OpinionApril 11, 20254 min readDear Breakthrough Prize Billionaires: Fund the Science You’re Watching Trump DestroyThe billionaires behind Facebook and Google can do more than hand out glitzy awards for science. They should fund the research the Trump administration has cannedBy Megha Satyanarayana Laureates line up onstage during the 11th Breakthrough Prize Ceremony at Barker Hangar on April 05, 2025 in Santa Monica, California. Lester Cohen/Getty Images for Breakthrough PrizeIn a lavish party they called the “Oscars of Science,” the billionaires behind the Breakthrough Prizes handed out $3-million awards in April to the researchers in life sciences, physics and math they’ve deemed “heroes of our society.”The 1 percenters behind the prizes include Sergey Brin and Mark Zuckerberg, who attended and helped fund Donald Trump’s inauguration, as well as Yuri Milner and former 23 and Me CEO Anne Wojcicki, who also have ties to the Trump family.It’s ironic, of course, that Zuckerberg and Brin rolled out the red carpet for science while the autocrat they helped take office ruthlessly carpet-bombs the U.S. scientific enterprise. It’s hard to feel any sympathy for these modern-day Rockefellers, who cast their lot with a man whose mind-boggling trade war has suddenly punched holes in their net worths.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.So here’s a suggestion for the redemption tour, fellas: Fund more basic research. Back more science. Put your money into the beginning of the next Breakthrough Prizes instead of at the end. And while you’re at it, make sure that work you fund is open source, peer-reviewed, well-designed and ethical, not subject to anti-DEI lunacy, undue influence or conflict of interest. Do your best to help re-create the scientific juggernaut that helped enrich you and understand that it will still not be enough.This about-face would not save face, but it could help save science. The damage you’ve enabled is simply unfathomable.Since the president’s first days in office, science has been under the guillotine at every turn. From freezing federal funding that goes to universities to firing in-house scientists at multiple federal agencies, Trump and Elon Musk’s plan to reduce the size of the federal government and cancel all research that doesn’t fit into their right wing ideology of cisgendered, heterosexual whiteness has threatened the immediate livelihoods of hundreds of scientists, not to mention the American public. Clinical trials have abruptly stopped, public lands have been opened to private extraction, and the average American has woken up each day with fewer evidence-based safeguards and less accountability for what remains.That the Breakthrough billionaires can throw a Hollywood party and laud the kind of science that has given us powerful weight-loss drugs and insight into the inner workings of the atom is simply insulting, as they not only watch Rome burn in the process but have used their cash to kindle the fire.Science and innovation in the U.S. are a trillion-dollar endeavor. For every public dollar we spend on research, we get more than twice that back in economic returns. Publicly funded science gave us nearly every single thing these people celebrated last week. Joel Habener, one of the scientists awarded with the Breakthrough Prize for the discovery of GLP-1, the basis of the blockbuster drugs Ozempic and Wegovy, has had funding from the National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases for decades. Stephen Hauser, one of the scientists awarded for work in developing rituximab, a biologic drug for multiple sclerosis, has multiple grants from Health and Human Services agencies. David Liu, gene editing savant? Federal dollars fund his research, too.The Large Hadron Collider at CERN is an international scientific venture. Guess who funds 20 percent of some of the prizewinning research there? The National Science Foundation. And Rebecca Jensen-Clem, one of the astronomers who won a physics prize, is funded in part, by NASA.Whether or not these particular scientists or these particular projects get caught up in the administration’s ideology sweep is irrelevant. Trump showed us, over and over during his first administration, how little he cared about science and how little he cared about evidence, unless he could take credit for it. Gutting federal research, pausing academic research, all of it slows the R & D engine that has made this country such a superpower, such an ambassador of goodwill around the world. What DOGE and the Trump administration are doing isn’t just awful. It’s incredibly bad policy, both foreign and domestic, and our best minds will leave. Science is an undeniable tool for diplomacy. But not if scientists can’t trust their government.Meanwhile the Carnegies of a new era celebrated Trump’s ascendence for what it might do for them—remove regulations and ease the ability to use artificial intelligence for anything and everything.It hasn’t worked. Trump took the money. He hasn’t delivered. And no one could've imagined this was coming, right?So, now, tech billionaires, comes the reckoning. Now comes the realization that the team to which you hitched your wagon has its own agenda, one that easily sacrifices you. Understand that people may not forgive you – some of you once campaigned against Trump, but now you want his favor. But make amends. Shore up American science. Put your money where your red carpet is until evidence-based thought leads our country once again. If you want the innovation that will make your businesses thrive, pay for it.Fix the wrong you helped realize. Fund the science that Trump and his administration want to erase.This is an opinion and analysis article, and the views expressed by the author or authors are not necessarily those of Scientific American.

