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Astronomy Photographer of Year 2020

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Every year the Insight Investment Astronomy Photographer of the Year contest organized by the Royal Museums Greenwich gives people a glimpse into the wonders of the universe. This year, thousands of astrophotographers from around the world submitted their best work, and the shortlist of finalists in each category has just been revealed. According to competition judge and Royal Observatory Greenwich Astronomer Dr. Emily Drabek-Maunder, “The goal of the Insight Investment Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition is to use these powerful photographs of space to engage the public with the big questions science is trying to answer, from the inner workings of a galaxy to how our Solar System came to be.”

These are some of the most stunning entries from each category in this year’s contest.

Aurorae

“Geysir Aurora” by Phil Halper (UK)

Close to the spring and autumn equinoxes, the earth’s magnetic field aligns with the incoming solar wind to create a better chance for aurora activity. Phil Halper had been waiting for signs of a solar storm near the equinox date, hoping that the Russell-McPherron effect would kick in. During the last weekend in September, it seemed there would be favorable terrestrial and space weather conditions, so Halper traveled with a friend to Iceland. They weren’t disappointed. The northern lights danced all weekend, with clear skies every night. This shot shows the famous Geysir of Iceland preparing to blow with the aurora behind it.

Best Newcomer

“Kynance Cove Under the Milky Way” by Louise Jones (UK)

This image is only Louise Jones’ second attempt at shooting the Milky Way. It shows our galaxy over Kynance Cove in Cornwall, a beautiful spot with dark skies. It was taken on a cold but fabulous night under the stars. Because it was July, the sky was blue, with full darkness only for about an hour. The foreground was taken at dusk, and the sky is a stack of four images taken 25 seconds later when the Milky Way appeared.

Stars and Nebulae

“Statue of Liberty Nebula” by Martin Pugh (Australia)

Photographed using narrowband filters to accentuate the energy levels occurring in each emission line — sulphur mapped to red, hydrogen to green, and oxygen to blue. An additional four hours per RGB channel were acquired and substituted into the image, particularly for the stars. While aptly titled the Statue of Liberty Nebula (NGC 3576), the irony is that this is a southern hemisphere object. At the lower left of the image is NGC 3603, containing the Starburst Cluster. NGC 3576 is located in the Carina arm of the Milky Way at approximately 20,000 light years away.

Skyscapes

“Galactic Portal” by Marcin Zajac (USA)

On Marcin Zajac’s trip to Australia, he traveled to the coastal town of Kiama, where he captured his first Milky Way image of the year. Once the sun set, Zajac made his way into the cave and waited for a few hours for the core of the Milky Way to appear. Being unfamiliar with the southern sky, the photographer was surprised to see Jupiter appear soon after.

People and Space

“Meeting” by Nicolai Brügger (Germany)

After a long hike and a little bit of climbing to the top of the mountain, Nicolai Brügger was able to see the Milky Way. He only had five minutes to take the panorama shot before the clouds moved. Brügger and his friend are pictured standing on the edge, looking out at the sky and over the city of Füssen in Germany.

Our Sun

“Bridging the Light Fantastic” by Alastair Woodward (UK)

This image shows an active region (AR2741) that was visible on the solar disc in 2019. The visible sunspot in the center of the image is dissected by a light bridge. To the left of the sunspot sits a large area of plage, which are commonly found in the chromosphere near sunspots. Alastair Woodward inverted the image and false colored it to enhance the active region and light bridge.

Our Moon

“The Moon and the Shard” by Mathew Browne (UK)

After three failed attempts, Mathew Browne finally got to shoot an image of London’s iconic Shard skyscraper with a full moon behind it. The moon races through the frame, meaning Browne only had a few minutes to capture the shot.

Galaxies

“Starburst Galaxy in Sculptor” by Terry Robison (Canada)

This image depicts an object that many will recognize in the southern hemisphere skies — NGC 253, the Sculptor Galaxy. It’s an intermediate galaxy located within the constellation Sculptor and is one of the brightest spiral galaxies visible to us. It’s also one of the dustiest and currently undergoing a period of intense star formation. Terry Robison’s goals were to present this large and bright galaxy in a way that retains its subtle coloring and intricate textures throughout its disk.

