The Curiosity Mars rover covers a lot of ground for a robot that only moves at a max speed of .1 mph. A photo snapped recently by NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter provides a pretty cool visualization of what the rover has been up to so far this year, showing the tracks Curiosity left behind as it journeyed from its previous science target — an area called the Gediz Vallis channel — to its next destination. The rover itself is just a tiny speck at the front of the roughly 1,050-foot-long trail, and according to NASA, this snap “is believed to be the first orbital image of the rover mid-drive across the Red Planet.” The image was captured on February 28 by the orbiter’s HiRISE (High-Resolution Imaging Science Experiment) camera, and shows Curiosity’s movement over 11 drives starting at the beginning of that month. While a few weeks might seem like a long time for tire tracks to stick around in the dirt, this is normal for Mars. The tracks are “[l]ikely to last for months before being erased by wind,” NASA says. Curiosity is expected to reach its next science destination, which is home to formations thought to have been created long ago by groundwater, in the coming weeks. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/space/nasas-mars-orbiter-snapped-this-image-of-curiosity-trucking-along-down-at-the-surface-211404950.html?src=rss

AMD’s Radeon PRO W9000 may drop memory size but focus on efficiency, value, and practical use for creative professionals.

The 2025 Kentucky Derby is horse racing’s most exclusive starting gate. Twenty horses will post at Churchill Downs on May 3—an elite field, even by exclusivity’s standards. Y Combinator admits less than 3% of startups. Fewer than 1% of those who apply to NASA become astronauts. Google famously hires less than 0.2% of applicants. Yet these standards look almost lax compared to the 0.11% of North American thoroughbreds that make the Kentucky Derby each year, as only 20 of the 17,146 thoroughbred foals eligible earn the honor of participating in the race. Here’s how the fortunate 20 get to Churchill Downs. A sophisticated global qualification system The Kentucky Derby is limited to 3-year-old thoroughbreds that qualify through a points system called the “Road to the Kentucky Derby.” This system, implemented in 2013, transformed horse racing’s premier event from an earnings-based qualification into a data-driven meritocracy. There are three distinct roads to the Kentucky Derby. Internationally, the European-Middle East Road offers one invitation through seven qualifying races across England, Ireland, UAE, and France, while the Japan Road awards one invitation through four races. The North American Road fills the remaining 18 starting spots through a 36-race gauntlet divided into two phases. The Prep Season (September–February) features 20 races with modest point awards, while the high-stakes 16-race Championship Series (February–April) cranks up the pressure with escalating rewards. But not all points are created equal. The brilliance of this system lies in its gamified structure. Early prep races award a conservative 10-5-3-2-1 distribution among the top five finishers, while Championship Series races raise the stakes dramatically to a 50-25-15-10-5 split, then to a game-changing 100-50-25-15-10 for the final major preps. In Silicon Valley terms, these would be “rising stakes rounds,” forcing trainers to make strategic decisions about where and when to position their contenders for maximum return. For 2025, Churchill Downs fine-tuned its algorithm, adding the Virginia Derby as a qualifying race and implementing dynamic point scaling that reduces awards for smaller fields—an anti-gaming mechanism to ensure equitable competition so there are no shortcuts to the derby. The result is a ruthlessly efficient funnel that winnows 17,146 eligible thoroughbreds down to just 20 elite qualifiers—an acceptance rate that makes Harvard or MIT look like open enrollment. Closing the economic divide While most Kentucky Derby contenders emerge from million-dollar yearling sales and the larger stables of trainers like Bob Baffert—whose financial resources, connections to wealthy owners, and experience make him a derby mainstay—racing’s most compelling narratives often feature horses from humbler origins. The ultimate underdog story belongs to Rich Strike, who in 2022 became the first claimed horse to win the Derby. Claiming races—where every entered horse is available for purchase at a listed price—represent racing’s blue-collar backbone. Trainer Eric Reed spotted potential in Rich Strike and claimed him for just $30,000 at Churchill Downs in 2021. Seven months later, this bargain-basement purchase stunned the racing world by winning the derby as an 80-1 longshot who wasn’t even in the field until another horse scratched the day before. The 2025 Derby features its own Cinderella story in Coal Battle, trained by 72-year-old Lonnie Briley, who has been training horses for 34 years without a single premier racing event starter. Purchased for $70,000, Coal Battle has already earned over $1 million by winning multiple prep races, including the Rebel Stakes. For Briley, who first visited Churchill Downs just three years ago with a horse that finished dead last, this represents the democratic promise at the heart of the Derby—that with the right horse, even the smallest stable can compete on racing’s biggest stage. A look at this year’s Kentucky Derby field Coal Battle is one of 20 thoroughbreds in the 2025 Kentucky Derby field, which represents the various paths to Churchill Downs. Here’s how each horse in this year’s field made it to the Run for the Roses: Burnham Square: From earning four points in the Holy Bull to capturing 100 in the Blue Grass Stakes (winning by a nose over East Avenue), Burnham Square ranks first on the Kentucky Derby points leader board with 130. Sandman: This $1.2 million purchase accumulated 129 points across multiple races, culminating in an impressive Arkansas Derby victory by 2.5 lengths over Publisher. Journalism: The current Derby favorite enters with a four-race winning streak, including the Santa Anita Derby. Rodriguez: Maximizing the Northeast corridor by winning the Wood Memorial for 100 points, this colt represents trainer Bob Baffert’s return to the Derby since 2021. Tiztastic: Converted a 100-point Louisiana Derby win into a prime position with 119 points, giving trainer Steve Asmussen (0-for-26 in the Derby with three runner-up finishes) another chance at his elusive first Derby victory. Tappan Street: Florida Derby champion (110 points) who will attempt to become just the fifth horse to win the Kentucky Derby after only three career starts, following Regret (1915), Big Brown (2008), Justify (2018), and Mage (2023). Sovereignty: Fountain of Youth winner who also finished second in the Florida Derby and totaled 110 points, Sovereignty gives Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai, another chance at his first Derby win after 12 previous attempts. Final Gambit: Jeff Ruby Steaks winner (100 points) who rallied from last to win by 3.5 lengths and will be making his first start on dirt in the Derby after previously racing on turf and synthetic surfaces. Coal Battle: The quintessential rags-to-riches narrative with 95 points on the leaderboard, led by 72-year-old trainer Lonnie Briley, who had never even entered a horse in a premier racing event before Coal Battle’s Rebel Stakes victory at 11–1 odds. Chunk of Gold: Consistent performer with 75 points who cost just $2,500 at auction and has never finished worse than second in four career starts, including runner-up in the Louisiana Derby. Citizen Bull: Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner who captured the 2-year-old championship and earned 71.25 points, attempting to become the first Juvenile winner to capture the Derby since Nyquist (2015-16). Owen Almighty: Tampa Bay Derby champion (65 points) owned by Dutch Bros Coffee Company cofounder Travis Boersma. East Avenue: Blue Grass Stakes runner-up (60 points) who narrowly missed victory by a nose, but whose sire (father), Medaglia d’Oro, finished fourth in his own Derby attempt in 2002. Publisher: Arkansas Derby runner-up (60 points) who will become just the 13th maiden (winless horse) to start in the Kentucky Derby since 1937. American Promise: Virginia Derby winner (55 points), capitalizing on the newly added qualification race with a 7.75-length victory and giving 89-year-old legendary trainer D. Wayne Lukas his shot at a fifth Derby win. Flying Mohawk: The Jeff Ruby Steaks runner-up (50 points), who is co-owned by former MLB All-Star outfielder Jayson Werth, will be making his first start on dirt after racing exclusively on turf and synthetic surfaces. Grande: Wood Memorial runner-up (50 points) with just three career starts who will attempt to become the fifth horse to win the Derby with so few races, guided by three-time Derby-winning jockey John Velazquez. Built: Accumulated 45 points across multiple Fair Grounds preps, including a second in the Lecomte, third in the Risen Star, and fifth in the Louisiana Derby. Luxor Café: The son of 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah is the Japan Road qualifier and ships in on a four-race winning streak. Admire Daytona: Europe-Middle East Road qualifier who won the UAE Derby by a nose and previously was beaten twice by fellow Derby contender Luxor Café. The fastest two minutes in sports For many trainers, the Kentucky Derby is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Since only 3-year-old thoroughbreds are eligible, unless you’re a Baffert-level trainer with seemingly endless resources and a deep stable, there are no second chances. This brutal math explains why veterans like Briley wait decades for their moment, while elite trainers seem to have regular seats at racing’s most exclusive table. It’s why Coal Battle’s presence in the starting gate represents both a statistical anomaly and the enduring dream that keeps trainers like him in the game for decades, hoping for that one special thoroughbred who defies the 0.11% odds. Coal Battle is currently a 20–1 underdog to win the 2025 Kentucky Derby. Journalism is the 3–1 favorite, followed by Sandman (8–1) and Sovereignty (8–1). But in the world’s most exclusive starting gate, each thoroughbred in the 20-horse field has already beaten the longest odds just by showing up.

Anyone who’s watched a sci-fi blockbuster has felt the allure of 3D floating graphics you can swipe, pinch, or spin in midair. The idea of waving your hand to manipulate virtual objects seems more like movie magic than actual technology. While modern sensors and clever visual tricks can mimic some of this, there’s always been something missing: the feeling of truly touching those holograms. Tech fans have long dreamed of a time when those captivating visual effects break free from screens and let us reach out and interact directly. The challenge isn’t just making realistic volumetric images, but giving your hands real feedback, something to press, turn, or hold. One recent experiment takes a huge leap toward this dream, letting us not just see, but almost feel, digital objects in space. Designer: Dr. Elodie Bouzbib, Iosune Sarasate, Unai Fernández, Manuel López-Amo, Iván Fernández, Iñigo Ezcurdia, and Asier Marzo from Public University of Navarra (UPNA) At the heart of this experiment are volumetric displays, which create the illusion of 3D objects floating in the air by projecting images onto a fast-moving diffuser. Traditionally, these diffusers are made from rigid materials. Reaching out to touch them doesn’t end well: you risk breaking the tech or even hurting your hand. The tactile disconnect always breaks the illusion. A clever twist changes everything: instead of using a solid diffuser, the experiment swapped it for a set of elastic strips, each oscillating rapidly to form a surface for the images. Now, the 3D holograms are projected onto these wavy, soft strips, which can safely yield as you poke or prod. You can even slip a finger between the gaps, something impossible with previous versions. This nifty change allows users to interact more naturally with holographic objects, twisting or pushing them with a sense of resistance. The elastic nature of the strips means you get just enough feedback to convince your mind you’re touching something real. It’s not quite grabbing a solid object, but it’s a big leap from waving at empty air and pretending you made contact. While these holograms aren’t actually tangible, the feeling of connection is much stronger than anything we’ve seen before. For tech enthusiasts and dreamers alike, touchable 3D holograms bring us closer to those sci-fi scenes we’ve all imagined. It’s a delightful peek into a future where pixels meet fingertips, making interactions more magical and real than ever before. The post Touchable 3D Holograms Bring Sci-Fi Interaction Closer to Reality first appeared on Yanko Design.

"I added flames to a line chart".

This energy storage technology is harnessing the potential of solar and wind power—and its deployment is growing exponentially.

The White House has described the European Union's fining of Apple and Meta as extortion and called the Digital Markets Act discriminatory.The White House — image credit: White HouseWhen the EU fined Apple $570 million for alleged non-compliance with its Digital Markets Act (DMA), it came after reports the Union was delaying its fines in order to appease Trump. It was also reported that the amount of the fine was far lower than the DMA allows, for the same reason.It does not appear to have worked, however. Trump has yet to comment beyond his 2024 remarks about not letting the EU take advantage of US companies. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Our latest weekly curated jobs roundup from the Archinect Job board features 20 Project Manager and Project Architect roles available in New York City. To explore specific job titles from the architectural profession, consult Archinect's Guide to Job Titles series. Also, follow our Archinect Tips series to improve your portfolio, resume, and interviewing skills, to increase your overall chances of getting that next job. Snøhetta seeks a Project Designer - Interior Architecture"The PA works on project teams to advance the successful completion of projects, tasks, and initiatives. This is an intermediate position at Snøhetta in which a person has an increased level of responsibility for project design, delivery, and management. They lead and mentor Designers or Interns who are a part of their project team(s). Over time, the PA will lead more independently and develop advanced design and project coordination skills." The firm is also hiring for an Executive Assistant in New York City....

In one of the more common disputes of modern AI, Ziff Davis, IGN Entertainment and Everyday Health Media have sued Open AI for copyright infringement.Read More

It’s been a busy week for Alien: Earth’s marketing team, having released three new teasers over the last few days. The longest of them — titled “Gestation Complete” — spends two whole minutes on the gestation and birth of an alien creature. Another, “Crate,” gives hints that Earth could be facing more than just a xenomorph, the franchise’s shiny, acid-spitting ancient aliens. Both teasers were released today, following a goofy nature documentary-themed Earth Day teaser earlier this week.“Gestation Complete” is worth sitting through if you were a fan of the look of the 1979 Alien movie that kicked off the franchise. After the creepy alien birth, you’re treated to shots of the inside of the Weyland-Yutani ship that’s carrying the alien, complete with the retro-future CRT-style displays and blinking buttons from the ship’s Mother’s chamber — the room housing the ship’s AI computer system interface. On one of the displays, an ominous message reads: “NEW SPECIES DETECTED.“The other, shorter trailer hints at what else the series might have in store, with a narrator speaking over footage of shadowy aliens behind foggy yellow containment module windows:This ship collected five different life forms from the darkest corners of the universe. Each one, a unique, deadly species. Monsters.The ship in question is headed for a crash-landing on Earth. Here’s the show’s synopsis, from the videos’ descriptions:When a mysterious space vessel crash-lands on Earth, a young woman (Sydney Chandler) and a ragtag group of tactical soldiers make a fateful discovery that puts them face-to-face with the planet’s greatest threat in FX’s highly anticipated TV series Alien: Earth from creator Noah Hawley.The rest of the cast includes Alex Lawther, Timothy Olyphant, Essie Davis, Samuel Blenkin, Babou Ceesay, David Rysdahl, Adrian Edmondson, Adarsh Gourav, Jonathan Ajayi, Erana James, Lily Newmark, Diem Camille, and Moe Bar-El. Alien: Earth is set to release this summer on FX and Hulu.See More: