On Thursday, a group of current or former workers at the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the foreign aid agency that the Trump administration appears to be trying to dismantle, filed a lawsuit making an audacious argument. According to their complaint in Doe v. Musk, billionaire Elon Musks appointment to well, to whatever President Donald Trump has appointed him to within government violates the Constitution.The theory behind this lawsuit is pretty straightforward. The Constitution designates certain high-ranking government employees those who, in the Supreme Courts words, exercise significant authority pursuant to the laws of the United States as officers of the United States. The Doe lawsuit alleges that Musk is wielding the powers of such an officer without being properly appointed to that role.The most powerful of these officers, known as principal officers, must be nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate. Lesser officials, known as inferior officers, may sometimes be appointed without the Senates consent. But even inferior officers must be appointed in a manner established by law.The Doe complaint argues that Musk is wielding the kind of sweeping, cross-agency authority that could only be exercised by a principal officer and thus Musk should be powerless to act because he was not confirmed by the Senate. Alternatively, the complaint argues that, even if Musk counts as an inferior officer, he was not appointed to his role in a manner established by an act of Congress, and therefore his appointment is invalid.It is difficult to judge the merits of this claim because the full scope of Musks duties is rather opaque hes been designated as a special government employee, a position that only allows him to work 130 days a year for the government. But its unclear what authority he actually possesses in this role.RelatedThe worst thing Trump has done so farMusk, for example, is a vocal cheerleader against USAID. But the decision to pause US foreign aid appears to have been made by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who claims he was acting pursuant to an executive order from Trump. Rubio was confirmed to his office by the Senate, and thus may lawfully wield the authority of a principal officer of the United States.Similarly, a parallel lawsuit filed by multiple blue-state attorneys general challenges the Treasury Departments decision to give an individual associated with Musks Department of Government Efficiency team access to an extremely sensitive computer system that processes trillions of dollars in federal payments every year. But it is unclear, exactly, what DOGE intends to do with its access to this system, or whether that access would need to be overseen by a principal or inferior officer.Still, the Doe complaint points to several examples where Musk or DOGE claimed credit for actions that would normally need to be authorized by an officer of the United States. At one point, for example, Musk posted on a personal account that DOGE is shutting down supposedly illegal payments to a Lutheran charity. Another X post, on DOGEs official account, takes credit for shutting down 12 government contracts worth a total of $30 million.Will the Doe lawsuit succeed?There are two reasons why this lawsuit may not ultimately bear fruit. One is that it may turn out that Musks DOGE operation is little more than a vehicle for Musks own bluster. The premise of the Doe lawsuit is that Musk is personally wielding the kind of authority that only a properly appointed officer can exercise. But it may turn out that hes really just hyping decisions that were made by someone else, or that he is merely making recommendations that are implemented by properly appointed officers. If that turns out to be the case, then Musk can continue as a largely powerless official without running afoul of the Constitution.Indeed, the primary value of the Doe litigation may be forcing the Trump administration to disclose what, exactly, Musk is up to. Once that information is known, a court can decide whether Musks specific duties are the sort which require a Senate confirmation, or at least a lawful appointment to an inferior officers role.A second, closely related question is whether the USAID workers who are plaintiffs in this lawsuit are allowed to challenge Musks appointment in federal court. In order to bring a federal lawsuit, a plaintiff must show that they were injured in some way by the defendant they are suing a requirement known as standing. As the Supreme Court held in Lujan v. Defenders of Wildlife (1992), moreover, there must be a causal connection between the injury and the conduct complained of. That is, if a plaintiff alleges that they were injured by Musk illegally exercising governmental authority, they must show that they were actually injured in some way by Musks illegal actions.The Doe plaintiffs mostly argue that they were locked out of their USAID email accounts because of DOGE, or that they were denied access to valuable documents such as travel vouchers that one of the plaintiffs needs in order to recover $15,000 that they are owed by the agency. To bring this suit, however, these plaintiffs will need to show that they experienced these harms because of a decision that came from Musk, and not, say, Secretary Rubio.Still, even if these particular plaintiffs cannot sue Musk, it would be valuable for the public to learn that Musk is not actually responsible for the Trump administrations attacks on USAID. Additionally, if it turns out that some other individual has been harmed by Musks stewardship of DOGE, that other individual could potentially bring a lawsuit challenging Musks appointment even if these USAID plaintiffs cannot.At the very least, in other words, lawsuits like Doe could finally provide some clarity about what, exactly, Elon Musk is doing.See More:

After failing a saving throw at Paramount+, Hasbro is trying to make a live-actionDungeons & Dragons TV series work againand one of the increasingly busiest men in Hollywood is helping them to do so. Deadline reports that Shawn Levystill hot off the blockbuster success ofDeadpool & Wolverine last year, and recent rumors that his long-in-limboStar Wars movie may lightspeed-jump its way to the top of Lucasfilms priorities if it snags Ryan Gosling to starwill executive produceThe Forgotten Realms for Hasbro at Netflix.WeCrasheds Drew Crevello will serve as co-executive producer with Levy as well as writer and showrunner on the series, and has already written a pilot for the series. As the name suggests, the show will be set in the world ofD&Ds most famous setting, the fantasy world home to Faern and iconic locations like the Sword Coast and the Underdark, and cities like Neverwinter, Baldurs Gate, Candlekeep, Icewind Dale, and many more. After the warm reception to 2023sDungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (even if it didnt exactly light the box office on fire), Hasbro made moves to set up a live-actionD&D series at Paramount+announced just as D&D publisher Wizards of the Coast was at the height of a public relations disaster surrounding attempts to replace the games long-running Open Game License. Red Notices Rawson Marshall Thurber was set to oversee the series, and was ultimately joined by Crevello there too, but the show fell apart when both a shifiting of priorities at Paramount and the sale of Hasbros former entertainment studio, eOne, to Lionsgate caught it in several mortal attacks of opportunity. Unsurprisingly, the shift away from Paramounts involvement means thatThe Forgotten Realms will be a completely new iteration on the idea, rather than a development of anything Crevello had already attempted at the studioincluding the loss of any potential links toHonor Among Thieves, leaving us all still pining that one day that party of stars can gather and venture forth again. For now, this latest roll of the dice could lead to Netflix going all-in on aD&D universe of content, which would fit nicely with itsother Wizards of the Coast project, the animatedMagic: The Gathering series fromStar Trek: Picards Terry Matalas. Well bring you more on Netflixs plans forDungeons & Dragons as and when we learn them. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

By AJ Dellinger Published February 13, 2025 | Comments (0) | A promotional image showing Google Gemini's interface Photo: Google As if the employees of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) werent under enough scrutiny from Elon Musk and his team of edgelord posters, it turns out another set of unwelcome eyes seem to be on the department. According to a report from IT Brew, USAID staffers were warned by leadership that Googles AI assistant Gemini was likely recording conversations happening over Google Workspace applications. USAID, like lots of businesses and government agencies, uses Google Workspace, a suite of cloud-based apps that includes Gmail, Google Docs, Google Sheets, and other tools. Back in January, Google announced that it was rolling out an update to Workspace that would expand access to Gemini, the companys flagship AI tool that can help do things like draft emails, help with coding projects, and answer questions you might otherwise Google. It also notably will do things like take notes of a meeting for you if it takes place over Google Meetwhich means its listening in to the call. And, crucially, Gemini is turned on by default. You have to actively choose to opt out of it. So, back to the USAID offices. They use Google Workspace, and all of a sudden have this AI assistant involved in their workflow. According to IT Brew, staffers were given verbal warnings that Gemini was active in their Workspace and could be recording conversations, including everything from staff meetings to human resource reports. The report said that staff meetings got pretty buttoned-up after the agency became aware of the AI, with employees acting stilted and scripted during calls and few willing to speak candidly. The USAID staffrightfully feeling a bit paranoid about who might be listening inreportedly worried that the addition of Gemini coincided with the Trump administration taking office and choosing to scrutinize the agency. A Google representative refuted that to IT Brew, noting that USAID had a contract with Google before Trump took office and wasnt directed to be installed by Trump to spy on workers. That probably is not a huge comfort to staffers, though, who have plenty to deal with already. Theyve got Musk and his acolytes in their offices labeling every dollar spent on something they dont like as fraud or corruption, a slew of misinformation about their work being pushed on Twitter, and the President threatening to cut the agencys staff from 10,000 to 300. Now theyve got to watch what they say lest it get sucked up by Googles latest data vacuum. But hey, at least the recordings probably arent being used against them by their own government, so thats something.Daily NewsletterYou May Also Like By Lucas Ropek Published February 11, 2025 By AJ Dellinger Published February 11, 2025 By AJ Dellinger Published February 10, 2025 By Lucas Ropek Published February 9, 2025 By AJ Dellinger Published February 7, 2025 By Matt Novak Published February 7, 2025

Lake Mead and Lake Powell could be in for another record year for low water levels as a snow drought persists throughout the Western U.S.With minimal snowfall in the last two months, the Colorado snowpack will likely not provide an abundant water supply to the lakes. And the snow drought could impact crucial drinking water sources.Why are Lake Mead and Lake Powell ImportantLake Mead and Lake Powell are crucial reservoirs that provide water to several states, including California, Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico, and include major cities such as Las Vegas. On top of that, the lakes are a major source of recreation in the area and generate millions of dollars for the local economy.According to the National Park Service, the Lake Mead National Recreational Area generated $358 million in 2023, a $15 million increase from the year before. In 2022, Lake Mead saw its lowest levels on record, dropping to 1040.92 feet, which is less than 30 percent full.The 2023 winter season brought some relief at of the end of 2024, but Lake Mead is still only at 1063 feet. When its at capacity, Lake Mead is at about 1,229 feet.The snow drought won't help these levels.What Is a Snow drought?According to the American Meteorological Society, a snow drought is a period of time that has little snowpack based on the lack of precipitation for the season. This can happen if warm temperatures prevent snowfall.Much of the Western U.S. saw a relatively dry January, according to the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS). This could have been, in part, due to a stationary high-pressure system located in the northeastern Pacific Ocean. The system likely prevented any weather events from making it to the mountains.Without precipitation and snow accumulation, the snowpacks wont stick, which could cause issues for water sources in the spring.Read More: Why Lakes Are Important ResourcesWhy Snowpack Is ImportantSnowpack, according to NIDIS, is the precipitation that falls as snow in mountainous regions [and] can remain frozen on the ground for several months. As snow falls, it builds up in layers, and the older snow becomes compacted underneath the new snow. Some snowpacks can be up to 10 feet deep.Snowpack is a vital water reserver. After it is amassed all winter, it slowly begins to melt in the spring and flow down the mountains. From there, it helps fill rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. However, with a lack of snowpack and snowfall, there isnt as much water to help fill those vital reservoirs.The Forecast AheadAccording to NIDIS, La Nia conditions may lead to a wetter spring in the northwestern U.S., but a dryer one in the Southwest. The forecast shows that the snow drought will likely worsen during the month of February in the Southwest and impact states in the areas of southern California, Nevada, and Utah and most of Arizona and New Mexico.Higher than normal temperatures in this region, for this time of year, will likely impact the drought as well, according to NIDIS. A drought like this can lower the snow water equivalent levels of an area and impact water reserves like those in Lake Powell and Lake Mead.Per NIDIS, Snow drought conditions are exceptional across the Southwest due to significantly below-normal precipitation, which reduced snow water equivalent (SWE) levels to record low levels in the Lower Colorado-Lake Mead Basin.Article SourcesOur writers at Discovermagazine.com use peer-reviewed studies and high-quality sources for our articles, and our editors review for scientific accuracy and editorial standards. Review the sources used below for this article:American Meteorological Society. Snow DroughtNIDIS. Snow DroughtNational Park After Dark. Visitor Spending Effects - Economic Contributions of National Park Visitor SpendingUSGS. Lake MeadBureau of Reclemation. Lake Mead At Hoover Dam, End Of Month Elevation (Feet)A graduate of UW-Whitewater, Monica Cull wrote for several organizations, including one that focused on bees and the natural world, before coming to Discover Magazine. Her current work also appears on her travel blog and Common State Magazine. Her love of science came from watching PBS shows as a kid with her mom and spending too much time binging Doctor Who.

While lung cancer continues to be the deadliest form of cancer globally, people who have never smoked are making up a growing proportion of those who are battling the disease. In 2022, about 2.5 million people were diagnosed with it.Fewer smokers in many countries including the U.S. may account for some of that shift in cancer causation. But air pollution may also be playing a growing role, according to a World Health Organization study published in the Lancet Respiratory Medicine journal. The study estimates that lung cancer in people who have never smoked cigarettes or tobacco in any form is now the fifth highest cause of cancer deaths worldwide. The forms of lung cancer are also shifting along with the causes. Lung Cancer CausationLung cancer in people whove never smoked is almost exclusively adenocarcinoma. That form of cancer is now the most prevalent of the four main subtypes for both men and women globally. The other subtypes are squamous cell carcinoma, small-cell carcinoma, and large-cell carcinoma.About 200,000 cases of adenocarcinoma were associated with exposure to air pollution in 2022, with the largest load in east Asia particularly China, according to the study. Adenocarcinoma accounted for 45.6 percent of global lung cancer cases among men and 59.7 percent of global lung cancer cases among women in 2022. In 2020, the respective figures were 39.0 percent among men and 57.1 percent among women.Shifting DemographicsThere are also some demographic shifts in lung cancer particularly by gender. While men continue to account for most lung cancer cases, with about 1.6 million globally in 2022, the gender gap is narrowing. About 900,000 women were diagnosed with the disease in 2022.That shift has been underway for a while. An earlier study showed that during 1991 to 2018, the proportion of never smokers increased among both men (35.1 percent to 54.6 percent) and women (54.0 percent to 65.4 percent). Compared with current or former smokers, those who had never smoked had an 86 percent lower incidence of lung cancer death.Cancer experts say smoking rates peaked much earlier in men than women. Women should now monitor for lung cancer as vigilantly as they do for breast cancer, the study notes.Seeking Causal ConnectionsMany unknowns remain. Although the data now shows a correlation between air pollution and lung cancer, researchers have not yet firmly established a causal link. Scientists will likely increase investigating that potential connection, as well as search for other possible causes of lung cancer besides smoking and air pollution.Air pollution can be considered an important factor that partly explains the emerging predominance of adenocarcinoma that accounts for 53 percent to 70 percent of cases of lung cancer among people who have never smoked worldwide, according to the study.Article SourcesOur writers at Discovermagazine.com use peer-reviewed studies and high-quality sources for our articles, and our editors review for scientific accuracy and editorial standards. Review the sources used below for this article:Before joining Discover Magazine, Paul Smaglik spent over 20 years as a science journalist, specializing in U.S. life science policy and global scientific career issues. He began his career in newspapers, but switched to scientific magazines. His work has appeared in publications including Science News, Science, Nature, and Scientific American.

The Sun sets differently on Mars. Part of that is due to its distance from the star (an average of 142 million miles versus Earths roughly 93 million miles), but it also has to do with the planets atmosphere. A great example of the effects can be seen in the Red Planets noctilucent clouds.Latin for night shining, noctilucent clouds (also known as twilight clouds) are responsible for Earths vibrant red, orange, and purple dawn and dusk skies. If the conditions are just right, they sometimes even take on an iridescent, mother-of-pearl quality. And last month, NASAs Curiosity rover captured both noctilucent and shimmering cloud formations during a Martian sunset.Recorded by Curiositys Mastcam over 16 minutes on January 17, the brief glimpse also offers an example of how the planets atmosphere vastly differs from Earths. Martian clouds are sometimes made of water-based ice, but because the atmosphere is over 95 percent carbon dioxide, CO2 ice can also form at both higher and lower altitudes. These latter clouds are what can take on an iridescent sheenin the case of last months recording, they formed between an altitude of 37-50 miles above the surface, and can be seen at the top of the images while water-ice clouds cross the sky beneath them in the opposite direction.These twilight clouds arent just a rare sightthey may be only capable of forming above specific regions of Mars. Both the Curiosity and Pathfinder rovers (respectively located above and below equator) have documented the atmospheric events. Perseverance, however, is located further into the northern hemisphere, and has not recorded any noctilucent clouds. According to Mark Lemmon, an atmospheric scientist at the Space Science Institute in Boulder, Colorado, gravitational waves may be to blame.Carbon dioxide was not expected to be condensing into ice here, so something is cooling it to the point that it could happen, he said in a January 11 statement from NASA. But Martian gravity waves are not fully understood and were not entirely sure what is causing twilight clouds to form in one place but not another.The post Curiosity rover spots rare shimmering clouds above Mars appeared first on Popular Science.

Nature, Published online: 13 February 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00451-2Firms using neutral atoms to create qubits are reentering the race to build useful quantum machines.

Nature, Published online: 12 February 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08750-4Observation of Plastic Ice VII by Quasi-Elastic Neutron Scattering

Scientists have tagged a giant male great white shark off the East Coast. The researchers said "Contender" is the largest male white shark ever caught and studied in the northwest Atlantic.

To craft the stylized animated water for Building Relationships, Tanat drew knowledge from various resources, mastering classic toon water, refractions, and the implementation of Voronoi noise. You can grab the final shader file here, but the artist strongly recommended checking out the list of resources he provided to gain a better understanding of how it works.Based on the Unity toon water shader guide, Tanat used this tutorial to understand how to structure the water ripples:He then followed this tutorial for implementing Voronoi noise in HLSL, which differs slightly from the one used in Blender.In Building Relationships, you live life as a house. Play as a building, rolling, jumping, wave-dashing across a charming island, and meet potential partners in the form of structures. The game is set to release this year, and you can already try out the demo available on Steam.Wishlist Building Relationships here and join our80 Level Talent platformand ournew Discord server, follow us onInstagram,Twitter,LinkedIn,Telegram,TikTok, andThreads, where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.Source link The post How To Set Up Voronoi-Based Water Shader In Unity appeared first on CG SHARES.