Tag Archives: guide

When will Democrats come to the realization that big tech does not support their agenda?

Posted on by
Reply

a■ As Democrats consider how to counter the Trump administration, they need to accept a very simple lesson from the past eight years. Big tech and corporations are part of the opposition forces working on behalf of Donald Trump, not allies of the Democratic Party working against Trump and Trumpism.

One would think there is no need to point out what appears to be an obvious fact. Still, some Democrats are trying to get closer to big tech companies and downplaying the importance of antitrust policy regarding authoritarian risks. For example, a few days ago, the largest Democratic superpack, Priorities USA, held a large resistance strategy session sponsored by “friends of google“.

As another example, Adam Jentleson, political writer and former chief of staff to U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, writes: recent works The New York Times particularly criticized the fight against monopolies as a “niche issue.” He argued that there was a dichotomy between table issues and challenging corporate power, and that the focus should be on the former.

The belief that big technology, and big business more broadly, serves the Democratic Party has already been tested and turned out to be untrue.

When Trump was elected in 2016, one of the central pillars of Democratic resistance was to use big tech platforms as a counterbalance. If you remember, Google’s CEO also Participated in anti-Trump demonstration. Google, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and pre-Elon Musk’s Twitter have been reprimanded for using technology that enables extremism, but Democrats are pushing for changes to regulation of algorithm design, liability rules, or Instead of moving aggressively to split, it focused on encouraging platforms on editorial policy.

The assumption was that they would be able to defeat Trump and Maga-ism and corral them into a set of “correct” editorial practices that would help limit the scope of his rhetoric in the short term. This is the context in which the “misinformation and disinformation” framework arose.

We use this phrase all the time, but it’s worth thinking about how strange it is. Misinformation can refer to inadvertent lies and disinformation can refer to intentional lies, but the term can also encompass information that is factually correct but misleading, such as information about Barack Obama. there is. claimed In 2022, “suppression of true information” will occur if such suppression is carried out for purposes such as “political gain” or “targeting people you don’t like.”

These new categories not only infuriated those caught up in broad and vague definitions, but also diverted Democratic attention away from issues of power. The misinformation/disinformation framework is partially compatible with partnering with big tech companies as an anti-fascist alliance. We, the science-based Democratic Party, will succeed in working with the world’s largest technology companies to protect America.

Eight years later, Democrats lost the White House, the House of Representatives, and the Senate. Major tech platforms are full of extremist content. Big tech companies should no longer look like allies. Not only is Mr. Musk fully entrenched at the top of the power table, right next to Mr. Trump, but the CEOs of Meta, Alphabet, Apple, and Amazon all reached out to Mr. Trump before the election. He probably took it seriously. his threat Mark Zuckerberg would go to jail if he opposed it, but he’s probably just recognizing that Trump is the titan of deregulation.

musk He is said to have participated in Recent phone conversation between President Trump and Google CEO. It is expected that dozens of such meetings at the highest level will occur and strong relationships will emerge. And instead of repeatedly claiming that the tech giants have too much power, we have spent eight years arming them with language they can use to suppress dissent.

repetition vote It turns out that voters actually hate corporate monopolies, and that antitrust politics is very popular. I don’t want to overstate this point – for 30 years, from 1980 to 2020, antitrust politics disappeared in America. It’s fair to argue that we can do more experimentation with how we talk about anti-monopoly policy, especially towards big tech companies. that. But we should be very concerned about its content.

Facebook, Google, and Amazon have destroyed local journalism, a real bulwark against authoritarian leaders, while coddling real dictatorships. They currently dominate the digital advertising industry. According to a recent study, if news organizations were paid the profits they made by acting as intermediaries between readers and writers, Expected to be delivered between $12 billion and $14 billion One year. The very journalists and news organizations we rely on for fact-checking and fact-checking fear being shadowbanned. Jeff Bezos’ fear of President Trump shows how it affects editorial content.

Thankfully, thanks to the work of the Department of Justice under Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Cantor, Google has been officially recognized by the courts as an illegal monopoly, and other antitrust cases involving Facebook and Amazon have The case is pending in court. But even if Google is forced to sell Chrome, which seems possible, it now seems grotesque that Democrats in power can’t bring serious tech-disruption legislation to a vote. He didn’t seem to be trying to stop the emerging power couple of Trump and tech.

As experts try to sort out the lessons of how Kamala Harris lost an election she looked like she could win, we look back further and remember the real lessons of 2016. That would be good. The idea is that to align with the big tech oligarchy is to align with the state. Democratic Party and the Destruction of Democracy.

  • Zephyr Teachout is a professor at Fordham Law School and author of Break ‘Em Up: Recovering Our Freedom from Big Ag, Big Tech, and Big Money.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Guide to Viewing the Stunning Leonid Meteor Shower in November

Posted on by
Reply

When it comes to meteor showers, the Leonids are known as one of the best. Famous for its fast and bright fireball meteors, the Leonid meteor shower aims to put on an impressive show.

And in unusual circumstances, the shower can turn into a full-fledged storm, and thousands of meteors can pass in front of you in an hour. Although it is not expected to reach storm-level conditions this year, it is still a sight to behold. Additionally, the Leonid meteor shower can be seen with the naked eye, so anyone can observe it without the need for binoculars or a telescope.

So when should you look up to the sky? And what should you expect from this year’s Leonid meteor shower? We’ve got all the important information below.

When is the Leonid meteor shower?

The 2024 Leonid meteor shower will reach its peak on the night of November 17-18. During this period, 10 to 15 meteors are expected to cross the night sky per hour.

Shooting star activity is expected to peak during this period, but meteors from the Leonid meteor shower are expected to be visible until November 30th.

For the best viewing, you need to find a spot with dark skies and good visibility. It also helps avoid light pollution in big cities and towns. Light from the last supermoon of the year, November’s Beaver Moon, which peaks on Nov. 15, could obstruct visibility.

Where should you look to see the Leonid meteor shower?

Pinpointing the source of the shower will give you better visibility. The Leonid meteor shower’s name comes from its constellation, Leo, where it is believed to have originated. More specifically, the Leonid meteor shower originates from a star pattern called the Sickle within the constellation Leonid.

To find the sickle, first find Ursa Major’s plow. This is a distinctive signpost to many astronomical spots (we have a complete guide on how to find it).

Look to the edge of the pot in “The Plow” to find two bright stars: Dubhe and Merek. If you draw an imaginary line between the two, going in the opposite direction, it will point in the direction of Polaris, Polaris, and the Sickle of Leo.

You don’t need to worry too much about tracking this exact location. Meteors cover most of the sky, so your best bet is to see as much of the sky as possible.

The best way to see as much of the sky as possible is to lie on your back and look up, but it’s November and nighttime temperatures in places like the UK can be below freezing, so it’s best to dress warmly or bring warm clothing. Please wear it. Find a comfortable place to cover yourself with a blanket or sleeping bag. Be patient and stay a while to let your eyes adjust to the darkness and have the best chance of catching the Leonid meteor shower.

Where did the Leonid meteor shower come from?

Meteor showers occur when the Earth, in its orbit around the sun, passes through regions of space filled with debris left behind by comets and asteroids.

In this case, the culprit is Comet Tempel-Tuttle. It is a relatively small comet that was discovered twice in separate events. It was first created by Ernst Tempel in 1865 and then by Horace Tuttle in 1866.

How many Leonid meteors can we see?

The exact number of meteors is difficult to determine. The number changes each year, but the average number of meteors is about 15 per hour. In some years, this value can be even higher, especially if there is a meteor storm.

Approximately every 33 years, a shower turns into a storm. This classification is reached when more than 1,000 meteors occur per hour. Back in 1966, viewers experienced the unique Leonids meteor shower, where thousands of meteors appeared in just 15 minutes.

The last Leonid storm occurred in 2002, so a storm in 2024 is unlikely.

These fireballs have long trails that are blue and greenish. Meteors can be missed, but they leave a long vapor train in the sky that looks like a smoke ring for several minutes.

The Leonid meteor shower is also fast, traveling at 44 miles per second (71 kilometers per second). These are considered some of the fastest meteors we can see.

read more:

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

A Step-by-Step Guide to Watching the Spectacular Lunar Finale of 2024

Posted on by
Reply

This year, we have been treated to various stunning celestial events by the moon, and now the grand finale is approaching with the last supermoon of 2024 known as the Beaver Moon.

But what exactly is a supermoon? How can you witness its beauty at its peak? And why is it called the Beaver Moon? Whether you plan to observe it from your backyard or venture to a remote location for clearer skies, here is everything you need to know to make the most of this year’s final significant lunar event.

When will the Beaver Moon be visible in 2024?

The UK, US, and the rest of the world will witness the full Beaver Supermoon on November 15, 2024. Following this date, the moon will appear full for several consecutive nights.

“A full moon occurs when the moon is directly opposite the sun in the sky at a precise moment down to the second,” explains Dr. Darren Baskill, an astronomer and astrophotographer from the University of Sussex.

“To the naked eye, the moon appears full or nearly full for two to three days from the exact moment of the full moon.”

In the UK, the moon will rise around 3:30 pm local time. In Los Angeles, it will rise at 3:30 PM local time, and in New York, it will be approximately 4:29 PM ET.

Fun fact: The moon is slowly moving away from Earth at a rate of 3.8 cm every year. – Photo credit: Getty

“For the most spectacular views, try capturing photographs just after sunset or just before sunrise. This is when the moon appears largest and most dramatic against the horizon,” said Shyam Balaji, a researcher in astronomical particle physics and cosmology from King’s College, London.

Why is it called the Beaver Moon?

The supermoon in November is named after the beaver as beavers are often observed during this period.

Leading up to winter, beavers prepare for the cold months and build food storage in case their ponds freeze over.

What causes a supermoon?

During a supermoon, the moon’s surface appears 7 percent larger (and 15 percent brighter) in the sky compared to an average full moon. This is because the moon is closer to Earth than usual (approximately 363,700 km or 226,000 miles away).

Due to the moon’s elliptical orbit around Earth, there is a point where the moon naturally approaches Earth (perigee). Conversely, there is a point (apogee) where the moon moves away from us. When a full moon coincides with perigee, a supermoon occurs. The timing of the full moon allows for multiple supermoons in a row.

This composite image shows the clear difference in size between supermoons and micromoons © Peter Lawrence

This discrepancy in cycles allows for repeated occurrences of supermoons. The moon’s elliptical orbit gradually changes alignments, resulting in multiple supermoons in succession.

“Gravitational forces from Earth, the sun, and other planets influence the moon’s orbit, leading to these fluctuations and the impressive phenomenon of supermoons,” explained Balaji.

Specifically, a supermoon requires the moon to complete a lunar cycle and be at its closest point to Earth in its orbit.

A supermoon occurs when the moon is closest to Earth, appearing larger and brighter in the sky. In contrast, a micromoon occurs when the moon is at its furthest away, making it appear smaller and darker. – Photo credit: Getty

Where is the best place to see the Beaver Supermoon?

To get the best views, escape the city lights and head to areas with minimal light pollution. For a truly remarkable experience, visit the coast and observe how the supermoon affects tides.

“When the moon is at its closest point to Earth (perigee) and is full, the gravitational pull on Earth’s oceans is stronger,” Balaji noted.

“Expect to witness more significant tidal fluctuations, resulting in higher high tides and lower low tides than usual.”

Read more:

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Guide to observing the peak of the Northern Taurid meteor shower in November

Posted on by
Reply

The annual Taurid meteor shower is back and it’s a two-part shooting star spectacle. The first half, Southern Taurus, already occurred in September. But if you missed it, the northern Taurid meteor shower is here!

This event is known for its bright and impressive fireball meteors that light up the sky. Learn how to accurately observe the Taurid meteor shower and discover more about its origins.

When will the Taurid meteor shower occur in 2024?

The Northern Taurid meteor shower will peak on the night of November 11, 2024 in the UK, US, and other countries. This is the time to see the most fireball shooting stars.

