Bungie finally took the wraps off its upcoming team-based extraction shooter, Marathon, sharing a look at gameplay and a cinematic short during its showcase this weekend. We also now know the release date: September 23. Marathon will be available on Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, and support full cross play and cross save. Marathon, a reboot of Bungie’s 30-year-old FPS series, was first announced back in 2023, and we’ve heard little more about it until now. Now, Bungie says: In Marathon, players inhabit a Runner, a cybernetic mercenary scouring the remains of a lost colony of Tau Ceti IV for fortune and power. Players team up in crews of three as they battle rival Runner teams and hostile security forces for weapons and upgrades. Survive and everything they’ve scavenged is theirs to keep for future runs on Tau Ceti IV — or if they’re brave enough, a journey to the derelict Marathon ship that hangs above. If you missed the live Gameplay Reveal Showcase on Saturday, you can catch up on all the highlights now on Bungie’s website and the official Discord. The team says there will be a “fairly small” Closed Alpha Test from April 23 to May 4, ahead of bigger tests leading up to the release in September. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/bungie-shares-first-looks-at-gameplay-from-its-new-shooter-marathon-alongside-a-release-date-213530509.html?src=rss

Looking for NYT Strands answers and hints? Here's all you need to know to solve today's game, including the spangram.

As the old folklore goes, if you are feeling extra tired and cranky this week, the upcoming full moon might be to blame. And while you definitely won’t turn into a werewolf, there is some data to suggest the old folklore is true, even if the scientific research on the topic is limited: A 2013 sleep study found that during a full moon, participants spent 30% less time in deep sleep and lost out on 20 minutes of slumber on average. However, skywatchers are in for a treat this weekend, even if they may be missing a little sleep, as a full moon will rise on Saturday night. Here’s what to know about the full moon, and how best to see it. What is the name of the full moon? Typically there are 12 full moons a year, one for every month. Each of these has a nickname given to it by the Old Farmer’s Almanac, based on Native American culture and other traditional North American historical sources. April’s full moon is known as the Pink Moon, but this does not refer to the color of the orb. It is based on the flowers that begin to bloom in spring. There are other names for April’s full moon that celebrate the season. The Algonquin called it the Breaking Ice Moon, while the Lakota dubbed it the Moon When the Ducks Come Back. Even within the same tribe, there were different preferred monikers. The Dakota referred to it as both the Moon When the Streams Are Again Navigable, and the Moon When the Geese Lay Eggs. Anything else to know about the full Pink Moon? Beyond its colorful name, the full Pink Moon will occur just before apogee—this fancy NASA vocab word means the moon is the farthest away from Earth during its elliptical orbit. Because of the distance, the full Pink Moon is considered a “micromoon,” as it is smaller and dimmer to the human eye compared to a normal full moon or a supermoon. How does Easter play into the full pink micromoon? Full moons are also a tool used by the Christian Church to determine when the Easter holiday will occur. Christmas is always December 25, but Easter is on the Sunday after the so-called Paschal Full Moon. So this year, the full Pink Moon and the Paschal Full Moon happen to be two names for the same celestial event, depending on your religious preferences. This is not always the case. How can you best view April’s full moon? To catch a glimpse of this cosmic wonder, head outside on April 12. According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, the moon will rise at 8:22 p.m. EDT. For best viewing, find a location away from bright city lights. A pair of binoculars or a telescope will help you see more details of the moon. What’s the next celestial event to look forward to? If you need something to look forward to, the night sky has your back. On the evenings of April 21 and 22, the annual Lyrid meteor shower will reach its peak. More to come on this cosmic wonder.

While the folks at the Macrodata Refinement facility in Lumon’s ‘severed’ division really had no idea what it is they were actually doing, they definitely had some incredible gear to work with. The computers seen on the sets of Apple’s hit TV series Severed were heavily inspired by the Data General “Dasher” Terminals from 1977. With a similar white and blue aesthetic, they embodied the cathode-ray clicky keyboard bakelite generation of tech from the 70s and 80s, which I believe adds to Severance’s mystique and appeal. You marvel at the designs on the show, without really being able to place them in a defined year. Is Severance a period sci-fi show? Is it futuristic? Current day? You can’t really tell. However, if you’re looking for a taste of the severed lifestyle, Atomic Keyboards is now selling a replica of the MDR keyboard from the series. It’s built to be absolutely usable, with a 73-key, 70% layout… but with no Escape, no Control, and no Options keys. Sound familiar? Also, please try to enjoy each keystroke equally. Designer: Atomic Keyboard Severance has really managed to cultivate a hardcore audience over the past few months, with Season 2 vastly outpacing its first season in crowd appeal and anticipation. Severance’s crew made multiple pit-stops across the world, with crowds thronging to attend themed events. In fact, Apple’s website even has a listing for the ‘Lumon Terminal Pro’, playing perfectly into the hype. However, if you’re looking for some Severance memorabilia or merch, there’s nothing much Apple offers. You could sign up for a Neuralink chip but I would highly recommend against it. The closest second step is buying the MDR Dasher Keyboard, which Atomic Keyboard’s built to perfectly replicate the peripheral from the series. It comes with the exact same shape and color scheme, the same keys, and the same trackball on the right. There is, however, a palpable lack of a few keys, like an escape, control, or alt key. Because on the severed floor, there’s no escape, no sense of control, or no alternative. Praise Kier. The MDR Dasher Keyboard is up for preorder if you’re interested in a unique peripheral that’s *somewhat* useful. Typing should be fairly comfortable, given the cherry-esque keycaps and (presumable) mechanical switches. Use it to send mails, sort ‘scary’ numbers, or tell your annoying colleagues to devour feculence. Don’t blame us if you get reported to Ms. Huang… or worse, get sent to the Break Room. You can, however, blame your Outie instead. I hear that works. The keyboard’s original price was listed as $399, but it’s safe to assume that tariffs have thrown the tech world in a bit of a tailspin. I’m assuming there may be revisions (maybe even discounts), but the only way to get your hands on this, for now, is to go to the Atomic Keyboard website (make sure you notice the website logo on the top left!), claim fealty to Kier Eagan, and sign up for more news and a preorder date. The post You Can Now Preorder the Severance Keyboard – But it Ships Without an Escape Key first appeared on Yanko Design.

Apple's reprieve from Trump's reciprocal tariffs against Chinese imports of iPhones and Macs is only temporary, as tariffs aimed at semiconductor imports will be arriving within a few months.Tim Cook and Donald Trump in a meeting at the White House in 2018Late on Friday, Apple was granted a massive benefit from President Donald Trump, in the form of tariff exemptions applying against imports from China. However, it seems that those exemptions will only be temporary, as other tariffs are on the way.According to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick speaking to ABC News, it is only a temporary reprieve. While iPhone, iPad, and Mac imports won't be subject to the 145% reciprocal tariff that applies to Chinese imports, Lutnick says a "semiconductor tariff" will be applied instead. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

After a rocky launch, KUNOS Simulazioni’s Assetto Corsa EVO is on more solid footing with Special Events, Driving Academy and more available for early access players. However, there’s much more to come, which executive Manager and studio co-founder Marco Massarutto outlines in a new video. These include Open Mode, which won’t require being online to drive, and the new Career Mode. The latter will combine “progression, in-game economy, and the Driving Academy,” and you won’t need an online connection to play it. Special Events will be available in both modes, though internet connectivity is required. Technical improvements for performance on VR and triple-screen set-ups, AI behavior (with skill level affecting their tactics), a revamped UI for AI driver grids, a new Custom Race Weekend option, and multiplayer. The latter is undergoing internal testing and will launch this Summer for players, offering “redesigned netcode” and “ongoing improvements for a stable and competitive online experience.” Finally, KUNOS will deliver “highly requested cars” (like open-wheelers) much sooner and implement modding tools during early access instead of after. Stay tuned for an updated roadmap. Assetto Corsa EVO is available for PC via Steam Early Access. Check out our impressions here.

By the time Apple releases M5-powered iPads, using iPadOS may feel closer to working on a Mac, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in today’s Power On newsletter. It won’t be macOS running on a tablet, but he writes that the changes will be significant enough to make people who want such a thing happy. Updates to iPadOS coming this year will be focused “on productivity, multitasking and app window management — with an eye on the device operating more like a Mac,” according to Gurman. He says these changes are due “about a year” after the release of the M4 iPad Pro, a fantastic tablet with far more power than its software demands. Gurman’s report doesn’t give any indication of what Apple’s updated multitasking will look like, and it’s best to reserve any excitement until we see more. Back in 2022, Apple added Stage Manager to iPadOS 16, a feature that enables windowing and also groups app windows together in a dock-like collection on the side of the display. It might have seemed like an exciting change if you wanted to be able to ditch your MacBook, but what shipped felt too half-hearted to be a useful step in the direction of a proper desktop operating … Read the full story at The Verge.

In this hands-on tutorial, we’ll build an MCP (Model Context Protocol) server that allows Claude Desktop to fetch stock news sentiment and daily top gainers and movers via the AlphaVantage API. Since most LLMs can’t directly access real-time financial data, this solution uses MCP to provide real-time insights. We’ll expose two tools from our server: get_news_sentiment get_top_movers Let’s walk through each step. Step 1: Setting Up the Environment We will first set up our environment and start with installing the uv package manager. For Mac or Linux: curl -LsSf https://astral.sh/uv/install.sh | sh For Windows (PowerShell): powershell -ExecutionPolicy ByPass -c "irm https://astral.sh/uv/install.ps1 | iex" We will then create a new project directory and initialize it with uv uv init stockNews cd stockNews We can now create and activate a virtual environment. For Mac or Linux: uv venv source .venv/bin/activate For Windows: uv venv .venv\Scripts\activate We will now install the required dependencies uv add mcp httpx python-dotenv Step 3: Setting Up the Environment Variables We will now create a .env file that contains the API key for AlphaVantage. To generate a free API key: Go to https://www.alphavantage.co/ Click on Get free API key button, or use the following url https://www.alphavantage.co/support/#api-key Enter your email and other required details. You’ll receive an API key—copy it and keep it safe, as this will be used to authenticate your requests. Now, create a .env file and add the following line: ALPHA_VANTAGE_API_KEY = your_api_key Step 4: Implementing the MCP Server and integrating AlphaVantage First create a stockNews.py file in the directory that we created and add the following code snippets: Importing packages and setting up the instance: We will first import the necessary packages and set up instance to use the API from typing import Any import os import httpx from mcp.server.fastmcp import FastMCP from dotenv import load_dotenv # Load .env variables load_dotenv() API_KEY = os.getenv("ALPHA_VANTAGE_API_KEY") # Initialize FastMCP server mcp = FastMCP("alpha-finance") # Constants BASE_URL = "https://www.alphavantage.co/query" Helper functions Next, let’s add our helper functions for querying the data from AlphaVantage. async def call_alpha_vantage(endpoint: str, params: dict[str, Any]) -> dict[str, Any] | None: """Generic async caller to Alpha Vantage.""" params["apikey"] = API_KEY params["function"] = endpoint async with httpx.AsyncClient() as client: try: response = await client.get(BASE_URL, params=params, timeout=30.0) response.raise_for_status() return response.json() except Exception: return None Implementing tool execution The tool execution handler is responsible for executing the logic of each tool. @mcp.tool() async def get_news_sentiment(ticker: str) -> str: """Get news sentiment data for a stock ticker. Args: ticker: Stock ticker symbol (e.g., MSFT, AAPL) """ data = await call_alpha_vantage("NEWS_SENTIMENT", {"tickers": ticker.upper()}) if not data or "feed" not in data: return "Couldn't retrieve news sentiment." articles = data["feed"][:3] result = [] for item in articles: result.append(f""" 📰 {item['title']} Summary: {item['summary']} Source: {item['source']} | Published: {item['time_published']} """) return "\n---\n".join(result) @mcp.tool() async def get_top_movers() -> str: """Get top gainers and losers from the stock market. No arguments required. """ data = await call_alpha_vantage("TOP_GAINERS_LOSERS", {}) if not data: return "Couldn't retrieve top movers." gainers = data.get("top_gainers", [])[:3] losers = data.get("top_losers", [])[:3] result = "**Top Gainers**\n" result += "\n".join([ f"{g['ticker']} ({g.get('change_percentage', 'N/A')})" for g in gainers ]) result += "\n\n**Top Losers**\n" result += "\n".join([ f"{l['ticker']} ({l.get('change_percentage', 'N/A')})" for l in losers ]) return result Running the server Finally, let’s initialize and run the server: if __name__ == "__main__": mcp.run(transport="stdio") We will now test our server from an existing MCP host, Claude for Desktop. Step 5: Testing the server First, ensure you have Claude for Desktop installed. If not, download and install the latest version from the official source. If you already have it, make sure it’s up to date. Next, you’ll need to configure Claude to connect with your MCP server. To do this, open the claude_desktop_config.json file located in the Claude directory using any text editor. If the file doesn’t exist, go ahead and create it manually. For MacOS/Linux: { "mcpServers": { "stockNews": { "command": "uv", "args": [ "--directory", "/ABSOLUTE/PATH/TO/PARENT/FOLDER/stockNews", "run", "stockNews.py" ] } } } For Windows: { "mcpServers": { "stockNews": { "command": "uv", "args": [ "--directory", "C:\\ABSOLUTE\\PATH\\TO\\PARENT\\FOLDER\\stockNews", "run", "stockNews.py" ] } } } This configuration lets Claude for Desktop know that: There’s an MCP server called “stockNews”. It should be launched using the following command: uv –directory /ABSOLUTE/PATH/TO/PARENT/FOLDER/stockNews run stockNews.py Once you’ve added this to your config file, save the file and restart Claude for Desktop to apply the changes. Test with commands To confirm that Claude for Desktop has recognized the two tools from your stockNews server, look for the hammer icon in the Claude interface — this icon indicates tool access. After clicking on the hammer icon, you should see two tools listed: We can test the server by running the following prompts: What is the news sentiment for Apple? Who are the top gainers and losers from the stock market? When you ask Claude a question: The client sends your query to Claude. Claude reviews the available tools (like get_news_sentiment or get_top_movers) and determines which one(s) to use based on your question. The selected tool is executed via the MCP server you configured earlier. The tool returns the results back to Claude. Claude uses those results to craft a natural language response. The final response is shown to you in the chat interface. This seamless flow is what allows Claude to interact with real-time data in a structured and controlled way. Conclusion: Our MCP-based stock insights server extends Claude Desktop’s capabilities by enabling real-time financial data retrieval. By integrating the AlphaVantage API with a custom MCP server, users can fetch live news sentiment and track top market movers directly through Claude. This setup empowers users with timely, actionable stock insights—all within a conversational interface—making financial analysis more efficient, contextual, and interactive. Arham IslamI am a Civil Engineering Graduate (2022) from Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, and I have a keen interest in Data Science, especially Neural Networks and their application in various areas.Arham Islamhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/arhamislam/40+ Cool AI Tools You Should Check Out (Oct 2024)Arham Islamhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/arhamislam/Pinterest Researchers Present an Effective Scalable Algorithm to Improve Diffusion Models Using Reinforcement Learning (RL)Arham Islamhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/arhamislam/Meta AI Researchers Open-Source Pearl: A Production-Ready Reinforcement Learning AI Agent LibraryArham Islamhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/arhamislam/Researchers from the University of Texas Showcase Predicting Implant-Based Reconstruction Complications Using Machine Learning

The weekend is officially here, and we've rounded up the best deals you can find! Discover the best deals for April 13 below:Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii for $49.99Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii - PlayStation 4Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii - Xbox Series XThe latest Like a Dragon game stars everyone's favorite ex-yakuza, Goro Majima, on an adventure to sail the seas as a pirate. When Majima wakes up unable to remember anything about himself, he embarks on a quest to regain his memories, and of course, in true Like a Dragon fashion, things get crazy. This is the lowest we've seen this game so far, so be sure to pick up a copy while you can.Save 55% Off The 4K Middle-Earth 6-Film CollectionMiddle-Earth 6-Film Collection (Extended & Theatrical) (4K Ultra HD + Digital)The Lord of the Rings trilogy is simply one of the greatest experiences you will ever have. I try my best to watch through the extended editions once each year, but the fun doesn't stop there. There's also The Hobbit trilogy, which is another incredible set of films. This weekend at Amazon, you can score all six films in beautiful 4K for only $94.68. Previously, both trilogies were priced just below this separately, so this is a great deal.$400 Off Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 RTX 4060 Gaming LaptopAsus ROG Zephyrus G14 14" 3K OLED AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS RTX 4060 Gaming Laptop with 16GB RAM, 1TB SSDGaming laptops can be tricky to buy, as there are many different factors you have to consider. With more power comes worse battery life, and you also have to think about the screen since you won't need a monitor. If you're in the market for a new laptop, this Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 is an incredible choice. You can save $400 off this weekend, scoring a device packed with a Ryzen 9 8945HS, 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM, a mobile RTX 4060, and even 1TB of SSD storage. Plus, did I mention this laptop has an OLED display?Super Mario Party Jamboree for $44.99Super Mario Party Jamboree - Nintendo SwitchWith the recent reveal of Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games, it's no question that you are going to want to save anywhere you can. The Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of Super Mario Party Jamboree is set to cost $79.99, but you can upgrade from a Nintendo Switch copy for presumably $20. This weekend, save your cash and pick up a copy of Super Mario Party Jamboree from Woot for only $44.99.Save on Gaming Monitors at Best BuySamsung - Odyssey G51C 32" QHD FreeSync Premium Gaming Monitor with HDR10Samsung - 27” Odyssey FHD IPS 240Hz G-Sync Gaming MonitorAcer - Nitro 27" IPS LED 180Hz 0.5ms FreeSync Gaming MonitorAcer Nitro-27.0" IPS WQHD 180Hz 0.5ms FreeSync Monitor with HDR 10This weekend, Best Buy has quite a few gaming monitors on sale. You can save anywhere from $50 to $200, depending on the model. Whether you're searching for a higher refresh rate, brighter screen, or bigger display, there are options here. If you're on the hunt for an upgrade to your setup, today is a great day to score a discounted monitor at Best Buy.Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster Collection for $39.99FINAL FANTASY I-VI Collection Anniversary Edition (2024)The Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster Collection has hit a new all-time low at Woot, priced at just $39.99. The first six Final Fantasy titles paved the way for the series as we see it today. Many fans still regard both Final Fantasy IV and Final Fantasy VI as some of the best that Final Fantasy has to offer, with gripping narratives and engaging gameplay. This package includes all six Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters, which feature updated graphics, soundtracks, font, and more.Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy for $34.39Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy for Nintendo SwitchApollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy combines Ace Attorney 4-6 into one package! This collection features 16 episodes in total, which can easily provide dozens of hours of fun. Some of the new features exclusive to this remastered collection include the Orchestra Hall to listen to in-game BGM, the Art Library to view illustrations, and the animation studio, where you can utilize character animations to create your own scenes!The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak II Deluxe Edition for $50.39The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak II Deluxe Edition - PlayStation 5The Legend of Heroes, mostly referred to as the Trails series, is growing immensely with each passing year. It's a rarity in the JRPG world, as each entry is directly connected to one another. As of 2024, the series has sold north of 8.5 million copies across its 13 entries. If you're patiently awaiting Trails beyond the Horizon this fall, don't miss out on picking up its prequel at a discount.Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble for $19.99Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble Launch Edition - Nintendo SwitchSuper Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is the return to form many Monkey Ball fans have waited years for. You've got over 200 courses, tons of guest characters, and all sorts of modes—what's not to love? In our 8/10 review, we wrote, "Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is a brilliant return to form. Monkey Ball has finally found its way home again with a set of 200 fantastic courses that range from delightfully charming to devilishly challenging, backed up by tight mechanics and predictable physics that put me in total control of my monkey’s fate."Pre-Order the Dan Da Dan Season 1 Blu-ray for $24.49DAN DA DAN: Season OneDan Da Dan was one of my favorite anime series of 2024, and the fact that you can take home all of Season 1 for just $24.49 is an absolute steal. Following Momo Ayase and Ken Takakura, Dan Da Dan is a comedic adventure that throws together aliens, spirits, and so much more. Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven for $29.99Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the SevenRomancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven is arguably the best entry point into the SaGa series at this time, and you can score a PS5 or Switch copy for a new all-time low of $29.99. Acting as a full 3D remake of the 1993 release, this game features English and Japanese voiceovers, rearranged music, retooled gameplay, and more. If you're still unsure about Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven, you can check out the free demo across all platforms!

A team of researchers in Germany have revived algae cells found buried at the bottom of the Baltic Sea, where they'd lain dormant for more than 7,000 years.For millennia, the cells, imprisoned under layers of sediment, were deprived of oxygen or light. But once revived, they showed full functional recovery, the researchers report in a study published in The ISME Journal, firing back up their oxygen production and multiplying again like it was no big deal. According to the team, this is the oldest known organism retrieved from aquatic sediments to be revived from dormancy, providing a stunning example of what's possible in the burgeoning field of "resurrection ecology.""It is remarkable that the resurrected algae have not only survived 'just so,' but apparently have not lost any of their 'fitness,' i.e. their biological performance ability," study lead author Sarah Bolius of the Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research said in a statement about the work. "They grow, divide and photosynthesize like their modern descendants."When entering a dormant state, organisms can weather poor environmental conditions by storing energy and lowering their metabolism. Mammals like hedgehogs, for example, accomplish this by hibernating, relying on their body fat to outlast the winter.But in the Baltic Sea, the conditions are just right to allow some algae to survive far longer than what a typical dormant state would allow. Upon becoming dormant, the phytoplankton cells sink to the bottom of the ocean, where they're gradually buried under accumulating layers of sediment.These latest specimens were extracted from nearly 800 feet underwater, in an area known the Eastern Gotland Deep. Here, the waters are considered anoxic, meaning they have virtually no oxygen, especially at the lowest depths. Without this element, decomposition can't set in. And with the seafloor acting as a shield, there's no sunlight to damage the dormant algae cells, either. In all, algae from nine separate samples were able to be restored after the researchers placed them back in favorable conditions. The eldest was dated to 6,871 years old, plus or minus 140 years, an estimate the researchers could confidently make thanks to the "clear stratification" of the sediment, according to Bolius."Such deposits are like a time capsule containing valuable information about past ecosystems and the inhabiting biological communities, their population development and genetic changes," Bolius said.And that's what's really promising. Bolius believes that by reviving the dormant organisms, they'll also learn more about the environment during the period they originally lived in, such as the water's salinity, oxygen, and temperature conditions."The fact that we were actually able to successfully reactivate such old algae from dormancy is an important first step in the further development of the 'Resurrection Ecology' tool in the Baltic Sea," Bolius added. "This means that it is now possible to conduct 'time-jump experiments' into various stages of Baltic Sea development in the lab."More on ocean life: It Turns Out Sharks Make Noises, and Here's What They Sound LikeShare This Article