Every week, hundreds of artists share their work on the Blender Artists forum. I'm putting some of the best work in the spotlight in a weekly post here on BlenderNation. Source

Not a Science Agency Trump White House budget proposal eviscerates science funding at NASA "This would decimate American leadership in space." Eric Berger – Apr 11, 2025 9:15 am | 102 The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is scheduled for launch later this decade and will observe planets and galaxies. But will it be canceled? Credit: GSFC/SVS The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is scheduled for launch later this decade and will observe planets and galaxies. But will it be canceled? Credit: GSFC/SVS Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only   Learn more This week, as part of the process to develop a budget for fiscal-year 2026, the Trump White House shared the draft version of its budget request for NASA with the space agency. This initial version of the administration's budget request calls for an approximately 20 percent overall cut to the agency's budget across the board, effectively $5 billion from an overall topline of about $25 billion. However, the majority of the cuts are concentrated within the agency's Science Mission Directorate, which oversees all planetary science, Earth science, astrophysics research, and more. According to the "passback" documents given to NASA officials on Thursday, the space agency's science programs would receive nearly a 50 percent cut in funding. After the agency received $7.5 billion for science in fiscal-year 2025, the Trump administration has proposed a science topline budget of just $3.9 billion for the coming fiscal year. Detailing the cuts Among the proposals were: A two-thirds cut to astrophysics, down to $487 million; a greater than two-thirds cut to heliophysics, down to $455 million; a greater than 50 percent cut to Earth science, down to $1.033 billion; and a 30 percent cut to Planetary science, down to $1.929 billion. Although the budget would continue support for ongoing missions such as the Hubble Space Telescope and the James Webb Space Telescope, it would kill the much-anticipated Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, an observatory seen as on par with those two world-class instruments that is already fully assembled and on budget for a launch in two years. "Passback supports continued operation of the Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes and assumes no funding is provided for other telescopes," the document states. Other significant cuts include ending funding for Mars Sample Return as well as the DAVINCI mission to Venus. The budget cuts also appear intended to force the closure of Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland where the agency has 10,000 civil servants and contractors. The passback process The cuts are in line with what Ars Technica exclusively reported last month, that the Trump administration was considering a massive 50-percent cut to NASA's science programs. Publicly, some officials downplayed these concerns. As recently as this week, NASA's acting administrator, Janet Petro, characterized this reporting as "rumors from really not credible sources." However, science policy experts have been more alarmed, characterizing such cuts as an "extinction level" event for what is seen as the crown jewel of the space agency. Nearly all of NASA's most significant achievements over the last 25 years have been delivered by the science programs, including feats such as Ingenuity flying on Mars, New Horizons swooping by Pluto, and Cassini's discovery of water plumes on Enceladus. This passback document represents just the opening salvo of the process to establish a federal budget for fiscal-year 2026, which begins on October 1 of this year. The budget is produced by the White House Office of Management and Budget, which is overseen by Russell Vought, who has long made his anti-science budgeting priorities clear through his Center for Renewing America. The Trump administration nominee to lead NASA, private astronaut Jared Isaacman, said during a confirmation hearing this week that he strongly supported NASA's science programs. It is unlikely that Isaacman was involved in drafting this document, as he has not yet been confirmed by the US Senate. Nominees, typically, are excluded from policy prior to confirmation. After receiving passback documents, NASA usually has 72 hours to review the materials and then submit appeals and justification for changes. Any modifications are then incorporated into a final document that becomes the "President's Budget Request" for the next fiscal year. It is not clear when the Trump administration plans to release this budget request, a public document. It could happen within the next four to six weeks. Congress will likely fight back Following this, the White House will work with Congress to actually set the budget. The US House and Senate each have separate appropriations committees that consider (or not) the White House priorities in establishing a final budget that the president must then sign into law. Fierce opposition to some of these NASA cuts is likely in Congress. "This massive cut to NASA Science will not stand," US Rep. George Whitesides, D-California, told Ars. "For weeks we have been raising the alarm about a rumored 50 percent cut to NASA's world-leading science efforts. Now we know it is true. I will work alongside my colleagues on the Science Committee to make clear how this would decimate American leadership in space and inflict great damage to NASA centers across the country." One concern, however, is that should the budgeting process be delayed—as is often the case with the federal budget—the White House could force agencies to make operational plans based on the president's budget request once the new fiscal year begins on October 1. Again this will depend on negotiations with Congress, but, using a process called impoundment, some Trump officials believe it may be possible to turn the budget request into an actual budget for all intents and purposes. Eric Berger Senior Space Editor Eric Berger Senior Space Editor Eric Berger is the senior space editor at Ars Technica, covering everything from astronomy to private space to NASA policy, and author of two books: Liftoff, about the rise of SpaceX; and Reentry, on the development of the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon. A certified meteorologist, Eric lives in Houston. 102 Comments

Mouse Rules I just gave the Nintendo Switch 2 a go, and found the best demo of the new hardware in the most unexpected place You could argue it’s a brave decision to hide away some of the best tech work in the remaster of a 3DS game, with very little fanfare. Image credit: VG247 Article by Dom Peppiatt Editor-in-chief Published on April 11, 2025 Today, I visited the Nintendo Switch 2 experience in London. It was a really pleasant atmosphere; lots of kids of all ages visibly brimming with excitement to get their hands on the Switch 2 for the first time. Roars of excitement as gaggles of mates played the abysmally-named Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV. Hollering and whooping as one middle-aged bloke beats a handful of crestfallen kids in Mario Kart World. My primary purpose in coming here was to test out the hardware for the Switch 2. It’s all well and good that we’re getting shinier games, faster loading times, and better performance, but - for the average punter - the main difference with the Switch 2 is going to be in the hardware. In the bigger screen, the updated JoyCons, and those new custom CPU/GPU units making everything come to life. But, perhaps the most fascinating prospect is ‘the mouse’. To see this content please enable targeting cookies. The mouse! Now, the price point for entry, $449.99, is steep. But if Nintendo is packing the Switch 2 full of quirky gimmicks and funky toys, hey, maybe it’ll live up to its cost, after all. Whilst we’ve got amazing experiments like Switch 2's Welcome Tour showing us what to expect of all the bells and whistles squirreled away beneath the plastic and glass of the hardwear proper, how will other games implement this functionality? Will it be as instrumental as the touchscreen in the DS family of machines, or will it be as… forgettable… as the touchscreen in the Vita family of machines? Well, there’s one game I played today that really surprised me when it comes to incorporating this new functionality. It was in Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster (stop me if you’ve heard this one before), and it was tucked away in the mini-games. Yes, really. There are two new mini-games in this RPG re-release that specifically leverage the two JoyCon and their mouse functionality; a rhythm game where you basically guide your chosen character through a Theatrhythm/Persona Dancing All Night-inspired sequence, and an absolutely unhinged airship mini-game in which the collective characters all backseat drive the dandy, and part-protagonist, Ringabel, as he tries desperately to pilot his vehicle through an aerial course of madcap nonsense. Now, for a start, these mini-games seem like they’ll only work on Switch 2 - I can’t imagine a Steam port making you plug two mice in to play the rhythm game, for example (though maybe they could use the Steam Deck'?'s trackpads?). Secondly, they’re… excellent? All the functionality and playfulness of the Welcome Tour, but within an actual honest-to-God game where there’s something at stake. The mini-games are tucked into the ‘Game Corner’ menu from the main screen, but a handler at the event tells me they’ll also be accessible in the main game, and will offer actual awards. It even looks like something from Persona Dancing All Night, right? | Image credit: Square Enix The rhythm game (Luxencheer Rhythm Catch) is my favourite, and from what I could see at the event, it was popular with the masses, too; a couple of players would finish their slot and immediately join the queue to play it again. It mostly reminds me of the Persona Dancing games, but with a touch of the readable and gorgeous UI from Theatrhythm to make it a bit easier on the eyes. Using the mice, you’d click, swing, and glide your hands across a your play surface to - in essence - do a little dance with your hands to match the action on screen. I always thought they way you used your stylus in Theatrhythm made you feel like a little tiny conductor, tapping out rhythms and conducting the undulations in melodies with your little baton. I feel Bravely Default HD makes you do the same with your hands; making you tap and jive like you’re a jazz dancer in a ‘40s club. Or something. It shows off how precise the JoyCon’s mouse functionality can be, and how entertaining it can be to make you position, click, and tap along with some good music. The second game (Ringabel's Panic Cruise!) is less impressive from a hardware point-of-view, but has the playfulness I’d expect from a first-party Nintendo game, if I’m being honest. You pilot an airship through a series of rings whilst fulfilling busywork shouted at your by your allies (‘Pop these balloons! Flip these switches! Wrench this nut!’) It’s… absurd. It’s called ‘panic cruise’ for a reason, I guess. Your left-hand mouse will need to control altitude via a vertical lever that pilots you up and down, and your right hand will need to crank a wheel left or right in order to steer. If that wasn’t enough, various bits and pieces of your cockpit will break, leak, or make nosies at you every few seconds, requiring you to pull (click and drag) on a rope to toot your whistle, flip switches (click) to satisfy a crew member, or wrench (click, drag, up, down) to stop a valve from spitting steam into your face. Again, it’s only a couple of small actual mechanics, but the creativity and ingenuity Square Enix has shown in shaping them into a distinct, fun, and most importantly weird experience actually gives me hope that non-first party developers will find the joy and the funkiness in what this odd offering of hardware can do. I think this will be a ery fun game to play if you've had a whiskey or two. | Image credit: Square Enix Given that games will retail at $80 per unit, you’d expect that we’d get some extra features crammed into the overall experience. It’s easy to be cynical about this; I certainly was when I sat down to play Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster. But, if I have to pay for my games twice and shell out full price for a 3DS remaster, I’m glad there are little surprises like this to make it worthwhile. For Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster has gone from being a weird little niche game that looked quite odd on the launch line-up to a proper example of what this this hardware can achieve. I was going to buy it anyway, but now I’ll buy it and use it to show my friends and family why this isn’t just ‘a slightly bigger Switch’. It’s a good launch game, and something the Switch 2 desperately needs to prove itself out the gate, I feel. Good job, Square Enix.

Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube807k In under two months, the world will be graced with a brand new Mario Kart game on a new Nintendo console. Mario Kart World launches alongside the Switch 2 on 5th June 2025, but many have questioned whether this new title, which comes 11 years after the last brand new console Mario Kart, is actually a stop up. Thankfully, the folks over at Digital Foundry (via Eurogamer) have taken a look at all of the official footage we have, and some some crucial comparisons to the previous Mario Kart game on both Wii U and switch. Comparing it to Mario Kart 8, DF's Oliver McKenzie says that the key innovation with World is the new, open-world structure, which we've only seen and experienced glimpses of up until now. On top of that, there can now be up to 24 racers on the track at any given time. But many similar tech choices have been made in the new game, even if it looks a step up. For example, McKenzie points out that World still uses a lot of baked lighting, with some environmental lighting "heavily pre-calculated" implanted for certain objects. Breakable items and flags do use real-time shadowing, but the rendering is a little simple elsewhere. The light source, essentially, stays in the same spot regardless of what time of day it is on the course. Also similar to Mario Kart 8, World's polygonal placement is a little loose, which McKenzie thinks is to "keep level of detail pop-in to a minimum". There are some big rendering improvements across the board, though, particularly in the water, which looks absolutely beautiful. Cube mapping isn't used on water for reflections either, but it is used on other surfaces like glass. Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube807k Details in the tracks and roads are much more prominent in World, which you can see on the icy courses and in the tarmac itself. There are actually cracks in the road, for instance, and you can see where the paint has faded from too many cars driving across it. One course McKenzie looks at in particular is Sky-High Sundae, a Booster Course Pass track in 8 Deluxe that is returning in Mario Kart World. It's immediately apparent that the artwork and presentation is much better and more detailed — but many Booster Course tracks did seem to be a visual downgrade from the base game anyway. Other aspects with big, if subtle, improvements include character animations, designs, and even court animations. Everything is a lot more expressive across the board, with lots more detail and lighting to help make World look even better than 8 Deluxe. There's a lot to dive into, so make sure you watch the full video from Digital Foundry. Plus, when the game launches, we're sure the team will be testing everything on the race track. You can also have a look at our own comparison with Mario Kart 8 to see just how different they are. Are you excited for Mario Kart World? Do you think it's a step up from 8 Deluxe? Let us know down below. The race begins this June Next-gen Mario Kart arrives this June Racing to find the best deals [source youtube.com, via eurogamer.net] Related Games See Also Share:42 2 Alana has been with Nintendo Life since 2022, and while RPGs are her first love, Nintendo is a close second. She enjoys nothing more than overthinking battle strategies, characters, and stories. She also wishes she was a Sega air pirate. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment... Related Articles Where To Pre-Order Nintendo Switch 2 Where to buy Switch 2 consoles, accessories & games It's Official, Switch 2 Joy-Con Will Not Feature Hall Effect Sticks Controllers have been designed from the ground up Select EU Retailers Are Abandoning Nintendo's Suggested Retail Price For Switch 2 Games Let's see if others will follow suit Nintendo Delays Switch 2 Pre-Orders In The US Amidst New Trump Tariffs Release date remains unchanged Round Up: The First Impressions Of Mario Kart World Are In The race begins this June

In Brief Posted: 11:27 AM PDT · April 11, 2025 Image Credits:BrightDrop GM cuts 500 jobs because of weak demand for BrightDrop electric vans General Motors is laying off 500 workers at a factory in Canada because of weak demand for its all-electric BrightDrop vans, according to CNBC. GM told CNBC that the cuts were not related to the ongoing trade war being waged by President Donald Trump. The company is cutting one of the two shifts at the CAMI plant in Ontario, and will idle the facility for 20 weeks beginning in May. The cuts are the newest twist in BrightDrop’s short but somewhat tumultuous history. It created BrightDrop as a separate entity within GM in 2021, but absorbed it in 2023. In 2024 BrightDrop’s vans suffered a recall after a few battery fires. Later last year, GM moved BrightDrop under the Chevy brand. Topics

Spanish 3D technology provider Sicnova has officially launched the Center for Special Applications and Process Certification for the Military and Defense Sectors (CEDAEC), the first facility of its kind in Spain, dedicated exclusively to advanced manufacturing and the certification of components for the defense sector. The inauguration took place on April 4th at Novaindef’s facilities, renowned for their expertise in producing and securing critical defense components. The event was attended by María Amparo Valcarce García, Secretary of State for Defense, who formally opened the center. Lieutenant General Miguel Ivorra praised the collaboration, stating, “I have faith in the vision and capabilities of this emerging technology. This project will revolutionize advanced manufacturing and strengthen the strategic autonomy essential for our defense.” María Amparo Valcarce García, Secretary of State for Defense, at the opening ceremony of the Center for Special Applications and Process Certification for the Military and Defense Sectors. Photo: Sicnova CEDAEC: Advancing Logistics and Defense Manufacturing The launch of CEDAEC is a key element of a defense partnership between Sicnova Solutions and the Ministry of Defense, managed by Sicnova’s subsidiary, Novaindef. This collaboration aims to implement a comprehensive digitalization strategy that will streamline the production of parts and spare parts, optimizing supply chains and logistics for the Armed Forces. Its primary objectives include improving the operational efficiency of fleets and resources, addressing obsolescence issues, and enhancing performance through cutting-edge design and additive manufacturing technologies.The center is equipped with an array of advanced capabilities, including 3D printing in metal and polymers, next-generation machining centers, reverse engineering systems, post-processing techniques, and high-precision testing equipment. Among its key assets is one of Europe’s most advanced tomographs, designed to inspect and certify military components, ensuring the highest standards of quality and durability for defense-related parts and spare parts. “The integration of advanced technologies such as 3D printing and component certification demonstrates that by working together, we can overcome traditional manufacturing methods and address the strategic challenges of complex environments,” said Ángel Llavero, CEO of Sicnova. Opening ceremony of the Center for Special Applications and Process Certification for the Military and Defense Sectors. Photo: Sicnova Enhancing Defense Capabilities through Additive Manufacturing Spain is not alone in its commitment to strengthening defense capabilities through additive manufacturing (AM). Other countries have begun investing in AM technologies and forging partnerships to enhance their defense sectors and supply chains.This month, in South Korea, the Republic of Korea Army has officially adopted and deployed Meltio’s wire-laser technology. In partnership with AM Solutions, the Korean Marine Corps Logistics Group now uses a mobile 3D metal printer to manufacture discontinued and hard-to-source components on demand. The unit has become the first military group in the country to employ a mobile robotic metal 3D printer. This system is being used to support amphibious assault vehicles (KAAVs), reducing downtime and dependence on external supply chains. In the United States, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Lt. Governor Jim Tressel, and Ohio Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik announced the opening of the state’s fourth Innovation Hub in Youngstown. The hub, backed by $26 million from the Ohio Innovation Hubs Program and an additional $36 million from federal, local, and private sources, will expand research and workforce development in additive manufacturing for the defense and aerospace industries. Elsewhere, America Makes, the national accelerator for additive manufacturing in the U.S., operated by the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM), has launched a new open project called the Allied Additive Manufacturing Interoperability (AAMI) Program. This initiative, supported by $1.1 million from the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering’s Manufacturing Technology Office (OSD(R&E)), aims to improve AM equivalency and interoperability between the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and the UK Ministry of Defense (MoD). Specifically, the project will focus on laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) technology for producing critical parts, identifying barriers to interoperability, and contributing to the development of international qualification standards. Who won the 2024 3D Printing Industry Awards? Subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry newsletter to keep up with the latest 3D printing news. You can also follow us on LinkedIn, and subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry Youtube channel to access more exclusive content. Featured image shows María Amparo Valcarce García, Secretary of State for Defense, at the opening ceremony of the Center for Special Applications and Process Certification for the Military and Defense Sectors. Photo: Sicnova

Contrary to a hoax April Fool’s post on Instagram by Hyperallergic, the U.S. Pavilion at 19th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia has not been cancelled and will soon debut in Italy. The co-commissioners of the U.S. Pavilion—Peter MacKeith, Susan Chin, and Rod Bigelow—shared visuals this week of PORCH: An Architecture of Generosity. The unveiling comes just a few weeks before the festivities begin, and the Aperol Spritzes flow. Marlon Blackwell Architects, D.I.R.T Studio, TEN x TEN Studio, Stephen Burks Man Made, and Jonathan Boelkins are behind the structures inside and outside the U.S. Pavilion, a 1930s building by Delano & Aldrich. Visuals of the U.S. Pavilion show the venue’s courtyard entry shaded by a folding timber structure painted powder blue, topped with fir boards. In an article for The New York Times, MacKeith said the overall design posits a “new front door.” The interior will have a graphic that explains the history of the American porch. (Luxigon/Courtesy Co-Commissioners of the U.S. Pavilion) The structure’s underside comes together to create a jagged, irregular sawtooth profile. The assembly recalls the Paul Andersen and Paul Preissner co-curated U.S. Pavilion at the 2021 Venice Architecture Biennale, American Framing. The U.S. Pavilion will be stocked with 54 designs that all relate to the exhibition theme, the American porch. Among those participating, reported by AN in February, are Auburn University’s Rural Studio, Brooks + Scarpa, Eskew+Dumez+Ripple, Lake|Flato, SO – IL, and many others. Inside the pavilion, a wood floor is complemented by wood plinths and other display structures that showcase drawings, models, photography, and literature that tell the story of the American porch. Places Journal was invited by the co-commissioners to curate a “citizen’s library” at the U.S. Pavilion, among other installations that will take place there. The jurors who selected projects were Austen Barron Bailly, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and the Momentary; Julie Bargmann, D.I.R.T. studio; Marlon Blackwell, Marlon Blackwell Architects; Stephen Burks, Stephen Burks Man Made; Josephine Minutillo, Architectural Record; Justin Garrett Moore, Mellon Foundation; and Jack Murphy, The Architect’s Newspaper. The framing assembly will provide shade in the hot summer heat. (Luxigon/Courtesy Co-Commissioners of the U.S. Pavilion) The courtyard will host a variety of uses, including dance performances. The co-commissioners previously shared that Apple Seeds Teaching Farm—a nonprofit based in Fayetteville, Arkansas—will provide food at the U.S. Pavilion. Poetry readings and musical performances will take place on Juneteenth and July 4, 2025. Carlo Ratti is the chief curator of the 19th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia. The overarching theme is Intelligens; it seeks to explore Venice as living laboratory and themes related to natural intelligence, artificial intelligence, and collective intelligence. The 19th International Architecture Exhibition will be held in Venice from May 24 to November 23, 2025.

The Dreame L40 Ultra high-end robot vacuum and mop delivers excellent suction and thorough cleaning capabilities. Prime members can get 60% off right now.

YellowjacketsCredit: Showtime We have reached the end of Season 3 of Yellowjackets, a show that used to be among the best on TV, but which has lost its way for two out of three seasons, jumbling various storylines and failing to do the work required to make everything land properly. Tonight’s Season 3 finale should have been a monumental event, tying “Full Circle” back to the very first episode of the series. Instead, while there were certainly parts of it I enjoyed, it simply underscores how badly this show’s creators and writers have mangled a once-great story. Spoilers ahead. We’ll start with the present timeline before going back in time to the fateful hunt that served as the opening moments for Yellowjackets. In the present we learn a few things: 1. Callie was Lottie’s killer. She did it because Lottie was saying all this crap about her being “the child of that place” and tells her Shauna can’t love her because she’s jealous. “You’re just like her but more,” she says, and Callie gets upset and pushes the older woman down the stairs. Lottie can’t fall through the branches of the pit, survives years out in the Wilderness, sets up her very own cult and then dies when an angry 17-year-old shoves her. Neat! Callie was looking for Melissa’s tape which apparently Lottie stole when she was staying with them, though why Lottie would have any inkling that it was there or that it was important is beyond me. Misty figures all of this out by way of Walter who mirrored Lottie’s phone. It should come as no surprise to anyone paying attention this season. We already knew it was Shauna’s DNA found with Lottie and the only other person on this show who shares her DNA is Callie. I will say, this version of Adult Lottie, in her last moments, reminded me more of Teen Lottie than she has most of the show. It’s a shame they killed her in such a goofy way. “You mean eating each other,” Callie says at one point. “And hunting each other,” Lottie says. “And all those other thrilling, terrible things.” Callie tells Jeff, who’s pretty upset. Which leads us to . . . 2. Callie and Jeff leave Shauna. Frankly, good for them. They needed to ditch that crazy woman. She’s dangerous, unhinged, a woman looking to create chaos in her life, who wants violence and who ought to have been killed by her teammates back in the Wilderness when they had a chance. YellowjacketsCredit: Showtime 3. The adults bury Van. I’m not sure what happens back at Melissa’s house. Is she just gone? Does she leave her family and a big old bloodstain? Does she call the cops? We don’t find out. Tai and Shauna go out into the woods and bury Van. I guess this makes more sense than calling the police given the exposure to all of them. Wouldn’t this be more interesting if Tai was an elected senator who has to bury bodies to keep her constituents and press from finding out? Adult Van’s storyline has been completely wasted by this bizarre murder. Now Tai is estranged from her family, isn’t doing senator stuff, and doesn’t have Van. She does take a big old knife and cuts out Van’s heart and eats it, which is pretty gruesome and might have been a pretty wild scene if this show was still on the level it was in Season 1. 4. Shauna finds the note from Melissa. It says exactly what Melissa claimed, which begs the question: Why did Melissa kill Van in cold blood and say she “wanted to be bad”? All of this prompts Shauna into journaling again, where she inexplicably says that she has forgotten so much of what happend out there in the wilderness and now it’s all coming back to her. As you may recall, Shauan already took detailed journals of what happened. When discussing any repressed memories, she claimed she didn’t want to know. Nothing in the show prior to this season has indicated that Shauna repressed her memories of being a total lunatic in the wild, or the Antler Queen, or the instigator of pretty much the worst stuff that happened. It makes sense, but the show hasn’t laid the groundwork for this “twist” at all. 5. Tai and Misty team up to take down Shauna. This, along with Shauna’s journaling, is the biggest indication of where the adult storyline is headed in Season 4. I do think it’s a little goofy for Tai to say she “forgot” that Shauna was the one fueling all the bad stuff in the Wilderness “for the longest time.” I guess she and Shauna both just pushed all those memories down when they returned to the real world, but it’s a bit silly that this wouldn’t come out earlier, like when Shauna killed Adam with a knife. Tai tells Misty that Shauna will be the last one standing, and she doesn’t want that does she? “No,” Misty says. “I definitively do not.” So that’s Season 4’s adult timeline, I guess, unless this show keeps randomly pivoting.YellowjacketsCredit: Showtime Back in the 90s timeline, two hugely significant things happen, and both rely on Hannah, a character who has been given almost no time to develop into such an important character. The first, of course, is The Hunt. Akilah, working with the other Bad Teens, comes up with a plan to poison all the animals just in time for winter. Setting aside how stupid this is in terms of basic self-preservation, it’s the excuse Team Shauna uses to instigate another hunt. Given the power of Shauna’s sheer force of will at the trial and when everyone tried to leave (magical, one might say, given she was outnumbered both times and gave no solid reasoning in either instance, but the girls followed along anyways) I don’t understand why she couldn’t just do it again. In any case, they decide to draw from the deck once again and Tai and Van rig the deck (I guess shuffling before such a deadly game never occurred to anyone). They set up Hannah to take the fall, but Shauna’s instincts tell her something is up, so she changes places in the circle. Again, weird to not have any rules for this game, but okay. This works out well for Shauna because Mari ends up drawing the Queen of Hearts, and we all know that starting in Season 3, Shauna really hates Mari. And so The Hunt begins. Some of this next bit is really striking, because it’s shot-for-shot taken from the first episode. But in many ways, fleshing out this scene actually diminishes it. We get a lot of girl drama. Melissa attacks Shauna and almost kills her. Akilah confronts Lottie in the cave, telling her she no longer believes in her despite just killing all her animals. Various other little moments take place that break up what was, in the pilot, a terrifying, haunting scene, that it just feels a lot less than it was before. Learning that Shauna is the Antler Queen is also less shocking after seeing her act the way she has all of Season 3, but it still feels like they’d planned on Lottie being the Antler Queen in Season 1, and then changed everything. All of this would have been a lot better if Jackie had still been around, and all three seasons had been their growing conflict, transforming from best friends into bitter rivals over three seasons, only to have Shauna responsible for her gruesome death. Of course, this was clearly never the plan as they obviously wanted to kill off Jackie in the first season and Pit Girl from the first episode looks just like Mari. There are many instances that feel like the writers changed the story or made it up as they went along in this show, but this is not one of them.YellowjacketsCredit: Showtime “Bring me her hair,” is quite the hideous moment also, but we learn why the Antler Queen had tufts of hair stuck to her robes in the first episode. I actually turned on both episodes at the same time and watched the various scenes play out, and even though many moments are the same, it’s striking just how much more intense and ominous and dreadful the original hunt was from this version. There are also weird differences. In the pilot, Misty looks up and smiles as they all stand around eating by the fire. In this episode, it’s the next morning but she does the exact same thing. It’s just a little odd. The big “twist” in this timeline is that Hannah disguised herself as Nat for the hunt, which Nat does not actually participate in (thank god). Instead, she’s off on her own, climbing a nearby mountaintop in order to radio for help. She gets all the way up there and nobody answers. She seems almost defeated when suddenly a voice crackles on the other end. “I can hear you.” So we know that Natalie is responsible for their rescue, after all, and it’s a pretty great moment except for the music choice. Aerosmith? Really? “We’re living on the edge” belting out over this moment feels hokey rather than triumphant. If ever there was a time to bring the orchestral score into an episode, it would be while Nat screams into the radio, begging for someone to answer. I keep imagining how this all could have played out so much better. Killing Nat off at the end of Season 2 was a huge mistake, and it definitely feels like Season 2 was radically changed to accomodate this. As much as I hate recastings, this might have been a time to recast Juliette Lewis instead of changing the entire story to fit her departure. Not having Nat in the adult timeline just ruins the 90s timeline for me. Both Nat and Jackie being dead makes the adult timeline pointless and unsatisfying. And no, I don’t think the final conflict for the adult Yellowjackets ought to be a weird Tai and Misty vs Shauna vs Melissa setup. There were moments throughout this episode and this season that I genuinely enjoyed, but this should have been such a big, earth-shattering finale and it was ultimately just another letdown. Less stupid than the Season 2 finale, but just mediocre. There’s something tragic about a great show devolving into a mediocre one, but here we are. What did you think? Let me know on Twitter, Instagram, Bluesky or Facebook. Also be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel and follow me here on this blog. Sign up for my newsletter for more reviews and commentary on entertainment and culture.

Stream On: Streaming devices like Steam Link open up new ways for users to enjoy their PC game libraries across different locations and devices via network access. Now, Razer is introducing a Steam Link alternative designed to optimize the experience, regardless of the hardware users are streaming to. Razer first introduced its PC Remote Play service at CES 2025, offering select users early access through a beta test. Now, the feature is available to all iPhone and Android users, with the company promising a significantly improved streaming experience thanks to broader controller compatibility and enhanced video codec support. Similar to Valve's Steam Link and other remote play services, Razer PC Remote Play allows users to stream their PC game library to other devices over a network connection. The service supports mobile devices (Android and iPhone) as well as additional Windows PCs, giving users access to games purchased through platforms like Steam, Epic Games Store, and others. It also supports Microsoft's Game Pass service. The setup process for streaming games to a mobile device is somewhat complex. Razer acknowledges this and has published a step-by-step guide. To get started, users must install both the Nexus and PC Remote Play apps on their mobile device, enable remote play in the Razer Cortex application on their PC, sign in with their Razer ID, and complete the pairing process between their PC and smartphone. Once the initial setup is complete, users can connect their controller to the streaming device, whether it's Razer's own Kishi or another compatible controller. From there, they can begin streaming their previously purchased PC games. According to Razer, PC Remote Play supports the AV1 codec for improved video quality and reduced latency. The service also appears to optimize gameplay by leveraging the maximum frame rate and resolution supported by the target device. // Related Stories If you're like me, you probably cringe at any request involving more app downloads, account registrations, setup steps, or multi-screen gaming hassles. But Razer is aiming to win over couch-loving gamers by offering broad controller compatibility, instant game launching with customizable controls, built-in game recording, and more. When paired with the Razer Kishi Ultra on Android, PC Remote Play also delivers immersive haptic feedback through a feature the company calls Razer Sensa HD Haptics. And for those who prefer a more elaborate setup, iPad users can enjoy full compatibility with external keyboards, mice, and trackpads.