Backsliding US measles cases reach 5-year high; 15 states report cases, Texas outbreak grows Since 2000, when measles was eliminated from US, only three years had higher cases. Beth Mole Mar 14, 2025 5:43 pm | 8 Vials of measles vaccine at the Orange County Health Department on May 6, 2019 in Orlando, Florida. Credit: Paul Hennessy/NurPhoto via Getty Images Vials of measles vaccine at the Orange County Health Department on May 6, 2019 in Orlando, Florida. Credit: Paul Hennessy/NurPhoto via Getty Images Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreThe US has now recorded over 300 measles cases just three months into 2025, exceeding the yearly case counts for all years after 2019. The bulk of this year's cases are from an outbreak that erupted in an undervaccinated county in West Texas in late January, which has since spread to New Mexico and Oklahoma.As of the afternoon of March 14, Texas reports 259 cases across 11 counties, 34 hospitalizations, and one death, which occurred in an unvaccinated 6-year-old girl. New Mexico reports 35 cases across two counties, two hospitalizations, and one death. That death occurred in an unvaccinated adult who did not seek medical treatment and tested positive for the virus posthumously. The cause of death is still under investigation. Oklahoma reports two probable cases linked to the outbreak.In addition to Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma, 12 other states have reported at least one confirmed measles case since the start of the year: Alaska, California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this year has seen three measles outbreaks, defined as three or more related cases.As of March 13, the CDC reported 301 confirmed cases, which do not include 36 new cases reported today in Texas and two in New Mexico.Measles is backSince 2000, when health officials victoriously declared measles eliminated from the US thanks to concerted vaccination campaigns, only three other years have had higher tallies of measles cases. In 2014, the country saw 667 measles cases. In 2018, there were 381 cases. And in 2019when the country was on the verge of losing its elimination statusthere was a startling 1,274 cases, largely driven by massive outbreaks in New York. Measles is considered eliminated if there is no continuous spread in the country over the course of at least 12 months. (This is not to be confused with "eradication," which is defined as "permanent reduction to zero of the worldwide incidence" of an infectious disease. Smallpox and rinderpest are the only pathogens humans have eradicated.)While measles transmission dramatically declined amid the pandemic, health officials fear that the country will once again face the potential of losing our elimination status as the virus bounces back. Since 2019, vaccination rates among kindergartners have only fallenfrom the protective target of 95 percent to 92.7 percent. Last year, the US reported 285 cases, while the case tally in 2023 was 59.What's more, measles is rising globally, creating more opportunities for unvaccinated Americans to travel abroad and bring the virus home with themthe most common spark for measles outbreaks in the US.On Thursday, the World Health Organization and UNICEF reported that the agency's European Region (which comprises 53 countries in Europe and Central Asia, including Russia) saw 127,350 measles cases in 2024, double the number seen in 2023 and the highest tally since 1997.A resurgence of measles cases was seen in the region in 2018 and 2019, which was exacerbated by backsliding vaccine coverage amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Vaccination rates have not recovered to pre-pandemic levels and cases have risen since 2023. The highest number of cases was reported in Romania, with 30,692 cases, followed by Kazakhstan with 28,147 cases."Measles is back, and its a wake-up call. Without high vaccination rates, there is no health security," Hans Kluge, WHO's regional director for Europe, warned in a statement. "As we shape our new regional health strategy for Europe and Central Asia, we cannot afford to lose ground. Every country must step up efforts to reach under-vaccinated communities. The measles virus never restsand neither can we."Beth MoleSenior Health ReporterBeth MoleSenior Health Reporter Beth is Ars Technicas Senior Health Reporter. Beth has a Ph.D. in microbiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and attended the Science Communication program at the University of California, Santa Cruz. She specializes in covering infectious diseases, public health, and microbes. 8 Comments

