OpinionJanuary 25, 20255 min readJoints Are the Ultimate FlexThe evolution of joints is how we went from blobs to badassesBy Bethany Brookshire 7activestudio/Getty ImagesMiddle age is when you get to know your joints. I have spent the last few years learning that my many youthful party trickspopping shoulders out of their sockets on a whim, bending elbows backwardhad painful long-term consequences. Twenty years of high-impact sports on an imperfect skeleton have also taken their toll.Im now gritting my teeth through the tiny movements assigned by physical therapy, desperately trying to save these things that let me bend, twist and move around. Its not just the big-name celebrities of the skeletonthe hips and knees and shouldersthat scream at us as we accumulate mileage, but tiny joints that suddenly grab our attention, if not the ibuprofen. The vertebrae and the squishable, intervertebral discs between them. The joints between the teeth and the jaw. Even the joint at the very front of the pelvis, one most people never think about unless they are giving birth or taking a hit in sports, reveals its been taking hard knocks from life. These points of movement get arthritic, stiff. Bones begin to grind against one another. Movements that used to only pull or create pressure now produce pain.Its easy to blame joints themselves. Weak. Old. Crumbling. Weve been betrayed by joints so small we never even really registered they were there. But joints are signs of anatomical triumph. They bend so we dont break.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.These points where two parts of the skeleton meet are so essential for movement that evolution has come up with them at least twice. Arthropodswhether crabs or cockroachesdeveloped their own version: joints in their exoskeletons that allow these creatures to bend and scuttle. Our renditionthe internal skeletonprobably also started out on the outside of the body of ancient creatures, as bony scales. Our spinal cords, the things that make us chordates, got a segmented bony coat around 420 million years ago. Whats now modern vertebrae are nothing but a pile of 25 joints (or occasionally 26 or 24, if you happen to have one more or less vertebra). The bones are stacked on top of each other, separated by spongy cartilage called intervertebral discs. We had lubricated joints before we even crawled out of the sea. Heck, without them, the crawling wouldnt have happened in the first place. Joints have been modified now to let insects and animals skitter, slither, climb, run. Even fly. Without firm bones and the joints between them, theres no defying gravity.Joints are more than one bone on another. In between the majority of our joints, we have connective tissue, cartilage and bursasthin flat sacs of fluid. They cushion and lubricate, helping our bodies bend easily, quickly and without sounding like a rusty door hinge. Joints that dont bend still need this cushion. The jointsand the sacs between each oneallow the skeleton to shift and withstand pressure, even if that particular joint isnt helping anyone do a backbend.Many joints go almost entirely unnoticeduntil something is about to go wrong. It might seem, for example, that adult teeth should not be wiggling around in the jaw socket. But in fact these dental alveolar syndesmoses (technical speak for the tiny ligamentous joint between the tooth and jaw socket) move all the time. They have mechanoreceptorsways to measure movementwhich process the tiny vibrations that inform you of a foods texture. A larger tooth movement, and the very jolt that sometimes comes with it, is the final warning system that you should shell that nut first, please. Your uncracked tooth will thank you later.Our feet balance a large load into two impossibly small points, and they dont just stand, they point, arch, bend and flex. That flexibility is due to the 26 different bones and all the joints in between that make up the ankle and foot. Its an evolutionary work-around, adapting the flexible tree-clinging feet of our ancestors to the pavement pounding model we use today.In contrast, the pelvic girdle seems like a fairly continuous ring of bone. But its the joining of three bones on each side, the ilium, ischium and pubis. In the back, the pelvic girdle joins to the sacrum at the base of the spine. In the front, though, theres a joint, the pubic symphysis. This joint can move a tiny bit in adults. But what it really does is help to distribute weight and absorb the shock that comes with the weight of the upper body. This joint splits that mass evenly over your legs. In people who give birth, this joint softens and becomes extra flexible. It bends and curves and stretchescreating extra space for a baby to pass through the birth canal. Then, most of the time, it snaps back to normal.Joints are essential to how we experience the world, and we take them for granteduntil they start to fail. Arthritis, that painful chronic swelling that often comes with age, creeps into the joints between our bones. Bursae become inflamed and bulbous. Decades of grinding up food take a toll on the teeth. Years of running and walking take the spring out of our step, and alongside childbearing, grind down the joints in the pelvis and spine.As we age, intravertebral discs become compressed with the weight of our yearsand the weight of our weight. They may bulge out into the spaces between the vertebrae themselves, pressing on nerve rootsa herniated disc. The spine doesnt just bear the weight of our youthful indiscretions, but of our evolutionary fate. When our ancestors stood upright, we asked a lot of our vertebrae. A rigid spine couldnt defy physics and stand straight, and so it curved. We acquired a lumbar lordosis, a sway in our lower backs. Unfortunately, that curve bears the pressure of our upper bodies. When sitting down, our lumbar spines are taking loads between 100 to 175 kilograms (220385 pounds). When standing, its 90 to 120 kilograms (198 to 264 pounds). Despite this, our intervertebral discs bear the mass cheerfullyeven improving in response to exercise.When we think of bodily strength we think of long bones or muscles, things that only crack or tear under the worst pressure. In contrast, joints seem weakin part because they give way before bones do. But their flexibility is our defense. Every weird tooth movement is a sensation, a broken tooth avoided. Every shift of the hips is a time they didnt crack. Each step or lifted weight places pressure on the joints in our bones, and the joints gently give way. Joints remind us that theres strength in flexibility.This is an opinion and analysis article, and the views expressed by the author or authors are not necessarily those of Scientific American.

