EXPLAINED: 12 | Vintage Vibes

In 1927, a woman's little-known brick invention quietly became a foundation of modern construction

Anna Keichline, the first licensed woman architect in Pennsylvania, changed American architecture with ideas that were far ahead of her time. Her patented K Brick made construction lighter, stronger, and more efficient in 1927. She earned multiple U.S. patents while breaking barriers for women in architecture and engineering.

The Economic Times · Aug 3

Proton VPN quietly unveils a massive under-the-hood upgrade — here's all we know about 'Proton Protocols'

Proton VPN has rolled out a major under-the-hood rebuild to its apps. The newly introduced "Proton Protocols" promise quicker connections, better stability, and new features designed to easily bypass online censorship.

TechRadar · Aug 3

When a Stepchild Is Asked to Heal Before They Have Finished Grieving Their First Family in India

The ceremony nobody holds for a broken familyThe photograph stays in your school bag for months after the move. Not framed. Not displayed. Folded into the back pocket of a notebook nobody checks, next to a birthday card your father signed before everything changed. When someone dies, there is a…

Times Life · Aug 3

The Grief You Owe Your Parents Is Also the Healing Every Future Relationship Needs

The Thing You Never Thought to MournNobody tells you that you are allowed to grieve a relationship that is still alive. Your parents are there, at Sunday lunch, on WhatsApp, calling to ask if you've eaten, and yet something in you is waiting for a version of them that was…

Times Life · Aug 2

'They’re closer to architecture than landscaping': inside Walt Disney World’s eight-month process to build EPCOT’s Flower & Garden Festival topiaries

Disney’s EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival topiaries may look like simple decorations, but each living character sculpture is an eight-month engineering project involving 3D models, custom steel frames, precision irrigation, and Disney horticulture expertise.

TechRadar · Aug 1

'A disk in a planet-scale computer': Meta has so many expensive GPUs that it's buying SSDs to kill idle time

Meta redesigned its storage architecture with SSD caching and faster metadata access, dramatically reducing AI loading times while improving GPU utilisation.

TechRadar · Aug 1

How a 1908 prison became Japan's most unusual luxury hotel after nearly a decade of restoration

In February 2017, Japan formally closed the Nara Prison, a red brick correctional facility that had operated continuously for well over a century in the ancient city of Nara. Rather than demolishing the structure, the Japanese government designated it a National Important Cultural Property the same year it closed, recognising…

The Times of India · Aug 1

Archaeologists discovered Spain's oldest known Roman library inside a villa in Córdoba

Archaeologists identified a room at Fuente Álamo as the oldest Roman library. This space was previously thought to be a shrine to the god Mithras. The library's architecture matches known Roman library designs and is the westernmost in the empire. Its discovery highlights the cultural ambitions of its wealthy owner.…

The Times of India · Jul 31

Japan's latest earthquake damages Kumamoto Castle, the 400-year-old fortress still battling nature after centuries of survival

Kumamoto Castle, renowned for its stunning samurai architecture, has endured severe damage due to earthquakes, notably the catastrophic tremors in 2016 that ravaged the historic site. The castle faced further challenges during another quake in July 2026, exacerbating its damage. Current restoration efforts emphasize the preservation of original materials while…

The Times of India · Jul 30

Hidden deep within the Swiss Alps, this structure was built with 60,000 stone slabs to disappear into the mountain and is now considered one of the greatest works of modern architecture

Therme Vals situated in the Swiss Alps, was designed by Peter Zumthor in 1996. This structure hides within the rugged mountain landscape, using 60,000 local stone slabs. Visitors experience a cave-like atmosphere through dark passages and varied stone textures. This design respects the mountain ecosystem while providing a unique human…

The Times of India · Jul 30