US destroyers operating in the Red Sea last year defeated Houthi drones without firing a shot.The warships used "non-kinetic" capabilities to defeat the threat, per documents reviewed by BI.The Navy said the incidents demonstrated a new way for its warships to battle enemy threats.US Navy destroyers fended off Houthi drones in the Red Sea last year without firing a shot, demonstrating alternative ways for warships to battle these threats.Documents obtained by Business Insider detail multiple incidents throughout the Navy's counter-Houthi mission in which US destroyers used "non-kinetic" capabilities, engagement methods not dependent on munitions and physical destruction, to defeat the hostile drones launched by the Iran-backed Yemeni rebels.Between November 27, 2023, and March 9, 2024, sailors aboard the USS Mason "successfully executed the engagements" of a drone using undefined "non-kinetic effects" to intercept the uncrewed system. These actions prevented damage to Navy and coalition warships and commercial vessels, one of the documents said.And on February 19, 2024, sailors aboard USS Gravely used an unspecified "Non-Kinetic Weapon system" in multiple successful non-kinetic engagements against drones in combat, according to another document.It said that these non-kinetic engagements are "not only proving non-kinetic weapon systems work underway, but changing the way the Surface Navy fights wars at sea." The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Gravely sails in the Red Sea in June 2024. US Navy photo The document said that these engagements will be used to train the rest of the Navy on how to use non-kinetic weapon systems successfully. The Mason and Gravely spent months deployed to the Middle East last year as part of the US military's counter-Houthi mission.Navy officials declined to comment on the non-kinetic capabilities of US warships, but destroyers have several ways to defeat enemy drones without firing a shot. A kinetic means of interception would be something like launching a surface-to-air missile at the drone, hitting it with the ship's close-in weapons system, or blasting it out of the sky with rounds from a five-inch deck gun.Bryan Clark, a former Navy officer and defense analyst at the Hudson Institute, explained to BI that US destroyers are equipped with the AN/SLQ-32 electronic warfare suite, commonly referred to as Slick-32.The SLQ-32 is a destroyer's electronic ears, capable of detecting the transmissions of a foreign jet or identifying the seeker on an incoming missile. Through its electronic attack systems, the SLQ-32 can also blast electronic noise at frequencies used by a missile guidance system to confuse it.A warship's electronic warfare systems also include the Ship's Signal Exploitation Equipment (SSEE) system, an information warfare/electronic warfare and tactical cryptologic signals intelligence system. This system has documented electronic warfare non-kinetic capabilities. USS Gravely launches Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles in the Red Sea in January 2024. US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jonathan Word The documents BI obtained showed that the sailors from the Mason and Gravely who received combat awards for their roles in defeating the Houthi drones during the non-kinetic engagements worked with the SSEE.Electronic detection and jamming have long been part of the Navy's doctrine, but US warships had never faced as intense a drone threat as the one brought on by the Houthis. American forces have eliminated nearly 500 drones launched by the rebels since they first started their attacks against ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden in October 2023."This is really the first time we've seen airborne drones used in anti-ship attacks against US and allied navies," Clark said.Proving the effectiveness of non-kinetic capabilities is significant for the Navy. Not only are these solutions much cheaper than taking out drones with surface-to-air missiles, but they also spare a ship from depleting its magazine, requiring it to leave the battlespace to rearm. This is critical to sustaining warships during a high-tempo operating environment like the Houthi conflict.Clark said that these non-kinetic engagements underscore how the Navy has developed a better sense of how to match a warship's defensive systems with threats that it's facing one of many lessons the sea service is taking away from the Houthi conflict.

