Newsbreaker

Image via Nissan Nissan set a new course for its electric vehicle (EV) ambitions in China at the 2024 Beijing Auto Show. The Japanese automaker unveiled four experimental cars, showcasing a focus on both pure electric and plug-in hybrid technology for the world’s largest car market. Read full article

[Click here to view the video in this article] Photo 304843475 © Rokas Tenys | Dreamstime.com Read full article

Photo 126422887 © Phurinee Chinakathum | Dreamstime.com Fujikawaguchiko, a small town in Japan known for its stunning views of Mount Fuji, has taken a drastic step to curb the negative impacts of overtourism. In a move that’s sure to ruffle some feathers—or perhaps, block some shots—the town will erect a barrier to obscure the view of the iconic mountain from a particularly popular photo spot. Read full article

Image generated on AI No number of green thumbs will be able to grow these adorable blooms that resemble kitten faces. Dubbed the “Cat’s Eye Dazzle,” they’re unfortunately a figment of artificial intelligence imagination, but they’re so cute people have already reached into their wallets to buy seeds. Read full article

Images via H&M While we don’t claim to have synesthesia, or the ability to taste color, H&M Home’s new collaboration with PANTONE just about tingles the taste buds. After their debut collection last year, the brand and color authority have returned to energize your kitchen and dining space with two distinct color palettes: ‘Zesty & Fresh’ and ‘Spicy & Sweet’. Read full article

Video screenshot via VideoGigaGAN With high-res being the bare minimum these days, you might feel rather underwhelmed when you dig out old home videos to find an astonishingly grainy mess. Perhaps there’s a way to salvage them. Adobe has just introduced VideoGigaGAN, an artificial intelligence model that skillfully upgrades blurry videos to sharp, high-definition quality. Read full article

Images via LEGO LEGO has blasted two stellar sets into our peripherals that promise to take both starry-eyed enthusiasts and armchair astronauts on a miniature journey through the cosmos. Read full article

Photo 297011828 © Antonella865 | Dreamstime.com When you’ve stayed in the same spot for a while, there may come a time when it feels you’ve outgrown it. The Louvre in Paris is cooking up a new plan for its star exhibit, the Mona Lisa. Faced with relentless crowds and cramped viewing conditions, the museum is considering a move for the celebrated painting to a purpose-built room in its basement. Read full article

Image generated on AI It’s high time for a new technique for developing film. Dmitri Tcherbadji, a Canadian web developer with a penchant for quirky photography projects—including a gingerbread camera with a sugar lens—might have just blazed a new trail in alternative film processing. Read full article

Video screenshot via Synthesia Gone are the stiff mannequins of yesterday’s chatbots—Synthesia’s new artificial intelligence avatars have shed their poker faces and are learning to emote. Backed by tech giant Nvidia, Synthesia, an AI firm focused on avatar creation, has unveiled a new generation of avatars dubbed Expressive Avatars that can convey a whole spectrum of human emotions based on what you tell them. Read full article

Images via Hermès Luxury house Hermès hits home with the concept of “ground,” reflecting our connection to the natural world with its 2024 Home Collection, unveiled at Milan Design Week. Read full article

Photo 137583423 © Toxawww | Dreamstime.com Are AI-generated artworks the new “Live, Laugh, Love” posters? Walmart has drawn unwanted attention after it was found retailing art that many suspect isn’t created by a human artist. Read full article

Images via Disney and Taylor Swift It’s a small world, after all, and you’ll find Swifties even in the Disney universe. Read full article

Image via The Home Depot Home Depot is once again dusting off the skeleton in its closet—and this time, he’s got a sidekick. Read full article

Video screenshot via Auktionshaus im Kinsky A long-lost Gustav Klimt portrait has reemerged from the shadows, waltzing its way onto the auction block and fetching a cool €30 million (US$32 million). Titled Portrait of Fräulein Lieser, the unfinished masterpiece depicts a young woman with dark hair and is believed to be one of the Austrian symbolist master's final creations before his brush met its final rest in 1918. Read full article