Tag Archives: spotlight

Spotlight on October 2025’s Top Science Fiction Release: A Tribute to Ursula K. Le Guin Featuring Chris Hadfield

Posted on by
Reply

Sci-fi writer Ursula K. Le Guin in 2001

Benjamin Brink/Oregonian/AP/Alamy

Like many others, Ursula K. Le Guin is undoubtedly one of my beloved sci-fi authors. I’m thrilled about this month’s compilation of maps that I plan to use as inspiration for my story. Especially after enjoying It Was Confiscated. Join the New Scientist Book Club: Do Do Do Do and Jo, and share your insights on this classic with fellow readers!

This month not only brings back science fiction, but I eagerly anticipate it. Ken Liu will introduce a thriller based in the near future. I’m particularly interested in the tale of flooded Kolkata and the challenges faced by the mother, Megamajumdal. Additionally, there’s a story from astronaut Chris Hadfield and a new offering from author Mark Z. Danielewski, titled Leaf House.

Le Guin will venture into her great stories, promoting the Earthsea series (I recall the archipelago mentioned in those books) and I Always Go Home. This new collection features these maps alongside interviews, poetry, recipes, and contributions from various writers. It seems like a true treasure trove for fans like me of Le Guin.

Set in the not-so-distant future, this sci-fi thriller revolves around hacker Julia, who is tasked with rescuing a “dream artist” while uncovering the mysteries of virtual reality. This is the first in the Julia Z series, which has received the Hugo Award.

Reynolds once wrote fantastic sci-fi short stories for New Scientist. In one, we follow Yuri Gagarin, a private investigator observing a death aboard a spacecraft, weaving a tale through the vastness of space.

I’m not sure how far this fits within the realm of science fiction, but I believe there are many overlaps between sci-fi enthusiasts and those who adore Danielwski’s inventive works, particularly Leaf House. In fact, my colleague Jacob Aron selected it as one of the greatest sci-fi novels ever written. Therefore, I imagine quite a few people, myself included, are eager to hear about Danielewski’s latest novel this month. It ostensibly follows two friends who are trying to escape a massacre in a small town in Utah called Orbop, though I suspect there’s much more to it than that.

This dystopian narrative unfolds in a setting where a mysterious illness has stripped people of their memories, challenging how they interact and live. However, as “fragments of memory” start resurfacing, they threaten the center’s rigid structure, prompting students to question their reality. I love how they occupy their free time, watching old tapes and embodying characters like Chandler and Gunther, Maria and Chino!

Fits by Ariel Sullivan

Drawing comparisons to The Hunger Games, this story takes place in a dystopian world where individuals are evaluated based on their ability to fit in, centering on a woman caught in a love triangle. It highlights the perils of social and genetic engineering.

In Cold Eternity, a fugitive takes refuge on an abandoned spaceship

roman3dart/Getty Images

This slice of space horror is perfect for the Halloween season. Halley embarks on an adventure after uncovering an interplanetary conspiracy. She takes refuge in the Elysian Field, a drifting space vessel once believed to be a sanctuary by the wealthy until its inhabitants succumbed to death. After being abandoned for over a century, Halley now senses something amiss aboard…

Astronaut Chris Hadfield’s Cold War thriller is set in the 1970s during a space race involving the US, Soviet Union, and China. The narrative follows a new Apollo mission as it ventures into orbit. This marks the third entry in Hadfield’s series, following Apollo Murder and Exile.

This tale strikes me as a must-read. It unfolds in present-day Kolkata, where climate change and food scarcity have led to flooding and hunger. MA teams up with her husband in Michigan, bringing their 2-year-old daughter and elderly father. Just as they prepare to depart, MA realizes her immigration documents have been stolen. What ensues is a frantic one-week search for the thief. Meanwhile, the offender, Bulba, grapples with escalating crimes while trying to provide for his family. As disaster looms, what lengths will each individual go to protect their children?

European grey wolf (Canis Lupus) hunting in the forest

Arndt Sven-Erik / Arterra Picture Library / Alamy

Lucy, whose earliest memories date back to the Covid-19 pandemic, is now striving to restore lost species. Hester was born on the day of the Chernobyl disaster. In the words of Kim Stanley Robinson, this is “enduring” and “unforgettable.”

