In a recent video chat with earthlings, NASA astronaut Nick Hague talked about what makes the International Space Station (ISS) so special.The coolest thing about the space station is the reason why were here its to do science in a weightless environment, the American astronaut said alongside fellow ISS inhabitant and ace space photographer Don Pettit.Recommended VideosThis 50-lb robot floats up here, and because it floats, we can test out all kinds of unique things about robotics. When we take gravity out of the equation, we understand nuances in processes and reactions around and within us. pic.twitter.com/raNLajvHng Nick Hague (@AstroHague) February 19, 2025Please enable Javascript to view this contentTo demonstrate what he meant, Hague grabbed a 50-pound (23-kilogram) robot and let it just float around him. Because it floats, we can test out all kinds of unique things about robotics, and how it needs to respond.Warming to his theme, Hague adds: But its not just robotics were able to do when we take gravity out of the equation, then we start to really understand the nuances and processes and reactions around us and within us, and we better understand how to help each other, how to make better medicines, how to cure diseases, how to make better materials. All of those things are things that we discover by doing research here on the space station.Its true. Over the more than two decades of ISS operations in Earths orbit, visiting astronauts have worked on well over 3,000 experiments across a broad range of research areas. And the results of many of these have led to tangible benefits for humans back on terra firma.For example, in their efforts to study neutron stars, the team behind the NICER telescope created and patented an X-ray source, paving the way for the next generation of medical scanning technology.Other research on the ISS has led to the development of TAS-205, a promising drug for a genetic muscle-wasting disease called Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, which is currently undergoing a Phase 3 clinical trial until 2027 and could potentially slow the progression of the condition by half.And the creation of the space station robot Robonaut led to the development of an industrial-strength robotic glove that can be used by auto workers to avoid hand fatigue and injury. Originally called RoboGlove but currently known asIronhand, the device is now produced by Swedens Bioservo Technologies and is available commercially.NASA has many articles on how ISS research has enabled scientific discoveries and technological advancements that have gone on to improve lives globally.Editors Recommendations

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Speaking more than one language appears to boost our brain in multiple waysEiko Tsuchiya/ShutterstockParlez-vous Franais? Learning another language may stave off Alzheimers and other types of dementia and its never too late to start.Bilingualism was first linked with the deferral of dementia in 2007, when Ellen Bialystok at York University in Toronto and her colleagues examined the records of people who had been referred to a memory clinic and diagnosed with dementia. Of the 184 people in their analysis,symptoms appeared four years later in those who were bilingual than in their monolingual peers.

Plastic litter on beaches is causing plastiglomerate rocks to formLiz Barney/Guardian/eyevineDiscardedSarah Gabbott and Jan Zalasiewicz (Oxford University Press)Humanity has fallen. The last people are long dead after our inadequate efforts to cut carbon emissions let global warming continue unchecked. Most animals and plants were wiped out in the sixth mass extinction to hit our planet.Millions of years have passed and the few hardy species that survived have evolved to create a novel array of endless and beautiful forms. A new intelligent species has come to dominate Earth with the help of complex machines. They are

It probably hasnt been long since you last slipped into something stretchy. From yoga pants to socks, stretch fabrics are everywhere. And theyre only getting more popular: The global spandex market, valued at almost $8 billion in December 2024, is projected to grow between 2% and 8% every year over the next decade. That might be better news for your comfort than for the environment. Most stretch fabrics contain petroleum-based fibers that shed microplastics and take centuries to decompose. And even a small amount of plastic-based stretch fiber in a natural garment can render it nonrecyclable. Alexis Pea and Lauren Blake, cofounders of Good Fibes, aim to tackle this problem with lab-grown elastics. Operating out of Tufts University and Argonne National Laboratory in Illinois, they are using a class of materials called silk elastin-like proteins (SELPs) to create biodegradable textiles. True circularity has to start with raw materials, says Pea. We talk about circularity across many industries, but for textiles, we must address what were using at the source. Engineered from recombinant DNA, SELPs are copycat proteins inspired by silk and elastin that can be customized for qualities like tensile strength, dye affinity, and elasticity. Silks amino acid sequenceslike glycine-alanine and glycine-serinegive fibers strength, while elastins