【推荐1】Pests destroy up to 40% of the world’s crops each year, causing $220 billion in economic losses, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Trapview is using the power of AI to help deal with the problem.

The Slovenian company has developed a device that traps and identifies pests, and acts as an advance warning system by predicting how they will spread.

”We’ve built the biggest database of pictures of insects in the world, which allows us to really use modern AI-based computing vision in the most proper way.” says Matej Štefančič, CEO of Trapview and parent company EFOS.

As climate change causes species to spread, and disturbs the migration patterns of highly destructive pests, such as desert locusts (蝗虫), Štefančič hopes to help farmers save their crops with quicker, smarter interventions.

Trapview’s devices use chemicals to attract pests, which are photographed by a camera inside. AI cross-references the images against Trapview’s database, and is able to identify over 60 species, such as the cotton bollworm (棉铃虫), which can damage lettuce and tomatoes. Once identified, the system incorporates location and weather data, maps out the likely impact of the insect and sends the findings to farmers via an app.

Trapview’s app is also able to calculate where and when best to use pesticides (杀虫剂). Štefančič says that Trapview can significantly reduce the use of chemical sprays and the need for farmers to visit their fields. By reducing the emissions generated by farmers driving to their fields, and those associated with the production and transportation of pesticides, the technology can also help the climate, he claims.

Trapview says it has sold over 7, 500 devices in more than 50 countries since it launched in 2012. It has focused on Italy, France, Spain, the United States and Brazil, targeting crops as varied as grapes, tomatoes, olives, tree fruits and cotton.

【推荐1】The following are descriptions of four art galleries (美术馆) and arts centres throughout the year.

Honey Bones Gallery is the top art gallery in Brunswick. It is unique because it is run by artists. Everyone is welcome to attend its events for free and enjoy some free drinks. What sets Honey Bones apart is that it treats every artist equally, regardless of their fame or popularity. The gallery is focused on working with new and inexperienced artists, providing them with guidance and instructions on how to create amazing exhibitions.

The museum is made up of three main buildings — Heide Ⅰ, Ⅱ, and Ⅲ, along with a new restaurant, gardens, and a sculpture park. Heide Ⅰ is the original farm owned by the Reeds, while Heide Ⅱ is a modernist architecture designed by David McGlashan in 1963. After the Reeds passed away in 1981, the museum and sculpture park were opened to the public.

This amazing modern building is the oldest and most popular art museum in Australia. It has gained its fame because of its varieties of excellent art collections, impressive visiting collections and a range of events that cater (迎合) to both locals and tourists. If you’re in the mood for something special, the Tea Room provides high tea, as well as cakes and light meals.

The centre is a place where people can express their culture, get involved in the community and it began around 1974. It welcomes everyone and has a special program for people with disabilities to participate in artistic activities. The centre also provides training programs in various forms of art if you want to become more involved in the art industry.

【推荐2】When I was in second grade, I discovered my parents’ 600 Film Polaroid camera. Somehow, there was still film inside of the camera and the camera worked! I spent that night taking pictures of my family and our pet dog. The next day, I convinced my parents to let me take it to class and took pictures of my friends. I instantly fell in love with capturing memories.

From then on, I would always ask my parents if I could borrow their digital camera during family vacations. I loved taking pictures of everything in sight. When I saw the pictures, I was filled with happiness from the moments I was able to record.

At high school, I took some photography courses furthering my curiosity for this art form. I learned about editing and the wonders of Photoshop. I learned what a great tool it is and I tried my best to practice as often as I could. When I was looking at universities, I was extremely interested in art schools because of photography. I knew deep in my heart that I wanted to do something more with photography. However, I also had a dream and passion to study business. I eventually decided to attend a university where I had the opportunity to study both fields.

During my first year of college, I decided to pursue a photography minor. My love for Business and Marketing helped me to turn my passion into a business. I created Angelica Carrete Photography in 2016 as a way to do more with my hobby. I challenged myself to grow as a creative every day and tried my best to stay motivated through the struggles that come with being a college student. I created this blog as a way to express my thoughts on the many different aspects of photography and to further challenge my creativity. I am so excited about this journey!

【推荐3】Stories behind Masterpieces

Great paintings inspire feelings of awe and wonder centuries after they were created. Often the inspiration for a masterpiece came from something very specific: a person the artist knew, a personal experience or a well-known story.

Mona Lisa

There have been many doubts about who the woman in the Mona Lisa is, due in part to her mysterious smile. Most scholars nowadays believe the woman as Lisa del Giocondo, the wife of a wealthy silk merchant (商人). Her husband most likely made the painting to celebrate the birth of their second son.

Whistler’s Mother       

James Abbott McNeill Whistler originally planned to use a model for this painting and to have her standing. The model did not show up for the appointment, so he asked his mother to stand in. Since she found standing for so long uncomfortable, he changed plans and painted her sitting. He originally titled the painting Arrangement in Grey and Black-Portrait of the Painter’s Mother, following the model used by composers to name pieces of music. But over time, people began to shorten the painting’s name, so now it is usually called Whistler’s Mother.

The Starry Night       

Vincent van Gogh was a talented artist who struggled with mental health problems throughout his short life. Arguably his most famous painting, The Starry Night describes a view from his window in an asylum(精神病院) where he stayed because of these mental health issues. Van Gogh painted 21 versions of this view. He may have been surprised to learn that The Starry Night was the one destined(注定) for fame. He wrote to his brother that he did not think this painting was one of his better works.

Portrait of Dr. Gachet

Van Gogh was eventually released from the asylum, so he needed a new place to stay. His brother connected him with Dr. Gachet, who took Van Gogh in. At first, the artist was skeptical of the doctor’s ability to help him because Dr. Gachet also struggled with mental illness. But just two days after expressing these doubts to his brother, Van Gogh wrote to his sister that he considered the doctor a true friend. Van Gogh finally painted Portrait of Dr. Gachet in honor of his friend.             

These paintings resonate even with people who do not know the stories behind them, but the stories make them even more meaningful.