This is Rumor Replay, a weekly column at 9to5Mac offering a quick rundown of the most recent Apple product rumors, with analysis and commentary. Today: iOS 19 screenshots, the Apple Watch is getting a camera, and iPhone 17 side-by-side comparisons. Here are this weeks Apple rumors.Early glimpses of iOS 19s new designWe already knew iOS 19 would be getting big design changes, but this week Jon Prosser revealed some early glimpses of what could be in store. First, Prosser shared what he called a screenshot of the new Messages app in iOS 19. Then a separate video dove deeper into the system-wide design changes coming.Some helpful extra context: Mark Gurman says that such images arent representative of what well see at WWDC and are based on either very old builds or vague descriptions, missing key features.My takeawaysI fully believe that some aspects of what Prosser has shown off will make their way into iOS 19. But even without Gurmans input, I would have been surprised if these early looks reflected the finished product. Partly because new designs are highly likely to be tweaked continually during development, and also because with leaks like this, it can be hard to get the full picture of what Apples planning.That said, certain design features like proper buttons with more depth seem increasingly certain to make it into Apples big new update.Cameras are coming to the Apple WatchMark Gurman reported that Apple is planning to add cameras to the Apple Watch, though likely not for a few more generations. The idea is that a Watch-equipped camera could provide AI capabilities with a device were already wearing. Accordingly, watchOS would gain some form of visual intelligence. Gurman has previously said camera-equipped AirPods are coming too.My takeawaysAdding cameras to the Apple Watch makes sense. Theyre perhaps a better fit for AirPods, simply from a physical positioning standpoint. But AirPods dont get worn every moment of the day, and Apple Watch does.Gurman mentions cameras being in the works for both the Apple Watch Ultra and standard Series models. I wouldnt be surprised, though, if the first Watch camera debuts on the Ultra. Apple Watch Ultra offers much more space for new components, and its premium price could help absorb the cameras cost.iPhone 17 Air and 17 Pro side-by-sideLeaker Majin Bu posted on X this week to share the image above comparing the thickness of the iPhone 17 Air and iPhone 17 Pro.Bus dummy models, based on rumored dimensions, provide the best look yet at how the 17 Airs thinness could be a big selling point.My takeawaysThis image just confirms to me that Apple is set to please two very different crowds with its 17 Air and Pro models.iPhone 17 Air will be attractive to anyone who wants a sleek, futuristic new modelthe 17 Pro will lean hard in the opposite direction, boasting more battery and a powerful camera arrayIf youre the person whos always just wanted the most possible iPhone, the 17 Pro will be it. But if thin and light is appealing, the 17 Air is the device for you.What are your takeaways from this weeks Apple rumors? Let us know in the comments.Best iPhone accessoriesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

After announcing WWDC 2025 earlier this week, Apple is now notifying winners of this years Swift Student Challenge. Developers can also head to Apples website to check their status. As shared by winner Dylan McDonald on social media, Apple is sending out emails to winners of the challenge that read: Congratulations! Were thrilled to announce that youve been selected as a Swift Student Challenge 2025 winner!In recognition of your impressive work, youll receive: An official certificate from Apple to commemorate your achievement. One year of individual membership in th Apple Developer Program. An opportunity to take an App Development with Swift certification exam. AirPods MaxEach year, Apple selects 350 winners for its annual Swift Student Challenge. Of those winners, 50 students are named Distinguished Winners and receive an invitation to Apple Park for WWDC. Last year, Apple surprised some winners with an opportunity to demo their app to Apple CEO Tim Cook. From Apples website:Apple is proud to support and uplift the next generation of developers, creators, and entrepreneurs with the SwiftStudentChallenge. The Challenge has given thousands of student developers the opportunity to showcase their creativity and coding capabilities through app playgrounds, and learn real-world skills that they can take into their careers andbeyond.Developers can head to Apples website to check their status. Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Right after OpenAI debuted its new GPT-4o image generation capabilities, tech bros flooded the internet with AI-made cartoons memes imitating the style of the iconic Japanese animation house Studio Ghibli.The wave of ersatz Ghibli art was inescapable in AI spheres. One particularly viral example depicted JFK's assassination. Many have uploaded personal photos to be redrawn into a still from a Ghibli movie.Even OpenAI CEO Sam Altman join in on the fun, tweeting a joke about the trend and changing his profile picture to a Ghibli-style image of what appears to be himself, done up to look like one of the young, wide-eyed protagonists in the studio's movies.Then came the minor setback in the plot. Despite the trend seemingly getting Altman's personal blessing, it appears that ChatGPT has started refusing requests to generate images in Ghibli's style, Business Insider reports.This was joined by widespread user complaints on social media that the AI platformis no longer playing along with their prompts to ape the animation studio.There is significant ambiguity, however, over whether this was an intentional intervention by OpenAI.With its latest GPT-4o powered image generator, OpenAI has emphasized its robust guardrails around depicting real people. In regards to style, however, it takes a more laissez-faire stance."Our goal is to give users as much creative freedom as possible," an OpenAI spokesperson . "We continue to prevent generations in the style of individual living artists, but we do permit broader studio styles."The Studio Ghibli trend greatly challenges this stance. In one sense, its distinct visual mode falls under a "broader studio style." But what people widely understand to be the Ghibli aesthetic was pioneered by animation legend Hayao Miyazaki, who directed and animated the vast majority of Ghibli's most well-known films and is very much a living artist.In light of the reports that ChatGPT has started refusing Ghibli prompts, we reached out to OpenAI seeking clarification on whether it implemented additional guardrails.An OpenAI spokesperson responded with the same statement the company had provided to other outlets, which we quoted above. The spokesperson didn't address if OpenAI had instructed the chatbot to refuse Ghibli requests.In our own tests, when queried if GPT-4o has restrictions on generating images in the style of Studio Ghibli, ChatGPT replied: "Yes, GPT-4o has restrictions on generating images in the style of Studio Ghibli. Studio Ghibli's art style is copyrighted, and I can't create images that explicitly mimic it. However, I can generate images inspired by similar themes."Separately, an update Altman shared online today suggested that this is all some sort of mix-up, saying that "we are refusing some generations that should be allowed; we are fixing these as fast we can."Again, no direct mention is made of the Ghibli trend. More than a few of the replies to Altman's update are from fans inquiring about using Ghibli's style.In any case, the dust is yet to settle. The Ghibli trend has provoked nearly as much backlash as it has inspired eager participation. The effrontery of the rampant AI imitations is heightened by Miyazaki's personal views on the use of AI in art he famously called it an "insult to life itself.""Whoever creates this stuff has no idea what pain is whatsoever. I am utterly disgusted," Miyazaki said in a 2016 documentary. "If you really want to make creepy stuff, you can go ahead and do it. I would never wish to incorporate this technology into my work at all. I strongly feel that this is an insult to life itself."By now, Miyazaki's stance on the technology is well-known in both tech and art circles. And so is his dedication to environmentalism, which generative AI, with its gruesome carbon footprint and excessive water wastage, is virtually the antithesis of. It's likely that many who are gleefully peddling facsimiles of his life's work are aware of this. After all, that is what generative AI excels at: imitating.Share This Article

Standup comedian Bill Burr has turned the press tour for his latest Hulu special into a massive roast of Elon Musk and he isn't pulling any punches.Given the comedian's prominence, it's yet another sign that anti-Musk sentiment is reaching new heights as the CEOattempts to dismantle the federal government and makes plenty of offensive comments, sparking discussions about a coup and a surge in fascism in the United States.Now open derision for Musk is earning major applause and air time, both in progressive circles and Burr's more working class fan base as well.Last week, Burr accused the richest man in the world of dressing "like he just got out of a Hot Topic," during an interview with Jimmy Fallon on "The Tonight Show.""Like you were a f*cking nerd, nobody banged you and now you have hair plugs in your laminated face," he said. "Everybody is afraid of these nerds, I don't get it. They're horrible, heartless people."Burr also accused Musk of wanting to leave the Earth behind while ignoring the existential threats humanity is facing back home a common criticism lobbied at the entrepreneur."And I think Elon has got the rockets going because they realize there's other earths out there," he said on The ViewDuring an NPR radio appearance earlier this month, the standup took aim at the mercurial CEO for inciting a surge in far-right extremism with two Hitler salutes during Trump's inauguration celebration."Like, I just refuse to believe that it was an accidental two-time Seigheil," he said. "And he does it at a presidential inauguration."Burr then accused liberals of opting to flee the country instead of fighting back."I'm just like, you're going to leave the country 'cause of one guy with dyed hair plugs and a laminated face who... makes a bad car and has an obsolete social media platform?" he fumed on NPR. "You're going to leave this why doesn't he leave? Why isn't he stopped? What