Table of ContentsTable of ContentsHow VR can help detect Alzheimers?A more accessible future for Alzheimers detectionOver the past few years, virtual reality (VR) has emerged as a remarkably useful addition to the field of medical science. From offering physician training and helping people cope with pain to delivering at-home physiotherapy and reducing stress, VR platforms have proved to be of immense help.The next VR breakthrough could help with the early detection of a well-known neurodegenerative disease. In its current form, the diagnosis of Alzheimers disease requires expensive neurological tests, brain scanning, blood analysis, and more. There is no single, or definitive, biomarker test.Recommended VideosA team of experts is now exploring how VR-based experiences can help assess spatial memory and check for signs of Alzheimers disease. Research shows the development of Alzheimers proteins affects a persons memory and navigation functions. Or to put it more specifically, allocentric navigation and spatial memory. Cognitive tests for detecting signs of Alzheimers also rely on gauging episodic memory, but the usage of VR enables healthcare experts to check the brains memory functions in an even more granular and immersive fashion.Due to weakening memory functions, people with Alzheimers commonly misplace objects, and this gets worse as the disease progresses, suggesting it could be an early sign of the illness. Alzheimers is also tied to the development of certain proteins in the brain, which helped researchers verify the efficiency of their VR-based detection system.The team focused on plasma A42/A40 and pTau217 protiens as part of their VR test. They asked participants to remember the location of various objects in nearly two dozen virtual living rooms. Based on the memory performance and body fluid tests, the team discovered a link between these proteins and object location memory as well as location precision.We found decreased object location memory, as well as decreased precision for the object location memory, between young adults and older adults and unimpaired participants and those with mild cognitive impairment, says Tammy Tran, a neuroscientist who presented her findings at the annual conference of the Cognitive Neuroscience Society (CNS) this month.As part of their tests, the team tested healthy young (and old) people as well as folks diagnosed with Alzheimers disease. The latter category, showing symptoms of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), struggled with memory-related tasks in the VR atmosphere.I can adjust virtual screens while using my Windows PC via a Meta Quest 3 VR headset. Photo by Tracey Truly / Digital TrendsExperts behind the project developed VR gear equipped with head and eye tracking sensors, similar to those you will find on devices such as the Apple Vision Pro or the upcoming Meta Orion holographic smart glasses. In a separate test, healthy adults were asked to remember corridors and hidden landmarks in a VR space.Following the tests, it was discovered that navigational abilities differ across different age groups. We expect that the presence of different complexity levels across trials will amplify differences between younger and older participants, and between older participants and those diagnosed with early Alzheimers disease, adds Manu Madhav, a robotics expert and neuroscientist who is also working on the project.Designed for use by both clinicians and caregivers, this tool will facilitate early AD detection, enable long-term monitoring, and guide restorative interventions, the team adds. The overarching goal is to deploy VR as a non-invasive and immersive tool to measure age-related memory decline that is a clinical symptom of Alzheimers onset.Editors Recommendations

SpaceX launched its Fram2 mission on Monday, becoming the first crewed flight to take a polar orbit.Mission commander Chun Wang, who also funded the flight, has just posted a few early observations about the four crewmembers experiences in space.Recommended VideosIn a message shared on X, Wang said that the ride to orbit was much smoother than I had anticipated, adding: I barely felt any G-forces it honestly felt like just another flight. I had imagined it would feel like being in an elevator that suddenly drops, but that sensation never came.RelatedBut the billionaire entrepreneur, on his first space flight, also revealed that the first few hours in microgravity conditions havent been exactly comfortable.Wang explained: Space motion sickness hit all of us we felt nauseous and ended up vomiting a couple of times. It felt different from motion sickness in a car or at sea. You could still read on your iPad without making it worse. But even a small sip of water could upset your stomach and trigger vomiting.Astronauts are provided with specially designed barf bags that have sealing mechanisms to capture and contain vomit safely, as you really dont want it floating freely around your spacecraft.Feeling a little woozy, the four crewmembers decided to get some shut-eye a bit earlier than scheduled last night, and after a good sleep, they now feel much better.The trace of motion sickness is all gone, Wang said. We had breakfast, took a few X-ray images, and opened the cupola three minutes after midnight UTC right above the South Pole.Its actually normal for astronauts to feel nauseous after first experiencing microgravity conditions, with up to 80% of them reporting such a condition during their first few days in orbit.In microgravity, the brain receives conflicting signals from the vestibular system (inner ear), which senses balance and motion, and also visual inputs. On Earth, gravity helps the vestibular system orient the body, but in space, the lack of gravitational cues creates confusion, which can lead to bouts of nausea and vomiting.Additionally, the absence of gravity causes bodily fluids to shift upward toward the head, which can increase pressure in the inner ear, potentially altering vestibular responses and contributing to motion sickness.Heres hoping the Fram2 crew are well and truly done with the throwing up so that they can enjoy the awesome views from 265 miles above the North and South Poles.Editors Recommendations

