Apple TV+ has been on a hot streak lately, and thats only expected to continue in April. Seth Rogens hit comedy The Studio will release new episodes all month, and theres another prestige series just around the corner: Jon Hamms Your Friends & Neighbors is getting strong early buzz, and already scored a season 2 pickup. It will be joined this month by surrealist comedy Government Cheese, new family content, and an intriguing French drama. Heres everything coming to Apple TV+ in April.Your Friends & NeighborsWhen:April 11What:TV ShowGenre:DramaIn Your Friends & Neighbors, after being fired in disgrace, a hedge fund manager still grappling with his recent divorce, resorts to stealing from his neighbors homes in the exceedingly affluent Westmont Village, only to discover that the secrets and affairs hidden behind those wealthy facades might be more dangerous than he ever imagined.Government CheeseWhen:April 16What:TV ShowGenre:ComedyGovernment Cheese is a surrealist family comedy set in 1969 San Fernando Valley that tells the story of the Chambers, a quirky family pursuing lofty and seemingly impossible dreams, beautifully unfettered by the realities of the world. When Hampton Chambers (David Oyelowo) is released from prison, his long-awaited family reunion doesnt go quite as hed planned. During his absence, Hamptons wife, Astoria (Simone Missick), and sons, Einstein (Evan Ellison) and Harrison (Jahi DiAllo Winston), have formed an unconventional family unit, and Hamptons return spins their world into chaos.Jane (season 3)When:April 18What:TV ShowGenre:Kids & FamilyJane is a 9-year-old budding environmentalist on a quest to save endangered animals. Using her powerful imagination, Jane takes her best friends David and Greybeard the chimpanzee on epic adventures to help protect wild animals all around the world because, according to her idol Dr. Jane Goodall: Only if we understand, will we care. Only if we care, will we help. Only if we help, can they be saved.WondLa (season 2)When:April 25What:TV ShowGenre:Kids & FamilyWondLa follows Eva, a typical teen whos curious, enthusiastic, spirited. The only difference shes being raised alone by a robot caretaker, Muthr, in a state-of-the-art underground bunker. On her 16th birthday, an attack on her sanctuary forces her onto the Earths surface, and its not what she expected. The planet is inhabited by aliens, covered with otherworldly fauna, and there are no other humans to be found. In fact, its no longer called Earth its called Orbona. Otto, a lovable giant waterbear with whom Eva shares telepathic powers, Rovender, a cantankerous alien with a troubled past, and Muthr join Eva as she embarks on a quest to find humans, her home and her true destiny.CarmeWhen:April 30What:TV ShowGenre:Drama (French language)Carme follows the thrilling story of the worlds first celebrity chef, Antonin Carme (Benjamin Voisin), who rose from humble beginnings in Paris to the height of culinary stardom in Napoleons Europe. While he dreams only of becoming the most famous chef in the world, his talent and ambitions attract the attention of renowned and powerful politicians, who use him as a spy for France. Determined to escape poverty and fulfill his dream, Carme can choose revenge, or he can have it all women, wealth, fame but at what cost? His love? Soul? Life?Availability and pricing for Apple TV+Apple TV+ is available for $9.99 per month and can be watched via the Apple TV app using various smart TVs, and also iPhone, Android, iPad, Mac, and more. It contains hit TV shows and movies like Ted Lasso, Severance, The Morning Show, Silo, and Shrinking.Which of these Apple TV+ April releases are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments.Best Apple TV and Home 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

This is your last chance to jump into the Amazon Big Spring Sale before the whole thing shuts down tonight, however the final day of the sale is ushering in some notable price drops for World Backup Day 2025. Our master roundup is loaded with deals on portable SSDs, microSD cards, flash drives, NAS systems, and more, but we are also tracking some Apple gear deals today as well Apples new iPad (A16) hits new lows at up to $50 off, you can save up to $312 on the 1TB 13-inch M4 iPad Pro, and the 36GB M4 Max MacBook Pro is now $350 off. On top of that, the Twelve Souths wonderful 15W 3-in-1 HiRise 3 Deluxe MagSafe charging stand just hit the $100 Amazon all-time low, and youll find plenty more down below.While the notable trade-in deals that can net you the new 11-inch iPad (A16)at close to 50% off are still live (more on this below), Amazon has also dropped the most affordable model a touch lower for folks without some gear to flip. You will now find the 128GB model starting down at $327 shipped with straight