By Margherita Bassi Published January 23, 2025 | Comments (0) | The CHIME telescopes that detected the February 2024 FRB. CHIME, Andre Renard, Dunlap Institute for Astronomy & Astrophysics, University of Toronto The energy flare came from an old galaxy, upending prevailing theories about the source of fast radio bursts. In February 2024, scientists on Earth detected a powerful radio blast from outer space. Seeking to discover where it had come from, they traced the brief flash of energy back to its extraterrestrial sourceand discovered something unexpected. Scientists led by Northwestern University and McGill University have traced a fast radio burst (FRB) to the edges of an ancient elliptical galaxy. Scientists had previously thought that these quick radio blasts, which generate more energy in a single flare than our Sun generates in an entire year, are exclusively produced by young galaxies that steadily churn out new stars. The recent investigations, however, detailed in two sister studies published on January 21st in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, are prompting astronomers to reconsider the potential diversity of FRB sources. Dubbed FRB 20240209A, the February 2024 FRB wasnt just a one-and-done. Between February and July 2024, the same source flared 21 times.The prevailing theory is that FRBs come from magnetars formed through core-collapse supernovae, Tarraneh Eftekhari of Northwestern University, who participated in both studies, said in a university statement. Magnetars are neutron stars with very powerful magnetic fieldsand neutron stars are extremely small and dense celestial objects thought to form in the wake of some large stars explosive deaths, that is, supernovae. That doesnt appear to be the case here, Eftekhari continued. While young, massive stars end their lives as core-collapse supernovae, we dont see any evidence of young stars in this galaxy. Thanks to this new discovery, a picture is emerging that shows not all FRBs come from young stars. Maybe there is a subpopulation of FRBs that are associated with older systems.The old galaxy in question is 11.3 billion years old, and 2 billion lightyears away from us. Using computer simulations, Eftekhari and her colleagues discovered that the galaxy is extremely bright, and 100 billion times more massive than our Sun. It seems to be the most massive FRB host galaxy to date, Eftekhari said. Its among some of the most massive galaxies out there. Not only did the unusual FRB originate from an old galaxy, it also came from that galaxys edgespecifically, 130,000 lightyears from its center.The February FRB, marked with the oval outlines, is far from its home galaxy, the big yellow splotch. Gemini Observatory Among the FRB population, this FRB is located the [farthest] from the center of its host galaxy, said Vishwangi Shah of McGill, who participated in both studies. This is both surprising and exciting, as FRBs are expected to originate inside galaxies, often in star-forming regions. The location of this FRB so far outside its host galaxy raises questions as to how such energetic events can occur in regions where no new stars are forming. But FRB 20240209A is not the first FRB to be detected far away from regions of active star formationits the second. In 2022, astronomers traced M81 FRB, which is located 12 million light years from Earth, to a cluster of stars on the edge of galaxy Messier 81. FRB 20240209A could be a twin of the M81 event [M81 FRB]. It is far from its home galaxy (far away from where any stars are being born), and the population of stars in its home galaxy is extremely old. Its had its hey-day and is now coasting into retirement, said Wen-fai Fong of Northwestern University, who participated in both studies. At the same time, this type of old environment is making us rethink our standard FRB progenitor models and turning to more exotic formation channels, which is exciting.One of the studies suggests that, like M81 FRB, the new FRB might have also originated from a cluster of stars, called a globular cluster. A globular cluster origin for this repeating FRB is the most likely scenario to explain why this FRB is located outside its host galaxy, Shah explained. We do not know for a fact if there is a globular cluster present at the FRB position and have submitted a proposal to use the James Webb Space Telescope for follow-up observations of the FRB location. If yes, it would make this FRB only the second FRB known to reside in a globular cluster. If not, we would have to consider alternative exotic scenarios for the FRBs origin.In other words: back to the drawing board!Daily NewsletterYou May Also Like By Passant Rabie Published January 21, 2025 By Margherita Bassi Published January 19, 2025 By Isaac Schultz Published January 18, 2025 By Isaac Schultz Published January 14, 2025 By Passant Rabie Published January 10, 2025 By Margherita Bassi Published January 10, 2025

