November 21, 20243 min readChimps Share Knowledge Like Humans Do, Spurring InnovationFemale chimps who migrate to new social groups bring skills and technology with them, helping to drive development of increasingly complex tool setsBy Rachel NuwerWestern chimpazee female "Fana" aged 54 years shows her grandson 'Flanle' aged 3 years how to crack open palm oil nuts in Bossou Forest, Mont Nimba, Guinea. Nature Picture Library/Alamy Stock PhotoChimpanzees live in fiercely hierarchical social communities whose male members remain within the same group over time. To prevent inbreeding, females migrate to new communities when they reach adulthood. They bring with them not only new genes but also new knowledge.As this process repeated itself across thousands of years, female chimpanzees played an integral role in driving cultural innovation, a new study reports. Females spread behaviors between communities, and those behaviors were recombined with existing traditions to create layers of innovation that resulted in increasingly complex and advanced tool sets.The new research shows that humans are not the only species capable of building on innovations over time to make them more efficient, says Cassandra Gunasekaram, a doctoral student in evolutionary biology at the University of Zurich and lead author of the study, which was published in Science. Additionally, she says, the research demonstrates the importance of social links between different populations of chimpanzees for driving the complexity of culture.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.As recently as the 1990s, the idea that nonhuman animals could exhibit the distinct, socially learned behaviors that constitute culture was controversial. Numerous examples of animal culture are now known, including a diversity of bird song dialects, whale vocalizations and honeybee waggle dance moves.The new chimpanzee paper shows an example of cumulative culture, however, which is different. Cumulative culture refers to knowledge that is transmitted from generation to generation, enabling the development of increasingly sophisticated new technologies that result from gradual accumulation of new ideas and breakthroughs, contributed by multiple minds. The products of cumulative culture are usually so complex that it would be virtually impossible for a single individual to invent them. Computers are an example: they have gained in complexity and efficiency as researchers have iterated and built on what came before to the point that no person could create one with todays standards completely from scratch.Cumulative culture is still primarily considered to be a feature of human society. Some researchers have begun to question that assumption, however, and this latest research supports that cumulative culture might be found in some other species. Like humans, chimpanzees seem to have the capacity to exchange and combine ideas, says the studys co-senior author Andrea Migliano, an evolutionary anthropologist at the University of Zurich. She adds, however, that the amount of cultural knowledge that the animals can accumulate is limited by their hierarchical social structures, restricted migration among groups and lack of spoken language.To perform the new study, Migliano, Gunasekaram and their colleagues turned to a preexisting open dataset maintained by the Pan-African Program, a chimpanzee research consortium. They used genetic data from 240 individual chimpanzees from 35 different communities, representing all four subspecies, to trace past encounters among the animals. First, the researchers reconstructed 5,000 years of ancestry by analyzing segments of DNA that indicated common relatives and got broken into smaller pieces across generations. Next, they traced population links back 15,000 years by tracking genetic variants that occurred in individual groups but were rare in others.In addition to the genetic analyses, they also built a map of 15 foraging behaviors across chimpanzee populations. They divided the behaviors into three categories: the simplest behaviors involved no tools; intermediate examples relied on a single tool; and the most complex ones depended on a sophisticated tool set. An example of a complex tool set comprised a multistep approach to accessing beehives inside trees by using different tools for pounding open a hive, breaking into its inner chamber and swabbing up the honey for collection.Finally, the researchers overlaid and compared these networks of acquired datagenetic relatedness and cultural similaritiesto see whether one predicted the other, providing possible confirmation for cumulative culture. When the simplest behaviors were included, they found no corresponding evidence of genetic exchanges between groups. When only the most complex behaviors were analyzed, however, they found a clear correlation with female migrations. This suggests that females moving to a new group play a role in driving innovation and fits the hypothesis that social transmission between groups is necessary for the development of only the most sophisticated tools, not the simpler ones, Migliano says. The big pattern were seeing is: if its complex, its really correlating with migration and is unlikely to be reinvented, she adds.This project provides the best evidence yet that wild chimp traditions really are cultural and that they can, and have, evolved cumulatively, says Thomas Morgan, an evolutionary anthropologist at Arizona State University, who was not involved in the work. The past few decades have seen the emergence of the idea that cumulative cultural change is our species secret incredeint, but recent work, including this project, is really changing that view.

