Nature, Published online: 19 December 2024; doi:10.1038/d41586-024-04163-xFor centuries weve linked what we consume to how we feel about ourselves.

Nature, Published online: 19 December 2024; doi:10.1038/d41586-024-04244-xWe investigate how ancient humans ran and hear from climate scientists who are rising to the challenges of an impending Trump presidency.

Anime compilation films have existed for decades as a unique movie format. They consist of movies that compile or condense content from a TV anime series into a feature-length film, sometimes with added scenes, re-edited content, or improved animation, depending on the circumstances, but typically cutting out filler and 'unnecessary' content to get an anime's story out in less time. These films have played a pivotal role in shaping the anime landscape, offering fans a new way to experience already beloved stories while introducing casual viewers to expansive franchises in a more digestible format before anime hit the mainstream.

An unfortunate long-range hit from a zombie in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 ended one player's attempt to clear the Social Distancing challenge in an extremely frustrating way. The seemingly random nature of the hit underscored some of the problems facing players that tackle some of the toughest Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 challenges.

When they debuted in Helldivers 2, Firebomb Hellpods introduced another anarchic layer to the live-service PvE shooter. Missions like Eradicate or Blitz can take advantage of Firebomb Hellpods as their incendiary impact lays waste to all beneath them, and yet they can often do more harm than good if a squad is uncoordinated and calling in stratagems or Reinforcements in the vicinity of other players. Still, Helldivers 2 struck gold with this premise as pods in general have been underutilized apart from various colorway patterns and were in need of a refurbishment that could make them more exciting in gameplay.

Artificial intelligence made big moves this year as did the robots the technology is working behind.From Silicon Valley to India, Boston to Japan, here are some of the autonomous machines and robotics technologies, powered by NVIDIA AI, that offered helping hands in 2024.Clearbot Tidies Up Ocean LitterHong Kong- and India-based Clearbot, a member of the NVIDIA Inception program for cutting-edge startups, is making a splash with its autonomous trash-collection boats enabled by the NVIDIA Jetson platform for edge AI and robotics.With plastic making up at least 85% of marine waste across the globe, Clearbot aims to remove waste from waterways before it gets into the seas.The startups autonomous ocean vessels are equipped with two cameras one for navigation and another for waste identification of what boats have scooped up.Clearbot trained its garbage- and obstacle-identifying AI models using NVIDIA accelerated computing. The energy-efficient NVIDIA Jetson Xavier NX system-on-module allows the battery-powered water-cleaning boats to collect for eight hours at a time.Figure Unveils Latest Humanoid RobotSilicon Valley-based Figure introduced its Figure 02 conversational humanoid robot that taps into the NVIDIA Omniverse platform and accelerated computing for fully autonomous tasks.New human-scale hands, six RGB cameras and perception AI models trained with synthetic data generated in the NVIDIA Isaac Sim robotics developer simulation platform enable Figure 02 to perform high-precision pick-and-place tasks required for smart manufacturing applications.The company recently tested Figure 02 for data collection and use-case training at BMW Groups Spartanburg, South Carolina, production line.Figure is a part of NVIDIA Inception and among the initial members to join the NVIDIA Humanoid Robot Developer Program, which provides early access to advanced tools and computing technologies for humanoid robot development. This includes the latest releases of NVIDIA Isaac Sim, Isaac Lab, NIM microservices, OSMO, Jetson Thor and Project GR00T general-purpose humanoid foundation models.ORBIT-Surgical Researchers Prep Robots for SurgeryThe ORBIT-Surgical simulation framework developed by researchers from the University of Toronto, UC Berkeley, ETH Zrich, Georgia Tech and NVIDIA helps train robots that could augment the skills of surgical teams while reducing surgeons cognitive loads.It supports more than a dozen maneuvers inspired by the training curriculum for minimally invasive surgeries.Presented at this years ICRA robotics conference in Japan, the needle-moving robotics research based on Isaac Sim and Omniverse also introduced benchmarks for one-handed tasks such as picking up a piece of gauze, inserting a shunt into a blood vessel and lifting a suture needle to a specific position.The benchmarks also include two-handed tasks, like passing a threaded needle through a ring pole.Zordi Robots Grow Strawberries IndoorsBoston-based autonomous agriculture startup Zordi with farms in southern New Jersey and western New York is tapping into robotics to grow strawberries indoors.Autonomous greenhouse systems can support regional markets across the globe, cutting down on the carbon footprint for transportation and providing fresher, better-tasting fruits grown more sustainably.Zordi uses two types of robots within its operations. One is a scouting robot for gathering information on plant health using foundational models, the other a harvesting robot for delicately picking and placing fruits and handling other tasks.The startup is exploring NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin modules for gathering sensor data and running its AI models.Cutting-edge companies werent the only ones to drive major robotics advancements this year. For example, high school and university students are developing robot guide dogs for the visually impaired and training robots to perform 1,000 household chores.Learn more about the latest in generative AI and autonomous machines including NVIDIAs three-computer approach to robotics by joining NVIDIA at CES, running Jan. 6-10 in Las Vegas.

TikTok trends can often be misleading, dangerous, or just nonsensical, but sometimes they're genuinely useful, or at least fun. A new TikTok trend, where people check out their old homes on Google Street View, is more of the latter. Looking up how your favorite places have changed over the years is a nostalgic treat, and while you've been able to do it for a while, it's great to see more people discovering it (just be careful about posting your home address online).At the heart of all this is a lesser known feature that lets you view photos from the past. You can think of it like the internet archive, but for places. While some people might want to revisit their childhood neighborhoods that have since been demolished, others could use this feature to look at how their neighborhood changes in various seasons, or see how important landmarks have changed over time.How to view past photos in Google Street View Credit: Pranay Parab Google Street View has allowed you to 'go back in time' since 2014, but as the feature regains popularity, it's worth going over it once more. This feature works best on a desktop browser, although you can also access it on the Google Maps mobile app.Open Google Maps and search for any address that works with Street View.Click (or tap) the Street View icon near the bottom of the page (it should be a small thumbnail showing the current Street View photo).On desktop, in the top-left corner of the Street View page, you'll see a widget that shows the current address and the date. Click the See more dates link. If on mobile, open Street View in full screen and tap into the picture to find the See more dates link.This opens a pane in the bottom of the page. Scroll through the available dates and select a photo to view it. For some locations, images are available as far back the late 2000s, which really allows you to see how they've evolved. I used this feature to view the changing seasons on the Golden Gate Bridge, where the landmark disappears into clouds on some days. I also had fun looking up the World Cup stadium in Brazil and even Apple Park. Who needs a TARDIS when you have a smartphone?

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.If you're looking for earbuds that wont fall out mid-workout, the Anker Soundcore Sport X10, now priced at $49.99 (down from $79.99), might be worth a look. According to price-trackers, this is the lowest price these earbuds have ever hit, and they come highly rated4.0 out of 5 and an excellent verdict from PCMag. Available in black or oat white, these earbuds have rotatable ear hooks (that twist 210 degrees) and come with extra ear tips in various sizes so you can adjust them for a personalized fit. That said, if you wear glasses, the ear hooks might interfere with your glasses arms and their placement. Anker Soundcore Sport X10 $49.99 at Amazon $79.99 Save $30.00 Get Deal Get Deal $49.99 at Amazon $79.99 Save $30.00 The sound profile of the Soundcore Sport X10 leans bass-forward, courtesy of its 10mm dynamic drivers and Ankers BassUp technology, but its still balanced enough for casual listening. Pair that with Bluetooth 5.2 support for wireless connectivity, a surprisingly good noise-cancellation performance (for the price), and an IPX7 rating, and youve got a solid pair of audio gear that's ready for even the most intense workouts. (A heads up, though, that the charging case doesnt share this durability rating.)The on-ear controls of these earbuds are located on the top of each earbud, preventing the discomfort of accidentally pushing them further into your ears while making adjustments. These controls are customizable via the app, where you can also toggle between ANC (active noise-cancellation), transparency, and off modes, fine-tune the sound with an eight-band EQ, and explore extras like breath-training exercises. Battery life is decent, with Anker estimating eight hours per charge and an additional 24 hours from the case. Your mileage may vary depending on listening volume and how often you use ANC. If youre considering alternatives, the Jabra Elite 3 at $42.30 is another solid option.

We may earn a commission from links on this page.Due to the weather in many parts of the U.S., January's home maintenance tasks are often limited to indoor areas, as its usually more difficult to do outdoor projects like painting. Also, because you will probably be spending more time indoors during the colder parts of winter, keeping the inside of your home safe and comfortable should take priority. Here are all the home maintenance tasks you should handle in the month of January.Check your indoor ventsIn the winter, vents in your kitchen and bathroom can get a workout, with holiday cooking and houseguests adding to your regular use. Remembering to clean your vents, check or replace filters, and do any minor repairs that are needed are important steps to keeping your indoor air quality at healthy levels. To perform maintenance on vents, you can unscrew the cover from the housing and vacuum the dust out of the slats. If you have a washable filter, you can remove it and follow the manufacturer's instructions for cleaning. If the air filter in the vent is a disposable type, you can replace it. While the vent cover is open, inspect the interior parts and check for any damage.Check your tub and sink caulkingOnce a year, its a good idea to check the caulking around your tub and sink. If you notice that its beginning to peel or develop cracks, it's a good idea to remove the old caulk with a putty knife and replace it. Using a tube of caulk and a five-in-one tool, seal around the edges of your sink, your tub, and between the tub and tile to keep water from getting onto your walls, running into cracks, and causing unseen damage. You can also opt for a caulk repair tool kit that comes with removal tools as well as shaping tools.Perform an annual Wi-Fi security updateGiven the convenience of using wireless internet and connected devices, it might not occur to you to update your device lists and passwords every once in a while. Let January be your time to take a few minutes to check your current list of connected devices to ensure that old devices you arent using dont have access to your home internet, and also make sure that there arent any unfamiliar devices using your wifi. You should also take a moment to update passwords for your home internet and other connected devices to keep your network more secure. While these steps might seem small, they can help you to protect your personal data.Clean out washer drain filters and dryer ventsJanuary is an excellent time to clear all the gunk out of dryer vents and washing machine drain filters. You might not even realize you have a filter for your washers drain until it gets clogged and backs up into a fresh load of laundry. Washers that drain onto a utility sink or basin often have a screen to prevent lint from clogging the drain. It can get full of lint and stop draining, so taking a second to empty it can save you a lot of hassle. Some washers also have a screen built into the drain mechanism thats meant to be removed and cleaned; you can locate that on the back side of your washer, near where the water drains through the hose. Your dryer vent should be inspected and cleaned out at least twice a year. This can be done by removing the connection from the dryer on the indoor end and the vent cover on the outdoor end and using a vent cleaning brush to remove any lint build-up from inside. When youre finished cleaning it out, reattach the hose and the vent cover.Start a home maintenance calendarJanuary is the perfect time to begin a home maintenance calendar if you dont already have one. While home maintenance calendars used to be mostly paper files, you can also opt to keep a digital file. Your calendar can include important maintenance dates, like when your furnace filters need to be changed next, when you need to recharge your fire extinguishers, and your next planned chimney cleaning. Other items to include can be things like maintenance records and phone numbers for maintenance professionals so that you will have all the information you need in one place in case you need a repair. Keeping track of filters and important cleanings will help you to plan ahead for maintenance and remember when its time to take care of certain chores.

Called Havenn Tiny Houses, this Australian brand focuses on sustainable design and affordable luxury. They provide a versatile range of tiny homes that offer modern features with an eco-friendly touch. Called the Vesta Tiny Home, this house is compact yet it packs a punch. It measures 6.2 meters long and 3.9 meters high and features a simple yet clever single-level layout. It boasts a smart multi-purpose design for the living room, which can be transformed into a basic bedroom when needed. The house is perfect for individuals or couples seeking to escape from their hectic city lives and embrace an off-the-grid, nature-centric lifestyle. It is a low-cost and low-maintenance home that is an excellent option for those who want to dip their toes into the world of downsizing without completely committing.Design: Havenn Tiny HousesThe home is also blessed with a spacious and well-designed kitchen. It features a contemporary cooking area that most bigger models lack. The bathroom is also quite elegant and well-equipped. The tiny home is designed to be modern and stylish, even though it can only host one or two guests. The multi-purpose living room is equipped with a built-in bookcase which integrates a queen-sized Murphy bed. The living room is like any other basic living room during the day, but at night it can be converted into a bedroom. A large window offers lovely views of the surroundings, while open shelves offer storage space.The living room leads to the kitchen/dining area seamlessly. A little skylight is placed near the entrance, allowing natural light to stream into the home. The kitchen includes a foldable table and a few chairs near the window. The kitchen is quite open, and well-equipped for a tiny home. It contains a lovely stone countertop and built-in cabinetry, a full-size fridge, and a spacious pantry. It also incorporates an electric oven, a two-burner gas stove, a washer/dryer, and a range hood.The bathroom is amped with premium materials and golden fixtures. The entire home is quite elegant and overall, with a sense of spaciousness running through it. Certain eco-friendly touches were added to the home like an eco-friendly composting toilet in the washroom. Solar panels and generators have been added as well, and a rainwater harvesting system too. The system helps store and filter water. There are different off-grid options for different models. It isnt well-suited for large families but will work well for single owners or couples. The home is priced just under $50,000, and potential buyers can choose from a whole range of optional extras like appliances, accessories, and furniture.The post Self-Sufficient Tiny Homes Living Room Can Be Converted Into A Bedroom first appeared on Yanko Design.