The Three Gorges Dam in China is a major source of hydropowerCostfoto/NurPhoto/ShutterstockChinas vast electrical grid buzzes with more renewable energy than that of any other country, but this system is also becoming more vulnerable to power shortages caused by unfavourable weather. The need to ensure a reliable power supply could push Chinas government to use more coal-fired power plants.Chinas energy system is rapidly getting cleaner, with virtually every month setting new records for wind and solar energy generation. The countrys overall greenhouse gas emissions the worlds highest are expected to soon peak and begin to decline. Wind, solar and hydropower currently make up about half of Chinas power generation capacity, and are expected to increase to almost 90 per cent by 2060, when the country has pledged to reach carbon neutrality. AdvertisementThis growing reliance on renewable energy also means the countrys power system is increasingly vulnerable to changes in the weather. Intermittent wind and sun can be supplemented by steadier hydropower, produced by huge hydroelectric dams concentrated in southern China. But what happens when a wind and solar slump coincides with a drought?Jianjian Shen at Dalian University of Technology in China and his colleagues modelled how power generation on the increasingly renewable grid would respond to these extreme weather years. They estimated how the countrys current and proposed future mix of wind, solar and hydropower would behave under the least favourable weather conditions seen in the past.They found that the future grid would be substantially more sensitive to changes in the weather than today. In 2060, an extremely unfavorable year could reduce the amount of power generation capacity used by 12 per cent relative to todays grid, leading to power shortages. In 2030, under the most extreme case, they found this would result in a power shortage of more than 400 terawatt-hours, nearly 4 per cent of total energy demand. Thats not a number that anyone can just ignore, says Li Shuo at the Asia Society Policy Institute in Washington DC.Unmissable news about our planet delivered straight to your inbox every month.Sign up to newsletterIn addition to an overall lack of power, droughts could specifically limit the amount of hydropower available to smooth out irregular wind and solar generation. This could also lead to power shortages. It is essential to equip the power grid with a proper proportion of stable power sources that are less affected by meteorological factors to avoid large-scale extensive electricity shortages, the researchers wrote in their paper.One way to help would be to move surplus electricity between provinces more efficiently. Expanding the transmission infrastructure to do so could eliminate the risk of power shortages on todays grid and cut the risk in half by 2060, the researchers found. Adding tens of millions of kilowatts of new energy storage, whether using batteries or other methods, would also mitigate against hydropower droughts, they found.The amount of additional storage China will need to add in order to achieve carbon neutrality will be an astronomical number, says Li Shuo.While these changes will be difficult, adding that much storage is feasible given the huge volume of batteries already being produced in China, says Lauri Myllyvirta at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air in Finland. He says the country is also building 190 gigawatts of pumped hydro storage, which can provide longer-term energy storage by pumping water above a dam using surplus electricity, then releasing it when more power is needed.However, to date, power shortages have mainly spurred Chinas government to build more coal-fired power plants. In 2021 and 2022, for instance, hydropower droughts and heatwaves raised power demand enough to cause severe blackouts, creating political pressure for a continued expansion of coal. In 2023, record-low hydropower generation led to record-high emissions.Chinas president Xi Jinping has said coal power would peak this year, but entrenched political support for the power source makes this a difficult prospect. If China suffers another round of those episodes, more coal-fired power plants should not be the answer, says Li Shuo. Its just hard to phase out coal; China loves coal.Journal referenceNature Water DOI: 10.1038/s44221-025-00408-9Topics:

This is today's edition ofThe Download,our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what's going on in the world of technology. Rivals are rising to challenge the dominance of SpaceX SpaceX is a space launch juggernaut. In just two decades, the company has managed to edge out former aerospace heavyweights Boeing, Lockheed, and Northrop Grumman to gain near-monopoly status over rocket launches in the US. It is now also the go-to launch provider for commercial customers, having lofted numerous satellites and five private crewed spaceflights, with more to come. Other space companies have been scrambling to compete for years, but developing a reliable rocket takes slow, steady work and big budgets. Now at least some of them are catching up. Read the full story.Ramin Skibba We should talk more about air-conditioning Casey Crownhart Things are starting to warm up here in the New York City area, and its got me thinking once again about something that people arent talking about enough: energy demand for air conditioners. I get it: Data centers are the shiny new thing to worry about. And Im not saying we shouldnt be thinking about the strain that gigawatt-scale computing installations put on the grid. But a little bit of perspective is important here. I just finished up a new story about a novel way to make heat exchangers, a crucial component in air conditioners and a whole host of other technologies that cool our buildings, food, and electronics. Lets dig into why Im writing about the guts of cooling technologies, and why this sector really needs innovation. Read the full story. This article is from The Spark, MIT Technology Reviews weekly climate newsletter. To receive it in your inbox every Wednesday, sign up here. The must-reads Ive combed the internet to find you todays most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology. 1 Donald Trump has announced sweeping new tariffsExperts fear the measures will spark a global trade war. (FT $) + The new tariffs are significantly higher than Americas targeted trade partners. (Vox)+ US tech companies are reliant on global supply chains. What happens next? (Wired $)+ Tech stocks dropped sharply following the announcement. (CNBC)2 Elon Musk tried to control the Wisconsin Supreme Court raceand lostThe billionaire was mocked on his own platform, X, after the state rejected the Republican candidate he spent millions bankrolling. (The Guardian)+ It was the most expensive judicial election in American history. (Economist $)+ It appears as though Musks political influence is waning. (The Atlantic $)3 Amazon made a bid to keep TikTok operational in the USAs has mobile tech company AppLovin. (WSJ $) + The founder of OnlyFans partnered with a crypto foundation in another bid. (Reuters)4 Parents are worried about their teenagers smartphone use But drawing firm conclusions about phones and social medias effects on their mental health is far from easy. (Nature)5 How China gets around Americas chip restrictions Smuggling and subsidiaries are just some of the ways it skirts the bans. (Rest of World)+ This super-thin semiconductor is just one molecule thick. (Ars Technica)+ Whats next in chips. (MIT Technology Review) 6 Neuralink is looking for new patients across the worldThe company has implanted devices in three peoples brains to date. (Bloomberg $) + Brain-computer interfaces face a critical test. (MIT Technology Review)7 Italian police are investigating a major fire at a Tesla dealershipThe blaze destroyed 17 cars in Rome. (The Guardian) 8 Publishers are experimenting with AI translations for booksNot everyone agrees that the technology is ready. (The Markup) 9 Vibe coding needs a reality check A new AI app created using the loose process generated a recipe for deadly cyanide ice cream. (404 Media)10 You may be unwittingly following JD Vances wife on Instagram If you were following Kamala Harriss husband on the platform, you're now following Usha Vance. (TechCrunch)Quote of the day Elon Musks money might buy some ads, but it repels voters. Wisconsin Democratic Party Chairman Ben Wikler reflects on how his partys candidate Susan Crawford won the states Supreme Court election, despite Musk spending $25 million supporting her Trump-endorsed rival, The Hill reports. The big story The lucky break behind the first CRISPR treatment December 2023 The worlds first commercial gene-editing treatment is set to start changing the lives of people with sickle-cell disease. Its called Casgevy, and it was approved in November 2022 in the UK.The treatment, which will be sold in the US by Vertex Pharmaceuticals, employs CRISPR, which can be easily programmed by scientists to cut DNA at precise locations they choose.But where do you aim CRISPR, and how did the researchers know what DNA to change? Thats the lesser-known story of the sickle-cell breakthrough. Read more about it.Antonio Regalado We can still have nice things A place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line or skeet 'em at me.) + If youre stuck for what to read next, this list of the 21st centurys best books is a great source of inspiration.+ Controversial ranking timedo you agree that Abbey Road is the Beatles best album?+ Inside the tricky technicalities of time travel.+ Uhoh: magnolia paint is making a comeback.

Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda in "Wicked." Giles Keyte / Universal Pictures Updated 2025-04-03T12:46:24Z SaveSaved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now.Have an account? The "Wicked" movie covers act one of the original musical's plot.The film is part of a two-part franchise, with the sequel set for release on November 21, 2025.Here's what we know about "Wicked: For Good," including the cast and potential plot.The first "Wicked" film is already as long as the Broadway original, but only covers half of the show's plot. The second movie, "Wicked: For Good," scheduled for November, 21, 2025 will complete the story."Wicked," the musical, is the second-highest-grossing Broadway show ever. The plot follows the origin story of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, a character from the 1939 movie, "The Wizard of Oz."The movie version of "Wicked" stars Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, and Michelle Yeoh. Although recent cinema adaptions of stage musicals like "Cats" and Steven Spielberg's "West Side Story" haven't had box-office success, "Wicked" defied gravity and earned $744 million worldwide, per Box Office Mojo.Marc Platt, who produced the "Wicked" movie and stage production, said he initially intended for the story to be a film but changed his mind after speaking to Stephen Schwartz, who composed the music and lyrics for the stage musical. "I waited a very long time to make the movie," Platt said at the movie's London premiere where Business Insider was in attendance.Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande revealed the first 'Wicked: For Good' trailer at CinemaCon Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande presenting the "Wicked: For Good" trailer at CinemaCon in Las Vegas. Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images On April 2, Erivo and Grande took to the stage at CinemaCon in Las Vegas to present the "Wicked: For Good" trailer, giving a glimpse of what to expect from the story after the cliffhanger of the first film.USA Today reported that the footage, which has not been released outside of CinemaCon, shows Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey) hunting Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), who's on the run. Meanwhile, the green witch sows dissent against the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) by writing "Our Wizard lies" in the skies above Oz.Glinda (Ariana Grande) and Fieryo are also seen getting married, and Elphaba leading a revolution with animals.There is also a shot of Dorothy, who is the focus of the original "The Wizard of Oz" story, but the footage does not show her face.Both parts of 'Wicked' were filmed at the same time Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard and Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible in "Wicked." Giles Keyte / Universal Pictures The cast, director, and crew have all shared reasons for splitting "Wicked" into two films.Both the film's director Jon Chu and its producer March Platt have said in interviews that they didn't want to cram or cut songs or characters to fit the story into one movie.Erivo told Entertainment Weekly in February 2024 that the split allowed more space to develop her character's friendship and rivalry with Glinda the Good Witch, played by Grande.A fan newsletter, "The Schwartz Scene," reported that the composer said there had to be a break after "Defying Gravity," the final song in the musical's first act."We found it very difficult to get past 'Defying Gravity' without a break," he said. "That song is written specifically to bring a curtain down, and whatever scene to follow it without a break just seemed hugely anti-climactic."In 2023, Schwartz told the now-defunct site, The Messenger, that the second part will include new original songs written for the film."The storytelling required it, and therefore they were createdthe intention was that they were organic and not imposed on the movie," he said.Both parts of "Wicked" were filmed simultaneously and all the stars from the first film will return in the sequel. This also makes it unlikely the sequel could be delayed by production issues and should arrive on schedule next November.'Wicked: For Good' will likely cover the second act of the Broadway musical Erivo and Grande reprise their roles in part two. Giles Keyte / Universal Pictures Spoilers ahead for "Wicked," the Broadway musical and the film.The sequel's title is named after the act two song "For Good," performed by Elphaba and Glinda.The first movie adapts the first act of the Broadway musical, explaining how Elphaba became the Wicked Witch.Though Elphaba grew up being bullied and mistreated for her green skin and magical powers, she is desperate to prove she is as valuable as anyone else.She and her younger sister Nessarose end up at Shiz University, a magical school in the world of Oz, but Elphaba is forced to share a room with a self-absorbed student called Glinda.The pair bicker until they become friends. At the same time, both women fall for Prince Fiyero Tiggular, and Elphaba learns that someone is trying to cage Oz's animals and stop them from speaking.Later in the film, Elphaba is invited to meet the ruler of The Wizard of Oz and brings along Galinda, who now goes by Glinda.They learn that the wizard is a con man and that he and Madame Morrible, a magic professor at Shiz, are behind the conspiracy against the talking animals.They want to use Elphaba's powers to help their plot because she is Oz's chosen one, not the Wizard she can read a special book of spells called the Grimmerie.But Elphaba steals the book instead and leaves Emerald City, leaving behind Glinda, who still believes in the Wizard.The second film will cover the second act, set a few years after the first. In this act, the story connects back to the plot of "The Wizard of Oz," which viewers might be more familiar with from the 1939 film.Glinda and Madame Morrible are part of the Wizard's administration, and Fiyero is head of a hunting squad for Elphaba.Nessarose has become a cruel governor of Munchkinland and earned the title of the Wicked Witch of the East.Elphaba, now known as the Wicked Witch of the West, tries to do good for the animals and people of Oz, but her magic and actions continue to harm her loved ones.When her sister is crushed and killed by Dorothy's house, she vows to become truly wicked. This establishes her character as the witch depicted in "The Wizard of Oz" book and film.There are no new characters in Act Two, except Dorothy, who is normally not played by a character onstage.Recommended video

Michael Nagle/Xinhua via Getty Images SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images 2025-04-03T12:32:26Z SaveSaved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now.Have an account? This post originally appeared in the Business Insider Today newsletter.You can sign up for Business Insider's daily newsletter here.Good morning. Ten major firms are under the spotlight as the Trump administration continues its consulting crackdown. BI has pored over the DOGE receipts and found one firm has taken the most heat so far: Deloitte.In today's big story, it's the morning after Trump's "Liberation Day" and some countries were hit harder than others. Some say they're prepared to hit back.What's on deckMarkets: Tesla's stock jumped after a report that Elon Musk could soon be out of the White House.Tech: One tool Google DeepMind uses to maintain an edge in the AI talent wars? Aggressive noncompete rules.Business: America's biggest businesses are bowing out of Pride parades.But first, who did Trump hit hardest?If this was forwarded to you, The big storyTrump's tariff blitz BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images President Donald Trump's far-ranging "Liberation Day" tariffs have been unveiled.They were so far-ranging that they hit a collection of remote Antarctic islands only inhabited by penguins, sea birds, and seals.The new tariffs involve a 10% levy on almost all imported goods, with higher levies on certain individual countries. Trump said the rates were "approximately half" of the tariffs that these countries impose on US goods.Here are some of the countries hit with the highest reciprocal tariffs:Cambodia: 49%Vietnam: 