Tag Archives: mountain

I Can’t Stop Playing This Addictive Game of Tumbling Down the Mountain

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For the last week, I’ve been experiencing a bizarre hiking adventure instead of engaging in normal life activities, all thanks to a frustrating character known as Nate. In
Baby Steps, you control this hapless individual who has spent 35 years doing nothing but lounging in his parents’ basement and binge-watching anime. When he decides to put on an adult costume, he finds himself at the foot of a surreal mountain adorned with suggestive imagery. Your task is to guide him to the summit by manipulating his legs independently, using the controller’s triggers to lift and the analog sticks to place them.

The challenge level is off the charts. Occasionally, Nate moves down gentle slopes, but more often than not, he navigates narrow planks, ascends dunes in tiny steps, and clings to rocky ledges with his toes. He repeatedly stumbles and falls, whimpering as he slides down muddy slopes and sandy shores, while his onesie gets increasingly filthy. I keep getting up and attempting again, occasionally interrupted by an Australian man with wild eyes or a pants-less donkey character who mocks me but extends a hand of assistance—only for Nate to angrily decline.




Early in the game, Nate is presented with a pair of shoes. Will he accept them? Absolutely not. (To be fair, they’re a bit oversized.)
Photo: Devolver Digital

The moment you lose focus, Nate loses his as well. After three hours of this outrageous experience, falling off my board into a river, I trudged back to the campsite from where my hike began. All I managed to accomplish was locating a silly propeller hat, which only added to my burdens as I had to stop and retrieve it after each tumble. I rarely feel like crying while gaming, but the sight of that campsite nearly broke me.

Picture enduring these setbacks for hours, only to end up in a dimly lit space filled with a lantern that Nate inexplicably keeps dropping. It’s pitch dark unless you backtrack for it, and navigating the escalator has to be done flawlessly; otherwise, you’re treated to seconds of watching Nate’s backside as he slowly descends. Following that, the exit is a labyrinthine path on a sandy ledge where Nate’s feet continually seem to get lost. I found myself stuck there for so long, grappling with my thoughts, rising frustration, and Nate’s company. Every chapter of Baby Steps takes the sadistic challenge to new levels.

So why persist? Aside from the undeniable fact that I probably need to unpack my issues in therapy, I refuse to let this game defeat me. It’s more than just playful slapstick (watching Nate tumble down a mudslide is sheer comedy). The improvised dialogue and absurd scenarios are genuinely hilarious. The developers voice the characters themselves, and every cutscene offers a delightful break from the chaos. There’s even an optional desert challenge where players scale sandy slopes to collect icy trophies before they melt. As Nate continuously returns to the ice cream vendor in deepening despair, even the developer’s voice starts to waver.

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While it may seem like a cruel game where we laugh at this unfortunate man’s misadventures, there’s a deeper meaning. Even though I often found myself frustrated with Nate and considered quitting to avoid witnessing his constant flailing, I gradually began to empathize with him. He’s the epitome of a societal loser, yet he’s trying. In spite of his intense social anxiety, masculine insecurities, and clear self-hatred, he attempts to put one foot in front of the other in a poignant metaphor for life.

Upon finishing a chapter, you encounter a melancholic 8-bit mini-game summarizing Nate’s past: his disheartened parents, successful sister, and lackluster romantic encounters. As I progressed, I could see how Nate arrived at his current state. Although I wasn’t as personally involved as some players might be, I developed a protective instinct towards him and didn’t want to abandon him, no matter the cost.

This game also elicited my worst tendencies. I cursed at Nate every time my foot slipped from what I thought was a secure situation. But among all the discouraging moments, there were instances where I painfully felt gratitude after finally mustering the patience to push Nate forward in his journey. “Baby Steps” is whimsical yet profound. Having played games for three decades, I can confidently say I’ve never encountered anything quite like this. For a game focused on failure, it prompted surprisingly deep reflection and emotion.

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One of my less serious failures

You’ll need a good dose of self-deprecation to fully appreciate all that this game has to offer, but that’s not a high aspiration. After about 10 hours, I was determined to finish it. Along the way, I encountered a vast spiral staircase reaching into the clouds. To the right: a perilous cliffside path, ominously referred to as “Manbreaker” by an Australian guide. “You can’t do it. You’re gonna fail miserably for the next five years… You’ll eventually get so exasperated that you’ll just ascend these damn stairs.”

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“I vow to never ascend these stairs,” Nate replied indignantly.

