Newly restored pages on the websites of government agencies like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) now include a disclaimer rejecting "gender ideology," as spotted by 404 Media. The move allows agencies to comply with a recent court order to restore missing webpages, while continuing to push the Trump administration anti-trans executive order that led them to delete those pages in the first place.You can see the disclaimer which lifts language directly from President Trump's order on the FDA's guidance document on the "Study of Sex Differences in the Clinical Evaluation of Medical Products" and a page linking to results from SAHMSA's report on "Behavioral Health of Adolescents across Sexual Identities." Like a lot of the current administration's slapdash attempts to crack down on diversity, equity and inclusion, the disclaimer doesn't appear everywhere. A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention page on "Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines" doesn't include it, for example.The contents of the disclaimer are reproduced below:ADVERTISEMENTAdvertisementPer a court order, HHS is required to restore this website as of 11:59 PM on February 11, 2025. Any information on this page promoting gender ideology is extremely inaccurate and disconnected from the immutable biological reality that there are two sexes, male and female. The Trump Administration rejects gender ideology and condemns the harms it causes to children, by promoting their chemical and surgical mutilation, and to women, by depriving them of their dignity, safety, well-being, and opportunities. This page does not reflect biological reality and therefore the Administration and this Department reject it.Government agencies were first directed to "end all agency programs that use taxpayer money to promote or reflect gender ideology" by the Office of Personal Management (OPM) in January, which prompted the webpage takedowns, The Washington Post writes. Doctors of America, represented by Public Citizen, sued OPM and other agencies that took down pages over safety concerns, leading to the order to restore the websites to their original form this month.

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Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube796kTheres no question that Nintendo makes some of the best video games in the world thanks to its incredibly skilled and passionate in-house and partner developers. But how often does the company let those developers speak freely about the games they make?Last year we got the opportunity to chat with the legendary artist Takaya Imamura, famous for Star Fox, Captain Falcon and the many machines in F-Zero, and even Majoras Mask itself. He was with Nintendo for over 30 years working on countless games until leaving the company in 2021 to pursue something different. So, naturally, we said 'Yes!' and flew thousands of miles to sit down with the man himself.Imamura-san is now coming back to gaming with his new project OMEGA 6: The Triangle Stars, an adventure inspired by his own manga. In this interview, we speak about the upcoming game, his days working on games like Zelda, and why he left Nintendo after all those years...Nintendo Life (Zion Grassl): Omega 6 looks a lot like a long-lost Super Famicom game. How long have you had the idea for this game in your head?Takaya Imamura: So its actually pretty new as a concept. Its derived from the manga. The idea wasnt there from the beginning. I wrote the manga, then the chance to create a game based on it came up.Images: Clear River Games, Dark HorseIn that regard, what do you love about working outside of Nintendo and how is developing a game different now for you?Now I enjoy it. Im happy.Did we hear correctly that youre a professor as well? How do you juggle all of that?Simply put, as a professor Im teaching students, they come to class at a certain time, theres summer holidays and I know when I need to work and when I dont. Like Indiana Jones. [makes whip-cracking sound]Are you a big Indiana Jones fan?Yea, yeah!Are you going to play The Great Circle when that comes out?Ahh, of course!What has it been like being a teacher and a famous game developer? Do you have students that know of and are fans of your work?There are some like that, but the majority dont really know who I am.Wow! Thats so interesting! I feel if you were a teacher in the US or the UK people would react differently to you being their teacher.Even students who really look up to me tend to hold back during class. Its when we go out for a meal or drinks then they ask if Ill sign or draw something!Its nice that theres a time and place for that sort of thing. To get back to Omega 6, what was your biggest inspiration for the art direction?Once I left Nintendo, I was thinking, 'How can I do something on my own as a creative?' The easiest and first thing that came to mind was to make a comic since I can draw. I really wasnt thinking of how I could sell the comic and make money, I just really wanted to draw this comic. If I can put it digitally on Kindle and a few people buy it? Great!The game itself has a massive roster of characters, and I love how theres a list of them all that you can flip through. Are you sharing design duties with anyone else or are they all created by you?Thank you! Basically it was all me except there are four characters in there that my students designed. I did the pixel art for those few characters but my students came up with the original designs.Images: Clear River GamesThats amazing! You directed Steel Diver and have worked on plenty of other games with Nintendo over your many years there, but whens the last time youve gotten to express yourself in this way?Its the first time Ive been this free, because