Mind Magicians have long exploited quirks in our perception of the world to make us experience the impossible. Now, cognitive psychology is exploring how they do it and revealing fresh insights into how our minds work 8 April 2025 Philip Harris When Gustav Kuhn was 13, a friend pulled an egg out of his ear. Kuhn was astounded – but his wonder didn’t abate, even after he learned that the egg was made of foam and had been easily hidden in his friend’s hand. “I was quite fascinated by those eggs,” he recalls. The trick sparked an obsession with how the brain can be hoodwinked into believing the impossible. “My whole life during my teenage years was centred [on] magic and deception,” he says. “I became completely addicted.” Kuhn’s adolescent fascination eventually led to a career in magic – although he hasn’t exactly followed the trajectory he had in mind at 13. Though he is a practising magician, he is primarily a psychologist, working to understand what the cognitive quirks that lead us to perceive a rabbit being pulled from a hat or a levitating £5 note can reveal about the brain. “I’ve been trying to create the science of magic, which uses [tricks] as a way of exploring the human mind,” Kuhn says. It seems to be working – more than 150 “science of magic” papers have been published since the late 2000s. This research attempts to peel back the layers of conscious experience to demonstrate how expectation seems to control our perception of reality and how easily we can be led into making decisions while retaining a sense of agency. The field, though, has attracted criticism from members of both disciplines. Some scientists worry that it lacks rigour, while some magicians are concerned that these experiments strip the…

New vacation-rental startup Savvy put up a billboard in Austin, not far from Vrbo's headquarters. Courtesy of Savvy 2025-04-12T04:11:01Z Save Saved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? New vacation rental company Savvy took a swipe at Airbnb and Vrbo with its new Texas billboard. The company chose a spot near Vrbo's Austin office, mimicking Vrbo's recent sign targeting Airbnb. Savvy is emphasizing its no-fee model to lure hosts and guests away from the two bigger platforms. Just in time for summer, a rivalry between vacation-rental companies is brewing.Last month, Vrbo crowned itself the "hotter, cooler, friendlier" platform with a billboard teasing rival Airbnb. Vrbo put the billboard right outside Airbnb's San Francisco headquarters.Now Savvy, a brand-new vacation rental company, is taking a shot at both of its much-bigger rivals.Savvy placed a billboard close to Vrbo's Austin headquarters to drive home its "no-fee" model, mimicking Vrbo's own playbook for poking fun at Airbnb. Vrbo put a billboard outside Airbnb's San Francisco headquarters earlier this year. Courtesy of Outfront Media Savvy — an Austin-based startup with 13 employees that launched in February — promises no fees for hosts to list their properties for rent or for guests to book with them."As the new kid on the block, we thought it would be fun," Savvy founder Eric Goldreyer told Business Insider.Goldreyer thought focusing on fees was a way to seize upon common customer gripes about Airbnb and Vrbo."What customers really care about is saving money on their stay," he said.Airbnb called Vrbo's original sign "desperate," though Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky did post a laughing emoji on Instagram in response to it. Airbnb and Vrbo both declined to comment on Savvy's billboard.Savvy has 150,000 properties across US, Canada, Mexico, Goldreyer said.It has a long way to go before catching up with its competitors. In 2024, Airbnb said it had 7.7 million listings around the world, while Vrbo said it had more than 2 million. Savvy is trying to draw attention to its no-fee modelFees on Airbnb have been a sticking point for guests and hosts over the years, with some saying rising costs made them quit booking via the platform altogether. Airbnb has gone to extra lengths to make sure guests can easily see the total price of a stay including cleaning fees and taxes.Airbnb primarily uses a split-fee model, where the most common arrangement is a 3% service fee for hosts and a fee around 14% for guests. Vrbo charges hosts a 5% fee and guests up to 20%.Hosts list their properties for free on Savvy, and guests don't incur booking fees, Goldreyer said.However, hosts can choose to pay for a subscription that boosts how prominently their home is featured on Savvy.Savvy is primarily targeting larger-scale rental operators to grow its listing base.The platform only registersprofessional short-term-rental hosts who have at least five properties and use formal booking software, among other requirements. Goldreyer said Savvy wants a consistent experience for guests."We don't want people that host as their side hustle," he explained. "We want to know if our guest gets there at 11 p.m. and the Bluetooth lock goes out, there's a professional they can call." Axel Springer, Insider Inc.'s parent company, is an investor in Airbnb.

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Nature, Published online: 09 April 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08854-xA photonic processor capable of running advanced artificial intelligence models with near-electronic precision is introduced, marking a substantial step towards post-transistor computing technologies.

April 12, 2025: Our weekly roundup of the latest science in the news, as well as a few fascinating articles to keep you entertained over the weekend.

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Some progresshttps://www.zerohedge.com/markets/march-deficit-unexpectedly-tumbles-5-year-low-doge-cracks-down-democrat-money-laundering

Start earning effortlessly today!How I Made $500 in Just One Week Using This AI ToolDiscover the power of easy prompt creation.3 min read·Just now--Photo by Surface on UnsplashHave you ever wished you could generate income by harnessing your creativity? I certainly did, and that’s why I decided to explore an exciting opportunity with a tool that changed the game for me: PromptBuddy. This AI-driven platform allows you to create and sell tailored prompts for ChatGPT, MidJourney, and DALL-E 3 in a matter of minutes.Imagine waking up one morning, opening your laptop, and finding that you’ve made $500 overnight. Sounds too good to be true? Let me share my journey of how I achieved this outcome and how you can do it too.Why PromptBuddy Stood Out to MeWhen I first learned about PromptBuddy, I was drawn to its impressive features. It offers an extensive library of over 80,000 preloaded prompts that allow you to dive into selling almost instantly. It’s designed for users of all skill levels, meaning you don’t need to be a tech wizard to get started. The bulk prompt creation option was a particular highlight for me, allowing me to generate and customize prompts for specific niches with ease.What amazed me is how quickly I could launch my store. With its automated setup, I was able to go from zero to a fully functional store in under a minute. I connected my payment systems, and just like that, I was ready to earn!Real Results in the First WeekIn my first week using PromptBuddy, I saw remarkable results. By utilizing the preloaded prompts to meet the needs of various clients, I quickly generated unique offerings. A few creative entrepreneurs and small business owners shared their successes, and I found inspiration in their stories. A freelancer mentioned, “PromptBuddy saved me hours,” showcasing how this tool not only enhances productivity but directly impacts earnings.This is where the magic happened: throughout my first week, I made strategic marketing decisions by promoting my prompt creations on social media platforms and within relevant online communities. The ease of use and comprehensive support provided by PromptBuddy significantly contributed to my operating speed.Thanks to the platform’s intuitive dashboard, I could manage sales and promotions flawlessly. By the end of the week, I had attracted numerous customers and made over $500! I couldn’t believe how quickly I had transformed my creative ideas into a profitable venture.Unlock Your Potential with PromptBuddyIf you’re passionate about creativity and looking to monetize your skills, I highly recommend checking out PromptBuddy. The platform is not just about selling prompts; it’s about empowering users like you to turn ideas into income streams. With features like customizable prompts and seamless payment integration, it places success at your fingertips.AI-Powered Prompt Generators: Create tailored prompts instantly.Bulk Prompt Creator: Easily scale your offerings without hassle.24/7 Support: Assistance whenever you need it.Automated Store Setup: Go from thought to launch in moments.It was truly fulfilling to see real growth and income driven by a simple tool that made everything easier. Now, I’m excited to keep the momentum going and explore more categories and niches using this innovative platform.Whether you’re a freelancer, a creative entrepreneur, or just looking for a side hustle, PromptBuddy can help you realize your potential in no time. With a 30-day risk-free guarantee, you have nothing to lose!“I’m monetizing my creativity with unique art prompts, and it feels amazing!”The journey doesn’t have to stop here; I plan to keep refining my offerings and expanding my audience. Who knows? In a couple of months, I might be sharing how I scaled my earnings to $2,000!Thank you for reading! Stay tuned for more articles. Follow for updates!

News Death Stranding 2’s Development is “95 Percent Complete” – Kojima Kojima Productions and PlayStations' open world sequel will launch exclusively for the PlayStation 5 on June 26. Posted By Shubhankar Parijat | On 12th, Apr. 2025 That big flagship single-player PlayStation title that we’ve been waiting for for a while is finally coming not long from now in the form of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, and as its release date draws nearer, creative director and Kojima Productions boss Hideo Kojima has offered an update on how development is going. Spotted by Twitter user @Genki_JPN, speaking recently during the official Kojima Productions podcast, Kojima revealed that Death Stranding 2’s development is roughly at the 95 percent mark. Likening the project to a 24-hour cycle, Kojima went on to say that it is currently at 10 PM, which means it’s within touching distance of the finish line. Of course, given how close to launch the game is, this is what most would have expected (or at least hoped for), but it’s good to have confirmation nonetheless, especially for those who may have been concerned about potential delays. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach launches exclusively for the PS5 on June 26. Hideo Kojima says Death Stranding 2 is currently 95% complete while speaking on his Koji10 radio show! #DS2 “It’s at about 95% now… It feels like it is 10 o’clock (PM), speaking of 24 hours, Koji Pro’s DS2 is at 10 o’clock (PM), there are 2 hours left”via @koji10_tbs pic.twitter.com/sOZjY7ZLg7 — Genki✨ (@Genki_JPN) April 10, 2025 Tagged With: Atomfall Publisher:Rebellion Developments Developer:Rebellion Developments Platforms:PS5, Xbox Series X, PS4, Xbox One, PCView More Monster Hunter Wilds Publisher:Capcom Developer:Capcom Platforms:PS5, Xbox Series X, PCView More South of Midnight Publisher:Microsoft Developer:Compulsion Games Platforms:Xbox Series X, PCView More Amazing Articles You Might Want To Check Out! Death Stranding 2’s Development is “95 Percent Complete” – Kojima Kojima Productions and PlayStations' open world sequel will launch exclusively for the PlayStation 5 on June 2... Zenless Zone Zero Launches for Xbox Series X/S in June HoYoverse has announced an Xbox release date for its action RPG, which is currently available for PS5, PC, and... Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Launch Trailer Hypes up Imminent PS5 Release The action-adventure title launches for Sony's console on April 17, though those who purchase the Premium Edit... Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition Will Launch for PS5 in May 6 It will be accompanied by the RTS' next DLC, The Three Kingdoms, which brings new civilizations, campaigns, an... Nintendo Switch 2 vs 1 – 15 Biggest Differences You May Not Know Here's how the Switch's successor is looking to change things up. Where Does DOOM: The Dark Ages Fit in the Series’ Timeline? id Software has offered brought details, but how exactly will the upcoming shooter tie into other DOOM titles?View More

For those that don't know, we have been helping keep track of all the 2024 Game of the Year awards from different websites and publications, and it seems that Astro Bot won the most. Most of the work done was by BrickArts295 and a huge thank you for him. He also provided other stats that I think are interesting from this year and past years. A huge thank you to everyone that helped finding the Goty awards for 2024. And may the race to 2025 Overall Goty start... Read more