In 2024, Taurus in the North will be active from October 20th to December 10th. The closer you are to the peak, the more shooting stars you will witness.

Where should I look to see a fireball?

You can see Taurid meteors streaking across the sky, so lie down and look up. The shooting stars originate from the constellation Taurus, visible in winter near Orion.

To locate Taurus, look towards Orion’s belt and find Aldebaran. Use astronomy apps for guidance and view from a location with minimal light pollution for the best experience.

How many meteors can you see?

Most years, the Taurid meteor shower is weak, with only a few meteors visible per night. However, there can be more under perfect conditions, with up to five meteors per hour. These meteors often produce dramatic fireballs.

The Taurid meteor shower is a gamble – each night can bring a few small meteors or a display of fireballs.

What causes the Taurid meteor shower?

The Taurid meteor shower originates from Comet Encke, with the northern variation likely from an Encke offshoot known as 2004 TG10. Earth passes through the remains of asteroid 2004 TG10, creating the spectacle we see in the sky.

Comet Encke is believed to be a fragment of a larger comet that broke up thousands of years ago.

read more:

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

The Ultimate Guide to Edible Oils: Understanding Their Impact on Your Health

Posted on by
Reply

Whether you're roasting a chicken in the oven, browning onions in a skillet, or choosing a spread for your toast, oil is at the heart of our culinary endeavors.

The choices are dizzying. Around 30 different oils are currently used in cooking, from sunflower to flaxseed, avocado to coconut. Deciding which one to use can have a big impact on your health, including your cholesterol, blood pressure, and risk of cardiovascular disease.

If the headlines are to be believed, palm oil is obsolete, sunflower oil is in limbo, and there seems to be no end to the benefits extra virgin olive oil can bring to our plates. But are these claims backed by solid science, and how do the health impacts of these products compare to their environmental costs?

Saturated or unsaturated?

First, let's talk about chemistry. Edible oil contains fat, which is made up of long chains of carbon atoms. Saturated fats found in red meat and dairy products are so named because each carbon atom is connected to the next carbon atom by a single bond. The remaining electrons of each carbon atom are available to form bonds with hydrogen atoms, and the molecule becomes completely “saturated” with this element. This structure makes these fats very hard and stable, which is why butter and lard are solid at room temperature.

Unsaturated fats, which are commonly found in plants and fatty fish, have at least one double bond between adjacent carbon atoms, which reduces the number of bonds.

Source: www.newscientist.com

Navigating the Latest Nutrition Trends: A Survival Guide

Posted on by
Reply

Loading plates has never been more complicated. While we urge people to avoid ultra-processed foods and ‘bad’ fats, we are also exposed to a growing number of sometimes contradictory dietary advice. Not only is it confusing, but it’s difficult to determine what difference these choices will actually make in the long run.

Social media is full of people talking about the health benefits of what they eat, and diets that promise to improve hormonal balance, for example, are rapidly gaining popularity. It goes without saying that any nutrition advice shared on TikTok should be taken with a pinch of salt, but some people get carried away by the excitement and begin to believe that there must be a grain of truth to such claims. I tend to put it away.

Then there are fermented foods that are often sold as dietary panaceas. Do we really need to consume a lot of kimchi and kombucha to be healthy?

Even nutrition can be confusing. The more we hear about the latest discoveries, such as reducing chronic inflammation, improving health and weight by eating at specific times, and choosing what to eat based on personal preferences, It seems like you can adjust your diet to focus on the results. reaction to food.

Not only is it confusing, but it’s hard to tell what difference these choices actually make

To help you navigate this minefield, we’ve put together a delicious special issue. new scientist We highlight seven of today’s hottest nutrition trends and teach you how to eat better.

This revealed some surprising things. For example, recent research shows that snacking, long generally demonized as a bad thing, may actually be good for your health and waistline.

Plus, there are the surprisingly wide-ranging health benefits of dietary fiber, which we already know is good for your gut. Unlike many ingredients touted as superfoods, this one lives up to its promise, and most of us don’t get enough of it.

So check out our feature on science-based guides on what you should actually do to increase your chances of living a longer, healthier life.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Ultimate Guide to Amazon’s New Free Fantasy Game, Throne and Liberty: Otter in a Hat and Magic Wand

Posted on by
Reply

Amazon has been attempting to enter the gaming industry for quite some time. Despite having abundant resources and hiring top designers, progress has been slow. However, in recent times, Amazon has found success in releasing massively multiplayer online games. First came New World in 2021, a fantasy game focusing on survival and player-built settlements. This was followed by Lost Ark in the next year, developed by SmileGate from South Korea, blending MMO elements with Diablo-style combat. While reviews were mixed, both games found popularity among players. Now, Amazon is launching its third MMO in four years, Throne and Liberty, also developed in Korea. Here’s what you need to know about this latest offering.

What is Throne and Liberty?




A large, detailed world… Throne and Liberty. Photo: Amazon Games

Throne and Liberty is an MMO set in a fantasy world akin to World of Warcraft. Players create characters and embark on adventures, either alone, with friends, or as part of a guild. The game offers main storylines, cooperative dungeon battles, and player-versus-player combat for territory control.

The game had a prolonged development, initially announced in 2011 as an expansion of the Lineage series. It was released in South Korea in December after facing delays, technical changes, and leadership shifts. Amazon is the global publisher, having acquired the rights in February the previous year.

How is Throne and Liberty different?




Traditional MMO combat combined with action-game dodging and parrying for real combat. Photo: Amazon Games

Throne and Liberty offers unique elements, such as the ability to transform into various animals for faster travel. Combat and character progression stand out; instead of fixed classes, character abilities revolve around weapon usage. With six different weapons and customizable combinations, players can create unique playstyles.

Is Throne and Liberty worth playing?




A unique world… a massive floating whale in the sky. Photo: Amazon Games

Throne and Liberty offers engaging exploration and combat mechanics, blending MMO and action elements. However, it lacks depth in storytelling and character development. Crafting and upgrading systems may feel complex and tedious. Overall, the game is free-to-play and provides a decent gaming experience without requiring excessive time investment.

Should I try Throne and Liberty?




Fashionable style… Characters resembling a mix of wizards, warriors, orcs, and goblins. Photo: Amazon Games

Throne and Liberty is recommended for casual play, offering basic yet enjoyable gameplay. However, if choosing between Amazon’s Korean MMOs, Lost Ark may be a better choice due to its more engaging combat and storytelling. Both games are free-to-play, providing diverse experiences for players.

Source: www.theguardian.com

The complete guide to purchasing a mobile phone for kids: From basic models to refurbished options

Posted on by
Reply

aWith school starting back up, the pressure is on for parents to get their kids their first mobile phone, and when you decide the time has come, there are plenty of options: a smartphone, a basic phone, or upgrading to something new.


From the phone to the mobile services that come with it, key parental controls, to how well the phone fits with the devices you already use, here are some things you need to know before you buy, including which model is best for you.

Your best option might be the phone you already have, especially if you plan on replacing it in the near future. As long as it’s given a thorough cleaning, a new battery, a new case, and the software support is still there, a hand-me-down might be the best way to give your child a phone, while also being kind to the planet and your wallet.

A battery replacement will usually cost between £50 and £150 depending on the model and the shop. If you know how to use your mobile phone well, it will be easier to wipe the battery and set it up for your child.




The Nokia 3210 is one of HMD’s latest retro revival phones. Photo: Linda Nylind/The Guardian

Mobile operator EE recently advised parents not to give smartphones to primary school-aged children. So if your only purpose is to make and receive calls and texts, or to arrange a pick-up or make an emergency call, a basic “dumb” phone would be the solution. However, be aware that these phones only support SMS, not messaging apps like WhatsApp, iMessage, etc.

The downside is that many lower spec phones still have limited access to the internet, and only a handful have basic parental controls that lock the camera, browser and picture messaging (MMS). The lack of restrictions on things like calls and text contacts may also be a turn off, so check the manufacturer’s help documentation to see what’s possible before you buy.

Nokia makes a range of feature phones for around £30 to £60, such as the 110 4G and 225. For more fun there are nostalgic models such as the remake of the Nokia 3210, or film tie-in models such as the recently released HMD Barbie phone. Whatever model you choose, make sure it’s 4G compatible with most 3G services in the UK. Shutdown by the end of 2024.

Nokia 110 4G, £39.99
Argos

Nokia 225, £59.99
Argos
Home page

Nokia 3210, £59.99
Argos
Home page




The Moto G34 comes with 5G, Android 14, and will support security updates until January 2027. Photo: Motorola

Affordable Android phones are a good starting point; there are a variety of models available in the £80 to £180 price range. They usually have large screens and good battery life, although the cameras aren’t the best and apps can be slow to open and use.

Avoid models with Android Go or without access to the Play Store or Google services. Check the remaining time for software support; phones at this level usually only get updates for 2-3 years from the initial release, not at the time of purchase. Kids drop their phones more than adults, so a sturdy case with some water resistance is a good idea.

HMD sells a range of Android devices, either under its own brand or the Nokia brand, and offers longer software support than many others: the HMD Pulse costs under £100, runs Android 14 with security updates until May 2027, and if anything breaks you can fix it at home.

Motorola offers some great value products. Moto G34 Equipped with 5G, large battery, large screen, Android 14, and security updates Until January 2027.

If you’re in the Samsung family, the Galaxy A15 might be a better choice: it costs around £170, runs Android 14 with security updates until January 2029, and has a range of first- and third-party case options to ensure protection.

HMD Pulse, £99.99
Home page

Moto G34, £149.99
Motorola

Galaxy A15, £199
Samsung

…

Source: www.theguardian.com

2024 Mpox Outbreak: A Comprehensive Guide

Posted on by
Reply

Illustration of mpox virus

Getty Images/Science Photo Library

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the ongoing MPOX (formerly known as monkeypox) outbreak in Central and West Africa a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. This is the second time in two years that the disease has spread sufficiently to prompt a WHO declaration. On August 15, Swedish health authorities confirmed the first cases of infection outside of Africa with the MPOX strain currently causing the outbreak.

What is mpox?

Mpox is an infectious disease caused by a virus in the same family as the virus that causes smallpox. It spreads regularly among animals such as rodents and monkeys in Central and West Africa, but occasionally infects humans, causing small-scale epidemics.

There are two distinct lineages of mpox. Lineage I and Lineage IILineage I is associated with more severe disease and a higher risk of death. A subtype of lineage I, lineage Ib, is driving the current epidemic, while the 2022 and 2023 global MPOX epidemics were driven by a lineage II subtype.

So far, there is no evidence to suggest that lineage Ib is more dangerous than the original lineage I strains, he said. Jonas Alvarez This was said in a statement by the UK’s Pirbright Institute.

How many cases of MPOX were there in 2024?

Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention Reported on August 13th There are more than 17,000 suspected cases across the continent, “and this is just the tip of the iceberg, given the many weaknesses in surveillance, testing and contact tracing,” the agency said in a statement.

According to the WHO, the Democratic Republic of Congo alone has reported 15,664 cases and 537 deaths so far — more than the entire 2023 total. statement WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on August 15.

Where was mpox found?

The current outbreak began in a small mining town in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). MPOX variants have now spread to at least 11 other African countries, including four where MPOX had not previously been reported (Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, and Uganda), and one patient in Sweden has also been found to have MPOX.

What is the survival rate for mpox?

More than 99.9 percent of people survive infection with lineage II, but up to 10 percent of MPOX outbreaks caused by lineage I die. Children, immunocompromised individuals, and pregnant women are particularly susceptible to severe illness.

What are the symptoms of MPOX?

The first symptom of MPOX is usually a rash, which begins as flat sores that later develop into itchy, painful blisters. The rash begins on the face and then spreads throughout the body, including the hands and feet. Lesions may also appear inside the mouth, genitals, and anus.

The rash or lesions usually last for 2-4 weeks and are often accompanied by other symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle and back pain, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes. Symptoms usually appear within a week of exposure to the virus, but can appear anywhere from 1 to 21 days after exposure. However, some people can be infected with the virus without experiencing any symptoms.

