Stack CommerceShareWe may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more When your phone screen starts flashing the low-storage notifications a little more than usual, your first instinct is probably to grab some cloud storage. Its the easiest option, right? Sure, but do you really want to pay a recurring fee for extra space? We definitely dont, which is why it might be time to switch back to a thumb drive.No, its not the thumb drive you had in middle school. This one is adual USB drive with USB-A and USB-C ends for double compatibility, comes with 1TB of storage, and has super-quick transfer speeds. And unlike your usual cloud storage options, youll never have to pay a recurring fee again once you order your flash drive for only$69.97 (reg. $109).Cloud storage, who? Theres a new thumb drive in townYour life is already overrun with subscriptions for everything from Netflix to your Equinox membership, so why would you want to pay yet another subscription for your cloud storage, too?Imagine starting 2025 with one less subscription and actually owning your storage by investing in this thumb driveyou could save upwards of $10 a month for the same amount of space this one offers! This baby has an impressive 1TB capacity, so check out what you could store:about 250,000 photos, 2,500 hours of video, or 2 million documents, depending on their size.So, 1TB might seem alittle excessive, but consider this: it might just last you forever, or at least for the near future. And since thishigh-speed flash drive has a 30Mbps transfer speed, you wont have to wait hours to move your files and photos. Transferring Word documents, a vacation photo album, and even a 1GB video could take less than 30 seconds.Say goodbye to cloud storage fees in the new year with your new favorite storage solution.Grab thisUSB-A and USB-C 1TB flash drive for just$69.97 while supplies still last or before the price goes back up on Dec. 12 at 11:59 p.m. PT!StackSocial prices subject to change.Dual USB-C + USB-A 3.2 High Speed Flash Drive (1TB)Only $69.97 at Popular Science

Nature, Published online: 01 January 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-024-04104-8The lack of methods for preparing miniature lasers directly on silicon wafers is holding back photonic technology in a range of applications, including machine learning. The solution could be to construct lasers in nanoscale trenches.

Nature, Published online: 01 January 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-024-08182-6Reply to: Limitations of ice cores in reconstructing temperature seasonality

The Quadrantids are the year's first shooting stars, peaking over North America between Jan. 3 and 4.

Situs inversus is a rare genetic condition that causes the organs in the chest and abdomen to be located on the opposite side from where they're usually found, like a mirror image.

Magic systems have been a part of video games almost ever since the creation of the medium. Here are the best ones for gamers to check out.

Manor Lords is a Medieval RTS/Citybuilder developed by Slavic Magic that has been making major waves, with a staggering 3 million wishlists on Steam, and over 170,000 concurrent players upon release. Today on Game Rant, we'll see if it lives up to the hype.

Marvel Rivals has provided players with over thirty different heroes to pick from and learn right from Season 0 - Doom's Rise. With so many different characters across the three roles of Strategist, Vanguard, and Duelist, getting to know every single hero and villain including their special combos or tips and tricks can be very time-consuming and often tricky to accomplish. However, those that are arriving in Marvel Rivals with a history of playing Overwatch will soon begin to see that many of the hero kits of each character mirror one or more Overwatch character's abilities or playstyle, which can make finding the characters for your Marvel Rivals hero pool that much easier - especially if you have a preference for something somewhat similar to your Overwatch main.

2024 was a huge year for indie games, with titles like Balatro, Animal Well, and UFO 50 garnering commercial and critical acclaim amid their AAA contemporaries. That momentum shows no signs of slowing down in 2025, with highly anticipated games like Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector and Hyper Light Breaker being released in January, followed by a slew of other exciting new titles, like Pathologic 3, Wanderstop, and more.Weve once again assembled a list of some of the indie games were most excited for. From stealth-action deck builders and moody mountain climbing sims to isometric roguelike shooters, theres something for every type of gamer and no doubt even more surprises waiting in the months to come.What indie games are you most looking forward to in 2025? Drop them in the comments.Hyper Light BreakerRelease date:Jan. 14 (early access)Platforms:Windows PCHyper Light Breaker, the upcoming 3D co-op roguelike from developer Heart Machine, has undergone a long and winding journey since it was first announced back in 2022. The wait is almost over, though, as the game is set to make its early access launch on Steam on Jan. 14.Set decades before the events of Hyper Light Drifter, Hyper Light Breaker allows players assume the role of a Breaker a warrior tasked with rebuilding civilization in the wake of a cataclysmic war. As you explore the world of the Overgrowth, taming its many dangers and rediscovering its many secrets, youll come face to face with powerful adversaries known as the Crowns in your quest to defeat the Abyss King and restore peace to the realm. Toussaint EganCitizen Sleeper 2: Starward VectorRelease date:Jan. 31Platforms:Windows PCThe new year is kicking off right when Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector is released on Jan. 31. The follow-up to Jump Over the Ages text-heavy role-playing game Citizen Sleeper looks to expand on the original with its exceptional, dense science fiction lore. Nicole CarpenterMorselsRelease date: February 2025Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Windows PCMorsels looks like a game for the weirdos, and I mean that in the best way possible. Its a creature-collecting roguelite thats colorful, fast-paced, and not to be missed. From Furcula, a Toronto-based indie studio, Morsels doesnt yet have an exact release date. Nicole CarpenterWanderstopRelease date:March 11Platforms:Windows PCWanderstop is a cozy farming simulator with a dark side its what happens when a skilled swordsperson stops for a second to brew some tea. From the makers of The Stanley Parable and The Beginners Guide, Wanderstop will be released on March 11. Nicole CarpenterPsycho Patrol RRelease date:March 31 (early access)Platforms:Windows PCIf youre a fan of Cruelty Squad, the necrocapitalist nightmare sim developed by Ville Kallio, congratulations: their upcoming game is right around the corner! Described as a, mecha FPS hybrid police and punishment simulator, Psycho Patrol R puts players in the role of an officer of the European Federal Police tasked with upholding law and order in the decayed state of Pan-Europa. The game features a semi-open world, with levels designed to be explored on foot and within the cockpit of the players V-Stalker, a bipedal warmachine with customizable weapons. Toussaint EganCairnRelease date:2025Platforms:Windows PC, TBA consolesNot only does Cairn have gorgeous art and scenery, but The Game Bakers climbing game looks to have deep, complicated mechanics that mimic the actual nature of the act. (It also has a very cool backpack for messily storing your necessary equipment.) It looks like its Death Standing, but heading upward instead of across. Nicole CarpenterDeltarune chapters 3 & 4Release date:2025Platforms:TBAYep, the highly anticipated next two chapters of Toby Foxs Deltarune are expected to be released in 2025 over six years after the games original launch. The role-playing game is unique due to its turn-based combat and bullet hell elements; Fox also lets players choose peace or violence, just like in Undertale. Nicole CarpenterParalivesRelease date: 2025 (early access)Platform: Mac, Windows PCInZoi isnt the only life sim coming out this year! Developed by a talented team of designers led by Alex Mass, Paralives is a doll house life simulation that features an advanced character creator that not only focuses on facial and body features, but also customizable personality traits. Create your perfect dream house and guide your characters lives in and around an expansive open-world town when it launches in early access later this year. Toussaint EganPrimal PlanetRelease date:2025Platforms:Windows PCThis whimsical prehistoric metroidvania casts players as a cave dweller separated from his family on a strange alien world. Scavenge for resources, tame the elements, and fight against a slew of threats including carnivorous predators, rival tribes, and inscrutable extraterrestrials as you struggle to reunite with and protect your family. Toussaint EganPromise Mascot AgencyRelease date:2025Platforms:Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox Series XKaizen Game Works, the U.K.-based developer behind 2020s Paradise Killer, is back with a new game thats somehow even more original and irreverent than its last. Promise Mascot Agency is the worlds first (and best) Open World Mascot Management Crime Drama, centered on Michi, a disgraced yakuza lieutenant exiled to a cursed town to whip a bankrupt mascot company into shape. Like Paradise Killer, theres a dash of mystery thrown in, as youll also be tasked with uncovering the conspirators responsible for your exile. Toussaint EganSkate StoryRelease date:2025Platforms:Windows PCSam Engs Skate Story will be published in 2025 by Devolver Digital, though it was originally announced with a 2023 release date. Though theres been no shortage of cool skateboarding games over the years, Skate Story looks different, having players skate through hell. Nicole CarpenterSleight of HandRelease date:2025Platforms:Windows PC, Xbox Series XSleight of Hand is exactly the type of game that piques my interest: a third-person stealth-action deck builder about a hard-boiled private detective infiltrating a witch coven. Combining immersive sim environments with real-time stealth gameplay, Sleight of Hand is a stylish, noir-infused dark fantasy that Im eager to get my hands on later this year. Toussaint EganUsual JuneRelease date:2025Platforms:Windows PCDeveloped by Finji (Tunic), Usual June is a third-person action-adventure la Psychonauts that puts players in the role of a young girl who has the power to communicate with the spirits of the dead. Together with her friends, both alive and not, June must explore the coastal town of Fen Harbor and put a stop to an interdimensional anomaly that threatens to tear the fabric of existence itself apart! So yeah, no pressure. Toussaint EganTron: CatalystRelease date:2025Platforms:Windows PCBithell Games returns to the universe of Tron, this time for an isometric action-adventure. Tron: Catalyst centers on Exo, a resourceful program who is hunted by the overlords of the Arq Grid for their possession of a mysterious ability that threatens the stability of the system. Toussaint EganEnter the ChronosphereRelease date:TBAPlatforms:Windows PCHades meets Superhot is the best way to describe this new roguelike shooter. In Enter the Chronosphere, players assemble a ragtag crew of alien mercenaries to tackle the chronospheres planet-sized dungeons that are spreading across the universe, devouring whole galaxies in their wake. Within each chronosphere, time only moves when you move, so every second counts as you mow through waves of enemies and peel back the layers of these ginormous megastructures. Toussaint EganHollow Knight: SilksongRelease date:TBAPlatforms:Windows PCOriginally announced in 2019, Hollow Knight: Silksong has become the white whale of the gaming community. Developer Team Cherry delayed the highly anticipated sequel in 2023, but it seemed possible it would be released in 2024. That didnt happen, but Im still looking forward to a potential 2025 release. Ana DiazPathologic 3Release date:TBAPlatforms:Windows PCThe sequel to the 2019 cult classic Pathologic 2 sees players return to the Town on the Gorkhon River, this time as Daniil Dankovsky, a charismatic doctor obsessed with defeating death. Tasked with saving the town from a plague within 12 days, players will have to use a special device to travel back in time to influence major events, reshaping the story and opening new pathways to succeed. Toussaint EganPossessor(s)Release date:TBAPlatforms:Windows PCHyper Light Breaker isnt the only Heart Machine game on the horizon. Announced in 2024, Possessor(s) is a stylish side-scrolling adventure game where players assume the role of a pair of characters who must navigate the interconnected sprawl of a destroyed mega-city in the wake of an interdimensional catastrophe. Expect 3D environments, beautifully hand-drawn and animated characters, and fast-paced action. Toussaint Egan

Set in a quiet rural landscape, the Des Lauriers House located in Bromont, Canada and designed by Paul Bernier Architecte was created as a place to pause and reflect. Its three simple gabled volumes, traditional materials, and protected outdoor areas imbue a sense of stillness. Every element, from the glass entry hall to the vaulted living space, invites residents and visitors alike to step back, look out, and appreciate the natural setting. Two volumes, housing the main residence and a garage with guest quarters, feature brick and stone exteriors, while a smaller, cedar-clad barn completes the trio. Together, these simple forms and natural materials lend the property a subtle, enduring presence.Stone walls extend outward from the homes foundations, rooting it to the landscape. A fully glazed passage connects the house and garage, highlighting their distinct forms and serving as the main entrance. From this approach, visitors glimpse the surrounding plain beyond the property. Paul Bernier went on to say, We aimed to imbue this house with a sense of calm, a peaceful and contemplative atmosphere, as this is what we felt upon discovering the site for the first time.At the west end of the garage, an open-air kitchen and dining area is sheltered by soaring cedar ceilings and solid brick walls. A wide opening frames the mountain views, while a brick screen on the south side provides privacy and filtered sunlight. A discreet slot in the masonry helps release built-up heat in summer. Inside, the glass entry hall leads to the main living area, reached through a wooden partition that subtly directs movement. This central living space rises to the full height of the gabled structure, where horizontal openings give access to terraces. Overhead, a lime-plastered vaulted ceiling enhances the interiors quiet character.Throughout, a restrained palette of white oak, lime plaster, and stone maintains a calm atmosphere. Exterior materials such as brick, stone, steel, and cedar were chosen for durability, with deep openings, masonry pillars, and stone walls imparting a sense of permanence.For more information, visit paulbernier.com.Photography by James Brittain.