• How to Navigate Health Information and be a Smart Consumer in the Digital Age
    www.discovermagazine.com
    Theres no limit to the number of health headlines that youll find as you scroll through the news, announcing new threats, novel treatments, and amazing tips and tricks that will surely help your diet, your digestion, and your overall wellbeing. If youre lucky, youll find insights that could help you take control of your health. But if you arent, its possible youll find information that could lead you astray, pointing you in unproductive, damaging, or dangerous directions.If youve ever wondered whether to believe the health information that you see, well, this ones for you. Heres what to remember about the science that supports the headlines, with some recommendations for sifting through the news.Cutting Through ConfusionIt shouldnt come as a surprise that the strongest health information is rooted in scientific research, which is revised and refined over time. While some results are reversed, others are amended as researchers attempt to replicate their previous findings. And thats all part of the process, though it can leave us feeling confused when we stumble across a result that hasnt been found before. By considering the results of studies over time, rather than the results of a single study, you can overcome the confusion of novel findings. While a single study can produce promising conclusions, you cant always rely on them until theyve been backed by additional research. As such, avoid making dramatic decisions about your health based on a single study or a single-study news story, and avoid making dramatic decisions on your own. Watch out for additional research, and be ready to discuss the results with your doctor once more studies are available. Tips For Finding Credible InformationAlmost as tricky as navigating new research is identifying health news and information that are trustworthy. For a long time, federal agencies like the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) were the standard for health information in the United States. But other sources have historically shared trustworthy information on disease and day-to-day wellness, too. State institutions, research universities, and research hospitals are typically credible sources (think Harvard Medical School, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and Mayo Clinic), as are reputable international health institutions. So, too, are nonprofit organizations like the American Heart Association and the Alzheimers Association. Depending on the type of information youre looking for, sources from other countries are also reliable for news consumers in the U.S., such as the Public Health Agency of Canada and the National Health Service of the United Kingdom.Ultimately, whatever source you choose, you should always consider the credibility of the news and information you consume, asking yourself the following questions.1. Who published the story, and what was the purpose of publishing it? Was the news published by a reliable source, such as a respected science institution or a reputable science publication, or was it published by a blogger or social media user without a science background? Similarly, was the story written and published to inform, or was its purpose to sell something or to promote some sort of agenda? The best health information is always meant to inform, and it comes from sources with a strong scientific reputation. 2. What was the scientific support for the story? Did the story cite specific studies to bolster its claims? Did it cite specific scientists? Health information that references real research tends to be more reliable than health information that doesnt. 3. Who wrote the scientific studies, and who published and reviewed them? Were the cited scientific studies written by reliable scientists, and were they published in reputable journals? Were they peer-reviewed?4. What were the study types and sizes? Were the study participants human, and how many were there? The findings from animal research arent typically as important for human health as findings from human research, while the results tend to be more meaningful when they come from larger studies.5. When were the studies published, and were they the first to report their findings? Its best to consult health information that isnt too old or tentative.6. Does the news story sound believable? Does the story summarize the research in a balanced and accurate way? Look at the tone of the advice, and be wary of any statements that sound too bizarre or too wonderful to be true.This article is not offering medical advice and should be used for informational purposes only. Article SourcesOur writers at Discovermagazine.com use peer-reviewed studies and high-quality sources for our articles, and our editors review for scientific accuracy and editorial standards. Review the sources used below for this article:MedlinePlus. Understanding Medical ResearchMedlinePlus. Evaluating Health InformationSam Walters is a journalist covering archaeology, paleontology, ecology, and evolution for Discover, along with an assortment of other topics. Before joining the Discover team as an assistant editor in 2022, Sam studied journalism at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.
    0 Comments ·0 Shares ·115 Views
  • 0 Comments ·0 Shares ·82 Views
  • Awesome Fully Hand-Keyed Unreal Engine 5 FPS Animation Showcase
    cgshares.com
    Titled Rhythm Shoot House, this project is the result of Brennen Weilers two months of work, showcasing his experience throughout every stage of the 3D production pipeline, from sculpting and animation to final implementation in the game engine. Each animation here is crafted by manually creating the poses, timing, spacing, and all other elements without relying on motion capture.Not only are the movements amazing, but the presentation makes it look incredibly fun and satisfying, with details like the lyrics Im ready to break down the door playing as the player character kicks the door open. Brennen revealed that working on this project helped him realize just how challenging it is to sync the music with the shots in this type of level design.With over 40 animation files, he learned a great deal about creating first-person controllers and working with Unreal Engine 5 overall, using various state machines, blend spaces for more detailed locomotion, Niagara particle effects, and even animated textures for the phone screen.Although this system is manually set up with assets, a procedurally generated one would definitely be interesting, especially with sound cues for chaining your shots, similar to Jet Set Radio or NEO: The World Ends with You.Visit the projects ArtStation page for a detailed look at the animations andjoin 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 Awesome Fully Hand-Keyed Unreal Engine 5 FPS Animation Showcase appeared first on CG SHARES.