How does mpox spread?

Mpox is transmitted through close contact with a person who has the disease. Usually, this occurs through skin-to-skin contact, such as sexual intercourse, kissing, or touching. The virus can also be transmitted through respiratory droplets or contact with contaminated materials, such as sheets, other linens, and sharp objects, such as needles. You remain infectious until all wounds have healed.

Mpox is spread through contact with infected animals via bite or scratch, or when people hunt or eat the animals.

Young people and children are being hit hardest by this outbreak, a trend not seen in the 2022-2023 outbreak. In some provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, children under the age of 15 are the most affected. 69% of suspected cases.

How is mpox treated?

Treatment consists mainly of managing symptoms and preventing complications such as secondary infections. Some of the antiviral drugs developed to treat smallpox have also been used to treat smallpox in the past. However, recent trials of the antiviral drug tecovirimat, used in previous outbreaks, have shown that Found to be ineffective against clade I virusesPeople with MPOX should self-isolate, wear a mask and avoid scratching wounds, which can prevent wounds from healing and increase the risk of secondary infections, which can spread to other parts of the body.

Is there an MPOX vaccine?

The mpox vaccine provides maximum protection when given in two doses. Smallpox vaccines are also known to protect against mpox, but it is not clear whether any of these vaccines are effective against the new mpox variants.

It is only recommended that people get vaccinated if they are at high risk of contracting MPOX. For people in areas not affected by the current outbreak, the risk remains very low.

African countries currently have little to no vaccine supplies, but estimates say the region needs 10 million doses. Jimmy Whitworth Researchers from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine said in a statement.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Fixing LinkedIn: A Guide for US Small Businesses

Posted on by
Reply

Looking for a good laugh? Check out the subreddit LinkedIn Lunatics. Trust me, it’s worth a visit.

On this subreddit, you’ll find a Financial Expert advocating for the moderation of porn consumption as a healthy practice to share with friends and community. There are also critics using cultural events like the Olympic Games to teach life lessons and even a Marriage agency mistaking LinkedIn for a dating platform.

The subreddit features stories like a social media company’s creative director who almost missed his flight but learned the valuable lesson of taking risks and a guy who learned important life lessons after a tangerine incident. It’s a mix of humor and bizarre LinkedIn encounters.

All this craziness happened in just one week, making it a rollercoaster of absurdity. Despite the entertainment, the main mission on LinkedIn is to focus on work and professional networking.

LinkedIn is a vital platform for business professionals, especially in B2B sales, like myself. However, it can be overwhelming with the constant stream of “visionary leaders” and “strategic innovators” flooding the feed. It’s a mix of greatness and embarrassment, where professionals love and hate the platform simultaneously.

Many users echo the sentiment that LinkedIn needs a revamp. As a dedicated user, I propose two radical changes:

1. Embrace Reddit Over Facebook

Encourage users to post in LinkedIn groups for longer, more engaging content, similar to Reddit’s format. This shift would enhance the user experience and encourage meaningful discussions.

2. Revise Monetization Strategies

LinkedIn should differentiate between serious members and casual users, potentially by raising fees. Additionally, introducing a nominal fee for every accepted connection request could deter spammy behavior.

Adding a “dislike” button could provide constructive feedback and reduce unwanted solicitations. These changes aim to improve the platform’s quality and user experience.

LinkedIn is at a crossroads, where the balance between professionalism and absurdity is tipping. It’s essential to adapt to evolving user needs to maintain relevance and utility.

Source: www.theguardian.com

A Guide on Viewing Shooting Stars

Posted on by
Reply

The annual Perseid meteor shower will peak between Sunday night and dawn on Monday, giving skywatchers around the world the chance to enjoy one of the most spectacular shooting star shows of the year.

The Perseid meteor shower is usually one of the most anticipated stargazing events of the year due to the high incidence of shooting stars. If the weather is good, you may be able to see up to 100 meteors per hour from a dark location.

“Not only is this shower rich in bright meteors and fireballs (the most so far in the world, in fact), it also peaks when it's still warm and comfortable in mid-August,” says Bill Cook, director of the Meteor Environment Office at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama. NASA said in a blog post.

Experts predict that conditions will be favorable for this year's meteor show, especially since the moon will set around 11:30 p.m. local time, meaning bright moonlight will not obscure the shooting stars.

If the weather is good, it's best to choose an unobstructed viewing location under the darkest possible sky, away from city lights and other light pollution.

In the Northern Hemisphere, stargazing is best done between midnight and dawn. NASA recommends giving your eyes about 45 minutes to adjust to the darkness and avoiding looking at bright screens, such as cell phones.

While the peak of the meteor shower is when you'll have the highest chance of seeing meteors, the Perseids have been visible for several weeks and should continue to be visible after this weekend. The meteor shower occurs annually from mid-July to late August.

This occurs as Earth passes through a cloud of dust particles and debris left behind by a comet known as 109P/Swift-Tuttle, which was discovered in 1862. The light streaks are caused when the debris impacts the atmosphere, vaporizes, and leaves a bright trail as it disintegrates.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Navigating the Climate Crisis: Ghost Gamers Guide the Tides of Tomorrow | Games

Posted on by
Reply

aBlue skies, crystal clear waters and a fleet of boats bearing the words “Welcome to Pleasureland” – it sounds like a dream vacation, but in reality it’s a dystopia: after a great flood, the continent is submerged and diseases caused by toxic plastic are affecting all living things.

Tides of Tomorrow is nothing less than unsettling climax fiction, but its tone is lighthearted, blunt and irreverent rather than gloomy and unsettling. It’s set on the fictional planet Elynd, and lead game designer Adrien Poncet says he and his colleagues had free reign to play with the science and technology they depicted. At one point, a character inhales “ozen” from a container, an oxygen-like substance that helps keep people alive. At other times, players witness shocking and unsettling imagery, including tons of floating plastic that resemble the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.




Tomorrow’s trends. Photo: Deep Silver/PLAION

Fans of DigixArt’s previous project, the border-crossing adventure Road 96, will be pleased with the amount of challenge in Tides of Tomorrow’s gameplay. Players will navigate the oceans of Erind, encountering pirates, religious cults, and deep-sea trawlers loaded with junk, sprinkling in first-person exploration, mini-games, and scripted action sequences (including, predictably, a boat-driving sequence and, unexpectedly, the odd bit of parkour). But Poncet stresses that at its core, the game is a thrilling, branching narrative. Kill a crime boss or attempt an escape? The choice is yours. You may live or die by the consequences.

It’s a new and particularly ambitious twist on this long-running “choose your own adventure” formula. Playing as a so-called Tide Walker (name subject to change), you share what Poncet calls a “strange connection” with other Tide Walkers. They appear to you as apparitions, out of time but not out of place. The catch here is that these apparitions aren’t pre-programmed encounters, but other players connected to you over the internet, already playing out the same events. Think of it as an asynchronous multiplayer system, like Elden Ring’s ghosts, except here your ghosts have a tangible impact on the game, perhaps leaving behind important items like a knife to stab the aforementioned unsuspecting kingpin.

You’ll follow in the footsteps of one player at a time, getting to know them through their decision-making impulses. Who is that player? “It could be a stranger on the internet, a friend, or even your favorite streamer,” says Poncet.

Soon, a chain reaction of decisions made by both you and your bound partner begins to pile up. Testing a game with such a dizzying narrative structure proves to be extremely difficult.[Tides of Tomorrow] “The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is the first game to really push the idea of ​​asynchronous multiplayer narrative,” Ponsetto said. “We didn’t approach this game with any blueprint or preconceived ideas. This is uncharted territory.”

Despite the novelty of this component, the lead designer claims that it speaks to the game’s deeper themes. Indeed, the mechanic doubles as a carefully considered metaphor: after all, what could survive the all-encompassing climate crisis and mitigate its worst effects other than a massive collaborative effort involving people spread across a vast continent?

Skip Newsletter Promotions

“Tides of Tomorrow asks players to question our world,” Poncet says, “but especially about holding on to hope in a world where all seems lost, and helping each other in a common effort to make things better.”

Tides of Tomorrow is in development for PC, with a release date yet to be determined.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Summer Northern Lights Viewing Guide: How to Witness the Spectacular Aurora Tonight

Posted on by
Reply

Occasionally, you may have the opportunity to witness the Northern Lights from your home in the UK or US. Tonight (Wednesday, July 24) presents a moderate chance of seeing these mesmerizing lights.

Typically, the Northern Lights are only visible in countries like Canada, Russia, and Sweden, but they have been spotted from as far as Penzance in Cornwall earlier this year.

While it’s rare for the lights to reach Cornwall, seeing the Northern Lights from the UK is not uncommon, although it requires a severe geomagnetic storm, which is a rare occurrence.

When can I see the Aurora tonight?

The Space Weather Forecast suggests that a solar storm may hit the Earth this week, potentially making the Northern Lights visible in parts of the UK on Wednesday, July 24.

Unfortunately, the Northern Lights can only be seen in certain parts of the UK, such as the north of England and Northern Ireland.

In the United States, it may be visible across several northern and upper Midwestern states from New York to Idaho.

However, due to the season, the window for viewing the Northern Lights is limited.

undefined

How to increase your chances of seeing the Aurora

To enhance your chances of witnessing the Northern Lights, it is advisable to move away from urban areas with clear skies and minimal light pollution.

Locate a north-facing shoreline for the best viewing experience with fewer obstructions and less light pollution.

What Causes the Northern Lights?

The Aurora Borealis occurs when high-energy particles from the Sun collide with lower-energy particles in the Earth’s atmosphere.

Geomagnetic storms can push the Aurora further south, making them visible in regions where they are not usually seen.

These storms are more likely to occur during the waning stages of a solar cycle, when coronal holes generate high-speed solar wind that disrupts Earth’s magnetic field.

Why do the auroras have different colors?

The color of the Northern Lights can vary based on the atoms in Earth’s atmosphere reacting with the Sun’s energy.

Green auroras are produced by high-altitude oxygen atoms, while blue, yellow, or red auroras indicate lower-altitude oxygen or nitrogen atoms colliding with solar particles.

What does “Aurora” mean?

The term “Aurora Borealis” roughly translates to “North Wind Dawn” and is a nickname for the Northern Lights. Boreas is the god of the north wind in ancient Greek mythology.

The Southern Lights are also known as “Aurora Australis”, translating to “southern wind dawn”. These lights can be influenced by geomagnetic storms and have been seen in locations like New Zealand and Australia.

read more:

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

2024 Perseid Meteor Shower: A Guide to Witnessing the Spectacular Annual Event

Posted on by
Reply

2023 Perseid meteor shower observed in Chinese grasslands

Cynthia Lee/Alamy

The Perseid meteor shower is one of the best opportunities to see hundreds of shooting stars, and this year it will peak around August 12 and 13. The shower is expected to last from mid-July until the end of August, but the most meteors will be visible during the dawn hours near the peak.

What is the Perseid meteor shower?

Meteor showers occur when the Earth passes dust and debris drifting behind a comet. These tiny particles of debris slam into the atmosphere at incredible speeds, and friction with the atmospheric particles causes the dust to heat up and burn up, leaving only a flash of light in the air. This moving flash is called a shooting star or meteor.

The Perseid meteor shower is caused by the comet Swift-Tuttle, which orbits the Sun every 133 years. Once a year, Earth passes through its debris trail, lighting up the sky with meteors.

When should you view the Perseid meteors?

The best days to view the Perseid meteor shower are within a few days of its peak – outside of that period you may see some, but they won’t be as impressive.

Meteors can be seen at any time of the night, but a bright moon can make them harder to spot. This year, a half moon will be visible at the peak, so the best time to look for meteors is midnight after the moon has set. This is true for observers around the world, but the best views of the Perseid meteor shower will be in the Northern Hemisphere due to the orientation of the Earth relative to the comet’s debris trail.

How many meteors can we see this year?

