Chemical Hints on a Distant Planet Offer ‘Strongest Evidence Yet’ for Life Outside Our Solar System, Astronomers Say The James Webb Space Telescope spotted possible signatures for life in an exoplanet’s atmosphere. Still, researchers caution it’s far too early to call the findings definitive An artist's impression of K2-18b and its distant host star, visualized as if the planet had water and a hydrogen-rich atmosphere. A. Smith / N. Mandhusudhan / Cambridge University Scientists have detected what they say is the “strongest evidence yet” for the existence of extraterrestrial life, found on a giant planet 124 light-years away. The James Webb Space Telescope spotted possible chemical signatures that, on Earth, are only produced by life, such as algae. The compounds, called dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and dimethyl disulfide (DMDS), were reportedly identified on the planet K2-18b. The team’s findings were published in Astrophysical Journal Letters on Wednesday. “This the strongest evidence to date for a biological activity beyond the solar system,” says lead author Nikku Madhusudhan, an astrophysicist at the University of Cambridge in England, to Hannah Devlin at the Guardian. But the findings are not proof. “We are very cautious,” Madhusudhan adds. “We have to question ourselves, both on whether the signal is real and what it means.” Strongest hints yet of biological activity outside the solar system Watch on NASA’s planet-hunting Kepler mission discovered K2-18b in 2015. Exoplanets like that one are commonly referred to as sub-Neptunes—they’re larger than the Earth, but smaller than Neptune. Madhusudhan suggests the planet is a “Hycean” world, a term that comes from “hydrogen” and “ocean.” Hycean planets are thought to be covered in water and have hydrogen-rich atmospheres. Madhusudhan and his team first detected hints of dimethyl sulfide on the planet in 2023, along with carbon dioxide and methane. They were able to build on that research last year, using the James Webb telescope’s Mid-Infrared Instrument, which allows scientists to analyze the light from the world’s host star as it passes through the planet’s atmosphere. This offers researchers the chance to test what gases the atmosphere contains. The signal for the two identified chemicals “came through strong and clear,” he says in a statement. “Earlier theoretical work had predicted that high levels of sulfur-based gases like DMS and DMDS are possible on Hycean worlds,” says Madhusudhan in the statement. “And now we’ve observed it, in line with what was predicted. Given everything we know about this planet, a Hycean world with an ocean that is teeming with life is the scenario that best fits the data we have.” Still, the team urges caution in interpreting these results. They write that “a dedicated community effort in multiple directions—observational, theoretical and experimental,” will be needed to verify their findings. Astronomers not involved in the research have additionally expressed some skepticism about the study’s conclusions. “I think this is one of those situations where extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence,” says Laura Kreidberg, an astronomer at the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy who was not part of the research team, to Nell Greenfieldboyce at NPR. “I’m not sure we’re at the extraordinary evidence level yet.” “It’s not nothing,” adds Stephen Schmidt, a planetary scientist at Johns Hopkins University who did not participate in the study, to Carl Zimmer at the New York Times. “It’s a hint. But we cannot conclude it’s habitable yet.” The molecules detected by Webb could also be produced without the presence of life, such as in comets, explains astrophysicist Jake Taylor to Astha Rajvanshi at NBC News. “I do not believe this is the biosignature detection that will revolutionize astronomy,” he adds. But it’s “a good first step.” Meanwhile, other researchers have proposed that K2-18b isn’t brimming with water, but with magma, instead. That’s what Christopher Glein, a planetary scientist at the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, and his team argued this week in a preprint paper, which has not yet been peer-reviewed. If K2-18b is a magma planet, that would dash astronomers’ hopes that the world is habitable. If anything, the new findings and the debate around them are a testament to how much we have yet to learn about space and what lies within it. Joshua Krissansen-Totton, an astrobiologist at the University of Washington, tells the New York Times that he’s worried U.S. astronomers won’t be able to follow up on the study because of the Trump administration’s plans to cut NASA’s research budget almost by half. If that happens, he says, “the search for life elsewhere would basically stop.” Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday.

Brands are chasing Gen Z in games, and so it's no surprise that Jack in the Box is springing into the gaming world of Fortnite.Read More

AppLovin cuts another 97 jobs, including CEO of subsidiary studio Machine Zone It has filed seven WARN filings since June 2022; 120 jobs were impacted in November and 126 in October Image credit: Machine Zone News by Vikki Blake Contributor Published on April 17, 2025 AppLovin has laid off 97 people, including "most of" the staff employed at subsidiary studio Machine Zone and its CEO. As spotted by PocketGamer, these most recent 97 layoffs - which were effective as of March 21 according to WARN (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification) filings in California - come on top of a previous redundancy round earlier this year in which 89 people lost their jobs in January 2025. It's the seventh WARN notification AppLovin has filed since June 2022, with 120 jobs impacted in November 2024 and 126 in October. PocketGamer reports that the CEO and design director at Machine Zone - the team behind mobile games like Game of War: Fire Age and Mobile Strike - have all been impacted, with the CTO position cut in the previous round of layoffs. One former employee intimated that "most of Machine Zone was shut down." AppLovin has yet to comment publicly on the cuts, but is currently recruiting for new roles. In the first three months of 2025 alone, 1600 developers have lost their jobs, with cuts and closures at Freejam, Splash Damage, Piranha Games, Jar of Sparks, Ubisoft, ProbablyMonsters, Iron Galaxy, Sumo Group, Liquid Sword, NetEase Games, Toast Interactive, Night School Studio, Striking Distance, Until Dawn remake developers, Ballistic Moon, and - most recently - Eidos Montréal and PlaySide.