molecular structure adds stretchiness. Combine these molecules like Lego blocks, and voil!at least theoretically, you have the ideal flexible fiber. An early-stage startup, Good Fibes creates its elastics with proteins from E. coli, a common bacterium. The process involves transforming the proteins into a gel-like material, which can then be made into fibers through wet-spinning. These fibers are then processed into nonwoven textiles or threads and yarns to make woven fabrics. Scaling, however, remains a challenge: To produce a single swatch of test fabric, Blake says, she needs at least one kilogram (approximately two pounds) of microbial material. The fibers must also be stretchy, durable, and resistant to moisture in all the right proportions. Were still solving these issues using various chemical additions, she says. For that reason, shes also experimenting with plant-based proteins like wheat gluten, which she says is available in larger quantities than bacteria. Timothy McGee, a biomaterials expert at the research lab Speculative Technologies, says manufacturing is the biggest hurdle for biotextile startups. Many labs and startups around the world successfully create recombinant proteins with amazing qualities, but they often struggle to turn those proteins into usable fibers, he says. One Japanese biomaterials company, Spiber, opened a commercial facility in 2022 to produce textiles from recombinant E. coli proteins using a fermentation process the company first developed in 2007. The following yearafter 16 years of prototypingThe North Face, Goldwin, Nanamica, and Woolrich became the first mass-market brands to sell garments using Spibers protein-based textiles. Good Fibes wants to do the same thing, but for stretchy fabrics. The company recently began experimenting with nonwoven versions of its textiles after Pea received a $200,000 US Department of Energy grant in 2024. The most popular nonwoven materials are those used in paperlike products, such as surgical masks and paper towels, but Pea envisions a softer, stretchier version thats almost more like a lightweight felt. She used the grant to buy the companys first 3D bioprinter, which arrived in January. With it, shell begin patterning nonwoven swatches. If its successful, McGee predicts, a nonwoven stretch fabric could be a more scalable option than wovens. But he adds: Nonwovens are not very structural, so theyre usually not very tough. The challenge [Good Fibes] will need to show is what level of strength and toughnessat what size and scalecan they produce, and at what cost? With additional funding, Pea and Blake plan to develop both woven and nonwoven textiles moving forward. Meanwhile, theyve already forged relationships with at least one major athletic apparel retailer eager to test their future fabric samples. Theyre like, When you get a swatch, send it to us! Blake says, adding that she believes Good Fibes will be ready to commercialize in two years. Until then, their fashion innovation will continue taking shape in the lab. As Blake puts it: Were thinking big by thinking smalldown to the molecular level. Megan DeMatteo is a journalist based in New York City.

Marianna Sachse, 45, is an American who gave birth to her second child in the Netherlands.She noticed that strangers would intervene to give her advice or help watch her kids.Overall, she liked that the culture was more focused on collectively raising kids.One of my first enduring memories of the Netherlands was a stranger asking to cradle my baby.Months after my family relocated from Philadelphia to Maastricht, a small Dutch city, we went out to eat. I was six weeks postpartum after having my second child. My husband, six-year-old son, newborn, and I shared a communal table with an older couple, who had finished their meals.The woman chatted with her husband, then turned to us. Would we like for them to hold our baby so we could take a break?At first, I thought it was odd. Raising my first infant in the US, I never encountered someone I'd never met before offering to help like this. Still, I wanted to lean into a new culture. It was remembering my own mother, who loved kids and died a few years prior. I thought, "This woman seems just like her." I inherently trusted this woman I'd never met before.I gave her my baby. "I'll hand him back when he gets fussy," she said. My husband and I ate in a moment of peace, with our son staring up at this stranger lovingly holding his brother.In the four years we lived in the Netherlands, we learned that this is more of a parenting norm than a random act of kindness. I regularly witnessed adults intervening to help parents out, whether by watching their kids or giving tips.Now, living in Washington, DC, I miss this part of Dutch culture. It helped me become a happier and more relaxed parent, and my kids become more independent.Raising kids is a collective effortWhen my husband was recruited to work in a Dutch firm in 2016, I was nervous about relocating while I was pregnant. My doctor reassured me: I couldn't pick a better country for childbirth, he said.I learned he was right. The Netherlands is famous for its "kraamzorg" or doula system, where parents can buy doula packages before, during, or after giving birth. For our home birth and eight days of very