Hi! My name is Tobias and Im currently doing my final year of the Bachleors program in Game Development at Stockholms University.I just finished off doing a game project with 9 other game-dev students as a part a course where I was the only VFX-Artist. I will be uploading my work on artstation during the upcoming weeks and i would really appriciate any feedback. Portfolio link:https://www.artstation.com/tobiasbostromThe game was made during a 7 week period and its a small turnedbased-rpg where the enviroment is a mix between 2D and 3D.The game will be released on itch in the upcoming weeks but if you wanna try it out you download it out here:drive.google.comDreamBound_Game.zipGoogle Drive file.There will be some more stuff/polish added before we release it on itch as well as some small bug fixes. Give it a try and tell me what you think!

close Willing to pay $175,000 for a life-size robot friend that remembers everything about you Melody represents a move toward creating robots that closely resemble humans. In a world where loneliness is becoming increasingly prevalent, researchers have taken a bold step forward by introducing Melody, a life-sized artificial intelligence robot designed to combat this growing epidemic.However, Melody is not just another gadget; she represents a significant move toward creating robots that closely resemble humans in both appearance and interaction. Melody, the life-sized AI robot. (Realbotix)The vision behind MelodyRealbotix, the innovative tech firm responsible for Melody's creation, aims to produce robots that are not only visually indistinguishable from humans but also capable of meaningful interactions.According to CEO Andrew Kiguel, "Melody was created with the intention of having robots that are easy to travel with and modify for various forms of personal interaction." This focus on adaptability allows Melody to serve multiple roles, from educational tools to companions in entertainment. Melody, the life-sized AI robot. (Realbotix)Features that set Melody apartMelody boasts an impressive array of features that enhance her functionality and user experience:Realistic movements: Equipped with advanced motor technology, Melody can execute fluid and natural movements, enhancing her ability to engage in lifelike interactions.Eye tracking and object recognition: With micro-cameras embedded in her eyes, she can maintain eye contact and recognize objects, making conversations feel more genuine.Modular design: Her components can be easily disassembled and reassembled, allowing for portability and customization according to user needs.Open-source compatibility: Melody's design supports integration with various AI platforms, including Realbotix's proprietary companionship AI, making her versatile for different applications. Melody, the life-sized AI robot. (Realbotix)A new kind of companionRealbotix emphasizes that Melody's primary purpose lies in fostering connection rather than intimacy. Her role as an engaging companion is designed to enhance human experiences through interaction and fun. However, she can engage in adult conversations if desired. The company envisions Melody as a versatile solution for addressing loneliness, with potential applications across multiple domains such as education, healthcare and personal companionship. Melody, the life-sized AI robot. (Realbotix)The price of connectionWith a price tag of $175,000, Melody is positioned as a premium product aimed at those seeking a unique blend of companionship and technology. This investment speaks to the growing market for humanoid robots designed for personal interaction, reflecting a shift in how we view relationships in an increasingly digital world. Melody, the life-sized AI robot. (Realbotix)Kurts key takeawaysOne look at Melody, and you might think she is designed for something else entirely. As technology evolves, so too does our understanding of companionship. Melody represents not just a technological advancement but also a cultural shift towards accepting robots as part of our social fabric. With her ability to remember personal interactions and adapt to individual preferences, she challenges our perceptions of connection in the modern age.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPWhat do you think about the rise of humanoid robots like Melody? Are they the solution to loneliness or just another gadget? Let us know what you think by writing us at Cyberguy.com/ContactFor more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/NewsletterFollow Kurt on his social channels:Answers to the most-asked CyberGuy questions:New from Kurt:Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com.All rights reserved. Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on "FOX & Friends." Got a tech question? Get Kurts free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

The Eureka E20 Plus is a self-emptying robot vacuum that delivers great value for the money, even if it omits some popular features.

Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNETSamsung Unpacked took place earlier this week, where the company shared the latest news on its smartphone releases and AI endeavors. Oh, and there was one more thing.As expected, Samsung launched its newest flagship smartphones: Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25 Plus, and Galaxy S25 Ultra. The hardware has remained mostly unchanged, with thinner and lighter form factors across the board, an upgraded chipset, and some fresh coats of paint. For the more significant improvements, you'll want to look at the software.Also: Best Samsung Galaxy S25 deals: $200 gift cards and free offers at T-Mobile and VerizonSamsung kicked things up a notch with its latest AI offerings in One UI 7, with a focus on making people's everyday interactions with their phones as seamless as possible. Some highlights include a new personal data engine, multi-app commands, and a Now Brief feature that anticipates your needs and packages them neatly for you.If you missed the live event and want to catch up on all the news, I've gathered all the products and features announced at Unpacked below. 1. Samsung Galaxy S25 and S25+ Prakhar Khanna/ZDNET Like past January Unpacked events, Samsung released three new Galaxy S models, with the base models getting some subtle but meaningful upgrades, including a thinner and lighter design.Other changes include the introduction of new colors, including Icyblue, Navy, Mint, Silver Shadow, as well as online-only exclusive colors like Blueblack, Coralred, and Pinkgold. The vibrance of the Coralred colorway stands out amongst the rest of the lineup's more muted finishes, and made a splash among reporters at Unpacked.Also:I went hands-on with the Samsung Galaxy S25 - and the AI features were surprisingly polishedAt the heart of the devices is the newly launched Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elitefor Galaxy. According to Samsung, the chipset will be dramatically different than the variants found on competing Android phones.For example, Samsung claims it delivers a performance boost of 40% in NPU, 37% in CPU, and 30% in GPU compared to the Galaxy S24 Ultra. Beyond AI, the chipset will help provide a smoother experience when gaming, equipped with Vulkan Engine, a high-performing graphics platform, and improved Ray Tracing. Other specs remain the same as last year's model, such as its 6.2-inch and 6.7-inch display, 4,000mAh and 4,900mAh batteries,120Hz Adaptive Refresh Rate, 50 MP main lens, a 12MP ultrawide, a 10 MP telephoto, and a 12MP selfie camera.Also: Best One UI 7 features coming to Samsung Galaxy S25 models (and older phones, too)Despite the camera hardware remaining the same, the software upgrades should significantly improve the experience. For example, 10-bit HDR recording is now applied by default, allowing users to capture better detail, and a new Galaxy Virtual Aperture, integrated into the Expert RAW app, gives users better depth-of-field control, similar to when using a DSLR. Galaxy S25+ and S25 Ultra also feature advanced AI image processing with ProScaler, which, like Samsung TVs, uses AI to digitally enhance the resolution of videos. Just know that the phones need to be set to QHD+ resolution to take advantage of the feature.Pricing for the Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus starts at $799 and $999, respectively. That's the same as past years' retail price, which is good to see, provided you're getting improvements -- some in hardware and more in software. Show more 2. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Kerry Wan/ZDNET The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra received several design upgrades, the most obvious being its rounded edges, a departure from the typical Ultra design that makes it akin to other flagship phones on the market, such as, dare I say, the iPhone.Like the rest of the line, the S25 Ultra is lighter and slimmer, weighing 218 grams compared to the S24 Ultra's 232 grams, and measuring 8.2mm compared to 8.6mm. Despite its leaner form factor, it is more durable than ever, featuring a new Corning Gorilla Armor 2, which provides advanced drop protection and scratch resistance.Also:Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs iPhone 16 Pro Max: Which phone should you buy?The Galaxy S25 Ultra features a 6.9-inch AMOLED display and a similar anti-reflection coating as the S24 Ultra, which is great to see.Another notable hardware upgrade is its 50MP ultrawide camera sensor, an upgrade from the S24 Ultra's 12MP, allowing users to capture more details in landscape and macro photos.The rest of the cameras remain the same as the Galaxy S24 Ultra's, with a 200MP main lens, a 10MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom, a 50MP telephoto with 5X optical zoom, and a 12MP selfie camera. The phone also retains the same 5,000mAh battery capacity and embedded S Pen, though the latter no longer supports wireless air gestures.The Galaxy S25 Ultra is available in Titanium Silverblue, Titanium Whitesilver, Titanium Gray, and Titanium Black, and online-exclusive colors Titanium Pinkgold, Titanium Jetblack, and Titanium Jadegreen. It starts at $1,299, the same as last year, with 256GB of storage and 12GB of RAM. Show more 3. AI upgrades Kerry Wan/ZDNET Undoubtedly, the star of the show was the S25 lineup's AI upgrades, which Samsung claimed: "Set a new standard towards a true AI companion with our most natural and context-aware mobile experiences ever created."As the description implies, AI was sprinkled nearly everywhere in the devices, from your more typical photo-editing and generating to more advanced, personalized features, such as personalized agents and LLMs, all meant to optimize how users use their phones daily.Also:I tried Samsung's new Galaxy AI features - these 3 made Apple Intelligence look badSince there are so many features, both made available through One UI 7 and Galaxy AI, here's the run-down of them all, along with a brief description of each.AI Select: AI Select is similar to Google's Circle to Search feature, except that when you select things on your screen, instead of searching the web, it provides you with actions you can take on your phone. For example, if you select a date on your screen, with AI select, your phone could suggest adding the date to your calendar, and when selected, does it for you.Circle to Search updates: Although Circle to Search is not new, it got some updates to make it more efficient. It can recognize phone numbers, emails, and URLs on the screen, and allow you to visit said links or click the number to make a call. It's also multimodal, allowing you to use Circle to Search to search audio, which can identify the name of a song you're hearing.Cross-app action: Using natural language, you can now simply ask Gemini to perform actions across multiple apps, with a prompt such as, "Search for the upcoming Warriors game and add to calendar."AI Photo Search: If you need to find a photo, you can use a natural language prompt through search through your library.Settings Search: Similar to above, you can now use natural language to figure out where a setting on your phone is. A command may look something like, "Help me make my text bigger."Also:Every Samsung Galaxy S25 model compared: Which phone should you buy?Personal Data Engine: Think of your Personal Data Engine as a personal LLM that you design from the ground up. The more you use your device, the more it learns from you from your everyday usage. The data is stored on the device, and not on the cloud for extra security, so if you lose the phone, it's lost forever. This information can provide tailored experiences for you such as the new Now Brief feature.Now Brief: This feature can give you suggestions accessible via your Now Bar on the lock screen, anticipating your needs. For example, based on your routines and habits, it may suggest driving mode or navigation.Audio eraser:This feature gives users more control over audio in videos, allowing you to adjust different audio elements in your videos, such as voices, wind, noises, and more. For example, if you want the background noise to be quieter, you can lower it, or you can make the forefront noise louder.Improved Generative Edit:This feature, which removes unwanted elements from your photographs, can now also remove shadows as well, making the edit more seamless. Show more 4. Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNET While we didn't see a new pair of smart glasses or ring at the end of the show this year, the company did tease a new product -- one that's arguably even more significant.Also: Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge first look: Specs and features, release date, price, moreThe Galaxy S25 Edge is what the company is calling it, and from the teasers and seconds-long sizzle reel we got at the end of the presentation, there's one obvious takeaway: it'ssuperthin. So thin that the phone will only feature two cameras, and not three like the rest of the Galaxy S25 lineup.According to Bloomberg'sMark Gurman, the S25 Edge will launch in the first half of this year, with pricing expected to be below the S25 Ultra's $1,299. Show more 5. Project Moohan XR headset Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNET Samsung finally showcased its mixed reality headset, pictured above, to the public. Its form factor is similar to that of the Apple Vision Pro, resembling ski goggles, with a smooth, curved front, and head strap that sits at the back of the user's head.Also: Here's the Android XR headset that Google and Samsung are releasing in 2025The headset, codenamed Project Moohan and announced in December, is a collaboration with Google and Qualcomm. It will run on Android XR, its operating system for XR devices. Samsung says there's no official timeline in terms of when we'll see the device in the market, but the hardware making an appearance at Unpacked is promising. Show more When is Samsung Unpacked? Samsung Unpacked took place on Wednesday, Jan. 22. The event started at 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. ET and was live-streamed for everyone to watch.The physical event, reserved for media, super fans, and industry experts, occured in San Jose, California. Show more Samsung Unpacked

Samsung just changed the gameCopyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.Samsung really wants to lure iPhone users over to the other side. If youre an iPhone user who may be due for an upgrade, its new lure teases, heres a list of 25 reasons to make the switch to Samsung this time around. It is 25 because this is all about the Galaxy S25. And while the new phone is the closest Android contender to iPhones security and privacy we have seen, theres one major risk that home and business iPhone users need to understand before they switch.Has Samsungs Galaxy S25 really seized Apple's privacy crown with new measures, having made privacy the main focus for users, as one new report suggests. It has certainly pushed the AI envelope much further than iPhone 16, even with new updates promised with iOS 18.3 and beyond. Samsung is pushing compelling consumer offers as well as special offers, volume pricing, bulk trade-in opportunities and free shipping for business buyers.But the Galaxy S25 has also cemented an issue I have raised before one at the heart of the AI offerings that have quickly become the predominant differentiator across flagships. Samsung and Google have never been more aligned than with the launch of the Galaxy S25. Despite Samsungs Galaxy AI hard-sell over the last year, its Google that is powering the most significant AI advances on the new device. And when it comes to security and privacy, that really matters.Last year when Apple first touted its groundbreaking private cloud compute (PCC), I commented that Samsung phones carry Gemini as well that means the offerings are not fully under its control. And that is the difference the company needs to address as it responds to Apple... Theres nothing to suggest an answer to Apples PCC is waiting in the wings. That was