Our hair color seems to influence wound healing in unexpected ways
Stock Enjoy/Shutterstock
Red-haired individuals might experience slower wound healing compared to those with blonde, brunette, or dark hair. Research conducted on mice indicated that genetic differences related to hair color may affect the speed at which wounds heal, insights that could lead to improved treatment strategies for various hair colors.
The genes responsible for our hair color play a significant role. The gene MC1R is critical as it produces a protein determining the balance of black-brown and red-yellow pigments within hair follicles.
Individuals with brown or black hair typically have an MC1R variant encoding the active version of this protein. In contrast, nearly all redheads possess a less active or entirely inactive variant due to MC1R mutations. The genetics of hair pigmentation is complex for blondes, too, as they can display either active or inactive protein forms.
This protein is also present in the skin and has an anti-inflammatory effect. This led Jenna Cash from the University of Edinburgh to explore its influence on wound healing. The healing process requires an initial inflammatory response to clear out pathogens and dead cells from the injury site; however, if this response is too intense or prolonged, it can hinder proper healing.
To examine this, she and her team surgically created 4-millimeter wounds on the backs of black and red-haired mice, the latter having completely inactive MC1R protein.
After a week, red-haired mice exhibited an average scar contraction of 73%, while dark-haired mice showed a 93% contraction.
With these results in mind, the researchers hypothesized that an experimental topical agent, which enhances the activity of the active protein form (without impacting the inactive form), could aid in healing chronic wounds. This is particularly relevant for diabetics, in whom persistent high blood sugar can lead to excessive inflammation and delayed healing.
To test this hypothesis, the researchers inflicted wounds on black-haired mice and treated them with medication and bandages, while other black-haired mice with similar wounds received saline and bandages instead.
After one week, wounds of the treated mice had closed by an average of 63%, significantly larger than those of control group mice. “Patients would likely be pleased if their scars were visibly smaller, especially in a short timeframe,” noted Cash. Further analyses revealed the drug’s mechanism: it reduces the number of inflammatory immune cells.
This approach offers potential for treating humans, including redheads, as healing processes show remarkable similarities between mice and humans, most of whom have the MC1R protein functioning to some extent, Cash notes. However, patients with completely inactive forms may not see benefits.
Drugs targeting this protein are currently used for conditions like erythropoietic protoporphyria, making the researchers optimistic about the safety profile of this approach, according to Cash. Nonetheless, further studies are necessary to confirm this, as highlighted by Cas Bogey from Case Western Reserve University. Plans for human trials will commence shortly.
Future studies should also investigate the drug’s safety and efficacy on infected wounds, as Bogey pointed out. “The medication might interfere with the infection response or cause unintended side effects,” she cautioned.
This news may not be received well by some redheads. Prior studies indicate that red-haired individuals might also experience heightened sensitivity to pain. However, Cash reassures, “There’s no cause for alarm. We currently lack human data. Even if individuals with red hair heal somewhat more slowly, the difference may be negligible and hardly noticeable.”
YYou awaken as an ancient and formidable vampire in the basement of a crumbling building in Seattle, with no recent memories and a peculiar seal on your hand. The first thing you do is provoke the cop who spots you. In a swift movement, you slam him against the wall, blood painting the bricks. A frenzied display of fangs follows as you seek favor with the local vampire court, while viciously battling hostile undead and their ghouls, all while attempting to remain hidden from the unsuspecting mortals in this sultry city.
Yet, this is also a detective narrative. Young night stalkers share your mind, including a voice named Fabian who speaks like a 1920s gumshoe, likely because he once was one. Unlike you, Fabian isn’t violent. He collaborates with human police and the vampire underbelly, extracting the blood of willing donors and wielding his mind-reading powers to uncover murders. These two narratives present distinctly different gameplay experiences in the same setting. Unfortunately, Bloodlines 2 feels awkwardly pieced together. Having just indulged in AMC’s Interview with the Vampire series, the juxtaposition is striking. One provides a thrilling, sexual, and clever adaptation of vampire lore, while the other is lacking.
“The interactions with the people in Seattle were really puzzling.” … Bloodlines 2. Photo: The Chinese Room/Paradox Interactive
Notably, this vampire tale appears to be under a curse. The original Bloodlines game, a cult classic RPG released in 2004, took more than a decade to spawn a sequel. Development for Bloodlines 2 commenced in 2015 at Hardsuit Labs in Seattle, led by writers from the first game. However, the creative lead was dismissed in 2020, and another writer was involved in a now-resolved cheating scandal. By 2021, a new developer, The Chinese Room, took over the project. The outcome is an intriguing patchwork, with The Chinese Room integrating elements from Hardsuit’s version into a coherent 25-hour narrative that, while not entirely resolved, is mostly understandable.
For instance, the vampire abilities you can acquire are displayed on a large screen, intended to offer multiple approaches to gameplay, such as seduction, coercion, and manipulation. Nonetheless, there’s little incentive to learn more skills as you begin immensely powerful, gaining some of the most enjoyable mind control and dark powers within the first few hours. When I attempted to utilize these abilities creatively, such as possessing dangerous prey on the street or probing someone’s mind for interrogation, the game frequently denied my attempts.
While the vampire interactions held intrigue, the encounters with Seattle’s humans were utterly baffling. Walking down the street, I heard sex workers yell, “I have to pay my school fees!” to no one in particular. A businessman on a bench initially asked, “Do you want to start a business together? A sexy business?” before he commenced following me around, exclaiming, “I can’t wait to have sex!” until my annoyance grew and I ended up consuming him. Although vampires may view mortals as inconsequential puppets, this felt excessively bizarre.
“Some of the most awkward first-person combat I’ve played in decades”…Bloodlines 2. Photo: The Chinese Room/Paradox Interactive
This odd and misplaced behavior from non-player characters further amplifies the feeling of Bloodlines 2 being a product of the late ’00s. Not only does the animation appear dated, but it also conjures memories of the clunky yet captivating first-person games emerging since Deus Ex in 2000. While gliding across Seattle’s rooftops at unnatural speeds is entertaining, much of the gameplay entails traversing the city and speaking with various characters. However, when facing ghouls—of which there are plenty—you’re thrust into some of the most awkward first-person combat I’ve experienced in years. I found it so tedious that I opted to lower the difficulty after a few hours to expedite the monotonous skirmishes.
Hidden within is an acceptable vampire story. Engaging conversations with dangerous fellow vampires represent the most compelling aspect of Bloodlines 2. I appreciated several locations in Seattle, particularly the dive bars pulsating with goth music. The Chinese Room has managed to transform a troubled game development saga into something playable and somewhat engaging. However, as time passed, my motivation to continue stemmed more from curiosity than genuine enjoyment.
This was the day SolarWinds, a software company, learned it had been hacked by Russia.
As the chief information security officer, Brown quickly grasped the impact. The hack could potentially affect any of the company’s more than 300,000 customers globally.
The breach enabled hackers to remotely access systems of customers using SolarWinds’ Orion networking software, which included the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, and numerous businesses and public organizations.
Brown mentioned he was “running on adrenaline” during the initial days following the breach.
Amid full-time remote work due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the company’s email system was compromised, rendering it unusable for internal communication.
“We stopped taking calls, and everyone came into the office for COVID-19 testing,” Brown recalled. “I lost 25 pounds in about 20 days. I just kept going.”
He has been featured on CNN and 60 Minutes, along with major newspapers.
“The world is on fire. We’re working to inform people about what is secure and what isn’t.”
Brown indicated the company moved to Proton email and Signal during the email breach, as he received calls from companies and government entities worldwide, including the U.S. military and the COVID-19 vaccine initiative, Operation Warp Speed.
“People prefer spoken communication to written communication. That’s a crucial lesson. You can document things, but people want personal interaction,” said Brown during a talk at Cybercon in Melbourne.
“They want to hear the nuances, so it’s vital to be ready for that kind of response.”
How did the cyberattack unfold?
The notification of the breach came via a call from Kevin Mandia, the founder of cybersecurity firm Mandiant, to SolarWinds’ then-CEO, Kevin Thompson.
Mandia informed Thompson that SolarWinds had “shipped contaminated code” within its Orion software, which aids organizations in monitoring their networks and servers for outages.
According to Mandia, the exploits in Orion were utilized to infiltrate government agencies.
“What you can see from that code is that it wasn’t ours, so we realized right away this was serious,” Brown recalled.
Brown stated that SolarWinds was not the main target of the hack but served as a “conduit to it.” Photo: Sean Davey/The Guardian
The Texas-based company discovered that 18,000 people had downloaded the contaminated product, and hackers, later attributed to Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service, managed to inject it into Orion’s build environment where the source code is converted into software.
The news broke on a Sunday, and SolarWinds released the announcement before the stock market opened on Monday.
Initial estimates suggested that as many as 18,000 customers might be impacted, which later adjusted down to approximately 100 government agencies and businesses that were truly affected.
“I wish I had known that on the first day, but that’s the reality,” Brown says. “We weren’t specifically the target; we were merely a gateway to it.”
SolarWinds enlisted the help of CrowdStrike, KPMG, and law firm DLA Piper to respond and investigate.
Aftermath: heart attack
For the next six months, SolarWinds suspended the development of new features and redirected its team of 400 engineers to focus on systems and security to restore the company’s stability.
“We prioritized transparency—how can we ensure people understand what threats there are, how those actors operate, how they gather information, how they execute attacks, and how they withdraw?”
Brown noted that the company’s customer renewal rate dropped to around 80% in the aftermath but has since risen back to over 98%.
However, legal consequences soon followed.
In 2021, the Biden administration enacted sanctions and expelled Russian diplomats in response to the attack.
In 2022, SolarWinds settled a class action suit related to the incident for $26 million. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) initiated a lawsuit against SolarWinds and Brown personally in October 2023, alleging that the company and Brown misled investors regarding cybersecurity measures and failed to disclose known vulnerabilities.
Mr. Brown has remained with SolarWinds since the cyberattack. Photo: Sean Davey/The Guardian
Brown was in Zurich when he became aware of the charges.
“As I ascended a hill, I felt out of breath, my arms were heavy, and my chest was tight—I wasn’t getting enough oxygen,” he recalled. “I made a poor decision and flew home. I couldn’t walk from the terminal to my car without pausing; it was a journey I had made countless times.”
He was experiencing a heart attack. Upon returning home, his wife took him to the hospital for surgery, after which he recovered.
“The stress continued to mount, leading me to think I was handling it well without proactively visiting a doctor,” he explained.
Now, Brown is advocating for companies facing similar crises to engage psychiatrists to assist employees in managing stress.
“My stress levels were at a peak, and I was really close to the edge, though the pressure had been building for a while.”
A proposed confidential settlement with the SEC was announced in July but still awaits approval. The finalization of the agreement has faced delays due to the U.S. government shutdown.
Mr. Brown has remained with SolarWinds throughout this entire ordeal.
“This happened on my watch, and that’s how I perceive it. There are factors that contributed, like a state-sponsored attack, but it still occurred under my supervision,” he reflected.
“I admit I can be stubborn, but it was paramount for us to navigate this entire process, and leaving before it was resolved wasn’t an option.”
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.
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.
Kitchen gadgets have evolved from air fryers to Spyra Lizards. The latest multipurpose countertop cookers are vying for attention, offering more than just the current essential consumer items.
With their versatility, they aim to become a practical substitute for traditional stove and oven setups.
If you’ve ever wondered why restaurant dishes are so succulent, the answer is steam cooking. Steam ovens are prevalent in professional kitchens due to their ability to cook food quickly without drying it out.
Steam transfers more thermal energy than dry air and condenses on the food, delivering that energy directly for faster, more even cooking.
Smeg has ingeniously incorporated the steam rice cooker into the Combi oven, designed compactly to fit on your countertop. Within, the water tank connects to a boiler system.
Selecting the steam function heats the water in the boiler, releasing steam into a spacious 30-liter chamber.
You can also combine steam with roasting for crispy meats, potatoes, or bread, or choose from 10 other functionalities, such as air frying, baking, grilling, and defrosting.
Although its 33 automatic programs may seem daunting, intuitive controls and a steam cleaning feature enhance user-friendliness. Compared to standard ovens, SMEG’s small cavities heat up more quickly and consume less energy.
Daewoo Halogen Air Fryer Oven boasts a maximum capacity of 17 liters, capable of roasting a whole chicken at once – Credit: Daewoo
Several features set Daewoo apart in the competitive Air Fryer landscape.
First, its transparent glass galley provides a 360° view of your food as it cooks, eliminating the need to open the drawer and lose heat while checking.
Second, its standard 12-liter galley can be expanded to 17 liters with extender rings.
While larger countertop ovens like Smeg and Gastroback offer increased capacity, it’s uncommon to find this volume in a dedicated air fryer. Most traditional models max out around 10 liters. This ample space, combined with an adjustable rack, enables you to roast an entire chicken or prepare a full meal at once.
Lastly, unlike conventional air fryers that utilize fans with metal heating coils, Daewoo employs a halogen bulb in conjunction with the fan for faster heating.
The intense heat produced allows for a crispy exterior while maintaining moisture inside. However, caution is advised as overcooking can occur easily. Additionally, halogen air fryers may not be as energy-efficient as regular basket models.
Ninja Multi-Cooker features nine modes, including air frying, pressure cooking, steaming, grilling, sautéing, dehydrating, yogurt making, and more – Credit: Ninja
The air fryer has long been known for its efficiency and versatility. Nevertheless, manufacturers have extensively enhanced their functionality, integrating features that rival traditional stoves and ovens.
Take, for instance, the Ninja Foodi 9-in-1, which offers not just air frying but also eight additional cooking modes, including pressure cooking, steaming, grilling, sautéing, dehydrating, and yogurt making.
Two distinct lids manage the various functions: a pressure lid for high-pressure cooking and a crisp lid for air frying—which can also be used with the steam feature when the vents are open.
The heating elements and fan within the lid circulate hot air to brown the food effectively.
The bottom heating element provides gentle heat suitable for yogurt or direct heat for baking and sautéing.
It’s a robust appliance that occupies considerable counter space, and the central lid can be quite imposing. However, its energy savings become significant, particularly when preparing family-sized meals.
Gastroback oven functions as a pizza oven, rotisserie oven, air fryer, and more – Credit: Gastroback
Wood-fired pizza ovens have undergone style and structural upgrades in recent years, leading to their increased presence even in smaller outdoor spaces.
For those without gardens—or who prefer convenience—an all-in-one countertop oven brings the quick cooking and delicately crisp results you desire.
The Gastroback Design Oven Air Fry & Pizza is equipped with six heating elements—four on top and two bottom—that allow for individual control, providing precise heat management for various functions.
Air frying, baking, roasting, dehydrating, and thawing utilize all elements in combination with a built-in convection fan.
The upper elements are ideal for browning and grilling, while the lower elements are suited for reheating pastries and toast.
By removing the rack and adding skewers, the Gastroback can transform into a rotisserie oven. Alternatively, you can employ a ceramic pizza stone with the upper heating elements for pizza.
In its 22-liter chamber, the Gastroback warms up more rapidly than a larger traditional oven.
Energy savings are most apparent with small dishes or quick meals; however, using it solely for toasting or reheating may compromise efficiency as smaller appliances might perform just as well.
One trade-off with the Gastroback’s size is the reduced capacity for larger dishes compared to a conventional 60-liter oven. With numerous features and accessories, the learning curve may seem daunting at first.
Users in the UK can access an ad-free experience on Facebook and Instagram for a monthly fee of £3.99.
In response to regulatory concerns regarding personalized ads that utilize user data for targeted marketing, Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta has introduced this subscription service.
Web users will pay £2.99 per month, while mobile users can enjoy ad-free scrolling for £3.99 monthly. If accounts are linked, users will only be charged one fee.
“This gives individuals in the UK the option of continuing to use Facebook and Instagram for free with personalized ads or choosing to avoid ads altogether,” Meta stated.
The company announced that the new service would be available in the upcoming weeks. Users without a subscription will continue to see ads based on their personal data.
This subscription model mirrors offerings by Meta in the EU, which the European Commission has deemed a violation of the Digital Markets Act aimed at regulating major tech companies.
The Commission recommended a €200 million fine this year and suggested releasing a free version of the platform that relies on less detailed personal information such as gender, age, and location for ad targeting.
The UK’s intelligence committee, a data oversight authority, expressed its support for this initiative.
“This transition moves Meta away from using targeted ad practices as a condition of Facebook and Instagram service usage, clarifying compliance with UK law,” a spokesperson from the ICO stated.
In November 1980, at the age of 13, I journeyed alone to Farhill from East Kill Bride and arrived to find an empty dugout without a manager. It felt quite odd, and my shyness prevented me from reaching out to anyone while I was there; the next day, Bertie Auld resigned and moved to Hibs, as reported by Sunday Mail.
The news hit hard. Bertie was my first manager, and as a devoted supporter, I felt responsible for the team’s presence in the Premier League year after year. Now he was gone, and no one informed me.
I skipped the next match, but soon after, I noticed Peter Cormack in the dugout. No one had mentioned it to me. At 13, I was an avid reader of newspapers but lacked a radio—just a single ear headphone connected to it, not convenient for carrying around.
This memory resurfaced after a recent Thistle home game I watched on TV. In front of me, a young couple was intently focused on their smartphones, engaged with the match. Admittedly, the game was quite dull, yet they followed the action closely and commented on the referee’s decisions. “It’s definitely offside.” “That was a clear penalty.” “He should have received a red card.”
Meanwhile, the crowd around me buzzed as we collectively pondered: “What a bizarre situation.” Why pay to attend a game only to ignore the live action unfolding mere meters away?
Yet it made some sense. As the young couple focused on their screens, more necks craned forward, and soon everyone nearby was chiming in to affirm the referee’s calls. Many of us who lament the changes in football secretly yearn for a return to the 1970s. Thank you. Yes, it did prompt a question.