This NFL season has been bad for sportsbooks, mostly because gamblers kept winning.Betting favorites largely came out on top during the season.In Super Bowl 2025, an Eagles win against the Chiefs in a high-scoring game could hit sportsbooks' revenue.Americans are expected to legally bet $1.4 billion on the Super Bowl this year, but the game might not be a windfall for sports-betting companies.This NFL season was pretty bad for sportsbooks, mostly because gamblers kept winning. Betting favorites largely came out on top during the season, particularly in December.Casual bettors tend to put their money on the favorites, so sports betting companies had to pay out."When favorites win, the public usually wins," Chad Beynon, senior analyst at Macquarie, told Business Insider. "So in December, a lot of people won money."Take the final "Monday Night Football" game of the season between the Detroit Lions and the San Francisco 49ers. The Lions were favorites to win in almost every bet on the December 30 game, analysts at MoffettNathanson pointed out. Win they did. The final score of 40-34 also covered both bets on the 3.5-point spread and the over of 50.5 total points in the game, per MoffettNathanson."This MNF game is one of the most glaring examples of unfavorable sports outcomes, with almost every prop bet along with the game lines of the Lions as favorites and the over on total points all hitting," MoffettNathanson wrote in a January report.FanDuel owner Flutter said on January 7 that it expected US revenue for 2024 to be about $370 million lower because of this "period of very unfavorable US sports results.""The 2024/2025 NFL season to date has been the most customer friendly since the launch of online sports betting with the highest rate of favorites winning in nearly 20 years," Flutter wrote in the announcement.Some analysts, including Macquarie, also lowered their financial forecasts for publicly traded sports betting operators due to the very bad month.The Eagles are favorites to win the Super BowlSo, what does all this mean for the Super Bowl?The Super Bowl is the most bet-on event of the year. It accounts for nearly 1% of the annual amount wagered in the industry, known as handle, according to estimates from the gambling industry research firm Eilers and Krejcik Gaming.Nearly 80% of DraftKings Super Bowl bettors are expecting it to be a high-scoring game with over 48.5 points. And they're leaning toward the Philadelphia Eagles to beat the Kansas City Chiefs, with 55% betting on an Eagles win. That's per DraftKings as of Thursday afternoon."A bad outcome would be lots of points and the Eagles winning," Beynon explained.If the Eagles win in a high-scoring game, there are also lots of other proposition bets will Travis Kelce score a touchdown? Will Jalen Hurts throw for 250 yards? that could compound how "bad" the outcome actually is for US sportsbooks.Betting operators are also hoping for an exciting game that people will stay engaged in. With in-play betting, people can place bets into the fourth quarter."You want an entertaining game," Beynon said. "You want people to tune in until the end."The best-case scenario for sportsbooks as of now is a Chiefs win with under a 48-point total score.That said, the Super Bowl is a huge opportunity the biggest opportunity of the year for sports betting to bring in casual bettors and try to keep them around. Sportsbooks are investing in marketing and promotions around the game. FanDuel, for example, is running a TV ad.To that end, it's not a long-term threat to the business for gamblers to win every once in a while.

Looking for a way to pass the time on a long shift? We've got you covered with the best games you can play while working, but don't worry we won't tell your boss (Disclaimer - we are not telling you to do this)Tech18:47, 06 Feb 2025Go on, sneak in a quick bit of Football Manager (stock)(Image: Getty Images)If you've ever found yourself clock-watching or daydreaming about playing video games during the workday, you're not alone. If you work from home, on a machine that's your own, there might even be games that are literally an errant click away.Sadly, it's just not feasible to dodge roll mid-meeting in Elden Ring, or land those headshots in between tasks in Call of Duty, but some games are ideal for playing at your desk when you have a minute or five. After all, Daily Star is the home of fun.And, while we won't tell your boss, do try and keep this list our little secret, yeah? We'd hate to have to explain to our bosses why we're 12 seasons into taking Southend United to glory and therefore haven't written any stories.In essence, the games on our list are playable on your work computer and don't require a whole deal of concentration from moment to moment.You can keep them open in the background, and check in every now and again, but you don't need super quick reflexes to have fun.Without further ado, here are our picks (but you're responsible for your own actions).Football Manager 2024 is still the current version(Image: SEGA)We're still waiting for the next game in the series after it was delayed, but the way in which its days progress in a turn-like structure makes it an easy recommendation for this list.Got two minutes? Set your training schedule. Got five minutes? Maybe you can squeeze a match in. The meeting was cancelled so you've got time to spare? Get scouting for the next transfer window.The challenge with Football Manager, as it is with so many other games on this list, is that it's hard to stop one more day turns into one more match, which turns into one more month and then one more transfer window and so on.Balatro is fiendishly addictive(Image: LocalThunk/Playstack)Don't let Balatro's lo-fi visual style fool you this game has claimed untold hours from players since it launched last year.A roguelike deck-builder based around poker, you don't need to know anything about the genre or poker to get sucked into its loop of scoring points and tweaking your deck with more and more surprising 'Joker' cards and their unique abilities.The fact it can run on pretty much