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Hatch Restore 2 Best overall sunrise alarm clock $170 at Amazon Casper Glow Light Best versatile sunrise alarm clock $90 at Amazon Lumie Bodyclock Rise 100 Best no-frills sunrise alarm clock $99 at Amazon LIFX smart bulbs and your own lamp Best DIY sunrise alarm clock $35 at Amazon Jall Wake Up Light Sunrise Alarm Clock (Update: Currently Unavailable) Best sunrise alarm clock on a budget $50 at Amazon Mornings are glorious and signify the beginning of a new day, filled with infinite possibilities. However, if youre not a morning person, getting out of bed can feel like a chore. Even if you're a morning person, it can still be jarring to wake up to a traditional alarm sound. If you want to wake up more gently and naturally, we recommend investing in a sunrise alarm clock, which will stir you with gradual light and calming nature sounds. Skip the snooze button and improve your wake-up routine with the best sunrise alarm clocks.Read more: 31 of the Best Tech Gifts Under $100 for 2024For those not in the know, a sunrise alarm clock gently wakes up your body in a natural manner by simulating dawn. Instead of blasting you with the power of the sun, it allows light to gradually illuminate your room as though the sun is rising and shining through your window. Far calmer than a loud alarm ringing, a sunrise alarm clock could be just the thing to align your body with a more natural rhythm over time. And even if it isn't for you, it might be the perfect holiday gift for that special someone. A sunrise alarm clock can also help those with limited sun exposure or those at risk for seasonal affective disorder improve their mental health in dark, wintry months. Experts recommend getting bright light early in the morning, as it boosts serotonin production and can have a positive impact on your mood. Not to mention, a silent alarm will also mean you feel less stress each morning, with the sunrise alarm acting as light therapy just as you start your day.Read more:Best Memory Foam Mattress 2024Jamie Gold, a wellness design consultant and author, told CNET she came across these types of noise-optional alarm clocks during her research surrounding noise pollution: "Our lives and homes are filled with noise, and this creates the potential for insomnia, anxiety and stress. I love the idea of these silent alarm clocks for tying in with our natural circadian rhythms and helping start our days on a calmer note. Some heavy sleepers may need a stronger wake-up system, but if you're not one of them, it's definitely a solution worth considering."Since I started using a sunrise alarm clock, I've had a better night's sleep. Waking up without the loud sound of an alarm has also made my mornings happier and my days more productive. According to a small study in the journal Behavioral Brain Research, exposure to artificial light in the mornings can also improve cognitive performance throughout the day.If all of this sounds like something you'd be down to try, particularly if you're looking for a calmer start to your day, we've rounded up the best sunrise alarm clocks on the market -- from basic models to those that come with sleep timers, snooze functionality or even reading lights.Best sunrise alarm clock Nasha Addarich Martnez/CNET After testing the Hatch Restore 2 for a few weeks, this sunrise alarm clock stands out as my top choice because of its functionality options and design. You can customize the light options to your liking to create the perfect sunrise. Whether you like to wake up to warm golden tones or a gentle amber glow, the Hatch Restore 2 offers a wide range of hues that mimic a sunrise to ease you into your day. Since using the Hatch Restore 2, my bedroom has become phone-free at night, which has significantly improved my sleep quality.Another feature that I really like about the Restore 2 is the collection of sounds to pair with your sunrise light. You can choose from soothing nature sounds to peaceful melodies to create the perfect ambiance to wake up or fall asleep to. I have mine set to the sound of ocean shores to wake up and light rain at night to help me wind down after a long day. The ability to mix and match your light and sound options is endless.To properly use the Hatch 2 Restore you must download the app. It's a straightforward, user-friendly app where you set up your personalized routines. I control the alarm time, light settings and sounds all from my phone. For $4.99 a month, you can subscribe to Hatch+, a library of meditations, music, bedtime stories and ASMR. Nasha Addarich Martnez/CNET The Casper Glow Light makes our roundup as most versatile sunrise alarm clock for good reason. Once charged, the Glow Light becomes a portable night light I can carry around, whether it's a trip the the restroom or the kitchen for a midnight snack.The Casper Glow app adds another layer of convenience to your alarm clock. From the app, you can customize the brightness, sync multiple glows to wake up or fall asleep and schedule your wakeup time. I really like the fading options for falling asleep as it signals to my brain that it's time to start preparing for bed.Of all the sunrise alarm clocks on this list, the Casper Glow is probably the most unique one to use. Besides the app, it also uses tactile controls, like flipping the device to turn off the light.Its minimalist, sleek design goes with just about any type of decor. Lumie The Lumie Bodyclock Rise 100 is a simpler version of the Lumie Shine 300. It's a high-quality intro-level sunrise simulator alarm clock for people who are looking for just the basics: The Lumie Rise 100 features a 30-minute sunrise with the option to set the final light intensity. You can also program a sunset to help you fall asleep.The Lumie Rise 100 does not have nature or ambient sounds to add to your sunrise and sunset, although you can program the optional beeping alarm to start when your sunrise reaches maximum light intensity. Like the Lumie Shine 300, the Lumie Rise 100 has a tap-control snooze feature and an auto-dimming display. LIFX If you have a bedside lamp already, you can make a DIY sunrise alarm clock by replacing regular light bulbs with smart light bulbs from Lifx. These Wi-Fi-enabled bulbs connect to Alexa, Google Assistant, Cortana and Apple HomeKit, and you can program them to dim and brighten like a sunrise and sunset as you fall asleep and wake up, respectively.You won't get any sound, but if you're a relatively light sleeper who wakes up to changing light intensity, these programmable light bulbs will still get you up in the morning. You can also combine with Lifxstrips in fun colors for the coolest faux sunrise ever. Read our Lifx Mini smart bulb review. Jall If you're not quite ready to shell out $100 or more on a sunrise alarm clock, this budget-friendly sunrise simulation clock from Jall should do the trick. It has all of the basics and makes for a rather customizable sunrise: Choose from seven colors and 20 brightness levels to end your sunrise, as well as seven natural sounds to accompany the light. You can also choose to wake up to FM radio.The Jall Wake Up Light Sunrise Alarm Clock functions as a night light and bedside lamp, and you can adjust the brightness level for both. It doesn't have a sunset function like some others on this list, nor does it double as a white noise machine. If you only want the sunrise function, that doesn't matter.The majority of reviewers on Amazon love this clock: It has 4.3 stars and nearly 100% of the reviews are favorable. It seems that most people who bought this clock were looking for a less abrupt way to wake up, and the Jall Wake Up Light did the trick for them. Buyers also love that it's easy to set up and simple enough for kids to operate on their own. $50 at Amazon If you want a broader selection -- not just sunrise clocks -- check out our separate list of the best alarm clocks for 2024. If you need a good night's sleep, check out thebest mattresses you can buy online and the best pillowstoo.How we chose the best sunrise alarm clockOur roundup of the best sunrise alarm clocks entailed a comprehensive evaluation of several key metrics to ensure a great user experience. Customization: We prioritized sunrise alarm clocks that offer customizable light settings and included some models that offer sound selections to pair with your light.Features: We looked at what special features the sunrise alarm clocks offer. For example, app integration for seamless control, sound libraries and portability.Design: There's nothing we love more than an aesthetic but practical design. We chose models that can blend into almost any decor you have in your home.Durability: Our staff members personally tested these alarm clocks to assess each device's quality and longevity. Best sunrise alarm clock FAQ What is the best sunrise clock? Our top pick is the Hatch Restore 2 because of checks off all the boxes of things you'd want in a sunrise alarm clock like customization, sound options, app integration and ease of use. Do sunrise alarm clocks really work? Yes. The simulated sunrise light helps signal to your brain that it's time to wake up.

