Key TakeawaysInstagram may soon roll out a new Pause feature, similar to TikTok.A new app called Edits is also expected to be launched to compete with ByteDances CapCut.Several new interface changes such as repositioning of the highlights section may also happen.If youre one of the grieving members of the tiktok fanbase and struggling to get used to Instagram reels while TikTok is in hibernation, we have good news!Meta has taken feedback from TikTok enthusiasts and is currently testing a pause feature on some of its users. This means that now you wont have to tap and hold the screen while trying to get a clear view of that one aesthetic clip in an edit, or even just to read an important text flash.Hello @instagram, can I please request a pause button on reels?? sincerely, a grieving former TikTok scroller, one user posted on social media site X while TikTok was taken down for a few hours last month.In this new update, youll be able to pause videos with just a single tap, making it a lot more convenient for users to have a little more control over the content theyre watching, exactly how it is on TikTok.Currently, if you tap on the screen, the video just gets muted. It isnt clear yet about how the mute function will be placed now that its gesture is replaced with pause, or whether that function will be completely gone for good. I guess well have to wait for the update to be officially rolled out to find that out.This update could be Metas way of taking steps to place itself on top while TikTok is struggling to clearly place its future in the US market.Were going to learn whats going to happen with TikTok, and regardless of that, I expect Reels on Instagram and Facebook to continue growing. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg Meta is also planning to launch a video editing app called Edits thats scheduled to be live in February. This app could give serious competition to the current user favorite, CapCut. This is a free video editing app owned by ByteDance, the same company that owns TikTok.In addition to this, Instagram is also making a lot of changes to its interface. For instance, the grid size has been changed from 1:1 to 3:4, making the overall appearance of the grid look a little narrower.Also, Mosseri announced that hes thinking of moving highlights to the grid, as a separate section, like how we have posts, reels, and tagged posts sections now. Currently, highlights appear as circles on top of the grid on the users profile.TikToks Current Situation in USAs for TikTok, the apps future is uncertain. For now, the app is working in the US, thanks to an extension granted by Donald Trump. If it doesnt comply with Trumps newest conditions, the China-owned app might have to say a final goodbye to the US on April 5.The app was temporarily banned on January 19, 2025, under a law that required the Chinese company to either sell the app or have it completely banned in the US. The government of the US and ByteDance have since been trying to find a middle ground to settle this concern without having to let go of the app.A few days ago, speculations about ByteDances merger with Perplexity AI were taking rounds where Perplexity offered to establish a new company called NewCo with a 50% stake in exchange for its equity, and ByteDance would give TikTok in exchange for the remaining stake.The next month is crucial in deciding the final fate of TikTok in the US. Competitors like Meta are also watching its move with a keen eye.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Vlad is Tech Report's Executive Editor. With over a decade of experience in tech content, he's passionate about computer hardware, an advocate of online privacy, and strongly believes in the open-source, scarce-money nature of cryptocurrency.When hes not working, hes traveling with his partner and their cat, learning Python, or reading good books. He never owned a PC he did not build. View all articles by Vlad Melnic Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.

Holy smokes! If you're looking to build an absolute monster of a project car, Ford has you covered with its latest crate engine offerings: two new supercharged V8s that pack some serious horsepower under the hood. The largest is a massive 7.3L V8 rated at over 1,000 horsepower. The 7.3L Megazilla 2.0 is the successor to Ford's original "Megazilla" crate engine that churned out 615 hp and 670 lb-ft of torque. For this model, the Ford Performance team has turned things up a few notches.The racing engine has the full complement of goodies of its predecessor, including forged pistons and connecting rods, ported and polished heads, uprated valve springs, and a forged steel crank. Its primary upgrade is a massive 3.0L Whipple supercharger force-feeding the big V8. Ford is keeping actual power numbers under wraps for now, only saying it exceeds 1,000 hp.Pricing is still to be announced, but the previous non-supercharged Megazilla listed around $23,000, with the blower option adding another $10,000. Customers should expect this new monster to start at around $30,000 when it goes on sale later this year. Of course, Ford built this engine for the race track or off-road use. It's strictly meant for competition.However, Ford hasn't left the street crowd high and dry as it has also unveiled a new supercharged version of the popular Mustang 5.0L "Coyote" V8. This engine utilizes the same 3.0L Whipple supercharger as the Megazilla 2.0, allowing it to churn out a targeted 800 hp and 615 lb-ft of torque. Once again, this is a massive gain over the previous naturally-aspirated model, which was 300 hp and nearly 200 lb-ft, but it is still street-legal until you get caught putting it through its paces, that is.Ford has not finalized pricing for the 5.0L unit either. However, the non-supercharged version currently retails for around $11,500. With the forced induction hardware, expect this new supercharged 5.0L to set you back around $20,000.The Megazilla and Coyote engines will be available through Ford dealerships or their performance parts channel starting in Q4 2025. The engines carry a 2-year/24,000-mile warranty, while the supercharger gets extended coverage of 3 years/36,000 miles when installed by a Ford dealer or ASE-certified shop.

