We've never seen a rocket explode with this kind of view before.Arctic BlastA rocket by German startup Isar Aerospace tore into the sky over Norway's Arctic Andoeya Spaceport, a European launch base for small satellites, over the weekend only to plummet back down to the ground, exploding in a dramatic fireball.Fortunately, while the spaceport's "crisis management" was triggered, nobody was hurt.As Reuters reports, the rocket, dubbed Spectrum, was meant to kick off Europe's efforts to keep up with steep international competition when it comes to launching satellites into orbit. The company says it's the first rocket designed for orbital flight that has ever been launched from continental Europe, excluding Russia.Elon Musk's SpaceX, in particular, has made major headwinds in establishing a massive constellation of Starlink satellites."Europe urgently needs to ensure its sovereignty in space," said Marie-Christine von Hahn, managing director of Germany's BDLI aerospace industries association, in a statement, as quoted by Reuters. "Elon Musk's Starlink is not without alternatives nor should it be."Launch, Rinse, RepeatWhile the launch may have resulted in an epic fireball in glorious footage of a rocket exploding in front of gorgeous, snow-covered mountains Isar Aerospace claims it was an important step in the right direction."With this test flight, we were able to successfully gather valuable data and experience for future missions," the company tweeted. "Thanks to strict safety procedures from both Isar Aerospace and Andya Spaceport, all personnel remained safe at all times.""Isar Aerospace met its set goals: After ignition of its first stage, Spectrum successfully lifted off," the company wrote in a statement, "for its first test flight lasting approximately 30 seconds. This allowed the company to gather a substantial amount of flight data and experience to apply on future missions."It's a particularly noteworthy development, given Europe's broader goals of reducing its dependence on the United States, particularly when it comes to security."We will be able to serve customers from around the world to bring their satellites into space and to help Europe solve a major blind spot in its security architecture: access to space," said Isar Aerospace CEO and cofounder Daniel Metzler in a statement."Launch, learn, repeat," the company wrote, echoing SpaceX's iterative design methodology.Share This Article

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March 31, 20253 min readAs Measles Continues to Rise, CDC Muffles Vaccine MessagingBy burying an assessment with updates and recommendations about the U.S.s current measles outbreaks, the CDC has signaled an alarming shift in its public messagingBy Jen Schwartz edited by Jeanna BrynerA health worker prepares a dose of the measles vaccine at a health center in Lubbock, Texas, on February 27, 2025. Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP via Getty ImagesAs measles outbreaks have continued to spread in 19 U.S. states, leaders at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have buried a new assessment by their own experts that found there is a high risk of catching measles in areas where vaccination rates are low, according to an article published by ProPublica on March 28. The assessment had also called for a messaging strategy to encourage vaccination against the potentially deadly disease. But that plan was aborted, signaling a shift in how the agency may be responding to pressure from vaccine critic Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., who is now secretary of health and human services.Why It MattersMeasles, caused by a highly contagious and dangerous virus, is very effectively prevented by the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. But rates of vaccination in the U.S. have been declining in recent years. Historically, the CDCs messaging strategy for encouraging vaccination emphasized the importance of protecting both oneself and the community at large, especially vulnerable people who cannot yet get vaccinated such as young babies. Whats alarming about the CDCs recent inaction is not just its decision to bury the news, health experts say, but also the agencys justification for doing so: in a statement to ProPublica, a CDC spokesperson wrote, The decision to vaccinate is a personal one, a message that does not reflect long-standing scientific consensus but rather echoes the sentiment of vaccine critics such as Kennedy.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.Why Vaccine Skepticism Remains a Big ProblemVaccines, especially the MMR vaccine, have been a target of rampant misinformation in recent years. A single fraudulent study had claimed a connection between the MMR vaccine and autism, but that link was debunked years ago. Many other studies have searched for a connection and failed to find one. But lack of trust in vaccine safety remains a big public health issue: A recent survey conducted by the University of Pennsylvania found that the percentage of people who believed that already-approved vaccines were unsafe jumped from 9 percent all the way up to 16 percent between 2021 and 2023. Measles was declared eliminated from the U.S. in 2000, which means it does not circulate on its own. But outbreaks are becoming more common. The total number of people who have tested positive for measles so far this year is already higher than any full year since 2019.What This means for the CDC and Public Health MessagingPublic health officials learned a lot from the COVID pandemic. Chief among those lessons was that frequent and transparent communication is key to establishing and maintaining trust with the public, say public health educators. Withholding essential updates and best practices undermines those goals. It can also prevent data and guidance from reaching local public health services in a timely manner.What You Can Do to Protect YourselfIf youre an adult who was vaccinated against MMR as a child, you can check to see if youre still protected with a simple blood test. If you were born between 1957 and 1975, you likely only got one dose of the vaccine instead of the standard two doses that are given today. The second dose boosts the efficacy of the vaccines protection against measles from 93 percent to 97 percent. If you had only received one dose and live in an area where an outbreak is occurring or work in certain environments such as health care facilities, you might want to talk to your health care provider about your risk and consider an additional dose.

Following recent claims Microsoft's much-rumoured handheld Xbox will arrive later this year in collaboration with an unspecified "PC gaming OEM", hardware manufacturer ASUS has shared a teaser trailer suggesting the machine is real and set to be revealed soon. Read more

Monster Hunter Wilds performance-related PC improvements coming this week, says CapcomAs future plans detailed.Image credit: Eurogamer/Capcom News by Matt Wales News Reporter Published on March 31, 2025 Monster Hunter Wilds has been an massive success for publisher Capcom, but not everybody's happy on PC, where the game has been repeatedly lambasted for its poor performance. Finally, however, a month after its release, Capcom has revealed a first round of performance-related PC improvements is coming later this week.Capcom shared the news in a lengthy post from Monster Hunter Wilds game director Yuya Tokuda over on the official Monster Hunter website. After thanking players for their support amid Wilds' impressive 10m sales milestone, Tokuda began detailing some of the improvements the developer is targeting in response to player feedback.The big one, for PC players at least, is the promise of improved game stability. "The team is continuing to identify stability issues and make improvements where possible," Tokuda wrote, "especially on the Steam version. This will be an ongoing process, where we'll aim to make continual steps forward in this area and respond to critical issues."Here's Alex with the full lowdown on Monster Hunter Wilds' PC release.Watch on YouTubeThe good news is Capcom's first round of performance-related PC improvements is set to arrive very soon - as part of Monster Hunter Wilds' Title Update 1 this Thursday, 3rd April. This'll include a promised reduction in VRAM usage, as well as an upgrade to the DirectStorage version on Steam - both of which "should result in an overall improvement in stability for our PC players", according to Capcom.Notably, VRAM usage and DirectStorage issues were both highlighted in Digital Foundry's review of Monster Hunter Wilds on PC, in which Alex Battaglia detailed the games "profound performance problems" and "substantial" technical issues. At the time, Alex advised "caution" for higher-end GPU owners, but flat-out recommended anyone with lower-end graphics cards "avoid" Wilds until Capcom could improve the situation - so hopefully this week's update will bring meaningful changes ahead of promised "continued improvements" in future patches.Away from PC performance, Tokuda highlighted some other areas the team is targeting. There's talk of weapon balance adjustments, for instance, which are set to be implemented "gradually" with each new title update. As for quality of life changes, Capcom says it's currently looking to make it easier for players to access information they require through UI/UX improvements, alongside "additional adjustments... to further enhance the overall feel of the game to curate an even smoother gameplay experience."Capcom says to expect changes making it easier to restock items, check skill information, participate in multiplayer quests, and use the Seikret. Additionally, improved camera behaviour during hunts is also on the developer's to-do list. More generally, the team is planning to "take a wider look at overall gameplay flow, which encompasses a range of things, such as the in-game economy, balance and other areas." This, it says, will "require more time for preparation".Alongside the aforementioned PC performance improvements, this week's Monster Hunter Wilds title update introduces a new social hub and a range of new monsters, including bubble dragon Mizutsune, a High Rank version of Zoh Shia, and the arch-tempered Rey Dau. Notably, Tokuda's blog stresses additional tough monsters are on the way, following criticism of Wilds' low difficulty at launch. May's update, for instance - which previously appeared to be relatively small in scope - will bring tempered variants of Gore Magala, Rey Dau, Uth Duna, Nu Udra, and Jin Dahaad. Additionally, more "challenging monsters will also appear in future updates"."We will continue to add new elements and content to make Monster Hunter Wilds even more enjoyable for all hunters through our free content updates," Tokuda concluded, "while at the same time making further improvements and adjustments to the game."

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Most brands sell mattress protectors, and if you buy a mattress on Amazon, you can usually snag a deal on a mattress protector in the related products section.Balanzat also recommends supporting your mattress with a solid bed frame or box spring, and keeping your mattress as dry as possible. Avoid excess moisture by ensuring proper ventilation and addressing spills immediately, she says.9. Keep out dust with a fitted sheetUsing fitted sheets that are regularly washed and keeping the area around the mattress clean should protect it from any dust, Parikh says. That said, wrapping mattresses and box springs in mattress encasements ensures that dust mites dont take up residence, Curry saysan especially good idea for those who suffer from allergies or asthma.Along with your bed sheets, Balanzat says your regular mattress maintenance should include cleaning pillowcases and blankets weekly in hot water to reduce dirt and bacteria.Just make sure the encasement is flexible enough to stretch as your body sinks into the bed, which is especially important for side sleepers. (Back sleepers and stomach sleepers dont need as much cushioning, so this isnt an issue for them.)Cleaning a mattress will no doubt extend its life and make it a treat to sleep on, but all good things must come to an end. There are different lifespans for a clean mattress, and depending on the type of mattress, Balanzat says to look for a new mattress once youve reached the following timeframes:Memory foam and latex mattresses: 7 to 10 yearsInnerspring and hybrid mattresses: 5 to 8 yearsWaterbed and airbed mattresses: 7 to 9 yearsAdjustable bed mattresses: 8 to 12 years (Warning: Some components may wear out sooner with these types of mattresses)On average, you should consider investing in a new mattress every eight years or so. Body impressions and sagging indicate that its no longer providing adequate support, Curry says. Its also important to listen to your body, Parikh says. Waking up in pain or sleeping poorly every night are signs that its time to move on.How to know when its time to clean your mattressBefore you complete the steps above, you should look for warning signs that its time to give your mattress a good cleaning. Balanzat says theres one general hygiene note: If you havent cleaned your mattress in over six months, youre officially overdue for a cleaning. Before then, these are a few other signals:There are visible stains or discoloration on your mattressYou can smell odors, especially musty or sour smellsYour allergy symptoms are worsening (due to dust mites, pet dander, or mold)Youve noticed an increase in dust or debris on your bedding

PoliticsWhite House says it's 'case closed' on the Signal group chat review White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks to reporters on the White House driveway on March 31, 2025. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images hide captiontoggle caption Andrew Harnik/Getty Images The White House has concluded its review of how Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg was inadvertently included on a Signal message group chat of high-ranking officials discussing impending strikes in Yemen. The Atlantic story, published one week ago, stunned Washington because of the sensitive nature of the information disclosed on the app. The White House has said none of the information was classified. "This case has been closed here at the White House as far as we are concerned," press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Monday. Leavitt did not offer details about what steps the White House is taking after its review. Last week, she had told reporters that the National Security Council, the White House counsel's office and Trump adviser Elon Musk were all looking into how the mishap happened. Leavitt said Trump's national security adviser Mike Waltz who created the group chat and added Goldberg to it "continues to be an important part of (Trump's) national security team." NPR disclosure: Katherine Maher, the CEO of NPR, chairs the board of the Signal Foundation.