An autumn vibe is anticipated across much of the Midwest this week.
The remarkable October warmth could lead to record-high temperatures in the Northern Plains and Midwest over the next few days, with forecasts predicting that Minneapolis may hit 90 degrees Fahrenheit this weekend.
Across the region, temperatures are projected to be up to 30 degrees higher than average on Friday and Saturday, with highs from eastern South Dakota to Illinois soaring above 80 degrees Celsius. The National Weather Service notes that some areas could see temperatures in the mid-90s.
Numerous daily temperature records are expected to be broken on Friday and throughout the weekend, including in Minneapolis, Bismarck, North Dakota; Rapid City, South Dakota; Madison, Wisconsin; and Moline, Illinois.
These regions aren’t accustomed to such summer-like conditions at this time of year. For instance, the Minneapolis-St. Paul area has only recorded three days reaching 90 degrees since records began in 1872, according to the National Weather Service.
This week’s unusual warmth is attributed to high-pressure systems lingering over the plains and Midwest, according to the National Weather Service. These high-pressure areas tend to trap warm air, resulting in elevated temperatures for several days.
Dennis Chou
Denise Chow is a science and spatial reporter for NBC News.
THere are two categories of fears. One will leave you stunned with an unexpectedly original way of cowering under a pillow. The other, slowly seeping beneath your skin, gently pricks the back of your neck, haunting you for weeks. The break etiquette seance fits into this latter category, exuding an atmosphere reminiscent of an Irish murder mystery set in the 1890s.
You will take on the role of a detective dispatched to the esteemed Blake Manor to investigate the mysterious disappearance of Evelyn Deane, which occurred just two nights before the Seance. Mystics from around the globe have gathered at the dilapidated mansion to reach out to the deceased regarding all the treasures Evelyn possessed, but can they truly connect with the other side? And what is the source of the shadowy presence? Numerous secrets await unraveling.
You need to be in the right place at the right time… Gameplay of Blake Manor’s Seance.
Photo: Spooky doorway
“Think of it as Gothic or folk horror,” states Dave McCabe, the lead storyteller. “Being in a location you shouldn’t be invokes a creeping dread, and each step you take feels perilous.”
As you navigate the house and converse with each guest, time slips away. You’ll need to strive to comprehend what’s unfolding. Solving the puzzles may require moving objects or discovering hidden codes. Furthermore, you’ll need to be alert and present to catch crucial information.
The mystery is steeped in Victorian spiritualism, reflecting the Maelstrom of Irish folklore. “We selected a pivotal moment in Irish mythology to set our narrative,” explains Paul Conway, the lead artist and CEO of developer Spooky Doorway. “This specific place serves as a conduit between ancient magic and supernatural occurrences, though I can’t divulge too much without spoiling the surprise!”
“We are definitely exploring various Irish myths, pagan traditions, and ghost tales,” McCabe adds. While these elements may not always have a direct influence on the storyline, otherworldly entities linger just beyond the veil. Traditional Irish motifs, such as turnips—far more ominous than today’s Halloween pumpkins—are scattered across the estate. Expect to encounter a sudden flash of light something early on, as the library brims with ancient stories and legends for your perusal. However, don’t dawdle; time is of the essence in solving the mystery.
The developers take pride in their heritage and aim to foster a deeper appreciation for Irish culture and history. “I hope we can add another dimension to the awareness people have about Ireland and Irish heritage—beyond just St. Patrick’s Day or flat caps,” says McCabe. “And perhaps some visitors will be inspired to explore ghostly castles.”
I Music serves as a remarkable tool for adjusting your mood, and Spotify excels in this regard. Feeling down? Check out your custom “Depress Sesh Mix.” Navigating a romantic dilemma? You’ll find a curated “situational mix.” As I write this, I’m tuned into Spotify’s daylist—a compilation that refreshes every few hours based on my listening preferences. Today’s vibe is the “Funky Beat Roller Skate Early Morning Tuesday Mix.” At a brisk 120bpm, the algorithm gets that an energetic soundtrack is essential for transitioning from bed to desk.
The downside of this tailored listening experience is its overly familiar AI-driven intimacy, where the same tracks loop predictably. Spotify’s algorithm has dulled the novelty of artists I once loved. I find myself hitting Skip every time Kluang Bin’s slippery, psychedelic bass enters my playlists or seamlessly flows from another artist’s radio.
A decade ago, Spotify championed human-curated playlists crafted by artists, celebrities, and music enthusiasts. However, by 2021, streaming platforms started pivoting toward machine learning, with computer-generated models creating nearly half of daily events. Nowadays, user data—primarily our listening habits, interactions with Spotify, and the time of day—are compiled into tightly personalized mixtapes.
