Blue Ghost captured an Earth "selfie" from its orbit. Firefly AerospaceOn its way to the moon, Firefly Aerospaces Blue Ghost lunar lander has taken its first space pictures as it orbits Earth.The Texas-based company has been sharing the breathtaking videos and images in the weeks since Blue Ghosts launch on January 15. The lander was part of a shared SpaceX ride that also carried the private lunar lander Resilience, built by Japanese company Ispace. Packed with science payloads for NASA, Blue Ghost is taking a long, scenic route to the moonand the new visuals prove just how stunning of a route it is.Blue Ghost captured footage of the Earth eclipsing the sun, as well as other dramatic Blue Marble views of our planet from space. On January 31, it recorded the Earth eclipsing the moon. A "Blue Marble" shot of the Earth Firefly AerospaceEarth Eclipsing the Moon - Blue Ghost Mission 1Watch on The lander is currently in a 25-day Earth orbit. In about four days, Blue Ghost will perform an engine burn that will propel it out of Earths vicinity and start the next phase of its journey to the moon. Until then, were going to do a bunch of payload operations, continue with system checkouts, just make sure everything is precisely tuned, saysWill Coogan, Fireflys Blue Ghost chief engineer, in a video update about the mission.As Blue Ghost progresses, we expect to capture even more breathtaking imagery, Coogan writes in an email to CNNs Taylor Nicioli. Most importantly, well be capturing critical science data for our NASA customers all along the way that will pave the way for a lasting lunar presence and unlock exploration further into our solar system.Firefly also shared the landers first two images of the moon. One of them shows the moon from a distancea tiny white speck in a sea of blackand the other captures the landers hardware with a view of the moon in the background.Fireflys first moon and Blue Marble images captured by our Blue Ghost lunar lander embodies everything this bold, unstoppable team has worked so hard for over the last three years. And were just getting started, Coogan adds to CNN. Blue Ghost's first image of the moon Firefly Aerospace The moon, as seen from the top deck of the Blue Ghost lunar lander Firefly AerospaceThe company also plans to capture a phenomenon called the lunar horizon glow in high definition, reports CNN. Spotted on NASAs Apollo missions and by some robotic spacecraft, this bright, crescent-shaped haze over the lunar surface is thought to be caused by floating dust.After the engine burn, Blue Ghost will orbit the moon for 16 days before starting its descent to Mare Crisium, a basaltic plain on the moons near side. There, itll perform scientific tests and collect samples for around two weeks as part of NASAs Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative. Six NASA payloads are on the flight, per the agency, and all are healthy.Ispaces Resilience lander that started its journey with Blue Ghost still has a few months to go before it reaches the moon, and the company reports that its on schedule.Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday.Filed Under: Astronomy, Moon, NASA, Outer Space, Photography, solar eclipse, Solar System, Space Travel, SpaceX