up cash deals also still live on the upgraded storage tiers as well. Details below.Regularly $349, these new releases arent seeing massive price drops right now, but you are looking at the lowest prices to date on what are already notably affordable tablets (as far as iPads go anyway). The deepest deal now sits on the silver 512GB model that is seeing a solid $50 in savings, but there are discounts across all colors and storage configurations right now too:128GB iPad (A16) from $327 (Reg. $349)256GB iPad (A16) from $420 (Reg. $449)512GB iPad (A16) from $599 (Reg. $649)As mentioned above, and as we detailed previously, there are some serious trade-in savings to be had here for folks looking to flip a previous-generation iPad 10 for the new 11-inch model. In fact, you can land nearly 50% off the $349 list price and youll find all of the details you need on this offer right here.While pricing on the more affordable end of the lineup has jumped up recently, we are tracking another chance to score the 1TB 13-inch M4 iPad Pro back down at $1,649 shipped thats $250 off and matching our previous mention. Head below for more details and a chance to save even more on an open-box listing with a full Apple warranty in tow.This configuration dropped down at $1,699 for Presidents Day earlier this year, but Amazon is now offering another opportunity to land it at $50 less than that to match the best price of the year this is $250 off the full price youll find at Best Buy.Just keep in mind you can score an excellent condition open-box unit at Best Buy right now with a full 1-year Apple warranty down at $1,586.99 shipped. This is $312 off the list price at Apple and the lowest price we can find on a comparable open-box unit from a reputable dealer.The 13-inch 1TB model certainly isnt the most universally appealing it isnt exactly the most affordable tablet out there. But if youre looking to land a serious workhorse of a tablet that can offer complete workstation potential, the up to $312 in savings we are tracking here today should be on your radar.That said, if theres another configuration you have your eye on, scope out the list of discounted pricing below just note the most affordable 11-inch models have been $150 more than a few times since release:Apple M4 iPad Pro 11-inch 256GB $919 (Reg. $999)Apple M4 iPad Pro 11-inch 512GB $1,099 (Reg. $1,199)Apple M4 iPad Pro 11-inch 1TB $1,449 (Reg. $1,599)Apple M4 iPad Pro 11-inch 2TB $1,869 (Reg. $1,999)Apple M4 iPad Pro 13-inch 256GB $1,099 (Reg. $1,299)Apple M4 iPad Pro 13-inch 512GB $1,299 (Reg. $1,499)Apple M4 iPad Pro 13-inch 1TB $1,649 (Reg. $1,899)Apple M4 iPad Pro 13-inch 2TB $1,999 (Reg. $2,299)Apples latest 36GB M4 Max MacBook Pro is now $350 off at AmazonWhile we are still tracking a series of 2025 Amazon lows on various M4 MacBook Pro configurations (youll find those below), those looking for some serious power can now score a sweet deal on the M4 Max setup. Firstly, Apples most affordable stock M4 Max configuration with 36GB of RAM and the 1TB SSD carries a $3,199 list price, but Amazon is now offering the Space Black model down at $2,849 shipped, or $350 off the going rate. This is the lowest price we have tracked on the Space Black model.We did see a short-lived one day Black Friday offer on this model last year at $50 off, but todays deal is otherwise on par with the best we have seen on the Space Black variant. There have also been some in-store only offers for less than this, but when it comes to online deals anyone can score right now, this is a solid $350 price drop. For the record, this model is carrying a $3,049 deal price at Best Buy.Now clearly, even at $774 off, the M4 Max is a bit of a niche model for all but the most power hungry of users serious Final Cut sessions, scientific applications, 3D rendering, and so on so most folks can likely side step it for something more affordable in the lineup. And here are the best deals we are tracking right now on those:Amazon now clearing out 24GB 15-inch M3 MacBook Airs at a $1,349 low ($550 off the original price)You can score a 24GB M4 Pro MacBook Pro for the same price as the M4 1TB today, now $220 offWorld Backup Day 2025 delivers big-time deals on Portable SSDs, microSD, NAS, more from $15Twelve Souths wonderful 15W 3-in-1 HiRise 3 Deluxe MagSafe charging stand just hit the $100 Amazon all-time low (33% off)As part of the now live Big Spring Sale, Amazon is now offering its best price to date on one of our favorite 3-in-1 15W MagSafe charging stands the Twelve South HiRise 3 Deluxe. Regularly $150, you can now score one of the more premium options on the market down at a new $99.99 shipped Amazon all-time low. This is $12.50 under the most readily available Prime Day and Black Friday offers from 2024, landing roughly $6 under the previous best price we have tracked.It you were going to make a short list of the best MagSafe charging stands out there, the Twelve South HiRise 3 Deluxe would be an easy pick for the top 5 It would likely crack the top 3 for most folks, and thats if it wasnt already in the top spot.For me personally, it is an easy top 3 alongside offerings from Satechi and Nomad the only real difference here is the form-factor. If you like what you see and are in the market for a new charging stand, its very hard to go wrong with this one.Youre looking at a 3-in-1 setup with official 15W MagSafe charging for your iPhone, a 7.5W Qi-certified charger for your AirPods or other Qi-capable devices on the base, and a magnetic fast charger for your Apple Watch. The main pad is adjustable to get your phone at the right viewing for video-chatting angle, and Im a big fan of the build here the weighted build is stable while a vegan leather wraps around the base alongside sleek aluminum accents.HiRise 3 Deluxe is a luxurious, space-saving 3-in-1 wireless charger for your 3 most important devices. Place your iPhone on the vertical charger to see notifications at a glance. Pop up the Apple Watch Fast Charger to power up in Nightstand mode. Charge AirPods or even a second phone on the soft vegan leather charging base.Youll also find the new 2024 model Twelve South HiRise 2 Deluxe 2-in-1 Wireless Charging Station in white now sitting down at the $63.99 shipped Amazon all-time low. Regularly $80, this is the brands latest 15W Qi2 model thats equally as notable an option for folks who dont need the Apple charging action.Our launch coverageand early hands-on impressions feature has all of the details for you.ecobees Smart Video Doorbell Camera with HomeKit hits Amazon 2025 low at $120 (25% off)While the Amazon Big Spring sale is scheduled to wrap up by days end, we wanted to touch down this morning to highlight the best price of the year on the ecobee Smart Video Doorbell Camera with HomeKit down at $119.99 shipped. Regularly $160, deals dont often get much better than this on ecobees smart video doorbell and you are now looking at an Amazon 2025 low. Details below.Todays offer lands within $20 of the Amazon all-time low, but scoring this model for any less than $120 is rare at best. The $100 offer was an extremely limited and short-lived one with todays deal landing below just about every readily available price drop we have tracked on Amazon since its release.This deal also sits alongside the rest of the ecobee smart home discounts now live on Amazon as part of the spring event, including the ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium this smart thermostat can actually display the live feeds from the ecobee Smart Video Doorbell Camera directly on the built-in screen (as seen above).Alongside HomeKit support and the Alexa integration potential, the ecobee Smart Video Doorbell Camera delivers the usual 1080p HDR feeds with a 175-degree field of view so you can keep a close on your front porch, whos at the door, and your package deliveries from just about anywhere. Our hands-on review details the experience further.Scope out the other spring ecobee deals live through today below:ecobee Home Security Bundle $250 (Reg. $340)Incl. Smart Doorbell Camera (Wired), SmartSensor for Doors and Windows, and SmartCameraecobee Smart Thermostat Enhanced $169 (Reg. $190)Smart Sensors $80(Reg. $100)Smart Doorbell Camera $120 (Reg. $160)2-pack ecobee Smart Sensor for Doors & Windows $60 (Reg. $80)And even moreTodays accessories and charging deals:Apples latest AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation drop back to Amazon 2025 low at $149 today, base set at $100AirPods Pro 2 back to one of the best prices this year at $170, AirPods 4 just returned to $100 Amazon low (Reg. up to $249)One of the best prices of the year is back on Apples flagship AirPods Pro 2. Regularly $249, Amazon has now dropped the price on the latest AirPods Pro 2 back down to the $169.99 shipped we tracked late last month to deliver $79 in savings and the lowest straight up cash deal we can find. Head below for more details and the return of Amazon all-time low pricing on AirPods 4 as well.Apple AirPods Pro 2 fell to a quite wild $154 for Black Friday and Cyber Monday last year that deal was short-lived and the best we have ever tracked. But it is also now long gone and in the grand scheme of things todays is otherwise very close to the best we have seen otherwise and still a notable price to pick a set up at it comes within $1 of the 2025 all-time low.The new AirPods 4 have now also returned to their Amazon all-time low at $99.99 shipped. A notable price on the newer and regularly $129 re-designed Apple buds with the more compact charging case, but the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation are still up at the $168.99 we have been seeing on Amazon for months outside of a couple brief drops to $149 Target Circle members can actually land a discounted price right now at $149.99 shipped though.The base model AirPods 4 are now matching the lowest price we have tracked on Amazon to date there have been some YMMV and special targeted offers for select users at Target for less, as well as some extremely fleeting deals at some less than desirable retailers for under $100, but the Amazon price we have here today is indeed the best otherwise.For many folks, the re-designed AirPods 4 are about as welcomed an addition to the lineup as they are far inferior to the AirPods Pro 2. For others, the lowest price point and refreshed Apple design are more than compelling enough to save the extra cash. And for me, they are a tough sell right now when the AirPods 4 with ANC are just $20 less than the flagship AirPods Pro 2 if you dont care about the ANC, the base AirPods 4 are well below the price we might ever see on the Pro 2.Still undecided, scope out our AirPods 4 vs AirPods Pro feature piece.Apples iPad mini 7 now $100 off for Amazons Big Spring Sale, deals from $399Apple Watch Series 10 now up to $120 off in Amazon Big Spring sale with deals from $399 shippedAdd 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

Despite SpaceX already being NASA's largest private contractor, Elon Musk is still hellbent on assuming control over the space agency.As the Wall Street Journal reports, the mercurial CEO is doing much in his power to push NASA to skip its planned journeys to the Moon and focus on Mars instead, highlighting his long-term ambitions of establishing a human presence there.Exerting his will at the agency could soon become even easier, with billionaire tech founder anddeep-pocketed SpaceX space tourist Jared Isaacman expected to be sworn in as NASA administrator within the coming months.Per the WSJ, Musk has reached out to Isaacmanto reiterate his desire to work together to get humans to Mars.The space agency has already suffered greatly due to Musk's efforts to gut the federal government with the help of his so-called Department of Government Efficiency. NASA was hit with mass layoffs earlier this year, with affected workers given short notice and denied time-off awards.According to the WSJ's sources, the White House is still considering canceling NASA's Space Launch System (SLS), a behemoth rocket that's being designed to send astronauts to the Moon before the end of this decade.It would be a major change of course for the agency, as plans are already well underway. Just last week, the core stage of NASA's SLS rocket for its upcoming crewed Artemis II mission around the Moon was stacked with its solid rocket boosters, taking a major step towards its anticipated launch roughly a year from now.Freeing up those funds to spend them on its efforts to return to Mars instead could raise plenty of eyebrows, given Musk's enormous conflict of interest. SpaceX officials have been informing people outside the company that the space agency's resources will be reallocated toward Mars efforts, the WSJ reports.That kind of reassignment could be of great benefit to Musk's company, which is already working on a large rocket designed for interplanetary travel called Starship.Musk's DOGE has also aimed at gutting the Federal Aviation Administration, which has been responsible for ensuring that Starship launches follow air safety laws.According to the WSJ, key SpaceX officials are already gaining power at the space agency. Longtime SpaceX executive Michael Altenhofen, who is close to Isaacman, was installed as a senior advisor in January.But is NASA really ready to ditch plans that have been decades in the making? A spokeswoman didn't rule out the possibility that NASA is still committed to "return Americans to the lunar surface," in a statement to the WSJ.However, given Musk's animosity toward NASA's Artemis program, the country's upcoming return to the lunar surface could be on thin ice."No, were going straight to Mars," Musk tweeted in January. "The Moon is a distraction."In aseparate tweet a week earlier, Musk accused the space agency's Moon program of being "extremely inefficient as it is a jobs-maximizing program, not a results-maximizing program."Musk has even called for the early abolishment of the International Space Station, which angered former astronauts.During his inaugural address, Trump also declared that his administration would be "launching American astronauts to plant the Stars and Stripes on the planet Mars," indicating he's very much aligned with Musk's vision.But pulling off an enormous U-turn this far into NASA's plans to return to the Moon could prove extremely expensive and a major setback. Besides, gutting the Artemis program will likely draw the ire of powerful bipartisan supporters in Congress."Starship? I want success out of it," representative Brian Babin (R-TX) wrote in a February statement. "But for us to beat the Chinese... its going to have to be SLS that does it."More on NASA: NASA Disgusted by Elon Musk's DisrespectShare This Article

Zack Snyders next genre, after superheroes, zombies, and sci-fi: The underdog sports movie.Snyder, UFC, andRing Magazine announced today they are partnering on a film project calledBrawler, which will follow an up-and-coming MMA fighter. Snyder is directing the film, and writing it with Shay Hatten and Kurt Johnstad, who both previously collaborated with Snyder on his two-part Netflix sci-fi film,Rebel Moon.(Hatten also worked on Synders prior film,Army of the Dead.)In a press release, Snyder said...Behind every great fighter is the story of how they got there. UFC is the world leader in combat sports and Im honored to be partnering with them to tell this incredible story.Brawler will be Snyders first sports movie. (No,Sucker Punch doesnt count. Come on.)ARMY OF THE DEADNetflixloading...READ MORE: The Best and Worst Reviewed Movies By 25 Top DirectorsHere is the films official plot synopsis:Rising from the rough streets of Los Angeles, a young fighter gets a shot at a UFC championship, battling his inner demons as he fights for redemption.The press release does not indicate a release date or a potential home for the film; Snyders last three projects (Army of the Dead and the twoRebel Moons)have all been produced for and released by Netflix,primarilyon their streaming service.Prior to that trio of movies, Snyder also recut and released his Justice League film asZack Snyders Justice Leagueon HBO Max.Get our free mobile appThe Biggest Changes in Zack Snyders Justice League

For once, heres aLooney Tunes story that doesnt end with the Coyote falling off a cliff to its inevitable doom.It appeared that we might never seeCoyote vs. Acme, the completed but unreleased live-action/animated hybridLooney Tunes film that was made by Warner Bros. Discovery but then shelved potentially forever in favor of whatever tax benefits WBD could reap fromjunking the entire project. There were even rumors recently that WBD may delete the film forever, rather than distribute it themselves or sell it to another company.Thankfully, thats not what happened. Instead, WBD has sold the project to Ketchup Entertainment, who said in a statement that they have acquired the worldwide rights to distribute the movie. It looks like we will get to see Coyote vs. Acmeafter all.In the press release Ketchup CEO Gareth West said...Were thrilled to have made a deal with Warner Bros. Pictures to bring this film to audiences worldwide. COYOTE VS. ACME is a perfect blend of nostalgia and modern storytelling, capturing the essence of the beloved Looney Tunes characters while introducing them to a new generation. We believe it will resonate with both longtime fans and newcomers alike.Warner Bros.Warner Bros.loading...Coyote vs. Acmecenters on Wile E. Coyote as he takes legal action against the Acme Corporation for the countless faulty products that have hindered his relentless pursuit of the Road Runner.The high-concept comedy directed by Dave Green was first announced in 2022, with Will Forte and John Cena in the key live-action roles. The film was completed but then shelved by Warner Bros. in late 2023. When I interviewed Cena last year for another projectI asked him about Coyote vs. Acme; at that time, he said...I gave my heart and soul to it. I think thats whats so tough, especially with folks like [co-stars] Will Forte and P.J. Byrne, and [director] Dave Green, who absolutely crushed it, and our whole entire cast, and certainly all the people in visual effects that spent all the time to make those Warner Bros. characters come to life ...But at the end of the day, its the movie biz. And I totally, completely respect Warners choice to do what they did with the movie, because I want the business to go on. I regret folks who got the chance to shine in the movie, because when you do good, you get another opportunity. So thats the only thing that kind of stinks.Thankfully, that shall stink no more. Ketchup Entertainment did notannounce a release date forCoyote vs. Acme yet, but we can now rest assured one is coming.Get our free mobile app12 Pairs of Actors and Directors With Famous FeudsYou won't see these great actors and directors working together again.Gallery Credit: Emma StefanskyFiled Under: Coyote vs. Acme, John Cena, Looney Tunes, Will ForteCategories: Movie News

Open to multidisciplinary teams under 40 years of age and based in Europe, Europan18 seeks proposals for 47 urban sites spread across 12 countries on the continent. Countries contributing competition sites include France, Spain, Germany, Sweden and NorwayThe latest competition is focussed on re-sourcing existing neighbourhoods and public realm by reconsidering natural elements, ways of life and inclusivity, and materials. The winning teams will each receive a cash prize worth 12,000 in local currency along with support to negotiate a commission to deliver their scheme.According to the brief: The fragility of the Earths ecosystem and social crises lead to the imagination of alternative practices to harmful extraction of resources, overconsumption and pollution of living milieus.AdvertisementRegenerating projects embracing nature and culture are to be though and implemented. It is about weaving synergies between biogeophysical data with socio-spatial justice and health ones.Three main directions for designing forms of resilience and resourcing of inhabited milieus make possible to reactivate other forms of dynamics and narratives around the ecologies of living and caring.First held in 1989, Europan was set up to boost young European designers and promote open dialogue and cooperation between European countries on issues relating to housing and urban planning.Now in its 18th edition, the contest is organised by a European federation of national architecture organisations. The UK had once again failed to offer up a single site for inclusion. The UK last submitted sites in 2008 for Europan 9.This years sites are themed around reusing derelict structures, promoting open neighbourhoods, creating new urban relationships, dealing with water, reactivating soils, and regenerating landscapes.AdvertisementPlots featured in the contest include a 148.6ha former winery in Felanitx, Mallorca; the 26ha village of Roa near Oslo in Norway; the 410ha Klara Nova agricultural district on the edges of Novi Zagreb in Croatia; a 253ha railways lands site neighbouring Lisbons Aguas Livres Aqueduct; and a 103ha industrial site in the centre of Turku, Finland.Competitors may apply for a maximum of one competition site in each participating country. Their applications may include either a strategic reflection on the overall site or an architectural solution for a defined part of the plot. All proposals will be evaluated by the Europan Scientific Council prior to the national juries selecting a winner.Participating teams must feature at least one architect, with all members aged under 40 and holding either a European degree or working in Europe.Submissions may be in English and potentially the local language of the contest site and must include three A1-sized display boards, a description of the submitted project plus three promotional images and a project text of four pages. Applicants must pay a 100 registration fee.The overall winners, to be announced on 17 November, will each receive 12,000 and support to negotiate a design commission. Runners-ups will receive cash prizes worth 6,000. A special mention may also be announced.Competition detailsProject title Europan18Client EuropanContract value TbcFirst round deadline 29 July 2025Restrictions No competition organizer and/or member of their families are eligible to take part in the competition on a site where he/she is involved. Still, he/she can participate on another site in which he/she is not involved. For implementations, Europan follows EU law on public procurement and all EU sanctions that are in place at any given time.National sanctions may also apply differently in individual countries. Competitors are themselves solely responsible for evaluating if their eligibility to participate can be affected by these sanctionsMore information https://www.europan-europe.eu/en/

Teams selected for the maximum eight-year agreement will have the opportunity to on a range of educational projects including new build and refurbishments with the government department which is responsible for education, child services and skills development across England.The contract is divided into ten lots split between both high and low value project bands covering the North, South, North East, Yorkshire and The Humber, East Midlands, East of England, London, South East, South West and North West and West Midlands.According to the brief: Department for Education is seeking to establish a new Construction Framework, the existing Construction Framework (CF21) is set to expire in November 2025.AdvertisementThe Department is establishing a closed framework for the construction of new and refurbished schools, and other educational buildings (including colleges and university buildings), together with community facilities and/or public buildings which are ancillary to such education facilities or form part of the development on the same site in England.The Department for Education is responsible for school and skills education. There are around 21,600 school buildings comprising 64,000 buildings in the state sector across England.The latest procurement comes shortly after the Department for Education launched a search for delivery partners for its programme to decarbonise a swathe of UK schools.Bids for inclusion on the latest framework will be evaluated 70 per cent on quality, 20 per cent on cost and 10 per cent on social value.Competition detailsProject title Construction Framework 25Client Department for EducationContract value18.5 billionFirst round deadline Midday, 7 May 2025Restrictions TBCMore informationhttps://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/011792-2025

Apple devices rarely go on sale, so it's wise to check out this last-minute Amazon Big Spring Sale deal on iPads.

Don't be surprised if you have to turn your VPN off at some point.

OpinionMarch 31, 20256 min readIs There a Plus Side to Mental Labor?Women shoulder most of the work in managing a family and tell us its exhausting, but some also say it has benefitsBy Julie Holliday Wayne Willie B. Thomas/Getty ImagesIts Monday, and my alarm buzzes at 6:00 A.M. I groggily get up, already running through the day in my head. I am a business professor, so I have a full schedule of classes to teach, e-mails to answer, and research deadlines to meet, but before I can start working, there are 100 other things I have to think aboutDid my son pack his gear for his lacrosse game tonight? Hell be starving when he gets home. What do we have in the fridge? I make a mental note to check before I leave.Then theres my daughter, knee-deep in college applications. Weve scheduled campus visits and spent weeks talking about applications and reviewing financial options. Shes stressed, which means Im stressed.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.And my oldesthes doing well in college classes, but I can tell somethings off. Is it just the normal pressure of being a young adult, or is something more going on? Whens the last time we had a real conversation? I need to check in with him.By the time Ive made coffee, Ive already thought through my kids schedules, their needs and well-being. Isnt parenting supposed to get easier as they get older? Now it is less about the physical caregiving tasks that consumed me in their younger years, and it is more about the emotional labor, planning and problem-solving.This is what is sometimes called the invisible family load, the mental labor, invisible labor or mental load. It is the behind-the-scenes, keep you up at night work that is crucial to the smooth functioning of families. Yet it is work that often goes unnoticed and unappreciated, and it is disproportionately shouldered by women.The conversation around mental load became more prominent in 2017 because of a cartoon depicting the invisible and exhausting nature of mom as household project manager. Since then, the many popular discussions paint a disheartening picture of the invisible family load as a never-ending, energy-zapping, exhausting burden that causes struggling and suffering, ranging from depression and anger to substance abuse and divorce.But is it true?At the time, there hadnt been much scientific research, so my colleagues and I decided to extensively research the topic. What we learned confirmed popular assumptions in some ways but turned them on their head in others. The bottom line: running a household is unsung and frustrating work that can bleed into our professional lives, but it can also be rewarding.Our research identified three types of invisible family load. Managerial load involves organizing, planning, and scheduling family activities or appointments, such as college visits, parties or vacations, or managing the day-to-day family activities. Cognitive load is the mental effort required to keep track of tasks, remember important dates, make decisions and anticipate future needs, such as keeping up with every family members academic, social, emotional and/or physical needs, all while remembering to buy eggs and toilet paper. Emotional load involves worrying about the needs and well-being of family members, such as worrying about your childrens health, well-being or futures, resolving sibling disputes, or being the emotional anchor for your family.Our research found some not-so-surprising news. Women disproportionately report higher levels of each type of invisible family load than do men; and carrying a higher invisible load than ones partner strains the relationship and decreases satisfaction in it. People, particularly mothers, commented that they felt frustrated, angry and resentful at the chronic imbalance of the mental load in their relationships, and this may be a warning sign for relationship trouble.We also found that carrying high levels of emotional load, such as worrying about family needs, is particularly