The Ronne ice shelf in West Antarctica survived a warm period long agoMODIS/ZUMA Wire/ShutterstockA major ice shelf in Antarctica appears to have survived a period of hot temperatures more than 120,000 years ago, indicating that the West Antarctic ice sheet may not be as vulnerable as we thought to complete collapse caused by climate change a worst-case situation that could raise sea levels by metres. But large uncertainties remain.Its good news and its bad news, says Eric Wolff at the University of Cambridge, UK. We didnt get the worst-case scenario. But I cant put my hand on my heart and say this wouldnt happen in the next century or two. AdvertisementHuman-caused climate change has made the future of the West Antarctic ice sheet uncertain. If we continue emitting high levels of greenhouse gases, some models project the ice sheet will completely disappear over the next few centuries. In the most extreme scenario projected by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in 2023, this could raise sea levels by as much as 2 metres by 2100.Wolff and his colleagues looked at the Ronne ice shelf, a large section of the ice sheet that extends into the ocean, to see how it behaved between 117,000 and 126,000 years ago. During that time, which was part of the last interglacial period, changes in Earths orbit raised Antarctic temperatures even higher than they are today.To determine the extent of the Ronne ice shelf during that warm period, the researchers measured concentrations of sea salt in an ice core drilled about 650 kilometres away from the shelfs edge. If the ice shelf had melted during the last interglacial, its edge would have drawn closer to the cores location. As a result, the researchers expected salt concentrations in the core would rise eightfold during those years, because the cores location would have been much closer to the open ocean. It would have been a seaside resort, says Wolff. Unmissable news about our planet delivered straight to your inbox every month.Sign up to newsletterInstead, they found salt concentrations during the last interglacial were similar or even lower than those of today, indicating that the edge of the ice sheet remained far away. Other measurements of water isotopes in the core, which preserve evidence of weather patterns influenced by changing ice sheets, also suggest the Ronne ice shelf persisted during the last interglacial.The ices stability in this previous warm period suggests a lower likelihood that the West Antarctic ice sheet will totally collapse as climate change drives up global temperatures, says Wolff. However, he and other researchers say sea level rise due to melting ice still poses a major risk.It implies there was not a complete deglaciation of western Antarctica, but it doesnt give us enough information to relax, says Timothy Naish at Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand.For one, the survival of the Ronne ice shelf doesnt mean that other areas of ice, like the Thwaites or Pine Island glaciers, didnt melt. In fact, the water isotope record in the core suggests they did, says Wolff. The ice core the researchers used also didnt cover the warmest period of the last interglacial.The dynamics of warming in the last interglacial, which varied by region, are also different from global warming today, when temperatures are rising across the whole planet. For example, warmer ocean waters reaching Antarctica could accelerate melt by intruding under the ice, says Wolff.This is a really important observation, but I think its going to take us longer to figure out what it means, says Andrea Dutton at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She stresses that researchers have spent 50 years trying to work out what happened to the West Antarctic ice sheet during the last interglacial.Journal referenceNature DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-08394-wTopics:

At a Chinese zoo, an excited tufted capuchin clutched a red envelope filled with festive treats.A tufted capuchin at the Chongqing Zoo in China received a special red envelope containing delicious food to celebrate the Lunar New Year. VCG/VCG via Getty Images In Solo City, Indonesia, a devotee lit incense sticks at the Tien Kok Sie temple.A devotee in Indonesia at the Tien Kok Sie temple in Solo City, Indonesia. Robertus Pudyanto/Getty Images In La Paz, Bolivia, children performed a coordinated martial arts sequence as part of a Lunar New Year celebration event.Children performing martial arts during a Lunar New Year celebration in La Paz, Bolivia. AP Photo/Juan Karita In St. Petersburg, Russia, people celebrated by lighting sparklers near the Dvortsovy Drawbridge.The Dvortsovy Drawbridge was illuminated red during the Lunar New Year celebrations in St. Petersburg, Russia. AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky In Buenos Aires, Argentina, people on a bus were seen holding a dragon puppet during