Is LinkedIn the new TikTok?Short-form video is now the fastest-growing category on LinkedIn, growing at twice the rate of other post formats on the platform. According to LinkedIn, total video viewership surged 36% in the first quarter of 2025.Now, LinkedIn is doubling down on video with new features to boost discovery and engagement. The full-screen vertical video experience, first launched on mobile, is now coming to desktop. Users can tap a video, swipe through more, and explore a new video tab for TikTok-like scrolling.Videos are also getting front-and-center placement on the platform. Now, when you search a topic, relevant videos will appear in a swipeable carousel. A bigger follow button in the full-screen player makes it easier to keep up with creators, and viewers can check out a quick profile snapshot and other videos without leaving the player.For users looking to capitalise on the video push, LinkedIn has also launched nano-learning courses on topics including video hooks, editing, repurposing content, and LinkedIn Live.Across LinkedIn, were seeing our members have widespread success when it comes to posting short-form video, Laura Laurenzetti, executive editor of LinkedIn News tells Fast Company. From small business owners to CEOs to Gen Z creators and more, video on LinkedIn is the new frontier for professional successwhich is why were excited to be rolling out a suite of new tools that make the video creation and viewing experiences on LinkedIn even stronger.While LinkedIn might not be the first place people go to doomscroll, its quickly becoming a powerful tool for creators, entrepreneurs, and businesses. Since March 2024, LinkedIn has been pushing hard to attract video creators, launching a TikTok-style vertical feed filled with career advice, industry news, and other content. The move seems to be paying off with video uploads jumping 34% year-over-year in Q4 2024, according to LinkedIn.LinkedIn creators are also seeing the results. Top executives are jumping in, with CEO video posts rising 23% in the past year. Deeptech VC Alex Leigh recently reported two million impressions a week after just three months posting consistently three times a day on LinkedIn. Last month, content creator Piper Phillips saw 13.8 million views on a video made on her phone in 10 minutes. I missed the opportunity to be an early adopter of TikTok and Reels, she wrote in a post. I do ~not~ intend on making the same mistake for LinkedIn video.

Robinhood said on Tuesday it is rolling back the event contracts that would let users bet on the result of the Super Bowl clash this weekend, after the online brokerage received a request from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).The halt comes just a day after the launch of the product. Robinhood said it was disappointed by the outcome.We are heeding their directive to cease offering these contracts despite the fact that the CFTC has not deemed Kalshis football championship contracts illegal, said Lucas Moskowitz, Robinhoods general counsel.Representatives for Kalshi and the CFTC did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.The products would have allowed the company to tap into the betting mania around one of the most iconic sporting events in the country, as Robinhood looks to expand into segments that are gaining traction with retail investors.The company had rolled out the contracts to 1% of its customers. Those who already placed the trades will get the option to close their positions or take them to resolution, Robinhood said.Event derivatives trading involves buying and selling contracts that let traders speculate on the outcomes of specific events, including elections, economic data releases and policy decisions.Prediction markets and event contracts can be subject to complex regulatory landscapes, said Michael Ashley Schulman, partner and chief investment officer at Running Point Capital Advisors.The CFTC may be concerned that this could be perceived as an active retail betting platform disguised under an investment umbrella, especially since sporting events are much more frequent than presidential elections.These products have enjoyed a warm reception, despite being relatively new and widely seen as high-risk, especially after a U.S. court struck down the CFTCs efforts to block KalshiEXs election betting contracts.Robinhoods derivatives arm is planning to launch a more comprehensive event contracts platform later this year.Niket Nishant and Manya Saini, Reuters

