Simone RotellaThere is something about wine experts that rubs people the wrong way. Wine tasting has become the epitome of a privileged elite who spend their days nose deep in a glass of swirling pinot noir. This negative view of wine experts isnt only misguided, but part of a general devaluation of our sense of smell.Over 2000 years ago, Aristotle wrote that our sense of smell is not accurate but worse than many animals. For man smells poorly. The human ability to smell is still thought of as weak. A UK survey showed it was seen as the

It might sound like something straight out of the 19th century, but one of the most cutting-edge areas in energy today involves drilling deep underground to hunt for materials that can be burned for energy. The difference is that this time, instead of looking for fossil fuels, the race is on to find natural deposits of hydrogen. Hydrogen is already a key ingredient in the chemical industry and could be used as a greener fuel in industries from aviation and transoceanic shipping to steelmaking. Today, the gas needs to be manufactured, but theres some evidence that there are vast deposits underground. Ive been thinking about underground resources a lot this week, since Ive been reporting a story about a new startup, Addis Energy. The company is looking to use subsurface rocks, and the conditions down there, to produce another useful chemical: ammonia. In an age of lab-produced breakthroughs, it feels like something of a regression to go digging for resources, but looking underground could help meet energy demand while also addressing climate change. Its rare that hydrogen turns up in oil and gas operations, and for decades, the conventional wisdom has been that there arent large deposits of the gas underground. Hydrogen molecules are tiny, after all, so even if the gas was forming there, the assumption was that it would just leak out. However, there have been somewhat accidental discoveries of hydrogen over the decades, in abandoned mines or new well sites. There are reports of wells that spewed colorless gas, or flames that burned gold. And as people have looked more intentionally for hydrogen, theyve started to find it. As it turns out, hydrogen tends to build up in very different rocks from those that host oil and gas deposits. While fossil-fuel prospecting tends to focus on softer rocks, like organic-rich shale, hydrogen seems most plentiful in iron-rich rocks like olivine. The gas forms when chemical reactions at elevated temperature and pressure underground pull water apart. (Theres also likely another mechanism that forms hydrogen underground, called radiolysis, where radioactive elements emit radiation that can split water.) Some research has put the potential amount of hydrogen available at around a trillion tonsplenty to feed our demand for centuries, even if we ramp up use of the gas. The past few years have seen companies spring up around the world to try to locate and tap these resources. Theres an influx in Australia, especially the southern part of the country, which seems to have conditions that are good for making hydrogen. One startup, Koloma, has raised over $350 million to aid its geologic hydrogen exploration. There are so many open questions for this industry, including how much hydrogen is actually going to be accessible and economical to extract. Its not even clear how best to look for the gas today; researchers and companies are borrowing techniques and tools from the oil and gas industry, but there could be better ways. Its also unknown how this could affect climate change. Hydrogen itself may not warm the planet, but it can contribute indirectly to global warming by extending the lifetime of other greenhouse gases. Its also often found with methane, a super-powerful greenhouse gas that could do major harm if it leaks out of operations at a significant level. Theres also the issue of transportation: Hydrogen isnt very dense, and it can be difficult to store and move around. Deposits that are far away from the final customers could face high costs that might make the whole endeavor uneconomical. But this whole area is incredibly exciting, and researchers are working to better understand it. Some are looking to expand the potential pool of resources by pumping water underground to stimulate hydrogen production from rocks that wouldnt naturally produce the gas. Theres something fascinating to me about using the playbook of the oil and gas industry to develop an energy source that could actually help humanity combat climate change. It could be a strategic move to address energy demand, since a lot of expertise has accumulated over the roughly 150 years that weve been digging up fossil fuels. After all, its not digging thats the problemits emissions. Now read the rest of The Spark Related reading This story from Science, published in 2023, is a great deep dive into the world of so-called gold hydrogen. Give it a read for more on the history and geology here. For more on commercial efforts, specifically Koloma, give this piece from Canary Media a read. And for all the details on geologic ammonia and Addis Energy, check out my latest story here. Another thing Donald Trump officially took office on Monday and signed a flurry of executive orders. Here are a few of the most significant ones for climate: Trump announced his intention to once again withdraw from the Paris agreement. After a one-year waiting period, the worlds largest economy will officially leave the major international climate treaty. (New York Times) The president also signed an order that pauses lease