• Save Nearly 60% Off the Beats Studio Pro Noise Cancelling Headphones
    www.ign.com
    Beats' flagship headphone has been marked down to the lowest price we've seen all year. Right now Best Buy has the Beats Studio Pro wireless noise cancelling headphones in a sleek black and gold colorway for only $149.99. That's $200 off the list price and matches the best deal I saw during Black Friday. The Studio Pro is the highest end Beats headphone currently available. We deemed it one of the best over-ear headphones, on par with more expensive models from Sony and Bose. These headphones can still be delivered to you before Christmas.Beats Studio Pro Headphones for $149.99Beats Studio Pro Wireless Noise Canceling HeadphonesBeats is owned by Apple, and the Studio Pro is marketed towards people like me who want a quality over-ear wireless noise cancelling headphone but also don't want to spend $500+ on the AirPods Max. The Studio Pro offers great audio quality, better than any other Beats headphone, and very good active noise cancellation. It carries over a lot of Apple's trademark features like spatial audio with head tracking, one touch pairing, and "Find My" functionality. It also has a Transparency mode so you can listen to the environment around you without removing your headphones.The Beats Studio Pro charges via the newer USB Type-C standard and it even has a built-in USB dac so you can listen to lossless audio files over USB. That's a very rare feature for headphones nowadays. Of course you can also choose to listen to your music wirelessly over Bluetooth or via a 3.5mm audio cable. The Beats Studio Pro travels well because it's pretty small, it boasts up to 40 hours of battery life, and the earcups fold in for easy transport in its case.Why Should You Trust IGN's Deals Team?IGN's deals team has a combined 30+ years of experience finding the best discounts in gaming, tech, and just about every other category. We don't try to trick our readers into buying things they don't need at prices that aren't worth buying something at. Our ultimate goal is to surface the best possible deals from brands we trust and our editorial team has personal experience with. You can check out our deals standards here for more information on our process, or keep up with the latest deals we find on IGN's Deals account on Twitter.Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
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  • Tower Defense Simulator Frost Invasion Update Rolls Out New Battle Pass and Sandbox Mode
    www.ign.com
    Tower Defense Simulator is sending in a wave of winter presents for Roblox players with its gargantuan 1.46.0 patch a.k.a. the Frost Invasion update, including the new Outpost 32 map, two new event towers, a new battle pass, and so much more.Developer Paradoxum Games has spent the last week teasing a massive update, and patch notes for todays update suggest Frost Invasion may have been worth the hype. There are plenty of rewards for both free and premium players in the events chilly battle pass, with some highlights for the latter including a Double Chunk Chocolate Cookie emote, the Dark Frost Electroshocker, and a Frost Legion Mercenary Base. Tower Defense Simulator update 1.46.0 also comes with the long-awaited Sandbox Mode for those looking to experiment as well as an Enemy Index, which can be used to keep track of and learn more about your foes.Tower Defense Simulator Frost Invasion event unleashes chilly new features for Roblox players.Frost Invasion itself injects some story background into the world of Tower Defense Simulator. A description from Paradoxum explains that the event takes place in the research facility known as Outpost 32 and involves the genius Professor V.However, during a routine test on the portal, a catastrophic malfunction occurredtearing a rift to the Frost Dimension, the description says. Now, waves of Frost Invaders are pouring through, threatening to obliterate the facility and its vital research.To help fight back against the Frost Spirit and his army, Tower Defense Simulator players have been granted access to two new event towers: the Elementalist Tower and the Snowballer Tower. The former can be unlocked by beating Frost Invasion on hard mode, while beating easy mode is all thats required to unlock the latter.PlayIGN's Twenty Questions - Guess the game!IGN's Twenty Questions - Guess the game!To start:...try asking a question that can be answered with a "Yes" or "No".000/250Paradoxum has given players the gift of more content this holiday season, and its a gift that should keep everyone preoccupied for the near future. Whether youre looking to save the world from the Frost Spirit as a newcomer or veteran tower defender, you can click here to see our full list of all active Tower Defense Simulator codes. Finally, you can see the patch notes for the Frost Invasion update below.Tower Defense Simulator Frost Invasion Update Patch NotesFROST INVASION IS LIVE!In the wake of the Hexscape incident, our brightest mind, Professor V, has been leading classified research into the enigmatic science of cross-world travel. Outpost 32, our most advanced facility, has been repurposed for these critical experiments.However, during a routine test on the portal, a catastrophic malfunction occurredtearing a rift to the Frost Dimension. Now, waves of Frost Invaders are pouring through, threatening to obliterate the facility and its vital research.The Frost Spirit and his army are invading! Protect Outpost 32 and its critical researchfailure is not an option. Frost Spirit Boss Outpost 32 MapNEW EVENT TOWERS!Elementalist Tower (Hard Mode)Snowballer Tower (Easy Mode)FROST INVASION BATTLE PASSPrepare for a frosty adventure with the Frost Invasion Battle Pass! Two tracks are available: Free and Premium (500 Robux). Unlock limited-time skins, emotes, name tags, and exclusive items as you progress!Free Rewards Include: Chilly Sticker Frost Legion Sniper Dark Frost Soldier Frost Legion Freezer Cozy Camp Farm Snowman Emote Dark Frost Trapper Nut Cracker Minigunner Santa Commander Frost Commander Charm Rudolph BrawlerPremium Rewards Include: Jolly Tree Emote Goofy Sledger Sticker Snowballer Charm Double Chunk Chocolate Cookie Emote Dark Frost Crook Boss Elementalist Charm Dark Frost Warden Elf Present Sticker Dark Frost Mortar Frost Spirit Charm Caroling Emote Frost Spirit Sticker Dark Frost Electroshocker Cultist Ramiel Charm Dark Frost Engineer Krampus Sticker Snowball Emote Frost Legion Mercenary BaseHOLIDAY CONSUMABLE CRATESpread the holiday cheer with the Holiday Consumable Crate! Unbox 5 random holiday-themed items for just 32 Robux, or earn crates by participating in the Frost Invasion event. Festive Tree Fruit Cake Santa's Air Strike Present Cluster Bomb MOLTEN MONSTERSANDBOX MODESandbox Mode is finally here! Available to players Level 250+, this mode lets you experiment with unlocked enemies, maps, towers, and items however you like. Push the boundaries of creativity and strategy!Want even more control? Grab the Admin Commands Gamepass to take Sandbox Mode to the next level with exclusive features!Features:Sandbox Mode: Full freedom to test and experiment.Quick Place QoL Update: Improved speed and efficiency for your builds.ADMIN COMMANDS GAMEPASSUnlock the ultimate power and take Sandbox Mode to its limits! Enjoy 20% off for the Holidays, knocking the price down from 8,000 Robux to 6,400 Robux!! Instant access to Sandbox Mode (no level requirement). Assign up to 3 admins to join your party. Mega servers: Play with up to 5 or 6 players. Spawn any enemies, including legacy enemies. Legacy gamemodes: Relive iconic T.D.S. challenges. Full game rule control: Edit and customize everything. Unlimited towers: Build without restrictions. Spam consumables for maximum chaos. And much more!ENEMY INDEXThe Enemy Index has arrived in T.D.S.! Track your conquests and complete your Log Book by defeating enemies. Each enemy has a random chance to drop their entry log upon death, unlocking their story and secrets.Discover Lore: More enemy lore entries will be added in 2026 for deeper insights into their origins.Sandbox Mode: Unlocking an entry allows you to spawn that enemy in Sandbox Mode for testing and strategizing.Frost Mortar finally gets added to the frost crateGame Changes:Small ChangesFixed various rare