Have you ever taken down lecture notes or jotted a random idea down on paper only to forget where you put it? It’s a major buzzkill when that happens. Luckily, you can avoid this annoying issue when you upgrade your regular old pen and paper to this smart pen and reusable notebook.

All you need is the SyncPen 4 and notebook, which helps by backing your lecture notes or meeting minutes to the cloud. Ahead of Black Friday, you can grab the SyncPen 4 for all your digital note-taking needs for $129.99 (reg. $139) while supplies last.

You know how the cloud saves your butt when you accidentally delete a precious memory off your phone? You’ll get the same security blanket when you use this smart pen for your notes. There’s no need to type or scan anything, either—all you need is this gadget. Here’s how this works:

1. Pair your smart pen with the NEWYES iOS or Android app.
2. Start writing, and the pen will turn on automatically thanks to its pressure sensitivity.
3. Draw on your notebook and watch your writing (or scribbles) come to life on your device. You can even erase your notes to reuse the same pages in the future.
4. Export your class or presentation notes as a PDF, DOCX, JPEG, or MP4. They’ll be accessible offline, even if you don’t have a network connection.

Ready to never misplace your notes again? Go to direct checkout to get this smart pen ASAP!

This pen doesn’t just take your notes down and save them on the cloud…it also transcribes notes in 73 languages, including math elements, thanks to its MyScript technology. Another bonus? The SyncPen has a recording feature, making it easy to transcribe parts of a presentation you might’ve missed.

It might just be the perfect addition to your work bag, but it makes for a great gift option for the students, designers, and writers in your life.

Ditch your old note-taking habits for something a little more hi-tech.

Take advantage of this early Black Friday offer and head straight to checkout to grab the SyncPen 4 reusable smart pen and notebook for $129.99. Act now while inventory is still available!

SyncPen 4 Reusable Smartpen Set

Only $129.99 at Popular Science

StackSocial prices subject to change.

The post Black Friday came early! This smart pen that has erasable ink is now $130 appeared first on Popular Science.

A new fleet of electric buses managed by Transport for London (TfL) and operated by Go-Ahead London, is hitting London streets, reports Liz Jackson for the BBC.

The zero-emission buses can be charged in under six minutes at each end of their route, eliminating the need to return them to a central charging center. The buses charge using pantograph technology and mechanical arms attached to the roof. “The transport authority said the changes would bring financial benefits because fewer buses are required on the route, so money could be reinvested into other parts of the network.”

The buses also include new safety features such as speed-limiting technology, audible warnings for people outside the bus, and camera monitoring. The front end of the train is designed for better visibility, while the interior uses improved seat and flooring designs to reduce injuries.

• London
• Buses
• Electric Buses
• Public Transit
• Road Safety
• Traffic Safety
• Speed Limiting Technology

I don’t know about you, but I personally sit at my desk like a gargoyle perched on a stone building. My knees and back pay the price for this, and yet I continue to win the award for World’s Worst Posture. That ends with this Popular Science-approved standing desk from Flexispot that’s 33% off for Black Friday at Amazon. That discount get bigger when you click the “Apply $40 coupon” box.

Flexispot

Recent research shows that standing desks might not have the health benefits previously stated, but standing is a nice change of pace. Unlike other standing desks, this one includes a spacious desk drawer for bits and bobs. The desk has an industrial-grade steel frame and a built-in electric motor lift that takes the desk from 28.3 inches high to 48 inches high. It can support 100 lbs., meaning it can handle the gnarliest dual-screen setups. Switch from sitting to standing at the press of a button and save time with four programmable height presets. It also has built-in USB ports for easy charging. We like it so much we named it our best overall standing desk.