Choose your answer and the correct choice will be revealed. Correct Answer:8-inchA brief explanation whyInvented by Alan Shugart at IBM in 1967, the original floppy disk design measured 8 inches (200mm) in diameter, stored 80KB of data and became available for purchase in 1971 as a part of IBM's products before being sold separately in 1972 by companies including Memorex. In fact, Shugart himself left IBM and transitioned to Memorex in 1972, helping the company deliver the first commercially available read-write floppy disk drive (the Memorex 650).A hallmark of computer storage in the 1970s. Here are five interesting facts about 8-inch floppies:The 8-inch floppy disk, originally called a "memory disk", was developed by IBM to serve as a medium for loading microcode into the System/370 mainframe during the booting process.The original 8-inch floppy disks had a storage capacity of about 80 kilobytes. However, as the technology progressed, they eventually managed to store up to 1.2 megabytes by the end of their reign.Unlike the later 5.25-inch and 3.5-inch floppy disks, the 8-inch disks had a flexible and truly "floppy" feel. They were made from a thin piece of magnetized material encased in a protective plastic envelope, with a central hole for the drive's spindle.The 8-inch floppy disk was eventually succeeded by the 5.25-inch floppy disk, which was then overtaken by the 3.5-inch floppy disk in the 1980s and 1990s.The save icon in many contemporary software applications resembles a 3.5-inch floppy disk. However, a generation before that, the 8-inch floppy was the icon of data storage. In fact, its importance can be seen in some early computer movies and TV shows.Answering demand for a smaller format diskette that was more manageable and affordable for desktop word processing machines of the day, Shugart's team designed a 5.25-inch 'mini floppy' disk in 1976 that stored 87.5KB and within two years, more than 10 manufacturers were making 5.25-inch floppy drives.The shrink to 3.5-inch disks came in 1982 after a consortium of 21 companies agreed to specifications, which included a formatted disk capacity of 280KB. That was shortly after increased to 720KB and eventually reaching 1.44 MB which was the most commonly known standard by the late 80s.Other less common formats of 3.5-inch floppy drives were the Imation Superdisk (LS-120 and LS-240) which reached capacities of 120 and 240 MB, respectively, as well as the rare Sony HiFD released in the late 90s that offered up to 200 MB of storage capacity.Another popular "superdisk" alternative was the Iomega Zip drive which launched with capacities of 100 MB. Later on it was available in 250 MB and 750 MB capacities, but by then rewritable CDs had been adopted more widely. Before USB flash drives proved to be the most popular rewritable storage medium among the general public.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2MSRP$70.00 Score Details Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is a staggering sequel that'll put you in a medieval mindset.ProsTons of freedomRemarkable dialogue systemChallenging combatGorgeous open-worldConsRestrictive saving and inventoryTable of ContentsTable of ContentsAmazing adventures aheadFreedom of choiceGoing medievalTechnical troublesIn nearly 40 years of playing video games, Ive rarely experienced harrowing moments that had me pausing just to catch my breath. One such instance happened just a few hours into my Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 playthrough. At that point in the campaign, I had to rescue an important character, a fellah, from certain execution in a fortress gallows, which wouldve occurred on the twelfth toll of the church bells. I was given a wealth of choices on how to approach my goal, such as doing menial labor for traders, trying to acquire a handful of lockpicks, and sneaking past dozens of guards, all to inch my way closer to the interior of the castle.Recommended VideosWhen I finally reached my objective as the bells tolled for a sixth time, I was shocked upon realizing that more tasks followed, including a quest to cure a bedridden captains ailments. Not only did I need to find the recipe book for the alchemical brew, but I also had to acquire ingredients either by unlocking a single chest or by picking herbs in specific areas. I had but a few scant seconds left when I brewed the potion, causing me to make a mad dash across the castles ramparts to deliver the cure just as the bells were about to ring for one final time.RelatedAs I breathed a sigh of relief knowing that I had succeeded, I couldnt help but marvel at Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2s presentation. Its predecessor, released in 2018, showed Warhorse Studios commendable effort at crafting an open-world RPG. Now, its sequel promises an even bigger adventure across more massive regions, with increased freedom in how players tackle objectives. There are a few quirks to it, but not enough to weigh down an instant genre staple.Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 follows the events of the previous game, as Henry of Skalitz, bodyguard and confidante of nobleman Hans Capon, journeys across the war-torn lands of 15th-century Bohemia (present-day Czech Republic). Tragedy strikes as the merry band is ambushed at the start of the campaign, with Henry gravely injuredthe incident not only acts as a plot device but also as a way to explain why players mostly have to start from scratch with his level and perks.This sets the stage for a grand campaign, where Henry has to find allies to aid the rightful king Wenceslaus IV against the machinations of Sigismund, Wenceslaus half-brother who has usurped the Bohemian throne. There are layers upon layers of political intrigue and ploys, so much so that Id like Warhorse Studios to be the frontrunner for a Game of Thrones video game adaptation in the future.Kingdom Come: Deliverance II Official CGI Trailer Live a Life MedievalHenrys journey with Hans is filled with all sorts of encounters, from joyous tales where men boast about their travels, to somber and emotionally impactful moments that remind you of the harsh realities of war, the inescapable allure of power, and the soul-crushing grief that takes people on a quest for vengeance. That said, youre neither required to have extensive knowledge of the first games narrative arc, nor its cast of characters, as this sequel has an abundance of cutscenes that serve as recaps, as well as lore entries that provide much needed background information.Several characters from the first game make their return, while fresh faces, including key historical figures are given a chance to shine. This leads to a resounding romp and a compelling story thats one for the ages. Im from the Philippines and I know very little of the Czech Republics history outside of the first game and various Europa Universalis and Crusader Kings playthroughs, yet I find the narrative and time period captivating.Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2s story and the freedom players have are further complemented by explorable open-world locations that are breathtaking. As Henry, I first trek across the Bohemian Paradise, which encompasses fortresses like Trosky Castle and Nebakov, and villages like Troskowitz. Later, I head further south to the massive city of Kuttenberg (modern-day Kutna Hora) and the surrounding countryside.Deep SilverThere were countless times when I had to stop to take in the scenery as I ventured across these landscapes while riding Pebbles, Henrys trusty horse. Everything from lush fields and farms with wheat ripe for the harvest, to castles seemingly carved from mountains and sprawling metropolises with numerous citizens milling about, all create a striking sense of authenticity. Id even go so far as to note that city streets littered with manure and dotted with sickly green pools of piss water immersed me in medieval life. It wasnt just because of the environments that I could see, but also because of the ones that I could smell straight through the screen.The world map is absolutely gorgeous too, akin to a tapestry from the Middle Ages. I can zoom in at specific towns to see their complete layouts and all the vendors Ive met. Going off the beaten path is also encouraged, as players might stumble upon several points-of-interest, side quests, and optional activities. In one particular instance, I had to go on a pilgrimage to a shrine, which happened to have a grave that I could dig to obtain hidden treasure. When I was suddenly attacked by wolves, I had to thank Henrys dog companion, Mutt, for saving the day.Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 has dozens of quests and the vast majority of them can be tackled in multiple ways. In one particular side quest, I had to rescue the daughter of an herbalist who had a knife to her throat. In another mission, I had to locate the members of a mercenary group that had just disbanded, searching for their whereabouts in various towns just so they could aid us in another endeavor. A couple of other missions delved further into themes of religion, the supernatural, and local folklore, adding more flair and flavor to an already packed experience.Every choice has a consequence.Some quests have several optional tasks that help create a more immersive and expansive journey. One example is a wedding that Henry has to attend just to meet a nobleman. Instead of just focusing on that singular task, I could join in the festivities by playing the highly engaging dice minigame Farkle, watching over a huntmaster so he doesnt start drinking again, and dancing with the ladies (which leads to a brief tryst).The branching dialogue options and reputation system make for some engrossing moments. At certain points, Im given the option to respond using the key tenets of Persuasion, Coercion, Domination, and others. This isnt just determined by a rudimentary point value system from leveling up skills and perks. Rather, it relies on several factors, such as my standing within a community and even the dirt or blood on my clothing. After all, you probably wont convince merchants that youre a member