Table of ContentsTable of ContentsSamsung Galaxy S25 UltraSamsung Galaxy S25Galaxy S25 PlusSmartThings is truly getting smartSamsungs glitzy Unpacked 2025 eventgave a clear sign that moving forward, phones are entering their agentic era. AI is in the driving seat of mobile experiences, enhancing everything from camera capture to how we get app-based work done.The headline of the event was, of course, the Galaxy S25 series smartphones. At the summit is the Galaxy S25 Ultra, the true showcase of Samsungs imaging capabilities and hardware refinements. The entry-point Galaxy S25 also gets a crucial hardware upgrade to speed up generative AI tasks, while the SmartThings ecosystem is eyeing its biggest sensing overhaul yet.Recommended VideosAndy Boxall / Digital TrendsLets set the ball rolling with the cream of the Galaxy crop. The Galaxy S25 Ultra embraced rounded corners this time around, and a fresh coat of paint as well. There is also a notable jump in the camera capabilities.Please enable Javascript to view this contentSamsung has upgraded the ultrawide sensor to a 50-megapixel unit, over four times as powerful as its predecessor. You also get a fairly capable 200-megapixel sensor, alongside a 10-megapixel telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom range, and a periscope style long-range snapper with a 50-megapixel resolution and 5x optical zoom range.The company is also talking a leaf out of Apples camera playback for iPhones. The Galaxy S25 Ultra enables support for shooting videos in what Samsung calls Galaxy Log, similar to Apples own Log video capture system on the Pro iPhones.Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsThe idea is to give users the freedom of recording a flat footage, which they can subsequently grade and color-correct to get the desired tonal effect.Apple went all-in with a filter-like toning system with the arrival of the iPhone 16 series. Samsung is now pouring its own version into the Galaxy S25 series by adding analog-style filters to help users get a film-like aesthetic in their photos and videos.There is a new Night Video with Audio Eraser that not only allows users to record detailed videos in low-light surroundings but also lets them to minimize noise elements.Samsung says you can isolate human speech, crowd noise, nature, and wind using the onboard AI algorithms. Notably, this feature is already available on the Google Pixel 9 series smartphones under the Audio Magic Eraser label.Another cool feature is the ProScaler system, which upscales images for viewing on larger pixel-dense screens with a minimum resolution of QHD+.Of particular interest to me was the new Virtual Aperture system, which has been integrated into the Expert RAW system where you can get access to pro-grade photo and video capture tools with loads of manual controls.1 of 5Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra in Titanium White Samsung Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra in Titanium Silver Black Samsung Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra in Titanium Black Samsung Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra in Titanium Blue Samsung Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra in Titanium Jade Green Samsung Over at the front, you will find a 6.9-inch 120Hz OLED panel with Corning Gorilla Glass Armor 2 protection, alongside Cornings glass-ceramic material with an anti-reflective coat on top.Notably, despite its size, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is the thinnest, sturdiest, and lightest Galaxy S phone Samsung has made so far. Just like the latest crop of Apple flagships, Samsung is also using Titanium for its top-of-the-line smartphone.Underneath the glass and metal shell is a 5,000mAh battery that supports 45W wired charging, and allows top-up in wireless mode, as well. Unfortunately, Samsung hasnt quite embraced the Qi 2 wireless charging standard yet, so thats a bummer.Prakhar Khanna / Digital TrendsSamsung is still loyal to the cause of small-ish phones that dont stretch out ones palm. To that end, the entry-point Galaxy S25 still retains a 6.2-inch display, but without skipping on any of the niceties that set its Ultra flagship apart.It serves a bright SuperAMOLED panel that can vary the refresh rate values dynamically between 1Hz and 120Hz, striking the right balance between viewing fluidity and power efficiency.The battery capacity remains stagnant at 4,000 mAh, which is really a shame, considering how labels like OnePlus and Honor have embraced the silicon-carbide battery innovation to fit larger batteries in a small package inside their phones.The most notable change is that Samsung has finally ditched 8GB RAM as a standard, and equipped all Galaxy S25 series phones with 12GB memory. Unfortunately, the storage capacity still starts at a paltry 128GB, so theres that.1 of 7Samsung Galaxy S25 in Silver Shadow. Samsung Samsung Galaxy S25 in Pink Gold Samsung Samsung Galaxy S25 in Navy Samsung Samsung