Wherever astronomers look, they see lifes raw materialsand hints at answers to one of the great mysteries of science.

A software update was supposed to free up the PS Portal from its reliance on the PS5 and add a world of streamable games to its appeal. In practice, it does nothing of the sort.

Engraving of General Sherman's "March to the Sea" Library of CongressAs General William Tecumseh Sherman sauntered into Savannah, Georgia, the city at the end of his infamous March to the Sea, , he gave new meaning to the old saying that to the victor go the spoils.To His Excellency President Lincoln, Sherman wrote in a telegram, sent on December 22, 1864, I beg to present you as a Christmas gift the city of Savannah, with one hundred and fifty heavy guns and plenty of ammunition, also about twenty-five thousand bales of cotton. It was not always evident, especially to Confederates, that Savannah would be the endpoint of Shermans maneuvers through Georgia, according to Noah Andre Trudeau in Southern Storm: Shermans March to the Sea. Before he left Atlanta on November 15, Sherman considered Macon or Augusta, railway hubs and centers of Confederate military production.But newspapers in the North like the Chicago Tribune began to report Shermans plants sweep with the irresistible power of a tornado down into the heart of Georgia and South Carolina early in November.The fall of Charleston and Savannah, the Tribune continued, would constitute a far more disastrous blow to the rebellion than the fall of Richmond.With this crucial goal in mind, Shermans troops left Atlanta and lit out for the next phase of battle on November 15.The troops were noisy and cheerful; full of hope and excitement, wrote David Power Conyngham, an embedded war correspondent in his 1865 book Sherman's March Through The South. For the next 36 days, Shermans troops followed a scorched earth policy as they moved through Georgia.In most instances they burned down houses to cover their depredations, Conyngham wrote of the troops, and in some cases took the lives of their victims, as they would not reveal concealed treasures. These gangs spread like locusts over the country.The plundering en route to Savannah was immense. Sherman estimated $100 million (around $1.5 billion today) in damages to the Southern economy. Economists have measured the effects of agricultural destruction lasting as late as the 1920s. The psychological terror along his 300-mile march was harder to measure.Savannah suffered, too, but not nearly as much. Once it was clear that Shermans men were marching to the sea, freebooters, as Conyngham described the Confederate troops of Joseph Wheeler, a general, had a reign of terror before the Union troops arrived.When we entered the city we found few of the citizens in the streets, Conyngham reported. The poor classes were grouped around, apparently well pleased with the change, for they had nothing to lose, and had suffered much during the war.Savannah surrendered easily. No siege was necessary, and it was spared from Shermans fiery destruction, left as an offering for Lincoln, a sign of the wars coming end.On Boxing Day, fivedays after Savannah fell, Lincoln finally made his reply. Many, many thanks for your Christmas gift, the capture of Savannah, Lincoln wrote. When you were about leaving Atlanta for the Atlantic coast, I was anxious, if not fearful; but feeling that you were the better judge, and remembering that nothing risked, nothing gained, I did not interfere. Now, the undertaking being a success, the honor is all yours.Now that Sherman and his troops had taken Savannah, the March to the Sea was necessarily over. The war was still more than three months from its conclusion, however, and Sherman was restless.But what next? the president asked. I suppose it will be safer if I leave General Grant and yourself to decide.Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday.Filed Under: Abraham Lincoln, Civil War, Confederacy, On This Day in History, US Military

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Tech Food tracking just got lazy in the best way possible with this wearable Seamlessly monitor your diet with cutting-edge AI and computer vision technology Published December 22, 2024 6:00am EST close Food tracking just got lazy in the best way possible with this wearable Counting calories just got easier. Are you tired of the endless hassle of counting calories and manually logging every meal?Say goodbye to the frustration with The Drop, the world's first fully automated nutrition tracker.This groundbreaking wearable device is designed to revolutionize how you monitor your diet, making nutrition tracking effortless and intuitive. Man wearing The Drop (Kickstarter)What is The Drop?The Drop is a wearable nutrition tracker powered by innovative Nutri Track technology.It automatically records everything you eat throughout the day and syncs seamlessly with its companion app, eliminating the need for tedious manual food logging. Whether you're tracking calories, macronutrients or overall dietary habits, The Drop does it all for you. The Drop (Kickstarter)How The Drop worksThe Drop uses advanced computer vision and artificial intelligence to detect meals with remarkable precision. When you start eating, the