A novel neural network for preserving cultural heritage via 3D image reconstruction

Researchers develop a novel neural network model that effectively reconstructs 3D digital images of relief-type cultural heritage objects from old photos

Ritsumeikan University

 

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The innovative multi-task neural network achieves simultaneous depth estimation and soft-edge detection in a single network, producing clear 3D reconstructed images of relief-type cultural heritage objects from a single old photo.

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Credit: Satoshi Tanaka from Ritsumeikan University

Relief carvings or relief sculptures are cultural heritage objects with figures that protrude from a background such as a wall or slab, creating a sense of depth. Commonly found at historical sites worldwide, these artworks are considered to be of immense historical and cultural value. Unfortunately, many such relief carvings at heritage sites across the world suffer from varying degrees of damage and deterioration over time. While modern 3D scanning and photogrammetry techniques can digitally preserve their current form, they cannot restore the original appearance of these carvings before damage. Additionally, traditional methods for restoring them are laborious, and require extensive manual intervention and specialized knowledge.

One promising method is 3D digital reconstruction of these reliefs from old photos, captured before the damage or deterioration. Unlike 3D sculptures or 2D paintings, reliefs have a shallow depth and are meant to be viewed from the front or either side. This means that a single image can effectively provide most of the information required for 3D digital reconstruction algorithms.

In a breakthrough, a multinational research team led by Professor Satoshi Tanaka from the College of Information Science and Engineering at Ritsumeikan University, Japan, along with Dr. Jiao Pan, from the University of Science and Technology Beijing, China, developed an innovative multi-task neural network for 3D reconstruction and digital preservation of reliefs using old photos. “Previously, we proposed a 3D reconstruction method for old reliefs based on monocular depth estimation from photos. Although we achieved 95% reconstruction accuracy, finer details such as human faces and decorations were still missing. This was due to the high compression of depth values in 2D relief images, making it difficult to extract depth variations along edges. Our new method tackles this by enhancing depth estimation, particularly along soft edges, using a novel edge-detection approach,” explains Prof. Tanaka.

The team also included Prof. Liang Li from Ritsumeikan University and Prof. Xiaojuan Ban from the University of Science and Technology Beijing. Their study was presented orally at the international conference ACM Multimedia 2024, held in Australia in October, and was published in MM ’24: Proceedings of the 32nd ACM International Conference on Multimedia on October 28, 2024.

The proposed multi-task neural network performs three tasks, namely semantic segmentation, depth estimation, and soft-edge detection, which work together to enhance the accuracy of 3D reconstruction. The core strength of the network lies in its depth estimation, achieved through a novel soft-edge detector and an edge matching module. Unlike the conventional binary edge classification, the soft-edge detector treats edge detection of relief data as a multi-classification task. Edges in relief images not only represent changes in brightness but also variations in curvature, known as “soft edges”. The soft-edge detector determines the degree of “softness” of these edges in relief images, enhancing depth estimation.

The edge matching module comprises two soft-edge detectors that extract multi-class soft-edge maps and a depth map, from an input relief photo. By matching and detecting differences between the two maps, the network focuses more on the soft-edge regions, resulting in more detailed depth estimation. Finally, the network optimizes a dynamic edge-enhanced loss function, which includes loss from all three tasks, and produces clear and detailed 3D images of reliefs.

The researchers applied this innovative model to reconstruct the hidden reliefs of Borobudur Temple. “The wall reliefs on the ground level of the Borobudur Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Indonesia, are covered by stone walls due to reinforcement work carried out during the Dutch colonial period and cannot be viewed. Our multi-task neural network successfully reconstructed these hidden sections of Borobudur’s ground-level reliefs from surviving old photographs. Through computer visualization and virtual reality, our research now allows virtual exploration of these unseen treasures,” says Prof. Tanaka, highlighting the potential impact of their work.

Discussing the future implications of these findings, he says, “Our technology holds vast potential for preserving and sharing cultural heritage. It opens new opportunities not only for archeologists but also for immersive virtual experiences through VR and metaverse technologies, preserving global heritage for future generations.”

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Reference

Title of original paper: Reconstructing, Understanding, and Analyzing Relief-Type Cultural Heritage from a Single Old Photo

Conference: ACM Multimedia 2024

DOI: 10.1145/3664647.3681612

 

About Ritsumeikan University, Japan

Ritsumeikan University is one of the most prestigious private universities in Japan. Its main campus is in Kyoto, where inspiring settings await researchers. With an unwavering objective to generate social symbiotic values and emergent talents, it aims to emerge as a next-generation research university. It will enhance researcher potential by providing support best suited to the needs of young and leading researchers, according to their career stage. Ritsumeikan University also endeavors to build a global research network as a “knowledge node” and disseminate achievements internationally, thereby contributing to the resolution of social/humanistic issues through interdisciplinary research and social implementation.

Website: http://en.ritsumei.ac.jp/

Ritsumeikan University Research Report: https://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/research/radiant/eng/

 

About Professor Satoshi Tanaka from Ritsumeikan University, Japan

Dr. Satoshi Tanaka is currently a Professor at the College of Information Science and Engineering at Ritsumeikan University. He obtained his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Waseda University in 1982 and 1987, respectively. In addition to being a fellow of the Ritsumeikan Advanced Research Academy (RARA), he is also a member of the Kinugasa Research Organization Art Research Center and the Research Organization of Science and Technology Research Center of Advanced ICT for Medical and Healthcare. He has over 1,700 publications with over 100,000 citations. His research interests include computer graphics, scientific visualization, digital humanities, and medical visualization.

 

About Dr. Jiao Pan from the University of Science and Technology Beijing

Dr. Jiao Pan is currently a lecturer at the School of Intelligence Science and Technology at the University of Science and Technology Beijing. She received her Ph.D. degree from Professor Satoshi Tanaka’s laboratory at Ritsumeikan University in 2022. The current study is based on research conducted by Dr. Pan during her Ph.D. on 3D reconstruction of buried Borobudur Temple reliefs.

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DOI

10.1145/3664647.3681612 

Method of Research

Imaging analysis

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

ICYMI

Researchers sound the alarm: European hedgehogs are now officially in dramatic decline in Europe

What was long suspected has now been confirmed by Danish and international researchers. The European hedgehog has now been categorised as “Near Threatened” on the IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species.

Aalborg University

 

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Danish hedgehog expert Sophie Lund Rasmussen, Aalborg University.

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Credit: Pia Burmøller Hansen

The European hedgehog – a valued and charming visitor to our gardens – is now officially in decline all over Europe. In one of today’s updates of the Red List for Europe, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) now categorises the European hedgehog as ‘Near Threatened’. According to the IUCN, there is a real risk of the hedgehog being pushed towards extinction unless something is done to reverse the downward trend.

 

Danish researcher behind assessment
The report forming the basis for the IUCN’s new Red List assessment and status change for European hedgehogs was co-authored by the internationally renowned Danish hedgehog expert Sophie Lund Rasmussen, an Adjunct Associate Professor at Aalborg University (AAU), and her colleague Abigail Gazzard, who is Programme Officer for the IUCN SSC Small Mammal Specialist Group.

 

- I find it extremely sad and deeply worrying that a species as cherished and popular as the European hedgehog is disappearing from the wild. It is a species that people really want to take care of, so what does it tell us about the state of nature in general, asks Sophie Lund Rasmussen, Adjunct Associate Professor at AAU.

 

In collaboration with co-assessor Abigail Gazzard, Sophie Lund Rasmussen has evaluated published research and reports and found evidence of a worrying decline in hedgehog populations in several European countries of more than 30 per cent over the past 10 years, for example in countries like Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, Germany and the UK. 

 

- I have dedicated my entire life and my research to protecting hedgehogs and to finding out why they are in such steep decline and how we can stop it. That is why I am honoured to have been appointed the expert responsible for collating and assessing the data needed to establish exactly how serious the situation is for the European hedgehog. This is the first step towards being able to launch initiatives that can prevent the hedgehogs from becoming extinct, says Sophie Lund Rasmussen, who also goes by the nickname ‘Dr Hedgehog’.

 

Sophie Lund Rasmussen has been invited to speak in the European Parliament in November at a session dedicated to the decline of the hedgehog population and what the EU and its member states can do to stop this decline.

 

Several threats to hedgehogs
The decline in the hedgehog population is caused by a variety of factors, all of which are man-made. These include traffic, which kills an estimated one-third of the hedgehog population every year. Other reasons include intensified agricultural practices and housing developments , which are destroying the hedgehogs’ natural habitats. Also, hedgehogs suffer a lot of accidents in our gardens. For example, Sophie Lund Rasmussen’s research discovered the world’s oldest hedgehog, Thorvald, who reached the age of 16 years, and died due to wounds inflicted by a dog attack. Research also shows that some models of robotic lawn mowers can pose a danger to hedgehogs. 

 

- As their natural habitats are destroyed, hedgehogs are increasing inhabiting residential gardens. Therefore, the battle to save the hedgehogs will take place in our own backyards. By teaching garden owners how to make their gardens hedgehog-friendly, we can improve the living conditions and survival chances for these charismatic and highly beneficial animals, says Sophie Lund Rasmussen.

 

Denmark lacks data
Unfortunately, we lack data documenting the decline in Denmark, but to fill this data gap, hedgehog researcher Sophie Lund Rasmussen is running the ‘Danmarks Pindsvin’ conservation campaign with the WWF Denmark, asking Danes to help map the hedgehog population in Denmark.

 

Facts about IUCN
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), is an independent international organisation whose purpose is to promote the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. The IUCN was established in 1948 and is headquartered in the Swiss city of Gland.

 

Seven categories on the IUCN Red List:

• Extinct
• Extinct in the Wild
• Critically Endangered
• Endangered
• Vulnerable
• Near Threatened
• Least Concerned

Danish hedgehog expert Sophie Lund Rasmussen. 

Credit

Photo: Troels Arbøll.

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Journal

Nature

DOI

10.1038/d41586-024-03516-w 

Method of Research

Commentary/editorial

Subject of Research

Animals

Article Title

European hedgehog’s ‘near threatened’ listing raises concerns for an iconic species

 

New research reveals delayed evolutionary origin of Asteriidae sea stars

PeerJ

 

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Artificial cast of Germanasterias amplipapularia, holotype Nr. 18869a–b in abactinal view (A), and actinal view (B). (C) Details of the disc and arm in abactinal view. (D) Detail of the arms and oral frame in actinal view.

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Credit: DOI: 10.7717/peerj.18169/fig-7

A  study published in PeerJ Life and Environment has reshaped our understanding of the evolutionary history of sea stars, particularly the family Asteriidae. The study, titled Phylogenetic and taxonomic revisions of Jurassic sea stars support a delayed evolutionary origin of the Asteriidae, introduces new findings that challenge longstanding assumptions about the evolutionary timeline of these marine invertebrates.

Sea stars of the superorder Forcipulatacea, comprising approximately 400 species, are integral to marine ecosystems. Over the past century, scientists have debated the systematics of this group, leading to varying classifications. This new research reassesses six well-preserved Jurassic sea star fossils and reveals that none of these Jurassic taxa belong to modern families like Asteriidae. Instead, they represent stem-forcipulatids, suggesting that Asteriidae likely originated later in the Late Cretaceous, rather than the Jurassic, as previously thought.

Key Findings:

• Comprehensive Phylogenetic Reassessment: The study employed cutting-edge phylogenetic methods to analyses 42 fossil and extant sea star species, creating the largest phylogenetic dataset for Forcipulatacea to date. This comprehensive matrix of 120 morphological traits provided a fresh perspective on the evolution of this group.
• Discovery of New Genera: Researchers described two new Jurassic sea star genera, Forbesasterias and Marbleaster, which contribute to our understanding of early sea star diversity and morphology.
• Delayed Origin of Asteriidae: The research concludes that Asteriidae, the largest family within Forcipulatacea, and the third largest family of sea stars, likely evolved during the Late Cretaceous, up to100 million of years after the Jurassic species analyzed in this study. This contradicts previous assumptions that placed the origin of Asteriidae in the Triassic or Early Jurassic.
• Early Diversity of Forcipulatacea: The findings also suggest that Forcipulatacea was more diverse in its early evolutionary stages than previously believed, providing new insights into the adaptive radiation of these species.

Methodology:

The research utilized a Bayesian tip-dating analysis incorporating the fossilized birth-death process to estimate evolutionary relationships and timelines. This method enabled the time calibration of the phylogenetic tree, resulting in a more accurate representation of the evolutionary history of the group.

Lead author Dr. Marine Fau noted, “Our study reshapes how we think about the evolutionary trajectory of one of the most significant clades of sea stars. The delayed origin of Asteriidae has major implications for understanding the diversification of marine species in the Mesozoic era.”

Implications for Marine Biology:

The findings from this research have wide-ranging implications for the field of marine biology, especially for paleontologists and evolutionary biologists. By identifying these Jurassic sea stars as stem-forcipulatids, the study pushes back the timeline for the evolution of modern sea star families and opens new avenues for future research into how these ancient species adapted to their environments.

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Journal

PeerJ

DOI

10.7717/peerj.18169 

Method of Research

Observational study

Article Title

Phylogenetic and taxonomic revisions of Jurassic sea stars support a delayed evolutionary origin of the Asteriidae

 

A paper-aluminum combo for strong, sustainable packaging

American Chemical Society

 

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By replacing plastic with paper, researchers have created a sustainable aluminum-backed packaging material prototype, shown here, that doesn’t compromise on performance.

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Credit: Hamed Zarei

Takeout containers get your favorite noodles from the restaurant to your dining table (or couch) without incident, but they are nearly impossible to recycle if they are made from foil-lined plastics. Research published in ACS Omega suggests that replacing the plastic layer with paper could create a more sustainable packaging material. The researchers used mechanical demonstrations and computer simulations to identify paper-aluminum laminate designs that won’t compromise on performance.

Protective packaging, like containers made from polyethylene and aluminum laminates, combines the strength and durability of plastic with the moisture- and light-blocking properties of aluminum foil. While these materials are effective, there’s been a shift toward consumers desiring less plastic and more environmentally friendly materials in the packaging that comes into their homes. To create such an option for protective packaging without sacrificing functionality, Hamed Zarei and colleagues designed a variety of paper-aluminum laminates and compared their strength and durability to common polyethylene-aluminum packaging.

First, Zarei’s team manufactured two paper-aluminum laminates:

• A machine-direction (MD) laminate made from aluminum and paper with fibers that run parallel to the direction of machine loading (with the grain).
• A cross-direction (CD) laminate made from aluminum and paper with fibers that run perpendicular to the direction of machine loading (against the grain).

The researchers then compared the tensile strength of MD and CD paper-aluminum laminates to polyethylene-aluminum laminate by stretching samples of each material with gradually increasing force on laboratory machines. They also created a digital model, verified with their tensile strength data, that could replicate these laminate stretching tests and reliably predict the material’s response under different scenarios.

In tensile strength tests, the polyethylene-aluminum laminate could be stretched further without breaking than both paper-aluminum laminates. And of the two paper-containing materials, the one made from MD paper could be stretched further but formed cracks along the paper’s grain faster than the CD paper. By running simulations of the MD, CD and a mixed MD/CD paper on their digital model, the researchers predicted that an aluminum film paired with a paper layer made from both MD and CD fibers would result in mechanical properties nearly identical to conventional polyethylene-aluminum laminate.

While they haven’t yet created the MD/CD paper-aluminum laminate in the lab, the researchers say this study provides packaging engineers with information to create sustainable materials that could perform like conventional options.   

The authors acknowledge funding from the Tuscany Region Development and Cohesion Fund.

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The American Chemical Society (ACS) is a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. ACS’ mission is to advance the broader chemistry enterprise and its practitioners for the benefit of Earth and all its people. The Society is a global leader in promoting excellence in science education and providing access to chemistry-related information and research through its multiple research solutions, peer-reviewed journals, scientific conferences, e-books and weekly news periodical Chemical & Engineering News. ACS journals are among the most cited, most trusted and most read within the scientific literature; however, ACS itself does not conduct chemical research. As a leader in scientific information solutions, its CAS division partners with global innovators to accelerate breakthroughs by curating, connecting and analyzing the world’s scientific knowledge. ACS’ main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.

Registered journalists can subscribe to the ACS journalist news portal on EurekAlert! to access embargoed and public science press releases. For media inquiries, contact newsroom@acs.org.

Note: ACS does not conduct research but publishes and publicizes peer-reviewed scientific studies.

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Journal

ACS Omega

DOI

10.1021/acsomega.4c05798 

Article Title

“Digital Twin Model of Paper−Aluminum Laminates for Sustainable Packaging”

 

How COVID-19 transformed family dinners

Greater frequency resulted in more positive interactions, study says

American Psychological Association

WASHINGTON — While the lockdowns associated with the COVID-19 pandemic led many families to eat more meals at home, they had an additional benefit: an increase in the quality of family time during those dinners, according to research published by the American Psychological Association. 

The study, published in the journal Couple and Family Psychology: Research and Practice, found that families who ate together more often during the pandemic also had more positive interactions, shared news and information, and even embraced technology such as videoconferencing to connect with distant family members.

"The predominance of past research on family dinners has focused on frequency as the key predictor of benefits for children and adolescents," said lead author Anne Fishel, PhD, a clinician and researcher in family therapy at Massachusetts General Hospital. "This study highlights the importance of examining both frequency and quality to understand the full picture of how shared meals can impact families."

Researchers examined data from a survey of 517 ethnically and socioeconomically diverse parents across the United States, administered in May 2021. Their aim was to investigate changes in family dinner frequency and quality during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Participants were asked about dinner frequency, quality and post-pandemic expectations. The survey included questions about positive and negative interactions, family support and incorporation of the outside world. They were asked questions such as, “During the pandemic, did all or most of the people living in your home eat dinner together less, about the same, or more than compared to before the pandemic?” Participants then provided answers ranging on a scale of 1-5, 1 being “much less” and 5 being “much more.”

Over 60% of respondents reported eating dinner together more often during the pandemic compared with pre-pandemic times. There was also a significant increase in positive interactions (e.g, expressing gratitude, laughing or feeling connected) during family meals.
 
“Specifically, 56% said they increased talking about their days during dinner, 60% said they increased talking about their identity as a family, 60% said they increased expressing gratitude, 67% said they increased laughing together and 59% said they felt more connected to each other around the dinner table,” said Fishel. This positive association was evident across income levels, education, age, gender and race.

The pandemic introduced new aspects to family dinners, including remote dining with extended family members and more discussions about current events, according to Fishel. Many families turned to videoconferencing to connect with extended family, potentially strengthening a sense of belonging to a larger family unit. Most parents who increased the use of technology for remote dinners during the pandemic reported that they plan to continue this practice as the pandemic subsides. 

The researchers also found an increase in families incorporating news and information from the outside world into their dinner conversations, potentially offering a safe space for children to discuss anxieties and questions with their parents.

Overall, this study suggests that the increased frequency of family dinners during the pandemic may have had lasting positive effects on family dynamics, according to Fishel. 

“The pandemic changed many aspects of our lives, some for the better. Even though parents did not purposely sign up to have more shared mealtimes, increases in family dinners were largely linked with improvements in the quality of pandemic-era family dinners,” she said. 

The findings also highlight the potential benefits of using technology to connect with extended family and incorporating current events into dinner conversations. 

“The continued use of remote technology to connect with those not physically present may bring ongoing opportunities for family bonding and children's feeling a sense of belonging to a larger unit, which we know is protective for their well-being,” said Fishel.

ARTICLE: “How COVID-19 expanded the family dinner table: Greater frequency linked with improved quality and new ways of eating together,” by Anne Fishel, PhD, and Melinda I. Morrill, PhD, Massachusetts General Hospital. Couple and Family Psychology: Research and Practice, published online Oct. 31.

CONTACT: Dr. Fishel can be reached at afishel@mgh.harvard.edu.

The American Psychological Association, in Washington, D.C., is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States. APA’s membership includes over 157,000 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. Through its divisions in 54 subfields of psychology and affiliations with 60 state, territorial and Canadian provincial associations, APA works to advance the creation, communication and application of psychological knowledge to benefit society and improve lives.

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Journal

Couple and Family Psychology Research and Practice

Not going out is the “new normal” post-Covid, say experts

Responses from 34,000 people across the US suggests staying home is the new ‘going out’

Taylor & Francis Group

Compared with just before the Covid-19 pandemic, people are spending nearly an hour less a day doing activities outside the home, behaviour that researchers say is a lasting consequence of the pandemic.

A new study published in the peer-reviewed Journal of the American Planning Association reveals an overall drop since 2019 of about 51 minutes in the daily time spent on out-of-home activities, plus an almost 12-minute reduction in time spent on daily travel such as driving or taking public transportation.

The analysis, based on a survey of 34,000 Americans, is the first to include a look at out-of-home versus in-home time post-pandemic. The authors from Clemson University and UCLA have documented a trend toward less and less out-of-home time stretching back to at least 2003, but Covid and its aftermath have dramatically increased this shift into the home.

This shift towards “going nowhere fast” promises to affect people and society on many levels, from psychology to sociology to economics. The authors of this paper, who are urban planners, argue that less leaving home calls for a rethink of many planning and transport policies.

Their recommendations include repurposing office and retail real estate given the increase in working and shopping from home. Restrictions on converting commercial buildings to housing should also be relaxed, and curb space for delivery vehicles increased given the rise in online shopping.

“In a world where cities cannot rely on captive office workers and must work to attract residents, workers, and customers, local officials might seek to invest more heavily in their remaining strengths,” says lead author Eric A. Morris, Professor of City and Regional Planning at Clemson University.

“These include opportunities for recreation, entertainment, culture, arts, and more. Central cities might shift toward becoming centers of consumption more than production.”

For example, city centers might capitalize on their strengths by creating the dense, multiunit housing often favored by younger residents and others who prefer more urban lifestyles. Such changes might also benefit lower-income households and society more generally by lowering both housing and transportation costs.

In terms of transportation, “policy might focus less on expensive and invasive investments and policies to accommodate waxing peak period travel demand…and more on increasing pedestrian and cyclist safety and serving the basic mobility needs of disadvantaged travelers.”

Although it may involve change and some dislocation, going nowhere faster may also have important benefits, such as less time spent traveling, which may reduce fuel use and emissions and save people valuable time and money. On the other hand, more cocooning in the home might have downsides such as social isolation.

The authors find that improvements in information technology, and the fact that individuals learned to use this technology in new ways during the pandemic, was one of the key drivers behind this trend.

The researchers looked at both work and leisure habits using data from the American Time Use Survey (ATUS), a yearly review of how Americans spend their time. Running since 2003, the ATUS is conducted by the United States Census Bureau and sponsored by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data were aggregated by the ATUS-X site run by the Universities of Minnesota and Maryland.

The authors – who also include Professor Brian D. Taylor and Samuel Speroni from UCLA’s Institute of Transportation Studies – assessed the years before, during, and after the pandemic, namely 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023. The year 2020 was excluded because it was not completely affected by the pandemic and because data gathering was halted at the height of the outbreak. The study examined the behavior of adults who were aged 17 and over.

The authors grouped time use into 16 activities in the home such as sleep, exercise, work, and using information technology, plus 12 out-of-home activities including arts and sporting events, shopping, work, and religious observance. Separately, they analyzed travel by car, walking, and public transport (though they exclude air travel).

Results showed the time spent on 8 of the 12 out-of-home activities fell from 2019 to 2021, while 11 of the 16 in-home activities rose.  The average time for out-of-home activities fell from 334 minutes per day in 2019 to 271 in 2021 – roughly from 5.5 hours per day out-of-home to 4.5 hours. The authors note that work from home explains part of this trend, but there were large diminutions in other out-of-home time uses as well.

A similar trend was observed for travel, with participants spending an estimated 13 fewer minutes a day in cars and other forms of transport. The authors say this downward trend could not be attributed solely to the reductions in the daily commute during Covid.  

Further, time spent away from home time has only modestly recovered post-pandemic, rebounding by just 11 minutes from 2021 to 2023, from 270 minutes to 281. This was still a reduction of 53 minutes in time away from home since 2019. All out-of-home time, all forms of travel, and seven out-of-home activities remained notably lower in 2023 than in 2019, while eight in-home activities remained higher.

Also, the trend toward staying home seems to be holding post-pandemic, as 2023 out-of-home time was virtually unchanged from 2022.

Other results of note include the fact more shopping was carried out online but this did not amount to a large increase in in-home shopping time, a finding the authors propose is due to online shopping not taking nearly as long as in-person shopping. Perhaps surprisingly, television watching did not increase apart from in the early peaks of the pandemic. More sports and exercise activities are now being done at home, most likely because people bought in-home gym equipment.

The authors say this ‘retreat into the home’ had been ongoing for at least 16 years leading up to the pandemic. This is based on evidence from an earlier study they carried out which showed out-of-home activity among adults decreased by about 1.8 minutes a day per year from 2003 to 2019. Travel over the same period dropped by about 30 seconds a day per year. But the drops of both since the pandemic were much greater than would be suggested by the prior trend. Improving information and communications technology may explain part of the story, but other trends such as a rapid increase in the amount of time Americans are spending sleeping warrant further study as well, the authors conclude.

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Journal

Journal of the American Planning Association

DOI

10.1080/01944363.2024.2385327 

Article Title

Going Nowhere Faster: Did the Covid-19 Pandemic Accelerate the Trend Toward Staying Home

Is Germany drawing the curtain on nudism?

Brenda Haas

DW

The German Association for Free Body Culture turns 75 this year but has seen dwindling membership and changing attitudes towards a textile-free lifestyle.

'Free body culture' has long been part of the German cultural fabric

Image: Bernd_Wüstneck/ZB/picture-alliance


Here's the naked truth: Generally, Germans are unfazed by bare bodies.

Some of the country's lakes, parks and beaches are sectioned off for naturists; those who prefer keeping their threads on are usually unruffled when sharing spaces with those who don't.

This nonchalance could be attributed to one of the country's most iconic (and sometimes misunderstood) movements: Freikörperkultur (FKK), or free body culture.

As the Deutscher Verband für Freikörperkultur (DFK) — the umbrella body representing the interests of organized supporters of FKK — celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, we peel back the layers of this movement's evolution in Germany and its role in the country's cultural fabric.

Bare facts: Germany's nudism movement

Germans find it easier to strip naked on a beach or in a sauna than people from many other countries. A brief history of the country's nudism movement, known as FKK.

Image: picture-alliance/dpa/B. Pedersen

A 'free body': Germany's nudist culture

It's a part of German culture, just like techno music and "Spargelzeit," the asparagus season. Even though the practice of Freikörperkultur (FKK), which translates as "free body culture," is dwindling among the younger generations of Germans, you'll still find lots of FKK areas on beaches as well as nude culture enthusiasts in spas — and even parks.

Imago/D. Matthes

The healthy hobby

By the late 19th century, many Germans believed it was healthy to strip off and bathe "textile free" at one of the country's many lakes. At the time there was a move away from polluted industrialized cities to nature in pursuit of good health. Some people also enjoyed hiking or doing exercise in the nude. This picture dates back to 1933 and shows two women at Lake Chiemsee in Bavaria.

A culture promoted in film

Increasing health through free movement in nature was an ethos featured in the 1925 film Wege zu Kraft und Schönheit (Ways to Strength and Beauty). Starring controversial German actor and filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl, it was one of the country's most popular educational films of the silent era. It contained scenes of physical exercise such as dance and bathing.


FKK and the Nazis

Leni Riefenstahl later became Hitler's favorite filmmaker, and glorified the Aryan athletic physique in her two-part film Olympia, based on the 1936 Olympic Games held in Berlin. While the Nazis initially banned FKK, nude swimming was once again allowed in 1942, if done discreetly in remote areas. Many promoters of the FKK movement were however leftists


A strong tradition in the former GDR

While FKK in the GDR was initially promoted by avant-gardists in the 1950s, it became widespread and tolerated by the 70s. As life in the GDR was so tightly controlled in other ways, bathing nude could be seen as a rare liberty — and people made full use of it. In this picture from 1986, dozens of nudists bask in the sun at Müggelsee, a lake in the suburbs of East Berlin


FKK on the Baltic coast



FKK was also particularly strong on Baltic Sea beaches. However, the practice didn't spread to the Polish side of the coast. After Poland joined the EU, it became easier to walk from one country to the other's beach, but nudism was a cause of tensions between the localities on both sides of the German-Polish border.Image: Imago/argum/C. Lehsten


Getting into the FKK spirit

At this beach in Leipzig in 1980, nudists hang out together on a hot day. The FKK spirit is about celebrating the body and being free from clothes. According to FKK enthusiasts, the practice is not connected to sex; it's about freeing yourself from social constraints. And it's certainly one way to make sure that you don't get any pesky tan lines from wearing a swimsuit.


Not only in the east: Munich's designated spots

While public nudity is generally forbidden in Munich, there are various specific areas where FKK is allowed, for example in the English Garden and along the Isar River, including the Flaucher beach area, a popular destination for nudists, as this picture on a hot day from 2002 shows. FKK areas usually have a clear sign, and people chilling there do not want to be seen as a tourist attraction.


Berlin's park life

The practice is not as strong as it used to be, but some parks still have a certain FKK tradition — so you might come across more flesh than you were expecting on an afternoon walk. While public nudity is illegal, sunbathing naked is tolerated in different Berlin parks, such as the Mauerpark, Volkspark Friedrichshain (picture, from 1999) and Tiergarten — as long as it's not disturbing anyone.


A passion for millions of Germans

Angela Merkel was famously taking a sauna the night the Berlin Wall came down; it was her Thursday ritual. Figures show that around 30 million people in Germany visit the country's 2,300 saunas regularly. The majority of spas are open to all genders and require users to be textile-free.Image: picture-alliance/dpa/P. Pleul


Bare all in the wild

It may not be for everyone, but if you really want to get in touch with nature you could try going for a hike — au naturel. Deep in Germany's Harz mountain region is where you'll find an 18-kilometer naked hiking route. Stretching from the town of Dankerode to the Wippertal reservoir and back, the route welcomes FKK aficionados. Just watch out for nettles

To be clear, no law in Germany expressly prohibits (non-sexual) nudity.

Nakedness on private grounds is considered legal, even if visible from outside. The same applies to naked sunbathing, unless otherwise stated by local laws.

FKK's roots date back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries when Germany was abuzz with social reform movements aiming to redress industrialization's impact on people's health.

At the time, living in cramped, polluted cities was wreaking havoc on their physical and mental well-being.

The movement's proponents believed that enjoying the feeling of sun, air and water on bare skin amidst a community of like-minded individuals was beneficial, fostering not only a healthy body image but helping heal an assortment of maladies that included TB, rickets, and seasonal affective disorder — now known as SAD.

It was also a form of rebellion against the rigid moral attitudes of the 19th century.

The first FKK groups emerged in the 1890s, advocating for nude sunbathing as a healthy — albeit non-sexualized — natural activity.

In 1920, Germany established its first official nude beach on the island of Sylt. A few years later, Adolf Koch founded the Berlin School of Nudism that, amongst others, encouraged mixed-gender open-air exercises. The school hosted the first international nudity congress in 1929.

Clearly demarcated spaces for 'textiles-on or off' spaces on a beachImage: Axel Heimken/dpa/picture alliance

Thumbing noses at authority

During the Nazi era, nudism faced mixed fortunes due to moral restrictions.

In 1933, laws limited mixed-sex nudism, citing concerns over Weimar-era immorality.

Furthermore, nudity was linked to Marxism and homosexuality — despite naturism reportedly being popular among some SS members. In 1942, some rules were relaxed but still bore Nazi biases, especially against Jews and other marginalized groups.

After World War II, Germany's division into East and West created two environments for FKK.

For many East Germans, going nude in public was a statement of individual liberty in an otherwise tightly controlled society. Even though East Germany's GDR leadership initially tried to suppress FKK for fear it would undermine socialist ideals, they eventually conceded.

Meanwhile, the DFK or the Association for Free Body Culture was founded in the West German city of Kassel in 1949. Today, it is part of the German Olympic Sport Federation, and is the largest member of the International Naturist Federation.

There's generally a live-and-let-live attitude in Germany towards a clothing-optional lifestyleImage: Hartmut Schwarzbach/DUMONT Bildarchiv/picture-alliance

Loving your lumps and bumps

So, what does one actually do at an FKK club besides being in the buff? Basically, the same things you'd do at any other social gathering — minus clothes and minus anything sexual.

Activities range from swimming and sunbathing to team sports like volleyball. There are also designated nude hiking trails in Germany that allow naturists to commune with, well, nature.

Besides affording the body better air circulation and optimum Vitamin D absorption, FKK proponents say that the lifestyle encourages people to appreciate their bodies as they are — complete with all the lumps, bumps, and quirks that come with being human.

Furthermore, stripped of designer wear or flashy accessories, nudity is a great equalizer.

A 2017 study published in The Journal of Happiness Studies states that spending time naked with others can lead to improved body image, greater self-esteem, and higher levels of life satisfaction.

The lead researcher, Dr Keon West from Goldsmiths, University City of London, noted that "naturist environments help people see real, unfiltered bodies, which reduces anxiety around appearance"​

Social media has also put off younger people from naturism for fear of falling short of the perfect 'curated' bodyImage: Matej Kastelic/Zoonar/picture alliance

Pressure to be perfect

Paradoxically, while platforms like Instagram and TikTok celebrate the human body in highly curated, filtered ways, they are believed to have contributed to a decline in FKK membership.

"The rise of the cult of the perfect body on TikTok or Instagram is increasing the pressure to not want to undress," DFK's President Alfred Sigloch told the press in June.

In fact, the DFK had to call off some plans to celebrate its 75th anniversary owing to a lack of interest. Sigloch added that DFK membership has slumped from 65,000 people 25 years ago to fewer than 34,000 now, with many remaining members said to be losing interest.

Furthermore, some current FKK practioners are also disuaded by digital technology that could secretly photograph them and post them online without consent.

Sigloch also partly blamed the rising popularity of glamping for the closing down of FKK-dedicated holiday sites. Campsite owners earn better from campers willing to pay for a more luxurious outdoor experience than simpler naturists.

The DFK president noted however that many nudist clubs had seen an uptake of interest during the COVID crisis. He attributed this, among other factors, "to the fact that the pandemic has encouraged many people to seek alternative and healthy outdoor leisure activities.”

But the fact remains that clubs are struggling to retain or attract new members.

Sigloch intends to revive the movement. "We will fight to keep onboard every single naked person who wants to be with us," he said.

"FKK is an ancient culture that cannot and will not die."


Edited by: Stuart Braun

Brenda Haas Writer and editor for DW Culture

 KULTURKAMPF DEFEATED DEMS

 THEY FAILED TO ADDRESS MAGA ATTACKS ON TRANS  (LGBTQ+) RIGHTS

U.S., South Korea agree to greater cooperation on civil nuclear energy

WHILE DENYING THE NORTH THE SAME RIGHT TO CIVIL NUCLEAR ENERGY

By UPI Staff


According to one trade organization, South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol has set a target for nuclear energy to provide a minimum of 30% of electricity to the nation by 2030. 

File Photo by Nathan Howard/UPI | License Photo

Nov. 5 (UPI) -- Earlier this month, the United States and the Republic of Korea reached an agreement on greater cooperation between the two nation's civil nuclear energy industries.

On Nov. 1, the two nations reached a so-called "memorandum of understanding" on topics affecting nuclear exports and cooperation, according to a statement released from the U.S. Department of Energy on Monday.

In that statement, U.S. and Republic of Korea officials reaffirmed their mutual commitment to promoting peaceful nuclear energy while "upholding the highest standards of nonproliferation, safety, safeguards and security.

"Toward this end, the parties strengthened their administration of export controls on civil nuclear technology," officials said in the statement.

Though most of today's recent news about nuclear topics on the Korean peninsula seemingly involve North Korea's expansion of its nuclear weaponry capabilities, the south's use and promotion of nuclear energy for civil and peaceful needs has been noteworthy.

South Korea is one of the world's most prominent nuclear-reliant nations, according to the World Nuclear Association, an international pro-nuclear organization that tracks such information. Twenty-six reactors provide about one-third of South Korea's electricity, the organization says, adding that President Yoon Suk Yeol set a target for nuclear energy to provide a minimum of 30% of electricity to the nation by 2030.

Additionally and according to the International Trade Association, a private group that promotes U.S. exports, South Korea currently is seeking to transform its "energy-generation mix" by adopting an expanded use of nuclear power as a way to also increase the source of carbon free energy in its overall energy mix from the current 40% to 70.2% by 2038.

That seemed to be echoed in the release this week in which DOE officials said the commitments made by the United States and the ROK "will provide a springboard for the expansion of our bilateral work in combatting climate change, accelerating global energy transitions, and assuring critical supply chains while creating billions of dollars worth of new economic opportunities and the creation or maintenance of tens of thousands of manufacturing jobs for both of our industries."

The memorandum will now face a final review by both U.S. and ROK officials.