When researchers let AI models run a simulated society, Claude was the safest, while Grok committed 180 crimes and went extinct within 4 days. www.hypertextual.org/p/9-things-i...
Elia Kabanov
@kabanov.bsky.social
Science writer making sense of cities, nature and technology. Easily distracted by local history. 📨 My newsletter: kabanov.org/hyper deptford.org
AI-edited bird photos are putting research at risk. Experts warn that altered images posted on birdwatching platforms are creating false sightings and undermining data used by scientists.
I built the first prototype of this visualisation in the ChatGPT iPad app and a browser-based editor because I was too lazy to install a proper tool. I can, and will, say plenty of bad things about gen AI. But it has certainly lowered the barriers to learning new tricks. elia.kabanov.org/kinema/
How Russia’s invasion of Ukraine transformed its box office
After Hollywood studios withdrew, Russian films’ share of box-office revenue rose from 18% to 73%.
elia.kabanov.org
I built the first prototype of this visualisation in the ChatGPT iPad app and a browser-based editor because I was too lazy to install a proper tool. I can, and will, say plenty of bad things about gen AI. But it has certainly lowered the barriers to learning new tricks. elia.kabanov.org/kinema/
How Russia’s invasion of Ukraine transformed its box office
After Hollywood studios withdrew, Russian films’ share of box-office revenue rose from 18% to 73%.
elia.kabanov.org
Will Andy Burnham run to replace Gianni Infantino as the FIFA president?
Reasons to love Deptford, part 10: The Mumford’s Mill building, one of the last visible reminders of the industrial past of Deptford Creek. Most survive only in names such as Brookmill Park and Copperas Street.
I’m obsessed with this project that compares “passport strength” and the ability to travel visa-free. My favourite part: collecting stamps as you check different passports with this tool. www.theguardian.com/world/ng-int...
Volunteered at the Creekside Centre’s low-tide walk for the first time. Learned a lot from Andy, who led the walk, and met lovely people. Will definitely do it again.
At least 28 US companies in sectors from cancer treatment to gold mining have changed their names since 2023 to add AI-related terms or signal a new focus on the technology. But AI rebrands are not yet at dotcom bubble levels, according to FT. giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
At 42, I have made my first interactive data visualisation. It took me a while, I know. It shows how Russia’s cinema market changed after the invasion of Ukraine and Hollywood’s withdrawal. Russian films’ share of box-office revenue rose to 73% in 2025. elia.kabanov.org/kinema/
To raise awareness of extreme heat, the Japan Meteorological Agency asked the public to name days when temperatures reach 40°C or higher. The winner was kokushobi, meaning “cruel heat day”. The term was used for the first time on 21 July. www.hypertextual.org/p/9-things-i...
Finishing our epic trek along the Thames from source to mouth, this weekend we’re walking from Greenhithe to Grain. The first 14 miles, to Cliffe, were full of contrasts: at times industrial, at times pastoral.
Folks, I finally made it to the top 100! Unless, of course, there are only 91 positions in the ranking. Subscribe to my newsletter and help me get to 90, or even 89! www.hypertextual.org
The oldest known ichthyosaur fossil collected by a human was picked up in Roman Britain around 1,800 years ago. Someone carried the spinal bone from the Kent coast to Colchester, where it was later dropped into a pit with pottery and a Roman toilet spoon. www.hypertextual.org/p/9-things-i...
Another brilliant World Cup analytics piece, this time from Reuters. Who wore the most ink? South Americans and veteran players top the World Cup tattoo rankings: www.reuters.com/graphics/SOC...
The only World Cup statistics I am truly interested in. Source: matyuschenko.github.io/fifa-wc2026-...
It took Elizabeth II almost 12 years to reach her fourth prime minister. Charles III did it in less than four.
Reasons to love Deptford, part 5: Sodo Pizza. It’s so good I sometimes dream of going there for a slice or ten. My personal favourite: Jon Bon Chovy pizza.
Private school grounds in England offer 41% more tree cover than state schools for cooling and shade in extreme temperatures, research has found. www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Reasons to love Deptford, part 17: Rich industrial heritage, reminders of which can sometimes be found literally under our feet.
Using the reflection on an iPad screen to show you the view from today’s “office window”. On my way to Cardiff.
Has any tech gone from “Wow, this is incredible” to “Oh no, it’s rubbish” as quickly as generative AI? I’m not sure. The first demos felt like magic. A few years later, we mostly see generic prose and awful AI summaries forced into every product. People are disappointed. 1/2
How to survive future heatwaves? Make a heat plan. In India, Ahmedabad introduced a heat action plan in 2013, combining forecasts, public alerts, and emergency preparations. The plan helps to avoid 1,190 deaths a year. www.hypertextual.org/p/7-ways-sci...
How to survive a future heatwave? Paint roofs white. If every roof in London had been reflective during the hot summer of 2018, average temperatures would have fallen by 0.8°C, and an estimated 249 heat-related deaths could have been avoided. www.hypertextual.org/p/7-ways-sci...
At 43, I am becoming a student again and starting an MA/MSc in Digital Journalism at Goldsmiths, University of London. Exciting stuff. If you want to support my education, please subscribe to my newsletter, Hypertextual.
Reasons to love Deptford, part 13: These guys have guarded St Nicholas churchyard for the past three centuries.