November 21, 20245 min readNew Bird Flu Cases in Young People Are Raising Concerns about Mutating VirusCanadas first human case of bird flu has left a teenager in critical condition as human infections continue to emerge in the western U.S.By Lauren J. YoungThree influenza A H5N1/bird flu virus particles. Layout incorporates two CDC transmission electron micrographs that have been repositioned and colorized by NIAID. Imago/NIH-NIAID/Image Point FR/BSIP/Alamy Stock PhotoSince a strain of avian influenza was first detected in U.S. dairy cows this past spring, it has caused relatively mild illness in humans, with most cases seen in farmworkers who were directly exposed to sick dairy cows or poultry. But two unusual cases in children who had no known prior contact with infected animals are increasing scientists concerns that the infections foreshadow a larger public health threat. On Tuesday a child in California with a mild infection tested positive for low levels of a bird flu virus that is most likely H5N1. And Canadian health officials announced last week that a teenager in British Columbia who was hospitalized with bird flu was in critical conditionthe countrys first locally acquired infection.Were not containing the outbreak, says Seema Lakdawala, an associate professor of microbiology and immunology at the Emory University School of Medicine. Most likely this British Columbian case is not going to be the only time a kid is hospitalized with H5N1.In both cases, family members and close contacts have tested negative for the virus, and officials report no evidence of person-to-person transmission. The Canadian teen, whose age and sex have been withheld, initially had symptoms similar to other cases reported so far: fever, coughing and conjunctivitisan eye infection thats been common with bird flu. The teen later developed acute respiratory distress, however, despite having no underlying health issues. A person in Missouri with a history of chronic respiratory illness tested positive for bird flu while hospitalized for gastrointestinal symptoms in September.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.The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has logged 52 bird flu cases in people since April 2024. But experts suspect this is likely an undercount. A recent CDC study of 115 dairy workers exposed to infected cows found 7 percent of them had antibodies for H5N1 even though half of those didnt report any symptoms.Though the study was conducted with a relatively small sample of farmworkers, what it highlights for us is that we are obviously underestimating the number of human infections, Lakdawala says. A lot of infections that are maybe asymptomatic or quite mild dont always produce a strong antibody response, which could mean the studys antibody test may have missed some cases.Scientific American spoke with influenza experts about recent bird flu cases in humans, preliminary genetic information and the risk of exposure and infection.Animal SpilloversThe strain of H5N1 currently circulating in North America was mostly contained to wild migratory birds before it started to spill over around 2022 into other animal populations, such as minks, bears, foxes and marine mammals. Currently in the U.S. the virus has largely been affecting dairy cows and poultry.I think whats really changed since this particular strain emerged is its somewhat unique ability to cross over and infect a lot of different mammals, says Stacey Schultz-Cherry, who studies the ecology of influenza in animals and birds at St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital. There have been reports quite a long time ago of occasional spillover, but nothing quite like were seeing now.H5N1 can be very deadly in poultry, whereas cows usually recover from their symptoms, which include fever, dehydration and abnormal milk production. The variety of animals plagued by H5N1 so far poses a problem in tracing sources of human infection, Lakdawala says.Source Tracing TroublesInvestigations are currently underway to identify the sources of infection for the child in California and the teen in Canada. Neither reported any known recent exposure to sick wild or farm animals or pets. A Canadian health official said in a press conference on November 12 that its a very real possibility investigators will never be able to confirm the source. A sick wild bird may not show any symptoms, for instance, Schultz-Cherry says.Genetic sequencing of emerging strains is offering some clues. Test results of the strain that caused illness in the teen suggests it is similar to the one currently circulating in poultry in Canada. Some scientists flagged a specific mutation in the sequence thats known to be important for altering the viruss receptor preferencepossibly allowing it to bind more readily to human cells. A genetic change associated with viral adaptation to mammals was seen in the analysis of another recent human case in Texas, Lakdawala says. What this means is that the virus is adapting to humans to gain mammalian genetic signatures, she suggests. We need to stop the amount of H5N1 in animal species, particularly in cattle and poultry farms, to reduce the amount of possible exposures and spillovers into humans. This will prevent the virus from taking so many shots on goal to reach an optimal mammalian fitness.Bird flu remains a relatively low risk for most people, but those who work directly with sick dairy cows or poultry are at higher risk. Sustained person-to-person transmission of H5N1 hasnt been observed, but Schultz-Cherry says its important to closely monitor the virus for any genetic changes that would allow it to gain that ability or cause increased disease severity.Understanding Severe InfectionIn previous outbreaks, H5N1 has caused severe disease and occasionally death in people, Schultz-Cherry says. With the exception of the hospitalized teen, weve been very lucky that these events have been [mostly] mild, but it is a bit different than what we had seen historically, and we dont know why. Canadian health officials suggested that the teenagers critical condition may hint that the virus could be more severe in younger age groups. But the ages of the young people with recent casesand most of the human bird flu cases this yearhavent been made public, which further complicates experts ability to understand the risk of severe disease.Lakdawalas team has investigated the role of preexisting immunityprotection developed from past infections such as seasonal fluon H5N1 disease progression. The findings, which are currently under peer review, suggest older people may have more antibody cross-reactivitythe ability of antibodies that are originally primed to seasonal influenza to also respond to H5N1compared with younger individuals. That could be because younger children havent encountered flu infections such as these before, Lakdawala explains. Our immune responses are going to see [a virus] differently based on our prior immunity, she says, but adds, I dont know what this [Canadian] individuals prior immunity was like. Schultz-Cherry and Lakdawala say its too early to draw any conclusions with such limited data and information.There are several tactics people and farmworkers with high risk of exposure in particular can take to lower their risk of infection. Washing hands, disinfecting surfacesincluding milking and farming equipmentand using protective gear can help. People in general should keep themselvesand their petsaway from dead wild birds or animals and avoid consuming raw milk and raw cheeses. Getting a seasonal flu vaccine is also particularly important this year, Schultz-Cherry says. We want to do everything possible to avoid giving [the H5N1 virus] an opportunity to reassort in a person or animal infected with seasonal flu, she says. Could they actually share genetic material and cause a new virus to emerge? I think thats the biggest concern as we move into the human seasonal influenza time.

Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 banning mods in public online sessions due to "non-negligible" server instabilityChanges coming in December.Image credit: Focus Entertainment News by Matt Wales News Reporter Published on Nov. 21, 2024 Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 developer Saber Interactive has announced it's banning mods from public online sessions, blaming them for a "non-negligible" amount of server instability seen by players - even those who don't have mods installed."We've seen incredible community engagement since launch, and we've noticed that some players have started to create and share mods for Space Marine 2," game director Dmitriy Grigorenko wrote in a message to the community shared on Steam. "Mods are great, and they will no doubt contribute to this game's longevity.""However, we as developers must also ensure game stability and continuously work towards a smoother experience for all players," Grigorenko continued. "Our data shows that a non-negligible amount of recent server stability issues are related to mods, and that instability impacts even those users who don't have mods installed. We have also received user reports that their save files were corrupted after playing alongside players with mods."Eurogamer's Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 Review in video form.Watch on YouTubeAs a result of the studio's findings, mods will be prohibited from all public online sessions once Space Marine 2's next major update arrives in December. "You will no longer be able to enter a public game if you have mods installed," Grigorenko emphasised. That doesn't mean the end for Space Marine 2 mods, however. Acknowledging them as "a source of fun and creativity", Grigorenko confirmed players can still use mods online in private Operations lobbies, and they'll also be permitted in custom Eternal War lobbies once launched."We will also be providing an easy entry point to our backend for games with mods installed," Grigorenkoso added, "so modders won't have to spend time hacking the game executable after each patch." Additionally, the studio intends to give modders access to some of its own tools at a later date, "so they can develop mods with greater ease".Space Marine 2's December update also introduces the Dark Angel Chapter Pack, the Tzaangor Enlightened enemy, plus a new PvE map set on Demerium, titled Obelisk. And if that's still not enough Warhammer to fill your December, Games Workshop recently confirmed Amazon's upcoming Secret Level series will include an animated Space Marine 2 sequel.

Assassin's Creed Shadows will overhaul stealth mechanics, but still include insta-kill assassination optionShogone.Image credit: Ubisoft News by Ed Nightingale Deputy News Editor Published on Nov. 21, 2024 Assassin's Creed Shadows is set to overhaul stealth mechanics for both its dual protagonists, but will also include an option to allow insta-kill assassinations on all enemies.That's because stronger enemies can completely deny assassination attempts, as detailed in a new blog post from Ubisoft. Coloured prompts over enemies will indicate either an instant kill, some damage dealt, or a complete assassination denial, though this can all be negated with a specific menu option for insta-kills."When it comes to assassinations, progress and context work in hand," said associate game director Simon Lemay-Comtois. "Invest in perks that increase your assassination damage and test things around: A strong enemy may survive a frontal assassination but may die from a sneaky air assassination."Assassin's Creed Shadows: World TrailerWatch on YouTubeElsewhere, Lemay-Comtois noted stealth gameplay has been "ambitiously overhauled in a few key areas". Most notably, the game lacks a bird companion, unlike the most recent games.Instead, both samurai Yasuke and shinobi Naoe will have a new Observe mechanic to identify targets, tag enemies, and highlight lootable stashes, which Lemay-Comtois promised is core to the game. "When in doubt, take a pause, observe the world around you, and only then should you decide what your next move should be," he said.Naoe, however, will have Eagle Vision in addition to highlight enemies hidden behind walls based on sounds they make.The game also includes a couple of series firsts: hiding in shadows will provide complete invisibility (living up to the game's name), and both characters are able to go prone to reduce visibility.With the former especially, players will be able to destroy lanterns to create pools of darkness for protection. "Naoe is a perfectly capable Shinobi in broad day light," said Lemay-Comtois, "but the cover of darkness gives her a remarkable edge over her enemies - especially on higher difficulty settings."And while prone, Naoe is also able to dodge by rolling in multiple directions. She's also the smallest Assassin to date, allowing her to hide in small spaces.Much of these stealth mechanics appear to give Naoe a significant advantage (she's a shinobi after all), suggesting samurai Yasuke's gameplay will be less stealth-focused overall. However, the blog post notes he can still be stealthy with his bow and is able to blend "stealth with a more direct combat approach". Further details will be provided in a future blog post.Assassin's Creed Shadows was delayed until February 2025, which series boss Marc-Alexis Cot said was necessary to change the "narrative" of Ubisoft's "inconsistency in quality".Last week images leaked appearing to show free battle pass rewards, something not seen before in an Assassin's Creed game."All the rewards available in the Animus Hub will be entirely free, there are no paid subscriptions or paid battle pass featured in the Animus Hub, and players will have access to regular content [and] missions at no extra cost," Ubisoft later confirmed.