2025-03-14T22:26:30Z Read in app Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican, led the passage of a GOP-backed plan to avert a government shutdown. Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now.Have an account? Senate Republicans led the passage of legislation that will avert a government shutdown.Nine Democrats voted to avoid a filibuster, despite strong objections from others in the party.Republicans can now focus on their sweeping border and tax cut legislation.Senators voted on Friday to avert a government shutdown just hours before it would occur, sending President Donald Trump legislation that would slash non-defense spending and boost the Pentagon's budget.The final vote was 54 to 46. Only one Democratic lawmaker, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, joined almost all Republicans in passing the bill. Sen. Angus King, an independent from Maine who caucuses with Democrats, also voted for the bill. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, a Republican, voted against the funding legislation. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced Thursday night that he would support allowing the bill to progress, breaking a filibuster and its 60-vote threshold. Nine Democrats and King joined nearly every Republican to advance the bill to its final simple-majority vote.Likely in exchange for the Democratic votes moving the bill forward, Senate Majority Leader John Thune allowed Democrats to vote on three different amendments to the funding bill. All of them failed to pass, including a measure by Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, a Democrat, which would have effectively shut down the White House DOGE office, which is effectively led by Elon Musk.After passing the government funding bill, senators are expected to pass a bipartisan fix to a provision in the funding bill that would have required Washington, DC, to cut $1 billion out of its budget. The House would need to pass that legislation when they return.A shutdown would have begun in the early hours of Saturday morning if Congress failed to pass new funding.This is a major victory for Trump, who is expected to sign the legislation shortly, and House Speaker Mike Johnson. Johnson essentially jammed Senate Democrats by passing the bill through the House on a near-party line vote. He then sent lawmakers home, daring Schumer and Democrats to vote down the legislation and cause a government shutdown."Congratulations to Chuck Schumer for doing the right thing Took 'guts' and courage!" Trump wrote on Truth Social on Friday morning before the vote. "The big Tax Cuts, L.A. fire fix, Debt Ceiling Bill, and so much more, is coming."Dissent among DemocratsIn contrast, many Democrats are furious with Schumer for pushing to advance the bill. They view the legislation as a green light to the DOGE office and Musk."Donald Trump and Republicans are crashing the economy. They plan to take a chainsaw to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, veterans benefits and public schools all in order to give massive tax cuts to their billionaire donors and wealthy corporations," House Minority Leader Hakeem Jefferies and his two top deputies said in a joint statement. "House Democrats will not be complicit."Schumer said that he feared a shutdown would further empower Musk and Trump, warning that there was no clear way out of a potential weekslong standoff.The legislation includes a $6 billion increase in defense spending compared to fiscal year 2024. The bill increases funding for nutrition assistance for women, infants, and children (WIC) by $500 million. At the same time, the bill cuts overall non-defense spending by $13 billion compared to the last fiscal year. Notably, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser has warned of a $1 billion cut to the budget of the nation's capitol.Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and other progressives had urged Democrats to kill the House GOP-led funding bill citing concerns over its failure to rein in the DOGE office. Some top Senate Democrats, including Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, refused to go along with Schumer's move.Republicans still have tough votes aheadThe bill extends government funding through September 30. Its passage means Trump and Republicans won't have to worry about a potential shutdown as they enter the thick of negotiations for their massive border security and tax bill. Johnson has pledged to send Trump legislation by Easter, an ambitious timeline requiring both houses to reach an agreement soon. The House and Senate are still negotiating whether the legislation will include Trump's tax cuts or if they punt that issue to another time.This isn't the final fiscal deadline looming. Congress still has to raise the debt limit in the months ahead, possibly as early as this spring.

