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. These AI Minecraft characters did weirdly human stuff all on their own Left to their own devices, an army of AI characters didnt just survive they thrived. They developed in-game jobs, shared memes, voted on tax reforms and even spread a religion. The experiment played out on the open-world gaming platform Minecraft, where up to 1000 software agents at a time used large language models to interact with one another. Given just a nudge through text prompting, they developed a remarkable range of personality traits, preferences and specialist roles, with no further inputs from their human creators. The work, from AI startup Altera, is part of a broader field that wants to use simulated agents to model how human groups would react to new economic policies or other interventions. And its creators see it as an early step towards large-scale AI civilizations that can coexist and work alongside us in digital spaces. Read the full story.Niall Firth To learn more about the intersection of AI and gaming, why not check out: + How generative AI could reinvent what it means to play. AI-powered NPCs that dont need a script could make gamesand other worldsdeeply immersive. Read the full story. + What impact will AI have on video game development? It could make working conditions more bearableor it could just put people out of work. Read the full story.+ What happened when MIT Technology Reviews staff turned our colleague Niall into an AI-powered nonplayer characterand why he hated his digital incarnation so much. MIT Technology Review Narrated: The great commercial takeover of low Earth orbit Did you know that NASA intends to destroy the International Space Station by around 2030? Once it's gone, private companies will likely swoop in with their own replacements. Get ready for the great commercial takeover of low Earth orbit. This is our latest story to be turned into a MIT Technology Review Narrated podcast, whichwere publishing each week on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Just navigate to MIT Technology Review Narrated on either platform, and follow us to get all our new content as its released. The must-reads Ive combed the internet to find you todays most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology. 1 OpenAI has suspended access to its Sora video tool After a group of artists leaked access to it in protest. (TechCrunch)+ OpenAI responded to say they were under no obligation to use its tool. (WP $)+ Four ways to protect your art from AI. (MIT Technology Review)2 A researcher created a database of one million public Bluesky posts Even though Bluesky itself doesnt use AI trained on its user content. (404 Media)+ A new public database lists all the ways AI could go wrong. (MIT Technology Review)3 China is on a Silicon Valley hiring offensive Chinese firms are prepared to triple engineers salaries to lure them in. (WSJ $) 4 What happens when autonomous weapons make life-or-death decisionsThe notion of algorithms making decisions over who lives or dies is chilling. (Undark Magazine) + Inside the messy ethics of making war with machines. (MIT Technology Review)5 How Elon Musk is trying to make xAI a bona fide OpenAI competitor It's up against some pretty stiff competition. (WSJ $)+ The firm is likely to double its current valuation to the tune of $50 billion. (FT $)+ How OpenAI stress-tests its large language models. (MIT Technology Review)6 These treatments can bring patients back from the brink of deathSo when should they be deployedand who should get them? (New Scientist $) + Inside the billion-dollar meeting for the mega-rich who want to live forever. (MIT Technology Review)7 How this gigantic laser achieved a nuclear fusion milestoneThe team behind it already has a new goal in its sights, too. (Nature) + When the race for fusion ground to a halt. (MIT Technology Review)8 These two influencers are locked in a legal battleBut can you really legally protect an aesthetic thats everywhere? (The Verge) 9 LinkedIns viral posts are mostly written by AI That explains a lot. (Wired $)10 This lollipop device allows you to taste nine virtual flavors Willy Wonka eat your heart out. (Ars Technica) Quote of the day We are not your free bug testers, PR puppets, training data, validation tokens. A group of artists decry OpenAIs treatment of creators in an open letter accompanying a leaked version of the company Sora generative AI video tool, Variety reports. The big story Why we can no longer afford to ignore the case for climate adaptation August 2022 Back in the 1990s, anyone suggesting that wed need to adapt to climate change while also cutting emissions was met with suspicion. Most climate change researchers felt adaptation studies would distract from the vital work of keeping pollution out of the atmosphere to begin with. Despite this hostile environment, a handful of experts were already sowing the seeds for a new field of research called climate change adaptation: study and policy on how the world could prepare for and adapt to the new disasters and dangers brought forth on a warming planet. Today, their research is more important than ever. Read the full story. Madeline Ostrander 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.) + Japanese leaf art is truly an impressive feat (thanks Stephen!)+ Can our Los Angeles readers let me know if this Cyberpunk exhibition at the Academy Museum is as amazing as it looks?+ The years best music books serve as great Christmas present inspiration.+ If you hate how Sam Altman takes notes, heres how to do it the right way.

Submitted by WA ContentsA new art hub in Riyadh evokes "an agricultural depression amid the desert" with massive wallsSaudi Arabia Architecture News - Nov 27, 2024 - 13:58 html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"Rome-based architecture practice Schiattarella Associati has designed a new art hub that evokes "an agricultural depression amid the desert" with massive walls in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.Named Diriyah Art Futures, the building represents the first museum in the Gulf designed exclusively for digital art.Image Antoine HorenbeekOn November 25th, the Diriyah Art Futures in Riyadh, the museum has opened a major exhibition "Art Must Be Artificial: Perspectives of AI in the Visual Arts", curated by Jerome Neutres and featuring guests from around the world.The structure was designed by Italian architects Schiattarella Associati and is the first public undertaking under Saudi Vision 2030, the bold strategy that will direct Saudi Arabia's social, cultural, and economic changes over the next several years. Image Hassan A. AlshattiLocated north of Riyadh, close to the UNESCO site of At-Turaif, the ancient capital of the Najd desert region and one of the most significant historic and archaeological sites on the Arabian Peninsula, this modern building is situated along the edge of the desert.Under the direction of Haytham Nawar, the project was commissioned and curated by the Saudi Ministry of Culture. The 12,000-square-metre building includes studios, exhibition areas, research labs, artist residences, an auditorium, and a training center for new media and digital languages.Image Hassan A. AlshattiA future-oriented challenge, contemporary architecture that dialogues with Najd heritage and tradition"We wanted the architecture to feel as though it emerged from the earth," said the architects."This is our approach to design: harnessing natural values to create a contemporary language that resonates deeply with the location," the studio added.Image Hassan A. AlshattiThe project is made up of a sequence of slender, discrete volumes that stretch horizontally along the Wadi Hanifa ridge, an agricultural depression in the middle of the desert plateau, rather than a single, small structure.They follow the traditional Najd architecture typical of the region a "tailoring" work with specific goals and alternate with narrow, deep passages that create shaded and cool zones. Their purpose is to reconnect the urban and agricultural parts of the wadi, reestablishing the balance between construction and nature.Image Hassan A. Alshatti"This is a boundary structure," said Amedeo Schiattarella, "On one side lies the old historic center with its narrow streets and small buildings, and on the other the agricultural zone with gardens, fields, and wells. Between the two, city walls once served as both division and connection.""Through these gates, water, crops, and building materials would enter the city. Weve recreated this passageway concept, where everything connects while clearly marking boundaries.""Global internationalization has led to a flattening of cultural diversity, with progressive standardization of urban landscapes and a loss of architectural 'biodiversity," added Amedeo, Andrea, and Paola Schiattarella."The true challenge today is to start from the value of diversities, working on distinctive characteristics and the specific traits of each place."Image Mohamed SomjiResearch, innovation, and natural-based solutionsUsing site-specific conditions, materials, and knowledge, the architecture of the project is waste-free and was created, in keeping with desert tradition, to address as many needs as possible through form and spatial distribution."Its a contemporary project that meets the challenge of creating a new human dimension in a historically layered land. Najds tradition, desert architecture, is based on using construction materials directly from the site: stone, raw earth, and mud plaster. The result is a strong material continuity between soil and structure," said Amedeo, Andrea, and Paola Schiattarella.Image Mohamed SomjiAncient settlements' tiny squares and winding streets are echoed by the gaps between the building's volumes. Condensed, shaded spaces with wind flow were intended to lower temperatures and protect pedestrians from the sun and heat. In order to achieve this, ventilation channels were made that faced the wadi, which is the more humid area.The complex was constructed to maximize solar exposure, ensure energy efficiency with geothermal cooling, and collect and reuse rainwater, all while keeping the most recent sustainability principles in mind.Image Mohamed SomjiThe interior designPaola Schiattarella's interior design incorporates indigenous materials like Riyadh stone, which is solidified sand that retains the resonance of the desert in