January 14, 2025Mishandled Response to the Bird Flu Leaves U.S. Vulnerable to OutbreakThe U.S. government lost control of the bird flu because of a sluggish response and deference to industry. Anaissa Ruiz Tejada/Scientific AmericanSUBSCRIBE TO Science QuicklyApple | Spotify | RSSRachel Feltman: For Scientific Americans Science Quickly, Im Rachel Feltman. On January 6, the Louisiana Department of Health reported the first human death from H5N1 in the United States. While the general risk to human health is still considered low, according to the CDC, bird flu now looms large in headlines that identify it as a potential future pandemic. Here to tell us more about where we standand what we can do to prevent the worst-case scenariois Amy Maxmen, a public health reporter at KFF Health News.Amy, thanks so much for coming on to talk with us today.Amy Maxmen: Thanks, its my pleasure.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.Feltman: So lets start with a quick overview of the current bird flu outbreak. When and how did it start?Maxmen: So, around February of last year, farmers in the Texas Panhandle started to notice that their cows were acting abnormally. Like, they werent producing as much milk, they had runny noses, things like that. And in about a couple of months researchers realized that the bird flu had actually spilled over into cattle for the first time ever and was actually spreading between cattle. Thats completely unprecedented.So thats how it began. And since then its now in, you know, nearly 1,000 herds in 16 states, and its infected around 66 people.Feltman: Yeah, and how are things looking currently?Maxmen: Currently its not good, I mean, in terms of this outbreak just sort of being across the U.S. And a bit of disconcerting news is we had the first person die of the bird flu on January 6. That person was in Louisiana, and they got the bird flu from a bird. This wasnt, like, the exact variant thats been circulating in cattle, but it still is the H5N1 bird flu virus.Feltman: And you recently wrote an article outlining how the U.S. lost control of bird flu. Could you walk us through some of the major ways that this has been mishandled so far?Maxmen: Yeah, you know, I think kind of one outstanding problem was the pace. Theres just been a really slow pace of response. And with an outbreak thats a big problem; just kind of like a fire, its much easier to put it out when its small than when its big.And so, you know, early on, in March, when researchers realized, Oh, this is the bird flu in cattle, a lot of veterinarians who work really closely with farmers, they told me that they really had been pushing to study this to see how is it spreading between cows and to answer other questions about the virus. So they asked the [U.S. Department of Agriculture] and, and other government agencies for both funds for studies, but also farmers really wanted and needed assurances and policies that would protect them and protect their businesses. For example, they, you know, they wanted real assurances that their data would be kept private. They wanted, you know, kind of policies that nobody was gonna cut off their milk sales. Somebody from the dairy industry told me when the bird flu is infecting a herd, it might cut milk production by 20 percent, but thats still better than losing 100 percent of sales.So there was a real push for, like, What can we do to make sure that we can get these studies done? But that didnt really happen for quite a while. The USDA was sort of saying they wanted to take charge of studies, same with state ag departments. And so at least what veterinarians told me is that they had wanted this to move quicker and move through them, partly because, you know, they already have a relationship with dairies. So it was slow on sort of the study side, which would have helped us answer questions like, How is this spreading?And there was also a lot of deference to industry. So farmers didnt wanna test; they were already afraid of losing their milk market. And the USDA took about a month to say that lactating cattle should be tested before they are moved across state lines. But that was really it in terms of testing orders up until just this past December. That was the first time when there was a national rule about testing bulk-milk samplesso not the farms, but the, you know, big bulk-milk processors. But that just took a long time to get up and running.And then there was also a lot of deference to farmers in terms of monitoring. If they decided to test their herds and they reported them, then it was really up to them to decide: Do they want to tell health departments if any workers on the farms are sick? And theres a lot of disincentives to that happening. Ive heard its really hard to have a bird flu outbreak on your farm. This is not great. When a lot of cows are sick they need urgent hydration around the clock, requires a ton of labor. Same thing when a poultry farm is infected by the bird flu: to cull chickens you need a, a ton of workers and they need to work very hard.So if you have people being educated about the bird flu, going to get testing and perhaps being told to stay home from work, they lose their labor. I sent public record requests to a lot of health departments, and something else that was mentioned in one of the emails between health officials: you know, farmers were concerned about workers making workers comp claims.And farmworkers are also in really precarious positions. Theyre looking at a loss of income, and theyre even afraid about losing their jobs. There wasnt a lot of outreach going to farmworkers themselves and the places where they live to teach them about the bird flu, you know, why its a risk, how they could protect themselves, how they can get tested, you know, if theyll be reimbursed. The first grant specifically for outreach didnt really go through until October 1; that was a grant specifically to do outreach on the bird flu. So this iswere talking, you know, a six-month lag time or more in getting some really good outreach out there.Feltman: Hmm. More broadly, you know, I think a lot of folks see this in the news and they worry about it becoming a human pandemic. How worried are experts about that, and how bad does it have the potential to be?Maxmen: Theyre very worried. So the bird flus been on a list of potential pandemic viruses, you know, since it emerged, really, and its because we might have no immunity to such a thing. There might be some crossover with the regular fluwe really dont knowbut it has the potential to be a terrible outbreak.You know, remember that COVID, you know, really only very roughly killed about one in 100 people, but it completely brought the world to its knees. So a bird flu outbreak would be terrible. I think thats undeniable. The question is: How likely is that to happen? And, you know, chances are maybe greater than not that the bird flu will not evolve this critical potential to spread efficiently between people, you know, like the seasonal flu, like COVID. This would require some mutations, some evolution of its genome.You know, even if its less likely for that to happen than for it to not happen, since the result is catastrophic, you wanna defend against it. So its hard to put numbers on these sort of things; I talked to one avian influenza researcher named Tom Peacock. So he said, even if theres only a 5 percent chance of this becoming a pandemic, it could be on the order of COVID or worse.Feltman: Yeah, I saw one public health expert, I think, in an article by Tanya Lewis at SciAm say, compared to walking on a path next to a ravine, like, its reasonably safe to walk on a path thats designed for walking on, but you would be very foolish to ignore the fact that there is a ravine right next to you, and I thought that felt like a, a very powerful image to me for this kind of risk management.Maxmen: Yeah.Feltman: So is there still time for the, the U.S. to make that even less likely, and how?Maxmen: Yeah, I mean, yes, it is possible, but it would take really coordinated, united political will and coordination, a willingness to put funding towards this and to move really quickly. So for example, the USDA in December said that it would put in place an executive order for bulk-milk testing nationwide. So wed have to really make moves to ensure that that happens. What that would do is at least allow us to see when cattle are infected on a farm and try and stop the infections on that farm from spreading to other farms.Similarly, for the first time in December, groups outside of the CDC, diagnostic labs like Quest, can now test for the bird flu. Thats great. Took a long time to get that up and running, but we could have more testing of people being done. I mean, there should be a lot of testing, particularly of people at high risk; Im talking about farmworkers. Really strong outreach to farmworkers to really ensure that theyre protected and that they have access to tests and also assurances that theyre not gonna lose their job.So it would take a lot of work, but its something that could be done.Feltman: And getting back to those farmworkers, you mentioned in your article: President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to enact mass deportations when he returns to office, and that could have real public health implications. Can you explain that a little bit for us?Maxmen: Yeah, so this actually was a problem during COVID that I saw when I was reporting in the Central Valley [of California], where theres a lot of farmworkers and there was a huge COVID outbreak. The problem with threats of mass deportation is, you know, whether or not they happen, it spreads a lot of fear among people ...Feltman: Mm.Maxmen: So for example, it might deter farmworkers from going to the hospital if theyre very sick if theres a fear that they might be reported as not being documented. They might also be deterred from complaining about unsafe working conditions. If theyre not given proper protection, if theyre really, you know, forced to work while sick, theyre really