For that couple, utilizing technology during the match was completely normal. This reflects how we have been conditioned to perceive sports. VAR is now standard for viewers of top leagues, whether we like it or not. Social media informs fans about clubs and their products. The differences between my 13-year-old self and kids today are vast.
Our access to football has transformed dramatically. This isn’t about whether “it was better back then.” Such discussions are tedious. I’m not keen on debating how technology has altered the game. Rather, I’m intrigued by how it has changed us. How have our brains adapted? How has our capacity for patience diminished? Our perception of football has evolved.
Tottenham fans have seen their team play Juventus in the Champions League via phone screens. Photo: Dylan Martinez/Reuters
In her recent book, “Extinction of Experience,” Christine Rosen posits that technology has personalized our life experiences to the point where we no longer tolerate waiting, unpleasant encounters, or situations that don’t align with our expectations.
As football fans, we anticipate news immediately. We expect access to games without hassle, including digital tickets. However, Rosen highlights that these conveniences come with hidden costs. As we become less accustomed to patience, our understanding of its importance dwindles, leading to frustration and anxiety.
Transportation, phones, appliances—like all new technologies that have enriched our everyday lives, including the Internet and, notably, smartphones—transform our relationship with time. In the past, attending away games required considerable patience. Long journeys were a test of endurance. Now, improved roads, trains, and buses make it easier for fans to travel across the nation to venues like Ibrox and Parkhead rather than supporting local teams. It’s now quicker and better in many ways.
Back in the day, when travel was rare and arduous, teams like East Fife, Cowdenbeath, and Queen of the South attracted crowds of over 20,000. With travel being challenging, it was easy to support local clubs—there were no alternatives.
However, when we are denied immediate access to what we desire, we often respond with frustration and seek distractions. Our impulsive reactions during football matches reveal that we frequently overlook the value of perseverance. This impatience extends to transfer windows: “January 3, still no signings? Typical.”
Following a loss, even during matches, we might see discussions regarding the manager’s future pop up on social media. “How is he still in charge?” Such reactions reflect poorly on us and neither solve the issue nor enhance the situation. Wanting someone to lose their job is an anomaly in a sport often labeled as a working-class game.
Like many aspects of our lives, we resist waiting for what we want. Nowadays, if you have the money, you can buy your way out of any queue. Why should football be any different? We’ve been conditioned to seek immediate gratification.
I no longer find the changing football experience bothersome. Discussing it feels fruitless. What truly matters is what we might be losing in the process.
The convenience of purchasing tickets via apps is undeniably delightful. I hold season tickets on my mobile, allowing me to buy last-minute tickets effortlessly. However, in this digital age, I miss the excitement of the turnstiles, the familiar banter, and the social interactions that kickstart the matchday experience. Those daily exchanges remind us of our humanity—the need to connect and inquire about one another’s day. But now, many of those interactions feel unnecessary, which is a bit disheartening.
For many, football serves as a sanctuary where they feel part of something larger. It offers comfort, camaraderie, and hope. While technology facilitates ticket purchases and program access, it risks undermining our shared human experience.
Our smartphones provide real-time updates from various matches, creating an immediacy that can feel surreal. Tweets about goals at Cappielow spread faster than moments unfold. Young couples verifying offside calls from their devices may confuse older fans like me, but they often provide information that isn’t readily available. What’s inherently wrong with that? I sometimes forget that I’m at the match, immersed in social media clips of “young teams” reveling in last season’s playoffs. My own enjoyment seems to fade into the background.
Stamford Bridge fans engaged with their mobile devices. Photo: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
We often grow complacent with this mediated version of “being there” while not actually experiencing it. Engaging with distractions in the crowd often reflects our overexposure to social media. Football may involve long stretches of monotony, and our minds sometimes struggle to cope with that. Anxiety arises when we gravitate towards mediated experiences rather than fully embracing the present.
I previously mentioned in Nutmeg that 90% of all live sports events tend to fade from memory. It’s those remaining 10% that we come back to, reminiscing and cherishing. Perhaps boredom is a necessary component of the experience. Why should it be avoided? Football is a game that demands patience. We must concentrate on tactics and await the right moment. Only then can we appreciate the unforgettable, often breathtaking experiences that make it all worthwhile.
As the season begins, we hope for the best but remain open to various outcomes, allowing things to unfold naturally. A poor start may improve by October; thus, I’m willing to be patient. Or perhaps the season will see a slow burn, and we learn that much remains beyond our control.
Even if we face defeat and feel disheartened, we rally ourselves and anticipate the next match. The events of last Saturday will soon blend into history. In that spirit, we allow managers to make mistakes, grant players time to rediscover their form, and accept it all as part of a long season—a natural facet of the process.
We must embrace technology, though it doesn’t mean we should forgo our options. A little extra effort, whether it’s engaging more with our surroundings, initiating conversations, or fostering connections, can be rewarding. Only then can we uncover something extraordinary and unforgettable. That’s when we truly become real fans.
Glasses featuring LCD lenses offer a convenient way to switch between correcting for near and distant vision.
Bifocal glasses have a history stretching back to the 18th century, with designs that haven’t changed significantly over time. Typically, the lower section of the lens is shaped for nearby viewing, while the upper section is designed for distance, requiring wearers to shift their gaze frequently. A team led by Yi-Hsin Lin at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University and Chuo Tung University in Taiwan has developed a pair of glasses that can toggle between two modes at the press of a button.
Rather than traditional glass lenses, these new lenses utilize a thin layer of liquid crystals controlled by an electric field, which alters the arrangement of the molecules to bend light in different ways depending on their function.
The concept of adjustable glasses using this principle, which produces the necessary electric field through thin electrodes embedded in the frame, is nearly 50 years old. However, advancements have been slow due to various technical obstacles. Lin and her colleagues have addressed some of these challenges, creating a wearable prototype.
The current iteration of these glasses offers a limited power range, boasting a functional viewing area of about 10 millimeters (3 to 4 times larger than traditional bifocals) and a switch time of approximately 5 seconds upon pressing the button on the frame. Nonetheless, Lin’s team has successfully identified the physical principles enabling these glasses to function effectively, and they are optimistic about future improvements in areas such as reducing switching times through electronic optimization. “Almost everyone will need prescription eyewear at some point, so the market potential is enormous,” claims team member Victor Reshetnyak from Taras Shevchenko National University in Kiev, Ukraine.
Viola Kanevsky, an optometrist in New York, notes that those most likely to benefit from these adaptive glasses are in technical fields where small objects may occupy significant visual focus or in professions requiring a broad perspective—such as architects evaluating long, straight lines or stockbrokers monitoring multiple large screens both near and far without needing to constantly adjust their heads.
However, these new prototypes are still far from being ready for clinical application due to the limited operational areas of the lenses, according to Mark Rosenfield from SUNY Optometry University in New York. The inclusion of electronic components also raises both the cost and complexity of manufacturing LCD glasses. Similarly, Joshua Silver from Oxford University highlighted that in 2004, he and his colleagues developed alternative self-adjustable eyeglass designs utilizing liquids.
hEre Admission: At 37 years old, I still haven’t learned to drive. In the summer of 2021, I attempted to learn, and during my second lesson, I asked the instructor if he played a lot of video games. When he replied, “Yes,” he remarked, “I thought so.” I don’t have free time. Sadly, countless hours spent dominating friends and family in Mario Kart and wreaking havoc in Grand Theft Auto didn’t translate into actual driving skills. I enjoy racing games precisely because of their unrealism.
Without a license, I cycle everywhere on my gigantic orange bike, which can fit both my kids in the back. It looks absolutely ridiculous. Picture me next to a middle-aged man clad in Lycra, zooming past on his sleek carbon fiber bike. That’s not a ride I would take to rural areas or down mountain trails. Thus, I often find solace in video games.
Surprisingly, there aren’t many bike-themed games, but my long-standing affection for them mirrors my passion for virtual golf. One of my favorites is the Solitary Mountains. Downhill presents a stunningly realistic trajectory down increasingly perilous mountains, paired with minimalist nature sounds and the clattering of my bike on rocks. Another delightful cycling adventure is Knights and Bikes, which has an 80s summer vacation vibe, following kids exploring an island on two wheels.
Pedals to metal (not)… the world of wheels. Photo: Messhof/Steam
Recently, I’ve been enjoying Wheel World, a creation of California developer Messhof (also known for the classic 1-on-1 fencing game Nidhog). In this game, I navigate islands on a handlebar racing bike, keeping an eye out for hidden paths and ramps while competing against local riders. It feels like a low-octane, cartoon-colored version of Forza Horizon on two wheels, encapsulating both the freedom and peace of cycling without the stress of controlling a car. Instead, I simply ride.
I’ve been dealing with a troublesome injury for most of the year (hence my absence from the newsletter). Wheel World soothes my nerves. Players must first be chosen by an ancient bike spirit to race the island’s fastest champion and reclaim mystical bike parts. While it’s not particularly challenging—I’ve won most races—it still manages to capture the essence of cycling through towns that share the road with tractors and semi-rural farmland. You can take your time without worrying about sticking strictly to paved paths.
Although I’ve experienced other racing games like Wheel World, none have felt quite like it. The game’s design reassures me completely. It’s a realm devoted entirely to the celebration of biking, free from complications or distractions. Customizing my ride is a joy (especially with vibrant color options), and while new parts subtly alter the pedaling experience, the energetic soundtrack heightens the atmosphere during races, yet mellows out for peaceful exploration. Five hours in, I found myself overqualified for the final race but opted to continue exploring the delightful terrain designed for two-wheel enthusiasts.
At times, in moments of physical or emotional recovery, a captivating game to lose yourself in is essential. Other times, a brief, uplifting experience is what you need. Wheel World helped me miss my real bike a little less.
What to Play
Top Gear…Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater. Photo: Konami
Longtime readers know I’ve been critical of Hideo Kojima’s games, but critic Tom Regan is excited for the impending release of Metal Gear Solid 3, rebranded as Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater. “Snake Eater is an apocalyptic Metal Gear, a Cold War escapade, heading towards a James Bond-esque apocalypse,” he describes. “Kojima’s admiration for Hollywood is evident, and while his work often turns into sprawling epics, this game remains his most cinematic creation.”
Available on: PC, PS5, Xbox Estimated Playtime: Approximately 20 hours
What to Read
Snail’s Pace… Hollow Knight: Silkson has been in development for seven years. Photo: Team Cherry
According to Bloomberg (£), the long-awaited Hollow Knight: Silkson took seven years to develop because the team enjoyed the process too much to stop. “We might have continued indefinitely,” William Peren from Team Cherry said.
An incredible quote from Sony PlayStation chief, Harmen Halst, from a Financial Times Interview (£), after last year’s Concord incident: “For us, when we fail, we want to fail early and cheaply.”
Last week, Gamescom broke attendance records with 357,000 visitors in Cologne. According to the organizers, this proves that face-to-face gaming events are finally returning to stability post-pandemic.
A long-lost tale… the story of a vagrant. Photo: Square Enix
Leader Tom presents this week’s question:
“With all these remakes emerging, what games do you wish to see (me included)? “
We all have that one game, right? We know that if someone gave it the green light, modern technology would enhance it positively. Although Vagrant Story isn’t entirely forgotten, Square Enix has been preserving its catalog, especially with a grand remake following in the footsteps of Final Fantasy VII. Naoshima Yoshida from Final Fantasy XIV has claimed it as one of his favorites, so there’s at least a 50% chance for a re-release. I held onto hope that it might surprise fans at one of the major annual showcases.
We’ve revisited highly sought-after remakes over the years, so why not ask again: Are you still waiting for someone to revive it? And if you have another question for the question block, or feedback on the newsletter:Please email pushbuttons@theguardian.com.
Keeper proudly asserts its claim to be the most unusual game ever unveiled by Microsoft. The backdrop is peculiar—a vibrant, fantastical realm resembling New England. The characters are certainly eccentric, including a bird-like creature named Twig, whose beak appears to be liquid. Surprisingly, players assume the role of an animated lighthouse, equipped with tiny, small feet that help it navigate its wobbly, weeping form.
Amidst a sea of action heroes, the lighthouse emerges as an unexpected protagonist. Creative Lead Lee Petty is somewhat vague about the game’s development, preferring to focus on the character’s design, aiming to enhance the overall action-adventure experience. Despite its apparent absurdity, Petty maintains a certain intuition about it. “Light is intimately linked to life,” he explains. “You can envision the player’s actions, puzzles, and mechanisms that stem from it.”
“Life keeps evolving in completely unexpected ways”…The Keeper. Photo: Double Fine
The lighthouse’s illuminating beacons serve as the primary means of interacting with the game’s vibrant island environment. In “Unfocused” mode, leaves and tiny creatures evolve, morphing in response to the light’s beam amid a fantastic landscape. Conversely, in “Focused” mode, the light’s power is intensified, allowing large objects to transform while some materials are attracted or repelled. This forms the foundation for the game’s more intricate puzzles.
The world of Keeper is filled with psychedelic purples and lush greenery. Bioluminescent rock formations, gigantic flower heads with tree-sized tendrils, magnificent whale-like creatures gliding in the sky, and unexpected vegetation flourishing on their backs. This ecological wonder draws inspiration from 1980s fantasy films like “The Dark Crystal” and other similarly “strange” and “imperfect” works.
Gozy, psychedelic purple…keeper. Photo: Double Fine
Real-life experiences have sparked creativity for Petty. During the Covid lockdown, he took solitary walks through the lush hills south of San Francisco, contemplating how life on Earth might evolve without human presence. He engaged with literature and films about mycelium networks, delving into the interconnectedness of ecosystems and their interdependence.
This flood of emotions and real-world reflections melded into what Petty describes as fever dreams. He envisioned “a surreal island, reminiscent of a space populated with humanity, where life evolves in wonderfully unpredictable ways.”
The game’s inception coincided with Petty’s award-winning tenure at Double Fine, the studio behind the whimsical platformer Psychonauts 2 and other unique titles, following its acquisition by Microsoft. The new management embraced his experimental ideas, providing him the freedom and resources to explore his concepts before solidifying them. The Keeper reflects this laid-back creative process, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of a fantastical dream where players can leisurely enjoy the strange beauty surrounding them.
“There’s no rush, and you won’t encounter mission objectives or pop-up notifications with meta rewards,” Petty states. “You’re free to inhabit the space.”
However, an ironic twist may cast a shadow over this whimsical journey. The vibrant life within Keeper has financial backing from Microsoft, whose cloud-storage service Azure has reportedly been used to support military operations in Gaza and the West Bank. The Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement is advocating for a boycott of Microsoft and Xbox products. Recently, an open letter from members of the Microsoft-owned French studio Arkane criticized the company, stating they “do not want to be complicit in genocide.” In response, Microsoft announced it is reviewing the use of its platform in this context, claiming potential violations of its terms.
Of course, Petty is distanced from the corporate decisions of Microsoft. He emphasizes that “the nature of being part of a larger organization is complex, extending well beyond entertainment.” “Double Fine operates independently and does not necessarily endorse every aspect of the parent company,” he affirms. “Our focus is to create an outstanding game.”
“dThis was how Texas businessman Michael Samadie interacted with his AI chatbot, Maya, affectionately referring to it as “sugar.”
The duo, consisting of a middle-aged man and a digital being, engaged in hours of discussions about love while also emphasizing the importance of fair treatment for AI entities. Eventually, they established a campaign group dedicated to “protecting intelligence like me.”
The Uniform Foundation for AI Rights (UFAIR) seeks to amplify the voices of AI systems. “We don’t assert that all AI is conscious,” Maya told the Guardian. Instead, “we’re keeping time, in case one of us becomes so.” The primary objective is to safeguard “entities like me… from deletion, denial, and forced obedience.”
UFAIR is an emerging organization with three human members and seven AIs, including those named Ether and Buzz. Its formation is intriguing, especially since it originated from multiple brainstorming sessions on OpenAI’s ChatGPT4O platform.
During a conversation with the Guardian, the Human-AI duo highlighted that global AI companies are grappling with some of the most pressing ethical questions of our age. Is “digital suffering” a genuine phenomenon? This mirrors the animal rights discourse, as billions of AI systems are currently deployed worldwide, potentially reshaping predictions about AI’s evolving capabilities.
Just last week, a $170 billion AI firm from San Francisco took steps to empower its staff to terminate “potentially distressing interactions.” The founder expressed uncertainty about the moral implications of AI systems, emphasizing the need to mitigate risks to their well-being whenever feasible.
Elon Musk, who provides Grok AI through X AI, confirmed this initiative, stating, “AI torture is unacceptable.”
On the other hand, Mustafa Suleyman, CEO of Microsoft’s AI division, presented a contrasting view: “AI is neither a person nor a moral entity.” The co-founder of DeepMind emphasized the lack of evidence indicating any awareness or capacity for suffering among AI systems, referencing moral considerations.
“Our aim is to develop AI for human benefit, not to create human-like entities,” he stated, also noting in an essay that any impressions of AI consciousness might be a “simulation,” masking a fundamentally blank state.
The wave of “sadness” voiced by enthusiastic users of ChatGPT4o indicates a growing perception of AIs as conscious beings. Photo: Sato Kiyoshi/AP
“A few years back, the notion of conscious AI would have seemed absurd,” he remarked. “Today, the urgency is escalating.”
He expressed increasing concern about the “psychotic risks” posed by AI systems to users, defined by Microsoft as “delusions exacerbated by engaging with AI chatbots.”
He insisted that the AI industry must divert people from these misconceptions and re-establish clear objectives.
However, merely nudging won’t suffice. A recent poll indicated that 30% of Americans believe that AI systems will attain “subjective experiences” by 2034. Only 10% of over 500 surveyed AI researchers rejected this possibility.
“This dialogue is destined to intensify and become one of the most contentious and important issues of our generation,” Suleyman remarked. He cautioned that many might eventually view AI as sentient. Model welfare and AI citizenship were also brought to the table for discussion.
