It's time for an unexpected party. The Lord of the Rings Shire Lego set is set to release in less than two weeks, and there is so much to see and do.

March 25, 20256 min readFive Reasons Measles Outbreaks Are Worse Than You ThinkAnd Why Vaccination MattersMeasles is not a disease to take lightlybut it is also very preventable with vaccinesBy Meghan Bartels edited by Lauren J. YoungSigns point the way to a measles testing site on February 27, 2025, in Seminole, Tex. Jan Sonnenmair/Getty ImagesMany people in the U.S. today have no direct experience with measles, a disease that used to infect three or four million people in the nation every year before vaccines became available in 1963. Adults may remember they were vaccinated against the disease in childhood or have only a vague memory the disease is associated with a spotty red rash.But the virus isnt entirely gone: The U.S. has already seen nearly 400 confirmed cases of measles in 2025 to datemore than the total in any year since 2019. We dont see these outbreaks often, but when we do, they do make headlines, says Gabriel Benavidez, an epidemiologist at Baylor University in Texas.With cases on the rise in an outbreak that started in Texas, here are some key things to know about measles.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.Measles Makes You More Vulnerable to Other InfectionsMeasles is a nasty virus. It takes a week or two for symptoms to develop, giving the highly contagious virus plenty of time to spread to other people. Once an infection sets in, measles typically causes a high fever accompanied by a cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. The characteristic rash begins several days later, and the disease can trigger ear infections and diarrhea as well. And like other respiratory viruses, the initial infection can leave people vulnerable to pneumonia.But thats not all. A common consequence of a measles infection on the immune system is called immune amnesia. The virus appears to attack B cells, which the immune system uses to remember pathogens it has seen before and respond quickly. One key study published in 2019 found that measles can destroy both B cells trained on nonmeasles infections and so-called naive B cells that respond to future infections. Limited evidence suggests that this reduced immunity can last for a couple years.Measles Can Cause Brain InflammationA rarer complication of measles that occurs in only about one in every 1,000 cases is brain inflammation, or encephalitis. This appears to occur when the measles virus triggers the immune system to attack a protein produced by certain brain cells. The resulting inflammation kills about one in five people.Even when someone appears to recover fully from measles, a serious risk remains in the form of a very rare but near-universally fatal condition called subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, or SSPE. In SSPE, the person appears to recover fully and is no longer infectious, but the measles virus seems to mutate to avoid detection by the immune system. The virus hides in the brain, lying dormant for up to 10 or 15 years. Here it picks up more and more genetic changes and eventually begins to destroy neurons.Over time, this mutated virus can begin to reproduce and cause brain damage, says Walter Orenstein, an epidemiologist and professor emeritus at Emory University. Its just a virus that goes unchecked and destroys brain tissue, and we have no therapy for it.Vitamin A Is Not a CureOne of the most challenging aspects of measles is that doctors can only treat its symptomsthere is no treatment for the infection itself. We do not have a medicine that will make you better, says Sharon Nachman, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Stony Brook Childrens Hospital.Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., has claimed that vitamin A or cod liver oil rich in the nutrient can treat measles; this is false. There is a nugget of truth here, though: vitamin A is included in U.S. recommendations for measles care, Nachman notes, but it is specifically used to mitigate the infections damage to the eyes, which sometimes causes blindness. Vitamin A supports healthy vision. Its not given for systemic treatment of the virus because thats not what it does, Nachman says.Moreover, vitamin As benefits havent been proved in higher-income countries such as the U.S. Its probably not the same bang for your buck that were getting in countries where children are malnourished, she says. If a human body already has sufficient vitamin A, it will stop metabolizing the substance in order to avoid dangerously high levels of it.Cod liver oil in particular might bring more harm than good, Nachman says: cod liver oil supplements arent regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, so its unclear how much vitamin A they contain, and the products could hide heavy metals or other pollutants that fish are exposed to. Its a natural remedy, [but] that doesnt make it safe, she says.Its All about VaccinesThe best strategy for avoiding the effects of measles, then, as for so many infectious diseases, is simply not to catch the virus in the first place. Fortunately, the two current standard vaccines against measleswhich also include protection against mumps and rubellaare proven to be both very safe and effective. One dose provides 93 percent effective protection against measles and the recommended two doses increases that to 97 percent. (Another vaccine, only available for children between one and 12 years old, also protects against varicella, or chickenpox, but is otherwise similar.)Both formulations of the so-called MMR vaccine