the Lunar New Year celebrations.People hold a dragon puppet in Buenos Aires, Argentina. AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd In New York City, people gathered to watch dancers in lion costumes perform at a midnight Lunar New Year celebration in Chinatown.Lion dancers at a Lunar New Year celebration in New York City. Adam Gray/REUTERS In Guangzhou, China, crowds gathered to watch the lantern fair at Yuexiu Park.A lantern fair at Yuexiu Park in Guangzhou, China. Costfoto/NurPhoto/NurPhoto/Getty Images In Manila, Philippines, a performer breathed fire during Lunar New Year celebrations in Binondo district.Lunar New Year celebrations in Binondo district in Manila, Philippines. Ezra Acayan/Getty Images In Kathmandu, Nepal, people gathered in the Thamel tourist district to watch folk artists perform a dragon dance.Folk artists in Kathmandu, Nepal. Cui Nan/China News Service/China News Service/Getty Images In Yangon, Myanmar, Chinese artists performed in a parade in Chinatown.A parade of artists at Chinatown in Yangon, Myanmar. AP Photo/Thein Zaw In Kolkata, India, the Chinese community celebrated by taking to the streets, beating drums, and performing a dragon dance.Lunar New Year celebrations in Kolkata, India. AP Photo/Bikas Das In London's Chinatown, some people strolled through the streets, taking in the festive decorations, while others were seen eating together.Families eating food in Chinatown in London. Dan Kitwood/Getty Images In Taipei, a couple shopped for traditional decor before the festivities began.Traditional Lunar New Year decorations at a market in Taipei, Taiwan. AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying In Yokohama, Japan, people gathered and snapped photos during a lion dance performance at Mazu Miao Temple.A lion dance at Mazu Miao Temple in Yokohama, Japan. Takashi Aoyama/Getty Images In Phnom Prasith, Cambodia, people prayed and burned incense for blessings.People pray in Phnom Praseth outside Phnom Penh, Cambodia. AP Photo/Heng Sinith In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, a worker set up lantern decorations for the Lunar New Year celebrations.Lantern decorations in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Mohd Firdaus/NurPhoto/NurPhoto/Getty Images In Bangkok, lion dancers leaped onto poles during a performance on Khao San Road, a popular tourist spot.Lion dancers at Khao San Road in Bangkok. Anusak Laowilas/NurPhoto/Getty Images In Baiguo Village, China, a lady made red Ciba a traditional rice cake dyed with red food coloring before the Chinese Spring Festival.A lady making red ciba, a traditional glutinous rice cake in Tongren, Guizhou Province of China. Hu Panxue/VCG/VCG via Getty Images In Melbourne, Australia, a lion and dragon dance was performed outside the Rod Laver Arena on day 14 of the 2025 Australian Open.A lion and dragon dance performance outside the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Australia. Andy Cheung/Getty Images In Bangkok, a family photographed panda sculptures installed at a shopping mall to celebrate the Lunar New Year and mark the 50th anniversary of Thai-Chinese diplomatic relations.Panda sculptures at a shopping mall in Bangkok. Anusak Laowilas/NurPhoto/Getty Images In Toronto, people gathered to watch the fireworks outside the Toronto City Hall.Fireworks outside Toronto City Hall. Yu Ruidong/China News Service/China News Service/Getty Images In South Tangerang, Indonesia, young figure skaters performed at a shopping mall.Figure skaters at a shopping mall in South Tangerang, Indonesia. Willy Kurniawan/Reuters In Hanoi, Vietnam, a woman and her granddaughter shopped at the Tet market.The Tet market in Hanoi, Vietnam. AP Photo/Hau Dinh In Singapore, devotees visited the Leong Nam temple on the eve of the Lunar New Year to pray and welcome the god of wealth.People at the Leong Nam temple in Singapore. Caroline Chia/REUTERS In Wuhu, China, families gathered to enjoy a hearty meal at the Nian Ye Fan, or reunion dinner, at a restaurant on the eve of the Lunar New Year.A reunion dinner on the eve of Lunar New Year in Wuhu, China. Xiao Benxiang/VCG/VCG via Getty Images In Hong Kong, worshippers and actor Lana Wong Wai Lin, center, held toy snakes and burned incense at the Wong Tai Sin Temple to welcome the new Year of the Snake.Famous Hong Kong actor Lana Wong Wai Lin at the Wong Tai Sin Temple. AP Photo/Chan Long Hei In Havana, people welcomed the Lunar New Year by hosting a traditional dragon dance at a restaurant in Chinatown.A Chinese dragon dance at a restaurant in Havana. Norlys Perez/REUTERS In Yuncheng, China, streets glowed with colorful lanterns as visitors strolled past them at Zhongxing National Mining Park in Shanxi Province.Zhongxing National Mining Park in Yuncheng, China. Sun Zhongzhe/VCG/Getty Images In Moscow, a trio of Chinese face-changing entertainers performed Bian Lian, a dramatic dance form in which performers change multiple masks.Bian Lian performers in Moscow. Maxim Shemetov/REUTERS In Beijing, a woman wrote her wishes for the new year on a red cloth roll outside the Dongyue Temple.A woman writes her wishes at the Dongyue Temple in Beijing. AP Photo/Andy Wong

2025-01-29T18:09:25Z Read in app President Donald Trump quickly rolled out myriad efforts to reshape the federal government. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now.Have an account? The White House's pause on federal grants and loans appears to be over.A memo sent by Matthew J. Vaeth at the OMB on Wednesday says that the memorandum is no longer in effect.The pause sparked confusion, as organizations scrambled to figure out the state of their funding.The White House's pause on federal grants and loans appears to be over.A memo sent by Matthew J. Vaeth at the Office of Management and Budget on Wednesday, January 29, and addressed to the heads of executive departments and agencies, says that the memorandum is no longer in effect."OMB Memorandum M-25-13 is rescinded. If you have questions about implementing the President's Executive Orders, please contact your agency General Counsel," the memo, seen by Business Insider, reads.M-25-13 was the memo that the OMB, which oversees federal agencies and the federal budget, sent out Monday, pausing nearly all federal grants and loans. It was meant to go into effect at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, but a federal judge temporarily stopped it. The order sparked confusion, as organizations and nonprofits scrambled to figure out the state of their funding.The Trump administration, the Office of Management and Budget, and the Office of Personnel Management did not respond to a request for comment from BI.This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

Late on Monday night, the Trump administration sent out a stunning memo suspending all federal grants. Chaos followed, with everything from veterans charities facing financial ruin to reports of Medicaid portals shutting down across the country. It was so bad, that on Tuesday, the administration released a second piece of guidance attempting to clarify the initial memos scope. At the end of the work day, a federal court issued a brief administrative stay while litigation on its overall legality plays out.It appears quite plausible that courts strike down the order permanently. Existing law, including both Supreme Court rulings and federal legislation, have found that the president cannot impound (meaning unilaterally stop) funds that Congress has authorized to be spent. Expert legal opinion on how this applies to the memo is divided: Some believe Trumps order is obviously unlawful in its entirety, while others think its possible he could get away with a truly limited pause of some spending.But regardless of how the legal wrangling works it out, the ideology behind this order is clear: a deep sense on the modern right that winning elections grants them a democratic mandate to ignore any constraints on their power.Article I of the Constitution gives exclusive powers of the purse to Congress in order to ensure that it can actually make laws and force the president to follow them. Impoundment basically neuters Congresss lawmaking powers, as it would allow the president could simply refuse to spend whatever money they allocate for it.Matt Glassman, a political scientist at Georgetown University who studies Congress, posted on X that accepting inherent presidential authority to impound is akin to shifting the balance of power between legislature and executive to something that resembles 16th century England.Yet thats exactly what Trump wants. In a June 2023 campaign video video, he asserted (falsely) that the president had undisputed impoundment power prior to the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 which he vowed to overturn. When I return to the White House, he said, I will do everything I can to challenge the Impoundment Control Act in court. This reflects both his view and that of his pick for OMB director, Russ Vought, who also wrote a slew of secret memos and guidances for the Trump administration as part of his work for Project 2025.While some of the memos specific provisions could be read narrowly, it seems to be an attempt to assert impoundment powers. It claims, for example, that career and political appointees in the executive branch have a duty to align Federal spending and action with the will of the American people as expressed through federal priorities. This, in plain English, is an assertion that the president has the power to order executive branch staff to reassign federal funding as he pleases.The memo thus asserts a degree of presidential authority so sweeping that it would wreck one of the core principles of separation of powers. If the Supreme Court lets Trump get away with impoundments and its a fairly large if the presidency would become something