EA is ready to take the wraps off the next Battlefield early. The publisher shared a brief glimpse of footage from an alpha version of the game as part of an announcement video for Battlefield Labs, a new early access program that will give fans a taste of in-development Battlefield before it launches.Battlefield Labs is designed to let Battlefield's developers "test concepts and experiences" before the next Battlefield game is released, according to a press release announcing the program. Developers hope to collect feedback on what the release describes as a critical part of the game's development. Anyone participating in Battlefield Labs will be under NDA and will "test (almost) everything" in the game. That includes "core combat and destruction," things like "weapons, vehicles and gadgets" and "maps, modes, and squad play."EA is running a similar playtesting program for the next Skate game appropriately dubbed "Skate Insiders" ahead of that game's early access release in 2025.Battlefield is currently being developed by a collection of EA studios under the umbrella of "Battlefield Studios," including DICE, the creators of the franchise, Criterion, a former Need for Speed developer that was shifted to Battlefield in 2023, Ripple Effect and Motive, the developer of Star Wars Squadrons and the recent Dead Space remake.There's not a ton to go off of in the footage EA shared, but the game's developers did confirm that the next Battlefield will include a single player campaign, a notable omission from multiplayer-only Battlefield 2042. You can sign-up to participate in Battlefield Labs right now on EA's website if you're in Europe or North America. The test will be limited to "a few thousand participants" to start, but the company plans on expanding the program to other regions and players in the future. Even if you're not playing the early access version of the game, EA says you'll also be able to track Battlefield's development through "work-in-progress public updates" and the game's Discord.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/ea-is-giving-fans-a-chance-to-test-the-next-battlefield-early-192527209.html?src=rss

Doug Ford, the premier of Ontario and a former staunch supporter of President Trump, has announced that the Canadian territory will be ripping up a $100 million contract with Elon Musks Starlink. The contract was signed in November of last year and tasked Starlink with providing internet service to remote parts of the province.This comes after Trump announced a 25 percent tariff on nearly all Canadian imported goods. This spurred Canada to announce its own 25 percent tariff on American imported goods. It looks like we are heading into a trade war for, uh, reasons? Trump says its about fentanyl, even though less than one percent of the drug arrives in this country via Canadian routes. This is data that has been confirmed by both Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the US Drug Enforcement Administration.Starting today and until U.S. tariffs are removed, Ontario is banning American companies from provincial contracts. Every year, the Ontario government and its agencies spend $30 billion on procurement, alongside our $200 billion plan to build Ontario. U.S.-based businesses will Doug Ford (@fordnation) February 3, 2025 So where do Musk and Starlink come in? The richest man in the world is a close confidant of Trump and now has control over the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, a group within the administration tasked with cost-cutting and deregulation. Musk, who was not elected and is essentially just some guy, has access to the federal payment system and some of the levers of the US Treasury.In the eyes of Ford, this is enough to link Musk to Trumps tariffs. He said that Ontario wont do business with people hellbent on destroying our economy" and that Musk wants to take food off the table of hard-working Canadians. The premier indicated that the contract will remain null and void until US tariffs are removed. Additionally, Ontario is banning all American companies from provincial contracts, which will cause domestic businesses to lose out on tens of billions of dollars in new revenues.Ford also commanded the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) to remove American-made spirits from store shelves. He joins several other premiers across the country in this effort.Every year, LCBO sells nearly $1 billion worth of American wine, beer, spirits and seltzers. Not anymore," he said in a statement. Ontario has a population of over 16 million people and includes cities like Toronto and Niagara Falls. Musk responded to Fords decision by posting oh well on X.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/ontario-cancels-100-million-starlink-contract-as-a-response-to-those-tariffs-192310546.html?src=rss

DeepSeek-R1 expands across Nvidia, AWS, GitHub, and Azure, boosting accessibility for developers and enterprises.

Email spam is spiralling out of control, with over 90% of emails classified as such in 2024, report claims.

Tesla's stock fell more than its megacap tech peers on Monday following President Trump's announced tariffs.