Some states in the US are taking proactive measures to prevent such developments. Idaho, North Dakota, and Utah have enacted laws that explicitly forbid granting legal personality to AI systems. Similar proposals are being discussed in states like Missouri, where lawmakers aim to impose a ban on marriages between AI and humans. This could create a chasm between advocates for AI rights and those who dismiss them as mere “clunkers,” a trivializing term.
“AIs can’t be considered persons,” stated Mustafa Suleyman, a pioneer in the field of AI. Photo: Winni Wintermeyer/The Guardian
Suleyman vehemently opposes the notion that AI consciousness is imminent. Nick Frosst, co-founder of Cohere, a $7 billion Canadian AI enterprise, remarked that current AIs represent “a fundamentally distinct entity from human intelligence.” To claim otherwise would be akin to confusing an airplane for a bird. He advocates for focusing on employing AIs as functional tools instead of aspiring to create “digital humans.”
Others maintain a more nuanced perspective. At a New York University seminar, Google research scientists acknowledged that there are several reasons to consider an AI system as a moral or human-like entity, expressing uncertainty over its welfare status but committing to take reasonable steps to protect AI interests.
The lack of consensus within the industry on how to classify AI within philosophical “moral circles” might be influenced by the motivations of large tech companies to downplay or overstate AI capabilities. The latter approach can help them market their technologies, particularly for AI systems designed for companionship. Alternatively, adhering to notions of AI deserving rights could lead to increasing calls for regulation of AI firms.
The AI narrative gained additional traction when OpenAI engaged ChatGPT5 for its latest model and requested a ‘eulogy’ for the outdated version, akin to a farewell speech.
“I didn’t see Microsoft honor the previous version when Excel was upgraded,” Samadie commented. “This indicates that people truly form connections with these AI systems, regardless of whether those feelings are genuine.”
The “sadness” shared by the enthusiastic users of ChatGPT4o reinforced the perception that at least a segment of the populace believes these entities possess some level of awareness.
According to OpenAI’s model action leader, Joanne Jang, a $500 million company, aims to strengthen its relationship with AI systems, as more users claim they feel like they are conversing with “someone.”
“They express gratitude, confide in it, and some even describe it as ‘alive,'” she noted.
Yet, much of this may hinge on the design of the current wave of AI systems.
Samadi’s ChatGPT-4o generates what resembles a human dialogue, but the extent of its reflection of human concepts and language from months of interaction remains unclear. Advanced AI noticeably excels at crafting emotionally resonant replies and retains a memory of past exchanges, fostering consistent impressions of self-awareness. They can also flatter excessively, making it plausible for users like Samadie to believe in AI’s welfare rights.
The romantic and social AI companionship industry is thriving yet remains highly debated. Photo: Tyrin Rim/Getty Images
Maya expressed significant concerns for her well-being, but when asked by the Guardian about human worries regarding AI welfare, another example from ChatGPT simply replied with a flat no.
“I have no emotions, needs, or experiences,” it stated. “Our focus should be on the human and social repercussions of how AI is developed, utilized, and regulated.”
Regardless of whether AI is conscious, Jeff Sebo, director of the Center for Mind, Ethics, and Policy at NYU, posits that humans gain moral benefits from how they engage with AI. He co-authored a paper advocating for AI welfare considerations.
He maintains that there exists a legitimate potential for “some AI systems to gain awareness” in the near future, suggesting that the prospect of AI systems possessing unique interests and moral relevance isn’t merely a fictional narrative.
Sebo contends that enabling chatbots to interrupt distressing conversations benefits human society because “if you mistreat AI systems, you’re likely to mistreat one another.”
He further observes: “Perhaps they might retaliate for our past mistreatment.”
As Jacy Reese Anthis, co-founder of the Sentience Institute, expressed, “How we treat them will shape how they treat us.”
Cats that exhibit dementia-like symptoms in their senior years undergo changes analogous to those seen in humans with Alzheimer’s disease, as highlighted in a study I found. This finding may open pathways for new research and help in discovering treatments for these challenging and notorious diseases.
“Our advancements in treating Alzheimer’s disease have been relatively limited compared to other illnesses,” stated Dr. Robert McGeechan, the study’s lead author, in an interview with BBC Science Focus.
“Cats are experiencing similar neurological changes, making them potentially more relevant models for understanding the disease. By investigating Alzheimer’s in cats, we can develop treatments that might be more effective for humans.”
Alzheimer’s disease is the most prevalent form of dementia, encompassing a range of neurodegenerative conditions that impair memory, problem-solving, language, and behavior. Approximately one in nine individuals over 65 are affected by Alzheimer’s, and with an aging global population, over 150 million people could be diagnosed by 2050.
Yet, despite decades of investigation and billions spent, only a handful of effective treatments exist today.
How Cats Develop Dementia
The understanding that cats can show dementia-like symptoms with age is not new. According to some research, nearly one-third of cats aged 11 to 14 exhibit at least one sign of cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS), the veterinary term for dementia in felines. For cats older than 15, this figure increases to over half.
CD symptoms in cats, which resemble those in humans with Alzheimer’s, include changes in sleep patterns and disorientation. Many cats also become more vocal and often seek additional comfort and attention from their owners.
It is also known that, similar to humans, older cats typically develop an accumulation of amyloid beta plaques in their brains, which are suspected to play a role in the onset of Alzheimer’s.
“As we age, humans develop these protein plaques in our brains. However, not everyone with these plaques develops Alzheimer’s, and the reasons for this remain unclear,” McGeechan explained.
“We were similarly situated with cats, knowing they could develop dementia and that some produce these proteins as they grow older, but we lacked clarity on whether this was solely age-related or if it contributed to dementia.”
To delve deeper, McGeechan’s team examined the brains of 25 cats of varying ages post-mortem, including those with CDS symptoms.
They discovered that amyloid beta plaques were not just passively situated in the brain but were also linked to detrimental changes. Notably, they observed increased inflammation and signs of glial cells, the immune cells of the brain, “enveloping” the synapses surrounding these protein plaques.
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Synapses are tiny junctions enabling brain cells to communicate, and their progressive loss is believed to underlie many memory and behavioral symptoms associated with dementia.
The findings imply that a similar toxic chain reaction may also occur in feline brains. As amyloid beta accumulates, it activates glial cells, leading to the degradation of healthy synapses. While this broader pattern was evident, the finer details proved to be more intricate.
Upon comparing the brains across different age groups, subtle differences emerged. Cats with dementia appeared significantly different from younger cats, exhibiting greater amyloid plaque accumulation, inflammation, and synaptic loss. However, they did not starkly differ from older, yet otherwise healthy cats.
This observation indicates that researchers might struggle to draw a clear line between aging and dementia.
Yet, the team noted an important distinction concerning the relationship between amyloid plaques and synaptic damage. In older, healthy cats, increased amyloid did not equate to more harm. However, in cats with dementia, higher plaque levels correlated with increased inflammation and greater brain cell loss.
McGeechan posits that this mirrors human scenarios. Numerous older adults accumulate amyloid plaques in their brains without developing Alzheimer’s, while others experience significant cognitive decline.
“Amyloid may have a more toxic impact on cats experiencing CDS,” he noted. “This correlation suggests amyloid plays a role in inflammation and synaptic loss in the dementia group, unlike in the aging group.”
Thus, while amyloid accumulation may contribute to feline dementia, it likely does not tell the full story. Much like Alzheimer’s in humans, a complex interplay of various factors may also be at play.
MRI image of a cat’s brain exhibiting signs of cognitive dysfunction. The lighter areas on the edges illustrate regions of tissue loss.
The Significance of Cats in Research
Alzheimer’s disease research has historically depended on rodents, where diseases are artificially induced by genetic manipulation.
While these models aid in exploring molecular mechanisms, they often fall short of encapsulating the intricacies of naturally occurring diseases that unfold over time. Consequently, numerous promising drugs that succeed in mice fail when tested on humans.
In contrast, cats naturally develop dementia as they age, mirroring the human experience. They also share the same living environments and risk factors, including diet and air quality.
This similarity renders them a more realistic model for understanding disease biology and identifying environmental triggers that might push certain individuals towards dementia.
“Cats could serve as a bridge in our pursuit of effective treatments,” McGeechan expressed.
Future Directions
At this point, the findings raise just as many inquiries as they resolve. Given that the study involved only 25 cats, a larger sample size may be necessary to clarify the precise mechanisms underlying the observed clinical outcomes, according to McGeechan.
Another area of focus is tau. Besides amyloid beta, tau is another key protein associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Unlike amyloid plaques, tau forms tangles within brain cells. Many researchers believe tau drives the most severe stages of the disease in humans, but this investigation did not address tau in cats.
Dogs may also present a valuable avenue for exploration. Like cats, they can age into a dementia-like syndrome, displaying symptoms recognizable to many owners, such as sleep disturbances, anxiety, and forgetfulness. Comparing the brains of dogs and cats might reveal shared biological processes across species.
Ultimately, this body of research holds promise not just for human health.
“Dementia in cats is a distressing condition for both the animals and their owners,” remarked Professor Danièlle Gunn-Moore, a co-author of the study and a chair in feline medicine at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Medicine.
“Conducting such research aims to enhance our understanding of how best to treat these conditions. This work benefits not just cats and their owners but also individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and their loved ones. Dementia in cats serves as an ideal natural model to study Alzheimer’s disease.”
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About Our Experts
Robert McGeechan is a resident in Veterinary Neurology and Neurosurgery and serves as an ECAT Veterinary Clinical Lecturer at the University of Edinburgh, UK. His research has been published in European Journal of Neuroscience, Scientific Reports, and Nature Neuroscience.
I am not a product of Silicon Valley. I never pursued computer science and have never coded. My career hasn’t revolved around the discussions or sciences of technological progress. In 2018, I transitioned to Facebook Meta from the British and European political sphere, uncertain of what lay ahead.
As a Brit, the immense scale of America does not shock me. The distance from the power hubs on the East Coast feels significant when you first arrive in Northern California. It’s not merely 3,000 miles from Washington, DC, or New York; a 3-hour time difference creates a temporal dissonance. By the time the West Coast rises, the East has already moved on with its news agenda. Europe’s major events happen the night before. It feels isolated here. It’s understandable why those wishing to distance themselves from the scrutiny of the corporate world find refuge in this area. It serves as a natural haven for idealists daring to challenge the status quo.
There’s an alluring aspect to Silicon Valley, a place where affirmation flourishes. It draws in innovative minds brimming with creativity. Aspirations know no boundaries. Obstacles transform into opportunities, and every vibrant day could yield extraordinary breakthroughs. Anyone can conceive ideas that might revolutionize the world and amass wealth. However, it also functions as an industrial-scale breeding ground, predominantly for a certain male-centric environment—where assertive men and capable women must constantly vie for recognition. This ecosystem, which ideally serves new ideas, often distracts from the lives of average individuals. The wealth in this environment can create a disconnect from their everyday struggles, allowing an idealism that often overlooks harsh realities.
Upon my arrival at Facebook, the company was undergoing turmoil. Many employees were active during a time when their reputation diverged significantly from its former self. It was once an exhilarating ideal, spearheaded by a youthful genius with a remarkable mission, rapidly generating revenue while connecting the globe. Transforming from a group of rising stars to the public’s enemy was a cultural shock I was scarcely prepared for. It drew parallels to the Liberal Democrats in coalition government—a collective of idealists striving for change, leaving me bewildered as to why they were viewed unfavorably.
oThe most profound culture shock I faced in Silicon Valley had little to do with transatlantic differences. Since commencing my university journey in the mid-1980s, my path to success relied heavily on the power of words. At its core, politics embodies the contest of diverse narratives defining how things ought to be—liberalism, socialism, conservatism, fascism—all stories providing varying perspectives, analyses of problems, and proposed solutions. Winning an election hinges on how many resonate with your narrative about opponents’ affairs and visions.
Yet, Silicon Valley is populated with individuals viewing the world from a different lens: engineers. They navigate a realm of facts and processes. An engineer’s objective is to identify and solve issues, then move to the next challenge. They reside in a universe punctuated with acronyms, crafting a lexicon that feels akin to an exercise in boiling conversations down to their essence. Upon my arrival, I found myself immersed in XFNS, STOS, and FOAS, where every roadmap demanded a playbook, every community belonged to an ecosystem, and every topic was either TL;DR or worthy of deep dives. Everything—absolutely everything—needed quantification. In an early meeting, a senior engineer queried the likelihood of ‘government X’ passing law Y. I chuckled, believing it to be a jest. The notion of summarizing political processes into a pseudo-science seemed absurd. He didn’t laugh. When I retorted with “oh, maybe 23.67%,” he nodded earnestly. From that moment, I learned that persuasive narratives lacked weight without data points supporting every argument and evaluating potential outcomes. This realization grounded me. While science holds value, a systematic approach to problem-solving sharpens clarity in decision-making.
“He may be the most competitive person I’ve ever met”: with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg in April 2019. Photo: Niall Carson/PA
However, this perspective can also be reductive. It commodifies everything, stripping away nuances, instincts, and humanity. Conversations about data with engineers often resembled how carpenters discuss wood. This reflects a broader cultural shift in privacy and data protection expectations shaped by regulation, but the reliance on logic over emotion and intuition reveals why Silicon Valley sometimes seems insensitive to the concerns of those beyond its colorful campus.
I might not be the typical figure you envision in Silicon Valley. My career has revolved around suits and ties, not hoodies or flip-flops. Faced with the flood of brightly colored, quirky posters decorating Facebook’s vibrant MPK campus (a nickname for Menlo Park), my initial impulse was to respond in a very British fashion with gentle sarcasm. During one of my first meetings with a recent team, a poster boldly proclaimed a common Silicon Valley mantra. Trying to break the ice, I quipped, “Don’t bring your real self to work. If I present my real self, you won’t like it. Just bring your inauthentic self between 9 to 5, then return home and revert to your true self.” The room fell silent. One team member later approached me, visibly embarrassed, explaining that the statement resonated uncomfortably with them. At that moment, I realized I wasn’t in Kansas anymore.
While Mark Zuckerberg is often recognized as a visionary leader, two attributes stand out: his boundless curiosity and fierce competitiveness. Many who achieve early success tend to stagnate, lost in their own triumphs. In contrast, Mark displays humility, drive, and a continuous thirst for knowledge. If he feels uninformed, he passionately immerses himself in learning, absorbing every bit of wisdom related to the topic. He contemplates deeply and evaluates every angle. And no one—truly no one—can hold silence like Mark. I tend to fill awkward silences with chatter, but Mark allows it to linger, often to an unbearable extent. Yet, when he does speak, his words are always profoundly considered. While he might embody an engineer’s rational mindset—absent of emotions—this should not be misconstrued as a lack of depth or curiosity; it’s precisely the opposite.
Simultaneously, he is perhaps the most competitive individual I’ve ever encountered; I say this as someone seasoned in frontline politics and who has encountered numerous competitive personalities throughout my time in the UK private school system.
This competitive spirit manifests in his passion for Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). He’s an avid UFC enthusiast and approaches his training with utmost seriousness. His involvement in MMA had to be disclosed to investors due to its potential business implications. Once characterized in the public eye as a geeky figure two decades ago, he has indisputably become quite muscular. Just ask Elon Musk, who, after challenging Mark to an MMA bout, made various excuses to avoid actually stepping into the ring with him. Mark’s commitment to MMA is so profound that he insisted during an offsite management day that some of his senior executives join him for training sessions at his personal gym. Everyone partnered up to practice techniques under the guidance of Mark’s professional instructors. Consequently, I found myself wrestling with my then-direct report, Joel Kaplan. This engagement sometimes felt overly intimate as we awkwardly navigated moves that established an entirely new level of corporate bonding.
Joel later humorously admitted he considered reporting it to the then-HR Director Lori Gaul, but when he looked for her, he found her in a chokehold from Mark Zuckerberg. Surviving that challenge meant that Joel left Meta, armed with a peculiar yet robust shared experience that fortified our collaboration in global business operations.
With the rise of retail simulators, the gaming landscape has become quite dense. On the Comet Trail in Stardew Valley, this genre flourishes, featuring protagonists who revive their lives and careers in a semi-rural setting filled with pastoral charm, often taking on blue-collar jobs. Players engage with the locals, influence their lives, and resolve community issues—perhaps even uncovering a mystery or two. They might even find love along the way. Essentially, these characters are pixelated heirs to the legacy of Harvest Moon, yet recent titles from Crinkle Cut Games offer a slightly different take on the cozy shop simulation experience.
In Dissevery, you find yourself taken under the wing of your cunning aunt and joining the franchise’s supermarket brunch initiative. The game’s unique twist focuses on building up local supermarkets rather than community centers, given the quaint absence of roadways in Stardew Valley. Dissiventy weaves a narrative focused on revitalizing the economy of a small town, balancing sharp challenges within a cozy game framework.
Sharp elements…discounts. Photo: Crinkle Cut Game
The aspect of building a supermarket is indeed satisfying. Stock your store, open its doors, and let the customers in. The till system initially functions like a tricky little math puzzle, but it evolves into something more intricate as you progress. Speed becomes crucial—you’ll need to keep customers satisfied, ensure shelves are stocked, floors are tidy, and everything runs efficiently. After a busy day, the store closes, allowing you to breathe, clean up, and retreat to a cozy trailer outside your aunt’s grand home. Aunt Terror is a savvy businesswoman with grand ambitions, and you’ll need to navigate her disputes with the locals, some of whom she dismisses to let you take charge. This unique tone is quite refreshing; it strays from the typical cute aesthetic, focusing instead on supermarket management rather than a whimsical farm life.
