As part of its CCXP reveals, Prime Video unleashed a first trailer for the third season of its fantasy series The Wheel of Time and revealed when it will be making its debut.The Wheel of Time Season 3 will premiere globally on March 13, 2025, around a year and a half after Season 2 wrapped up last October. Josha Stradowski, who plays Rand alThor, and Madeleine Madden, who plays Egwene alVere, were on hand at CCXP24 to announce the news and preview some of the upcoming season. The trailer, which you can watch here, showing an omnious changing world, one where the Shadow's roots have taken hold and the battle between the Light and Dark has only intensified. Plus, it seems like Moiraine (Rosamund Pike) faces a unique struggle of her own.The Wheel of Time Season 3 will premiere on Prime Video on March 13, 2025."I have seen a thousand thousand futures. Every future where I lived, Rand dies," she warns in the trailer. "And the only way he lives is if I don't." The Wheel of Time, which first premiered on Prime Video in 2021, is based on Robert Jordan's fantasy book series that follows Rand al'Thor, a farm boy who learns he's The Dragon Reborn, destined to either destroy the world or save it. In addition to Stradowski, Madden, and Pike, it also stars Daniel Henney as alLan Mandragoran, Zo Robins as Nynaeve al'Meara, Marcus Rutherford as Perrin Aybara, Dnal Finn as Mat Cauthon, Ceara Coveney as Elayne Trakand, Kate Fleetwood as Leandrin Guirale, Natasha OKeeffe as Lanfear, Ayoola Smart as Aviendha, and Kae Alexander as Min Farshaw.To refresh your memory on where The Wheel of Time left off, check out IGN's review of the finale, where we said Season 2 "ends with a big battle and a messy story that demonstrates The Wheel of Times biggest strengths and weaknesses."Alex Stedman is a Senior News Editor with IGN, overseeing entertainment reporting. When she's not writing or editing, you can find her reading fantasy novels or playing Dungeons & Dragons.

CCXP in Brazil is becoming a bigger and bigger deal every year and some of the biggest news and moments in the entertainment world happen during this event. CCXP 2024 looks to continue that trend and we're here to gather all the can't-miss reveals in one place for you here.We've only just begun, but we've already been treated to the first five minutes of Severance Season 2 and a new trailer, a new look at Anya-Taylor Joy and Miles Teller's The Gorge, and much more. We'll be updating this article throughout the weekend, so be sure to check back for all the big reveals of CCXP!Two Brand-New Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Clips Unveiled at CCXP With an In-Depth Look at ShadowAhead of its theatrical debut on December 20, Paramount Pictures shared two new clips of Sonic the Hedgehog 3, and one of them includes an in-depth look at Shadow.The first clip shows Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles arriving to the city and being on the lookout for a rogue alien. There is chaos everywhere, and the trio drop in and are quickly confronted by Shadow. He warns them to leave, but they choose to stand their ground instead. We then get to see a ton of flashy fighting that ends with Sonic and Shadow colliding and the city's power going out.The second clip shows Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles arriving at Tom and Maddie's home and convincing them to help them with a top secret mission. They devise a plan to break into Gun Headquarters and it involves, unsurprisingly, Sonic running very fast. We then get to see part of this plan in action and how it begins to fall apart when both Robotniks show up.The footage described here has not been released yet and the trailer below is from earlier.PlayAnya Taylor-Joy and Miles Teller on Their New Film The Gorge: 'They Fall in Love Through Their Sniper Scopes'While you can check out the newest trailer for Anya-Taylor Joy and Miles Teller's The Gorge below, we also encourage you to check out our chat with the stars on this new genre-bending movie set to arrive on Apple TV+ on February 14, 2025. In The Gorge, Taylor Joy's Drasa and Teller's Levi are two lethal assassins posted on opposite sides of a mysterious cavern that hides an unspeakable evil. While they aren't supposed to communicate with each other, it doesn't take long before they began to build a relationship and "fall in love through their sniper scopes."PlayThe First Five Minutes of Severance Season 2 Was Just Revealed at CCXP 2024 Alongside a New TrailerSeverance fans were not only given a new trailer for the much-anticipated Season 2 of the Apple TV+ series, but those in the room were also able to watch the first five minutes of the show that is set to return on January 17, 2025.In the footage, we got to see the aftermath of the Overtime Contingency Protocol and see Mark back inside Lumon. Once we are back in Macrodata Refinement, we learn all of his old friends - Helly, Dylan, and Irv - have been replaced by new recruits. The footage ends with Milchick coming in with blue balloons and saying, "Welcome back, Mark S. Been a minute!"While that footage has yet to be released, you can check out the new trailer for Severance Season 2 below.Dexter: Original Sin New Scene Shows Dexter's First Day on the JobShowtime revealed some exciting things for those who can't wait for Dexter: Original Sin, including a new scene that shows Dexter's first day on the job.For this unfamiliar, Dexter: Original Sin is set to premiere on December 15 on Showtime and will serve as a prequel series to Dexter. Patrick Gibson is starring as Dexter Morgan, but Michael C. Hall himself will serve as the narrator of his inner voice.The footage shows Christian Slater's Harry Morgan bringing Dexter into the police station and crime lab to introduce him to his co-workers. We learn Dexter will be working with his father as a paid intern, and we also get a glimpse of Sarah Michelle Gellar and Patrick Dempsey's characters.If that wasn't enough for Dexter fans, those in the room were also able to see the opening credits for this new series. Star Trek: Section 31 Gets a New Trailer Showcasing This Secret Division of StarfleetStar Trek: Section 31 is ready to beam down to Paramount+ on January 24, 2025, and CCXP providing a reprieve from the wait with a brand-new trailer. We get another glimpse of Michelle Yeoh's Emperor Philippa Georgiou in action and learn she will be going up against a threat unlike anything Starfleet has ever seen before.Yellowjackets Season 3 Footage Warns That 'The Past Will Come Back to Hunt You'Yellowjackets is set to return for its third season on February 14, 2025, and CCXP peeled back the curtain with some new footage. It's an intense look filled with tense music, stabbing, howling, blood, and more. Developing...

While 1984s Supergirl is very much a low-budget attempt to cash in on the majesty of the Christopher Reeve Superman movies, it does maintain the world that Richard Donner established in one regard. Midway through the film, Supergirl (Helen Slater) strikes a classic hero pose to face off against two baddies.I am Kara of Argo City, daughter of Alura and Zor-El, she says with confidence. And I dont scare easily. Unfortunately, she says those words to a witch called Selena, portrayed by Faye Dunaway at her hammiest. With just a flick of her finger, Selena flings Supergirl into an A&W vending machine.How could anyone defeat the Maid of Might with such a simple gesture? Any comic book loving reply guy would be quick to answer that Kryptonians like Kara and Kal-El are vulnerable to magic (what, exactly, vulnerable means is subject of much debate, but thats not important right now). That fact makes Selena a compelling villain, one who brings something different than the standard baddies in Superman-related movies: the Luthors and the Zods weve seen time and again. No matter the iteration, the pair offer a familiar, and often sci-fi, threat. By contrast to that bog standard villainy, however, is Selena, a sorceress who reminds viewers that Superman and Supergirl are so much weirder than the blue clad boys and girl scouts theyre so often portrayed to be.Both Superman and Supergirl have a host of magical and fantasy-based characters in their history. In Superman #14 from 1942, just four years after Supermans first appearance, the Man of Steel gets thwarted by a pianist called Krazinski, who uses magical hypnotism to befuddle Superman. That same issue sends Superman to an undersea city, foreshadowing Lori Lemaris, a mermaid and love interest. Beyond Lori, other magic-based characters frequent Supermans world time and again. The fifth-dimensional imp Mr. Mxyzptlk is one of Kal-Els oldest and strongest adversaries, a trickster who can only be defeated by being tricked in turn to say his name backwards. Supes regularly fights the Silver Banshee, victim of an Irish curse. As a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes, Superboy served alongside the magical Princess Projectra of Orando and battled the wizard Mordru. The oddball comics of the postwar, early code era dabbled in many other genres as well, including fantasy stories that saw Superman face off against mythical heroes Hercules and Samson, or joining King Arthurs Knights of the Round Table.The fantasy aspects are even more pronounced in Supergirls stories. She interacted with most of the same magical characters as her cousin, including Mxyzptlk and Mordru. But she had her own strange adventures, most famously involving her flying horse Comet, who changed into a human via a spell from the witch Circe and who dated Supergirl for some time. Supergirl counts among her rogues gallery the sorcerer Zond, the sorceress Nightflame, and more recently, Legion baddie the Emerald Empress, whose Emerald Eye of Ekron has magical properties.Dunaways Selena may have been invented for the movie, but shes very much in line with these eerie antagonists. Supergirl writer David Odell and director Jeannot Szwarc follow the tone and world established by Silver Age DC Comics. The Argo City of the film may look like the science-focused Krypton of Richard Donners movies, but it counts among its citizens the wizard Zoltar (Peter OToole), who holds a powerful MacGuffin called the Omegahedron. When Kara arrives on Earth and masquerades as human girl Linda Lee, Selena and the sniping warlock Nigel (Peter Cook) use their powers not just to find the Omegahedron but also to mess with Karas romance with groundskeeper Ethan (Hart Bochner, playing a very different type of white knight than he did in Die Hard).The mixed-up identities, goofy romance, and earnest emotional outbursts in Supergirl fit right alongside the stories of the era, stories that formed the bedrock of the character. Even though several different versions of Supergirl have appeared since the original version died in 1985s Crisis on Infinite Earths #7including a blob of shapeshifting goo, a fallen angel bonding with a teen girl, and a midriff-baring escapee from Darkseidboth the comics and adaptations keep coming back to the original version that debuted in 1959, the one who had all the magical fantasy adventures.In fact, the next Supergirl movie will likely continue this fantasy turn. Written by Tom King and illustrated by Bilquis Evely, the 2021-2022 comic book series Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow certainly has its sci-fi elements, as Kara and Supermans dog Krypto go across an alien planet, and even some aspects of a True Gritstyle Western, as it is narrated by a young girl who wants revenge against the man who killed her father.But Evely presents the story as high-fantasy, as announced by the cover of the first issue, which shows Kara raising a sword into the sky. The series imagines Supergirl as a type of wandering warrior or a knight of old who walks into a situation and helps the defenseless, pledging her allegiance to a quest. She even reunites with Comet, albeit back in horse form.James Gunn has announced one of the rebooted DC Universes next movies will be Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, directed by Craig Gillespie and written by Ana Nogueira, and starring House of the Dragons Milly Alcock as Kara. We dont know at this point how faithful to the comic the movie will be; Gillespies previous films I, Tonya and Fright Night dont have much fantasy, Western, or sci-fi in them. However, its hard to believe that Gunn and DC Studios co-head Peter Safran would stray too far from the source material, especially since the comics writer Tom King is also part of Gunns coterie of creators.If indeed Woman of Tomorrow holds true to the comics, then it will be returning the all-important fantasy aspect back to the House of Steel. It will make Superman, Supergirl, and the entire DC universe that much more wonderful and strange, and it will be following in a trail blazed by Selena and Supergirl, one magical finger flick at a time.

This article contains spoilers for Outlander season 7 episode 11.Outlander fans, whether theyve read the books or not, knew that it was only a matter of time before one of the storys biggest secrets would finally be revealed. In an episode already packed with twists and turns, the very last scene of season 7s A Hundredweight of Stones delivers the ultimate emotional blow.In Season 4, Lord John (David Berry), Jamie (Sam Heughan), and Claire (Caitrona Balfe) agreed that young William would fare better in life if he were presented to society as the future Earl of Ellesmere and not the illegitimate son of a Scottish prisoner of war-turned-landowner. Keeping this promise was much easier when William was an ocean away. Now the events of the Revolutionary War have brought both Lord John and William near Jamie and Claire.Jamies failure to return from Scotland plus Claire being accused of helping the Americans by British authorities in Philadelphia led to the sudden decision of Lord John to marry Claire in season 7 episode 10. Claires grief and the awkward adjustments to save face in public as Lord Johns wife dominate this episode.Williams life has not changed that much since Lord John married Claire. Now William Ransom a.k.a. William Grey, hes still a British soldier. He may not know the full story but he trusts Claire and is more focused on the possibilities of love and future promotion. Jamies unexpected return from Scotland on a different ship suddenly upends everything. He accidentally overhears a conversation between Jamie, Claire, and Lord John where they discuss the truth theyve concealed for over 20 years.Den of Geek spoke with showrunner and writer Matthew B. Roberts, and executive producer and writer Maril Davis about the big reveal. In addition, actors Caitrona Balfe, Sam Heughan, and Charles Vandervaart (William), share their perspectives on Williams pain and how this story will continue in future episodes.Anytime Jamie and Claire get separated, its never good, Caitrona Balfe says. That separation sets off this chain of events that has such a huge impact on Jamie, Claire, John Grey, and William. Its one of the biggest tests Jamie and Claire have faced in a very long time this family interrelationship drama coexisting alongside the political drama.Both Claire and Lord John feel Jamies absence from their lives. Claires depression and grief drive her to contemplate suicide as she feels she has lost all meaning and purpose. Lord John also feels Jamies loss but is compelled to dress up the situation for Philadelphia society.We all knew going in that this would be such a weighty episode, and huge props both to Caitrona and David Berry for really bringing it, Maril Davis says. I remember watching it for the first time and I got so teary. I think grief is very individual and they both brought the right amounts of grief in their ways to the table. You dont need to add anything to it.In the last episode, Lord John promises Claire that they dont have to consummate their marriage officially. This situation is especially painful for Lord John as the years of unrequited love hit so much harder after the loss of Jamies friendship. However, their shared grief leads to a moment of intimacy. They would rather have Jamie as a partner.We decided to let the scene breathe onscreen and that we dont need to cut away. We dont need to find other stories to delve into because the audience will be there with us, Matthew B. Roberts says. When you watch Outlander, you may get a 10-minute scene, and thats our language of storytelling.While Claire and Lord John are working out what this marriage for protection means for them, William is searching for Mrs. Right.I believe he is quite naive, and maybe there is a world in which he and Rachel were good for each other, but I think William has a lot of growing to do before he can be present in a relationship, Charles Vandervaart says.Jamies sudden return forces all involved to confront what happened and what that means for Claire and Lord Johns marriage. This is the conversation that William isnt supposed to hear but he does and it changes everything for him.Its a huge moment, and Jamies processing all of this information but I think for Claire and John Grey its way harder, Sam Heughan says. Theyve been through this grieving process, this strange relationship. On top of that, to have William find out is a huge moment for Jamie. Jamies always wanted to be part of Williams life but he also knows how dangerous it is for people to find out that Jamie is actually his father.Its a very painful time in Claires life to have to go through this process of believing hes dead, grieving, and where that leads her, Balfe adds. For then to have to deal with Jamies anger about it is very complicated.Willam was entirely unprepared to hear the truth because of the confidence Lord John instilled in him. Hes lost in this particular moment in his life, Vandervaart says. His end goal was to fight for king and country and to represent those ideals that he learned from Lord John Grey. Now he has no idea because thats a lie. He still identifies with that part of himself, but he doesnt necessarily know if thats who he truly is anymore. This is Williams entire identity falling apart in front of him.William curses Lord John, Jamie, and Claire and storms off. I think in his confusion at that moment, he means it, Vandervaart says. William is a very fiery person and its akin to that really cliche phrase hurt people hurt people.There were a lot of intense emotions portrayed on screen and the on-set experience reflected that for Balfe and Heughan. It was very tough stuff to film, Balfe says. Its one of those storylines where youre like, how do we get into this? How do we make this feel honest to these characters? And working with David in that way was amazing. Its also those challenges that make the work interesting. Because if you were doing the same thing over and over or just doing easy stuff, it doesnt really challenge you and it doesnt make you have to dig deep.As for whats next for William, Lord John, and the Frasers, Vandervaart teases: The scenes just after that in the next episode were the most fun to film because its just pure rage. Hes an incoming wake of destruction because he has no idea what hes supposed to be doing now. His entire moral compass and direction in life are now in turbulence. There are so many great scenes where Im kicking over chairs and channeling that Fraser rage that we all have inside of us, confirming who his dad is.Heughan and company promise that the revelation will have long-lasting effects on the rest of the season. Balfe even goes as far as to say that whats to come is some of the most beautiful dramatic stuff the show has ever done.And Davis agrees: Theres a moment in the last scene of the last episode that propels Outlander into season eight that I think will surprise fans. Im looking forward to it.New episodes of Outlander season 7 premiere Fridays at 8 p.m. ET on Starz.

The post Fortnite Ballistic: New Tactical 5v5 First-Person Shooter Launching in Early Access on December 11, 2024 appeared first on Xbox Wire.

SummaryWinter Fest arrives in World of Tanks Modern Armor on December 10, the biggest festive update yet.Get an in-depth look at how the event came to be, as told by developers at Wargaming.Learn all about the new tanks, Commanders, and the brand-new World of Tanks Winter Fest storyline.Once upon a time, on a cold winter day, World of Tanks Modern Armor came up with a new idea for their players. It was Winter Fest the ultimate test of any developers skills! Yet, creating it was so full of thrills that, once done, they smiled and said: That was fun!Winter Fest is the biggest holiday event in World of Tanks Modern Armors history. According to Art director Andy Dorizas , the team was ready to go beyond the historic Toy Tanks concept and give back to the players by making this years event truly unique. With a narrative-driven mode, new game mechanics, Commanders, tanks, and more, players will have plenty to explore during the coldest winter days.Winter Fest kicks off with World of Tanks Modern Armors beloved Happy Holidays mode, featuring the return of the Toy Tanks tradition, with four new Toy Tanks with mechanics that mimic those found in game, from flamethrowers to missiles!Winter Fest then follows the Happy Holidays mode with a two-week special PVE event: The Ice Queens Lament. It tells the tale of how the Ice Queen is attempting to expand her realm to make winter the only season. The chill is so strong that its even threatening Santas workshop! Santa needs your help. With his magic, hell transport you to a village in the North Pole that you must save before the cold destroys it and the Ice Queens rule grows. Once there, youll be leading Santas toy tanks against the Ice Queen and her minions.Your quest starts on the new Happy Holidays Reloadedmap for Act 1 of the event, The Ice Queens Curse, before heading to a heavily modified version of the Ardennes map for Act 2, The Siege of Frostbite Castle.According to Creative Director Thomas Foss, this was where the art and design teams gave their all and collaborated to create amazing maps to set the stage for the story. The first map is an enhanced version of a classic, and the second map is split between Santas workshop and village and the Ice Queens realm, with Frostbite Castle right at the center.New mechanics have also been developed just for the event. Enemy tanks have ice rockets that freeze you in place, and the only way to counter that is with a long-time winter tradition: Hot Cocoa, a unique consumable that will keep you warm and get you back into battle. Plus, facing the Ice Queen will be like entering a boss fight, the likes of which you havent encountered on these battlefields (well keep this one a surprise).And thats just the tip of the iceberg! Ready to step into the Winter Fest Storefront?The Winter Fest Storefront is the best place to find everything Winter Fest-related. Its an in-game Store where you can read the Winter Fest story, launch into one of our special event battles, and use your Snowballs to purchase tanks, Commanders, Garage Gear (yeti fur rug, anyone?), and more! Snowballs are the event-exclusive currency that you get by completing Challenges, destroying minions, and opening Winter Fest War Chests.The Winter Fest War Chests work similarly to our regular War Chests, offering rarer content depending on their tier. You can unlock tons of items including new Premium tanks, exclusive 3D Winter Fest Commanders like Nigel the Yeti, Nutso! the Nutcracker, and of course the Ice Queen herself. There is also an additional Ice Queen War Chest available as DLC that offers the ultimate version of the Ice Queen 3D Commander as a possible drop, with unique visuals and ALL Skill slots unlocked.Commanders need their tanks, and the holiday season is loaded with newcomers. World War II mode welcomes the heavy-hittingKampfpanzer 07P(E) heavy tank (with an exclusive Yeti Skin), while the ATGM-only ELC EVEN NA2 SS12 for Cold War mode (also with a unique Ice Queen Minion Skin) is ready to raise mayhem.Winter Fest is just about ready to warm you up with pure holiday magic inside World of Tanks Modern Armor. Grab a hot drink, kick back, and get ready to jingle all the way across this magical adventure when Winter Fest launches on December 10. Happy Holidays!

The first time Alyson Morgan set foot in rural southwestern Wisconsin, the rolling hills and deep valleys were buried under a mantle of snow dotted with red barns that stuck out like Christmas berries on the horizon. Alyson and her husband, AJ, were visiting friends at their farm and had stepped out for an evening walk. We were watching the Amish doing their chores on another snowy ridge, and the moon was just coming up, she says. It was just so peaceful, and I was really drawn to this place.Having grown up more than 2,000 miles away in San Franciscos Bay Area, Alyson hardly pictured herself making a home in this part of the country called the Driftless Area, so named for its sculpted topography. But after that initial visit, Alyson felt the same pull that AJ had to this region in the state where he grew up. Twelve years later, the couple, their childrenMagnolia and Griffintwo dogs, one cat, and a coop full of chickens are celebrating their second Christmas in the farmhouse they designed with local builder Adrian Ugo. Adam AlbrightAJ and Alyson Morgan with children Magnolia and GriffinPlanting roots here has deepened the familys connection to the locations seasonal shifts and informs their homesteading rituals, which Alyson documents at @alysonsimplygrows and in her debut book, Our Kindred Home. Inspired by the landscape and their gardens, nature plays into the familys traditions of cooking and crafting, even during the winter, when the growing season is all but dormant. I love the idea of the season going inwardthings start to get colder here, and the nights are darker. Youre brought back to what is meaningful to you, says Alyson.In the weeks leading up to Christmas, Alyson can be found potting paperwhites to gift to teachers and gathering fresh swags of evergreens to bring the scents of the season indoors. Magnolia and Griffin also take a hands-on approach, crafting ornaments and helping make pine spritz cookies, which theyll wrap up for friends and neighbors. While Wisconsin winters can be longand quite different from her California upbringingAlyson marvels at magical Midwestern moments like hearing the clip-clop of horse hooves and wagon wheels on the road by her house or waking up to a window of white. I still get giddy about the snow, she says. Below, see all the ways Alyson and her family created a true homestead holiday.Tour More Cozy Country Homes at Christmas:Fresh-Cut GreeneryAdam AlbrightIn the living room, a cast-iron fixture generates enough heat to warm the entire house during the winter. Its firebox features bricks salvaged from Milwaukees Third Ward, an homage to the city where AJ and Alyson previously lived. Evergreen garland with strings of vintage bells and block-print stockings lend a seasonal touch. RELATED: 50+ Christmas Mantel Ideas Full Of Holiday CharmAncestors AlcoveAdam AlbrightThe Morgans prioritized sustainably sourced materials, such as wide-plank oak floors milled locally by an Amish-owned company. The entrys switchback stairs frame an ancestors alcove, where the couple displays family photos and mementos.Meet the cat!Gifted to Magnolia and Griffin last Christmas by a neighbor on a nearby farm, Clover loves to curl up and nap in baskets around the house.Natural PaletteAdam AlbrightThe whole-house palettekitchen includedtakes its color cues from a stone that Magnolia found along the lakeshore when the family was on vacation in Door County. Creamy white walls and earth-toned cabinetry pair well with the islands warm walnut base and the ceilings reclaimed wood beams. The white enameled range and ceramic pendant lights keep the look seamless, while brass hardware complements Alysons growing collection of copper cookware. Adam AlbrightInspired by an English scullery, the pantrys built-in cabinetry resembles a hutch and provides ample room for both serveware and Alysons dried herbs. During the holidays, she packages tea blends and mulling spices in Mason jars with handwritten notes and recipes attached.Crafting Quarters Adam AlbrightIn the evening, the family gathers for dinner by candlelight, butthanks to kids supplies stored in its drawersthe dining rooms antique library table also serves up a handy spot for daytime DIYing. (To give the table a little more height, AJ and Alyson cleverly put it on casters.) Topped with wicker lampshades, the rooms iron chandelier ties into the black Thonet side chairs. I have an obsession with old chairs, says Alyson. Lighter TonesAdam AlbrightCreamy light-reflecting tile lines the back of the bathrooms arched nook. The soaking tub sits beneath windows that align with a direct view of the moon when its full. Heirloom FurnitureAdam AlbrightIn the primary bedroom, a modern take on the classic poster bed cuts a striking silhouette in the primary bedroom. I wanted a piece I could pass down, says Alyson. The hand-turned design was also chosen for its ebony finish. I lean into florals and lighter tones, so I wanted to mix in darker, more masculine furniture, she says. A cluster of brass bells tied with scarlet ribbon adds a subtle ring to the holiday. RELATED: Cozy Farmhouse Bedroom IdeasFarm FriendsAdam AlbrightIn Magnolias bedroom, felted farm animal ornaments adorn a pint-size alpine tree, and a paper chain made of wallpaper hangs above. The gray spindle bed, positioned near the window where Magnolia likes to watch the sun rise, was a gift from Alysons mother years ago. Magnolia is our early bird; shes up before all of us, knitting or reading, says Alyson. This is her little sanctuary.MudroomAdam AlbrightWisconsin weather means a hardworking mudroom is a must, so the couple designed the rooms built-ins with an L-shaped walnut bench for a handy spot to slip boots on and off. Once the snow fun is had, the family assembles on the back porch for apple cider, hot bowls of soup, and AJs reading of The Hobbit.Get the Look:Bedroom Tree: Balsam HillRELATED: Stylish Mudroom Ideas to Help Keep You OrganizedPorch TreeAdam AlbrightOne of the familys holiday traditions includes walking the land of their friends choose-and-cut Christmas tree farm, Snowy Ridge Tree Farm, with mugs of hot chocolate. Later, Magnolia and Griffin help trim its branches with handmade citrus ornaments, collected pine cones, wooden spindles, and metal snowflake and star ornaments.Meet the dog!Poppy the cockapoo is very obedient, unless shes eating scraps we bring out to the chickens, says Alyson.Enjoy More Holiday House Tours!

Just two weeks since raising $125mn in funding, British scaleup Tokamak Energy has secured backing from the US and UK to upgrade its ST40 fusion energy plant.The US Department of Energy (DOE), the UKs Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), and Tokamak Energy will jointly sponsor a $52mn upgrade to the fusion facility in Oxfordshire.Fusion has the potential to be a clean and sustainable energy source, transforming how we power our country, and countries around the world, said Kerry McCarthy, Minister for Climate at DESNZ.This strategic partnership is therefore crucial to develop this new and exciting technology, and bring it into use quicker, he said.The of EU techThe latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol' founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It's free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!The ST40 is a spherical tokamak, a circular-shaped fusion reactor that uses giant magnets to confine superhot plasma and create the conditions needed to fuse atoms.In 2022, the ST40 became the first privately owned fusion reactor to reach 100 million C six times as hot as the core of our closest star. The machine is under constant development as Tokamak Energy races to build something commercially viable.This latest upgrade includes coating the inside of the ST40 with lithium. Research suggests the element can help the walls of fusion reactors better withstand extreme temperatures.But the new project is not just a fusion reactor makeover. It represents a huge leverage opportunity for advancing fusion science and technology as a whole, said the DOEs Dr Geraldine Richmond.Under the agreement, researchers at universities and national laboratories in both countries will also be able to benefit from the research carried out at the ST40 tokamak.The project is slated to commence next year. The $52mn in funding will be divided equally among all three partners.Tokamak Energy has already raised $335mn in pursuit of fusion power, making it Europes most well-funded private fusion energy venture.Spun out from the UKs Atomic Energy Authority in 2009, the company is pursing a type of tokamak that is more compact than traditional doughnut-shaped reactors like the ITER fusion plant under construction in France. According to the company, this shape allows better confinement of the super-hot plasma where fusion occurs, making the reactor smaller, cheaper, and easier to build.Last year, Tokamak announced plans to build a second prototype spherical tokamak the ST80-HTS by 2026 to demonstrate the full potential of high-temperature superconducting magnets.The next step is to build its first grid-connected fusion power plant, which it hopes to pull off somewhere in the 2030s. Its grand vision is for fleets of modular reactors each with a power output of 500MW enough to power approximately 85,000 homes. Story by Sin Geschwindt Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecos (show all) Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecosystem. He's happiest sourcing a scoop, investigating the impact of emerging technologies, and even putting them to the test. Sin has five years journalism experience and holds a dual degree in media and environmental science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Get the TNW newsletterGet the most important tech news in your inbox each week.

Scientists in the UK have successfully created the worlds first carbon-14 diamond battery, which could power low-energy devices like satellite communication equipment for over 5,000 years.The battery is made of the radioactive isotope carbon-14, encased in a thin layer of synthetic diamond. As the carbon-14 decays it emits electrons. The diamond acts like a semiconductor, converting these electrons into electricity. Since carbon-14 has a half-life of 5,700 years, scientists expect the battery to last for millennia.The UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) and the University of Bristol led the development, partly due to the formers work on fusion energy. However, the potential applications are wide-ranging.Diamond batteries could power pacemakers, hearing aids, watches, computer chips any low-power device in environments where frequent battery replacement isnt feasible.I WANT THE BEST DEALEngineers could also use the batteries to power the communication equipment of spacecraft like Voyager 1, the farthest human-made object in space. NASA launched the satellite in 1977 and it is still sending data back to Earth. However, its power is expected to last only until 2036.The computer aboard Voyager 1 is also nuclear-powered, except its battery uses the isotope Plutonium-238, which has a half-life of only 87.7 years. If equipped with a carbon-14 diamond battery, the probe could have communicated its findings back home for thousands of years.Voyager 1 is currently floating in space 15 billion miles away from Earth. Credit: NASA/JPL-CaltechDiamond batteries offer a safe, sustainable way to provide continuous microwatt levels of power, said the UKAEAs Sarah Clark.Shortwave radiation from the decaying carbon-14 doesnt pose a risk it is fully absorbed by the diamond casing, the researchers said. The battery can also be recycled at the end of its life if anyone is still around by then!The diamond part of the battery was grown at UKAEAs Culham Campus near Oxford, using a purpose-built plasma deposition rig. The carbon-14 was extracted from graphite blocks, a readily available byproduct of nuclear fission reactors.While still early days, Tom Scott, Materials Prof at the University of Bristol, said they were exploring industrial partnerships for potential commercialisation in the future.Scott led the team that began the first diamond battery experiments back in 2016. He even spun out a company, Arkenlight, off the back of this research.The decade ahead is about improving power performance and upscaling production, said Scott. Story by Sin Geschwindt Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecos (show all) Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecosystem. He's happiest sourcing a scoop, investigating the impact of emerging technologies, and even putting them to the test. Sin has five years journalism experience and holds a dual degree in media and environmental science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Get the TNW newsletterGet the most important tech news in your inbox each week.

Technological advancements have meant that devices are lasting longer than ever. But one of the first parts to go is often the battery. Laptop batteries can especially be a problem, since many of us keep our laptops plugged in much of the time. But theres a new solution designed to improve your battery health: Chargie.Despite Apple and other device makers having solutions for battery aging that sets charge limits at 80% automatically, the reality is it isnt always reliable or available or on older devices that dont support the feature. Chargie makes it easy by giving you the ability to manually adjust the charging limit along with a fully controllable daily scheduler to keep the battery at a much safer 50% or 60% while you can, and also have it at 90 or 100% at times when you need longer battery life. The problem plaguing modern laptop batteriesThe days of frequently upgrading a laptop to new hardware are largely behind us. Modern computers have powerful tech, such as the M-class Apple silicon chips in MacBooks, and dont need upgrades nearly as often.Unfortunately, the advancements found in many aspects of modern computers havent brought the same benefit to battery lifespan. Batteries still degrade and need replacing, which can be costlyand with some computers isnt even possible, forcing a pricey upgrade sooner than necessary.This issue is exacerbated by the common habit of keeping a laptop plugged in to charge all day and night. Lots of us spend our days sitting at a desk, yet keep our laptop charging just in case we have to unplug at some point. But realistically, it doesnt need to be plugged in that whole time. The same goes for overnight charges.These habits accelerate the need for a new battery or even a whole new laptop, leading to electronic waste and unnecessary cost. But Chargie was built as a solution to this common problem.How Chargie makes your laptop last longerChargie is a small device from Lighty Gadgets that sits between your laptop and its charging cable.Connecting Chargie helps you take control of your laptops battery health by:monitoring the battery with greater precisionsetting charge limits and schedules to suit your lifestyleand ensuring youre not degrading your battery faster than you have toChargie is easy to connect to your laptop, and comes with adapters to suit a range of different laptop models.Once connected, youll interact with Chargie via a companion app thats available for macOS, Windows, and ChromeOS.Inside the app, youll find fine-grained controls for setting charging limits and a charging schedule that matches your daily patterns. For example, you can schedule your laptop to fully charge by 5pm on in-office days, before you head home, while on WFH days the battery follows different orders.Chargie supports up to 100W power delivery, so you can still charge just as fast as ever, and the app provides detailed charging updates.Even if you dont keep your laptop plugged in often, Chargie can still assist by preventing it from being kept at 100% charge for extended periods. This practice still contributes to improved battery health over time.Chargie availability and wrap-upChargie ensures your laptop intelligently stops and starts charging to protect its battery without causing you any inconvenience. This ultimately prevents battery wear and tear and extends the device lifespan.You can buy Chargie for a $40 early bird price as part of its Kickstarter campaign. Its expected to deliver in February 2025 for early bird orders, and March for all others.There is also the existing Chargie C Basic for phones that allows for slower charging and better battery life for phones. You can visit the Chargie website to shop the current lineup of Chargie products with some great holiday discounts available for a limited time. Learn more by checking out the Kickstarter page, or by following Chargie on X and Facebook.Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel