For a limited time, you can get a Windows 11 Pro license for just $18 an unbeatable price for a full, genuine retail license (from a trusted source, of course). With Windows 10 officially reaching end-of-life (EOL) in October 2025, this is the perfect opportunity to upgrade to Microsoft's latest OS at a steep discount.Windows 11 Pro continues to deliver top-tier security, with built-in hardware protections, passwordless sign-in via Windows Hello, and AI-enhanced phishing defense. Its chip-to-cloud security model ensures a safer computing experience, making it an excellent choice for both personal and business use.The modernized interface of Windows 11 is as sleek as ever, featuring a centered taskbar, a redesigned Start menu, and refined UI elements across the system. Widgets have been improved, providing quick access to weather, calendar, news, and essential apps.Windows 11 also includes Copilot, Microsoft's AI assistant that seamlessly integrates across the OS to enhance productivity. The Microsoft Store has been further refined for a faster, smoother app discovery and installation experience.For gamers, Windows 11 Pro is fully optimized and receives the most recent DirectX updates, drivers and game patches. Auto HDR and other gaming-focused improvements make it the best Windows version yet for gaming. While Microsoft still offers free upgrades to eligible Windows 10 users, this $18 deal is ideal for anyone building a new PC or needing a full, clean installation license.At this price, Windows 11 Pro is an absolute steal. Whether you're upgrading an old system or setting up a new one, now is the best time to grab your license while this offer lasts.StackSocial is a trusted partner of TechSpot, managing the TechSpot Store reliably for over a decade. If you already have a TechSpot Store account, the same credentials will work in the StackSocial store. Prices are subject to change.Here's a summary of our current Microsoft software deals:Microsoft Office 2019 Pro available for $35Microsoft Office 2021 Pro available for $59Windows 11 Pro available for $18Microsoft Visual Studio Professional for $27Microsoft Project 2021 for Windows for $20Microsoft Visio 2021 for Windows for $20

Forward-looking: Nvidia has been working on a new method to compress textures and save GPU memory for a few years now. Although the technology remains in beta, a newly released demo showcases how AI-based solutions could help address the increasingly controversial VRAM limitations of modern GPUs. Nvidia's Neural Texture Compression can provide gigantic savings in the amount of VRAM required to render complex 3D graphics, even though no one is using it (yet). While still in beta, the technology was tested by YouTube channel Compusemble, which ran the official demo on a modern gaming system to provide an early benchmark of its potential impact and what developers could achieve with it in the not-so-distant future.As explained by Compusemble in the video below, RTX Neural Texture Compression uses a specialized neural network to compress and decompress material textures dynamically. Nvidia's demo includes three rendering modes: Reference Material, NTC Transcoded to BCn, and Inference on Sample.Reference Material: This mode does not use NTC, meaning textures remain in their original state, leading to high disk and VRAM usage.NTC Transcoded to BCn (block-compressed formats): Here, textures are transcoded upon loading, significantly reducing disk footprint but offering only moderate VRAM savings.Inference on Sample: This approach decompresses texture elements only when needed during rendering, achieving the greatest savings in both disk space and VRAM.Compusemble tested the demo at 1440p and 4K resolutions, alternating between DLSS and TAA. The results suggest that while NTC can dramatically reduce VRAM and disk space usage, it may also impact frame rates. At 1440p with DLSS, Nvidia's NTC transcoded to BCn mode reduced texture memory usage by 64% (from 272MB to 98MB), while NTC inference on sample drastically cut it to 11.37MB, a 95.8% reduction compared to non-neural compression.Also read: Why Are Modern PC Games Using So Much VRAM?The demo ran on a GeForce RTX 4090 GPU, where DLSS and higher resolutions placed additional load on the Tensor Cores, affecting performance to some extent depending on the setting and resolution. However, newer GPUs may deliver higher frame rates and make the difference negligible when properly optimized. After all, Nvidia is heavily invested in AI-powered rendering techniques like NTC and other RTX applications.The demo also shows the importance of cooperative vectors in modern rendering pipelines. As Microsoft recently explained, cooperative vectors accelerate AI workloads for real-time rendering by optimizing vector operations. These computations play a crucial role in AI model training and fine-tuning and can also be leveraged to enhance game rendering efficiency. // Related Stories

Table of ContentsTable of ContentsWhat does Paragonix do?The cooler is only the startWhat it all meansStandard of careIce is very bad for organ storage. It is very good to cool your beers in the summer, but it has no place in organ transplantation, Lisa Anderson, CEO of Paragonix Technologies joked during an otherwise serious conversation that began as a quick chat about a new app, but ended up as an incredible story about how an established-but-flawed way of transporting donated organs to a recipient has been turned on its head.Lisa Anderson, Paragonix CEO ParagonixFor about 50 years, transplanted organs have been moved around on ice, Anderson explained. They were put in a sterile plastic bag and placed into an ice chest filled with crushed ice. But this is too cold for organs. Its freezing. If you put a piece of meat in the freezer it gets freezer burn, which injures tissue and organs. Just because clinicians have been doing this for 50 years, doesnt mean it was the right thing to do.Recommended VideosParagonix recognized organ storage temperature couldnt be too cold, and they were persevered more effectively between four-and-eight degrees celsius. It now produces a range of high-tech storage devices that cool, preserve, and even track the health of the organ it contains, along with a master app to simplify, streamline, and speed up the crucial flow of information throughout its journey.BaroGuard cooler for lung organ transportation ParagonixThe FDA-approved coolers, which are quite different to the ones youd use to keep drinks cold at a barbecue, are made of a single-use, biodegradable foam with Paragonixs SherpaCool phase-change technology to maintain a steady thermal environment inside. A battery keeps the display running, but the cooling is passive, so if the battery runs out for some reason, the contents will not be affected.ParagonixDepending on the organ being transported, the Paragonix cooler performs other functions too, as Anderson explained:Some of our devices focus purely on temperature control, but some have other functionalities. For kidneys its actually perfusing [meaning a liquid is circulating through an organ] the kidney during transport with a nutrient rich solution, and we can capture data to show how the organ is responding to it. This has been correlated to function after transplant, and we can give the clinician an indication of the health of that organ on arrival. Lungs are transported in an inflated state and we can track the inflation pressure during transport, another important parameter for clinicians.Anderson explained much of tracking data simply didnt exist for organs in transit before, and could only be provided by machines and then verbally communicated to clinicians. Understanding the condition of the organ, and keeping people informed during its journey, is where the app comes in.A transplant procedure involves many, many people, Anderson continued. The team taking care of the recipient has to be in the know, but so does the donor hospital. Before, what happened was hundreds of phone calls between people were constantly taking place, exchanging chemical information, information about their location, information about what they were doing, and what they were experiencing. In the Paragonix mobile app, everybody can see what is happening on the journey, whether donation has taken place, whether the organ has been recovered, and where the organ is. It has insights, remote monitoring, and real-time information so everyone knows whats happening.SherpaPak cooler for heart organ transportation ParagonixPutting an organ in a bag filled with ice and communicating over over the phone suddenly sounds like a very outdated way of doing things. Andersons enthusiasm was obvious during our conversation, but at its most infectious when she started explaining how Paragonixs technology was saving, and then extending peoples lives.From inception to date weve transported over 10,000 organs and the app was has been used in over 6,000 cases, she told Digital Trends. Were following close to 5,000 patients and what we have shown is if you put an organ in a Paragonix device youre going to significantly reduce, by over 50%, the occurrence of severe complications after transplant. Over four years weve been able to demonstrate there are more patients alive because of our technology than with ice, and a reduction in [heart transplant] mortality by 45%. Were the only company that not only has devices for all five transplant organs, but also for pediatric transplants. No other company has pediatric utilization.Its hard not to be impressed and excited about