Link About It: This Week’s Picks
History-making changes to US law, music’s healing powers and internet cats in this week’s look around the web
1. Important Quotes From the Supreme Court’s Decision on Gay Marriage
In a narrow five-to-four decision, the US Supreme Court voted to legalize same-sex marriage in all 50 states, marking a momentous decision in American equality. Justice Anthony Kennedy held the power of the swing vote and, on his way to securing a landmark majority vote, penned a 100+ page document detailing the importance of including same-sex couples in the constitutional right of matrimony, writing “The nature of marriage is that, through its enduring bond, two persons together can find other freedoms, such as expression, intimacy and spirituality. This is true for all persons, whatever their sexual orientation.” Visit Mother Jones for more highlights.
2. Listening to Music Eases Physical Pain
Start building up your “Pain” playlist; a recent study suggests that listening to your favorite songs can actually reduce physical discomfort—even after major surgery. Northwestern University’s Sunitha Suresh and her father Santhanam Suresh discovered the benefits of audio therapy after examining 60 young patients at a local hospital. Those who listened to their favorite music soon after surgery reported a one-point decrease (on a 10-point scale) in pain—roughly equal to taking a Tylenol. This is good news, especially for those who want pain relief without the harmful side effects of medication.
3. NASA Might Nuke Incoming Meteors
NASA is partnering with the National Nuclear Security Administration on a program that would employ nuclear missiles to defend against a major threat to national security: meteors. After a 60-foot-wide space-rock exploded in the skies above Russia in 2013 and injured 1,500 people, both organizations began to more seriously consider methods to protect from future attacks. The two have agreed upon sending nukes into space to blast any comets, asteroids and meteors (or at least deflect them) before they reach us. Back-up plans currently include the use of laser beams and concentrated solar energy.
4. Louboutin Diversifies Shades of “Nude”
“Nude” clothing often comes in only one color—usually a light beige or peach—and has long mis- and under-represented the many different shades of skin in the world. Luxury footwear designer Christian Louboutin is expanding its Nude Collection of women’s shoes to include a wider range of tones. The French brand has introduced two new styles and seven new shades, allowing women to more accurately choose their own version of nude. It’s a step we’re hoping the rest of the fashion world will follow.
5. 3D-Printed Jewelry Inspired by Flower Growth
Jessica Rosenkrantz and Jesse Louis-Rosenberg of design studio Nervous Systems have employed an algorithm that mimics the growth patterns in flowers to create a line of 3D-printed jewelry. The project, called Floraform, draws inspiration from the way the flower petals push their growth to the very edge of each petal, eventually creating complex ruffles and patterns in the process. The line of ethereal bracelets, necklaces and rings is made with nylon and silver—and can be purchased.
6. African-Inspired Textiles by David Adjaye
Tanzanian-born architect David Adjaye has created a line of African-inspired textiles for furniture-manufacturer Knoll, which aims to “dispel stereotypical images of the continent.” The range of upholstery, drapery and wall coverings—set to launch in September—prominently features patterns based off of the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum’s permanent collection of African textiles. Adjaye designed the collection to coincide with the museum’s own exhibition of African fabrics, which he will also help to curate. The exhibition will be on display at the Cooper Hewitt until 14 February 2016.
7. Why We Love Watching Cat Videos
While dogs may be man’s best friend, cats undoubtedly rule the internet. To investigate why we love sharing cat vids, GIFs and pics so much, Indiana University’s Jessica Gall Myrick surveyed nearly 7,000 people and published her findings online in “Computers in Human Behavior.” While there’s much to learn here about our inner feline fandom, one point especially stood out: frequent cat video viewers tended to be more cooperative, friendly and trusting while also feeling less anxiety, sadness and annoyance. So, in short, watch more cat videos if you want to act (and feel) better.
8. Color-Changing Condoms That Detect STIs
Three young teenagers from the Isaac Newton Academy in Ilford, Essex have created condoms that change color after coming into contact with a sexually transmitted infection. Daanyaal Ali, Muaz Nawaz and Chirag Shah developed the clever contraceptives—dubbed “S.T.EYE”—to make “detecting harmful STIs safer than ever before, so that people can take immediate action in the privacy of their own homes.” TeenTech has awarded the young inventors with £1,000 and a trip to Buckingham Palace for “best health innovation.”
Link About It is our filtered look at the web, shared daily in Link and on Twitter, and rounded up every Saturday morning.
