Category Archives: Reviews

Classic Cars: The 1957 Jaguar XKSS Sports Racer

RM Sotheby’s (August 4, 2023) – Chosen by Hollywood celebrities and racing drivers alike, the Jaguar brand has long represented the sporting lifestyle. In the second episode of an ongoing series illuminating the origins of exceptional automobiles, RM Sotheby’s Director of Research Michael Squire discusses the origins of a brand-defining Jaguar, the XKSS.

Already made in a limited quantity, this XKSS is one of only sixteen sports-racers to survive a fire at the Jaguar plant in February of 1957. After that, this XKSS led what could be considered a charmed life, first in California, then returning to two noteworthy collectors in the UK, Anthony Bamford and Campbell McLaren.

Research Preview: Science Magazine – August 4, 2023

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Science Magazine – August 4, 2023 issue: DNA was sequenced from 27 African Americans buried at Catoctin Furnace, Maryland, where enslaved people labored between 1774 and 1850. The tree trunk forms a double helix comprising 27 segments representing each sequenced individual.

‘We’re changing the clouds.’ An unforeseen test of geoengineering is fueling record ocean warmth

Pollution cuts have diminished “ship track” clouds, adding to global warming

Tropical trees deter similar neighbors

Tropical forests host an unusually high diversity of tree species. Strong interactions between individuals are hypothesized to create these patterns. A tree is more likely to survive when surrounded by different tree species with different resource needs, diseases, and herbivores. Kalyuzhny et al. found patterns consistent with this mechanism in a long-term forest plot in Panama. Adult trees in this site are more distant from members of their own species than from other species and more distant than would be expected by chance or by the limits of seed dispersal. This study shows that distances between conspecifics are maintained in adult trees, helping to explain the high diversity of tropical forests.

National Geographic Traveller – SEPT 2023

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National Geographic Traveller Magazine (September 2023): This issue features Portugal – Surf The Atlantic Coast, Hike in the Algarve, Kayak through Porto and Explore Alentejo’s Lakes; California – Follow in the path of Gold-Rush Pioneers; London to Istanbul – How to plan the ultimate train trip across Europe, and more…

Research Preview: Nature Magazine – August 3, 2023

Volume 620 Issue 7972

nature Magazine – August 3, 2023 issue: Lithium-metal batteries promise to charge rapidly and to hold more energy than batteries based on lithium ions. Recharging these batteries requires lithium metal to be reformed at the anode, but this process is affected by the battery’s electrolyte and current collector, which causes the shape of the lithium deposits to vary unpredictably, impairing the battery’s performance.

Water crisis: how local technologies can help solve a global problem

Climate change is making water stress worse for billions worldwide. Scaling up both new and traditional solutions must be a priority.

Why heart trouble can lead to sleep trouble

An immune response triggered by cardiac disease affects the function of a gland with a key role in the sleep–wake cycle.

Futuristic Architecture: ‘Vista Villa’ – Rabani Design

Amazing Architecture Logo

Amazing Architecture (August 1, 2023) – As you step inside the villa, you are greeted with a breathtaking view of the river through the expansive glass windows. The interior design of the villa boasts tall ceilings, creating an airy and spacious atmosphere. The use of vegetation and stone in some parts of the interior, such as the master bedroom, kitchen, and living room, adds a touch of nature and tranquility to the space.

The villa’s interior design is a beautiful blend of modern and natural elements. The warm wood materials used throughout the space create a cozy and inviting atmosphere, while the tall ceilings give it a sense of grandeur. The use of vegetation and stone in some parts of the interior adds a touch of nature and serenity to the space.

In conclusion, this futuristic modern villa is a true architectural masterpiece. With its unique doublex design, round ceilings, and stunning use of materials, it stands out as a true work of art. The interior design is equally impressive, with its tall height and beautiful blend of modern and natural elements. This villa truly offers a one-of-a-kind living experience that is both luxurious and serene.