Building Among the Branches: A Showcase of Contemporary Treehouse ArchitectureSave this picture!ORIGIN Tree House by Atelier LAVIT. Image Marco Lavit NicoraDespite their whimsical appearance, treehouses offer a unique platform for structural innovations and design explorations. Traditional treehouses rely on the trunks of trees for structural support, but, in order to ease the load supported by the tree, contemporary projects often introduce additional systems, such as stilts to maintain the image while offering additional support. One of the key advantages of elevating them in this way is the reduced environmental footprint. Treehouses can be designed to leave the forest floor untouched, preserving small-scale ecosystems. By freeing up the ground below, they minimize disruptions to native flora and fauna, allowing nature to thrive undisturbed. Similarly, many architects use the local topography to create seamless connections, incorporating ramps, stairs, or bridges that integrate with the landscape. These solutions not only improve accessibility but also enhance the overall experience creating an architectural promenade that moves between the treehouse and its surroundings."This sensitivity to the environment is reflected not only in the structural design but also in the careful selection of materials. The use of natural materials like wood, also helps the structure blend with its environment. Some designers have gone further by employing alternative materials such as mirrored panels to reflect the surrounding forest and mask the treehouse's presence entirely, demonstrating that the choice of material can contribute to creating a project that feels like an extension of its setting rather than an imposition on it. This collection highlights notable examples from Sweden, Denmark, Indonesia, and France, showcasing their diverse approaches.Read on to discover how these designs balance structure, environmental sensitivity, and aesthetics to create a great variety of tree house experiences. Related Article Tips for Building a Tree House The 7th room / SnhettaSave this picture!Tree Hotel / Tham & Videgrd ArkitekterSave this picture!Tree House / FB+ estudioSave this picture!Tree House / JAN TYRPEKLSave this picture!Tree House at Bambu Indah / IBUKUSave this picture!ORIGIN Tree House / Atelier LAVITSave this picture!Tree House / Pablo Luna StudioSave this picture!The Evans Tree House at Garvan Woodland Gardens / modus studioSave this picture!Senbo Resort Hangzhou Tree House / WH studioSave this picture!Treetop Hotel Lvtag Denmark / Sigurd LarsenSave this picture!Image gallerySee allShow lessAbout this authorMoises CarrascoAuthorCite: Moises Carrasco. "Building Among the Branches: A Showcase of Contemporary Treehouse Architecture" 23 Jan 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1025922/building-among-the-branches-a-showcase-of-contemporary-treehouse-architecture&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Project Files: https://www.patreon.com/posts/120595111 .In this episode of the compass bar system, I am going to work on how to customize the compass bar marker icon images, their sizes and how to display additional details such as distance to the actor represented by the marker underneath the compass bar icon. Menu System: https://youtu.be/CmYyFsNmwRM Map and Minimap: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNTm9yU0zou6xdEqL2QSSfanaZ3KA_vU7 // ! https://www.patreon.com/codelikeme Patrons will have access to project files of all the stuff I do in the channel and other extra benefitsJoin this channel to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClb6Jh9EBV7a_Nm52Ipll_Q/join Like my facebook page for more content : https://www.facebook.com/gamedevelopersclub/ Follow me on twitter : https://twitter.com/CodeLikeMe2 Follow me on reddit : https://www.reddit.com/user/codelikeme #CodeLikeMe #unrealengine #ue4 #indiegamedev

Nature, Published online: 22 January 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00131-1First estimate of its type shows that cultivated seaweed beds can accumulate as much carbon as some natural ecosystems.

Nature, Published online: 22 January 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-024-08322-yUsing whole-Earth oscillations to constrain a 3D global model of attenuation for the whole mantle, low attenuation correlates with low velocity in the lower mantle, suggesting long-lived deep-mantle provinces.

