On This Day in HistorySolomon Northups Twelve Years a Slave Came to an End as He Regained His Long-Awaited Freedom on This Day in 1853Northups memoir told the story of his kidnapping and years of enslavement in Louisiana. The book became a national best seller and inspired an Oscar-winning film A sketch of Solomon Northup from his memoir,Twelve Years a SlavePublic domain via Wikimedia CommonsSolomon Northup was a free Black man living in Saratoga Springs, New Yorka married, educated carpenter and musicianwhen two white men asked him to be their fiddle player in Washington, D.C in 1841. Interested, 33-year-old Northup accompanied the men to the nations capital, where they drugged him, tied him up and dropped him in the Williams Slave Pen.Northup was no longer free. He would spend the next 12 years of his life enslaved, until he was finally freed on this day in 1853.It was like a farmers barnyard in most respects, save it was so constructed that the outside world could never see the human cattle that were herded there, Northup later wrote of the slave pen in which his ordeal began. Its outside presented only the appearance of a quiet private residence. A stranger looking at it would never have dreamed of its execrable uses.Northups kidnappers had stolen his freedom papersthe documentation that designated him a free African American in the United States, where slavery would be legal for another two decades. From Washington, he was taken first to New Orleans, then to multiple plantations in central Louisiana. Scenes from Northup's memoir,Twelve Years a SlavePublic domain via Wikimedia CommonsA man named William Prince Ford bought Northup, who had been renamed Platt by the slave traders. Later, Northup recalled that Ford rewarded him for his work and behaved leniently toward him while, under subsequent masters, there was no prompter to extra effort but the overseers lash. Fords lenience came to an abrupt end when he sold Northup to a carpenter in 1842. The carpenter, in turn, sold him once more to plantation owner Edwin Epps for $1,500.Epps turned out to be an especially sadistic master. He developed a twisted, pathological attachment to his female slave, Patsey, notes educator Laurel Sneed. Northup later wrote that Epps rarely went a day without whipping at least one of the people he enslaved.It is the literal, unvarnished truth that the crack of the lash, and the shrieking of the slaves, can be heard from dark till bed time on Epps plantation, any day almost during the entire period of the cotton-picking season, Northup recalled. To speak truthfully of Edwin Epps would be to sayhe is a man in whose heart the quality of kindness or of justice is not found.In the summer of 1852, Epps hired a white Canadian carpenter named Samuel Bass to do some work for him. Bass was opposed to slavery and compassionate to Northups plight; he agreed to write a letter to two white storekeepers back in Saratoga, New Yorkfriends of Northupstelling them of Northups enslavement and whereabouts.12 YEARS A SLAVE - Official Trailer (HD)Watch on The shopkeepers, William Perry and Cephas Parker, in turn told Northups wife, Anne, and his attorney, Henry Bliss Northup, a relative of the former enslaver of Northups father. The attorney gained permission from New Yorks governor to go south and rescue Northup, and on January 3, 1853, he arrived at Epps house with the local sheriff. They escorted Northup off the plantation and legally obtained his freedom at a local courthouse the next day.Epps regarded Black people as chattel, as mere live property, Northup later wrote. When the evidence, clear and indisputable, was laid before him that I was a free man, and as much entitled to my liberty as he he only raved and swore, denouncing the law that tore me from him, and declaring he would find out the man who had forwarded the letter that disclosed the place of my captivity, if there was any virtue or power in money, and would take his life.Northup was reunited with his family on January 21, 1853. Over the next few months, Northup and editor David Wilson wrote a book detailing his story. Titled Twelve Years a Slave, the memoir was published that summer. It sold 17,000 copies in four monthsnearly 30,000 by 1855. A 2013 film adaptation of Northups story won the Academy Award for Best Picture.After his best-selling book was published, Northup became an active member of the abolitionist movement, giving speeches throughout the Northeast, staging plays based on his story and likely helping enslaved people on the Underground Railroad. He disappeared from the historical record after a final public appearance in Ontario, Canada, in August 1857. The time and circumstances of his death are unknown.Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday.Filed Under: African American History, American History, Based on a True Story, Books, Movies, On This Day in History, Slavery

Cybersecurity researchers have flagged a new malware called PLAYFULGHOST that comes with a wide range of information-gathering features like keylogging, screen capture, audio capture, remote shell, and file transfer/execution.The backdoor, according to Google's Managed Defense team, shares functional overlaps with a known remote administration tool referred to as Gh0st RAT, which had its source code publicly leaked in 2008.PLAYFULGHOST's initial access pathways include the use of phishing emails bearing code of conduct-related lures or search engine optimization (SEO) poisoning techniques to distribute trojanized versions of legitimate VPN apps like LetsVPN."In one phishing case, the infection begins by tricking the victim into opening a malicious RAR archive disguised as an image file by using a .jpg extension," the company said. "When extracted and executed by the victim, the archive drops a malicious Windows executable, which eventually downloads and executes PLAYFULGHOST from a remote server."Attack chains employing SEO poisoning, on the other hand, seek to deceive unsuspecting users into downloading a malware-laced installer for LetsVPN, which, when launched, drops an interim payload responsible for retrieving the backdoor components.The infection is notable for leveraging methods such as DLL search order hijacking and side-loading to launch a malicious DLL that's then used to decrypt and load PLAYFULGHOST into memory.Mandiant said it also observed a "more sophisticated execution scenario" wherein a Windows shortcut ("QQLaunch.lnk") file, combines the contents of two other files named "h" and "t" to construct the rogue DLL and sideload it using a renamed version of "curl.exe."PLAYFULGHOST is capable of setting up persistence on the host using four different methods: Run registry key, scheduled task, Windows Startup folder, and Windows service. It boasts an extensive set of features that allow it to gather extensive data, including keystrokes, screenshots, audio, QQ account information, installed security products, clipboard content, and system metadata.It also comes with capabilities to drop more payloads, block mouse and keyboard input, clear Windows event logs, wipe clipboard data, perform file operations, delete caches and profiles associated with web browsers like Sogou, QQ, 360 Safety, Firefox, and Google Chrome, and erase profiles and local storage for messaging applications such as Skype, Telegram, and QQ.Some of the other tools deployed via PLAYFULGHOST are Mimikatz and a rootkit that's capable of hiding registry, files, and processes specified by the threat actor. Also dropped along with the download of PLAYFULGHOST components is an open-source utility called Terminator that can kill security processes by means of a Bring Your Own Vulnerable Driver (BYOVD) attack."On one occasion, Mandiant observed a PLAYFULGHOST payload being embedded within BOOSTWAVE," the tech giant said. "BOOSTWAVE is a shellcode that acts as in-memory dropper for an appended Portable Executable (PE) payload."The targeting of applications like Sogou, QQ, and 360 Safety and the use of LetsVPN lures raise the possibility that these infections are targeting Chinese-speaking Windows users. In July 2024, Canadian cybersecurity vendor eSentire revealed a similar campaign that leveraged fake installers for Google Chrome to propagate Gh0st RAT using a dropper dubbed Gh0stGambit.Found this article interesting? Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post.

What we've been playing - Loot fountains, Indy delights, and layers of game trifleA few of the things that had us hooked this festive season.Image credit: Eurogamer/Bethesda Softworks Feature by Robert Purchese Associate Editor Additional contributions byKatharine Castle, and Tom PhillipsPublished on Jan. 4, 2025 4th JanuaryHello and Happy New Year! Did you have a nice break? I hope so.This is our regular feature where we write a little bit about some of the games we've been playing, in this case, over the festive break. This time, we gorged on loot in Diablo 4 and Path of Exile 2, we were pleasantly surprised nay delighted by Indiana Jones, and dug into the trifle-like layers of genius that make up Animal Well.Catch up with the older editions of this column in our What We've Been Playing archive.Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred, PS5I've been ping-ponging between Diablo 4 and Path of Exile 2 during the Christmas break - I've been filling my ARPG cup, you could say. What surprised me, doing this, is how complimentary the games can be. Path of Exile 2 is frugal. It doesn't give up anything easily. You inch through zones and then try multiple times to beat bosses, and when you do, they don't give you much, the stingy bastards. Path of Exile 2 certainly doesn't shower you in rewards like Diablo 4 does.Treasure Goblins everywhere!Watch on YouTubeNever was this more apparent than during Diablo 4's festive Slay Ride to Hell celebration, which spawned Treasure Goblins around the map seemingly everywhere - those scurrying Santa-like carriers of bottomless bags of loot. The spawns were particularly potent in the new Vessel of Hatred expansion zone, Nahantu, which it turns out I hadn't been to yet because I hadn't played the expansion yet. Cue, then, the perfect storm for me: catching up on a year of loot changes and expansion content, while also being drenched in fountains of loot along the way.It did get old eventually, but not before I'd romped through the standard character levels with the new Spirit Warrior class and redeemed literal bags full of some of the best loot in the game. I even had time to re-equip a few other characters. It's an embarrassment of riches that couldn't be further away from the Scrooge-like approach of Path of Exile 2, and I loved Diablo for it - I gorged on it.Now, though, I'm back to Path of Exile 2, as if to purge the excess of Diablo. It's fitting for January, I feel.-BertieAnimal Well, PC (Steam Deck)This video features the maker of Animal Well: Billy Basso.Watch on YouTubeI swallowed the Animal Well pill along with my Christmas dinner this holiday season and cor, what an absolute gem of a game. I know it's been said a million times already, but Developer Billy Basso has cooked up something really very special with this debut, and Metroidvania likers owe it to themselves to get this played if they haven't already. This is an ingenious interpretation of the genre, not just in the way it changes the rules around traversal and discovery (swapping double jumps for frisbees and bubble wands, for example, and dashes for yo-yos and spinning tops), but also because it's just so gosh-darned clever. It does that thing that a lot of my favourite games do, in that it plops you into a world and then simply gestures towards the open door, leaving you to discover it for yourself with next to no guidance whatsoever. It's so, so thrilling, and the kind of game that occupies every waking thought while you're playing it.Case in point: I loved discovering all the different 'layers' of Animal Well the more I played it. The first one is the six-odd hour jaunt you'll experience to simply get to the bottom of the well, completing the main thrust of its story quest and conquering its 'final' boss. The second layer, however, is where Animal Well really comes alive, which is a 64-strong egg hunt that actually lets you leave the well altogether, leading to what I'd consider its proper ending. This is what I was able to finish over the holidays, expanding my playtime closer to 20 hours. But there's also a third layer that riffs on all manner of Tunic/Fez/ARG-style 'deep' secrets involving hidden bunnies, bar codes, community puzzles that - hands up - are probably beyond me (or rather, beyond the amount of available head space I have for that kind of stuff alongside also having a job).But man alive, that egg hunt layer was properly great, if only because the tools and gadgets you need to obtain to find them all go way beyond what's required to beat the first layer of Animal Well. It really fires up your mind about what's possible in this strange environment, and what other secrets might have been hiding in plain sight all along. And some of those eggs are so well hidden! An absolutely insane achievement for a solo developer, and very deserving of its spot in our Top 50 Games of 2024.-KatharineIndiana Jones and the Great Circle, Xbox Series XTo see this content please enable targeting cookies. Watch on YouTubeWhat a joy it's been discovering Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Eurogamer's 2024 Game of the Year. I'll happily admit to some initial scepticism about it. Indiana Jones is a franchise that has not always been well looked after, and while MachineGames is undoubtedly a talented developer, it is not known for handling licensed action adventure games. How wrong I was! I'm having more fun than I've had with pretty much any other game launched last year.But it goes beyond Indy simply being a fun game to play. MachineGames consistently demonstrates an understanding of the essence of Indy - his half-mumbled deductions, mildly snarky humour, and the subtle movements and facial animation that make me feel like I'm watching a fresh performance mo-capped by Harrison Ford himself.Then there's the attention to detail. Surely I wasn't the only one who teased out the arrival of the game's first villain even longer by reading up on all the fossil exhibits in the college library? And hopefully I'm not the only one to notice MachineGames finally solving something that irks me in so many games I play: that you explore a cave/dungeon/some catacombs supposedly left undisturbed for hundreds of years, except for the fact that all the candles are still burning.Indiana Jones, I should have known some day you'd come walking back through my door with a brilliant new chapter. I just didn't expect it to be this.-Tom

