was also introduced in Catching Fire as Finnick’s mentor and a sweet, maternal figure. We see more of her in Sunrise on the Reaping as she helps Haymitch and the District 12 tributes prepare and shows us what she was like before the Capitol’s influence on her.  Mags was played in the Catching Fire movie by Lynn Cohen, but she was nonverbal and frail after years of Capitol torment. The Mags in this movie will be different, more energetic and able-bodied while still retaining the same affectionate nature. We will see her taking care of the tributes and making them feel like human beings even though they are headed to almost certain death.  Sony Pictures Ben Wang as Wyatt Callow Wyatt Callow is one of the District 12 tributes and a mathematical genius. Wyatt is known to take bets on the Hunger Games and calculate the odds of each tribute for his father, which Haymitch doesn’t like. The two characters get off to a rocky start, but Haymitch eventually realizes Wyatt is a good person with how loyal he is to their group.  Ben Wang will be playing Wyatt in the upcoming adaptation. Wang is also about to star in Karate Kid: Legend and has also appeared in the Mean Girls remake and the Disney+ series American Born Chinese.  Wyatt is socially awkward, but kind-hearted, and Wang will have to portray the depth of his character beyond just his intelligence.  Focus Features Ralph Fiennes as President Snow The ruthless President Snow will be played by the legendary Ralph Fiennes. The British actor has received multiple Academy Award nominations for his roles in Schindler’s List, Conclave, and The English Patient. His legacy also extends to some of the most popular movies of the last 30 years, running the gamut from Skyfall to The Grand Budapest Hotel. Fiennes is one of the most veteran members of the cast and someone that the younger actors can look up to as a mentor.  Of course Fiennes is no stranger to playing ruthless dictators either since his transformation into the role of Voldemort in the Harry Potter series is etched into the memories of generations. Fiennes will be playing the heartless president of Panem in Sunrise on the Reaping when he confronts Haymitch, the rebellion, and the 50th Hunger Games. There is no doubt that Fiennes will be able to portray Snow in the movie just as intimidating and coldhearted as fans have imagined him to be. Hulu Elle Fanning as Effie Trinket The most recent casting announcement has been Elle Fanning as the Capitol mentor Effie Trinket. Fanning was actually who many fans suggested should play the role, and it seems like the Hunger Games producers that request seriously. Fanning is the sister of the actress Dakota Fanning and has been in a number of popular films including A Complete Unknown, Maleficent, and The Great TV series.  Effie is a constant character throughout the original series (where she is played by Elizabeth Banks onscreen), and in Sunrise on the Reaping, we get to see how she obtained her position in District 12 and her first meeting with her fellow mentor Haymitch. Effie is sympathetic toward the district kids, but the Capitol propaganda prevents her from fully understanding their struggles. She thinks it’s sad they have to go into the Hunger Games but believes it’s necessary to keep the peace. Fanning will have to play the naïve and extravagant character who has a very ignorant outlook toward the real world. HBO Kieran Culkin as Caesar Flickerman  Caesar Flickerman is the charismatic entertainer and showman we see in the original trilogy interviewing the tributes before they enter the arena. In Sunrise on the Reaping, we get to see more of a younger Caesar conducting interviews before the 50th Hunger Games, but we also get some insight into how he can manipulate and sell a certain narrative to the Capitol audience. The character was previously played by Stanley Tucci who completely transformed himself into the role and really brought the preening media personality to life. And now Kieran Culkin has been cast for the upcoming prequel where he will get the chance to commit to the same eccentric hair, makeup, and outfits that Tucci made iconic.  Culkin is a seasoned actor and will almost certainly be up for the challenge. After all, he just won an Oscar for A Real Pain, and before that he won an Emmy (and was nominated for several more) due to his turn as Roman Roy on HBO’s Succession. Of course for a whole generation of movie watchers, he will always be Fuller from Home Alone. Molly McCann as Louella McCoy and Iona Bell as Lou Lou Louella and Lou Lou are two very similar looking characters who will each have to play very different roles. Louella will be played by Molly McCann who will have to play the sweet, innocent girl who Haymitch vows to protect when she is reaped in the Hunger Games at just 13. McCann is a young Irish actress who has already been a part of 19 projects, including movies and TV shows, and nominated for an Irish Film and TV award in 2021.  On the other hand, Iona Bell is cast as Lou Lou, who is an unknown girl from District 11 who was tortured by the Capitol and has been driven to almost insanity as a result. Bell is a British actress who has only been a part of one project before this casting. The teenage actress is currently filming in a few independent films, as well as a movie with Taika Waititi (Fing!) which will come out later this year. Her character in Sunrise on the Reaping is an odd one, but you can’t help but sympathize with her because of what she’s been through. 

