By any estimation, Minecraft is impossibly successful. The bestselling video game ever, as of last December it had 204 million monthly active players. Since it was first released in 2011, it has generated over $3bn (2.3bn) in revenue. Whats more, its players have always been eager to demonstrate their fandom outside the boundaries of the game itself. In 2021, YouTube calculated that videos related to the game tutorials, walk-throughs, homages, parodies had collectively been viewed 1tn times. In short, it is a phenomenon.The Guardians journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link.Learn more.Such is the strength of feeling, almost all of it positive, about Minecraft that it was only a matter of time before someone tried to turn it into a film. After all, you have a historically popular product and a highly engaged fanbase: what could possibly go wrong? Turns out, quite a lot. Last September, the first trailer for the film titled A Minecraft Movie was released, and the reaction was instant and violent. Minecraft fans devastated by awful live-action trailer read one headline the following day. Some called it a crime against humanity; others a soulless neon abomination. In less than 24 hours, the website GamingBible had called it a curse on my eyes and pure nightmare fuel. Within three days of its release, the trailer had been downvoted more than 1m times.If youre familiar with Minecraft, you can probably understand why. Minecraft is a game with a highly distinctive look; everything is made of square blocks, and theres a muted palette. The trailer, however, is insanely garish. Everything looks like it is made of Haribo and, worse, the blocks have slightly rounded edges. Worse still, there are humans in it. Heightened, ironic-looking humans. Jason Momoa is in it, in an unflattering blond wig and hot-pink leather jacket. In other words, it looks like a film made by people who dont understand Minecraft.This is Jumanji but with a Minecraft skin, was the first reaction of Argentinian YouTuber ElVitt0ri0 on seeing the teaser. Minecraft offers an infinite number of narrative possibilities. And yet they decided to go with the we go to another universe and learn about it storyline? What is this? Space Jam 3?ElVitt0ri0s response was to create A Movie About Minecraft (That Doesnt Exist), a version of what the film should have been. The trailer was created with the open-source animation software Blender that was used to make Flow, which won best animated feature at this years Oscars; its a fully animated trailer that retains the look of the original game and features characters recognisable to players. Underneath the video is the comment: This is everything the Minecraft movie should have been, the game elements, the history, the community its so perfect.And ElVitt0ri0 is not alone. Dozens, maybe even hundreds, of fan-made Minecraft trailers have sprung up online since the official teaser went live, each trying to find their own way to undo the damage it caused. Vicky Fernandes, who runs the channel Gloomy Animations, made one entitled Minecraft Movie Trailer But Its Actually Good. Her video is explicitly a fix rather than a reimagining; a shot-for-shot remake where everything is animated in a more immediately recognisable Minecraft style. And it is good; so good that the comments beneath the video are full of relieved now-thats-what-I-expected sentiment.For a certain type of fan, the Minecraft look is gospel. Photograph: MojangI think the movie should have been animated, not live action, Fernandes says over email. Mixing CGI cube-looking characters with real humans looks very weird. The CGI characters also look oddly realistic while keeping the cube proportions, making it look creepy. Overall, the film does not have an appealing art style.What ElVitt0ri0 and Fernandes have in common is that they are Minecraft fans first and foremost. Fernandes first started playing the game in 2014, when she was eight years old, and began making fan videos four years later. ElVitt0ri0 started playing at age 11, and quickly got swept up in its peripheral YouTube content. One thing fans have proved again and again is that Minecraft can function as an amazing platform to tell a story, ElVitt0ri0 says. Not just through animation either you can look at whole series and movies