any computer is the cherry on top.The satisfaction of knowing all of this came from a single settler is immeasurableAnother turn-based game that lets you go at your own pace (unless you're in a multiplayer match), Civilization 7 is just as addictive as its predecessors but look how good it looks!It almost feels like taking a moment in between emails to marvel at your Civilization should be featured in some productivity manual somewhere, such is the sense of fleeting accomplishment before the barbarians are at the gates.Still, Civilization 7 will keep you playing for hours so maybe stick to just one turn each time, eh? Check out our review for more.Slay The Spire is an indie classic(Image: Mega Crit)Just like Balatro, Slay The Spire's simple visuals hide the time-consuming tangle of systems, risks, and rewards that lie underneath.Play cards to deal damage and battle foes, and then add new cards as you go. It's simple, yes, but with multiple characters with their own playstyles, surprise encounters each trip, and a huge number of permutations, Slay The Spire is indie royalty for a reason.Marvel Snap is so good it's almost criminal(Image: Second Dinner Studios, Inc.)If you're already playing Marvel Snap, you'll know how simple the concept is: Play your cards to accumulate higher power levels than your rivals at two out of three locations.It's never quite that simple though, with a huge library of cards with fantastical abilities, and ever-shifting locations that mean no two games are the same.It plays great on your phone or tablet, but the PC version is dangerously easy to keep open in the background of your working day.Into The Breach is one of the best strategy games of the last decade(Image: Subset Games)Into The Breach might sound like something you say when you first log into your machine, but this tricky strategy game is a fantastic brain teaser.You take control of a trio of hulking mechs, tasked with protecting cities from Godzilla-esque bugs and monsters. What's neat is that you can see what they're about to do before they do it, so you can do things like nudge them into each other, or set traps.It's a tiny game, too, taking up just over 500 MB on PC, and it'll run just about anywhere.Teamfight Tactics shares its characters with League of Legends(Image: Riot Games)Ok, this one is a tad more involved than others on this list, but if you enjoyed Arcane it's well worth a look.The idea is to pick a bunch of League of Legends characters and watch as your team fights another player's team until only one is left standing. You cycle through opponents, spending resources to upgrade your characters as you go. It's less full-on than League of Legends proper, which can get hyper-competitive.Article continues belowFor the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.

Venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz recently made the interesting decision to hire Daniel Penny, the former U.S. Marine who is mostly known for having choked an unhoused man who was acting erratically on the New York City subway in 2023. Now, the company is trying to explain to investors why Penny seemed like a good hire, given the fact that his most noteworthy accomplishment is having put a man in a fatal chokehold. The VC recently announced that they had recruited Penny to their American Dynamism fund, which invests in national defense, public safety, and aerospace companies. He will learn the business of investing and he will work to support our portfolio companies, said David Ulevitch, an a16z general partner, in a note sent to employees earlier this week. I believe, as I know many of you do, that Daniel acted with courage in a tough situation, he wrote. He was acquitted of all charges. Beyond that, it has always been our policy to evaluate the entire person and not judge them for the worst moment in their entire life. On Thursday, the New York Times reported on a memo that a16z had circulated to its investors, which attempted to explain why they thought Penny was a necessary hire. Pennys military veteran experience can be helpful in continuing to build these relationships, and many of our public safety and defense founders and partners have shared a similar sentiment, the memo reportedly said. Again, the memo was authored by Ulevitch. The memo further states that a16z is a huge investor in public safety products and companies and that, as result, we spend a lot of time with active-duty military, veterans, chiefs of police, sheriffs; these relationships are critical to the success of our companies. The implication appears to be that a16z thinks cops like Penny for what he did, and thus, hiring Penny will make cops like the firm. Gizmodo reached out to Andreessen Horowitz for comment. The encounter between Penny and 30-year-old Jordan Neely took place in May of 2023 when Neely boarded an F train in Manhattan and began screaming at the cars other passengers. Pennys response was to approach the man, put him in a chokehold, and then keep him in said chokehold for a period of six minutes, not long after which the man died. The New York City medical examiners office later declared Neelys death was the result of compression of the neck.I had him pretty good, Penny could be heard to say in footage from a cops body camera. I was in the Marines. Penny was eventually arrested for his role in Neelys death and prosecutors subsequently charged him with criminally negligent homicide and second-degree manslaughter. During the trial, Pennys defense brought in a forensic pathologist who claimed that Neely hadnt died from being choked but from a combination of his schizophrenia, synthetic marijuana, sickle cell trait and the struggle from being in Pennys restraint, NBC previously reported. The NYC medical examiner who conducted the original autopsy subsequently dismissed these claims, alleging in court that there are no alternative reasonable explanations for Neelys death and that the defenses suggestions were so improbable that it stands shoulder to shoulder with impossibility. A jury acquitted Penny of the charge of negligent homicide in December.

