The 3D map on the Sgognole 3 cave floor in the Paris Basin in northern France. Mdard ThiryShareA team of archaeologists have uncovered what could be the worlds oldest three-dimensional map. The roughly 13,000-year-old Paleolithic map was found within a large piece of sandstone in the Paris Basin in northern France and shows a representation of the surrounding landscape and the female body. The findings are detailed in a study recently published in the Oxford Journal of Archaeology. Get the Popular Science newsletter Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.The map was found at the Sgognole 3 rock shelter in the Fontainebleau sandstones south of Paris. This site has been studied for over 40 years and is well known for artistic engravings of two horses. Now, a team found that part of the floor of the sandstone shelter was also potentially shaped and adapted by a group of Palaeolithic humans about 13,000 years ago. They believe that the 3D map likely reflected the natural water flows and geomorphological features in the area.What weve described is not a map as we understand it todaywith distances, directions, and travel timesbut rather a three-dimensional miniature depicting the functioning of a landscape, with runoff from highlands into streams and rivers, the convergence of valleys, and the downstream formation of lakes and swamps, Anthony Milnes, a study co-author and a geologist at the University of Adelaide in Australia, said in a statement.Mapping of the cave floor with cole River valley. CREDIT: Mdard Thiry. According to the new study, the direction of water flows and what features were dotting a landscape were potentially more important than measurements like time or distance for Paleolithic peoples.Our study demonstrates that human modifications to the hydraulic behaviour in and around the shelter extended to modelling natural water flows in the landscape in the region around the rock shelter, says Milnes. These are exceptional findings and clearly show the mental capacity, imagination and engineering capability of our distant ancestors.They believe that the sandstone was sculpted to promote specific flow paths for both infiltrating and directing rainwater. An earlier study of this same area found that Palaeolithic people here had worked the sandstone in a manner that mirrored the female form. The opened fractures for infiltrating water in the sandstone would lead to an outflow at the base of the pelvic triangle.The sandstone here was also sculpted to promote a specific flow for both infiltrating and directing rainwater.The fittings probably have a much deeper, mythical meaning, related to water, Mdard Thiry, a study co-author and geologist from Mines ParisPSL Centre of Geosciences, said in a statement. The two hydraulic installationsthat of the sexual figuration and that of the miniature landscapeare two to three metres [6.5 to 9.8 feet] from each other and are sure to relay a profound meaning of conception of life and nature, which will never be accessible to us. This completely new discovery offers a better understanding and insight into the capacity of these early humans.A stone slab from the Abauntz cave in Spain is believed to be a somewhat similar map. This 13,600-year-old slab is engraved with markings that archaeologists believe could show the nearby geological features and animals that once lived there.

Nature, Published online: 14 January 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00114-2Remove subsidies to solve Indias fertilizer-overuse problem

The famous helmet is among the Anglo-Saxon artifacts that indicate an eastern link with the Byzantine Empire.

2 and 3 are the same specs so the same theme and the Elite mini is something different even tho they have the same case so I made another scene. submitted by /u/mxvlr [link] [comments]

World of Warcraft's pirate-themed battle royale Plunderstorm is back for a limited time, this time with a revamped progression system and new rewards to fight over. The mode, which does require a WoW subscription but not the game's latest expansion, will be playable January 14 through February 18.Blizzard first introduced the experimental PvP mode last spring. It stood out thanks to how it played nothing like the genre-defining MMORPG players have come to know. Players create a class-less character, drop into the game's Arathi Highlands map, and then scrounge for new abilities and gear upgrades while battling both NPCs and players alike to level up and become more powerful. Combat is all skill-based, requiring proper position and timing rather than simply right-clicking on enemies and having attacks automatically hit. According to a datamine by Wowhead, it seems there will be some new abilities for players to experiment with this time around, with two new offensive and utility abilities. On the offensive side, there is Aura of Zealotry, which looks to mimic the iconic Paladin ability Consecration, while another, Celestial Barrage, calls down beams of moonlight to damage and reveal enemies. The new utility spells include Call Galefeather, which pushes enemies back, and the G.R.A.V. Glove: a spell that allows players to place a mark and then instantly teleport back to it.Continue Reading at GameSpot

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Warzone take players on a wild ride, delivering high-octane action, whether its diving into 6v6 Multiplayer or competing in Warzone Resurgence. Beyond the fast-paced gameplay, both titles also offer a wide array of unlocks, with some requiring players to complete unique challenges to obtain them.

THE GAME CONTAINS FLASHING LIGHTS AND VISUAL EFFECTS (E.G., CAMERA FLASH SIMULATIONS) THAT MAY CAUSE DISCOMFORT OR SEIZURES FOR PEOPLE SENSITIVE TO LIGHT FLASHING OR WITH PHOTOEPILEPSY. IT IS ADVISED TO EXERCISE CAUTION DURING PLAY AND CONSIDER TRYING THE DEMO BEFORE PURCHASING.Welco

Games marketplace GOG has joined the ranks of theEuropean Federation of Video Game Archives, Museums, and Preservation. This follows the November 2024 announcement of the GOG Preservation Program, the platforms independent effort to ensure that games remain playable on modern hardware, even if the titles can no longer be officially sold on GOG or other marketplaces. So far, this program includes more than 100 DRM-free titles (which means you dont need a separate license to play them), with new games added every day.The EFGAMP is a nonprofit entity founded in 2012 with the mission of physical and digital media preservation. This is accomplished with the help of a broad spectrum of institutions like The Royal Library of Denmark, Germanys Computerspielemuseum, The National Videogame Museum in the UK, and The Video Game History Foundation in the United States. GOG and other member organizations are able to pool resources and benefit from each others work as outlined in the EFGAMP member statute.Games preservation remains a vital but relatively thankless endeavor, but it is more important than ever. In the past year alone, dozens of titles have become unattainable, with even more games dying off due to a lack of developer support. This is only exacerbated by the continuing epidemic of studio closures and layoffs, which often lead to the loss of legacy or in-development assets that could otherwise benefit future developers.The cooperation between EFGAMP and GOG presents some interesting opportunities considering GOG is the first games distributor to join the organization. Its possible GOG could try to make some of its archived titles playable, for example, but thats solely speculation and its unlikely wed see things of that nature anytime soon if they were in the works. While you cant support the efforts of EFGAMP with direct donations, its associated organizations, including the Video Game History Foundation, always welcome monetary donations if youd like to pledge your support.

The space race could well be considered the golden age of American innovation, but along with the very idea of sending the first human to the moon, the era also represented early computer and other technological designs. From the oversized buttons to the monochrome displays, theres just something about the look and its a look that Apollo Instruments is capitalizing on for its new space-themed smartwatch, the DSKY Moonwatch.The DSKY Moonwatch is such a love letter to space travel that its actually a miniaturized recreation of the Apollo Guidance Computer, or AGC, which played an important role in every Apollo launch that NASA conducted.So, what does that mean? Well, it has a glowing green monochrome display with an oversized number pad taking up the bottom third of the device. Through those buttons, it can perform a number of functions, including serving as a calculator.On top of being useful as a calculator, the watch offers configurable time zones, a stopwatch, a timer, and alarm features, as youd expect from any watch. It also has a GPS built into it, along with cool touches like a lights and display test and a power-down routine.Its designed for durability too. The watch is built from a CNC-machined, ceramic-coated stainless steel case, coupled with a leather strap thats available in either black or brown.The DSKY Moonwatch is now available for pre-order via apollo-instruments.com for 649 and is expected to ship in the first quarter of 2025.

Lessons from nature and technologyImagine a design system that evolves organically, free from the constraints of centralized control. A system where updates and patterns emerge naturally from its users, where collaboration isnt just encouraged but woven into its fundamental architecture. This isnt just about democratizing design decisionsits about creating systems that grow and adapt as naturally as the organizations theyserve.The challenges that design systems aim to solvecohesion, efficiency, and qualityarent unique to our field. Other domains, from natural systems like ant colonies to technological innovations like blockchain networks, have tackled similar problems through innovative approaches to decentralization. These systems have demonstrated how to build networks that are transparent, collaborative, and community-driven. Their methods of aligning participants around shared goals offer valuable lessons for reimagining how design systems operate. Their methods of aligning participants around shared goals offer valuable lessons for reimagining how design systemsoperate.While decentralization in design systems isnt a new concept, previous attempts have often fallen short due to flawed implementation and insufficient support. This exploration draws inspiration from decentralized networks to propose practical strategies for building more adaptable, inclusive, and scalable design systemsones that truly serve the needs of both their users and the broader organization.The challenge of centralizationDesign Systems teams often operate as centralized units tasked with making product teams faster while ensuring quality and cohesion across experiences. While these responsibilities naturally gravitate towards centralization, and we measure success accordingly, we should ask ourselves: arent efficiency, quality, and cohesion actually shared responsibilities across all product team membersfrom designers to PMs to engineers?The typical Design Systems story might sound familiar: a dedicated team develops foundational elements and primitivescolors, typography, iconsalong with core components like buttons, inputs, and modals. They create usage guidelines, and product teams use these building blocks to craft user experiences.This model works initially, but products and user needs arent staticthey continuously evolve. Product designers, being closer to end users than Systems designers, frequently encounter scenarios where existing components or guidelines dont quite fit new requirements. In these moments, designers face three uncomfortable options:Follow the design system strictly, potentially delivering a suboptimal user experienceWait for guidance from the Design Systems team, often delaying project timelinesCreate custom solutions outside the system to meet immediate userneedsThe third option usually winsits faster and addresses immediate needs. But this choice, multiplied across teams and projects, creates problems. The centralized governance model, while intended to maintain quality, often slows the systems ability to adapt. Even minor updates require multiple approvals, compete with other priorities, and face intense scrutiny to justify ROI and maintain consistency.This slow pace of change frustrates product teams, dampens innovation, and ultimately discourages system adoption. The result? Fragmented user experiences and accumulated design debt that typically only gets addressed during major redesignsessentially a forced reset of thesystem.Ironically, centralization in large organizations often undermines the core goals of Design Systemsinstead of increasing efficiency, quality, and cohesion, it can hinderthem.The decentralization spectrumIn her book Thinking in Systems, Donella Meadows emphasizes that a systems outcomesgood or badare primarily shaped by its structural design, not external factors. For Design Systems, this insight suggests we should focus as much on organizational structure and design as we do on defining color tokens or button variants.The balance between centralization and decentralization isnt a binary choiceits a spectrum that shifts with network scale and complexity. Each organization must find its optimal position along this continuum based on its unique needs and challenges.In smaller teams, centralization often proves effective. Decision-making is swift, feedback loops remain tight, and teams maintain their agility. However, as networks grow, decentralization becomes not just beneficial but necessary. Large-scale centralized governance inevitably creates bottlenecks, slows decision-making, and struggles with scalability. This challenge becomes particularly acute in organizations with multiple product lines, diverse user needs, and teams spread across different time zones and contexts.Design Systems can follow a similar evolution. Starting with centralization provides the necessary foundationestablishing core principles, shared vocabulary, and baseline components. But successful growth requires a gradual shift toward decentralization through well-defined roles, clear protocols, and robust collaboration mechanisms. Yet many Design Systems teams overlook this crucial transition, constrained by concerns about maintaining quality and consistency or limited by ineffective funding models. This hesitation leads to missed opportunities to build more scalable and resilient systems.The key lies not in abandoning centralized control entirely, but in thoughtfully redistributing responsibility and decision-making power across thenetwork.What makes a great decentralized system?A decentralized systems strength lies in its resilience. By distributing decision-making and action across a network, it eliminates single points of failure that often plague centralized structures. However, this resilience doesnt emerge automaticallyit must be carefully architected through thoughtful rules, clear processes, and aligned incentives.Both nature and technology