Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden has put a hold on the Trump administration’s nomination of Sean Plankey to head the federal government’s top cybersecurity agency, citing a “multi-year cover up” of security flaws at U.S. telecommunication companies. Wyden said in remarks, seen by TechCrunch and confirmed by the senator’s spokesperson, that he will block the nomination of Plankey to serve as director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) until the agency agrees to release a 2022-dated unclassified report it commissioned detailing security weaknesses across the U.S. telecom network. Senate rules allow for any serving senator to unilaterally and indefinitely hold up a federal nomination. As noted by Reuters, which was first to report Wyden’s hold on Plankey’s nomination, lawmakers often use nomination holds — or the threat of a hold — to demand concessions from the executive branch. Scott McConnell, a spokesperson for CISA, referred comment to the White House, which did not return TechCrunch’s request for comment. In remarks slated for Wednesday, Wyden — who serves on the Senate Intelligence Committee — said his staff members were previously permitted to read the unclassified report but that efforts to publicly release its findings were refused. Wyden said he appealed to then-CISA Director Jen Easterly as well as then-President Joe Biden to release the report prior to the change in government.  Wyden said the report is a “technical document containing factual information about U.S. telecom security … as such, this report contains important factual information that the public has a right to see,” he added. “CISA’s multi-year cover up of the phone companies’ negligent cybersecurity has real consequences,” said Wyden, referring to the widespread hacking of U.S. phone companies by Chinese spies known as Salt Typhoon, revealed last year.  Wyden said the hacks, which allowed the hackers to snoop on calls and text messages of senior American officials, were “the direct result of U.S. phone carriers’ failure to follow cybersecurity best practices …  and federal agencies failing to hold these companies accountable.” Soon after the Salt Typhoon hacks, Wyden introduced legislation aimed at requiring phone companies to implement specific cybersecurity requirements, perform annual testing, and more.  “The federal government still does not require U.S. phone companies to meet minimum cybersecurity standards,” Wyden said in his remarks Wednesday.

With the Season 2 debut just around the corner, HBO has just announced that its Emmy Award-winning series, The Last of Us, will return for Season 3. The seven-episode second season debuts April 13, and will also stream on Max. Craig Mazin, creator, executive producer, writer, and director, said, “We approached season two with the goal of creating something we could be proud of. The end results have exceeded even our most ambitious goals, thanks to our continued collaboration with HBO and the impeccable work of our unparalleled cast and crew. We look forward to continuing the story of The Last of Us with Season 3!” In Season 2, five years have passed since the events of Season 1. Joel and Ellie are drawn into conflict with each other and a world even more dangerous and unpredictable than the one they left behind. Returning cast includes Pedro Pascal as Joel; Bella Ramsey as Ellie; Gabriel Luna as Tommy; and Rutina Wesley as Maria. Newcomers include Kaitlyn Dever as Abby; Isabela Merced as Dina; Young Mazino as Jesse; Ariela Barer as Mel; Tati Gabrielle as Nora; Spencer Lord as Owen; Danny Ramirez as Manny; and Jeffrey Wright as Isaac. Catherine O’Hara guest stars. The Last of Us, based on the Naughty Dog video game franchise for PlayStation, is written and executive produced by Craig Mazin and Druckmann. The series is a co-production with Sony Pictures Television and is also executive produced by Carolyn Strauss, Jacqueline Lesko, Cecil O’Connor, Asad Qizilbash, Carter Swan, and Evan Wells. Halley Gross acts as writer and co-executive producer. Production companies include PlayStation Productions, Word Games, Mighty Mint, and Naughty Dog. VFX vendors on Season 2 include Clear Angle Studios, Digital Domain, and DNEG. Source: HBO Dan Sarto is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network.

