This is today's edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what's going on in the world of technology. Game of clones: Colossal’s new wolves are cute, but are they dire? For several years now, Texas-based company Colossal Biosciences has been in the news for its plans to re-create woolly mammoths someday. But now it’s making a bold new claim—that it has actually “de-extincted” an animal called the dire wolf. Dire wolves were large, big-jawed members of the canine family. More than 400 of their skulls have been recovered from the La Brea Tar Pits in California. Ultimately they were replaced by smaller relatives like the gray wolf. In its effort to re-create the animal, Colossal says, it extracted DNA information from dire wolf bones and used gene editing to introduce some of those elements into cells from gray wolves. It then used a cloning procedure to turn the cells into three actual animals. Read the full story.—Antonio Regalado AI companions are the final stage of digital addiction, and lawmakers are taking aim This week, California state senator Steve Padilla will make an appearance with Megan Garcia, the mother of a Florida teen who killed himself following a relationship with an AI companion that Garcia alleges contributed to her son’s death. The two will announce a new bill that would force the tech companies behind such AI companions to implement more safeguards to protect children. The design of these AI characters makes lawmakers’ concern well warranted. The problem: companions are upending the paradigm that has thus far defined the way social media companies have cultivated our attention and replacing it with something poised to be far more addictive. Read the full story. —James O'Donnell This story originally appeared in The Algorithm, our weekly newsletter on AI. To get stories like this in your inbox first, sign up here. The must-reads I’ve combed the internet to find you today’s most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology. 1 The Trump administration’s tariffs are already starting to bite startups VC funding, acquisitions and unnecessary spending has been put on hold. (The Information $)+ Modular laptop company Framework is pausing its sales in the US. (Ars Technica)+ Towns near the Canadian border are feeling the squeeze. (The Atlantic $)+ China has vowed to fight the measures ‘to the end.’ (FT $)2 Elon Musk asked Trump to reverse his aggressive tariffs But the billionaire’s pleas have fallen on deaf ears. (WP $)+ It’s not surprising he’s refusing to follow the markets on his policies. (NY Mag $)+ CEOs are starting to speak up about the reality of a global trade war. (WSJ $)3 Renewable energy reached record heights last year It accounted for 32% of global electricity in 2024. (Reuters)+ Lawyers are turning to the courts to force governments to save the planet. (The Guardian) 4 A Meta executive has denied claims it fudged Llama 4’s benchmark scoresAhmad Al-Dahle dismissed the rumor Meta had trained its models on test sets. (TechCrunch) + These new AI benchmarks could help make models less biased. (MIT Technology Review)5 A baby has been born in the UK to a woman with a transplanted womb  Grace Davidson gave birth to her daughter thanks to her sister’s womb donation. (BBC)+ The operation’s success offers new hope to those born without a womb. (The Guardian)+ Everything you need to know about artificial wombs. (MIT Technology Review)But training all those models is still seriously expensive. (6 The US is still ahead in the AI race—for nowIEEE Spectrum)7 We know very little about how bird flu spreads in wildlife  As the deaths of two cougars who weren’t living near any known outbreaks illustrate. (Undark)8 This publishing platform uses AI to create sequels to its authors’ workThe only problem? Its writing isn’t great. (Bloomberg $) + AI can make you more creative—but it has limits. (MIT Technology Review) 9 SimCity 4 refuses to dieA thriving community of modders are keeping the game going more than two decades after its launch.(The Verge) 10 Architects in Maui are building homes from old surfboard scraps 🏄 Turns out the foam makes excellent housing insulation. (Fast Company $) Quote of the day “No longer do I have to drive a symbol of racism, greed and ignorance! Life is suddenly so much better!" —Actor Bette Middler expresses her joy at selling her Tesla, Insider reports. The big story Large language models can do jaw-dropping things. But nobody knows exactly why. Two years ago, Yuri Burda and Harri Edwards, researchers at OpenAI, were trying to find out what it would take to get a large language model to do basic arithmetic. At first, things didn’t go too well. The models memorized the sums they saw but failed to solve new ones.By accident, Burda and Edwards left some of their experiments running for days rather than hours. The models were shown the example sums over and over again, and eventually they learned to add two numbers—it had just taken a lot more time than anybody thought it should.In certain cases, models could seemingly fail to learn a task and then all of a sudden just get it, as if a lightbulb had switched on, a behavior the researchers called grokking. Grokking is just one of several odd phenomena that have AI researchers scratching their heads. The largest models, and large language models in particular, seem to behave in ways textbook math says they shouldn’t.This highlights a remarkable fact about deep learning, the fundamental technology behind today’s AI boom: for all its runaway success, nobody knows exactly how—or why—it works. Read the full story.—Will Douglas Heaven 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.) + What happened when Wham! took Western pop music to China 40 years ago.+ Who knew that sharks do make noises after all? 🦈+ Microsoft is celebrating its 50th anniversary, and with it, 50 seriously strange inventions.+ What the heck is a prototaxite, anyway?

How architects, developers and planners can integrate nature-positive strategies and low-carbon design into their projects The architecture and development industry is seeing increasing sustainability regulations, with Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) standards now mandated for planning application approvals, as well as ongoing pressure from customers and stakeholders to report the carbon emissions linked with building projects and organisational operations. To stay ahead, architects, developers and planners can integrate nature-positive strategies and low-carbon design into their projects. Biodiversity Net Gain: the compliance challenge BNG is now a mandatory requirement in England, requiring a 10% net gain in biodiversity post-development. While BNG assessments aid UK biodiversity conservation efforts, many in the industry face tight timelines and the need for ecological sign-off in order to secure planning permission. How to meet BNG requirements: • Baseline Habitat Survey: Assessing habitat types to establish a baseline biodiversity measurement. • Biodiversity Hierarchy Analysis: Using the baseline survey to identify hedgerows, habitats and watercourses that can be saved and/or enhanced for conservation and enhancement strategies. • Implementation: Developing custom BNG plans, including habitat restoration and sustainable land management. • Ecologist Approval: Receiving approval from a qualified ecologist to achieve sign-off from the local council and gain planning permission. Case study: Leicester College Abbey Park Campus Moss Architecture Interiors Ltd required proof of a 10% biodiversity increase for a new training facility’s planning application. Tunley Environmental conducted an independent small site BNG assessment, incorporating a rain garden, native tree planting, and a neutral grassland mix into the design plans. The project achieved a 21.11% increase in biodiversity units for area habitats and a 16.85% increase for hedgerows, far exceeding the required 10% and ensuring planning approval. With expert-led assessments, architects can streamline compliance and incorporate sustainability from the ground up.  Carbon footprint assessments: reducing impact Beyond biodiversity, carbon footprint assessments are crucial for architects to measure and reduce both embodied and operational carbon in their projects and their businesses. How to implement carbon reduction into your projects and organisation: • Baseline Assessment: Establishing a starting point for emissions reduction. • Roadmap to Net Zero: Creating strategies to reduce emissions across design and construction. • PAS 2080 Compliance: Assessing your project delivery against PAS 2080 standard requirements, closely monitoring carbon emissions throughout the project and effectively managing the value chain and your role within it. • The RIBA Plan of Work: By following the eight RIBA stages for building works, conducting a whole life cycle assessment (WLCA) at each project stage date enables far more potential for reducing impact on the built environment. Case study: PORR’s High-Speed Two project PORR, a leading European construction firm, partnered with Tunley Environmental to achieve PAS 2080 accreditation for a High-Speed Two (HS2) infrastructure project. They required a carbon model identifying embedded carbon and reduction strategies. With Tunley’s expert-led analysis, PORR successfully reduced emissions by 177 t CO2 per linear km of single track. Andrea Dimboiu, project manager for PORR, praised Tunley’s approach: “Tunley were very proactive and willing to go the extra mile.” This highlights how carbon-conscious strategies can be integrated into projects for both compliance and real sustainability impact.  Future-proofing projects with sustainability expertise As BNG and carbon reduction regulations evolve, architects can proactively adapt. Partnering with experts like Tunley Environmental ensures compliance while seamlessly integrating sustainability. Architects navigating BNG and carbon complexities can benefit from expert-led assessments that enhance both regulatory compliance and long-term project sustainability. 2025-04-08 AJ Contributor comment and share

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OpinionApril 8, 20253 min readVaccines Save Lives. That’s Why We Need Global ImmunizationThe Trump administration decision to halt funding endangers immunization of 75 million children over five years. More than 1.2 million deaths could resultBy Mario Jimenez Andriy Onufriyenko/Getty ImagesOn March 17, in the heart of Burundi’s Mpanda District, a historic moment unfolded for the country. Her Excellency Angeline Ndayishimiye, the country’s first lady, cradled a baby named Elvis as he became the first child in the nation to receive the malaria vaccine. His cry, echoed through the hospital room, signaling new hope in the nation’s long struggle against malaria.However, as Elvis giggled in his mother’s arms, another, far less hopeful, moment was unfolding. The recent Trump administration decision to halt funding for Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, threatens to undermine immunization efforts for approximately 75 million children over the next five years, potentially leading to more than 1.2 million preventable deaths. Decades of hard-earned advancements are now at risk.This vaccine, the RTS,S, approved by the World Health Organization in October 2021, represents decades of research, transnational collaboration and advocacy. Trials involving over 800,000 children in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi demonstrated a 50 percent reduction in malaria cases within the first year of immunization, with booster doses further increasing effectiveness. Another promising vaccine, R21, also adds to the arsenal of solutions. Combined with traditional interventions such as insecticide-treated nets and seasonal malaria chemoprevention, these vaccines could reduce malaria disease burden by up to 90 percent.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.Malaria remains one of the world’s deadliest diseases; for children under five in sub-Saharan Africa, it claims over 430,000 young lives each year. Beyond the immediate human toll, malaria also weakens economies, reinforces poverty and burdens fragile health systems already stretched by crises. Vaccines, now within our grasp, are the game changers we’ve been waiting for.Burundi’s rollout of the malaria vaccine testifies to what global collaboration can achieve. Led by Burundi’s Ministry of Health and backed by partners such as Gavi, UNICEF and the WHO, the campaign reflects what can happen when political leadership, technical support and international solidarity align. The launch was more than symbolic. It was a signal to the world: malaria control is achievable with sustained global commitment.Nineteen African countries have now integrated malaria vaccines into their immunization programs. This coordinated effort has the potential to save tens of thousands of lives each year. But the momentum depends on continuous investment and global cooperation, currently jeopardized by shifting political priorities.As the U.S. retreats from its leadership role in global health, other nations must urgently step up. European donors, grappling with shifting priorities and domestic pressures, must recognize that scaling back vaccine investments invites the resurgence of preventable diseases—not just in faraway places, but at home. Japan, long a stalwart supporter of global health, must resist turning inward in the face of economic pressure. And emerging economies and private-sector philanthropies must seize the opportunity to fill the leadership vacuum.This is not merely about charity. It is about global stability, health security and moral responsibility. Vaccination programs not only save lives—they strengthen health systems, build trust in institutions and create the conditions for economic resilience. They reduce the risk of pandemics, limit the spread of disease and provide a foundation for human development.The story of Elvis, vaccinated in the arms of Burundi’s first lady, is one of hope—but also of risk. If we allow donor fatigue or political distraction to weaken support, we will lose more than momentum. We will lose lives—millions of them.The world must choose: invest in vaccines and secure a future defined by health, equity and opportunity; or retreat into a more dangerous, more vulnerable age—one where preventable diseases return with a vengeance, and hope becomes the exception, not the rule.Now is the time to recommit. To double down. To recognize that global health is a shared responsibility. For Elvis and for every child like him, we must ensure that a lifesaving vaccine is never out of reach.This is an opinion and analysis article, and the views expressed by the author or authors are not necessarily those of Scientific American.

