January 24, 20254 min readTrump Abruptly Cancels Crucial Science Reviews at NIH, Worlds Largest Public Funder of Biomedical ResearchPresident Trump has placed an indefinite suspension on research grant reviews and travel at the National Institutes of Health and appears to have erased diversity programming pages at the agencys websiteBy Max Kozlov & Nature magazine A vaccine research centre on the campus of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. Grandbrothers/Alamy Stock PhotoConfusion and anxiety is rippling through the US health-research community this week following Donald Trump taking office as the 47th US president. His administration has abruptly cancelled research-grant reviews, travel and trainings for scientists inside and outside the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the worlds largest public biomedical funder. Adding to the worry: the Trump team appears to have deleted entire webpages about diversity programmes and diversity-related grants from the agencys site.The cancelling of meetings and travel is part of a pause in external communications issued on 21 January by the NIHs parent organization, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Researchers who spoke to Nature say that although a short, daylong pause in communications at US agencies has occurred in the past when new administrations have started, to reorient strategy, the reach and length of the Trump teams it is set to last until at least 1 February is unprecedented. Without advisory-committee meetings, the NIH cannot issue research grants, temporarily freezing 80% of the agencys US$47-billion budget that funds research across the country and beyond.Ive never seen anything like this before, says Carole LaBonne, a developmental biologist at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, who has received funding from the agency for more than 20 years. The uncertainty caused by the pause will be devastating for the scientific community, particularly for early-career researchers, LaBonne adds.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.The pause includes mass communications and public appearances that are not directly related to emergencies or critical to preserving health, according to an NIH spokesperson. This is a short pause to allow the new team to set up a process for review and prioritization.NIH and HHS spokespeople did not respond to queries about whether grant-review panels were considered public appearances and why they were cancelled, or about concerns from researchers that the pause will hinder the agencys mission.A mission under threat?Typically, the NIH awards research grants after two separate panels of independent specialists in a particular scientific field have reviewed project proposals. On Wednesday, reports emerged on the social-media platforms X and Bluesky that grant-review panels scheduled prior to 2 February had been cancelled without any indication of when they would be rescheduled.These panels, called study sections and advisory councils, are sometimes scheduled a year in advance and can include more than 30 participating researchers, so it will take time to reschedule and might result in a domino effect of cancellations. Researchers awaiting a grant-review decision may be laid off or forced to seek employment elsewhere if funding is uncertain or delayed, LaBonne says. Early-career researchers are particularly at risk, as it can mean missing research milestones and jeopardize hiring, promotion and tenure decisions, she adds.Harold Varmus, a former NIH director who is now a cancer researcher at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City, says that putting a hold on communications of new policies when theres a new presidential administration can make sense. But the extensive remit of the current pause is counter to the agencys mission, he says. The US Congress allocates budget money to the NIH for funding research, he adds, so the will of Congress will be challenged if we dont change what is going on.Esther Choo, an emergency-medicine physician at the Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, wrote on Bluesky on 22 January that a study section she was supposed to participate in was cancelled this week. As a reviewer on grant proposals, she said, you constantly read ideas for research projects that could be a game changer in health. She added: I hope we get back on track soon. There are real people, real lives waiting on the science.The communications pause also includes the NIHs sibling agencies, including the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which helps to protect the health of people in the United States. Today, the CDC did not publish its weekly digest on disease statistics and research, called the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, that scientists and health practitioners around the world rely on the first time in the digests 60-year history. Three reports about the emerging H5N1 avian-flu outbreak were supposed to be published in this weeks edition, according to The Washington Post.Diversity goalsAdding to the uncertainty among researchers, the Trump administration also seems to have erased all materials relating to structural racism and diversity from the NIH website. The NIH has been criticized by the research community over the years for a lack of racial and ethnic diversity in those who win grants from the agency critiques that are warranted and urgent as the United States and its scientists become more diverse, Varmus says.These deletions are likely the result of Trumps Day 1 executive order to end what he calls radical and wasteful government diversity programmes and to suspend the employment of anyone working in those roles.Now missing from the NIH website is application information regarding grants called diversity supplements, which provide early-career researchers with up to $125,000 and a maximum of five years of training and mentorship opportunities. Also gone are materials from the agencys Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and an agency-wide initiative called UNITE that aimed to tackle structural racism in the biomedical workforce.The community has struggled to diversify the scientific workforce theres only been modest progress, LaBonne says. And now its been erased with the stroke of a pen.This article is reproduced with permission and was first published on January 23, 2025.

Some spirits apparently gave Adele a hello from the other side at the English mansion that she rented in 2012rendering it unsellable, if you ask the current owner. According to the BBC, the owner of the landmarked Lock House in Partridge Green, West Sussex, has struggled to sell the place ever since the singer allegedly said it haunted. The owner, who reportedly bought the 32-acre property in 2003, has been trying to offload it for 14 years, per the BBC. In the hopes of rectifying the situation, the owner has submitted plans for approval that involve dividing the Grade II-listed 10-bedroom manse into three separate units and converting a garage into a cottage.The first tenant, Adele, stayed for six months and blighted the property by saying it is haunted, the request claims. This comment negatively impacted future marketing efforts and continues to affect the propertys reputation to this day.Early on in her tenancy at the mansion, which was originally built in 1909, the Rolling in the Deep singer invited Anderson Cooper inside during an interview for CBSs 60 Minutes. While she did not explicitly say that the house was haunted, she did say, This bits all quite scary, really. It was a convent for a little while, while showing the news host around. Subsequent tabloid reporting added fuel to the fire, citing an anonymous source who claimed that Adele was convinced [the home] is haunted and hired a bodyguard so that she wouldnt have to sleep alone on the expansive property. Im not rattling around here on my own. It gives me the creeps, she allegedly said to a friend.Join NowBecome an AD PRO member for only $25 $20 per month + receive an exclusive toteArrowThe request to renovate states that the closest it ever got to selling was in 2020, but the prospective buyer allegedly withdrew their offer after finding out it could be haunted. Priced at about $7.5 million, the nearly 20,000-square-foot pad boasts both indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a tennis court, a helipad, a sauna, and a wine cellar.

Home altars have always held a central place in my domestic life, not as religious relics but as deeply personal spaces that anchor me amidst changes and challenges. Moving out of state to college, relocating internationally, and then navigating the demands of a fast-paced careereach transition was made a little easier by the presence of an altar. These sacred spaces provide grounding, a sense of home when far from the familiar, and a connection to the people, memories, and objects that matter most.Through my experiences, Ive come to see home altars as more than static displays; they are ever-evolving spaces that reflect my emotions, intentions, and personal growth. In seeking to understand how others approach altar-making, I spoke with three designers: Laura Kirar, Josu Ramos Espinoza, and Mike Diaz. Each offered a distinct perspective on creating and curating altars, shaped by their cultural heritage, creative practices, and personal philosophies.What struck me in these conversations was the harmonious blending of design, meaning, and healing in altar-making. Whether inspired by the seasons or crafted with intention to hold energy, these altars create spaces for reflection, connection, and restoration, deepening our bond with ourselves and the world around us.Their insights reveal how altars serve as vessels for healing, artistic expression, and storytelling, effortlessly woven into the rhythms of daily life. Like my own, their altars are not just collections of objects but profound reflections of their journeysof who they are, where theyve been, and where they are headed.The author's altar in her Brooklyn apartment.Photo: Yohance BartonA seasonal approach to designWhen Laura Kirar first moved into her 300-year-old hacienda in Mexico, the artist and designer considered converting an old chapel into a bedroom. However, during renovations, workers uncovered remains beneath the chapel floor. The discovery of those remains shifted my perspective entirely, she recalls. Instead of covering up the space, I knew I had to honor it in a way that respected its history.

Blue Boogie BurialBlue Protocol gets the funeral every dying live service thing deserves, a massive hours-long rave with anime avatars busting a perfectly synced-up moveDance til' the game's dead.Image credit: Bandai Namco News by Mark Warren Senior Staff Writer Published on Jan. 24, 2025 More live service games are being killed than ever before at the moment, or at least it feels that way. Lots of publishers are continuing to try and take as many swings as possible at landing a big home run online cash cow, but it's a tough market, so the ones that don't catch on in a huge way often end up being viewed as just losses to cut.The result is shutdowns like MMORPG Blue Protocol saw earlier this week, when it reached the end date publisher Bandai Namco set out last summer - before the game could even make it to the west - earlier this week. Luckily, the game's hardcore Japanese playerbase was ready to see it off in fashion. With a huge dance party in a town square.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. As reported by Japanese site Nlab (via Automaton), the countdown to Blue Protocol's demise on January 18 saw an improptu mass rave kick off and run for what looks to be at least four and a half hours.Twitter user michsuzu shared a couple of videos of them and their BP brethren in action, standing in nice lines and triggering dancing animations on their avatars in perfectly synced-up fashion. The backing music was the game's whimsical flute tunes, but to be honest, I think you could edit any classic banger over it and it'd still work, be it a bit of The Prodigy, The Chemical Brothers, or even Faithless' Insomnia. To see this content please enable targeting cookies.The game's starting town, Asterliese, was the site of this tearful busting of moves in honour of a soon-to-be-departed brother, and it looks to have run from at least 5:30 PM Japan time until 10PM, which is when the game shut down, as you can see in the second clip.How did it end? Well, with a farewell message thanking players for being there til' the end, and then a final spasm as the servers disconnected. RIP, Blue Protocol. You lived a weird ass life, that's to be sure, and you'll not soon be forgotten by those who strutted and twirled mounfully as you were lowered into the ground and your server soul floated away to the great live service beyond.In a suitably weird twist given this game's lifespan, Automaton reports that this isn't techincally even the proper end for Blue Protocol - it's set to be "re-incarnated" as a new MMORPG called Star Resonance, developed by Tencent-backed Chinese studio Bokura.So, er, RIP Blue Protocol? You 'died' as you lived - in kinda bizarre fashion.

Companies spent significantly more lobbying AI issues at the U.S. federal level last year compared to 2023 amid regulatory uncertainty.According to data compiled by OpenSecrets, 648 companies spent on AI lobbying in 2024 versus 458 in 2023, representing a 141% year-over-year increase. Companies like Microsoft supported legislation such as the CREATE AI Act, which would support the benchmarking of AI systems developed in the U.S. Others, including OpenAI, put their weight behind the Advancement and Reliability Act, which would set up a dedicated government center for AI research. Most AI labs that is, companies dedicated almost exclusively to commercializing various kinds of AI tech spent more backing legislative agenda items in 2024 than in 2023, the data shows. OpenAI upped its lobbying expenditures to $1.76 million last year from $260,000 in 2023. Anthropic, OpenAIs close rival, more than doubled its spend from $280,000 in 2023 to $720,000 last year, and enterprise-focused startup Cohere boosted its spending to $230,000 in 2024 from just $70,000 two years ago.Both OpenAI and Anthropic made hires over the last year to coordinate their policymaker outreach. Anthropic brought on its first in-house lobbyist, Department of Justice alum Rachel Appleton, and OpenAI hired political veteran Chris Lehane as its new VP of policy.All told, OpenAI, Anthropic, and Cohere set aside $2.71 million combined for their 2024 federal lobbying initiatives. Thats a tiny figure compared to what the larger tech industry put toward lobbying in the same timeframe ($61.5 million), but more than four times the total that the three AI labs spent in 2023 ($610,000).TechCrunch reached out to OpenAI, Anthropic, and Cohere for comment but did not hear back as of press time.Last year was a tumultuous one in domestic AI policymaking. In the first half alone, Congressional lawmakers considered more than 90 AI-related pieces of legislation, according to the Brennan Center. At the state level, over 700 laws were proposed.Congress made little headway, prompting state lawmakers to forge ahead. Tennesseebecamethe first state to protect voice artists from unauthorizedAI cloning. Coloradoadopteda tiered, risk-based approach to AI policy. And California governor Gavin Newsom signeddozensof AI-related safety bills, a few of which require AI companies to disclose details about their training.However, no state officials were successful in enacting AI regulation as comprehensive as international frameworks like the EUs AI Act.After a protracted battle with special interests, Governor NewsomvetoedbillSB 1047, which would have imposed wide-ranging safety and transparency requirements on AI developers. Texas TRAIGA (Texas Responsible AI Governance Act) bill, which is even broader in scope, may suffer the same fate once it makes its way through the statehouse.Its unclear whether the federal government can make more progress on AI legislation this year versus last, or even whether theres a strong appetite for codification. President Donald Trump has signaled his intention to largely deregulate the industry, clearing what he perceives to be roadblocks to U.S. dominance in AI. During his first day in office, Trumprevokedan executive order by former president Joe Biden that sought to reduce risks AI might pose to consumers, workers, and national security. On Thursday, Trump signed an EO instructing federal agencies to suspend certain Biden-era AI policies and programs, potentially including export rules on AI models.In November, Anthropic called for targeted federal AI regulation within the next 18 months, warning that the window for proactive risk prevention is closing fast. For its part, OpenAIin a recent policy doc calledon the U.S. government to take moresubstantive actionon AI and infrastructure to support the technologys development.