theres nobody to tell me 'No', or to tell me when to stop. I just do what I want as much as I want.When I was at Nintendo, or when youre doing something in a professional environment and the project has milestones that people have to check off, you get senior people like the producers and managers that say, Alright, you need to reel this one in, or, Let's not do this. Ya know, I really never liked that. I think for pretty much anybody who is a professional game developer, this is something theyll go through. Of course, you know, when youre at a company, the company has to make money!Do you remember what it was that made you want to leave Nintendo? Youd been there for many years, but its a dream for many to work there.Its actually pretty simple. I quit when I was 65. This is the same for anybody, but life is short. Weve only got a number of years on this earth and theres a limit to the amount of things you can do with that time. I was kind of mulling over that and at the same time I got an invitation from the university to come and teach and I thought, 'Whoa, this is an opportunity to change things.'This was three or four years ago, right?I left in 2021!Image: Zion Grassl / Nintendo LifeWhat are a few things you miss working at Nintendo?For the first six months or so after leaving Nintendo, I kept dreaming I was still going to work. Id start developing a game and then Id wake up and go, Oh, oh. Okay thats weird.I actually met with Shigeru Miyamoto once after I left and I said, Hey, long time no see! But I actually didnt feel like that was true since I was seeing him in my dreams all the time. He got a good laugh out of that.You were at Nintendo for such a long time, so were you pretty close with a lot of your colleagues?Yeah, I still keep in contact with all of them. For example, the director of Animal Crossing, Aya Kyogoku, is coming out to see me teach in the classroom in October.Wow, really?! Is she going to be speaking or just sitting in to observe?Shes just coming over for a chat! If I have her give a lecture or something like that, then shes gotta ask Nintendo and it has to be approved.How does it feel for you to be able to pass on all the things youve learned to a newer generation?Its very difficult because if I was to host a speech, lots of people would come and listen, I think. When we turn it into a formal lecture, then theres people who are like, Ughhh, I dont wanna be here. People sleep in class, so its like any lecture in school.Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube796kWatch on YouTube So I know youre very famous for creating Tingle - was there anything specific that really inspired you to make him?The background and the lore of the character was decided beforehand and I was only responsible for the visuals. Basically, I found a guy on the team and drew a caricature and there was Tingle!That seems to be a running theme for you, taking members of your team and putting them in the game! You did this with Star Fox, Falco and Slippy too, yeah?Im pretty good at caricatures. With Star Fox, it wasnt a direct caricature but instead I was taking inspiration from different people. But yeah, that is one of the ways I do it.Image: NintendoSo youre saying theres a real-life Tingle roaming around in the world?Yes.We know there were a lot of character designs that were carried over from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time to Majoras Mask but did you design any other characters in that game?The only real NPC I made was Tingle, but I designed the Moon and Majoras Mask and that was kind of iconic. I was the art director, so I wasnt designing the actual characters, more setting the overall theme and direction for the art.Do you remember why you were tasked with designing Tingle then? Did someone on the team want you to do it?It was just a coincidence really. Everyone else was busy so someone asked me, Hey, could you do this one? and I said, "Sure!"Majoras Mask was developed in a very short amount of time, which sounds like it could be really stressful, but when you think back to that time making that game, is there anything that stands out? A funny moment, maybe the way you bonded with a coworker, or a way you made yourself proud?It was a really short project compared to general Nintendo timelines, so everybody was really focused on getting it done. So there really wasnt much room for fun, games, and hijinx. But, near the end of development, I had a homepage at the time and I was drawing caricatures on it just for fun and a TV company got in contact. Theres a program in Japan where they get people on and they compete by drawing caricatures and theyre judged and everything, and I got invited to go on that!And I thought, 'Huh, okay!' Its a pretty famous program in Japan, so I thought Id ask Nintendo and they said, Yeah go ahead, why not! Nintendo said okay, but I was planning to go on without making a big deal about the fact I worked for Nintendo. Then I heard the date the program was going to go live, and it was the release date for Majoras Mask in Japan!So I thought, 'Well, in that case, Ill go on and say who I was!' Then the program ended up coming down to the studio and filmed us developing the game a little bit, and there was me at my desk drawing some pictures. It was such a happy coincidence.Image: Nintendo LifeDo you know if that is available online to watch?I havent been able to find it actually.Oh really?! I would personally do so much to see that!The program was called TV Champion. *picks up phone and starts looking* Its a knockout competition and I made it through to the final!By the way, are you a fan of Tingle?*shrugs and shakes head*[Laughs] I know there was a fan campaign to get rid of Tingle at one point, much like Jar Jar Binks in Star Wars!I was quite young when the game came out, I think I played it when I was eight. I remember wanting to be Link when I was a kid, so when I saw Tingle, I was like, Oooo, who is this guy? He doesnt fit in the suit, flying around on balloons, letting out a funny scream when you shoot him down. Ive grown to love him now, but as a kid I always wanted to be the 'cool guy.'This interview has been edited for clarity and to remove some details at the request of the interviewee.Many thanks to Mr Imamura for speaking with us. Omega 6: The Triangle Stars launches for Switch in the West on 28th February. Dark Horse Comics has also announced that the Omega 6 manga will be available in English in October this year. And Slippy ToadNo Tingle this time aroundYes, TWENTY yearsRelated GamesSee AlsoShare:00 Zion's been crafting videos with our team for over half a decade now. He has a hard time believing it's really been that long now, but you know what they say! Time flies when you're doing something you love. He's got quite the knack for photography and takes a number of photos for our site too. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...Related ArticlesNintendo Talks About Future Switch Support Ahead Of Switch 2 Launch"We would like to continue releasing new titles"Metroid Prime First 4 Figures 'Samus Phazon Suit' Sneak Peek, Pre-Orders Open SoonUpdate: Here's a teaser of the light-up collector's edition98 Games You Should Pick Up In Nintendo's 'Play On' eShop Sale (Europe)Every game we scored 9/10 or higherForget Microsoft, Another Company Apparently Wanted To Buy Nintendo Back In The DayTalk about 'What If...'Nintendo President Reiterates Switch Online Will "Continue To Be Available" For Switch 2"We will continue to provide comprehensive services"

Google Photos is a great service for storing images across devices. But Google Drive and Gmail only offer 15GB of storage for free. Google Photos used to offer free unlimited storage of images, but that is not the case anymore. If you are looking for a better photo storage plan, different features, or just want to move away from Googles ecosystem, here are some alternatives.FlickrFree storage: 1,000 photosTypically, storage services offer storage with limit on size. But Flickr is taking a different approach: It lets people store 1,000 images and videos for free. One advantage of Flickr: You can upload an image of up to 200MB in size, compared to the 75MB limit on Google Photos on the free plan. Flickrs paid plans start at $10.44 per month for unlimited storage.If you want to look at features beyond personal usage, Flickr allows you to make your photos public so others can find them. You can also join groups based on different topics.DropboxFree storage: 5GBDropbox is not a storage service centered around photos, but that could be an advantage if you are looking to store things beyond photos in the cloud. The company has paid plans starting at $9.99 per month for 2TB of storage, which is similar to Google Ones premium plan.EnteFree storage: 5GBEnte was created by a former Google engineer as a more private alternative to Google Photos. The service has end-to-end encryption protection for photos, which means the company doesnt collect any data. The app is available across platforms and includes features to identify and annotate people; show photos from different locations; and create categories like sunsets, memes, and documents. All of this is processed on your device. Entes monthly plans start from $2.49 per month for 50GB of storage, which can be shared with five other people. Entes core code is open sourced, so you can modify it to have a self-hosted version as well.Image Credits:EnteCrypteeFree storage: 100MBCryptee is another photo-storing service that focuses on privacy; its also open source. You can create an account with a username and a password (there is an option to use email and password as well). While its free tier offers not a lot of storage, the paid tier starts at $3.30 per month for 10GB of storage. The service works on iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, and Linux through a progressive web app and uses AES256 encryption to protect your media.Apart from being a photo storage service, it has a built-in document editor that supports markdown, code, and KaTeX math. Plus, you can use a side-by-side view for documents, store and edit files as PDF and docx, and use elements like tables and checkboxes.Amazon PhotosFree storage: 5GB with Prime membershipThis is a great perk for Amazon Prime members. You can cram some extra images you have into the free tier of Amazon Photos, and if you want more, storage plans start at $1.99 per month for 100GB.Image Credits: Amazon PhotosImage Credits:Amazon Photos500pxFree storage: 21 high-resolution photos per week uploads500px is geared more toward hobbyists or professional photographers. It has community features to highlight your work and a way to showcase your snaps in an uncompressed format. Plans cost less than $50 per year, with a discount that lets you store unlimited high-resolution photos. The premium plans remove ads from the platform and also offer insights into how your photos are performing on the platform. Its higher-tiered Pro plan, priced just under $100 per year, gives you tools to build a portfolio with a custom domain as well.Image Credits: 500pxImage Credits:500pxPhotobucketFree storage: No free storageOffering no free tier sounds like a bummer, but Photobucket offers one of the lowest storage rates, with $5 per month for 1TB of storage. If you pay for the plan on a yearly basis, the price is lower. Photobucket offers an ideal way to share photos with different groups with its group bucket plans at $8 per month for 1TB storage, which also gives you access to its editing tools.

The Boston Young Mens Christian Union was founded in 1851 by a group of Harvard students as a biblical and christian literature discussion group, which incorporated the following year. First located on School Street, the organizations activities were to provide a focal point for the intellectual, religious, and social life of primarily middle-class, well-educated Christians. The organization grew to the point that a new building was needed, and in 1873, a site on Boylston Street was acquired as a perfect central location for the group. Architect Nathaniel J. Bradlee of Bradlee and Winslow was hired to design the structure, principally because Mr. Bradlee by then a prominent architect and public figure, was also a life member of the Union and the brother of one of its founders. The building was completed in 1875 and included ground floor retail with an auditorium, gymnasium, library, social and game rooms, and offices for the Union above and behind. Designed in the High Victorian/Ruskinian Gothic style, derived from a mixture of English, Italian, French, and some German Gothic precedents, the style emphasized complicated, asymmetrical massing, polychromy, ornate details, and lancet or Gothic arched openings, in this building a sandstone facade was used. The building became a City of Boston Landmark in 1977. In 2016, the building was converted to an affordable housing development by The Architectural Team Inc., and called The Union. The development provides 46 units of affordable housing, including 25 targeted to those who have experienced homelessness. What a great rebirth of the building. Historic Preservation and Affordable Housing can work together and create great projects.

Recommended By Fox News Staff Fox News Published February 15, 2025 8:30am EST close Trump announces US artificial infrastructure project Stargate President Trump announces the U.S. Stargate investment alongside three artificial intelligence industry leaders. Welcome to Fox News Artificial Intelligence newsletter with the latest AI technology advancements.IN TODAYS NEWSLETTER:Massive AI Stargate Project under Trump admin reveals next stepsElon Musk says he'll drop $97B OpenAI purchase offer if ChatGPT maker stays a nonprofitThe Simpsons star fears AI could rip off his work, but says theres one thing it cannot recreateBREAKING GROUND: Stargate, the massive artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure project recently unveiled by President Donald Trump, has begun production in Texas with data center construction in other states expected to be announced in the coming months. ON ONE CONDITION: Elon Musk will withdraw his unsolicited bid of $97.4 billion to take over OpenAI if its board of directors stops the companys conversion into a for-profit entity. Elon Musk. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)EXISTENTIAL THREAT: OPINION: Our socioeconomic system is facing an existential threat from AI. In our capitalist society, most people depend on jobs to sustain themselves. The U.S. government, in turn, relies heavily on taxing the income of individual workers for revenue.UNCHARTED TERRITORY: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman commended Vice President JD Vance's artificial intelligence (AI) speech in Paris on Tuesday while laying out his vision for how people can take advantage of the rapidly evolving technology at the same conference. INHUMAN CARTOON: "The Simpsons" star Hank Azaria has voiced his fears over artificial intelligence in a new opinion piece.AI ROMANCE SCAMS: "Love is blind" takes on a more sinister meaning when so-called artificial intelligence (AI) becomes a tool for exploiting our deepest human emotions.FOLLOW FOX NEWS ON SOCIAL MEDIASIGN UP FOR OUR OTHER NEWSLETTERSDOWNLOAD OUR APPSWATCH FOX NEWS ONLINEFox News GoSTREAM FOX NATIONFox NationStay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future with Fox Newshere. This article was written by Fox News staff.

The Anker Prime 100W USB-C Charger packs all your charging needs into a compact design, great for travel and long commutes. It's $30 less ahead of Presidents' Day.

Taylor Clemons/ZDNETWhat's the deal?The Hisense U8Nis up to $800 off at Best Buy. It's available in screen sizes from 55 inches, on sale for $400, to 85 inches, on sale for $800, making it a good fit for your home entertainment setup, no matter how much space you have.Why this deal is ZDNET-recommended?The Hisense U8Nis regularly priced at between $1,099 and $2,799.The U8N has a 144Hz native refresh rate and supports AMD FreeSync Premium Pro VRR, making it a great TV for console gaming.Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision deliver enhanced picture quality with virtual surround sound for an immersive experience.If you're a console gamer or entertainment buff looking for a high-quality, dedicated TV, the Hisense U8N is an excellent choice. With a 144Hz native refresh rate, motion blur is practically nonexistent. The TV is also equipped with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro VRR, which helps prevent stuttering and tearing. If those aren't enough reasons to pick up the TV, you can save up to $1,100 on the Hisense U8N right now at Best Buyfor the 85-inch version.Also:The best QLED TV I've tested got an upgrade, and it's over $2,000 off at AmazonWhile I'm primarily a PC gamer, I do have a PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch, so I can keep up with platform exclusives and play party games with friends whenever the stars align (and we all have a Saturday free.) My main TV is an older 50-inch Samsung TU7000, which is fine enough for gaming, and the Hisense U8K I previously tested has pride of place in the master bedroom, where it's mostly a glorified YouTube and Dropout box. Even though last year's Hisense U8K has served me well, the U8N definitely has it beat. details View at Best Buy Right away, you'll notice the bright, bold colors and deep contrast the mini LED panel offers, even in Google TV's dynamic home menus. Setting up the U8N is quick and simple, just like its predecessor. If you don't install the pedestal base backward at first, as I did, you can go from box to streaming or gaming in about 15 minutes.I appreciate the pedestal foot more than the traditional TV feet, as it definitely feels more sturdy and durable. This is needed since this is a heavy TV at 65 inches, so the 75- and 85-inch models need even more reliable support. Also:LG's G4 OLED TV is my No. 1 for best picture quality, and it's still $900 off after Cyber MondayI have my Switch set up in my office/gaming room, and the PS5 is in the main living room because I also use it as a Blu-Ray/DVD player for my extensive physical media collection, barring music CDs, but that's another article entirely. While I could easily move the consoles around the house, especially the Switch, since it's quite literally designed to be a mobile game device, it's still a hassle to unhook everything, untangle the cables, and move it all without tripping over the cats. Taylor Clemons/ZDNETThe U8N helps solve this issue by supporting the PlayStation remote play app. This app lets you play your PS5 or PS4 games wherever you are, as long as you have a controller and a reliable Wi-Fi connection.Since my console was just in the next room over, and I have a robust mesh network set up for work, I was pleasantly surprised at just how well the remote play app works. Other than a few visual artifacts upon launch as the connection stabilized, I would have had difficulty telling the difference between remote and console-direct gameplay.Also:For $799, this new Hisense TV is my pick for Cyber Monday's hottest TV dealAnd though I'm sure the lag would be more difficult to deal with if I were across the country or traveling internationally, I'd be willing to put up with it for the novelty of putzing around Cyberpunk 2077 in my hotel room after a day on the beach or exploring a real city with a disappointing lack of free junk laying around to pick up and sell for extra cash.Pairing an old PS4 DualShock controller to the Hisense TV via Bluetooth was simple enough. As long as the battery is charged or you're plugged into a USB power source, there shouldn't be any connectivity issues. Setting up the remote play connection was about as easy as it could get: just go to [Settings], select the [System] tab, then [Remote Play], where you'll find the toggle button to enable remote play for your console.Also: OLED vs. QLED TV: Which panel type is best suited for your home?Playing games on my Nintendo Switch was a perfect opportunity to see just what the Hisense U8N's QLED panel was capable of regarding color accuracy and contrast. Many Nintendo titles have brightly colored visuals and distinct art styles that are best appreciated on a full TV screen, and the Hisense U8N didn't disappoint.I was finally able to pick up a digital copy of Super Mario Bros Wonder, and the U8N did an incredible job of rendering the radically different art styles and color palettes. From dark purples of subterranean caves and the deep blacks of space to warm desert tones and crisp blues of icy passages, the TV handled each level beautifully. I spent countless minutes just admiring the background details and flavor animations between badge challenges and collecting every level star.Also:This Sony Bravia is my pick for