NewsAstronomyA cosmic Platypus might link two astronomical mysteriesThe flash of light might also offer insight into the origins of supermassive black holes Astronomers dont know what causes bright cosmic explosions called luminous fast-blue optical transients, or LFBOTs (one illustrated). A new cosmic burst suggests at least some might be from a mid-sized black hole ripping up a star.NASA, ESA, NSF's NOIRLab, Mark Garlick , Mahdi ZamaniBy Lisa Grossman36 seconds agoNATIONAL HARBOR, MD. A bright blip in a distant galaxy may link two mysterious categories of cosmic flares. The event, which astronomers playfully call the Platypus, could also offer a new way to understand the origins of supermassive black holes that reside at the centers of most galaxies.The brilliant burst, spotted in a dwarf galaxy about 6.5 billion light-years from Earth, has many of the hallmarks of a tidal disruption event, the final flash of a star being ripped apart by a black hole. But it also resembles another type of flash, dubbed an LFBOT, which astronomers think might be a class of exploding star.

Nature, Published online: 23 January 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00241-wMicroplastics are piling up like a car crash in the brains of mice. Plus, cancer poisons immune cells to deactivate them.

Nature, Published online: 21 January 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00204-1Blockbuster weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic could raise a persons likelihood of developing arthritis. Plus, how to reimburse young people for their participation in research.

The seven-part series exploring the rich wildlife of Asia is coming to the US here's how to watch Asia with David Attenborough online and on TV.

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Boycraft, a talented 3D Artist, Animator, and digital entomologist, has once again expanded their collection of realistic-looking insect models, showcasing an impressive rig made for a model of Extatosoma Tiaratum, a scorpion-looking stick bug endemic to Australian rainforests.As noted by Boycraft, they made a special physics engine and dampened the stability inversely proportional to the force applied in the direction of movement to nail the unique movements of stick bugs. If I do this too much, it becomes like a spring, but I hope to reproduce the frustrating movement. It might look more realistic if it was a little slower, the artist noted. In terms of software, the creator stayed true to form and leveraged Unity to produce the insect.And heres the entomology experts excellent Extatosoma captured in AR:Previously, Boycraft also demonstrated a 3D recreation of the Peruvian giant yellow-leg centipede:Showcased a realistic Heteroscodra Maculata tarantula, also known as Togo Starburst:And depicted the tarantula battling a weta (a giant flightless cricket):Click here to check out Boycrafts insect collection and dont forget to join our80 Level Talent platformand ournew Discord server, follow us onInstagram,Twitter,LinkedIn,Telegram,TikTok, andThreads,where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.Source link The post Developer Showcases an Impressive Stick Bug Rig Powered by Unity appeared first on CG SHARES.

Over the last couple of years, challenging video games have earned a devoted following of fans looking to put their skills to the test. Those are the kind of games that Fanatical is offering a pretty good bundle deal on, as the site has a bunch of roguelikes, metroidvanias, and more on sale.Like other Fanatical deals, the more PC games you grab the better your discount, with the Ruthless Bundle starting at two games for $6. From there, you can get three games for $8 and the best-value deal here is five games for $12.Build Your Own Ruthless Bundle See at Fanatical Aura of WorldsHellbreach: VegasAsterogues (Steam Deck Verified)Spectator (Steam Deck Playable)Duck ParadoxThe Golden Eyed Ghosts (Steam Deck Playable)Nephilim ResurrectionGrime: Deluxe Edition (Steam Deck Verified)Dark Devotion (Steam Deck Playable)Children of Morta: Complete Edition (Steam Deck Verified)Wall World Complete (Steam Deck Verified)Aeterna Noctis (Steam Deck Verified)Rampage Knights (Steam Deck Playable)Dwarven Realms (Steam Deck Playable)Margoq's LairDeflector (Steam Deck Verified)Souldiers (Steam Deck Verified)Mana SparkBosorka (Steam Deck Verified)Arboria and Flame Keeper Double PackMoonlighter: Complete Edition (Steam Deck Verified)For The King - Deluxe Edition (Steam Deck Playable)Zoeti (Steam Deck Verified)As for the games on offer, there are some great titles to choose from. Metroidvania fans in particular will want to check out Aeterna Noctis, Souldiers, and Grime, as these have distinct visuals and solid gameplay loops. If you enjoy that action-packed genre, then this is a pretty solid trio of games to consider.Continue Reading at GameSpot

All hell is about to break loose in May, as after five years, a brand-new Doom game is on the way from id Software. Scheduled to launch on May 15, preorders are now open and PC players can get a big discount on the game. Over on Fanatical, you can save 25% on your preorder and get Doom: The Dark Ages for just $58.79, or you can grab the premium edition for $84 instead. The latter comes with two days early access starting May 13. Doom: The Dark Ages Standard: $58.79 (was $70) | Premium: $84 (was $100) As a bonus, preorders will also come with a cool skin for the Doom Slayer, the Void Doom cosmetic that dresses the bane of all demons in stylishly black colors.The Premium Edition comes packed with a bunch of extra content as well, including two days early access if you preorder and the following extras:Campaign DLCDigital Artbook and SoundtrackDivinity Skin PackVoid Slayer skin preorders bonusIf you're looking to grab a physical edition of the gory single-player game on Xbox Series X or PS5, you can also check out our Doom: The Dark Ages preorder guide for more details on those console editions. Preorder Standard Edition Preorder Premium Edition It's worth noting that the new Doom will also be available day-one through Xbox Game Pass, so if you're looking to grab a subscription to Microsoft's gaming library, there are some good deals on right now. One of the best we've seen is three months of Game Pass Ultimate for $34 at Woot, which is $16 less than the usual $50 price for prepaid codes. Subscribing to Game Pass Ultimate directly through Microsoft would cost you $60. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate 3-Month Code $34 (was $50) See at Woot See at Amazon Since this is the best tier of Game Pass, you'll also get several more benefits across console, PC, and cloud-compatible devices, as well as access to a massive library of games.Continue Reading at GameSpot

Doom: The Dark Ages is shaping up to be a worthy successor to 2020's Doom Eternal, a game that is often considered one of the best first-person-shooters ever made. With Id Software offering an extended look at this new Doom during Xbox's recent Developer_Direct, there's more reason than ever before to be excited about this fresh medieval twist on the modern Doom formula.

The Sims 4 has brought a wealth of customization options, allowing players to fine-tune their Sims' gender identities, romantic and WooHoo preferences, and pronoun selections. These updates have been a significant step forward in representing the LGBTQIA+ community within the game, making the virtual world of The Sims more reflective of real-world diversity.