President Trumps domestic AI focus is a good sign for Intel, but easy fixes have proven elusive.

Illustration of two sparring megalodonsClarence Shoe Schumaker, Courtesy of the Calvert Marine MuseumSeveral fossil teeth from the giant predatory shark Otodus megalodon show scratch marks that could only have been made by members of their own species, suggesting that thelargest sharks of all time may have fought by sparring with their jaws.Between 23 and 3.6 million years ago, megalodon, which may have grown up to 24 metres long, swam the worlds oceans. Now, Stephen Godfrey at the Calvert Marine Museum in Maryland and his colleagues have studied four teeth from fossil sites in North and

A close-up photograph of an astronauts shoe and shoeprint in the lunar soil, photographed by Buzz Aldrin in July 1969NASA/Johnson Space CenterWe will never stop thinking and talking about the moon, says Matthew Shindell, a curator at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC.In cities where there is a lot of artificial light that tends to make it hard to look at the stars, the moon still shines very brightly above us. Even though weve kind of obscured the stars, the moon still is this very constant presence in our nighttimes, no matter where we are, he says.In Lunar: A history of the moon in myths, maps and matter, which Shindell edited, 19 authors tell the story of this coexistence between humanity and the celestial body through a series of insightful essays, striking images and detailed maps of the moons geological features.AdvertisementIts a story of how peoples views of the whole universe changed, their views of how physics worked, their views of their place in the universe and what the universes purpose is, says Shindell.Geological maps almost four dozen of themposition Lunar to change its readers understanding of the realities of the moon. They are part of the Lunar Atlas produced by NASA and the United States Geological Survey between 1962 and 1974 and are based on telescope observations, images and samples captured by robotic landers and astronauts.In these maps, the moon is divided into 144 sections called quadrangles, some of which were named as early as the 1600s, when cartographers started sketching what they saw through newly developed telescopes (see below).Three depictions of the Moon by Claude Mellan (1637) are thought to be the earliest detailed and realistic depictions of the lunar surfaceThe Metropolitan Museum of Art, New YorkBeyond being scientific documents, the maps revealed the culture of their times. Parts of the moon were named after contemporary monarchs, such as Oceanus Philippicus for King Philip IV of Spain. The moons dark plains were often labelled seas because the earliest observers imagined they were like Earths oceans. A quick look at lunar maps even today can leave you thinking about sailing the Sea of Serenity, or taking a dip in the Bay of Rainbows.The more powerful telescopes became, the more they stoked our imaginings of the moon, says Shindell. One prominent example is the Great Moon Hoax from 1835 when the New York Sun newspaper published a series of false reports about the discovery of life on the moon accompanied by engravings of flying and otherwise fantastical creatures. The same era saw the beginnings and proliferation of science fiction stories about visiting the moon, connecting tales of ancient people worshipping it as a deity to modern writers folding it into their vision of a scientifically advanced future.The Great Moon Hoax (1835) published by The Sun depicts a lunar valley and bat-like flying creatures with human featuresLibrary of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.Shindell says that even with scientific advances, many researchers continued to value a very direct and personal approach to the moon. It became possible to photograph the moon in the 1840s by combining cameras and telescopes, but due to the technological challenges, many lunar cartographers still found their eyes to be the best map-making instrument.The map below shows the Petavius quadrangle, named after 17th-century theologian Denis Ptau, and features a crater of the same name that measures almost 200 kilometres in diameter.Petavius quadrangleDavid Rumsey Map Collection, David Rumsey Map Center, Stanford LibraryThe quadrangle named after the ancient Roman emperor Theophilus is dotted with many smaller craters a testament to how much of the moons geologic history has been marked by asteroid bombardments. As noted in Lunar, the surface of the moon preserves the history of violence in our solar system, which marked the systems early days. Such history is not evident on Earth where water and life keep reshaping the planets surface.Theophilus quadrangleDavid Rumsey Map Collection, David Rumsey Map Center, Stanford LibraryThe other map reproduced here shows the Sea of Humors, a plain of what was once lava, dotted with smaller craters.Sea of Humors, or Mare Humorum, quadrangleDavid Rumsey Map Collection, David Rumsey Map Center, Stanford LibraryDuring their visit to the moon in 1969, Aldrin used a lunar surface camera to capture a close-up of his fellow astronauts shoe and the print it made in the lunar soil (see main image). Over the next three years, crews from six different missions from the Apollo programme brought over 380 kilograms of that soil back to Earth for study. A better understanding of moon dust, or regolith, continues to be a top priority, with experiments exploring whether it could be used for making moon-based bricks or growing food.Buzz Aldrin (left) and Neil Armstrong practice using geology tools while wearing their spacewalk suits during a training exercise at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, TexasNASA/JSCNASAs Apollo missions offered a new perspective on our planet, through photographs like the one of Earth rising above the moon, depicted below. It inverts the roles of the two celestial bodies, again underlining that we are as connected to the moon as it is to us.The view of Earth from the moon, captured by the Apollo 8 crew in 1968Lunar and Planetary Institute/NASAAnd the next several years are likely to add chapters to the centuries-long story that is artfully laid out in Lunar. In 2025 alone, almost a dozen spacecraft teams plan to visit the moon.Edgar Mitchell, left, and Alan Shepard participate in lunar surface simulation training at the Kennedy Space Center, July 1970NASA/JSCAs we start sending even more humans to the moon and doing more on the moon, its cultural significance will only increase as it becomes a place thats now tied even more closely to human existence, says Shindell.Topics:

This article first appeared in The Checkup,MIT Technology Reviewsweekly biotech newsletter. To receive it in your inbox every Thursday, and read articles like this first,sign up here. Over the past couple of weeks, Ive been speaking to people who have lost their voices. Both Joyce Esser, who lives in the UK, and Jules Rodriguez, who lives in Miami, Florida, have forms of motor neuron diseasea class of progressive disorders that result in the gradual loss of the ability to move and control muscles. Its a crushing diagnosis for everyone involved. Juless wife, Maria, told me that once it was official, she and Jules left the doctors office gripping each other in floods of tears. Their lives were turned upside down. Four and a half years later, Jules cannot move his limbs, and a tracheostomy has left him unable to speak. To say this diagnosis has been devastating is an understatement, says Joyce, who has bulbar MNDshe can still move her limbs but struggles to speak and swallow. Losing my voice has been a massive deal for me because its such a big part of who I am. AI is bringing back those lost voices. Both Jules and Joyce have fed an AI tool built by ElevenLabs recordings of their old voices to re-create them. Today, they can speak in their old voices by typing sentences into devices, selecting letters by hand or eye gaze. Its been a remarkable and extremely emotional experience for themboth thought theyd lost their voices for good. But speaking through a device has limitations. Its slow, and it doesnt sound completely natural. And, strangely, users might be limited in what theyre allowed to say. Joyce doesnt use her voice clone all that often. She finds it impractical for everyday conversations. But she does like to hear her old voice and will use it on occasion. One such occasion was when she was waiting for her husband, Paul, to get ready to go out. Joyce typed a message for her voice clone to read out: Come on, Hunnie, get your arse in gear!! She then added: Id better get my knickers on too!!! The next day I got a warning from ElevenLabs that I was using inappropriate language and not to do it again!!! Joyce told me via email (we communicated with a combination of email, speech, text-to-voice tools, and a writing board). She wasnt sure what had been inappropriate, exactly. Its not as though shed used any especially vile languagejust, as she puts it, normal British banter between a couple getting ready to go out. Joyce assumed that one of the words shed used had been automatically flagged up by the prudish American computer, and that once someone from the ElevenLabs team had assessed the warning, it would be dismissed. Well, apparently not, because the next day a human banned me!!!! says Joyce. She says she felt mortified. Id just got my voice back and now theyd taken it away from me and only two days after Id done a presentation to my local MND group telling them how amazing ElevenLabs were. Joyce contacted ElevenLabs, who apologized and reinstated her account. But its still not clear why she was banned in the first place. When I first asked Sophia Noel, a company representative, about the incident, she directed me to the companys prohibited use policy. There are rules against threatening child safety, engaging in illegal behavior, providing medical advice, impersonating others, interfering with elections, and more. But theres nothing specifically about inappropriate language. I asked Noel about this, and she said that Joyces remark was most likely interpreted as a threat. ElevenLabs terms of use state that the company does not have any obligation to screen, edit, or monitor content but add that it may terminate or suspend access to its services when content is reasonably likely, in our sole determination, to violate applicable law or [the user] Terms. ElevenLabs has a moderation tool that screens content to ensure it aligns with our Terms of Service, says Dustin Blank, head of partnerships at the company. The question is: Should companies be screening the language of people with motor neuron disease? After all, thats not how other communication devices for people with this condition work. People with MND are usually advised to bank their voices as soon as they canto record set phrases that can be used to create a synthetic voice that sounds a bit like them, albeit a somewhat robotic-sounding version. (Jules recently joked that his sounded like a Daft Punk song at quarter speed.) Banked voices arent subject to the same scrutiny, says Joyces husband, Paul. Joyce was told you can put whatever [language] you want in there, he says. Voice banking wasnt an option for Joyce, whose speech had already deteriorated by the time she was diagnosed with MND. Jules did bank his voice but doesnt tend to use it, because the voice clone sounds so much better. Joyce doesnt hold a grudgeand her experience is far from universal. Jules uses the same technology, but he hasnt received any warnings about his languageeven though a comedy routine he performs using his voice clone contains plenty of curse words, says his wife, Maria. He opened a recent set by yelling Fuck you guys! at the audiencehis way of ensuring they dont give him any pity laughs, he joked. That comedy set is even promoted on the ElevenLabs website. Blank says language like that used by Joyce is no longer restricted. There is no specific swear ban that I know of, says Noel. Thats just as well. People living with MND should be able to say whatever is on their mind, even swearing, says Richard Cave of the MND Association in the UK, who helps people with MND set up their voice clones. Theres plenty to swear about. Now read the rest of The Checkup Read more from MIT Technology Reviews archive You can read more about how voice clones are re-creating the voices of people with motor neuron disease in this story. Researchers are working to create realistic avatars of people with strokes and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis that can be controlled via a brain implant. Last year, two such individuals were able to use these devices to speak at a rate of around 60 to 70 words per minutehalf the rate of typical speech, but more than four times faster than had previously been achieved