US Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has been demanding an overhaul of a $42.45 billion broadband deployment program, and now his telecom policy director has been chosen to lead the federal agency in charge of the grant money."Congratulations to my Telecom Policy Director, Arielle Roth, for being nominated to lead NTIA," Cruz wrote last night, referring to President Trump's pick to lead the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. Roth's nomination is pending Senate approval.Roth works for the Senate Commerce Committee, which is chaired by Cruz. "Arielle led my legislative and oversight efforts on communications and broadband policy with integrity, creativity, and dedication," Cruz wrote.Read full articleComments

Air pollution can have a cooling effect on the climateCheunghyo/Getty ImagesJames Hansen, the climate scientist best known for alerting the US Congress to global warming in the 1980s, has redoubled his warnings that we are underestimating the climate impact of declining air pollution.Humanity made a bad deal, a Faustian bargain, when we used aerosols to offset almost half of greenhouse gas warming, said Hansen at a briefing hosted by the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network.AdvertisementBut other researchers say this conclusion is based on shaky foundations, and we still dont know how much reductions in air pollution are contributing to global warming. Hansens conclusions are hovering around the top end of what wed consider to be plausible, says Michael Diamond at Florida State University, who wasnt involved with the research.Record spikes in global average temperatures in 2023 and 2024 have spurred debate about whether the pace of global warming is accelerating faster than expected. Rising levels of greenhouse gases and a warming Pacific Ocean drove most of the temperature increase, but other unknown contributors pushed average temperatures even higher than can be explained by those factors alone.Hansen and his colleagues previously linked the accelerating rate of warming with a reduction in air pollution. Now they offer a new analysis arguing that a decline in air pollution can explain the spike in temperatures over the past two years. Aerosols in air pollution both reflect sunlight away from Earth directly and interact with clouds which have also been implicated as a factor in the heat. Unmissable news about our planet delivered straight to your inbox every month.Sign up to newsletterThe researchers focus in particular on the effect of a 2020 regulation that slashed the amount of harmful sulphur used in shipping fuels. That sudden drop in air pollution over the oceans has provided researchers with an unintended experiment that lets them determine the climate effects of aerosols with more precision.Hansen and his colleagues looked at busy shipping corridors in the Pacific Ocean to estimate this effect, measuring the change in solar radiation absorbed by the planet in those areas as air pollution declined. From this, they estimate that the total change in shipping aerosols increased Earths energy imbalance by 0.5 watts per square metre. That is roughly equivalent to the warming effect of a decade of global carbon dioxide emissions at todays levels.That additional warming would be enough to account for the unexplained portion of the heat seen over the past two years, they found. But the implications are broader: it would also mean air pollutions cooling effect has been masking the full extent of greenhouse gases warming effect in other words, the warming experienced to date does not represent the full impact of our emissions.Hansen and his colleagues warn that this means the climate is much more sensitive than expected to rising levels of greenhouse gases. As a result, they argue, the world is more rapidly approaching climate tipping points, such as the slowdown of key Atlantic Ocean currents and the collapse of the West Antarctic ice sheet. To combat this, they say we should more seriously consider how to cool the planet with interventions like solar geoengineering.However, the 0.5 watts per square metre number at the core of the new analysis is far higher than other estimates of the warming effect of the change in shipping emissions, says Tianle Yuan at the University of Maryland Baltimore County. But he says it is not completely implausible.Gavin Schmidt at NASA says the number is very likely an overestimate because it assumes all the change in absorbed sunlight is due to the change in shipping aerosols, rather than other changes like less air pollution from China or natural variability.A change in aerosols may not even be necessary to explain the 2023 spike, says Shiv Priyam Raghuraman at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign he previously found it can be explained by changes in Pacific Ocean temperatures alone. He says more work is needed to reconcile different estimates of the warming effects of aerosols.Journal reference:Environment: Science and Policy for Sustainable Development DOI: 10.1080/00139157.2025.2434494Topics:

Icebergs in GreenlandMichael Baynes Photography/Getty ImagesA research project experimenting with using glass beads to reflect sunlight away from the Arctic has been cancelled after test results suggested it was a threat to the food chain.The Arctic Ice Project had been testing the use of silica beads to increase the reflectivity of young sea ice, helping to preserve it through the Arctic summer.The non-profit scheme, founded in 2007 and based in California, had previously deployed the glass beads at test sites in the

The 2025 Met Gala will be held in New York City on May 5.This year's theme, "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style," explores dandyism and menswear.Some of the co-chairs and committee members include Lewis Hamilton, Pharrell Williams, and Tyla.The 2025 Met Gala is just around the corner.Celebrities, billionaires, and other stars will visit New York City on May 5 to attend the prestigious fundraiser hosted by Anna Wintour, Vogue, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.They'll walk the famed red carpet across the museum's steps, pose for photos, and show off stunning ensembles from some of the world's top designers.This year's ball will honor menswear and Black dandyism with its theme, and the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Pharrell Williams will co-chair the event.Here's a closer look at those details and everything else we know about the coming Met Gala.The 2025 Met Gala themeAs Vogue reported in October, both the Costume Institute's Spring exhibition and the 2025 Met Gala theme will be titled "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style."Both will "take the Black dandy as its subject" and look closely at "the importance of clothing and style to the formation of Black identities in the Atlantic diaspora," Vogue said.The overall theme was inspired by Monica Miller's 2009 book "Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity," while the exhibit will also draw inspiration from Zora Neale Hurston's 1934 essay, "The Characteristics of Negro Expression."Dandyism refers to men of the 18th and 19th centuries who generally idealized feudal values, took great pride in their appearances, and strived to be gentlemen.Black dandyism, however, is more specifically "a strategy and a tool to rethink identity, to reimagine the self in a different context. To really push a boundary especially during the time of enslavement, to really push a boundary on who and what counts as human, even," Miller told Vogue.It also "represents the plight toward becoming behemoths of fashion and culture at large," Tayler Adigun wrote for Ebony.This is the first Costume Institute exhibit to focus on menswear since its "Men in Skirts" display between November and February of 2003.Lewis Hamilton, Pharrell Williams, and everyone else who's involvedThis year, Hamilton, Williams, Colman Domingo, and A$AP Rocky will serve as co-chairs alongside Wintour, while LeBron James will be an honorary chair. This will be the first Met Gala appearance from the basketball legend. Doechii attends the 2025 Grammy Awards. Kevin Mazur/Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy An assortment of big names will also make up a host committee, as the museum has gathered for previous balls. While Vogue hasn't shared many details regarding this group's duties, they're confirmed to attend a special dinner before the gala.The latest committee includes Grammy Award-nominated and winning musicians Doechii, Janelle Mone, Tyla, Usher, Andr 3000, and Audra McDonald.Actors Ayo Edebiri, Spike Lee, Jeremy Pope, and Regina King are also included, as are playwrights Jeremy O. Harris and Branden Jacobs-Jenkins.Film producer Tonya Lewis Lee is on the list alongside fashion designers Dapper Dan, Olivier Rousteing, and Grace Wales Bonner.Writers Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Edward Enninful and artists Rashid Johnson, Jordan Casteel, and Kara Walker also have spots.Finally, athletes Simone Biles, Jonathan Owens, Angel Reese, and Sha'Carri Richardson will be involved.Expect to see a ton of menswear fashion trendsVogue reported on Tuesday that the 2025 Met Gala dress code is titled "Tailored for You." Though not strict the publication said it "invites creative interpretation" the dress code will serve as a guide for attendees to stay on theme.Because the theme largely focuses on menswear and dandyism, Vogue said we can expect to see a variety of suits, men's accessories like pocket squares, and maybe even canes.The event's co-chairs have been listed as examples of people who regularly express the theme in their red-carpet looks. Colman Domingo at the 96th Annual Oscars held at Ovation Hollywood on March 10, 2024, in Los Angeles. Gregg DeGuire/WWD via Getty Images Where to watch the 2025 Met Gala red carpetVogue has yet to share details of where fashion fans can watch the 2025 Met Gala red carpet.That said, the publication usually streams the event on its website and social-media channels. This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

In a study of 777 older people, omega-3 supplements slowed biological aging.Researchers found that taking a gram of omega-3s daily reduced aging by up to 4 months.The effects were strongest when combined with vitamin D supplements and regular exercise.Omega-3 fatty acids nutrients in salmon and chia seeds may keep your body and mind younger for longer, a new study suggests.An international team of scientists, including researchers from Harvard University and the University of Zurich, analyzed clinical trial results 777 elderly Swiss adults to test the potential anti-aging benefits of supplements and exercise.While there's no perfect way to measure biological aging, the researchers used tools that help measure age-related decline in the cells and organs, including factors like brain health and heart health.They looked at participants who underwent one of eight longevity treatments over three years, including exercising and supplementing omega-3s, vitamin D, or both.The researchers found that older adults who consumed a gram of omega-3s every day were biologically younger and healthier than their peers who didn't supplement the nutrient shaving off three to four months of aging during the course of three years.The benefits were even greater in people who also supplemented vitamin D and did at-home exercise at least three times a week for 30 minutes.The results were published February 3 in the journal Nature Aging.Anti-aging treatments don't have to be expensive, experts sayMost of the previous research on longevity and omega-3s has been observational, which means it suggests but does not confirm a link between the nutrient and certain anti-aging benefits.Research has linked omega-3-rich diets to reduced inflammation, better joint health, a lower risk of heart disease and cancer, and a lower risk of dementia.If additional studies pan out, omega-3s could be an attractive, affordable alternative to expensive anti-aging treatments that are currently trendy.Mary Ni Lochlainn, a research fellow in geriatric medicine at King's College London who was not involved in the study, said this latest study should inspire people to try cheaper longevity methods."It adds to the growing evidence that these simple and fairly low-cost interventions are beneficial and, based on this and previous existing research, worth engaging in for adults as they get older," Lochlainn said in a press release.

Makes you wonder who else is left (PlatinumGames)A worrying amount of game directors, including the ones for Bayonetta 3 and Astral Chain, have ditched PlatinumGames, but its not known if theyre joining Hideki Kamiyas new studio or not.Its not hard to feel pessimistic about the future of PlatinumGames. The departure of co-founder and Bayonetta creator Hideki Kamiya in 2023 was shocking but at the end of the day he was still just one man.A year later, though, and around 25 of his colleagues have also jumped ship to join him at his new studio, Clovers, to work on the upcoming kami sequel for Capcom.PlatinumGames itself has never explained exactly who has left and who has stayed, only attempting to assure fans that everything was fine. But now Kamiya himself appears to have confirmed another five departures from the studio, all of whom were prominent directors.In a segment of his newest YouTube video, Kamiya shared footage of what he describes as a former PlatinumGames directors drinking party, insinuating everyone in attendance is no longer employed at the studio.The five figures in question are:Bayonetta 3 director Yusuke MiyataBayonetta Origins: Cereza And The Lost Demon director Abebe TinariAstral Chain director Takahisa TauraMetal Gear Rising: Revengeance director Kenji SaitoAnarchy Reigns director Masaki YamanakaAside from Miyata, those directors were all suspected to have left after they removed references to PlatinumGames from their social media accounts. Its unclear if any of them are now employed at Clovers with Kamiya or are looking for other opportunities elsewhere.Regardless, its a far worse situation than we initially expected, since this means PlatinumGames has lost key people behind all of its most prominent games.More TrendingAs far as we can tell, this only leaves Ryoya Sakabe, the director of the delisted mobile game World Of Demons, and possibly Takahisa Sugiyama, co-director on Babylons Fall. Not exactly Platinums most celebrated talent.Coincidentally, PlatinumGames has also updated its portfolio on its website and, for whatever reason, scrubbed no less than 13 games from it. All thats left are the Bayonetta games, NieR: Automata, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, Astral Chain, Vanquish (whose own director, Shinji Mikami, left in 2010), The Wonderful 101, and the newly announced Ninja Gaiden 4.Some of the removed games make sense. The likes of Transformers Devastation and The Legend Of Korra game have been delisted for years, so perhaps Platinum felt there was no point advertising games people cant buy any more.However, this seems to confirm that the Ultraman inspired superhero title Project G.G. has been cancelled. This was Kamiyas pet project and it was never clear if his departure meant Platinum would continue without its development without him. It looks like the answer is no, though. Guess well never know what that giant superhero looked like (PlatinumGames)Emailgamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below,follow us on Twitter, andsign-up to our newsletter.To submit Inbox letters and Readers Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use ourSubmit Stuff page here.For more stories like this,check our Gaming page.GameCentralSign up for exclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

