The Los Angeles area wildfires are producing large amount of smoke as can be seen on January 10, ... [+] 2025 in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood. (Photo by Apu Gomes/Getty Images)Getty ImagesAs wildfires continue to rage in the Los Angeles area, it should be obvious that the flames themselves are major threats, leaving devastation in their trails. So is the intense heat generated. But remember, where theres fire, theres smoke, which may be a reversal of the standard proverb but is highly relevant here. The wildfires are creating large amounts of smoke that are themselves major threats. And these huge billows of wildfire smoke will remain huge problems for a while and could end up traveling huge distances from the flames.Wildfire Smoke Contains Particulate MatterThats because wildfire smoke can have all sorts of harmful stuff in them. Any kind of smoke contains particulate matter, which is a more cultured way of saying bits and pieces of stuff floating in the air. This particulate matter can range from clearly visible chunks of junk floating in the air to smaller and smaller particles.Now particulate matter is clearly a situation where size does matter as the smaller the particles the more likely they are to get into your respiratory tract and potentially down to your lungs. Particularly concerning are the fine inhalable particles or PM2.5 which are particles that are 2.5 micrometers or smaller. These particles certainly arent fine for your health because they are tiny enough to get into the smallest airways of your lungs to cause irritation and damage. This can be taxing on not only your lungs but also your cardiovascular system. Thats why inhaling such particles can not only cause breathing problems, trigger asthma attacks or exacerbate existing lung problems, it can also increase the risk of heart attacks and stroke, especially in those with other risk factors for such medical problems.The other more than tiny problem with these fine inhalable particles is that they can be too small to see. So what appears to be clear air can actually be packed with PM2.5 stuff. Therefore, dont rely on just your eyes to determine how clear the air really is.Speaking of eyes, particulate matter can get in your eyes as well, leading to significant irritation. Therefore, if you find your eyes burning and tearing up, theres a decent change that the air around you is polluted with particulate matter.MORE FOR YOUWildfire Smoke Can Contain Toxic GasesBurnt material can continue to emit toxic fumes and particulate matter long after the flames have ... [+] gone down. Seen here are burnt structures at Topanga Beach during the Palisades wildfire in Topanga, Los Angeles, California, United States on January 10, 2025. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)Anadolu via Getty ImagesThe other dangerous components of wildfire smoke are the various toxic gases that result from the burning of plants, other organic material, rubber, and who knows what else may be on the grounds of the Los Angeles area. Naturally, the closer you are to the flames the greater the concentration of such gases. Even after the flames are long gone though, charred debris can continue to emit toxic fumes and spray particulate matter into the air.The health effects of toxic fumes depend on the specific types of chemicals in those fumes. But the potential impact can range from skin, eye or respiratory tract irritation to cancer.Stay Indoors With Wildfire Smoke OutsideIf you are around the Los Angeles area right now, its best to stay indoors as much as possible and limit your time outdoors. Again, dont trust your eyes to determine how clear the air may be. Keep your windows and doors closed. Seal any other opening that may allow wildfire smoke to seep into your living quarters or consider using thick wet cloths to block such openings.Naturally, you dont want to stay inside your house if it is on fire. Therefore, staying indoors doesnt mean remaining oblivious as to what is happening outside. Keep track of where the wildfires and smoke are traveling through the news or tracking websites and apps. Also, pay attention to whats happening right outside where you live.Air Purifiers With HEPA Filters Can Protect Against Wildfire SmokeIf possible use air purifiers that have high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter to keep the indoor air around you clean. In theory, such filters are supposed to remove at least 99.97% of the particles that are 0.3 microns (m) in size from the air. This includes dust, pollen, mold, bacteria and, yes, fine particulate matter. Pay attention to the HEPA filters Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) rating, which represents the filter's ability to capture particles between 0.3 and 10 microns (m) in size. The higher MERV rating the better that filter is at trapping such sized particles. Also, clean and replace the filter regularly. As Maroon 5 sang, nothing lasts forever.Avoid Strenuous Physical Activity While Outdoors With Wildfire SmokeThis is not the time to start training for the marathon outside. More vigorous physical activity will increase your breathing rate and, thus, the amount of stuff in the air that you inhale. This doesnt mean completely stop exercising, because exercise is good for you. Just try to do it indoors in locations that have clean filtered air.N95 Or P100 Face Masks Can Protect You Against Wildfire SmokeUnfortunately, some politicians have politicized the heck out of face masks as I have written previously for Forbes. But the bottom line is face masks like N95 and P100 respirators are specially designed to filter very small particles out of the air so that you dont inhale them. In other words, such face masks work.Now, this doesnt mean just any face mask will work. A bandana, surgical mask or Deadpool mask wont do a whole lot. When it comes to choosing the right face mask, its important to know not only your alphabet but also your numbers. Look first for the letter that tells you the class of the respirator:N stands for Non-Oil meaning that the respirator is not resistant to oil.R stands for Resistant to Oil for 8 hoursP means that the respirator is oil proofUnless you are planning on seasoning your face mask with olive oil or something like that, you probably do not need to choose a P or R face mask over an N one. Thats assuming that you wont be in an area with lots of oily fumes.So as long as you have one of these lettered respirators, the next thing to check for the number right after it. The number stands for the respirators efficiency at filtering out particles that are 0.3 microns or larger. So, a N95 mask can filter 95 percent of such particles. A mask with a name that ends with a 99 would be 99 percent efficient. A P100 respirator is not 100 efficient because nothing is 100 percent in life. But such a mask does get close with a 99.97 percent efficiency.Now, its not enough to simply see N95 or P100 on the face mask or its packaging. There are lots of face masks out there falsely advertised as such. Look for masks that have been tested and approved by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The face mask and packaging should have the word NIOSH along with either N95 or P100 printed on them. If it says something else like NASH, KIBOSH or KNISH, dont trust the N95 or P100 rating. A Knish mask could be something totally different.Face masks with NIOSH-approved N95 or P100 ratings are composed of interlacing propylene fibers that make it physically difficult for small particles to get past. Additionally, these fibers are imbued with electrostatic charges that will cause such particles to stick to the fibers.Also, youve got to wear the N95 or P100 respirator properly for it to really protect you. Forming a tight seal around your mouth and nose is key. The respirator should have two straps that go around your head and hold your mask tightly to your face. Masks that have ear loops instead will not form tight enough seals. Also, dont wear such face masks as you would a pair of Hailey Bieber Trouser Pants or skinny jeans. It has to be the appropriate size that will fit over your nose and under your chin without bunching up in any way so that the edges lift off your face.Try to replace your N95 or P100 face masks frequently. They lose effectiveness over use and time for three reasons. One reason is the loss of electrostatic charge. Another is that bending and distorting the face mask may separate the lattices of fibers. A third reason is that dirt and oil can degrade the face mask, especially if it is not oil resistant. And regardless of what you may think about yourself, you are a very oily person. Simply touching the face mask with your hands will leave oil on the mask.Check Air Quality Reports Each Day To Follow The Wildfire SmokeThis aerial photo shows smoke hovering over smoldering rubble left by the Palisades Fire in the ... [+] Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, on January 10, 2025. (Photo by DAVID SWANSON/AFP via Getty Images)AFP via Getty ImagesFinally, remember what happened to the smoke generated by the wildfires in Central Canada in 2023. They spread all the way across the Northeast U.S., as I reported for Forbes at the time. Yep, wildfire smoke can and will travel. And such smoke can linger for a while. The resulting path and distance all depends on how much smoke is generated and what the winds and weather end up doing.Therefore, regardless of where you live in the U.S., its a good idea to keep monitoring the air quality indices around you. Again, while theres always going to be smoke with fire, in the case of wildfire smoke, there can be smoke without the fire.

Mini CrosswordNYTIn case you missed Fridays NYT Mini, you can find the answers here:The NYT Mini is a quick and dirty version of the newspaper's larger and long-running crossword. Most days, there are between three and five clues in each direction on a five by five grid, but the puzzles are sometimes larger, especially on Saturdays.Unlike its larger sibling, the NYT Mini crossword is free to play on the New York Times website or NYT Games app. However, youll need an NYT Games subscription to access previous puzzles in the archives.The NYT Mini is a fun daily distraction that usually takes no time at all. I try to beat the standard weekday grid in less than a minute. But sometimes I can't quite figure out one or two clues and need to reveal the answer.To help you avoid doing that, here are the NYT Mini Crossword answers (spoilers lie ahead, of course):MORE FOR YOUNYT Mini Crossword Clues And AnswersACROSS1) Streak of lightning - BOLT5) Flowers with "tiger" and "trumpet" varieties - LILIES7) Surface to stretch on - YOGAMAT8) Condition treated with exposure and response prevention therapy, for short - OCD9) "Rocks," to a bartender - ICE10) "Wait, seriously?!" - WHATTHE12) Actress with a record number of Oscar nominations (21) - STREEP13) Assists - AIDSDOWN1) Information sets used in machine learning and predictive analytics, collectively - BIGDATA2) Portuguese greeting - OLA3) Not infinite - LIMITED4) Shows the ropes to - TEACHES5) Scottish bodies of water - LOCHS6) Like some prices and roller coaster drops - STEEP7) "That really hurts!" - YOW11) Prefix with -ceratops - TRINYT MiniNYTWhat a puzzle today, really large for the mini and a lot of tougher ones like Yow and What the as you just...wouldnt really place those in a normal puzzle clue situation. I thought Lilies were Orchids for a minute which messed everything up. Tiger Orchids are a thing right? I knew Meryl Streep, of course, but yeah, this was a pretty hard one all things considered.Follow me on Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.Pick up my sci-fi novels the Herokiller series and The Earthborn Trilogy.

