LIVE NOW! Ethan Hunt is going to have a reckoning with his medical bills after the gang sets out to create another installment in the Mission: In-Hospital series. Watch as stunts are undone, mistakes are made, and participate in another Meme-in-the-Making episode of #VFXandChill.Ethan Hunt is going to have to have a reckoning with his medical bills after the gang sets out to create another installment in the Mission: In-Hospital seri...

One of the images that triggered rumors about astronaut Suni Williams' health. Here, she displays radiation measurement hardware. NASA JohnsonThis fall, NASA released photos of astronaut Suni Williamswho is currently living on the International Space Station (ISS)that triggered an onslaught of tabloid and social media rumors speculating about her health.Articles in the New York Post and the Daily Mail suggested that Williams looked gaunt, and sources quoted by the outlets alleged the astronaut had lost an unhealthy amount of weight.In early November, NASA refuted the claims in a statement emailed to the press. This week, Williams herself negated the rumors in an in-flight interview. Now, James D. Polk, NASAs chief health and medical officer, has once again spoken up to dispel the idea.Ill tell you the astronauts are in absolutely outstanding health and in good condition right now, Polk tells Space.coms Monisha Ravisetti. So, let me just address that rumor right out the front.Williams and fellow NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore are in the middle of an unexpectedly long stay on the ISS. They traveled to the station aboard Boeings Starliner spacecraft in June for what was supposed to be a brief mission. After Starliner experienced technical issues, however, NASA decided send the spacecraft back to Earth without its crew. In late August, the agency announced the two astronauts will come home aboard a SpaceX Dragon in February 2025, turning their intended eight-day stay into eight months.trained for extended stays at the ISS.With the pair now 163 daysand countinginto their odyssey, some of the recent rumors about their health were centered around the negative effects of long-term residencies in space.The image that seems to have attracted the most attention is a picture of Williams and Wilmore making pizza aboard the space stations galley. Vinay Gupta, a pulmonologist and health policy analyst, told the Daily Mail that Williams face looked sunken and she appeared underweight. NASA astronauts make pizza aboard the International Space Station in a picture that triggered rumors about Williams' weight. NASA JohnsonThe following week, Williams attempted to reassure the public that she was in good health: I think theres some rumors around outside there that Im losing weight and stuff, she said in an interview from the station with the New England Sports Network. No, Im actually right at the same amount... as I was when I got up here, she continued, adding that she works out regularly, as all astronauts in space do, to prevent the decrease in muscle mass and bone destiny that results from long periods of time in microgravity.I could definitely tell that weightlifting, which is not something that I do all the time, has definitely changed me. My thighs are a little bit bigger, my butt is a little bit bigger, she also noted, per Space.coms Mike Wall.The next day, though, the New York Post cited an anonymous NASA insider, who maintained that both Williams and Wilmore are losing body mass, adding that Williams has been affected more than Wilmore.On Thursday, Polk once again refuted these allegations in several media interviews.NASA Astronaut Suni Williams Talks with New England Sports Network - Tuesday, November 12, 2024Watch on Ive known Suni 20 years, and Ill tell you, Suni looks the same to me, he tells the New York Times Kenneth Chang. Shes in incredible health right now.I hope that the chief medical officer of NASA is an informed and credible sourceIll put it that way, Polk says to Space.com, referring to himself.He adds that fluid shiftwhen weightlessness leads bodily fluids to flow toward the upper parts of the bodyalong with the daily aerobic and resistive exercises that astronauts do on the ISS can cause morphologic changes that occur that can perhaps change their appearance. Still, he reiterates that their weight has not changed, and their fitness is actually getting better.The speculation on Williams weight comes amid other questions regarding the health of three NASA astronauts and one Russian cosmonaut who were taken to a hospital after they returned to Earth from the ISS last month. One member of the crew was kept overnight, but for privacy reasons, NASA has not revealed the identity of the individual or released information on the nature of their medical issue.Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday.Filed Under: Astronauts, Health, Media, NASA, Outer Space, Social Media, Space Travel, SpaceX

The researchers made experimental spindles and whorls based on 3D scans of the pebbles. Yashuv and Grosman, PLOS ONE, 2024 under CC-BY 4.0When faced with an assortment of 12,000-year-old perforated pebbles from an archaeological site in northern Israel, researchers wondered if the artifacts could be beads, or perhaps fishing weights. Now, however, theyve come to a much more significant conclusion: The pebbles could be spindle whorls, weighted pieces used in spinning textiles.If that interpretation is true, it would make the pebble collection one of the oldest examples of rotational technology, a crucial prerequisite to the invention of the wheel. The teams findings were published in the journal PLOS ONE on Wednesday.While the perforated pebbles were kept mostly at their natural unmodified shape, they represent wheels in form and function: a round object with a hole in the center connected to a rotating axle, co-author Talia Yashuv, an archaeologist at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, tells Live Sciences Owen Jarus.Using highly detailed 3D models of the 113 pebbles, the archaeologists noted that the mostly limestone artifacts were roughly donut shaped. The holes measured three to four centimeters in diameter and had been drilled halfway from each side of the pebbles, though some of the pieces had off-center, partially perforated holes.The artifacts had previously been unearthed atNahal Ein Gev II, a roughly 12,000-year-old Late Natufian village close to the Sea of Galilee. Natufian refers to a hunter-gatherer culture that existed in the region of Palestine and southern Syria around 9000 B.C.E. and preceded the transition toward the agricultural practices that mark the Neolithic period.Because of the pebbles irregular shape and weight, Yashuv and her co-author Leore Grosman ruled out the possibilities that they were prehistoric beads or fishing weights. The artifacts were too heavy and odd-looking to be beads, the team concluded, and they were too light and made of the wrong material for use in fishing. Next, they thought of spindle whorls: small, disc-shaped weights with holes that are attached to spindles to make them rotate faster when spinning textiles.The researchers decided to test their hypothesis in real time. They used the 3D models to create precise replicas of the artifacts and asked a traditional textile expert named Yonit Crystal to test them out. After some practice, Crystal was able to successfully spin flaxand, with a bit more difficulty, spin woolinto yarn using the pebbles as spindle whorls. Illustrations representing various spinning methods. (a) Manual thigh-spinning; (b) Spindle-and-whorl "supported spinning"; (c) "drop spinning"; (d) the experimental spindles and whorls and 3D scans of the pebbles and their negative perforations. The photographs show Yonit Crystal spinning fibers with replicas of the perforated pebbles. Yashuv and Grosman, PLOS ONE, 2024 under CC-BY 4.0She was really surprised that they worked, because they werent perfectly round, Yashuv tells New Scientists Christa Lest-Lasserre. But really you just need the perforation to be located at the center of mass, and then its balanced and it works.Yashuv adds that the spindle whorl interpretation is consistent with their observations: The method of drilling halfway from each side of the pebble allows for better balance and thus more controlled spinning, and the pieces with incomplete and off-center holes could have been discarded as mistakes.Because the artifacts are simple limestone pebbles that dont stick out at first glance, the researchers were surprised to learn how they were likely used, Yashuv tells the Times of Israels Gavriel Fiske.If the pebbles are confirmed to be among the oldest examples of spindle whorls, it would mean several things. The most striking is that the artifacts would also represent one of the oldest uses of rotational technologies, which might have paved the way for crucial other advancements, such as potters wheels and traditional cart wheels in the fourth millennium B.C.E.Additionally, it is probable that flax was being spun in small quantities for use in other emerging technologies such as bags and fishing lines, that is to say new methods of storage and subsistence, Alex Joffe, an archaeologist and historian specialized in the Middle East who was not involved in the study, tells Live Science. In other words, the spindle whorl could have been crucial to advancements beyond the wheel.However, archaeological records suggest that the technology died out before re-emerging and taking root in the same region thousands of years later.They went back to something else, and we dont see the same tool for another 4,000 years. When it comes back, whats interesting is that its at a site that is very close by, Yashuv explains to IFLSciences Benjamin Taub.Not everyone is convinced by the researchers interpretation. Carole Cheval, an archaeologist at Cte dAzur University in Nice, France, tells New Scientist that the study should have looked for microscopic traces of the friction caused by yarn on the pebbles. And even if the pebbles are spindle whorls, these tools are more similar to a spinning top than to a wheel, she adds.Ultimately, the most important aspect of the study is how modern technology allows us to delve deep into touching the fingerprints of the prehistoric craftsman, the authors say in a statement, then learn something new about them and their innovativeness, and at the same time, about our modern technology and how were linked.Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday.

Google's Gemini-Exp-1114 AI model tops key benchmarks, but experts warn traditional testing methods may no longer accurately measure true AI capabilities or safety, raising concerns about the industry's current evaluation standards.Read More

CONTRIBUTOR CONTENT: Nearly 28% of the global workforce works remotely, and 38% of the global workforce are freelancers who dont commute to traditional office spaces: remote work is here to stay. While it offers a number of advantages both for employers and employees, it isnt without its drawbacks, including a plethora of distractions and an incrRead More

New York Game Awards to honour Sam LakeRemedy's creative director will receive the Andrew Yoon Legend Award following two decades at the developerImage credit: Remedy News by Sophie McEvoy Staff Writer Published on Nov. 15, 2024 Remedy's creative director Sam Lake will receive the Andrew Yoon Legend Award at the 14th annual New York Game Awards.The Andrew Yoon Legend Award is presented to those who have made a significant mark on the industry.Last year, Naughty Dog's Neil Druckmann received the accolade. Past winners include Hideo Kojima, Phil Spencer, and Tim Schafer."You know a Remedy game when you see it, largely due to Sam Lake's impact on the worlds he creates," said New York Video Game Critics Circle president and founder Harold Goldberg."It's really cool to see how his 20-year career at Remedy has touched so many of our members and interns at the Circle, and we are thrilled to have him join the roster of esteemed game changers previously recognised with the Andrew Yoon Legend Award."Lake joined Remedy in 1995 as a writer on the studio's first game, Death Rally. He had several roles in Max Payne's development, including lead writer and being the face model for the titular character.He created the Alan Wake franchise, which launched in 2010. Lake was lead writer and co-director on its 2023 sequel and provided motion capture for the character of Alex Casey, voiced by the late James McCaffrey.Lake also co-directed Quantum Break and wrote Control.The 14th annual New York Game Awards will be held at the SVA Theatre on January 21, 2025.

WASD expo cancelled, organiser enters liquidationEvent co-founder says "increasing costs and less demand" led to decisionImage credit: WASD News by Sophie McEvoy Staff Writer Published on Nov. 15, 2024 The organiser of UK indie games expo WASD has gone into liquidation, resulting in the show's cancellation.As reported by BBC News, co-founder David Lilley said "increasing costs and less demand for stand space means running events is just not viable for us anymore."WASD first opened in 2022 following the closure of the standalone EGX Rezzed event. The indie-based show was held alongside the London Games Festival in April.There was speculation of the expo's closure following the disappearance of its website after the conclusion of this year's event.Earlier this year, the long-running Insomnia Gaming Festival was shut down following layoffs at its organiser, Player1 Events.EGX is the last major consumer show remaining in the UK. This year's expo ran alongside MCM Comic-Con instead of EGX being a singular event.

Justin Carter, Contributing EditorNovember 15, 20241 Min ReadAt a GlanceKrafton and Hypergryph were among the firms that provided funding to Ruckus to develop its co-op RPG-shooter.Indie developer Ruckus Games recently secured $19 million in funding for its unannounced debut project.Two years ago, the studio secured $5.5 million in a round led by Transcend Fund to build its "high-quality prototype." This new round was led by Krafton, with additional contributions from Transcend, BitKraft, and Hypergryph.In its statement, Ruckus highlighted that prototype as proof its development costs "remain much lower than triple-A, while the team still delivers that same level of quality and fun of titles with exponentially bigger budgets."Speaking to its contribution, Krafton's Maria Park said it "believes in the future of co-op games, and the Ruckus team has demonstrated incredible progress with a small team in a short period of time. Theyve crafted something so on-trend, with stylish action and humor, that it not only entertains but also connects players in memorable ways - a vision that strongly resonates withKrafton."Ruckus was founded in 2021 by former Riot and Gearbox developers, including Borderlands 3 creative director Paul Sage. The studio's debut titledubbed "Project Bobcat" by Hypergryph's investment headis described as a session-based co-op RPG-shooter it hopes to "disrupt the multiplayer landscape [...] anddeliver a unique blend of style, humor, and explosive action."Both Park and Transcend GP Andrew Sheppard sit on the board of directors for Ruckus, and Sage said the contributing firms "bring not only a global reach, but as developers themselves, they bring a unique perspective to our team. [...] This level of support is a great show of confidence that bodes well as we search for the right publishing partner going forward."Development on "Project Bobcat" is said to be continuing "at a rapid pace," and Ruckus Games is currently hiring for various positions.Read more about:FundingAbout the AuthorJustin CarterContributing Editor, GameDeveloper.comA Kansas City, MO native, Justin Carter has written for numerous sites including IGN, Polygon, and SyFy Wire. In addition to Game Developer, his writing can be found at io9 over on Gizmodo. Don't ask him about how much gum he's had, because the answer will be more than he's willing to admit.See more from Justin CarterDaily news, dev blogs, and stories from Game Developer straight to your inboxStay UpdatedYou May Also Like

Justin Carter, Contributing EditorNovember 15, 20242 Min ReadImage via Ubisoft.At a GlanceThe Splinter Cell adaptation was first announced back in 2005, and saw little progress.The Splinter Cell movie has been quietly terminated, according to a producer on the would-be film.During a recent promotional event for John Wick (and spotted by TheDirect), producer Basil Iwanyk said production company New Regency "just couldn't get it right, script-wise, budget-wise. [...] We had a million different versions of it, but it was going to be hardcore and awesome. That's one of the ones that got away, which is really sad."Ubisoft announced a film adaptation for the stealth game series back in 2005, then re-announced it in 2013, this time with actor Tom Hardy locked in to play series lead Sam Fisher. In the years since, the project saw no substantial progressHardy has spent the past decade playing Venom or starring in dramas, and the only director attached was Doug Liman, who was hired in March 2014 and exited the project a year later.Video game adaptations in development hellBefore transmedia ventures became a major fixture of entertainment, game adaptations often got locked into development hell. Some notable examples include Gears of War, BioShock, Infamous, and fellow Tom Clancy sub-series The Division. In some cases, those adaptations managed to push forward, others remain unmade to this day, often with no real confirmation on their status.Previously, Ubisoft appeared to ditch its transmedia plans after the critical and commercial failure of the 2016 Assassin's Creed movie. More recently, it teamed with Netflix on the animated Captain Laserhawk serieswhich brought various Ubisoft properties together into a single universeand plans to release a Watch Dogs film that wrapped production in September.Outside of the film, Ubisoft plans to bring back Splinter Cell with a remake of the original 2002 game. It will be the first installment in the franchise since 2013's Splinter Cell: Blacklist.Read more about:UbisoftTransmediaAbout the AuthorJustin CarterContributing Editor, GameDeveloper.comA Kansas City, MO native, Justin Carter has written for numerous sites including IGN, Polygon, and SyFy Wire. In addition to Game Developer, his writing can be found at io9 over on Gizmodo. Don't ask him about how much gum he's had, because the answer will be more than he's willing to admit.See more from Justin CarterDaily news, dev blogs, and stories from Game Developer straight to your inboxStay UpdatedYou May Also Like

Half-Life 2 is getting a major update in celebration of the classic titles 20th anniversary. In addition to Steam Workshop support directly within the game, Valve has fixed bugs and restored some content, added new graphics settings, updated gamepad controls, and a whole lot more. Youll also be able to get the game for free on Steam through November 18th at 1PM ET. After that, it will cost $9.99.Valve is also now including the Episode One and Episode Two expansions with the base game. Theyll be accessible from the Half-Life 2 menu, and Valve says that you will automatically advance to the next expansion after completing each one. Youll also be able to access the Steam Workshop within the Extras menu, which means youll no longer have to leave the game to enable mods.Valve says it also made massive updates to Half-Life 2s maps, which will fix longstanding bugs, restore content and features lost to time, and improve the quality of a few things like lightmap resolution and fog. Theres a new option to play with the original launch day blood and fire effects as well, and Valve has updated Half-Life 2s gamepad controls to match last years Half-Life 1 anniversary update.If you want to access the older version of Half-Life 2, thats still an option: youll just have to roll back to a publicly visible Beta branch named steam_legacy and grab the Pre-20th Anniversary Build, Valve says.Like with the 25th anniversary celebration for the original Half-Life, Valve has also released a free documentary about Half-Life 2 that you can watch for free on YouTube. Heres what you can expect, according to the documentarys YouTube description: weve gotten members of the HL2 team back to talk about the games development, how we almost ran out of money, what it was like when we were hacked, what happened when we were sued by our publisher, the birthplace of Steam, and much more.In addition to the documentary, Valve has shared videos of old demos of the game including one that it planned to bring to E3 2022 but decided not to show at the last minute. Valve added 3.5 hours of new developer commentary within the game, too.And the company is printing an expanded second edition of the Raising the Bar book about the games development, which includes the Half-Life 2 development story, with never-before-seen concept art from Episode One and Episode Two, along with ideas and experiments for the third episode that never came to be. The book will return to print in 2025.Maybe soon well get Half-Life 3? Maybe?