of the nobility if you look like a vagabond, just as how you might not be able to intimidate the guards if you look like a total pushover.Deep SilverNPCs tend to be smart enough, for the most part, in how they react to the player. Case in point: Whenever I had to sneak around at night, I also had to make sure that guards and villagers didnt see me in houses, yards, or anywhere thats a restricted area. Even if I was able to lockpick a chest to steal some goodies without being seen, the mere fact that I aroused suspicion beforehand could cause NPCs to accuse me of theft come daybreak. Id then have to convince townsfolk or guards to look the other way, lest I suffer reputation drops, though I could still go on a pilgrimage to gain forgiveness.All these systems are intertwined, creating an unrivaled sense of freedom where every scenario tends to be thought provoking, every action has to be carefully considered, and every choice has a consequence.Another facet that gives players freedom, in its own unique way, is the combat system which remains fairly realistic and challenging. Melee attacks are primarily governed by a cross-shaped directional system, where players can perform overhead blows, sideways slashes, or straightforward thrusts. However, enemies can effectively counter these by blocking attacks coming from a certain direction. Players can also parry these moves, following up with a vicious riposte to their unprotected flank, or do a master strike, an unblockable hit thats tough to pull off but extremely effective once youve gotten the hang of it.Deep SilverKingdom Come: Deliverance 2s combat is a lot more forgiving compared to its predecessor, given that defensive maneuvers are easier to do as theres a more noticeable parry window. Still, continuously attacking to perform combos isnt viable. Doing so would just drain my stamina and leave me reeling. Instead, each confrontation is a deadly dance, where you and your hostile partners engage in a flurry of carefully planned moves and prepared strikes, sometimes happening in mere split seconds, all to look for that one opening and the finishing blow. Offense and defense are both given importance, while movement and attacks flow with graceful fluidity and brutal barbarism in equal measure.You can ignore all that completely once you acquire a Pistole, a prototype firearm used during the Middle Ages. The use of gunpowder drastically changed the way battles were fought during the time period, as the era of armored knights with longswords and expert bowmen who spent years in training gave way to the awe-inspiring power of (long-loading) firearms. There were instances when knights in plate armor were advancing toward me, and I muttered dozens of curse words in English, Tagalog, and Czech in a panic as I attempted to reload my hand cannon. Then, as I shot my foes in point-blank range, I couldnt help but feel saddened, not because I killed an opponent, but because this is exactly the price humanity pays in the name of progress.Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is bogged down by a few glaring design flaws. Chief among these is its save system, easily the most divisive feature from the original game thats retained in this sequel. I can only manually save when I sleep in a bed that I own, when I pick the Save & Quit option, or when I drink Savior Schnapps. Granted, I can buy or brew these potions if I have the money or ingredients, though there are also segments where Henry doesnt have access to his inventory. As such, theres no other choice but to rely on the unreliable: autosaves that trigger at certain points during each quest.Going back to my first anecdote, I didnt have access to any Savior Schnapps in the fortress that I had to explore just to save a fellah. If I made any mistake be it the wrong dialogue choice that lowered my reputation, an unlucky Farkle dice throw that cost me the match, or running into an NPC who calls the guards on me Id have no recourse but to restart from the last autosave.This problem exists for the first few hours until players finally have a lot of potions in their inventory. However, this still extends to a multitude of quests and countless dialogue choices where one might want to select another reply or see a different outcome. A good example of this is how you could visit a town to haggle with merchants, chat with some NPCs to increase your reputation, change your equipped gear, wash yourself at a trough, level up and allocate skill points, give Mutt some food to increase his loyalty, and then ride across the fields to a marked objective. If you get waylaid by bandits somewhere along the way and die, youd realize that not a single autosave triggered in any of those previous actions. Its unlikely that youd waste potions often and, without quick saves, you could lose a lot of playtime upon reload.Deep SilverI understand the concept of intentional friction so as to make things more challenging. Be that as it may, the Save & Quit command already exists as a manual save of sorts, though it automatically closes the game, and you