What if you had to find your way through hundreds of miles of unknown territory with only your eyes and a simple compass to guide you? That’s what the Australian Bogong moth does in its annual migration, flying over 600 miles (roughly 30 million times its body length) to seek a haven from summer heat in the cool caves of the Australian Alps.
An international team of researchers announced in the journal Current Biology that Bogong moths rely on a magnetic sense as well as vision to steer its flight path. This makes them the first nocturnal insect we know of that can sense the Earth’s magnetic field — and maybe use it to guide their seasonal odyssey, joining a sophisticated club of birds, sea turtles, and fish.
Move Over, Monarchs
Several moth varieties fly long distances during their migrations, but Bogong moths are the only insect other than Monarch butterflies who travel from a broad geographical area to gather in a specific spot. For the flashy Monarchs, that’s a warm winter getaway in Mexico called the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and popular tourist destination. For the humble Bogongs, it’s a summer home in a remote set of caves in the Australian Alps.
“This particular species is interesting because we know exactly where they’re going,” says David Dreyer, a research fellow at the University of Lund, Sweden with expertise in neuroethology — the study of animal brains and behavior. He and Eric Warrant, a professor and neuroethologist also at the University of Lund, conducted much of the study.
Knowing the moths’ migration direction was key to the experimental design. When Dreyer and the team captured moths along their migration routes, they could be sure of which way the moths were headed — south toward the Australian Alps in the spring, north in the fall. If the moths were using a magnetic sense to navigate, captured moths in an artificial setup might similarly prefer to fly toward magnetic south or north poles, depending on when they were caught.
A Flight Simulator for Moths
The researchers tested the moths in a specialized flight simulator their colleagues had invented to study the migration of Monarch butterflies. They attached moths to long shafts that let them turn in any horizontal direction and which constantly logged the moths’ flight direction. Around each moth they placed a cylindrical plastic barrier, bare except for a few simple shapes as visual landmarks, and a magnetic coil that mimicked the Earth’s magnetic field.
Finally, to actually get the moths to cooperate and fly in this artificial setup, the researchers projected satellite images of the surrounding countryside onto a surface below the moth, following the direction of movement and simulating a natural moving landscape.
When the researchers kept the visual landmarks and magnetic field direction aligned, the moths consistently flew toward the landmarks, making corrections to their flight path when the landmarks and magnetic field were moved. However, when the researchers turned the magnetic field so it was now at a different angle relative to the visual cues, the moths became disoriented and flew in random directions. When the magnetic field and landmarks were returned to the original setup, the moths once again flew consistently toward the landmarks.
Because the moths became disoriented when the magnetic field didn’t agree with what they were seeing, the researchers conclude that Bogong moths are definitely able to sense magnetic fields, and that they seem to use a combination of magnetic senses and vision to steer their flying. It’s a step further to say that Bogong moths use their magnetic senses in their long-distance migrations, but Dreyer and Warrant think they probably do. After all, why develop magnetic senses without using them?
As a follow-up experiment, Dreyer and Warrant are working on a study to measure electrical signals in the brains of Bogong moths near changing magnetic fields. If they can detect changes in the moths’ brain signals, they’ll be close to finding where their magnetic sensors are located.
Just Checking
One surprise, though, was that changing the magnetic fields didn’t confuse the moths right away. It was usually “a couple of minutes before the moths seem to realize that something has gone horribly wrong,” Warrant says.
To the researchers, this suggests that the moths may navigate primarily with visual cues and that they use their magnetic sense to check that they’re on track once in a while. Warrant says, “It’s almost like they put their compass back in their pocket, if you like, and check the field only every couple of minutes.”
Maybe the moths navigate like many of us do in when we’re in somewhat familiar territory. You’re pretty sure you know how to find your way, but you sneak a look at Google Maps on your phone sometimes, just in case.
