Writings

“We’re in a diversity crisis”: cofounder of Black in AI on what’s poisoning algorithms in our lives
An interview with Microsoft researcher Timnit Gebru about bias in AI and how diversity can fix it. (MIT Technology Review)

The world’s animals are getting their very own Facebook
A computer vision-powered social network for animals could supercharge conservation efforts. (Fast Company)

Brainlike computers are a black box. Scientists are finally peering inside
Scientists are developing ways to understand neural nets. (Science)

The Robots Are Coming For Your Wardrobe
The husband and wife duo behind Chennai-born AI startup Mad Street Den are determined to change the way you shop for clothes. (Fast Company)

Terminator Redux: Lionfish Edition
A new fish trap uses artificial intelligence to target lionfish. (Hakai)

U.S.’s Longest Cat-Proof Fence Protects Endangered Birds
A five-mile-long fence was recently completed in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park to protect the federally endangered Hawaiian petrel from feral cats. It’s the longest cat-proof fence constructed in the U.S.(National Geographic)

On The Hunt For Natural Beauty Products For Women Who Actually *Like* Makeup
The creators of Beauty Lies Truth are advocating for better–and bolder–natural beauty products. (Fast Company)

Where Katharine Hepburn Got Her Chocolates
Mondel Chocolates, at Broadway and West 114th Street, also lures students at Barnard and Columbia who return long after they receive their degrees. (New York Times)

‘Mysterymoons’: surprise honeymoons in vogue for adventurous newlyweds
Honeymoons booked without the couple’s knowledge are a new trend in travel for people more than happy to pass the planning reins after their wedding. (The Guardian)

Nature Runs Wild in Greenwich Village
Park represents what New York City might look like if it hadn’t become a city. (Wall Street Journal)

From a Spanish Shop in Queens, Chorizo That’s Out of This World
Despaña Brand Foods, in Jackson Heights, is crammed with goods from Spain, as well as its own sausage, which an astronaut once took on a mission to space. (New York Times)

Man’s best friend: how veterinary research could save human lives
One Health holds that humans and the world around us thrive and suffer for the same reasons. As the idea grows more popular, health solutions developed for your dog might just end up helping you, too. (The Guardian)

Chinatown Ice Cream Factory, Where a Scoop of Durian Is Plain Vanilla
Located in New York City’s Chinatown since 1977, Chinatown Ice Cream Factory is a popular destination, more so in the summer, where one can find more than two dozen flavors. (New York Times)

Fuego 718 in Williamsburg, a Shop Where Every Day Is the Day of the Dead
At the store, Day of the Dead skeletons and skulls turn up on countless items, including magnets, shadow boxes and Christmas ornaments. (New York Times)

Where Starbucks Meets Matcha: Ippodo Tea in Murray Hill
Ippodo Tea, a Japanese company based in Kyoto, serves green teas in Murray Hill, including matcha, which is gaining a wider following in the United States. (New York Times)

Smile, You’re on Aura Camera
Magic Jewelry on Centre Street specializes in feng shui, crystals and horoscope readings, but it is also the only place in the city that photographs auras. (New York Times)

When Their Internet Went Down, These Brothers Stood Up
Two brothers start their own Internet service provider in Brooklyn. (The Wall Street Journal)

Florida’s Radioactive Fountain of Youth May Prolong Life
Five hundred years after Ponce de Leon explored the area, locals swear by an artesian well with unusual properties. (National Geographic)

Sailboats Ship Freight to Manhattan for First Time in 60 Years
Interest in greener transportation and local food is driving a revival of ancient ways. (National Geographic)

Nature Runs Wild in Greenwich Village
A park in Lower Manhattan represents what New York City might look like if it hadn’t become a city. (Wall Street Journal)

Life and work lessons from Joss Whedon’s biography
Amy Pascale, the author of Joss Whedon: The Biography breaks down some life and career lessons from a non-stop creative force. (Fast Co-Create)

The Most Important Character on ‘True Blood’: The South
Ostensibly about vampires and werewolves, the HBO series paints a complex, historically sensitive portrait of rural Louisiana. (The Atlantic)

Missing the magic in Apple product announcements? Nine Apple patents show what could be ahead
A look through patent drawings to peer into the future of Apple. (Quartz)

Turkey’s startup scene is still small, but women could be its secret weapon
Women are becoming a force in the Turkish startup world. (Quartz)

The Gregory Brothers and the Rise of the Remix Video
Remix videos become part of the cultural zeitgeist. (Daily Beast)

Pet Psychic finds Reincarnated Pets
Pet Psychics like Ellen Kohn will do whatever it takes to communicate with pets – even from beyond the grave. (Huffington Post)

A Card to Remember
One store in New York still creates greeting cards the old-fashioned way. (Aishti Magazine)