OpenAI unveiled Operator, its first AI agent, for ChatGPT Pro subscribers in the US.It can complete tasks autonomously, like booking reservations or buying groceries.The agent is powered by a new model built in GPT-4o called CUA.Experts predicted that 2025 would be the year AI agents go mainstream, and OpenAI is delivering on that forecast.On Thursday, OpenAI unveiled Operator, a system that can use a web browser to do everything from booking travel reservations to buying products.While chatbots like OpenAI's popular ChatGPT use generative AI to respond to queries, Operator is an agent that performs tasks autonomously.Operator will be available Thursday in the United States for ChatGPT Pro users, a $200 monthly plan that gives users access to its latest models, including o1. In the coming months, it will also be made available to ChatGPT Plus subscribers, OpenAI's $20 monthly subscription tier, and users in other countries.During a livestream announcing Operator on Thursday, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman called the release an "early research preview," adding that it will be refined over the coming months. He said OpenAI will also have more agents to launch in the months ahead.The interface is similar to ChatGPT, in which users simply prompt Operator with a request, like "book a dinner reservation at 7 p.m." Users can select a specific website through which they want to process the request, like OpenTable in the case of a restaurant reservation, or simply sending the request through a search engine like Google. Operator summarizes its reasoning process in a sidebar so users can quickly identify any step where it might make a mistake, which OpenAI says it's still prone to do.Operator is powered by CUA, a new model built on GPT-4o, Reiichiro Nakano, a member of the company's technical staff, said in the live stream. "It's trained to use and control a computer in the same way humans can, by just looking at the screen and using a mouse and keyboard to control it," he said. The model bypasses the need for APIs, mechanisms that allow software components to communicate with each other, and "unlocks a whole new range of software we can use that was previously inaccessible," Nakano said.He added that the model removes "one more bottleneck in our path towards AGI."In a benchmark comparing how AI agents navigate common operating systems, Operator scored 38.1% compared to 72.4% for humans. In another benchmark comparing how AI agents navigate common websites, Operator scored 58.1% compared to 78.2% for humans.

Ninja Gaiden 4 by makers of Bayonetta out in 2025 Ninja Gaiden 2 Black out nowGameCentralPublished January 23, 2025 7:48pmUpdated January 23, 2025 7:48pm Why have one new Ninja Gaiden game when you can have three? (Xbox Game Studios)The mystery game in the Xbox Developer Direct was not quite such a mystery after all, as its revealed to be Ninja Gaiden 4 for Xbox and PS5.Despite Microsoft making a promise of a surprise new game reveal, during its Developer Direct on Thursday evening, the rumours quickly narrowed down what it was to either an Ecco The Dolphin reboot or a new Ninja Gaiden.Perhaps unsurprisingly, its the latter which turned out to be right, although the annoucement that Ninja Gaiden 4 will be a collaboration between series creator Team Ninja and Bayonetta and NieR:Automata developer PlatinumGames was a bit of a shock.The game will be published by Xbox Game Studios, not Team Ninja and franchise owner Koei Tecmo, but it will be released on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC (and, were willing to bet, Nintendo Switch 2) this autumn.Although the third person action is very much within Platinums area of expertise they had previously vowed to stop working on games where they dont own the IP. Considering the trouble the developer seems to be in at the moment, with no new games in some time and a number of high profile staff exits, its not hard to imagine why they backtracked on that.The brain drain has left Platinum a little short on big name directors though and Ninja Gaiden 4 producer and director Yuji Nakao has never directed a game of this size before, with his most significant credit so far being one of four producers on Bayonetta 3.Nevertheless, Ninja Gaiden 4 does look like vintage Platinum, with the developers emphasising the speed of the action and what looks like a complex combat and parry system.Theres also lots of platform-like traversal going on, with wall-running, swinging on a grappling hook, and grinding along rails.Although series regular Ryu Hayabusa is in the game, and is implied to be playable at some point, the protagonist is new character Yakumo from the rival Raven clan, who can use one of two different styles of combat.Ever since the reboot in 2004, Ninja Gaiden became one of the few Japanese-made franchises to be closely associated with Xbox, so its not hard to see why Microsoft signed up to publish this new entry. Although Tomonobu Itagaki, who was responsible for the reboot, is not involved, as he left Team Ninja some time ago to set up his own studio.More TrendingItagaki was producer and director on the 2008 reboot sequel though and a remaster of that, made in Unreal