Nintendo has confirmed Animal Crossing: New Horizon players will be able to transfer their island save data from the original Switch to the all-new Switch 2, without having to download an additional app or use a cloud save. Read more

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 here Helldivers 2 players are continually bracing for the full arrival of the Illuminate. Arrowhead has promised that there is more to come from them this year, and there are numerous leaks about new Illuminate enemies. While we don’t know when the enemy is fully invading, a Helldivers 2 dev has confirmed players are setting themselves up “for disappointment” with a wild theory. Helldivers 2 dev says fans are setting themselves up “for disappointment” Within the community of Super Earth Soldiers, there is a theory that the full Illuminate fleet will invade on April 8th. This theory has appeared elsewhere on social channels, but an example of it can be found on Reddit. The belief is that something big is bound to happen in Helldivers 2 because the game is nominated for the BAFTA Game Awards 2025. The game is nominated for best game, best multiplayer, best game design, best music, and best audio achievements. As for the in-lore reason, the belief stems from fans thinking Arrowhead will interrupt the latest MO due to realising the playerbase is “too dense and uncoordinated”. While there is some belief within circles that something big could happen to coincide with Helldivers 2’s appearance at the BAFTAs, this idea has been shut down by Arrowhead’s community manager. Reacting to the theory on Reddit, community manager, Baskinator, said, “Hey so… This is not real. Don’t set yourselves up for disappointment!”. In addition to responding on Reddit, Baskinator posted on Discord, “Just FYI before you all get too worked up: there’s no update coming today. The BAFTAs are tonight, but it’s not really the same kind of show as The Game Awards with announcements and trailers attached”. Image credit: Helldivers Discord We still don’t know when the Illuminate will finally fully invade, and every time it seems to be close it just never happens.  We’re always hoping for the full army of squids, but don’t count on it happening today or even possibly this month. For more Helldivers 2, check out our guide to the best warbonds ranked, along with the best stratagems and best throwables. We have also a guide to the best weapons, and, if you’re coming back to HD2 for the first time in a long while, we have a bunch of tips and tricks to help you get reaccustomed to the battlefield. Helldivers 2 Platform(s): PC, PlayStation 5 Genre(s): Action, Shooter, Third Person 8 VideoGamer Related Topics Helldivers 2 Subscribe to our newsletters! By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime. Share

As this small space was created to serve as a short-term rental, it was essential that it be both comfortable and functional. The kitchen, which opens onto the living room, has everything that guests might need while also being relatively compact. It includes a dining area with an okoumé bench, set around a custom table with a Mortex coating. Behind the kitchen, the partition between the bedroom and living room is marked with a fluted skylight “to let the light through, while preserving the intimacy between these two rooms that can be used for sleeping,” thanks to the sofa bed in the living room. The high cupboards in the kitchen are concealed behind mirrors that also visually enlarge the room.The kitchen, open to the living room, has cabinet fronts of okoumé wood. A fluted glass wall brings light into the space next to the kitchen. As for the decor, much of it was inspired by a green sofa bed, the first piece of furniture introduced into the apartment. “It’s hard to find a pretty sofa bed, and I really wanted one in a deep green,” explains Cavé. This starting point then fed into the overall composition, from the banquette in a Nobilis fabric, also green, to the dark wood of the kitchen cabinets. Sober curtains were added, adorned with black piping “for a sophisticated touch.” The interior designer also added more color with objects such as her favorite Mamene candles, glassware by Margaux Keller, and sculptures by Léontine Furcy. Opposite the kitchen, a large vintage poster adds to the period cachet of the place and make a nod to the history of Montmartre as the center of Paris’s cabaret life.The furnishings blend antique and contemporary inspirations. Vertbois wall lamps (Nedgis). Custom Mortex dining table (The Concrete Table). Margaux Keller decanter and glasses. Bench seat by Dena France. Poster from Galerie Estampe Moderne et Sportive. In the bedroom, Cavé built her design around natural light with the bright yellow walls bathed in the sunlight pouring through the fluted skylight. The result is a big impact for a small room just under 100 square feet. A “sober and functional” masonry headboard has a shelf for decorative objects. In the adjoining bathroom, the grass-green floor contrasts with the colored mortar in an earthy sienna tone used between white tiles. “It’s a little Rolland Garros,” the interior designer says with a laugh, referring to the site of the French Open. She designed this bathroom to have a particularly playful atmosphere. Here again, light floods into the room through two openings.In the bedroom, a bright yellow was chosen for its luminous effect. Tortoiseshell finish handles are by Nastassia Brame, bed linens by Bonsoirs. The bathroom has a playful feeling with elements like white tiles paired with red grout. Faucets by Treemme (Ceramica). This Parisian studio was originally published in AD France.

Audi has temporarily suspended all vehicle deliveries that arrived at U.S. ports after April 2. The German carmaker is reacting to a new 25% import tariff announced by U.S. President Donald Trump. According to a report by German newspaper Handelsblatt, the affected vehicles will not be distributed to U.S. dealers for now. A company spokesperson confirmed that Audi has around 37,000 vehicles already in U.S. inventory. These cars were shipped before the new duties came into effect and are expected to meet dealer and customer demand for the next two months. According to reports, Audi informed its dealer network that it would freeze all new shipments into the U.S. from April 2 “until further notice.” The spokesperson added that no deliveries beyond that date would be made until the situation becomes clearer. Audi’s parent company, Volkswagen AG, is also making changes. The company plans to add import fees to the sticker prices of its U.S.-bound vehicles, further raising costs for consumers. Industry-wide reactions to Trump’s tariff Audi is not alone in taking drastic steps. Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), the British automaker owned by India’s Tata Motors, also announced a halt in vehicle deliveries to the U.S. for April. In a statement, JLR said that its “short-term actions” were directly tied to the tariff change. The U.S. accounts for about 25% of JLR’s annual global sales, with nearly 100,000 units shipped each year. Another major automaker, Stellantis—the parent company of Chrysler and Jeep—has also responded to the tariffs. It announced a temporary halt in production at one Canadian and one Mexican plant just days after the April 4 tariff announcement. As a result, 900 U.S. employees will face temporary layoffs. Even luxury brand Ferrari is not exempt. The Italian company said it would raise prices by 10% on certain models delivered after April 1. This could push the cost of a typical Ferrari up by as much as $50,000. Audi may be hit especially hard due to the location of its manufacturing. Its best-selling Q5 SUV is assembled at its plant in San José Chiapa, Mexico, which makes it a direct target for the new tariffs. Last year, Audi sold nearly 57,000 Q5s in the U.S.—more than a quarter of all its U.S. sales. The rest of its vehicles are imported from Europe, including Germany, Hungary, and Slovakia. These developments are forcing Audi to rethink its manufacturing and shipping strategies as it tries to stay competitive against BMW and Mercedes-Benz, both of which have U.S.-based factories. Volkswagen produces vehicles in Chattanooga, Tennessee. BMW has a large plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Mercedes-Benz manufactures its cars in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. Carmakers generally keep less than three months’ worth of inventory in the U.S., according to Cox Automotive. That gives companies like Audi a small cushion while they work on new logistics and pricing strategies. European leaders push back as tensions rise Leaders from Europe are pushing back against the new U.S. tariff plan. On Monday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met with automotive executives to discuss how the EU could respond. European auto stocks took a hit after the news, with fears of higher prices and reduced demand growing across the industry. The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) urged President Trump to reconsider the tariffs. “The ongoing volatility of global markets is only increasing trade barriers and costs for businesses. Tariffs do nothing but raise prices for consumers across Europe, the United States, and the wider world,” said Sigrid de Vries, Director General of ACEA.RECOMMENDED ARTICLES President Trump also rejected a proposal from the EU to eliminate tariffs on industrial goods entirely. He called the offer “not” enough to cancel the 20% duties already imposed on imports. “The EU has been very tough over the years,” Trump said from the Oval Office. “It was formed to really do damage to the United States in trade.” “They don’t take our cars, like Japan in that sense. They don’t take our agricultural product; they don’t take anything practically,” he added. With tensions rising, carmakers on both sides of the Atlantic are watching closely. While some may shift manufacturing or raise prices, others could see their U.S. operations disrupted altogether. For Audi, the next few months will be crucial as it navigates this sudden and complex trade shift.

