Considered the first blockbuster movie, "Jaws" is celebrating 50 years since its release.Released in 1975, the movie made $260.7 million at the box office.The movie's production was famously marred by issues and complications.The movie that made Steven Spielberg a household name and redefined box office success is turning 50 this year."Jaws," which was released on June 20, 1975, has grossed $477.92 million in the box office after four re-releases and is considered the first blockbuster movie, creating a new genre of high-performing major-studio films.The iconic movie, which follows a local policeman, a marine biologist, and a shark hunter as they search for a great white shark terrorizing their town, faced a sea of production difficulties, from the complications of filming in the open sea to dealing with a mechanical shark that constantly broke down.Spielberg described the tumultuous production as "people versus the eternal sea.""The sea won the battle but where we won was with audiences in every country," he told director and author Laurent Bouzereau for his 2023 book, "Spielberg: The First Ten Years."Here are 20 things you might not know about the iconic movie.The novel the movie is based on was inspired by a real shark.In 1964, Frank Mundus caught a 17-foot, 4,500-pound shark with a handheld harpoon. Keith Torrie/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images Author Peter Benchley said he was inspired by Frank Mundus, a Long Island fisherman who caught a 17-foot, 4,500-pound shark in 1964.In his 1974 novel, "Jaws," Benchley wrote the character of captain Quint using inspiration from Mundus' shark hunting career.The novel was a massive commercial success, spending months on bestseller lists, The New York Times reported.The "Jaws" producers bought the movie rights to the novel before it even came out.Richard Zanuck and David Brown bought the novel's movie rights for $150,000 in 1973. Kevin John Berry/Fairfax Media via Getty Images Before the novel was released to the public, producers Richard Zanuck and David Brown got a copy of the manuscript.After reading the novel, they bought the movie rights for $150,000 ($1.08 million in today's money), per The New York Times.Director Steven Spielberg was only 26 years old at the time.Spielberg had only directed one other feature-length film previous to "Jaws." Universal/Getty Images Zanuck and Brown approached two directors before landing on the then-up-and-coming filmmaker. At the time, Spielberg was 26 and had only directed one feature-length film, the 1971 TV movie "Duel.""Jaws" was his second feature-length film.The movie was filmed in the open water off Martha's Vineyard.The production team chose the Massachusetts island because of its shallow ocean floor. Fairchild Archive/WWD/Penske Media via Getty Images The movie's production took place in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, from May 2, 1974, until October 6, 1974."It was the only place on the East Coast where I could go 12 miles out to sea and avoid any sighting of land but still have a sandy ocean bottom only 30 feet below the surface, where we could install our shark sled," Spielberg told Bouzereau. "I wanted the audience to think the boat couldn't just simply turn around and go back to shore. I literally needed a 360-degree stage at sea."Filming in the ocean brought a myriad of issues, but Spielberg insisted it was necessary.Spielberg insisted on filming in the ocean rather than using pools or tanks. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Spielberg insisted on filming in the ocean rather than pools or tanks, the alternatives proposed by the production team.The film was the first major motion picture to be filmed in the ocean. It caused a long list of issues, from delayed production to sunken equipment.Filming in a studio tank an approach taken for other movies of the time would've avoided issues related to the tides, waves, and wind of the open sea, but Spielberg didn't like the unreal look it would've brought to "Jaws.""The audience would not have connected with the movie unless it looked real, and that's why I insisted on shooting the picture on open sea in the Atlantic Ocean," Spielberg told Bouzereau.Parts of the movie were filmed with handheld cameras.Cinematographer Bill Butler (wearing white hat) developed a special raft for filming on the water. Fairchild Archive/WWD/Penske Media via Getty Images One of the many issues with filming on the water was the camera movement on the boat where the camera crew filmed. Cinematographer Bill Butler and camera operator Mike Chapman found it easier to hold the camera for some scenes, they told American Cinematographer in 1975.For filming on the water, Butler built a raft that could hold the camera and move up and down in the water to shoot different angles of the boat scenes.Spielberg called it "probably the most expensive handheld movie ever made," in an interview with American Cinematographer.The mechanical sharks were collectively nicknamed Bruce.Three mechanical sharks were used in the filming of the movie. Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images Named after Spielberg's close friend, lawyer Bruce Ramer, the shark animatronics cost the production $250,000 ($1.62 million in today's money), reported American Cinematographer. Additionally, it reported, operating the animatronics cost around $500,000 (or $3.24 million in today's money).The set design team made three sharks for filming: one with the machinery visible on its left side, one with the machinery visible on its right side, and a third fully intact shark that was pulled by a boat.The mechanical sharks weren't designed to withstand saltwater.Bruce, the mechanical shark, got a new skin every week to avoid sun bleaching. Screen Archives/Getty Images Of the many issues to come with filming in the ocean, the maintenance of the mechanical shark was one of them.Designed before the production moved into the water, the animatronics weren't designed to withstand saltwater, resulting in its internal metal parts corroding during the production, as well as the sun bleaching the shark's skin.Bob Mattey, who created the animatronic, told American Cinematographer that the shark got a new skin every week while filming.The boat depicted in the film, the Orca, sank during production.The iconic boat with the crew and equipment sank while filming. Universal/Getty Images On one occasion, a speedboat pulling the iconic Orca where actors and crew were filming rushed at too high a speed, causing the boat and everything in it to sink in approximately two minutes.In his interview with Bouzereau, Spielberg recalled sound mixer John Carter picking up the recording equipment over his head as the boat sank and yelling, "F- the actors, save the sound department!"The first of the mechanical sharks used in the production also sank during a different incident.When the Orca sank, it also took with it the camera recording the film.The rolls of film with parts of the movie were saved from saltwater after sinking. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Butler told Spielberg that since the developing solution they used was saline, the film could be saved if it was kept in saltwater and rushed to the lab.The team took the film inside buckets of saltwater to the developing lab in New York, where they managed to save the film, Spielberg told Bouzereau.The issues led to Spielberg's change in approach.The conditions of the production influenced Spielberg's approach to the story. Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images Due to the many production difficulties during the filming of the movie, Spielberg decided to focus more on the suspense and anticipation for the shark's appearance, taking inspiration from Alfred Hitchcock's films, rather than the gore of the attack scenes.With the mechanical shark constantly breaking down, Spielberg reworked the script to show the shark in fewer scenes, building up the suspense of its absence."When I didn't have control of my shark it made me kind of rewrite the whole script without the shark," Spielberg said in a 2011 interview. "Therefore, in many people's opinions the film was more effective than the way the script actually offered up the shark in at least a dozen more scenes that today is history."The movie's most iconic line was improvised.Roy Scheider came up with the "You're gonna need a bigger boat" line during filming. Universal The iconic "You're gonna need a bigger boat," said by police chief Brody, played by Roy Scheider, wasn't in the original script.Instead, it was improvised by Scheider while going over the script during the production, and Spielberg decided to keep it.Spielberg "appears" twice in the movie.The director played the voice of the island's dispatcher heard on the radio on the boat. Fairchild Archive/WWD/Penske Media via Getty Images Needing a non-professional clarinet player for the soundtrack and a voice to play the island's dispatcher, the director lent his voice to the audio department twice in the movie.Spielberg's dogs also appear in the movie.The director also lent his dogs to the production, with two of his cocker spaniels (not pictured) playing the police chief's dogs. Bruce McBroom/Sygma via Getty Images Spielberg's own pets, cocker spaniels Elmer and Zalman, also appeared in the movie, playing police chief Brody's dogs.The crew formed its own softball team during production.Roy Scheider pitches while playing softball with the "Jaws" production team. Fairchild Archive/WWD/Penske Media via Getty Images During the difficult production, the production team formed its own softball team to pass the time in between filming. On