New ResearchArchaeologists Say Theyve Located Harold IIs Lost Manor HouseA latrine found in Bosham, England, has helped identify the location of the kings long-lost residence, offering new insights into medieval life before the Norman ConquestElla JeffriesStaff ContributorFebruary 4, 2025 2:22 p.m. The Bayeux Tapestry, an 11th-century masterpiece of medieval embroidery, famously narrates the events leading up to and including the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. Public domain via Wikimedia CommonsArchaeologists say theyve finally uncovered the site of the English king Harold IIs long-lost residence, thanks to an unlikely clue: a centuries-old toilet.The manor houses location had been a mystery for years. Now, in a study published inThe Antiquaries Journal, researchers argue that it stood on a site in the village of Bosham, England, thats now home to a private residence. During their studies, they also reanalyzed a latrine that had been discovered at the site in 2006.The latrines presence confirmed to us that this house sits on the site of an elite residence predating the Norman Conquest, says co-author Duncan Wright, an archaeologist at Newcastle University, in a statement. Looking at this vital clue, alongside all our other evidence, it is beyond all reasonable doubt that we have here the location of [Harolds] private power center.Harolds residence is depicted twice in an artwork called the Bayeux Tapestry, a famous 11th-century masterpiece of medieval embroidery that narrates the events surrounding theNorman Conquest of England. The piece shows Harold feasting at his residence before he sets sail for Normandy and again when he returns home.The researchers analyzed the site in Bosham by conducting geophysical surveys, studying historical maps and records, examining existing structures and revisiting discoveries from the 2006 excavation. These techniques revealed the presence of two previously unidentified medieval structures. The researchers also found that the residence was once connected to the nearby Holy Trinity Church, which still stands today.But their breakthrough came from the latrine, which had been built within a larger timber building. Such features, which began appearing in high-status homes around the 10th century, were rare and signified a royal or aristocratic residence.That is absolutely key in identifying a high-status building, Wright tells BBC Radio Sussex, per BBC News Bob Dale. Were as sure as we can be that this is the site of King Harolds residence. You find latrines in other places, but these ones built into grand timber buildings are very much the top end of society.Harold took the throne in January 1066, but he ruled for only nine months. He was killed at the Battle of Hastings on October 14, bringing an end to his conflict with William, Duke of Normandy. By the end of the day, thousands lay dead on the battlefield, and the victorious William was one step nearer to seizing the throne, as English Heritage writes.The rise of Norman power reshaped not just the political structure of England, but also the physical landscape. The remnants of aristocratic centers like Harolds residence offer a rare glimpse into a world that was rapidly disappearing.The Norman Conquest saw a new ruling class supplant an English aristocracy that has left little in the way of physical remains, which makes the discovery at Bosham hugely significant, says co-author Oliver Creighton, an archaeologist at the University of Exeter, in the statement.The Bosham discovery is part of a larger project called Where Power Lies, which examines the origins and development of early aristocratic power centers in medieval England. The researchers have also identified other lordly centers across England, illuminating the landscapes that shaped the elite.Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday.Filed Under: Archaeology, Art, Art History, British History, England, History, Kings, Medieval Ages, Mysteries, New Research, Warfare

Activision said it has raised $1.6 million for LA Fire Relief as a result of gamer purchases of the in-game pack forCall of Duty: Black Ops 6andCall of Duty Warzone.Read More

Zynga said its puzzle RPG Game of Thrones: Legends is hosting The Dragon Egg Hunt, a social-led sweepstakes, powered by Google Maps.Read More

Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero tops 5m global sales | News-in-briefAnime fighting game is first new entry in franchise's Budokai Tenkaichi series in 17 yearsImage credit: Bandai Namco News by Vikki Blake Contributor Published on Feb. 4, 2025 This is a News-in-brief article, our short format linking to an official source for more information. Read more about this story by following the link below:Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero tops 5m global sales

UK declines to extend consumer law to better protect gamers against "disabling" live service games"We are aware of issues relating to the life-span of digital content, including video games," the DCMS saidImage credit: GamesIndustry.biz News by Vikki Blake Contributor Published on Feb. 4, 2025 The UK government has declined tightening consumer laws to better protect UK gamers aggrieved at the sunsetting or "disabling" of live service games.A petition - which was considered in government after it gathered the requisite 10,000+ signatories - asked UK regulators to "update consumer law to prohibit publishers from disabling video games (and related game assets / features) they have already sold without recourse for customers to retain or repair them".However, in response, the British government said there were "no plans to amend UK consumer law on disabling video games", stating: "Those selling games must comply with existing requirements in consumer law and we will continue to monitor this issue"."The Government recognises concerns raised by video games users regarding the operability of purchased products," the statement from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said."We are aware of issues relating to the life-span of digital content, including video games, and we appreciate the concerns of players of some games that have been discontinued. We have no plans to amend existing consumer law on digital obsolescence, but we will monitor this issue and consider the relevant work of the Competition and Market Authority (CMA) on consumer rights and consumer detriment."The response then talked at length about what protections are available via Consumer Rights Act 2015, and Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulators 2008, but noted "there is no requirement in UK law for software companies to support older versions of their products"."There may be occasions where companies make decisions based on the high running costs of maintaining older servers for games with declining user bases," it added.The statement ended on reminding players that The CPRs section of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers (DMCC) Act 2024 is expected to come into effect in April 2025.