Image: Nintendo LifeOver the holiday season, we're republishing some of the best articles from Nintendo Life writers and contributors as part of our Best of 2024 series. Enjoy!To celebrate the 10th anniversary of Mario Kart 8, George enlisted a troupe of willing racers (at least that's what he told us) to tackle every single track in the upgraded, DLC-laden Deluxe version in a local four-player blowout to end them all.What follows is a twisting tale of glory and grief, friendship and failure a fittingly epic Mario Kart marathon to commemorate a decade of both Wii U and Switch's best-selling game.Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube789kWatch on YouTube As Im sure youre already aware, Mario Kart 8 is 10 today TEN! Nintendos perfect competitive couch creation has been a favourite of mine since the SNES days and knowing this (I assume) Nintendo was kind enough to deliver this beautiful baby on the same day of the year I came into the world though it technically arrived on these shores a day after the Japanese release.Prising the Wii U game open as a fresh-faced 20-something and tearing through every track new and old was an absolute blast. A few years later my wife Hannah and I sat down and played all the tracks in one go and had an amazing time doing so its a memory I cherish greatly.So I figure, what better way to repay Nintendo the favour than indulging in a sit-down playthrough of all the tracks the game has to offer now on its milestone birthday. I do the maths 96 tracks, averaging about three minutes each, thats about five hours. I can do that, right? Well, I guess we better find out.To get the full experience I need to draft in some fellow players and it needs to be played locally, of course. Nothing beats MK on the sofa. Sadly Hannah cant join in this time, so who are the idiots (sorry 'competitors') mad enough to take on this challenge?(L to R) George, Jonny, Alfie, Tom, Matthew, Mitchell Image: George BanksThere are a few who want to join but cant commit to the whole marathon Matt, Tom, and Alfie. They form a team and will be hopping on and off between each Grand Prix until Alfie takes over full-time for the tail end. Matt has deep MK experience and Alfie has youthful exuberance on his side this could be a formidable partnership. Tom has a PlayStation.Rounding out the competitors are Mitchell and Jonny a Crash Team Racing eulogiser and my game coding partner respectively. Im hoping this wont sour the working relationship. And just for a little extra spice, we arent playing for the bragging rights alone, no no. We are playing for this glorious trophy:Image: George BanksA trophy which definitely isnt a childs FA Cup replica with a sticker from New Super Mario Bros. 2 Ive inexplicably retained since 2012 hastily placed on the front. Look at it. Its magnificent.Start your engines2:00pmPro Controllers charged, mountains of snacks we shouldnt be consuming at our age opened, Switch docked, lets-a gMitchell: It is quite sunny outside, isnt it...[Some beers later]George: Right, we really should crack on this is actually going to take ages.3:23pmRecharged by the sun, we return from our false start and lay out the rules:A democratic vote decides 150cc over 200cc, theres going to be enough chaos without having to actually use the brakesNo changing of kart or character this is a proper playthroughShort break after each quarter of six GPs and all played in order on the selection screen, left to rightItems on (of course) and hard CPUThe second rule is important because you cant actually select 96 tracks to play through, despite the DLC. Nintendo has assumed most people are smarter than that. Not these guys. Its going to be two lots of 48.Character and Kart selection is deeply considered. I go for Tanooki Mario (to match the tee) and a nice, average construction picking speed over acceleration with the Koopa Clown.George: I think you need to just try and get ahead of the pack.Jonny: Nah, acceleration and grip for me because you need it if youre getting caned with items.Jonny duly picks Bowser Jr. and a slow but nippy Pipe Frame.Mitchell: I just love Animal Crossing.Fair. Mitchell picks villager in the Sports Coupe and after some team discussions (all very hush-hush youd think theres a Constructors Championship on the line too) the team select Gold Mario which feels like a deliberate provocation before weve even begun, and the 300 SL Roadster. Quick but pretty slippy.Lakitu, bring the lights. And you buckle up. Theres a long and bumpy journey ahead.Image: George BanksMushrooms and Flowers and Stars, oh my!3:32pmAs soon as that intro jingle kicks in, a hush descends all players sit upright simultaneously like a clan of meerkats.The simple tracks of the Mushroom Cup whizz by and its a very amicable, even jovial affair. A bomb on the line dislodges me from first position as Mitchell romps to victory on Water Park and Jonny outrageously Bullet Bills into second place past Matt on Sweet Sweet Canyon. But nobody minds we celebrate the chaos, even. Koopa shell hits of any colour are met with cheers. This is going to be a great night.Tom switches in for the team and the goodwill carries over into the Flower Cup, until...3:59pmThe first brag is uttered. After clinching Thwomp Ruins Jonny also takes Mario Circuit.Jonny: Did you see that? Two blue shells and I still came 1st!Theres a shift in the air as we line up for Toad Harbor (unanimously agreed to be the first banger of the evening). Its a tussle and Jonny celebrates pipping us to the post again.Jonny: YES!Joy quickly turns to despair.Jonny: OH NO THERES ANOTHER LAP!Image: George BanksMitch chuckles at this. Instructions are being yelled to Tom by his teammates, but Jonny and I are silent the clacking of thumbsticks as we snake through the trams the only sound we emanate. I squeak it over the line and involuntary fist pumps erupt from me.George: Victories, when razor-thin like that, are just the best.Jonny: Absolutely. Thought I had that one.A calamitous performance from Tom on both Twisted Mansion and Shy Guy Falls prompts good-natured derision from his team highlighted by his immediately falling off the course after a teammate proudly declares, Ive taught him well. Impeccable comedy timing.The Star Cup is where we feel the tracks start to get a little more interesting. Then it happens4:06pmPolice, please. Id like to report a crime at Dolphin Shoals. I am blue-shelled from 2nd to 5th. As I rant at this injustice Matt dryly utters the words that will become synonymous with the evening: Thats Mario Kart, baby.A hearty and knowing laugh goes up hes not wrong. Ill shorten it to 'TMKB' for now.Its during this cup that we really start to identify our CPU antagonists, too.Mitchell: I swear Baby Rosalina has it in for me.Alfie: King Boo is evil.This simmering resentment is made worse by King Boo storming to victory on Mount Wario after we chat about how much we love non-looping courses.Mitchell: Guys, we let a CPU win.George: I genuinely feel sick.If only we knew what was to come.Over the RainbowImage: George Banks4:12pmMitchell cant help but laugh as the first