Another year is coming to a close, so lets look back at the MIT Technology Review stories that resonated most with you, our readers.We published hundreds of stories in 2024, about AI, climate tech, biotech, robotics, space, and more. There were six new issues of our magazine, on themes including food, play, and hidden worlds. We launched two newsletters, to share tech industry analysis from our editor in chief and to step people through the basics of AI. And we hosted 11 exclusive conversations with our editors and experts in our subscriber-only event series, Roundtables.What did people enjoy most? Heres a quick look at some of the stories that performed best with our audience:10 Breakthrough Technologies of 2024Every year as we compile this annual list, we look for promising technologies poised to have a real impact on the world. It represents the advances that we think matter most, and the 2024 edition included weight-loss drugs, chiplets, and the first gene-editing treatment. The 2025 list is dropping in early January. To find out what made the cut, join us for a special live Roundtables event, Unveiling the 10 Breakthrough Technologies of 2025, on Friday, January 3, at 12:30 p.m. ET. This is a subscriber-only event. Register to attend or subscribe for access.)What is AI?Everyone thinks they know, but no one can agree. Senior editor Will Douglas Heaven explored the problem in this in-depth feature storyand explained why it matters for all of our futures. He covers the origins of modern AI and digs into the ongoing debate among experts about this technologys capabilities and potential.The AI Hype IndexTheres no denying AI moves fast, and it can be hard to know whats worth your attention. Thats why we started plotting everything you need to know about the state of AI in a new matrix, along axes that run from Hype to Real and Doom to Utopia.What are AI agents?Major tech companies are now developing AI tools that can do more complex tasks, like sending emails or booking plane tickets, on your behalf. Heres how they will work.Super-efficient solar cells: 10 Breakthrough Technologies 2024Solar cells that combine traditional silicon with cutting-edge perovskites could push the efficiency of solar panels to new heights. Thats why we put them on our list of the 10 Breakthrough Technologies of 2024.Happy birthday, baby! What the future holds for those born todayAs part of our 125th anniversary issue, contributor Kara Platoni spoke with a dozen experts to sketch out how technology might influence the life of someone born today over the next 125 years.The messy quest to replace drugs with electricityIn the 2010s, the field of electroceuticals was born, attracting much fanfare and investment. Contributor Sally Adee explored how the field fizzled and how its being revived as an effort to turn gene expression on and off with electric fields.15 Climate Tech Companies to WatchFor the second annual edition of this list, our reporters and editors chose 15 companies from around the world that we think have the best shot at making a difference on climate change.Weight-loss drugs: 10 Breakthrough Technologies 2024Drugs like Wegovy and Mounjaro have quickly become embedded into American life. In 2024, they even earned a place on our 10 Breakthrough Technologies list. The long-term implications are unknown, but plenty of people are using semaglutides anyway, and many lose around 15% of their body weight.Dont miss out on even more emerging technology coverage and subscriber-only stories.Subscribe today for unlimited accessto expert insights that you cant find anywhere else.

Following last weeks major patch 1.1, GSC Game Worlds S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl has received several smaller patches to fix issues. The latest, patch 1.1.3, is now available and fixes a bug with the story mission The Road to the Foundation, where an important character may disappear.Other fixes include skipping shader warm-up to temporarily prevent crashing during compilation, correcting ACCESS VIOLATION ERROR crashes, and a bug where inverting axis options wouldnt be saved when restarting. Also, if you ever lost control after shooting, reloading and examining an artifact, that should be fixed.Patch 1.1.3 is the final patch for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl this year, but GSC Game World has much more in the pipeline. Its also preparing a content roadmap for the beginning of 2025 and will also release a next-gen patch for S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Legends of the Zone Trilogy to update it for Xbox Series X/S and PS5. Stay tuned for more details in the coming months.Patch 1.1.3Fixed an issue when Richter could disappear from the Enerhetyk Palace of Culture during the The Road to the Foundation mission.Added temporary solution to avoid crash on shader compilation by skipping shaders warm up.Fixed a few ACCESS VIOLATION ERROR crashes.Fixed an issue when invert axis options could not be saved after restarting the game.Fixed an issue when controls could be lost after shooting, reloading and then examining the artifact.