worryingly similar to an elected dictatorship.The counterargument to this critique is straightforward: Trump is doing what he promised. Voters elected him after he promised to claim impoundment powers, and he has a popular mandate to deliver.Amidst the liberal outrage, its important to remember that this was all spelled out by Trump long in advance, Politicos Jack Blanchard wrote in Tuesdays edition of the influential Playbook newsletter. Those accusing Trump of being anti-democratic might note that this is largely democracy in action.There are vanishingly few voters who cast their ballot based on a principled support for impoundment powers. And even if there were, democracy does not just mean that elected officials can do whatever they want.Democracy depends on the rule of law government officials deference to written and duly authorized constitutional and statutory principles. Winning an election doesnt give you a mandate to rule unfettered, but rather to act as a representative of the people within a broader constitutional order in which written law reigns supreme. Thats the point of a constitution to set the rules of the democratic game under which parties compete to change policy.That means that, absent truly exceptional circumstances like a civil war, illegal actions should not be considered democratically authorized. Nor should actions that concentrate so much power in the presidents hands that it threatens the health of the democratic order going forward.Yet this vision of democracy where majority power trumps all is increasingly popular on the right.Prior to Trumps November victory, I wrote a piece analyzing six thinkers whose ideas would shape a second Trump term. One of them, Christopher Caldwell, is an advocate for untrammeled majoritarianism.RelatedWriting favorably about foreign right-wing leaders with authoritarian inclinations, like Hungarys Viktor Orbn or Indias Narendra Modi, Caldwell repeatedly argued that these leaders were the true voice of their respective peoples and that their attacks on legal protections for ethno-religious minorities, in particular, were actually expressions of the popular will.We like to pretend that protecting minorities always means protecting them against abuse and persecution by majorities. Sometimes it does. But just as often it means claiming prerogatives for minorities against the innocent preferences of democratic majorities, he writes in his essay on Modi.While Caldwells writing has a particular focus on vindicating ethnic majorities he recently praised Trumps moves against DEI and affirmative action as the most significant policy change of the century the basic logical structure underpins power grabs the world over.When Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tried to impose political controls on the judiciary in 2023, his argument was that Israeli courts were unfairly restricting the powers of elected majorities and that, because his coalition had won the 2022 election, they were justified in eliminating the only remaining real check on their authority.Its worth noting Trump and his allies dont apply similar logic to Democratic executive actions. When Biden used executive authority to forgive student loans, a questionable but far less egregious assertion of power than Tuesdays executive order, he and many on the right called it illegal even though it was an explicit Biden campaign promise.This is because much of the sense of democratic legitimacy, as Caldwells work suggests, flows from a sense of speaking for the true or authentic people real America, as Sarah Palin famously put it. Democratic victories are fraudulent, powered by cheating and undocumented immigrants brought in to replace American voters. Trumps victory is proof that he has a mandate from the heartland to remake the federal government in his image. Indeed, the impoundment order is explicit on this point, arguing that Trump has a democratic mandate to remake the government along the cultural lines preferred by so-called real Americans.The American people elected Donald J. Trump to be President of the United States and gave him a mandate to increase the impact of every federal taxpayer dollar it argues, adding that the use of Federal resources to advance Marxist equity, transgenderism, and green new deal social engineering policies is a waste of taxpayer dollars that does not improve the day-to-day lives of those we serve.This controversy, in short, is not merely about one unlawful order. It is about a broader theory of democratic legitimacy one in which a Republican president, once elected, has free rein to ignore the rules that would have bound his power in the past.This story was adapted from the On the Right newsletter. New editions drop every Wednesday. Sign up here.Youve read 1 article in the last monthHere at Vox, we're unwavering in our commitment to covering the issues that matter most to you threats to democracy, immigration, reproductive rights, the environment, and the rising polarization across this country.Our mission is to provide clear, accessible journalism that empowers you to stay informed and engaged in shaping our world. By becoming a Vox Member, you directly strengthen our ability to deliver in-depth, independent reporting that drives meaningful change.We rely on readers like you join us.Swati SharmaVox Editor-in-ChiefSee More:

Destiny 2 fans have reason to be excited again as Bungie revealed more information about Episode Heresy, including a fresh Star Wars collaboration coming on Tuesday

The PlayStation Plus games for February 2025 have been revealed, with players able to download and play

The consoles might not be selling but the games are (Microsoft)The success of Call Of Duty: Black Ops 6 made Microsoft the biggest game publisher in the world last month, according to the latest data.Microsofts acquisition of Activision Blizzard has given a major boost to Xboxs financials over the past year, but at that point its multiformat ambitious were less clear than they are now.According to data firm Ampere, $465 million (374.1m) was spent on Microsoft games in December 2024, making the company the worlds biggest publisher across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox.This was largely driven by sales of Call Of Duty: Black Ops 6, which attracted 38 million monthly users worldwide in November 2024. According to Circana data, Black Ops 6 was the best-selling game in the US in December based on dollar sales, as it became one of the best-selling entries ever in the franchise.Microsoft also launched Indiana Jones And The Great Circle last month, which made it to number 14 on the best-selling games list of December 2024 in the US, which isnt bad for an Xbox console exclusive.As reported by VGC, 64% of consumer spending on Microsoft titles in December was on PlayStation formats, primarily driven by Call Of Duty.Its important to note Call Of Duty has always been multiformat, and Black Ops 6s success wouldve happened without Microsoft buying Activision, as traditionally the biggest publisher in the US is either them or EA although it does vary depending on the amount of first party releases from Sony and Nintendo.Nevertheless, a successful multiformat policy is what Microsoft has been working towards for at least the last year, when at one point Microsoft had more games in the PlayStation Store top 20 than Sony. Black Ops 6 is a big comeback for Call Of Duty (Picture: Activision)This multiformat push looks set to continue in 2025, with Indiana Jones And The Great Circle coming to PlayStation 5 and Microsofts confirmed support for the Nintendo Switch 2. A bunch of other ports, including Halo: The Master Chief Collection, are also rumoured for various platforms.According to analyst group Ampere, Microsofts earnings last month put the company ahead of Electronic Arts as the biggest publisher in the world, generating $366 million in December. This was mostly driven by EA Sports FC 25, whose sales were notably lower than the previous years entry.Microsofts biggest rival for the top spot though is not an American company but Chinese conglomerate Tencent, who own the likes of Riot Games and Sumo Group. Its influence, and that of other Chinese companies such as NetEase, are only set to grow in the future, with the company currently in negotiations over a potential buyout of Ubisoft.The big question for Microsoft is whether its claim on the top spot will hold in the months ahead, before the next Call Of Duty inevitably spikes its financials again. The company has a solid slate of games on the horizon, between Avowed, South Of Midnight, and Doom: The Dark Ages, with the latter also set to launch on PlayStation 5.More TrendingWhile none of these are in any way comparable to Call Of Duty, from a sales perspective, the franchises consistent success should, in theory, give Microsoft the capacity to continue to invest in more experimental titles, like South Of Midnight, without impacting the companys bottom line. South Of Midnight is a niche title for Xbox (Picture: Microsoft)Emailgamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below,follow us on Twitter, andsign-up to our newsletter.To submit Inbox letters and Readers Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use ourSubmit Stuff page here.For more stories like this,check our Gaming page.GameCentralSign up for exclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