TechTarget and Informa Tech’s Digital Business Combine.TechTarget and InformaTechTarget and Informa Tech’s Digital Business Combine.Together, we power an unparalleled network of 220+ online properties covering 10,000+ granular topics, serving an audience of 50+ million professionals with original, objective content from trusted sources. We help you gain critical insights and make more informed decisions across your business priorities.Removal of Unity 6 from China 'not tied' to tariffs, says UnityRemoval of Unity 6 from China 'not tied' to tariffs, says UnityDevelopers in China can no longer access Unity 6, but will retain access to the Chinese version of Unity and Unity 2022 LTS.Bryant Francis, Senior EditorApril 17, 20252 Min ReadImage via Adobe Stock/Unity.At a GlanceUnity says the removal of Unity 6 from China, Hong Kong, and Macau is part of its long-term strategy in the region.As of April 7, 2025, game developers in China, Hong Kong, and Macau no longer have access to Unity 6. Unity announced this decision in a post on the Unity China blog, stating that the Chinese version of Unity (referred to as "Unity Engine") will be the primary development tool offered in the region going forward.Was the Chinese version of Unity 6 taken offline because of the 245 percent tariffs imposed on China by the Trump administration? According to Unity, the answer is "no." In a statement to Game Developer, a Unity spokesperson said that the decision to remove access to Unity 6 in the region is "part of the long-term plan that led to the creation of a China joint venture in 2022—it's not tied to current global tariff issues."The company stated the Chinese version of Unity "better meets Chinese developers' needs." Developers in China, Hong Kong, and Macau working on Unity 2022 LTS and earlier versions of the engine will continue to receive support from the company.The Chinese version of Unity is meant to serve a unique marketThe announcement by Unity's China entity offers a little more context for how the Chinese version of Unity differs from the one used around the globe. According to a version of the post viewed through Google Translate, the engine has "demonstrated excellent localized service capabilities in the fields of small game solutions, OpenHarmony solutions, HMI car solutions, etc., which can accurately meet the needs of the Chinese market and customers."Related:"Projects created based on the Unity engine can continue to be released globally without being affected," added Unity China."OpenHarmony solutions" refers to OpenHarmony, an open-source operating system that can interface with Huawei's HarmonyOS operating system. Meanwhile, according to technology consultancy Star, Chinese drivers are increasingly purchasing cars with built-in HMI (human machine interface) connectivity. Dedicated support for both of these features allows Unity developers in the region to more easily target platforms that aren't as widespread in other territories.The post backs up the claim from Unity HQ that the removal of Unity 6 in China is part of a grander business plan focusing on Chinese devices, and is part of the planned "stability" promised by new CEO Matthew Bromberg as the company finds its footing in a post-layoff, post-runtime fee world.But if you aren't one of those developers—and you were counting on Unity 6 to be your dedicated platform for the next few years of development—you might be frustrated to see a key tool taken away from you.Related:Read more about:Top StoriesUnityAbout the AuthorBryant FrancisSenior Editor, GameDeveloper.comBryant Francis is a writer, journalist, and narrative designer based in Boston, MA. He currently writes for Game Developer, a leading B2B publication for the video game industry. His credits include Proxy Studios' upcoming 4X strategy game Zephon and Amplitude Studio's 2017 game Endless Space 2.See more from Bryant FrancisDaily news, dev blogs, and stories from Game Developer straight to your inboxStay UpdatedYou May Also Like

Razer is selling laptops on its site again after a recent and sudden halt. In what seemed like a response to ongoing tariff tumult, the US Razer site had quietly pulled its Blade laptops from direct sales, including its new Blade 16 with Nvidia’s 50-series GPUs. Things seemed normal in other regions like Canada. But even after a week of paused sales and Reddit posts discussing Blade 16 preorders getting held up in US Customs, however, Razer never responded to The Verge’s inquiries about what’s going on. Now, some configurations of the 2025 Blade 16 have reappeared for US residents, though not all Blade laptops have returned to Razer’s US online store. Before the sales pause, there were still 2024 Blade 16 models available, as well as preorders for the Blade 18. Now, those are nowhere to be seen for US customers. Also, the 2025 Blade 16 is only available for immediate purchase with the RTX 5080 GPU. The entry-level RTX 5070 Ti and flagship RTX 5090 configurations are only listed with “notify me” buttons. And even more curious: the 5090 config is limited to 64GB of RAM and 4TB of storage for $4,899.99, but the review spec that Razer sent us for testing with 32GB / 1TB for $4,499.99 isn’t available. What’s also still unavailable is any pricing on the new Razer Adjustable Laptop Stand. But on the Canadian Razer site, you can find that stand with a $99.99 price, as well as the review spec of the 5090 Blade 16 and preorders for the Blade 18. We’ve reached out to Razer to try and get clarification about what’s going on.