technology with such meaningful benefits, but Paragonix has also completely changed the logistics of getting an organ to the right person, and dramatically reduced the costs involved too.Weve transported over 10,000 organs and the app was has been used in over 6,000 cases,Before the introduction of advanced preservation technology such as ours, organs had to be sourced within about 290 square miles, Anderson told me. This was a pretty narrow geographic area, especially if you are on the coast and half of your territory was in the ocean. We have been able to push this geographic distance up to 2,300 miles. For liver, lung, and heart weve almost opened up the entire U.S..Because organs can be kept outside the body for longer, transport options have opened up too. Anderson said due to previous time constraints, many organs traveled by private charter flights costing up to $80,000. Now, they can travel on a commercial airline for a fraction of the cost. In turn, all this helps clinicians plan surgeries at better times, rather than in the middle of the night or at the last minute.ParagonixHearing how transformative Paragonixs cooler and app can be, the amount its being used in the medical industry will come as no surprise. Anderson provided more impressive figures:We currently transport and protect over 50% of hearts in the U.S. that are transplanted, over 50% of lungs, and about 10 percent of livers right now. We only launched liver transport 12 months ago. Our device has become standard of care in organ preservation, at least for heart and lung, and our mobile app has become standard of care as well.Transplant centers even advertise they use Paragonix equipment and app, allowing patients to make an informed choice. If it was me receiving a donated organ, after hearing about what Paragonix offers, Id certainly want it to be used.Paragonix coolers for pancreas (left) and liver organ transportation ParagonixWhen I was first offered the chance to speak to Anderson, it was mostly about the clever app, and even when I accepted I had no idea it was just one part of an astonishing, life-saving system driven by mobile technology making a real difference to peoples lives.As our conversation came to a close we had mostly talked about the organ, its journey, the recipient and of course, the technology, but Anderson had a poignant reminder about the other person involved, and how important they are to the process and to Paragonix itself.When we conceived the concept for Paragonix, our devices, and the app, we always thought about two patients. We think about the recipient that is going to have an improved outcome with our technology, but maybe more importantly, we also think about the donor patient who selflessly left that gift, and how we have utmost responsibility to protect it for somebody else to use.

In case you missed it, Super Bowl 59 (LIX) was yesterday, and the Eagles whooped the Chiefs by an unexpected margin.Madden predicted this with a simulated game between the two teams, guessing that it would be a tight game that the Eagles would ultimately win. While Philadelphia did take home the championship, it was not a close game; the Eagles won 40-22, versus the predicted 23-21. More than that, the Chiefs scored two touchdowns at the end of the game during garbage time. In actuality, the score gap was much wider.Every year, Electronic Arts runs a simulated game between the two teams competing in the Super Bowl, and its actually correct more often than not. The football franchise has had a 55% success rate in predicting the winner since 2004, and sometimes it has been almost too accurate. Take 2015, for instance, when the game somehow determined the Patriots would make an incredible comeback and nailed almost every detail down to the final score.Recommended VideosInterestingly enough, this years prediction also called out quarterback Jalen Hurts as the MVP. Its almost enough to make you believe theMadden franchise has a touch of clairvoyance.EALike we said earlier, though EAs predictions arent always correct. It has never guessed correctly more than twice in a row, but then again, it hasnt been wrong more than twice in a row, either.Please enable Javascript to view this contentFans take it upon themselves each year to run their own simulations and compare the results against EAs official prediction. Several people reported a predicted Chiefs win, but in the end, none of the predictions were close to reality. This years Super Bowl was something of an upset, with odds favoring the Chiefs over the Eagles, and that same outcome seems to have been played out on the virtual field, too.Editors Recommendations

Americas first IRS commissioner helped raise the vast sums needed to wage the Civil War and was a strong advocate of racial equality.

