By Matt Novak Published April 1, 2025 | Comments (2) | Elon Musk tosses a signed cheesehead hat into the audience during an America PAC town hall ahead of the Wisconsin Supreme Court election at the KI Convention Center in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on March 30, 2025. Jamie Kelter Davis/Bloomberg via Getty Images Ashley St. Clair, the anti-trans author and alleged mother to one of Elon Musks many children, sold her Tesla in recent days, according to video posted to the Daily Mail. Why? Apparently Musk isnt paying enough money in child support. But the Tesla CEO says hes giving St. Clair plenty of money. Im selling because I need to make up for the 60% cut that Elon made to our sons child support, St. Clair says in the Daily Mail video. Asked why she thought Musk would do that and whether it was vindictive, St. Clair replied that it was his modus operandi when women speak out. The author, most famous for an anti-trans childrens book she wrote, said to check the stocks, a reference to Teslas plunging stock price, and Im not the only one who is cleaning up after his messes. The video of St. Clair in front of her Tesla was posted to X by far-right influencer Laura Loomer on Monday, where she referred to St. Clair as a gold digger and professional gaslighter. Loomer wrote that St. Clair was caught on camera outside of her ritzy Manhattan condo, and claimed that Musk (who Loomer called her sugar daddy), had paid for both the car and her condo. Loomer also claimed St. Clair has hired anti-Trump lawyers to sue Elon Musk. Gizmodo has no inside knowledge on whether any of that is true, but its necessary to understand the context of the shitshow conversation that would follow on the billionaires own social media platform. Musk replied that he doesnt actually know if the child is his, but sort of claimed he wanted to know, even without a court-ordered paternity test. The billionaire also said he was giving St. Clair plenty of money. I dont know if the child is mine or not, but am not against finding out. No court order is needed. Despite not knowing for sure, I have given Ashley $2.5M and am sending her $500k/year, Musk wrote.St. Clair replied that she was being punished for disobedience, perhaps referring to the publicity she received after making it known that she had a child with Musk. Elon, we asked you to confirm paternity through a test before our child (who you named) was even born. You refused, St. Clair wrote on X. And you werent sending *me* money, you were sending support for your child that you thought was necessary until you withdrew most of it to maintain control and punish me for disobedience. But youre really only punishing your son. St. Clair went on to accuse Musk of trying to silence her. Its ironic that your last effort in court was to try to gag me while you use a social media channel you literally own to distribute derogatory messages about me and our child to the entire world, St. Clair continued. Its all about control with you, and everyone can see it. America needs you to grow up, you petulant man-child.Why does any of this matter outside of family court? Perhaps it doesnt in the grand scheme of things. But it does seem like an odd situation for a man whose worldview is so defined by having as many children as possible. According to Forbes, Musk is reportedly the wealthiest person on the planet, worth about $340 billion. And he wields enormous power, not just through his private companies like Tesla and SpaceX, but by dismantling the federal government, as hes currently doing now with DOGE. Its with that gigantic platform and incredible amount of power that Musk is advancing an agenda based on people having as many kids as possible. The billionaire oligarch believes that everyone should just procreate frequently, circumstances be damned, but doesnt seem to care about the conservative principle behind the traditional Republican idea of having kids: Supporting them financially and emotionally. St. Clair has made Musk out to be a deadbeat father. And, again, its hard for an outsider to judge something like that. But it doesnt seem to be in dispute that Musks many children (14 that we know of) dont really get the attention they deserve. The Tesla CEO is frequently seen in public with his kid X, who he had with the musician Grimes, but there are many other children who dont seem to get the same attention. And thats to say nothing of Musks estrangement from his trans daughter Vivian, who says he wasnt around much. Musk has publicly referred to her as dead, a brutally cruel thing to say about one of your own children just because they came out as trans.Its one thing to have as many kids as you can. Its an entirely different thing to actually be a good father to those kids. And Ms. St. Clair doesnt seem to think thats happening right now with their son. Well, alleged son.Daily NewsletterYou May Also Like By Thomas Maxwell Published March 31, 2025 By AJ Dellinger Published March 31, 2025 By Matt Novak Published March 31, 2025 By Matthew Gault Published March 31, 2025 AJ Dellinger and Matt Novak Published March 29, 2025 By Matt Novak Published March 28, 2025

With all of the many threats invisible online threats that aim to steal your identity, your financial information, and more, the urge to load your PC or Mac with as much protection as possible is only natural. The problem there is, many of those antivirus and internet security apps and programs are ineffective, and the effective ones can often slow your devices to a crawl.Bitdefender offers heavy-duty protection against current and future threats to your precious data with a lightweight touch that keeps your devices running at top speed, and right now all three Bitdefender multi-device bundle options are 50% off. You can save up to $50 on Bitdefender protection packages (50% off) and an additional $35 when you add Bitdefenders VPN Premium service while thats also half off.See Bitdefender offersLightweight ChampionAside from the truly comprehensive protection Bitdefender gives your devices and its ability to deploy advanced AI to anticipate and block emerging threats, the best feature of Bitdefenders security bundles is how they manage to offer such protection while making such a tiny footprint on your device. While many competing apps and programs consume huge amounts of your devices processing power and online bandwidth, Bitdefender uses a minimum of resources and also optimizes your devices performance as it runs, so it keeps you safe with little to no effect on speed.Bitdefender also knows when youre gaming, working, or streaming a movie or TV show, and temporarily halts popups and alerts, along with pausing unimportant background activities so youre not dealing with interruptions.One Bundle for All Your DevicesBitdefenders top-level Total Security bundle offers full protection for up to five Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android devices for just $49 (down from $99). The subscription gives your devices truly comprehensive protection with advanced defenses against web attacks, phishing or online shopping fraud, ransomware, viruses, adware and hijacker programs, online trackers, and many of the other threats lurking in cyber world. This AI-enabled state-of-the-art protection system is just $50 for the first year of your subscription.Bitdefenders Internet Security and Antivirus Plus bundles are for Windows PCs (up to three devices can be protected) and both offer many of the same protections and detection features as the Total Security bundle. Antivirus Plus is just $29, down from $49, for the first year while this Bitdefender sale is running, and Internet Security is $42.49 for the first year (down from $84.99).Like Total Security, these two bundles offer Bitdefenders File Shredder feature to deletes files from your PC without a trace, Social Network Protection to stay free from malicious links passed on via social media, safe online banking and shopping with Safepay, and much more. Bitdefender is the lightweight program that provides heavyweight protection against the bad actors looking to rob you blind check it out before their half-price sale ends.See Bitdefender offers

Healing Light: The Impact of "Liter of Light" on Community Well-BeingPresented by:Save this picture!Cortesia de Litro de LuzSometimes, the simplest solutions are the most revolutionary and impactful. During Brazil's energy crisis in 2002, mechanic Alfredo Moser developed an accessible and effective way to illuminate indoor spaces during the day. Using only a PET bottle installed on the roof, filled with water and bleach, he harnessed the refraction of sunlight to bring brightness to spaces previously immersed in darkness. In self-built homes, where successive extensions often compromise natural light and ventilation, this solution makes a significant difference. Named the "Moser lamp," the invention produces illumination equivalent to a 60W bulb and gained worldwide recognition through various reports. Since then, the project has continued to evolve and adapt to the needs of modern communities, transforming lives through a solution that is as simple as it is highly intelligent.In 2011, Filipino Illac Diaz, founder of the MyShelter Foundation, learned about this idea and adopted it to create the "Liter of Light" movement, aiming to bring sustainable lighting to communities without access to electricity. In Brazil, the organization began its activities in 2014. "In fact, when Liter of Light started in Brazil, it was no longer using PET bottles. We never really installed the Moser lamp, except for an initial action in Florianpolis. Since then, we have always used solar systems," explains Tayane Costa, Marketing and Partnerships Manager at Liter of Light Brazil. This choice allowed their solutions to provide lighting at night as well, significantly increasing their impact. Since then, the organization has grown and strengthened its presence, reaching around 150 communities in Brazil. Its goal is to provide safe and sustainable lighting, empowering communities throughout the process and, in doing so, improving quality of life and safety in the areas it serves.Save this picture!Technological Solutions and Community Well-BeingLighting directly affects physical and mental health, providing safety and enabling people to carry out essential activities, such as studying and working, even after dark. Although it may seem unimaginable, it is estimated that over 600 million people still lack access