46%Sri Lanka: 44%Bangladesh: 37%Thailand: 36%China: 34%. This is on top of the existing 20% tariff on Chinese goods.There were two surprising omissions from Trump's announcement: Mexico and Canada (though previous tariffs of 25% remain in place). BI explained why.Wall Street, meanwhile, recoiled in after-hours trading. S&P 500 futures fell as much as 4%, while Nasdaq 100 futures tumbled more than 4.7%. Read the full global market reaction here.Trump's tariffs aim to boost US manufacturing in the long term. In the short term, Americans may have to pay higher prices for many goods, from clothing imported from Asia to wines shipped in from France.You might feel the effects in the grocery store, too, with Mark Cuban advising people to stock up on consumables now: "From toothpaste to soap, anything you can find storage space for, buy before they have to replenish inventory."It's a trade war and it's unlikely to be the end of it. Other countries are already saying they will retaliate.3 things in markets Elon Musk has reincorporated both Tesla and SpaceX away from Delaware. Samuel Corum/Getty Images 1. Tesla stock spiked to close 5% higher after a report Elon Musk could be out of the White House. Investors cheered the possibility of getting Tesla's CEO back following Politico's report.2. Bet on the US, one veteran analyst says. Ed Yardeni thinks US stocks could actually benefit from one of the worst-case scenarios of Trump's tariffs. He pointed to several reasons the US could regain its top-dog market status if a global recession is triggered.3. "Mini private equity" is having a moment. Entrepreneurial young people are flocking to search funds, which seek to buy and grow small businesses. It's popular among MBAs and young professionals looking for success in an insecure white-collar job market.3 things in tech Getty Images; Jenny Chang-Rodriguez/BI 1. Google DeepMind's weapon in the AI talent wars. The company uses aggressive noncompete agreements that last as long as a year for some UK staff, four former employees told BI. Essentially, Google would rather give some employees one year of paid vacation than have them work for a competitor.2. The twenty-somethings running Palantir's healthcare AI business. Four years ago, the $193 billion data giant launched its healthcare business with then-25-year-olds Jeremy David and Drew Goldstein at the helm. Now, David says healthcare makes up 15% of Palantir's revenue.3. Testifying in Meta's China probe. Lawmakers are investigating the company's dealings with China, which former executive Sarah Wynn-Williams described in her book. But her lawyer told BI that Meta's emergency arbitration ruling prevents her from talking to members of Congress.3 things in business A BYD Sealion 7 on display at an airport in Warsaw, Poland, in February 2025. Aleksander Kalka/NurPhoto/Getty Images 1. As Tesla struggles, BYD sales storm ahead. Tesla's Chinese rival had another spectacular quarter, with sales jumping 60%. It's the second successive quarter BYD has outsold Tesla, and a growing portion of its sales are coming from outside China.2. America's companies are over the rainbow. In the past, the complaint was often that LGBTQ+ Pride Month was too corporate. This year, Trump's anti-DEI stance and threats of retribution have businesses anxious and they're reacting accordingly.3. Bye-bye, bonus. Some Macy's executives will have to pay back over $600,000 after an accounting error inflated their bonuses. The retailer overstated earnings by $81 million in 2023, which influenced the high payouts executives received the next year.In other newsNewsmax plunges 77% after a blistering post-IPO rally.This chart shows how measles is spreading exponentially in the US.Val Kilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer over a decade ago, but it wasn't his cause of death.RH's CEO cursed on an earnings call after he realized the stock was tanking.'I begin spying for Deel': A Rippling employee details his days of corporate espionage in Ireland court filing.A voter sued Elon Musk, alleging the billionaire never paid up after promising cash for petition signatures.I was laid off from the federal government. Here's why I turned down an offer to go back to the job.No one knows how to define a 'podcast' anymore and it's becoming a problem.Playing Tetris can make you better at your job. Really.What's happening todayUS Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrives in Brussels for NATO talks.Big Screen Achievement Awards.The Insider Today team: Dan DeFrancesco, deputy editor and anchor, in New York (on parental leave). Hallam Bullock, senior editor, in London. Nathan Rennolds, editor, in London. Grace Lett, editor, in Chicago. Amanda Yen, associate editor, in New York. Lisa Ryan, executive editor, in New York. Meghan Morris, deputy bureau chief, in Singapore. Ella Hopkins, associate editor, in London. Elizabeth Casolo, fellow, in Chicago.Recommended video

This story originally appeared in Kids Today, Voxs newsletter about kids, for everyone. Sign up here for future editions.In recent weeks, colleges and universities have found themselves at the center of the Trump administrations efforts to reshape American society and culture. As the administration extracts concessions from universities and seeks to deport students based on their participation in protests, experts are raising questions about the future of the American academy and the countrys larger place on the world stage.A lot of rising college freshmen have a different, more basic anxiety, however: They just want to know if theyll be able to pay for school.The Trump administrations highly publicized efforts to dismantle the Education Department have some students questioning if federal student aid even still exists, according to nonprofits that support college access. Students are wondering if the FAFSA is still available, Marcos Montes, policy director of the Southern California College Attainment Network, told me.Others are concerned that they wont be able to get federal Pell grants or other financial aid they need to attend college, said Karla Robles-Reyes, chief program officer at OneGoal, a nonprofit that helps low-income students with college access. As of now, both Pell grants and the FAFSA, or free application for federal student aid, remain available. But some students fear that if they use the FAFSA to apply for federal aid, information about their families immigration status could be shared with ICE a concern that college counselors and advocates cannot fully dispel. That fear is contributing to a drop in federal financial aid applications, Montes said.Graduating seniors are concerned about other issues too, like whether theyll be able to exercise their freedom of speech on campus. But a lot of young peoples biggest worries are about the critical resources that they need to pursue their higher education, Robles-Reyes said and whether those resources are still available under Trump.Its a reminder that although colleges and universities have become a topic of heated political debate and students and professors a symbol of decadent liberalism to many on the right postsecondary education is also just an increasingly necessary career step that a majority of Americans undertake at some point. And for this years high school seniors, especially those who are low-income or the first in their families to apply to college, that step could get a lot harder to take.Just to be clear, the Education Department still exists, and cannot be closed without an act of Congress. However, the Trump administration has announced the layoffs of more than 1,300 department employees, and in March, Trump signed an executive order directing Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to close the department to the maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law.One of the biggest functions of the Education Department is overseeing the federal student aid system, including Pell grants (need-based awards of up to $7,395 per year) and federal student loans. Grants and loans are critical for low- and middle-income students across the country at a time when average college tuition ranges from around $11,000 a year for public institutions to more than $43,000 annually for private schools (the average annual wage in the US, meanwhile, is around $66,000). As of the 2019-20 school year, 55 percent of undergraduates got some form of federal aid.So when high school students hear that the department could be closed or dismantled, theyre understandably scared. There is a lot of confusion, Montes said.Students are asking questions like, Should I just drop out of school and wait for another president, because I dont know if Im going to have the financial aid that I need to be able to pay for college? Robles-Reyes said.Trump has said that funding for Pell grants and student loans will not be affected by changes to the Education Department, and theres no indication that the Trump administration is planning direct cuts to student aid. But experts say that layoffs at the department and the administrations plans to move some of its functions to other agencies could cause errors in loan disbursement or a lack of support for borrowers. Students got a glimpse of what dysfunction in student aid could look like last year, when a new FAFSA form rife with technical issues led to long delays and application roadblocks for students and families.The largest amount of aid I receive is from the federal government, Nomar, a first-year college student who asked that his last name not be used, told me. He worries that if student aid gets moved to another department, his loans or grants could be delayed, preventing him from registering for classes.For students with parents or other family members who are undocumented, meanwhile, theres an added concern: that filling out the FAFSA could reveal their family members immigration status to the federal government, leaving them vulnerable to deportation (the form asks applicants for parents Social Security numbers, which undocumented immigrants often do not have). Federal law prohibits the use of FAFSA data for any purpose other than student aid, but experts are cautioning students that theres no guarantee the Trump administration wont use their data to target their family members for immigration enforcement.OneGoal tells students that they have no indication that FAFSA data is going to be used to initiate deportations, Robles-Reyes told me. But, she said, we cant promise that it wouldnt.Even beyond federal aid, students have financial fears. Lila, a high school senior in California who asked that her last name not be used, told me she worries about losing access to scholarships aimed at people of color and other historically marginalized groups. Many such scholarships were meant to address centuries of racism and other biases in education, but they are now being targeted as part of Trumps push to end diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. Trumps anti-DEI efforts are also affecting colleges in other ways, with some overhauling or shutting down DEI offices, and others disbanding affinity groups for women, students of color, or LGBTQ students. College-bound students are left wondering if theyre going to have the same services available that students previously had, Montes said. Theyre not sure what going to college next year is going to look like.Young people have also been watching with concern as ICE officers arrest students who are in the US legally, apparently based on their participation in pro-Palestinian protests or advocacy. High school students have been asking for rights trainings and trying to figure out how they can make their voices heard, Montes said. I have to be careful with what I say, the opinions that I might put out in the world, Nomar, a green-card holder, told me. Disruptions to college could derail students futures and the countryThe heightened level of fear and uncertainty about college could have a serious impact on graduating seniors, Montes said. In California, the number of high school seniors completing the FAFSA was down by 25 percent in February, compared with the previous year, and the number of students with at least one undocumented parent applying was down 44 percent.For some, no FAFSA could mean no college. Without financial aid, college is very inaccessible for first-generation students and students from low-income backgrounds, Montes said.Forgoing college, in turn, could do long-term damage to students careers. College is the number one workforce training out there, Montes said.Its more than an individual issue. Our economy requires a skilled workforce, Robles-Reyes said. If these disruptions in the Department of Education lead to more students not enrolling, then our economy really is at risk.State policymakers can help college-bound students by making state financial aid applications more accessible, Montes said. In California, for example, students can apply for state financial aid without fear that their data will be shared with the federal government.When it comes to freedom of speech, Lila, the high school senior, wants to see colleges back up their students: What Im afraid of happening in colleges would be them buckling down under the pressure and just changing their policies to keep getting funds, she said.Universities and elected officials also need to keep students updated about how Trump administration policy could affect their education, Nomar said, so that when we start the semester, we dont have this huge worry or these huge questions that are going to take us away from what we came here to do.Despite the upheaval of the last two months, Nomar is clear on the purpose of college in his life. As a first-generation student who grew up in a place where education was scarce, he relishes the opportunity to expand my knowledge and grow as a person.For me, he said, going to college is the gateway for the world.What Im readingSen. Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware and 22 other Democratic senators sent a letter to Education Secretary Linda McMahon this week, requesting information on how the Education Department plans to protect the rights of students with disabilities amid layoffs, cuts, and restructuring. The departments recent reduction in force will critically damage your ability to fulfill your statutory duties to students with disabilities by eliminating nearly half of your workforce, the senators wrote.A survey of 1,500 11- to 13-year-old Floridians found that having their own phone was actually associated with a number of positive outcomes, including higher self-confidence and even spending more time in person with friends. However, posting frequently on social media was associated with problems like an increased risk of anxiety and depression.Meanwhile, a recent poll conducted for Common Sense Media asked kids and parents what factors make families strong. For kids, the top answer by far was parents who listen to their kids, followed by parents accepting their children no matter what. (For parents, the top answer was quality education.)My little kid and I have been reading The Rock From the Sky, a 2021 picture book about a big rock that falls out of the sky, and how some small animals react to it. I choose to see this as a story about anxiety, the impossibility of predicting the future, and also, of course, the ever-present danger of falling objects.From my inboxThe Common Sense Media poll got me thinking about what kids and parents want and need from one another. If youre a parent, what do you think your kids most want from you right now? What do they need (which could be very different)? And for everyone: as a kid, what did you most want and need from the people who raised you? What do you think kids today need most from adults right now? Let me know at anna.north@vox.com!See More:

If youd asked me a decade ago how I felt about my phone, I would have said: Wow, I love it. And also: How could you even ask me such a thing? 2015 was a quieter, happier time. Barack Obama was president, Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars was the No. 1 song, and I had a sleek, slim iPhone 6 in my pocket. Were now up to the iPhone 16, and while you already know the other details about our current reality, I will confess that I hide my phone from myself, on a daily basis, in order to feel something real.This sorry state of affairs led me to the Light Phone, a minimalist device that promises freedom from infinite feeds. The third generation of the device, which debuted in late March, represents a radical rethinking of what a smartphone can and should do, cutting off users from distracting features while directing them toward simple tools they need to thrive in a digital world, like a phone and a calendar. There is no web browser, no app store, no forms of entertainment not even a game to distract you. The Light Phone 3 is intentionally boring but useful. Thats the sales pitch anyways, and it arrives in a world where many are nostalgic for a time when we were far less subservient to our technology.I recently met Joe Hollier and Kaiwei Tang, the co-creators of the Light Phone and co-founders of its parent company, Light, in their Brooklyn, New York, workshop, where they walked me through the development of the Light Phone 3. Theyd given me the device to test out ahead of time, and while I loved the gadget in concept, I had a brutally hard time letting go of my iPhone, which I hate by the way. But how could I give up the many apps Ive become dependent on to do my job and keep up with my family? How could I get through the day without my algorithmically generated Spotify playlists? How would my brain work without the ability to Google random questions when they pop into my head? I think that moment when you find yourself pulling out the Light Phone for the fifth time and realizing it does nothing, thats like a very profound initial Light moment, where youre like, Now, what? Hollier told me.About nine out of 10 Americans own a smartphone, and Id guess many of them have passed a point of no return, when it comes to connected living. It feels impossible for some people parents, knowledge workers, Spotify fanatics to live without a smartphone. For others, its simply inconvenient. But ditching your smartphone is a way of liberating your free time and winning back your attention, which has led to a movement of people buying gadgets that are specifically designed to bridge the gap between our dumb phone past and a future where technology use is more intentional.Im about a week into trying to join this movement. Its not easy, but it sure does seem peaceful.Why you might need an intentional phone Smartphones and dumb phones think flip phones or phones that can only place calls and send messages are familiar categories to most people. But intentional phones phones designed to limit interactions with the device and to help users focus on being present are a new category, arguably created by the Light Phone itself. When you do something on an intentional phone, you intend to do it, and then you stop using the phone.The original Light Phone, your phone away from phone, launched as a Kickstarter campaign in May 2015. It was roughly the size of a credit card and could only place voice calls. That meant you could disconnect for an afternoon and go on a hike but remain reachable. The device sold out, while Hollier and Tang built its successor, the Light Phone II, which shipped in 2019. This phone had an e-ink display, like a Kindle, which refreshes too slowly to support easy scrolling and came with a handful of simple tools, like messaging and a music player, but lacked a web browser and email. So far, Hollier and Tang have shipped over 100,000 of these devices, and their staff still repairs the old ones in their Brooklyn studio.We dont want the device to try to fight for your attention, or be shiny. We wanted it to be calm, low key, and just disappear, even when you use it. Kaiwei Tang, co-creator of the Light PhoneThe Light Phone 3 takes things a stage further but not too much further. Instead of the gritty e-ink screen, the new model has a black and white OLED display with a coating that makes it less shiny. Theres a very basic camera on the back, which Hollier and Tang say is really for documenting things or taking pictures of receipts, since you cant post any photos from the phone. Theres an updated directions tool, and a directory that works a bit like the Yellow Pages: You search for something, say a coffee shop, and the tool provides a list of nearby businesses with some basic information, like their phone number and hours. Theres also a new podcast app that lets you download episodes of podcasts and take them with you when youre out, but you cant look up new content while youre out. The operating system is built by Light, and theres no data harvesting. We dont want the device to try to fight for your attention, or be shiny, Tang told me. We wanted it to be calm, low key, and just disappear, even when you use it.Its actually remarkable to use a piece of technology thats designed to be used as little as possible. Its beautifully boring. The Light Phone 3 is also just plain beautiful a slab of black anodized aluminum that fits neatly into a shirt pocket and just works. It retails for $799, although you can preorder one now for $599. The Light Phone 2 is still available for $299.There are other intentional phones on the market that give users more digital liberties. The Bigme Hibreak Pro runs a version of Android and supports all apps but has an e-ink screen that discourages scrolling. The Unihertz Jelly Max is a tiny smartphone that has a color screen, but its so small that youd be hard-pressed to watch a YouTube video on it. The Mudita Kompakt is a lot like the Light Phone 3, except it has an e-ink screen and a few more functions. Then theres the Sidephone, which starts shipping this year and can run critical apps, like Uber, WhatsApp, and Spotify, while otherwise offering minimal features. Its actually designed to work alongside a smartphone, with a dedicated phone number you only give to close friends. When I first started using it, the Light Phone 3 reminded me of my digital life not 10 but 20 years ago, when I left the house with an iPod, a Motorola Razr, a notebook, and a Nikon film camera. (Fun fact: Tang actually helped design the Motorola Razr way back when.) Each thing had its own purpose, and if I didnt need any one thing, I left it at home. If I got bored with my devices, I simply had to find something else to do.Today, theres something naive about imagining a return to life in 2005, when I was in my 20s. I have a wife, a baby, and a job that demands knowing whats happening in the world on a daily basis. Leaving the house with just a Light Phone 3 feels like a fantasy, albeit one that is appealing on days when I cant escape the ping of Slack messages or the buzzes of my news alerts.Toward a philosophy of digital minimalismIt was about a decade ago that our digital world started to get really dopamine-driven. Twitter was ascendant, and within a couple years, Facebook would buy Instagram and usher in an era of algorithmic feeds designed to keep users engaged. This is also when Gen Z started to come of age. It didnt take long for the first generation to live their entire lives online to have second thoughts about social media, smartphones, and technology in general.Gen Z adults are now leading the way in incorporating dumb technology into their lives, according to a 2024 Morning Consult poll. Millennials, like myself, are very close behind. Light says that 70 percent of its users are between 18 and 35 years old, and that 56 percent of them only use Light Phone. Hollier and Tang told me last week that Light Phone adoption has kind of happened in that order, too: Gen Z jumped on board first and more millennials seem to be buying the devices lately. I have to wonder if its because more millennials are noticing that theyre reflexively checking their feeds while also watching their kids at the playground. Ive done it, and it sucks. Young parents are also realizing that the Light Phone is an excellent way to stay connected to their children without giving them unbridled internet access. Jose Briones, a long-time Light Phone user, spent years and thousands of dollars in the smartphone upgrade cycle. A few years ago, Briones became more interested in finding technology that would help him optimize his time, instead of robbing him of hours spent scrolling. Briones now runs a YouTube channel where he reviews intentional phones, like the Light Phone, and describes himself as a digital minimalist. More people are coming to the realization that they dont want to live their lives through a screen, but instead, they want to experience it with their own eyes, Briones said.Digital minimalism is the philosophy that drives a lot of the conversations around the Light Phone. The term was popularized by Georgetown University computer science professor Cal Newport, who also coined deep work in 2016 and published a book about digital minimalism in 2019, at the same time Marie Kondos Netflix show dropped and not long before the pandemic made us all digital maximalists. 3 easy things to doNobody should feel helpless in our app-saturated world. But you can update a few simple settings to make your phone less habit-forming. Tristan Harris, co-founder of the Center for Humane Technology, offered three tips in a 2018 Vox video that still make sense today:Turn off all nonhuman notificationsMake your screen grayscaleRestrict your home screen to essential, everyday toolsThere are now communities for all corners of this movement. Briones is a moderator in the subreddits for Light Phone fans as well dumb phones more broadly. Theres also a subreddit for digital minimalism, where people share their experiences of living life without smartphones or how to minimize screen time. Reading through the posts will give you a sense of how deeply some peoples dissatisfaction with the connected life runs and how passionate they are about finding technology that works for them, full stop.The market is starting to meet those needs. Will Stults and his girlfriend Daisy Krigbaum opened an online shop just for intentional phones called Dumbwireless in 2022, which stocks Light Phone models as well as a dozen other devices handpicked for their approach to intentional phone usage. Its also a side-gig for Stults and Krigbaum, who both have day jobs but are seeing growing demand for devices like this. But after I told him about my own slow start with the Light Phone 3, Stults reiterated that everyone quits smartphones for different reasons and has different needs.We almost want to put up a disclaimer on our site, like, The perfect non-smartphone does not exist, by the way, and thats kind of the point of this, Stults said. Youre going to make some sacrifices. Its going to be a challenge.Consider a weekend phoneAt a certain point, it feels like were coming full circle with some of these phones. If you strip away everything you dont like about your smartphone and then start adding it back in spurts, you eventually end up with digital clutter again. But if youre mindful of the clutter and keep tidying up as life goes on, you will enjoy some of the benefits from more dramatic moves, like going full Light Phone. You could even use your dumber device as a weekend phone when theres no particular need to stay so connected. This strategy is essentially what Casey Johnston, who writes a newsletter about health and fitness, described when she lobotomized her smartphone recently. Delete everything and then add back the apps intentionally in classic Marie Kondo-style. Johnstons tips for streamlining your smartphone are not that different from what Ive suggested myself, and I would highly recommend tweaking your settings so that newly installed apps do not appear on your home screen. I also like her advice to use an old phone plugged in at a specific location like a landline for social media, if you must.Im not going to throw away my iPhone any time soon. As a husband, dad, and journalist, Ive come to depend on certain apps and features and immediacy. You might even say living life with just a Light Phone seems like a real luxury. But this notion of being intentional with technology, using the right tool for the right job, and not being afraid of disconnecting its a worthwhile aspiration. I do aspire, at the very least, to take the weekend phone approach in the near future. Its also neat that there are now gadgets designed specifically for this, and I have to wonder if bigger tech companies, including Apple, will start taking the intentional phone movement seriously. Light Phone, after all, reminds me of the best of Apples design ethos: elegant products that solve problems. Only Light Phone is asking a bit more from its users.Every decision we made is intentional, Tang told me. Were hoping our customers will do the same.A version of this story was also published in the User Friendly newsletter. Sign up here so you dont miss the next one!See More:

It is a game about love and identity, but it also has forklift truck races. It is a game about bloody revenge, but while youre waiting to retaliate, you can buy lottery tickets and visit the arcade. When Bafta recently asked gamers to vote on the most influential game of all time, Im not sure even the most ardent Sega fans would have gambled on the success of an idiosyncratic Dreamcast adventure from 1999. Yet the results, released on Thursday morning, show Shenmue at No 1, with perhaps more predictable contenders Doom and Super Mario Bros coming in second and third respectively.How has this happened, especially considering the game was considered a financial failure at the time of its release, falling short of recouping its then staggering development costs (a reported $70m, which would now get you about a third of Horizon Forbidden West or Star Wars Outlaws)? Well, nostalgia is a funny thing and so is the concept of cultural influence. When it was released more than two decades ago, Shenmue was an oddity: an open-world role-playing adventure that followed martial arts student Ryo Hazuki as he sought revenge for the murder of his father. But while there were fights and puzzles galore, there was also a lot of other stuff. The game used an internal clock to switch between day and night, and to cycle through seasons. Often, the people Ryo needed to speak to (or beat up) were only available at certain times, so he had to kill time by wandering the streets of mid-1980s Yokosuka. You could go to shops, play old Sega arcade games, you could visit the hotdog stand. The world was filled with eccentric characters and strange mini-games including the aforementioned forklift races.What players also enjoyed were its systemic and narrative oddities. Designer Yu Suzuki, who spent the 1980s making some of the greatest arcade games of all time, including OutRun, After Burner and Hang-On, was a stickler for authenticity and simulation he understood that Ryos life would be boring and mundane at times so thats what the player got. He also loved to experiment with gameplay conventions, which in Shenmue led to the adoption of quick time events, highly choreographed action scenes in which the player dictates the action by following specific button prompts. It was, lets say, controversial at the time, but it was interesting. Even the games rather wooden voice acting and clipped dialogue enraptured players. To this day, the thought of Ryo wandering the docks asking Do you know where I can find some sailors? is comedy gold to those in the know.It was the first time that an epic, immersive role-playing adventure also drew in elements of life simulations and dating games, to expand the interactive repertoire for players. Later titles such as Grand Theft Auto III, would expand on the idea, but we can perhaps say that the concept of living, explorable worlds came from Shenmue and flavoured everything that has followed, from Assassins Creed to Skyrim.Shenmue did end up getting a sequel and, much later, a third title to close the trilogy. I was at the video game event E3 in 2015 when Yu came on to the stage during Sonys press conference and announced that Shenmue III was in development. It was pandemonium. Sure, you could say that Super Mario Bros has been more influential because it popularised the platformer and also the concept of a video game mascot character; you could say it was Doom because it made the first-person shooter the most important genre in PC gaming. But I like the fact that Shenmue has won, and not only because I love Sega and edited a Dreamcast magazine at the time. Its because it shows that gamers still enjoy strange, exotic games, and if thats the case, strange, exotic games will continue to be made. We certainly see that in the success of Shenmues illegitimate children: the Yakuza and Like a Dragon games, where action, dating and silly games still combine to hilarious effect.I like to think that there will always be players willing to just stop fighting for a second, head down to the docks and hunt for sailors.Bafta most influential video game of all time list in full1. Shenmue (1999)2. Doom (1993)3. Super Mario Bros (1985)4. Half-Life (1998)5. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998)6. Minecraft (2011)7. Kingdom Come: Deliverance II (2025)8. Super Mario 64 (1996)9. Half-Life 2 (2004)10. The Sims (2000)11. Tetris (1984)12. Tomb Raider (1996)13. Pong (1972)14. Metal Gear Solid (1998)15. World of Warcraft (2004)16. Baldurs Gate III (2023)17. Final Fantasy VII (1997)18. Dark Souls (2011)19. Grand Theft Auto III (2001)20. Skyrim (2011)21. Grand Theft Auto (1997)

Every Nintendo Switch 2 game you can start playing at launchMichael BeckwithPublished April 3, 2025 1:29pmUpdated April 3, 2025 1:29pm Mario Kart World is the big one (Nintendo)The recent Nintendo Switch 2 showcase has confirmed the consoles entire launch line-up of games, including the new Mario Kart and a surplus of third party ports.One of the big questions surrounding the Nintendo Switch 2 was what its line-up of launch games will be. Thanks to the recent Nintendo Direct, we now have our answer.There was some chatter that Nintendo would prioritise its own games for the consoles launch period over third party titles, but thats not the case. For the Switch 2s launch, which is scheduled for June 5, only four of the consoles games are from Nintendo (two of which are enhanced versions of Switch games), with the rest from other publishers.Its still an impressive line-up, though, consisting of some exciting ports of games that had to skip the original Switch due to hardware limitations. So, weve compiled every Switch 2 game that will be available the same day as the console.Every Nintendo Switch 2 launch gameMario Kart WorldNintendos big first party title for the Switch 2s launch will, of course, be the new Mario Kart it teased during the consoles January reveal. As the name suggests, Mario Kart World is taking the series open world and is generally set to be even bigger than Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, with a huge roster of playable characters (including a regular cow) and up to 24 players per race.Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour Will you be paying for this? (Nintendo)The only other original first party game at launch, Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour is what it says on the tin: a guide to the many functions and features of the hardware. Featuring a collection of minigames and tech demos, its like the Nintendo equivalent of the PlayStation 5s Astros Playroom except its not free and will be sold for 990 yen, which is about 5.The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild Nintendo Switch 2 EditionThere was talk of an enhanced version of The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild running on Switch 2 back in 2023 and soon itll be something you can experience for yourself. If you already own the game on the original Switch, you can upgrade to the Switch 2 version for a fee or subscribe to the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack service to access it.The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Raise your hand if youll be playing Tears Of The Kingdom again just because its on Switch 2 (Nintendo)Similarly, The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdoms Switch 2 version will be available from day one. It will have all the same visual upgrades and be included with Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscriptions. Both it and Breath Of The Wild will also be compatible with a new Zelda Notes service, which serves as both a guide and a means of sharing items with other players.Street Fighter 6Having skipped the original Switch, Capcom is bringing its premiere fighting game to Switch 2 in a big way. This edition will not only include the first two season passes of DLC, but also cross platform play, promising smooth 60fps online matches. Therell even be three Street Fighter 6 amiibo figures for Luke, Jamie, and Kimberly.Split FictionNintendo fans had to wait over a year to experience Hazelights superb co-op game It Takes Two. The wait for its even better follow-up, Split Fiction, thankfully wont be as long, with its Switch 2 port slated to arrive alongside the console. With the consoles GameShare feature, two people can enjoy it locally with just one copy of the game and while youll still need to buy EAs Friends Pass for online play, cross platform support means you and a friend can play together on different platforms.Hogwarts LegacyWhen Hogwarts Legacy was ported to the Switch, it was unsurprisingly a compromised version of the original game, with it forced to run at 30fps and with far less detailed visuals. Those issues wont be a thing in the Switch 2 port, which looks to be on par with the other versions of the game and also make use of the new mouse controls.Hitman Word of Assassination Signature EditionWhile IO Interactives modern Hitman trilogy is playable on the original Switch, its only a cloud version, meaning it requires a constant and reliable internet connection to work. Thankfully, the collection of all three games will run natively on Switch 2. Pre-orders also come with exclusive cosmetics and items themed around Mario and Luigi.Yakuza 0 Directors CutSegas Yakuza series had already debuted on Switch with a port of Yakuza Kiwami (a remake of the very first Yakuza game) and its set to make a new home for itself on Switch 2 as well. Prequel game Yakuza 0 is widely considered one of the best entries in the series and this directors cut aims to make established fans double dip by promising new story content and an online multiplayer mode.Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD RemasterAfter its disappointing Switch sequel, its very exciting to see the original Bravely Default escape the confines of the 3DS after more than a decade. Aside from the fancy HD graphics, this full remaster naturally includes a redesigned interface (since the original game made use of two separate screens) and retooled online functions. Two new mini-games are also being added as well as a fast forward feature to speed through cut scenes.DeltaruneThe first two chapters in this episodic follow-up to Undertale have been out for years, leaving fans wondering just when the story would continue. To their delight, both chapters three and four are launching alongside the Switch 2. With chapters one and two also seeing Switch 2 ports on the same day, latecomers can experience the entire Deltarune saga thus far.Civilization 7Anyone who purchased Civilization 7 for the original Switch must be kicking themselves now that the games confirmed for Switch 2. Aside from benefitting from the stronger hardware, this port will make use of the new mouse controls for a more intuitive experience. Developer Firaxis Games has said Switch owners can pay to upgrade to the Switch 2 version, but no price has been shared yet.Survival KidsKonamis streak of reviving its old franchises continues with a new entry in its Survival Kids series (or Lost In Blue as it was called in the West). This Switch 2 exclusive, simply dubbed Survival Kids, is billed as a co-op survival game where up to four players make use of the consoles communication features to explore a series of islands. It will offer both local and online co-op.Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate EditionNintendo fans whove been forced to miss out on Cyberpunk 2077 all these years will finally get to see what all the fuss is about when the Ultimate Edition launches on Switch 2. It comes with both the base game and Phantom Liberty DLC, but unique features like motion controls for the combat and gyroscope aiming. Youll also be able to use the right Joy-Con as a mouse and playing in handheld mode lets you use touch controls for menu navigation.Kunitsu-Gami: Path Of The GoddessCapcoms unique blend of action and real-time strategy, Kunitsu-Gami: Path Of The Goddess, is getting a second life on Switch 2. Although not especially difficult to begin with, the game stands to benefit from the new mouse controls and Capcom is also teasing entirely new content. Details on this Otherworldly Venture content are scarce, but it is confirmed to come as a free update to other platforms too.Puyo Puyo Tetris 2SThis second crossover between Segas Puyo Puyo puzzle series and the iconic Tetris already launched for the original Switch in 2021. Like with Yakuza 0, Sega hopes to make fans double dip by adding an all-new doubles mode that has two teams of two compete against each other. Unfortunately, theres been no mention of Sega offering an upgrade path for those who own the original version.Rune Factory: Guardians Of AzumaThe newest entry in the Rune Factory series was originally scheduled to launch for Switch and PC on May 30. However, with it now seeing a dedicated Switch 2 version as well, the game will be delayed an extra week so that all three versions launch simultaneously. Theres been no mention of the Switch 2 version making use of any of the consoles distinct features, but it should at least run slightly better on the newer hardware.Nobunagas Ambition: Awakening Complete EditionAside from making a new Hyrule Warriors for Nintendo, Koei Tecmo is bringing strategy game Nobunagas Ambition: Awakening to Switch 2 (as well as PlayStation 5) for the consoles launch. Aside from including all the DLC and mouse control support, it comes with new six new story scenarios. The original Switch version will also see a free update that adds a new Decisive Battles feature, but youll need to pay extra to upgrade to the Switch 2 version.Fast Fusion This makes up for the lack of any new F-Zero (Shinen Multimedia)There may have still be no new F-Zero game for Switch 2, but developer Shinen Multimedia is back with the next best thing: a new entry in its FAST series. Its been eight years since FAST RMX arrived on Switch and its successor, FAST Fusion, is coming exclusively to Switch 2. FAST RMX managed 60fps on the original Switch, but FAST Fusion can take full advantage of the Switch 2s 4K capabilities, which should allow for even more striking visuals.Arcade Archives 2 Ridge RacerAfter making a name for itself in the arcades, Ridge Racer was ported exclusively to the PlayStation 1 console and has remained there ever since. So, it was very surprising to learn that its upcoming re-release is scheduled only for Switch 2. Not only that, but this is the original arcade version, meaning it wont have the same visual downgrades as the PlayStation 1 version.Fortnite One of the few guaranteed Switch 2 ports (Epic Games)Possibly the least surprising announcement from the Switch 2 Direct, it wouldve been stranger if Fortnite didnt see a release on Nintendos new console. We imagine most Fortnite fans on Switch will jump ship to Switch 2 since its stronger hardware will allow for better performance and graphics, and hopefully less technical issues too.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.ArrowMORE: How to pre-order the Nintendo Switch 2 in the UKGameCentralSign 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

We most definitely had to check our calendar when we saw this Amazon deal offering the Garmin Forerunner 55 GPS running watch for just $149. We know Garmin is one of the leading brands for GPS running and fitness watches, if not the leading brand. We also knew that the Garmin Forerunner 55 had never been priced this low before. But, sure enough, this isnt an April Fools prank. Amazon is selling the Garmin Forerunner 55 for just $149, a savings of $50 off its usual price and an all-time lowest Amazon price.Of the dozens upon dozens of smartwatches and sports-oriented wearables sold by Garmin, the Forerunner 55 sits in the most comfortable place of all for many running enthusiasts it is by far the simplest Garmin smartwatch to use, stripped down to the essentials that you need for tracking your times, your pace, your heart rate, and more. There is beauty in simplicity, and the Garmin Forerunner 55 is the proof.See at AmazonOutlasts Your Longest RunEven if youre a marathoner, youll exhaust yourself well before the battery of the Garmin Forerunner 55 runs out. It has up to 2 weeks of life while in smartwatch mode, and up to 20 hours even when the GPS is deployed. That GPS accessibility, which has long been a hallmark of Garmins smartwatches, is what allows the Forerunner 55 to give you exceptionally accurate measurements of your time, distance, pace, and speed whether youre racing, training, or just walking the dog.The Forerunner 55 takes that data and gives you smart workout suggestions every day. Garmin technology looks at your performance history and takes into account recovery time, and gives you a recommended run that fits in with your training goals. And when race day comes, the Garmin Forerunner 55 is ready with GPS-based pace guidance to keep you from blowing yourself out too early. Using the Garmin Connect app, you can enter the course or distance youre about to tackle and let the Forerunner keep you on pace for optimal performance.All Athletes WelcomeAs good a running watch as the Garmin Forerunner is, its also preloaded with apps to measure and help guide you along in other sports and activities, including Pilates, HIIT, and swimming. And if youre starting to red-line and wear down as you train, the Forerunners recovery time feature will let you know when its time to take a rest day.The features packed into this easy-to-use and exceptionally comfortable smartwatch normally come with a much steeper price tag than the $200 the Garmin Forerunner normally sells for. Amazons 25% off deal that offers this robust fitness and running smartwatch from a leading brand for just $149 makes this one of the best deals weve seen on a wearable for runners and other fitness fans in a long time.See at Amazon

T-Mobile sells a little-known GPS service called SyncUP, which allows users who are parents to monitor the locations of their children. This week, an apparent glitch in the services system obscured the locations of users own children while sending them detailed information and the locations of other, random children. 404 Media first reported on the extremely creepy bug, which appears to have impacted a large number of users. The outlet notes an outpouring of consternation and concern from web users on social platforms like Reddit and X, many of which claimed to have been impacted. 404 also interviewed one specific user, Jenna, who explained her ordeal with the bug: Jenna, a parent who uses SyncUP to keep track of her three-year-old and six-year-old children, logged in Tuesday and instead of seeing if her kids had left school yet, was shown the exact, real-time locations of eight random children around the country, but not the locations of her own kids. 404 Media agreed to use a pseudonym for Jenna to protect the privacy of her kids. Im not comfortable giving my six-year-old a phone, but he takes a school bus and I just want to be able to see where he is in real time, Jenna said. I had put a 500 meter boundary around his school, so I get an alert when hes leaving. Jenna sent 404 Media a series of screenshots that show her logged into the app, as well as the locations of children located in other states. In the screenshots, the address-level location of the children are available, as is their name and the last time the location was updated. Even more alarmingly, the woman interviewed by 404 claims that the company didnt show much concern for the bug. Jenna says she called the company and was referred to an employee who told her that a ticket had been filed in the system on the issues behalf. A follow-up email from the concerned mother produced no response, she said. As a mother, this is super alarming to me, and I raised flags right away [with T-Mobile] and nobody took me seriously there, Jenna told the outlet. I was probably shown more than eight children. I would log in and I couldnt see my children but I could see a kid in California. I refreshed and then I had no trackers, and then I refreshed again and would see a different child. When reached for comment by Gizmodo, a T-Mobile spokesperson told us: Yesterday we fully resolved a temporary system issue with our SyncUP products that resulted from a planned technology update. We are in the process of understanding potential impacts to a small number of customers and will reach out to any as needed. We apologize for any inconvenience.The privacy implications of such a glitch are obvious and not really worth extrapolating on. That said, its also a good reminder that the more digital access you give a company, the more potential there is for that access to fall into the wrong hands.