"What does nature mean to you?" After Trump killed a report on nature, researchers push ahead with release Major report was designed to answer the public's biggest questions on nature. Ashley Belanger Feb 10, 2025 2:45 pm | 22 Credit: ekolara | iStock / Getty Images Plus Credit: ekolara | iStock / Getty Images Plus Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreThe first-ever National Nature Assessmentwhich was based on significant public feedback and strove to reveal how nature loss influences climate change and impacts humanitymay still see the light of day after the Trump administration abruptly ended the ambitious project.Researchers involved told The New York Times that the nature report was "too important to die" and that an "amazingly broad consensus" remains among its mostly volunteer authors, so the expansive report must be completed and released to the public.The first draft of the report was due on Tuesday, so the bulk of the initial work appears mostly done. Although the webpage for the project has been deleted, an archived version shows that researchers had expected to spend the rest of 2025 seeking external review and edits before releasing the final report in late 2026.Former President Joe Biden called for the nature report in 2022, posting in the federal register that "existing reports and assessments provide partial views of changes in nature and how they affect the nation, but the United States lacks comprehensive knowledge on these major aspects of global change."The report was supposed to fill in meaningful gaps to achieve the Biden administration's goal of helping the US develop "nature-based solutions" that "can advance multiple benefits" beyond the obvious hope of achieving US climate goals. For example, one chapter lead, Rajat Panwar, told The Times that his team's chapter includes "understated and understudied and underappreciated" information explaining how loss of nature impacts the economy.It's unclear exactly why the nature report was axed. A White House spokesperson, Anna Kelly, deflected questions on the report, The Times reported, only saying that Trump planned to "unleash Americas energy potential" and "simultaneously ensure that our nations land and water can be enjoyed for generations to come."But one word in the federal register notice describing key principles of the nature report"inclusive"may have triggered Trump's decision to end it. Christopher Schell, a lead author of a chapter called "Nature and Equity in the US," told The Times that his chapter's focus on environmental justice may have made the project an easy target for Trump.On day one of his administration, Trump issued executive orders rescinding Biden-era priorities and ending several environmental justice and equity initiatives in government. According to an analysis from two experts at Harvard's energy and environmental law program, Carrie Jenks and Sara Dewey, Trump claimed, "without explanation," that the Biden initiatives violate "longstanding Federal civil-rights laws" and "threaten the safety of American men, women, and children."Now "federal agencies no longer have a mandate, unless required under separate rules, to consider how their actions will disproportionately harm low-income communities, communities of color, and other vulnerable populations," the Harvard researchers warned.Trump contradictions in environmental ordersGrist reported on the scramble to salvage a wide range of Trump-purged climate data like the National Nature Assessment that could help protect vulnerable communities by remaining in the public sphere. That report noted that climate data access was similarly lost during Trump's prior administration, when "as much as 20 percent of the EPAs website became inaccessible to the public" and the government's "use of the term 'climate change' decreased by more than a third."But even if some members of the public remain jaded from Trump's prior administration, researchers working on the nature report told The Times that their biggest concern in moving forward with the report is that the general public views government studies as more authoritative than independent studies. The fear is that even if the report is eventually published, its impact could be watered down without the government's involvement or endorsement.However, it could bode well that all the authors involved in the nature report were publicly nominated and that the questions their report answers were chosen following several rounds of public comment periods. If an already engaged portion of the public is genuinely concerned about how the loss of nature impacts their lives, the findings could perhaps be eagerly met, with or without the US government's stamp of approval.The public may even be seeking more clarity outside of government by the time the report is released, as Jenks' and Dewey's analysis suggested that Trump's executive orders seem to contradict each other at times.For example, his order on wind energy expresses a concern about risks to species that seems to "directly" conflict with the objectives of other orders "to potentially accelerate or avoid both [the National Environmental Policy Act and Endangered Species Act] reviews to spur fossil energy production." Through an Environmental Justice Tracker and a Regulatory Tracker, the Harvard researchers plan to monitor these seemingly contradictory policies to trace potential harms and impacts as Trump's term goes on.Researchers involved with the nature report confirmed to The Times that they intend to ensure that all the back and forth with the public during listening sessionswhere officials asked broad questions like "what does nature mean to you?" and "how do we make this assessment useful for you?"was not for nothing.The former director of the report, Phil Levin, told The Times that "nature supports our economy, our health and well-being, national security and safety from fire and floods." In defending researchers' efforts to move forward with releasing the report, he echoed the deleted government webpage's "About" section, warning that "the loss of the National Nature Assessment means that were losing important information that we need to ensure that nature and people thrive.""Nature is important in its own right, and provides value to the lives of all Americans," the now-deleted nature report webpage said.Ashley BelangerSenior Policy ReporterAshley BelangerSenior Policy Reporter Ashley is a senior policy reporter for Ars Technica, dedicated to tracking social impacts of emerging policies and new technologies. She is a Chicago-based journalist with 20 years of experience. 22 Comments

Starlink for your smartphone What you need to know about the T-Mobile Starlink mobile service Details on beta registration, prices, compatible phones, and technical limits. Jon Brodkin Feb 10, 2025 2:17 pm | 42 T-Mobile marketing image for its Starlink texting service. Credit: T-Mobile T-Mobile marketing image for its Starlink texting service. Credit: T-Mobile Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreT-Mobile yesterday announced more details of its new service powered by Starlink and said Verizon and AT&T customers can use the satellite offering, too. The standard price will be $15 a month as an add-on for T-Mobile customers, and $20 a month for people who don't have T-Mobile as their primary carrier.While we've written numerous articles about the Starlink/T-Mobile collaboration over the past two and a half years, the service's beta test and a Super Bowl commercial are raising awareness that it exists. In this article we'll answer some questions you might have about T-Mobile Starlink (yes, T-Mobile Starlink is the official name of the service).What is this thing anyway?Over the past 13 months, SpaceX's Starlink division has launched about 450 Direct to Cell satellites that can provide service to mobile phones in areas where there are no cell towers. Starlink is partnering with cellular carriers in multiple countries, and T-Mobile is its primary commercial partner in the US.T-Mobile says the goal is to provide telecom service in dead zones, the 500,000 square miles of the US that aren't reached by any terrestrial cell tower. When a user crosses into a dead zone, their phone is supposed to automatically connect to Starlink satellites. T-Mobile Starlink only supports texting for now, but T-Mobile says voice calls and data service will be available eventually.Who can use itT-Mobile Starlink is obviously available to T-Mobile customers, but the carrier said that Verizon and AT&T customers can also use it on their existing phones without switching entirely to T-Mobile. Verizon and AT&T customers will need an unlocked phone with eSIM technology, which lets users activate a cellular plan without a physical SIM card.A Verizon or AT&T customer can use T-Mobile Starlink by activating a second eSIM on their device. "They will technically be assigned a T-Mobile number, but that's just to provision the device to access the constellation. And then the second eSIM can connect whenever the user loses coverage," a T-Mobile spokesperson told Mobile World Live.T-Mobile suggested that international roaming will be available with other carriers that also partner with Starlink. T-Mobile said a "growing alliance" of telcos "aims to provide reciprocal roaming for all participating carriers." Participating carriers so far include ones in Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Chile, Peru, Canada, and Ukraine.How to sign upTo use T-Mobile Starlink now, you need to register for a beta trial and hope you get in quickly. "The beta test is free and open to anyoneon any carrieruntil July," T-Mobile said.There is a short registration form in which you'll provide your name, email address, and mobile phone number, and agree that T-Mobile can contact you with marketing offers by email or phone. "We'll admit people on a rolling first-come, first-served basis, so we encourage everyone to sign up as soon as possible," T-Mobile said.T-Mobile said it is enrolling users "on an ongoing basis to help test the system and provide feedback before launching in July." Beta registration began in December. Early reports from beta testers suggest the service usually does what T-Mobile claimsenabling texting in areas with no cellular accessbut that users still can't get connections in some areas.What it costsWhen the free beta trial ends, T-Mobile customers will be able to add Starlink service to their plan for an extra charge of $15 per month for each line. If you sign up for the beta during February or if you signed up before then, T-Mobile says you'll get a $5 discount for early adopters once the service transitions from a free beta to a paid add-on. T-Mobile users with the early adopter discount will pay $10 a month starting in July 2025, the company said.Go5G Next, T-Mobile's priciest plan at $100 a month for a single line, will include Starlink access at no extra cost. "The beta is free until July at which point T-Mobile Starlink will be included at no extra cost on Go5G Next (including variations like Go5G Next 55+), T-Mobile's best plan," the company said. "Business customers will also get T-Mobile Starlink at no extra cost on Go5G