Multiple previous studies indicate mouth taping isn't very helpful, and may actually be dangerous. Credit: Deposit Photos Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. One of social media’s most recent alleged health hacks is “mouth taping.” Countless TikTok accounts and wellness articles are touting the supposed benefits of attaching an adhesive strip of tape over your lips before turning in for the night. Promised results include improved sleep quality, an end to snoring, better oral health, and somehow even a strengthened jawline. It probably doesn’t take much pause before a few questions spring to mind. What if your snoring is particularly bad? What if you deal with sleep apnea? What if you simply aren’t thrilled at the thought of sealing your mouth shut before falling unconscious for hours at a time?  Researchers at Western University in Canada recently reviewed 10 previously published studies that examined mouth taping as far back as 1999. Their resulting paper published on May 21 in PLOS One lays out what may be a pretty predicable conclusion: Please don’t try mouth taping at home without consulting an actual medical professional. Terrible TikTok advice There are many reasons why you may involuntarily switch from breathing through your nose to your mouth when asleep. Simple congestion from a cold or allergies is often enough to block nasal passages, while a deviated septum coupled with other health factors may result in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Depending on the individual, relief often comes from any combination of medication, exercise, dieting, or medical devices like a CPAP machine. But in recent months, various media outlets and social media accounts have suggested taping your mouth closed before going to bed as a quick and easy workaround. The implied logic here is that if your respiratory system no longer has your mouth as an option, it’ll simply make sure your nose can pick up the slack. This, if you can believe it, is not how things work. “Mouth taping is a contemporary practice that is often celebrity-endorsed, but is not necessarily scientifically accurate,” the study’s authors explained in a statement. “Many people are not appropriate for mouth taping, and in some cases it can lead to risk of serious health harm.” Scant evidence and an asphyxiation risk To reinforce their warning with actual science, researchers reviewed 10 studies on mouth taping’s efficacy that collectively involved a group of 213 patients. Out of those 10 investigations, just two suggested that a small subset of people with mild obstructive apnea may see “some slight improvement” in their sleep.  Meanwhile, other studies didn’t determine any evidence to support taping your mouth for reducing sleep-disordered breathing, snoring, or apnea. Nearly half of the reviewed studies also included discussions regarding the possibly serious risks of asphyxiation. “There was explicit discussion in four out of ten of the studies indicating that oral occlusion either through taping, sealing, or chin strapping could pose a serious risk of asphyxiation in the presence of nasal obstruction or regurgitation,” the authors write. This danger could be especially serious for people dealing with any number of common respiratory troubles, including sinonasal disease, enlarged tonsils, hay fever, chronic rhinitis, or a deviated septum. Mouth taping isn’t necessarily terrible across the board, however. The reviewers note there appears to be a “very specific use-case scenario” for people with mild obstructive sleep apnea. In those cases, blocking the mouthway “may improve” their apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), a common medical measurement that tallies disruptive sleep events per hour.  But in general, it’s clear that taping your mouth based on the advice of total strangers online is not a great idea.“It seems that there is a potentially serious risk of harm for individuals indiscriminately practicing this trend,” the paper’s authors conclude while cautioning that, “Further studies are required to elucidate any clinical benefit this practice may have.” If you are suffering from poor sleep, excessive snoring, or dry mouth due to sleep issues, the best remedy remains consulting with a qualified medical professional—preferably one who isn’t looking to boost their follower count.

Nature, Published online: 21 May 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-01445-wThe binary star system ν Octantis has long been considered hostile to planet formation. The discovery of a white dwarf in the system offers an alternative view.

A new analysis of a skeleton uncovered 50 years ago provides some of the earliest evidence of intergroup conflict between humans to date.