to electricity. "Our work is much more about the social impact than the technological aspect. Lighting is just one small part of the many transformations we bring to these communities," emphasizes Tayane. With the arrival of light, many communities strengthen their social bonds and create a more united environment, ready to thrive collectively. Currently, the organization develops three main solutions to bring sustainable lighting to communities without electricity access: solar streetlights, solar lanterns, and fixed indoor lighting systems. Each of these technologies has a direct impact on the safety, health, and well-being of the people they serve.Solar streetlights for outdoor lighting are built using accessible materials and simple technology, incorporating PET bottles, small solar panels, batteries, and LED bulbs. These streetlights enhance safety in communities living in darkness, reducing the risks of accidents and crime at night. Additionally, they support local development by enabling small businesses and community activities to continue operating even after sunset.Save this picture!Solar lanterns are portable solutions that can be used both indoors and in outdoor spaces, such as common areas and workplaces. They provide a safe and sustainable alternative to kerosene lamps, which pose health and environmental risks. In addition to illuminating spaces, these lanterns enable residents to carry out daily activities such as reading, studying, and artisanal production, fostering education and income generation.Save this picture!Fixed indoor systems are installed in homes and community spaces, ensuring continuous lighting powered by solar energy. This improves families' quality of life by providing greater comfort indoors and increasing productivity in schools and community centers. Additionally, these systems help reduce reliance on costly and polluting energy sources, promoting a more sustainable future.More recently, the NGO has expanded its impact through innovative solutions, such as the implementation of solar freezers, which help preserve food and medications.Challenges and GrowthFrom the beginning, one of the biggest challenges was creating an effective community engagement methodology. "Our work is largely based on contact with the community. The solution stays with the community, and part of the maintenance is also carried out by them," highlights Tayane. Since the project depends directly on the participation of the residents, it was crucial to establish a model that ensured local involvement and maintenance of the solutions. Over time, this methodology has been refined, and today it allows Liter of Light to operate efficiently in various regions.The selection of the communities to be benefited takes into account several factors, with the main one being the need for access to energy. "Our main focus is to increase our efforts in the region that most lacks lighting, which, in the case of Brazil, is the North region," emphasizes Tayane. Additionally, the financial and logistical feasibility of the project is also considered, as well as the level of community involvement.Reach, Expansion, and Future PlansSince its creation, the international project has provided light to more than 1.5 million people in over 30 countries, bringing hope and safety to regions without reliable access to electricity. In addition to combating darkness, the technology significantly contributes to reducing the use of kerosene lamps, a common source of lighting in remote communities. This also helps decrease respiratory issues, reduce the risk of fires, and cut CO emissions.Save this picture!Save this picture!The future of Liter of Light in Brazil involves expanding its activities through incentive laws and partnerships with various companies. In addition to lighting, the initiative has also been investing in professional training. One of the most recent projects is the offer of free courses to train photovoltaic system installers, focusing on residents of the communities served. "Many residents tell us that they would like to work with solar energy but lack the means to get trained. That's why we offer free courses with support for transportation and meals," explains Tayane.In other words, more than just bringing light, Liter of Light is lighting the way to new opportunities, proving that social innovation can transform realities in a sustainable and accessible way. By creating safer, more connected, and functional spaces, the NGO directly contributes to the well-being and social healing of these communities.This article is part of the ArchDaily Topics: Building Wellbeing: Designing Spaces for Healing, presented in collaboration with the Hushoffice. With its line of A-class pods Hushoffice helps create acoustically balanced workplaces that offer great environment for collaboration and focus, foster employee wellbeing, and accommodate the needs of neurodiverse staff, as well as employees with motor impairments. Every month we explore a topic in-depth through articles, interviews, news, and architecture projects. We invite you to learn more about our ArchDaily Topics. And, as always, at ArchDaily we welcome the contributions of our readers; if you want to submit an article or project, contact