Its been 25 years since American Psycho slunk its way on to movie screens. Yet the film, starring Christian Bale as yuppie serial killer Patrick Bateman, has never quite managed to die. The satirical horror film, directed by filmmaker Mary Harron and adapted from a 1991 novel by Bret Easton Ellis, follows the exploits of a 26-year-old investment banker who spends his days competing with his friends about who has the coolest business cards and who can get into the nicest restaurants, and his nights wantonly murdering and torturing his victims. Last fall, Lionsgate announced a new adaptation of Elliss novel, directed by Luca Guadagnino and starring Austin Butler. Online, meanwhile, smarmy, bloody Bateman is at the center of memes, reaction GIFs, and fancams galore. Something about the combination of his goofy, slightly inhuman facial expressions, his violent exploits, and his sharply tailored suits make him perfect fodder for the internet especially among young men, who play with absurdist memes that revere Bateman as a sigma male, the pinnacle of aspirational masculinity. In the more pathological corners of the manosphere, a sigma male is the alpha males introverted cousin. While the alpha male effortlessly commands the respect of his peers, the sigma is a lone wolf figure so hypermasculine and independent that he needs no human connection and thus is superior to everyone else. Bateman is considered so synonymous with the figure of the sigma that one of his expressions from the film a smirky raised-eyebrow pout is now called sigma face.I will never be Patrick Bateman, a young poster mourns on a forum for lookmaxxers, an incel-derived subculture of men obsessed with optimizing their physical appearance. Ill never be a white, chadlite, 130 iq genius investment banker harvard graduate. Why even live at this point?Bateman is an expression of the most violent and depraved kinds of wealthy masculinity of which our culture can conceive, and depending on your relationship to that archetype, he becomes either antihero or villain. He was invented as a dark reflection of the Reagan moment, but theres something about Trumps America that makes him particularly, worryingly compelling. Patrick Bateman began as a complicated yuppie satireIn Elliss novel, Bateman is a weird figure, positioned as a symbol of toxically masculine yuppie malaise, obsessively cataloging the designers he wears with the same half-blank, half-sensuous detail with which he obsessively catalogs the torments he inflicts on his victims, mostly women. He was invented as a dark reflection of the Reagan moment, but theres something about Trumps America that makes him particularly, worryingly compelling. The idea is that Bateman is what happens when a human being internalizes the priorities of the yuppie, luxuriating in meaningless status symbols. In the end, he becomes a shell of a human being, a monster who tortures, murders, and rapes out of sheer emptiness.The yuppie as a cultural construction is a fundamentally conservative specimen cloaked in insincere liberal posturing. He likes art, so he uses it as a means of gentrification and consumerism. He pretends to respect women, but he uses and discards them. He cares about health, so he is obsessed with optimizing his lifestyle. Yet theres a certain ambivalence to Elliss prose as he deals with Bateman, which is perhaps why this novel has a reputation for controversy. He takes nearly as much pleasure as Bateman does in describing his skincare and workout regime, the fine fabrics of his clothes: hes making fun of these preoccupations, but they are also what gives the novel its juice. And when he describes Batemans crimes, he does so with a sort of jejune glee at his own daring: There now, arent you shocked? Harrons 2000 film is more pointed in its satire of yuppie culture than Elliss novel. Harron and Bale together manage to kill Batemans glamour a little you wouldnt think you could make a handsome man having a threesome look uncool, but Bale, smirking and flexing and fist pumping at his own reflection as he copulates with two sex workers, manages it. Yet the film also treats Batemans violence as cathartic, something close to a redemption of the callow, shallow world in which he lives. We can see this best in the famous scene that comes when Bateman kills his business rival Paul Allen, played by Jared Leto. Bateman decides to kill Allen because Allen, having landed a plum account at their investment firm, is able to secure reservations at the hottest restaurants in Manhattan, and moreover everyone likes his business card better than Batemans. In the iconic murder scene, Bateman dons a raincoat to protect himself from blood and dances stiffly along to Huey Lewis and the Newss Hip To Be Square, which he sees as an ode to the pleasures of conformity and the importance of trends. Then he bashes Allens head in with an axe.Textually, Bateman is killing Allen because he cares so much about their meaningless power games and posturing. When Allen dies, though, his death feels deserved and therefore funny because all of his concerns are so pointless: Batemans murders are the way Harron expresses cinematically how bogus yuppie life is. Watching, you feel satisfied by Allens death, as well as a certain emotional respect for Bateman, for being the person to deliver your satisfaction. For a moment, you feel that hes the one person who sees how stupid they are.Online, the Bateman memes are as ambivalent as the source material is. Theres something slippery about Bateman that makes it tricky to react to him with any uncomplicated emotion. Some are enchanted by his glamour, especially his beautiful suits, his elaborate skincare routine, and his impeccably decorated home. In 2017, Voxs sister site Racked called this phenomenon the Patrick Bateman Lifestyle Brand, writing, you can find articles that break down or overanalyze his grooming routine, look back at the restaurants featured in the book as well as project where Bateman would dine today, and provide a virtual tour of his apartment.Were not talking about all the murdering, just about how good Christian Bale looks in the movie.I think that Patrick Bateman in American Psycho epitomized the growing permissiveness for men to be more attentive to their appearance, Bruce Pask, mens fashion director at Bergdorf Goodman, said to the New York Post in 2016. [In the late 80s] there was a rapid expansion of the availability of mens high fashion, a heightened awareness of designer labels and a vast array of grooming and beauty products entering the market for the first time that were targeted specifically to men.All these paeans to Batemans devotion to appearances generally come with a disclaimer: Were not talking about all the murdering, just about how good Christian Bale looks in the movie. Theres a sense, though, in which Batemans aesthetic is part and parcel of the regressive ideology he embodies especially when it comes to all those Armani suits, and especially when it comes to our current cultural moment.America goes PsychoSean Monahan, the cultural analyst who predicted the vibe shift, has been using the phrase boom boom to describe a recent pop cultural swing to the right. The fetishization of the past is very boom boom, Monahan wrote in December. We see this in the return of the suit, especially in double-breasted and fuller-fitting, pleated cuts; the return of the loafer and the Oxford shoe (see: Miu Mius recent collaboration with the storied Northamptonshire cobbler, Churchs); the return of blockbuster, cultural touchstone boxing matches like the recent Tyson-Paul Netflix fight. Hierarchy, tradition, aggressionmale-coded values people thought had been left in the dustbin of history. All have come roaring back. Monahan notes that Bateman is a particular touchstone for this look, which tends to draw on famous villains as its icons. They are appealing because of their wealth and their hedonism, but the violence that runs under their actions is part and parcel of that package.Batemans aesthetic is part and parcel of the regressive ideology he embodies especially when it comes to all those Armani suits, and especially when it comes to our current cultural moment.This subtext becomes explicit in the parts of the internet where people unironically aspire to become sigma men. A post on a looksmaxxing forum declares Bateman to be (ALMOST) the ideal male, citing as Batemans assets not only his chiseled good looks, wealth, fashion sense, and charisma, but also his dark triad and low [inhibition], referring to the psychological theory of a triad of Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy believed to be common among criminals. Only the fact that Bateman is under six feet tall keeps him from receiving full marks, the post concludes. Others in the looksmaxxing world believe Batemans masculinity is invalidated by his yuppie insecurities, now rendered misogynistically into feminine attributes. Bateman is the polar opposite of both sigma and alpha, wrote one poster. The entire point of the character is that he has not a shred of real self worth or independant masculine energy, his entire life is chasing the validation and approval of others to obsession. Like a woman. The irony here is that Bateman mostly murders women, either sex workers or ex-girlfriends. His murder of Paul Allen is so fun and iconic in part because its the only time Bateman murders someone who he considers to be a true threat to his own power. Theres also a strong contingent of Bateman memers who say the whole thing is a joke, a blood-soaked nihilistic troll expressing that nothing ever really matters. no one idolizes patrick bateman. the people who think of him as sigma just like the visuals and the funny things that patrick does in the movie, one poster says on the American Psycho subreddit. Says another on a subreddit dedicated to quasi-ironic posting about sigma men, Its funny seeing people shocked about us idolizing him lmfao. In this worldview, Bateman is simply funny and fun to watch, with his beautiful suits and his maniacal line delivery and his overt and bloody cruelty. Moreover its funny to express your admiration of him and watch shocked trend journalists clutch their pearls. The rest of it simply doesnt matter.Theres a nihilistic glee to this joke similar to the alt-rights early embrace of President Donald Trump, a joy at the spectacle of cruelty and a rejection of everything else as meaningless. Thats not a coincidence, because theres a basic affinity between Bateman and Trump, despite Trumps less-than-classic suit tailoring. Bateman himself adores Trump in both novel and film, looks out for Trump and Ivana at every Manhattan hot spot he visits, and recommends Trumps book to the detective investigating him for murder.Batemans idolization of Trump is a moment of like recognizing like: one man who has invested his whole personhood in the surfaces of things, leaving only a sadistic void howling within seeing another and reaching out to him. Part of the pleasure of watching Bateman, of reveling in his glamour, his viciousness, his violence, is recognizing the same anger and craving for luxury in ourselves. When we aspire to be like Bateman, or even simply to dress like Bateman, we are aspiring to make those parts of ourselves bigger. Bateman is back, then, because Trump is back, because the 1980s are back and boom boom, because the culture that birthed them both is back: all that wealth, all that greed, all that empty rage. 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:

Were making this story accessible to all readers as a public service. At Vox, our mission is to help everyone access essential information that empowers them. Support our journalism by becoming a member today.Now that the extraordinarily fast-moving wildfires that engulfed swaths of Southern California this year have started to die down, the enduring toll is beginning to emerge.The blazes killed 29 people and destroyed at least 16,000 structures, including homes, offices, shops, and public infrastructure. Angelinos are starting to get back to survey the damage, but it may be weeks before they can start rebuilding as cleanup crews first work to clear toxic debris. The destruction of some of the states most expensive mansions in communities like Pacific Palisades received much of the attention, but the fires also displaced people in predominantly middle- and working-class areas like Altadena and Pasadena, where the Eaton Fire burned through 9,400 buildings.Its not just a rich persons disaster, said Adam Rose, a professor at the University of California studying the economic impacts of disruptions like wildfires. Verisk, a risk analysis firm, calculated that property losses to the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire covered by insurance would total between $28 billion and $35 billion. CoreLogic, a property analytics company, put that bill between $35 billion and $45 billion. The 2018 Camp Fre that burned down Paradise, California, the states deadliest wildfire, racked up $12.5 billion in insured losses. But insured properties werent the only things lost to the flames. Morgan Stanley estimated that the fires would lead to 20,000 to 40,000 lost jobs in January and will increase local inflation as people try to replace what theyve lost. AccuWeather estimated that the total damage plus broader economic losses would add up somewhere between $250 billion and $275 billion. That would make it the costliest disaster in US history, more than the $200 billion total bill from Hurricane Katrina in 2005. That raises the question: Who is going to pay for all of this? Safeguards like insurance can help contain the costs, and provide the funds to rebuild. But that isnt free, and when disasters reach such extraordinary scales, its not just the scorched community that pays we all do. Through higher prices for goods, as well as rising insurance rates and taxes, the burden of the blazes, directly and indirectly, reaches far beyond the edges of their smoke and ash. An aerial view of homes destroyed in the Palisades Fire with the Pacific Ocean in the distance on January 27, 2025, in Pacific Palisades, California. Mario Tama/Getty ImagesDisasters are getting more costly. Thats stressing our financial guardrails.Across the country, population growth, the economy, and climate change have been on a collision course: More people are moving to areas vulnerable to burning, flooding, or drying out, putting more people (and their property) in harms way. Because of inflation and economic growth, the cost of rebuilding is rising. And as the climate changes, extreme events like hurricanes and wildfires are becoming more destructive. So when a disaster does occur, its price tag adds up to a gargantuan number. Many of the residents who lost their homes and fled the fires are paying out of pocket if they can afford it, or turning to relief aid if they cant. A GoFundMe spokesperson told Vox that donors have contributed more than $200 million through its fundraising platform to individuals and nonprofits for wildfire relief efforts. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has also approved more than $52 million for emergency housing assistance and other needs. Normally, a community impacted by a major natural disaster could rely on aid from the federal government, too. But President Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress want to impose policy conditions on federal disaster aid going to the Los Angeles fires, demanding voter ID laws and changes to Californias water management before Washington chips in.Now as the embers fade, insurance is going to be the main engine of the recovery. In California, though, this engine is sputtering. The roots of the problem go back to a 1988 California ballot initiative known as Proposition 103 that limits how much insurance companies can raise their rates, the factors that they are allowed to consider, and the perils they must cover. It was meant to protect homeowners from price-gouging, but this regulation, along with rising wildfire risks, have led some insurance companies to exit the Golden State entirely. The insurance providers that remain are growing increasingly anxious about the future. As average temperatures rise due to climate change, California is poised to experience more drastic swings between rainy and dry seasons, creating a weather whiplash that sets the stage for more wildfires, more floods, and more mudslides. EPA contractors remove hazardous materials at a home in Altadena on January 29, 2025. Christina House/Los Angeles Times via Getty ImagesSince banks require mortgage holders to have insurance and some private firms arent willing to provide it anymore, many homeowners have no option other than Californias insurer of last resort, the FAIR Plan. Its intended as a temporary safety net providing limited, expensive coverage, yet its become a dominant player in the insurance market. In 2020, the FAIR Plan had $153 billion in exposure, the value of potential payouts across its policyholders basically the worst-case scenario for how much an insurance company would have to pay if everyone they insure in an area filed a claim. Just four years later, that shot up to $458 billion as more residents who lost private coverage turned to their last remaining option. Now facing what may be the most expensive disaster in its history, the FAIR Plan is running out of cash, which may force it to take more drastic actions to cover its obligations. That could lead to higher insurance premiums for all policyholders in California, not just those on the FAIR Plan.To cushion the blow of disasters like the Los Angeles fires, insurance companies can buy their own insurance policies, known as reinsurance. These policies come from big, global companies that distribute their risks around the world and usually arent constrained by government regulations. That means reinsurance premiums can get pricey, especially as more major disasters strike around the world, pressuring retail insurers from the other side. US reinsurance rates doubled between 2018 and 2023. Right now, the state of California will not allow insurers to put the expense of the reinsurance into their rates, said Tom Larsen, who leads the catastrophe risk team at CoreLogic. So thats an inhibitor for insurers to buy reinsurance and increases the likelihood that an insurer could go bankrupt or insolvent. California has made some changes that will allow insurers to begin incorporating these expenses into what they charge customers, something all other states already do. But rising reinsurance premiums will likely lead to higher home insurance rates from all insurers, so the damage from a tempest or inferno far away could make you pay more to protect your own house. How do we know how much weve lost?Figuring out the losses from a disaster is important for mustering the resources to respond, to plan for the future, and to develop a long-term strategy for reducing risks. But its tricky. Companies that tally these damage estimates look at a variety of metrics like before-and-after satellite images, aerial photos, property records, wind speeds during the fire, building inventories, and vehicle registrations. Together, these variables feed into a catastrophe model that can anticipate events that have never been seen before and attach a dollar value to them letting residents, policymakers, and businesses know just how much could be at stake in the future. Thats why analysts can already say that the recent wildfires around Los Angeles are among the most expensive in history, even as the ashes are only now cooling. We are essentially taking all of that data, combining it with the hazard and the vulnerability, and estimating the total loss, said Jay Guin, the chief research officer at Verisk Extreme Event Solutions. From our modeling point of view, this was not a surprise to us.However, it wasnt until last year that California allowed insurers to use forward-looking catastrophe models in setting their rates, which account for future shifts like population growth and weather worsened by climate change. Previously, insurers only looked at historical losses to calculate insurance rates, leaving out a major threat to their business model. There are other factors driving up the costs as well. With so many homes that need repairs and reconstruction at the same time, there arent enough workers to go around. Building materials are often in short supply. So it takes longer and costs more to rebuild. While areas like Pacific Palisades saw a big spike in property values in recent years, insurers only cover what it takes to restore the property not the market value. The compensation is strictly the reconstruction, said Larsen. That can create an incentive to rebuild rather than move: Many residents bought their homes decades ago at much cheaper prices and far lower mortgage rates, and the insurance payouts arent enough to move somewhere else with current real estate values. Property insurance policies also often cover lost or damaged personal property and provide a stipend for temporary living expenses. Having to pay out so many claims at once can strain the finances of private insurance companies, especially if they dont have enough cash on hand. Though they often have a portfolio of policyholders across the country, insurance companies are regulated at the state level, which limits how much they can spread the risk. In California, theres currently a moratorium preventing insurance companies from dropping existing customers. The fires are likely to force lasting changes on the insurance sector as companies try to navigate so many constraints, though the full extent of the impact wont be clear for a while. Its likely that more private insurers will raise their premiums or cut their coverage. For homeowners, that means higher living expenses, losing their mortgages, moving somewhere else, or facing the next calamity unprotected. While Californias insurance system and risk exposure is different from other states, its the fifth-largest economy in the world, so its fortunes will shift the financial outlook for the whole country. States like Florida and Louisiana are also facing similar pressures as rising claim payouts are making private insurers flee, forcing state-run insurers of last resort to shoulder more of the burden. What happens when the insurer of last resort runs out of cash?California FAIR Plan officials were well aware that a crisis like the recent Los Angeles wildfires was looming. FAIR Plan President Victoria Roach told state lawmakers last year that the number of properties covered under the program at the time had reached 375,000, more than double the amount in 2019. As those numbers climb, our financial stability comes more into question, Roach said. By September 2024, the number had risen to 451,799. The FAIR Plan functions differently from conventional insurance systems. Its a nonprofit, but it doesnt use public money. Instead, private insurance companies in California are required to contribute in line with their market share. As such, its not an insurance company per se, but whats called a syndicated pool. The FAIR Plan only provides basic fire and smoke protection. It doesnt cover other perils that are typical in a home insurance policy like hail damage, water damage, and personal liability. A homeowner still has to buy a private insurance policy to cover things not covered by the FAIR Plan in order to meet mortgage insurance requirements. An average FAIR Plan policy costs $3,200 per year, more than double the average homeowners insurance rate in California. Even so, these premiums arent enough. The program has $377 million cash on hand. The FAIR plan does have a $2.6 billion reinsurance plan to cover excess losses, but it only kicks in after $900 million in claims. Several small wildfires could wipe out its cash reserve and a really big fire could exhaust all of its coverage. The FAIR Plan has almost $5 billion in potential exposure in its insured properties in the fire-scorched areas. The total losses are likely to be much less than the total exposure, but its still creating a dicey situation as homeowners file claims. Were a not-for-profit, Roach said. We dont have a lot of money sitting around. Our rates are not adequate. I dont think anybody thinks its a good model right now.What happens when it burns through its cash?The FAIR Plan basically has two options, said Jerry Theodorou, who leads insurance research at the R Street Institute, a free market think tank. In the first, the FAIR Plan could issue an emergency assessment that requires private insurance companies in California to chip in to cover its losses. The last time it did that was in 1994 after the Northridge earthquake near Los Angeles. California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara said last year that the chances of another assessment were highly unlikely. The private insurers can then pass some of the costs onto their policyholders with rate increases, but the bigger worry is that this could drive even more insurers to leave California or from certain risky regions in the state. People are panicking because it hasnt been done in a long time, Theodorou said. The other choice is to issue bonds, effectively taking on debt. California Assembly Bill 226, introduced earlier this month, would allow the state to issue bonds to help pay for the FAIR Plan. But there are unanswered questions about how this would work. Its not an unusual solution, Theodorou said, noting that municipalities routinely use bonds to pay for expenses. However, [the bill] doesnt give any numbers.A sign is displayed on a car window reading Altadena is not for sale near a home destroyed by the Eaton Fire in the Altadena neighborhood of Los Angeles County on January 30, 2025. Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty ImagesHe noted that California has made some recent changes to stabilize its insurance market and that private insurance companies will likely come out of these fires intact since they can balance their books across their portfolios in the rest of the country. Some may eventually start coming back to California and take a bit of weight off the FAIR Plan. However, property insurance payouts dont tell the whole story. Angelenos who couldnt afford the FAIR Plan may end up on their own. According to LendingTree, nearly one in 10 homes in Los Angeles is uninsured. Renters are in an even more precarious position since insurance isnt usually required to lease a property. The local economy is also going to face lingering damage. You have both direct business interruptions some stores and commercial enterprises that are not able to operate but you have indirect or multiplier effects, USCs Rose said. Companies may have to cancel orders, hope for supply chains to unsnarl, or wait for customers to come back. The scale of this disruption increases with