Hallucinations are the hottest problem in artificial intelligence, spurring companies and researchers to find new solutions.

John Edwards, Technology Journalist & AuthorFebruary 11, 20256 Min ReadTithi Luadthong via Alamy StockData centers are one of the most energy-intensive building structures, consuming 10- to 50-times more energy per square foot than a typical commercial office building and accounting for approximately 2% of the nation's total electricity consumption, says Todd Grabowski, president of global data center solutions at Johnson Controls, an HVAC and facilities management firm, citing US Department of Energy statistics.In an email interview, Grabowski notes that a rapid shift to AI workloads is driving data center energy demand to record high levels, with AI tasks now consuming up to 10-times more power than conventional IT operations. High-performance computing racks will require 100 to 120 kilowatts (kW) per rack in the near future, he predicts.Data centers specifically designed to handle AI workloads generally rely on servers using a graphics processor unit (GPU), a device initially designed for digital image processing and to accelerate computer graphics. A major drawback of these systems is that they generate a high thermal design power (TDP), meaning they produce a large amount of heat per processor, per server, and per rack.AIs Thermal ImpactWhen running AI processes, GPUs can consume over a kilowatt of power, much higher than classical CPUs, which typically require a maximum of approximately 400 watts, says Nenad Miljkovic, a professor in the mechanical science and engineering department at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. "Pure air cooling will not work for the majority of AI servers, so liquid cooling is required," he states in an online interview. "Liquid is better than air, since it has better properties, including higher thermal conductivity and heat capacity." Drawbacks, however, include higher cost, reduced reliability, and greater implementation complexity.Related:GPU-based servers are designed and used for high-performance computing, which can process substantial amounts of data quickly, Grabowski says. He observes that AI clusters operate most efficiently when latency is reduced by utilizing high-bandwidth fiber optic connections, strategically placed servers, and an optimized network topology that minimizes data travel distance. Grabowski predicts that most future data centers will feature dense racks generating a large amount of heat and packed into multi-story facilities.The real issue facing data center operators isn't cooling, but energy management, states David Ibarra, international regional leader with datacenter builder DPR Construction. "The industry has substantial operational experience in effectively cooling and managing cooling systems for large-scale data centers," he explains in an online interview. "The primary challenge facing AI datacenter operators is the increased power densities of GPU rack clusters within the server racks." Ibarra notes that cooling loads diversification requires managing not only new GPU racks, but also CPU-based racks, storage, and network racks. "Therefore, engineering and planning must consider the varying characteristics of cooling loads for each type of rack."Related:Seeking SustainabilityAs demand increases, a growing number of data center operators are transitioning from traditional air-cooling to a hybrid cooling system combining both liquid and air-cooling technologies. "This change is driven by the increasing demand for large AI GPU racks, which require liquid cooling to efficiently remove heat from their high-core-count processors," Ibarra says.To advance sustainability, Miljkovic suggests locating data centers close to renewable energy sources. "For example, near a nuclear power plant, where power is abundant, and security is good."Solar and wind power are often touted as solutions by green advocates yet aren't generally considered practical given the fact that new data centers can easily consume over 500 megawatts of power and frequently exceed a gigawatt or more. A more practical approach is using data center-generated heat, Miljkovic says. "All of the heat generated from the data center can be re-used for district heating if coolant temperatures are allowed to be higher, which they can [accomplish] with liquid cooling."Related:Additional AlternativesA growing number of AI data centers are being designed to mimic power plants. Some are actually being built on decommissioned power plant sites, using rivers, lakes, and reservoirs for cooling, says Jim Weinheimer, vice president of data center operations at cloud services provider Rackspace. "These [facilities] must be carefully designed and operated, but they have huge cooling capacity without consuming water," he observes via email.Local climate can also play an important role in data center cooling. Cold weather locations are increasingly favored for new data center builds. Lower ambient temperatures reduce the amount of cooling needed and, therefore, the need for water or other coolant required by the AI data center, says Agostinho Villela, Scala Data Centers' chief innovation and technology officer,in an online interview. Alternatively, closed loop systems can be used to conserve water, since they reduce the need to draw on external water sources. Data center heat recovery systems can also reduce the aggregate need for power by providing facility heat in the winter.AI-driven cooling optimization technology is also beginning to play a crucial role in sustainable data center operations. By deploying machine learning algorithms to monitor and manage cooling systems, data centers can dynamically adjust airflow, liquid flow, and compressor activity based on real-time thermal data. "This adaptive approach not only prevents energy wastage but also extends the lifespan of hardware by maintaining consistent and efficient cooling conditions," Villela says. "Such systems can even predict potential equipment overheating, enabling preemptive measures that reduce downtime and additional energy expenditures."Looking ForwardLimitations in chip size and density will eventually force data center operators to explore new designs and materials, including facilities that may completely change the way data centers operate, Weinheimer predicts. "It will be a combination of factors and new technologies that allow us to make the next leap in computing power, and the industry is very motivated to make it a reality --thats what makes it so exciting to be part of this industry."Considering the number of cooling methods being tested and evaluated, the only thing that seems certain is continued uncertainty. "Its a bit like the Wild West," Miljkovic observes. "Lots of uncertainty, but also lots of opportunity to innovate."Read more about:Cost of AIAbout the AuthorJohn EdwardsTechnology Journalist & AuthorJohn Edwards is a veteran business technology journalist. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and numerous business and technology publications, including Computerworld, CFO Magazine, IBM Data Management Magazine, RFID Journal, and Electronic Design. He has also written columns for The Economist's Business Intelligence Unit and PricewaterhouseCoopers' Communications Direct. John has authored several books on business technology topics. His work began appearing online as early as 1983. Throughout the 1980s and 90s, he wrote daily news and feature articles for both the CompuServe and Prodigy online services. His "Behind the Screens" commentaries made him the world's first known professional blogger.See more from John EdwardsNever Miss a Beat: Get a snapshot of the issues affecting the IT industry straight to your inbox.SIGN-UPYou May Also LikeWebinarsMore WebinarsReportsMore Reports

Artificial intelligenceis changing the world in innumerable ways. But its not all chatbots and eerily realistic images. This technology, for all its surreal qualities, has a basis in the material world. The materials that power its capabilities range across the periodic table -- from easily accessible elements such as silicon and phosphorus to rare earth elements (REEs), derived from complex purification processes.Rare earth elements are a series of 15 elements ranging from atomic numbers 5771 on the periodic table called the lanthanide series, along with two other elements (21 and 39) with similar properties. They are divided into light and heavy categories. Heavy rare earth elements, which have higher atomic numbers, are less common.The light rare earths are lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, europium, promethium, samarium, and gadolinium. The heavy rare earths are yttrium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, and lutetium. Scandium falls outside the two categories.These metals are not actually rare -- they just exist in low concentrations and are difficult to extract. They are crucial components of the semiconductors that provide the computing power that drives AI. They possess uniquely powerful magnetic qualities and are excellent at conducting electricity and resisting heat.Related:These qualities make them excellent for graphics processing units (GPUs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) and field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). REEs are also crucial to sustainable energy production that supposedly offsets the drain on the power grid by AI -- notably wind turbines.The market for these metals is expected to reach $10 billion in the next two years.If recent headlines are to be believed, some of these materials are becoming increasingly scarce due to supply chain issues. China has throttled the export of REEs and other critical materials. It produces some 70% of global supply and processes around 90% of REEs.Whether that is a genuine concern is debated. It has certainly resulted in trade tensions between China and the West. But other countries, including the United States, are attempting to ramp up production and prospects in the deep sea may offer additional sources.InformationWeek investigates, with insights from David Hammond, principal mineral economist at chemical manufacturer Hammond International Group, and Ramon Barua, CEO of rare earths supplier Aclara Resources.Which Elements Are Required to Power AI?Related:Semiconductors comprise some 300 materials -- with REEs and other critical minerals among them. Among the most crucial components are cerium, europium, gadolinium, lanthanum, neodymium, praseodymium, scandium, terbium, and yttrium as well as critical minerals gallium and germanium.Some REEs are used in the manufacturing process and others are integrated into the chips themselves -- used to dope other materials to alter their conductive properties. The performance of gallium nitride and indium phosphide are enhanced by doping with europium and yttrium, for example. And layers of oxides formed from gadolinium, lanthanum, and lutetium have improved logic and memory performance.The proportions of the materials used in semiconductors are largely trade secrets -- and thus the demand for specific REEs and other critical minerals for semiconductors is difficult to determine. But they are likely not the major driver of extraction of these elements.The usage of rare earths in semiconductors is really a minor aspect of all rare earth demand, Hammond claims. I don't believe it will ever be a major demand driver for rare earths. Less than 10%, probably 5%.Dysprosium, neodymium, praseodymium, and terbium are essential components of the magnets used in wind turbines -- which comprise a portion of the sustainable energy used to supposedly offset AI energy drain. Hammond thinks that demand for these REEs, also used in generators and solar panels, will be the major driver for extraction and consumption of REEs. Whether that demand will compete with demand from the semiconductor industry remains unknown.Related:The need for these other applications is probably going to create that marginal supply that is going to be used by semiconductors, Barua predicts.Additional elements, such as gallium, germanium and compounds such as high-purity aluminum (HPA) are also essential. Common elements including silicon and copper play key roles as well. Demand for copper is expected to grow significantly -- by up to a million metric tons in the next five years.Many of these elements, though crucial, are only required in small quantities. Last year, the US required 19 metric tons of gallium, Hammond says. That's basically 19 pickup trucks of gallium. The panic was so vastly exaggerated to be almost in the realm of stupidity.How Available Are These Elements?China has a monopoly on REEs, both in terms of extraction and processing. It produced more than 240,000 metric tons in 2023. But REEs are also found elsewhere -- the US, Australia, India, Myanmar, Russia, and Vietnam. They are relatively common and usually found together, in varying levels of abundance.China only holds around 40% of the world's reserves of these minerals. China was not always the primary producer -- prior to the 1980s, the US was dominant. But Chinas more lax environmental regulations proved advantageous and by the late 1990s had the upper hand in terms of availability and processing technology.While China currently has a stranglehold on supply and processing, other countries are investigating how to leverage their own reserves of REEs. The US and Australia still manage to extract substantial amounts of these minerals. The processing technology required to turn these elements into usable materials is perhaps the most pressing issue -- countries that extract REEs usually send them to China for refinement.The big issue for rare earths isnt so much finding them. Its processing them, Hammond observes. It requires a challenging chemical process to extract the individual components.David Hammond, Hammond International GroupThe companies producing rare earths are pretty sticky about talking about it -- for competitive reasons. But also, nobody really knows what the demand is going to be. Nobody really knows what the supply is going to be, he adds.China also has significant supplies of other minerals critical to semiconductor manufacturing. It has a near monopoly on gallium and produces close to 70% of the worlds supply of germanium. It also has significant supplies of fluorine, which is essential in chip manufacturing, but other countries including Mexico also have reserves. Copper has also proven to be a major element in improving the speeds of semiconductors -- and while China does have copper resources and significant refining capabilities, countries such as Chile and Peru do as well and will likely offer sufficient supply to the Western world.How is International Trade Affecting Their Availability?Chinas near monopoly on rare earths and other critical materials has the Western world scrambling for other sources. In 1987, Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping said, The Middle East has oil, China has rare earths.China has leveraged these resources strategically in the past several decades, limiting global exports in 2009, reducing exports to Japan in 2010 following a conflict over a disputed territory and further throttling global supply in 2011. The country reversed course in 2015 following a 2014 World Trade Organization (WTO) decision that found its restrictions violated WTO agreements. The decision ultimately did little to quell the escalating chip wars between China and the West.In July 2023, China placed export limits on gallium and germanium, two critical mineralsthatare essential to the machines used to create semiconductor chips. The US instead sourced these metals from Japan and Belgium. In November 2023, China instituted stringent new reporting requirements for a variety of critical minerals, including rare earths and the following month banned export of technology involved in rare earth refinement. They were further tightened in October 2024. And in December 2024, it banned exports of antimony, gallium, germanium and several other elements to the US.The US has parried these restrictions with its own policies limiting exports of semiconductors and the technology used to manufacture them, notably in 2018, 2022 and 2024, leading China to ramp up its efforts to develop its own techniques and equipment. So, too, the US and its partners are attempting to accelerate their own efforts to mine and refine rare earths and other critical minerals.Still, Hammond cautions that hyperbolic media coverage may be overstating the issue. While China and the West are in competition, it comes down to business strategy, he thinks.What Are the Alternatives?Even if the reduced supply of rare earths and other minerals from China is ultimately a minor issue for the semiconductor industry, it clearly behooves the West to seek other sources of these materials -- and to figure out how to extract them with minimal environmental impact.This was underscored by a 2020 executive order urging greater domestic production in the US and in allied nations. The CHIPS (Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors) and Science Act passed in 2022 aims to facilitate greater domestic production through grants to support research on the subject.The Mountain Pass mine in California, reopened in 2017 following years of closures and other incidents, provides some 15% of the global supply of rare earths. It is the only active mine in the US, though multiple other prospects have been identified in locations such as Texas and Wyoming. It is difficult to tell which are viable, Hammond says. Some may not ultimately be productive.Though significant efforts have been put into extracting REEs from waste products, Hammond thinks they are probably futile. We spend all this money and we're not even the first step towards a commercial process, he says. I don't think we ever will be, because its just technically too hard.Drone surveys initiated by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) are aimed at identifying new sources using spectroscopic analysis. Even in the event of viable discoveries, refinement technology lags Chinas -- most rare earth elements extracted outside China are still refined there. Still, the West and its allies do hold substantial reserves of other critical minerals, which will likely provide additional leverage.Some of the shortfall is made up by a mine and concentration facility in Australia and another separation facility in Malaysia operated by the Lynas Corporation, which is also building a refinement facility in Texas. Barua explains that his company has discovered ionic clays in Chile and Brazil. They plan on extracting them using a contained process that does not have the severe environmental impacts that have plagued REE processing in China.Ramon Barua, Aclara ResourcesA Belgian rare earth refinery in France set to open in 2025 hopes to source some 30% of its materials from recycled electronics.Barua, however, is skeptical that recycling of rare earth magnets will offer significant supply. It is probably going to be a miniscule market, he says. Theres no way that we can depend on that to feed whats coming.Chinas low prices are a major hurdle for mining operations in other countries, he adds. The only reference that we have is the Chinese price. That price being low then prevents operations from being financially feasible or profitable. Its a challenge for rare earth projects to develop in the Western world.Initiatives to mine critical minerals, including rare earths, from deep sea deposits are also underway. Polymetallic nodules in some deep-sea abysses may eventually offer significant quantities of cobalt, copper, manganese, nickel, and other elements. Projects assessing the viability of extracting them have been initiated, but have been held up by regulatory issues, largely due to potential environmental impacts.Companies are also devising technologies that do not rely on rare earths at all, which may take some of the pressure off on the demand side -- in some cases using AI to do so. In the meantime, semiconductor manufacturers will have to make do with an uneven and unpredictable REE market.

People are trusting AI more and moreJ Studios/Getty ImagesPeople are becoming more trusting of and warm towards AI models, according to a year-long survey of those living in the US.Myra Cheng at Stanford University in California and her colleagues gathered this information on the crowdsourcing platform Prolific. Between May 2023 and August 2024, roughly 1000 participants a month completed the researchers questionnaire, although due to technical issues with the platform only 12 months of data was collected over the 16-month period surveyed.The participants, who

TechnologyHundreds of quantum computing firms around the world are racing to commercialise these once-exotic devices, but the jury is still out on who is going to pull ahead and produce a machine that actually does something useful 11 February 2025 The race is on to build a useful quantum computerThere has never been a better time to be in the quantum computing business. Some 10 years ago, it was not obvious that quantum computing was more than an interesting lab experiment. Since then, an entire globalised ecosystem has emerged, says Laurent Prost at French quantum computing start-up Alice & Bob, one of hundreds of firms in the sector. Krysta Svore at Microsoft puts it even more succinctly: Quantum computers are working.But working on what? Practical uses for quantum computers remain limited, with no sign yet of the long-promised ability

This is today's edition ofThe Download,our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what's going on in the world of technology. The dream of offshore rocket launches is finally blasting off Want to send something to space? Get in line. The demand for rides off Earth is skyrocketing, with launches more than doubling over the past four years, from about 100 to 250 annually. That number is projected to spiral further up, fueled by an epic growth spurt in the commercial space sector. To relieve the congestion, some mission planners are looking to the ocean as the next big gateway to space. But sea-based launches come with some unique regulatory, geopolitical, and environmental trade-offs. They also offer a glimpse of new technologies and industries, enabled by a potentially limitless launch capacity, that could profoundly reshape our lives.Read the full story. Becky Ferreira Can AI help DOGE slash government budgets? Its complex. No tech leader before has played the role in a new presidential administration that Elon Musk is playing now. Under his leadership, DOGE has entered offices in a half-dozen agencies and counting, accessed various payment systems, had its access to the Treasury halted by a federal judge, and sparked lawsuits questioning the legality of the groups activities. The stated goal of DOGEs actions is slashing waste, fraud, and abuse. So where is fraud happening, and could AI models fix it, as DOGE staffers hope?Read our story to find out. James ODonnell This story is from The Algorithm, our weekly newsletter giving you the inside track on all things AI.Sign upto receive it in your inbox every Monday. The must-reads Ive combed the internet to find you todays most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology. 1 Elon Musk is leading an unsolicited bid to buy OpenAI for $97.4 billion This is an escalation in his long-running feud with CEO Sam Altman, but it may well come to nothing. (WSJ$)+The timing is annoying for Altman, as hes in the middle of complex restructuring negotiations. (FT$)+Still, he says hes confident OpenAIs board is going to reject Musks offer. (The Information$)2 What were learning from the AI Action Summit in ParisAs tech companies ship AI products relentlessly, policymakers still havent got a clue how to respond. (NYT$)3 A federal judge blocked NIH cuts to research grantsA hearing has been set for February 21. (STAT$)+Why the cuts would be so devastating, according to the scientists whod be affected.(Scientific American$)4 AI chatbots cannot accurately summarize newsA study of leading models found 51% of their answers to questions about the news had significant issues. (BBC)+The tendency to make things up is holding chatbots back. But thats just what they do.(MIT Technology Review)5 BYD is bringing advanced self-driving to its carsIncluding even the cheapest models. (FT$)+Analysts expect this to solidify the companys position as Chinas top EV maker.(South China Morning Post)+Why the worlds biggest EV maker is getting into shipping.(MIT Technology Review)+ Meanwhile in the US, the next big robotaxi push is underway.(Quartz)6 Trump is imposing 25% tariffs on foreign steelYou may recall he did this during his last term, and ended up having to roll it back. (NYT$)7 A Silicon Valley job isnt as desirable as it used to beMultiple rounds of layoffs have really broken employees trust in their superiors. (WP$)8 Google Maps now shows the Gulf of AmericaUnless you live in Mexico! (The Verge)9 Can the human body endure a voyage to Mars? Space travel exacts an extremely high physical toll on even the fittest astronauts. (New Yorker$)+Space travel is dangerous. Could genetic testing and gene editing make it safer?(MIT Technology Review)10 Thinking of re-playing the Sims? Maybe dont. 25 years on, it feels a bit like a psyop to prepare millennials for the capitalist grind. (The Guardian)Quote of the day No thank you but we will buy twitter for $9.74 billion if you want. Sam Altman responds onXto news that Elon Musk is leading an unsolicited bid to buy OpenAI for $97.4 billion. The big story This sci-fi blockchain game could help create a metaverse that no one owns DARK FOREST VIA DFWIKI November 2022 Dark Forest is a vast universe, and most of it is shrouded in darkness. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to venture into the unknown, avoid being destroyed by opposing players who may be lurking in the dark, and build an empire of the planets you discover and can make your own. But while the video game seemingly looks and plays much like other online strategy games, it doesnt rely on the servers running other popular online strategy games. And it may point to something even more profound: the possibility of a metaverse that isnt owned by a big tech company.Read the full story. Mike Orcutt We can still have nice things A place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line or skeet 'em at me.)+ Tiles can be such a beautifulartform. Just ask thePortuguese! + Here are some quick ways tojumpstartyour energy levels.+ Im obsessed with spicy smacked cucumbers. Turns out, theyreeasy to make at home.+ Aww This little boy and his Dad managed to visit every city in Englandby trainlast year.

Food-tech startup Wonder has made two new executive hires, the company told Business Insider.Courtney Lawrie will focus on growing Wonder's food hall base and delivery operations.Whitney Pegden will lead Blue Apron, the meal kit brand that Wonder acquired in 2023.Food-tech startup Wonder has hired two new executives as it opens more food halls, builds its delivery business, and adds new products.The company told Business Insider that Courtney Lawrie will serve as Wonder's senior vice president and general manager in charge of Wonder's restaurants and delivery experience.Whitney Pegden is the company's new senior vice president and general manager of Blue Apron, the meal kit brand that Wonder acquired in 2023.Marc Lore, the former CEO of Walmart's e-commerce business, has been CEO of Wonder since 2021. Its goal is to "build the super app for mealtime," Daniel Shlossman, Wonder's chief growth and marketing officer, told BI. Wonder is one of several companies trying to build a super app, or a one-stop shop for a variety of related services and products."Both Courtney and Whitney have scaled businesses into nationally beloved brands and will make an immediate impact on Wonder and Blue Apron," he added.Wonder, which got its start preparing meals in vans parked outside of customers' homes in New Jersey neighborhoods, has since quit that business to focus on food halls and delivery. Besides Blue Apron, it also announced plans to acquire delivery service Grubhub for $650 million last year.Now, Wonder has to combine everything it has built itself as well as what it has acquired under a single "Wonder Umbrella," Lawrie said."It's really bringing these things all together and tackling a real customer problem," she said.Lawrie comes to Wonder from Wayfair, where she worked on the houseware retailer's physical store presence.Stores will also be a big part of Lawrie's job at Wonder, she told BI. Wonder already runs 38 food halls in the Northeast, which allow walk-in customers to order dishes designed by chefs including Bobby Flay, Marcus Samuelsson, and Jos Andrs. The food halls also offer delivery.In 2025, Wonder plans to open more than 50 additional stores. Getting customers in the door or ordering online will be key, especially with many people concerned about how much they're spending when they dine out, Lawrie said. Courtney Lawrie Wonder Before joining Wonder, Pegden worked at Walmart on the retailer's generative AI shopping assistant, augmented reality, and InHome delivery. Whitney Pegden Wonder Blue Apron's meal kit business is a different model from Wonder's food halls, she said. But part of Wonder's ambition of being a super app is to offer diners different choices, she added."Customers don't necessarily want to eat a meal kit every single night of the week or get delivery every single night of the week," she said. "They want to mix things up."Pegden said that there are opportunities to add products to Blue Apron that are "simpler and quicker to get dinner on the table."Wonder's goal is to get customers to turn to the app "not just for pickup and delivery, but also for meal kits, also for groceries, also for dining out at a restaurant," Pegden told BI.Do you have a story idea to share? Reach out to this reporter at abitter@businessinsider.com

My dad's Greek roasted potatoes only need a few ingredients.My dad's Greek roasted potatoes include lemon and dried oregano. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider To make the potatoes at home, you'll need:3 or 4 large potatoes, each about 6 to 7 inches long1 lemon4 tablespoons butter ( stick)1 tablespoon dried oregano tablespoon saltFreshly ground black pepperAnd the recipe takes very little prep.You'll need about four potatoes. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider To begin, peel the potatoes and wash them.After the potatoes have been cleaned, it's time to cut them.Each potato piece should be around of an inch. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider My dad has a quick technique for chopping the potatoes.First, cut the potato in half lengthwise and slice off the two round ends on each half. Then, slice down the middle of each half again.Cut across the potato to get equal pieces, each around of an inch.Then, throw your potato pieces in a dish.Spread the potatoes in your baking dish. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider My dad used this 4-quart baking dish to make a large batch of potatoes for a recent dinner party.We had plenty of potatoes for seven people, plus leftovers for the next day.Pour about half a cup of water over the potatoes.Add some water so the potatoes don't stick to the bottom. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider The water helps prevent the potatoes from sticking to the pan. My dad recommends pouring just enough water to form a small layer at the bottom.If you want an extra burst of flavor, my dad recommends swapping water for chicken broth instead.Then, squeeze some fresh lemon juice and pour it over your potatoes.You'll need one lemon for a big pan of potatoes. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider You'll want to squeeze at least one lemon for your pan of potatoes, although you can always add more if you really love the flavor.And don't forget to season them and add butter!Seasoning the potatoes. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider Sprinkle your salt, pepper, and oregano evenly on the potatoes, then add your butter right on top.Let the potatoes take their time in the oven.Bake the potatoes at 360 degrees Fahrenheit. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider My dad typically bakes his potatoes on the convection-roast setting of our oven for about an hour and a half at 360 degrees Fahrenheit. This timing and temperature will also work if you want to cook a roast chicken with your potatoes in the same pan.We also tested this recipe on the regular bake setting, in case your oven doesn't have convection roast, and found that it took about two hours and 15 minutes to finish the potatoes.If you bake your potatoes on the convection-roast setting, my dad recommends flipping them once, around the one-hour mark. This will help stop the tops from burning.If you cook them on the regular setting, there's no need for any flipping. Just let those potatoes bake and wait for your kitchen to smell delicious.Check on your potatoes every 30 minutes.Make sure to keep an eye on your potatoes. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider If they're looking a little dry, my dad recommends adding more water to the pan.Your potatoes should come out looking crispy and golden.These potatoes are sure to impress at any dinner party. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider If you're making these potatoes for a big dinner, you can easily cook them ahead of time. My dad recommends throwing them in the oven at 340 degrees Fahrenheit for a few minutes to warm them before serving.Throw a little more lemon or oregano on top if you wish. Then dig in!The potatoes are crispy on the outside but soft and fluffy on the inside. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider I've made many variations of potatoes, including Emily Blunt's English roasted potatoes. But nothing beats the potatoes I grew up with.My dad's Greek roasted potatoes look beautiful on the plate and have such a great flavor. The seasoning adds some depth, while the lemon brightens everything up without overwhelming your palate.Plus, they're cooked perfectly crispy on the outside but soft and fluffy on the inside. And you can't beat how easy and foolproof this recipe is.I served my dad's potatoes at a dinner party, and everyone quickly went for seconds. My best friend Nausheen even declared they were the best potatoes she'd ever had.My dad's roasted potatoes are perfect for a family meal, a big dinner party, or when you just need a taste of Greece.I think these Greek roasted potatoes are perfect for any family meal. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider My dad has been making these roasted potatoes for as long as I can remember, and he grew up with them as well."We always had these roasted potatoes with chicken," he told me. "It's a traditional Sunday meal in Greece."Whether they're for the holidays or just a nice meal around the dinner table, roasted potatoes can remind so many people of home. So, I hope this recipe is the perfect excuse to get together with family or friends.And if you're looking for a perfect Greek dessert, my dad's baklava shouldn't be missed.

The Epic Games Store Winter Sale is here, and you can save a bundle on the latest releases and classics and even get some free games just for checking it out!Tech13:58, 11 Feb 2025Dragon Age: The Veilguard is an action-packed RPG(Image: BioWare)We love a bargain here at Daily Star, especially when it comes to the latest games. It's an expensive hobby, and that's why we're always on the lookout for the best sales and the long-awaited Epic Games Winter Sale is just that.The company behind Fortnite (and a very exciting Disney partnership) launched its own storefront some time ago, and regularly gives away free games.This time around, players can snap up free titles every couple of days, as well as huge discounts on new releases like Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Hogwarts Legacy and more.Hogwarts Legacy is steeply discounted(Image: Avalanche Software / Shiver Entertainment)If you're a PC gamer who somehow hasn't downloaded the Epic Games Store yet, we'd wholeheartedly recommend it.Steam Sales remain some of the best around, but Epic adds the extra incentive of free games for players that you don't get as often on Valve's platform.This week, you can get Beyond Blue and Humankind until February 13 at 4 pm, at which point there's a free Apex Legends bundle and F1 Manager 2024 to claim instead.Here are our picks for the best deals in the Winter Sale, which ends on February 24 so run, don't walk.Dragon Age: The Veilguard - Was 49.99, now 29.99Frostpunk 2 - Was 37.99, now 30.39EA Sports FC 25 - Was 59.99, now 23.99Cyberpunk 2077 - Was 49.99, now 22.49Hogwarts Legacy - Was 59.99, now 17.99Star Wars: Outlaws - Was 59.99, now 35.99GTA 5: Premium Online Edition - Was 29.99, now 14.99Assassin's Creed Mirage - Was 44.99, now 17.99Assassin's Creed Valhalla - Was 49.99, now 12.49Red Dead Redemption 2 Ultimate Edition - Was 89.99, now 17.99Star Wars: Jedi Survivor - Was 59.99, now 14.99Manor Lords - Was 34.99, now 24.49Mass Effect: Legendary Edition - Was 49.99, now 4.99Witchfire - Was 33.50, now 30.15Batman: Arkham Knight - Was 15.99, now 3.19The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition - Was 34.96, now 6.99There are some huge titles there to choose from. We can wholeheartedly recommend the Mass Effect: Legendary Edition, which includes three huge RPGs for under a fiver, and strategy fans will love Manor Lords which has now sold 3 million units.Elsewhere, you can get ready for Assassin's Creed Shadows by picking up Valhalla or Mirage, while Batman Arkham Knight is a fantastic action game for just 3.19.Article continues belowDark Souls and Destiny fans shouldn't skip Witchfire, too, a sort of hybrid of the two with challenging combat and fantastic shooting although the 10% discount is hardly as appealing as other options on this list.The Witcher 3 is one of gaming's all-time greats, too, and you can snag it for under 7 with both of the huge expansions included.For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.

One former Nintendo developer says the Switch has been a huge success, but that Nintendo could be planning some surprises with the Switch 2 to help convince players to upgradeTech11:10, 11 Feb 2025Updated 14:20, 11 Feb 2025Switch 2 is coming this yearThe Switch 2 is one of the most-anticipated gaming releases in 2025 and after its initial reveal last month, we now know what it'll look like.In many ways, it's a bigger version of the last console, with a larger screen and new magnetic Joy-Con controllers, but much of the console's capabilities and launch games are under wraps with the full reveal slated for April 2, 2025.Still, as we wait to hear about the console's price and release date, one Nintendo veteran has suggested there's much, much more to come from Switch 2 and it may even surprise fans.This is the Switch 2Speaking with GamesRadar, Takaya Imamura discussed the original console's success, as well as how Nintendo might convince players to move on to the Switch 2.Imamura, a 32 year employee of Nintendo, said ""The Switch has had a really long lifespan, and it sold really well, which must mean that this is something that is a global success.""It's got supporters all around the world, and I was thinking it would be difficult to really change that. But having said that, I think they've still got something up their sleeves."Whether Imamura knows something and is being coy or not, that surprise could be anything. One leak from a retailer suggested a return for Mario in a 3D platformer, while we've heard more than once that the controllers will double as mice, with a recent patent published seemingly confirming the feature.With GTA 6 publisher Take-Two Interactive and EA throwing their substantial weight behind Switch 2 in recent earnings calls, it seems the console is likely to be a more popular home for third-party ports than the initial few months of Switch 1 were."There was a time when Nintendo platforms are really geared at younger audiences and that was reflected in our release schedule," Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick said.Article continues below"And now today with Switch and potentially with Switch 2, the Switch device can support any audience."For more on the Nintendo Switch 2, be sure to check out this bizarrely plausible release date theory, as well as how to jump the queue and preorder in the UK.For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.