the sun, and mud plaster. The Cafe features a contemporary musharabiya, reminiscent of stone walls sculpted by the wind. "A second skin that lets in light, creating inner shadow play, allowing one to see without being seen," the architects added.Digital art labs and studios are located in the building's underground core, which is shielded from heat and sunlight. Here, the materials become more modern: cement, steel, and glass are combined with wood, which is uncommon in Saudi interior design.Image Mohamed SomjiA sizable open area in the middle of this subterranean space is used as a meeting place for artists, and natural light is directed in through a huge "bell" that lets light in deeply.Image Guido Petruccioli"Our architecture centers on nature, humanity, and cultural values that are never identical to themselves. There is always uniqueness, unrepeatability, and randomness. At the same time, architecture must engage with geometry," said the studio."Our trade is to harmonize the consistent rigor of logical-mathematical structure with chance and the accidental. As in Diriyah Art Futures, our work always uses geometry to dynamically organize complexity, embracing contradiction as a life-giving element of architecture," the studio added.Image Guido PetruccioliImage Guido PetruccioliImage Hassan A AlshattiImage Hassan A AlshattiImage Mohamed SomjiProject factsProject name: Diriyah Art FuturesArchitects:Schiattarella AssociatiProperty:Ministry of Culture Client:Diriyah Gate Development Authority, RoyalLocation: Diriyah (Riyadh), KSA Completion Year:2024 Area:12,000m2Developer:Diriyah Company Construction:MARCO PMC:Arcadis, Ellisdon Construction Management:Schiattarella Associati + Saud Consult Art Direction:Schiattarella Associati Fire Safety: SAGR Commission:for Riyadh City Structural Project:Proge77 Systems Design:Euroengineering, Drisaldi Associati, TekserAcoustic Specialist:P2ADESIGN Educational Content:Le Fresnoy - National Studio of Contemporary Arts Cultural Consultant:Cultural Innovation Graphics and Wayfinding:SabirTop image in the article Mohamed Somji.> via Schiattarella Associati

Submitted by WA ContentsPopulous unveils design for "the largest-capacity stadium" in Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia Architecture News - Nov 27, 2024 - 13:03 html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"Global architectural design firm Populous has revealed designs for a stadium and master plan that will become the largest-capacity stadium and one of the world's largest sports venues in Saudi Arabia.Called King Salman Stadium and Masterplan, the stadium's master plan will incorporate a range of sports facilities, business districts, and recreational amenities. It is situated on King Salman Road in northern Riyadh, next to King Abdulaziz Park.When finished in late 2029, the stadium will house major national and international sporting and entertainment events in addition to being the main headquarters for the Saudi Arabian national football team.The King Salman Stadium will also be one of the primary venues for the 2034 FIFA World Cup, hosted by Saudia Arabia.Saudi Arabia's dedication to fostering and expanding sports participation throughout the nation, from the grassroots to the elite level, is symbolized by the sowing of these "seeds."With features like a Royal Box, hospitality skyboxes and lounges, 300 VVIP seats, and 2,200 VIP seats, the main stadium will accommodate more than 92,000 people in total. Internal screens, gardens, and a rooftop walking path with expansive views of King Abdulaziz Park will all be features of the venue.The broader masterplan development will include a variety of facilities, such as commercial buildings, football training fields, fan areas, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, an athletics stadium, and an aquatics center.The development will also have a community sports park and indoor sports hall where people can play sports like padel, basketball, and volleyball. King Abdulaziz Park will be connected to these facilities by a 9-kilometer sports track."Populous has brought the full weight of its 40 years of global expertise in stadium design to bear on this ambitious project for a new world-class national stadium in Saudi Arabia," said Mark Craine, Senior Principal at Populous and Lead Architect."It has been designed in full compliance with FIFA standards, meaning that it can host matches at the highest level of international tournament football, while offering the flexibility to accommodate a variety of event types.""The stadium will integrate seamlessly with the wider masterplan blending architecture with landscape, and landscape with architecture to create a new sporting hub for Riyadh," Craine added.In order to create an iconic location for national and international events, the King Salman Stadium Masterplan integrates