By Thomas Maxwell Published April 1, 2025 | Comments (0) | A judge has shut down Arkansas' Social Media Safety Act, which would require some social networks to verify the ages of users and require minors have parental permission. Will Newton/AP A judge in Arkansas has shut down the states law requiring some social networks to verify the ages of those in the state to create an account and ensure that minors have parental permission. Judge Timothy L. Brooks ruled the law, dubbed the Social Media Safety Act, was too broad as to violate the First Amendment rights of internet users and was so vague it was unclear which social networks the law would cover. Arkansas takes a hatchet to adults and minors protected speech alike though the Constitution demands it use a scalpel, the US District Court for the Western District of Arkansas wrote in an opinion issued Monday. Lawmakers across the United States and abroad have sought to protect minors against the potential long-term harms posed by social media, and smartphone access writ large. Utah recently passed a law that requires app stores from Apple and Google to verify the ages of users before they can download apps and requires minors to have accounts connected to their parents. Meta was in favor of this law because it put the onus on other companies to verify users; it was opposed to Arkansas law. States and school districts across the country have also been implementing laws that prohibit students from accessing their phones during the school day to eliminate distractions and potentially combat bullying. While social media has been linked to increased mental health risks in adolescents, many teens have reported benefits to using the services, such as finding like-minded communities where they feel belonging. Moreover, critics of age-verification laws say while there are risks to minors using social media, these types of laws infringe on everyones right to privacyin states like Florida and Texas, where laws have passed requiring porn sites to verify the ages of users, major services including PornHub have chosen to shut down rather than make users hand over personally identifiable information. In an age when the White House is willing to retaliate against individuals over their free expression, the risks of requiring users to verify their identities are clear. Rather than targeting content that is harmful to minors, Act 689 [the Social Media Safety Act] simply impedes access to content writ large, Brooks said. There are effectively no federal privacy laws concerning internet platforms, with the recent collapse of 23andMe highlighting the problem. It was recently announced that as part of the DNA testing companys bankruptcy, genetic data from customers could be sold off, potentially to be used against individuals.Judge Brooks also noted the law was too vague, pointing out that the states attorney general believed Snapchat was exempt from the requirements, while the laws co-sponsor thought it was covered. I respect the courts decision, and we are evaluating our options, Attorney General Tim Griffin said in a statement. Social media companies have continued to implement tools to combat bullying, such as by allowing users to restrict others access to their content. During the Biden administration, the U.S. Surgeon General recommended social networks should display warning labels highlighting the potential harms for adolescents, and potentially redesign their apps to address problems like insecurity that can be caused by beauty filters and other tools.Some who believe social media is harmful to adolescents argue that laws like age verification and smartphone bans during the school day are not addressing the actual problem. Teenagers will get around age checks, and if they cannot use their phone during the school day, they will just use it more after class. These laws do not address the root cause, they argue, which is the inherent design of social media apps.Daily NewsletterYou May Also Like By AJ Dellinger Published March 31, 2025 By AJ Dellinger Published March 31, 2025 By Kyle Barr Published March 31, 2025 By Florence Ion Published March 28, 2025 By Kyle Barr Published March 28, 2025 By AJ Dellinger Published March 25, 2025

After a blockbuster March, Lego is once again having a bit of a quiet season coming into April but a small number of releases doesnt make them any less major, as almost everything dropping this month is a huge set. Or, well, huge from your perspective, if you happen to be a halfling eager for the nextLord of the Rings release.Yes, there may not be that many sets this month (Star Wars is smartly taking the month off to prepare for its usual extravaganza in May), but most of what is coming is pretty sizable. That includes the highlight set of the month, the third entry in the revived Lord of the Rings Icons series, whisking us away to the idyllic Shire to celebrate Bilbos 111th birthday. Check out whats coming from Lego this month below!Lego Icons Beauty and the Beast Castle LegoThe latest Disney release takes us back toBeauty and the Beast with this lavish 2,916-piece castle. The set also comes with a line up of five minifigures (Gaston, LeFou, Belle, Beast, and Belles father Maurice), as well as five brick-built characters (Cogsworth, Chip and Mrs. Potts, Lumire, and Fifi)and, of course, the enchanted rose at the heart of the story. ($280, available here from 4/1 for Lego Insiders, 4/4 wide release)See Beauty and the Beast Castle at LEGOLego Ideas River Steamboat LegoThe next set recreation from the community-submitted ideas line is a massive old-timey paddle steamer. Clocking in at overfour thousand pieces, the River Steamboat includes a fully functioning wheelhouse controlled by its own steering wheel, and three decks to build and explore: a boiler room with a small museum display, the main deck with a lavish dining lounge, and a small cabin for the crew. ($330, available here from 4/7 for Lego Insiders, 4/10 wide release)See River Steamboat at LEGOLego IconsLord of the Rings Shire LegoAfter wowing us with the beautiful safe havens of Rivendell and the ominous spires of Barad-Dr,Lego is opting for the quiet life with the third entry in its annual collector-focused Lord of the Rings series. Taking us to the opening act ofFellowship of the Ring, the 2,017-piece set recreates Bilbo and Frodos home in the hobbit hole of Bag End, as well as a few extra elements of the Shire to depict Bilbos 111th birthday bash at the Party Tree. As well as Bilbo and Frodo of course, the set comes with seven more minifigures inspired by those scenes: Gandalf the Grey, Sam, Merry, Pippin, Rosie Cotton, and Farmer Proudfoot and his wife. ($270, available here from 4/2 for Lego Insiders, 4/5 wide release)See The Lord of the Rings: The Shire at LEGOLego Marvel Iron Mans Laboratory: Hall of Armor LegoLegos done plenty of Hall of Armor sets before, but this latest takes you toIron Man 3 with a condensed take on Tonys Lab. As well as three armor pods to house any Iron Man minifigures you may already have, the set includes the Mk 43 and Mk 6 versions of Tonys armor, and the Iron Patriot suit, that you can slot in too. As well as them, the set has Pepper Potts and Aldrich Killian minifigures, and buildable versions of the Dum-E robot and the Igor Mk3 mech. ($55, available here)See Iron Mans Laboratory: Hall of Armor at LEGOLego Yellow Travel Suitcase LegoNeed to pick up a reminder of a recent vacation? More specifically, the thing you used to take stuff to and from that vacation? Well, Lego has you covered with this cute little model of a suitably Lego-yellow suitcase, which includes buildable accessories you can put inside, including a camera, boarding pass, toothbrush, and passport. At least this suitcase would nicely fit into your carry-on baggage! ($15, available here)See Yellow Travel Suitcase at LEGOWant 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.

Pavuna Park / Emby - Paisagismo EcossistmicoSave this picture! Douglas LopesSquareRio de Janeiro, BrazilArchitects: Emby - Paisagismo EcossistmicoAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:14434 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2022 PhotographsPhotographs:Douglas LopesMore SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. The Parque Pavuna is located in the North Zone of Rio de Janeiro, at the top of the Complexo do Chapado. In a neighborhood marked by one of the city's lowest social development indices, the park was designed to become an open and high-quality urban facility, a green and inclusive gathering space.Save this picture!The park accommodates sports, leisure, and learning facilities, such as soccer, volleyball, and basketball courts, a skate park, a children's playground, an outdoor gym for the elderly, food kiosks, and a Nave do Conhecimento unit a digital inclusion and creativity center managed by the municipality.Save this picture!To optimize the use of the land, the project takes advantage of the existing sloping terrain, distributing the program across different plateaus and overcoming level differences with the creation of stairs, bleachers, and ramps. The new structures integrate with the planting of native shrub and tree species from the Mata Atlntica biome, while also preserving existing vegetation in landscaped areas, promoting rainwater infiltration and aiding thermal comfort.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The most striking feature of the project is the water plaza, dominated by a 22-meter-high sculpture evoking mangrove roots, from which water jets flow during the day and beams of light emerge at night. The plaza references the laje shower, a common element in local homes, reinterpreting and transferring it from the domestic sphere to public space. Adjacent to the water feature, sand-covered areas recreate a beach-like atmosphere, a beloved environment for cariocas, offering a playful space that complements children's bathing activities.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The parks paved sections were treated as an additional design layer. In a simple solution that introduced dynamism to pathways and social areas, the gray concrete received painted graphic elements in colors inspired by the surroundings, such as the terracotta of exposed bricks and the blue of water tanks commonly found in Rios suburban homes.Save this picture!Through Landscape Architecture principles, the balance between pre-existing elements, challenging topography, carefully selected vegetation, and a versatile program grants Parque Pavuna a unique identity. The park fosters integrated coexistence, understanding, valuing, and enhancing the relationship between the community and its neighborhood.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessProject locationAddress:Rua Marechal Guilherme, Pavuna, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, BrazilLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officePublished on April 01, 2025Cite: "Pavuna Park / Emby - Paisagismo Ecossistmico" [Parque Pavuna / Emby - Paisagismo Ecossistmico] 01 Apr 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1027963/pavuna-park-embya-paisagismo-ecossistemico&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

Create A Growing Material Transition in C4DMembers Only Tutorial + Project File https://cgshortcuts.com/courses/c4d-materials/lessons/create-a-growing-material-transition-in-c4d/ How to create an organic growing effect to use as a mask between 2 different materials as a transition.#Cinema4D #C4D #Redshift #CGShortcuts

While a drop in libido is often associated with aging in women, its not just a female issue. Around 26 percent of men over 70 report a loss of sexual desire as well. Sex isnt just about reproduction physical intimacy fosters emotional connection, reduces stress, boosts the immune system, and generally improves mood. Understanding what affects our libido can reveal how lifestyle changes might enhance our sex drive and relationships.Age-related libido changes are seen across mammalian species. For example, older mice also show a decline in sexual activity, leading to lower offspring production.Researchers from the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), alongside teams from Qingdao University and the University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, initially set out to investigate how intermittent fasting in male mice might affect their offspring. However, their study, published in Cell Metabolism, uncovered something unexpected: long-term fasting increased sex drive across all age groups. Their hypothesis? A change in neurotransmitter concentrations in the brain, which could potentially be used to treat libido loss in humans.Intermittent Fasting and SerotoninCalorie restriction, such as intermittent fasting, offers benefits beyond fat loss, including improved metabolic function, lifespan, and heart health. By reducing food intake for specific periods, fasting can manage weight and prevent some health issues.One way intermittent fasting may influence libido is through serotonin, a neurotransmitter produced primarily in the gut. Serotonin plays a role in regulating sexual behavior in the brain, often inhibiting sexual desire. Its made from tryptophan, an essential amino acid that we must get from our diet. If fasting leads to less tryptophan intake, it could result in lower serotonin levels in the brain, potentially reducing its inhibitory effects on libido.Read More: Should You Use Serotonin Supplements?Less Food, More SexIn the study that sparked this hypothesis, male mice were put on an intermittent fasting regimen: 24 hours of unlimited food, followed by 24 hours of fasting. After 22 months, the researchers introduced the fasting mice to females who hadnt fasted.Though reproductive outcomes werent the original goal, the researchers were surprised to find that the fasting males produced an unusually high number of offspring. Upon closer examination, they ruled out effects on the males reproductive organs or hormones.Eventually, we realized: it is a matter of behavior. The fasting males had significantly more sexual contacts than mice that could eat freely. In other words, these animals had an unusually high frequency of mating and, as a result, an unusually high number of offspring for their age. Their mating behavior more than compensated for the age-related physiological limitations, said study lead Dan Ehninger in a press release.Further investigation revealed that all the sexually active, fasting mice shared one common factor: significantly lower serotonin levels.Potential of Fasting in HumansFor intermittent fasting to increase sex drive, it takes some time, said Yu Zhou, professor from the Qingdao University, in the news release. Based on our experiments, the minimum duration appears to be somewhere between six weeks and six months.To apply these findings to humans, more studies are needed, of course. However, the similarity between serotonins role in sexual behavior in both mice and humans and the known side effects of certain antidepressants that increase serotonin and lower libido makes it plausible to consider fasting as a potential solution, not just for men but for women as well.In my opinion, it would make sense to investigate this in more detail, said Ehninger in the release, I see potential for therapeutic application. A lack of sexual desire is not necessarily perceived as problematic but some people suffer from it. Fasting could potentially serve as a useful addition to existing treatment options.Read More: The Weird Quirks of the Male LibidoArticle SourcesOur writers at Discovermagazine.com use peer-reviewed studies and high-quality sources for our articles, and our editors review for scientific accuracy and editorial standards. Review the sources used below for this article:Johns Hopkins Medicine: Intermittent Fasting: What is it and how does it work?Journal of the American Geriatrics Society: Sexual function of men ages 40 to 79 years: the Olmsted County Study of Urinary Symptoms and Health Status Among MenHaving worked as a biomedical research assistant in labs across three countries, Jenny excels at translating complex scientific concepts ranging from medical breakthroughs and pharmacological discoveries to the latest in nutrition into engaging, accessible content. Her interests extend to topics such as human evolution, psychology, and quirky animal stories. When shes not immersed in a popular science book, youll find her catching waves or cruising around Vancouver Island on her longboard.

There are a ton of great wireless soundbars out there, but the higher-end models can cost as much or even more than your TV itself. The lower-end models often lack the features you want, like Dolby Atmos. I typically recommend people look for a mid-tier model from a previous model year, as theyre usually available at super-low clearance prices. Thats whats happening now at Walmart with this Philips B8905 3.1.2 Channel Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer. It retails for $449, but its just $98 right now until it sells out.Philips B8905 3.1.2 Channel Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer $98 (was $449)PhilipsSee ItYoud expect to miss out on some essential features when spending $100 on a soundbar, but this kit has an impressive spec sheet for this clearance price. It comes with a full-sized soundbar with a dedicated center speaker to help emphasize dialogue. The wireless subwoofer connects easily and requires only a power cord to stay synced with the rest of the system. The B8905 supports Dolby Atmos virtual surround sound tech, so youll get an impressively immersive sound without scattering speakers and wires around your room. It has built-in Bluetooth for musical playback and 4K pass-through, as well as eARC HDMI technologies, so its versatile when it comes to customizing your setup. Nobody likes having a ton of remotes around, so you can simply control everything through one device.This isnt an entry-level device; its a mid-tier device at an entry-level price.The post Grab this $449 Philips soundbar with Dolby Atmos for just $98 on clearance at Walmart appeared first on Popular Science.