best TV for the money - and it's still on sale after Cyber MondayI also did a quick Hades run on the Switch, which helped show off the U8N's deep contrast with the harsh, dark art style, as well as the TV's built-in audio - which was pleasantly clear. The built-in speakers handle in-game dialogue wonderfully, delivering crisp audio that is easy to understand, even without subtitles.And the game's gorgeous, sweeping soundtrack and heavy, satisfying battle sound effects helped test the limits of the TV's Dolby Atmos capabilities. You'll definitely get your money's worth if you hate wearing a headset for console gaming, but I suggest you invest in a dedicated gaming speaker system like the SteelSeries Arena 9 if you want to get the most out of your audio.ZDNET's buying adviceEven if you aren't a big console gamer, the Hisense U8N is an excellent TV for streaming movies, music, and TV shows with its bold colors and contrast, as well as immersive audio. With a 144Hz refresh rate, you'll get smoother motion during fast-paced movie and game scenes as well as live sports broadcasts. Dolby Atmos support gives you virtual surround sound without needing a headset or expensive home audio setup, and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro VRR helps prevent screen tearing and stuttering.The U8N is available in screen sizes ranging from 55 to 85 inches, typically retailing from $1,100 to $2,800. While this is on the more expensive side, the Hisense U8N packs plenty of premium-grade features to make it a worthwhile investment, especially if you are looking for a TV that you're not going to have to replace in five years. Featured reviews

AvowedObsidianXbox has said outright many, many times at this point it has reached a place where there is absolutely no game off the table in terms of when it might head to a competitors console, be it PlayStation or Nintendo. Theyre already all going to PC, more or less.Now, with the launch of what may be the biggest pure exclusive of the year for Xbox (I do not buy that Fable is out in 2025), we may ask that question about Avowed, the new RPG from Obsidian, famed developer of Fallout: New Vegas and The Outer Worlds.There are three main ways that Microsoft releases its would-be exclusives on other consoles, namely PlayStation. Or doesnt, as the case may be:Same-day launch for something like DOOM: The Dark Ages, with the selling point being Day One access on Game Pass. The same is true for older, recently absorbed hits like Call of Duty.Time delay. Thats happening with a game like Indiana Jones most recently, but also we are seeing much older games head to PS5 and Switch now that this idea is in place like Grounded and Sea of Thieves.Unclear timeline, maybe never. There are obviously a number of games that remain only on Xbox, and this generation, that means some high profile ones like Halo Infinite or Starfield. While not off the table entirely, as Xbox has said, its possible they simply never come to PlayStation.StarfieldBethesdaAvowed does seem to be in the category of an argument Microsoft made when it was trying to convince courts that it was not going to take Call of Duty exclusive if they bought Activision Blizzard. They made a chart with existing big franchises like COD on one end where they would not become exclusive, and new first party IPs like Starfield that would be the type of game to remain exclusive.Even though Microsoft has changed its tune about exclusivity, it is at least the case that those types of games, namely Starfield and Avowed, have not been named as coming to PlayStation. If that hasnt even been announced yet, if Avowed does make it over, it feels like it would not be for at least a year. For Starfield, released in September 2023, its already been longer than that and theres still no announcement.MORE FOR YOUIts just not clear what Microsofts internal decision making process is right now. There may indeed be some at least internal line about these new IPs, as they are A) not former multi-platform games, B) not an existing cross-media IP or C) not a multiplayer game that needs a boosted player population. So while you can see this standard being used to say, probably release Elder Scrolls 6 on PS5, that is different than Avowed (even based in Pillars of Eternity) and Starfield. Yes, maybe someday Avowed will leap over, but given Starfields trajectory, I do not think that is happening remotely soon.Follow me , and .Pick up my sci-fi novels the and

One might assume that marine fossils are exclusively unearthed in sedimentary coastal or underwater ... [+] deposits. This is far from the truth.gettyOne might assume that marine fossils are exclusively unearthed in sedimentary coastal or underwater deposits. Yet, counterintuitively, vast, arid landscapes of deserts are proving to be some of the best places to find relics from the ancient seas.Its a narrative underscored by a recent discoverythat of a well-preserved 9-million-year-old fossil of Cosmopolitodus hastalis, an ancestor of the great white shark, in the Pisco Basin of Peru.Many of todays deserts were once, in fact, thriving marine environments, and many have played large roles in reshaping our understanding of prehistoric ecosystems and the plate tectonics that transforms coasts into deserts over geological time scales.The Pisco BasinAn Ancient Seabed?The Pisco Basin in Peru is one of the worlds premier paleontological sites, drawing the attention of biologists, geologists and fossil enthusiasts. Nestled along the Pacific coast, the basins sedimentary layers preserve an extraordinary record of marine life dating back millions of years.It was within these layers that the recently discovered fossil of Cosmopolitodus hastalis was founda species that roamed the oceans during the late Oligocene to the early Pleistocene epochs. This discovery is pivotal, as it provides a direct glimpse into the marine biodiversity that once thrived in a region now characterized by dry landscapes and dramatic coastal cliffs.MORE FOR YOUThe geological history of the Pisco Basin is as dynamic as it is complex. Over millions of years, tectonic shifts have molded this area, lifting the seafloor to create what is now a terrestrial expanse. However, the fossiliferous sediments deposited in the previously marine environment have remained largely undisturbed.This preservation is a testament to the unique conditions in the basin: rapid sedimentation rates coupled with minimal biological disturbance have allowed for the exquisite conservation of marine fossils.Deserts Are Ancient Marine RepositoriesIn the past, it may have seemed like an easy decision to overlook deserts when searching for relics of ancient marine ecosystems. But science now knows that vast arid regions like the Sahara, Atacama and Gobi deserts are veritable time capsules that preserve evidence of long-submerged seafloors.Plate tectonics have played a central role in this transformation of sea to desert. Over millions of years, the gradual shifting of the Earths plates has led to dramatic changes in the landscape. Regions that were once deep marine basins have been uplifted to form deserts, exposing sedimentary layers that once lay at the bottom of oceans.Take the Sahara, for example. Today, it is the largest hot desert in the world. But geologists have discovered extensive deposits of marine fossils here that testify to its aquatic past.Fossilised whale remains found in the paleontological site of Wadi Al-Hitan (Whale Valley), Sahara ... [+] desert, Egypt.De Agostini via Getty ImagesSimilarly, the Atacama Desert, renowned for its extreme aridity and clear skies, was once part of an ancient coastline. The Gobi Desert, too, has yielded remarkable fossil findsranging from dinosaur remains to marine invertebratesdemonstrating that it, too, was shaped by an ancient sea.One reason why these deserts are such excellent repositories for marine fossils is the exceptional preservation conditions that persist throughout the year. The lack of moisture and low biological activity in these regions minimize the degradation and erosion of fossil-bearing sedimentary layers.Additionally, the rapid lithificationwhere sediments turn into rockpreserves fine details of fossil structures, allowing paleontologists to reconstruct past marine ecosystems with astonishing accuracy.Monumental Marine Fossil Finds In Desert LandscapesThe notion that deserts might yield some of the most significant marine fossil finds in history is no longer a fringe ideait is a rapidly growing field of discovery. Beyond the recent find in the Pisco Basin, several other extraordinary discoveries have emerged from deserts around the globe.For instance, in the Sahara, paleontologists have uncovered extensive beds of ammonite fossils and intricate invertebrate assemblages that date back to the Cretaceous period. These finds have provided vital clues to the marine life that once flourished in the Tethys Sea, which once separated the disparate northern and southern super-continents of Laurasia and Gondwana.In the Atacama Desert, fossilized remains of marine reptiles and fish have been identified, offering a glimpse into the diversity of life during periods of significant climatic fluctuation. These fossils helped bridge gaps in our understanding of how marine ecosystems responded to global environmental changes.Meanwhile, the Gobi Desert, famed for its dinosaur discoveries, has also yielded fossilized remains of ancient marine organisms. The stratified deposits in these regions have allowed researchers to not only date these finds with impressive precision but also to study the interplay between marine and terrestrial ecosystems during periods of dramatic environmental change.Time Capsules Waiting To Be OpenedDeserts, with their unique geological histories, act as natural time capsules and seem to preserve the remnants of ancient oceans in a state often more pristine than in other environments.They are invaluable to biologists and paleontologists, offering insights into the evolution of marine life over millions of years and challenging our preconceived notions about where we should be looking for the remains of long-extinct species.This is a reminder that Earths history is written not only in lush, verdant environments but also in the stark, seemingly barren expanses of deserts.Does reading about how the Earths landscape has altered unimaginably over the eons fill you with a sense of awe? 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