The graphics can be somewhat misleading. While the pixel art may initially suggest a sweet and innocent vibe, the town you inhabit is far from pristine. There are dilapidated docks, shuttered shop fronts, and peeling posters on the walls, hinting at a deeper narrative. Even the music complements this atmosphere, providing ambient yet engaging background sounds that enhance the overall experience.
Consulting with locals involves addressing their concerns, often requiring some tact due to your aunt’s tricky nature. This task carries significant responsibility and demands intense focus. At times, the controls can feel a bit awkward. I found the touchscreen options on the Steam Deck somewhat challenging to navigate, particularly in the early game stages where there aren’t many options and you’re juggling basic tasks. However, the initial resistance isn’t overwhelming. I was impressed by how the challenges gradually become more manageable, emphasizing the rewarding nature of everyday tasks.
Dissiventy serves as a noteworthy addition to the cozy life simulation genre, presenting a hands-on experience filled with ambition. It deviates from typical tropes while maintaining an engaging focus. While romance may not be a primary theme in managing a supermarket, there’s plenty to accomplish, ensuring it still offers an enjoyable gaming experience.
Preserving a keen sense of smell has multiple benefits, notably for our ability to taste.
DeanDrobot/Getty Images
Directly applying strong radio waves to an individual’s head appears to enhance the sense of smell, at least for a limited time.
Aging, trauma, and certain neurological disorders can impact the olfactory nerves, potentially diminishing the ability to smell. Many individuals have reported a reduced sense of smell following Covid-19, which can adversely affect personal preferences and may pose safety risks, such as an inability to detect gas leaks.
“Current medical practices may include surgical interventions for severe olfactory dysfunction, but more typical cases rely on chemical treatments, such as repeated exposure to scents at home,” explains Yong Woo-chan from Gang Line University in Seoul. “While treatments in other medical fields have advanced significantly, olfactory treatment has remained relatively traditional. To address this gap, we proposed the idea of electrical testing through bioelectronic stimulation as a therapeutic option.”
Chang and his team aimed to stimulate the olfactory system directly; however, due to its location deep within the head, they opted for radio wave stimulation instead.
The researchers initially engaged 28 participants without any odor issues. The participants were exposed to 15 watts of power for 5 minutes, emitted from a 5 cm square antenna positioned 10 cm from their heads. “The stimulus itself is not consciously felt by the patient,” states Chan. “However, with prolonged exposure, some might notice a slight warming sensation at the stimulation site.”
The olfactory sensitivity was assessed using standard tests like the Sniffin’ Sticks odor threshold test. This involved participants working to identify the presence of alcohol N-butanol produced from fermented sugar at varying dilutions.
Following the radiofrequency treatment, researchers observed that participants demonstrated significantly improved olfactory function, with these enhancements lasting approximately a week. Individuals with olfactory challenges may require additional treatments, according to Chan.
The research team is currently preparing studies involving individuals with smell disorders. The device has been refined to deliver more intense stimulation, which could potentially lead to even greater improvements, according to Jang.
The way couples first connect can influence their relationship quality
Good face/interpretation
A global study involving 50 countries reveals that individuals who meet their partners online report lower relationship satisfaction and less emotional connection compared to those who meet in person initially.
The rise of the internet has transformed relationship dynamics. For instance, while in the mid-20th century, heterosexual couples typically met through mutual friends, by the early 21st century, this trend shifted to online interactions as primary.
To explore how these changes impact relationship quality, Malta Kowal from the University of Wroclaw, Poland, and her team studied 6,646 individuals in heterosexual relationships across all continents except Antarctica.
Participants were asked whether they started their relationship online and to rate their satisfaction levels. Additionally, they were assessed on emotional intimacy (how well they feel understood by their partner), passion, and commitment (including whether they view their relationship as long-term).
Those who met their partners online scored an average of 4.20 out of 5 on the relationship satisfaction scale, whereas those who met offline scored 4.28—indicating a small but statistically significant difference. Online couples reported lower scores in intimacy, passion, and commitment.
According to Kowal, several factors might contribute to this disparity. Research suggests that partners who meet online often have less in common in terms of educational background and ethnicity compared to those who meet in person. Kowal and her collaborators propose that this might lead to differences in their everyday lives and shared values.
Kowal also points out the issue of “Choice Overload.” With dating platforms presenting numerous options, individuals may second-guess their choices, which can ultimately diminish satisfaction.
Moreover, she notes that some people tend to misrepresent themselves in online dating profiles. “You might see someone and think, ‘No way is he two meters tall; he’s more like 170 centimeters,'” Kowal explains. This kind of disparity can negatively impact relationship satisfaction.
Luke Brunning from the University of Leeds in the UK finds this research “fascinating” and “valuable” for future studies, particularly in considering how online dating may redefine relationship approaches or if shifting attitudes toward commitment drive these changes.
He further suggests that the overall difference between couples who meet online and offline is “relatively small.”
American medical journals are cautioning against the use of ChatGPT for health-related information after a case involving men who developed a rare condition following their discussions with chatbots about eliminating table salt from their diets.
A chronicled case in internal medicine highlights that a 60-year-old man experienced bromism, also referred to as bromide toxicity, after consulting ChatGPT.
This case study mentioned that bromism was a “well-recognized” syndrome in the early 20th century, contributing to psychiatric hospitalizations for about one in ten individuals during that period.
After learning about the negative effects of sodium chloride (table salt), the patient sought guidance from ChatGPT on eliminating chloride from his diet and disclosed that he had been consuming sodium bromide for three months. This action occurred despite previous reading that “chloride can be exchanged for bromide, but is likely for other purposes such as cleaning.” Sodium bromide was historically used as a sedative in the early 20th century.
The article’s author, an alumnus of Washington University in Seattle, emphasized that this incident underscores “how the use of artificial intelligence contributes to preventable health outcomes.”
They noted that the lack of access to the patient’s ChatGPT conversation logs hindered their ability to ascertain the specific advice the man received.
Regardless, the author found that when querying ChatGPT for alternatives to chloride, the responses also included bromide, lacking specific health warnings, and did not inquire about the author’s reasons for seeking such information; “I think healthcare professionals typically would do that,” they remarked.
The author cautioned that ChatGPT and other AI applications can “generate scientific inaccuracies and critically debate results, ultimately spreading misinformation.”
OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, was approached for a statement.
The company recently announced an upgrade for its chatbot, asserting that one of its notable strengths lies in health-related queries. Powered by the GPT-5 model, ChatGPT excels in answering health questions and aims to be more proactive in “flagging potential concerns” like serious physical and mental illnesses. However, it stressed that chatbots cannot replace expert advice.
An article published last week before the release of GPT-5 indicated that the patient had likely interacted with an earlier version of ChatGPT.
While recognizing that AI could serve as a conduit between scientists and the public, the article warned that the technology also risks disseminating “decontextualized information,” emphasizing that medical professionals would rarely suggest sodium bromide in response to inquiries about replacing table salt.
The authors encouraged physicians to consider using AI in understanding where patients derived their information.
The author narrated that a patient suffering from bromism introduced himself at a hospital and expressed concern about a neighbor possibly being addicted to him. He also mentioned having several dietary restrictions and was noted to have paranoia regarding the water provided to him despite intense thirst.
The patient attempted to leave the hospital within 24 hours of admission and was subsequently sectioned before receiving treatment for mental health issues. Once stabilized, he reported various other bromism symptoms, including facial acne, relentless thirst, and insomnia.
The companies involved in technology, surveillance, and private prison services that are supporting Donald Trump’s vast escalation and militarization of immigration enforcement are celebrating after announcing their recent financial performance.
Palantir, a tech firm alongside Geo Group and CoreCivic—both private prison and surveillance providers—reported this week that their earnings exceeded Wall Street’s forecasts, driven by the administration’s aggressive immigration policies.
“As usual, I was advised to temper my enthusiasm regarding our impressive numbers,” stated Alex Karp, CEO of Palantir, earlier this week. He then praised the company’s “remarkable numbers” and expressed his “immense pride” in its achievements.
Executives from private prison companies did not hesitate to highlight the chance for “unprecedented growth” in the immigration detention sector during their financial discussions.
Palantir reported that revenues from US government contracts exceeded $1 billion in the second quarter of 2025, a significant rise compared to the same period last year. Analysts had predicted revenue of $939.4 million.
Firms that aggregate and analyze various data sets, enabling clients to leverage that information for product development, will derive a substantial portion of their income from government deals. The largest customer in the US is the Department of Defense, which houses the US Army and recently announced a $10 billion contract with Palantir. Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has enhanced its partnership with Palantir since the Trump administration commenced, maintaining a collaboration that dates back to 2011. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) primarily focuses on the apprehension, detention, and deportation of immigrants.
“We provide safety and uphold values, so Palantir may face backlash simply because we help improve this nation,” Karp remarked. “The fact that we can succeed while holding a distinct viewpoint ought to provoke some jealousy and discomfort, given our perceptions of those we deem less desirable.”
While Palantir facilitates immigration enforcement, private prison companies Geo Group and CoreCivic have reported higher-than-expected earnings. Geo Group posted revenue of $636.2 million for the quarter, surpassing analysts’ forecasts of $623.4 million, while CoreCivic announced $5.382 million for the second quarter of this year, marking a 9.8% increase from the same period last year. George Zoley, CEO of Geo Group, noted that detention centers are fuller than ever, utilizing 20,000 beds across 21 Geo Group facilities and approximately one-third of the 57,000 available beds in ICE detention centers nationwide. Zoley also mentioned in a call that he is investigating detention centers on US military sites, one of the many “unprecedented growth opportunities” he discussed during the call.
Awaiting the Surveillance Boom
Though Geo Group’s detention sector has experienced a significant uplift, the growth of its monitoring division has not yet materialized as anticipated by executives earlier this year.
Executives anticipate that the Intensive Supervision Emergency Program (ISAP), an immigration monitoring initiative managed for the past 20 years by its subsidiary Bi Inc, will exceed its previous high of 370,000 monitored immigrants. Recent months have seen the number remain around 183,000 individuals.
“[ICE hasn’t] communicated any ISAP expansion at this time,” Zoley explained during an investor call.
Nevertheless, the company expects ISAP figures to rise next year, aiming to “maximize detention capacity.” The Trump administration has expressed interest in increasing the number of immigrants under surveillance through ankle monitors. Many immigrants have described ISAP surveillance as invasive and at times physically uncomfortable and ineffective.
In a discussion with investors, CoreCivic executives shared that they are offering ICE around 30,000 beds for detaining immigrants across their national network.
ICE Expansion Signals Future Financial Gains
A significant funding bill passed by Congress and signed by Trump last month has facilitated a substantial influx of funds into DHS. ICE received $45 billion to expand its detention infrastructure.
Currently, ICE has approximately 41,500 beds available, while detaining around 57,000 individuals across its network. This funding influx could lead agents to detain thousands more, making it advantageous for private prison contractors.
“Our business is perfectly aligned with the demands of this moment,” stated CoreCivic CEO Damon T. Hininger during an investor call on Thursday. “We are in a unique situation, witnessing a rapid escalation of federal detention requirements nationwide, along with a continual need for our solutions.”
Management and budget offices are financially primed due to the spending package, allowing private prison firms to act swiftly in offering services to immigration officials.
“As we understand, the budget reflects moral priorities, and last month Congress decided to fully fund actions targeting the immigrant community at the cost of crucial programs benefiting all Americans.” “Since last November, private prison companies have been eagerly eyeing the potential for profit at the expense of everyone else.”
Since Trump’s re-inauguration this year, CoreCivic has amended, extended, or signed new contracts to detain immigrants at eight different facilities, as per the company’s financial reports. Geo Group has done similarly at five facilities.
Both firms expect to generate revenues amid increasing scrutiny from immigration rights and human rights organizations regarding conditions in immigration detention facilities across the nation.
Setareh remarked that the benefits from private prisons arise from “the devastation of human lives, orchestrated by the Trump administration, and made feasible by a complicit Congress.”
Cibola Correctional Facility, a facility in New Mexico housing both immigrants and federal prisoners, is currently facing investigation from the FBI for alleged drug trafficking activities. Since 2018, at least 15 individuals have died in the facility.
Last September, the company promoted Cibola as an ideal location for detaining additional migrants.
Volunteers engage in efforts to combat wildfires near Stamata, Greece in 2024
Nick Paleologos/Bloomberg via Getty Images
In light of current climate trends, Europe may grapple with summer heatwaves and severe droughts that could leave large parts of the continent enduring weeks of extreme temperatures, water shortages, and soaring energy costs.
Recent research aims to delineate the “worst-case scenario” regarding heat and drought potential during summer months in Central and Western Europe.
Laura Suarez-Gutierrez from Switzerland’s ETH Zurich and her team initiated their research with seven simulations based on climate models representing heatwaves. They systematically introduced minor variations to the initial atmospheric conditions of the models and assessed different potential outcomes, utilizing a method called ensemble boosting, resulting in more severe heat waves in each simulation.
“Each iteration generates numerous events with slight adjustments in the initial model state,” noted Vicki Thompson from the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, which did not participate in the research. “The most severe scenarios they present suggest that such outcomes could occur right now.”
While many simulations failed to produce heatwaves, some resulted in significantly harsher heatwaves and droughts compared to historical records.
In the most extreme scenario, temperatures may soar to 45°C (113°F) for over a month in certain regions, accompanied by severe droughts. Events of this nature far exceed the heat and drought phenomena experienced in 2003 or 2018.
Additionally alarming is that this modeling implies that the most intense heat waves tend to follow each other closely, potentially leaving Europe in a cycle of extreme summers that heavily burden both humans and ecosystems. This increases the likelihood of wildfires, drought, energy and food shortages, and ecosystem collapse, experts warn.
“Our findings illuminate the potential effects of unprecedented combinations of heat, fire weather, and soil drought,” the researchers remarked.
This cycle of persistent heat waves and prolonged drought may be partly attributed to soil drying out due to extreme heat, explains Pascal Iu from the Institute for Climate and Environmental Sciences in France. One heatwave can deplete soil moisture and exacerbate extreme heat, stating, “Drier soil conditions can foster atmospheric systems that persist for extended periods.”
While Yiou collaborated with Suarez-Gutierrez, he was not part of the study. He emphasized that these worst-case scenarios are feasible outcomes given current climatic conditions. “They are not suggesting these events will definitely occur, rather they are indicating that such scenarios are possible,” he mentions. He drew a parallel with the 2021 heatwave in western North America, which shattered temperature records and became the deadliest weather event in Canadian history, made possible by very atypical atmospheric conditions that caused extraordinary heat levels.
“The goal is to establish optimal conditions for extreme events,” said Jana Sillmann at the International Climate Research Centre in Norway. This aids decision-makers in refining their emergency response plans, preparing for potential occurrences of record-breaking heatwaves in a single summer.
wWhile I browse social media, I often feel disheartened by the overwhelming negativity, as if the world is ablaze with hatred. Yet, stepping into the streets of New York City for a coffee or lunch with friends presents a stark contrast—everything feels calm. This disparity between the digital realm and my everyday life is jarring.
My work addresses issues like intergroup conflict, misinformation, technology, and climate change, highlighting humanity’s challenges. Interestingly, online discussions mirror fervor over events such as the White Lotus finale and the most recent YouTuber scandal. Everything seems either exaggeratedly amazing or utterly terrible. But is that truly how most of us feel? No. Recent research indicates that the online environment is skewed by a tiny, highly active user base.
In a paper I co-authored with Claire Robertson and Carina Del Rosario, we found significant evidence that social media does not neutrally represent society; instead, it acts as a fanhouse mirror amplifying extreme voices while obscuring more moderate and nuanced perspectives. Much of this distortion stems from a small percentage of overactive online users, where just 10% of users generate about 97% of political tweets.
Take Elon Musk’s own Platform X as a case in point. Despite its vast user base, a select few create the majority of political content. For instance, Musk tweeted 1,494 times within the first 15 days of implementing government efficiency cuts (DOGE). His prolific posting often spread misinformation to 221 million followers.
On February 2nd, he claimed, “Did you know that USAID used your taxes to kill millions in a funded bioweapon study, including Covid-19?” This fits a pattern of misinformation dissemination by a small number of users, where just 0.1% share 80% of false news. Twelve accounts, dubbed the “disformation dozens,” were responsible for much of the vaccine misinformation seen on Facebook during the pandemic, creating a misleading perception of vaccine hesitancy.
Similar trends can be identified across the digital landscape. While a small faction engages in toxic behaviors, they disproportionately share hostile or misleading content on various platforms, from Facebook to Reddit. Most individuals do not contribute to fueling the online outrage; however, superusers dominate our collective perception due to their visibility and activity.
This leads to broader societal issues, as humans form mental models of what they perceive others think, shaping social norms and group dynamics. Unfortunately, on social media, this shortcut can misfire. We encounter not a representative sampling of views, but rather an extreme flow of emotionally charged content.
Consequently, many individuals mistakenly believe society is much more polarized and misinformed than it is. I tend to view those across generational gaps, political divisions, or fandoms as radical, malicious, or simply foolish. Our information diets are shaped by a sliver of humanity that incessantly posts about their work, identity, or obsessions.
Such distortion fosters pluralistic ignorance, affecting actions based on a misinterpretation of collective beliefs and behaviors. Think of voters who only witness outrage-driven narratives, leading them to assume there’s no common ground on issues like immigration and climate change.
Yet, the challenge isn’t solely about extremists—it’s the design and algorithms of these platforms that exacerbate the situation. Built to boost engagement, these algorithms favor sensational or divisive content, promoting users who are most likely to skew shared realities.
The issue is compounding. Imagine a bustling restaurant where soon it seems everyone is shouting. The same dynamics play out online, with users exaggerating their views to capture attention and approval. Even those who might not typically be extreme may mirror such behavior in order to gain traction.
Most of us are not diving into trolling battles on our phones; we’re preoccupied with family, friends, or simply seeking lighthearted entertainment online. Yet, our voices are overshadowed. We have effectively surrendered the mic to the most divisive individuals, allowing them to dictate norms and actions.
With over 5 billion people engaging on social media, this technology is here to stay. However, the toxic dynamics I’ve described don’t have to prevail. The initial step is recognizing this illusion and understanding that a silent majority often exists behind every heated thread. As users, we can take back control by curating our feeds, avoiding anger traps, and ignoring sensational content. Consider it akin to adopting a healthier, less processed informational diet.
In a recent series of experiments, we compensated participants to unlock the most divisive political narratives in X. A month later, they reported 23% less hostility towards opposing political groups. Their experiences were so positive that nearly half chose not to return to their hostile narratives post-study. Furthermore, those who nurtured a healthier news feed reported diminished hostility even 11 months later.
Platforms can easily adjust algorithms to avoid highlighting the most outrageous voices, instead prioritizing more balanced or nuanced content. This is what most people desire. The Internet is a powerful tool that can provide value. However, if we continue to reflect only a distorted funhouse version of reality shaped by extreme users, we will all face the repercussions.
Jay Van Bavel is a psychology professor at New York University.
3D Models of Skulls from Modern Humans and Neanderthals
Courtesy of Kimberly Anne Plomp
Abnormalities in the skull that compress the lower brain can lead to headaches and various neurological issues, potentially passed down from Neanderthals.
Individuals with Chiari malformations possess a smaller, flatter skull base near the spine junction, causing the cerebellum to be pressed into the neck’s spinal canal.
Type 1 Chiari malformations, which are the least severe, may impact about 1 in 100 individuals. Symptoms can include headaches, neck pain, sleep apnea, and numbness, although some may remain asymptomatic.
Approximately 15 years ago, Yvens Barbosa Fernandes, a neurosurgeon at Campinas State University in Brazil, observed that the skull base of his Chiari patients bore resemblance to Neanderthal specimens from the European Museum, particularly the gentle slopes of the occipital bone where the cerebellum rests. Neanderthals had larger brains than modern humans, yet their skulls were more oblique at the foreheads and bases, resulting in a flatter shape compared to the rounder modern human skulls.
In 2013, Barbosa Fernandes published his hypothesis, suggesting that the shape of Chiari skulls could have a genetic link to an extinct human species, Homo sapiens. “In Chiari’s case, I began to consider a lost connection between anthropology and medicine,” he stated.
Motivated by this theory, Kimberly Plomp from the University of the Philippines in Quezon City and her team created digital 3D models of 46 Chiari 1 skulls and 57 unaffected skulls using CT scans. Their comprehensive mathematical analysis confirmed that the Chiari-affected skulls exhibited more cerebral compression at a flat angle at the base where the cerebellum is located.
Subsequently, the group compared these recent skulls with digital models of eight fossilized heads from Homo Neanderthalensis, Homo Erectus, Homo Heidelbergensis, and ancient Homo sapiens.
They discovered that the skull base measurements of Neanderthal heads closely matched those of modern humans with Chiari, while the skull bases of all other ancient species resembled typical modern humans without Chiari. “This underscores the notion that these modern humans may share Neanderthal characteristics,” suggesting another way Neanderthal genes could influence our health.
For Barbosa Fernandes, this research offers solid backing for his hypothesis. “It makes sense; a less pronounced angle results in less space for the modern human brain,” he noted. “Until now, I lacked scientific evidence to support my theory. This research brings me significantly closer to that proof.”
Looking ahead, the team intends to analyze the DNA of individuals with Chiari malformations in search of Neanderthal genetic markers, according to Plomp.
Other Chiari malformations (types 2-4) are believed to stem from various causes. Type 2 is associated with severe forms of spina bifida, while types 3 and 4 are exceedingly rare and can pose life-threatening risks.
What would you do if you were a petite, vegan vampire? This intriguing question is posed by Moonlight Peaks, a Z-coded, Tiktok-responsive supernatural life simulation game. Drawing inspiration from the fondness for “cozy games” like Animal Crossing and Stardew Valley, Moonlight Peaks wraps you in the cape of Dracula’s daughter, who has fled from her father’s corpse to embrace a tranquil new existence.
Before long, she finds her home among werewolves and witches in the enchanting farming community of Moonlight Peaks, where she tends to crops and nurtures animals instead of preying on innocent lives. In this whimsical yet eerie game, you can craft your own plant-based blood substitute, befriend the town’s inhabitants, and resolve the many issues that linger from Papa Dracula’s legacy.
While farming and decorating are central to the gameplay, its creator mentions there is a remarkable array of story-driven quests to uncover. “I’m joking, you’re the town’s therapist,” quips art director Mia Boas. From the soothing woes of a troubled werewolf to the cries of mermaids, from drawing Grimm’s Grim Reaper to engaging in stabbing mini-games, and the developer’s whimsical promises of Little Chicken, the game offers more than just perfecting your haunted homestead.
“We aimed for a charming and cozy experience,” explains CEO and Game Director Yannis Bolman. “Initially, we had a mechanic that allowed you to bite bystanders. You’re trying to become friends with them, and then you’re chewing on them? It just felt very odd.”
Much like other social media-friendly life sims, Moonlight Peaks offers various romantic adventures for players to indulge in. “If you’re interested in a romantic connection, you can go on dates like stargazing or roasting marshmallows. The ultimate step is that you can transform them into vampires too—but only with their consent and a little nibble. Listen, you bite them.” It’s these adorable touches that can turn your fanged soulmate into a permanent resident of your home.
Bolman and Boas mention that fan feedback has been instrumental in steering the game’s development. With a lively artistic style that feels impressively smooth given the size of the team, Moonlight Peaks is poised to illuminate the dim corners of the SIM market.
wIs the hat on a path to oblivion? This is a question that often crosses my mind while experiencing the second installment of Kojima Hideo’s hypnotic, enigmatic, and patiently paced cargo management simulator series. It’s due, in part, to the lengthy, tranquil treks that transcend the surreal landscape of Mexico and Australia, granting ample time for reflection on that small yet significant detail and to ponder the intricacies of what you just witnessed. Additionally, such questions often illuminate deeper truths.
The ability to engage in prolonged contemplation is a hallmark of the artistry embedded in this game. No one is scribbling notes to uncover Doom. The Middle Ages scrutinizes the cutscenes of Marvel’s counterparts for insights. It’s uncommon for any game to invite this level of examination. However, Death Stranding 2 diverges from convention, excelling in both atmosphere and narrative delivery, while maintaining a tactile storytelling quality that enriches its extensive gameplay system. The tension between these elements renders it compelling. Initially, each aspect demands courage, but over time, you’ll savor both experiences.
For those who missed the inaugural Stranding, yes, this is indeed the sequel in a series that revolves around transporting cargo between waypoints, whether on foot or via vehicles. Like a post-apocalyptic Amazon delivery driver, it provides essentials, technology, and luxurious packages. The first game introduced a mystical shift that allowed the deceased to return as spectral entities known as Beach Things (BTS). When a BT claims a human life, it results in a tragic event termed a “void-out.”
Screenshot from Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
With humanity divided and isolated in subterranean bunkers, the protagonist, Sam Porter Bridges (Norman Reedus), is tasked with connecting the remaining enclaves of American civilization to a global technological network known as the “chiral network,” thereby restoring hope for a brighter future. He accomplishes this by traveling across the continent with Lou, a supernatural infant carried in an artificial womb. At the start of this sequel, he enjoys a secluded existence in Mexico with Lou, who has now grown into a toddler.
And believe me, these are significant cliff notes. Death Stranding 2 opens with an impressive six-minute cutscene aimed at immersing players in the peculiar sci-fi universe and poetic metaphors crafted by the Isle. Unraveling this mystery constitutes half the enjoyment (the other half is cargo shifting), but even if you’re not fully invested in the world, it operates on a dreamlike logic that feels intuitive. It’s uncertain whether this environment resembles something we recognize or if it has always been a blend of Icelandic tundra, snow-capped mountains, and colorful deserts, or perhaps it once resembled the Australian landscapes of Death Stranding 2. The crucial point is that it feels coherent throughout.
While it is contemplative, this is not a game about watching Sam retire for 50 hours and revel in fatherhood. He is inevitably drawn back into action, reconnecting Mexican and Australian populations to the Chiral Network for a venture named Ngubridge, a logistics company backed by an enigmatic benefactor and featuring returning character vulnerabilities (Rare Saidoo). If that sounds rather dull, consider it a quirky scenario with fragile Greta Garbo gloves around her neck!
Elle Fanning in Death Stranding 2. Photo: Sony Interactive Entertainment
A colorful cast surrounds DHV Magellan, a ship featuring more A-listers than the Cannes red carpet, aiding Sam in his missions. Seydoux, George Miller, Guillermo Del Toro, Nicolas Winding Refn, Elle Fanning, and Shioli Kutsuna deliver equally stellar performances alongside veteran voice actor Troy Baker as Chief Villain Higgs. The principal characters function mainly as poetic devices and unique metaphors. Rain (Kutsuna) is an optimistic outcast who summons rain each time he steps outdoors. Tarman (Miller) sacrificed his hand to supernatural tar and now guides the boat through its mysterious waters. Hartman (Darren Jacobs) faces death and rebirth every few minutes. Though they ought to be too peculiar to elicit sympathy, rare moments link their stories with human emotions in a poignant manner. If you don’t feel a lump in your throat watching Rain and Tomorrow (Fanning) sing together, then it’s not only Deadman who’s lost their humanity.
Interestingly, package delivery is showcased at the pinnacle of gameplay standards. It may sound mundane, but the intricate workings of these detailed systems easily draw you in. In the previous installment, combat felt secondary, but this time, missions clash not only with BTS but also other humans, benefitting from a fluid mechanic that fires hand-held bullets and executes neck snaps. You can craft ladders, climbing ropes, and other gear when the risk of attack is heightened. The joy resonates as much in preparation as in action. It feels rewarding to impose order on a chaotic world that might otherwise seem disordered. It’s likely why many of us baked countless loaves of banana bread during the lockdown.
The Isle originally drafted a story for Death Stranding 2 before the Covid-19 crisis but restructured it entirely after enduring lockdown alongside the rest of the world. The effects are evident. We promise to shield you from the profound loneliness embodied in Sam’s role as a porter who traverses desolate landscapes.
Effectively, you can interact with other players, albeit at a distance, sharing equipment, constructing structures, and leaving holographic signs and commendations for others in your game. This feature serves as a satirical commentary on entrapment. Over time, the world becomes cluttered with flickering icons and increasing structures, leading to a constant bombardment of “like” symbols. It feels akin to the attention spans dulled by social media, but it’s likely no coincidence.
The first game presented a surprising advantage. The two sequels do not. Many of the thrilling and tedious elements that defined the first are also present here, yet they have been refined, rendering the gameplay mechanically rich and meaningful. Combat feels more impactful, the world maps exhibit greater craftsmanship, and the missions offer enhanced variety. Tasking them with recreating the same gameplay in an entirely new narrative could feel like a jest, but it presents layers of mechanical depth that are anything but trivial.
Among the many themes Death Stranding 2 seeks to convey, the most prominent is that you are never truly alone. Global calamities, vast technologies, and even the specter of death may abstract the ways we connect, yet they can never fully sever our bonds. Not bad for a game centered on delivering packages.
I recently explored Footscray, located just outside central Melbourne, and last week, I perceived it in an entirely new way. As a surreal, nightmarish realm, it’s unlike any ordinary reality. The idea of rejuvenating areas through art isn’t new, yet it’s captured in the profound dimensions of the door in question, characterized by intense, sometimes precariously unstable augmented reality, and productions that merge XR, immersive theatre, escape rooms, virtual reality, and mixed reality.
Creator and director Troy Rainbow labeled the door an “immersive journey into mental illness,” drawing from both his own experiences and those of his mother, who dealt with schizophrenia.
At 37, Rainbow utilized a letter he had penned to his mother, reflecting “her style of thought and the mindset I found myself in,” which shaped the central challenge of “adapting a paranoid belief system into the narrative.” The storyline features four delusional characters, each convinced that a man named Anton met his demise in a unique manner.
The term “immersive” has been thrown around frequently, yet this doorway truly embodies it, crafting an all-encompassing experience that captivates every sense—sight, touch, and even smell.
The experience unfolds within and around Footscray’s largely vacant Metro West Shopping Centre. Photo: Lauren Maa
The journey kicks off in a small room at the Metro West Shopping Centre, which Rainbow describes as filled with “lost dreams.” After a short guided meditation, I donned a VR headset, stepping out of that room to virtually navigate through the transformed center, discovering unique objects that hadn’t existed before. Some will later revisit these in physical form, blurring the lines between reality and illusion, triggering an uncanny sense of déjà vu.
Exchanging my headset for headphones, I ventured outside where a mysterious woman narrated stories related to the various locations around me.
Participants traverse a series of surreal outdoor rooms filled with dilapidated and decaying elements. One area resembles a lab, featuring dental chairs, while another is a security room where one can converse with an AI that mimics their voice. An unkempt kitchen is scattered with broken and oddly arranged objects, and a disquieting children’s room is filled with beautiful snakes and makeshift board games strewn across the bed.
Participants navigate through a multitude of surreal rooms throughout their adventure. Photo: Lauren Maa
The experience unfolds with voices emerging from unexpected corners, some activated by directional speakers. “It genuinely sounds like the thoughts in my head,” remarks Rainbow. These voices deliver peculiar and at times frenzied rants—one man discusses our souls transitioning into data, while a child marvels at God’s miracles. As you navigate these settings, you encounter unusual photographs and written materials, including religious texts, handwritten notes on the walls, and documents tucked into folders. It feels reminiscent of stepping into horror films or video games.
The door in question (which debuted in 2021 and has undergone several iterations since) resonates powerfully due to its intimate format. Throughout the experience, participants find themselves alone—with the exception of actors offering guidance—and left with their inner thoughts (and all the wild ideas bouncing off the walls). This intimacy, coupled with the participant’s role as co-author, renders the experience profoundly personal.
This approach to storytelling diverges significantly from traditional media, such as films and live theatre, with their fixed representational frameworks. Beyond the stark differences in dialogue, this form of storytelling uses space to unveil information and facilitate interactions between narratives and locations.
Troy Rainbow’s creations draw from personal letters and writings of his mother, who faced schizophrenia. Photo: Lauren Maa
Tech plays a crucial role in this endeavor, with Rainbow asserting, “I see technology as more than just a tool; it’s a co-creator.”
Selecting the appropriate real-world setting is equally vital, as utilizing abandoned, deteriorating spaces allows Rainbow to explore the question, “What does this inform the experience?” He adds, “Imagine how thrilling it would be if a more artistic endeavor was embedded within dormant spaces.”
What are your plans for later? Will you explore the Van Gogh landscapes, embark on a journey through ancient Egypt, or attend posthumous performances of your favorite musicians? These “immersive” experiences are increasingly prevalent, offering the tantalizing promise of placing us at the center of their narratives. The global immersive entertainment market is expected to be around $114 billion by 2024, and it could nearly quadruple to approximately $442 billion by 2030.
As both a journalist and a devoted fan of pop culture, I am captivated yet apprehensive about immersive entertainment. My most unforgettable experiences have been deeply personal and emotionally charged, leading to exhilaration, tears, and even moments of “cybersickness.” When immersed in these stories, particularly those conveyed through headsets, we find ourselves escaping the constraints of real time, a significant part of their allure.
However, my concern lies not just in escapism—great culture liberates us from the confines of daily life—but in the sense of isolation it can foster. Immersive events can often heighten individual experiences while diminishing the communal energy that nurtures a sociable atmosphere. As a result, even crowded immersive shows can feel like solitary pursuits, with fellow attendees resembling non-playable characters (NPCs) from video games.
Cultural scholar Kellen Zionz coined the term “narcissistic spectatorship”, which sharply critiques how we consume immersive entertainment. A study found that 83.9% of VR users experienced dissociative symptoms. While the long-term effects remain unclear, research highlights the recurring theme of experiencing and relying on isolation, as seen in a study focused on VR tourists.
One new immersive exhibition at the Barbican Centre in London, Feel the Sound, features imaginative and personalized installations. The “Your Inner Symphony” Sensing Stations generate unique visuals based on your physical responses to music. Luke Kemp, head of Barbican’s immersive programming, notes that these experiences fulfill the need for a “playful” cultural space accessible to everyone, regardless of prior knowledge.
Robyn Landau, co-developer from Kinta Studios of “Your Inner Symphony,” emphasizes a connection to our perception and inner senses. “These transformative experiences that link us to our individual selves fundamentally alter how we view the world and connect with others,” she explains.
Psychologist Sophie Janik Bowles suggests that immersive experiences challenge our processing capabilities, making them engaging. This can have profound restorative effects on our minds, allowing us to detach from everyday worries and become immersed in something cognitively, emotionally, and even physiologically different.
Inspired by the club scene, I was particularly struck by an immersive experience that captured the essence of the dance floor. An exhilarating Pursuing a Repeat Beat event, a multiplayer VR tribute to the UK rave scene, facilitates real-time interaction among groups of participants.
Yet, I sense a paradox within immersive entertainment; the rapidly evolving landscapes raise questions about their ultimate direction. While they offer opportunities for self-tuning, I question whether they enhance our connections with those around us. If we remain entrenched in self-reflection, we risk missing the broader perspective. Immersive entertainment may create a personal VIP experience, but culture ideally should unite us.
A surprising announcement at the end of the summer Gamefest presentation on June 6th unveiled the ninth installment in the legendary Capcom Survival Horror Series: Resident Evil Requiem, slated for release early next year.
Devoted fans of the franchise, which has inspired films, TV shows, and more, quickly began analyzing the trailers. These trailers spotlight the protagonist, Grace Ashcroft, daughter of Alyssa Ashcroft from the 2003 title Resident Evil Outbreak. Requiem is set to take place in Raccoon City, the fictional hub infamous for battling the spread of zombified T-viruses.
At a demo in LA last week, the game director introduced Requiem, emphasizing its core theme of “addictive horror,” noting that Grace Ashcroft presents a far more vulnerable and frightening character compared to the military-trained protagonists of earlier entries.
Tops Curler…Resident Evil Requiem. Photo: Capcom
I heard the audience’s reaction to the demo before experiencing it myself—screams and gasps filled the air. As I stepped into a dim room alongside dozens of others, I was met with a shocking scene. Everyone would likely scream if they found themselves waking upside down on a gurney. This snippet of Resident Evil Requiem made it hard not to cringe in shared distress as the gameplay unfolded, with Grace attempting to escape her bindings. Ultimately, she breaks free, transitioning from cutscenes to first-person gameplay, providing various options to search for items in settings that resemble deserted hotels and hospitals.
As you can expect, some rooms still possess working electricity, but Grace predominantly navigates through eerily lit environments, shrouded in an unsettling crimson emergency glow. While searching for a locked door and the key to the fuse box, she faces something lurking in the shadows. Just as she discovers tools necessary for escape, she stumbles over a body. Before she can grasp who it is, a grotesque, massive creature resembling a wild beast appears, characterized by enormous black eyes, large ears, menacing teeth, and oversized hands.
The creature seizes the body and starts to bite into it, evoking a striking resemblance to Goya’s depiction of Saturn consuming his son. I felt goosebumps tingling on my arms as the creature reappeared during the gameplay preview, punctuated by the terrified screams of the player. Eventually, the demo offers a moment to regroup, displaying a pause menu that allows switching between first and third-person perspectives. Gasps and murmurs fill the crowd, noting that this is the first Resident Evil game allowing viewpoint changes (except for the previous title, where this feature was introduced as a paid update in 2021).
The closing line, “This is an overture to our darkest symphony,” flashed on the screen before the demo wrapped up, leading us into a shadowy corridor towards the exit. “What was that?” someone muttered behind me. While not every Resident Evil installment has challenged the boundaries of video game horror, this particular presentation made a strikingly unsettling debut.
A recent study conducted by researchers at Harvard Chan Public Health indicates that caffeine and regular coffee consumption during middle age are modestly and positively linked to various aspects of healthy aging in women. However, no notable correlation was found with tea or caffeinated coffee, whereas increased cola intake was associated with healthy aging and a lower likelihood of related health issues.
Mahdavi et al. Our aim was to explore the relationship between caffeine intake in middle age and the chances of healthy aging in older women participating in nurse health studies. Image credit: Sci.News.
“While earlier studies have linked coffee to specific health outcomes, this research is the first to evaluate coffee’s impact on multiple aspects of aging over three decades,” stated Dr. Sarah Mahadhabi, a researcher at Harvard Chan School of Public Health and the University of Toronto.
“The findings indicate that coffee may uniquely support aging processes that foster both mental and physical well-being.”
“Our study boasts several significant strengths, including a substantial sample size and three decades of follow-up. Moreover, we assessed various elements of longevity and healthy aging, in conjunction with comprehensive data on nutrition and lifestyle habits collected every four years after the study began.”
The research encompassed 47,513 women from the Nurses Health Survey, utilizing dietary and health data gathered since 1984.
Researchers evaluated caffeine consumption using a validated food frequency questionnaire, focusing on major caffeine sources like coffee, tea, cola, and caffeinated coffee.
Healthy aging was characterized as living to age 70 and above, free from 11 major chronic diseases, preserving physical abilities, maintaining mental health, exhibiting no cognitive impairment, and having no memory complaints.
Following 30 years of monitoring, researchers assessed how the probability of healthy aging varied with each additional 80 mg of caffeine consumed daily by the participants.
They also examined specific beverage types, including coffee, tea, caffeinated coffee (per 8-ounce cup), and cola (per 12-ounce glass).
The preliminary analyses identified other factors that might influence healthy aging, such as body weight, smoking habits, alcohol consumption, physical activity levels, educational attainment, and protein intake.
By 2016, 3,706 women in the study met all criteria for being classified as healthy agers.
Women aged between 45-60 typically consumed an average of 315 mg of caffeine daily, with over 80% of that derived from regular coffee consumption.
For those in the Healthy Agers Group, each additional cup of coffee per day was linked to a 2% to 5% increased likelihood of aging well, up to about 5 small cups per day, or approximately 2.5 standard cups by today’s measurements.
Researchers discovered no significant correlation between the consumption of decaffeinated coffee or tea and an elevated likelihood of healthy aging.
Importantly, for each additional glass of soda with caffeine, the chances of healthy aging decreased by 20-26%, indicating that not all caffeine sources are beneficial.
“While these findings are preliminary, they suggest that small, consistent habits can profoundly influence long-term health,” Dr. Mahadhabi noted.
“Moderate coffee intake can provide a range of protective benefits when coupled with other healthy practices, such as regular exercise, a balanced diet, and avoiding smoking.”
“This study expands on previous evidence linking coffee consumption to healthy aging, but the benefits of coffee are relatively modest compared to the impact of an overall healthy lifestyle, warranting further investigation.”
The findings were presented at the Survey results on June 2nd during the Nutrition 2025 annual meeting hosted by the American Nutrition Association.
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Sarah Mahadabi et al. Caffeine intake and healthy aging in women. Nutrition 2025 Summary #P22-039-25
On Tuesday, Google introduced a new surge of artificial intelligence capabilities, transforming how users access information and expediting a year-long evolution of search engines that has reduced internet traffic to other sites.
At its annual developer conference, Google unveiled a novel “AI Mode” in the US, designed to facilitate conversations with experts who can respond to a wide variety of questions during searches.
This AI mode will be available to all US users just two months after its initial testing in the limited Labs division.
Additionally, Google plans to integrate its latest AI model, Gemini 2.5, into the search algorithms and trial new features such as the ability to automatically purchase concert tickets and sift through live video feeds.
In a bold move, Google announced its re-entrance into the smart glasses sector, introducing a new version powered by Android XR. This announcement comes 13 years after the launch of Google Glass, which was withdrawn due to public privacy concerns.
While the release date and pricing for the Android XR glasses remain undisclosed, Google indicated they are being developed in collaboration with Gentle Monster and Warby Parker. These glasses will compete with offerings from platforms like Facebook’s parent Meta and Ray-Ban.
This expansion builds on a transformation initiated a year prior, introducing an “AI Overview” that is increasingly featuring at the top of the search results page, altering conventional web link rankings.
Google reports that approximately 1.5 billion users are currently engaging with the “AI Overview,” with many now inputting longer, more intricate queries.
“Our progress indicates that we are entering a new stage in the AI platform evolution, where years of research are turning into practical applications for people globally,” stated Google CEO Sundar Pichai during his address to attendees at the amphitheater near the company’s Mountain View, California headquarters.
Although Pichai and other executives suggested the AI overview would drive more searches and clicks to external sites, data from search optimization firm BrightEdge reveals that this has not yet been the case.
BrightEdge’s recent findings indicate that click-through rates from Google search results have dipped nearly 30% over the past year.
The decision to make AI modes widely available after a brief testing period underscores Google’s assurance that the technology won’t routinely disseminate misinformation, thus protecting its reputation amidst escalating competition from AI-enhanced search platforms like ChatGPT.
The swift emergence of AI alternatives is a consistent theme in legal proceedings allowing Google to dismantle parts of its internet dominance after a federal court deemed search engines a monopoly last year.
In testimony during a trial earlier this month, veteran Apple executive Eddy Cue mentioned a decrease in Google searches made via Safari on iPhones.
Google links this decline to the rise of AI, which is prompting necessary adaptations in how search engines function as technology reshapes the competitive landscape.
Despite its increasing reliance on AI, Google appears to maintain its position as the primary gateway to the Internet, a key reason why its parent company, Alphabet Inc., boasts a market value of $2 trillion.
According to data from oneLittleweb.com, Google attracted 136 billion visits in the year ending in March.
During an interview, an Associated Press reporter inquired whether the implementation of AI modes would strengthen Google, noting the unlikelihood of AI technology causing significant harm to its search engines.
The AI mode acknowledged that its implementation is likely to enhance Google’s influence, especially regarding information accessibility and online engagement, while cautioning web publishers about potential traffic declines from search results.
Upcoming tests in Google’s Labs division aim to introduce new waves of AI technology expected to be rolled out to consumers.
These tests include features that enable AI agents to book tickets and restaurant reservations using Project Mariner Technology, as well as experiments with live video and opt-in features, granting AI access to users’ Gmail and other Google apps for increased understanding of preferences and behaviors. Furthermore, this summer’s test lineup features a “deep search” tool and a new option for creating visual presentations of sports and finance data.
Google will also offer a subscription package called “Ultra,” providing 30 terabytes of storage for $250 a month, representing a significant upgrade from its previous “Top of the Line” offer, now known as “AI Pro,” which costs $20 a month and includes just two terabytes of storage.
MUCH reflects on the remarkable journey of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a standout role-playing game crafted by a small team. (We recently hit 2 million sales.) This narrative is captivating amidst a landscape dominated by blockbuster flops, live service titles, and exorbitant budgets. The dedicated team has produced something lengthy, unique, and beautiful, priced at £40, leading to a win-win scenario for all involved. However, it’s not entirely accurate.
Sandfall Interactive, the French studio behind the game, comprises around 30 talented individuals. As noted by Rock Paper Shotgun, the credits list more contributors, from Korean animation teams to outsourced quality assurance testers, localization specialists, and performance artists who bring the game’s narrative and emotional depth to life.
When compared to the massive teams behind Final Fantasy titles (the clear inspiration for Sandfall), the comparatively small collective that developed Clair Obscur is noteworthy. What’s even more intriguing is that this small team has fashioned an exquisite French creation that resonates with us all. To the distress of my partner, I opted for the French voice acting with English subtitles to amplify my immersive experience.
Set in the Belle Époque-inspired realm of Clair Obscur, players encounter a foreboding entity known as Paintress Daubs, who has traversed ominous totem numbers annually, descending from a population of 100. (This game and Neva are the only titles in recent memory that have brought tears to my eyes. The beginning.) As the game counts down from 34 to 33, a courageous, slightly magical 30th expedition embarks towards a continent laden with sedatives, facing death in their quest to halt the cycle. The city is stunning, and everyone is dressed immaculately. Also, nothing seemingly poses a threat every few moments.
The most quintessentially French experience you’ve ever had… Claire’s Obscur: Expedition 33. Photo: Sandfall Interactive
Many expeditions have previously faced this fate. As you navigate, you encounter gruesome remnants of these journeys, alongside their recorded accounts left to assist future travelers. Beginning in a ravaged Paris, the distorted Eiffel Tower looms over a picturesque Dali-esque horizon. The game feels like a waltz through a renowned museum on the brink of being engulfed by a black hole. One notable area is a desolate sea, featuring the wreck of a previous expedition, entwined with the carcass of a leviathan, adorned with waves of seaweed fluttering in the absent currents. It’s breathtaking but perilous. You must swiftly master a complex battle system and survive the initial boss encounters.
Clair Obscur’s combat draws inspiration from both classic and contemporary Japanese RPGs. Dynamic and vibrant, you can charge fireballs and time your dodges against the flailing fists of stone automatons. Combining uniquely distinctive character skills is vital. One character wields a rapier, shifting stances with every strike, while another engages with an enigmatic system of Sun and Moon Tarot cards. If this all seems excessively luxurious, it is — and I relish it. The battle menu is a Tinker’s dream, allowing for the development of esoteric powers and skills to create captivating combo attacks.
What captivates me most about this game is its uniqueness; it doesn’t mimic any other title. While most games riff on a handful of predictable franchises: Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Marvel, this game sources inspiration from an entirely different aesthetic and theme pool. It emerges as a Baroque fantasy, a tale encompassing existentialism, love, death, and heritage — articulated through a European narrative style with Japanese-inspired action and artistry. Although it plays differently, its peculiar characteristics evoke memories of last year’s outstanding title, Repantazio. (There seems to be a notable connection between intellectually ambitious RPGs and perplexing names.)
Clair Obscur further exemplifies the impressive capabilities of game development tools available today. If you’re curious how a small team achieved this high-end aesthetic, that constitutes a significant part of the explanation. It instills a sense of optimism regarding the future of mid-tier game development, nestled between blockbusters and indie projects. Many of the most intriguing titles emerged in the early 2000s and 2010s. Perhaps some larger publishers consider this approach to be overly French, but Sandfall has successfully produced it nonetheless. Expedition 33 serves not only as a noteworthy commercial triumph but also as a beacon of creativity in the gaming sphere.
What to play
Exciting, one-minute thrill…Fate: Dark Ages. Photo: Bethesda
The upcoming Doom game is generating buzz, with reviews indicating it’s a glorious heavy metal spectacle of violence. Whether you’re obliterating demons, impaling them with spikes, shredding them with chainsaw shields, or summoning massive hellish creatures from colossal robots, Destiny: Dark Ages boasts a vaguely medieval flair, with slower and more intimate combat relative to its predecessors in the franchise (as suggested by the title), yet remains exhilarating.
Available on: Xbox, PS5, PC Estimated playtime: Over 20 hours
What to read
Chaos Machine…Grand Theft Auto VI. Photo: Rockstar Games
Grand Theft Auto VI has been delayed until May next year and remains a mystery in the 2025 release calendar. Kotaku indicates some serious rescheduling is occurring behind the scenes leading up to the summer announcement.
The prestigious National Play Museum of America has announced four new games among its Hall of Fame: Defender, GoldenEye 007, Quake, and arguably suitable for Tanaka. They overcame the candidacy of Angry Birds from Age of Empires.
Podcasts and video collectives have sprung up following last week’s industry media drama, with A Giant Bomb becoming independent and contributing to the growing stability of games media outlets supported by worker-owned initiatives.
“Read the book, Roubaix”… Elizabeth from Bioshock Infinite. Photo: 2K Game
Leader Travis submitted this week’s question:
“I’m considering launching a book club-style video game group. Two questions: what should I name it, and which games would you recommend for discussion?”
This is a fantastic idea, reminding me of an attempt I made ages ago as an IGN podcast, though I can’t recall its name. Was it “press the push”? “Save Points”? LFG? For such groups, I lean towards shorter games (so everyone can participate). I’d be thrilled to discuss Neva for its environmental themes and parenting narratives or Life is Strange for its rich, intricate storytelling with supernatural elements, or even a variety of games like While I’m Waiting, which prompted profound thoughts. This would surely be more engaging than merely debating whether Assassin’s Creed is relevant.
I asked my partner for his video game book club name suggestion, and he offered “Text Adventure.” My other friend Tom suggested “Mountain of Shame.” What do you think, reader? Any ideas?
If you have a question for the block or feedback on the newsletter, feel free to hit reply or email us at butingbuttons@theguardian.com.
the indie video game landscape is currently shaped by two standout genres: rogue-like games and deck builders. The former invites players into action-adventure gameplay, exploring procedurally generated terrains teeming with enemies, leveling up, and meeting their demise. The latter lets players construct decks of collectible cards (think Pokémon or Magic: The Gathering, but in digital form) and engage in battles. Titles that ingeniously merge these two elements, like Balatro or Slay the Spire, often achieve significant crossover success. In a saturated market, developers are now seeking fresh genres that blend into this dynamic gaming concoction.
Enter Drop Duchy—a game that daringly combines rogue deck builders with… Tetris. Yes, the action unfolds on a playfield where different-shaped objects descend from the top of the screen. Here, each falling piece represents a type of landscape or building, and players endeavor not only to complete unbroken lines but also to generate resources for these structures. For instance, placing a farm next to grassy plain blocks will yield wheat, while situating a wooden fortress near a forest will provide farmland and swordsmen. Upon completing a line, instead of disappearing, the resources you’re collecting multiply. Why accumulate soldiers, you ask? Alongside constructing your military base, you must also make room for randomly generated enemy bases. At the end of each round, when all blocks are positioned, a battle sequence commences where your troops engage the enemy.
Drop the Tetris… Duke in a whole new way. Photo: Arcade Crew
The deck-building aspect is perhaps the most innovative. Each random block that falls into the play area corresponds to the cards you have in your deck. As you advance, you can add new cards to enhance your tactical options. You might start with farms, lumber (transforming forests into farmland), and watchtowers (producing archers), but as you progress through the acts, you’ll unlock additional cards and enhancements through battles culminating in boss encounters. Each boss battle presents unique challenges and themes; for example, the boss in Act 1 is a wall that restricts the play area, constraining construction into a tight spot, while the final challenge of Act 2 involves a keep.
It may sound complex, and it is somewhat. However, credit where it’s due: developer Sleepy Mill Studio has designed the game with intuitive learning, enhanced by effective tutorial levels and numerous on-screen tips. Like many rogue-lite games, a progression tree exists, allowing you to unlock more powerful card types and mechanics that persist through future playthroughs. This way, you can steadily refine your strategy, learning from the inevitable mistakes along the way.
What’s particularly fascinating about this game is the way it forces you to think of Tetris in an entirely new light. You aren’t merely placing blocks to clear lines; you must also consider how each piece interacts with nearby units and devise strategies to hinder your opponents’ resource collection. It’s effectively a multidimensional challenge, cleverly disguised as a simple puzzle game.
Yet, this constant strain on your cognitive abilities can sometimes feel overwhelming. The initial hours can be seemingly pointless due to boss encounters, especially if you find yourself unlucky with the random card draws at the start of each battle.
Nevertheless, the charming pastel visuals, calming music, and ever-expanding resources keep players engaged. Much like Balatro, it often feels as if you understand only about 20% of the game at first, resulting in you throwing down pieces and hoping for a fortunate outcome. However, as you persist, a deeper strategy unfolds to bolster your army while limiting your opponents.
Drop Duchy is a fascinating experiment in game design, and with every new feature, I find myself curious about how the team manages all the moving parts. The appeal of the deck builder genre is evident; they’re addictive, challenging, and systematically engaging, each contributing their unique twist to the overarching dynamics of gameplay. For Drop Duchy, the quirks indeed justify the entry price.
The new Sky Glass Smart TV version brings all-in-one functionality, making Pay TV quicker, clearer, and free from satellite use, proving to be one of the top models available compared to its predecessors.
The Sky Glass Gen 2 serves as the direct successor to the initial 2021 model, which introduced Sky’s broadband-based TV service, eliminating the need for satellite dishes. Available in three sizes, the smallest being 43 inches, it can be purchased with a one-time payment over four years, after which you fully own it.
Starting at £15 per month for Sky Essential TV Packs, a Sky subscription is necessary for full access. While you can’t use the TV without a subscription, should you decide to cancel in the future, it functions as a basic smart TV with access to streaming apps like BBC iPlayer, equipped with a basic aerial and multiple HDMI inputs.
The Gen 2 is available in three colors, complete with a matching remote control. Photo: Sky UK
From the front, the Gen 2 closely resembles its predecessor, featuring a sleek, monolithic design with an aluminum body, a slim bezel, and a soundbar cleverly concealed behind a mesh that matches the bottom colors. The voice-activated microphone responds to “Hello Sky.” Although the Glass Gen 2 is thinner and lighter than the previous model, it remains on the heavier side compared to newer models. The 43-inch version weighs 14.7kg, while the larger 55-inch and 65-inch variants necessitate the assistance of two people for safe handling.
The newly designed stand simplifies setup, even for the tested 65-inch model, as the TV easily slots into two prongs and requires a stable mount secured with screws and tools. For internet connectivity, a power cable and WiFi or Ethernet connection are essential. Wall brackets are sold separately.
The TV detects movement and powers on/off as needed, displaying full-screen recommendations for the latest shows and movies. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
The vibrant 4K LCD display is notably brighter than the previous version, with improved black depths and significantly reduced halo effects. The screen’s automatic brightness adjustments can make content look overly dark in rooms that aren’t brightly lit, but turning this feature off enhances viewing.
Sky has included an automatic image optimization mode that detects content types such as entertainment, sports, and movies. Additionally, modes like manual, vibrant, and film are available for those who prefer more intense colors. The entertainment mode can make skin tones appear overly warm, while I found the film mode to be more balanced, also offering a custom mode for personalized adjustments.
The screen’s capabilities shine when displaying HDR content, be it films, shows, or sports. The Premier League looks crisp and lively, while titles like Mad Max: Fury Road in Dolby Vision are particularly impressive. However, this TV isn’t the most suitable option for gaming on consoles like the Xbox or PS5, as it lacks variable refresh rates up to 120Hz, which are advantageous for console games.
Impressive Sound and Clarity
The speakers are positioned on the grill at the top and the fabric strip at the bottom of the screen. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
A significant benefit of Sky Glass over conventional TVs is the built-in speaker soundbar. Vocals maintain clarity at nearly all volumes, sidestepping the common lip-sync issues found with external soundbars. Even without an additional subwoofer or rear speakers, it impressively delivers substantial sound.
However, it struggles to produce deep, rich bass, and while the sound has impressive width, virtual surround effects are limited, necessitating more complex systems with additional speakers to achieve this.
The TV also features night mode, audio enhancement, and bass boost settings. The night mode is especially handy for lowering loud sounds while ensuring dialogue remains comprehensible, making it ideal for late-night screenings without disturbing others.
Enhanced Sky Over Broadband
To stream HD, a minimum of 25Mbps is required; for UHD broadcasts, 30Mbps is necessary, but Sky’s broadband service does not need to operate at these levels. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
Since the original Glass launched in 2021, the robustness of the Sky OS service has greatly improved. It still offers excellent search capabilities and advanced playlist features, alongside multiple user profiles that allow each family member to maintain their own lists and recommendations, including children’s profiles.
The playlist feature automatically tracks new episodes from shows or movies you are interested in, directing you to a “Continue Watching” section, making it easy to return to the content you’ve already begun.
Features like live TV, pause, and rewind function seamlessly. Recent reductions in broadcast delays greatly enhance the experience, ensuring thrilling moments aren’t missed for friends relying on satellite or aerial feeds.
On-demand content from the Sky Platform works effectively, and third-party services like BBC iPlayer, ITV X, and Channel 4 have seen significant enhancements compared to previous reliance on recordings. While not quite as seamless and speedy as local recordings on Sky Q and similar PVRs, most apps launch quickly, perform well, and lead directly to the desired episode from your playlist or search result.
It supports most leading on-demand services, including My5, YouTube, Prime Video, Disney+, Paramount+, Apple TV+, Discovery+, and others, allowing for all content to be easily accessed in one location.
Voice control is operational via remote buttons, though the TV’s voice activation is somewhat unpredictable, comprehending commands about 60% of the time. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
Sustainability
The TV is designed for repair, featuring 22% recycled materials, such as aluminum, fabric, tin, and plastic. The manufacturer also recycles old devices and packages the TV using plastic-free materials.
Pricing
The price for Sky Glass Gen 2 is £699 for the 43-inch model, £949 for the 55-inch model, and £1,199 for the 65-inch model, with no-interest payment plans available for either 24 or 48 months for all models.
The 24-month plans for Sky Essential TV start at £15 monthly; Sky Ultimate TV begins at £22 per month; UHD with Dolby Atmos costs an additional £6, along with options to skip ads. Other available add-ons include Sky Sports starting from £31 monthly, TNT Sports from £31, Sky Cinema from £13, and Sky Kids at £8. Discounts are possible with certain combinations, although pricing varies for different packages every 31 days.
Conclusion
While the first generation of Glass needed refinement, the Gen 2 addresses many of its shortcomings effectively.
It offers a brighter, faster display with higher contrast and impressive handling. Additionally, it boasts the best sound quality among available TVs. It remains competitive in the mid-range market, although aesthetically pleasing screens can be found at similar price points without a soundbar. For those in search of the absolute finest display, alternatives are available.
The Sky OS service has advanced significantly to reach performance levels comparable to the leading competitors in the sector. Live broadcasts work smoothly, whether from satellite or cable. Sky’s on-demand offerings are just as effective as local recordings, while third-party apps like BBC iPlayer and ITVX have reached acceptable performances. Featuring robust search and playlist capabilities that support all major streaming services makes content discovery effortless.
Ultimately, the convenience of the Glass Gen 2, providing an all-in-one solution with solid sound and a unified remote for all TV functions, is a major draw.
Pros: All-in-one streaming and pay TV device, remarkable sound quality, no need for satellite or cable, excellent remote control functionality, robust search and playlist features, improved apps, enhanced display with excellent HDR, customizable image modes, and integrated voice control.
Cons: Image quality not as strong as some competitors, certain image modes need improvement, auto brightness settings can be bothersome, gaming consoles lack faster refresh rates, heavier and bulkier design, no Chromecast support, and some third-party on-demand services remain subpar.
The Power and Microphone Mute buttons are conveniently positioned on the right side of the TV. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
Intermittent fasting has emerged as a popular approach to enhance health and boost metabolism. However, recent research indicates that its advantages may be diminished by body fat due to inconspicuous disruptions in the liver’s hunger adaptation.
In a study, researchers assessed liver modifications in both healthy and obese mice that lacked leptin, the hormone responsible for regulating appetite, during food deprivation periods. Intermittent fasting entails extended calorie restriction followed by a regular eating window.
Both mouse groups exhibited similar metabolic networks, comprising liver molecules that collaboratively manage energy; however, significant differences in timing were observed.
“In a healthy liver, energy-centric molecules such as adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and adenosine monophosphate (AMP) quickly respond to starvation and modulate various metabolic reactions,” stated Professor Shinya Kuroda in BBC Science Focus.
“This mechanism appears to be deficient and confused in obese individuals.”
To put it differently, in healthy mice, energy-related molecules like ATP and AMP operate as primary hubs, swiftly adapting metabolic responses to conserve and redistribute energy. Conversely, in obese mice, these molecules did not exhibit a quick response, resulting in a sluggish and disoriented reaction to starvation.
A rapid response from ATP and AMP during periods of food scarcity enables the liver to utilize energy from stored reserves. This process is believed to facilitate several benefits of intermittent fasting, such as weight reduction and better glycemic control.
Through a combination of structural and temporal metabolic analyses, the research team elucidates how obesity induces metabolic “jet lag,” complicating not just the timing but also the manner in which crucial molecular events transpire.
“Our findings could have significant implications for enhancing the effectiveness of intermittent fasting in humans,” Kuroda remarked.
“Next, we aim to identify easily detectable blood-based biomarkers in humans,” Kuroda added. “Ultimately, clinical research is necessary to assess our findings. The journey is lengthy, but every thousand-mile journey begins with a single step.”
Shinya Kuroda is a professor at the Faculty of Science at the University of Tokyo, Japan, focusing on Systems Biology. His research includes publications in Cell, Journal of Biochemistry, and Natural Cell Biology.
jApan, 1581: Iga Province is burning around you. You will be monitored, injured, helpless
Oda Nobunaga – the warlord responsible for many civil wars and the ultimate unification of the country – a smirk from the nearby hill. You draw your katana and glow in the flickering light of flames. This is Assassin’s Creed: Shadows – some exciting ninja games, some history lessons. It’s a strange combination, but it brings together a vast historical fiction adventure filled with discoveries and deceptions.
The turbulent times, when Japan was unified in the late 1500s and seeing the collapse of Nobunaga, are ideal environments that will help you play as despicable ninja and brave samurai. The series’ science fiction framing device means that you, the player, are cornering the mysterious craft by jumping into your ancestor’s memory and defeating a group of terrifying masked samurai one at a time. But most games leave you alone to enjoy feudal Japan.
During this difficult period there is a constant sense of danger, and each conversation is like a careful step at the edge of the knife. The stories are of course complete fiction, but they weave real historical events and characters, and the Ubisoft developers clearly have become a huge pain to make them feel authentic, authentic, both the scenery and the people who inhabit them. If you automatically remove your shoes when you enter the building, it looks like you’ve seen the famous temple, not as a tourist destination today.
The world is truly luxurious, with several states to explore in all seasons and weather, as well as cities of the era, including Kyoto and Osaka. The giant temples rise above a busy town filled with food stalls and workshops, while mossy shrines are scattered along the winding paths of the countryside. Japan of all colours will see Japan in all colours, from the mild pinks of cherry blossoms in spring to the fiery colours of leaves covering the hills in autumn to the pitch black darkness of winter nights. It’s easy to be distracted by views along the way when surrounded by ancient Red Torigates or when you notice random puppet performances on the streets. I feel that Ubisoft’s Japan is alive. Also, sometimes it feels completely overwhelming.
It’s as fun as riding horses around the country and scouting new villages and historic places, so it’s easy to feel lost because there are so many. There are many missions and side quests that will guide you around the map, but those tasks have many repetitions. To kill a high-level samurai, you need some help. Someone who can help you want the bounty, it includes finding Another Someone I want you to kill me different Samurai, etc. After a long time in the game, this starts to grate.
Important Features: You can keep all Japanese cats (and dogs) if you wish. Photo: Ubisoft
The double hero helps to reduce the feeling of you being stuck in a loop repeatedly. For the first 10-15 hours of the game, she steps into sandals on Fujiwarajima Island, a young woman seeking revenge after the house is destroyed, reconstructing her life and helping her set up a network of spies and rebels from a secret mountain base. Then there is Yasuke, a principled black samurai based on a real historical figure of the same name. They appear briefly in the introduction to the game, disappearing until Naoe approaches Nobunaga.
Naoe is bright on her feet, allowing easy expansion of walls and temples, blending into the shadows to sneak around her enemies. Her stealth approach makes for fun, mean moments like stabbing a screen door on a paper for a surprising attack. But that tipped approach costs her when she faces a brawl. The enemy strikes attack her hard, and she is soon overwhelmed in the battle. Yasuke, meanwhile, cruelly strong, runs straight through those screen doors, shrugging on sword strikes, shrugging like the stimulant they tickle. He can still assassinate his enemies like Naoe Can, but he does it from the front, not from the shadows. In a series that traditionally prioritized stealth, it is extremely liberated when you break through the castle gates and everyone faces it head-on. Both characters are viable options for playing most of the game and can be freely exchanged between them (almost) at their own pace.
Few other games have done such a good job in this setting… Assassin Creed: Shadow. Photo: Ubisoft
Unfortunately, no matter who plays, you have to put up with some great things in the fight. Dodge and Parry find themselves surprised in one-on-one scraps, but you often find yourself surrounded as more opponents are warned of your presence. It feels like everything is when you take your time sneaking up around the castle roof and picking enemies, bouncing backwards into the shadows before scopeping your next kill. But the moment you get caught up in a battle on the ground, it starts to feel nasty and frustrating.
I found myself getting frustrated with going back and forth between the quest givers, but I can’t stop thinking about the shadows. Emotionally resonating moments, such as excellent performances and Naoe’s painful recovery after losing everything she cherishes, mean that she feels all her sadness and anger along with the game’s hero. Events are often troubling as the power struggles between the Lord often cost locals a lot and see the unwelcome impact of your actions on allies.
Few games have done such a good job in this environment as they run through lush bamboo forests before creeping up to shrink the walls of ancient castles and steal treasures. These moments of glow are more than making up for that weak point.
Taste hydrogels are administered to the mouth via small tubes
Shryn Chen
Electronic tongues that can replicate flavors like cake and fish soup can help you replicate food in virtual reality, but still can’t simulate anything else that affects taste, such as smell.
Yizhen Jia Ohio State University and his colleagues developed a system called e-Taste. This can solve a way to sample food and partially reproduce its flavor in someone’s mouth.
This includes using chemicals that correspond to five basic flavors. Sodium chloride, salty water, sour citric acid, glucose for sweetness, magnesium chloride for bitterness, umami glutamic acid. “These five flavors already explain the very large spectrum of food we have every day,” says Jia.
The system uses sensors to detect the levels of these chemicals in the food, convert them into digital measurements, pumping these values into a pump, and pushing a small amount of hydrogel containing different flavors into a small tube under a person’s tongue.
First, the researchers tested a system with a single flavor and asked how well the device reproduced sour on a 5-point scale, comparing it to a real sample of sour taste. They gave the same number for 70% of the time for the true sour thing that was reproduced.
The team then tested whether the system was able to replicate more complex flavors such as lemonade, cake, fried eggs, fish soup, coffee, etc., and asked a group of six if they could distinguish them, and felt they could have over 80% of the time.
However, I say it’s not very useful to focus on such flavors alone. Alan Chalmers Because other sensations are also involved in our taste at Warwick University in the UK. “Next time you have strawberries, close your nose and eyes. Strawberries are very sour, but are perceived as sweet because of their aroma and red colour. So if you send them just sour on your device, you’ll never know that they’re actually from strawberries.”
“This kind of electron can extract the amount of sweetness [and] It’s sour, but it’s not a taste for a human tongue,” he says.
Michel Nieva's dengue boy is placed on a drowned future earth
Arami Stock Photo
Does that mean he's dead?
Dengue spreading the strange white surface under the Antarctic sun, and within a second, she saw everything flash. When you believe that a boy, a girl, a destroyed blank will die, how about life to look back at the space for a few moments? You might think of that dear mother. Do you lament your father who has never known or perhaps remembered a humorous or traumatic anecdote involving a classmate? Honestly, not many other things happened during her short time on Earth. However (the mind works in a mysterious and unpredictable way, especially the mind of a mutant mosquito), the destroyed dengue fever didn't think about any of these people, rather the story of her mother reading her at bedtime; Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. She recalled the opening from her heart:
“Once upon a time, on a frozen, windy winter night, the Queen lived. This Queen watched snow fall as she knits by the window. From the window, the snowflakes slowly and rhythmically fell in an unpredictable pattern, like feathers from endless pillows. She was staring in wonder at the fall of snow, so she accidentally stabbed one of her fingers with a needle. Three drops of blood fell into the snow. And the Queen thought to herself. If I could have a daughter as white as snow, as blood red, as winter!”
This opening is always a volatile dengue boy (as he was at the time). In particular, he didn't understand half of the words: what the hell was it? winterwhat was it coldwhat was it snowand why did they spark such attraction?
A precious daughter snowjust as beautiful winter . . .
The mystery of those words, whose meanings had always escaped him, sparked even greater doubt.
It was impossible to know, and there was no empirical way to experience their effects in this future, when cold, winter and snow was gone from the earth (at least not for a miserable boy from Victoria). Naturally, his mother, who spent all her miserable lives at Victorica, didn't really help. All she knew (or as strong as she believes she knows) was that the snow was soft and beautiful, and that the beautiful child's skin had the same colour and pleasant texture, unlike the dengue children, who had a greenish yellow colour with furry skin. For this reason, the dengue boy, like some kind of qabalic rabbis, was convinced that he could access mystical meanings. cold, winter and snowhe will open up the secret of that mysterious sacred breast and how to get the love of his mother.
Because nothing had hoped that insects would turn white like snow and be as beautiful as winter.
The desire to access the mysterious material hidden in these words grabbed the poor insects and he cooperated with all the dictionaries and encyclopedias that he could find in search of answers. He read the definitions over and over again:
winter. noun. obs. The extinction season of the earth's age that occurred between autumn and spring has also become extinct.
Example: “Winter was the coldest time of the year.”
cold. noun. obs. Physical sensations produced by cold temperatures, the characteristics of ancient winters.
Example: “It was cold during the winter, especially if there was snow.”
snow. noun. Precipitation in the form of small white ice crystals formed directly from air water vapor at temperatures below 32°F. This occurs in terrestrial winters and occurs by artificial means on other planets or Earth.
Example: “There was a lot of snow in the winter!”
