taste the flavor Physicists unlock another clue to brewing the perfect espresso "Channeling" during brewing process can lead to non-uniform filtration and lower extraction yield. Jennifer Ouellette Mar 17, 2025 11:30 am | 18 Credit: Mirek Kazmierczak Credit: Mirek Kazmierczak Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreMany variables can affect the quality of a steaming cup of espresso, including so-called "channeling" during the brewing process, in which the water doesn't seep uniformly through the grounds but branches off in various preferential paths instead. This significantly reduces the extraction yield and thus the quality of the final brew. Scientists from the University of Warsaw have gleaned insights into the underlying physics of channeling that will help coffee lovers achieve more consistent results when brewing espresso. They presented their preliminary findings at the American Physical Society's Global Physics Summit in Anaheim, California, this morning.As previously reported, there's an official industry standard for brewing espresso, courtesy of the Specialty Coffee Association, which sets out strict guidelines for its final volume (2535 mL, or roughly 1 ounce) and preparation. The water must be heated to 92 to 95C (197 to 203F) and forced (at a specific pressure) through a bed of 7 to 9 grams (about a quarter of an ounce) of finely ground coffee for 20 to 30 seconds. But most coffee shops don't follow this closely, as the brewing machines allow baristas to configure water pressure, temperature, and other key variables to their liking. The result of all those variations in technique is a great deal of variability in quality and taste.Naturally, scientists find this fascinating. For instance, in 2020, Christopher Hendon's lab at the University of Oregon helped devise a mathematical model for brewing the perfect cup of espresso over and over while minimizing waste. Hendon is a computational materials chemist, and his lab holds regular coffee hours for the Eugene campus community. The researchers focused on an easily measurable property known as the extraction yield (EY): the fraction of coffee that dissolves into the final beverage. That, in turn, depends on controlling water flow and pressure as the liquid percolates through the coffee grounds.Hendon et al. based their model on how lithium ions propagate through a battery's electrodes, akin to how caffeine molecules dissolve from coffee grounds. They concluded that the most reproducible thing you can do is use fewer coffee beans and opt for a coarser grind with a bit less water; brew time was largely irrelevant.Three years later, Hendon's team showedhow adding a single squirt of water to coffee beans before grinding can significantly reduce the static electric charge on the resulting grounds. This in turn reduces clumping during brewing, yielding less waste and the strong, consistent flow needed to produce a tasty cup of espresso. Good baristas already employ the water trick; it's known as the Ross droplet technique. But this was the first time scientists have rigorously tested that well-known hack and measured the actual charge on different types of coffee.Coffee-curiousThis latest work focuses less on the chemical changes that occur during the brewing process and more on the mechanical and physical processes. "To a physicist, brewing coffee is a reactive flow through a complex porous medium that undergoes dynamic reconfigurationa fascinatingly complex phenomenon," Maciej Lisicki, a physicist at the University of Warsaw in Poland, told Ars. "This exploration is in part motivated by many myths or assumptions that function in the coffee community. Since many people have a religious attitude towards their favorite drink, there are beliefs about the details of the process (and the do's and don'ts), which we would love to clarify and learn for sure." There are many variables during the brewing process that can affect the quality of a cup of espresso. Mirek Kazmierczak There are many variables during the brewing process that can affect the quality of a cup of espresso. Mirek Kazmierczak The ability to control for such variables will make it easier to make the perfect cup every time. Mirek Kazmierczak The ability to control for such variables will make it easier to make the perfect cup every time. Mirek Kazmierczak There are many variables during the brewing process that can affect the quality of a cup of espresso. Mirek Kazmierczak The ability to control for such variables will make it easier to make the perfect cup every time. Mirek Kazmierczak Lisicki leads a team of coffee aficionados, which meshes nicely with the lab's long interest in culinary fluid dynamics and their love of the annual Warsaw Coffee Festival. When a barista friend asked them about the phenomenon of channeling, the team decided to investigate. "Channeling is something we actually want to mitigate," said Lisicki. "It is something the barista cannot control, so by minimizing the chance that a channel appears, you maximize the repeatability."Channeling is similar to the phenomenon of dissolving rocks, another example of a porous medium that colleagues have studied. "We thought it would be a simple and easy project where we could apply their methods and quickly obtain valuable results, but it turns out that the process of coffee brewing is much more complex," Franciszek Myck, who presented results at the APS meeting, told Ars. "It turns out we had to learn quite a lot on the way to be able to decompose the process of brewing into small steps and understand what is going on, both in terms of the physics and the mechanics of the machine, to be able to gain full control of the process, from the moment a roasted grain enters the lab to the magical liquid filling the