that were made in-game.Both YouTubers lament that this sense of history and appreciation seems to have been lost in the official movie. But perhaps that is to be expected, since Warner Bros has been trying to get a Minecraft movie off the ground for over a decade now. In 2014, when the studio first announced a film, it hired Shawn Levy to direct it. But that fell through, so Rob McElhenney stepped in to replace him. When he too stepped away shortly afterwards, Peter Sollett best known for 2008s Nick & Norahs Infinite Playlist briefly took his place. It was only in 2022 that the film found all of its pieces, with Napoleon Dynamites Jared Hess stepping in to direct a script from Masterminds writers Chris Bowman and Hubbel Palmer.In truth, Hess had his work cut out for him. Minecraft is a game without a traditional narrative. A sandbox game, where players are plunged into a procedurally generated landscape and are free to do whatever they like. If they want to extract raw materials from their surroundings to craft tools, they can. If they want to start fights with hostile creatures, they can. If they want to spend four days using the game to build a giant chicken (as my 10-year-old did this week), then thats up to them.A corpo-vomited product? The Minecraft film. Photograph: Courtesy Warner Bros Pictures/APThe film nods to this with its title its A Minecraft Movie, not The Minecraft Movie, because it would be reductive to be so definitive and, yet, Hess does appear to have taken the easy path, padding the bones of a Jumanji-style offering with blockier skin. Worse still, Hess has a distinctive visual style (he is essentially the Wes Anderson of ironic haircuts) that doesnt intuitively mesh with the Minecraft look.And for a certain type of fan, that look is not only gospel, but in part fan led. For instance, Element Animation, a YouTube outfit that made its name with lushly animated, absurd Minecraft spoofs were so successful that they ended up being hired by game developer Mojang to make official Minecraft videos. Minecraft is now ultimately a feedback loop between the game and the people who play it, and the movie needed to reflect that.However, the story goes that Hess basically stumbled into making the film when another project he was working on for Legendary fell through, they asked him to pitch for Minecraft and perhaps this lack of familiarity shows. After all, Phil Lord and Chris Miller went out of their way to reassure people that theyd played with Lego all of their lives before making 2014s rigorously faithful The Lego Movie. Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic went as far as saying that Super Mario Bros was their main source of entertainment as children when they were announced as directors for 2023s Super Mario Bros Movie.This is the level of familiarity that fans have come to expect, and things have a habit of going wrong whenever directors try to impose themselves too forcefully on a beloved property. The first live-action Mario movie fell apart when it replaced Bowser (a gigantic muscular turtle) with Dennis Hopper in a shiny blazer. Paramount was forced to spend $5m redesigning Sonic the Hedgehog after his appearance in a movie trailer, all tiny eyes and human teeth, horrified viewers. But Minecraft is still a relatively new game. People like Fernandes and ElVitt0ri0, who have been playing the game for long enough to truly understand it, are still only in their early 20s. Maybe one day theyll make a perfectly faithful Minecraft movie that satisfies the fans, but it wont be for years.But, again, this is A Minecraft Movie, not The Minecraft Movie. Warner Bros may have done enough to prevent this one from completely flopping there is wall-to-wall promotion, both in-game and in the real world, plus a second trailer that seems slightly more faithful to the source material. But hardcore devotees may still feel that its time to put the fans in charge of any future big-screen offerings. An Element Animation Minecraft film is exactly what my children want to see, but perhaps the reins will be passed to someone else with an innate understanding of the game. As ElVitt0ri0 says, a film based on something as beloved as Minecraft should be an actual piece of love towards the fans by fans, not just some corpo-vomited product by a big company.

F-Zero GX is making a comeback (Nintendo)Nintendo has announced GameCube games are heading to its online service, led by F-Zero GX and The Legend Of Zelda: The Wind Waker.The Nintendo Direct for the Switch 2 was stuffed with new games and details around the console, but for anyone old enough to be nostalgic about the GameCube, one announcement might have trumped them all.After it was rumoured ahead of the presentation, Nintendo officially announced GameCube games will be added to Nintendo Switch Online when the Switch 2 launches on June 5, 2025. The service, depending on the tier youre subscribed to, currently offers access to Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance, Sega Mega Drive, NES, SNES, and Game Boy titles.Access to GameCube games on the service will be exclusive to Switch 2 owners who have a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription, which currently costs 34.99 for 12 months individually, or 59.99 for a year-long family subscription.At the Switch 2s launch, there will be three GameCube games available: The Legend Of Zelda: The Wind Waker, F-Zero GX, and SoulCalibur 2 with Link as a playable character.While all three are great games, the highlight of the line-up is F-Zero GX, although some might be disappointed its not a proper remaster. This version, however, does include small visual improvements and the ability to play with up to four players either locally or online.The Legend Of Zelda: The Wind Waker has already been remastered for the Wii U, with significant gameplay and visual improvements. A Switch port of this remaster has been heavily rumoured for a while, but its unclear if the existence of this GameCube version on Switch makes a port of the Wii U version unlikely. Nintendo also teased several other GameCube titles coming to the service in the future, although no specific release dates were given. These are listed below.All GameCube games coming to Switch 2Confirmed at launch:F-Zero GXThe Legend Of Zelda: The Wind WakerSoulCalibur 2Coming soon:Super Mario SunshineSuper Mario StrikersChibi-RoboPokmon XD: Gale of DarknessPokmon ColosseumLuigis MansionFire Emblem: Path Of RadianceBeyond the games themselves, Nintendo also announced a wireless GameCube controller will be released on the same day as the Switch 2 on June 5, 2025. This will be available from the My Nintendo Store and will be exclusive to Nintendo Switch Online members, like the previous Nintendo 64 and NES controllers.More TrendingAs noted on the stores website though, it will only be initially available to those who are invited to pre-order the Switch 2 console, with the controller priced at 58.99.While it certainly isnt cheap to access these games, this does present a viable way to play some GameCube obscurities which are currently very expensive to buy physically, such as Chibi-Robo and Pokmon XD: Gale of Darkness.Its harder to excuse the price of actual Switch 2 games though, with the physical edition of Mario Kart World set to cost 74.99, while the digital version costs 66.99. If youre looking to secure a Switch 2 console, meanwhile, you can check out where to pre-order here. Sadly, it isnt the Wii U version (Nintendo)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.GameCentralSign 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

A barrel of destruction (Nintendo)The rumours are true and not only has Donkey Kong had a major makeover but his new Nintendo Switch 2 game is like nothing hes ever starred in before.Although there were plenty of educated guesses about what games might arrive early in the Switch 2s line-up the only one based on an actual rumour was a new 3D Donkey Kong game. That rumour has turned out to be absolutely correct, although its not quite the game many expected.It was imagined that it might be a de facto 3D Mario game, featuring both characters and made by the same Nintendo EPD team responsible for Super Mario Odyssey. Its not yet clear whos making the game, but while the latter may well be true there was no sign of Mario or any other existing characters from either the Mushroom Kingdom or the Donkey Kong Country games.And while the annoucement trailer did suggest there will be some traditional platforming sections, including 2D stages reminiscent of Donkey Kong Country Returns, everything we played was completely different to that and revolved destroying everything in your path, up to and including the scenery itself.The story seems to involve Donkey Kong digging for jewel-like bananas, with an army of enslaved monkeys, that look very similar to Diddy Kong, working for a group of currently unnamed bad guys. The larger bananas appear to function similarly to moons in Super Mario Odyssey, in that theyre the tangible reward for exploration but, really, youre just encouraged to experiment and play around with the level and your abilities.DK can punch through solid rock, but he can also punch downwards and upwards and seemingly climb over any surface, allowing him to batter a level to smithereens, in his search for smaller ingots of gold and other collectables (including fossils which apparently unlock costumes in a shop we never saw).He also has his signature hand slap that can collect nearby objects and act like a sort of echo location to reveal nearby hidden secrets. Plus, he can do a ground pound type move, a forward roll, and rip up a chunk of the ground at any moment, like the Hulk, and either hurl it at enemies (including via an optional first person aiming view) or use it like a rotating surfboard (that doesnt make any more sense in context). A big world to destroy (Nintendo)Initially, Donkey Kong appears ridiculous overpowered and its hugely entertaining to just demolish everything you can get your hands on and tunnel through the underground mines you start in, like an angry mole. The demo then fast-forwarded us to later in the game, where there are more substantial enemies and obstacles including exploding rocks, which are crucial for taking down a tough mini-boss.Its all hugely entertaining and the scale of destruction, and the amount of damage you can do to each stage levelling it down to the water table, is hugely impressive. There seems to be a lot more to the game than we ever got into too, as theres a weird purple rock sitting on your shoulder in the second part of the demo and we have no idea who they are or what they do.As positive as the first impressions are though, the demo was surprisingly janky for a Nintendo title. Its not finished, so the frame rate issues and skittish controls will probably be fixed in the final game, but the camera really struggles to show a sensible view of the action when you start taking apart the scenery. Doing it Country style (Nintendo)Or rather it does usually manage to do so but this often involves weird views where its clipping through the floor or walls. We think most of this is intentional though and theres probably no other way to do it, given theres so few limits on what you can destroy. This makes us even more interested in seeing the finished product and how Nintendo manages to mitigate what is probably an intractable problem.More TrendingEven if the game ends up seeming somewhat clumsy at times that suits the great ape and his big new makeover. His new look is also featured in Mario Kart World but here you can see how vastly more expressive he is, compared to the stoic Rare version.Some will no doubt complain at the change but were all for it, in terms of both how Donkey Kong looks and how much this new game plays in a totally different manner to his previous titles and indeed any other game weve ever played.Formats: Nintendo Switch 2Price: TBAPublisher: NintendoDeveloper: NintendoRelease Date: 17th July 2025Age Rating: 7 Donkey Kong in Hulk mode (Nintendo)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.GameCentralSign 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

Storage is a hot commodity. No one knows this better than the professionals working with large files on a regular basis. Be it you are a photographer, videographer, or even a gamer, you may be interested in this new offering at Amazon. Right now, the Seagate One Touch portable SSD has been marked down by 18%. This brings this 5TB SSD down from $140 to just $115.The Seagate HDD is designed for portability. For all the videographers, photographers, or any professional on the go, youll have access to a full 5TB of data right in your pocketwithout sacrificing speed. Its compact and lightweight so you can take it with your wherever you need. Its only about the size of your wallet at about 2.5 inches. The HDD has a lovely aesthetic, featuring a minimalist brushed metal enclosure to keep the disc protected from the elements while looking stylish.See at AmazonThis portable HDD uses a USB 3.0 interface so you can transfer files to and from Window, Mac, and Chromebooks right out of the box without needing to reformat the drive. For use with USB-C computers, an adapter will be necessary.Backup Your Data and Stay ProtectedThe backup software utilizes folder mirroring and can be enabled for on-demand backups to happen automatically on an hourly, daily, weekly or monthly basisits up to you! This will help prevent you from losing your data if you ever run into an issue with your Mac or PC , corrupting your files. Youll always have the backup handy in case of an emergency. Mirroring software will allow you to seamlessly access files across multiple devices. The drive also comes with a Dropbox backup plan. Enjoy a six month free trial to keeping copies of your files in the cloud. Youll also get a six month free trial to Mylio Photos to help organize, declutter, and enhance your pictures.Seagate puts your security at the forefront, offering an advanced password option with hardware encryption to ensure your files and photos are protected from those you do not wish to give access.Keep up to 5TB of photos, videos, documents, and more safely secure with the help of this password-activated portable external hard drive from Seagate. The Seagate One Touch HDD is normally priced at $140. However, as part of an ongoing Amazon deal, the price has been reduced by 18%. That brings the total down to just $115making for a savings of $25.See at Amazon

Youll have to forgive Luke Skywalker for calling the Millennium Falcon a pile of junk, because he clearly did not see the LEGO Star Wars version thats on sale for just $70 right now at Amazon. This amazingly detailed 921-piece model of the most famous spaceship in sci-fi history (Sorry, USS Enterprise) celebrates the 25th anniversary of the long and extremely fruitful collaboration between LEGO and the Star Wars franchise.LEGO Star Wars has turned out hundreds of awesomely fun playable kits for kids, but the 25th anniversary Millennium Falcon is an adults-only endeavor. Its incredibly intricate, with the emphasis more on detail and aesthetics than playability no mini figures or shooting pieces here. It comes with a display stand, nameplate, and a commemorative LEGO Star Wars 25th Anniversary brick to complete the tableau.See at AmazonFun and NostalgicIts almost impossible to believe that Star Wars is approaching its 50th anniversary in just 2 short years, but its longevity asthe iconic sci-fi franchise means there are millions upon millions of adult Star Wars fans out there, many of whom also cherish the memory of building LEGO Star Wars kits when they were kids. Thats clearly who this Millennium Falcon kit is aimed at. As part of the mid-scale LEGO Star Wars Starship Collection, its a fun and detailed kit to build now and very likely will become a sought-after collectors item in the future.The 921 LEGO bricks that come together to create the Millennium Falcon are amazingly detailed, from the cannons used to blow away Imperial TIE Fighters to the blue glow of the lightspeed engines in the rear. (When they work, of course Luke may have had a point about the Falcons mechanical integrity.)Use the ForceTheres more than a little fun escapism involved when you unpack the LEGO Star Wars Millennium Falcon and set yourself up for a long and rewarding building experience. Its an excellent stress-buster, and working with a LEGO kit brings back great childhood memories. LEGO may be one of the only brands thats even more universal than Star Wars, and their collaboration is still going strong after 25 years.Theres definitely a place of honor on your bookshelf or mantel for the Millennium Falcon as rendered in LEGO form, and Amazons sale cutting 18% from the price of this beautiful 921-piece LEGO Star Wars Millennium Falcon 25th Anniversary kit with display stand is your opportunity to fill it.See at Amazon

House bo / driearchitectenSave this picture! Klaas VerdruHouses, RenovationBelgiumArchitects: driearchitectenAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:175 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2024 PhotographsPhotographs:Klaas Verdru Lead Architects: Barbara Ostyn, Steven Oost More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. For this project, we built upon a place with a rich history. We were inspired by Le Corbusier, who elevates functions and redefines the ground floor as a service level. Therefore, on the ground floor, we accommodated the essential functions: a space for cars and bicycles, an entrance hall, a cloakroom, a laundry room, a utility room, storage, office space, and an indoor garden.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The first floor is reserved for sleeping and bathing, while the second floor houses the living spaces, with expansive terraces. The focus was on maximizing the use of sun and light, given the northern orientation of the existing house. The new top floor opens up to the south to make the most of natural sunlight.Save this picture!This architectural intervention is conceived as a palimpsest: a subtle balance between reuse and renewal, where the original monastic atmosphere is preserved, and the spaces are revitalized. The project creates a new world atop a rich history, with a careful harmony between preservation and innovation. Existing techniques were reused, where necessary supplemented with new technologies to make intensive living and working in an urban context possible.Save this picture!Save this picture!Everything valuable was preserved to the maximum. A green garden with chickens brings a touch of rural life to the city. The house, with three facades a square facade, a street facade, and a garden facade offers a unique experience. On the square side, the intervention is very subtle and almost invisible, allowing the church to stand out. On the street side, the overhanging volume is very much present and forms a surprising dialogue with the old church facade, bringing an unexpected tension to the streetscape.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!From the inside, the presence of the church is very tangible, almost touchable, and part of the space itself. Therefore, we chose to make the volume completely transparent in glass, allowing the light, the view, and the history to merge into a unique whole. This project symbolizes an intense symbiosis between the past and the future, city and green, and history and modernity.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessAbout this officePublished on April 03, 2025Cite: "House bo / driearchitecten" 03 Apr 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1028563/house-b-star-o-driearchitecten&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

If you matched a Swiss singer against a monkey vocalist in a yodeling contest, the non-human primate would win handily, according to a study published in the journal Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society.It turns out apes and monkeys possess vocal membranes in their throats that humans lack. Scientists suspect these structures slowly disappeared through evolution to allow for more stable speech. So what evolutionary advantages do these throat structures provide monkeys and apes? How do these membranes work? And why do monkeys need them?Yodeling, by definition, requires rapid back-and-forth shifts in pitch between a low note from the chest and a high one from the throat. The study explains what gives monkeys the competitive edge.How Monkeys Can YodelA team of researchers first recorded the calls of several primate species at La Senda Verde Wildlife Sanctuary in Bolivia. The recorded primates included the black and gold howler monkey (Alouatta caraya), tufted capuchin (Sapajus apella), black-capped squirrel monkey (Saimiri boliviensis), and Peruvian spider monkey (Ateles chamek).Next, they used software to visualize and analyze the calls frequencies. They also performed CT scans on some primates to better understand the membrane structure in their throats. Finally, they observed how the primates used different kinds of calls, depending on the situation.Their analysis revealed that extremely thin vocal membranes sit above folds in the larynx that allow the monkeys to introduce what the scientists call voice breaks into their calls. Those breaks happen because sound production oscillates between the folds and membranes. Unlike the traditional Swiss yodeler, they dont need to shift between chest and throat for the quick pitch shifts which resembles the classic Tarzan yell.The mechanism is so effective that some monkeys can make what the researchers call ultra-yodels, with jumps in frequency up to five times what a human can deliver. In terms of octaves, New World monkeys can span three, while most human voices can barely extend beyond a single.Read More: How Similar Are Humans and Monkeys? Why do Monkeys Yodel?Although the researchers now know what mechanisms the monkeys use to make the sounds and how they deliver such dynamic vocal range, they are still left with why?Jacob Dunn, an evolutionary biology research at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) in Cambridge, England and an author of the paper, hypothesizes that the monkeys leverage their larynxes for social reasons.This might be particularly important in primates, which have complex social lives and need to communicate in a variety of different ways, Dunn said in a press release. Its highly likely this has evolved to enrich the animals call repertoire, and is potentially used for attention-grabbing changes, call diversification, or identifying themselves.Article SourcesOur writers at Discovermagazine.com use peer-reviewed studies and high-quality sources for our articles, and our editors review for scientific accuracy and editorial standards. Review the sources used below for this article:Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society. Monkey yodels frequency jumps in New World monkey vocalizations greatly surpass human vocal register transitionsBefore joining Discover Magazine, Paul Smaglik spent over 20 years as a science journalist, specializing in U.S. life science policy and global scientific career issues. He began his career in newspapers, but switched to scientific magazines. His work has appeared in publications including Science News, Science, Nature, and Scientific American.

2024 YR4 currently has a 0.0017 chance of hitting Earth in 2032. Credit: NASA / ESA / CSA / STScI / A Rivkin (JHU APL)The deep space asteroid that recently made headlines for its potential to collide with Earth received its own photoshoot courtesy of NASAs James Webb Space Telescope. While the images released on April 2 by the European Space Agency provide a faint glimpse at the sizable meteor, the pictures also mark a significant milestone for the most powerful space observatory ever launched into orbit.The asteroid 2024 YR4 caused a stir earlier this year when astronomers announced there was a not-zero chance of it striking Earth in 2032. Although experts calculated the probability of a catastrophic planetary impact at around 3 percent, the revised estimate now stands at roughly 0.0017 percentall but guaranteeing the space rock will harmlessly pass us by in a few years. Prior to receiving the all clear, NASAs James Webb Space Telescope aimed its camera array towards the meteor for a closer inspection of its size, thermal properties, and other details.This image shows Webbs recent observation of the asteroid 2024 YR4 using both its NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) and MIRI (Mid-Infrared Instrument). Data from NIRCam shows reflected light, while the MIRI observations show thermal light. On 8 March 2025, the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope turned its watchful eye toward asteroid 2024 YR4, which we now know poses no significant threat to Earth in 2032 and beyond. This is the smallest object targeted by Webb to date, and one of the smallest objects to have its size directly measured. Observations were taken to study the thermal properties of 2024 YR4, including how quickly it heats up and cools down and how hot it is at its current distance from the Sun. These measurements indicate that this asteroid does not share properties observed in larger asteroids. This is likely a combination of its fast spin and lack of fine-grained sand on its surface. Further research is needed, however this is considered consistent with a surface dominated by rocks that are roughly fist-sized or larger. Webbs observations indicate that the asteroid measures roughly 60 meters (comparable to the height of a 15-story building). The new observations from Webb not only provide unique information about 2024 YR4s size, but can also complement ground-based observations of the objects position to help improve our understanding of the objects orbit and future trajectory. Note: This post highlights data from Webb science in progress, which has not yet been through the peer-review process. NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, A Rivkin (JHU APL)2024 YR4 may not make catastrophic history, but it did set a new record for the JWST as the smallest object ever targeted by the telescope. Its also one of the smallest space objects to have its size directly measured.But that doesnt mean 2024 YR4 is tiny by everyday metrics. Earlier estimates put the asteroid somewhere between 130-328 feet in diameter, and after examining the JWSTs images, astronomers now believe it to be around 180-feet-wide, or about the height of a 15-story building. Further analysis indicates 2024 YR4 doesnt share some of the attributes of larger asteroids, likely due to its fast spin and lack of fine-grained surface sand. Although further research is required, this assessment aligns with what experts know of asteroid surfaces covered fist-sized or larger rocks.The new observations from Webb not only provide unique information about 2024 YR4s size, but can also complement ground-based observations of the objects position to help improve our understanding of the objects orbit and future trajectory, the ESA explained in its statement.Astronomers will continue to study 2024 YR4 until it fades from view as its orbital path takes it away from Earth. Itll be another four years before the asteroid begins its return towards us, at which point more research will be conducted. With any luck, experts will be able to revise their estimate for a 2024 YR4 rendezvous with the moon. Currently, theres about a 1.7 percent chance of a lunar impactalthough that number is also expected to drop over time.

Our voice is like any other muscle. CREDIT: Richard Drury/Getty ImagesMost of us will never have to speak in public for 25 hours and 5 minutes straight the way that Sen. Cory Booker (D-New Jersey) did from March 31 into April 1. During his recording-breaking speech, the Garden States senior senator was not permitted to leave the floor without risking both the control and continuation of his speech. Even for an experienced politician or voice actor, this is simply a lot of time spent talking.According to voice actor Bernie Wagenblast, speaking for long durations, whether in the recording studio or standing at a podium, can feel like cheering during an exciting event such as a basketball game.It feels like when you go to a sporting event and youve been screaming at your team, Wagenblast, whose voice can be heard across several transit systems including the New York City subway, tells Popular Science. Your voice can feel strained and doesnt have the same ability to project that it had before you were screaming at the game.How water is like engine oilThe voice is like any other muscle that can be trained and prepared for high usage events the same way that marathon runners train their legs and core. Proper hydration and resting before giving a long speech or performing are generally the most basic ways to prepare.Just like when youre running a marathon, you dont want to be doing a marathon the day before, Dr. Nicholas P. Generales tells Popular Science. Its the same principle, you want to make sure your vocal cords are well rested. But hydration is the main one.The water we drink doesnt actually touch the vocal cords. However, when the body is dehydrated, the vocal cords are more likely to become irritated and there is a higher risk of injury. Any situation that strains the voice like belting out high notes when singing or long speeches also makes vocal cord injury more likely.[ Related: Why do people hate the sound of their own voice? ]The vocal cords are constantly vibrating. Just like cylinders and an engine, theyre constantly going up and down. Water lubricates our bodies the way oil lubricates an engine, says Generales. The majority of the body is water anyway, so if youre not hydrating well, youre not going to be functioning optimally in every aspect of your body, not just the vocal cords.In addition to lots of water, professional voice actors will also deploy various tongue twisters, vocal scales, and other exercises to wake up the vocal muscles and brain.Monitoring vocal doseHowever, taking control of the Senate floor without bathroom breaks for more than a full day is a whole different animal. A spokesperson for Sen. Booker told NBC News that he was not wearing a catheter or a diaper to assist. To prepare, he stopped eating on Friday March 28 and stopped drinking water on Monday March 31 to prepare for all of the time without a bathroom break the next day.Your voice is one reflection of your general physical condition, and Sen. Bookers situation was kind of a perfect storm of factors that will challenge anyones vocal quality and vocal stamina, Leigh Carrico Mann, a speech-language pathologist, tells Popular Science. We always look at factors like getting enough rest, drinking plenty of water, and your vocal dose.Vocal dose considers how long you are using your voice and how strenuous the vocal activity is.Sen. Booker raised his voice and expressed intense emotions at various times during his speech. These contexts can be very taxing on the voice, especially when compared to quietly speaking for the same period of time.But 25 hours of talking would be a major feat even if done quietly; there was nothing normal about what he did here, says Carrico Mann.He had to do counter intuitive things for someone who is going to be speaking for a long period of time. To me, that was perhaps one of the more amazing things about what he had to do, adds Wagenblast.Emotion and recoverySen. Booker did have some breaks from speaking when other senators asked him questions. During those brief interludes, saliva likely would help lubricate the vocal chords and take some small sips of water, but not too much so that he didnt need to use the bathroom. While that was no substitute for a large, cold glass of water, these breaks also may have provided him with an emotional boost and chance to regroup.According to Carrico Mann, there is a strong relationship between our emotions and mental state and our vocal function.I noticed that Bookers voice sounded more tired and raspy when he was expressing heavier emotions as the hours dragged on. In those moments, he sometimes leaned on the podium and dropped his breath support a bit, which contributed to sounding more hoarse, says Carrico Mann. When he stood back up, his breath support was probably a bit more robust, and he got clear again. Analyzing the voice can get complicated: these are my assumptions.Fortunately, the vocal cords do tend to recover fairly well from extended periods of use with the same principles that can help them prepare: vocal rest and hydration.Advice we can all useWhile most of us will never have to talk for over 25 hours, we can still benefit and use some of the same tactics that went into a marathon speech like this.Many people have to give speeches, whether youre in high school or college or if youre a politician or a voice actor. It affects a wide variety of population, says Generales. Whether youre giving speeches or youre living your daily life, just stay adequately hydrated. It will be much better off in more ways than one.[ Related: These public speaking techniques can help you look smart on video calls. ]Becoming hoarse, whether from speaking or something like allergic rhinitis or a cold, is a clear sign from your body that it is time to rest your voice.Gently inhaling steam (with a hot shower, facial steamer, under a towel draped over a steaming pot of water) can also help rehydrate the vocal cords and soothe your vocal tract, says Carrico Mann.Aside from the physical preparation, honing in on what types of emotions and feelings you want to get across when speaking can go far regardless of the context.Even with something like the subway or AirTrain announcements, I try to come across with a smile in my voice, because I think that gets communicated to the listeners, says Wagenblast. They may not be able to put their finger on it, but it sounds just a little more friendly.

Nature, Published online: 02 April 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00755-3Sequencing of 7,000-year-old human genomes from when the Sahara Desert was green suggest that pastoralism spread through cultural exchange, not large-scale migration.