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

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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.

March 31, 20253 min readTop U.S. Scientists Speak Out against Climate of Fear Wrecking U.S. ResearchDespite fears that speaking out will make them targets, top researchers warn that the Trump administrations wholesale assault on U.S. science will harm the nationBy Dan Vergano edited by Dean VisserDemonstrators take part in a "Stand Up For Science" rally at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, on March 7, 2025. Alex Wroblevski/AFP via Getty ImagesIn an SOS to the public, about 1,900 top U.S. scientists are warning that the Trump administrations moves against researchers imperil the nations health, economy and national security. In this open letter, released on Monday, the signatorieswho are all members of the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and include Nobel Prize winnerscall on the administration to cease its wholesale assault on U.S. science.The letter notes that its signatories are speaking out as individualsnot as representatives of the National Academies or their home institutions.The full text of the letter is below.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.TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLEWe all rely on science. Science gave us the smartphones in our pockets, the navigation systems in our cars, and life-saving medical care. We count on engineers when we drive across bridges and fly in airplanes. Businesses and farmers rely on science and engineering for product innovation, technological advances, and weather forecasting. Science helps humanity protect the planet and keeps pollutants and toxins out of our air, water, and food.For over 80 years, wise investments by the US government have built up the nations research enterprise, making it the envy of the world. Astoundingly, the Trump administration is destabilizing this enterprise by gutting funding for research, firing thousands of scientists, removing public access to scientific data, and pressuring researchers to alter or abandon their work on ideological grounds.The voice of science must not be silenced.The undersigned are elected members of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, representing some of the nations top scientists, engineers, and medical researchers. We are speaking out as individuals. We see real danger in this moment. We hold diverse political beliefs, but we are united as researchers in wanting to protect independent scientific inquiry. We are sending this SOS to sound a clear warning: the nations scientific enterprise is being decimated.The administration is slashing funding for scientific agencies, terminating grants to scientists, defunding their laboratories, and hampering international scientific collaboration. The funding cuts are forcing institutions to pause research (including studies of new disease treatments), dismiss faculty, and stop enrolling graduate studentsthe pipeline for the next generations scientists.The administrations current investigations of more than 50 universities send a chilling message. Columbia University was recently notified that its federal funding would be withheld unless it adopted disciplinary policies and disabled an academic department targeted by the administration. Destabilizing dozens of universities will endanger higher educationand the research those institutions conduct.The quest for truththe mission of sciencerequires that scientists freely explore new questions and report their findings honestly, independent of special interests. The administration is engaging in censorship, destroying this independence. It is using executive orders and financial threats to manipulate which studies are funded or published, how results are reported, and which data and research findings the public can access. The administration is blocking research on topics it finds objectionable, such as climate change, or that yields results it does not like, on topics ranging from vaccine safety to economic trends.A climate of fear has descended on the research community. Researchers, afraid of losing their funding or job security, are removing their names from publications, abandoning studies, and rewriting grant proposals and papers to remove scientifically accurate terms (such as climate change) that agencies are flagging as objectionable. Although some in the scientific community have protested vocally, most researchers, universities, research institutions, and professional organizations have kept silent to avoid antagonizing the administration and jeopardizing their funding.If our countrys research enterprise is dismantled, we will lose our scientific edge. Other countries will lead the development of novel disease treatments, clean energy sources, and the new technologies of the future. Their populations will be healthier, and their economies will surpass us in business, defense, intelligence gathering, and monitoring our planets health. The damage to our nations scientific enterprise could take decades to reverse.We call on the administration to cease its wholesale assault on U.S. science, and we urge the public to join this call. Share this statement with others, contact your representatives in Congress, and help your community understand what is at risk. The voice of science must not be silenced. We all benefit from science, and we all stand to lose if the nations research enterprise is destroyed.The views expressed here are our own and not those of the National Academies or our home institutions.Here is a link to the signatories.

RuneScape: Dragonwilds is a new survival crafting game from JagexHere be dragons.Image credit: Jagex News by Lottie Lynn Guides Editor Published on March 31, 2025 Jagex is stepping beyond the realm of MMORPGs with the release of RuneScape: Dragonwilds - an open world survival crafting game. Best known as the developers behind the long running MMORPG RuneScape 3 and its spin off, Old School RuneScape, Dragonwilds will be mechanically different to these games but is set within the RuneScape universe.Alone or alongside three players, RuneScape: Dragonwilds will see you venturing to Ashenfall - a forgotten continent on Gielinor (the planet where RuneScape is primarily set), where you'll use magic and level up skills to carve out a life for yourself in the wilds. Here we find echoes of the MMORPGs, as it wouldn't be a game in the RuneScape universe without skills and the progression system will be on hand to supply you with new skills, crafting recipes and abilities to aid in your survival. Image credit: JagexTo see this content please enable targeting cookies. You'll also be able to wield Anima - also known as the living energy of the universe, source of all magic and what the Wilder Gods eat to sustain their eggs. Outside of what I'm sure you'll agree is very interesting RuneScape lore, Anima has a variety of uses in Dragonwilds, such as summoning axes for instantaneous tree cutting or repairing armor after a tough battle. Image credit: JagexSurvival won't be easy though. Ashenfall is home to forgotten secrets and legendary RuneScape monsters, which means there be dragons. Where there's dragons you can also reliably find fire, chaos and the increased chance of being eaten. The task of defeating the Dragon Queen is on your shoulders though, so best to get over any fears about the last fact pretty sharpish. Luckily, there does seem to be some popular RuneScape characters on hand to help (or at least, people who resemble them). Pretty sure I spotted the Wise Old Man wearing his definitely legally acquired party hat Left: A dragon. | Right: The Wise Old Man (possibly). Image credit: JagexOn the development of RuneScape: Dragonwilds, Jagex CEO Jon Bellamy has said: "From the very beginning, community feedback has been at the heart of RuneScape: Dragonwilds."Bellamy added closed alpha tests have already been conducted and Jagex will be "listening to player feedback when building the game throughout Early Access". RuneScape: Dragonwilds will launch in Early Access in Spring 2025. Though you can add it to your Steam wishlist today and, if you'd like to learn more, there will be a Twitch livestream covering the game at 5pm (BST) on Tuesday 15th April.