are we so afraid of this guy who can't fight his way out of a wet paper bag?"Burr has had it out for the one percent for years. In January, he went viral after shouting "free Luigi" during a late-night appearance, referring to Luigi Mangione, who has been charged with the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO and millionaire Brian Thompson.In December, Burr called Thompson a "gangster" during a podcast appearance."And then one of them gets whacked or something and [the media are] like 'Oh my god, he was such a good guy," he said.Meanwhile, Burr's latest tirade against Musk proved extremely unpopular on the latter's social media platform X-formerly-Twitter, with users accusing him of "going woke" and "pandering to the racist pigs on 'The View.'"Others made distasteful comments about the appearance of his wife.A quick search on Bluesky, however, leads to largely flattering discussions of Burr's Broadway debut."I love Bill Burr," one user wrote. "Hes like if my uncles werent racist.""Bill Burr seems happier than Elon Musk to me," another user argued.While it's certainly not resonating with every American, Burr's comments highlight a visceral disdain toward Musk's most recent actions and a greater disillusionment with having a tiny number of highly influential "broligarchs" running the country."These super rich people want to keep the water boiling, which I don't think is what we need right now," Burr told the Boston Globe last week."This is such a great country," he added. " Are we really going to ruin it because five guys are competing to be the first trillionaire?"Share This Article

DescriptionExciting update: We just closed our Series A recently (see more details here). It's a really fun + empowering time to be joining our Subbie team!* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *We're looking for our first Partnerships Strategy leader to supercharge our revenue growth!If you're someone who likes to figure out exciting problems from blank-slate and take them to successful execution, you'll be really energized by this role!You'll get a big-picture goal (in this case: build relationships to help get Subscript in front of every possible potential customer who needs us!) and you'll have the chance to take full ownership and creative license on making this happen. This is the perfect combo of both a strategy (thinking) AND operations (doing) role.Our growth so far has been driven by customer happiness and word of mouth (which has been an amazing and fortunate place to begin), and now we're excited to further build on that foundation to nurture collaborative partnerships with Accounting firms and Systems Integrators to help drive more growth.The basicsThe product : We're building the premier billing, metrics, and revenue recognition platform that empowers B2B SaaS leaders to invoice their customers, tell their ARR story, and track accounting revenue, all in one placeregardless of how complex their customers' contracts areOur product is incredibly loved - our customer happiness scores are unheard ofWe win nearly every deal where we are pitching against legacy competitorsThe role you'll play on our team:You'll report to and work closely with our CEO, Sidharth, who's a 2nd time b2b saas founder (with a successful exit under his belt)You'll identify potential partners (Accounting Firms, Systems integrators) who are aligned with our vision and have shared goals, build on our current existing relationships, and establish new ones yourselfYou'll design our partnerships strategy end-to-end, including defining the program and incentivesWe promise you'll be fully empowered to pursue whatever strategies and tactics you think will lead to the quickest and most impactful resultsThe way we work:We are an asynchronous teamWe don't do scheduled internal meetings, so the vast majority of communication is available to anybody at any time in written documentation, whole-company Slack channels, and video documentation. If you're sick of pointless meetings, this is the place for you!Sounds a little nuts, right? But it works! And it's one of our secret sauces for why our team is so high-performing (and happy!). You can hear more about working in our Async culture in this podcast episode featuring our CEO.We operate completely autonomously No one will tell you what to do; everyone gets transparent context and details about the company goals and you will figure out how to work towards them with the rest of the team!This is a remote job - work anywhere you wantOur leadership team is SF and Atlanta based, and our team is located all around the globe across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. You can work from literally anywhere you want! We do expect many of our Partners to be US-based.We're a team that loves working togetherWe love playing board games (these we do synchronously ). Full-time team members meet up multiple times per year for live off-sites around the world (expenses paid!)Our interview processWe like to be really transparent and communicative about everything at Subscript, including our interview process.Our interview process is designed to focus on your ability to think strategically, be adaptable, take projects end-to-end, and ship fast.There will be both asynchronous steps (writing up documents, recording videos) as well as live meetings.RequirementsWe are looking for5+ years of work experience. This could be in strategy management consulting, a GTM role at a high-growth startup, prior Partnerships experience at another SaaS company... exactly where you've worked doesn't matter as much as your desire and ability to operate with super high ownership and run your projects end-to-end (we don't micromanage here!)We like to see (but don't require)You have worked at a fast growing start-up beforeYou've worked with Office of the CFO products beforeWhat we'll be evaluating you forYou are fast - you respond quickly, and are energized by getting a lot done quicklyYou're a great communicator -- written, verbal, and visualYou are great at figuring things out incredibly quickly - you can go from novice to competent in something new in no time (and you found this fun!)You have a strong bias toward action; if you have an idea, you act on it and test it ASAPBenefitsUnlimited vacationCompletely flexible work schedule work literally anytime (and anywhere) you want!Benefits appropriate to your location (health/dental/vision in the USA)Company-wide retreats multiple times per year, all expenses paidLike all start-ups we're scrappy, but not scrappy on compensation: Subscript is committed to paying our awesome team members at market-rate, including benefits.Apply NowLet's start your dream job Apply now

Subscript Account Executives own the entire sales process - they develop relationships, warm up leads, and develop and close pipeline.Exciting update: We just closed our Series A a couple months ago (see more details here). It's a really fun + empowering time to be joining our Subbie team! The basicsThe product : We're building the premier billing, metrics, and revenue recognition platform that empowers B2B SaaS leaders to invoice their customers, tell their ARR story, and track accounting revenue, all in one placeregardless of how complex their customers' contracts areOur product is incredibly loved - our customer happiness scores are unheard ofOur funnel metrics are phenomenal - so far this year, 29% of our leads became opportunities, and 35% of those wonWe win nearly every deal where we are pitching against competitorsThe role you'll play on our team:You'll join the founders and Head of Growth in bringing Subscript to CFOs, Controllers, and Financial AnalystsAs a full-cycle AE, you will work with a named account list to find the right contacts, warm leads, and generate pipelineYou'll find the best in for any company, using connections with through our current customersHow we'll support you:You'll have a budget to travel to conferences and to your prospectsYou'll have support in hosting events and other dinners, where our CEO will help you build relationshipsYou will get phenomenal sales collateral to useOur solutions team will help you share the power of the platform with your prospectsThe way we work:We are an asynchronous teamWe don't do scheduled internal meetings, so the vast majority of communication is available to anybody at any time in written documentation, whole-company Slack channels, and video documentation. If you're sick of pointless meetings, this is the place for you!We operate completely autonomously No one will tell you what to do; everyone gets transparent context and details about the company goals and you will figure out how to work towards them with the rest of the team!This is a remote job - work anywhere you wantYou'll be working with US based clients, but you can be based anywhereWe're also looking for Europe + Aus/NZ-based candidates, so basically: please apply no matter where in the world you are!We're a team that loves working togetherWe love playing board games (these we do synchronously ). Full-time team members meet up multiple times per year for live off-sites around the world (expenses paid!)Our interview processWe like to be really transparent and communicative about everything at Subscript, including our interview process!Our interview process is designed to focus on your ability to communicate, to think strategically, and to sell. There will be both asynchronous steps (writing up documents, recording videos) as well as live meetings and roleplays.RequirementsYou have 5+ years of experience in salesYou have sold complex SaaS before for deal sizes between $30,000+You have experience with full-cycle sales - from building your book to closingWe like to see (but don't require):You have sold to finance teams (CFOs, Controllers, FP&A, etc) beforeWhat we'll be evaluating you for:You are fast - you respond quickly, and get a lot done quicklyYou are diligent - you do what you say you will, and you don't miss things. You do thorough researchYou are great on your feet - you can handle curveballs expertlyBenefitsUnlimited vacationCompletely flexible work schedule work literally anytime (and anywhere) you want!Benefits appropriate to your location (health/dental/vision in the USA)Company-wide retreats multiple times per yearLike all start-ups we're scrappy, but not scrappy on compensation: Subscript is committed to paying our awesome team members at market-rate, including benefits.Apply NowLet's start your dream job Apply now

html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"Zaha Hadid Architects has provided an update about its new sports center in Nansha, China.The Greater Bay Area Sports Centre, currently in the last phases of interior finishing and landscaping, is set to be completed by June in anticipation of the China National Games in November 2025.The Greater Bay Area Sports Centre, located within a 70-hectare park that offers Nanshas residents various landscaped areas along the river for sports and leisure activities, features a stadium with a capacity of 60,000 seats, a basketball arena and venue for other indoor events that accommodates 20,000 spectators, and an aquatics centre with a diving well and a 50-metre swimming pool designed for training and competitions that can hold 4,000 people.In addition to athletes accommodation, the sports centre offers a variety of additional amenities such as outdoor training pitches and running tracks.These will aid local government initiatives aimed at promoting sports participation among schoolchildren, thereby benefiting the health of the regions youth."The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area is the worlds largest conurbation with its population anticipated to reach 100 million by 2030," said Zaha Hadid Architects."Situated at the southern end of Guangzhous Nansha District on the western bank of the historic Pearl River, the Greater Bay Area Sports Centre will serve as an anchor to the new civic, business and residential district at the heart of the Greater Bay Area.""Offering its local community sports facilities of the highest standards, the centre has also been designed to host a diverse programme of major national and international sporting events, as well as cultural performances, that can be easily accessed by all residents of the Greater Bay Area via Line 18 of the Guangzhou Metro and the new Shenzhen-Zhongshan Bridge," the firm added.The centre will not only offer outstanding facilities for Nanshas local schools and sports clubs but also further Chinas current sports development initiatives at both regional and national scales.The centre is designed to provide competitive athletes, including those in all track and field events, with essential infrastructure. Its design takes advantage of Nanshas warm winters to create optimal outdoor training facilities and conditions that can help cultivate future legacies.This parkland, covering 70 hectares and situated along the river, is designed to be a key part of the district's flood control strategy. It will feature wetlands that handle surplus water during extreme changes in sea level, all within Guangdongs subtropical monsoon climate.The architecture of the centre, with its fluid forms, reflects the tapering geometries seen in the hulls of traditional sailing ships from the region, which were designed during the Song Dynasty around a millennium ago. These historic vessels established the Pearl River as the leading hub of global trade in China.The sports centre incorporates environmental concepts from the local Lingnan vernacular architecture, featuring ample sheltered areas that are cooled by effective natural ventilation methods during the humid subtropical summer months.The roof of the stadium is designed as a layered system that protects the 60,000 spectators from rain and direct sunlight while allowing rising warm air to vent naturally outside the building's envelope.The stadium is surrounded by this unique layered roof, which imitates the pleated silk designs of traditional Chinese fans.The sports centre, located on the banks of the Pearl River, features architecture that represents the gateway to Guangzhou and the northern districts of the Greater Bay Area. It is situated next to the main northward route leading to the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Bridge, which links the key urban centres of the Greater Bay Area.Each building in the centre is shaped by a network of vertical louvres. The buildings curvilinear forms are designed to promote natural cooling from the prevailing summer winds blowing inland from the South China Sea, and are informed by advanced digital 3D modelling to optimise shading in their civic spaces.The stadium can accommodate 60,000 spectators for various sports events, and its seating bowl can be modified to create ideal spectator conditions tailored to each event. This ensures the best views of the athletes and the most thrilling atmosphere, while also allowing for maximum versatility in its use across the year.Cultural performances can also be staged in the stadium, with the audience oriented towards a stage featuring a distinctive backdrop. The stadiums design features a grand arch that provides panoramic views of the river during sports and cultural events, creating a direct link between all spectators and the riverside environment of the stadium.Following the 2023 international design competition, Zaha Hadid Architects, in collaboration with the Guangdong Architectural Design & Research Institute, designed the centre on commission from the Nansha District Bureau of Culture & Sports.On 31 August 2023, work commenced on the Greater Bay Area Sports Centre. The primary frameworks of the stadium and arena reached their maximum height in February 2024.In February 2025, the roofing and curtain walls of the arena and aquatics