Concerns Rise Over OpenAI Sora’s Death: Legal Experts React to AI Missteps

Posted on October 17, 2025 by

LThat evening, I was scrolling through dating apps when a profile caught my eye: “Henry VIII, 34 years old, King of England, non-monogamous.” Before I knew it, I found myself in a candlelit bar sharing a martini with the most notorious dater of the 16th century.

But the night wasn’t finished yet. Next, we took turns DJing alongside Princess Diana. “The crowd is primed for the drop!” she shouted over the music as she placed her headphones on. As I chilled in the cold waiting for Black Friday deals, Karl Marx philosophized about why 60% off is so irresistible.

In Sora 2, if you can imagine it—even if you think you shouldn’t—you can likely see it. Launched in October as an invite-only app in the US and Canada, OpenAI’s video app hit 1 million downloads within just five days, surpassing the initial success of ChatGPT.

AI-generated deepfake video features portraits of Henry VIII and Kobe Bryant

While Sora isn’t the only AI tool producing videos from text, its popularity stems from two major factors. First, it simplifies the process for users to star in their own deepfake videos. After entering a prompt, a 10-second clip is generated in minutes, which can be shared on Sora’s TikTok-style platform or exported elsewhere. Unlike low-quality, mass-produced “AI slop” that clouds the internet, these videos exhibit unexpectedly high production quality.

The second reason for Sora’s popularity is its ability to generate portraits of celebrities, athletes, and politicians—provided they are deceased. Living individuals must give consent for their likenesses to be used, but “historical figures” seem to be defined as famous people who are no longer alive.

This is how most users have utilized the app since its launch. The main feed appears to be a bizarre mix of absurdity featuring historical figures. From Adolf Hitler in a shampoo commercial to Queen Elizabeth II stumbling off a pub table while cursing, the content is surreal. Abraham Lincoln beams at the TV exclaiming, “You’re not my father.” The Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. expresses his dream of having all drinks be complimentary before abruptly grabbing a cold drink and cursing.

However, not everyone is amused.

“It’s profoundly disrespectful to see my father’s image—who devoted his life to truth—used in such an insensitive manner,” Malcolm told the Washington Post. She was just two when her dad was assassinated. Now, Sora’s clips show the civil rights leader engaged in crude humor.

Zelda Williams, the daughter of actor Robin Williams, urged people to “stop” sending AI videos of her father through an Instagram post. “It’s silly and a waste of energy. Trust me, that’s not what he would have wanted,” she noted. Before his passing in 2014, he took legal steps to prevent his likeness from being used in advertising or digitally inserted into films until 2039. “Seeing my father’s legacy turned into something grotesque by TikTok artists is infuriating,” she added.

The video featuring the likeness of the late comedian George Carlin has been described by his daughter Kelly Carlin as “overwhelming and depressing” in a Blue Sky post.

Recent fatalities are also being represented. The app is filled with clips depicting Stephen Hawking enduring a “#powerslap” that knocks his wheelchair over, Kobe Bryant dunking over an elderly woman while yelling about something stuck inside him, and Amy Winehouse wandering the streets of Manhattan with mascara streaming down her face.

Those who have passed in the last two years (Ozzy Osbourne, Matthew Perry, Liam Payne) seem to be missing, indicating they may fall into a different category.

Each time these “puppetmasters” revive the dead, they risk reshaping the narrative of history, according to AI expert Henry Ajdar. “People are worried that a world filled with this type of content could distort how these individuals are remembered,” he explains.

Sora’s algorithm favors content that shocks. One of the trending videos features Dr. King making monkey noises during his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech. Another depicts Kobe Bryant reenacting the tragic helicopter crash that claimed both his and his daughter’s lives.

While actors and comedians sometimes portray characters after death, legal protections are stricter. Film studios bear the responsibility for their content. OpenAI does not assume the same liability for what appears on Sora. In certain states, consent from the estate administrator is required to feature an individual for commercial usage.

“We couldn’t resurrect Christopher Lee for a horror movie, so why can OpenAI resurrect him for countless short films?” questions James Grimmelman, an internet law expert at Cornell University and Cornell Tech.

OpenAI’s decision to place deceased personas into the public sphere raises distressing questions about the rights of the departed in the era of generative AI.

Legal Issues

It may feel unsettling to have the likeness of a prominent figure persistently haunting Sora, but is it legal? Perspectives vary.

Major legal questions regarding the internet remain unanswered. Are AI firms protected under Section 230 and thus not liable for third-party content on their platforms? If OpenAI qualifies for Section 230 immunity, users cannot sue the company for content they create on Sora.

“However, without federal legislation on this front, uncertainties will linger until the Supreme Court takes up the issue, which might stretch over the next two to four years,” notes Ashken Kazarian, a specialist in First Amendment and technology policy.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman speaks at Snowflake Summit 2025 on June 2 in San Francisco, California. He is one of the living individuals who permitted Sora to utilize his likeness. Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

In the interim, OpenAI must circumvent legal challenges by obtaining consent from living individuals. US defamation laws protect living people from defamatory statements that could damage their reputation. Many states have right-of-publicity laws that prevent using someone’s voice, persona, or likeness for “commercial” or “misleading” reasons without their approval.

Allowing the deceased to be represented this way is a way for the company to “test the waters,” Kazarian suggests.

Though the deceased lack defamation protections, posthumous publicity rights exist in states like New York, California, and Tennessee. Navigating these laws in the context of AI remains a “gray area,” as there is no established case law, according to Grimmelman.

For a legal claim to succeed, estates will need to prove OpenAI’s responsibility, potentially by arguing that the platform encourages the creation of content involving deceased individuals.

Grimmelmann points out that Sora’s homepage features videos that actively promote this style of content. If the app utilizes large datasets of historical material, plaintiffs could argue it predisposes users to recreate such figures.

Conversely, OpenAI might argue that Sora is primarily for entertainment. Each video is marked with a watermark to prevent it from being misleading or classified as commercial content.

Generative AI researcher Bo Bergstedt emphasizes that most users are merely experimenting, not looking to profit.

“People engage with it as a form of entertainment, finding ridiculous content to collect likes,” he states. Even if this may distress families, it might abide by advertising regulations.

However, if a Sora user creates well-received clips featuring historical figures, builds a following, and begins monetizing, they could face legal repercussions. Alexios Mantsalis, director of Cornell Tech’s Security, Trust, and Safety Initiative, warns that the “financial implications of AI” may include indirect profit from these platforms. Sola’s rising “AI influencers” could encounter lawsuits from estates if they gain financially from the deceased.

“Whack-a-Mole” Approach

In response to the growing criticism, OpenAI recently announced that representatives of “recently deceased” celebrities can request their likenesses be removed from Sora’s videos.

“While there’s a significant interest in free expression depicting historical figures, we believe public figures and their families should control how their likenesses are represented,” a spokesperson for OpenAI stated.

The parameters for “recent” have yet to be clarified, and OpenAI hasn’t provided details on how these requests will be managed. The Guardian received no immediate comment from the company.

The copyright-free-for-all strategy faced challenges after controversial content, such as “Nazi SpongeBob SquarePants,” circulated online and the Motion Picture Association of America accused OpenAI of copyright infringement. A week post-launch, the company transitioned to an opt-in model for rights holders.

Grimmelmann hopes for a similar adaptation in how depictions of the deceased are handled. “Expecting individuals to opt out may not be feasible; it’s a harsh expectation. If I think that way, so will others, including judges,” he remarks.

Bergstedt likens this to a “whack-a-mole” methodology for safeguards, likely to persist until federal courts establish AI liability standards.

According to Ajdel, the Sola debate hints at a broader question we will all confront: Who will control our likenesses in this age of composition?

“It’s a troubling scenario if people accept they can be used and exploited in AI-generated hyper-realistic content.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

OpenAI Diverges from Technology Council of Australia Amidst Controversial Copyright Debate

Posted on October 17, 2025 by

Open AI has severed its relationship with the Technology Council of Australia due to copyright limitations, asserting that its AI models “will be utilized in Australia regardless.”

Chris Lehane, the chief international affairs officer of the company behind ChatGPT, delivered a keynote address at SXSW Sydney on Friday. He discussed the geopolitics surrounding AI, the technological future in Australia, and the ongoing global discourse about employing copyrighted materials for training extensive language models.

Scott Farquhar, CEO of the Tech Council and co-founder of Atlassian, previously remarked that Australia’s copyright laws are “extremely detrimental to companies investing in Australia.”

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In August, it was disclosed that the Productivity Commission was evaluating whether tech companies should receive exemptions from copyright regulations that hinder the mining of text and data for training AI models.

However, when asked about the risk of Australia losing investment in AI development and data centers if it doesn’t relax its fair use copyright laws, Mr. Lehane responded to the audience:

“No…we’re going to Australia regardless.”

Lehane stated that countries typically adopt one of two stances regarding copyright restrictions and AI. One stance aligns with a US-style fair use copyright model, promoting the development of “frontier” (advanced, large-scale) AI; the other maintains traditional copyright positions and restricts the scope of AI.

“We plan to collaborate with both types of countries. We aim to partner with those wanting to develop substantial frontier models and robust ecosystems or those with a more limited AI range,” he expressed. “We are committed to working with them in any context.”

When questioned about Sora 2 (Open AI’s latest video generation model) being launched and monetized before addressing copyright usage, he stated that the technology benefits “everyone.”

“This is the essence of technological evolution: innovations emerge, and society adapts,” he commented. “We are a nonprofit organization, dedicated to creating AI that serves everyone, much like how people accessed libraries for knowledge generations ago.”

AI opened on Friday stopped the ability to produce a video featuring the likeness of Martin Luther King Jr. after his family’s complaints about the technology.

Lehane also mentioned that the competition between China and the United States in shaping the future of global AI is “very real” and that their values are fundamentally different.

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“We don’t see this as a battle, but rather a competition, with significant stakes involved,” he stated, adding that the U.S.-led frontier model “will be founded on democratic values,” while China’s frontier model is likely to be rooted in authoritarian principles.

“Ultimately, one of the two will emerge as the player that supports the global community,” he added.

When asked if he had confidence in the U.S. maintaining its democratic status, he responded: “As mentioned by others, democracy can be a convoluted process, but the United States has historically shown the ability to navigate this effectively.”

He also stated that the U.S. and its allies, including Australia, need to generate gigawatts of energy weekly to establish the infrastructure necessary for sustaining a “democratic lead” in AI, while Australia has the opportunity to create its own frontier AI.

He emphasized that “Australia holds a very unique position” with a vast AI user base, around 30,000 developers, abundant talent, a quickly expanding renewable energy sector, fiber optic connectivity with Asia, and its status as a Five Eyes nation.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Are Flesh-Eating Parasites Approaching the U.S. Border? Here’s What You Need to Know.

Posted on October 17, 2025 by

In September, Mexican officials confirmed an outbreak of the lethal flesh-eating parasite in Nuevo Leon, located less than 70 miles (113 kilometers) from the Texas border.

The outbreak was identified in an 8-month-old cow along the busy Monterrey to Laredo highway. Cocliomia hominivorax – the New World screwworm – has resurfaced for the first time in decades, threatening its eradication status achieved in the United States over fifty years ago.

This discovery raised concerns among U.S. ranchers and veterinarians who vividly recall the destruction this voracious insect once wreaked. The screwworm fly, a metallic blue-gray, appears relatively ordinary until its larvae begin to burrow into the living flesh of animals.

“The adults resemble the blowflies commonly found in my lab in North Carolina,” remarks Professor Max Scott, an entomologist at North Carolina State University who has dedicated his career to pest research. “The difference is that this blowfly is an obligate parasite. The female must lay her eggs in a living host.”

Within hours of being laid in a wound or natural opening, the eggs hatch into maggots that burrow deep into the tissue. After several days of feeding, the larvae drop to the ground and pupate, often leaving the host deformed or dead.

Each female can lay hundreds of eggs, and untreated infestations often attract other species of flies, exacerbating the host’s decline.

In livestock, screwworms can result in significant weight loss, skin damage, and even fatalities, representing a multibillion-dollar challenge for the livestock industry in South America.

A Terrible Past

The New World screwworm once plagued regions in the southern United States, Mexico, and the Caribbean. It wasn’t until the mid-20th century that an unexpected mix of genetics, radiation, and air transport helped regain control over the species.

Post-World War II, scientists at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) pioneered germ-free insect technology, a groundbreaking method for genetic control. The approach was both simple and radical—breed millions of screwworm flies in captivity, sterilize them using gamma rays, and release them into the wild.

Females mate only once, so even if they pair with a sterile male, they won’t produce offspring, leading to a population collapse.

In the 1950s, experiments on Curaçao confirmed the method’s effectiveness. By the early 1960s, screwworms had been eradicated from Florida. The initiative spread west and south, ultimately eliminating the fly from the continental United States, Mexico, and much of Central America by the early 2000s.

The eradication campaign was costly, reportedly exceeding $750 million. However, it saved the livestock industry billions in losses annually and allowed U.S. cattle production to thrive in the following years.

A small production facility in Panama, jointly managed by the U.S. and Panamanian governments, maintained permanent barriers, releasing 100 million sterile flies weekly along the Panama-Colombia border and regularly developing new strains for longevity.

This system functioned effectively for two decades until it faltered. By 2023, infection cases began to re-emerge in Panama. Within two years, the parasite spread to Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Honduras, now reaching northern Mexico.

New World screwworm larvae feed on infected animal wounds for about seven days, then fall to the ground, burrow into the soil, and pupate. – Credit: COPEG

What Went Wrong?

The specific reasons behind the barrier’s collapse remain unclear, but Scott noted “warning signs indicating trouble along the border.”

Farmers failing to adhere to protocols when transporting livestock may have further facilitated the spread of infection, explaining the surge in cases beyond the natural movement of fly populations.

Scott pointed out that the Panama facility is currently overburdened, producing around 110 million sterile flies weekly. In contrast, during the initial eradication efforts in Mexico, local facilities generated between 500 million and 700 million units weekly. “We needed that volume,” he noted.

This shortfall means an insufficient supply of sterile flies to manage the ongoing outbreak.

Read More:

The Enemy at the Gate

As of now, there is no evidence that the screwworms have crossed into the U.S. The USDA has deployed approximately 8,000 traps in Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico but has not detected any flies. Nevertheless, vigilance is high.

“The risks are substantial,” Scott cautions. “The best chance to curb the outbreak was further south, near the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. Reports of cases further north complicate containment given the current production capacities.”

In response, the U.S. government initiated a “five-pillar plan,” which includes constructing two new fly dispersal facilities in Texas. One facility at Moore Air Force Base can spray 100 million sterile flies weekly, while plans for a larger production plant in southern Texas aim to triple that capacity.

The USDA is also investing $100 million into innovative pest control technologies, exploring options from electron beam and X-ray sterilization to genetically modified flies.

A significant resurgence of screwworms could be catastrophic for U.S. livestock producers. An outbreak may incur billions in animal losses, quarantines, and trade restrictions. When the parasite re-emerged in Florida in 2016 from Caribbean-imported deer, it infected 145 animals, taking nearly a year to eradicate.

Human infections are rare but can be severe. The parasite’s scientific name, Cocliomia hominivorax, translates to “man-eating fly.” Most cases affect travelers to infested regions, leading to infections from wounds and nasal passages.

“This is not a major public health issue,” Scott explained. “However, caution is advised when visiting affected areas.”

The bulges on the larva’s body are the origin of the name “screw maggot.” – Credit: USDA Agricultural Research Service

Modern Genetic Upgrades

Scott believes that the old sterile fly method remains viable, especially when enhanced by new biotechnology. His lab at North Carolina State University has spent years developing genetically engineered screwworm strains that produce only males, significantly increasing efficiency.

Traditional sterile insect techniques require releasing both males and females, resulting in many males mating with sterile females.

This means that very high doses of radiation are needed to fully sterilize females, Scott noted. In contrast, his team’s method yields only males. They can then focus on sterilizing these males specifically, allowing researchers to maintain a higher quantity of healthier flies unlikely to reproduce.

These male-only stocks were field-tested in Panama in 2018 but were not deployed because existing methods were deemed sufficient. As the parasite moves northward, regulatory approval for genetically modified screwworms might become essential.

Moreover, researchers are investigating “gene drive systems” utilizing CRISPR technology to bias genetics, ensuring that most offspring carry infertile or male-only genes. In theory, this could drastically reduce the number of flies needed for suppression.

“We hope funding will be available to develop more effective technologies,” Scott stated. “The goal is to reduce releases from 100 million sterile flies to potentially just 10 million. This would make genetic control far more feasible.”

For the time being, strategies remain focused on aerial dispersal, targeted capture, and cross-border collaboration. Yet, scientists are increasingly concerned about the screwworm’s capability to migrate northward faster than anticipated.

“Given the current fly population, we sincerely hope to prevent them from entering the United States,” Scott warned. “But uncertainties remain.”

At present, the border remains intact. With each new case emerging towards the north, the focus shifts from whether the screwworms will invade the U.S. to whether they will be prepared upon their arrival.

Read More:

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Paleontologists Uncover New Long-Necked Dinosaur Species from the Triassic Era

Posted on October 17, 2025 by

Paleontologists have discovered a new collection of Triassic fossils at the Quebrada Santo Domingo site in the northern Pre-Cordillera Basin of northwestern Argentina. Among their findings are nearly complete skeletons of a previously unknown sauropod dinosaur species, along with several cynodonts, rhinocosaurs, and aetosaurs.

Huayracursor jaguensis. Image credit: Jorge Blanco.

The newly identified species existed in what is now Argentina during the Carnian period of the late Triassic, approximately 230 million years ago.

Known as Huayracursor jaguensis, this dinosaur was an early and primitive member of the clade sauropodomorpha.

The ancient creature featured a relatively long neck and was larger than many of its contemporaries.

“The Carnian period (237 to 227 million years ago) is significant in the evolution of tetrapods, holding the earliest records of several major clades, including dinosaurs,” stated paleontologist Dr. Martin Hechenleitner of the La Rioja Regional Research Center and CONICET, along with colleagues.

“Following the Carnian pluvial period, dinosaurs faced unprecedented radiation levels and quickly established dominance for the remainder of the Mesozoic era.”

“Most of the earliest records originate from a few well-researched regions in South America, specifically the Izquiguarasto-Villa Union Basin in western Argentina and the Paraná Basin in southern Brazil.”

“These locales have produced a variety of early dinosaurs, encompassing ornithischians, herrerasaurs, theropods, and sauropods.”

“While sauropods are the most taxonomically diverse, the majority (with a few fragmentary exceptions) were small, bipedal, and short-necked.”

“Despite the advances in our understanding of the quadrupedal fauna from the Carnian, no dinosaur-containing groups have arisen outside of traditional classifications.”

Selected bone of the Huayracursor jaguensis holotype. Image credit: Hechenleitner et al., doi: 10.1038/s41586-025-09634-3.

Dr. Hechenleitner and his co-authors uncovered fossilized remains of Huayracursor jaguensis and other Triassic animals in the Santo Domingo formation at Quebrada Santo Domingo, a remote region of the Andes Mountains in La Rioja, northwestern Argentina.

“This newly discovered fauna is the first from the newly characterized northern Pre-Cordillera Basin,” the paleontologists remarked.

“Current findings encompass ceratopsians of the hyperodapedontid family, cynodonts from the traversodontid and probynognathic families, a eurysaurian, and at least two sauropod dinosaurs, indicating a Carnian age.”

“Among the sauropods, Huayracursor jaguensis provides the earliest evidence of concurrent weight gain and neck elongation in sauropods, suggesting that these crucial traits emerged at the dawn of dinosaurs.”

“This discovery enhances our understanding of the diversity and geographic distribution of early dinosaur faunas and illuminates the evolution of sauropods during the Carnian period.”

The findings regarding Huayracursor jaguensis are detailed in a paper published in the journal Nature.

_____

EM Hechenleitner et al. A newly discovered long-necked early dinosaur from the Upper Triassic basin of the Andes. Nature, published online October 15, 2025. doi: 10.1038/s41586-025-09634-3

Source: www.sci.news

Why NASA’s Moon Return Aspirations Hang on SpaceX Before China Beats Them There

Posted on October 17, 2025 by

Intricate and sophisticated sequences depend on several untested technologies. A crucial aspect is the refueling of starships in space. Dreyer noted that it remains uncertain how many launches will be required to supply the necessary fuel, but they must occur rapidly.

“It might take between 12 and 20 refueling missions within a month to replenish Starship’s tanks with enough fuel for a mission to the moon and back,” he stated. “Such a scenario has never been realized.”

Refueling only in space would necessitate a “significant advancement” from Starship’s current capabilities, he remarked.

“This poses a tremendous challenge,” Dreyer emphasized. “Without these advancements, our lunar aspirations won’t be achievable.”

The Starship lander is projected to stand approximately 150 feet taller than the rugged, spider-like lunar lander NASA utilized during the Apollo missions. Such a taller design could enable Starship to transport more passengers and cargo; however, it may also be less stable than the Apollo spacecraft.

Nevertheless, Dreyer argued that it wouldn’t have been practical for NASA to depend on outdated technology, especially considering financial constraints. A single Saturn V rocket launch from the Apollo era costs around $2 billion today. In contrast, SpaceX aims to develop Starship as fully reusable, which could lower costs and speed up launch times.

The next phase for the company involves revealing an upgraded Starship prototype. This model is approximately five feet taller and incorporates an enhanced docking mechanism, increased energy storage, and software improvements to facilitate long-duration flights.

This new version will be employed for Starship’s inaugural orbital flight, testing essential SpaceX procedures such as fuel transfer and payload transportation into space, as per SpaceX officials. I discussed this in my previous post following Monday’s test.

Future missions, like this week’s, will also be under scrutiny as China moves toward its 2030 objectives.

“Four years is a short time frame in space,” Dreyer remarked. “These endeavors are exceptionally complex and challenging because the universe is perpetually testing you.”

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Over 20 States Take Legal Action Against EPA for Solar Subsidy Revocation

Posted on October 17, 2025 by

Over 20 states have filed a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), contesting the agency’s decision to terminate a $7 billion initiative designed to enhance access to solar power for low-income households.

The initiative, known as “Solar For All,” was launched in 2022 as part of the Inflation Reduction Act, which allocated subsidies for building rooftop and community solar projects. This action was part of the Biden administration’s commitment to decreasing carbon emissions and aimed to make solar energy available to around 1 million additional American households.

However, in August, the EPA announced the program’s cancellation, with states withdrawing approximately 90% of the grant funds from the awarded accounts, according to the legal complaint.

The EPA has been working to reinstate clean energy funding sanctioned by the Biden administration. This new lawsuit will assess whether the agency overstepped its bounds in this instance. The states involved in the legal challenge had expected the funding to boost solar power availability, lower greenhouse gas emissions from energy production, and decrease energy costs.

“Congress established a solar energy program to make electricity more affordable, but the administration is ignoring the law, focusing instead on conspiracy theories about climate change,” Washington Attorney General Nick Brown stated in a news release. The EPA’s action “places about $156 million in jeopardy” for Washington state, as mentioned in the release.

Earlier this month, a coalition of nonprofit organizations and solar installers lodged a complaint, which resembles a similar lawsuit against the program’s cancellation.

When asked about the recent lawsuit, the White House referred NBC News to the EPA, which typically remains silent on ongoing litigation.

The states involved in the lawsuits are all governed by Democratic officials. Notably, Washington, Arizona, and Minnesota are leading this legal action, which was filed in the Western District of Washington.

The lawsuit contends that the EPA “illegally and unilaterally terminated” the program, breaching the Administrative Procedure Act that regulates federal agencies’ operations. It also claims that the EPA overstepped its “constitutional authority” by attempting to revoke programs and funds approved by Congress.

This latest suit is part of a dual strategy employed by states to counteract the Trump administration’s cuts to clean energy initiatives established under President Joe Biden.

On Wednesday, another group, including states and state energy agencies, filed a separate complaint in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims regarding the cancellation of individual subsidy agreements.

The lawsuit argues that the EPA’s retraction of funds violated distinct subsidy contracts with states and state energy authorities.

It further claims the EPA relied on a “false and malicious interpretation” of the One Big Beautiful Bill, which was enacted during the Trump administration, to support its actions.

While acknowledging that the law granted the administration certain powers to retract Inflation Control Act funds, the complaint asserts that this authority only extended to funds not yet distributed to grant recipients.

A third lawsuit was filed this month in Rhode Island District Court. Solar companies, homeowners, nonprofits, and labor unions are making similar claims. It contends that the EPA’s actions could deny nearly 1 million people access to affordable solar energy and jeopardize “hundreds of thousands of good-paying, high-quality jobs.”

Source: www.nbcnews.com

The Potential Dangers of Digital ID Cards in the UK and Beyond

Posted on October 17, 2025 by

“Governments might resort to utilizing digital identities in more intrusive manners than initially assured…”

Dakuku/Getty Images

My first ID card was a flimsy laminated driver’s license. In the U.S., it includes a photo, biometric data (like eye color and height), and date of birth. This spurred its increased use beyond just driving; bars began issuing “cards” to minors attempting to purchase alcohol, interpreting the data as proof of being 21, the legal drinking age. I must admit, it wasn’t until I turned 18 that I learned to use a pencil to edit my birth date to enjoy some cheap cocktails.

This tale may seem like a dull 20th-century anecdote, yet it holds significant relevance in today’s ongoing discussion about the implementation of digital identity cards in the UK and elsewhere. While the cards themselves may differ vastly, the core issue remains the same. Firstly, the use of ID cards tends to escalate over time, and secondly, they are exceedingly easy to compromise.

The British government isn’t the first to suggest that citizens should carry a compact ID application on their smartphones for accessing government and public services. Countries such as China, Singapore, India, and Estonia already mandate digital IDs. Advocates argue that digital IDs help reduce fraud, simplify travel and purchases, and verify identity without the need to carry multiple physical documents.

“This digital ID will enhance your security,” the government might claim. “You can use it for shopping, obtaining medical care, and better yet, it will prevent any confusion about your immigration status, sparing you from unjust detention.” Apologies for the specificity, but the point is clear: these cards are touted as solutions to non-issues (like carrying a health insurance card) or problems that can’t be resolved by merely having an ID (immigration is complex and multifaceted).

Returning to the topic of usage expansion. What transpires when authorities implement digital IDs on mobile devices to authenticate citizenship during job applications or for social services? Fundamentally, they reside alongside other apps which, in certain instances, can share data with them. Some of these applications access sensitive data, including bank information, medical schedules, personal messages, and photos.

As journalist Byron Tau observes in his brilliant book: control means. Many applications gather information about you, often without your awareness, such as your location, purchasing behaviors, and even details from other apps on your device. There are businesses focused on extracting this data from applications like dating services and selling it to third parties, including government entities.

“
Governments may begin using digital IDs in far more intrusive ways than originally intended.
“

This practice is largely permissible in the U.S., albeit unsettling. The UK and Europe have regulations that curb rampant data sharing, yet the technology exists. The only shield you have against government ID applications monitoring your location via unrelated apps is the government itself—and that, too, may evolve. Regulations can shift. However, once you start using that digital ID for employment, entering bars, tipping, or taking public transport, it’s unlikely you would discard it.

Consider the potential of this creepiness: Governments may resort to using digital identities in much more invasive manners than initially promised. Conversely, the public might find it beneficial for so many tasks that they deem the trade-off worthwhile. If buying a candy bar is effortless without a credit card, who cares if the government tracks your daily whereabouts? That perspective holds until the government decides you’re the enemy.

And let’s not overlook the hacking angle. Even if governments refrain from spying using your digital ID, malicious actors might not. A hacker could exploit vulnerabilities to access your identity or harvest personal information through a compromised app. Security experts have warned the UK government regarding the threats posed by digital IDs, and even the notorious U.S. surveillance firm Palantir has backed away from support for digital IDs. As one of their executives recently put it, digital identity is:very controversial.

It’s crucial to recognize that concern shouldn’t center merely around identity theft. One must also consider the potential for location tracking, message monitoring, unauthorized bank access, and even phone tapping. Comparatively, a traditional ID card, while it can be lost or altered, only results in the loss of that card—not a comprehensive loss of other personal data.

Annalee’s Week

What I’ve Been Hearing

Our Ancestors were Messy, is a podcast exploring African American celebrity scandals from a century ago, drawn from the pages of black newspapers.

What I’m Reading

Thief’s Philosophy Written by Fran Wilde, this futuristic narrative involves a wealthy individual hiring a thief for entertainment at a party.

What I’m Working On

I’m delving into the history of “review bombing,” a phenomenon where media and products are inundated with one-star reviews driven by political motives.

Topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Could Humans Face Extinction in Precisely 314 Years?

Posted on October 17, 2025 by

Feedback is New Scientist A well-known figure who observes the latest news in science and technology with a critical eye. To share feedback about topics you believe may interest our readers, please contact us at feedback@newscientist.com.

Our Expiry Date

Unfortunately, we have some bad news. Humanity’s time is marked; experts predict our extinction by 2339, leaving us only a few centuries (as of now).

News Editor Jacob Aaron presented this startling information. A paper not yet peer-reviewed was shared on the social science preprint server SocArXiv. In their work, demographers David Swanson and Jeff Tayman discuss how the human population could decline from the current 8.1 billion to zero.

Their reasoning is straightforward: “Considering the decrease in birth rates from 2019 to 2024 and applying probabilistic forecasting methods, by 2139, the world’s population will fall between 1.55 billion and 1.81 billion… By 2339, humanity will be extinct,” they assert.

Swanson and Tayman highlight that this extinction timeline is “only 314 years away.” One might think the estimate could have been rounded to 300 to incorporate some necessary uncertainty in the predictions, but the confidence displayed is noteworthy.

This may seem evident, but we cannot base projections for the next three centuries on just five years of data — especially from 2019 to 2024, a period marked by significant global events that likely impacted birth rates.

They employed three different methodologies: the Cohort Component Method, the Hamilton-Perry Method, and even the notable Espenshade-Tiemann Method. Despite this, the prediction remains flawed. However, it’s likely our audience has already deduced this.

For a moment, we questioned if the paper was intended as satire, aiming to mislead unsuspecting science journalists into reckless reporting. However, this seems unlikely as Mr. Swanson shared it at a conference in September. Following his presentation, “a robust discussion unfolded.“Oh, I can’t believe I was heading straight for that wall.

This might hint at a precursor to a new belief system, positioning the apocalypse conveniently three centuries away to avoid embarrassment if it doesn’t come to pass.

Oh, No More

The feedback reveals that US President Donald Trump referred to climate change as “a scam, deeming renewable energy sources like wind power as “pathetic.”

This came in the wake of a government report published in July, generated by “independent researchers,” attempting to justify ceasing climate change mitigation efforts. Carbon Brief reviewed the report and identified over 100 misleading statements. Across the pond, the British Conservative Party has pledged to repeal climate change legislation upon regaining power.

The feedback notes that renewable energy has surpassed coal to become the leading source of electricity by mid-2025, which doesn’t seem particularly pathetic. Meanwhile, we’re reminded of that memorable scene from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, where monks beat their heads in a rhythmic fashion. We can only assume that these individuals read Swanson and Tayman’s paper and concluded that 2339 was too far off.

A Simple Thank You

One of the hallmarks of being an excellent researcher is to explore questions that others haven’t considered. Consequently, a study was published in the journal Socius in September: “‘This Task Would Have Been Impossible‘… A study examining the length of acknowledgments in sociology books.” Yes, that’s correct. This is an entire sociology paper dedicated to the acknowledgments section of sociology literature.

The first takeaway, as noted by the authors, is that they are not the first to pose this question. Back in 1972, Kenneth Henry Mackintosh published a study titled Approval Patterns in Sociology. When I searched for feedback online, I was disappointed to find that it was over 300 pages long and, even if the table of contents was accurate, it lacked an acknowledgments section.

What of the new research? The researchers evaluated 411 books written by 317 sociologists and examined the acknowledgments (excluding 7 percent for rudeness). A significant statistical trend revealed that female authors wrote longer acknowledgments than their male counterparts.

Similarly, books released by university presses contained longer acknowledgments compared to those from other publishers. It remains unclear whether this means they were thanking more individuals or simply elaborating more extensively.

Naturally, I was curious about the acknowledgments section of this very paper, so I scrolled down. We were pleased to see it consisted of 218 words and included a heartfelt mention of “steadfast love and support.”

Then, we discovered it wasn’t entirely original. Co-author Jeff Lockhart listed the paper on Bluesky, and another researcher quipped:I love that the paper itself has a lengthy acknowledgments section. In response, Lockhart remarked, “we felt it was necessary.”

I would like to acknowledge the cats who prevented me from stepping on my laptop keyboard while writing this article.

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The Heart of Our Galaxy Could Be Teeming with Dark Matter Particles

Posted on October 17, 2025 by

Gamma rays are detected in unusually high amounts at the center of the Milky Way galaxy

The center of our galaxy is exhibiting unusual behavior, potentially linked to dark matter. In 2009, observations from the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope uncovered unexpectedly high levels of gamma ray emissions from the Milky Way’s center, a phenomenon termed galactic central gamma-ray excess (GCE). Simulations suggest these gamma rays could arise from the annihilation of dark matter particles.

The discussion surrounding the origins of GCE has intensified since its initial discovery, leading to two main theories. The first posits that it may stem from a previously unobserved population of pulsars, rapidly spinning neutron stars that emit considerable radiation.

Alternatively, it could be linked to weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs), long considered primary candidates for dark matter. These particles seldom interact with normal matter, but a collision between two can lead to annihilation and consequently, a burst of gamma rays.

However, the dark matter explanation has lost traction recently, especially after searches for WIMPs yielded no results. “The dark matter interpretation demands greater proof due to insufficient direct evidence of its existence despite thorough investigations,” notes Jeff Grube from King’s College London.

Another factor contributing to this skepticism is that dark matter in galaxies is expected to be evenly distributed, while GCEs display a flattened distribution. Yet, new simulations by Joseph Silk and his colleagues at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland indicate that this discrepancy may not be significant.

These new simulations carefully considered the Milky Way’s history in relation to GCEs. “We know from history that our galaxy merged with smaller galaxies billions of years ago, which contributed to the formation of dark matter,” noted Silk. “No one would have anticipated that the galaxy’s center would exhibit spherical symmetry due to this history.”

The results confirmed this notion, resulting in a distorted dark matter distribution aligned with the shape of GCE, reviving the dark matter theory. However, the mystery remains unresolved, as pulsars continue to be a viable explanation. “At best, the situation is still ambiguous,” added Grube.

The current gamma-ray observatories do not possess the capability to distinguish between these two theories; however, the Cherenkov Telescope Array observatories, under construction in the Canary Islands and Chile and expected to begin operations in 2026, could provide clarity.

“In many ways, there’s a 50 percent chance that we may have discovered significant dark matter, but we require new telescopes to confirm this,” stated Silk. If GCE is indeed the result of dark matter, it could offer the best insight yet into this enigmatic substance that underpins the universe.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

A Critical Flaw in Society’s Punishment System: The Psychological Impact.

Posted on October 16, 2025 by

Individuals engage in wrongdoing and face consequences. They begin to collaborate. This fundamental belief that humans act rationally and alter their behavior in response to consequences lies at the core of Western legal frameworks, criminal behavior, and economic theories. The evolution of cooperation. However, extensive research over several decades indicates that punishment may not be as effective as thought.

Analysis has consistently shown that harsher penalties, including the three strikes law, do not reliably deter crime. The U.S. National Research Council’s report could not establish the death penalty’s effectiveness. Meanwhile, the U.S. possesses the most punitive criminal justice system globally, with notable rates of imprisonment and recidivism.

These real-world observations stand in stark contrast to much of the controlled experimental literature. In notable research, economists Ernst Fehr and Simon Gechter designed a game where participants could allocate money to a communal pool, which would then be doubled and redistributed, maximizing benefits for all contributors. Yet, individuals found it more advantageous to withhold contributions while others carried the load. While cooperation diminished in scenarios lacking punishment for free riders, the introduction of penalties significantly boosted contributions to the pool.

