Coronavirus Archives | Moss and Fog

3D

Impressive 3D Simulation Showing the Way the Virus Moves in a Classroom

March 1, 2021 3D

As we cross the one-year mark of the global pandemic, scientists and researchers have learned a lot about how the coronavirus moves and spreads.

Millions of classrooms around the world are still figuring out the best ways to safely reopen, and for good reason.

The New York Times has an impressive set of simulations that explores the way the virus can move in a classroom, and the way simple things like opening windows, using fans and air purifiers can significantly improve health for everyone.

As you scroll the page you see a number of scenarios play out, the way air circulates a room, the way a single infected person can spread the disease to others, and the way things can be mitigated. Really impressive study, using 800,000 data points. There’s also an augmented reality version so you can explore the visual way things move.

A classroom with windows closed, showcasing contaminant levels after a period of time.

A classroom with one infected person, but with an air cleaner and window open.

Infected person showcasing virus spread over time.

Art

Coronavirus Food Masks

October 10, 2020 Art

Please, please don’t wear a coconut on your face thinking it’s an effective face mask during a pandemic. But hell, since huge numbers of people in the US and elsewhere aren’t taking this deadly global virus seriously, perhaps a radicchio face covering would be better for them than nothing at all. And it’d at least block their obnoxious faces from view.

Indeed, as mask fatigue sets in, and the fall and winter season brings more people inside, cases of Covid-19 are already spiking, making this period of time one of the most dangerous ones of all. Please don’t let your guard down.

This art project is from Hej Studio in Copenhagen, exploring concepts for face masks that are less sterile than the hospital-grade ones. But again, this is art. Not condoning it for medical purposes. But if you have that idiot uncle that refuses to wear a mask, perhaps just sneak up behind him and slap a people of lettuce over his mouth. Via DesignMilk:

Architecture

Clever Fold Down Workstation Might Be the Answer to a Pandemic Office Setup

July 27, 2020 Architecture

Since the global coronavirus swept the globe, it became clear that the traditional office will never be the same. At least not for quite a while.

Industrial designer Prasad Ghodke shows us a concept for a fold-down workstation that is tailored toward a social-distancing office of the future (or the present).

With a clever folding blind approach, the nearly flat, compact design transforms to a self contained unit that should help in keeping germs localized, and not shared with everyone in your office.

For those of you that are needing to go back to an office soon, what are your concerns? How can design and technology help to make things safer and more enjoyable?

Via Yanko Design:

Art

Choreographed Drones Create a Pandemic Awareness Message In The Sky

July 17, 2020 Art

South Korea has handled the Covid-19 pandemic much better than most countries. They immediately took it very seriously, and to date, the country has had 13,000 cases, and only 293 deaths. That’s in stark contrast to the United States, that marked 75,000+ cases just yesterday.

Despite their great track record, the country has kept their guard up. Recently they performed a sky show featuring 300 drones, flying in formation to create an animated message. The message thanked healthcare workers, encouraged continued vigilance, and gave messages of hope to onlookers.

If you’ve never seen a drone show, it’s amazing how precisely the small craft can be, lining up at just the right moment to create an image.

Via DesignBoom:

Design

Wear a Mask, Save Lives

July 14, 2020 Design

Wearing a mask is simple. It’s straightforward. So why all the animosity, anger, and confusion about it?

With a global pandemic still raging, especially in the United States, it’s more important than ever to mask up, protect yourself, and protect others.

With that, here are some cleverly edited classic paintings, with the characters all wearing face coverings. The work of Genevieve Blais, her Instagram account is PlagueHistory, and uses black humor to get the point across.

So, you know what to do. Do it!

Art

Sunrises From a Small Window Painted Onto the New York Times

June 30, 2020 Art

As global quarantines go, New York City has it harder than most, with tight quarters, and an initial Covid-19 outbreak that ranked as there worst in the entire world.