Swiss watchmaker Vacheron Constantin released what it called the world's most complicated watch. Jesus Hellin/Europa Press via Getty Images 2025-04-02T06:06:26Z SaveSaved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now.Have an account? Vacheron Constantin unveiled a new wristwatch, which does a lot besides telling the time.The new timepiece comprises over 1,500 components and has 41 functions.The Swiss watchmaker that its development took eight years and 13 patent applications.If you need to know which constellations are above you in the sky at any given moment, Vacheron Constantin has you covered.The Swiss watchmaker is rolling out the "Les Cabinotiers Solaria Ultra Grand Complication La Premire," which it called the "most complicated wristwatch ever made."According to the watchmaker's website, the 45-mm-diameter and 14.99-mm-high watch comprises 1,521 components. The website says that the watch has 41 complications a horology term referring to any function of a watch that goes beyond the display of time.It took eight years of development and 13 patent applications to get the watch out, Vacheron Constantin said.The timepiece looks ultra sleek and modern, with black dials accented with metallic gray and white tones. The watch is double-sided, with its top face featuring four subdials and its inner face showing the position of the stars.Apart from telling its wearer the time, the watch also shows the sun's position, height, trajectory, and angle relative to the Earth. It also lets the wearer know which constellations are overhead and how long it will take for a star to be visible.The watch was revealed at the Watches and Wonders trade fair in Geneva on Tuesday, CNN reported.Representatives for Vacheron Constantin did not respond to queries from Business Insider regarding the retail price of the watch, when it would be available for sale, and how many pieces of this model would be released.The new watch follows the watchmaker's history of making ultra-complicated watches. In 2024, it released the "Les Cabinotiers - The Berkley Grand Complication," a pocketwatch with 63 complications and 2,877 components.Paul Altieri, founder and CEO of watch reseller Bob's Watches, told BI fitting 41 complications into a wristwatch while keeping it wearable was "mind-blowing" and "a total flex of horological muscle.""It's less of a watch and more of a statement the ultimate blend of art, engineering, and ego," Altieri said. But a watch with this many complications is "extremely delicate," Altieri said. Any servicing required would likely take months, and can probably be done only by Vacheron's top-level master watchmakers in Geneva, he added. "Collectors and horological folks will worship it, but it's definitely not meant for mass appeal. It's meant as a show-stopper. A jaw-dropper," Altieri said.Recommended video

Adam Kadyrov has been named curator of Chechnya's internal affairs ministry, which oversees counterterrorism and riot control, among other responsibilities. Chingis Kondarov/REUTERS 2025-04-02T06:01:07Z SaveSaved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now.Have an account? Adam Kadyrov, 17, was just appointed to oversee Chechnya's internal affairs ministry.He's the son of Chechen strongman leader Ramzan Kadyrov, a staunch ally of Vladimir Putin.The teenager is set to lead a ministry in charge of police, counterterrorism, and local security.Adam Kadyrov is enjoying a stellar career.Russian state media reported that the 17-year-old was named curator of Chechnya's internal affairs ministry on Monday, meaning he'll oversee police and local security forces. The ministry also handles counterterrorism and riot control.A state broadcast showed the teen receiving the appointment at a ceremonial meeting as uniformed officers applauded.Soon after, he was filmed performing his duties by naming a new head of Chechnya's operational search division and handing out medals to police officers.The 17-year-old was already appointed overseer of Chechnya's Russian Special Forces University last April. The university says it teaches civilians and soldiers skills such as artillery operations and parachute landing.The teenager is also the third son of Ramzan Kadyrov, the strongman leader of Russia's predominantly Muslim Chechen Republic.Allied closely with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, Kadyrov's family rose to power by helping Moscow defeat Chechen separatists in the early 2000s. They've played a pronounced role in the invasion of Ukraine, particularly in the earlier days of the full-scale war, when Chechen militias were frequently seen fighting on the front lines.Adam's boyhood rise came amid the war. He surged into public view when he was 15 after he was filmed in September 2023 beating and kicking a prisoner accused of burning the Quran.Russia's human rights authorities voiced concern about the assault, but Kadyrov lauded his son after the clip went viral and said he "did the right thing."Since then, the teenager has been bestowed with Chechnya's "Hero of the Republic" medal. He's been separately given at least eight other state awards and honors. Adam Kadyrov and his father are seen here in December 2023 after talks between Russia and the United Arab Emirates. Contributor/Getty Images In November 2023, just before turning 16, he was named the head of his father's security detail. For his role, the teenager was entered into Russia's "Book of Records" the country's version of the Guinness World Records for being the youngest recorded chief of a security detail.The accolades and appointments have prompted speculation that the teenager is being groomed to succeed his father amid rumors that Kadyrov may be suffering from poor health. Novaya Gazeta, a Russian independent newspaper, reported in April that the warlord may be battling issues with his kidneys and pancreas.Kadyrov was not seen at his son's appointment on Monday, but state media said the teenager was given the role under the Chechen leader's orders. State broadcasts showed him meeting with local residents during the Muslim festival of Eid.Kadyrov's press service did not respond to a request for comment sent by Business Insider.Recommended video