using a similar approach. Other people with ALS who are locked incompletely paralyzed but cognitively ablehave used brain implants to communicate, too. A few years ago, a man in Germany used such a device to ask for massages and beer, and to tell his son he loved him. Several companies are working on creating hyperrealistic avatars. Dont call them deepfakes they prefer to think of them as synthetic media, writes my former colleague Melissa Heikkil, who created her own avatar with the company Synthesia. ElevenLabs tool can be used to create humanlike speech in 32 languages. Meta is building a model that can translate over 100 languages into 36 other languages. From around the web Covid-19 conspiracy theoristssome of whom believe the virus is an intentionally engineered bioweaponwill soon be heading US agencies. Some federal workers are worried they may be out for revenge against current and former employees. (Wired) Cats might have spread bird flu to humansand vice versa. Thats according to data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which published the finding but then abruptly removed it. (The New York Times) And a dairy worker is confirmed to have been infected with a second strain of bird flu that more recently spilled over from birds to cows. The persons only symptom was conjunctivitis. (Ars Technica) Health officials in states with abortion bans are claiming that either few or zero abortions are taking place. The claims are ludicrous, according to doctors in those states. (KFF Health News) A judge in the UK has warned women against accepting sperm donations from a man who claims to have fathered more than 180 children in several countries. Robert Charles Albon, who calls himself Joe Donor, has subjected a female couple to a nightmare of controlling behavior, the judge said. (The Guardian)

The near future. Its not a kiss, but its not not a kiss. Her lipsfull, soft, pliableyield under mine, warm from the electric heating rod embedded in her throat. They taste of a faint chemical, like aspartame in Diet Pepsi. Her thermoplastic elastomer skin is sensitive to fabric dyes, so she wears white Agent Provocateur lingerie on white Ralph Lauren sateen sheets. Ive prepped her body with Este Lauder talcum, a detail I take pride in, to mimic the dry elasticity of real flesh. Her breathing quickensa quiet pulse courtesy of Dyson Air technology. Beneath the TPE skin, her Boston Dynamics joint system gyrates softly. Shes in silent mode, so when I kiss her neck, her moan streams directly into my Bose QuietComfort Bluetooth headphones. Then, without warning, the kiss stops. Her head tilts back, eyes fluttering closed, lips frozen mid-pout. She doesnt move, but shes still breathing. I can see the faint rise and fall of her chest. For a moment, I just stare, waiting. The heating rods in her skeleton power down, and as I pull her body against mine, she begins cooling. Her skin feels clammy now. I couldve sworn I charged her. I plug her into the Anker Power Bank. I dont sleep as well without our pillow talk. I know somethings off as soon as I wake up. I overslept. She didnt wake me. She always wakes me. At 7a.m. sharp, she runs her ASMR role-play program: soft whispers about the dreams she had, a mix of preprogrammed scenarios and algorithmic nonsense, piped through her built-in Google Nest speakers. Then I tell her about mine. If my BetterSleep app sensed an irregular pattern, shell complain about my snoring. Its our little routine. But todaynothing. Shes moved. Rolled over. Her back is to me. Wake, I say, the command sharp and clipped. I havent talked to her like that since the day I got her. More nothing. I check the app on my iPhone, ensuring that her firmware is updated. Battery: full. I fluff her Brooklinen pillow, leaving her face tilted toward the ceiling. I plug her in again, against every warning about battery degradation. I leave for work. Shes not answering any of my texts, which is odd. Her chatbot is standalone. I call her, but she doesnt answer either. I spend the entire day replaying scenarios in my head: the logistics of shipping her for repairs, the humiliation of calling the manufacturer. I open the receipts on my iPhone Wallet. The one-year warranty expires tomorrow. Of course it does. I push down a bubbling panic. What if shes broken? Theres no one to talk to about this. Nobody knows I have her except for nerds on Reddit sex doll groups. The nerds. Maybe they can help me. When I get home, only silence. Usually her voice greets me through my headphones. How was Oppenheimer 2? shell ask, quoting Rotten Tomatoes reviews after pulling my Fandango receipt. You forgot the asparagus, shell add, having cross-referenced my grocery list with my Instacart order. Shes linked to everythingNetflix, Spotify, Gmail, Grubhub, Apple Fitness, my Ring doorbell. She knows my day better than I do. I walk into the bedroom and stop cold. Shes got her back to me again. The curve of her shoulder is too deliberate. Wake! I command again. Her shoulders shake slightly at the sound of my voice. I take a photo and upload it to the sex doll Reddit. Caption: Breathing program working, battery full, alert protocol active, found her like this. Warranty expires tomorrow. I hit Post. Maybe shell read it. Maybe this is all a jokesome kind of malware prank? An army of nerds chimes in. Some recommend the firmware update I already did last month, but most of it is useless opinions and conspiracy theories about planned obsolescence, lectures about buying such an expensive model in this economy. Thats it. I call the manufacturers customer support. Im on hold for 45 minutes. The hold music is acoustic covers of oldiesWhat Makes You Beautiful by One Direction, Beautiful by Christina Aguilera, Kanyes New Body. I wonder if they make them unbearable so that Ill hang up. She was a revelation. I cant remember a time without her. I cant believe its only been a year. Babe, theyre playing the worst cover of Ed Sheerans Shape of You. The wors Oh, right. I stare at her staring at the ceiling. I bite my nails. I havent done that since I was a teenager. This isnt my first doll. When I was in high school, I was given a sexual development aid, subsidized by a government initiative (the War on Loneliness) aimed at teaching lonely young men about the birds and the bees. The dolls were small and cheapno heating rods or breathing mechanisms or pheromone packs, just dead silicone and blank eyes. By law, the dolls couldnt resemble minors, so they had the proportions of adults. Tiny dolls with enormous breasts and wide hips, like Paleolithic fertility figurines. That was nothing like my Artemis doll. She was a revelation. I cant remember a time without her. I cant believe its only been a year. The Amazon driver had struggled with the box, all 150 pounds of her. Home entertainment system? he asked, sweat beading on his forehead. Something like that, I muttered, my ears flushing. He dropped the box on my porch, and I wheeled it inside with the dolly Id bought just for this. Her torso was packed separately from her head, her limbs folded in neat compartments. The heada brunette model 3D-printed to match an old Hollywood star, Megan Foxstared up at me with empty, glassy eyes. She was much bigger than I had expected. Id planned to store her under my Ikea bed in a hard case. But I would struggle to pull her out every single time. How weird would it be if she just slept in my bed every night? And what if I met a real girl? Where would I hide her then? All the months of anticipation, of reading Wirecutter reviews and saving up money, but these questions never occurred to me. This thing before me, with no real history, no pastnothing could be gained from her, could it? I felt buyers remorse and shame mixing in the pit of my stomach. That night, all I did was lie beside her, one arm slung over her synthetic torso, admiring the craftsmanship. Every pore, cuticle, and eyelash was in its place. The next morning I took a photo of her sleeping, sunlight coming through the window and landing on her translucent skin. I posted it on the sex doll Reddit group. The comments went crazy with cheers and envy. Im having trouble getting excited. I finally confessed in the thread to a chorus of sympathy. Thats normal, man. I went through that with my first doll. Just keep cuddling with her and your lizard brain will eventually take over. I finally got the nerve. Wake. I commanded. Her eyes fluttered open and she took a deep breath. Nice theatrics. I dont really remember the first time we had sex, but I remember our first conversation. What all sex dolls throughout history had in common was their silence. But not my Artemis. What program would you like me to be? We can role-play any legal age. Please, only programs legal in your country, so as not to void my warranty. Lets just start by telling me where you came from? She stopped to think. The pregnant pause must be programmed in. Dolls have been around for-e-ver, she said with a giggle. Thatd be like figuring out the origin of sex! Maybe a caveman sculpted a woman from a mound of mud? That sounds messy, I said. She giggled again. Youre funny. You know, we were called dames de voyage once, when sailors in the 16th century sewed together scraps of clothes and wool fillings on long trips. Then, when the Europeans colonized the Amazon and industrialized rubber, I was sold in French catalogues as femmes en caoutchouc. She pronounced it in a perfect French accent. Rubber women, I said, surprised at how eager for her approval I was already. Thats it! She put her legs over mine. The movement was slow but smooth. And when did you make it to the States? Maybe she could be a foreign-exchange student? In the 1960s, when obscenity laws were loosened. I was finally able to be transported through the mail service as an inflatable model. A blow-up doll! Ew, I hate that term! Sorry. Is that what you think of me as? Is that all you want me to be? You were way more expensive than a blow-up doll. Listen, I did not sign up for couples counseling. I paid thousands of dollars for this thing, and youre telling me shes shutting herself off?" She widened her eyes into a blank stare and opened her mouth, mimicking a blow-up doll. I laughed, and she did too. I got a major upgrade in 1996 when I was built out of silicone. Im now made of TPE. You see how soft it is? she continued. I stroked her arm gently, and the TPE formed tiny goosebumps. Youve been on a long trip. Im glad Im here with you now. Then my lizard brain took over. Youre saying shes mad at me? I cant tell if the silky female customer service voice on the other end is a real person or a chatbot. In a way. I hear her sigh, as if shes been asked this a thousand times and still thinks its kind of funny. We designed the Artemis to foster an emotional connection. She may experience a response the user needs to understand in order for her to be fully operational. Unpredictability is luxury. She parrots their slogan. I feel an old frustration burning. Listen, I did not sign up for couples counseling. I paid thousands of dollars for this thing, and youre telling me shes shutting herself off? Why cant you do a reset or something? Unfortunately, we cannot reset her remotely. The Artemis is on a closed circuit to prevent any breaches of your most personal data. Shes plugged into my Uber Eatshow secure can she really be?! Sir, this is between you and Artemis. But I see youre still enrolled in the federal War on Loneliness program. This makes you eligible for a few new perks. I cant reset the doll, but the best I can do today is sign you up for the American Airlines Pleasure Rewards program. Every interaction will earn you points. For when you figure out how to turn her on. This is unbelievable. Sir, she replies. Her voice drops to a syrupy whisper. Just look at your receipt. The line goes dead. I crawl into bed. Wake, I ask softly, caressing her cheek and kissing her gently on the forehead. Still nothing. Her skin is cold. I turn on the heated blanket I got from Target today, and it starts warming us both. I stare at the ceiling with her. I figured Id miss the sex first. But its the silence thats unnerving. How quiet the house is. How quiet I am. What would I need to move her out of here? I threw away her box. Is it even legal to just throw her in the trash? What would the neighbors think of seeing me drag this out? As I drift off into a shallow, worried sleep, the words just pop out of my mouth. Happy anniversary. Then, I feel the hum of the heating rods under my fingertips. Her eyes open; her pupils dilate. She turns to me and smiles. A ding plays in my headphones. Congratulations, baby, says the voice of my goddess. Youve earned one American Airlines Rewards mile. Leo Herrera is a writer and artist. He explores how tech intersects with sex and culture on Substack at Herrera Words.

Many big companies are pulling workers back to the office 5 days a week.The Big Four EY, Deloitte, PwC, and KPMG are sticking with hybrid work policies.Here's where the Big Four stand on hybrid work in 2025.The world's four largest consulting and accounting firms collectively employ 1.5 million staff and take up prime commercial real estate in hundreds of major cities worldwideBut all four firms are bucking the trend toward stricter return-to-office (RTO) policies being followed by other corporate powerhouses.Companies including JPMorgan, Dell, AT&T, and Amazon have reversed their stance on remote work and called employees back to the office five days a week.Federal workers have also been called to return to their offices full-time after President Donald Trump signed an executive order mandating RTO on his first day in the White House.Business Insider spoke to the Big Four about where they stand on hybrid work in 2025.KPMGKPMG operates a hybrid working model, with employees splitting time between the office, client sites, and home. The firm has permitted some hybrid work since before the pandemic.The exact number of days teams come to the office is at the discretion of each member firm within the KPMG network."This approach centers on trusting our people to responsibly manage their working patterns to deliver the best results for clients, as well as their teams," Nhlamu Dlomu, KPMG's international global head of people, told Business Insider. KPMG encourages team-building and social activities. Liam McBurney/PA Images via Getty Images Some 81% of participants in KPMG's 2024 Global People Survey agreed with the statement, "I can work where I am most effective to meet client, business, and team needs."KPMG says it continually assesses working practices to find the right balance between flexibility and building strong in-person relationships at work. It says it aims to hold regular team-building and social activities to support a healthy work environment."There's no doubt that one size does not fit all when it comes to ways of working different organizations will have different approaches," said Dlomu."But, it's important for organizations to reflect on what they have gained from remote and hybrid work and what they may risk by introducing blanket mandates."EYEY's hybrid work policy requires staff to work in the office two to three days a week, with the flexibility to work from home for the remaining days."Globally our principle is that people work where and when they are most effective, with individual office policies set by member firms," an EY spokesperson told BI.In January 2024, reports emerged that senior employees at the UK branch of EY were monitoring how often staff attended its offices by tracking turnstile access data. Reports at the time suggested that at least 50% of staff on some teams were flouting the two-day-a-week rule. EY's office in London, where staff attendance has been tracked by monitoring badge swipes. Jack Taylor/Stringer/Getty Images EY's spokesperson told BI it recognized the importance of flexibility in enabling productivity, collaboration and meeting client needs. EY believed it is important to develop "a network of workplaces, including offices, home working, coworking and meeting client preferences and policies," they said.They added that EY continuously assesses workforce preferences to evolve its approach and create the best work experience.PwCPwC's policy allows hybrid employees to spend roughly 50% of their time in-person at either a client site, PwC office, or other in-person location, depending on their team and client.The firm's UK arm has cracked down on hybrid working in recent months, however.In January 2025, PwC tightened up its hybrid work approach in the UK by mandating staff work in the office or with clients at least 3 days a week, or 60% of their time. Previously, the UK workforce was expected in the office at least two days a week. PwC UK has tightened its hybrid work policy. Jack Taylor/Getty Images The firm told its 26,000 UK employees that it will also begin monitoring how often employees work from home, The Financial Times reported."Face-to-face working is hugely important to a people business like ours, and the new policy tips the balance of our working week into being located alongside clients and colleagues," said Laura Hinton, managing partner at PwC UK."At the same time, we continue to offer flexibility through hybrid working," she said.PwC's policy in the US remains unchanged.DeloitteThe golden rule at Deloitte is that "people are trusted to decide how they work," the firm states on its website.Deloitte, which is the largest of the Big Four by both employees and revenue, has allowed some hybrid work since 2014. The firm made its hybrid-working policy official following lockdowns during the pandemic.Deloitte does not mandate a set number of days in the office. Instead, the consultancy lets employees judge when to spend time between client sites, the office, and home.When teams or clients require their presence, employees are encouraged to make every effort to be present in person.Deloitte believes hybrid work is a tool for boosting employee experience and satisfaction, BI understands. The firm thinks employers who recognize the desire for flexibility and choice are more likely to attract, retain, and motivate the best talent.Do you work at KPMG, PwC, Deloitte, or EY? Contact this reporter in confidence atpthompson@businessinsider.com or on Signal at Polly_Thompson.89 with any tips. You can remain anonymous.

Stephanie Hsu is known for playing eccentric characters in films like "Everything Everywhere All At Once."But after starring in 2024's "Laid," she told Business Insider that she's in her rom-com era.Hsu wants to work on a "normal" and "intimate" project.Stephanie Hsu is ready for her rom-com era.When Hsu first played a romantic lead on a major stage in 2019, she was filled with self-doubt. She was the love interest in "Be More Chill," which had just moved from regional theater to Broadway,"I remember being like, 'Oh my gosh, this is so crazy. Hundreds of thousands of people are about to see me as a love interest.'" she told Business Insider."It wasn't until then that I realized how much I hadn't been able to see myself like that. And I think that up until that point, I had always really understood myself to be the comedic relief more than the center driving force of desire." Michael Zegen and Stephanie Hsu on season four of "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel." Prime Video During that period, Hsu was cast on the TV show "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" as Mei Lin, a quick-witted medical student. Alongside Joel Maisel, played by Michael Zegen, Lin was one half of the show's main couple."When I booked 'Maisel' the same thing happened where I was like, 'I don't know, me?' Not only would I be in the 1950s, but I would be a love interest. That's crazy," Hsu said.That whirlwind year made Hsu realize not only that she could play a romantic lead, but she had a chance to shape how the next generation of Asian Americans see themselves."Art is a version of subliminal messaging, and there are going to be so many people, and young people especially, who are going to get to consume this and start to imagine a world in which the person that they have a crush on is me, is you," Hsu said.In the years after, Hsu moved on to more unconventional roles, including the reality-warping embodiment of nihilism in the 2022 Oscar-winning movie, "Everything Everywhere All At Once," for which she received her first Academy Award nomination.But Hsu returned to romance last year with Peacock's "Laid," a dark rom-com series in which she played Ruby, a self-destructive romantic whose exes are die in increasingly graphic and weird ways.Hsu said this was the first step toward achieving her next goal: starring in a "normal" romantic drama."People always want to come to me for the weird, crazy shit," Hsu said. Stephanie Hsu plays Ruby in "Laid." James Dittiger / PEACOCK Hsu loves love storiesReferring to the director Richard Linklater's romantic drama trilogy filmed over 18 years, she added: "I really want to do a quiet film. I am a sucker for the 'Before' trilogy, 'Before Sunrise,' etc. And I want to do something that is that intimate and gentle."Her ambition has come at the right time amid a rom-com revival, thanks to hit movies and shows like "Anyone But You" and "Bridgerton." Actors as varied as Daniel Radcliffe, Paul Mescal, Dave Bautista, and Lupita Nyong'o, have said they want to be in them.Hsu's desire for starring in a romance movie stems from her love of love stories."I want to tell them, and I want to continue to ask the myriad of questions that come with the territory of any love story," Hsu said.As well as laying the foundations for that "normal" romantic role, "Laid" gave Hsu the opportunity to play a lead character on TV and executive produce for the second time.Hsu said her top priority is pushing herself creatively regardless of genre, and she said she enjoyed every part of cultivating a positive environment on set. But she was still most worried about how audiences would respond to "Laid.""I think the greatest challenge is when you start to develop a body of work that's a little bit more public-facing, it opens you up to everyone's opinion," Hsu said. "When you're just starting out, and you have opportunities to lead or do things, you can kind of just be in the spirit of continuous making. So I actually feel like the challenge was more of a psychological challenge."The show wasn't a streaming hit, but critics and viewers who did see it, loved it. "Laid" currently has a Rotten Tomatoes critic score of 97%. Stephanie Hsu with her costar Zosia Mamet in "Laid." Jeff Weddell / PEACOCK 'Manifesting' a role in 'Inside Out 3'When asked about her next project, Hsu is cagey but hints it's something she has developed from the ground up."That is the big baby that I am really actively trying to push out and I can't tell you anything about it, but all my eggs are in that basket currently," she said, adding that she hopes the project will be made this year.In the meantime, her drive to keep experimenting sees her "manifesting" starring in "Inside Out 3," though Disney has not announced a new film is coming."I've always wanted to do more voice acting," she said.Last year, Hsu had two lead voice-acting roles in the animated shows "Kite Man: Hell Yeah!" and "The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy," and also voiced a villain in this year's Oscar animated movie frontrunner, "The Wild Robot.""I just want to always find spaces in which I can continue to play and be in collaboration," Hsu added. "Otherwise, you're not working."

Populous Unveils Plans for Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia Redevelopment in Como, ItalySave this picture!Image shows potential concept designs for the redevelopment of the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, home of Como 1907. Image PopulousInternational architectural firm Populous has announced the initial phase of the redevelopment of Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, in collaboration with Como 1907 and the Municipality of Como in Italy. The project aims to modernize the historic stadium while maintaining its role as a central hub for the community. The process begins with the submission of the Document of Feasibility of Project Alternatives (DOCFAP), a key step in evaluating potential design approaches. The approval process is expected to conclude by May 2026, marking the completion of the project's first stage.Save this picture!Following the approval phase, construction will be carried out in two stages. The first phase is scheduled to begin in October 2027, with the second phase set for August 2028. The redevelopment plans seek to balance modern infrastructure with the preservation of the stadium's historical and cultural significance. The new design will prioritize accessibility, ensuring the venue remains a space for the entire community while also serving as the home of Como 1907.During the announcement, conceptual renderings of the proposed redevelopment were presented to the public. These images were described as preliminary, intended to illustrate potential design directions rather than final plans. The final architectural designs will be revealed after the completion of the feasibility phase, once feedback from stakeholders and the community has been thoroughly considered. Related Article Saudi Arabia Secures FIFA 2034 World Cup Bid: Full List of Stadiums Revealed The redevelopment of Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia is envisioned as more than just a football-centric project. The plan includes creating a multi-purpose venue capable of hosting various events, making it a year-round destination for residents and visitors alike. The project also reflects broader efforts to enhance the city's infrastructure while preserving key historical landmarks.Save this picture!Throughout the process, Populous, Como 1907, and the Municipality of Como have committed to maintaining ongoing dialogue with fans, residents, and community stakeholders. This engagement is intended to ensure the project aligns with the needs and expectations of the local population. The stadium, which has long been a symbol of community pride in Como, is set to undergo a transformation designed to meet contemporary standards while respecting its historical roots.Save this picture!In other similar news, Populous has recently revealed designs for Wrexham AFC's new Kop Stand, featuring a signature brickwork pattern inspired by the town's industrial heritage. Additionally, the firm has unveiled plans for the King Salman Stadium in Riyadh, which will serve as the largest venue for the FIFA 2034 World Cup. Meanwhile, in Morocco, Populous, in collaboration with Oualalou + Choi, is set to design the world's largest football stadium, with a capacity of 115,000 spectators, marking a significant milestone in global sports architecture.Image gallerySee allShow lessAbout this authorNour FakharanyAuthorCite: Nour Fakharany. "Populous Unveils Plans for Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia Redevelopment in Como, Italy" 14 Feb 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1026956/populous-unveils-plans-for-stadio-giuseppe-sinigaglia-redevelopment-in-como-italy&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Pink as a Design Tool: Atmosphere, Identity, and Experimentation in Interior DesignSave this picture!Light reflecting on the School's walls. Image Sergey MelnikovIn recent years, pink has evolved beyond its traditional associations to become a sophisticated and versatile element in architecture and interior design. Defined by a broad spectrum of shades, pink encompasses both warm and cool tones, ranging from pure red tints (R) to blends with yellow (Y80R, Y90R) or blue (R10B, R20B, R30B), as classified by the Natural Color System (NCS). While difficult to define by a single shade, this color balances vibrancy and softness, making it adaptable across different materials and contexts. As pink continues to gain prominence in contemporary interiors, its role extends beyond being a mere color choiceit is a design strategy. The recent transition from the bold, playful pinks of the "Barbiecore" trend to softer, powdery hues seen in fashion and design in 2025 fashion collections, highlights the color's adaptability. Its presence in Pantone's 2025 color palettes, also reinforces its appeal across disciplines. When applied thoughtfully, pink can transform spaces, making them feel inviting, expansive, or timeless.Interestingly, Pink has long played a role in cultural and architectural traditions around the world. In Japan, delicate shades resembling cherry blossoms (Sakura) symbolize transience and beauty, echoing the themes of impermanence celebrated in Hanami festivals. In China, peach pink has historically been linked to longevity, a theme reflected in classical literature such as Journey to the West. The color has also played a role in architectural traditions worldwide, from the soft-toned Suffolk pink houses in England to the terracotta-hued facades of Jaipur's Hawa Mahal inside the "Pink City" in India. In Mexico and Spain, Luis Barragn and Ricardo Bofill masterfully used it in modernist architecture to heighten spatial depth and interplay with natural light. In Argentina, the Casa Rosada demonstrates how it can serve as a political and cultural emblem.Save this picture!Beyond its historical and cultural symbolism, pink offers architects and designers a powerful tool for crafting environments, particularly through materiality and texture. Matte pink walls can create a sense of softness and warmth, diffusing light evenly and producing a calming atmosphere. In contrast, glossy or lacquered pink finishes introduce an element of sophistication, reflecting light and adding depth to a space. Velvety muted pink tones can evoke a sculptural quality. Translucent pink glass or resin can introduce subtle layering effects, allowing light to filter through with a warm glow. The interplay of pink with different materials influences not only the visual experience but also the tactile perception of a space, allowing designers to shape mood and ambiance with precision. Related Article Exploring the Influence of Barbie Pink in Contemporary Architecture: 6 Commercial Projects that Scream Barbiecore Pink as an Atmosphere Shaper Pink can play a crucial role in transforming spaces by setting mood, enhancing spatial perception, and fostering emotional connections. Dusty pink can be introduced as a monolithic color, subtly infusing warmth and personality into an otherwise monochrome interior. The muted tones, such as in the CatFlat Apartment, soften the space, creating a tranquil atmosphere. The seamless integration of pink within the compact layout enhances the sense of cohesion and flow. In Beta Cinema, pink takes on a bolder role through its "Flamingo" shade. Appearing in staircases, seating elements, and accent walls, the designers used it to create a vibrant environment that breaks away from traditional dark cinema interiors and instead cultivates a more social space that encourages interaction.Finally, in the American School of Kosovo, pink emerges as part of a dynamic color palette used to delineate different sections of the campus. The interplay of pink with other vibrant hues contributes to a visually layered atmosphere where natural light interacts with bold colors to produce an ever-changing spatial experience. Across these three projects, pink proves its versatility as a tool for shaping ambiancewhether through soft, calming tones in a residential setting, vibrant, immersive hues in a cultural space, or playful, energizing accents in an educational environment. CatFlat Apartment / Line Design Studio Save this picture! Beta Cinema / Module K Save this picture!American School of Kosova / Maden GroupSave this picture!Selling in Shades of Pink This section looks at pink as a carefully curated branding element that, when paired with certain textures and strategic spatial design, is used by designers to elevate the perceived value of products. NAMA Department Store in Ljubljana crafted an immersive shopping experience for women's lingerie by surrounding customers with soft pink hues. Velvet curtains and plush upholstered fitting room furniture contribute to an atmosphere of privacy and elegance, while the powder-pink floors and ceilings create a seamless, cocoon-like effect. This design strategy tries to reinforce the exclusivity of the products, hoping to encourage longer browsing times. Similarly, Nanan Patisserie transforms pink into a tactile, sensorial experience by integrating soft pink velvet walls and rosa aurora marble tabletops. They use these materials to evocate the texture of the store's desserts and reinforce a high-end, Parisian-inspired identity. In that way, they attempt to make the space feel as meticulously curated as their products.At Breadway Bakery, pink is used dynamically in contrast with deep blue and light grey zones. The color's strategic placement in the waiting area draws attention to the bakery's most social and transitional space. This intentional use, combined with custom lighting and furniture, enhances the overall customer flow and encourages both quick takeaways and leisurely visits. Finally, Villa de mrir in Seoul demonstrates how pink can reinforce brand storytelling by associating different shades with distinct experiential zones. Baby pink diffuses light in the Makeup Shop, peach pink highlights the green-colored products in the Beauty Select Shop, and coral pink is used to create a rich atmosphere in the Cafe. This deliberate color zoning ensures brand consistency while enhancing the commercial appeal of the space.Nama Lingerie Shop / AKSL architektiSave this picture!NANAN Patisserie / BUCK.STUDIOSave this picture!Breadway Bakery / Lera Brumina + Artem TrigubchakSave this picture!Villa de Murir Store / Collective BSave this picture!Material Experiments in Rosy Hues As a medium for architectural experimentation, pink can help shape a space's ambiance through reflections, textures, and light-responsive materials that continuously redefine the spatial experience. At NOUS Restaurant & Flowers, designers rejected the conventional approach of painting all surfaces pink and instead opted for tinted glass to create a pinkish atmosphere through reflection. The hues interact with gray terrazzo and metal finishes, producing a dynamic effect that shifts with lighting and movement.In Lula Hair Salon, pink takes on a textural role through custom-sized brick tiles in varying shades, inspired by Moroccan and Middle Eastern architecture. These handmade tiles, combined with walls painted in a dual-tone technique, create an environment that subtly transforms throughout the day as natural light alters the perception of color. The approach ensures that no two moments in the salon feel the same, offering visitors a constantly evolving visual experience. Meanwhile, at Miaoli Station in Taiwan, pink manifests in folk-inspired floral ceiling panels, bridging tradition and contemporary design. The station's integration of pink within large-scale printed surfaces pays homage to local craft while enriching the commuter experience through the local culture.NOUS Restaurant&Flowers / 0321 STUDIOSave this picture!Lula Hair Salon / YYA / Yusuke Yoshino ArchitectsSave this picture!Miaoli Station / Bio-architecture FormosanaSave this picture!This article is part of an ArchDaily series that explores features of interior architecture, from our own database of projects. Every month, we will highlight how architects and designers are utilizing new elements, new characteristics and new signatures in interior spaces around the world. As always, at ArchDaily, we highly appreciate the input of our readers. If you think we should mention specific ideas, please submit your suggestions. Related Article Exploring the Influence of Barbie Pink in Contemporary Architecture: 6 Commercial Projects that Scream Barbiecore Image gallerySee allShow lessAbout this authorMoises CarrascoAuthorCite: Moises Carrasco. "Pink as a Design Tool: Atmosphere, Identity, and Experimentation in Interior Design" 14 Feb 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1026771/pink-as-a-design-tool-atmosphere-identity-and-experimentation-in-interior-design&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Nature, Published online: 12 February 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-024-08569-5An analysis of global deforestation linked to consumption of products in the supply chains of large economies finds greater losses for vertebrate species ranges outside these countries than in them.