Best Young Astronomy Photographer

“Star trails in Namib Desert” by Qiqige (Nina) Zhao (Australia)

The image was taken while Qiqige (Nina) Zhao was staying at the Sossus Dune Lodge in Namibia’s Namib-Naukluft Park. Located in a tranquil and remote area, the lodge has the reputation of being the perfect place for stargazers. Zhao was intrigued by the warning sign in the lodge that warned guests to keep the doors shut in case baboons snuck in, so he spent the night expecting a baboon to spring into the shot.

Annie Maunder Prize for Image Innovation

“M16” by Alexios Theodorov (Russia)

The Annie Maunder Prize for Image Innovation is awarded to photos created using publicly available images, and which have been processed and edited to create something unique. This entry tries to catch the feel of stargazing through a basic optical instrument — a kind of Galileo’s telescope. Special processing of the image includes converting to Lab, channel mixing, increasing contrast, and applying filters, with the aim of illustrating the images with limited color range.

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Beluga whale underwater live cam

Every year, more than 50,000 belugas leave the waters of the Arctic in the spring to swim in Canada’s Hudson Bay. They spend the winter under the sea ice and no one really knows exactly why they leave the area when it melts, but scientists are happy to be able to get a good look at the animals during that time and they’re enlisting your help.

Since 2013, an underwater camera attached to the Beluga Boat traveling on Manitoba’s Churchill River Estuary livestreams the thousands of belugas visiting the area. Anyone with an internet connection can observe and hear the marine mammals as they swim, eat, nurse around the Hudson Bay, but they can also do much more than oh and aw at the majestic creatures.

During July and August, the Beluga Bits research team asks that viewers become citizen scientists and capture screenshots of the undersides of the belugas they spot on their screens, as well as any beluga that has distinctive markings. From those images, experts can help create a catalog of the animals, as well as determine the social structure of a beluga pod, each animal’s history, and the belugas’ habitat use.

There is still a lot we don’t know about these beautiful white whales, and we need to learn as much as we can about them soon as they depend on the rapidly melting sea ice and are threatened by climate change. So start watching those cute whales on your devices and screenshot to your heart’s content.

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US considers banning CCP members

As if there aren’t already enough travel restrictions to contend with these days, the United States is reportedly considering banning Chinese Communist Party members from entering the country.

A draft presidential proclamation, written amid intensifying tensions between the US and China, would revoke visas for members of the Chinese Communist Party and their families. The party has 92 million members, but the travel ban could affect up to 270 million people.

According to The New York Times, the ban would be based on the Immigration and Nationality Act — the same act used for the 2017 travel ban on travelers from Muslim-majority countries — which gives the president the power to prevent certain foreign nationals believed to be “detrimental to the interests of the United States” from entering the country.

Such a travel ban could also lead to the expulsion of party members who hold US visas and are currently in the United States, as well as their families.

If enacted, the ban would likely prompt a swift response from China, which could potentially restrict travel to the US, expel US citizens from China, or block their exit. A security alert from July 11, 2020, from the US Department of State warns of a heightened risk of arbitrary detention for US citizens in China.

The Times reported that travel bans against specific Chinese citizens are already in place. In May, students in the US who had ties to certain Chinese military institutions had their visa canceled. Some Chinese officials are also expected to suffer visa sanctions in regards to the current Chinese repression in Hong Kong. And some employees of Chinese technology companies involved in human rights abuses have also been banned from entering the US as of Wednesday.

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Puerto Rico travel guide summer 2020

This summer is so upside down, we’re not even sure if we’re allowed to travel within our own country. With some states implementing quarantine restrictions for travelers from high-risk regions, and places like Hawaii closing completely to domestic travel, summer vacation prospects for Americans are dismal, to say the least. There’s one piece of good news, however. Puerto Rico is open for business. On July 15, the island officially reopened for inbound tourism, and will once again begin welcoming travelers. A Puerto Rico vacation in 2020 will be unlike anything people have seen before, but there will still be the same energy, natural beauty, and history that it’s famous for. Beaches are open, ferries are running, the rainforest is partially open, and tour operators are resuming services. Here’s everything you need to know about safely visiting Puerto Rico in 2020.