mouth with all its complex aromas."The team initially tried to use a simple home coffee machine for their experiments but eventually partnered with Coffeelab, a major roaster in Poland, and CoffeeMachineSale, the largest global distributor of roasting gear. This brought industrial-grade equipment and much professional coffee expertise to the project: state-of-the-art grinders, for instance, and a cafe-grade espresso machine, tricked out with a pressure sensor, flow meter, and a set of scales. The entire setup was connected to laboratory laptops via a microchip and controlled with custom software that allowed the scientists to precisely monitor pressure, mass, and water flowing through the coffee. Team members prepare another experiment Mirek Kazmierczak Team members prepare another experiment Mirek Kazmierczak Coffee lovers, unite! Mirek Kazmierczak Coffee lovers, unite! Mirek Kazmierczak Team members prepare another experiment Mirek Kazmierczak Coffee lovers, unite! Mirek Kazmierczak The scientists measured the total dissolved solids to determine the rate at which coffee is dissolved, comparing brews without a channel to those with artificially induced channels. They found that, indeed, channeling adversely affected extraction yields. However, channeling does not have an impact on the rate at which water flows through the espresso puck."That is mostly due to the structural rearrangement of coffee grounds under pressure," Lisicki said. "When the dry coffee puck is hit with water under high pressureas high as 10 times the atmospheric pressure, so roughly the pressure 100 meters below the sea surfaceit compacts and swells up. So even though water can find a preferential path, there is still significant resistance limiting the flow."The team is now factoring their results into numerical and theoretical models of porous bed extraction. They are also compiling an atlas of the different kinds of espresso pucks based on micro-CT imaging of the coffee."What we have found can help the coffee industry brew with more knowledge," said Myck. "Many people follow procedures based on unconfirmed intuitions or claims which prove to have confirmation. What's more, we have really interesting data regarding pressure-induced flow in coffee, the results of which have been a surprise to us as well. Our approach may let us finally understand the magic that happens inside your coffee machine."Jennifer OuelletteSenior WriterJennifer OuelletteSenior Writer Jennifer is a senior writer at Ars Technica with a particular focus on where science meets culture, covering everything from physics and related interdisciplinary topics to her favorite films and TV series. Jennifer lives in Baltimore with her spouse, physicist Sean M. Carroll, and their two cats, Ariel and Caliban. 18 Comments

2025-03-18T00:08:02Z Read in app Honor of Kings, a Chinese mobile game, involves players controlling a champion and battling with others for victory. CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now.Have an account? Tencent's "Honor of Kings" has more than 100 million daily active users.The most common gaming mode involves 10 players in two teams of five duking it out for victory.It and other offerings in Tencent's stable of mobile games are reaping big bucks for the company.I have a confession. I've gotten myself hooked on another game, and this time, it's bad.Like many video game fans worldwide, I've experienced the sheer joy of marauding through the landscapes of "Baldur's Gate 3," and fighting devastatingly beautiful characters in the "Final Fantasy VII" remakes. But somehow, the offerings from the Western and Japanese studios behind these two games haven't quite ruined my social life like Tencent's "Honor of Kings" has.This author plays on the game's Chinese server, which has been around for close to ten years. It has an international server, too, which launched in June.Gameplay-wise, it feels much like a pared-down version of Riot Games' "League of Legends." One of the most common gameplay modes ranked battles involves a similar method of play to "League." Five players on each side charge down three lanes and attempt to slay each other, dismantle warding towers, and break the opponent's crystal.I'm a longtime mid-laner in "League," but my 1,000 games on "Honor of Kings" have seen me swapping to other lanes for variation.What I've found really addictive about "Honor of Kings" besides the brutal, relentless climb from rank to rank that's wrecked my sleep cycle is its sprawling world.The characters' names, from Zhu Geliang to Li Bai, are familiar to me. Some are based on Chinese historical figures, while others are based on Chinese mythology. The in-game world is also rich and interconnected, with a wealth of 684 skins and 123 collectible characters.That's no accident. Tencent, with its solid gameplay and world building, has a thriving game that's going strong after nearly a decade. The company marked a milestone of 100 million daily active users in October.Thomas Sharpe, a video game developer and adjunct assistant professor at Temple University, said "Honor of Kings" nails facets of gaming more than international competitors."The combination of extremely high production values, ongoing community support, and tight gameplay design is an achievement very few studios in the world can accomplish," he said."Honor of Kings" is part of a stable of mobile game offerings that are reaping big bucks for Tencent."During the third quarter of 2024, we delivered robust revenue growth in our games business, underpinned by consistent performance of evergreen games globally and contributions from new games with evergreen potential," Tencent's CEO, Pony Ma, said on the company's November earnings call.Tencent's third-quarter domestic game revenue grew 