situational issues wich replicationFreeze tick damage properly scaled with timeGrenadier properly plays audio and muzzle flash on fireElementalistUnlocked by completing Frost Invasion on Hard modeComes with the ability to toggle frost or fire mode changing what active ability or debuff is available.Tower Limit of 5Level 0 Cost: 2000Level 1 Cost: 1500Level 2 Cost: 4000Level 3 Cost: 8000Level 4 Cost: 15000Level 0 Damage: 3Level 1 Damage: 5Level 2 Damage: 10Level 3 Damage: 12Level 4 Damage: 15Level 0 Range: 12Level 1 Range: 15Level 2 Range: 17Level 3 Range: 17Level 4 Range: 17Level 0 Cooldown: 0.6Level 1 Cooldown: 0.6Level 2 Cooldown: 0.6Level 3 Cooldown: 0.5Level 4 Cooldown: 0.4Level 0 Burst Size: 3Level 1 Burst Size: 4Level 2 Burst Size: 4Level 3 Burst Size: 5Level 4 Burst Size: 7Level 0 Burst Cooldown: 0.2Level 1 Burst Cooldown: 0.2Level 2 Burst Cooldown: 0.2Level 3 Burst Cooldown: 0.2Level 4 Burst Cooldown: 0.125Level 0 Frost Mode Debuff Duration: 2 SecondsLevel 1 Frost Mode Debuff Duration: 2 SecondsLevel 2 Frost Mode Debuff Duration: 2 SecondsLevel 3 Frost Mode Debuff Duration: 2 SecondsLevel 4 Frost Mode Debuff Duration: 2 SecondsLevel 0 Frost Mode Slow Percent on Hit: 5%Level 1 Frost Mode Slow Percent on Hit: 7.5%Level 2 Frost Mode Slow Percent on Hit: 7.5%Level 3 Frost Mode Slow Percent on Hit: 10%Level 4 Frost Mode Slow Percent on Hit: 12.5%Level 0 Frost Mode Max Slow Percentage: 45%Level 1 Frost Mode Max Slow Percentage: 45%Level 2 Frost Mode Max Slow Percentage: 50%Level 3 Frost Mode Max Slow Percentage: 50%Level 4 Frost Mode Max Slow Percentage: 60%Level 0 Fire Mode Debuff Duration: 2 SecondsLevel 1 Fire Mode Debuff Duration: 3 SecondsLevel 2 Fire Mode Debuff Duration: 4 SecondsLevel 3 Fire Mode Debuff Duration: 2 SecondsLevel 4 Fire Mode Debuff Duration: 4 SecondsLevel 0 Fire Mode Burn Damage: 5Level 1 Fire Mode Burn Damage: 8Level 2 Fire Mode Burn Damage: 8Level 3 Fire Mode Burn Damage: 10Level 4 Fire Mode Burn Damage: 10Level 0 Fire Mode Burn Tick Rate: 0.5 SecondsLevel 1 Fire Mode Burn Tick Rate: 0.5 SecondsLevel 2 Fire Mode Burn Tick Rate: 0.5 SecondsLevel 3 Fire Mode Burn Tick Rate: 0.25 SecondsLevel 4 Fire Mode Burn Tick Rate: 0.25 SecondsLevel 2 Unlocks Ice Turret or Heatwave active ability depending on what mode Elementalist is in.Level 2 Ice Turret Damage: 10Level 3 Ice Turret Damage: 20Level 4 Ice Turret Damage: 30Level 2 Ice Turret Cooldown: 0.45Level 3 Ice Turret Cooldown: 0.35Level 4 Ice Turret Cooldown: 0.3Ice Turret Lifespan: 40 SecondsIce Turret Can Freeze on Max SlowIce Turret Range: 10Level 2 Ice Turret Slow Percent on Hit: 25%Level 3 Ice Turret Slow Percent on Hit: 25%6Level 4 Ice Turret Slow Percent on Hit: 30%Level 2 Ice Turret Max Slow Percentage: 50%Level 3 Ice Turret Max Slow Percentage: 50%Level 4 Ice Turret Max Slow Percentage: 60%Level 2 Heatwave Damage: 150Level 3 Heatwave Damage: 250Level 4 Heatwave Damage: 400Level 2 Heatwave Range: 125Level 3 Heatwave Range: 13.5Level 4 Heatwave Range: 15Level 2 Heatwave Knockback: 20Level 3 Heatwave Knockback: 22.5Level 4 Heatwave Knockback: 25Level 2 Heatwave Burn Damage: 10Level 3 Heatwave Burn Damage: 15Level 4 Heatwave Burn Damage: 20Level 2 Heatwave Burn Duration: 5Level 3 Heatwave Burn Duration: 5Level 4 Heatwave Burn Duration: 5Heatwave Burn Tick Rate: 0.5 SecondsSnowballerUnlocked by completing Frost Invasion on Easy modeLevel 0 Cost: 300Level 1 Cost: 150Level 2 Cost: 650Level 3 Cost: 2500Level 0 Damage: 4Level 1 Damage: 4Level 2 Damage: 8Level 3 Damage: 15Level 0 Range: 12Level 1 Range: 12Level 2 Range: 14Level 3 Range: 18Level 0 Cooldown: 3Level 1 Cooldown: 2.5Level 2 Cooldown: 2.5Level 3 Cooldown: 2Level 0 Slow Percentage on Hit: 15%Level 1 Slow Percentage on Hit: 20%Level 2 Slow Percentage on Hit: 30%Level 3 Slow Percentage on Hit: 30%Level 0 Max Slow: 30%Level 1 Max Slow: 40%Level 2 Max Slow: 60%Level 3 Max Slow: 60%Level 3 Can FreezeLevel 3 Freeze Time: 2 SecondsLevel 3 Explosion Radius: 4Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He started writing in the industry in 2017 and is best known for his work at outlets such as The Pitch, The Escapist, OnlySP, and Gameranx.Be sure to give him a follow on Twitter @MikeCripe.
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  • Jack Black and Paul Rudd Announce New Anaconda Movie
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    Jack Black and Paul Rudd have confirmed they're set to star in a new Anaconda movie - and it's due out on Christmas, 2025.In a video, the pair talk excitedly about the reimagined comedy, with Black confirming, not that there was any doubt: theres gonna be a big f***ing snake.1997s Anaconda is a cult classic horror film starring Jennifer Lopez, Ice Cube, Jon Voight, Eric Stoltz, Jonathan Hyde, and Owen Wilson. As the title of the film suggests, it features a big anaconda. The film was ravaged by critics, but it performed well at the box office, grossing $136 million worldwide. A sequel, Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid, arrived in 2004, followed by three more made-for-television sequels.In its announcement, Columbia Pictures described this new Anaconda as a comedy. Rudd added: You want to get scared? You want to laugh? You want to celebrate with your friends?And yes, its coming out on December 25, 2025. What you gonna do, open presents? joked Rudd.Back in August, The Hollywood Reporter said the new Anaconda "involves a group of friends facing mid-life crises who are remaking their favorite movie from their youth. They head to the rainforest only to find themselves in a fight for their lives against natural disasters, giant snakes and violent criminals." The specifics of Black's and Rudd's roles are currently unclear.Anaconda is directed by Tom Gormican (The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F). Gormican and Kevin Etten wrote the script. Brad Fuller and Andrew Form are producing through Fully Formed banner.Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
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  • The Surprising Science Behind the Dopamine Decor Trend
    www.elledecor.com
    Your favorite sweater makes you smile every time you put it on. A certain shade of blue reminds you of summer vacations by the sea. That's your brain's reward system at work. Now imagine your home sparking that same feeling of delightthats dopamine decor.Born from the TikTok-famous "dopamine dressing" trend (wearing clothes that make you feel good), this philosophy encourages decorating spaces with an emphasis on personal pleasure rather than prescribed aesthetics. And while the name might sound like just another social media buzzword (it ranks sixth in TikTok's interior trends with over 34 million posts), there's actually compelling science behind why this approach might be exactly what our homes need right now.Miguel Flores-ViannaThis color-drenched Aspen home, designed by ELLE DECOR A-Lister Patrick Mele, is giving us all the dopamine."I believe this design philosophy is much needed after years of homes trending in neutral and minimalist designs," says Isfira Jensen, CEO and principal interior designer at Jensen & Co. Interiors. "People are yearning for spaces that are more vibrant and emotionally uplifting." It captures our collective desire to break free from the constraints of "good taste" and embrace what simply feels good.Why Your Brain Likes Dopamine DecorResearch by neurobiologists Semir Zeki and Tomohiro Ishizu has shown that when we look at aesthetically pleasing art, our brain's reward center lights upthe same area activated when we're in love. This isn't just about dopamine, thoughit's a complex cocktail of neurotransmitters including serotonin for mood regulation; oxytocin for feelings of comfort and belonging; norepinephrine for excitement; and endorphins for overall well-being. Studies have even found that vibrant environments can enhance other sensory experiences, potentially making everything from wine tasting to fabric touching more pleasurable (yes, that bottle of Bordeaux might actually taste better in a joy-inducing room). This phenomenon, known as cross-modal perception, has been extensively studied at Oxford's Crossmodal Lab, revealing how our brain's interpretation of one sense can significantly influence others.Ethan HerringtonA mint green loggia? Yes, please!"In our post-pandemic world, people have developed a deeper understanding of how their home environments affect their mental wellbeing," observes Joyce Huston, lead interior designer and co-founder at Decorilla. "We're moving away from the safe, neutral palettes and minimalist aesthetics that dominated the 2010s toward spaces that truly reflect individual joy and personality."How to Embrace the Dopamine Decor Trend in Your Own HomeUnlike rigid design rules that dictate what "goes together," this approach champions personal meaning over perfection. Hustons favorite example of dopamine decor in her practice was creating a gallery wall that mixed children's artwork with professional pieces in mismatched framesbreaking traditional design rules but creating an authentic source of daily joy. "The most successful dopamine-inspired spaces I've designed incorporate elements that have genuine meaning to my clients," she tells us.But how does one embrace dopamine decor while maintaining sophistication? The key lies in thoughtful curation rather than excessive stimulation. Huston suggests starting with a joy audit. Walk through your space and note which items genuinely make you smilethese should form the foundation of your design, regardless of whether they traditionally "match." Layer in personal touches like family heirlooms, travel mementos, or beloved artwork. Consider functionality, toojoy doesn't just come from aesthetics but from creating spaces that make daily routines more pleasant, whether that's a cozy reading nook or an efficiently-organized crafting station.William Jess LairdWe are gushing over this calming, soft-pink hue in the kitchen of a Connecticut Victorian designed by Clive Lonstein.Color is often the most immediate and impactful starting point. "Whether through small doses of color on cabinets or drenching spaces in full color, painting spaces in hues from the green, orange and yellow families creates a personalized, joyful space," advises Ashley Banbury, color marketing manager at HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams. She particularly recommends earthy, energizing orange tones for conversation spaces, soothing greens for home offices, and cheerful yellows for typically overlooked areas like laundry rooms and pantries. But, as Jensen reminds us, it doesnt always have to be loud and brighta soft peach or a calming lavender can be just as joy-inducing as bold primary colors.Interior designer Nancy Parrish encourages exploring vibrant patterns and textures by way of geometric prints, playful florals, or eclectic designs in upholstery and drapery. Don't forget about what she calls "the fifth wall"the ceiling can become an unexpected canvas for creativity.Oberto GiliThe Milan home of textile designer Lisa Corti shows off her colorful, creative personality.On social media, we are constantly bombarded with prescribed notions of what our homes should look like, what we should look like, and what our lives should look like. But dopamine decor offers us permission to trust our instincts and create spaces that don't just look good on Instagram, but feel authentically, deliciously good to live in. After all, shouldn't our homesthe places where we spend most of our livesbe designed to make us genuinely happy?Julia CancillaEngagement EditorJulia Cancilla is the engagement editor (and resident witch) at ELLE DECOR, where she manages the brands social media presence and covers trends, lifestyle, and culture in the design world. Her eye for emerging styles helps bring the latest in interior design to ELLE DECORs audience across platforms. Julia built her background at Inked magazine, where she grew their social media audiences by two million, conducted interviews with A-list celebrities, and penned feature articles focusing on pop culture, design, and lifestyle. Over her five years of digital media experience, Julia has written about numerous topics, from fashion to astrology.
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  • Apple starts winding down iPhone 14 and iPhone SE sales in the EU
    9to5mac.com
    As expected, Apple is starting to wind down sales of the Lightning-equipped iPhone SE and iPhone 14 lineups from the European Union. This comes as the EUs common charger mandate is set to go into effect on December 28, requiring smartphones to feature USB-C for charging. News of Apples plans to halt sales of the iPhone SE, iPhone 14, and iPhone 14 Plus in the EU was first reported by iGeneration last week. Subsequently, MacRumors noted today that the devices are no longer available via Apples online store in Switzerland. 9to5Mac has also confirmed this to be the case. Now that the iPhone SE and iPhone 14 models are no longer available in Switzerland, we expect other countries in the European Union to follow suit. By December 28, Apple will have presumably removed the devices from all impacted countries. As of right now, the devices have only been removed for sale in Switzerland.When that time comes, the iPhone lineup in the European Union will consist of the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, and the entire iPhone 16 lineup. The EU legislation requires that all newly-sold smartphones use USB-C for charging.Apple is expected to debut a new version of the iPhone SE next spring. In addition to USB-C, the new iPhone SE will feature a dramatic redesign with a new chassis, edge-to-edge screen, Face ID, and upgraded camera. My favorite iPhone accessories: Follow Chance:Threads,Bluesky,Instagram, andMastodon.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
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  • HomeKit Weekly: Aqara unveils a new valve controller to help prevent major water damage during leaks
    9to5mac.com
    Smart home products have come a long way, but one area often overlooked is water management. Aqaras newly launched Valve Controller T1 is changing that by turning your existing water valves into smart components of your home. Originally announced at IFA 2024, this retrofit device pairs with water leak sensors and integrates seamlessly into HomeKitHomeKit Weekly is a series focused on smart home accessories, automation tips and tricks, and everything to do with Apples smart home framework.One of the major features of the Valve Controller T1 is its ability to act as an automated safety net against water damage (which as a homeowner, keeps me up at night). Paired with Aqara leak sensors, it provides24/7 monitoringand automatically shuts off the water supply if a leak is detected. Whether youre out of town or simply want peace of mind during the night, this feature ensures your home is protected from costly water damage that might include new floors, cabinets, etc.Qqaras retrofit design means the Valve Controller T1 can attach to most standard home water valves without needing plumbing overhauls. It supports valve sizes from 1/2 inch to 1 inch and runs on four AA batteries, offering up to two years of battery life. The low-power Zigbee protocol ensures reliable operation without the hassle