Microsoft 365 is a cloud-based software suite with programs like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.Microsoft 365 was formerly called Microsoft Office, and used to be a one-time purchase.Microsoft 365 has a variety of subscriptions with different costs, but there are also free versions.If you have, at any time in the past few years, worked in an office, gone to school, or generally been alive, you have probably used myriad Microsoft 365 products. And the same is true, relatively speaking, even going back several decades.That's because Microsoft 365 is a 2010 rebranding of Microsoft Office, the suite of software that included venerable programs like Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft PowerPoint, among others.Whereas you used to access that software via the Windows operating system, today Microsoft 365 is a cloud-based service accessed remotely via a paid subscription.What programs does Microsoft 365 feature?Microsoft 365 goes well beyond the basic word processing, spreadsheet-making, and presentation designer software that has been around since the 20th century.Along with the aforementioned programs, 365 also features OneDrive, a cloud storage service for keeping files secure, Teams, which is a collaboration software that allows for video meetings, live chat, file sharing, and more, Skype, the video call platform, and Outlook, which is Microsoft's email service.How much does Microsoft 365 cost?There are different plans at different rates. You can pay $9.99 per month for a Microsoft 365 family plan which allows up to six users to share one account, with that price adding up to $119.88. Or, you can pay $99.99 one time to save on a year-long subscription.A one-person Microsoft 365 Personal plan costs $6.99 per month, which is $83.88, or you can pay once and get a year for $69.99.Can you get Microsoft 365 for free?Microsoft 365 is available for free in a few ways, though most have some limitations. There is a free version of Microsoft 365 that can be used in a web browser. Users must sign up for a Microsoft account with an existing or new email address to access Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and so forth.You can also get a free download of the Microsoft 365 Access Runtime files, but this is available only in downgraded 32-bit and 64-bit versions.Students and teachers can get Microsoft Office 365 Education for free with a valid school email address, and all users can sign up for a one-month free trial of a Microsoft 365 subscription. Just make sure to cancel ahead of the next billing cycle.How to cancel Microsoft 365?Canceling Microsoft 365 takes just a few steps:Sign in to the Microsoft account you used to purchase Microsoft 365, select Services & subscriptions from the dashboard, and click Manage to cancel or modify the Microsoft 365 subscription. You can cancel or upgrade your Microsoft 365 subscription from the "Services & subscriptions" section of your Microsoft account. Michelle Mark/Business Insider Select Cancel subscription (it might say Upgrade or Cancel).Review the additional information on the page, and at the bottom select I don't want my subscription, then confirm the cancellation.What's the difference between Microsoft 365 and Office Suite?The real differences are the pay model and the way you access the software. The classic Office Suite was a one-time purchase that gave you programs (Word and Excel, e.g.) that you could use offline any time you wanted.Microsoft 365 is a subscription-based service that you primarily use online (you can use 365 programs offline, but the saving may not be reliable) and that you will pay for each month or once a year.

By Todd Feathers Published January 10, 2025 | Comments (1) | Elon Musk, left, and Sam Altman, center, during the "What Will They Think of Next? Talking About Innovation" event at the Vanity Fair New Establishment Summit at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts on October 6, 2015 in San Francisco, California. Mike Windle/Getty Images for Vanity Fair Federal antitrust regulators on Friday added weight to portions of Elon Musks lawsuit seeking to prevent OpenAI from restructuring itself into a fully for-profit company.In a brief filed with a federal court in California, attorneys for the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justices antitrust division did not directly support Musks claims that OpenAI and Microsoft have colluded in an anticompetitive de-facto merger, but they did urge the court to be skeptical about one of the defenses made by OpenAIs legal team. OpenAI began as a non-profit, funded in part by Musk, and then converted itself into a for-profit company controlled by a non-profit board of directors. It is now planning to completely separate from that non-profit board and become a public benefit corporation, allowing it to be fiduciarily responsible to investors rather than beholden to a charitable mission.A key contributor to OpenAIs growth and the pressure for it to become a profitable business has been the more than $13 billion in investments and other support its received from Microsoft, a publicly traded company that competes in the AI market. Reid Hoffman, the founder of LinkedIn, is a member of Microsofts board and was a member of OpenAIs board until March 2023. A top Microsoft executive, Dee Templeton, was a non-voting member of OpenAIs board from November 2023 until July 2024.Musk has argued that the Microsoft representatives positions on the OpenAI board violated federal antitrust laws that prohibit someone from serving on the governing board of competing companies, which is known as an interlocking directorate. OpenAI has responded by saying the argument is moot because neither Hoffman nor Templeton are members of OpenAIs board anymore. The FTC and DOJ lawyers, however, wrote that ending an interlocking directorate, e.g., by having a person resign from a corporate board, is not sufficient, on its own, to moot a claim under Section 8 of the Clayton Act. In resolving this matter, the Court should avoid holding otherwise. The federal agencies did not weigh in on Musks many other allegations, including that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman misled him and conspired with Microsoft to convince investors not to fund Musks own AI startup, xAI.While the lawsuit has often taken the tone of a soap opera feud between billionaires, the FTC and DOJ filing is another sign that regulators have a close eye on OpenAIs transition plans. Delawares attorney general has filed a brief in the case and said she will take action if she believes OpenAI is violating the law and Meta has asked the California attorney generals office to block OpenAIs restructuring.Daily NewsletterYou May Also Like By Thomas Maxwell Published January 10, 2025 By Thomas Maxwell Published January 10, 2025 By Matt Novak Published January 9, 2025 By Lucas Ropek Published January 9, 2025 By Matthew Gault Published January 9, 2025 By Lucas Ropek Published January 8, 2025

Jan 11., 2025: Our weekly roundup of the latest science in the news, as well as a few fascinating articles to keep you entertained over the weekend.

As Genshin Impacts Natlan hit servers, many players expected to receive the Pyro Traveler along with the release. In previous regional releases, players could unlock the respective elemental Traveler by resonating with the Statue of Seven upon arrival. However, its not as simple as it seems in Genshin Impacts Natlan.

Marvel Rivals had a significant launch roster, with Season 0 including over thirty different characters to play across the Vanguard, Duelist, and Strategist roles. Each and every one of these characters also has a unique set of cosmetics, with more gradually being added to the game with each new season and event that comes and passes. These skins can be obtained in a variety of ways, such as from Twitch drops, as Battle Pass rewards, awarded by completing in-game challenges, inputting codes, and shop purchases.

In certain manhwa where the villain is an obnoxious character that pursues selfish goals, readers will have a hard time trying to relate to them. But in a few select cases, the villains' actions make sense when the plot reveals their background. What happens when an evil character is worthy of redemption?

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.After the release of the Google Pixel 9 last fall, the Pixel 8 lineup dropped in price, as was expected. However, the unlocked 128 GB Pixel 8 Pro has never before reached its current price of $599 (originally $999), a 40% discount off the retail price of $999. That's the lowest price the device has reached, according to price-tracking tools. While the Pixel 8 Pro isn't the latest Pixel, it is still considered one of the best Android phones for 2025, according to CNET. Google Pixel 8 Pro $599.00 at Amazon $999.00 Save $400.00 Get Deal Get Deal $599.00 at Amazon $999.00 Save $400.00 You'll get about nine hours of battery life from the Pixel 8 Pro; a 50MP, 48MP, 48MP rear camera; and a 10.5MP front-facing camera. The OLED screen is 6.7 inches with a 2,992 by 1,344-pixel resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. The peak brightness hits 2,400 nits, a big jump from the previous version. You can read more about it on PCMag's "excellent" review.The Pixel 8 Pro is still a great phone in 2025, with support for tons of AI features that make the phone feel fresh even a year after its release. Google has also been working hard to patch up the vulnerabilities on their Pixel phones as far back as the Pixel 6, meaning the Pixel 8 Pro will be supported with software updates for a while (as long as seven years). Google also keeps dropping new Pixel features every few months, including the Audio Magic Eraser, which gets rid of distracting sounds in videos, and the Best Take feature, which lets you pick the best shot from a series of photos. While the new Pixel 9 lineup may seem enticingthe most basic model, the 128 GB Pixel 9, starts at $626 (originally $799), also a great price for an excellent phoneif you value performance and the camera over design and features, you're better off saving yourself the money for a nice case.

I am good at many things, but managing my money isn't always one of them. My New Year's resolution is to be more financially responsible, but the truth is I've been working on it for a while. One of the most useful strategies I devised is using multiple bank accounts to budget. Here's why (and how) I do it, and why it might work for you, too.Different bank accounts slow me down and help me see where my money is goingIn the same way I use a variety of Google accounts to carry out different kinds of work in dedicated browsers, I use a few different bank accounts to divide my money, though I use "bank account" to describe a few things that might not technically be bank accounts. Two are traditional ones, one through the bank I grew up with in my hometown and another through Chase. The other two are digital, my Venmo and Chime accounts. For all four, I have an app, a debit card, and, crucially, a plan. For my regular paychecks, I elected to have my payouts be disbursed 70/30 between the account with the bank back home and my Chime account, respectively, though portions from both are also automatically earmarked for savings. Money I earn from teaching spin classes goes into Chase, as does money I earn from personal projects or freelancing. Money in Venmo is just regular money in Venmo, acquired when someone pays me back for something or I occasionallybut rarelytransfer some in there. "Serious" expenses, like bills, groceries, and student loans, pull straight from the account I've had back home since I got my first job in tenth grade. I leave that debit card out of my wallet most of the time so I don't even touch it unless it's an emergency. The 30% of my regular paycheck that hits the Chime account is spent on things that are fun, like personal upkeep and daily Dunkin' runs. The spin class money in the Chase account is for boring needs, like transit and laundry. Every two weeks or so, I assess what, if anything, is left over in the less serious ones and, if I feel inclined, move some to Venmo, which is designated only for frivolity, like a night out. If there's not much money in the frivolity account, I don't go (or at least I go with a firm budget in mind). Finally, if there's a big expense I'd like to pay for but don't want to decimate one account or the other for it, I move a little from all the accounts into Venmo. Why this strategy works for me"But Lindsey," you may say, "You have the same amount of money whether it's in four accounts or one. Why bother with all this?" Well, because I'm bad at budgeting, that's why. If I had one single account and opened my app on payday to see all my money in one place, I'd go a little hog wild without remembering to plan ahead for needs at different levels of severity. Opening four accounts, seeing four different amounts, and having a better idea of precisely how much I have available to spend for each category makes me think a little more and puts up a little buffer to stop me from waltzing into Sephora without a care in the world. Some people do this with their savings and checking accounts, which are both linked to the same bank account. That's fine... for those people. I tried that once. It didn't take much convincing from the devil on my shoulder to transfer money right back out of savings into checking with one tap. Transferring it between different institutions is not difficult, per se, but it requires a little more effort than toggling between savings and checking, and that split-second effort is enough to get me to pause and rethink my bad idea. There have really been no downsides to this besides needing a wallet with a substantial number of pockets. All the cards except for the "serious" one are linked up to my Apple Pay, anyway, and the only issue there is I have to be more diligent about not letting myself use them for purposes other than the ones I've assigned to them just because it's convenient. For someone who's good at budgeting and managing their money, this probably isn't entirely necessary, but if you read even a word of this and related to me, consider it. The accounts were all easy to set up, the debit cards were all free with the accounts, and since I implemented this strategy, I have never found myself in a position where I don't have enough money to cover the things I need and the things I want just because I went a momentarily numb in the brain on payday.