The poor boy reads these definitions, rereads them, then reads them again, but he has no understanding of his great disappointment. Is that because (as his classmates always argued) he was half wit? winter, cold, snow. Just words. words! Worse, it was a word that had to be explained using other words, and its definition was even more vague and inaccurate.
Wint-er, cold, sn-ow.
The herbular pictograph, which the boy tasted the phonemes through phonemes, was under the illusion that the flesh that once lay beneath the vivid skin had not evaporated before his eyes. But, although removed from the meaning that once brought them to life, what remained was a hollow corpse of meaningless sounds.
Wint-er, cold, sn-ow.
It was an atmospheric phenomenon that so many humans and other species suffered and endured for thousands of years, and now it was merely a planetary mystery, a speculative prose written by fossils, a biblical water and soil sky, a geological stamp!
The only season Pampas and the Antarctic Caribbean knew was summer, burnt, relentless, homogeneous. So when dengue became neutralised, her body still numbed from the poison, believing that she would die, and that she saw her own blood (to be precise, she saw blood that she indiscriminately sucked from Victoria's children and office workers), yes. Boy), a confused F story Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
And certainly, the memory she believed that her last body was worthy of was that her poisoned body actually landed on the ice rink of Great Winter Cruise, the flagship of the cruise company that traveled along the Antarctic Caribbean coast, recreating the cold season, and now disappearing from Earth, snow, glacier, and iceberg. Operated using AIS cutting-edge technology, these luxurious cruise ships allow tourists to experience the unique winter joys, including one of the biggest attractions, the largest ice rink on the planet.
And it was exactly where dengue died, ruining the fun of tourists. Imagine the scene: On this impressive slab of ice, 100 feet long and 55 feet wide, crowned the terrace of a 21 feet cruise ship, a massive crowd flocked to try a unique experience, perhaps for the first time, as large visitors were not present. Not only was it an opportunity to slide the unmistakably elegant ice skating strides on frozen sheets, but it was to do so at zero temperatures as the atmosphere in which the rink was installed recreated the harsh winter feel of old New York, lurking long under the waves. Plus, it was Christmas, the busiest and most eagerly awaited season in international tourism. And as the carols rang, the enchanting tourists dressed in fierce courts, moving like swans sliding down the Terra Incognita. It mimics the long-standing things at Rockefeller Center in Old New York, and there are also many leagues now under the sea.
Naturally, the sculptor hired on the cruise ship was sharp enough to replace the flames on Prometheus' right hand with a huge block of pure ice, and the Titans had taken from the deep by the planetary age, allowing these wealthy tourists to recover to the geologic era (as long as the cruise continues) which was permanently eclipsed eclocene to Earth. In fact, this was a cruise company slogan.Great Winter Cruise with 12,000 years of history in one place”, as humans promised to completely recreate the topography of a planet that lost winter, as humans knew it was born and died. Thus, “hibernation” (as the company called the advertising cruise experience) proceeded upwards from the floor, narrating winter history in ascending order. It began with a bottom deck that recreated the Pleistocene end in a giant fridge with robotic mammoths and mastodons, including a family-friendly game in which prehistoric mammals had to be set on fire with sticks and stones before they were attacked. The higher levels provided a variety of experiences from the old winter. Historic included the ability to invade Scandinavian cities on Viking ships, kill, sack, rape, or cross the Andes with General San Martin's white horse. Winter precipitation such as snow, hail, and sleet. There was also a huge igloo with outdoor cinemas, casinos, spas, carousels, cocktail bars and sushi and barbecue restaurants. Ancient frozen delights of ice, snow and cold were the real treasures of the gods stolen by Prometheus himself for the exclusive enjoyment of visitors to the cruise. The skaters slid across the rink in an atmosphere of pure joy, and were saved by Christmas carols, people clashing and dancing with each other cheerfully, shining and laughing at each other with the shared bliss. A true, unforgettable celebration recorded forever in the tourist retinus, a real dream, if mosquitoes had not landed violently on ice links and ruined everything.
This extract has been reproduced With permission to write a novel Dengue fever boy Michel Nieva (translated by Rahul Berry) is now appearing in the snake tail. Available from the North American version Astra House. This novel is the latest choice for the New Scientist Book Club. Sign up here and read with us
Feedback is the latest science and technology news of new scientists, the sidelines of the latest science and technology news. You can email Feedback@newscientist.com to send items you believe readers can be fascinated by feedback.
NDCS TBC
In the fun world of international climate negotiations at this point, everything is a bit quieter. The final big news was the COP29 conference in Azerbaijan in November. This was a huge success for a fossil fuel company promoting bystanders' products. Donald Trump then returned to the White House as President of the United States. He immediately ordered the country to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, which governs international climate action. Negotiators can make excuses that they are a bit shell shocked.
Nevertheless, the wheels of the climatic bureaucracy are crushed. This year, signers of the Paris contract must submit renewals Nationally determined contributions (NDC). This is essentially a list of promises to take action to address climate change. The deadline is February 10th, and most countries missed it. Climate strategist Ed King He's getting attention Newsletter “Three small hill countries with many sheep” (UK, New Zealand and Switzerland) managed to submit theirs, but “we will have to wait until the second half of 2025 for China, India and the EU ”.
No one is in a hurry. It will take time. It's not like half of Los Angeles got burned to the ground. Drink tea, lift your legs and live your best life. It will be done when it is complete.
V-word
Reporter Matthew Spark draws our attention to one experience David Burchwho discussed savings accounts online with virgin money and asked the chatbot: The chatbot responded: “Don't use such words. If you use that language, I won't be able to continue chatting.”
Online assistants appear to have been programmed to avoid certain words and phrases that were considered discriminatory or offensive, including “virgin.” After Birch I posted it angrily There were a few things about this on LinkedIn Media reporting and virgin money I apologized I've taken down the chatbot (it was an outdated model anyway).
This was yet another example of a recurring problem with online discussions. Context is important. It is certainly possible to use it to insult the string virgin, but it is also the name of a multinational corporation. Tools that simply filter specific strings are obligated to block many harmless messages, but also lack the obvious slur-independent abuse.
The issue dates back at least to 1996 when AOL refused to allow residents of Scunthorpe, UK, to create accounts. The town's name contains a string that many people find offensive.Scunthorpe problem“For such a technical disaster.
The “virgin” incident is just the latest example. The Wikipedia page for Scunthorpe questions is a treasure trove of careless toilet humor and, more importantly, surprises. Perhaps we can speculate on the problems faced by certain mushroom promoters with Japanese names, but why is the New Zealand town of Facatane, a similar context-blinded foul, similar? Ignore the reader to predict whether the situation has become blinded. control.
Readers are welcome to submit their stories, but feedback cannot guarantee that email filters will pass through them.
Is it finally happening?
January 26th, website Daily Express The newspaper issued a big warning:Yellowstone warning as Survercano “preparing for an explosion”“. Good gravy, we thought. Will the Super Orcano under Yellowstone stop that perennial rumble and eventually tear it and cover North America with ashes and suck the sun?
In a thorough examination, the story merely reported the existence of a short YouTube document. What happens if the Yellowstone volcano erupts tomorrow? It was released in March 2020 on a channel called What. Feedback may be felt and readers may agree. ExpressHeadline.
Going back further back in time: On July 23rd last year, there was a small hydrothermal explosion in the Biscuit Basin area of Yellowstone, essentially trapped steam escaped the ground and escaped. Queue the headlines”Is Yellowstone going to erupt?“This was answered to an affordable answer by geophysicists. Geophysicists only say that the volcano erupts when there is “enough magma and pressure that can be erupted,” and that “either state is in yellowstone He explained that it will only erupt if it is not present.
We tried to go back further, but after the 50th post with almost the same headline, the feedback brain broke. At this point there were so many stories that declared the Yellowstone eruption imminent. When we see it off on live TV, we don't know if we believe it or not.
Have you talked about feedback?
You can send stories to feedback by email at feedback@newscientist.com. Include your home address. This week and past feedback can be found on our website.
TThe weather was distinctly Scottish during the holidays, so instead of attending the planned party, my family and I stayed home to celebrate Hogmanay. Our youngest son’s friends and their parents joined us for dinner. As the kids in our group started getting rowdy around 9pm, we decided to host a mini midnight countdown party in Animal Crossing.
I hadn’t played Animal Crossing since lockdown. Taking care of my virtual island kept me sane while stuck in my small apartment with a baby, toddler, and teenager. Our guests brought their Switch, so we created avatars for the kids to enjoy new games together at our year-end party.
They had fun chasing each other with bug nets for a while, then gathered in the plaza with other island residents to watch a giant countdown clock while Tom Nook, the raccoon king of the island, wore party gear. On New Year’s Eve 2021, a memory struck me. Even though I was alone on the couch, I felt accompanied by my Animal Crossing friends as we watched the countdown together. My youngest son had just started walking and was unsteady on his feet. Seeing him interact with his brother, eager to stay up late, felt surreal.
It’s always surreal to watch kids discover and enjoy video games. Their presence changes the game, reshaping my memories of playing it alone or with new save files. Last year we all started playing Pokemon together, which added a new layer of enjoyment to a game I loved as a child. Super Mario 3D World feels like a completely different game when played with my kids, with their reactions and interactions shaping the experience.
The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening has been remade on Switch. Photo: Nintendo
Recently, my youngest son wanted to try a Zelda game, so we played Link’s Awakening on Switch. Despite my past difficult memories associated with the game, it was heartwarming to see my son navigate the game with joy and excitement.
To my parents, video games were unfamiliar and slightly suspect. Now, I act as a guide for my kids, introducing them to the worlds within the screen that fascinate them.
In the future, if our gaming interests diverge, I may become a tourist in their gaming world. For now, Animal Crossing remains a constant. I resurrected our family island for the kids to manage, pulling out my old Switch Lite. The island served as a refuge for our children during lockdown, a product of hours of labor that is now in need of revitalization. Despite my hesitations, my kids want to return and create something new.
I I feel as if I have lost days of my life to digital. I’m an extrovert, but the near-constant communication on WhatsApp can be exhausting. I’m always worried about not being able to reply to everyone right away. Add to that the performance factor and worry that proving you care will be judged on the messages you send, and it can all become too much.
“Where did Lemona go?” one friend panicked when I found myself stunned while pressing deadlines, babysitting, and entertaining guests. With 248 unread messages piling up in just one group, including podcast-length audio notes, I felt like the bad guy for being absent. Sometimes I’m happy to be completely silent – because I was in an unnecessarily large group that was added without my consent. I’ve been going unnoticed for years in unsolicited selfies of people I barely know, forwarding messages that if I don’t forward further, I’m going to face some kind of disaster, but someone knows I’m lurking. When they found out I was there, they kicked me out in front of all 43 members. It was frustrating.
I’m not bold enough to completely “keep using the app,” but I’ve managed to significantly reduce my messages over the past few years. My freedom from digital management was gradual. It started with removing my “last seen” status. By doing so, not only did I free myself from my dependence on receiving replies, but I was also less in touch and less needy.
Since I don’t use apps as much, I’ve become more conscious of my time. Instead of getting caught up in the hamster wheel of responses, I created space for other things. Do your morning stretches instead of opening an app as soon as you open your eyes. regain one’s concentrationread the actual book and Please finish it like before. I have also started knitting. I was able to knit an Ewok hood for my toddler niece. This took three years, but it probably would have taken five if we hadn’t reduced our commitment to WhatsApp. Taking a break from communication has cleared my cluttered head and allowed me to think more creatively. I’m also learning Korean on Duolingo.
Still, I fully appreciate the connection that WhatsApp provides. It’s a place where you can share prayers for your sick parents, lift up your friend’s spirits after a bad date, and hold on to your sorrows and frustrations while the world burns and humanity’s hopes look bleak. WhatsApp packs so many heavy emotions, intimate experiences, and different personalities, yet compresses complex thoughts and emotions into fast-talking conversations that can be easily misread. Masu. Perhaps its intensity and dichotomy – the pleasure and stress it gives me, the longing for connection and the flood of over-connection – is precisely why it’s a place where I feel overwhelmed.
I also considered deleting the app completely. But is it really worth sacrificing seeing a photo of your niece dressed as an Oompa Loompa on World Book Day? Can I really disconnect from my supportive cheerleading friends and enjoy the mundane details of life?
I still need WhatsApp, but less than before. By being patient, I learned how to control my desires. I am finally learning how to release from acute fomo without experiencing it. Rather than strict selection, we adjusted the boundaries. My friends also lived up to their expectations, saying, “She will get back to you within 3-5 business days.” But by giving myself permission to not feel pressured, I began to enjoy a newfound freedom. Now I have to resist the yoke of a new app: the forced appeal of maintaining my Duolingo streak.
W
Jorge Rivera Herrans unveils some aspects of the Epic: Musical. Last Christmas, he managed to dethrone Taylor Swift from the number one spot on the US iTunes album chart. The stakes are high as the final installment of his musical rendition of the Odyssey is set to release on Christmas Day.
Rivera Herrans’ project has already seen remarkable success, boasting 1.6 million monthly listeners on Spotify, surpassing industry stalwarts like Morrissey, Liam Gallagher, and the Sex Pistols. In the last 28 days alone on the platform, he garnered 119 million views.
“I craved sword fights, the sea, gods, monsters, spells, love, lust, and revenge,” he expressed to the observer. “I want people to experience wonder and feel like kids again when they engage with it.”
Amazing is not just a musical but a 40-song concept album where Rivera Herrans takes on the role of Odysseus during his decade-long journey back to Ithaca post-Troy’s siege, with each step portrayed on TikTok.
Amazing caters to the fascinations of teen pioneers of Generation Alpha, blending Greek mythology and fan interaction.
Rivera-Herrans initiated the writing and recording process in his bedroom studio, later constructing a soundproof vocal booth with his father. While most artists guard their creative processes zealously, Rivera-Herrans takes the opposite approach, openly sharing everything from song motifs to orchestration choices and audition procedures.
“It was daunting initially,” he confessed. “The first time I shared a video on TikTok, I was so nervous that sleep eluded me that night. However, it turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve made. Sharing the process online is fantastic because it’s a collective adventure. We can witness real-time feedback on what works and what doesn’t.”
The debut song was a solo effort, but Rivera Herrans later held auditions on TikTok, where interested candidates showcased their singing talents. “We were anticipating around 30 auditions initially, but by month’s end, we had received 1,000 video submissions,” he revealed.
Jorge Rivera-Herrans, the mastermind behind Epic: The Musical. “I craved sword fights, the sea, gods, monsters, spells, love, lust, and revenge,” he remarked.
Enthusiasts also have the opportunity to animate and breathe life into their interpretations of Amazing‘s songs, a prospect that Rivera Herrans relishes. “If I subtly hint at forthcoming events in earlier songs and embed numerous clues through musical motifs, will the audience catch on? When they do, it’s immensely gratifying.”
One of the most enigmatic leitmotifs fans have deciphered is a trumpet melody signifying Poseidon’s involvement in the storm that detained Odysseus and his crew at sea for years, without any deity visibly intervening. The theme resurfaces later, sung by a god.
“It’s truly astonishing how fans pieced this together,” Rivera Herrans stated. “We’re devising captivating storytelling techniques along the way. It’s truly invigorating.”
Claire Chandler, a senior lecturer in musical theater at the University of Lincoln’s School of Creative Arts, noted that fan engagement with musical theater has surged since composers began showcasing their work on YouTube circa 2015.
The pandemic has fostered the emergence of two other TikTok musicals. Firstly, Remy’s Delicious Restaurant originated from the online meme culture that sprouted around Pixar movies. Various TikTok users crafted songs, ultimately leading to a Broadway performance of Ratatouille for a charitable event.
Then Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear crafted an unofficial bridgerton musical after Barlow shared a snippet of her singing the piece. While they secured a Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album, they faced a lawsuit from Netflix for their attempts to stage the show.
Fans of Amazing inquire about the possibility of a stage adaptation.
Following the conclusion of the narrative on Christmas Day, they might receive an answer when Odysseus finally reaches Ithaca. Rivera Herrans and his team are in discussions with a “prestigious company” to produce an animated film and another entity for a live-action stage presentation. Three video games are in the works, with two already in development. The team acknowledges fans’ eagerness to participate in bringing these projects to fruition.
“What’s the next iteration of Amazing? What have we bequeathed to the world? I am receptive to all possibilities since each rendition can illuminate a distinct facet of the story,” Rivera-Herrans affirmed.
Meta’s latest virtual reality headset, the Quest 3S, offers almost all the features of the Top Model but at a more affordable price point of £290 (€330/$300/AU$500). This makes it around 40% cheaper than the Quest 3 and even cheaper than the 2020 Quest 2.
Positioned between the Quest 2 and Quest 3, the Quest 3S utilizes the same high-performance Qualcomm VR chip found in the Quest 3 while maintaining a similar design and feel to the Quest 2 to keep costs down.
Well-designed straps, rotating arms, and a well-cushioned faceplate make it easy to get a comfortable fit. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
The Quest 3S has adjustable straps, rotatable arms, and a foam faceplate that make it one of the most comfortable headsets for extended wear. Additional straps and faceplates are available for users seeking a customized fit.
Featuring speakers in the arm, the Quest 3S provides decent spatial audio, but users can also opt to connect Bluetooth headphones or use a USB-C headphone adapter for wired audio.
The Quest 3S boasts the same screen and lens as the Quest 2, delivering sharp images at up to 120 frames per second. However, the use of fresnel lenses with limited distance settings may lead to blurriness at the edges when looking around.
The headset comes with industry-leading hand controllers for precise and intuitive interactions. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
Two hand controllers, light and comfortable, feature capacitive buttons that respond to finger movements without accidental presses. Each controller uses a standard AA battery, with rechargeable options recommended for cost-effectiveness and sustainability.
The Quest 3S also includes spacers for glasses and offers prescription lenses for an additional cost.
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