architectural innovation with community-centric design, embodying a comprehensive vision.The stadium, which serves as a lively and dynamic destination for the community, athletes, and sports fans alike, is at the center of the master plan. It serves as Riyadh's premier sports venue as well as a vibrant meeting place. Flexibility is given top priority in the design, enabling smooth transitions between event scenarios and everyday use and guaranteeing that the masterplan is a year-round destination.The athletics stadium, which forms the foundation of its elite sports offering, is part of the masterplan in addition to the main stadium. It is accompanied by a training camp and related training fields. In order to promote involvement and encourage grassroots involvement, a community sports park is also included. Additional facilities like multipurpose sports halls and an aquatics center are also part of the plan.The stadium and King Abdulaziz Park are seamlessly integrated by the masterplan design, which reflects sustainable building techniques and a careful, integrated approach to urban planning. A connecting valley connects the stadium's green walls and roofs to the surrounding green areas.In order to create an intimate atmosphere and the greatest possible spectator experience, King Salman Stadium's seating bowl has been designed to be as small as possible. It is made to meet the most recent standards for international football. For pitch sports, the design allows for a gross capacity of over 92,000 seats. It is also possible to accommodate other kinds of entertainment events.With extra hospitality seating in the east stand, the seating bowl has been set up to hold Royals, VVIP, VIP, and hospitality spectators in the west stand. In addition, the entire bowl is surrounded by an uninterrupted circle of hospitality skyboxes.The upper and lower tiers above and below the bowl's hospitality seating are reserved for general admission spectators. The concourse areas make it easier for a lot of people to move around and give everyone a welcoming, barrier-free experience.A number of important stadiums created by Populous are prepared to display Saudi Arabia's athletic prowess as the nation prepares to host a number of significant international events. These consist of Aramco Stadium, King Fahad International Stadium, and Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium.These stadiums collectively serve as the foundation of the Saudi Arabian sports scene, offering top-notch amenities and infrastructure to accommodate a variety of athletic events.Populouswill designa new multi-use event arenain Munich, Germany, the new 20,000-capacity arena has been given the go-ahead by the City Council. In addition, the firm revealed design for itsnew stadiumfor Mexico's Liga MX football club Tigres UANL.All renderings Populous.> viaPopulous

Market slowdown has led to reduction in supply and stock levels, industry group warnsA rapid increase in demand for construction projects would be difficult for the existing materials market to supply, according to the Construction Leadership Council.The organisations material supply chain group said the slowdown in demand over the past two years had led to a reduction in supply and stock levels.While this has been more than adequate for current conditions, a rapid surge in demand in the coming year may result in supply issues, said group co-chairs John Newcomb and Peter Caplehorn in a statement.Source: ShutterstockA building boom could see suppliers struggle to fill orders for materials, the CLC has warnedThe pair, who are chief executives of the Builders Merchants Federation and Construction Products Association respectively, said the second half of this year had seen more investment, leading to a stronger pipeline of new orders.They also pointed out that, while new housing remained flat, the government was working on plans to stimulate the market, with a goal of building 1.5 million homes in this parliament, an average of 300,000 homes a year.Brick capacity in the UK is around two billion currently, which is half what it was in the 1970s when the UK last built that volume of homes.Added to this, much of the structural timber used in the UK is imported from Europe, they said.While the UK has stock on the ground at the moment, log prices have increased in Sweden and suppliers are able to manage supplies to achieve the price they want.If the UK wants to expand the use of timber construction, we will have to compete for its supply within a global market.Caplehorn and Newcomb also warned of price increases for several products in January ranging from 3% to 8%, largely stemming from higher energy costs.The group said product availability was currently good overall and that previously reported issues regarding aerated blocks continued to be managed by allocated supply.