As creative New Yorkers do, they make the best of it. For Sho Shibuya, that meant painting a sunrise each morning as seen from his small city apartment window. His canvas is the front page of the daily New York Times, a very fitting and unique vessel for the paintings.

We see a full-length New York Times front cover with a window-sized representation of the day’s sunrise, in beautiful ombré shades of blue, orange and black. A really poignant project, and also a lovely time capsule for an unprecedented 2020.

Art

A Concert for Plants in Barcelona

June 23, 2020 Art

The Gran Teatre del Liceu opera house in Barcelona had their first concert in months this week, and the audience quietly and politely enjoyed it. Indeed, the crowd of 2,292 potted plants swayed gently to ‘Crisantemi’ by Puccini.

The project is the brainchild of Eugenio Ampudia, who hoped to create a reflection on art, quarantine, and our connection to nature, albeit in potted plant form.

After the concert was finished, his team delivered all the plants to 2,292 health professionals, specifically from the Clínic de Barcelona hospital, with a certificate from the artist.

We love the visual of a grand concert hall playing host to such a collection of green plants, and the four musicians onstage, who will remember such a unique performance forever. Art takes many forms, and we applaud efforts like this, that raise our spirits.

At the end of the eight-minute concert, the sound of leaves and branches blowing in the wind resonated throughout the opera house like applause.
-AP

Animation

Upsides, a Charming Animation Showing Small Victories of the Pandemic

May 29, 2020 Animation

This cute little animation shows us some of the ‘upsides’ of the pandemic, small moments of hope, positivity, and joy. Created by Mike Russo and Garret Beard, it gives us a smile in a time of pain.

Clothing

Vollebak’s New Full Metal Jacket is Virus-Killing, Made with 7 Miles of Copper Fiber

May 18, 2020 Clothing

Vollebak is know for their extreme, no compromise designs, from clothing made of biodegradable algae to jackets that mimic the brilliant blue morpho butterfly.

They also feature longevity, with a line of clothing that is ‘guaranteed’ to last 100 years. Their designs are cutting-edge, small-production run, and very expensive.

So we were curious if they were going to address the worldwide pandemic, and indeed they are. Their brand new Full Metal Jacket is indeed made mostly of copper, a known virus-killing material for generations.

Indeed, a whopping 15 kilometers of copper fiber is put into each jacket, in a production process that takes a full week to create.

The breathable, flexible, waterproof jacket looks incredible up close, as you see the lacquered copper yarn in detail.

And while this jacket is indeed a body shield from our strange, modern world of germs and viruses, it’s not a full protection, but more of an exercise in what’s possible with materials and design.

Available in two colors from Vollebak, for $1095.

“We know that copper has exceptional antimicrobial properties which means bacteria and viruses die when they make contact with it”

– Steve Tidball, co-founder of Vollebak

“The copper releases electrically charged ions which first make it difficult for a microbe to breathe, before punching holes in its outer membrane, moving in and completely wiping out its DNA, preventing it from developing any future resistance.”

Documentary Film

Photos From Around the World Show Our New Reality

May 16, 2020 Documentary Film

From distance-parties at retirement homes to creative use of masks to dealing with a slowly reopening economy, here are some striking images of our new reality with the coronavirus from around the world.

Via Buzzfeed News:

sub-buzz-663-1588963382-7 — Greetings and birthdays at a retirement home

sub-buzz-1680-1588962919-17 — Creative distancing for restaurants

sub-buzz-1702-1588963433-28 — Protective face shields for Thai dancers

sub-buzz-1759-1588963219-26 — Measuring for distance at schools

sub-buzz-1765-1588963070-1 — Controlling riots in the streets

sub-buzz-1774-1588962886-2 — Empty graduation ceremonies

sub-buzz-1807-1588963402-13 — Encouraging masks at future sporting events

sub-buzz-1833-1588963661-16 — Rowing training in an empty field

sub-buzz-1841-1588964016-5 — Creatively printed masks

sub-buzz-1884-1588964952-7 — Newborn with facial shield

Camping

IKEA Releases 6 Furniture Fort Plans for Quarantine Fun

May 14, 2020 Camping

Using their own recognizable instruction format, IKEA has released plans for six different designs for furniture forts.

