Each week, our editors gather their favorite finds from around the internet and recommend them to you right here. These are not articles about watches, but rather outstanding examples of journalism and storytelling covering topics from fashion and art to technology and travel. So go ahead, pour yourself a cup of coffee, put your feet up, and settle in.
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Tiny Blobs Of Brain Cells Could Reveal How Your Mind Differs From A Neanderthal's ?The New York Times
Submitted for your consideration: miniature brain-cell 'organoids.' Scientists have in recent years managed to take human skin cells, treat them so that they revert to stem cells, and then coax them into becoming neurons ?the signal-carrying information transmitters of the human nervous system, and the foundation of the human mind. These organoids, which self-organize into layers not unlike those in a human cortex, can produce regular brainwaves not unlike those seen in human embryos. The latest: Researchers have inserted a gene found only in Neanderthals (oh, yes, we have sequenced the entire Neanderthal genome), and the organoids show dramatic differences in development and structure ?a window into minds of the past, perhaps? Coda: Neuroscientists insist the organoids are not brains of any kind, much less minds, but some labs have been giving organoids limited sensory abilities and, in one case, gave an organoid control of an electromechanical spider-bot. Mind your minds, people.
?Jack Forster, Editor-in-Chief
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What Floor? ?The Washington Post
Walk into most elevators today, and you'll see the stickers on the floor illustrating how to keep six feet apart from others (they're rarely, if ever, accurate, but that's a story for another time). We avoid elevators entirely if we can these days ?and we certainly don't think much about them, if ever. But, the elevator has been a key location for romance in movies and television for years. Whether the site of a "meet-cute" or a confined space for a gruesome post-kiss action sequence (I'm looking at you Ryan Gosling), the elevator has been a set-of-choice for directors. I won't say too much more, because the Washington Post put together a truly fun piece celebrating romantic elevator scenes in film, with some equally wonderful illustrations re-creating them. I guess it doesn't get much more niche than "elevator scenes," but I promise, this is worth a look.
?Danny Milton, Editor
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A Sticky Situation ?TikTok
Tessica Brown posted a TikTok on February 3 extending a grave warning to her followers: Don't ever, under any circumstances, use Gorilla Glue as a hairspray replacement. Bad, bad, bad idea. In the video, she explains how, after running out of her standard Got2B Glued Blasting Freeze Spray, she resorted to using the heavy-duty adhesive to finish off her look instead. At the time the video was posted, her hair hadn't moved for a month despite several attempts to wash out the impenetrable mess. Well, hearing all of this, the Internet went absolutely crazy. Comments poured in poking fun at Brown's predicament (don't do that!), but as the video went viral, the conversation quickly turned to helping her out in any way possible. Earlier this week, Brown started a GoFundMe to raise $1,500 (to cover expenses related to whatever treatment she'd require), which exceeded $20,000 in the five days since it was posted. The video continued making its way around the Internet and, like a Bat Signal, eventually garnered the attention of Dr. Michael Obeng, a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon who offered to perform surgery on Brown's locks pro bono. Just like that, the day was saved - arguably thanks to the power of TikTok. Now please, for the love of God, everyone step away from the Gorilla Glue.
?Chelsea Beeler, Operations Specialist
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A Tale of Two City Owls ?Manhattan Bird Alert
It may have crossed your newsfeed that a true Nor'easter hit the, well, northeastern part of the U.S., dumping over a foot of snow across the region including New York City and Central Park. In the days following the snow, I have been entranced by a Twitter account covering birds in Central Park, aptly named Manhattan Bird Alert or @birdcentralpark. Before all the snow, on January 28, the New York Times covered the story of Central Park's first Snowy Owl sighting in 130 years. That story ends with the Snowy having "moved on," but I am happy to report that it is back (for now). Most nights, around 6:25 PM, it returns to the same perch on the Central Park Reservoir North Pumphouse to what has now become a crowd of spotters and photographers ?including Steve Martin! Follow along for as long as the Snowy stays, and the @birdcentralpark account tweets and retweets everything you'll need. Whatever you do, please do not confuse the Snowy Owl with "Barry" the Barred Owl in the Ramble, even if he's covered in snow.
?Rich Fordon, Vintage Associate
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How Canepa Made the Legendary Porsche 959 Even Better ?Road and Track
Would you modify a vintage watch? How about an extremely rare, holy grail-level watch? Me neither. But when it comes to cars, it's a little different. Road & Track gets into how Canepa modified the Porsche 959, a homologation special (in order to enter certain races, manufacturers are required to make a road-going version). It's hard to imagine being able to take Porsche's best work and make it even better, but it can be done...with 4,000 hours and $950,000, that is.
?Cole Pennington, Editor
Lead image by Ryunosuke Kikuno.
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