Author(s): Towards AI Editorial Team Originally published on Towards AI. Good morning, AI enthusiasts! This week from the AI community: Open‑Sora 2.0 shows what open-source video generation can do on a tight budget. We also cover JAX’s growing role in high-performance computing, how inverse neural networks rethink input-output mapping, and where LLMs are still falling short in real-world orgs. As always, we’ve got fresh community builds, collab opportunities, and a meme to wrap it all up. Enjoy the read! What’s AI Weekly Open-Sora really caught my attention; it is a fully open-source video generator. They managed to train an end-to-end video generator with just 200,000$. Okay, 200,000$ is a lot of money, but it’s quite low compared to what OpenAI’s Sora or other state-of-the-art video generation models cost. So this week, I am diving into how Open‑Sora 2.0 is built and trained. The training pipeline is not just divided into two stages, but into three distinct stages, each carefully optimized to save compute, reduce cost, and deliver state‑of‑the‑art performance. Read why this matters in the article or watch the video on YouTube. — Louis-François Bouchard, Towards AI Co-founder & Head of Community We’ve got a new guest post out this week — this time with Rami’s Data Newsletter (aka Rami Krispin) — diving into something that doesn’t always get the hype it deserves: LLM data prep. Everyone talks about fine-tuning and model choice, but none of that matters if your data is a mess. In this piece, we explore practical ways to define data standards, ethically scrape and clean your datasets, and cut out the noise — whether you’re pretraining from scratch or fine-tuning a base model. If you’re working on LLMs, this is one of those foundations that’s easy to overlook but hard to ignore. 👉 Read the post here! Data Preparation for LLM: The Key To Better Model Performance Using high-quality data, ethical scraping, and data pre-processing to build reliable LLMs ramikrispin.substack.com Learn AI Together Community section! Featured Community post from the Discord Jonnyhightop has built OneOver, a complete AI workstation. It provides access to multiple powerful AI models through a single, intuitive interface. Users can simultaneously compare up to 3 AI models to find the best for each task, generate and compare images with the advanced Image Studio, and access text generation with specialized prompts and shortcuts. Test out the platform here and support a fellow community member. If you have any questions or feedback, share them in the thread! AI poll of the week! Most of you don’t feel OpenAI leads the LLM race anymore, so what other models do you use and for which tasks? Tell us in the thread! Collaboration Opportunities The Learn AI Together Discord community is flooding with collaboration opportunities. If you are excited to dive into applied AI, want a study partner, or even want to find a partner for your passion project, join the collaboration channel! Keep an eye on this section, too — we share cool opportunities every week! 1. Nericarcasci is working on LEO, a Python-based tool that acts like a conductor for AI. It currently uses local LLMs via Ollama and can suggest commands from natural language input. They are looking for an enthusiast who can take it further. If this sounds fun, reach out in the thread! 2. Robert2405 is looking for an accountability partner to study together. If you think this would help you as well, connect in the thread! 3. Bunnyfuwho has created a custom AI framework with a persistent persona across any interaction, a dynamic moral and ethical framework. They are looking for people who can test it and give feedback. If you think you can help, get the framework in the thread! Meme of the week! Meme shared by ghost_in_the_machine TAI Curated Section Article of the week Beyond Simple Inversion: Building and Applying Inverse Neural Networks By Shenggang Li This blog explores Inverse Neural Networks (INNs) as a method for determining system inputs (x) given observed outputs (y), particularly for complex, multi-valued, or noisy scenarios where traditional inversion fails. INNs utilize paired forward and inverse models trained with cycle consistency loss and regularization constraints (like range limits or smoothness priors) to reconstruct plausible inputs. The discussion in the blog included training strategies, using latent noise to find multiple solutions, and comparing MLP performance against the improved accuracy of Kolmogorov–Arnold Networks (KANs). It concludes with case studies demonstrating INN’s capabilities and suggesting promising future directions. Our must-read articles 1. JAX: The Hidden Gem of AI Research and High-Performance Computing By Harshit Kandoi This article examines JAX, a high-performance numerical computing library from Google Research, highlighting its advantages over TensorFlow and PyTorch. JAX excels in speed and scalability due to its just-in-time (JIT) compilation via XLA, automatic differentiation, and vectorization capabilities. It’s particularly suited for AI research, HPC, and scientific computing, offering features like seamless multi-GPU/TPU support and a NumPy-like API. While JAX faces challenges like a steeper learning curve and a less mature ecosystem than established frameworks, its unique strengths make it a valuable tool for researchers and those working on computationally demanding projects. 2. Manus AI — Does it Live Up to the Hype? By Thomas Reid The rise of autonomous AI agents is generating significant interest. This article reviews Manus, an autonomous AI agent capable of handling various tasks independently. The author tested Manus by requesting a travel itinerary from Edinburgh to Cusco, Peru. While Manus successfully generated a basic itinerary, it struggled with accessing real-time flight and hotel pricing data, providing only estimates and some inaccurate cost information. Although not fully autonomous in this instance, Manus offered a useful starting point for further research. 3. In-Depth Comparison Between KAN and MLPs By Fabio Yáñez Romero This article compares Kolmogorov-Arnold Networks (KANs) and Multilayer Perceptrons (MLPs), highlighting their mathematical foundations and practical applications in deep learning. KANs, based on the Kolmogorov-Arnold Representation Theorem, decompose multivariate functions into sums of univariate functions, offering advantages in interpretability and explainability due to their traceable, individual variable transformations. Conversely, MLPs, while benefiting from the Universal Approximation Theorem, present challenges in interpretability because of their complex, interconnected weight structures. While KANs show promise in symbolic learning and offer dynamic activation functions, they suffer from training instability, architectural complexity, and scalability issues compared to more established MLPs. 4. 