Offbeat

Offbeat

Did you know an Indian startup 3D-printed a house in 21 days?

On April 27, 2021, Tvasta, a startup founded by alumni from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, completed the construction of India's first 3D-printed house - in only 21 days. Modules for this 500 sq. ft. house were printed in the startup's facility in Chennai and assembled at the site, as per the company's official website.

Storm in a teacup: US, UK banter over the perfect 'cuppa'

The "special relationship" between Britain and the United States came under pressure this week when a US academic had the cheek to suggest adding salt to tea, sparking a flurry of diplomatic banter

Meet the Xbox Series S Toaster

Microsoft has recently released the Xbox Series S Toaster, a kitchen appliance inspired by the design of the Xbox Series S gaming console. The toaster, currently listed in Walmart for US$39.99, will imprint an Xbox sphere logo on the bread during toasting.

Hooves, hounds, and heroes: Animal soldiers of World War I and II

Amidst the chaos of World War I and II, animals played crucial roles, serving as loyal companions, transporters, messengers, and even soldiers on the front lines. Let's take a look at how these unsung heroes made significant contributions to the war efforts during World War I and II.

Offbeat / You did not know these Bengali adaptations of popular films existed

In a world where Hollywood's gloss and grandeur dominate the silver screen, there lies a cinematic treasure trove in Bangladesh that dances to its own beat. Far from the well-trodden paths of blockbuster narratives, Bangladeshi filmmakers have embraced the art of adaptation with a twist so unique it could only be born in the cultural kaleidoscope of South Asia. From singing superheroes to dancing apes, here's a whimsical journey through the Bangladeshi film industry's most audacious, hilarious, and unapologetically tacky takes on popular pop-culture icons.

The Xiaomi car is real, and BAIC is making it

Xiaomi is making a bold move into the electric vehicle (EV) industry with its Xiaomi SU7 car series. The consumer tech company, diversifying from its traditional product range, has now applied for a sales license in China for this ambitious venture.

Titanic menu sells for £84,000 at UK auction

The menu, for a meal served on April 11, 1912, is decorated with a red White Star Line burgee but the original gilt lettering is no longer visible

Netflix's 'Terminator' anime series coming soon

Netflix has officially confirmed an anime adaptation of the popular sci-fi series 'Terminator'. Announced via a trailer on Netflix's official YouTube channel, the upcoming anime series will be jointly made by Production I.G, Skydance Media, and writer Mattson Tomlin. 

Delhi Police uses Mathews’ timed out incident to spread awareness about helmets

The message was posted in reference to the high number of road accidents in Delhi in recent years.

So, a Barbenheimer movie is really happenning

It seems that the cinematic world is poised for an unprecedented mash-up, as details emerge about 'Barbenheimer,' an upcoming B-movie that cheekily capitalises on the dual releases of 'Barbie' and 'Oppenheimer.' Touted with the tongue-in-cheek tagline 'D-Cup, A-Bomb,' the film promises a comedic twist on what happens when a doll scientist has a nuclear chip on her shoulder.

This website tells you if there will be 'oborodh' tomorrow

istomorrowhartal.com, a 2015 website that offers timely information on hartals (strikes) and blockades in Bangladesh, has resurfaced again in 2023 in midst of the ongoing blockades. The service was initially set up during a period of frequent hartals by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and has recently updated its offerings to include information on the latest blockades by the same party.

Popular anime 'Attack on Titan' ends after 10 years

The dark fantasy anime 'Attack on Titan', adapted from the manga 'Shingeki no Kyojin' by Hajime Isayama, has just aired its final episode, ending the 10-year-long series. Originally premiering on April 7, 2013, the anime gained significant popularity and a dedicated fanbase in both Japan and abroad, even in Bangladesh where local anime communities referred to it as one of the most popular anime of all time.

14-year-old awarded for inventing soap that may cure skin cancer

A groundbreaking invention by a 14-year-old student in the United States has earned him the title of "America's top young scientist." Heman Bekele, a ninth-grader hailing from Annandale, Virginia, has developed a unique bar of soap with the potential to aid in the treatment of melanoma. This type of skin cancer is diagnosed in approximately 100,000 individuals in the United States annually and is responsible for nearly 8,000 deaths each year.

Uber launches air balloon service in Turkey

Uber, the international ride-sharing platform, has recently launched an air balloon ride service in Cappadocia, Turkey. As per Uber, the new service will be available in Turkey's UNESCO World Heritage Göreme National Park, with riders being able to book balloon trips in advance using the Uber app.

Elon Musk offers Wikipedia $1 billion to change name to D*ckipedia

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and owner of X (previously known as Twitter), has made an audacious donation offer to the popular online encyclopaedia, Wikipedia. However, his donation comes with a peculiar condition. Musk stated, "I will give them a billion dollars if they change their name to D*ckipedia." He cheekily added, "Please add that to the [cow and poop emojis] on my wiki page. In the interests of accuracy."

How two friends used ChatGPT to launch an AI startup worth $150,000

In just four days, using only ChatGPT and a modest US$185 (about BDT 20k) investment, Sal Aiello and Monica Powers transformed a side hustle into a highly profitable AI startup. Fast forward to last month, the duo successfully sold their venture for a whopping $150,000 (about BDT 16 million).

Prada to design spacesuits for Artemis III lunar mission

Prada, the famous Italian luxury fashion house, has partnered with Axiom Space, a Texas-based private space company, to craft advanced spacesuits for NASA's upcoming Artemis mission. The collaboration aims to provide cutting-edge gear for astronauts on lunar expeditions.

Facebook goes political; wants Pakistan's Imran Khan released

In an unexpected and unprecedented move, the official Facebook page posted a status urging for the release of Imran Khan, the current opposition leader of Pakistan, who has been recently incarcerated. The message, which simply read "Release Imran Khan", was swiftly removed from the platform, but not before it went viral, sparking discussions and speculations.

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