Researchers at Cornell University on Monday showcased a pair of bio-inspired robotics running on a hydraulic fluid-powered battery. The redox flow battery (RFB) also mimics biological functions, as it releases electrolytic fluids, which dissolve to create energy through chemical reaction.The first two robots on display are a modular worm and a jellyfish, designed by the Cornell Engineering labs. The batteries powering these systems utilize embodied energy, an approach that incorporates power sources into the body of a machine, to reduce its weight and cost, according to the school.Mechanical and aerospace engineering Professor Rob Shepherd describes the underlying technology thusly: There are a lot of robots that are powered hydraulically, and were the first to use hydraulic fluid as the battery, which reduces the overall weight of the robot, because the battery serves two purposes, providing the energy for the system and providing the force to get it to move.Image Credits:Cornell UniversityIn addition to improving the speed and movements, the battery technology extended the robot jellyfishs runtime to an hour and a half. The robot itself was built atop technology the school utilized in the development of a lionfish-inspired biological robot. When that system was unveiled in 2019, researchers referred to the circulating liquid as robot blood, which presumably makes the battery a robot heart.The RFB powering the jellyfish features a tendon that propels the robot upward when flexed into a bell shape. When the shape is relaxed, the robot sinks down. Footage of the system in action showcases familiar jellyfish-like movements as it navigates through the water.The worm, meanwhile, is constructed from modular segments, similar to those seen on larger snake robots. Each segment contains a motor and a tendon actuator, which expands and contracts to create locomotion.The team notes that the transition from underwater to land presented its own challenges. Chief among them is the fact that submerged robots dont require a rigid skeletal structure.This is how life on land evolved, Shepherd says. You start with the fish, then you get a simple organism and its supported by the ground. The worm is a simple organism, but it has more degrees of freedom. From the Storyline: Cornells robot jellyfish and worm are powered by a hydraulic fluid batteryResearchers at Cornell University on Monday showcased a pair of bio-inspired robotics running on a hydraulic fluid-powered battery. The redox From the Storyline: Cornells robot jellyfish and worm are powered by a hydraulic fluid batteryResearchers at Cornell University on Monday showcased a pair of bio-inspired robotics running on a hydraulic fluid-powered battery. The redox From the Storyline: Cornells robot jellyfish and worm are powered by a hydraulic fluid batteryResearchers at Cornell University on Monday showcased a pair of bio-inspired robotics running on a hydraulic fluid-powered battery. The redox From the Storyline: Cornells robot jellyfish and worm are powered by a hydraulic fluid batteryResearchers at Cornell University on Monday showcased a pair of bio-inspired robotics running on a hydraulic fluid-powered battery. The redoxTopics

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has just announced that 14 scientific and technical achievements, represented by 37 individual award recipients, will be honored at its annual Scientific and Technical Awards(Sci-Tech Awards) ceremony, which has been rescheduled to Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.Achievements receiving Scientific and Technical Awards must demonstrate a proven record of contributing significant value to the process of making motion pictures. In addition, an Academy Award of Merit (an Oscar statuette) will be presented at the ceremony to collectively recognize all the individuals who have developed and supported captioning technology, whether open or closed, for film. The statuette will reside at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.As part of the Academys mission to celebrate artistry and innovation in filmmaking, we are honored to recognize the exceptional contributions of this years Scientific and Technical Awards recipients, said Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang. Their work has powerfully driven advancements in our industry. Also, we are deeply honored to present the Academy Award of Merit to the individuals who created and supported the development of captioning for films. This is an essential technology that plays a vital role in making the cinematic experience accessible to all.Each year, our international committee of industry professionals conducts thorough evaluations of the innovation and impact of technologies developed for the motion picture industry, said Darin Grant and Raymond Yeung, co-chairs of the Academys Scientific and Technical Awards Committee. This years awards encompass a wide range of film production advancements, from fire stunt safety, stabilized hand-held camera operation, and animation to post-production innovations in dialogue capture and CG imagery rendering systems. These vital technologies have expanded the visual possibilities of cinema, creating new and compelling experiences for moviegoers.The Academy Awards for scientific and technical achievements are:Technical Achievement Awards (Academy Certificates)To Essex Edwards, James Jacobs, Jernej Barbic, Crawford Doran and Andrew van Straten for the design and development of Ziva VFX.Ziva VFX is a system for constructing and simulating muscles, fat, fascia, and skin for digital characters. An artist-friendly interface that emphasizes easily understood physical metaphors, coupled with a robust, physically accurate solver, has enabled a broad range of studios to bring visually rich creatures to life.To Javor Kalojanov and Kimball Thurston for the creation of Wt FXs ML Denoiser.This denoiser prioritizes temporal filtering using innovative optical flow techniques to preserve crucial details. Novel training strategies allow its machine learning algorithms to denoise computer-generated imagery to the most exacting standards.To Neeme Vaino for the development of Fireskin360 Naked Burn Gel.This widely available gel allows longer targeted burns directly on the skin, broadening the range of fire stunts performed across the industry.To Dustin Brooks and Colin Decker for the development of naked burn gel.Fire for Hires gel first publicly demonstrated a naked burn, where fire appears directly on the skin, enabling a new form of safe fire stunts in motion pictures.To Attila T. fra for the creation of Intel Open Image Denoise, and to Timo Aila for his pioneering work at NVIDIA applying U-Nets to denoising.Open Image Denoise is an open-source library that provides an elegant API and runs on diverse hardware, leading to broad industry adoption. Its core technology is provided by the widely adopted U-Net architecture that improves efficiency and preserves detail, raising the quality of CG imagery across the industry.To Mark Noel for adapting and enhancing the safety and reliability of transportable six-degrees-of-freedom motion base technology for motion picture use.The NACMO series of modular motion bases enables filmmakers to dynamically control simulated actions, providing precise movements, enhancing special effects, and enriching the visual experience for audiences worldwide.To Su Tie for the development of the sensor analysis and stabilization software, to Bei Shimen for the electrical engineering, and to Zhao Yanchong for the mechanical design and engineering of the Ronin 2 gimbal system.Utilizing three-axis stabilization through multiple sensors, the DJI Ronin 2 has achieved broad adoption. It is controllable from a diverse set of input devices, enabling filmmakers to create complex, dynamic camera moves.To Tabb Firchau for the conception and development, to John Ellison and Steve Webb for the attitude control system, to David Bloomfield for the motor design, and to Shane Colton for the motor driver system design of the Mvi gimbals.Freefly Systems introduction of handheld stabilized gimbals provides single-person or collaborative remote camera operation with various controllers, enabling previously difficult shots without dolly or crane-supported stabilized heads.Scientific And Engineering Awards (Academy Plaques)To Jayson Dumenigo for the development of the Action Factory Hydrogels.Action Factory hydrogels are engineered to allow longer burns at higher temperatures with quick turnaround times, increasing the safety and efficiency of fire stunt performances.To Thijs Vogels, Fabrice Rousselle, David Adler, Gerhard Rthlin and Mark Meyer for the creation of Disneys ML Denoiser.This sophisticated machine learning denoiser features a ground-breaking kernel-predicting convolutional network and temporal stability. It has been adopted far beyond its original domain of animation and is an essential tool for creating computer-generated imagery in feature films.To Nir Averbuch, Yair Chuchem and Dan Raviv for the concept, design and development of the Auto Align Post 2.Sound Radixs Auto Align Post 2 allows the seamless blending of multiple moving microphones during film post-production, eliminating phase distortion, saving significant time over manual alignment methods and raising the reproduction quality of dialogue recorded on set.To Curt Schaller for the concept, design and development of the Trinity 2 system, and to Dr. Roman Foltyn for the software and hardware design of its motorized stabilized head.The ARRI Trinity 2 is a body-worn system that combines a traditional inertial camera stabilization system with electronic gimbal technology, allowing unprecedented freedom of camera movement for acquiring shots with multiple transitions that are otherwise unobtainable.To Steve Wagner for the initial concept and software, to Garrett Brown for the design, and to Jerry Holway and Robert Orf for the engineering of the Steadicam Volt stabilization system.The Tiffen Steadicam Volt revolutionizes inertial stabilization with its advanced two-axis motorized design, creating artificial inertia and simulated friction while providing adjustable tactile feedback. Different modes allow the operator to alter the physical feel of the rig. The Volt empowers filmmakers to achieve dynamic shots with more complex camera movement while maintaining a stable roll axis.To Dave Freeth for the design, engineering and development of the hand-held Stabileye three-axis motorized camera stabilization system.The compact size and live adjustment of operating parameters of these devices facilitate subtle and dynamic camera moves closer to actors, and in tighter quarters than previously possible. Its low latency allows for instinctive operation whether controlled by a single operator or remotely.Source: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Dan Sarto is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network.

14 scientific and technical achievements to be honored with academy awardsThe Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced 14 scientific and technical achievements, represented by 37 individual award recipients, will be honored at its annual Scientific and Technical Awards ceremony, which has been rescheduled to Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.Achievements receiving Scientific and Technical Awards must demonstrate a proven record of contributing significant value to the process of making motion pictures. In addition, an Academy Award of Merit (an Oscar statuette) will be presented at the ceremony to collectively recognize all the individuals who have developed and supported captioning technology, whether open or closed, for film. The statuette will reside at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.As part of the Academys mission to celebrate artistry and innovation in filmmaking, we are honored to recognize the exceptional contributions of this years Scientific and Technical Awards recipients. Their work has powerfully driven advancements in our industry, said Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang. Also, we are deeply honored to present the Academy Award of Merit to the individuals who created and supported the development of captioning for films. This is an essential technology that plays a vital role in making the cinematic experience accessible to all.Each year, our international committee of industry professionals conducts thorough evaluations of the innovation and impact of technologies developed for the motion picture industry, said Darin Grant and Raymond Yeung, co-chairs of the Academys Scientific and Technical Awards Committee. This years awards encompass a wide range of film production advancements, from fire stunt safety, stabilized hand-held camera operation, and animation to post-production innovations in dialogue capture and CG imagery rendering systems. These vital technologies have expanded the visual possibilities of cinema, creating new and compelling experiences for moviegoers.The Academy Awards for scientific and technical achievements are:TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS (ACADEMY CERTIFICATES)To Essex Edwards, James Jacobs, Jernej Barbic, Crawford Doran and Andrew van Straten for the design and development of Ziva VFX.Ziva VFX is a system for constructing and simulating muscles, fat, fascia, and skin for digital characters. An artist-friendly interface that emphasizes easily understood physical metaphors, coupled with a robust, physically accurate solver, has enabled a broad range of studios to bring visually rich creatures to life.To Javor Kalojanov and Kimball Thurston for the creation of Wt FXs ML Denoiser.This denoiser prioritizes temporal filtering using innovative optical flow techniques to preserve crucial details. Novel training strategies allow its machine learning algorithms to denoise computer-generated imagery to the most exacting standards.To Neeme Vaino for the development of Fireskin360 Naked Burn Gel.This widely available gel allows longer targeted burns directly on the skin, broadening the range of fire stunts performed across the industry.To Dustin Brooks and Colin Decker for the development of naked burn gel.Fire for Hires gel first publicly demonstrated a naked burn, where fire appears directly on the skin, enabling a new form of safe fire stunts in motion pictures.To Attila T. fra for the creation of Intel Open Image Denoise, and to Timo Aila for his pioneering work at NVIDIA applying U-Nets to denoising.Open Image Denoise is an open-source library that provides an elegant API and runs on diverse hardware, leading to broad industry adoption. Its core technology is provided by the widely adopted U-Net architecture that improves efficiency and preserves detail, raising the quality of CG imagery across the industry.To Mark Noel for adapting and enhancing the safety and reliability of transportable six-degrees-of-freedom motion base technology for motion picture use.The NACMO series of modular motion bases enables filmmakers to dynamically control simulated actions, providing precise movements, enhancing special effects, and enriching the visual experience for audiences worldwide.To Su Tie for the development of the sensor analysis and stabilization software, to Bei Shimen for the electrical engineering, and to Zhao Yanchong for the mechanical design and engineering of the Ronin 2 gimbal system.Utilizing three-axis stabilization through multiple sensors, the DJI Ronin 2 has achieved broad adoption. It is controllable from a diverse set of input devices, enabling filmmakers to create complex, dynamic camera moves.To Tabb Firchau for the conception and development, to John Ellison and Steve Webb for the attitude control system, to David Bloomfield for the motor design, and to Shane Colton for the motor driver system design of the Mvi gimbals.Freefly Systems introduction of handheld stabilized gimbals provides single-person or collaborative remote camera operation with various controllers, enabling previously difficult shots without dolly or crane-supported stabilized heads.SCIENTIFIC AND ENGINEERING AWARDS (ACADEMY PLAQUES)To Jayson Dumenigo for the development of the Action Factory Hydrogels.Action Factory hydrogels are engineered to allow longer burns at higher temperatures with quick turnaround times, increasing the safety and efficiency of fire stunt performances.To Thijs Vogels, Fabrice Rousselle, David Adler, Gerhard Rthlin and Mark Meyer for the creation of Disneys ML Denoiser.This sophisticated machine learning denoiser features a ground-breaking kernel-predicting convolutional network and temporal stability. It has been adopted far beyond its original domain of animation and is an essential tool for creating computer-generated imagery in feature films.To Nir Averbuch, Yair Chuchem and Dan Raviv for the concept, design and development of the Auto Align Post 2.Sound Radixs Auto Align Post 2 allows the seamless blending of multiple moving microphones during film post-production, eliminating phase distortion, saving significant time over manual alignment methods and raising the reproduction quality of dialogue recorded on set.To Curt Schaller for the concept, design and development of the Trinity 2 system, and to Dr. Roman Foltyn for the software and hardware design of its motorized stabilized head.The ARRI Trinity 2 is a body-worn system that combines a traditional inertial camera stabilization system with electronic gimbal technology, allowing unprecedented freedom of camera movement for acquiring shots with multiple transitions that are otherwise unobtainable.To Steve Wagner for the initial concept and software, to Garrett Brown for the design, and to Jerry Holway and Robert Orf for the engineering of the Steadicam Volt stabilization system.The Tiffen Steadicam Volt revolutionizes inertial stabilization with its advanced two-axis motorized design, creating artificial inertia and simulated friction while providing adjustable tactile feedback. Different modes allow the operator to alter the physical feel of the rig. The Volt empowers filmmakers to achieve dynamic shots with more complex camera movement while maintaining a stable roll axis.To Dave Freeth for the design, engineering and development of the hand-held Stabileye three-axis motorized camera stabilization system.The compact size and live adjustment of operating parameters of these devices facilitate subtle and dynamic camera moves closer to actors, and in tighter quarters than previously possible. Its low latency allows for instinctive operation whether controlled by a single operator or remotely.

Detroit has a number of vacant parcelsthe question is what to do with them?Head to Core City, a Detroit neighborhood just west of Midtown, and stop at 4475 15th Street for an idea. At first glance, the five new buildings there look almost out of context; most houses in Core City are made of wood and have pitched roofs. These new houses are indeed differentthey conjure the estate in Mexico City Juan OGorman designed for Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, or maybe even John Hejduks Kreuzberg Tower and Wings in Berlin. The Canopy is the latest residential project by EC3. The architecture firm worked with local developer and landscape firm Prince Concepts and Studio Detroit on the project. The development team said The Canopy was vastly influenced by Mies van der Rohes Detroit townhouses at Lafayette Park and Albert Kahns Continental Motors plant. Donald Judds exhibition spaces in Marfa, Texas were another point of reference.The Canopy has 121 trees in its shared courtyards. (John DAngelo)The architects were inspired by Mies van der Rohe and Albert Kahn. (John DAngelo)EC3 was the design architect, Prince Concepts the developer, and Studio Detroit the executive architect. (This was the same team that built True North, another multifamily complex in Core City, not far from The Canopy, completed in 2017.) The Canopy consists of five duplexes scattered throughout a 17,000-square-foot land parcel.The development was broken up into five different massings to remove the need for single-loaded corridors and maximize natural sunlight within every flat. (John DAngelo)In total, theres 7,220 square feet of living space at The Canopy, spread across the five buildings, each with its own unique color palette and profileone is a shade of light green while another was faced with bright red paint. The development has a mix of studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom units. Victor Reyes, a local Detroit artist, was invited to paint murals on The Canopys roofs. In Good CompanyThe development has 10 units and 10,000 square feet of garden area with 121 trees.The stucco buildings sit nicely above a lush, verdant landscape. By breaking up the development into different massings, EC3 was able to break away from conventional multifamily buildings with single-loaded corridors.Stone pathways and plant beds populate the green space beneath the five structures. This greenery contrasts nicely with the biophilic interior finishes indoors, which go a long way during the tough Detroit winters.The interiors are made of white oak, birch, and other renewable materials. (John DAngelo)In the kitchen wood shelving, cabinetry, and closets provide ample storage. (John DAngelo)Edwin Chan, EC3s founder, spent years working for Frank Gehry, having led some of Gehry Partners most significant cultural projects including Guggenheim Bilbao and Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris. Chan eventually set off on his own and founded EC3 in 2012. Chan brought his experience working on high-profile cultural projects to The Canopy, he said. Our team approached this as a cultural project to emphasize public place-making and using the architecture to provide a context for the landscape, Chan shared.A variety of window shapes drown the space with natural light. (John DAngelo)An open-plan layout locates the kitchen near the main living and dining spaces. (John DAngelo)Every unit at The Canopy has a terrace and porch. They also come complete with French balconies, which helps with cross-ventilation. The elevated exterior nooks overlook the trees and shrubbery down below. The fenestrations change from thin ribbon windows to large, squarish ones.All of this natural light is thanks to EC3s decision to break up the massings into different volumes.The eclectic furniture choices further imbue the space with modernist and midcentury design elements. (John DAngelo)High-end fixtures, oak wood floors, and custom birch millwork make up much of the interiors. These features contrast nicely with the eclectic furniture selections residents opted for: A mix of early 20th-century modernist design and late modern, midcentury sensibilities, discernible in the simple wood shelving and cabinetry.This project marks the completion of phase one at The Canopy. Phase two will yield another 7 duplexes that contain 14 units.

The LG S95TR soundbar still impresses in 2025, with its engulfing audio quality and host of useful features.

The startup's open-source reasoning model R1 is clobbering AI rivals and panicking investors. But there's more.

Horizontal color image of a data center from a drone point of view.gettyAmid a free-ranging route of U.S. tech stocks, investors are wondering how the new announcement from Chinese firm DeepSeek, of a new efficient reasoning model to be reckoned with, is going to affect the industry long-term.Its not just investors, either the big question for many people looking at the global race for AI is whether DeepSeeks result really will deliver a great reasoning model for a lot lower cost than its American competitors.In the past few cycles, the world saw double-digit losses for Nvidia, and other negative action, like Palantir dipping 6%, thats making the bulls nervous. Weve even seen other kinds of U.S. stocks like nuclear stocks tanking on the premise that America might be spending less on dominating AI and data center markets in the future.From New York to London and Tokyo, equities got hammered, with Nvidia plunging as much as 13% and the Nasdaq and S&P both falling, wrote a Bloomberg analyst in an email worthy of Paul Revere. DeepSeeks latest AI model rose to the top of the Apples App Store charts over the weekend, presenting a visible challenge to costlier models like OpenAI and raising questions over the hundreds of billions in planned spending on the technology by the likes of Microsoft, Meta and Alphabet.But its worth thinking a little more long-term about this, since were likely to have a pretty big global market for AI in the years to come.MORE FOR YOUDeepSeek: Some SkepticismPeople are referring to the DeepSeek announcement as Americas Sputnik moment for the AI age, when U.S. parties had a right to be spooked. However, others are asking whether the proof is in the pudding, and whether DeepSeek really does have an advanced edge over the American systems. A team of writers at Bloomberg reported: (Some) investors, like Fares Hendi at French asset manager Prevoir AM, say theyre holding onto their Nvidia shares and waiting for more information about DeepSeeks technological promise.If they really need less chips to make their model run, then yes the threat is real, it would weigh on growth and valuation, Hendi said, as reported in Bloomberg. But at the moment, were going to take the time to really look into it.Then, too, some who were quoted suggested the news might be good for AI, in the long-term and from a big-picture perspective:It would seem to me that if you still believe that AI is going to be big, this news out of China should only make you feel better and perhaps present you with some buying opportunities, said Mark Malek, chief investment officer at Siebert. To be clear, that doesnt mean that there wont be bumps or risks (as price seeking continues). But it should be clear that there are some stocks that will be down this morning for the wrong reasons.Market SpeculationFinancial pros weighed in on the phenomenon, too.Its safe to say that anything US-AI related was very crowded and anything tech-related in China was very under owned, explains Chris Murphy, co-head of derivatives strategy at Susquehanna International Group. So you are going to see a bit of a unwind of those two different crowded sides. Itll be interesting to see if the options market picks some winners and losers.The Context: The U.S./China AI RaceOver the past few years, weve seen OpenAI and Anthropic and others continue to develop advanced reasoning systems in a way that suggested America was going to be king of the AI world for the duration.But people close to the industry knew that China had its own research teams and systems that were likely to give other nations a run for their money.Time will tell how much fire power DeepSeek has and whether it will continue to depress the American technology sector in the stock market.Geopolitical Reality and Regional AIAnother argument emerges that China and the U.S. can both reign supreme in their own hemispheres, in terms of AI systems. Some of the above quotes hint at that, too. Of course, theres always going to be one particular model thats better than any others, but theres also room for customization and specialization in these systems.Its one thing to concede that stocks like Nvidia, which had wildly spiraled up based on U.S. dominance predictions, is going to keep its high valuation, but its another thing to wonder whether China will have an outside influence on American AI systems.Like anything related to the lightning-speed transformation of LLMs in business, the U.S./China divide is going to take some time to figure out. When the dust clears, what will we see?

Find the links between the words to win today's game of Connections.gettyLooking for Mondays Connections hints and answers instead? You can find them here:Hey, everyone! I hope your week is off to a great start.There are only a few more games until we get to the 600th edition of Connections. Is anyone else starting to get nervous about the prospect of having a fiendishly difficult, streak-busting grid on Friday? I certainly am.Before we get going, Ive started a discussion group for Connections and this column on Discord. You can chat about each game (and other topics) with me and other folks. Im always interested to find out how other people approach the game, so join us! Its fun.Its also the best way to give me any feedback about the column, especially on the rare(!) occasions that I mess something up.Todays NYT Connections hints and answers for Tuesday, January 28, are coming right up.How To Play ConnectionsConnections is a free, popular New York Times daily word game. You get a new puzzle at midnight every day. You can play on the NYT website or Games app.MORE FOR YOUYoure presented with a grid of 16 words. Your task is to arrange them into four groups of four by figuring out the links between them. The groups could be things like items you can click, names for research study participants or words preceded by a body part.Theres only one solution for each puzzle, and youll need to be careful when it comes to words that might fit into more than one category. You can shuffle the words to perhaps help you see links between them.Each group is color coded. The yellow group is usually the easiest to figure out, blue and green fall in the middle, and the purple group is usually the most difficult one. The purple group often involves wordplay.Select four words you think go together and press Submit. If you make a guess and youre incorrect, youll lose a life. If youre close to having a correct group, you might see a message telling you that youre one word away from getting it right, but youll still need to figure out which one to swap.If you make four mistakes, its game over. Lets make sure that doesnt happen with the help of some hints, and, if youre really struggling, todays Connections answers. As with Wordle and other similar games, its easy to share results with your friends on social media and group chats.If you have an NYT All Access or Games subscription, you can access the publications Connections archive. This includes every previous game of Connections, so you can go back and play any of those that you have missed.Aside from the first 60 games or so, you should be able to find my hints for each grid via Google if you need them! Just click here and add the date of the game for which you need clues or the answers to the search query.What Are Todays Connections Hints?Scroll slowly! Just after the hints for each of todays Connections groups, Ill reveal what the groups are without immediately telling you which words go into them.Todays 16 words are...DEMONLAUGHJOKERAIRHEADCARDBANDCHESSDUMBBELLSNICKERCHARACTERMATMARBUMPMOUNDDIALBENCHAnd the hints for todays Connections groups are:Yellow group they're, like, hilariousGreen group gym gearBlue group shortened sweetsPurple group "racer" and "dating" would fit in hereWhat Are Todays Connections Groups?Need some extra help?Be warned: were starting to get into spoiler territory.Todays Connections groups are...Yellow group funny personGreen group resistance training equipmentBlue group candy bars minus "s"Purple group speed ____What Are Todays Connections Answers?Spoiler alert! Dont scroll any further down the page until youre ready to find out todays Connections answers.This is your final warning!Todays Connections answers are...Yellow group funny person (CARD, CHARACTER, JOKER, LAUGH)Green group resistance training equipment (BAND, BENCH, DUMBBELL, MAT)Blue group candy bars minus "s" (AIRHEAD, MAR, MOUND, SNICKER)Purple group speed ____ (BUMP, CHESS, DEMON, DIAL)A baker's dozen of perfect games in a row extends my overall streak to 16 games. Here's how I fared:I'm ashamed to say it, but I broke a personal rule with today's game.SNICKER caught my attention immediately. When it became clear that and LAUGH were a red herring combo, it had to be a reference to the candy bar Snickers, minus the "S." MAR was the only other word that obviously fit that description. I really didn't know what else would go with those, since I am not overly familiar with American confectionary. AIRHEAD and MOUND seemed like the most likely candidates but, sigh, I had to look them up to be sure.I generally don't look up words when I'm playing Connections and am annoyed at myself for breaking this self-imposed restriction. However, I'm a firm believer in playing the game however you wish. I closed my Google tab after sealing the blues.I thought those might have been the purple words, but no such luck and the dream of a reverse rainbow was over for another day. So I had no hesitation in submitting the greens once I spotted them.After a few more moments of gazing at the grid, I had an "aha!" moment and deduced the purple words. A speed DEMON is just something that moves very fast (as well as a Marvel comic book villain and a Michael Jackson song). Does speed DIAL even technically exist anymore? I don't know, I haven't had a landline for nearly 15 years.I suspect the yellows might be difficult for some folks. CARD is a very antiquated term for a funny person (I certainly didn't make that link right away), and someone can certainly be called "a good LAUGH" but that may not be a common usage in many parts of the world. Still, I hope your streak stayed intact!Thats all there is to it for todays Connections clues and answers. Be sure to check my blog tomorrow for hints and the solution for Wednesdays game if you need them.P.S. Back in the day, when I used to go out pretty much every weekend, theres a song that would always put a smile on one of my best friends faces whenever it came on at the club. Its hard to argue that Call On Me by Eric Prydz isnt catchy as heck. The official music video is probably too risqu for this publication (if you know, you know), so heres a lyric video instead:This samples a song by Steve Winwood called Valerie. Winwood was gracious enough to re-record his vocals for Call On Me:Have a great day! Stay hydrated! Call someone you love!If youre so inclined, please do follow my blog for more coverage of Connections and other word games and even some video game news, insights and analysis. It helps me out a lot! Also, follow me on Bluesky! Its fun there.

Facepalm: Users should exercise caution before installing the most recent January 2025 Windows updates as there have been reports of numerous issues. Many complaints center on USB DAC drivers, but problems with other devices such as headphones and webcams have also been reported. Although the updates aren't exclusive to Microsoft's recently released Windows 11 24H2, the bugs will likely intensify the controversy surrounding the latest OS version. Recent mandatory patches for Windows 10 and 11 are causing issues with USB connections, Bluetooth devices, and several other functions. Users experiencing problems should consider rolling back to a previous version. Those concerned about potential issues and who have not yet updated their systems this month may want to delay the installation of these patches.Microsoft released update KB5049981 for Windows 10, KB5050009 for Windows 11 24H2, and KB5050021 for prior Windows 11 versions earlier this month. All three are routine security updates, but Windows Latest reports that KB5050021 introduces minor changes for the date and time settings.Microsoft's support team has acknowledged certain issues with these updates, including impacts on Open Secure Shell and Citrix components. However, users have reported additional bugs, such as problems with DAC drivers, Wi-Fi connectivity, and USB devices. Windows Latest notes that webcam and Bluetooth headphones stopped working after installing KB5050009. Software-related bugs have also affected tools like the Snipping Tool, the Alt+Tab function, and the Task Manager.Users can submit complaints to Microsoft through the Feedback Hub app. To roll back to a previous build of Windows, navigate to Settings > System > Recovery > Go Back, if the option is available. To delay an update, go to Settings > Windows Update and select the desired postponement period.Since the release of Windows 11 24H2 late last year, Microsoft has received numerous complaints. This update, which recently became mandatory, has caused issues with games, SSDs, and other connected devices. // Related StoriesUsers with cache-less Western Digital NVMe SSDs should download the company's firmware patch before upgrading to Windows 11 24H2 to avoid BSODs. Additionally, Microsoft temporarily delayed the update for users with certain Ubisoft games installed following reports of crashes, but the affected games have since received patches. Users also reported problems with eSCL-based USB devices like scanners, printers, and modems.Windows 11 24H2 introduces new features, including Copilot+ GenAI tools like auto-generated captions, super resolution, and an image creator. Other additions include support for Wi-Fi 7, Sudo, remote desktop controls, and more.

DLSS Swapper is a tool that allows you to conveniently download, manage, and swap DLSS dlls allowing you to upgrade or downgrade DLSS version in a game without the game needing an update. This tool does not allow you to add DLSS to games that don't support it.This tool does NOT guarantee that swapping DLSS dlls will:Improve DLSS performance.Reduce DLSS artifacts.Give a crash free experience.In many cases you may fix some issues, in other cases you may prevent a game from launching (until you restore your original dll, provided in the tool).Minimum System RequirementsWindows 10 64-bit (20H1, build 19041)While a Nvidia GPU is not a requirement to run DLSS Swapper, it is a requirement to use DLSS.What's NewAdded (potential) fix for app displaying error message when opening folder when manually adding gameAdded additional logging for app crashesAdded ability to rename manually added games (other issues persist)Fixed issue where message box when removing manually added game would not display game title correctlyFixed issue where not being able to update manifest.json would cause weird problemsFixed issue where DLLs on the library page would say they are erroredFixed issue when trying to download cover images from a path that is not a urlFixed an issue where we would list duplicate unknown game DLLsMinor changes to how we load games and update UI elementsKnown Issues (still being worked on)DLSS Swapper lists too few gamesDLSS Swapper lists too many games (duplicates)Manually added games don't show as having DLLs even when they do