sales for offshore wind power projects in federal waters. Its not clear how much the office will be able to slow projects that already have their federal permits. (Associated Press) Another executive order, titled Unleashing American Energy, broadly signals a wide range of climate and energy moves. One section ends the EV mandate. The US government doesnt have any mandates around EVs, but this bit is a signal of the administrations intent to roll back policies and funding that support adoption of these vehicles. There will almost certainly be court battles. (Wired) Another section pauses the disbursement of tens of billions of dollars for climate and energy. The spending was designated by Congress in two of the landmark laws from the Biden administration, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act. Again, experts say we can likely expect legal fights. (Canary Media)Keeping up with climate The Chinese automaker BYD built more electric vehicles in 2024 than Tesla did. The data signals a global shift to cheaper EVs and the continued dominance of China in the EV market. (Washington Post) A pair of nuclear reactors in South Carolina could get a second chance at life. Construction halted at the VC Summer plant in 2017, $9 billion into the project. Now the sites owner wants to sell. (Wall Street Journal) Existing reactors are more in-demand than ever, as I covered in this story about whats next for nuclear power. (MIT Technology Review) In California, charging depots for electric trucks are increasingly choosing to cobble together their own power rather than waiting years to connect to the grid. These solar- and wind-powered microgrids could help handle broader electricity demand. (Canary Media) Wildfires in Southern California are challenging even wildlife that have adapted to frequent blazes. As fires become more frequent and intense, biologists worry about animals like mountain lions. (Inside Climate News) Experts warn that ash from the California wildfires could be toxic, containing materials like lead and arsenic. (Associated Press) Burning wood for power isnt necessary to help the UK meet its decarbonization goals, according to a new analysis. Biomass is a controversial green power source that critics say contributes to air pollution and harms forests. (The Guardian)

On Wednesday, at least two transatlantic flights reached top ground speeds above 800mph.They were still technically subsonic because they were propelled by a faster-than-usual jet stream.Recent cold weather has strengthened the jet stream, and the climate crisis is set to exacerbate this.Some transatlantic flights have traveled faster than the speed of sound relative to the ground this week.It isn't the return of Concorde, but regular wide-body jets flying through an accelerated jet stream.According to data from Flightradar24, Qatar Airways Flight 704 reached a top ground speed of 833 miles per hour as it crossed the Atlantic on Wednesday.The Boeing 777 flying from New York to Doha landed around 50 minutes ahead of schedule.Also briefly traveling above the speed of sound was British Airways Flight 274, which flew from Las Vegas to London, and hit a top ground speed of 814 miles per hour, per Flightradar24 data.The Airbus A350 landed 45 minutes ahead of schedule.While both flights' top speeds were above Mach 1.2, there would not have been a sonic boom.The planes were traveling at their usual cruising speeds typically around 600 miles per hour but were propelled by the North Atlantic jet stream flowing much faster than usual.So, while the planes traveled above the speed of sound relative to the ground, they were still technically subsonic relative to the air around them.The jet stream has been more powerful than usual because it has been fueled by the recent cold spell in the US.This is also set to bring extremely high winds to the UK and Ireland, as part of Storm owyn. Red warnings meaning there is a danger to life are in place for the whole of Ireland and parts of Scotland for Friday, with wind gusts expected to be as high as 100 miles per hour.While Wednesday's flights were rare in going over 800 miles per hour, it isn't clear that any records were broken.Guinness World Records says the fastest subsonic transatlantic commercial flight took place in 2020. A British Airways Boeing 747 flew from New York to London in 4 hours and 56 minutes. Due to the five-hour time difference between the US and the UK, the flight landed, in relative terms, four minutes before it took off.Relative to the ground below, it flew through the jet stream at 825 miles per hour.However, its top speeds were sustained for longer than Wednesday's flights, given that the flight was over two hours quicker than usual.It might not be long before records are broken again, though.Transatlantic flights almost always travel through the North Atlantic jet stream, and its tailwinds are the reason it's faster to fly from the US to Europe rather than vice-versa.The climate crisis means that thejet streams are becoming strongerand, therefore, faster.It is causing an increasing difference in energy between two layers of the atmosphere, which imparts more energy into the jet streams.This also enlarges Rossby waves meanders in the jet stream which creates more friction in the air and increases the risk of turbulence on the edges of the jet stream.If you want to see a true supersonic commercial flight, you'll have to wait a few more years.Boom Supersonic, a US startup, is developing an airliner planned to travel at Mach 1.7, with plans to enter service before the end of the decade.