item box of Special Cups Cloudtop Cruise gifts me three orbiting shells which instantly smash him off a ledge. RNG payback is swift, though, as the last jump of the race sees me get struck by lightning, skid off, land on a banana skin, and finally get shelled to go from 1st to 8th. The profanity seal is loudly broken.Matt: TMKB.We all seem to forget how to drive for the majority of these tracks and instead just pummel each other with items so hard that Matt and Mitch end up coming 11th and 12th. The battering on Rainbow Road is so punishing that Jonny is pushed over the edge.Jonny: I hate this game.'IHTG.' The second catchphrase.4:27pmA gauntlet is thrown down. Tom is in for the team on the Egg Cup but as we chat through the tracks on the selection screen Alfie pipes up about Excitebike Arena.Alfie: Im actually really good at that one.Everyone: Ohhh!Willing to back up his words, Alfie subs in and for the first time in a while hush descends; the creeping apathy of the Special Cup vanishes in an instant. The course is frantic and action-packed glowing white thumbs pressing as hard as possible onto the accelerator to try and urge a few more MPH out of our shuddering machines. Its very, very tight - but Alfie walks the walk! Pulling away on Lap 3 and sealing the win. Light applause breaks out.We muse about how much we miss F-Zero as we speed 'round Mute City and by this point the foots definitely off the gas competition-wise everyones eased back and is happy to chat. That is until...4:42pmBaby Park. Who needs energy drinks? This track is the most powerful stimulant on Earth. You always think its not as manic as you remember but it really is.The last lap Image: George BanksEveryones wired again and the energy carries through the remaining tracks. Jonny and I bemoan the computer cheating all the time on Cheese Land and a CPU lands in front of us from the shortcut with timing so perfect youd think it wanted to prove that point.Jonny: IHTG!The rage monkey rears its head for the first time as Mitchell smashes into a snowman on the final lap of his home turf of Animal Crossing - costing him the race. The controller eats some sofa cushions. Good time for a break. Jonny checks in with his girlfriend, Elly, whos been popping in and out.Jonny: Whats it like spectating?Elly: Quite amusing, actually.Jonny: You should feel my pits.Elly: I can feel the heat coming off your back!The room is already pretty musty.The standings after a quarter of the game Image: George BanksBack to the Future5:09pmWe are refocused and there's a little ripple of excitement from the group as we scroll through the cups to see whats coming up and we chat about tracks we love from previous games. Moo Moo Meadows is the inaugural track of the Shell Cup and my wifes favourite. I dont know if the others went easy on me (the amount of Koopa shells smashed into my ribs says no) but I managed to dig out the win and felt genuinely elated. Its a win for her.5:20pmThe resentment for the computer is really starting to kick in now with King Boo and Baby Rosalina firmly staking their claims as utter villains, wrecking us on Toads Turnpike to accompanying shouts of "IHTG!" Though when I call the CPUs out for this, I am met with a dagger to the heart.Jonny: George, Im pretty sure youre the villain.George: Its tough at the top. [Not helping my case]Matt: TMKB.I remind Jonny that Im the one writing up this experience and as such will be painting myself as a plucky underdog with a heart of gold ultimately strengthening his claim. Luckily, any tension in the room is instantly broken when Tom subs in for the team and on Race #29 picks up the controller and earnestly says:Tom: 'A' to go, yeah?Excellent. We enjoy the absolute classics of the Banana Cup and karma is still working her magic nicely blitzing me with a blue shell literally seconds after wiping the others out with a boomerang and gleefully shouting laters as I pass them on Royal Raceway.Image: George Banks5:40pmThe Leaf Cup brings the first 'spectacular' of the night Alfie has subbed in for the team, and on his return finishes Wario Stadium by crossing the line backwards. Not only that, but he repeats the feat a mere two tracks later as I get wiped out by a blue shell near Melody Motorways finish line and I have to watch it happen. Its the last straw for Jonny.Jonny: Ive checked out.George: We arent even halfway through!Jonny: IHTG.Tom departs from the tournament just before 6pm and Matt picks up the controller for his final GP, vowing to climb back up the rankings. I point out that Im currently about 100 points ahead.Matt: It can still happen.Alfie: Definitely.Horsepower, wisdom, and courage5:54pmIt doesnt get off to a great start for Matt as the doorbell rings seconds before the countdown to Tick-Tock Clock of all tracks. Ive known him for more than 30 years and have never seen him move faster he gets back and nails the boost for a lightning start to the Lightning Cup.Its around this time that things get weird. After smashing into Baby Rosalina (who definitely did something to deserve it), we begin to discuss what the Mario Kart medical team must go through. An entire improvised scene emerges with voices, fully formed characters and relationships, backstories, all seamlessly played out with no planning or discussion and everyone chipping in as we move onto the Triforce Cup.George: Another Koopa shell he was so young. Why why all this madness? Lets open him up.Our brains are so tuned in now that theyre clearly itching to do anything else to occupy themselves.6:08pmMatthew has bowed out so its just Alfie left for the team. Giddy giggles and a sort of hysteria begins to spread. Warios Gold Mine results in people banana-ing themselves with billboard rebounds and Alfie tries yet another reverse finish on Ice Ice Outpost - ending up in fourth as a result.Image: George BanksJonny: Yes! Hubris!The polite appreciation and compliments of earlier Grand Prix escapades are well and truly gone now and smack talk is rampant throughout the Bell Cup.Mitchell: I just cant get this bit.Alfie: Have you considered getting good?Jonny: [While bombing then overtaking] LOVELY!Every shell, every lightning strike, every bomb is now accompanied by a muttered, Have that or something similar and definitely expletive-free.6:43pmWe see the on-screen trophy that marks the halfway point. Surprisingly the standings reveal that Inkling Boy is actually the closest CPU to us and nobody has said a bad word against him the entire time. Sneaky squid.Image: George BanksGeorge: Its pretty close down there.Jonny: Im surprised you can see us from your ivory tower.Elly checks in again.Elly: You okay?Jonny: Im in hell.Mitchell: How is this both horrendous and fun?Elly: How are you, George?George: My jegs feel like lelly.Hmm. With basic functions breaking down, we take another much-needed break and fill up on the most traditional of gaming fuel Chinese takeaway. And not only that, but birthday cake too!Image: George BanksI feel a bit bad for that smack talk now. Candles blown out I decide to be a bit more positive.George: Halfway there! We can do it! Itll be