us.Image gallerySee allShow lessAbout this authorEduardo SouzaAuthorCite: Souza, Eduardo. "Healing Light: The Impact of "Liter of Light" on Community Well-Being " [Luz que Cura: O Impacto do Litro de Luz no Bem-Estar de Comunidades] 01 Apr 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1028594/healing-light-the-impact-of-liter-of-light-on-community-well-being&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Early Childhood Center / Guillaume Ramillien ArchitectureSave this picture! Salem MostefaouiFranceArchitects: Guillaume Ramillien ArchitectureAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:1350 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2024 PhotographsPhotographs:ManufacturersBrands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers: Orona Pecres Structures: bet EVPLocksmithing: CRUARD MFBPainting: SofradepTiling: SofradepGreen Spaces: VALLOISFencing: VALLOISMore SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. Connected to the new public garden, the Prichaux toddler center with its new square and alleyway, will help requalify the Lefebvre-Prichaux-Brancion residential complex and enhance its landscaped open spaces. While the external geometry of the building sequences the public spaces and their perspectives from Boulevard Lefebvre towards the heart of the block, its internal geometry creates a protected interior garden in this dense environment of high-rise buildings.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!This enclosed garden - hortus conclusus - preserves the site's three major trees and enhances its open-ground quality. It forms an oasis of freshness and a biological reserve for small birds, insects and flora in the heart of the dense city. It's an unspoiled setting for children and families using the daycare to discover, as well as the landscape for the residents overlooking it.Save this picture!Save this picture!Surrounding the diamond-shaped garden, the building forms a cloister composed of an angled figure culminating at the first floor, and a low wing at the ground floor backing onto the party wall. On either side of the western corner, the two facilities - daycare and maternal and child protection center - address the residence and the town symmetrically. The walk-through lobbies of these facilities create a play of depth and transparency from the public spaces to the interior garden. The attic bends at an angle to reveal the continuity of the two public spaces.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The maternal and child protection center is on one level in the south-west wing, while the daycare is on two levels. On the ground floor, the reception units for non-walking babies are organized around a courtyard immersed in the heart of the garden. Upstairs, the mezzanine distributes the two wings for the older and walking toddlers, leading to an immense playground on the roof. Partly planted, the terrace extends the landscape of the ground floor in the form of a hanging garden dedicated exclusively to children.Save this picture!Save this picture!Above its white brick base, the building is entirely made of wood. The shed-shaped, zinc-covered roofs collect rainwater in the garden and provide natural ventilation for the reception units and secure over-ventilation at night. The generously glazed facades, clad in vertical wood cladding, reveal the structural framework through their spines. Two white brick chimneys indicate the superposition of the publics facilities with the residence's preserved underground parking lot and the integrated redesign of its access.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow less

Sourcetable AI Spreadsheet Aims To Democratize Data AnalyticsBy John P. Mello Jr.April 1, 2025 5:00 AM PTImage Credit: Sourcetable ADVERTISEMENTAchieve Financial Clarity with SettleGetting accurate product cost data is crucial for growth. Settle unifies invoices, payments, and inventory to help e-commerce operators uncover true costs and boost margins -- all in one platform. Get Started Today! During the dawn of the PC era, a single program was touted as the killer app that fired the market for personal computers. That program was a spreadsheet called VisiCalc. Now, another spreadsheet could have a similar impact on the AI market.Announced Monday, along with US$4.3 million in venture funding, the new spreadsheet, cloud-based Sourcetable, promises to use AI to democratize data analysis for everyone. While 750 million people use spreadsheets every day, only 20% know how to use basic analytical functions, according to Sourcetable.It explained in a statement that the AI spreadsheet eliminates the technical barrier that has plagued spreadsheets since their inception. Users simply tell the spreadsheet what they want done through natural language commands, and Sourcetables AI does the work for them. Instructions can be made via keyboard or through a hands-free voice control mode.Sourcetable added that the spreadsheets autopilot mode can complete a wide range of complex tasks that typically require advanced spreadsheet knowledge, including creating and editing financial models, generating spreadsheet templates, building pivot tables, cleaning data, creating charts and graphs, editing formatting, enriching data, and analyzing entire workbooks.In addition, the AI can understand data context without requiring users to pre-select ranges, interpret multiple ranges across different tabs, work with messy data, and seek human clarification when instructions are unclear.Smart AI Analyst On DemandWe make it easier for executives and managers to have a lot more digital intelligence at their disposal to do tasks, said Sourcetable CEO Eoin McMillan. We also make it easier for junior employees or recent grads to upskill very, very quickly.And we make it easier for people, whether theyre in marketing or sales or accounting or finance, to do both complex workflows, which may not have been possible before based on their skills and training, as well as save them a lot of time on simple workflows, which can be manually intensive, he told TechNewsWorld.Eoin McMillan, CEO, and Andrew Grosser, CTO, are the co-founders of Sourcetable. Photo by Sophia Morel.McMillan explained that partnering with AI is like having a brilliant digital analyst on demand. It allows you to do harder things easier and time-consuming tasks faster. Workflows that took hours can take minutes.Chris Sorenson, CEO of PhoneBurner, a power dialer SaaS company in Seattle, maintained that bringing AI into spreadsheets is a logical evolution. Spreadsheets are powerful, but traditional spreadsheets require a high level of expertise to manipulate large datasets, build formulas, and extract insights, he told TechNewsWorld. As someone with a sales background, I speak to this from experience.With AI, we are seeing a shift people can ask natural-language questions and get real answers without needing to be a data analyst, he said. Thats a major productivity unlock, especially for teams that dont have dedicated data pros on hand.I do think Sourcetables idea that everyone can become an analyst has merit, he continued. It lowers the barrier to entry for data-driven decision-making. But theres still a learning curve in understanding what the AI is doing behind the scenes and theres always a risk of misinterpreting data if you take results at face value without understanding the context. I really believe this could be similar to what VisiCalc did for PCs, he asserted. If AI can better turn spreadsheets into something smarter and more accessible, it could become a gateway to broader AI adoption across departments, but time will tell.Mark N. Vena, president and principal analyst with SmartTech Research in Las Vegas, agreed. Just as VisiCalc and Lotus 1-2-3 brought computing to a broader audience by solving a practical need for accounting and planning, AI spreadsheets could do the same for AI, he told TechNewsWorld. They package powerful capabilities into a familiar interface, making AI accessible to a much wider group of users.Killer App or Spreadsheet Killer?Robin Patra, head of data, analytics, and AI at a large U.S. contractor that relied heavily on Excel workflows before moving to Sourcetable, maintained that just as VisiCalc and Lotus 1-2-3 popularized PCs, AI spreadsheets could catalyze mainstream AI adoption.VisiCalc transformed spreadsheets from paper-based ledgers to digital tools, driving Apple II sales, he told TechNewsWorld. Similarly, Sourcetables self-driving interface represents a paradigm shift.VisiCalc also enabled non-programmers to compute finances, he added. Sourcetable empowers non-technical users to execute advanced analytics. While Sourcetable could be a killer AI app, it could also be a spreadsheet killer. AI will likely make spreadsheets as we know them obsolete because it can take direction and potentially create better outcomes without needing the spreadsheet technology to arrive at this better outcome, explained Rob Enderle, president and principal analyst at the Enderle Group, an advisory services firm in Bend, Oregon.You just tell the AI what you need, input the data, and then get the improved results, he told TechNewsWorld.He cautioned that AI can have accuracy problems even with math. AI can introduce hard-to-identify errors, making the results unreliable, he warned.How AI Spreadsheets May Shape the FutureTo be clear, Vena added, one non-trivial downside is over-reliance on AI-generated output, which may not always be accurate or explainable.Theres also the risk of reduced skill development in traditional analysis methods and potential privacy concerns when data is processed through AI systems, he said.Sourcetables contention that AI can make everyone an analyst needs to be examined critically, he added. AI can level the playing field by enabling non-experts to run analyses and extract insights, he noted, but Sourcetable assumes that AI always delivers useful or correct answers which isnt guaranteed. Users still need judgment to interpret results, so like any AI technology, its not fail-safe.Looking forward, Sourcetable could influence not only spreadsheet applications but also consumer applications in general. AI spreadsheets could phase out roles centered on manual data entry, shifting demand toward AI management skills, Patra said.Natural language interfaces could also start to replace traditional GUI-based tools, he added.AI-powered consumer tools like Sourcetable could reshape productivity software, Vena said. They may lead to faster decision-making, more empowered individuals, and broader adoption of data-driven thinking.However, he continued, they also raise issues around data security, job displacement, and trust in automated systems. But putting those issues aside, this has the potential as a real breakthrough that both businesses and mainstream consumers could benefit from.John P. Mello Jr. has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2003. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, IT issues, privacy, e-commerce, social media, artificial intelligence, big data and consumer electronics. He has written and edited for numerous publications, including the Boston Business Journal, the Boston Phoenix, Megapixel.Net and Government Security News. Email John.Leave a CommentClick here to cancel reply. Please sign in to post or reply to a comment. New users create a free account.More by John P. Mello Jr.view allMore in Artificial Intelligence

Porch pirates dont take a day offand you cant afford to either when it comes to home security. Keep an eye on your front door, deliveries, and more when you add a Ring doorbell to your home security plans. Youll get instant alerts and live videos from Ring whenever someone approaches the camera, so you can stay on watch even if youre away from home. Save $30 when you get one of the limited-availability doorbells for just $119.99.The all-seeing doorbellRing has some serious visual capabilities for such a small package. It ensures you get crystal clear, hi-def images and videos for your security. The 1536p feed has an expanded head-to-toe view to check for packages on the ground or see your visitors.You can set a motion zone to limit notifications to just your front steps, excluding motion on the sidewalk behind it. When thedoorbell camera detects motion in the specified zone, youll get real-time notifications and be able to send responses to whoever is at your door. Thank the grocery delivery guy or talk to an unknown stranger through the doorbell without opening your door.Setting up your Ring doorbellEven if you cannot answer the door or alerts immediately, you can send pre-selected responses. Navigate the Ring app to check out Live View or enable Two-Way Talk to speak to a visitor at your door. The app can help you customize settings and choose how your data may be used.Get the security performance customers have already rated 4.6 stars on over 10,000 Amazon reviews with Ring doorbell. Connect your Ring camera with smart home devices such as Alexa or other Ring products. You can turn on alerts to your Alexa-enabled devices and phones or tablets to get notified of motion or visitors in multiple ways.Install your doorbell with just a few screws to mount the faceplate. Theres no need to connect hardwired power to the doorbell as it has a quick-release battery that you can remove and recharge.Get a Ring battery doorbell plus for just $119.99 (reg. $149.99)but move faster than a thieving porch pirate because there are only 140 units available.StackSocial prices subject to change.Ring Battery Doorbell Plus: Head-to-Toe HD+ Video, Motion Detection & Alerts, and Two-Way Talk $119.99See Deal

Your eyes will thank you. Image: Sandy Nicholson/Getty ImagesIf youve used a dedicated ebook reader, like a Kindle, you know that the display is totally different from the one on your phone or computer. But how is it different, and why might that make it better for reading?Its a good question, and theres actually some pretty interesting science behind it. E-ink devices use electronics and actual ink to mimic the look of ink on a paper page. Its not perfectthe background, generally, isnt quite as white as real paper, and such displays typically have really slow refresh rates. But use an e-ink display for reading and you might notice that its easier on the eyes. I was wondering why that might be, and whether theres any science that shows this is accurate, so I did some digging. Heres what I found.Works better in daylightE-ink devices are generally easier to read in direct sunlight than phones or tablets. Why is that? To understand, we need to talk a bit about how e-ink works.Most displays, to vastly oversimplify, are a bunch of tiny individual lightsone per pixel. This means that when youre using your phone, tablet, computer, or TV youre basically looking directly into thousands of tiny lights. You can demonstrate this by turning the brightness on your device all the way downits almost impossible to see anything, especially in a well lit room. Its also why using a phone or laptop outside on a sunny day can be hard, or at the very least kill your battery quicklythe light on your phone needs to compete with the ambient light.Eink does not work this way. According to E-ink, a leading company in the space whose displays have been used in everything from the Kindle to the reMarkable, these displays use actual ink instead to display text or images.E Inks two particle electronic ink system is made up of millions of tiny microcapsules, each about the diameter of a human hair. Each microcapsule contains negatively charged white particles and positively charged black particles suspended in a clear fluid. When a positive or negative electric field is applied, corresponding