This project recreates Switzerland in Minecraft at a scale of one block per metre, using open geographic data from swisstopo. Its generated terrain places mountains, valleys, lakes, glaciers and other features in their real-world locations, including landmarks such as the Matterhorn, the Aletsch Glacier and the Grande Dixence dam. The full map covers 41,285 square kilometres, reaches 4,634 metres at the Dufourspitze and occupies a 24 GB download. It runs on Minecraft Java Edition 1.12.2 with the Cubic Chunks mod, which removes Minecraft’s usual height limit.
The world is generated from data rather than built by hand, so it is not a perfect replica: buildings are simplified, some features may be missing or inaccurate, and detail varies by region. Areas beyond Switzerland and some border zones use a coarser elevation model. A free, 1.1 GB Jungfrau-Aletsch version lets players test performance before buying; the full package costs at least 15 CHF, with future updates included. The project recommends a powerful computer with 16 GB of memory, and notes that new areas take time to generate on first visit. Instructions explain how to install the world through Prism Launcher, while an interactive map and teleport commands help players reach specific places and viewpoints.
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David Chapman imagines a post-Singularity future where AI brings a surprising reprieve from disaster, focusing on what people might find meaningful rather than on technology. He argues that meaning is found in present experience, not in an imagined eternal or cosmic realm, and that searching elsewhere can obscure it. (meaningness.substack.com)
Walter Koenig, best known as Pavel Chekov on the original Star Trek series, has died aged 90. He also reprised Chekov in six films and played Alfred Bester in Babylon 5. (bbc.com)
Scottish surgeon Joseph Bell, who taught Arthur Conan Doyle at the University of Edinburgh, inspired Sherlock Holmes with his powers of observation and deduction. Medical historian Lindsey Fitzharris explores Bell’s life and influence in her new biography, Sleuth-Hound: The Case of the Real Sherlock Holmes. (arstechnica.com)
The Onion Voting Simulator 3D is a free satirical walking simulator from Onion Interactive, released on Steam on October 26, 2026. Players navigate a school gym on Election Day while resisting the temptation to stay home, with surreal obstacles including demons and Hell. (store.steampowered.com)
Neiman Marcus’s 2026 Fantasy Gifts lineup includes a Star Wars Legacy Experience. The listing presents it as a high-end Star Wars-themed offering from the luxury retailer. (neimanmarcus.com)
Unwanted political and marketing texts flood the author’s phone, while Apple’s spam filters fail to catch them. The author avoids replying STOP because it makes recipients responsible for opting out of unsolicited messages. (notes.npilk.com)
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