While Switch 2 may have dominated any and all Nintendo news this month so far, we still have some Sega-related goodness for the here and now to break things up a bit. Read more

Design-wise, it’s equally ambitious. The customizable door panels (sold separately) can help you match the appliance to your space. Inside, the layout is highly intentional: the Beverage Center tucks a water dispenser and auto-fill pitcher behind a closed panel, keeping the exterior clean, and adjustable shelves let you store items of varying size. Petrino says she likes the flexibility of it, saying, “You can switch one section between fridge and freezer based on what you need.”Café CFE28TP4MW2 French Door Smart RefrigeratorSpecsDimensions: 69.875 x 35.75 x 36.25 inchesType: French doorAvailable finishes: Matte White, Stainless Steel, Matte BlackEnergy Star certified: YesCompatibility: Android, IOSUpsidesElegant designHot water dispenserAdvanced cooling systemsDownsidesHigher price pointIf you’re looking for something stylish and customizable, Petrino recommends this Café option, with its different finishes and hardware (including brushed bronze, stainless, copper, black, or bronze and flat black). We’re particularly fond of the matte white finish—it offers a soft, sophisticated alternative to stainless.Beyond offering distinctive looks, this smart fridge also offers separate climates and temperature controlled drawers to keep food fresh, LED lighting, and drop down trays for more storage capabilities. “It also includes an external water and ice dispenser, plus an option for hot water with precise temperatures, which are super convenient for tea or instant meals,” Petrino adds.Thermador Freedom Collection T48BT110NS French Door Smart RefrigeratorSpecsDimensions: 47.25 x 24.75 x 83.56 inchesType: French doorAvailable finishes: Stainless SteelEnergy Star certified: YesCompatibility: Android, IOSUpsidesPremium designVersatile storage optionsSmart connectivityDownsidesLarge footprint“This is a true luxury pick with tons of room and all the smart features you could want—like internal cameras, app control, Alexa compatibility, and even automatic water filter reordering,” Petrino says.ThermaFresh Pro drawers keep produce in peak condition with dialed-in humidity and temperature, while a flexible drawer switches between fridge, freezer, or a soft-freeze mode depending on what the dinner party calls for. Even the ice is elevated: Dual makers produce both diamond-shaped cubes and cocktail-worthy spheres.Samsung Bespoke French Door Refrigerator with AI Family Hub + AI VisionSpecsDimensions: 35.875 x 73 x 34.25 inchesType: French doorAvailable finishes: White Glass and Stainless Steel (nine other colors are sold separately)Energy Star certified: YesCompatibility: Android, IOSUpsidesInnovative AIFlexible storageCustomizable designDownsidesLearning curve on the smart features“This must be one of the most feature-rich smart fridges out there,” says Aaron Nichols, a virtual appliance expert at Frontdoor, an app that connects homeowners to virtual tradespeople to guide them through a home repair.It’s pretty swish. The standout feature is the expansive 32-inch AI Family Hub+ touchscreen, transforming the refrigerator into a central hub for family calendars, streaming media, and even internal camera views to monitor contents remotely. The AI Vision Inside technology adds a layer of convenience by identifying stored items, assisting in inventory management, and reducing food waste.​ The FlexZone compartment provides versatile storage spaces, making switching between refrigerator and freezer modes easy. The Beverage Center offers quick access to filtered water, featuring both an internal dispenser and an AutoFill water pitcher.​ We also love that the doors swing open with just a light touch on the sensor.GE Profile Smart Fingerprint Resistant French-Door RefrigeratorSpecsDimensions: 70 x 35.625 x 36.75 inchesType: French doorAvailable finishes: Stainless SteelEnergy Star certified: YesCompatibility: Android, IOSUpsidesHands free water fillingDoor-in-door storageAdjustable temperature drawerDownsidesNot as customizable as othersThis GE Profile fridge nails that sweet spot between polished and practical. The four-door design is sleek but smart—there’s a convertible drawer that shifts between fridge and freezer settings depending on what you’re stocking, making it perfect for chilling wine or keeping that cheese board you prepped for guests at the right temperature. The door-in-door feature is more than a gimmick—it’s a clever, rotating bin that gives you fast access to high-traffic items like coffee creamer or drinks without cracking open the entire fridge. And the water dispenser has an autofill function, so you can walk away mid-pour without risking a countertop flood.​ Nichols said he particularly likes that it “lets you create custom automation for your smart devices.”Frequently Asked QuestionsAre smart refrigerators worth it?For tech-forward homeowners or busy households, absolutely. Smart fridges streamline daily life and offer better organization, efficiency, and sometimes even energy savings. The trade-off? A higher price tag and the occasional software quirk. But, like most things, whether something is worth it depends on whether you use it (and in this case, all the additional features). Jill Siegel, AD PRO designer and co-owner of Texas-based Lavish, says one con to consider is that often “touchscreens and extras lose their appeal quickly,” and you may find that you didn’t need an over-the-top smart fridge after all.What to look for in a smart refrigeratorChoosing a new fridge isn’t just about finding the most high-tech model on the market—it’s about knowing which features will actually improve how the kitchen works (and looks). Below is a breakdown of what matters most.Size: “Whether you’re building new, remodeling, or replacing an existing unit, make sure the fridge’s dimensions align with your kitchen layout,” Siegel says. “Consider cabinetry depth and door clearance to ensure a proper fit.”For most homes, a fridge in the 25 to 28 cubic foot range strikes the right balance between generous storage and efficient use of space. French door and four-door flex models are ideal for wide shelving and drawer accessibility, while side-by-side designs can work well in narrower kitchens.Style: Consumers now have tons of options when it comes to smart fridges, so finding one that matches your personal style (or your other appliances, like your dishwasher and oven) is easier than ever before. Many brands offer panel-ready options that disappear into millwork, matte finishes in white or black, and customizable hardware that matches existing kitchen fixtures. Recessed or no-handle designs help keep clean lines uninterrupted, especially in open-plan kitchens.Features: Touchscreens, voice assistant compatibility, Wi-Fi connectivity, and internal cameras are now fairly standard at the high end—but not all features are created equal. Look for practical smart functions: calendars and reminders, app-based control (to adjust temps or monitor usage), inventory tracking, and notifications for open doors or filter changes. Bonus points for convertible drawers that shift between fridge and freezer settings, energy efficiency, and water systems that include autofill pitchers, hidden dispensers, and UV sanitization.

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The GameCube library is exclusive to Switch 2.Last week Nintendo announced GameCube games would be added to Switch 2's online expansion pack tier at launch.If you haven't already somehow seen it, one of the three games joining the service at launch is The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. Nintendo Treehouse showcased gameplay footage of this returning title last week, and now this week more footage has been shared on the Nintendo Today mobile app (thanks, Universo Nintendo).Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Earlier this week, Meta landed in hot water for using an experimental, unreleased version of its Llama 4 Maverick model to achieve a high score on a crowdsourced benchmark, LM Arena. The incident prompted the maintainers of LM Arena to apologize, change their policies, and score the unmodified, vanilla Maverick. Turns out, it’s not very competitive. The unmodified Maverick, “Llama-4-Maverick-17B-128E-Instruct,” was ranked below models including OpenAI’s GPT-4o, Anthropic’s Claude 3.5 Sonnet, and Google’s Gemini 1.5 Pro as of Friday. Many of these models are months old. Why the poor performance? Meta’s experimental Maverick, Llama-4-Maverick-03-26-Experimental, was “optimized for conversationality,” the company explained in a chart published last Saturday. Those optimizations evidently played well to LM Arena, which has human raters compare the outputs of models and choose which they prefer. As we’ve written about before, for various reasons, LM Arena has never been the most reliable measure of an AI model’s performance. Still, tailoring a model to a benchmark — besides being misleading — makes it challenging for developers to predict exactly how well the model will perform in different contexts. In a statement, a Meta spokesperson told TechCrunch that Meta experiments with “all types of custom variants.” “‘Llama-4-Maverick-03-26-Experimental’ is a chat optimized version we experimented with that also performs well on LMArena,” the spokesperson said. “We have now released our open source version and will see how developers customize Llama 4 for their own use cases. We’re excited to see what they will build and look forward to their ongoing feedback.”

Palermo is one of the oldest, most historic neighborhoods in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and also one of the fastest growing. There, a former parking garage was recently transformed into Class A office space by ODA, the New York office founded by Eran Chen. The revamped building, OLA Palermo, now boasts workspaces and public retail. Its location at the edge of a beloved public park was capitalized on: a new brewery, terraces, and rooftop spaces all stand to augment the locale’s connection to green space. Aisenson Studio was the local executive architect, and Inscape the landscape architect. From its upper levels, OLA Palermo affords great views of Palermo Hippodrome, one of Argentina’s oldest race tracks. The rooftop terrace affords sweeping views of Palermo. (Alan Karchmer) The city government of Buenos Aires previously bestowed Ámbito Gigena, as the stagnant property was formerly known, to developer BSD Investments. After the transaction, ODA successfully recycled 80 percent of the original parking structure. OLA Palermo has 160,000 square feet of usable space, including 40,000 square feet dedicated to public terraces, dotted by pedestrian paths, cafes, restaurants, retail, and an open-air promenade. Ramps, central to the building’s former use, are now populated with garden beds and ample seating. “This project is a great example of a public-private partnership to create a truly unique typology that will benefit the city and its citizens for decades to come,” Chen said. The architects recycled 80 percent of the original building (Alan Karchmer) The lobby of the office building (Alan Karchmer) The new, large-scale, mixed-use project connects both El Rosedal de Palermo and Palermo Hippodrome with one congruous surface, stitching together previously disconnected parts of the neighborhood. The building’s glass facade reflects the area’s nature back to visitors and pedestrians on the ground plane. Inside, the material palette pulls from existing concrete walls, with added neutral-colored furnishings and plants. Native fauna is interspersed throughout the terraces. (Alan Karchmer) The building is located close by to a large park. (Alan Karchmer) From afar the building stands out for its curves and sculpted concrete, all while seamlessly connecting pedestrians to nature. “We [had] an abandoned concrete infrastructure that [did] not speak at all with its surroundings nor is useful for the city and its inhabitants,” explained Álvaro García Resta, the city government of Buenos Aires’s secretary of urban development, prior to OLA Palermo’s completion. Looking forward, “it won’t be a park made to contemplate,” García Resta added, “it will be a dynamic area, to stroll and explore.”

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What is it with OnePlus and not making it perfectly obvious there is a deal going on when you look at the price? Like another ongoing OnePlus deal, there’s a deal on the OnePlus Nord N30 5G (the OnePlus budget phone to beat), but you won’t see any fancy slashes through the price. There’s just a thin blue line at the top that tells you that you can enter the code SPRING25 to save $70 on the phone. Once you see it, it is very obvious, but if you’re the type to zero in on the price, you could easily miss the fact that the budget $300 can now be gotten for just $230 instead. This is one of the best phone deals on the market for today if you want to spend the least amount of money possible on a phone. Tap the button below to check it out yourself or keep reading to see if the Nord N30 5G has enough power to fulfill your needs. The big question that has to be on your mind before buying a $230 phone is simple: Can it actually function? Our OnePlus Nord N30 5G review says “yes.” Our reviewer was not only able to play Marvel Snap on the phone, but was able to do so for a full hour and not totally drain the battery. It’s the kind of real world technical test that can tell you even more than other positive stats, such as the 120Hz refresh rate screen. The OnePlus Nord N30 5G also has a headphone jack, if that matters to you. Related It’s worth noting that the review wasn’t 100% positive, as our reviewer found the camera to work less well in dark lighting, but if you’re used to older phones or are coming from another budget phone, you’re probably not going to find this as much of an issue as our reviewer did. Check out the review and take a look at our pics yourself to help make the decision easier. If you want one of the best budget phones you can buy today, go ahead and take a look at this deal on the OnePlus Nord N30 5G. If you enter the code SPRING25 upon checkout you can get the $300 phone for just $230, saving you $70 in the process. Just tap the button below to get the offer. Then, go check out our favorite budget headphones and earbuds to pair with your new phone. Editors’ Recommendations

In ‘Dinner,’ Meera Sodha’s story of reclaiming her appetite will definitely spark yours. Her recipe for Fennel and Dill Dal aptly distills the overall vibe: fresh takes on comforting classics, mostly plant-based, altogether crowd-pleasing.