The Last of Us shows several types of infected monsters, and Creature Designer Luke Starkie has one more to add. Meet Bloomer a horrifying TLOU-inspired enemy that could fit right in there.Similar to Bloaters and Clickers, this monster has fungus-like appendages growing from the head and back, reminiscent of grotesque wings, created with ZBrush, Blender, and Photoshop.Starkie is a master of horror: his ArtStation portfolio is full of chilling creatures, with teeth and bones protruding from all kinds of places. There are also some unusual animals in his distinct style.Which one is your favorite? Share with us and join our80 Level Talent platformand ournew Discord server, follow us onInstagram,Twitter,LinkedIn,Telegram,TikTok, andThreads,where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.Source link The post Artist Presents New Type of Infected Inspired by The Last of Us appeared first on CG SHARES.

Season 2 of Call of Duty arrives in Black Ops 6 and Warzone on January 28. This brand-new season includes a new battle pass to level up, more guns to unlock, and another Terminator crossover event. Here are all the major announcements from the Season 2 roadmap.The second season of Black Ops 6 delivers a fresh battle pass to level up for new DLC weapons, more operator skins, and other fun cosmetics. The standard Season 2 battle pass has over 110 items to unlock, which doesn't include the additional BlackCell content that can be purchased.Activision says Season 2 includes more than six new weapons to unlock, and four of them are revealed with the season's roadmap. The weapons, operators, maps, and additional Season 2 content can be found in the images below. New seasonal eventsSeason 2 includes brand-new events across multiplayer and Warzone. The events list kickoffs with a new Terminator crossover event on February 6. The last time we saw the Terminator in Call of Duty was Vanguard. This new Black Ops 6 event includes a shop bundle with Arnold as the human version as well as the cyborg "Titanium Core" skin. The Shadow Hunt and Patrick's Day: Clover Craze events will follow after. PPSh-41 submachine gunThe iconic PPSh-41 submachine gun is an HVT-tier reward on page 6 of the battle pass, and an additional blueprint can be unlocked on page 14. Cypher 091 assault rifleThe Cypher 091 assault rifle is an HVT-tier reward on page 8 of the battle pass, and an additional blueprint can be unlocked on page 11. Feng 82 light machine gunThe Feng 82 light machine gun is an HVT-tier reward on page 3 of the battle pass, and an additional blueprint can be unlocked on page 10. TR2 marksman rifleThe TR2 is a semi-auto marksman rifle that will be available to unlock as an event reward. Activision says additional weapons will be revealed closer to the midseason "Reloaded" update. New Crossbow attachmentSeason 2 also adds the new Crossbow weapon attachment. This will be an underbarrel attachment that can be unlocked to turn select rifles into a crossbow. This includes Black Ops 6's assault rifles as well as the SWAT 5.56 and AEK-973 marksman rifles. More multiplayer mapsThree brand-new multiplayer maps arrive with Season 2, with Dealership, Lifeline, and Bounty. Two more maps will arrive with the midseason update. Previews of the maps can be found below. Bounty mapBounty is a standard 6v6 map set on the top level of an Avalon skyscraper. Dealership mapDealership is a standard 6v6 map set in and around a luxury car dealership. Lifeline mapLifeline takes place on a high-end yacht, and this is a small map designed for 6v6 playlists as well as 2v2 Gunfight. Bullet mapBullet is a small midseason map that takes place on a moving bullet train, and this will be available in 6v6 playlists as well as 2v2 Gunfight. Grind mapGrind, the skatepark map originally from Black Ops 2, returns as a DLC map for the midseason update. More game modesSeason 2 introduces a brand-new game mode called Overdrive. This is described as a "charged up Team deathmatch with a twist." Teams compete to be the first to reach the maximum number of stars. Stars are earned by the following:Earn 1 star for Basic Eliminations like finishing off an enemy with body shotsEarn 2 stars for Core Medal Eliminations like headshots and melee attacksEarn 3 stars for completing Distinguished Medal Eliminations, reserved for only the most impressive takedownsRacking up stars will unlock special abilities that will greatly aid players to reach Overdrive. These are as follows:1 Star: Awakened Senses: See enemies through walls and replenish your health after eliminating a target3 Stars: Physical Enhancements: Increased movement and reloading speed6 Stars: Augmented Handling: Improved hip-fire accuracy and improved sprint-to-fire and ADS speedsEarning all three buffs activates "Overdrive," which allows players to earn double the stars when eliminating enemies.Other game modes for Season 2 include the return of Gun Game, Gunfight mode for 3v3, and a playlist geared towards duos. Quality-of-life updatesSeason 2 includes several quality-of-life updates, including separate HUD presets for multiplayer and Zombies. Several general updates are listed as follows:Reduced collision with teammates to improve maneuverability around tight spaces and doorways with nearby teammatesWeapon balance pass and bullet penetration updatesFurther reducing weapon motion when jumping, sliding, and diving with the Dexterity Perk equippedImproving player visibility in Kill Confirmed by reducing the height of dog tags on the mapSimplifying and/or expanding requirements for several Calling Card Challenges, as well as fixing bugged challengesExpanding the number of Featured Playlist slots to allow for more marquee playlists on the main menu New Zombies mapFor Zombies content, The Tomb is a brand-new map that will launch with the start of Season 2. This follows the events of last season's Citadelle des Morts main quest, with the characters headed to an excavation site in search of the Sentinel Artifact.Additionally, the main story quest goes live at the start of Season 2, and rewards are available to those who complete the quest before Directed Mode arrives later in the season. The Tomb map areasThe surface area of The Tomb is called the Dig Site, but players will eventually travel down into tombs and a subterranean temple. The Mimic returnsThe Mimic enemy-type returns, but this time the creature is electrified as the "Shock Mimic." Ice Staff Wonder Weapon returnsThe Ice Staff returns from Black Ops 2's Origins map, serving as the Wonder Weapon for The Tomb. The Death Perception Perk from Black Ops 4 also returns, and augments will be available to unlock to upgrade the perk. Warzone Season 2For Warzone, players can expect less seasonal content and more improvements. As recently announced in Activision's Community Updates blog, some of the new content planned for Season 2 has been shifted in order to focus on game updates.These updates include adjustments to weapon reload and swap speeds, jump mechanics, parachute transitions, and audio clarity, which the developer says is tuned "to bring battle royale closer to their intended experience." Adjustments are also included for default perks, equipment count, and body shield behavior.The season will also introduce new quality-of-life updates, including being able to ping Buy Back flares and improvements to the stat tracker font for better legibility. Two new Warzone perksDespite this shift, Warzone is still getting two new perks for Season 2. Reactive Armor is a tier 2 perk, and this will regenerate a player's armor up to 50% if they haven't taken damage in the last 5 seconds.Low Profile is a tier 1 perk, and this allows a player to be able to move more quickly while crouched and prone and move slightly faster when downed. New Ranked Play seasons and updatesLastly, Season 2 includes new Ranked Play seasons and rewards for both multiplayer and Warzone. Anti-cheat improvements are announced for Ranked Play, as well as the ability to turn off cross-play on console.

EA Sports UFC 5 is still the only game for fans of mixed martial arts, ready to test their fighting skills inside the Octagon. The game continues to be supported with updates to the ever-expanding roster. It also adds new venues like the Las Vegas Sphere. You can alter EA Sports UFC 5's settings to tailor the experience to your liking. Looking for an intense simulation for a realistic fight, or something more fast-paced and arcade-like? Change some settings and find out what you like best.

Almost any RPG enthusiast is likely to leap for joy when they hear mention of a game having multiple endings, as it suggests there are potentially some very important choices presented to them during the game's narrative. Obsidian Entertainment's The Outer Worlds is one such RPG with three endings, each of which is profoundly impacted by some key decisions players make throughout the game's story. Now, with The Outer Worlds 2 on the horizon, it is expected to have multiple endings as well, but there remains an argument for it to feature an even greater number of conclusions.

According to a 2022 poll from YouGov, 39% of Americans believe they have some form of paranormal ability. About a quarter of that group think they can sense other people's auras or emotion; 15% say they can hear voices or sounds from ghosts; and about 13% think they can see events from the past or future. This is a public service announcement to the nearly 13 million Americans who believe they have supernatural powers: You are leaving a lot of money on the table. Various groups of skeptics worldwide have put a total of $1,408,424 (and one goat) on the table, and all that filthy lucre is just waiting to be collected by anyone who can manifest paranormal power. The specific kinds of powers you need to demonstrate to win the prizes run the gamut. Dutch organization Stichting Skepsis will shell out 12 grand to practitioners of some forms of alternative medicine who can demonstrate its effectiveness (so if you're into applied kinesiology, give 'em a shot), and you can get a free goat from Fayetteville Freethinkers for proving a "fulfilled Biblical prophecy." But whether you're able to see the future, move objects with your mind, or talk to spirits, there's a prize out there for you. The history of paranormal prizesThe first monetary prize for proof of paranormal activity was offered by Scientific American in 1922. In the midst of the spiritualism movement, the publication offered $2,500 for anyone who could produce a "spirit photograph" (a photo that captures an image of a ghost) under controlled conditions, and $2,500 for anyone able to produce a "visible psychic manifestation." Famous (at the time) medium George Valiantine gave it a shot and was able to create the illusion of a trumpet floating in the air in a dark room, but the test committee (which included Harry Houdini) had connected his chair to a light in an adjoining room, which lit up whenever Valiantine left his chair, which was also every time the trumpet appeared. Valiantine was proven a fraud, and Scientific American kept their cash.The most famous bounty for psychic ability is the One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge offered by the James Randi Educational Foundation. Randi, a magician turned professional skeptic, first offered a prize of $1,000 back in 1964, but the cash grew to a million by 1996. Between 1964 and 2015 when the prize was discontinued, over 1,000 people applied, but none were successful at demonstrating their supernatural power under controlled conditions. No remote viewers were able to remote view. No dowsers were able to find hidden objects. No mind reader was able to read minds.How paranormal prizes can backfireYou'd think that a 100% failure rate might make people question the reality of psychic abilities, but for a lot of people, public failure can make psychic abilities seem more plausible. At least that's how it worked for Uri Geller. Geller, who's still around and still claiming supernatural power, began gaining attention in the early 1970s for his supposed ability to bend spoons with his mind. While he never tried for James Randi's prize, the two had a famous run-in on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show that demonstrated the problems with disproving paranormal activity. Carson, who had been magician, was skeptical of Geller's claims, and brought him on his show and presented him with some tests that Randi helped develop. If you want to see some uncomfortable TV, check it out: If you don't have the 20 minutes to spare, Carson lets Geller take his time and try any of a series of test of his ability, but Geller can't. With Carson watching carefully and not allowing Geller control of any of the props, Geller can't bend a spoon with his mind; he can't determine whether a container holds water. He can't do anything.You'd think a public failure this complete would have ended Geller's career, but it had the opposite effect. Geller blamed his failure on "not feeling strongly" and claimed he might have been "blocking himself" that night. Many apparently saw Geller's failure as proof that he was the real thing; after all, if he was a magician, the tricks would have worked. Geller then became a popular guest on other talk shows where he was able to perform his tricks successfully under less controlled conditions, and a star was born. Why disproving anything is difficultWhile Uri Geller and other high-profile psychics are performers and are no doubt aware of how they're achieving their results, the 13 million or so Americans who believe they possess special powers aren't being deceitfulit's just easy to believe in the supernatural. When something unusual happens, when a one-in-a-million occurrence occurs, it's easy to see that as proof of a mysterious, unexplainable something. If you're thinking about a friend and they text you that very minute, how can you not see that as evidence of some weird connection? But one-in-a-million events happen to over 300 people in America every single day, and there's no James Randi or Johnny Carson around to provide a controlled experiment to prove it's just a coincidence, to explain that you probably think of people all the time who don't text you that minute.But maybe I'm wrong. If I am, there's over a million dollars and a goat out there waiting for the right person to come along and claim them.