The long gestating Tristar Pictures project will be produced by Chris Columbus, Eleanor Columbus, and Lisa Henson, with Brian Henson executive producing; Eggers will pen the script with writing partner Sjn.

A project that would cap over sections of a sunken freeway in Detroit hit a milestone recently after getting approved for $2 million in funding. The money from U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and Michigan DOT will help finalize the design for a shovel-ready proposal atop Detroits I-75. The highway capping will extend from Third Avenue to the west and Brush Street to the east, spanning several blocks. There will be new pedestrian overpasses that will provide better connections for Brush Park, Downtown, and Midtown Detroit. It will perpendicularly span Woodward Avenue, one of the key arteries that make up Detroits radial plan and come close to Comerica Park.AECOM helped compile a report which outlined the projects goals and shared project precedents. The initiative is a direct response to urban renewal, and the so many highways that exploded through Detroits urban fabric in the 20th century. The project backers used Philadelphias Chinatown Stitch, which seeks to cap over parts of the Vine Street Expressway, as an example of what theyd like to see happen in Detroit.The I-75 Cap project will restore city connections between neighborhoods, providing new spaces that create opportunities for community resilience, economic prosperity and recreation, Downtown Detroit Partnership (DDP), the nonprofit behind the project, said in a presentation statement.The capping will extend from Third Avenue to the west and Brush Street to the east, spanning several blocks. (Downtown Detroit Partnership)Through community-centered design it will support residents impacted by legacy infrastructure investments, prioritizing social equity, environmental sustainability, sound financial stewardship, and access for all, DDP added.In total, there will be three caps above I-75. One will be between Second and Third Avenue near Grand River, in proximity to the new University of Michigan Center for Innovation. The second cap will be close to Woodward, and the third will be between John R. and Brush Streets in Brush Park. James Fidler, DDPs Urban Evolution Strategist, and DDP CEO Eric Larson are both part of the project team. Fidler and Larson have helped lead visioning sessions to ascertain community and stakeholder input.Early renderings shared of the project show large swaths of green lawn bustling with activity, as well as playgrounds, walking paths, and pavilions.The cap will open up opportunities for public programming. (Downtown Detroit Partnership)Residents will enjoy new park space. (Downtown Detroit Partnership)Looking ahead, after this batch of funding, the project leaves the conceptual and visualization phase. Now, structural design and community planning phases can begin.DDP noted that the project will demand significant federal funding for completion.

School is back in session for the spring 2025 semester. That means more hours spent in studio, more crits, and a stacked calendar of lectures and talks. Architects will speak about thematic topics, including resiliency, housing, and issues related to race and equity. Yale School of ArchitectureAt Yale School of Architecture this spring a number of leading professionals in architecture are scheduled to speak about their work and practice. Among the speakers are Pakistani architect Yasmeen Lari who will discuss her work. Billie Faircloth, who recently parted ways with KieranTimberlake, will talk about equity in supply chains.Harvard Graduate School of DesignThis semester at Harvard GSD prominent architects from firms such as Dorte Mandrup and Kengo Kuma will speak about their work and its connection to place and nature. Other lectures on the docket include thematic explorations of social housing in New England and the intersection of justice and architecture. Also tune in to a lecture about the ReefLine, a project in Miami that will deliver an underwater sculpture park.Rice School of ArchitectureAt Rice University this spring the lessons from lectures extend outside the classrooms. An all-day symposium at Chianti in Marfa explores the relationship between art, architecture, and land. In Houston, programming includes a talk from Mexican architect Ludwig Godefroy; and Vanessa Grossman will discuss the work of Portuguese architect Paulo Mendes da Rocha. University of Southern California School of ArchitectureAt University of Southern California the spring lecture series kicks off with a discussion about a local project underway, the Accelerated Housing and Transit Development (AHTD) Project. Later in the semester students and the public can tune in to listen to LEVERs Thomas Robinson speak about the firms practice with timber and Shalini Vajjhala discuss climate resiliency.University of Pennsylvania Weitzman School of DesignThe Weitzman School of Design at University of Pennsylvania has a stacked lineup of speakers on its calendar. Those scheduled to speak include Bjarke Ingels, Michelle Delk of Snhetta, SANAAs Kazuyo Sejima, Billie Tsien of Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects. Aaron Betsky, author of Dont Build, Rebuild: The Case for Imaginative Reuse in Architecture, will give a talk about his new title. University of Texas at Austin School of ArchitectureAt University of Texas at Austin this spring more than just architects will take the stage. Multidisciplinary artist and designer Yinka Ilori, known for his colorful installations, will discuss his work. On the architecture beat, Stephen Cassell of Architecture Research Office and Eric Bunge of nARCHITECTS will present.University of Michigan Taubman College of Architecture and PlanningThis spring Taubman College will host a series of fireside chats and films to coincide with Black History Month in February. Other scheduled talks will look at wood as a material and delve into strategies for designing place-based communities.

close New York weighing cellphone ban in classrooms Phone Free New York founder Raj Goyle joins 'Fox & Friends' to discuss New York considering a ban on cellphones in classrooms Cant remember the last time you turned your phone off? Is Bluetooth always on? Do you plug into any charger you can find?Win a pair of $329 Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses.Enter here, no purchase necessary!If you answered yes to any of these questions, the NSA says youre playing a crapshoot with your privacy. The National Security Agencys purpose is to listen and collect communications from satellites, cellphones and anywhere else, really.THESE MISTAKES COULD TANK YOUR CREDIT SCORELets take a deeper look at five smartphone rules they use that you can, too.1. Restart your phone once a weekIts dead simple and absolutely worth doing. Turn off your phone, wait 10 seconds, then turn it back on. This works to combat zero-click exploits where a hacker can get in simply by sending you the right code.Heads up: A restart wont work for other types of malware. If your phone becomes infected,youll need to do a full factory reset.2. Disable Bluetooth when you dont need itBluetooth works similarly to Wi-Fi and cellular networks but performs simpler tasks at shorter ranges. You dont need a cellular signal or network connection to use Bluetooth, and it doesnt use data. And like any other connection, its not 100% safe. A driver is pictured holding an iced coffee and a mobile phone while in the car. (iStock)Hackers and scammers must be close to you to use Bluetooth to hijack your phone. But in just about any public space, youre arms length from strangers.The NSAs advice: Turn off Bluetooth when youre not using it. Itll help battery life, too.On an iPhone, go to Settings > Bluetooth and switch it off. You can also swipe down from the top right of your screen to open the Control Center and tap the Bluetooth icon.The same steps work for Android phones. Go to Settings > Connected Devices > Connection Preferences > Bluetooth and switch it off. (Note: Steps may vary based on your phones model. Look or search for Bluetooth if these steps dont match your phone.)Airplane mode also disables Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, among other things, so it works in a pinch but you wont receive calls or texts.THE STEP I TAKE TO CLEAR MY INBOX EVERY JANUARY3. Skip public USB portsIn spaces like the airport or coffee shop, hackers can use them to install malware or steal your data. Now, actual cases of juice jacking are rare in the U.S. but its still a real threat. They happen through USB connections, so if a kiosk has actual power outlets to charge your phone using your own adapter, youre good to go.Stay away from USB ports of any size, especially when traveling overseas. USB standards are international, and foreign hackers can target USB ports in hotels or rentals to steal your data, even if youre not using a kiosk.More and more public kiosks have wireless charging pads instead of USBs. This method doesnt exchange data directly with your phone, so its virus-free by default.If youre desperate for juice, you can use a USB connection safely with the right cable. Pack acharge-only cable for your trip. Theyre cheap and compact, and they dont allow for data transfers. A business person is seen working on a laptop. (iStock)4. Dont use public Wi-FiIt's a playground for snoopers. Public Wi-Fi is open to everyone, and every device is susceptible, whether its your smartphone, laptop or tablet.Just because a public Wi-Fi network pops up and asks if you want to join doesnt mean its legitimate. If youre at a coffee shop or hotel, ask an employee for the specific name of their Wi-Fi network. Scammers will sometimes create networks called "Coffee Shop" or "Hotel Guest" to make you believe youre connecting to the real thing when, actually, youre not.Heres a good rule of thumb: If it requires a username and password to log in, you should only access that site from your own private network. If you do need to access sensitive sites or info on a public network, dont do it without a VPN enabled.AI ISNT GOING ANYWHERE: PROMPTS TO MAKE LIFE EASIER5. Cover your mic and cameraThe NSA says its best to use a protective case that drowns out your microphone and covers your camera when youre not using it.In "hot-miking" attacks, hackers activate your microphone without you knowing it so they can listen into your conversations. It happens when your device has been compromised in some way, usually through malware or an app thats exploiting permissions you granted. Most folks arent targets for attacks like this, but Id rather be safe than sorry.Start with app permissions to check what access youve handed out:Apple iPhone: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security, and look through the list of apps and what permissions they have.Google Pixel: Open Settings > Security and privacy > Privacy > Permission manager.Samsung Galaxy:Head to Settings > Security and privacy > Permission manager. A woman uses her smartphone while waiting to board a plane at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. (Robert Alexander/Getty Images)Its not just hackers to worry about.Most of what you type, say, search and buy is being tracked in one way or another.The only unhackable layer of security is physically blocking the sound or camera feed.There are expensive cases out there that do the job, or you can buy amic blocker for around $10.It slides into your headphone port to stop recording. Youll need an adapter unless your phone still has an audio jack. For a cheaper DIY option, grab your oldest corded headphones, snip them off and plug that into an adapter.Pro tip:When your phones microphone is on or was recently accessed, youll see a small orange dot at the top of the screen. Youll see a green dot if your camera is in use or was recently recording.While this is on your mind, go a step further. Heres aquick 5-minute phone cleanup I like to do a few times a year.Get tech-smarter on your scheduleAward-winning host Kim Komando is your secret weapon for navigating tech.National radio:Airing on 500+ stations across the US -Find yours or get the free podcast.Daily newsletter:Join 600,000 people who read the Current (free!)Watch: OnKims YouTube channelPodcast: "Kim Komando Today" - Listen wherever you get podcastsCopyright 2025, WestStar Multimedia Entertainment. All rights reserved.

Samsung just unveiled its latest lineup of Galaxy S25 smartphones at its Unpacked event. If you pre-ordered (or are thinking of preordering) one of the new models, you want to protect that investment with a proper case.Also: Best Samsung Galaxy S25 deals: $300 gift cards and free offers at AT&T and VerizonSince it's not always easy to locate cases you can purchase during the preorder period for new smartphones, ZDNET has done the hard work for you and rounded up the best Samsung Galaxy S25 cases from brands like Casely, Casetify, Samsung, and more.Keep in mind that since the Galaxy S25 series has just launched, your options are still somewhat limited, but more selections will begin to open up in the coming weeks, and we'll be updating this list with all of our favorites, including tested picks from our editors.What is the best Samsung Galaxy S25 case right now?Our top pick for the best Samsung Galaxy S25 case right now is Samsung's flagship Standing Grip case for its seamless design and practicality. You can't go wrong with Samsung's first-party case, as it's almost guaranteed to be a perfect fit for the device, has a handy grip stand on the back, and comes in three fun color options.Best Samsung Galaxy S25 cases of 2025 Samsung/ZDNET Sometimes, you just need a case to help you secure your phone in your hand. Luckily, Samsung offers a native case grip case for its new Galaxy S25 lineup. It can be used to grip your phone or stand it up to serve as a media player.The case has three color options, Black, White, and Gray, and can be added to checkout when you purchase a smartphone phone from the Samsung store. Currently, the case is half off online. Show more View now at Samsung Pitaka/ZDNET As the saying goes, often imitated, never duplicated. Pitaka was one of the earliest case makers to produce a slimmed-down design made with aramid fiber. The result is a cover that keeps your phone lean and pristine, with a material build durable enough to withstand common drops, scratches, and scuffs.We've tested several variants of the Pitaka slim case and have found the colored Sunset and Moonrise options the most ideal. Part of the reason is that the all-black finish tends to pick up fingerprint smudges and grease marks more aggressively than the light-colored options. Show more View now at Amazon Torras/ZDNET Protection and utility come into play with the Torras Ostand 360 spin. The clear case has a plain Clear and Black colorway option with a mag-safe O-ring fastened to the back. The ring attaches to compatible accessories securely, allowing for mobile use for any purpose you can think of.The case offers 8 feet of drop protection and raised protection for the camera bezels, so your phone will be in good hands. However, the sleek form factor keeps from making this device bulky in your hand. Show more View now at Amazon Burga/ZDNET If you're looking for a stylish option for your new Samsung Galaxy S25 phone, consider checking out Burga's lineup. These Tough cases come with a dual-layer design (silicone interior and a hard shell exterior), cover all around the phone, and feature raised bezels to protect the screen and camera. It also has a slim design, making it easy to take your new phone wherever you go.We've tested other Burga accessories, including iPad gear, and like their moderate price and impeccable style. While these cases won't be available just yet, they are open for preorders. Show more View now at Burga Spigen/ZDNET You can't go wrong with Spigen's Tough Armor case, as it's just slim enough to not make your phone feel like a brick while offering a notable amount of protection to keep the device free from scratches and dings. Part of the reason why it's so durable is because of Spigen's shock absorption padding tucked in the back.There's also a prop-out kickstand and magnetic ring attachment that allows you to snap your Galaxy S25 with MagSafe accessories -- as guilty as you may feel doing so. Show more View now at Amazon ESR/ZDNET ESR's HaloLock line is known for its strong magnetic grip and practical design. These Galaxy S25 cases offer solid grip, 11-feet drop protection, a raised bezel edge to protect your screen, and fortified AirGrip corners to protect from drops and scrapes. Plus, it supports magnetic accessories, so you can accessorize in dozens of ways. Show more View now at Esrgear What is the best Samsung Galaxy S25 case? The best overall Samsung Galaxy S25 case is Samsung's flagship Standing Grip Casefor its convenience, thin form factor, and added utility. See how all the other cases compare below.Samsung Galaxy S25 casePriceSamsung Standing Grip Case$45Pitaka Ultra Slim Case$55Torras Ostand 360 Spin$43Spigen Tough Armor$19Burga Tough case$50ESR HaloLock Classic Hybrid Case$20 Show more Factors to consider when choosing the best Samsung Galaxy S25 case: The cases above have a variety of features and functions, all curated considering these factors:Size: Cases range from ultra-thin to big and bulky. Consider how much space your case will take in places like your pocket, purse, or everyday bag so it fits your lifestyle. A thinner case will provide less protection than a bulkier one, but it will be more agile.Durability: It is the worst when your brand-new phone case snaps or breaks just a few months into the purchase. After all, if the case is breaking so easily, how well is it protecting your phone? That's why we consider the materials, build, and durability of a case to make sure it keeps your mobile investment safe and sound.Style: Sometimes, phone cases can be a little ugly, and that's okay. A lot of people prefer fashion over function, but luckily with phone cases, you can have both. Finding a case that looks good but also does its job is a top priority.Price: While there may be so many great options on the market that come at a premium price, there are still other great cases that won't break the bank. We'll only recommend cases that are worth the money. Show more How did we choose the best Samsung S25 cases? ZDNET scoured the internet and our expertise to find the best Samsung S25 cases. All of these phone cases represent the most needed aspects of a phone case, and come from lots of research from every corner of the internet. Show more FAQs on Samsung Galaxy S25 cases What cases work for the Samsung Galaxy S25? There are many brands that make cases to fit the Samsung S25. Brands like Speck, Spigen, Casely, Casetify, Otterbox, and more offer great options. Show more Do Samsung phones need a case? The short answer is yes, as it is always wise to invest in protection for your protective device. However, there is no one forcing you to do so. In the end, it's just the best way to keep your device as shiny and new as possible. Show more Do Samsung Galaxy S24 cases work on the Galaxy S25? While the dimensions of the Galaxy S25 and S24 are nearly identical, they're not exactly the same. That's why we'd advise getting cases made specifically for the S25 series. Show more Alternative Samsung Galaxy S25 cases worth considering:Samsung Unpacked