Typically, the Perseids emit between 50 and 100 meteors per hour during the peak of the meteor shower. They can also produce fireballs, which are bright meteors that are created when a large chunk of a comet impacts Earth’s atmosphere. The number of meteors visible from a particular location depends on the level of light pollution, so getting away from city lights is essential if you want to see as many meteors as possible.

How do you observe the Perseid meteor shower?

The best way to observe the meteor shower is to be in as dark a place as possible with as much sky as possible visible. The Perseid meteors appear to streak towards the constellation Perseus, but they will appear all over the sky. It may take up to 30 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the darkness. Don’t be discouraged if you can’t see anything at first. To allow your eyes to adjust, look at the sky as much as possible without looking at street lights, cell phones or even the moon. When you see a tiny point of light streaking across the sky for a few seconds or less, that’s the Perseid meteor shower.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Seeing Shooting Stars: A Step-by-Step Guide

Posted on by
Reply

summary

  • The annual Perseid meteor shower has begun, reaching its peak on the night of August 12th.
  • It's typically one of the most dramatic meteor showers of the year, producing a high rate of shooting stars per hour.
  • The Perseid meteor shower occurs when dust particles and debris from a comet known as 109P/Swift-Tuttle burn up in Earth's atmosphere.

One of the best meteor showers of the year is underway, giving you a chance to see shooting stars in the summer night sky.

The annual Perseid meteor shower began on Sunday and will run through late August. This year's meteor shower will peak on the night of August 12 and into the early morning of August 13.

The Perseid meteor shower is one of the most dramatic phenomena due to the high number of bright meteors that appear per hour. At the peak of the meteor shower, up to 100 meteors per hour can be seen from a dark location (weather permitting).

This is a popular event as meteor showers occur in the summer in the Northern Hemisphere, allowing people to enjoy stargazing in warm weather.

Meteors are often called “shooting stars,” but the celestial phenomenon occurs when tiny pieces of debris from outer space burn up in Earth's atmosphere.

The Perseid meteor shower occurs when Earth passes through a cloud of dust particles and debris from a comet known as 109P/Swift-Tuttle, which was discovered in 1862. The streaks of light are produced when pieces of debris impact the atmosphere and vaporize, leaving bright trails as they disintegrate.

The Perseid meteor shower gets its name from the fact that shooting stars appear to stream down from a certain point in the constellation Perseus. According to NASA:The constellation will rise in the northeast, but if conditions are right, meteors should be visible across the entire sky.

In the Northern Hemisphere, the best time to observe the Perseid meteor shower is from around midnight after the moon has set until dawn.

For the best viewing, observers should choose a dark, unobstructed location away from city lights and other light pollution.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Protecting Your Eyes: A Comprehensive Guide

Posted on by
Reply

Next month, people across the continental United States will have the opportunity to witness a partial or total solar eclipse. However, it is crucial for them to take precautions to prevent eye damage during this rare astronomical event.

On April 8th, the moon will pass between the Earth and the sun, causing a temporary blockage of the sun’s light. This will result in a darkening of the afternoon sky along a path approximately 160 miles wide across Mexico, parts of the United States, and parts of eastern Canada.

Those outside of this path will be able to observe a partial solar eclipse, where only a portion of the sun is obscured by the moon.

To safely view the eclipse, special glasses or a pinhole projector can be used. It is important to note that regular sunglasses or other tools like telescopes should not be used to observe the eclipse even while wearing special glasses.

Here are some key points to keep in mind:

How to select the right eclipse glasses

The only safe way to directly view a solar eclipse is by using glasses specifically designed for this purpose. These glasses should be equipped with an ISO 12312-2 filter to prevent photothermal damage to the retina, as advised by Dr. Nicole Bajic from the Cleveland Clinic Cole’s General Ophthalmology Institute.

Eclipse glasses are significantly darker than regular sunglasses, making them safe for solar viewing.

Failure to take precautions while observing a solar eclipse can result in permanent damage to the eyes, known as solar retinopathy, which affects the retina’s ability to transmit light into electrical signals for vision.

When and how to use glasses

According to NASA, it is only safe to view a solar eclipse directly without glasses during the brief period of totality when the moon completely obscures the sun’s bright face. Before and after totality, eclipse glasses must be worn to protect the eyes.

Totality, when the sun is completely covered, lasts approximately three and a half to four minutes and can vary by location.

For those observing a partial solar eclipse, wearing eclipse glasses throughout the event is essential. Additionally, using tools like binoculars or cameras without solar filters can cause serious eye damage.

Ensuring the safety of your glasses

While NASA does not endorse specific solar viewers, it is recommended to choose reputable options from sources like the American Astronomical Society to avoid counterfeit or substandard products.

If you saved your eclipse glasses from the 2017 event, they can be reused as long as the lenses are undamaged. However, if there are any scratches, holes, or wrinkles on the lenses, it is advisable to purchase new glasses.

Creating and using a pinhole projector

In the absence of proper glasses, a pinhole projector can be made to safely view the solar eclipse without looking directly at the sun. This device captures sunlight through a small hole, projecting it onto a surface to create a safe image of the sun.

To make a pinhole projector, cut a hole in a piece of paper, cover it with aluminum foil, poke a small hole in the foil, and use another piece of paper as a screen for the projected image. Adjusting the distance between the projector and the screen will change the size of the image.

Other household items like a colander or a cereal box can also be used to create a pinhole projector for eclipse viewing.

Alternatively, stand under a shady tree during the eclipse to observe the crescent-shaped shadow cast on the ground.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Tonight’s Aurora: A Guide to Seeing the Northern Lights in 2024

Posted on by
Reply

Witnessing the Northern Lights at the North and South Poles is considered a rare and unforgettable experience for many individuals. However, you now have the opportunity to cross this off your bucket list as the Northern Lights might be visible in the skies over the US and UK tonight.

Yesterday, the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Space Weather Prediction Center issued a magnetic storm warning following a solar eruption that sent a stream of particles towards Earth, triggering the aurora borealis.

When Can You See the Aurora Borealis?

Scientists anticipate that the aurora will be visible from tonight (March 25) until early tomorrow (March 26), with optimal viewing between 11pm and 12am.

“Predicting the exact visibility of the aurora can be challenging due to rapidly changing conditions,” states Professor Don Polacco, a graduate from the Department of Physics at the University of Warwick. “However, one thing is certain: urban areas with bright lights are unlikely to provide a clear view. To observe the Northern Lights, you must venture into darker, rural settings and look towards the northern horizon (focus on the North Star).” Hence, being in the countryside away from city lights is recommended.

The prime viewing time typically falls during the darkest hours of the night, around 11pm to 12am. Nevertheless, as Polacco mentions, the appearance of the lights can be unpredictable, with avid observers possibly needing to wait until late at night for their glimpse.

The further north you venture in the Northern Hemisphere, the better your chances are of witnessing this celestial phenomenon. The same applies to individuals further south in the Southern Hemisphere.

According to astrophysicist Dr. Paul Strom, “The most effective way to see the Northern Lights is to subscribe to an alert service that keeps you informed about the activity.” For UK residents, he recommends utilizing aurora watch UK for updates.

If you intend to capture images of the aurora, Strom advises setting your camera to higher sensitivity (ISO) and securing it on a tripod to facilitate long exposure shots of a few seconds. Photography is encouraged.

Where Can You See the Northern Lights?

In the northern hemisphere, the aurora borealis can be observed across the United States, with sightings possible in states like Washington, Wisconsin, and New York. If the current geomagnetic storm maintains its strength, it might extend southwards to Northern California and Alabama.

In the UK, Scotland and Northern Ireland stand a good chance of viewing the Northern Lights if the skies remain clear.

Conversely, in the southern hemisphere, the Japan Meteorological Agency Space Weather Forecast Center has alerted Australia about the possibility of aurora borealis (southern lights). Tasmanian residents, Victoria’s coastal regions, and the southwest coast of Western Australia are expected to experience the phenomenon.

Auroras tend to be visible near the Earth’s magnetic poles, in synchronization with the geographic location of the poles. Individuals located near the Arctic or Antarctic Circles can anticipate a dazzling display of lights.

Read more:

What Causes the Aurora Borealis?

The interaction of particles emanating from the sun with Earth’s strong magnetic field set off by its molten iron core results in the aurora borealis phenomenon.

“Auroras materialize when the Sun expels huge bubbles of magnetic gas into space,” remarked Dr. Darren Baskill, an astronomy lecturer at the University of Sussex, to BBC Science Focus. “Occasionally, these bubbles collide with Earth and its magnetic channels, prompting gas to flow towards the north and south poles, illuminating the sky with the enchanting lights of the aurora borealis.”

Baskill elucidated that the sun undergoes an 11-year cycle during which its magnetic field alternates between increasing and decreasing in intensity. Presently, we are approaching the pinnacle of this cycle, implying an elevated frequency of aurora borealis sightings over the next year as solar activity heightens.

This evening’s light display follows a recent solar flare, as Baskill delineated, “A solar eruption on Sunday, March 24, 2024, resulted in the release of a gas bubble (coronal mass ejection). “The solar wind carrying the gas is currently traveling at approximately 800 km/s and is expected to impact Earth from Monday night into Tuesday morning.”

Why Are the Aurora Borealis Different Colors?

The hues of the aurora borealis and australis are determined by the fusion of specific atoms in Earth’s atmosphere with solar particles.

When oxygen atoms at higher altitudes react, a green aurora emerges. Meanwhile, sightings of blue, yellow, or red auroras indicate interactions between solar particles and oxygen or nitrogen atoms at lower altitudes.

The occasional presence of a purple hue is attributable to interactions with hydrogen and helium.

Are Geomagnetic Storms Hazardous?

Rest assured, unless you are seeking to witness the aurora borealis, geomagnetic storms pose no significant risk.

Nevertheless, these storms can potentially disrupt high-frequency radio communications. Experts vigilantly monitor aircraft and satellite communications to ensure uninterrupted operations.

In a statement released on Sunday, the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center assured the public that no adverse effects were to be expected, with infrastructure operators already taking precautions to mitigate potential impacts.

However, the statement cautioned that disruptions to GPS systems could become more frequent and prolonged.

About Our Experts

Don Polacco: He serves as a Professor in the Astronomy and Astrophysics Group at the University of Warwick, focusing on exoplanets and overseeing the successful SuperWASP project on La Palma Island.

Dr. Paul Strom: A faculty member in the Astronomy and Astrophysics Group at the University of Warwick, engaged in the PLATO space mission and various astrophysical research endeavors, particularly emphasizing far-ultraviolet observations for understanding young planet formation environments.

Dr. Darren Baskill: An outreach officer and lecturer at the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Sussex, formerly affiliated with the Royal Observatory Greenwich and the administrator of the annual Astronomical Photographer of the Year competition.

Read more:

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Capture Stunning Images of the April 2024 Total Solar Eclipse: A Photographer’s Guide

Posted on by
Reply

Photographing a solar eclipse takes a little practice

Sebastian Kennerknecht/Minden Pictures/Alamy

Although some people spend years planning trips to see a total solar eclipse, the moment itself lasts only a few minutes at most. A well-taken photo will help you remember the moment years later.

Fortunately, with a little practice, even beginners can capture great images. Learn how to photograph a solar eclipse without any prior experience or fancy camera equipment.

location, location, location

Of course, you can’t photograph a solar eclipse unless you’re in its path. On April 8, everyone in North America will see at least a partial solar eclipse. A partial solar eclipse must be viewed through eclipse glasses and photographed using a solar filter (see details below).

Only those who have entered the path of totality can see the total solar eclipse. Much of the experience will be the same, with partial stages requiring eclipse glasses and eclipse filters, but midway through totality, where the moon completely blocks the sun for several minutes. Only during this period will the eclipse glasses and solar filters come off, allowing you to see and photograph the sun’s corona with the naked eye. This is the shot everyone wants.

How to photograph a total solar eclipse using a smartphone

If you’re in the middle of a totality, forget about handheld video or zooming in on the eclipse sun. The results of using a smartphone will be disappointingly bleak. Instead, focus on taking wide-angle shots that use silhouettes of people and objects to show off their overall beauty.

solar eclipse 2024

On April 8th, a total solar eclipse will pass over Mexico, the United States, and Canada. Our special series covers everything you need to know, from how and when to see a solar eclipse to the strangest solar eclipse experience of all time.

Just before dark, put your phone into wide-angle mode. Focus on something in the middle distance and press and hold your finger on the screen to lock focus. Burst mode allows you to capture images continuously as soon as totality begins. That way, you can catch the “diamond ring,” the last and first beads of sunlight peeking around the moon just before and after totality.

How to photograph a total solar eclipse with a camera

If you have a manual DSLR or mirrorless camera and a variety of lenses, you can choose to shoot wide-angle or close-up of the eclipse. In partial phases, solar filters should be used.

Just before totality, make sure the partially eclipsed Sun is in focus and set your camera to bracketing mode (if you want to take three different exposures of the same image). “Make sure your camera is shooting at a low ISO (200-400) before and after totality to reduce noise,” he says. Mike Mezur, nature photographer. Remember to remove the solar filter during the diamond ring, take a bracket shot during totality, and put the solar filter back on as soon as he sees the second diamond ring at the end of totality.

How to take photos of a partial solar eclipse

To capture impressive shots of a partially eclipsed sun with your smartphone, you need to use a solar filter and keep your smartphone still. The latter can be done by using a tripod and delaying the shutter for a few seconds. There is no problem if you use solar eclipse glasses for the filter. If you have a spare lens, try cutting out one lens and taping it to your phone’s camera lens. Another option is to purchase a smartphone eclipse filter from a company such as: solar snap or business solar.

Smartphones aren’t prone to damage when pointed at the sun, but don’t point your manual camera at a partially chipped sun unless the lens is protected by a solar filter. You can purchase expensive glass solar filters or make your own using inexpensive Baader AstroSolar safety film.

The steps required to take a photo of a partial solar eclipse are a little more involved than taking a standard selfie, but you can practice ahead of time whenever the sun is clearly visible. “Adjust focus and set exposure manually” Karl Heilman, a New York-based photographer who teaches solar eclipse photography workshops. He recommends using an aperture of f/8-11, a shutter speed of 1/800, and ISO 100.

Also, be careful not to spend all your time fiddling with your camera. “As much as you want to photograph the event, put down your camera and take the time to take it in, because this is one of the most amazing things you’ll ever see,” says Mezur.

topic:

  • photo shoot/
  • solar eclipse 2024

Source: www.newscientist.com

Understanding the Most Disturbing Theory of Reality: A Guide

Posted on by
Reply

Are there so many people in so many parallel worlds, almost duplicates of you, reading almost duplicate articles of this article? Is consciousness a fundamental property of all matter? The reality is Is it a computer simulation? Dear reader, I can hear you groaning from right here in California.

We tend to reject ideas like this because they sound ridiculous. But some of the world's leading scientists and philosophers support them. why? And assuming you are not an expert, how should you react to this kind of hypothesis?

Things quickly go awry when faced with fundamental questions about the nature of reality. As a philosopher specializing in metaphysics, I argue that strange things are inevitable and that fundamentally strange things will turn out to be true.

That doesn't mean all weird hypotheses are created equal. On the contrary, some strange possibilities are worth taking more seriously than others. The idea of ​​Zorg the Destroyer hidden at the center of the galaxy, pulling protons by invisible threads, would of course be laughed off as some sort of explanation. But even in the absence of direct empirical tests, we can carefully evaluate various seemingly absurd ideas that are worth serious consideration.

The key is to become comfortable weighing competing unreality. Anyone can try this, as long as they don't expect everyone to come to the same conclusion.

First, let me start by clarifying that we are talking here about a tremendously big and scary problem: the foundations of reality and the foundations of our understanding of those foundations. Sho. What is the underlying structure?

Source: www.newscientist.com

Improving the Outcomes of Life’s Big Choices: A Guide to Decision Making

Posted on by
Reply

You could argue that LIFE is like a long game of blackjack. A common version of this is that each person is first dealt her two playing cards. The goal is to increase your hand to 21, or as close to this as possible without bursting. Players can either “stick” with their existing hand or “twist” it by requesting that they be dealt another card to add to their total. Of course, going over 21 risks being eliminated.

This may sound far from an everyday choice, but many of the most important decisions in our lives end up in dilemmas like this. Should I stay like this or should I take the plunge and move house? Should you keep your job or start your own business? Should you put up with an unsatisfactory relationship, or try your hand at love another time? In each case, we have to weigh the safety of what we have against riskier but potentially more valuable alternatives.

The uncertainty inherent in these dilemmas causes many of us to become paralyzed and stagnant in our analysis, ending up staying where we are and not giving ourselves a chance to win big. In contrast, some people are easily swayed by the lure of new things. They quickly turn to gambling until they lose everything due to impulsive behavior. If any of these scenarios sound familiar, help may be on the way. Thanks to a greater understanding of our underlying cognitive biases and how to escape them, we now have evidence-based strategies to think more rationally about these challenges, so we can put our lives on the line. Playing the game gives us the most benefit.

Source: www.newscientist.com

Improving the Outcome of Major Life Decisions: A Guide to Decision Making

Posted on by
Reply

You could argue that LIFE is like a long game of blackjack. A common version of this is that each person is first dealt her two playing cards. The goal is to increase your hand to 21, or as close to this as possible without bursting. Players can either “stick” with their existing hand or “twist” it by requesting that they be dealt another card to add to their total. Of course, going over 21 risks being eliminated.

This may sound far from an everyday choice, but many of the most important decisions in our lives end up in dilemmas like this. Should I stay like this or should I take the plunge and move house? Should you keep your job or start your own business? Should you put up with an unsatisfactory relationship, or try your hand at love another time? In each case, we have to weigh the safety of what we have against riskier but potentially more valuable alternatives.

The uncertainty inherent in these dilemmas causes many of us to become paralyzed and stagnant in our analysis, staying where we are and never getting the chance to win big. In contrast, some people are easily swayed by the lure of new things. They are quick to gamble until they lose everything due to impulsive behavior. If any of these scenarios sound familiar, help may be on the way. Thanks to a greater understanding of our underlying cognitive biases and how to escape them, we now have evidence-based strategies to think more rationally about these challenges, so we can put our lives on the line. Playing the game gives us the most benefit.

Source: www.newscientist.com

Transforming Mars into a world of sand dunes: A step-by-step guide

Posted on by
Reply

Dune is the nickname for the planet Arrakis, a harsh desert world in the Canopus system where much of the story unfolds. The primary residents are the resilient Fremen people and their native species, the Shai Huld, enormous sandworms that can live for thousands of years and grow over two kilometers long.

The Shai Huld’s main diet consists of sand, with tiny organisms called sand plankton as a supplement. Their digestion of this bland food releases oxygen, which makes the planet’s atmosphere breathable for humans. This process is similar to Earth’s photosynthesis, where plants and bacteria produce oxygen through sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide.

Professor Gary King of Louisiana State University is studying the use of photosynthetic bacteria to introduce oxygen into Mars’ atmosphere, a concept known as terraforming. By creating greenhouse gases to warm the planet and melt ice into a liquid form, automated factories could potentially make Mars habitable for humans.

Korolev Crater is one of the best preserved examples of craters on Mars. Korolev is filled with ice all year round © ESA/DLR/FU Berlin

Without a protective magnetic field like Earth’s, Mars lost its original atmosphere due to high-energy radiation from the sun. Establishing a biosphere on Mars could lead to oxygen production, replenishing what is lost due to radiation exposure.

Can we live without water?

Arrakis, despite being a harsh desert, is home to the Fremen people who rely on innovative technologies like the Stillsuit to recycle all the water they excrete. These suits filter sweat, urine, and feces to recover water for the wearer to drink, powered by the user’s movements.

In Dune, humans wear stillsuits that filter and purify the water their bodies produce so they can drink it © Warner Brothers

Similar water recycling systems are used on the International Space Station to reuse up to 93% of water on board. Mars, with limited liquid water, may adopt similar technologies to sustain human life on the planet.

Research shows promise in extracting water from the atmosphere using moisture-absorbing technology, offering solutions for clean water production in arid regions.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

The Search for Extraterrestrial Life: A Comprehensive Guide to Everything You Need to Know about Extraterrestrials

Posted on by
Reply

Currently, there is a high level of excitement in the quest for extraterrestrial life. This field, known as astrobiology, combines biology, chemistry, planetary science, and astronomy to explore the possibility of life beyond Earth.

While microbial life forms like bacteria are expected to be the most common in the Milky Way, there is a chance that some planets could support more complex life forms such as plants and animals. Recent advancements in extremophiles, exoplanets, and robotic exploration have increased optimism among astrobiologists for discovering signs of life beyond Earth.

List three reasons why astrobiologists are optimistic about finding extraterrestrial life.

1. Extremophile microorganisms

The adaptability of life on Earth, especially extremophiles, showcases the limits of life in extreme environments. These microorganisms thrive in harsh conditions like hydrothermal vents, glaciers, acidic volcanic water, and high radiation zones, offering insights into potential habitable extraterrestrial environments.

Image credit: Getty

2. Exoplanets

Discovery of exoplanets orbiting distant stars has expanded the search for potentially habitable worlds. Small, rocky, Earth-like planets orbiting within the habitable zone of their stars offer promising locations for extraterrestrial life. Future space telescopes are expected to detect biosignatures, such as oxygen, indicating potential life forms.

3. Exploration of the solar system by robots

Advances in robotic technology have enabled probes to explore planets and moons in our solar system, revealing environments that could support life. From Mars to Europa and Enceladus, these missions provide valuable data on habitable conditions and the possibility of extraterrestrial life.

Where in the solar system could extraterrestrial life exist?

Various celestial bodies within our solar system, including Venus, Mars, Europa, Enceladus, and Titan, offer potential environments for extraterrestrial life. Whether in subsurface oceans or unique atmospheres, these locations raise interesting questions about the existence of life beyond Earth.

Do aliens have intelligence?

While astrobiology primarily focuses on single-celled life and biosignatures, the possibility of more complex life forms and intelligent beings in the galaxy is still an intriguing topic. Despite efforts to detect signs of intelligent life, no definitive evidence has been found yet.

Image credit: Getty

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Guide to Viewing the 2024 Snow Moon: Witness the Final Full Moon of Winter

Posted on by
Reply

The upcoming full moon in February 2024, known as the snow moon, will be the second one of the year. Despite being a micromoon this month, it signifies the end of winter and the coming of spring.

Wondering when is the best time to witness this full snow moon in the UK? How close is the micromoon? And the current constellation of the moon? Here is everything you need to know about the full moon in February 2024.

If you want to enjoy a clear night sky, explore our beginner’s guide to astronomy. To get familiar with some unique constellations, this guide is the perfect starting point.

Interested in capturing beautiful moon photos? Check out our practical moon photography guide that is filled with expert advice from astrophotographers and even BBC Night Sky presenter Pete Lawrence. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced user, we have tutorials to suit your needs.

When will we see the snow moon in 2024?

If the skies are clear, the snow moon will be visible in the early morning and evening on February 24, 2024, across the UK, US, and other parts of the world.

The peak illumination of the full moon in February will happen at 12:30 PM GMT. For viewers in the UK, this means that the moon will be fully illuminated during the day when it is below the horizon. However, it will still appear “full” when it rises at night and for a few days after.

In London, the Snow Moon will rise in the east-northeast on February 24 at 5:27pm GMT and set in the west-northwest at 7:32 a.m. on February 25th.

In New York, the Snow Moon will rise in the east-northeast on February 24 at 5:55 pm ET and set in the western sky at 7:18 am on February 25th.

In Seattle, the Snow Moon will rise in the east-northeast on February 24 at 6:07 pm PST and set in the west at 7:40 a.m. on February 25th.

What’s unique about the 2024 Snow Moon?