Engine 5 and called Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, was also announced during the Developer Direct. Surprisingly, its out now for 39.99 on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC.The problem with that is that the remaster looks arguably better than Ninja Gaiden 4, whose visuals seem more abstract, with a more distant camera. The latter probably means it plays better but its a bit awkward seeing the two next to each other.This year is the 30th anniversary of Team Ninja and theyre really going all out to engineer a comeback for Ninja Gaiden, which hasnt had a new game in over a decade now.In fact, theres also a third game thats already been announced: a 2D title called Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, which is by the developers of indie title Blasphemous. Its good to have Ninja Gaiden back (Xbox Game Studios)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

Does Doom really need a story? (Bethesda)The third entry in the Doom reboot series is out soon but will the controversial changes to its design make it better or worse than its predecessors?Appropriately enough, it seems an eternity since Doom Eternal was released. It has been five years, but it was also one of the last games we attended a preview for before the pandemic came along and, amongst other things, distorted everyones perception of time. It wouldnt have been so bad but Doom: The Dark Ages was only officially announced in June and thered been little in the way of rumours before that.That was a concern, because MachineGames intended Wolfenstein reboot trilogy still hasnt got a final chapter, but thankfully Doom has, even though its technically a prequel. It will be one of the centrepieces of the Xbox Developer Direct on Thursday evening, but we got to see the footage early and take part in a brief online Q&A with developer id Software.The release date, which was meant to be a key reveal has already been leaked (almost certainly by others watching the same preview as us) but while its nice to know that its out relatively soon, on May 15, the most important news is that it looks great and seems to be doing some things significantly different to the original.We didnt get to try it out ourselves but were willing to take it on faith that The Dark Ages plays as well as the previous two games. The 2016 reboot had some of the best first person action of last generation but it did run out of steam well before the end. Doom Eternal was a more substantial experience, that made clear efforts to address the flaws of its predecessor, even if that also wasnt perfect.In terms of combat, it pretty much was though, with both games having the ingenious idea that you gain ammo, health, and other resources from killing enemies. Youre not just fighting the legions of Hell to get to your objective, youre doing it to replenish your ammo, granting purpose and reward to every kill without having to turn the game into a role-player.This is all still the case for The Dark Ages, but developer id Software is keen to emphasise that the feel of the combat has changed in at least some ways. Your main character (known only as Doom Slayer although old school fans will know him better as Doomguy) is now described as an iron tank, with his appearance in Eternal likened instead to a fighter jet.Although the developers deny it, this seems to be a reaction to Eternals extensive platforming sequences. These were rightly criticised for almost being harder than the combat, which was galling given it was never really a part of the original 90s games.There is still jumping in The Dark Ages but Doom Slayer is now purposefully less acrobatic, although not necessarily any slower. The developers describe it as a move from jump and shoot to stand and fight a marketing phrase they manage to squeeze into the conversation multiple times. But from what weve seen (and you have presumably now too, by the time the embargo elapses on this article) were all for it.The change in approach is supported by a major rethink for melee combat, which was only a minor element in the previous games. Now though youve got an iron flail, a spiked mace, and an electrifying gauntlet, each of which seems to generate different resources and/or be more useful against certain enemies.Each weapon has its own combos and upgrades, and theres a new, more flexible, glory kill system of finishing moves. The most versatile new weapon though seems to be the sword shield which is basically Captain Americas shield but with chainsaw blades going round the edge of it. It has just as little regard for the laws of physics as Caps shield when thrown but can also be used close up to fight and parry. The dragon bits look really fun (Bethesda)Naturally, there are also lots of new guns, including a nailgun that fires giant bolts into demons and pins them to the wall. In keeping with the tank aspirations, the developers also revealed that you can now aim by strafing, which is how things used to work in the old 90s games. As fun as the gunplay has been in the last two games its mechanically very different to the originals, but The Dark Ages seems to be an attempt to get things back to the series gameplay roots.Theres plenty