Local practice Studio Vapore has reimagined the Western Academy of Beijing's elementary school library in China, blending elements from children's stories with traditional Chinese architectural motifs.Aiming to encourage curiosity and exploration, Studio Vapore looked to timeless children's literature from around the world for inspiration.Studio Vapore has reimagined an elementary school library in Beijing"From the beginning, we aimed to balance the functional needs of a library with the more aspirational goal of making it a place that nurtures imagination," Studio Vapore founder Erica Borsa told Dezeen. "A truly inspiring library had to be more than a functional space it needed to spark curiosity and wonder.""To bring this vision to life, we wrote an adventure story," she continued. "This narrative became the design's foundation, transforming the space into a three-dimensional storybook where each element contributes to an unfolding journey of discovery."A Tibetan-inspired storytelling tower serves as a visual anchor within the libraryThe design drew on the architectural heritage of China, incorporating traditional roof forms and reinterpreting historical colour palettes.Shades of salmon pink, deep red, dusty blue and muted gold subtly reference the hues of ancient temples and "something reminiscent of a 'faded' Forbidden City".The storytelling tower leads to a suspended netThe library unfolds through a series of themed areas that introduce spatial elements commonly found in classic children's stories, such as labyrinths, caves and forests."As we explored children's literature, we noticed that certain spatial elements often appear," Borsa said. "Building on the library's technical foundation, we sought to make it an immersive environment, weaving in these familiar storytelling elements to shape the design.""No matter how a child feels on a given day, they can find a space that resonates with them," she continued.A temple hut with a cone-shaped roof rises above the bookshelvesAt the heart of the library stands a Tibetan-informed storytelling tower, which serves as a visual anchor and conceptual landmark. Rising from an elevated reading platform, the tower leads to a suspended net for informal gatherings."The idea of the tower emerged naturally as we shaped the space," Borsa explained. "We introduced an elevated platform, and as we designed the staircase leading to it, the structure took on the presence of a towera guiding element within the library.""Much like a lighthouse in a story, it becomes a reference point, something always visible, helping children orient themselves while immersing themselves in their own literary adventures," she continued.Read: MAB3 and Znite create forest of books for a Brazilian libraryA "labyrinth" of modular, circular bookshelves create semi-private zones for independent reading and small group discussions. Rising above them, a temple hut with a cone-shaped roof offers an enclosed space for reading.Located on opposite ends of the library, the bamboo forest and village-themed area are lined with books and feature reading nooks at varying heights, including caves and circular pods.The modular, circular bookshelves create semi-private zonesWooden flooring and accents bring a sense of warmth to the space while a steel spiral staircase leading to the second-floor design classrooms adds a tactile contrast.Throughout the library, interactive features such as whispering tubes, periscopes and hidden crystals incorporate play and encourage discovery.The library features reading nooks at varying heights"The hidden crystals near the windows cast small rainbows on the floor when the light hits them just right," Borsa said."We loved the idea that a child might notice one by chance, wonder where it came from, and start looking for the source turning a simple walk through the library into a little discovery."A spiral staircase leads to the second-floor design classroomsIn order to balance quiet study areas with interactive social spaces, the studio collaborated with Delhom Acoustics to integrate acoustic design components. Ceiling panels and recycled felt panels concealing sound-absorbing wool were strategically placed to reduce noise levels.Founded by Borsa in 2021, Studio Vapore is a Beijing-based studio whose works range from architectural and interior projects to product and graphic design.Recent library projects featured on Dezeen include the Korean Cultural Center New York library designed by Studio Empathy and Praxes, and a library wrapped in orange ombre glass with white script by Snhetta.The photography is by Wu JianQuan.The post Studio Vapore creates children's story-informed library for Beijing school appeared first on Dezeen.

Is the Zenbook A14 ASUS equivalent to the MacBook Air? Well, kinda...

Pandemics Simplified: A Toy Models Take on COVID-19 0 like February 5, 2025Share this postAuthor(s): Maxime Jabarian Originally published on Towards AI. This member-only story is on us. Upgrade to access all of Medium.SourceIn this post, Ill take you on a journey into the world of infectious disease modeling, focusing on a visually engaging SEIR (Susceptible-Exposed-Infected-Recovered) simulation I built using Python. This project is not just a technical exercise its a way to understand the complexities of epidemic dynamics and how interventions, like vaccination, can fundamentally reshape the outcome of a pandemic. Lets dive in and see how this approach makes the abstract numbers behind epidemiology come alive.If youre not a member you can read it here.Building this simulation wasnt just an academic exercise for me. Its about creating something that feels tangible, something that makes the complex dynamics of disease spread accessible to anyone. The combination of animation and real-time plotting turns abstract equations into an experience you can see and feel.Made by Author: Timelapse simulationIf youre like me, youve probably looked at countless pandemic graphs over the past few years. But numbers and lines on a graph can feel detached, almost sterile. So I searched for a way to make it more dynamic rather than just reading some statistics. Thats where SEIR models come in, birth and death are Read the full blog for free on Medium.Join thousands of data leaders on the AI newsletter. Join over 80,000 subscribers and keep up to date with the latest developments in AI. From research to projects and ideas. If you are building an AI startup, an AI-related product, or a service, we invite you to consider becoming asponsor. Published via Towards AITowards AI - Medium Share this post

Feb 05, 2025Ravie LakshmananVulnerability / Software SecurityThe U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) on Tuesday added four security flaws to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, citing evidence of active exploitation in the wild.The list of vulnerabilities is as follows -CVE-2024-45195 (CVSS score: 7.5/9.8) - A forced browsing vulnerability in Apache OFBiz that allows a remote attacker to obtain unauthorized access and execute arbitrary code on the server (Fixed in September 2024)CVE-2024-29059 (CVSS score: 7.5) - An information disclosure vulnerability in Microsoft .NET Framework that could expose the ObjRef URI and lead to remote code execution (Fixed in March 2024)CVE-2018-9276 (CVSS score: 7.2) - An operating system command injection vulnerability in Paessler PRTG Network Monitor that allows an attacker with administrative privileges to execute commands via the PRTG System Administrator web console (Fixed in April 2018)CVE-2018-19410 (CVSS score: 9.8) - A local file inclusion vulnerability in Paessler PRTG Network Monitor that allows a remote, unauthenticated attacker to create users with read-write privileges (Fixed in April 2018)Although these shortcomings have since been addressed by the respective vendors, there are currently no public reports about how they may have been exploited in real-world attacks.Federal Civilian Executive Branch (FCEB) agencies have been urged to apply the necessary fixes by February 25, 2025, to safeguard against active threats.Found this article interesting? Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post.SHARE

Looking forthe most recentMini Crossword answer?Click here for today's Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.If you know your skirt lengths, you'll do OK on the NYT Mini Crosswordtoday. Helps to know a French painter, an NBA team and a famous Christmas movie too. Need some more help with today's Mini Crossword? Read on. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.The Mini Crossword is just one of many games in the Times' games collection. If you're looking for today's Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visitCNET's NYT puzzle hints page.Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini CrosswordLet's get at those Mini Crossword clues and answers. The completed NYT Mini Crossword puzzle for Feb. 5, 2025. NYT/Screenshot by CNETMini across clues and answers1A clue: Facebook's parent companyAnswer: META5A clue: Full-length skirts ... and a morning hour read backwardAnswer: MAXIS6A clue: Written with penAnswer: ININK7A clue: N.B.A. team that nearly renamed itself the Swamp Dragons in the 1990sAnswer: NETS8A clue: "___ a Wonderful Life"Answer: ITSMini down clues and answers1D clue: French modernist painter and a morning hour read backwardAnswer: MANET2D clue: What lighted signs mark in theatersAnswer: EXITS3D clue: Altoids containersAnswer: TINS4D clue: Pose a questionAnswer: ASK5D clue: Short skirtAnswer: MINIHow to play more Mini CrosswordsThe New York Times Games section offers a large number of online games, but only some of them are free for all to play. You can play the current day's Mini Crossword for free, but you'll need a subscription to the Times Games section to play older puzzles from the archives.

Learning about your genetics and ancestry is easier than ever. All you need to do is choose from the many DNA ancestry tests available online, receive your kit and send back the required DNA samples. The last step is a short wait for your results to arrive digitally. A DNA test allows you to learn more about your heritage, health, genetic conditions, family history and potential genetic matches that may connect you with long-lost relatives.We tested popular DNA testing services, paying close attention to their prices, reputations, privacy policies, methodologies and the information the results offer. Here are the best DNA tests you can try from the comfort of your own home. Watch this: Here's how genetic genealogist CeCe Moore finds potential criminal suspects 07:39 Editor's note: Since this article was published, 23andMe has experienced a data breach, subsequent lawsuit, board members resigning and layoffs amidst financial struggles, but you can delete your account and data. You can also read more about the brand's current privacy and security policy here. Our Picks Best DNA test for historical research AncestryDNA View details $99 at Ancestry View details Best DNA test for intermediate users FamilyTreeDNA View details $79 at FamilyTreeDNA View details Best DNA test for beginners 23andMe View details $199 at 23andMe View details Table of Contents What is the best DNA test overall?Since DNA testing is personal to everyone, the best test overall will depend on your preferences and reason for wanting a DNA test. We evaluated the following tests based on price, offerings, methodologies and more, but it's important to do your due diligence to research a company's current policies to make sure they align with your needs.Read more: Ancestry vs. 23andMe: Which DNA Testing Kit is Best for Tracing Your Family History? Best DNA tests of 2025 Photo Gallery 1/1 $99 at Ancestry $99 at Amazon Pros Access to genetic counseling resources Next-generation sequencing service for screening for heart disease, some cancers and blood disorders You can download your full DNA results profile You can upload the raw data into other tools Partnership with FamilySearch.org, a genealogical records site run by the Mormon church Cons Privacy information not as granular as others The results aren't diagnostic Not FDA approved $99 at Ancestry $99 at Amazon AncestryDNA's service is particularly well suited for leveraging an introductory DNA analysis into deep historical research to build out a family tree. The basic DNA kit serviceprovides you with an "ethnicity estimate" derived from its proprietary sequencing techniques. It's noteworthy that the company's genetic testing, which is outsourced to Quest Diagnostics, is distinct from that of most other companies, which use paternal Y chromosome and/or maternal mitochondrial DNA methodologies, and less is known about the particular criteria it uses.AncestryDNA says its database contains more than 18 million profiles, making it the largest of all the DNA test kit services. The company also maintains a powerful tool for searching through hundreds of historical document databases, but any substantive research will quickly bring you to a paywall.An entry-level membership provides access to more than 6 billion records in the US and includes a free two-week trial. The World Explorer membership broadens your access to the company's 27 billion international records. The All Access tier includes unlimited access to Ancestry's historical and contemporary database of more than 15,000 newspapers and military records from around the world. $79 at FamilyTreeDNA FamilyTreeDNA offers all three types of DNA tests: autosomal DNA, Y-DNA and mtDNA. It's the sole company to own and operate its own testing facility, The Houston-based Gene-by-Gene genetic lab.The user interface is a bit more complicated than what you'll find on other sites, but FamilyTreeDNA provides the most complete suite of introductory tools of any provider we tested. For each type of test, you're presented with matches, a chromosome browser, migration maps, haplogroups and connections to ancestral reference populations, information about mutations and a link that lets you download your raw data.The company's entry-level Family Finder package costs $79. The test results provide information about your ethnic and geographic origins, identify potential relatives and offer access to the company's massive DNA database. There is also a Maternal Ancestry test for $159, Paternal Ancestry for $199 and a Paternal Ancestry in Great Detail package for $449.

Image: NintendoNintendo has released its first update for the battle royale Switch Online racer F-Zero 99. This bumps the game up to Version 1.5.6 and comes with a whole host of fixes and improvements. Here's the full rundown, courtesy of Nintendo's support page:Latest update: Ver. 1.5.6 (Released February 4, 2025)Fixed shortcuts that utilized a bugFixed the following issues for MUTE CITY II, WHITE LAND II, MIRROR WHITE LAND II, MIRROR MUTE CITY III, and DEATH WIND + WHITE LAND Secret Track.Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube795kWatch on YouTube Fixed an issue where a player was considered to have finished the race if their machine went off course on the final lap and crashed out near the finish line.Fixed an issue that allowed a player to skip a lap if they went off course near the finish line and used Super Boost just before landing on the ground off course.Fixed an issue where Pilot Cards were not correctly showing number of winsFixed an issue where the number of wins displayed on the Pilot Card before the race started was actually lower than the "99+" number that should have been displayed.This was a display issue only. Actual number of wins was being saved correctly.Fixed an issue where the FIRE STINGRAY machine disappearsFixed an issue where the FIRE STINGRAY machine disappears when you set both the decal obtainable with Finish the Mirror Queen League and the machine color obtainable with Race in 10 F-ZERO 99 races with any machine and press the L Button during the race.Fixed an issue where weekend events continue past their durationFixed an issue that caused weekend events to continue past their duration if the software was not closed.Other IssuesFixed issues to make for a more pleasant gaming experience.This latest update follows on from an update in December last year, which added the Frozen Tour event and more: Return to the track in the 'Frozen Tour'Will you be checking out this latest update? Let us know in the comments.[source en-americas-support.nintendo.com]Related GamesSee AlsoShare:00 Liam is a news writer and reviewer for Nintendo Life and Pure Xbox. He's been writing about games for more than 15 years and is a lifelong fan of Mario and Master Chief. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...Related ArticlesEx-PlayStation Boss On Switch 2's Name: Nintendo Created So Much "Brand Value""Why would you mess with that?"Nintendo Reconfirms Release Windows For Major Upcoming Switch Games... and the Switch 2!Rumour: Switch 2 Game Cases Might Take Up More Space On Your ShelfHere's how they could compare to the current Switch casesJapan's Switch eShop Will Soon No Longer Accept Overseas Payment MethodsChange will come into effect in March

Hitachi Ventures secured $400 million for a fourth fund, the firm exclusively told TechCrunch.The size of the new fund is a vote of confidence in a range of deep tech verticals. The corporate VCs sprawling portfolio mimics that of its limited partners, including energy, manufacturing, biotech, and AI.We are open to other breakthrough opportunities, said managing director and CEO Stefan Gabriel. Theres a lot around quantum, nuclear, life science, space tech. Not too broad we have a clear view on what excites us in these areas.Hitachi Ventures will continue to focus on Series A investments. That is still the sweet spot, said partner Gayathri Radhakrishnan. Its first investments in a company will average around $5 million, and the fund is reserving around 55% of its capital for follow-on opportunities, partner and CFO Wolfgang Seibold said.Though it takes its name from the Japanese conglomerate, Munich-based Hitachi Ventures is a bit of an outlier in the corporate VC world. Its structured more like a typical venture fund, Gabriel said, with Hitachi serving as the solo LP. The investment committee is made up of the firms partners, and they do not have to run possible investments past its corporate affiliate, said Pete Bastien, partner and president of the firms U.S. operations.But the fund still works closely with Hitachi, he added, in part to help portfolio companies understand what a potential future customer is looking for. Like other CVCs, Hitachi Ventures doesnt promise that it can land deals for portfolio companies, but it can make key introductions.We can put you in front of Hitachi, but your product needs to sell itself, Radhakrishnan said.And like other CVCs, Hitachi Ventures serves as a scout, Radhakrishnan said, scouring through pitches to find smaller companies and technologies that fits its corporate partners businesses.Hitachi Ventures previous investments span a range of verticals. On the energy side, it has invested in battery recycler Ascend Elements, fusion startup Thea Energy, and Wase, a wastewater-to-energy company. Its AI investments have tended toward workplace applications, including Ema, which focuses on enterprise workflows; Strikeready, which covers cybersecurity; and Makersite, which uses AI to improve supply chains.