This is today's edition ofThe Download,our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what's going on in the world of technology. OpenAI launches Operatoran agent that can use a computer for you Whats new: After weeks of buzz, OpenAI has released Operator, its first AI agent. Operator is a web app that can carry out simple online tasks in a browser, such as booking concert tickets or filling an online grocery order. The app is powered by a new model called Computer-Using AgentCUA for shortbuilt on top of OpenAIs multimodal large language model GPT-4o.Why it matters: OpenAI claims that Operator outperforms similar rival tools, including Anthropics Computer Use and Google DeepMinds Mariner. The fact that three of the worlds top AI firms have converged on the same vision of what agent-based models could be makes one thing clear. The battle for AI supremacy has a new frontierand its our computer screens. Read the full story. Will Douglas Heaven + If youre interested in reading more about AI agents, check out this piece explaining why theyre AIs next big thing. Whats next for robots James ODonnell In the many conversations Ive had about robots, Ive also found that most people tend to fall into three camps. Some are upbeat and vocally hopeful that a future is just around the corner in which machines can expertly handle much of what is currently done by humans, from cooking to surgery. Others are scared: of job losses, injuries, and whatever problems may come up as we try to live side by side. The final camp, which I think is the largest, is just unimpressed. Weve been sold lots of promises that robots will transform society ever since the first robotic arm was installed on an assembly line at a General Motors plant in New Jersey in 1961. Few of those promises have panned out so far.But this year, theres reason to think that even those staunchly in the bored camp will be intrigued by whats happening in the robot races. Heres a glimpse at what to keep an eye on this year. Read the full story. This piece is part of MIT Technology Reviews Whats Next series, looking across industries, trends, and technologies to give you a first look at the future. You can read the rest of them here. The must-reads Ive combed the internet to find you todays most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology. 1 Facebook and Instagram blocked and hid abortion pill posts But Meta denies its anything to do with its recent hate speech restriction U-turn. (NYT $)+ The companys widespread changes are making advertisers nervous. (Insider $)+ A contraceptive drug could act as an abortion pill substitute. (The Atlantic $)2 Donald Trumps staff are furious with Elon Musk His decision to trash talk the Presidents new AI deal is ruffling aides feathers. (Politico)+ For once, Trump doesnt seem to want to wade in. (CNN)+ Stargates newest data center will be built in the small Texan city of Abilene. (Bloomberg $)3 Watch the Trump administration delete agency pages in real timeAn agency GitHub records the documents, handbooks and bots as theyre deleted or amended. (404 Media) 4 Central Europes power grid is vulnerable to attack Its facilities unencrypted radio signals leave it wide open to malicious interference. (Ars Technica)+ The race to replace the powerful greenhouse gas that underpins the power grid. (MIT Technology Review) 5 OpenAIs conversion to becoming a for-profit is under investigation Californias attorney general wants to know more about its asset transfer plans. (The Markup)+ One major obstacle is determining how much equity Microsoft would hold. (FT $)6 WeRide has its sights set on becoming a driverless power playerThe Chinese company has ambitious plans to expand all over the world. (WSJ $) + Meanwhile, Tesla is issuing a safety update to 1.2 million cars in China. (Bloomberg $)+ How Wayves driverless cars will meet one of their biggest challenges yet. (MIT Technology Review)7 How fungi spores can help save endangered plantsBut its a delicate balancing act. (Knowable Magazine) + Africa fights rising hunger by looking to foods of the past. (MIT Technology Review)8 The fight over our tech-addled attention spanIts not that we cant focusits what were focusing on. (New Yorker $) 9 TikTok is still MIA from US app stores Opportunists are flogging iPhones with the pre-installed app for eye-watering prices. (Insider $)10 How random is Spotifys shuffle, really? And can algorithms be depended on to deal in true randomness? (FT $)Quote of the day I cant imagine that I personally can make any difference in their wealth, power or influence. But I cant be a part of offering them my life and my joy to then turn it back around and make money off of me. Michael Raine, a 50-year old Facebook and Instagram user, explains to the Washington Post why he doesnt want to contribute to the sprawling wealth of Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg any more. The big story How to stop a state from sinking April 2024 In a 10-month span between 2020 and 2021, southwest Louisiana saw five climate-related disasters, including two destructive hurricanes. As if that wasnt bad enough, more storms are coming, and many areas are not prepared. But some government officials and state engineers are hoping there is an alternative: elevation. The $6.8 billion Southwest Coastal Louisiana Project is betting that raising residences by a few feet will keep Louisianans in their communities. Ultimately, its something of a last-ditch effort to preserve this slice of coastline, even as some locals pick up and move inland and as formal plans for managed retreat become more popular in climate-vulnerable areas across the country and the rest of the world. Read the full story. Xander Peters We can still have nice things A place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line or skeet 'em at me.) + How two enterprising actors staged a daring performance of Hamlet inside Grand Theft Auto + Warning: these movies are dangerous!+ Madonna released Material Girl 40 years ago this weekand changed the face of pop forever.+ And finally, what everyone has been dying to knowdo dogs really watch TV?

Key takeaways You can earn up to 4.65% APY with today's best CDs.The Fed is likely to pause rates at its next meeting, so there's still time to lock in a high APY.Rate cuts are expected later this year. Want to maximize your earnings? Now's the time to take advantage of still-high certificate of deposit rates.Annual percentage yields, or APYs, on CDs have been falling for months in response to a series of Federal Reserve rate cuts. But with experts expecting the Fed to pause rates at its meeting next week, most banks are keeping APYs where they are for now. That means there's still time to lock in a great rate and protect your returns from the cuts the Fed is likely to make later this year. Today's top CDs offer APYs as high as 4.65%.Here are some of the highest CD rates right now and how much you could earn by depositing $5,000.Today's best CD rates Term Highest APY*BankEstimated earnings6 months 4.65%CommunityWide Federal Credit Union$114.931 year 4.45%CommunityWide Federal Credit Union$222.503 years 4.15%America First Credit Union$648.695 years 4.25%America First Credit Union$1,156.73 Experts recommend comparing rates before opening a CD account to get the best APY possible. Enter your information below to get CNET's partners' best rate for your area.Opening a CD today can boost your earningsAPYs on CDs and savings accounts have been dropping since the Federal Reserve cut rates at its last three meetings. But with inflation inching back up, many experts believe the Fed will hold rates steady at next week's meeting. And banks appear to be hedging their bets by holding CD rates relatively steady, too."We expect no significant action at the next Fed meeting, as current signals suggest a cautious, wait-and-see approach to determine the pace of interest rate cuts this year," said Chad Olivier, Certified Financial Planner and CEO of The Olivier Group. "We still think there's going to be an easing environment for the Fed. However, all of the markets are, in some respect, waiting to see what happens with the new administration before they really step in and get aggressive on lower interest rates."Experts expect to see rate cuts later this year, so securing a high APY now can maximize your earning potential. Your APY is locked in when you open a CD, which means your returns will stay the same regardless of where overall rates go after that.How CD rates have changed over the last week Term Last week's CNET average APYThis week's CNET average APYWeekly change**6 months 4.09%4.05%-0.98%1 year 4.03%4.01%-0.50%3 years 3.50%3.50%No change5 years 3.45%3.45%No change What to look for when choosing a CDA competitive APY is important, but it's not the only thing you should keep in mind. To find the right CD for you, weigh these factors, too:When you'll need your money: Early withdrawal penalties can eat into your interest earnings. So be sure to choose a term that fits your savings timeline. Alternatively, you can select a no-penalty CD, although the APY may not be as high as you'd get with a traditional CD of the same term.Minimum deposit requirement: Some CDs require a minimum amount to open an account -- typically, $500 to $1,000. Others do not. How much money you have to set aside can help you narrow your options.Fees: Maintenance and other fees can eat into your earnings. Many online banks don't charge fees because they have lower overhead costs than banks with physical branches. Still, read the fine print for any account you're evaluating.Federal deposit insurance: Make sure any bank or credit union you're considering is an FDIC or NCUA member so your money is protected if the bank fails.Customer ratings and reviews: Visit sites like Trustpilot to see what customers are saying about the bank. You want a bank that's responsive, professional and easy to work with.MethodologyCNET reviews CD rates based on the latest APY information from issuer websites. We evaluated CD rates from more than 50 banks, credit unions and financial companies. We evaluate CDs based on APYs, product offerings, accessibility and customer service.The current banks included in CNET's weekly CD averages include Alliant Credit Union, Ally Bank, American Express National Bank, Barclays, Bask Bank, Bread Savings, Capital One, CFG Bank, CIT, Fulbright, Marcus by Goldman Sachs, MYSB Direct, Quontic, Rising Bank, Synchrony, EverBank, Popular Bank, First Internet Bank of Indiana, America First Federal Credit Union, CommunityWide Federal Credit Union, Discover, Bethpage, BMO Alto, Limelight Bank, First National Bank of America and Connexus Credit Union.*APYs as of Jan. 24, 2025, based on the banks we track at CNET. Earnings are based on APYs and assume interest is compounded annually.**Weekly percentage increase/decrease from Jan. 6, 2025, to Jan. 13, 2025.More on CDs

A new laptop can be a big upgrade. Whether it's for school, work, gaming or just for you, there are so many things to consider when looking for a new laptop. These things include screen size, specs, brands and most importantly, price. Higher-end options are a lot more expensive. But there are some great budget options that work just as well.Hey, did you know?CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.One of those is Lenovo's IdeaPad laptop. And even better, it's now down to an all-time low price. Amazon discounted the laptop by $65, bringing it down to just $274. Just make sure to clip the on-page coupon to receive the full discount.See at AmazonLenovo makes great affordable laptops, with many models making our best budget laptops list. This IdeaPad is no exception. This laptop runs on Windows 11 and is great for everyday, simple use. It even has Dolby audio to give you a high quality listening experience. The laptop comes with an impressive 12GB of RAM and 512GB of solid-state drive storage. It also has an array of ports for all your needs like a headphone port, an SD card reader, USB-C, USB-A and more. It's also great for students and workers as the laptop comes with one year of Office 365 included with your purchase.For more laptop deals, check out our full roundup of the best laptop deals you can score right now. Top deals available today, according to CNET's shopping experts Curated discounts worth shopping while they last Amazon Blu-ray bundle: 3 for $33Costco 1-year Gold Star membership + $20 gift card: $65 (save $20)Anker 20-watt USB-C charger, 2-pack: $13 (save $6)Levoit LVAC-200 cordless vacuum: $160 (save $40)Sony WH-CH720N noise-canceling headphones: $88 (save $62) Why this deal mattersThe IdeaPad is now less than $300, making it a great time to grab one. Not to mention, it's down to a record-low price. Amazon claims this is a limited-time deal so there's no saying when it will expire. If you're interested, it's better to grab one now before the deal expires or the laptop sells out.

January 23, 20255 min readSaturns Rings Are DisappearingBut Theyll Be BackThis year, from Earths perspective, Saturns rings will appear nearly edge on, making them almost invisibleBy Phil Plait edited by Lee BillingsSaturns rings, imaged here by NASAs Cassini orbiter, are one of the solar systems most reliably spectacular sights. But sometimes they seem to disappear as seen from Earth. NASA/JPL/Space Science InstituteI recently noticed something odd about Saturn while admiring it near brilliant Venus in the southwestern night sky. Any object close to our evil twin sister planet will look somewhat dull in comparisonVenus can be so bright that its commonly mistaken for an airplane or a UFObut Saturn looked positively glum. Its almost on the other side of the sun from us right now, so its nearly at its maximum distance from Earth and thus somewhat fainter than usual. But still, it just seemed especially dim.Then I remembered: Saturns brilliant rings are disappearingat least they are from our perspective here on Earth. The normally broad rings presently appear much slimmer than usual, almost like a line across the planet. Without their countless reflective icy chunks adding to our view of Saturns luster, the planet really is less than half as bright as it can be at other times.Rest assured, Saturns magnificent rings are still there! There are two reasons theyre virtually invisible: one is that theyre almost unimaginably flat, and the other is that our viewing angle is affected by the dance of Saturns and Earths respective orbits.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.Saturns rings are not just the most obvious thing about the planetthey are arguably the most magnificent structure in the entire solar system. The main rings are about 280,000 kilometers across; if you put them between Earth and the moon, theyd cover more than two thirds of that gap! At Saturns distance of more than a billion kilometers from Earth, the rings, as large as they are, are invisible to the unaided eyebut only just barely: as soon as we began scanning the sky with telescopes, the rings were spotted, even if their true structure remained mysterious.Galileo saw the rings through his crude telescope in the early 17th century but didnt have enough resolution to see their true shape, and he called them Saturns ears. Decades later Dutch astronomer Christiaan Huygens realized that the planet was encircled by a ring that was touching it nowhere, as he wrote in the book Systema Saturnium. A figure no less than physicist James Clerk Maxwellwho determined the equations for electromagnetism that underpin our technological civilizationwas the first to prove that such a ring couldnt be solid, or else it would get torn apart. The inner edge would revolve around Saturn much faster than the outer edge, shredding it. From this, it was found that the planets rings (plural) must be made up of chunks of material too small for any telescope from Earth to see. More modern observations showed that those chunks are nearly pure water icewhich is why theyre so bright; ice is an excellent reflector of sunlight. And modern studies also showed that most of these chunks are smaller than an average car. There must be quadrillions of them.Composed of Hubble Space Telescope images, this animation shows Earths changing perspective on Saturns rings between 2018 and 2024.NASA, ESA, Amy Simon (NASA-GSFC), Michael H. Wong (University of California), Joseph DePasquale (STScI)The rings probably formed from an icy moon of Saturn getting whacked, hard, by an incoming object, perhaps even another moon. Interestingly, its not clear when this happened. Research published in the journal Icarus in 2023 looked at the accumulation rate of dark micrometeorite dust on the otherwise shiny rings and found that the rings were young, cosmically speaking: just 100 million to 400 million years in age. On the other hand, research published in late 2024 in the journal Nature Geoscience found that the pollution rate from this dust isnt as fast as had been thought; the high-speed micrometeorite collisions ionize the ring particles, giving them an electric charge. That makes them susceptible to Saturns powerful magnetic field, which then draws the material away, slowing the rate at which the rings darken. That means the rings might be far older.Even today, centuries after their discovery, the rings still pose fundamental mysteries.Still, how they formed after the initial collision is relatively well understood, and it explains their flatness, if not their age. Because of the orbital motions of the Saturnian moon and its impactor, the debris would likely have first formed a long stream, most of which would have lain in the direction of that moons orbital motion. Saturns other moons orbit over its equator, so the material from this one would likely have wound up in a similar configuration as well. Also, because Saturn isnt a perfect sphere but instead bulges at the equator from its rapid 10.5-hour rotation period, the planets thickened middle would have torqued debris into an orbit directly over the equator; this is why a ring-generating impact would have formed a flat disk.And I do mean flat. Despite being hundreds of thousands of kilometers across, the rings are extremely thin, vertically spanning a kilometer at most. In some places the rings are just 10 meters high, as tall as a three-story building. As immense as the rings are, if they and Saturn itself were scaled down to 28 centimeters (11 inches) across, the length of a standard sheet of paper, the rings would be 100 times as thin as the paper! Finally, gravitational interactions with Saturns large moons pull those ring particles into slightly different orbits. Over time, they have created thousands of individual rings, as well as a handful of gaps among them. So from above, the rings are a source of slack-jawed awe. From the side, though, they are razor-thin and extremely difficult to see.Thats where we find ourselves now. Saturn, like Earth, has a large axial tilt that is more than 26 degrees askew from the ecliptic plane in which all the major planets orbit. (Earth has a 23-degree tilt.) This means that during Saturns northern summer, its north pole is tipped toward the sun. From Earth, much closer to the sun than Saturn, wed be looking down on the rings, seeing them in their full glory.Saturns orbit is just about 30 years long, so for much of the Saturnian year, we see the rings clearly. At the time of Saturns equinoxes, however, the rings are seen more nearly edge on from Earth, and in fact they are exactly edge on as seen from the sun. But because Saturns orbit around the sun is tipped very slightly relative to Earths, we only see the rings precisely edge on at Saturns equinox when Earth also passes through the plane of the rings. This can happen twice near the equinox as Earth passes up through the plane and then down again roughly six months later, effectively erasing Saturns rings from our view.And it just so happens that Saturns autumnal equinox will occur in May 2025. And on March 23 our planet will pass through the ring plane, so at that time, the rings will reach the peak of their vanishing act before slowly shifting back into view.But theres a caveat: on that date in March, Saturn will be only 10 degrees from the sun in the sky, making it very difficult to observe. Bad timing! While Saturn will pass through Earths orbital plane again in mid-November, by that time, Saturns axial tilt will have tipped the rings a bit from our vantage point, so well only see them very nearly edge on. The good news is that in November Saturn will be easily viewable in the southern sky after sunset, and it will still look nearly ringless through a telescope. Check to see if theres an observatory or astronomical society near you that is hosting a viewing session!Im hoping to take a gander myself; Saturn without rings will be delightfully odd, and its something I havent seen in more than seven years. But Ill also look forward to time marching on and the planet brightening once more as those glorious rings reveal themselves again. Somehow Saturn without them just wouldnt be Saturn.

This week on the Eurogamer Newscast, we discuss the January 2025 Xbox Developer Direct, and its various games coming soon to Xbox... as well as PC, and nearly all on PlayStation 5 too. Read more

Video Game History Foundation's long-awaited digital library will be available next week"Good things come to those who wait."Image credit: VGHF News by Victoria Kennedy News Reporter Published on Jan. 24, 2025 Back in 2023, the Video Game History Foundation announced it was curating a digital library, which would allow users to access its vast collection of magazines, art books and more from the comfort of their homes. And while it didn't pop a date on when it would be available to the public at that time, it now has.Writing on social media, the Video Game History Foundation revealed its digital library will be launching next week, on 30th January."Good things come to those who wait," the team wrote, promising it would share further details on what to expect closer to the time.Welcome to the VGHF Library First Look Demo (2023), Watch on YouTubeWhen the digital library was first announced a year and a bit ago, library director Phil Salvador said one of the questions the team at the Video Game History Foundation was asked was how people "can access our collections of rare video game history research materials", but without having to make a trip in person.This digital library - which in 2023 had already been in the works for two years - was the solution. You can check out a little video about the library above.The Video Game History Foundation was initially set up back in 2017, by game preservationist and historian Frank Cifaldi. Writing on BlueSky, Cifaldi shared a more recent teaser for the team's "work-in-progress" digital library, adding it will be "such a great resource" for users."I just asked it to show me every video game magazine in our collection in chronological order that says Metroidvania," Cifaldi posted.Over on the @gamehistoryorg.bsky.social Discord we've been showing off and playing with our work-in-progress digital library (soon!), this is going to be such a great resource. I just asked it to show me every video game magazine in our collection in chronological order that says "Metroidvania."[image or embed] Frank Cifaldi (@frankcifaldi.bsky.social) January 22, 2025 at 8:11 PMTo see this content please enable targeting cookies.Elsewhere in video game history and preservation news, earlier this month GOG announced it had joined the European Federation of Game Archives, Museums and Preservation Projects.It had previously announced its Preservation Program to maintain the compatibility of games with modern and future systems. So far, over 100 games are part of the initiative, receiving a Good Old Game badge.

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games here Contents hide February is set to be a massive month for fans of video games. Theres the release date for Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, as well as Civilization 7, Tomb Raider 4-6 Remastered, Pirate Yakuza, and Monster Hunter Wilds. There will also be a fresh slew of PS Plus Essential giveaways. The reveal date for the PS Plus February 2025 monthly games is imminent, and there are 11 epics known to be leaving, meanwhile, a list of the most requested classics for Premium has been shared.PS Plus February 2025 monthly games reveal dateThePS Plus February 2025 Essential monthly games should be revealed on January 29th. Sony typically pulls the curtain aside on the next batch of games the final Wednesday prior to the start of the next month.As for when the Essential selection will be released, SonysPlayStation Blogpost for January confirms that they will come out on February 4th. The Extra and Premium additions should then be revealed on February 12th before releasing on the 18th.Make sure to claim the January 2025 Essential offerings while you still can. Suicide Squad Kill The Justice League isnt amazing, but its worth adding to your library just in-case you ever fancy playing the campaign. Meanwhile, The Stanley Parable Ultra Deluxe is fantastic, and so too is Need for Speed Hot Pursuit Remastered.PS Plus February 2025 games leavingBelow is a list of 11 games known to be leaving PS Plus in February 2025:Suicide Squad Kill The Justice League Feb 3rdThe Stanley Parable Ultra Deluxe Feb 3rdNeed for Speed Hot Pursuit Remastered Feb 3rdTales of Arise Feb 18thTales of Zestiria Feb 18thTales of Symphonia Remastered Feb 18thTales of Vespiria Definitive Edition Feb 18thThe Outer Worlds Spacers Choice Edition Feb 18thScarlet Nexus Feb 18thBulletstorm Full Clip Feb 18thAll of the above come courtesy of TrueTrophies.Most requested classics for PremiumBelow is the top 10 most requested classics for PS Plus Premium:The Simpsons Hit and RunGTA Vice City StoriesGod of War Ghost of SpartaLegend of LegaiaApe Escape 3Sly Cooper and the Thievius Racoon (already released)Silent Hill 2GTA Liberty City StoriesRatchet and ClankGod of War Chains of OlympusThe above list comes courtesy of Implicit Conversions via PushSquare. For those not in the know, Implicit Conversions is a classic game port developer, and they work with Sony to bring classic titles to PS Plus Premium. On their Discord, fans can submit requests for games they want added to Premium, and the above are the top 10 most heavily-requested.The Simpsons Hit and Run is obvious, as are most of the other games included. Unfortunately, despite how much they ae requested, its not guaranteed they will ever be added to Premium, especially in the case of The Simpsons Hit and Run due to licensing complexities that have prevented official remakes from happening.Subscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games hereVehicles have played an important role in Fortnites ever-changing island, sparking a variety of reactions from players. From the joy of zipping across the island in a Driftboard or Quadcrasher to the tactical advantage afforded by the X-4 Stormwing, none have aroused as much outrage as the B.R.U.T.E vehicles, sometimes known as Mecha. Debuted in Season X, Mecha faced fierce opposition due to their buffed power and the ability to trample structures into oblivion. Players, including pros, dubbed them overpowered, sparking widespread calls for their removal or major nerfs.Fast forward to 2025, and rumors of the Mechas reappearance are stirring up trouble once more. Recent reports hint that these once-despised vehicles may return in Fortnite soon but with some adjustments.Fortnite leak hints at new vehicle mechanics and Mecha returning to Battle RoyaleTrusted Fortnite leaker Loolo has once again revealed game-breaking news for players that Epic is currently working on some new ability that affects passengers in a vehicle. This comes after the leak in 2024 which included a car hijacking feature where a passenger will be able to take over an enemy car running right next to them.Fortnite leak about new mecha vehicle. Image credit Loolo.However, this leak clearly states its not that hijacking feature and has to do nothing with any vehicle mods either. Instead, Loolo speculates that Epic is working on a new vehicle that is similar to the Mecha where a passenger can shoot and also interact while the driver is focused on jumping and moving across areas.This news again sparked a divide in the player community where one wrote, Maybe something like climbing up on the roof? Or potentially jumping into other players cars. Another chimed in, A passenger seat that kicks out the passenger and sends them in the air? I would love to have that, I feel like as a driver, you should be able to do something against enemies that jump in into your whip.While there are numerous speculations on upcoming features in Fortnite, one thats currently running wild among players is the return of a heist theme in the next Chapter 6 Season 2. FortnitePlatform(s):Android, iOS, macOS, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/XGenre(s):Action, Massively Multiplayer, Shooter9VideoGamerRelated TopicsFortnite Subscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

Home Alone was produced and written by the venerable film legend, John Hughes. The movie was inspired by a real trip the director went on with his family.In an article for Chicago magazine, James Hughesson of the directorrecalls: On August 8, 1989, my father [John Hughes] jotted down in a notebook a movie idea born of travelers anxiety that occurred to him during the bustle of departing for our first family trip to Europe, and set it aside. Two weeks later, after returning home, he revisited the premise: What if one of the kids had been accidentally left behind?Hughes continues, Over the next nine days, he completed the first draft of Home Alone. According to that same article, Home Alone went on to defy everyones prerelease expectations, and quickly became the highest-grossing live-action comedy ever made. It earned $476.7 million worldwide.A Bit About the PlotDaniel Stern as Marv and Joe Pesci as Harry in Home AlonePhoto: Atlaspix / Alamy Stock PhotoThe original Home Alone follows the McCallisters as they prepare for an extended-family Christmas trip to France. The morning of their connecting flight to New York, their youngest son, Kevin McCallister (played by Macaulay Culkin), oversleeps, misses the family headcount, and gets left behindjust like John Hughes dreamt of. (Kevins parents were played by Catherine OHara and John Heard.)The first few days feel like sweet freedom, as Kevin basks in his first real dose of independence by tobogganing down the stairs, indulging in massive ice cream sundaes, and watching R-rated movies that uncle Frank (Gerry Bamman) would never allow.But the fun and games soon come to an end when Kevin is faced by the wet banditstwo bumbling burglars who have their sights set on robbing the McCallister home. Villains Harry (Joe Pesci) and Marv (Daniel Stern) soon realize the house isnt vacant like they first thought, and an endless game of cat and mouse ensues, with Kevin setting intricate booby traps to protect himself and his family home. All with a little help from old man Marley and his wicked brother Buzzs pet tarantula, of course.Where Was Home Alone Filmed?The street signs near the Home Alone housePhoto: Jacek Boczarski/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

According to Jain mythology, the Samavasarana temple brought the faithful closer to enlightenment through its tiered architectural formseach ascending space marking the accumulation of knowledge on the path toward enlightenment. Today, that spiritual vernacular endures in the western Indian state of Gujarat, where Serie Architects have completed its own contemporary homage: the new Raj Sabhagruh, centerpiece of the nearly 250-acre Shrimad Rajchandra Ashram. Set atop a crescent-shaped hill, the building rises from the 5,000-seat auditorium at its base, a column-free expanse distinguished by its monumental concrete arches. At its crown, meanwhile, a soaring 300-person meditation hall glows like a lantern thanks to over 1,000 integrated pin lights. And outside, the buildings angled faades bear some 800,000 bricks crafted from salvaged marble, their hand-chiseled surfaces yielding subtle texture. Whether youre a practitioner of the ancient Indian religion (based on tenets of compassion, nonviolence, and equality) or simply an admirer of great design, the edifice promises to lift hearts as it draws eyes to the sky.The facade of Raj Sabhagruh.Photo: Rory GardinerThe 5,000-seat auditorium.Photo: Rory GardinerThe skylit meditation hall at the buildings crown.Photo: Rory GardinerA curved stairwell ushers the faithful upward.Photo: Rory Gardiner