gonna be deterred from complaining about their employer, either if theyre undocumented or a lot of people are on these temporary work visas.Feltman: Mm.Maxmen: So in general these sort of threats drive diseases underground, and thats a huge problem.You know, other things: theres been talk about cutting CDC funding, and that would trickle down to local health departments. You know, Im critical of the governments response to the bird flu, but you can really see in these small local health departments that serve multiple rural counties, theyre stretched thinyou know, theres 10 people who are trying to get a handle on the bird flu while also promoting childhood vaccines and making sure that theres not lead in the pipes and doing so many tasks. So if they have less money to do their job, thats gonna be a big problem.Feltman: Absolutely. So even if were able to avoid the worst-case scenario, what other kinds of fallout might we see from the bird flu? You know, how much worse could things get for the cattle and the poultry industry?Maxmen: So without a doubt this is going to be extremely expensive for the agriculture industry. And to the extent that the government reimburses dairy and poultry farmers for lost milk, lost chickens when they need to be culled, its also expensive for the government, i.e., taxpayers. So at this point already the U.S. has already put more than $1.7 billion into tamping down the bird flu virus on poultry farms since 2022. And its already put more than $430 million into combating the bird flu on dairy farms. So its expensive no matter how you slice it.The bird flu has also cost a lot of lives of other animals off of farms. And theres been infections among black bears and otters and coyotes. A lot of big cats have died of this from zoos and from animal sanctuaries. Weve seen deaths from tigers, other big cats, and a lot of domestic cats have died as well. So its, its not good.And then its also, of course, bad for farmworkers. Theres been studies showing that more farmworkers have been infected than what we know about. Thats not a surprise once you start realizing how were monitoring. Like I said, when I see these emails, itll be something like: Twenty-five farms arent reporting about their farmworkers. So we know were missing cases. Theres been studies that found antibodies against the bird flu in farmworkers where they had not been tested. So were missing cases.And the word mild, definitely, you know, it indicates that farmworkers havent been hospitalized yet, but that doesnt mean this has been a breeze. I mean, people have fevers. Theyve had respiratory symptoms. The conjunctivitis can actually be quite bad; thats, like, these red, swollen eyes. It can be pretty severe. And so thats a burden on farmworkers, just adding to the burdens they already face.Feltman: Yeah, so what efforts are being made to protect farmworkers and their families right now?Maxmen: So since I started reporting, things are getting better than they were. So I can start seeing that there was a $4 million grant to a national farmworker group that was doled out in October, and so now theyre working with farmworker outreach groups in the states with outbreaks where therell be educating farmworkers about this, helping to hand out protective gear, trying to see if people will like the seasonal flu vaccine cause that will just help prevent the possibility of the seasonal flu and the bird flu mixing up together within a person and creating something more dangerous. So thats being stepped up.Feltman: And what advice do you have for folks who are really concerned about this fatality and, and wondering how bird flu might impact them?Maxmen: Yeah, so I think the short answer is: if you are not working directly with poultry or dairy and if you dont drink raw milk, chances are youre okay. And so theres not much you can really do.As far as the death in Louisiana what that really shows is that this virus does have the potential to be deadly. So the person in Louisiana, the virus that they had had some mutations that are linked with disease severity, and those mutations are not widespread. So most of the viruses circulating dont have those. But this can happen, so its just a reminder to take this seriously.Feltman: That was Amy Maxmen, a public health reporter at KFF Health News, in partnership with Healthbeat. You can sign up for the Healthbeat newsletters at Healthbeat.org/Newsletters. Youll find a link in our show notes.Thats all for todays episode, but well be back on Friday to talk about the universal language of getting a boo-boo. Why do so many cultures say ow almost exactly the same way, and what can that reveal about humankind? Tune in Friday to find out.Science Quickly is produced by me, Rachel Feltman, along with Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck fact-check our show. Our theme music was composed by Dominic Smith. Subscribe to Scientific American for more up-to-date and in-depth science news.For Scientific American, this is Rachel Feltman. See you next time!

