UX Insights, Lost Scrolls, X Bans, Abandoned Coworkers, and Lightsabers

Weekly Review of News in Technology, UX and AI

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Here’s the latest news, resources, and use cases from the world of product, UX, AI and technology. Let’s go:

• 💡 UX Insights

• 📜 Lost Scrolls

• 🇧🇷 X Banned in Brazil

• 🚀 Boeing Starliner

• 👩‍💻 Wells Fargo Employee

• 🚁 Abandoned Coworkers

• ⚔️ Lightsabers

• 🧃 Capri Suns

Podcast

The Intersection of Authenticity and Innovation: UX Insights from Oak Theory Founders Hannah Ryu and Veronica Shelton

Hannah and Veronica break down the latest trends in design, from the rise of AR to the subtle shift toward softer, more organic visuals. They also offer a candid glimpse into the rollercoaster ride of entrepreneurship—highlighting the grit, resilience, and creativity it takes to build something truly unique. If you're into cutting-edge design, tech innovation, or just love a great startup story, this episode is a must-listen.

News and Useful Reads

How AI Is Deciphering Lost Scrolls From the Roman Empire

Nearly 2,000 years ago, Pompeii and Herculaneum were buried in ash after Mount Vesuvius erupted. Some scrolls survived, but are too fragile to open. But hopefully, we may be able to use AI and computer vision to read what these scrolls contain.

“The new computer vision techniques aimed at virtually unwrapping the unopened Herculaneum papyri are providing new hope for Herculaneum papyrology, enabling the reading of rolls that were last read almost two thousand years ago before the eruption of Mount Vesuvius,” said Federica Nicolardi, a papyrologist at the University of Naples Federico II and member of the Vesuvius Challenge’s papyrology team, in an email to Gizmodo.

Judge orders X ban in Brazil

Apparently, Elon Musk is throwing a tantrum in Brazil, and the government has officially banned X or Twitter or whatever he calls it now.

A judge in Brazil has ordered the suspension of X after owner Elon Musk failed to designate a new legal representative for the country, according to reports from Bloomberg and local news outlet Poder360.

Boeing's Starliner is coming back without a crew on September 6

It’s official. The astronauts that were supposed to be on the ISS for a week are now going to stay there until next year.

NASA recently announced that Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, the astronauts that headed to the ISS aboard the Starliner for its first crewed flight, will be coming home on a SpaceX Crew Dragon instead.

Wells Fargo employee found dead at her desk days after she last clocked into work, authorities say

It’s these kinds of tragedies that make the absurdity of office work seem like a farce. But remember, it’s important for everyone to be in the office because we need that face time for real collaboration.

A Wells Fargo employee at a corporate office in Arizona clocked in to what would be her last-ever shift on a Friday morning. Her body was found four days later at her cubicle desk, where she died sometime during the weekend, according to the Tempe Police Department.

Hiker rescued after workmates left him on mountain, says search crew

And speaking of bad coworkers…

A hiker was rescued from a mountain in the US state of Colorado after being apparently left behind the previous day by his colleagues during an office retreat.

The unnamed man got lost and found himself without phone signal after being left by colleagues who went ahead without him, the Chaffee County Search and Rescue team said.

Other Interesting Finds

How Star Wars walked away from the world’s first self-retracting lightsaber toy

I own so many different types of lightsabers. We have the versions you build at Disney World. We have the very similar ones that you get at Disney or other stores. We also have the kind that you can fling out and push back down. But none of them have a motor that pushes the blade out or retracts it. That would be so cool. And I’m a little sad this new toy isn’t an official lightsaber. But it looks incredibly cool regardless.

Capri Sun Introducing Bottles Would Completely Miss the Point of Capri Sun

Now, however, as reported by Snackolater, there’s a rumor Capri Sun will soon be offering a twist-top bottled version of its signature juice pouch, and I (and others) worry about what this new easy-open option could do to further risk the fortitude of the younger generation.