November 8, 20245 min readHappy New Year! (If Youre a Martian)The Martian new year arrives with the Red Planets vernal equinox. Explaining why requires a deep dive into celestial mechanics and Earths calendrical historyBy Phil Plait Alones Creative/Getty ImagesYou may think its a few weeks early to celebrate the new year, but thats only because youre Earthist: November 12, 2024, marks the new year for Mars, when the calendar turns the page from 37 to 38.And here I am, still putting 37 on all my checks.Why would anyone pick November 12 as New Years Day for Mars? And why does our official reckoning of Martian time set the eons-old Red Planet only in its 38th year? The answer involves a combination of natural cycles and the human need to impose order via somewhat arbitrary timekeepingpretty much like on Earth.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.Here on our home planet, most countries use the Gregorian calendar to keep track of the year. This was first adopted in 1582 (although it took quite some time to spread around the world) and is your standard 12-month calendar365 days every year, with a bonus day added on every fourth year (a leap year). The Gregorian calendar starts on January 1 as a holdover from its predecessor, the Roman Empires Julian calendar; to honor the god Janus, Julius Caesar proclaimed that day to be the years first.As an astronomer, I might wish we marked the first day of the year using a date of some astronomical significance. The problem there is Earth stubbornly refuses to play nice with any sort of organized calendar. For example, our planets path around the sun is an ellipse, or oval shape. That means there is a point in time when it gets closest to the sun, which we call perihelion. That seems like a natural date for the start of a new year.But Earths orbital shape changes subtly every year because of the gravitational influence of the other planets, altering the exact time of perihelion. Another tweak to perihelions timing comes from Earths moon, which tugs on our planet to make it wobble a bit as we co-orbit the sun. These make perihelion an unworkably complicated way to start a calendar, even though perihelion also happens to occur in January. (Aphelionwhen Earth is farthest from the sunoccurs in July.)If you know a little bit more about astronomy, you might try to tag the new year with the equinoxes or solstices. These dates are based on Earths axial tilt, our planets roughly 23-degree pitch relative to the plane of its orbit (which is why you always see classroom globes tilted over on their stand). The June solstice, for example, occurs when the planets north pole is tipped most toward the sun, which happens on or about the 21st of that month every year. (Note that this is in winter for people in the Southern Hemisphere, which is why astronomers tend to shy away from calling it the summer solstice.)Astronomers prefer to measure everything in the sky relative to the March equinox, also called the vernal (relating to spring) equinox as a holdover from Northern Hemispherefocused timekeeping. There are many ways to think about the March equinox, but astronomers think of it as the time when the suns position on the sky crosses the celestial equator, the projection of Earths equator onto the sky. Thats a handy point in time and space to use for measuring things like the positions of the planets and stars.But again, because of the changing shape of Earths orbit, using that to mark the new year would be a hassle. The calendar date changes every year, adding unwieldy layers of chronological complexity.So what does all this have to do with Mars?Early in the 20th century, as humans began scrutinizing Mars with more powerful telescopes, we saw global changes sweep across that planet in sync with its changing position in its orbit. Then, as exquisite in situ observations emerged from our probes sent to the Red Planet, it became clear we needed some sort of Mars calendar.Such a calendar would have to be very different from ours. The most obvious reason is that Mars is farther out from the sun and takes almost two Earth years to complete a single orbit around our star; a Martian year is about 687 Earth days!A Mars daycalled a sol, to distinguish it from an Earth dayis also a little bit longer than our terrestrial one, lasting 24 hours, 39 minutes and 35 seconds. There are about 668 sols in a Martian year.But these differences are actually liberating because they free us from our historic legacy of arbitrary sociopolitical machinations. At Mars, we were able to get a fresh start, defining when we wanted the year to begin essentially from scratch.So planetary scientists decided to start the Martian new year at the time of the planets vernal equinox. Like Earth, the spin axis of Mars is tipped over relative to its orbit, and Mars even has a relatively Earth-like axial tilt of about 25 degrees. That means it has seasons similar to ours, creating the global changes earlier astronomers had witnessed. As temperatures rise in the Martian spring, dust storms arise, and some grow so large they can cover much of the planet. The onset of summer in a given hemisphere heats the respective polar ice cap, which shrinks in size as it sublimates (turns from solid to gas).Why not use the equinox as a starting date, then? If we have to choose a date, that one makes as much sense as any.If only things could be so simple. Earths orbit around the sun is very nearly a circle, and the seasons all last about three months. But Marss orbit around the sun is decidedly elliptical. When the planet is closest to the sun (in winter in its northern hemisphere) its orbital speed is faster than when its furthest (in northern summer), and combined with the oval orbital shape, this means the seasons have significantly different lengths. Northern spring is 194 sols long, while summer is 178, autumn is 142 and winter is 154 sols in duration.These odd seasons would make living on Mars weird. I mean, it would of course be hard: the suffocatingly thin atmosphere, high radiation levels, lack of quick and easy access to supplies from Earth, and so on would all make it extremely difficult to eke out a life there. But the wonky calendar would be a constant source of extra irritation.And what of the year numberthe bizarre fact that our Martian calendar has so far only advanced to Year 38? Scientists decided to mark Year 1 as the time a huge dust storm raged across the planets surface in 1956one of the most notable events on another planet during the early space age. The vernal equinox for that Martian year occurred on April 11, 1955, so thats now accepted as the planets first New Years Day. To make things less ambiguous, scientists also defined Year 0 as starting on the previous equinox, May 24, 1953. This prevents any weirdness like that of the Gregorian calendar, which, because it has no Year 0, creates strange situations such as new centuries starting on years ending with 01 instead of 00. (The 21st century, for instance, began on January 1, 2001.)Put this all together, and youll see that Year 38 on Mars begins on November 12, 2024, in the earthly Gregorian calendar, at around 16:00 coordinated universal time, or UTC (11 A.M. EST). Get your party hats and champagne ready!And dont forget: when the clock ticks down to zero, its time to sing Ares Lang Syne.

November 8, 2024The Impact of Weight Stigma on HealthFocusing on size in health care might be doing more harm than good.By Rachel Feltman & Fonda Mwangi Anaissa Ruiz Tejada/Scientific AmericanSUBSCRIBE TO Science QuicklyApple | Spotify | RSSThis episode is part of Health Equity Heroes, an editorially independent special project that was produced with financial support from Takeda Pharmaceuticals.Rachel Feltman: According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least one in five U.S. adults in each state are categorized as, quote, unquote, living with obesity. But for many of those people, having physicians focus on their size is far from helpful. In fact, theres research to suggest that our fixation on weight could be preventing us from actually helping people live healthy lives.For Scientific Americans Science Quickly, Im Rachel Feltman. Today were talking about a topic that might sound totally radical to some of you, but I hope youll listen with an open mind. My guest today is Ragen Chastain. Shes a speaker, writer, researcher and board-certified patient advocate. Her Substack newsletter, Weight and Healthcare, meticulous, evidence-based information on, you guessed it, weight and health care. Today shes here to talk to us about how weight stigmain other words, a systemic bias against bigger bodiescould potentially be to blame for many of the negative health outcomes weve been taught to associate with gaining weight.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.Feltman: Ragen, thanks so much for coming on to chat today.Ragen Chastain: Oh, thank you for having me. Im so excited.Feltman: Im really excited. Im a big fan of your newsletter. I find it super helpful, soreally looking forward to chatting about it. But for folks who arent already familiar with you, how would you describe what it is you do?Chastain: Yeah, so my area of expertise is at the intersections of weight science, weight stigma and health care practice. And so I teach health care providers about best practices for working with higher-weight people. I help higher-weight people navigate weight stigma in the health care sphere, and I analyze and contribute to the body of research around weight-neutral health and weight science in general.Feltman: Awesome. And I do want to pause before we go further just to talk about, like, words we might end up using and words we might not use that might surprise some listeners. Could you tell me a little bit about the word choices you use in your newsletter and the work that you do?Chastain: In terms of language around higher-weight people, the terms obese and overweight are terms that were literally made up for the express purpose of pathologizing bodies based on shared size rather than shared metabolic profile or cardiometabolic status like we would see in a typical disease diagnosis.And the idea of pathologizing higher-weight bodies is rooted in and inextricable from racism and anti-Blackness. And I absolutely urge people to read Sabrina Stringss Fearing the Black Body and DaShaun Harrisons Belly of the Beast to learn more about how not only are these things rooted in racism and anti-Blackness but theyre continuing to disproportionately impact those communities.Feltman: Absolutely. Yeah, I really appreciate that because I think a lot of really well-meaning people and publications and institutionsI mean, probably also some very not-well-meaning institutions, but some of them are well meaningyou know, say, oh, were going to focus on person-first language.And, you know, as a self-identified fat person, I dont know any higher-weight person who ever was like, Person with overweightthats what makes me feel good.Chastain: As if weight stigma doesn't give me enough problems, lets make me grammatically problematic as well. Yeah, the thing about person-first language is that its being marketed as antistigma language, but it didnt come from weight-neutral health community, health-at-every-size community, fat activism.It came directly from the weight loss industry as part of their campaign to have simply existing in a higher-weight body, again, regardless of actual health status, be seen as a chronic, lifelong condition that requires chronic, lifelong treatment from them. And so its being pushed through, quote, unquote, patient advocacy groups that they fund.This is person-first language for higher-weight people. First of all, they co-opted it from disability community, where theres a lot of conversation and transformation and nuance. And again, urge people to listen to folks from that community to understand those nuances. But absent those nuances, the weight-loss industry sort of took it and plopped it onto higher-weight people.And the, the problem is, to me, its more stigmatizing because we don't talk about other bodies that way. Im not like, Oh, I hope my friend with tallness can come over so I can change that light bulb, or, I think that man affected by thinness on the busI believe I know him. Thats not how we talk about bodies.And so when we suggest that its so stigmatizing to simply accurately describe a higher-weight or fat body that we need a semantic workaround, that actually creates stigma. It doesnt reduce it.Feltman: Yeah, I think thats really well put. Well, and this is a great segue because I think some of our listeners probably assume that its common sense that being in a bigger body brings all sorts of health risks. But of course now many researchers are pushing back on that. So could you walk us through what the data actually says about higher weights and what it doesnt say?Chastain: Sure. So itIve been studying this research for 20 years, and I came to it believing exactly what youre saying, right, believing being higher-weight is a healthy issue and weight loss is the solution to it. And in digging into the research, I found that neither of those things were actually what the research was saying. And so what happens is we get this research that correlates being higher-weight to a health issue and, you know, so your first day of research methods class, they teach you correlation is not causation, right?You cant assume one thing causes the other because they happen together at the same time. And this gets tricky in medical research because we use correlation all the time, but its not responsible to do that without investigating what are called confounding variables, right? Basically, what else happens to higher-weight people that could lead to higher rates of these health issues?And in terms of the research, there are three well-researched confounding variables: weight stigma, weight cycling, or yo-yo dieting, and health care inequalities. And these things independently are correlated to the same health issues that get blamed on body weight. And in these studies, theyre rarely even mentioned and never controlled for.And so when we talk about, you know, quote, unquote, weight-related or, quote, unquote, obesity-related conditions, what we might be actually talking about are weight-stigma-related conditions, weight-cycling-related conditions and health-care-inequality-related conditions. For example, [Linda] Bacon and [Lucy] Aphramor [noted research that] found that weight cycling could account for all of the excess mortality that was attributed to, quote, unquote, obesity in both [the] Framingham [Heart Study] and the NHANES [National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey].And so were talking about serious confounders that are not being explored at all in the research. And, you know, a big part of that, from my perspective, is that the research is often being conducted and funded by the weight-loss industry. And I have sort of developed over time a bit of a subspecialty in the ways that the weight-loss industry has and continues to infiltrate and manipulate the health care industry.And this research is one of those ways.Feltman: Yeah, well, I definitely want to get more into that because I think you do some really incredible work in that space. But for folks who are, like, maybe having their minds blown right now, you know, what do we know about where this conflation comes from? I know that you already mentioned some recommended reading on the origin of weight stigma, but I would love to hear a little bit more about that.Chastain: Yeah. So, and I want to say, too, if youre listening to this and youre having, like, anger, denial, defensiveness, incredulousness, I have had all of those feelings in the last 20 years as Ive been researching this. So I want to name that as valid and say, when you do have those feelings, I just offer that as an invitation to dig deeper and ask more questions.But in terms of weight stigma, so the research on weight stigma shows that the experience of weight stigma and even perceived weight stigma is correlated independently with things like higher rates of type 2 diabetes, higher rates of hypertension, suicidality, substance use, lower health-related quality-of-life scores, almost 60 percent greater risk of overall mortalityso were talking about serious correlations here between experiencing weight stigma and these health risks and issues that end up getting attributed to weight.Feltman: And what do we know about, you know, how this impacts, sort of public health overall?Chastain: So at some point, public health became less about helping the public be healthy and more about making fat peoples bodies the publics business, with the goal of eradicating higher-weight people and making sure no more ever exist, rightthe, quote, unquote, treatment and prevention of, quote, unquote, obesity.And its helpful, I think, to substitute higher-weight people existing for the term obesity to get a clear picture of how this impacts higher-weight people in public health. And I don't think most people were doing this from an ill-intentioned perspective, right, but what we ended up with is public health that is hyperfocused on eradicating higher-weight people and preventing higher-weight people from existing in ways that end up harming higher-weight people and make it almost impossible to support the health of higher-weight people directly.And you get a co-opting and twisting of the concept of anti-weight stigma that ends up like, We dont want to treat fat people badly, but we definitely want to rid the Earth of them and make sure no more ever exist but, you know, like, in a nonstigmatizing way, and thats not actually possible.And so, through public health, this focus on, this hyperfocus on manipulating body size rather than an evidence-based option to support peoples health based on their own priorities and definitions at the size that they are has ended up creating a public health system that is hostile and harmful to higher-weight people.Feltman: Yeah, absolutely. Well, and I think again, for our listeners who are, you know, maybe very new to this, lets talk about some of the ways that, you know, sort of, um, health-based interventions can be decoupled from, you know, weight-loss and weight-based interventions and sort of the kinds of health care that people have difficulty accessing or [are] even outright denied because theyre in a higher-weight body.Chastain: Yeah, thats a huge, like, area of concern. So there's a lot of ways that this happens. Theres implicit and explicit bias from health care providers, right, where, either subconsciously or consciously, theyve got these stereotypes and preconceived notions about higher-weight people that lead them to treat, you know, us differentlyeither give us less time, fewer recommendations, make assumptions about our behaviors.There's also structural bias. And this happens when the things that higher-weight people need simply don't exist for us in the spaces we are. And that could be anything from a chair in a waiting room to an MRI machine. And all stigma requires systemic solutions, but structural bias can only be solved systemically.Because you can have a fully fat-affirming provider, a fully fat-affirming patient, but if the MRI is too small, that patient cannot get care. And so, within the health care system, those are all issues that face higher-weight people on a daily basis.Theres also, as you talked about, accessing health care. So as a patient advocate, often what Im working on, and as a researcher and writer, is the idea of BMI-based health care denials. And this is when a person is refused a health care procedure that a thinner person would get unless or until they become a certain BMI or they lose a certain amount of weight.And this is holding health care hostage for a weight-loss ransom that most patients are not able to pay. And it can sort of float into the ridiculous, whereI had a patient who was denied the gender-affirming care that they wanted but then was referred to weight-loss surgery. And thats an actually a pretty common thing, and in this case, I dont expect this to ever work again, but the argument we made was, you know, youre saying that youre denying this surgery because of anesthesia risk, but youre now going to offer this patient weight-loss surgery. Whoevers going to do the anesthesia for the weight loss surgery, could they just, like, come down the hall and do the surgery this patient actually wants and needs?And they ended up agreeing, but Im not sure that will ever work again. But, like, this is where were at in terms of health care for higher-weight peoplethat it can be a fight just to access basic care. And then the other piece of that is what I call provider weight distraction, where the provider becomes so hyperfocused on the patients weight and manipulating the patients size that theyre not listening or responding to the patients actual complaint presentation, why theyre there, what they want in health care.And so this can really lead to patients who disengage from care or patients who simply cant access the care that they want and need.Feltman: And how do you think that drugs like Ozempic are impacting this, you know, weight-centric health paradigm? And then, you know, how is weight stigma impacting the way that we talk about these drugs?Chastain: Sure, I, now, I take a very firm view of bodily autonomy. Right? So I think people can do what they want. But I think people deserve good information, and in terms of health care, they deserve ethical, clear, informed consent.Feltman: Mm.Chastain: I have done breakdowns of the research on these weight-loss drugs since they started, and I am not nearly as excited as the people who are reading the marketing language versus the research.For example, uh, Wegovy, or semaglutide, Novo Nordisks drug, their four-year outcomes have just come out, and they claimed that people were able to maintain 10 percent loss. But if you look, they started with almost 9,000 people, and they ended with only 900 in four years. So thats massive attrition that did not make the headlines, right?So I think these arefirst of all, I want to be clear, these are solid type 2 diabetes drugs.Feltman: Absolutely.Chastain: Right. They work well for people who are contraindicated on other drugs. They work well for people who couldnt get the glycemic management they wanted on other drugs. and they have benefits in terms of only working when blood sugar goes high, so there are fewer hypoglycemic episodes.But so what happened was they realized that these drugs had a small side effect of weight loss. And so what the drug companies asked was, Well, if we gave people megadoses of these type 2 diabetes drugs, would that increase the weight loss? And they found out that yes, it would, and thats how these turn into, quote, unquote, weight-loss drugs. And so theres a big titration difference because with type 2 diabetes, the goal is to give the smallest dose necessary to achieve the glycemic control that somebody wants and reduce or minimize side effects. But with weight loss, theyre just trying to get people to take as much as they can for the express purpose of maximizing side effects.And these drugs have serious, sometimes fatal side effects, and so thats not a small issue.Feltman: Right. And how are you seeing the prevalence of these drugs, you know, with the goal of weight loss, impact the way mainstream physicians talk about and treat higher-weight patients?Chastain: Yeah, so, and sort of to continue from your other question about how weight stigma is involved, its important to understand that the approval of these drugs by the FDA was based on a risk-benefit analysis that suggests that its worth harming or killing some higher-weight people to make others a bit thinner.And thats a view thats based in weight stigma, right, often to cure or prevent health issues that thin people also get but from whom these risks are not asked. So theres that piece of it, and the weight-loss industry, and in particular the pharmaceutical companies who make these drugs, are now falling all over themselves to say, Oh yeah, behavior-based weight loss interventions dont work long-term.Right? And theyre, like, the last 15 people to figure this out. Weve been, people have been screaming this from the rooftops in my community since before I was born, right, that at this point, 100 years of research show that almost everyone will lose weight short-term and gain it back long-term because these behavior-based interventions physiologically change our bodies, making them into sort of weight-regaining, weight-maintaining machines.And so now doctors are sort of being honest with themselves about this, right, because this is what they had, so they would just tell every higher-weight person who came in, like, Eat less and exercise more, without typically asking even what we ate or how much we exercised. And now theyre saying, Oh, well, now theres a drug, so, like, its so much easier, and you just get on the drug.And Im hearing patients who are really being pressured to take the drug and/or who are saying, These side effects are intolerable to me and are being pushed to tolerate them.Feltman: Wow. Yeah.Chastain: Right? And being given an unclear picture of the likelihood of long-term success. The sort of best-case scenario is that at 65 weeks, people will have lost kind of whatever theyre going to lose.And if they go off the drug, all of the research shows theyre going to gain the weight back and lose the cardiometabolic benefits that they got. And so this is, basically theyve invented every weight-loss drug that ever existed. This is how weight-loss drugs work. But their marketing is that, oh, well, again, because of this idea that, quote, obesity is a, quote, chronic condition, you just have to take these drugs for the rest of your life.Now, their research doesnt support that this will work. In tirzepatides study, 10.5 percent of people who stayed on the drug had gained back 20 percent of the weight just in one year. So we dont know that thats even gonna work. Right? But thats the messaging. And so I think doctors are getting a view of this that is vastly overstating the research.And thats because a lot of the communication is coming from the companies themselves, who also have taken incredibly active roles in creating and running the research. Um, and again, in doing the breakdowns for these, they have strayed so far from what would be considered appropriate best-practice research methods and statistics in order to get these results that theyre publicizing. And so I think that its putting doctors at a disadvantage because theyre being misinformed, and then theyre misinforming their patients. And theres just, again, so much focus on the idea of making fat people thin rather than supporting their health directly that doctors and sometimes patients feel like its worth risking my life and quality of life for this. And that also is about not just health but escaping weight stigma, which is another piece of this, right: that were trying to change ourselves to suit our oppressors so that we can be treated better.And while individuals can make that decision, as a society, to say you should change yourself to suit those who, you know, oppress and bully and harm you is a dangerous, dangerous road to go on.Feltman: Yeah, absolutely. You know I think its so interesting how little medicine is expected to innovate to be better at, say, performing surgery on a person at a higher weight, you know, as opposed to having these BMI requirements for sometimes extremely necessary surgery.And as a science journalist, Im also just so struck by, like, the credulity I see in people talking about this class of drugs.Everything I learned in, you know, science journalism grad school tells me to be extremely skeptical of, like, these, quote, unquote, miraculous drugs, you know, in the words of the companies selling them. And it just feels bizarre to see not all but a lot of the media treating these drugs, like, completely differently than they would any other class of medication.Chastain: Yeah, thats such an important perspective, and it has been really frustrating to me. Things like the New York Timesthere was an article by Gina Kolata ... that every single expert quoted had taken money from the drug manufacturers.And there was no disclosure of that.Right? Im seeing a lot of that, and, for example, there was a study that looked at the effect of Wegovy (semaglutide), Novo Nordisks drug, on major adverse cardiac events. And instead of releasing the study, Novo Nordisk released a press release saying that it had been a 20 percent reduction [in relative risk] in adults with, quote, unquote, overweight and, quote, unquote, obesity.And that spread like wildfire through the international media. Novo Nordisks stock went up by 17 percent that day. But when the study came out, what we learned was actually a 1.5 percent reduction [in absolute risk]. The problem is, I dont want to put this all on reporters because weve got a 24-hour news cycle; there are fewer and fewer reporting jobs; people who never intended to be science reporters are being asked to report on science.So theres a lot of issues that put reporters at a disadvantage, but I think it does the public a tremendous disservice when reporting is not more critical in the way that they look at these headlines and these press releases and this research.Feltman: And when you think about a more equitable health landscape, particularly with regards to body size, what does that look like, and what needs to change for us to get there?Chastain: Yeah. So we have a good body of research that shows that behaviors are a better predictor of current and future health than is weight or weight-loss attempts. And obviously, much more impacts our health than simply behaviors, right? But when we're talking about What would a doctor recommend to a patient? theres an interesting study on this.[Traci] Mann, [Britt] Ahlstrom and [A. Janet] Tomiyama looked at this claim that 5 to 10 percent weight loss creates clinically meaningful health benefits and found in correlational analysis that they couldnt correlate the actual weight loss with the health issues, and they posited that it was, in fact, the behavior changes instead.[Eric] Matheson et al. looked at four behaviors. They looked at five or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day, exercising more than 12 times a month, up to two drinks a day for cis men and one drink a day for cis women and not smoking. And they found that people who participated in all four of those habits had the same health hazard ratio, regardless of size.So I think what we need in general is a change in focus that, rather than trying to manipulate the weight of people, that were trying to support their health directly.Feltman: I definitely recommend that folks go check out your newsletter. Well absolutely link to it in the show notes. but if you could give just, like, one major takeaway to folks who arent going to go do that, what would it be?Chastain: I just want to say that even if Im wrong about everything, right, even if all fat people could become thin, even if by becoming thinner, they would become healthier, fat people would still deserve the right to exist without shame, stigma, bullying or oppression and would still deserve the right to complete access to society, including health care.It doesnt matter why theyre fat. It doesnt matter if there are health impacts of being fat. It doesnt matter if they could or want to become thinner. Fat people deserve equal rights and access to the world, again, including health care.Feltman: Ragen, thank you so much for coming on to chat today. This has been super informative, and I really appreciate your time.Chastain: Thank you so much for having me and for talking about this and for all the work that you do. Im honored to be a part of this.Feltman: Thats all for todays episode. Check out Ragens Substack Weight and Healthcare if you want to learn morelike, seriously, so much more, because she cites all her sources. Well be back on Monday with our usual news roundup.By the way, were still looking for some voice memos to help with an upcoming episode. Well be taking a look at the science behind earworms, those songs you just cant get out of your head, and wed love to feature some of your favoriteor maybe most infuriatingexamples. If youd like to share an earworm with us, make a voice memo on your phone or computer and send it over to ScienceQuickly@sciam.com. And, yes, we do want to hear you singing, or at least humming, the earworm in question. Make sure to tell us your name and where youre calling from, too.Science Quickly is produced by me, Rachel Feltman, along with Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. Emily Makowski, Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck fact-check our show. Our theme music was composed by Dominic Smith. Subscribe to Scientific American for more up-to-date and in-depth science news.For Scientific American, this is Rachel Feltman. Have a great weekend!

These are the games with soundtracks so good, they've been nominated for a 2025 Grammy AwardComposers Pinar Toprak, Bear McCreary, John Paesano, Wilbert Roget, II and Winifred Phillips have been shortlisted.Image credit: Ubisoft/Eurogamer News by Vikki Blake Contributor Published on Nov. 9, 2024 Five video games have been recognised for their outstanding soundtracks and nominated for a 2025 Grammy Award.Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, God of War Ragnark: Valhalla, Marvel's Spider-Man 2, Star Wars Outlaws, and Wizardry: Providing Grounds of the Mad Overlord have all been selected for the shortlist of Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media at the 2025 Grammy awards.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Here's a video version of our Dragon Age: The Veilguard review.Watch on YouTubeHere's the full list and the corresponding composers:Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora - Pinar Toprak, composerGod of War Ragnark: Valhalla - Bear McCreary, composerMarvel's Spider-Man 2 - John Paesano, composerStar Wars Outlaws - Wilbert Roget, II, composerWizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord - Winifred Phillips, composerThis is the third year the category has run at the Grammy awards. Assassin's Creed Valhalla secured the inaugural award in 2023, whilst Star Wars Jedi: Survivor won last year.The 2025 Grammy Awards will be broadcast on 2nd February, 2025.Of course, music isn't the only area when games are making an impact in major award shows. Earlier this year, Genvid's experimental choose-the-outcome, episodic Silent Hill series, Ascension, won the Creative Arts Emmy Award for Outstanding Innovation in Emerging Media Programming for Silent Hill: Ascension. Genid boss Jacob Navok was a "testament to the dedication" of the team.Amazon's Fallout adaptation also now has two Emmy awards to its name.

NetEase Games fires two senior execs for alleged money laundering and briberyIn an internal memo, the company said it had dismissed nine staff and referred the investigation to police.Image credit: Bungie/NetEase News by Vikki Blake Contributor Published on Nov. 9, 2024 A number of NetEase Games employees have reportedly been arrested on charges of bribery and money laundering.As picked up by Chinese site Leifeng.com and reported by Bloomberg Law, NetEase Games' general manager, Xiang Lang, was detained along with NetEase's esports lead, Jin Yuchen, and several other staff on anti-corruption charges.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Here's a video version of our Dragon Age: The Veilguard review.Watch on YouTubeIn an internal memo to staff, NetEase Games - which develops Marvel Rivals and Destiny: Rising - announced it has since dismissed a total of nine staff for alleged bribery. It's thought the case impacts 28 suppliers to the Chinese megacorp in a case worth roughly one billion yuan - that's 107.5 million / $139.3 million.The names of those implicated have seemingly been removed from NetEase's internal systems and shortly after the arrests, staff still employed at the studio reported that their usual computer screensavers had been replaced by reminders of NetEase's compliance protocols.This is reportedly the second internal anti-corruption investigation NetEase has organised since September 2023.A NetEase spokesperson said police were now investigating alleged corruption charges but would not disclose more details at this time.

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 hereEpic Games plans to release Fortnite Chapter 6 in early December. This chapter will bring a new island, unique gameplay features, another Battle Pass, and much more. On top of this, the chapter will be introduced by a big live event, which will take place on November 30. The event will also serve as a conclusion of the Chapter 2 Remix season.With less than four weeks until the new chapter, its theme had already leaked. The leak comes from the biggest Fortnite data miners, which is why we believe its accurate.What will be the theme of Fortnite Chapter 6?According to Hypex, the biggest Fortnite leaker, the theme of Chapter 6 has been already leaked. The reputable dataminer goes as far as to say that its been confirmed. While this confirmation doesnt come from Epic Games, its generally a good indicator that the leak is accurate. Considering that Hypex has a good track record, there is no reason to doubt him.Fortnite Chapter 6 will have a Japanese mythology theme. Image by VideoGamerThis Weeks Fortnite Quiz Test Your Skills, Win FREE V-Bucks!Sign up for our newsletter, and well tell you exactly how you can win V-Bucks in this weeks Fortnite challenge!The leak shows that the first season of Chapter 6 will have a Japanese mythology theme. It will also include Samurai themes, which is why we expect one of the Battle Pass skins to be a member of the warrior class. While the map hasnt been leaked yet, it may have some similarities with the Chapter 4 Season 2 map, which had Mega City, Kenjutsu Crossing, and a few more iconic locations.The next chapter is scheduled to arrive on December 1, and by then, we will get more information about it. For now, we know that Chapter 6 will likely be the biggest chapter that Fortnite has ever had. Not only will it bring a lot of new content, but Epic Games will also bring back Chapter 1 with it, catering to both new and veteran players. FortnitePlatform(s):Android, iOS, macOS, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/XGenre(s):Action, Massively Multiplayer, Shooter9VideoGamerSubscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

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 hereThe next Fortnite update wont arrive on the date Epic Games previously revealed. This will be the biggest update of the Remix season and one of the most important updates of the year. Not only will Epic add new cosmetics and items with it, but several new features will come out. This includes Kicks, a new type of cosmetic item, and the Fortnite Reload map rotation.The Fortnite developer announced that the update was postponed on Friday night. The company also revealed a new release date, and heres everything you need to know about it.The next Fortnite update will be delayedAs Epic revealed on its blog, the big update was originally supposed to come out on Tuesday, November 12. What makes this one of the most important updates is the addition of Kicks. This new cosmetic item allows further customization of skins, which is a complete game-changer! When the update drops, more than 500 skins will be supported by Kicks, and more than 95% of them will be compatible early next year.This Weeks Fortnite Quiz Test Your Skills, Win FREE V-Bucks!Sign up for our newsletter, and well tell you exactly how you can win V-Bucks in this weeks Fortnite challenge!Unfortunately, the Fortnite creator postponed the update for Wednesday, November 13. Luckily, this delay is not significant and it simply means that we will have to wait 24 hours longer for the new content to drop. The company announced this on X (formerly Twitter) and will reveal the exact downtimes early next week.Fortnite Kicks will be available once the next update comes out. Image by VideoGamerEpic revealed that Jordan Kicks will be released with the Chapter 2 Remix Battle Pass. Furthermore, the game developer will launch a pair of Original Kicks in the Item Shop.Besides Kicks, the next Fortnite update will bring a map rotation to Fortnite Reload. At the moment, we can only play Desert Drop, which is a new map added with the Remix season. However, once the update comes out, this map will rotate with the original one every 30 minutes. FortnitePlatform(s):Android, iOS, macOS, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/XGenre(s):Action, Massively Multiplayer, Shooter9VideoGamerSubscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

I believe in manifesting and Ive visualized this life of mine," says Caroline Stanbury, The Real Housewives of Dubai cast member, about living in her glass-lined Dubai villa with her husband, Sergio Carrallo. I always wanted to live with Sergio on this side of Al Barari, by the lake, and here we are!It also helped that the reality TV star has real estate mogul Nadia Zaal (who, with her family had masterminded the tropical district in the heart of Dubai) on speed dial. So, a few years ago when she saw Instagram stories about the latest phase of Al Barari being snapped up, Stanbury knew straight away that this was her chance. And just like that, a property materialized backing onto the lake that runs through the neighborhood.Caroline Stanbury in her Dubai living room.Portrait: Ziga MihelcicStanbury and Carrallo started dating in 2019, and their December 2021 wedding was a key story arc in the first season of The Real Housewives of Dubai. In the series second season, after many construction hold-ups and frayed nerves, the couple finally moved into their their new home. For the first few nights, they slept on a mattress on the floornot the glamour Stanbury was accustomed to, but waking up to birdsong and the sound of water trickling by made it all worthwhile. We wanted everything to be perfect before we moved in, but there were delays that were out of our hands, and we wanted to be by ourselves, get on with our lives, and let our friends get on with theirs, recalls Carrallo.The house is brimming with a fun mix of iconic design from different eras and styles.From the living room, one has views out to the swimming pool and the internal courtyard.Most PopularArchitecture + DesignThis Colorful Spanish Apartment Feels Much Larger than 700 Square FeetBy Sara Barragn del ReyShopping59 Chic Gifts for Her, From Books to Baskets to Our Favorite Boxed WineBy Shoko WangerArchitecture + DesignA Historic Porto Town House Is Transformed Into an Inviting, Contemporary HomeBy Katharina SchwarzeOne of the design elements that caused much concern was a gigantic bonsai tree that had to be air-lifted into the central glass-lined courtyard. This is where Stanburys designer of choice, Kate Instone, comes in with her mastery of combining locality with modernity: As the first thing one sees when they enter Stanbury and Carrallos Dubai villa, the landscaped court tips its hat to the Arab traditions of privacy and spatial hierarchy. On one hand, it screens the private lounge and dining areas from immediate view, and on the other, it separates the home from Stanburys Barbie-pink home office and podcast studio, without cutting anything out of sight.The glass-lined central courtyard with the towering bonsai overlooking the home office.Every element of The Real Housewives of Dubai stars home office was custom-made.Most PopularArchitecture + DesignThis Colorful Spanish Apartment Feels Much Larger than 700 Square FeetBy Sara Barragn del ReyShopping59 Chic Gifts for Her, From Books to Baskets to Our Favorite Boxed WineBy Shoko WangerArchitecture + DesignA Historic Porto Town House Is Transformed Into an Inviting, Contemporary HomeBy Katharina SchwarzeIve been good friends with Caroline since our days in London, so I already had a strong sense of her personality, preferences, and how she moves through life, says Instone. Most people tend to design homes that reflect what they think others expect of them, using their interiors as status symbols to showcase wealth, style, or sophistication. Caroline was determined not to fall into that trap. She wanted her home to be a true reflection of who she isunpretentious, personal, and deeply connected to her own tastes and lifestyle. The Real Housewives stars brief was refreshingly simple: she wanted a modern, light-filled home connected to nature.Nothing of what you see in this home today is an original feature from when we bought it," explains Stanbury. The only thing we said to the team was to not touch the plants growing by the lake. I wanted it to feel like a jungle and that is so refreshing in Dubai.Caroline Stanbury in her jungle-like outdoor dining area that overlooks the lake that runs through Al Barari.Portrait: Ziga Mihelcic; Tablescape by Irony Home with tableware by TavolaA chevron floor in black-and-white marble from Casa Mia sets the stage for the open plan ground floor, where the kitchenwith its island accessorized with brass framed chairsleads into the formal living and dining area, which opens out to the dining terrace on one side and the swimming pool and lounge on the other.Most PopularArchitecture + DesignThis Colorful Spanish Apartment Feels Much Larger than 700 Square FeetBy Sara Barragn del ReyShopping59 Chic Gifts for Her, From Books to Baskets to Our Favorite Boxed WineBy Shoko WangerArchitecture + DesignA Historic Porto Town House Is Transformed Into an Inviting, Contemporary HomeBy Katharina SchwarzeThe open kitchen was designed as a welcome area for entertaining guests before they stepped into the living room.faisal khatibIve got kids and dogs, and I wanted this sense where we could all go from one place to the other freelyand even when were not together, we could still remain connected. Exterior walls in high-performance glass that minimizes heat transmission without compromising the view were complemented with motorized, retractable shading systemssuch as louvered pergolas and automated blindsand smart thermostats, which automatically adjust interior temperature based on the weather and occupancy patterns, ensuring that Stanburys vision for indoor-outdoor living was also kind on the planet. And while the bonsai soars through the atrium to visually connect the upper floors with nature, where that is not possible, tropical plants bring nature indoors, or as per recent decoration developments in the Stanbury-Carrallo household, to the rooftop terrace lounge.The living room opens up to the swimming pool and lounge.faisal khatibMost PopularArchitecture + DesignThis Colorful Spanish Apartment Feels Much Larger than 700 Square FeetBy Sara Barragn del ReyShopping59 Chic Gifts for Her, From Books to Baskets to Our Favorite Boxed WineBy Shoko WangerArchitecture + DesignA Historic Porto Town House Is Transformed Into an Inviting, Contemporary HomeBy Katharina SchwarzeFans of the franchise would recall a pivotal scene in season two of The Real Housewives of Dubai: Stanbury and Carrallo are throwing a house-warming party and all hell breaks loose. At the center of the on-screen drama between Taline Marie and Caroline Brooks was Stanburys milk white M. Bellini Camaleonda sofa by B&B Italia. This sofa went viral on The Real Housewives of Dubai, laughs the TV star. And yes, on the show I did say that I dont want anyone near it, but honestly, we all use it every day. Chandeliers in opaline Murano glass anoint the space filled with Stanburys art collection and family pictures.The infamous Bellini couch.faisal khatibThe house is brought to life with Stanburys fun art collection.faisal khatibMost PopularArchitecture + DesignThis Colorful Spanish Apartment Feels Much Larger than 700 Square FeetBy Sara Barragn del ReyShopping59 Chic Gifts for Her, From Books to Baskets to Our Favorite Boxed WineBy Shoko WangerArchitecture + DesignA Historic Porto Town House Is Transformed Into an Inviting, Contemporary HomeBy Katharina SchwarzeUpstairs, Stanbury and Carrallos bedroom is a calm, blush pink cocoon. Just a mirror and marble ledge (which also conceals a TV that pops out at the press of a button) separates the sleeping area from the bathroom. I really wanted a hotel vibe here, says Stanbury. One of the biggest investments in my house is luxury bedding. Ive got the worlds finest bedding and its no joke. Its all Scandia Home and it can cost you a second mortgage.A mirror and marble plinth separates the sleeping area from the hotel-style integrated bathroom.The plinth also conceals a TV installed on a hydraulic system.Most PopularArchitecture + DesignThis Colorful Spanish Apartment Feels Much Larger than 700 Square FeetBy Sara Barragn del ReyShopping59 Chic Gifts for Her, From Books to Baskets to Our Favorite Boxed WineBy Shoko WangerArchitecture + DesignA Historic Porto Town House Is Transformed Into an Inviting, Contemporary HomeBy Katharina SchwarzeA hand-painted de Gournay wall covering, in a soft, swirly pattern becomes both the de facto headboard and statement wall, its soft tones mirrored in the Italian marble and mosaic tiles that complete the wet area.Also connected to the main suite is Stanburys walk-in wardrobe, brimming with power suits, Birkins, and Chanel dresses that the reality TV star has had altered to her taste. People ask me where my stuff is, but Im slowly inching my way in here, laughs Carrallo pointing to his section in this Hollywood-style dressing room fitted out in bespoke cabinetry by Ornare Dubai.Caroline Stanburys Dubai villa was originally published in AD Middle East, which you can find here.Step inside Stanburys walk-in wardrobe.faisal khatibThe Hollywood-style dressing area features wall-to-wall cabinetry by Ornare Dubai.Portrait: Ziga MihelcicMost PopularArchitecture + DesignThis Colorful Spanish Apartment Feels Much Larger than 700 Square FeetBy Sara Barragn del ReyShopping59 Chic Gifts for Her, From Books to Baskets to Our Favorite Boxed WineBy Shoko WangerArchitecture + DesignA Historic Porto Town House Is Transformed Into an Inviting, Contemporary HomeBy Katharina SchwarzeAnd when Stanbury is not hiding away in her bedroom, shes assembled with family and friends in the home theatre on the first floor, where they can let their hair down and watch reruns of The Real Housewives of Dubai reunion.On the first floor, the home theatre anchored by a de Gournay wall covering on one side and views of the internal courtyard with the bonsai tree on the other.faisal khatibThe open-style home theatre area adds a pop of color to the house.faisal khatibMost PopularArchitecture + DesignThis Colorful Spanish Apartment Feels Much Larger than 700 Square FeetBy Sara Barragn del ReyShopping59 Chic Gifts for Her, From Books to Baskets to Our Favorite Boxed WineBy Shoko WangerArchitecture + DesignA Historic Porto Town House Is Transformed Into an Inviting, Contemporary HomeBy Katharina SchwarzeWhile the construction phase of Stanbury and Carrallos dream home in Dubai was not always easy, the process of imagining something and then seeing it come to life has opened up new opportunities; now, the couple has a range of real estate projects on the go. In Dubai, they are working on a series of branded rental apartments (also designed in collaboration with Instone and her studio, Blush) and in Bali, a sculptural resort has just started taking shape.Before we started work on this house, I seriously thought we would end up in LA, because these type of homes didnt exist in the Middle East until a few years agoand here I am, in my glass-lined home in Dubai, with my hot, young husband, says Stanbury. I told you I believe in manifesting!The lift, lined with a jungle scene by de Gournay, features a fun nod to Caroline Stanburys Ladies of London days: a phone booth.faisal khatib

A safe bet for choosing a foolproof gift? Turn to some of the most imaginative people you know. AD asked eight influential design creatives what theyre gifting (and hoping to get!) this holiday season. Their dynamic visions and unique world-building ability make them the perfect guides to help us determine where and what to shop this year.With the holidays being a time of reflection and renewal, weve also asked that they share some festive memories and how those might inform what they choose to give.Shop by guest editor:Brigette RomanekInterior designer to the starsamong them Beyonc, Demi Moore, and Gwyneth PaltrowRomanek got her start as a Hollywood-based handbag designer before discovering her knack for interiors. Her taste is elegant, elaborate, and exact, as are her gift picks.Photo: Michael CliffordA rare bottle of wine, a limited edition of something they love, caviar, or if theyre a close friend, a photo of you guys together in a silver or vintage Murano frame. So much you can do! And its fun to be creativebe it indulgent or something handmade that adds a unique touch. Make it unexpected.Romanek on what to get the person who has everythingBreville Bambino Plus Espresso MachineCrate & Barrel Symphony Fluted GlassesThis year, Id love something that is an experience or creates a memory, or a beautifully crafted piece Ill have for years. A weekend trip, a spa day, a great pair of cozy socks or throw blanket.Romanek on what's number one on her list this yearCoyuchi Andes Suri Alpaca Knit RobeAutumn Sonata Alma Core Bath SetMy Herms Constance. It was my grandmothers, so its one of my most treasured possessions. Every time I wear it, its like shes with me. Its something Ill keep forever.Romanek on the most treasured gift she received during childhoodOur Place Mini Always Pan 2.0 SetArt Deco Marble Picture FramesEmerald Statement RingShea McGeeShea McGees style is always infused with functionality. The Utah-based founder of Studio McGee has a home decor company, McGee & Co., that, in her words, blends modern and rustic-chic of the Mountain West with a focus on calming and personal design.Photo: Lucy CallGiven what I do for a living, theres a constant stream of beautiful things coming in and out of my house. I am so blessed in that respect. Truly, every year my favorite gifts I receive are ones that are sentimental, like a framed photo of a special memory or a book a friend thinks Ill love.McGee on whats number one on her list this yearStaub Braiser with LidRayla Marble VaseGrowing up, every Christmas Eve my mom gifted me an ornament to put on our tree, and when I moved into my first home after college, she gave me all of them to start my own holiday traditions. Theyre a highlight of my holiday decor every year.McGee on the most treasured gift she received during childhoodMcGee & Co. x Loeffler Randall Tabitha Serving BowlMcGee & Co. Raina FrameIn my own home I have a trio of beautiful antique plates hanging on the wall adjacent to my dining room. If youre lucky enough to have an heirloom set, take a few out and display them. And if you dont, you can treat it like an art purchase bought solely for the intention of displaying.McGee on shopping vintage and antiquesAntique French Ironstone Plates (Set of 6)Juliaan Severin Landscape, Oil On CanvasGifts under $250In the search for the perfect gift under $250, we didnt have to look far. Many of our editors favorite items make excellent presentscrisp Brooklinen sheets, a statement platter from Bordallo Pinheiro, or a delightful salt-and-pepper shaker set can all be found on the list.SHOP THE EDITJake ArnoldAD100 designer and founder of The Expert, Jake Arnold approaches design with elevated comfort in mind. All show through in his many collaborations with brands like Lulu & Georgia, Parachute Home, and Crate & Barrel. Its easy to see the same through line of considered luxury in Arnolds holiday picks.Photo: Elizabeth CarababasOne of my most treasured gifts was a vintage book on the history of design elements. I received it when I was in my teens, and it became a foundation for exploring my innate passion. Having a space to sketch and learn about iconic design moments truly inspired me and set me on my path.Arnold on the most treasured gift he received during childhoodParachute Linen Venice SetDalton Dome Table Lamp by Jake ArnoldGive them an experience. A trip somewhere inspiring or even an afternoon spent creating something together, like a custom scent or a pottery piece, feels memorable and personal.Arnold on what to get the person who has everythingPair of Vintage CandlesticksFlavio Poli Seguso Vetri d'arte Bullicante VaseI once created a customized memory book for a close friend. It was filled with letters from mutual friends and family, snapshots of meaningful moments, and even quirky little mementos from our travels and experiences together. Each page told a different story, and it felt like a way to capture time and celebrate our shared journey in a truly personal way.Arnold on the most creative gift he's ever givenPaul R. Williams: Classic Hollywood Style by Karen E. HudsonJust Andersen BowlsJenni KayneExceptionally skilled at marrying the bohemian with the sophisticated, designer Jenni Kayne is known for her luxurious home and fashion items. Her eponymous California-based brand is defined by its cozy textilesmohair, cashmere, shearlingand grounding color tones.Photo: Jenna SaracoGrowing up, my mom would gift my sisters and I little silver trinkets and trays engraved with our initials. They all sit on my vanity today and are so special to me.Kayne on the most treasured gift she received during childhoodRummikub Game SetVelvet Ball Ornaments (Set of 2) by Cody Foster and CoJenni Kayne Alpaca Basketweave ThrowJenni Kayne Luna PillowJenni Kayne Shearling Moroccan SlipperI really enjoy gifting hosting essentials. As someone who is always gathering with loved ones around the table, I love bringing our tabletop treasures that Ive been gifted by others. This is a nice way to help someone tell their own tabletop story.Kayne on her favorite things to giftHawkins New York Linen Napkins (Set of 4)Uashmama Essential Placemats (Set of 4)Shannon MaldanadoThe Philly-based founder of Yowiea boutique hotel and super-popular online storeShannon Maldonado works closely with independent labels, artists, and emerging designers to exhibit artwork and create bespoke objects. Her wishlist is just as whimsical as youd expect.Photo: Bre FurlongEvery year the Tabi Bianchetto Ballet is on my list! But this year I am hoping to receive a Shrunken Vintage Levi's Denim Jacket in a dark wash. I have been looking for one for a minute and dropping SO many hints to my guy. Lucky for me he loves a vintage hunt!Maldanado on what's number one on her list this yearSophie Lou Jacobsen Tulip Wine Glasses (Set of 4)

Blender 4.3 New Sculpting Features By Bart on November 9, 2024 3D News With the Blender 4.3 around the corner (scheduled for November 19), feature videos are starting to come in! Today, Farrukh Abdur gives an in-depth overview of the new sculpting options.Check out Farrukh's Blender art on Blender Artists.In this video, Farrukh covers the following: New Brush Asset Shelf: Added in sculpt mode to display all available brushes; customizable with categories and custom brushes. Updated Side Toolbar: Now includes tools for masking, face sets, trimming, and painting. New Brush Collection: Blender now includes pre-made brushes categorized for sculpting, painting, and simulation. Customizable Brush Thumbnails: Users can adjust brush thumbnail sizes and enable names for easy identification. Brush Shelf Visibility: Easily hide/show the brush shelf with draggable borders, arrows, or shortcuts like Shift + Space. New Brushes: Plateau Brush: Creates raised, flat surfaces. Trim Brush: Removes small parts of the mesh. Grab 2D Brush: Moves points under it along an axis, affecting all points behind it. Pull Brush: Pushes out small portions of the mesh. Sculpt Menu Access: Press W to open a sculpt menu for brush selection. Painting Brushes: Vertex painting brushes now allow quick color application without UVs, best for high-res models. Cloth Simulation Brushes: Create folds and cloth-like effects; includes the Expand, Grab PL, and Stretch brushes. Custom Brush Creation: Users can create, duplicate, and save custom brushes with unique settings and custom thumbnails. Undo Refresh Issue: Brush shelf may refresh or get stuck on undo, requiring minor workarounds. Lasso Tool Improvement: Stabilized stroke setting for smoother selections in trimming and masking. Polyline Trim Tool: Now completes an operation with a double-click anywhere in the viewport. Cloth Filter Tool: Enhances cloth-like effects with options like gravity and inflate, used with masks for targeted effects.

Lets model and animate a 3D UI elements and wavy pop-up animation in Blender with Polygon Runway.Source