smart AI chip activates, and a 4K camera takes a cropped image of your meal. This image is sent to the cloud, where sophisticated algorithms analyze it to calculate calories, protein, carbs, fats and micronutrients. The nutritional breakdown is then instantly displayed in the companion app, giving you actionable insights into your diet. The Drop (Kickstarter)Say goodbye to manual logging with The DropTraditional nutrition tracking tools often rely on you manually logging every meal or snack, which can feel overwhelming and unsustainable. The Drop eliminates these challenges by providing:Automatic tracking: No more forgetting to log meals or snacks.Accurate insights: Advanced algorithms ensure precise nutritional data.Effortless use: Simply wear it and let it do the work for you.By acting as a personal nutritionist in your pocket, The Drop empowers you to understand your eating habits and make informed dietary decisions without stress or effort. The Drops companion app (Kickstarter)The companion app: Rex PremiumIncluded with The Drop is lifetime access to Rex Premium, an AI-powered nutrition app that enhances your tracking experience. The app offers personalized meal plans tailored to your specific dietary goals and seamlessly integrates with Apple Fitness and Google Fit to provide a holistic approach to health tracking.You will have access to a curated collection of recipes that match your individual preferences and dietary needs. The comprehensive dashboard allows for seamless monitoring of nutrition, workouts, sleep and overall wellness, all consolidated into a single, user-friendly interface. While the official release of the Rex app is scheduled for the second quarter of 2025, early beta testers will be granted privileged access to explore and utilize the app's features before the the general public launch. The Drops companion app (Kickstarter)The Drop: Where style meets functionalityThe Drop is designed for both functionality and style. It can be worn as a pin or pendant using a magnetic clasp or premium leather band. Weighing just 27.6 grams, its lightweight and comfortable enough for all-day wear. Available in three colors metallic blue, matte black and gold its as sleek as it is practical. The Drop in three colors (Kickstarter)Technical specificationsThe Drop packs impressive technology into its small frame. Its dual-core 32-bit processor operates at an efficient 240 MHz, providing robust performance for advanced nutrition tracking. The device features comprehensive wireless connectivity, including a complete 2.4GHz Wi-Fi subsystem and Bluetooth 5.0 for seamless data transmission and device integration.WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)?A high-resolution 4K camera serves as the primary sensor for capturing meal images, complemented by an integrated microphone for additional functionality. The memory configuration includes 8MB of PSRAM and Flash storage with an onboard SD card slot supporting up to 32GB of expandable memory, ensuring ample space for data storage and processing. The Drop (Kickstarter)Kickstarter campaign and rewardsThe Drop is launching through aKickstarter campaign that offers exclusive rewards to early backers. For a pledge of $199, supporters will receive The Drop device, which comes with a lifetime subscription to Rex Premium, the companion app valued at $19.99 per month.This subscription provides access to advanced features and personalized nutrition insights. Early backers will also enjoy the privilege of beta testing, gaining access to The Drop and its features before the general public release. Each backer's package will include The Drop device, a premium leather band, a magnetic pin clasp and a USB-C charging cable. The campaign anticipates shipping the Drop to backers by the fourth quarter of 2025.GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE A woman wearing The Drop (Kickstarter)Kurt's key takeawaysWith its advanced AI-powered technology and seamless integration with Rex Premium, The Drop eliminates the stress of manual logging while providing accurate insights into your diet. Whether you're looking to optimize your health or develop better eating habits, The Drop offers an effortless solution tailored to modern lifestyles. By supporting itsKickstarter campaign, you'll not only gain access to this cutting-edge device but also join a community dedicated to transforming how we understand and manage our nutrition. With its official release planned for the fourth quarter of 2025, The Drop promises to redefine the future of health technology one meal at a time.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPWould you be willing to try a device like The Drop to simplify your nutrition tracking or do you prefer sticking with traditional methods? What factors influence your decision? Let us know by writing us atCyberguy.com/ContactFor more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading toCyberguy.com/NewsletterAsk Kurt a question or let us know what stories you'd like us to coverFollow Kurt on his social channelsAnswers to the most asked CyberGuy questions:New from Kurt:Copyright 2024 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved. Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on "FOX & Friends." Got a tech question? Get Kurts free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

Although the Lewitt MTP W950 was designed as the ultimate stage mic, its large condenser capsule is ... [+] refined enough to make it a star in the recording studio too.Lewitt AudioHave you ever been to a live performance of a favorite band or artist and been left a bit disappointed with the gap between their recordings that you know so well and the live sound that has plenty of energy but lacks a certain finesse or clarity? If you have experienced that, then you are not alone. Its just as frustrating for the artists who want to produce the best live performance they can.One of the problems with live sound is the microphones that are used on stage often capture far less nuance than the large capsule condenser microphones used in most recording studios. However, the problem with studio condenser microphones is they are far too sensitive to use on stage and they are delicate instruments. A condenser mic would pick up far too much sound and probably blow the amplifiers with an endless howling loop of feedback. So, whats the answer?Lots of live acts will use the trusty old Shure SM58, a microphone thats been around for more than half a century. Its not very subtle but its built like a tank that will take a lot of punishment. But is there a way to get the subtlety and nuance of a large-capsule condenser microphone in a design that can reject bleed from other instruments but still pick up and convey the nuances in the singers vocals?The MTP W950 microphone consists of the W9 condenser capsule which can unscrew and be mounted on a ... [+] wireless unit for untethered singing.Lewitt AudioLewitt thinks its possible and it has made a microphone to do just that. The Lewitt MTP W950. This flagship condenser microphone has the benefits of a dynamic microphone and it can be used wired or wirelessly. If you can only afford one good microphone that has to work for live shows but still has the sophistication and sensitivity for recording, then the Lewitt MTP W950 could be the one for you. Stevie Wonder certainly thinks so and he has an W9 capsule (the capsule is designated W9 while the mics handle is an MTP50) on his wireless mic and three MTP W950 wired microphones at his separate keyboard stations. Great praise indeed.MORE FOR YOULewitt was founded in 2009 by Roman Perschon. His aim was to shake up microphone design using the latest innovations to create audio gear that would make life easier for beginners and music professionals alike, so they could reach the best audio quality, whether performing live or recording in a studio.The Lewitt range is extensive and underscored with a series of industry awards for its innovation. As a microphone brand, Lewitt claims to be one of the fastest-growing companies in the market. The companys design HQ is based in Vienna, Austria, with manufacturing centered in China, where Lewitt takes an unusual approach to making microphones. Instead of shipping components halfway around the globe, the company sources what it needs where its products are made, enabling an outstanding price-to-performance ratio.The MTP W950 comes in two parts. There is the capsule itself with its wire guard and the handle with ... [+] XLR connector.Lewitt AudioWith teams in Europe, China and the U.S., the company has built an international network that enables it to be close to users but still able to take advantage of advanced and cost-efficient manufacturing processes. To ensure the highest quality levels, Lewitt investeda lot of effort into an automated quality control system, which can be used to measure and test every single microphone that comes off the production line. The system enables sensitivities to be adjusted to produce microphones and other audio equipment that are consistent and reliable.The Lewitt MTP W950 answers the prayers of artists and engineers. What they want is the best sound quality while solving common issues in a live microphone that would be easy for vocalists to use and able to withstand the punishment of life on tour. The company employs some experienced live sound engineers, so it has the knowledge to tackle those issues from experience. In a rehearsal room, there often isnt the space for setting up a full wireless mic system so a wired setup is often used instead, but that could mean using a different microphone to the one that will be used on stage. That can destroy much of the effort thats been put into the rehearsal.For this reason, Lewitt decided the MTP W950 should be able to be used wired and wirelessly, enabling artists to seamlessly transition from the rehearsal room to the stage. The MTP W950 uses a 1-inch, true condenser capsule that is capable of studio-quality sound beyond the kind of performance that most stage mics can reproduce.A big fan of the Lewitt range is Stevie Wonder who uses a W9 capsule with a wireless transmitter and ... [+] three MTP W950 mics at each of his three keyboard stations.Lewitt AudioThe aim of the microphones design is to let the audience hear every detail in a singers voice, just as you would in a recording studio. Because artists move around on stage or might get too close to the drum kit or guitar amplifiers, that noise can spill over into the vocal