Nintendo Switch 2 launch wont mean abandoning the original console says execMichael BeckwithPublished February 4, 2025 4:56pmUpdated February 4, 2025 4:56pm Nintendo has overestimated how many people still want a Switch (Nintendo)The president of Nintendo says Switch sales will continue as long as theres demand, but dwindling sales suggest that wont be for long.Its been apparent since last year that Nintendo is winding down support for the original Switch and saving its most exciting games for the Nintendo Switch 2, which is due to launch sometime later this year.Switch owners do have Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Pokmon Legends Z-A to look forward to this year, but those are commonly assumed to be cross-gen releases for the Switch 2 (though insider claims say this might not be the case for the new Pokmon game).The likes of the new Mario Kart and an expected new 3D Mario platformer will no doubt be exclusive to Switch 2. Yet this doesnt mean Nintendo will abandon the original Switch straight away.Nintendo recently shared its financial results for the third quarter of its fiscal year (October 2024 to December 2024). This is the first of these to follow the Switch 2s reveal, although for the time period in question the new consoles remained a secret.When speaking during an earnings call with investors, president Shuntaro Furukawa, via Japanese outlet Sankei, said that the original Switch will still be sold as long as there is demand.Furukawa apparently didnt mention anything about the original Switch continuing to receive new games, but comments he made in 2023 suggested this could be the case.It would make sense for Nintendo to keep supporting the original Switch even after the Switch 2 launches. Not everybody will be able or willing to transition to the newer console and after nearly eight years on the market, the Switch has too big of an audience to completely abandon.Lifetime sales for the Switch now exceed 150.86 million units. As such, it wouldnt be surprising if Nintendo released cross-gen titles that can be played on the original Switch but offer some performance or visual benefits when running on Switch 2.Its certainly going to be interesting to see how much more demand for the original Switch there could be. For the current fiscal year, Nintendo hoped to sell roughly 13.5 million consoles by the end of March 2025, but was forced to trim that forecast to 12.5 million last November, thanks to a 31% drop in sales.It turns out that was still too optimistic as Nintendos latest hardware forecast has cut that estimation down again, to 11 million units. For the first three quarters of the fiscal year (April 2024 to December 2024), it has sold 9.54 million consoles, which is 30% less than what Nintendo managed in the same period the year before.More TrendingIf Nintendo does meet its target, that will put the Switch at roughly 152 million units, which means it still wont quite surpass the Nintendo DS 154.02 million sales to become the second best-selling console ever (first place is the PlayStation 2 at over 160 million).Youd think the dwindling sales would be partially attributed to anticipation for the Switch 2, but Furukawa disagrees. We dont think the impact of refraining from purchasing [because of Switch 2] is that great, he told investors, but didnt provide any alternative explanation.Furukawa also described the year so far as solid, despite the need to revise Nintendos targets. Super Mario Party Jamboree has been the companys best performing game of the fiscal year, having sold an estimated 6.17 million units by the end of December 2024 following its October launch.People are somehow still buying Mario Kart 8 Deluxe too, with an additional 5.38 million units sold. In third place was The Legend Of Zelda: Echoes Of Wisdom at 3.91 million units. Surely everyone owns a copy of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe by now, right? (Nintendo)Emailgamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below,follow us on Twitter, andsign-up to our newsletter.To submit Inbox letters and Readers Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use ourSubmit Stuff page here.For more stories like this,check our Gaming page.GameCentralSign up for exclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

What has four fingers and loves the Fantastic Four? Not an AI-generated image, according to Marvel. Along with todays first trailer for The Fantastic Four: First Steps, the studio also released several very cool, very nostalgic-looking teaser posters which you see a glimpse of above. Eagle-eyed fans noticed, however, that in at least one of the posters, a few of the humans pictured (such as the woman with the camera and the man with the blue flag) have only four fingers, which is usually a surefire sign that something was created with generative artificial intelligence. That is not the case with these posters, however. A Marvel spokesperson confirmed to the Wrap (as well as to io9) that AI was not used in the creation of these new Fantastic Four posters. No other details were revealed. Some fans might be quick to dismiss the denial, especially since Marvel has used generative AI in the past (in the credits of Secret Invasion). But the studio definitely knows lying about it would be worse than actually using AI so we believe it. And even though the denial doesnt explain why those people have four fingers, it could be any number of things, from bad photoshopping, to awkward composition, to physical amputation. Maybe two people with four fingers just so happened to be standing together! Plus, though they may not be perfect down to the last details, the posters are undeniably lovely. The way they capture a certain tone and feel without even using the characters has us very encouraged not just for the movie, but for the rest of the marketing as we approach the July 25 release date. Heres hoping were given more cool posters, more emotional trailers, and finally a movie thats worthy of the Fantastic Four title in a way thats never happened before. Heres the full set. Marvel Studios Marvel Studios Marvel Studios Marvel Studios Heres the excellent official description of the film from Marvel, which opens July 25:Set against the vibrant backdrop of a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world, Marvel Studios The Fantastic Four: First Steps introduces Marvels First FamilyReed Richards/Mister Fantastic (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm/Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm/Human Torch (Joseph Quinn), and Ben Grimm/The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach)as they face their most daunting challenge yet. Forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond, they must defend Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer (Julia Garner). And if Galactus plan to devour the entire planet and everyone on it werent bad enough, it suddenly gets very personal. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

Most of you have an Apple iPhone in your hand or a Mac on your desk. And chances youve got a birthday or a special event coming. If youre thinking of sending out an event invite, you might as well try Apples new Invites app, which launched today. The app almost replaces ad-filled third-party options like Evite and Partiful, at least for Apple users, to corral folks together in the well-coifed, walled garden way. We knew Apple Invites was coming this week. The rumors about whats next from Apple are usually on the money if its loud enough that its circulating the blogs and on Bloomberg, too. Apple describes the Invites app as a tool for creating unique invitations and bringing people together for lifes most exciting moments. Yes, that means celebrating that you finally figured out how to unclog a drain without an expensive phone call to a plumber. Thats something worth celebrating! Most people would melt into a puddle and cry in front of the kitchen sink. But you? You conquered the fear of domesticity alone. You deserve to throw yourself a party. Florence Ion / Gizmodo Florence Ion / Gizmodo Florence Ion / Gizmodo You can create an invite through the browser-based app for Apple Invites, which you log into using your Apple account or the app on a mobile device. I made an event invite through Chrome on my Windows machine, and its about as seamless as using one of those other services I mentioned, but without all the pop-ups and interstitials asking me to attach an Amazon wish list to the event.Pick a name for the event, the date and time, and dont forget to establish a location. Once thats in there, Invites will populate information on the weather outlook for that specific day, and a quick Apple Maps shortcut will be provided so people can see where they need to be. You can select to add a collaborative Apple Music playlist and/or Photos album, which you can pre-populate with pictures to help set the stage for the event. Florence Ion / GizmodoApple Invites on the Web. The iCloud integration for Apple Invites lets you start the invitation on the web and finish it later on the iPhone. If your connection is solid, its instantaneous for all devices pinging the cloud. When youre done setting up the invitation, you can invite people from other platforms to RSVP using a shareable link or from your contacts. I sent the link to some friends and colleagues to see how the RSVP mechanism works. The only person who had trouble with Apple Invites was on a developer account, which required them to log in to see it. Everyone else was able to pop in and leave their reply.The other essential part of Apple Invites is its integration with Apple Intelligence. Any RSVP updates you receive will be bundled into the periodic daily summary on the lock screen. Apple also hopes youll use Image Playground to generate images of yourself as the header imagery for these invitations. As you can imagine, I used it to create a picture of myself with a hard hat on and confetti in the background. Because when youre celebrating the little wins in life, like unclogging a drain, being silly about it with the image generation tool is at least one way to call out the absurdity of what we call life. If you want to use the Apple Invites app, grab it from the App Store or try it on the web at iCloud. Apple notes you must have an iCloud+ subscription to host an event, though anyone can attend.

FBL House / HGMA + Claudia Haguiara ArquiteturaSave this picture!BrazilArchitects: Claudia Haguiara Arquitetura, HGMAAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:450 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2023 PhotographsPhotographs:Christian Maldonado Lead Architect: Cludia Haguiara More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. Located on a corner lot in a tree-lined residential area of So Paulo, the project was based on an existing building: a one-story house from the 1940s, initially planned for demolition due to its state of preservation.Save this picture!On the first visit to the site, the charm of the existing house captivated both the architects and the client, which was enough for a change of plans: it should be partially preserved. Inside the walls, there was a sense that time had stood still. The unpretentious and cozy rooms opened up to a small garden, surrounded by the large canopies of the preserved trees on the sidewalks. Hidden on one of the house's sides, a recently built lap pool.Save this picture!Save this picture!The challenge for the firm was to create a new residence while preserving part of the original house, meeting the program and the clients needs. To achieve this, a longitudinal axis was drawn to divide the preserved portion of the old house from the new construction. A concrete corridor that both separates and integrates the two wings of the house.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The new wing was built with a steel structure and spans three floors, in addition to an observation deck, ensuring spacious, integrated areas with good sunlight, cross-ventilation, and framing views of the trees.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!On the ground floor of the original house, completely restored, are the TV room with a fireplace, the library, and the main kitchen. In the new wing, the living and dining areas, along with a second kitchen, are oriented toward the pool, which now takes center stage. The living room and the pool are connected by a small grandstand.Save this picture!The first floor houses the master suite, and the mezzanine contains the office. On the roof, the space is divided between a pantry, a hot tub, a guest room with a view of a large sibipiruna tree, as well as a garden and a solarium, offering a tranquil retreat with a strong connection to nature. Above the bedroom, the observation deck stands out, providing privileged views of the surroundings.Save this picture!On the ground floor, at the end of the concrete axis, is the annex, which houses the service area. In the same block are the pool lounge and a guest room, completing the functional program of the house.Save this picture!The two wings contrast but complement each other. The original one-story house is marked by white tones, brick textures, roughcast walls, and the warmth of wood in the floors and beams, creating cozy environments with framed views of the garden. The new wing, with its steel structure and black cladding, features cold floors and large integrated spaces that directly engage with the exterior.Save this picture!The project seeks to balance the preservation of the houses history with the pursuit of comfort and modernity, creating a space that respects the past while adapting to the needs and lifestyle of the contemporary world.Project gallerySee allShow lessAbout this officeHGMAOfficeMaterialsMaterials and TagsPublished on February 04, 2025Cite: "FBL House / HGMA + Claudia Haguiara Arquitetura" [Casa FBL / HGMA + Claudia Haguiara Arquitetura] 04 Feb 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1026371/fbl-house-hgma-plus-claudia-haguiara-arquitetura&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream