Latest news with #FranklinInstitute
Axios
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Sneak peek: Universal Theme Parks exhibit coming to Philly
New renderings and deets on a first-of-its-kind exhibit coming to the Franklin Institute have dropped. The big picture: The world premiere of "Universal Theme Parks: The Exhibition" is just one of several big attractions heading to Philly next year, during the nation's 250th birthday. Driving the news: The immersive 18,000-square-foot exhibit will explore the tech and ingenuity behind Universal's parks, including Jurassic World, the World-Famous Studio Tour and How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk. 📅 Mark your calendars: It runs Feb. 14 to Sept. 7. By the numbers: The exhibit's eight themed galleries will give a look at the science behind the parks, along with the storyboard artists, animators and prop masters who bring them to life. Plus: 25 interactive experiences. 100+ original theme park artifacts, including ride vehicles, props and character costumes. 🦾 1 tech thing: Test your skills at building roller coasters and designing monster masks using real theme park tools and tech. 🎟️ Pro tip: You can join the pre-sale waitlist now.
Technical.ly
09-06-2025
- Business
- Technical.ly
Philly Tech Week 2025: A milestone year for innovation and collaboration
Philly Tech Week 2025 was a celebration to remember! This marked the 15th anniversary of our city's signature tech event, and it exemplified everything that we know and love about Philadelphia's innovation ecosystem. At 1Philadelphia, we were honored to support this long standing tradition and to contribute to the growing momentum that defines Philly's tech community. What stood out most for me wasn't just the scale of the week — it was the energy. New core memories were unlocked for me as I watched crowds from the stairs of the Franklin Institute, seeing connections being made and new ideas being shared. Whether you attended an event with a packed room listening to a founder pitch their startup or at a community-led event in a neighborhood space, I hope you also felt a renewed sense of momentum, of possibility. Now in its 15th year, Philly Tech Week presented by Comcast drew thousands of participants and featured over 50 events curated by more than 80 community partners. But it wasn't just about the number of sessions — it was about the new voices leading them. First-time founders, funders from outside the region, students, policymakers, and ecosystem builders from all backgrounds were not just attendees, but architects of the week. Their presence shifted the tone. Seeing so many individuals and organizations come together under the shared mission of innovation was extraordinarily powerful. And perhaps that's the point. What makes Philly Tech Week so powerful isn't just the focus on technology — it's that we use tech as a lens to talk about building the future we want. This year, we saw more founders take center stage, more conversations about access, ownership, and community-centered innovation. We saw a city that's ready to bet on its own talent. At 1Philadelphia, our commitment is to create the conditions for that talent to grow. We believe deeply in expanding access to tech across the city — especially those who haven't always been centered in these conversations. Philly Tech Week gave us a chance to celebrate that progress, but also to fuel what comes next. Looking ahead From November 13–15, we'll keep that momentum going by hosting our fourth annual Innovation Weekend — a national convening for founders, funders, and ecosystem builders who are serious about creating equitable opportunities in tech. It will build on the spirit of PTW and deepen the conversations that matter most. To everyone who brought their energy, ideas, and creativity to this year's Philly Tech Week — thank you. You reminded us what's possible when a city chooses to lead differently. Stay connected with us and remain part of the movement. Let's keep building.
Hypebeast
03-06-2025
- General
- Hypebeast
Tourist Damages 2,000 Year Old Terracotta Warriors
Summary A man damaged two prized terracotta warriors after scaling a fence and jumping into a restricted area of the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang in Xi'an, China last Friday. The 30-year-old domestic tourist 'climbed over the guardrail and the protective net' before diving more than 17 feet into Pit No. 3, according to an official statement issued on Saturday. Once inside, he reportedly 'pushed and pulled' several warriors which were 'damaged to varying degrees.' Footagefrom the incident quickly circled around Weibo, showing the man lying on the ground, surrounded by the toppled statues. Security intervened shortly after, detaining the individual who they believe '[suffers] from mental illness.' The Terracotta Army, discovered in 1974 by local farmers, was created around 210 BCE to accompany China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, in the afterlife. The elaborate necropolis includes over 8,000 life-sized clay soldiers, each distinct in appearance, as well as hundreds of horses, chariots and real bronze weaponry. This isn't the first time the clay warriors have seen damage. In 2017, a man in Philadelphia drunkenly snapped a finger off of one of the statues on view at the Franklin Institute. After pleading guilty in a 2023 hearing, the culprit said he was willing tosell his prized sneaker collectionto cover the cost. While the investigation for the recent incident still underway, the museum remains open to visitors, a spokesperson confirmed toAFP.
Metro
03-06-2025
- General
- Metro
Tourist smashes two Terracotta Army warriors during bizarre museum rampage
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Two of the world famous Terracotta Army clay warriors have been damaged after a tourist jumped into a pit and pushed them over. The 30-year-old man launched himself into the pit at the museum housing the antiques in Xi'an, China, on May 30, while eyewitnesses looked on in shock. Once inside the 18ft deep pit, the man, only identified by his surname, Sun, pushed and pulled over the statues. Video footage then shows him lying on the ground covering his face as eyewitnesses yell at him. One, Xiao Lin, said he was visiting the site with a tour guide when he suddenly saw the man jump in. He shouted, 'What are you doing?' before the man touched the figures and pushed them over. He said: 'Later, the museum was closed, and we were evacuated by staff. I didn't see how the man was removed from the pit.' A tour guide at the scene, named Tete, confirmed the man jumped in and toppled over the terracotta warriors. Afterwards museum security restrained the man while authorities confirmed he is suffering with his mental health. The exhibit is still open to the public while officials work to repair the damage. The Terracotta Army is regarded as one of China's greatest archaeological treasures and features a collection of more than 8,000 life-sized soldiers. The figures date from around the late 200s BCE and were discovered on March 29, 1974, by local farmers just outside Xi'an. In 2017, a man admitted to stealing a thumb from one of the Terracotta statues that was on display in Pennsylvania. Footage showed him taking selfies with the statues before appearing to break something off. The missing thumb was only noticed a month later and the FBI was called. More Trending Michael Rohana, snapped it off at the the Franklin Institute museum from the statue which was estimated to be worth $4.5million. By that figure, the damage to the statues in Xi'an could possible be $9million. Rohana later admitted that he had kept the thumb in a drawer. He was acquitted after his lawyer argued he was wrongly charged under laws that usually apply to major museum thefts. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: British man arrested in the US is accused of spying for China MORE: Leader who killed 6,000,000 of his own honoured in new statue MORE: I live in a 'murder house' – this is what it's really like
Scottish Sun
02-06-2025
- Scottish Sun
Shock moment tourist jumps railing and plunges 18ft into Terracotta Army pit before smashing two priceless statues
THIS is the shocking moment a tourist jumps a railing around the famous Terracotta Army and smashes up two of the priceless statues. The 30-year-old visitor leapt over the guard rail surrounding the clay warrior figures at a museum in the city of Xi'An on Friday. 5 The tourist leapt down into the 18ft-deep pit, landing amongst Terracotta Army warriors Credit: News Flare 5 Two statues can be seen knocked over and damaged Credit: News Flare 5 The man, identified as 30-year-old Sun, is said to suffer from mental health problems Credit: News Flare Footage shows the aftermath of his jump and senseless destruction of the 2000-year-old artefacts. He can be seen lying on his back and rolling around - apparently in pain - at the bottom of an 18ft-deep pit. The alleged vandal is leaning against one of the ancient statues as alarmed onlookers peer down into the pit. Another angle shows the devastating extent of the damage to the statues. read more in world news WEB OF DESTRUCTION Inside Ukraine's SAS-style 'Spiderweb' blitz step by incredible step Two have been knocked over and lie in pieces on the floor after the man "pushed and pulled" the clay figures. They can clearly be seen to have crumbled in part - with officials reporting they were damaged to "varying degrees". Security guards for the museum quickly stepped in to grab the intruder before he inflicted more damage. Authorities said the man, identified only by his surname Sun, suffers from mental health problems. They also confirmed an investigation has been launched into the circumstances surrounding the incident. Concerns have been raised about how Sun managed to breach the security measures - consisting of a railing protective net - to plunge into the deep pit. Dramatic moment gang blow up museum door & steal 2,500-year-old Golden Helmet in Ocean's 11-style heist before vanishing Despite the intrusion, museum staff confirmed that the Xi'An exhibition remains open to the public. In 2017, an American man admitted to stealing a thumb from one of the terracotta warriors while it was on exhibition in Pennsylvania. Michael Rohana, in his early 20s, snapped it off when it was on display at the Franklin Institute museum. In that case, the statue was estimated to be worth $4.5million. 5 The clay figures were discovered buried underground 50 years ago Credit: �2024 Netflix, Inc. 5 The sculptures are based on the army of China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang Credit: Getty By that figure, the damage inflicted by the rogue tourist in Xi'An could amount to a whopping $9million, if the statues are ruined. Rohana was acquitted after his prosecution ended in a mistrial. His lawyer successfully argued that he was wrongly charged under laws that usually apply to major museum thefts. Surveillance footage had captured him "clowning around" with the statues and taking selfies, before appearing to break something from one before leaving. Museum staff noticed the missing thumb the following month and contacted the FBI. They later traced the thumb to Rohana, who admitted he had kept the thumb in a desk drawer.