We receive two stories in one with this doubleheader. The first presents crime-laden narratives set in a futuristic scientific cosmos. Mirrors Red Star Hustle follows the adventures of a high-end escort entangled with a “noble clone of a murderous puppet monarch,” a unique blend that intrigues me. Kowal’s Anxiety also unfolds a tale of a grandmother whose grandchild is tempted into a terrorist group, all while a new planet harbors new challenges and possibilities.

If you enjoy Pride, Prejudice and Zombies, then Zenith (or Nadile) reimagines Jane Austen. This is an inventive remix of Pride and Prejudice and Frankenstein, depicting the lesser-known sister, Mary Bennett, as a brilliant scientist aspiring to revive the dead in search of her husband. But then she meets a remarkable young woman, leading her to reconsider her true desires.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Review: Fear the Spotlight – A Gripping, Eerie, and Surprisingly Contemplative Horror Experience

Posted on by
Reply

F
Or, for those who remember the early days of the survival horror genre, its aesthetic renaissance in the independent gaming scene was a macabre delight. “Crow County,” “The Closing Shift,” and “Murder House” are all modern paranormal adventures with low-poly 3D visuals and blocky textures. It’s used not only as a visual hook, but as a way to reconnect with the things that scared the likes of Silent Hill and Clock Tower. Get involved first. Fear the Spotlight, the debut title from Cozy Game Pals and new horror-focused publisher Blumhouse Games, is another wonderful, warmly chilling example.

Two girls break into a high school library late at night, looking for specific items. It’s a spirit board that was locked in a display case as part of an exhibit on the occult. Vivian is a bit of a nerd and the library’s star volunteer, while Amy is a charming outsider with an interest in the paranormal. When the two decide to hold a seance in a vacant building, they come into contact not only with the dead, but also with tragic events from the school’s recent past. Then Amy mysteriously disappears.




Creepy atmosphere…fear the spotlight. Photo: Blumhouse Games

As Vivian, you must roam the nightmarishly transformed hallways, searching for your friends and learning more about what happened here 30 years ago. Developer Cozy Game Pals understands that night school is the perfect horror setting. The game features dark, locker-lined hallways, shabby bathrooms, and areas such as a gymnasium and pool that take on an eerie atmosphere when it gets quiet. Empty. As you explore, the game gives you small telltale signs of horror conventions. A creaking door, a flickering light, a glimpse of a face down the hallway, so you know something is watching outside. There’s also a nice use of 1990s technology, such as an overhead projector, a television with a video player, and an ancient PC, which not only provides the setting for the puzzles, but also lets you know that we’re no longer in the 21st century.

Particularly fun are the formal nods to Resident Evil and Silent Hill. Important items in the environment will glow, catching your eye and drawing Vivian’s head to interesting artifacts as you pass by. Puzzles also use familiar conventions and often involve mechanical objects, such as a generator that requires a fuse or a piano that requires a particular song to be played. The use of jerky, low-poly visuals is truly retro, but it has a self-conscious, artistic quality that elevates the look of the game beyond mere nostalgia.

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/QIuHNbncqmk?wmode=opaque&feature=oembed" title="Fear the Spotlight – Reveal Trailer Summer Game Fest 2024 | PS5 & PS4 Games" height="480" width="854" allowfullscreen="

This also applies to the story, which rises above the sometimes shoddy plotting and wooden voice acting common to old-school horror titles. At its core, Fear the Spotlight is a sensitive and emotionally resonant queer love story through which it explores themes of performance and observation. This is a game about the role we play in life and the role that imagination (for better or worse) plays in love and desire. The title Spotlight is both literal and figurative, offering a metaphor for the human gaze: love and bullying, desire and obsession.

This is a short game that can be completed in a few hours and has a slightly lower difficulty level, making it a great entry point into the horror genre for young adults. There’s a nice message at the end thanking players for their time and attention and acknowledging that the game isn’t perfect. Not really, but nothing really. The time I spent with the company was absorbing, eerie, and unexpectedly thought-provoking. Horror offers a distorted, shadowy lens through which to view our lives and learn new things about ourselves and the world, and it’s expertly utilized here. With its focus on love, Fear the Spotlight does more than just scare you.