problematic because it is associated with a host of harmful outcomes, including poor sleep, feeling exhausted and burned out, and being less satisfied in ones family and with ones life overall.One thing that really surprised us is that having a lot of emotional family load doesnt just affect people and their families, but it also spills over to work. Parents who carry high levels of emotional load are more likely to report that their family interferes with work and that they are more exhausted while at work. Importantly, we saw these negative effects after controlling for peoples general tendency to worry.There is good news, though. Contrary to the popular belief that managing the invisible family load is entirely negative, we found potential benefits. Some people told us that they enjoy and get benefit from being the leader of their family, find joy in caring for their families in these ways, and that it brings them closer to their family members. Our survey research confirms that, on average, people find a sense of meaning and purpose when taking on more of the remembering and deciding work of cognitive load, fostering a sense of enrichment in their family and greater satisfaction with their family lives. This doesnt mean the emotional load is not hard or frustrating, but people may also experience benefits from doing the cognitive load.So how can you experience more of the positives of the invisible family load?Curb excessive worry: Instead of dwelling on endless "what-ifs," create a worry list, writing down concerns and reviewing them for a set, limited time daily to prevent constant rumination. Embracing a good enough mindsetacknowledging that a happy, well-adjusted family doesnt require perfectionhelps reduce unnecessary emotional load.Reframe the load as leadership: Recognize the invisible work you do as leadership, where you are anticipating needs, making and communicating decisions, organizing family work, and empowering and growing others, within one of the most important teams of which youll ever be a part. Pause to appreciate the moments, even small ones, when your efforts lead to growth, joy or a sense of security for your family members.Delegate strategically: Great leaders dont do everything themselvesthey set priorities, empower others, and focus on the highest-impact tasks. Rather than trying to do it all, look for ways to delegate and teach, such as kids scheduling things for themselves when age-appropriate or empowering decision-making to a partner. Results wont happen instantly, so this will require patience and a mindful focus on the benefits to others from their new responsibilities.Communicate and appreciate: If you are in a partnered relationship, weekly check-ins about responsibilities, particularly the invisible ones, can prevent resentment. Make the invisible visible. Write down each invisible task on notecards, and physically sort them so that each partner has approximately the same number of cards. Acknowledge and express appreciation for each others efforts, noting progress over perfection. Children can also benefit from this transparency by learning that managing a household is a shared responsibility rather than a one-person job in a two-parent household.Use technology to plan and organize: Using a shared digital calendar keeps everyone on the same page with appointments, events and activities, reducing the mental strain of keeping track of everything.Avoid decision fatigue: Parents make countless decisions every day. To reduce mental overload, streamline routine choices by setting defaults (e.g., a weekly meal rotation such as Taco Tuesday or a regular meal planning/grocery shopping day) and making important decisions at your best time of the day.Prioritize self-care: Taking even small moments for a favorite hobby, a short walk, prayer/meditation or quiet time with a book can restore energy that might be depleted from the invisible family load. Building a support networkfriends, family or parenting groupscreates an outlet for sharing challenges and solutions. Modeling self-care also teaches children the importance of health and well-being.Recognizing and addressing the invisible family load is crucial for maintaining mental and emotional well-being, fostering positive family dynamics and even enhancing the workplace. By acknowledging these invisible tasks and taking proactive steps to manage them, you can create a more balanced and fulfilling life for yourself and your family.Julie Holliday Waynes research on this subject was conducted with Maura Mills, Russell Matthews and Marilyn Whitman , all at the University of Alabama, and Yi-Ren Wang of the Asia School of Business .This is an opinion and analysis article, and the views expressed by the author or authors are not necessarily those of Scientific American.