When we talk about goats, were not talking about the kind you trot out to the grass to eat before it turns into dry fire kindling. Were talking about the GOATs, the greatest of all time. Specifically, the Nvidia Shield TV, one of Google TVswhat used to be Android TVslongest-running set-top boxes. People loved the heck out of this streaming device when it launched in 2015. The 2019 re-release wasnt a bad get, either, and now its getting an update two years after sitting dormant. We all love the Shield TV because of its enduring nature. Shield Experience 9.2 has started rolling out to Shield TV devices this week. The set-top box last received this kind of update infusion in late 2022. That update brought the software nearly up to scale with the Android version it was running, at least compared to the rest of the Google TV devices in the ecosystem. This update is just as hearty. It has many bug fixes, most fixing crashing apps, windows, and codecs. The update adds a feature that matches audio content when using a USB DAC (digital-to-analog converter) and a beta feature that helps smooth out frame rates. There is also added support for AURO-3D, a type of spatial sound available via HDMI. Nvidia notes one caveat: the update will remove the Shield TV from your Google Home network. Instructions are provided for restoring it. Again, this emphasizes that the Shield TV is still for intermediate tinkerers who dont mind a workaround to make things run. The Shield TV has long been popular among home media enthusiasts. In its earlier heydays, it was often the streaming box that got the most attention since it was more malleable than what Google was offering with its Chromecasts of the past few generations. As Google focused on bringing its streaming software natively on more TVs, the Shield TV remained the choice for users who wanted complete control over their home media networks the Android way. Its nice to see the Shield TV getting this kind of support ten years afterits initial launch. Most Android-based products do not last this long. You can now find plenty of used Shield TVs on eBay for between $85 and $190.

Monfort Suites Royal Multi-family Housing Complex / Concreta Gestin Urbana S.A.S. + TRACO Estudio de Arquitectura + Julian GmezSave this picture! Jose Luis CanoArchitects: AreaArea of this architecture projectArea:193750 ftYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2022 PhotographsPhotographs:Jose Luis Cano Lead Architects: Arq.Juan Carlos Bohrquez, Arq. Javier Romero vila, Arq. Julin Gmez More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. In the Santa Brbara neighborhood south of the historic center of Bogot, the Beln hermitage and the adjacent seminary were built at the beginning of the 20th century, where the community of Montfortian Fathers have been exercising a social and missionary role ever since. The multi-family housing complex Montfort Suites is located on a 4,000 m lot in a block delimited by Carreras 3 and 4 and Calles 6B and 6D, a culturally interesting sector of La Candelaria, and responds to the initiative to revitalize downtown Bogot and the repopulation policy of the city's District Administration.Save this picture!Save this picture!The architectural proposal adapts to the irregular urban context of the Santa Brbara and Beln neighborhoods in a rectangular and elongated block, a transition between the grid of La Candelaria and the surrounding rural areas. The irregularity of the urban fabric of the area generates a unique spatial experience with narrow alleys and cut-off views; These are incorporated into the project by creating large courtyards, connected by alleys and hallways that extend the life of the neighborhood inwards.Save this picture!Save this picture!The project respects and integrates the architecture and the historical and symbolic character of its urban context. The faade on Calle 6D is set back on the first floor with a portico that serves as a transition between the public square along with the Beln Church and the interior space. Similarly, the access from Carrera 3 is adapted to the topography with a double-height portico. These elements help to consolidate a pedestrian environment and a transition between the public and the private.Save this picture!Save this picture!The faade of the building was designed incorporating the aesthetic, historical and symbolic values of the neighborhood, with floor-to-ceiling windows and a faade configuration that highlights proportion, rhythm and tones. In addition, some apartments have balconies that extend the living spaces to the outside.Save this picture!The project not only addresses the demand for housing in the city center, but also contributes to the economic reactivation and consolidation of the social fabric. It houses state workers, students and tourists, activating services and businesses in the neighborhood. The covered porticos that give access to commercial premises have become meeting points for residents, visitors and neighbors. The commercial offer and some communal services such as a theater and playroom contribute to the well-being of residents and to integration with the neighborhood.Save this picture!Save this picture!Most of the housing blocks are organized in double bays and are aligned in a north-south direction to ensure adequate ventilation and natural sunlight. In addition, they adapt to the sloping topography of the foothills in four floors distributed over eight levels, including two basements for parking. The 273 housing units are distributed in a staggered pattern given by the topography of the lot and the local regulations of a maximum height of 10 meters, which favored a wide range of apartment types, some with balconies or terraces, and varied views towards patios and the city landscape.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessAbout this officeJulian GmezOfficeMaterialConcreteMaterials and TagsPublished on February 06, 2025Cite: "Monfort Suites Royal Multi-family Housing Complex / Concreta Gestin Urbana S.A.S. + TRACO Estudio de Arquitectura + Julian Gmez" [Conjunto de vivienda multifamiliar Monfort Suites Royal / Concreta Gestin Urbana S.A.S. + TRACO Estudio de Arquitectura + Julian Gmez] 06 Feb 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1026240/monfort-suites-royal-multi-family-housing-complex-concreta-gestion-urbana-sas-plus-traco-estudio-de-arquitectura-plus-julian-gamez&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

In today's shader tutorial, we put together the specular, diffuse, and ambient that we created in the last few episodes to create a full lighting model. It's a simple one, so over the next few weeks, we'll add more features.Take a look at the playlist for the whole series:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL78XDi0TS4lGnGa7L2X4o3UV-XYZEKNwj Here's last week's video on specular highlights:https://youtu.be/6epfhRqv2xo Shader Book Recommendationshttps://www.bencloward.com/resources_books.shtml ------------------------------Theme MusicPeace in the Circuitry - Glitch Hophttp://teknoaxe.com/Link_Code_3.php?q=1526 Background MusicSpeo - The Little Thingshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvCYuyyLgC0 #UnrealEngine #shadergraph #Unity

AI-Powered Roto and Masking Tools now available in Mocha Pro 2025.// U S E F U L L I N K S // Download a free trial of Mocha Pro : https://borisfx.com/products/mocha-pro/ Go in-depth with Object Brush and Matte Assist ML here : https://youtu.be/wllr5IvQ080 Get a quick look at all the new stuff in Mocha Pro 2025 here : https://youtu.be/LIQV1yOkI1w

From jumping kangaroos to sleepy koalas to sturdy wombats, Australia is full of a variety of marsupials animals that carry their premature young in a skin pouch until they are fully developed. However, just because many marsupials live in Australia doesnt mean theyre always thriving.A research team led by the University of Queensland in Australia has successfully produced the first kangaroo embryos through in vitro fertilization (IVF). According to the team, this could be a big leap towards preventing other marsupials from going extinct. The findings have been published in Reproduction, Fertility and Development.Australia is home to the greatest diversity of marsupial fauna on the planet, but it also has the highest mammal extinction rate, said Andres Gambini, lead researcher of the study, in a press release. Our ultimate goal is to support the preservation of endangered marsupial species like koalas, Tasmanian devils, northern hairy-nosed wombats, and Leadbeater's possums.Read More: Rebooting Rhinos with Frozen Sperm and IVFProducing Animal EmbryosThe researchers used eastern gray kangaroos (Macropus giganteus) for the study because they are abundant. For this specific trial, the kangaroos that produced the eggs were already deceased.The team then analyzed the development of the kangaroos eggs and sperm in the lab before producing the embryos through intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Through this method, researchers would inject the sperm into a mature egg. After a few days, they began to see promising results.This success with kangaroo embryos is deeply fulfilling, representing the culmination of years of training, research, and collaboration, Gambini said in a press release.This isnt the first time researchers have been able to grow animal embryos using IFV successfully. The researchers adopted the model from a process that was already used with human IVF, along with cattle and pigs.Also, in early 2024, researchers announced the IVF pregnancy of the endangered northern white rhino. Though the surrogate mother died from an infection not related to the IVF, reseachers noted that the fetus was developing well, and there would have likely been a 95 percent chance of a successful birth. In 2020, cheetah cubs born at the Columbus Zoo in Ohio were the result of IVF and embryo transfer. The kangaroo success is the first step in a long journey. The team now hopes that they will be able to see a healthy and successful birth of a marsupial through IVF, but are aware of the risks. Until then, the researchers are working towards building reliable preservation methods to keep the embryos safe.We are now refining techniques to collect, culture, and preserve marsupial eggs and sperm, said Gambini in a press release. By developing preservation methods, we aim to safeguard the genetic material of these unique and precious animals for future use to ensure their conservation.Article SourcesOur writers at Discovermagazine.com use peer-reviewed studies and high-quality sources for our articles, and our editors review for scientific accuracy and editorial standards. Review the sources used below for this article:Reproduction, Fertility and Development. Successful production of kangaroo ICSI embryosBritannica. marsupialColumbus Zoo and Aquarium. Cheetah Cubs at Columbus Zoo and Aquarium are First Ever Born via In Vitro Fertilization and Embryo TransfersA graduate of UW-Whitewater, Monica Cull wrote for several organizations, including one that focused on bees and the natural world, before coming to Discover Magazine. Her current work also appears on her travel blog and Common State Magazine. Her love of science came from watching PBS shows as a kid with her mom and spending too much time binging Doctor Who.

