THE ISHU 'PRIVACY SCARF' / SAIF SIDDIQUI

// The two-toned geometric-patterned "privacy scarf," invented by 28-year-old entrepreneur Saif Siddiqui, is made up of special light-reflecting crystals that bounces back a flash at the offending camera, rendering pictures dark, grainy, and useless. (It also works with video camera lights.) 

The young creator was quoted as saying the point of his product is to make people more aware of the importance of privacy and allow us to be better in control of it. In the meantime, it's a great solution for stars who don't want to interact with the public

It’s no surprise that high-profile, constantly papped people are drawn to these scarves, but regular folks are buying them up, too. In a world where nearly everything seems to end up on social media, with or without one’s permission, it's nice to have the option to not accidentally be in somebody's selfie. While most of us don't spend our travels trying to avoid TMZ photographers camped out at LAX, there seems to be a growing interest in privacy and the internet, or at least in controlling one's own literal image. //

[ Condé Nast Traveller, The Ishu  ]

VANTABLACK / SURREY NANOSYSTEMS

//There's black, and then there's Vantablack.// Developed by a British company Surrey NanoSystems, Vantablack is currently the world's darkest material, absorbing up to 99.965% of light in the visible spectrum. It is so dark that the eye has difficulty understanding what it is seeing and the perception is thus limited to 2 dimensions. Vantablack ("Vertically Aligned Nano Tube Arrays") consists of a "forest" of carbon nano-tubes that are so densely packed that most of the light gets trapped inside the material.

Vantablack is mainly being used in research applications now from stealth aircraft and weaponry to calibrating space cameras and telescopes and increase their optical efficiency.

British contemporary artist Anish Kapoor has exclusive rights to use the Vantablack pigment in his art. //Vantablack seems a natural choice for Kapoor's experimental inclinations given his forays into working with stainless steel and mirrors. Kapoor's sculptures are designed to unsettle the viewer and distort their surroundings, so working with a material that functions as a portable abyss seems like a nice step up.//

[Sources: cool hunting, dezeen, dazed digital]

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

//Women's Day can be a reminder to women and lovers of women to band together and support each other! Remember the incredible accomplishments of historical women, and celebrate the accomplishments of women today! Be confident in your own sexuality, beauty, ability, belief and body and show trust and kindness towards other women of all races, bodies, backgrounds and beliefs.//

[ Frances Cannon: What it means to be a woman today, illustrated; Dazed Digital ]

[ Source: Dazed Digital ]