before any detail on the Galaxy S25, which has gone further to mix the Google and Samsung AI offerings.MORE FOR YOUAt that time, Samsung was fully in its hybrid AI mode. Sensitive AI tasks were device only, other more complex tasks relied on Galaxy AI in the cloud. And then Apple did two things to move the needle. First, its PCC offering was a game-changer when it comes to provable levels of cloud AI security, with Apples end-to-end control protecting and anonymizing user data. Apple also set a new bar for transparency when prompts trigger off-device, third-party activity.Samsung has moved since then, and on-device privacy is emphasized with the new Galaxy S25. The phones Personal Data Engine combines and processes your primary data and provides tailored suggestions. It encrypts this data and saves it on your device with Knox Vault, making it inaccessible to anyone else, while users can decide where to process data for select features, either on your device or in the cloud.Its notable that Samsungs 25 reasons to switch lists out these new security features. And that includes a nod to business users grappling with new AI threats. You can provide your team with game-changing AI features while maintaining control, it says. With Samsung Account for Business, you can enable and disable specific Galaxy AI features across one phone or your entire device fleet from an easy-to-use management system.In addition, there is Samsungs own password manager, a privacy dashboard to monitor which apps can access your camera, mic, location and contacts, and Private Share a secure file-sharing technology built on the blockchain [which] lets you set time limits and expiration dates on shared files, with no screenshots or reshares allowed. Plus of course, the usual multiyear security updates, biometric device security and theft protection.But the point on AI data leakage still holds. In my view, Apple has set a bar with PCC that Samsung in particular should address. And theres another challenge given the new level of on-device collaboration with Google and Gemini, which rightly or wrongly is always going to raise eyebrows when it comes to data security versus Apples ecosystem.Last week, I reported on a new report from Harmonic Security that warned of the significant risks related to data security that comes from using Generative AI in the workplace. Organizations risk losing their competitive edge if they expose sensitive data. Yet at the same time, they also risk losing out if they don't adopt GenAl and fall behind.Like it or not, this is the next big thing that will dominate device security. Its a user playground today, but that wont last. Were on the cusp of a wake-up call when the reality of fairly open LLMs being tasked with producing competitive assessments and corporate strategy decks fully hits home. And in a world where we see headlines such as opting out of Gmail's Gemini AI summaries is a mess here's how to do it, we think, its not hard to see the problem thats about to hit.Switching your phone brand of choice isnt as difficult as you might think or as time-consuming as it used to be, Samsung tells iPhone users. Free services like Samsung Smart Switch handle all the leg work, and virtually all top business and consumer apps support both major platforms. As a result, replacing an iPhone with a Samsung Galaxy device is just as seamless as upgrading from an older Galaxy device to the newest Galaxy S25 Seriesor Galaxy Z Fold6.Samsungs Galaxy S25 is a great device, and it does genuinely raise the bar on smartphone AI. But for home and business users, the fact this is a device thats all about AI has come too soon for its buyers to fully understand how to stay AI-safe, or even the questions they should ask. All that should be factored in to any decision to switch.

02 September 2022, Berlin: Resting loungers at Vabali Spa Berlin are seen before opening. (to dpa ... [+] "Saunas fight against high energy prices") Photo: Christoph Soeder/dpa (Photo by Christoph Soeder/picture alliance via Getty Images)dpa/picture alliance via Getty ImagesSystems go live. We talk about the stage when software application development projects push to live production status as if it were some kind of tangible assembly line in a factory somewhere, which in virtual terms it kind of really is. Enterprise applications running in live production ingest their raw ingredients (data), process the information streams through various stages of manufacture (normalization, analytics, AI engines and so on) and then churn out a finished product, which is often neatly packaged up for the user interface through various levels of abstraction to make consumption easier.What Is Non-Production Data?Because theres so much focus on live production systems, we sometimes forget about the data that exists in non-production environments. These information resources may include testing and prototyping datasets, they might encompass unstructured information that exists in the murky waters of the so-called data lake, they may come from source data repositories that are not part of working applications yet still form an essential information aquifer to feed IT services higher up and they could include data that belongs to recently decommissioned applications, or those that are sunsetting and about to earn their retirement in the annals of legacy software.From a data security, privacy and information management perspective, these seemingly unloved piles of information are still important from a compliance and governance perspective, so how should we get our house in order?Non-production data may sprawl from place to place with little visibility or control over whats happening. According to David Wells, head of product for data compliance at enterprise DevOps solutions company Perforce,Imagine a source dataset and a target dataset, where the source contains unaltered data and the target has been transformed into a more secure version of the former. Data engineers will typically alter actual data using techniques such as anonymization, bucketization (replacing a range of values with a single one), differential privacy or altering data outliers. To some extent, this prevents linkage attacks that might allow someone to connect data in the target set to the source dataset but the risk is not entirely eliminated, explained Wells.MORE FOR YOUArent there quick fixes for this kind of situation out there by now? Sure, he agrees, use of synthetic data is one solution but even though it is randomly generated, it usually still maintains the aggregate patterns of the original dataset. All of which means that a malicious attack can still be mounted by successfully reidentifying some of the source data if it is also publicly available (such as a list of home addresses).The Developer ChallengeDevelopers working with non-production data realities face similar obstacles, said Perforces Wells. Datasets typically need linkages between similar pieces of data. So when using test data, replacing the last two digits of a five-digit zip code without changing an address could cause an address validation function to fail, or altering a cars vehicle identification number might turn a Subaru into a Cadillac. Furthermore, the problem grows as more pieces of data are re-related (such as age and date of birth).In addition, we must also remember that actual (i.e. live production) data often poses permutations that were not considered by software developers or data engineers at any level, especially when new software version releases are put into play because actual data has patterns that will stress and strain processing in unexpected ways. When that data moves from a state of production to non-production, there are architectural implications for information compliance and safety that - really - we should have been thinking about in the pre-production stage.Data patterns also matter to testers and there is often a need to be far more realistic than many data processing toolsets will allow. All of this means that if and when any of these information streams ends up languishing as non-production data, due care and consideration are still required.The Bigger They AreFurthermore, the greater the scale, the harder the situation becomes, clarified Wells. Test data needs to be transformed or generated consistently to maintain referential integrity. While managing this may be relatively achievable on a small scale, as soon as larger apps are involved, it becomes increasingly expensive, complex and time-consuming. This gets exacerbated as systems begin having different representations for the same domain of data (for example, system A puts a persons name in full in one field and system B uses the first and last name separately). Yet, for security to be effective, teams must address a minimum of 18-20 sensitive customer fields.So, whats the answer he asks? First, we clearly need to take a more proactive rather than reactive or defensive approach to protecting data in non-production environments so that we move to a mindset that focuses on prevention rather than cure.Techniques like static data masking can automatically discover sensitive data and replace it with fictitious, production-like, fully functional data with consistent referentiality across development, testing and analytics teams, highlighted Wells. This addresses challenges in protecting both test data and analytic data by permanently anonymizing sensitive information in non-production environments. This ensures compliance with privacy regulations while maintaining data usability for testing or analytics.The Perforce compliance lead provides us with an example i.e. take a bank that wants to provide anonymized production-like data for analytics without violating GDPR.. using a masking tool like Delphix, it can:Automate sensitive data discovery across Oracle and SQL databases.Apply masking policies to anonymize personally identifiable information, ensuring referential integrity between testing and analytics environments.Use the products hyperscale architecture to deliver masked datasets within hours rather than days, reducing development cycle times while ensuring compliance.Masking can also help tackle scale by masking sensitive data at scale across complex, multi-terabyte datasets using automated discovery and masking. Multi-threaded processing helps mask large datasets rapidly without impacting downstream operations, while support for heterogeneous environments (database, files, cloud and on-premises locations) provides comprehensive, consistent coverage.Beyond masking, other data protective measures include data loss prevention, data encryption and strict access control. However, these all have their pros and cons, heeded Wells. Similarly, audits complement prevention, but vulnerabilities may not be found until after a problem is created. In reality, non-production data protection strategies may use a combination of techniques and tools. For example, an organisation might use data loss protection together with strict access control and adding masking can ensure that the sensitive data is irreversibly masked and cannot be re-identified.Cultural Shift To Security-FirstListening to the Perforce compliance team talk about the need to lock down not just data, but all data, other data and, oh, those bits of data too, it becomes clear that we need to move towards a security-first culture where data protection is baked in from the start of non-production processes.We talk about zero trust design and we extoll the virtues of baked-in security provisioning for todays increasingly mission-critical and life-critical data resources and repositories, but there is obviously a more rounded data lifecycle going on inside enterprises across all verticals that demands data management practices that are both holistic and rather more agnostic in terms of their application.

Commemorating the 80th anniversary of Auschwitzs liberation, an installation in New York tells the tragic story of the teenage girl and diarist, featuring a precisely scaled re-creation of the Amsterdam annex in which the Franks hid from the Nazis.