the length of the recovery, and if businesses cant hold out, they may shutter. On the other hand, some local enterprises like general contractors will get a boost from the reconstruction effort. There are health effects to consider too. The fires sent lead and chlorine into the air and there are concerns that the detritus from the blazes could contaminate water supplies. Damage to public infrastructure like roads, powerlines, and sewers is borne directly by taxpayers. As the region starts to recover, low-income residents will have the hardest time returning to normal, if they return at all. The fires will likely permanently reshape the character of communities in their wake, just as Hurricane Katrina altered the demographics of New Orleans, pushing out many minority residents with deep roots in the city. This pattern is playing out in the wake of other disasters as well, like 2024s Hurricane Helene, as residents are still coping with toxic waste, a complicated insurance process, and an agonizingly slow recovery. The ripples of costly calamities are spreading everywhere across the country, and ultimately reach all of us in ways we might not be able to measure. Eaton Fire survivor Jacqueline Jacobs, 88, stands for a photo in front of her destroyed home with her daughter Madrid Jacobs-Brown on January 30, 2025, in Altadena, California. Jacobs said she and her husband never received an evacuation warning on the night of the fire. She said, We heard someone in the street say, Get out. And we did just that with only the clothes we had on. And everything now is in ashes. Only the chimney is standing. Mario Tama/Getty ImagesReducing wildfire risk is going to be expensive and messyWildfires are a natural part of the ecosystem in much of California, but as more people live in areas prone to burning, they increase the chances of starting a fire and expand the scale of the devastation that does occur. But according to Verisks Guin, In the case of wildfires in California, I believe it can still be managed.However, the to-do list is long. One task is to enact and enforce stricter building codes. That means cutting back flammable vegetation and using more fire-resistant materials to harden homes. But it also requires thinking beyond individual homes and looking holistically at how neighborhoods are built in the first place. Its like when we talk about immunity for vaccination, said Michele Barbato, a professor of structural engineering at the University of California Davis studying disasters and construction techniques. If you have enough homes that are resilient to fire, youre going to save the community. Everybody will be protected, even homes that are not up to standards. But if you have too many homes that are actually prone to burn, they will bring down the entire community. The problem is that this approach raises the costs of rebuilding and makes the timeline longer at a moment when thousands of people are desperately trying to get back to their lives. It requires careful planning. It also means that not everyone gets to go back where they were, which will be unpopular politically. The state will also have to invest more in reducing wildfire risk. That means thinning flammable vegetation, training more firefighters, and bolstering water infrastructure. California needs to break through its housing shortage and create a suite of policies that encourage more affordable homes in safer regions rather than sprawling into the wildland-urban interface. That will require changing some permitting rules, zoning laws, and environmental regulations, which is already controversial. Insurance companies also need more leeway from lawmakers to set their rates in line with the actual risks they face. And over the long term, California and the rest of the world will have to work together to limit climate change. This is all going to be expensive and contentious, but its a more sound approach than simply reacting to devastating disasters. We can either pay up front on our own terms to adapt to and mitigate threats, or we can pay even more down the line when the next major catastrophe strikes.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:

While we heard last week about GTA 6 launching in September, the retailer has now confirmed it's not based on any insider information but we know when we will hear

In the early days of the second Trump administration, a directive to pause all public communication from the Department of Health and Human Services created uncertainty and anxiety among biomedical researchers in the U.S. This directive halted key operations of numerous federal agencies like the National Institutes of Health, including those critical to advancing science and medicine. These operations included a hiring freeze, travel bans and a pause on publishing regulations, guidance documents and other communications. The directive also suspended the grant review panels that determine which research projects receive funding. As a result of these disruptions, NIH staff has reported being unable to meet with study participants or recruit patients into clinical trials, delays submitting research findings to science journals, and rescinded job offers. Shorter communication freezes in the first few days of a new administration arent uncommon. But the consequences of a freeze lasting weeks or potentially longer underscore the critical role the federal government plays in supporting biomedical research. It also brings the intricate processes through which federal research grants are evaluated and awarded into the spotlight. I am a member of a federal research grant review panel, as well as a scientist whose own projects have undergone this review process. My experience with the NIH has shown me that these panels come to a decision on the best science to fund through rigorous review and careful vetting.How NIH study sections work At the heart of the NIHs mission to advance biomedical research is a careful and transparent peer review process. Key to this process are study sections panels of scientists and subject matter experts tasked with evaluating grant applications for scientific and technical merit. Study sections are overseen by the Center for Scientific Review, the NIHs portal for all incoming grant proposals. A typical study section consists of dozens of reviewers selected based on their expertise in relevant fields and with careful screening for any conflicts of interest. These scientists are a mix of permanent members and temporary participants.I have had the privilege of serving as a permanent chartered member of an NIH study section for several years. This role requires a commitment of four to six years and provides an in-depth understanding of the peer review process. Despite media reports and social media posts indicating that many other panels have been canceled, a section meeting I have scheduled in February 2025 is currently proceeding as planned. Evaluating projects for their scientific merit and potential impact is an involved process. Center for Scientific Review Reviewers analyze applications using key criteria, including the significance and innovation of the research, the qualifications and training of the investigators, the feasibility and rigor of the study design, and the environment the work will be conducted in. Each criterion is scored and combined into an overall impact score. Applications with the highest scores are sent to the next stage, where reviewers meet to discuss and assign final rankings. Because no system is perfect, the NIH is constantly reevaluating its review process for potential improvements. For example, in a change that was proposed in 2024, new submissions from Jan. 25, 2025, onward will be reviewed using an updated scoring system that does not rate the investigator and environment but takes these criteria into account in the overall impact score. This change improves the process by increasing the focus of the review on the quality and impact of the science.From review to award Following peer review, applications are passed to the NIHs funding institutes and centers, such as the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases or the National Cancer Institute, where program officials assess the applications alignment with the priorities and budgets of institutes relevant research programs. A second tier of review is conducted by advisory councils composed of scientists, clinicians and public representatives. In my experience, study section scores and comments typically carry the greatest weight. Public health needs, policy directives and ensuring that one type of research is not overrepresented relative to other areas are also considered in funding decisions. These factors can change with shifts in administrative priorities.Grant awards are typically announced several months after the review process, although administrative freezes or budgetary uncertainties can extend this timeline. Last year, approximately US$40 billion was awarded for biomedical research, largely through almost 50,000 competitive grants to more than 300,000 researchers at over 2,500 universities, medical schools and other research institutions across the U.S. Getting federal funding for research is a highly competitive process. On average, only 1 in 5 grant applications is funded. Medical research often follows a strict timeline. gorodenkoff/iStock via Getty Images Plus Consequences of an administrative freeze The Trump administrations initial freeze paused some of the steps in the federal research grant review process. Some study section meetings have been postponed indefinitely, and program officials faced delays in processing applications. Some research groups relying on NIH funding for ongoing projects can face cash flow challenges, potentially resulting in a need to scale back research activities or temporarily reassign staff.Because my own study section meeting is still scheduled to take place in February, I believe these pauses are temporary. This is consistent with a recent follow-up memo from acting HHS Secretary Dorothy Fink, stating that the directive would be in effect through Feb. 1. Importantly, the pause underscores the fragility of the research funding pipeline and the cascading effects of administrative uncertainty. Early-career scientists who often rely on timely grant awards to establish their labs are particularly vulnerable, heightening concerns about workforce sustainability in biomedical research. As the NIH and research community navigate these pauses, this chapter serves as a reminder of the critical importance of stable and predictable funding systems. Biomedical research in the U.S. has historically maintained bipartisan support. Protecting the NIHs mission of advancing human health from political or administrative turbulence is critical to ensure that the pursuit of scientific innovation and public health remains uncompromised. Aliasger K. Salem, Associate Vice President for Research and Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of IowaThis article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Samsung hosted its annual Unpacked event earlier this month to kick of the year. At which, the tech company announced a refresh to its flagship lineup of Galaxy smartphones, introducing consumers to the new Galaxy S25 Ultra, S25+, and S25. They are each now available to pre-order on Samsungs website where the company is offering a generous trade-in deal. Customers can get up to $900 when trading in their old phone, knocking off a considerable percentage from the upfront price. The pre-order window to capitalize on this trade-in deal ends on February 6 so get your order in as soon as possible.See Galaxy S25 Ultra at Samsung.comSee Galaxy S25 Series at Samsung.comTop AI FeaturesThe Galaxy S25 Ultra, Galaxy S25+, and Galaxy S25 are all now utilizing a new chipset from Samsung. Its the most powerful processor from Samsung yet and it enables you to make use of some key new features with Galaxy AI, like effortlessly translate your calls in real time.Now Brief is a newly supported feature on the latest lineup of Galaxy phones. Just swipe left to open the edge panel and tap the brief icon. Youll be able to check various AI-powered insights like a schedule for your day, sleep health, and more.Camera, Photo, & Video EnhancementsThe S25 family of phones has a brand new camera. Galaxy AI will enhance your environments lighting and help capture accurate skin tones and textures to bring out the best in everyones portrait without any extra editing.Night Video and Audio Eraser enables you to take footage with crystal clear detail and sound. Capture vibrant videos even in low light settings and automatically remove unwanted background noise to bring the attention to only whats important.Maximize Trade-In Credit and Incentives With These StepsYou can secure yourself the premium option of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra for as lows as just $399 and earn yourself a free pair of Buds3 Pro if you do the following:Select the Galaxy S25 Ultra with 256 GB or the Galaxy S25 Ultra with 512 GB (the latter is only $20 extra).Select Yes, trade-in under the Samsung Trade-In section and choose either the S24 Ultra, Z Fold6, or Z Fold5 from the drop down menu.Select the Galaxy Buds3 Pro under the Start building healthy habits with Galaxysection.Thats it. Youre done!Its that easy. You just need to have an S24 Ultra, Z Fold6, or Z Fold5 which arent even a full year old that youve decided to part ways with. What a deal!See Galaxy S25 Ultra at Samsung.comSee Galaxy S25 Series at Samsung.com

Nomadic Architecture: Why Tomorrow's Buildings Might Need to MoveSave this picture!Moca/ Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia . Image Adria GoulaIn early Mongolia, herders dismantle their yurt - a portable round tent made of felt or animal skin - in pursuit of new lands where they can raise their livestock. Not much further away is a digital nomad in Bali, preparing their next move into a co-living space in Ho Chi Minh City. Though separated by vast distances and cultural divides, these individuals are united by a timeless human desire - a quest mobility and adaptable living spaces. In light of geopolitical changes and emerging lifestyles, the demand for flexible residential architecture intensifies. In this era of increased mobility, is it enough for people alone to move, or will the buildings of tomorrow need to follow suit?The number of digital nomads has risen in recent years, driven by a desire for flexibility, improved work-life balance, and the ability to travel while working. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated this shift dramatically, with 88% of employees working from home regularly during the crisis, compared to just 31% before. This transformation has catalyzed new housing models, particularly "subscription housing" - where occupants pay a monthly fee to rent furnished apartments, utilities and services. Companies like Cabin have emerged to meet this need, offering a large network of living spaces across the world that customers can switch between, creating digital communities.Save this picture!The appeal of subscription living extends beyond mere convenience, fostering a sense of community through shared spaces and organized events that facilitate networking and socializing. By providing move-in ready spaces with all necessities included, this approach not only saves time but also offers cost-effectiveness by avoiding the recurring expenses associated with furnishing and establishing utilities in various locations. Related Article Nomadic Architecture: A New Way Of Living on the Go The architectural response to this mobility trend has taken multiple forms, with modular designs leading the way. These structures can adapt to changing needs, allowing for easy expansion or contraction of living and working spaces. In Slovenia, ekokoncept prefabricated buildings exemplifies this approach with their Mini For-2, a compact wooden dwelling that embodies a blend of functionality, portability, and eco-consciousness. What sets the Mini For-2 apart is its adaptability - its external dimensions have been carefully calculated to allow for seamless transportation of the entire unit in one piece, simplifying logistics while enabling users to relocate their home with minimal hassle. For those requiring additional space, the basic module can be extended up to 8 meters or connected with other modules, offering endless combinations to suit changing needs.Save this picture!Save this picture!In the hospitality sector, Moliving has emerged as the first nomadic hospitality group, revolutionizing the industry with their modular technology to "productize" hotel rooms. This startup offers a unique end-to-end sustainable and scalable solution, enabling landowners to monetize underutilized assets. Their innovative process allows hotels to be built in months instead of years, at a fraction of the traditional cost, enabling a hotel to be "at the right place, at the right time."Architecture on wheels, or "mobitecture", is another typology that emerged from the desire to adventure off-grid. These habitable structures can be either driven or towed from place to place. Some of the most notable examples include the increasingly popular "tiny homes" that fit the program of a regular house all into a compact area. Many homes are under 40 square meters, and only provide minimal storage, meaning that the occupants can only bring a fraction of their personal belongings. Designed to fit on standard flatbed vehicles or be placed directly on the ground, the Cocoon Freelancer measures 185 by 320 centimeters internally and features high-tech vacuum glass and thick solid wood walls with special stabilizing chambers. The wooden cabin, inspired by Alpine houses and Japanese temples, is constructed using "moon wood," a uniquely harvested timber that offers superior durability and sustainability. Built to fit on standard 3.5-ton flatbed vehicles, the structure represents a step towards sustainable and flexible living spaces that can adapt to nomadic lifestyles.Save this picture!Save this picture!The convergence of digital nomadism and subscription living is prompting architects to rethink building design fundamentally. Tomorrow's buildings might need to be more adaptable, modular, and even mobile to accommodate these changing lifestyles. Architects are exploring various solutions, including textile structures and inflatable architecture, which are gaining attention for their portability and quick setup times. These modern designs echo the principles of traditional nomadic dwellings, adapted for contemporary needs.The concept of floating settlements has emerged as a response to sea-level rise and climate change, supporting the idea of nomadic architecture that is not fixed to a specific place. This aligns with the broader concept of "neo-nomadic urbanism," which extends beyond simple mobility to encompass adaptive responses to increasingly dynamic life situations. These developments raise important questions about how urban planning and architecture can evolve to better serve these changing patterns of habitation and movement within our cities.Save this picture!However, mobile architecture faces significant challenges. Building codes, zoning laws, and infrastructure systems are all designed around the assumption of architectural permanence. Access to water, electricity, and the internet in remote locations can be problematic. There are also concerns about how the transient nature of mobile communities could affect local economies and social structures, as well as ensuring that mobile architecture remains environmentally sustainable.Yet, as climate change and remote work continue to reshape our relationship with place, the pressure for architectural innovation grows. The hardest part of nomadic life isn't the travel or the remote work it's finding spaces that truly support this lifestyle. Mobile architecture isn't just about moving buildings but creating spaces that understand and enable mobility itself. As we move away from sedentary lifestyles, the very nature of our cities must evolve to accommodate this transformation.Image gallerySee allShow lessAbout this authorAnkitha GattupalliAuthorCite: Ankitha Gattupalli. "Nomadic Architecture: Why Tomorrow's Buildings Might Need to Move" 03 Feb 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1026393/nomadic-architecture-why-tomorrows-buildings-might-need-to-move&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Valle dAosta University Campus / Mario Cucinella ArchitectsSave this picture! Duccio MalagambaArchitects: Mario Cucinella ArchitectsAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:52000 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2023 PhotographsPhotographs:Duccio MalagambaManufacturersBrands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers: Saint-Gobain, Aresline, Betacryl, Forbo Lead Architects: Mario Cucinella More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. Recovering a site for new cultural activities - Located in a central area near Aosta's historic center, MCA's project focuses on conserving and repurposing the existing main buildings of the former Testafochi Barracks, and the construction of a university campus. Whilst the project is strongly recognizable as a landmark in present-day Aosta, it respects the plan arrangement of the original system but revolutionizes the whole area by opening it up to the city. The buildings are designed to contain spaces for teaching and shared activities for the various faculties, which can accommodate approximately 2000 students. The new project enhances cultural activities by expanding the heritage of green areas and integrating them to form a system that passes across the city.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Contemporary architecture that collaborates with the landscape - The project for the new university campus in Aosta exemplifies how it is possible to conceive of contemporary architecture that collaborates with the landscape and the climate. Our choice of the iceberg as an inspiration for the project is not an arbitrary or a merely formal gesture. On one hand, its colors and features establish a strong link with the snow-covered alpine landscape, departing from the austere rigidity of the former military barracks. On the other hand, they give rise to a form that guarantees excellent energy performance. Within the university, there is a focus on an organizational model in which the new building, inspired by the structural patterns observed in plant organisms, possesses its own inherent functional autonomy.Save this picture!Save this picture!The former Zerboglio Building - The project comprises four above-ground levels (ground floor, first, second, and third floor) and two basement levels. Where the facades are close to the teaching spaces, they gradually become less dense from the first level upwards. This variation in the geometric features and the materials used depends on the level and orientation and optimizes the penetration and modulation of natural daylight. On the other hand, where the facade is adjacent to the main university square, the skin is deformed and compacted so that it integrates as much as possible, effectively transforming a part of the facade of the new building into an element of urban embellishment.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The functions of the former Zerboglio Building - The cafeteria and the entrance to the Main Hall were deliberately placed on the ground floor near the ends. This decision enhances access to the square by making the ground floor visually and physically "permeable". There are teaching rooms at all the above-ground levels, all looking towards the city. All the plant rooms, service ducts, and maintenance spaces are at the basement levels, together with a number of educational functions. Two computer laboratories are at level -1. They receive natural daylight and ventilation from a large patio/courtyard excavated out of the large surface of the piazza, next to the new building. The Main Hall, which seats up to 176 people, is at level -2. Opening up this previously enclosed site to the city means not just uncovering its historical military significance but also providing the city with new spaces for sharing and living.Save this picture!The facade system - In terms of the building's recognisability and its interaction with the external spaces, the facade system is undoubtedly the most defining element. This system is handled differently on the city-facing side as opposed to the side facing the piazza. On the piazza side, adjacent to the circulation spaces, a framed enclosure was created, consisting of metal strips and horizontal boxes made from Betacryl acrylic stone. These elements form the supporting structure for the glazed and opaque sections of the facade, while also acting as an effective solar screening system. The structure of the building consists of large reinforced concrete floors supported on a series of reinforced concrete walls. As well as enabling the creation of spacious areas without the need for supporting elements, this solution also provided an advantage in how the classrooms are positioned.Save this picture!Save this picture!Environmental strategies - Analyzing the typical climatic conditions of the location was fundamental for constructing a climate-responsive building. By identifying the potential of the site and such critical issues as sun paths, shadow dynamics, and exposure to the prevailing winds, we designed a solution that provides effective protection against extreme weather conditions whilst exploiting the environmental resources to support its operation. Our analysis of solar radiation at the site showed that it was shaded by the southern slope of the valley, particularly in winter. Optimisation of the form therefore suggested a solution in which the presence of the new buildings only minimally affects the amount of sunlight falling on the surrounding buildings, if at all. The high daily and seasonal temperature fluctuations, combined with the factors mentioned above, guided us to design volumetric shapes that maximize compactness and are very well thermally insulated. The integrated design of the enclosures and building services will ensure that the buildings have low energy consumption while simultaneously utilizing renewable sources. Project gallerySee allShow lessProject locationAddress:Aosta, ItalyLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officeMaterialsGlassConcreteMaterials and TagsPublished on February 03, 2025Cite: "Valle dAosta University Campus / Mario Cucinella Architects" 03 Feb 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1026221/valle-daosta-university-campus-mario-cucinella-architects&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! 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