Meant to entertain your children (or yourself) during our coronavirus quarantine, it’s a charming and fun set of projects. And while the plans call for using their decidedly Swedish-named furniture, we imagine most of these forts can be made with just about anything you have in your home.

Let us know how they turn out!

General

5 Awesome LEGO Sets To Get You Through The Stay-at-Home Tedium

May 12, 2020 General

Let’s face it. You never stopped loving LEGOs, but maybe you gave them up for a decade or two while real life got in the way.

We have good news. You can pick your hobby back up, guilt-free. Indeed, over the last several weeks, we’ve gone through a handful of new LEGO sets, and found they are some of the most joyfully-distracting purchases we’ve made in a long time. Part of that has to do with having a toddler at home, but part of it is the fun nostalgia of opening those crinkly plastic bags and dumping out a brand new set. The tinkle of the bricks on the table.

The joy of following the visual directions to get each brick in its right spot, and then the realization that wait, that step must have been done wrong….

We’re also in a golden age of LEGO, with a catalog positively brimming with collections and styles, to the cultural phenomenon of the LEGO movie, and the cult-like following online.

Below are five of the coolest new sets that we’ve seen released. And yes, LEGOs are sometimes eye-wateringly expensive. But can you put a price on stay-at-home comfort? 😜🤑

1. LEGO Taj Mahal – 5,923 Pieces – $369.00

2. LEGO Bookshop – 2,504 Pieces – $179

3. LEGO International Space Station – 864 Pieces – $69.00

4. LEGO Pirates of Barracuda Bay – 2,545 Pieces – $199.00

5. LEGO Jurassic Park T. rex Rampage – 3,120 Pieces – $249.00

🛒 Shop This LEGO Set on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate, Moss and Fog earns from qualifying purchases.

Climate Change

Aerial Photos Show Thousands of Grounded Airplanes

May 6, 2020 Climate Change

The Coronavirus has reduced air travel by up to 96% over the last month, as people shelter in place, or are limited in their travel options.

This has meant all of the planes that normally fill the sky have to be parked on the tarmac, and there a lot of them. Photographer Andy Luten captured images of thousands of aircraft strategically parked at airports across the country, neatly arranged in rows. All of these airplanes need maintenance to keep the engines clean, and keep things in working order.

This has caused a big drop in air pollution worldwide, especially along well-traveled corridors. Via PetaPixel, it’s a fascinating sign of the times.

General

This Multitool Might Be Our Needed Companion Until Covid-19 is Cured

May 4, 2020 General

Our world will not be the same for quite some time, given the state of the COVID-19 virus. Even after cities around the world start to open, we’ll be living with the disease in hidden pockets and corners of society, so social distancing will (and should) stay in place for quite some time.

Navigating this new normal will mean avoiding the normal touching and grabbing that we take for granted. A number of tools have already popped up to help us, like this Stay Safe Carabiner, that functions as a door opener, button pusher, box opener, and the like. The clever design helps you do things without touching surfaces like elevator buttons, ATM pins, and door handles.

We don’t love the idea of a germophobic existence, but until this weird scary time passes, we might need tools like this to help out. Via Yanko Design:

Art

Swiss Village Projecting World Flags Onto Mountaintop In Pandemic Solidarity

April 20, 2020 Art

In the Swiss city of Zermatt, the famous Matterhorn has recently been lit up with the flags of countries around the world. Using a powerful projector, bright and colorful flags have been beamed onto the famous peak, showing solidarity through the Covid-19 pandemic.

Visual artist Gerry Hofstetter is the wizard behind the project, creating an impactful moment of solidarity and global friendship. Via DYT:

With this light projection, Zermatt wants to give people a sign of hope and solidarity in these difficult times. The village shows solidarity with all the people who are currently suffering and is grateful to all those who are helping to overcome the crisis.

– City of Zermatt

Art

Fancy Pyramid Pillow Fort Embodies Our Global Quarantine Moment

April 16, 2020 Art

French designer Cyril Lancelin has embraced the coronavirus quarantine with a towering pyramid of pillows, echoing the many of us who made forts out of couch cushions and pillows as children. In a subtle gradient of blues and purples, his pillow pyramid is more refined than most of ours were, but the intention is to embrace the stay-at-home directive and have fun with it. Maybe it’s time to revisit that joy of fort making again. Via DesignBoom:

General

How the COVID-19 Quarantine Has Changed Our Media Habits

April 16, 2020 General

Visual Capitalist has a pretty neat look at the way the media landscape has changed over the last month of the global quarantine.

Using infographics, we see the changes in behavior exhibited by Gen-Z, Millennials, Gen-X, and the Baby Boomer era. From media consumption to internet activities, to trust of various news sources, it is an interesting look of how things have changed during this quarantine era.

Art

Patrick Stewart’s Shakespeare Sonnets

April 9, 2020 Art

We definitely need some calming moments in this era of grim news and worldwide sadness.

Sir Patrick Stewart is obliging, with his tremendous voice and talented reading ability, reading Shakespeare’s sonnets to his audience of more than 1.5 million people.

With his acting career starting at the Royal Shakespeare Company, he’s a natural in this role, and we’re honored to have him.

Take ten minutes out of your day and de-stress with his great reading.

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Art

Creativity in the Mask Era

April 6, 2020 Art

Wearing face masks for protection is nothing new, people have been wearing them for generations.

But in the era of Covid-19, and possible mandatory rules regarding masks, we’ve seen a plethora of creative ideas for how to make and design those masks.

A simple search on Instagram shows us dozens of unique and stylish ideas for masks, and YouTube is rich with instructional videos and DIY how-tos. Check out some of our finds below.

Photography

Drone Footage Captures Families Surviving Their Quarantines

March 30, 2020 Photography

Photographer Adas Vasiliauskas shows us life under quarantine in his native Lithuania. Using a drone, (and permission from friends and strangers), he passes by their windows to see how they’re living under a strict quarantine order.

We see families at play, couples smiling out windows, and generally an upbeat attitude during this strange and scary time. And although life is getting especially tricky trying to continue working (or handling a new jobless status) at home, it’s good to see people trying to make the most of a bad situation.

Via DesignYouTrust:

Documentary Film

Drone Captures Eerie Empty Streets in San Francisco

March 26, 2020 Documentary Film

With the entire state of California on mandated quarantine lockdown due to Coronavirus, the cities are basically empty, something that seems out of a movie set, not real life. San Francisco is usually buzzing both day and night, with thousands of people on the streets in all manner of transport.

Captured with drone, we see the San Francisco skyline in this eerie new empty status. Filmed by Space Race Studio, the drone fly-through is accompanied by melancholy guitar music. Fascinating and spooky. Stay safe out there. H/T Carl B.

Art

Artists From Around the World Share Coronavirus Artwork

March 19, 2020 Art

Check out this collection of artists addressing the coronavirus in their own creative, and often funny way. Curated by Dezeen, be sure to check out the artist’s Instagram pages for extra inspiration.

Do your part and stay home. It’s all we can do. pic.twitter.com/dLOkV3znNe

— juan delcan & valentina izaguirre (@juan_delcan) March 16, 2020

89719927_767318183791839_142789576359922439_n — **Oliver Jeffers**

88197181_733712950486748_5429629563375979921_n — **Sara Shakeel**

90066038_511075659830458_7423063353847203698_n — **Christoph Niemann**

90087687_2502986389951769_8531690679720521256_n — **Jean Jullien**

90053049_499185534097309_5522504780504565883_n — **Gemma Correll**

89843684_209696866938621_4262173777867105778_n — **Sara Andreasson**

88204882_187589909330294_4420215977690123924_n — **Sara Shakeel**

89833588_201514871079782_2764437934632849287_n — **Petra Eriksson**

89814982_497903284236904_3707285412254904273_n — **Mona Chalabi**

Animals

As the World is in Lockdown, Wild Animals Have Started Returning

March 19, 2020 Animals

Italy is experiencing its most stringent lockdown quarantine in memory, and while it has produced some charming singing from the apartment windows, it also has produced something more delightful to us.

Wild animals have begun showing up, from boars roaming the city streets, swans calmly floating where they haven’t been seen before, to now sightings of dolphins swimming in the quiet, recently clean and calm canals of Venice.

Here’s the video which the picture I posted comes from. ❤️ https://t.co/Igd1ZUbs2f

— Francesco Delrio (@Cosodelirante) March 18, 2020

The lack of boats and people in the normally busy waterways of Venice have made the water abnormally clear and clean, and without stirred-up sediment, fish and dolphins are clearly visible. Apparently it’s the first time in 60 years that dolphins have been seen in Venice.

There’s a sense of enormous relief to see the natural world rebounding in such a stressful and emotional time. And part of us wants to know what would happen if this quarantine stayed in place for months to come.

Chances are, this crazy coronavirus episode will be behind us soon, which will certainly be a good thing. Though we’re excited to see how Mother Nature is responding to this drop in human activity. Via The Hill:

Architecture

Miniature Writer’s Retreat Is a Perfect Self Quarantine

March 17, 2020 Architecture

In this strange new time of shelter-in-place and ‘hunkering down’, this delightful little writer’s studio caught our eye. If we were working on the next great novel, we might want to be self-quarantined in this 650-square foot modern space. Created for a lover of poetry, the Writer’s Studio houses over 1,700 volumes of poetry, as well as a bathroom, trundle bed, kitchenette, and of course a beautifully serene glass walled room for writing.

Designed by Eric J. Smith, the studio is located on a lovely wooded hill in Connecticut. Via Uncrate:

Climate Change

One Bright Spot During the Coronavirus: Global Carbon Emissions Have Fallen

March 12, 2020 Climate Change

If there’s one bright spot during this strange, turbulent time of global coronavirus pandemic, it’s this: Carbon emissions worldwide have fallen dramatically in the last few weeks, leading to cleaner, clearer skies, and healthier air for all.

Now, once the pandemic is over, emissions will likely spike back up again. But it’s fascinating to see how dramatically the level of carbon emissions has fallen, specifically in places like China, which are some of the biggest emitters on the planet.

5760 — From before the virus took hold, smokestacks spewing pollution dotted the landscape. The air has cleared significantly in the weeks since.

Also take into account all of the cancelled flights and transportation that has been canceled.

And while the deaths and sickness are horrible, it is somehow relieving to know that Planet Earth is having a mini-breather right now, after all the trouble we put her through.

Surely these drops in emissions are temporary, and we imagine the global economy will be humming again very soon. Though perhaps this global event might help shift people’s thinking a bit, as well.

Architecture

Renault’s Morphoz Concept Car Stretches to Accommodate More

March 5, 2020 Architecture

The prestigious Geneva Auto Show was cancelled this week due to the spreading Coronavirus, which forced automakers to unveil their latest creations and concepts online, instead.

It’s a big change for the auto companies, who love to show off their most future-focused designs in person, but for those of us who don’t attend the glitzy shows, it’s not too much of a change.

One of the most head-turning concepts we’ve seen so far is the Renault Morphoz, which can physically change it’s size and shape to accommodate different types of travel. True to the name, the car morphs shape from a smaller, shorter city vehicle, to a longer, more spacious one for bigger trips. Interestingly, the electric range of the vehicle also changes, depending on its form factor.

Packed with other futuristic features like an A.I. that you can recognize you, and a battery that can double as a home power supply, it’s the type of concept car that feels a few years off, without being too distant. Read more on the Morphoz features and design on Dezeen.