Cartography, DIY Labs, and Generalists: Lux Recommends #183
Welcome to Lux Recommends #183, this week’s edition of what we at Lux are reading and thinking about (want to receive this by email? Sign up here).
Articles
First You Make the Maps: “How cartography made early modern global trade possible.” — Sam
A DIY approach to automating your lab: “Do-it-yourself projects give researchers the equipment they need at bargain prices. But making your own technology requires commitment and time, and it is rarely easy.” — Adam G
Who’s the First Person in History Whose Name We Know? — Adam K
These tiny microbes are munching away at plastic waste in the ocean — Adam G
Cadavers in the ballroom: Doctors practice their craft in America’s favorite hotels — Bilal
An Optical Illusion That Will Zigzag Your Brain— Friend of Lux Jacob Mnookin
Why It’s So Hard to Predict Where a Tornado Will Strike — Adam K
Spelling Bee Quiz: Do You Know the Meanings of the Winning Words? — Friend of Lux Diane Bock
And A People Map of the US, where city names are replaced by their most Wikipedia’ed resident: people born in, lived in, or connected to a place. — Sam
Books
Range by David Epstein: “David Epstein examined the world’s most successful athletes, artists, musicians, inventors, forecasters and scientists. He discovered that in most fields — especially those that are complex and unpredictable — generalists, not specialists, are primed to excel. Generalists often find their path late, and they juggle many interests rather than focusing on one. They’re also more creative, more agile, and able to make connections their more specialized peers can’t see.” — Sam
Television
Street Food: “Embark on a global cultural journey into street food and discover the stories of the people who create the flavorful dishes.” — Adam G
Good Omens: “A tale of the bungling of Armageddon features an angel, a demon, an eleven-year-old Antichrist, and a doom-saying witch.” — Sam
Videos
Can This 10-Year-Old Save the Olympics? — Lux friend Chris Reilly
Shooting slow motion in 360 — Adam K
Watch Lightning Strike a Rocket at it Launches — Adam K
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