Entry requirements and COVID testing
What’s open in Puerto Rico?
Staying in San Juan
A crowd-free island experience to the west
Explore El Yunque National Forest



Entry requirements and COVID testing

All incoming flights to Puerto Rico are being diverted to Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, to make it easier to streamline the passenger screening process. Thermographic cameras will monitor the temperature of visitors upon arrival, and face masks are mandatory in the airport. Arriving passengers are required to complete a travel declaration form from the Puerto Rico Health Department, and present the results of a negative COVID-19 test from within 72 hours of arrival. The test must be a “molecular test,” which consists of a nasal or throat swab.

Travelers arriving in Puerto Rico without proof of a negative test will be given a rapid COVID-19 test at the airport, at their own expense. If the test is positive, you will be required to quarantine for 14 days, while covering your own medical and lodging expenses. Even if the test is negative, you will have to quarantine, take another molecular test on the island, and share the results to be released from quarantine before the 14 days are up. So basically, get tested before you arrive, or prepare to waste your vacation quarantined in a hotel for two weeks.

It’s also important to keep in mind that Puerto Rico has a curfew in effect through July 22. Between the hours of 10:00 PM and 5:00 AM, no one is allowed outside except in case of an emergency. So if you were hoping for a wild trip defined by late nights out at the bar, don’t get your hopes up.

What’s open in Puerto Rico?

Photo: Martin Wheeler III/Shutterstock

This isn’t one of those situations where, the second you arrive on the island ready for the adventure of a lifetime, you realize everything is closed. When Puerto Rico says it’s open for business, that’s not just a sales pitch. You might not have quite as much freedom as you would’ve before the pandemic, but you’ll still be able to enjoy Puerto Rico’s diverse range of experiences.

Public beaches and natural reserves are open. Sunbathing and all other recreational activities are permitted as long as you’re with members of the same household. Hand sanitizing stations will be set up in entryways, elevator banks, and other high-traffic spots.

Restaurants are opening at 75 percent capacity, with temperature checks in effect at the entrance. If you register a temperature exceeding 100.3, you will be denied entry. Casinos are also operating at 75 percent capacity, and hair salons, barbershops, and individual spas are open by appointment only. Movie theaters, gyms, supermarkets, barbershops, and farmers markets are also open. Large venues are opening in phases, with strict social distancing measures being enforced, including drive-in and open-air event venues.

Most hotels in Puerto Rico are open, with mandatory social distancing and face coverings in public areas. Hotel pools, fitness centers, and spas (except saunas) will be open between 5:00 AM and 10:00 PM, and hotel restaurants will be open at 75 percent capacity.

You shouldn’t have any trouble getting around the island, either. The best way to explore Puerto Rico is by renting a car, but if you do choose to rely on public transportation, taxis, busses, and subways are all running. For those looking to book guided tours around the island, tour operators are resumed operations on July 15 and will be available for booking.

Staying in San Juan

Photo: Gem Russan/Shutterstock

Anyone visiting Puerto Rico should try to see as much of the island as possible, but it’s likely that you’ll be spending at least a day or two in San Juan. Just because you’re in the capital city, however, doesn’t mean you need to be squeezing through crowds of tourists. There’s no shortage of beaches on the island, and San Juan is no exception. Condado, Ocean Park, and Pine Grove beaches are all located within city limits, and a great break from the urban environment.

There’s no doubt that Old San Juan is the city’s premier tourist area. While the cobbled streets, the fort of Castillo San Felipe del Morro, Castillo de San Cristóbal, and the nearby Santa María Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery are among the city’s most famous attractions — and well worth visiting — you can enjoy a less crowded version of San Juan by visiting the newer Ashford Avenue. This modern street runs right along the beach, and is replete with cafes, restaurants, and resorts. It has a vibrant restaurant and shopping scene and is close to the beach. Larger hotels on the strip, like La Concha Resort, are open for business, as well as more boutique lodgings like Casa del Caribe Inn.

The Old Town alternative to Ashford Avenue is Paseo de la Princesa, which means “walkway of the princess.” Located just outside the walls of Old San Juan to the south, Paseo de la Princesa is a 19th-century avenue that has Old World charm without the crowds that typically clog the narrow streets inside the city. Ambling down the street, and through the plaza, you’ll have a great view of San Juan’s historic fortifications. The street is defined by its antique lamp posts, stone fountains, street vendors, and views of the old city walls.