2025-03-14T22:15:50Z Read in app Jimmy Donaldson, known online as MrBeast, is looking for contestants for the next season of his competition show. Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images for Prime Video This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now.Have an account? MrBeast has opened casting for season two of 'Beast Games.'Season one recently wrapped with a $10 million prize.'Beast Games' was Amazon's second-biggest series debut of 2024.There's a chance for you to compete in the next season of "Beast Games."The physical competition show, hosted by YouTube star Jimmy Donaldson, better known online as MrBeast, just opened casting for season two.The show recently wrapped up its first 10-episode season on Amazon Prime Video,and thewinner was awarded $10 million.The show's original pitch was a physical competition series in which contestants competed for a $5 million prize (Donaldson doubled the prize toward the end of the season.)To apply for the chance to compete in season two, contestants must fit a list of conditions, like an age limit of at least 18 and owning a valid passport through January 2026, according to a casting call.The application asks for a one-minute horizontal video in which applicants answer a set of questions, such as name and age.Then, they must answer "at least two or three" of the following questions, per the casting call:"What kind of competitor are you?"'"What was your favorite challenge from BEAST GAMES Season 1, and why?""Who was your favorite contestant from Season 1, and what made them stand out to you?""What makes YOU an unforgettable competitor?""What would you do with $5,000,000?"What contestants agreed to in 'Beast Games' season 1In an interview with the "The Iced Coffee Hour" podcast, Jeffrey Allen, the winner of the first season of "Beast Games," said he spoke with investment advisors and tax experts after MrBeast wired Allen the $10 million prize.The show was less lucrative for Donaldson, who said on an episode of Steven Bartlett's "Diary Of A CEO" podcast that he lost "tens of millions of dollars" making the series.In December, Business Insider revealed the terms that contestants of the preliminary roundof "Beast Games" were asked to agree to. This round was related to the Las Vegas taping, which decided who would make the show's official production round.The documents included a contestant questionnaire form, the show's official rules and protocols, and agreements, like giving up consent to the use of hidden cameras and recording devices.The contestants were asked to agree to a set of terms, including how the show portrays them, which may be "disparaging, defamatory, embarrassing, or of an otherwise unfavorable nature" and could expose them to "public ridicule, humiliation, or condemnation."Contestants also agreed to participate for no money, and the prizes were the only form of compensation.In recent months, "Beast Games" has led to an uptick in streamers searching for the next big influencer-led show. Agents, producers, and creator-side execs told BI they are on the hunt for creator content.The show was Amazon's second-biggest series debut of 2024, behind "Fallout," with 50 million viewers in its first 25 days.Amazon and MrBeast did not respond to BI's request for comment.

This story appeared in The Logoff, a daily newsletter that helps you stay informed about the Trump administration without letting political news take over your life. Subscribe here.Whats the latest? After canceling $400 million in federal grants for Columbia University last week, Trump officials sent a letter demanding the school make sweeping changes to its policies and governance or risk losing the rest of its federal money. What are the demands? Broadly, to punish protesters of Israels war in Gaza severely, with expulsions or years-long suspensions.The letter, from Trumps Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism, also demands Columbia put the college presidents office directly in charge of discipline, make a plan to hold student groups accountable, write new rules to prevent disruption of campus life by protests, take the Middle Eastern Studies department away from its current leadership, and completely overhaul its admissions process.Is this legal? No, according to Cornell law professor Michael Dorf. The federal government can cut off funding to punish civil rights violations, but only after a lengthy process. So far, though, Columbia hasnt challenged this in court, hoping instead to seek a compromise and perhaps fearing a lawsuit would trigger even worse retribution.Why is this happening? Secretary of Education Linda McMahon has claimed that, since the protests began, Jewish students at Columbia have faced relentless violence, intimidation, and anti-Semitic harassment on their campuses and that university officials purported inaction in protecting them amounts to a violation of civil rights law. Critics argue, though, that this is a blatant effort to use federal power to chill criticism of Israel. This is also part of a larger Trump administration strategy of using federal funds as leverage against universities they view as incubators of woke progressivism. Back in 2021, Senate candidate JD Vance said it was time to honestly and aggressively attack the universities in this country. More recently, activist Christopher Rufo called for using the cut-off of federal funds to put universities into an existential terror and better discipline them.And with that, its time to log offThings on Earth may be messy, but have you seen the news that astronomers have discovered more than 100 new moons around Saturn? That means Saturn now has 274 moons, putting it well ahead of Jupiter (95) in our solar systems moon power ranking. Youve read 1 article in the last monthHere at Vox, we're unwavering in our commitment to covering the issues that matter most to you threats to democracy, immigration, reproductive rights, the environment, and the rising polarization across this country.Our mission is to provide clear, accessible journalism that empowers you to stay informed and engaged in shaping our world. By becoming a Vox Member, you directly strengthen our ability to deliver in-depth, independent reporting that drives meaningful change.We rely on readers like you join us.Swati SharmaVox Editor-in-ChiefSee More:

Fans have turned on the GTA 5 Enhanced Edition ahead of GTA 6 news, with the game now receiving a whole host of negative reviews on Steam here's all we know about the shiftTech22:00, 14 Mar 2025Even the less populated areas of Los Santos will look better(Image: Rockstar Games)Grand Theft Auto 6 will launch in 2025 (just ask Josef Fares of Split Fiction) but before then, we've been sinking our teeth into the GTA 5 Enhanced Edition.The updated version of the 2013 classic brings improved visuals, new content, and the GTA+ membership, but fans haven't been best pleased with the overhaul.Article continues belowAside from originally launching on PS5 and Xbox Series X and S a few years ago, the new version has been hit with a wave of disgruntled reviews over the last few weeks since it launched. In fact, it's been hit with such disappointment that it now holds a 'Mixed' review score on Steam, marking the lowest score of any Rockstar Game when it comes to user reviews.GTA 5's Enhanced Edition only launched this month(Image: Rockstar Games)"Better graphics and less bugs, technically awesome. However, Rockstar removed chat, in ONLINE game. All mission and lobbies feel so dead now.""I'm scared how heists with randoms looks like now when you can't even tell your strategy or give advice," one review reads, taking aim at Rockstar's removal of chat, particularly with the context of the game's coordination-focused heists."Worst thing ever they did," it adds."'The GTA Online profile associated with this Rockstar Games account is not eligible for migration at this time.' If you think I'm throwing away nearly 700 hours of gameplay on one character so that you can make a few more bucks off me, then you can lick my orifice clean," another says, pointing out how Rockstar's migration from the original version of GTA 5 on PC appears to be having some issues.Even some of the more positive reviews have slammed Rockstar's removal of chat functionality, although fans are still pleased with the visual upgrades although they're torn on performance. Some have praised the high frame rates, while others have said performance is worse than the original version, now dubbed GTA 5 Legacy.Compounding the issue, Rockstar has delisted the original version of the game unless players buy the Enhanced bundle.Article continues below"Notice: At the request of the publisher, Grand Theft Auto V Legacy is unlisted on the Steam store and will not appear in search," a box on the Steam page reads.For more on GTA 6, check out why the Xbox may get a big boost from its launch, as well as everything we know about the game so far.For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.

First things first: do we really need a new take on Starship Troopers? Paul Verhoevens 1997 adaptation of Robert Heinleins classic 1959 novel has become a classic in its own right, satirizing ideas about fascism and the military-industrial complex with a uniquely potent cheekiness. It also gave us Neil Patrick Harris as a psychic who talks to alien bugs, Denise Richards as a kick-ass starship pilot, and Michael Ironside as a grizzled yet fierce squad leaderplus squishy violence, weird sports, and quotable lines galore. With 1997s Starship Troopers creeping back into pop-culture consciousness last year thanks to Helldivers 2, it makes sense that Hollywood would want to capitalize with a new film version. As the Hollywood Reporter has revealed, Columbia has tapped Neill Blomkamp (District 9, Elysium, Chappie) to write and direct. Sci-fi is certainly an arena Blomkamp is well familiar with, though his last two features were outside the genre: 2021 horror film Demonic and 2023 sports drama Gran Turismo. But since his breakthrough with 2009s District 9, hes also been associated with a few high-profile projects that didnt end up getting off the ground, including entries in the Alien and RoboCop franchises. (RoboCop, which was also directed by Paul Verhoeven, is now slated to become a Prime Video streaming series.) However, the past is the past, and Blomkamp may yet find his next sci-fi success in the far-future setting of Starship Troopers. And it sounds like for all the fans of the 1997 movie, this new project will represent a fresh spin on Heinleins story; as THR notes, Blomkamps take is not a remake of the Verhoeven movie, and sources say the goal is to go back to the source material. What do you think about a new Starship Troopers? Add your own Would you like to know more? joke here, if you must. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

