"I applaud Pantone for using colour to highlight social issues" says commenter

In this week's comments update, readers are debating Pantone's latest shade of red and sharing their views on other top stories.

Health brand Intimina and colour company Pantone have collaborated to create a blood-red colour designed to catalyse a positive conversation around periods.

Intimina makes reusable cups, which are designed to fit comfortably inside the body and offer a low-cost and sustainable way for people to manage menstrual flow. The cups feature inside the outline of a womb and ovary on a Pantone-branded card.

"Let's go ahead and normalise periods"

Many readers are impressed by the concept. "I am all for this," said Miles Teg. "Let's go ahead and normalise periods. This is a nice shade of red as well."

Mistermoog agreed: "I applaud Pantone for using colour to highlight social issues. Removing the stigma around periods is admirable."

"This is absolutely appalling," argued What Is Going On, on the other had. "I highly doubt a single woman on this planet feels identified with Pantone's 'period' colour. In an attempt to 'normalise' period blood they have gone for a sexy and sellable version rather than actually celebrating how it really is."

"What's next?" asked Kujotaro. "Semen white? Or diarrhoea brown?"

Is Pantone clever or inappropriate? Join the discussion ›

"Many people want to live alone as cheaply as they can" says reader

Commenters aren't convinced that new planning rules announced by the UK government, which require new homes built under permitted development rights to be over 37 square metres, are necessary.

"Many people want to live alone as cheaply as they can to spend their money on other things or to save for early retirement," said Colin MacGillivray.

Clunking Fist agreed: "Many folk, especially renting in central cities, are happy with studio apartment living. There are literally thousands in London. There's a time in a single professional's life when they have had enough of flatting with others, but aren't yet ready or able to purchase a bigger place."

"I moved out of London because of this," replied Bobby Dazzler, on the other hand. "I now bounce around in a three-bed property."

Should all new homes be over 37 square metres? Join the discussion ›

"That would be a creepy encounter" says commenter

Readers are divided over Amazon's new Ring Always Home Cam, an autonomous drone-style camera that can fly around the home to record disturbances when the resident is away.

"That would be a creepy encounter," said Puzzello.

"Fun," continued Ruckus Amsel. "But imagine getting hacked so that you can get hunted by a device you bought for protection purposes while eating your morning grapefruit."

Clunking Fist was more positive: "I'd prefer this to a suite of cameras that may or may not be watching me while I am at home. At least with this, if docked, the camera is covered."

Do you find the Ring Always Home Cam creepy? Join the discussion ›

"This architecture is as real as a movie prop" says reader

Commenters are amused to learn that BIG and 3D-printed building company ICON are working on Project Olympus, which aims to develop robotic construction for the moon.

"This architecture is as real as a movie prop," said Milton Welch.

"Makes me crave a brest – french pastry, not mammary gland," joked Erich Trumpelstiltskin.

Don Joe was more serious: "There is one problem I have never seen addressed – that is the extreme health hazard of moon dust. The entire planet is covered with it. It is generated from meteor impacts and settles back to the surface over millions of years. It is like finely broken glass. It has about the same effect as asbestos in human lungs."

What do you think of BIG's plans to construct on the moon? Join the discussion ›