May 30, 20252 min readSahara Dust Clouds Are Heading to Florida and BeyondClouds of dust blown off the Saharan Desert into the southeastern U.S. could affect local weather and make sunrises and sunsets particularly vividBy Meghan Bartels edited by Dean VisserEach year, seasonal winds carry tens of millions of tons of Saharan dust across the Atlantic and beyond. On February 18, 2021, NOAA-20’s VIIRS captured a dramatic display of airborne dust. NASA Earth Observatory image by Lauren Dauphin, using VIIRS data from NASA EOSDIS LANCE, GIBS/Worldview, and the Suomi National Polar-orbiting PartnershipClouds of dust drifting from the Sahara Desert over the Atlantic Ocean could make for unusual-looking sunrises and sunsets, as well as potentially drier weather, over Florida and parts of the southeastern U.S. in the coming days.What’s HappeningBetween late spring and early fall, dust from the Saharan gets blown out over the Atlantic Ocean every three to five days. When conditions are right, air masses that are filled with this dust can make it across the thousands of miles required to reach North America. Meteorologists call this type of air mass the Saharan Air Layer, or SAL.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.Currently, on Friday, a thin SAL is dispersing over Florida, says Ana Torres-Vazquez, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s Miami office, who adds that this could interfere with some storms carried into the peninsula by a cold front on Saturday. Another layer of dust—this one thicker and denser—may then blow in next week, although that forecast is currently less certain, Torres-Vazquez notes.It’s worth noting that the Atlantic hurricane season officially begins on June 1. In general, the SAL tends to dry the atmosphere it drifts through—so some scientists think these dust clouds may actually impede hurricane development. For now, however, forecasters aren’t expecting any tropical storms to develop in the Atlantic within the coming week.Sunrise, SunsetThe effect that will be most noticeable to local residents as the dust lingers might be unusual sunrises and sunsets.“When you have Saharan dust or any other kind of particulate, if the sun is coming in at an angle, like during sunrise or sunset,” Torres-Vazquez says, “it can hit those particulates that are close to the ground just right and result in those different, kind of orangey-reddish colors.”Other parts of the country might also see enhanced sunrises and sunsets during the coming days from a different kind of particulate—wildfire smoke. Canada is experiencing yet another brutal year for wildfires, with nearly 700,000 hectares, or more than 2,500 square miles, burned to date.Right now fires are particularly bad in the provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba, in part because of high temperatures stuck over central Canada. Smoke from these blazes is expected to reach U.S. states, including Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan, in the coming days.Depending on how close the dust and smoke get to Earth’s surface, these kinds of particulate matter can be harmful to people’s health, particularly for people who are very young or very old and those who have asthma or heart or lung disease. The Air Quality Index can help you gauge whether you should take any precautions.

Imagine traveling internationally without middle seats, popping ears, or TSA checkpoints. Imagine bringing four suitcases for free, and picture ever-changing views out the window throughout the journey.That's the reality on the Amtrak Cascades train, which runs through the Pacific Northwest and has coach and business-class seating.I recently rode it from Vancouver, British Columbia, to Seattle. My $50 train coach experience was far more enjoyable than any basic economy flight I've booked — and it turned out to be cheaper than airfare. My ticket to ride the Amtrak train from Vancouver to Seattle was less than half the price of flying. The reporter booked a coach-class ticket. Joey Hadden/Business Insider When I planned my trip from Vancouver to Seattle, I looked at train and flight prices. About a month before my trip, basic economy airfare was about $150 on airlines like Delta and United, among others. So I was shocked when I saw that an Amtrak train cost only $50 in coach.Sure, it was four hours long, compared to the roughly one-hour flight time, but I love trains. And since sustainability experts say traveling by train is more sustainable than flying, especially for short distances, I was certain of my decision to go with Amtrak. I arrived at Pacific Central Station at 5:45 a.m. for my 7 a.m. train to Seattle. Pacific Central Station is seen on a spring morning. Joey Hadden/Business Insider An email from Amtrak suggested arriving at least one hour before departure since we were crossing the US-Canada border during the trip.I filled out a customs declaration form inside the station and stood in the coach line to board after business-class passengers. Before getting to the platform, there was a brief customs stop, but no security checkpoints like you'd find in an airport. Before boarding, I dropped off my free checked bag at the back of the train. Passengers bring checked bags to the back of the train. Joey Hadden/Business Insider Coach cars were toward the front of the train, but a crew member directed me to the back first to drop off my checked bag.According to Amtrak Cascades, each passenger can check up to two bags at no charge and two more for $20 each.Passengers can also bring one personal item and two carry-on bags in the train car, as overhead bin space and a luggage rack are inside each.To recap, that's up to four suitcases for free — more than I've ever experienced on a flight.I had just one suitcase and a backpack, but this could save a lot for a traveling family or a heavy packer. Seating in the coach cars was first-come, first-served, and there were no middle seats. Inside a coach car on an Amtrak train. Joey Hadden/Business Insider Two sets of two seats were on either side of the train, so no one would get stuck in the middle.I grabbed a seat in an empty row and had the entire ride to myself. The seats felt larger and more comfortable than economy flight seats. The reporter's backpack in an empty row of seats. Joey Hadden/Business Insider I settled into my seat at 6:35 a.m., and the train departed right on time. I immediately noticed the seats were bigger and cushier than any basic economy flight seats I've experienced. I also had more legroom than I've had on most flights.The seats reclined and had power outlets, overhead reading lights, and tray tables. The bathrooms were more than twice the size of any I've seen on a plane. Inside the train bathroom. Joey Hadden/Business Insider Each car had two restrooms. Unlike on a plane, where there is only enough floor space for my two feet, these bathrooms were large enough for me to move around in.There were also two power outlets. I imagined travelers could comfortably conduct their morning routines in there, from brushing their teeth to doing their hair. After departure, I headed to the café car. Snacks were behind the counter in the café car. Joey Hadden/Business Insider By the time we departed, I'd already been awake for over two hours. So I was more than ready for breakfast.Unlike on a flight, no attendants passed by offering free snacks and beverages. Instead, Amtrak trains have a café car selling various snacks, from chips and candy to muffins and cookies. They also had salads and microwaved meals like breakfast sandwiches and Cup Noodles. For $8, I got a breakfast sandwich and a bottle of water. The reporter ate breakfast at her seat. Joey Hadden/Business Insider I brought my meal back to my seat and used the tray table in front of me.I wasn't expecting my microwaved sausage, egg, and cheese sandwich to be very tasty, but it wasn't too bad for a meal heated up in a sealed plastic bag. It didn't taste as good as the breakfast sandwiches I've had in Amtrak's dining cars on overnight trains, but it filled me up and was more satisfying than any meal I've had in the air. Once I fueled up, I stared out the window at the passing views through British Columbia. Views of British Columbia from the rails. Joey Hadden/Business Insider Even as a frequent flyer, I still find the views from an airplane when ascending and descending pretty surreal. But the view doesn't change once in the air, save for sunsets, sunrises, and passing clouds.That's not the case on a train. Instead, passengers see change through rural towns, cities, and natural environments throughout their journey.I love getting a glimpse of these in-between places. Seeing farms, shorelines, and clusters of houses in British Columbia made me ponder what it would be like to live in the Canadian province. Once we hit the border, the train stopped for about 30 minutes. The train stops at the US border. Joey Hadden/Business Insider During the half-hour the train was stopped at the US border, passengers weren't allowed to use the café car or bathrooms, and patrol agents boarded to check passports and take a declaration form filled out at Pacific Central Station in Vancouver. They also asked international passengers about where they were going, why they were going there, and how long they planned to stay. I spent the rest of the journey working on my laptop, thanks to free WiFi. The reporter used WiFI on the Amtrak train. Joey Hadden/Business Insider I had access to complimentary WiFi throughout the journey. And since my trip was three hours longer than a flight would have been, I appreciated being able to use the time productively. The train arrived on time at 11:40 a.m. Inside King Street Station in Seattle. Joey Hadden/Business Insider I headed into Seattle's King Street Station to the baggage claim belt and waited about 10 minutes for my suitcase to arrive.Even though the train trip was longer than a flight, it was much less stressful than air travel. The ease of navigating a train station compared to an airport, a more comfortable seat, and a lower price point made it worth the long-haul ride.