Nintendo attorney explains why it's strengthening measures against illegal emulation"This is a point often debated."Image credit: Nintendo News by Ed Nightingale Deputy News Editor Published on Jan. 15, 2025 An attorney for Nintendo has discussed the company's stance on emulation and what it considers to be illegal, according to Japanese law.Koji Nishiura, patent attorney and deputy general manager of Nintendo's intellectual property department, spoke on behalf of the company at a joint lecture on "The Importance of Intellectual Property Rights in the Game Industry", which was hosted by Japan's Association of Copyright for Computer Software at the Tokyo eSports Festa 2025 (Denfaminicogamer, via Automaton)."To begin with, are emulators illegal or not?" posed Nishiura. "This is a point often debated. While you can't immediately claim that an emulator is illegal in itself, it can become illegal depending on how it's used."To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Everything we learned this week about Switch 2Watch on YouTubeOne example of illegal use is if an emulator copies a programme belonging to the game device it's imitating, which would be copyright infringement.Another is if an emulator can disable security mechanisms like encryption (or "technical protection measures", as they're legally known), which would violate Japan's Unfair Competition Prevention Act. Nishiura added that outside of Japan this would be stipulated in copyright law.Nishiura specified this point is why Nintendo has filed lawsuits and issued warnings over several Switch emulators, due to disabling Nintendo's "technical protection measures".A further violation would be if an emulator contains links to sources to download pirated games, what's known as a "reach app" in Japanese law and is considered a copyright infringement.Nishiura also emphasised the use of emulators is a problem for all developers making software for Nintendo devices, which is why the company is strengthening measures against such illegal tools.Just last year, Nintendo sued the creators of Switch emulator Yuzu as it claimed over a million copies of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom were pirated ahead of release. Yuzu was then shut down by its developers Tropical Haze and agreed to pay Nintendo $2.4m.Also last year, the Game Boy emulator Pizza Emulators was pulled from the Google Play store, though there was no mention of a Nintendo settlement. A month later, another Nintendo emulator - the Delta app - was the top free download on the iPhone App Store and it remains available today.In further Nintendo news, the company has also requested players not use "unauthorised services" to access online services. Posted the Japanese Nintendo account: "We have confirmed the existence of unauthorised services that replace functions such as online play for the Wii U, which ended service on April 9, 2024. Please refrain from using such services as they may pose unexpected security risks."After Nintendo shut down Wii U and 3DS online servers last April, players brought the functionality back online just a day later thanks to fan collective Pretendo.

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games hereWe are reaching the midpoint of The Finals Season 5. So far, the chapter has largely been decent, but updates have been inconsistent thanks to the season releasing just before the holidays. With the holidays now firmly in the past, normal services should resume. Embark has just shared The Finals update 5.5.0 patch notes, and they list additional fixes.The Finals update 5.5.0 patch notesBelow are the update 5.5.0 patch notes:Store UpdateBe the life of the party with this weeks store update!Content and Bug FixesContractsWe have implemented additional fixes for the following contracts as they have not been working correctly:Hit opponents [x] times with arena carriables, cash boxes or the decryption keyEarn 20,000 cash in one round, 4 times in Cashout ModesPlay 3 matches of World Tour or Bank ItFor more The Finals, check out our guide to thebest weapons in the game ranked, and we also have a guide to thebest gadgets. In addition, we have a guide to thebest FPS settingsto help you win matchesalong witharanking of the best classesin the game.The FinalsPlatform(s):PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series S/X, Xbox Series XGenre(s):Action, First-Person Shooter, ShooterSubscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

Blender Conference 2025: Sept 17-19 By Bart on January 15, 2025 Conferences BCON will fall a little earlier this year - in September instead of October. Ticket sales start in March!From the announcement page:Save the date! BCON25 will happen 17-19 Sep. 2025 at Felix Meritis in Amsterdam. Moving the event a bit earlier than usual aligns with IBC, helps with the overall scheduling and hopefully provides us with late summer weather in Amsterdam :) Tickets sale starts in March. Meanwhile, enjoy the proceedings of the past edition!

Ring RingMarvel's Vision series is apparently bringing back an MCU villain that's so old you probably completely forgot about himI'm talking you're going to have to look back 17 years old.Image credit: Marvel Studios News by Oisin Kuhnke Contributor Published on Jan. 15, 2025 WandaVision spinoff Vision Quest just got a new cast member, and it's an MCU character you won't have seen in a very long time.Last year, it was reported that we'd be getting a TV series all about Vision, or specifically White Vision, the remade version of the synthezoid character that flew off somewhere at the end of WandaVision. Paul Bettany is obviously returning to play the character, and James Spader has apparently been tapped to return as Ultron, but he's not the only old MCU character that's coming back seemingly. As reported by Deadline, Faran Tahir is supposedly set to rejoin the MCU as Raza. "Who?" you might be asking right now, and for that answer you'll need to look way back to the very first Iron Man film, where he played the commander of the Ten Rings cell that kidnapped Tony Stark, leading him to become the titular suited superhero.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. What his character's involvement in the series is hasn't been confirmed just yet, especially considering he's meant to be dead, so we'll just have to wait and see. Currently it's believed that the plot will focus on Vision as he tries to get his memory and humanity back - the original incarnation of the character was killed off by Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War, and the version of him in WandaVision was a creation of the titular Wanda Maximoff. Spader's inclusion in the series as Ultron is also a bit of a mystery right now, and Star Trek: Picard's Todd Stashwick is also set to appear in an as of yet undisclosed role (his presence is probably thanks to the fact that Picard's showrunner is leading Vision Quest).There's also no word on when we can expect the series to arrive, but considering how little is actually known about it, and that casting is still taking place, we can probably assume it'll be 2026 at the earliest. That'd put it five years after the release of WandaVision, quite the lengthy gap. I'm sure Marvel is hoping it can keep audiences interested with that Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom gambit in the meantime.

Image: Nintendo LifeArtist and author Phillip Summers is back with another 'Hand-Drawn Game Guide', this time looking at the classic hard-as-nails action title Mega Man.Soaring past its Kickstarter funding goal in just 12 hours, the Capcom-licensed book is aiming to launch in August 2025 for backers and will boast over 200 pages of stunning hand-drawn images looking at the original Mega Man for the NES and the Game Boy. Character illustrations will be included along with full level maps, tips, tricks, and gorgeous two-page spreads.What's especially neat (and in a better world, this really needn't be said) is that no AI whatsoever has been utilised in the creation of the book. Everything found within its pages has been crafted with real-life art tools, with the only digital step in the process being the scanning required to arrange the images via page layout software.There's still plenty of time to submit your pledge if you'd like to support Summers' project, with digital versions of the book available at 16/$19 and physical copies at 24/$29. The Kickstarter also states that if the project is successful, Capcom may be keen for more guides based on the sequels and spin-offs. For now, let's take a peek at a few pages from the book to give us a flavour of what to expect.Images: Phillip Summers / NF PublishingImage: Phillip Summers / NF PublishingAs for the Mega Man franchise itself, the series has remained dormant since the release of 2018's Mega Man 11, though Capcom has recently gone on record to say that it is "considering how to create games for it on an ongoing basis". Fingers crossed we'll get news on a new entry in 2025. More Mega?"Mega Man is one of our highly-valued IPs"What do you make of this latest 'Hand-Drawn Game Guide' product? Will you be looking to pick one up? Let us know witha. comment.[source kickstarter.com]Related GamesSee AlsoShare:01 Nintendo Lifes resident horror fanatic, when hes not knee-deep in Resident Evil and Silent Hill lore, Ollie likes to dive into a good horror book while nursing a lovely cup of tea. He also enjoys long walks and listens to everything from TOOL to Chuck Berry. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...Related ArticlesAnniversary: Resident Evil 4, One Of The Greatest Games Ever Made, Turns 20"2005... I'll never forget it"Okami Sequel Studio Looking Forward To Sharing "More Exciting News" ASAPHideki Kamiya chimes in with a New Year messageFeature: Why Play Final Fantasy VII Remake When You Could Play FFVII 'Demake'?"more than just pirate versions"

In the summer of 2020, as pandemic-driven volatility gripped markets, SoftBank Group shocked Wall Street with a series of massive options bets on U.S. technology stocks. Behind those trades which earned SoftBank the Nasdaq whale moniker was Akshay Naheta, an executive whose career has been marked by bold wagers on disruption.Now, after orchestrating multi-billion-dollar deals, including an attempt to merge Nvidia and ARM, Naheta is making perhaps his most ambitious bet yet: That the worlds payment infrastructure is ripe for reinvention.His Zug, Switzerland-based startup, Distributed Technologies Research (DTR), is attempting to bridge the gap between traditional banking and blockchain technology, joining an army of companies trying to modernize the global payments infrastructure.The startup claims its technology can eliminate various payment inefficiencies, from transfer costs and interchange fees to foreign exchange conversion charges and settlement delays.Current payment networks suffer from inefficiencies transfer costs, interchange fees, FX conversion charges, settlement delays and other opaque fees, Naheta told TechCrunch in an interview.DTRs core technology, AmalgamOS, essentially connects banks with blockchain networks. Through APIs, it allows businesses to integrate payment capabilities while maintaining compliance with local regulations. The system can handle everything from merchant payments to treasury management, supporting both traditional currencies and major stablecoins across 48 countries.The startup has built what Naheta describes as an international orchestration network that automatically routes transactions through either traditional banking or blockchain rails, depending on which path offers the optimal combination of speed and cost. Were connected to 12,000 banks in Europe, he said in an interview. A business integrating DTRs APIs can let its customers initiate transfers directly through banking apps.DTRs push into payments infrastructure comes at a seemingly opportune time. Visa and Mastercard both of which charge 2-3% swipe fees, typically the second highest cost for merchants after payroll are facing mounting scrutiny over their duopoly, and the U.S. proposed Credit Card Competition Act could require banks to offer merchants alternatives to the dominant networks.DTRs early customers say its infrastructure fills a significant gap. Philip Lord of Oobit, a crypto wallet startup, said the system allowed his company to move money from his crypto wallet to a U.K. bank account on Christmas Day in under 30 seconds a transfer that would have taken days through traditional channels.Akshay Naheta Image: DTRNahetas interest in payment infrastructure stems from an unlikely source: SoftBanks acquisition of Fortress Investment Group in 2017. The deal put about $20 million worth of Bitcoin on SoftBanks balance sheet.As he studied the underlying blockchain technology, Naheta says he saw an opportunity to apply his background in wireless communications to payment networks. While still at SoftBank, Naheta had begun assembling what he hoped would be DTRs founding team. He reached out to his undergraduate thesis advisor, Pramod Viswanath, an expert in wireless communications who now leads Princetons blockchain center and Sreeram Kannan, who would later start Eigen Layer.The team saw blockchain as a peer-to-peer communications network at heart, one that could apply decades of research in wireless systems to revolutionize payments. Naheta said he nearly resigned from SoftBank in summer 2018 to focus on DTR and crypto venture Bakkt, but was persuaded to stay by senior executives, including Rajeev Misra and Masayoshi Son.Nahetas previous forays into the payments sector also included SoftBanks investment in Wirecard, which later collapsed. SoftBank still made profits on its investment in Wirecard. Ive had lots of missteps, he acknowledged. I looked at it from a perspective of, heres a company that has all of these regulated licenses around the world, clearly has the payments technology.Those experiences appear to have influenced DTRs emphasis on compliance and institutional credibility. This measured approach extends to the companys growth strategy. Even if I increase my headcount to 60 people by the second quarter, well be free-cash-flow positive, he said.Stablecoins growth surged 55% in 2024 and Bernstein expects it to hit $500 billion in market cap this year. Image: BernsteinThe startup faces competition on multiple fronts. Wise has built a successful business matching currency flows between countries, Ripple offers blockchain-based settlement despite its legal troubles, while traditional banks also say they are upgrading their systems through initiatives like SWIFT. Last, but not least, Stripes recent $1 billion acquisition of Bridge stands to help the worlds most valuable fintech startup make deeper inroads into payments.Yet Naheta sees an opening in serving businesses caught between these worlds particularly digital nomads, creator economy platforms, and companies operating across emerging markets.Banks are not equipped to run KYC/AML at that small level, where youre paying out $200 to 10,000 people per month, he argued. The fragmented nature of national payment systems creates particular challenges for businesses operating globally, as each jurisdiction maintains its own rails and regulations.The payments industrys high margins and network effects make it notoriously difficult to disrupt. PayPal commands a $70 billion market cap even after recent declines, while Visa and Mastercard together are worth over $1 tillion.I really think that the retail customer is getting screwed on payments, he says. And its not the fault of the banks. They are plugged into legacy systems and its very hard to turn a Titanic.Lord of Oobit said in an interview that the space remains wide open. He pointed out that until just a year ago, the only option for businesses needing to move between crypto and traditional banking systems was to go to like an OTC shop and pay probably like 1 to 3% to get it transferred.Its crazy that for so many years, we have had so many startups come up, we have had so many coins show up, and whenever I wanted to do an on-ramp or off-ramp, there was no other formalized legal idea system around, he said. DTRs solution is a block faster than alternatives.

Hey guys,Im currently trying out NDCs for hit impacts following the various tutorials out there.Ive managed to get it working, but here is what Im trying to do :My goal is to have one system that would have all of the emitters for all the surface types (ie. dirt, sparks, water) and based on the write of the surface from the BP, spawn or not certain emitters.The problem is that at the moment it reads the surface type at particle spawn level (because Get NDCSpawn Data which is used for the index has to be in particle level) which happens too late to do the logic at emitter update.Maybe something has to be done at system level, but I cannot wrap my head around it If anyone has a solution, I would really appreciate, thanks

Projection: Kite (2019) at night. Photo by David Yeow. All images courtesy of Poh Sin Studio, shared with permissionVibrant, Immersive Installations by Poh Sin Studio Emphasize Vulnerability as a StrengthJanuary 15, 2025ArtDesignKate MothesFrom vibrant rope to metal frames to acrylic panels, the chromatic installations of Poh Sin Studio invite viewers into glowing thoroughfares and sprawling pavilions. Founded by Pamela Poh Sin Tan, the studio emphasizes public art as a means of fostering relationships between people, their communities, and their surroundings.Tans immersive works blur the boundaries between disciplines, evoking a sense of curiosity and discovery. Im particularly drawn to engaging the public through art and creating experiences that inspire dialogue and connection, she tells Colossal. I believe public art is a powerful catalyst for urban renewal and psychological well-being, providing moments of reflection, joy, and connection.Detail of Crimson CloudFor example, the artist shares that her most recent installation, Structural Resonance, explores the interplay between art and architecture, embodying layers of spatial and experiential narratives. She is interested in how physical spaces interact with their environment and affect us visually and emotionally.Embracing fragility as a form of strength is central to Tans practice, manifesting in the way soft materials, like rope, complement those associated with resilience and permanence, like metal. I find inspiration in overlooked details, such as plant veins, diatoms, mechanical and electrical systems, or even the skeletal framework of objects like a piano, she says. These hidden elements hold quiet beauty and complexity that I love to bring to light.Art and architecture are inherently intertwined in Tans view. Design and engineering provides structure, context, and utility, while the artistic aspect adds compelling narrative and emotion. Together, they reveal hidden dimensions, evoke movement, and connect deeply with viewers, she says.Explore more on Poh Sin Studios website and Instagram.Structural Resonance (2024)Projection: Kite. Photo by David YeowDetail of Projection: Kite (2019). Photo by David YeowSunnyside Up (2023) at MRT Pasar Seni, Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaSunnyside Up (2023)Crimson Cloud (2022), at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaDetail of Crimson CloudEdenStructural ResonanceNext article

Tech Get ready to experience thrill of eVTOL racing Discover future of aerial sports with electric vertical takeoff and landing races Published January 15, 2025 6:00am EST close 'CyberGuy': Get ready to experience the thrill of eVTOL racing The Jetson One eVTOL showcases air racing potential, ushering in a new aviation era. Tech expert Kurt Knutsson says the race for eVTOL supremacy is just beginning. You might have heard about electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOL). Well, there's some exciting news coming from Jetson, a Swedish startup thats making waves in the air racing scene. While Australia's Airspeeder has been working on crewed eVTOL races, Jetson founder and CTO Tomasz Patan recently took the spotlight with a demonstration that many are calling the start of the world's first eVTOL air racing.Enter the giveaway by signing up for myfree newsletter. Jetson eVTOL air racing demonstration (Jetson) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Airspeeder's ambitionsAirspeeder has been building momentum since 2017, aiming to establish world championship races with their striking eVTOL aircraft. However, their current races involve remote-controlled vehicles, with pilots safely on the ground. Enter Jetson, who has now demonstrated a crewed flight around a racing pylon, albeit with just one aircraft. Jetson eVTOL air racing demonstration (Jetson) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)The Jetson One: A game changerThe star of this show is the Jetson One, a personal eVTOL designed for agility and performance. In a recent video, Patan showcases the aircraft's nimble capabilities by navigating around a 26-foot-tall pylon. While this demonstration does not quite constitute a full race, it offers a tantalizing preview of what eVTOL racing could look like. Here are some key features of the Jetson One:Dimensions: 8.86 x 5.25 x 3.67 feetTop speed: Software-limited to 63 mphFlight time: 20 minutes per chargePower source: High-discharge Li-ion batteriesControl: Joystick-operatedMaximum altitude: Over 1,500 feet (~460 m)Pilot requirements: No license needed in the U.S. Jetson eVTOL air racing demonstration (Jetson) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Market response and future plansThe market response to the Jetson One has been remarkable. The company has already confirmed sales of more than 470 units and is now taking orders for the 2026 batch. To secure your place in line, you'll need to make a non-refundable deposit of $8,000, with the full price tag coming in at $128,000.Jetson claims that their eVTOL is user-friendly, stating that pilots can master the aircraft in under 60 minutes of flight practice, along with eight simulator sessions. This accessibility could be a game-changer in the personal aviation market. Jetson eVTOL air racing demonstration (Jetson) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Safety and regulatory considerationsWhile the prospect of personal eVTOLs and air racing is thrilling, it also raises important safety and regulatory questions. Jetson has implemented several safety features, including:A race car-inspired safety cell designThe ability to fly safely with the loss of one motorHands-free hover and emergency functionsA ballistic parachute with rapid deploymentIn terms of regulations, Jetson has made progress, securing two flight permits in Italy for personal eVTOL travel in uncontrolled airspace in fall 2023. However, comprehensive racing regulations are yet to be defined. Jetson eVTOL air racing demonstration (Jetson) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)The competition: Airspeeder and beyondWhile Jetson has made headlines with this demonstration, it's worth noting that Airspeeder isn't far behind. They have already created teams and held aerial events, albeit with remote-controlled eVTOLs. Their aircraft boasts impressive specifications, including a top speed of 124 mph and a power-to-weight ratio comparable to Formula 1 cars. Jetson eVTOL air racing demonstration (Jetson) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Kurt's key takeawaysThe demonstration by Jetson marks a significant milestone in the evolution of personal aviation and air racing. While it does not yet represent a full-fledged race, it is a tangible step towards a future where eVTOL racing could become a reality. As we look to the skies, it is clear that the race for eVTOL supremacy is just beginning.What are your thoughts on the future of eVTOL racing and personal aviation after reading about Jetson and Airspeeder? 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