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 hereChinese developer Team Jade is hard at work on the early access version of Delta Force, a new free-to-play tactical shooter launching on Steam on December 5, 2024. While the game has been compared to the likes of Black Ops 6 and Battlefield, design director Ricky Liao wants gamers to know that the team isnt attempting to compete with the giants of the industry.In an interview with VideoGamer, Liao explained that the team isnt looking to compete with Call of Duty, Battlefield or any other shooter. Instead, the Tencent-backed project is aiming to craft an entirely unique space in the free-to-play market, first on PC and later on mobile and console.Delta Force isnt competingWhile comparisons will always be drawn between one FPS game and another, Liao explained that the team doesnt see other shooters as competition, especially CoD. Despite loving Call of Duty, the team behind the new free-to-play shooter doesnt want comparisons that dilute whats special about their upcoming game.CoD is one of my favorite franchises, Liao said. We dont see other shooters as our competitors, especially CoD. When you look at the kind of gameplay experiences you see in Delta Force, its actually very different from your typical CoD experience. So, our ultimate goal is to create a game thats fun and fresh that also challenges the players tactical mind.While Delta Force is decidedly more casual than the series original 90s entries, the team has worked hard to make sure it is more tactical in nature. From its gunplay to its wide open maps, the new free-to-play game aims to have a realistic tone than other shooters on the market.We used to play Delta Force when we were kids, so it was a huge privilege and motivation for the entire team to work on a new Delta Force game, Liao said. It was a game that needed to be played with a brain, and not a pure arcade game. When we started working on Delta Force, we established our first rule that its very important the new Delta Force game should be a tactical game, that players need to really play both with their hands and also with their brain.However, Liao explained that bringing the series back did require some changes instead of transplanting decades-old gameplay systems with modern visuals.We also need to be mindful that the last Delta Force game was fifteen years ago, they said. If we fully recreate that kind of experience, the control, the movement, the animation, it wont really be an experience thats suitable for the modern gaming landscape.Despite this, the team is aiming to keep the core identity of the FPS series, bringing back big battlefields and tactical gunplay and a slower pace than, say, Call of Duty. It might not be as hardcore as the series debut games, butFor more on the upcoming free-to-play FPS game, read about the teams thoughts on the FPS game cancer that is the surge of cheating online.The game launches on Steam later this year, but a console version is in the works for Xbox One, Xbox Series, PS4, PS5 and mobile.Subscribe 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 hereOne thing thats missing from Football Manager is being able to watch your team from the touchline. Well, there could be a solution to that, at least for the aging simulator FM 2019. An awesome, overlooked fan-made mod allows you to stand on the touchline and watch your team in action, bringing a Football Manager first-person experience that the official games dont do.Football Manager in first-person?While some games let you experience the view of your players, watching simulated matches from the eyes of, well, a Football Manager. With this mod, you can watch your players engage in the beautiful game while using the mouse, you can swivel your virtual head to the left and right, so make sure you dont miss any of the action.The mod, which we spotted on FM Scout, can be downloaded now, for those who fancy giving it a go, but proceed with some caution. For one, reading the game will be incredibly difficult, so while its certainly a step in the right direction from an immersion perspective, should such a viewpoint arrive in FM 24 or even the massively delayed FM 25, it would certainly need a few tweaks. The Football Manager 2019 first-person mod in action Sign up to Coach - the only dedicated FM newsletter You'll get hints, tips, new challenges and all the latest news as we gear up for the next game.Now, before proceeding, its worth noting that the game is not meant to support this view, so there will be a few bugs and glitches. It does, however, provide a very early look at what could be an incredible addition to Football Manager. While rough and ready, perhaps a hybrid mode allowing players to zoom into this view with a mini-map detailing the hard-to-see action could work?Theres still no concrete release date for FM 25, other than we are expecting the new entry to arrive in March 2025. The game had originally been penned for a Q4 2024 release but was delayed last minute after developer Sports Interactive admitted it wasnt to the level they expected. Those who had pre-ordered the title were given full refunds, but now face months of waiting for the new game to arrive.Football Manager 2019Platform(s):iOS, macOS, Nintendo Switch, PCGenre(s):Simulation, SportsSubscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

California governor Gavin Newsom and his wife, documentary filmmaker Jennifer Siebel Newsom, are the new owners of a $9.1 million Bay Area home, according to Robb Report. The outlet claims that the couple bought the Marin County property from Hyatt Hotels heir Daniel Pritzker, who originally listed the midcentury modern house for $11.5 million in 2023. At the time of Newsoms purchase, the roughly 5,600-square-foot dwelling was priced at $8.5 millionmeaning the governor ended up shelling out about $600,000 over the asking price.Nestled on a nearly one-acre plot about 20 miles north of San Francisco, the six-bedroom and six-bathroom manse boasts views of Mount Tamalpais through oversized windows and glass doors that spill out onto spacious balconies and patios. Verdant lawns, a fire pit, a swimming pool with an inset spa, and numerous spots to lounge or dine alfresco round out the outdoor amenities. A guest house is also located on the premises.The main residence dates back to 1948 and features wood siding, tiered flat roofing, and three levels of living space. An attached garage offers three parking spots. Dark hardwood floors unite the interior spaces, which include a sunken living room outfitted with a fireplace and a wet bar, a well-equipped kitchen with a massive marble-topped island, and a spacious primary suite that has a private balcony, a bespoke walk-in closet, and a serene ensuite bathroomwhich is complete with a soaking tub, a sleek glass-walled shower, and a long double sink vanity. Floor-to-ceiling glass features heavily in the bedrooms, which all face the homes lush backyard.Join NowBecome an AD PRO member for only $25 $20 per monthArrowNewsom sold another Marin County home for $6 million in 2021. The Golden States governor reportedly plans to split his time between Marin Countywhere his four kids go to school, according to Robb Reportand the $3.7 million property that he maintains in the state capital, Sacramento.

For anyone whose floors could use some extra love (or who loathes cleaning), robot vacuums offer a near-perfect solution. In our ongoing search for the best robot vacuum thatll get you one step closer to the smart home of your dreams, the editors and writers at Clever have been testing some of the top picks for robovacs on the market. To take some of the guesswork out of things, weve written up what you need to know about these ten robot vacuums, many of which are ultra-intuitive, easy to use, and chic enough to blend in with any modern home.Shop our top robot vacuum picks:For doing it all: Eufy Omni S1 Pro $1,499 $1,000 at AmazonBest runner-up: Eufy X10 Pro Omni Robot Vacuum, $800 at EufyFor pets: iRobot Roomba i7+, $600 at AmazonOn a Budget: ILIFE V5s Pro 2 Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo, $200 $110 at AmazonRoborock S7 Max Ultra Robot VacuumAmazonTerri WilliamsRoborock S7 Max Ultra Robot VacuumTester: Terri Williams, contributing writerFloor type: I have a mix of hardwood, low-pile carpet, and throw rugs, so its important for a robot vacuum to effectively clean each surface without making a mess. It needs to be intelligent enough to detect the different surfaces and adjust accordingly. And since Im busy, Id prefer that the robot vacuum empties and cleans itself.About the brand: Ive been a fan of Roborock since I first tested the Roborock S5 Robot Vacuum years ago. Since then, Ive consistently been impressed with the companys ultra-intelligent robot products. Roborock makes several robot models, and also makes wet/dry cordless stick vacuums. The Roborock S7 Max Ultra is on our list of the best vacuums for hardwood floors, and I also have a full review of this robot vacuum.Setting up: After placing the robot vacuum on the charging dock and letting it charge, I downloaded the Roborock app and connected it to my phone. Then I created a map of my home and filled the water tank. The robot vacuum cleans by zonesfirst around the edges, and then in a zigzag pattern.My experience: I continue to be impressed with Roborocks performance. The S7 Max Ultra can automatically detect carpets and will increase suction power. I can also select the deep carpet cleaning mode if I feel that its needed. The robot vacuums suction power is 5,5000Pa2, and the rubberized floating brush helps to scoop up dust from any floor type. It is also smart enough to lift the mopping module when traveling across carpeted areas (for example, when leaving the kitchen and going down the carpeted hallway to the bathroom). In addition, the VibraRise mopping system uses sonic mopping and scrubs floors up to 3,000 times per minute, certainly enough cleaning power to remove any spills and messes.Since the robot vacuum uses a laser to create a map of each room, the obstacle-avoidance feature helps it navigate around the objects (like my air purifiers) that I dont want to move. The battery lasts 180 minutes before it needs to be recharged, and the water tank is generous, so the robot vacuum never needs to stop in the middle of a cleaning session to recharge or refill with water. Though if it did, the robot can go to the docking station, which will automatically refill the tank and empty the dust (and store the dust for up to 60 days). Another convenient feature is the ability to control the vacuum from my phone or use voice control (Alexa, Siri, Google Home) to issue commands. My favorite feature is the hands-off maintenancethe vac is self-emptying, self-cleaning, self-washing, and self-drying.The bottom line: The Roborock S7 Max Ultra is pricey, but it takes cleaning to another level. The long battery life and large water tank, combined with self-emptying and self-refilling, are super convenient. And the fact that it can clean, wash, and dry itself helps to justify the price point.Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni Robot VacuumEcovacs Deebot X2 Omni Robot VacuumTester: Terri Williams, contributing writerFloor type: Hardwood floors and carpet with stairsAbout the brand: The Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni Robot Vacuum is on our list of the best vacuums for hardwood floors. Ecovacs makes well over a dozen different Deebot models with varying features and functions. Some only vacuum, while others vacuum and mop, and some include docks. Some of the robot vacuums are budget-priced, starting at only $100, while others are over $1,000. The Deebot X2 Omni is currently the most expensive of the Ecovac Deebots, but its also the most feature-packed, high-end model.Most PopularArchitecture + DesignThe 11 Most Beautiful Palaces Around the WorldBy Maya Chawla MagazineAt Dia Beacon, a New Landscape FormsBy Sam CochranArchitecture + DesignStep Inside a Lavish Upper East Side Home Reimagined With Bold MovesBy Jessica RitzSetting up: The setup process is easy. After scanning the QR code on the robot, I downloaded and installed the Ecovacs Home app. I then opened the app and added the robot by scanning the QR code. Then I opened the doors to the rooms I wanted to map and removed any obstacles on the floor. I turned on all of the lights to ensure adequate lighting, as recommended by Ecovacs. The app will provide notifications when the water is running low in the clean water tank and when the dirty water tank is full.My experience: The Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni Robot Vacuum has several features that I particularly like. Unlike the vast majority of vacuums that have a round body, the Deebot X2 has a square shapequite helpful for thoroughly cleaning in corners.Although its one of Deebots slimmest and narrowest models, this robot vacuum also has one of the widest brushes and one of the highest auto-mop lifting heights. With 8000Pa suction and an extra-long rubber brush, the X2 Omni has plenty of cleaning power. In addition, the vacuum robot uses a rotating mop system and mopping pads that have a three-layer design to remove dirt and spills from hard floors, making this one of the best robot mops.Using a dual-laser LiDAR navigation system, the vacuum can avoid obstacles and wont tumble down my stairs. The camera on the robot vacuum can also be used as a security camera to remotely see whats happening (helpful if you have pets). The 210-minute run time is one of the longest for robot vacuums, making it a good choice for large homes, and the mop lifting feature does a good job of keeping the mop off of carpet.The bottom line: The Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni provides a thorough cleaning through the use of strong suction, intense mopping, and a square design that fits into corners. The long battery life and bonus security camera are other functions that make this feature-rich robot vacuum a great (albeit, expensive) choice.Eufy Omni S1 Pro Robot VacuumEufyTerri WilliamsEufy Robot Vacuum Omni S1 ProTester: Terri Williams, contributing writerFloor type: I have hard floors, carpet, and rugs. When its time to clean my hard floors, I appreciate robot vacuums that can thoroughly clean without any assistance from me.Most PopularArchitecture + DesignThe 11 Most Beautiful Palaces Around the WorldBy Maya Chawla MagazineAt Dia Beacon, a New Landscape FormsBy Sam CochranArchitecture + DesignStep Inside a Lavish Upper East Side Home Reimagined With Bold MovesBy Jessica RitzAbout the brand: Eufy makes a variety of cool products spanning various categoriesincluding a few more on this list. From smart scales to security cameras, video doorbells, and smart locks, the company is always on the cutting edge of technology.The Eufy X10 Pro Omni Robot Vacuum is one of my tried and true favorites. However, the futuristic Eufy Robot Vacuum Omni S1 Pro is sleeker and more impressivealthough its also much more expensive.Setting up: Honestly, I couldnt wait to unbox and set up the Eufy X10 Pro Omni Robot Vacuum because its loaded with so many features. I installed the brushes, set up the dock, and installed the hard floor cleaner. After downloading the Eufy Clean app, I created a customized cleaning schedule and detailed maps for multiple levels. The robot vacuum is also compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. From my phone, I can adjust suction power, water levels, and decide if I want to clean a specific area more than once. While I can also create no-go zones, the Omni S1 Pro is smart enough to maneuver around objects on its own.My experience: I was eager to see how this robot vacuum cleaner differed from the Eufy X10 Pro Omni, and it didnt take long to find out. Both have 8,000 Pa suction, and a mop that stays clean because it refreshes itself while cleaning the floor. Both have a raised mop that lifts itself up when over carpet, and both auto-empty, auto-wash, auto-dry, and auto-detangle.However, the obstacle avoidance technology included in the X10 Pro Omni has a 3D MatrixEye. Using active binocular infrared imaging technology, and a RGB camera, the robot vacuum can create 3D models in real time to identify obstacleseven in the dark.Edge to edge cleaning provided a thorough dust and dirt removal process, and there were no tangles thanks to the detangling brush, which eliminated the need to stop and remove trapped hair. The vacuum cleaner has powerful suction, and the mop cleans without sloshing and smearing water on the floor. Also, dual water tanks ensure the robot vacuum is not recirculating dirty water on my hard floors.The run time was particularly impressive: 3.6 hours, so it could cover almost 2,000 square feet without recharging. Also, the child safety lock is a feature that parents (and pet parents) will enjoy.Most PopularArchitecture + DesignThe 11 Most Beautiful Palaces Around the WorldBy Maya Chawla MagazineAt Dia Beacon, a New Landscape FormsBy Sam CochranArchitecture + DesignStep Inside a Lavish Upper East Side Home Reimagined With Bold MovesBy Jessica RitzThe lack of hands-on cleaning is one of my favorite features. After auto-emptying, the dust bag can hold up to 68 days worth of dust sealed in the dock. The auto washing function uses ozonated water and hard floor cleaner to thoroughly clean the rolling mop, so my floors arent just being cleaned, theyre being sterilized. Keep in mind that Eufy does not recommend using other types of cleaning solutions, since they can damage the machines components.When the mop is cleaned on the dock, it also self-dries by heating up to 131 degrees Fahrenheit so it remains fresh and clean.The bottom line: Its quite expensive, but if you have the budget, the Eufy Omni S1 Pro Robot Vacuum is one of the best robot vacuums you can buy. It has a plethora of features and functions that can make your life and your floor care process much easier.Dyson 360 Vis Nav Robot VacuumDysonTerri WilliamsDyson 360 Vis Nav Robot VacuumTester: Terri Williams, contributing writerFloor type: As mentioned, for my homes combination of hardwood floors, low-pile carpet, and throw rugs, suction power is an important feature. And the primary reason Im using a robot vacuum is so it can reach places I cant. So I like vacuums that can clean right up to the edge of my baseboards and pick up dust hiding in corners.About the brand: Im pretty sure Dyson has a place on every best vacuum article weve produced. For example, both the Dyson V15 Detect Submarine and the Dyson Gen 5 Outsize are on my list of the best vacuums for hardwood floors, and Dyson is also on my list of the best cordless stick vacuums. I consider Dyson to be one of the very best vacuum brands. And the Dyson 360 Vis Nav is the companys first robot vacuum. I was eager to see if it would perform as well as Dysons other vacuum products.Setting up: Dyson is known for colorful vacuum cleaners and the Dyson 350 Vis Nav is no exception. Theres no mistaking this bluish-purple vacuum with red LCD touchscreen on the top for another product. The first step to setting it up was to download the MyDyson app, set up the dock, and then place the robot on the dock so it could charge.Most PopularArchitecture + DesignThe 11 Most Beautiful Palaces Around the WorldBy Maya Chawla MagazineAt Dia Beacon, a New Landscape FormsBy Sam CochranArchitecture + DesignStep Inside a Lavish Upper East Side Home Reimagined With Bold MovesBy Jessica RitzMy experience: Since Dyson is usually on the cutting edge of technology, honestly, I was surprised that the Dyson 360 Vis Nav didnt have a self-emptying, self-cleaning dock. It also doesnt have a mopping function. Admittedly, the advantage of a regular robot vacuum is that it doesnt take up much space, which is a problem I have with the bigger, bulkier robot vacuums that have all of the bells and whistles.Once I got past the lack of these features, I was pleasantly surprised to see that the robot vacuum includes all of the other functions youd expect on a high-end offering. For example, I can control the robot from either the LCD touchscreen on the dock or from the MyDyson app on my phone. Smart voice control is another option.The robot creates a map of my home with the app, and from my phone I can create cleaning zones, and also see where the robot has already cleaned. For more than one level, maps can be created for each story of the home. I can also create specific zones to clean (or to avoid cleaning). In addition, I can determine which areas the robot vacuum should clean with the brush bar off to avoid damage.The vacuum returns to the dock when the battery is low, and after charging, continues cleaning. The run time can get up to 65 minutes, but keep in mind that in boost mode, the battery runs out sooner. There are four modes: auto (the one I typically use), quick, quiet, and boost.Powerful suction is apparently one of Dysons core values, and I was impressed (but not surprised) that this little robot vacuum didnt leave anything on the floor. The brush bars provide edge cleaning, and thats another feature that allowed it to pick up dirt and debris along the baseboards.Disposing the debris is a simple process of pressing the removal latch, lifting the bin out, and then carrying it to the trash can. Fortunately, the release button is on the top and the trash comes out from the bottom, so my hand never touches anything. To