When Microsoft and Obsidian Entertainment announced at The Game Awards earlier this month that whenThe Outer Worlds 2launches next year, itll also be available for PS5 day and date, there were some who were taken by surprise- though given Microsofts recent activity, maybe it wasnt such a shock in the end. After all, its no secret to anyone that the company intends to keep bringing its more and more of its games to platforms beyond just Xbox.In fact, as per journalist Jez Corden, the sight of a first-party Microsoft title releasing as an Xbox console exclusive is going to grow exceedingly rare. Speaking during a recent Xbox Two podcast episode, Corden stated that though he isnt familiar with Microsofts full release roadmap, based on what he has heard, first-party Xbox games releasing as Xbox console exclusives will be an exception going forward. As per Corden, barring unforeseen factors such as a lack of development time or resources, for instance the plan is for all first-party Microsoft titles to also be ported to PlayStation consoles.2025 will also seeIndiana Jones and the Great Circlecoming to PS5, though beyond that and the aforementionedThe Outer Worlds 2, Microsoft has yet to officially announce any other upcoming ports.

Sega has had a ridiculously good 2024, having enjoyed critical and commercial success with a number of major releases inLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, Metaphor: ReFantazio, Persona 3 Reload, Unicorn Overlord, Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeance,andSonic x Shadow Generations. To say the least, the company has a strong catalog of games to fall back on- which, for publishers in the modern market, usually means an opportunity for a subscription service.In fact, thats something that Sega is very much considering. Thats as per president and COO Shuji Utsumi, who told BBC in an interview that he finds the idea of a Game Pass-style subscription service from Sega very interesting, and that Sega is evaluating some opportunities in this space.He added, Were thinking something and discussing something we cannot disclose right now.Of course, Sega would by no means be the first company in the industry to try its hand at a subscription service. The company certainly has a strong catalog of titles to lean on, but whether itll be able to enjoy more success with such a service than some others have in recent years will be the big question.In the meantime, as far as games are concerned, Sega has several major projects currently confirmed to be in development, including Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, Virtua Fighter, Project Century, Crazy Taxi, Jet Set Radio, Shinobi, Streets of Rage Revolution, and more.

html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"The Gnomon Workshop has released Introduction to Marvelous Designer, a complete introduction to the 3D clothing design software, recorded by games artist Erika Lochs.The workshop provides over two hours of video training in Marvelous Designer and ZBrush.Get started with industry-standard software for 3D clothing and environment assetsMarvelous Designer is quickly becoming an industry-standard tool for creating clothing for characters and cloth simulation in environment art, in animation, videogames and visual effects.In this introductory workshop, suitable for artists who have never previously used the application, Lochs covers all of Marvelous Designers essential features.She begins by discussing how to navigate the software, setting out the key features of the 3D and 2D windows, and explaining how to use avatars.Lochs then demonstrates how to create a basic denim jacket, working with a pattern provided a workflow that viewers can follow along with from start to finish.A bonus tutorial for environment artists covers creating a medieval tent.Viewers of the workshop can download Lochs Marvelous Designer material sheet, Shortcuts sheet, her references and props, and the Marvelous Designer file for the jacket and tent.The workshop uses a commercial base mesh created by Hamza Ben Salah.About the artistErika Lochs is Principal Character Artist at Electric Square, specializing in creating clothes for game characters. Titles she has worked on include Diablo 4, Far Cry 6 and Riders Republic.Pricing and availabilityIntroduction to Marvelous Designer is available via a subscription to The Gnomon Workshop, which provides access to over 300 tutorials.Subscriptions cost $57/month or $519/year. Free trials are available.Read more about Introduction to Marvelous Designer on The Gnomon Workshops websiteHave your say on this story by following CG Channel on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). As well as being able to comment on stories, followers of our social media accounts can see videos we dont post on the site itself, including making-ofs for the latest VFX movies, animations, games cinematics and motion graphics projects.Full disclosure: CG Channel is owned by Gnomon.

The Medium responses that got you talking (and reading) this yearPublished inThe Medium BlogSent as aNewsletter3 min readJust now-- Welcome backIssue #235: why Spotify wrapped hits different this year + reversible decisionsIts an age-old principle of the internet: Cunninghams Law. To get an accurate answer, say the wrong thing in a public forum and someone will probably jump in to correct you! Wikipedia is built on this principle, and its one of the forces driving the rise of comment sections across the internet over the last 25 years.All to say: Theres wisdom to be found in the comments if you know where to look. With that in mind, I spelunked through Mediums stats to find the most-read responses across every story published this year. I found a pattern: Experts jumping in to add thoughtful context. Here are a few of the top responses I uncovered.Retired software developer Creig S tempers expectations that AI will eat the world:Lets get rid of any myths about how smart or good AI is. I prefer to treat the product of generative AI like you would a 3 year old who thinks all dogs are named King, with patience, caution, humor, and allowance for many errors.Entrepreneur Kevin Dewalt adds nuance to VC firm Maverick Ventures LLM predictions:Relative to traditional software, tiny teams can build powerful applications very quickly because the LLM takes on the reasoning traditionally captured by thousands of lines of code. As LLMs get exponentially better, this trend will inevitably continue.Lastly, JenFireHeartMamas viral story about the dissolution of her nine-year marriage prompted several of the years most-read responses. Dino DiGiulia, who went through divorce himself, remembers this tremendous feeling of freedom. Broke, alone, but free. And Allene Swienckowski chimes in with some hard-earned life wisdom from her 58-year marriage: Without a doubt, marriage, or just committing to another human, requires trust, love, desire (both emotionally and physically) and quite a lot of understanding self and other humans. Harris Sockel Our open tabsProduct growth expert Rosie Hoggmascall chronicles the 10-year history of Spotify Wrapped (now a viral marketing trend across many major apps, from Duolingo to Loom). This years Wrapped broke a record for listens (up 26% from last year), but fell narratively flat for some and Hoggmascall chalks it up to Spotify cutting 17% of its team this year.Software development is an exercise in decision making, and more than 50% of development time is typically spent investigating existing systems to figure out how they work. (software development consultant swardley)In storytelling, one salient detail beats many details every time. (Lulu Cheng Meservey) A dose of practical wisdomUncertainty is exhausting for humans (its one of the reasons why decision-making is so draining). A helpful tip, via Mark Shrime, MD, PhD: There are very, very, very few decisions in your life that cant be reversed. Tattoos can be removed, cross-country moves undone, purchases returned, and omelettes shared.

A drawing of the famous Christmas Truce of 1914, when German and British soldiers left their trenches to meet, talk and swap food in no-mans land. CBW / AlamyAlmost five months after Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia and the ambitious powers of the world began the First World War, tearing the continent into a muddy, broken remnant of its former self and turning the oceans into battlefields, the fighting along the Western Front stopped on December 24, 1914. It was, after all, Christmas Eve, a seemingly inappropriate time for the Christians of Europe to kill each other. Earlier in December, Pope Benedict XV urged a holiday truce. But the popes project seemed purely aspirational. His holiness has little hope for success, the Associated Press reported from Rome.On the same day, The Stirling Observer, a Scottish newspaper, reported that the idea of a Christmas truce was not a new one. It had precedent in olden times. But in the case of the Great War, there was, again, little hope, since Germany, the most attached to the solemnities and festivities of Christmastide, was also the most belligerent in her present temper and hatred of her enemies.With the holiday rapidly approaching and no apparent truce in the works, public opinion began to turn against the notion. The idea of a truce on Christmas Day is beautiful, and no doubt would commend itself to the sentimentalist, one pundit for the Cheshire Observer wrote. But warfare is grim, not beautiful, and warfare with savage foes like the Germans cannot be conducted upon sentimental principles.The first five months of the war had been so grim indeed that not only had thousands of lives been lost but also the spirit of adventure and hope with which so many soldiers had gone to war had almost been destroyed, historian Malcom Brown wrote in Meetings in No Man's Land: Christmas 1914 and Fraternization in the Great War.This destruction of hopeabout the truce but also about the goodness and decency of humanitymade the events that occurred on and around Christmas 1914 all the more remarkable.Along the Western Front, which stretched through northeastern France, Christmas trees, holly and mistletoe abounded as part of drives to show support and boost morale. On the British side, Princess Mary, the kings daughter, organized a fund that gave each soldier and sailor a brass gift box, a pipe, tobacco, cigarettes and a Christmas card, according to The Guardian. Millions of letters and packages poured in from families. Millions of letters and packages poured in from families.It will be strange if one of those little truces arranged tacitly by the men and winked at by commanders does not occur tonight, The Guardian wrote on Christmas Eve.That very night, British troops heard Germans singing carols and saw decorations poking up from the opposite trenches. One group hoisted its own canvas banner reading Merry Christmas (next to an unflattering cartoon of Kaiser Wilhelm). It wasnt shot downa promising sign of a brief, if unofficial, cessation of total hostility between the warring sides.Next day would have made a good chapter in Dickens Christmas Carol, one British officer wrote to the New York Times on Christmas Day. He describes many of our chaps walking out to meet the Germans in no-mans land. He took photographs with the enemies and exchanged military ribbons.Common humanity reigned for those brief moments. The Germans opposite us were awfully decent fellows, the officer wrote. I had quite a decent talk with three or four and have two names and addresses in my notebook.Some informal soccer even took place, now an iconic image of the bonhomie (although whether any games actually got going is disputed).These brief truces were magical, Mike Dash wrote for Smithsonian, although many officers disapproved, and headquarters on both sides took strong steps to ensure that it could never happen again.No other year of the war had truces as wide-reaching or iconic as 1914, but they still took place sporadically. We had a truce on Xmas Day and our German friends were quite friendly, one Canadian soldier stationed in France wrote in a 1916 holiday letter home.Despite the best efforts of officers and the relentless, mechanical drive of war, peace still sprung up organically whenever the season allowed.Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday.Filed Under: British History, France, Germany, Military, On This Day in History, Warfare, World War I,

If you're looking for a unique, last-minute holiday gift for the person who has everything, consider one of the best DNA tests available. These can allow anyone to learn more about their heritage, family history and even medical predispositions. Two of the most popular brands are Ancestry and 23andMe. To learn more, we outlined the pros, cons and factors to consider. However, since this comparison was first published, 23andMe has experienced a data breach and financial troubles, which may affect your decision. Ancestry vs. 23andMe AncestryDNA I tried the AncestryDNA kit, which comes with a saliva collection tube and cap, a return bag and a prepaid return label box. To register the kit, I downloaded the Ancestry app and scanned the barcode on the side of the collection tube. You can register your kit online too, and just manually enter the number.When you make an account, the app asks for your consent on several items, including consent to process your sample, to store the sample if you want future testing, and to participate in research. The research includes taking surveys and questionnaires that AncestryDNA says it will use to attempt to better understand human history and health.I declined to consent to store my sample or participate in research. AncestryDNA asks a few questions about your health history. You can edit what information becomes public or private on the site, and how you want to appear to other users if your DNA matches with someone else. You'll have an opportunity to review all information before proceeding.Read more: In the Future, Not Even Your DNA Will Be SacredAncestry does not use the standard Y-chromosome and/or mitochondrial DNA methodologies most others use -- so we know less about how it actually analyzes DNA.After spitting in the tube, I mailed off the kit and confirmed that it was sent off in the app. The app "tracked" the kit's journey from being received at the lab to processing and more before it told me my results were ready.Your results will include an AncestryHealth report and an Ethnicity Estimate report. AncestryDNA also tells you which other users your DNA closely matches. It flagged my aunt, who also used the site, as Close Family. The app let me compare our Ethnicity Estimates and gave me the option to send her a message. Read more: What AncestryDNA Taught Me About DNA, Privacy and the Complex World of Genetic TestingPros:You can decline to have your sample stored or participate in research.The AncestryHealth report was broken down into Notable Health Results, Health Results and Wellness Results. The reports include information about cancer risks, carrier status for diseases like cystic fibrosis and your blood health.The wellness reports give you information on your vitamin levels, among other things.AncestryHealth can flag potential health conditions based on the family history you shared or by variants detected in your DNA sample.You get anEthnicity Estimate report, which shows which regions in the world your ancestors were most likely linked to. This area on the map was color-coded, along with the others that my DNA was linked to. The AncestryDNA Regions list has over 1,000 regions that your sample is tested against, so you'll see where your DNA didn't turn up results, too.Cons:The family tree aspect and the DNA aspect required two separate apps. The desktop version keeps it all in one place if you work on a browser.The health screening does not have Food and Drug Administration approval. $39 at Ancestry 23andMe I tried the Health and Ancestry kit which came with the saliva collection tube and cap, a return bag and a prepaid return label box. Like AncestryDNA, 23andMe also required kit registration (in-app or online) prior to testing. I downloaded the app and scanned the barcode on the side of the collection tube. You can also manually enter the code.The 23andMe kit asked for consent on several items when I made an account, as AncestryDNA did. I could store my sample for future tests, participate in research, get health reports and had the ability to share my step data from a fitness app for a more comprehensive look at my activity. I declined all except the health reports.Unlike Ancestry, 23andMedoeshave FDA approval as a risk screener for a handful of genetic conditions and diseases. If you're primarily interested in DNA testing for this purpose, 23andMe is the better choice.The app tracked my sample's journey to the lab and the DNA extraction process. The app tested 216 populations to generate the report.23andMe can display the results in a timeline, so you can see approximately how many generations ago your most recent ancestor came from each region. For example, my results turned up a tiny bit of Ashkenazi Jewish background, but my timeline indicated that the relative would've been alive five to eight generations ago. You can also view your results as a Chromosome Painting, which shows where in your chromosomes a specific region matched and how prevalent it is. There were a lot of facets to explore in the results. For example, 23andMe gave me more information on each region my DNA matched. If I tapped on the icon for each country, 23andMe told me about the history of the region and the people's migration patterns over time and also provided resources to learn about the culture, ways to book an Airbnb to visit and other features. I could also seek out possible relatives among 23andMe users and found my mother's cousin.Pros:23andMe is FDA-approved as a risk screening. 23andMe's health reports included predispositions, carrier status, wellness, traits and a health action plan. Predispositions tested for Parkinson's disease, Type 2 diabetes, celiac disease and more. The lab would test for certain genetic variants.The wellness report included interesting items like whether or not you're a deep sleeper, how much you likely move in your sleep, genetic weight and other factors.The traits reported are particularly interesting. These detailed how likely I was to be able to have a certain eye color, hate cilantro, have freckles, hate eating sounds, get bitten more by mosquitos and other things.Cons:Like with AncestryDNA, 23andMe specified that the test results weren't a diagnosis or a guarantee that you wouldn't be diagnosed with a disease later. $59 at 23andMe AncestryDNA vs. 23andMe cost comparison The best DNA kits will have different services that come at varying prices. Let's break down AncestryDNA's and 23andMe's services and costs. AncestryDNA cost I've added the usual cost below, but Ancestry frequently offers decent sales for its DNA services.AncestryDNA ($99): Ancestry's basic offering allows you to search its US database for family connections.AncestryDNA + Family Tree ($100): Includes access to international records to trace your family lineage.AncestryDNA Traits + All Access ($199): In addition to the other services, you can access historical records and 35 genetic traits with this tier. 23andMe cost 23andMe offers four different DNA testing kits. All four products include ancestry reports, relative-finding options, trait reports and family tree building.Some of these are also currently on sale but are listed below at their retail price.Ancestry Service ($119): Includes ancestry reports, relative finding options, trait reports and family tree building.Health and Ancestry Service ($199): Includes carrier status reports, health predispositions and wellness reports.23andMe Plus Premium Membership ($268): Only the 23andMe Plus membership enhanced ancestry features, pharmacogenetics reports and consistent updates to existing reports.23andMe Plus Total Health Membership ($999, $499/year after the first year): Builds upon the 23andMe Plus Premium Membership reports and adds blood testing, biological age identification and genetics-informed clinical care. The bottom lineAncestry is best known for its family tree feature. When you use its DNA testing service and integrate those results, you can view everything in one browser. The information is split across two different mobile apps, which is less helpful. Overall, Ancestry's tools, including the ability to build a tree and link your health and DNA insights, definitely help paint a bigger picture of a person's origins and can help facilitate a conversation with newly discovered family members. 23andMe has a more user-friendly layout and presents its findings in a way that encourages you to immerse yourself in your (possibly newfound) heritage. It lacks the strength that Ancestry has when it comes to building your family tree. I could view a predicted tree, but it was sparse and only included other 23andMe users. Because I was already familiar with my family's origins, I can say that both kits seemed to yield accurate results. Who should choose AncestryDNA:If you're working on a family history project, AncestryDNA is the best choice for you. Remember that the family tree and DNA information are in two separate apps.Who should choose 23andMe:If you're looking to learn about your genetics or health information, I'd go with 23andMe. You'll like the easy-to-read format.For more, find out how I used tech to uncover more about my own family tree. You can also order a DNA test from other services for your pet, if you really want to. Watch this: Here's how genetic genealogist CeCe Moore finds potential criminal suspects 07:39 Ancestry vs. 23andMe FAQs Which is more accurate, AncestryDNA or 23andMe? Both AncestryDNA and 23andMe seemed to yield accurate results. Ancestry has a bigger DNA database, but 23andMe has a more user-friendly layout. They are two of the best options you can get. What is the difference between 23andMe and Ancestry? 23andMe and Ancestry are two of the best DNA kits you can use. When deciding which one you want to choose, it comes down to what you're looking to get out of your search. If you're looking for thorough health information, go with 23andMe. Ancestry is the better option if you're looking for family members or chart your lineage. Which DNA site is most accurate for ethnicity? Thanks to its extensive DNA database, AncestryDNA is one of the best DNA tests for accurately assessing ethnicity. The results you get will be broken down into an AncestryHealth report and an Ethnicity Estimate report. The ethnicity report is an in-depth look at which regions your ancestors are linked to. Is 23andMe worth it? If you want to learn more about your genetics and health information, you'll like 23andMe. It's one of the most popular DNA kits you can get. The website and app do a great job of breaking down all the information provided about your health, ancestry and traits. Additionally, 23andMe has FDA approval as a risk screener for a handful of genetic conditions and diseases. Correction, July 3: A previous version of this story transposed the "who should choose" sections. The error has been corrected.

Residents of the Sooner State can choose among many ISPs -- AT&T, T-Mobile, Cox -- you name it and there's an option. These are the best internet plans available in Oklahoma.

Nintendo Music adds Mario 64 tunesPeach's note.Image credit: Nintendo News by Tom Phillips Editor-in-Chief Published on Dec. 24, 2024 Wahoo! Etc. You can now listen to tunes from Nintendo's seminal Super Mario 64 via the Nintendo Music app.Today's additions bring 49 minutes of Super Mario 64 melodies to your ears, across 36 tracks. These include the game's memorable opening theme, that bit of music which plays as you muck about with Mario's face, and the theme for Cool, Cool, Mountain - where you toss the penguin to its death.Want something more chilled? Dire, Dire Docks is an absolute banger. You also have two versions of Piranha Plant's Lullaby to choose from.Of course, the game's best theme is "Slider" - what you'll know best as Princess Peach's Slide. And yes, you can extend this track up to an hour in length.Find the full track listing for Super Mario 64 below:"It's-a Me, Mario!"Title ThemeFile SelectPeach's LetterOpeningBowser's MessagePeach's CastleToad's MessageGame StartMain ThemeStage BossPower StarCourse ClearStar Catch FanfareRace FanfareSliderPiranha Plant's LullabyDire, Dire DocksCorrect SolutionCool, Cool MoutainBowser's RoadBowser's ThemeBowser ClearPowerful MarioBig Boo's HauntThe Merry-Go-RoundHazy Maze CaveMetal MarioLethal LavaGame OverThe Endless StairsThe Final BattleFinal Battle ClearEndingStaff RollPiranha Plant's Lullaby (Piano Version)Nintendo Music is the soundtrack app available to Nintendo Switch Online subscribers which now holds a growing library of tunes from a variety of classic consoles, as well as games on Nintendo Switch.Looking for something else? Here's our full list of every track available in Nintendo Music, including Nintendo Switch, GameCube and Game Boy themes.