Resident Evil 9 is tipped for a reveal this year, but with fans holding their breath, one leaker has promised the game will be another sizeable shakeup for a series that keeps evolvingTech14:36, 18 Mar 2025Resident Evil Village is set several years after the events of Resident Evil 7 (Image: Capcom)While Resident Evil fans are holding onto hope that more remasters and remakes are on the way, we're still waiting to find out what kind of foul concoction developer Capcom is putting together in its lab.While the company has already launched the excellent Monster Hunter Wilds this year, one longtime leaker of the Resident Evil series has predicted that the next mainline entry in the series, Resident Evil 9, could be closer than you think.Article continues belowThe series' last mainline instalment, Village, launched in 2021, and while fans have been worried that the lack of updates has meant the series is on ice, AesthethicGamer aka Dusk Golem has suggested it's quite the opposite.Content cannot be displayed without consentPosting on X (formerly Twitter), the leaker (who readers of a certain vintage will remember revealed the first werewolf-filled info for Village) said : "I'll be tweeting a lot more about Silent Hill as I love the series & super excited for f, but I know a lot of people are also antsy at the lack of Resident Evil news for a year & a half now."The thing I think people will realize when RE9 is revealed is the reason this game is taking so long is because it's like a big reinvention of the series, to the same level as RE4 & RE7."It's not going to play just like RE7/RE8 or the Remakes, it's trying new things & very ambitious. It will almost definitely be revealed this year, so just hold tight."Resident Evil Village was already a sizeable departure from the series' roots(Image: Capcom)The Resident Evil series has been through a few changes since its debut in the nineties. The survival horror hit moved into more action-oriented territory with Resident Evil 4, before going even further with Resident Evil 5 and 6.Resident Evil 7 saw a bold reinvention of the series as a first-person return to horror, while Village added werewolves and one very, very tall lady.Article continues belowContent cannot be displayed without consentAs ever, there's no guarantees, but Dusk Golem's track record could mean the next chapter of the horror series could be lurking in the shadows ready to emerge sooner rather than later.For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.

No, were not talking about the cat girls though there is a new one of those included in the update (miHoYo)The newest Zenless Zone Zero patch has added jiggle physics to the least expected of places and replaced two of the games English voice actors.Even if you only have a passing familiarity with Zenless Zone Zero (another free-to-play action role-player from Genshin Impact studio miHoYo), youre probably aware of how bouncy its characters can be.Its hardly the only game to feature jiggle physics (looking at you, Stellar Blade) and also unsurprising given miHoYos track record with certain female characters in Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail.That said, miHoYo seems to have a degree of self-awareness since its recently added jiggle physics to the regular cats strutting round Zenless Zone Zeros map; specifically their testicles.Recently, Zenless Zone Zero was updated to version 1.6 and while its main additions have been three new playable characters to unlock through gacha pulls and new story content, fans have homed in on this incredibly minor yet bizarre addition.You can see it for yourself in a video shared to Reddit. It can be a bit hard to make out, but you can see the cats testicles sway from side to side as it walks.We have to question why someone felt the need to check the cat testicles considering theres no mention of this animation update in the patch notes, but is that any stranger than the fact that miHoYo added it in the first place?It reminds us of when Rockstar released Red Dead Redemption 2 in 2018 and was so dedicated to realism that it spent man hours making sure the horse testicles changed size depending on the weather; something literally nobody would have complained about if it wasnt in the game.Obviously, miHoYo isnt concerned with making Zenless Zone Zero as realistic as possible. We can only assume this decision was made for the studios own amusement and to see how long it would take fans to notice.More TrendingTesticular humour aside, the latest patch has also brought some unfortunate news regarding two of the games voice actors. Emeri Chase and Nicholas Thurkettle, the English actors for the characters Soldier 11 and Lycaon, have been replaced and, whats worse, they found out the same time as the fans did.In their respective Bluesky posts, Chase and Thurkettle say this is because of the ongoing SAG-AFTRA actors strike, and that they have chosen not to work on Zenless Zone Zero anymore without proper AI protections. They had hoped to return after but miHoYo just replaced them instead.Sound Cadence, the studio responsible for recording dialogue for Zenless Zone Zero, has said in its own statement that Every contract at our studio features explicit AI protections, regardless of union status. Much of our staff are actors themselves, and could not in good conscience offer other performers work we would not be willing to take. This isnt the first time miHoYo has swapped out voice actors for one of its games (miHoYo)Emailgamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below,follow us on Twitter, andsign-up to our newsletter.To submit Inbox letters and Readers Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use ourSubmit Stuff page here.For more stories like this,check our Gaming page.GameCentralSign up for exclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition better late than never (Nintendo)The last big name Wii U game is finally ported to the Nintendo Switch, in a new version that makes a number of important improvements.One of the myriad ways that Nintendo is different to Sony and Microsoft is in its approach to buying other companies. It hardly ever does it and the few times it does, its usually small studios youve never heard of. But it usually works out well, with Retro Studios and Metroid Prime, Next Level Games and Luigis Mansion, and Monolith Soft and Xenoblade Chronicles.Nintendo acquired Monolith (not to be confused with the recently shuttered Monolith Productions) in 2007, when they were best known, if they were known at all, for Baten Kaitos and the Xenosaga series. Theyve since gone on to make three mainline Xenoblade Chronicles titles, and this spin-off, but their primary importance to Nintendo is as a support studio, working on franchises including Animal Crossing, Pikmin, Splatoon, and The Legend Of Zelda.Their work on Zelda has been particularly vital and the open world environments of Breath Of The Wild would not have been possible without their technical expertise, much of which they learned working on Xenoblade Chronicles X for the Wii U, when it was originally released 10 years ago.PIC 1Considering that every other notable Wii U game was long ago ported to the Switch, its been a puzzle as to why Xenoblade Chronicles X has been left out; although the simplest answer, that Nintendo was merely saving it for a rainy day (and Monolith Soft was busy elsewhere), seems the most likely.The question of whether there is any direct connection between X and the numbered sequels is a complicated one but for all intents and purposes this is a spin-off, sharing some gameplay, visual, and thematic similarities with the other games, but nothing more.The story begins with the destruction of Earth, as the planet is caught up in a war between two alien civilisations and most of humanity is destroyed. One ship escapes the carnage and crash lands on the unexplored planet of Mira. You then play the role of a survivor with amnesia, which is just about as generic a set-up as you could hope for.Sadly, things do not really pick up from there and the storytelling and characters are easily the weakest element of the game. The dialogue and voiceovers are workmanlike and everyone is an anime clich, but thankfully this is not the problem it wouldve been in the mainline games. Rather than a linear role-player, X is much more exploration based, with a surprisingly small number of story missions and some very clear connections to Breath Of The Wild.There are very specific requirements for taking on each of the dozen story missions (plus theres new content and characters for this Switch version) and so most of your time is spent doing side quests and levelling up, as you take on one of multiple different career paths. These range from a mining prospector to a diplomat to exploring the wilderness to set up sensor towers, all of which provide excuses to explore the huge open world map and/or meet new characters.The open world is definitely one of the games main appeals and while its age, and the modest technical abilities of its host systems, are obvious the graphics have been polished up well and much of it looks at least as good as Breath Of The Wild. Except here, instead of straightforward Earth-like biomes, theres lots of weird alien landscapes, that seem to take influence from 60s and 70s sci-fi illustrations. Mechs make every game better (Nintendo)Exploration is aided by transforming robots called Skells, although it takes a frustratingly long time to get permission to use them although there is now a new robot not in the original. This is silly because not only do they look really cool, and are key point of difference from the mainline games, but theyre genuinely useful for getting around the huge game world, with both ground and air variants.Naturally, they can be used in combat, which overall works in a similar manner to both the other titles and Final Fantasy 12. That is to say, it operates something like a single-player MMO, with abilities and weapons that are constantly cooling down and waiting to be activated.You can take direct control of your player character but while attacks are carried out automatically the game makes it clear that positioning, and targeting specific body parts, is very important, with head-on attacks rarely being the best way to go.You can also give commands to your team-mates and program their artificial intelligence to react in different ways, telling them what to do when theyre injured, when they should use their special moves, and so on. The combat is still similar to the other games (Nintendo)This is all enjoyably strategic in bigger battles but can become a chore in the more straightforward ones, against cannon fodder enemies. Theres a new quick cooldown bar, to allow more frequent access to special moves, but theres still no way to speed things up more quickly, even when its obvious youre going to win.The Switch version has managed to iron out some problems from the original though, streamlining the system for reviving and healing allies, and allowing you to change your party at any time instead of having to wander around the base hub talking to them individually. Unnecessary complications like Blade levels and division points have been removed completely and theres generally now more tutorials and explanations for how the other systems work.Its certainly an improvement, in terms of accessibility, but its also fair to say that this is a purposefully, almost gleefully, complicated game that revels in things like its complex crafting system and levelling up options.More TrendingEspecially with the quality of life improvements, this new edition provides these arent necessary flaws, thats just the game Monolith wanted it to be. If youre put off by games that offer too much freedom and not enough structure then this is perhaps not the game for you but if youre upset that theres probably not going to be a new Zelda for five years or more then, in terms of exploration, this does scratch a similar itch.Theres so much content here itll keep you going until the Switch 2 and beyond, with a surprisingly robust set of online options inspired by Monster Hunter, that allow for up to 32-player groups across the map and specific online missions for four-player teams against larger monsters.Its a shame that the games debut on the Wii U meant that it never reached a wider audience, especially as its spent the last 10 years in Nintendos vaults. But now that its finally been re-released it will hopefully gain the reputation it deserves. Dont be put off if you dont like the other Xenoblade games (some hardcore fans dont actually like X, since its not part of the same story) as Xenoblade Chronicles X is one of the best action role-players of the last two generations.Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition review summaryIn Short: A fantastic open world role-player, with a mountain of content and interesting diversions although the unengaging storytelling remains its main weakness.Pros: Extremely varied and well-designed game world, with lots of weird and wonderful enemies. Fun combat and the Skells are both useful and enjoyable to pilot. Deep role-playing stats.Cons: The storytelling is uninspired, with a languid pace and dull characters. Minor combat encounters can be a chore and the game still has some issues presenting information. Surprisingly bad music.Score: 8/10Formats: Nintendo SwitchPrice: 49.99Publisher: NintendoDeveloper: Monolith SoftRelease Date: 20th March 2025Age Rating: 12 Xenoblade Chronicles 4 is likely to be a Switch 2 game (Nintendo)Emailgamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below,follow us on Twitter, andsign-up to our newsletter.To submit Inbox letters and Readers Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use ourSubmit Stuff page here.For more stories like this,check our Gaming page.ArrowMORE: Play the GTA 6 game map recreated by fan in GTA 5GameCentralSign up for exclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

By Isaac Schultz Published March 18, 2025 | Comments (3) | A view of glacial melt in the Swiss Alps. Image: NASA Earth Observatory images by Michala Garrison, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey. The European Alps cover over 600 miles (1,000 kilometers) across eight European countries, and their cooler upper climes contain thousands of glaciers. Unfortunately, NASA satellite imagery recently captured 40 years of regression in the Alps largest chunk of ice, the Great Aletsch Glacier. The imagesseen below, and taken in 1984 and 2024were snapped by NASAs Landsat 5s Thematic Mapper and Landsat 8s Operational Land Imager (OLI), respectively. The changes to the glaciers length and width are apparent, reflecting a retreat of more than 4,300 feet (1,300 meters) in those 40 years. According to a NASA Earth Observatory release, the glacier has also thinned in that timeto the tune of about 141 feet (43 meters) of water, based on data from the Swiss Glacial Monitoring Network (GLAMOS). In other words, its footprint has shrunk in both dimensions. Despite some cloud cover in the newer image, the loss of ice is clear. Where ice once reflected bright white back up towards the atmosphere, there are more grayish-brown rock underneath. According to the NASA release, it was too early in the year to capture imagery of the glacier without seasonal snow covering the amount of glacial melt thats occurred in the intervening years. Alpine glaciers are retreating across the board. The nearby Oberaletsch glacier has retreated more than 787 feet (240 meters) since 1984, and the Fiescher Glaciers retreat over the same time period has been a staggering 3,281 feet (1,000 meters).According to a Reuters report published late last year, Swiss glaciers melted at an above-average rate in 2024, despite heavy snowfalls in winter and spring. The winter storms were simply not enough to counteract record ice losses in the face of a warm Augustand even a dose of Sahara desert dust, which made it harder for the Swiss ice sheets to reflect sunlight back into the atmosphere. In 2024, Swiss glaciers lost 2.5% of their volume, according to Reuters. Central Europe, including Switzerland, lost a staggering 39% of its glacial ice between 2000 and 2024, as a team of researchers reported in Nature this year. The NASA imagery puts those changes into sharp relief. Coming out of a record warm Februarythe third-warmest on record, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrationtheres a real worry (and expectation) that well likely see more photos of glacial losses in the near future.Daily NewsletterYou May Also Like By Passant Rabie Published March 17, 2025 By Passant Rabie Published March 17, 2025 By Passant Rabie Published March 14, 2025 By Passant Rabie Published March 14, 2025 By Passant Rabie Published March 13, 2025 By Passant Rabie Published March 12, 2025