of brand new features as well though, with the opportunity to control a 30 storey mech and beat giant demons to death with its metal fists. Theres also the chance to fly a cybernetic dragon, in sequences that seem to be inspired by Panzer Dragoon with the developer claiming that both turn up multiple times and are not just one-off gimmicks.They were a bit vaguer as to whether the game is open world or not but reading between the lines it seems that while some sections will still be linear there will be some that are a Doom sandbox, with lots of hidden secrets and what was described as the largest play-space ever in a Doom game.There was also a reference to dungeon-like mines although that wasnt expanded upon, so whether that means a randomly-generated element were not sure, but there certainly seems to be a lot of side content for those that want it. This is the main bad guy (Bethesda)What there wont be is any multiplayer, but thats fine with us as its an unnecessary distraction nowadays and wasnt even the most memorable part of the old games, back when they coined the term deathmatch.Other elements, like the flamethrower from the previous game, will be removed, with a lot of slightly nervous talk about the action and controls being simplified and there now being fewer strings on the guitar, in terms of how many buttons are used.The developers are clearly worried that fans will accuse the game of being dumbed down, but theres no doubting the originals were very complex for a supposedly straightforward shooter.The devs insist the game isnt any easier and that instead the streamlined controls and systems allow players to do more with the mechanics than was previously possible. Without playing the game, we cant tell if thats true, but id are clearly worried about a backlash from fans.The one thing that does worry us though is the unwarranted new emphasis on plot and more cut scenes than the previous games. More than once the developer compared The Dark Ages to a summer movie blockbuster, with references to a wider cast of characters including a more articulate main villain. But the storytelling in Eternal was one of its weakest elements and doubling down on that seems like a bad idea.More TrendingApart from anything we long ago lost the thread of what was supposed to be going on and the weird sci-fi style plot, with angelic (but not actually) beings and increasingly complex background lore, already strayed too far away from the Satanic imagery and blunt simplicity of the original.According to id Software, the story is now the core pillar of the game, which sounds more like a threat than a promise, but we think theyre just saying that to try and attract people that were put off by the originals emphasis on complex and unusual gunplay. That was the whole appeal for everyone else though, so we can only hope that an equitable balance has been found.From just looking at the game it seems just as fun as ever, with a lot of welcome new elements, but well have to wait until we get a chance to play it before we know whether its brutish charms have been dulled or not. Were optimistic that they havent though and that hopefully this will end up being the best of the trilogy and a hell of a good game in its own right.Formats: Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PCPublisher: BethesdaDeveloper: id SoftwareRelease Date: 15th May 2025 This is the giant Atlas mech you get to drive (Bethesda)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

Body horror is having a moment thanks to The Substance, a movie thats not dissimilar to Sasha Rainbows new Shudder release Grafted. But the New Zealand-set tale also draws on elements that go back to genre king David Cronenbergs foundational works, including The Flyand wraps them in a story that peppers in Mean Girls and even a little Barbie, examining a worst-case scenario in girl world. Grafted begins with a flashback that establishes the unusually strong bond between a girl named Wei and her scientist fatheror make that mad scientist father, since his single-minded pursuit of a cure for the unsightly facial birthmark that both he and his daughter have has pushed him into making some highly questionable choices. In that first scene, he meets a tragic and repulsive end before her frightened young eyes, and though you might think thatd teach her a lesson about being responsible in the lab, it most certainly does not. A few years in the future, Wei (now played by Joyena Sun) leaves China, where she overhears a relative saying shes earned a reputation for being a monster, for Auckland, where a full-ride college scholarship and a free place to live at her aunts house await. A fresh start sounds like just the ticket for the brilliant but socially awkward studentshes agonizingly self-conscious about her appearancebut she immediately has a hard time fitting in, especially since her cousin Angela (3 Body Problems Jess Hong) is constantly rolling her eyes at how lame she is. One of Angelas biggest cruelties is disrespecting the altar Wei uses to pay tribute to her beloved father, a part of their shared Chinese heritage that Angela couldnt be less interested in embracing. Matt Grace/Shudder Before long, the girls sleazy science professor (Jared Turner) zeroes in on Wei, imagining that her fathers old research notebookwhich she clings to like a sacred textcontains the kind of big discovery thatll restore his fading academic reputation. While there is indeed a breakthrough in its pages, as Grafted soon reveals, its nothing thats going to make the world a better place, much less a more beautiful place as Wei fervently hopes. Grafteds first big plot twist presents itself fairly early in the film; we wont spoil any specifics, but its so startling and happens so quickly it might make you wonder where the story can possibly go from there. Things can and do get exponentially worse for Wei, but she also enjoys a few precious moments of surreal joy, testing out new identities for herself when shes briefly freed from the self-perceived ugliness thats entrapped her entire life.While a lot of Grafted is there to make you recoil at its dripping, oozing bad medicine, it also spends time digging into the intricacies of relationships between friends and frenemies, particularly among young women. Sun and Hongas well as Eden Hart as Eve, Angelas Margot Robbie lookalike bestiemake the social tensions feel just as high-stakes as the increasingly gruesome secret Wei is having a harder and harder time hiding. That the young women drift through life mostly unsupervised (Angelas mother is perpetually gone on work trips; her estranged dad is just a voice on the phone) escalates the spiral of chaos that begins to encircle them. Matt Grace/Shudder Thats further enhanced by Grafteds production design, which blends gory crimes in the dark with the neon pink hues of Wei and Angelas housewhere the mood of unease is echoed in the unfinished renovations that clutter its exterior. The film also makes some creative stylistic choices, conveying the anxiety of receiving a bad-news email or text with a quick jigsaw puzzle of editsand hits on the perfect ambient anxiety trigger by giving Angela a small dog that yaps non-stop. It also crescendoes to a finale thats as surprising as it is well-earned, as well as gross as hell.Directed and co-written by New Zealand filmmaker Sasha Rainbow, Grafted begins streaming on Shudder Friday, January 24. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

By AJ Dellinger Published January 23, 2025 | Comments (2) | TikTok logo on a smartphone screen Shutterstock/Sir. David TikTok exists in a sort of limbo at the moment, not technically shut down as it received an extension to find an American buyer under the Trump administration, but not available in the iPhone or Android app stores due to liability concerns. So if youre absolutely fiending for that sweet, sweet infinite scroll of vertical video but didnt remember to install the app on your phone before the soft ban hit, youll have to try your luck on eBay, where people are selling phones pre-loaded with the TikTok app for thousands of dollars. As first spotted by Wired, there are currently about 9,000 eBay item listings for various smartphones that already have TikTok installed. Theres a wide array of devices depending on the preferred make, model, and carrier of your phone. For example, you can grab a TikTok-equipped Samsung Galaxy A54 5G on Consumer Cellular for $250 or a T-Mobile-compatible Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max for $450. But for the most part, if you want one of these TikTok machines, youll have to be ready to fork out much, much more than the MSRP. Most listings have at least three zeros at the end of them, putting the starting price in the thousandslike this iPhone 14 currently listed at $7,500 with, at the time of publication, one person currently holding the item in their cart. There are several listings currently asking in the tens of thousands of dollars, including one that has a list price of $50,000 (or best offer, but either way, youll still have to pay shipping which seems a little petty, frankly). Its worth noting that there is a difference between items being listed at these prices and people actually buying them. While some of the listings for phones with TikTok installed have thousands of views in the last 24 hours, there is a lot more attention than sales. Most of the devices that have sold, as shown by eBays completed sales filter, show that sellers often settled for an offer and not the list price. However, some folks have successfully cashed in on opportunism: There is a listing for an iPhone 16 Pro Max that shows it sold for the $12,999 list price (though the seller has zero history on the platform so its possible its a phony sale). A similar phenomenon like this has happened before. Back when Flappy Bird was all the rage and the creator eventually decided to pull the app for his own personal sanity, phones that had the game installed sold on eBay, too, including one device that produced a bidding war that resulted in a $99,900 winning bid. That sale ultimately got killed by eBay because it requires all phones sold on its platform to be wiped and restored to factory settings before being shipped out.It does appear that eBay still requires factory resets for devices sold through its marketplace, so hopefully, the sellers who have sold a phone with TikTok installed havent spent those earnings quite yet.Daily NewsletterYou May Also Like By Lucas Ropek Published January 22, 2025 By James Whitbrook Published January 21, 2025 By Matt Novak Published January 19, 2025 By Matt Novak Published January 19, 2025 By Justin Carter Published January 19, 2025 By Matthew Gault Published January 17, 2025

Glass Bar | CASACOR Minas 2024 / Balsa ArquiteturaSave this picture! Estdio NYRestaurants & Bars, Restaurant & Bar InteriorsBelo Horizonte, BrazilArchitects: Balsa ArquiteturaAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:185 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2024 PhotographsPhotographs:Estdio NY, Henrique QueirogaManufacturersBrands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers: A de arte, Botteh, Cebrace, Classic Mveis, Deca, Elettromec, GALERIA MURILO CASTRO, Home Office Grupo, Infinito Vidros, Lepri Cermicas, Lder Interiores, Mevi Piedras, Pingo Serralheria, TerratileMore SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. Reflecting the concept of CASACOR Minas 2024, the project is based on respect and preservation of the features, pigments, and layers that already existed in the property. On this solid foundation, elements essential for the operation of the bar were added. Functionally, an inviting and comfortable environment was created. The project values the contrast between the old and the new, between textures and materials, and explores opacities, reflections, and transparencies.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The bar counter is made of large stone slabs, and on top of it, another counter made of glass sheets, creating an interesting interplay of layering, transparency, light, and reflections. In the background, the functional bar shelf, entirely made of glass. Glass over glass, in an exercise of exploring a new perspective on this material.Save this picture!The lower lounge was designed to create a more comfortable consumption space. The highlight of the environment is the artwork by artist Vitor Mizael, fixed to the metal structures. The artwork is striking and brings a vibrant color palette to the space. This color palette is reflected in the finishes of the furniture.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessProject locationAddress:Espao 356 - R. Adriano Chaves e Matos, 100 - Olhos D'gua, Belo Horizonte, BrazilLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officeBalsa ArquiteturaOfficeMaterialsMaterials and TagsPublished on January 23, 2025Cite: "Glass Bar | CASACOR Minas 2024 / Balsa Arquitetura" [Bar de Vidro | CASACOR Minas 2024 / Balsa Arquitetura] 23 Jan 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1026084/glass-bar-casacor-minas-2024-balsa-arquitetura&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

Each formation is likely hundreds of millions of years old. Credit: Deposit PhotosShareMany seismologists and researchers have long believed the Earth possesses a fast flowing and well-mixed mantle. But that theory may require some revisions according to new findings from researchers at the Netherlands Utrecht University. Their evidence comes from a pair of sunken, continent-sized out of tune geological islands located inside a tectonic plate graveyard 1,800-feet-below the planets surface.Their study, published on January 22nd in the journal Nature, relies on the tones generated during large earthquakes that cause the Earth to vibrate like a giant bell. As an accompanying university announcement explains, seismologists study the planets interior by analyzing these oscillations acoustic signatures. Experts can also then identify anomalies based on whether regions are out of tune, or if their volume is dampened.Over 25 years ago, researchers discovered that some of these deep Earth reverberations pointed to the existence of two underground super-continents hundreds of miles beneath Africa and the Pacific Ocean. At the time, scientists werent sure if these formations near the boundary between Earths mantle and core were a temporary phenomenon, or if they had existed there for millions or billions of years. What they did know, however, was what encased the pair of mysteries.Schematic representation of the process of subduction of tectonic plates and of a mantle plume rising from an LLSVP. In the latter, the mineral grains are larger than those in the subducted plates. Credit: Utrecht University These two large islands are surrounded by a graveyard of tectonic plates which have been transported there by a process called subduction, study co-author and Utrecht University seismologist Arwen Deuss explained in Thursdays announcement. During subduction, a tectonic plate shifts beneath another one, forcing it from the Earths surface down as far as nearly 1,900 feet.The two sub-continents, as well as any other areas causing seismic waves to slow, are known as Large Low Seismic Velocity Provinces, or LLSVPs. One of the principal reasons why acoustic slowdowns occur is due to a LLSVPs hotter temperature compared to its surrounding environment. Duess and collaborators focused on the LLSVPs ability to damp seismic waves, referring to the energy loss that occurs as waves travel through the planet. They paid particular attention to where tones became out of tune, but also how loud or quiet they became during their journeys.Against our expectations, we found little damping in the LLSVP, which made the tones sound very loud there, explained study co-author Sujania Talavera-Soza. But we did find a lot of damping in the cold slab graveyard, where the tones sounded very soft.This contrasted with readings collected from the upper mantle that looked as expecteddamped waves due to hotter temperatures. Talavera-Soza likened the difference to going for a run in hot or cold weather. When its hotter, runners tend to slow down and tire more easily than when temperatures are much cooler.Colleagues suggested moving beyond examining temperatures to investigating an LSVPs mineral composition, particularly the individual grain sizes. According to Duess, grain size proved much more important.Location of the LLSVPs and a schematic representation of the Earths cross-section for speed and damping of the seismic waves. Credit: Utrecht University Deuss explained the slab graveyards LLSVPs are made of small grains that formed after the minerals recrystallize during each formations downward trip into the planet. Smaller grains mean a far greater number of them, as well as a larger number of the tiny gaps between them. Any acoustic waves traveling through these formations lose energy while passing through the many grain boundaries, leading to more damping. But because the two LLSVPs gave off very little damping, their grain sizes must be much larger.Bigger grains also imply these LLSVPs are much more ancient than researchers first hypothesizedat least 500-millionyears-old, but perhaps even reaching past 1 billion years. These mineral grains are also much more rigid, making them capable of resisting the flow of Earths mantle, called mantle convection.After all, the LLSVPs must be able to survive mantle convection one way or another, said Talavera-Soza. Get the Popular Science newsletter Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.The recent discoveries contradict the descriptions of a very fluid and well-mixed mantle found in most geology textbooks. Such a potentially major seismological revision reverberates far beyond LLSVP composition, age, or movement. Understanding how these massive formations grow in size and interact with their surroundings helps better illuminate Earths planetary evolution. It also has implications for the inner workings of volcanoes and mountains.The Earths mantle is the engine that drives all these phenomena, said Duess, who offered mantle plumes as an example. These large pockets of molten material rise through the Earth from deep inside its interior, much like the movement in a lava lamp. Once near the surface, these plumes help to cause volcanic eruptions.[W]e think that those mantle plumes originate at the edges of the LLSVPs, said Duess.

TK Credit: d3sign/Moment via Getty ImagesSharePFAS, more commonly referred to as forever chemicals, are everywhere. Studies have detected the harmful compounds in a plethora of everyday objects, from popular nonstick pans to waterproof clothing and just about anything in between. Now, a new class action lawsuit alleges some of those harmful chemicals are present in several Apple Watch wristbands at worrying levels. The suit was filed in the Northern District of California this week and first spotted by The Register. If true, the complaint only further confirms just how difficult it is to avoid contact with PFAS in everyday life.The suit specifically sets its sights on three Apple Watch band models: The sports band that comes with most devices, the Ocean Band, and the Nike-branded sports band. Each of these, the suit alleges, includes harmful levels of PFAS that are used to make the bands resistant to sweat and skin oil. Lawyers cite a recent study which determined several smartwatch bands had median levels of detectable perfluorohexanoic acid, (773 ng/g,) a PFAS, in much higher levels than found in previous analyzing cosmetics (199 ng/g). Its possible Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) may pass through skin at different levels with wearables than much finer cosmetics. Scientists also have not established clear guidelines on safe levels of PFHxA exposure, though federal agencies do regulate the amount of the compound that can be detected in drinking water. The suit claims Apple could have achieved similar performance with alternative compounds like silicone, but instead opted for PFAS to drive down cost. These choices were made, the suit claims, despite widespread public knowledge of the potential health risks associated with PFAS. Get the Popular Science newsletter Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.[Apple] advertises these Products as designed to support and further human health and wellness, environmentally sustainable, and suitable for everyday use and wear, the suit alleges. However, in truth, they contain excessive levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are toxic to human health and the environment.Apple did not immediately respond to Popular Sciences request for comment.What are forever chemicals?So-called forever chemical refers to a collection of more than 9,000 Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances called PFAS. The substances trace their origin to 1938 with the creation of Teflon. Since then, variations have been used in everything from fertilizer and stain-resistant fabrics to popcorn bags. PFAS are valuable because they bond carbon and fluorine atoms in a way that makes them uniquely resistant to heat, water, and grease. They are also essentially indestructible. That means trace amounts of these chemicals build up in the environment and can take more than a thousand years to fully break down.But PFAS arent just bad for the environment. Small portions of these chemicals seep into soil and drinking water which then inevitably makes its way into human bodies. Their presence has become pervasive. Studies have shown a trace of PFAS detectable in 97% of humans. Studies have also linked PFAS exposure to various health risks including liver and immune system damage, impaired fertility, and low birth weight or birth defects in babies. Other research has associated PFAS with increased rates of prostate, kidney, and testicular cancers.Suit claims Apple engaged in fraudThe lawsuit bases its allegations primarily on a study published in December in the journal Environmental Science and Technology Letters. There, researchers from the University of Notre Dame U conducted an analysis of 22 smartwatch bands from multiple brands and various price points. The team tested samples using particle-induced gamma-ray emission ion beam analysis and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry to detect signs of PFAS. Nine of 22 samples were reportedly found to have elevated levels of a PFAS called perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA). Though the study did not specify which brand of strap were implicated, the findings were most prevalent in higher-priced watchbands over $15.The most remarkable thing we found in this study was the very high concentrations of just one PFASthere were some samples above 1,000 parts per billion of PFHxA, which is much higher than most PFAS we have seen in consumer products, study co-author and University of Notre Dame professor Graham Peaslee said in a statement.Peaslee has previously found PFAS in other consumer products like cosmetics, fast food wrappers, contact lenses, and dental floss, among others. Researchers say chemicals in these products can migrate from the material into humans through multiple paths of exposure including inhalation, ingestion, and dermal absorption.In the Apple case, lawyers representing the plaintiffs allege Apple should have known not to include harmful PFAS and taken steps to remove them from their products. The suit suggests possible health risks associated with PFAS might be more pronounced in this case because consumers are encouraged to keep wearable devices on throughout the day, often for long stretches of time. The complaints allege Apple engaged in fraud, fraudulent inducement, concealment, misrepresentation, negligence, and unjust enrichment. It seeks an injunction to halt the sale of the product as well as monetary penalties.PFAS use isnt unique to Apple. Companies across various industries have made efforts to remove PFAS from their products in recent years. Clothing brands like L.L. Bean and Columbia Sportswear have reportedly spent years testing for PFAS and have announced new lines of products free of the substances. Others like The North Face and Vans have pledged to totally eliminate PFAS by 2026. Several states, like New York and California, have enacted laws banning the sale of new clothes found to include so-called forever chemicals. Though there are fewer public examples of consumer tech companies explicitly removing PFAS from wearable products, the lawsuit points to the Google Pixel Watch and FitBit Sport bands, made respectively of recycled yarn and silicone, as examples of competitors using non-PFAS materials.Even if the allegations made in the Apple lawsuit are true, the unfortunate reality is simply removing a smartwatch wont eliminate your risk of interacting with a PFAS. In fact, the most common source of PFAS exposure isnt through tech or clothes; its through the water we drink. A recent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) analysis detected PFAS in almost half of the nations tap water. Typical faucet filtration devices arent always effective at removing these chemicals. More sophisticated, under-the-sink reverse osmosis machines are more effective, but studies show they also wont catch all forever chemicals. Luckily, newly enacted EPA rules, at least for now, require local utilities to have PFAS in drinking water down to near-zero levels. But completely avoiding PFAS in a world inundated with cheap, disposable goods is still much easier said than done. Win the Holidays with PopSci's Gift GuidesShopping for, well, anyone? The PopSci teams holiday gift recommendations mean youll never need to buy another last-minute gift card.SEE GIFT GUIDES

Nature, Published online: 23 January 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00129-9Myostatin, which blocks muscle development, unexpectedly has an effect on ovulation in female mice.