Around San Juan, you’ll quickly notice an abundance of street art murals. The capital is full of colorful artwork that will really liven up any walking tour. The Calle Cerra, and adjoining side streets, are particularly known for their colorful art. And if you happen to be visiting in August, you’ll be treated to the Santurce es Ley contemporary art festival, where street artists decorate empty parking lots and old buildings with large murals.

A crowd-free island experience to the west

Photo: Jeramey Lende/Shutterstock

A central part of most Puerto Rico itineraries is spending a few days in Old San Juan. But these days, you may be wary of spending your vacation on the busy streets of the capital or lounging by the pool of a crowded resort. Luckily, you can have an epic Puerto Rico vacation without ever setting foot in San Juan. From rainforests to hidden beaches, there are plenty of ways to get the full experience while keeping your distance from others.

The capital isn’t the only city on the island that serves as a good base of operations. Rincón, on the west coast, is a small surf town popular with seasonal expats. If you’re looking for an island experience unspoiled by resorts and souvenir shops, this is it. This town of 15,000 permanent residents is adjacent to four beaches, home to the annual Corona Surf Pro contest, and most importantly, an eatery called Casa Verde, which has the best chicken tacos you’ll ever eat.

Photo: nestorportalatin/Shutterstock

Just south of Rincón lies Cabo Rojo, another area perfect for escaping the crowds and indulging in the island’s natural beauty. In the southwest, Cabo Rojo is known for its beaches, dramatic limestone cliffs, and restaurant scene. Its name is a reference to the water’s reddish color where the salt flats are located, due to a high concentration of salt. The salt flats here are seriously impressive and one of the island’s most beautiful hidden landscapes. Perched atop the cliffs of Cabo Rojo, the observation deck of Los Morrillos Lighthouse offers one of the best views in the area, looking out over the sea, and it’s probably the best way to admire the surrounding cliffs. For a more active experience, take one of the hiking trails to Cabo Rojo’s natural stone bridge.

Photo: Ilya Sviridenko/Shutterstock

A short drive from Cabo Rojo, you can find La Parguera bioluminescent bay. It may not be as famous as Mosquito Bay in Vieques, which is closer to San Juan, but you’ll find fewer crowds. Better yet, it’s the only bioluminescent bay on the island that allows motorboats and swimming, versus just paddling. Take a boat tour, kayak, or just go for a dip and enjoy the surreal feeling of swimming among the glowing dinoflagellates.

Explore El Yunque National Forest

Photo: Dennis van de Water/Shutterstock

As you’ll soon learn from spending just a few days in Puerto Rico, rainforests aren’t just for South America. El Yunque National Forest, the rainforest near the east coast of the island, is open to visitors with limited capacity in main recreation areas. All other areas in the park are open with social distancing measures enforced. To access main recreation areas, you’ll need a reservation, which can be made online.

Two of the best hikes in the area are the trek up to Mount Britton Tower and the El Yunque Rock Trail. At the end of both, you’ll have a great view all the way to the coast. To cap off your rainforest experience, take a refreshing dip in the Mameyes River. The El Angelito Trail ends at a rope, which you can use to swing right into a swimming hole.

Photo: ButtermilkgirlVirginia/Shutterstock

There are a few waterfalls in El Yunque National Forest, but for a truly dramatic waterfall experience, drive out west to Gozalandia Falls. About 30 minutes from the city of Aguadilla on the island’s west coast (and an hour from Rincón) Gozalandia Falls are a tranquil getaway in the heart of one of Puerto Rico’s most beautiful jungles. The falls lie at the end of a short hike through the trees, spilling into a pool that’s perfect for swimming. While there will probably be locals there jumping off the falls or using the rope swing, it’s one of Puerto Rico’s more secluded experiences and a great break from civilization.

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Three sisters of Indigenous cooking

The Indigenous peoples of what is now the United States once relied on a trifecta of ingredients for the foundation of their diet: corn, beans, and squash — known as the Three Sisters. Tribes stretching from the Hopi and Diné (Navajo) in the Southwest and the Sioux in the Midwest to the Iroquois and Huron in the Northeast all farmed this spiritually and nutritionally nourishing trio.

There are many legends regarding the origins of the Three Sisters, which vary from tribe to tribe. The Iroquois creation myth, for example, says that the Three Sisters grew from the grave of the daughter of “Sky Woman” to provide food for her sons (and all Iroquois) after she died in childbirth. Before white settlers landed on their shores, the Iroquois had been growing corn, beans, and squash for three centuries.

The Three Sisters were at the heart of a sustainable agricultural practice for many of these tribes. This self-sustaining system (sometimes called intercropping) reflects the interconnected nature of each plant: The beans were planted at the base of the corn stalks, providing support for their vines. The nitrogen in the roots of the legumes fed the soil, making it viable for other crops, including the squash, which shaded the corn and the beans and protected them from pests with its huge leaves — and kept the soil moist and healthy.

The trio was sometimes planted among what is often referred to as the “fourth sister” — sunflowers. These tall flowers tempted pests away from the corn with its seeds, attracted pollinators, and provided additional support for the beanstalks.

According to Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom, the Three Sisters were considered “special gifts from the Creator” and provided not just physical nourishment but also featured prominently in tribal spiritual practice. These “sustainers of life” are a centerpiece of mythology, celebration, and ceremony of many Native American tribes.

This trio was also the foundation of a nutritious diet. Corn provides carbohydrates while beans are a good source of fiber, protein, and amino acids. Squash contains Vitamin A, potassium, and folate. All three were commonly served in a soup or stew, or as a mixture similar to a succotash that was sometimes topped with chilies or served alongside wild rice, lamb, or venison. The corn might have also been used to make tortillas.

Though many Native American peoples depended on the Three Sisters, each tribe likely planted its own species of corn, beans, and squash. Back in 2013, award-winning food historian William Weaver praised the diversity of Native American farming, writing that each tribe “fine-tuned [their gardens] to their local micro-climate.” The result, Weaver continues, was a variety of plants that could survive the nomadic tribal lifestyle. There was no one-size-fit-all corn species for every tribe, “so what may have worked well in North Carolina among the Cherokee may not have been successful on the Great Plains.”

For Indigenous people, these three ingredients were the beating heart of not just their meals but also their health and spirituality. When white settlers arrived and forced Indigenous people off of their ancestral homes, they lost farming land and traditions, which turned out to be disastrous for many tribes.

“Some communities have been able to retain a lot of recipes, and some tribes have lost almost everything.”

So much ancestral knowledge on how the Three Sisters were farmed and incorporated into meals has been lost due “forced relocation, cultural oppression, and genocide,” writes Andi Murphy, Diné host of the Toasted Sister podcast, in an essay on the Three Sisters for PBS. Many tribes — including the Oneida in New York; the Diné in Arizona; and the Cherokee, Creek, Seminole, Chickasaw, and Choctaw peoples from all over the Southeastern United States, were forcibly removed from the land that supported corn, beans, and squash and put onto reservations that were hostile to their traditional farming practices.

In order to survive these long journeys (and oftentimes many people did not) their white captors supplied them with flour, lard, and processed sugar — ingredients that had never previously been a part of the Indigenios diet. Fry bread, now a beloved dish in many Native American communities, is the product of those ingredients, though it has no relation to the food Indigenous people ate in pre-colonial times.

Murphy writes that although “historical accounts of forced removal tell of Native people hiding seeds in their personal belongings,” for many tribes, that life-sustaining agricultural knowledge has all but disappeared. In interviews with Native American historians, Weaver also found that seed loss caused by “poverty, government programs forcing native peoples into a mainstream mold, [and] the loss of foodways and native religions” has “at times been devastating” for Native American communities.  

“If you look at the history of the United States particularly, you see the 1800s as an extremely destructive century,” Sean Sherman, founder of the Sioux Chef, tells me. “We’re lucky that we still have some of these indigenous seeds, despite all of the really destructive methods during the 1800s that wiped out a lot of those Native farming regions.”

Disastrous health outcomes is one consequence of the disappearance of the Three Sisters from their everyday diet. Across tribes, Native American people are at higher risk for obesity, heart disease, and diabetes.

In the midst of that painful history, however, hope has emerged: A new generation of chefs is reviving the Three Sisters through recipes that draw on pre-colonial techniques and ingredients.

Photo: igorsm8/Shutterstock

Among them is Brian Yazzie, a Minneapolis-based Diné chef and founder of the catering company Intertribal Foodways. He’s also been working with Gatherings Cafe, inside the Minneapolis American Indian Center, to feed the indignious elder community of south Minneapolis during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Yazzie says that his philosophy as a chef is to “cook ancestral ingredients with modern techniques.” Yazzie emphasizes the diversity of plants among Native American tribes, but says he mostly focuses on blue corn, “a main staple ingredient to the Southwest and the Navajo tribe.” One of his favorite traditional dishes to cook is blue corn mush topped with pumpkin and sunflower seeds.

Cooking with pre-colonial ingredients takes an adjustment. Even Sean Sherman — who also ran the Tanaka Truck for many years, which focused on serving Indigenous food prepared without flour, sugar, and beef — at first found it challenging to embrace the plants, roots, seeds, tubars, and berries his ancestors once enjoyed.

“In the beginning, we were stuck on that colonial perspective,” he said. “But after a while we realized it was really simple to work with Indigenous foods.”

Today, when Sean Sherman serves food made from pre-colonial ingredients for elders in Native American communities, they instantly recognize the flavors, almost as though their palates transport them to a childhood memory where the foods of their ancestors are still preserved.

“We would have these dinners [where] the elders would be like, ‘My grandmother and I used to harvest that in the forest.’ All of this ancestral memory would come pouring out after tasting some of these foods for the first time in a long time,” Sherman says. “Some communities have been able to retain a lot of recipes and some tribes have lost almost everything. For us, it’s about pulling it all together so it doesn’t continue to become lost.”

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Matariki star cluster in New Zealand

Stargazing is one of the few pastimes you can engage in without any trepidation these days — especially the virtual kind. In New Zealand, an annual celestial phenomenon is appearing in the night sky this month, and the country is ready to celebrate. To mark the reappearance of the Matariki cluster of stars, New Zealand is hosting a virtual viewing party to allow as many people as possible to participate in the celestial event. On July 20 at 1:30 PM EST, you can tune into the celebration via live Facebook stream, where you’ll see the star cluster from Aoraki International Dark Sky Reserve in Takap — one of New Zealand’s best stargazing locations.

Israel Dagg, former All Blacks rugby player, will host the event alongside celestial experts Victoria Campbell from Ngāi Tahu and Dr. Rangi Matamua from Tūhoe. They will share the story, myths, and legends behind Matariki, the Māori New Year.

The Matariki star cluster appears annually in New Zealand during mid-winter and can be seen worldwide. According to the Māori lunar calendar, the reappearance of the Matariki ends the old lunar year and begins a new one, and the occasion is celebrated almost everywhere across New Zealand. Auckland alone is hosting over 100 events to celebrate the star cluster, and Wellington will mark the occasion with light projections and performances.

Lake Tekapo, where the live stream will be filmed, is inside the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, comprising Aoraki/Mt. Cook National Park and the Mackenzie Basin of New Zealand’s South Island. If you can’t make it to New Zealand yourself — which, let’s face it, hardly anyone can right now — this live stream isn’t the worst consolation prize.

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Black Lives Matter statue in Bristol

Around dawn on Wednesday, July 15, artist Marc Quinn secretly erected a sculpture of Black Lives Matter activist Jen Reid on the plinth in Bristol, England, where last month protestors toppled a statue of 17th-century slave trader Edward Colston. By evening on the same day, Mayor Marvin Rees had announced the Bristol City Council’s plans to take down the sculpture, which was moved to the city council’s museum this morning.

A Surge of Power (Jen Reid) 2020. (Copyright Marc Quinn Studio)

Quinn was inspired to sculpt Jen Reid after seeing an image of her standing atop the empty plinth and raising a Black Power fist after the original statue was torn down. The sculpture, titled “A Surge of Power,” was unveiled to mixed reactions. Most Bristol residents seemed supportive, according to the BBC, with crowds gathering and some taking a knee. Others protested the sculpture, describing it as vandalism.

While the tribute to the Black Lives Matter movement was removed on the grounds that it was installed without permission, Rees said in a statement that it’s ultimately up to Bristol residents what should take its place permanently.

“My relentless commitment is to build a city for all Bristolians, with all our differences,” Rees said. “To this end, the future of the plinth and what is installed on it must be decided by the people of Bristol. This will be critical to building a city that is home to those who are elated at the statue being pulled down, those who sympathise with its removal but are dismayed at how it happened and those who feel that in its removal, they’ve lost a piece of the Bristol they knew and therefore themselves.”

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Brooklyn cemetery resident artist

Being an artist in residence likely conjures romantic associations of sitting in an old university library, surrounded by dusty books, scribbling away with a quill. This artist-in-residence opportunity, however, is slightly different, and suited for those attracted to the macabre. Brooklyn’s Green-Wood Cemetery is looking for its first artist-in-residence — and instead of being surrounded by dusty books, it’ll be dusty gravestones.

From now through September 2, the cemetery team is accepting applications for emerging and mid-career artists. They want you to pitch work inspired by the cemetery’s landscape, monuments, and history, and the winner will receive a $7,500 honorarium for the nine-month program. You will also receive access to the cemetery staff, centuries-old archival records and artifacts, and private studio space.

Harry Weil, director of public programs and special projects, told Lonely Planet, “It’s something I’ve been dreaming up for the past couple of years, and the moment just seemed right. Green-Wood is emerging as a cultural destination in New York City. We’ve had some really great exhibitions and programs, and an artist-in-residency program seemed like the next step.”

Of the ideal applicant, Weil said, “We really want an artist who’s going to speak to the communities surrounding Green-Wood, so work that’s going to engage the viewer, whether it’s going to move them through the space, engage them in larger conversations about life and death, or even what’s happening politically and socially. We want artists that are going to communicate to and expand our audience.”

The residency begins in January 2021 and continues through September. Applications will be narrowed down to 20, before a panel of five judges selects a winner. To apply, visit the cemetery’s official website.

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App to look out windows around world

Since many of us can’t travel internationally this summer, advertising creatives Sonali Ranjit and Vaishnav Balasubramaniam took it upon themselves to create an app that helps satisfy wanderlust from home. The app, called Window Swap, allows you to virtually explore new destinations by looking out of people’s windows around the globe.

You can tune in to Bavaria’s sprawling meadows, watch Mexico City’s busy streets, and have a top-floor view of Vilnius’ shiny towers. Although the app is relatively new, there are now more than 60 videos from over 26 countries. The feed is filled by app users from around the world. Anyone can contribute by recording a 10-minute HD video of their area through their window — sharing a peek into the daily life of their hometown. The footage doesn’t have to be perfect, as the app demonstrates real-life scenes such as backyards, gardens, and even cats looking out of windows.

According to the website, “Window Swap is here to fill that deep void in our wanderlust hearts by allowing us to look through someone else’s window, somewhere in the world, for a while. A place on the internet where all we travel-hungry fools share our ‘window views’ to help each other feel a little bit better till we can (responsibly) explore our beautiful planet again.”

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Google Trends popular 2021 places

Travel is taking a huge hit in 2020, but that only means 2021 will see the release of a lot of pent-up wanderlust. Many who have written off travel in 2020 are eagerly looking forward to 2021, when the pandemic will have hopefully subsided, air travel is normalized, and people can actually enjoy a vacation with peace of mind.

A new study, drawing on Google data, shows where people are most excited about traveling next year. Compiled by travel company Kuoni, the data shows the most frequently searched and most post popular 2021 holiday destinations for 131 countries.

Overall, the United Arab Emirates is the most popular destination in the world, followed by Canada, the United States, and Qatar. Egypt is the fifth most-searched destination.

Photo: Kuoni

Americans and Canadians show a particular interest in traveling to Japan next year, while Europeans are focused on getting to the Maldives.

Dean Harven of Kuoni told Lonely Planet, “With various stages of lockdown still the case for many places around the world, it’s not surprising that lots of us are wanting to book something to look forward to. It’s fascinating to see how popular destinations differ from country to country and the upturn in Google searches matches the upturn in 2021 bookings we’ve seen in recent weeks, with Maldives holidays being booked the most.”

According to Google Trends, people are as eager as ever for future travel, with searches for “2021 holiday” increasing by 124 percent since the end of March.

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