Skip past newsletter promotions

Fear the Spotlight is available on PC, PS4/5, Switch and Xbox from £18

Source: www.theguardian.com

Unveiling the Secrets: A Look Behind the Scenes of ’90s Horror ‘Fear the Spotlight’ with Your Ouija Board | Games

Posted on by
Reply

I
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, it forced Krista Castro and Bryan Shin to rethink their lives. The couple, an animation director and programmer, had been working for major studios but wanted to create their own games. They decided to quit their jobs in 2021 and form A cozy gaming companion. They also became parents around the same time.

They set a goal to create a game in two years. By 2023, they had completed Fear the Spotlight, a ’90s-style horror adventure game. Although it received positive reviews on Steam, they struggled to market it and considered moving on. Then, Blumhouse, the successful horror film production company, approached them.

Blumhouse saw potential in Fear the Spotlight and offered to help. The couple was thrilled to collaborate with them as they shared a passion for horror. Together, they worked on an expanded version of the game set to release soon.

Fear the Spotlight captures the essence of ’90s horror with its atmospheric design and slow pace. Inspired by classic horror games and movies, the game aims to appeal to all horror enthusiasts, even those not typically into gaming.

The couple’s love for horror shines through in the game, incorporating elements from various horror media. With Blumhouse’s support, they look forward to sharing their vision with a wider audience.

Skip Newsletter Promotions

Source: www.theguardian.com

Young stars in the spotlight of the Hubble Space Telescope

Posted on by
Reply

Astronomers using the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope collected information about about 500 stars as part of their research. Young Stars Ultraviolet Heritage Library (ULLYSES) Study as an Essential Standard.

This Hubble image shows a star-forming region containing giant young blue stars in the Tarantula Nebula. Image credits: NASA/ESA/STScI/Francesco Paresce, INAF-IASF Bologna/Robert O'Connell, UVA/SOC-WFC3/ESO.

“We believe the ULLYSES project is revolutionary and will have an impact across astrophysics, from exoplanets to the influence of massive stars on the evolution of galaxies, to understanding the early stages of the evolving universe. ” said Dr. Julia Roman-Duval, leader of the ULLYSES implementation team. She is an astronomer at the Space Telescope Science Institute.

“Apart from the specific purpose of research, stellar data can also be used in the field of astrophysics in ways we cannot yet imagine.”

Dr. Romain Duval and her colleagues studied 220 stars and combined their observations with information on 275 stars from the Hubble archive.

The study also includes data from some of the world's largest and most powerful ground-based telescopes and X-ray space telescopes.

The ULLYSES dataset consists of stellar spectra and includes information about each star's temperature, chemical composition, and rotation.

One of the star types being studied under ULLYSES is an ultra-hot, massive blue star.

They are a million times brighter than the Sun and glow intensely in ultraviolet light that can be easily detected by Hubble. Their spectra contain important information for diagnosing the speed of powerful winds.

The wind drives the evolution of galaxies, producing galactic seeds with the elements necessary for life. These elements are cooked in the star's fusion reactor and injected into space as the star dies.

ULLYSES targeted blue stars in nearby galaxies that are deficient in elements heavier than helium and hydrogen.

“Observations of Ulises are a stepping stone to understanding the first stars and their winds in the universe and how they influence the evolution of young host galaxies,” said Dr. Romain Duval.

Another category of stars in the ULLYSES survey are young stars with less mass than the Sun.

Although it is cooler and redder than the Sun, during its formative years it emits large amounts of high-energy radiation, including bursts of ultraviolet and X-rays.

As they are still growing, they are collecting material from the surrounding planet-forming disks of dust and gas.

Hubble's spectra contain important diagnostic information about the mass-gaining process, including the amount of energy this process releases into the surrounding planet-forming disk and nearby environment.

Intense ultraviolet radiation from young stars influences the evolution of these disks as they form planets and the potential habitability of newborn planets.

The target star is located in a star-forming region near the Milky Way.

The ULLYSES concept was designed by a panel of experts with the aim of using Hubble to provide a conventional set of stellar observations.

“ULLYSES was originally conceived as an observation program using Hubble's high-sensitivity spectrometer,” said Dr. Roman Duval.

“However, this research was greatly enhanced by community-driven complementary observations in collaboration with other ground-based and space-based observatories.”

