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.

Application submitted for 180-bed conversion of grade I-listed site two years after rejection of previous schemeCustom House, bottom right in the pictureOrms and Richard Griffiths Architects have replaced Squire & Partners on a plan to transform the City of Londons grade I-listed Custom House into a 180-bed hotel.The two practices have submitted a fresh planning application for new client Jastar Capital two years after Squire & Partners 200-room scheme was rejected at appeal by a planning inspector due to heritage concerns.Jastar Capital purchased the site through its subsidiary Custom House City Limited from the buildings previous owner Cannon Capital Developments and Global Grange Hotels in 2023.The early 19th century building, located on a prominent riverside site at the historic Pool of London, is considered one of the Citys finest examples of neoclassical architecture.A version of customs house, used to collect customs duties, has been on the site for more than six centuries and the latest building had been at the home of Londons customs and trade for over 200 years before HMRC moved out in 2021.Squire & Partners had lodged plans for a hotel conversion the previous year but took the application to appeal in 2022 on the grounds that City planners were taking too long to decide the proposals.The scheme, which would have included new roof terraces and the partial rebuilding of the buildings eastern block behind retained facades, was thrown out after a 13-day hearing amid criticism from campaign groups including Save Britains Heritage and the Georgian Society.Squire & Partners proposals for Custom House in the City of LondonWhile the planning inspector had praised Squire & Partners most creditable response to the site, he concluded the scheme contained many harmful heritage impacts which were not outweighed by the schemes heritage benefits.Jastar Capital said Orms and Richard Griffiths Architects new plans had been carefully tailored to preserve the sites main building and its grade II*-listed river wall, stairs and cranes along Custom House Quay.The Kings Warehouse would be turned into a food and beverage space with a new public route running through the site alongside historic displays, gallery space and a curated historical library in the former Tide Waiters Room.The buildings Long Room would be transformed into one of the best new event spaces in the City, while a newly landscaped quayside would aim to provide an inclusive, south-facing public space for the City.CGI of Orms and Richard Griffiths Architects' new proposals for Customs House1/2show captionTwo new terraces would also be built on the central wings southern elevation containing an outdoor cafe and restaurant area, connected to the quayside by ramps and steps, while the interior of the building would contain new spa and health facilities.The projects planning consultant Montagu Evans said the plans would bring an important London heritage asset back into viable use as a landmark hotel, restoring its former grandeur and opening it up to guests and the public alike.Orms associate director and historic buildings specialist Elyse Howell-Price added: Custom House is a hugely sensitive heritage asset in one of the most significant riverside sites in The City of London.Orms approach to this project has been to undertake a deep investigation of the history and construction of this remarkable building while at the same time envisioning the potential that the revitalisation of the site could achieve by improving the experience of the riverside for all Londoners.Orms is lead architect with Richard Griffiths acting as conservation architect. The project team also includes Publica on cultural and landscape strategy, Elliott Wood as structural engineer and Caneparo Associates on transport.Squire & Partners has been contacted for comment.

The scheme's tallest block has been designed by Allies & MorrisonThe block designed by DSDHA, which is also the scheme's landscape architectPlot 3, the shortest block in the scheme, has been designed by Allies & Morrison1/9show captionAllies & Morrison and DSDHA have submitted plans for a 350m life sciences complex next to the Shard for a trio of developers including the Guys & St Thomas Foundation.The Snowsfield Quarter will consist of three blocks up to 16 storeys in height in an expanding cluster of tall buildings around London Bridge station.Designed the Snowsfield Quarter Partnership, which also includes developers Oxford Properties and Reef Group, the scheme would provide a total of 360,000sq ft of floorspace and 245,000sq ft of specialist laboratory facilities.Located next to Guys Hospital and close to Kings College Londons Guys Campus, it would contribute to one of Londons largest academic and clinical research clusters.The team said its vision is to create a place in Southwark that tackles global health issues locally, building on hundreds of years of medical innovation and the incredible work already being done by existing medical and academic experts in the area.The block designed by DSDHA, which is also the schemes landscape architectExisting buildings on the three sites, which include a multi-storey car park, four retail units, a pub and a 1990s hotel, would all be demolished to make way for the new buildings, two of which have been designed by Allies & Morrison and one by DSHDA, which is also landscape architect across the development.The project team also includes structural engineer AKT II, planning consultant DP9, transport consultant Velocity and environmental consultant Hoare Lea.A full planning application was validated by Southwark council on Monday, with the development team targeting a planning committee date this summer.On this timeline, demolition of the sites existing buildings would start in late 2026 with construction getting underway in summer 2027 and the scheme completing by 2030.Other development sites in the area include a 20-storey life sciences tower at Vinegar Yard designed by KPF for Guys and St Thomas Foundation, Kings Health Partners, Lambeth council and Southwark council.

It's the PGA Tour's final event before next week's US Masters.

Plus free satellite text messaging is added as a perk for all plans.

April 3, 20253 min readNew Plan for Particle Physics Megaproject Leaves out Funding DetailsA long-awaiting report from CERN explores the feasibility of building a supersized successor to the Large Hadron ColliderBy Davide Castelvecchi & Nature magazine The Future Circular Collider (artists impression) would initially smash together electrons and their antiparticles, positrons. Polar Media via CERNCERNs ambition to build an accelerator three times as large as the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) took a significant step forward on 31 March with the release of a massive feasibility study for the project. But possible scenarios for how to fund the new machine will be presented at a later date.The European particle physics laboratory near Geneva, Switzerland, has not yet officially decided whether to endorse the 91-kilometre Future Circular Collider (FCC) project or other options for new colliders, but the study will feed into a review of CERNs long-term strategy that is due to conclude next year.This study is the result of an immense amount of work carried out by the international FCC collaboration, said Fabiola Gianotti, CERNs director general, in a presentation to reporters. If approved and implemented, the FCC could become the most extraordinary instrument ever built by humanity to study the laws of nature at the most fundamental level.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.Grand designsThe three-volume feasibility study, to which around 1,500 physicists and engineers have contributed, estimates that it would cost 15.32 billion Swiss francs (US$17.4 billion) to dig a 91-kilometre-long circular tunnel and build a machine to smash together electrons and their antiparticles, positrons, by the mid-2040s. This would enable high-precision studies of the Higgs boson and other known particles.A second stage for the projectwhich would reuse the tunnel and collide two beams of protons, like the LHCwould would not come online until 2072 at the earliest, and would cost 18.8 billion Swiss francs to build. That estimate is based on the assumption that the proton collider will operate at 85 Tera-electronvolts (TeV)an energy six times higher than the LHC, but lower than the 100 TeV that was proposed initially. Gianotti told reporters that this was a conservative assumption based on using the high-field superconducting magnetsneeded to steer protons around the ringthat are available today. Ongoing research on advanced superconducting materials could put higher energies within reach for the 91 km tunnel, perhaps even 120 TeV.CERN Council president Konstantinos Fountas told reporters that the study will provide very solid ground to enable the Council to come to a well-informed decision on whether to go ahead with the project. Antonio Zoccoli, president of Italys National Institute of Nuclear Physics and one of countrys delegates to the CERN Council, agrees, saying that the group has done very solid work on the technical design and cost estimates.Vladimir Shiltsev, an accelerator physicist at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, says the cost estimates are broadly in line with those he and his collaborators made in a 2023 study that compared various collider proposals. He says the authors of the feasibility study wrote a very nice, solid, comprehensive document, although a few technical questions remain unanswered.A CERN map shows where a 91-km circular tunnel might be dug; the smaller LHC is to its left.CERNGianotti said that CERN could cover 65% of the construction cost for the first stage of the project from its existing budget. That would still leave a shortfall of more than 5 billion Swiss francs, which would need to be covered with additional contributions. The feasibility study had been asked to provide funding scenarios for the project, but this information will now be provided at a later date, she said.CERN initially budgeted CHF100 million for the feasibility study itself, and a CERN spokesperson told Nature that the final cost was CHF113 million (US$128 million).The FCC plan has its critics. Some physicists believe that the scientific goals of the first stage could be achieved with a smaller, cheaper linear collider, and many are put off by the timeline for the second-stage proton collider. Both the member states and the science community will feel that they are being locked into something like a 70-year mortgage, if they agree to go ahead, says John Womersley, a special advisor to the University of Edinburgh, UK, who is a former UK delegate to the CERN Council. Almost no one that I have spoken to thinks this is a good idea.This article is reproduced with permission and was first published on April 1, 2025.

There was plenty for us to pore over during yesterday's Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, but there is one character in particular that has caught the hearts and minds of everyone who watched: Mario Kart World's cow on scooter. Read more

Judging by reactions online across the world, the cost of the Switch 2 and its software has proven to be controversial. Perhaps Nintendo knew this, considering it didn't include the price in the actual Direct presentation.Here in the UK, the console will cost 395.99, or 429.99 bundled with Mario Kart World, when it launches on 5th June. That's compared to the 280 launch price of the original Switch, and 310 launch price of the OLED.It's the increase in the cost of games themselves, though, that's proven most shocking. Mario Kart World, for instance, will cost 74.99 for a physical copy, or 66.99 digitally. That's an increase from 49.99 for most brand new original Switch games.Nintendo Switch 2 Live Reaction - How Much Will It Cost? Let's Find Out!Watch on YouTubeDonkey Kong Bananaza, meanwhile, is slightly cheaper: 66.99 for a physical copy and 58.99 digital. There's the Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour game too, which will cost 990 yen according to the Japanese website - that's around a fiver.It should also be noted that some Switch 2 physical game cards won't actually include the full game, but include a download key instead. As for the difference between physical and digital pricing, this appears to be a shift towards pushing digital games - especially with the addition of the sharable Virtual Game Cards Nintendo revealed last week.Still, accounting for inflation, the Switch 2 Mario Kart World bundle works out cheaper in the UK than the original Switch with a copy of Breath of the Wild in 2017.To directly compare the consoles alone, 280 for the original Switch works out at 367.40 today with inflation, still cheaper than Switch 2. However, throw in the big launch game and it's a better deal - an original Switch with a separate copy of Breath of the Wild cost 340 at launch in 2017, which works out at 446.13. That's pricier than the Switch 2 Mario Kart World bundle.Over in Europe, the Switch 2 console costs 469.99, or 509.99 for the Mario Kart World bundle. That's equivalent to the cost in the UK.It's a different story in other parts of the world, however.In Japan, for instance, Nintendo will be selling a region-locked console at a lower price, in a bid to stop importers due to the weak yen.The Japan-only console will cost 49980 yen (around 258.95), but will only play Japanese games in Japanese language, with a Japanese Nintendo account.A more expensive Switch 2 with multilingual support will also be available at 69980 yen, around 362.57. That's still slightly cheaper than in the UK, though doesn't account for import costs.As for the price of Mario Kart World in Japan, it'll be 9980 yen compared to the cost of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the original Switch at 6578 yen. As Dr. Serkan Toto, CEO of Kantan Games, wrote on social media, that's 52 percent more expensive, which is a higher jump than the 33 percent rise from $60 to $80 in the US.To see this content please enable targeting cookies.As for the console itself in the US, it costs $450, but there are fears this could rise to as much as $600 if impacted by new tariffs from the Trump administration.Tariffs - taxes charged on products when they enter the country - could be as much as 46 percent on products from Vietnam, which is where the majority of Switch 2 manufacturing has taken place, Kotaku has reported.David Gibson, analyst at MST Financial, confirmed to The FT: "Export data combined with finished product codes confirms that Nintendo shipped finished Switch 2 [from Vietnam] across five days in January for a total of 383,000 units with all of them going to the USA."He added: "I suspect this occurred to test the distribution system and get ahead of the risk of tariffs. I expect the numbers to have ramped-up significantly in February and March."Wrote Niko Partners director of research and insights Daniel Ahmad on social media: "Nintendo shifted its manufacturing to Vietnam to avoid tariffs and with todays reciprocal tariff announcements they're likely going to end up paying tariffs anyway."Piers Harding-Rolls of Ampere Analysis also suggested to IGN Nintendo "probably had a range of pricing for the US market in play up until the last minute due to the uncertainty on import tariffs", which is why the price wasn't included in the Direct.However, analysts don't believe the pricing will impact sales of Switch 2 initially."Based on what we're seeing across the market, sales to higher-income or more affluent households likely won't be impacted by this pricing," Circana analyst Mat Piscatella told IGN. "And, of course, we have the price insensitive super enthusiasts that will do and pay whatever it takes to acquire the Switch 2 at launch. Therefore, because of the limited quantities that will be available during the launch year, I do not anticipate this pricing to hinder year one sales volumes."The true test will come in year two, as supply is likely to become more readily available, and the addressable market will be forced to widen. So, we'll have to see what happens over the next 9-12 months."And compared with Sony's PlayStation 5 Pro at 699.99 and Valve's Steam Deck OLED at 479.00, the price of Nintendo's new console still appears reasonable.Of course, this all depends on whether consumers are able to pre-order, as Nintendo is enforcing strict criteria on pre-orders from its own Nintendo store in a bid to reduce scalping. That's based on playtime and the requirement of a Nintendo Online account.In the meantime, multiple online UK retailers have already gone live and sold out of Switch 2 stock, without the need to meet Nintendo's criteria.For more on the new console, here's everything announced at the Switch 2 Direct.

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games hereOver the past seven and a half years, Epic Games has introduced thousands of Fortnite skins. While most of these were available to all players through the Item Shop, a significant number were exclusive to the Battle Pass. As a result, those skins will never be available in the game again. Unfortunately, this means that newer players will never be able to get their hands on iconic skins, such as Omega and The Reaper.Epic has introduced numerous variations of original skins, some of which have gained popularity. However, the Fortnite developer is shifting away from exclusivity. It started with the Battle Pass, and now PlayStation Plus skins are following suit.Fortnite x PlayStation Plus skins are no longer exclusiveThis month, Epic released another PlayStation Plus skin. This skin is free to anyone who has an active PS+ subscription and can only be obtained on Sonys gaming console. However, once added to the locker, the skin is usable on every platform. These skins, as well as other PlayStation Plus cosmetics, used to be exclusive but this no longer seems to be the case.This is one part of the description of the new PlayStation pack:The content of this offer occasionally refreshes and may be available for purchase or may be given away, together or individually, in the Fortnite Item Shop or elsewhere in the future.Shinji, a new PlayStation skin, may come to the Fortnite Item Shop. Image by VideoGamerBesides Shinji, the new PlayStation skin, Epic will also bring the Virtual Servpak back bling and the Crimson Codeblade pickaxe to the Item Shop. This means that all the future Fortnite x PlayStation Plus skins will likely be non-exclusive as well. The current pack will likely be available for at least a month, and it may come to the in-game shop in the second half of 2025. FortnitePlatform(s):Android, iOS, macOS, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/XGenre(s):Action, Massively Multiplayer, Shooter9VideoGamerRelated TopicsFortnite Subscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games hereDead By Daylight has just released Chapter 35 starring Ken Kaneki from Tokyo Ghoul as a new DBD killer. This new killer has some great perks, and is now available to play on all platforms. While Ken Kanekis arrival is great, there is a lot more for players to anticipate over the very near future. A leaker has shared a schedule for upcoming content, and this Dead By Daylight schedule includes the release day for Five Nights At Freddys as well as an imminent new survivor.Dead By Daylight schedule reveals release date for FNAF and moreOn X, Dead By Daylight leaker, Dvveet, has shared a schedule for upcoming DBD content. This includes the Chapter 35.5 survivor, as well as Five Nights At Freddys.Its important to point out that content scribed in italics is an educated guess based on BeHaviours track record, but below is the schedule according to Dvveet:Blood Moon event April 7thChapter 3.5 PTB (presumed) April 15thChapter 35.5 PTB (presumed 2) April 22ndTechwear Collection April 22ndBlood Moon event end April 29thChaos Shuffle event April 29thChaos Shuffle event end May 6thChapter 3.5 live release May 6thRift 23 release May 6thAnniversary livestream May 9thFNAF PTB May 27thFNAF Chapter live release June 17thImage credit: @Dvveet on XFrom the above, we can gather that the Chapter 35.5 PTB is coming out on either April 15th or the 22nd. This will be the first opportunity for fans to play as BeHaviours last original survivor for Year 9.As for FNAF, BeHaviour has confirmed that the PTB is coming out in May after the anniversary livestream at PAX. They have said it comes out late in the month, so May 27th seems a safe bet for the Five Nights At Freddys public test build.We dont know anything about the survivor for Chapter 35.5 other than they are an original character. Before their arrival, make sure to buy the Hellraiser chapter if you havent already as it is fully leaving on April 4th.For more Dead By Daylight content, check out ourranking of the top 10 DLC expansions to buyalong with a ranking of thebest killer perksandbest survivor perks.Dead by DaylightPlatform(s):Google Stadia, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series XGenre(s):Action, Survival Horror7VideoGamerRelated TopicsDead by Daylight Subscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share