centre were installed, marking the completion of this phase of the project. Furthermore, the project entered its final stages progressing up to its handover in June 2025.Site planSite planAquatic Centre, First Floor PlanAquatic Centre, SectionSports Center, Arena, First Floor PlanSports Center, Arena, SectionsStadium, First Floor Plan, First Basement Floor PlanStadium, SectionsZaha Hadid Architects unveiled design for a new masterplan, featuring a pair of fluid towers in eastern Naples, Italy. In addition, the construction work began on ZHA's Centre of Mediterranean Culture in Reggio Calabria, Italy. Moreover, the firm created material-rich showroom interiors for Marisfrolg Fashion Group in Shenzhen, China.Project factsArchitect: Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA)Design:Patrik SchumacherZHA Project Directors:Lei Zheng, Nils FischerZHA Project Associates:Jinqi Huang, Vishu Bhooshan, Jakub KlaskaZHA Project Architect:Hung-da ChienZHA Project Team: Teodor Andonov, Shajay Bhooshan, Taizhong Chen, Heba Eiz,Vegard Elseth, Matthew Gabe, Sonia Magdziarz, Ling Mao, Keerti Manney, Xin Swift, Ke Yang, Chris Whiteside, Svenja Siever, Tul SrisompunZHA Competition Team:Luca Bacilieri, Niran Buyukkoz, Junfei Chen, Nils Fischer, Matthew Gabe, Jakub Klask , Han Hsun Hsieh, Jingwen Yang, Paul Joseph, Shuaiwei Li, Juan Liu, Sonia Magdziarz, Yuling Ma, Satoshi Ohashi, Michael On, Xin Swift, Ceren Tekin, Ke Yang, Bo Zhang, Chu Zhou, Lei Zheng.Competition Sports Consultant:Clive John LewisCompetition Consortium Member: Guangzhou Architectural Design & Research Institute Co., Ltd.ConsultantsExecutive Architect:Guangzhou Architectural Design & Research Institute (GDAD), China Southwest Architectural Design and Research Institute (CSWADI)Structural Engineers:GDAD, CSWADIGeneral Contractor:China Construction Eighth Engineering Division & China Construction Third Engineering DivisionFaade Engineering: RFR(Rice Francis Ritchie sarl) Engineers, GDAD, CSWADIM&E Engineering:GDAD, CSWADILandscape Consultant:AECOMLighting Design:Lichtvision Design & Tsinghua Urban Planning and Design Institute (THUPDI)Site Supervision: Guangzhou Runhe Consulting Co., Ltd., Guangzhou Pearl River Supervision and Consulting Group, Guangzhou Construction Engineering Supervision Co.All images CRLand.All drawings Zaha Hadid Architects.> via Zaha Hadid Architects

Here are hints and the answer for today's Wordle No. 1,378 for March 28.

Hints and answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, No. 186, for March 28.

OpinionMarch 27, 20256 min readFat Doesn't Deserve Its Bad RapFat is one of the most active, dynamic organs we have. Why cant we learn to love it?By Bethany Brookshire smartboy10/Getty ImagesWe starve it. Sweat it off. Freeze or carve it out. We claim that two thirds of Americans have too much of it, and then we take weekly injections just to shrink it. Body fat is generally demonized, and the way we treat people with larger bodies fills me with wrath. We build tiny airplane seats and complain when people cant fit in them; we watch as total strangers mock and concern troll larger people about their health, for daring just to exist. We push people to feel shame for a body part some of us think is too large.The way we stigmatize fat is especially galling given how important our fat cells are. One type secretes hormones that affect metabolism, while others help keep us warm. Where fat sits in our body provides support and structure, from arteries to anus.We are used to thinking of fat as this passive thing we try to stuff into our jeans. But what if we saw it as it is: a biological organ and one of the most adaptable in the human body? Adipose tissue communicates with the gut, brain, immune system and more to keep us moving and healthy. What if we gave it the same research funding, care and attention we gave our hearts, livers or brains? Knowing us, wed probably use the knowledge to make more drugs to get rid of it. But maybe we could reduce stigma and shame, and find value in our flexible and fascinating fat. And then wed be a little less eager to throw it away.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.It might seem odd to think of fat as an organ, in part because many of the organs we think about are so contained. There is only one liver, only two kidneys. But adipose tissue is stored all over the body. The most abundant form, white adipose tissue, lives partially in places like the omentum, folds of connective tissue that form a fatty, protective apron over the organs in your abdomen. Most white adipose tissue80 percent of our total fat massis subcutaneous, or beneath the skin, and tends to be concentrated in the stomach, hips, butt and thighs.We wrongly associate this tissue with laziness. Instead, it is full of energy. Each cell contains a large droplet filled with multichained molecules called triglycerides, which it releases as fuel. White adipose tissues ability to grow and shrink is a feature, not a bug. It is constantly swelling and draining, taking up energy and sending it out again multiple times per day. Thanks to fat, our biochemistry hums along smoothly.It's taken us a long time to see fat as a dynamic organ that isnt just squishy storage for extra calories. About 30 years ago, with the discovery that it