I have three daughters; my oldest daughter left for college in August.I'm not quite an empty nester, but the house does feel different without her.Here's how I'm dealing with the transition and including my younger daughters in the process.When my oldest daughter left for college this past August, I experienced every emotion the articles warned me about: pride, sadness, excitement, and confusion. But nothing I read mentioned what it feels like to have a not-quite-empty nest. Our house isn't full anymore, yet it's far from empty. This in-between state is its own unique transition.From 2010 to 2020, my three daughters shared a bedroom and formed an unbreakable bond. When the pandemic started, my oldest moved into her own bedroom downstairs allowing for a bit more independence a shift that hinted at what life might look like when she eventually left. We joked about it, worried about it, but mostly ignored the reality. Then, suddenly, it was here.As we prepared to send her off, I read a lot about empty nests how to cope, what to expect but nothing about the dynamics of having children still at home. How do you support them while adjusting to this new phase? Through trial and error, I've learned some strategies to smooth the transition.We're including them in the processFor us, this meant making space literally and emotionally. My youngest immediately claimed the downstairs bedroom, excited to finally have her own space. I hesitated. I'd read that when a child leaves for college, some parents leave their room untouched for at least a year, giving them a familiar haven to come home to. But my oldest was fine with it, and keeping the room empty didn't make sense for us.Including the younger two in decisions about their sister's room helped them feel empowered during a time of change. They needed to know life was evolving for them, too, and didn't just revolve around their sister's absence.We honor their sibling bondThe hardest part for my younger two daughters was missing the actual drop-off. They were both in school and devastated to miss that final goodbye. After my husband and I moved her into her dorm about three hours away, we came home after a couple of days to a quieter house. To ease the strangeness, we went to the movies. Unintentionally, I chose a tearjerker, which let us cry together in the dark without needing to explain it.Later that night, I found both younger girls FaceTiming their sister and her roommate, laughing like nothing had changed. Their bond was intact, even with the physical distance.I also sped up getting my youngest a phone by several months so she could stay connected with her sisters. Encouraging regular check-ins and shared group chats has helped keep their relationship strong. For them, it's not just having a sister move out; it's a change in their daily lives. Keeping those ties intact matters.We balance evolving spaces with familiarityNavigating the space left behind was tricky. My middle daughter was excited to have her own room for the first time, but she wasn't thrilled about keeping another twin bed in the larger room for her sister's visits home. At first, it caused tension why did she have to sacrifice her new space?I explained that the bed symbolized something larger: no matter where life took her sister, there would always be space for her here. Once she understood this, she accepted it. It also prepared her for her own eventual departure, knowing she'd always have a place to return to.While it's important to let the kids at home grow into new spaces, keeping even a small corner or shelf for the child who left sends a powerful message: home is still their home.We're creating new traditionsOur family dinners are quieter now, and I sometimes set too many places by habit. I still catch myself waiting up for my oldest, only to remember we dropped her off at college several months ago.To adapt, we've started new rituals. A weekly movie night where everyone picks a film or a new TV series to watch together has become a favorite. These small traditions give us something to look forward to and reinforce our connection as a smaller group.We embrace the 'not quite empty' momentsI still miscount kids at family events, frantically looking for my third daughter. This phase is strange not fully empty, but not quite full. But I've learned to embrace it.It's a transition filled with opportunities to connect in new ways. Soon enough, we'll send off the next one. For now, I'm cherishing these moments with my not-quite-empty nest and the balance between holding on and letting go.When my oldest comes home, she'll always have her place here both in her new role and in the family she helped shape.

I was obsessed with Lonely Mountains: Downhill, the minimalist mountain-biking game from 2019. Obsessed with it. I ran those courses over and over until I knew just when to brake, when my tyres would skid over a rock and when theyd catch and send me flying, when to power down a straight, and when to cautiously pick my way over ledges like a goat in Lycra. I found it deeply soothing, partly because of the soundtrack of tweeting birds and rustling leaves (punctuated only by the sickening thwack of a rider colliding with a boulder), but mostly because of the zen-like state of concentration needed to get down those mountains at speed without dying 300 times. I developed a perfect feel for the infinitesimal adjustments in trajectory that made the difference between shaving a second off a run and sailing off the path to land in a crumpled heap.I have been looking forward to this snow-sports-based successor for years. Instead of sun, rocks and dirt, we have glittering snow; instead of a bike, we have skis. It couldnt be that different, surely. I thought it would take me no time at all to find my ski legs. But the first few runs on these mountains were humbling. I skidded backwards down slopes after trying to brake and turn at the same time; I smacked continually into trees; I flubbed jumps and skidded, puzzled and slowly rotating, across frozen lakes. The challenges on each course felt impossible. I dont even want to talk about what happened on my first multiplayer race. It was humiliating.Just you and nature single-player mode. Photograph: Megagon IndustriesA few hours in, though, and I was carving beautiful curved lines down the harder courses, listening to the perfect swoosh of snow, banishing all thoughts from my head. When youre perfecting a run, its like youre flying down the mountain with the wind in your ears. It is a beautiful feeling. And then you screw up a turn, cartwheel into a chasm, and the spell is broken. Back to the checkpoint. Start again.Such is the rhythm of Lonely Mountains, and I still love it. The minimalist soundscapes, the beautiful low-poly interpretation of natural landscapes, the feeling of achievement that you get from conquering a course all of that is as good as it was. Some things are better: you can dress your skier up in colourful gilets and give them a beard. Some things are, however, slightly worse. Its more difficult from the start, and the controls feel even more precise and exacting, which will make it hard for new players to complete enough challenges to make progress through the mountains. And the addition of multiplayer races and team skiing is not without its downsides.Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders trailerAt the moment and this is right after release multiplayer does not work brilliantly. The game judders and freezes momentarily when several players are on screen at once, such as at the start of a race. In a game where milliseconds matter, losing control even briefly makes it feel unbearable to play. Its crashed on me multiple times while trying to load a course. Ive been kicked out of multiplayer games, or other players mysteriously lose their connection. All of this will probably be fixed soon thanks to the developers efforts, and Im willing to put it aside. But still there remains a fundamental problem: players wildly variable skill levels.In a race with eight players, three of you may make it down the mountain within 3 or 4 minutes; the rest may take a lot longer. When you cross the finish line, you can either continue to ski pointlessly about or spectate the players who have yet to prevail. This means that everyone spends entire minutes watching the last-place players fail the same mini-section of a run, which is genuinely a heart-rending experience, especially if you areBig freeze the multiplayer option needs a fix. Photograph: Megagon IndustriesIn team mode, youre all supposed to help each other down the mountain, sticking together and placing checkpoints and reviving the fallen, but nobody I played with seemed to get this idea. Id be patiently scooting down the mountain trying to revive people like a field medic while others whizzed over my head. Id eventually get down to base camp to find several other players whod been chilling there for ages. Thanks, guys! Appreciate the help.skip past newsletter promotionSign up to Pushing ButtonsFree weekly newsletterKeza MacDonald's weekly look at the world of gamingPrivacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.after newsletter promotionNone of this feels particularly smooth at the moment, and theres a lot of wasted time hanging about for other players. It is fun, though, just the right amount of chaotic, and the slapstick comedy of watching a small crowd of skiers continually screw up the same corner and fly into a rock face sometimes made me laugh out loud. Im not sure this flavour of game is the best fit for multiplayer, but Im glad the option is there.After a couple of frustrating hours trying to play with other people, it was a relief to return to the solitude of solo mode: just you and the mountain. Here, the only competition is yourself, and the only company is nature. A sense of calm descends. Everything is how it should be. Until you fall foul of a rock, again.

Habitat Qinhuangdao Phase II / Safdie ArchitectsSave this picture! SFAPApartmentsQinhuangdao, ChinaArchitects: Safdie ArchitectsAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:244000 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2024 PhotographsPhotographs:SFAP More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. The second phase of Habitat Qinhuangdao, a high-density residential complex located on the coast of the Bohai Sea, 200 miles east of Beijing, China. This phase more than doubled the size of the initial development, which opened in 2016, to form a vibrant community of over 1,800 households with access to over 40 acres (16 hectares) of gracious public gardens, terraces, and recreational spaces on the ground and in the sky, which is going to fully interpret the positive impact and role of architectural space on community building.Save this picture!Save this picture!Habitat Qinhuangdao's design draws on the principles and values pioneered in Habitat '67, Moshe Safdie's groundbreaking urban housing project created for the 1967 World Exposition in Montreal. More than 50 years later, Habitat Qinhuangdao reaffirms the concept as highly scalable and widely transferable. By prioritizing daylight, natural ventilation, views, and outdoor green space, Habitat Qinhuangdao creates a vital waterfront neighborhood that nurtures community and fosters connection to natureconditions that deliver quality of life rarely achieved in large-scale, high-density development.Save this picture!Save this picture!"The demand for quality multi-family housing in China's growing cities has allowed us to apply the principles that informed Habitat '67 at a greater density," said Moshe Safdie, Founding Partner of Safdie Architects. "By breaking down the mega-scale, Habitat Qinhuangdao is a model for high-density housing where the amenities surpass that of the typical high-rise complex without sacrificing the structure's efficiency or humanity."Save this picture!For Habitat Qinhuangdao, Safdie Architects organized the housing into a series of stacked residential blocks of 16 stories that are offset and surrounded by gardens at the base and linked via skybridges at the 17th and 32nd floors. The buildings' stepped and staggered forms create private terraces, balconies, and solariums and enclose grand "urban windows"view corridors between the city and the seathat humanize the scale and connect the development to its context. The buildings' long elevations face east, west, and south to take in sunshine. North-facing interiors borrow light that filters through the large urban windows. As a result, the development feels bright, airy, and open.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!"In Kerry Properties we had an ambitious client who saw how our design philosophy would resonate with the local culture and context,"said Sean Scensor, Senior Partner, and Partner-in-Charge of the project for Safdie Architects. "When you stagger and offset units from one another, stepping the buildings away from the sea, you create beautiful terraces that make each unit feel like a penthouse. The project is simultaneously visually intriguing and inherently rational."Save this picture!Save this picture!Surrounding the buildings are a series of intensively planted parks that celebrate Qinhuangdao's natural landscape and support both passive and active recreation. Each park offers residents a different experience, rich and layered with varied topography, diverse flora, and engaging amenities, which include adventure playgrounds, a landscaped amphitheater, planted promenades, and water features. Additional community gardens and pool areas occupy the skybridges that link the residences and provide novel outdoor experiences amidst views of the sea, city, and the sky. The 160,000 square meter community public space and landscaped gardens not only foster intimate communication and harmonious coexistence between humans and nature but also provide multiple daily social spaces.Save this picture!Save this picture!The approximately 5,500 square meter art center, which combines exhibition spaces, fine dining, and coffee, along with the landscape and supporting facilities on the ground and in the sky, offers residents a rich array of cultural and leisure spaces. It is not only suitable for community activities such as sports, families, art, humanities, and poetry but also supports special events like seasonal fruit and vegetable picking, sea fishing, and garden exploration, making Habitat Qinhuangdao a vibrant and three-dimensional garden community.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessProject locationAddress:Qinhuangdao, ChinaLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officeSafdie ArchitectsOfficePublished on January 23, 2025Cite: "Habitat Qinhuangdao Phase II / Safdie Architects" 23 Jan 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1026040/habitat-qinhuangdao-phase-ii-safdie-architects&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save? / 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

Looking to Shape Tomorrows Cities? Explore UC Berkeley's Transformative Urban Design TrackSponsored ContentSave this picture!Student Work ARCH 202. Student: Yibo Lin, Instructors: Davids + Castillo. Image Courtesy of UC BerkeleyAre you considering a career in architecture or environmental design? The College of Environmental Design at UC Berkeley offers immersive summer programs that could help you decide if these creative fields are right for you. Whether you're a professional, undergraduate, or high school student, CED's Summer Programs offer you an invaluable opportunity to explore architecture, urban design, sustainable city planning, and landscape architecture.Discover Architecture and DesignArchitecture and environmental design are not just about creating buildings; they involve crafting spaces that improve the quality of life and address environmental challenges. UC Berkeley's intensive CED Summer Programs are designed to introduce you to these disciplines in an engaging, hands-on way. You will dive deep into the core principles of design in a collaborative, explorative, and experiential learning environment.Save this picture!DISC: Innovating for Sustainable CitiesIn the DISC program (Design + Innovation for Sustainable Cities), designed for current college students, you'll focus on urban innovation. The immersive program integrates studio work, lectures, seminars, digital workshops, and field trips to provide a comprehensive understanding of how to design and plan for resilient and sustainable urban environments. You'll work on real problems and project sites, exploring the intersections of architecture, urban planning, and environmental design. This multidisciplinary approach helps you see how these fields overlap and interact, which is crucial for addressing issues of affordable housing, infrastructure, transportation, social justice, ecology, climate change, technology, and livability to create long-term solutions for cities.Save this picture!Summer Institutes: Specialized Tracks in DesignUC Berkeley's Summer Institutes offer specialized programs in architecture (InArch), city planning (InCity), and landscape architecture (InLand) for professionals interested in exploring a career in any of these disciplines. These institutes provide you with intensive, studio-based learning experiences that mirror the professional world and give you the opportunity to create a portfolio for an advanced degree or a job application. InArch: Ideal for those interested in architecture, this program covers the basics of architectural design, theory, and digital design tools. You'll develop foundational skills and produce a portfolio that can be a valuable asset for future academic or professional pursuits. InCity: This program delves into city planning and design, emphasizing sustainable and equitable urban development. Through collaborative projects and fieldwork, you'll learn how to create livable, inclusive urban spaces. InLand: Focused on landscape architecture, InLand explores landscape design and planning. You'll engage with ecological principles and learn to create resilient, environmentally sensitive landscapes that serve their surrounding communities. Save this picture!Studio-Based Learning EnvironmentCED's Summer Programs' studio-based learning environment encourages collaboration, exploration, and experimentationkey components of the design process. In studio, you'll work alongside peers from diverse backgrounds, share ideas, and receive feedback from experienced instructors and professionals.CollaborationCollaboration is at the heart of the CED Summer Programs. Working in teams and guided by experienced instructors, you'll tackle complex design problems, learning to value different perspectives and approaches. This collaborative experience is essential for the real world, where designers and planners often work in multidisciplinary teams.Save this picture!ExplorationYou'll have the chance to explore various facets of architecture and design, from theoretical concepts to practical applications. This exploratory process helps you understand the breadth and depth of the field, allowing you to discover what truly excites you.Save this picture!ExperimentationYou'll be challenged to push boundaries, try new ideas, and learn from both successes and failures. This experiential approach fosters creativity, innovation, continuous learning, and adaptation, essential traits for any designer.Save this picture!Decide Your Career PathParticipating in UC Berkeley's CED Summer Programs can help you determine if a career in architecture or environmental design is right for you. The hands-on, immersive nature of these programs provides a realistic glimpse into these fields, allowing you to make an informed decision about your future.Save this picture!For more information and to apply, visit the UC Berkeley College of Environmental Design's Summer Programs website.Image gallerySee allShow lessCite: "Looking to Shape Tomorrows Cities? Explore UC Berkeley's Transformative Urban Design Track" 23 Jan 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1025164/looking-to-shape-tomorrows-cities-explore-uc-berkeleys-transformative-urban-design-track&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

Stack CommerceShareWe may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more Like many, one of my New Years resolutions is to simply spend less time on my phone. And I think the recent talk about app bans has shown us that were all a little bit addicted. Personally, Im going to try learning a new language. Ive always wanted to, and I found an unbeatable deal on Babbel.Ive seen ads for Babbel on TikTok and great reviews online, but I wasnt sure I wanted to commit to paying monthly fees. But then I saw I could get a Babbel lifetime subscription for $149.99 through Popular Science with code BABBEL20 at checkout (reg. $599). If youre interested, you only have through January 25 to get this discount.Trying Babbel for the first timeBabbel offers lessons in 14 languages, so I decided to start with Spanish. There are many native speakers in my community, and you never know when knowing a few words or phrases could be useful.The app had me set a goal and daily notifications so Id remember to come back for lessons. Then, I drove right in. I was surprised when the first lesson took less than ten minutes, so I did a few in my first sitting.The first few lessons taught me how to introduce myself, talk about where Im from, and pronounce the Spanish alphabet. I was already learning significantly more than what I remembered from high school Spanish class.One thing I wasnt expecting Babbel to have was Spanish-speaking practice. Theres an AI conversation partner where I can basically rehearse a conversation with a real Spanish speaker before doing it in real life, and I cant wait to try it once I know more of the language.Use code BABBEL20 at checkout to get lifetime access to this language-learning app for $149.99 until January 25 at 11:59 p.m. PT (reg. $599). You wont find a better price anywhere else.StackSocial prices subject to change.Babbel Language Learning: Lifetime Subscription (All Languages)See Deal

Nature, Published online: 22 January 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00077-4Immune cells can destroy cancer, but tumours often evade such responses. The bidirectional transfer of mitochondria between cancer and immune cells is a newly discovered mechanism that thwarts anticancer defences.

Nature, Published online: 22 January 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-024-08406-9A proof-of-principle study reports a complete photonic quantum computer architecture that can, once appropriate component performance is achieved, deliver a universal and fault-tolerant quantum computer.