Movie & Games Trailers Predator: Killer of Killers By Vincent Frei - 09/04/2025 From previs to full animation – The Third Floor steps into the spotlight with its first-ever animated film: Predator: Killer of Killers. Three warriors. One hunter. A bold, bloody tale of vengeance, honor, and survival. The trailer is here — and it’s fierce!The Animation and VFX are made by:The Third Floor Directors: Dan Trachtenberg, Joshua Wassung Release Date: June 6, 2025 (Hulu) © Vincent Frei – The Art of VFX – 2025

In this edition of SLICED, the 3D Printing Industry news digest, we compile the latest developments across the additive manufacturing (AM) sector, covering 3D printed luxury components in automotive design, orthopedic device recognition, flame-retardant micro-printing materials, and software upgrades for toolmaking automation. In today’s digest, updates span hardware distribution, resin system reselling, education initiatives, and powder-handling integration in metal 3D printing environments. Read on for detailed reports from industry leaders such as Bentley, Make48, Axtra3D, GoEngineer, Boston Micro Fabrication, and more. Bentley Integrates 3D Printed Rose Gold in the Batur Kicking off, luxury carmaker Bentley Motors has unveiled its limited-run Batur grand tourer, The Black Rose, which features interior components produced by 3D printing using 18-karat recycled rose gold. Developed by Bentley’s bespoke division, Mulliner, in collaboration with precious metal supplier Cooksongold, the production process integrates up to 210 grams of printed gold into key elements such as the Drive Mode Selector, air vent controls, and a steering wheel insert. Each component is hallmarked in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, with qualifying parts also bearing the Jubilee hallmark commemorating Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee. Complementing this novel development, Bentley’s design pairs the lustrous gold accents with a dark interior palette of Beluga leather, charcoal tweed, and metallic-coated veneer panels. The bespoke treatment extends to exterior accents on the grille and mirror caps. Produced at Bentley’s Crewe facility and bolstered by a £3 million investment in AM capacity since 2022, this model signals a strategic fusion of sustainable material sourcing with time-honored luxury craftsmanship. Bentley’s new 3D printed rose gold details in the Batur. Photo via Bentley Motors. Make48 Expands Hands-On STEM Programs to 128 U.S. Schools In the education sector, the Make48 Innovation Experience is expanding its reach to 128 U.S. schools in 2025, bringing real-world product development challenges directly into the classroom. Derived from the Make48 invention series aired on PBS and Roku’s This Old House Makers Channel, the program tasks student teams aged 14 to 22 with designing, prototyping, and pitching innovative ideas under tight deadlines. Industry mentors provide practical guidance that bridges classroom theory with the demands of entrepreneurial problem-solving. The initiative is being integrated into semester-long courses, afterschool programs, and special project weeks across various states. Director Brett Kisker explained, “Students thrive when given the opportunity to solve real-world problems in an engaging, hands-on way.” The program is designed to align with U.S. STEM standards and offers a scalable model that equips students with practical innovation skills. Resellers and Distribution Deals by Axtra 3D, GoEngineer, and Evonik Turning to distribution deals, Axtra3D, a manufacturer of high-speed stereolithography (SLA) systems, has named Solid Technologies, a U.S.-based systems integrator with over 20 years of experience in resin printing, as its premium reseller for the high-speed Lumia HPS system, a platform that merges SLA and Digital Light Processing (DLP) methods to accelerate production without sacrificing surface quality, enabling manufacturers to overcome longstanding challenges in resin-based 3D printing. Solid Technologies will also provide integration services and post-sales support to help manufacturers transition from prototyping to serial production. This collaboration aims to expand Axtra3D’s market reach in sectors such as dental, aerospace, and consumer products by enabling production-grade photopolymer solutions. Separately, GoEngineer, a provider of engineering technologies and services, has become the official North American distributor for Chinese metal additive manufacturing company Bright Laser Technologies (BLT), offering localized access to a diverse portfolio of laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) systems. Covering the United States, Canada, and Mexico, this partnership delivers metal 3D printers, post-processing equipment, and proprietary powders that enable complex design optimization. CEO Ken Coburn explains that BLT’s technology offers a transformative glimpse into the future of advanced manufacturing, while GoEngineer’s comprehensive service—including technical training and equipment consultation—ensures seamless integration into industrial production environments. GoEngineer now offers Bright Laser Technologies’ (BLT) LPBF 3D printers across North America. Image via GoEngineer. In addition, German chemicals company Evonik has entered a distribution agreement with 3DChimera, a Miami-based provider of 3D printing hardware, materials, and engineering support, to offer its INFINAM polyamide powders to U.S. customers. The deal covers several advanced formulations designed for improved flexibility, stiffness, and temperature resistance in Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) processes, catering to industrial powder bed fusion applications. Jeffery Beach, Director of Evonik’s Long Chain Polyamides team for the Americas, noted that this partnership is part of a broader strategy to expand the company’s material footprint in North America. Meanwhile, 3DChimera CEO  Alex Hussain emphasized that the collaboration enhances their product portfolio and technical support capabilities, ensuring customers receive optimized solutions for polymer-based 3D printing. Boston Micro Fabrication and ELIX Expand Functional Material Offerings Shifting focus to materials, Microscale 3D printer manufacturer Boston Micro Fabrication (BMF) has introduced FR resin, a flame retardant photopolymer engineered for micro 3D printing in high-temperature environments. The resin achieves a UL94 V-0 rating at 2.0 mm thickness and maintains a heat deflection temperature of 160°C, ensuring both safety and mechanical integrity for applications in aerospace, consumer electronics, and micromechanics. Offered in both Transparent Yellow and Black, FR resin streamlines production by eliminating preheating requirements and reducing post-processing time. This development meets the growing industrial need for specialized, high-resolution materials that balance fire safety with precise dimensional control. Boston Micro Fabrication unveils FR resin for flame-retardant micro 3D printing. Photo via Boston Micro Fabrication. Separately, Spanish manufacturer of Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS) ELIX Polymers has developed its E-LOOP CR series of recycled ABS resins using certified circular feedstocks. In collaboration with Repsol and AnQore, the new formulation integrates fossil-derived, chemically recycled, and renewable bio-circular inputs, ensuring both sustainability and robust material performance.  The products are certified under the ISCC Plus system, which supports sustainable manufacturing without compromising the material’s performance characteristics, reinforcing long-term supply chain sustainability.  Anker Innovations and German Machine Tool Builders’ Association In business news, Mobile charging and consumer electronics specialist Anker Innovations has rebranded its 3D printing division from AnkerMake to eufyMake, integrating its AM operations into its broader smart home ecosystem. Effective March 24, the rebranding reflects a strategic effort to merge cutting-edge 3D printing capabilities with consumer electronics while continuing robust product support. Frank Zhu, General Manager of eufy, emphasized that the change empowers makers by bridging traditional 3D printing with smart home connectivity. This rebranding not only signals a fresh market focus but also preserves the core identity and service commitments of the original AnkerMake products. The move is part of Anker’s broader strategy to unify its portfolio under a cohesive brand while fostering innovation across distinct product lines. Meanwhile, German machine tool orders have dropped by 19% in 2024, as reported by the German Machine Tool Builders’ Association. This decline, driven by geopolitical instability and reduced export demand—export orders fell by 24%—reflects a global slowdown in capital investment affecting the manufacturing sector. The fourth quarter experienced declines of 7% for domestic orders and 6% for international orders, with export demand dropping 24% over the year. Dr. Markus Heering, Executive Director of the VDW, stated, “The situation remains challenging for our industry,” noting that reduced investment and supply chain uncertainties have driven the contraction. Heering also mentioned that while some sectors saw gains, overall production output is expected to decline further in 2025. German machine tool orders drop 19% in 2024, led by declining exports. Image via VDW. Plansee SE Adopts the Hammer Evo35 for Refractory Metal Printing Turning to applications, Austrian refractory metal specialist Plansee SE has integrated the Hammer Evo35 system from engineering firm and OEM Incus GmbH to boost its capability in 3D printing refractory metals such as tungsten and molybdenum. The Hammer Evo35, an evolution of Lithography-based Metal Manufacturing technology, enables high-resolution production of complex components and overcomes challenges related to the density and brittleness of refractory materials. Dr. Gerald Mitteramskogler of Incus and Dr. Dirk Handtrack of Plansee SE both emphasize that the new system significantly expands Plansee’s technical capacity, positioning the company to meet critical demands in aerospace, electronics, and energy. This integration marks a pivotal advance in the efficient fabrication of high-performance components using additive manufacturing. Formula 1 Team Renews Ties with Roboze Next on partnerships, the Visa Cash App RB Formula One Team has renewed its partnership with Italian 3D printing manufacturer Roboze to further integrate advanced AM into its operations. In the initial phase, Roboze supplied components made from Carbon PEEK and Carbon PA PRO that reduced lead times and manufacturing costs while delivering exceptional performance under extreme conditions Peter Bayer, CEO of the racing team, stated, “The integration of Roboze’s technology has transformed our component production.” Roboze CEO Alessio Lorusso described the renewal as “a strong vote of confidence” in their advanced polymer solutions for high-performance applications. Visa Cash App RB Formula 1 Team renews partnership with Roboze. Photo via Roboze. Mantle Releases Update to Enhance Toolmaking Efficiency Turning to software, 3D printing and CNC machining developer Mantle has issued a software update for its automated toolmaking system to boost production throughput by up to 20%. The update improves the surface finish of downfacing features, reducing manual post-processing requirements, and received positive feedback from Michigan-based company Elite Mold & Engineering, who reported significantly reduced reliance on sinker EDM machines, leading to faster production of precision components. Additional enhancements include improved data management, tool orientation reuse, and collision avoidance features. These technical upgrades enable a more streamlined fabrication process and support manufacturers in addressing labor shortages while increasing overall operational efficiency. RYSE 3D, Stratasys, and Orthopedic Firms Recognized for Leadership and Innovation In awards news, Mitchell Barnes, founder of RYSE 3D, has