In a nutshell: Developers are always pushing for more realism in sim racing, but it's not just about bigger displays or higher resolutions. Sure, accessories like steering wheels and gear shifters can sell the illusion of being behind the wheel. But sometimes immersion comes from nailing the tiny details like feeling the rumble of tires pounding the pavement or catching that rush of wind if you're cruising in an open-cockpit racer. That's likely what accessory maker Nitro Concepts had in mind when it decided to modify its E-Racer simulator setup. The company added a set of blowers on either side of the racing wheel to generate directional airflow during drives. It then showcased the setup at CES 2025, where the folks at PC Gamer stumbled upon it and delivered an illuminating hands-on impression. Initially, they were skeptical that small fans could convincingly simulate the sensation of speed. However, once they started tearing around tracks like Spa-Francorchamps in a racing game, those doubts disappeared."Something in my inner brain is better tricked into feeling like I'm traveling at high speed with the 'wind' hitting my face," noted Jacob Ridley from the publication gleefully. Contributing to that feeling of realism was the fact that the fans intelligently ramped up and down their intensity to match the on-screen vehicle's velocity.The sense of speed is a much-discussed factor in racing games. It's why driving along the open roads of Los Santos in GTA V can feel exhilaratingly fast, even though most vehicles are capped at just 125 mph. As it turns out, replicating that thrilling sensation comes down to several elements: field of view, motion blur, sound effects, and camera shake.Now, it seems we can add wind to the equation, too.PC Gamer noted that while wind simulation might not be entirely realistic for closed-cockpit cars, it still heightened the sense of direction and enhanced the overall experience. // Related StoriesBeyond immersion, the report suggested that wind could also help reduce nausea for VR racers. The directional airflow may trick the brain into more accurately registering perceived motion, alleviating the disconnect that often causes motion sickness. Oh, and let's not forget one of the most practical benefits those fans should help ensure you don't end up smelling like you haven't showered in days after a racing marathon.If you're eager to get your hands on one of these wind sims, you might have to wait. Details on its availability are still under wraps. However, Nitro Concepts' LED controller and haptic cushions are already available on the company's website for $50 and $1,000, respectively.When the rig does hit the market, maybe pairing it with GameScent automated scent atomizer will really seal the deal bringing the aroma of burning rubber or exhaust fumes along.

The scale of global mining required as part of the energy transition has staggering environmental implications.

Meta announced big changes to kick off the new year, including ending third-party fact-checking and DEI programs.The moves illustrate the latest evolution in Mark Zuckerberg's leadership.You might call it Zuckerberg 3.0 and it comes as Donald Trump takes power.Mark Zuckerberg has shown himself to be the ultimate Silicon Valley shapeshifter, and in the first couple weeks of 2025, we got our best look yet at the latest version of the Meta CEO.To kick off the new year, Zuckerberg made some big changes at his company, includingditching third-party fact-checking and slashing DEI initiatives.He appears to be remaking Meta, which did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider, at least partly in the image of Donald Trump and Elon Musk. And he doesn't seem too concerned about the backlash he's facing in some quarters, including from the same people who villainized him during the Cambridge Analytica scandal and the 2016 election, or even his own Meta employees many of whom have reacted negatively to his latest decision to roll back DEI efforts.His recent moves hint that he's entering a new era, one in which his leadership increasingly reflects Trump's tastes.Zuckerberg's transformationFor years, Zuckerberg was known as an almost robotic presence in Silicon Valley. Some people criticized him for copying ideas rather than innovating, and others held onto his image as a wunderkind wearing hoodies or too much sunscreen.By the end of 2023, though, the Meta CEO had undergone a substantial makeover and was garnering praise in business and cultural circles.Zuck got shredded and was winning jiu-jitsu competitions. He went on popular podcasts, like Joe Rogan's, to discuss his workouts and make fun of himself.As a business leader, he acted as the adult in the room and led Meta's "year of efficiency," which turned the company's stock around.In 2024, he continued his transformation: He ditched his uniform jeans and hoodie uniform for designer T-shirts and gold chains. And his adoration for his wife Priscilla Chan as evidenced through gifts like a statue of her, a custom Porsche minivan, and his very own version of "Get Low" won him fans.His newfound swagger grew into a new kind of boldness.In the fall of last year, he said his biggest regret in his two decades of running Meta was taking responsibility and apologizing for problems that he believed weren't Meta's fault.Zuck's next era comes as Trump takes powerCut to 2025. Zuckerberg now appears to embrace some of the "anti-woke" ideas favored by some political billionaires like Musk, Peter Thiel, and, of course, Trump.While Zuckerberg didn't endorse Trump or Harris in the 2024 election, he and other tech CEOs were quick to congratulate Trump on his victory. Zuck met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago weeks after the election and, through Meta, donated $1 million to his inaugural committee.Now, he's taking what he calls "masculine energy" and putting it into action at Meta."Masculine energy, I think, is good, and obviously society has plenty of that, but I think that corporate culture was really trying to get away from it," he said in an interview on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast that aired on Friday. "It's like you want feminine energy, you want masculine energy.""But I do think the corporate culture sort of had swung toward being this somewhat more neutered thing," he added.He started the new year by putting Dana White, the UFC CEO and Trump's longtime ally, on Meta's board and replacing the company's head of policy, liberal Nick Clegg, with former GOP lobbyist Joel Kaplan. Meta CTO Mark Zuckerberg cheers at a UFC fight. Sean M. Haffey Then, heended third-party fact-checkingon Meta platforms, which some conservatives have criticized, in favor of a more hands-off approach. Like X, Meta will now use "community notes" to allow users to police each other."The recent elections feel like a cultural tipping point towards, once again, prioritizing speech," Zuckerberg said while announcing the changes, implying that the choice was, at least in part, a response to the political landscape.Meta's CMO, Alex Schultz, also toldThe decision has come under scrutiny, with some saying the lack of content moderation opens the door to hate speech.Under the policy, Meta users can say that members of the LGBTQ+ community are mentally ill for being gay or transgender, for example.Dozens of fact-checking organizations have signed a letter calling it "a step backward for those who want to see an internet that prioritizes accurate and trustworthy information."Still, others, including Musk and Trump, lauded the change."Honestly, I think they have come a long way, Meta, Facebook," the president-elect said on Tuesday.In the recent Rogan interview, Zuckerberg said while some may see the timing of the content changes as "purely a political thing," it's something he has been thinking about for a while."I feel like I just have a much greater command now of what I think the policy should be and like, this is how it's going to be going forward," Zuckerberg said.Zuckerberg's recent decision to cut Meta's DEI initiatives could also placate conservatives, who have criticized such policies.While Trump has not commented on the DEI decision, he has criticized DEI policies in the past.On Friday, Meta's vice president of human resources, Janelle Gale, said in an internal memo that the company would no longer have a team focused on DEI or consider diversity in hiring or supplier decisions."The legal and policy landscape surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in the United States is changing," she said in a memo.The decision sparked a backlash among some. Internally, nearly 400 employees reacted with a teary-eyed emoji to the announcement; one called it "disappointing," and another said it was a "step backward," BI reported on Friday."Wow, we really capitulated on a lot of our supposed values this week," another employee commented, seemingly referring to both the DEI and fact-checking moves.Others, though, did seem to support the move: 139 employees "liked" the post, and 57 responded with a heart emoji.

A luxury Pacific Palisades mansion once featured in "Succession" has been destroyed by the LA fires, the Daily Mail reported.The San Onofre estate was purchased by tech CEO Austin Russell in 2021 for $83 million, per Realtor.comThe Palisades Fire has now burned through more than 23,000 acres.A luxury Pacific Palisades mansion once featured in the television drama "Succession" has been destroyed by the wildfires ravaging the Los Angeles area, the Daily Mail reported.Photos published by the Mail seemingly show the house reduced to charred beams and rubble.The mansion was purchased by the founder and CEO of the lidar manufacturer Luminar Technologies, Austin Russell, for $83 million in 2021, per Realtor.com.The 20,000-square-foot house, known as the San Onofre estate, featured six bedrooms and 18 bathrooms and had been available to rent for $450,000 a month.The house had previously featured in the season four premiere of the Emmy Award-winning HBO series "Succession" in 2023.A representative for Russell did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider, which was sent outside regular working hours. Claudette Barius/HBO The Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades area north of Santa Monica is one of a number of blazes raging through the Los Angeles area this week.The Palisades Fire has burned through over 23,000 acres and is 11% contained as of Sunday, according to Cal Fire.The blaze, which began on Tuesday, has so far damaged or destroyed over 5,000 structures.The Pacific Palisades area is home to a number of celebrities, many of whom have now lost their homes to the fire. Those affected include Paris Hilton, Billy Crystal, and Milo Ventimiglia.The Palisades Charter High School used as a set for movies like "Carrie" and 2003's "Freaky Friday" has also been damaged in the fires.Meanwhile, a Spanish Colonial revival mansion in Altadena that was featured in "Hacks" and the Marvel series "Runaways" was destroyed in the Eaton Fire, per The Hollywood Reporter.Other Los Angeles landmarks related to the industry have also been lost, including the Will Rogers Ranch house.The LA County Medical Examiner has reported 16 deaths related to the wildfires so far, with five linked to the Palisades Fire.

After spending so long in development hell,The Flashreally came and went in 2023, huh? Warner Bros. sure put a lot of effort into making sure people knew it was coming, but audiences ultimately bounced off it pretty hard amid a year of superhero movies fizzling in theaters. To director Andy Muschietti, the films biggest failing was that it didnt fully find its audience. In a translated interview with Argentinian outlet Radio TU, he said it wasnt a proper 4-quadrant movie: one that appealed to male and female demographics both over and under the age of 25 years old. When you spend $200 million making a movie, Warner wants to bring even your grandmother to theaters, and The Flash failed at that, he explained. And while he acknowledged other factors couldve played a hand in thngs, like a case of superhero fatigue that year and the troubling allegations surrounding lead actor Ezra Miller at the time, he felt not a lot of audiences care about the Scarlet Speedster, particularly two female quadrants, backed up by box office reports at the time revealing its demographic split leaned heavily towards men. Everyone had their own individual reasons for avoiding The Flash,be it everything surrounding Miller or just thinking it didnt look like appointment viewing. The bit about folks not caring about Flash iswell, the CWs long-running show (which wrapped weeks before the movie hit) partially puts that to bed. What Muschietti likely means is that audiences didnt care about the DCEU version, which is also a problem with the movies. Millers take on Barry Allen got some cool action bits, but there wasnt really anything to make people care about him like they did (and still do) with that universes other collection of characters, or would-be heroes like Green Lantern.The Flashs cinematic future is currently up in the air right now, ditto any DC character not in Supermanor MuschiettisBrave & the Bold. But if and when the speedster comes back, maybe make a version of him people like that isnt just mostly cribbed from Tom Hollands Spider-Man?[via Flash Legacy Brasil] Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

Galeriah House / Okha arquitetura e designSave this picture! Nelson KonHousesSo Jos dos Campos, BrazilArchitects: Okha arquitetura e designAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:880 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2024 PhotographsPhotographs:Nelson KonManufacturersBrands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers: Cosentino, Florense, Unibox, Weiku, di pietra Lead Architect: Priscila Pereira More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. The Galeriah house is situated on a completely flat plot near the Paraba River in the city of So Jos dos Campos SP. It was designed for a couple who, with the arrival of the pandemic, felt the need to enjoy outdoor spaces that a residence can provide. Architect Priscila Pereira accompanied the clients from the moment of choosing the land.Save this picture!All the couple's peculiarities were taken into account in the conception of the house's program. As a result, we have a gym on the second floor, overlooking a preserved green area, which is connected to the main suite of the house and, through a spiral staircase, also connects to leisure areas such as a sauna and pool on the ground floor.Save this picture!The house also includes two other suites to accommodate the couple's children and nieces and nephews, and a gallery space (which gives the house its name) as a multifunctional area, with walls free of openings and interferences dedicated to the exhibition of art and the couple's private pieces.Save this picture!The house features projections that deviate from right angles, with openings arranged internally, giving the facade a unique plasticity, entirely sculptural and minimalist. All internal rooms open to the leisure area, which includes a generously sized pool.Save this picture!The internal openings for leisure, facing the west side, feature a second skin made of various modules of aluminum brise, providing an internal facade in constant motion and ensuring privacy for the bedrooms even when their windows are open.Save this picture!The first module, in a coffee tone, represented by Cosentino's Dekton Radium Industrial, encompasses the arrival area for residents and visitors. After entering, there is a transition to a linear module with a light and soft tone, where Cosentino's Dekton Aeris covers internal and external floors, the pool, and countertops.Save this picture!There is minimal variation in finishing materials throughout the space, which contributes to the experience between fluid and delineated spaces marked only by the arrangement of furniture.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessAbout this officeMaterialConcreteMaterials and TagsPublished on January 12, 2025Cite: "Galeriah House / Okha arquitetura e design" [Casa Galeriah / Okha arquitetura e design] 12 Jan 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1025580/galeriah-house-okha-arquitetura-e-design&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Testing the Random Flow geonode edition on a basemesh.Shops:blendermarket.com/creators/blenderguppygumroad.com/blenderguppyPatreon:patreon.com/blenderguppy#shorts #b3d #blender3d #3d #3dmodeling #blendermarket #conceptartist #3dmodel #blenderaddon #3dmodel

The Prismatic Shard, a mysterious, rainbow-colored gemstone, is one of the most useful and valuable items in Stardew Valley. It is also notoriously rare, with some players spending an entire in-game year without finding a single one. Considering their role in completing quests and obtaining certain items, this can grow frustrating.

Hades 2's Early Access is due to get another major update soon, and it is expected to have a massive impact on the game. The last update to Hades 2 from Supergiant Games was the Olympic Update, which added the new region of Olympus to the Surface Route, a compelling boss, more gods, another weapon, boons, enemies, dialogue, and music.

Masashi Kishimotos Naruto is quite easily one of the best stories to exist when it comes to manga. One of the biggest reasons why Naruto is as popular as it is is because of the massive side character cast. Without Naruto's side characters, the series would surely not have been as popular as it ended up being. Of course, it goes without saying that Naruto Uzumaki, and along with him, the side characters of the Naruto series were incredibly fun to watch despite a lot of them not getting as much attention as they deserved, which is something that the fans acknowledge.