Hi, friends! Welcome to Installer No. 84, your guide to the best and Verge-iest stuff in the world. (If you’re new here, welcome, so psyched you found us, and also you can read all the old editions at the Installer homepage.) This week, I’ve been reading about Mubi and Around The Horn and millennial tech, moving all my journals to Diarly, trying out Matt D’Avella’s workout routine, catching up on Clarkson’s Farm, wishing desperately that Philly Justice was a real show, watching a lot of Helper Cars with my toddler, testing the Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones, dusting off my Fortnite skills, and enjoying this unbelievably deep dive into the first Star Wars movie.I also have for you a new blockbuster movie, an old-new blockbuster mobile game, a new season of one of my all-time favorite shows, a cheap set-top box worth a look, and much more. Shockingly busy week! Let’s dig in.(As always, the best part of Installer is your ideas and tips. What are you playing / reading / listening to / watching / plugging into things / poking with a stick this week? Tell me everything: installer@theverge.com. And if you know someone else who might enjoy Installer, tell them to subscribe here. Subscribers get every issue in their inbox, for free, a day before it hits the website.)The Dropkind of can’t believe it! I fell off the Fortnite wagon pretty hard over the last year or so, but this and my Backbone Pro are going to be very good friends going forward. Zero Build only for me, though, at least on mobile.Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. I am a forever fan of the M:I series, and as silly as I find the whole “AI is the bad guy” bit, I have had a good time watching every single movie in this series. I’ll be in a humungous theater for this one ASAP.Puzzmo for iOS. Puzzmo’s web app is great, so I haven’t exactly been thirsting for a better mobile experience. And, as far as I can tell, the mobile app is just exactly the same thing as the web app. But, hey, I like the icon, and I like any reason to play more Really Bad Chess.The Onn Google TV 4K Plus. “A weirdly named, super-cheap set-top box from Walmart” is not a great pitch. But for $30, you’re not beating this thing’s combination of Google TV, Dolby Vision, and 4K. Onn stuff has been pretty good in the past, so I suspect this one will be pretty compelling.NotebookLM for mobile. The Android and iOS versions are both fine and both useful for the same reason: you can send stuff to your notebooks via the share sheet. If you’re a fan of the podcast-y Audio Overviews, they’re also a great thing to have on the go.. We haven’t had a new season of my favorite unhinged animation sci-fi show in a year and a half, and I am so very excited to get back to some intergalactic and cross-universe shenanigans. I’ve been debating doing a full rewatch of the whole show and might just have to do it after this season.The Virtual Stream Deck. This is so clever: Elgato is turning its collection of smart buttons from a lineup of gadgets to a full-on platform that you can either build into other hardware or just run on a screen. I can’t recommend it enough — spend some time programming all your repetitive computer tasks into a Stream Deck system.Monster Train 2. I love the structure of this game: a deck-building game that is endlessly repeatable but also complex enough that you never quite play the same game twice. I somehow missed the first game in the series entirely, and I’m going to have to give that a whirl, too. Strava routes. Strava’s an Installerverse favorite, and it got a bunch of new features this week. But, for my money, the biggest upgrade is the routing system, which generates the best route between two points; I love a good “map me the run to this donut shop” feature.In all the time I’ve been covering and paying attention to tech, there have been very few companies as bizarre and intriguing as OpenAI. The company is doing impressive, culture-shaking work, but it also seems to have an endless supply of weird internal drama and a total inability to figure out, like, what in the world it’s doing.Karen Hao has been covering the company longer than almost anybody, and she has firsthand knowledge of a lot of OpenAI’s twists and turns. This week, she published a terrific book, called Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman’s OpenAI, which is about the company’s history and its future. But the book is more than that, too. It’s a really good look at what AI is doing to us as people, to our societies and our planets, and to the brains of the people building what they hope will make them rich or gods — or both.I’ve been a fan of Karen’s work for a long time, so I asked her to share her homescreen with us. I figured she’d either have, like, 30 AI apps or none at all, and I wanted to know. Here’s her homescreen, plus some info on the apps she uses and why:The phone: iPhone XR.The wallpaper: It’s usually a photo of me and my husband laughing hysterically at an inside joke at our wedding. But you’ll just have to imagine it because we’re really