A short ferry ride from the port city of Yantai, on the northeast coast of China, sits Genghai No.1, a 12,000-metric-ton ring of oil-rig-style steel platforms, advertised as a hotel and entertainment complex. On arrival, visitors step onto docks and climb up to reach a strange offshore facilityhalf cruise ship, half high-tech laboratory, all laid out around half a mile of floating walkways. Its highest pointthe glistening diamond on Genghai No.1s necklace, according to Chinas state news agencyis a seven-story visitor center, designed to look like a cartoon starfish. Jack Klumpp, a YouTuber from Florida, became one of the first 20,000 tourists to explore Genghais visitor center following its opening in May 2023. In his series Im in China with Jack, Klumpp strolls around a water park cutely decorated in Fisher-Price yellow and turquoise, and indoors, he is excited to spot the hull of Chinas deep-sea submersible Jiaolong. In reality, the sea here is only about 10 meters deep, and the submersible is only a model. Its journey into the oceans depths is an immersive digital experience rather than real adventure, but the floor of the sub rocks and shakes under his feet like a theme park ride. Watching Klumpp lounge in Genghais luxe marine hotel, its hard to understand why anyone would build this tourist attraction on an offshore rig, nearly a mile out in the Bohai Strait. But the answer is at the other end of the walkway from Genghais tourist center, where on a smaller, more workmanlike platform, hes taught how to cast a worm-baited line over the edge and reel in a hefty bream. Genghai is in fact an unusual tourist destination, one that breeds 200,000 high-quality marine fish each year, according to a recent interview in China Daily with Jin Haifeng, deputy general manager of Genghai Technology Company, a subsidiary of the state-owned shipbuilder Shandong Marine Group. Just a handful of them are caught by recreational fishers like Klumpp. The vast majority are released into the ocean as part of a process known as marine ranching. Since 2015, China has built 169 national demonstration ranchesincluding Genghai No. 1and scores of smaller-scale facilities, which collectively have laid 67 million cubic meters of artificial reefs and planted an area the size of Manhattan with seagrass, while releasing at least 167 billion juvenile fish and shellfish into the ocean. The Chinese government sees this work as an urgent and necessary response to the bleak reality that fisheries are collapsing both in China and worldwide, with catches off Chinas coast declining 18% in less than a decade. In the face of that decline, marine ranches could offer an enticing win-win: a way to restore wild marine ecosystems while boosting fishery hauls. Marine ranches could offer an enticing win-win: a way to restore wild marine ecosystems while boosting fishery hauls. But before China invests billions more dollars into these projects, it must show it can get the basics right. Genghai, which translates as Sea Harvest, sits atop what Jin calls an undersea ecological oasis constructed by developers. In the middle of the circular walkway, artificial marine habitats harbor shrimp, seaweed, and fish, including the boggle-eyed Korean rockfish and a fish with a parrot-like beak, known as the spotted knifejaw. The facility is a next-generation showcase for the countrys ambitious plans, which call for 200 pilot projects by 2025. Its a 5G-enabled, AI-equipped ecological ranch that features submarine robots for underwater patrols and intelligent breeding cages that collect environmental data in near-real time to optimize breeding by, for example, feeding fish automatically. In an article published by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinas top science institute, one high-ranking fisheries expert sketches out plans for a seductive tech-driven future where production and conservation go hand in hand: Ecological ranches ring the coastline, seagrass meadows and coral reefs regrow around them, and autonomous robots sustainably harvest mature seafood. But now, Chinese researchers say, is the time to take stock of lessons learned from the rapid rollout of ranching to date. Before the country invests billions more dollars into similar projects in the coming years, it must show it can get the basics right. What, exactly, is a marine ranch? Developing nations have historically faced a trade-off between plundering marine resources for development and protecting ecosystems for future generations, says Cao Ling, a professor at Xiamen University in eastern China. When growing countries take more than natural ecosystems can replenish, measures like seasonal fishing bans have been the traditional way to allow fisheries to recover. Marine ranching offers an alternative to restricting fishinga way to really synergize environmental, economic, and social development goals, says Caoby actively increasing the oceans bounty. Its now a hot topic in China, says Cao, who grew up on her familys fish farm before conducting research at the University of Michigan and Stanford. In fact, marine ranching has become such a buzzword that it can be hard to tell what it actually means, encompassing as it does flagship facilities like Genghai No.1 (which merge scientific research with industrial-scale aquaculture pens, recreational fishing amenities, and offshore power) and a baffling array of structures including deep-sea floating wind farms with massive fish-farming cages and 100,000-ton mobile marine rancheseffectively fish-breeding aircraft carriers. There are even whole islands, like the butterfly-shaped Wuzhizhou on Chinas tropical south coast, that have been designated as ranching areas. A scuba diver finishes cleaning the nets surrounding Genghai No. 1, Chinas first AI-powered ecological marine ranch complex.UPI/ALAMY LIVE NEWS To understand what a marine ranch is, its easiest to come back to the practices roots. In the early 1970s, California, Oregon, Washington, and Alaska passed laws to allow construction of facilities aimed at repairing stocks of salmon after the rivers where they traditionally bred had been decimated by pollution and hydroelectric dams. The idea was essentially twofold: to breed fish in captivity and to introduce them into safe nurseries in the Pacific. Since 1974, when the first marine ranches in the US were built off the coast of California and Oregon, ranchers have constructed artificial habitats, usually concrete reef structures, that proponents hoped could provide nursery grounds where both valuable commercial stocks and endangered marine species could be restored. Today, fish farming is a $200 billion industry that has had a catastrophic environmental impact, blighting coastal waters with streams of fish feces, pathogens, and parasites. Marine ranching has rarely come close to fulfilling this potential. Eight of the 11 ranches that opened in the US in the 1970s were reportedly shuttered by 1990, their private investors having struggled to turn a profit. Meanwhile, European nations like Norway spent big on attempts to restock commercially valuable species like cod before