The daguerreotype was a form of photograph invented by Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre in the 1830s, characterised by its distinctive decay in quality. It is created by bathing a silver-coated copper plate in iodine vapour, which creates a light-sensitive surface to be placed inside a camera. After exposure, it’s developed with mercury vapour. This method of photography was beloved by Mathew Brady, whose mysterious, albeit slightly haunted, images — among them being portraits of 18 US presidents — are housed in the Library of Congress. Read full article here
Technology
The First Solar-Powered Car Comes at a Hot Price
The Lightyear O is a revolutionary electric car powered by the sun. Developed by a Dutch startup, the four-door sedan has over 50 square feet of solar panels on its roof and hood, generating up to 43 miles of energy a day. With production now underway in Finland, the car does come with a hefty price tag at $262,000, but the company hopes to introduce a more affordable version, the Lightyear 2, by 2025. Read full article here