Oh, how innocent we were at the end of January, only three episodes into the second season of Severance. We didnt even know what Salts Neck was, or where Ms. Caseys been tucked away! We may have a slightly better idea of what the hell is going on as Apple TV+s sci-fi sensation/internet obsession heads into its season two finale next weekbut there are still secrets galore lurking in Lumons hallways. With that in mind, its time to revisit io9s earlier post running through our most burning Severance questions and see where they now standand you know weve got plenty of new ones, too. First, heres a rundown of our early-season questionssome of which weve since learned the answers to. Where is Ms. Casey? In episode seven, Chikhai Bardo, we got a detailed backstory of Gemma (later known as Ms. Casey) and Marks relationship, from their first meet-cute at a blood drive, to their blissful early days of marriage, to their devastating struggles with infertility. We also learned that Gemma has been literally beneath Marks feet the entire time; with a variety of severed personalities activated depending on which room she enters, shes been undergoing a series of highly unpleasant experiences on Lumons testing floor, which is even more underground than the severed floor. Apple TV+ How did Gemma become Ms. Caseyand why? We dont have precise details yet on either of these, though we do have some more clues to go on. We know that Gemma and Mark visited a fertility clinic run by Lumon, and that Gemma remained in contact with the place, or at least received follow-up mail (the Chikhai Bardo card came with some sort of personality test) associated with it. We also saw the night she left alone for an event that Mark did not want to attend and never came home, with a pair of police showing up to deliver the sad (fake) news of her fate. While we dont know exactly how she became Ms. Caseywas she kidnapped? A willing participant until realizing what shed actually agreed to?we have a slightly less foggy idea of why. Based on episode seven, we know shes being held against her will, and that Marks work as a Macrodata Refiner has shaped her experiences on the testing floor. We also know based on this weeks episode, The After Hours, that when Mark finishes his most important work file, the all-important Cold Harbor, Gemmas life will end.We dont know, of course, any of the big-picture stuff, like what exactly Lumon plans to do with the results of this barbaric experiment, and what future implications it may have. What is Cold Harbor? See above. We have no idea whats actually waiting for Gemma in the room, but its going to be way more awful than being on a plane thats seemingly about to crash, a painful afternoon at the dentist, or a passive-aggressive Christmas spent writing inane thank-you notes. After Chikhai Bardo, it seemed plausible Cold Harbor would be where Gemma would re-experience her miscarriage over and over, but now that we know its designed to be fatalcould it be a car crash that actually kills her? What is Ms. Cobels plan and whats in Salts Neck? Thanks to episode eight, Sweet Vitriol, a lot of Ms. Cobels backstory has been fleshed out. We know she grew up in a Lumon company town thats now nearly deserted, and that most everyone who still lives there isthanks to Lumonan ether addict. We learned Cobels mother, who was one of those ether addicts while she was alive, hated Lumon. We also learned Cobel was a gifted student who earned the prestigious Wintertide Fellowship, and that Jame Eagan stole her designs for the severance procedure and passed the invention off as his own.That all certainly explains a lot of her behavior until now: her eerie devotion to the cult of Kier, something shes been entangled with her entire life; her creepy interest in Mark both inside and out of work (since his completion of Cold Harbor is somehow tied into the success of severance), her extreme reaction when she was fired from Lumon, and (as we saw in The After Hours) her apparent decision to help Mark and Devon right as Gemmas time is running out. Where is Kier, PE? Still no idea. But its not just snowy roads: you can take a train far, far away if you need to escape Kier, like Irving does in The After Hours. Apple TV+ Whos on the board? Still no idea. The only Eagans weve met are Jame and Helena. Could there be more? What is the deal with Natalie? Again, no idea. If the season finale reveals Natalie is an innie whose outie is the complete opposite of PR person with a death-ray smile, it wouldnt be entirely surprising. Why does Lumon want Ricken to re-write his book for innies? Yet again, we dont know, other than perhaps it was a way for Lumon to keep its hooks in Marks familysince we now know exactly how valuable he is to the company. Ricken hasnt been seen much in season two, though his portrayal in the Chikhai Bardo flashback suggests his overly mannered personality used to be a lot more charming. The episode was all about Mark and Gemma, but it also showed the audience that Devon and Rickens relationship isnt as mismatched as it appears to be in the shows present day.Why is Miss Huang a kid? This we now know: like Ms. Cobel before her, little Eustace is a Wintertide Fellow. She and Mr. Milchick never worked very well together, but he did allow her to graduate. In The After Hours, we see her being sent away from the Lumon office (and her parents, its pointedly mentioned) for a new posting in Svalbard, probably one of few places on Earth thats colder than Kier. Apple TV+ Why did Helly lie about her Overtime Contingency experience? We learned the answer to that in episode four, Woes Hollow. It wasnt Helly in that scene, it was the duplicitous Helena Eagan. She was faking that she was her innie in order to spy on MDR. Who is outie Irv talking to on pay phones? We dont know, and we may never know, since The After Hours saw Irv and his dog board that train out of Kier, courtesy of Burt, with explicit instructions never to return. The best guess is that he was somehow tied into the anti-severance movement, and was speaking to a contact that probably helped him compile that list of names and addresses of severed workers (including Burt). Whats up with the Exports Hall? We knew it led to the testing floor, since we saw Ms. Casey walking down that long hallway at the end of season one; in season two, its where Dr. Mauer wheels his dental tools, and Ms. Caseys would-be escape route when she tries to find her way out of captivity in Chikhai Bardo. But we dont know why it was haunting Irvings thoughts, so much so that his outie painted images of it over and over. With help from Felicia in Optics and Design, Irvs innie left behind some very convoluted directions to find its entrance, which Helly R. gets ahold of after Dylanthe intended recipientimpulsively quits MDR in The After Hours.How will Marks reintegration go? It hasnt been smooth sailing, with sudden nosebleeds, the persistent couch, what appeared to be a seizure followed by a brief lapse into a coma, and some confusing consciousness blips. The only medical professional who knows his secret, Reghabi, took herself out of the equation when Devon decided to phone Ms. Cobel. So thats not very reassuring. Are the Macrodata Refiners actually doing anything? While the details arent entirely clear, we know their work sorting scary numbers and completing files named for places (Allentown Cold Harbor) has some kind of impact on the testing floor. Apple TV+ THE GOATS We havent seen a goat since episode three, Who Is Alive?unless you count production-design details like the goat statue on the altar belonging to Ms. Cobels Kier-devoted aunt, seen in Sweet Vitriol. The goat represents malice, one of the four tempers mentioned as having been tamed by Kier Eagan as part of his extensive lore. As to what practical purpose the goats in Lumon serve, and why the employees who take care of them are so oddball, we dont yet have an answer. Now, lets dig into the newest questions currently keeping Severance fans up at night, especially now that theres just one episode left to go. Apple TV+ What plan will Cobel, Mark, and Devon come up with? When last we saw this unlikely trio, theyd gathered in one of the severance-rigged cabins at the birthing retreatgreat idea from Devon, by the wayso that Cobel could talk to Marks innie. Mark and Devon want to rescue Gemma from her Cold Harbor fate, and Cobel has some serious explaining to do, both to the Scout siblings and to the very curious audience. So what will their next move be? As weve seen, you cant exactly barge your way onto Lumons severed floor much less infiltrate the testing floor below. But as weve also seen, Lumons security can be surprisingly porous sometimeslike when the innies pulled off the overtime contingency mission in season one, for instance. And speaking of that birthing retreat scene WTF? Well be haunted by Ms. Cobels description of Devon (pretending to be a Lumon employee) as a woman needing discreet entry into the birthing retreat because shes one of James. What does that mean, exactly? One of James what? Willing or unwilling vessels for his Eagan seed? You cant just let that twist in the wind, Severance! Will Mr. Milchick continue to rebel against Mr. Drummond specifically and maybe Lumon at large? Mr. Milchick standing up to Mr. Drummond, correctly pointing out that whatever Mark does when hes not at work isnt something he can controltrue for any job, but especially since Mark is severed and becomes a completely different person when he steps off that elevator and goes homewas an unexpectedly delightful moment in The After Hours. Its felt like Mr. Milchick is on the brink of breaking from his good-soldier routine for a few episodes now (his reaction to the paintings, his performance review ordeal). Could he become an unexpected innie ally as the season draws to a close? Apple TV+ Is this the last weve seen of Dylan, Irving, and Burt? Its pretty clear Miss Huang has departed for goodbut what about these other characters? All had what could be final send-offs in The After Hours. You have to hope well at least see what happens to Dylan and his outies wife, Gretchen, and maybe learn if Burt will face consequences for seemingly breaking Lumon farewell protocol with Irving.Will Mark have to choose between Gemma and Helly R.? It would be a love triangle except one of the points is two different men contained in a single body. Mark S. loves Helly R. and Mark loves Gemma. No matter what, someone is going to get their heart brokenas we saw with Dylans agonizing storyline in The After Hours. How will he choose? Or will the decision be made for him, maybe to the point that nobody ends up happy? Will Gemma die in the Cold Harbor room? Will the sinister Helena Eagan triumph in permanently erasing her much, much cooler innie? And speaking of Helly R why is Jame Eagan creeping on MDR? Who does he think hes confronting in one of the final scenes in The After Hourshis daughter, or her innie, who he considers to be less than human? Why does he want Helena to eat her breakfast eggs raw rather than hard-boiled? No answers. Only questions here. That brings us to the inevitable biggest questions of all. How will Severance set up season threewill fans be left dangling on another cliffhanger like the end of season one? And by the way, when will Apple TV+ confirm season three is on the way? And how long will we have to wait to see more? The Severance season two finale, ominously titled Cold Harbor, arrives next Friday. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

There are a lot of things that you might expect to see at an Australian high school. Backpacks filled to the brim with books? Sure. Forgotten pencils and half-finished pages of homework? Definitely. But a stone slab stamped with dozens of fossilized dinosaur tracks? That might be a little lower on your list.As surprising as it may seem, however, Biloela State High School in Queensland has long been home to one of Australias most footprint-filled stones from the Early Jurassic period. Described for the first time in a paper published in Historical Biology, the boulder features 66 fossilized dinosaur footprints from around 200 million years ago more than any other boulder of the same size from Australia.The footprints are from 47 individual dinosaurs, which passed across a patch of wet, white clay, said Anthony Romilio, the primary author of the paper and the paleontologist who identified the tracks, in a press release. Its an unprecedented snapshot of dinosaur abundance, movement, and behavior from a time when no fossilized dinosaur bones have been found in Australia.Schoolyard StoneDiscovered by miners in the Dunn Creek area of the Callide Basin in Queensland and donated to Biloela State High School in 2002, the significance of the stone was overlooked for about two decades. But after Romilio found fossilized dinosaur tracks on other stones from the area, he turned to the Biloela State slab, which he found smattered with fossilized footprints from dinosaurs.Significant fossils like this can sit unnoticed for years, even in plain sight, the University of Queensland researcher said in a press release. Its incredible to think that a piece of history this rich was resting in a schoolyard all this time.Read More: Why Are Fossils Only Found in Sedimentary Rocks?Filling In With FootprintsClosely studying the stone, Romilio obtained impressive insights into the dinosaurs behind the tracks. With advanced 3D imaging and light filters, I was able to reveal hidden details in the footprints, he said in a release. Varying in size from tiny to small to slightly larger than small, the tracks themselves were left by two-legged ornithischian dinosaurs, likely as they walked along or across a waterway. Each footprint has three toes, indicating they belong to the ichnospecies Anomoepus scambus, Romilio added in a release. Like all other ichnospecies, this taxon is identifiable not by fossilized bones but by fossilized tracks. But these footprints say a lot about the ornithischians of Australias Early Jurassic period. The size and the spacing of the tracks indicate that these dinosaurs were small, for instance, with long legs that were around 6 to 20 inches in length. They also indicate that these dinosaurs moved at a moderate pace, walking at around 4 miles per hour. Evidence from skeletal fossils overseas tells us dinosaurs with feet like these were plant eaters, Romilio said in a release. Equipped with bulky bodies, these dinosaurs also boasted long legs, short arms, and small heads with beaks. Without fossilized bones from the time period, very little has been determined about the dinosaurs of Australias Early Jurassic. But where bones are absent, footprints fill in, divulging important information about the presence, abundance, and activity of dinosaurs that wouldve otherwise been forgotten to time. Models of the stone are available online, alongside models of two other fossil-filled stones from the area, also attributed to A. scambus and also described in the Historical Biology paper. Accessible to all, these digitized footprints are now able to be seen not just by the students and teachers of Biloela State High School but by the world. Article SourcesOur writers at Discovermagazine.com use peer-reviewed studies and high-quality sources for our articles, and our editors review for scientific accuracy and editorial standards. Review the sources used below for this article:Sam Walters is a journalist covering archaeology, paleontology, ecology, and evolution for Discover, along with an assortment of other topics. Before joining the Discover team as an assistant editor in 2022, Sam studied journalism at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.

Nature, Published online: 12 March 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00783-zBlue-lined octopuses immobilize their partners with venom to avoid being eaten after sex. Plus, astronomers have discovered 128 new moons orbiting Saturn.

Nature, Published online: 12 March 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00548-8Ultrathin metals have been prepared using a benchtop hydraulic press allowing the fascinating properties of the resulting 2D materials to be observed.