Proponents argue this offers an opportunity to democratize music promotion by accurately matching it with audiences. Yet, critics claim this hyper-subjective approach restricts music discovery to what listeners already know. Despite my attempts, my musical taste has become increasingly narrow. As an experiment, I paused my Spotify use for a month, rediscovering how to find music.
Initially, I consulted my father, someone who has never used streaming services, and who grew up in the vibrant punk and glam rock scene of 1970s London. Spending time at his local record shop, he would sample vinyl, selecting A-sides or B-sides to purchase. Some albums missed the mark, while others transported him to another dimension, akin to experiencing Pink Floyd’s “The Dark Side of the Moon.” He advised me to start with my favorite artist and listen to each album sequentially, as if I were reading a narrative.
Inspired, I purchased a $30 record player from a thrift shop and sought out vinyl. My visit to Record Renaissance yielded slim pickings—Australian pub classics, Christian country, and Christmas hits. However, when a friend pointed out that my new turntable lacked a needle, it unfortunately became a dusty but eye-catching décor piece in my living room.
My 20-year-old neighbor provided another idea: an iPod adorned with rhinestones, found on Facebook Marketplace for $200. Plugging it in with wired ear buds and hitting shuffle was a nostalgic throwback. Sadly, this romance was short-lived since the iPod struggled to sync with my Bluetooth speaker and required hours of tedious uploads.
The biggest hurdle arose during drives in my old silver Subaru, where I was limited to just one CD, a flimsy auxiliary chord, and my thoughts. Stuck in silence, I chanced upon my local community radio station, Vox FM 106.9. More than five million Australians tune in to community radio weekly for an average of 17 hours—and I understand why. The station prides itself on “real music” with the slogan, “I don’t know what I like until you try it.” It was just what I needed! I rediscovered the thrill of rolling down the window and blasting tracks by the Sugababes.
I reached out to Justin Moon, who manages a popular underground radio station and record shop in Newcastle. He sources music from Record Fairs, friends, and Bandcamp, distributing interesting sounds like a modern-day Hermes, guiding listeners like me towards new auditory experiences. Moon notes that his audience seeks a more “active” listening journey. “It’s not the kind of background noise you forget about ten seconds into boiling two minutes of noodles,” he remarks.
Like movies, TV, and food, music is now more accessible than ever. However, this accessibility has resulted in a phenomenon where music is often drowned out. Instead of relying solely on algorithms, I spent a month finding new music independently, fostering a deeper connection with my parents, friends, radio presenters, and even strangers. Their recommendations embodied parts of themselves, their memories, or mutual interests, regardless of my past preferences.
After my month-long Spotify hiatus, my algorithm hadn’t completely reset. While composing this piece, my daylist evolved into “Indietronican Swimming Pool in France on a Tuesday Afternoon,” featuring two Khruangbin songs. It’s safe to say it’s time to roll the dice on the radio.
How many times have you checked your phone today? Or do you find yourself opening it and getting sidetracked by something else?
If you’re anything like me, you probably don’t realize just how much time gets consumed. The smartphone’s algorithms are designed to capture our attention and keep it, but there’s a new book by scholars aiming to help individuals reclaim that control.
I dedicated a week to testing some of the recommendations from this book.
The first step in overcoming this addiction is to recognize its presence and understand its implications. In her book, Smartphone Nation, Dr. Kaitlyn Regehr encourages readers to maintain a “phone usage journal” for several days to reflect on their activities, locations, time spent, and feelings during these sessions.
As I attempted to log the minutes spent on phone-related activities, I often found myself unaware of being sidetracked, making it quite challenging. However, over time, I’ve begun to notice these patterns more swiftly. My excessive phone usage seems to fall into two primary categories.
The first, which I refer to as “intentional procrastination,” occurs when I face a mentally demanding task. To avoid it, I find myself checking an app instead.
According to my journal, I excel in the art of procrastination, especially when fatigue sets in. I also seem to push challenging tasks to later in the day, particularly in the morning when I feel more awake.
“This technologyaims to facilitate seamless transitions between tasks and prolong time spent in a given application,” Dr. Regehr remarks. Photo: Adrian Sherratt/The Guardian
The second concerning habit I’ve identified, which I’ve dubbed the “whirlwind of forgetfulness,” often leads me to open my phone for one purpose, only to find myself immersed in random videos minutes later.