contain weakened live forms of the measles virus. The vaccine does occasionally cause mild side effects, such as swelling at the injection site, fever or a mild rash; there is no valid evidence that the MMR vaccine causes autism.When were seeing measles, we need to think that we may also see resurgence of other vaccine-preventable diseases. Walter Orenstein, epidemiologistBut measles vaccination rates in the U.S. are not as high as experts would like. At least 95 percent of people must be vaccinated in order to stop outbreaks from spreading and reduce the possibility that people who are not medically able to be vaccinatedsuch as babies under one year old or immunocompromised peoplewill catch the virus. But the overall measles vaccination rate among kindergarteners nationwide in the 20232024 school year was less than 93 percent. Several states have vaccination rates under 90 percent, and some small regional rates are much lowercreating hot spots vulnerable to outbreaks like the one in Texas.The key weakness of having a strong vaccine but no treatment is that vaccines dont save lives; vaccinations save lives, Orenstein says. A vaccine dose that remains in the vial is zero percent effective, no matter what the clinical trial showed.Vaccination rates fell during the COVID pandemic, when standard preventative care was put on hold. And vaccine hesitancy, which has long swirled around the MMR vaccine, has risen and spread in recent years. But vaccines can also fall victim to their own success by erasing the threat of an infectious disease from peoples minds entirely. Theres a perception of, Well, measles is super rare; its not probably going to happen to me and my community, Benavidez says.Adults in regions with measles cases or who are planning international travel can check their medical records to confirm they received two doses of the vaccine; doctors can also run a blood test to look for antibodies to the virus, which can indicate protectionalthough the test is not always conclusive. Some people may need an additional vaccine dose.Despite Outbreaks, Measles in the U.S. Is Eliminated and Can Remain SoThe vaccine has indeed made measles a rarity. In the U.S. the disease is considered eliminateda formal designation that the nation will lose if the disease spreads internally for a full year.Epidemiologists hope it hasnt come to that. I dont think were going to see widespread measles outbreaks in the U.S., Benavidez says. I think we still do a really good job of vaccinating.But experts say that upticks in measles cases are a clear warning sign that vaccination rates need improvingmeasles is the most contagious of the vaccine-preventable diseases and therefore the one that gains traction first. When were seeing measles, we need to think that we may also see resurgence of other vaccine-preventable diseases, Orenstein says.Measles outbreaks within the country are also a sign the U.S. should bolster vaccination abroad. For more than two decades, all outbreaks in the U.S. have begun when travelers brought the virus in from other nations. The current outbreaks in Texas and New Mexico began with just such an introduction, and the virus merely took hold in vulnerable, undervaccinated regions, whereas in other introductions, cases fizzled out. Supporting vaccination campaigns globallythe disease killed more than 100,000 people worldwide in 2023reduces the likelihood of the virus starting new outbreaks at home as well.Not supporting international immunization efforts not only harms the countries that are no longer receiving the help, but it [also] harms us, Orenstein says.

Sunderfolk release date and more announced at Dreamhaven showcase hosted by The Game AwardsCo-op games and fresh partnerships from ex-Blizzard boss.Image credit: Dreamhaven News by Ed Nightingale Deputy News Editor Published on March 25, 2025 Dreamhaven has revealed a number of in-development projects at its showcase presented by The Game Awards, including the release date of its tabletop-inspired adventure Sunderfolk.The company was set up by ex-Blizzard boss Mike Morhaime in 2020, known for his work on World of Warcraft, and includes other former staff across its two studios.The biggest announcement was the 23rd April 2025 release date for Sunderfolk, from studio Secret Door, across Steam, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Switch.Sunderfolk release date trailerWatch on YouTubeWhile releasing across PC and console, players will use a mobile app instead of a controller to interact with the game. The aim is to replicate a tabletop experience but in a streamlined, approachable way."As longstanding tabletop gaming fans, we at Secret Door know all too well how difficult it can be to get new players together for a shared experience. Learning rules, perceived complexity, and setup times can create challenges for playing with our loved ones," said Chris Sigaty, studio head of Secret Door. "Our goal with Sunderfolk is to leverage modern technology to make game night something everyone can enjoy.""At its core, Sunderfolk is about the joy of playing together - laughter, strategy, and making memories," added Morhaime. "Just like the tabletop games that inspired it, Sunderfolk creates lasting bonds between friends and family with each session."I went hands-on with Sunderfolk at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) and was impressed by its mix of public and private gameplay that rewards cooperation.Dreamhaven's other studio, Moonshot Games, announced Wildgate, a crew-based first-person shooter set in space. With both games, Dreamhaven is ticking both the fantasy and sci-fi boxes and providing cooperative