I gazed at the path ahead, rolling upwards into obscurity. I imagined potential slips and falls even before finding my footing. For the following days, I would hurl myself at this rock wall, envisioning my life progressing incrementally with each ticking hour. I pictured my partner and kids entering the living room, astonished and concerned, finding me once again playing Baby Steps and making no headway whatsoever.

Screw it. I’m climbing those stairs.

Baby Steps is available on PlayStation 5 and PC

Source: www.theguardian.com

Early Neanderthals Pursued Ibex on Steep Mountain Terrain

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Ibex can navigate gracefully across steep mountain terrains

Serge Goujon/Shutterstock

Nearly 300,000 years ago, Neanderthals had already devised strategies for hunting goats on vertical cliffs and managing them in well-structured camps.

Typically recognized for ambushing large animals in flat meadows and forests of Western Europe, Neanderthals seemed to adapt to the hilly landscapes of Eastern Europe by incorporating the lightweight ibex into their hunting practices. Early humans skinned these animals in nearby caves, but only after the bones had been covered and fractured. Stephen Milosevic from the University of Belgrade in Serbia.

“The approach to hunting ibex is entirely distinct since they inhabit robust, steep, and barren terrains,” he explains. “Now we observe primitive Neanderthals who barely distinguish themselves as a separate species, already utilizing an ecological niche previously unexploited by humans.”

Neanderthals evolved approximately 400,000 years ago, yet most of our knowledge stems from sites in Western Europe that are under 150,000 years old. According to Marie Helen Monsel, who was not involved in this research at the National Museum of Natural History in Paris, it’s crucial to uncover clues that can bridge the gaps in our understanding of Neanderthal timelines, habitats, and cultures.

In 2017, archaeologists uncovered evidence that Neanderthals inhabited the layers of Belikabaranica Cave in Serbia, which date back roughly 290,000 years, making it the oldest remains of Neanderthals found in Eastern Europe.

Since that discovery, Milosevic and his colleagues have excavated hundreds of stone tools and analyzed the bone fragments of approximately 30,000 animals within the cave. Almost three-quarters of these fragments are less than two centimeters long, with the majority traceable to ibex and red deer hunted in spring and summer, indicating that Neanderthals likely resided in the cave seasonally.

Some bones, particularly those from the legs of larger deer, exhibited burn marks and were cracked open. This suggests that these early Neanderthals may have liquefied the bones, leaving remnants scattered on the walls surrounded by the grease that fueled their fires. Others may have shown signs of tendon harvesting for use in ropes or nets.

The deer remains indicate the presence of older youths and adults, pointing to selective hunting practices that would promote herd survival, according to Milosevic. However, ibex were hunted at all life stages. Neanderthals seemed to be “novices” when it came to hunting goats, implying they likely relied on sharp sticks and rudimentary traps. “They must have experienced a significant number of failed attempts,” he notes.

Apart from these favored food sources, researchers have also found several remains from wild boars, cave bears, wolves, foxes, leopards, and even various birds.

The arrangement of the bones in various sections of the cave indicates a clear division of tasks. For instance, the hearth was located centrally, with discarded bones stacked behind it, while the entrance appeared to function as a tool workshop.

In summary, the findings suggest “notable cognitive flexibility,” states Jose Carrion from the University of Murcia in Spain. “This confirms that Neanderthals are creative problem-solvers who effectively navigate complex habitats with ingenuity and skill. Neanderthals were indeed human. They were intellectual, social, and highly adaptable.”

“The discoveries from Baranica provide a glimpse of Neanderthals who not only display resilience but are experimenting with strategies and social structures typically associated with later periods,” commented Antonio Rodriguez Hidalgo from the Archaeological Institute in Merida, Spain. “This reminds us that Neanderthal sophistication is not a gradual developement but rather a deep-rooted flame that ignited early in human history.”

Neanderthals, ancient humans, cave art: France

Join new scientist Kate Douglas on an enchanting journey through time as she explores significant Neanderthal and Upper Paleolithic sites across southern France, from Bordeaux to Montpellier.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Underground Hydrogen: Potential Clean Energy Sources Hidden Beneath the Mountain Range

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Could there be hydrogen under Mount Grison in Switzerland?

Thomas Stoyber/Alamie

Mountain ranges may serve as a significant source of clean energy in the form of unexplored hydrogen. Previous investigations hinted at the presence of “geological” hydrogen underground, but researchers have now pointed to mountains as potential reservoirs.

“Some minerals can react with water to produce hydrogen, serving as a source of sustainable green energy,” explains Frank Zwarn from the Helmholtz Geoscience Centre in Germany.

