We were always coming back, and I think people need to know that. So said NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore as he and fellow astronaut Suni Williams took questions for the first time since returning from their longer-than-expected stay in orbit.Wilmore and Williams flew to the International Space Station (ISS) in June 2023 in the first crewed flight of Boeings Starliner spacecraft. The test mission was only supposed to last eight days, but technical issues with the spacecraft prompted NASA to bring the vehicle home empty, leaving Wilmore and Williams waiting for a ride home.Recommended VideosNASA decided to stick with its usual crew rotation system, which meant sending up Crew-9 in September with two fewer astronauts than originally planned, leaving two seats for Wilmore and Williams when the Crew-9 mission ended on March 18, nine months after they left Earth.RelatedMany news reports over that time described how the pair were stranded or stuck in space, but NASA were safely managing the situation and the pair were never in any danger.Speaking to reporters at a NASA news conference on Monday, Williams said she and Wilmore knew very well that the outward journey was a test flight, but when it didnt turn out as planned, their years of training and orbital experience kicked in and they just got on with the job.We are International Space Station crew members, and were doing what all of our other friends in the astronaut office do go and work and train and and do amazing science experiments up on the International Space Station, Williams said.When asked about who was responsible for the missions unexpected outcome, Wilmore responded: Ill start with me. There were questions that I, as the commander of the spacecraft, that I should have asked and I did not. At the time, I didnt know I needed to, and maybe you could call that hindsight but Ill start and point the finger and Ill blame me.But Wilmore also added that besides himself, NASA and Boeing all own this were not going to look back were going to look forward and say, what are we going to use, our lessons learned, from this whole process and make sure we are successful in the future.Asked about the politicization of the mission, with President Trump and SpaceX boss Elon Musk accusing the Biden administration of blocking efforts to bringing the astronauts home early, Crew-9 astronaut Nick Hague, also at the news conference, said: When were up there operating in space, you dont feel the politics, you dont feel any of that. Its focus strictly on mission. The politics, they dont make it up there.Notably, both astronauts described Boeings Starliner spacecraft as very capable, with Wilmore adding that he would ride it again if the opportunity ever arises.Were going to rectify all the issues that we encountered, Wilmore said. Were going to fix it, were going to make it work. Boeings completely committed. NASA is completely committed. And with that, Id get on in a heartbeat.Many reporters were also curious about the first things the two astronauts did when they got home. Hugging loved ones was top of the list, with Williams also embracing her dogs before enjoying a grilled cheese sandwich.According to Williams, it was only when they got back to terra firma that they fully realized the extent of interest in the mission.When we came home, it was like, Wow, there are a lot of people who are interested, Williams said, adding that she was very thankful, very amazed that we could hopefully be one positive element to bring people together.Editors Recommendations

Table of ContentsTable of ContentsA flagship processorMuch better battery lifeUnique and interesting colorsA compelling camera without a bumpOutstanding value for moneyGoogle has consistently ranked among the best smartphones for its affordable devices over the past six years, particularly with its Pixel A series. The Pixel 3a set the trend for major phone manufacturers to provide a compelling experience at half the price of flagship models, intensifying competition in this segment.In the last three months, weve seen Samsung introduce the Galaxy A56 and Galaxy A36, which deliver features from the Galaxy S25 series at a significantly lower price point. Then theres Apple, which entered the market with the iPhone 16e, priced considerably higher than its rivals. Additionally, Nothing offers the Nothing Phone 3a and Phone 3a Pro, arguably the best phones available at $379 and $459, respectively.Recommended VideosEach phone aims to replace the Pixel 8a as the best mid-range phone. Googles response? The Pixel 9a. The launch was delayed due to a component issue, but the Pixel 9a is finally set for its long-awaited debut. Here are four reasons why Im excited about Googles new mid-range flagship.RelatedGemini Live on Pixel 9a. GoogleThe Pixel 9a is powered by the Tensor G4, the same flagship chipset used in the Google Pixel 9 series. It solves many problems with previous Pixel phones, and while improving the performance over previous chipsets, it is also significantly more efficient.A flagship processor at this price is noteworthy, especially as it should offer considerably more performance than the processors used in the competition. The competition all use processors built on the same 4nm process as the Tensor G4, but unlike Googles processor, they are never used in phones that rival the best flagships.GoogleThe Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 in the Nothing Phone 3a is a year old and a step down from the flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. Meanwhile, the Exynos processor in the Galaxy A56 isnt used in any of Samsungs flagship devices, which exclusively use the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy worldwide.The closest competition is the iPhone 16e, which uses the same A18 processor as the iPhone 16, although our testing found that its considerably less performant. It remains to be seen how the Tensor G4 in the Pixel 9a compares to other Pixel phones, but paired with 8GB of RAM, it should offer a flagship-like performance.GoogleIf theres one area that Google phones have traditionally struggled with, its battery life. The Pixel 9a looks to rectify this with the biggest battery in a Pixel and improvements from the flagship processor inside.The 5,100 mAh battery is the biggest ever in a Pixel phone and also bigger than most phones, including Samsungs Galaxy S25 Ultra, which costs $1300. By comparison, the Pixel 8a had a 4,492 mAh battery, so the Pixel 9a battery is 14% larger, while the Nothing Phone 3a and Galaxy A56 both feature 5,000 mAh batteries. The iPhone 16e, meanwhile, has a 4,005 mAh battery, but its one of the largest on an iPhone and offers outstanding