New hardware smellEverything about the "Switch successor"Ollie Reynolds, Staff WriterI've just finished a playthrough of Still Wakes the Deep on Xbox, and flippin' Nora, it was so enjoyable, I'm kinda tempted to just go right back to the start and do it again!On the Switch, I've decided to kickstart 2025 with a fresh playthrough of Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury; something reasonably lighthearted to keep me busy (and sane while I await the Switch 2 reveal!).Gavin Lane, EditorIve managed to spend a few hours with Arco so far and it blends mechanics and narrative beautifully - looking forward to playing more. Ive also been polishing off some of Loreleis trickier puzzles - its such an intricate game, easily the most impressive thing I played last year.Beyond that? Oh, the backlogss brimming but I picked up Lego Star Wars on sale, so I might dip back into The Phantom Menace with the kids ordering me about. My compulsive collection of shiny studs sucks the fun out of most Lego games, but having the kids there to stop me mindlessly destroying every last plant pot improves the experience immeasurably.Have a good one, folks.Jim Norman, Staff WriterAfter a holiday break of playing not all that much, actually, Im looking forward to spending a bit of time with something chilled this weekend. Ive been playing through Pokmon Emerald again recently and only have a couple of gyms left before I polish it off. Im also completely in love with Duck Detective: The Secret Salami at the moment, so Im hoping to wrap that up too talk about a hidden gem of 2024 (Duck Detective, not Pokmon Emerald)!Ill also likely be playing a spot of Marvel Rivals after a couple of weeks off, but dont tell my Switch that.Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube790kWatch on YouTube Kate Gray, ContributorI'm still travelling this weekend, and I also forgot it was the weekend because I don't know what day it is, so... lots of train journeys. That makes it the perfect time to play something new, don't it?I downloaded 1000xRESIST because every single one of my friends won't stop talking about it, and I played through the first hour with my partner (thinking it was an "experience this together" sort of thing), but I think I might restart it on my own. I hear excellent things.I also bought a ton of thinky-type puzzle-type games in the Steam Sale, so I should give those a go, but I've mostly been playing Fields of Mistria. I don't usually play Early Access games, and I'm reminded why: I don't like to feel like I'm eating a meal before all the constituent parts are on the plate. It's a very polished and enjoyable game, for sure, but I can see the empty spaces where the sides are supposed to go, and it's a bit of a bummer!Nile Bowie, ContributorHowdy, folks. I received a late X-Mas gift from myself in the mail this week: a shiny new Analogue Pocket. Ive got an extensive collection of physical cartridges for the original Game Boy and finally decided the Pocket and its gorgeous display were worth shelling out for. Ive started a new playthrough of Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3, a game I have fond memories of playing as a 90s kid at summer camp. Ill be giving other my Game Boy puzzler favourites like QIX, Quarth, and Tetris a go this weekend! I really should restart and finally finish Mole Mania too, an overlooked Miyamoto classic.Speaking of, I also grabbed the playable documentary-style Tetris Forever during the holiday sale and will finish it up this weekend. Im quite familiar with Tetris' origins story, that infamous glasnost-era licensing debacle in the old USSR, but its retold by those involved with particular candour and detail here. The new Tetris Time Warp mode is a real kicker too! Ill also be chipping away at Antonblast. Itll be a retro-fueled doozy of a weekend in gaming for me.Gonalo Lopes, ContributorTurning into chapter nine of Yakuza Kiwami thanks to very solid progress during the holidays. Would probably be further up in the main story had I not spend an insane amount of time collecting cards of ladies dressed up in insect outfits and parts for the miniature car racing customization kits. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Ritas Rewind is back in rotation after the latest patch made the sprite scaling sections more manageable and will probably give Cho Aniki Collection a spin since Ive always been a fan of this zany series.Game of the week is Under Defeat. The physical Switch remastered version arrived just in time for the holidays and it is glorious. For the first time in full 16:9 and with a new twin stick control scheme this is the definitive way to enjoy G.Revs Naomi board classic.Ethan Zack, ContributorHappy 2025! For better or worse, I have officially boarded the Switch 2 hype train and my brain is just about fully occupied by excitement for hardware leaks I dont understand, rumors that are probably fake, and daydreams about games that arent even announced.Unfortunately, the looming reveal of the Switch successor has the side effect of making me reluctant to start any new games on the off-chance that they might look nicer or run better whenever that shiny, new piece of tech releases. As such, Im dipping back into the legacy stuff, starting with my first-ever playthrough of Super Monkey Ball on GameCube. I knew that Monkey Ball is supposed to be an ultra-replayable, learn-the-level sort of experience, but I was not prepared for how difficult the advanced and expert stages can be. Some of these floors are downright evil, man.That's what we have planned for the weekend, but what about you? Let us know in the following poll which games you're planning on booting up over the next couple of days.What are you playing this weekend (4th/5th January)? (19 votes)Related GamesSee Also

Volkswagen offshoot Scout Motors is getting a jump-start on CES 2025 next week, with some good news for people who plan to take the companys EVs way, way outdoors: The forthcoming Traveler SUV and Terra pickup will have a built-in satellite connection.Scout Motors isnt saying where its sourcing the satellite linkup hardware from, or who the service provider will be. All its saying at the moment is that the vehicles will be pre-wired from the factory and that the hotspot is intended to have broad reach to help drivers and passengers stay connected in and around their vehicle.The company only just unveiled its first two vehicles in October, and theyre not due out until 2027, so its not terribly surprising that Scout Motors isnt ready to spill all the beans yet. Perhaps we can glean a few clues when we see the vehicles in person at next weeks show, where Scout Motors also plans to show off its Community UX user interface. This as we learned at TechCrunch Disrupt will be built on software developed by Rivians joint venture with Volkswagen.

Lesterbanks takes a deep dive into 21 Martyrs, one of this years most anticipated Oscar-shortlisted animated films. Described by animation legend Glen Keane as powerful, heart-wrenching, challenging, and inspiring not to mention exquisitely beautiful, this 13-minute masterpiece is the result of an extraordinary five-year production journey spanning 2019 to 2024. Written and directed by Tod Polson, with a hauntingly beautiful original soundtrack by Sarah and Laura Ayoub (The Ayoub Sisters) and evocative sound design by Giles Lamb, the film is a true global collaboration, involving creative contributions from 23 countries, including Egypt, Japan, Canada, and South Africa. With consultation from His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos, Tomm Moore, and Tom Bancroft, 21 Martyrs is not just a filmits a transcendent achievement that pushes the boundaries of animated storytelling.Powerful, heart-wrenching, challenging, and inspiring not to mention exquisitely beautiful, -Glen KeaneLB: Thank you for sitting down with us today. What inspired you to create 21 Martyrs?Tod Polson, Director: The 2015 beheading of 21 Coptic Christians by ISIS sent shockwaves across the globe and left a deep, lasting impact on me personally. The martyrs steadfast faith in the face of overwhelming terror was, and continues to be, both humbling and deeply inspiring. When the opportunity arose to tell their story, I embraced it wholeheartedly. The creation of the film has been an incredible journey. The story evolved slowly, shaped by interviews with Coptic Christians, former ISIS members, and journalists embedded with the Libyan army. Spending time with the families of the martyrs allowed me to better understand who these men were, further deepening my admiration for their courage and conviction.The visual style of The 21 is rooted in traditional iconography. Artists from Egypt, Syria, Ukraine, and the United States contributed their expertise, not only helping shape the aesthetic of the film but also influencing my own approach to art. Animation artists from around the world lent their talents, each adding something personal to the project. My deepest hope is that The 21 serves as a tribute to the martyrs and their families. In a world that seems more than ever in need of such powerful examples of faith and resilience, I believe their story is more vital than ever.LB: How did the films visual style and narrative come together?Mandi Hart, Producer: The most significant influences from Coptic iconography in The 21 film are seen in the use of line, shape, and color. Initially, the color palettes were too saturated. Early on, iconographer Nikola Sari made a color palette to help guide the concept sketches. In the film, as in iconography, we tried to be very specific with our color. For example, we often used gold to represent the light of God. The broken landscapes often depicted in Coptic art helped guide our designs for the clouds, sea, and even the animated effects. The martyrs character designs are all subtle reflections of Christ, following Coptic Icon tradition. It was important to emphasize the eyes of the characters, another influence of Coptic art. To contrast with this, we took a more minimalist approach to the Isis designs, using simplified graphic forms and stripping away most of the color, and basically removing their eyes; removing their emotion and humanity.Much like in iconography, we leaned heavily into symbolism throughout the film. For instance, the birds symbolize the Holy Spirit, while the clouds and sea represent the presence of God. Because the story is deeply human, it was important to retain a handmade quality in the film, incorporating actual hand-painted textures. Much of the film was designed in the old square Academy aspect ratio to better reflect the more vertical feel of Coptic art. The square aspect ratio feels more intimate and our director felt that it might help the audience better relate to the characters. For the Libyan landscapes, a lot of inspiration was drawn from futurist and precisionist art, while the horrors captured by Vorticists like Lewis and Nevinson during WWI had a profound influence as well. Our director wanted to depict a broken, fractured world that mirrored the emotional states of the characters.My deepest hope is that it serves as a tribute to the marytyrs and their families -Tod PolsonRead more about the film here: THE21FILM.COMHope and Fragility: An Interview With Neo Coptic Iconographer Stphane RenCross-Border Animation Collaborations in Asia Trend Up as Demand for Content Expands2025 OSCAR NOMINATED Short FilmsFor more information or to request a screener contact Mandi Hart at mandi@moreproductions.comThe authors and LesterBanks.com have no commercial affiliations with any of the companies, products, or projects mentioned in this article.

3D printing news from October 2024 encompassed large-scale additive manufacturing in aerospace, groundbreaking advancements in sustainable technologies, significant strides in medical bioprinting, strategic corporate mergers, and ongoing debates in defense and policy. The industry continued to showcase its innovative potential and the complexities that accompany rapid technological advancements. Here, we detail the key events that shaped the 3D printing landscape.Aerospace and Advanced ManufacturingIn October, Rocket Lab made one of the months most striking announcements by deploying a 90-ton 3D printeran automated fiber placement (AFP) machine from U.S.-based Electroimpactto construct what it described as the worlds largest carbon composite rocket structures. At 39 feet (12 meters) tall, this system can lay down 328 feet (100 meters) of continuous carbon fiber per minute. The AFP machine accelerated the production of the Neutron launch vehicles major composite structures, including its 91-foot interstage and fairing, reducing a stage 2 domes build time from several weeks to a single day.As Sir Peter Beck, founder and CEO of Rocket Lab, emphasized that this innovation was central to meeting the demands of Neutrons inaugural launch scheduled for next year. Away from the Neutron rocket, the AFP system is already being used for panels, tanks, and assemblies in Rocket Labs Electron launch vehicle,Rocket Labs 90-tonne automated fiber placement (AFP) machine. Photo via Rocket Lab.Consumer and Automotive ApplicationsResearchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Delft University of Technology unveiled a groundbreaking 3D printing process known as Speed-Modulated Ironing (SMI). This single-material, dual-nozzle FDM technique demonstrated up to ten times less material waste compared to existing multi-material systems like the Bambu Lab X1-Carbon. The SMI method allows any multi-nozzle 3D printer to produce multiple shades, textures, and shapes within a single print job without the need for filament purging or spool switching.By depositing a thermo-responsive filament at a low temperature with the first nozzle and using the second nozzle to iron the material at varying speeds, the team could modulate heat transfer to achieve intricate patterns and tactile variations. Mustafa Doa Doan, a co-author of the study, highlighted the techniques potential to diversify the characteristics of 3D printed objects using a limited set of materials. Presented at the Association for Computing Machinerys Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology, this innovation promises to enhance both the aesthetic and functional versatility of 3D-printed products, paving the way for more sustainable and efficient manufacturing practices.Shaded blocks 3D printed using speed-modulated ironing. Photo via MIT and Delft University of Technology.In the automotive sector, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) continued to integrate additive manufacturing into its production processes. During the latest Additive Manufacturing UK (AMUK) Members Forum, Luke Fox, JLRs Additive Manufacturing Technical Specialist, detailed the companys use of 20 industrial 3D printers at its Gaydon-based Additive Manufacturing Centre (AMC). These printers, primarily utilizing polymer powder bed fusion technology, enable JLR to produce functional prototypes and bespoke components efficiently.Looking ahead, JLR plans to expand its metal 3D printing capabilities, exploring technologies like binder jetting and metal injection molding (MIM) to support higher-volume manufacturing applications. This strategic focus aligns with JLRs commitment to achieving net-zero emissions across its supply chain by 2039, utilizing additive manufacturing to minimize waste and enhance production efficiency.JLRs Additive Manufacturing Centre in Gaydon. Image via JLR.Environmental Innovations and Medical AdvancementsOctober also witnessed significant advancements in environmental sustainability through additive manufacturing. Researchers at the University of Bath developed 3D printed ceramic-infused lattice structures capable of removing up to 75% of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)a persistent forever chemicalfrom water in under three hours. Fabricated using a VormVrij Lutum 5 extrusion-based clay 3D printer with an indium oxide-infused ink, these ceramic monoliths feature a cylindrical scaffold design that maximizes surface area for enhanced chemical absorption.Dr. Liana Zoumpouli, a research associate at Baths Department of Chemical Engineering, emphasized the methods efficiency: We can remove these chemicals from water without using lots of energy. The ability to regenerate the monoliths through thermal pyrolysis extends their lifecycle, achieving higher absorption rates over multiple cycles. This innovation offers a scalable and energy-efficient solution for water treatment facilities grappling with PFAS contamination, aligning with global efforts to ensure safe and clean water supplies.The 3D printed ceramic monoliths. Photo via the University of Bath.In the medical field, Frontier Bio announced significant progress in developing lab-grown lung tissue through bioprinting. By integrating additive manufacturing with the natural self-organizing properties of stem cells, Frontier Bio has created functional lung structures that replicate key components such as bronchioles and alveolar sacs. These bioprinted tissues demonstrate essential lung functions, including mucus production and beating cilia, providing a more accurate model for studying respiratory diseases like COPD, pulmonary fibrosis, and COVID-19.Victoria-Elisabeth Gruber, Head of Translational Research at Frontier Bio, stated, There is an urgent need for more accurate models of lung tissue that allow us to test new therapeutics more effectively than with current methods. This development not only promises to enhance drug testing and reduce reliance on animal models but also holds potential for future organ transplantation applications, addressing critical needs in patients with chronic respiratory diseases.Progression from 3D bioprinted stem cells (left image) to autonomously maturing and branching into alveolar air sacs (middle and right images), showcasing the capabilities of 4D bioprinting. Photo by Frontier Bio.Policy and Defense DevelopmentsThe debate over 3D printed firearms intensified in October, driven by Chicagos lawsuit against Glock and the establishment of former President Bidens Emerging Firearms Threats Task Force. The lawsuit accused Glock of profiting from the sale of handguns that could be easily converted into fully automatic weapons using 3D-printed auto sears, commonly known as Glock switches. These converters enable semi-automatic pistols to fire at rates exceeding those of standard military rifles, raising significant public safety concerns.In an interview with 3D Printing Industry, Dr. Yannick Veilleux-Lepage, an Assistant Professor at the Royal Military College of Canada, provided insights into how far-right extremists exploit 3D printing technologies to access firearms. He noted that while the 3D-printed firearm community is diverse, its proximity to extremist ideologies poses risks of radicalization and misuse. Countries like Singapore and Canada have enacted stricter regulations on digital gun files and 3D-printed components to curb their proliferation. In contrast, the United States faces legal challenges due to First Amendment protections for computer code, complicating federal efforts to regulate 3D-printed firearms effectively.Dr. Yannick Veilleux-Lepage. Photo via Dr. Yannick Veilleux-Lepage.In other news, Stratasys continued its patent infringement lawsuits against Bambu Lab, alleging that the latter infringed on ten of its patents related to desktop FDM 3D printers. While Stratasys dropped charges against two additional defendantsBeijing Tiertime Technology Co., Ltd. and Beijing Yinhua Laser Rapid Prototyping and Mould Technology Co. Ltd.the core allegations against Bambu Lab remain. This legal battle highlights the growing tensions between established OEMs and newer entrants offering competitive 3D printing solutions, potentially impacting intellectual property enforcement and innovation within the desktop 3D printing market.Stratasys is seeking a jury trial through the two lawsuits it has filed against Bambu Lab. Image by 3D Printing Industry.Industry Investments and Financial MovementsWOL3D India Limited (NSE: WOL3D) successfully completed its oversubscribed Initial Public Offering (IPO) on the National Stock Exchanges Emerge platform in late September, with the momentum carrying into October. The IPO raised approximately 25.56 crore ($3.05M) through a fresh issue of 1.45 million shares and an offer-for-sale of 252K shares, receiving bids 374 times the available shares. Non-institutional investors led the demand, subscribing 749 times, signaling strong market confidence in Indias burgeoning 3D printing sector.Rahul Chandalia, CEO of WOL3D, expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support: I am more committed than ever to driving innovation and delivering exceptional solutions that empower our clients and communities. The proceeds from the IPO will be allocated towards working capital and debt repayment, enabling WOL3D to expand its operations and strengthen its presence in Indias rapidly growing 3D printing market. With a reported 69% increase in revenues and a 109% growth in profit after tax (PAT) for the fiscal year ending March 2024, WOL3Ds successful IPO underscores the investor confidence in its diverse product portfolio, including 3D printers, pens, and filaments, catering to sectors such as manufacturing, engineering, and medical applications.WOL3D team at the NSE. Photo via WOL3D.On the global front, Nano Dimension (Nasdaq: NNDM) moved closer to completing its high-profile acquisition of Desktop Metal (NYSE: DM), securing over 96% shareholder approval. Valued at $183 million, the deal still awaited regulatory clearance as of late October but indicated a wave of consolidation in additive manufacturing. Nano Dimension had also announced plans to acquire Markforged for $115 million, aiming to merge multiple 3D printing technologiesfrom electronics to metalsinto a single, larger corporate group. Some Desktop Metal investors expressed concerns, given the companys stock had traded as high as $20 but had since fallen significantly. Nonetheless, CEO Ric Fulop described the merger as the best path to stabilize finances and advance Desktop Metals technology pipeline, which includes single-pass jetting and other metal 3D printing offerings.Desktop Metals binder jet 3D printing technology. Photo via Desktop Metal.Ready to discover who won the 20243D Printing Industry Awards?What will the future of 3D printing look like?Which recent trends are driving the 3D printing industry, as highlighted by experts?Subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry newsletter to stay updated with the latest news and insights.Stay connected with the latest in 3D printing by following us on Twitter and Facebook, and dont forget to subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry YouTube channel for more exclusive content.Featured Image shows Desktop Metals binder jet 3D printing technology. Photo via Desktop Metal.

TUC.Technology aims to provide standard interfaces for the main car interior components.TUC.TechnologyThe automotive industry has been going through widespread disruption. Not only has electrification overturned the internal combustion tradition of over a century, but software integration has also promised to unify the thousand-odd control systems in a modern car. On show at CES, another part of the future automotive puzzle could be falling into place, making cars even more like modular computer devices. I talked to Ludovico Campana, CEO of TUC.Technology, about how his company hopes to revolutionize automaking.To develop the cars, you need an industrial plant and all these complexities on top of the product, says Campana. His vision, which started in 2013 and developed into a company 2018, was to make this process easier by providing a standard interface for many of the major components in the car. Right now, the steering wheel assembly from one car probably wont fit into another, the dashboard and infotainment screen will be platform or even model specific, and you probably wont be able to transfer a seat and make all the electronic adjustments operate without some major reworking.Campana sees this being a major impediment as the development of new models or updates to existing ones needs to be more rapid in a competitive market. This is the reason why cars have not changed much since their invention and is also the reason for current troubles, he says. They can change nothing, because if they change something, they need to rebuild industries, plants, and suppliers. The challenge of the European market, for example, is we have some beautiful brands, we have beautiful historic cars, but you have a world that is now looking for something new. This is the reason why TUC.Technology was born.There are currently three sizes of TUC.Technology connector for different component types.TUC.TechnologyThe idea was to create one connector to rule them all, although in the end the result was three connectors using a shared architecture. It's like the USB concept, but for structural and industrial devices, says Campana. Its homologated for different regulations in cars and opens the possibility of something like the App Store in the physical world. If you want a bigger screen, you can buy a bigger screen because the modularity is enabled by the carmakers.MORE FROMFORBES VETTEDThe three types of connector TUC.Technology has designed are called the .pro, .mini and .tiny, aimed at different applications within the car. The .pro is for seats and other heavy devices in the car. Its designed to comply with the ECE R17 regulation, which means it can withstand a force of 20G. The .mini is for dashboards, steering by wire and other control systems, or exterior lighting and smart devices. The recently launched .tiny is for attaching infotainment screens, controls for features such as air conditioning, head-up displays, instrument clusters, and sundry other operational or informational widgets.All three connector types share technical capabilities, including support for 9V to 48V electricity supply (like the Tesla Cybertruck), delivering up to 400W of power to an attached device. Ethernet T1 is the data connectivity standard, delivering up to 1Gbits/sec throughput. Data transmission employs a standard Internet Protocol, like that used by Web browsers, smartphones, or Internet of Things devices. This can interface with existing automotive systems like CAN bus. However, while data is daisy-chained around a vehicle from device to device, Campana says that only automakers can provide access, so this wont be a potential security weakness for car systems.The wiring loom is greatly simplified.TUC.TechnologyWhile interfacing with vehicle high voltage powertrain systems is possible, this will only be at the control level. The focus is on car interior design. The idea is to create beautiful empty vehicles with a technological layer that is our technology, says Campana. A vehicle with TUC.Technology can theoretically be upgraded with new components, including the latest sensors. Interfaces can be connected using a single cable to create the cabin of the future. The most important benefits are cost saving and customization. This comes from massive simplification of a cars wiring loom. With traditional wiring, the same model can have 20 different cables, harness projects and typologies. This means there is a lot to consider just to change a screen.Simplifying this will be one benefit of connector standardization. Another is enabling new business models like an App Store, says Campana. Just as you personalize your smartphone with different applications, having standard connectors could mean you can more easily change interior elements in your car, such as the seats, steering wheel, and infotainment interfaces. Want more or fewer physical buttons than your car came with? An upgrade could be available, and it wont necessarily need to be designed for your specific car brand or model.The car interior presents different types of connectors.TUC.TechnologyCamara also sees his companys technology streamlining and lowering the cost of developing new models. Standard components could be more easily brought across to a new car design, or upgraded components added to an existing one. We are telling automakers that they need to shift their ideas, especially in the mass market, because with this system, they can have a cheaper development process. Without different fragmented architectures and a single interface, they can smooth the chain of development. They can save around 20% on their model development costs. Then they can open new component business on top of this.Features like infotainment screens of different sizes can easily be installed.TUC.TechnologyTUC.Technology can be viewed as a supplement to the Software Defined Vehicle trend that arguably was popularized by Tesla alongside electrification. We are like the second wave of the trend Tesla started, says Camara. But they are focused on screens. We are building the physical experience, not only a touch screen and interfaces. This is what makes it special because application functionalities and screen customization is cool but is not the complete answer for vehicles because they are objects that you need to live inside.You can see where these developments are headed by looking towards the Chinese automotive market, which is increasingly focused on emerging technology rather than brand loyalty. When car buyers want the latest gadgets as quickly as possible like this, automakers need to be able to deliver with the shortest development cycle. We can extend Teslas vision because they have already made the car architecture simpler, says Camara. We can help automakers do what Tesla is doing.The connectors provide physical attachment, data and power in one.TUC.TechnologyWe focused our technology on the cabin of the future, but it could also be applied to some exterior modularity, such as cameras and sensors, says Camara. You could swap a conventional powered mirror for a camera-based system. The great potential of this technology is for mass markets. We spent six years making this happen. The lack of standardization is the problem, and we have the solution.The TUC.Technology concept revealed at CES is already finding interest in the market. We now collaborate with three of the top five automakers, says Camara. One we can mention is Hyundai Motor Group, which is looking at our open innovation platform. We are just a step before production and development. This still means vehicles beyond concepts are a few years away, heralding a new approach to automaking. In 2027 we should see the first models on the road.

Google Chrome's latest update proves its resilienceGettyRepublished on January 4, with information on new Edge advances to target Chrome and the future desktop integration expected with Gemini per Googles latest pre-release build.Its no surprise Google is desperate to keep Chrome within its stable, pushing back on the DOJs campaign to force a sale of the browser. But Chrome is proving itself to be remarkably resilientjust as it is with a new update thats particularly bad news for Microsoft and its Windows OS.Microsoft has campaigned hard to switch Chrome users to its Edge browser, taking flak for the nags and ads stitched into Windows itself, including ones that interrupt Chrome installations on a PC. While this has proven broadly ineffective, Microsoft has also deployed a more potent tactic, pushing users to switch to Edge for security reasons, especially within an enterprise environment. As Ive commented, if users switch to Edge at work perhaps theyll do the same at home.But while Edge is steadily growing its market share, up more than 2% year-on-year to 13% of the desktop market, the already dominant Chrome was actually growing more quickly as 2024 ended. As picked up by Neowin from Statcounters latest numbers, Chrome opens 2025 with a strong and unreachable 66.88% market share, increasing its market share by 0.5 points in one month and 1.65 points year-over-year. As such, it seems the Microsoft Windows campaign is just not working.The latest Windows ads pushing users to the Edge cropped up in development just before the holidays, with Windows Latest reporting that Microsoft Edge wont stop nagging users to set itself as default on Windows 11. But while there is clearly some conversion its not nearly enough to dent Chrome.Read More: Microsoft Dangerous Update Warning65% Of All Windows Users Must Act NowEdger default popup in WindowsWindows LatestThese Edge popups have not failed entirely, Edges pop-up title says you should use Microsoft recommended browser settings, Windows Latest says, and claims Microsoft Edge helps you stay protected while you browse by blocking phishing and malware attacks with another bullet point: Set Microsoft Edge as your default browser. Once you select confirm, you will need to choose Set Default in the Windows settings app to make Edge your default browser.But Google is seemingly doing the same in return. If you use Edge to browse Google properties, such as Google.com and YouTube.com, you might run into pop-ups recommending Chrome for AI, safer web and other meaningful marketing gimmick features. While pop-ups are annoying, theyre now an industry standard. Expect more pop-ups on Windows 11.I have reached out to both Microsoft and Google for any comments on these latest numbers. Edge is growing and building market share, its just that Chromes lead is significant enough to make it unassailable absent a major disruption in the marketbut that may be coming.2025 could be differentwe dont yet know where the U.S. antitrust campaign will end, and while Apple has jumped to its frenemies defense on Chrome, theres a lot of ground still to cover. That said, Microsoft has its own concerns here. As Neowin explains, browser makers and advocacy groups recently sent a letter to the European Commission asking it to subject Edge to DMA regulations and mark Microsoft as a gatekeeper that hurts other businesses with predatory practices.Desktop Browser Market Share Worldwide (Jan - Dec 2024)StatcounterWith the new year barely underway, its already clear that the fun and games between Google and Microsoft is set to run and run. Google is not averse to running its own take0ver campaigns, and now as reported by Windows Latest, watch out CopilotGoogle could add Gemini Live to Windows 11 taskbar via Chrome. Ironically, this could spur Microsoft into redoubling its efforts to push Chrome users to Edge, given how critical the Copilot versus Gemini battle could become as AI evolves into the driving force within the apps and platforms we use, and more critically how we use them.While searching for recent Windows 11-related Chromium additions, Windows Latest explains, [we] spotted a reference to a Chromium patch that fixes floaty detach on Windows., which is apparently related to Gemini Live, codenamed GLIC in Chrome... Up until now, Gemini Live has been exclusive to the Gemini app on Android and iOS, but Google wants that to change, and it has plans to integrate the AI into Chromes sidebar, similar to how you can access Copilot in Microsoft Edge. But it could go a step further by adding a Gemini Live button to the taskbar... In other words, the Gemini Live interface might detach from the Chrome window and float independently. Youll be able to open that Gemini Live floating interface directly from the taskbar or system tray by clicking an icon.Edge default pushWindows LatestThis likely Chrome update is simply a taste of whats to come, with the browser wars shifting gears as the twin threats to the status quo from AI search and tighter generative AI integration come to the fore. In both these areas, Microsoft and Google are already going head-to-head, with their respective browsers simply part of the battlefield. Microsoft will hope that these disruptive forces can finally shake Chromes market dominance, while Google will clearly build from its solid base.And this comes against the backdrop of the latest Chrome security furor, with a raft of extensions having been found to be a threat to those using them. To be fair to Googles PR team, they have proven themselves to be equally resilient, batting away all manner of Chrome headlines including these latest onesthe reversal on tracking cookies, Apples fabled ad mimicking The Birds, security warning after security warning, and the unimaginably painful Privacy Sandbox regulatory stalemate. They dont need to overreactChromes user base has proven that it cares much more about the browsers features and performance than its record on privacy and security bugs.Windows Latest has also reports that AI advances [are] coming to Edge, with more AI and ML-related features on Windows 11, adding that weve spotted a new flag in Edge Canary called msTaskbarXUseSystemTray, which seems to point to some kind of Windows 11 system tray integration... It looks like Microsoft might let Edge show icons or notifications in the system tray.This goes to the heart of Microsofts browser/OS integration, which has also led to claims that Edge performance will vastly improve under Windows 11 as it operates natively. Its difficult for Chrome to compete with this as it will always present as an outsider. You may have noticed that some of Edges features have become faster and more responsive, Microsoft posted. Thats because Edge is on a journey to make all user interactions in the browser blazing fast starting with some of our newest features and core features. This has been coming for a while, though, and has not broken through.As I have reported before, of all the new advances, the Copilot AI push seems central to the Windows 11 push, and one can assume Copilot versus Gemini will take Edge versus Chrome to new heights. Could Google pull this off on Windows with Gemini Live in Chrome? says WindowsLatest. We dont know yet, but Google is certainly doing a better job than Microsoft when it comes to integrating AI into OSs. But were still only at the very beginning of that particular journey.Happy new year? Maybe not for long.

Player versus Player versus Compatibility Layer Marvel Rivals lifts 100-year cheating bans on Mac and Steam Deck players Players using Proton, CrossOver, or other tools earned "Penalty Issued" screens. Kevin Purdy Jan 3, 2025 1:48 pm | 47 Officially, only Windows and console players should have access to this much IP in one battleground. But that doesn't mean everybody else is a cheater. Credit: NetEase Officially, only Windows and console players should have access to this much IP in one battleground. But that doesn't mean everybody else is a cheater. Credit: NetEase Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreWith Valve's impressive work on the Proton tool for Linux and the Mac's Game Porting Toolkit and CrossOver options, few games are truly "Windows only" these days. The exceptions are those with aggressive, Windows-based anti-cheating tools baked in, something that hit back hard against players eager to dive into a new superhero shooter.Marvel Rivals, an Overwatch-ish free-to-play hero shooter released in early December 2024, has all the typical big online game elements: an in-game shop with skins and customizations, battle passes, and anti-cheating tech. While Proton, which powers the Linux-based Steam Deck's ability to play just about any Windows game, has come very far in a few years' time, its biggest blind spots are these kinds of online-only games, like Grand Theft Auto Online,Fortnite,Destiny 2, Apex Legends,and the like. The same goes for Mac players, who, if they can work past DirectX 12, can often get a Windows game working in CrossOver or Parallels, minus any anti-cheat tools.Is there harm in trying? For a while, there was 100 years' worth. As detailed in the r/macgaming subreddit and at r/SteamDeck, many players who successfully got Marvel Rivals working would receive a "Penalty Issued" notice, with a violation "detected" and bans issued until 2124. Should such a ban stand, players risked entirely missing the much-prophesied Year of the Linux Desktop or Mainstream Mac Gaming, almost certain to happen at some point in that span.WhileRivals was quick to ban, it was also quick to fix this issue. After players contacted Rivals leadership, along with direct intervention by the CEO of CodeWeavers, CrossOver's maker, the bans have been reversed, according to company statements and Reddit posts. Developer NetEase posted on its Discord, per IGN, that it "will not ban players who are playing fairly and without cheating" and work to improve its anti-cheat detection accuracy. The company did not issue any broader statement about allowances for compatibility tools.Maintaining a cheat-free online game, while also allowing for all the quirks of various compatibility layers, seems like a tricky challenge for a developer. With more Steam-OS-based devices seemingly on the way, game developers will seemingly have to decide just how much compatibility they want to fit inside their communities.Kevin PurdySenior Technology ReporterKevin PurdySenior Technology Reporter Kevin is a senior technology reporter at Ars Technica, covering open-source software, PC gaming, home automation, repairability, e-bikes, and tech history. He has previously worked at Lifehacker, Wirecutter, iFixit, and Carbon Switch. 47 Comments