Hi there, were Vidalytics.com. And this job is for you if1 You want to be a part of an entrepreneurial team, where everyone is working together to GSD and win.2 Youre ready to leverage your experience to help Vidalytics grow with a mix of sales and business development in this Account Executive gig. The sky is the limit. How your role evolves is based on you, but our goal is always for you to grow with us.Vidalytics is a video marketing platform that helps entrepreneurs scale their businesses in the face of bigger, better-funded competitors. We do this with the advanced tools in our video marketing & hosting platform. Were 8 years old and growing 50-100% per year. And youre going to be a part of the team that will add a few zeros to that growth rate.What Youll Be Doing (Job Tasks) Proactively own the entire, full cycle sales process from prospecting to closing and facilitating new clients transition to our Account Manager or Customer Happiness team.Get creative we use non-traditional methods like smoke signals and snail mail to reach out to prospective clients and ask for meetings. And youll use a variety of traditional and non-traditional tools and resources to identify and qualify prospects.Conduct meetings with prospective clients, demonstrating the ROI of Vidalyticss unique tools and features in our niche (direct response video marketers).Build your network we are in a relationship business. Youll build relationships with clients, partners and prospective clients and partners.Quarterback proof of concept (technical audits) of prospective client A/B split tests coordinating with Vidalytics engineering, QA and product team to make sure no variation is biased and we put our best foot forward every single time.Taking ownership of your business rolling up forecasts and delivering on your revenue commitments to the business.Admin work! Youll prepare and deliver high quality business cases, proposals, emails, text messages and presentations and of course keep up with your email inbox, update your CRM and consistently use your sales execution tools to stay organized.Traveling internationally and domestically to industry events, conferences and trade shows representing Vidalytics with our existing clients and partners and developing new business opportunities.Getting better grow and refine your skills as a sales pro through structured training and professional development with your manager in 1:1 settings, and peer-to-peer coaching with the team.Requirements 2+ years of experience in Sales, Account Management or Business Development roles, ideally for another SaaS or tech product with a track record of winning.Very Tech Savvy youll need to understand statistical implications of A/B split test configurations, explain nuanced and technical features of Vidalytics in plain English for a non-tech-savvy audience, and keep up in advanced digital marketing strategy conversations.Excellent communication skills, written and verbal. Youll be communicating with our prospective and existing clients constantly.Excellent problem-solving and decision-making skills.Autonomy we wont hold your hand, but deadlines must be met. This is especially important since were a remote team.A consultative, empathetic approach to helping our clients succeed.Proficiency in CRM and sales execution tools like Hubspot, Outreach, etc.Availability to travel (20-25%).Nice-to-have Basic understanding of HTML / CSS / Javascript concepts (we're a SaaS after all!)Door-to-door, DTC and/or outside sales experience.Prior experience in the Direct Response Marketing niche.What Youll Love About Us (Benefits and Perks) Target Start Date: March 10, 2025Fully RemoteGet Paid. $75-90k Base, $125-150k OTE.Health care benefits.Guaranteed Ramp-Up Period.Professional Development: Want to continue your education? Vidalytics can cover $3k annually for classes, conferences, and more related to becoming the best professional version of yourself.Stay Fresh. 10 Days PTO. 5 sick Days.High performance company culture. You wont be a cog in a machine. Rather youll be a key member of a high performance team that is getting things done. This is a place to grow and realize your potential, no matter what level youre at in your career.No office politics. Were small and flat. There is no bs of trying to dance around sensitive topics or divert resources from other divisions projects. Were direct, were honest, were here to accomplish big audacious goals.We value your ideas. At Vidalytics, our door is always open. Need help? Lets talk! Have a vision for the future of the company? We want to hear it! Think we suck at our job? Help us grow!This is a resume-making position, where youll learn a lot and have a lot of responsibility. You dont have to wait for someone to die or retire to move up, like in a mega-corp.Entrepreneurial to our core Not only are we a startup, but we need intrapreneurs who will help us scale.Vidalytics Values(Yes, Were Actually Serious About These) Data As much as were able to, we use data to answer questions, give bonuses and promotions. Not based on politics and titles. But data or not, when a decision is made, it is time to get on board.Scrappy Entrepreneurial Mindset Were a startup. You get a lot of freedom, responsibility and autonomy, but then at times we need to do whatever it takes to make sure we survive. If you want an easy job, go work at the government.Radical Candor - The concept is rooted in two main principles: caring personally and challenging directly. This way were able to achieve a balance that promotes growth, trust, and constructive feedback. You can call out anyone from the CEO on down. Just be sure to attack issues and not people.High Performance This is a place to be your best. To work with people who are producing, growing, and learning. Come see what youre made of.Accountability Do what you say. And own what youve done. Mistakes happen. But the worst thing that can happen is when someone doesnt own and learn from them.Growth We are ALL constantly learning and growing. Otherwise we cant scale with the business and for our teammates. We spend too much time at work to not be getting better. This is a place to learn, get better, and dare we say self actualize.Jackson JeffriesHead of Sales @ Vidalytics

html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"UNStudio will transform the site of Expo City Dubai into a new Urban Centre, which is aimed to be a new centre for the future of Dubai, United Arab Emirates.The Expo City Dubai masterplan is developed by UNStudio (Urban design and Architecture) in collaboration with Buro Happold (Engineering/Sustainability), SLA (Landscape and Public Space Design), Endpoint (Wayfinding) and LDC (lighting), EGIS (AoR), Compass (Cost Consultant) and Vedra (Project management support).Image HansinokOne of five centers on the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, which aims to achieve net zero by 2050 and has broader decarbonization ambitions to set the standard for responsible urban development, the masterplan serves as a guide for sustainable urban living.Building on the heritage of Expo 2020 Dubai, the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia, Expo City Dubai is a mixed-use development. During its six-month run, the event drew over 24 million visitors from 192 countries. The location also hosted Cop 28 after the event.Image HansinokAn innovation-driven, people-centered community founded on the idea that teamwork can drive sustainable growth, this development earned LEED Gold and WELL Community Gold certification.More than 80% of the structures and infrastructure created for Expo 2020 is maintained and UNStudio's masterplan preserves the character and integrity of the current site throughout the legacy development. Additionally, it guarantees that Expo City Dubai will remain completely integrated while reaping the benefits of the constructed environment created to host Expo 2020 Dubai.Image HISMThe city will be 3.5 square kilometers in size and will be developed gradually in phases to meet changing needs. Over 35,000 residents and 37,000 professionals will call it home. It will still draw roughly 50,000 tourists annually.The concept, which builds on the legacy of Expo 2020, is envisioned as an economic, social, and cultural development that will bring about a human-centered, healthy environment that can flourish in a competitive real estate market.Image HISMThe new Expo City Dubai employs an effective grid that provides a sturdy urban structure for accessibility, circulation, and navigation, departing from the natural character of the existing Thematic Districts.Each of the five new districts that make up the masterplan has both new construction and existing assets.Expo City's highest skyscraper is located in Expo Downtown, a densely populated mixed-use neighborhood. The district will feature Expo Sports Fields, a school, residences, shops, food and beverage establishments, and an arena for major music events, all of which will serve as models for healthy living.Image HISMExpo Hills is a low-density residential