14% year-on-year to 37.3 billion yuan, driven by games like Honor of Kings, Valorant, and the first-person shooter Peacekeeper Elite.China's gaming industry is gaining groundSharpe called "Honor of Kings" a "prime example of a live-service gaming blockbuster."Sharpe said the game is also built for and deliberately targets a Chinese audience. That investment in Chinese-inspired lore spawned a cast of heroes that lends itself to a rich, lore-driven world build, with "endless variety" for players.The game's "cosmetic-driven monetization strategy" is also one of its top draws, Sharpe said."The allure of unlockable skins and cosmetics increases alongside the game's cultural relevance. The social value of owning a rare skin is only meaningful if you can show it off within a passionate community of like-minded players," Sharpe said.Sharpe added that despite China's regulations on playtime and video game content, the size of "Honor of Kings" and the resources its juggernaut of a parent company has allowed it to remain dominant in the market some 10 years after its release."Honor of Kings'" success is emblematic of what the Chinese gaming industry is getting right that Western mobile game studios need to pay attention to, he said."Across mobile, desktop, and console development, Western studios are re-evaluating how to design games for broader global appeal, particularly to attract the rapidly expanding Chinese audience," he added. "While developers continue to refine strategies for engaging this market, it's clear that the industry can no longer afford to overlook the enormous influence and potential of the Chinese gaming market."

2025-03-17T23:33:01Z Read in app The author needed therapy after she was laid off the first time. Courtesy of the author This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now.Have an account? The first time I was laid off, my son was 11 months old. We had a 9% mortgage and diapers for him, but the loss of my job hit me hard emotionally.The experience taught me to let go of shame and that job losses are a blip in our life. On January 27, 2009, The Daily Show covered the continuing onslaught of jobs in what would later be called "The Great Recession." Jon Stewart announced that Pfizer, GE, and other large companies laid off thousands of employees that day. I was one of them, receiving my call from my Fortune 100 company that morning.Our only son was a freshman at a pricey private university in an expensive East Coast city. He had merit scholarships, but we were on the hook for four years of housing and travel. Still, that was not my career's worst day, far from it. I walked away with a year's Cadillac-plan health insurance, a lump sum, and bonuses I had saved. Our son was deep into his studies and social life and mostly oblivious to what happened at home. My husband was tenured and a full professor.I survived because of what I learned after another layoff.I was first laid off when he was a babyWhen our son was 11 months old, my position in marketing management was eliminated. My boss and the human resources director invited me to the executive conference room. I learned that five service lines and employees were cut. I could not return to my cubicle, someone fetched my purse, and later, I received my possessions in a cardboard box via the mail.Mortgage rates were high, and a month before our son was born, we had purchased our first home at an interest above 9%. My husband was still working on tenure; our son needed diapers, day care, and all the costly accouterments of toddlerhood.Before my layoff, I had been struggling with post-partum depression. I had a miscarriage, my third early pregnancy loss, when our son was 5 months old. When I got home from my layoff meeting, I lay on the couch and barely got up for three months. Losing the job added to my despair, and I felt shame and embarrassment.Therapy helped me get outDepressed, I stopped eating and watched 13-inch black-and-white TV all day, enduring Kathie Lee Gifford's insufferable daily motherhood segment on "Regis and Kathie Lee."I didn't hold the baby for weeks. My husband took him to and from the sitter. In addition to working full-time, he cooked and cleaned. He went through hell, holding all three of us together. He was a rock star.When my doctor told me, "You are a nervous mother," and prescribed Valium, my husband suggested a new doctor. My new female doctor sent me to therapy. With help, I pulled myself by my fingernails out of the dark well into the light.I felt better and took my son to the mall in his stroller. Two former co-workers waved me over to their food court table. "Is life terrible?" one asked. I felt their pity and contempt as if I wore a huge scarlet A.I wasn't dead I was walking with my beautiful child. Seeing these two men who hadn't been fired changed something inside me. And what I saw behind their sorrow for me was their fear they could lose their jobs. I wasn't afraid to lose a job anymoreI learned that I could control how I felt about myself.I also lost the fear of losing my job, having learned I could survive. The latter is a huge asset.As life returned to normal, I enjoyed time with my family. I've learned to treasure ordinary days without chaos, illness, and maybe a blue sky and sunshine. Nine months after losing my job, I started a better one.I still feel guilty about how I ignored my child and left everything to my husband after my first layoff. Our family has experienced difficulties in 40 years and shared memorable times. I no longer feel shame, and those two job losses seem like a blip on a large radar screen. My first firing shaped a healthier attitude about life for me and strengthened our family despite the bad times. That we recover from our struggles is the best lesson we could give our son.

