PhysicsTime loops have long been the stuff of science fiction. Now, using the rules of quantum mechanics, we have a way to effectively transport a particle back in time heres how 29 May 2024 Ryan wills/istock/AmtitusWhen Seth Lloyd first published his ideas about quantum time loops, he hadnt considered all the consequences. For one thing, he hadnt anticipated the countless emails he would get from would-be time travellers asking for his help. If he could have his time over again, he jokes, he probably wouldnt have done it.Sadly, Lloyd, a physicist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, wont be revisiting years gone by. Spoiler alert: no one will go back in time during the course of this article. But particles? That is another matter.Theoretical routes to the past called time loops have long been hypothesised by physicists. But because they are plagued by impracticalities and paradoxes, they have been dismissed as impossible for just as long. But now Lloyd and other physicists have begun to show that in the quantum realm, these loops to the past are not only possible, but even experimentally feasible. In other words, we will soon effectively try to send a particle back in time.If that succeeds, it raises the possibility of being able to dispatch, if not people, then at least messages in the form of quantum signals, back in time. More importantly, studying this phenomenon takes us to the heart of how cause and effect really work, what quantum theory means and perhaps even how we can create a successor theory that more fully captures the true nature of reality.In physics, time loops are more properly known as closed time-like curves (CTCs). They first arose in Albert Einsteins theory of general relativity

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. How the Ukraine-Russia war is reshaping the tech sector in Eastern EuropeIt might have been hard a few years ago to imagine soldiers heading to battle on oversized toys made by a tech startup with no military heritage. But Ukraines resistance to Russias attacks has been a miracle of social resilience and innovationand the way the country has mobilized is serving both a warning and an inspiration to its neighbors. In the desperate early days of the war, Ukrainian combat units wanted any equipment they could get their hands on, and they were willing to try out ideaslike a military scooterthat might not have made the cut in peacetime.But while governments and companies alike are investing billions into defense tech, some experts warn that Europe has only partially learned the lessons from Ukraines resistance. And, if it wants to be ready to meet the threat of attack, it needs to find new ways of working with the tech sector. Read the full story. Peter Guest This is our latest Big StoryMIT Technology Reviews most important, ambitious reporting on technologies that are coming next and what they will mean for us and the world we live in. Check out the rest of the section here. The startup trying to turn the web into a database Whats new: A startup called Exa is pitching a new spin on generative search. It uses the tech behind large language models to return lists of results that it claims are more on point than those from its rivals, including Google and OpenAI. Exa already provides its search engine as a back-end service to companies that want to build their own applications on top of it. Now its launching the first consumer version of that search engine, called Websets.Whats the goal here? The aim is to turn the internets chaotic tangle of web pages into a kind of directory, with results that are specific and precise. Its aimed at power users who need to look for things that other search engines arent great at finding, such as types of people or companies. Read the full story.Will Douglas Heaven MIT Technology Review Narrated: Beyond gene-edited babies In the future, CRISPR will get easier and easier to administer, potentially opening up paths for tinkering with human evolution. What will that mean for our species? This is our latest story to be turned into a MIT Technology Review Narrated podcast, which were 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 The US is struggling to kick Chinese hackers out of its networks Six months after its investigations into their intrusions began. (Axios)+ Authorities are advising concerned users to switch to encrypted apps. (WP $)2 Russia is using civilians as target practice for its killer drones Creating an atmosphere of psychological terror for Ukraines residents. (FT $)+ Meet the radio-obsessed civilian shaping Ukraines drone defense. (MIT Technology Review)3 Can anyone topple Nvidia? Many have tried, but noneyethave succeeded. (NYT $)+ China is claiming the US-made chips pose a security risk. (Reuters)+ Meanwhile, Apple is using Amazons custom chips for its search. (CNBC)+ Amazon has lofty plans for a colossal AI supercomputer made of chips. (WSJ $) 4 Mark Zuckerberg is hankering for an active role in Trumps administration It sounds like the former enemies could be on the verge of burying the hatchet. (The Guardian)+ Metas claims that it previously overdid moderation will be music to Trumps ears. (Insider $)+ Trump offered billionaire Stephen Feinberg the job of deputy defense secretary. (WP $)5 Inside Chicagos ambitious plans to become a quantum hub Its carving its own path away from Silicon Valley. (WSJ $)+ Quantum computing is taking on its biggest challenge: noise. (MIT Technology Review)6 Abortion policy in America is at a stalemateThe ability to travel for reproductive care is the next frontier. (The Atlantic $) 7 Why we should think carefully about geoengineering Blocking sunlight isnt without risks. (Undark Magazine)+ The inadvertent geoengineering experiment that the world is now shutting off. (MIT Technology Review)8 The unstoppable rise of raw milkRFK has become the poster boy for the unpasteurised movement. (NY Mag $) + Raw milk could also act as a vehicle for bird flu right now. (MIT Technology Review)9 What happens when you fall in love with an AI? These people have firsthand experience of just that. (The Verge)10 What sweat can teach us about our health A lot more than you might think. (New Scientist $) Quote of the day I cant give you a running commentary on conversations I was not part of. Nick Clegg, Metas president of global affairs, plays coy when asked by the Verge about Meta boss Mark Zuckerbergs recent dinner with President-elect Donald Trump. The big story How this Turing Awardwinning researcher became a legendary academic advisor October 2023 Every academic field has its superstars. But a rare few achieve superstardom not just by demonstrating individual excellence but also by consistently producing future superstars. Computer science has its own such figure: Manuel Blum, who won the 1995 Turing Awardthe Nobel Prize of computer science. He is the inventor of the captchaa test designed to distinguish humans from bots online.Three of Blums students have also won Turing Awards, and many have received other high honors in theoretical computer science, such as the Gdel Prize and the Knuth Prize. More than 20 hold professorships at top computer science departments. But is there some formula to his success? Read the full story.Sheon Han 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.) + Why does everyone sing caught in the middle like that? Music theory has an answer. + The mysterious Breakmaster Cylinder has completely reengineered the sound from the first 20 minutes of Mad Max: Fury Road and its great.+ This 16-year old Australian sprinter might just be the next Usain Bolt.+ Dont expect Dune and Blade Runner 2049 director Denis Villeneuve to direct a Star Wars movie any time soon.

South Korea's president, Yoon Suk Yeol, declared martial law in a shock address on Tuesday.He expressed frustration with paralyzing opposition forces within the government.After hours of civil unrest, Yoon rescinded the order, but many are calling for his resignation.In a stunning move that threw the nation into turmoil, South Korea's president, Yoon Suk Yeol, invoked martial law on Tuesday, only to reverse course six hours later.The decree, which brought temporary military control and the suspension of civilian government activities and civil liberties, marked South Korea's first declaration of martial law since the country's democratization in 1987.The last time that a South Korean leader declared martial law was in 1979, in the aftermath of the assassination of the president.The resulting turmoil in this instance could be felt for some time.Calls are growing for the president's resignation. All six opposition parties filed an impeachment motion on Wednesday, with a vote set for Friday or Saturday, according to the Yonhap news agency.After Yoon ordered martial law, South Korea's parliament voted unanimously to block the decree, declaring the move invalid, but martial law remained in effect.Yoon announced he would lift martial law and withdraw troops the following day. The Joint Chiefs of Staff then said that the deployed troops had returned to their original units. In the aftermath, Yoon's cabinet approved the reversal.But the reversal of the order wasn't enough to stymie economic anxieties that arose out of the unrest. On Wednesday, South Korea's Kospi Index closed 1.4% lower. The won fell to its lowest level since October 2022 but trimmed losses in Asian hours.Companies in the country, including South Korea's SK Group, a conglomerate of semiconductor and energy businesses, and Korean shipbuilder HD Hyundai, were hosting emergency executive meetings in the early morning hours on Wednesday, per Bloomberg."We are concerned that these events could impact South Korea's sovereign credit rating, although this is uncertain at this stage," wrote Min Joo Kan, ING Economics' senior economist in Seoul, in a research note.The leader of Yoon's party said that the ruling party feels "deeply sorry to the public," adding that "the president must directly and thoroughly explain this tragic situation" and that those who called for martial law should be held accountable.Yoon's entire cabinet and all of his aides have offered to resign, according to local reports.Meanwhile, the country's largest labor union, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, is on indefinite strike, demanding Yoon's resignation, which could hurt production.On Wednesday, thousands gathered for protest rallies across the country, including outside South Korea's national assembly. South Korean protesters hold a banner that read "We condemn Yoon Suk Yeol's illegal martial law" during a rally in Seoul on Wednesday. JUNG YEON-JE/AFP via Getty Images Why did Yoon declare martial law?Yoon indicated the move was necessary to counter North Korea, but the move appears to be at least partly political.In a televised address, he spoke of "anti-state forces," saying martial law was necessary to eliminate them quickly and "normalize the country." He also criticized the country's opposition politicians, responding to a series of political setbacks that have frustrated his agenda.Yoon has suffered from low approval ratings this year and has been described by critics as a "lame-duck president," as he holds the nation's highest office without having a majority in its legislature.Yoon's conservative People Power Party lost a general election in April, in which the rival Democratic Party of Korea took 175 of the 300 seats in the National Assembly.The opposition majority in parliament last week voted to cut almost $3 billion from Yoon's 2025 budget, undermining his plans. They have also tried to impeach three top prosecutors, The Associated Press reported.Even as he reversed his martial law decision, Yoon continued to criticize those he saw as frustrating his agenda, requesting in a later address that the National Assembly "immediately stop its reckless actions that paralyze the functions of the state through repeated impeachment, legislative manipulation, and budget manipulation."The decision to invoke martial law led to parliamentary activity being prohibited, according to the country's government-funded Yonhap news agency. Anyone who violated the rules could have been arrested without a warrant.The outlet also said that media and publishers fell under the control of South Korea's military.The provisions of martial law also allowed for the suspension of certain civil liberties. About 300 soldiers were deployed on Tuesday night. JUNG YEON-JE/AFP via Getty Images What has been the political reaction?Yoon's late-night announcement prompted protests outside parliament, with some trying to climb its walls. There was also intense criticism of Yoon for short-circuiting the country's democracy.Han Dong-hoon, the leader of the ruling People Power Party, said imposing martial law was "wrong" and that he would "stop it with the people."South Korea's main opposition leader, Lee Jae-myung, described the move as unconstitutional.Yoon was already an unpopular leader in Korea. Gallup's latest poll, released last week, showed his approval rating falling to 19%, per a poll of 1,000 adults.The unexpected declaration of martial law was also said to have caught the Biden administration by surprise.South Korea is a key US ally in the Indo-Pacific region and is a base for roughly 28,500 American service members, as well as numerous civilian workers and dependents."We continue to expect political disagreements to be resolved peacefully and in accordance with the rule of law," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement after the martial law was rescinded.How has the economy been affected?Markets reacted immediately to South Korea's political crisis, with US-listed Korean stocks and the South Korean won taking a hit in overnight trade.While shares of Samsung Electronics, the country's largest company, dropped 3% before paring losses, South Korea's Kospi Index fell 2.2% and closed 1.4% lower on Wednesday.South Korean authorities have rushed to reassure investors.The country's finance ministry said on Wednesday it was standing ready to deploy all necessary measures to stabilize the financial markets."We will inject unlimited liquidity into stocks, bonds, short-term money market as well as forex market for the time being until they are fully normalised," the ministry said in a statement.On Wednesday, Kim Byung-hwan, the chairman of South Korea's Financial Services Commission, said the government was ready to activate a $35.4 billion stock market stabilization fund immediately and take other measures to address market concerns if needed.But Rhee Chang-yong, governor of the Bank of Korea, told Bloomberg TV on Wednesday evening local time that South Korea's financial markets were stabilizing quickly and that the impact on markets was short-lived.He added that he believed South Korea's economic dynamics can be separated from its political dynamics.Even so, a few hours later, the OECD lowered South Korea's 2025 growth economic outlook to 2.1%, from 2.2%.One notable stock surge amid all the turmoil: Kakao, and subsidiaries Kakaopay and KakaoBank, were up on Wednesday. Billionaire founder Brian Kim was arrested in July on charges of manipulating a major K-pop agency deal last year.

South Korea was in chaos on Tuesday after President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law.Yoon reversed course hours after invoking the law and now faces being impeached.South Korea's foe, North Korea, could seek to exploit the turmoil.Kim Jong Un, North Korea's emboldened leader, is likely watching the events in South Korea closely and may use the turmoil to his benefit."We know that North Korea likes to lampoon South Korea's democratic system whenever there is tumult in Seoul," Edward Howell, a lecturer in politics at the University of Oxford to CNN."We should not be surprised if Pyongyang exploits the domestic crisis in South Korea to its advantage, either rhetorically or otherwise," he added.It comes after South Korea, long one of the US' most important Asian allies, was tipped into political chaos on Tuesday when its president, Yoon Suk Yeol, declared martial law.Yoon reversed course six hours later after lawmakers blocked the declaration. Calls for the president's resignation are now growing.All six opposition parties filed an impeachment motion on Wednesday, with a vote set for Friday or Saturday, according to the Yonhap news agency.Yoon said the declaration was necessary to prevent subversion by North Korea, South Korea's longtime enemy, but it's likely he was seeking to quash domestic opposition and bolster his power.How North Korea may respondNorth Korea may decide it's "a great time to take advantage of this weakness to deal another blow to him through some type of provocation," Sydney Seiler, who until last year was the national intelligence officer for North Korea on the US National Intelligence Council, told VOA.The unrest comes at a time of heightened tensions in East Asia.South Korea has long been backed by the US, which has 30,000 troops stationed in the republic, in its decadeslong frozen war with North Korea.But North Korea, fuelled by Russian money and goods after backing the Kremlin's Ukraine invasion, is becoming more assertive and more aggressive.It's escalating its threats toward South Korea, while ally China menaces US ally Taiwan with invasion.Meanwhile, the US is seeking to bolster its democratic allies in the region to deter aggression by the axis of authoritarian states. It was reportedly caught off guard by Yoon's declaration on Tuesday but sought to project unwavering support for South Korean security as the turmoil unfolded.US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell on Tuesday said the US commitment to South Korean security remained "ironclad.""We're watching the recent developments in the ROK [Republic of Korea] with grave concern," Campbell said. "We're seeking to engage our ROK counterparts at every level both here and in Seoul."Kim could use the crisis to intimidate and undermine its neighbor, and drive a wedge between South Korea and the US, say analysts.Seiler told VOA that Kim "may see President [Yoon]'s actions as straining that relationship."It could also take the form of propaganda designed to erode trust in democracy and government stability in South Korea.US support may act as a deterrentNot everyone agrees that there will be much action from North Korea, however. For one thing, US support for South Korea may act as a significant deterrent."North Korea is very likely to seek to capitalize politically. But the South Korea-US alliance is robust, with the two main political parties and 90% of South Koreans supporting it," Ramon Pacheco Pardo, Head of Department of European and International Studies at SOAS, told Business Insider.David Welch, University Research Chair and Professor of Political Science, University of Waterloo, told Newsweek that Kim is likely "rubbing his hands with glee" but said he was not in a good position to respond."I would expect some rhetorical gloating about the superiority of North Korea's political system, but not much else," he said.

A Vox reader asks: What happened between Gen X and millennials to send cancer rates soaring?Thats the million-dollar question in medical science today.Youve surely seen the headlines, but lets recap the most pertinent data: One in five new colorectal cancer patients in the United States is under 55, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis of data from the National Cancer Institute. That is nearly twice the rate in 1995. A recent meta-analysis led by the American Cancer Society found that 17 of the 34 most common cancers including those of the small intestine, pancreas, and kidney are occurring more frequently in younger people. Some of them had previously been declining but are now on the upswing again.Heres the really scary part: While death rates for colorectal cancer patients over 65 are dropping, they are increasing among younger patients. Scientists say these early cancers can be more deadly because they are often not caught until its too late for treatment. (Colonoscopies are not recommended until age 45.) As a millennial prone to health anxiety, I have the same question: Why is this happening to my generation? Unfortunately, the short answer is: We do not know for certain. But lets dig into the long answer.Weve long known that weight and exercise help determine a persons risk of developing a range of cancers. The increase in global obesity rates since the mid-1990s has likely played a significant role in the rise in early-onset cancers, especially those in the gastrointestinal tract. Sign up for the Explain It to Me newsletterThe newsletter is part of Voxs Explain It to Me. Each week, we tackle a question from our audience and deliver a digestible explainer from one of our journalists. Have a question you want us to answer? Ask us here.But over the past decade, new research has shown that other factors specific foods in the diet, other behaviors such as sleep, environmental pollutants may also contribute to cancer risk. These risk factors are not as well understood as obesity or lack of exercise, but scientists are now racing to catch up.Scientists have found that certain diets, including those rich in so-called ultra-processed foods, are associated with a higher risk of GI cancers, regardless of a persons BMI. Higher alcohol consumption is likewise correlated with a higher risk of developing colorectal cancer early. Exposures to toxins in the environment and in everyday goods, including chemicals found in makeup and hair products and formaldehyde in building materials, are now also suspected to increase risk for a wide range of cancers in younger patients, particularly if the exposure occurred at pivotal points in a persons life. Getting less sleep or interrupted sleep may also be a factor in developing breast, colon, ovarian, and prostate cancers. Sleep and circadian rhythm is an important component of health, Andrew Chan, who is leading an international research project on early-onset cancer, told me. People today are probably getting less sleep or having more disrupted sleep for a variety of reasons. Is that potentially changing our biology in a way that is detrimental?Cancer researchers are also obsessed with the microbiome, the ecosystem of bacteria that is concentrated in a persons gut. Certain kinds of microbiome bacteria are associated with the development of GI cancers, but researchers are still puzzling out whether those changes are a cause or a consequence of the disease. This is truly a global challenge. The increases in early cancer cases and deaths are most pronounced in wealthy countries, but developing nations are contending with some of the same environmental contaminants, particularly microplastics, and they are already seeing increasing death rates from other obesity-related diseases. As poorer countries become more economically developed, they also expect to see more first world health problems including cancer. This is going to be a problem that is going to be facing us as our economy gets stronger, Bhawna Sirohi, medical oncology director at the Balco Medical Center in Raipur, India, told me earlier this year. Its facing us, the West, everywhere.Why do different generations have different cancer risks?Since I started reporting on this slow-rolling crisis at the beginning of the year, easily the most interesting thing I have learned is that your risk of many types of cancer likely depends in part on something that was completely out of your control: when you were born. If you go back to the American Cancer Societys meta-analysis, people born in 1975 experience nearly twice the rate of small-intestinal cancers as people born in 1955. For people born in 1990, those cancer rates have grown to nearly four times what they were for people born in the middle of the 20th century. You can see the same general trajectory for kidney, liver, pancreas, and bone marrow cancers.These generational differences would support the increasingly accepted idea that recent environmental changes and widespread alterations to our diets may be contributing to the rise in early-onset cancers. A 2020 study in the journal Gastroenterology noted that a persons GI cancer risk had previously been measured by their family history, yet three in four new cancer patients have no such history. The researchers concluded that the surge could instead result from generational differences in diet, environmental exposures, and lifestyle factors.Systematic reviews of the available research, including one published in Frontiers in Nutrition in 2022, have identified consumption of a lot of deep-fried foods, processed foods, foods high in fat, and sugary drinks and desserts, as well as low folate and fiber consumption, as risk factors. People have been eating more and more of those products over the years well, except for fiber, which is very good for human digestion and yet horribly underconsumed in the US. My generation drinks too much alcohol too, even while the evidence of its carcinogenic properties continues to pile up.Scientists hypothesize that changes in our environment, such as the proliferation of microplastics and forever chemicals that are linked to certain cancers and may allow others to metastasize more easily, could be another contributing factor. From food containers to synthetic clothing, we are exposed to and ingest these tiny particles every day. According to a paper published last year by a New Zealand research team, the upticks in cancers among young adults matched the timeline that we would expect from the multiplication of microplastics in the environment. Research on cellular and rodent models has suggested that microplastics could promote tumor growth. Though more research is needed, we already know these materials contain chemicals that can disrupt hormones and pose a risk to our health.In the same vein, scientists increasingly suspect that exposures to risk factors at certain ages whether in utero, early childhood, or early adulthood could be playing an important role in a persons risk of developing cancer at a young age. Preliminary findings, such as a study that found consuming more sugary drinks in adolescence was associated with a higher risk of developing colorectal cancer early in women, lend support to those theories.Researchers are working to sharpen our understanding of these causes and of how to treat and prevent these devastating diseases. We still have a lot to learn about these new variables in our cancer risk. While its easy to feel powerless in the face of that uncertainty, all of the long-understood recommendations still apply and can make a world of difference in our health and disease risk: We can try to eat right, drink less alcohol, and be more active.Youve read 1 article in the last monthHere at Vox, we're unwavering in our commitment to covering the issues that matter most to you threats to democracy, immigration, reproductive rights, the environment, and the rising polarization across this country.Our mission is to provide clear, accessible journalism that empowers you to stay informed and engaged in shaping our world. By becoming a Vox Member, you directly strengthen our ability to deliver in-depth, independent reporting that drives meaningful change.We rely on readers like you join us.Swati SharmaVox Editor-in-ChiefSee More:

In late November, a woman posted a photo of herself proudly holding her PhD thesis along with the announcement that she had successfully defended her dissertation. Thrilled to say I passed my viva with no corrections and am officially PhDone, she wrote. What followed was a case study in how the online right targets and harasses those who dont fit into the narrow and often conflicting standards theyve formulated for women.This woman is why everything is falling apart, began one viral post by the YouTuber hoe_math, who makes videos about the degradation of Western Civilization. She got a PhD for this, and from the looks of her, she probably believes that this entitles her to an extremely high-status lifestyle. Remember this when they tell you that women are beating men at getting an education.Related:Is the Gen Z bro media diet to blame?Crows feet and no children, began another. You literally have lived in the most advantaged time in all of human history for women and after 40 years have literally nothing of any real value to show for it and your bloodline will end with you due to your need to stick it to the evil man by getting an education.Suffice to say that these are extreme, outlandish reactions to an otherwise anodyne post about completing a PhD. But theyre all too predictable considering the types of content that regularly go viral now on X, where conservative trads, anti-woke crypto bros, and mask-off white supremacists enjoy a platform increasingly friendly to their extremism, especially in the wake of an exodus by users looking for less toxic pastures. Dr. Ally Louks is the perfect target for these types: Shes a young woman with the highest degree in the humanities, a field frequently ridiculed by certain men in online right spaces who view it as a waste of resources and a sure ticket to a useless or low-paying job. Her thesis, titled Olfactory Ethics: The Politics of Smell in Modern and Contemporary Prose, is an exploration of how descriptions of smell in literature structure our social world and, like all PhD theses, is meant to be a niche and novel contribution to the field of English Literature. But it enraged right-wingers who saw it as too woke, irrelevant, or frivolous (using much nastier terms, of course). The mere existence of an educated woman presumably triggered so many of the right-wing men of X that they have hounded her with rape threats for being vegan, feminist and queer. It sure has been fun to become a scapegoat for the far rights qualms with academia for a couple of days, Louks posted. Like the women in games media who were the targets of 2014s Gamergate harassment campaign, Louks is only the latest in a long history of misogynist abuse on X, formerly known as Twitter. Through the years, there have been boycotts by women on the platform and studies dedicated to exposing the extent of the harassment they face there. But since Elon Musk took over Twitter in 2022, its gotten far worse. In the two years since hes been its owner, the company rid itself of verification badges that confirmed the authenticity of official accounts, notable figures, and journalists and instead granted the blue checks to anyone willing to pay $8 per month. The change made it so that the top reply on almost any viral post is a scammer, a spammer, or someone engaging in bad faith or harassment for clout. Musk, as a self-described free speech absolutist, brought back previously banned users and cut down the team overseeing content moderation; white supremacist speech is now so common that normal, presumably not-white nationalist celebrities are following accounts that spout extremist ideology. In the past two years, X also removed its policy banning the deadnaming of transgender people, while Musk threatened to sue researchers studying the increase in hate speech on the platform. X also recently changed its blocking function so that blocked users can still see the posts of the person who blocked them, making it easier for stalkers and harassers to continue to surveil their targets. In March, X was found to be the platform where women were most likely to experience abuse and threats based on the time spent there, according to research from the Open University, a public research institute in the UK. The ISD found a 4,600 percent increase in phrases like get back in the kitchen on X in the 24 hours following the election, while dumb cunt had more than 64,000 mentions on November 5.Donald Trumps election worsened this problem, with men spamming replies with attack lines like Your body, my choice, flipping a longtime pro-abortion rights slogan into a rape threat. The Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) found a 4,600 percent increase in phrases like get back in the kitchen on X in the 24 hours following the election, while dumb cunt had more than 64,000 mentions on November 5. Considering that Musk has heavily aligned himself with Trump over the past year, its not surprising that both mens fans have coalesced on Musks platform, where they dogpile on their perceived opponents. When content creator Angela Belcamino posted on X about feeling lucky to be at a bar on Thanksgiving without having to pay a babysitter because she doesnt have children (and that the right would hate this), she was immediately proven correct and excoriated by conservative men who called her a thot and brainwashed by an extinctionist apocalypse cult. The conservative columnist Jonah Goldberg quote-posted it and wrote, Nothing more awesome than drinking alone at an empty bar when everyone else is hanging out eating well with friends and family. Congrats.This landscape is perhaps unsurprising following a campaign year in which progressive values were pitted against a mounting backlash to Me Too and trans rights. Gender policing is now a blood sport online, where women who seem to defy traditional expectations of staying hot, quiet, chaste, and weak are humiliated and attacked en masse. Women who dont fit in the mold of wives wearing cottagecore maxi dresses while baking snacks from scratch for their herd of children are being told that theyre responsible for the downfall of civilization by armies of disaffected men with classical art as their profile pictures. What goes unsaid is the knowledge that these women, the trad wives they so revere, are often the breadwinners of their families by monetizing their lifestyles online. Their standards, then, are often conflicting: They want women to be visible online, but only in a way that serves mens desires. But if women succeed too much at this like, say, when OnlyFans model Sophie Rain recently shared a screenshot that showed she made more than $43 million on the platform in the past year men were furious, again blaming her for the collapse of society. Its always been somewhat harrowing to be a woman in certain online spaces, but it does seem like a uniquely infuriating moment. More than 100,000 people, women or otherwise, have already left X (the platform and also the company), while millions have signed up for alternatives like Bluesky, and thats a completely understandable response to a clearly deteriorating experience. Its always been somewhat harrowing to be a woman in certain online spaces, but it does seem like a uniquely infuriating moment.But its still debatable whether ceding an enormous and still significant site like X to the white supremacists and the misogynist trolls is the move. Because Ive spent so much time there, my For You algorithm is pretty tailored to my preferences, and unlike many other users say, I rarely see pro-Musk, white supremacist, or otherwise reprehensible posts. Rather, its just people making jokes and weird memes about current events, which Id argue is the only way to use the platform. As for Louks, she wrote that shes remaining on X for the time being. But at a certain point, you have to wonder: If you cant even post about your greatest accomplishments without enduring heaps of harassment, whats the point of a social network at all?Youve read 1 article in the last monthHere at Vox, we're unwavering in our commitment to covering the issues that matter most to you threats to democracy, immigration, reproductive rights, the environment, and the rising polarization across this country.Our mission is to provide clear, accessible journalism that empowers you to stay informed and engaged in shaping our world. By becoming a Vox Member, you directly strengthen our ability to deliver in-depth, independent reporting that drives meaningful change.We rely on readers like you join us.Swati SharmaVox Editor-in-ChiefSee More:

GTA fans are getting increasingly desperate for news about the series' latest entry, with some predicting a new Grand Theft Auto 6 trailer is just around the corner

Maybe FromSoftwares next game wont be another Soulslike (Bandai Namco)As a potential Sony acquisition looms, Elden Rings director admits there are currently no plans for a sequel despite its sales success.Given the breakout success of Elden Ring, youd think developer FromSoftware would be gung-ho about spinning it out into a new franchise, after the end of Dark Souls.You dont become one of the best-selling games ever, in both the UK and US, and win Game of the Year without earning yourself a sequel and there have apparently been discussions of a movie adaptation too.Yet it seems FromSoftware doesnt have as much interest in an Elden Ring 2 as you might think, with studio president and game director Hidetaka Miyazaki saying a sequels not even being considered at the moment.At the PlayStation Partner Awards in Japan, DLC expansion Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree won the Grand Award alongside Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and Black Myth: Wukong.There, Miyazaki was asked by Japanese outlet Game Watch if the DLC marked an end to Elden Ring or if it would become a full series.Miyazaki replied (as translated by Automaton) that, Were not really considering developments such as an Elden Ring 2. He did indicate that the franchise would continue but he may have been thinking primarily of the movie when he said that.Instead, Miyazaki sounds more interested in pursuing other ventures. In fact, he added that there are multiple other projects in development at the studio, only some of which hes in charge of.He obviously refrained from saying what any of them are, but he did reveal they cover a wide range of genres (by which he seemed to mean sci-fi or fantasy, not role-playing game or action adventure): I think well be able to show you a new FromSoftware in a variety of ways.What is FromSoftwares next game?The studio has primarily worked on Soulslike titles for the last several years, with only occasional deviations for mech game Armored Core 6 (which still has many similarities to their Souslikes) and VR adventure title Dracin.More TrendingThe success of Elden Ring has allowed them to expanded though and since its probably too early for another Armored Core, and most of their other franchises are currently dormant, its almost impossible to guess what might be next for them.You might be wondering how Elden Ring publisher Bandai Namco feels about all this, but its opinion doesnt matter since it handed full ownership of the Elden Ring IP over to FromSoftware earlier this year.However, FromSoftware may wind up singing a different tune if its parent company, Kadokawa Corporation, gets bought out by Sony.The two companies have been discussing a potential acquisition and you know Sony would be thrilled to make any Elden Ring sequel a PlayStation exclusive. Would Sony put pressure on FromSoftware to make Elden Ring 2? (Bandai Namco)Emailgamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below,follow us on Twitter, andsign-up to our newsletter.To submit Inbox letters and Readers Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use ourSubmit Stuff page here.For more stories like this,check our Gaming page.GameCentralExclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

By Margherita Bassi Published December 4, 2024 | Comments (0) | An artist's rendition of a Germanic warrior taking stimulants. Stanisaw Kontny for Praehistorische Zeitschrift How would you prepare for battle? If you were a Germanic warrior from Northern Europe during the Roman period, you may have sniffed some narcotics. A team of three Polish researchers, including archaeologist Andrzej Kokowski and two biologists from Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, has suggested that Germanic people of Northern Europe living outside of the Roman Empire used stimulants during war. Their findings, detailed in a November 26 study published in the journal De Gruyter, challenges the notion that only Mediterranean civilizations used narcotics in antiquity. While both archaeological and historical sources testify that the ancient Greeks and Romans used narcotics such as opium, according to the study, there is no clear evidence to suggest that their contemporaries also engaged in this consumption (the ancient Egyptians, however, were sipping on psychedelics). This has led many scholars to conclude that Germanic tribessometimes referred to by the antiquated term barbarians (the Ancient Greek and Roman name for all foreigners)did not use stimulants besides alcohol.We therefore asked ourselves whether the consumption of stimulants in the barbarian world of the Roman period was indeed absent, the researchers wrote in the study. Since there wasnt any direct evidence, they decided to look for indirect clues. Said clues came in the form of 241 small objects attached to warriors belts in 116 Roman-period (roughly seventh century BCE to fifth century CE) archaeological sites in northern Europe, including in modern-day Germany, Scandinavia, and Poland. The objects are spoon-shaped artifacts with handles mostly between 1.57 and 2.76 inches long (40 and 70 millimeters) and small bowls or flat disks from 0.39 inches to 0.78 inches across (10 to 20 millimeters). Archaeologists unearthed them among other artifacts related to war.Consequently, archaeologist Andrzej Kokowski and his colleagues hypothesized that Germanic warriors may have used the spoon-like objects to take stimulants with the aim of increasing exertion and reducing stress before diving into battle. Essentially, just another version of liquid courage. The warriors could have used these objects to measure the right dose to produce the desired effects and to reduce the possibility of an overdose, the researchers wrote in a De Gruyter statement.To strengthen this theory, the team analyzed the possible stimulants that Germanic tribes could have accessed either locally or via trade during the Roman era. The possible list includes poppy, hemp, hops, belladonna, henbane, and numerous fungi, all of which could have been taken as a liquid or powder, and may have also been used for medicinal and/or ritualistic purposes, according to the study. The use of agitation stimulants may have been far greater than had been assumed, the researchers wrote in the study. They also suggested that Northern European people must have had significant knowledge and organizational abilities to secure and distribute the necessary substance types and quantities. Additionally, the demand for stimulants could have stimulated wartime economies (pun intended) during this time period in previously unknown ways.Ultimately, the Polish researchers put forth a captivating hypothesis about the Germanic peoples potential use of stimulants when going into battle. After all, I wouldnt say no to an extra boost if I was expected to go up against a Roman legionary soldier.Daily NewsletterYou May Also Like By Matthew Gault Published December 3, 2024 By Ed Cara Published December 2, 2024 By Matt Novak Published November 23, 2024 By Matthew Gault Published November 21, 2024 By Isaac Schultz Published November 7, 2024 By Matt Novak Published November 5, 2024

If you were hoping to score a brand new TV over this past weekend for real cheap for Black Friday, you havent run out of time just yet. Even though Black Friday and Cyber Monday are over, you can still save a ton on a TV as Amazon still has some of its Black Friday prices active. Last week, the 50 inch Amazon Fire TV 4-Seires which supports 4K resolution and HDR had its price drop to $280. As of writing this, the smart TV is still $280. Thats a 38% discount, down from $450 and saving you a whole $170 on your big holiday purchase.See at AmazonFor spending less than $300, what you get with this smart TV is pretty darn impressive. Its a full 50 inches which is pretty sizable for a lot of rooms and it can play media in 4K. Not only that, it supports vivid HDR 10 along with Dolby Digital Plus. With it, youll get a beautiful picture quality. It wont knock your socks off or anything, but it will look perfectly serviceable without anything to compare it against. So I guess just dont place an OLED TV directly next to it in your living room.As far as ports are concerned, the Amazon Fire TV 4-Series has four different HDMI ports. This gives you a ton of options so you can flip between your game consoles or cable box without replacing wires. It also supports HDMI arc so you can hook up a sound bar over HDMI if you would like. It also supports an optical connection.Alexa-EnabledThe Amazon Fire TV interface supports a wide range of your favorite apps from Netflix to Disney+ to Peacock to, of course, Prime Video. Between everything, you can enjoy access to more than 1.5 million movies and TV show episodes, plus millions of songs depending on what you are subscribed to. You can even manage your smart home of devices using the Alexa right from your TV. Start video calls, check on your Ring camera, and more right from the couch.I personally love being able to use Alexa with the remote so I can find a particular movie without having to type it in with the arrow keys into an on-screen keypad. I just say, My Cousin Vinny into my remote and the next thing I know, Im listening to Marisa Tomei yell at Joe Pesci about his pants.Right now, you can still get the Amazon Fire TV for its Black Friday price of $280 (38% off). No telling when the price will go back up so act fast before its too late.See at Amazon