offer compelling examples of successful decentralization. Ant colonies make complex decisions, such as choosing a new nest location, through a democratic process of independent exploration and collective consensus-building. Their scouts investigate options, evaluate against criteria, and use pheromone trails to vote for suitable sites. Without central control, colonies consistently make optimal choices through clear protocols and distributed intelligence.For design systems to achieve similar success, they need to establish clear foundations for how participants interact, make decisions, and stay accountable. Essentially, they must address three fundamental questions:How do participants interact? The system needs clear, efficient channels for collaboration and knowledge sharing.How are decisions made? Effective consensus protocols must balance speed withquality.How are incentives structured? The system should encourage meaningful contributions while maintaining accountability.Furthermore, looking at successful decentralized networks, from blockchain projects to natural systems, we can identify four essential characteristics that most of themshare:Clear incentivescontributions must have visible impact and recognition. In design systems, this might mean highlighting widely-adopted patterns or celebrating improvements that measurably enhance user experience.Distributed expertisedifferent decisions require different types of knowledge. The system should delegate specialized decisions, like accessibility or motion design, to subject matter experts while maintaining inclusive participation.Transparent processestrust grows from transparency, with every decision, discussion, and change being traceable and understood by the community.Communal ownershiplong-term success depends on participants feeling genuine ownership of the system through shared governance and collective decision-making.The challenges of decentralizationLike any system design, decentralization isnt without its drawbacks. Even when teams successfully establish robust protocols and scalable networks, they face inherent tensions. The most significant is the trilemma between speed, scalability, and decentralizationimproving any one aspect often requires compromising another.Some networks have found creative ways to address these challenges. One approach involves breaking the system into smaller, semi-autonomous units where trade-offs can be managed more effectively. Another strategy employs layered architectures, as demonstrated by Ethereums two-layer model: a foundational layer maintaining core standards and consensus, with a second layer enabling flexibility and scalability for specificneeds.This layered approach offers a particularly relevant blueprint for design systems. Rather than attempting complete decentralization, it suggests thoughtfully distributing control where it makes sense while maintaining strong core principles. The goal isnt to decentralize everything, but to find the right balance between centralized stability and decentralized innovation.Suggested designDrawing from the two-layer model, we can reimagine how design systems operate. Layer 1 serves as the foundationthe core design system with its style guides, UI kits, and usage guidelines. This layer, maintained by a central team, provides the stability and clarity essential for any scalablesystem.The magic happens in Layer 2, where decentralization takes root. Here, Design Systems team members transform from gatekeepers into delegates embedded within product teams. These delegates dont just relay informationthey become bridges, facilitating dialogue between teams and ensuring the core system evolves with real-world needs.This shift fundamentally changes the role of the Design Systems team. Rather than acting as creators and enforcers, they become facilitators and connectors. They guide the community toward consensus without dictating solutions. Decisions emerge from collective experience and needs, with the Design Systems team orchestrating the process rather than controlling it. Creation and maintenance of assets (components, patterns, tokens, etc.) happen communally.In this model, the true measure of success shifts. The Design Systems teams focus moves from policing outcomes to nurturing the health of the network itself. Their primary concern becomes the quality of connections and exchanges between teams, ensuring the right voices are heard and the right conversations happen. They maintain the protocols that enable effective collaboration, stepping back from prescribing specific solutions.Like a well-functioning ecosystem, the system becomes self-sustainingnot through rigid control, but through healthy interaction patterns and clear protocols that enable organic growth and adaptation.Pragmatic realismAs our organizations grow and user needs evolve, we face a choice: continue with centralized models that create bottlenecks, or evolve toward systems that scale more naturally with ourteams.The solution isnt radical decentralization, but rather thoughtful evolution towards it. Of course, this is easier said than done. However, by building strong foundations and clear protocols, we can create systems that maintain quality while enabling teams to move at the speed of userneeds.This shift requires us to rethink our rolefrom gatekeepers to facilitators, from rule-makers to community builders. The future of design systems isnt in perfecting our components or creating amazing documentation. Instead, it lies in creating environments where teams can effectively solve user problems together, guided by shared principles and protocols rather than rigidrules.The first step is acknowledging that our current approach isnt scaling with our needs. The next is having the courage to evolveit.Stay safe,Oscar.The future of design systems is decentralized was originally published in UX Collective on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.