Albert Einstein’s name is synonymous with intelligence, but he’s more than earned his rep. The man revolutionized physics when he was in his 20s and 30s. He came up with a whole new way of understanding reality, not as a fixed grid against which events occur, but as fundamentally intertwined with time and perception. Trying to prove Einstein wrong, somehow, is a perennial goal of budding and experienced physicists alike.
Well, they’ll have to keep trying. A new study in Science today shows that Einstein was so good, even in distant galaxies he’s still right.
Warp Zone
It all has to do with general relativity, Einstein’s theory of gravity, which posits that anything with mass warps the fabric of space time. The bigger the mass, the more the very universe deforms around it. This explains why massive objects attract less massive objects: they’re just following space time’s curves. Light also follows the warps and wefts created by gravity — black holes and galaxies literally bend light around them.
Sometimes, when massive enough objects line up just right, they can actually focus more distant light like a glass lens in a telescope, with the bends in space time acting as a kind of “gravitational lens.”
And while these are useful in studying those ultra-distant objects emitting that warped light, they can also serve as a “laboratory” for testing relativity itself.
Relatively Straightforward
That’s important, because even though scientists have confirmed Einstein’s general relativity within the solar system, that’s still small potatoes compared to the larger universe. As the paper’s authors write, “the long-range nature of gravity is still poorly constrained.” So they found a way to use a nearby gravitational lens around galaxy ESO 325-GOO4 to test out relativity on the galactic scale.
First, the team measured just how much the galaxy was warping spacetime, using Hubble data of the area. This allowed them to derive the galaxy’s mass. Then, they calculated the mass a different way, by observing stellar movement, this time using data from the Very Large Telescope in Chile. If Einstein was right, the two figures should be about the same.
Spoiler alert: Einstein was right. The ratio between the two values was 0.97 ± 0.09, which is pretty darn close to the predicted value of 1.
This is great news not just for Einstein worshipers, but anybody who wants to understand what’s going on in the universe at large scales. The finding rules out many alternative theories of gravity, and confirms that even at large scales general relativity holds true. It also means we have to keep around the notion of dark energy — the still mysterious force propelling the universe to expand faster and faster — since it’s (partly) a consequence of general relativity.
If Alice had been of drinking age when she fell down the rabbit hole, she probably would have found herself in a strange and surreal universe resembling Maison St-Germain, which made its 2nd annual return to NYC last night.
Held at the Battery Gardens, the floral fete felt like a dream. Arms served up cocktails from within picture frames. Golden palm trees grew disco balls rather than coconuts. Interpretive dancers moved like air within a field of light-up flowers. Giant pastel fish circled themselves in a trippy seaglass carousel. Even Alice would say that “wonderland” was an understatement.
St-Germain, the high-end elderflower liqueur, has always had a vintage vibe, from its bottle to its mindful approach to cocktail-making. It’s no wonder then, that when they teamed up with A-list fashion stylist, Kate Young, to create the second iteration of this experiential event, they turned to the lavish bashes of the 1920s – drawing inspiration from F. Scott Fitzergald’s other classic, The Beautiful and Damned.
A pink sunset poured into a massive clear dome housing multiple bars, giant flower installations, a gilded bed worthy of Cleopatra, and a glittering DJ booth where MGMT’s Andrew VanWyngarden was responsible for filling the room with tunes. Well-heeled guests, including Lynn Yaeger, TK Wonder and Cipriana Quann, Timo Weiland, and Carly Cushnie explored the surrounding gardens, which were dotted with bar carts, plush couches, and plenty of Instagrammable surprises. At every turn, it seemed, there was something else to gasp at.
Some major musts of the evening included an artful temporary tattoo studio, as well as a turn on the Battery’s famous SeaGlass Carousel. You know, besides trying every 1920s-esque cocktail on the menu. Crafted by St-Germain Global Ambassador Camille Ralph Vidal, the throwback sips ranged from a classic St-Germain elderflower spritz to an absinthe-splashed Brin Vert.