involved, in-home postpartum care, we paid under $2,000.Doulas in the Netherlands not only care for the baby but also the mother, looking out for medical complications and offering guidance for first-time parents. They also find small ways to make parents more comfortable. Ours also vacuumed our house, walked our dog, and took the baby so I could shower. To me, the lack of privacy was worth getting so much support.I quickly saw that this community-centered attitude toward childcare extends beyond childbirth. I regularly witnessed other parents jumping in to supervise kids on the playground or play with them.Sometimes, they would chime in to give me advice. When I rode bikes with my older son, I learned that the Dutch consider it safest to stay next to your child, not behind them, as I initially did. A stranger taught me that I should ride with one hand on my child to teach them how to stay in the bike lane properly.As a parent in the Netherlands, it's normal to accept help even in the form of mild critique.Fewer screens in restaurantsAnother striking difference I noticed in the Netherlands is how kids seemed to beAlmost every restaurant we went to, including upscale ones with white tablecloths, had a designated corner for kids to play in. It can include toys or coloring books, and sometimes adults even volunteer to play with the kids. It's easy for parents to watch their children from afar while also unwinding at dinner.Everywhere we went understoodOther American parents mitigate meltdowns by giving their kids tablets or phones. In the Netherlands, I saw fewer screens at restaurants because parents had other means to keep their kids happy. It was nice to go out and know that if our kids got tired of sitting with the adults, they could go color and play with other kids instead of watching YouTube.Parents can relax more Marianne Sachse Because raising kids is seen as a community effort, there were times when parents would discipline strangers' kids if they witnessed them being mean to another child or behaving poorly in public. The Dutch will call your kid out if they're being rude or unkind toward others. They might also correct you as a parent.I loved it. As an American, there have been times when I've wondered where a kid's parent is or why they're hitting other children. I would be terrified to say something in the US. It's just not a norm, and I feel like I could put my safety at risk by interjecting.In the US, our self-sufficiency gives us the freedom to make our own decisions, whether we choose gentle parenting or homeschooling. It also comes with downsides.In our small Dutch city, I was laid back when my seven-year-old son walked home alone from school because I knew that if he was in an unsafe situation, an adult would help. In the US, it's not uncommon for parents to be nervous about their 12-year-olds hanging out in the neighborhood by themselves. There's a lot less trust, and with that, kids are less independent.We eventually moved back to the US to be closer to family. During my time in the Netherlands, I learned a great parenting lesson: when we're willing to let others into our parenting space, everybody wins.

When my mom had cancer, she moved in with us so I could help with caregiving.At the time, I was a stay-at-home mom with two toddlers, and balancing it all was difficult.I felt like a failure at times; it was nearly impossible to give everyone the attention I wanted.The day my mom moved in, my 3-year-old spun in circles, singing, thrilled that her Gigi was back for what she assumed was just another visit. My newly walking 1-year-old wobbled after her, babbling, unaware of the shift that was about to redefine our home. In the center of the chaos, my mother smiled, her face and body not yet bearing the visible evidence of the lung cancer that was killing her. She had moved across the country to live with us, preparing to start treatment at our local hospital.I had imagined this as a time of reconnection a chance for her to become a steady presence in her grandchildren's lives, for us to truly know each other as adults after years spent living so far apart. Instead, my days blurred into an exhausting cycle of diaper changes, nap battles, and doctor's appointments, torn between being the mother my children needed and the daughter my mother deserved. I thought there would be space to simply be with her to talk, to reminisce, to connect. But caregiving was never still. It was crisis management, the constant triage of needs.Focusing on both my mom and my kids as much as I wanted to was nearly impossibleWhen I was focused on my mom, I worried I was neglecting my children; when I was with my children, I felt I was abandoning my mother. Guilt was the main feeling in those days; I never felt like I was fully taking care of or helping anyone who needed me in the capacity they needed. And certainly, I was not taking care of myself.As the chemo took its toll and my mother grew weaker, my life slowed necessarily, but unexpectedly. Even as she became less able to care for herself, she found ways to remain present for my children. From her bed, she read to them, her voice softer yet steady. She taught my daughter sign language and helped my son stack blocks into towers, cheering and laughing with him when they toppled over. Though I was busier than ever, life took on a new rhythm, one I had never allowed before. We moved at her pace, sitting longer, staying present.Then, something would happen that demanded immediate attention. A broken plate. A toddler's stomach bug. My mom's fever. Decisions had to be made should I call her doctor? Should I call 911? In addition to worrying about my children's sleep, health, and development, I now had to consider what side effects of my mother's treatment warranted an emergency. What should I do if she stops eating?I was still trying to make sense of everything when I found myself upstairs, cleaning crayon off the walls, only to realize my mom needed to be rushed to the hospital, where they diagnosed her with sepsis. Why hadn't I noticed how sick she was earlier? How did I not notice? These questions haunted me for a long time.I worried I was failing at dual caregivingThe weight of caregiving wasn't just in the daily tasks it was in the isolation, the impossible expectations, and the lack of consistent, accessible support. There was no road map for balancing the needs of a dying parent with the demands of two small children. I was fortunate in many ways we had a home large enough to take my mother in, and I wasn't yet working again after having my son. But none of that changed the fact that I was drowning. I became the logistical manager, taxi service, home health aide, and nurse. Dual caregiving was constant, exhausting, unpaid work but because it took place in the home, it was invisible.When she died, I carried the weight of what felt like my dual roles' failures fearing not only that I had fallen short of expectations but that others saw it, too. Was it my fault she was gone? Had I failed to pay enough attention because so much of my focus was divided between her and my children?I saw my children process loss in their own way, and I learned from their ability to accept fragility. It gave me the space and the push to talk to them about the circle of life, about how we care for others, and about mortality, grief, love, and what it means to truly live.This experience changed how I approach parenting and time. I no longer wait for the "perfect" moment to connect with my kids. Love is in simply being present. I've learned that there's no perfect moment for important conversations. There is only now.I still think of that first day my mother moved in, sitting as my children played around her. At the time, I thought we had all the time we needed. I was nervous, stressed, and scared, but also looking forward to the time together and the chance for deeper connection for myself, for my kids, and for her.Over the last nine years, I've let go of much of that guilt, little by little, giving myself the grace my mother intuitively knew to give me when I felt like I was dropping every ball. The weight of caregiving is heavy because it's not meant to be borne alone.

Digging up treasures from the past is an exciting business. So exciting, in fact, its kept players coming back to the Tomb Raider series for nearly three decades. The original trilogy was successfully remastered and rereleased last year. Now a new collection has been recovered from the attic and put on show, like a family heirloom on the Antiques Roadshow. But will this turn out to be the gaming equivalent of a priceless Ming vase? Or a commemorative ashtray from when Prince Andrew married Fergie?A lot will depend on your personal history with Lara Croft. Those of us who wasted entire English Literature degrees watching her fall off things will thrill at the sight of every rusty key and sinister spike pit. My 13-year-old son, however, took one look at the blocky visuals, asked if I definitely had the enhanced graphics turned on, and walked out of the room shaking his head in pity. Bloody kids.There are three games in this collection. The standout title is Tomb Raider IV: The Last Revelation. First released in 1999, it is set in the ruins of ancient Egypt, which feels equally long ago. Like all the best games in the series, it combines expansive, atmospheric environments with smart puzzles that are satisfying to solve. There are some lovely moments of Lara lore, like the scene that explains how she got her iconic leather backpack. (Although not how its able to contain six guns, eight medipacks, countless keys, the Amulet of Horus, a grenade launcher and a kayak.)Egypt reveals its treasures in Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered. Photograph: AspyrAt the time of launch, Last Revelation was criticised for lacking innovation. But looking back, and at what came next, maybe we didnt know how good we had it. Bloody kids.Chronicles was the fifth Tomb Raider game released in five years. The team at Derby-based studio Core Design was burned out, by all accounts, and fed up with being forced to deliver yet another instalment in time for Christmas. The result is a game that is technically serviceable, but feels flat and soulless. The locations are uninspired and devoid of atmosphere. The visuals are bland and gloomy. It feels like Lara is just going through the motions. She can walk a tightrope now, and theres a bit of stealth, as was the fashion at the time. But these are tedious tricks, and they arent enough to distract