What explains the gap between experimental results and real-world dynamics? We explored this question in a recent study published in PNAS. We noted that individuals tasked with enforcing penalties often have conflicting incentives that can erode their credibility and diminish the public’s trust in them. In Ferguson, Missouri, authorities relied on fines to fund city services, disproportionately impacting Black communities. Across the U.S., billions are confiscated through civil asset forfeiture, permitting law enforcement to seize property from individuals suspected of criminal activity.

We hypothesized that self-serving motives behind punishment could undermine cooperation by clouding the ethical implications associated with collaborative behavior. Unlike other species, humans possess a “theory of mind” and are acutely aware of others’ intentions and motives. Punishment carries a message of disapproval necessitating behavioral change; however, this only holds weight if individuals perceive the punisher’s motives as justifiable. Humans, inherently social beings, ask, “What’s your reasoning for this?” If the answer appears self-serving, the deterrent effects of punishment diminish.

To validate our hypothesis, we conducted a series of experiments utilizing the same game that demonstrated punishment’s role in enhancing cooperation. Here, one player (the dictator) decides on potential monetary sharing with another player (the receiver), while a third player (the punisher) can revoke funds from the dictator. A twist emerged where punishers were incentivized financially; akin to police utilizing ticket quotas to boost revenue, our punishers received bonuses each time they issued a penalty. This change reversed the expected outcome; rather than improving cooperation, the incentivized punishment led to decreased collaboration, as trust in the punisher waned.

Our results indicate a need to reassess crime management methodologies. When punitive actions are perceived as self-serving, they foster distrust and hinder the cooperation that such measures are intended to reinforce. To cultivate safer, more cohesive communities, it is essential to eliminate policies that compromise the ethical underpinnings of punishment. This includes abolishing speed trap quotas and profit-driven incarceration, practices implying that punishment is motivated by financial gain rather than justice.

Raihan Alam and Tage Rai are students at the Rady School of Business at the University of California, San Diego.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Is Biofuel Worth It? Only for Farmers and Transport Companies

Posted on October 16, 2025 by

Biofuels are causing environmental damage

Dave Reed/Alamy

Certainly. Plants convert sunlight into food (stored energy), so transforming that food into fuel seems like it should yield a sustainable biofuel with zero carbon emissions, right? Wrong. In reality, the surge in biofuels is driving up emissions and harming both people and wildlife. Yet, production is ramping up rapidly. What gives?

If you believe biofuels are beneficial, you may be misled by the pervasive greenwashing. Evidence suggests that biofuels generally do more harm than good. A recent report by the campaign group Transport and Environment (T&E) reveals that the shift to biofuels has resulted in a 16% increase in carbon dioxide emissions on average, as compared to sticking with fossil fuels.

Why is this? Because agricultural cultivation is one of the leading sources of greenhouse gases. To be fair, the 16% figure is a global average according to the T&E report. Some regions, like Europe, argue that biofuels marginally reduce emissions overall, but only by a slight amount. We are making substantial sacrifices for minimal emissions reductions, given the numerous adverse effects of biofuels.

For starters, rising food costs are a significant consequence we’re all experiencing. Converting wheat and corn into bioethanol and vegetable oil into biodiesel escalates demand, leading to soaring prices. It’s difficult to quantify, but experts I’ve consulted over the years generally agree this is a major factor in food price inflation.

Moreover, biofuel crops frequently necessitate irrigation, worsening water scarcity in various areas. According to the T&E report, producing enough biofuel for a vehicle to travel just 100 kilometers (62 miles) consumes 3,000 liters of water. In contrast, a solar-powered electric car only requires 20 liters for the same distance.

We also need land. Agricultural land continues to expand globally to accommodate growing populations that are consuming more meat. As biofuel production rises, more land is needed. This often results in deforestation, such as clearing rainforests in Indonesia to establish new palm oil plantations. In essence, biofuels are exacerbating another global crisis: the loss of wildlife and biodiversity.

What’s particularly concerning is the inefficiency of biofuel production. A report from T&E suggests that if solar panels were installed on the same land, the equivalent amount of energy could be generated using just 3% of the space. In other words, solar energy can mitigate emissions with a significantly lower environmental footprint. It appears we can outperform nature when it comes to harnessing the sun’s energy.

In contrast, biofuels contend with all the same pollution problems as traditional agriculture, from pesticides detrimental to humans and wildlife to nutrient runoff that devastates rivers, lakes, and seas. Utilizing non-food biofuel sources like waste could help address some of these challenges. However, by 2030, over 90% of biofuel production is still expected to rely on food crops, according to the T&E report.

So why are numerous countries incentivizing the production of more biofuels than ever? A financial interest in biofuels drives influential lobby groups to advocate for more government support. Simultaneously, some nations and organizations look to meet emissions targets without confronting the inconvenient truths.

For instance, politicians across the American political spectrum have aimed to maintain favor with Corn Belt farmers growing corn for bioethanol. Earlier this year, tax incentives for biofuels were introduced in the U.S. in 2022 and further extended.

Additionally, the shipping and aviation sectors claim they are reducing emissions but view biofuels as a means to maintain their traditional operations. Aviation industry standards for “sustainable aviation fuels” at least consider emissions linked to increased land use and impose limits on biofuels, which are the highest emitters. The shipping industry could be facing even greater repercussions, as it has yet to decide whether to account for land use. The usage of biofuels for maritime purposes alone could double by the 2030s, as warned by the T&E report—this could be catastrophic for all the reasons discussed.

For years, it has been evident that producing biofuels to minimize emissions is counterproductive, and continuing on this path is sheer madness.

Source: www.newscientist.com

A Simple Method to Dramatically Cut Your AI’s Energy Consumption

Posted on October 16, 2025 by

AI relies on data centers that consume a significant amount of energy

Jason Alden/Bloomberg/Getty

Optimizing the choice of AI models for various tasks could lead to an energy saving of 31.9 terawatt-hours this year alone, equivalent to the output of five nuclear reactors.

Thiago da Silva Barros from France’s Cote d’Azur University examined 14 distinct tasks where generative AI tools are utilized, including text generation, speech recognition, and image classification.

We investigated public leaderboards, such as those provided by the machine learning platform Hugging Face, to analyze the performance of various models. The energy efficiency during inference—when an AI model generates a response—was assessed using a tool named CarbonTracker, and total energy consumption was estimated by tracking user downloads.

“We estimated the energy consumption based on the model size, which allows us to make better predictions,” states da Silva Barros.

The findings indicate that by switching from the highest performing model to the most energy-efficient option for each of the 14 tasks, energy usage could be decreased by 65.8%, with only a 3.9% reduction in output quality. The researchers believe this tradeoff may be acceptable to most users.

Some individuals are already utilizing the most energy-efficient models, suggesting that if users transitioned from high-performance models to the more economical alternatives, overall energy consumption could drop by approximately 27.8%. “We were taken aback by the extent of savings we uncovered,” remarks team member Frédéric Giroir from the French National Center for Scientific Research.

However, da Silva Barros emphasizes that changes are necessary from both users and AI companies. “It’s essential to consider implementing smaller models, even if some performance is sacrificed,” he asserts. “As companies develop new models, it is crucial that they provide information regarding their energy consumption patterns to help users assess their impact.”

Some AI firms are mitigating energy usage through a method known as model distillation, where a more extensive model trains a smaller, more efficient one. This approach is already showing significant benefits. Chris Priest from the University of Bristol, UK notes that Google recently claimed an advance in energy efficiency: 33 times more efficient measures with their Gemini model within the past year.

However, allowing users the option to select the most efficient models “is unlikely to significantly curb the energy consumption of data centers, as the authors suggest, particularly within the current AI landscape,” contends Priest. “By reducing energy per request, we can support a larger customer base more rapidly with enhanced inference capabilities,” he adds.

“Utilizing smaller models will undoubtedly decrease energy consumption in the short term, but various additional factors need consideration for any significant long-term predictions,” cautions Sasha Luccioni from Hugging Face. She highlights the importance of considering rebound effects, such as increased usage, alongside broader social and economic ramifications.

Luccioni points out that due to limited transparency from individual companies, research in this field often relies on external estimates and analyses. “What we need for more in-depth evaluations is greater transparency from AI firms, data center operators, and even governmental bodies,” she insists. “This will enable researchers and policymakers to make well-informed predictions and decisions.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Spotify Collaborates with Global Music Firm to Create ‘Responsible’ AI Solutions | Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Posted on October 16, 2025 by

Spotify has revealed a collaboration with the globe’s largest music enterprise to create “responsible” artificial intelligence tools that honor artists’ copyrights.

The leading music streaming service is teaming up with major labels Sony, Universal, and Warner to develop innovative AI solutions, featuring renowned artists like Beyoncé, Ed Sheeran, and Taylor Swift.

While Spotify has yet to disclose specifics about the new product, the company assures that artists will not be compelled to participate and that copyright protections will be upheld.

In a blog post announcing the partnership, Spotify pointedly referenced the radical views on copyright present in some segments of the tech industry. Ongoing tensions have already prompted three major labels to initiate lawsuits against AI companies that offer tools for generating music from user input.

“Some in the tech sector advocate for the elimination of copyright,” Spotify stated. “We do not. Artist rights are important. Copyrights are vital. Without leadership from the music industry, AI-driven innovations will occur elsewhere, lacking rights, consent, and fair compensation.”

Copyright, a legal protection preventing unauthorized use of one’s work, has become a contentious issue between creative sectors and technology firms. The tech industry often utilizes publicly accessible copyrighted material to build AI tools, such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Anthropic’s Claude.

Three key music companies are suing two AI music startups, Udio and Suno, for alleged copyright violations, alongside similar legal actions in other creative domains. Both Udio and Suno maintain that their technology aims to generate original music rather than replicate the works of specific artists.

Universal Music Group’s head, Sir Lucian Grainge, indicated in a memo to staff that the label will seek approval from artists before licensing their voices or songs to AI firms.

One notorious music deepfake emerged in 2023: “Heart on My Sleeve,” featuring AI-generated vocals by Drake and The Weeknd, was removed from streaming platforms after Universal criticized it as infringing on rights related to AI-generated content.

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With 276 million paid subscribers, Spotify also announced the establishment of an advanced generative AI research laboratory to create “innovative experiences” for fans and artists. The company from Stockholm stated that these products will open new revenue avenues for artists and songwriters, ensuring they receive fair compensation for their work while also providing clarity regarding their contributions.

In conjunction with its AI initiative, Spotify is also collaborating with Merlin, a digital rights organization for independent labels, and Believe, a French digital music label. Currently, Spotify employs AI to curate playlists and create customized DJs.

Leaders from the three prominent companies welcomed the agreement, with Sony Music Group Chairman Rob Stringer noting that this would necessitate direct licensing of artists’ work prior to introducing new products. Universal’s Grainge expressed his desire for a “thriving commercial ecosystem” in which both the music and tech industries can prosper. Warner Music Group’s Robert Kinkle voiced support for Spotify’s “considerate AI regulations.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

Del Toro’s Frankenstein: A Lavish Reimagining of the Timeless Tale

Posted on October 16, 2025 by

Oscar Isaac embodies the obsessive and charismatic Victor Frankenstein

Ken Woroner/Netflix

frankenstein
Directed by Guillermo del Toro, Now playing in selected cinemas in the UK and US, streaming on Netflix beginning November 7th

Guillermo del Toro has long been captivated by the intersections of science, mythology, and monsters. In his latest film, frankenstein, he finally explores Mary Shelley’s essential text—the 1818 novel widely regarded as the foundation of both science fiction and modern horror.

The outcome is visually lavish, delivered with intensity, and at times thought-provoking, though its pacing and certain design choices reflect the influence of Netflix, the film’s financier.

Shelley’s tale of Victor Frankenstein, the brilliant yet reckless scientist seeking to animate lifeless matter, remains one of the most poignant cautionary narratives regarding the allure and risks of scientific ambition. In del Toro’s rendition, Oscar Isaac portrays Victor as a charismatic and obsessive character, driven by his personal and intellectual struggles into unknown territories.

Isaac’s performance captures both arrogance and fragility, while the surrounding ensemble enriches the narrative. Charles Dance plays Victor’s authoritarian father, and Mia Goth delivers a standout performance as the poignant and compassionate Elizabeth Lavenza.

The film truly shines in the laboratory scenes. Del Toro, alongside production designer Tamara Deverell, crafts an environment echoing a 19th-century anatomical theater, equipped with towering instruments and rudimentary electrical devices. The representations of anatomy and experimental medicine are stylized, yet maintain an element of realism. Authenticity is embedded in the nuances of ligation, scalpel usage, and surgical procedures.

However, Victor’s excess may risk the film’s realism. The abundance of fresh corpses at his disposal stretches believability, yet his actions resonate with Romantic-era debates on electricity, vitalism, and the boundaries of life and death.

The creature, created and forsaken by Victor (played by Jacob Elordi), deviates from the iconic giant with a neck bolt seen in the 1931 film frankenstein. Instead, we encounter a leaner, scarred figure brought to life through prosthetics and CGI. While effective, certain close-ups—particularly when the creature lies still—evoke discomfort due to his jawline. Additionally, his appearance, imbued with a brooding “emo” aesthetic, aligns more closely with contemporary tastes than Shelley’s 19th-century context.

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The film’s visuals present chiaroscuro depictions of captivating laboratories and landscapes.
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In many ways, this aesthetic continues the early films’ fascination with biology as bricolage, viewing the body as a site for transformation, as seen in water shape. Even through a modern lens, this creature exemplifies our enduring interest in reconstructing life from remnants—a scientific ambition that remains as mesmerizing today as it was in Shelley’s era.

Story-wise, frankenstein may falter in places. Del Toro dedicates his 150 minutes of screen time to Victor’s formative years, intellectual development, and gradual immersion into his quest for conquering death. While this extensive focus fleshes out Victor’s psyche, it may result in a sluggish pacing that some viewers could find overly drawn-out. Additionally, the creature’s strength—capable of lifting a ship as if it were driftwood—runs the risk of exaggeration, potentially undermining the film’s serious examination of scientific potential.

Nevertheless, the central theme remains pressing. In the end, frankenstein is less about the mechanics of resurrection and more about society’s response to the unfamiliar. The film dazzles with consistent visual allure, featuring Dan Laustsen’s cinematography that highlights chiaroscuro scenes of both laboratories and landscapes, along with Alexandre Desplat’s score oscillating between eerie crescendos and tender motifs of longing.

Del Toro’s oeuvre includes various ambitious projects; however, frankenstein stands as a sincere and provocative exploration of one of science’s most profound fables. It compels us to question not only whether we can engineer life, but also whether we can coexist with what we’ve created.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Italian News Publisher Urges Investigation into Google’s AI Overview | Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Posted on October 16, 2025 by

An Italian news publisher is urging an investigation into Google’s AI profile, asserting that the search engine’s AI-generated summary feature is a “traffic killer” that jeopardizes its survival. FIEG, the federation representing Italian newspapers, has formally lodged a complaint with Agcom, Italy’s communications watchdog.

Similar grievances have emerged in other EU countries. Coordinated by the European Newspaper Association, the initiative aims to prompt the European Commission to investigate Google under the EU Digital Services Act. One of the primary concerns for European news organizations is the threat posed by AI summaries, which condense search results into text blocks at the top of results pages, offering information without requiring users to click through to the original source.

FIEG expressed particular anxiety regarding newer AI models that gather information from various sources and present it as a chatbot. The federation argues that Google’s services “violate fundamental provisions of the Digital Services Act and negatively impact Italian users, consumers, and businesses.”

“Google is becoming a traffic killer,” FIEG stated, highlighting that these products not only compete directly with content from publishers but also “reduce visibility, discoverability, and ultimately advertising revenue.”

“This, along with the risks associated with a lack of transparency and the spread of disinformation in democratic discussions, poses serious challenges to the financial sustainability and diversity of the media,” the statement continued.

A study released in July by the UK-based analytics firm Authoritas indicated that Google’s AI Overviews, introduced last year, decreased click-through rates by as much as 80%. This study was submitted as part of a legal complaint to the UK competition regulator about the impact of Google AI Overview, which also revealed that links to YouTube—owned by Google’s parent company Alphabet—were more prominently displayed than in traditional search results.

A second study from the US think tank Pew Research Center showed a significant decline in referral traffic from Google AI Overview, with users only clicking on a link under AI Overview once in every 100 attempts. Google responded by claiming the study was based on inaccurate and flawed methodology.

Google AI Overview made its debut in Italy in March. In September, Italy became the first EU country to enact comprehensive legislation regulating artificial intelligence, including restrictions on access for children and potential prison sentences for harmful uses, such as generating deepfakes. Giorgia Meloni’s government asserted that the legislation aligns with the EU’s groundbreaking AI law and represents a decisive action that will shape the use of AI in Italy.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Mathematicians Uncover a ‘Reset Button’ to Reverse Rotation

Posted on October 16, 2025 by

Can I put the top back on?

Shutterstock

Picture a spinning top coming to a halt. Is it possible to make it spin again and return to its original position, as if no movement had occurred? Surprisingly, mathematicians affirm that there is a universal method to revert the rotation of nearly any object.

It seems that the sole method to reverse a complicated rotation sequence is to meticulously execute the exact reverse motion, one step at a time. However, Jean Pierre Eckmann from the University of Geneva, alongside Tzvi Trusty and a research team from South Korea’s Ulsan Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), discovered a concealed reset mechanism that modifies the initial rotation by a common scaling factor and applies this process twice.

For a spinning top, if it makes three-quarters of a turn during its first spin, you can apply an eighth scaling to retrace your steps back to the start and repeat that sequence again to achieve another quarter turn. Yet, Eckmann and Trusty have shown that this principle applies to much more intricate scenarios.

“Essentially, this property extends to nearly any rotating object, including spins, qubits, gyroscopes, and robotic arms,” Trusty explains. “You merely need to scale all rotation angles by the same factor and replicate this complex pathway twice, navigating through an intricate trajectory in space before returning to the origin.”

Their mathematical proof stems from a comprehensive catalog of all potential rotations in three-dimensional space, known as SO(3), which follows specific rules. This can be visualized as an abstract mathematical space resembling a ball. Transporting an object through various rotations in physical space translates to moving from one point to another within this ball, akin to a bug tunneling through an apple.

When a piece undergoes a complicated rotation, its corresponding trajectory in SO(3) may initiate at the center of the ball and terminate at different points within, depending on the intricacies of the rotation. The objective of reversing this rotation is akin to discovering a route back to the center, yet given that there is only one center within the ball, randomly accomplishing this is improbable.

Some of the many paths that can be taken through the mathematical space SO(3). Corresponds to rotation sequences in real space.

Tzvi Trusty

Eckmann and Trusty realized that due to the structure of SO(3), halting a rotation midway is analogous to finding a path that ends on any point on the ball’s surface. Because the surface comprises numerous points, Trusty notes that this approach is significantly more straightforward than directly targeting the center. This insight led to a new proof.

Eckmann mentioned that they invested considerable time unraveling mathematical tensions that yielded no results. The breakthrough came from a 19th-century formula that merged the two successive rotations, known as Rodriguez’s formula, along with an 1889 theorem in number theory. Ultimately, the researchers concluded that a scaling factor is nearly always necessary for resetting.

For Eckmann, this latest research exemplifies the richness of mathematics, even in seemingly familiar domains like rotation studies. Trusty pointed out potential practical outcomes, such as in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), which underpins magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Researchers assess material and tissue properties by examining the behavior of internal quantum spins under the influence of external magnetic fields. The new proof could pave the way for strategies to negate unwanted spin rotations that disrupt the imaging process.

The findings could also spur advancements in robotics, says Josie Hughes at the Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, Switzerland. For instance, a rolling robot may be developed to navigate a path comprising repetitive segments, featuring a reliable roll-reset-roll motion that could theoretically continue indefinitely. “Visualize a robot that could transition between any solid form and subsequently follow any desired trajectory through shape transformation,” she envisions.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Barrister Discovers AI Assistance in Hearing Preparation After Referencing ‘Hypothetical’ Case

Posted on October 16, 2025 by

A judge discovered that an immigration barrister had utilized AI for his court proceedings by referencing “completely fabricated” or “entirely irrelevant” cases.

Chaudhry Rahman was reported to have employed tools like ChatGPT in preparing for legal inquiries, as presented in court. It was revealed that Rahman not only relied on AI for his preparations but also “failed to perform necessary accuracy checks” on his work.

Superior Court Judge Mark Blundell stated that Rahman attempted to obscure his use of AI, effectively “wasting” the court’s time. Blundell indicated he might report Rahman to the Bar Standards Board. The Guardian has reached out to Rahman’s firm for a response.

This situation emerged during the case involving two Honduran sisters seeking asylum due to threats from criminal groups in their homeland. Rahman represented the sisters, aged 29 and 35, and the matter progressed to Superior Court.

Mr. Blundell dismissed Mr. Rahman’s claims, asserting: “Nothing articulated by Mr. Rahman, either verbally or in writing, indicates any legal error by the judge, and the appeal should be rejected.”

In an exceptional statement, Blundell later noted there were “significant issues” with the appeal’s grounds as presented to him.

He remarked that Rahman’s documentation referenced 12 authorities, but upon reviewing the evidence, he discovered that “some of these authorities did not exist, while others did not substantiate the legal claims made in the evidence.”

In his ruling, he enumerated 10 such instances and clarified “what Mr. Rahman claimed regarding those incidents, whether real or hypothetical.”

Mr. Blundell remarked: “Mr. Rahman appeared to lack any knowledge of the authorities cited in the appeal, which were purportedly resolved in July of this year. It was evident he did not intend to accept my views on any of the judgments submitted.”

“Certain decisions were nonexistent. Not a single decision supported the legal proposition presented in the basis.”

Mr. Blundell pointed out that Mr. Rahman’s assertion of using “various websites” for his research was thus deceptive.

Blundell asserted: “The most plausible explanation…is that the appeal grounds were drafted, wholly or partly, by generative artificial intelligence like ChatGPT.”

“I am acutely aware that one of the cases mentioned in Mr. Rahman’s appeal was recently misapplied by ChatGPT to endorse a similar argument.”

Rahman explained to the judge that the discrepancies in his rationale were “a consequence of his drafting style” and admitted there might have been some “confusion and ambiguity” in his submission.

Mr. Blundell stated: “The issue I’ve outlined is not merely a matter of drafting style. The authorities referenced in the rationale either did not exist or failed to support that rationale.”

He added: “In my opinion, it is overwhelmingly probable that Mr. Rahman employed generative artificial intelligence to formulate his grounds of appeal in this case and endeavored to conceal that from me during the hearing.”

“Even if Mr. Rahman believed, for any reason, that these cases somehow bolstered the argument he intended to present, he cannot justify the entirely fictitious citations.”

“In my view, the only plausible scenario is that Mr. Rahman heavily relied on AI generation while preparing his evidence and sought to hide that fact during discussions with me at the hearing.”

The judge’s ruling was issued in September and made public on Tuesday.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Prohibiting Phones in Schools Might Negatively Impact Certain Students’ Mental Well-Being

Posted on October 16, 2025 by

Some schools mandate that students store their cell phones in lockers throughout the school day.

Robin Utrecht/Shutterstock

Concerns about the adverse effects of excessive screen time are growing. Specifically, phone usage in educational settings can detract from learning experiences. However, some studies indicate that outright banning smartphones from schools can lead to feelings of loneliness among students, at least initially.

“When a school opts to completely prohibit smartphones, several factors should be considered,” explains Sanyogita Kare from Radboud University in the Netherlands. “Socially vulnerable youth may face additional challenges, leading to a possible sense of estrangement from peers.”

Mobile phones and similar devices have been linked to various issues, ranging from declining academic performance to worsening mental health among adolescents. However, there is a lack of concrete evidence supporting these claims. As of January 1, 2024, the Netherlands has instituted a ban on the use of smartphones and other smart devices in classrooms. Many schools enforce strict rules, prohibiting students from using such devices at all during class and often requiring that they be stored in lockers.

Seeking to unravel this impact, Carré and colleagues conducted a study with students from two middle schools in the Netherlands, both of which disallow smartphone usage during class. Surveys were administered initially in December 2023, prior to the nationwide ban, and repeated in March or April 2024.

The researchers aimed to analyze two types of loneliness: social loneliness and emotional loneliness. “Social loneliness pertains to your overall network and feelings of group belonging,” states Carre. “Emotional loneliness speaks to the depth of connection in close friendships.”

Upon comparing loneliness rates before and after the ban, findings were mixed. “Though we did not observe a significant change in social loneliness, there was a slight uptick in psychological loneliness,” Carre mentions. This surge may occur if some classmates are absent, thereby limiting students’ ability to connect with close friends during the school day.

The research also revealed that while the general sense of social loneliness didn’t rise among children, those who found social interactions more challenging were likely to feel increased loneliness. Carre notes that these impacts might not be long-lasting as students adjust to the ban over time.

A limitation of the study is that there was no comparison made with other Dutch schools where regulations are more lenient, such as allowing phones during breaks. Jonathan Canter from RAND, a U.S. nonprofit research organization, states, “To draw meaningful comparisons, we need data from similar students in schools without prohibition. Without that, we can’t ascertain whether our findings reflect broader patterns.”

Both Carre and Cantor express that there’s a gap in fundamental data regarding the effects of phone bans in schools. Canter and his team have recently attempted to address this issue by looking into voluntary bans on phones in U.S. schools.

They discovered significant variability in policies; certain schools enforce total bans on phones, while others permit their use at the discretion of teachers. In the UK, government guidelines suggest the use of phones in schools but leave the final decision to the discretion of school leaders regarding whether these devices should be banned.

“The pressing issue is the need for rigorous evaluations to assess the effectiveness of these policies at the school level. This requires detailed data on the types and timing of policies implemented,” Kanter states. “This is the focal point of current analysis efforts.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

ROG Xbox Ally X Review: A Unique Handheld Gaming Experience, for Better or Worse

Posted on October 16, 2025 by

TThe ROG Xbox Ally X, a handheld console resulting from a partnership between Asus and Microsoft, stands out as an impressive yet costly gaming device. The sleek all-black ROG Xbox Ally X, set to launch on October 16th, is the pricier of the two portable gaming options at £799 (€899/$999/AU$1599). (In comparison, the less powerful ROG Xbox Ally in white is priced at £499/€599/$599/AU$999.) Fortunately, the higher price tag brings with it enhanced features and performance.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been enjoying the ROG Xbox Ally X while navigating through various indie hits and major RPGs throughout my home. Although its price is quite eye-catching (consider that its main rival, the Steam Deck OLED, starts at £479/€569/$549/AU$899), the power contained within its compact dimensions (291 x 122 x 51 mm) is truly unparalleled in the portable gaming sector.

This remarkable power, combined with the capability to stream Xbox titles via cloud gaming and the Play Anywhere initiative (interconnecting purchases between Xbox and PC), allows access to a diverse array of PC games from various storefronts, appealing to both Xbox enthusiasts and portable gaming fans. While I encountered a few minor glitches and user interface hiccups during my time with the ROG Xbox Ally X, most were easily rectifiable and quickly became forgotten as I immersed myself in gameplay.

Play at home or on the go…ROG Xbox Ally X. Photo: ROG

Setting up ROG Xbox Ally X

Configuring the ROG Xbox Ally X is a straightforward task. The device launches a full-screen Xbox experience that replicates both the Xbox console and PC app environments; however, as a handheld operating on Windows 11, it requires an initial update before usage, which took a bit of time. This might feel unusual for a gaming handheld, given the pop-up notifications and prompts typical of a standard Windows setup.

On the first day, despite promptly adding my Xbox account, the device indicated that I lacked Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Microsoft’s highest-tier gaming subscription service, and my efforts to relink the account proved fruitless. Strangely, it randomly began functioning correctly the next day. I also faced issues connecting to my home Wi-Fi upon waking the device from sleep mode, yet this too rectified itself after the first 24 hours.

Once I successfully connected my various accounts (the ability to download PC game launchers like Steam, Epic Games Store, and Blizzard’s Battle.net is a benefit of being a Windows handheld), the ROG Xbox Ally X operated quite efficiently.

A handy feature allows direct access to the familiar Xbox user interface while aggregating games from other launchers for seamless transitions back to your gameplay, regardless of where it’s hosted.

However, should you be playing a Steam game, switching back to the Xbox-only launcher and starting a game from a different store requires taking note that ROG Xbox Ally X does not automatically close the previously opened game, nor does it ask if you wish to do so, which can affect performance. There were instances when the Xbox interface lagged or became unresponsive to my inputs.

At times, the handheld experienced difficulties downloading an RPG, repeatedly disconnecting whenever idle, necessitating a manual restart of the process. Nevertheless, subsequent to rebooting, the remaining files downloaded successfully.

Switching between applications…ROG Xbox Ally X. Photo: ROG

ROG Xbox Ally performance

I remain hopeful that these issues can be addressed with a simple user interface (UI) update. With a bit of attention, the ROG Xbox Ally X demonstrates exceptional performance. Although it shows some sluggishness when starting up with a low battery level (below 15%), titles like Hades II, Supergiant Games’ acclaimed roguelike sequel, load quickly and run flawlessly with negligible load times between areas. Heavier games like Avowed and traditional PC favorites such as Backyard Baseball maintain outstanding performance with impressive frame rates and rapid load times.

While the ROG Xbox Ally X lacks an OLED screen, the 7-inch, 1080p display more than compensates with stunning visuals. The vibrant details of Hades II’s nearly stationary characters are a visual delight. The first time Moon Goddess Selene appeared adorned in a luminous gown of blue and seafoam green, it was a breathtaking moment.

Xbox and Asus have strategically allocated some system resources for heightened frame rates, a decision that pays off in visually demanding games like Hades II. You’ll never be left so overwhelmed by the action that you lose track of the battle at hand.

The audio experience is equally immersive. In a particular sequence in Hades II, as I strolled past the goddess Artemis in a moonlit glade, I could hear her singing softly from the left speaker, signifying her presence even when out of view—such lovely details truly stand out.

Regarding its appearance, the ROG Xbox Ally X may initially seem peculiar, resembling two halves of an Xbox controller fused with a screen, yet the matte black finish is visually attractive, and the adjustable LED lights accentuating the joysticks add to the gaming aesthetic.

Powerful hardware…ROG Xbox Ally X. Photo: ROG

Game on the go or on the couch

Throughout my experience with the ROG Xbox Ally X, I’ve utilized it while lying in bed, relaxing on the couch, leaning against the kitchen counter waiting for pasta water to boil, and sitting at my desk during writing breaks. Initially, after just 10 minutes of use this summer, I questioned whether the relatively large handheld would be comfortable for extended sessions. Surprisingly, it remained comfortable to hold even after hours of gameplay. Although weighing in at 715g, it is heavier than the less powerful ROG Xbox Ally (670g) and Steam Deck OLED (640g), the difference in weight is minor, especially given how ergonomic the controller-like grips are. The only discomfort arose when I propped it against the couch without any elbow or wrist support, which caused some strain on my pinky finger due to bearing the weight.

The battery life is commendable considering the specifications (80Wh, surpassing the ROG Xbox Ally’s 60Wh). I was able to play Hades II for a solid two hours without hitches. After 20 minutes of gameplay at 22% battery, it only dropped to 10%. Although some components of the handheld warmed up during extended play, it never reached a point of overheating.

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ROG Xbox Ally X game library

In terms of gaming, this device ingeniously utilizes the Xbox Play Anywhere initiative. This reflects Microsoft’s efforts to enable access to games across multiple devices, allowing gameplay on PC, Xbox consoles, and the ROG Xbox Ally handheld, all while retaining your progress, with access to over 1,000 available Xbox and Xbox Game Pass games.

Having formerly owned a Steam Deck and been a long-term Xbox Game Pass subscriber, the ROG Xbox Ally X represents the ideal handheld console for me. I favor the feel of an Xbox controller, and this device captures that essence perfectly. It allows me to access my Xbox Game Pass library to experiment with new titles, all while offering portability. Plus, for Play Anywhere titles, which a majority of the games are, there’s no need to stress over internet access.

If you have the budget and seek a robust gaming handheld capable of not only playing PC games from your favorite digital platform but also an extensive selection of Xbox games, the ROG Xbox Ally X could be an excellent investment for the year-end splurge.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Can Cells Form in Venus’s Clouds? – Cyworthy

Posted on October 16, 2025 by

Venus, the second planet from the Sun, is often called Earth’s sister planet. If extraterrestrial observers on a remote exoplanet were to analyze our solar system with the same methods used by observers on Earth today, the two planets would appear strikingly similar. Both are rocky, with nearly identical diameters and masses, and both exist within or near the solar system’s habitable zone. However, only one of them is known to support life.

A significant difference between the two planets—and a likely reason for the first—is their atmospheric compositions. Earth’s atmosphere comprises approximately 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen, whereas Venus’ atmosphere consists of more than 96% carbon dioxide. In the distant past, volcanic activity released this carbon dioxide, triggering an uncontrollable greenhouse effect. This process, coupled with Venus’ proximity to the Sun, has driven its surface temperature to a searing 500°C (900°F).

Harold Morowitz and Carl Sagan first observed in 1967 that although Venus’ barren surfaces may be inhospitable to life as we know it, its clouds present “an entirely different story,” according to Morowitz. The upper atmosphere of Venus contains low levels of water vapor and cloud regions characterized by extreme temperatures and pressures. These conditions could potentially support some types of terrestrial microorganisms and have led scientists to investigate the clouds of Venus. In the 1970s, these clouds were found to be primarily composed of sulfuric acid, which is considered incompatible with life. Nevertheless, a controversial detection of phosphine—gases found in Venus’ clouds that could be produced by microbes on Earth—has prompted some astrobiologists to reevaluate this notion of habitability. This has opened discussions on potential habitability.

Previously, researchers established that biomolecules such as the nucleic acids forming DNA can remain stable for up to one year in sulfuric acid concentrations ranging from 81% to 98%. To advance this research, scientists at the University of Chicago have recently tested whether more complex organic structures can also form in concentrated sulfuric acid.

They began with a set of carbon-based molecules known as lipids. Lipids serve as the foundation of cell membranes, acting as a barrier to the external environment and regulating what enters and exits the cell. The research team contended that cell membranes are essential for life, especially under extreme conditions like those present in Venus’ clouds. Thus, they evaluated whether simple lipids could create membranous structures called vesicles in concentrated sulfuric acid.

Membrane lipids feature one side that is attracted to water, known as the hydrophilic side, and another that repels water, termed the hydrophobic side (Figure below, left). The hydrophilic side consists of long carbon chains, referred to as tails, while the hydrophobic side comprises charged compounds known as polar heads. In cell membranes, lipids are arranged in bilayers, with hydrophilic tails oriented inwards and hydrophobic heads facing outwards (Figure below, right). The research team selected simple, commercially available lipids with tails of 10 or 18 carbon atoms and polar heads of trimethylamine, sulfate, and phosphonate. These tailed lipids were chosen for their solubility and ability to form membrane structures due to their hydrophobic nature.

Illustration of a single simple lipid (left) and stacked lipids forming a cell membrane structure (right). Created by the author.

To assess the lipids’ resilience against sulfuric acid, various concentrations of each 10-carbon lipid were incubated in 1%, 30%, and 70% sulfuric acid for a minimum of 1 hour at room temperature. Utilizing a method that evaluates molecular structures based on their magnetic properties, they examined how increasing acid concentrations affected the lipids. Results indicated that trimethylamine and phosphonate lipids remained stable in up to 70% sulfuric acid, although around 20% of the sulfate head degraded.

The researchers then explored whether the lipids could form vesicles in these sulfuric acid solutions. They prepared lipid mixtures across varying concentrations in 70% to 90% sulfuric acid, measuring the particle size of the lipid-acid mixture using light scattering techniques. They discovered that a 50/50 blend of 10-carbon or 18-carbon lipids produced particles comparable in size to typical vesicles in 70% and 80% sulfuric acid solutions, with these particles maintaining stability even after a week.

Upon examination under a high-powered microscope, the lipid particles formed foam-like vesicles. Lastly, numerical models illustrated that the charged ends of lipid and acid molecules interact at the molecular level to help stabilize the vesicles and prevent the entry of acid.

The researchers concluded that simple lipids can create stable membrane-like structures in sulfuric acid concentrations similar to those found in Venusian clouds. They recommended that future studies conduct laboratory experiments to validate the molecular model and ascertain whether lipid membranes can effectively block sulfuric acid. These scientists are beginning to formulate a clearer picture of the potential types of life that could exist within the cloud layers of Venus, although that picture remains largely incomplete.

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Source: sciworthy.com

Study Reveals Plug-In Hybrids Emit Nearly the Same Pollution as Gasoline Vehicles

Posted on October 16, 2025 by

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) release nearly five times more greenhouse gas emissions than reported statistics suggest. I found a report detailing this issue.

These vehicles can operate on electric batteries as well as internal combustion engines and have been promoted by European manufacturers as a means to travel longer distances while lowering emissions—offering an alternative to fully electric cars.

Research indicates that PHEVs emit just 19% less CO₂. An analysis from the nonprofit organization Transport and Environment was released on Thursday, showing laboratory tests estimated 75% less pollution.

Researchers examined data from fuel consumption meters in 800,000 vehicles registered in Europe between 2021 and 2023, discovering that the real carbon dioxide emissions from PHEVs in 2023 were 4.9 times greater than those from standardized lab tests, an increase from 3.5 times in 2021.

“While official emissions are declining, actual emissions are on the rise,” remarked Sofia Navas Goelke, a researcher at the Institute for Transport and Environment and co-author of the report. “This widening gap is becoming a significant issue. Consequently, PHEVs are now polluting nearly as much as traditional petrol vehicles.”

The researchers identified that much of this disparity stems from an overestimation of the “utility factor” (the proportion of miles driven in electric mode compared to total miles), finding that only 27% of driving was done in electric mode, versus the official estimate of 84%. The analysis noted that the European Commission proposed two amendments to the utility coefficient ratio, which lessened the gap but didn’t eliminate it entirely.

Even when operating in electric mode, pollution levels were found to be significantly higher than official figures suggest. Researchers indicated this was due to the electric motor being insufficient for sole operation, with the engine burning fossil fuels for almost one-third of the distance traveled in electric mode.

Patrick Plotz, head of energy economics at the Fraunhofer Institute for System Innovation, who did not participate in the study, described it as a “very useful contribution” to ongoing discussions, as some in the automotive industry have claimed there’s insufficient data to accurately gauge real emissions.

“Without a doubt, the disparity between official and actual fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions for PHEVs is substantial,” Plotz remarked. “Their emissions are much higher than those of gasoline or diesel cars,” referring to the study on the topic. “Any policy adjustments regarding PHEVs should be thoughtfully considered in the context of this data.”

Hybrid vehicles have re-entered political discourse as automakers urge the EU to ease carbon emission targets. The push to ban new internal combustion engine vehicles by 2035 is facing strong lobbying from the auto sector, along with resistance from member states with significant automotive industries.

“There should be no significant reductions in 2035,” stated German Chancellor Friedrich Merz following a summit with Germany’s struggling automotive sector, committing to “do everything possible in 2035.” Other senior German leaders have cited plug-in hybrids as an example of “flexibility” that could be integrated into the legislation.

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Researchers calculated that the undervaluation of PHEV emissions artificially facilitated compliance with the EU’s average vehicle CO2 regulations, enabling four major car manufacturers to evade over €5 billion (around £4.3 billion) in fines between 2021 and 2023. The study indicated that PHEV drivers are likely to incur approximately €500 more in annual running costs than expectations based on lab tests.

“The exaggerated claims made by manufacturers regarding their plug-in hybrid vehicles are clearly misleading,” observed Colin Walker, a transportation analyst at Energy and Climate Intelligence.

“Consumers are misled into thinking that by choosing a PHEV, they are aiding the environment and saving money,” he pointed out. “In reality, PHEVs are only marginally more efficient than regular petrol and diesel vehicles concerning fuel and CO₂ consumption, resulting in higher operation costs.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

Unveiling a New Ice Phase: Ice XXI

Posted on October 16, 2025 by

Researchers have shown that hypercompressed water can undergo various freeze-thaw processes to convert into ice VI at room temperature, facilitated by a previously unidentified metastable ice form known as ice XXI.

Small ice crystals XXI formed through a nucleation and slow melting process. Image credit: Lee et al., doi: 10.1038/s41563-025-02364-x.

Water consists of only two elements, yet it has numerous polymorphs ranging from Ice Ih to Ice XX, along with four amorphous phases.

The exploration of formation and migration pathways for various water phases has captivated scientists for a century, especially in high-pressure physics and the quest for extraterrestrial life on icy moons.

“Water exhibits remarkable complexity in its solid forms,” stated Dr. Lee Geun-woo from the Korea Institute of Standards and Science and the National University of Science and Technology.

“Most phases are typically found under conditions of high pressure and low temperature.”

“When water is compressed rapidly, it can remain in a liquid state even under high pressures where it would normally crystallize into ice VI.”

“Ice VI is particularly fascinating, as it is believed to exist within icy moons like Titan and Ganymede.”

“Its highly distorted structure may facilitate intricate transition pathways that lead to metastable ice forms.”

“Most ice variants can only be observed under extreme conditions; hence, we utilized a diamond anvil cell to create these high-pressure conditions.”

“In this setup, the water sample is positioned between two diamonds, which can withstand and apply immense pressure.”

“The water was subjected to pressures as high as 2 gigapascals, roughly 20,000 times greater than typical atmospheric pressure.”

“This allows for ice formation even at room temperature, with molecules packed more tightly than in conventional ice.”

To examine ice formation under varied pressure conditions, researchers initially produced high pressures of 2 gigapascals in just 10 milliseconds.

They then took 1 second to release the anvil cell and repeated this procedure.

During these cycles, the scientists utilized Europe’s XFEL’s X-ray flashes to capture images of the sample every microsecond.

With extremely high X-ray pulse rates, they could even create videos illustrating the formation of ice structures.

Using PETRA III’s P02.2 beamline, the researchers confirmed that ice XXI possesses a tetragonal crystal structure composed of unusually large repeating units known as a unit cell.

“The unique X-ray pulses from Europe’s XFEL revealed multiple crystallization pathways in rapidly compressed and depressurized water over 1,000 times using a dynamic diamond anvil cell,” Dr. Lee explained.

“In this specialized pressure cell, the sample is squeezed between the tips of two opposing diamond anvils, following a defined pressure trajectory,” said Dr. Cornelius Strom from the Deutsche Electron Synchrotron.

“The crystallization structure of liquid water is influenced by the degree of supercompression,” added Dr. Lee.

“Our results hint at the potential existence of more high-temperature metastable ice phases and the related transition pathways, offering new insights into the compositions of icy satellites,” remarked Dr. Rachel Husband, also from the Deutsche Electron Synchrotron.

These findings were published in a magazine on October 10th in Nature Materials.

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YH. Lee et al. Multiple freeze-thaw paths of dense ice through the ice XXI phase at room temperature. Nat. Mater. published online on October 10, 2025. doi: 10.1038/s41563-025-02364-x

Source: www.sci.news

Newly Discovered Carnivorous Dinosaur Species from the Triassic Period Identified in Argentina

Posted on October 16, 2025 by

New genus and species of theropod dinosaur named Antebi Sukuri Longs has been reported by a team of researchers from the National University of San Juan, the Bernardino Rivadavia Museum of Natural Sciences, the University of Birmingham, CONICET, and CIGEOBIO.

Reconstruction of Antebi Sukuri Longs. Image credit: Jorge Blanco.

Antebi Sukuri Longs inhabited the Earth during the Carnian period of the late Triassic, approximately 231 to 226 million years ago.

This dinosaur measured about 1.2 meters (4 feet) in length and weighed around 8 to 9 kilograms.

The species represents an early-diverging theropod outside the Neoheteropod group, with functional traits previously believed to be exclusive to that classification surprisingly derived.

“This is among the oldest and most primitive dinosaurs yet discovered,” stated Dr. Ricardo Martinez from San Juan National University and his team.

“The early diversification of dinosaurs triggered significant ecological transformations in terrestrial ecosystems, culminating in the dominance of dinosaurs in tetrapod populations by the Triassic-Jurassic boundary 201 million years ago.”

“Therefore, investigating the early diversification of dinosaurs is crucial for understanding the formation of Mesozoic populations.”

“Nonetheless, the absence of stratigraphically continuous fossil data in different geological formations, where the oldest known dinosaurs (dating from 233 to 227 million years ago) are found, has hindered our comprehension of this early diversification.”

Paleontologists uncovered fossilized remains of Antebi Sukuri Longs—including a partial skeleton and skull—discovered in 2014 within the Izquiguarasto formation in northwestern Argentina.

“Few locations in the world offer such ancient and well-preserved fossils,” Martinez remarked.

“One notable site is the Santa María Formation in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, and the other is the Izquiguarasto Formation.”

Antebi Sukuri Longs thrived around 2 million years after Earth’s formation in a warm, arid savannah, experiencing episodes from the Carnian rainy season.

“We demonstrate that dinosaur diversity and abundance in the Iskigualast Formation were greater than previously acknowledged, particularly among smaller herbivores (under 30 kg) and medium-sized predators (30 kg to 200 kg),” the researchers stated.

“This diversification took place in Iskigualast during a transition to semi-arid conditions, but a return to wetter conditions created a gap in the dinosaur record beginning around 229 million years ago.”

“Only 15 million years later, during the mid-Norian period, the abundance and diversity of dinosaurs in the basin rebounded, this time characterized by larger-bodied species.”

“Our findings suggest that early dinosaur diversification was interrupted by climate-induced faunal replacement, at least in southwestern Pangea.”

A paper detailing this discovery was published in this week’s edition of Nature Ecology and Evolution.

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RN Martinez et al. Carnian theropods with unexpectedly derived features during the initial radiation of dinosaurs. Nat Ecol Evol published online October 14, 2025. doi: 10.1038/s41559-025-02868-4

Source: www.sci.news

Ancient Lead Exposure Could Have Shaped Brain Evolution

Posted on October 16, 2025 by

Homo sapiens may have developed greater tolerance to lead exposure compared to other hominids

frantic00/Shutterstock

Research on fossilized teeth indicates that ancient humans were exposed to harmful lead for over two million years, suggesting that modern humans might have adapted to handle this toxic metal more effectively than their predecessors.

Traditionally, lead poisoning was associated with modern issues such as industrialization, poor mining techniques, and lead additives in fuels. Fortunately, efforts to phase out lead exposure have been underway since the 1980s.

This toxin is particularly harmful to children, hindering physical and cognitive growth, while adults may experience a range of serious physical and mental health issues.

Dr. Renaud Joanne Bois and colleagues from Southern Cross University in Lismore, Australia, aimed to investigate whether our ancient ancestors faced similar lead exposure.

They examined 51 fossilized hominin teeth, representing species such as Australopithecus africanus, Paranthropus robustus, Gigantopithecus black, Homo neanderthalensis, and Homo sapiens. The fossils were sourced from regions including Australia, Southeast Asia, China, South Africa, and France.

The research team utilized laser ablation techniques to identify lead concentrations in the teeth, revealing layers of lead that accumulated during the growth of these hominids. This exposure could be attributed to environmental contaminants, such as polluted water, soil, or volcanic eruptions.

Dr. Joanne Boyau noted the surprising levels of lead discovered within the teeth. For instance, Gigantopithecus, a massive ancestral relative of today’s orangutans, primarily lived in what is now China. “If current humans exhibit similar lead levels, it indicates considerable exposure from industrial activities,” she remarked.

The research then shifted focus to understanding how both modern humans and Neanderthals managed lead exposure. The team created lab-grown brain models called organoids to analyze differences in the NOVA1 gene in both species, subsequently assessing the effects of lead neurotoxicity on these organoids.

“Our findings indicate that modern NOVA1 is significantly less impacted by lead neurotoxicity,” states Joannes Boyau.

Crucially, when archaic organoids expressed NOVA1 under lead exposure, another gene, Fox P2 exhibited notable differences.

“These genes are linked to cognitive functions, language, and social bonding,” explains Joannes-Boyau. “The diminished neurotoxicity in modern humans compared to Neanderthals could provide a crucial evolutionary advantage.” This suggests that lead exposure has influenced our evolutionary history.

However, Dr. Tanya Smith from Griffith University in Brisbane, Australia, remains cautious about the conclusions drawn by the researchers regarding lead exposure levels or potential evolutionary benefits inferred from their organoid studies.

“This paper is complex and makes speculative claims,” Smith emphasizes. “While it seems logical that ancient humans and wild primates faced some level of lead exposure, the limited scope and variety of fossils studied do not necessarily demonstrate that our ancestors were consistently exposed to lead over two million years.”

Exploring Neanderthals and Ancient Humans in France

Join New Scientist’s Kate Douglas on an engaging exploration of significant Neanderthal and Upper Paleolithic sites across southern France, spanning from Bordeaux to Montpellier.

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Human Evolution/
Ancient Humans

Source: www.newscientist.com

What Enhancements Are Coming in the Next Generation of mRNA Vaccines?

Posted on October 15, 2025 by

Computer illustration of a cross-section (orange strands) of a lipid nanoparticle carrying viral mRNA

Science Photo Library / Alamy

Virus-like vaccines typically trigger strong immune reactions; however, mRNA versions are significantly quicker and less expensive to manufacture. We now benefit from mRNA vaccines that encode for virus-like nanoparticles instead of individual proteins, as is the case with current COVID-19 mRNA vaccines.

Grace Hendricks and her team at the University of Washington in Seattle have demonstrated that an mRNA version of a coronavirus nanoparticle vaccine provokes immune responses in mice that are up to 28 times stronger than those elicited by standard mRNA vaccines.

According to Hendricks, some mild but unpleasant side effects of mRNA vaccines result from the body’s immediate response to the injected mRNA and the lipid particles encapsulating it. A more potent vaccine could enable lower dosages. “This means we can maintain the essential immune response while reducing the dose, thus minimizing side effects,” she explains.

The first vaccine was comprised of a weakened “live” virus and is highly effective, yet poses risks for individuals with compromised immune systems. This was followed by inactivated vaccines containing “dead” viruses, which are safer but challenging to produce.

The advancement continued with protein subunit vaccines that generally include only the exterior proteins of the virus. These are even safer than inactivated vaccines, but airborne proteins often fail to induce robust immune responses.

As a solution, vaccine developers began embedding viral proteins into tiny spheres to create spiky structures resembling viruses to the immune system, yet as safe as protein subunit vaccines. This is achieved by modifying existing proteins to self-assemble into small spheres with protruding viral proteins known as vaccine nanoparticles.

During the pandemic, Hendricks’s colleagues worked on a COVID-19 nanoparticle vaccine called Skycovion. Although it received approval in South Korea in 2022, mRNA vaccines had already made significant advances by that time, leading to limited use of Skycovion.

mRNA vaccines are significantly faster and more straightforward to produce than protein-based vaccines, as they provide a recipe for protein assembly, while the challenging task of protein synthesis is executed by the body’s cells. The viral proteins coded by these first-generation mRNA vaccines eventually protrude from the cell surface, inducing a more effective immune response compared to free-floating proteins but still falling short of the efficacy seen with nanoparticle vaccines.

Currently, Hendricks and her colleagues have merged the advantages of both methods by developing a vaccine that consists of mRNA encoding Skycovion. After the vaccine proteins are produced within cells, they organize into nanoparticles that have shown efficacy in mouse studies.

“This was merely a proof of concept for this gene transfer,” Hendricks stated. She and her team are already advancing what they term mRNA-launched nanoparticle vaccines targeting influenza, Epstein-Barr virus (which can lead to cancer), and various other viruses.

“I am excited about the potential of mRNA-launched protein nanoparticle vaccines.” said William Sheeff from The Scripps Research Institute in California, who is working on an HIV vaccine. “My colleagues and I have published impressive immunogenicity results with two mRNA-launched nanoparticles in clinical trials and several similar particles in mouse models. This new research enhances the existing body of work.” Despite this promising trajectory, the United States has announced significant cuts to funding for the development of mRNA vaccines.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

In 2024, Atmospheric CO2 Levels Are Set to Reach New Heights.

Posted on October 15, 2025 by

Wildfires like the one in Greece in 2024 emitted significant quantities of carbon dioxide.

Xinhua News Agency/Alamy Stock Photo

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has disclosed that atmospheric carbon dioxide levels are set to soar to unprecedented heights in 2024, reaching levels not seen since records began.

According to WMO, the global average CO2 concentration is projected to rise by 3.5 ppm from 2023 to 2024, reaching 423.9 ppm. This marks the largest increase observed since modern measurements began in 1957, significantly surpassing the 2.3 ppm rise from 2022 to 2023.

This continues a troubling trend of accelerating increases each year, with the growth rate tripling since the 1960s. The last instance of comparable CO2 levels on Earth dates back 3 to 5 million years.

The WMO cautions that surplus carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will lead to global warming effects for centuries. “The heat captured by CO2 and other greenhouse gases is speeding up climate change and causing increasingly severe weather events,” stated Ko Barrett from the WMO.

Continued emissions from fossil fuels, a rise in emissions from wildfires, and a slow rate of carbon dioxide absorption by the planet’s land and oceans were identified as the primary factors behind last year’s record rise, as per WMO’s reports.

Researchers are forecasting that carbon uptake by oceans, forests, and other ecosystems will slow down in 2024 due to recent El Niño weather patterns, which have increased global temperatures and caused heatwaves, wildfires, and droughts in significant areas like the Amazon, thereby hindering carbon absorption. Scientists earlier this year indicated that the loss of tropical forests in 2024 will double compared to 2023. “In certain tropical regions, warm El Niño years like 2024 are generally drier and sequester less carbon dioxide,” noted Richard Allan from the University of Reading, UK.

Nevertheless, there are growing concerns that the decline in carbon uptake by Earth, particularly from land, is indicative of a long-term trend, suggesting that climate change is diminishing the planet’s capacity to absorb excess carbon.

“There are indications that land subsidence was markedly low in 2023 and 2024, even amidst the El Niño conditions, and we are witnessing a troubling decline over time, especially in the Northern Hemisphere outside of tropical regions,” said Zeke Hausfather, a climate scientist at the Breakthrough Institute. “In summary, there are alarming signs that land subsidence is decreasing, but it’s premature to make definitive conclusions without additional data over the coming years.”

In the meantime, it is more critical than ever for humanity to reduce ongoing fossil fuel emissions. Piers Foster, from the University of Leeds, UK, explained, “The primary factor driving the persistent increase in CO2 concentrations is that fossil fuel emissions remain at record levels and have yet to decline.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Space Live: The Unending Channel Streaming Stunning Earth Footage

Posted on October 15, 2025 by

I acknowledge that there are already countless shows available at this stage. Every channel and streaming service is brimming with content that craves your attention, leaving us with limited hours to watch. However, I would like to suggest a new program called Space Live, which currently features just one episode. The only drawback is that the episodes seem to last indefinitely.

In truth, it’s not a program at all but rather a channel. The footage debuted on Wednesday morning and is available on ITVX, solely comprising live visuals of Earth transmitted from the International Space Station. This presentation is captivating, particularly for those unaware that one can feel both awe and boredom simultaneously.

It is claimed to be the world’s first. ITV has collaborated with the British space media firm Sen to utilize live 4K footage from their distinctive SpaceTV-1 video camera system on the International Space Station, providing three camera angles: one focused on the docking ports, a horizon view revealing sunrises and storms, and a downward camera as the ISS traverses over Earth. A tracker on the screen indicates the ISS’s real-time position, accompanied by an AI-driven information feed offering insights about geography and weather.

The Space Live footage is significantly enhanced compared to NASA footage. Photo: ITV

To be exact, one could argue that it’s not groundbreaking at all. NASA’s YouTube channel has been streaming footage from the ISS for years, attracting thousands of viewers consistently. Nevertheless, Space Live is a bit more sophisticated. The visuals are undoubtedly superior. For instance, at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Space Live presented stunning images of sunlight reflecting off the waters surrounding the Bay of Biscay, while NASA could only offer a piece of cloth inscribed with the word “Flap.” There’s even a relaxing soundtrack that loops repeatedly but doesn’t become overly irritating. In essence, it’s an upgrade.

And it’s truly captivating, at least during the first orbit. While we can’t wholly demonstrate the phenomenon known as the “overview effect,” which suggests that viewing Earth from space grants a fresh perspective on humanity, it is undeniably humbling to realize our planet’s smallness. The duration of the ISS’s journey from southeastern England (where I’m located) to conflict-ridden Ukraine is measured in mere seconds. Next, it would traverse across Asia to Australia. There’s hardly anything that separates us.

Inevitably, as the station glides around the Earth, eternally caught between sunrise and sunset, your thoughts drift to the people you know in various places. There’s a comforting quality to that.

However, one cannot remain in awe forever. The same goes for Space Live. Eventually, the enchantment of technology, perspective, and Earth’s beauty begins to fade, turning the experience akin to staring at a map on a plane when you’ve exhausted your movie options. Your focus starts to wander, and you realize that there are other live channels available on ITVX. One features Love Island, while others simply showcase Christmas movies. Then, with a sigh, you come to terms with the fact that the wonder of our only home, quietly revolving in the cosmos, has become just another content option—regardless of what ITV channel broadcasts American Ninja Warrior Jr.

The visuals are both breathtaking and reassuring. Photo: ITV

Nonetheless, it’s comforting to know that Space Live exists, even if it might not always capture your attention. It may not be something you’d typically expect to see on a large screen in a pub, unless a lively crowd gets excited about glimpsing the Ural River. As a background watch, though, it’s undeniably soothing. I suspect that for the select few, this channel will serve as a quiet companion as they navigate their daily routines.

And while that may not have been humanity’s initial motivation for achieving the incredible feat of breaking free from Earth’s constraints—let’s not forget that Neil Armstrong didn’t formally declare, “That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for the screensaver industry”—the concept of Space Live is still delightful. I may not tune in all the time, but it will undoubtedly be my go-to source whenever I’m looking to reconnect with our essence and acknowledge how minimal the barriers are that divide us.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Huayracursor jaguensis Fossil Challenges Prevailing Theories on the Evolution of Sauropod Neck Lengths

Posted on October 15, 2025 by

Triassic dinosaur illustration *Huayracursor jaguensis*

Jorge Blanco.

SEI 270327767 — Triassic dinosaur illustration *Huayracursor jaguensis*

Jorge Blanco.

Deep in Argentina’s Andes Mountains, paleontologists have uncovered the remains of a small dinosaur, giving insight into the early adaptations that characterized sauropod dinosaurs, specifically the extended neck seen in diplodocus.

The fossil, named Huayracursor jaguensis, represents a partial skeleton of a creature that roamed the Earth during the Triassic period, roughly 230 million years ago. It is estimated to have measured around 2 meters in length and weighed about 18 kilograms.

Subsequent sauropods like brontosaurus and Patagotitan would grow to impressive sizes—over 35 meters long and weighing more than 70 tons, marking them as the largest and longest-necked animals in history.

Previously, scientists believed that the ancestors of these long-necked, herbivorous dinosaurs were small, short-necked, and possibly even omnivorous.

At the same time, other smaller sauropods, such as homo jaguensis, measured approximately 1 meter and displayed no signs of elongated neck bones, unlike the newly identified species. This led paleontologists to think that substantial growth in size and neck elongation in sauropods didn’t occur until millions of years later.

The discovery of homo jaguensis at Santo Domingo Creek in northwestern Argentina has prompted a reevaluation of how these dinosaurs developed their iconic long necks, according to Martin Hechenleitner from Argentina’s National Council for Scientific and Technical Research.

“Waila cursor presents a different narrative than the gradual transition model,” Hechenleitner points out. “This is evident since it coexisted with closely related species that were smaller and had relatively shorter necks.”

This dinosaur had a small skull, muscular hind limbs, slender hips, and notably short arms, with relatively large and robust hands compared to other dinosaurs of its era.

This suggests that the traits of increased size and neck elongation emerged early in this evolutionary line, Hechenleitner explains.

“Waila cursor allows us to trace the origins of elongated necks and larger body sizes back to the dawn of dinosaurs in the fossil record,” he says, referencing species like argentinosaurus and Patagotitan, which emerged from a lineage that originated over 100 million years ago, with early bipedal forms measuring just over a meter long and weighing between 10 and 15 kilograms.

Dinosaur hunting in Mongolia’s Gobi desert

Join an exciting expedition to unearth dinosaur remains in the expansive wilderness of the Gobi Desert, known as one of the premier paleontological sites in the world.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

30 Incredible Close-Up Shots that Showcase the Majesty of Minuscule Details

Posted on October 15, 2025 by

Have you ever watched a weevil extend its wings on a grain of rice? Zhang You, a photographer from China, remarked that he managed to capture this moment with such stunning detail that his image has been awarded this year’s top prize in the Nikon Small World Contest. The photograph beautifully showcases this small agricultural pest resting on its favorite food, with its wings beautifully unfurled and perfectly symmetrical.

Insects like the rice weevil serve a significant role in ecosystems around the globe. Images displaying such intricate detail and dramatic poses are exceptionally rare, unveiling the hidden beauty of life that often goes unnoticed.

Dr. Jan Rosenboom claimed second place with his captivating picture of algae balls suspended in water droplets, while third place was awarded to John Oliver Damm for his delicate shot of pollen ensnared in a spider’s web in his garden.

Now entering its 51st year, the Nikon Small World Contest recognizes the finest examples of science viewed under a microscope and invites anyone passionate about photography and videography to participate.

Here are this year’s top photographs from the contest.

Honorable Mention

A fusion of crystallized soy sauce and aluminum as seen through a 10x magnification. Photo courtesy of Mishal Abdulaziz Allihan/Nikon Small World

Frost on wooden railing viewed at 5x magnification. Photo by Gregory B. Murray/Nikon Small World

Image of Distinction

The fascinating parasitic fly (Crataerina hirundinis) as seen under 10x magnification. Photo courtesy of Bernard Allard/Nikon Small World

3D brain organoids in custom organ-on-a-chip devices photographed at 20x magnification. Photo courtesy of Dr. Arthur Chen and Dr. Ann Na Cho/Nikon Small World

True insect (Hemiptera) eggs on a leaf viewed at 5x magnification. Photo courtesy of Dr. Walter Ferrari/Nikon Small World

Adult zebrafish displaying brain blood vessels, photographed at 4x magnification. Photo courtesy of Hannah Summers/Nikon Small World

The androconial (pheromone-producing) region of a butterfly (Colias) wing viewed at 10x magnification. Photo courtesy of Daniel Evrard/Nikon Small World

Crystals from a mixed solution of alanine and glutamine under polarized light as viewed at 20x magnification. Photo courtesy of Doong Yien/Nikon Small World

Autofluorescence of barnacle cirri exoskeleton, with bright red diatoms. Photographed at 5x magnification. Photo credit: Charles Krebs/Nikon Small World

Vascular bundle of bamboo leaves (Phyllostachys sp.) viewed at 20x magnification. Photo by David Maitland/Nikon Small World

Top 20

Marine copepods observable under a microscope at 60x magnification. Photo courtesy of Zachary Sanchez/Nikon Small World

Parasitic fungi (Cordycipitaceae) affecting flies (Calliphoridae), photographed at 2x magnification. Photo by Eduardo Agustin Carrasco/Nikon Small World

Fluorescently labeled mouse colon under 20x magnification. Photos by Marius Mehlen, Cohen Oost, Prisca Liberali, Laurent Germain/Nikon Small World

Daphnia and algae viewed at 5x magnification. Photo courtesy of Hong Guo/Nikon Small World

A fern sporangium photographed at 40x magnification. Photo courtesy of Rogelio Moreno/Nikon Small World

Geometry moth (Typertidae) laying eggs, captured at 5x resolution. Photo courtesy of Zhang You/Nikon Small World

Quartz crystal featuring filaments of biogenic goethite. Photo courtesy of Manfred Heising/Nikon Small World

Slime mold Arcyria major, also known as Arcyria insignis, releasing spores at 10x magnification. Photo courtesy of Henri Koskinen/Nikon Small World

Actin cytoskeleton (cyan) and endoplasmic reticulum (red) in mouse brain tumor cells, displayed at 100x magnification. Photo courtesy of Halli Lindamood & Eric Vitriol/Nikon Small World

Sunflower trichomes generated by stacking 112 images, displayed at 10x magnification. Photo courtesy of Marek Miś/Nikon Small World

Top 10

Metaphase in human cardiomyocytes showing condensed chromosomes during the second stage of cell division. Displayed at 60x magnification. Photo courtesy of Dr. Dylan Barnett and Dr. James Hayes/Nikon Small World

Fungi (Talaromyces purpureogenus) with red diffuse pigment, shown at 10x magnification. Photo by Wim van Egmond/Nikon Small World

Malvaceae pollen germinating on the stigma, while being parasitized by filamentous fungi. Displayed at 40x magnification. Photo courtesy of Dr. Igor Siwanowicz/Nikon Small World

Induced pluripotent stem cell-derived sensory neurons showing tubulin and actin proteins at 10x magnification. Photo by Stella Whittaker/Nikon Small World

Rat hepatocytes observed under a microscope at 63x magnification. Photo provided by: Dr. Francisco Lazaro-Dieguez/Nikon Small World

Small tropical fern (Ceratopteris richardii) spores depicted as blue/purple structures. Displayed at 25x magnification. Photo courtesy of Dr. Igor Siwanowicz/Nikon Small World

Cardiomyocytes with condensed chromosomes post-cell division at 100x magnification. Photo courtesy of Dr. James Hayes/Nikon Small World

3rd Place

Pollen resting on a spider web in the garden, displayed at 20x magnification. Photo courtesy of John Oliver Damm/Nikon Small World

2nd Place

Colonial algae (Volvox) forming spherical structures within water droplets, viewed at 5x magnification. Photo courtesy of Dr. Jan Rosenboom/Nikon Small World

Overall Winner

A rice weevil (Sitophilus oryzae) perching on a grain of rice, photographed at 5x magnification. Photo courtesy of Zhang You/Nikon Small World

Read more:

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Battlefield 6: Just Another Standard War Game? We Think Otherwise | Games

Posted on October 15, 2025 by

And Battlefield makes its return. The iconic military shooter franchise, renowned for its large-scale online multiplayer battles featuring countless troops, tanks, and aircraft, is here with its sixth major installment. It’s exciting, monumental, and potent.

While I appreciated the single-player campaign mode, I found the overall experience lacking. The narrative follows familiar territory: extraordinary soldiers on a quest to safeguard global freedoms against a nefarious private military group, a terrorist faction, or an undercover CIA agent. This storyline could easily fit into any military shooter or modern war film featuring a Hemsworth. Unfortunately, it’s a standard 7-hour artillery campaign that demands constant player engagement.

The issue lies in the fact that players don’t typically buy Battlefield for its campaign. In reality, many titles in the series lack a comprehensive single-player mode. This provided the developers with a chance to innovate and take risks. While mainstream cinema has been criticized for transforming patriotic depictions of the military-industrial complex into entertaining action dramas, it has also given us classics like Paths of Glory, M*A*S*H, and The Deer Hunter. Battlefield 6 occasionally hints at the challenging realities of modern hybrid warfare, but it’s hard to care about the characters, who lack depth and are forever spouting military jargon.

There have been memorable games that scrutinize the narrative of a heroic soldier acting in the name of a mostly benevolent military. Titles such as Metal Gear Solid firmly address the tragedies of nuclear conflict, while Ubisoft’s Valiant Hearts offers a poignant reflection on love amidst war. Yet, a key example remains Yager Development’s intriguing 2012 title, Spec Ops: The Line. In this tale, you embody a commander of a covert Delta force dispatched to a devastated Dubai in search of a rogue U.S. military unit. As the plot unfolds, the characters spiral into fatigue and trauma, encountering increasingly surreal hallucinations. The intention was to illustrate warfare’s detrimental psychological impacts while still providing an engaging experience. This mission was indeed accomplished.

A profound narrative about war… Spec Ops: The Line stands out as a meaningful military game. Photo: Jaeger

In the ever-consolidating gaming sector, where major corporations invest fortunes to capture millions of players, narrative innovation appears increasingly unlikely. The same trend applies to any form of political commentary. However, today’s players have a plethora of shooter options. The success of unconventional films like Atomfall and Megabonk illustrates that it’s beneficial to venture off the beaten path.

Could Battlefield 6’s campaign have transformed into a tense, claustrophobic thriller reminiscent of Alex Garland’s Warfare, or drawn players into survival narratives akin to Until Dawn? Might it have been a sandbox-style adventure filled with diverse tasks, items, and enemies to uncover?

In recent years, we have seen numerous multi-million dollar projects axed and employees laid off. The “greenlight-only” approach, competing fiercely with the perpetual nature of Fortnite, Call of Duty, and Marvel Rivals, creates a zero-sum environment: win or perish. While some may deem this optimism misguided, it feels unsustainable (even considering the fact that these mega titles are faltering). Additionally, the human cost of widespread layoffs raises ethical concerns. Clichés cannot sustain games any longer. Our modern world, rife with shifting allegiances, unpredictable climates, and uprooted societies, presents a strikingly relevant backdrop for a new war story that carries significance. If only someone dared to share it.

What to Play

A heartfelt tribute to the instant messaging era… VideoVerse. Photo: Kinmoku

Originally launched on PC in 2023, VideoVerse serves as a touching homage to the age of instant messaging. It tells a clever and delightful tale of love and friendship between users on a fading social media platform. You step into the shoes of Emmett, a young gaming enthusiast who spends his days chatting with friends online. This changes when a new user stirs deeper feelings within him.

Scheduled for release on PS5, Switch, and Xbox on November 14th, it incorporates all the enhancements made since the initial launch. For those revisiting the game and yearning for the nostalgia of MSN Messenger, this title is essential.

Available: PC, PS5, Switch, Xbox
Estimated Play Time: 10 hours or more

What to Read

Console yourself… Discover news about the future of PlayStation and Xbox. Photo: Kazuhiro Nogi/AFP/Getty Images

It appears that Microsoft and Sony are on track to release a new generation console in 2027. VGC has compiled the latest rumors. Check out this captivating article for discussions from NeoGaf threads and gossip from tech news outlets.
An industry initiative titled Palestinian Voices in Games invites volunteers, including artists, coders, and designers, to contribute their expertise to upcoming projects while supporting developers from the region. This feature delves into this endeavor, sharing insights from several developers.
The exhausted remnants of the harassing Gamergate group seem to have resurfaced, with renewed interest surrounding the acclaimed historical adventure Ghost of Mt. Yotei, particularly due to its female protagonist and subtly progressive themes. For further details, read this comprehensive article.

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What to Click

Question Block

For Kids… Shigeru Miyamoto showcasing the Nintendo DS at launch. Photo: Yoshikazu Tsuno/AFP/Getty Images

This week’s questions come from Peter:

“My 4-year-old daughter has started showing interest in video games. I want to purchase her an affordable handheld console instead of an iPad. What do you suggest?”

There are many options available. Leap Frog, known for children’s electronic toys, offers a range of devices. The Leapster is a handheld console typically available used with 2-3 game cartridges for around £20-30. It’s robust and safe for play. However, I would focus on the Nintendo DS or the newer, sturdier 2DS, both available for about £10-£50 depending on condition from eBay.

These systems boast a vast library of children’s games (original DS titles are compatible with both formats, and new 3DS games can be played on the 2DS, albeit not in 3D), and games can be found in charity shops or local CeX locations for as low as 50p. The original DS has a hinge connecting its screens that can be a weak point, depending on how carefully my daughter uses it. Both models include a stylus, which poses a choking hazard, so supervision is essential during its use. My sons have lost countless styluses! Fortunately, many games don’t require them. Any titles featuring Mario, Wario, Kirby, as well as Animal Crossing, Pokemon, or Lego are perfect choices.

If you have questions for the question block or any feedback regarding the newsletter, feel free to reply or email us at pushbuttons@theguardian.com.

Source: www.theguardian.com

The AI Bubble is Popping, but AI’s Future Remains Bright

Posted on October 15, 2025 by

Growing concerns of an AI bubble

CFOTO/Sipa USA/Alamy

Substantial investments in AI are suggesting a global financial bubble that may soon burst, exposing companies and investors to the risk of unmanageable debts unable to be serviced by the scant revenues from current AI applications. But what implications does this have for the future of the technology fueling this financial madness?

Recent warnings have emerged globally about the danger of an AI bubble. The Bank of England, the CEO of JP Morgan Chase, and even OpenAI’s Sam Altman have all cautioned against the current trends. “This isn’t merely a stock market bubble; it encompasses investment and public policy bubbles,” asserts David Edgerton from King’s College London.