The night culminated in a breathtaking performance by the Battery Dance Group, who took over the stage for an ethereal number that left attendees (us, especially) with goosebumps.
Finally, a taste of Tulum has arrived right in the heart of New York City! Prepare to be transported to a lush cabana with tropical craft cocktails and flavorful food from every cool kid’s favorite hideaway in Mexico.
James Gardner, owner of Gitano, just celebrated the hot spot’s debut in the Big Apple with an A-list opening bash coinciding with the summer solstice. Chloe Sevigny, Leigh Lezark, Alex Pettyfer, and more came out to toast the concrete jungle oasis, located in chic downtown hood Hudson Square. Contemporary Mexican cuisine (think: grilled avocado with almonds, ceviche verde with lychees) and thirst-quenching cocktails, such as the Jungle Fever and Gitano Margarita, greeted guests.
Taking over a 24,000-square-foot lot space, the NYC outpost boasts an ultra-tropical vibe, with rich greenery surrounding the bar, rustic beachy furniture, and a giant, wood-burning oven taking center stage. While you won’t actually find a beach at this location, the outdoor space is also set to house a cafe, CALÓ retail concept, curated art platform, meditation space, reflecting pool and educational urban farm. Click through for a look inside!
Over the weekend, the First Daughter joined her crew of New York socialites in celebrating the LGBTQ+ community in NYC, donning colorful sequins and plenty of glitter.
While she remained quiet on her own social media accounts, Tiff’s fashion designer bestie Andrew Warren snapped pics of her accompanying him everywhere from Soho House to the Top of the Standard, where they raged alongside the likes of EJ Johnson.
Surprising? Not really. This isn’t the first time Tiffany’s personal views seemed to clash with that of her father’s (or at least his party’s) – remember when she ‘liked’ Instagram photos of the March For Our Lives? Maybe someone should let her into these policy meetings…
You may have a whole drawer in your kitchen dedicated to wine stoppers, but let’s be honest – once you pop, you can’t stop. You know it, we know it, and the guy at your local liquor store knows it. So rather than face the shame of emptying out an entire bottle of bubbly in one sitting, just sit back, relax, and drink one glass!
One glass that happens to hold a bottle’s worth of booze, that is.
Of all of Amazon’s random gems, this giant champagne and/or prosecco flute is a serious game-changer. The 25-oz glass is almost a foot tall, with a diameter of 3.5 inches – i.e. the perfect size for celebrations (or quiet nights in with Netflix and Seamless – we don’t judge).
The best part? This jumbo-flute is only $12.99. Dangerous, yes, but also the perfect gift for bachelorettes, New Year’s hosts, and just about anyone who exists in the year 2018. An XXL toast to that!
Twenty thousand people are anxiously waiting to access this fashion platform.
Villageluxe, luxury fashion’s version of Airbnb, allows invite-only Luxers to borrow and lend pieces in their closet to fellow New Yorkers. It is redefining how people shop, and we couldn’t be more on board.
Cocktail night with the girls? Borrow an Alexander McQueen dress from the chic fashion editor down the street. Want to feel like Carrie Bradshaw and live out your Sex and the Cityfantasy? Borrow a pair of Manolo Blahnik heels and a vintage Chanel bag. And yes, you can claim a Hermes Birkin bag as your own for only $250 per week. With over $10 million in inventory listed, we’re pretty sure you can find some pieces that strike your fancy.
“Godmother of luxury e-commerce” Carmen Busquet (early investor in Net-a-Porter, Moda Operandi, Business of Fashion, and Farfetch) recently put $2 million toward the website and app, giving it the ultimate stamp of approval for future greatness.
We’ve chosen the best handbags New York closets have to offer at the moment. AND, Guest of a Guest has gotten an exclusive invite code for you to skip the waitlist. Because that’s how we do things around here. Enter summer18 on villageluxe.com for insider access. Thank us later.