A word of caution: beware of distractions within the first 30 minutes of waking up! Just last Tuesday, while preparing snacks for school and ushering teenagers out the door, I emerged from this vortex only to find beauty entrepreneur Trinny Woodall sharing highlights from her recent trip to the hairdresser.
As per Regehr, who is an associate professor at Digital Humanities University College London, this embodies classic algorithm manipulation.
“This technologyis designed to ensure you transition seamlessly from one task to another application, keeping your attention focused there for as long as possible. Advertisers pay for this attention, but I’ve realized this week just how it operates.”
Regehr notes that aimless scrolling is not inherently detrimental. “Sometimes a break is essential, but she encourages reflection on how the content impacts your emotions.”
Some of the content I consume makes me feel inadequate or unfulfilled—ads for intermittent fasting and skincare products are only some that target me based on my age and browsing habits.
Regehr advocates for unfollowing individuals and brands that no longer inspire or educate and suggests curating what you wish to engage with.
“You might conclude: ‘I want enjoyable scrolling, but I’d prefer a more purposeful approach to what occupies my time.’ The algorithm doesn’t just select what feeds you.”
Dr. Regehr suggests visually enhancing your phone to make it less appealing. Photo: Adrian Sherratt/The Guardian
That’s sound advice, though this digital decluttering must wait for a less hectic moment. Regardless, I am eager to test another one of her techniques: switching my phone to grayscale mode via accessibility settings.
Dr. Alex Taylor, a marketing instructor at Newcastle Business School in Australia, endorses this approach. “One clear reason smartphones vie for our attention is the level of stimulation they deliver. Reducing this stimulus through limiting exposure to high-definition images is a sensible step.”
Indeed, I’m finding it challenging to locate apps without the colorful icons that enticingly beckon me from my display. The reduced visual stimulation means less temptation, but it can also complicate navigation. When necessary, it’s not the most convenient option.
Despite tracking my smartphone usage, I believe I’ve only captured a fraction of the distractions I face.
Dr. Maxi Heitmayer, a human-computer interaction researcher at the London School of Economics, shares this perspective. In one study, Heitmayer observed that when 41 participants were equipped with wearable cameras and checked their phones without unlocking them, these brief checks, while seemingly insignificant, were still disruptive.
“I discovered that whenever I had a brief pause in an activity, like flipping through a book or chopping vegetables, I would end up checking my phone,” Heitmayer shares.
Breaking this cycle is challenging. More recent research by Heitmayer indicates that keeping a phone out of reach reduces usage, but often, users shift that distraction to a desktop screen instead.
He suggests keeping my phone in another room as a method to capture my attention each time I feel the urge to check it. Frequently, this urge arises to check messages, explore random ideas online, or simply follow established habits.
And our phones are certainly convenient. Just the other day, when I called up to check something, I missed a call from my daughter’s school regarding her lunch account. When I eventually saw that message, I promptly opened the app to make a deposit, but the grayscale effect was frustrating.
Nonetheless, my digital detox has encouraged me to be more mindful of my smartphone interactions. Since starting my journal, I’ve noticed that I no longer get sucked into the whirlwind of forgetfulness as much. Although I still engage in procrastination, I’m striving to fill these intentional breaks with apps and feeds that genuinely bring me joy.
This mini digital detox is shifting my aimless browsing into purposeful usage, increasing my awareness of my phone habits.
Regehr and her team suggest a tiered approach to digital engagement, akin to a healthy eating pyramid. The base represents essential habits, while the apex is reserved for indulgent treats. For her, the digital equivalent of these ‘cupcakes’ includes a vintage thrift shopping app.
I’m not yet perfect, but I’m learning to reshape my smartphone habits. And yes, as long as I choose to tune in, I consider the occasional Trinny Woodall video a worthy indulgence.
Tips for a Healthy Digital Diet
Cultivating a healthier relationship with your smartphone doesn’t necessarily mean going cold turkey or stashing your device away. Rather, regaining a sense of control involves simple modifications. Dr. Kaitlyn Regehr recommends these strategies:
Establish app limits on frequently used platforms—not just mentally, but also through your phone’s settings.
Reflect on who truly deserves your attention: Who do you genuinely want to hear from? Consider silencing unwanted notifications and setting unique ringtones for different contacts.
Alter your temptation by relocating social media apps off your main screen or deleting them entirely, allowing access only via a browser.
Experiment with greyscaling your phone; you may find that the allure of Instagram and TikTok diminishes without vibrant colors luring you in.
Use varied browsers to limit targeted ads related to shopping and chatting, or activate Incognito mode to avoid cookie tracking.
Implement tangible boundaries by designating screen-free zones and times, such as no phones on the dining table and digital curfews before bedtime.