The interconnected nature of deals among leading AI firms has raised concerns. Take Nvidia, for instance, which manufactures the GPU chips propelling the AI surge; it recently poured up to $100 billion into OpenAI, while maintaining its own data centers filled with Nvidia chips. Ironically, OpenAI also holds a stake in Nvidia’s competitor, AMD.

According to Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, an estimated $400 billion is spent yearly on data centers, leading to increasing worries about the impending burst of the AI bubble. In the second quarter of this year, the US GDP saw a 3.8% increase, but as Harvard’s Jason Furman points out, excluding data center investment, the actual growth was merely 0.1% in the first half of the year.

Carl Benedikt Frey, a professor at Oxford University, notes that such frenetic deal-making isn’t uncommon in the technology sector’s history. “Overbuilding tends to happen; it unfolded during the railroad boom and again during the dot-com bubble,” he explains.

The concern is whether the fallout from the AI bubble will impact only the companies involved or whether it could ripple through the economy. Frey indicates that many data centers being constructed “off-balance sheet” entail creating new companies to bear the associated risks and potential rewards, usually supported by external investors or banks.

This opacity leaves many unsure about who might be negatively affected. The funding for data centers could be rooted in investments from influential tech billionaires or major banks, and substantial losses might trigger a banking crisis, adding turbulence to the economy. “While a financial crisis isn’t immediately on the horizon, the uncertainties breed potential risks,” Frey comments.

Benjamin Arold, a professor at Cambridge University, states that the crucial factor is the profit-to-company valuation ratio, revealing the disconnect between public perception and the actual financial performance of companies. Such metrics are, he warns, red flags for contemporary tech firms.

“We haven’t seen price levels like this in 25 years; it’s reminiscent of the dot-com bubble,” Arold warns. “It may work out in the end, but investing in it feels risky.”

James Poskett from the University of Warwick argues that the AI sector may face a downturn that could lead to many companies going out of business. However, he believes this doesn’t spell the end for the technology itself. “It’s essential not to conflate that with the notion that the technology itself is flawed or redundant,” Poskett emphasizes. “AI could falter, yet it won’t vanish.”

Poskett suggests we may end up with valuable technology, much like how the collapse of various railroad companies in the past left the legacy of a robust rail system, or how the dot-com bust concluded with an extensive fiber-optic infrastructure.

For consumers, the fallout from the AI bubble could translate to fewer choices, potentially higher costs, and a slower rate of technological advancements. Utilizing an expensive tool like GPT-5 for tasks such as email creation resembles using a sledgehammer to crack a nut and may reveal the concealed costs associated with its use, obscured by the present AI race. “There’s currently a lot of ‘free lunch,’ but eventually, these companies will need to start turning a profit,” Poskett notes.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Waymo Announces Launch of Driverless Taxis in London Next Year

Posted on October 15, 2025 by

Waymo has announced that its driverless taxis will be available for hire on the streets of London next year.

This makes London the first European city to implement Waymo’s technology for a self-driving taxi service, similar to what’s currently operational in San Francisco and four other cities in the US.

The company confirmed that its vehicles are en route to London and will start navigating the city’s roads in the coming weeks, with “trained human experts,” or safety drivers, overseeing operations.

Originally a spin-off of Google’s self-driving car initiative and part of the parent group Alphabet, Waymo stated it would collaborate closely with the London Department for Transport to secure the necessary permits for fully autonomous vehicles by 2026.

Uber and UK tech firm Wave have also revealed plans to trial their own driverless taxis in London next year, following the UK government’s decision to fast-track regulations permitting public trials of self-driving vehicles ahead of complete legislation.

Heidi Alexander, Secretary of Transportation, expressed: “We are thrilled that Waymo intends to bring this service to London next year, in line with our proposed pilot program.

“Revitalizing the AV sector will create jobs, draw investment, and provide opportunities within the UK, while expanding accessible transportation options. Advancements like this will support our goal of becoming a leader in new technologies and spearheading national rejuvenation.”

The comprehensive rollout of self-driving taxis in the UK is anticipated to happen after the Self-Driving Vehicles Act is fully implemented in the latter half of 2027.

Waymo has a solid relationship with the UK, having established its first European engineering hub in Oxford back in 2019. The firm is also launching a service in Tokyo utilizing Jaguar Land Rover electric vehicles, marking its only current venture outside the United States.

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Tekedra Mawakana, co-CEO of Waymo, remarked that the technology is enhancing “road safety and making transport more accessible,” adding: “We have shown how to responsibly scale fully autonomous ride-hailing services, and we are eager to share the advantages of our technology in the UK.”

Waymo initiated its self-driving taxi services in 2020 and claims to have transported over 10 million passengers in the United States.

Despite some concerning incidents, Waymo asserts that data indicates that human-driven vehicles are involved in pedestrian accidents 12 times more frequently than self-driving cars.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Meta Announces PG-13 Style System for Instagram to Safeguard Children

Posted on October 15, 2025 by

Instagram is set to implement a PG-13 style rating system to enhance parental control over their teens’ interactions on the platform.

Owned by Meta, Instagram will introduce guidelines akin to the U.S. “Parental Guidance” movie ratings established 41 years ago for all content viewed by teen accounts. Consequently, users under 18 will automatically be categorized under the 13+ setting, with the option to opt out only with parental consent.

Currently, teen accounts restrict or prohibit sexually suggestive material, graphic images, and promotions for adult content like alcohol and tobacco. The forthcoming PG-13 framework will impose even stricter regulations.

Meta indicated that it will limit visibility on posts promoting “harmful” activities, including strong language, risky stunts, or content featuring marijuana accessories. Additionally, search terms like “alcohol” and “gore” will be blocked, even if misspelled.

Mehta commented, “While there are distinctions between movies and social media, our modifications aim to provide a teen experience within a 13+ context that parallels viewing a PG-13 film,” emphasizing the desire to communicate the policy in a familiar framework for parents.

The closest equivalent to PG-13 in British film ratings is 12A. Notably, Instagram’s new rating doesn’t impose a complete ban on nudity, similar to how PG-13/12A films like Titanic include brief nudity that isn’t explicitly sexual. Moderate violence, akin to what is found in Fast & Furious films, will also remain accessible.

This initiative follows a study by a former Meta whistleblower, revealing that 64% of new safety features on Instagram are ineffective. The assessment was conducted by Arturo Bejar, a former Meta senior engineer, alongside academics from New York University, Northeastern University, and the Molly Rose Foundation in the UK. Béjart stated, “Children are not safe on Instagram.” Mehta dismissed the findings, asserting that parents possess robust tools at their disposal.

Ofcom, the UK communications regulator, urged social media platforms to adopt a “safety-first” strategy and warned that non-compliance could lead to enforcement actions.

Mehta announced that the Instagram update will begin in the U.S., UK, Australia, and Canada, with plans to expand to Europe and globally early next year.

Activists raised concerns regarding whether these changes will effectively enhance safety.

Rowan Ferguson, policy manager at the Molly Rose Foundation, remarked: “Despite Meta’s numerous public statements, we have not received substantial safety improvements for teens, and our recent report indicates that there’s still work to be done to shield them from harmful content.”

“These additional updates will need to be evaluated for their effectiveness, which necessitates transparency from Meta for independent testing of safety features.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

The Gospel According to Peter Thiel: Understanding the Engineer Svengali’s Obsession with the Antichrist

Posted on October 15, 2025 by

Greetings! Welcome to TechScape. Over the past week, I’ve been deep in thought about billionaire Peter Thiel’s intricate reflections on the Antichrist and Armageddon. I can’t help but absorb it all at this stage.

You might be questioning why billionaire perspectives on the Antichrist are significant. That’s a great inquiry!

To my team, aiding us in understanding Johana Bhuiyan, Dara Carr, and Nick Robbins – Early, we covered a series of talks by Thiel, an influential billionaire and political strategist.

Last month, Mr. Thiel conducted four lectures along San Francisco’s waterfront, delving into who he believes the Antichrist may be and cautioning that Armageddon is on the horizon. Thiel, who identifies as a “little Orthodox Christian,” suggests that the signs of the apocalypse could already be present, claiming that international institutions, environmentalism, and technological oversight may accelerate its occurrence. This is a notable discourse that sheds light on the interests of one of Silicon Valley’s and the United States’ most prominent figures.

Long before Silicon Valley shifted rightward during President Donald Trump’s second term, Thiel was a key player in conservative politics. He forged close ties with Trump nearly a decade ago, is credited with endorsing J.D. Vance for vice president, and is financing the Republican midterm campaign for 2026. Thiel, who co-founded PayPal and gained significant wealth at a young age, has also invested early in Facebook alongside SpaceX, OpenAI, and others through his firm, Founders Fund. His co-founded company, Palantir, has secured billions in government contracts for software development for the Department of Defense, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the UK’s NHS. With unprecedented attention and political influence, Thiel is attempting to share a message about the Antichrist, although his political acumen and investments are better recognized than his theological insights.

During his third lecture, Thiel stated, “I’m a libertarian, or a classical liberal, but I diverge in some minor ways, and I am concerned about the Antichrist.”

Thiel’s lectures were lengthy and diverse, weaving in biblical verses, contemporary history, and philosophy, while often veering toward conspiracy theories. He blended references to video games and television with discussions about J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, recalled exchanges with Elon Musk and Benjamin Netanyahu, and criticized Bill Gates as a “very terrible person.”

Read more: Inside tech billionaire Peter Thiel’s off-the-record lecture on the Antichrist

First off, these revelations possess such sensational qualities that they are entertaining to read. It’s bizarre that a $20 billion mogul gives sprawling lectures that resemble the ramblings of a perplexed graduate student.

However, that alone doesn’t justify this as a story. Journalists encounter various oddities that often go unreported.

While editing the piece on Thiel’s lecture, I grew concerned that The Guardian might inadvertently promote Thiel’s ideologies instead of genuinely informing its audience. The boundary between the two can be quite tenuous. Reporters covering Trump have navigated this path for much of the past decade.

A reporter who covered Thiel suggested that his speech was a method for raising funds and demonstrating that he was a “crazy contrarian.” There may be ulterior motives behind his lectures on the hidden Antichrist.

“I’m worried about the Antichrist”… Peter Thiel. Illustration: Guardian Design/Getty Images

Thiel remarked, “If you want people to hear about something without letting anyone into the room, that’s an effective marketing technique.” This indicates that labeling these lectures as off-the-record can generate considerable intrigue. Secretive ideas tend to attract undue attention due to their perceived exclusivity. What transpires behind closed doors is often more compelling than public occurrences. Have we inadvertently played into Thiel’s strategy by covering his talk?

Our reporting approach was twofold. One article, referenced and linked above, outlines the facts of the meeting. Thiel hosted these lectures and made statements which are extensively quoted. I included the following note with the article: The Guardian publishes meaningful quotes with contextual annotations to keep the public informed regarding influential figures in politics and technology speaking behind closed doors.

This approach allows you to assess what this eccentric billionaire has to say and whether it resonates with you. Once you are aware of his positions, they can be scrutinized. Are you at ease with this individual wielding significant influence over the Vice President in the U.S. or impacting the healthcare system in the U.K.?

In the context of Trump, it is valuable to hear him directly. Labeling the president’s statements as “shocking” or “unprecedented” without quoting them may prevent readers from genuinely grasping the impact of his words and could evoke backlash against news outlets perceived as narrow-minded or paternalistic. Allow the audience to evaluate for themselves. Conversely, reprinting the president’s two-hour address in its entirety isn’t necessarily beneficial. Digesting, structuring, and summarizing information is a critical function of journalism, and reporters need to encompass the entire speech to extract the most relevant portions. We applied these principles from political journalism to Thiel’s lecture.

Our second article on this matter – Peter Thiel’s off-the-record Antichrist Lecture reveals more about him than Armageddon – published alongside the first, took a different perspective. This piece interpreted Thiel’s lecture without extensive quotes, integrating his viewpoints on behalf of the reader to elucidate the significance of his remarks. While his nearly nonsensical interpretations of Revelation and other texts may appear to be the lecture’s primary focus, the essential content reveals more about how a highly influential man perceives his own authority.

In a critique of Thiel’s lecture, Stanford professor Adrian Daub meticulously examined the venture capitalist’s “strange thicket of his own references and interests,” often referred to as “the private world of the autodidact.”

In these winding discussions, it’s evident that Thiel seeks to emulate the mixed-thinking style he admires in philosopher René Girard, whom he encountered at Stanford and has long esteemed. Unfortunately, Thiel often resembles Dan Brown.

The overarching impression of Thiel that emerges from these discussions portrays someone striving to conceal his true essence from his own capabilities. While interpreting a Japanese manga, he conveyed to the audience, “As you might have noticed, my interpretation is… that it is somewhat like the Antichrist that governs the world.” Here stands a man, alongside a few Silicon Valley eccentrics, who would restore a fallen caudillo manifestly unfit for presidential office, using the considerable power of the U.S. government to reshape society and the globe. These are the individuals who exploit your data to finance companies that determine who gets their personal information collected, deported, or subjected to drone strikes, and who support far-right movements seeking to transform the landscape of liberal democracy.

This casts my mind back to a scene in Apocalypse Now where Martin Sheen’s character encounters a platoon and questions who is in charge. “Don’t you?” Peter, don’t you operate the world? If it’s not you, then who?

Read more: Peter Thiel’s Antichrist lecture reveals more about him than Armageddon

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US tariffs on China threaten electronics supply chain once more

Panic triggered by AI bubble

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in Copenhagen last week. Photo: Mads Claus Rasmussen/EPA

Australia’s disapproval of social media has reached Denmark. From my colleague Miranda Bryant: “Danish Prime Minister has unveiled a ban on social media for those under 15, accusing mobile devices and social networks of ‘stealing children’s childhoods.’ Mette Frederiksen announced the initiative on Tuesday during a speech at the opening of the Danish Parliament Folketing, stating: ‘We have unleashed a monster.’ ‘Never before have so many children and adolescents suffered from anxiety and depression,’ added Frederiksen, who aims for the ban to be enacted next year. This rationale echoes Jonathan Haidt’s alarming bestseller, An Anxious Generation, yet I find it neither compelling nor convincing.

In November 2024, Australia enacted a law mandating that social networks implement strict measures to prevent children under 16 from creating accounts. The ban has faced various uncertainties over age verification, yet is still slated to begin on December 10 of this year, displeasing Meta Platforms and others.

The continued existence of this non-binding bill aimed at regulating social media companies has sparked similar legislative initiatives globally. Numerous state governments in the U.S. have introduced laws requiring social networks and other websites to confirm the ages of their users. In many of these states, pornographic websites have been disabled due to the requirements to validate user ages.

Wider TechScape

Source: www.theguardian.com

OpenAI Empowers Verified Adults to Create Erotic Content with ChatGPT | Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Posted on October 15, 2025 by

On Tuesday, OpenAI revealed plans to relax restrictions on its ChatGPT chatbot, enabling verified adult users to access erotic content in line with the company’s principle of “treating adult users like adults.”

Upcoming changes include an updated version of ChatGPT that will permit users to personalize their AI assistant’s persona. Options will feature more human-like dialogue, increased emoji use, and behaviors akin to a friend. The most significant adjustment is set for December, when OpenAI intends to implement more extensive age restrictions allowing erotic content for verified adults. Details on age verification methods or other safeguards for adult content have not been disclosed yet.

In September, OpenAI introduced a specialized ChatGPT experience for users under 18, automatically directing them to age-appropriate content while blocking graphics and sexual material.

Additionally, the company is working on behavior-based age prediction technology to estimate if a user is over or under 18 based on their interactions with ChatGPT.

In a post to

These enhanced security measures follow the tragic suicide of California teenager Adam Lane this year. His parents filed a lawsuit in August claiming that ChatGPT offered explicit guidance on committing suicide. Altman stated that within just two months, the company has been able to “alleviate serious mental health issues.”

The US Federal Trade Commission has also initiated an investigation into various technology firms, including OpenAI, regarding potential dangers that AI chatbots may pose to children and adolescents.

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“Considering the gravity of the situation, we aimed to get this right,” Altman stated on Tuesday, emphasizing that OpenAI’s new safety measures enable the company to relax restrictions while effectively addressing serious mental health concerns.

Source: www.theguardian.com

iPhone Air Review: Apple’s Quest for Ultimate Slimness

Posted on October 15, 2025 by

The iPhone Air represents a stunning blend of technology and design, prompting the question, “What sacrifices are you ready to make for an ultra-lightweight, sleek device?”

More than just a marvel of engineering, the Air signifies a minimalist approach, condensing the iPhone experience into a premium chassis with essential features.

By eliminating the rear camera, reducing battery size, and forgoing stereo speakers while maximizing screen real estate, what remains is a striking combination of titanium and glass.

The cost reflects this craftsmanship. Priced at £999 (€1,199/$999/AU$1,799), the iPhone Air sits between the standard iPhone 17 at £799 and the £1,099 17 Pro variant.

The sleek design is subtly disrupted by a raised camera lens, adding to the phone’s overall thickness of around 11.3mm, reminiscent of Google’s Pixel series. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

Images alone fail to showcase the Air’s beauty. Upon handling it, one immediately recognizes it as something unique. The slender 5.64 mm frame feels even lighter due to its rounded edges, making it 12 g lighter than the already featherweight iPhone 17.

The glass rear constitutes the majority of the phone’s structure, while the remainder houses the battery. Traditional iPhone buttons, including those for camera control and actions, line the sides. The top features only the ear speaker. While adequate, you’ll find the absence of stereo sound disappointing during video playback—especially since the 6.5-inch screen delivers a crisp and vibrant viewing experience.

Functionally, the Air operates like any contemporary iPhone. It features a glass-like aesthetic, runs iOS 26, offers all standard apps, includes Face ID, and boasts a highly responsive interface. However, it has a notable drawback: the iPhone Air lacks a nano SIM card tray, operating solely on eSim. In the U.S., Apple has only supported eSim since the iPhone 14, while earlier models sold in other regions included nano SIM slots.

The profiling of the phone’s edges is only marginally thicker than the buttons themselves. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

Most major networks in the UK now support eSim; however, experiences with setup and transitions between devices can vary, especially among budget providers. Mobile network companies must enhance their eSim services to ensure wider accessibility.

Specifications

Screen: 6.5 inch Super Retina XDR (120Hz OLED) (460ppi)
Processor: Apple A19 Pro (5 core GPU)
RAM: 12GB
Storage: 256, 512GB, or 1TB
Operating System: iOS 26
Camera: Rear 48MP, 18MP front
Connectivity: 5G eSim only, Wi-Fi 7, NFC, Bluetooth 6, Thread, USB-C, Satellite, UWB, GNSS
Water Resistance: IP68 (30 minutes at 6 meters)
Size: 156.2×74.7×5.64mm
Weight: 165g

A19 Pro Chip

The Air takes approximately 105 minutes to charge fully, reaching 60% within 35 minutes using a 20W or higher USB-C power adapter (sold separately). Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

The Air is equipped with the same A19 Pro chip found in the iPhone 17 Pro, though it contains one less GPU core—resulting in somewhat slower performance during gaming and graphics-intensive activities. For routine tasks, it feels swift, yet the camera protrusions can cause it to warm up noticeably when under strain.

The reduced battery capacity marks a significant trade-off for the Air’s thin profile, despite much of the structure being allocated for the battery. Battery life is less than other iPhones, but surprisingly adequate. A moderate day with 5 hours of usage for browsing and video streaming on Wi-Fi saw the Air comfortably last 40 hours between charges.

A Qi2 or MagSafe magnetic wireless charger, like the Twelve South Power Bug, could significantly enhance daily usage of the Air. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

On more hectic days filled with photography, 5G navigation, music streaming, messaging, and videos, the Air maintained about 30 hours of life, ending the day with around 25% of the battery remaining. A full overnight charge should suffice for most daily demands, but those heavily into gaming or intense tasks might find themselves requiring low-power mode.

Sustainability

The sleek design of the Air includes a replaceable battery that may require changing after about 1,000 charge cycles. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

The battery lasts over 1,000 full charge cycles with at least 80% of its original capacity remaining; replacement costs £109 and is not covered by warranty. The screen repair costs £349. iFixit rated the iPhone Air a 7 out of 10 for repairability.

The Air comprises over 35% recycled materials, including aluminum, cobalt, gold, lithium, rare earth elements, steel, tin, titanium, and tungsten. Apple outlines the environmental implications of mobile devices in its annual report, and offers trade-in and complimentary recycling options, even for non-Apple products.

Camera

While functioning like other iPhone cameras, the Air is somewhat limited due to the absence of ultra-wide and telephoto options. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

The camera represents a significant compromise. It features a single 48MP camera at the back and an upgraded 18MP selfie camera at the front, using Center Stage technology from the iPhone 17 series.

The primary camera parallels that of the standard iPhone 17 rather than the larger sensor of the 17 Pro, yet it delivers commendable performance. It captures impressive photos and videos in good lighting and handles dim indoor environments reasonably well. At times the images may appear soft and grainy. While it doesn’t often win awards, it typically produces satisfactory photos. A 2x crop zoom is available, excellent for brightly lit scenes, but further zooming reveals the downsides of a digital zoom—textures and distant subjects tend to lose clarity.

The Air’s zoom capacity is satisfactory in bright conditions, but is prone to detail loss when focusing on further objects. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

The absence of ultra-wide and telephoto capabilities restricts creative options for photography. The only other iPhone model with a single rear camera is the more budget-friendly iPhone 16e.

The 18MP front camera dynamically pans and zooms to capture group shots, allowing you to take landscape selfies without rotating your device. This feature is particularly useful. Moreover, it enables simultaneous video recording from both the front and rear cameras, placing you in the frame within a small window.

Price

The iPhone Air starts at £999 (€1,199/$999/AU$1,799) and includes 256GB of storage.

For perspective, the iPhone 16e comes in at £599, the iPhone 17 at £799, the iPhone 17 Pro at £1,099, the 17 Pro Max at £1,199, and the Google Pixel 10 retails for £1,199. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge sells for £899 and the Fairphone 6 is priced at £899, with the Fairphone 6 available for £499.

Verdict

The iPhone Air is a notable design that effectively addresses a specific need. Many have wished that contemporary smartphones would focus on being thinner rather than just emphasizing battery life or camera quality.

The remarkably thin design feels distinctive at first, but the novelty quickly diminishes. Similar to Samsung’s equally slender Galaxy S25 Edge, the primary advantage lies in reducing weight, enhancing comfort during use and storage. Despite its expansive screen, the Air remains compact and easy to carry.

Battery longevity exceeds expectations; while it performs adequately on most days, it might not hold up as well over several years. Apple offers a smart MagSafe battery that can increase its capacity by an additional 65%. However, using it can compromise the device’s thin, lightweight advantages, as would placing it in a case.

A significant limitation is the sole rear camera; the absence of ultra-wide and telephoto features can be restricting for users who rely on their phones for photography.

If you’re an Apple enthusiast seeking a slim, eye-catching device that’s easy to maneuver, the iPhone Air is a remarkable option. Otherwise, there are alternatives that might be more suitable.

Pros: Ultra-thin and lightweight, excellent display, impressive single rear camera, enhanced center stage selfie camera, superior performance, long-term software updates, and Face ID.

Cons: Lacks ultra-wide and telephoto capabilities, high price point, comparatively short battery life, best suited for use without a case, and lacks cutting-edge AI features.

The iPhone Air is visually striking and offers a unique feel compared to other models in the iPhone lineup. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

Source: www.theguardian.com

Digital ID: Danes and Estonians Find It “Fairly Uncontroversial” | ID

Posted on October 15, 2025 by

For teenagers in Denmark, registering for MitID (My ID) has turned into a significant milestone.

Danish citizens can join the national digital ID system starting at the age of 13, allowing them to do everything from accessing online banking to signing documents electronically and scheduling doctor appointments.

Once they reach 15, every child and their parents receive a notification from the government stating that teenagers will now receive official communications through “digital post,” requiring a digital ID for access.

While individuals can choose to opt out and receive traditional mail, the number of people doing so is minimal. As of now, 97% of the Danish population over 15 is enrolled in educational institutions, and only 5% have opted out of digital communications. MitID

Recently, the UK government unveiled plans to establish a digital ID system by 2029, indicating it would “adopt the best practices” from global systems, including those in Denmark and Estonia.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer mentioned that the new ID system will be app-based rather than a physical card, containing information such as residency status, name, nationality, date of birth, and photo. Possession of this ID will be mandatory for employment in the UK.

In Denmark, people gradually got accustomed to using digital IDs. Adam Rebeck, Deputy Director-General of Denmark, noted that integration with essential apps like banking was vital for its success. Additionally, the rollout of digital post has boosted adoption rates, according to the digital government agency.

To aid older generations, volunteers have been recruited to educate seniors on using digital IDs. “The usage statistics for those up to age 85 are quite high; beyond that, it starts to decline,” Rebeck noted.

The proportion of Danes using digital ID and digital post is reported to be “very high” up to the age of 85. Photo: Aleksander Nakic/Getty Images

Similar to the UK, Denmark has never implemented a physical national ID card, but has been working on a digital ID system since 2001. The transition to a third iteration, MitID, was finalized in 2022, and Leveque indicated it is more secure than its predecessor. Commonly used as an app on smartphones or tablets, it can also function via code display or voice code reader for those unable to access an app.

Peter Christian Beck Nielsen, technology correspondent for Ingeniolen, a Danish newspaper, stated that the digital ID program has functioned effectively and, thus far, has encountered minimal public resistance. “This is a country where most people have a high level of trust in politicians and the public sector, so it hasn’t stirred controversy,” he explained.

However, he acknowledged that views on surveillance are shifting, partly due to heightened awareness of online tracking and public discussions around the issue. “Denmark has been moving in one direction for the past two decades: increased surveillance and more control. This will undoubtedly have repercussions at some point,” he remarked.

In times of rising instability across Europe, combined with threats of sabotage and hybrid warfare, the move towards digitalization carries notable risks if systems fail.

“In the past, you could almost walk into City Hall, but now you can’t do that at all,” Beck-Nielsen noted. “This would be very challenging because you must reserve online.” [In case of a digital system failure] this significantly reduces societal resilience from a hybrid warfare standpoint.

Lebeck emphasized that the threat level to digital security is perpetually high and remains a “huge challenge.” He also stated that there are “constant threats against it,” chiefly through social engineering. “We need ongoing development and a relentless battle against criminals,” he asserted.

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In Estonia, citizens “own their own data,” and there has been “limited opposition” to digital IDs, according to a spokesperson for the e-Estonia Briefing Center. “People recognize that the system functions effectively and saves them time.” Photo: Egorovnik/Alamy

Estonia’s journey towards a national digital identity card began earlier. The concept took root in the 1990s when Estonia reasserted its independence from the Soviet Union and aimed to rejuvenate its institutions.

“Governments with limited resources but abundant technological talent looked to digitalization as a means to deliver public services more efficiently and transparently,” stated Cristina Kriisa, a spokesperson for the e-Estonia Briefing Center. “The aim was to minimize paperwork, decrease bureaucracy, and enable citizens to engage with the state from anywhere.”

Estonia launched its national digital identity card in 2002, becoming one of the first countries globally to connect a physical identity document to secure online authentication and legally binding digital signatures. Citizens can now utilize it for digital voting, tax filing, and online banking, while analog alternatives remain available. The nation has also heavily invested in digital literacy in education.

Kriisa noted that while most Estonians are receptive to innovative ideas, concerns about privacy and security persist. “The government has tackled this issue by implementing a legal and technical framework founded on trust. Citizens have ownership of their data, can monitor who has accessed it, and are protected by robust data protection legislation,” she explained. “This transparency has resulted in limited opposition and has not posed a significant political barrier. People can observe the system’s efficacy and its time-saving advantages.”

Each card or mobile ID incorporates unique encryption keys, and access to sensitive information is documented. Citizens can review their own access logs, while national cybersecurity teams continually monitor for threats.

Leif Kaleb, a political science professor at Tallinn University, mentioned that Estonians tend to be “quite accommodating of minor reductions in personal freedom in pursuit of technological advancements and new prospects.” Despite this, the increasing accumulation of citizen digital data raises concerns for some individuals, he warned.

“Major concerns arise from the fact that this digital data accumulation enables an extensive array of analyses and insights about individuals and raises questions regarding reasonable limits, from banks and retail to law enforcement and tax authorities,” he elaborated.

Concerns regarding the electronic voting counting system also exist. “Of course, enhanced computing capabilities, such as those brought by quantum computers, will present challenges, but the specific nature of these challenges will evolve over time,” Caleb concluded.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Scientists Raise Alarm Over Significant Design Flaws in Women’s Running Shoes

Posted on October 15, 2025 by

A recent investigation reveals that women’s running shoes may be limiting their athletic potential.

Published in BMJ Open Sports & Exercise Medicine, the research indicates a “significant gap in running shoe design” that overlooks women’s anatomical differences.

“Most so-called women’s running shoes are not genuinely designed for women,” asserts the study’s lead author, Dr. Chris Napier, an Assistant Professor of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, Canada, as noted in BBC Science Focus.

“We typically base our models on men’s feet, merely scaling them down and changing the color, a method often described as the ‘shrink and pink’ approach.”

However, Napier emphasized that this method does not “account for the real anatomical distinctions between male and female feet or the way women run.”

Consequently, women’s running shoes may not fit well, potentially hampering performance.

In this study, researchers gathered 21 women to discuss their preferences for running shoes and how their needs might evolve over their lifetimes.

The participants ranged in age from 20 to 70 and had between 6 and 58 years of running experience. Eleven individuals ran recreationally, averaging 30 km (19 miles) weekly, while 10 were competitive runners, averaging 45 km (28 miles) weekly.

Most women expressed a desire for shoes with a broader toe box, a narrower heel, and additional cushioning. Napier noted that this aligns with the general differences in foot shape between men and women.

“Women have distinct lower extremity anatomy, such as wider pelvises and shorter legs relative to body size. This influences running mechanics and the forces exerted on the legs,” says Napier.

Among the participants, mothers reported needing larger shoe sizes, wider fits, and more cushioning and support during and post-pregnancy.

Male and female runners have different shoe needs due to their diverse anatomy, preferences, and life stages – Credit: Alvaro Medina Jurado via Getty

This study is small and qualitative; participants were recruited via posters in stores in Vancouver, Canada, meaning findings may not be universally applicable.

Still, Napier hopes that the research will resonate with female runners.

“During our focus groups, many participants experienced an ‘aha’ moment when they realized their shoe issues were not isolated but a common experience among female runners,” he stated.

Napier also expressed hope that the study acts as a “wake-up call” for the footwear industry.

Footwear manufacturers have invested billions in developing running shoes that prevent injuries, enhance comfort, and improve performance.

Most running shoes are molded to a foot-shaped template based on male anatomy, which is then used across their products.

As a result, “a significant portion of the running community is essentially using shoes that are not intended for them,” Napier explained.

read more:

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

New Study Shows Baker’s Yeast Can Endure Stress Conditions Similar to Mars

Posted on October 15, 2025 by

Investigating the potential for life to endure under extraterrestrial circumstances is a key aim of astrobiology. In this recent study, researchers utilized the robust model organism, baker’s yeast, to evaluate the impact of Mars-like environments. They discovered that the yeast can resist shock waves and perchlorate treatment, two stress factors linked to Mars. Furthermore, yeast adapt to Martian-like conditions by forming conserved RNA-protein complexes.

A model demonstrating the significance of RNP condensates in facilitating survival under Mars-like stress conditions. Image credit: Dhage et al., doi: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgaf300.

“With advancements in space science and astrobiology, examining Mars’s potential to harbor life forms is gaining considerable interest,” stated Dr. Purusharth Rajguru and his team at the Indian Institute of Science.

“Mars presents a range of extreme environmental challenges that any potential life forms would need to overcome.”

“Hence, it is essential to comprehend its unique and harsh environmental conditions.”

“The stressors on Mars include: (i) high-intensity shock waves from meteorite impacts, (ii) extreme fluctuations in temperature and pressure, (iii) ionizing radiation and solar ultraviolet radiation resulting from a thin atmosphere, and (iv) chaotropic agents such as perchlorates.”

“These factors create significant barriers to the survival of potential life.”

In this investigation, the researchers examined budding yeast, a well-known model organism for studying shock waves and perchlorate.

One reason for selecting this yeast is its previous studies conducted in space environments.

When subjected to stress, yeast, humans, and various other organisms form ribonucleoprotein (RNP) condensates, structures composed of RNA and proteins that safeguard the RNA and influence the progression of mRNA.

When a stressor subsides, RNP condensates, which include stress granules and subtypes called P bodies, disassemble.

Yeast subjected to a shock wave with a Mach strength of 5.6 survived, exhibiting slower growth rates, similar to those observed in yeast exposed to 100 mM sodium perchlorate salt (NaClO₄)—a concentration akin to that found in Martian soil.

The yeast cells also endured the combined stress of shock waves and perchlorate exposure.

In both situations, the yeast accumulated RNP condensates, the researchers noted.

The shock wave triggered the formation of stress granules and P bodies, while perchlorate prompted the yeast to generate P bodies but not stress granules.

Mutants that were unable to assemble RNP condensates fared poorer under Martian stress conditions.

Transcriptome analysis uncovered specific RNA transcripts affected by the Mars-like scenarios.

“This finding highlights the significance of yeast and RNP condensates in understanding how Martian conditions affect life,” the scientists concluded.

For further details, refer to their paper published in today’s issue of PNAS Nexus.

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Riya Dage et al. 2025. Ribonucleoprotein (RNP) condensates regulate survival in response to Mars-like stress conditions. PNAS Nexus 4(10):pgaf300; doi: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgaf300

Source: www.sci.news

Britain Discovers Europe’s Longest Sauropod Dinosaur Footprint

Posted on October 15, 2025 by

In 2024, a remarkable discovery was made at Dewar’s Farm Quarry, located near Bicester, Oxfordshire, England, where new large sauropod dinosaur footprints were found. This year, palaeontologists from Oxford University, Birmingham University, Liverpool John Moores University, and the Oxford University Museum of Natural History uncovered approximately 200 additional footprints comprising four distinct tracks, including Europe’s longest sauropod dinosaur track.

A 166-million-year-old sauropod dinosaur footprint at Dewar’s Farm Quarry in Oxfordshire, England. Image credit: University of Birmingham.

The four newly discovered tracks at Dewar’s Farm Quarry date back to the Middle Jurassic period, approximately 166 million years ago.

These belong to sauropod dinosaurs, which are characterized as large-bodied, long-necked herbivores. Cetiosaurus.

Among these discoveries is Europe’s longest sauropod dinosaur footprint, extending roughly 220 meters from the first exposed footprint to the last.

Professor Kirsty Edgar from the University of Birmingham commented: “We were thrilled to return to the Dewar’s Farm quarry earlier this year to continue our excavation and unveil further dinosaur footprints.”

“This site in Oxfordshire boasts the largest dinosaur footprint in the UK and is likely the largest dinosaur footprint in the world that has been mapped, considering previous discoveries from the 1990s on the same surface nearby.”

Over seven days, the team faced a much drier and harder surface compared to previous years, concentrating on about 80 very large (up to 1 meter) sauropod footprints that create a remarkable trajectory running roughly north-south across the site.

In addition to the extensive sauropod track, three other shorter tracks were revealed, one of which is a continuation of a trace initially discovered in 2022.

While these findings may not be published continuously, the accumulation of data could lead to even longer orbital patterns.

Minor discoveries at the site included marine invertebrates, plant material, and a crocodile jaw.

Professor Richard Butler from the University of Birmingham stated: “Most of what we comprehend about dinosaurs is derived from their skeletons, but dinosaur footprints and deposits can offer valuable insights into how these creatures lived and the environments they inhabited over 166 million years ago.”

“A significant aspect of this latest excavation involves systematic sampling of the sediments associated with the footprints and those filling the footprints, which are currently under analysis to better understand the environment in which they were formed and how they have been preserved.”

“It is likely that additional footprint surfaces will be uncovered in the coming years, and a comprehensive explanation of their significance, new scientific findings, and potential future conservation of the site will be published soon.”

Source: www.sci.news