been named Leader of the Year at TheBusinessDesk.com’s West Midlands Leadership Awards. At 28, Barnes transformed RYSE 3D from a garage startup into a key supplier for 23 hypercar development programs, with sales now exceeding £5 million. The award recognizes his strategic innovation and the development of the LANDR 3D printer, which has dramatically scaled production capacity at his Warwickshire facility. His team’s development of the LANDR 3D printer has enabled the production of thousands of parts monthly, demonstrating rapid scale-up in manufacturing capacity. Mitchell Barnes, Leader of the Year, stands at the forefront of RYSE 3D’s breakthrough with the LANDR 3D printer. Photo via RYSE 3D. Separately, Stratasys, a company specializing in polymer-based additive manufacturing solutions, has been honored by Fast Company as one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies for 2025. This accolade celebrates Stratasys’ comprehensive portfolio, which spans high-throughput systems like the F3300 and cost-effective solutions such as the Origin Two, as well as software tools like GrabCAD Print Pro that enhance workflow efficiency.  Dr. Yoav Zeif attributed the company’s progress to its collaborative development model. “Innovation at Stratasys is driven by the creativity of our teams combined with the ambition and endless ingenuity of our customers, who are reimagining what is possible for production with additive manufacturing.” On the medical front, the inaugural OMTEC Awards have recognized key innovations in orthopedic manufacturing. Foundation Surgical, a company focused on motion preservation systems for spine surgery, received the Groundbreaking Device Design award for its Vertiwedge Intraosseous Device. The implant uses additive manufacturing, featuring a biomimetic lattice structure for improved load distribution and osseointegration. “This recognition is a testament to the relentless dedication, creativity, and passion of our entire team,” said Randal Betz, M.D., Founder and CEO of Foundation Surgical. Betz emphasized the company’s objective to transform outcomes in spinal fusion and motion preservation. Additionally, Enovis, a medical technology firm with a growing focus on orthopedic devices, earned the Bold Leadership Award for its strategic expansion in joint reconstruction. Through its 2024 acquisitions of European implant manufacturers LimaCorporate and Mathys, Enovis expanded its portfolio and increased reconstructive sales to over $1 billion.  Meanwhile, J&J MedTech, the medical technology division of Johnson & Johnson, was recognized as Next-Gen Innovator for its VELYS Spine Active Robotic Assistance Platform, which integrates real-time feedback and modular workflows to improve surgical precision. The system was developed in response to the limitations of first-generation spinal robotic tools, offering greater intraoperative flexibility and improved usability. Volkmann Unveils EOS Edition vLoader 250 for Metal Powder Handling Finally, Pennsilvanian pneumatic vacuum conveying system manufacturer Volkmann USA has launched the EOS Edition vLoader 250, a powder conveyor system designed to automate the transfer of metal powders into EOS metal 3D printers. Developed in collaboration with EOS GmbH and Volkmann GmbH, the vLoader 250 employs a vacuum-based process that eliminates manual handling while ensuring continuous, efficient powder feeding. This system is tailored for integration with EOS’s M 400 series and can operate in either a sealed, closed-loop configuration or as a standalone unit. In addition, Volkmann offers a standard version compatible with other 3D printer platforms, alongside supplementary equipment for vacuum drying, depowdering, and sieving. These integrated solutions support a broad range of additive manufacturing workflows. Your browser does not support the video tag. Ready to discover who won the 2024 3D Printing Industry Awards? Subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry newsletter to stay updated with the latest news and insights. Featured image shows Bentley’s new 3D printed rose gold details in the Batur. Photo via Bentley Motors. Anyer Tenorio Lara Anyer Tenorio Lara is an emerging tech journalist passionate about uncovering the latest advances in technology and innovation. With a sharp eye for detail and a talent for storytelling, Anyer has quickly made a name for himself in the tech community. Anyer's articles aim to make complex subjects accessible and engaging for a broad audience. In addition to his writing, Anyer enjoys participating in industry events and discussions, eager to learn and share knowledge in the dynamic world of technology.

I got laid off two months ago from Smite 2 and got the grand Idea of making a realistic VFX reel to show the recruiters that I can do both stylized and realistic VFX. I was planning to spend two weeks on it and start sending my CVs everywhere. Three weeks later, I had to start sending CVs and ended up spending 2 weeks mostly applying to places both in Techart and VFX. And not being able to put in as much work as I wanted into the new reel. I wanted to have a full battle between the drone and the turret, post-process overlays and generally was aiming for a 50-second video. Looking back after spending two months on it, I was only able to get ~20 sec of actual reel in an “ok” state. What went wrong? I spent too much time setting the environment, coding the blueprints, and animating the sequencer events. I didn’t set up source control for this project because I thought it was going to be fast and easy… and it did break at one point forcing me to redo the whole chaos explosion in the beginning.What is the lesson? What is the takeaway? Overscoping is and 50 sec is a lot of time work time for a video. Working on the blueprints and environment was majorly a waste of time as they did not help at showing off my VFX and not even the Techart skills for the most part, yet took most of the work time on the video, same for the sequence animations etc. Even if it’s a small project source control is important. I’ll probably still not set it up for a single effect showcase but… If I ever plan on making anything as long again, I will split the sequence into takes instead of rolling the whole video into one sequence. Working on a long one-shoot sequence creates a lot of domino effects that make one small change require a lot of other changes, and with smaller takes each can be isolated to prevent these issues. https://www.artstation.com/artwork/vbBnRx

When Trahan Architects shared its design for the USA Pavilion, it described the temporary structure as “a beacon for the country, celebrating the best of American ideas on the world stage.” The USA Pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, is now complete. The floating cube Trahan Architects envisioned is inspired by Japanese torii gates and showcases the United States’s history of architectural innovation. The temporary structure was designed by Trahan Architects, alongside HOOD Design Studio, Dot Dash Lighting Design, BRC Imagination Arts, Alchemy International, Studio Loutsis, Ricca, and ES Global. Trahan Architects described the USA Pavilion as “a welcoming gateway.” The design’s defining feature is a translucent cube that appears to float, acting as a threshold between the Pavilion’s public plaza and contemplative, private courtyard. The cube is made of a bespoke steel system, a modular timber facade and repurposed ES Global equipment, to maximize cost efficiency. Within the central sloping “canyon,” large screens show photographs and video footage from throughout the United States and outer space, akin to Ray and Charles Eames’s Glimpses of the USA at the American National Exhibition in Moscow circa 1959. The cube is made of a bespoke steel system, a modular timber facade and repurposed ES Global equipment to maximize cost efficiency. (© Hufton + Crow) This latest iteration also recalls Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown’s unbuilt proposal for the US Pavilion at Expo ’92 in Seville, Spain, in which a giant American flag comprises the entire facade—an over the top display of patriotism, albeit an ironic one. Landscaping is also a component of the pavilion design. (© Hufton + Crow) A narrow opening allows natural light to pass through and into the pavilion. (© Hufton + Crow) Trahan Architects’s design looked to the gates typically found at the entryways to Shinto shrines. It is instantly recognizable from the Grand Ring that encircles Expo 2025’s national pavilions, the architects continued. At the rear of the pavilion is a serenity garden where two wings meet. The walls were positioned so as to not touch completely, allowing a sliver of natural light to pass through and into the small garden. The USA Pavilion encompasses 31,000-square-feet—its interior exhibition program was crafted by BRC Imagination Arts. “Imagine What We Can Create Together” is the unifying exhibition theme. An animated star named “Spark” serves as the mascot, leading visitors through the Pavilion, which showcases domestic innovations in agriculture, nanotechnology, and more. “In designing the Pavilion, we sought to create a bold, memorable building that was emblematic of the United States’ history of architectural innovation,” Trahan added. “Our design is centered around public space and visitor experience—architecture that is at once minimalist and monumental, inspired by its Japanese context.” The USA Pavilion showcases breakthroughs in science and technology. (© Hufton + Crow) Expo 2025 gathers hundreds of countries, and was created to showcase new technologies and products. It arrives as the world finds itself in the throes of an embittered trade war between the United States and China (and other countries), amounting to what surely constitutes the elephant in the room between visitors, diplomats, and corporate representatives. Expo 2025 opens on April 13 and closes October 13. It’s anticipated to receive millions of visitors throughout its six-month duration.

The radiotherapy and hemodialysis centre in Granollers, Spain, designed by Baas and Casa Solo, is an elegant alternative to sterile healthcare architecture While hospitals naturally require particular sanitary conditions, they must also accommodate people who are among the most vulnerable in society. The newly born, the sick, the injured and the dying are all in need of a comforting environment. This is something that was understood by Lluís Domènech i Montaner, who designed Barcelona’s Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau in the early 20th century as a series of pavilions set in a tranquil and verdant park on the edge of the Eixample extension. The 1860 Eixample extension of Barcelona by engineer Ildefons Cerdà was itself a direct response to the dismal living conditions in old Barcelona. At the time, the city was delimited by an urban defensive wall and suffered from severe overcrowding and hygiene issues, with diseases spreading rapidly and an average human life expectancy of only 30 years (today it is 82). Since then, health and hygiene have continued to influence architecture and urbanism; the functionalist movement of the 1920s and ’30s, for instance, insisted that modern buildings must be white, bright and easy to clean. Hospital interiors are typically kept germ‑free with the aid of easy‑to‑clean glazed ceramic tiles and glossy enamel paint, all coloured white. These materials impede acoustic and haptic comfort, but the visual appearance of cleanliness normally takes precedence.  With its noble materials, exquisite ornamentation and innovative underground galleries to connect the different pavilions, the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau is both a stunning examplar of Catalan modernism (our local equivalent to the French art nouveau, Austrian Secession and German Jugendstil) and an important precedent to what is referred to today as ‘patient‑friendly’ architecture: one that strives for a more balanced notion of human wellbeing rather than a strictly germ‑free environment. A more recent example of a patient‑friendly building is the radiotherapy and hemodialysis facility in Granollers, 30km north‑east of Barcelona, by Baas Arquitectura and Casa Solo Arquitectos. Here, ‘materials and colours that are less antiseptic than in the typical hospital were used in order to create an environment that is more comfortable and humane’, says Baas founding principal Jordi Badia.  Designed for people who suffer from kidney failure and different kinds of cancer, the clinic contains the very latest in healthcare equipment for blood filtration and radiation therapies, as well as building systems that support such technology – such as an elaborate HVAC system as well as very thick concrete walls and lead doors – yet its architecture is one of dignity and serenity instead of ‘whiteness’.  The new facility adjoins a large, modern hospital complex from the 2010s designed by the architectural firm Pinearq, also based in Barcelona, which is itself an extension to a 19th‑century Catalan modernist hospital and asylum by the architect Josep Maria Miró i Guibernau. The Granollers hospital complex serves a large catchment area stretching from the outskirts of Barcelona to the pre‑Pyrenees; the radiotherapy and hemodialysis centre was built next to it precisely so patients from this vast region requiring long‑term therapy would not have to deal with the added stress of commuting into Barcelona, an ordeal even at the best of times. Hemodialysis patients usually undergo treatment at a centre three times per week, each session taking three to four hours to complete, while radiotherapy sessions are typically five times per week, but shorter in duration. Catalonia has been building a network of smaller, more locally accessible ambulatory care centres for some time, as part of an effort to improve general health through primary care. This way, pathologies that are more complicated and expensive to care for, requiring centralised XL‑scaled facilities, can be prevented from occurring in the first place. The relatively small size of these facilities – Baas has also designed CAP Cotet in Premiá de Dalt – contribute to making them more patient‑friendly. Bigger is not always better. Wedged into the north-western corner of the Granollers hospital complex, the ambulatory care clinic for radiotherapy and hemodialysis makes the most of its irregularly shaped site. To the south, where it meets the more institutional architecture of concrete and high‑pressure laminate panels of the existing hospital, the building retreats to create a small entrance plaza, a welcome addition to the narrow street. Since the site is sloped, there is another entrance on the top floor, accessible from a garden within the hospital grounds. The clinic’s vertical stratification helps structure the programme: spaces for radiotherapy are concentrated on the ground floor, while the second floor is dedicated entirely to hemodialysis. The intermediary level is a mechanical floor that conveniently services the floors both above and below. Overall, there is roughly 1m2 of mechanical floor area for every 2m2 of clinic. Two lightwells, one of which is enclosed while the other extends, above the ground floor, to the front facade, puncture the building mass to supply the deep and partly sunken interior with natural light. Clad entirely in a solid clay brick that looks handmade but is industrially produced, the building’s exterior walls are rounded at all corners, creating a facade that playfully curves in and out. Brick pilasters, protruding out every 800mm, accentuate the building’s curves while providing shade (lessening heat gain) and improving interior privacy. In front of the lightwell opening onto the facade, the pilasters briefly transform into pillars, while at mid‑height they are interrupted by extensive brick latticework to naturally ventilate the intermediary mechanical level. With its tripartite composition of horizontal bands, which vary in width according to interior ceiling heights, the building’s facade is a veritable catalogue of the many architectural uses of the humble brick – clearly a reference to both the original Catalan modernism of the Hospital of Granollers and the town’s important ceramics industry. The interior of the radiotherapy and hemodialysis centre is where patient friendliness is most palpable. Upon entry, patients are greeted by brick walls, wooden doors and raw concrete ceilings textured by rough‑sawn board formwork: a far cry from the typical hospital interiors of stainless‑steel surfaces, panic doors and acoustic ceiling tiles with fluorescent lighting. Borrowing some cubic metres from the mechanical floor above, the foyer and waiting room on the ground floor are serene double‑height spaces fitted with pendant lights designed by Alvar Aalto. Rarely does a public healthcare waiting room look this dignified. The elegance of these interiors is made possible by a clever design decision: separating the patients’ circulation from that of staff. It is only when a waiting patient’s turn is called and they enter the treatment zone, through changing rooms, that they encounter highly antiseptic architecture. The entire ‘front of house’ avoids any semblance of a hospital, including the stressful buzz of medical staff hastily at work, which greatly reduces stress and improves patient wellbeing.   In the treatment areas, cleanliness and functionality rule, yet walls and ceilings around the radiation therapy machines feature backlit images of the scenic landscapes of nearby Montseny to distract anxious patients. To help contain radiation, these treatment rooms feature concrete walls that are more than 2m thick in places, along with hefty sliding doors containing lead. The hemodialysis floor, by contrast, contains a water purification plant that is purposely exposed behind a glass wall in the entranceway, the only technology visible outside a treatment area. Its sight reassures hemodialysis patients that the water meets very high purity requirements. Although it is completely hidden, the intermediary mechanical floor likewise contains highly advanced systems. Heating and cooling requirements are met by two independent ground‑source heat pump systems (24 wells 130m deep) as well as two independent air‑source heat pump systems, lest one system should fail or require assistance. Electrical service is backed up by an emergency diesel generator as well as large batteries and photovoltaic panels on the flat roof. Interestingly, no louvres or grilles are visible anywhere in the foyers and waiting rooms: air circulation, both supply and return, is through simple holes bored through brick, timber and interior windowsills. This reveals the degree to which mechanical systems and technology are banished from view in these spaces.  The radiotherapy and hemodialysis centre belies the cutting‑edge technology it contains, going to significant lengths to do so. A peek through the centre’s brick latticework reveals, in places, opaque wall construction behind. The facade treatment is not applied exclusively for purposes of ventilation or shading, but also for that of architectural composition and ornament – clear evidence the building seeks to distinguish itself from functionalist or high‑tech architectures of cleanliness and techno‑progress.   2025-04-09 Reuben J Brown Share AR April 2025Buy Now

“Somewhere in Time,” oil on canvas, 195 x 195 centimeters. All images courtesy of Sebas Velasco and the History Museum of Bosnia and Heregovina, shared with permission Sebas Velasco’s Dreamy Oil Paintings Illuminate Cinematic Urban Landscapes April 9, 2025 Art Kate Mothes Sebas Velasco (previously) has long been drawn to the landscapes and cultures of the Balkans and former Yugoslavian countries in southeastern Europe, where he has spent the past decade traveling and researching for his large-scale paintings and murals. The Morning Will Change Everything at the History Museum of Bosnia and Heregovina marks the Spanish artist’s first institutional exhibition. Inspired by the title of a song by Sarajevo-based band Indexi, the show continues Velasco’s exploration of urban landscapes and themes of relationships and passing time. “Wherever I May Roam,” oil on canvas, 195 x 195 centimeters Rendered in oil on wood or canvas, Velasco’s paintings depict figures, architecture, and old cars illuminated by street lamps or headlights in a realistic yet dreamlike world. Taking cues from photography through the use of cinematic lighting effects and portraiture, he often juxtaposes contrasting elements like grassy meadows with brutalist high-rises or derelict cars with wildflowers. Whether glowing under an orange street light or spotlit against a fuzzy smattering of brake lights and apartment windows, Velasco’s subjects are relaxed, poised, and unhurried. One can imagine the din of car horns, music, and other city noises in the background, yet Velasco emphasizes brief, self-assured interactions as if momentarily, time is at a standstill. Nighttime plays a starring role in Velasco’s compositions, which tap into dualities of the known and unknown, revelations and secrets, individuality and anonymity, and the quotidian and the extraordinary. He conjures “gateways to complex socio-economic narratives,” the museum says, emphasizing the power of humanity amid ever-evolving identities and the tumult of globalization. Find more on Velasco’s website and Instagram. Detail of “Wherever I May Roam” “Golf II,” oil on wood, 41 x 27 centimeters “The Morning Will Change Everything,” oil on wood, 120 x 120 centimeters “Agata,” oil on wood, 81 x 65 centimeters Detail of “Agata” “Yugo 45 III,” oil on wood, 24 x 35 centimeters “Interior Night Sarajevo II,” oil on wood, 46 x 33 centimeters Velasco working on a painting in his solo exhibition at the History Museum of Bosnia and Heregovina Next article

Recommended By Fox News Staff Fox News Published April 9, 2025 12:26pm EDT close Government officials weigh benefits and risks of artificial intelligence Fox News chief political anchor Bret Baier has the latest on regulatory uncertainty amid AI development on 'Special Report.' Welcome to Fox News’ Artificial Intelligence newsletter with the latest AI technology advancements.IN TODAY’S NEWSLETTER:- Dangers of oversharing with AI tools- Instagram Teen Accounts unveils new built-in protections to block nudity, livestreams- ‘Sound of Freedom’ producer says AI tools helped nab child trafficker that eluded FBI for 10 years A man using ChatGPT on his laptop (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)DON’T OVERSHARE DEETS: Have you ever stopped to think about how much your chatbot knows about you? Over the years, tools like ChatGPThave become incredibly adept at learning your preferences, habits and even some of your deepest secrets. But while this can make them seem more helpful and personalized, it also raises some serious privacy concerns. As much as you learn from these AI tools, they learn just as much about you.GREATER CONTROL: Instagram on Tuesday announced new built-in protections for Instagram Teen Accounts and has expanded its suite of features to the Facebook and Messenger applications. "Sound of Freedom" executive producer Paul Hutchinson details new tools organizations are using to bring child traffickers to justice.  ( Budrul Chukrut/SOPA Images/LightRocket/ANDREI PUNGOVSCHI/AFP via Getty)MAJOR VICTORY: Child predators are on high alert as organizations around the globe have begun rolling out artificial intelligence tools to bring sex traffickers to justice and rescue young victims, according to "Sound of Freedom" executive producer Paul Hutchinson.INDUSTRIAL SUPER-HUMANOID ROBOT: In a groundbreaking development, California-based robotics and artificial intelligence company Dexterity has unveiled Mech, the world's first industrial super-humanoid robot. Mech, the world's first industrial super-humanoid robot  (Dexterity)FOLLOW FOX NEWS ON SOCIAL MEDIASIGN UP FOR OUR OTHER NEWSLETTERSDOWNLOAD OUR APPSWATCH FOX NEWS ONLINEFox News GoSTREAM FOX NATIONFox NationStay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future with Fox News here. This article was written by Fox News staff.

sdecoret - stock.adobe.com News EU sets out plans to ‘at least’ triple its AI datacentre capacity over the next seven years The European Union wants to reduce its dependence on non-EU datacentres in support of its plan to become an artificial intelligence superpower By Caroline Donnelly, Senior Editor, UK Published: 09 Apr 2025 16:32 The European Union (EU) wants to more than triple the size of its datacentre capacity in the next five-to-seven years to reduce its dependence on artificial intelligence (AI) compute capacity located in other regions of the world, it has emerged. This intention is detailed in a copy of the EU’s draft 12-page AI continent plan, which sets out the actions it claims must be taken to both capitalise on the European Union’s existing strengths in the field of AI and to reduce its reliance on overseas clouds. “The EU currently lags behind the US and China in terms of available datacentre capacity, relying heavily on infrastructure installed in other regions of the world, which EU users access via the cloud [and] this dependence on non-EU infrastructure is a concern for European industry but also for public authorities,” said the draft document, seen by Computer Weekly. “To adequately serve the AI and general computing needs of businesses and public administrations across the entire EU, and to ensure competitiveness and sovereignty, it is essential for the EU to increase its current cloud and datacentre capacity in a geographically balanced manner.” To ensure the EU has access to enough sovereign cloud capacity to support its AI ambitions, it is consulting on the creation of legislation – dubbed the Cloud and AI Development Act – to accelerate the pace of new datacentre developments. “Today, the average time to obtain a permit and the related environmental authorisations for building a datacentre in Europe often lies upwards of 48 months … [and] the datacentre industry struggles to identify suitable sites, and to obtain sufficient energy to power their facilities. The Cloud and AI Development Act will address these obstacles,” said the document. It will do this by ensuring datacentre projects that meet certain energy and water efficiency usage requirements benefit from simplified permitting procedures so they can be fast-tracked.   “For highly critical use cases, including AI applications, sovereignty and operational autonomy can only be preserved by relying on highly secure EU-based cloud capacity. The Cloud and AI Development Act will ensure that the public sector in the EU can rely on such capacity for these use cases, thus laying the basis for the public sector to adopt AI in an environment of trust,” the document continued. The document also outlined an intention by the EU to improve competition within the continent’s cloud market. “More generally, to enable the entry into the market of a more diverse set of cloud service providers, the Cloud and AI Development Act will explore establishing a common marketplace for cloud capacity and services,” it added. These actions are all part of a push by the EU to establish its own “distinctive approach to AI by capitalising on its strengths and what it does best” so that it can position itself as an “AI continent”. These strengths include having access to a “substantial pool of engineers and skilled professionals, a large single market with one single set of safety rules” that ensure the AI technologies being produced and used by its members are high quality and trustworthy. The EU is home to a flourishing community of 6,300 AI startups, with more than 600 of these focused on generative AI (GenAI), said the document, but action must be taken to ensure these firms – as well as the EU’s population of AI researchers – have the resources they need to turn their early AI wins into long-term success stories. On this point, the document said there needs to be a scaling up of the continent’s public AI compute infrastructure by establishing “gigafactories” containing energy efficient, high-performance compute capacity that can be connected by networks to create “AI factories”. The EU has already committed to providing €20bn of AI infrastructure funding to partly cover the creation of five AI gigafactories within the European Union, but it is also calling on interested parties to commit to creating public-private partnerships to accelerate the buildout of these facilities.   “These gigafactories will foster scientific collaboration around powerful and unique infrastructures, bringing together researchers, entrepreneurs and investors to tackle ambitious projects in areas like healthcare, robotics and scientific discovery,” the document stated. Establishing the EU as an AI superpower will also require AI innovators to have access to better quality data, as well as for more work to be done in-continent on the development of AI algorithms – and to encourage their adoption within “strategic sectors”. More needs to be done to grow the EU’s “strong AI talent base” by “further developing excellence in AI education and research” by making it easier for skilled workers in this field to legally migrate across the continent, the document added. John Buyers, global head of AI at law firm Osborne Clarke, said the EU document shares a lot of common ground with the UK government’s recently introduced AI opportunities action plan. “[The] key themes of the EU’s plans echo those of the UK government’s AI opportunities action plan such as the focus on boosting AI innovation, the importance of data for AI systems to work on and the need for a major increase in compute capacity,” he said.   “There is a real emphasis on easing the burden of regulation and removing barriers to innovation … [and] the EU is explicitly recognising the crucial importance of AI for economic growth and security.” Read more about AI datacentres across Europe The UK government has unveiled its 50-point AI action plan, which commits to building sovereign artificial intelligence capabilities and accelerating AI datacentre developments – but questions remain about the viability of the plans. The government is to host its inaugural AI Energy Council meetup, as it seeks a route to ensuring its goal of making the UK an artificial intelligence superpower does not come at the expense of the nation’s energy security. In The Current Issue: Interview: The role of IT innovation at Royal Ballet and Opera ‘Bankenstein’ and a cold calculation means banking crashes will continue Download Current Issue Making America great, but at what cost? – Cliff Saran's Enterprise blog Turning data into gold: the business intelligence story – Data Matters View All Blogs