Theres a new Looney Tunes movie out in theaters with The Day the Earth Blew Upbut if its gotten you excited to spend more time with the classic characters, youll have to look further than Warner Bros. Discoverys Max. We cant imagine whos grinding an axe over there, but the studios classic Looney Tunes library has been scrubbed from its streamer for now. To make matters more distressing, if you look at movie showtimes for The Day the Earth Blew Up, which is being released by Ketchup Entertainment, youll note that screenings will shrink down after Wednesdayso if you want to see it on the big screen, better go ASAP. Finding where to watch the cartoons, however is a whole separate headache. If youre a fan of animation, were always going to say the only way to have the Looney Tunes collection at the ready is to simply buy them on physical media. For whatever reason, the gold standard of cartoons is getting an unfathomable level of disrespect for a franchise thats still recognizable by every generation for the studio it helped builda studio that attempted to scrap the feature length animated movie out in theaters now, and shelved the live-action animated hybrid Coyote vs. Acme. So, yeah, youll be out of luck if you search for classic Looney Tunes, circa the 1930s through the 1960s, on Max, the streamer where Warner Bros. houses its films and TV shows. Meanwhile, merchandising of the characters is still going strong. Fandom fashion retailer BoxLunch just released a Looney Tunes jersey that harkens to the classic Baseball Bugs short; luxury socks company Jimmy Lion also recently debuted a themed collection. Unlike Disney, Looney Tunes presence on street wear is more often seen as timeless cool. So the fact that WB just made its classic series harder to watch is confounding, especially since theyre probably the most recognizable brand of cartoons on the planet.I can more easily expose new people to their animated likeness on a shirt or meme than quickly tell them where to watch Looney Tunes classics. Its like the various streaming platforms are performing that cups and ball magic trick; the cartoons are the ball that keeps disappearing, and fans have to constantly guess which cup theyre under. If we wanted to play games, there are already some that put Looney Tunes alongside todays most popular mobile offerings, including the characters return on an upcoming campaign with Stumble Guys. The Looney Tunes are so engrained in the zeitgest visually that younger generations more than likely recognize them from clothes, memes, and games than their own legacy in animation. Even if you grew up in the 80s and 90s, Looney Tunes were on constant rotation on Cartoon Network and Boomerang or had more accessible spin-offs like Tiny Toons. At least you can still watch WB Animation and Amblins Tiny Toons: Looniversity and Bugs Bunny Builders on Max. Sadly thanks to the sea of content on the internet, Looney Tunes real contribution to entertainment is harder to discover. If only we could link the shorts whose frames are often lifted for memes to show that these works of art are just as funny as the reactions theyre used for. Its important not to lose touch with animation thats not CG crap or AI-generatedso take the time to enjoy, share, and revisit these gems before they get the Dip treatment from Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Where to watch Looney Tunes classics (for now) Looney Tunes classics on Rokuyour best bet; its easily accessible and free (unlike Max). MeTV Toonsa channel dedicated to the classic Saturday morning cartoons youll need to check your local listings to find. The Looney Tunes Show and The Sylvester and Tweety Mysteries on Tubi starting April 1. Select Looney Tunes Cartoons on Warner Classics YouTube or WB Kidsharder to track down but you can make a playlist. Space Jam is currently on Netflix; its sequel Space Jam: A New Legacy as well as the underrated Looney Tunes: Back in Action are not streaming on any service. 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.

By Germain Lussier Published March 17, 2025 | Comments (2) | Colin Farrell, seen here in 2000's Tigerland, may be suiting up again as DC's Sgt. Rock. Image: Fox DC Studios may have found its Sgt. Rock on the dirty streets of Gotham City. Colin Farrell, currently basking in the accolades of playing another DC characteron The Penguin, is currently circling the role of Sgt. Rock, a film thatll be directed by Challengers helmer Luca Guadagnino. Deadline broke the news of the potential casting and cleared up the question you may have right now. No, its not an issue if Farrell is both Sgt. Rock and the Penguin. The former will be part of James Gunn and Peter Safrans DC Universe and the latter is part of Matt Reeves Epic Crime Saga. So its two different DC worldsand this casting news all but solidifies that these worlds will not be crossing over. Sorry to anyone who thought Robert Pattinson would be the new DC Batman. Thats not happening. As for Sgt. Rock, the project was a happy surprise to Gunn and Safran who explained earlier this year that Guadagnino and Challengers writer Justin Kuritzkes came in with something unique and they got on board. [Guadagnino and Kuritzkes] had a really interesting take on how to tell this story within the DCU, Safran said. Its a really compelling story about heroism in a time of armed conflict. we love the idea of being able to tell something that, its a war movie. Original rumors said Daniel Craig would play the role but Gunn and Safran explained he was never officially in talks. This, however, seems much more real. If Farrell can find the time to do it in his busy schedule, that is. io9 reached out to DC Studios for comment or clarification and will update this story if or when we hear back. What ar your thoughts on Farrell as Sgt. Rock? Would you be okay with him playing two DC characters? Let us know below. 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.Daily NewsletterYou May Also Like By Isaiah Colbert Published March 4, 2025 By Germain Lussier Published February 27, 2025 By Germain Lussier Published February 25, 2025 By Germain Lussier Published February 24, 2025 By Germain Lussier Published February 24, 2025 By Germain Lussier Published February 24, 2025

Ghibli Park Valley of Witches / Studio Ghibli + NIHON SEKKEISave this picture!Howl's Castle. Image J-LIGHTS / Koichiro ItamuraArchitects: NIHON SEKKEIArtists: Studio GhibliYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2024 Photographs Architectural Design: Masahiko Oyama, Harumi Sakurai, Tetsuya Isotani, Mizuki Kato, Takuma Nishimura, Mizuki Murayasu, Yoshifumi Yamamoto / NIHON SEKKEI More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. Ghibli Park inherits the philosophy of EXPO 2005 Aichi, Japan, which aimed to "learn from the mechanism of nature, solve global issues, and create a sustainable society." The project represents the world, values, and perspective on nature of Studio Ghibli while ensuring their coexistence and continuity into the future.Save this picture!NIHON SEKKEI has set three design concepts: "Learning from Time," "Thinking of People," and "Nurturing the Environment." The project embraces traditional construction techniques while incorporating modern technology. The goal is to create a space that stimulates visitors' imagination and engages all five senses.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Under the supervision of Goro Miyazaki, director of several Studio Ghibli films and leader of this project, the spatial design was developed through meticulous review and continuous feedback. His sketches, combined with proposals from designers, were carefully reviewed and adjusted to ensure a faithful realization of the envisioned world. Throughout the development, discussions centered around questions such as "Why can't it be done?" and "How can we make it possible?" These ongoing dialogues, from planning to completion, represented some of the project's greatest challenges, requiring dedication and persistence.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!In " Valley of Witches," various traditional architectural techniques were employed to bring Ghibli's magical world to life. These included the hollow-core stacking method for brick masonry, complete dry-stone masonry, half-timber framing, and cruck truss structures. Key materials such as stone, brick, wood, iron, copper, plaster, and tiles were carefully selected and precisely combined. This fusion of historical architecture, modern technology, and the aesthetic of Ghibli's films resulted in a space that feels both timeless and immersive.Save this picture!The park's landscape was designed to integrate seamlessly with the natural topography, preserving the existing environment while enhancing the immersive quality of the space. The area was structured as a cohesive townscape, featuring buildings from Ghibli films alongside original elements. This thoughtful blend of reality and fantasy creates a dreamlike environment, allowing visitors to step in and out of Ghibli's world.Save this picture!Save this picture!Ghibli Park is designed to harmonize with the surrounding landscape, merging seamlessly with the existing park environment. This integration allows visitors to feel as though the entire park is an extension of the film worlds, where the boundary between story and reality beautifully dissolves.Save this picture!The Ghibli Park's 'Witch Valley' was awarded a Special Prize in the "2025 Japan Architecture AwardArchitecture Awards for Everyone" in appreciation of achieving broadened interest in architecture to new audiences. "Japan Architecture AwardArchitecture Awards for Everyone" is an architectural award selected by a nomination committee, consisting of approx. 