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☆ A nostalgic look back at when the Internet still felt joyful
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Steffi Cao | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

These were informal but high-stakes gatherings, then known as LAN parties, whether winning a box of energy drinks or just the joy of emerging victorious. Many people who had never experienced the era of LAN parties also responded with excitement. Digital cameras — with which most of the photos in “LAN Party” were taken — had just become widely available to the public. LAN parties made space for competition and community in both 'real life' and online environments simultaneously. Dane Oleson/Electronox/Courtesy Thames & HudsonThough they have significantly dwindled in frequency, LAN parties do still take place.

Persons: David Harrison, Gen Xers, podcaster Merritt, ”, ” K, “, ’, Anne de Waal, Charles, Jeff Tillett, —, Merritt K, Brett Masse, Nick Huber, White, it’s, Dane Oleson Organizations: CNN, chrysalis, Google, Napster, Hudson, Thames, LAN Party, Twitter, QuakeCon, IRL Locations: Brisbane, Australia, Hengelo, The Netherlands, St, Charles Parish , Louisiana, Dallas , Texas, Tulsa , Oklahoma, Lee's Summit , Missouri

Is ancient Roman concrete better than today's? Most modern concrete starts with Portland cement, a powder made by heating limestone and clay to super-high temperatures and grinding them up. The ancient builders mixed materials like burnt limestone and volcanic sand with water and gravel, creating chemical reactions to bind everything together. Now, scientists think they’ve found a key reason why some Roman concrete has held up structures for thousands of years: The ancient material has an unusual power to repair itself. Even though Roman concrete lasted a long time, it couldn't hold up heavy loads: “You couldn’t build a modern skyscraper with Roman concrete,” Oleson said.

Persons: they’ve, ”, Carlos Rodriguez, Navarro, John Oleson, Vitruvius, Admir, Rome —, Marie Jackson, Jackson, ” Jackson, Rodriguez, Cecilia Pesce, They’d, ” Pesce, Thirumalini Selvaraj, Selvaraj, Oleson, Masic Organizations: —, Spain’s University of Granada, University of Victoria, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Utah, University of Sheffield, Vellore Institute of Technology, Army Corps of Engineers, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP Locations: Canada, Portland, Rome, Copan, Honduras, England, India

☆ Rice, beer, and urine mixed into ancient structures could help explain how they're still standing after millennia
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

AdvertisementAdvertisementIs ancient Roman concrete better than today's? Her research has found that the key could be in the specific volcanic materials used by the Romans. According to Selvaraj's research, in humid areas of India, builders used local herbs that help structures deal with moisture. Even though Roman concrete lasted a long time, it couldn't hold up heavy loads: "You couldn't build a modern skyscraper with Roman concrete," Oleson said. Instead, researchers are trying to take some of the ancient material's specialties and add them into modern mixes.

Persons: —, they've, Carlos Rodriguez, Navarro, John Oleson, Domenico Stinellis, Vitruvius, Admir, Rome —, Marie Jackson, Jackson, Rodriguez, Moises Castillo, Cecilia Pesce, They'd, Pesce, Mark Schiefelbein, Thirumalini Selvaraj, Selvaraj, Oleson, Masic Organizations: Service, Spain's University of Granada, University of Victoria, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Utah, AP, University of Sheffield, Vellore Institute of Technology, Army Corps of Engineers, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Science, Educational Media Group Locations: Canada, Portland, Rome, Copan, Honduras, England, India

☆ What to expect from work the next time faraway wildfires poison your commute
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-25 | by ( Cheryl Winokur Munk | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

It may have helped Google to make a decision that many other East Coast employers did not that California-based companies have more experience with hazardous air quality issues. But one thing is certain: companies and workers should expect these wildfire-related air quality issues to return. The decisions companies make on these matters have significant legal and employee satisfaction ramifications, especially given the potential for future air quality issues. Air quality is becoming a broad employee health issue Between Covid, wildfires, radon and other environmental issues, there's been an increased awareness among employers and commercial real estate firms of the importance of air quality. Broadly speaking, companies need to be asking whether the systems they have in place are "adequate to ensure protection and safe air during very bad air quality events," he said.

Persons: David Dee Delgado, didn't, Eric Adams, Sedina Banks, Greenberg, Charles Simikian, Sara H, Dickinson Wright, it's, there's, Thomas Brugato, Nathan J, Oleson, Akin Gump, James Carbone Organizations: Summit, Vanderbilt, Getty, Google, New York, Safety, Health Administration, HR Partners, OSHA, Burling, Newsday Locations: Canada, New York, California, Asia, York, East, Maryland, Los Angeles, Washington, Covington, Islandia , New York

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