Galaxy S25 in Mint Samsung Samsung Galaxy S25 in Icy Blue Samsung Samsung Galaxy S25 in Coral Red Samsung Samsung Galaxy S25 in Blue Black Samsung The camera hardware has also been carried forward from its predecessor for another year. Headlining the imaging kit is a 50-megapixel primary camera, sitting alongside a 12-megapixel ultrawide snapper, and a 10-megapixel sensor for zoom capture.All three phones draw power from the custom Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy SoC, which is claimed to offer some extra processing grunt and AI processing chops.Samsung has also embedded its own mobile Digital Natural Image engine (mDNIe) on the processor stack to manage the power draw from the display assembly. Moreover, for more efficient heat dissipation, Samsung has equipped the Galaxy S25 series with a larger vapor chamber cooling system.Prakhar Khanna / Digital TrendsThe mid-tier model, once again, plays it safe. The only key areas where it stands apart from the Galaxy S25 are the larger 6.7-inch QHD+ display, a bigger 4,900mah, and support for 45W wired charging, instead of 25W on the smaller trim.The camera hardware is identical, but the storage options start at 256GB on this one. Do keep in mind that Samsung doesnt bundle the charger in the box, so you will have to fork out extra cash for the 45W charger to juice up your Galaxy S25 series phones.All three phones maintain an IP68 class dust and water resistance, just like their respective predecessors. Samsung says it will offer seven years of yearly Android OS upgrades and a matching spell for security update coverage.1 of 6Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus in Pink Gold Samsung Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus in Navy Samsung Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus in Mint Samsung Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus in Icy Blue Samsung Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus in Coral Red Samsung Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus in Blue Black Samsung Among the notable AI-first features is a Now Brief system, which keeps users updated and offers suggestions based on information pulled from the local data. Now Brief will also do its job via the dedicated Now Bar, right on the lock screen.The Circle to Search system is also getting an upgrade, and it can now extract phone numbers, email addresses, and website URLs appearing on the screen.Samsung says the Galaxy S25 series also opens the doors for actionable searches with context-aware suggestions. Essentially, when you look up information using the universal search tool, you will also see action suggestions, an approach Apple and OnePlus have also implemented on their phones.Samsungs SmartThings ecosystem for connected home devices has been out there for a while now. At this years Unpacked, Samsung is leveling up the game with HomeAI, a rather ambitious idea that collects a wide range of data from ambient sensors, tracks activity, and turns them into actionable insights and suggestions.To that end, Samsung aims to use mmWave sensors (among other types of low-power home sensors as well as those embedded in devices) to understand activity patterns. For example, it can detect when users are engaged in workouts, sleeping, and working.Based on the activity patterns, it can tell users if there is any scope for improvement and how they can better manage their scheduling to get the best out of their at-home lifestyle. For example, it will tell if the posture of your push-ups could use some adjustments and how to plan the best set.SamsungThe next avatar of SmartThings will also deploy a real-time monitoring and feedback channel. So, lets say that youve been sitting in the same posture on a chair for a while now. When the system detects it, users will be nudged to take a break and straighten their back.Using the sensors embedded in its Frame TV set, Smart Things will detect if you just blow-dried your hair. To handle the mess, it will automatically push the robotic vacuum cleaner into clean-up action.Likewise, when you reach home at the end of the day, the smart home stack will initiate tasks like dimming the lights, turning on the air purifier, and adjusting the room temperature, among others. Generative AI will also lend a hand in creating more immersive in-home map views and natural interactions.Editors Recommendations

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a fresh puzzle Fast radio burst in long-dead galaxy puzzles astronomers Result "challenges existing theories that tie FRB origins to phenomena in star-forming galaxies." Jennifer Ouellette Jan 22, 2025 1:06 pm | 5 The new ability to pinpoint sources of fast radio bursts places one recent burst in a surprising location. Credit: Gemini Observatory The new ability to pinpoint sources of fast radio bursts places one recent burst in a surprising location. Credit: Gemini Observatory Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreFast radio bursts (FRBs) are puzzling phenomena because their details are so difficult to resolve, and observations to date have been inconsistent. Astronomers added another piece to the puzzle with the detection of an FRB that seems to originate in a dead galaxy that is no longer producing new stars, according to a new paper published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, along with a related paper on the event from scientists at Northwestern University.As we've reported previously, FRBs involve a sudden blast of radio-frequency radiation that lasts just a few microseconds. Astronomers have observed over a thousand of them to date; some come from sources that repeatedly emit FRBs, while others seem to burst once and go silent. You can produce this sort of sudden surge of energy by destroying something. But the existence of repeating sources suggests that at least some of them are produced by an object that survives the event. That has led to a focus on compact objects, like neutron stars and black holesespecially a class of neutron stars called magnetarsas likely sources. Only about 3 percent of FRBs are of the repeating variety.There have also been many detected FRBs that don't seem to repeat at all, suggesting that the conditions that produce them may destroy their source. That's consistent with a blitzara bizarre astronomical event caused by the sudden collapse of an overly massive neutron star. The event is driven by an earlier merger of two neutron stars; this creates an unstable intermediate neutron star, which is kept from collapsing immediately by its rapid spin.Last July, astronomers looked specifically at the properties of polarized light emitting from these FRBs, yielding further insight into the origins of the phenomenon. The analysis supported the hypothesis that there are different origins for repeating and non-repeating FRBs. And earlier this month, a rare burst provided indications that FRBs likely originate near a star and that they share a feature with the emissions of pulsars, another subtype of neutron star. That burst was also consistent with a magnetar's intense magnetic fields being the key to driving these events. However, it's still possible that more than one type of event produces something that looks like an FRB.A surprising sourceFRBs are of particular interest because they can be used as probes to study the large-scale structure of the universe. That's why Calvin Leung, a postdoc at the University of California, Berkeley, was so excited to crunch data from Canada's CHIME instrument (Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment). CHIME was built for other observations but is sensitive to many of the wavelengths that make up an FRB. Unlike most radio telescopes, which focus on small points in the sky, CHIME scans a huge area, allowing it to pick out FRBs even though they almost never happen in the same place twice.Leung was able to combine data from several different telescopes to narrow down the likely position of a repeating FRB, first detected in February 2024, located in the constellation Ursa Minor. When he and his CHIME collaborators further refined the accuracy of the location by averaging many bursts from the FRB, they discovered that this FRB originated on the outskirts of a long-dead distant galaxy. That throws a wrench into the magnetar hypothesis because why would a dead galaxy in which no new stars are forming host a magnetar?It's the first time an FRB has been found in such a location, and it's also the furthest away from its galaxy. CHIME currently has two online outrigger radio arrays in placecompanion telescopes to the original CHIME radio array in British Columbia. A third array comes online this week in Northern California, and according to Leung, it should enable astronomers to pinpoint FRB sources much more accuratelyincluding this one. Data has already been incorporated from an outrigger in West Virginia, confirming the published position with a 20-times improvement in precision."This result challenges existing theories that tie FRB origins to phenomena in star-forming galaxies, said co-author Vishwangi Shah, a graduate student at McGill University. The source could be in a globular cluster, a dense region of old, dead stars outside the galaxy. If confirmed, it would make FRB 20240209A only the second FRB linked to a globular cluster.V. Shah et al., Astrophysical Journal Letters, 2025. DOI: 10.3847/2041-8213/ad9ddc (About DOIs).T. Eftekhari et al., Astrophysical Journal Letters, 2025. DOI: 10.3847/2041-8213/ad9de2 (About DOIs).Jennifer OuelletteSenior WriterJennifer OuelletteSenior Writer Jennifer is a senior writer at Ars Technica with a particular focus on where science meets culture, covering everything from physics and related interdisciplinary topics to her favorite films and TV series. Jennifer lives in Baltimore with her spouse, physicist Sean M. Carroll, and their two cats, Ariel and Caliban. 5 Comments

Two similar overlaid patterns create what are called moir patterns, which may be related to superconductivity in some atom-thick materialsRICHARD GERMAIN/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARYA mysterious form of superconductivity has been found in a twisted crystal, which could help researchers better understand how to make super-efficient electronics.Superconductivity is a rare property that lets some materials conduct electricity with no resistance. We only know of materials that are superconductors at low temperatures or extreme pressures, but a very high or room-temperature superconductor could transform the worlds energy systems by allowing us to send limitless energy over vast distances.Read

HealthThe hormonal changes of puberty, the menstrual cycle and menopause can all affect our sleep, but there are also subtler ways that hormones and sleep interact 22 January 2025 Emir Memedovski/ Getty ImagesIt may come as no surprise that hormonal upheaval say, during puberty or menopause can play havoc with sleep. But our hormones influence sleep all the time, not just during big changes. Whats more, we are starting to see that this relationship goes both ways: as much as our hormones affect how we sleep, how we sleep influences our hormones.A better understanding of this relationship could improve both our sleep and our general health. But, like a lot of relationships, it is complicated.This article is part of special series investigating key questions about sleep. Read more here.There are two basic processes that regulate sleep. The first, known as process S, keeps track of how long we have been awake through the build-up of the neurotransmitter adenosine, a by-product of cellular metabolism. Once enough has accumulated, like sand piling up at the bottom of an hourglass, the pressure to nod off becomes difficult to resist. The second, called process C, is driven by our circadian system, the rhythms of activity in almost all our cells timed to Earths 24-hour cycle of day and night.Process C, which is largely regulated by exposure to light, manages this through the release of two key hormones, melatonin and cortisol. Produced by the pineal gland during the dark hours, melatonin tells the parts of the brain that control sleep that it is night, so we fall asleep at the appropriate time. Cortisol picks up where melatonin leaves off, spiking in the morning and boosting our alertness to rouse us out of bed.Hormones change all the timeProduction of these hormones

As a frequent solo traveler, I prefer booking Airbnb stays over hotels.When I book an Airbnb for a solo trip, I say it's for two guests so hosts don't know I'm alone.Sometimes booking for two costs extra, but I'm willing to pay more because it makes me feel safer.Cozy cabins, luxury apartments, unique tiny homes including a converted wine barrel in Switzerland and a repurposed lifeguard tower in Miami I've booked them all through Airbnb.As a travel reporter, I've stayed in accommodations throughout the US, Canada, and Europe. I often opt for Airbnbs over hotels because they tend to offer more unique experiences, such as sleeping in a treehouse in Ontario's wine country.Usually, I travel solo. I've taken overnight trains in the US and Europe, spent seven nights on one of the world's largest cruise ships sailing the Caribbean Sea, and traveled by rail to Niagara Falls, Montral, and Quebec City. On these trips, I explored new cities and unique accommodations all by myself.Now that I'm a seasoned solo traveler, I have many practices to ensure I feel as safe as possible when traveling alone especially in other countries.When it comes to staying in Airbnbs solo, my best tip is to book for two people The reporter stays at a tiny-home hotel in Germany that she booked through Airbnb. Joey Hadden/Business Insider When I make an Airbnb reservation, I simply change the number of guests from one to two. Then, in my message to the host, I always say that I may have a friend joining me for my trip.This way, my host doesn't think I'm traveling alone. Creating the illusion that I have someone else with me makes me feel more comfortable falling asleep at night in a stranger's place.Booking for two sometimes comes with an additional fee, depending on the Airbnb.For example, when I traveled to Rome and booked two nights in a livable art sculpture Airbnb, the price was $102 a night for one person and $145 a night for two people. In this case, a companion did end up joining me for the stay. But even if they hadn't, I would have been fine paying the additional fee to feel more secure about staying there alone. Inside the livable art sculpture Airbnb that the reporter booked for a trip to Rome. Joey Hadden/Business Insider Solo travel can be daunting, especially when you're booking accommodation with an individual rather than directly through a company like you would at a hotel.But after all my unique Airbnb experiences, I think it's worth booking them even when I'm alone. And booking for two makes me feel a little safer.

The economy will probably head into a recession in a few years, Kenneth Rogoff says.The Harvard economist thinks a slowdown is coming in the second half of Trump's term.The downturn will be influenced by factors like a slowing business cycle and tariffs, he suggested.President Donald Trump's plan to engineer America's next economic boom will probably come up short in the coming years, according to Harvard University economist Kenneth Rogoff.The Harvard professor and former International Monetary Fund chief economist said he believed the US economy would likely slow and enter a downturn in the second half of Trump's term as president. That outcome will be influenced by a number of policies Trump suggested he would implement, Rogoff said, speaking to Yahoo! Finance on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum on Tuesday."I think the most likely scenario, with what I think are the most likely policies being passed, are strong, and then a slowdown into recession the second half of his term," Rogoff said. "It's just tough within the cycle not to do that."Rogoff highlighted some of Trump's policies that could weigh on the economy. The president has promised to loosen regulation in the financial sector, a move that could potentially lead to "trouble down the road," Rogoff said."And also, when you goose up the economy with these policies, most of which are not structural, they're really demand policies, you're going to get that effect," he added of the potential for an economic slowdown.Rogoff pointed to Trump's tariff plan, with the president promising to levy tariffs on imports from China, Canada, and Mexico as soon as February 1.Economists have said the tariffs could lead to higher inflation and higher interest rates, an idea Trump has pushed back on. Trump levied tariffs during his first term as president without a significant inflation increase. However, his proposals for tariff policy in his second term are more expansive, explaining the difference in inflation forecasts.Rogoff said the inflationary impact of the tariffs could be minor, though he believed the tariffs themselves would make markets nervous and could harm growth. "The inflationary impact is not a big deal, quantitatively," Rogoff said. "More worrisome is that it's chaotic, it hurts these animal spirits that he's benefiting from. It actually leads to slower growth."Trump has promised to "reignite explosive economic growth" over his four years in office, adding in his inauguration speech that tariffs could lead to "massive amounts of money" pouring into the US.Wall Street is bullish that Trump's push to loosen regulation for businesses could boost growth. But any pro-growth policies from Trump will likely still be outweighed by "counterproductive" policies, Rogoff said, speaking in a separate interview with Bloomberg at the event.Interest rates are also much higher than they were when Trump first took office in 2017, which is a wrinkle in any plans to juice the economy beyond already fairly robust levels of growth. "Every campaign promise practically is something counterproductive I mean, you can go to the tariffs, social security being not taxed, and on and on and on," Rogoff said. "He has a lot of constraints that he didn't face the first time. So I don't think you can expect quite the boom we got the last time," he later added.Other forecasters have also issued downbeat outlooks for what could happen during Trump's presidency. Steve Hanke, another top economist, said the US could slip into a recession as soon as Trump's first year in office.

Firefighters around Los Angeles have been making steady progress against the massive, fast-moving blazes that erupted around the city this month. The containment perimeters around the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire are growing, but the risk of another explosive wildfire remains high amid dry conditions and high winds. The wildfires have so far killed at least 28 people, charred more than 63 square miles, and destroyed more than 15,000 homes, offices, and shops. Wildfires are a fact of life in California. Theyre a natural phenomenon, clearing decaying vegetation, restoring nutrients to the soil, and helping new plants germinate. But their mounting devastation is a result of human decisions: More homes and businesses going up in wildfire-prone regions means a greater likelihood of igniting a blaze, and more destruction when one starts burning. Suppressing natural fires and not trimming back vegetation near structures means more fuel can build up. And as the climate changes, the weather in California is likely to see greater swings between rainfall and drought, enhancing the conditions that promote wildfires. The current blazes erupted after a sequence of record rainfall, record heat, record dryness, and high winds landed on one of the most populated parts of the country. The recent wildfires are on track to be the costliest blazes on record. The fires will only worsen Californias ongoing housing crisis and could reshape the makeup of the city as wealthy residents rebuild and poorer Angelinos are forced out. The scars of these fires will be borne by the region for years. As Voxs Rachel Cohen wrote, To merely restore what was lost which will take years even with potentially rushed permitting approvals wont be enough to stem the mounting crisis.RelatedOn the other hand, the fact that so many human factors are contributing to the rising destruction from wildfires means that there are decisions we can make to alleviate the harm. And as the flames die down and residents return, this moment presents an opportunity to think more holistically about reducing wildfire risk in Los Angeles and other fire-prone regions. Theres a lot that we can do as residents and homeowners to really change that trajectory and make small, often inexpensive actions that can make a big difference in changing the outcome when our buildings are exposed to the pathways of wildfire, said Yana Valachovic, a fire scientist at the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources Fire Network studying resilience in the built environment. I spoke to her just as she was leaving Los Angeles after investigating the wildfire damage up close. She told me that she observed that the destruction was not simply a function of the materials used to build homes, but how they fit into their neighborhoods, how they interact with nature, and the sophistication of the firefighting response. This conversation has been edited for length and clarity. Umair IrfanFor people watching the fires from afar, one question keeps coming up as they see photos of the destruction: Why are so many houses in Los Angeles made out of wood? Yana ValachovicFrom what I saw on both the Eaton and Palisades fires, we were largely looking at homes where the framing could be made of wood, but the exterior envelope was largely made of a stucco or stucco-like product. To me, it doesnt matter what its framed in, whether its wood or metal, its really about how the design, the materials, the installation, and the maintenance that has taken place. All those elements need to work together. No one single product is going to save a home in the face of wildfire.Umair IrfanSo wood isnt necessarily a bad choice in a fire-prone region?Yana ValachovicIm a licensed professional forester, so I will share my bias that I do like wood. We grow a lot of trees in California. It is our available natural resource, and I think its important to be able to use what you have in your community. The wood itself is combustible, but there are treatments that can make it fire-resistant. We have to think about this from a climate viewpoint and a natural resources viewpoint too. The environmental footprint of building with cement is pretty high. It takes a lot of energy to make cement, and we generally have to ship it from somewhere else, adding to the transportation footprint. Building materials made from wood are produced in California. Their environmental footprint is smaller, and through careful forest management, they really can be a very important sustainable resource that can also increase the resiliency of our forests.People are really excited about mass timber construction and what the potential is for reducing fire exposure in multistory buildings.But there are broader questions around what do we build with, where do we build, how do we build. Theres no clear winner that checks every box in terms of resiliency, environmental impact, and sustainability.Umair IrfanIs it true that at some point, any material can burn?Yana ValachovicI just want to step back for a second. Its not just the building and how its constructed; its the coupling between the vegetation and other combustibles how those directly touch or surround the building that make a substantial difference in fire risk.There are three types of fire exposures that buildings experience. One is the direct flame contact, which means that the fire is moving through some kind of combustible material. That can be wildland vegetation. It can be planted vegetation. It can be dry grass. It can be wood mulch. I think what the majority of people think about, this wall of flames that just slams at the house. The second component in fire exposure are embers, which are pieces of burning debris. They move all over and around a structure, and its pretty easy for them to find a pathway in to create new spot fires. For example, you leave the dog door open. The garage has a gap around it. Theres an open window, or a window that breaks. Those are all pathways for fire to get in.We can do things that help harden the structure so that its less vulnerable to embers. We can upgrade our vents so that the vents are not of a size that are capable of letting an ember get inside to combust something.Then the third element is something called radiant heat. Radiant heat is not directly in contact; its just the heat thats transferred through the air that causes a failure in the structure. When you get all that radiant heat, what you see is the glazing that helps hold the windowpanes starts to melt, or the heat is so intense that it breaks the glass.So, its a little more complex than just how the exterior building is finished, in wood or non-wood. It has to do with interrupting all those three pathways. I saw all three pathways lead to fires in the past few days.Umair IrfanCan you say to what extent improved building codes had an effect on which homes survived? Did newer homes under higher standards fare better?Yana ValachovicTheres some analysis work that needs to be done.In California, in 2008, we started to implement a specific component of the California building code called chapter 7A. Its focus is specifically on improving fire resilience of the exterior components of the structure, not interior sprinklers, not about how to control fires from within. So, since 2008 or so we have had a whole new population of buildings in high fire hazard severity zones that are built to a higher standard.Unfortunately, I didnt get to see any of those buildings in my two days that I was out, but Im really looking forward to the broader data collection to be able to see how those performed overall. Thats one of our key questions: Do the codes work? How well do they work? Do they need any more modifications? Umair IrfanI did see some viral photos of individual homes that survived while the rest of the neighborhood burned down. There was one in particular that looked like it was paneled with wood. What do you make of that?Yana ValachovicI didnt get a chance to see that building, but by and large that structure implemented many of the things that were talking about. It has another advantage: It has very shallow eaves. The eaves dont overhang very much. Why that matters is that when a spot fire does occur, it starts to create its own heat, and you get an eddy effect, which is like a wind circulation pattern. That really puts pressure under the eave area. If your under-eave areas are pretty shallow, then theres not a lot of area to be exposed.Its like a short brim hat versus a wide brim hat. The wide brim hat gives you more sun protection, but its got a lot more area where you can get fire circulating its heat up and underneath.Umair IrfanWhat is it thats preventing every home from using the best practices for fire resilience, beyond building codes?Yana ValachovicI just think its peoples lack of awareness. Also, most people dont build new homes. They mostly buy from the existing housing stock or from someone else you know has put in a subdivision. I think the challenge is actually getting into the building community and the design community to help them understand.We have an opportunity now after these fires to build back stronger and incorporate the best available information around so that homes are better prepared for these types of exposures.Umair IrfanAs youre heading out, was there anything you saw that was surprising or counterintuitive?Yana ValachovicThere are two things that really surprised me, and Ive done half a dozen research projects like this in events with fire loss. I expected to see more evenness in ember exposure. Why that matters is that I saw a number of buildings that survived, and what I concluded was part of the secret to their success was they just didnt get as much exposure to embers, meaning that the wind didnt bring embers everywhere consistently. The micro-topography really mattered in this. I think the temptation is going to be to say, Oh well, that house had all the right ingredients and protections, and I wish I could say so. What I observed is that there was just a variety of types of exposure.I also observed that there was more firefighting response than I had anticipated. Based on the media, theres so much discussion about lack of water availability, and not enough resources. But I saw a lot of great work that the firefighters did and they impacted the majority of homes that I saw that survived through both small and big actions. Umair IrfanWhat were some of the small and big actions?Yana ValachovicA small one would be disrupting the fire from coming down a neighbors wood fence and then connecting to neighbors fences. A lot of these homes didnt have a big distance between the edge of one house on the edge of the next house. Thered be a gate that would kind of close off the walkway on either side of the house. So there were folks that cut down wooden gates in particular to make sure that the fire didnt run at the building. Firefighters were moving from house to house breaking those connections. In other places, a little bit of water went a long way just to stop the progression.The big thing was having firefighting resources available to begin with. I think responders were moving quickly and efficiently through neighborhoods to help people in that situation. There are so many more resources in Southern California than other places Ive been.Youve read 1 article in the last monthHere at Vox, we're unwavering in our commitment to covering the issues that matter most to you threats to democracy, immigration, reproductive rights, the environment, and the rising polarization across this country.Our mission is to provide clear, accessible journalism that empowers you to stay informed and engaged in shaping our world. By becoming a Vox Member, you directly strengthen our ability to deliver in-depth, independent reporting that drives meaningful change.We rely on readers like you join us.Swati SharmaVox Editor-in-ChiefSee More:

Spider-Man developer Insomniac Games announces major shake-up as founder retiresAdam StarkeyPublished January 22, 2025 5:40pmUpdated January 22, 2025 5:41pm An end of an era for Insomniac (Sony Interactive Entertainment)The studio behind Ratchet And Clank and Spyro The Dragon will soon be led by three people, as founder Ted Price retires after 30 years.Insomniac Games has created some of the most popular franchises in gaming, between Spyro The Dragon and Ratchet And Clank.The studio, founded by Ted Price in 1994, worked closely with PlayStation for many years, including the Resistance series on the PlayStation 3. It was later acquired by Sony in 2019 following the success of Marvels Spider-Man, which has spawned several sequels since. Now, over 30 years later, Price has announced his retirement from the games industry, with three people set to take over as co-CEO at Insomniac Games.In an announcement on Sonys website, Price said he revealed the news to the Insomniac team last week, and will officially retire at the end of March.I actually made this decision last year, he wrote. For me, after over 30 years of leading Insomniac, I felt it was simply time to step aside and let others pave the way for our team.During the past, I had the opportunity to work with the senior leadership team at Insomniac to create a succession plan that I know will provide the continuity, stability and strong leadership necessary to deliver more of what our fans cherish over the next several decades. Ted Price officially retires in March (Sony/Insomniac)Following his retirement, Price will be replaced by Chad Dezern, Ryan Schneider, and Jen Huang as Insomniacs co-studio heads.As detailed on a PlayStation blog, Dezern joined Insomniac in 1998 as an environment artist and has been the studios head of creative since 2017. Schneider began during the PlayStation 2 era, where he became the teams first community director, while Huang joined the studio eight years ago as chief financial officer.Rounding off his announcement, Price added: Finally, Im confident that under the combined leadership of Chad, Jen, and Ryan, Insomniac will continue to deliver the industry-defining games that players have come to expect from us while making a positive and lasting impact on peoples lives for decades to come.Prices departure comes after several notable exits at PlayStation, namely Shuhei Yoshida and former Sony Interactive Entertainment president Jim Ryan. His retirement also comes after a turbulent period for Insomniac Games, with the studio hit by layoffs last year and a massive hack, which outed the studios future plans, in December 2023.More TrendingWhile its unclear if this leadership shift will impact Insomniacs output moving forward, the studios next game is set to be Marvels Wolverine, which was announced way back in 2021. Big changes at Insomniac Games (YouTube)Emailgamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below,follow us on Twitter, andsign-up to our newsletter.To submit Inbox letters and Readers Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use ourSubmit Stuff page here.For more stories like this,check our Gaming page.GameCentralSign up for exclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy