All posts by She Seeks Serene

My Journey of Reimagining Life, Love and Education

Top Architectural Tours: ‘Shelter Island, New York’

91 Ram Island Drive is the culmination of twenty years of work by internationally renowned architect William Pedersen. A triumph of contemporary design and expertly crafted by Wright and Company Construction, the house sits on almost 3 acres of rolling native meadow that gently slopes onto over 220 feet of pristine beach, with Gardiners Bay beyond.

Based on a multi-axis linear framework and emphasizing the contrasting textures of the primary building materials of concrete, wood, copper and bluestone, the structure is at once both awe-inspiring and effortlessly comfortable. Set at the convergence of three distinct landmarks – the lighthouse in Gardiners Bay, Gardiners Island and the entrance to Coecles Harbor – an unparalleled 360-degree panoramic view unfolds in front of the property.

The house itself seems to rise like an island from the water, as was the conceptual inspiration for the design. Clad in stone and sheets of standing seam copper, the 3-bedroom residence offers an open flow between the public spaces at the heart of the home, the expansive outdoor entertaining areas that define the summer lifestyle and the long passageway of the private bedroom wing. Singular in design and function, 91 Ram Island Drive is, in every sense, a habitable work of art.

Covid-19: How The U.S. Will Roll Out Vaccine (Video)

The worsening pandemic continues to mean millions of Americans out of work. For older employees in particular, this kind of long-term unemployment can represent the end of a career — especially when they may be facing age discrimination and bias. Economics correspondent Paul Solman looks at the problem as part of his series Unfinished Business.

New Travel Guide Video: ‘Savannah, Georgia’ (2020)

Savannah – queue the perfect playlist and begin your driving vacation across picturesque Georgia to the state’s oldest city.

Savannah, a coastal Georgia city, is separated from South Carolina by the Savannah River. It’s known for manicured parks, horse-drawn carriages and antebellum architecture. Its historic district is filled with cobblestoned squares and parks such as Forsyth Park shaded by oak trees covered with Spanish moss. At the center of this picturesque district is the landmark, Gothic-Revival Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist.

Poetic Travel: ‘The Great Blasket’ – Ireland (Video)

Filmed and Edited by: Arnie Hensman

An Blascaod Mór (The Great Blasket), is the largest of The Blasket Islands off the coast of Co. Kerry Ireland.

On the very edge of a continent, it was Europe’s most western community until 1953 when it was evacuated due to the pressures of securing the safety of such a remote location.

During its most thriving era, it had a population of several hundred. Now uninhabited, it is a protected monument. The island was home to many prolific writers who recorded their history and stories in the Irish language, leaving behind a literary and spiritual legacy of written works. the most famous of which is Peig Sayers, who made her home there.

Science: CNO Neutrinos At The Sun’s Core, Covid-19 & Contraception (Podcast)

Scientists have finally confirmed the existence of a CNO cycle fusion reaction in the Sun, and why women’s contraception research needs a reboot.

In this episode:

00:47 Detection of CNO neutrinos

Since the 1930s it has been theorised that stars have a specific fusion reaction known as the CNO cycle, but proof has been elusive. Now, a collaboration in Italy report detection of neutrinos that show that the CNO cycle exists.

Research article: The Borexino Collaboration

News and Views: Neutrino detection gets to the core of the Sun

08:48 Coronapod

We discuss the search for the animal origin of SARS-CoV-2, with researchers raiding their freezer draws to see if any animals carry similar viruses, and the latest vaccine results.

News: Coronaviruses closely related to the pandemic virus discovered in Japan and Cambodia

News: Why Oxford’s positive COVID vaccine results are puzzling scientists

19:32 Research Highlights

How sleep patterns relate to ageing, and a solar-powered steam sterilizer.

Research Highlight: For better health, don’t sleep your age

Research Highlight: Technology for sterilizing medical instruments goes solar

21:50 Getting women’s contraception research unstuck

Since the 1960s there has been little progress on research into women’s contraceptives. This week in Nature, researchers argue that this needs to change.

Comment: Reboot contraceptives research — it has been stuck for decades

29:35 Briefing Chat

We discuss a highlight from the Nature Briefing. This time, a tool to summarise papers.

Nature News: tl;dr: this AI sums up research papers in a sentence

Road Trip Video: ‘Beulah To Moran Township’ In Northern Michigan

From forests and farms to taverns and cafes, upstate Michigan will take you back to the old ways of life.

Northern Michigan, also known as Northern Lower Michigan or Upper Michigan, is a region of the U.S. state of Michigan. A popular tourist destination, it is home to several small- to medium-sized cities, extensive state and national forests, lakes and rivers, and a large portion of Great Lakes shoreline. 

Walking Tours: ‘The High Line’ – New York City (2020)

The High Line is a 1.45-mile-long elevated linear park, greenway and rail trail created on a former New York Central Railroad spur on the west side of Manhattan in New York City. The High Line’s design is a collaboration between James Corner Field Operations, Diller Scofidio + Renfro, and Piet Oudolf.

Egyptian History: ‘Secrets Of The Sphinx Of Giza’

Join Egyptian historians and archeological experts on a mission to decode the mysteries of Egypt’s Great Sphinx. Season 1 Episode 2 “Secrets” from the series: Secrets https://bit.ly/31xTgju

The Great Sphinx of Giza, commonly referred to as the Sphinx of Giza or just the Sphinx, is a limestone statue of a reclining sphinx, a mythical creature. Facing directly from West to East, it stands on the Giza Plateau on the west bank of the Nile in Giza, Egypt. The face of the Sphinx is generally believed to represent the pharaoh Khafra.

Video Tour: ‘Castello Torinese’, Piedmont, Italy

Located on top of a hill overlooking a historic center of Piedmont, we find this imposing medieval castle for sale in Italy, masterfully restored and converted into a luxury 28-bedroom hotel. In a very panoramic position, the castle is also the ideal location for weddings, ceremonies and congresses thanks to a set of beautiful conference halls (up to 250 seats) and a welcoming restaurant (400 seats) offering typical Piedmontese and international dishes.

Astronomy: Saturn’s Moon ‘Titan’ (Nasa Video)

Earth is not the only place in the solar system with rain, rivers, lakes and seas. Saturn’s moon Titan has them, too — not of water, but of liquid methane and ethane. This Earth-like world even hides an ocean of liquid water deep beneath its surface! Find out what you need to know about Titan.