have to relaunch it. The system, as it stands, is nothing but an inconvenience to the player, a frustrating contrast to the freedom offered throughout the campaign.Another concern is the inventory system, where I have to manage the items held by Henry, those that are carried by my horse, and those that are stored in my chest. While the contents are shared across all storage chests, not all villages have these containers. Similarly, I cant directly sell items in my horses saddlebags or those inside chests. Instead, I have to manually grab them from my chest or horse (making sure that the horse is near so I can access that inventory tab), then move them to Henrys inventory, before I can lug them all the way to a merchant.Even with its quirks, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is a masterful triumph for Warhorse Studios. Learning from the original game, the developers have crafted a sequel with a riveting story, one that immersed me in its historical setting. From its memorable cast of characters and thought-provoking conversation choices to its expansive presentation of quests, a combat system that kept me on my toes, and a vast realm to explore, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is an unforgettable adventure that you shouldnt miss.Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 was reviewed on PC with a code provided by the publisher.Editors Recommendations

MicrosoftIn a support document, Microsoft announced the end of a free VPN feature weeks after hiking prices for its monthly subscription for the first time in 12 years. The removal of the free VPN in Microsoft 365, which used the Defender app to hide IP addresses and encrypt internet traffic, is scheduled for February 28 of this year so Microsoft can shift its priorities.Microsoft explained why it is removing the tool by saying, Our goal is to ensure you and your family remain safer online. We routinely evaluate the usage and effectiveness of our features. As such, we are removing the privacy protection feature and will invest in new areas that will better align to customer needs. So, the software giant removed the feature to invest its efforts elsewhere.Recommended VideosMicrosoft confirms that U.S. subscribers will still have access to data and device protection, identity theft protection, credit monitoring, and ongoing threat alerts for online safety. However, Microsoft imposed a 50GB monthly data limit and connected the VPN to a local region, undermining its core purpose of providing unrestricted access. With the $3 price increase for Personal and Family subscriptions and the removal of the VPN, potential subscribers might consider their decision. But if you know how to get Microsoft Office for free, you can see whether the subscription is worth it. For now, we bid farewell to a free feature Microsoft introduced in 2023, which provided users with a VPN tunnel for secure web access. We will have to wait and see what other changes Microsoft has in store for subscribers.Editors Recommendations

DeepSeeks success shows companies are making the most of limited resources in a hot artificial-intelligence market, but that doesnt mean controls targeting Chinas chip sector have failed, the chief of a leading semiconductor equipment maker said.

I didn't tell anyone it was my birthday Honda cleans, greens its Ohio factories to add EVs to the mix Giant presses and 3D stir welding make the battery cases. Jonathan M. Gitlin Feb 3, 2025 11:16 am | 0 Credit: Jonathan Gitlin Credit: Jonathan Gitlin Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreHonda provided flights from Daytona to Columbus then Washington, DC, and accommodation so Ars could visit its factories. Ars does not accept paid editorial content.ANNA, OHIOHonda's Anna Engine Plant has changed a little since I last visited. As we wound our way past the four-cylinder production line, the green-painted scaffolding and overhead gantries gave way to a more open expanse of the cavernous building. Conveyor belts have been replaced by little robots that move pallets around, and bright LED lights illuminate the yellow-painted walls. In the middle of it all is a series of massive 6,000-ton presses, newly installed to cast the battery packs of Honda's next US-made electric vehicles.A little more than an hour outside of Columbus, the Anna Engine Plant started building engines for the Goldwing motorcycle, something that would have been of deep interest to me and all the other schoolchildren who were obsessed with what seemed like the world's most excessive two-wheeler.That was forty years ago, and in the intervening years, the factory has expanded to encompass 2.8 million square feet (260,000 m2), where 3,000 people build four- and six-cylinder engines for the Hondas and Acuras people drive here in the US. Ars was last there in 2020, back then because it was hand-building the twin-turbo V6 engines for the Acura NSX, which was assembled just down the road. One of the six massive die casting machines is in the background. Jonathan Gitlin One of the six massive die casting machines is