Graves like this one contained the bodies of sacrificed adolescents in a remote region of Mesopotamia. Credit: Baur Hyk Research Project / Cambridge Archaeological JournalA roughly 4,800-year-old royal Mesopotamian cemetery in eastern Turkey appears to complicate existing theories about how some Bronze Age societies shifted from egalitarianism to more rigid class structures. While more analysis is required, the implications may provide a more nuanced understanding of how social inequality codified among some of the earliest known civilizations. Regardless of the ultimate explanation, one thing appears clear about the new find according to a study published on March 17 in the Cambridge Archeological Journal: human sacrifices were part of it.The recent discoveries were made at Baur Hyk, a Bronze Age settlement dating back to around 3300 BCE and located in present-day Turkeys eastern province of Siirt. Baur Hyk includes what may be some of the regions earliest known royal burial tombs. However, the finds dont make much sense given what experts understand of early Mesopotamia. It all comes down to location. Baur Hyk wasnt a major cultural center; it was located on the Bronze Age societys periphery.Nevertheless, the tombs were filled with dozens of metal items and weapons, including gold and silver jewelry along with bronze daggers and spearheads. These possibly suggest that privileged kingship and warrior aristocracies had access to both resources and technologies in a region that isnt traditionally associated with luxury. But its the biological remains at a palace complex called Arslantepe that provide some of the starkestand violentevidence that supports historical reevaluation.Arslantepe is located on Turkeys Maltya Plain far from lowland Mesopotamias urban centers. In addition to these luxury items, the tomb burial complex also contains evidence of human sacrifices. More specifically, many of the victims appear to be adolescent girls aged 12 to 16 years old and dressed in clothing made from foreign materials. They were also placed in an adjacent room to the main body, indicating some kind of hierarchical arrangement. While it may be tempting for modern minds to leap to certain conclusions, the authors cautioned that there are still numerous unknowns about these Bronze Age cultures.Get the Popular Science newsletter Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.It is tempting, on this basis, to begin speculating about the existence of male warrior cults or initiation groups at the dawn of the Bronze Age, the team wrote in the study. However, it is important to note that determinations of sex show a mixture of males and females, and perhaps even a preponderance of females in the early phases of the cemetery at Baur Hyk. The authors also added that they have so far found no clear correlation between a victims biological sex and their positioning.One of potentially many alternative lines of thought to consider about Baur Hyk goes into greater detail about the sacrificial victims possible roles in society. In this theory, charismatic kings and dynastic lineages began not with male warrior cults, but in ritual associations of youth among otherwise loosely ranked societal classes. In any case, the authors stressed that its important to resist forcing existing societal models onto an archeological find like Baur Hyk.The new picture is decidedly more complex and suggests that a linear trajectory from small-scale egalitarian to large-scale stratified societies may simply not exist there, they wrote. Instead, the most radical and enduring forms of inequalityincluding charismatic forms of kingshipmay have emerged first on a small scale, only later coming to occupy the civic domain.

NewsEarthMore details about the Myanmar earthquake are emergingQuicksand-like physics exacerbated the earthquakes destruction The powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake that rocked Myanmar and Thailand on March 28 toppled buildings, such as this one in Mandalay.STR/AFP via Getty ImagesBy Carolyn Gramling8 seconds agoAs rescue and recovery efforts continue to ramp-up in earthquake-ravaged Myanmar, new details about how the geologic setting amplified the disaster are beginning to emerge.The March 28 magnitude 7.7 earthquake that rocked through Southeast Asia collapsed buildings, dams and bridges, and killed at least 2,700 people. The rupture occurred along several hundred kilometers of a roughly 1,400-kilometer-long fault known as the Sagaing Fault. The epicenter of the event was just 10 kilometers beneath Earths surface and occurred near the Myanmar city of Mandalay.Sign up for our newsletterWe summarize the week's science breakthroughs every Thursday.

Nature, Published online: 01 April 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00972-wMulti-year episodes of the climatic pattern are much more frequent now than they were seven millennia ago.

Nature, Published online: 01 April 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-01016-zIn shock move, four institute directors at the US biomedical agency are removed from their posts.