All characters in Marvel Rivals fit into one of three roles: vanguards (tanks), duelists (damage), and strategists (support). While all characters can help out their allies or deal damage, these three roles help you differentiate the heroes and diversify team comps.In addition to a new battle pass and skins, season 1 added two new characters to the game (a duelist and strategist), bringing the total current roster to 35 characters. Later in the season, according to the Marvel Rivals roadmap, two more (a duelist and vanguard) will join. In this Marvel Rivals guide, well walk you through all characters in Marvel Rivals, broken up by role, detailing the games full roster. And if youre looking for the best characters, see our Marvel Rivals tier list.All vanguards in Marvel RivalsThere are currently eight vanguards in Marvel Rivals as of the start of season 1 and weve listed them all below.The Thing from the Fantastic Four will join the roster as a vanguard later in season 1.CharacterDescriptionDate addedBruce Banner (Hulk)A transforming tank who's able to leverage massive health bars and multiple lives to stay in the battle.Launch, Dec. 6, 2024Captain AmericaA dueling tank who's able to go toe-to-toe with some duelists and strategists, making him an effective assassin who can also defend his allies.Launch, Dec. 6, 2024Doctor StrangeA shield-first tank, who's able to protect allies and carry them around the map quickly via portals.Launch, Dec. 6, 2024GrootA wall-focused tank, able to build massive barriers that protect himself and his allies.Launch, Dec. 6, 2024MagnetoA powerful tank that uses shields to block damage, which he can then redirect at his enemies.Launch, Dec. 6, 2024Peni ParkerA defensive tank who's able to lock down an area with mines and healing webs.Launch, Dec. 6, 2024ThorA high-damage tank who's able to weave his abilities together to quickly kill enemies while keeping himself alive.Launch, Dec. 6, 2024VenomA highly mobile tank who's able to dive into the enemy backline and live to get back to his team.Launch, Dec. 6, 2024All duelists in Marvel RivalsThere are currently 19 duelists in Marvel Rivals as of the start of season 1 and weve listed them all below.Mister Fantastic from the Fantastic Four is the latest duelist to join the roster. His brother-in-law and fellow Fantastic Four teammate, the Human Torch, will become the 20th duelist later in season 1.CharacterDescriptionDate addedBlack PantherA diving duelist able to assassinate squishy characters with ranged spear attacks and melee claws.Launch, Dec. 6, 2024Black WidowA sniper character who's able to scope in and deal with squishy characters in the backline.Launch, Dec. 6, 2024HawkeyeA sniper with the capability to one-shot squishy heroes with well-placed arrows.Launch, Dec. 6, 2024HelaA long-range precision character who's able to quickly destroy foes with knives to the head and explosives from the air.Launch, Dec. 6, 2024Iron FistA diving assassin who's able to quickly push his way behind tanks and eliminate duelists and strategists in seconds.Launch, Dec. 6, 2024Iron ManAn aerial damage dealer able to rain down explosive shots and powerful lasers on unsuspecting enemies.Launch, Dec. 6, 2024MagikA melee duelist who uses portals to slide in and out of the enemy backline and assassinate squishy characters.Launch, Dec. 6, 2024Mister FantasticA stretchy duelist who's able to punch from afar and become very tanky for short periods of time.Season 1, Jan. 10, 2025Moon KnightA damage dealer that specializes in area of effect attacks, and is able to ricochet boomerangs between enemies.Launch, Dec. 6, 2024NamorA pet-focused duelist who's able to throw out octopuses to do his bidding and take down powerful enemies from afar.Launch, Dec. 6, 2024PsylockeA swift duelist who's able to use her ranged attacks to deal damage from afar, while also dashing into the backline.Launch, Dec. 6, 2024Scarlet WitchAn up-close duelist who's able to drain the life from enemies before disintegrating them with her one-shot ultimate.Launch, Dec. 6, 2024Spider-ManA mobile duelist who's able to weave in and out of the enemy team, getting quick kills before retreating to safety.Launch, Dec. 6, 2024Squirrel GirlAn area-damage focused duelist, who's able to launch explosive nuts into the enemy team and rack up big damage.Launch, Dec. 6, 2024Star-LordA mobile duelist who's able to fly around the battlefield dealing consistent damage with his dual pistols.Launch, Dec. 6, 2024StormA damage dealer who brings some support-like bonuses to her team and is able to fly around the battlefield at will.Launch, Dec. 6, 2024The PunisherA more traditional shooter character who's able to use his powerful arsenal of weapons to take enemies down.Launch, Dec. 6, 2024Winter SoldierA high-damage character who's able to use his ultimate multiple times in a row to secure kill after kill.Launch, Dec. 6, 2024WolverineA tank-busting duelist who's able to survive for long periods of time and shred the health of bigger targets.Launch, Dec. 6, 2024All strategists in Marvel RivalsThere are currently 8 strategists in Marvel Rivals as of the start of season 1 and weve listed them all below.Invisible Woman from the Fantastic Four is the latest strategist to join the roster, and did so at the start of season 1.CharacterDescriptionDate addedAdam WarlockA healer that specializes in reviving himself and allies with his powerful ultimate.Launch, Dec. 6, 2024Cloak & DaggerA duel support who's able to swap between a damage-dealing character and a pure healer mid-battle.Launch, Dec. 6, 2024Invisible WomanAn invisible healer who's able to shield allies and push away enemies.Season 1, Jan. 10, 2025Jeff the Land SharkA healer who's able to give allies health and movement speed boosts while swallowing enemies whole.Launch, Dec. 6, 2024LokiA trickster healer who's able to dish out decent damage while being very difficult to track down.Launch, Dec. 6, 2024Luna SnowA popstar healer who's able to freeze enemies, and both heal and damage boost allies with her powerful ultimate.Launch, Dec. 6, 2024MantisA support that is able to heal allies as well as boost their damage for long periods of time.Launch, Dec. 6, 2024Rocket RaccoonA gadget-focused support who can deal decent damage and has the power to resurrect allies.Launch, Dec. 6, 2024For moreMarvel Rivalsguides, heres a list of all knowncodes, allTeam-Up abilities, allmaps and modes, and a look at the gamesroadmap.

Longsys NFC-enabled SSD lets users unlock hidden storage with a simple tap of an NFC device.

As OpenAI pushes toward a for-profit structure, the company is adding Adebayo Ogunlesi, founding partner of Global Infrastructure Partners, to its board.

While I was working on a post about the best cleaning influencers to follow on Instagram in the wake of the news that TikTok is going to become unavailable in the U.S. at the end of this week, I noticed something: Some of the most popular creators in the space aren't making mini videos on Reels; instead, they're operating over on YouTube, where they have more options for presenting their tips and inspiration. Here are some of the best ones you can follow now. Midwest Magic Cleaning I love Midwest Magic Cleaning videos because they're completely attainable. You're not watching someone in a palatial home use the most expensive vacuum on the market, but rather a down-to-earth guy who takes turns being inspirational and relatable while teaching you cleaning basics and doing a little home reno. Alsoand this is importantthe videos are funny. Aurikatariina You've probably seen Aurikatariina's videos crossposted on Facebook or X, but she's worth a follow on her own because she cleans other people's homes for free. While your house may not be at the level of disrepair the ones she deals with are, you can pick up a lot of great tips from her. She cleans with a positive attitude and a lot of empathy, which I find inspiring when I watch her joyfully clear away trash and share her preferred products. When she uses a product, she even puts a little graphic of exactly what it looks like in its packaging on screen, so you know precisely what to buy for similar results. This Crazy Life Another channel full of relatable content is This Crazy Life, where the creator, Amanda, gives a realistic look at how she cleans the home she shares with her family, including three young sons. She offers a variety of content types, from testing out "viral hacks" to showcasing how she refreshes different rooms around her house on a budget. Personally, I'm tired of unrelatable influencers (at least in the cleaning space) and enjoy seeing how real people with normal lives and jobs navigate staying organized on top of their other responsibilities, so these videos are great. Clean My Space On Clean My Space, you can find the answer to any cleaning question. Seriously, this channel has it all. Where other cleaning channels focus on the satisfying clips of creators wiping down grimy sinks or transforming rooms, this one functions kind of like a how-to guide, with dedicated videos for everything from cleaning a glass stove to making your own cleaning solutions. The best organizing channels on YouTubeI also love watching videos of people organizing, not just cleaning, their homes; for me, that's where real inspiration comes in. It's satisfying to see someone wipe away some grime, but in most cases, I already know how to do that. Seeing how someone organizes their stuff, however, can give me all kinds of new ideas. iOrganize iOrganize is my favorite organizer on the internetnot really a category of influencer I ever thought I'd have a "favorite" of before I started writing about cleaning and organizing, but here we are. On the channel, Christen Fackler offers direct, no-nonsense advise on how to rethink the way you organize your home. The clips are filmed simply and all the focus is on the tips, which is refreshing and gets straight to the point. The Carla Project Another genre I enjoy involves one organizer going into other people's homes and teaching them how to declutter and organize. That's what happens over on The Carla Project, where you get to see a bunch of different living spaces and can find clips that align with your exact needs, from "small kitchens" to "crowded closets." The creator, Carla, also shows how she's getting on in her own personal organizing and decorating projects. The Secret Slob The Secret Slob uses and demonstrates the FlyLady cleaning method, so you know she knows what she's talking about, since that's one of the best organizing techniques out there. Steph, the creator, gives gentle guidance on how to get started with a cleaning technique, how to prioritize peace through cleaning, and how to stick with a habit. She shares before-and-afters as well as lessons she's learned while working through the FlyLady system, all in a way that feels accessible.

Sony has revealed a first proper look at Until Dawn, the movie adaptation of Supermassives choose-your-own-adventure horror game. Rather than offering up a teaser or a trailer, the company has opted to unleash more of a vignette, with the films writer and director explaining how their project differs from the game.As mentioned during Sonys CES 2025 keynote last week, Until Dawn has a new story and different characters from the original work. Director David F. Sandberg (Lights Out, Shazam!) says the film has sort of the same tone, the same vibe, but it expands on the universe.In the game, the characters' fates are determined by your narrative choices, many of which lead to grisly deaths for them. There will be something similar at play here, as things start over and the characters get to try again after everything goes to hell, Sandberg explained. Every time they come back to life, its like theyre in a new horror genre, the director added. To survive, they have to make it until dawn.Its an interesting attempt to replicate the structure of a video game, in which you can just start over if things arent going your way. That said, the premise does make Until Dawn sound a little like the very fun Happy Death Day, in which the main character is killed every day but keeps coming back to life until she can figure out the identity of the murderer.Until Dawn is set to hit theaters on April 25. Sony says a proper trailer is coming soon. In the meantime, you might like to check out the remake of the game, which arrived on PS5 and PC in October.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/sony-offers-a-first-look-at-the-until-dawn-movie-151305432.html?src=rss

Honor's latest flagship, the Honor Magic 7 Pro, has finally launched outside of China.

In the past year, all sorts of companies have retreated from their commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion, from masculine brands like John Deere and Harley-Davidson to massive companies like Walmart and McDonalds. Many of these moves have followed public pressure and boycotts (namely a social media campaign mounted by conservative activist Robby Starbuck), but have also been catalyzed by a shifting legal and political climate after the Supreme Court struck down affirmative action in 2023.Now some of the biggest players in the tech industrywhich has long touted the value of diversity, equity, and inclusionare making similar cuts to their diversity initiatives. Within the past few days, both Meta and Amazon have confirmed significant changes to their DEI programs. These decisions may seem, in part, politically motivated: Last week, Meta also relaxed its hate speech policies, and CEO Mark Zuckerberg met with President-elect Donald Trump.But as Fast Company has previously reported, the tech industry has been quietly divesting from DEI work for some time now, as layoffs have targeted those teams and companies have failed to make meaningful progress on the commitments they made in 2020. Large tech employers like Google and Meta have chipped away at their DEI work in recent years, trimming headcount and scaling down programs focused on the recruitment and career development of underrepresented workers.At the same time, some of the changes companies are making to their corporate diversity programs seem designed to rebrand the work and move away from the language of DEI, which has become a political football and target of lawsuits by right-wing activists. Since 2023, companies like J.P. Morgan and Goldman Sachs have made changes to their DEI policies in response to the threat of legal action; others have stopped using certain DEI terms like equity. Meta acknowledged this was driving some of its DEI changes when the company noted that the legal and policy landscape surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in the United States is changing, per an internal memo obtained by Axios.(Meta, Apple, Google, and Microsoft declined to comment on the record when Fast Company asked about current or planned changes to DEI programs. Meta has confirmed that the company is dissolving many of its DEI initiatives.)Heres a closer look at the scope of the recent DEI cuts, and what they could mean for the future of diversity work at Big Tech companies:Meta According to Axios, Meta will no longer have a team that explicitly works on DEI. Chief diversity officer Maxine Williamswho has been at the company for more than a decadewill move into a new role on the accessibility and engagement team. In an internal memo, HR chief Janelle Gale wrote, The term DEI has ... become charged, in part because it is understood by some as a practice that suggests preferential treatment of some groups over others. Gale also noted that the company will be revamping its DEI training programs to focus instead on how to apply fair and consistent practices that mitigate bias for all, no matter your background.Meta has said that it will no longer prioritize sourcing suppliers from diverse businesses and is also changing its approach to hiring. While Meta will no longer employ its diverse slate approach to hiringwhich ensured a diverse set of candidates were considered for each rolethe company will continue to source candidates from different backgrounds.Perhaps most notably, however, Meta says it will no longer have representation goalssomething many large tech companies introduced a decade ago when they started publishing diversity reports. But this isnt actually a new change: Meta claims to have already eliminated representation goals for women and ethnic minorities. Having goals can create the impression that decisions are being made based on race or gender, Gale wrote. While this has never been our practice, we want to eliminate any impression of it. This framing indicates that Meta is making some of these changes explicit to protect against legal liabilityand, it seems, to distance itself from the term DEI.AmazonLast week, Amazon revealed it had already been making changes to its DEI programs, though the company has not made clear exactly what that entailed. As Bloomberg recently reported, the changes were disclosed in a year-end memo by HR executive Candi Castleberry, who said Amazon had evaluated hundreds of programs across the company and would be winding down outdated programs and materials by the end of 2024.Rather than have individual groups build programs, we are focusing on programs with proven outcomesand we also aim to foster a more truly inclusive culture,she added. Castleberry was previously the head of global diversity, equity, and inclusion at Amazon, but her title changed in 2023, along with the name of the department. (Castleberry is now the VP of inclusive experiences and technology.)Amazon still has employee resource groups in place (which some employers have recently eliminated or restructured), but the company has altered its public language on diversity. On a page that outlines its positions, Amazon removed sections that focused on Equity for Black people and LGBTQ+ rights, as well as specific references to transgender rights. Prior to this change, the page had clearly stated the companys support for legislation that addressed misconduct and racial bias in policing, efforts to protect and expand voting rights, and initiatives that provide better health and educational outcomes for Black people, as well as protections for the transgender community. There was also a mention of the gender transition benefits offered at Amazon, which has since been removed. (The Washington Post reported that some employees were concerned whether that shift could impact access to benefits, though Amazon has said those benefits are still in place.)Amazon did not comment on specific cuts to its DEI programs, but spokesperson Kelly Nantel told Fast Company that the positions page is edited from time to time to ensure that it reflects updates weve made to various programs and positions.Amazon is, however, still using the language of DEI to some degree: A section on its positions page titled diversity, equity, and inclusion claims that the company is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive company that helps us build the best range of products and services for our broad customer base. ... We also believe that inequitable treatment of anyoneincluding Black people, LGBTQ+ people, Asians, women, and othersis unacceptable, and we advocate for policies designed to remove barriers to equity and create an inclusive environment for all employees.In her memo, Castleberry also suggested Amazon was still committed to diversity work: We believe this is important work, so well keep investing in programs that help us reflect those audiences, help employees grow, thrive, and connect, and we remain dedicated to delivering inclusive experiences for customers, employees, and communities around the world.AppleApple is currently facing a shareholder proposal that aims to undermine its DEI programs, brought by the same conservative think tank that recently submitted a similar proposal at Costco (where it was rejected). The group is taking aim at Apples diversity policies, arguing that DEI poses litigation, reputational, and financial risks to companies.So far, however, the company has stood its ground, citing its well-established compliance program and arguing that the proposal inappropriately attempts to restrict its business operations. Apples board has urged shareholders to vote against the proposal during the companys annual meeting in February. At Apple, we believe that how we conduct ourselves is as critical to Apples success as making the best products in the world, the board said in a proxy filing. We seek to conduct business ethically, honestly, and in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and our Business Conduct and Compliance policies are foundational to how we do business. And we strive to create a culture of belonging where everyone can do their best work.

Architecture studios Chetwoods and J&A have transformed a metro station in Shenzhen, China, into a coastal-themed transit hub, drawing on the local landscape and cultural identity.Created as part of Shenzhen's "Tourism Line", Dameisha station serves the popular Golden Coast holiday destination. Previously accessible only by car, the station now links the resort to the city's broader metro network.Chetwoods and J&A have completed Dameisha station in ShenzhenThe station's design was informed by its beachside location and integrates elements of the surrounding topography."Rooted in the coastal scenery, the design embodies a sense of freedom, tranquillity, and unhurried comfort, aligning with the overarching tourism theme of Metro Line 8," Chetwoods told Dezeen. "We wanted to create an inviting atmosphere that evokes memories of past beach experiences and the concept of 'dreaming on the beach'."The station features motifs that mimic the movement and shapes of wavesThe station's two-level interior features motifs that mimic the shapes of waves and the textures, forms and hues of sand and pebbles. A palette of soft whites contrasts with aquatic blues, evoking the interplay between the shoreline and ocean."The architectural language captures the mystery and romance of the sea's infinite movements, reflections, and the dynamic shapes of waves," the studio said.The ceiling is crafted from a curved aluminium profileAt the heart of its design is a fluid ceiling pattern that extends to the walls, creating the illusion of underwater movement.The ceiling was crafted from a curved aluminium profile that serves as a canvas for visual details, including perforations and graphic layering.Read: Geometric perforations illuminate Saudi metro station by Zaha Hadid Architects"Employing a single profile of single-curved aluminium throughout the main arrival hall allowed us to maintain visual fluidity while adhering to budgetary and construction requirements," the studio explained."By avoiding double-curved or twisted surfaces, we streamlined both the fabrication and assembly processes."Conical openings and oval skylights allow natural light inConical openings and oval skylights filter natural light into the underground station, simulating sunlight piercing the surface of the sea.Artificial lighting features, such as pebble-shaped chandeliers suspended in blue-painted voids, complement the natural elements, while ellipse-shaped LED lighting around central columns reference bubbles and ripples in seawater.Interactive marine-inspired details enhance the station's immersive experience. Graphics of swimming fish, turtles and other sea life were embedded within the reflective granite floor tiles while whale-shaped benches serve as playful yet functional design elements.Whale-shaped benches were placed on platforms"The station was designed to provoke positive emotions, sensory experiences and memories through its exploration and interpretation of the geography and culture of its location, in its forms, colours, textures and materials," the studio said."Our research into human emotional responses to the built environment plays a pivotal role in our design process, and this project demonstrates the tangible outcomes of that approach."Founded in 1988 by Laurie Chetwood, Chetwoods Architects has worked on a number of international projects ranging from large industrial sheds to entries for the Chelsea Flower Show.Recent metro stations spotlighted on Dezeen include Zaha Hadid Architects station inRiyadh's financial district and a Parisian station wrapped in vertical wooden louvres.The photography is bySheng Lin Ye.The post Chetwoods and J&A unveil beach-informed metro station in Shenzhen appeared first on Dezeen.

The GOES Health app was developed to help travelers in remote areas, but it's increasingly become a tool for people in areas hit by climate disasters.

In recent months, Americans may have noticed a rise in the cost of their favorite chocolate bars, but this price spike is linked to more than inflation.In 2024, the price of cocoa beanschocolates essential ingredientmore than doubled compared to 2023. This surge isnt just an economic blip; its a wake-up call about the deepening impact of climate change on the chocolate we consume.For every 5 pounds of cocoa beans sold on global markets, 3 come from West Africa. Cte dIvoire alone grows about 40%, and another 14% is harvested in neighboring Ghana. However, the region is increasingly vulnerable to changing weather patterns. And in 2024, a devastating drought in Ghana cut the countrys cocoa production by nearly a third, according to the International Cocoa Organization, which oversees 53 cocoa importing and exporting countries.Costly CocoaThis drought led to a global cocoa shortage, causing prices to skyrocket for manufacturers. In May 2024, the cost of 1 metric ton of cocoa beans hit nearly $11,000, a sharp increase from just under $3,000 a year earlier.In a conference call in August, Hershey CEO Michele Buck highlighted the pressure that West Africas shortage put on the $37 billion company, saying, We believe the current cocoa price is not sustainable.The surge prompted U.S. chocolate companies, like Hershey, to raise prices ahead of the 2024 holiday season. While Hershey was tight-lipped about the exact percentage of price increases, the company acknowledged in its February 2024 earnings call that it planned to raise prices across various products to account for rising cocoa costs. Given where cocoa prices are, we will be using every tool in our toolbox, including pricing, as a way to manage the business, Buck said.(And while the company hasnt commented on specific price increases, consumers have likely noticed them: In 2023, for example, a bag of Hersheys Kisses cost $6.99 at Target; today, that same bag is $9.49.)Halloween candy on display at an Austin Walmart Supercenter in October 2024 [Photo: Brandon Bell/Getty Images]While conglomerates like Hershey might be able to withstand current economic pressures, the cocoa shortage may prove more damaging for smaller businesses. Dahlia Graham of Fruition Chocolate Works, which has a shop in New York and sells to 600 stores nationwide, said that in December 2024, the company raised prices on chocolate bars by 20%, making a $9.60 artisan chocolate bar $12.Maya Zellman, owner of the Brazilian chocolate shop Mayas Brigadeiro, in Los Angeles, also hiked prices. Its unfortunate when something thats out of our control, like a rise in cocoa [prices], changes that margin and then we have to make that choice, Zellman said.This month, cocoa prices remain at a steep $10,000 per metric ton, signaling that consumers costs are unlikely to ease anytime soon.The Climate Problem: One Ingredient in Ghanas CocoaThe cocoa shortage came after unexpectedly heavy rainfall during Ghanas dry season in 2023 and then drought in 2024. Climate scientist Kiswendsida Guigma, of the Red Cross Climate Center, says its just one example of the climate extremes that the African continent has been experiencing due to climate change in recent years.The United Nations estimated that Ghanas 2024 drought affected more than 1 million people, resulting in staggering crop losses and record-high food prices.Ghanaian cocoa merchants like Ebenezer Boateng experienced its effects firsthand. When we begin to notice that maybe the rains are not coming, we know that we are not going to get [the cocoa] like we used to. So we had to quickly engage in other crops like cashew, he said over a WhatsApp call from Ghana.A pile of cocoa pods shows of black pod disease during a harvest at a farm in the town of Kwabeng, Ghana. Punishing rains and the relentless creep of black pod disease are pushing futures to their highest since the 1970s. [Photo: Paul Ninson/Bloomberg/Getty Images]Cocoa farming in Ghana relies on rainfall because irrigation systems for the crop arent common. But farmers and scientists say heavy rainfall can be just as damaging as droughts. This combination of extreme rainfall events and prolonged dry spells will have implications on the agriculture sector, Guigma said.Severe droughts and floods are both hydroclimatic extremescatastrophic climate events related to water or the lack thereofexacerbated by climate change, according to Guigma, who studies heat waves, floods, and droughts in West Africa. Guigma and other scientists at the Climate Center work on forecasting climate conditions and developing plans to help countries prepare for extreme weather events.If [we] understand what causes [climate extremes], we can also more easily predict when they will happen and how severe they will be, he said.Climate change is also exacerbating tree diseases, like cacao swollen shoot virus disease, which is detrimental to cocoa. Its a virus that slowly depletes the energy of the tree. It produces fewer and fewer pods and eventually will kill the tree, said Victoria Kichuk, a chocolate sommelier and founder of Cocoa Beantown, which puts on chocolate events and tours in Boston.The disease is spread by white fuzzy insects called mealybugs. They breed rapidly in hot and dry weather, so drought exacerbates swollen shoot disease. Currently, theres no known cure.The only way to get rid of the virus in the trees is you have to rip the trees out and burn them, Kichuk said.But despite the effects on agriculture and livelihoods, Guigma says the search for solutions to mitigate the effects of climate change in West African countries like Ghana isnt often a priority.This is yet an overlooked issue in the region, in Africa in general, and even more so on the West African side, because of the many competing priorities in the region, Guigma said. Besides climate, we have a lot of political and conflict issues, and as a result, its not always easy for decision-makers to make it a priority.To locals like Boateng, a second-generation cocoa farmer, its clear that climate change is just one piece of cocoas volatility. Small-scale illegal gold mining operations, known as galamsey, are encroaching on cocoa farms, damaging crops, and polluting water.We are suffering from not getting clean and proper water to even water our seedlings, because its full of chemicalscyanide and mercury, Boateng said, stressing that he worries about the effects of this mining on his livelihood.In a year or two to come, if nothing is done, I dont know what the [cocoa] industry will look like.A farmer attends to cocoa beans drying on a rack at a Ghanaian farm. [Photo: Paul Ninson/Bloomberg/Getty Images]The Future of CocoaKichuk, whos been in the chocolate industry for almost 15 years, shared ways the U.S. chocolate industry is trying to adapt to the shortage.This month, Hershey requested permission to purchase 90,000 metric tons of cocoa beans, according to Bloombergnearly double the federal limit of 49,000 tons, a clear effort to stockpile supplies amid the cocoa shortage. This additional 41,000 tons could cost the company up to $290 million, based on the average cost of beans in 2024, highlighting the financial strain manufacturers are facing.Major players like Hershey, Mars, and Nestl may also look for cocoa from other regions such as Latin America, which would amount to a major market shift.Graham, who is also president of the board of directors for the nonprofit Fine Chocolate Industry Association, already sources much of her cocoa from Latin America. But because Ghanas shortage continues to affect so much of the industry, prices for Latin American cocoa also increased in 2024. Ive seen the price go up on every single cocoa bean we source, Graham said.Manufacturers like Hershey are also experimenting with reducing the percentage of cocoa in their products, or replacing it with other ingredients altogether.This past May, Hershey announced a Kit Kat vanilla flavor, along with a pink lemonade flavor. For Halloween, Kit Kat used a cinnamon creme coating for its special ghost toast flavor, replacing the candys traditional chocolate covering.Other companies are experimenting with alternative ingredients for chocolate-like products. For example, Planet A Foods, a German startup, uses sunflower seeds and oats to create ChoViva, a chocolate alternative with a smaller environmental footprint. Unlike cocoa, these ingredients can be grown more sustainably and require less water, as cocoa production is water-intensive. Alternatives like fava beans, used by the U.K.-based startup Nukoko, are also being explored.Some of the appeal lies not just in the economic need to replace cocoa due to shortages, but in the environmental concerns tied to traditional cocoa farming.Cocoa farming contributes to deforestation, as large swaths of tropical forests are cleared to make room for cocoa plantations, exacerbating climate change. Some companies, like Celleste Bio, are experimenting with making lab-grown cocoa, which is identical to traditional cocoa but cultivated in a controlled environment. This innovation allows its production to take place anywhere in the world, free from the market fluctuations and environmental impacts associated with conventional cocoa farming.Ultimately, its unlikely that anything will replace Americans love of chocolateat least not anytime soon. I have yet to meet someone that remembers their first taste of chocolate, because for all of us, it happens when were so small, Kichuk said. But given the precarious realities of cocoa production, Americans may need to brace themselves for that relationship to evolve.