Trump and others have floated sending US special operations forces to Mexico to combat cartels.Experts told Business Insider that intervention in Mexico could create instability.SOF missions like foreign internal defense could be prudent, but only to augment nonmilitary approaches.Trump world is kicking around the idea of sending special operations forces into Mexico to combat drug cartels. There's a risk these operations could make things worse, experts said.While designating Mexican cartels as "foreign terrorist organizations" on Monday, President Donald Trump was asked by reporters whether he would consider sending US special operations personnel to Mexico."Could happen," the president said, noting that "stranger things have happened."Experts on the cartels and warfare said that sending any military troops into Mexico risks stirring instability, which could then spill over the border into US territory."I don't think that the American people have the stomach for what's going to happen if we start messing around down there," a senior active-duty special operator told Business Insider, speaking on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to speak to the media."Just throwing any military mechanism at this problem for the purpose of just killing cartel leaders is not going to change anything," he said. "It's only going to make things worse." US Army Green Berets prepare to breach and enter a building as part of Close Quarter Battle training. US Army/Staff Sgt. Thomas Mort Trump floated the idea of military intervention in Mexico in his first term, but his team now appears to be considering the idea more seriously."How much should we invade Mexico?" a transition team member told Rolling Stone in November 2024 for a report on Trump's musings about combating cartels in Mexico. "That is the question."Trump's new national security advisor, Mike Waltz, a former Green Beret, has pushed the idea of using special operators. And Trump's "border czar," Tom Homan, has said that special operations forces could be used to take the cartels out, or "take them off the face of the Earth."Direct action raids hard-hitting missions US special operations is known for and which Trump appears inclined to pursue on Mexican soil would bring disastrous consequences, especially if conducted without an invitation from Mexico, the operator and other experts BI spoke with warned. But other, less kinetic missions, like training foreign troops or improving foreign internal defense, could prove worthwhile, they said.Such missions have long been the bread and butter of forces like the Army's Green Berets. With Trump's formal designation of cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, those kinds of missions could augment other government efforts to more effectively stem the flow of drugs into the US, sources told BI.An idea that keeps coming upThe idea of using special operators to combat cartels in Mexico has gained traction among leading Republicans, particularly military veterans. Before Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a former naval officer, ended his bid for the White House, he told CNN that if elected president, he would deploy US special operations forces into Mexico "on day one."In 2023, Waltz, then a congressional representative from Florida, and Dan Crenshaw, a Texas congressman and former Navy SEAL, introduced new Authorization of Military Force legislation aimed at Mexican cartels. Such legislation is notably not often quickly reversed both of the AUMFs that allowed the Global War on Terror to balloon in scope are still in place.Wanting to send special operations forces into Mexico is understandable, said Bruce Hoffman, a senior fellow for counterterrorism and homeland security at the Council on Foreign Relations. Other measures have failed to curb the flow of drugs into the US, though some of the efforts at home appear to be working, as deaths from fentanyl overdoses are finally on the decline. A member of US Naval Special Warfare Task Unit Europe (NSWTU-E) provides cover during a raid with foreign special operations forces. U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. Patrik Orcutt But special operations is much smaller than conventional military forces, he said, and isn't designed to solve every problem that might warrant military intervention."Despite the public imagination, SOF is not on a regular basis engaged in the kinds of operations that people often imagine, that are depicted in Hollywood," Hoffman said."They're engaged in less glamorous things like training indigenous forces, gathering intelligence, psychological operations, [and] civil affairs," he said.Bolstering Mexico's internal defenses could be a worthwhile endeavor, the active-duty special operator told BI, but prioritizing military intervention over non-violent approaches, like empowering the State and Treasury departments to apply pressure on the financial institutions used by cartels, would be foolhardy.The dangers of getting it wrongViolence against cartels could trigger a humanitarian crisis and spur more immigration to the US, said Guadalupe Correa-Cabrera, a professor at George Mason University who has extensively studied cartels.Mexican civilians caught in the crossfire would likely flee communities, which could create a refugee crisis, she said. "They are going to apply for asylum in a desperate situation," she said, calling the idea of immediate military intervention illogical. It's not as simple as killing top leaders either. Complicating the grip cartels have on Mexican society is their seemingly infinite complexity, she said."We're not talking about businesses that operate vertically, like El Chapo and El Mayo, and all these guys that provide orders to everyone," she said, referring to two infamous drug kingpins. Most cartels operate with less centralized command structures and are splintered into smaller cells. Some of these focus on drug movements and production, while others focus on kidnapping, extortion, and human smuggling.If the goal is to limit the reach of the cartels and the violence and the destruction that comes with them, "you are going to get the exact opposite effect" if you start killing leaders, said Carolyn Gallaher, a professor at American University who studies cartels, in an interview with BI.Top leaders can be easily replaced by others zealously vying for power, creating an even more complex battlefield for American troops and Mexican civilians."When you start fighting an army that is not behaving like a regular military, you are basically in the middle of civilian life," Gallaher said. "And you don't have an accurate way to differentiate between civilian and soldier." Coalition and Anti-Terror Forces fire mortar rounds on an overseas live-fire range. US Army/Sgt. Brandon White Doug Livermore, vice president of the Special Operations Association of America and a senior Green Beret officer in the National Guard who has written about narcoterrorism, said special operations is just one tool in the vast US government toolbox, and can't be the main effort."A military approach by itself will not be sufficient. It will not solve the problem," Livermore told BI.He suggested a broader approach involving US special operations-provided intelligence or efforts to bolster internal security. However, Livermore said rampant corruption in Mexico's government agenciescould complicate these efforts.He also recommended a closer examination and targeting of China's role in the US drug crisis, pointing to the supply of chemical and financial support to cartels.It's unclear what endstates the Trump administration desires to achieve to define success, said the SOF operator. Lacking such parameters could lead to another quagmire. It seems likely, however, that any effective operation to dismantle them will take years, he said."It's not done in a short amount of time; it takes consistent effort and partnership," the operator said. "It's going to take a generation or two; it's not going to be done in four years."