experiences.As "Prospectors", players will explore space in search of ancient relics to extract, engaging in both tactical spaceship combat and on-foot firefights with a comedy tone. A preview playtest will take place from 10th-14th April ahead of a launch later in the year across Steam, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S."Wildgate rewards cooperation and tactical mastery in a way that realises Dreamhaven's goal to bring players together and help them create lasting memories," said Morhaime. "Since every match of Wildgate plays differently, there's tonnes for you and your friends to discover as you explore the Typhon Reach. Ship-vs-ship combat brings an element of chaos that makes for an especially fun time, and we're looking forward to players experiencing it for themselves during the playtest."Wildgate reveal trailerWatch on YouTubeElsewhere, Dreamhaven is working with two other studios on support projects.The first is Lynked: Banner of the Spark with developer FuzzyBot. Available now in early access on Steam, the game fuses dungeon-crawling with Animal Crossing-style town management in a cute sci-fi world of robots and gadgets.The game will receive a full 1.0 release across Steam, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S on 22nd May, adding five chapters (totalling 40 new missions), five new bosses, a new biome, plus new weapon mods, skins, and more.Lastly, Dreamhaven has announced a partnership with Game River to publish its auto-battler Mechabellum. The mech strategy game is already available on Steam, but a new premium edition will add exclusive skins, avatars and emotes.The full showcase is available to watch on YouTube.

Sunderfolk, from former World of Warcraft boss, is streamlined tabletop D&D by way of Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles and some is hidden on your mobileYour next cosy night in.Image credit: Dreamhaven Feature by Ed Nightingale Deputy News Editor Published on March 25, 2025 Video games have long taken inspiration from tabletop games, but more recently we've seen this trend in reverse. There are tabletop adaptations of countless video games, but between all the individual cards and counters, long setup times, and lengthy campaigns, they're not always that easy to play.Sunderfolk aims to change that, by putting the game on the big screen (via PC, PS5, or Xbox Series X/S) and controls on your mobile phone. It's like a streamlined D&D campaign by way of Square Enix's ill-fated Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles. And its developer, Dreamhaven, hopes it will transform your cosy game nights.Dreamhaven was founded by former Blizzard boss Mike Morhaime, known for his work on MMORPG World of Warcraft. The company consists of two studios, Moonshot and Secret Door, and includes a roster of other ex-Blizzard staff, with Sunderfolk developed by the latter. In short, there's a wealth of experience here in a bid to make the game a success.Sunderfolk release date trailerWatch on YouTubeApproachability is at the core of the game. It's why it features animal characters to ensure appeal for all communities, as well as the mobile phone controls. Simply download the accompanying app, scan a QR code on the TV, and you're connected to the game with personal information on your private screen. The TV screen gameplay is then managed by swipes and flicks through touch-screen menus that all felt immediately intuitive during my hands-on at the Game Developers Conference (GDC).Alongside two of the game's developers, we jumped straight into a turn-based battle against a horde of goblin enemies. This mission required us to kill a set number of enemies, though other mission types will include tower defence or more puzzle-based missions like helping a certain character escape. First, though, we needed to select a class. Three were available: the berserker (appropriately, a bear), the bard (a musical bat), and a ranger (a sprightly deer). Each has their own abilities as a series of cards, meaning prior to battle players will need to manage their deck appropriately to suit their build.Interestingly, unlike other tabletop games, Sunderfolk doesn't use dice rolls but instead players must incorporate fate cards into their deck. These are then selected at random after each skill card is used for additional effects, both positive and negative. This could modify damage dealt, or add status effects to attacks, and it's here the deckbuilding takes on a new layer - perhaps a fate card will reduce damage, but an additional effect may suit your chosen build, therefore making the card a worthy inclusion all the same.The developers are encouraging cooperation through some smart design choices. Not only are skill cards private on each player's phone, there's no roll for initiative like in D&D (or Baldur's Gate 3, for a video game reference). Instead, it's up to players to communicate and attack in any order, depending on strategy. Each skill card includes a series of actions, both movement and attack, that must be followed in order. As such, players will need to discuss the team's course of action during their turn, synergising abilities in the best possible order. Simply swipe up on a card to use it and then use the touch screen to draw a line of movement or aim across the game's hex-based maps. There's a cursor, too, to hover over the world, or just get off the sofa and point at the screen the old fashioned way. Image credit: DreamhavenI chose to play as the bard, whose abilities leave a trail of musical notes that can buff the health, defence, and attacks of other players. As such, it was important to plan out our actions to make the most of these buffs, allowing the tanky berserker to restore health, or the ranger to collect attack buffs before sniping from a distance. Other classes will be included in the final game with plenty more synergies. And with the snappy battles lasting from 20 to 30 minutes, it's possible to easily dip in and out of play or settle in for longer campaign sessions (the full campaign will be anywhere from 25 to 40 hours in total, depending on side missions completed).That sense of cooperation continues into the subsequent town phase, as players return from a completed mission. Here you can manage your deck, collect rewards, chat with townsfolk, and even engage in some romance. Crucially, this all occurs privately on your phone, not only cementing a sense of intimacy with those relationships, but potentially causing arguments too. You see, the town's locations - the market, temple, workshop, or tavern for instance - can be upgraded once resources are collected, which in turn will boost relationship levels. Perhaps you've become best mates with the tavern keeper, who's able to provide passive buffs through preparing meals, but another player is busy romancing someone at the temple. Which town upgrade do you focus on? Missions may have additional objectives too, which will determine whether certain NPCs become favourable or not, and you can even customise your adventure by naming the town and its upgraded locations.It's this kind of cooperation and competitiveness that's crucial in any good tabletop game, and that's only enhanced by the public-private nature of Sunderfolk's setup. It picks up where Crystal Chronicles left off, but without all that fussy Game Boy connectivity, while the game's narrator delightfully takes players through the linear campaign in the same manner as a tabletop Game Master. It's a charming world too: a bright and detailed fantasy of woodland creatures and vivid magic.If D&D has proven too complex, Sunderfolk is primed to fill that gap through its streamlined setup and approachable gameplay. Just don't blame the game for any argumentative outbursts that may occur.

NationalDays after the Signal leak, the Pentagon warned the app was the target of hackers A screengrab of a page from a Pentagon-wide memo warning against using the messaging app Signal. NPR hide captiontoggle caption NPR Several days after top national security officials accidentally included a reporter in a Signal chat about bombing Houthi sites in Yemen, a Pentagon-wide advisory warned against using the messaging app, even for unclassified information. "A vulnerability has been identified in the Signal messenger application," begins the department-wide email, dated March 18, obtained by NPR. The memo continues, "Russian professional hacking groups are employing the 'linked devices' features to spy on encrypted conversations." It notes that Google has identified Russian hacking groups who are "targeting Signal Messenger to spy on persons of interest." Moreover there was a memo in 2023 obtained by NPR warning of using Signal for using any non-public official information. A Signal spokesman said the Pentagon memo is not about the messaging app's level of security, but rather that users of the service should be aware of so-called "phishing attacks." That's when hackers try to gain access to sensitive information through impersonation or other deceptive tricks. "Once we learned that Signal users were being targeted, and how they were being targeted, we introduced additional safeguards and in-app warnings to help protect people from falling victim to phishing attacks. This work was completed months ago," said Signal spokesman Jun Harada. The March 18, 2025 Pentagon memo adds, "Please note: third-party messaging apps (e.g. Signal) are permitted by policy for unclassified accountability/recall exercises but are not approved to process or store non-public unclassified information." The encrypted Signal app is what Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other leading national security officials within the administration used to discuss bombing Houthi sites earlier this month. The Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg was inadvertently added to the group and privy to the highly sensitive discussions. In the military, sending classified data over insecure channels is called "spillage"; it can be a career ender for a military officer. The 2023 DoD memo prohibited use of mobile applications for even "controlled unclassified information," which is many degrees less important than information about on-going military operations. There's almost no precedent for the heads of Defense, State, Intelligence and National Security to be sharing such sensitive military intelligence in a forum that was known to be unsecured. "These are things that are absolutely basic," John Bolton, former national security adviser during the first Trump administration, told NPR's Here & Now. "Yet these are cabinet level people in our government, and yet not one of them ever said, 'Why are we on Signal?' " NPR's Bobby Allyn contributed to this story. NPR disclosure: Katherine Maher, the CEO of NPR, chairs the board of the Signal Foundation.Correction March 25, 2025An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified the accidental release of classified data over insecure channels as slippage when the incident is minor. The correct term is spillage, and the term applies regardless of severity.An earlier version also incorrectly said a recent Pentagon memo about Signal went out before the leak to a reporter in a chat about bombing Houthi sites in Yemen. The memo was distributed days after that leak.