mix, totally messing up the overall sound balance. To eliminate this possibility, Lewitt designed the MTP W950 to reduce the sonic bleed and spills to a minimum thanks to an industry-leading 90% rear rejection.Another common performance issue the MTP W950addresses iscupping. The more a singer cups a mic in their hand, the more the initial cardioid pattern will turn into an omnidirectional one which can quickly create feedback problems. Lewitt uses acupping-safedesign so the artist can hold the microphone very high on the basket before it begins to change tone. In addition, a natural barrier is added to the head basket to resist the tendency for the artist to grip further up, which is something rappers often tend to do.The designers of the MTP W950 put a lot of work into drop testing the micbecause the last thing you need during a live performance is for a microphone to slip out of the vocalists hand.The MTP W950 is designed to withstandat least sixfalls from a height of two meters on each side, rotated 45 degrees each time, plus two more falls against the front and back.Sounds more like it was made for a wrestling match.The MTP W950 is switchable between cardioid and super-cardioid. Lewitt AudioThe output of MTP W950 is relatively high compared to many dynamic stage microphones because of the use of studio condenser technology; therefore, it doesnt need huge amounts of gain to produce a great sound, unlike a lot of dynamic microphones.The MTP W950 has already gained some big-name followers. Caleb James is a professional audio engineer and CEO of Stay Faded LLC, a corporation taking care of the sound engineering for many big names in the music industry.For a recent Victorias Secret fashion show, says James, Rapper Lalisa Manobal of Blackpink planned to perform using her usual custom microphone. However, when she stepped on stage, the mic proved unusable due to poor vocal isolation. The venue, which resembled an old and abandoned warehouse is notorious for problematic audio reflections which aggravated the issue. The sound quality was simply not up to par.Fortunately, I had the Lewitt W9 capsule on hand. We quickly swapped it in and adjusted the polar pattern to super-cardioid under the grille to enhance vocal isolation. The difference was remarkableLisas vocals stood out in the mix and delivered exceptional clarity. Despite the challenging acoustics of the room, the Lewitt W9 truly saved the day.Lisa using a Lewitt MTP W950 on the runway of the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show held at the ... [+] Brooklyn Navy Yard on October 15, 2024 in New York.WWD via Getty ImagesAnother name that James works with is Stevie Wonder. The great man has an MTP W9 capsule on his wireless mic and uses three MTP W950 wired microphones at his separate keyboard stations. Then there are six W9 capsules for his background singers wireless mics.I love the many built-in switchable options under the grille of all these Lewitt capsules, which includes a 12db pad, low-cut filter and cardioid/super-cardioid polar patterns. All the capsules on stage are set to super cardioid with low-cut and the 12db pad engaged. This allowed us to lower the noise floor from the stage bleed into the capsules, which provided optimal vocal isolation. The setup worked flawlessly and delivered exceptional audio clarity even with Stevies full band, choir and a 12-piece orchestra performing together on stage, says James.Switching gears a little with the artist Lil Yachty, the Lewitt W9 shines once again. I use the 12dB pad to handle the extreme SPL levels coming from his excited rap vocals. The capsule performs exceptionally well with its mic-handling technique as well. He tends to cup the mic a bit and even while doing so the response curve of the vocal isnt drastically degraded as it would from most other microphone capsules.Rapper Lil Yachty is another user of the Lewitt W9 capsule in wireless mode for his stage show. Getty ImagesVerdict: The Lewitt MTP W950 is truly a mic for all reasons. Its unusual to see a condenser microphone on stage that can also shine in the studio. And yet, because it is priced competitively, artists dont have to pay a fortune to get the best of both worlds. The combination of Austrian design an engineering, along with cost-effective manufacturing and a workforce that seems fanatically dedicated to music making, suggest the MTP W950 has a long and bright future ahead which could see it become as ubiquitous as the evergreen Shure SM58, albeit with a bit more nuance as well as the benefits and subtleties of a classic condenser microphone.Pricing & Availability: The Lewitt Audio MTP W950 is available now from the Lewitt website priced at $689 / 689 / 689.Tech Specs:Type: Condenser, externally polarized.Acoustical operating principle: Pressure gradient transducer.Transducer : 25.4 mm, 1 inch.Polar pattern: Cardioid, Super-cardioid.Sensitivity: 8.1 mV/Pa, -41.8dBV/Pa.Self-noise: 21dB (A).Max SPL: 140dB SPL (0.5% THD).Dynamic range: 119dB (A).Signal-to-noise ratio: 73dB (A).Attenuation: 0dB / -12dB.Low-cut filter: lin, 120Hz.Internal impedance: 217.Supply voltage: 48V 4V.Current consumption: 7.5mA.Connector: Gold plated 3-pin XLR, Capsule thread: 1-28UN-2A.Microphone dimensions: 51 x 183mm.Weight: 397g.

Tarkov is not hitting 1.0 this year. Credit: Battlestate GamesDespite initially teasing that Escape From Tarkov would hit 1.0, and thus a full release, this year, game director Nikita Buyanov has now confirmed that the upcoming wipe will not be the full launch of Tarkov, with that now presumably targeted for next year.This time last year, Nikita teased that the story content that will arrive alongside the full launch of Escape From Tarkov would be added to the game in 2024, suggesting that the 1.0 version of Tarkov would also arrive this year. However, in a new interview, Nikita has confirmed that the upcoming wipe will not be a surprise 1.0 launch.No, version 1.0 wont arrive with the New Years patch, said Nikita in an interview where he also discussed the future of Escape From Tarkov Arena. We are moving towards the release, and we are currently preparing patch 0.16.0.0 for release.Despite some speculation from the community that the upcoming wipe could be a surprise 1.0 launch, it now seems that will certainly not be the case, with a full launch in 2025 being much more likely. That shouldnt come as too much of a surprise, as you would expect the dev team to announce the full release well in advance to try to drum up some extra hype heading into the launch window, and with seemingly less than a week to go before the wipe hits, that wouldnt be an effective marketing strategy.However, that doesn't mean that the upcoming wipe will be disappointing, with lots of new toys to play with being added to Tarkov. It will be slightly smaller than a usual wipe patch, given that a lot of the team is creating content for the full launch, but there will still be some cool new weapons, a rework to Customs and the Unity 2022 engine update that should make some technical improvements to Tarkov, which is starting to show its age.MORE FOR YOUWe are expecting the Escape From Tarkov wipe to arrive next week, likely on December 26th given they tend to arrive on Thursdays. However, as we have seen before, there is still a chance that it could be delayed until Battlestate Games announces the official release date. But before then you can still enjoy some entertaining pre-wipe events in Tarkov such as one that gives you a free Kappa container, another that increased cultist spawns and todays addition that had made the AA-12 shotgun much easier to get.

Clouds clear to allow a view of the final full moon of the year, a 'Cold Moon', as it appears behind ... [+] Christmas lights decorating Penzance main street on December 13, 2016 in Cornwall, England. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)Getty ImagesWhen is the next full moon? Its been a big year for the moon. In the wake of Aprils total solar eclipse, it involved four supermoons and a ring of fire eclipse. However, in 2025, its going the other way, causing a couple of total lunar eclipses the first since 2022 but also getting closer to Earth than at any time since 2019. Add a trio of supermoons and a couple of small solar eclipses, and its set to be an excellent year for moon gazers.Heres everything you need to know about every single fill moon in 2025:January 2025: Full Wolf MoonWhen: Monday, Jan. 13, 2025.February 2025: Full Snow MoonWhen: Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025.March 2025: Full Worm Blood MoonWhen: Friday, Mar. 14, 2025.2024s first total lunar eclipse. As seen from North and South America, the full moon will turn reddish for 65 minutes from 2:26 to 3:31 a.m. EDT. Following it will be the closest Super New Moon, on Mar. 29, 2025.MORE FOR YOUApril 2025: Full Pink MoonWhen: Saturday, Apr. 12, 2025.May 2025: Full Flower MoonWhen: Monday, May 12, 2025.June 2025: Full Strawberry MoonWhen: Wednesday, Jun. 11, 2025.July 2025: Full Buck MoonWhen: Thursday, Jul. 10, 2025.August 2025: Full Sturgeon MoonWhen: Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025.September 2025: Full Corn Blood MoonWhen: Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025.2024s second total lunar eclipse. As seen from Asia and Australia, the full moon will turn reddish for 82 minutes from 1:30 to 2:52 a.m. EDT. Its called the Corn Moon because the Harvest Moon moniker generally assigned to Septembers full moon is bestowed this year on Octobers full moon.October 2025: Full Super Harvest MoonWhen: Monday, Oct. 6, 2025.The first supermoon of 2024 is called the Harvest Moon instead of the usual Hunters Moon because its the closest full moon to Septembers equinox on Sept. 22, 2025.November 2025: Full Super Beaver MoonWhen: Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025.The second supermoon of 2024 will be the closest full moon to Earth since 2019.December 2025: Full Super Cold MoonWhen: Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025.The third supermoon of 2024 (though not the last theres also one in January 2026).Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.

An analysis recommends that Apple, an emerging target for digital-safety advocates, apply an independent review for software age ratings.

Fake licenses and passports are being generated to fraudulently verify identitiesamong other techniques.