Sundays, they played against locals.The iconic poster wasn't designed for the movie.The poster was taken from the novel's paperback. Universal Pictures, Zanuck/Brown Productions via IMDB The movie's poster, with the woman swimming and the shark underneath, wasn't an original design for the film. Instead, it was taken from the original novel's paperback cover.The production was much lengthier and more costly than other films of the time.The movie cost $9 million to make. Universal Pictures/Getty Images As the production went on, with its many complications, the budget increased from the initial allocation by 300% and the filming timeline extended by over 100 days past the estimated 55 days.Costing $9 million to make ($64.68 million in today's money), the movie was nearly four times as expensive as the average film in 1975, which was $2.3 million, The New York Times reported."We spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to make this movie, sitting around for seven, eight hours, waiting for the shark to work, or waiting for the barrels to sink without coming right back up. I was getting one shot before lunch and one shot before five o'clock in the afternoon," Spielberg told Bouzereau. "Whenever I talked about the possibility of me being fired or the show being shut down, most of the crew was happy about itthis wasn't a labor of love for anybody. This was a physically impossible chore and people wanted to go home."One of the first people to watch the movie vomited during the screening.The movie-goer rushed to the bathroom then went back to his seat. Bettmann Archive/Getty Images During an early studio screening of the movie, one of the attendees got up from his seat, making Spielberg fear a negative audience reaction to the movie."I thought, Oh my God. Our first walkout. Then he began running and I went, Oh, no, he's not walking outhe's running out. I could tell he was headed for the bathrooms, but he didn't make it and vomited all over the floor. And I just went, Oh my God, what have I done? What kind of a movie have I made? A man has just barfed because of my film. But the great news was, about five minutes later, he went right back to his seat," the director told Bouzereau.But "Jaws" was a huge success, making more at the box office than any other film had at the time."Jaws" merchandise was sold on the streets of New York City in 1975. Peter Keegan/Getty Images Part of the success of the film, according to the Library of Congress, was the huge marketing campaign that portrayed the movie version of the best-selling novel as "an event." TV commercials for "Jaws" were also inescapable.For its first release in 1975, the movie earned $260 million domestically, a number that has since ballooned to $477.92 million globally, thanks to additional releases, per Box Office Mojo data.It was selected for the Library of Congress' National Film Registry in 2001."While 'Jaws' may have arrived with a significant marketing push, it has stuck around on its own merits," radio host Nathan Wardinski wrote for the Library of Congress. "'Jaws'' craftsmanship has been a source of inspiration and obsession by later filmmakers and cinematic devotees."A play was made about the movie's tumultuous production."The Shark is Broken" follows the movie's leads, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss and Roy Scheider. Kate Green/Getty Images In 2019, a comedy play written by Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon based on the stories from the production of "Jaws" premiered in Brighton, England."The Shark is Broken" follows actors playing the movie's leads, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss, and Roy Scheider, as the trio navigates the production difficulties, such as the broken mechanical shark, and the ensuing boredom.The play debuted on Broadway in August 2023.

Its going to happen eventually, but could an announcement be soon? (Atlus)Persona 6 remains MIA, but fans think theyve found another clue that points to a Persona 4 remake being in the works.The overwhelming success of Persona 3 Reload, a full remake of the original 2006 game, basically guarantees Sega and Atlus will be interested in doing more.Although some fans would prefer Atlus prioritise an original entry, namely the still absent Persona 6, theres mounting suspicion that the next game will be a remake of 2008s Persona 4.Its already a popular theory, but it now appears Atlus has filed a trademark for it, which has some thinking an announcement could happen in just a few months.According to Faz on X, Atlus registered a domain name for p4re.jp this week. Domain names, like trademarks and patents, arent always used, and are sometimes merely about stopping someone else from claiming them, but its pretty obvious p4re refers to a Persona 4 remake.This mirrors the events leading up to Persona 3 Reloads reveal. In 2023, Atlus registered a domain name of p3re.jp, which was followed by Persona 3 Reloads announcement at the June Xbox Games Showcase three months later.Assuming Atlus follows the same pattern, we could see an announcement this June, maybe even at this years Xbox showcase, if Microsofts marketing deal with Sega and Atlus is still going. As a reminder, Microsoft got to be the one to unveil Metaphor: ReFantazio as well.In terms of other evidence, Shihoko Hirata, a musician and singer best known for her contributions to Persona 4, admitted shes recently recorded music for a new game but didnt say what it was.Even without all this, a Persona 4 remake does feel like an eventuality. Aside from Persona 3 Reload becoming the fastest selling game in Atlus history (before Metaphor: ReFantazio exceeded it), Persona 4 used to be Atlus golden goose until Persona 5 came along.More TrendingIt was so popular it saw an enhanced version with new content for the PlayStation Vita, multiple spin-offs, and two separate anime adaptations.If a Persona 4 remake is Atlus next project, then that suggests Persona 6 is further off than thought. Previous rumours pointed to it launching in 2024, which obviously didnt happen.It was then suggested that itll launch in 2025 after an announcement in 2024 that year, but Atlus hasnt so much as teased the project.By September, it will have been nine years since Persona 5s Japanese launch (the West didnt get till March 2017) and, in that time, Atlus has kept busy with Persona 5 spin-offs, an enhanced re-release in Persona 5 Royal, and new entries/remasters for its other franchises like Shin Megami Tensei and Etrian Odyssey. Just where is Persona 6? (Atlus)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 may run better on Switch 2 (Nintendo)It seems the Nintendo Switch 2 may be able to run the new Xenoblade Chronicles X at 60fps, but will that be true for all Switch 1 games?Now that Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition is out the Nintendo Switch has hardly any first party exclusives left on its schedule, as the release of its successor, the Switch 2, looms.Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Pokmon Legends Z-A are still on the docket for 2025, but attention will squarely be on the Switch 2s line-up once the planned April Nintendo Direct airs in less than two weeks.The Switch 2s backwards compatibility means most current and future Switch games will work on the new console but a secret discovery in the code for Xenoblade Chronicles X suggests that at least some games will run better on the new hardware.Switch modder MasaGratoR has found evidence of a mode in Xenoblade Chronicles Xs executable file that allows the game to run at 60 frames per second instead of the usual 30. Except the Switch 1 isnt powerful enough to run the game like that.MasaGratoR theorises that the mode has only been partially implemented, since enabling it causes issues with the game. So, even if you could find a way to activate it thered be performance issues.But why would Nintendo and developer Monolith Soft include a 60fps mode if they didnt intend to use it? The natural assumption is that this is in preparation for when the game runs on Switch 2.Nintendo may not have shared any specs for the Switch 2, but its widely believed to be more powerful than the current Switch and implement upscaling tech that would allow for improved visuals and frame rates.As such, much like what the PS5 Pro does for PlayStation 5 games, we could see Switch games receive performance boosts on Switch 2, something that was claimed to be the case over a year ago.More TrendingAlthough its unclear whether all games could be made to run at 60fps, via a patch or some automatic process, or if the game would have had to have been designed with the feature in mind which might make Xenoblade Chronciles X one of the few titles to take advantage of the feature.In other Nintendo news, Nintendo of America has signed a deal with American baseball team the Seattle Mariners, to advertise the company on the teams jersey sleeves.Unlike other Major League Baseball teams, the Mariners will be the first to sport different logos depending on whether theyre the home team or not. According to the MLB website, their home jerseys will have the Nintendo logo while their away jerseys will have the Switch 2 logo.This partnership may seem random, but Nintendo and the Mariners have been working together ever since the 90s, when Nintendo of America bought the team. Nintendo sold its controlling stake in 2016, but its still maintained close ties with the team. They should really commit and all wear Mario hats during games (Bluesky)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

Science & technology | Deep divesWhy dont seals drown?They can time their dives to match their blood oxygenFeeling buoyantPhotograph: Reuters Mar 20th 2025FREE-DIVING IS a perilous sport. Divers, swimming underwater without oxygen tanks, frequently black out from low oxygen and put themselves at risk of drowning. Marine mammals such as seals, by contrast, can spend most of their lives below the surface without running such risks. A paper published in Science on March 20th explains why: seals can apparently sense how much oxygen they have in their blood and plan their actions accordingly.Explore moreScience & technologyThis article appeared in the Science & technology section of the print edition under the headline Deep divesFrom the March 22nd 2025 editionDiscover stories from this section and more in the list of contentsExplore the editionReuse this content

Netflix acquired the Roald Dahl Story Company in 2021but its been tapping into the authors vast catalogue since 2018, when it inked an animation-specific deal to bring his work to the streamer. However, when you think Roald Dahl, Netflix isnt exactly the first thing that comes to mind; lately, the immediate association is either Timothe Chalamet or off-brand, AI-generated attraction that went viral for being so amazingly terrible. Thats not to say the streamer has forgotten about its valuable and expensive IP (in 2021, the Hollywood Reporter noted that while terms of the full catalogue-rights deal were not made public, the 2018 animated deal was for a reported nine figures). Projects created under its umbrella have included 2022s Matilda the Musical, starring Emma Thompson and Lashana Lynch; Wes Andersons 2023 The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, which won a short-film Oscar and was followed by three more Dahl shorts also directed by Anderson; and animated film The Twits, due later this year from Phil Johnston (Ralph Breaks the Internet). And now, Netflix has announced its latest Dahl project, its first to make use of arguably Dahls most popular creation: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. (As THR points out, Chalamets Wonka film, released in late 2023, pre-dated the Dahl-Netflix deal.) Weirdly, though, it takes a cue from another of Netflixs big-ticket franchises, Squid Game, in the form of a reality competition called The Golden Ticket. While Squid Game: The Challenge was both controversial and confusing, it was also a big hitand you see how some enterprising producer was able to pull game show out of Dahls original book, which follows a group of kids and their parents who, after snagging those elusive golden tickets, find themselves in the running to inherit Willy Wonkas fantastical factory. Unlike the fictional Squid Game, the also-ran characters in Chocolate Factory arent cut down with machine guns, but they do face some grim consequencesincluding being dumped down a garbage chute and turning into a giant blueberry. The Golden Ticket is still in the casting phase, but Netflix is only considering applicants 18 and up, so no actual children will be put through its paces. Details are scarce this early in the process, but a press release posted on the streamers Tudum site bills The Golden Ticket as an all-new reality competition inspired by the bold and imaginative universe of Wonka.It continues: Just like Charlie Bucket and the other children in Roald Dahls original 1964 novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, a group of lucky contestants will have the chance to step into the whimsical wonderlandand to enter, youll need a coveted golden ticket. To achieve sweet success in this high-stakes social experiment, players will have to adapt and strategize, as a golden ticket only gets you so far. Wonkas guests must withstand games, tests, and temptations designed to prove their instincts, resilience, and ability to thrive in the chaos of a retro-futuristic dreamscape. Oompa-Loompas not included, apparently, though theres always a chance your Netflix addition might come back to haunt you, a la poor Mike Teevee. You can check out how to apply for the show at the casting website, which brings some Squid Game connotations back into the picture by calling The Golden Ticket a social experiment like no other and promising a huge prize. What could go wrong? 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 AJ Dellinger Published March 20, 2025 | Comments (10) | Elon Musk stands with his hands pressed together DVIDS / U.S. Air Force photo by Trevor Cokley Elon Musk has taken to attributing any decision that goes against the wishes of the Trump administration to being part of a judicial coup, and hes already putting money behind Congressional candidates who also find the concept of checks and balances to be distasteful. According to the New York Times, Musk has already made the maximum individual donation to seven Republican Congressional candidates who have shown a willingness to support impeaching or punishing judges. Per the Times, the candidates who have found a $6,600 check made out to them from the bank account of Elon Musk include: Representatives Eli Crane of Arizona, Lauren Boebert of Colorado, Andy Ogles of Tennessee, Andrew Clyde of Georgia, Derrick Van Orden of Wisconsin and Brandon Gill of Texas. He also gave to Senator Chuck Grassley, Republican of Iowa. Grassley and Boebert are probably the most familiar characters on the list, but Brandon Gill is a name to watch here. Hes just 31 years old and serving his first term in Congress, and hes made it clear hes going to try to make a name for himself while hes there. Also his father-in-law is Dinesh DSouza, so hes got grifting in his family. Gill filed Articles of Impeachment this week against James Boasberg, the federal judge who blocked the Trump administrations attempts to deport immigrants under the Alien Enemies Act. Gill isnt the only one to get the Musk Bump for their willingness to attempt to upend the judiciary for issuing rulings they dont like. Arizonas Eli Crane and Wisconsins Van Orden led a call to impeach District Judge Paul Engelmayer of the Southern District of New York (which is notably not in Arizona nor Wisconsin) for his decision to pump the brakes on some of the efforts of the Department of Government Efficiency. Ogles, meanwhile, has not only filed Articles of Impeachment against a judge (his target: District Judge John Bates, who ruled the Trump administration would have to restore deleted webpages related to LGBTQ health issues) but has also decided to lead his own end-run around the law. He also proposed an amendment to the constitution that would allow Donald Trump to run for a third term.Musks donations, which are pretty small in the scheme of things, serve as a signal for what his likely causes will be in the coming election cycles. Musk is actively gutting the bureaucracy that he claims is somehow getting in the way of democracy, but he cant single-handedly gut the judiciary to get rid of the umpires who keep calling strikes when he wants them to call balls. Instead, hell need to stack the deck in Congress to pull that off. Funnily enough, Musk doesnt even seem to know what his goal is: he posted We need 60 senators to impeach the judges and restore rule of the people, But it is the House that impeaches. The Senate convicts and that requires a two-thirds majority, which means it would take 67 senators. But lets be fair, civics isnt really Musks interest here. Getting his way is.Daily NewsletterYou May Also Like By Matthew Gault Published March 20, 2025 By AJ Dellinger Published March 19, 2025 By Matt Novak Published March 19, 2025 By Thomas Maxwell Published March 19, 2025 By AJ Dellinger Published March 18, 2025 By Matthew Gault Published March 18, 2025

I never thought this day would come. Seriously. If you had told me a year ago that Id be tapping this article out on a Samsung Galaxy S25, sipping my coffee while my old iPhone 16e gathers dust in a drawer, Id have laughed and called you a traitor. After 18 years in Apples warm, minimalist embrace, Ive crossed over.And you know what? Im not looking in the rear-view mirror.Let me rewind a bit. I got my first iPhone back in 2007 the original iPhone. That sleek little brick of touchscreen magic blew my mind and hooked me instantly. From there, it was a steady progression through every model from the 3G to the 5S, from the glorious iPhone X to my most recent companion, the 16e.I bought into the whole ecosystem: MacBook, iPad, AirPods, Apple Watch, HomePods, the whole enchilada. I was the consummate Apple guy. You know the type.But then something started to shift. Tiny cracks in the veneer. A little lag here and a little deja vu there. Truth be told, the latest iPhones werent feeling that exciting anymore. Each keynote felt more like a software update announcement with a $1,200 price tag. Dont get me wrong the 16e is a beautiful device. Polished, reliable, familiar. Maybe too familiar.Then, along came the Galaxy S25 Ultra.Curious About Android? Heres What ChangedI wasnt shopping for a new phone. I was browsing. You know how it goes a little late-night YouTube rabbit hole, some tech reviews, a sprinkle of Reddit threads, and boom: Im watching a Galaxy S25 Ultra unboxing video and thinking, wait a minute, this thing looks fantastic.I told myself Id just test it out. For work, I said. So I can understand Android better, I rationalized. Famous last words.First Impressions: The S25 Ultra Feels FreshIll admit it unboxing the S25 gave me a rush I hadnt felt in years. That matte finish, the curved edge-to-edge display, the titanium trim, and the in-display fingerprint reader all just screamed fresh. The 6.6-inch dynamic AMOLED display with the new Infinite Vivid refresh rate made even my iPhone 16e look a little dated and dont get me started on the camera array; more on that later. The setup I experienced was surprisingly smooth. Samsungs Smart Switch tool pulled over most of my data without a hitch. It even ported my messages and photos better than I expected. I thought Id feel a pang of regret holding my iPhone one last time. But nope I felt like I was upgrading, not downgrading.How One UI 7 Made Me Reconsider AndroidI know that was my biggest hesitation, too. Id always equated Android with clunky UI, weird app behavior, and that general off-brand feeling. But One UI 7 on the S25 is honestly fantastic. Its clean, customizable, and weirdly intuitive. The new gesture navigation is smoother than iOS, and the level of control I have over notifications, widgets, and home screen layout is just next level.Also and this is a big one Im not constantly being nudged to buy into another Apple service. No Apple TV+, no iCloud storage nags, no Fitness+ reminders. Just my phone, the way I want it.The S25 Ultras Camera Leaves iPhone 16e BehindLets talk cameras. The iPhone 16es camera is good. Great, even. But the Galaxy S25 Ultras triple-lens setup is on a different planet. The new 200MP primary sensor, enhanced by Samsungs AI-enhanced image processing, takes ridiculously crisp photos day, night, moving, still, whatever. The low-light performance is unreal.And that 10x periscope zoom? Chefs kiss. Im snapping moon shots, candid street photos, and insane close-ups that I never even attempted with my iPhone.Samsungs editing suite, which has been built into the gallery app, also deserves a significant shoutout. Its like having half of Lightrooms functionality in your pocket, minus the learning curve.AI Features That Really Made a DifferenceIve been skeptical of all the AI hype especially since Apples been talking about a big game but delivering tiny tweaks. But the Galaxy S25s onboard Galaxy AI is no gimmick. It translates live calls in real-time (yes, seriously), rewrites messages in different tones (think Grammarly on steroids), and even generates summaries of long PDFs Id otherwise never read.The result: Im using AI features day to day. Not just showing them off at parties.The S25 Ultra Crushes Battery AnxietyAnother pain point for me with the iPhone was battery life. The 16e held up okay, but it never wowed me. The S25, on the other hand, is a battery beast. I get nearly two full days on a charge with moderate use, and when I do plug in, its a 65W fast-charging thoroughbred, going from 0% to 80% in about 25 minutes. I dont even think about battery anxiety anymore.Wireless PowerShare is another low-key perk. I charge my earbuds and even my smartwatch on my phone like a sci-fi wizard.The Samsung Ecosystem Won Me OverYeah, Ill miss airdropping stuff between my Mac and iPhone. But you know what? Samsungs ecosystem has grown. My Galaxy Tab syncs beautifully with the S25. My Galaxy Buds Pro sounds amazing and switches seamlessly between devices. Even my Windows laptop plays nice with Samsung Flow. I also didnt expect to fall in love with Samsung DeX the desktop mode that essentially turns my phone into a mini PC when connected to a monitor. Its surprisingly useful for work on the go.What I Miss About Apple and What I DontOkay, I wont pretend there arent a few things I miss. iMessage is a glaring one. That seamless blue bubble experience is hard to beat, especially if your whole social circle lives there. But honestly? I havent felt left out between WhatsApp, Signal, and RCS. Ive written about this problem before, and Apples refusal to completely open up the iMessage API so smartphone messaging can work on Windows drives me bonkers.The other thing I miss: AirDrop. Its just so incredibly convenient. Samsungs Quick Share is fine, but its still a step behind Apples polish.Still, those are relatively minor trade-offs in the scheme of things. The freedom, customization, power, and sheer fun of using the S25 Ultra outweigh them.Why I Finally Left Apple for SamsungUltimately, it wasnt about specs, brand loyalty, or a single killer feature. It was about rediscovering joy on my phone. After nearly two decades with Apple, things had just gotten too predictable. Too polished. Too safe.Samsung brought back that spark the feeling that your phone is a window into the future, not just a rectangle of diminishing returns.Am I done with Apple forever? Apple may lure me back when they introduce foldable phones (which intrigue me for various reasons), but thats not rumored to happen until 2027. Not to mention that Samsung has already had some very cool foldable phones for several years, so I might go down that route at some point.In technology, like the name of that James Bond movie when Sean Connery returned to his signature character, Id never say never. But for now, Im fully Team Galaxy. And honestly? It feels pretty good, and I dont have regrets.

Babies may start forming memories within the first few months of their lives. Credit: Deposit PhotosWhats the earliest memory you can recall? While many peoples recollections of the past may stretch back into childhood, research shows that the trip down memory lane generally hits a wall once you reach infancy. In some ways, this doesnt make much senseafter all, the first years of a babys life are when they learn foundational psychological concepts, form relationships with caregivers, and gain a sense of self.Experts have long attributed this infant amnesia to the development timeline of the hippocampus, the region of the brain responsible for retaining memories. But according to new evidence from a team at Yale University, the explanation for early our memory blocks may be a bit more complicated. Humans generate memories during their very first months of life, but where do those memories go?Researchers detailed their work in a study published March 20 in the journal Science. To begin their experiment, scientists showed infants a series of new images before later testing to see if they remembered them. Recognizing an image from the past is an example of an episodic memory. As an adult, these can take the form of remembering specific events, like watching a sports match or taking a vacation. But judging episodic memory capabilities is more difficult when theres a pretty obvious communication barrier between adults and a bunch of babies.The hallmark of [episodic memories] is that you can describe them to others, but thats off the table when youre dealing with pre-verbal infants, Nick Turk-Browne, a psychology professor, director of the Yale Wu Tsai Institute, and study senior author said in an accompanying statement.Instead of trying to learn babytalk, the team recorded hippocampal activity during both test phases using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The results showed that an infant appeared more likely to remember an image if the hippocampus activated more during the first exposure. They also examined a babys physical cues for further confirmation.When babies have seen something just once before, we expect them to look at it more when they see it again, Turk-Browne said. So in this task, if an infant stares at the previously seen image more than the new one next to it, that can be interpreted as the baby recognizing it as familiar.Infant behavior corresponded to their fMRI scans. A more active hippocampus while first looking at an image meant a baby looked at it longer when they saw it again later. Meanwhile, the posterior portion of the hippocampus that lit up is the same region associated with an adults episodic memory banks. The strongest evidence came from infants who were 12 or more months old, indicating a timeline of how the brain develops in these first few years. Get the Popular Science newsletter Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.Previous work by Turk-Brownes team already revealed babies exhibit whats known as statistical learning even earlieraround three months old. While an episodic memory has specificity, statistical learning relates to more holistic concepts, such as understanding what a building looks like or which traditions are celebrated on certain holidays. Each also relies on separate neuronal pathways in the hippocampus. Combined with their latest findings, researchers are better understanding the progression from a babys earlier statistical learning formations to the development of episodic memories. According to Turk-Browne, this makes a great deal of sense.Statistical learning is about extracting the structure in the world around us. This is critical for the development of language, vision, concepts, and more, he said. So its understandable why statistical learning may come into play earlier than episodic memory.But the larger question still remains: What happens to these earliest memories? Turk-Browne believes there are multiple possible explanations, including the theory that those recollections simply never make it to the long-term storage regions of the brain. However, the studys senior author thinks another reason is more likely: Those memories remain encoded in our brains, but we simply cant access them. Thats what the team hopes to explore in the future.Were working to track the durability of hippocampal memories across childhood and even beginning to entertain the radical, almost sci-fi possibility that they may endure in some form into adulthood, despite being inaccessible, Turk-Browne said.

NewsAnimalsGray seals may sense their own blood oxygen levelsThe ability helps them time their underwater dives Gray seals (one shown) are aware of their blood oxygen levels and make diving decisions accordingly, a new study suggests.Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St. AndrewsBy McKenzie Prillaman1 hour agoGray seals may possess a secret sense that helps them survive at sea.The marine mammals adjusted their time spent underwater based on the amount of oxygen in the air they breathed before diving, researchers report in the March 21 Science. The finding suggests gray seals (Halichoerus grypus) perceive their own blood oxygen levels, an ability that prevents them from drowning on dives that can last up to an hour.Mammals need oxygen to live. But they usually cant detect its presence in their blood. Instead, most rely on the effects of elevated carbon dioxide as a proxy for low oxygen. In humans, an increase in circulating carbon dioxide, monitored via sensory organs in the carotid arteries, leads to shortness of breath, hunger for air and panic. A person will eventually pass out.

NewsNeuroscienceBabies can form memories, and they do it a lot like adultsWhy these early memories fade remains a mystery Babies were kept calm with ear protection and a parent nearby as they underwent brain scans.160/90By Laura Sanders37 seconds agoA babys early life has a lot of milestones: first giggle, first tooth, first step. A brain scanning study adds to the list: first memory.Infants can form memories, and they use a memory structure in the brain called the hippocampus to do it, researchers report in the March 21 Science. The results shore up the idea that memories can in fact be made during the earliest years of our lives, though what happens to these memories as the days, weeks and years roll by remains mysterious.