Students digitally restore buildings destroyed in Maui
Published 11 days ago • 8 min read
Daily Edition • May 9, 2024
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According to Google data shared with Thrillist, Italy is the most-searched summer vacation spot for nearly half of U.S. states — but “cheap summer vacations” is also a top search. So is it possible to combine both of those dreams and book an affordable trip to Europe? It’s all about timing, per a recent report from Radical Storage. The best (as in, cheapest) time to book a journey to the continent is during a “shoulder season,” meaning between the peak and off-peak seasons. Learn more about the report and see when “shoulder season” hits for some of the most popular vacation destinations.
Those affected by the catastrophic wildfires in Hawaii last August are still healing. In the face of that uncertainty and loss, a professor at the University of Hawaii at Manoa came up with a unique idea to make a better future feel more achievable: digitally restoring buildings destroyed in Lahaina, Maui’s historic district and a particularly hard-hit area of the island. “I thought visualizations would help people to see that here’s the first step toward the realization of what could be recaptured,” William Chapman, dean of the university’s School of Architecture, told Smithsonian Magazine. Chapman, along with associate professor Hyoung-June Park, built a course centered on creating virtual representations of damaged landmarks, including the Baldwin Home (pictured), which was the oldest house on Maui before the fire. The students used the buildings’blueprints, Google Earth, artificial intelligence, 3D animation software, and more digital tools to create high-quality renderings that serve as both reminders of the past and inspirations for what could be. “All of the buildings that we are currently restoring in 3D were buildings that I lived near and used to see going to school all the time,”saidOfeinahelotu Filikitonga, a junior who grew up in Lahaina. “I’ve actually been into each one of these buildings before the fire, so seeing my classmates and I resurrect these things with technology is really heartwarming.” Watch a video showing the Baldwin Home animation.
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Some things are looking up down in the sea. A new report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration found that 94% of fish stocks were not subject to overfishing in 2023, marking an all-time low. This insight comes from the annual Status of the Stocks report, an assessment of the 506 stocks and stock complexes managed by the NOAA that offersaglimpse at the overall health of U.S. fisheries. As a result of the findings, the agency removed multiple species from the overfishing list, including the Gulf of Maine and Cape Hatteras stock of Atlantic mackerel, the coast of Washington stock of coho salmon, and the Atlantic coast stock of bluefish. The overfishing list, which tracks species with unsustainable harvest rates, has been shortening for several years now, the Associated Press reports. “By ending overfishing and rebuilding stocks, we are strengthening the value of U.S. fisheries to the economy,our communities, and marine ecosystems,” Rick Spinrad, NOAA’s administrator, said in a statement.
Health
At-Home Cervical Cancer Screening Device Awarded Milestone Designation From FDA
Teal Health
A little over a month ago, we told you about Teal Health, the startup backed by Serena Williams that developed an at-home cervical cancer screening wand. And now we have an exciting update: Teal Wand has been granted Breakthrough Device status by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The status was awarded following promising mid-point data from the Teal Wand’s first, nationwide clinical trial, and puts it on track for priority approval once the company submits its final results for review. “The speed of our study shows that if you design for and engage with women to advance women’s health, you’ll be met with resounding enthusiasm from this group that has been overlooked and under researched for far too long,” Teal Health CEO and co-founder Kara Egan said in a statement shared with Nice News. “This study and Breakthrough designation is an important moment for women’s health.” Learn more about how it works, why it’s needed, and how you can join the waitlist to get the device.
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We’re all ears: Research has found that using hearing aids regularly can reduce risk of death by nearly 25% for those who need them.
The 13th known fossil of the feathered dinosaur Archaeopteryx — “arguably the most important fossil ever discovered” —was unveiled at a Chicago museum.
Children with peanut and milk allergies are showing major improvements in a new clinical trial that involves using everyday foods to build up a patient’s tolerance.
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Inspiring Story
“I gain more than I have given”
In honor of National Foster Care Day on Tuesday, Peter Mutabazi shared the touching story of how he went from living on the streets of Kampala, Uganda, to being a single dad of three in North Carolina who has fostered dozens of children. “I see the best in kids in the worst time possible for them,” he said.
The 2024 Olympic torch made landfall in France earlier this week, arriving in Marseille on a three-masted ship after it was lit in Greece last month. Between now and the Paris opening ceremony on July 26, the torch is scheduled to make 400 stops in various French towns and territories in what will be one of the longest relays in Olympic history.
Horizon IX: Good Things Come in Small Packages
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