All posts tagged: 1940s

The Magic Faraway Tree Team on Bringing 1940s Classic Into Modern Era

The Magic Faraway Tree Team on Bringing 1940s Classic Into Modern Era

Published by Daniella Wilson

In Vertical’s upcoming The Magic Faraway Tree, Enid Blyton’s 1940s children’s novels get a modern makeover, and one that director Ben Gregor, as well as stars Andrew Garfield and Claire Foy, say brings the author’s messages around adventure and family to a modern audience.  “Simon [Farnaby] made it really relevant. He made it about kids of today, but with all the values and excitement of the adventures of Enid Blyton. He brought the two worlds together in this amazing, tender, warm, funny way,” Gregor told The Hollywood Reporter while discussing the work of the film’s screenwriter at the New York premiere on Wednesday night. “It’s not a preachy thing, but it does say go outside and climb a tree and have some fun. Get off the screens. And Simon, he’s a master of warmth. It’s like having a big hug watching this movie.” The second story in the Faraway trilogy, the film and book follow three siblings who move to the English countryside and discover a magical tree and its fantastical inhabitants. All are able …

Want to beat Wordle? Try a 1940s mathematical theory.

Want to beat Wordle? Try a 1940s mathematical theory.

Published by Jenni Sidey

Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. By signing up, you confirm you are 16+, will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time. It turns out one of the best ways to solve the massively popular New York Times puzzle game Wordle isn’t really about words at all. It’s math. Specifically, information theory and a  mathematical concept called Shannon Entropy. Though the typical Wordle player tries to use their six allotted guesses to correctly guess the game’s hidden word, researchers at Binghamton University in New York took a slightly different, counterintuitive approach. Instead of trying  to solve the word outright, they applied the principles of uncertainty outlined in information theory to optimize for the guesses that provide the most information possible, steadily narrowing the pool of remaining candidate words. By using this method, rather than simply guessing words using commonly occurring vowels, the team crafted a …

I set up location-based automations, and my 1940s home finally felt like it was truly smart

I set up location-based automations, and my 1940s home finally felt like it was truly smart

Published by skeptic

Over the years, I’ve dreamed of what smart home technology could actually accomplish, but I’d be lying if I said I took full advantage of everything it could do. While the vast majority of the bulbs in my home are smart, as are my door locks and other items, I’ve always liked the idea of manually controlling them from Google Home or Alexa without having to flip switches when I need them. But after taking a bit of time and actually setting up location-based automations? I can’t go back, and it finally feels like my house is in the future. Taking a home built in the 1940s and making it sing with smart home technology is wild, and location-based automations have made it even better for me and my wallet. Related Your old phone has 5 sensors built in that can trigger smart home automations Old phone, new purpose. Passive savings are massive savings My heat doesn’t need to be blasting while I’m not at home, does it? Jowi Morales / MakeUseOfCredit: Jowi Morales / MakeUseOf …

This Legendary 1940s Pilot’s Watch Is Back and Ready to Soar Again

This Legendary 1940s Pilot’s Watch Is Back and Ready to Soar Again

Published by Jenni Sidey

The Benrus Sky Chief used to be among the world’s most popular chronographs, but don’t be surprised if you’ve never heard of it. It flew the friendly skies in the golden era of commercial air travel and now, thanks to a faithfully recreated new edition, it’s ready to make its final descent onto your wrist. The story of its resurrection reveals the story of one of America’s greatest forgotten watch brands. Founded in New York City in 1921, Benrus was one of the top three watch brands in the country during the mid-20th century, worn by John F. Kennedy, Steve McQueen, and Babe Ruth, before—like so many other storied brands—falling victim to the quartz crisis of the 1970s. After languishing for a few decades, Benrus returned in 2020, and its lineup of vintage-inspired tool watches based on the brand’s greatest hits of yesteryear has since grown slowly but steadily. The latest among them, the Benrus Sky Chief, might be their most covetable release yet. Courtesy of Benrus Benrus was founded by brothers Oscar, Ralph, and …