Eternal Strands it certainly does go on a bit (Yellow Brick Games)The director of the first three Dragon Age games presents the first title from his new studio and its not what youd expect from a BioWare veteran.There has been a lot of, very understandable, concern about the future of BioWare recently. Dragon Age: The Veilguard was not nearly as big a hit as it needed to be and the new Mass Effect is taking a worryingly long time to develop. Theres also the fact that so many key staff have left over the last several years, from the founders themselves to Mass Effect director Casey Hudson and his equivalent on Dragon Age, Mike Laidlaw.Some have left the games industry entirely, while Hudsons attempt to found a new studio was met with disaster, when it and its first game were shut down due to a lack of investment. After leaving BioWare, Laidlaw initially joined Ubisoft, but his game was cancelled as well, and so he then formed his own indie studio, with this being its first release.When leaving a big name studio, many developers end up making basically the same thing but under a different name, but Eternal Strands has far less in common with Dragon Age than you might imagine. Its primarily an action game, with some unexpected influences, and surprisingly the storytelling is one of the worst things about it.Eternal Strands is an action adventure game, with only light role-playing elements, that is very obviously influenced by Shadow Of The Colossus. Not in that its trying to copy any specific part of it but just the general idea of fighting enemies so big you have to climb up them to get to their weak spots.In Shadow Of The Colossus, the protagonist was able to do nothing but wield a sword, but in Eternal Strands your list of abilities is longer. Thanks to your magical affinity you can manipulate both ice and fire, enabling you to freeze minor enemies (or specific parts of larger ones) in place and create ice walls and bridges.You can summon an explosive fire spirit or make use of a separate strand of telekinetic powers, that allow you to grab and throw objects like a Tolkien-esque Darth Vader. Your repertoire is a bit front-loaded, in that many of the later abilities arent quite so interesting, but theres lots of clever ideas, like burning the fur off enemies or making metal armour so cold and brittle that its easier to break.The games best moments are when fighting the larger enemies, all of which have multiple ways for you to defeat them. Although, unlike Shadow Of The Colossus, you can take them on more than once, with extra awards available if you manage to figure out how to reveal their core and attack that instead of just wailing away at them randomly.As fun as that seems in theory the problem is that theres only nine of these giant enemies and fighting the smaller ones is considerably less entertaining, with much less interesting designs and very limited melee combat options. There is a crafting element, which is one reason to go back to the big bosses, but its fiddly and doesnt make much difference.Unfortunately, the plot underpinning the game only makes things worse. Its such a formulaic collection of cliches and needlessly confusing background lore its almost bordering on parody. For the record though you play as a type of magic user known as a Weaver, who together with a group of allies sets off to discover what caused the Surge a magical disaster that has everyone else hating on anyone using magic.Your quest involves breaching The Veil (not to be confused with The Veil from Dragon Age: The Veilguard) in order to get to The Enclave. Thats only the tip of the proper noun iceberg and, frankly, its all deeply uninteresting and horribly unimaginative. It reminded us of Immortals Of Aveum, not in terms of any of the details but the fact that the developer couldve made up any fantasy world they wanted and yet settled for the most generic concepts possible. The bigger they are the harder they fall (Yellow Brick Games)In terms of moment-to-moment storytelling the game also struggles, with bland party interactions and very slow pacing. Given how much dead time there is between major plot points this really should have been a significantly shorter game than it is, especially given how much backtracking and mindless fetch quests there are.The open world exploration, where you can climb almost any surface, is clearly inspired by Zelda: Breath Of The Wild but theres very little in the way of secrets to find, so the size of the map just ends up becoming an irritation.Theres also a strange weather system that seems to have been specifically designed to make your life a misery. Areas can suddenly freeze up or become burning hot, which interferes with your magic abilities and forces you to change clothing and take drafts, again just like Breath Of The Wild. Unlike Nintendos games though its never entirely clear how hot or cold you are and whether you need to do more to protect yourself.The miasma events are even worse as they block off certain routes, forcing you to find another way round, which just drags things out even further and ruins boss fights if one happens to be going on at the same time.More TrendingIn terms of visuals the game is okay, in a low rent Fortnite kind of a way, but like the plot it lacks a distinctive personality of its own. Its also trying to do far too much on an obviously low budget, with the physics engine proving glitchy and inconsistent. Breath Of The Wild took one of the most talented developers in the world years to create, so it was madness to think that a debutant indie studio could emulate it on a AA budget.Despite some clever ideas and mechanics we particularly like the ice powers Eternal Strands is a slog to get through. The first dozen or so hours are enjoyable enough, but wed be surprised if many made it beyond that. In that sense its an ideal Game Pass game but given the high asking price its not something that can be otherwise recommended, in what is yet more bad news for BioWare fans.Eternal Strands summaryIn Short: You cant fault its ambition, but this is too little game stretched across too much open world map, with repetitive enemy encounters and tedious storytelling.Pros: The giant enemies are fun to battle and the magic abilities are often quite inspired and versatile, especially the ice powers.Cons: Everything outside of the core action is a slog, with boring minor enemies, uninteresting crafting, and too many fetch quests. Dull storytelling, in terms of plot, characters, and pacing.Score: 5/10Formats: PlayStation 5 (reviewed), Xbox Series X/S, and PCPrice: 32.99*Publisher: Yellow Brick GamesDeveloper: Yellow Brick GamesRelease Date: 28th January 2025Age Rating: 12*available on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass from day one Trying to copy Breath Of The Wild is certainly a bold move (Yellow Brick Games)Emailgamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below,follow us on Twitter, andsign-up to our newsletter.To submit Inbox letters and Readers Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use ourSubmit Stuff page here.For more stories like this,check our Gaming page.GameCentralSign up for exclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

Theres never been a more fraught time to be a celebrity promoting a new projectnot only does every little thing you say get picked up and blasted around the internet, but now more than ever theres a fear of saying the wrong thing (even if its not wrong, actually). The latest star in the crosshairs is Anthony Mackie, who has now backtracked on comments he made recently ahead of his headlining turn in next months Captain America: Brave New World. The kerfluffle began when Mackie, promoting Brave New World in Rome, said in an on-stage interview that Captain America represents a lot of different things and I dont think the term, you know, America should be one of those representations. Its about a man who keeps his word, who has honor, dignity, and integrity. Someone who is trustworthy and dependable. He then shifted into saying making Brave New World was a dream come true and that the movie helped invigorate his excitement for acting. After a video of Mackies remarks hit social media (you can watch it here), people immediately zeroed in on his America statement, becausewell, these are some politically interesting times we live in, and it can be interesting to try and talk about whats happening in the United States, particularly at an event being held in a different country. As Variety, Forbes, and other sources noted, after his on-stage answer went viral, Mackie took to his own social media to clarify his meaning. Heres a screenshot of his Instagram stories post, which reads: Let me be clear about this, Im a proud American and taking on the shield of a hero like CAP is the honor of a lifetime. I have the utmost respect for those who serve and have served our country. CAP has universal characteristics that people all over the world can relate to. Screenshot: Instagram Whether there was behind-the-scenes pressure for Mackie to massage his message, or the actor simply felt he was being misinterpreted by online reactions to it, we dont know. And his Instagram post, which is not styled as an apology, conveys that he respects the American military as well as the legacy being upheld by his character, Sam Wilson, who hes bringing to the big screen for the first time as Captain America, after playing the early days of Sam taking on the mantle in the Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.But his original statement wasnt wrong, eitherafter all, you can still be a proud American and realize that America isnt always synonymous with honor, dignity, and integrity. As Forbes pointed out, the previous Captain America, Chris Evans, as well as the Captain America comics themselves, have made not-dissimilar observations in the past. The Captain America comics have long had a history of having the character wrestle with their symbolism, and the inherent belief in Americas ideals even as they rankle at the state itself. After all, Steve Rogers famously quit being Captain America under a thinly veiled allusion to the Nixon administration! Its an uncomfortable feeling, but its a legitimate one, especially in 2025and even if the person feeling that way happens to be the star of a big-budget blockbuster centered around a patriotic superhero. Captain America: Brave New World hits theaters February 14. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

This story was originally published by Grist. Sign up for Grists weekly newsletter here. Earths oceans caught a fever in March 2023 that has yet to break. Since then, the bathwater-like conditions have killed corals in a record-breaking mass bleaching event, fueled hurricanes, and collapsed entire fisheries. The two years of heat have created a scientific mystery, with 450 straight days of record high global sea surface temperatures from April 2023 to July 2024 a streak that exceeded climate scientists predictions even when accounting for climate change and the natural climate pattern known as El Nio. A study published on Tuesday by researchers at the University of Reading helps solve the puzzle and points to one prominent culprit: the sun. The study in Environmental Research Letters found that the rate of ocean warming has more than quadrupled over the past 40 years, driven by Earths growing energy imbalance accounting for roughly 44 percent of the extra heat in recent El Nio years. Thanks to heat-trapping Theres been an uptick in that imbalance and that has led to an uptick in the rate of ocean warming, said Christopher Merchant, a professor of ocean and earth observation at the University of Reading in the U.K. and the studys lead author. By looking back through satellite observations since 1985 and developing a statistical model that isolated the trends in both ocean warming and Earths energy imbalance, the researchers found they were escalating in lockstep. According to Merchant, the study is possibly the first to connect the two phenomena over recent decades. Its a very tight correlation, he said. This relationship is bad news for the oceans, which have absorbed some 90 percent of the excess warming from human activity. Some of that heat will continue to seep down into the planets depths, while some will cycle back up toward the surface and escape into the atmosphere. According to the study, the next 20 years could warm up the oceans more than the last 40. If you think of the oceans as a bath, Merchant says, its like the hot tap was only a trickle in the 1980s but now, its been cranked up. And whats turning the tap more open, making the warming pick up speed, is an increase in greenhouse gases carbon dioxide and There are other factors turning up the heat. The El Nio pattern that began in 2023 added around 0.1 or 0.2 degrees Celsius, before the inverse La Nia pattern took over in December 2024. Another piece of the puzzle is the planets diminishing reflectivity, according to Brian McNoldy, an atmospheric scientist at the University of Miamis Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science. The oceans dark surface helps it absorb heat, whereas white clouds and aerosol particles in the atmosphere help bounce the suns radiation back into space. In 2020, the International Maritime Organization adopted a new rule to cut back on sulfur pollution from shipping fuel, but because the aerosol particles in emissions acted as a seed for clouds, the regulation had the unintended effect of dimming the marine layer of clouds that blanket the ocean. So you get rid of a lot of those, and now more of the suns energy can be absorbed in the ocean instead of reflecting off clouds, McNoldy said. According to Merchant, efforts to curb air pollution from factories in countries like China also had the side effect of cutting back reflective aerosols.The excess ocean warmth has had wide-ranging consequences. In April 2024, as the oceans started simmering, 77 percent of the worlds coral reefs became imperiled in the most extensive bleaching event on record, threatening the livelihoods of a billion people and a quarter of marine life. Changing ocean temperatures also shift weather patterns, potentially intensifying droughts, downpours, and storms alike. Hurricanes love warmer water. So all other things be equal, a warmer ocean can produce stronger hurricanes with maybe more frequent instances of rapid intensification, McNoldy said. Last September, Hurricane Helene slammed into Floridas Gulf Coast after surging from a Category 1 to a Category 4 storm in a single day. The oceans really set the pace for global warming for the Earth as a whole, Merchant said. The knock-on effects like wildfires, drought, and floods will continue to escalate, too. That really needs to be understood, but it also needs to filter through to governments that changes might be coming down the line faster than theyre currently assuming. This article originally appeared in Grist at https://grist.org/oceans/why-earth-oceans-record-hot-streak/. Grist is a nonprofit, independent media organization dedicated to telling stories of climate solutions and a just future. Learn more at Grist.org