more fun now as its tracks that none of us really know.DLC tracks - It comes in waves7:24pmThat previous statement doesnt really hold true as Paris Promenade kicks off the Golden Dash Cup and none of us can figure out the route. Were just continuously asking, Wait where do we go? like genuine befuddled tourists. Luckily, a perfectly timed exchange on Toad Circuit picks things up.Jonny: I wish there was a thing that told you when someone was approaching, I think itd be better.Alfie: You can look behind you.Jonny: Do you do that?Alfie: Sometimes, yeah.SMASH.Jonny: Take that.It was green shell, too. Exquisite. Then, in Coconut Mall, Lily (another spectator) offers some sage wisdom.Lily: It seems to me that you just need to try and get into 1st and stay out of trouble.Everything falls apart. Nobody can focus on the race as we continuously advise each other to "Just stay out of trouble!" while thundering items ruthlessly at one another. Tragedy strikes on the last lap as my controller disobeys me and Tanooki Mario starts careening to the left.Jonny: Weve heard that before mate.George: Its true!The leaderboard pops up and everything being so close lights a fire under us. Weve found the fun again.Image: George Banks7:50pmUntil we play Tokyo Blur.Alfie: This isnt fun anymore.That was brief. I also inadvertently restart the smack talk on Shroom Ridge.George: Where are you guys?Jonny: Thats the most disgusting thing youve ever said to me.Alfie roars into second.Alfie: Yeah, whats it like back there?Jonny: IHTG.We identify our new CPU villains - Baby Mario, Isabelle, and Kamek.George: What is it with this game and evil babies?As we begin the Turnip Cup the complaints and jabs come thick and fast.Jonny: I feel no longer human.Mitchell: My eyes hurt. And my back hurts. And I hurt.George: Oh, Mario Circuit 3 I love this one.Alfie: Boomer Road.Dont despair - things are still weird. Somehow we decide to play Kalimari Desert in absolute silence which is shattered on lap 2 as I run over Mitchell and he immediately smashes into the train on recovery.Image: George BanksTour-ture8:14pmThis quarter of the game is a slog and a strange madness is starting to kick in. Sydney Sprint prompts us all to start speaking in dreadfully inaccurate Australian accents capped off perfectly by Alfie responding to a green shell attack from Mitchell with a red shell of his own, uttering the immortal line before firing:Alfie: Thats not a shell, this is a shell.An impromptu rendition of ABBAs Super Trouper follows with Koopa Troopa replacing the title and everyone pitching in with more appropriate lyrics for the chorus. I remember it being weirdly good. Thankfully theres no recording to prove me wrong.Image: George BanksBacks and shoulders are being stretched, eyes rubbed, throats are getting sore as we growl at items whipping us off the edge of Sky High Sundae. Elly looks at us with pity.Elly: You look like youve been on a six-hour flight.Its Jonnys turn to properly succumb to the rage monkey on Rock Cups Rock Rock Mountain with three IHTGs barked in quick succession. Hes free-falling down the board with Baby Mario and Isabelle ahead of him.We pile on the anger toward our CPU counterparts.Alfie: Link shouldnt even be here! Go back to Hyrule.Mitchell: Im never visiting Isabelle on my island again!This leads us down a strange, prolonged improvisation during the Moon Cup in which we imagine the AI for the game coming to life and how it would respond.George: I finally understand this love that you speak of. And also, please fetch me a green shell so that I may end your life.Jonny: What is happy? Is it lightning?As the quarter peters out, I try and reassure everyone.George: Dont worry Ive got a plan to help us enjoy the last quarter.Jonny: Is it a new back and eyes?The standings make grim reading for Jonny and Mitchell.Image: George BanksNow I am become Gold Mario9:05pmMy plan is simple we need to pretend that this last quarter is actually the first quarter and laugh as much as we can. It sort of helps particularly with the opener of Fruit Cups Amsterdam Drift and the humour getting a little bawdier.George: Can you imagine if the game had that district in it?I dont think I can write our elaboration of that thought here.By DK Summit, Baby Mario has climbed to second in the rankings, prompting Jonny to chastise Alfie.Jonny: Come on Alf, you need to pull your finger out, mate.Jonny is sixth in the rankings.Mirth has returned to the proceedings by the Boomerang Cup, as we slowly shuffle from being slumped back on the sofa to being upright again. Puns abound as I hit Alfie with a tailpipe banana.George: How does it peel?Alfie: If only it had missed by the skin of my teeth.Jonny: No more slip-ups.Cheers erupt every time I get wiped out from 1st on the last lap and Jonny crushes it on Waluigi Stadium.Jonny: Yes! I needed that.Celebrations and fist-pumping return as each hit and fall off the track is loudly roared on. Cries of "Isabeeeeeelle!" ring out as she tears us to shreds.Mitchell: Bad dog! No!Jonny: Thats a bit much.Mitchell: This is a bit much for 9:15Alfie: Its nearly 10.Mitchell: Oh, god.Moonview Highway is gloriously catastrophic as the roving bombs which we affectionately nickname Bob-ombheimer catch each one of us. But we dont care its fun again!The Final Lap9:59pmGeorge: Hey everyone, another tour track!Everyone: Boo!George: Theyre really messing up my rankings, I just cant get them.Jonny: Sure.Alfie: TMKB.Everyone: Yaaaay!We havent heard that one for a while.After Sunset Wilds I nearly select the race again instead of Koopa Cape.George: Can you imagine? Oh, sorry guys, we better start again.Jonny: I would rather die.Vancouver Velocity offers another opportunity for us to try out some accents which largely just amounts to us putting eh on the end of every sentence, the best being:Mitchell: Bombs away, eh?...as Mitchell nails me with a tailpipe drop.Image: George BanksThe rage monkey returns for the Acorn Cup consuming Alfie on DK Mountain. The controller doesnt quite get flung from his hands, but its close. We then all double back on ourselves on the consecutive roundabouts on Daisy Circuit with the exception of Jonny, who derides us until being the only person to repeat the feat on lap 3. I do so terribly here that I get the legendary 8 item but it does nothing to help and I finish dead last.Jonny: Thats pretty embarrassing mate.George: Youre literally being beaten by a baby.Jonny: TMKB.10:15pmWe are here. The Spiny Cup. The final Grand Prix of the night and honestly, things have just gotten out of hand. Yelling, laughter, swinging between hyper focus and crushing apathy like a pendulum.Total physical and mental breakdown starts occurring during Rosalinas Ice World. I literally feel my right eye pop a blood vessel.Alfie: Argh, somebody just blue-shelled me!Jonny: I feel you, bro. It was me.Everyone: TMKB!Bowser Castle 3 and lingering rage monkey pushes Alfie to the limit.Alfie: GO FASTER!Jonny: I love seeing you this angry.10:26pmAnd then it all comes down to this. Well, not the points total that was a foregone conclusion yonks ago. But Alfie can