By Liliana Alvarez

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Politics: The Guardian Weekly – August 4, 2023

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The Guardian Weekly (August 4, 2023) – Israel in turmoil: Netanyahu’s judicial coup; Stormzy’s scholarship graduates; International fiction found in translation, and more…

‘We’re angry’: Israel tensions mount as army reservists threaten to refuse duty

Conflict over Netanyahu’s plans to overhaul judiciary is leading to new levels of civil disobedience – and potential security risks

Removing statues and renaming streets: Odesa cuts out Russia

Recent strikes targeting the southern Ukrainian city, including its orthodox cathedral, have left residents questioning its historical links to Russia

ESSAYS: CHINA’S ‘ECONOMIC MIRACLE’ HAS NOW ENDED

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Foreign Affairs (August 2, 2023) – As 2022 came to an end, hopes were rising that China’s economy—and, consequently, the global economy—was poised for a surge. After three years of stringent restrictions on movement, mandatory mass testing, and interminable lockdowns, the Chinese government had suddenly decided to abandon its “zero COVID” policy, which had suppressed demand, hampered manufacturing, roiled supply lines, and produced the most significant slowdown that the country’s economy had seen since pro-market reforms began in the late 1970s.

Economic long COVID will likely plague the Chinese economy for years.

In the weeks following the policy change, global prices of oil, copper, and other commodities rose on expectations that Chinese demand would surge. In March, then Chinese Premier Li Keqiang announced a target for real GDP growth of around five percent, and many external analysts predicted it would go far higher.

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Arts/Books: Times Literary Supplement – Aug 4, 2023

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Times Literary Supplement (August 4, 2023): The twilight zone – Joyce Carol Oates on the novellas of Rachel Ingalls; J.L Austin, philosopher-spy; Adam Thirlwell’s historical fantasy; Hollywood blockbusters; Poverty in the U.S. and more…

Books: Literary Review Magazine – August 2023

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Literary Review – August 2023 Issue: How Sugar Became King; Oil, Resin, Vinegar & Paint – “Albrecht Dürer: Art and Autobiography” By David Ekserdjian; Shopping & Plucking – “How to Be a Renaissance Woman: The Untold History of Beauty and Female Creativity” By Jill Burke and more…

Oil, Resin, Vinegar & Paint

Albrecht Dürer: Art and Autobiography (Renaissance Lives): Ekserdjian, David:  9781789147643: Amazon.com: Books

Albrecht Dürer: Art and Autobiography By David Ekserdjian

Dürer’s Lost Masterpiece: Art and Society at the Dawn of a Global World By Ulinka Rublack

The German Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer (1471–1528) was fortunate in his initials. The stylised ‘AD’ that he routinely inserted into his paintings and engravings, and even the preparatory drawings, seemed to imbue his productions with an almost divine stamp of approval. Most German painters of the era did not sign their work, but Dürer was eager to assert creative ownership of his productions, obtaining legal protection of his sole right to the trademark monogram.

Curse of Cane

The World of Sugar: How the Sweet Stuff Transformed Our Politics, Health,  and Environment over 2,000 Years: Bosma, Ulbe: 9780674279391: Amazon.com:  Books

The World of Sugar: How the Sweet Stuff Transformed Our Politics, Health, and Environment over 2,000 Years By Ulbe Bosma

There was a time when commodity histories were everywhere. They tended to focus on consumption and trade over very long distances. Ulbe Bosma’s The World of Sugar is much more than this sort of book. It is one of the most accomplished longue durée case studies in the history of capitalism that we have, concerned not just with trade and consumption but with production also. At every turn it subverts both critiques and celebrations of capitalism, and our understanding of much else besides. It is an extraordinary achievement.

Books: The Booker Prize 2023 Longlist Announced

The Booker Prize (August 1, 2023) – The longlist has been announced! It features work from four continents, four Irish writers, four debut novelists – and ten authors who are recognized by the Booker Prize for the first time.

Win a set of all 13 books on the International Booker Prize 2023 longlist | The  Booker Prizes

The Longlist

The House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng

The Bee Sting by Paul Murray

Western Lane by Chetna Maroo

In Ascension by Martin MacInnes

Prophet Song by Paul Lynch

All the Little Bird-Hearts by Viktoria Lloyd-Barlow

Pearl by Siân Hughes

This Other Eden by Paul Harding

How to Build a Boat by Elaine Feeney

If I Survive You by Jonathan Escoffery

Study for Obedience by Sarah Bernstein

Old God’s Time by Sebastian Barry

A Spell of Good Things by Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