This year’s Snow Moon is special for two reasons. First, it falls on the day before the moon reaches its apogee, making it the smallest full moon of the year. Secondly, it coincides with the Lunar New Year celebrations, including the Lantern Festival.

On February 24th, National Tortilla Day is also celebrated in the US, giving you another reason to toast the full moon with chips and dip.

When is the best time to view the 2024 Snow Moon?

The best time to observe the snow moon is in the evening of February 24th, just after sunrise, or before moonset on the morning of February 24th. The moon will be closest to full illumination and low on the horizon in both cases.

In London, the moon will set at 7:21 a.m. GMT on the morning of February 24th, offering a picturesque sight low on the horizon. And if you wait until evening, the moon will rise at 5:27pm GMT on February 24th, just after sunset.

The Earth’s counterclockwise rotation means that the moon will appear to move across the sky from left to right in the Northern Hemisphere and from right to left in the Southern Hemisphere at a rate of 15 degrees per hour.

Why is February’s full moon called the snow moon?

February is one of the coldest months of the year in the Northern Hemisphere due to the cooling effects of winter and the sun’s lower angle. The snow moon gets its name from the significant snowfall experienced in the US, Canada, and Europe during this time.

What constellation is the moon in?

On February 22nd, the Moon will be in Cancer, and by the full moon, it will have moved into Leo, situated between Regulus and Keltan. Three days later, the moon will shift to Virgo, followed by Libra from March 1st.

Is the snow moon a supermoon?

No, the February 2024 snow moon is not a supermoon, as it will be a micromoon. Supermoons occur when the moon is closest to Earth, known as perigee, making it appear larger and brighter in the sky.

How far away is the moon?

During apogee on February 25, the moon will be 406,312 km (252,470 miles) away from Earth, making it the smallest full moon of 2024. The farthest point of the moon from Earth will be on October 2, 2024, at 406,516 km (252,597 miles) during a new moon.

What causes a full moon?

A full moon occurs when the side facing Earth is fully illuminated by the sun, as the Earth is positioned between the Sun and the Moon. This alignment, known as “syzygy,” only lasts for a moment but signifies a full moon in the lunar cycle.

The moon’s cycle lasts about 29.53 days, with the full moon marking the midpoint. The sun and moon balance each other during a full moon, with the moon appearing full all night but technically only being “full” for a brief moment.

Read more:

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Understanding Sora AI: A Comprehensive Guide to OpenAI’s Text-to-Video Tools

Posted on by
Reply

Sora introduces a groundbreaking artificial intelligence software that empowers users to produce remarkably lifelike videos based on simple verbal instructions.

OpenAI, the mastermind behind Dall-E and ChatGPT, is pushing boundaries with the soon-to-be-released service.

This innovation seemingly emerged out of nowhere. Previous attempts at AI-generated videos were less than impressive, to put it lightly. But with Sora, things are changing.

How did OpenAI achieve this feat? Can you use these tools today? And what does this mean for the future of video and content creation? Let’s dive deep into the modern tools and their implications.

What is Sora?

Sora is an AI tool capable of generating full videos up to 1 minute long. For instance, by simply entering a prompt like “a group of cats worshipping a giant dog,” Sora can potentially display videos matching that description.

Amidst the social media buzz and specialized computing communities, Sora’s unexpected rise may have gone unnoticed. There wasn’t any grand announcement or extensive advertising campaign; it just appeared abruptly.

OpenAI has showcased various sample videos where Sora impressively produces lifelike visuals. These videos feature mirror reflections, intricate liquid movements, and falling snow particles.

How does Sora work?

Sora operates similarly to previous AI image generators but with added complexity. It utilizes diffusion modeling to convert video frames into static images, which are then reconstructed into a cohesive video.

To train Sora, example videos and corresponding textual descriptions are provided to help the model understand the relationship between images and actions depicted in the videos.

This process challenges the model to understand intricate details like 3D models, motion, reflections, shadows, and other complex features to replicate accurately.

For transparency, OpenAI offers a detailed explanation of how the model functions on its website, although the sources of the training videos remain undisclosed.

How to use Sora AI

Currently, Sora is not available to the general public. OpenAI exercises caution in releasing such powerful tools, starting with a small “red team” of individuals who assess potential risks and harms of the technology.

Following this, a select group of visual artists, designers, and filmmakers will gain insight into how the tool functions for creative endeavors. Eventually, Sora may become accessible to the public, likely following OpenAI’s pay-as-you-go model.

Is Sora the best AI video generator?

Based on the videos unveiled so far, Sora appears to be a significant leap ahead of previous AI video generation attempts. Early endeavors in AI-generated videos, like Will Smith eating spaghetti or the ”Peppoloni Hug Spot” commercial, paled in comparison.

Contrasting those early attempts with Sora’s work reveals a stark contrast. Sora’s videos boast accurate lighting, reflections, and human-like features, even tackling complex scenarios like people entering and exiting the frame.

Despite its impressive capabilities, Sora is not without flaws. Glitches like disappearing body parts, sudden appearances, and floating feet are observable in its videos. As the public gains access, more videos will expose both strengths and weaknesses of the model.

read more:

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Experience the Tonight’s Moon Illusion: A Guide to Witnessing the Breathtaking “Moon Shadow”

Posted on by
Reply

The early crescent phase of the moon following the new moon is well located in the early spring evening sky. From February to March, the spring crescent moon looks very beautiful in the evening glow.

If you have binoculars or a small telescope, there are some things to keep in mind. Known as the clair-obscure effect, or trick of the light, this effect causes recognizable shapes to appear within a jumbled area of ​​moonlight and shadow. Two popular examples are known as Moons X and V. These occur simultaneously at different locations along the moon’s terminator (the line that separates night and day).

We spot them in the daytime sky around 12:40 a.m. on February 17th and again at 2:20 p.m. on March 17th. The effect lasts only a few hours.

Another striking Clair Obscure effect is the Jeweled Handle. This occurs a few days after the waxing moon, when the crooked peaks of the Montes Jura (Jura Mountains) are illuminated at dawn.

These Clare Obscure effects, or tricks of light, will be visible over the next month. Go outside on a sunny day and watch them. – Image credit: Pete Lawrence

Its unique arc appears to extend into the lunar night. This can be seen with just a keen eye, but is best seen with optical aids. The jeweled handle is best observed during daylight hours on February 19 at 3:50 p.m.

If the evening of March 13 is clear, the waxing moon will appear near bright Jupiter. If the skies are clear and you can see it with just your eyes, it’s a spectacular sight.

Speaking of eyes, if you have a small telescope, look at the southern part of the moon in a few days, on March 18th. Just before 8 p.m., the oval exterior of Clavius, the large crater, is mostly dark and shrouded in shadow.

Two exceptions are the raised crater rims that are illuminated within them. These form another perspective effect known as the Eye of Clavius.

read more:

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Understanding ImageFX: A Comprehensive Guide to Google’s New AI Image Generator

Posted on by
Reply

Google is lagging behind in artificial intelligence. While OpenAI’s innovative Dall-E AI art image generator was released two years ago, Google only recently released its competing product.

The software, known as ImageFX, is backed by one of the largest technology companies and a substantial amount of data. So how is this data accumulated?

In brief, ImageFX has produced some impressive images that rival the best. But how does it work? Can it be accessed now? And have major problems in the AI art world been solved?

How to use Google ImageFX

Google ImageFX is currently available in countries like the United States, Kenya, New Zealand, and Australia.

If you attempt to access the site in a country like the UK, you’ll see a warning stating, “This tool is not yet available in your country.”

To access it from any of the currently available countries, visit Google’s AI Test Kitchen. Then create an account. Once everything is set up, your new prompt will be ready for use.

Even if you’re not in one of the listed countries, the website is still worth visiting. Google allows you to sign up for notifications about when the platform becomes available in your area.

How good is Google ImageFX?

There’s no denying that Google is late to the game. OpenAI’s Dall-E was released in January 2021, and Midjourney was released a year later. So did Google’s delay pay off in terms of quality?

Two images generated by ImageFX. On the left is a room with an art desk, and on the right is a painting of a vampire – Credit: ImageFX

The images released so far demonstrate that ImageFX is capable of producing content at a very high level. Detailed and contextual, ImageFX is an unsurprisingly capable image generator.

But that’s expected. AI art has made significant progress over the years, and Google’s main competitors are producing similarly high-quality work and have been doing so for much longer.

The significant advantage of ImageFX at the moment is that it’s free (in select countries). Both Midjourney and Dall-E are mainly behind paywalls or restricted services, so it’s worth making the most of ImageFX before any changes.

ImageFX also includes a unique feature called the “Expressive Chip.” This allows users to quickly edit the prompt and try a different search. For example, if you request a portrait of a woman, you can quickly switch this to an abstract, hand-drawn, or even oil painting.

How does it work?

Basically, Google ImageFX works like any other AI art generator. This involves several steps, starting with obtaining an image database large enough for training.

Google has not disclosed the source of its training data, but it likely includes a combination of internal sources, collaborations, and possibly web scraping and user-generated content.

Once the database is built, a model is trained on these images to learn the relationships between the words and visual concepts in the images, possibly through a diffusion model.

These models start with random noise in the image and are refined based on information from both the data and the accompanying text description. By repeating this process, you essentially learn the relationships between words, images, and context.

This training helps ImageFX and other AI image generators understand the prompts asked because it understands what words are associated with the images.

How is it linked to Google Bard?

Google Bard is probably the biggest competitor to the AI chatbot ChatGPT. Google has been working on the chatbot for some time and was released publicly in 2023.

If ImageFX is photography, Bard is understanding words and context. The goal is to combine the two to create the ultimate AI model, similar to OpenAI’s combination of ChatGPT and Dall-E (OpenAI’s image generator).

Google Bard is currently in testing but will soon be fully operational with the recently announced Google Gemini system.

This could theoretically mean a platform that asks models to create a board game and returns both the rules and lore, as well as all images, boards, and content. Or you could write a series of books with illustrations to go along with it.

Does ImageFX produce bad images?

There’s a problem with AI art…people. When trained on artwork from a human population and then utilized again by humans, less appropriate parts of the human brain tend to enter.

Previous AI art generators displayed sexist, biased, and sometimes intensely graphic images. This is a problem that all major technology companies are trying to tackle, including Google with ImageFX.

“All images generated with ImageFX are marked with SynthID, a tool developed by Google DeepMind that adds digital watermarks directly to the content we generate.” Google says:.

“SynthID watermarks are imperceptible to the human eye but can be detected for identification. Additionally, all images contain metadata, so when you encounter an AI-generated image, You can get more information.”

In addition to this, Google announced that it has improved the safety of its training data, reducing problematic output such as violent, offensive, or sexually explicit content. This extends to a reduced ability to create images of real people.

read more:

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Finally Breaking Free from Smartphone Addiction: A Step-By-Step Guide

Posted on by
Reply

According to Ofcom, the UK communications regulator, the average Brits check their phones every 12 minutes. For many of us, it’s the first thing we do in the morning and the last thing we do at night. It is a persistent, persistent obsession caused by molecules in the brain.

Usually, one specific molecule is thought to be responsible for this type of behavior: dopamine. This neurotransmitter is called a “feel-good” molecule because of its role in the brain’s reward system.

But it’s not just about joy. Dopamine receptors in the brain respond when we expect something pleasurable. And that’s why we keep checking our phones.

Mobile games and social media apps are designed to maintain that urge.

undefined

Anna Lembke He is a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University. She believes smartphones are like hypodermic needles, providing an endless supply of “digital dopamine” to their billions of users.

“Digital media activates the same parts of the brain as drugs and alcohol, releasing dopamine,” Lembke says. “With repeated use, our brains adapt by downregulating dopamine transmission.” They enable this by shrinking dopamine receptors.

“If exposure continues in sufficient amounts, our brains enter a state of dopamine deficiency characterized by depression, anxiety, insomnia, irritability, and cravings. When that happens, we are unable to perform certain tasks. You reach for digital media not as a tool to achieve something, but to get out of your dopamine-deprived state and stop feeling bad.”

Behavioral addictions, such as compulsive use of social media, are the subject of much debate. While it is true that digital media use increases the release of dopamine, the amount is much lower than that of cocaine or methamphetamine, so some believe that drug abuse should not be discussed on a par with drug abuse.

read more:

Addicted or not, we Brits spend an average of four hours a day on our phones. Most of us probably wish we could go back to those days. So can we use what we know about the brain’s reward system to loosen the grip of our smartphones? Perhaps…

One idea you may have heard of (ironically, on Instagram or TikTok) is dopamine fasting.

This is a type of meditation or cognitive behavioral therapy, a practice that attempts to limit compulsive urges and change behavior. The idea is to consciously disconnect yourself from things that overstimulate you, such as social media, for a short period of time.

Proponents argue that short-term abstinence allows you to do more of the things you actually love while developing a healthier relationship with technology. But critics warn there is little evidence to support this claim.

Still, researchers who study excessive social media use often agree that some kind of digital detox may be a good thing.

“I’m a strong supporter of social media fasting,” he says Daria Kuss, a psychiatrist and professor of psychology at Nottingham Trent University. “Drinking this on the weekend may help you stop habitual social media use and reset your behavior.”

“My research shows that spending time with friends and family outside of social media, in the offline world, creates positive emotions and strengthens bonding experiences and feelings of connection.” Kuss says. “Therefore, meeting a friend for coffee can be a more positive experience than chatting with a friend on Messenger.”

About our experts

Anna Lembke He is a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University and the author of the book Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in an Age of Luxury. Her research is of American Journal of Therapeutics, American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse and British Medical Journal.

Daria Kuss He is a professor of psychology at Nottingham Trent University and an author. Internet Addiction – Evidence-Based Practice in Psychotherapy. Her research is of Addiction Research and Treatment Journal, psychopathology and frontiers of psychology.

read more:

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

The Ultimate Guide to Getting Revenge in Video Games

Posted on by
Reply

PIf you're of a certain age, there's no doubt that you have fond memories of the paper instruction manuals that once came with every video game. Dan Marshall, author of The Swindle and Lair of the Clockwork God, certainly does. He remembers the ritual of poring over a new game's manual on the bus ride home from the store, trying to absorb all of the information in preparation for playing the game itself.

He vividly remembers receiving Bullfrog's 1993 game Syndicate by mail order early one morning and waiting for hours until his younger brother woke up to play it on the PC in his room. “And during that quality time, I did nothing but read the manual over and over and over again,” Marshall says.

Although Marshall has now gotten rid of most of his old DVDs, games and magazines, he still maintains a shelf of treasured physical items that remind him of a time in his life. It's the book he used when he first learned to code, 1989's Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles LCD Handheld, a strange game box he couldn't part with. “They’re nice to walk past and they bring a smile to your face,” he says. “And a well-made manual or a well-made box is fun in that sense.”





A box of fun…early video games came with a set of instruction manuals

Photo: Stephen Cooper/Alamy

In the early days of home video games, manuals were essential. Every byte of memory is valuable, and even adding a simple command like “press A to jump” takes up memory that could be better allocated elsewhere. Information about how to play the game can instead be moved to a manual, which also provides an opportunity to provide a story or background to accompany simple on-screen sprites. There may be other interesting things in the game box. Memorably, Revolution's 1994 adventure game Beneath a Steel Sky It came with a comic by Dave Gibbons of 2000AD., described several events leading up to the start of the game. His pioneering 1984 BBC micro-title, Elite, came with an entire novel called The Dark Wheel, which provided insight into the world of Elite.

However, as consoles and computers became more powerful throughout the 1990s, it became increasingly possible to include instructions on how to play within the game itself. In-game tutorials quickly became mandatory, allowing players to jump right into new games without having to stop to read the manual first. Then, in the 2000s, digital downloads started to become popular. Initially, publishers often offered him PDF versions of game manuals, but eventually even this tradition fell out of fashion. The instruction manual was redundant and dead.

However, several developers have been working hard to revive this lost part of gaming tradition. His 2021 strategy title HighFleet: Deus in Nobis by Konstantin Koshutin has arrived with his lovingly crafted 92-page PDF manual. Downloaded from Steam. The game was published by the newly reformed Microprose, a company that has historically specialized in simulation and strategy games such as F-15 Strike His Eagle and Civilization. All of them came with correspondingly large manuals (his Civilization manual was well over 100 pages long).

And earlier this year, Media Molecule released Tren for the Dreams gaming platform. The game is based on his Brio-style wooden railway tracks, and the company Beautifully crafted digital manual I'm going to talk about the fictional toy “Tren Modular Play System” manufactured by a company called BeechCorp. Best of all, the manual even features realistic-looking tear tracks and children's doodles.





Physical Acquisition … Banished Vault Manual.
 Photo: Lunar Division/Bithell

We've seen some developers venture into physical manuals as well. In July, The Banished Vault from Lunar Division added an in-game manual. This manual is printed on demand and can also be ordered in paper form for £4.99. The developers were surprised at how many players did just that. Approximately 10% of those who purchased a digital game also purchased a paper manual. “We've found that people never get tired of beautiful game manuals.” Mike Bissell said. Head of publisher Bithell Games, on X/Twitter. This is perhaps part of a broader trend at the moment, where physical objects are revered by a generation that has seen movies, music and video games disappear into the digital realm. Check out the unexpected love for records among the younger generation.

Skip past newsletter promotions




Learn more… Tunic in-game manual.

Photo: Andrew Shouldice/Tunic Team

Tunic's manual is authentic in another way, in that you actually need it to progress through the game. Otherwise, little guidance is provided on how to progress through the game. Manual pages are scattered throughout the in-game world, and each page contains important information. Perhaps providing a map, revealing a plot, or even revealing a special move. Each page is written in indecipherable runes, except for the odd intriguing English word here and there, playing imported games and deciphering Japanese manuals for hints on what to do. It reminds me of the days when I tried.

Shouldice worked hard to make the in-game manual look really beat up. “I made a physical booklet, damaged it, tore parts off, spilled stuff on it, then put a little bit in the tumble dryer and messed it up,” he says. “We then scanned every page.” The text was added digitally later to make it easier to translate the manual into different languages. It's certainly a beautiful thing, and Fangamer physical version It's available for purchase by players.





Beautiful things…Fangamer's printed tunic manual.

Photo: Fangamer/ISOMETRICORP Games Ltd./FINJI

Banished Vault also requires players to read the manual carefully. This turn-based title involves leading a gigantic space monastery as it flees from solar system to solar system, harvesting resources from planets, closely monitoring fuel levels, and attempting to escape. malicious phenomenon. Nick Tringali, the game's director, is not nostalgic for manuals. He became interested in games because they were becoming obsolete. Instead, he was inspired by his board game and his table talk role-playing game (TTRPG). “In his modern TTRPG, this book is very well designed to teach you the system and help you navigate this experience smoothly,” Tringali says. His idea was to use the same technique for a complex strategy video game.

“[In-game] “The tutorial is very complex and very likely to break if the interface or design changes,” Tringali said, noting that it may eventually have to be completely reworked later in development. Did. “So I looked at all of this and thought, okay, it's going to be less effort to actually make the book.”

Developers and players may still have a soft spot for game manuals, but it's hard to imagine manuals making a comeback outside of a few niche games. Dan Marshall thinks that's a shame. “I want to make games that come with a physical manual, so make sure you read it,” he says. “There's no tutorial, no explanation of what the buttons do…Imagine releasing a game where you can do things like: only I have a physical copy. Yes, it would be an economic disaster, but a very small number of people our age would be very happy.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Spotting the Two Legendary Dog Stars in the January Night Sky: A Guide

Posted on by
Reply

Many dogs have been seen in the night sky, but the most famous is Canis Major, also known as the Great Dog. To locate it, start by finding its master, the constellation Orion, specifically the three bands of stars at the center of that constellation. Extend the line downward and to the left (southeast) to reach the alpha star Sirius in the constellation Canis Major.

Sirius, also referred to as the Dog Star, is relatively close to the sun, 8.6 light years away (a light year is the distance light travels in a year, approximately 10 trillion kilometers).

It is the brightest star in the night sky due to its close proximity to Earth. Its light is affected by atmospheric turbulence, causing flickering and variations in color.

Canis Major represents the dog, with a lively animal imagined as running towards Orion. Sirius appears as a pointed head at the top left (northeast), a distorted rectangular body slanted to the bottom left, and even a small tail, but its appendages and hind legs are very low in the sky when viewed from England. Using binoculars, look below (to the south) of Sirius just below the field of view to find the beautiful open star cluster Messier 41 (M41) inside the dog’s body, if the sky is clear and dark.

How to identify the stars of the Big Dog (Canis Major) and the Little Dog (Canis Minor). – Source: Pete Lawrence

To find Canis Minor, also known as the little dog and relative of Canis Major, look upward (north) from Sirius and to the left (east) to a relatively sparsely populated area of the sky with only one bright star, Procyon. This constellation is not often identified as a dog and is basically formed by only two stars, Procyon and Gomeisa.

read more:

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Founders’ Guide to Navigating Economic Uncertainty: A Step-by-Step Blueprint

Posted on by
Reply

Russ Heddleston
Contributor

Russ Heddleston is the co-founder and former CEO of DocSend at Dropbox.

More posts by this contributor
  • Early-stage founders still have currency: Funding in an era of increased VC scrutiny
  • Going solo or bringing on a co-founder? 4 factors to consider

Company formation Achieving superior performance amid economic uncertainty requires more than just hungry founders with good ideas. A strong foundation is needed to withstand the market. Companies founded today need to focus on being profitable while growing, which can be a priority for companies with active VC funding. Profitability may be top of mind during the pre-monetization phase, but maintaining operational efficiency and focus is essential to maximizing monetization potential.

According to Investors, investors are becoming less interested in pitch materials from founders. DocSend data — Investor activity decreased by less than 2% year-on-year (y/y) from 2022 and 4% from 2021. However, investors are still considering pitch materials at a higher level than in 2020, proving that there is a market for early-stage deals.However Funding decreased by 27% Year-on-year comparison for the third quarter.

Every market has opportunities and challenges. Just a few years ago, the founders’ market caused a situation in which “zombie” companies raised funds at unrealistic valuations with the mindset of “growing at all costs,” and the market was extremely founder-friendly. has also proven to have its pitfalls.

Now that investors have returned to par, founders need to prove that their companies are built to survive with long-term profitability and scalability in mind. Historically, this has followed the example of Big Tech companies such as Google, Microsoft, and Adobe, all of which were profitable or close to profitable when they went public.

In 2023, some founders will fail, but others will succeed in leading companies that define a generation.

As the economy and investor market tightens, it becomes even more important to instill solid building blocks in your company’s foundations. Some of the world’s most innovative companies were founded in economically difficult circumstances, and those companies were built to withstand the markets they entered.

The next generation of market-defining companies will operate with the same integrity. A strong foundation will help you raise early-stage funding and, if necessary, help you scale your company and reach further stages of its lifecycle. In the era of growth at all costs, making profits and paying attention to unit economics were often ignored or looked down upon. That has clearly changed now. For founders, perfecting their pitch, developing an efficient sales strategy, and quickly narrowing down their product scope will create a strong foundation for success in attracting investors.

Give investors what they want

Source: techcrunch.com

Understanding the Law of X: A Guide for Cloud Leaders on Balancing Growth and Profits

Posted on by
Reply
More posts by this contributor
  • Recognizing probability in budgeting and forecasting

As an interest rate Returning to historical norms, the world has returned its focus to cost of capital and free cash flow generation. In order for companies to adhere to traditional heuristics like the Rule of 40 (i.e., the idea that the sum of revenue growth and profit margin must equal 40% or more, a metric that Bessemer helped popularize) We are working hard. Executives at both private and public cloud companies agree that free cash flow (FCF) margins are just as important (if not more important) than growth, and that the trade-off is he says 1:1. I often think about it. Many finance executives love the “Rule of 40” for its clarity, but placing equal emphasis on growth and profitability in late-stage businesses is flawed and leads to bad business decisions. I am.

our view

For companies with adequate FCF margins, growth must remain a top priority. There are good reasons to emphasize efficiency, but Traditional Rule of 40 Mathematics Is Completely Wrong When a company approaches its break-even point and has positive free cash flow,

The world has hyper-rotated to an FCF margin mindset instead of a growth mindset, which is counter to efficient business growth. Long-term models show that growth should be valued at least two to three times more than his FCF margin, even in tight markets.

Equivalent emphasis on growth and profitability in late-stage businesses is flawed and leads to bad business decisions.

why?

An increase in margin has a linear effect on value, but an increase in growth rate can have a compound effect on value. We provide detailed calculations below, but when we backtest the relative importance of growth and FCF margins, the correlation of public market valuations confirms it. Actual ratios vary widely in the short term (ranging from about 2x to about 9x over the past few years), but over the long term they are typically 2x to 3x growth value over profitability. It comes down to proportions.

Even the most conservative financial planner recommends that you can safely use a growth rate of up to 2x for late-stage private company profitability. Publicly traded companies with a low cost of capital can use multiples of up to 2-3x (as long as growth is efficient).

Image credits: Bessemer Venture Partners

Source: techcrunch.com

A guide to drama-free family vacations using game theory

Posted on by
Reply

As the holidays approach, we all look forward to spending time with those closest to us. Gathering in the warmth of the hearth, we are so happy to see each other, that is, until our throats touch. How can you encourage your family members to behave in ways that reflect how much they truly love each other deep down? Let’s turn to game theory, the science of strategic thinking.

The mathematics of game theory has been applied to a wide range of scenarios, from negotiations over sports broadcast rights to improving organ donation rates. The famous prisoner’s dilemma problem has even been used in the search for new life forms in the universe. Game theory is about considering how others will react and making decisions based on that knowledge.

When it comes to hosting holiday gatherings, game theorists recommend using Bolda counts to determine the host. Each person ranks their preference for hosting and the host with the lowest score wins. This method is used in national elections and international issues such as the Eurovision Song Contest.

When it comes to deciding who brings what to the holiday feast, game theorists suggest using incentives to encourage balanced contributions. For example, give a prize to the cook who completely runs out of food, or make the guest with the most leftovers the next host.

To minimize arguments over the last portions of food, game theorists recommend using an “I Cut, You Pick” method, where one person slices and the other chooses. This method can also be used to peacefully allocate items during a separation, such as furniture or dishware.

When it comes to dealing with unruly children or lazy family members, game theory suggests using experiential expectations. Show them how others are behaving and encourage them to follow suit. This approach can also be applied to negotiating activities, such as playing a game or getting dressed.

Finally, if all else fails, game theory’s ultimatum game can be used to encourage fair behavior. By creating an environment where fairness is valued and unfair behavior has consequences, family members can be motivated to act in a way that benefits everyone.

In conclusion, game theory can provide valuable insights into managing family dynamics during the holidays. By using strategic thinking and understanding the motivations of those around us, we can create a harmonious and enjoyable holiday experience for all.

Source: www.newscientist.com

The Three-Step Guide to Launching and Sustaining a Cohesive Brand

Posted on by
Reply

David Martin has led businesses through the evolution of brands for more than 40 years, with much of that experience focused on mergers and acquisitions. At a time when most mergers fail to reach their potential, David shares his insights into what creates lasting success when two companies combine.

i have seen The same story is repeated over and over again. Prior to the company’s merger, his marketing and communications teams are working around the clock as he integrates the two brands and prepares for the opening day launch. Two years later, the combined brand was rebranded.

but why?

The answer is simple. No one knows what life is like on the other side of the door until they walk through it. But many times teams come up with a brand strategy before the companies have any experience working together, and they still don’t honestly know who brings what and where the benefits are. You can predict synergies and how merging as one entity will succeed in existing markets or open doors to new markets. Still, it would be helpful if you could work with us before fully understanding and branding it. There are many things to do first.

Editor’s note: This is part 2 of a two-part series by David Martin. Read part 1 here.

Step 1: Manage audience expectations

When companies merge, employees and customers wonder, “How will this affect me?” Will I lose my job? Will a product I know and love be taken away? ”

Most of the time, it comes with a lot of anxiety. So the first job is to provide reassurance to stakeholders. The only way to do this is to follow the first rule. “Always do no harm.” We need to understand what they want, what’s important to them, and then use that understanding to guide collective action once companies come together.

No one knows what life is like on the other side of the door until they walk through it.

First, you need to ensure that no decisions are made or implemented that could lead to anxiety or fear.Remember, your goal is to reassure your target audience that nothing important to them will be lost and that you haven’t changed anything. Until then They had the opportunity to provide their opinions and insights on where opportunities lie. We can further communicate this commitment by giving an active voice through customer, investor and employee advisory boards.

This process can continue throughout much of the first year, once your target audience feels comfortable starting a positive conversation. In many cases, the customer is a customer of both companies, which means they are perfectly equipped to communicate where the synergies are and where to use one company and where to use the other. Masu. Think of this as a Venn diagram. It helps you understand where intersections and forks exist.

Source: techcrunch.com

Blue Sky: A comprehensive guide to Twitter alternatives

Posted on by
Reply

Is the grass greener next door? I’m not sure, but I’m sure the sky is bluer.

It’s been over a year since Elon Musk bought Twitter leading people to set up shop on alternative platforms. mastodon, post, pebble (already Shutter operation) and spill are presented as potential replacements, but few apart from the meta thread have achieved the growth rate that Bluesky has achieved. Bluesky is still invite-only in beta, but the hype is growing as more people visit the site. As you can see from apps like Clubhouse., the hype may not last forever. Meanwhile, Blue Sky has over 1 million users, according to Blue Sky’s Rose Wang. The app saw 8,300 first-time installs per day on average since its release in July 2023, but no substantive updates regarding download data have been released since then. And when Mr. Musk makes less-than-favorable changes to his X, Mr. Bluesky often checks record usage. During the launch of the site, many people asked for invitation codes (which were being bought on eBay) and it became more accessible as more people joined the app. Here we answer the most common questions about Bluesky Social.

What is Blue Sky? Bluesky is a decentralized social app conceptualized by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and developed in parallel with Twitter. This social network features a Twitter-like user interface with algorithmic selection, federated design, and community-specific moderation. Bluesky uses open source frameworks built in-house, specifically the AT protocol, which means that people outside the company get transparency into how the company is built and what is being developed. Dorsey introduced the Bluesky project in 2019, when he was still Twitter CEO. At the time, he said Twitter would fund “a small, independent team of up to five open source architects, engineers, and designers” responsible for building decentralized standards for social media, adding that he said the goal is for Twitter itself to adopt this standard. But that was before Elon Musk acquired the platform, and as of late 2022, Bluesky is completely divorced from Twitter. Mr. Dorsey even used Mr. Bluesky to express his dismay with Mr. Musk’s leadership. Twitter is funding a small, independent team of up to five open source architects, engineers, and designers to develop open, decentralized standards for social media. The goal is for Twitter to eventually become a client of this standard. 🧵

How do I use Blue Sky? Once invited, users create a handle represented as @username.bsky.social and a display name that is prominently displayed in bold. If you feel like it, you can turn your domain name into your username. For example, his Darrell Etherington from TechCrunch is known on Bluesky as @etherington.com. The app itself functions a lot like basic Twitter, with the plus button allowing you to create 256-character posts. Posts can also include photos. The post itself can be replied to, retweeted, liked, reported from the Miscellaneous menu, shared to other apps via the iOS share sheet, or copied as text. Search for and follow others to see their latest updates on your Home timeline. Previously, the Bluesky app featured popular posts in the “What’s Hot” feed. That feed is then replaced by an algorithm, Personalized Discover feed, not just trending content. There’s also a Discover tab at the bottom center of the app’s navigation, offering more Who to Follow suggestions and a running feed of recently posted Bluesky updates. Image credits: Natalie Christman

How do I invite someone to Bluesky? New users will receive one invitation code for every two weeks they use the Bluesky app. The company monitors your social graph and further provides invitation codes to share with users, who have invited trusted participants. In the long term, Bluesky says the company considers the invitation code system to be part of the open source tools it is building to help server administrators manage and manage their communities.

Who is in Blue Sky? By early July 2023, instagram thread launched, Bluesky surpasses 1 million downloads across iOS and Android. App was officially released in September 2023 with 1 million users. High-profile figures have moved to Blue Sky, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Neil Gaiman, and Chelsea Manning. It is also home to organizations and journalists such as. X expulsion NPR, Taylor Lorenz and Jake Tapper.

Does Bluesky work like Twitter? In many ways, yes. However, Bluesky still lacks advanced tools such as DM and adding accounts to lists. In addition, Twitter supports ActivityPub and in Bluesky originally began as a project convened in 2019 when Jack Dorsey was CEO of Twitter. However, the social app has been an independent company since its founding in 2021.

Is Blue Sky free? Yes, but access is currently invite-only.

How does Blue Sky make money? Bluesky’s goal is to find other means to sustain the network outside of advertising through paid services, and to remain free for end users. On July 5, Bluesky announced an additional seed round of funding and a paid service that provides custom domains to end users who want to have their own domain as a handle for the service.

Is Bluesky decentralized? Yes. Bluesky’s team is developing a decentralized AT protocol that Bluesky is built on top of. In the beta stage, users can only join his bsky.social network, but Bluesky is planned to be federated. This means that an infinite number of independently operated communities can exist within an open source network. So if a developer other than Bluesky builds their own new social app using his AT protocol, Bluesky users can jump to the new app and port over their existing followers, handles, and data.

Is Blue Sky safe? In October 2023, Blue Sky added email verification. This is part of a larger effort to improve security and authentication of accounts on our network. This addition is an important step forward in making Bluesky more competitive against larger networks like X with more robust security controls.

Is Bluesky customizable? Yes. In May, Bluesky released custom algorithms, or what the company calls “custom feeds.” Custom His Feed allows users to subscribe to multiple different algorithms that showcase different types of posts that users want to see. You can pin custom feeds that appear at the top of your timeline as different tabs to choose from. Pinned or saved feeds can be found in the app’s sidebar under the “My Feeds” menu.

Is Bluesky available on iOS and Android? Yes. Bluesky is available on Android and was released on April 20th and was initially released for iOS users in late February. Users can access Bluesky on her web here. Bluesky also recently released the following third-party apps: gray sky It will launch on iOS and Android.

Are Bluesky’s posts really called “skeet”? Technically, the post doesn’t have a name, but Internet users have adopted the name “Skeets,” a combination of “tweet” and “sky.” Despite protests from Blue Sky CEO Jay Graeber and other who don’t find the slang for semen funny, users still widely refer to the posts as “skeet.”

How does Blue Sky deal with misinformation? After an October update, the app now flags misleading links and warns users. If a link shared in a user’s post doesn’t match its text, the app will show the user a “potentially misleading” warning that the link may be leading the user somewhere they don’t want to go. Warn you that there is. Image credits: Bluesky on Github

Has Blue Sky had any controversy? Bluesky has been plagued by moderation issues since its initial launch. The app has been criticized for failing to protect marginalized users and moderating racist content. Continue controversy frustrated that the app allows racial slurs in account handles, users launch a “posting strike,” and guardrails are established to warn against slurs and other offensive terms in usernames. refused to engage with the platform until further notice.

What was the “thread of hell”? Basically, too many people were replying to one thread, breaking notifications for everyone in the thread, making it impossible to mute posts, and causing the thread to split in a bunch of different subthreads. It was chaotic. you had to be there.

What is the difference between Blue Sky and Mastodon? Bluesky’s architecture is similar to that of Mastodon, but many users find Bluesky more intuitive, while Mastodon may seem less accessible. Mastodon makes choosing which instances to participate feel like an impossible task, and long-time users are very defensive about established posting standards. , it…

Source: techcrunch.com