• FLEXISPOT EN1 Whole-Piece Standing Desk $135.99 (Was $199.99)
• FLEXISPOT EN2 Whole-Piece Standing Desk $229.99 (Was $369.98)
• FLEXISPOT E6 Essential 3 Stages Dual Motor Electric Standing Desk $254.39 (Was $369.99)
• FLEXISPOT Mobile Standing Desk with Wheels $79.99 (Was $99.99)
• FLEXISPOT Standing Desk Quick Assembly Electric Sit Stand Desk $119.99 (Was $209.99)
• FLEXISPOT Pro Corner Desk Dual Motor L-Shaped Computer Electric Standing Desk $269.99 (Was $399.99)
• FLEXISPOT Electric Standing Desk 79 x 32 Inch Adjustable Height Desk $299.99 (Was $399.99)
• FLEXISPOT Medical Adjustable Overbed Bedside Table $84.98 (Was $99.99)
• FLEXISPOT 36 inch Standing Desk Converter $99.99 (Was $159.99)

The post Our editor’s pick for the best standing desk is just $269 (down from $399) at Amazon for Black Friday appeared first on Popular Science.

I’ve always been interested in coding, but I’ve never had the time to sit down and actually learn how it works. That’s why I’m really happy I found this two-part deal that has Microsoft Visual Studio Pro and the Premium Learn to Code Bundle. It gave me some much-needed beginner-friendly coding lessons and the software to actually use what I learned. I do wish I’d waited a few days to buy it though. Then I’d have caught the Early Black Friday Sale and been able to get the whole thing for $55.97. 

At its core, this bundle combines a professional-grade development tool, Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2022, with a treasure trove of learning resources to help you get hands-on with programming. Visual Studio is like a Swiss Army knife for developers—it’s powerful, intuitive, and designed to make writing and debugging code a smoother process.

As someone just starting out, I loved how it supports everything from C# and Python to web development tools like Blazor, and now I even know what those are. IntelliCode was a lot of help because it suggests code completions as you type. It’s saved me a lot of time and helped me learn a lot quicker because I could see the right answer instead of struggling through to find all my many, many errors. 

Bonus: this is a lifetime license for Visual Studio, so I don’t have yet another subscription fee to worry about. 

The other side of the bundle is packed with courses tailored to beginners like me. Python was one of the first languages I wanted to tackle, and the included course breaks it down into bite-sized lessons that are easy to follow. From basic programming concepts to more advanced topics like object-oriented programming and interacting with APIs, it’s all laid out in a way that doesn’t feel overwhelming.

I appreciate the variety of languages I can study here. If Python doesn’t click for you, there are C++, JavaScript, and even courses on automation and AI tools like ChatGPT. 

Microsoft Visual Studio Pro 2022 and the Premium Learn to Code Certification Bundle are on sale for $55.97 (reg. $1,999) until Jan. 12 at 11:59 p.m.

Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2022 + The 2024 Premium Learn to Code Certification Bundle – $55.97

See Deal

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

The post Black Friday came early: get Microsoft Visual Studio Pro and beginner coding lessons for $55.97 appeared first on Popular Science.

Blink and you might miss how quickly this squirting cucumber (Ecballium elaterium) ejects its seeds. The mechanics behind this natural marvel have been a tough biological case to crack. Now, with a combination of experiments, sophisticated mathematical modeling, and high-speed cameras, a team from the the University of Oxford and the University of Manchester in the UK have peered behind the surface to see what makes squirting cucumber squirt. Ecballium elaterium uses four key components to successfully disperse its seeds that have been refined over time to ensure the best chance of the seeds’ survival. The findings are detailed in a study published November 25 in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

“For centuries people have asked how and why this extraordinary plant sends its seeds into the world in such a violent way,” Chris Thorogood, study co-author and Oxford Botanic Garden Deputy Director and Head of Science, said in a statement. “Now, as a team of biologists and mathematicians, we’ve finally begun to unravel this great botanical enigma.”

VIDEO: Results of a computed tomography (CT) scan showing the interior organisation of the seeds within the fruit of the squirting cucumber. CREDIT: Elizabeth Evans

Ecballium elaterium is a member of the gourd family Cucurbitaceae which also includes melon, pumpkin, and squash. It is native to the Mediterranean and it is often regarded as a weed due to how well it disperses its seeds and spread. It was even described by the ancient Romans and Greeks. Around 77 CE, Roman author and naturalist Pliny the Elder wrote, “Unless, to prepare it, the cucumber be cut open before it is ripe, the seed spurts out, even endangering the eyes,” in his volumes on natural history.

When it is ripe, the squirting cucumber will detach from the stem and shoot out its seeds in a high-pressure jet of mucus. In only 30 milliseconds, it can send its seeds about 65-feet-per second. How it achieves this feat has stumped scientists for centuries. 

Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday.

By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

“The first time we inspected this plant in the Botanic Garden, the seed launch was so fast that we weren’t sure that it had actually happened,” study co-author and University of Oxford applied mathematician Derek Moulton said in a statement. 

In this new study, a team from Oxford and the University of Manchester conducted several experiments on Ecballium specimens grown at the University of Oxford Botanic Garden.

They filmed the seed dispersal using a high-speed camera, which captured up to 8,600 frames per second. They then measured the fruit and stem volume both before and after dispersal, performed indentation tests, took CT scans of an intact cucumber, and monitored the fruit with time-lapse photography in the days leading up to the seed launch. 

[Related: Watch ‘tiny tornadoes’ spread plant pathogens.]

From this data, they developed a suite of mathematical models to describe the mechanics of the pressurized fruit, the stem, and the ballistic trajectories of the seeds. The combined approach helped them pinpoint the key components of the squirting cucumber’s dispersal strategy–a pressurized system, fluid redistribution, rapid recoil, and variable launch. 

In the weeks leading up to the seed dispersal, a mucilaginous fluid builds up and forms a pressurized system like an air compressor or SCUBA tank. This pressure is what helps the seeds release at such a fast pace.

Then, during the days before the dispersal, some of this fluid will be redistributed from the fruit to stem. This makes the stem longer, thicker, and stiffer. When the fluid is redistributed, the fruit rotates from being almost vertical to a roughly 45 degree angle. This acute angle is a key element needed for successful seed launch because it balances out the vertical and horizontal elements of the plant.

During only the first hundreds of microseconds of the ejection, the tip of the stem then recoils away from the fruit. This lightning-fast recoil rotates the fruit in the opposite direction.

The seeds are all ejected with a speed and launch angle that depends on the order they are released. A seed’s exit speed decreases because the pressure of the emptying fruit capsule decreases. At the same time, the launch angle increases because of the fruit’s rotation. So the earliest seeds reach the furthest distance and the following seeds land closer to the plant. Having such a wide area of dispersal ensures that more seeds have a chance to survive.  

While multiple fruits are distributed around the center of the plant, a wide and nearly uniform distribution of seeds covers a ring-shaped area roughly 6.5 and 32 feet away from the mother plant. 

When used together, these elements make up a sophisticated seed dispersal system. The redistribution of fluid from the fruit back into the stem is believed to be unique within the plant kingdom.

Once the team developed the mathematical model of this dispersal process, they explored what would happen if they altered different parts of the process. They found that the seed projection method of the squirting cucumber has been refined to ensure a near-optimal seed dispersal and the success of the plant over subsequent generations.

For example, making the stem thicker and stiffer caused the seeds to be launched almost horizontally, because the fruit would rotate less during the discharge. These seeds would then be distributed over a more narrow area, with fewer likely to survive.

Meanwhile, reducing the amount of fluid that is redistributed from the fruit to the stem resulted in an over-pressurized fruit. This ejected the seed at a higher speed, but at a nearly vertical launch angle. With this combination, the seeds would not be dispersed far enough away from the parent plant, so few would survive. 

In addition to cracking a biological mystery, outlining this process could have future applications in human medicine.

“This research offers potential applications in bio-inspired engineering and material science, particularly on-demand drug delivery systems, for instance microcapsules that eject nanoparticles where precise control of rapid, directional release is crucial,” study co-author and University of Manchester physicist Finn Box said in a statement. 

The post High-speed camera catches cucumber squirting seeds at 65 feet-per-second appeared first on Popular Science.

• Jackery Explorer 100 Plus with Solar Panel - $169.00, down from $229.00


• Jackery Solar Generator 240 with Solar Panel - $249.00, down from $349.00


• Jackery Explorer 1000 Power Station - $399.00, down from $799.00


• Jackery Expansion Battery Pack 1000 Plus - $479.00, down from $599.00


• Jackery Solar Generator Explorer 500 - $479.00, down from $799.00


• Jackery Explorer 3000 Pro Portable Power Station - $1,799.00, down from $2,799.00


• Jackery Solar Generator 4000 Kit - $2,599.00, down from $4,999.00


• Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus Kit - $3,399.00 with on-page coupon, down from $6,599.00

• Eufy SmartTrack Card - $16.88, down from $29.99


• Twelve South HiRise 3 Deluxe - $119.99, down from $149.99

• Samsung T9 Portable SSD 2TB - $199.00, down from $299.99


• Samsung T5 EVO Portable SSD 4TB - $229.99, down from $349.99


• Samsung T5 EVO Portable SSD 8TB - $429.99, down from $654.99


• Samsung 990 PRO 1TB PCIe Internal SSD - $92.46, down from $159.99


• Samsung 990 PRO 2TB PCIe Internal SSD - $169.99, down from $249.99


• Samsung 990 PRO 4TB PCIe Internal SSD - $269.99, down from $464.99


• Samsung 980 PRO 2TB PCIe Internal SSD - $119.99, down from $204.95

• Samsung HW-Q910D Soundbar with Dolby Audio - $897.99, down from $1,287.99


• SAMSUNG OLED 4K S95D TV - $3,497.99 for 77"; $2,297.99 for 65"; $1,897.99 for 55"


• Beats Solo Buds - $49.99, down from $79.99


• Beats Studio Buds - $79.99, down from $149.95


• Beats Pill - $99.95, down from $149.95


• Beats Solo 4 - $99.99, down from $199.95


• Beats Studio Buds + - $129.99, down from $169.95


• Beats Studio Pro - $249.99, down from $349.99

• Logitech M317 Wireless Mouse - $9.99, down from $19.99


• Logitech K400 Plus Wireless Keyboard with Touchpad - $19.99, down from $27.99


• Logitech MK335 Wireless Keyboard - $29.74, down from $34.99


• Logitech MX Anywhere 3S Wireless Mouse - $67.99, down from $79.99


• Logitech MK235 Wireless Keyboard - $17.99, down from $24.99


• Logitech H390 Wired Headset - $17.99, down from $24.99


• Logitech MK540 Wireless Keyboard and Mouse - $39.99, down from $49.99


• Logitech HD Pro Webcam - $49.99, down from $99.99


• Logitech Brio PRO X 4K Webcam - $144.99, down from $169.99

• Marvel Spider-Man Advent Calendar - $31.49, down from $44.99


• Disney Advent Calendar - $31.49, down from $44.99


• Star Wars Ahsoka Tano's T-6 Jedi Shuttle - $45.00, down from $79.99


• DREAMZzz Stable of Dream Creatures - $53.00, down from $79.99


• Creator Main Street 3-in-1 Set - $102.99, down from $139.99


• Star Wars The Razor Crest UCS - $416.79, down from $599.99


• Technic Liebherr Crawler Crane - $595.99, down from $699.99

Minimum parking requirements are having a new, unexpected negative impact: limiting access to childcare.

As Catie Gould explains in an article for Sightline, parking requirements across the Cascadia region of the Pacific Northwest are making it “difficult or impossible to permit new daycares if the sites are unable to meet that arbitrary asphalt standard,” worsening an existing childcare shortage.

In Clark County, for example, there are three or more children under five for each slot available at a licensed childcare provider. According to Gould, “Sixty-three percent of Washington families live in a childcare desert, the sixth worst in the United States. The lack of access was estimated to cost $6.9 billion to Washington’s economy in 2023.”

Between state requirements of at least 75 square feet of outdoor play space per child and an average of 87 square feet of parking per child, Sightline estimates that a childcare center wanting to serve 50 children would need 8,100 square feet of outdoor space. “There simply aren’t many land parcels in Washington cities that have that surplus of space.”

According to Gould, cities that have reformed their parking regulations have seen a rise in new daycare openings. “Removing parking mandates won’t remove every obstacle to new childcare services, but it’s a no-cost solution that can make an immediate difference for families across Cascadia.”

• Childcare
• Day Care
• Zoning
• Parking Requirements
• Minimum Parking Requirements
• Parking

The Cold War was full of ambitious and often strange projects. Case in point: Camp Century, the US Army’s subterranean nuclear apocalypse bunker built inside Greenland’s near-surface ice sheet. Construction on the sprawling underground facility began in 1959 under the auspices of a polar research site, but while experts did collect the first-ever ice core samples there, its larger purpose was far more in keeping with the times. In all, project leaders planned for 52,000 square miles of tunnels capable of housing both personnel and nuclear weaponry not far from Russian borders. As Popular Science described in its February 1960 issue:

“In building the fantastic community, 800 miles from the North Pole, Army Engineers, in cooperation with the Danish Government (Greenland is a part of the Kingdom of Denmark), have proved that the traditionally antagonistic Arctic can be tamed… It will be home—snug, comfortable, and warm—for 100 scientists, engineers, and soldiers who are expected to move in late this year. After a hard day’s work they will be able to relax with tall drinks cooled by deep-dug ice that was formed long before Columbus discovered America.”

Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday.

By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

The Danish government’s “cooperation” proved to be a bit of a stretch, since the country never entirely signed off on the project. Not only that, but the US Army ultimately scrapped plans to complete the “fantastic city” in 1967, abandoning it to the harsh arctic elements. Nearly six decades later, however, experts can still catch glimpses of Camp Century—provided they have the proper underground radar equipment. And NASA Earth Observatory’s November 25, 2024, Image of the Day highlights just such an occasion.

[ Related: From the archives: Inside the U.S. Army’s plan to build a luxurious city under the Arctic ]

As first flagged by Gizmodo on Monday, the most recent look at Camp Century came during an April 2024 flyby from NASA researchers. The team wasn’t actually looking for evidence of the facility, however. The Gulfstream III flight was instead testing a piece of equipment known as the Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar (UAVSAR).

“Our goal was to calibrate, validate, and understand the capabilities and limitations of UAVSAR for mapping the ice sheet’s internal layers and the ice-bed interface,” cryospheric scientist Chad Greene said in an accompanying statement on Monday.

While flying roughly 150 miles east of northern Greenland’s Pituffik Space Base, the NASA researchers also snapped photos of the polar landscape from the plane’s windows showing a barren, icy expanse. It wasn’t until analyzing the radar images, however, that the team realized what they had flown over without even realizing it.

“We didn’t know what it was at first,” added Alex Gardner, another cryospheric scientist team member. After pinpointing the radar anomaly’s location, researchers realized they accidentally mapped the facility and its current conditions. 

“In the new data, individual structures in the secret city are visible in a way that they’ve never been seen before,” said Greene. But as NASA explains, that data can also distort images to the casual viewer:

“The added dimension also means interpreting the images can be challenging. For example, the long line that appears “above” the base is the ice bed, which lies at least a mile below the ice sheet’s surface and well below the depth of Camp Century. In this view, the ice bed appears over the base because the radar return is showing part of the ice bed that is far in the distance.”

[ Related: How a top-secret nuclear project became a gold mine for data on Greenland’s ice sheet.]

It appears that time has not been kind to Camp Century. Since its abandonment, at least another 70 feet of snow and ice has piled atop the base (and its nuclear reactor’s 47,000 gallons of nuclear waste). Meanwhile, ice sheet plasticity has almost undoubtedly warped facility walls and hallways—a main factor in the US Army’s decision to ultimately shutter the project in 1967. Ironically, that nuclear waste—and the reasons for NASA testing UAVSAR—may one day bring Camp Century back into the public eye.

“Without detailed knowledge of ice thickness, it is impossible to know how the ice sheets will respond to rapidly warming oceans and atmosphere, greatly limiting our ability to project rates of sea level rise,” said Gardner.
As Gizmodo notes, continued ice sheet melting due to climate change may eventually bring Camp Century—and its nuclear waste—closer to the surface than experts would like.

The post NASA radar picks up frozen, buried Cold War base Camp Century appeared first on Popular Science.

It’s easy to get spoiled by tons of screen space. A tiny little laptop screen can feel very restrictive when you’re on the road. However, you can avoid this drop in productivity on-the-go by picking up a portable monitor. This undervalued tech accessory allows you to set up a dual-screen work environment anywhere you go. The displays are ultra slim, and some can even operate with a single USB-C connection to your laptop for both power and data. Many of the best portable monitors are on sale as thanks to early Black Friday deals, so there’s never been a better time to pick one up.

ARZOPA

ARZOPA’s S1 is one of the best early Black Friday deals we’ve seen so far. The 15.6-Inch 1080P monitor is just .3-inches thick and weighs 1.7 pounds. You can easily slip the display in the laptop slot of a backpack. The S1 comes with a built-in stand, so you can adjust the angle to one that’s comfortable for you. It even has built-in stereo speakers, which is uncommon for a portable monitor. You can connect your computer to this display using either an USB-C cable or an HDMI and USB-A cable. This flexibility allows you to hook up game consoles and other tech accessories to the S1 when you’re done working. If you’ve never used a portable monitor before, ARZOPA’s S1 is an excellent place to start, and it’s an incredible deal at just $57.

• KYY 15.6-Inch HD Portable Monitor, $69.99 (Was $129.99)
• ARZOPA 16.1-Inch 144Hz Portable Gaming Monitor, $116.99 (Was $169.99)
• UPERFECT 16-Inch 2K 120Hz Portable Gaming Monitor, $143.58 (Was $239.99)
• ASUS ZenScreen 15.6-Inch 1080P Portable Monitor, $149 (was $209)
• ASUS ZenScreen 22-Inch 1080P Portable Monitor, $259 (Was $299)

The post Get a portable monitor for as little as $57 with these early Black Friday deals appeared first on Popular Science.

Puente Hills Landfill Park, slated to open in 2027, will transform a former 1,300-acre landfill—the second largest in the U.S.—into Los Angeles County's newest regional park, offering 140 acres of trails, scenic vistas, and green space for a community historically impacted by industrial contamination and limited access to open space. As reported by Chris Greenspon and Joe Linton, the project reflects decades of planning and community input, addressing environmental justice while creating a sustainable recreational hub. The park will feature key areas such as the 40-acre Western Deck with playgrounds, gardens, and an ADA-accessible "Skywalk," along with an Environmental Justice Center housing classrooms, exhibits, and advocacy resources.

The park design balances the site's unique topography and environmental challenges, including methane off-gassing from the landfill, which closed in 2013 after storing 150 million tons of waste. Vegetated terraces and capped soil layers ensure safety while providing a foundation for trails, oak groves, and wildlife habitats. The initial construction phases, beginning in 2025, will focus on creating the Environmental Justice Center, entry plaza, and the Western Deck, while future phases will expand into the Eastern and Southern Decks, offering additional nature trails, a bird observation outlook, and native plant nurseries. 

Nike Hill, the landfill's peak, already offers panoramic views and serves as a popular hiking destination, showcasing the site's transformation potential. Accessible via the Schabarum-Skyline Trail, the hill is part of an existing 29-mile trail network that links to surrounding parks. The new park aims to enhance multimodal access, including bike lanes and transit connections, while delivering much-needed green space to underserved communities in the San Gabriel Valley. The Puente Hills Landfill Park exemplifies how urban planning and community engagement can turn industrial landscapes into vibrant, inclusive recreational spaces.

• Puente Hills
• Los Angeles County
• Landfills
• Parks
• Reclamation
• Brownfields

When it comes to less is more, a pair of powered network speakers is going to be the perfect pick for the modern music lover who is space-challenged but sound-obsessed. When it comes to more for less, getting the KEF LS50 Wireless II at $500 off is the future-fi deal you don’t want to ignore. When someone tells me they’re more interested in getting wrapped up in their playlists than cords, I say skip the components and grab a pair of KEF’s compact but compelling speakers (and you can always add a sub later if you crave more low-end). They’re our wireless stereo speakers of choice—that’s my Mineral White speaker next to its big brother, the LS60, above—and remain one of my favorite bookshelf (or standmount) speakers no matter how many I cycle through.

Stan Horaczek

With wireless support up to 24-bit/96 kHz audio (and network file support up to 24-bit/384 kHz), the LS50 Wireless II powered speakers give you access to unadulterated audio no matter your service or format(s) of choice. Stream music directly over Bluetooth, WiFi, AirPlay 2, and Google Chromecast (among others), or integrate digital and analog via wired connections, including HDMI eARC, Ethernet, coaxial and optical inputs, and 3.5mm aux-ins. Inside each speaker, custom amps deliver 280 watts of power to each woofer and 100 watts to each tweeter for big, clean, distortion-free sound at any volume. The LS50 Wireless II’s striking, copper-hued Uni-Q driver orients a 1-inch vented aluminum-dome tweeter in the acoustic center of a 5¼-inch magnesium-aluminum alloy woofer cone to create a wide listening sweet spot that’s detailed and dynamic. Available in multiple colorways, the LS50 Wireless II will brighten up your room and recordings.

KEF LSX II LT Wireless HiFi Speakers – Pair $899 (Was $999)

Klipsch The Fives Powered Bookshelf Speakers – Pair $399 (Was $969)

Klipsch The Nines Heritage Inspired Powered Standpoint Speakers – Pair $1,198 (Was $1,499)

Edifier R1280T Powered Bookshelf Speakers – Pair $84 (Was $119)

Edifier R1280DB Powered Bluetooth Bookshelf Speakers with Optical Input – Pair $99 (Was $149)

Edifier R1700BT Powered Bookshelf Speakers with Bluetooth – Pair $125 (Was $179)

Edifier S1000MKII Audiophile Active Bookshelf Speakers with aptX HD Bluetooth – Pair $259 (Was $399)

Edifier QR65 Active Desktop Monitor with LDAC Bluetooth and Light Effects – Pair $269 (Was $369)

The post Some of our favorite high-end speakers are $500 off right now for Black Friday appeared first on Popular Science.

Under a clear fall sky, the Sun Village community gathered at Jackie Robinson Park to celebrate the unveiling of The Light of Many Suns, a breathtaking 44-foot-wide and 11-foot-tall tile mosaic honoring the area's rich African American heritage. Designed by artist April Banks in collaboration with Clockshop, Kounkey Design Initiative, and the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation, the mural celebrates the history and achievements of Sun Village through vibrant imagery inspired by oral histories and community archives. The mosaic was created with substantial input from local residents, ensuring that it reflects their stories and values.

The unveiling ceremony brought together community members of all ages, from children to elders, along with leaders such as Supervisor Kathryn Barger and Aaron Bolden, grandson of baseball icon Jackie Robinson, for whom the park is named. Supervisor Barger emphasized the mural’s significance, calling it a meaningful tribute to Sun Village’s legacy and a source of beauty, education, and inspiration for generations to come. Smaller mosaic medallions integrated into the mural further depict key events and figures in the community’s history.

Sun Village’s story is one of resilience and determination, dating back to the mid-20th century when African American families established the community in the high desert to escape discriminatory housing practices. Led by The Civic Women’s Club of Sun Village, residents built the town’s infrastructure, including Jackie Robinson Park, which became a vital hub for the thriving community. The new mural celebrates not only Jackie Robinson’s legacy but also the extraordinary efforts of the women and families who made Sun Village a beacon of progress and inclusion.

• Civic Art