releases the hormone leptin, scientists finally began to understand fat as an actual organ. Leptin tells our body, Hey, we have enough stored energyno rush to get more. In the years since, weve learned that white adipose tissue secretes other hormones and immune signals. It helps to regulate metabolism, promote insulin sensitivity, and increase or reduce inflammation.But we dont just have white fat; there is also brown adipose tissue, concentrated in the neck and armpit, around the trachea, lining the blood vessels, surrounding the kidneys, and more. While white adipose tissue has one large fatty droplet, brown tissue has many tiny droplets, and lots of mitochondria. It is thermogenic, increasing energy use to keep us warm. These relatively small fat depots can increase energy expense in humans by between 40 and 80 percentrunning hard to make sure we run hot.And in between there is beige fat. This adipose tissue starts white, but if its constantly exposed to cold temperatures, some of it decides on a career change. It makes more small fat dropletsand becomes capable of creating heat. These beige fat cells can then convert back to white fat cells when summer comes again.Fat is versatile. In bone marrow, it helps bone cells turn over and generate new blood. Fat lines the outsides of our blood vessels, giving them support and helping to regulate dilation. Fat pads in our knees spread the weight of our body over our lower legs and help control blood flow in the area. In our anus, fat pads are essential to maintain fecal continence.So why have we hated it so much and for so long? Fat phobia has existed throughout history, with even Shakespeare telling fat jokes, long before we understood anything about metabolic health. Now we associate a lot of visible fat on people as something unhealthy. But this fat we can see is not necessarily the fat we should care about. Overall fat mass is correlated with disease, but correlation is not causation. In fact, white adipose tissue that expands easily can protect against diabetesone of the diseases most people fear they will get if they carry too much fat. But its the invisible visceral fat, particularly around the heart, that is most associated with cardiovascular problems.Even how adipose tissue grows matters. Individual fat cells can grow larger if they become too full of triglycerides. This is linked to inflammation and metabolic syndrome. But adipose cells can also divide without ill effects. In both cases, the tissue is getting bigger, and a person is growing larger. But only one is linked to poor health. Increasing brown and beige fat in mice can actually decrease overall fat mass and increase how sensitive bodies are to insulin.Because of this, measures of simple size, whether body mass index, waist measurement or anything else arent a reliable predictor of health. Around 32 percent of people designated obese are metabolically healthy, and around 24 percent of normal weight people are not.But diets or drugs dont focus on brown fat levels, or fat around the heart. While new drugs like GLP-1 agonists have wonderful effects on insulin resistance, most of their skyrocketing popularity isnt because they can treat type 2 diabetes, which is what many of them were developed to treat. Instead its because of how much weight people on these drugs can losewhether or not that weight changes someones health at all.Diets and weight-loss drugs are marketed with health halos. But the real drive to lose weight is the societal stigma around this organ. There are plenty of studies showing that weight stigma has its own harmsand that the stress associated with it is, ironically, associated with weight gain.Diets and drugs sell the public on losing weight, without regard for which kinds of tissue are being lost, or how that loss might affect the rest of the body. The hatred we have for other peoples adipose tissue affects how we treat them, and what we as a society demand people who carry more fat will tolerate to lose it. While a male contraceptive pill can be pulled from trials for low mood and acne, side effects like nausea, diarrhea, malnutrition, bleeding and more are considered normal and appropriate prices to pay for various forms of weight loss.We would never treat our heart, liver or brain in such a way. We see these organs as complex, with positive and negative effects through the rest of the bodyeffects that need to be carefully considered every time we attempt to treat a condition. Fat deserves the same consideration.Our stigma causes harm, and it also causes incuriosity. What do we lose by not considering the benefits of fat? What scientific questions are understudied or even ignored in our haste to label body size alone a disease? If we approach our squishy organ with more appreciation, we might be able to develop more treatments that target the metabolic disease and inflammation itself, rather than assuming less weight will solve all problems. We might learn more about how our own bodies use adipose tissue. We might gain a different view of larger bodies. We might do better for science and society, if we could only stomach a different view of fat.This is an opinion and analysis article, and the views expressed by the author or authors are not necessarily those of Scientific American.