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Must Reads
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Health
Texas Hospital Using Holograms to Expand Patients’ Access to Physicians
Holoconnects
The doctor-patient relationship plays a huge role in health care, but in certain areas, consulting with a physician face-to-face isn’t possible without significant time spent traveling. One Texas hospital is taking a novel approach to that issue, reportedly becoming the first in the nation to utilize holographic technology for patient visits. Crescent Regional Hospital in Lancaster is employing the futuristic “Holobox,” a system created by Dutch company Holoconnects. It projects a life-size, 3D holographic display of the physician using it, enabling doctors at the hospital to consult with patients at a clinic 30 miles away in real time. Raji Kumar, Crescent Regional’s CEO, hopes to expand access even further. “I plan to give it as a service to rural hospitals,” Kumar told ABC affiliate WFAA. “To say, ‘Hey, I’ve got all the specialists on board. I will give you the box, I’ll take care of the camera setups for my specialists.’” Added Steve Stirling, managing director of Holoconnects for North America: “Doctor shortage areas are everywhere, and health care facilities are closing, so if we can do anything to help make access to care and engagement with health care professionals more productive and satisfying to both patients and doctors, this will be a very satisfying result for us.” Watch how it works.
Together With AllTrails
The Great Outdoors Are Calling
Will you answer the call? AllTrails+ is a must-have tool for adventurers looking to make the most of the summer weather. And in honor of the upcoming July 4th holiday, Nice News readers can get 50% off AllTrails+ for one week only with the promo code SUMMERNOW24. The AllTrails+ membership features include offline maps — keeping you on track, with or without service — and trail previews, which show terrain and elevation details. You’ll also get access to over 200 Guides for national park trips, advanced conditions updates that will help you plan for weather, alerts for wrong turns (we’ve all been there), and so much more.
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Culture
Fashion Began 40,000 Years Ago With the Invention of Eyed Needles: Study
Gilligan et al, 2024
These days, it’s a challenge just to keep up with the latest clothing trends, but once upon a time, attire was simply something used to protect us from the elements. So when did the concept of fashion come into existence? According to a team of archaeologists, it likely began in the latter part of the last ice age. In a paper published Friday, researchers posit that the invention of eyed needles in Siberia around 40,000 years ago shifted clothing from a utility to a mode of cultural and social expression. At the time, cold temperatures would have made earlier forms of adornment, like body painting, difficult, as more of the skin had to be covered to withstand the weather. “That’s why the appearance of eyed needles is particularly important because it signals the use of clothing as decoration,” lead author Ian Gilligan explained in a statement. “Eyed needles would have been especially useful for the very fine sewing that was required to decorate clothing.” Learn about the evolution of clothing in more recent years by exploring the virtual exhibit Fashion Through the Ages from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
Environment
This New Sticky Glue Keeps Plant Pests at Bay, Sans Chemicals
A conundrum many gardeners face is how to control pests and do good by the environment. The solution may lie in what researchers believe is the first biodegradable alternative to chemical pesticides: sticky, edible droplets that mimic the way certain plants trap their prey. To test the material, a research team put the droplets on strawberries and chrysanthemum plants, the favorite food of the western flower thrip, an insect known to attack a variety of crops. Within two days, more than 60% of the thrips were captured, and the drops remained sticky for weeks, The Guardian reports. Importantly, the millimeter-size particles are not adhesive enough to harm bigger and more beneficial insects, like bees and other pollinators. Per the outlet, the invention comes at a pivotal time, as pesticide use has risen by 50% in the past 30 years, correlating with a growing global population and an increasing demand for food. While chemical pesticides may be a preventative measure to the destruction caused by pests, they can also cause long-term, unintended consequences to wildlife and humans. “We want to give [growers] a new fighting tool that is not harmful for the environment,” said Thomas Kodger, one of the researchers. He added, “It is rewardingtowitness our idea potentially changing the world within my lifetime.”
In Other News
The timing of puberty is “profoundly” affected by six genes, a recent study found.
Happy birthday, barcode: Those ubiquitous black stripes debuted five decades ago last week. Learn about the tech’s history, future, and the first item ever scanned.
Mubi Mubi is a cinephile’s streaming dream, curating the most daring, delightful, and all-around adored movies by the world’s foremost visionary filmmakers. You can sign up for a monthly or annual subscription to the streamer, and you can access it via PC or Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android, Playstation, Roku, various smart TVs, and more.
Recommendations are independently selected by our team but may result in a commission to Nice News which helps keep our content free.
Inspiring Story
“Not your average prom”
At this prom for older adults in Los Angeles’ LGBTQ+ community, attendees who might not have had the best experience the first time around got to dance, laugh, eat, and be their authentic selves.
Michelle Rohl, a 58-year-old grandmother and three-time Olympic competitor who retired to homeschool her kids over 20 years ago, placed third in race walking at the U.S. team trials on Saturday. “It makes her happy, and I’m just happy to be along for the ride,” her husband said. See Rohl through the years.
Celebrate Independence Day With AllTrails+
America has so many public lands to explore — and AllTrails+ is the best tool for exploring them. The premium membership gives you access to offline maps, trail previews, insider tips, and so much more. Use code SUMMERNOW24 to get 50% off in honor of Independence Day.*