Smartphone Nation (Pan Macmillan, £22) by Kaitlyn Regehr. To support the Guardian, please order a copy Guardianbookshop.com. Shipping charges may apply.
High-energy photons produced deep within gamma-ray burst jets emerge from decayed stars can dissolve the outer stellar layer into free neutrons, causing a series of physical processes that lead to the formation of heavy elements. paper It is published on Astrophysical Journal.
The high-energy photonic jet (white and blue) passes through a collapse with a black hole at its center. The red space around the jet represents a coco where free neutrons can be captured and caused the R process. Image credit: Los Alamos National Laboratory.
The formation of the heaviest elements relies on astrophysical environments with large amounts of neutrons.
Neutrons are found in the medium under extreme pressure, either bound to the nucleus.
Free neutrons are rare because they have a half-life of less than 15 minutes.
“The creation of heavy elements such as uranium and plutonium requires extreme conditions,” says Dr. Matthew Mumpoir, a physicist at the Los Alamos National Laboratory.
“There are several viable yet rare scenarios in the universe where these elements can form, and all such locations require a large number of neutrons. We propose a new phenomenon where these neutrons are not present and dynamically generated by stars.”
The key to generating the heaviest elements in the periodic table is known as the rapid neutron capture process or R process, and is believed to be responsible for the production of all thorium, uranium and plutonium that occur naturally in the universe.
The team’s framework takes on the challenging physics of the R process and solves them by proposing reactions and processes around the collapse of the stars.
In addition to understanding the formation of heavy elements, the proposed framework will help address key issues regarding neutron transport, multi-objective simulations, and observation of rare events. All of these are interesting for national security applications, which can gather insights from research.
In the scenario proposed by researchers, when nuclear fuel is exhausted, a large star begins to die.
It is no longer able to push its own gravity up, and a black hole forms in the center of the star.
If the black hole is spinning fast enough, the framedrazing effect from the very powerful gravity near the black hole will wind up the magnetic field and fire a powerful jet.
Subsequent reactions create a wide range of photons, some of which are high-energy.
“The jet blows stars before it, creating a hot coco of material around the jet, like a freight train plowing through the snow,” said Dr. Mumpower.
At the interface of jets with star materials, high-energy photons (i.e. light) can interact with the nucleus and convert protons into neutrons.
Existing nuclei can also be dissolved in individual nuclei, creating more free neutrons to power the R process.
Team calculations suggest that interactions with light can create neutrons very quickly in nanosecond order.
For charging, a strong magnetic field traps the protons in the jet.
The merciless neutrons are ploughed from the jet to the coco.
After experiencing relativistic shock, neutrons are very dense compared to the surrounding star material, which can lead to the R process, forging heavy elements and isotopes, and banished into space when the stars are torn apart.
The process of protons converted into neutrons and the free neutrons that escape to the surrounding coco to form heavy elements, encompasses all four basic forces of nature, accompanied by a wide range of physics principles. It combines the real multiword problems, the fields of nuclear and nuclear physics, with fluid mechanics and general relationships.
Despite the team’s efforts, more challenges remain as the heavy isotopes created during the R process have never been done on Earth.
Researchers know little about their properties, including atomic weights, half-life, and more.
The high energy jet framework proposed by the team may help explain the origin of kilonovas (the glow of optical and infrared electromagnetic radiation) associated with long gamma-ray bursts.
“Star melting via high-energy photon jets provides an alternative origin for gravity and the production of kilonova that can be produced. This may not have previously been thought to be related to star collapse,” the scientist said.
____
Matthew R. Mumpoir et al. 2025. Make sure there are neutrons! Hadronic optical production from large fluxes of high energy photons. APJ 982, 81; doi:10.3847/1538-4357/ADB1E3
Apple withdraws one of its crypto services from its UK customers
Slandstock / Alamy
The former cybersecurity chief called the UK government “naive” for Apple’s request to add a backdoor to its software. This allows the UK Intelligence Agency to search customer data.
Ciaran Martin He is the head of cybersecurity at the UK Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), and was the first CEO of the National Cybersecurity Centre (NCSC) before joining Oxford University in 2020. New Scientist On reports that the UK government has made an unprecedented request to grant Apple access to data stored anywhere in the world, even if it is encrypted.
Such an order, made under the Investigation Powers Act of 2016, is intended to be made in secret, but Martin says it’s not surprising that details appear to have been leaked. “I think the idea that this type of order for companies like Apple would work secretly was probably naive,” he says.
Martin says that while it’s not uncommon for governments and industries to collide with security issues, he is “not cumbersome, but susceptible to some form of compromise.” He says several times during his career at Intelligence Reporting Agency, technology companies have requested that malicious actors remove features used to harm national security or criminal enterprises. He refused to give detailsBut they often said these are small specialized technology providers.
“They’ll have a new app or something, and it will become a criminal favourite for certain features, and you just say, ‘Look, you can’t do this,'” says Martin. “They are little niche technology, they are widely used. They are more misused than they are used.
At the end of the day, he says, the government must accept that non-crackable encryption will remain here. “The ship sailed,” says Martin. “I think the government has to agree to this in the end, and I think in the long run, I’m trying to force a global Titan. [US] The West Coast is not going well. ”
Engaging in daily running without adequate rest can be a beneficial but ambitious choice for overall fitness. Running is a great cardiovascular exercise that should not be discouraged, especially when done consistently. Regular physical activity also has significant mental health benefits.
However, running every day without rest can increase the risk of overuse injuries such as shin splints, tendonitis, and stress fractures. The repetitive stress on the same muscles and joints without proper recovery time can lead to these issues. The knees are particularly susceptible to injury due to the weight-bearing nature of running.
Credit: TravelCouples
It is crucial to listen to your body and not ignore persistent pain or discomfort, as it could signal the onset of overuse injuries. Practicing proper running technique, wearing suitable footwear, and gradually increasing mileage can help reduce injury risk. Additionally, incorporating strength training exercises to support muscles around the knees and other joints can enhance stability and protection.
Experts recommend including rest days in workout routines to allow for muscle recovery and adaptation to running demands. Active rest days, involving low-impact activities like swimming, cycling, or yoga, can benefit streak runners. Taking breaks is essential for healing minor injuries and maintaining physical well-being.
This article addresses the query (“Is it safe to run every day, should I abandon my running to save my knees?”) posed to Chloe Dickinson via email.
To submit a question, contact questions@sciencefocus.com or reach out via Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram (include your name and location).
For fascinating scientific insights, explore our collection of fun facts.
Tesla wants to suspend a federal lawsuit against it for racial bias against black workers at its Fremont assembly plant.
The electric car maker said in a filing Monday in San Francisco federal court that the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed a lawsuit against Tesla in September as part of “harmful interagency competition” with the California civil rights agency. accused of rushing. The company sued the automaker last year on similar grounds.
The EEOC’s lawsuit alleges that Tesla violated federal law by condoning widespread and ongoing racial harassment of Black employees and retaliating against some employees who opposed the harassment. EEOC filings state that Black workers were accused of using slurs and epithets such as the N-word, variations such as “monkey,” “boy,” and “black bitch,” as well as racist graffiti that called for violence against Black people. There are detailed reports that it has withstood casual use. Other forms of abuse.
The California Civil Rights Division’s complaint against Tesla also includes similar examples of harassment from black workers.
Both lawsuits are pending in state court and allege that Tesla violated California anti-discrimination laws. The EEOC’s lawsuit also includes allegations that Tesla violated federal laws prohibiting racial discrimination and harassment in the workplace.
Tesla also faces a proposed class action lawsuit filed by workers in 2017 alleging racial harassment.
The EEOC did not immediately respond to TechCrunch’s request for comment.
Tesla’s Monday filing says a federal court should refuse to file a third lawsuit until the existing lawsuit is resolved. Lawyers for the automakers argued that prosecuting the three cases simultaneously would involve a “substantial duplication of effort,” risk “inconsistent court decisions,” and waste judicial resources.
Tesla is calling for something called the Colorado River Abstention Principle here. This is a legal principle that allows a federal court to recuse itself from hearing a case if there is a parallel case in a state court dealing with the same issue. The goal behind this principle is to avoid duplicative litigation and promote more efficient justice.
The turf battle Tesla refers to in its filing is between the EEOC and the California Civil Rights Department (CRD), formerly the Department of Fair Employment and Housing. The filing argues that historically the EEOC and CRD have worked together to protect entities from being subject to the same lawsuits from both agencies.
“That historic coordination and cooperation has disintegrated as agencies have become increasingly eager to file headline-grabbing complaints and report multi-million dollar settlements,” the filing said. It is stated in
Tesla has repeatedly denied wrongdoing in multiple racial discrimination incidents. Monday’s filing called the allegations “false” and accused the EEOC of “hastily covering them up.”[ping] Launching a bogus pre-litigation investigation. ”
The company is also appealing a $3.2 million award in a separate racial bias lawsuit to a black former contractor at the Fremont plant.
This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Strictly Necessary Cookies
Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.
