Elon Musk's so-called Department of Government Efficiency is cutting off Americans from the Social Security benefits they're supposed to be receiving by writing them off as dead — even though they're very much among the living, the ."We have people who did not receive benefits come in every day with their ID and say, 'I'm not dead, I'm alive!" Rennie Glasgow, a claims technical analyst and fifteen-year veteran of the Social Security Administration who works at the agency's office in Schenectady, New York, told the Beast.These clerical zombies are the collateral damage of DOGE's meddling with the SSA's "Death Master File," a comprehensive list of deceased individuals who should no longer receive benefits. Musk, who has called Social Security the "biggest ponzi scheme of all time" and has spread outrageous claims of mass benefits fraud, ordered millions of people who were "probably" dead to be moved to the list, the , in order to make it more accurate."[DOGE staffers] went into the system and they killed off people," Glasgow told the Beast. "About four million people, they marked them as dead. But they're not sure if those people were supposed to be marked as dead, so they're sending us an email saying, 'If these people come into the office with their identification, you can reinstate them.'"As with other federal agencies, DOGE has swept through the SSA like a tornado. Under its recommendations, the SSA will lay off 7,000 employees, reducing its workforce to 50,000. Dozens of its offices across the country have either already been closed or will be. Its website constantly crashes, while its phone helplines are being shut down.Glasgow's office is reeling from the brutal changes, losing eight employees in a location that now only has 30, with only four of its 18 service windows able to stay open. For two hours every day, its computer system goes dark.In what is one of its most flagrant intrusions into the SSA's operations, the Trump administration is also attempting to force over 6,000 immigrants to "self-deport" by placing them in the Death Master File. Once so interred, a person on this list is cut off from accessing bank accounts and credit cards in the US — a veritable financial death sentence. "When they mark someone dead on the Social Security record, it stops their life," Glasgow told the Beast. "It stops their car payments, it stops their credit, it stops their ability to do anything. Their identification gets flagged. And most times those things have to go to the payment center."Even now, Social Security remains overwhelmingly popular with Americans across virtually all demographics. But Glasgow suspects that Musk and DOGE are deliberately sabotaging the agency so that the public will one day turn on it.More on DOGE: Elon Musk's DOGE Has Been a Dismal FailureShare This Article

Here are hints and the answer for today's Wordle No. 1,407 for April 26. Hint: Fans of a certain musical group will rock out with this puzzle.

The Last of Us season two Tommy actor addresses key change Spore point. Image credit: HBO News by Victoria Kennedy News Reporter Published on April 25, 2025 Gabriel Luna - who plays Joel's brother Tommy in the TV adaptation of The Last of Us - has spoken more about the second season's latest episode, specifically a key change made to Joel's story. Please be aware of spoilers for The Last of Us, both the game and the show, below. To see this content please enable targeting cookies. The Death of Console Exclusives Is Inevitable and I Don't Know How I Feel About It. Watch on YouTube The most recent episode of The Last of Us takes place in the frozen and snow-covered wilderness of Jackson County, Wyoming. During the course of the episode, the residential settlement of Jackson is assaulted by a horde of infected, while Joel and Dina - played in the show by Pedro Pascal and Isebela Merced respectively - are on patrol in the surrounding area. This is a change from The Last of Us Part 2 game, where Joel is on patrol with his brother Tommy, while Dina is on patrol with Ellie. Additionally, the show gives Tommy his own standalone hero moment not seen in the game, as he remains in Jackson and has a rather tense confrontation with a Bloater (among many, many other infected). While all this is happening in the show, Dina and Joel come across Kaitlyn Dever's Abby, who convinces them to come back to the chalet she and her group are holding up in rather than heading back to Jackson. In both the game and the show, it is this decision that marks the beginning of the end for Joel, as once his identity is revealed (in the show by Dina calling out to get the attention of her patrol partner, in the game by Tommy introducing them both), Abby kills him in revenge for her father's death at his hands. Image credit: HBO Now, reflecting on the tweaks to the source material, Luna says he is glad the show changed Tommy's part in 'outing' Joel to Abby, adding he didn't believe the character would have been "that careless" in reality. "The truth is, back when we were doing the first season, I talked to [showrunner] Craig [Mazin] and [game creator] Neil [Druckmann] about it. Would Tommy be that careless to reveal Joel's identity? As a seasoned veteran, somebody who had to protect this city and keep it safe, would he be so trusting of strangers? And then to walk into this ambush and be knocked out for that moment, unable to use any of his strength and skills to protect his brother, it always pinged in my mind - I wouldn't say false, but I don't know if Tommy would have been that trusting to walk into that trap," Luna said in conversation with Esquire. The actor revealed Mazin, however, already had an idea in mind for the show. "Before the strike, he was starting to break the stories," Luna shared. "He sent me this Bible-long text about where Tommy is and what he's doing instead. And it floored me. I was so excited. I'm getting goose bumps now thinking about it." Luna added that having Dina present when Joel was killed rather than Tommy serves her story arc in The Last of Us as well. Dina is "somebody who still loves Joel and sees him as family, and would be devastated when this all goes down", the actor reasoned. Image credit: HBO We still have five more episodes of The Last of Us season two to go. While this season won't cover the entirety of The Last of Us Part 2's narrative, the show will be back for a third season, with Mazin previously stating: "We approached season two with the goal of creating something we could be proud of. The end results have exceeded even our most ambitious goals." For more, you can check out my feature on the show's latest episode: Joel dominates headlines, but it's Tommy who shines in The Last of Us season 2 episode two.

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games here The hero performance rating in Season 2 has been quite controversial so far. NetEase added it hoping to improve the ranked system, but it mostly resulted in backlash. Fortunately, the next Marvel Rivals update will adjust the system, making it more fair for everyone. The game developer is aware that the current system favors certain heroes, and this will be fixed. In the latest Dev Talk, NetEase revealed lots of new things coming with the upcoming update, including buffs and nerfs. This patch aims to tackle some of the biggest issues players have encountered in the first few weeks of Season 2. So far, it sounds very promising! The performance rating will be adjusted with the upcoming Marvel Rivals update NetEase explained that the hero performance rating is based on the average key combat data for that hero at the player’s rank. The more this data exceeds the baseline for the player’s rank, the more points will be rewarded at the end of the match. Naturally, this also means that players who exceed the baseline will lose fewer points in defeats. According to the developer, a small number of Duelists have a slight advantage over other heroes in the game. At the same time, a couple of Vanguards and Strategists have a smaller disadvantage. Due to this, the upcoming Marvel Rivals update will optimize rating calculations to ensure fairness across all heroes. The current rating system in Marvel Rivals puts certain heroes at a disadvantage. Image by VideoGamer NetEase admits that balancing the game is a challenge and it’s hard to make it perfect. However, the developer will stay attentive and will aim to address the issues to improve the game. This is certainly a step in the right direction, and the next update should make Marvel Rivals much better in the Competitive modes. The update should come out on Thursday, May 1, and we will soon get more details about it. Marvel Rivals Platform(s): macOS, PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X Genre(s): Fighting, Shooter Subscribe to our newsletters! By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime. Share

This video dives into the upcoming Nvidia 50 Series GPUs, focusing specifically on their performance in Blender. I share my curiosity and predictions about how these cards will stack up against previous generations, highlighting the impressive advancements in raw power, memory bandwidth, and ray-tracing capabilities. By analyzing data and benchmarking predictions, I explore what these upgrades might mean for creators, particularly those who rely on GPUs for rendering high-resolution scenes or complex textures.Throughout the video, I break down the performance differences across various models, from the RTX 5070 to the powerhouse 5090, and examine where each card fits into the broader landscape of Blender performance. For creators, I also discuss the potential productivity gains, especially for those using GPUs as tools to generate income. While these improvements are exciting, I also address the cost versus performance factor and the challenges of making upgrade decisions based on individual or business needs.As I wrap up, I ask: Are these new GPUs worth the upgrade for Blender users? If you're a creator weighing your options, or just someone who loves seeing the evolution of graphics technology, this video is packed with insights to help you decide.

The team at Nightdive Studios have rolled out a new update for Turok's Switch eShop release and multiple other platforms. Patch 3.0.1013 includes a whole list of Switch-specific updates. This includes fixes, some new options, and much more. Here are the full patch notes for this latest update (via Nightdive Studios' official website): Turok Patch 3.0.1013 (25th April 2025) New option added to adjust automap line thickness. Automap lines are now rendered as quads. Now uses correct output channels, fixes reverb sounds using 2 channels. Entering or exiting a level will now set a checkpoint for the player and checkpoints will not show text or play a sound in boss maps, matching the original behavior. Save text now updates correctly and the most recent save is correctly colored. Fixed Vulkan syncing issues. Improvements to game logic ticker to mitigate stuttering. When a map fails to load it will now fall back to the title screen. Fixed several Interpolation issues. Fixes to the sun’s lens flare for it to be blocked by all objects. Fixed antialiasing not being set to the correct value when set through the menu. Turok will no longer make underwater hurt sounds when taking damage in an antigravity area. Fixed several issues with dying during the start of the Mantis and T-Rex fights. Fixed Reset Bindings from resetting other menu options (user loaded mods only). Fixed the input button used for deleting save files. The Gallery and Credits cheats are now disabled when you’re not on the title screen. Fixed cheats not being unlocked properly. Localized text for weapon binds and cheat messages. Fixed issues with particles not being set up correctly when spawned. Particle decals will now be correctly oriented on top of the water. Increased damage of the Alien Weapon from 15 to 25 and explosive damage from 0-20 to 25 (no falloff) with a radius of 20. The Quad Rocket Launcher now does radius damage when impacting default surfaces such as most floors in the game. And 1 of the 4 rockets had a larger radius than it should have. The damage the player does to enemies is now more accurate to the original on hard and hardcore difficulties. Credits will no longer fade out from button presses at the start of the credits. You can also speed up the credits by holding down the left face button on your controller. Thunder can now be damaged during his roaring animation matching the original game. When respawning he will run after you immediately. Bosses no longer receive knockback force. Restored Campaigners shield behavior. The shield’s total health is 1,500 and absorbs damage from explosive and energy based weapons. Other weapons still deal direct damage to the campaigner. The shield will change colors when damaged and will disappear when destroyed. All weapons will then hurt the Campaigner. Footstep sounds will now fade out when obstructed from the player correctly. Sounds with the ‘fadeIfObstructed’ flag were improved to work with any number of actors and will do less raycasting checks. This flag was also set for the raptor and purlin footsteps. Turok’s landing sound is no longer played when landing on a warp sector. The Fly mode cheat code in the cheat menu will now allow you to go through level geometry. Giblets can no longer spam sounds on every frame. Fixed big head scales on raptor, alien, and T-Rex. Leaper now has headtracking and big head mode now works on him. Tiny enemies and big head cheats now work in the Gallery for the Bosses and Turok. Dropped and spawned pickups will now cast a simple shadow. Fixes to sounds with a very low pitch. The player will now rotate when on spinning platforms. Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube810kWatch on YouTube You can see the changes for the PC, PlayStation and Xbox versions of Turok over on the Nightdive website. You can also experience the original version of Turok via the Switch Online + Expansion Pack N64 library. Everybody shoot the dinosaur Fancy some dinosaur hunting this weekend? Every retro game available with an NSO sub (plus the Expansion Pack) Have you tried out Turok on the Switch yet? Let us know in the comments. [source nightdivestudios.com] Related Games See Also Share:0 0 Liam is a news writer and reviewer for Nintendo Life and Pure Xbox. He's been writing about games for more than 15 years and is a lifelong fan of Mario and Master Chief. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment... Related Articles Opinion: It's Time To Get Rid Of Fall Damage Free faller Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack Now Boasts 300 Playable Titles Yeah, that's a lot Community: 38 Switch Games We Missed, As Recommended By You Part 10 - The saga continues

Published April 26, 2025 6:00am EDT close Chinese humanoid robot with eagle-eye vision and powerful AI Iron stands 5 feet, 8 inches tall, weighs 154 pounds and combines advanced artificial intelligence with human-like movement and exceptional vision. XPENG’s humanoid robot, Iron, is not your typical factory machine. Standing 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weighing 154 pounds, Iron combines advanced artificial intelligence with human-like movement and exceptional vision. Already hard at work assembling electric vehicles in XPENG’s factories, this robot is designed to change how we think about robots in everyday life.Join The FREE CyberGuy Report: Get my expert tech tips, critical security alerts and exclusive deals — plus instant access to my  Iron the humanoid robot  (XPENG)From factory floors to everyday tasksIron’s design includes 60 joints and 200 degrees of freedom, allowing it to move smoothly and naturally. Unlike traditional robots that often move with jerky or stiff motions, Iron walks steadily and can manipulate objects with precision thanks to its human-like hands. XPENG has developed its mobility system using reinforcement learning and large artificial intelligence models, enabling Iron to adapt to a variety of complex tasks. While it currently helps build cars, XPENG envisions Iron performing administrative work, customer service and even household chores in the future. Iron, the humanoid robot  (XPENG)A brain like no otherAt the heart of Iron is XPENG’s proprietary Turing AI chip, a powerful processor capable of handling 3,000 trillion operations per second. This chip processes AI models with 30 billion parameters, allowing Iron to think, adapt and respond with human-like intelligence. Iron’s vision system, inspired by XPENG’s self-driving car technology, offers a remarkable 720-degree field of view, giving the robot eagle-like awareness of its surroundings. Its speech interaction system is also adapted from XPENG’s intelligent vehicle cockpits, enabling natural and logical conversations.WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)? Iron, the humanoid robot  (XPENG)More than just a robotXPENG is not limiting Iron to factory work. The company sees Iron as a personal assistant that can support people in offices, retail environments and homes. Although the current version is priced around $150,000 and targeted mainly at businesses, XPENG plans to develop more accessible versions for everyday consumers. Iron’s advanced dexterity, powered by custom-designed robotic hands with 15 degrees of freedom each, allows it to handle delicate tasks that require fine motor skills.GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE Iron, the humanoid robot  (XPENG)Part of a bigger visionIron is a key piece of XPENG’s broader AI Tech Tree strategy, which aims to create an ecosystem of smart electric vehicles, humanoid robots and even flying vehicles. This vision is also reflected in the company’s new 2025 XPENG X9 electric SUV, which features hundreds of technical upgrades, including ultra-fast charging and AI-powered driving systems that mimic human decision-making. Together, these innovations showcase XPENG’s ambition to blend robotics and automotive technology into a seamless future.Kurt's key takeawaysBy leveraging AI technology originally developed for its electric vehicles, XPENG is creating a robot that bridges the gap between automotive innovation and humanoid robotics. With a significant investment and a clear roadmap, Iron has the potential to become much more than a factory assistant.It could soon become a helpful presence in offices and homes, changing how we interact with machines in everyday life.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPIron’s creators promise a future of seamless human-robot collaboration. But as it masters everything from car assembly to household chores, are we sleepwalking into a world where humans become obsolete, or is this the key to unlocking our greatest potential? Let us know by writing us atCyberguy.com/ContactFor more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/NewsletterAsk Kurt a question or let us know what stories you'd like us to coverFollow Kurt on his social channelsAnswers to the most asked CyberGuy questions:New from Kurt:Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com.  All rights reserved.   Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on "FOX & Friends." Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

ZDNET's key takeaways HP's 14-inch EliteBook X G1a features AMD's latest Ryzen AI Pro chip, starting at $2,184.It's a powerful enterprise laptop with lots of I/O, a sleek form factor, and comfortable keyboard.It's expensive, and can run warm under a heavy workload. more buying choices HP reorganized its laptop lineup last year, renaming its high-performance business devices to the EliteBook X series. The first laptop from this series I've tested is the 14-inch HP EliteBook X G1a, an impressive enterprise laptop with a lot to like, but a few considerations that make it unique. Also: I found a 2-in-1 laptop that balances work and play - and its display is gorgeousThis is a business laptop aimed at professionals, and it aims to combine the connectivity of a ThinkPad, the sleek form factor of a MacBook, and HP's signature minimalist, if non-descript, design.   There are a few configurations of this laptop, the most premium featuring an AMD Ryzen AI 9 processor -- one of the most cutting-edge chips on the market right now -- and an OLED display, but the one I tested had the AMD Ryzen AI 7 Pro 360 processor, 32GB of RAM, and a 14-inch matte WUXGA IPS display.  details View at Amazon On the surface, it's minimalist and rather corporate-looking, with a matte WUXGA display and an abundant selection of ports. It passes the one-finger test, and opens up to a rather standard display with 400nit brightness, 60Hz refresh rate, and a compact and efficient keyboard. The keyboard is one of its best features. It's utterly silent, with a snappy tactile feel with key travel that (almost) feels mechanical. The keys are spacious and smooth, and the backlighting is effective and well-designed. Similarly, the trackpad is responsive and premium, even if the clicks feel a little on the "heavy" side. Kyle Kucharski/ZDNETI do wish it had a haptic trackpad, however, as it would go a long way toward making it more premium, especially as a device geared toward a sophisticated demographic: business leaders and tech experts. When you consider the price of this laptop, it seems like a missed opportunity. During my testing, I found this laptop really enjoyable to use for long days at work, and a big part of that was due to its well-designed ergonomics. Unlike other machines, which require the user to adjust to bold or unorthodox design choices, the EliteBook X G1a fits like a familiar glove right off the bat, making it a solid long-day-at-work type of laptop.  Also: This budget Lenovo ThinkPad has no business being this good - especially for hybrid workersIf the keyboard and trackpad contribute to an enjoyable physical form, the abundant I/O selection solidifies its practicality. You've got an HDMI, three USB-C (one Thunderbolt 4 on each side -- thank you), a USB-A port, 3.5mm headphone jack, and Kensington lock slot. This is, in my opinion, one of the best combinations of ports you can ask for in 2025, the only thing that would make it better would be an SD card reader. It can certainly pivot to creative tasks, as well, as video editing in industry-standard programs like Da Vinci Resolve was a breeze. By the same token, gaming on this laptop is possible, but I wouldn't recommend this as a dedicated gaming machine with the 60Hz display and its heat dissipation (more on that later). While testing, I did encounter a hiccup connecting to an external monitor with the Thunderbolt 4 port. Both displays would flicker and restart intermittently, even after driver and Windows updates.Issues like this can be the result of any number of things, including issues with the operating system, hardware, or even the USB-C cord itself, so I don't necessarily fault the EliteBook, however this was the first time it happened to me after using dozens of laptops with that very connection and monitor. Also: I recommend this Asus laptop to creative professionals and business users alike. Here's whyA busy workday prevented me from troubleshooting for an extended period of time, but this is where the generous port selection came in clutch, allowing me to simply swap to an HDMI connection. It's a perfect example of where redundant I/O access can solve tech problems, especially in the work setting. In terms of performance, the EliteBook X G1a is fast and responsive, with benchmarking numbers that back its claim of being a powerful enterprise machine. Cinebench 24 MCGeekbench 6.2.2 SCGeekbench 6.2.2 MCHP EliteBook X G1a (AMD Ryzen AI 7 Pro 360) 9542,81814,585Apple MacBook Pro M41,0003,82314,849Dell XPS 13 (Intel Core Ultra 7 "Lunar Lake") 5522,74311,005One thing I noticed during testing the EliteBook X G1a, however, was that it ran a bit hotter than other laptops in its class, kicking on the fans during sustained workloads in High Performance mode. When it's not being pushed, however, it's silent and cool, leading me to believe there's simply a threshold here with the hardware. At no point did I see any evidence of throttling, however. Continuing its specialization in the professional sphere, the EliteBook X G1a features a 74.5Whr battery, which is on the large size for a laptop of this size, earning it just over 11 hours during our standard battery test. This is good, sure, but it didn't quite translate to the spectacular duration I was expecting. Particularly when you compare this to competitors. Also: I ditched my smartphone for this E Ink handset for two weeks, and it rewired my brainFor example, this is about the same as what we got during our testing of the MacBook Pro M4, while that laptop's price even comes in a little less, and, well, it's a MacBook. Conversely, HP's own OmniBook X 14 with the Snapdragon X Elite was an absolute marathon machine, earning over 20 hours. Of course, the hardware on the OmniBook is a bit more modest, but its 65Wh battery overperforms in a way that can't be ignored. As I spent more time with this laptop, however, I came to understand its intended use case as a device that trades in the ultrathin and light form factor for raw power, making it a durable, reliable workhorse.ZDNET's buying adviceThere are no shortage of thin and light laptops out there with marathon batteries. The HP EliteBook X G1a is, comparatively, more focused on providing reliable muscle during working hours. The beefy hardware takes full advantage of the large battery, the abundant ports keep your options open, and the comfortable keyboard acts as an ergonomic command center so you can hunker down and get work done. However, all that hardware can run warm when it's pushed, and this is not a cheap laptop. If you're looking for a 14-inch device that's fully committed to the enterprise use case, it's a solid option, but keep in mind that it's quite specialized for that role. If you're looking for a similar laptop for a little less, I recommend the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 – another workhorse laptop with lots of connectivity and the same processor around the $1,500 mark.  How are the tariffs in the U.S. affecting consumer tech? The recent US tariffs on imports from countries like China, Vietnam, and India aim to boost domestic manufacturing but are likely to drive up prices on consumer electronics. Products like smartphones, laptops, and TVs may become more expensive as companies rethink global supply chains and weigh the cost of shifting production.Consumers may also experience notable price increases on robot vacuums and smart home products. Manufacturers are exploring options such as relocating production to countries with lower tariffs, but such transitions are complex and may not provide immediate relief. In the short term, shoppers should anticipate higher costs for robot vacuums due to these trade policies. Show more Featured reviews

Runoff to water streams of nutrients such as phosphorus increases the intensity of algal blooms. The ... More picture above shows an aerial view of green water during a harmful algal bloom (HAB) on 25 August 2022 in Lake Elsinore, California. The city closed the lake to all activities, including fishing, swimming and boating, due to the danger of serious illness or death in humans and animals. California is experiencing some of the worst HAB outbreaks in the nation, with an increase of more than 464 percent in epidemics in the past five years. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)Getty Images Phosphorus is a nutrient most people rarely think about. Yet it touches almost every aspect of our lives—the food we eat and the water we drink. One of its most common uses is in the form of fertilizers used for agriculture, but it is also naturally found in manure. In reasonable quantities, it helps plants grow and supports the ecosystem, but phosphorous overuse is a menace. Globally, phosphorous use is expected to double, overshooting the safe planetary boundary. The current global phosphorus use is 17 million tons per year and is expected to reach 32.5 million tons, far exceeding the safe global planetary boundary of 11 million tons annually. Crossing this boundary puts environmental stability and food security at risk. Most fertilizers used for agriculture contain phosphorus derived from phosphate rocks. Due to the overuse of such fertilizers, our planet’s natural phosphorus cycle is under pressure and cannot absorb as much. One significant consequence is eutrophication—when far too many chemicals, including phosphorus, runoff from farms into waterways. This situation causes an overgrowth of algae, which prevents oxygen from reaching marine life. Addressing this problem is a costly affair. For instance, it costs the US economy $2.2 billion annually and England and Wales in the UK $105–160 million annually. Algal blooms are becoming more frequent with rising temperatures. In recent years, water bodies in US states like Oregon—such as the Willamette River—have developed thick layers of green algal blooms every summer. Last month, lawmakers asked for $1 million to fund a university project that would stop toxic algal blooms through engineering solutions. However, this does not address the root of the problem—which is cutting the overuse. Despite the urgency of addressing the phosphorus problem, bringing sustainability to this supply chain hasn’t received as much attention. Discussions on this chemical are often clubbed with other chemicals or nutrients, such as nitrogen, although there is a uniqueness to these chemicals. For instance, phosphorous is a finite natural reserve and can be recycled. There is thus a need to raise targeted awareness and debate about phosphorus. With that intention, we look at some things that must be done to ensure future phosphorus sustainability. 1. Agriculture And Food Industry Must Address The Phosphorus Overuse Agriculture and the food industry are among the biggest consumers of phosphorus, and it is vital to change the status quo in this industry. Improving phosphorus use efficiency in farms is essential, which means addressing the problem of applying too much phosphorous through fertilizers or manure and ensuring the lost phosphorous through the waste streams is recycled back to farms. This was one of the key recommendations of a report, Our Phosphorus Future: Towards Global Phosphorus Sustainability, in which over 100 scientists explored this topic in great detail. Around 85% is used for fertilizers, 10% for animal feed, and 2–3% for food additives. Currently, most regulations that address phosphorus runoff cover sources that can be easily identified, such as discharge pipes. However, rules are loose for non-point sources —runoff that cannot be attributed to a single source. Such sources often include runoff from fields or surrounding areas to flow into the water streams. Even when stringent regulations are in place in some countries, sometimes enforcement remains weak. Last year, a subsidiary of Cargill, a company that produces large-scale poultry, was sued alongside other poultry companies for the pollution caused by the manure from 23 million chickens that spread on the land in the catchment area near River Wye in the UK. The manure produced by such big companies is by no means small. The largest food companies produce manure equivalent amounts to entire countries; for instance, according to an estimate, Tyson, a big livestock company in the US, makes as much manure as 431 million people, roughly the size of the USA. While most of these companies conduct water quality assessments, they are not thorough enough, as they do not include animal and feed supply chains, according to Maria, a technical specialist at FAIRR Initiative, an investor network that raises awareness of the material risks and opportunities in the global food sector. At the same time, it is essential to note that some regions still do not have access to enough phosphorus. Data from a global analysis of agricultural inputs shows regional variations in phosphorus use on farms worldwide. Some countries also have a phosphorus deficit, including many countries in sub-Saharan Africa. According to the above report cited above, one in seven farmers cannot access or afford phosphorous fertilizers, reducing their ability to maintain food security and livelihoods. 2. Governments Must Strengthen Regulations For Phosphorus Efficiency The other side of tackling phosphorous overuse is improving its efficiency— and that is a problem that can be solved. Some farmers in countries like India and China are building phosphorus reserves in their farms in recent decades. Such reserves enable them to grow subsequent crops on the same land without further phosphorus-based fertilizer application. To improve efficiency in phosphorous recycling, the Government should reach a consensus on an international agreement. The agreement should also include ambitious targets to recover and recycle nutrients from livestock manure, wastewater, and industrial waste streams. Although there are international agreements supporting the sustainable use of chemicals—such as nitrogen—a similar deal for phosphorus is much needed but not yet in place. During the fourth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly, over 20 resolutions were passed, many of which had implications for phosphorus. However, a direct agreement explicitly focused on this chemical is needed. Such an agreement is also needed to help address future concerns about food security linked to limited phosphorus reserves. Most phosphorus reserves are concentrated in a handful of countries, creating a problematic situation for future food security—just five countries account for 85% of the world's phosphorous reserves. Morocco, China, Algeria, Syria, and Brazil are the top countries with phosphate rock reserves. It is estimated that 85% of phosphate mined from phosphate rocks produces fertilizers. 3. Scaling Up The Market For Recycled Phosphorus Products Is Crucial Unfortunately, phosphorus resources recovery efforts have not scaled up—and this is where the private sector has a role. Some startups are working in this space, but momentum is now needed. Just a month ago, a woman-led startup in the UK won an Innovate UK Women in Innovation Award for her role in setting up a project that moves phosphorus from lakes and rivers—where it causes damage—to farmlands where it can be used for crops. Making recovered phosphorus commercially viable requires patience. Experts in the report cited above argue that recovered phosphorus cannot be compared with the same yardstick as other substitutes especially on the cost point. Currently, the market is trying to address the challenge of producing enough volume and maintaining a uniform quality. Until this nascent market for recovered phosphorus becomes more mature, all stakeholders in the ecosystem need to share the responsibility. There is also potential to share the recovery cost in more developed markets. As we consider a sustainable future, it is essential that phosphorus overuse which can significantly impact our planet’s health, marine life, and water streams so much—receives targeted attention. A sustainable phosphorus future requires action now.

A portable projector is a great way to entertain during the spring and summer months. Brands like Xgimi have made these grab-and-go mini projectors affordable, and that’s before any sales or markdowns. As luck would have it, though, one of Xgimi’s mini projectors is actually discounted:  For a limited time, you’ll be able to get the Xgimi MoGo 2 HD Mini Projector for only $250. The full retail price of this model is $400.  The MoGo 2 is a lightweight 720p projector with a 25,000-hour lamp life. Designed to get your movie night up and running as fast as possible, the MoGo 2 has a suite of auto-correction features that do a nice job of honing in on the best picture possible for your viewing space. Ideally, you’ll use MoGo 2 more indoors than outdoors, simply because the projector doesn’t have the highest peak brightness levels (topping out around 400 nits).  Related Thanks to Android TV 11, you’ll be able to connect the MoGo 2 to Wi-Fi for access to streaming apps like Netflix and YouTube. The projector also has two eight-watt speakers, though Bluetooth 5.0 support lets you pair a Bluetooth speaker or soundbar as well. Wired connections include HDMI ARC, USB, and 3.5mm auxiliary for wiring up an external speaker or headphones.  Do keep in mind that this is not a battery-powered mini projector, so you’ll need to keep the MoGo 2 in an area with access to one or multiple AC outlets.  Save $150 on the Xgimi MoGo 2 when you purchase today. You may also want to take a look at our lists of the best projector deals, best Walmart deals, and best Bluetooth speaker deals for additional discounts on top AV devices. Editors’ Recommendations