Government advisor tells City to throw out Brookfields 54-storey City tower submitted in SeptemberStreet level view of the proposals for 99 BishopsgateThe governments heritage advisor has called for RSHPs 99 Bishopsgate tower to be refused due to fears it would harm views of St Pauls Cathedral.Historic England, an influential consultee on major planning applications, said it strongly objects to the 54-storey scheme on the edge of the City of Londons eastern cluster of towers, which was submitted for planning in September.The tower is described by RSHP as a transitional building blending the clusters tall buildings with the neighbouring conservation areaDeveloped for Brookfield, it is described by RSHP in planning documents as a transitional building blending the townscape character of the cluster with the mainly brick buildings of the neighbouring conservation area.But Historic England said it would create a cliff edge on the border of the cluster which would harm protected views of the grade I-listed St Pauls, which is considered the most important heritage asset in the City.It added that allowing the allowing this steep edge to the cluster, rather than a gradual increase in height as has been envisaged under the Citys planning guidance, would greatly diminish the townscape benefit of clustering tall buildings as a means of protecting Londons historic environment, which is one of its core purposes.While RSHPs designs include a chamfered corner on the top edge of the tower which aims to acknowledge strategic views of the cathedral from Waterloo Bridge, a prime tourist spot, Historic England said this feature offers little mitigation and the buildings impact on the significance of the cathedral would still be most damaging.The scheme has also been criticised by a London Review Panel, an independent body funded by the Greater London Authority which provides advice on major planning applications.At a meeting attended by the towers lead architect Graham Stirk and Brookfield president Dan Scanlon, the panel said it did not support the complete demolition of the existing 1970s building and urged the approach to be reconsidered.The plans would see the sites existing 28-storey tower, which serves as the UK headquarters of Multiplex, set to build the tower, flattened to street level and the retention of its concrete raft and piles, which would form the base of the replacement scheme.The project team for 99 Bishopsgate includes T&T Alinea on costs, AKT II on structural engineering, Ramboll on MEP services, Atelier 10 on sustainability, Momentum on transport, GIA on sunlight and wind, Trium Environmental Consulting on environment and Andy Sturgeon as landscape architect.Planning consultant DP9, communications consultant Kanda Consulting and heritage and townscape consultant The Townscape Consultancy are also on the team.

The Older Peoples Housing Taskforce has estimated that the UK should be building between 30,000 and 50,000 new later living homes every year in order to support its growing population of older people but is only building around 7,000 a year.Julienne Meyer, professor of care for older people at the School of Health and Psychological Sciences at City, University of London, who chaired the task force, said we are at a sliding door moment [where] the number of people of pensionable age is rising faster than people of working age, while the housing market itself falls significantly short on the needs of older people.The Older Peoples Housing Taskforce was set up to assess the UK market for specialised and supported later-living options, across both the public and private sectors. It concluded its research in May 2024, and published a report this week.AdvertisementThe research focused in particular on the private market for people on middle incomes and looked at options for how to secure better choice, quality and security for older peoples housing.On top of housing delivery, the report found that the UK housing market is failing older people on leasehold options, which are unaffordable for the majority of English households aged 75 years and over; on accessibility, with only 12 per cent of older people having level access to their building; and on awareness of options with older people unaware of the options available to them.More than 9 out of 10 over-65s live in mainstream housing in the UK, while just 0.6 per cent live in specialist housing with care, according to the research a 10th of the proportion achieved in countries such as the USA and New Zealand.The taskforce has made nine core recommendations to the government regarding housing for older people, plus an overarching recommendation that the government establish a new delivery capability to carry this transformative work forward.Among its nine recommendations are: standardising definitions for older peoples housing; incentivising a diverse range of older peoples housing; ensuring more specialist housing for older people is built; ensuring its inclusivity; ensuring its affordability; and strengthening planning policies around it.AdvertisementIn her foreword to the report, Meyer insisted that a big step in the right direction would be for system-wide recognition that age-friendly and inclusive homes and neighbourhoods work for everyone, whereas design for younger ages does not always address issues presented later in the life course.Meyer added: Ensuring suitable, accessible and affordable housing for later living is a societal obligation on which the current housing market falls significantly short. Source:Pillar VisualsA newly-improved 'integrated retirement community' by RCKa in ChigwellHousing minister Matthew Pennycook said the government would give careful consideration to the findings as part of its commitment to build 1.5 million homes in the next five years.In a ministerial statement on Tuesday (November 26), Pennycook said the government will ensure that considerations around older peoples housing inform our approach to the planning policy changes that it has promised.He added that government proposals for the promotion of mixed-use sites including housing designed for specific groups, such as older people, were tested during the recent consultation on National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) reforms. The results of the consultation are yet to be published.Pennycook said the government was also working closely with the Planning Advisory Service to try to provide more clarity on how planning use classes apply to specialist older people's housing, as per the reports recommendations.He added: The government is committed to helping older people to live comfortably and independently at home for as long as possible.Tim Riley, who leads on retirement living projects for architecture practice RCKa, has criticised the report for being too broad in its recommendations, which he says, lack priority.Riley said the taskforce was right to recommend ways to provide more age-friendly housing but added: What we urgently need is recognition of the sector within the NPPF and dedicated planning policy.British Property Federation assistant director of policy Theo Plowman described the housebuilding figures for older people as stark.He added: National and local planning systems must enable greater volumes of age-appropriate housing. This means ensuring local plans adequately reflect the need for specialist housing and mainstream developments incorporate these principles. A long-term national housing strategy for an ageing population is urgently needed to prepare for the profound impacts of our ageing society. Such a strategy would help people live healthier, more independent lives, make better use of housing stock and reduce pressure on health and social care services.RMArchitects director Richard Morton, who was the sole architect on the task force and heavily involved in the reports design recommendations, said two of the recommendations stood out to him: the need to design not only for physical accessibility but for the many less visible challenges of increasing age, including sensory loss and dementia; and the need, not only to produce an updated design code but to institute an ongoing system for all incoming design guidance to be reviewed for its impact on the older population.Morton added: 'With ten million of us now over 65 it is hugely important that we radically improve the supply and the quality of housing for our older population. Im delighted that the importance and strength of this new report, commissioned by a Tory government, has been taken on board by the new minister and I look forward to seeing its many recommendations put into practice.'Jenny Buterchi, a partner at PRP with experience of delivering later living schemes across the country, added: 'The report rightly emphasises the importance of creating design guidance, including a national design code, for age-friendly and inclusive housing that focuses on the health and wellbeing of our older population. I fully support the imperative to design inclusive communities that cater for a range of health, mobility and cultural needs.'The recommendations for funding, legislative and planning reform could create a real impetus to drive forward supply, I hope to see these filter through to government policies and industry change in the near future.'2024-11-27Anna Highfieldcomment and share

The London-based practice developed the scheme in partnership with Retirement Villages Group (RVG), for a former green-belt site in Froghall Lane, Chigwell. The land was removed from the green belt in 2023 under the adopted local plan and allocated for specialist housing for older people.The 'integrated retirement community' will consist of energy-efficient, high-density villas of between two and six storeys, arranged around a central avenue that links to 1,050m of communal facilities. Parking is pushed to the sites periphery to encourage social connections and active lifestyles.RCKa says its Essex village-inspired scheme combines traditional settlement concepts with contemporary design to enrich the lives of residents while acting as a vital social hub for the wider area.AdvertisementThe housing will consist of 70 per cent two-bedroom apartments, 20 per cent three-bedroom apartments, and 10 per cent one-bedroom apartments.The project aims for net-zero in both embodied carbon and operational carbon, according to the practice.The site was originally allocated for 105 specialist retirement homes under the Epping Forest local plan, but RCKas scheme increases the allocation density by another 37 per cent.Epping Forest District Councils planning committee granted planning permission for the scheme on 13 November.The permission is subject to a legal agreement to secure planning conditions including an off-site affordable housing contribution of 1 million, a health contribution of 150,000, an NHS ambulance contribution of 29,000, and a libraries contribution of 11,000.AdvertisementPlanning officers said the scheme addresses a critical need for specialised housing as per the sites allocation, and has good sustainability aspirations.Officers described the scheme as an improvement on applications previously refused for the site, adding: It is considered that the arrangement of the buildings around this accessible central landscaped area would have a convivial feel and it is hoped that this would, in turn, create a strong sense of community for future residents.RCKa ChigwellThe project is the third collaboration between RCKa and RVG to provide retirement living. It follows a scheme on the outskirts of Chester set to complete in early 2025, and a scheme in West Malling, Kent, which recently started on site after being approved late last year.RVG development director Duncan Matthews said the approval followed months of constructive consultation with Epping Forest officers, local stakeholders, and ...]our consultant team.He added that the Chigwell scheme would offer older people 'a community where they can live happier and healthier later lives', as well as providing new jobs and amenities for the wider community.RCKa director Tim Riley said the project represented the practices commitment to designing sustainable, inclusive spaces that enrich the lives of residents and the wider community and that it would provide a place that Chigwell can feel truly proud of.On a wider level, Riley has called on the government to introduce dedicated planning policy to support age-friendly housing, explaining: What we urgently need is recognition of the sector within the NPPF.A major report published this week found that the UK is falling tens of thousands of homes short on delivering the quantity of housing needed for its ageing population.Research by the Older Peoples Housing Taskforce found that between 30,000 and 50,000 new later-living homes need to be delivered every year in order to support the growing elderly population but only around 7,000 are being built.The task force has made nine core recommendations to the government regarding housing for older people, plus an overarching recommendation that the government establish a new delivery capability to carry this transformative work forward. Source:Pillar VisualsRCKa ChigwellPROJECT DATALocation Land west of Froghall Lane, ChigwellLocal authority Epping Forest District CouncilType of project Retirement housingClient Retirement Villages Group LtdArchitect and Lead Designer RCKaProject Manager and Quantity Surveyor Cast ConsultancyPlanning Consultant Iceni ProjectsServices and Sustainability Hoare LeeStructure and Civil Engineering SymmetrysLandscape Architecture CamlinsCommunity Engagement Redwood ConsultingEcology Consultants Ecology SolutionsHighways Consultants Markides AssociatesReal Estate Advisers NewsteerMain contractor TBDFunding UndisclosedTender date 2025Start on site date 2025Completion date TBDContract duration TBDGross internal floor area 181,800mForm of contract and/or procurement TBDAnnual CO2 emissions NZC (Operational and Embodied)Total cost Undisclosed

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Clip theon-page couponfor the full discount.Best Black Friday TV dealsShop all the best Black Friday TV deals before they are gone. Now's the time to replace your old, busted TV and upgrade to something with better resolution and features that will take your bingeing sessions to the next level. Hisense/CNET "Go big or go home" could be this smart TV's motto. It's 85 inches, making it almost too big for most spaces, but just right for those who love watching movies large and loud, or like to catch all the details of any sport you can imagine. Its smarts come from Google TV and it has a subwoofer built-in to make the sound experience better in almost every case.Specs: 85 inches; panel: QLED; screen resolution: 4K Show more

We're big fans of Jackery when it comes to the best portable power stations, and now you can get the brand's Solar Generator 2000 Plus Kit at a steal for Black Friday. With a $3,200 coupon on Amazon, you can get the SG2000 Plus Kit with a 6kWh capacityfor just $3,399. This kit comes with the Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus, SolarSaga 200W solar panels and two expandable battery packs. Don't wait too long, because this special Black Friday deal won't last.See at AmazonWith its 6,128.4Wh capacity, the Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus Kit can power heavy-load devices up to 3,000 watts, which can include RVs, air conditioners and more for both in-home andoutdoor use. With an 1,800-watt AC input and 1,000-watt solar input, the generator requires only 1.3 hours to charge from 0% to 80% battery level. With six SolarSaga 200-watt solar panels, it will take approximately 1.6 hours. Thanks to the two included expandable battery packs, the Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus' power increases to 12kWh. If you connect another Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus Power Station, you can reach a capacity of 24kWh, voltage of 240 volts and output of 6,000-watts. Despite this high power, the SG2000 Plus uses advanced lithium technology and a built-in cooling system to make it temperature-resistant, ensuring safety. Plus, the generator is shock-resistant and fire-protected. Though Jackery provides a five-year warranty, the SG2000 Plus was made with ChargeShield Fast Charge Technology that increases its life by 50%. With the LiFePO4 battery, you can get up to an additional 10 years of usage, while Smart Shallow Charging mode makes the generator even more efficient. Perhaps the best part is that you can use the Solar Generator 2000 Plus indoors, because it's whisper quiet at just 30 decibels. Or if you're using it while camping, you can still enjoy the peaceful quiet of nature. Note that with purchases like this, you might also have the potential to unlock a 30% residential clean energy tax credit, depending on if you qualify. You'll want to reach out to your utility provider for more information and requirements for the Residential Clean Energy Credit Program. Why this deal matters By far, this is the best deal we've seen for the Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus Kit on Amazon, which is an exciting $3,200 off. Normally, the kit is $6,599, but now it's down to $3,399. In the past, we've seen Jackery offered for a few hundred dollars off on Amazon, but never $3,200, making this deal, well, a big deal. However, if you do want to get an extra $100 off, Jackery is offering a $3,300 discount on its website as part of its Black Friday deals up to 50% off. For more discounts for the holiday season, check out the best Black Friday deals we've had our eye on. These Impulse Buys Under $25 Actually Make Great Gifts See all photos

November 27, 20243 min readYour Friends Shape Your Microbiomeand So Do Their FriendsAnalysis of nearly 2,000 people living in remote villages in Honduras reveals whos spreading gut microorganisms to whomBy Saima Sidik & Nature magazineFriends share more than just food when they dine together. ljubaphoto/Getty ImagesA shared meal, a kiss on the cheek: these social acts bring people together and bring their microbiomes together, too. The more people interact, the more similar the make-up of their gut microorganisms is, even if individuals dont live in the same household, a study shows.The study also found that a persons microbiome is shaped not only by their social contacts but also by the social contacts connections. The work is one of several studies that raise the possibility that health conditions can be shaped by the transmission of the microbiome between individuals, not just by diet and other environmental factors that affect gut flora.In the quest to understand what shapes a persons microbiome, social interactions are definitely a piece of the puzzle that I think has been missing until recently, says microbiologist Catherine Robinson at the University of Oregon in Eugene, who was not involved in the work.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 research was published in Nature on 20 November.Whats mine is yoursThe study has its roots in research published almost 20 years ago that investigated how obesity spreads in social networks. Certain viruses and bacteria found in the gut microbiome are known to change a persons risk of obesity, and social scientist Nicholas Christakis wondered whether friends pass these microbes to each other in addition to influencing each others eating habits. This was a kernel of an idea that I just couldnt let go, says Christakis, who is based at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut.Since then, several publications have suggested that social interactions shape the gut microbiome. Christakis and his colleagues travelled to the jungles of Honduras to add to this emerging literature. There, they mapped the social relationships and analysed microbiomes of people living in 18 isolated villages, where interactions are mainly face to face and people have minimal exposure to processed foods and antibiotics, which can alter the composition of the microbiome.This was an enormous undertaking, Christakis says, because the team had to set up shop in a remote location, then get the samples back to the United States for processing.Spouses and individuals living in the same house share up to 13.9% of the microbial strains in their guts, but even people who dont share a roof but habitually spend free time together share 10%, the researchers found. By contrast, people who live in the same village but who dont tend to spend time together share only 4%. There is also evidence of transmission chains friends of friends share more strains than would be expected by chance.The results add depth to scientists understanding of what shapes the microbiome, partly because the team looked at subspecies of the gut microbes, says microbiologist Mireia Valles-Colomer at Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona, Spain, who was not involved in the work. Social contacts might share the same microbial species by chance, but theyre much less likely to share the same strains unless theyve passed them to each other.Rethinking transmissibilityResearch like this is changing completely the way we think, because it suggests that risk factors for conditions with links to the microbiome, such as hypertension and depression, could spread from person to person through their microbiomes, says computational biologist Nicola Segata at the University of Trento in Italy. Segata was not involved in the current work, but he has worked with Valles-Colomer and members of Christakiss team in the past on similar research.In the case of depression, which can be difficult to treat, combining existing therapies with microbiome-targeting treatments might improve care, says Valles-Colomer.But people should not avoid social interactions for fear of catching others microbiomes. Social interactions can spread components of healthy microbiomes and have myriad other benefits. Valles-Colomer says, Close contacts are not bad for us. The opposite they are beneficial!This article is reproduced with permission and was first published on November 20, 2024.