Among the tech megacaps, Apple may be the most vulnerable to President Trump's announced tariffs on China.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg hinted at a return to OG Facebook during last weeks Q4 earnings call, listing it as a key goal for 2025. But what exactly does that mean?So far, Meta hasnt offered any clear details. Could Zuckerberg mean the millennial meme-filled Facebook of the 2010s or the masculine energy of its controversial origins as Facemash (a site that ranked Harvard classmates by attractiveness without consent)?Asked about his plans for the OG Facebook, Zuckerberg replied, I think some of this will kind of get back to how Facebook was originally used back in the day,, while tight-lipped on any other details. I think there are a lot of opportunities to make [Facebook] way more culturally influential than it is today, he said.Zuckerberg cautioned investors that these changes may require some tradeoffs in terms of maximizing business results in the near term, hinting at potential revenue impacts. The first wave of product updates is expected to roll out within the next six months.Now, OG Facebook could mean different things to different people. For many, its a throwback to the days before Boomer and Gen X relatives took over. These days, Facebook is often used begrudgingly by those under the age of 30 and is more synonymous with offensive memes and AI slop than cutting-edge youth culture.Studies show Gen Z overwhelmingly prefers TikTok and Snapchat, platforms that exist outside of Metas reach. A 2024 Pew Research survey showed that only 33% of U.S. teens (13-17) use Facebook, a steep drop from 71% a decade ago. One thing is clear, the platform is in desperate need of younger users to stay relevant.Meta has tried, and failed, to course-correct before. In 2020, it launched Facebook Campus, a college-only space meant to recapture its early exclusivity. It flopped within 18 months. More recently, in October 2024, the company rolled out a Gen Z-focused redesign putting greater emphasis on local communities, video, and Facebook Groups. Last year, it even quietly resurrected the Poke button.Can Facebook pull off the rebrand of 2025? Thats for Gen Z to decide.

Nine months ahead of this years annual U.N. climate summit, known as COP30, lodging prices in the Brazilian host city of Belem are turning headsand may soon turn off would-be attendees from the first such meeting in the Amazon rainforest.With a shortage of housing and high interest, property owners and rental companies are feeling emboldened to charge five-digit rates, even for cramped rooms with shared bathrooms.On Booking.com, one of the last available hotel rooms listed, a flat apartment, is going $15,266 for one person, up from $158 for the same category currentlya 9,562% increase. A 15-day stay during the conference in November would total $228,992, enough to buy a four-bedroom apartment in one of Belems top neighborhoods.On Airbnb, a room with a shared bathroom in Ananindeua, a poor city near Belem, is listed at $9,320 per day. A comparable room today could be rented for as little as $11 per day. In more upscale neighborhoods, renting an apartment that accommodates eight people costs up to $446,595 for a two-week stay.This one scared me, joked local architect and digital influencer Renato Balaguer about a dilapidated apartment listed at $10,000 for an 11-day stay.This is like putting gringos in captivity. False imprisonment is a crime! said Balaguer in a post that went viral.President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who champions himself as a protector of the environment, has boasted about hosting the event in the Amazon, which helps regulate the climate by storing large quantities of carbon dioxide, a gas that causes climate change.This is also a landmark year in the annual process because countries must come forward with updated commitments to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Whats more, civic groups are particularly interested in attending because Brazil allows for protests and free expression, which are sharply restricted in the previous three host countries: Azerbaijan, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt.Brazil, Latin Americas largest and most populous nation, has hosted other world events, such as the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and the 2014 World Cup, with games played in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Manaus, Belo Horizonte, and several other cities. Belem, an Atlantic port city that is on the edge of the Amazon rainforest, doesnt have the same infrastructure as other big cities, which has led to many questions about its ability to host COP30.Officials estimate that about 50,000 people will attend the summit, scheduled to take place Nov. 1021. Last year in Baku, Azerbaijan, the official tally was 54,148. Before that, in Dubai, attendance reached a record 83,884.Neither the federal government nor the Para state government responded to questions about the number of rooms currently available in Belem, a bustling and impoverished metropolis of 2.5 million people and the median income is $920 per month.Those who booked more than a year in advance secured lower prices, but many of those reservations have already been canceled without explanationa common practice in the hospitality business ahead of major events. Another issue is the increasing prices of accommodations already booked. One European nonprofit reserved a room for $2,000 in December, only to see the price rise to $7,200 two weeks later.Various groups that often attend the annual summit, including environmental nonprofits, activists, scientists, journalists, and businesses, are having to rethink whether they go as the prices rocket up.Planning for COP30 in Belem has been challenging due to limited and expensive accommodations, creating barriers for our participation, said Roberta Alves, deputy director of communications at Mercy Corps. The international humanitarian nonprofit has participated in several COPs, focusing its advocacy on financing a transition to green energy, adapting to climate change impacts, and how climate change exacerbates conflict.We are awaiting alternative options from the COP30 organizerscritical to ensuring that all voices, especially those from the frontlines of the climate crisis, are included in global conversations, Alves added.Owners and property managers offering rentals say the prices are a question of supply and demand, and besides, they also have high costs.Just the electricity and water for my house cost 5,000 Brazilian real ($860) per month, said Gisleno da Silva, who posted the ad for the Ananindeua room for $9,320 per day.At this price, I already have someone interested, he said, while adding he was open to negotiate.In the face of mounting criticism, the Brazilian government has said it will provide an additional 26,000 bed spaces. Those will include accommodations in docked cruise ships, public schools, new hotels, and military facilities. In a social media post published Friday, COP30 organizers said accredited participants would soon be able to book accommodations on an online platform.We have observed a disproportionate increase in rental prices, which we attribute to real estate speculation. This should stabilize as the government increases the availability of accommodations, Valter Correia, the special secretary for the event, said in the statement.Plenty of advocates are defending Belem, saying its challenges are minor compared to the significance of hosting the most important annual climate meeting in the worlds largest rainforest. In an article published in Valor Economico newspaper in December, environmentalist Priscilla Santos, cofounder of the Amazonians for Climate Network, said criticism of Belem not only reveals colonialist biases but also undermines an event that could be transformative for the region. Everyone wants to save the Amazon, but no one wants to discuss it in the territory?Meanwhile, worried about their reputation, some property managers are distancing themselves from the speculation. In an Instagram video that went viral, Fabrcio de Menezes compared the daily rental price of an apartment in Belem, charging $21,800 during COP, to the much lower rates of the iconic Jumeirah Burj Al Arab in Dubai, which markets itself as the worlds only seven-star hotel.I hope this is a joke by the owner, he said.Another local property manager, Carlos Netto, said he would never advise a property owner to charge such high prices.Do you think that gringos are clueless? Where in the world is a 20-day rental more expensive than the property? he posted.___The Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APsstandardsfor working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas atAP.org.Fabiano Maisonnave, Associated Press

Sustainability-driven designers including Richard Hutten and Lilian van Daal have contributed to Rethink Softly a project by Rianne Koens dedicated to creating seating that doesn't rely on polyurethane foam.Hutten, van Daal, Koens and British studio Jones & Partners all created foam-free or mostly foam-free chairs and stools for the project, with the successful prototypes being produced and released by Turkish manufacturer Deberenn.Koens, who is both a designer and a circularity consultant, began Rethink Softly to inspire the furniture industry to move away from using polyurethane foam as a padding and structuring material.The Rethink Softly project includes seating designs by Lilian van Daal (top image) and Rianne Koens (above)Koens originally visited Deberenn to do a sustainability assessment focused on waste and recycling but ended up asking the brand and its owner, architect Mustafa Kadioglu, to consider a shift in direction."After he took me through the soft seating factory, I asked the owner to give me half an hour to brainstorm," she told Dezeen."And after half an hour I said: 'I can only shake your hand about waste management. Congratulations on that. But if you want to make a difference in soft seating, you just have to stop using foam'."All the chairs are made with minimal fixings to enable disassemblyThis suggestion was not immediately embraced by Kadioglu, whose brand services the contract market with foam-based sofas, armchairs, task chairs and pouffes."Half of his production facility was filled with foam," said Koens. "He was looking at me like: 'Why? We're using it in such an efficient way, with less waste'. But the whole problem is the material itself."As well as being made from crude oil like all traditional plastic products, foam is considered particularly concerning for environmental sustainability and public health because it is nearly impossible to recycle and high in toxic additives.Richard Hutten's contribution to the Rethink Softly project is the Biota chairTo Koens' surprise, Kadioglu was swayed by her argument and ultimately suggested developing and releasing the Rethink Softly range under the Deberenn brand. Previously, it was a project she was going to undertake herself through her company Otura.The project involved bringing together eight teams of designers and material suppliers, who were given a strict sub-brief based on a material, process or seating type.Several of the investigations did not yield a successful prototype in time including one based on mycelium but five of them did and are going into production.Rianne Koen's Harvest stool creates a good level of warmth through corkHutten, who has long advocated for a ban on plastic, was challenged to make a chair from Wastea a Turkish plant-based leather alternative made from tea waste.The material comes in square sheets and the desire to use it efficiently with minimal wastage informed the chair's design, which sees boxy Wastea segments fixed to the timber frame with six screws.Koens herself wanted to target bar stools, which often include a small amount of foam within an upholstered seat. There, Koens noted, the foam is used both for softness but also warmth, so our legs don't meet cold metal or wood.Koens worked with Lilian van Daal on the Tensil chair, which features stretched fabricFor this reason, Koens chose natural cork for the top of her Harvest stool, as the material retains heat while also having a bit of give.Van Daal was given the brief to pursue one of her specialities, biomimicry, by exploring what lessons about comfort could be drawn from spiderwebs.The resulting chair, titled Tensil, is light and minimal, with a textile seat stretched over a metal frame. But according to Koens, it gives just the right angle and support for comfort.Read: The "knotty problem" of polyurethane foamRounding out the collection are Jones & Partners' Koza chair, with backrests made from 3D-knitted recycled PET bottle yarn in a zero-waste process, and Koens' Reviv chair, made from Dutch brand Planq's Rezign recycled textile veneer.All of the chairs are designed without glues or staples to enable disassembly for renewal or recycling, with Harvest's cork top being held in place only by the stool's legs and the Tensil fabric simply pulled over the frame.These types of chairs would not conventionally use as much foam as, for instance, a modern-day sofa.Jones & Partners' Koza chair gives comfort through 3D knittingBut Koens stresses that this iteration of Rethink Softly was all about targetting the contract market, which she argues should be approached very differently to residential interiors."The clients of Deberenn are mostly projects," she said. "Projects do not need fluffy, bulky soft seating. There we can go very minimalistic. A product giving you enough comfort for 50 minutes is doing a perfect job."She hopes to take on the bigger challenge of domestic seating with the next iteration of Rethink Softly. For this round, she was able to avoid using any bio-based alternative foams, which she thinks are still too expensive to offer a true substitute.Koens' Reviv chair was made using the Rezign veneer by Planq"Many companies are trying now to replicate or to work with alternative foams in the same traditional way we're creating our soft seating now," Koens said. "But if you're going to be much higher in price, you can't compete and it's not a solution."One of the Rethink Softly chairs, Koza, still includes foam in its seat cushion, but Koens admits that this was a compromise after their preferred seat prototype failed.Koens' previous work has included the Otura stackable drawer system, which she created during her time at Design Academy Eindhoven and now produces through her Otura studio.The post Rethink Softly seating creates comfort without foam appeared first on Dezeen.

Medical science constantly seeks innovation, but the most profound breakthroughs often come from the intersection of technology and design. Nanoflowers are one such example, where function and form converge to create an elegant yet powerful tool in wound care and antibiotic treatment. Their intricate structure enhances drug delivery, combats antibiotic resistance, and accelerates healing more effectively than traditional antibiotics and treatments. While nanotechnology has long been a driving force in medicine, the introduction of nanoflowers brings a new level of bio-inspired design thinking that aligns with Yanko Designs vision of intelligent, purposeful aesthetics.What Are Nanoflowers and Their Natural Components?Nanoflowers are tiny, flower-shaped structures made from metal oxides or a combination of materials. They are created through chemical processes such as hydrothermal reactions, which allow them to form their intricate, petal-like designs at the nanoscale.This nanoflower enhances electrospun nanofiber bandages by providing antioxidant, antibacterial, and antibiofilm properties, improving wound healing and infection resistance.Adapted from ACS Applied Bio Materials 2025, DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.4c00788In wound care, nanoflowers play a crucial role in breaking down harmful substances that slow healing. Their unique shape provides a large surface area, which helps them deliver medicine more effectively. This means they can carry drugs to the exact location where they are needed, ensuring better absorption and treatment.The petal-like structure of nanoflowers also helps them attach more securely to infection sites. This allows the medication to stay in place longer, making them more effective than traditional treatments in fighting bacteria and promoting faster healing.Natural Components Used in Nanoflower SynthesisNanoflowers can be synthesized using a variety of natural components, ensuring biocompatibility and environmental sustainability:Plant Extracts: Certain plants help create nanoflowers in an eco-friendly way. These include neem (Azadirachta indica), wild hop (Dodonaea angustifolia), mother of thousands (Kalanchoe daigremontiana), holy basil (Ocimum sanctum), and Indian rennet (Withania coagulans).Enzymes: Scientists use natural enzymes like -amylase to help form ZnO nanoflowers, making them more stable and effective in medical treatments.Amino Acids: Natural amino acids interact with metal ions, such as copper, forming hybrid organic-inorganic nanoflowers with enhanced structural integrity.Proteins: When combined with inorganic components like copper ions, proteins contribute to