Gone fishin' Frogfish reveals how it evolved the fishing rod on its head Specialized neurons have evolved to make the "bait" wiggle like prey. Elizabeth Rayne Dec 30, 2024 1:27 pm | 0 A hairy frogfish seen off the coast of Indonesia. Credit: Divelvanov via Getty A hairy frogfish seen off the coast of Indonesia. Credit: Divelvanov via Getty Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreBehold the frogfish. This bizarre creature really is a fish, despite its bullfrog face, pectoral fins that look like webbed feet, and a froglike mouth that snaps up unsuspecting prey.But the way it lures its prey is even weirder. Frogfish belong to the anglerfish family known as Antennariidae. Like their anglerfish cousins who lurk in the oceans depths, these ambush predators attract their next meal via an appendage on their heads that they use like a fishing lure. This appendage is known as the illicium and thought to have once been a dorsal fin. It has a specialized skin flap, the esca at the end. It tantalizes small fish and crustaceans into thinking its a worm until they come too close.How frogfish controlled the illicium was previously unknown. Led by biologist Naoyuki Yamamoto of Nagoya University, a team of researchers have now discovered that a specialized population of motor neurons have evolved to allow it to shake the illicium around like a wriggling worm. Yamamoto thinks they were originally dorsal fin motor neurons that became more specialized.Thats some nerveTo find out how the illicium was innervated, or supplied with nerves, the researchers injected striated frogfish (also called the hairy frogfish for the hairlike skin protrusions all over its body) with neural tracers that would color specific parts of its nervous system so they became visible. Frogfish motor neurons were then compared to those of the related white-spotted pygmy filefish.Yamamoto and his team found that the illicial muscles of the frogfish are innervated by motor neurons in branches of the occipital nervewhich is responsible for sensation in the head and neck. These cells reside in whats called the dorsolateral zone of the ventral hornthe dorsolateral zone of the spine is in the upper back of the fish, while the ventral horn is the underside of the spine. It is these fishing motor neurons that allow them to move the illicium when lying in wait for prey among rocks or on the seafloor.In most bony fish, or teleosts, motor neurons for fins are found on the sides (ventrolateral zone) of the underside (ventral horn) of the spinal cord. The motor neurons controlling the illicium of frogfish are in their own cluster and located in the dorsolateral zone. In fish, this is unusual.The peculiar location of fishing motor neurons, with little doubt, is linked with the specialization of the illicium serving fishing behavior, the team said in a study recently published in the Journal of Comparative Neurology.Fishing for answersSo what does this have to do with evolution? The white-spotted pygmy filefish might look nothing like a frogfish and has no built-in fishing lure, but it is still a related species and can possibly tell us something.While the first dorsal fin of the filefish doesnt really moveit is thought that its main purpose is to scare off predators by looking menacingthere are still motor neurons that control it. Motor neurons for the first dorsal fin of filefish were found in the same location as motor neurons for the second, third and fourth dorsal fins in frogfish. In frogfish, these fins also do not move much while swimming, but can appear threatening to a predator.If the same types of motor neurons control non-moving fins in both species, the frogfish has something extra when it comes to the function and location of motor neurons controlling the illicium.Yamamoto thinks the unique group of fishing motor neurons found in frogfish suggests that, as a result of evolution, "the motor neurons for the illicium [became] segregated from other motor neurons to end up in their own distinct cluster away from motor neurons controlling other fins, as he said in the study.What exactly caused the functional and locational shift of motor neurons that give the frogfishs illicium its function is still a mystery. How the brain influences their fishing behavior is another area that needs to be investigated.While Yamamoto and his team speculate that specific regions of the brain send messages to the fishing motor neurons, they do not yet know which regions are involved, and say that more studies need to be carried out on other species of fish and the groups of motor neurons that power each of their dorsal fins.In the meantime, the frogfish will continue being its freaky self.Journal of Comparative Neurology, 2024. DOI: 10.1002/cne.25674Elizabeth Rayne Elizabeth Rayne is a creature who writes. Her work has appeared on SYFY WIRE, Space.com, Live Science, Grunge, Den of Geek, and Forbidden Futures. She lurks right outside New York City with her parrot, Lestat. When not writing, she is either shapeshifting, drawing, or cosplaying as a character nobody has ever heard of. Follow her on Threads and Instagram @quothravenrayne. 0 Comments

Let's make a deal Trump told SCOTUS he plans to make a deal to save TikTok TikTok ban could be delayed, if consummate dealmaker Trump gets his way. Ashley Belanger Dec 30, 2024 11:31 am | 85 Credit: NurPhoto / Contributor | NurPhoto Credit: NurPhoto / Contributor | NurPhoto Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreIn the weeks before Donald Trump takes office, he has moved to delay a nationwide TikTok ban from taking effect until he has a chance to make a deal on his own terms that he believes could allow TikTok to continue operating in the US without posing a national security threat.On Friday, Trump's lawyer filed a brief, urging the Supreme Court to stay enforcement of the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act that would either ban TikTok on January 19 or force TikTok to sell the company to prevent China's alleged covert control of content on the app.The Supreme Court had previously denied TikTok's request for an injunction that would have delayed enforcement until Trump takes office, instead planning to rush a decision on whether the Act violates the First Amendment before the deadline hits.But Trump insisted that the complex question at issue in the case requires "measured consideration" and is precisely the sort of decision that the Supreme Court should never rush. Not only must the court weigh TikTok and American content creators' First Amendment concerns, but also Trump's questions about whether the Act is possibly "legislative encroachment" that "binds the hands" of an incoming President who otherwise is responsible for decisions on national security and foreign policy, Trump argued.According to Trump, he's not taking sides and offers no comments on the merits of the case. But