If 2024s crop of anime was any indication, shonen fans have a growing desire to watch more romantic comedies with a supernatural spin. As if predicting the forecast, Gkids has released a theatrical cut of the first three episodes of Witch Watch, a new Shonen Jump anime, weeks before it premieres on Crunchyroll, Netflix, and Hulu. Although its comedic chops may take a bit of getting used to for Western audiences, Witch Watchleft a good impression for what could be the forerunner to 2025s goofiest rom-com. Witch Watch, animated by Bibury Animation Studios, follows the story of two childhood friends: an extremely extroverted fledgling witch named Nico, and an introverted ogre boy named Morihito. When Morihitos father reveals that he and Nico must live alone together under the same roof to protect her from an impending calamity, Morihito jumps at the opportunity to become familiar and thwart any threats. While Morihito is on guard dog duty, treating every day as a shonen anime battle with the safety of his childhood friend at stake, Nico is living on cloud nine, viewing their uncanny situationship as the humble beginnings of their generational love story. A series of comedic misadventures ensues as the duo balances squashing supernatural events (caused mainly by Nico) in their hometown while figuring out the ebb and flow of their one-sided relationship. Despite being the new anime on the block, Witch Watch evokes a nostalgic feeling reminiscent of Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyamas early gag manga and the simmering will-they-wont-they romance found in Urusei Yatsura creator Rumiko Takahashis works. Although much of Witch Watchs early comedic back-and-forths dont translate as well for Western audiences because of their regional baggage, the show quickly finds its more situational humor between its leads and its wealth of referential humor to other shonen anime. At the shows heart is the flow of Morihito and Nicos manzai style straight man and funny man dynamic. Nico has a heart of gold with a compulsion to show off her magical abilities when an opportunity presents itself to make the townspeoples lives easier or impress Morihito. Whether saving a woman from a house fire or letting her classmates fly in the sky during her free period, Nico will pull out a spell to save the day from mundane and life-threatening situations with Morihito.However, Nico is a klutz, so her boastful, show-off-y spells backfire more often than they succeed, leading to ridiculous situations that she inexplicably makes worse. Such oopsie daisies include outing herself as a witch to her class after mistakenly enlarging Morihitos head and arm in the middle of class in an attempt to embiggen Morihitos crumpled eraser, or splitting into four mini-versions of herself in a counter-intuitive effort to make moving boxes easier. This in turn creates hilarious situations where Morihito has to cover for Nico by playing off Nicos overzealous spells to the non-magic public, or straight-up saving the day from danger with his demonic powers. Meanwhile, Morihitos role as Romeo heightens Nicos delusions of grandeur about their budding romance, which are hilariously punctuated with reality TV-esque confessionals taking place in her imagination, where she talks up the progress in their relationship in the heat of her overzealous spells.Bibury Animation Studios/Gkids The other half of Witch Watchs winning comedic chops is its referential humor to other popular manga series. Witch Watch has the luxury of being a Shonen Jump manga series, but it doesnt shirk from the opportunity to straight-up name-drop marquee anime titles in its punchlines. This manifests in through straight-man characters like Morihito and their closeted otaku teacher Yuri Makuwas punchline to sight gags where Morihitos hair floats on end like adult Gon in Hunter x Hunter, Nicos anti-gravity spell making their classroom look like Demon Slayers Infinity Castle, or Nicos flight spell causing her classmates fly around like Piccolo from Dragon Ball Z. All of the above comes with the territory of being familiar with big shonen titles. So, itll be interesting to see if the show will include niche titles in its Rolodex of referential humor. The theatrical premiere of Witch Watch effectively sets the stage for an anime with the potential to be 2025s most charming and lighthearted romantic comedy. Heres hoping Witch Watchwill continue to cast its spell on anime fans when it premieres on Netflix, Crunchyroll, and Hulu on April 6. 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.

Libellules Community Center / acau architectureSave this picture! FederalCommunity CenterVernier, Geneva, SwitzerlandArchitects: acau architectureAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:677 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2024 PhotographsPhotographs:Federal, acau architectureManufacturersBrands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers: AutoDesk, 4B SA, JPF Ducret, R. Morand & Fils SA, Sansonnens FG Frres SA Lead Architects: Darius Golchan, Enric Rovira, Juan Gonzalez HVAC engineer: Ponzio SAMore SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. The new Libellules Community Center is built on the site of the former Actaris water meter factory in Vernier, in the Canton of Geneva. The community center is part of an urban project, which was awarded first prize in an architecture competition in 2028. The new facilities contribute to neighborhood cohesion by providing outdoor spaces located along the soft mobility network that connects the Lignon, Gordon-Bennett, and Libellules neighborhoods.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The community center, with its simple form, stands out in a landscape dominated by large housing estates. The "central greenhouse" is a covered plaza that invites public space into the building. In addition to its educational role from an energy perspective, the greenhouse organizes all access to the various programs and facilitates a variety of public activities (small market, climbing festival, covered play area, theater stage, messy craft sessions, etc.).Save this picture!Save this picture!This covered space features an architecture that alludes to the site's gardening heritage. We rely on the users to take ownership and define temporary uses for it. The greenhouse is a place of convergence and sharing. We envisioned it as a welcoming hub that serves as an interface between the different programs. All the common areas open onto this space: the lounge with the kitchen, the large multipurpose room, a room for younger children featuring a play net, and a game room for teenagers. The basement also provides spaces tailored to the neighborhood's needs, including a workshop room, two rehearsal rooms, and technical facilities, and it accommodates all the technical equipment of the Actaris neighborhood.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!A sustainable and inclusive vision. The community center is part of an exemplary approach to sustainability. It incorporates an innovative thermal regulation system. Geothermal probes, powered by photovoltaic panels, ensure warmth in winter and coolness in summer. A natural ventilation system, which channels air through a Canadian well, will also help cool the premises during summer. The shading sails of the greenhouse are deployed in summer to protect the public space from excessive heat. All lateral doors and chapel areas will be opened, enabling air renewal and cooling. In winter, on sunny days, the passive heat accumulated by the greenhouse will help reduce energy consumption.Save this picture!At the neighborhood scale, the project also emphasizes a gradation of outdoor spaces, from public to private. Ornamental gardens ensure the privacy of residences, while shared vegetable gardens, located on the south facade, invite residents to cultivate together. A participatory process involving first-time residents will help define the uses of the outdoor spaces and strengthen the social cohesion of the neighborhood.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessProject locationAddress:Vernier, Geneva, SwitzerlandLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officeacau architectureOfficePublished on March 18, 2025Cite: "Libellules Community Center / acau architecture" 18 Mar 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1027921/libellules-community-center-acau-architecture&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

Sitting in traffic can expose a driver to intense irritation, as well as a range of sound frequencies. Humming engines typically emit low-frequency sounds, while car horns release high-frequency blasts. Emergency vehicle sirens are high-pitched, and the rumblings from large trucks are lower-pitched.For most people, their ears are able to process these wide-ranging sounds and make sense of them. However, scientists dont have a full sense of why this happens because they are still working to understand the mechanics of the inner ear.A team of physicists recently took a novel approach to understanding how the cochlea processes different frequencies. They uncovered new intricacies that may explain how the ear is able to hear the softest of sounds.The Mysteries of the EarWhen it comes to human hearing, scientists still have many unanswered questions.Hearing is pretty mysterious, says Benjamin Matcha, an assistant professor of physics at Yale University.Although physicists have a general road map of how the ear functions and communicates with the brain, researchers still dont have a complete picture.In comparison, physicists better understand the inner workings of the human eye, particularly in terms of how light passes into the eye, bends, and then converts into electrical impulses that supply the brain with information.The physics of hearing is actually pretty poorly understood as opposed to vision, Matcha says. There is a lot of biochemistry in vision that is complicated, and we dont understand it well, but the physics part is well understood.The Physics of Hearing When it comes to the physics of hearing, researchers know that when sound reaches the cochlea, it is converted into electrical signals. Auditory hairs in the cochlea pass along the signals and communicate to the brain what the ear is hearing.For loud traffic sounds, such as someone laying on the horn because the car in front of them has failed to realize the light is not going to get any greener, the hairs are forced to bend in response, and electrical signals are sent to the brain.But how is the inner ear able to tune into the faintest of sounds? How does the cochlea pick up on those barely-there sounds and provide the brain with information? Matcha and his research team saw this as a physics question.Physics is useful for understanding hearing at the basic level because the cochlea has a way of separating sound into different types of frequencies, and this is related to a lot of concepts in physics, says Isabella Graf, a principal investigator at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory in Heidelberg Germany and a former postdoctoral researcher at Yale University.On the Low FrequencyIn a 2025 study published in PRX Life, the research team took a mathematical model and applied it to a rendering of the cochlea. Although the mathematical model previously existed, this novel application allowed the research team to uncover a deeper complexity within the cochlea.The team wanted to learn from the study how the ear can detect soft, barely-there sounds. But, their results took them in a surprising direction when they discovered the possibility of a set of low-frequency mechanical modes in the cochleas basilar membrane. These extended set of modes move together in response to sound. Whereas the first set, localized modes, are able to uncouple and move independently, the second set works collectively.The results surprised the team, mainly because they set out to apply a previously used principle to the entire cochlea. And when they did discover the possibility of low-frequency mechanical modes in the basilar membrane, they were surprised it had not been previously identified.In a way, this was a bit of a surprise finding in the sense that we had tried to understand something else, Graf says. People have looked at various models of the ear, why have people not already seen these other types of modes?The possibility of low-frequency mechanical modes is meant to apply to people with standard hearing. Some people with hearing loss may be unable to hear quiet, low-frequency sounds like a car engine idling.The research team hopes their findings contribute to a growing understanding of how the ear processes low-frequency sounds and that such work may help future researchers better understand why some people fail to hear well at different frequencies.This is basic science research, and it helps us better understand how a healthy ear works. This is helpful in understanding how to help impairment, says Asheesh Momi, the studys first author and a PhD student in the Department of Physics at Yale University. 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:Emilie Lucchesi has written for some of the country's largest newspapers, including The New York Times, Chicago Tribune and Los Angeles Times. She holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Missouri and an MA from DePaul University. She also holds a Ph.D. in communication from the University of Illinois-Chicago with an emphasis on media framing, message construction and stigma communication. Emilie has authored three nonfiction books. Her third, A Light in the Dark: Surviving More Than Ted Bundy, releases October 3, 2023, from Chicago Review Press and is co-authored with survivor Kathy Kleiner Rubin.

The 2025 Acura ADX is the brands newest gas-powered SUV.AHM CREATIVE SERVICES MIROShareAcura just launched its all-new SUV, the premium, compact, gas-powered ADX to live alongside the MDX, RDX, TLX, and ZDX. Of these, only the ZDX is electric, as the brand is taking a conservative approach to the transition to EVs. However, Honda global CEO (Acuras parent company) has carbon neutrality firmly in its sights for both its products and corporate activities by 2050. While Honda and Acura are planning for 100 percent of the companys North American sales to be battery-electric and fuel-cell electric vehicles by 2040, the gas-powered ADX introduced an assortment of new technology. The innovative new features include a tweaked powertrain, sound-deadening engineering in the cabin, and a high-tech audio system.Integra sportiness, with an SUV twistThe 2025 Acura ADX is the brands newest gas-powered SUV. Image: Acura AHM CREATIVE SERVICES MIROAfter a long hiatus, Acuras Integra sport sedan returned for 2023 with a fresh shape and an updated powertrain. The entry-level Acura was born to be the fun new car for drivers going upscale for the first time, and it has done well for the brand. The ADX has a lot in common with the Integra, including a similar ride feel and sport tuned suspension.The 1.5-liter inline-four engine is derived from the Integras. However, while the Integra base- and A-Spec versions are good for 200 horsepower and 192 lb-ft of torque, the ADX gets 1.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine makes 190 hp and 179 lb-ft of torque. Plus, the Integra Type S takes it up a notch with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine making 320 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque.The Integra has been a smash hit and we plan to carry that on with the ADX, says Acuras Matt Burnham. The ADX is the Integra of the premium compact SUV segment.Other engineering highlights in the ADX include body stabilizing front seats and Google built-in technology. AHM CREATIVE SERVICES MIROAcura is calling it a gateway vehicle to the premium brand; with a starting price of $35,000 for a base model its more likely to appeal to a wider and younger audience than its other models. Every ADX includes AcuraLink, Acuras cloud-based connected car system, and Google built-in technology. For safety, the ADX is equipped with new driver and front passenger airbags designed to reduce head rotation in a collision. The interior protects drivers even outside of a crash. The body-stabilizing front seats are kinesthetically designed to support the driver and passenger, especially on long drives. Thecurve of the seat bottom prevents sliding forward, which can lead to fatigue while driving, and it centers the upper body over the pelvis to help steady the upper arms and gaze. Ultimately, all the take a break messages in the car cant substitute for prevention, so ensuring the driver is comfortable goes a long way toward reducing fatigue on the body.High-tech, sustainable audioEquipped with a 15-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system, the ADX also includes a lot of sound-deadening materials inside the cabin. Image: Acura AHM CREATIVE SERVICES MIROThe ADX is focused on a quiet cabin enhanced by acoustical insulation in the hood, fender liners, cowl top, and even the carpet. All the better to hear the music coming from the 15-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system.This is high-end audioeven Bentley and Lamborghini have B&O systems in their cars. At the top of the ADX lineup, the A-Spec with Advance Package includes acoustic lens tweeters, a substantial 8.8-inch subwoofer, and 16-channel amplifiers.The Bang & Olufsen team fine-tunes it for the space within the ADX, taking precise measurements inside the vehicle, says Lauren Gabourel, manager of customer marketing with Bang and Olufsen. Then its tested with different sounds, frequencies, and directions to figure out what is the optimal placement for the speakers and the sound levels.Bang & Olufsen has sustainability goals as well. Its hoping to achieve them by offering owners help revising and restoring products that are no longer manufactured by the company. It also makes products that allow the user to change the battery without having to replace the whole speaker. It may seem like an odd strategy for a consumer electronics company, which requires new sales to survive, but B&O is proud of the initiative.A big part of Bang & Olufsen is that they try and fix old products versus just throwing them away, Gabourel says. So lets say you have an old record player or old CD player. A lot of them are beautiful pieces and the customer doesnt want to throw them away. So if it no longer works, you can send it to us and well fix it instead of discarding it in favor of a brand new one.The audio companys goal is to refurbish old products and keep them out of landfills by preventing technology obsolescence. Think about all of the electronics that have broken down in your own home over the years, like a hair dryer or coffee maker that stops working. Bang & Olufsen wants to keep its products from landing in the trash, and that preventive sustainability goes hand in hand with Hondas recycling initiatives and quality materials in its manufacturing plants.

We see you there rocking that ancient computer. No judgment. In fact, were about to make it a little easier to keep your old computer kicking. A lot of old PCs cant use modern apps like Microsoft 365 well, but dont stress. You can still get Microsoft Office 2019, and a lifetime license is even on sale for $29.97 (its usually $229).Why Microsoft Office 2019?This license comes with the whole 2019 kit and caboodle. That includes:WordExcelPowerPointOutlookOneNotePublisherAccessAnd heres a fun new reason to lean on older versions of Microsoft Office. Did you hear Microsoft is actually ending support for Publisher? So, if you dont want to struggle to create all your handouts and data visuals, this license has your back in a way modern Microsoft 365 wont.And it helps that you dont have to pay for it every month. This license lasts for life with no recurring payments. You install it on one computer, and then you have it as long as you have that computer. Why rent something you can own?Another bonus of using an older version of Office is this one doesnt have all the AI integrations popping up and interrupting your work. If you dont want Microsofts AI constantly asking to finish your Word docs, this is a good optionMarch 30 at 11:59 p.m. PT is the deadline to get a Microsoft Office Pro Plus 2019 lifetime license for Windows for $29.97.StackSocial prices subject to change.Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows $29.97See Deal

NewsAnimalsSome of Sydneys koalas are chlamydia-free, but still at riskIntroducing new koalas to mate with would help reduce inbreeding, but could also bring in the disease Some koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) living in the Sydney metro area are isolated from other koalas, keeping them chlamydia-free. But the cost is being worryingly inbred.Carolyn HoggBy Jake Buehler1 hour agoSome of Sydneys koalas are facing an uncompromising dilemma.The koalas living in one corner of Australias largest city are perilously inbred, researchers report February 26 in Conservation Genetics. But the solution interbreeding with neighboring koala populations risks introducing the koalas to a deadly sexually transmitted disease.In 2021 and 2022, University of Sydney conservation biologist Carolyn Hogg and her colleagues determined that koalas in the southwestern Sydney metro area had the lowest genetic diversity anywhere in the state of New South Wales. To investigate further,the researchers caught 111 wild koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) from seven sites across the forested region south of Sydney and collected ear tissue before releasing them.