    0 Comments ·0 Shares ·104 Views
  • Check Out This Mysterious Gothic Artwork Created with Blender
    cgshares.com
    Check out this gothic Blender-made artwork shared by a Reddit user known as Dazzling_Ad6010.The appealing artwork, reminiscent of the Nosferatu aesthetics, showcases a high level of the artists expertise, as the render features realistic textures of multiple materials and complex light-and-shadow contrast.The artist shared some technical details of the creative process, saying that the texturing is completed with the Sanctus add-on, and some additional elements, like flowers, are taken from BlenderKit or Sketchfab. For instance, the flowers that are used in the scene are from BlenderKits Ikebana Flower Set by Ryan Dang. The creator studies photography, which helps them set up a harmonious composition.Take a look at the WIP image:Take a look at another stunning Blender artwork that features flowers, an animation created by Digital Artist Jie using Blenders Geometry Nodes:The most recent version of Blender, 4.3.1, was released last December, and included 95 bug fixes, addressed problems with Expansions not installing or working correctly, tool fixes, particularly for Grease Pencil, and functionality breaking in files saved in older versions or not importing properly into 4.3, along with many other improvements. Watch the official recap:Dont forget to join our 80 Level Talent platform and our new Discord server, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Telegram, TikTok, and Threads, where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.Source link The post Check Out This Mysterious Gothic Artwork Created with Blender appeared first on CG SHARES.
    0 Comments ·0 Shares ·103 Views
  • Baldur's Gate 3 Patch 8 Accidentally Released Early, And You Probably Shouldn't Use It
    www.gamespot.com
    Earlier this month, Larian Studios announced that Baldur's Gate 3 will be receiving one last major update in Patch 8. And while select Baldur's Gate 3 players will be invited to a stress test for Patch 8, the update has been mistakenly released for some PlayStation 5 players ahead of the scheduled time. Larian confirmed the mistake in a post on social media.No, the Patch 8 stress test hasnt yet begun.Yes, PS5 players do currently have access to Patch 8.While we work with our partners to understand whats going on, please note that any new saves made while on Patch 8 will not be compatible with Patch 7.Hows your Monday going? Larian Studios (@larianstudios) January 27, 2025 Larian subsequently shared a longer update about the situation, which acknowledged that Patch 8 was mistakenly available for a few hours to PlayStation 5 players in Europe and Asia. The studio also warned that Patch 8 is not compatible with Patch 7, and urged players to uninstall and reinstall the game to return to the previous patch. Players who don't revert to Patch 7 may risk losing their saves.Additionally, Larian indicated that receiving the Patch 8 by itself was not intended as an invitation to the stress test. Players who were selected to take part in that should receive a separate email--if they haven't gotten one already--and the Patch 8 stress test will go on as scheduled later this week.Continue Reading at GameSpot
    0 Comments ·0 Shares ·66 Views
  • Xbox Series S Parity Clause Is Staying Put, Phil Spencer Says
    www.gamespot.com
    The Xbox Series S has faced its share of criticism, but Microsoft isn't pivoting away from the console. In fact, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer believes the Series S is part of what helps differentiate Microsoft in the market. The apparent clause at Microsoft that mandates developers support both Series X and Series S for games coming to the platform is not going to change, he said.Speaking to Destin Legarie, Spencer said Microsoft has a "real advantage" right now thanks to the Series S because some of the most popular new platforms, including Steam Deck and ROG Ally, are more in line with the power and performance specs of the Series S."When we look at something like a Steam Deck or a ROG Ally, we've got this Xbox Series S version of the game that's more tailored to the device specs of a lot of devices that are getting introduced right now. I think that helps us," he said, going on to specifically mention the Nintendo Switch 2 as well.Continue Reading at GameSpot
    0 Comments ·0 Shares ·65 Views
  • How to Get Ensnaring Blast Strand in Eternal Strands
    gamerant.com
    Arks are imposing colossi that act as field bosses in Eternal Strands. They're some of the main enemies players will have to face in order to progress through the game, and the Ark of the Stricken Earth will be the first that Brynne fights in the game.
    0 Comments ·0 Shares ·66 Views
  • Pokemon GO: Mega Medicham Raid Guide | Counters and Weaknesses
    gamerant.com
    In Pokemon GO, new seasons tend to come into rotation every so many months as part of the live-service format in which the game tends to follow. With each new season that occurs, a new seasonal theme is introduced, which man influence the types of wild Pokemon, Egg hatch spawns, Raid bosses and in-game events are available to the player at any given time. Additional in-game celebrations and events may introduce additional Pokemon for a limited time, particularly with the like of certain Raid bosses such as Shadow Raids, 5-Star Raids, and Mega Raids.
    0 Comments ·0 Shares ·66 Views
  • Can Yungoos be shiny in Pokmon Go?
    www.polygon.com
    Yungoos, the loitering Pokmon from Alola, can be found in the wild in Pokmon Go. Yes, Yungoos can be shiny in Pokmon Go!Yungoos and its evolution, Gumshoos, are mostly just dex-filler Pokmon. As the respective early-game pest or rodent of their region, theyre not going to see much action in raids or anything like that. At least they have a cute pink shiny form!What is the shiny rate for Yungoos in Pokmon Go?As per old research by the now-defunct website The Silph Road (viaWayback Machine), the shiny rate for Pokmon on a regular day is approximately one in 500. Yungoos is not a confirmed Pokmon that gets a permaboost (meaning that its a rare spawn and thus gets a boosted shiny rate).What can I do to attract more shiny Pokmon?Not much, unfortunately. It appears to be random chance. Shiny Pokmon catch rates are set by developer Niantic, and they are typically only boosted during special events like Community Days or Safari Zones, or in Legendary Raids. There are no consumable items that boost shiny Pokmon rates.Where can I find a list of available shiny Pokmon?LeekDuck keeps a list of currently available shiny Pokmon. Its a helpful visual guide that illustrates what all of the existing shiny Pokmon look like.For more tips, check out Polygons Pokmon Go guides.
    0 Comments ·0 Shares ·68 Views
  • My Favorite Apps That Help Me Keep My House Clean
    lifehacker.com
    Its been years since Apple launched their theres an app for that campaign, but in that time, it's only become more accurate. Apps truly have become ubiquitous: You have apps to help you work out efficiently and apps to save money at your favorite coffee shop, and with spring cleaning around the corner, you might as well have one (or several) to help you tidy your home. No app can do the work for you, but a good one can motivate or guide you. The one that will best serve your needs will depend on how you prefer to tackle unpleasant or tedious tasks. If you like to-do lists: SpotlessSpotless helps you break down cleaning tasks by room. You can make a separate to-do list for every room in your home, then set reminders for how often you want to do the tasks in each. It keeps track of when your last cleaning for each locationcountertops, tubs, whatever you wanttook place, and reminds you when theyre due for another spiff-up. The interface is simple and tidy-looking, not overwhelming, and easy to use. I appreciate that it has pre-loaded suggestions for rooms and tasks, like "living room" and "vacuuming," but you can also enter custom rooms and tasks that reflect the needs of your own home. Credit: Lindsey Ellefson Spotless is available on iOS and Android. If you need reminders: Clean My HouseTask lists are great (and abundant across the app stores) but not that useful if youre someone whos just going to avoid opening your app to look at them. Clean My House is designed to remind you every day about what the days cleaning schedule should look likeNo more worrying of what to do every morning. Youre in control of how often each notification pops up; once you complete it, just tap the reminder to open the app and mark it off. Be advised it's only available on Android right now and is largely supported by ads, which are down at the bottom and fairly unobtrusive. Credit: Beth Skwarecki Clean My House is available on Android.If you need to delegate: TodyCleaning is not a one-person job, but if youre using an app that only you can see, it will feel like it. Tody gamifies cleaning and ropes the whole family in. Yes, it relies on to-do lists, like other apps on this list, but it also splits responsibilities among users and uses "levels" to easily identify what is pressing and what is not, so you don't get overwhelmed by what you need to do. You need a premium account to access features like data syncing between devices and "focus tasks," which costs $9.99 per year for one person, $17.99 per year for two people, and $29.99 per year for up to six people. If you want to add 12 people to the app, it'll be $59.99 per year. Even on the free version, you compete against a little dirt monster named "Dusty" to gamify your month of cleaning. Credit: Lindsey Ellefson Tody is available on iOS and Android.If you like earning points: DoWhat is it about a simple point-earning system that keeps us returning to app games? If youre the kind of person who is motivated by Snap or Duolingo streaks, Do (formerly DONE) might actually encourage you to clean your home. Set a goal and watch a pretty little bar fill up with color every time you complete your preferred task, whether its cleaning- or lifestyle-related. You can train yourself to get those sweet, sweet points by scrubbing out your tub or drinking enough water every day. You get a free trial for seven days, but to get access to unlimited habits, personalize your goals, and get reminders sent to you, you'll need to pay $59.99 per year after that. Credit: Lindsey Ellefson Do is available on iOS.Bonus: TikTokIf you need cleaning inspiration, maybe checklists arent the way to go. Depending on what really motivates you, you might be better off using TikTok. The app is full of Cleantok influencers who share their top tidying tips, plus real reviews, product recommendations, and hacks. Seeing others use tips and tricks to battle their clutter and dirt is weirdly inspirational and will put you right in a cleaning mood. Credit: Lindsey Ellefson Thanks to ongoing issues at the federal level, TikTok isn't available to download, but if you're one of the 170 million or so Americans who already have it on your phone, get your cleaning tips while you can. If (when?) it does return to app stores, it will be on iOS and Android.
    0 Comments ·0 Shares ·54 Views