in September, he promised voters that he would "save TikTok," and currently, he "opposes banning TikTok in the United States."If Trump gets his way, the Supreme Court will delay the TikTok ban until he has a chance to "resolve the dispute through political means." He claimed that President Joe Biden signing a law that takes effect a day before his administration starts was "unfortunate timing" and that he "alone possesses the consummate dealmaking expertise, the electoral mandate, and the political will to negotiate a resolution to save the platform while addressing the national security concerns expressed by the Government."It's possible, Trump claimed, that his potential "negotiated resolution" could even remove the need for SCOTUS to ever weigh the merits of the TikTok case.Senators agreed law triggering TikTok ban is "illegitimate"Many have questioned how Trump got from attempting to ban TikTok during his prior administration to suddenly posturing as TikTok's savior. In his brief, Trump explained that, "to be sure," the national security concerns about China's alleged control over TikTok "appear to be significant and pressing."But it should be up to Trump to decide how to manage America's "ever-evolving relationship with one of its most challenging geopolitical rivals," he said.And after seeing Brazil ban X (formerly Twitter) for a month and the aftermath of other social media censorship scandals, Trump is now seemingly alarmed that Congress has dictated that he must shut down TikTok. That's a problem, he argued, because the app is not only a preferred platform for over 170 million users, including "ordinary" Americans, but also is a key destination for political campaigning, which counts among the "most urgent" speech that the First Amendment protects.Several members of Congress Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.), and Representative Ro Khanna (D-Calif.)filed a brief agreeing that "the TikTok ban does not survive First Amendment scrutiny." They agreed with TikTok that the law is "illegitimate."Lawmakers' "principle justification" for the ban"preventing covert content manipulation by the Chinese government"masked a "desire" to control TikTok content, they said. Further, it could be achieved by a less-restrictive alternative, they said, a stance which TikTok has long argued for.Attorney General Merrick Garland defended the Act, though, urging SCOTUS to remain laser-focused on the question of whether a forced sale of TikTok that would seemingly allow the app to continue operating without impacting American free speech violates the First Amendment. If the court agrees that the law survives strict scrutiny, TikTok could still be facing an abrupt shutdown in January.The Supreme Court has scheduled oral arguments to begin on January 10. TikTok and content creators who separately sued to block the law have asked for their arguments to be divided, so that the court can separately weigh "different perspectives" when deciding how to approach the First Amendment question.In its own brief, TikTok has asked SCOTUS to strike the portions of the law singling out TikTok or "at the very least" explain to Congress that "it needed to do far better work either tailoring the Acts restrictions or justifying why the only viable remedy was to prohibit Petitioners from operating TikTok."But that may not be necessary if Trump prevails. Trump told the court that TikTok was an important platform for his presidential campaign and that he should be the one to make the call on whether TikTok should remain in the USnot the Supreme Court."As the incoming Chief Executive, President Trump has a particularly powerful interest in and responsibility for those national-security and foreign-policy questions, and he is the right constitutional actor to resolve the dispute through political means," Trump's brief said.Ashley BelangerSenior Policy ReporterAshley BelangerSenior Policy Reporter Ashley is a senior policy reporter for Ars Technica, dedicated to tracking social impacts of emerging policies and new technologies. She is a Chicago-based journalist with 20 years of experience. 85 Comments

A reconstruction of the dress from an Iron Age grave in the Netherlands, created by Prehistorisch Dorp in EindhovenHanna GeelsA 2800-year-old red and blue checked dress found in an Early Iron Age grave in the Netherlands might be the oldest double-colour woven garment in Europe.The skeleton of the elite individual who once wore this striking outfit had completely decayed due to harsh, sandy soil. But through mineralisation underneath metallic jewellery, remnants of the much-decayed and now-brown wool dress provide evidence that the dyed textiles came from clothing, says Karina Grmer at the Natural History Museum, Vienna.

An appeals court upheld a jury verdict finding Donald Trump liable for sexually abusing E. Jean Carroll.He owes her $5 million in damages for sexual abuse and defamation but plans to keep appealing.Trump is also appealing a separate jury verdict for an additional $83.3 million in defamation damages.A federal appeals court on Monday upheld a verdict finding Donald Trump liable for sexually abusing and defaming writer E. Jean Carroll, starting a 30-day clock for her to receive the $5 million jury award, plus interest.In an exhaustive, 77-page opinion, the US Second Circuit Court of Appeals rejected all of the legal arguments brought by Trump in seeking to overturn the May 2023 trial verdict.But Carroll, now 81 years old, shouldn't hold her breath. A spokesperson for Trump told Business Insider the president-elect plans to keep appealing the verdict. The appeal could keep the cash frozen well into next year, at least, legal experts told BI. In the year and a half since the jury verdict, the $5 million Trump owes Carroll plus $500,000 to cover interest has been sitting in an interest-bearing bank account controlled by the federal trial court.If Trump does not file a further appeal in the next 30 days, the court will automatically transfer that $5.5 million and any further interest directly to Carroll and her attorneys, said Nick Newton, a former president of the National Association of Surety Bond Producers."Both E. Jean Carroll and I are gratified by today's decision," Carroll's attorney Roberta Kaplan told Business Insider in a statement. "We thank the Second Circuit for its careful consideration of the parties' arguments."A spokesperson for Trump called Carroll's claims a "hoax" and said he would continue to appeal."The American People have re-elected President Trump with an overwhelming mandate, and they demand an immediate end to the political weaponization of our justice system and a swift dismissal of all of the Witch Hunts, including the Democrat-funded Carroll Hoax, which will continue to be appealed," Steven Cheung told BI in an email. "We look forward to uniting our country in the new administration as President Trump makes America great again."Trump's options for further appeals are two-fold, according to Michel Paradis, who teaches constitutional law at Columbia Law School. The funds would remain frozen until the appeals are exhausted, meaning that Carroll would need to wait longer before getting any of the jury's awards.The president-elect can first seek an en banc review, meaning a review of Monday's three-judge decision by all 13 active judges on the Second Circuit, plus Senior Judge Denny Chin, Paradis said.After that option, Trump could take his appeal to the US Supreme Court.Winning or even being considered for en banc is a high bar, Paradis said. Trump would have to explain to the full Second Circuit why the issues are so important, and the three-judge panel's decision is so profoundly wrong that it needs to be overturned."In a case like this, it could take a few months" for the full panel to consider Trump's petition and any response they allow from Carroll's side, and then vote on whether to hear the case, he said."In this appeal, there were only basic legal questions in dispute, meaning how the law was applied, and the three-judge panel's review was limited to looking for an abuse of discretion," Paridis said.Trump will seek review from the US Supreme Court next, Paradis predicted. The president-elect selected three of the nine justices in his first term. He could place more justices on the bench by the time oral arguments would take place.The president-elect would first have to ask the high court to hear his appeal, and that process could keep the Carroll judgment frozen well into next year, he said."SCOTUS would likely not decide to hear the case until the end of next September at the earliest," he said.It's not clear who will be on Trump's legal team if he continues to appeal the case.John Sauer, who presented the oral argument before the Second Circuit, was designated by Trump to serve as the Justice Department Solicitor General in his next presidential term. Other attorneys who worked on the case, including Todd Blanche, Emil Bove, and Alina Habba, are set to serve other posts in the Justice Department or the White House.Monday's decision is for one of two separate civil lawsuits E. Jean Carroll brought against Trump.The second trial took place in January 2024, and concerned additional defamation damages over Trump disparaging Carroll and calling her a liar.The jury in that case awarded Carroll $83.3 million. Trump is appealing that case, too, with a process that is running on a separate track.Monday's appellate court decision largely focused on whether it was appropriate for US District Judge Lewis Kaplan, the trial judge, to allow certain types of evidence to be seen by the jurors who held Trump liable for sexually abusing Carroll.Trump's lawyers argued Kaplan should not have shown jurors the "Access Hollywood" tape, where Trump bragged about grabbing women by the genitals."The jury could have reasonably concluded from those statements that, in the past, Mr. Trump had kissed women without their consent and then proceeded to touch their genitalia," they wrote.Trump's attorneys had also argued it was inappropriate to allow testimony from Natasha Stoynoff and Jessica Leeds, two other women who had accused Trump of sexual misconduct. The Second Circuit judges agreed with Kaplan, ruling that their stories helped establish a pattern of conduct from Trump."The jury could reasonably infer from Ms. Stoynoff's testimony and the Access Hollywood tape that Mr. Trump engaged in similar conduct with other women a pattern of abrupt, nonconsensual, and physical advances on women he barely knew," the judges wrote.

Blake Lively sued her "It Ends with Us" costar and director Justin Baldoni for sexual harassment on December 20.Lively also alleged Baldoni made attempts to damage her reputation.Here's everyone who's spoken out in support of Lively, including former costars and directors.Blake Lively sued her "It Ends with Us" costar and director Justin Baldoni on December 20 for sexual harassment and an attempt to damage her reputation.The news comes months after the movie's promotion leading up to its August release was overshadowed by rumors of a feud between the stars.In the complaint, obtained by Business Insider, Lively said she met with Baldoni and producer Jamey Heath during production to address the "hostile work environment that had nearly derailed production of the film."The meeting resulted in all parties agreeing to a number of stipulations, including "no more showing nude videos or images of women, including the producer's wife," to Lively (who is addressed as "BL" in other parts of the complaint) or her employees.It also required "no more mention of Mr. Baldoni or Mr. Heath's previous 'pornography addiction' or BL's lack of pornography consumption to BL or to other crew members."During the movie's late summer press tour, social media users criticized Lively's lighthearted approach to the movie's marketing, which led to a wave of backlash. Reports also began to surface that Lively and Baldoni feuded during production and had made separate cuts of the movie (Lively's ultimately won).Lively said in the complaint that Baldoni and his team engaged in "social manipulation" to destroy her reputation through a "sophisticated press and digital plan in retaliation for Ms. Lively exercising her legally protected right to speak up about their misconduct on the set, with the additional objective of intimidating her and anyone else from revealing in public what actually occurred."Bryan Freedman, an attorney for Baldoni and his company, Wayfarer Studios, said in a statement to BI that the claims made in the complaint were "categorically false" and "intentionally salacious with an intent to publicly hurt and rehash a narrative in the media.""It is shameful that Ms. Lively and her representatives would make such serious and categorically false accusations against Mr. Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios and its representatives, as yet another desperate attempt to 'fix' her negative reputation, which was garnered from her own remarks and actions during the campaign for the film; interviews and press activities that were observed publicly, in real time and unedited, which allowed for the internet to generate their own views and opinions," the statement said.A representative for Lively referred BI to a statement shared with The New York Times on Saturday."I hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak up about misconduct and helps protect others who may be targeted," the statement said.She also told the outlet that neither she nor her representatives ever spread negative stories about Baldoni or Wayfarer Studios.Since the lawsuit, Lively has received a wave of support from family and people she has worked with in Hollywood.Here's who has spoken out in support of Lively.

Jim Abrahams, 80Jim Abrahams. Stefanie Keenan/Getty Along with his boyhood friends, Jerry and David Zucker, Jim Abrahams is responsible for some of the funniest movies ever made.Known in Hollywood as "Abrahams, Zucker, and Zucker," the trio wrote and directed memorable movies in the slapstick comedy genre of the 1980s, such as "Top Secret!" and the "Airplane!" and "Naked Gun" franchises. They also were behind the popular TV show "Police Squad!", which preceded "Naked Gun."Abrahams found success on his own in the 1990s when he directed the "Hot Shots!" franchise.Abrahams died on November 26 of natural causes. John Amos, 84John Amos. Bennett Raglin/WireImage/Getty John Amos delivered legendary performances on TV and in movies for over five decades.After starting his acting career playing weatherman Gordon "Gordy" Howard on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," his career took off with memorable roles like James Evans Sr. on "Good Times" and Kunta Kinte in the landmark miniseries "Roots," the latter of which earned him an Emmy nomination.He also appeared in films like "Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song," "The Beastmaster," and "Die Hard 2," and even made a surprise cameo opposite Adam Sandler in "Uncut Gems."But his most memorable performance was as Cleo McDowell in Eddie Murphy's beloved comedy "Coming to America."Amos died on August 21 of natural causes. John Ashton, 76John Ashton played John Taggart in the "Beverly Hills Cop" franchise. CBS Photo Archive/Getty Ashton made memorable turns as the grumpy LAPD sergeant in the "Beverly Hills Cop" movies, a concerned father in "Some Kind of Wonderful," and a stubborn bounty hunter in "Midnight Run."Along with his work in movies, he also appeared in numerous TV shows over the '70s and '80s, including "Dallas," "The A-Team," and "M*A*S*H."Ashton died on September 26 of cancer. Frankie Beverly, 77Frankie Beverly. David Corio/Michael Ochs/Getty Beverly's iconic R&B music was a staple for decades.The lead singer, songwriter, producer, and founder of the band Frankie Beverly and Maze, the group was responsible for such hits as "Before I Let Go," "Joy and Pain," and "Happy Feelin's.""Before I Let Go" would be covered by Beyonc for her 2019 album "Homecoming."Beverly died on September 10. No cause was given. Seth Binzer (aka Shifty Shellshock)Shifty Shellshock. Markus Cuff/Corbis/Getty With his tattoos, frosted tips, and high energy, Crazy Town lead singer Shifty Shellshock was the epitome of the late 1990s-early 2000s rap-rock front man.With that also came a hit song: 1999's "Butterfly," which hit No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and was a staple on the radio and MTV's "Total Request Live."By 2003, the band had disbanded, and despite an attempt to reunite a few years later, Crazy Town was relegated to one-hit-wonder status.Shifty Shellshock, whose real name is Seth Binzer, appeared on the first season of VH1's "Celebrity Rehab" in 2007 and the spin-off "Celebrity Rehab Presents Sober House" a few years later.Binzer died at his home in Los Angeles on June 24 from an accidental drug overdose, according to his manager. Eric Carmen, 74Eric Carmen. Tom Hill/WireImage/Getty Carmen was a rock ballad king whose songs still get constant play to this day."All by Myself" was a hit in the mid-1970s. It became an even bigger hit when Celine Dion did her own rendition in 1996.The Grammy-nominated "Almost Paradise" from the soundtrack to the hit 1984 movie "Footloose" became a staple at school dances and weddings.Carmen repeated the feat when his song "Hungry Eyes" showed up on the soundtrack for the 1987 classic "Dirty Dancing."Carmen's death was announced on his website on March 12, stating he "passed away in his sleep, over the weekend." No cause was given. Jimmy Carter, 100Jimmy Carter. Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images Carter, the 39th president of the United States, had humble beginnings before becoming the most powerful man in the world.He served in the Navy for seven years in the late 1940s before returning to Georgia to take over his family's peanut farm after his father died.Carter entered state politics as a Democrat in the early 1960s and was elected governor of Georgia in 1970.Carter served one term as president from 1977 to 1981. During his presidency, he established the Departments of Education and Energy and expanded the national parks system.He facilitated the first peace treaty between Israel and Egypt, known as the Camp David Accords. Carter also established full diplomatic relations between the US and China and orchestrated two important treaties between the US and Panama.Perhaps his greatest work was what he did after leaving office. He focused heavily on humanitarian efforts by founding The Carter Center in 1982 and played an active role with Habitat for Humanity until the end of his life. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.Carter died on December 29. No cause was given. Roberto Cavalli, 83Roberto Cavalli. Daniele Venturelli/WireImage/Getty The Italian fashion designer was known for his flamboyant designs and game-changing innovations.Cavalli's use of leopard prints beginning in the 1970s became one of his trademarks. His revolutionary method of printing leather and patchwork denim was beloved by everyone from Madonna to Gwyneth Paltrow.Cavalli died on April 12. No cause of death was given. Bill Cobbs, 90Bill Cobbs. Tim Boyles/Getty From playing the concerned manager opposite Whitney Houston in "The Bodyguard" to the kind-hearted coach in "Air Bud," Bill Cobbs' ability to play the voice of reason in his roles made him a memorable character actor for decades.Cobbs' other titles include "The Color of Money," "New Jack City," "The Hudsucker Proxy," "Demolition Man," and "Night at the Museum."He died at his home in California on June 25 following a recent bout of pneumonia. Dabney Coleman, 92Dabney Coleman. Aaron Rapoport/Corbis/Getty Dabney Coleman became a captivating scene stealer in the 1980s thanks to his gruff demeanor and booming voice. Whether he was playing the mean boss opposite Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda, and Lily Tomlin in 1980's "9 to 5," or the nasty TV producer in "Tootsie," or chasing Matthew Broderick in "WarGames," Coleman had a talent for playing the heel.The Emmy winner most recently starred in the HBO hit series Boardwalk Empire from 2011 to 2014 and a 2019 episode of Yellowstone.Coleman died on May 16. No cause was given. Eleanor Coppola, 87Francis Ford Coppola and Eleanor Coppola at the 76th Academy Awards in 2004. Vince Bucci/Getty As the wife of Francis Ford Coppola, Eleanor had to navigate the stress and complexities of living with one of the greatest directors of all time.She channeled that by filming her husband while he made his landmark 1979 Vietnam movie "Apocalypse Now."Her documentary, "Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse," has gone down as one of the most honest accounts of the making of a movie.Eleanor died on April 12. No cause of death was given. Roger Corman, 98Roger Corman. Ken Hively/Getty To say Roger Corman was the king of B-movies is too simple of a characterization.For decades, Corman made ultra-low-budget genre movies that featured everything from cheesy monsters to crazed bikers. Corman-produced titles almost always made a profit, and many of them became proving grounds for the directors and actors who would go on to change Hollywood.After directing the 1967 acid-trip fantasia "The Trip" starring Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda and written by Jack Nicholson, the trio went on to make "Easy Rider," which would usher in the New Hollywood era of the 1970s.Corman also produced titles directed by then-unknowns like Francis Ford Coppola, James Cameron, and Martin Scorsese before they went on to mainstream studio success.Corman died on May 9 at his home in Santa Monica, Calif., surrounded by family members. Gavin Creel, 48Gavin Creel. Jamie McCarthy/Getty Known for his energetic performances, Creel was a fixture on Broadway. He won a Tony in 2017 for his performance as Cornelius Hackl in the revival of "Hello, Dolly!," which was headlined by Bette Midler.His other credits include recent runs of "Thoroughly Modern Millie," "Hair," and "Into the Woods."Creel died on September 30 after being diagnosed with metastatic melanotic peripheral nerve sheath sarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer, in July. Shannen Doherty, 53Shannen Doherty. CBS Photo Archive/Getty It was hard to separate the characters Shannen Doherty played from who she was in real life, and that genuine quality led to her becoming an icon to a generation growing up in the 1990s.Teens were glued to their TV sets every week to see the latest drama on "Beverly Hills, 90210" between Doherty's character Brenda Walsh and heartthrob Dyan McKay (played by Luke Perry, who died in 2019).The on-screen drama spilled into Doherty's personal life, with tabloids chasing her to find who she was dating; she ultimately left "90210" after season four.Though her star would never return to the heights of her "90210" days (she reprised her role for the revival series "BH90210," which lasted for one season), Doherty worked steadily, starring in the popular series "Charmed," making an appearance on "Dancing with the Stars," and appearing in a TV reboot of the 1988 cult classic "Heathers" after starring in the original movie.Doherty was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015; two years later she announced it was in remission. In 2019, it returned and spread to her brain.She died on July 13 due to cancer, according to her publicist. Phil Donahue, 88Phil Donahue. Oliver Morris/Getty Before there was Oprah Winfrey, Geraldo Rivera, or Jerry Springer, there was Phil Donahue.For close to 30 years, he ruled daytime talk with "The Phil Donahue Show," asking the biggest celebrities probing questions about everything from politics to abortion.Donahue's style of mixing his own running commentary with questions from audience members became the blueprint for talk shows going forward. His efforts led to 11 Daytime Emmy wins.Donahue died on August 18 following a long illness. Shelley Duvall, 75Shelley Duvall. 20th Century Fox/Getty With her striking features and formidable acting talent, Shelley Duvall was born to be on the big screen.A muse of Robert Altman, Duvall appeared in seven of his films, including "Nashville," in which she played teen groupie, "L.A. Joan," and "Popeye," as Olive Oyl.The two-time Emmy nominee also became a horror icon when she starred opposite Jack Nicholson in Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining."Duvall died on July 11 due to complications from diabetes. Joe Flaherty, 82(L-R) Joe Flaherty and Eugene Levy on the set of "SCTV." Peter Power/Toronto Star/Getty As one of the original cast members of the Canadian sketch comedy show "SCTV" in the late 1970s, Joe Flaherty alongside the likes of John Candy, Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Dave Thomas, Andrea Martin, Martin Short, and Rick Moranis created a brand of comedy that was edgier and more outlandish than their competition "Saturday Night Live."In later decades, Flaherty made scene-stealing appearances as the Western Union worker who gives Marty McFly the 70-year-old letter from Doc Brown in "Back to the Future Part II" and the heckler Donald in "Happy Gilmore."He was also a regular on TV through the decades, with roles in "Married with Children," "Freaks and Geeks," and "The King of Queens."Flaherty died on April 1 following a brief illness. Rodolfo Franklin (aka DJ Clark Kent), 58DJ Clark Kent. Richard Bord/Getty After making a name for himself as a DJ around New York City in the 1980s, DJ Clark Kent produced some of the biggest rap hits of the mid-1990s.He was responsible for hits like Junior M.A.F.I.A.'s "Players Anthem," Jay-Z's "Brookyln's Finest," and "Loverboy" by Mariah Carey.Over his career, he also produced tracks for Slick Rick, Queen Latifah, Doug E. Fresh, the Fugees, Rakim, Ice Cube and 50 Cent.DJ Clark Kent, whose real name is Rodolfo Franklin, died on October 24 after a bout with colon cancer. Teri Garr, 79Teri Garr. NBC/NBCUniversal/Getty Through the 1970s and 1980s, Teri Garr showed her range as a budding star. 1974 marked her breakout year, as she starred in two very different movies. In Francis Ford Coppola's "The Conversation," Garr gave a beautifully subtle performance as a woman ending her relationship with the main character, played by Gene Hackman. She then showed her comedic side playing the female lead opposite Gene Wilder in Mel Brooks' "Young Frankenstein."From there, Garr landed roles in "Oh God!" opposite John Denver, Steven Spielberg's "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," "Tootsie" opposite Dustin Hoffman (for which she earned an Oscar nomination), and the female lead opposite Michael Keaton in "Mr. Mom."Garr died on October 29 after battling multiple sclerosis since 1999. Nikki Giovanni, 81Nikki Giovanni. Antonio Dickey/Getty Giovanni was an acclaimed poet, author, and activist.She found initial acclaim in the 1960s during the civil rights movement, when her writing led to her being called the "Poet of the Black Revolution."She's written dozens of volumes of poetry since then, and 10 children's books.Along with holding 27 honorary degrees from various colleges and universities, she also was awarded the NAACP Image Award seven times over her career.Giovanni died on December 9 of lung cancer. Louis Gossett Jr., 87Louis Gossett Jr. holding his best supporting actor Oscar. Ron Galella/Getty Born in Brooklyn, New York, Louis Gossett Jr. made his stage debut at 17. After building his craft onstage through the 1960s, Gossett Jr. made the jump to screen and in 1977 was cast in the acclaimed miniseries "Roots" opposite the likes of Ben Vereen, LeVar Burton, and John Amos. He went on to win an Emmy for his performance as Fiddler.He was nominated for seven more Emmys after that, most recently in 2020 for playing William Reeves in the HBO limited series "Watchmen."He made history in 1983 when he won an Oscar for best supporting actor for his portrayal of the strict drill instructor Emil Foley in "An Officer and a Gentleman." It would mark the first time a Black actor won the prize in that category.Gossett Jr. went on to star in hit movies and TV shows like "The Principal," "Toy Soldiers," "Iron Eagle," and "Boardwalk Empire."Gossett Jr. died on March 29. No cause was given. Greg Gumbel, 78Greg Gumbel. CBS/Getty Gumbel was the voice behind some of the most memorable sporting events of the past half-century.He did the play-by-play for the Super Bowls in 2001 and 2004, the former marking the first time a Black announcer did the job for a major sporting championship event in America.Along with former New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms, the duo was the No. 1 announcing team on CBS for football from 1998 to 2004.Gumbel was also a fixture in the studio. He hosted the NCAA men's basketball tournament since the late 1990s (he was absent from last season's March Madness due to health reasons) and the popular CBS "The NFL Today" show from 1990 to 1993.He is the older brother of legendary "Today" show host and sports broadcaster Bryant Gumbel.Gumbel died of cancer on December 27. Cissy Houston, 91Cissy Houston (left) with daughter Whitney Houston. Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images Emily "Cissy" Houston, the Grammy award-winning singer and mother of Whitney Houston, died on Monday at 91.The soul singer was surrounded by family while in hospice, Gwendolyn Quinn, a representative for Whitney Houston's estate, told Business Insider.Cissy Houston had Alzheimer's disease, according to a statement from Quinn."Our hearts are filled with pain and sadness. We lost the matriarch of our family," Houston's daughter-in-law Pat Houston said in a statement shared with BI. "Mother Cissy has been a strong and towering figure in our lives."A woman of deep faith and conviction, who cared greatly about family, ministry, and community," the statement continued. "Her more than seven-decade career in music and entertainment will remain at the forefront of our hearts."Cissy Houston got her musical start at church before joining her siblings in a family gospel act. She gained commercial success in the 1960s as part of The Sweet Inspirations, a backing group that sang for soul singers like Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, and Elvis Presley.She later pursued a solo career and recorded hundreds of songs throughout her career as a popular session singer.Cissy Houston frequently sang with her daughter, including backup on Whitney Houston's successful first album. Tito Jackson, 70Tito Jackson. Monica Morgan/WireImage/Getty Jackson was one of the original members of The Jackson Five.The group comprised his brothers Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon, and Michael. They found fame as kids in the 1960s thanks to hits like "Big Boy," "I Want You Back", "ABC", "The Love You Save", and "I'll Be There."They would go on to sell millions of albums and perform alongside their famous brother Michael once he launched his solo career.Jackson, who played guitar for the group, went on to have a solo career as a blues musician in the early 2000s.Jackson died on September 15. No cause was given. Norman Jewison, 97Norman Jewison. Doug Griffin/Toronto Star/Getty The legendary director was best known for his eclectic filmography that included the drama "In the Heat of the Night," the musical "Fiddler of the Roof," and the beloved comedy "Moonstruck," all of which garnered him best director nominations at the Oscars.The Canadian filmmaker's specialty was getting top-notch performances out of A-list actors like Steve McQueen ("The Thomas Crown Affair") and Denzel Washington ("The Hurricane").It often led to Oscar glory for his movies and their stars. Twelve actors received nominations over his 40-year career, with five of his movies earning best picture noms.Jewison died on January 20. No cause of death was given. Glynis Johns, 100Glynis Johns. Paramount Pictures/De Carvalho Collection/Getty The English actor starred in over 60 films and 30 plays, and is known best for playing Mrs. Banks in the beloved 1964 Disney movie "Mary Poppins."Legend has it that Johns originally thought she landed the role of Poppins. To let her down easy, Walt Disney made sure that she got to sing a big musical number in the movie. It led to the famous "Sister Suffragette" sequence.In 1973, Johns' breathy voice caught the attention of legendary composer Stephen Sondheim, who cast her in the original Broadway production of "A Little Night Music." Sondheim wrote "Send in the Clowns," the song she performs, with her in mind. Johns would earn a Tony Award for her performance.She was also nominated for an Oscar for her work in "The Sundowners" (1960).Johns died on January 4. No cause of death was given. James Earl Jones, 93James Earl Jones in 2014. Jesse Dittmar/The Washington Post/Getty The legendary voice behind iconic characters like Darth Vader and Mufasa died on Monday, September 9, at 93.James Earl Jones is also known for his roles in "Field of Dreams" and "The Great White Hope," for which he was Oscar-nominated.The actor overcame a childhood stutter to become a star of the stage and screen, working for more than 60 years in Hollywood and on Broadway.Jones is also a rare EGOT winner. He won an Emmy, Grammy, honorary Oscar, and Tony. Quincy Jones, 91Quincy Jones. Lawrence Ho/Getty Quincy Jones was one of the most successful producers in the history of the music business. Over his eight decades in music, he worked with everyone from Frank Sinatra to Will Smith, and his work resulted in 28 Grammy Award wins.But Jones will forever be linked with Michael Jackson.He produced Jackson's iconic solo albums, "Off the Wall," "Thriller," and "Bad," which launched the artist into becoming the King of Pop.And only Jones could pull off the star-studded charity single "We Are The World," which featured the likes of Jackson, Lionel Richie, Diana Ross, Bruce Springsteen, Cyndi Lauper, and Ray Charles.Jones died on November 3. No cause was given. Toby Keith, 62Toby Keith. Pat Carroll/New York Daily News Archive/Getty Keith became prominent in the 1990s thanks to his hit single "Should've Been a Cowboy."It would make him one of the decade's top draws in country music.Keith released 19 studio albums, two Christmas albums, and dozens of songs that topped the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts in his career.Keith died on February 5 following a bout with stomach cancer. Kris Kristofferson, 88Kris Kristofferson. Larry Ellis Collection/Getty A multitalented performer, Kristofferson was a country music superstar known for hits like "Me and Bobby McGee" and "For the Good Times" before he became an A-list Hollywood actor with roles in "A Star is Born" and "Blade."The former US Army pilot had a larger-than-life personality and credited fellow songwriter Johnny Cash with encouraging him to pursue a musical career, the Associated Press reported.On September 28, the singer-songwriter, age 88, died peacefully in his home on Maui, Hawaii, surrounded by family, his spokesperson confirmed to AP. No cause was given.

A new leak has seemingly revealed a whole host of characters, team-ups, and maps coming to Marvel Rivals as the hero shooter moves into 2025 with plenty of momentumTech17:00, 30 Dec 2024Wolverine was one of the last additions to the rosterThe joy of Marvel Rivals is that developer NetEase has so much to pull from in terms of characters and history that it could feasibly go on forever.And, while we've already seen a bunch of leaks hinting at Fantastic Four, Ultron, Blade and more, now a fresh leak has revealed additional characters are being lined up for the game that's already pulled attracted 20 million players. Dataminer X0XLEAK on X (formerly Twitter) has revealed a lot of fresh new content we can expect.Characters, maps, and even team-up moves have been revealed, so if you're sensitive to spoilers, this is your last chance to look away.Ready for some new faces to join the fray?According to X0XLEAK on X, among the game's files are Deadpool, Valkyrie, and MODOK.Those join an eclectic mix that already include Hit-Monkey, Jean Grey, the Fantastic Four, and more, and while there's no guarantee they'll be added as part of the Season 1 update expected in January, it's interesting that so many characters are being worked on already.It's not just characters, either. One of the fun things about Marvel Rivals is how characters can unleash team-up abilities, and X0XLEAK's reporting suggests there are fresh ones like Storm and Human Torch, Wolverine and Phoenix, and Emma Frost and Magneto. There are some for existing characters, too, with Squirrel Girl and Rocket Raccoon mentioned.Finally, there are more maps, too. Krakoa, Arakko, and New York are all reportedly being lined up for players.Article continues belowWith big new movies like Captain America: New World Order on the horizon, there's every chance we'll get characters launched in time for release. Given Red Hulk and Sam Wilson as Falcon/Captain America aren't on the list yet, NetEase could be stacking a whole army of heroes and villains it'll be like the final battle of Avengers Endgame all over again.For more on Marvel Rivals, be sure to use our Promo Codes guide to earn yourself a free Iron Man skin, and snag a free spray for celebrating 20 million players.For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.RECOMMENDED

Concord was without a doubt the biggest flop of 2024 (Sony)In an interview about the future of PlayStation, Herman Hulst points to Helldivers 2 as proof that its worth pursuing further live service games.After the abrupt death of Concord and the closure of its developer, it seemed like Sony had begun to distance itself from the idea of live service games.Despite once promising no less than 12 such titles by 2026, its been claimed Sony has since cancelled multiple live service games, leaving only heist shooter Fairgame$ and Bungies Marathon reboot on Sonys schedule.That said, Sony never explicitly said anything about ditching its live service game plans entirely, and now PlayStation Studios CEO Herman Hulst has reaffirmed the companys commitment to those plans.In a recent interview with Japanese outlet Famitsu, Hulst was specifically asked if Sonys strategy for live service games, as well as mobile games, had changed in the aftermath of Concords shut down.As a reminder, Concord was such a failure that Sony delisted the game and refunded customers just two weeks after launch before shutting down developer Firewalk Studios a month later.Although Hulst says Sony has had to make changes to our business to solidify a more sustainable operating base, it doesnt sound like hes undeterred in his goals to pump out more live service games.Going forward, we will continue to focus on developing live service titles along with the story-driven single-player titles that our players want, says Hulst.He adds, We are learning a lot as we establish the ability to develop high-quality live service titles, but he doesnt specify precisely what lessons have been learned.Hulst certainly doesnt address what went wrong with Concord, only highlighting how Helldivers 2 (which Sony also published this year) achieved results that support the potential of live service titles.More TrendingAs for mobile games, Hulst does mention focusing on collaborations with external third-party studios, pointing to the upcoming Destiny: Rising spin-off in development at NetEase Games.This could suggest Sony will prioritise having its partners work on mobile games for its IPs rather than having its own internal studios handle them.At the very least, there have been some signs that Sony will more sensibly approach development of live service games. In a statement from November, Sonys senior vice president for finance and IR, Sadahiko Hayakawa, acknowledged the risks involved in making live service games and that Sonys strengths lie in its single-player offerings.So far, in terms of single-player games, it has Ghost Of Ytei scheduled for 2025, with Insomniacs Wolverine project still lacking a launch date. Hopefully, Sony is saving some exciting reveals for 2025. Sonys got one big exclusive set for 2025 (Sony)Emailgamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below,follow us on Twitter, andsign-up to our newsletter.To submit Inbox letters and Readers Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use ourSubmit Stuff page here.For more stories like this,check our Gaming page.GameCentralExclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

By Ed Cara Published December 30, 2024 | Comments (0) | Jimmy Carter delivering a lecture on the eradication of the Guinea worm in 2016. Eddie Mullholland-WPA Pool via Getty Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter is dead at the age of 100. While there are many aspects of Carters life that deserve spotlights, few might be as noteworthy as his efforts to help wipe out one of the worlds most horrific parasites, the Guinea worm (Dracunculus medinensis). Carter died at his home in Plains, Georgia on Sunday, nearly two years after he first began hospice care. Though he only served a single, often much criticized, term as the 39th president of the United States, his accomplishments extended well beyond those four years. Chief among those successes is the Carter Centers Guinea Worm Eradication program, which is now inches away from total victory. Guinea worm is a parasite with such longstanding notoriety that its referenced in the Old Testament. The freshwater nematode typically infects people through the consumption of drinking water that contains copepodstiny crustaceanswhich are themselves infected with worm larvae. A patient with a Guinea worm infection. The foot is soaked in cold water to coax the worm out. Louise Gubb/Corbis via Getty The larvae reach our intestines, where they fully mature and mate. The males then die and the pregnant femaleswhich grow up to three feet (100 centimeters) longmigrate to a spot underneath our skin, usually along our legs. About a year after infection, the females cause a blister to form. When this blister breaks, the worm slowly emerges from our skin, triggering a painful burning sensation that drives the infected to cool their wound off in the nearest water source. The female then releases thousands of larvae into the water, restarting the whole process.This infection isnt just unpleasant to sufferits often downright debilitating. The worm can take days or weeks to safely and painfully extract, during which time people are unable to work or go to school. And if the worm breaks off during removal, it can trigger secondary infections that eventually lead to permanent disability. While freshwater sanitation made Guinea worm disease less of a global issue by the late 20th century, about 3.5 million people still contracted these infections annually across Africa and Asia during the 