Explore the Cosmos: A Captivating New Art Exhibition Focused on Space

Janet Kerr PPRWA Hon. RSA, 20 Solargraphs from the SolarGraphics Project 2020-24 Formless 2024-25 (18 months exposure time) showcases the beauty of long exposure photography.

Royal West of England Academy

Both artists and astronomers play a crucial role in transforming our observations of the universe into compelling narratives. The exhibit Cosmos: The Art of Observing the Universe at the Royal West of England Academy in Bristol, UK, explores this fascinating process.

“We recalibrate our perceptions through prolonged gazing,” says the exhibition curator, artist Ione Parkin. This exhibition, running until April 19, invites visitors to dive into their own observational journey, merging art and science in unique insights.

The image above illustrates how Janet Kerr collaborated with communities in Iceland, Greenland, the Shetland Islands, and Somerset to create stunning solar graphs that capture the sun over months of exposure.

This work by Alex Hartley intricately intertwines solar panels with photographs of Neolithic standing stones, illustrating the continuity of solar technology from ancient to contemporary times.

Parkin’s vibrant paintings swirl in red, orange, and bright white, evoking the dynamic nature of superheated plasma from the sun’s surface.

Finally, Michael Porter’s Impossible Landscape explores the realms beyond empirical knowledge, blending familiar geological textures with otherworldly aesthetics, prompting viewers to dream beyond the observable universe.

Source: www.newscientist.com

Instagram is experimenting with a dedicated feed focused solely on content from meta-verified users

Instagram chief Adam Mosseri said the company is testing a feed that only shows posts from meta-verified users. The new toggle appears under the “Following” and “Favorites” options that appear when you click on his Instagram logo in the app.

“We’re testing a way for people to explore their Instagram feed and Reels by switching to only meta-verified accounts,” Mosseri said on Instagram’s broadcast channel. “We’re exploring this as a new control for people and a way for businesses and creators to be discovered.”

The official announcement comes two months after Instagram told TechCrunch that it had not tested such a feature after reverse engineering it. Alessandro Paluzzi We’ve noticed a new feed filter showing meta-authenticated subscribers in the code for both the iOS and Android Instagram apps.

Instagram seems to see the new feed as a way to drive meta-verified subscriptions and get people interested in subscribing. Because this new feed offers an opportunity to increase awareness. Meta Verified costs $11.99 per month on web and $14.99 per month on mobile, and gives users access to blue checkmarks, enhanced customer support, increased visibility and reach in searches and comments, exclusive stickers, and more.

Meta is clearly borrowing from Elon Musk’s playbook with the new Verified-only feed and Meta Verified in general. After Tesla’s CEO acquired Twitter (now X) last fall, the social network launched paid authentication through its revamped X Premium subscription service at $8 per month.With a subscription, users can various functions, the user’s notifications will include a “Verified” tab. The service also includes other features such as an edit button and support for long posts.

Source: techcrunch.com