30 professionals committed to promoting architecture to the general public and popular vote.Project gallerySee allShow lessProject locationAddress:Nagakute, Aichi, JapanLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officeNIHON SEKKEIOfficeStudio GhibliOfficePublished on March 17, 2025Cite: "Ghibli Park Valley of Witches / Studio Ghibli + NIHON SEKKEI" 17 Mar 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1027564/ghibli-park-valley-of-witches-studio-ghibli-plus-nihon-sekkei&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Gas emissions, earthquakes, and ground deformations. These are all signs that a volcano is about to erupt, and they are also all signs that have appeared at Mount Spurr, an active volcano in southcentral Alaska, around 80 miles west of Anchorage.According to the team at the Alaska Volcano Observatory, significantly elevated emissions of volcanic gas have been detected at the volcano the tallest in the Aleutian Arc this month, along with elevated earthquake activity and ground deformations, or shifts in the surface of the volcano. According to the teams statement from March 12, 2025, these signs indicate that an eruption is looming likely to occur within a few weeks or months.So, what, exactly, should be expected from the volcano if it does, indeed, erupt? An Explosive Volcano Eruption?According to the Alaska Volcano Observatory team, the increasing volcanic activity at Mount Spur is likely an indicator of an imminent explosive eruption, about as explosive as the eruptions that occurred at the volcano in 1953 and 1992. Including one or more explosive events, this sort of eruption would create ash clouds and cause ashfall over southcentral Alaska, the latter likely around a fourth-of-an-inch thick. It would also inundate the sides of Mount Spurr with a flow and shower of volcanic rock and ash.Though it is also possible that the volcano would erupt more or less explosively than it did in 1953 and 1992 or not erupt at all, these scenarios are less likely. The team says that a larger explosive eruption would result in larger ash clouds and thicker ashfall, while a smaller explosive eruption would result in smaller ash clouds and thinner ashfall, with fewer overall impacts. If the volcano doesnt erupt at all, gas emissions, earthquakes, and ground deformations would slowly decline, disappearing over a few weeks or months without ever escalating into an explosion.Since the eruptions of 1953 and 1992 have been the only eruptions of Mount Spurr in recent recorded history, it is unlikely that a future eruption would be more explosive. A less explosive burst, or no eruption at all, are thus the most likely of these less-likely scenarios, the team says. As for timing, the signs suggest that the eruption would be sometime soon, with additional elevations in gas emissions, earthquakes, and ground deformations occurring in the lead-up to the blast.Read More: 5 Things You Might Not Know About VolcanoesMount Spurr ReawakensThe volcanic activity at Mount Spurr has been ramping up for months, revealing the intrusions of magma beneath the volcano. Between December and March, these intrusions increased the daily release of sulfur dioxide from the volcanos summit vent by about 400 metric tons, from around 50 to 450 metric tons a day. The concentrations of carbon dioxide have also increased at Mount Spurr, at the summit vent, and the Crater Peak vent, around 2 miles south of the top of the volcano.In addition to these elevated gas emissions, the volcanologists at the Alaska Volcano Observatory have also recorded escalations in earthquakes and ground deformations, with over 100 earthquakes having occurred at Mount Spurr each week for at least the last month. Gas vents, also known as fumaroles, are also activating around the volcanos summit and Crater Peak vents, the latter being the location where the 1953 and the 1992 eruptions occurred.Though the impending eruption, if it occurs, is likely to look like the eruptions in 1953 and 1992, additional monitoring of the volcano by the Alaska Volcano Observatory team will mitigate the risk of a sudden or surprise blast for the inhabitants of the area around the volcano, which happens to be Alaskas most populated region. We expect additional changes to monitoring data prior to an eruption, the team reported in their March 12, 2025 statement. At the current level of unrest, we plan to conduct routine overflights to measure gas emissions, evaluate surface changes, and measure ground surface temperatures.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:Alaska Volcano Observatory. Alaska Volcano Observatory Information StatementAlaska Volcano Observatory. Spurr Current ActivitySam 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.

A Fijian crested iguana (Brachylophus vitiensis) resting on a coconut palm on the island of Fiji in the South Pacific. The four species of iguanas that inhabit Fiji and Tonga today are descended from ancestors that colonized the island within the past 34 million years, probably by rafting 5,000 miles across the Pacific Ocean from western North America. (Image Credit: Nicholas Hess)NewsletterSign up for our email newsletter for the latest science newsAbout 34 million years ago, iguanas sailed 5,000 miles from western North America and settled in Fiji. Its not uncommon for iguana species to hop a natural raft and drift to a new island, but according to new research published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, this may be the the longest known transoceanic dispersal of any terrestrial vertebrate."We found that the Fiji iguanas are most closely related to the North American desert iguanas, something that hadn't been figured out before, said lead study author Simon Scarpetta, a herpetologist, and paleontologist who is a former postdoctoral fellow at University of California Berkeley, in a press release.Iguanas and Overwater DispersalMost life that finds its way to newly-formed islands typically comes via overwater dispersal. Organisms such as plants and animals, and even humans, find their way to these new islands and take up residence. On these islands, new ecosystems and species form something that researchers such as Charles Darwin have always found fascinating.Different iguana species are found across the globe, and some are endemic to specific regions, like the Galapagos and Fiji. In previous research, scientists believed that the native Fiji iguanas were descendants of a different iguana species that had gone extinct, however, the new study suggests otherwise.Fiji Iguana LineageAccording to the study, it would appear that the iguana's arrival to Fiji coincides with the archipelagos formation. By studying the genetic divergence of Brachylophus, Fijis iguana species, from their closest relative, Dipsosaurus, North American desert iguanas, the research team determined that iguanas made it to Fiji about 30 million years to 34 million years ago.[The] lineage of Fiji iguanas split from their sister lineage relatively recently, much closer to 30 million years ago, either post-dating or at about the same time that there was volcanic activity that could have produced land," Scarpetta, who is now an assistant professor at University of South Florida in the Department of Environmental Science added in a press release.Other theories suggest that the iguanas came from other parts of South America or even Australia, but there is no fossil evidence to back this up. Its possible that a large storm swept the iguanas out to sea and they survived the journey because they could have gone long periods of time without food or water."You could imagine some kind of cyclone knocking over trees where there were a bunch of iguanas and maybe their eggs, and then they caught the ocean currents and rafted over," Scarpetta said in a press release.The study authors also note that if it were upturned trees that brought the iguanas to Fiji, the trees may have provided food.The Genetic OutliersBesides being expert sailors, it turns out that Brachylophus is an outlier among other iguana species. Theyre also endangered due to exotic animal poaching, habitat loss, and predation from an invasive rat species.To better understand where Brachylophus fits in the iguana family tree, Scarpetta analyzed genome-wide sequence DNA from genes and tissues of over 200 iguanian specimens. From there, he determined that Brachylophus and Dipsosaurus were most closely related."Iguanas and desert iguanas, in particular, are resistant to starvation and dehydration, so my thought process is if there had to be any group of vertebrate or any group of lizard that really could make an 8,000-kilometer (5,000-mile) journey across the Pacific on a mass of vegetation, a desert iguana-like ancestor would be the one," Scarpetta said in a press release.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:Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Iguanas rafted more than 8,000 km from North America to FijiA graduate of UW-Whitewater, Monica Cull wrote for several organizations, including one that focused on bees and the natural world, before coming to Discover Magazine. Her current work also appears on her travel blog and Common State Magazine. Her love of science came from watching PBS shows as a kid with her mom and spending too much time binging Doctor Who.1 free article leftWant More? Get unlimited access for as low as $1.99/monthSubscribeAlready a subscriber?Register or Log In1 free articleSubscribeWant more?Keep reading for as low as $1.99!SubscribeAlready a subscriber?Register or Log In

GDC 2025 is almost here, returning to San Francisco this week for five days full of invaluable talks, workshops, and networking opportunities, and theres an upcoming presentation that will be particularly exciting for game animation creatives.JALI Research (JALI), the company behind advanced automated lip sync and facial animation software solutions, known for its work with major animation and game studios like CD Projekt Red, Infinity Ward, Dont Nod Montreal, and Obsidian Entertainmentis set to present the Anim Revolution: a collaborative initiative that brings together leading production service providers and software and hardware innovators.Current partner companies include animation creative studio and virtual production partners, Immersive Enterprise Labs (IEL), and House of Moves, along with facial animation and real-time rigging technologies from JALI, Ozone Story Tech (Ozone), and mGear. The partnership also includes tablet displays from Xencelabs, with support from hardware and motion capture companies: Lenovo and Vicon.Through a series of live, interactive demo presentations, Anim Revolution partners will showcase their technological contributions, cinematic tools, and a fully integrated workflow that breaks free from linear production, including everything from concept design and 3D modeling to rigging, facial animation, digital drawing tools, and more, aimed at enhancing creativity in game animation.The idea for the Anim Revolution came to us back in 2024, after Ozone and JALI had collaborated at a couple of other previous trade shows, that there was a better way for friendly companies who complimented each other in a pipeline sense to showcase their capacity at trade shows, said Sarah Watling, CEO of JALI Research.We debuted this collaborative format at Siggraph 2024 in Denver, with Ozone as the presenting partner, plus Jim Hensons Digital Puppets, AMD, and CG Lumberjack. We showcased an entirely different character asset and a similar interactive workflow. We wanted the visual vibe of Anim Revolution to evoke the spirit of a concert tour, and weve carried that through to the creative for GDC. And, in addition to it being great fun, it has created organic trust and support among the partners that has allowed us to open up new business opportunities for one another as well as push each others tech and workflows further than if we were going it alone.GDC attendees are invited to visit the Anim Revolution booth #S341 at Moscone Center. In dynamic mainstage presentations during the conference, partner representatives will interact with exciting new character assets from Outpost, an original mini-game cinematic, created by House of Moves, written and storyboarded by Mark Bristol, and Fate or Fortune: Whims of Destiny, an animation improv experience created by Immersive Enterprise Labs, directed by Mark Andrews.Attendees are also encouraged to explore partner demo stations throughout the booth, where various solutions will be displayed on Xencelabs tablets. These demos will feature original intellectual properties, artwork, and software, showcasing how seamlessly integrated animation technologies can enhance game production from concept design to final execution.Ahead of the conference, we asked the team a couple of questions about the initiative:You mentioned Anim Revolution partners seamlessly integrated workflow, could you please elaborate and explain which stages this workflow includes?Anim Revolution partners will showcase cutting-edge tools and workflows that break free from linear production. By embracing an iterative approach, these innovations, from concept design and 3D modeling to rigging, facial animation, and digital drawing, enable creators to scale content faster, more efficiently, and at lower costs, developing rich IP ecosystems across multiple media platforms.Whats the real problem in game animation that youre aiming to solve with Anim Revolution, and why does it matter?One common trait among Anim Revolution partners is a deep pipeline sensibility and understanding that successful integration of any tool requires awareness of upstream and downstream processes. Many tools exist to solve specific game development pipeline challenges, but true innovation comes from knowing how best to leverage them in concert for maximum payoff. By creating these assets together, as the focal point for these trade shows, we get to showcase our new technologies and workflows in action, on original IP, and not just in isolation This approach highlights how each tool enhances others, offering a clearer picture of the increased capacity a development team can achieve. Its about showcasing results, not just tools.Weve all seen what happens when a studio or developer pulls together a new tech stack and learned that its more than just convenient API connective tissue that makes a pipeline high performance. This approach also allows us to do quick and actionable R&D to address any problems that we discover. This is not a common business practice among technology developers. said Watling.It also helps that we all want to see one another succeed so we can bring increased value to our respective customers and future projects.You can catch live presentations from some of the biggest names in animation at the Anim Revolution booth during GDC 2025 on Wednesday, March 19, and Thursday, March 20, at 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM, and Friday, March 21, at 11:00 AM.Also, join the Anim Revolution Happy Hour at the booth on Wednesday, March 19, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM, which the team describes as an excellent opportunity to relax and connect with a community of visionary storytellers.Visit the Anim Revolution website for a complete lineup of all partner presentations, which will also be accessible after the conference, and dont forget to join our 80 Level Talent platformand ournew Discord server, follow us onInstagram,Twitter,LinkedIn,Telegram,TikTok, andThreads,where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.Source link The post Witness the Future Of Animation At GDC 2025 With Industry Leaders Collaboration appeared first on CG SHARES.

Slip your hoods up, because its time to get stealthy. Lets check out the sneaky gameplay youll be getting from Ubisofts new game: Assassins Creed: Shadows! Presented by Asassin's Creed: Shadows