A list of intriguing things
One: Hidden Valley Ranch turned its ranch dressing into a two-carat diamond. Yup, you read that right. They heated seasoning packets to 2,500 degrees (Fahrenheit or Celsius is unknown)—and crushed it with 400 tons of pressure for two months to create the fabulous gem. The result: a round, brilliant cut diamond set in a 14K white gold band—which will be auctioned off for charity. A diamond that is both ethical and delicious! (Food & Wine)
Two: Did you know that neural networks—a subset of AI that mimics the human brain—are demonic creatures that can turn the most innocuous subject into the stuff of nightmares? Be it the Simpsons or BuzzFeed headlines or—in the most recent case—clowns. Ok, maybe clowns do lend themselves to horror a little better than others. Watch the vid below only if you do not want to sleep tonight. (Futurism)
Three: Want to wear sustainable shades this summer? We’re intrigued by these wooden framed-eye wear from Sasha—an Indian brand that repurposes waste from its founder’s furniture business. YourStory and HomeGrown have more on the biz. FYI: If you’re curious about the hottest trends in eyewear, The Zoe Report has you covered. Think ‘translucent acetate’ and ‘retrofuturistic optimism’... yeah, we don't know what that means either.
Four: Manhole covers are the lowliest of things—designed to be stepped upon, ignored… until one of them goes missing! But in Japan, they have become works of urban art—even a tourist destination that attracts “manhole enthusiasts” (?!). They typically commemorate a town emblem, landmark, event, or official bird or mascot. There are 12,000 different manhole cover designs in the country. See some fun examples below. Atlas Obscura has more on their origins and history.