Hermes Birkin Bag
According to its profile, this Birkin just had a trip to the spa and is feeling brand new. The 40CM Ebene Birkin in Togo Leather retails for $13,000, but can be borrowed for $250.
Carry this baby to your next Hamptons weekend for ensured glances of pure envy.
Here she paired it with a coat and boots, but it could easily go with a sundress and espadrilles.
Oh yeah, and while this bag retails for $2,000, you can borrow it for $40. STEAL.
J.W. Anderson Pierce Bag
Founder of Friend of a Friend and actual friend to your favorite super models, Olivia Perez is both a breath of fresh air and a quiet style star.
She plucked this J.W. Anderson bag (retail: $1700, borrow: $175) from the villageluxe platform, and it has never looked better.
Gucci Marmont
Cool girl and accessories aficionado Emily Kammeyer clutched this show-stopping red Gucci tote for a mere $200, a fraction of the retail price of $2,500. Steal a bit of her street style and borrow that bag.
Chanel Quilted Flap Bag
Ashley Nelson carries the most classic and iconic handbag: a quilted black Chanel Flap Bag. Normal retail: $4,600. Villageluxe borrow: $95.
Vintage Celine
It Girl Alyssa Coscarelli of @alyssainthecity carried this little, red vintage number from Celine – a true testament to the special nature of Villageluxe. Though the sticker price is $2,000, borrowing will only run you $50. Bargain.
The World Cup is not that different from a royal wedding. It’s a huge spectacle on a global scale in which the key figures’ minute interactions are hyper analyzed by experts and laymen alike. The tournament takes over television, social media, newspaper headlines, and water cooler conversation. Drama is concocted out of the thinnest storylines and coverage of the event becomes more dramatic than the event itself. There are heroes and villains, conspiracy and nobility. The cast is composed of international superstars and the results touch millions.
It’s high stakes, unscripted entertainment. You should give it a chance. Watch it while you’re #multimasking. It’s good to be informed about events taking place on the world stage. Why else would we subscribe to The Skimm (and never read it)? Two forty-five minute halves punctuated by a fifteen minute halftime is not a serious investment if you end up hating it. And wouldn’t it be lovely to discover you enjoy it?
If the idea of watching a match is absurd, imagine that your dad has an urge to understand the dynamic between celebrity hairstylist Jen Atkin and her clients. He’d start with the main players and in no time he’d be following @theouai and @kardashianreact. Follow begets and soon he’d know who Karla Welch is.
If you’re following the royal wedding, you wouldn’t limit yourself to official coverage. There are memes and tabloids. Celebrities sharing their own commentary on the wedding. Outfit critiques. Satire and comic strips. Throwbacks to previous royal weddings. Likewise for the World Cup—so you must follow it accordingly.
An obvious place to start is the famous players. CR7. Neymar. Sergio Ramos. They’re the ones in Nike and Adidas ads who have their own clothing lines and famous girlfriends. But you won’t get much more than carefully regulated updates from the team bus or plane or locker room—LV dopp kits in hand. Player profiles tend to be pretty dry because they’re under the scrutiny of their team’s PR—you don’t follow the official White House account if you want the good stuff, right?
Follow a smattering of the listed accounts and you’ll be baptized in the font of soccer. Soon you’ll be comparing formations as fluently as Drybar locations and commenting on the beauty of a Cruyff turn as if it were a perfectly coiffed Cosmo-Tai. Watch it like you mean it. It’s called the beautiful game for a reason.
In April we walked you through Bridal Fashion Week on Instagram and together we experienced a mix of emotions we haven’t felt since watching the first Sex and the City movie. Among our favorite dresses were creations by a couture house that’s been our front runner for years, Galia Lahav – there was a more subtle sexiness to this collection than the typically provocative pieces we’ve seen from them in the past. Ines di Santo was another favorite, with fairy tale silhouettes and layers of delicate draping. If there’s one thing brides-to-be should be paying attention to, it’s dreamy, detailed, and uber feminine designs featuring all the extra beading, appliques, and embroidery your heart could possibly desire.
Written By: Ani Hovhannisyan
Photos: Austin Nunes
Rings: David Yurman
Hair: Sheri Pinto
Assistant Stylist: Moon Iciana
Florals: August Sage and Violet
In addition to a great restaurant and a classic bar, one of the most effective lures a hotel can have is a fantastic spa.
The quality of a hotel’s spa isn’t necessarily measured by square footage or even luxury, but rather in the quiet, practiced skill of its therapists, the variety and caliber of its treatments and the elevated state of being in which guests emerge.
Relax, detox, indulge. These 10 hotel spas around the world deliver all that when you stay:
1. Thermal Spa, Grand Resort Bad Ragaz
(Bad Ragaz, Switzerland)
The views from the 267-room Grand Resort Bad Ragaz are worth the visit alone. It’s situated at the base of Pizol Mountain, a few hundred feet from Lake Constance, with the Alps in the distance.
But the real draw is its cutting edge-meets-holistic Wellbeing and Thermal Spa, the leading medical spa in Switzerland.
Its treatments cover everything from detox and stress relief to mobility issues and neuromuscular disorders. (There’s a staff of 70 doctors and specialists onsite.) Its 12 spa suites offer floor-to-ceiling windows, personal saunas, color-therapy baths and bathwater from nearby thermal springs. The spa is also home to the world’s first Swarovski glass-covered steam room.
2. Wellness Spa at COMO Shambhala Estate
(Bali, Indonesia)
In Bali, you can detox at your own pace. COMO Shambhala Estate Located in Begawan Village on the outskirts of Ubud, the Wellness Spa’s tranquil river valley setting is as healing as the treatments themselves. Treatments are rooted deeply in Ayurvedic practices and holistic well being. Before treatment, guests consult with a doctor to determine individual needs and develop customized therapies. Offerings include traditional Balinese healing, hydrotherapy and an extensive range of massage therapies. Long-term wellness programs — five days or more — are available, and favored by celebrities and elite athletes. Post-treatment, guests can choose from more than 20 kinds of antioxidant-packed juices, made on site at Glow restaurant, to further aid detoxification.
3. The Spa at Canyon Ranch
(Tucson, Arizona)
There’s a strong focus on fitness at The Spa at Canyon Ranch. Canyon Ranch There’s no spa in the United States quite like this 80,000-square-foot behemoth, located within a 150-acre ranch in the scenic foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains. There’s a strong focus on fitness here. Upon arrival, guests are encouraged to meet with a medical professional to develop a customized fitness program to complement treatments. The spa has four swimming pools, including one with underwater treadmills. It also famously offers a sleep lab, where guests’ sleep patterns are tracked and analyzed with sensors.
4. Thalasso del Forte at Forte Village Resort
(Sardinia, Italy)
With a thalassotherapy center and an Ayurvedic “park” focused on traditional Indian healing methods, the award-winning Thalasso del Forte is more than a hotel spa — it’s a full-blown temple of wellness. It offers 20 treatment rooms and 40 therapists, and is centered on five saline-dense pools ranging from 20-38 degrees Celsius. There’s a cutting-edge Selam, or “water gym,” said to target everything from osteoporosis to high blood pressure. Post-treatment, guests are encouraged to drink purifying infusions blended by a herbalist at the on-site health bar.
5. Remede Spa at St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort
(Rio Grande, Puerto Rico)
Editor’s note: The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort is closed for repairs after the 2017 hurricane season. As of mid-May 2018, it was scheduled to reopen in late October 2018, according to its website.
The Remede Spa at the St. Regis Bahia Beach is a fairly new player in the game (it opened in 2010), but its flawless service and beachfront location ranks it with the best of them. Performed in thatched-roof cabanas near the ocean (upon request), treatments are designed to individual needs using ingredients indigenous to the nearby El Yunque Rainforest. Standout treatments include the signature Queen Loiza wrap, which incorporates 24-karat gold dust to promote radiance and boost collagen production, and a deep-tissue massage featuring local Encanto rum. The spa also offers private yoga, pilates and meditation sessions.
6. Spa at Chiva Som International Health Resort
(Hua Hin, Thailand)
Chiva Som Spa has been open more than 20 years. Chiva Som International Health Resort This wellness resort on the Gulf of Thailand was founded in 1995, but it continues to be ahead of the game. The spa has added new fitness programs to its formidable list of offerings, and introduced a cutting-edge training chamber that’s said to increase the body’s ability to burn calories. In addition to having over 200 spa treatments to choose from, there’s a staff of doctors, nutritionists, acupuncturists, physiotherapists and naturopaths on site. The spa is renowned for its in-house Niranlada Medi-Spa, a separate spa that specializes in aesthetic treatments like microdermabrasion and noninvasive laser procedures.
7. Aman Spa at The Connaught
(London)
This urban wellness retreat — the first Aman Spa built outside an Aman resort — proves that even a bustling city hotel can be home to an award-winning spa. Locals and tourists compete for space in its sleek, ionized pool and a massage in one of the five low-lit treatment rooms. Treatments are as stylish as the spa. Therapists pair diverse techniques from across the world with organic ingredients like sage, cedar, lemongrass and clay based on your Ayurvedic “dosha” (mental and physical makeup). Being a popular business hotel, there’s a separate spa menu for fatigued travelers, aimed at reducing jet lag and stimulating circulation.
8. Spa at Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora
(French Polynesia)
The spa’s Kahaia suite has an outdoor terrace, soaking bath and views over Mount Otemanu. Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora. Built on the edge of a turquoise lagoon and flanked by tropical groves, the spa at Four Seasons Bora Bora couldn’t be more perfectly poised. But it doesn’t rely on looks alone to impress — its treatments are as luxurious as its surroundings. Scrubs are infused with Tahitian black pearls, masks are made from organic algae harvested from the ocean’s purest waters and therapists are internationally trained and Swiss efficient. While most treatments can be performed in guest bungalows, the spa’s spacious Kahaia suite, with its outdoor terrace, soaking bath and views over Mount Otemanu, is hard to beat. It even has space for kids — those aged 13-17 can choose from their own spa menu.
9. Spa at Rancho La Puerta
(Tecate, Mexico)
Located at the base of Mount Kuchumaa and founded in 1940, the spa at Rancho La Puerta isn’t just the oldest spa in North America — it remains one of the best. In large part, that can be attributed to the passion and vision of founder Deborah Szekely, who born in 1922 is still a living advertisement of its effectiveness. Here, treatments are more classic than cutting-edge — aromatherapy massages and herbal wraps rather than oxygen facials. Guests like it that way — about half at any given time are repeat customers, according to the spa. In addition to traditional treatments, the spa also offers chiropractic services, craniosacral therapy, acupuncture and meditation classes.
10. Spa at The Chedi Andermatt
(Andermatt, Switzerland)
The Chedi Andermatt: The views outside are even better. The Chedi Andermatt. Aesthetically, this spa newcomer has upped the ante with slick modernism, minimalist decor and soaring ceilings. Looks aside, it has 10 treatment rooms, a 100-foot indoor pool with a glass roof and a state of the art hydrotherapy zone with Finnish saunas, hot and cold plunge pools and salt steam baths. Its Asian-inspired treatments include a purifying ila amethyst wrap infused with jasmine and pearls, paired with a mini-crystal facial massage, said to stimulate the lymphatic system. The spa’s ultimate indulgence? Floor-to-ceiling windows that allow guests to bask in the surrounding alpine views while being taken care of.
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