abandoning the efforts because so few introduced fish survived in the wild. Japan, which has more ranches than any other country, made big profits with scallop ranching. But a long-term analysis of Japans policies estimated that all other schemes involving restocking the ocean were unprofitable. Worse, it found, releasing docile, lab-bred fish into the wild could introduce genetically damaging traits into the original population. Today, marine ranching is often considered a weird offshoot of conventional fish farming, in which fish of a single species are fed intensively in small, enclosed pens. This type of feedlot-style aquaculture has grown massively in the last half-century. Today its a $200 billion industry and has had a catastrophic environmental impact, blighting coastal waters with streams of fish feces, pathogens, and parasites. Yet coastal nations have not been discouraged by the mediocre results of marine ranching. Many governments, especially in East Asia, see releasing millions of young fish as a cheap way for governments to show their support for hard-hit fishing communities, whose livelihoods are vanishing as fisheries teeter on the edge of collapse. At least 20 countries continue to experiment with diverse combinations of restocking and habitat enhancementincluding efforts to transplant coral, reforest mangroves, and sow seagrass meadows. Each year at least 26 billion juvenile fish and shellfish, from 180 species, are deliberately released into the worlds oceansthree for every person on the planet. Taken collectively, these efforts amount to a great, ongoing, and little-noticed experiment on the wild marine biome. Chinas big bet China, with a population of 1.4 billion people, is the worlds undisputed fish superpower, home to the largest fishing fleet and more than half the planets fish farms. The country also overwhelms all others in fish consumption, using as much as the four next-largest consumersthe US, the European Union, Japan, and Indiacombined and then doubled. But decades of overfishing, compounded by runaway pollution from industry and marine aquaculture, have left its coastal fisheries depleted. Around many Chinese coastal cities like Yantai, there is a feeling that things could not be worse, says Yong Chen, a professor at Stony Brook University in New York. In the temperate northern fishing grounds of the Bohai and Yellow Seas, stocks of wild fish such as the large yellow croakera species thats critically endangeredhave collapsed since the 1980s. By the turn of the millennium, the Bohai, a densely inhabited gulf 100 miles east of Beijing, had lost most of its large sea bass and croaker, leaving fishing communities to fish down the food chain. Fishing nets came up 91% lighter than they did in the 1950s, in no small part because heavy industry and this regions petrochemical plants had left the waters too dirty to support healthy fish populations. As a result, over the past three decades China has instituted some of the worlds strictest seasonal fishing bans; recently it has even encouraged fishermen to find other jobs. But fish populations continue to decline, and fishing communities worry for their future. Marine ranching has received a big boost from the highest levels of government; its considered an ideal test case for President Xi Jinpings ecological civilization agenda, a strategy for environmentally sustainable long-term growth. Since 2015, ranching has been enshrined in successive Five-Year Plans, the countrys top-level planning documentsand ranch construction has been backed by an initial investment of 11.9 billion ($1.8 billion). China is now on track to release 30 billion juvenile fish and shellfish annually by 2025. So far, the practice has produced an unlikely poster child: the sea cucumber. A spiky, bottom-dwelling animal that, like Japans scallops, doesnt move far from release sites, it requires little effort for ranchers to recapture. Across northern China, sea cucumbers are immensely valuable. They are, in fact, one of the most expensive dishes on menus in Yantai, where they are served chopped and braised with scallions. Some ranches have experimented with raising multiple species, including profitable fish like sea bass and shellfish like shrimp and scallops, alongside the cucumber, which thrives in the waste that other species produce. In the northern areas of China, such as the Bohai, where the top priority is helping fishing communities recover, a very popular [mix] is sea cucumbers, abalone, and sea urchin, says Tian Tao, chief scientific research officer of the Liaoning Center for Marine Ranching Engineering and Science Research at Dalian Ocean University. Designing wild ecosystems Today, most ranches are geared toward enhancing fishing catches and have done little to deliver on ecological promises. According to Yang Hongsheng, a leading marine scientist at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the mix of species that has so far been introduced has been too simple to produce a stable ecosystem, and ranch builders have paid inadequate attention to that goal. Marine ranch construction is typically funded by grants of around 20 million ($2.8 million) from Chinas government, but ranches are operated by private firms. These companies earn revenue by producing seafood but have increasingly cultivated other revenue streams, like tourism and recreational fishing, which has boomed in recent years. So far, this owner-operator model has provided few incentives to look beyond proven methods that closely resemble aquaculturelike Genghai No.1s enclosed deep-sea fishing cagesand has done little to encourage contributions to ocean health beyond the ranchs footprint. Many of the companies just want to get the money from the government, says Zhongxin Wu, an associate professor at Dalian Ocean University who works with Tian Tao. Making ranches more sustainable and ecologically sound will require a rapid expansion of basic knowledge about poorly studied marine species, says Stony Brooks Yong Chen. For a sea cucumber, the first thing you need to know is its life history, right? How they breed, how they live, how they die, he says. For many key marine species, we have few ideas what temperature or conditions they prefer to breed and grow in. A diver swims off the shore of Wuzhizhou Island, where fish populations multiplied tenfold after artificial reefs were introduced.YANG GUANYU/XINHUA/ALAMY Chinese universities are world leaders in applied sciences, from agricultural research to materials science. But fundamental questions arent always easy to answer in Chinas quite unique research and development environment, says Neil Loneragan, president of the Malaysia-based Asian Fisheries Society and a professor emeritus of marine science at Murdoch University in Australia. The central governments controlling influence on the development of ranching, Loneragan says, means researchers must walk a tightrope between their two bosses: the academic supervisor and the party chief. Marine biologists want to understand the basics, but researchers would have to spin that so that its demonstrating economic returns to industry and, hence, the benefits to the government from investment, he says. Many efforts aim to address known problems in the life cycles of captive-bred fish, such as inadequate breeding rates or the tough survival odds for young fish when they reach the ocean. Studies have shown that fish in these early life stages are particularly vulnerable to environmental fluctuations like storms and recent ocean heat waves. One of the most radical solutions, which Zhongxin Wu is testing, would improve their fitness before theyre released from breeding tanks into the wild. Currently, Wu says, fish are simply scooped up in oxygenated plastic bags and turned loose in ocean nurseries, but there it becomes apparent that many are weak or lacking in survival skills. In response, his team is developing a set of wild training tools. The main method is swimming training, he says. In effect, the juvenile fish are forced to swim against a current, on a sort of aquatic treadmill, to help acclimate them to the demands of the wild. Another technique, he says, involves changing the water temperature and introducing some other species to prepare them for seagrass and kelp forests theyll meet in the world outside. Wu says better methods of habitat enhancement have the greatest potential to increase the effectiveness of marine ranching. Today, most ranches create undersea environments using precast-concrete structures that are installed under 20 meters of water, often with a rough surface to support the growth of coral or algae. The typical Chinese ranch aims for 30,000 cubic meters of artificial reefs; in the conservation-focused ranching area around Wuzhizhou Island, for instance, 1,000 cast-concrete reef structures were dropped around the tropical islands shores. Fish populations have multiplied tenfold in the last decade. This is by far the most expensive part of Chinas ranching program. According to a national evaluation coauthored by Cao Ling, 87% of Chinas first $1 billion investment has gone to construct artificial reefs, with a further 5% spent on seagrass and seaweed restoration. These costs have brought both questions about the effectiveness of the efforts and a drive for innovation. Across China, some initial signs suggest that the enhancements are making a difference: Sites with artificial reefs were found to have a richer mix of commercially important species and higher biomass than adjacent sites. But Tian and Wu are investigating new approaches, including custom 3D-printed structures for endangered fish. On trial are bungalow-size steel ziggurats with wide openings for yellowtail kingfisha large, predatory fish thats prized for sashimiand arcs of barrel-vaulted concrete, about waist height, for sea cucumbers. In recent years, structures have been specifically designed in the shape of pyramids, to divert ocean currents into oceanic upwellings. Nutrients that typically settle on the seafloor are instead ejected back up toward the surface. That attracts prey for high-level predators, says Loneragan, including giant tuna-like species that fetch high prices at restaurants. Has China found a workable model? So will China soon be relying onmarine ranches to restock the seas? We still dont have anywhere near enough data to say. The Qingdao Marine Conservation Society, an environmental NGO, is one of the few independent organizations systematically assessing ranches track records and has, says founder Songlin Wang, failed to find sufficient independent and science-based research results that can measurably verify most marine ranches expected or claimed environmental and social benefits. One answer to the data shortfall might be the kind of new tech on display at Genghai No. 1, where robotic patrols and subsea sensors feed immediately into a massive dashboard measuring water quality, changes in the ocean environment, and fish behavior. After decades as a fairly low-tech enterprise, ranching in China has been adopting such new technologies since the beginning of the latest Five-Year Plan in 2021. The innovations promise to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and make ranches more resilient to climate fluctuations and natural disasters, according to the Chinese Academy of Sciences. But Yong Chen, whose lab at Stony Brook partners with Chinese researchers, is skeptical that researchers are gathering and sharing the right data. The problem is, yes, theres this visualization. So what? he says. [Marine ranching companies] are willing to invest money into this kind of infrastructure, create that kind of big screen, and people will walk in and say Wow, look at that! he adds. Yeah, its beautiful. It definitely will impress the leadership. Important people will give you money for that. But as a scientist, my question to you is: How can it help you inform your decision-making process next year? Will China soon be relying on marine ranches to restock the seas? We still dont have anywhere near enough data to say. Data sharing is really difficult in China, says Cao Ling. Most data produced by private companies remains in their servers. But Cao and Chen say that governmentslocal or centralcould facilitate more open data sharing in the interest of guiding ranch design and policy. But Chinas central government is convinced by what it has seen and plans to scale up investment. Tian, who leads the government committee on marine ranching, says he has recently learned that the next Ten-Year Plan will aim to increase the number of pilot ranches from 200 to 350 by 2035. Each one is expected to be backed by 200 million ($28 million)10 times the typical current investment. Specific policies are due to be announced next year, but he expects that ranches will no longer be funded as standalone facilities. Instead, grants will likely be given to cities like Dalian and Yantai, which can plan across land and sea and find ways to link commercial fishing with power generation and tourism while cutting pollution from industry. Tian has an illustration that aims to visualize the coming tech-driven ecological ranching system, a sort of marine ranching 3.0: a sea cove monitored by satellites and restored to such good health that orcas have returned to its fish-filled waters. Its a near-utopian image seemingly ripped from a 1960s issue of Popular Science. Theres even stranger research that aims to see if red sea bream like the one Jack Klumpp caught can be conditioned like Pavlovs dogsin this case to flock to the sound of a horn, so the oceans harvest would literally swim into nets at the press of a button. So far Chinas marine ranching program remains far from any of this, despite the isolated signs of success. But ultimately what matters most is to find a balance point between commerce and sustainability, says Cao. Take Genghai No. 1: Its very pretty! she says with a laugh. And it costs a lot for the initial investment. If such ranches are going to contribute to Chinas coming ecological civilization, theyll have to prove they are delivering real gains and not just sinking more resources into a dying ocean. Matthew Ponsford is a freelance reporter based in London.

The first visual cue of the newApple Intelligenceon the iPhone iniOS 18.2is Siri's improved look -- a pulsating rainbow of colors around the edge of the entire screen. But did you update your iPhone and are seeing the same animated sphere that's anchored the bottom of the screen for the last couple of years?I ran into the same thing and was also confused.Turns out I needed to take one more step before I could try thesmarter Siri-- as well as other Apple Intelligence features like the writing tools,notification summariesand the Clean Up feature in Photos.If you're seeing the same thing, here's why. The new design of Siri is a glowing border that distorts everything briefly. Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET Watch this: Apple Redesigns Siri With AI and Glowing Borders 03:18 Your iPhone might not be able to run Apple IntelligenceThe latestsystem updateis for everyone with an iPhone XS or later, but that doesn't mean everyone gets Apple Intelligence. In fact, because much of the AI computation is done on device, only a handful of models can run the new technologies:iPhone 15 ProiPhone 15 Pro MaxiPhone 16iPhone 16 PlusiPhone 16 ProiPhone 16 Pro MaxApple Intelligence will also run on Macs and iPads with M-series processors, as well as the latest iPad Mini (which is powered by the A17 Pro chip).If you have any of those models, you'll see the shimmering new look when you invoke Siri. On the Mac, the Siri search field gets the same effect instead of the entire screen edges. If you have a different model, you'll see the same Siri orb. Siri under iOS 18 looks the same as it did in iOS 17 for many people. Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNETYou might be idling on the Apple Intelligence waitlistOfficially, Apple Intelligence is considered a beta feature, even on supported devices. As part of this prerelease program, Apple is granting access to people who request it in waves. (For more, check outwhy Apple is using this waitlist approach.)After installing iOS 18.2 (or iPadOS 18.2 or MacOS Sequoia 15.2), you need to go toSettings > Apple Intelligence & Siriand tap Join the Apple Intelligence Waitlist > Join Waitlist. The new Siri effect shows up only after you've requested and been granted access.Reports online and from friends suggest that people are able to start using Apple Intelligence after only a few hours of waiting. That will no doubt fluctuate as Apple balances the demand on its network ofPrivate Cloud Computeinfrastructure.For more, here'sthe right way to back up your iPhonebefore you install iOS 18.2 and eight settings you want to change first in iOS 18.2. 11 Essential Accessories Your iPhone Wants for the Holidays See all photos

Our Experts Written by Patrick Holland Lisa Eadicicco Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement How we test What to consider iOS or Android? If your family and friends are on Apple services like iMessage and FaceTime, stick with an iPhone. If youve been deep on Samsung, stay on Android. But know that switching between the two has never been easier. Size Phones are big in general, with the smallest ones having a 6.1-inch screen and larger models topping out at 6.8 inches. That makes visiting a store and trying a phone out before you buy it quite important. Cameras Phone cameras have gotten better over the past five years. But dont be fooled by how many cameras a phone has. More is not necessarily better. Software support Phone makers promise varying lengths of long-term software and security support, ranging from just one year to as many as seven. These updates not only ensure you get many of the latest features, but also keep your phone secure. Table of Contents Debuted in 2007, it feels like the Apple iPhone hasnt left our pockets since. The newest iPhone 16 series dazzles with new processors, enhanced cameras and larger batteries, plus nifty buttons to toggle the flashlight or snap a quick photo. Apple still sells older models like the iPhone 15 and 14 at a lower price than when they first launched, as well as the most-affordable iPhone SE with a classic style home button. You can even snag a 13 that is, if you can find it. All these different options can make picking the best iPhone for you a tricky endeavor. The good news? CNET editors have tested and reviewed each iPhone model currently offered to help you find the best iPhone for you. Our Picks Best iPhone Apple iPhone 16 View details $830 at T-Mobile View details Best premium iPhone Apple iPhone 16 Pro View details $1,000 at T-Mobile View details Best iPhone value iPhone 14 View details $630 at Best Buy View details Best iPhone under $700 iPhone 15 View details $699 at Best Buy View details Best iPhone discounted if you can find it iPhone 13 View details $345 at Amazon View details Best small iPhone iPhone SE View details $429 at Apple View details SMARTPHONE DEALS OF THE WEEK Google Pixel 9 128GB Unlocked Phone (Obsidian): $649 (save $150) Apple iPhone 12 64GB Straight Talk Phone (Prepaid, Black): $199 (save $50) Apple iPhone 14 128GB Unlocked Phone (Refurbished, Midnight): $394 (save $236) Motorola Edge Plus 512GB Unlocked Phone (Intersteller Black): $450 (save $350) Moto G Power 5G 128GB Unlocked Phone (2024 Model, Midnight Blue): $200 (save $100) Deals are selected by the CNET Group commerce team, and may be unrelated to this article. Table of Contents This story is part of Gift Guide, our year-round collection of the best gift ideas. What's the best iPhone right now?The best iPhone for most people is the $799 iPhone 16. It comes in two sizes: a 6.1-inch regular iPhone 16 model or a larger 6.7-inch iPhone 16 Plus model that starts at $899. The phones have a new 12-megapixel ultrawide camera that performs better in low light and can now take macro photos, meaning you'll be able to focus close to take amazing food snaps.The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus have several Apple Intelligence tools for writing, removing distractions from photos and doing summaries of messages and webpages. The phones also have an Action button that can be programed for different functions like turning on the flashlight, recording a voice memo, changing the focus mode and more. There's also a new Camera Control button that not only lets you take photos and quickly change things like zoom, Portrait mode aperture and Photographic Styles, but can also trigger a new feature called Visual Intelligence, which will add context to whatever the camera is pointed at, a bit like Google Lens. Visual Intelligence isn't on the iPhone 16 at this time and will come via a software update in December. We think the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus are ideal for most people looking for a great phone that will last for years.Read more: The iPhone 16 Helps My Eyes Feel Less Strained, Thanks to This Overlooked FeatureBest iPhones of 2024

Several benchmark refinance rates were higher this week, but refinancing could be still make sense for other reasons.

December 30, 20247 min readOutrage Fatigue Is Real.These Tips May HelpRepeated exposure to outrage-inducing news or events can lead to emotional exhaustion. An expert who studies online outrage says there are ways to copeBy Tanya Lewis edited by Dean Visser Malte Mueller/Getty ImagesYoure probably feeling it: the onslaught of depressing news and commentary about political actions, wars, climate disasters and more. The first few times youre exposed to a perceived injustice, you feel fired up and ready to fight against it. But after being repeatedly facing this moral assault, you start to feel fatigued, even withdrawn. Resistance feels futile.This phenomenon is informally referred to as outrage fatigue. While it hasnt been well studied, researchers have studied outrage itselfwhat purpose it serves and how it spreads. William Brady, an assistant professor of management and organizations at Northwestern Universitys Kellogg School of Management, and his colleagues recently published a study on how outrage helps misinformation spread online. They found that posts from misinformation sources were more likely than those from trustworthy news outlets to elicit moral outrage (anger and disgust)and that people were more likely to reshare them without reading them. But extensive exposure to outrage-inducing content can cause feelings of fatigue that turn people off participating in political action, Brady says.Fortunately, there are ways to combat such fatigue, such as getting involved in local politics or causes. Scientific American talked to Brady about why we experience outrage fatigue, and what do so about it.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.[An edited transcript of the interview follows.]What is outrage fatigue?When people are experiencing outrage, what that means, theoretically, is they're feeling that theres a transgression that has occurred against their perceived sense of right and wrongwhat we might also call a moral norm. Outrage, in a way, is very functional and good for groups, because it helps bring attention to these things that our social group or our culture would consider to be a transgression. And that usually is a good thing, because it helps groups to figure out, Okay, heres a bad thing happening, and we need to coordinate. We need to catalyze collective action so that we can solve this issue. The reason why outrage tends to work as a tool for that is because its very arousingit draws our attention, it gets us worked up, and that can sometimes motivate us to action.But of course theres a flip side to outrage, which is that when it occurs along the lines of group identitiesfor example, when you get outraged at a political out-group doing something that is counter normative or against the moral views of your political groupthat can also create hostility, and it can create conflict. Obviously, we've seen that with rising polarization in the U.S., but also in other countries in Europe and around the world. Theoretically, there's this kind of give and take with outrage. It can be helpful; it can be functional. But if you're constantly in that state, it can lead to conflict and escalation of political disputes. Psychologically, if youre constantly in that state it can be very exhausting.How does outrage play out differently at the group level and the individual level?If at a group level you're constantly outraged and playing out all these transgressions, you can get this kind of group-level fatigue. Moral outrage loses some of its potency because it's hard to know, What should I focus my outrage on? Its a limited resource. It requires a lot of attention and resources, so you start to get a little jaded, because you're like, Well, I'm supposed to be outraged at this and this and this. So what? I dont know what to do.This has not been empirically studied very well, as far as I know. But we've looked a little bit at people leaving conversations in the context of online conversation. Basically, what happens is, some people are the superoutrage producers, and then other peoplewhich turns out, according to some of my data, to be the majority of responsesdon't talk as much because they might feel isolated. Maybe things are getting too intense. Other people just might not know what they should be focusing on. And then theres other people, evenwe've seen this on social media, especiallywho feel kind of afraid to express an opinion, because if there's a lot of outrage in the environment, you feel like youre going to be targeted if you say slightly the wrong thing.If you want to talk about it individually, Im not aware of empirical research that has studied that specifically in response to recent political events. This is now getting into the realm of speculation, but there is some research that shows that when people are feeling a lot of negative emotions in generalId obviously consider outrage in that bucketthey tend to feel like they need to regulate their emotions, because it can be taxing on them.Would it be fair to say that individuals often behave as part of a bigger groupwhether its political party or race or something elseand we feel a threat to our group whenever something happens that seems negative toward that broader group?Yeah, 100 percent, and this is very well studied in social psychology. I think the key thing to understand is that we flexibly identify ourselves depending on the context. During a political election, when we see our group lose, social identity theory would predict that this would be a case when you very strongly are prone to identifying with categorizing yourself. For example: Oh, Im a Democrat. I feel very saliently my Democrat identity, so now I feel threatened. We just lost the election. Trump is saying hes going to do all this stuff that my group wouldnt do. Then youre very likely to feel outrage and other emotions on behalf of your group, and thats where the threat comes in.But my point in saying that its flexible is just to say it's interesting to think about how we might then go into another context, and now our categorization is slightly different, or maybe we're just feeling a certain identity that doesnt have to do with politics. And now we're realizing, like, Man, I've been in this chronically group-identified state with my political identity, and I have been really outraged, and it is taking a toll on me individually.How does the media environment, and especially social media, affect the way we experience outrage?A lot of times we can get kind of exhausted from viewing all the outrage we see in a context like social media. And the problem with that is thats actually not necessarily representative of how people are feeling in our political group. What my research shows is that when you combine the use of engagement-based algorithms that are on X, Meta, etc., they are disproportionately amplifying outrage content. And what that means in practice is that even if theres this small minority group of highly motivated political users who are posting a lot of this stuff, in fact, most people arent. The algorithms amplify, and it makes it look as if there are a ton of people doing it. To me, that's concerning, because then we might get turned off of political participation. We feel like were already kind of exhausted by the general media and the anger and politics. But in fact thats not actually representative of our group.Is there anything we can do to combat outrage fatigue? How can people healthily disengage to some extent?I think people really have to figure out, How can I be aware and experience outrage while also grounding myself in local communities? Because I think local community politics is how you can build a kind of feeling of safety and understanding among a group, like, Oh, actually, there are concrete things I can do, or we can do, to organize and think about how we challenge the status quo we disagree with. I think the problem is were in a kind of era where a primary way that, especially, young people engage in politics is through these online, honestly not that personal, spaces. And I think its been problematic for the kind of cross-coalition building that used to occur when there was just more organizing in offline spaces.So I think its just getting more involved at a local level, where you have this interpersonal connection. It doesnt cost much to express outrage online. Its much more costly to try and get involved in the community and to have more direct and focused outrage. Directed outrage is less likely to lead to fatigue because theres a satisfaction of knowing what its going for, and there are concrete outcomes youre looking for.Can limiting your media consumption help?There are some deactivation studies for social media specifically [studies in which participants deactivate their account for some period of time].To be honest, there are kind of mixed results. One study showed a decrease in polarization, but people lost some political knowledge. Another study showed there was no effect. And theres a big multicountry study going on with that, but to be honest, these studies tend to look at, like, two weeks of deactivation. Its hard to say, Is it a good or bad thing? Its something that is nuanced. But what I would say, drawing from what I know from my research, is that people do have the ability to alter their social media ecosystem. If you feel like youre getting too much outrage and bombarded with stuff in a way that is not productive or is causing fatigue then you have the ability to change that environment by engaging with different content.Is there evidence that that political parties or groups weaponize outrage fatigue as a way of making people less engaged or resistant?In general, heres one thing we know from at least the U.S. context: outrage has been used as a political tool to divide groups. For example, the political right has specifically used outrage stoking to get certain groups who would be harmed by their economic policiessay, the working classto vote for them on other issues that have nothing to do with that. For example, issues of immigration, race, identity, things that make them outraged. Abortion is another oneit can distract people from other issues that would harm them. Two of our studies looked at the Russian disinformation organization the Internet Research Agency that was specifically using that as a strategy in the 2016 and 2020 elections. So we know that outrage as a divisive tool is something that is used as a strategy for sure.

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games hereMarvel Rivals has taken the gaming world by storm, engaging gamers with its thrilling combat and rich Marvel Universe background. With millions of players joining every day to strategize, fight, and compete, its no surprise that the game has become a cultural phenomenon. However, as its popularity develops, so do concerns about the games integrity.Cheating has been a common problem, with gamers using hacks and exploits to get an advantage. Aside from flagrant cheating, a subtler advantage has provoked intense disputes in the community. Many players believe that having greater frame rates (FPS) results in smoother gameplay and faster response times, providing them a major advantage in matches. Higher FPS not only enhances the overall game experience, but it also appears to boost character animations and fighting efficiency, prompting concerns about balancing.Marvel Rivals players suggest higher FPS makes winning games easierThe Marvel Rivals player base has been divided ever since theories of the game being pay to win went viral on social media. Some players allege that those with higher frame rates in the game can damage enemies quicker and have a significant buff over enemies with lower FPS.Marvel Rivals players are alleging lower FPS delays attacks. Image by Marvel Rivals Media.Such a theory was brought forward by YouTuber Sarthe who shared a video comparing two clips of Star Lords gameplay at 120 FPS vs 60 FPS. It could be seen that the one with a higher FPS value can damage and eliminate enemies quicker than the 60 FPS user.While its arguable that the delay in the clip is purely because of frame rate and in reality, the input time on both frame rates is the same, some users have even shared a clip of five heroes who are majorly affected by lower FPS values.Those heroes are Doctor Strange, Wolverine, Magik, Venom, and Star-Lord. Since the clip also does not quite justify that the input time is the same, its safe to say that the accusation by players is simply a theory until NetEase confirms it.Some players have also pointed out that this may be the reason that PlayStation users have been struggling to win matches, but it all comes down to a lot of factors such as input delay, ping, and even your graphics settings that affect the overall performance of your gameplay.Marvel RivalsPlatform(s):macOS, PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series XGenre(s):Fighting, ShooterSubscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games hereMarvel Rivals already has one of the best rosters of any hero shooter because its comprised of Earths greatest superheroes including the likes of Spider-Man, Captain America, The Guardians of the Galaxy, and Iron Man. While the gallery of heroes is already great, more will be added through future seasons. A Marvel Rivals leak has unearthed a new character while teasing another big reveal for fans to keep an eye on. There is a lot to anticipate for the near future of NetEases multiplayer experience. Per the 2025 roadmap, Season 1 is set to start in early January, and the developer has confirmed Season 1 will provide a solution to mouse acceleration issues. Before Season 1 launches, you can check stats online to see who the most and least popular characters are right now, and it will be interesting to see how the statistics and leaderboards change as the game continues to grow. A lot of future characters have already leaked for Marvel Rivals, and the developers have admitted that datamining is pretty much impossible to stop. This means leaks will continue to surface, and now there are reports that another character from the Thor movies will eventually make their way to the battlefield. Marvel Rivals leak reveals new character Valkyrie According to leaker, X0X_LEAK, Valkyrie is coming to Marvel Rivals. Theres no mention of when she will arrive, but she is another Asgardian leaked for the future alongside Angela. For fans of the MCU, Valkyrie made her first appearance in Thor Ragnarok, and she was portrayed in the movies by actress Tessa Thompson. She was a decent enough character in the films, and it will be interesting to see if the games portrayal is based on Tessa Thompson from the movies or earlier comic book iterations where she had long blonde hair. Below is a list of characters currently leaked for Marvel Rivals: The ThingMr FantasticInvisible WomanEmma FrostBladeJean Grey/PhoenixDeadpoolAngelaValkyrieHit-MonkeyModokHuman Torch Ultron Not everything about the upcoming heroes has leaked, but RivalsLeaks has revealed the abilities for both the Human Torch and Ultron. In addition to Valkyrie, X0X_LEAK has teased the reveal of another big hero coming to Marvel Rivals. They posted on December 29th that the reveal will happen tomorrow, so we expect it to occur sometime on December 30th. We will update this article when the leak materializes. Remember that these are only leaks rather anything official. Plans can always change and some heroes might not debut as expected. Image credit: @X0X_LEAK on XFor more Marvel Rivals, check out our guides to the best Duelists and DPS characters, along with the best Vanguards and Tanks. Marvel RivalsPlatform(s):macOS, PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series XGenre(s):Fighting, ShooterSubscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games hereWhile Larian Studios is bringing 12 new subclasses to the massive RPG with the arrival of the games last major patch next year, which fans can try out soon, modders for the game continue to create their own. One modder, inspired by Final Fantasy Tactics, has recreated the series iconic Jobs System as a new class for Larians game.Final Fantasy Tactics comes to Baldurs Gate 3Created by modder Almontys, the new Final Fantasy Tactics Job System mod for BG3 brings a bold new class to the game. Available right here on Nexus, the mod aims to add new strategic depth and class progression of Final Fantasy Tactics into Baldurs Gate 3.Just like Final Fantasy Tactics, players will start as a Cadet and unlock new jobs as they level up. 27 jobs are available to unlock and use, including Knight, Mage, Archer, Samurai and many more.It is incredibly difficult (if not impossible with my capabilities) to fully recreate the JP system and Job Levels, the modder explains on the Nexus Mods page. Each subclass has a progression list and restrictions of available jobs (level-gated) to help keep some of the original feel of unlocking and progressing jobs.Its worth noting that there are a few restrictions that the modder has implemented in order to not completely break Baldurs Gate 3. For example, the modder decided not to recreate Final Fantasy Tactics advanced movement abilities as they were deemed too overkill for the game.Additionally, the modder decided not to add in the Calculator and Mime classes from Final Fantasy Tactics with the former being replaced with the new Sorcerer class. As both classes were deemed game-breaking, they were avoided.For more Baldurs Gate 3 mods, read about the modders bringing cut content back into the game or our thoughts on the mods that attempt (and fail) to make Astarion even hotter.Subscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

Pretty funny coincidence, but honestly, Mario & Luigi: Brothership is as perfect of a name as it gets. Everything worked out perfectly.Personally, I think they should have dropped the word "Bros." in "Super Mario Bros. Wonder." Simply calling it "Super Mario Wonder" rolls off the tongue so much better and makes more sense considering you can play as other characters like Peach and Daisy right now. I get the feeling Nintendo thought the word "Bros." would keep casual consumers from getting confused thinking it was a 3D Mario game. But really, all you have to do is look at the screenshots on the back of the box or literally any of the advertisements.It's not like Nintendo hasn't dropped the word "Bros." from 2D Mario games before. Super Mario World, Super Mario Land, Super Mario Land 2... Granted, Luigi isn't in the latter two, so I guess that would be false advertising, but still. I get how marketing the Wii U as "the new controller" was confusing, but I hate when companies go overboard to treat audiences like they're dumber than rocks.At least Europe didn't intervene in Mario & Luigi's naming and call it "Brothership Bros."Edit: I would've been first if I didn't have so much to say, so now it looks like I plagiarized @JohnnyMind in my first paragraph, lol.

Read all the biggest 3D printing stories of 2024 in the 3D Printing Industry Review of the Year.In April, business news continued to dominate the headlines. Two of the most influential additive manufacturing consultancies published annual market reports highlighting key industry trends, analysis, and forecasts for the future of 3D printing. Notably, the reports featured starkly contrasting 3D printing market size estimations.Elsewhere, GE Aerospace debuted as an independent company on the New York Stock Exchange following General Electrics restructuring. Solidscape also went solo after a private investor acquisition, while Markforged was ordered to pay $17.34 million in a patent-infringement lawsuit.Sustainability was another key theme in April, with several companies announcing eco-friendly additive manufacturing initiatives. Additionally, the focus on strengthening domestic supply chains in the US continued with efforts to re-shore the production of batteries and missiles. Medical applications were also spotlighted, with one research institute 3D printing ultra-realistic heart and lung models.Read on for 3D printing updates from Stratasys, MIT, Ursa Major, 6K Energy, Farsoon Technologies, Meltio, AML3D, and more.Larry Culp, CEO of GE Aerospace, and Scott Strazik, CEO of GE Vernova ring the Opening Bell. Photo via GE Aerospace.What is the 3D printing market size?In April, Wohlers Associates, the Colorado-based additive manufacturing consultancy firm operating under ASTM International, released its Wohlers Report 2024. This outlined that the industry had grown 11.1% to a 3D printing market valuation of $20.035 billion, exceeding $20 billion for the first time.The reports principal author, Terry Wohlers, told 3D Printing Industry that the market size is actually much larger than what we report. He explained that the estimate excludes capital spent on 3D printing within organizations like Adidas, NASA, and Stryker. The figure also omits the value of research, development, prototyping, tooling, and parts 3D printed by original equipment manufacturers.Looking to the future of 3D printing, the report anticipates a shift to the high-volume production of end-use parts. Wohlers predicts that production will move from thousands of parts to hundreds of thousands. Million-part production runs are also anticipated for small components.German consultancy AMPOWER reported a 3D printing market size of just 10.5 million for 2023, approximately half of the Wohlers figure. This estimate, published in the AMPOWER 2024 report, represents a 10.3% increase compared to the previous years estimation. Metal powder bed fusion 3D printers reportedly accounted for 40% of sales 2023 revenue. Additionally, robust growth was seen in the aerospace and defense sectors, with a 30% increase over the past two years. The rise in global defense budgets is expected to drive the adoption of additive manufacturing further. However, the automotive sectors investment in 3D printing stagnated in 2023, while startup funding declined due to a lack of global venture capital.AMPOWER projected steady industry growth, forecasting an annual growth rate of 13.9% and 20 billion in revenues by 2028. Equipment suppliers in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region are expected to experience an annual growth rate of around 16% until 2028.Wohlers Report 2024 data shows increasing metal 3D printer sales. Image via Wohlers Associates.3D printing business updates April saw GE Aerospace debut on the New York Stock Exchange as an independent public company following GEs operational restructuring. This resulted in the creation of three independent companies: GE HealthCare, GE Vernova, and GE Aerospace. Metal 3D printer manufacturer Colibrium Additive, rebranded from GE Additive, is part of GE Aerospaces Propulsion & Additive Technologies (PAT) division.A joint opening bell ceremony alongside GE Vernova was held on April 2, 2024. The aerospace manufacturer entered the market with a sizeable installed base, including 44,000 commercial engines and 26,000 military engines worldwide.GE Aerospaces hypersonic dual-mode ramjet engine. Photo via GE Aerospace.Another company that announced its independence was high-resolution 3D printing specialist Solidscape. Known for its 3D printers for the jewelry and precision investment casting industries, the company was acquired by a private investor. This formed part of a strategic move to reinforce Solidscapes presence and innovation in the jewelry 3D printing market.This announcement followed the news in January that Prodways had discontinued the Solidscape product line of wax and resin 3D printers, which had performed poorly in 2023. Following the acquisition, Solidscape will continue to offer its range of 3D printers and materials for jewelry applications. The company also confirmed its commitment to developing new products and improving existing technologies.A 3D printed ring model and the final part. Photo via Solidscape.Elsewhere, Canadian 3D printing powder developer Equispheres raised approximately CAD 20 million in a Series B funding round. Martinrea International led the round, while INFOR Financial and Stifel Nicolaus Canada acted as financial advisors. The company planned to leverage this capital across various critical efforts, including new reactors to scale its production capabilities.In legal news, 3D printer manufacturer Markforged was ordered to pay Continuous Composites $17.34 million as part of a patent infringement lawsuit that began in 2021. A federal jury in the US District Court for the District of Delaware found that several of the companys 3D printers infringed on a patent covering the method and apparatus for continuous composite 3D printing. In a statement, Markeforged commented that it strongly disagrees with this verdict and outlined intentions to overturn the verdict in post-trial motions.Later this year, Markforged settled with Continuous Composites after agreeing to pay the company $25 million. The deal, which included a Patent License Agreement, resolved all claims and counterclaims in the IP dispute.Markforged HQ. Photo via Businesswire.Sustainable manufacturing initiativesThe sustainability of additive manufacturing was a key talking point in April. The month saw leading 3D printer manufacturer Stratasys publish its second environmental, social, governance, and sustainability report. This highlighted the environmental sustainability and social impact of the companys 3D printing technology.Stratasys stated that it is delivering on the mindful manufacturing commitments it made in its 2022 report, claiming its technology enables manufacturers to transition to more sustainable practices. The company also highlighted several environmental, social, and governance-based achievements.Most impressively, Stratasys announced it reduced 207 metric tons of CO2 emission by adopting renewable energy at its facilities. The company installed solar panels at its Israel facilities, generating 441,339 kWh of renewable energy. It also claimed to have reduced 3D printing waste through its recycling program. This increased the number of recycled filament spools, cartridges, and canisters by 11.3%.Rooftop solar installation at Stratasys Kiryat Gat Manufacturing installation. Photo via Stratasys.Later in the month, a team from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) developed an FDM 3D printer that can autonomously create parameters for unknown materials. This system seeks to increase the adoption of unique 3D printing filaments that are more sustainable than hard-to-recycle, fossil fuel-based polymers.Also targeting recycling was UK-based 3D printing filament manufacturer Filamentive, which introduced its free 3D Printing material recycling service. Said to be the first scheme of its kind in the UK, it allows existing Filamentive customers to return their PLA waste free of charge. 100% of this material is then recycled into new products.The company hopes this will combat increasing 3D printing-related plastic pollution. According to Filamentive, 33% of 3D printed parts end up as waste, translating to 400,000 kg of plastic in the UK each yearOn the powder side, the AMGTA published the results of its study on the most sustainable metal 3D printing materials. The findings suggest that helium gas atomization is the most energy-efficient method for producing common metal powders. This reportedly uses 13% less energy per kilogram of powder compared to argon and 28% less than nitrogen for common alloys.Filamentive PLA recycling box. Image via Filamentive.Re-shoring manufacturing in the USIn April, efforts to re-shore manufacturing in the US ramped up. Within the defense sector, rocket engine manufacturer Ursa Major signed a contract with the US Navy to design and test a 3D printed solid rocket motor (SRM) for the Standard Missile program.This agreement sees the company leverage its additive manufacturing-based Lynx technology to design the next generation of SRMs optimized for reliability and manufacturability.The project aims to create a new 3D printable design for the Mk 104 dual rocket motor, addressing challenges associated with traditional manufacturing methods. The Mk 104 powers the SM-2, SM-3, and SM-6 missiles. This year, demand for missiles in America surged due to a shortage of domestic suppliers, the need to replenish US stockpiles, and ongoing support for Ukraines war efforts.Also in April, a large-scale ARCEMY X-Edition 6700 3D printer from AML3D became fully operational at the US Navys Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence in Danville, Virginia. Worth AUD$1.1 million, the Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing system was sold through the Australian 3D printer manufacturers US Scale-Up strategy, which delivered over AUD$12 million in orders last year. This initiative seeks to address supply challenges within the US Department of Defense, particularly the US Navys submarine industrial base.US Navy SM-6 missile. Photo via the US Navy.Away from defense manufacturing, 6K Energy, a division of advanced material specialist 6K, signed a strategic supply agreement with metal recycling firm Aqua Metals. Through this partnership, the companies are working to build a circular supply chain for lithium-ion battery materials in the United States.The collaboration sees Aqua Metals supply 6K with recycled battery materials from its Sierra ARC facility in Reno. 6K then uses its UniMelt microwave plasma technology to convert these critical materials into cathode active materials at its PlusCAM factory in Jackson, Tennessee. Recycled battery materials are later sold to US-based manufacturers.This aligns with the US Governments efforts to re-shore its production capabilities amid global supply chain challenges. By 2030, the lithium-ion battery manufacturing capacity in the US is expected to reach nearly one terawatt-hour.6K Energy PlusCAM factory. Image via 6K Energy.Support-free metal 3D printingIn April, a key development in metal 3D printing came from Farsoon Technologies. The Chinese 3D printer manufacturer introduced its Support Reduction System to address common support-based challenges in metal powder bed fusion 3D printing.According to Farsoon, the technology combats stress and warping during the cooling process after 3D printing. This often causes parts to crack, especially in overhanging areas. The new technology facilitates reliable, support-free 3D printing of inverted conical structures with angles between 20 and 25, and round holes up to 50 mm wide.These capabilities reduce material requirements, translating to significant cost savings, cutting time commitments, and minimizing damage associated with support removal. The technology also facilitates the creation of more intricate part geometries, creating the potential for previously unachievable features.The fabrication of unsupported horizontal circular openings, reaching widths of up to 50 millimeters. Image via Farsoon.3D printing medical devices The increasing adoption of 3D printing for medical applications was also evident this month. Researchers from Nottingham Trent University produced realistic 3D printed heart and lung models that bleed, beat, and breathe like their real counterparts.Targeted to organ transplant training applications, the heart models reflect the tactile qualities of the real thing. They can be produced with different tissue hardness levels, allowing surgeons to plan operations.The 3D printed organs can also be used to research and teach transplant procedures. Most trainee surgeons currently practice with cadavers and animal organs, as existing models arent realistic enough. The researchers claim their 3D printed models are the first to offer the realism required for medical training.Elsewhere, biomedical 3D printing firm ArcomedLab announced that it had established the worlds largest case list of 3D printed craniomaxillofacial implants. By April 2024, the firm had completed 700 successful cases throughout Latin America, including in Chile, Peru, Colombia, and Mexico.The implants were 3D printed in a PEEK biopolymer material and personalized to meet specific patient needs. They can also store and deliver liquid drugs at the point of need through the companys patented gravity-induced drip mechanism. This allows drugs to be administered up to 20 days after surgery.Senior research fellow Richard Arm holding a 3D printed heart model. Photo via Nottingham Trent University.3D Printing News Highlights from 2024: Innovations, Trends, and AnalysisAll the news from Formnext 2024.Subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry newsletter to keep up with the latest 3D printing news.You can also follow us on Twitter, like our Facebook page, and subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry Youtube channel to access more exclusive content.Featured image shows a US Navy SM-6 missile. Photo via the US Navy.