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S. Abbas Raza (Weekly Photo)

Originally from Karachi, Pakistan, Abbas has an undergraduate degree in electrical engineering & computer science from Johns Hopkins University, and a graduate degree in philosophy from Columbia University. He lives with his wife, Margit Oberrauch, and their feline friend, Frederica Krueger, near the small, very beautiful city of Brixen in the Italian Alps. Email: s.abbas.raza.1 [at] gmail.com

Website: https://3quarksdaily.com/

This Week’s Photograph

Posted on Thursday, Nov 13, 2025 4:00AMFriday, December 26, 2025 by S. Abbas Raza (Weekly Photo)

Just something I saw in a children’s playground in Brixen, South Tyrol. Enjoying the content on 3QD? Help keep us going by donating now.

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This Week’s Photograph

Posted on Thursday, Nov 6, 2025 4:00AMThursday, November 6, 2025 by S. Abbas Raza (Weekly Photo)

Rowan tree, also known as the mountain ash and its bright treasure of berries. With its yellow-orange leaves, it looks particularly striking at this time of year. Photo taken during a walk last week through Franzensfeste, South Tyrol, on a sunny day with beautiful light. Enjoying the content on 3QD? Help keep us going by…

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This Week’s Photograph

Posted on Thursday, Oct 30, 2025 4:00AMMonday, October 27, 2025 by S. Abbas Raza (Weekly Photo)

This wild apple tree in Franzensfeste, South Tyrol, had scores of apples on its leafy branches a month ago but now has just this one last apple still hanging on. Enjoying the content on 3QD? Help keep us going by donating now.

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This Week’s Photograph

Posted on Thursday, Oct 23, 2025 4:00AMMonday, October 20, 2025 by S. Abbas Raza (Weekly Photo)

Wondering what this contraption on the roof of a neighbor’s house is, I showed this photo to GPT5 and here is what it said: This is a chimney cowl — a device placed on top of a chimney to improve airflow and prevent downdrafts. The specific type in your photo is a rotating, directional chimney…

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This Week’s Photograph

Posted on Thursday, Oct 16, 2025 4:00AMSunday, October 12, 2025 by S. Abbas Raza (Weekly Photo)

ChatGPT confirmed that this is Virginia Creeper and also suggested a caption: “Autumn’s rebellion against the wire.” Enjoying the content on 3QD? Help keep us going by donating now.

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This Week’s Photograph

Posted on Thursday, Oct 9, 2025 4:00AMTuesday, October 7, 2025 by S. Abbas Raza (Weekly Photo)

Guess what this is, sitting on a counter in my office. Enjoying the content on 3QD? Help keep us going by donating now.

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This Week’s Photograph

Posted on Thursday, Oct 2, 2025 4:00AMMonday, September 29, 2025 by S. Abbas Raza (Weekly Photo)

Just a jet over Franzensfeste, South Tyrol. Enjoying the content on 3QD? Help keep us going by donating now.

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This Week’s Photograph

Posted on Thursday, Sep 25, 2025 4:00AMMonday, September 22, 2025 by S. Abbas Raza (Weekly Photo)

Two ceramic swans my wife bought cheaply at a flea market somewhere. They might be tea-light holders. Or something like that. I like them. Enjoying the content on 3QD? Help keep us going by donating now.

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This Week’s Photograph

Posted on Thursday, Sep 18, 2025 4:00AMWednesday, September 17, 2025 by S. Abbas Raza (Weekly Photo)

Just a leaf I saw lying on the sidewalk. Enjoying the content on 3QD? Help keep us going by donating now.

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This Week’s Photograph

Posted on Thursday, Sep 11, 2025 4:00AMWednesday, September 10, 2025 by S. Abbas Raza (Weekly Photo)

At the Franz Josef Strauss International Airport in Munich. Enjoying the content on 3QD? Help keep us going by donating now.

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This Week’s Photo

Posted on Thursday, Sep 4, 2025 4:00AMTuesday, September 2, 2025 by S. Abbas Raza (Weekly Photo)

Two types of lichens growing on a bridge in Munich. And a cable of some kind. Oh, GPT5 has identified the cable: “This is a heavy-duty flexible rubber power cable, often used outdoors, on construction sites, for temporary power distribution, stage/event equipment, or industrial settings where durability is important. The 3G2.5 size would typically be…

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This Week’s Photograph

Posted on Thursday, Aug 28, 2025 4:00AMMonday, August 25, 2025 by S. Abbas Raza (Weekly Photo)

There were so many of these flying around (and also sitting around, like this one) in Maryland when I was there last month. I don’t remember them at all from when I lived there. GPT5 has identified it as a spotted lanternfly, whatever that is. It was about an inch (2.5 cm) in length. Enjoying…

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This Week’s Photograph

Posted on Thursday, Aug 21, 2025 4:00AMSunday, August 17, 2025 by S. Abbas Raza (Weekly Photo)

Is this the longest bench in the world? I haven’t ever seen one longer. I measured it and it is 45 feet long (almost 14 meters) in length. It is next to the Neustift tennis courts in Vahrn, South Tyrol. Enjoying the content on 3QD? Help keep us going by donating now.

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This Week’s Photograph

Posted on Thursday, Aug 14, 2025 4:00AMMonday, August 11, 2025 by S. Abbas Raza (Weekly Photo)

I tried to photograph the graceful flight of this heron but it landed on this seemingly dead tree branch next to the river Eisack in Franzensfeste, South Tyrol, before I could capture it flying. Enjoying the content on 3QD? Help keep us going by donating now.

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This Week’s Photograph

Posted on Thursday, Aug 7, 2025 4:00AMMonday, August 4, 2025 by S. Abbas Raza (Weekly Photo)

A climbing variety of roses intruding into the covered outdoor deck at the Hotel Löwenhof in Vahrn, South Tyrol. According to ChatGPT this variety is called Ballerina. Enjoying the content on 3QD? Help keep us going by donating now.

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This Week’s Photograph

Posted on Thursday, Jul 31, 2025 4:00AMTuesday, July 29, 2025 by S. Abbas Raza (Weekly Photo)

Self-portrait by reflection in car window. Enjoying the content on 3QD? Help keep us going by donating now.

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This Week’s Photograph

Posted on Thursday, Jul 24, 2025 4:00AMTuesday, July 22, 2025 by S. Abbas Raza (Weekly Photo)

In the town square, called the Domplatz, of Brixen, South Tyrol. Enjoying the content on 3QD? Help keep us going by donating now.

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This Week’s Photograph

Posted on Thursday, Jul 17, 2025 4:00AMMonday, July 14, 2025 by S. Abbas Raza (Weekly Photo)

Border between road and sidewalk in Franzensfeste, South Tyrol, with some tenacious weeds. Enjoying the content on 3QD? Help keep us going by donating now.

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This Week’s Photograph

Posted on Thursday, Jul 10, 2025 4:00AMMonday, July 7, 2025 by S. Abbas Raza (Weekly Photo)

Storm clouds rolled in just as the sun was setting in Franzensfeste, South Tyrol. Enjoying the content on 3QD? Help keep us going by donating now.

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This Week’s Photograph

Posted on Thursday, Jul 3, 2025 4:00AMMonday, June 30, 2025 by S. Abbas Raza (Weekly Photo)

A windy day in Franzensfeste, South Tyrol. Enjoying the content on 3QD? Help keep us going by donating now.

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3QD Design History and Credits

The original site was designed by S. Abbas Raza in 2004 but soon completely redesigned by Mikko Hyppönen and deployed by Henrik Rydberg. It was later upgraded extensively by Dan Balis in 2006. The next major revision was designed by S. Abbas Raza, building upon the earlier look, and coded by Dumky de Wilde in 2013. And this current version 5.0 has been designed and deployed by Dumky de Wilde in collaboration with S. Abbas Raza.

3 Quarks Daily

3 Quarks Daily started in 2004 with the idea of creating a curated retreat for everything intellectual on the web. No clickbait, no fake news, not just entertainment, but depth and breadth —something increasingly hard to find on the internet today. If you like what we do, please consider making a donation.