While a plethora of minerals exists on Earth, most are located at great depths in the mantle. However, during the formation and elevation of mountain ranges, certain mantle materials can be brought nearer to the surface, where they might interact with water through a process called meandering.

To understand the potential for hydrogen generation, Zwaan and his team modeled the uplift process and assessed the mantle material reaching areas with optimal temperatures and adequate circulating water for this reaction to occur. Their findings support the notion that large quantities of hydrogen could form below these mountains.

Serpentine minerals also exist in the ridges of the Central Sea, which some speculate may have played a role in the origin of life. However, Zwaan notes that the hydrogen created there is unlikely to remain trapped due to temperatures below 122°C (252°F), as bacteria can consume the trapped hydrogen. In contrast, it can be drilled from deeper areas of higher temperature below the mountains.

“I wouldn’t want to inhabit that area, but it’s ideal for preserving hydrogen,” Zwaan stated at the European Geoscience Union conference in Vienna last week. “There may be an additional opportunity to drill into what is known as a hydrogen kitchen, the zone where hydrogen is generated.”

The model’s outcomes are corroborated by preliminary findings from studies on various mountain ranges. For instance, Gianreto Manatschal from the University of Strasbourg in France confirmed evidence of hydrogen production beneath the Grison region of the Swiss Alps. However, he emphasized that there remains much to learn. “Our research is merely the beginning,” he remarked.

Notably, some hydrogen has been reported to be seeping from beneath the Northern Pyrenees, according to Alexandra Robert at the University of Toulouse, France. This research is still in its formative stages.

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  • Energy and fuel/
  • Hydrogen production

Source: www.newscientist.com

The Rising Height of Mount Everest: An Exploration of Why the World’s Tallest Mountain Continues to Grow

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Standing at an impressive height of 29,032 feet, Mount Everest surpasses the nearby Himalayas by several hundred feet.

Scientists have discovered that the world’s highest mountain is still growing, attributed in part to the merging of two nearby river systems tens of thousands of years ago.

Researchers found that Everest rose between approximately 50 feet and 160 feet due to this merging, as detailed in a study published in Nature Geoscience.

“Even a seemingly permanent landform like Mount Everest can be continuously changed by various geological forces,” said Dai, a geoscientist from the China University of Geosciences in Beijing and co-author of the study, in an email to NBC News.

The Himalayas, including Everest, have been steadily increasing in height since the collision of the Indian subcontinent and the lower Eurasian plates around 45 million years ago.

A significant event occurred about 89,000 years ago when the Kosi River overtook the Arun River, leading to substantial erosion of rock and soil from the Himalayan foothills nearly 80 miles from Everest.

Through a geological process known as isostatic rebound, erosion reduced the weight of the area, allowing for the uplift of the Earth’s crust.

Scientists estimate that this rebound is causing Everest to grow at a rate of 0.16 to 0.53 millimeters per year, accounting for half of its annual uplift rate.

Research suggests that this phenomenon may explain why Mount Everest is unusually tall compared to its neighboring peaks.

Professor Dai noted that the role of isostatic rebound associated with river capture and erosion in Everest’s elevation adds a novel aspect to the study of mountain formation.

“These findings, while not completely revolutionary, are certainly surprising and could prompt a reevaluation of current models of the formation and evolution of the Himalayas,” Dai commented.

The study also emphasizes the interconnectedness of the Earth’s systems, where changes in one region can have significant impacts on others,” he added.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

‘Martha Lane Fox: From Overachiever to Mountain Conqueror’

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Even for able-bodied climbers, climbing Britain's three highest peaks can seem like a test of determination. But Martha Lane Fox has undergone 47 surgeries and suffers from impaired balance, nerve damage, and constant pain, requiring two canes to get anywhere. This is a remnant of the car accident that almost killed her 20 years ago.

On Saturday, she completed the first leg of “Martha's Mountain Mission” by reaching the summit of Snowdon or Yul Wiffa. Scafell Pike, England's highest mountain, will be next on May 6th, followed by Ben Nevis on September 7th.

“My body is not like other people's,” she said. observer. “I suffer from severe pain and incontinence and have very severe nerve damage. So all of these things make it a very big hurdle for me to try to walk for any length of time, let alone really long. Not to mention the hours going uphill and all the way back down.”

Martha's Mountain Mission marks the 20th anniversary of Lane Fox's car accident in Morocco. She's 31, just sold lastmount.com, the travel and gift company she founded with Brent Hoberman seven years ago, and is on vacation with her boyfriend of six weeks, Chris Gorrell Burns.

When Lane Fox was thrown from the passenger seat of a convertible and landed on a rock, it seemed like a new chapter in her life was about to end.

