This is today's edition ofThe Download,our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what's going on in the world of technology. Generative AI taught a robot dog to scramble around a new environment Teaching robots to navigate new environments is tough. You can train them on physical, real-world data taken from recordings made by humans, but thats scarce, and expensive to collect. Digital simulations are a rapid, scalable way to teach them to do new things, but the robots often fail when theyre pulled out of virtual worlds and asked to do the same tasks in the real one. Now, theres potentially a better option: a new system that uses generative AI models in conjunction with a physics simulator to develop virtual training grounds that more accurately mirror the physical world. Robots trained using this method worked with a higher success rate than those trained using more traditional techniques during real-world tests. Researchers used the system, called LucidSim, to train a robot dog in parkour, getting it to scramble over a box and climb stairs, despite never seeing any real world data. The approach demonstrates how helpful generative AI could be when it comes to teaching robots to do challenging tasks. It also raises the possibility that we could ultimately train them in entirely virtual worlds. Read the full story. Rhiannon Williams Africas AI researchers are ready for takeoff When we talk about the global race for AI dominance, the conversation often focuses on tensions between the US and China, and European efforts at regulating the technology. But its high time we talk about another player: Africa. African AI researchers are forging their own path, developing tools that answer the needs of Africans, in their own languages. Their story is not only one of persistence and innovation, but of preserving cultures and fighting to shape how AI technologies are used on their own continent. However, they face many barriers. Read the full story.Melissa Heikkil This story is from The Algorithm, our weekly AI newsletter. Sign up to receive it in your inbox every Monday. The must-reads Ive combed the internet to find you todays most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology. 1 How Silicon Valley is planning to work with Donald Trump Avoiding antitrust regulation and boosting growth are at the top of Big Techs agenda. (WP $)+ Tech executives overwhelmingly supported Kamala Harris. (Vox)+ Trumps policies could make it harder to hire and retain overseas talent. (Insider $)+ Immigrant tech workers are rushing to secure visas before Trumps inauguration. (Forbes $)2 People are abandoning X following the US election result Threads and Bluesky are experiencing an influx of new users. (Bloomberg $)+ Trump loved Twitter during his first Presidency. Will he during his second? (Insider $)3 The Biden administration plans to back a controversial cybercrime treatyCritics fear it could be abused by authoritarian regimes to pursue dissidents. (Politico)+ The treaty would also make electronic evidence more available to the US. (Bloomberg $) 4 DNA testing firm 23andMe is firing 40% of its workforce Things arent looking good for the embattled company. (WSJ $)+ The company is axing all its therapy programs, too. (Reuters)+ How to delete your 23andMe data. (MIT Technology Review) 5 How oil and gas companies are masking their methane emissions The odorless, colorless gas is notoriously tough to track, but satellites are changing that. (FT $)+ Even if we reach net zero, parts of the planet will keep getting warmer. (New Scientist $)+ Why methane emissions are still a mystery. (MIT Technology Review)6 This database tracks license plate cameras across the world The project, called DeFlock, aims to give drivers the choice to avoid certain routes. (404 Media)7 Baidu has unveiled its AI-integrated smart glasses The device can track calorie consumption, among other features. (FT $)+ Smartglasses are a growing trend in China. (SCMP $)+ The coolest thing about smart glasses is not the AR. Its the AI. (MIT Technology Review)8 Everything we know about Uranus is wrongA brief flyby 40 years ago coincided with a rare spike in solar activity. (NYT $) 9 How Ukraine is rewilding amid the war Ecologists believe the conflicts catastrophes can birth environmental gains. (Undark Magazine)+ Ukraine has a plan for getting Trump onside. (Vox)10 To find alien life, look to the mountains Who knows whats trapped under tectonic plates? (The Atlantic $)Quote of the day "I did not say I was uncomfortable talking about it. I said we're not going to talk about it. Michael Barratt, an astronaut and medical doctor, refuses to elaborate on a medical issue an astronaut experienced during a recent mission, Ars Technica reports. The big story Zimbabwes climate migration is a sign of whats to come December 2021 Julius Mutero has spent his entire adult life farming a three-hectare plot in Zimbabwe, but has harvested virtually nothing in the past six years. He is just one of the 86 million people in sub-Saharan Africa who the World Bank estimates will migrate domestically by 2050 because of climate change. In Zimbabwe, farmers who have tried to stay put and adapt have found their efforts woefully inadequate in the face of new weather extremes. Droughts have already forced tens of thousands from their homes. But their desperate moves are creating new competition for water in the region, and tensions may soon boil over. Read the full story. Andrew Mambondiyani We can still have nice things A place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line or tweet 'em at me.)+ Heres how to make perfect cacio e pepe every time.+ New York is a wonderful placeeven if youre a native New Yorker, theres always something new to try for the first time.+ The 2024 Natures Best Photo Awards are full of delights.+ Good luck to the brave souls skiing in central London.

This story originally appeared in The Algorithm, our weekly newsletter on AI. To get stories like this in your inbox first, sign up here. When we talk about the global race for AI dominance, the conversation often focuses on tensions between the US and China, and European efforts at regulating the technology. But its high time we talked about another player: Africa. AsMIT Technology Reviewhas written before, AI is creating anew colonial world order, where the technology is enriching a small minority of people at the expense of the rest of the world. African AI researchers are determined to change that. Theyre forging their own path, developing tools that answer the needs of Africans, in their own languages. However, they face many barriers. AI research is eye-wateringly expensive, and African startups and researchers get a fraction as much funding as their Western or Asian counterparts. They have to innovate and rely on open-source resources to do more with less. Despite that, the African AI story reflects not only persistence and innovation, but a determination to preserve cultures and shape how AI technologies are used on the continent.Read more herefrom Abdullahi Tsanni, who went to this years Deep Learning Indaba, a machine-learning conference held annually in Senegal, to learn about the opportunities and barriers the African AI scene faces. And then some personal news!This edition will be my last newsletter, and from next week youll be in the extremely capable hands of my colleagueJames ODonnell. Its been a delight writing this newsletter for the past two or so years, and Im so grateful youve joined me on this journey covering everything fromsnowballs of bullshittoTaylor Swifts deepfakes. Im not going anywhere, though. Ill be diving deeper into the AI beat at MIT Technology Review to bring you stories on whats happening in AI and how the technology is changing us and our societies. Stay tuned for more! Finally, while I have you, this week were running our biggest sale of the year, with 50% off an annual subscription to MIT Technology Review. New subscribers receive a free digital report on generative AI and the future of work.Subscribe here. Now read the rest of The Algorithm Deeper Learning Why AI could eat quantum computings lunch Tech companies have been funneling billions of dollars into quantum computers for years. The hope is that theyll be a game changer for fields as diverse as finance, drug discovery, and logistics. Those expectations have been especially high in physics and chemistry, where the weird effects of quantum mechanics come into play. In theory, this is where quantum computers could have a huge advantage over conventional machines. Enter AI:But while the field struggles with the realities of tricky quantum hardware, another challenger is making headway in some of these most promising use cases. AI is now being applied to fundamental physics, chemistry, and materials science in a way that suggests quantum computings purported home turf might not be so safe after all. Given the pace of recent advances, a growing number of researchers are now asking whether AI could solve a substantial chunk of the most interesting problems in chemistry and materials science before large-scale quantum computers become a reality.Read more from Edd Gent here. Bits and Bytes The Saudis are planning a $100 billion AI powerhouseSpeaking of the race for AI dominance, this piece looks at how Saudi Arabia wants in on AI action. And its putting its money where its mouth is. The country is investing a massive sum to develop a tech hub that it hopes will rival the neighboring United Arab Emirates. (Bloomberg) AI is making it harder to believe what is real and what is notTwo recent examples show just how influential AI slop can be in warping our sense of reality. In Dublin,crowds gatheredin the city center to wait for a Halloween parade to take place. There was no parade planned, but the listing was created by AI and then picked up by social media users and local media. By way of contrast, some social media users dismissedshocking images of the devastating recent floods in Spainas AI-generated, although they were entirely real. AI companies are getting comfortable offering their technology to the militaryMilitaries around the world have been pouring money into new technologies, including AI. Meta and Anthropic are the latest tech companies to start courting them, joining the likes of Google and OpenAI. (The Washington Post) OpenAI is shifting its strategy as the improvement in its AI tools slows downThe current paradigm in AI development is to make things bigger to make them better. But OpenAIs new model, code-named Orion, only performs slightly better than its predecessors. Instead, OpenAI is shifting to improving models after their initial training. (The Information)

Last year, Ellie Furuya got married at a luxury resort in Phuket, Thailand.Furuya says she would do a few things differently if she could go back.She wishes they had fully embraced the local cuisine and planned a post-wedding flower donation. Thanks for signing up! Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. Ellie Furuya, 32, is a Hong Kong-based influencer, the founder of Rii Swim, a swimwear brand, and a mother. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.After six years of navigating life and love, my now-husband and I finally tied the knot last year in Phuket.I grew up in Hong Kong and was raised in a Japanese family. After graduating from an international high school, I spent time in Tokyo, completed my master's degree in London, and eventually returned home.It was back in Hong Kong that I met my now-husband, Jon.Deciding that I wanted to marry him was easy, but picking where we wanted to hold our wedding was complicated.Jon also comes from a mixed background he was born and raised in Singapore and grew up in Bangkok, New Delhi, and London he's half-Thai and half-English.With friends and family around the world, there wasn't one obvious place to host the wedding. But eventually, we decided that Phuket, in southern Thailand, was the right spot. Jon has roots there, and we knew our guests would appreciate the beaches and culture. Our son, Kenzo, was seven months old at the time.We got married in November at Rosewood Phuket, a five-star resort with views of the Andaman Sea. Looking back, I'd still choose Phuket, but there were certain logistics I'd tackle differently.If I could plan our wedding all over again, here are five things I'd change. It started to rain just as Furuya was about to walk down the aisle. Wasan Chirdchom, (Instagram @runnimages) 1. Prepare for rain, no matter whatWe planned our wedding during the dry season, convinced that we'd be safe from rain. But as anyone who's ever experienced tropical weather can attest, you can never be too sure.On our wedding day, the skies opened up just as I was about to walk down the aisle, transforming our carefully planned outdoor ceremony into a battle against the elements. While we had a glass rain cover for the reception, the aisle itself was not adequately protected, leading to muddy shoes and a slippery situation for my bridal party.2. Commit fully to local cuisineOne of the highlights of any destination wedding is the opportunity to showcase local flavors.Our guests enjoyed the Thai buffet we offered on the first night, but when it came time for the wedding meal, we veered into Mediterranean cuisine. While the food was presented well, it didn't resonate as strongly with our setting or the experiences we wanted to share. If I could do it again, I would prioritize Thai food throughout the entire weekend. The couple's son was pushed down the aisle during the wedding. Wasan Chirdchom, (Instagram @runnimages) 3. Stick to a strict budgetAs our guest list grew from an initial 50 to 139 attendees, so did our budget. Wedding costs can spiral quickly, especially when you're planning a destination event.With guests traveling in from overseas, we planned a party on Friday with a dinner buffet. On Saturday, we opted for a four-course Mediterranean dinner with four hours of free flow.Once extras, including a Thai noodle cart, flowers, fire-spinning entertainers, and the custom wagon we had built for our son, were added in, it added up to around $500 per guest for the two nights.4. Educate guests about the areaMany of our guests were visiting Thailand for the first time, and I realized I hadn't provided enough information about the local culture. After the wedding, I found out that most of my guests stayed on the hotel grounds the entire time, and with a bit more guidance, I could have encouraged them to go out exploring. The wedding was centered on lively parties Furuya regrets not making it more kid-friendly. Wasan Chirdchom, (Instagram @runnimages) 5. Create an inclusive experience for guestsReflecting on the event, I realize I could have done more to make the wedding more kid-friendly. The celebration unintentionally became quite adult-centric, centered on lively parties and plenty of drinks, which may have led guests with small children to leave early.While we did offer babysitting services and guests had access to the resort's kids' playhouse, I would have provided more activities tailored for parents and children. Simple additions like custom coloring books and goodie bags could have created a more inclusive atmosphere for everyone.

Olivia Nuzzi has withdrawn her protective order request against her ex-fianc Ryan Lizza.Nuzzi accused Lizza of blackmailing her in an October petition.The withdrawal is the latest turn in the dramatic aftermath of Nuzzi's relationship with RFK Jr. Thanks for signing up! Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. Olivia Nuzzi, the former New York magazine political correspondent who made headlines earlier this year for having a personal relationship with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has withdrawn her request for a protective order against her ex-fianc, fellow journalist Ryan Lizza.In an October petition for a civil protection order, Nuzzi accused Lizza, a Politico reporter, of hacking her devices and stealing information to blackmail her. Nuzzi alleged her former fianc tried to convince her to get back together with him and threatened to destroy her career if she refused. Lizza denied the allegations at the time.Politico shares a parent company with Business Insider.An attorney for Nuzzi confirmed to Business Insider that she withdrew the protective order request.BI didn't immediately view the motion, as court documents related to allegations of domestic abuse can only be accessed in person in the DC courthouse."Ms. Nuzzi has no interest in fighting a public relations battle. For insight into her decision, you can refer to the statements in her motion," Nuzzi's attorney, Ari Wilkenfeld, told BI.In a statement shared with BI, Lizza said: "Olivia shamelessly used litigation with false and defamatory allegations as a public relations strategy.""When required to do so, she refused to defend her claims in court last month. She then sought to hide my response to her claims from the public by seeking to seal the proceedings that she began," he wrote. "Now, on the eve of a hearing at which she knew her lies would be exposed, she has taken the only course available to her and withdrawn her fabricated claims.""Olivia lied to me for almost a year. She lied to her editors. She lied to her readers. She lied to her colleagues. She lied to reporters. And she lied to the judge in this case," Lizza said. "I said I would defend myself against her lies vigorously and successfully and I am fully prepared to do so. But for now, I'm pleased this matter is closed."Nuzzi's withdrawal is the latest turn in the dramatic media story, which began when journalist Oliver Darcy reported in September in his newsletter, Status, that New York Magazine put Nuzzi on leave after learning she engaged in a personal relationship with Kennedy, who she covered as a presidential candidate.Nuzzi said the relationship wasn't physical. A spokesperson for Kennedy previously said he only met her once.Following a third-party investigation into Nuzzi's work, New York magazine said the probe found no inaccuracies or evidence of bias in her reporting. She and the magazine parted ways in October.

Its a truism that everythings bigger in America just look at the cars and houses. But perhaps nowhere is the virtue of bigger is better more bizarrely apparent than how toilet paper is sold. Wander into the bathroom products aisle at the supermarket and youve entered a topsy-turvy world where numbers shape-shift. A pack of 18 mega toilet paper rolls, for example, magically transforms into 90 regular ones. The labeling emphasizes this greater number in large font, lest you foolishly think 18 simply equals 18. Another pack might insist that 12 even-thicker rolls of toilet paper are the equivalent of 96 normal rolls.The advertising is clear: Youre getting a lot of toilet paper. That should be good news, since if theres one rule of thumb everyone should live by, its never run out of TP. We saw anxiety around this eventuality reach new heights in the early days of the pandemic, when crowds of people fought to snap up as much toilet paper as they could, leading to a shortage and extreme price gouging. Americans enormous vehicles and palatial abodes may in fact exist in service of conveying and storing gigantic bulk packs of this bathroom essential.Theres some irony, then, that for all the trumpeting of gargantuan sizes, toilet paper rolls are generally getting smaller. Its a key example of the trend of manufacturers charging the same price (or even slightly more) for less product thats been dubbed shrinkflation. It makes it more difficult than ever to figure out if youre getting ripped off. None of the three major toilet paper manufacturers Vox reached out to responded to a request for comment.I really cant think of any other category thats as confusing as toilet paper, says Neil Saunders, managing director of retail at the consulting firm GlobalData. With dubious numerical claims about how much a mega roll is really worth, brands can promote the perception of value without actually having to show their work. Figuring out the price per toilet paper sheet is a hassle, but it would show how much more expensive the product has become.The consumer wouldnt like that, so they all keep it a bit opaque, Saunders says.Get ready for some back-of-the-toilet-paper mathThe most glaring issue plaguing the toilet paper industry is a lack of standardization. Double, triple, and mega rolls are imprecise descriptors that vary by brand; they are not measurement units. In fine print, toilet paper packaging will often admit that these sizes are relative to the regular roll sometimes they mean their own brands regular size, but other times, its against a competitors one-ply regular.Related:Wait, why is Dr Pepper so popular now?Unsurprisingly, the so-called standard size has no consistency, either. Charmins regular roll has 55 two-ply sheets, for example, but its often hard to even find the regular size of a brands toilet paper in stores. The mega roll is often advertised as having four times as many sheets as the mythical regular its being compared to, which means that Cottonelles idea of a regular roll contains 61 sheets, Quilted Northerns an awkward 73.75 sheets, and Angel Softs 80 sheets. But even these are perplexing figures since many real-life standard toilet paper rolls contain more than 100 sheets.The sheets-per-roll ratio is also subject to change depending on whether youre looking at single-ply, two-ply, or three-ply. (Not to make your brain hurt more, but sheet dimensions vary too.) The mega roll is just one size out of many that brands offer, all with slightly different naming conventions. Cottonelle sells mega, family mega, or super mega, while Charmin now offers the mega-XXL and even the forever roll, which is so big you need a standalone holder. There appears to be no limit to the jumbofication of toilet paper jargon. All this renders comparison shopping far more challenging than it is for the average household product. Making matters worse, theres no single consistent method of unit pricing for toilet paper. Some retailers, like Walmart, Amazon, and Target, show the price per 100 sheets, but then you still have to factor in the variation in sheets per roll for each brand. Walgreens shows price per sheet, while Home Depot displays a pretty unhelpful price per roll. Irregular unit price labeling is a problem for many consumer products, according to Chuck Bell, programs director of advocacy at Consumer Reports. Unit pricing is only mandated directly in nine states, Bell says, while 10 others have voluntarily taken it up. Its hard to compare products online for value for money.Its no wonder people have taken matters into their own hands. In late 2018, a California man named Victor Ly launched a Toilet Paper Value Calculator that crunches the number of rolls, sheets per roll, and any discounts that apply. Ly told Wirecutter in 2022 that a good deal was probably around 0.253 cents per sheet. While theres no longer a toilet paper shortage or people panic-buying pallets of them though the impulse to do so lingers its a much more expensive commodity today than before the pandemic, especially now that were a few years out from a period of high inflation. A report from consumer watchdog Public Interest Research Group noted that, before the pandemic, a pack of 36 Charmin Ultra Soft rolls cost $30.95 on Amazon. At time of writing, the same pack costs $59 on the site. (In December 2020, it was selling for as high as $114.99.)Most name-brand toilet paper today far exceeds Lys price threshold. A 30-pack of Charmin Ultra Strong mega rolls breaks down to 0.5 cents per sheet, though a 36-pack of Scott 1000 toilet paper is about 0.083 cents per sheet. Kirklands 30-pack of toilet paper, selling for $23.49 at time of writing, works out to 0.206 cents per sheet.The cost of making toilet paper may have gone up in recent years, according to the Los Angeles Times, due to a slowdown in lumber production (theres less available wood pulp, which is what most toilet paper is made of). Combine that with the fact that, as journalist Will Oremus reported in a piece about the pandemic toilet paper shortage, more people are working remotely today, reducing the time spent in office bathrooms. It means that the average consumer is using more toilet paper at home, cringing at how much their budget for bathroom products has gone up. Shrinkflation strikes againToilet paper manufacturers have come up with a way to keep prices roughly the same, though at least at a quick glance. The same pack of toilet paper you buy every month might only be more expensive upon close scrutiny of the fine print, when you realize each roll is made up of fewer sheets. A recent analysis by loan marketplace LendingTree showed that toilet paper was among the top offenders among products whose size or volume had shrunk since 2019 or 2020. A pack of 12 mega rolls from Angel Soft went from 429 sheets per roll to 320 essentially shrinking by a quarter but at least the price went down by 15 percent too. Charmin Ultra Strong mega rolls, on the other hand, shrank by 15 percent while the price increased by 11 percent.This isnt a new strategy that only toilet paper makers are employing. People have been complaining about product shrinkage for years; a Consumer Reports article from 2015 compared toilet paper rolls from top brands, showing that some had reduced by over 20 percent. The reason, manufacturers claimed at the time, was that better paper quality meant that people could use less of it.An older Charmin regular roll had 82 sheets versus just 55 today.Edgar Dworsky, a former consumer protection lawyer, has been tracking this shady practice which he calls downsizing for decades on his websites, MousePrint.org and ConsumerWorld.org.I remember back in the 1960s when my Mounds candy bar used to be two ounces and became one point something or other, he tells Vox. He notes that old Charmin toilet paper had as many as 650 sheets in a single-ply roll; its mega-XXL today has just 440 sheets. An older Charmin regular roll had 82 sheets versus just 55 today. The playbook is to shrink the current roll size, then invent a new tier (with a more ridiculous name) that can be priced higher.Consumer brands are in the business of making you think youre getting more, Dworsky says. Its all a name game, its all a numbers game, and if youre just oblivious to it, youre going to get snookered.How to avoid flushing money down the toiletToilet paper is marketed both as a value product, where youre getting four rolls for the price of one, and a weirdly indulgent luxury at the same time. Its something meant to be quickly disposed of, literally flushed away, yet commercials for toilet paper are almost always focusing on its delightful, cushiony softness or a special quilted or diamond weave texture that adds a premium feel to the product. Theres scented toilet paper, and even toilet paper with colorful patterns. One of Quilted Northerns April Fools Day ads pokes fun at the excessive promotional style of its own industry, proclaiming a return to hand-crafted, artisanal toilet paper.Ultimately, this is because we spend so much time with it, and in such an intimate way, so such bells and whistles do matter to some of us. Theres obviously some people [who], for medical reasons, like to have really soft toilet paper, Saunders says. Some people just like extra strong toilet paper. For others, its a pure bang-for-buck play, where they might just gravitate toward the pack with the most rolls (which isnt necessarily the best value). The range of options, from one-ply sparseness to lilac-scented plushness, isnt the problem. Its that its so hard to disentangle the value youre actually getting. As Dworsky notes, consumers could bring a scale to weigh packs of toilet paper every time they go to the store, but then what can you do about it? You still have to buy one of the #ShrinkFlated options, and its not an area where were spoiled for choice. While there are plenty of different versions that a single brand offers, just three manufacturers Procter & Gamble, Kimberly-Clark, and Georgia-Pacific make up some 80 percent of the bathroom tissue market.One could switch to commercial-grade toilet paper, which is much cheaper but is of (ahem) crappier quality. Where consumer toilet paper is soft, perhaps infused with lotion, often embossed with a delightful little pattern, the stuff we see in public restrooms is stiff and so thin that it breaks apart if you so much as look at it. Still, a 12-pack of commercial toilet paper at Home Depot is about $34 at time of writing, and one roll is about 700 feet long. Assuming that a square of consumer-grade toilet paper is about 4 inches long, a 440-sheet Charmin mega-XXL roll would still be under 147 feet. Related:Why companies are keeping their prices inflatedLawmakers and President Joe Biden have wagged their fingers at corporations for shrinkflation and have even introduced a bill attempting to ban the practice, though neither Dworsky nor Bell thinks its likely to become law. But more transparency around product sizes, more consistent unit price labels, or even requiring a consumer notice when theres a change in size would go a long way to help shoppers. Last year, in the lead-up to price negotiations with suppliers, French grocery chain Carrefour started attaching labels next to packaged foods and drinks that had gotten smaller. Whats certain is that the deceptive, confusing accounting of toilet paper rolls shouldnt be the norm and, in fact, it appears to be mostly a North American tradition. While other countries do also sell mega rolls, theres no fiddly math on the packaging insisting that a dozen rolls are somehow more than that. Toilet paper is no small matter, especially for Americans. Per capita, the US is the No. 1 consumer of it in the world, each American using about 141 rolls per year as of 2018. A Consumer Reports buying guide once compared the annual usage to the length of 23 football fields.One way to avoid the frustrating morass of counting rolls and sheets is to opt out of the game altogether. I switched to a bidet 10 years ago, Dworsky says.Youve read 1 article in the last monthHere at Vox, we're unwavering in our commitment to covering the issues that matter most to you threats to democracy, immigration, reproductive rights, the environment, and the rising polarization across this country.Our mission is to provide clear, accessible journalism that empowers you to stay informed and engaged in shaping our world. By becoming a Vox Member, you directly strengthen our ability to deliver in-depth, independent reporting that drives meaningful change.We rely on readers like you join us.Swati SharmaVox Editor-in-ChiefSee More:

Welcome to the golden age of STI prevention.Sure, condoms are still an effective strategy for lowering the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) but now, theyre just one of a smorgasbord of strategies for decreasing your chances of catching an infection spread by sex. That includes vaccines to lower your risk of certain STIs, and medications you can take to prevent infection some with the ease of a morning-after pill, and many that can be mailed to your home after an online telehealth visit. It also includes new STI tests that people can take in their homes, with results available either instantly or within days to enable quick and discreet testing and treatment. In a world where getting sexual health care sometimes feels fraught with judgment, these new methods offer a level of discretion and convenience that feels nothing short of revolutionary.In-person care is still best for getting the most comprehensive and personalized evaluation and education, and weve got guidance on how to find that kind of care here. But even sexual health care clinicians recognize its annoying or worse to go to the doctor sometimes. Inconvenience whether its cost, or travel, or parking, or taking off work, or other competing demands is probably a big factor in why people arent necessarily engaged in sexual health care that they might otherwise benefit from, says Douglas Krakower, an infectious disease doctor and HIV prevention researcher at Harvard Medical School. Stigma that shameful sense that people who know you have an STI look down on you, whether real or imagined also sometimes prevents people from getting high-quality sexual health care in person. The bottom line: People often prefer sexual health care that involves as few other humans as possible. Now, there are more ways to get that than ever.Not everyone gets to benefit equally from these advances. Some come with hefty out-of-pocket price tags or are still out of reach for pregnant or likely-to-be-pregnant people. Still, the changes represent a leap forward in an area of health care that needs as much help as it can get.Heres whats out there.You can greatly reduce your risk of HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and more STIs include a range of bacteria and viruses that cause unpleasant genital symptoms, threaten your ability to have pleasurable sex, and may endanger your ability to have healthy children. Barrier protections like internal and external condoms are still the best (and usually cheapest) way to protect yourself from STIs. However, if you anticipate having sex without condoms, there are now lots of other ways to prevent STIs. Vaccines have come a long way and several can prevent STIs, including HPV (a cause of genital warts and cervical cancer), mpox, and hepatitis A and B. Recent studies also suggest being vaccinated against meningitis can offer some gonorrhea protection, especially among gay men and the people they have sex with.There are also pills and injectable medications that can greatly reduce the risk a sexual partner will infect you with HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, or chlamydia.HIV prevention is available in a few forms: as a daily oral or every-two-months injectable medication you take before sex (called PrEP, for pre-exposure prophylaxis), or as a month-long regimen of oral medicines you take immediately after sex. The latter option, called PEP, for post-exposure prophylaxis, has to be started within 72 hours of exposure to be effective. Both options work by entering the bodys cells and preventing HIV from replicating inside them.A smorgasbord of new STI prevention optionsPrEP, a daily oral or every-two-months injectable HIV-prevention medication you take before sexPEP, a month-long course of oral HIV-prevention medication you take after sexDoxyPEP, a morning-after pill to prevent syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia infectionsHome-based testing for chlamydia and gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV, and other STIs (click here for free resources; some direct-to-consumer options are listed here)Vaccines for HPV, mpox, hepatitis A and B Theres even more progress to come in this area: An every-six-months injectable drug for preventing HIV infection called lenacapavir has shown huge promise in preventing HIV infections in both women and trans and nonbinary people and could be available for US use as soon as late 2025. Krakower says an oral option isnt far behind.Syphilis has been rising explosively in the US for the past few years, affecting gay men and the people they have sex with as well as heterosexual men and women, especially those whose sexual partners include sex workers and people who inject drugs. The trend has huge stakes: Women can spread syphilis to their pregnancies, leading to serious illness or death in their newborns. Earlier this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released guidelines for using doxyPEP, a morning-after pill to prevent syphilis infection. This breakthrough strategy involves taking the antibiotic doxycycline the morning after sex and because this medication also fights other germs, doxyPEP also reduces gonorrhea and chlamydia transmission.The problem is that doxycyclines effects on pregnancy are unclear, but theres suspicion theyre not good. Many clinicians are therefore hesitant to prescribe it to younger patients in their care.Still, because congenital syphilis has become such a dire national emergency, scientists are seeking ways doxyPEP can protect pregnant people and their fetuses. One focus is getting more men who have sex with men and women to use doxyPEP; another approach may involve prescribing the drug to women at high risk of syphilis infection. In a Japanese study of female sex workers, this strategy led to plummeting syphilis and chlamydia rates.You can get at-home testing for a range of STIs It used to be that if youd had unprotected sex with a new partner or had unusual genital symptoms like painful urination, funky discharge, or skin changes like a bump, ulcer, or rash youd have to jump through a lot of hoops to figure out whether you had an STI. You would start by visiting a clinic or emergency room; getting your parts swabbed by a clinician (or peeing in a cup or getting blood drawn); waiting for a lab to process those results; waiting for the doctors office to communicate those results to you; going back to the clinic for medicine or picking it up at a pharmacy; and then potentially going back again to be retested once treatment was done. Now, a variety of new testing options allows clinics to get test results within hours for a range of STIs. Once these get adopted broadly by clinics and emergency rooms, itll be a lot easier for people to get testing and treatment all in the space of one health care visit. Hopefully, that will lower the number of people who get diagnosed with an STI but never get treated for it.Another huge step forward: New tests now enable people to do most or all of the STI testing and treatment process at home, online, or through the mail without a doctor or another clinician having to get involved. Agency is what home testing gets people, says Yuka Manabe, an infectious disease doctor at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine who leads the home-based HIV and STI testing program, I Want the Kit. The FDA has only approved a handful of these tests, and theyre not perfect. For example, the only FDA-approved test that screens for chlamydia and gonorrhea with home-based sample collection is the Simple 2 test its only approved to test samples from penises and vaginas. That means the test cant be used to diagnose throat and rectal infections, which are more common in men exposed through oral or anal sex with other men. So while the Simple 2 is a great choice for people who engage only in heterosexual sex, it leaves out gay men and people they have sex with. Another important innovation is the First to Know Syphilis Test, which can detect within minutes syphilis-fighting antibodies in blood samples collected at home with a simple skin prick. The FDA approved the test in August. However, it has a catch: The test doesnt distinguish between new syphilis infections and old, already-treated infections. That means people whove had syphilis before cant use the test to rule out a new infection.Its worth noting that home-use HIV tests have been FDA-approved for more than a decade, although they also require follow-up testing for positive results.Just because these tests are FDA-approved doesnt guarantee they are covered by insurance; you can check with your insurer to find out what it will cost you. If its not covered, its worth checking to see if you live in a part of the country where free HIV, gonorrhea and chlamydia, or trichomonas test kits are available (the American Sexual Health Association lists free HIV and STI home test kit resources). Most of this testing would be free or low-cost if you got it in person, says Elizabeth Finley, the senior director of communications and programs at the National Coalition of STD Directors. Theres some equity implications in the reality that higher-income people can afford to pay out of pocket for the convenience of home-based testing, while lower-income people often cannot, she says.Choosing a test is just the beginningAn array of companies have created home-based STI tests that havent yet been approved by the FDA, including ones for hepatitis B and C, which are often overlooked. Non-approval doesnt mean a test is garbage it just makes it harder to be certain that its effective at doing what you want it to do.There are no real guardrails for the companies in terms of the quality they have to offer to customers, Finley says. The tests have to work, but Im not sure customers are fully informed about, if they see a test available on social media, Is this a good one? Is this a bad one?The appeal of these tests is strong for people who hate having someone else get their genital sample. Many of them have you pee in a cup, pinprick your own finger and blot blood on a card, or swab a range of body parts at home (including your vagina or penis, your butt, or your throat), then mail that sample to a lab that runs the usual tests on it, which can be retrieved in an online portal. Home testing kits also often make an end-run around the process of getting to a brick-and-mortar clinic to figure out next steps or pick up medication. Many use a telehealth platform to connect people who test positive for an STI with clinicians, who can provide counseling, suggest ways to get partners tested, and mail some medications directly to patients. Curing many STIs requires one or more antibiotic injections, and experts sometimes recommend additional evaluation after a diagnosis. Both of these scenarios require an in-person visit with a clinician. If you test positive for one of these STIs, your test companys telehealth provider should direct you to a clinic where you can see an in-person clinician.Giving people the option of self-directed sexual health care isnt just good for peoples sense of autonomy its also a sensible response to impending health worker shortages. Out of concern for an inadequate global supply of clinicians, the World Health Organization has recently recommended a range of self-care interventions for people all over the world, among them many of the latest innovations in STI self-sampling and testing. Its about time, Manabe says: Were not trusting the public enough.Youve read 1 article in the last monthHere at Vox, we're unwavering in our commitment to covering the issues that matter most to you threats to democracy, immigration, reproductive rights, the environment, and the rising polarization across this country.Our mission is to provide clear, accessible journalism that empowers you to stay informed and engaged in shaping our world. By becoming a Vox Member, you directly strengthen our ability to deliver in-depth, independent reporting that drives meaningful change.We rely on readers like you join us.Swati SharmaVox Editor-in-ChiefSee More:

Fortnite fans are going wild after Epic Games announced it's bringing back the original version of its battle royale as Fortnite OG as a permanent addition to the game.

If you wanted to return to GTA Trilogy, now might be the best time as the game has finally got an update after three years which makes it closer to the much better mobile version

What is this teasing? (YouTube)A new PS5 advert has got tongues wagging for seemingly hinting at a new annoucement for PlayStations 30th birthday.The 30th anniversary of the PlayStation brand is coming up, so youd think Sony would have something special planned for such a momentous landmark in its history, but so far its done relatively little to reference it.There was the range of limited edition hardware, featuring the original logo and grey colour scheme of the PlayStation 1, but all of that was very expensive, and quickly sold out, and so now fans think Sonys gearing up for something else.The rumours are based on a new advert for the PlayStation 5, which at face value seems fairly innocuous, but is believed to be hiding a teaser for the anniversary itself.Said ad went up on YouTube earlier today and it doesnt feature any actual games or products. Just the iconic button symbols appearing throughout a city, as it shifts and morphs into a big playground, capping off with Sonys Play has no limits slogan.However, around the 11 second mark, a train station sign can be seen displaying a date and time for December 3 at 20:24. Or rather December 3, 2024. Thats the exact date of the PlayStations anniversary.As such, people are assuming Sony has some kind of an announcement planned for that date. If so, the next question is what it could actually be. A new mini-console, to replace the flawed PlayStation Classic? A retro compilation of older titles? At the very least, wed expect some more affordable products for the Christmas period.We do know Sony is collaborating with Youtooz on a new range of collectible figures. Recently, Youtooz posted a teaser on X for figures of Kratos, Ratchet and Clank, Sly Cooper, and Astro Bot, so maybe a formal announcement and release date is being saved for the anniversary.Some have suggested there could even be a whole showcase, but thats probably wishful thinking. Plus, with The Game Awards 2024 taking place that same week, any major PlayStation game announcements would most likely be saved for then.Over on Reddit, fans are trying to manage expectations. Definitely a hint at their 30th anniversary, showcase not so much, wrote user Arcanunn.Some like VenturerKnigtmare420 have taken the opportunity to joke about how maybe this time Sony will definitely announce the Bloodborne remaster everyone wants.These are likely coming out to coincide with the anniversary (Youtooz)Emailgamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below,follow us on Twitter, andsign-up to our newsletter.To submit Inbox letters and Readers Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use ourSubmit Stuff page here.For more stories like this,check our Gaming page.MORE : PS5 Pro selling faster than PS4 Pro price had no negative impact says SonyMORE : Where are the PS5 and Switch made? How Trump tariffs may impact pricesMORE : PS5 Pro scalpers are losing money but theyre still scamming fans elsewhereSign up to all the exclusive gaming content, latest releases before they're seen on the site.Privacy Policy This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

There are some tempting Switch bundles already (Metro)SHOPPING Contains affiliated content. Products featured in this Metro article are selected by our shopping writers. If you make a purchase using links on this page, Metro.co.uk will earn an affiliate commission. Click here for more information.Ahead of Black Friday, GameCentral rounds up all the early discounts on PS5, Xbox Series X, and Nintendo Switch consoles.Whether it be for yourself or as a Christmas present for a friend or relative, Black Friday sales are an ideal time to get your hands on a fancy new console.With any luck, well see some decent price drops for Sonys PlayStation 5, Microsofts Xbox Series X and S consoles, and maybe even the Nintendo Switch. Youd think that last one would be prime for a price cut, with the Switch 2 expected to arrive next year, but you never can tell with Nintendo.While the day itself is still a way off a lot of retailers have already started trimming prices in advance. So, weve scoured the interwebs for all the early discounts you can take advantage of.Black Friday 2024 discounts on PS5The PS5 Pro only launched earlier this month, so given how new it is, its unlikely to see any discounts anywhere this year.Amazon has a small discount on the standard version of the PS5 Slim that comes with a disc drive, which is currently 13 cheaper at 466.99. If youd prefer the digital only PlayStation 5, EE seems to have the best offer at 379, which is 10 cheaper than Sonys asking price.PS5 Slim (standard version) 466.99 AmazonPS5 Slim (digital version) 379 EEThe original models been discontinued and replaced with the Slim (Sony)Black Friday 2024 discounts on Xbox Series X/SWeve yet to see many price cuts on either the Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S this year. For the former, your only option is, once again, Amazon, which currently has the 1TB console going for 459.99 at a discount of 20.As for the Xbox Series S, Smyths has an offer on both the console and a three-month subscription to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Normally, such a subscription would cost nearly 45. On top of the 249.99 console, thats roughly 295 altogether. Smyths offer, however, is currently 259.99, meaning youre getting a three-month subscription for only a tenner.Xbox Series X (1TB) 459.99 AmazonXbox Series S (512GB) + Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (Three Months) 259.99 SmythsThe Series S lacks the strength of its bigger sibling, but it is much cheaper (Microsoft)Black Friday 2024 discounts on Nintendo SwitchAlthough theyre not specifically Black Friday related, Nintendo does have four discounted Switch bundles on its own store. The first is for the original Switch model, which typically costs 259.99. For the same price, you get the console, a copy of Nintendo Switch Sports, and a 12-month online subscription.The next two are for Animal Crossing: New Horizons themed Nintendo Switch Lite consoles. These come with the aforementioned game pre-installed and a 12-month online subscription and all just for 199.99, so youre basically only paying for the console.Last but not least is a Switch OLED bundle that comes packed with a 12-month online subscription and a copy of the impeccable Super Mario Bros. Wonder. Altogether it costs 309.99, which isnt a bad deal, but John Lewis is offering the same bundle for even less at 269.95.On a similar note, Smyths is offering the Nintendo Switch Sports bundle at 279.99. While 20 more expensive than Nintendos offer, this one lets you pick two extra games from a select line-up, which includes recent releases like Super Mario Party Jamboree and The Legend Of Zelda: Echoes Of Wisdom.If all youre after is the console on its own, Amazon has the Switch OLED going for 277.99, which is 32 less than it costs on Nintendos store.Nintendo Switch Console + Nintendo Switch Sports + Nintendo Switch Online Subscription (12 Months) 259.99 Nintendo StoreNintendo Switch Lite Animal Crossing: New Horizons Timmy & Tommy Aloha Edition + Nintendo Switch Online Subscription (12 Months) 199.99 Nintendo StoreNintendo Switch Lite Animal Crossing: New Horizons Isabelle Aloha Edition + Nintendo Switch Online Subscription (12 Months) 199.99 Nintendo StoreNintendo Switch OLED Model + Super Mario Bros. Wonder + Nintendo Switch Online Subscription (12 Months) 269.95 John LewisNintendo Switch Console + Nintendo Switch Sports + Nintendo Switch Online Subscription (12 Months) + Two Extra Games 279.99 SmythsNintendo Switch OLED 277.99 AmazonThe OLED model is a notable improvement on the original Switch (Nintendo)Emailgamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below,follow us on Twitter, andsign-up to our newsletter.To submit Inbox letters and Readers Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use ourSubmit Stuff page here.For more stories like this,check our Gaming page.MORE : When is Black Friday? Everything you need to know about the shopping event happening next monthMORE : Amazon early Black Friday deals to shop ahead of the event save up to 60% across tech, beauty and moreMORE : Score 50% off sitewide in the Oodie early Black Friday saleSign up to all the exclusive gaming content, latest releases before they're seen on the site.Privacy Policy This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.