Another Crab's Treasure, certainly one of the coolest action games released last year, is getting a massive free content update on April 21. This was revealed via a nice little trailer on the official YouTube and social media platforms for the game. Read more

Image: Nintendo LifeLast week's Nintendo Switch 2 Direct was absolutely bursting at the seams with new announcements for the company's upcoming console. Yet thanks to some frustrating technical difficulties during the livestream, you might have missed a couple of bangers from publisher Devolver Digital. Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions and Enter the Gungeon 2 are both heading for the Switch 2, and although they're a little far off at the time of writing (both are currently scheduled to release in 2026), they're looking absolutely awesome, and we simply can't wait to see more.Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube806kWatch on YouTube We're particularly enamoured with the first Enter the Gungeon, a roguelike in which you find and utilise a ridiculous variety of weapons to take on your foes in a top-down bullet-hell hidden gem. The sequel will do away the pixel-art visuals for a new 3D approach, and if the debut trailer is anything to go by, it should be quite the looker. Now, let's take a closer look at both games... Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube806k STARSEEKER: Astroneer Expeditions will take players on a multiplayer voyage of discovery, cooperative expeditions and camaraderie across the cosmos. Exploring deep space on the ESS Starseeker, players will need to work together with the entire crew of the space station to complete planet-wide objectives across a multitude of star systems using cutting-edge technology. Players will have an advanced set of tools at their disposal to tackle expeditions while they face off with the unknown perils of space: fascinating creatures, hazardous flora and mysterious forces that await them. The ESS Starseeker is the heart of the experience, a persistent, ever-evolving space station where players get together to plan expeditions, upgrade their capabilities and hang out with other space adventurers. STARSEEKER: Astroneer Expeditions places player freedom at the forefront, but a larger story lies in wait for those curious enough to uncover it. Enter the Gungeon 2 Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube806k Enter the Gungeon 2 is a reloaded, high-caliber sequel to the iconic bullet hell dungeon crawler, reinforced with a new 3D art style, new weapons and enemies, and expanded gameplay. Battle through areas familiar and unknown as the ruined Gungeon reveals its secrets to those brave enough to enter. Discover, unlock, and master fantastic weaponry within its procedurally-generated halls and destroy the legions of Gundead pouring forth from within. Charge into dynamic battles against devilishly cute enemies, previously confined to the 2D plane, and delight as they are knocked around, tossed into the air, and thrown deep into pits. Choose from an expanding roster of Gungeoneers full of both familiar and new faces as you rescue and extract marooned heroes from the depths of the Gungeon. Become mighty through unexpected combinations of powerful passive items, explosive active items, blessings, curses, and your own mastery over an impressive armory of weapons. And seek to understand why you find yourself under assault in the Gungeon once again... Mario Kart! Elden Ring! Donkey Kong?! Update: Nintendo pre-orders live in Europe today (with an invite!) Are you keen to check out Devolver's new titles for the Switch 2? Which one do you particularly have your eye on? Let us know with a comment. Related Games See Also Share:0 1 Nintendo Life’s resident horror fanatic, when he’s not knee-deep in Resident Evil and Silent Hill lore, Ollie likes to dive into a good horror book while nursing a lovely cup of tea. He also enjoys long walks and listens to everything from TOOL to Chuck Berry. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment... Related Articles Nintendo Switch 2 Direct: Time, Where To Watch, What To Expect It's time for Switch 2 It's Official, Switch 2 Joy-Con Will Not Feature Hall Effect Sticks Controllers have been designed from the ground up Nintendo Is (Kinda) Returning To Region-Locking With A Cheaper Japanese Switch 2 Priced 49,980 yen, which is around $333 USD Hollow Knight: Silksong Will Launch On Switch 2 In 2025 Still no specifics, mind you