When it comes to pressing environmental issues, air pollution is a common concern. The effects of air pollution on human health, specifically cardiovascular and respiratory systems, are well known. But have you ever wondered what it might be doing to your brain?A research team from the Universities of Birmingham and Manchester asked this exact question and discovered that even short-term exposure to air pollution can have surprising and long-lasting effects on our ability to perform daily activities.Studying the Effects of PollutionThe specific type of pollution at the forefront of this study, published in Nature Communications, is particulate matter (PM) air pollution. PM air pollution is a mixture of solid particulates and liquid droplets in the air and includes things like dust, smoke, and soot.Study participants were split into two groups and exposed to either PM air pollution or clean air. Researchers simulated PM air pollution by using controlled candle smoke. A number of breathing techniques were also used, including whatever the participants considered to be their normal breathing patterns and breathing only through the mouth or nose.Participants had their cognitive abilities tested before exposure and then again four hours after exposure. The research team measured specific cognitive abilities like working memory, selective attention, emotion recognition, psychomotor speed, and sustained attention.What Is Pollution Doing to Our Brains?The results suggest that short-term exposure to PM air pollution drastically affects peoples ability to do things like perform routine tasks and interpret emotions.Dr. Thomas Faherty, a co-author of the study, noted in a press release that the study provides compelling evidence that even short-term exposure to particulate matter can have immediate negative effects on brain functions essential for daily activities.Of all the cognitive functions measured, two in particular stood out: selective attention and emotion recognition. In the group exposed to PM air pollution, both of these areas showed a decline in function no matter how participants breathed in the contaminated air.Selective attention plays an important role in decision making and goal-oriented behavior, while emotion recognition allows us to behave in socially-acceptable ways and helps us detect and interpret emotions in ourselves and others.The study uses the very common task of grocery shopping to help explain how the negative impacts of PM air pollution on cognitive functions can affect our daily lives. For example, impaired selective attention can make it difficult to prioritize items on your shopping list and, instead, leave you more vulnerable to impulse buying.There are also major impacts on our ability to do our jobs if something like our commute to work or a short walk at lunchtime can cause temporary cognitive decline. Beyond just losing attention span and the capacity to effectively focus on tasks, a decrease in emotion recognition can make it extremely difficult to work with other people and to behave appropriately in meetings and other social spaces.But it isnt all bad news. Certain cognitive functions, like working memory, showed no decline after exposure to PM air pollution. This result proves that some brain functions are quite resilient and are able to avoid the inflammation caused by pollution that researchers believe is responsible for the observed negative reactions.Read More: Combat Cognitive Decline With These 5 ActivitiesRegulations and Research Are NeededOverall, this study highlights that further research is needed on the connections between PM air pollution and cognitive functions.What is clear is that, as pollution continues to get worse in heavily-populated urban areas, stricter air quality regulations and public health measures must be enforced to avoid significant impacts on economic growth and to help keep our brains healthy.Article SourcesOur writers at Discovermagazine.com use peer-reviewed studies and high-quality sources for our articles, and our editors review for scientific accuracy and editorial standards. Review the sources used below for this article:As the marketing coordinator at Discover Magazine, Stephanie Edwards interacts with readers across Discover's social media channels and writes digital content. Offline, she is a contract lecturer in English & Cultural Studies at Lakehead University, teaching courses on everything from professional communication to Taylor Swift, and received her graduate degrees in the same department from McMaster University. You can find more of her science writing in Lab Manager and her short fiction in anthologies and literary magazine across the horror genre.