“By covering such a wide area, astronomers can study the lives of stars in unprecedented detail and develop a more comprehensive picture of the properties of these stars and how they affect their environments. It becomes possible to draw.”

Source: www.sci.news

The Cultural Highlights of Nicole Flattery: A Spotlight

Posted on by
Reply

W
Author Nicole Flattery was born in Kinnegad, County Westmeath in 1989. She studied theater and film at Trinity College, Dublin, after which she completed a master’s degree in creative writing, for which she won the White Review Short Story Award in 2017.Her award-winning short story collection let’s have a good time was published in 2019, and her work has appeared in the following publications: stinging fly, guardian, and london book reviews. Her debut novel, Not particularly, explores female friendship, fame, and identity in 1960s New York. Published in paper bag By Bloomsbury on March 28th.

1. Location

Rough Owell, county westmeath




“I wish I could swim there every day”: Ruff Owell. Photo: Alamy

This place is not far from my parents’ house, so I often go swimming here with my mother and sister. It’s very beautiful and there’s a great sense of community among the swimmers. Winter is my favorite time to swim. It’s a cold season that tests your endurance. When you first jump in, you don’t think about anything for just a few seconds. I wish I could do this every day. When I was a teenager, I didn’t really like growing up in rural Ireland. I thought I was missing out on the excitement and glamor, and I definitely was. But now I miss it so much.

2. Film

One from the Heart (directed by Francis Ford Coppola)




Teri Garr in “One from the Heart.”

I just watched this re-release version. It was goofy and silly and fun, but also very detailed and extravagant viewing, perhaps because of Coppola’s work. The story is about a couple, Franny (Teri Garr) and Hank (Frederick Forrest), who find themselves in crisis in Las Vegas. she wants to travel He wants to settle down. They break up and then rebound with other people. Tom Waits does the soundtrack, and everything is very stylized and surreal. I watch a lot of old movies. Because I think we can learn from that, but more superficially, I think we can also learn about clothing. I can’t stop thinking about the red dress Gar is wearing. I would gladly take heartbreak if I could keep that dress.

3. TV

Love is Blind (Netflix)




“Love Is Blind”: “I hope they make 100 seasons.” Photo: Johan Poulin/Netflix

It’s a reality show with the basic premise of meeting, falling in love, and proposing invisibly. All you can do is have a few conversations through the wall about spirituality, trauma, and what you want to do on the weekend. Then marry them! With six seasons so far, it’s safe to conclude that love is not blind. It’s fascinating to watch couples emerge and try to reconcile the idea of romantic love with reality. Some of them are extremely single-minded. Even if it’s obvious that you can’t stand your partner’s gaze and don’t want to get involved, you end up getting married anyway. They always say something like, “I can’t wait to sleep with you and wake up with you in the morning.” It’s as if you’re worried that your partner will leave in the middle of the night. That’s exactly right. What would I do in that situation? I hope they make 100 seasons.

4. Critic

aS Hamra

With the demise of Pitchfork and other publications, I feel like long-form criticism is dying out a bit, which is scary and scary. Personally, I love reading. It means the world to me. AS Hamra’s playful and wonderful film criticism book streaming the earth dies Full of insight, wit, and voice. We need critics like this who understand that what we see is who we are. It also helps if you’re really funny, as is he. His Oscars recaps, while often written only about the movies themselves, are always some of the best writing about awards season.

5. Technology

dumb phone

You can’t spend even one hour in Dublin and not see the devastating impact of the tech industry. We sold our city to these companies and made it impossible for anyone else to live here. I don’t just mean homelessness and exorbitant rents, but lack of imagination and the occasional need to drink at an exorbitantly expensive place called Ye Olde Irish Hardware Shop. It also means the fact that it must be done. I use a bad phone a lot now. I’m more sociable and like to talk to strangers. Leaving the house with a dumb phone is amazing. I think this is what it feels like to be on the run.