in the background. Jonathan Gitlin Robots do most of the handling. Jonathan Gitlin Robots do most of the handling. Jonathan Gitlin Here, the two halves of the case are welded together. Jonathan Gitlin Here, the two halves of the case are welded together. Jonathan Gitlin Robots do most of the handling. Jonathan Gitlin Here, the two halves of the case are welded together. Jonathan Gitlin The large castings for the battery packs are the opposite of handmadehuman hands don't come close while the various robots do their thing.The massive presses each make one half of the battery case, and the size of the front half can be changed to make medium-sized and large EV battery packs. Once both halves are cast and the parts are acceptable, robots finish the surfaces that are expected to touch other components, with minimal use of a lubricant that Honda says has cut energy use significantly.Then the two halves are joined using 3D friction stir welding. There are no sparks or smoke; instead, a spinning bit mounted to a robot arm makes the aluminum plastic where it touches it. As the arm moves, the aluminum hardens, and the arm is articulated to follow the curves of the pack. Once the cases are ready, they can be shipped to Marysville. Jonathan Gitlin Once the cases are ready, they can be shipped to Marysville. Jonathan Gitlin There's a dummy module inserted into this case. Jonathan Gitlin There's a dummy module inserted into this case. Jonathan Gitlin Once the cases are ready, they can be shipped to Marysville. Jonathan Gitlin There's a dummy module inserted into this case. Jonathan Gitlin Honda's Marysville Auto Plant is undergoing a similar transformation. The production line was busy churning out hundreds of Accords during our visit, but there was plenty of evidence of upgrades.Some lines have already been removed, and others are shrouded from view with construction barriers up to protect the rest of the factory from whatever demolition is going on behind them. Bright, efficient LEDs have replaced old fluorescents, and in the midst of an Ohio winter, it was shirtsleeves temperature inside, thanks in part to a new, more efficient HVAC system.Honda has not yet added US-made EVs to the Marysville mix, but that will happen soonthe Honda Zero SUV starts production here later this year. And now there's a new area for assembling its battery packs, using the cases we saw cast in Anna. The battery module assembly area at Marysville. Credit: Jonathan Gitlin Pack assembly is done in parallel rather than in series, as in a normal car production line, which Honda says gives it a bit more freedom to deal with problems or train new people without holding up everyone else. But the EVs themselves will travel down the same production line we saw filled with Accords. Rather than invest in an all-new factory just for EVs, the automaker will mix and match according to demand, with the flexibility to adapt as it needs to. That's probably a wise decision these days.Jonathan M. GitlinAutomotive EditorJonathan M. GitlinAutomotive Editor Jonathan is the Automotive Editor at Ars Technica. He has a BSc and PhD in Pharmacology. In 2014 he decided to indulge his lifelong passion for the car by leaving the National Human Genome Research Institute and launching Ars Technica's automotive coverage. He lives in Washington, DC. 0 Comments

Melting pot Greenlands glaciers are falling apart faster than expected New 3D study shows meltwater driving fissures deeper into the glacial ice. Bob Berwyn, Inside Climate News Feb 3, 2025 10:36 am | 23 Greenland's massive ice sheet inching into the ocean. Credit: Christine Zenino/Flickr Greenland's massive ice sheet inching into the ocean. Credit: Christine Zenino/Flickr Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreA new large-scale study of crevasses on the Greenland Ice Sheet shows that those cracks are widening faster as the climate warms, which is likely to speed ice loss and global sea level rise.Crevasses are wedge-shaped fractures and cracks that open in glaciers where the ice begins to flow faster. They can grow to more than 300 feet wide, thousands of feet long, and hundreds of feet deep. Water from melting snow on the surface can flow through crevasses all the way to the base of the ice, joining with other hidden streams to form a vast drainage system that affects how fast glaciers and ice sheets flow.The study found that crevasses are expanding more quickly than previously detected, and somewhere between 50 and 90 percent of the water flowing through the Greenland Ice Sheet goes through crevasses, which can warm deeply submerged portions of the glacier and increase lubrication between the base of the ice sheet and the bedrock it flows over. Both those mechanisms can accelerate the flow of the ice itself, said Thomas Chudley, a glaciologist at Durham University in the United Kingdom, who is lead author of the new study.Understanding crevasses is a key to understanding how this discharge will evolve in the 21st century and beyond, he said.Greenland ice researchers expect that more crevasses will form in a warming world because glaciers are accelerating in response to warmer ocean temperatures, and because meltwater filling crevasses can force fractures deeper into the ice, he said. However, until now we havent had the data to show where and how fast this is happening across the entirety of the Greenland Ice Sheet.Using three-dimensional images of the crevasses enabled the researchers to get the most accurate estimate of their total volume to date. The results show that crevasses grew significantly wider between 2016 and 2021.And they grow pretty much in lockstep with increased discharge of icebergs and meltwater into the ocean, Chudley said. That makes sense, right? Because the glaciers are speeding up because of influence from the warming ocean. As they speed up, they flow faster.Ice at the surface of glaciers generally flows faster than at their bases, which are slowed by friction with the surface they travel on. The difference in speeds cause the fissures, he explained.The research highlights a new feedback that accelerates changes in ice sheets and the loss of mass from glaciers through iceberg discharges, said Xavier Fettweis, a professor of climatology at the University of Lige, who was not part of the new study.Its difficult to evaluate the importance of this positive feedback, he said, but it is something which is currently underestimated in the ice sheet models used for performing future projections.Calculating the total annual discharge of ice from Greenland also requires considering how a variety of complex interactions play out, he said.For example, models show there will be less direct discharges of icebergs into the ocean as glaciers retreat from the coast. That would slow the contribution of melting icebergs to sea level rise, he said.But that same retreat also steepens the edge of the ice sheet, both when sloped tongues of floating ice recede onto land from the sea, and when increased melting and calving of icebergs at the low leading edge undercuts the rest of the ice.That stress widens and deepens the crevasses that Chudley studieda feedback cycle that could speed the disintegration of the Greenland Ice Sheet.Greenlands melting ice will affect millionsIn 2020, researchers calculated that Greenlands ice sheet annually loses about 9 billion tons of water every hour. The total annual freshwater flow off Greenland is about equal to the annual flow of the Amazon River, at about 1,000 gigatons per year, said Ken Mankoff, a researcher with the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland who led the comprehensive 2020 study tracking discharge from Greenland from 1986 to 2020. If all its ice melts, it would raise sea level by about 23 feet (7 meters).A complete meltdown is projected to take thousands of years, but there is a lot of scientific evidence from periods of rapid climate warming in the not-so-distant geological past that show pulses of rapid global ice melt, with sea levels sometimes rising in surges of up to 13 feet (4 meters) per century. At the current rate of melting, Greenlands ice could contribute about 3 feet (1 meter) of sea level rise by 2100.Some coastal areas are already struggling to adapt to sea level rise, and millions of people around the world are at risk of losing land and livelihoods. Greenlands ice is one of the largest contributors to sea level rise, and projecting the speed of the meltdown is a key climate science goal to help people prepare.This first-ever inventory of crevasses across the entire Greenland Ice Sheet will help do that, said William Colgan, a glaciology and climate professor with the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, who was not involved with the study.This is the first study to unequivocally say that the expansion of crevasse zones is ubiquitous across Greenlands outlet glaciers that have accelerated in recent years, he said.The absolute numbers are large, he added. Were talking about thousands of square kilometers of ice sheet being crevassed, and hundreds of square kilometers becoming crevassed at different glaciers during the observation period.The study provides unprecedented detail of the distribution of crevasses at different elevations of the ice sheet, and how the fissures and their distribution have been changing, Colgan said. Id imagine there was a similar feeling when the first inventory of Moon craters was made; youve always known they were there, but you hadnt been able to count them individually.Various reports from ice sheet researchers in the field affirm the studys findings.If you have been working on the ice sheet, year after year, I think you get familiar with the increase in crevasses at your local sites, he said. In the blue ice areas especially, glaciers are generally speeding up and snowfall is generally declining. We expect to see more crevasses.Colgan also emphasized that the new findings show the increasing risk of some feedbacks that arent included in models of climate impacts. That suggests that melting could accelerate beyond what the science already anticipates.We know that the appearance of crevasses can trigger a lot of feedback for ice loss, he said. With so many feedbacks to enhance ice loss, crevasses are poised to play a large role in the faster-than-forecast response of the ice sheet to climate change.This story originally appeared on Inside Climate News.Bob Berwyn, Inside Climate News 23 Comments

Sen. Mitch McConnell criticized Trump's across-the-board tariffs in an interview on Sunday.He said the tariffs will "drive the cost of everything up" and antagonize US allies."It will be paid for by American consumers," the former Senate GOP leader said.Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, fresh off the end of his 18-year tenure as Senate Republican leader, is sounding off against looming tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump.Trump signed executive orders on Saturday that will impose 25% tariffs on goods imported from Mexico and Canada, along with a 10% tariff on Chinese goods. On Monday, Trump and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaumannounced that the tariffs on the country will be delayed a month."It will drive the cost of everything up," McConnell said in an interview with CBS's "60 Minutes" that aired on Sunday. "In other words, it will be paid for by American consumers."He also noted that Mexico and Canada are longtime US allies: "Why would you want to get in a fight with your allies over this?"Trump has said the tariffs are designed to coerce the governments of Mexico, Canada, and China to stem the flow of illegal drugs into the United States.The tariffs are set to go into effect at midnight on Tuesday morning, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced retaliatory tariffs. Democrats have largely opposed Trump's move, also arguing that it will drive up the cost of consumer goods from those countries.McConnell, a longtime Trump critic, isn't the only Republican who's criticizing the tariffs."Tariffs are simply taxes," Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky wrote on X. "Conservatives once united against new taxes. Taxing trade will mean less trade and higher prices."McConnell also said that despite his criticism of Trump over tariffs along with his belief that January 6 is an insurrection for which Trump is responsible he's likely to be on the same page with the president most of the time."I expect to support most of what this administration is trying to accomplish," McConnell said. "So, what happened in the past is irrelevant to me."

Trump's tariffs on Canada and Mexico could raise average new car prices by $2,700, Jeffries analysts found.The levies will hit automakers like GM and Stellantis, which import vehicles from Mexico, especially hard.Even Tesla would not be immune, with the company's CFO warning last week tariffs "would have an impact."Donald Trump's tariff offensive has thrown the auto industry into chaos and it could make your next car more expensive.The president announced 25% tariffs on all goods imported from Canada and Mexico and a 10% levy on China on Saturday, a move Jeffries analysts warned could add $2,700 to the average price of a new car in the US.The import taxes sparked global market uncertainty on Monday after all three countries vowed to retaliate. Canada has already done so, saying it will put a 25% tariff on $30 billion of US goods.While Trump said on Monday the introduction of tariffs on Mexico would be paused for a month, if implemented, they will significantly impact US carmakers.Lured by low labor costs and cheap parts, automakers have built up their presence in Mexico over the past few decades. Detroit's "big three" of Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis, as well as foreign powerhouses like Toyota and Nissan, all build vehicles in Mexico to import to the US market.Even car companies that assemble their vehicles in the US, such as Tesla and Rivian, are likely to face higher costs thanks to the levies extending to vehicle and engine components.In a note on Sunday, Jeffries analysts estimated that a 25% levy on goods imported from Canada and Mexico would add $43 billion to industry costs, with Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis being the most exposed.Other estimates were equally dire. Analysts for research firm Wolfe Research said the average price of a new car may climb by around $3,000, per Bloomberg.Patrick Anderson, chief executive of consulting firm Anderson Economic Group, told The New York Times the tariffs could add $10,000 or more to the price of trucks and large vehicles imported from Mexico.Auto executives have been bracing for the impact of Trump's tariffs ever since the Republican won the presidency for the second time in November.In an earnings call last week, Tesla's Chief Financial Officer Vaibhav Taneja said there was "a lot of uncertainty" around the taxes."Over the years, we've tried to localize our supply chain in every market, but we are still reliant on parts from across the world for all our businesses. Therefore, the imposition of tariffs, which is very likely, and any will have an impact on our business and profitability," Taneja said.