battery life, so itll be interesting to see how it compares to the Pixel 9a.Pixel 9a vs Pixel 8a Bryan M. Wolfe / Digital TrendsThe Pixel 9a also offers improved wired charging, up to 23W from 18W in the Pixel 8a. However, this pales in comparison to the competition, with the iPhone 16e (29W), Galaxy A56 (45W), and Nothing Phone 3a series (50W) all offering considerably faster charging.For the first time, the Pixel A series includes 7.5W wireless charging. Its not super fast, but its unique to the Pixel 9a at this price point. Even the iPhone 16e, which is priced higher, lacks any form of wireless charging.GooglePhones are boring; well, most of them are. There are some unique colors and designs at flagship prices, and the best folding phones never cease to amaze, but the best affordable phones can lack a bit of vibrancy.The Nothing 3a and Nothing 3a Pro feature distinct designs that stand out but may not appeal to everyone. The iPhone 16e shares the same design as the rest of the iPhone 16 series but lacks color options beyond black or white. The Galaxy A56 design only stands out if you choose the right color; while it does resemble the best Samsung phones, the pink and olive hues differ from the usual selections.Nothing Phone 3a Pro Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsHowever, the Pixel 9a outshines the competition with two fairly unique colors. Its available in the standard black (Obsidian) and white (Porcelain) colorways, but it also comes in pink (Peony) and lavender (Iris). The latter two are striking and ensure the Pixel 9a stands out, especially as it has lost a key design feature.Google / Digital TrendsIf youve bought a recent Pixel phone, youll be used to Googles iconic camera bar. If you buy the Pixel 9a, youll be shocked that Google has done away with it. Instead of a black camera bar with a sizeable bump, the Pixel 9a has a dual camera array inside a pill shape and virtually no camera bump.The lack of a camera bump is a new trend in affordable phones, and the Pixel 9a follows the iPhone 16e in shaving the bump to almost nothing. An added benefit is that this design allows the Pixel 9a to lay flat on a table without wobbling, a common problem on most phones with any form of camera bump.Nirave Gondhia / Digital TrendsDespite lacking a camera bump, the Pixel 9a has a fairly compelling camera. The new 48MP main camera has an f/1.7 aperture, dual pixel phase detection autofocus (PDAF), and OIS, and it is paired with the same 13MP ultrawide found on the Pixel 8a. Like most phones, the 48MP camera also offers 2x optical zoom by cropping the sensor.The Pixel 9as camera is well-positioned against the competition. It beats the single camera on the iPhone 16e but doesnt have the triple camera setup of the Galaxy A56 and Nothing 3a series. Having reviewed the iPhone 16e, the Pixel 9a also solves my chief complaint with that phone thanks to the ultrawide camera.GoogleUndoubtedly, the main reason to buy the Pixel 9a is its exceptional value for money. Starting at $499 in the US (or 499 in the UK), its priced at exactly half the Pixel 9 Pro and features the same display as the Google Pixel 9.The Pixel 9a offers compelling features at a price far more accessible than the rest of the Pixel 9 series. The battery is substantial, performance will likely be fantastic, and the display is as good as the entry-level Pixel 9.Yes, the plastic build wont be as nice as the finish on the rest of the series, and the lack of a camera bar also means its much more generic, but its a compelling smartphone at an excellent price. Im far more excited about the Pixel 9a than I initially expected.Editors Recommendations

Chief Executive Officer Lip-Bu Tan said customers told him Intel strayed from their needs and fell behind competitors on innovation.

The stories we almost missed this month Research roundup: 2,400-year-old clay puppets; this is your brain on Klingon Also: testing the efficacy of WWI "dazzle" camouflage; how the male blue-lined octopus survives deadly mating ritual. Jennifer Ouellette Mar 31, 2025 3:49 pm | 12 Credit: J. Przedwojewska-Szymaska/PASI Credit: J. Przedwojewska-Szymaska/PASI Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreIt's a regrettable reality that there is never time to cover all the interesting scientific stories we come across each month. In the past, we've featured year-end roundups of cool science stories we (almost) missed. This year, we're experimenting with a monthly collection of such stories. March's list includes fascinating papers on such topics as how the brain responds to speaking Klingon (or Dothraki, or Navi), the discovery of creepy preclassic Salvadoran puppets, the effectiveness of "dazzle camouflage," and how male blue-lined octopuses manage not to be cannibalized by their chosen mates.Wind Caves rocks fluoresce under black light Several fluorescence measurements of a zebra calcite in Wind Cave were taken using portable spectrometers. Credit: Joshua Sebree South Dakota's Wind Cave gets its name from the flow of air moving continually through its many passages and equalizing the atmospheric pressure between the air inside and outsidealmost like the cave is "breathing." Its rock and mineral formations also boast a unique chemistry that fluoresces when exposed to black light, according to talks presented at the spring meeting of the American Chemical Society in San Diego. That fluorescence could shed light on how life can thrive in extreme environments, including that of Jupiter's moon, Europa.University of Northern Iowa astrobiologist Joshua Sebree and several students have been mapping new areas of Wind Cave (as well as other caves in the US), recording the passages, rock formations, minerals, and lifeforms they encounter in the process. They noticed that under UV light, certain parts of Wind Cave took on otherworldly hues, thanks to different concentrations of organic and inorganic fossilized chemical compounds. Those areas seem to indicate where water once flowed, carrying minerals into the cave from the surface 10,000 to 20,000 years ago, according to their analysis of the fluorescent spectra. Sebree et al. found that Wind Cave was likely carved out by waters rich in manganese, producing zebra stripes that glow pink under UV light, revealing the calcites that grew within as a result of those waters.The physics of swing-top beer bottles Three frames of a high-speed recording after popping a homebrewed bottle of beer. Credit: Max Koch So-called kitchen science is all the rage these days, with champagne, wine, and beer being particularly favorite subjects for experimentation. German physicist Max Koch of the University of Goettingen is as passionate about home brewing as he is about fluid dynamics. So naturally, Koch became fascinated by the distinctive "pop and slosh" sounds produced whenever he opened one of his home-brewed swing-top beer bottles. His experiments used a high-speed camera to capture the acoustics and underlying physics, augmented by audio recording and computer simulations.Rather than producing a single shockwave, Koch and his co-authors discovered that the unique sound occurs because popping the lid produces a vibrating standing wave, thanks to condensation within the bottleneck, according to a paper published in the journal Physics of Fluids. They were surprised to find that the frequency of the pop was significantly lower than the resonance produced by blowing across the open bottle top, which they attributed to the sudden expansion of the carbon dioxide and a strong cooling effect that reduces sound speed. The sloshing is due to the bottle's motion, and it's possible that the lid hitting the glass after popping could produce more bubbles and hence gushing.Physics of Fluids, 2025. DOI: 10.1063/5.0248739 (About DOIs).How effective was WWI dazzle paint? A painting by Norman Wilkinson of a moonlit convoy wearing the dazzle camouflage he invented, 1918. Credit: Public domain During World War I, ships were often painted with complex geometric shapes in contrasting and intersecting colors, dubbed "dazzle camouflage" and usually attributed to British marine artist Norman Wilkinson. The objective was to confuse enemy U-boat captains trying to determine the speed and direction of those ships, and a 1919 study seemed to support that hypothesis. Aston University researchers have revisited that original study and concluded that the horizon effectin which ships viewed from a distance seem to be traveling along the horizonis a more effective means of confusing enemy combatants, according to a paper published in the journal i-Perception.The author of the 1919 study was an MIT marine engineering student named Leo Blodgett, who painted model ships in those geometric patterns and observed them with a model periscope in a mechanical test theater to see if he could determine whether an observer's perception of the direction of travel was markedly different from the actual direction. He concluded that this was indeed the case and therefore dazzle paint was effective.But according to the Aston scientists, Blodgett's experiment did not have a solid control condition to warrant such a conclusion. So they revisited his 105-year-old data and ran their own version of Blodgett's experiment, comparing results from his photographs showing the original dazzle camouflage with versions that had the camouflage patterns edited out. The results: the dazzle camouflage did work via a twist on perspective, but it was a small effect. The horizon effect had a much stronger confounding effect.i-Perception, 2025. DOI: 10.1177/20416695241312316 (About DOIs).Early Salvadoran clay puppets These Bolinas figures were found in a Salvadoran pyramid. Credit: J. Przedwojewska-Szymaska/PASI Archaeologists excavating the San Isidro pyramid in El Salvador have discovered five carved clay figurines dating back to around 400 BCE that may have been controlled with string like modern marionettes. Such "Bolinas" figures have also been found at a Mayan burial site in Guatemala, suggesting the two areas may have shared culture and civilization, according to a paper published in the journal Antiquity.Three of the puppets were about a foot tall, with the other two measuring about 18 centimeters. The larger ones had adjustable heads connected to their bodies via matching sockets. The carved faces feature tongues, tattoos, and facial expressions that shift depending on the viewing angle: fearful when viewed from below and grinning from above, for example. The authors suggest that these puppets weren't used as toys, but as "clay actors" in ritualistic funeral performances. "The universal impetus for creating scaled-down humanoid figures appears to be mimeticthat is, imbuing these handheld objects with deeper meanings that are readily decoded by the intended audience," they concluded, although the shared cultural "code" for interpreting those meanings has been lost.Antiquity, 2025. DOI:10.15184/aqy.2025.37 (About DOIs).This is your brain on Esperanto and Klingon Worf, son of Mogh, is surprised by new fMRI study. Credit: Paramount+ J.R.R. Tolkien invented two Elvish languages (Quenya and Sindarin) when writing The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Star Trek has Klingon, the Avatar films have Na'vi, and Game of Thrones boasts two constructed languages, or conlangs: Dothraki and High Valyrian. There are even hardcore fans who have diligently become proficient in those invented languages. And apparently conlangs activate the same parts of the brain as their native tongues, according to a paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.MIT neuroscientist Evelina Fedorenko previously spearheaded studies on how the brain responds to stimuli that share certain language featuresmusic, gestures, facial expressions, and computer programming languages like Python. None seemed to engage the language-processing areas of the brain. Curious about what makes natural language unique, Fedorenko et al. turned to conlangs. They organized a weekend conference featuring conlang creators as speakers and invited people fluent in Esperanto, Klingon, Na'vi, Dothraki, and High Valyrian to participate. They scanned 44 conlang speakers with fMRI as they listened to sentences in both their chosen conlang and their native tongue, performing nonlinguistic tasks as a control.The results: The same language regions lit up regardless of whether they were speaking in their chosen conlang or native natural language. This helped the group determine that language responses appear to be driven in part by how they convey meaning about the interior and exterior worldobjects, properties of objects, events, etc. Python, by contrast, is highly symbolic and abstract, disconnected from the everyday "real" world we experience. The group next plans to study how the brain responds to a different conlang called Lojban, created in the 1990s, to learn more about which language features activate the brain's language centers.PNAS, 2025. DOI:10.1073/pnas.2313473122 (About DOIs).Venom as a protective strategy for male octopuses Male blue-lined octopuses inject females with venom during sex to avoid being eaten. Credit: Wen-Sung Chung/University of Queensland Sexual cannibalismin which a female of the species consumes the male after copulatingis a very real thing in nature, seen in insect species like mantises and spiders, certain crustaceans and gastropods, and even certain species of octopus. Case in point: the blue-lined octopus (Hapalochlaena fasciata), a tiny creature found in shallow waters whose venom can be quite deadly, especially to humans. The females of the species might be the size of golf balls, but they are nonetheless significantly larger than the males and have a tendency to eat their mates.Fortunately, the males have developed an effective defense strategy, according to a paper published in the journal Current Biology: They inject their chosen females with tetrodotoxin (a venom also produced by pufferfish) just before mating, temporarily paralyzing the females so the males can avoid being eaten. Scientists at the University of Queensland studied the behavior of mating blue-lined octopuses in the lab and noticed that males would bite the females near the aorta as the mating ritual commenced, flooding their systems with the venom.This immobilized the females for the duration of the mating sessions (which lasted between 40 and 75 minutes); they largely stopped breathing, turned pale, and did not respond to visual stimuli during that time. The males actually increased their respiration rate as they used a specialized mating arm to deposit their sperm into the females' oviducts to fertilize the eggs. The effects of the venom eventually wore off sufficiently for the females to push the males away without suffering any permanent effects. The authors suggest that female blue-lined octopuses may have evolved a tolerance to tetrodotoxin, ensuring they survive to lay their eggs and propagate the species.Current Biology, 2025. DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2025.01.027 (About DOIs).Rubber hand illusion alleviates pain A rubber hand is perceived as part of your own body when you can't see your own. Credit: Damian Gorczany One of the many strange things to come out of 21st-century neuroscience is the so-called rubber hand illusion, in which a subjects hand is hidden and replaced by a rubber hand in the position where the real hand would be. When both the real and fake hands are stroked simultaneously, subjects respond as if the rubber hand were part of their body. Threaten the rubber hand by attempting to stab it with a dagger, for instance, and the participants exhibit an involuntary startle or fear response. Its the combination of visual and tactile feedback that does it, and it only takes a few seconds for the illusion to kick in. And it's not a purely psychological effect; there have been measurable physiological responses as well.Scientists in Bochum, Germany, have now shown that the rubber hand illusion can also alleviate pain, according to a paper published in the journal Pain Reports. They recruited 34 right-handed subjects, evaluated their individual pain thresholds, then placed the subjects' left hands behind a screen. A left rubber hand was placed in front of the subjects, which could be lit from below with red light. Then heat was applied at different temperatures to the hidden hand, while red light increased on the visible rubber hand. Subjects were asked to rate their pain in response.The results: subjects' perception of pain decreased noticeably when the rubber hand illusion was used, compared to control conditions. The authors don't yet know what the underlying mechanism might be but suggest it could be related to visual analgesia, in which pain is considered less intense if someone can see the part of the body that is being hurt.Pain Reports, 2025. DOI: 10.1097/PR9.0000000000001252 (About DOIs).Jennifer OuelletteSenior WriterJennifer OuelletteSenior Writer Jennifer is a senior writer at Ars Technica with a particular focus on where science meets culture, covering everything from physics and related interdisciplinary topics to her favorite films and TV series. Jennifer lives in Baltimore with her spouse, physicist Sean M. Carroll, and their two cats, Ariel and Caliban. 12 Comments

Vapes are so hot right now Lithium-ion battery waste fires are increasing, and vapes are a big part of it Tiny batteries and "disposable" e-cigs remain big risks for waste handlers. Kevin Purdy Mar 31, 2025 3:23 pm | 50 Fire Rover's automated suppression system soaks the area around a lithium-ion battery fire on a crowded tipping floor at a recycling and waste facility. Credit: Fire Rover/YouTube Fire Rover's automated suppression system soaks the area around a lithium-ion battery fire on a crowded tipping floor at a recycling and waste facility. Credit: Fire Rover/YouTube Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn more2024 was "a year of growth," according to fire-suppression company Fire Rover, but that's not an entirely good thing.The company, which offers fire detection and suppression systems based on thermal and optical imaging, smoke analytics, and human verification, releases annual reports on waste and recycling facility fires in the US and Canada to select industry and media. In 2024, Fire Rover, based on its fire identifications, saw 2,910 incidents, a 60 percent increase from the 1,809 in 2023, and more than double the 1,409 fires confirmed in 2022.Publicly reported fire incidents at waste and recycling facilities also hit 398, a new high since Fire Rover began compiling its report eight years ago, when that number was closer to 275.Lots of things could cause fires in the waste stream, long before lithium-ion batteries became common: "Fireworks, pool chemicals, hot (barbecue) briquettes," writes Ryan Fogelman, CEO of Fire Rover, in an email to Ars. But lithium-ion batteries pose a growing problem, as the number of devices with batteries increases, consumer education and disposal choices remain limited, and batteries remain a very easy-to-miss, troublesome occupant of the waste stream.All batteries that make it into waste streams are potentially hazardous, as they have so many ways of being set off: puncturing, vibration, overheating, short-circuiting, crushing, internal cell failure, overcharging, or inherent manufacturing flaws, among others. Fire Rover's report notes that the media often portrays batteries as "spontaneously" catching fire. In reality, the very nature of waste handling makes it almost impossible to ensure that no battery will face hazards in handling, the report notes. Tiny batteries can be packed into the most disposable of itemseven paper marketing materials handed out at conferences.Fogelman estimates, based on his experience and some assumptions, that about half of the fires he's tracking originate with batteries. Roughly $2.5 billion of loss to facilities and infrastructure came from fires last year, divided between traditional hazards and batteries, he writes.Ars previously covered a likely lithium-ion caused fire in a suburban Chicago truck that spread to the truck's compressed natural gas (CNG) tanks, causing an explosion that injured firefighters and damaged nearby homes. Fire Rover also adds a February 2025 fire in a Camden, New Jersey, scrapyard, caused by a battery "wrongly delivered to EMR and undetectably concealed within scrap metal," according to the company, requiring more than 15 fire companies' response and damaging the site and putting nearby residents out of their homes.The vape effectBatteries as a whole are a growing concern, but there's a reason Fire Rover's report has an image of an exploding electronic vape pen on its cover, with the superimposed message "We are at war 2024." Fogelman sees a notable shift in publicly reported fire datanot from Fire Rover's own detection, but from news and other reports and sourcesfrom the 20162021 period to 20222024. Something is causing this shift, and Fogelman's most likely culprit is e-cigarettes, vapes, and other battery-powered nicotine devices.But that safe, evenly distributed vape disposal network does not exist. As previously noted, you can make a rather powerful e-bike from the vapes left behind at a festival in the UK. In the US, the EPA directs people to bring their e-cigarettes to household hazardous waste (HHW) sites or pick-up events, which are "typically" free."Not only are their batteries being improperly discarded in waste and recycling bins, but the vape industry has done the bare minimum to invest in the technology needed to address the 1.2 billion vapes entering our waste and recycling streams annually," the report states.Kevin PurdySenior Technology ReporterKevin PurdySenior Technology Reporter Kevin is a senior technology reporter at Ars Technica, covering open-source software, PC gaming, home automation, repairability, e-bikes, and tech history. He has previously worked at Lifehacker, Wirecutter, iFixit, and Carbon Switch. 50 Comments

Jennifer McGuire gifted herself with a solo road trip for her 50th birthday. Jennifer McGuire 2025-04-01T00:14:01Z SaveSaved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now.Have an account? Jennifer McGuire, a single mom, gifted herself with a 21-day solo road trip for her 50th birthday.She drove through New England to visit places from the books and movies that shaped her childhood.With four sons in their 20s, the trip felt like a gentle push to become her own person again.To celebrate my 50th birthday, my four sons now, all in their 20s threw me a beach picnic party with friends, music, and a bonfire. It was the perfect party for who I am now. A few months later, in early October last year, I set off on my first solo road trip. It was a birthday gift to me. Unlike the party, this road trip was for someone else not for me as a mom, but for the different versions of my younger self along the way.The first thing I packed was my portable fan. I've always loved a fan but began relying on it more desperately after I became a single mom. I sleep with it on, as the sound helps anchor my brain. The second was pillows. This was to bring along the comforting scent of home. I had a car all to myself for three whole weeks, so there was space to make myself comfortable throughout the journey. More space than I had ever had in a car. More space than I had ever had in my own head.Revisiting the past along the wayThe plan for my 21-day trip was to drive from my hometown outside Toronto and head south across the border. I planned out stops across Vermont, Maine, and Massachusetts to places I had never seen in real life but, as the narrative settings for some of my favorite books and movies, had shaped me nonetheless. They were, in a way, home to the girl I was before. Before kids, before marriage, before life made decisions for me. "Little Women" was set in Concord, Massachusetts. It's a book I have read about 10 times. I credit it for making me want to be a good friend, a good writer, and even a good mother. Martha's Vineyard, about 100 miles southeast of Concord, was, for me the land of "Jaws" the first movie I saw in the theater at just 3 years old. A movie I return to again and again. Maine was the setting for many of Stephen King's horror stories including "It," "Carrie," "Salem's Lot," plus, my personal favorite, "Needful Things." The books I kept under my bed as a preteen, reading through sleepless nights when my body was shifting and growing, and I was becoming something entirely new. Another me. The author visited Martha's Vineyard, where the movie "Jaws" was primarily filmed. Jennifer McGuire Over the years, I have evolved into many different types of women.And so, my goal for this trip was to visit each of them again. Most importantly, I wanted to revisit my pre-mom self. I had my first son when I was 21, my fourth when I was 28, and I was on my own with all four by 30. I was never an adult without being a mom, never alone in a car for longer than an hour. I never stopped to pee unless at least two others also needed to pee. I didn't get off the highway to explore. My life had been focused on the logistics of parenting.On my first morning drive, I let it in. The solitude, the choices I got to make for just me. I listened to the Spotify playlist from one of my sons titled "Good Country," songs by John Prine and Orville Peck, Dolly Parton, and Patsy Cline. Each of my boys curated their own playlist. They included songs from our life together and new music they knew I would like. It felt like a gentle push to become my own person again. Focusing on myselfAround day 10 of the trip, I settled into becoming me again. The sun was coming up, the fall leaves were at their brightest. I pulled off the highway and found a diner for breakfast. I took an entire hour to eat, drunk with the decadence of no schedule and a day full of my own time.This was the rhythm I discovered on my road trip. I drove on my days off and stopped when I had to work. A run-down hotel in Cape Cod gave me a discount for a waterfront room in the offseason, and here I walked on the deserted beach, drank coffee in my room, and wrote. I liked the solidity of working from the road. Sometimes, I stayed in an Airbnb, and sometimes, I splashed out a little on a fancy hotel room with nice towels. I liked lunch on the road and dinner sitting alongside interesting people at a bar. I met a woman in Concord who bought me a martini and told me to go to Sleepy Hollow cemetery to visit all the "good graves." Two men in Maine became friends and invited me to their house for brunch. I spent time with a local fisherman and his girlfriend in Martha's Vineyard. We ate potato skins, drank a beer, and talked about "Jaws" after a long day of my own personal location scouting. They told me that the bar was owned by a "Jaws" cast member, the boy who was eaten. I was introduced to extras from the movie, heard local lore, and a few good jokesI slept so happily that night. Alone but not lonely, not hobbled by silence. I almost didn't need my fan. Do you have a story about celebrating milestone birthdays? Contact this editor at akarplus@businessinsider.com.Recommended video

Sam Altman says OpenAI will roll out its first open-weight AI model in years Axel Schmidt/REUTERS 2025-03-31T23:08:14Z SaveSaved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now.Have an account? OpenAI's CEO said it will release its first open-weight AI model since GPT-2, CEO Sam Altman said.The open-weight model strikes a middle ground between open-source and proprietary systems.On the same day, the company announced it raised $40 billion, including $30 billion from SoftBank.OpenAI is preparing to roll out its first open-weight language model with advanced reasoning capabilities since releasing GPT-2 in 2019, CEO Sam Altman announced on Monday."We've been thinking about this for a long time but other priorities took precedence," Altman said in a post on X. "Now it feels important to do.""We still have some decisions to make, so we are hosting developer events to gather feedback and later play with early prototypes," he added.OpenAI did not immediately respond to a request for comments and more details.Open-weight AI models offer a middle ground between open-source and proprietary systems by sharing only the pre-trained parameters of a neural network while keeping critical development details under wraps. This means developers can use the model for inference and fine-tuning, but they won't have access to the training code, original dataset, or specifics on the model's architecture and methodology.In February, during a Reddit AMA session, Altman said that OpenAI has been "on the wrong side of history" regarding open source and noted that while not everyone at OpenAI shares this perspective, internal discussions are ongoing. The company has generally favored a proprietary, closed-source development approach in the past.In the same Reddit session, Kevin Weil, OpenAI's chief product officer, also said that OpenAI is considering open-sourcing older models that are no longer state-of-the-art.OpenAI has previously said that DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup that has rapidly gained attention with its AI model, R1, has misappropriated its technology through a process known as "distillation," where a smaller AI model learns from a larger one. In contrast to OpenAI's models, DeepSeek is entirely open-source and shows its full chain of thought.OpenAI has recently releasedGPT-4.5, known as "Orion," on February 27 and plans to launch GPT-5 in May. The AI giant is also involved in the Stargate Project, a $500 billion initiative to build data centers announced by President Donald Trump.The company announced on Monday that it had closed the largest private tech funding round on record, including $30 billion from SoftBank and $10 billion from other investors, bringing the company's valuation to $300 billion with the new capital.Recommended video

It looks like the rumours were true (Asus/Microsoft)Rumours about an Xbox portable console made by a third party company appear to have come true, with a peculiar new teaser trailer from Asus.Microsoft has been talking about making a handheld console for a long time now but its never been clear exactly what theyre planning, with a recent rumour suggesting they have two devices underway: one a next gen console and the other a team-up with a third party, to be released this year.Who that partner might be was never named, but likely suspects included Lenovo, MSI, Razer, and Asus. And now it seems as if the latter is the one Microsoft has chosen to work with.The apparent confirmation comes from a new trailer from Asus, that shows the existing Asus ROG Ally and an Xbox controller being combined together into what is implied to be a new piece of hardware.The resulting console is not properly shown but the implication seems obvious, especially after Xbox replied to Asus tweet of the video with the side-eye monkey meme.None of this would make much sense without the previous rumour but now it seems very clear whats going on, with a 2025 launch suddenly seeming very likely.The Xbox portable is supposedly codenamed Project Kennan but its unclear how much it will differ from the existing ROG Ally or if, as seems likely, it will be a variant of the upcoming ROG Ally 2.Since the console is meant largely as an interim release, before the Microsoft-manufactured next gen device, it may be that its simple an existing Asus model with Xbox branding on it.More TrendingAlthough Microsoft has been talking about making a handheld for a while now, with Xbox boss Phil Spencer having frequently talked about how much he admires Steam Deck and similar hardware, a recent report revealed that none of them have seen any true mainstream success.The whole category of gaming portable has only sold a few million worldwide and putting this new Xbox-branded console up against the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 is certainly a choice. Especially as even just the current model of ROG Ally costs around 570.However, It seems likely that Microsoft wants to establish itself in the handheld space before the Switch 2 completely takes over, so that by the time the next gen Xbox is ready they already have some experience in the market.Whether thats going to work out and how much effort will be made to promote the device this year is currently unknown, but it certainly implies a full reveal is likely to happen this summer at the latest. Is it just going to be an Xbox branded ROG Ally? (Asus)Emailgamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below,follow us on Twitter, andsign-up to our newsletter.To submit Inbox letters and Readers Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use ourSubmit Stuff page here.For more stories like this,check our Gaming page.GameCentralSign up for exclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

Trailer 2 could be a long time coming (Rockstar Games)The Tuesday letters page has 10 predictions for the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct, as one reader is doubtful the Star Wars strategy game will be a hit.To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@metro.co.ukTrailer policyI guess Im glad to hear that the second trailer for GTA 6 is being purposefully kept back, rather than being a sign of a delay, but I cant pretend that I dont find it all a bit annoying. I know itll all be forgotten about the instant the game, or even just the trailer, is released but Im not sure I like this new idea of announcing a game and then waiting a year or more to get any details.Sony is doing it a lot lately, with Wolverine, Intergalactic, and Ghost of Ytei and I dont like it there either. Either announce the game early and give us constant updates or announce it close to its release date. Doing it half and half just feels like the worst of both worlds.If Rockstar is doing it though everyones going to copy it, because obvious GTA 6 is going to be huge and theres no way to prove the trailer policy didnt hurt it. My guess, based on these new comments, is that Trailer 2 wont happen till late summer at the very earliest. Im not happy about it, but it is what it is.DulacAcceptable AIJust have to give a bit of a positivity for one bit of AI in gaming. After last weeks update to Gran Turismo and the introduction of Sophy 2.1 to custom races I have to say it really is quite amazing. One thing to note is you have to set the Boost setting in the race to Weak, not Off, to get it to work but when you do it really is some of the closest and competitive racing I have had in a game ever.I would say this is likely going to take over me doing the daily races online, as it gives you that real competitive racing without the idiots! Certainly worth checking it out if you havent!SaintsStickman (PSN ID)GC: Interesting, but then we dont think anyone would object to using AI for something like that.Miracle workersOn the subject of the Metroid Prime 4 graphics, as nice as they looked Id be flabbergasted if it was running on anything other than the Switch. Pertinently, Digital Foundry just did a video on the Xenoblade Chronicles X Switch port and were remarking on how the Wii U original looked much better than pretty much every other open world game of that era, due to smart art direction and design.I think thats the case here good design, rather than fancy technology since the world looks great but I didnt see anything in terms of lighting, textures or particle effects that looked beyond the Switch (which lets not forget, has a lovely Doom Eternal port).It really shows the benefit of fixed hardware, as developers can make compromises where they need to and get a game looking and running as well as it can. Regardless, I think people will be impressed with a PlayStation 4-ish level Nintendo handheld, as Im sure theyll work wonders.MagnumstacheEmail your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.ukCant beat emAfter watching last weeks Nintendo Direct (and eagerly awaiting this weeks to find out more on the Switch 2), the game that grabbed my attention was Marvel Cosmic Invasion.I love its art style and the idea of playing as one of 15 different, and niche in some instances, heroes but am wondering whether itll retain my interest. I remember loving Streets Of Rage and the X-Men and The Simpsons arcade games when I was younger but wouldve often been playing these in co-op, which I dont get a chance to do anymore.I re-read GCs reviews of Streets Of Rage 4 and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredders Revenge to remind myself of the calibre of these games, having not played them myself, and noted the concern around their replayability and maybe general sense of fun when playing them solo. Have any readers played either of these games solo and would recommend doing so?Obviously, Marvel Cosmic Invasion might be a different story when its released, and Ill be reading GCs review of it before making any decisions, but I thought Id look into testing the waters with Dotemus recent beat em-up hits ahead of this.HubertGC: Its a good point, as while we love seeing all these faux retro beat em-up it is frustrating that none of them make any attempt to do anything new. Shredders Revenge was particularly disappointing in this respect, as it looked amazing but was shallow and repetitive even by the standards of the genre. Streets Of Rage 4 is the best of the recent games but theres still more it couldve done.Out of stepHaving read the piece by Tom Meadows, Ive come to the conclusion that he is overexaggerating.Yes, some of Sonys IP is going to PC and Switch, but we are talking at least 12 months after onto PC and the Switch is getting some of the niche, dormant franchises from years gone by. Patapon and Everybodys Golf are hardly AAA system sellers, are they?I think Sony is taking the right approach, bring some games to other formats that suit the format in question, be it Switch or PC (I cant see them releasing anything on Xbox) and keep your AAA games for the PlayStation 5 and eventually PC.Thats if Sony actually want do release any first party games for me this gen has been a massive step down on the PlayStation 4 for output and quality.That focus on online games has really hurt them.StewWBA1980 (gamertag/PSN ID)Switch to strategyVery happy to think the new Star Wars game will be an XCOM clone, even if Im kind of surprised, because there doesnt seem much chance itll be a hit. Not because its not good but because none of these tactics games that I like ever seem to do well.Turn-based strategies are relatively popular with indie devs, which is where I get my usual fix, but I really wish XCOM 2 had been the mega hit it deserved to be. I guess its obvious why it wasnt complicated, thoughtful, no action but its such a good game.Weve already had a Marvel strategy game (by the XCOM team) be a flop and now were probably headed for the same with Star Wars, so if they cant make it work then what hope have we?Im pinning the last chance of strategy games going mainstream on the Switch 2 and its new mouse controls. Who knows what madness Nintendo is planning with that, but it seems impossible it wont involve at least some strategy games.If they make them a hit and people start copying them then maybe things will be looking up and strategy games will be getting bigger budgets and then, finally, XCOM 3.HalifaxSeparate worldsNow you mention it, it is odd that movies never have a game coming out close to them, for a bit of cross-promotion. The Last Of Us Part 1 was probably one of the closest and that was whatever.I am interested to see what will happen with Borderlands 4 though. I actually dont think the film being a flop and a laughing stock will affect its popularity. I think the reason theres never a tie-in game is because people just dont see games and movies as having any real connection, even when theyre adaptations. Im sure it doesnt help but I doubt its going to kill the franchise or anything.Gordon10 Nintendo Switch 2 predictionsBy synthesising console and handheld, Nintendo went horizontal with the original Switch. With the Switch 2 they appear to be going vertical, by fully leaning into the Apple business model.After the virtual cartridge reveal, which may have been the main incentive for the oddly timed Direct last week, my wager is that theyll make a big thing of cross-generation compatibility at the imminent Switch 2 Direct.This makes complete sense. With a huge userbase established with the Switch 1, theyll be keen to build an ecosystem that locks punters in the Apple way through each new console iteration. Through the virtual cartridge their peerless and massive back catalogue will help ensure sales for each new console remain robust. My suspicion is that, assuming the Switch 2 is successful, theyll be far more conservative than in the past.Each new console, Switch 3, 4, etc. or whatever will stick with the form factor, with additional novelty control mechanics. Thisll also help them dominate the market when eventually, through high-speed internet connections, games can be played without consoles, essentially through a subscription service.The rumour, then, that the Switch 2 will be able to play Wii U games seems entirely plausible. So, if Im right that theyll make a big thing of cross-generational gaming, I offer the following predications for the Switch 2 event.Confirmation that Wii U games can be played via the virtual console, maybe even showcasing asymmetrical gameplay on one game. The Wii U virtual console will not be available at launch though.Revealing a Metroid Prime 4 Switch 2-only iteration, providing a comparison to the Switch 1 version to showcase the systems power. Itll confirm that the footage was for the Switch 1, making the upgrade, which will be a notable improvement, more impressive. (Another reason for the Direct last week.)Showing how a game such as Zelda: Breath Of The Wild is boosted on the Switch 2.Reveal of a virtual GameCube console with the beloved F-Zero GX available at launch, to entice hardcore early adopters and prepare for an eventual new entry in the series.Mario Kart 9 will be shown but will not be a launch title. This would be consistent with the timing of previous iterations, as early adopters will buy the console regardless. Itd be the perfect holiday release, able to withstand the GTA 6 onslaught, given that the gameplay is radically different that aims at a different market and, more so than Super Mario, is a system seller. A reimagined Splatoon 4 will also launch during the holiday period. Itll cater to the Japanese market, selling in large quantities regardless of GTA 6.Super Mario Universe will be the big launch game and highlight reveal. Itll be a celebration of the entire back catalogue, either through Throwback Galaxy (Super Mario Galaxy 2) style Easter eggs or a fully integrated experience wherein Mario Kart style beloved levels from every iteration will be redesigned from the ground up to work seamlessly with the control mechanism, with many 2D levels from the past now in 3D. Youll also be able to play as Peach, Luigi, Yoshi, Donkey Kong, and Captain Toad on particular levels (theyll work as a team to defeat Bowser at the end). In fact, therell be 3D levels of the original Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong Jr., with Bowser the adversary. Thisll be consistent with rumours of a Donkey Kong game.A Switch 2-only Metroid Prime 4 will also launch with the system.Therell be one other launch title from Nintendo, a new franchise that makes use of the mouse control but not a throwaway title like 1-2-Switch.Animal Crossing and either a remake of Zelda: A Link To The Past (in 3D) or Ocarina Of Time will both launch in early 2026, with an outside chance that one of the Zeldas will feature in the Direct. Animal Crossing wont.Therell be one major reveal and launch title from a third party publisher and a Switch 2 version of something like Elden Ring, again a launch title.Okay, so there are my predictions, all of which will probably be hopelessly off the mark.CiaraInbox also-ransI can honestly say I have never heard of Tomodachi Life ever, in my life. I dont feel Ive been missing out.CurlyI would so love Square Enix to do a trilogy remake of Final Fantasy 6, but Im afraid that theyll lose the enthusiasm for remakes once all of 7 is finished.PolarRoloMore TrendingEmail your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.ukThe small printNew Inbox updates appear every weekday morning, with special Hot Topic Inboxes at the weekend. Readers letters are used on merit and may be edited for length and content.You can also submit your own 500 to 600-word Readers Feature at any time via email or our Submit Stuff page, which if used will be shown in the next available weekend slot.You can also leave your comments below and dont forget to follow us on Twitter.GameCentralSign up for exclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

In a conversation with the Discourse Podcast from the Playlist, Tom Hardy looked back on his journey as Venom and revealed that the world very nearly got a Sony cross-over between his bumbling violent anti-hero and the heroic web-slinger. The process to bring Tom Hollands Spider-Man into Venoms world got as close as I could possibly imagine getting, according to Hardy. In fact, it couldnt have gotten any closer apart from doing a film together, Hardy explained, which I would have loved to have done because that just means so much fun. Ultimately, of course, Hardys Venom never did meet Hollands Spidey. The Discourse Podcast host, Mike DeAngelo, speculated it could have come down to studio politics; without fully conceding, Hardy affirmed carefully to the suggestions, for all the reasons that you explained ultimately in there. What got Hardy excited to make the cross-over happen was simple: Fundamentally, for me, it would be for the kids, he said. Because, you know, as much as adults love superhero films, as you can tell by the box office when theyre successful, I think Im constantly reminded by children how important these characters are. And they dont know why their favorite characters arent in films together, he said, adding that in the end he was just happy to have made his Venom movies. We were given a set of boundaries, and we were just really privileged to be able to play with a much-beloved IP like Venom in a way that we were allowed to play. As for the modest success in Venoms global reception, Hardy said it was all he could ask for. We did what we could and what we loved doing. We poured all of ourselves into it within the limits of what we were allowed to do with him, Hardy reflected. And so the enjoyment of the work outweighed the limits of our possibilities with him because we just focused on what we were allowed to do. And we loved doing it. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.