Wildfires have devastated California in early 2025, and climate change may be to blame.Real-estate analyst Ivy Zelman warned of rising property insurance costs last summer.Here are five other states that homeowners could flee as climate risk rises.Six months ago, Ivy Zelman made a bold, unpopular call, as she's done throughout her career.The venerated real-estate analyst and founder of research firm Zelman & Associates said there was a looming threat to property values that only a few of her counterparts were talking about.Climate change, which some have dismissed as merely a boogeyman, would become an increasingly big headache for homeowners, Zelman had told Business Insider. Her thesis was that rising global temperatures, which are correlated with natural disasters like floods and fires, would cause home insurance prices to soar over time, which would weigh on property values.Those who agree with this thinking, like analyst David Burt of "The Big Short" fame, warned that this dynamic could cause property prices in certain markets to fall up to 60% in extreme cases.Though they'd love to be proven wrong, Zelman and Burt seem to be onto something.Devastating wildfires have ravaged California in January, killing dozens and displacing thousands, and scientists say climate change is partially to blame. This could go down as the costliest natural disaster in US history. And those whose homes haven't gone up in smoke may face exorbitant insurance cost increases assuming insurers are willing to cover them at all.In a recent interview, Zelman refused to take a victory lap but is still concerned about this trend."I never want to be someone to say, 'Oh, I was right,'" she told Business Insider. "I just think we all have to be realistic. How many times it's the definition of insanity how many times are people going to be evacuated, and then, 'Wow, we were lucky our house didn't burn down,' and they then say, 'OK, well, let's just go back home, and we're OK.'"Zelman continued: "I think it's got to [get] some people to rethink whether they want to keep doing this."The California exodus could continue due to high insurance prices, climate risksCalifornia had the second-largest outbound moving rate among US states last year, according to data from Atlas Van Lines, and Zelman thinks that could only accelerate after the fire crisis."Bigger picture, does the state of California have more outbound migration because people are concerned about getting their home insured?" Zelman asked rhetorically. Atlas Van Lines Insurance companies are reconsidering whether homes in high-risk markets are worth insuring. If the risks of insuring a home against fires, earthquakes, and floods outweigh what they can charge, they may decide it's not profitable to stay in markets like California."It's very preliminary, but the insurance industry is in complete turmoil," Zelman said. "And part of that has been driven by the commissioners not allowing premiums to rise fast enough to accommodate the risk."If insurance costs surge by thousands of dollars per year to account for climate risk, prospective homebuyers could take note and make lower offers, driving prices down over time, as Burt pointed out. And that assumes buyers are still comfortable with living in California long term."One gentleman friend, who we've been friends with forever, reached out and said, 'I was near the evacuation site, but I fortunately didn't have to evacuate. But I'm actually wondering, should I just sell and get the hell out of here? I'm worried about home values going down,'" Zelman said.In the near term, Zelman said California homeowners like her friend shouldn't fret. Ironically, she said property values could surge in the next year since tons of home supply just got wiped out.But in the coming years, Zelman suspects that buyers will gravitate toward cities that may be warm but have less risk of natural disasters, like Phoenix or Las Vegas. And those looking to get distance from Los Angeles but stay nearby could go south to Newport Beach or Orange County.5 states that could have long-term climate riskCalifornia isn't the only state with housing markets at risk from natural disasters that may be influenced, at least in part, by climate change.Property values could also come under pressure in a handful of Sun Belt states, Zelman said. Elevated risks of hurricanes and uncomfortably high temperatures could eventually reduce demand for homes in the region that Zelman's colleagues had jokingly called the "Sun Melt."Although the Sun Belt was home to some of the hottest housing markets last year, Zelman noted that existing home listings have risen rapidly in Florida and Texas, and to a lesser extent in North and South Carolina, and Tennessee. Those states each saw neutral to positive net migration flows in 2024, and new-home construction rates suggest that they're still in demand. In fact, the South is the only US region that has more inventory now than before the pandemic.However, rising rates of homeowners looking to move could be an ominous sign. If there was a major uptick in existing listings, Zelman said it could put prices under pressure. At the very least, she thinks owners in those states should keep an eye on this trend in the coming years. Zelman & Associates "The reason why home prices are under pressure is because there's more competition, whether it be builders opening more communities, or we have existing home sellers that are trying to move inventory," Zelman said. "I think that suggests that there is going to be more a need for people to either reduce their asking price or for builders to provide incentives."Lower home prices may seem like a blessing for buyers who've been frozen out of what was the least affordable housing market in four decades, Zelman & Associates found.But new buyers could get stuck with declining long-term home equity values unless the factors spooking homeowners and affecting prices, including climate-related headaches, don't go away."I don't anticipate that '25 is going to really be the only year that we're going to see pressure in these markets," Zelman said. "Maybe the pressure abates. But I think that it could be where I would tell a Business Insider reader, 'Well, if you buy in '25, it could go lower in '26.'"Those looking to move may want to consider the more affordable Midwest region, Zelman said, reiterating a point that the Cleveland resident made last summer.