break 500 points total for this half of the playthrough if and only if he comes 1st on the final Rainbow Road of the night.Image: George BanksThe meerkats are back. Its a tense race all of us seemingly remastering our skills in an instant as we rush out to occupy the top four places, the CPUs might as well not have even been there. Alfie has a near-perfect race hes going to do it! Well, nearly. Because Alfie, sadly, has not learned his lesson.He goes to reverse over the finish line in 1st. And was it the last lap? No. No, it was not.Alfie: NOOOOO!Howls from the rest of us. We bust through the last lap to loud cheers from ourselves and spectators alike and take a brief second to soak it all in.Jonny: We did it!Mitchell: Oh my god.George: Mad.The final standings for the second half of the marathon fall as follows:Image: George BanksAll in all, it means out of a possible 1,440 points total the table looks like this:1,051 George941 Alfie and team849 Mitchell845 - JonnyThe Podium10:31pmThoughts of any kind of trophy ceremony are non-existent as we flop back like near-fully deflated balloons along the sofa. I am handed my prize but its hard to bask when I feel like Ive been hit by a train (which did technically happen on Super Bell Subway).Image: George BanksGeorge: So, would you recommend it?Jonny: No.Mitchell: No.Alfie: Not to a grown-up.George: But did you have fun?Jonny: Yes, of course!Alfie: Yeah, I loved it.Mitchell: I think I experienced every human emotion. I have just lived a life.Jonny: Yeah, fun is a bit reductive. I also had melancholy, rage...Mitchell: Bloodlust.Jonny: Grief.George: Well probably do it again sometime though, right?Everyone: Definitely not.I see. Well, what about me? Would I recommend anybody else try this challenge out? Yes. Once. With the right group of people and on a sofa together, because it is possibly the most perfect encapsulation of Nintendos multiplayer magic, and the sheer volume of content and variation it offers from its simple core premise is a thing of wonder. I have loved this game for 10 years and, honestly, I think I could love it for another 10. Though it was a slog at points, I felt genuinely sad at the end and isnt that the best feeling after playing a game for nearly seven hours? I dont really want it to end.Image: George BanksBattle mode anyone?

Deserving of a Rebirth.Over the holiday season, we're republishing some of the best articles from Nintendo Life writers and contributors as part of our Best of 2024 series. Enjoy!Soapbox features enable our individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random stuff they've been chewing over. Today, Alana is talking about a Vanillaware oldie Muramasa: The Demon Blade, a Wii title that is celebrating its 15th anniversary. And, in the wake of 13 Sentinels and Unicorn Overlord's success, it's time to give Vanillaware's older title some love.Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Updated December 25, 12:21 p.m. Pacific: Added details of xAIs valuation and Kingdom Holdings contribution.xAI, Elon Musks AI company, has raised $6 billion in a Series C financing round.The company announced this week that Andreessen Horowitz , Blackrock, Fidelity, Lightspeed, MGX, Morgan Stanley, OIA, QIA, Sequoia Capital, Valor Equity Partners, Vy Capital, Nvidia, AMD, and others participated.Kingdom Holdings, the Saudipublic filing. The filing also revealed that xAI is now valued at $45 billion, close to double its previous valuation.The new cash brings xAIs total raised to $12 billion, adding to the $6 billion tranche xAI raised in May. According to the Financial Times, only investors whod backed xAI in its previous fundraising round were permitted to participate in this one. Reportedly, investors who helped finance Musks Twitter acquisition were given access to up to 25% of xAIs shares.xAIs most powerful model yet is currently training and we are now focused on launching innovative new consumer and enterprise products, xAI said in a statement. The funds from this financing round will be used to further accelerate our advanced infrastructure, ship groundbreaking products and accelerate research and development.Ramping up AIMusk formed xAI last year. Soon after, the company releasedGrok, a flagship generative AI model that now powers a number of features on X, including a chatbot accessible to X Premium subscribers and free users in some regions.Grok has what Musk has described as a rebellious streak a willingness to answer spicy questions that are rejected by most other AI systems. Told to be vulgar, for example, Grok will happily oblige, spewing profanities and colorful language you wont hear fromChatGPT.Musk has derided ChatGPT and other AI systems for being too woke and politically correct, despite Groks own unwillingness to cross certain boundaries and hedge on political subjects. Hes also referred to Grok as maximally truth-seeking and less biased than competing models, although theres evidence to suggest that Grok leans to the left.Over the past year, Grok has become increasingly ingrained in X, the social network formerly known as Twitter. At launch, Grok was only available to X users and developers skilled enough to get the open source edition up and running.Thanks to anintegrationwith xAIs in-house image generation model, Aurora, Grok can generate images on X (without guardrails, controversially). The model can analyze images as well, and summarize news and trending events imperfectly, mind.Reports indicate that Grok mayhandle even more X functions in the future, from enhancingXs search capabilities andaccount bios to helping with post analytics and reply settings. X recently got a Grok button designed to help users discover relevant context and dive deeper into trending discussions and real-time events.xAI is sprinting to catch up to formidable competitors like OpenAI and Anthropic in the generative AI race. The company launched an API in October, allowing customers to build Grok into third-party apps, platforms, and services. And it just rolled out a standalone Grok iOS app to a test audience.Musk asserts that it hasnt been a fair fight.In a lawsuit filed against OpenAI and Microsoft, OpenAIs close collaborator, attorneys for Musk accuse OpenAI of actively trying to eliminate competitors like xAI by extracting promises from investorsnot to fund them. OpenAI, Musks counsel says, also unfairly benefits from Microsofts infrastructure and expertise in what the attorneys describe as a de facto merger.Yet Musk often says that Xs data gives xAI a leg up compared to rivals. Last month, Xchangedits privacy policy to allow third parties, including xAI, to train models on X posts.Musk, its worth noting, was one of the original founders of OpenAI, and left the company in 2018 after disagreements over its direction. Hes argued in previous suits that OpenAI profited from his early involvement yet reneged on its nonprofit pledge to make the fruits of its AI research available to all.OpenAI, unsurprisingly, disagrees with Musks interpretation of events. In a mid-December press release, the company characterized Musks lawsuit as misleading, baseless, and a case of sour grapes.An xAI ecosystemxAI has outlined a vision according to which its models would be trained on data from Musks various companies, including Tesla and SpaceX, and the models could then improve technology across those companies. xAI is already powering customer support for SpaceXs Starlink internet service, according to The Wall Street Journal, and the startup is said to be in talks with Tesla to provide R&D in exchange for some of the carmakers revenue.Tesla shareholders, for one, object to these plans. Several have sued Muskover his decision to start xAI, arguing that Musk hasdiverted both talent and resourcesfrom Tesla to whats essentially a competing venture.Nevertheless, the deals and xAIs developer and consumer-facing products have driven xAIs revenue to around $100 million a year. For comparison, Anthropic is reportedly on pace to generate $1 billion in revenue this year, and OpenAI is targeting $4 billion by the end of 2024.Musk said this summer that xAI is training the next generation of Grok models at its Memphis data center, which was apparently built in just 122 days and is currently powered partly by portable diesel generators. The company hopes to upgrade the server farm, which contains 100,000 Nvidia GPUs, next year; in a press release, xAI said it plans to fully double that number. (Because of their ability to perform many calculations in parallel, GPUs are the favored chips for training and running models.)In November, xAI won approval from the regional power authority in Memphis for 150MW of additional power enough to power roughly 100,000 homes. To win the agency over, xAI pledged to improve the quality of the citys drinking water and provide the Memphis grid with discounted Tesla-manufactured batteries. But some residents criticized the move, arguing it would strain the grid and worsen the areas air quality.Tesla is also expected to use the upgraded data center to improve its autonomous driving technologies.xAI has expanded quite rapidly from an operations standpoint in the year since its founding, growing from just a dozen employees in March 2023 to over 100 today. In October, the startup moved into OpenAIs old corporate offices in San Franciscos Mission neighborhood.xAI has reportedly told investors it plans to raise more money next year.It wont be the only AI lab raising immense cash. Anthropic recently secured $4 billion from Amazon, bringing its total raised to $13.7 billion, while OpenAI raised $6.6 billion in October to grow its war chest to $17.9 billion.Megadeals like OpenAIs and Anthropics drove AI venture capital activity to $31.1 billion across over 2,000 deals in Q3 2024, per PitchBook data.TechCrunch has an AI-focused newsletter!Sign up hereto get it in your inbox every Wednesday.

Meta Quest 3MetaReceived a Meta Quest 3 or Quest 3S for Christmas? You lucky thing. Its one of the few pieces of tech that could truly increase the fun factor during a holiday break, alongside a PlayStation 5 Pro.Wondering what you should actually play on it? Theres good news.Meta has a sale on at the moment, and there are some killer titles in there that should be part of almost every Meta Quest owners library.Below youll find a list of recommendations for new Quest 3 and Quest 3S owners (Quest 2 owners are invited too), most of which are part of Metas seasonal sale.Batman: Arkham ShadowBatman: Arkham Shadow MetaIf you have a new Quest 3 or Quest 3S, it includes Batman: Arkham Shadow, one of the most high-profile Meta VR releases in years. This is effectively a virtual reality take on the Arkham console games, considered some of the best superhero tie-in titles ever made. You are Batman, and play in first-person, punching, pushing and bataranging enemies and taking on whole crowds of baddies. Its not just combat either, with puzzles and exploration too.MORE FOR YOU7th Guest7th Guest screenshotMetaA masterclass in VR immersion, this atmospheric but not scary horror-themed adventure puzzler is based on an FMV game from 1993. As you progress you open up more rooms in the games mansion, while spectral visions of the past unravel a mysterious story. The meat is the puzzles, several of which are found in each room, and they have a great sense of physicality that proves the value of VR.Assassins Creed NexusAssassin's Creed: NexusUbisoftMapping a full console style parkour game onto VR sounds like a recipe for nausea but this is a remarkable success at bringing the appeal of the console games to Meta Quest. The environments and stealthy traversal are great, even if the combat is something you may want to avoid when you can. Just like the older Assassin's Creed games, then.Superhot VRSuperhot VR screenshotMetaOne of the classics of VR, Superhot has been around for the better part of a decade. But it has ages beautifully, in part thanks to the super-stylised graphics on show. In each level you have to take down a series of enemies, requiring a precision James Bond or Ethan Hunt would be proud of. But its all possible because time only moves forward when you yourself make a move.Walkabout Mini GolfWalkabout Mini GolfMetaThis is one of the most fun multiplayer experiences you can have in VR. The title says a lot of what you need to know. You and up to seven other people play mini golf in daring courses way more out-there than anything youd see in real life. Its highly creative and just pure fun. There are also loads of DLC courses, should you get stuck into the experience.The Room VRThe Room VRmetaThe Room was already one of the best iPhone games. Now its one of the best VR games. Its an escape-the-room-style title where one intricate puzzle leads onto the next. You can finish it in around four hours and theres not masses of replay value here, but the quality level throughout is excellent.Red Matter 2Red Matter 2 screenshotmetaA proper sci-fi adventure that immerses like few other titles. You play an agent who has to explore a moon base (and more) during a time of futuristic cold war. It features great puzzles and exploration, and a top sense of being rooted in the environment. Theres a bit of combat too, which isnt really the focus, but it doesnt detract from this VR classic. The original Red Matter is worth playing too.BonelabBonelabMetaSome may find a lot of VR games feel a bit stiff and prescriptive, not really making the most of the fidelity of movement you can make in VR. Bonelab is nothing like that. Its a riotous physics simulation sandbox. Bonelab is strange, a bit janky in parts abut it does have a multi-hour campaign to get you introduced to what is a VR toy box that is many peoples favourite VR game.Blade & Sorcery: NomadBlade & Sorcery: NomadMetaThis isnt part of Metas Christmas and New Year sale, but it is one of the most notable VR games to date. Disclaimer: this one is absolutely not for kids. It features quite brutal physics-based combat. Much like Bonelad, the key draw is this isnt fighting that asks you to swipe a hand in the right direction, at the right moment. You can improvise, and the results are generally what you might imagine they would be.

Find the links between the words to win today's game of Connections.gettyLooking for Wednesdays Connections hints and answers instead? You can find them here:Hey, everyone! I hope youre making the most of this holiday week.Ive been trying to squeeze some gaming in here and there, but Im rapidly running out of time to play everything I had on my list to check out before the end of the year. Even though its still in flux, I think my best games of 2024 list is shaping up nicely, and Im looking forward to sharing that in the New Year.Before we get started, Ive started a discussion group for Connections and this column on Discord. You can chat about each game (and other topics) with me and other folks. Im always interested to find out how other people approach the game, so join us! Its fun.Its also the best way to give me any feedback about the column, especially on the rare(!) occasions that I mess something up.Todays NYT Connections hints and answers for Thursday, December 26, are coming right up.How To Play ConnectionsConnections is a free, popular New York Times daily word game. You get a new puzzle at midnight every day. You can play on the NYT website or Games app.MORE FOR YOUYoure presented with a grid of 16 words. Your task is to arrange them into four groups of four by figuring out the links between them. The groups could be things like items you can click, names for research study participants or words preceded by a body part.Theres only one solution for each puzzle, and youll need to be careful when it comes to words that might fit into more than one category. You can shuffle the words to perhaps help you see links between them.Each group is color coded. The yellow group is usually the easiest to figure out, blue and green fall in the middle, and the purple group is usually the most difficult one. The purple group often involves wordplay.Select four words you think go together and press Submit. If you make a guess and youre incorrect, youll lose a life. If youre close to having a correct group, you might see a message telling you that youre one word away from getting it right, but youll still need to figure out which one to swap.If you make four mistakes, its game over. Lets make sure that doesnt happen with the help of some hints, and, if youre really struggling, todays Connections answers. As with Wordle and other similar games, its easy to share results with your friends on social media and group chats.If you have an NYT All Access or Games subscription, you can access the publications Connections archive. This includes every previous game of Connections, so you can go back and play any of those that you have missed.Aside from the first 60 games or so, you should be able to find my hints for each grid via Google if you need them! Just click here and add the date of the game for which you need clues or the answers to the search query.What Are Todays Connections Hints?Scroll slowly! Just after the hints for each of todays Connections groups, Ill reveal what the groups are without immediately telling you which words go into them.Todays 16 words are...TIDYALAHANDSOMEELDERSPRUCELIKEPINEMISSHEALTHYROUGHLYARKPALMABOUTRESPECTABLEOREAROUNDAnd the hints for todays Connections groups are:Yellow group more or lessGreen group large floraBlue group plentyPurple group certain locations, for shortWhat Are Todays Connections Groups?Need some extra help?Be warned: were starting to get into spoiler territory.Todays Connections groups are...Yellow group approximatelyGreen group treesBlue group sizeable, as an amountPurple group U.S. state abbreviations, per AP Style GuideWhat Are Todays Connections Answers?Spoiler alert! Dont scroll any further down the page until youre ready to find out todays Connections answers.This is your final warning!Todays Connections answers are...Yellow group approximately (ABOUT, AROUND, LIKE, ROUGHLY)Green group trees (ELDER, PALM, PINE, SPRUCE)Blue group sizeable, as an amount (HANDSOME, HEALTHY, RESPECTABLE, TIDY)Purple group U.S. state abbreviations, per AP Style Guide (ALA, ARK, MISS, ORE)My second perfect game in a row extends my streak to four wins. Here's how I fared:Okay, okay, it wasnt actually a perfect game. I misclicked my first guess and accidentally selected ALA instead of ROUGHLY to get the yellows. The greens were very straightforward too.The blues gave me absolutely no trouble either (though I could see TIDY giving some folks pause here). Not much tomfoolery going on there. That left the purples.I was very glad that the other three groups were relatively easy as I did not get the connection here and probably would have struggled with it. But given a little time to mull it over, I think I might have cracked this code eventually.They related to ALAbama, ARKensas, MISSissippi and OREgon. AP, by the way, refers to the Associated Press, which publishes a style guide to which many U.S. publications adhere.Thats all there is to it for todays Connections clues and answers. Be sure to check my blog tomorrow for hints and the solution for Fridays game if you need them.P.S. Ive got a few song recommendations that Ive been stockpiling, so lets start jamming through them. For no good reason that I can think of, Ive had the original version of Life is a Highway by Tom Cochrane stuck in my head for a while. Its so darn catchy:Have a great day! Make sure to drink enough water! Call someone you love!If youre so inclined, please do follow my blog for more coverage of Connections and other word games and even some video game news, insights and analysis. It helps me out a lot! Also, follow me on Bluesky! Its fun there.

What just happened? The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has granted preliminary approval for a pilot project allowing Mosaic Fertilizer, LLC to construct a road using phosphogypsum a radioactive byproduct of fertilizer production on its property in New Wales, Florida. This decision has sparked concern among environmentalists and raised questions about potential health and environmental hazards. Phosphogypsum contains radium, which decays into radon gas. Both are radioactive and known carcinogens, according to the EPA. Historically, the agency has opposed using phosphogypsum in road construction due to the risks it poses to construction workers and future residents living near such roads.But the EPA claims that public exposure to the road will be limited. However, Mosaic has described this effort as part of a broader initiative to "demonstrate the range of ... road construction designs," suggesting that this could be a stepping stone towards more widespread use of phosphogypsum in road construction.As billions of tons of phosphogypsum accumulate, particularly in states like Florida, the search for solutions remains contentious. While some see potential in repurposing the material, opponents argue it poses significant public health risks.The pilot project involves constructing four test road sections, each 500 feet long and 24 feet wide, using phosphogypsum from the New Wales South stack. These sections will contain up to 50% phosphogypsum by weight in a single 10-inch road base layer. For comparison, four control sections without phosphogypsum will also be built.Environmental groups strongly oppose the EPA's decision. Ragan Whitlock, an attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity, called the approval "mind-boggling," citing concerns about risks to road crews and water quality. Whitlock accused the EPA of caving to pressure from the phosphate industry, potentially opening the door to widespread use of hazardous waste in roads nationwide.Phosphogypsum, a radioactive byproduct of the phosphate industry, is stored in stacks in the U.S., but globally it's finding increasing reuse in various applications.EPA's timing has also raised eyebrows. A request for public comment on the project was issued on October 9, just hours before Hurricane Milton was expected to make landfall in the Tampa Bay area as a Category 5 storm. This timing was particularly concerning given the history of environmental issues associated with phosphogypsum stacks during severe weather events. // Related StoriesIn fact, days after Hurricane Milton struck as a Category 3 storm, Mosaic reported that contaminated water had been discharged from its Riverview site into Tampa Bay due to excessive rainfall. This incident underscores the ongoing environmental challenges associated with phosphogypsum storage.The EPA's decision marks a departure from its 1992 stance, which deemed phosphogypsum use in road construction an unacceptable public health risk. Since then, regulations have required phosphogypsum to be stored in stacks on private land due to its cancer risks and other health hazards from radon emissions.Although the EPA insists the risk from this specific project is "extremely low," critics argue it sets a dangerous precedent for future use of phosphogypsum in public infrastructure.

Biden signed a bill making the bald eagle the official national bird of the United States.The bald eagle, an iconic American symbol, was endangered but has since recovered.The bill received bipartisan support and was backed by eagle advocates.One prominent member of American society received a promotion with bipartisan support this holiday season: The bald eagle is now the official bird of the United States, a proclamation nearly 250 years in the making.On Christmas Eve, President Joe Biden signed into law a bill that amended title 36 of the United States Code and designated the bald eagle as the official national bird. The bill was sponsored by Senator Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat from Minnesota, and co-sponsored by fellow Minnesota Democrat Tina Smith, as well as Republican Senators Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming and Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma. The bill was introduced on June 20, 2024 which is also National American Eagle Day."The bald eagle has long been a symbol of freedom and patriotism for our nation," Senator Mullin said in a statement touting the bill's passage. "It's only fitting we officially designate the bald eagle the national bird of the United States. I was glad to join my colleagues in leading this bipartisan effort and appreciate the House's swift consideration."Bald eagles have had a long and somewhat rocky history in the US. The bird was officially adopted as part of the country's Great Seal in 1782 and has since become synonymous with patriotism and other American values. But bald eagles teetered on the verge of extinction in the 1900s, and the species was designated as endangered in 1967. Since then, the species has soared to recovery; as of 2020, there were 316,700 bald eagles in the US, although over 40 bald eagles succumbed to bird flu in 2022. More recently, bald eagles have made headlines for adopting rocks, stealing pizza, and fostering abandoned chicks.The move to officially enter the bald eagle into law drew support from eagle advocates, who have been pushing for the measure. A press release from The National Eagle Center crowed "The Bald Eagle Is Ready To Spread It Wings And Soar As The Country's Official Bird.""This is an exciting day. The Bald Eagle has symbolized American ideals since its placement on the Great Seal in 1782," Preston Cook, the cochair of the National Bird Initiative for the National Eagle Center and author of "American Eagle A Visual History of Our National Emblem," said in a statement. "With this legislation, we honor its historic role and solidify its place as our national bird and an emblem of our national identity."

Swiss snowboarder Sophie Hediger died in an avalanche in Arosa, Switzerland.Hediger was snowboarding with a companion, who alerted rescue services. She was found buried under the snow.She was a rising star, securing World Cup podiums in the 2023-2024 season.Sophie Hediger, who represented Switzerland in the 2022 Olympics in Beijing, died in an avalanche in Arosa, Switzerland on Monday. She was 26.According to a police report, Hediger was snowboarding with another person on a closed black diamond slope in Arosa, a town and a resort in eastern Switzerland. She left the closed slope and was caught in an avalanche.Hediger's companion contacted rescue services, who found her buried under the snow about two hours later. Efforts to revive her were unsuccessful, and she died at the scene.The Zurich native had been making waves in the snowboarding world, securing her first two World Cup podium finishes in the 2023-2024 season. In late January, she placed second in a Word Cup race in her home country. The next month, she earned third at an event in Gudauri in Georgia.She also represented Switzerland at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, where she competed in snowboard cross.Walter Reusser, the chief executive of Swiss Ski, said in a statement, "For the Swiss Ski family, the tragic death of Sophie Hediger has cast a dark shadow over the Christmas holidays. We are immeasurably sad. We will honor Sophie's memory."Tributes from teammates, coaches, and fans poured in following the news of her death.Hediger's teammate and friend Aline Albrecht wrote on Instagram, "With you I lose my best friend."Another teammate, Sina Siegenthaler, wrote: "Keep on shredding in the clouds."The Swiss snowboard cross team mourned the loss of their athlete.Oxess, who makes the board that Hediger used, wrote, "Her passion for the mountains and her dedication to the sport touched everyone who had the privilege of knowing her."