The newest Episode for Destiny 2, dubbed Heresy, will be slightly less chatty than usual. In its most recent blog, Bungie revealed "certain voice lines" will not be voiced in-game due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike.Bungie is compensating for this by having subtitles on by default, so players "do not miss any narrative content." In-game activities for Heresy will also will feature an on-screen warning if they have missing voice lines, so players are aware before the activity starts.Voice actors under SAG-AFTRA have been striking for better working conditions and protections from generative AI since July 2024. Discussions between the union and major game studios like WB Games and Insomniac Games have continued after a brief pause for negotiations last October.The SAG-AFTRA strike continuesOther games beyond Destiny 2 have been visibly affected by the ongoing strike. Last year, MiHoYo similarly warned Genshin Impact players some English lines would be unvoiced due to "recording arrangements." Voice actors are technically allowed to continue working on Genshin, but the game's recording company, Formosa Interactive, previously came under fire from SAG-AFTRA, which accused it of trying to bypass strike rules.League of Legends developer Riot was also also pulled into the union's dispute with Formosa. After clarifying it was uninvolved with the company's alleged actions, Riot revealed certain in-game League skins would use previously recorded voiceover work until the strike is resolved.Conversely, Activision Blizzard recast roles for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6's Zombies mode. The game itself is not a struck production, however, Activision may not have signed a daily contract that would have allowed actors to keep working on it.Since the strike started, SAG-AFTRA has managed to make deals with smaller studios and ensure protections for dub actors and indie developers. It's also struck deals with several AI voice companies to ensure actors are "protected and compensated fairly."

Less than half a year after its launch, Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero has sold 5 million copies worldwide.The newest fighting game in the long-running multimedia franchise released in October 2024 for PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X|S. It had already sold 3 million copies on its first day of launch, mostly from North America and Europe."A huge THANKS to our amazing fans for the epic journey," wrote Bandai Namco and Spike Chunsoft. "We truly appreciate your passion and dedication."Sparking was the first new installment in the Dragon Ball Budokai sub-series of fighting games since 2007. According to Circana reporting in November 2024, it's the best-selling Dragon Ball game in North America and one of Bandai Namco's best-selling games ever behind the first Dark Souls and Elden Ring.The game was also one of the Dragon Ball franchise's first major installments to release after creator Akira Toriyama's passing in March 2024.Dragon Ball can't stop, won't stopHow does Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero compare to other recent games? Despite its youth, it's not far off from matching its predecessors' performance.Dragon Ball: Kakarot, which released in 2020, has sold 8 million copies, as of July 2024. The game initially launched on Windows, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, then came to the Nintendo Switch, PS5, and Xbox Series systems in 2021 and 2023, respectively.2018's Dragon Ball FighterZthe last fighting game in the series prior to Sparking!sold 10 million copies by May 2023. It also came to PS5 and the Xbox Series as part of a larger update to the game in February 2024.According to SteamDB, Sparking! is the best-performing game among the three. At launch, it opened to 122,554 concurrent players, well ahead of the respective opens for FighterZ (44,303 players) and Kakarot (25,852 players).Outside its own series, Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero! also joins Mortal Kombat 1 as a recent member of the 5 million copies club.

Apple raised the cost of its monthly AppleCare subscription prices for iPhones by 50 cents, MacRumors reports. The 50 cent price hike applies to both standard AppleCare Plus and AppleCare Plus with Theft and Loss monthly plans for Apples current iPhone lineup. So, for example, the standard AppleCare Plus for the iPhone 16 will cost $10.49 per month instead of $9.99.Apple will also no longer let US customers pay for two years of AppleCare Plus for iPhones as a one-time upfront fee in its physical stores or from the AppleCare menu, according to Bloomberg. Instead, customers will have to subscribe for a monthly plan or an annual plan. Theft and Loss coverage will also be included by default in these recurring plans, increasing the price even more.However, Apple still offers the fixed two-year plans from its online store. You can also get AppleCare Plus without Theft and Loss online as well.Apple has increasingly been increasingly focused on its services and subscriptions business in the past few years.In its last quarter, Apple reported that its services revenue reached an all-time high.

As Twitter continues to flail about under Elon Musk, all eyes are on the newly launched Instagram Threads as a potential replacement. Meta launched Threads on iOS, Android, and the web on July 5th a little bit ahead of schedule.Two days in, Mark Zuckerberg said Threads has registered over 70 million accounts, and its still growing.In an interview about Threads with The Verge, Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri explains why the platform wants to take on Twitter. Obviously, Twitter pioneered the space, Mosseri says. And there are a lot of good offerings out there for public conversations. But just given everything that was going on, we thought there was an opportunity to build something that was open and something that was good for the community that was already using Instagram.Rumors about the new Meta-owned platform were swirling for months, with a March report from Platformer revealing the company was exploring a standalone decentralized social network for sharing text updates. In June, Alex Heath leaked the details of a companywide meeting where the app was shown off and shared the first glimpse at Threads.Threads is Instagrams text-based conversation app where communities come together to discuss everything from the topics you care about today to whatll be trending tomorrow. The app is closely tied to Instagram, meaning youll get to use the same username across both apps as well as quickly follow all of the accounts youve been following on Instagram.HighlightsToday, 12 minutes agoEmma RothThreads now lets you share your custom feedsImage: The VergeThreads will now let you share the custom feeds youve created, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced on Tuesday. This means other users can pin your custom feed to their homepage, giving them access to the same stream of curated content.Threads first rolled out custom feeds in November, which you can use to track your favorite topics or accounts on the platform. This new sharing feature is now rolling out, so it may be a little while before you see it on your Threads app.Read Article >Jan 24Emma RothThreads is offically getting adsIllustration: The VergeYour Threads feed will soon have ads. On Friday, Meta announced that its rolling out a limited, early test of ads in Threads, and the test will happen with a handful of brands in the US and Japan, according to Instagram boss Adam Mosseri.Ads on Threads will appear as images between posts in your home feed. As we learn from this test, we will monitor to see how its going before filling out more broadly, Meta says.Read Article >Jan 23Emma RothThreads now lets you schedule postsImage: The VergeFollowing last months test, Threads will now let everyone schedule posts, Instagram head Adam Mosseri announced on Thursday. You can use the feature by creating a new post, selecting the three-dot menu in the top-left corner, and selecting Schedule.Once you get your post timed up, you can view, delete, or edit it from your drafts folder. Threads will let you schedule your posts up to 75 days in advance, but it wont allow you to schedule replies.Read Article >Dec 19, 2024Barbara KrasnoffHow to reshare Threads posts without quote postingImage: The VergeIn what seems to be a battle between Threads and Bluesky for the hearts and minds of ex-Twitterers, Threads has been adding some interesting new features. The latest is the ability to share photos and videos without including the original post in other words, without quote posting. (Theres a similar feature in X for videos.)There has been some initial pushback on it. A photographer on Threads complained that there will be a small watermark-like credit on the photo, but there wont be a link back to your account.Read Article >Dec 18, 2024Emma RothThreads will let you reshare pictures without the original postImage: The VergeThreads is rolling out a new feature that lets you share someones photos and videos without including the original post. Youll be able to add your own text alongside the reshared media, which will include a credit to the creator, according to Instagram head Adam Mosseri.This is a quick, easy way to add your creative takes to trending images and clips without quote posting, Mosseri says. The original posters username will appear in the top left corner of the photo or video, with a repost counter in the lower left. Threads spokesperson Alec Booker tells The Verge that tapping on the username will show a list of posts using the media, with the original post appearing at the top.Read Article >Dec 17, 2024Chris WelchThreads starts testing scheduled postsImage: The VergeThreads is about to begin testing the ability to schedule posts, according to Instagrams Adam Mosseri. Replies cannot be scheduled, he added, explaining that we want to balance giving people more control to plan their Threads posts while still encouraging real-time conversation.Mosseri also makes sure to note that Instagram has been working on this feature for months. Im choosing to take as a sign that the Instagram chief is fed up with the notion that Bluesky is the motivating factor behind every new improvement that comes to Threads. Last week, Threads introduced curated collections of people to follow, which drew comparisons to Blueskys starter packs.Read Article >Dec 15, 2024Wes DavisInstagrams head says social media needs more context because of AIIllustration by Nick Barclay / The VergeIn a series of Threads posts this afternoon, Instagram head Adam Mosseri says users shouldnt trust images they see online because AI is clearly producing content thats easily mistaken for reality. Because of that, he says users should consider the source, and social platforms should help with that.Our role as internet platforms is to label content generated as AI as best we can, Mosseri writes, but he admits some content will be missed by those labels. Because of that, platforms must also provide context about who is sharing so users can decide how much to trust their content.Read Article >Dec 11, 2024Alex HeathThreads is asking people if it moderates too much.I was just asked to complete a survey at the top of my feed that asked if I thought the app is too aggressive about taking down stuff. This tracks with Metas policy chief recently saying that the company wants to roll back its aggressive content policing.One question from a Threads user survey. Alex Heath / The VergeDec 2, 2024Wes DavisThreads next update is a search feature that finds the post youre looking forThreads now lets you filter searches by date range and profile. Screenshots: Threads iOS appThreads is rolling out a search update globally over the next few weeks that will let users filter searches to a specific profile and within date ranges. The existing search built into Threads has been a basic keyword search to find trending topics, posts, or accounts, with Top and Recent sorting options.The updated version adds a settings icon to the search bar that, when tapped, brings up After date, Before date, and From profile options.Read Article >Nov 26, 2024Wes DavisThreads says 35 million users signed up in NovemberImage: The VergeMetas Threads has accrued over 35 million signups so far in November and is going on three months with more than a million signups a day, Meta spokesperson Alec Booker told The Verge in an email today.20 million of those signups have come since November 14th, as Axios notes. Thats on top of the 15 million that Instagram head Adam Mosseri said it had gathered in the two weeks prior.Read Article >Nov 25, 2024Chris WelchThreads is testing the option to choose your own default feedIllustration: The VergeThreads will now let users decide what feed they want as their default when opening the app. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the news in a post, saying that youll be able to choose between For You, Following, or any custom feed that youve set up. Zuckerbergs post notes that Threads is testing this option and will also different feeds more visible in the app.It took over a year to get here, but Threads is finally doing the obvious thing and allowing people to use the app however they prefer. Hopefully this test expands to all users before long.Read Article >Nov 24, 2024Wes DavisThreads.com shows something now.Meta seemed to have bought the domain earlier this year, sometime after it bought the company that owned it prior to the debut of threads.net, where Metas Twitter competitor lives.Previously, visiting the threads.com URL didnt show anything, but today, it shows... well, an error message. With a Meta 2024 and a Facebook logo.Whats new? Screenshot: Threads.comNov 23, 2024Jay PetersThreads has landscape video now.Saw this news on 9to5Mac. I honestly didnt know landscape video wasnt previously possible.You can see these posts in context here. Screenshot by Jay Peters / The VergeNov 22, 2024Mia SatoThreads is overhauling its search and trending featuresImage: The VergeMeta is promising long-overdue improvements to its X competitor, Threads, including more precise search features and expanded trending topics.First, users will be able to search for posts within a specific date range or from a single account similar to what Xs search allows. Threads is also testing a new trending page in the US that includes additional topics to follow as well as AI-generated summaries of what other users are talking about.Read Article >Nov 21, 2024Jay PetersThreads will now show you replies when youre working on a reply.This seems very useful!Screenshot from the Threads account. Image: MetaNov 21, 2024Jay PetersThreads algorithm will focus more on the people you followIllustration: The VergeWe are rebalancing ranking to prioritize content from people you follow, which will mean less recommended content from accounts you dont follow and more posts from the accounts you do starting today, Threads boss Adam Mosseri announced on Thursday.This is another significant change to Threads since many people started flocking to Bluesky. It lets people default to seeing their Following feed when they open the app and offers lots of customizability, including custom feeds. Threads just yesterday rolled out its take on custom feeds less than a week after it started testing them.Read Article >Nov 20, 2024Jay PetersThreads custom feeds are already rolling outIllustration: The VergeJust five days after Meta started testing custom feeds in Threads, the company is already rolling them out to everyone. With custom feeds, you can track topics and accounts in one feed, making it easier to keep an eye on specific things that matter to you.To make a custom feed, search for a topic, then click on the three dots menu next to the search bar, and then click on the Create new feed option. Custom feeds can also contain information about multiple topics just add a new one from a search or, on desktop, from the three dots menu next to a feed. You can add individual accounts to custom feeds, too, giving you a lot of flexibility on whats contained in that feed.Read Article >Nov 15, 2024Emma RothThreads is testing custom feeds for your favorite topicsImage: The VergeThreads is testing a way to create custom feeds for certain profiles or topics, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced on Friday. The upcoming feature should make it easier to keep tabs on different interests, such as your favorite sports team or even technology-related news.It sounds similar to the custom feeds feature Bluesky rolled out last year but Threads version seems a lot simpler. To create a custom feed, just search and tap into a topic. From there, select the three-dot icon beside the search term and choose create new feed.Read Article >Nov 14, 2024Jay PetersStephen King is taking a stand.King, who might be partially responsible for the original $8 starting price for Elon Musks Twitter Blue (now X Premium), is leaving for Threads. Heres his Threads profile.Nov 14, 2024Jay PetersThreads grew by a Bluesky this month