from the fact that the magic is gone.However, its the final offering which marks the low point of this collection, and the entire series. The Angel of Darkness was the first Tomb Raider outing for PS2. It was released in 2003, which you can tell just by looking at it. The game opens on a rainy evening in Paris, apparently; the dismal industrial buildings and empty warehouses make it feel like a damp night in Croydon. Lara is a vision in double denim, complete with the obligatory cropped jacket and hiphugging bootcut jeans of the era. It feels like youre on a quest to find out what happened to the other members of B*Witched.Stealthily does it Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered. Photograph: AspyrMaybe the tightness of the clothes have restricted Laras ability to navigate environments with her usual grace and dexterity. Her movements are sluggish and clunky in this game, her jumps awkward. She is weaker than shes ever been; a new stamina meter limits her ability to hang off ledges, and you have to build up her strength by pushing crates around before she can handle more physically taxing tasks. This is as dull and annoying as it sounds.Lara has a new love interest, Kurtis, who is incredibly irritating and looks like he plays bass for Linkin Park. (Maybe they met at the Smash Hits Poll Winners Party.) Theres more stealth nonsense, which involves Lara crouching slightly as though shes suffering from digestive issues, and a badly executed attempt to introduce some open world elements. The whole thing is messy, frustrating and depressing.Its also intriguing if youre interested in the history of video games and how theyre made. Yes, theres a clear failure to maintain what made Tomb Raider so special in the first place: Laras agility and autonomy, clever puzzles, actual tombs. This game is too busy trying to keep up with the Joneses; or rather, the Metal Gear Solids and Grand Theft Autos that were so popular at the time. But there are also hints at ideas that series such as Assassins Creed and Uncharted would go on to execute brilliantly.skip past newsletter promotionSign up to Pushing ButtonsFree weekly newsletterKeza MacDonald's weekly look at the world of gamingPrivacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.after newsletter promotionSo what stopped Core from pulling it off? Perhaps it was the limitations of the technology at the time. Maybe it was poor team management, or the pressure to hit shareholder deadlines before the game was ready. Probably a combination of all these things. In any case, while The Angel of Darkness is tiresome to play, its interesting to look at as a historical artefact.The same is true of Chronicles, as an example of what happens when you try to produce creative work in a sweatshop. But The Last Revelation is vintage Tomb Raider. So for 25 you get a well-crafted, enjoyable game, a strange curio, and a flawed but fascinating piece of gaming history. Not quite as valuable as a Ming vase, but good value, and a lot more fun.

GTA 6 fans have used their eagle eyes to spot a nifty challenge for players, involving flying directly through a small gap in a building and we don't have long to find out if it can be doneTech10:00, 20 Feb 2025Updated 10:00, 20 Feb 2025Ready to thread the needle?(Image: Rockstar)Grand Theft Auto 6 fans are a resourceful bunch. They've put together theory after theory, been proven wrong, and are still combing back over what little information we have and we're glad they are.With Take-Two Interactive confirming the game is still on track for a 2025 release, the game could be closer than ever, and while we still wait for the long-awaited Trailer 2 release date, they've been digging into Trailer 1 from December 2023 yet again and have come up with a devilishly fun way for new players to prove their mettle.It involves a slim gap in a skyscraper and an aerial vehicle, and we think you can probably guess the rest.Over on the always-growing GTA 6 subreddit, one fan spotted that the skyscraper to the right in the screenshot above has a gap in it.While this feat of architecture sure looks impressive, they've suggested a stunt that could separate the big time virtual criminals from the also-rans."The first thing I will do when I fly in this game", they posted, while another joked "I'm high already"."I don't think a trauma kit is saving you if you crash" one said, while others called for video proof if it happens.GTA has a long history of flying vehicles since the Dodo in GTA 3, a nifty plane that was awkward to pilot. As things progressed, we've seen fighter jets and even commercial airlines become part of Rockstar Games' wild sandbox.Reckon you can fly through that spot? Some already have. One comment says "I just flew through that building in GTA Vice City", suggesting it was there in the 2004 original, too.Article continues belowIn any case, it's nice to see the community getting some mileage out of the game's first trailer, especially as Rockstar has given us very little to go on.For more on GTA 6, check out this title from the lead developer on prior GTA titles to help you pass the time while you wait, as well as reports Rockstar Games could offer an early addition to the Switch lineup.For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.