the stability and enzymatic activity of nanoflowers, making them ideal for biomedical applications.Microbes: Microbes can also help create nanoflowers in a way that is good for the environment. This natural process mimics how nature efficiently builds structures, making it a smart and sustainable method for production.Nanoflowers self-assemble through a bottom-up design process, similar to how architects and product designers refine materials and form to achieve functional efficiency. The synergy between inorganic and organic components creates an intricate framework that enhances their effectiveness, a principle often seen in contemporary industrial design where material choice directly impacts functionality. This self-assembling capability also mirrors the philosophy behind modular designelements that can adapt, optimize, and scale based on need.How Nanoflowers Help Wounds Heal FasterNanoflowers are being researched for their potential applications in treating chronic wounds, such as diabetic ulcers, where traditional treatments struggle to achieve consistent healing. These nanostructures improve wound care through multiple mechanisms:Antibacterial Properties: Nanoflowers, particularly those made from tannic acid and copper(II) phosphate, demonstrate strong antibacterial activity against a broad spectrum of bacteria, including E. coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus. Bacterial infections often complicate the healing process, making these properties crucial in wound care.ROS Scavenging and Oxidative Stress Reduction: Excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) in wounds can delay healing. MnO2-Au nanoflowers have shown superior catalytic activity in decomposing hydrogen peroxide, reducing oxidative stress, and creating a healthier wound environment.Healing Diabetic Wounds with NanoflowersGold-coated MnO nanoflowers help heal diabetic wounds by reducing harmful molecules (ROS), improving oxygen levels, and supporting skin cell growth for faster recovery.Tissue Regeneration: These nanoflowers enhance dermal fibroblast migration and collagen expression, accelerating wound closure and improving tissue quality.Anti-inflammatory Properties: The anti-inflammatory effects of nanoflowers, particularly those composed of tannic acid and copper(II) phosphate, help reduce inflammation, which is a key factor in promoting healing.Smart Drug Delivery Systems: Nanoflowers can be integrated into hydrogel-based wound dressings, allowing for controlled and sustained drug release at the wound site.Biocompatibility and Cost-Effectiveness: Nanoflowers, particularly those made from natural compounds like tannic acid and copper(II) phosphate, are biocompatible and cost-effective, making them strong candidates for widespread clinical use in wound care.Bringing Smart Material Science Into MedicineYanko Design frequently explores the future of smart materials in consumer products, but the same principles apply to medical advancements. The emergence of nanoflowers suggests a future where wound dressings and medical treatments integrate responsive design elements. Imagine a bandage embedded with nanoflowers that releases antibiotics only when bacterial activity is detected, similar to self-healing materials in consumer tech that repair minor damage without external intervention.Material science has long played a role in wearable technology, from breathable fabrics to temperature-regulating textiles. The transition of these ideas into healthcare means nanoflowers could eventually be incorporated into flexible, biocompatible materials that seamlessly integrate into everyday lifeturning treatment into an unobtrusive, natural process.Future Directions in Nanoflower-Based Wound HealingResearchers are exploring innovative ways to integrate nanoflowers into advanced medical applications:Nanoflower-Coated Bandages: Scientists are investigating how bandages embedded with nanoflowers can enhance healing and prevent bacterial infections, including strains like E. coli.Combination Therapies: Future studies may explore combining nanoflowers with nanofibers or lipid nanoparticles to create multifunctional wound care systems.Personalized Medicine: The composition of nanoflowers can be tailored for patient-specific infections, ensuring targeted treatment with reduced side effects.The Future of Nanotechnology and Medical DesignAs nanotechnology advances, the lines between biology, material science, and design will continue to blur. In the same way, that cutting-edge product designs prioritize user experience, nanoflowers are shifting medical treatments toward more targeted, effective, and minimally invasive solutions. Their ability to function in harmony with biological systems hints at a future where healthcare tools are no longer separate interventions but integrated, intelligent elements of the bodys own healing process.This evolution mirrors what Yanko Design has consistently highlightedgood design goes beyond aesthetics. It focuses on creating intuitive, efficient, and forward-thinking solutions. Whether in architecture, consumer electronics, or now, microscopic medical innovations, the principles remain the same: form must enhance function, and technology should work in harmony with nature.Nanoflowers embody this philosophy, offering a glimpse into a future where medicine isnt just about treatmentits designed for efficiency, sustainability, and seamless integration into daily life. Just as we appreciate the design of an exquisitely crafted object, its time to recognize the unseen beauty in medical advancements that harness intelligent design thinking at the molecular level.The post Nanoflowers: A Blooming Revolution in Wound Care and Antibiotic Treatment Through Smart Design first appeared on Yanko Design.