Severance season 2 arrives this Friday, and Apple TV+ is having a fun time promoting the long-anticipated return. Today, what appear to be Lumon employees have been spotted working inside a glass cube at Grand Central Station in New York City.Apple TV+ marketing pop-up arrived today in New York CityTikTok user @bigbrozelle posted a video earlier today of Apples new marketing pop-up.You can watch the video here (for as long as TikTok remains live in the US).Staged in New York Citys Grand Central Station, several employees with Lumon desks and computers can be seen working inside a glass cube branded with Severances January 17 return date and the Apple TV+ logo.The employees appear to be working away on Lumon-style computers, not aware of the masses of commuters walking by around them.Severance season 2 is returning Friday, nearly three years after its first season aired. The long delays have in some ways built up anticipation for the new seasonand its excellent reviews so far have added to the hype.Are you excited for Severance season 2 to arrive? Let us know in the comments.Best Apple TV and Home accessoriesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Citation needed.Last ResponderElon Musk is patting himself on the back for saving "thousands of lives" during the recent rash of wildfires in Los Angeles even though there's little evidence backing up that claim.In a video that the multi-hyphenate CEO reshared on X-formerly-Twitter, an AI voiceover alleged that the 43-year-old billionaire's "astonishing decision" to "generously donate" Starlink internet terminals to LA allowed people in the "disaster zone" to see coverage of the fires.As a result, "thousands of lives" were saved, the anonymous-created video claimed."Many rescue requests and on-site firefighting operations were successfully carried out," the AI voiceover intoned, "thanks to the support of Starlink."LA SlopThe video's robotic went on to cite using bizarre syntax, factual errors, and without citing any names or using any quotes a gratitude message posted by someone who escaped the fires."What's more: a survivor of the Eaton fire also expressed on social media gratitude to Musk and the Tesla team for the 'biohazard defense mode,'" the masculine-voiced AI narrator said, "which protected him and his family during the fire a feature that few people even knew about."Charitably speaking, the video might have been referencinga post by someone who claimed to have survived the nearby Palisades fire thanks to the "bioweapon defense mode," which clears cabin air using a massive HEPA filter."When biodefense mode actually comes in handy for the Palisades Fire in LA," user @JosefInvesting posted. "This Tesla is literally saving my life. Never buying another brand ever again."But that's one person. Where are the thousands of residents saved by Musk that the video referenced? (And if anyonehas saved that many people in LA, it's the first responders Musk has been trashing.)All told, this AI slop has every warning sign from a robotic narrator to factual errors to a laughably outlandish core claim.Then again, this is the same person who called someone a "pedo guy" after his half-baked cave rescue mission in Thailand didn't work, so credibility is kind of beside the point.More on Musk: Firefighter Shuts Down Elon Musk to His FaceShare This Article

Jan 14, 2025Ravie LakshmananEndpoint Security / VulnerabilityMicrosoft has shed light on a now-patched security flaw impacting Apple macOS that, if successfully exploited, could have allowed an attacker running as "root" to bypass the operating system's System Integrity Protection (SIP) and install malicious kernel drivers by loading third-party kernel extensions.The vulnerability in question is CVE-2024-44243 (CVSS score: 5.5), a medium-severity bug that was addressed by Apple as part of macOS Sequoia 15.2 released last month. The iPhone maker described it as a "configuration issue" that could permit a malicious app to modify protected parts of the file system."Bypassing SIP could lead to serious consequences, such as increasing the potential for attackers and malware authors to successfully install rootkits, create persistent malware, bypass Transparency, Consent and Control (TCC), and expand the attack surface for additional techniques and exploits," Jonathan Bar Or of the Microsoft Threat Intelligence team said.SIP, also called rootless, is a security framework that aims to prevent malicious software installed on a Mac from tampering with the protected parts of the operating system, including /System, /usr, /bin, /sbin, /var, and the apps that come pre-installed on the device.It works by enforcing various protections against the root user account, allowing modification of these protected parts only by processes that are signed by Apple and have special entitlements to write to system files, such as Apple software updates and Apple installers.The two entitlements specific to SIP are below -com.apple.rootless.install, which lifts SIP's file system restrictions for a process with this entitlementcom.apple.rootless.install.heritable, which lifts SIP's file system restrictions for a process and all its child processes by inheriting the com.apple.rootless.install entitlementCVE-2024-44243, the latest SIP bypass discovered by Microsoft in macOS after CVE-2021-30892 (Shrootless) and CVE-2023-32369 (Migraine), exploits the Storage Kit daemon's (storagekitd) "com.apple.rootless.install.heritable" entitlement to get around SIP protections.Specifically, this is achieved by taking advantage of "storagekitd's ability to invoke arbitrary processes without proper validation or dropping privileges" to deliver a new file system bundle to /Library/Filesystems a child process of storagekitd and override the binaries associated with the Disk Utility, which could then be triggered during certain operations such as disk repair."Since an attacker that can run as root can drop a new file system bundle to /Library/Filesystems, they can later trigger storagekitd to spawn custom binaries, hence bypassing SIP," Bar Or said. "Triggering the erase operation on the newly created file system can bypass SIP protections as well."The disclosure comes nearly three months after Microsoft also detailed another security flaw in Apple's Transparency, Consent, and Control (TCC) framework in macOS (CVE-2024-44133, CVSS score: 5.5) aka HM Surf that could be exploited to access sensitive data."Prohibiting third-party code to run in the kernel can increase macOS reliability, the tradeoff being that it reduces monitoring capabilities for security solutions," Bar Or said."If SIP is bypassed, the entire operating system can no longer be considered reliable, and with reduced monitoring visibility, threat actors can tamper with any security solutions on the device to evade detection."Found this article interesting? Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post.SHARE

It sounds so futuristic. The Year 2000. The 21st Century.Or at least it used to sound so futuristic. The reality is that the year 2000 is now 25 years ago.Im sorry to say it aint the future anymore. The 21st century began a quarter of a century ago.How this happened, Iwill never know. One minute everyone was listening toLimp Bizkitand worrying about the deadly Y2K virus, and then I blinked and it was suddenly 25 years later and aSaturday Night Livealumnus wrote and directed a nostalgic comedy about an alternate reality in which the Y2K virus was real andthreatens to destroy all of mankind.So this piece is really just a matter of simple math. Each of the 25 movies below were released in the year 2000. Therefore, each and every one of them is turning 25 years old in 2025. The future is now the distant past.There are certainly far more notable 2000 titles turning 25 years old you could write about. But this select batch runs the gamut from Oscar winners to big summer blockbusters to the cult movies that fans stilltalk about. Looking over this list today, it seems that the year 2000 was a pretty greatera for films. People love to hem and haw about how Hollywood was so much better back in the 1970s and the 80s. Butas youll see, the year 2000 boasted a pretty stellar lineup of movies...25 Movie Turning 25 In 2025These 25 titles all turn 25 years old in the year 2025. Time is not a flat circle. It just never stops moving.READ MORE: 25 Movies Turning 50 Years Old in 2025Get our free mobile appThe Dumbest Questions People Ask Google About MoviesThese are all real questions from the People Also Ask section of Google. People asked these questions!