6. Coffee shop

Lilliput Stores, Stoneybatter, Dublin




“They also sell exquisite honey, and I’m addicted to it.” Photo: Noel Bennett/Alamy

I’ve been coming here for years because I used to work at the nearby publishing company Lilliput Press. Now it’s just a 10-minute walk from my home. It’s very cozy and has a great selection of food, pastries, and wine. They also sell exquisite honey, and I’m addicted to it. It’s always a treat after going to yoga. In fact, I spend most of my classes thinking about what I’ll gain, which probably won’t help me achieve enlightenment. Everyone who works there is so friendly and warm that it’s worth the trip out of town.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Margo Price’s Cultural Highlights: A Spotlight on Me

Posted on by
Reply

Ccountry singer songwriter margo price Born in Illinois in 1983, she studied dance and theater at Northern Illinois University. She was a fixture in the Nashville music scene for years, waiting in line and working odd jobs while playing in various bands, before releasing her debut album. Midwestern Farmer’s Daughter, in 2016. In 2018 she was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best New Artist and in 2022 she published her memoir. maybe it will be successful. her fourth album, Straysreleased last year, she Tour the UK and Ireland From January 26th (Gorilla, Manchester) to January 30th (Coco, London).

1. movie

Murderer of the Flower Moon (Martin Scorsese, 2023)

Leonardo DiCaprio and Lily Gladstone in Killers of the Flower Moon. Photo: Landmark Media/Alamy

I recently read a book by David Grann. This is one of the saddest true stories I’ve ever read and one that more people should know about. Martin Scorsese’s movies were great. This is a story about the Osage His Nation, a Native American tribe who lived in Oklahoma in the 1920s and became the richest people in the United States, attracting some pretty evil people. Lily Gladstone played the lead role and her performance was breathtaking. Fun fact: They asked me to audition for the role of Robert De Niro’s wife. Of course I didn’t understand it, but it was fun to be a part of it.

2. hobby

of dulcimer

“Easier than lugging your guitar around at the airport”: the traditional Appalachian mountain dulcimer. Photo: Picture Partners/Alamy

I started playing the dulcimer about a year ago and it’s really fun. She started looking for information online, figured out the chords, took one lesson, and then decided to boldly take it on tour and perform in front of people. There are only three strings, so it is very easy to pick up the melody. Now you know why Joni Mitchell travels with her guitar. It’s small and light, so it’s easier than lugging your guitar around at the airport. I hope this will be an opportunity for people over 40 to pick up a new musical instrument.

3. podcast

10% happier

Host Dan Harris was a former news anchor who left the media after suffering panic attacks and battling drug addiction. Although he describes himself as a “fidgety skeptic,” this is a Buddhist-leaning podcast. He has interviewed His Holiness the Dalai Lama, monks, nuns, and guests such as: Esther Perel and La Sarmiento. He’s speaking to people who have gone through some pretty awful things and lived to tell about it, and that gives me perspective. He seems like an honest person and has a dark and dry sense of humor.

Four. biography

Don’t tell anyone the secrets I told you by Lucinda Williams

GreyOrange remains in the spotlight after raising $135 million

Posted on by
Reply

Over the past few years, I’ve asked countless people in the robotics industry, “What’s next for warehousing/distribution?” An already popular category got even hotter during the pandemic, as online shopping went from a convenience to a necessity.

While Amazon has led the field with in-house systems for more than a decade, companies like Locus, 6 River Systems, and Fetch (now owned and branded by Zebra) are partnering with top retailers. are tied. But the question “what’s next?” by no means signals the end of the spotlight on fulfillment. Despite the economic slowdown in investment, this is a huge category and it’s only getting bigger.

GreyOrange was founded in 2011 and is headquartered outside Roswell, Georgia, about 20 miles north of Atlanta. This was the year before his Kiva deal with Amazon shocked the industry. Over the past decade, the company has acquired a number of high-profile clients, including Walmart Canada, Nike and Swedish fast-fashion retailer H&M.

Image credits: gray orange

The company does not have any major problems in raising funds. GreyOrange announced a $140 million Series C in 2018 and today announced that it has raised $135 million in Series D growth funding. Anthelion Capital led the round, with return investment from Mithril, 3State Ventures, and Blume Ventures.

The company has been working for years to build full-stack solutions for warehousing, fulfillment, and 3PL needs. This includes his AMR (autonomous mobile robots), forklift and box picking systems like Kiva, as well as proprietary first-party (“hardware agnostic”) fleet management software.

CEO Akash Gupta said the round will be partially directed toward delivering the system to customers.

Source: techcrunch.com