ROCK

A developer has built a functional alternative to an IKEA product using roughly $6 of parts centered on an ESP32 microcontroller, and released the design and code openly. The project is drawing large attention online, with commenters praising the low cost, the DIY instructions, and the decision to make the whole build freely available rather than commercializing it.

Australian rock band Powderfinger, who disbanded in 2010, have set off speculation about a possible reunion after dropping hints that fans interpret as a comeback signal. The buzz has pushed the band's name into Australian search trends, with fans discussing which members might be involved and whether any live dates could follow.

A BlackRock executive, Jacobs, said Bitcoin is becoming a portfolio allocation, signaling that the asset is moving from speculative bet to a standard component of institutional investment portfolios. The comment from one of the world's largest asset managers is drawing attention across crypto and traditional finance, with investors weighing what broader Bitcoin adoption by major managers means for markets.

R&B singer Freddie Jackson is being widely remembered, with USA Today honouring his soulful voice and timeless contributions to the genre. The American artist, known for 1980s hits like 'Rock Me Tonight' and 'You Are My Lady', is trending across search charts in the US, UK, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands and Australia as fans share tributes and reflections on his career.

A landscape photograph titled 'Ocean Dream' shows a wave splashing against a dark rock with a wide view over the ocean, shot with a long exposure that smooths the water and emphasizes the moody sky. It is being shared among nature and fine-art photography fans, drawing likes for its dramatic seascape atmosphere.

A new Haryanvi-language film titled Licence, starring Masoom Sharma alongside Rakhi, Yashpal Sharma and KD Desi Rock, has been released as a full movie and is drawing a massive online audience. Viewers are reacting strongly to the 2026 regional production, with engagement running into the millions shortly after release.

A hard rock band from Munich has launched its new website at fierce.rocks, calling it small but fine. The site now hosts the band's first demo songs, giving listeners a first impression of their sound. The band is inviting people to check out the page and follow their early material.

The Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, Montana, held a celebration for Indigenous Peoples' Day featuring Indigenous art, cultural programming and fashion. The event, highlighted by Montana State University, showcased Native American designers and artists and offered visitors a chance to engage with Indigenous culture through exhibits and presentations.

Dude Perfect has released a new video in which the group recreates Rocket League, the car-soccer video game, as a real-life physical stunt. The five-person crew built large-scale versions of the game's signature elements, including remote-controlled cars and oversized goals, to play out matches in real space. The video has drawn over three million likes, with viewers praising the production scale and creativity.

Micky Dolenz, frontman of The Monkees, has performed a live rendition of the band's 1966 hit "Last Train to Clarksville" at The Church Studio. The performance, filmed at the famed Tulsa studio, is drawing strong attention from fans of the band and classic rock audiences, with viewers praising Dolenz's voice and celebrating the enduring legacy of The Monkees' music decades after their chart-topping era.

A runner unwinding after exercise with Pink Floyd's 23-minute track 'Echoes' was asked by his wife whether the music was from Phantom of the Opera. The mix-up drew amusement online, with people joking about the song's slow, atmospheric build resembling Andrew Lloyd Webber's theatrical style.

United Nations coverage highlights what it calls a 'rocket revolution' that is opening access to space to a wider range of countries and actors. Falling launch costs and reusable rocket technology are expanding opportunities in orbit, and the UN is drawing attention to how this shift could benefit development while raising questions about regulation and equitable use of outer space.

Boston Art Review has published a feature on Yu-Wen Wu's exhibition "From Rock to Cloud," which examines diasporic lineages through assembled works tracing migration, memory, and cultural inheritance. The piece highlights how Wu connects personal and collective histories across generations and geographies, positioning her work within broader conversations about displacement and identity in contemporary art.

A live stage show based on Jim Henson's beloved series 'Fraggle Rock' is heading to the Paramount Theatre, according to an announcement reported by Mountain Times. The production brings the classic puppet characters to the stage for theatergoers, continuing the franchise's recent revival. Details on dates and tickets are expected from the venue.

Japanese rock band Mrs. GREEN APPLE has released the official music video for its new song A Posteriori (A Posteriori). The release has drawn millions of likes within days, placing it among the most-watched music videos globally. Fans are praising the track's melody and the video's production, adding to the band's string of recent hits.

Valentino's Rockstud motif is enjoying a renewed moment among celebrities, with stars spotted wearing the studded shoes and accessories at high-profile events and front rows. Fashion watchers are noting the revival as a sign the house's signature embellishment has returned to the center of celebrity style, fueling fresh attention for the brand's most recognizable design.

BlackRock stock has been beating the overall market, drawing attention from investors and financial media. The world's largest asset manager has seen its shares outperform broader indexes, prompting analysis of what is driving the gains, including its investment products and flows. Coverage focuses on the reasons behind the rally and whether the momentum can continue.

The Denton Record-Chronicle has published a roundup of movies and TV shows with connections to Denton, Texas. The list spans productions such as 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show' and works by filmmaker Taylor Sheridan, tracing how the city and its people link to well-known screen projects. The piece highlights Denton's recurring, if understated, presence in American film and television.

A long-exposure photograph of a rocket launching from mountainous terrain has drawn attention for the way it traces the vehicle's curved trajectory into orbit. The image shows the parabolic arc a rocket follows to reach payload insertion, illustrating orbital mechanics in a single frame. Commenters describe it as a striking blend of aerospace engineering and photographic art, praising how visible flight physics become when frozen in one exposure.