Time zones: EST (UTC -5), GMT (UTC +0), CET (UTC +1) About UsSendible is a leading social media management platform built for teams, agencies and multi-location businesses to collaborate on content, engage with audiences, and report on successes. Our team of 40+ is dedicated to partnering with our customers to help them achieve their goals.Sendible ranks in the top 3 best Social Media Suites according to G2 in Spring 2024.Trusted by 30,000+ brand managers and marketers.Low staff turnover rate a large portion of the team have been at Sendible for 5+ years.Recently listed as one of the most user-friendly software in multiple categories on G2, our mission is to help companies be remarkable on social media at scale. Sendible is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and will consider all qualified individuals seeking employment without regards to race, colour, creed, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, sex, marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other protected classification. The OpportunityAre you a creative storyteller with a passion for video and social media?If so, this is an exciting opportunity to join a dynamic team at the forefront of social media management!At Sendible, we are looking for an enthusiastic Social Media Coordinator to drive our content strategy and amplify our brand visibility. In this role, youll have the chance to produce and manage compelling video content and social campaigns that resonate with diverse audiences across multiple platforms.You will play a vital role in shaping our online presence, connecting with our community, and bringing our brand to life through innovative storytelling. Your Responsibilities1. Content Creation & Video Production [50% of the role]Create and edit engaging video content tailored for social platforms, including short-form videos, product demos, tutorials, and brand campaigns.Serve as the on-camera personality for our brand, delivering relatable and authentic video content.Repurpose content for cross-platform distribution, such as our website, email campaigns, and blogs.2. Social Media Management [35% of the role]Plan and manage a content calendar covering key platforms: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X (Twitter), LinkedIn, YouTube, Threads, Bluesky and Google Business.Post, schedule, and monitor content performance, adapting strategies to maximise reach and engagement.Build and nurture our online community by engaging in conversations, responding to DMs, and sparking dialogue.3. Strategy & Collaboration [10% of the role]Work with the Head of Marketing, Head of Content, Product Manager, and Design team to execute a strategic social media content plan.Stay ahead of trends, leveraging viral moments and emerging social features to enhance brand presence.Use analytics to track performance and refine future social media campaigns, ensuring high ROI and engagement.4. Live Events [5% of the role]Host and occasionally present at webinars, live streams, and virtual events, engaging directly with customers and prospects.Collaborate with sales, customer support, and product teams to develop event scripts, presentations, and live demos. About the team:The Marketing team at Sendible thrives on collaboration, creativity, and a shared passion for delivering exceptional content.We work closely with cross-functional teams, including sales, product, customer support, and design, to craft campaigns that drive engagement and deliver results. Youll join a team that values growth, innovation, and your unique perspective as we shape the future of our brand.We embrace a fast-paced environment that encourages learning, experimentation, and impact, making every day a new opportunity to grow. About YouBased in the UK or the US. Work UK or East Coast US hours.1+ year experience in social media management, video production, or digital content creation.Video Expertise: Confident on camera, skilled in video production, editing, and storytelling.Social Media Savvy: Strong opinions and deep knowledge of social platforms, trends, and creative best practices.Strategic Mindset: Ability to align content with brand strategy and marketing goals.Data-Driven: Experience in social media analytics, tracking key performance metrics, and reporting results.Self-Starter: Motivated, creative, and ready to own projects from concept to execution.Excellent Communication: Fluent in English, with top-tier writing, speaking, and storytelling skills.Graduates welcome. Bonus Skills & Experience:Experience using social media management tools.Knowledge of brand marketing and product promotion.Experience working for a SaaS company, ideally B2BExperience with HubSpot or similar CMS/CRM tools.Experience with editing tools like Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, or similar.Remote working experience with an international teamUK or US base preferred for East Coast and UK work timings. What your future at Sendible looks likeIn your 1st month, you'll:Have completed Sendible's product training and onboarding program.Get to know the Sendible team and learn the ins and outs of the business, our history and where we're going.Dive into Sendible's marketing content and tech stack by learning how our funnel works, and how our marketing team operates.Get involved in day to day development tasks.Within 3 months, you'll:Be involved in longer-term goals.Have a complete understanding of how we work.Have a good working knowledge of the platform.Plan, create and execute a social media plan with the rest of the team. What the hiring process looks likeA brief (<30 min) video call with Tamara (Head of Content).If successful, you'll receive a short exercise (2 hours) to complete within 2 business days.Passing this leads to a task interview with Simon (Head of Marketing) and Tamara to discuss your exercise.If you pass the task interview, you'll meet the marketing team for a general interview.Finally, if everything aligns, you'll have a cultural fit interview with a non-marketing teammate.If you successfully progress through all stages and receive an offer, we will conduct appropriate reference and background checks in compliance with local laws and regulations. Why work with usWork remotely or from our London HQ and create your own schedule (we believe in trust and autonomy).25 days paid holiday per year, plus one bonus day for your birthday.12+ weeks fully paid parental leave for both birthing & non-birthing parents*Equipment including a laptop and headset.Annual bonuses based on company and personal performance (if the company does well and you played a big part, you'll be rewarded).Competitive medical insurance coverage and access to pension or retirement plan*Ongoing team-wide and company-wide virtual social activities and success celebrations. Well return to in-person retreats when regulations allow.Paid sabbatical after 5 years.We love learning! Use your $500 learning allowance to develop your skills.Gain incredible experience building a truly successful, global SaaS company with a dedicated, small team where you can have a huge impact!*Eligibility for parental leave, insurance, and pension/retirement plans is dependent on the employees location and may vary.We like hearing fresh perspectives and appreciate new viewpoints, so you should feel comfortable speaking up and not be afraid to drive change and challenge the status quo. If something sucks and can be done better, we want to hear! How we workSendible is a UK corporation and our head office is based in London but we are distributed with teammates in South Africa, Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, the Philippines and the US. This is a hybrid role, meaning a majority of the time youll be able to work from home or where you are most comfortable. We do value the collaboration and camaraderie of getting together in our London office. Youre welcome to work there as many days as you would like. We ask our London team to come at least once a quarter and once or twice a year if youre remote. Youll find our HQ fully equipped with snacks, excellent coffee and a pool table!The role is contracted for 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday, with core working hours from 10:00 to 16:00. The remaining hours are flexible and can be arranged by mutual agreement. How to get our attention when you applyIntroduce yourself to us as a colleague and show us what your future could look like here! We value authenticity, so be yourself, be creative, and take your time with the application.Send us a short-form, vertical video and tell us:What got you into social media marketing and content creation?A time you taught yourself a new skill to complete a job or project.So, if you want to join Simon, Tamara and the rest of our Marketing Team in helping to bring real value to users through the products and solutions we develop, please submit your application! Related Jobs See more Sales and Marketing jobs

Imagine the bustling floors of tomorrows manufacturing plant: Robots, well-versed in multiple disciplines through adaptive AI education, work seamlessly and safely alongside human counterparts. These robots can transition effortlessly between tasksfrom assembling intricate electronic components to handling complex machinery assembly. Each robot's unique education enables it to predict maintenance needs, optimize energy consumption, and innovate processes on the fly, dictated by real-time data analyses and learned experiences in their digital worlds. Training for robots like this will happen in a virtual school, a meticulously simulated environment within the industrial metaverse. Here, robots learn complex skills on accelerated timeframes, acquiring in hours what might take humans months or even years. Beyond traditional programming Training for industrial robots was once like a traditional school: rigid, predictable, and limited to practicing the same tasks over and over. But now were at the threshold of the next era. Robots can learn in virtual classroomsimmersive environments in the industrial metaverse that use simulation, digital twins, and AI to mimic real-world conditions in detail. This digital world can provide an almost limitless training ground that mirrors real factories, warehouses, and production lines, allowing robots to practice tasks, encounter challenges, and develop problem-solving skills. What once took days or even weeks of real-world programming, with engineers painstakingly adjusting commands to get the robot to perform one simple task, can now be learned in hours in virtual spaces. This approach, known as simulation to reality (Sim2Real), blends virtual training with real-world application, bridging the gap between simulated learning and actual performance. Although the industrial metaverse is still in its early stages, its potential to reshape robotic training is clear, and these new ways of upskilling robots can enable unprecedented flexibility. Italian automation provider EPF found that AI shifted the companys entire approach to developing robots. We changed our development strategy from designing entire solutions from scratch to developing modular, flexible components that could be combined to create complete solutions, allowing for greater coherence and adaptability across different sectors, says EPFs chairman and CEO Franco Filippi. Learning by doing AI models gain power when trained on vast amounts of data, such as large sets of labeled examples, learning categories, or classes by trial and error. In robotics, however, this approach would require hundreds of hours of robot time and human oversight to train a single task. Even the simplest of instructions, like grab a bottle, for example, could result in many varied outcomes depending on the bottles shape, color, and environment. Training then becomes a monotonous loop that yields little significant progress for the time invested. Building AI models that can generalize and then successfully complete a task regardless of the environment is key for advancing robotics. Researchers from New York University, Meta, and Hello Robot have introduced robot utility models that achieve a 90% success rate in performing basic tasks across unfamiliar environments without additional training. Large language models are used in combination with computer vision to provide continuous feedback to the robot on whether it has successfully completed the task. This feedback loop accelerates the learning process by combining multiple AI techniquesand avoids repetitive training cycles. Robotics companies are now implementing advanced perception systems capable of training and generalizing across tasks and domains. For example, EPF worked with Siemens to integrate visual AI and object recognition into its robotics to create solutions that can adapt to varying product geometries and environmental conditions without mechanical reconfiguration. Learning by imagining Scarcity of training data is a constraint for AI, especially in robotics. However, innovations that use digital twins and synthetic data to train robots have significantly advanced on previously costly approaches. For example, Siemens SIMATIC Robot Pick AI expands on this vision of adaptability, transforming standard industrial robotsonce limited to rigid, repetitive tasksinto complex machines. Trained on synthetic datavirtual simulations of shapes, materials, and environmentsthe AI prepares robots to handle unpredictable tasks, like picking unknown items from chaotic bins, with over 98% accuracy. When mistakes happen, the system learns, improving through real-world feedback. Crucially, this isnt just a one-robot fix. Software updates scale across entire fleets, upgrading robots to work more flexibly and meet the rising demand for adaptive production. Another example is the robotics firm ANYbotics, which generates 3D models of industrial environments that function as digital twins of real environments. Operational data, such as temperature, pressure, and flow rates, are integrated to create virtual replicas of physical facilities where robots can train. An energy plant, for example, can use its site plans to generate simulations of inspection tasks it needs robots to perform in its facilities. This speeds the robots training and deployment, allowing them to perform successfully with minimal on-site setup. Simulation also allows for the near-costless multiplication of robots for training. In simulation, we can create thousands of virtual robots to practice tasks and optimize their behavior. This allows us to accelerate training time and share knowledge between robots, says Pter Fankhauser, CEO and co-founder of ANYbotics. Because robots need to understand their environment regardless of orientation or lighting, ANYbotics and partner Digica created a method of generating thousands of synthetic images for robot training. By removing the painstaking work of collecting huge numbers of real images from the shop floor, the time needed to teach robots what they need to know is drastically reduced. Similarly, Siemens leverages synthetic data to generate simulated environments to train and validate AI models digitally before deployment into physical products. By using synthetic data, we create variations in object orientation, lighting, and other factors to ensure the AI adapts well across different conditions, says Vincenzo De Paola, project lead at Siemens. We simulate everything from how the pieces are oriented to lighting conditions and shadows. This allows the model to train under diverse scenarios, improving its ability to adapt and respond accurately in the real world. Digital twins and synthetic data have proven powerful antidotes to data scarcity and costly robot training. Robots that train in artificial environments can be prepared quickly and inexpensively for wide varieties of visual possibilities and scenarios they may encounter in the real world. We validate our models in this simulated environment before deploying them physically, says De Paola. This approach allows us to identify any potential issues early and refine the model with minimal cost and time. This technologys impact can extend beyond initial robot training. If the robots real-world performance data is used to update its digital twin and analyze potential optimizations, it can create a dynamic cycle of improvement to systematically enhance the robots learning, capabilities, and performance over time. The well-educated robot at work With AI and simulation powering a new era in robot training, organizations will reap the benefits. Digital twins allow companies to deploy advanced robotics with dramatically reduced setup times, and the enhanced adaptability of AI-powered vision systems makes it easier for companies to alter product lines in response to changing market demands. The new ways of schooling robots are transforming investment in the field by also reducing risk. Its a game-changer, says De Paola. Our clients can now offer AI-powered robotics solutions as services, backed by data and validated models. This gives them confidence when presenting their solutions to customers, knowing that the AI has been tested extensively in simulated environments before going live. Filippi envisions this flexibility enabling todays robots to make tomorrows products. The need in one or two years time will be for processing new products that are not known today. With digital twins and this new data environment, it is possible to design today a machine for products that are not known yet, says Filippi. Fankhauser takes this idea a step further. I expect our robots to become so intelligent that they can independently generate their own missions based on the knowledge accumulated from digital twins, he says. Today, a human still guides the robot initially, but in the future, theyll have the autonomy to identify tasks themselves. This content was produced by Insights, the custom content arm of MIT Technology Review. It was not written by MIT Technology Reviews editorial staff.

Places for People and Taylor Wimpey get go ahead after terms of section 106 deal agreed by East Hertfordshire CouncilGrimshaw has been granted outline planning permission for 10,000 homes as part of a garden town near Harlow.An earlier CGI of the proposed villagesDeveloper Places for People has been given permission to build 8,500 homes across six villages as part of the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town development, while Taylor Wimpey will develop 1,500 homes as part of a seventh village.The scheme got the go ahead after the developers and the council agreed a section 106 deal under which the developers provide affordable housing and infrastructure.Under the deal each village must have a minimum 23% of dwellings as affordable tenures, up to a maximum of 40%. The 23% figure could increase depending on viability reviews.The affordable element will consist of 60% affordable rent and 40% intermediate tenures unless otherwise agreed.Alongside new homes, the development includes facilities for business, retail, sports and leisure and healthcare, as well as community spaces, parks and open spaces, new primary and secondary schools and early years facilities.Vicky Glover-Ward, executive member for planning and growth at East Herts Council, said: We are pleased to issue the planning permissions for the delivery of 10,000 homes and associated infrastructure in the Gilston area.This is a major milestone and an important step in achieving sustainable growth in East Herts, and the wider Harlow and Gilston Garden Town.Architect MICA and Grimshaw developed the strategy & masterplan in a team alongside Quod as project manager, and Grant Associates as landscape consultant.

Clay County residents have a few internet service providers and plans to choose from.

January 14, 20254 min readWhy Are Recurring Dreams Usually Bad Ones?Recurring dreams may feature taking a test the dreamer didnt study for, having to make a speech or being attacked. Heres why our sleeping brain comes back to these unpleasant dreams again and againBy Amanda Heidt edited by Lauren J. Young Jorm Sangsorn/Getty ImagesWhy does it seem like the same dreams keep following us? Maybe youve dreamed of soaring like a bird since childhood, or youve recently started revisiting a particular place or time while asleep. Perhaps a bad day at work still stirs exam nightmares, even if you havent been a student for decades.If so, youre far from alone. Recurring dreams are a surprisingly common phenomenon: research shows that up to 75 percent of adults experience at least one during their lifetime. These dreams exist on a spectrum: sometimes theyre nearly identical each time they occur, but they may also have recurring themes, locations or characters set against different backdrops. This fluctuation sets recurring dreams apart from bad dreams triggered by post-traumatic stress disorder, a psychological condition in which people relive specific memories from their waking life with far less variation while asleep. Experts are still uncertain about why we experience recurring dreams at all, but new research is helping better identify patterns in their frequency and content, as well as in the scenarios that provoke them.Recent studies have bolstered the long-held idea that recurring dreams are oftenbut not alwaysbad ones. In a 2022 survey by Michael Schredl, head of the sleep laboratory at the Central Institute of Mental Health in Germany, and his colleagues, adults flagged recurring dreams as negatively toned two thirds of the time; these dreams often touched on themes such as being chased or attacked, arriving somewhere late or failing at something. The participants positive recurring dreams, by contrast, involved themes such as flying or discovering a new room in their house.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.The reasons why we might have a greater propensity for negative dreams are not fully understood, but Schredl says dreams typically overdramatize something in our waking lifeeven a small feeling or minor situation we feel powerless to change. In the dream, it becomes a much bigger emotion, although the connection isnt always straightforward or obvious, he explains.Psychology and neuroscience offer additional clues. For example, we are prone to whats known as negativity bias: a tendency to fixate more upon unpleasant thoughts, emotions or social interactions than on positive ones. This behavior is rooted in our subconscious need to resolve negative situations that threaten our survival. Negativity bias may be compounded in sleep because our dreaming brain dampens the areas associated with linear logic and activates portions associated with emotion, weakening the filter between our thoughts and our feelings.Understanding the psychological underpinnings of recurrent dreams has been challenging to study because its difficult to control dreams in an experimental context. But events like the 9/11 terrorist attacks or the COVID pandemic, those in which many people experience a shared trauma, have allowed scientists to investigate certain dream-related patterns in more detail.People who live through regional or global catastrophes often experience a striking increase in negatively-toned recurring dreams afterward, says Deirdre Leigh Barrett, a dream researcher and author of the 2020 book Pandemic Dreams. During the pandemic, Barrett amassed more than 15,000 dream reports, and in twin publicationsa book chapter and a studyshe showed that repeated themes involving fear, illness and death were then two to four times more common in peoples dreams than they were before the pandemic began. Common narratives included watching loved ones die, seeing swarms of insects (perhaps stemming from the description of COVID as a bug, Barrett says) and experiencing disasters, such as tidal waves, that are emblematic of something all-consuming.Barrett found that dreams early in the pandemic tended to be more literal and induced more fear and anxiety. Over time, they shifted toward less terrifying but still unpleasant situations related to social embarrassment, such as being the only person in public not wearing a face mask. Theyre clearly somewhat linked to whats going on in our daily lives, Barrett says, referring to what is known as the continuity hypothesis. If youre not processing the emotions during the day, your nocturnal consciousness will attempt to process them at night, she explains.Barrett and other experts emphasize that negative recurring dreams are common and normal and that there are actionable steps to control them. Some people have found success in a practice called imagery rehearsal therapy, in which they repeatedly reimagine their nightmares with happier endings before going to sleep. Nirit Soffer-Dudek, a consciousness researcher and clinical psychologist at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel, also recommends cultivating good sleep hygiene. By setting a consistent sleep schedule, limiting screen use and avoiding caffeine or alcohol before bed, youre less likely to fall asleep while still in a heightened emotional state, she says. The best advice I can give is to try to enforce strong boundaries between your waking time and sleep to avoid bringing anxiety into your dreams.

Lonely Mountains: Downhill's multiplayer skiing sequel Snow Riders is out next weekOn Xbox, PC, and Game Pass.Image credit: Megagon Industries News by Matt Wales News Reporter Published on Jan. 14, 2025 Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders, the ski-based sequel to developer Megagon Industries' acclaimed biking game Lonely Mountains: Downhill, now has a release date and is launching for Xbox, PC, and Game Pass next Tuesday, 21st January.As was the case with 2019's Lonely Mountains: Downhill, Snow Riders is all about getting from the top to the bottom of those gorgeously low-poly peaks as stylishly or as speedily as possible - albeit with those mountains now festooned with ice and blanketed in thick snow.Snow Riders' meticulously crafted mountains feature the usual deluge of craftily concealed shortcuts to seek out in a bid to shave precious seconds off descent times, and there's a new tricks system too. But the big difference is the introduction of online multiplayer, turning what was previously an occassionally serene solitary pursuit into a decidedly more chaotic affair.Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders release date trailer.Watch on YouTubeSolo play is still available, of course, but it's joined by team-based co-op - which sees players sharing their limited checkpoints - alongside competitive races. And that's on top of challenges to complete, plus new equipment, outfits, and tricks to unlock along the way.Lonely Mountains: Downhill was an absolute treat (Chris Tapsell called it "magic" when it made Eurogamer's top picks list in 2019), and Snow Riders' recent Steam demo suggests Megagon Industries has another winner on its hands. All will be revealed when it launches for Xbox, Steam, and Game Pass in exactly one week's time, on 21st January.