10 Ways LLMs Can Fail Your Organization By Gary George This blog examines ten common ways Large Language Models (LLMs) can fail in organizational settings, illustrating each with real-world examples. These failures range from generating false information (“hallucinations”) and misinterpreting user queries to exhibiting bias, producing incoherent responses, and displaying inappropriate tones. It also highlights issues with data retrieval, straying from prompts, providing incomplete answers, and susceptibility to user manipulation. The author advocates for proactive risk mitigation strategies, including using LLM analytics and observability tools, to ensure reliable and trustworthy AI interactions. If you are interested in publishing with Towards AI, check our guidelines and sign up. We will publish your work to our network if it meets our editorial policies and standards. Join thousands of data leaders on the AI newsletter. Join over 80,000 subscribers and keep up to date with the latest developments in AI. From research to projects and ideas. If you are building an AI startup, an AI-related product, or a service, we invite you to consider becoming a sponsor. Published via Towards AI

During today's Mario Kart World Direct, we got a closer look at a number of new tracks, features, and racers, including Penguin. We've known Penguin was in the game since its reveal last week, but today's Direct decided to feature this blue cutie in a very meme-specific way...by repeatedly throwing him off cliffs.This happened not once, but twice during the Direct, as fans have pointed out on social media. On one occasion, Penguin simply misjudges a curve and sails neatly off over an icy landscape:But in a second, even more on the nose move, a Penguin in Free Roam drives straight off a cliff into the sea below while music from Super Mario 64 toodles away in the background:If you're confused as to why this is noteworthy, allow me to draw your attention to a long-standing community meme of Penguin from Super Mario 64. In Super Mario 64, players discovered years ago that it was possible to collect a Power Star from Mother Penguin by returning Baby Penguin to her, then to take Baby Penguin after the star appears and take them away again...or even drop them off a cliff:This bit has been memed into fame for over a decade by the Mario community, so it's extremely funny to see Nintendo acknowledge it even if it's in a somewhat subtle, plausible-deniability kind of way. Is this a horrendous thing to do? Society still hasn't come down cleanly on one side or another of the Penguin-cliff debate. At least Mario Kart World gives Penguin a nice little water vehicle so they can just keep going once they've landed.Today's Mario Kart Nintendo Direct wasn't exactly the font of new information many were hoping it would be, but we still got word on some interesting new stuff: more new characters, courses, items, and features, as well as a close look (courtesy of Penguin and others) of the new open world Free Roam mode, which will let players drive around anywhere in the world without restraint.You can catch up on everything announced right here. Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You can find her posting on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.

The women of WWE are at the forefront of sports entertainment like never before. And one of the newest history makers, Chelsea Green, is embracing that responsibility. The longtime heel recently broke new ground as the first-ever WWE Women’s United States Champion (and “longest-running” as she often jokes), stepping into a different kind of role and brave new era for the world’s biggest wrestling promotion.  Green’s reinvention represents a new chapter in the storied history of brilliant women in the WWE, from the promotion’s first female champion, The Fabulous Moolah, to Attitude era icons who became a household name during the ‘90s like Chyna, and ‘00s Ruthless Aggression stars like Lita and Trish Stratus. The 2010s were defined by the Divas Nikki Bella, AJ Lee, and their badass cohort. But in 2025 there are no more Divas, only Superstars like Green, Rhea Ripley, Bianca Belair, and Becky Lynch. It’s a brave new world for women in wrestling and Green is ready for it. To commemorate WrestleMania weekend and the beginning of Den of Geek magazine’s 10th anniversary celebration, Chelsea Green is taking over: The United States Champion will serve as our first-ever digital cover star and guest editor with exclusive behind-the-scenes video live from WrestleMania on our Instagram feed. For our cover feature chat, Green gave us an in-depth look at her winding journey to wrestling stardom, why she feels more empowered than ever, and the hustle she is putting into our Hollywood aspirations beyond wrestling. Climbing to the Top of the Mountain Although it might seem like she was born to be in the ring, becoming a wrestler wasn’t always in the cards. “It’s funny because a lot of my coworkers, they grew up knowing this is it,” Green tells us. “My husband and my best friend came out of the womb knowing they wanted to be wrestlers. I wasn’t that way. I was just always an extrovert, always a performer, always a drama queen, always the center of attention at school. So I knew that would parlay into my career. I just didn’t know how that looked.”  That all changed in a single moment, one that reshaped her aspirations to be an actor and set her on course to become the WWE Superstar she is today. She stepped in the ring for the first time at Storm Wrestling Academy to train and knew “absolutely nothing” about what she was getting into. “I stepped in that ring and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is what I was meant to do,'” she says.  Those lightning in a bottle moments have continued throughout her career keeping her focused on her journey as a professional athlete and eventually to becoming a WWE Superstar.  “Being called to TNA to do my first ever match on TV against Michin. And then fast forward a couple years after that, it was wrestling for All In as one of only four to five girls on the show. And then fast forward it was wrestling Pentagon for Lucha Underground. So there’s been so many moments that led up to WWE and the top of the mountain.” “I feel like I’m the most authentic version of myself now” Over the years, the way that women are represented and respected within WWE has shifted and changed. But with main card female wrestlers now commonplace and two WrestleMania main cards featuring female fighters—35 with Becky Lynch taking the Raw Women’s Championship from Ronda Rousey and SmackDown Women’s Champion from Charlotte Flair, and 37 which featured Bianca Belair beating Sasha Banks for the SmackDown Women’s Championship—it’s never been a more interesting time for women in the WWE.  That’s something that Green tells us she feels grateful for every single day, “It is very empowering. I feel extremely empowered when I walk into work. Not only with the characters, but for me as a wrestler, I feel like I’m the most authentic version of myself now.” Her current status in the promotion means she has a greater freedom of choice over just how she portrays herself in the ring. “In this run, WWE basically said, ‘Here you go. We are releasing the reins. You do what you think you need to do to succeed, whether it works or not, we don’t know, but we’re gonna hand it over to you and that has been the most empowering thing.”  That’s been a journey in its own right as Green juggles being funny, imposing, and empowered while still kicking ass and taking names every time she walks into the ring. Join our mailing list Get the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox! “I find it very hard to be a funny woman in show business,” she explains. “I think that’s a really difficult thing to do and I’m trying to navigate that. I’m trying to figure out what the audience enjoys versus what is a little bit cringey versus what is possibly too much for them to handle right now in 2025, but that’s also been empowering for me. You know, it takes a special type of woman to make fun of herself and also still present herself as sexy and empowered and strong.”  “At the end of the day, I just want to be treated equally,” she says. ” I don’t need to be put on a pedestal. I don’t need to be given more time because I’m a woman. I don’t want to be given less time. I don’t want to be not able to be funny or not able to be strong, or not able to do the same moves as the men. That’s this interesting Tango that we’ve been doing in wrestling. And I think finally in 2024, 2025 women in sports are taking off in all aspects. So that’s been very cool.”  But according to Green that doesn’t mean the movement has already peaked. “Maybe if we talk in three years, I’ll be like, ‘What was I talking about? It’s so much better now.”   A Historic Moment This unique era represents an evolution for WWE and for Green herself who in 2024 defeated numerous Superstars, including Bianca Belair and her old foe Michin, to become the first WWE United States Women’s Champion. “That’s just a goal I didn’t even think was possible. Because, again, that’s a ceiling that I didn’t know we were ever going to shatter, bringing in an Intercontinental title, bringing in the United States Championship. So when Triple H revealed the championship, I really was set on it, this is my moment. I just knew it. I felt it in my heart. This is meant for me.”  Striving for greatness as a woman in sports can often be a lonely pursuit but in 2024 Green was inspired by women all over the world taking over. “Witnessing the WNBA pop off, Women’s soccer pop off, Ilona [Maher] in rugby. All of these amazing women in sports that were just thriving, I thought this is the perfect time. And not only is it the perfect time for us to introduce this championship, but I think it’s the perfect time for someone like me to win it. Someone who the fans have deemed possibly mid-card, or comedic relief, all these ridiculous terms. So when we unveiled this beautiful championship. I just knew that I needed to push for this moment.”  And push she did—ironically as a Canadian—taking that first U.S. Women’s belt. While representing the U.S. feels good, Green has been overwhelmed by just how many fans have connected with her story and journey to the championship. “I feel like I’m representing more than just the U.S., because since winning this championship, I’ve just had so many people tell me how much it means to them to have watched me grow over these 11 years. There’s a lot of people who tuned in and watched me as Laurel Van Ness, as the Impact Knockouts Champion, when I had no right winning a title just two years in and had no idea what I was doing. So it’s been really, really amazing to see people in the UK tell me how much it means to them. Hear people in India tell me how much it means to them. And then of course people in Canada.” That decade-plus journey from indie wrestling to the big leagues is one that Green clearly values deeply, despite the struggle that often accompanied it. “I had to kiss a lot of frogs to find my prince in WWE,” she laughs. “My family and friends had to watch me in front of five, 10, 15 people at tiny, little independent shows in Vancouver and Victoria, but at the end of the day that makes this moment so much sweeter.”  Coming in from the ground up also feels like something Green can uniquely share with her fans. “I feel like because of that journey, I really can relate to the fans in a different way than I think most of the women [in WWE] can. That indie journey, those fails. I heard so many nos. I tripped and fell on my face so many times, but everyone got to watch me pick myself back up, dust myself off, and just keep going. There’s something about that that people relate to. At the time, I didn’t know that that’s what would make my journey special, and it felt really frustrating to watch people race by me. And now I’m so grateful for it, because I don’t think that the people would be behind me the way that they are now without it.”  A Controversial Call As if defending her championship wasn’t enough of a battle when we spoke to Green it was just days after the shocking count out that had set the internet on fire and had WWE fans across the world talking. During her WWE Smackdown match against Zelina Vega, she was counted out by the referee for leaving the ring in a moment that wasn’t pre planned but still happened in front of thousands of fans live, meaning that Green had to react on the spot and change the trajectory of her character in mere seconds. It’s an impressive feat but one that the wrestler shares is common in the business.  “The interesting thing about wrestling is that no matter what if it’s in front of five people or 50,000 it’s live and shit happens,” Green chuckles. “And it’ll forever be that way. We will forever screw things up. We will get counted out. We will have to listen to the fans and change everything that we thought we were going to do. That’s the beauty of it. And then on top of that, we’re not just live but we’re on live television as well. So the show must go on.”  Green explains that it was a mix of her indie wrestling background and love of acting that really allowed her to shine under incredible pressure as she was counted out for the very first time.  “We always have to create those backstories before we press record, and I think that’s what’s helped me in this run of WWE. Every Friday, every Monday, every premium live event is a new shit show—we still have that same backstory to rely on. So when I went out there and I got counted out and in my head, I was in this moment, and I wasn’t listening to the referees, and I slid in, and I heard him count to 10. But the show must go on, so I think what would Chelsea Green the President do? What would Chelsea Green, the United States Champion do? What would Chelsea Green the narcissist do?”  The Female John Cena With the title now on her resume, Green is eager to think outside of the ring just as much as she fights in it. While she’s still clearly excited to wrestle at WWE, she also wants to make the transition to acting like John Cena and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson before her. Now that she has been booking roles including in the upcoming Dimension 20 campaign, it feels like a full circle moment as one of her first jobs was as a stunt double on the cult classic series Wynonna Earp, which shaped her as both an actor and an athlete.  “When I was hired to be a stunt double, I had no idea how incredible the journey would be and what would come after that,” Green shares. “I choreographed fight scenes with the stunt coordinator for Wynonna Earp that I had to perform in negative 20-degree weather with two or so feet of snow outside, bashing into trees and jumping off of roofs. It was just so exhilarating, so exciting, so painful, it was all the things, and that has kind of made wrestling so easy, because stunt work is the hardest work you can do. It’s not just like one skill set, true professional stunt women do everything from gymnastics to fighting to knowing how to drive cars and motorcycles to falling, just like we do in wrestling, except they’re doing it from a 10-story building.”  While her passion for stunt work is clear, Green is in acting classes, thinking about what comes after WWE. “Having won a singles championship at WWE. I really think that my goal is now outside of wrestling, because at the end of the day, we can only control so many things in wrestling. It is what it is. We have a whole team behind us that is deciding the fate of our character. I can only hope for the best, I can only show up with a good attitude.” As she builds up her credits and works on honing her craft in Orlando, Green has dreams of getting complex leading roles, more akin to characters who would show up in the works of M. Night Shyamalan or Patty Jenkins. “I want to be the female James McAvoy in Split. Ever since I became the hot mess in TNA, I have never been able to get these kind of characters out of my head: the split personality, the multiple personalities. I love diving into deep, deep character work instead of just playing someone that I am.”  With big dreams and what she’s already achieved, Green is a force to be reckoned with. And she’s still always looking for the next thing to be excited about and inspired by. Says Green, “I listened to Ed Sheeran, and he was saying ‘I just hope that there’s some kid somewhere that thinks that he’s just average and and he not that great at anything, and he listens to Ed Sheeran’s interview and he thinks, ‘Oh, well, I could do that if he did that.’ That’s how I feel. I didn’t grow up being the best athlete or the best actor. I didn’t do flips. I’ve never been the best wrestler, but at the end of the day, I figured out what makes me unique and then I’ve totally taken advantage of that. And it’s taken me 34 years, but when you find what makes you special, nobody can take that away from you. So hopefully that’s what people see.” 

Open-concept floor plans have their place, but in the last 20 years American builders and renovators have become, well, a bit too demolition happy when it comes to walls. If you’re craving the cozy, defined look that separate living spaces offer but don’t have walls to help you create that feel, then you’ve come to the right place. And, no, tri-fold screens are not the only solution to divvying up an open-concept space. There are many other creative, chic, and (often) inexpensive ways to bring definition back to your home. Whether it’s a creatively placed piece of art or a sliding pocket door that disappears when you don’t need it, there are endless designer-approved options. Below, we’ve gathered up some of our favorites just for you. Discover more design tips, small space solutions, and inspiring decorating ideas:1Build In a Display CaseJohn GruenThis unique nook in a circa-1930s Connecticut farmhouse includes a clever window-like display case room divider that helps separate the entry from the living spaces. Bonus: The open shelving provides ample shelving to hold the homeowner’s collection of ironstone and milk glass.RELATED: Collectors Share Their Carefully Curated Vintage Collections2Choose Stained GlassSara Ligorria-TrampIf you want something a little more solid to divide your room but don’t want to sacrifice natural light, opt for stained glass! Whether it’s used in an archway or a door, stained glass accents are both on-trend and timeless. TOUR THIS HOUSE RELATED: Stained Glass is Officially Back! Here’s How to Use ItAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below3Try a Decorative ArchMarta Xochilt Perez for Country LivingIn this Minnesota lake house, a decorative arch separates the main living area from the offset library-meets-dining room. Deep chocolate brown paint helps further delineate the spaces. Get the Look: Wall Paint Color: Deep Caviar by Benjamin MooreTOUR THIS HOUSE4Add a Sofa and a Sofa TableStacy Zarin GoldbergIn a large living room, use furniture to create division in the room. Here, designer Cameron Ruppert used a well placed sofa backed by a sofa table to separate two different sitting areas. RELATED: These Quick Updates Can Transform Your Living Room in a WeekendAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below5Go for a Box BedLucy CallIf you're making the most of an open-concept living space but still value the privacy an actual door can bring, try a box bed (with or without sliding doors)! This nostalgic sleeping nook is on track for a comeback this year, so you’ll impress friends and guests by being way ahead of the trend. RELATED: Easy Ways to Freshen Up Your Bedroom for Spring6DIY a Window NookMarta Xochilt Perez, styling by Matthew GleasonA seldom-used pass-through outside a bedroom in a Michigan farmhouse was transformed into this secret built-in hideaway. The reading nook is complete with fairy tale-worthy wallcovering and a queen bed with bonus storage in the cabinetry below.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below7Install Sliding DoorsKim Cornelison for Country LivingSalvaged pocket doors were given a second act in a renovated 1870s barn home designed by DIY and renovation expert Jenni Yolo. The strategically placed doors were installed with sliding barn door hardware to separate the primary bed and bath areas.RELATED: This DIY Sliding Barn Door Kit on Amazon Will Make Your Farmhouse Dreams Come True8Utilize Exisiting DoorsMichael PartenioReclaim an unused closet to make a tucked-away home office or creative studio, equipped with a petite desk, floating shelves, and a hanging peg board. In this cheery example, the working area is easily divided from the outside room with the already existing closet doors. When work is finished, just close the doors and all is hidden!RELATED: Easily Turn Your Closet Into a Cheery Home OfficeAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below9Place a TableDavid TsayA strategically placed round table, grounded with a rug, turns a floaty open space into a casual entryway. Add a bench to further define the areas of the space.RELATED: 35+ Creative Entryway Ideas That’ll Give Your Guests the Warmest Welcome10Create “Rooms” With RugsDavid A. Land, styling by Jennifer Berno DeCleeneIn a open concept living space, use area rugs to clearly divide the large room into different zones, as seen in this Michigan lake house. TOUR THIS HOUSEAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below11Hang CurtainsBrian WoodcockCan’t you just picture taking a nap in this welcoming seat? Vibrant colors and plush pillows make this bright alcove an ideal spot for curling up with a new book and a furry friend. Textured curtains in front of the window seat add privacy on demand and help divide the window nook from the rest of the room.RELATED: 10 Window Seat Ideas That’ll Make You Want to Curl Up With a Good Book12Save Space With Bifold DoorsKaryn MilletBright blue bifold doors help separate the bedroom and bath in this beach house. The small space couldn’t accommodate a regular swinging door installation. Plus, when the bifolds are folded open, bathers can soak with a direct, open-air view of the backyard.Get the Look:Door Paint Color: Mountain Stream by Sherwin-WilliamsRELATED: Creative Clawfoot Tub Ideas for Every BathroomAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below13Install a Double FireplaceAndreas von Einsiedel//Getty ImagesAdd flair to separate areas by adding a two-way fireplace. Whether it’s wood-burning or electric, a dual-sided fireplace can serve as a seamless room divider or even connect indoor and outdoor spaces. RELATED: 50 Fireplace and Mantel Decor Ideas for a Cozy Upgrade14Roll With Rustic DoorsLucas AllenIn this modern farmhouse, salvaged doors are anchored on a return-style curtain rod with wheels added below for a country-inspired upgrade that divides an en suite bed and bath. Browse your local salvage yard to find similar doors to duplicate the look.RELATED: 21 Fresh Ways to Incorporate Barn Doors Into Your HomeAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below15Add a PeninsulaDavid TsayIn this farmhouse kitchen, the open layout kitchen/living area is seamlessly divided by a white kitchen peninsula topped with a soft gray concrete countertop. A trio of limed oak barstools upholstered in a farmhouse perfect blue-and-white striped fabric provides flexible seating for either area.RELATED: 70+ Stylish Kitchen Island Ideas for Kitchens Large and Small16Surprise With a Pocket DoorJohn EllisIn this modern California home, a home office is separated from the surrounding areas when needed with a bright orange pocket door. Look for creative solutions like sliding doors or expanding screen dividers in complementary hues to break up large spaces. TOUR THIS HOUSEAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below17Make Use of Exisiting ArchitectureHelen Norman for Country LivingThe area under a staircase in this 1953 cottage in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains was transformed into a multipurpose nook with the addition of a built-in bench seat and a wall sconce. The frame of the staircase provides a natural room divider that perfectly defines the cozy space.RELATED: How to Make Buttoned-Up Pillows18Hang a Salvaged WindowSnazzy HomeBring charm and history to your space with a hanging salvaged window room divider. This one is super simple to DIY: Install two eye bolts on the window as attachment points, screw corresponding eye bolts into a ceiling beam, and hang with wire or chain. The window will delineate separate spaces while still letting light flow through.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below19Make a Sliding Shiplap PanelBrian Woodcock for Country Living The open living room space in a barn loft at Tennessee’s Bloomsbury Farm is separated from the bathroom with a sliding panel crafted of the same white shiplap as the rest of the walls in the room. When the “door” is closed, the look is seamless.TOUR THIS BARN LOFT20Utilize Natural Elements Dima Berlin//Getty ImagesA DIY hanging succulent room divider is anything but traditional. Bring a little nature to your home by dividing your space with a wood or bamboo hanger decorated with handmade or store-bought macrame wallhangings holding your favorite plants.RELATED: The Most Striking Succulents to Grow In Your Home or GardenJanece MazeJanece Maze is Associate Editor at Country Living, where she covers DIY projects, gardening, and travel. When she’s not in the kitchen creating a new recipe with farm fresh ingredients, you can find her on the road heading to a music festival or browsing a local consignment shop.  Anna LoganSenior Homes & Style EditorAnna Logan is the Senior Homes & Style Editor at Country Living, where she has been covering all things home design, including sharing exclusive looks at beautifully designed country kitchens, producing home features, writing everything from timely trend reports on the latest viral aesthetic to expert-driven explainers on must-read topics, and rounding up pretty much everything you’ve ever wanted to know about paint, since 2021. Anna has spent the last seven years covering every aspect of the design industry, previously having written for Traditional Home, One Kings Lane, House Beautiful, and Frederic. She holds a degree in journalism from the University of Georgia. When she’s not working, Anna can either be found digging around her flower garden or through the dusty shelves of an antique shop. Follow her adventures, or, more importantly, those of her three-year-old Maltese and official Country Living Pet Lab tester, Teddy, on Instagram.  

This year's Salone del Mobile has come to an end, but the show’s biggest trends are just starting to reverberate throughout the industry. From the fairground to the showrooms—and even occasionally the streets—ELLE Decor’s editors were on the scene to scout out the latest from the world’s biggest names in interior design. From rugs and textiles to window treatments and seating, here’s what we’re keeping an eye on from Milan Design Week.1Archivist Chiccourtesy DedarIt often takes a discerning designer to pull out fresh ideas from a historic archive. Such was the case last week in Milan, where Caterina and Raffaele Fabrizio, CEO and creative director of Dedar, presented “Weaving Anni Albers,” a collection culled from the Josef and Annie Albers Foundation including five jacquard fabrics. Situated high atop the sixteenth floor of the polarizing Torres Velasca, built in a brutalist style in the early 1950s by BBPR Architecture, the designers showcased each design as if examined through an archivist’s lens, complete with historic documents, old televisions and metal filing cabinets filled with neatly organized ephemera from the foundation. Each textile was showcased on looms, providing the viewer different vantage points to experience the texture, light and color within the orderly space and protecting the spirit of hand weaving craft traditions. –Benjamin Reynaert, Market Director2Unconventional Couchingrui_ t-space studioThe LIL daybed and ottoman, designed by Christophe Delcourt for Jerome Aumont’s Collection Particulière, were a potent mix of whimsy and practicality, shown floated in the midst of the showroom floor like plump twin islands. The two asymmetrical forms complement each other even when not pieced together like a puzzle, allowing for various freeform seating arrangements. I was reminded of designer Rebecca Korner’s Lagoon modular sofa series for the Invisible Collection, composed of sculptural pieces that hold their own from every angle. On the other end of the spectrum, Hem’s modular Great Sofa (pictured), designed by Philippe Malouin, was installed two-deep along one wall, effectively turning the sofa into a giant mattress. All fun new ways to think about communal seating. –Sean Santiago, Deputy EditorAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below3You're So Vain (And So Are We!)Annie GoldsmithAt Fendi Casa we saw a particularly luxe 70’s style vanity, which looks like a simple, yet beautiful, small table and unfurls into a mirror, leather chair and desk with cabinets on each side. At Baxter, as well, a semi-circular violet vanity was shown with an ovular mirror perched on an elevated shelf. Perhaps TikTok “Get Ready With Me” videos have ushered in the return of the luxury vanity—makeup routines are no longer confined to bathroom counters, but rather on display, on a buttery leather surface, ready for filming. –Annie Goldsmith, Senior Editor4The Joy of Gathering (and Eating)Jere ViinikainenBirds of a feather flock together—especially at Milan Design Week when there is food involved. To celebrate her upcoming bedroom-themed capsule collection with Marimekko, food artist Laila Gohar created a giant “bed-in” consisting of dozens of mattresses pushed together and dressed in the brand’s classic Maija Isola-designed striped sheets. In classic Gohar fashion, the event had an edible trompe l’oeil—the twin bed on the corner turned out to be a cake. Over at 5Vie, Carolina Levi of Rome’s Spazio Giallo Interiors curated an exhibit, Prendete & Mangiate (Take and Eat), consisting of a long banquet table set with color-drenched glassware and vessels by emerging designers. One had the sense that a wonderful meal had just ended—even the tiny house flies (by Utol Ceramica) on the table were made of clay. –Ingrid Abramovitch, Executive EditorAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below5Work/Life BalanceStellene VolandesSo many chairs and sofas you really want to sink into, but then gorgeous monumental desks like this one from Poltrona Frau that I’m calling Chairman of the Board. –Stellene Volandes, Editorial Director6Lamps-a-Go-GoCourtesy BocciPortable lighting is all the rage these days, with brands quick to introduce increasingly sophisticated versions of take-away lamps. Lasvit introduced a new to-go version of its Miles lamp, designed by the Elle Decor A-List firm Yabu Pushelberg; Issey Miyake unveiled its O-Series portable lights, developed with Japanese manufacturer Ambientec; and Lee Broom showcased a portable version of his sculptural Cascade series, produced in partnership with Lladro. And while not new, it was newsworthy to see Bocci recontextualize its sleek 14p table lamp, introduced in 2023, as part of an installation designed by The Future Perfect’s David Alhadeff to celebrate the brand’s 20th-anniversary. –SSAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below7Office HoursRomain LapradeBeni presented Intersection, a new collection of rugs by Studio Ko, in a crumbling former textiles factory. Displayed amongst an abundance of artfully arranged papers, typewriters, fax machines and chic office-inspired furniture mingle with responsibly woven rugs featuring five distinct weaving techniques. Heading back to the office has never been more appealing. –BR8Green Thumbscourtesy Marcin RusakGarden fever was a constant theme at Milan Design Week. At Laboratorio Paravicini’s ceramics workshop, a new dish series—Jardin a l’Italienne—featured stylized patterns of topiaries and hedges. In Alcova’s Villa Borsani, Japanese brand Noritake showed porcelain pieces hand-painted with roses by Faye Toogood, who was named the Elle Deco Designer of 2025, and who grows roses at her country home in England. The biggest botanical statement goes to Polish designer Marcin Rusak, whose site-specific Alcova installation in an antique orchid house on the grounds of Villa Bagatti Valsecchi, in Varedo, featured massive light sculptures shaped like orchids in varying states of decay. –IA