Riells Square/ Comas-Pont arquitectesSave this picture! Adri GoulaPublic Space, SquareBarcelona , SpainArchitects: Comas-Pont arquitectesAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:900 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2024 PhotographsPhotographs:Adri GoulaMore SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. The surrounding area of the village of Riells is formed by the Gallifa Cliffs and the d'en Bert Cliffs, a rugged limestone terrain with reddish soils. The proposal aims to reclaim the old town for the citizens in dialogue with the surrounding landscape.Save this picture!Its historic core, around the church of Sant Vicen and the cemetery, both from the 11th century, is paved with reddish solid bricks, reminiscent of the tones of the soils of the cliffs that surround the village, successfully integrating the final image into the natural landscape and creating a cohesive whole around the church. A unique platform is proposed to enhance accessibility and return the space to the citizens, along with hanging lighting that recalls popular festivals and the village's past as a summer retreat.Save this picture!The square. The existing well in the square is restored as the central point of the geometry of the new pavement, the water collection, and the location of the new fountain (the cooling). A linear bench (the resting place) follows the church, creating sitting areas without losing the versatility of the square, while also addressing the humidity problems that the interior nave suffered. A tree (the shade), which dialogues with the existing fig tree at the top of the bell tower, provides shade in the sitting area.Save this picture!The viewpoint. In the viewpoint area, the existing slope is addressed by introducing a stepped staircase, and a solid railing is proposed that conceals the buildings of the lower terrace, enhancing the views of the d'en Bert Cliffs.Save this picture!Collective spaces. The project recovers a space previously occupied by vehicles into a friendly, relaxed area for citizens, restoring the quiet life of the village where children can play while parents socialize and elderly people can rest on the bench, promoting good neighborliness. A democratic architecture, to be experienced by all on equal terms.Natural elements are emphasized:Save this picture!The water. The intervention recovers the memory of the place, uncovering the bricked-up historic well and turning it into a focal point. All the radial geometry of the square converges at the midpoint of the well, while expanding the protective grate integrates the collection of rainwater and the fountain, without contaminating the well.Save this picture!The earth. The reddish soils of the surroundings are solidified into a solid brick (Roman strip of 30x5x5 cm) that serves as pavement, benches, and steps, introducing the landscape and its tones into the old core of the village. This poetic space creates a sense of belonging to the place, with its landscape, its slow rhythm, and the sounds of nature.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessAbout this officePublished on April 02, 2025Cite: "Riells Square/ Comas-Pont arquitectes" [Plaza de Riells / Comas-Pont arquitectes] 02 Apr 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1028618/riells-square-comas-pont-arquitectes&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

