One of the many, many things that happened on the latest episode of Doctor Who was that the show finally lifted the lid on what two years of teasing who Mrs. Flood was leading towards. Turns out, it was exactly what many Doctor Who fans had, jokingly or otherwise, guessed immediately. In some ways, according to showrunner Russell T Davies, that was the point. “The Interstellar Song Contest” climaxed with the reveal that Mrs. Flood was, in fact, the latest incarnation of the Rani, the renegade Time Lady scientist originally played by the late, great Kate O’Mara across two classic Doctor Who serials, “Mark of the Rani” and “Time and the Rani,” and the absurd 1993 anniversary special/charity drive Dimensions in Time. Very quickly after that she become the second-latest, as a mortally wounded Flood prepared to regenerate, only to bi-generate just like the 14th and 15th Doctors had, revealing a new Rani, played by Archie Panjabi. The Rani, aside from being something of a camp icon thanks to the winning combination of an immaculate 1980s fashion sense and O’Mara’s delectably scenery-devouring performance, has become something of a running joke in the era of modern Doctor Who, with fans immediately joking that the second a mysterious female character comes up, she must be the Rani. The Master’s wife in season three? The Rani. River Song? The Rani. Missy? The Rani. That woman from “End of Time” who may or may not be the Doctor’s mother? No, clearly the Rani! Mrs. Flood was no exception to that joking theory, it’s just that this time it was decided to pay it off. “Whenever you introduce any woman into any role on Doctor Who, half the internet seems to conject that she’s the Rani,” Davies recently told the BBC. “Sometimes, you just have to go with it.” For Davies, it was also an opportunity to play with a character who is both, almost paradoxically, a returning legacy character (something this current era of Doctor Who has largely stayed away from playing with outside of last year’s Sutekh return), and also one who could essentially be brand new to a less-familiar audience. “I think she’s great in two ways. She’s a famous classic villain if you know her. At the same time, she’s not up there with the Master, the Cybermen, or the Daleks, she’s just a little bit more niche,” Davies continued. “That’s good. That allows her to become a new character for the newer audience, she’s not weighted down in continuity.” As to why not making her actually a new character—after all, the Time Lords are no stranger to Getting Better after seemingly being wiped out forever—well, Davies thought about that too. But for Davies, finally invoking the Rani meant an opportunity to have those less-familiar viewers check out her prior appearances. “It’s one of those things where you think we could have just made a new Time Lord and cast Archie Panjabi. That would have been wonderful. That would have been great,” Davies concluded. “But, naming her the Rani leads us into this conversation about the character. It leads some children to BBC iPlayer, where they’ll discover some great old stories with Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy.” We’ll learn just how different this new Rani is–these new Ranis are, rather—when Doctor Who begins its two-part finale this weekend. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

Save this picture!VARID A VR-AR Toolkit for Inclusive Design.. Image © Foster + PartnersOver the last decade, architectural design has relied on 2D methods of representation, such as elevations, sections, and floor plans, paired with digital renderings of 3D models. While these tools are essential to convey geometry and intent, they remain limited by their two-dimensional format. Even the most realistic renderings, created through programs like SketchUp, Revit, or AutoCAD, still flatten space and distance the viewer from the lived experience of a project. Recently, architects have begun to explore immersive technologies as a way to bridge this gap between drawing and experience, offering new ways to inhabit and assess spatial proposals.What are AR, VR, and MR?Extended Reality (XR) can be classified into three main types: Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Mixed Reality (MR), each offering varying levels of immersion in digital environments. At one end of the spectrum, AR enhances the real world with digital content, while at the other, VR fully immerses the user in a completely virtual environment, blocking out the physical world. MR lies between these extremes but is essentially a more detailed classification of AR based on the type of display used. Their research proposes the following classification: Class 1 display refers to monitor-based systems, where users view the real world through a screen equipped with a camera that captures the environment and overlays digital information, such as in the Apple Vision Pro, which uses passthrough cameras. In contrast, Class 2 and 3 systems use head-mounted displays (HMDs) with see-through lenses that superimpose 3D models onto the user's view, like the Microsoft HoloLens. In 2020, Trimble combined the HoloLens with a hard hat, creating the Trimble XR10, which makes this technology usable in the construction site. For clarity, this text will refer to Class 1 systems as AR and Class 2 and 3 systems as MR moving forward. Related Article Using Augmented Reality In Bamboo Architecture Save this picture!How do Users Perceive Space?Architectural design is not only about defining space, but also about anticipating how people will perceive and move through it. The way users interpret a space depends not just on geometry, but also on intuition, their individual knowledge, and experiences. Kevin Lynch described this as a space's "legibility," or how easily it can be understood and organized mentally, while Ittelson (1978) emphasizes how users explore, categorize, and systematize spatial elements into a coherent whole. The user first explores an area to orient themselves and move around, then they will develop a taxonomy of the space elements to mentally organize it, and finally, they put everything together into a system that tells the brain why things are happening and how they relate to each other. Research suggests that immersive environments such as mixed reality can simulate this faithfully, allowing architects and clients alike to engage with a design not as an abstract plan, but as a place to walk through, observe, and interpret.Save this picture!Which One Improves Design Understanding: 2D Drawings or MR?Based on the above, a study made by the National Taiwan University in 2021 explored this topic by conducting an experiment where participants were brought to a room and were divided into two groups. The first would analyze an interior design proposal of the space using printed architectural drawings and colored renderings. The second group was asked to do the same but only used the explorable MR 3D model seen through an MR headset, in this case: The HoloLens. After the exploration was done, users would sit down, and researchers would ask questions about the space. For example, the general understanding of the elements in the architectural program, how well people perceive length and sizes of objects, perception and understanding of textures and materials, and knowledge of demolition or renovation of specific elements. A total of 42 people participated in the research, with an average age of 26 years, various ranges of architectural drawing understanding, and from diverse cultural backgrounds, including Africa, the Middle East, Asia, the Americas, and Europe. The results shed light on several topics for architects looking into implementing this technology in their work.Save this picture!First, the study suggests that MR technology allowed users to understand around 85% of the overall design proposal compared to 2D methods (which allowed participants to obtain only around 75% of the information). At the same time, they also concluded that MR does not fully replace 2D; in fact, it's about balance. Both MR and 2D are suitable for identifying spaces and general layout, identifying where activities can be performed, and identifying heights. However, 2D plans are especially good for specific measurements of the space (Length and width), understanding the demolition plan, and identifying countable elements in the design, like the number of lamps, switches, or sockets. On the other hand, MR was better for understanding how elements in the space interact with each other (Like if the columns were wrapped by a specific material). MR  was especially useful for quickly identifying the specific materials and textures of the design and visually understanding size in terms of width, and mentally perceiving certain properties of materials like roughness, smoothness, warmth, or coldness.Save this picture!How Can We Integrate MR into our Current Design Review Workflows?MR has the potential to facilitate inclusive and interdisciplinary collaboration by bridging the gap between technical and non-technical stakeholders. Clients or end users with limited experience in reading architectural drawings often struggle to visualize how a space will look or function. AR, especially through Mixed Reality headsets, can mitigate this by allowing them to engage with the space intuitively. Given the transparent property of the MR lenses, non-architect users can experience the spatial and material qualities of a design proposal directly on-site, making it easier to identify potential issues such as circulation conflicts, scale misinterpretations, or material inconsistencies. This allows them to give feedback that is grounded in their own perceptual experience rather than abstract interpretations. This can help to democratize the design review process and can lead to more informed, client-centered decisions. For architectural teams, combining MR with traditional tools might mean that their detailed technical evaluations (e.g., clearances, counts, and demolition plans) are complemented by a richer experiential understanding from the client, which can lead to more holistic and user-validated design outcomes.Save this picture!This article is part of the ArchDaily Topics: What Is Future Intelligence?, proudly presented by Gendo, an AI co-pilot for Architects. Our mission at Gendo is to help architects produce concept images 100X faster by focusing on the core of the design process. We have built a cutting edge AI tool in collaboration with architects from some of the most renowned firms such as Zaha Hadid, KPF and David Chipperfield.Every month we explore a topic in-depth through articles, interviews, news, and architecture projects. We invite you to learn more about our ArchDaily Topics. And, as always, at ArchDaily we welcome the contributions of our readers; if you want to submit an article or project, contact us.

In this clip, we dive into the process of creating stunning logo trails using Unreal Engine 5's Niagara system. Watch as we transform a simple texture into an eye-catching visual effect! Perfect for game developers and VFX enthusiasts!#UnrealEngine #Niagara #VFX #GameDev #Tutorial

Project Files: https://www.patreon.com/posts/129578927 . In this tutorial, I am going to show you how to use the gameplay messaging subsystem in C++. Gameplay messaging subsystem comes as a part of Lyra Project. In the previous part of this tutorial series (https://youtu.be/Qnxk6iiy7sU ) I explained how to export the plugin from lyra and integrate into your own project and use it in your own projects. We tested it withing blueprints. Today, we will see how to broadcast a message with C++. You can consider this as the 31st part of the Real Time Strategy game using Unreal Engine and C++ tutorial series as we are going to utilize the gameplay messaging system in this project. But to follow and understand how to use the system, it is not required to follow previous episodes of this series. Full C++ RTS Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNTm9yU0zou5_PYxEdjNbAgbVRn-daOga . Unreal Strategy game with Blueprints series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNTm9yU0zou4Eulmi8YIfzHiNZEzfbSMk ► 👇 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐥 // 𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐀 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧! https://www.patreon.com/codelikeme ►Patrons will have access to project files of all the stuff I do in the channel and other extra benefits Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClb6Jh9EBV7a_Nm52Ipll_Q/join Like my facebook page for more content : https://www.facebook.com/gamedevelopersclub/ Follow me on twitter : https://twitter.com/CodeLikeMe2 Follow me on reddit : https://www.reddit.com/user/codelikeme #CodeLikeMe #unrealengine #ue5 #ue4 #indiegamedev

Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. Just as birth rates decline in many wealthy and developed nations, dog parenting is remaining steady and even gaining in popularity. Up to half of households in Europe and 66 percent of homes in the United States have at least one dog and these pets are often regarded as a family member or “fur baby.”  To dig into what this shift says about our society, researchers from Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest, Hungary conducted a literature review to analyze the data. They propose that while dogs do not replace children, they can offer a chance to fulfill an innate nurturing drive similar to parenting, but with fewer demands than raising biological children. Their findings are described in a study published May 22 in the journal European Psychologist. Dogs over kids Many couples cite economic insecurity, concerns over the environmental health of the planet, and unsupportive careers as some reasons to eschew having children all together. The team on this new study dove into the available scientific literature on this topic to answer if people choose to have dogs in place of their own children and how and why some view them as a family member.  One of the team’s core ideas posits that dogs could represent a fulfilling compromise for some people. Dogs could satisfy a genetically-embedded drive to nurture and form social bonds, without needing to invest the substanial–and increasing–resources necessary to raise biological children. They offer an opportunity to form a close emotional connection with a dependent being, providing the positive emotions, social support, and even a sense of purpose that can resemble what parents experience.  [ Related: A visit to dog college. ] Why dogs? Humans and dogs have been working together for at least 12,000 years, so our bond is very strong to begin with. In the literature, the team found that canine cognitive abilities and adaptability to human communication means that they can exhibit a wide range of social behaviors, often comparable to a child who can’t really speak yet.  Additionally, some dogs, particularly breeds with extreme infantile traits (such as pugs and French bulldogs), may appear as helpless, harmless, and innocent as small children. That evidence of dependency on caregivers is another parallel between pet dogs and small children. Like kids, most dogs kept in human families cannot decide what to eat, control their walk or play schedule, or decide with whom to interact. Owners are thus responsible for providing appropriate care for their dogs. In many countries, laws have been created to protect the rights of both animals and children.   “Despite the high dependency and attachment of dogs to their caregivers, in the eyes of many, commitments coming with dog ownership remain less burdensome than child parenting,” Laura Gillet, a study co-author and PhD student, said in a statement. “Among many factors, the relatively short lifespan of dogs might contribute to it, as most people expect to outlive their dog, but not their child.” Previous studies have also shown that animal lives remain less valued than human lives in many Western, traditionally Christian-influenced societies. This makes both individual decisions around pet parenting and sociocultural context are crucial to understanding how and why people develop certain types of relationships with their animals.  Importantly, a dog’s wants and needs do not always align with what their owners expect, and this is a crucial point in regards to animal welfare. Treating dogs as child substitutes and seeking out extreme infantile traits in them raises several ethical concerns that have led to the mass breeding of some unhealthy traits over time. Overprotective caring behaviours that may lead to emotional and behavioural problems in the dog have also been documented.  “We would like to point out that, contrary to popular belief, only a small minority of dog owners actually treat their pets like human children,” Eniko Kubinyi, a study co-author and head of the university’s ‘Momentum’ Companion Animals Research Group, said in a statement. “In most cases, dog parents choose dogs precisely because they are not like children, and they acknowledge their species-specific needs.” [ Related: Why do dogs lick humans? It could be a sign of affection. ] A special relationship Overall, the team found that dog keeping practices take on many forms. All of these styles often depend on sociocultural context and individual circumstances, and can change throughout a person’s life. For instance, a dog can be a “pre-child” for a young childfree couple, and later become like a sibling to a firstborn.  The team also proposes alternative ways of thinking about the dog-human bond, that blend together the characteristics of different human relationships. Dog ownership is not always like a child-parent relationship, but also friendship and partnership. This is why a unique bond with its own dynamic can form. The shifting roles that companion animals in general play in human lives are also redefining the concept of family, at a time when loneliness is considered an epidemic in some places and critical social and community ties have been weakened.

Nature, Published online: 22 May 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-09149-xAuthor Correction: Structure and topography of the synaptic V-ATPase–synaptophysin complex

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Last year at the Roblox Developers Conference, The Roblox Corporation laid out its grand plans for the platform and unveiled its revamped revenue-sharing plans for developers who make premium experiences using its game creation tools. One of those games, Grow a Garden, has broken from the pack and become such a monster hit that it's drawing bigger numbers than most of the top games on Steam.Grow a Garden was released on March 25, and since that time it has had 1.9 billion visits, and over 1 million favorites. According to Kotaku, Grow a Garden's concurrent player record is 5 million active users. At the time of writing, Grow a Garden is massively outperforming some of the biggest Roblox games of all time, including Dress to Impress, Blox Fruits, and Adopt Me, according to a Reddit post showing top concurrent players. The identity of Grow a Garden's teenage creator has not been disclosed, but management of the game has been taken over by a studio called Splitting Point.Creating monstrous crops in Grow a GardenThe gameplay is relatively simple, as players are able to purchase seeds for their farm and let them grow to ridiculous sizes before harvesting and selling them for profit. Even the game's animals, or pets, can take on gigantic proportions, and come with unique abilities to buff the productivity of your garden. It's easy to see why so many are hooked on the gameplay loop.Continue Reading at GameSpot

Whether it’s first place or last place, power-ups are an essential part of Mario Kart’s design, but there are some power-ups that are extremely frustrating and annoying to fight against, and so it might be a better time for all if Nintendo decides to vault and void these power-ups for Mario Kart World.

In his seemingly endless quest to not finish The Winds of Winter, Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin has a new project on the table: He’s producing a magical-realist reimagining of the story of Hercules, animated by Blue Spirit, the Emmy-winning studio behind the bloody Netflix revenge series Blue Eye Samurai. The film is based on the novella A Dozen Tough Jobs from Howard Waldrop, a Nebula Award winner and Martin’s lifelong friend. A Dozen Tough Jobs sets the Greek myth in 1920s Mississippi, making Zeus’ son Hercules a former sharecropper descended from slaves. After being released from prison for a heinous crime, he lands in the custody of the wicked Boss Eustice, and has to earn his freedom through spins on the classical 12 labors of Hercules. That story feels like a good fit for Blue Spirit, which combined Japanese history and the blood-soaked trappings of Quentin Tarantino movies in Blue Eye Samurai. Joe R. Lansdale (Bubba Ho-Tep, Hap & Leonard) is writing the script for Lion Forge Entertainment, the studio behind the Oscar-winning short Hair Love. No timeline for the release has been announced. “If anyone understands the power of epic stories and expansive franchises, it’s George R.R. Martin,” Lion Forge founder David Steward II said in a news release. “With A Dozen Tough Jobs, we’re reimagining a timeless legend through fresh, culturally rich lenses. This isn’t just a retelling — it’s a groundbreaking take unlike anything audiences have seen before, grounded in history but pushing myth into uncharted territory.”Martin previously produced the 2022 short film adaptation of Waldrop’s short story Night of the Cooters, starring Vincent D’Onofrio. Beyond Game of Thrones, he is producing several other projects in various stages of development, including adaptations of Nnedi Okarofor’s Who Fears Death, Roger Zelazny’s Roadmarks, and his own Wild Cards shared-world anthology series.