Business Next, first responder agencies on T-Priority plans and other select premium rate plans. T-Mobile customers on any other plan can add the service for $15/month per line."After the beta trial ends, Verizon and AT&T customers can purchase T-Mobile Starlink for $20 per month for each line. There was no mention of an early adopter discount for customers who don't use T-Mobile as their primary carrier.Users who aren't subscribers of any of the big three carriers can also take advantage of the $20 offer. We asked T-Mobile if it would be available to people on other carriers, such as regional wireless providers or resellers. "Yes, any wireless user with an unlocked eSIM phone can sign up for service, regardless of provider," T-Mobile told us.Which phones it works onT-Mobile Starlink works on recent iPhones and certain phones made by Google, Motorola, Samsung, and a T-Mobile brand called REVVL. T-Mobile said more phones will be added over time, and the current list of supported devices is as follows:Apple iPhone 14 and later (including Plus, Pro & Pro Max)Google Pixel 9 (including Pro, Pro Fold, & Pro XL)Motorola 2024 and later (including razr, razr+, edge and g series)Samsung Galaxy A14, A15, A16, A35, A53, A54Samsung Galaxy S21 and later (including Plus, Ultra and Fan Edition)Samsung Galaxy X Cover6 ProSamsung Galaxy Z Flip3 and laterSamsung Galaxy Z Fold3 and laterREVVL 7 (including Pro)Going beyond textMoving from text messages to voice and data requires more bandwidth, and SpaceX needs another government approval to use the full capabilities of its satellites. To that end, SpaceX is seeking a waiver of Federal Communications Commission rules regarding out-of-band emission limits.Verizon and AT&T urged the FCC to deny the waiver request, alleging that Starlink's plan would interfere with services provided over networks using adjacent spectrum bands. SpaceX has described the waiver as being crucial to its future plans, telling the FCC that the "out-of-band emission restriction will be most detrimental for real-time communications such as voice and video, rendering such communications unreliable both in critical and in common circumstances, increasing risk in emergency situations."The FCC approved Starlink's plan for cellular phone service in November but deferred making a decision on the waiver request.Verizon and AT&T plan similar serviceAT&T and Verizon both intend to offer similar service through deals with satellite operator AST SpaceMobile. But AST SpaceMobile isn't as far along as SpaceX's Starlink, which is why AT&T was rebuked by an advertising industry self-regulatory board in August for claiming that it already offered cellular coverage from space.AST SpaceMobile launched its first five commercial satellites in September 2024. In late January, AST SpaceMobile said it obtained FCC approval to test the service "with unmodified smartphones in AT&T and Verizon premium low-band wireless spectrum supporting voice, full data, and video applications." The company also announced plans to launch up to 60 more satellites in 2025 and 2026.Jon BrodkinSenior IT ReporterJon BrodkinSenior IT Reporter Jon is a Senior IT Reporter for Ars Technica. He covers the telecom industry, Federal Communications Commission rulemakings, broadband consumer affairs, court cases, and government regulation of the tech industry. 42 Comments

Artists impression of an asteroid nearing the moonNASA/JPL-CaltechAsteroid 2024 YR4 is on a potential crash course with Earth, but theres a very slight chance the moon could take the hit.Based on current observations, there is a 2.1 per cent chance that the asteroid about as long as the Leaning Tower of Pisa is tall will crash into our planet on 22 December 2032. Although it is very likely to miss, a direct strike on a populated area would be catastrophic. But if it is in fact heading directly our way, new calculations show that there

PhysicsUnexpected epochs of stillness that punctuate the cosmic timeline could offer a natural explanation for dark matter and many other unsolved astronomical mysteries 10 February 2025 NASAAsk someone how the universe began and they will probably reply with those three familiar words: the big bang. But as recently as the 1960s, cosmologists hotly debated this matter. On the other side of the argument to the big bang was the idea of an unchanging steady state universe, the density of which was kept the same by continually adding new matter as it expanded.In the end, observations ruled out the idea of a steady state universe and cemented the place of the big bang in the canon of cosmology. That primordial explosion started a process of continual expansion, and today cosmologists view the universe as a place of constant flux.But now a bold group of cosmologists is questioning all that. To be clear, this isnt a return to the steady state universe, but something altogether more intriguing. The researchers are proposing that the universes history may have been punctuated by spells of eerie stillness. These periods of cosmic stasis could arise in such a way that they replace whole epochs of conventional cosmic history or become spliced within that timeline.Bold is certainly the word for this hypothesis. Its pointing to a whole different family of possibilities that before this we didnt realise could happen, says Adrienne Erickcek at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, who wasnt involved in the work. But if these static periods do exist, they could solve all manner of conundrums, including what dark matter is made of. Even more exciting, these ideas may soon be testable.

I booked a $1,000 Amtrak bedroom accommodation for my 30-hour trip from Miami to NYC in 2021.The author sits in a bedroom on a train from Miami to NYC. Joey Hadden/Business Insider I booked a tiny, private roomette for $500 on my trip from New York City to Miami and reserved a $1,000 bedroom accommodation, the next step up after a roomette, on my way back.The bedrooms are at least 45.5 square feet, which, for reference, is a little bigger than a standard king-size bed. They can sleep up to two adults.While the ride home was bumpy and long, the spacious bedroom made me feel at ease.The author sits on a train from Miami to NYC. Joey Hadden/Business Insider As someone who deals withtravel anxiety, I found 30 hours on a train to be overwhelming, especially since, at the time, I had only taken one other overnight train. The constant motion of the train didn't help, either. In fact, I ended up feeling a little queasy.But staying in a bedroom made me feel more comfortable than staying in a roomette, a cheaper accommodation that's about half the size. I thought the bedroom offered ample space to stretch out and move about, which made all the difference to me.I think I could comfortably do a 30-hour train journey again, as long as I book a bedroom. And to make it more affordable, I'd book with a friend to split the cost and have some company next time.My journey began at the Amtrak station in Miami.A view of a line to board an 11:50 a.m. train from Miami to New York. Joey Hadden/Business Insider I arrived at Miami Amtrak Station at 11 a.m., 50 minutes before my train was scheduled to depart. The building's interior reminded me of a Greyhound bus station.I sat in the only waiting area I could find until it was time to board.Once on the train, I found my bedroom, which had a sofa that folded out into a bed, a bed that pulled down from the ceiling, and a chair that folded up out of the way.A view of the author's Amtrak bedroom accommodation. Joey Hadden/Business Insider For double the price of a roomette, the accommodation I booked for my previous train trip, the bedroom accommodation also offered double the space.Right away, I knew this trip would be more pleasant than my ride to Miami since I had more room to stretch out.The bedroom had a table that pulled out from the wall between two of the three seats.A table holds the author's laptop. Joey Hadden/Business Insider The table reminded me of storage hacks I'd expect to find in a tiny home. I used it to hold my laptop while working and appreciated that I could simply fold it out of the way when it was time to relax.On the left side of the room, there was a sink underneath a mirror with a handful of small towels next to it.A view of the bathroom vanity in the bedroom. Joey Hadden/Business Insider Beneath the sink, there was a trash can and a place to hold tissues.To the right of the mirror was a cabinet where I could store my toiletries and other personal items. This feature allowed me to unpack a little, the way I would in a hotel room. Placing my toiletries on the cabinet shelves made me feel more at home.Next to the seating area, a small closet held three hangers for clothing you'd want to keep looking sharp.Views of a closet opened and closed. Joey Hadden/Business Insider I didn't use the closet, but I think it would have come in handy for storing jackets if I were traveling at a cooler time of the year.There was also a private bathroom inside the bedroom that had a door, shower, and toilet.The bathroom door, left, led to a room with a toilet and shower, right. Joey Hadden/Business Insider On the bathroom door were hooks to hold towels and clothing items. On a shelf above the toilet were two towels for drying yourself off after a shower.I appreciated that the toilet was separated from the rest of the room by a door, and I think this is a great amenity if you're traveling with others.Other bedroom features included temperature controls and a button to call an attendant.A view of some controls in the bedroom. Joey Hadden/Business Insider I could also adjust the volume of the overhead speaker, through which train stops were announced, which I found particularly helpful.This came in handy when I wanted to get off the train for a minute and stretch my legs. Thanks to the overhead speaker volume control, I always knew when the next stop would be and how long we had at each station.The bedroom also had handy controls for night, reading, and ceiling lights.The best thing the bedroom offered was space. I had room to stand up, stretch, and dance. This made my ride much more enjoyable.The author uses the free space in the bedroom to dance. Joey Hadden/Business Insider I tried to make the train feel like home, and at home, I take dance breaks throughout the day.Shutting the curtains gave me a moment of privacy to just be my goofy self. This helped me keep moving, too, which I found to be essential for surviving a 30-hour train ride.It was also nice to have a big sofa where I could stretch out and put my feet up.The author's belongings are spread around the room. Joey Hadden/Business Insider Having room to stretch out made me feel more relaxed throughout my journey. I appreciated that the couch was long enough to lie down on.During the day, I spent a lot of time working on my laptop, which made the time pass by quickly.The author works on the train. Joey Hadden/Business Insider Thanks to all the work I had to do, the first chunk of my trip home went by pretty quickly.But when the workday was done, I had to find other ways to pass the time.The author smiles as her workday ends. Joey Hadden/Business Insider I decided to lie down on my belly and look outside the window for a bit.Exhausted from my travels, I spent much of the evening reclining on the seats and gazing out the window.A view out of the window somewhere between Florida and Delaware. Joey Hadden/Business Insider During my trip home, I saw forests, towns, and factories outside my window. This made me think about how traveling by train gives you a railroad view of the country that can't be replicated in a car or on a flight.When it was time for dinner, I headed to the dining car and got some braised beef short ribs and mashed potatoes.The author smiles with her dinner. Joey Hadden/Business Insider My meals came with the ticket, and I could pick from five items. Since I enjoyed the braised beef short rib dish on my trip to Miami, I decided to get it again on my way home.Before bed, I brushed my teeth and washed my face in front of the sink.The author takes a selfie showing off her clean teeth and the vanity. Joey Hadden/Business Insider Since I have an electric toothbrush, it was nice to be able to charge it using the outlets in the bathroom.At about 8 p.m., an attendant came to my room to transform the sofa into a bed.An aerial view of the sofa bed. Joey Hadden/Business Insider My first thought when I entered the room again after receiving bedside service was that the bed looked bigger than the one I slept in on my way to Miami in a roomette.Since I had trouble sleeping on the top bunk on the way to Miami, I opted for the bottom bunk on this journey.The author lies in bed with the curtains drawn in the evening. Joey Hadden/Business Insider The bed and sheets were comfortable, and I was happy to have more room to sleep.Since there were outlets next to the sink, I propped my phone up there so I could watch TV from bed.The author's bedtime setup. Joey Hadden/Business Insider There might have been outlets on the other side of the bed, too, but I wasn't able to find them.By the time I sat in my bed at about 8:30 p.m., I realized my body was already aching for sleep.The author yawns on the bed. Joey Hadden/Business Insider I thought I'd stay up and watch TV for a while, but my body was telling me to just pass out.So I decided to lie down and watch "The Office" until I drifted off to sleep.The ride was bumpy through the night, but being on the lower bed felt grounding, and I didn't feel as if I was going to fall off the bed at any point. Although it wasn't a perfect night's sleep, I definitely slept better than I did in the roomette.I woke up the next morning around 8 a.m. in North Carolina to the sun beaming.The author squints at the sun when she gets up in the morning. Joey Hadden/Business Insider I woke up to the sun peering through my window feeling somewhat rested.Instead, I washed my face in front of the sink and put on a lot of deodorant.The author washes her face in front of the vanity. Joey Hadden/Business Insider While I was washing my face, I noticed how nice it was to have three mirrors next to one another. It was easy to see the spots I missed after washing the soap off my face.Breakfast and lunch were also included in my ticket on my final day of travel, and I thought they were pretty tasty.The author's breakfast, left, and lunch during her final day of travel. Joey Hadden/Business Insider For breakfast, I went to the dining car and got the continental option. For lunch, I decided to try a different entre from the braised beef short ribs I had the night before.I chose a chicken fettuccine dish with broccoli and sun-dried tomatoes, and I thought it was decent.Of all the meals I had, I found the continental breakfast to be the most filling and satisfying.