Call for Participants: UIA World Congress of Architects 2026 BarcelonaSave this picture!Call for Participants. UIA World Congress of Architects 2026 BarcelonaThe UIA World Congress of Architects 2026 Barcelona (UIA2026BCN) announces the Call for Participants, an international and open invitation for professionals from around the world to take part in the largest global architecture event.The theme Becoming. Architectures for a planet in transition will shape the Congress programme as a platform to explore innovative perspectives, interdisciplinary approaches and transformative ideas that address contemporary challenges.Professionals from architecture, landscape architecture, urbanism, design, engineering, research, photography, film and art are invited to participate with projects, essays or multimedia pieces. Through this call, UIA2026BCN aims to bring together knowledge across research, practice and education to generate new perspectives and strengthening connections between disciplines.The UIA World Congress of Architects, organised by the International Union of Architects has been held every three years since 1948. This edition, taking place in Barcelona in 2026 is organised by the Higher Council of Spanish Colleges of Architects Guilds (CSCAE), in collaboration with the Architects Association of Catalonia (COAC) and the participation and financing of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Agenda, the Generalitat of Catalonia and the Barcelona City Council. By hosting the Congress, Barcelona also become the World Capital of Architecture 2026.Becoming. Architectures for a planet in transitionBecoming explores spatial practices that foster processes of appropriation and transformation of the inhabited environment both human and nonhuman, individual and collective investigating the potential of time as a design tool. Far from the idea of tabula rasa, it is rooted in a deep awareness of preexisting physical and cultural landscapes.Becoming promotes the transformation of the existing reality, addressing the relationship between the urgency of contemporary challenges and a long-term perspective that unfolds through six lines of research: Becoming More-than-human, Becoming Attuned, Becoming Embodied, Becoming Interdependent, Becoming Hyper-Conscious and Becoming Circular.The proposals can be submitted in the following categories:Critical Design Architectural projects, industrial design, prototypes and explorations in design methodologies.Critical Essay Essays, academic papers and research articles.Critical Image Photographs, films and multimedia pieces.ProcessThe UIA2026BCN Scientific Committee and the Evaluation Committee, will evaluate the proposals from broad and cross-disciplinary perspectives. After an initial pre-selection by subject matter experts, a jury composed of internationally renowned professionals specialised in each category, as well as the Congress curatorial team, will make the final selection.Accepted proposals will be part of the central events of the UIA2026BCN Congress between 28 June and 2 July 2026. The jury will determine the form of participation, which may include individual presentations, debates or other planned formats. Additionally, it will decide whether the selected works will be exhibited physically or digitally at the Congress exhibition and whether they will be published in the official catalogue.CalendarSubmitting to the Call for Participants is completely free of charge. 31 March 2025 Launch of the Call for Participants 23 May 2025 Submission deadline 30 September 2025 Announcement of selected proposals 28 June 2 July 2026 UIA World Congress of Architects 2026 BarcelonaDownload the information related to this competition here.TitleCall for Participants: UIA World Congress of Architects 2026 BarcelonaTypeCall for SubmissionsOrganizersUIA World Congress of Architects 2026 BarcelonaSubmission DeadlineMay 23, 2025 11:30 PMPriceFreeThis call for submissions was submitted by an ArchDaily user. If you'd like to submit a competition, call for submissions or other architectural 'opportunity' please use our "Submit a Call for Submissions" form. The views expressed in announcements submitted by ArchDaily users do not necessarily reflect the views of ArchDaily.Cite: "Call for Participants: UIA World Congress of Architects 2026 Barcelona" 02 Apr 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1028651/call-for-participants-uia-world-congress-of-architects-2026-barcelona&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

Sony Should Reconsider Cutting Edge Graphics Pursuit, Says Shuhei YoshidaPlayStation legend Shuhei Yoshida @yosp, the former President of SIE Worldwide Studios who worked with the company for over thirty years, has shown care for its strategy even after leaving last year. Recently, he suggested that PlayStation should reconsider its focus on cutting-edge graphics.Speaking with AV Watch (and translated by Genki_JPN), Yoshida said that values, including "cutting-edge graphics," have been driving PS' DNA since Kutaragi-san's (former Chairman and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment) time, and that's also what the users expect from PS games.However, this is something to relook at and reconsider, he said. While it's also important to offer games with the "very best" graphics quality to players who fancy it, "in order to continue to be popular with users in a broad sense, we naturally have to change our way of thinking."Yoshida didn't go further on how the way of thinking could be changed. But speaking of popularity with users, it naturally reminds me of Astro Bot, which secured GOTY last year. Its story shows that the pursuit of fun gameplay could actually help break out and reach broader audiences. Therefore, for some games, cutting-edge graphics could be an addition, not a must.During this interview, Yoshida also talked about the growing length of AAA open-world action RPGs, which raised users' expectations and "haunts" developers in turn.In earlier interviews, the renowned industry veteran also shared the backstory of how Sony missed the chance to publish the beloved Dark Souls because its publishing strategy for Demon's Souls had disappointed FromSoftware, the situation he faced before taking the role of the Head of Independent Developer Initiative, and how he managed to push Sony to bring more first-party games to PC.

.@ManiSalguero showcased experimentation with a hand-painting technique in Maya and Substance 3D Painter.Details: https://80.lv/articles/artist-showcased-experimenting-with-hand-painting-in-maya-substance-3d/

In a new round of big tech CEOs shilling for generative AI, Unitys newly appointed CEO, Matthew Bromberg who took over after the infamous John Riccitiellos departure has spoken in defense of artificial intelligence, claiming that, in his view, the massive layoffs the game development industry has been plagued by for over two years at this point are not driven by AI.Speaking on The Verges Decoder podcast, Bromberg touched on Unitys position on AI, reiterating his previous claim that the company remains agnostic about where and how 3D assets are created. Addressing concerns from creatives about being replaced by machines, the CEO stated he doesnt think the ongoing layoffs in the gaming industry are driven by AI, expressing belief that developers and publishers will steadily adopt AI-powered tools to produce more video games.I actually dont think that any of the layoffs were seeing in gaming are driven by AI, he said. I dont think that. I think what video game developers and publishers will do, as we talked about a little bit earlier, is if they gain efficiencies in the making of games, I think theyll make more games. And thats where theyll use that extra wiggle.Moreover, Bromberg spoke about Unitys intention to be at the center of this potential future, where most games are built in large part by AI, pushing a vision of the gaming industry with automation taking on a more significant role.What we sort of believe will happen at the end of, maybe not the end, later in this process, is that therell be human creators sitting in the middle of the process of creation of these games, using a platform to create them. And they will have vertically oriented agents that are helping them do so. An agent that specializes in physics, an agent that specializes in sound, an agent that specializes in I.O., whatever it is. And therell be multiple people in that loop, and they will have those tools at their disposal, and they will need to bring them together in an interactive experience. We would like to continue to be at the center of that, and we think there is a need for a platform to be there.While its not unexpected for a tech firm director to defend AI in this day and age, Brombergs perspective on artificial intelligence and layoffs is, to put it mildly, questionable, considering the many instances weve seen over the years of exactly that taking place.Some examples include a third of translators and a quarter of illustrators in the UK losing their jobs to AI, Dropbox laying off 500 employees to shift focus to AI, Duolingo replacing translators with artificial intelligence, and Netflix launching a new generative AI initiative less than two weeks after closing its AAA development studio.While an argument can be made that these examples arent directly related to the gaming industry or are exceptions, just a month ago, Autodesk the developer behind Maya and 3ds Max, tools widely used by game developers tools cut 1,350 jobs to accelerate investments in AI. Sure, mass layoffs may not be entirely driven by AI with many citing studios over-hiring during the pandemic as the main reason but Brombergs refusal to draw parallels may indeed come across as a disingenuous attempt to sidestep the issue.Compounding the matter is Unity itself recently undergoing a wave of layoffs, which impacted entire departments, led to the dissolution of the Unity Behavior team, and was described as massive by several affected employees.How is this related to AI, you might ask? Well, in a memo shared internally by the CEO and later obtained by 80 Level, Bromberg emphasized Unitys intention to invest more in AI, a goal reflected in Unitys 2025 roadmap presented at GDC, which promised to introduce more generative AI features to the engine. While its impossible to definitively say whether Unitys focus on the controversial technology played a role in the latest layoffs the sixth wave in recent years it at least explains the CEOs reluctance to acknowledge AI as a major factor in the large-scale dismissals.Dont forget to join our 80 Level Talent platformand ournew Discord server, follow us onInstagram,Twitter,LinkedIn,Telegram,TikTok, andThreads,where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.Source link The post Unity CEO Doesnt Think Gaming Industry Layoffs Are Driven by AI appeared first on CG SHARES.

Sony Pictures AnimationSony has announced the release date for the next chapter in its Spider-Verse franchise the third installment in Miles Morales story.The new entry, Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, will hit the screens on June 4, 2027. At CinemaCon, the movies Producer Phil Lord and co-Directors Bob Persichetti and Justin K. Thompson shared (via Variety): We know how important this franchise is to so many people around us. We just could not run it back. They also noted: So, we decided we needed to take the time to make sure we got it just right.The new movie picks up the story right after the events of the previous one. Producer Phil Lord said, Its going to be a massive finale to the trilogy. He revealed that Miles will be on the run from every other spider in the spider-verse and intriguingly added that Gwen and his other friends may or may not be enough to help him save the family thats been at the heart of the entire system. The announcement clip unveiled at CinemaCon reportedly shows Miles and Gwen riding a motorcycle, while the Spot now features a new superpower: transforming himself into a spider-like creature.Producer Christopher Miller shared a glimpse at the upcoming movie:The previous installments to the Spider-Verse franchise, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023), were critically acclaimed and well-received by audiences. Before, Sony Pictures Imageworks released a series of videos explaining various intricate details of the movies beautiful visuals, breaking down its VFX, cinematography, and character representation.Dont forget to join our 80 Level Talent platform and our new Discord server, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Telegram, TikTok, and Threads, where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.Source link The post Finale to the Miles Morales Spider-Verse Trilogy Will Premiere in 2027 appeared first on CG SHARES.