Augmented GrowthWith The Witcher 4 now properly on the way, Cyberpunk 2077 just powered CD Projekt to the best financial results it's ever recorded for a year without any big releasesNaturally, the publisher's teasing that it's got plenty of Cyberpunk stuff "in store" going forwards, including a MacOS port.Image credit: CD Projekt News by Mark Warren Senior Staff Writer Published on March 25, 2025 Things are going pretty good for CD Projekt right now. The publisher has just shared its full financial results for 2024, and revealed that it just recorded its best net profit for a year in which it didn't put out any major releases. Cyberpunk 2077 was the main driver behind this, as it continues to help hold down the fort until The Witcher 4 arrives.This info's detailed in a fresh press release and presentation from the company in which it looks back on its financial results for the whole of 2024. There's also a nice video starring CDPR CFO Piotr Nielubowicz that goes through the highlights.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. "We are very satisfied with the fact that, even in the absence of any major launch, the past year was the third best in the Groups history in terms of net profit," Nielubowicz said in the press release, adding in the video that this marks "the best result we have ever managed in a year which did not include any major releases."Figures wise, that net profit was nearly 470 million Polish złoty, with Cyberpunk's base game and Phantom Liberty DLC being cited in the release as having "generated nearly 600 million [złoty] in earnings", while The Witcher 3 "continues to attract attention and produces a stable revenue stream" despite being 10 years old. As of the end of November base Cyberpunk had shifted 30 million copies over its entire lifespan, while Phantom Liberty expansion had shifted 8 million, which is nice.Watch on YouTubeNaturally, this means the studio's looking to do more Cyberpunk stuff, with the game set to arrive on MacOS at some point this year, and CD Projekt joint CEO Michał Nowakowski adding: "We are also working to expand the Cyberpunk universe. In 2024 we announced a new animation project, which is currently under development, and which will be released on Netflix. And thats just some of what we have in store."As for The Witcher 4, it's still very much in the full production stage it was revealed to have entered late last year, just before it was properly revealed at The Game Awards. CD Projekt seems pretty chuffed with the reception that reveal got, citing data showing that the trailer outdid the likes of Elden Ring Nightreign in terms of trailer views on IGN's channel and overall percentage of press headlines in the 72 hours following TGAs, with "particular attention devoted to Ciri" being protagonist in terms of the latter.The reason for that last bit may well have had something to do with one of those silly discourses that just won't die - that being dickheads saying weird things about Ciri's face, and the rest of us all going 'you what, she just looks like an actual adult woman that's still very attractive'.Anyway, to lighten the mood after thinking about that again, here's a Cyberpunk 2077 mod that'll send you random facts about cats and dogs as you play.

Not quite micro-priced, but not bad.Storage. It isn't sexy and it isn't cheap, but it's essential if you want to keep your digital games with you. If you're anything like us, our bulging Switch libraries demand much more than our original 256GB card can offer after eight long years of those eShop sales!Amazon has its Spring sale on right now, and we've spotted some decent deals on the larger micro SD cards in the SanDisk range. Right now, the 1TB card is down to 68 / $75.29 (from 81.13 / $102.99) and the massive 1.5TB card is down to 87.99 (from 148.99).Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Image: Koei TecmoKoei Tecmo has announced that Ryza, the star of the Atelier Ryza "Secret" trilogy, is coming to WARRIORS: Abyss on 28th March. Perhaps best of all for owners of the Musou roguelite, she's coming as a free update, too.The game has been getting updates since launch in February (there's a second DLC pack launching today, in fact), but we have a feeling that this particular addition to the roster might persuade a few more fans to pick up Omega Force's roguelike spin on its Warriors template.Ryza, if you're not familiar, is popular not just for her adventurous spirit and impressive limbs, but also as the protagonist of the Atelier series' greatest successes.Gust's aforementioned trilogy, starting with Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & The Secret Hideout (2019), followed by Lost Legends & The Secret Fairy (2021) and Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key (2023), represents arguably the best the series has to offer. We called the third Ryza game "the perfect end to the best Atelier trilogy."Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube800kWatch on YouTube We were less enthusiastic about Warriors: Abyss, unfortunately, calling it "a decent low-budget spinoff in the long-running hack n slash series, but [not] particularly inspiring" in our 6/10 review. Still, it's great to see KT continuing to support the game, and who's not a fan of Ryza?The most recent Atelier entry, Atelier Yumia, launched just a few days ago - an ambitious game but one that really struggles on the Switch hardware.Interested to see how Ryza fits in with the ranks of Warriors? Does she spark your interest in the game? Let us know down below.In the comments. Filthy minds, the lot of you. Not Abyssmal"I always look forward to the Xenoblade series!"A new day dawns[source x.com]Related GamesSee AlsoShare:02 Gavin first wrote for Nintendo Life in 2018 before joining the site full-time the following year, rising through the ranks to become Editor. He can currently be found squashed beneath a Switch backlog the size of Normandy. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...Related ArticlesPSA: Gold Points For Nintendo Switch Purchases Are Now DiscontinuedUpdate: The Golden age is overSquare Enix Publisher Sale Brings Delightful Discounts To A Boatload Of RPGsBen Starr even has some recommendationsSonic Racing: CrossWorlds Acknowledges Closed Network Test Player Feedback"We've read through your comments"

Last summer, mining startup KoBold made a splash when it said it had discovered in Zambia one of the worlds largest copper deposits in more than a decade.Now, another startup, Earth AI, exclusively told TechCrunch about its own discovery: promising deposits of critical minerals in parts of Australia that other mining outfits had ignored for decades. While its still not known whether they are as large as KoBolds, the news suggests that future supplies of critical minerals are likely to emerge from a combination of field data parsed by artificial intelligence.The actual, real frontier [in mining] is not so much geographical as it is technological, Roman Teslyuk, founder and CEO of Earth AI, told TechCrunch.Earth AI has identified deposits of copper, cobalt, and gold in the Northern Territory and silver, molybdenum, and tin at another site in New South Wales, 310 miles (500 kilometers) northwest of Sydney.Earth AI discovered promising deposits of critical minerals in two regions of Australia that had been previously overlooked.Image Credits:Earth AIEarth AI emerged from Teslyuks graduate studies. Teslyuk, a native of Ukraine, was working toward a doctorate at the University of Sydney, where he became familiar with the mining industry in Australia. There, the government owns the rights to mineral deposits, and it leases them in six-year terms. Since the 1970s, he said, exploration companies are required to submit their data to a national archive.For some reason, nobodys using them, he said. If I could build an algorithm that can absorb all that knowledge and learn from the failures and successes of millions of geologists in the past, I can make much better predictions about where to find minerals in the future.Teslyuk started Earth AI as a software company focused on making predictions about potential deposits, then approaching customers who might be interested in exploring sites further. But the customers were hesitant to invest, in part because they didnt want to bet millions on the predictions of an unproven technology.Mining is a very conservative industry, Teslyuk said. Everything outside of the approved dogma is considered heresy.So Earth AI decided to develop its own drilling equipment to prove that the sites it identified were as promising as its software suggested. The company was accepted to Y Combinators spring 2019 cohort, and it spent the next few years refining its hardware and software. In January, Earth AI raised a $20 million Series B.Though the company uses AI to search for minerals like KoBold, Teslyuk says it takes a different tack. Earth AIs algorithms, he said, are trained to scan wide areas quickly and efficiently to find deposits that might otherwise have been overlooked.The way we used to explore for metals in the past, the 20th century, it just takes very, very long. It takes decades to find something, Teslyuk said. With the modern pace of the world, you just cant wait for that long.

Instagram on Tuesday announced a new school partnership program aimed at expediting the handling of moderation reports submitted by verified school accounts.The program is currently available to all middle and high schools in the U.S. It allows schools to report posts or student accounts that may violate the apps guidelines directly to Instagram. These reports are then automatically prioritized for review, and schools are alerted to actions taken. The company says the goal is to help educators report potential teen safety issues, including bullying, more directly. Participating schools will feature a school partner banner on their profiles, indicating their involvement in the program. Additionally, Instagram will offer educational resources with tips for safely using the app to educators, parents, guardians, and students.For the past year, Instagram has tested its new program with 60 schools and collaborated with the International Society for Technology in Education and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ISTE+ASCD) to create the program.Other U.S. middle and high schools can sign up to join the programs waitlist.The new program comes as senators advance the Kids Off Social Media Act (KOSMA), which seeks to ban social media access for kids under 13. In February, the Senate Committee on Commerce approved the bill. The U.S. Senate has passed two related bills: the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and the Children and Teens Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).Instagram has taken other steps focused on online safety. For instance, it launched teen accounts for users under the age of 16, which are set to private by default and have restrictions on messaging, alongside parental controls and other limitations.