neighborhood that provides a more tranquil urban living experience. It features landscaped gardens and an open space that resembles a wadi.Expo Business is a campus-like setting for creative and enterprising companies who value sustainability as much as Expo City does. The planned site is adjacent to Expo Valley, a fifth district that will include a low-density residential neighborhood when it is completed in 2026.Image PlompIn close proximity to all residential units and office spaces, each planned district offers a variety of applications and local amenities. The actual residential communities will serve as prime examples of cutting-edge, eco-friendly design best practices with an emphasis on happiness and well-being. A network of green and blue areas, ranging from parks and fields to gardens and urban water features, throughout the entire concept.Image PlompIt is believed that the move of WTC's Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC) to the location will present Expo City Dubai to new users and tourists. The Expo City Dubai property will therefore become a sought-after location for businesses, including retail, hospitality, offices, storage, and parking.To maximize cross-over from the DEC to the territory and make sure the area is vibrant, dynamic, and welcoming, special attention is paid to the direct contact between the Expo City Dubai site and the DEC.Image PlompIt is crucial to find the most convenient approach to connect Expo Valley and Expo City Dubai, according to UNStudio. The two developments are connected by a new open park that offers recreational and cultural opportunities, facilitated by micro-mobility pathways. The opening of Expo Market, a brand-new neighborhood market hall, attracts people from Expo Valley who commute to and from work.Image PlompThe master plan provides destinations for both first-time visitors to Dubai and future transit travelers, with plans for Al Makhtum Airport to open in 2030. The concept provides a first-stop welcome to the United Arab Emirates and Dubai, complete with distinctive local hotels, made-in-Dubai stores, farm-to-table restaurants, and a vibrant cultural program.The Danish nature-based design firm SLA organized the public realm and landscape plan for Expo City in accordance with the three principles of the Dubai 2020 Expo: opportunity, mobility, and sustainability.Image PlompA network of green and blue spaces, ranging from parks and plazas to tiny sikkas and urban water features, would create a rich and lively everyday public realm if Expo City Dubai is developed with an emphasis on these three broad principles.Multiple kilometers of active, green, and blue networks, lively plazas and highstreets, high-performing climate action addressing issues like urban heat islands, air pollution, and microclimate optimization, and the planting of over 30,000 native trees are all part of the landscape masterplan, which aims to directly integrate the goals of the Dubai 2020 Expo into the public realm.Image PlompThe design of a new urban "Expo Forest" that connects to the nearby valley systems is one of the many new nature-based features. It features ghaf trees, naturally undulating landscapes, local wildlife, and a variety of activities that actively support and enhance the biodiversity of the area, from treetop climbing and birdwatching to urban farming.The public realm design will immerse locals and tourists in the UAE's distinctive and resilient environment, with the declared goal of creating the greenest neighborhood in Dubai. This will ensure that the Dubai 2020 Expo leaves a lasting and sustainable legacy.Image PlompHuman demands and environmental stewardship will be balanced in the future Expo City Dubai. The master plan has been created and will be carried out in accordance with particular goals, including conserving and enhancing biodiversity, cutting back on energy and water use, and utilizing clean energy and alternative water sources.Residents will also benefit from an abundance of green space per person, a rise in the usage of sustainable public transportation alternatives, and the inclusion of areas that promote walking, bicycling, and micromobility.Image PlompImage PlompImage PlompIn order to guarantee a focus on health and wellness, the masterplan has already earned WELL Community Gold Certification, BREEAM Excellent for infrastructure and public realm projects, and LEED Gold as a minimum requirement for all buildings.Image UNStudioRecently, UNStudio released first-ever biophilic residential concept in Seoul. In addition, the firm Kyklos Building in Luxembourg, reducing carbon footprint around 80%. Moreover, the firm created monumental faade with petal-like columns for Huawei Flagship Store.Project factsClient: Expo City DubaiUNStudio Team: Ben van Berkel, Caroline Bos with Arjan Pit, Dana Behrman, Aurelie Hsiao, Misja Van Veen, Allison Weiler, Michael Labory, Andi Balza, Olga Kotta, Chrysa Triantafyllidou, and Joshua Karategin, Nathan Ngo, Zacharoula Loizou, Yvonne Yuen, Rotem Shenitzer, Jinlai Song, Yimeng Ma, Valentina Amaya, Bart Chompff, Nathan van Nugteren, Lucas Di Gioia, Aleksei Lebedev, Daniel Diez, Juan Manuel Rodriguez, Jose Sanmartin Gonzalez, Carolina Boccella, Mircea Mogan, Hyunjin Park, Andrius Ribikauskas, Luca Fabbri, Alex Kalavech, Caroline Wang, Giovanni Cuguttu, Joe Tu, Luke Kim, Christian Maijstr, Felizitas Dochantschi, Ins Verna, Nawid Piracha, Anna Maria Pisani, Monica Palfy, Shaghayegh Shayan.Advisors:Buro Happold - Mobility, Sustainability, Accessibility, Environmental Scope, Fire & Life Safety Design, Infrastructure Planning (Wet &Dry), Roads and Highways, Traffic Impact Study, Security, Microclimate, CFD Analysis, Solid Waste Management, SMART City, AcousticsSLA Landscape & Public Realm designEndpoint Wayfinding Strategy & Concept DesignLDC Lighting DesignEGIS/WMI Architect of RecordVedra Developers FZ LLC Project Management SupportCPP wind Wind EngineeringRTC TISAESG EIACompass Cost ConsultantMimar Models Physical ModelThe top image in the article Hansinok.Visualisations Plomp, HISM and Hansinok.> via UNStudio

Submitted by WA ContentsFran Silvestre Arquitectos plays with planes to design a house on Sotogrande golf courseSpain Architecture News - Feb 10, 2025 - 14:48 html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"Valencia-based architecture practice Fran Silvestre Arquitectos has designed a house in front of the Sotogrande golf course in Spain.The single-story house encourages users to feel the shadow between the ground floor and the roof above it.A large roof cantilever that provides protection from the powerful Cadiz sun as well as the torrential rains that come down from the Sierra de Grazalema, which receives the most rainfall on the Iberian Peninsula.The building's deep interior creates a wooden volume that gives each area the solitude it needs while yet delivering the ideal amount of warmth.The ground plane, the shadow cast by the architectural cantilever, the glass that provides effective inside climate conditioning, and, lastly, the comfortable limit of the wood are the four distinct limitations that emerge to define the house's spatiality.The house may be accessed from the top street, which is a key location with a unique perspective of the surroundings and the water reflection.This roof feature serves as both acoustic and thermal insulation. In addition to acting as an insulator and regulating the building's temperature, the water layer absorbs heat during the day and gradually releases it at night, lowering the demand for air conditioning and heating.The house had to have warm-toned materials, which was one of its needs. The skylights that light up the central areas and provide access to the upper water mirror are part of a central communication core that distributes the compact program internally.In order to create an unending pool that stretches over the golf course and a covered entrance that welcomes entry, the roof planes and the ground level plane are meticulously modified.Living between two planes and minimizing environmental effect while enhancing the sensation of something as basic as an inhabited shadow in Sotogrande is the goal.Ground floor planSectionGround floor planFran Silvestre Arquitectos also completed a villa that takes references from the ancient Greeks, Etruscans and Romans' domus - known as a type of town house occupied by the upper classes or wealthy people. In addition, the firm built a zigzagging house on a sloped topography, featuring an open pool at one end of a linear volume.Project factsProject name:House In SotograndeArchitects:Fran Silvestre ArquitectosLocation:Sotogrande, SpainProject team:Fran Silvestre, Carlos Lucas, Paco Chinesta, Neus Roso.Interior design:Alfaro HofmannBuilding engineering consultants:Agustn Jimnez SurezStructural engineers:Estructuras SingularesProject manager:Adn BolaosCollaborators:Mara Masi, Pablo Camarasa, Ricardo Candela, Estefania Soriano, Sevak Asatrin, Andrea Baldo, Angelo Brollo, Paloma Feng, Javi Herrero, Gino Brollo, Facundo Castro, Anna Alfanjarn, Laura Bueno, Toni Cremades, Susana Len, David Cirocchi, Nuria Domnech, Andrea Raga, Olga Martn, Vctor Gonzlez, Pepe Llop, Alberto Bianchi, Luca Domingo, Pablo Sim, Andrea Blasco, Laura Palacio, Carlos Perez, Jovita Cortijo, Claudia Escorcia, Ana Bono, Andrea Garca, Diana Murcia, Fran Ayala, Ana de Pablo, Sara Atienza, Jos Mara Ibaez, Valeria Fernandini, Sandra Mazcun.Construction area:802m2Plot area:3,520 m2General contractor: Mar State ConstructionAll images Fernando GuerraAll drawings Fran Silvestre Arquitectos.> via Fran Silvestre Arquitectos

Strategic review at heritage practice follows workload slump in two regionsDonald Insall Associates is working on the restoration of Birminghams botanical gardens with HowellsDonald Insall Associates has closed its Cambridge office and downsized its team in Bath following a slump in workloads in the two regions.The heritage specialist has made five redundancies from its headcount of 140 as part of a strategic review of its project pipelines, which it said was prompted by political and economic uncertainty over the past year.Three out of eight staff working at its office in Bath have been made redundant, while two of the four-strong team in Cambridge have been cut, with the remaining two moved to the firms London team on a hybrid basis.The practice said: We have undertaken a strategic review of our project pipelines across the UK to rebalance our regional presence in line with current market demand. We have expanded our studios in Oxford, Manchester and York.> Also read:Optimism ticks up but practices still expect workloads to shrinkHowever, like many architectural practices, we have been impacted by political and economic uncertainty over the past year, which particularly affected our workload in the Cambridge and Bath areas.After careful consideration, our Cambridge studio has now closed, and there has been a restructure within our Bath studio. There have been five redundancies from these studios. We highly value our specialist colleagues and we did not take this decision lightly. This does not affect our work with the custodians of some of the most nationally significant heritage sites in the UK and we continue to provide exemplary conservation architecture and heritage consultancy services to support continuous change in the heritage environment.The firm added that its headcount remains consistent and it continues to seek new work in Cambridge and East Anglia.Donald Insall Associates past projects in East Anglia include a restoration of the Saxtead Green Post Mill, a historic windmill in Suffolk, which was completed in 2020.

The winner of the estimated 150,000 design contract will draw up a comprehensive public realm plan for the universitys main campus overlooking the River Irwell.The project aims to transform the areas between university buildings into vibrant public realms while also boosting pedestrian and cycle connectivity, integrating sustainable greening initiatives efforts, and improving accessibility.According to the brief: The University of Salford has an ambitious campus public realm plan, and the next phase of this will see the appointment of a Landscape Architect Designer to lead the development, refinement and delivery of a comprehensive public realm plan via production of a RIBA Stages 1 and 2 design and specification together with a Baseline Ecological Survey.AdvertisementThis process will involve close collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, advancing sustainability and biodiversity design principles while prioritizing equity, diversity, and inclusion enhancements. We also envisage the appointed Landscape Architect to draw on ecological and other data to co-produce the public realm vision.By building on these foundations, the University of Salford aims to establish a world-class campus that reflects its values, enhances the student, staff and visitor experience, and contributes positively to the wider community.The universitywas first established as the Pendleton Mechanics Institute in 1850, and transformed into a university in 1967. Today it is home to around 20,000 students and 2,500 staff, and specialises indigital technologies, biometrics and health.The university has a 190 million annual turnover and a strong focus on encouraging closer links between industry and academia. The main campus overlooking the River Irwell is 2kmwest of Manchester City Centre and 1.5kmfrom the multi-billion pound MediaCity development at Salford Quays.The latest procurement comes almost six years after Flanagan Lawrence won a competition to overhaul the University of Salfords historic Maxwell Hall music venue. Last month Salford City Council waved through the demolition of Hodder Associates Centenary Building in Salford the first-ever winner of the Stirling Prize.AdvertisementRecent projects completed on the campus include an 81 million student accommodation complex by Sheppard Robson, and a 55 million gateway project by Stride Treglown. Both projects were part of a smaller 2009 masterplan for the university drawn up by Hawkins\Brown.Bids for the latest commission will be evaluated 70 per cent on quality and 30 per cent on price. Applicants must hold employers liability insurance of 5 million, public liability insurance of 5 million and professional indemnity insurance of 2 million.Competition detailsProject title Landscape and Public Realm ArchitectClientContract value TbcFirst round deadline Midday, 19 March 2025Restrictions TbcMore information https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/notice/e24b5141-c179-445a-a8d4-2553e61e8949

Architects, designers, and creative thinkers are invited to draw up concepts for new sustainable and functional spaces for the seabirds which responds to the dynamic urban landscapes of Newcastle and Gateshead.The open call is part of the universitys ongoing Navigating Urban Ecologies research project which explores the socio-ecological dynamics of kittiwakes which can be found in large numbers across various urban and industrial sites along the River Tyne.According to the brief: The challenge is to design a sustainable and functional Kittiwake Hotel that provides a safe space for kittiwakes while enhancing the ecological, aesthetic, and environmental value of the cities.AdvertisementFocus on enhancing the kittiwakes experience by fostering their connection to nature and water (River Tyne). Design a natural, sustainable structure that seamlessly integrates with urban elements such as the Tyne Bridge, lampposts, building faades, rooftops, and more.Formerly known as Newcastle Polytechnic, Northumbria University teaches 37,000 students across to local campuses City Campus and Coach Lane and one satellite campus in London.The latest open call comes a year after local firm Ryder Architecture was chosen to design and deliver a flagship new 90 million Centre for Health and Social Equity on City Campus West which is located a short distance from Newcastles new Farrell Centre.The open call aims to foster harmonious coexistence between humans and kittiwakes while also contributing to the overall beauty and sustainability of the cities.Key aims include delivering sustainable and functional spaces for kittiwakes that blend seamlessly with the urban environment; boosting the ecological, aesthetic, and environmental value of Newcastle and Gateshead; and promoting ecological awareness with architecture.AdvertisementSubmissions should include a single A1 display board with a 200-word written description. Scale models are also permitted. Concepts will be judged on Sustainability and functionality, integration with urban landscape, ecological and aesthetic impact, and innovation.The overall winners will receive prizes and the opportunity to showcase their work to a wider audience. selected projects will be displayed in a public exhibition.Competition detailsProject title Kittiwake HotelClient Northumbria UniversityContract value TbcFirst round deadline 1 August 2025Restrictions TbcMore information https://research.northumbria.ac.uk/nue/opencalls/

Our Picks Best overall workout app Nike Training Club View details See at Nike Training Club View details Best workout app for personal training Future View details $199 at Future View details Best boutique workout app Peloton App One View details $13 at Peloton View details Best workout app for running Strava View details $12 at Strava View details Best workout app for women Sweat View details $25 at Sweat View details Best workout app for strength training Ladder View details $30 at Ladder View details Best workout app for yoga Alo Moves View details $13 at Alo Moves View details Best workout app if you don't like to work out FitOn View details $25 at FitOn View details Best workout app for iPhone users Apple Fitness Plus View details $9.99 at Apple View details Table of Contents If you have a home gym , and are looking for workout ideas, a fitness app can be really helpful. These workout apps focus on yoga, cardio, strength training and more. After the COVID-19 pandemic, I learned to adapt to at-home workouts and found I was the most consistent when I downloaded the Future app, which paired me up with a coach who programmed my workouts around my goals. We tested various workout apps to provide you with some of the best options. Many of these apps also offer free trials. That way you can give them a try before fully committing to them. Below are our picks for best workout apps as a guide at home or in the gym. What is the best workout app overall?The Nike Training Club is our pick for the best overall workout app because it's free and offers a variety of classes, like HIIT, strength training, mobility and yoga, and you can even follow a program over the course of a month and decide how often you're looking to work out. Because Nike is such a big name in fitness, a lot of its workouts draw inspiration from famous athletes, like Simone Biles or Serena Williams. If you prefer a workout app that's more specific to your interests, such as yoga, there are others we recommend in the list below. Best workout apps of 2025 Photo Gallery 1/1 See at Nike Training Club Pros Variety of classes to pick from Nike is a trusted and familiar brand Can be used at the gym or at home Cons Lacks personalization If you don't own an Apple Watch, you can't keep track of fitness data Programming lacks structure, which doesn't help if you have strength goals in mind Cost FreePhone compatibility iPhone, AndroidWearable compatibility Apple WatchEquipment required NoneLive streaming or On Demand Live streaming and On Demand See at Nike Training Club When I first started working out regularly, Nike Training Club was my go-to app. It provides various workout programs such as bodyweight exercises, high-intensity interval training, cross-training, yoga, core exercises and expert health tips by Nike trainers to keep you on track.The workouts are easy to follow because there are video demonstrations of each exercise with the allotted time you should be doing them. This keeps you from losing track during your workout and mentally prepares you for the following exercise. The app also connects to your Apple watch to provide health metrics such as your heart rate and logs your activities.The best part of this app is that it's free and gives you access to many resources no matter if you're a beginner or more advanced.

8.8/ 10 SCORE NordVPN $4 at NordVPN Price $14 per month, $60 for the first year or $81 total for the first two years (one- and two-year plans renew at $140 per year) Latest tests No leaks detected, 3% average internet download speed loss in 2025 tests Network 7,200-plus servers in 118 countries Jurisdiction Panama Score Breakdown Usability 8/10Value 8/10Speed 9/10Privacy 9/10Features 9/10 Pros Extremely fast Lots of helpful privacy features Excellent for streaming Intuitive apps Large international server network Diverse device support Great value for the initial term Cons Extortionate renewal pricing Limited split tunneling control on Android Table of Contents NordVPN is like The Flash -- quick and easily recognizable. Chances are, youve heard of Nord from your favorite podcast, YouTuber or via one of its banner ads. Ive even seen ads on TV while watching UNC mens basketball games. With its excellent streaming capabilities, unique privacy features and mind-bogglingly fast internet speeds, theres a lot to like. Nord has historically reigned supreme as one of the fastest VPNs on the market, and in my latest bout of benchmarking, it was blazing fast -- my download speeds even improved on some servers. (Ill explain later how thats possible.)Whether you want to stream foreign Netflix libraries, bypass throttling restrictions or beef up your privacy, NordVPN is a solid choice. Its snappy speeds wont hinder 4K video streaming, online gaming sessions or work Zoom calls. Youll enjoy user-friendly apps that are easy to navigate for beginners and privacy enthusiasts alike. Plus, Nord includes advanced privacy features, like double-hop and Onion Over VPN servers, which make it even harder to trace your traffic back to its source.While I appreciated Nords competitive introductory pricing, its price hikes -- an unfortunate VPN industry standard practice -- are steep, even compared to the VPN competition. Thankfully, you can avoid a pricey autorenewal by stacking subscriptions, but Id like to see the same sort of transparency youll find with its approach to privacy mimicked in its pricing structure. Ultimately, NordVPN largely lives up to its braggadocio as a great virtual private network for everyone from privacy buffs to streaming fanatics, but the hefty renewal rates make it less enticing as a long-term investment.Speed: Head-spinningly fastSpeed loss: 3% average internet speed lossNumber of servers: 7,200-plusNumber of countries: 118To assess NordVPN, I ran over 250 internet speed tests and was impressed at its blisteringly fast 2.9% average internet download speed loss.All VPNs slow down your internet connection at least somewhat. Connecting to the internet is like ordering food from your favorite meal delivery service: The fewer stops it makes, the faster it usually arrives at your doorstep. Accordingly, tunneling your web traffic through a VPN hides your public IP address for extra privacy but adds another stop.In my 2024 testing, I clocked a best-in-class 11% average internet download speed loss, and Nord somehow whittled that down substantially this year. My download speeds when connected to the VPN were faster on MacOS, using both OpenVPN and the WireGuard-based NordLynx VPN protocols, than my base internet speeds. There are several reasons why this might be the case, like bypassing throttling restrictions or more efficient communication with servers than your ISPs DNS servers. Your internet service provider needs to be able to read your IP address to throttle your speeds, so a VPNs IP masking can actually speed up your connection if youre experiencing throttling.Although I experienced minor speed loss on Windows (11% with NordLynx and 21% with OpenVPN), it was virtually unnoticeable over my Google Fiber Wi-Fi. Normally, OpenVPN speeds are slightly slower than WireGuard, which proved true with Nords Windows app, but it was still pretty snappy.For reference, Netflix recommends a minimum internet download speed of 15Mbps for watching 4K ultra-high-definition videos. Most folks with a 50Mbps or higher internet connection shouldnt notice any of Nords impact -- you can expect best-in-class performance.Nords extensive global server roster is great for international travel and unblocking geo-protected streamingOver the past year, Nord aggressively expanded its worldwide network of servers, which now sits at 7,200-plus servers peppering 118 countries. Thats among the highest of any VPN Ive tested, edging out ExpressVPN (105 countries) and Surfshark (100) countries. Proton VPN has more servers (11,400-plus) but slightly fewer countries (117). Whether youre gallivanting across the globe or want to unblock geo-restricted streaming content like foreign Netflix and Disney Plus libraries, NordVPNs generous server network has you covered.Key takeaway: NordVPN is lightning-fast, keeping internet speed loss to a minimum, and in some cases even improving my internet speeds. Its large web of servers makes Nord one of the best VPNs for travel or accessing region-restricted streaming services.Cost: Competitive introductory pricing, but price hikes are highway robberyPrice: $13 a month, $60 for the first year or $81 total for the first two years (one- and two-year plans renew at $140 a year)Money-back guarantee: 30 daysPayment options: Credit/debit cards, PayPal, Google Pay, Cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Ethereum, etc.)Available apps: Windows (x86 and ARM), MacOS, Linux (CLI-only), Android, iOS, iPadOS, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Kindle Fire, Oculus Quest, Apple Vision Pro, web browsers, routersNordVPNs monthly pricing is more than Proton, the same as ExpressVPN and cheaper than Surfshark. For annual plans, Nord starts at a reasonable $60 a year, significantly undercutting ExpressVPN while matching Proton and being more expensive than the wallet-friendly Surfshark. You can save even more with a two-year plan, but I dont advise signing up for more than a year with a VPN provider considering how quickly the landscape changes. Your fast, private VPN could suffer slower speeds or a data breach during that time.However, like many of its VPN rivals, Nord slaps you with price hikes, so your sweet introductory cost spikes from $60 for the first year to $140 upon renewal. Thankfully, you can stack subscriptions, so if youve got a NordVPN one-year plan and purchase a discounted annual plan during a Black Friday sale, you can extend your coverage.While Nord isnt alone in price hikes -- Surfshark, Proton VPN and ExpressVPN also jack up prices on their one- and two-year plans -- its autorenewal pricing is borderline extortionate. But you dont have to take my word for it; theres a class action lawsuit against NordVPN in California and North Carolina alleging deceitful autorenewals.Although price hikes are the industry standard, Id like to see more transparency from Nord to match their privacy transparency. The subscription renewal prices page is linked directly from the checkout page, but Id prefer no price hike or, at the very least, a more reasonable renewal bump, like from $60 to $80 a year. By comparison, Mullvad doesnt hike the price at all, priced at $5 a month whether you stay on its monthly plan or purchase multiple years of service. Both Surfshark and Proton slap you with autorenewal price hikes, but much more reasonable than Nord; Surfshark from $48 a year to $60, and Proton VPN from $60 to $80 annually.NordVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee if youre unsatisfied with your service. There are many payment options, from the usual suspects like credit and debit cards or PayPal to cryptocurrencies. Paying with crypto doesnt offer total anonymity but can be tougher to trace back to the buyer than more traditional payment methods, so its nice to have for privacy-conscious buyers. I like how you can even snag NordVPN in-store at some brick-and-mortar retailers, like Best Buy.Pro tip: You can stack subscriptions with NordVPN to avoid a pricey auto-renewal. For example, if youve got six months left on an annual plan, you can get another years worth of service during a Black Friday sale, which adds 12 months to your existing package. If you sign up for a Nord plan and want to keep the service for longer, I recommend immediately canceling your auto-renewal, and then getting another subscription plan before your membership expires.NordVPN bundles let you tack on goodies like password managers and security softwareOne of the trends Ive noticed in recent years is that VPN providers now offer more privacy and security features, with Nord joining the fray. While its entry-level Basic tier sticks to VPN services, its Plus, Complete and Prime plans tack on assorted privacy and security goodies. For instance, youll get Nords Threat Protection Pro anti-malware software and a password manager across all three higher-tiered plans. Complete and Prime tack on 1TB of secure cloud storage, while Prime throws in credit monitoring, identity theft insurance plus a slew of other benefits.There are upsides to bundling privacy and security services. Having one bill to keep up with instead of multiple may be more convenient, and you might get cheaper pricing than going a la carte. But if theres a data breach and the company youre using for a VPN, password manager and anti-malware protection gets compromised, thats more data in one stolen basket and youve then got to shop around further. Whether you choose to bundle or not, I appreciate how Nord still offers a VPN-only plan, unlike ExpressVPN which forces you into a pricey subscription.Key takeaway: NordVPNs one- and two-year plans are a great initial value, but ridiculous auto-renewal prices are too pricey. If you go with Nord, I suggest canceling your auto-renewal and stacking subscriptions to avoid a hefty price hike.App performance: Intuitive, excellent for streaming and available on almost any device you can think ofSometimes, it can feel like you need a computer science degree to operate a virtual private network. Thankfully, NordVPN is just as easy to use for a first-time VPN user or a privacy enthusiast. I tested on a bevy of different devices, including a Windows PC, MacBook Air, Android phone, iPad, Chromebook, Nvidia Shield TV, Android TV box, Amazon Fire TV Stick and Apple TV. I was pleased to find a largely consistent experience across devices. Nords apps are intuitive with a slick, modern layout that makes hopping on a server and changing settings a breeze. Its not as minimalist as ExpressVPN, but the Nord apps arent difficult to use. Theres merely more going on visually than with competitors like Surfshark and Express, like Nords easy-to-navigate VPN server map.There's an Apple TV app and an ARM for Windows app, so you can use Nord on virtually any device. The streaming app for Apple TV, Android TV and Amazon Fire TV devices is more subdued, forgoing the visual map in favor of a simple to peruse list of countries. Although there is a Linux app, its command-line only, which isnt as easy to use. However, NordVPN told me that a Linux GUI app is in the works, with a slated release by the end of the first quarter of 2025.NordVPNs fast speeds and large global server roster make it fantastic for streamingNordVPN is one of the best VPNs for streaming from Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and other services. Its top-notch speed loss makes Nord an excellent option for watching 4K UHD videos. Meanwhile, its plentiful servers make geo-unblocking content a breeze. I had no issues using a VPN for US-only streaming services like Max, Peacock, Paramount Plus, Hulu and Crunchyroll.I easily unblocked several international Netflix, Disney Plus and Amazon Prime libraries: I effortlessly accessed Netflix UK, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, South Africa, Romania and Japan, enjoying M3GAN on Netflix with a Canadian server and Star Trek: The Next Generation using a Romanian server (both titles are unavailable on Netflix in the States). Unfortunately, Netflix Egypt wouldnt load -- it just showed US content -- so if you want to watch any of the Arabic-only videos there, Id recommend Proton VPN or ExpressVPN.I also used Nord to stream Longlegs from Amazon Prime Video UK, Prey on Disney Plus (usually a Hulu exclusive in the US), Murdoch Mysteries from CBC and The Jetty on BBC iPlayer. I did have to try a different UK server for Amazon Prime Video UK and another Japanese server for Netflix Japan, but one quick server change sorted out any issues. Whether you want to cut through regional sports blackouts, watch foreign content libraries at home or access your streaming apps while traveling abroad, NordVPN works like a champ for buffer-free streaming. You even use a VPN to save money on streaming service subscriptions.Meshnet is a neat feature for secure file sharing or creating a personal VPN serverNordVPN includes a nifty feature called Meshnet that lets you create a network of linked devices. You can then securely share files, host LAN parties for gaming or even bypass Netflix and Disney Plus password-sharing crackdowns using Meshnet. I toggled on Meshnet in the Nord app on my Windows PC, Android Phone and my Chromecast with a Google TV Android TV box. Using Meshnet, I could seamlessly share files between devices as if they were all on the same Wi-Fi network.Because Meshnet lets you route your traffic through a device, thereby creating a personal VPN server, you can even circumvent password-sharing restrictions. I routed traffic through a Geekom AS5 Windows mini PC, so my phone and Chromecast showed the same IP address when selecting that device as a VPN server. Accordingly, if I went on vacation at my parents beach condo, I could enjoy Netflix without verifying that I was away from home since it would look like I was still at my house. Outside of using your streaming services such as Netflix and Disney Plus from anywhere, Meshnet is a handy inclusion with tons of different use cases, like managing a home server from afar or sharing large files securely in a remote work environment.Nords split tunneling lets you selectively enable a VPN, but Id like more control on AndroidNords apps have split tunneling, which lets you use a VPN for some apps but not others. I streamed M3GAN on Netflix UK with a VPN while excluding my Steam games app to enjoy faster download speeds while installing Life is Strange. But Nords Android split tunneling only lets you exclude apps from using a VPN, meaning the default behavior is to tunnel everything through a VPN. By contrast, Surfshark and Proton let you route only selected apps or choose apps to bypass a VPN for more split tunneling flexibility.Helpfully, theres an option to select all apps on your device that dont play nicely with VPNs, so I was able to quickly bypass a virtual private network connection for the Sonos app and keep it on my local network. But Id like to see both ways of split tunneling on Android. I'd at least like a way to select all apps to exclude, then uncheck a handful.As expected, you wont find split tunneling on MacOS or iOS/iPadOS -- Apples networking infrastructure complicated split tunneling for VPNs starting in 2020. PIA is one of the few Mac VPNs that offer split tunneling.Customer service is good, and its easy to get a real personDespite its user-friendly nature, you may need assistance with app installation, billing or something else. NordVPN provides 24/7 customer support via email and live chat, but no phone. Many companies, including NordVPN, offer live chat via a bot first. I asked Nordbot a question about renewing subscriptions, and it gave me a clear, detailed answer that included information regarding stacking subscriptions. The info was helpful, easy to understand and I liked the transparency that I was talking to a bot.But not all questions are so swiftly handled by bots, so I requested a real person by simply typing real person. Thankfully, I didnt have to jump through any hoops and was connected to a customer service representative, Pedro. (If youre reading this review, hi Pedro!) Pedro was friendly and informative, answering my queries about the process for upgrading NordVPN plans mid-subscription.If youre a do-it-yourselfer, you can peruse Nords many resources like its blog and help center. I followed its instructions for setting up a VPN hotspot using a Windows PC. The explainers and tutorials were clear and simple to follow.Key takeaway: NordVPNs user-friendly apps and exceptional streaming service unblocking make it a solid option for everything from maintaining privacy to streaming buttery-smooth 4K movies and shows.Privacy and transparency: Nord packs plenty of neat privacy features, but could make its privacy policy a little clearerJurisdiction: PanamaEncryption: AES-256-bit encryption (OpenVPN), ChaCha20 (NordLynx)RAM-only serversPost-quantum protectionLeaks: No leaks detected in 2025 testingIndependently auditedVPN protocols: NordLynx (WireGuard-based), OpenVPN, NordWhisperWhile VPNs are great for entertainment purposes, like streaming videos and gaming, theyre privacy tools at their core. NordVPN ticks a lot of boxes, starting with its privacy-friendly jurisdiction in Panama, which sits outside of the Five, Nine and 14 Eyes data-sharing alliances. The company offers industry-standard privacy features alongside advanced options. It has a kill switch that cuts off your internet connection in case of an unexpected internet interruption. During my testing, its kill switch successfully kept my public IP address hidden and worked flawlessly on all platforms.You can pick between the OpenVPN or WireGuard-based NordLynx VPN protocols, both of which use cutting-edge encryption (AES-256-bit with OpenVPN and ChaCha20 with NordLynx). Nord is also debuting its proprietary NordWhisper VPN protocol first on Windows, Android and Linux with other platforms to follow. NordWhisper tries to hide the fact that youre using a VPN by masquerading as traditional web traffic, and may be beneficial when trying to use a virtual private network in countries where VPNs are frowned upon.Like many competitors, NordVPN relies on RAM-only servers, so the server stack completely reboots after each session, meaning no data from your VPN session is saved to a hard disk. There are debates among VPN providers about the privacy and security benefits of RAM-only server infrastructure versus full-disk encryption, and I feel at ease with either one. Like most VPN services, Nord maintains a strict no-logs policy, but its RAM-only servers mean that theres theoretically no user browsing session data to share at all.In addition to its quintessential privacy features, Nord packs a power user punch with specialty servers and post-quantum protection.Specialty servers: Tor over VPN, double VPN and obfuscated serversAside from its standard VPN servers, Nord offers a few specialty servers for beefed up privacy. Both operate similarly by adding another level of encryption on top of a VPN connection, but using different methods. A double VPN, or multi-hop, adds a second VPN tunnel, making it even more difficult to trace your internet traffic back to its source. Likewise, Onion over VPN servers use a combination of Tor (The Onion Router) and a VPN to make following your web traffic back to you even harder. Each is a good option for people with critical privacy needs.While NordVPNs specialty double VPN and Tor over VPN servers boost your privacy, they slow down your internet speeds. Essentially, each time you add another stop to your internet traffic, its slower than if you were just communicating directly with your internet service providers DNS servers. A standard VPN connection is probably fine if you want to stream geo-protected content, bypass throttling restrictions or add basic privacy from your ISP. But folks with critical privacy needs, like investigative journalists, political activists or asylum-seekers, may appreciate some of Nords more advanced privacy amenities like Onion over VPN and multi-hop servers.Nords obfuscated servers try to disguise the fact that youre using a VPN. Some countries, apps, websites or internet networks (like school Wi-Fi) frown upon VPN usage, so you may not be able to load different apps and sites. Using obfuscated servers may solve the issue, but before trying them out, I recommend ensuring that youre complying with local laws or terms of service.Advanced privacy and security featuresIn September 2024, NordVPN announced its rollout of post-quantum encryption, starting with its Linux app. As quantum computers continue advancing, the threat of data breaches may increase. I was pleased to discover that Nord brought post-quantum protection to its Windows and Android apps with iOS/iPadOS and MacOS to follow in 2025. You can easily toggle it on and off, but its only available with NordLynx, not OpenVPN. Because NordLynx usually offers faster speeds without compromising privacy, thats not a downside -- in my daily use, I typically left Nord on auto-connect or selected NordLynx.Nord undergoes annual audits and publishes a regular transparency reportNordVPN promotes its strict no-logs policy, and while zero-logging policies are tough to prove with complete certainty, third-party audits can back up VPN provider claims. In Dec. 2023, Deloitte audited NordVPNs infrastructure, finding no evidence of logging.In 2024, Nord shifted away from a warrant canary to publishing quarterly transparency reports, a move I appreciated. While the reports are pretty barebones, theyre nonetheless helpful for seeing the number of DMCA and government institution requests the company received as well as how many orders Nord complied with. According to the report, Nord received 10,358,304 DMCA requests and 280 inquiries from government agencies.As of Jan. 14, 2025, Nord has disclosed limited user information once. NordVPN told me via email:In October 2024, NordVPN received a legally binding warrant from the Panamanian prosecutors office as part of a criminal investigation. This warrant was issued in full compliance with all relevant laws and regulations, and we were legally required to provide the user data in our possession.It is important to note that, according to our privacy policy, the only information we could supply was payment-related details and confirmation of the account linked to the email address provided by the authorities. We do not collect or store any logs of internet traffic, or other information regarding users online behavior. Thus, we had no such data to share. Ensuring the security and privacy of our customers remains our top priority.That doesnt necessarily make me hesitate to use Nord. The best we can hope for in these situations is for companies to maintain user privacy while complying with local laws. In fact, you can think of this situation as a test of whether Nord actually doesnt log user data (it doesnt log user data). Still, I can see this being a concern for folks with serious privacy concerns, such as asylum-seekers, political activists or investigative journalists. Because many VPN providers like Nord require email-based accounts, theres a paper trail. If you need even stricter privacy, Mullvad doesnt require an email for signup, further minimizing your identifiable connection to its service.Thankfully, the data Nord had to hand over was minor -- confirming payment-related information and the existence of an account tied to an email address (not providing any other account-related information). While true anonymity doesnt exist, you can take certain precautions, like paying with cryptocurrencies and using a burner email address, to make it harder to trace things back to you. And complying with one out of 280 legal requests in a year is a good batting average, especially considering the limited scope of the information handed over.Privacy policy: Largely standard stuff with an overhaul on the horizonA crucial part of our VPN testing is poring over privacy policies. While its a best practice to read the fine print, not everybody has time to trek into the often obtuse labyrinth of legalese that comprises many privacy policies. Overall, NordVPNs privacy policy is pretty paint-by-numbers. But NordVPN told me via video call and reiterated over email that it has a privacy policy revamp in the works. Once thats published, Ill dive in and update this section.I liked how well-organized the information was, which made it relatively easy to scan -- some privacy policies seem as though you need an advanced law degree to parse the data. Its less digestible than PIAs outstanding privacy policy but better than many Ive slogged through. Overall, it reaffirms Nords commitment to maintaining user data confidentiality. Notably, in its Requests for data section, the privacy policy states: ...we do not log users browsing history, traffic information, or IP addresses used to access the internet via our services. This means that we are not able to link shared IP addresses of VPN services to an individual user or otherwise individual users based on data that we do not process. Therefore, even if we were to receive a rightfully served request, it might be impossible for us to identify a specific person or provide any identifying information related to that person. In cases where, following an appropriate legal process, we are obligated to comply with a request and we are able to identify a specific person, we will provide the limited data we process as per our Privacy Policy given it falls within the scope of the request.I think a few areas could be more explicit, such as a section regarding the sharing of personal data in the event of a business transfer:We may share your personal data in those cases where we sell or negotiate to sell our business or go through a corporate merger, acquisition, consolidation, asset sale, reorganization, or similar event. In these situations, Nord will continue to ensure the confidentiality of your personal data.These instances arent entirely uncommon. For instance, NordVPN and Surfshark merged in 2022, while Kape Technologies bought ExpressVPN in 2021.Nord said via email about its business transfers clause, This is a standard clause, used by the legal team to cover some theoretical possibilities in edge cases.I dont agree entirely about this, and would like more transparency about what specific data could be transferred in the event of a sale. Theres nothing especially troublesome in its privacy policy, but Nord has some room for improvement with its language surrounding business transfers, which Im hoping to see in its upcoming privacy policy update.Key takeaway: NordVPN includes a bevy of niche yet useful privacy features, undergoes regular audits and publishes quarterly transparency reports. While its privacy policy is pretty decipherable, Id like to see it become even more reader-friendly. Additionally, while the average person who wants to stream from Netflix or BBC iPlayer may not be concerned, some folks with critical privacy needs (like political activists or asylum-seekers) may be worried about its disclosure of limited user data to the Panamanian government.Final thoughts: NordVPN is fast, private and exceptional for streamingNordVPN is an outstanding VPN for various users, from paranoid torrenters to streaming fanatics and frequent international fliers. Its generous server network gives you a lot of connectivity options, plus youll find some unique privacy features. Notably, Tor Over VPN servers make boosting your privacy with Tor more user-friendly, and Meshnet offers many solutions, like secure file sharing between remote PCs or bypassing streaming service password-sharing crackdowns.Despite many of its power user amenities, Nord remains intuitive enough for less tech-savvy users. Although its one- and two-year plans are competitively priced at the onset, I was disappointed in Nords deceptive price hikes, which seem to contradict the transparency so prevalent throughout the rest of its VPN offerings. Thats not to say you shouldnt use NordVPN -- youll just need to babysit your subscription more so than companies with little to no price hike. Ultimately, NordVPN is fast and full of helpful privacy features, working just as well for streaming buffs and privacy enthusiasts alike.

February 9, 2025What Weve Learned about Superstrong Shrimp, How Deep Canyons Formed on the Moon, and What Bonobos KnowIn this weeks roundup, were reviewing some animal research, the latest on bird flu and the burden of microplastics on our brain. Anaissa Ruiz Tejada/Scientific AmericanSUBSCRIBE TO Science Quickly[CLIP: Theme music]Rachel Feltman: Happy Monday, listeners! For Scientific Americans Science Quickly, Im Rachel Feltman. Lets kick off the week by catching up on some of the science news you may have missed.[CLIP: Theme music][CLIP: The Farmhouse by Silver Maple]On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.First, a quick bird flu update. If youre a regular listener, you already know that H5N1 bird flu has been circulating in U.S. cattle for almost a year. Thats been thanks to a type called B3.13. Now a different variant of H5N1 that had been circulating in birds, known as the D1.1 genotype, has shown up in six herds in Nevada. This suggests that our current outbreak involved more than one spillover event, or an instance when a bird transmitted H5N1 to a cow. We dont know when the D1.1 variant hopped over to cattle, or how widely its circulating. People have previously been infected with D1.1, including two severe cases, and NPR reports that scientists have speculated that this genotype might be more dangerous to humans. D1.1 was also responsible for the first U.S. death from H5N1 bird flu, when someone in Louisiana caught it from backyard flocks.Lets move on to some other health news. Last Monday great.[CLIP: Theme music][CLIP: It Doesnt End Here (Instrumental), by Nehemiah Pratt]And speaking of brains, a new observational study suggests that people generally feel their best, at least mentally, in the morning. Based on data from a multiyear study that followed nearly 50,000 people, researchers [CLIP: Theme music][CLIP: None of my Business by Arthur Benson]Regardless of the hour, if you find yourself struggling with something, you might be able to get a hand from a surprising ally: a bonobo. A study published last Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences explores whether our close primate relatives have whats known as theory of mind, or the ability to imagine the mental states of others.To test that, researchers set up an experiment where a human tester sat with a bonobo while another person hid a grape under one of three cups. The tester would then spend about 10 seconds making a show of being unsure which cup the grape was under. When the bonobo had seen the tester watch their colleague place the grape, the animal was slower to point out the treats location and did so less often. But when the tester was blocked from watching the grape be placed, the bonobo were more likely to point out where the fruit was and do so more quickly. In other words, the animal could seemingly comprehend that their human companion didnt have the information needed to complete the task and sought to help them out.In other wild animal news or even aquarium glass. This new study aimed to figure out how these shrimp stay in one piece in the wake of the awesome shock waves they create.Apparently, the mantis shrimps mighty hammer, or dactyl club, has layers of intricate patterns that help protect the small crustaceans. The part of the club that hits its target is covered in mineralized fibers that form something like a herringbone pattern. That gives the club structural integrity when hammer time comes around. But beneath that are twisted fiber bundles that rotate from one layer to the next. Researchers say this design filters out certain frequencies, dampening the stress of the impact and protecting the shrimp from facing the consequences of its actions. In addition to just being really cool, the researchers say, this natural design could help inform the creation of better soundproofing materials and perhaps even protective gear for athletes and soldiers.[CLIP: Theme Music]On the topic of big blasts, new research suggests that a dramatic event could be to blame for two massive canyons on the moon. Vallis Schrdinger and Vallis Planck are roughly 1.7 and 2.2 miles deep, respectively, putting our own planets Grand Canyon to shame with its mere 1.2-mile depth. But while plate tectonics and erosion shaped our beloved Southwest landmark over millions of years, analysis of images and data from NASAs Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter suggests things happened much more quickly for Schrdinger and Planck. Instead of gradually shifting earth and a river of water, fast-moving streams of rock that resulted from a dramatic cosmic impact carved these lunar pits around 3.8 billion years ago. The scientists behind the study, published last Tuesday in Nature Communications, estimate that the debris ejected in the impact reached speeds of up to about 2,800 miles per hour, hitting the lunar surface with a huge amount of energy and chiseling out the massive canyons in as little as 10 minutes. I guess were just no match for lunar efficiency.[CLIP: Theme Music]Thats all for todays news roundup. If youre wondering why we didnt talk about that asteroid that has a very small chance of colliding with Earth in, like, a decade, dont worry: were going to give you the full 411 on Wednesday.Science Quickly is produced by me, Rachel Feltman, along with Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg, Naeem Amarsy and Jeff DelViscio. Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck fact-check our show. Our theme music was composed by Dominic Smith. Subscribe to Scientific American for more up-to-date and in-depth science news.For Scientific American, this is Rachel Feltman. Have a great week!

DF Direct: our weekly show celebrates 200 episodesPlus: do we need a DF input latency rating system?Image credit: Digital Foundry Blog by Will Judd Deputy Editor, Digital Foundry Published on Feb. 10, 2025 DF Direct, our weekly news and Q+A show, recently celebrated its bicentennial - in the sense of reaching 200 episodes, not marking a 200-year anniversary! All four not-on-holiday members of Digital Foundry assembled for the occasion, sharing stories of those early episodes and other highlights from the show's nearly four-year run thus far. As part of the on-holiday contingent, it was a lot of fun to watch the show back - I heartily recommend viewing at least that initial segment if you're a fan of the channel, as it contains some nice reminisces from Rich, John, Alex and Oliver. It also got me thinking about the show from my own perspective, as it has perhaps a bigger impact on the way the DF team operates than most people realise. For example, our weekly show is the biggest source for the DF Clips YouTube channel that started in 2023 and is now on the cusp of 100,000 subscribers. As DF Direct has gotten longer and longer over the years, being able to repackage segments into more shareable chunks has been a godsend - and allowed us to ensure that the most critical information is in the wild without the need to produce a whole scripted video. Watch on YouTubeWith five full-time members of Digital Foundry testing, scripting, recording and editing their own videos - Rich, Tom, John, Alex and Oliver - we only have the capability to cover around three or four topics a week, which just isn't enough when we have to contend with the volume of game releases and updates. Having the Direct means that those smaller topics can be tested by one or two members of the team over the course of minutes or hours, then reported off-the-cuff, enabling much broader coverage than we'd otherwise manage. The Direct is also one of favourite ways to maintain a dialogue with our community, in the form of the questions submitted for each episode. Like the news portion of the show, the questions-and-answers segment has gradually grown over the years, and our community continues to step up its game both in terms of insightful questions and comic memery. Everyone on the team really looks forward to selecting questions for the week's show, and there are often many more slots on the docket for questions than there are news topics. The questions on this week's Direct are, as always, high-quality ones. I particularly liked Michael Giles' enquiry into the establishment of a DF Latency Rating, which he proposes could be based on millisecond thresholds - thereby giving viewers an easy way to know whether the experience delivered by various levels of frame generation had good, acceptable or unacceptable levels of input latency. 0:00:00 Introduction0:02:07 News 1: DF Direct celebrates episode 200!0:32:01 News 2: Nintendo sets Switch 2 price expectations0:46:17 News 3: Next Battlefield shown in brief teaser0:55:45 News 4: Monster Hunter Wilds beta, benchmark tested1:09:05 News 5: RTX 5080 overclocking tested1:26:52 News 6: Epic admits Unreal Engine has a #StutterStruggle problem1:34:17 News 7: Star Wars Outlaws updated with new PSSR version1:41:07 Supporter Q1: Could you test the 5090 with no AI features vs. the 5080 with all AI features?1:47:23 Supporter Q2: Could DF establish a latency rating system?1:54:41 Supporter Q3: Would increasing resolution and AA quality be enough for Nintendo Switch 2 games?1:57:53 Supporter Q4: Is a Bloodborne remaster imminent?2:03:32 Supporter Q5: Could 1080p actually be preferable to 4K for Switch 2 games?It's an interesting thought, and perhaps has an equally interesting answer. This concept and others like it have been suggested a few times as the answer to giving an intuitive way of classifying varying input latency at equal frame-rates, and there's certainly merit in that. However, the problem facing such a system is that acceptable levels of input latency vary quite substantially depending on the input method, game and even person. You may find that an action-adventure game played on a controller is perfectly acceptable latency-wise with 4x frame generation, but a mouse-and-keyboard shooter is intolerable with even regular 2x frame gen. To put this in historical context, we've often seen quite dramatic shifts in input latency from one console generation to another, with Rich picking out PS3 being a notable downgrade over PS2. That's because of a confluence of factors, notably an industry-wide switch to 30fps games rather than 60fps, game engines becoming more complicated to handle more advanced graphics, and early LCD TVs replacing CRTs. All three changes caused input latency to increase substantially - we saw measurements in Killzone 2 of over 200ms, even factoring out the display latency! - yet in the absence of good measuring tools, little was made of the change. In the current context then, perhaps we need more personalised tools to judge where the threshold is for input latency that's too high. I like Rich's idea of someone like the makers of 3DMark producing an input latency test with various game genres represented, then randomly varying latency with the user marking when things become too unresponsive. To see this content please enable targeting cookies. With those two discussion points out of the way, I should close with this final thought: Digital Foundry would not be where it is today without the support of its viewers. We massively appreciate everyone that reaches out to offer their feedback, questions and good humour each week, or just reads and watches what we put out. Thank you. If you are interested in joining our brilliant community, take a look at the DF Patreon. You get some neat perks, including access to our private Discord server filled with some lovely individuals, weekly reports on what we're working on and high-quality video downloads of every video we've put out for nearly a decade. Higher tiers get all of the above plus extra rewards, including early access to non-embargoed videos, behind-the-scenes content, and even early access to DF Retro episodes and exclusive retro extras at the highest tier. As always, thanks again for watching and supporting Digital Foundry.