particles move to the top of the microcapsule where they become visible to the viewer. This makes the surface appear white or black at that spot.Some e-ink devices have a backlight so that people can read in the dark, but on most devices you can turn this off entirely and still read just fine. Provided, that is, that theres adequate light in the room.Reduced eye strain and fatigueWeve talked about how traditional displays are essentially lights. Every child learns not to stare at the sun, or even lightbulbs. It stands to reason, given this, that e-ink might be easier on the eyes. And theres reason to believe this could be the case: a 2013 study by Universit Paris researchers compared the LCD and e-ink versions of the Kindle to actual print books. Subjects read books on an LCD device, an e-ink device, and a paper book. People reading the LCD display were found to blink more often, a sign of visual fatigue. They also reported feeling more tired. To quote the study:Results from both objective (Blinks per second) and subjective (Visual Fatigue Scale) measures suggested that reading on the LCD (Kindle Fire HD) triggers higher visual fatigue with respect to both the E-ink (Kindle Paperwhite) and the paper book.A 2020 paper by researchers from the Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, China compared e-ink displays to more modern OLED displays and found the same thing:Blink rate increased gradually in OLED subgroups during the reading task, whereas no statistically significant difference was observed in the eINK subgroups. Our research suggested that reading on an OLED screen can cause ocular surface disorder and obvious subjective discomfort, whereas reading on an eINK screen can minimize ocular surface disorder in both dark and light environments.This may sound like a slam dunk but its important to keep in mind that these are relatively small studies. Dan Dutton, a blogger who writes a lot about e-ink displays, has a good outline on his website. While the research suggests e-ink and paper cause less eyestrain, there needs to be more research.As a person, though? I subjectively have a much better time reading e-ink devices. Take from that what you will.Improved battery lifeWe talked earlier about how traditional displays are essentially lights, and you probably know that lights require electricity. The interesting thing about e-ink is that, after the page has been drawn on the display, absolutely no electricity is required to keep the image there. This is a huge advantage for things like reading books: the display only uses power when you turn the page. Its a big reason why devices like the Kindle can last for weeks between charges.This is particularly true in sunlight. As I mentioned, traditional displays need to turn up the brightness to compete with ambient light. E-ink devices dont need to do this.Now, the battery life advantages are less clear if youre constantly refreshing the display, which is why e-ink screens arent usually the best devices for anything that requires a lot of scrolling. For reading sequences of single pages, though? Youll end up with much better battery life, particularly if you use a small font so that you turn the page less often.Now, e-ink devices work for more than just books. Theyve even been used to dynamically change a cars color or make tanks invisible. The technology may be more widely used as it improves. For now, though, the best use case is readingand dedicated e-ink devices are the best tool for doing that.

NewsHealth & MedicineA new antifungal drug works in a surprising wayMandimycin soaks up molecules that all forms of life share, yet appears to target only fungi Fungi, like this colony growing in a lab dish, are notoriously hard to treat. A newly discovered compound made by bacteria kills even fungi that are resistant to other antifungal drugs. The compound may one day become a drug if scientists can figure out why it doesn't also kill human cells and bacteria.TopMicrobialStock/iStock/Getty Images PlusBy Tina Hesman Saey25 seconds agoA newly discovered bacterial weapon against fungi can kill even drug-resistant strains, raising hopes for a new antifungal drug.Fungal infections have been spreading rapidly and widely in recent years, fueled in part by climate change. Some fungi, including Candida auris, have developed resistance to some highly effective antifungal drugs which have been in use for decades. So scientists have been searching for new drugs to keep fungi in check.Researchers in China may have found a new type of antifungal called mandimycin, the team reports March 19 in Nature. Mandimycin killed fungal infections in mice more effectively than amphotericin B and several other commonly used antifungal drugs. It even worked against resistant C. auris strains.Sign up for our newsletterWe summarize the week's science breakthroughs every Thursday.

Nature, Published online: 01 April 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00931-5As governments fight to regulate access to materials important for many technologies, the people mining them are left behind.

Nature, Published online: 01 April 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00985-5The global scientific community must keep studying LGBT+ health