big on privacy. Enjoy this orange gradient instead. Orange is the color of creativity, of fire, of the sunrise and sunset, of beginnings and transition.The apps: Messages, Google Calendar, Photos, Camera, Clock, Apple Notes, Contacts, Settings, FaceTime, Calculator, Weather, Reminders, App Store, Gmail, Proton Mail, Phone, Brave.I have a very boring homescreen! I try not to use too many apps. When I set up a phone, the first thing I do is delete as many of the default apps as possible. But probably the two notable apps to call out: a couple years ago, I switched completely to the Brave browser, which is the lion icon at the bottom right of the screen. It’s based on Chrome, so you can keep all your plug-ins, but it blocks sites from tracking you to serve you targeted ads. It’s a simple way to not give up so much of your data and preserve your privacy. Highly recommended. The second: under my Audio folder, I have a guitar-tuning app, GuitarTuna, for the rare moments I fiddle with my guitar at home. Music was a big part of my childhood, but I haven’t made nearly enough time for it as an adult. I keep the app on my homescreen as an aspiration to pick it back up more seriously.I also asked Karen to share a few things that she’s into right now. Here’s what she sent back:The Empire podcast, cohosted by historian William Dalrymple and Anita Anand.Late-night comedy YouTube.CrowdsourcedHere’s what the Installer community is into this week. I want to know what you’re into right now, as well! Email installer@theverge.com or message me on Signal — @davidpierce.11 — with your recommendations for anything and everything, and we’ll feature some of our favorites here every week. For even more great recommendations, check out the replies to this post on Threads and this post on Bluesky.“YouTube has recently radicalized me to digital minimalism and decentralized tech. What started as deleting ALL social media from my iPhone and relegating the apps to my iPad is now firmly in the realm of buying old iPods from eBay and repairing them with modern parts. I have some replacement parts on the way from Elite Obsolete Electronics and with what I know now I should soon have a functional 6th gen iPod Classic that I can install RockBox on. I also picked up the ToAuto DS90 Soldering Station with the hopes of installing the USB-C mod in the near future.” — Nicholas“I know it was in last week’s Installer but I got the Sony WH-1000XM6s and they’re incredible. The ‘background listening’ feature is such a clever spin on spatial audio, it really does sound like it’s coming from a distance!” — Jamie“What if you could add any plain old QR Code/barcode card to your Apple Wallet? Lucky for you, the greatest minds of our time have come together to solve this inconvenience. Try IntoWallet and get as blown away as I was when it just worked (also the level of customization and the price are great!).” — Teo“I’ve REALLY enjoyed the Revelation Space series by Alastair Reynolds. For lovers of hard sci-fi space operas this is for you. Engaging, dark, wild ideas and concepts, plenty of real and imagined science and physics all weaved into interesting stories.” — Tyler“I’ve personally managed to seriously build my meditation practice in the last two years using both Happier and Calm. I especially enjoy the meditations by teacher Jeff Warren, who strikes the right balance with his light and playful tone.” — Jeroen“I’ve had the Casper Glow lamp since 2019 and it’s still going strong! Love the interaction, twisting it and flipping it to control the light, and I even helped sell two (unsponsored) to an old roommate when he moved to his own place.” — SingYu“Post Andor I’ve been reading through Star Wars: The Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empire.” — Allen“Setup is (90%) finished! Rocking a Teenage Engineering case, HP G4 Dock, UGREEN USB Switcher, and a $60 standing desk from Facebook Marketplace.” — Jeremy Signing offThe big Installer-y news of the week is that Mozilla is shutting down Pocket. Which, well, sucks. Pocket was a good and popular app that did good and useful things! I heard from a bunch of you who are now looking for a place to go post-Pocket. I only really have three recommendations:Instapaper: the OG of the read-later world and still the simplest and most straightforward app you’ll find for the purpose. Brian, the developer, is good people, and I have high hopes for the longevity of the app.Matter: it’s only for iOS and web, but it’s the best-looking app in this space, and it’s not even close. They’re doing some nifty stuff with AI-enhanced reading, too.Readwise Reader: the power-user tool of choice, and my favorite of the bunch. It just has so many organizational features, great highlighting, and tons of integrations. It just does everything I need. It’s also way too much for most people. I suppose I should give Wallabag an honorable mention, because you can host it yourself, but it’s a much more involved project. If I were just moving over from Pocket and just wanted a nice place to read without a long list of other feature requests, I’d start with Instapaper. But all three are solid options, and they all make it pretty painless to import your old articles. Or just delete them all, start over, and feel the rare freedom of an almost-empty reading list. It’s pretty nice.See you next week!See More:

The US is less than 250 years old, but some of its most important archaeological sites are older than the Viking seafarers, the Roman Empire, and the pyramids.Many help tell the story of how the first humans came to North America. It's still a mystery exactly how and when people arrived, though it's widely believed they crossed the Bering Strait at least 15,000 years ago."As we get further back in time, as we get populations that are smaller and smaller, finding these places and interpreting them becomes increasingly difficult," archaeologist Kenneth Feder told Business Insider. He's the author of "Ancient America: Fifty Archaeological Sites to See for Yourself."Some sites, like White Sands and Cooper's Ferry, have skeptics about the accuracy of their age. Still, they contribute to our understanding of some of the earliest Americans.Others are more recent and highlight the different cultures that were spreading around the country, with complex buildings and illuminating pictographs.Many of these places are open to the public, so you can see the US' ancient history for yourself. White Sands National Park, New Mexico Footprints at White Sands. National Park Service Prehistoric camels, mammoths, and giant sloths once roamed what's now New Mexico, when it was greener and damper.As the climate warmed around 11,000 years ago, the water of Lake Otero receded, revealing footprints of humans who lived among these extinct animals. Some even seemed to be following a sloth, offering a rare glimpse into ancient hunters' behavior.Recent research puts some of these fossilized footprints at between 21,000 and 23,000 years old. If the dates are accurate, the prints would predate other archaeological sites in the US, raising intriguing questions about who these people were and how they arrived in the Southwestern state."Where are they coming from?" Feder said. "They're not parachute dropping in New Mexico. They must have come from somewhere else, which means there are even older sites." Archaeologists simply haven't found them yet.While visitors can soak in the sight of the eponymous white sands, the footprints are currently off-limits. Meadowcroft Rockshelter, Pennsylvania The archeological dig at the Meadowcroft National Historic Site in 2013. AP Photo/Keith Srakocic In the 1970s, archaeologist James M. Adovasio sparked a controversy when he and his colleagues suggested stone tools and other artifacts found in southwestern Pennsylvania belonged to humans who had lived in the area 16,000 years ago.For decades, scientists had been finding evidence of human habitation that all seemed to be around 12,000 to 13,000 years old, belonging to the Clovis culture. They were long believed to have been the first to cross the Bering land bridge. Humans who arrived in North America before this group are often referred to as pre-Clovis.At the time, skeptics said that the radiocarbon dating evidence was flawed, AP News reported in 2016. In the years since, more sites that appear older than 13,000 years have been found across the US.Feder said Adovasio meticulously excavated the site, but there's still no clear consensus about the age of the oldest artifacts. Still, he said, "that site is absolutely a major, important, significant site." It helped archaeologists realize humans started arriving on the continent before the Clovis people.The dig itself is on display at the Heinz History Center, allowing visitors to see an excavation in person. Cooper's Ferry, Idaho Excavators at Cooper's Ferry in 2013. Loren Davis/Oregon State University One site that's added intriguing evidence to the pre-Clovis theory is located in western Idaho. Humans living there left stone tools and charred bones in a hearth between 14,000 and 16,000 years ago, according to radiocarbon dating. Other researchers put the dates closer to 11,500 years ago.These stemmed tools are different from the Clovis fluted projectiles, researchers wrote in a 2019 Science Advances paper.Some scientists think humans may have been traveling along the West Coast at this time, when huge ice sheets covered Alaska and Canada. "People using boats, using canoes could hop along that coast and end up in North America long before those glacial ice bodies decoupled," Feder said.Cooper's Ferry is located on traditional Nez Perce land, which the Bureau of Land Management holds in public ownership. Page-Ladson, Florida Divers search in the sediment at the Page-Ladson site. Texas A&M University via Getty Images In the early 1980s, former Navy SEAL Buddy Page alerted paleontologists and archaeologists to a sinkhole nicknamed "Booger Hole" in the Aucilla River. There, the researchers found mammoth and mastodon bones and stone tools.They also discovered a mastodon tusk with what appeared to be cut marks believed to be made by a tool. Other scientists have returned to the site more recently, bringing up more bones and tools. They used radiocarbon dating, which established the site as pre-Clovis."The stone tools and faunal remains at the site show that at 14,550 years ago, people knew how to find game, fresh water and material for making tools," Michael Waters, one of the researchers, said in a statement in 2016. "These people were well-adapted to this environment."Since the site is both underwater and on private property, it's not open to visitors. Paisley Caves, Oregon One of the Paisley Caves near Paisley, Oregon. AP Photo/Jeff Barnard Scientists study coprolites, or fossilized poop, to learn about the diets of long-dead animals. Mineralized waste can also reveal much more. In 2020, archaeologist Dennis Jenkins published a paper on coprolites from an Oregon cave that were over 14,000 years old.Radiocarbon dating gave the trace fossils' age, and genetic tests suggested they belonged to humans. Further analysis of coprolites added additional evidence that a group had been on the West Coast 1,000 years before the Clovis people arrived.Located in southcentral Oregon, the caves appear to be a piece of the puzzle indicating how humans spread throughout the continent thousands of years ago.The federal Bureau of Land Management owns the land where the caves are found, and they are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Swan Point, Alaska Excavators working at the Swan Point site in June 2016. Charles Holmes/University of Alaska, Fairbanks Whenever people arrived in the Americas, they crossed from Siberia into Beringia, an area of land and sea between Russia and Canada and Alaska. Now it's covered in water, but there was once a land bridge connecting them.The site in Alaska with the oldest evidence of human habitation is Swan Point, in the state's eastern-central region. In addition to tools and hearths dating back 14,000 years, mammoth bones have been found there.Researchers think this area was a kind of seasonal hunting camp. As mammoths returned during certain times of the years, humans would track them and kill them, providing plentiful food for the hunter-gatherers.While Alaska may have a wealth of archaeological evidence of early Americans, it's also a difficult place to excavate. "Your digging season is very narrow, and it's expensive," Feder said. Some require a helicopter to reach, for example. Blackwater Draw, New Mexico A palaeontologist excavating a mammoth in Portales, New Mexico, circa 1960. Dick Kent/FPG/Archive Photos/Getty Images In 1929, 19-year-old James Ridgley Whiteman found mammoth bones along with fluted projectile points near Clovis, New Mexico. The Clovis people who made these tools were named for this site.Researchers studying the site began to realize the artifacts found at the site belonged to different cultures. Clovis points are typically larger than Folsom flutes, which were first found at another archaeological site in New Mexico.For decades after Whiteman's discovery, experts thought the Clovis people were the first to cross the Bering land bridge from Asia around 13,000 years ago. Estimates for humans' arrival is now thought to be at least 15,000 years ago.Eastern New Mexico University's Blackwater Draw Museum grants access to the archaeological site between April and October. Upper Sun River, Alaska Excavations at the Upward Sun River, Alaska. Ben Potter/University of Alaska, Fairbanks One reason the dates of human occupation in North America is so contentious is that very few ancient remains have been found. Among the oldest is a child from Upward Sun River, or Xaasaa Na', in Central Alaska.Archaeologists found the bones of the child in 2013. Local indigenous groups refer to her as Xach'itee'aanenh t'eede gay, or Sunrise Girl-Child. Genetic testing revealed the 11,300-year-old infant belonged to a previously unknown Native American population, the Ancient Beringians.Based on the child's genetic information, researchers learned that she was related to modern Native Americans but not directly. Their common ancestors started becoming genetically isolated 25,000 years ago before dividing into two groups after a few thousand years: the Ancient Berignians and the ancestors of modern Native Americans.According to this research, it's possible humans reached Alaska roughly 20,000 years ago. Poverty Point National Monument, Louisiana Poverty Point in Louisiana. National Park Service Stretching over 80 feet long and 5 feet tall, the rows of curved mounds of Poverty Point are a marvel when viewed from above. Over 3,000 years ago, hunter-gatherers constructed them out of tons of soil. Scientists aren't sure exactly why people built them, whether they were ceremonial or a display of status.The artifacts various groups left behind indicate the site was used off and on for hundreds of years and was a meeting point for trading. People brought tools and rocks from as far as 800 miles away. Remains of deer, fish, frogs, alligators, nuts, grapes, and other food have given archaeologists insights into their diets and daily lives.You can see the World Heritage Site for yourself year-round. Horseshoe Canyon, Utah The Great Gallery in Horseshoe Canyon. Neal Herbert/National Park Service Though remote, the multicolored walls of Horseshoe Canyon have long attracted visitors. Some of its artifacts date back to between 9,000 and 7,000 BCE, but its pictographs are more recent. Some tests date certain sections to around 2,000 to 900 years ago.The four galleries contain life-sized images of anthropomorphic figures and animals in what's known as the Barrier Canyon style. Much of this art is found in Utah, produced by the Desert Archaic culture.The pictographs may have spiritual and practical significance but also help capture a time when groups were meeting and mixing, according to the Natural History Museum of Utah.It's a difficult trek to get to the pictographs (and the NPS warns it can be dangerously hot in summer) but are amazing to view in person, Feder said. "These are creative geniuses," he said of the artists. Canyon de Chelly, Arizona The Antelope House at Canyon de Chelly National Monument. Michael Denson/National Park Service Situated in the Navajo Nation, Canyon de Chelly has gorgeous desert views and thousands of years of human history. Centuries ago, Ancestral Pueblo and Hopi groups planted crops, created pictographs, and built cliff dwellings.Over 900 years ago, Puebloan people constructed the White House, named for the hue of its clay. Its upper floors sit on a sandstone cliff, with a sheer drop outside the windows.Navajo people, also known as Diné, still live in Canyon de Chelly. Diné journalist Alastair Lee Bitsóí recently wrote about visiting some of the sacred and taboo areas. They include Tsé Yaa Kin, where archaeologists found human remains.In the 1860s, the US government forced 8,000 Navajo to relocate to Fort Sumner in New Mexico. The deadly journey is known as the "Long Walk." Eventually, they were able to return, though their homes and crops were destroyed.A hike to the White House is the only one open to the public without a Navajo guide or NPS ranger. Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado Visitors line up at Mesa Verde National Park. Shutterstock/Don Mammoser In the early 1900s, two women formed the Colorado Cliff Dwelling Association, hoping to preserve the ruins in the state's southwestern region. A few years later, President Theodore Roosevelt signed a bill designating Mesa Verde as the first national park meant to "preserve the works of man."Mesa Verde National Park holds hundreds of dwellings, including the sprawling Cliff Palace. It has over 100 rooms and nearly two dozen kivas, or ceremonial spaces.Using dendrochronology, or tree-ring dating, archaeologists learned when Ancestral Pueblo people built some of these structures and that they migrated out of the area by the 1300s.Feder said it's his favorite archaeological site he's visited. "You don't want to leave because you can't believe it's real," he said.Tourists can view many of these dwellings from the road, but some are also accessible after a bit of a hike. Some require extra tickets and can get crowded, Feder said. Cahokia, Illinois A mound at Cahokia in Illinois. Matt Gush/Shutterstock Cahokia has been called one of North America's first cities. Not far from present-day St. Louis, an estimated 10,000 to 20,000 people lived in dense settlements roughly 1,000 years ago. Important buildings sat atop large mounds, which the Mississippians built by hand, The Guardian reported.At the time, it was thriving with hunters, farmers, and artisans. "It's an agricultural civilization," Feder said. "It's a place where raw materials from a thousand miles away are coming in." Researchers have also found mass graves, potentially from human sacrifices.The inhabitants built circles of posts, which one archaeologist later referred to as "woodhenges," as a kind of calendar. At the solstices, the sun would rise or set aligned with different mounds.After a few hundred years, Cahokia's population declined and disappeared by 1350. Its largest mound remains, and some aspects have been reconstructed.While Cahokia is typically open to the public, parts are currently closed for renovations. Montezuma Castle, Arizona Montezuma Castle, a cliff dwelling, in Arizona. MyLoupe/Universal Images Group via Getty Images Perched on a limestone cliff in Camp Verde, Arizona, this site is an apartment, not a castle, and is unrelated to the Aztec ruler Montezuma.The Sinagua people engineered the five-story, 20-room building around 1100. It curves to follow the natural line of the cliff, which would have been more difficult than simply making a straight building, Feder said."These people were architects," he said. "They had a sense of beauty."The inhabitants were also practical, figuring out irrigation systems and construction techniques, like thick walls and shady spots, to help them survive the hot, dry climate.Feder said the dwelling is fairly accessible, with a short walk along a trail to view it, though visitors can't go inside the building itself.