“I almost died,” she said in a low voice. “When you walk into the trauma room on the scale, they score you. I think up to 39 – 39 is dead. I was 37 at the time. So you can't get any closer to death. I don't think I could, and I was very, very hurt.

“But I was very lucky to be able to escape from Morocco first. It wasn't planned by me, my family planned it. Then I went to work at one of the best hospitals in the country, John – He was taken to Radcliffe Hospital. [in Oxford]is reinstated, then transferred to other hospitals over the next few years, and then continually reinstated.

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“So most people who go through something like that don't have all of that available to them.”

That's one reason she's walking. to raise her £300,000 for four charities. first day trauma This is for people in Lane Fox's situation, helping people with catastrophic injuries rebuild their lives. There are countless decisions to be made about treatment, finances, and what you need to do to recover. “So when I have a bad moment, I especially think of the Day One Trauma people.” [to motivate me],” she said.

Lane Fox broke 28 bones, suffered a stroke and was hospitalized for just under two years, as surgeon after surgeon tried to fix or simply alleviate her injuries. For the past 20 years, she has been in and out of hospital, and this is the inspiration for another charity she supports. horatio's garden.


On Saturday, friends will join the Martha Lane Fox in Eriri National Park (Snowdonia). Photo: Courtesy of Martha Lane Fox

“They are building beautiful gardens and spaces in each spinal unit for people like me who are stuck in the hospital for a very long time and can’t go outside,” she said. “When something like that happens, it doesn't really end. It changed my life forever. I'm lucky. I mean, in my heart, I'm not kidding. I'm lucky. I have the resources and support to survive and thrive. So I feel lucky.”

Thanks to their support, Lane Fox was able to build on its success during the dot-com boom and indeed grow. Three years after her accident, she joined the board of Marks and Spencer, was appointed to the House of Lords, and worked with David Cameron's government to improve computer literacy.

Another charity activity is ability net. This is a reminder for us to work with developers and technologists to remember older people and people with disabilities who are often excluded from digital life. Fourth, i am the code wants to help 1 million girls and young women become programmers by 2030.

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Lane Fox became Chancellor of the Open University in 2014 and had twin sons through surrogacy with Gorrell Barnes in 2016. Seven-year-olds Milo and Felix joined their girlfriend, along with more than 30 friends, on a run up and down Snowdon yesterday.

Still, the effects of her injury continue. “I do a lot of physical therapy anyway, because otherwise I wouldn't be able to exist,” she said. “But 2022 was a really bad year for me. I had sepsis and almost lost my leg. I was really sick, I was back in the hospital a lot.” Last year At 50 years old, she had only one ambition. That means she doesn't have time to be hospitalized.

“It made my mind clear. I wanted to do something so scary that it felt like a goal I had achieved, but at the same time something so scary that people might give me money. That's why I came up with the now somewhat crazy idea of ​​climbing these three peaks. ”

After spending Saturday in Wales in the cold April sun, a weary Lane Fox was looking ahead to his next two challenges.

“It was much harder coming down, but I'm alive, and I’m so happy every day,” she said.

“Ben Nevis is the hardest. But one thing at a time.”

To donate to Martha's Mountain Challenge, please visit: givewheel.com

Source: www.theguardian.com

Shrinking glaciers reveal desolate mountain landscape in Canada

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This frigid landscape in the Coast Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, is a sight to behold, but it may not stay like this for long, so enjoy it while you can.

When snow falls in these places, it hardens into thick ice that flows over the land, forming glaciers, and when it melts, it creates huge reservoirs of water that sustain life. These are ancient and important resources.

Ice age processes have occurred throughout most of Earth's history. However, many of these icy relics are at risk. Photographer and artist Edward Burtynsky says he feels lost.. That's the message behind this photo. New work exhibition at Flower Gallery, London, February 28th to April 6th.

Photographing from a helicopter, Burtynsky was shocked to see that the glacier had retreated dramatically since his last visit 20 years ago. The history of glaciers in this range dates back 150,000 years, he said, but they are rapidly shrinking due to global warming caused by human activity.

“When it's gone, it's gone, and the whole ecosystem and the whole living system is changed forever,” Burtynsky says. His images, he says, are designed to remind us of what has been lost. New work It also focuses on soil erosion in Turkey and the impact of coal mining on Australia.

Burtynsky is currently exhibiting in another exhibition in London. extraction/abstraction. It also explores the impact humans have on the planet and is on display at Saatchi's gallery until May 6th.

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Source: www.newscientist.com