be on the safe side, I empty the debris into a large zip lock bag inside of the trash can and then seal it.Most PopularArchitecture + DesignThe 11 Most Beautiful Palaces Around the WorldBy Maya Chawla MagazineAt Dia Beacon, a New Landscape FormsBy Sam CochranArchitecture + DesignStep Inside a Lavish Upper East Side Home Reimagined With Bold MovesBy Jessica RitzThe bottom line: I love Dysons 360 Vis Navbut I didnt have to purchase it. For the price, there are more economical choices that can also clean well. At this price point, mopping capabilities, as well as self-cleaning, and self-emptying features should be included. However, if youre not looking for a budget robot vacuum cleaner or a mopping robot, and you want the Dyson experience, youll enjoy this robot vac.Eufy X10 Pro Omni Robot VacuumEufy X10 Pro Omni Robot VacuumTester: Terri Williams, contributing writerFloor type: Hardwood floors and carpet with stairsAbout the brand: Recently debuting at the 2024 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the Eufy X10 Pro Omni Robot is the latest offering from the company. An older Eufy model, the X8 Pro, is on our list of the best vacuums for hardwood floors, and I did a single product review on the Eufy Mach V1 Ultra Stick Vacuum With Steam Mop, so Im well acquainted with Eufys high-end vacuum offerings.Setting up: The setup process was easy. After plugging in the Omni station and recharging the robot vacuum, I filled the water tank. Next I downloaded the app and set up no-go zones and no-mop zones. (Note: Make sure to position the Omni station in a place that has a strong Wi-Fi signal.) Theres also an option to schedule a cleaning mode and select a suction power level on my phone. However, the robot vacuum can also be controlled with Alexa or Google Assistant.My experience: The Eufy X10 Pro Omni provides a thorough clean. The robot vacuum has 8,000Pa suction and a multidirectional floating roller brush with rubber and bristles, which does an excellent job of removing dust and debris from carpets. When mopping, the MopMaster 2.0 has dual mopping pads and 180 rotations per minute to gently scrub hard floors.Using the same obstacle-avoidance algorithm as the self-driving car industry, the Eufy X10 Pro Omni also detects and avoids my house shoes and other items on the floor. Since it does such a good job of working in the background, I usually dont notice it. Therefore, the voice reminders like low battery, heading home, and start scheduled cleaning, are helpful in keeping me abreast of the machines activities. If the battery gets low, it will recharge and then pick up cleaning in the same spot where it left off.Most PopularArchitecture + DesignThe 11 Most Beautiful Palaces Around the WorldBy Maya Chawla MagazineAt Dia Beacon, a New Landscape FormsBy Sam CochranArchitecture + DesignStep Ins

Behind the Scenes: Discoveries By Alina Khan on November 21, 2024 Behind the Scenes Dive into the sci-fi world of Alexander, an Austria-based concept artist, as he illustrates his work with special texturing techniques.INTRODUCTIONHello, my name is Alexander. I am 35 years old and based in Vienna, Austria. I picked up Blender and various illustration software such as Photoshop about two years ago. So, due to my actual professional background in the health sector, I did not have any training or education in the 3D industry. Having the opportunity to introduce myself and show the creative process behind my renders is a great honor for me.But enough about me now, let's dive into the project! Thank you in advance for reading through my process.Enjoy!INSPIRATIONThis image was the result and my entry for the monthly Blender competition on their Discord channel. The theme was Machinery. By now, I have a structured workflow that I follow every time I start a new 3D project. The first step, like the headline already says, is finding inspiration. A really good habit to develop is to browse art pages and media sites on a daily basis. By doing that, you will expand your visual library, which makes the process of creating a basic layout/composition later on in Blender much easier. So, places like Artstation, Reddit and Discord servers are a great way to start.Personally, when I read the theme, I immediately thought about some sort of sci-fi-like environment. So, with a basic idea in mind, I started to collect some references, most of which were actually screenshots of two games I played very recently: Dead Space Remake and The Callisto Protocol. Games in general are a very good source for getting some inspiration as well as references since the environments are already there for you to observe! So, take advantage of that!After gathering a bunch of screenshots and references from the web, I put them into PureRef. Its a godly piece of (free!) software that lets you build a moodboard for your projectshighly recommend it. So now, it was time to open up Blender and start blocking out my first ideas!PROCESSHardware Specs: Nvidia Geforce RTX 4080 Intel i5 13600K 32 GB DDR5 RAM @ 4800 MHz Software and main Addons used: Blender 4.1 Plasticity Photoshop Random flow addon Box Cutter / Hard ops addon Mesh Machine addon Botaniq addon Fluent Materializer addon Creating a composition:Before hopping into modeling assets and texturing them, the first thing I usually do is get an idea of my composition by blocking it out roughly and setting up my camera. In this render, I knew I wanted to create a big environment so it was clear to me that my camera will have to be tilted upwards with a low focal length (I go for around 23 mm for large shots). I usually display the thirds in my camera view to get an idea where busy spots and focuses should be as well as spots where the viewers eye can rest.This process is very important in my opinion, because focusing on too many things at once (composition, lighting, modeling, etc) can be overwhelming. Also, with a basic layout of the scene, its much easier to place your real assets later on. By doing this, you can already get a sense for the scale of the environment and for the assets themselves. So, a good thing to do is to always implement some human-size reference cubes in the scene, as seen in the blockout screenshot. I always model my assets to human scale, because faking size can be very distracting for the viewer in the end result. For example, just scaling a railing up will look not natural."Basic layout/composition of the scene"After the blockout phase is done, I move on to the basic lighting setup. Here, I try to find cool angles and shadows which will make a nice atmospheric lighting, combined with volumetrics. I usually go with 1 strong light source in my renders (for indoor scenes, of course its different). With volumetrics in your scene, you can also create a really good feel for distance and how big everything appears to be. The settings of volumetrics have to be quite low though, otherwise it can go south really quickly. I also tend to place the volumetric cubes a little bit in front or further away from the camera as it affects the image overall, when the camera is also inside the volumetric cube."Initial lighting setup, changed later in the process"Modeling the assetsWhen it comes to modeling, I basically have three techniques that I use. Most of the time, I start with primitives and try to implement interesting shapes by cutting parts away, mirroring, adding parts and so on. A very good tool for that is Boxcutter/HardOps which makes Booleans very easy to use, and the Twist 360 modifier is an absolute time saver, giving really nice results.For the main ground asset, I chose a machine called Hydroponic. I picked up the idea from the video game The Callisto Protocol and really liked the design of it so I made my own version."Face mode of the Asset"As mentioned before, my modeling mainly consists of simple shapes where I cut or add certain things to get the look I want. The mesh is not necessarily a clean quad topology but when you do still images and do not have to morph the mesh in any way, it will render out completely fine.The second method is done with HardOps and its amazing feature, Twist 360. It allows you to create really interesting shapes and forms within a few clicks. While the base mesh is editable, you create more and more different assets of a very simple base structure, for example, this walkway.Taking it from thisTwist 360to this, in a few clicks! Amazing, right? Twist 360and even more interesting shapes and forms!So, this somewhat unorthodox modeling method allows you to come up with lots of cool models in a few minutes, which you can then use to greeble up your main assets or big structures, to create a massive amount of detail on the one hand, and on the other to show the scale of your large objects even more!The last method is making use of an addon called Random Flow, also highly recommended. With this addon, you can greatly increase the big, medium, and small elements on your base mesh. In this example, I used it to create a very detailed structure that ended up being the big thing in the final image."Selecting the faces you want to be affected by the addon"After selecting the faces of the base mesh you want to alter, you can start working with random flow.As you can see, my initial base mesh was pretty simple (some cubes, cylinders, extrusions, and bevels on the edges). After applying the addon, the mesh is detailed with larger junks and smaller parts as well.TexturingWhen it comes to texturing my objects, I have three methods. They are procedurally generated; I use photo textures from textures.com most of the time, or Quixel Mixer for grounds.With procedurally generated materials in Blender, there is an amazing addon called Fluent-Materializer. I use it a lot when it comes to rusty, grungy sci-fi objects, and it gets the job done perfectly. Setting up the node system can be a bit tricky at first, but with a little practice, its smooth as butter. You will achieve a very detailed, realistic look that can be shown on any hero asset, and it will look very nice!"Hydroponic, textured with Fluent Materializer"and the results speak for themselves!"Bridge asset, textured with Fluent Materializer""Main structure textured with Fluent Materializer"The second method I constantly use is using photo textures and projecting them onto the mesh. This is very advantageous because your model does not have to have every detail modeled in or dozens of decals. Instead, the juice comes from a 4K, sometimes even 8K texture (when very close to the camera). The node setup compared to Fluent Materializer is very easy and simple."A wall asset from a different Project, textured with photo textures"The model itself is just a cube, with some unevenness modeled in to make it look more organic and believable.The third method I use is mostly for the floor/ground only. Quixel has a piece of software called Quixel Mixer. Basically, it allows you to mash up lots of different textures from their Quixel Megascans library. You can then adjust everything to your needs (be it displacement, roughness, metallic, etc.) and even add puddles of water. After importing into Blender, you can work with the displacement modifier to apply the displacement onto your mesh (subdivide your planes a bunch of times). The only downside of this method is that its very heavy in GPU load due to the displacement. So, I usually end up making one or two and alt+d ing them around the scene. Also, you should decimate the plane after applying the sub d and displacement. Another cool trick is to make the albedo, roughness, and normal smaller beforehand. There is an awesome free software called Infranview that gets the job done perfectly. You can reduce the size from 100 mb to around 6 mb within a few clicks. Just save it as a .JPG instead of the heavy .PNG files. The only thing I do not make smaller is the displacement map itself, cause thats where the juice is."Quixel ground asset"From Quixel Mixer"Imported ground asset into Blender"into the project, it looks fire!After I was finished with modeling and texturing, I went back to the blockout and started to arrange my assets in the scene. I usually end up showing a few compositional guidelines in my camera view, such as the thirds and the golden ratio, to get a rough overview on how to and where to place my objects. There are a few little tricks you can do to lead the viewers eye where you want it to go: Rule of thirds (place your main objects into that area) Do not split the image in half (rather, pick a side). Have strong leading lines to guide the eye. Cluster detail Include scale references or shapes in your image that the human eye can easily relate to. Have breathing room (e.g., empty space in your scene) to give the eye a little rest. Lighting sources should be placed not randomly but with a specific purpose (to show something important or to lead the viewers eye towards something). Use volumetrics (either in Blender itself or render out the mist pass alongside for further processing in Photoshop or any other software), but use volumetrics carefully as it washes out your textures when you overdo it. After rendering it out in Blender, I took it to Photoshop for color grading, lighting adjustments, and adding dust and some particles floating in the air. A really neat way to get rid of the 3D-ness is to overpaint the image. I usually go with the mixer-brush tool in Photoshop, and it gets the job done perfectly. Paint over the sharp edges to soften up your image and give it that slight painterly lookit will make a considerable difference!Below youll see the final image and a clay render alongside it.RENDER: Discoveries"Final image after post-processing""Clay render of the final arrangement"Thank you so much for letting me have this opportunity to guide you through my process of creating my 3D art. I hope you enjoyed the small voyage.Cheers, Alexander!About the Artist Alexander is a 35-year-old radiographer and hobby concept artist based in Vienna, Austria.Links

Txa_ant offers a wide range of options including landscape type presets, setting strata (layers) and it comes with a material library to use. ChuckCG explains how to use it.Source