1980s. In 1986, Carters non-profit organization, the Carter Center, began a public health campaign to eradicate the guinea worm. And its been a clear success. Last year, there were just 14 cases of reported Guinea worm cases in humans; as of November, there were only 7 cases in 2024.Carter and his organization dont deserve all the credit, of course. The World Health Organization and other large groups have also played a significant role, while community leaders and residents in endemic areas are the driving force behind eradication efforts on the ground. Since there is no vaccine or drug for Guinea worm, the eradication campaign has largely relied on physical interventions like durable straws that filter out infected copepods from drinking water, as well as meticulous surveillance of potential cases. Not everything has gone smoothly for the campaign. The Guinea worm was a suitable candidate for eradication because the worms primarily rely on human hosts to reach their full life cycle. For a long time, we thought that only humans could act as this final link in the chain, but it became apparent a decade ago that the species can also mature inside other animals, particularly dogs. So while yearly human cases have remained low in recent years, there have been thousands of reported annual infections in animals over the past decade.This latest development has impeded the Guinea worm eradication timeline. Until infections in both people and animals reach zero and stay at zero for several years, the worm could persist. But health officials and communities in endemic areas are adapting. Annual reported animal cases recently dipped from 886 cases in 2023 to 448 so far this year, an indication that efforts on the ground are mitigating spread of the parasite among animal hosts. Jimmy Carter said in 2015 that he hoped to see the Guinea worm completely eradicated before his death. Sadly, that didnt happen. But Carter certainly has left behind a monumental public health legacy that will endure long after his passing.Daily NewsletterYou May Also Like By Ed Cara Published December 26, 2024 By Ed Cara Published December 26, 2024 By Ed Cara Published December 17, 2024 By Ed Cara Published December 10, 2024 By Ed Cara Published December 6, 2024 By Ed Cara Published December 4, 2024

By Matthew Gault Published December 30, 2024 | Comments (2) | Tesla CEO Elon Musk (L), co-chair of the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), carries his son "X" on his shoulders, as he walks with US Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (2nd L) and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy (C), before a meeting with members of Congress at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on December 5, 2024. Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images The days between Christmas and the New Year are a listless, liminal time. You can catch up with family, make your mind a sunless space with video games and TV, and eat all the food leftover from the holidays. Elon Musk, the richest man who ever lived and the father of at least 12 children, is spending this time getting big-mad online about visas and publishing an op-ed in a German newspaper. Where to even start. In the days before Christmas, a little war broke out among the MAGA faithful and the tech billionaires who helped Trump win the election. The problem was H1-B Visas. You see, immigrant Elon Musk thinks that Americans are lazy and entitled. To help it prosper, they want to bring in more highly skilled tech workers on H1-B Visas. A culture that venerates Cory from Boy Meets World, or Zach & Slater over Screech in Saved by the Bell, or Stefan over Steve Urkel in Family Matters, will not produce the best engineers, DOGE co-chair Ramaswamy wrote in a Tweet on December 26, a day most of us are so full of holiday meat that we can not move. The reason top tech companies often hire foreign-born & first-generation engineers over native Americans isnt because of an innate American IQ deficit (a lazy & wrong explanation). A key part of it comes down to the c-word: culture. Tough questions demand tough answers & if Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) December 26, 2024 Ramaswamy and Musk then spent several days fighting their followers on X, the Everything App. Musk tossed around bans and recriminations with gusto in the days after Christmas, which I assume cut into his time with Path of Exile 2. Sad. A post on the day after Christmas summed up what had happened. The post said Americans were stupid. Musk agreed with it, then deleted his agreement. He said that the hateful, unrepentant racists should be removed from the Republic Party.Good luck with that. As Musk was defending himself from the trolls hed fostered on the website he purchased for $44 billion, the world also learned of Adrian Dittmann, a man many think may be Musk.Dittmann is a bluecheck X account that loves to defend Musk. Dittmanns account has been around since 2021, and its spent a lot of that time going to bat for the embattled billionaire. The pair first appeared together in a Twitter space back in 2023. They repeated the performance during the H1-B visa dustup. The thing is, Dittmann sounds and acts exactly like Elon Musk. The account seemingly only exists to inflate Musks ego and defend his various positions. When both of them are in the same virtual space, its impossible to tell them apart. This has led to allegations that Dittmann is an alt-account of Musks, something that even the estranged billionaires daughter believes.The truth of Dittmann is impossible to know. This is either Musk running an alt account and boosting himself or its a weirdo who loves Musk so much that hes doing an impression of him, modeling his behavior on Musk, and spending the holiday defending him online. Either possibility is too horrifying to contemplate in these strange and wandering days between Christmas and New Year. Did you know that Germany has a parliamentary election coming up? Musk knows. Germanys government is in crisis and the coalition that was ruling it has collapsed. At the end of February, Germans will decide the future of the country. Musk would like that future to be a hard-right turn.The billionaire squeezed in one final controversy before the new year when he published an op-ed in the Welt am Sonntag newspaper that endorsed the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. Musk said that Germany is on the brink of an economic and cultural collapse and that AfD was the countrys last spark of hope. The AfD is a party that bumbles its way into a Nazi-related controversy every few weeks. It would also, presumably, be good for Musks business interests abroad. Hence why he wrote the op-ed. Musks endorsement in the paper was so scandalous that Welt am Sonntags editor resigned in protest. Its impossible to know if any of this will matter come February when Germany votes, but it does point to Musk attempting to flex his political muscle outside of the United States. He first endorsed AfD on the day before Christmas. I wonder what hell do when he learns about the hateful, unrepentant racists in the ranks of the AfD.The worlds richest man went into 2025 with the same energy hed cultivated in 2024. While the rest of us enjoyed time with our families, finished up one final draft before seeing a Nosferatu matinee, or caught up with old friends, Musk was fighting people on the internet. The holidays are hard on some of us. Musks solution seems to be to post through it.Daily NewsletterYou May Also Like By Matthew Gault Published December 30, 2024 By Thomas Maxwell Published December 27, 2024 By AJ Dellinger Published December 27, 2024 By Matthew Gault Published December 24, 2024 By Matt Novak Published December 23, 2024 By Matt Novak Published December 20, 2024