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werezompire Zeboyd Games Verified Oct 26, 2017 15,222 How do you feel about turn-based RPGs that add reflex-based elements to their combat? Stuff like timed button presses, QTE events, dodges, parries, etc.   Rosebud Two Pieces Member Apr 16, 2018 51,212 I don't consider it turn based anymore, but I like action too so whatever   Renna Hazel Member Oct 27, 2017 13,218 I like them. Feels like it adds a layer of skill and it's something I'm usually pretty good at.   Rutger Member Oct 25, 2017 13,577 It can sometimes be fun, but I prefer turn based games revolving entirely around strategy.   Khanimus Avenger Oct 25, 2017 46,455 Greater Vancouver Keeps things feeling involved   TeraDax One Winged Slayer Member Oct 27, 2017 1,664 Québec If simple enough, I love them! In Paper Mario and Mario & Luigi, they make every battle fun.   shadowman16 Member Oct 25, 2017 41,513 Love them, I like a little more interactivity in the battles. Yakuza especially I think worked them well - especially in 8 - as it helped make it still retain part of the brawler feel of it. But also stuff like Paper Mario etc. also do this to great effect.   nsilvias Member Oct 25, 2017 30,126 im just trying to chill the fuck out when i play turn based games. reflex based stuff goes against what is an otherwise low energy genre   Kenaras Member Nov 9, 2018 525 I don't like QTE events, but everything else is fine. No strong feelings.   Derbel McDillet ▲ Legend ▲ Member Nov 23, 2022 24,338 If executed well, it's good.   Volken Member Sep 18, 2022 2,178 Love it. Expedition 33 was heaven.  Android Sophia The Fallen Oct 25, 2017 6,652 I have no strong feelings either way. It depends entirely upon their implementation and how the game handles them. When they're handled well, I enjoy them. And most big name games that have them handle them well. Assuming, of course, that the core gameplay still retains a turn based structure. So no going from one turn to the next automatically.  Kirby64 Member Aug 16, 2020 639 Depending on how far it goes there genuinely is a point where it stops becoming primarily turn based. Either way is fine with me though  Jonathan Lanza "I've made a Gigantic mistake" Member Feb 8, 2019 8,799 What's important is that the reflex based elements shouldn't step on the turn based elements toes too much. Certain elements of turn based games are designed around the idea that you are guaranteed to take damage. If a game for example gives you the option of negating enemy damage with a dodge button then there's a chance that you end up defeating the point of things like Healers or Defense modifiers since the ideal strategy is always gonna be to just dodge better instead of wasting resources.  2Blackcats Member Oct 26, 2017 17,462 I absolutely despise them. Pick a lane. I usually drop turn based games that introduce them. One big category of games I play a lot are "no real-time gameplay" games, ones where I can instantly drop the controller with no repercussions  flatearthpandas Member Oct 26, 2017 6,913 It's fine every once in a while if advertised ahead of time. I can live with it in E33, but it does make the optional bosses in the first 2/3rds of the game feel more like a parry simulation than an RPG because it's impossible to get the stats or abilities to survive their attacks until around the final act. Would absolutely not want reflex-based elements to be standard for the genre.  Conciliator Member Oct 25, 2017 5,413 For the most part I like it. In any game like this I've played, it's never been brutal, especially after a little practice, so it adds some dynamicness to it. I'm someone with relatively slow reflexes, so there are some higher-level reflex-based challenges in some games I literally just can't do. But RPG games like this tend to be more timing-based, and that I'm quite good at it.  Anno Member Oct 25, 2017 7,879 Columbus, Ohio Conceptually I think they could be fun but I've always disliked the ones I've actually tried, so maybe they're just bad, idk. Best thing they ever did was get me to stop playing FF8 quickly instead of trying to force myself through it.   Mudcrab Avenger Oct 26, 2017 3,954 Definitely, Super Mario RPG convinced me years ago.  

Xbox Game Pass is adding yet another show-stopping role-playing game to its catalog with Metaphor: ReFantazio, arriving on the service on May 29. The game joins heavy hitters Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 alongside charming experiences like Eiyuden Chronicles: Hundred Heroes and Avowed. Game Pass has an RPG for everyone. Metaphor: ReFantazio is a beautifully bizarre JRPG from Atlus, the creators of Shin Megami Tensei and Persona, that puts the player in control of a young warrior on a quest to enact revenge on a tyrannical general for assassinating the king. The strange new adventure was critically acclaimed upon release, securing many best game of the year nods and even slaying a gargantuan like Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth for Best RPG at the 2024 Game Awards. Additionally, Metaphor snagged wins for best narrative and art direction at the annual commemoration. Other games coming to Game Pass include Creatures of Ava, STALKER 2, and Tales of Kenzera: Zau, which all arrive on May 22, with Monster Train 2 available now. Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 will be available on Game Pass on May 27, To a T becoming available on May 28, and Spray Paint Simulator on May 29. Xbox also announced that a slew of new titles will be available through Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) on May 23. These games include the following: Brütal Legend Costume Quest 2 Day of the Tentacle Remastered Full Throttle Remastered Grim Fandango Remastered Max The Curse of Brotherhood Neon Abyss Quantum Break Rare Replay ScreamRide State of Decay Year-One SteamWorld Dig 2 Sunset Overdrive Super Lucky’s Tale Zoo Tycoon Ultimate Animal Collection And naturally, a handful of titles will depart from Xbox Game Pass on May 31, such as Cassette Beasts, Firework, Humanity, Remnant 2, and Slayers X: Terminal Aftermath: Vengance of the Slayer.

The Last of Us creator Neil Druckmann has sent some mixed signals lately regarding the highly requested Part III final installment. The Game Director and current Naughty Dog president told fans two months ago that they shouldn't bet on there being more The Last of Us. Inevitably, that was a tough pill to swallow, but in a new statement, he opened a small door to the possibility. In an interview with Sacred Symbols, Druckmann said he would 'jump' at the opportunity to make The Last of Us Part III, but only with a story worthy of the franchise and its trademark quality. I meant what I said in the documentary. While I am the caretaker of this franchise or whatever the right title is that Sony has entrusted me with, it's important for me that everything is of high quality. I don't want to just make a lot of it. I just want to be very thoughtful about everything that we make. When we made a theme park thing, we teamed up with Universal and teamed up with the best people to do that kind of Halloween haunted house, whatever you call it. When we did the show, now we've teamed up, I feel like, with the best TV makers with HBO, and we're making the best version of that. So, if we were ever to come back to it, I want to make sure that it's a story worthy of The Last of Us. I love that world. I love these characters. With the right opportunity, with the right idea... Yeah, I would totally jump at it. This heavily implies that the game he just confirmed he's producing (with Shaun Escayg directing) is not The Last of Us Part III, but something else entirely. Still, we'll have to wait some time to see exactly what Naughty Dog is cooking alongside Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet (which is being directed by Druckmann). Based on rumors, the game has been in development for around three years, and the average triple-A game development cycle nowadays ranges between five and six years. Deal of the Day

Shader Graph: Flip Book, Environment Blend & Cloth Blend w/ @BenCloward

I have a new app and would like feedback were can i post on gamedev thanks