of wiring or recurring battery swaps.HomeKit and MatterFor HomeKit users, the Valve Controller T1 integrates with your existing setup, enabling automation through the Home app. Do you want your water valve to shut off if a leak sensor detects an issue? HomeKit automations make it easy. Plus, thanks to Matter compatibility via an Aqara hub, the device can work across platforms like Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Samsung SmartThings.Heres a quick video on how to install it.Automations allow you to remotely control or schedule your water usage, helping to conserve resources. Whether youre setting up an eco-friendly irrigation schedule or safeguarding against leaks, this device offers flexibility and reliability.Wrap upThe T1 Value Controller is the first of its kind that Ive seen with HomeKit and Matter support. Water damage is one of the fastest way to rack up home repair bills and this product could save you tens of thousands of dollars.Use code PRNAVCT1 to save 15% off the new Aqara Valve Controller T1 on Amazon.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
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  • Elon Musk Bullies Congress Into Cutting Funding for Child Cancer Research
    futurism.com
    Image by Roberto Schmidt / AFP via Getty / FuturismCancerPresident-elect Donald Trump hasn't yet been sworn in, but his advisor and major financial backer Elon Musk has already killed a bipartisan bill that would have provided money for pediatric cancer research.As political journalist Sam Stein reports for The Bulwark, Congressional GOP leadership has kowtowed to Musk's pressure and kiboshed the budget proposal meant to keep the government open and fund essential functions.In a barrage of posts including a4:15 AM tweet on Wednesday morning the X-formerly-Twitter owner insisted that the bill "should not pass." By that night, Republicans had shot down the budget proposal and with it any hope that Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy's Department of Government Efficiency (abbreviated, annoyingly, as DOGE) would be a mere vanity project for the billionaire.Soon after the initial bill failed to pass, Trump endorsed a revised (read: much more limited) version that also failed to pass the House of Representatives, leading to a potential government shutdown.As Stein points out, the spending bill that Musk murdered contained a veritable conservative wishlist, including money to bolster semiconductor supply chains, protections for rural consumers ripped off by the internet service providers, and restrictions on American investment in China.Eliminating those provisions as well as the whole "keeping the government open" thing is a huge deal. But a bit involving pediatric cancer research is aparticularly bad look.In its original form, the budget proposal would have extended funding for the National Institutes of Health's Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Program, which passed during a similarly gridlocked Congressional session in 2014. Named for a 10-year-old girl who died from a brain tumor the year prior, that program funded a decade of research into causes and cures for childhood cancers like the one that killed Miller and now, it's unclear what will happen to it now that it's been eliminated from the budget.In an interview withThe Bulwark, Nancy Goodman, the founder of the Kids vs. Cancer nonprofit and mother to a child who died of cancer at just 10 years old, said the exclusion of the Kids First program is a "completely heart-wrenching outcome.""We spent a lot of time putting together policies with broad bipartisan support to help kids seriously ill," Goodman said. "How can it be that our society is not thinking about the most vulnerable children and doing everything they can to help them? How can we cut this out in the name of efficiency? How does that make sense?"That kind of pained questioning seems, unfortunately, to be par for the course with this incoming administration and Trump hasn't even officially taken office yet.Share This Article
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  • Company Announces Construction of "Grid-Scale" Fusion Power Plant
    futurism.com
    Energy startup Commonwealth Fusion Systems has announced that it will begin construction of the "world's first grid-scale" nuclear fusion power plant near Richmond, Virginia.The MIT spinout announced this week that it was "one step closer" to making fusion energy fusing atoms together inside a reactor, like the process that powers stars in the night sky a reality with a multibillion-dollar investment in the facility.The goal is to produce a considerable 400 megawatts, enough to power 150,000 homes, the company claims. The company hopes to build the Virginia plant by the "early 2030s," according to an MIT press release.Needless to say, it's a highly ambitious plan and one that warrants plenty of skepticism, since it would require many future breakthroughs to realize, even with sufficient funding.CFS has yet even to demonstrate that its facilities are capable of producing more energy than is required to kickstart the process, or net fusion energy. That's something that has proven incredibly difficult, particularly at scale despite almost a century of fusion research.The company hasn't even finished the construction of its much, much smaller reactor called SPARC near Devens, Massachusetts, designed to demonstrate such a feat.Illustrating exactly how speculative the whole thing is: a 2023 image featured in reportingby CNN about this week's announcement shows construction workers marveling at what appears to be an aspirational, full-scale mural plastered to the back wall of a cavernous and largely empty facility.Despite the countless hurdles still ahead, the company's executives didn't hold back."This will be a watershed moment for fusion," said CFS cofounder and MIT engineering professor Dennis Whyte in a statement. "It sets the pace in the race toward commercial fusion power plants. The ambition is to build thousands of these power plants and to change the world."But the technicalities haven't passed over any heads, either."Nothing occurs overnight in fusion," company CEO Bob Mumgaard told CNN, claiming that the company was "deep into" constructing a tokamak capable of demonstrating net fusion energy.Mumgaard claims the company is hoping to produce first plasma in 2026, shortly followed by producing a net amount of power using its SPARC reactor. The much larger grid-scale facility in Virginia will then be the "next act.""In the early 2030s, all eyes will be on the Richmond region... as the birthplace of commercial fusion energy," Mumgaard told CNN.The company wouldn't be the first to claim to have achieved net fusion energy. In 2022, scientists at the government-funded Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California said they had achieved such a breakthrough using the"world's largest and highest energy laser system."They claimed the reactor produced 2.5 megajoules of energy, a 20 percent net gain over what they needed to start the reaction which is roughly enough power to boilabout two to three kettles.Scaling up the concept is proving even more difficult, particularly when it comes to a far more commonly-used reactor type called a tokamak, like CFS, which is a donut-shaped machine that confines super-heated and super-pressurized plasma.But with a whopping $2 billion in funding, CFS just might have a shot of taking a significant step forward, turning lofty promises into cold-hard science and actual results."There will be bumps in the road and things wont change overnight," Mumgaard told CNN. But "the designers and planners can now go from a general notion to a specific location for the next chapter in the fusion journey."Share This Article
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  • Hawk Tuah Girl Pledges Full Cooperation With Lawsuit Against Her Disastrous Memecoin
    futurism.com
    It seems that Haliey "Hawk Tuah" Welch is finally facing the music after angry investors filed a lawsuit against her disastrous meme coin.Just a day after the new filing dropped, the "Talk Tuah" podcasterbroke her extended silence during the fiasco and took to X-formerly-Twitter to announce that she would be "fully cooperating" with the lawyers who brought the suit."I take this situation extremely seriously and want to address my fans, the investors who have been affected, and the broader community," the 22-year-old wrote. "I am fully cooperating with and am committed to assisting the legal team representing the individuals impacted, as well as to help uncover the truth, hold the responsible parties accountable, and resolve this matter."Welch then linked to Burwick Law, the firm that's working with the jilted investors, and directed anyone who has "experienced losses related to this" to contact them.The lawsuit, which does not name Welch as a defendant, claims that the team behind the $HAWK coin failed to properly register it with the Securities and Exchange Commission.As such, the token's promoters the Cayman Islands-based Tuah The Moon Foundation, a firm called overHere Ltd, and influencer "Doc Hollywood" aka Alex Larson Schultz participated in the sale of unregistered securities, the suit alleges.This missive is the first time the viral sensation has made any sort of public statement since soon after $HAWK launched, and then subsequently crashed in what critics say was an intentional pump-and-dump scam.That same night, the podcaster unexpectedly popped into an X Spaces conversation hosted by the team behind $HAWK and made some bizarre comments before dipping back out."I hate to interrupt you," Welch interjected during the animated exchange, "but anywho, I'm going to go to bed and I'll see you guys tomorrow."As it turns out, the world did not see Welch the next day.Following that strange online appearance, "Talk Tuah" stopped publishing episodes and appeared to go on an indefinite and unannounced hiatus. Though the people behind the meme coin denied that it was a scam, Welch herself was AWOL until today.As these things go, the influencer's cooperation pledge which doesn't include any apology or admission of wrongdoing at all raises just as many questions as it answers.Has the alleged crypto scammer grown a conscience? Or is she just following her lawyers' orders? Ultimately, it's too soon to tell.Share This Article
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  • Babygirl Review: Nicole Kidman Brings Back the Erotic Thriller
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    My family adopted a dog at the end of the summer. Shes a saint in the house, but she reacted to dogs on walks, so we worked with a trainer to help her behave better outside. As part of the process, the trainer asked me to read a book;Let Dogs Be Dogs: Understanding Canine Nature and Mastering the Art of Living With Your Dog.In a nutshell, that art involves understanding theessence of dogs as pack animals. In any human/canine relationship, there are power dynamics at work even when the human remains oblivious to them. Whatever a dogs bad behavior, the book argues, it likely stems from their human owner (me, in this case) not assuming an assertive enough role as pack leader.I was listening to the audiobook ofLet Dogs Be Dogsas Iwalkedinto the press screening ofBabygirl.That was fortuitous timing; power dynamics like the ones described in it wind up being at the very heart of the film. It doesnt seem like a coincidence that its two central characters Romy (Nicole Kidman) and Samuel (Harris Dickinson) meet when the former is startled by the sight of a large dog biting a pedestrian. The dog lunges at Romy, only to be instantly calmed and quieted by Samuel and his alpha energy.It turns out these two people are about to spend the rest of the film together. Samuel is headed to his first day interning at a tech company that specializes in warehouse automation. Romy is its CEO, and by most accounts she lives something like a perfect life. She runs her own successful company and lives (in multiple beautiful homes) with her warm and close-knit family, including two teenage daughters andher affectionate and attentive husband Jacob (Antonio Banderas). Romy and Jacob are both busy New York professionals hesa theater director hard at work on a new Broadway show but they still find time for what appears to be a fairly active sex life.A24A24loading...READ MORE: Sex Scenes People Thought Were RealBy all accounts..., appears to be... You see where this is going. Despite her personal and professional successes, Romy finds something lacking in her safe, comfortable existence. After she and Jacob have sex, she sneaks off to her office to watch porn on her laptop while she masturbates. And then she meets Samuel, who immediately clocks the way shestares at him in a room full of interns and senses what this powerful woman really craves is a loss of control.With the confidence only a twentysomething techbrocould muster, Samuel requests Romy the CEO of the entire company as his internship mentor, and then uses their weekly meetings to test her desire to submit to someone elses orders, even to someone so professionally subordinate to her that the very existence of a sexual relationship between them could jeopardizeevery aspect of her perfectly ordered life.Thats Babygirlssetup, and its one thatcould belifted straight out of a 90s erotic thriller witha couple key differences. Almost all of those movies were told from the perspective of the man, with the women placed in secondary roles (quite often as deranged killers or stalkers).Babygirlobserves this story from Romys point of view, and it works hard not to judgeher particular kinks. This is an interesting, modernizing twist,something the film itself acknowledges. (Thats a dated idea,Samuelfirmly tellsanother characterwho insists that female masochism is nothing but a male fantasy.)A24A24loading...Unfortunately, that same nonjudgmental impulse that makesBabygirl initially compelling eventually boomerangs back around on itself. Because the film is so clearly designednot to condemn Romy and her sexual proclivities, its surprisingly lacking in tension. Once you sense the films intentions, you also realize theres only so many placesRomys relationships with Jacob and Samuel can go. As a result,a movie that gets into some thorny issues about power, gender dynamics, and female sexuality, ultimately arrives at an ending that seems a little abrupt andanticlimactic.Writer/director Halina Reijn surrounds this tale of carnal urges with grace notes about Romys company (which is cheekily named Tensile). Glimpses of its corporate culture suggest this is a modern workplace sensitive to the needs of its employees; Samuel attends an HRworkshopwhere a video cheerfully asserts that the company is about building a healthy, safe, inclusive workplace community, while Romy herself says in a TV interview that as artificial intelligence proliferates her line work, it demands an equal increase in emotional intelligence to match it.Truth be told, Babygirl doesnt fullymerge its spoof of modern corporate culture with its tale of illicit desire; you keep waiting for a firmer subplot to emerge from the scenes at Tensile. One never quite comes together.The reason to see the film anyway are the performances by Kidman, Dickinson, and Banderas. Kidman will surely garner the most attention for the film, and thats understandable; she allows herself to be extremely vulnerable in intimate scenes with both of her male co-stars, where the camera lingers on Kidmans face as she reacts to each particular moment with arousal, disgust, or fear, and sometimes combinations of the above all at once.But both male leads are terrific too; Dickinson at exudingthe alpha dog charisma needed to make Samuel appealing to a woman like Romy,and atstill managing to make this guy read as an immature kid despite all his cocky swagger. Banderas seemsabit too suave to play Romys staid, stuffy husband, but he actually sellsthe against-type casting, and brings someunexpected energy to Babygirlslater scenes as well.In an earlier era,Babygirlmight feel less novel, and its unwillingness to push its story into truly uncomfortable territory might be a bigger issue. These days, whenHollywood haspretty much abandoned sexuality as a topic of serious discussion, the film can easily lay claim to the title oftop dog.RATING: 7/10Get our free mobile appThe Most Important Sex Scenes Ever MadeSex has been a key part of movies since their invention and these scenes are the ones that are the most important.Filed Under: Antonio Banderas, Babygirl, Harris Dickinson, Nicole KidmanCategories: Movie News, Movie Reviews
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