Scientists in China have scored a breakthrough in imaging technology, creating a camera system powerful enough to define the details of a persons face from a point high above Earth.The impressive technology has the potential to transform global surveillance standards, the South China Morning Post said in a reportthis week.Recommended VideosThe device uses a high-tech synthetic aperture lidar (SAL) setup, which deploys laser beams and advanced processing technology to create high-resolution 3D images over long distances.Please enable Javascript to view this contentA team of researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences Aerospace Information Research Institute tested the technology across Qinghai Lake in a remote region of northwest China.Aimed toward arrays of reflective prisms about 63 miles (102 kilometers) away, the device was able to spot details measuring as small as 0.07 inches (1.7mm) across, and also determine the distance to targeted objects with an accuracy of 0.6 inches (15.6mm), which the Post described as a level of detail 100 times better than what can be seen with the leading spy cameras and telescopes that use lenses.It added that the technology could be used to scrutinize foreign military satellites with unparalleled precision or distinguish details as fine as a human face from low-Earth orbit.While the potential applications are vast, there are still a number of drawbacks with laser-based camera systems. For example, stable atmospheric conditions are needed for a clear view, so the technology cant always be deployed precisely when desired. Additionally, the system is unable to lock onto a moving object, though future iterations of the technology may be able to achieve this.Nevertheless, the development marks a significant advancement in optical imaging technology, and looks like a game changer for both surveillance and scientific observation. Its certainly a dramatic improvement on this ancient surveillance kit, which was once mounted on a Soviet spy satellite.Details of the research was recently published in the peer-reviewed Chinese Journal of Lasers.

Kelly Ortberg, the CEO of Boeing, said Elon Musk is a "brilliant guy."Ortberg said Musk is "helping us in a big way" with Boeing's delayed Air Force One planes.The planes were supposed to be delivered in 2024 but have been plagued by multiple delays.Kelly Ortberg, Boeing's CEO, said Elon Musk is "helping us in a big way" with its delayed Air Force One planes."He's a brilliant guy, so he's able to pretty quickly ascertain the difference between technical requirements and things that we can move out of the way," Ortberg said of Musk while attending an investor conference organized by Barclays on Thursday."He's helping us in a big way. So I'm embracing that, working with the DOGE team to help us improve the delivery," Ortberg added, referencing the government efficiency commission headed by Musk.Boeing and Musk did not respond to requests for comment from Business Insider.Boeing was awarded a $3.9 billion contract to deliver "two completed Air Force One replacement aircraft" in 2018, during President Donald Trump's first term. In a statement at the time, the US Air Force said the new planes were to be delivered by 2024.The delivery date has since been pushed back to at least 2027. Boeing has lost more than $2 billion on the project."Now they're not building the plane fast enough. I mean, they're actually in default, Boeing," Trump said in a Fox News interview that aired Tuesday."They've been building this thing forever. I don't know what's going on," Trump continued.Last month, Ortberg said in an interview with CNBC that Boeing was working with Musk and DOGE "to figure out what can we do to pull up the schedule of that aircraft."Musk has been outspoken about his views on Boeing. In December, Musk criticized Ortberg's predecessor, Dave Calhoun, and said Boeing is "on a much better track" with Ortberg at the helm. Calhoun was the CEO of Boeing from January 2020 to July 2024.Boeing's shares fell by 2.83% when markets closed on Thursday. The company's shares have fallen by more than 10% over the past 12 months.In January, Boeing reported a net loss of $3.86 billion in the fourth quarter of 2024. The company lost nearly $12 billion last year.

Delta is giving $30,000 to every passenger who was on the flight that crash-landed on Monday.Delta could still be on the hook for more damages if passengers sue.All 80 people on board survived the incident.Delta Air Lines has said it will be giving $30,000 to every passenger who was on board the flight that flipped upside down when it landed in Toronto on Monday.Morgan Durrant, a spokesperson for Delta, told Business Insider on Wednesday that the "gesture has no strings attached and does not affect rights."It's unclear when and how passengers will be able to claim the money from Delta.Legal experts told BI that while Delta's payout is an act of goodwill, the airline could be on the hook for further damages if passengers choose to sue for more compensation.Jae Woon Lee, an aviation law professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, pointed out to BI that Delta has an advance payment clause. Under that clause, Delta offers an advance payment of at least $21,000 if a passenger dies. It does not specify a minimum payment in the case of injury."The $30,000 advance payment offer by Delta is a good start in the right direction, as long as passengers do not have to give up any of their rights for full and fair compensation in the future," said Robert Hedrick, an aviation accident attorney from the Seattle-based Aviation Law Group. Hedrick is taking passenger cases from the Delta flight.Erin R. Applebaum, an aviation accident attorney in New York, said such payments are "fairly typical in major aviation accidents."Applebaum and Hedrick said passengers should consult with an aviation attorney before accepting the money to ensure it comes with no strings attached.Both attorneys said Delta's payout isn't taxable under US law, though Hedrick said there might be some exceptions depending on the circumstance.Delta Flight 4819 which was operated by Delta's subsidiary, Endeavor Air crash-landed at Toronto Pearson International Airport on Monday. The flight from Minneapolis was carrying 76 passengers and four crew members.All 80 people on board survived. The wreckage of the plane was removed from the airport on Wednesday evening."Our most pressing priority remains taking care of all customers and Endeavor crew members who were involved," Ed Bastian, the CEO of Delta, said in a statement on Tuesday.Montreal ConventionAlan Tan, an aviation law professor at the National University of Singapore, told BI the payment was "appropriate as an advance gesture, particularly for passengers who have minimal or no injuries."He added that passengers could still sue Delta for more compensation if they could prove loss or damage.Tan said the rights of Delta's passengers were protected under the Montreal Convention, an international agreement that holds airlines liable for any physical injuries or deaths that occur on international flights. Both the US and Canada have signed the agreement.Under the Montreal Convention, the $30,000 isn't a recognition of Delta's liability, Tan said.How Singapore Airlines handled its turbulence incident in MayIn May, a Singapore Airlines flight traveling from London to Singapore was hit with severe turbulence while flying over Myanmar. Dozens of passengers were injured in the incident, and one passenger died of a suspected heart attack.Singapore Airlines gave every passenger a refund and offered $10,000 to passengers with minor injuries.Singapore Airlines said it would meet with those who sustained serious injuries and "discuss a compensation offer to meet each of their specific circumstances." The airline said it would also offer them an advance payment of $25,000 to "address their immediate needs.""This will be part of the final compensation that these passengers will receive," Singapore Airlines wrote in a statement in June.February 20, 11:30 p.m. This story has been updated with comments from Jae Woon Lee, a law professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Mailiao Community Education Park / Zoom Design AtelierSave this picture! Jian Zhuo LaiTaiwanArchitects: Zoom Design AtelierAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:5404 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2023 PhotographsPhotographs: Lead Architect: Hsu Yan-Chi, Chao Chien-Ming More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. The base is located in the urban area of Mailiao Township, Yunlin County, adjacent to farmland. This area is not far from the sea, and there is a very strong northeast monsoon in winter. Mailiao Community Education Park was donated by Formosa Plastics Corporation for common use by towns in the seaside area. Formosa Plastics Corporation invested in the world's largest petrochemical park nearby.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The two buildings are the living art center and the library. It is configured to block the northeast monsoon in winter, and an egg-shaped open space is formed in the middle, which is called the aesthetic incubation square. In addition to providing various exhibitions, the living art center mainly provides lifelong learning. The library is provided for reading. The population in coastal areas is aging, so the library is mainly for the elderly and children. The site plan and buildings are organized according to organic architectural ideas.Save this picture!Brick buildings can be seen everywhere in the countryside in Taiwan, and people have a special love for bricks. In order to ventilate and lighten, the traditional pig house provides a comfortable environment for pigs, hollow brickwork is used, which is a very green building. The brick material is taken from the earth, and the expression of the brick building is particularly charming, but since the modernization of the city, this tradition has almost disappeared. One of the key points of this project design is to make full use of old materials to present modernity with historical memory. This is a dialogue between tradition and modernity.Save this picture!The upper half of the two buildings are laid with bricks, while the first floor has a deeper shadow, and glass is retreated. The ground floor is deliberately compressed to emphasize the horizontality, and inside outside is emphasized, while the outside landscape is introduced into the inside.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The function of the living art center is an exhibition hall and classrooms. It connects all spaces through the atrium space and is a display area of bricks, light, and shadow. In summer, the westward sunlight is very scorching, and in the evening, it will even be directed horizontally. The light and shadow will be generated after being injected, and enter the space after filtering to solve the heat load. Light enters the room through direct and diffuse light, where you can fully feel the time change.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The library entrance is lowered down to the atrium area for elderly and children's reading. Through height difference, the space is separated, and the upper and lower spaces are connected through walking. The organic layout creates more perspective points. The digital reading area is located on the split-level floor, acting as a turning point in front of the second floor.Save this picture!Save this picture!During walking, to find a suitable place to read. You can choose to see the surrounding scenery by the window or look at the inner core area. The independent reading area formed by each is integrated under a roof. The sloping roof and the split-level floor are expanded to form a diverse reading space. Set up a number of skylights, and a wood ceiling, equipped with lamps under the large roof, to provide a comfortable organic reading space.Save this picture!About this officeZoom Design AtelierOfficePublished on February 21, 2025Cite: "Mailiao Community Education Park / Zoom Design Atelier" 21 Feb 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1027074/mailiao-community-education-park-library-and-living-art-center-zoom-design-atelier&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

Dog boops. Cat boops. Sea lion boops? You bet. A young South American sea lion (Otaria flavescens) approaches divers off the coast of the West Falkland Islands, curious about the the human visitors. He playfully pokes and boops the divers, one of whom is photographer Patrick Webster of the US. During an hour of observing the rambunctious and curious creature, Webster snapped an image (seen above) perfectly capturing the encounter. Initially intrigued by this vibrant sea forest tucked away off the West Falkland archipelago, my dive buddies and I quickly found ourselves the center of a passing prides attention, Webster explains. An exuberant young male, with small scars of missing whiskers, looking so much like adolescent acne, on his face-forward personality, began his investigation slowly. Then suddenly was right in our faces, poking, prodding and jawing his way into figuring out what exactly was this bubbly beast barking in his backyard.Websters image, titled A Frondly Snoot Boop, took home third place in the Portrait category in the Underwater Photographer of the Year 2025 awards.Radiant BondCategory WINNER, Wide Angle Underwater Photographer of the Year 2025A mother humpback whale accompanies her calf to the surface for its first breath early in the morning. The youngster is releasing a few bubbles as it rises, perhaps this is because it is still learning to control its breathing, or it is simply experimenting with its own body. Every year, during the southern winter, I travel to French Polynesia to photograph these majestic animals. My favourite time of day is the early morning, because the light is soft and angled, allowing me to find the perfect angle to clearly define the shape of these animals in blue. For me, this photo is one that shows a mothers love for her calf, communicating both the fragility and beauty of our oceans, and revealing one of the amazing species with whom we share our home world.Credit: Alvaro Herrero (Mekan)/UPY 2025 Spanish photographer Alvaro Herrero was named the overall winner for his compelling photograph (seen above) of a mother humpback whale and her new-born calf. Radiant Bond beat out more than 6,500 entries from photographers around the globe to nab the top prize. This delicate yet powerful study of a mother and calfs bond says all that is great and good about our world, judge and accomplished underwater photographer Peter Rowlands said of Herreros photo. We face our challenges, but the increasing populations of humpback whales worldwide shows what can be achieved.The Underwater Photographer of the Year awards honor photographers across 13 categories, including Portrait, Behavior, Coral Reefs, and Macro. Visit Underwater Photographer of the Year for the full list of winners. HydrationWINNER, PortraitI had the idea of photographing the camels drinking water for about one and half a years. I wanted to photograph them drinking water from the underwater perspective because I did not see any images showing this. The weather was a critical, and it took me several weeks to get the best possible shots. The first week the camels were a bit hesitant to drink water while my camera was under the water and only few gathered to drink, which is not what i wanted. But after several days the camels had already accepted to me and my equipment. After my first week of shooting the Camels, I changed to electronic synch cords for my strobes instead of fibre-optic cables because of problems. And finally the shots came together.Credit: Abdulaziz Al Saleh/UPY 2025 Giant FrogfishRUNNER UP, CompactWhen I was diving in Anilao, in the Philippines, we found this beautiful giant frogfish at a depth of around 15m. I tried to get a picture with a coloured backlight, and a background of small fish and the sun. After a couple of frames I got this picture and was very happy.Credit: Enrico Somogyi/UPY 2025 The MomentRUNNER UP, BehaviorNovember-December at Magdalena Bay in Baja California, are the best months to try and gets good encounters with blue marlin. However, getting strong images of these fish in wild life is very difficult because they attack the sardines and mackerels and very high speed, making it extremely difficult to capture this behaviour in a photo.Credit: Eduardo Acevedo/UPY 2025 Chasing DolphinsWINNER, Black & WhiteThis image was captured in the northern Red Sea during a freediving expedition in search of bottlenose dolphins. The moment portrays an intimate mating ritual, where several malesfour visible in the picture, though others were nearbywere playfully chasing a female. It was a dynamic and ritualistic display, with the males engaging in friendly skirmishes and occasionally mating with the female, their bodies joining briefly for just a few seconds. Notably, the female was not attempting to escape; she actively participated, playing along and waiting for them. The entire group swam gracefully and at a slow, deliberate pace, creating a mesmerizing underwater scene.Credit: Enric Gener/UPY 2025 Gardens of the Caribbean Reef SharkRUNNER UP, Coral ReefsFilling my frame with purple sea fans and porous sea rod, I settled low on the seabed, concealing myself and my camera as much as possible in the hope of a close pass from the circling Caribbean reef shark. Hunkered down, I waited for the perfect moment. Finally, this creature elegantly swam into my frame, its shiver visible in the background, adding dramatic depth to my image. Jardines de la Reina has been a successfully protected national marine park since 1996. Today fishing and visitor numbers are restricted and its ninety mile long archipelago of reefs are renowned for pristine corals and flourishing marine life. Caribbean reef sharks can grow up to three meters long and are one of the largest apex predators in the reef ecosystem.Credit: Jenny Stock/UPY 2025 The Hitch HikerWINNER, British Waters MacroOccasionally in my time under the water I have come across this medusa Neoturris pileata in the open water but had not taken a decent photo of one. On this occasion however, my buddy and I were specifically targeting them and other similar creatures to try to explore the idea of UK blackwater photographic opportunities. Of the many, many(!), images I took that day, this one revealed a larval crustacean within the bell of this medusa. The frames either side of this capture actually show that the larval crab (or lobster) is actually on the outside of the bell, but in this instant it was perfectly on the opposite side from me and hence the effect of being contained within the transparent body.Credit: Dan Bolt/UPY 2025 Dan BoltCoast Guard SG115THIRD PLACE, WrecksWreck diving is one of the top things to do in Kas, Trkiye. This is the wreck of Sahil Guvenlik SG115 a former coast guard boat that was sunk at an appropriate depth for recreational divers a maximum depth of 35m. It is a beautiful wreck close to town, one I highly recommend!Credit: Alex Dawson/UPY 2025 Alex Dawson PhotographyFace OffWINNER, BehaviorThis is a photo of two male Asian sheepshead wrasse fighting. The unique form of this species is characteristic of males, who form harems and claim territories during the breeding season. The one on the left in the photo is the harem king, who has defended his territory for more than 10 years and is estimated to be over 30 years old, while the one on the right is a young challenger. Although I had planned carefully to capture the images, the 2024 season was more difficult to predict than usual, and despite staying there for a week during the breeding season, I was only able to observe this scene once, for just 10 seconds. And this was the only photograph I was able to take. The sight of them fighting in their flashy white outfits was so magnificent I can still remember it vividly.Credit: Shunsuke Nakano/UPY 2025 Sweet CheeksThis was my first time taking a camera underwater, and was nervous but excited. My goal was to get a tiny nudibranch in focus, and with the support of my husband, Adam Martin, and our amazing guides, I quickly fell in love with macro photography. The excitement of getting a good image was challenging and exhilarating. After photographing a few other Shaun the Sheep nudibranchs and others, I decided to step up the challenge by adding the SMC lens. By the fifth dive, I finally spotted this perfect little creature. With a deep breath and a lot of patience, I took multiple shots, hoping to capture its beauty. The experience was incredibly rewarding, sparking my passion for underwater macro photography. Its a journey that taught me persistence and patience, and Im thrilled to have captured something I can truly be proud of.Third Place, Up and ComingCredit: Autumn Martin/UPY 2025 Boto rising RUNNER UP, PortraitAmazon river dolphin silhouette Manaus, Brazil, 2023 This beautiful boto made for a fantastic model even more so with sunlight piercing through the forest canopy above it. The water of Rio Negro is Coca-Cola coloured, something that was very noticeable in every single underwater frame during a two-week trip. Botos are the largest of the river dolphins, with adult males reaching up to 2.5 metres in length and weighing up to 185 kilos! Males measure 16% longer than females and weigh 55% more than them. Botos are ranked endangered by the IUCN. Threats to them include climate change and getting caught in nets.Credit: Hussain Aga Khan/UPY 2025 The MachTHIRD PLACE, BehaviorTrout and salmon interact with each other in the Austrian mountain lake. It was interesting to see two different types of fish interacting with each other. The picture was taken in the lake Grblsee, Austria, located at an altitude of 1160 meters.Credit: Lorincz Ferenc Lorinc/UPY 2025 Deep wreckWINNER, WrecksThe wreck sits on the reef at around 104m depth. When she sank she got wedged between the reef wall and a small reef so there is a swim through under the wreck. We did 25 min bottom time and about 2 1/2 hours of deco to produce this image.Credit: Alex Dawson/UPY 2025 Fluo Spiny Squat LobsterRUNNER UP, British Waters Macro Most Promising British Underwater Photographer 2025This image was taken on a wonderful night dive at Inveraray, Loch Fyne. This site is known for being home to many beautiful fireworks anemones at shallow depths, but it also has an old pipe covered in concrete blocks which is home to lots of life, including the spiny squat lobster. These squat lobsters are usually found clinging upside down on boulders/overhangs and disappear the instant the camera shutter is pressed. However, on this night dive they were wondering about in the open and didnt seem to mind having a few pictures taken. These squat lobsters show the brightest fluorescence I have seen in crustaceans and I was really pleased on this dive to be able to capture the whole animal in frame. I used excitation filters on my strobes, along with a yellow barrier filter in front of the lens to capture the fluorescence.Credit: James Lynott/UPY 2025

Nature, Published online: 19 February 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08599-7Changing from a five-point scale to a two-point scale for rating workers reduces racial discrimination by making customers focus on whether the work was good or bad instead of their own personal biases.

Nature, Published online: 19 February 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-024-08488-5D1- and D2-expressing striatal neurons encode separate parts of a learned reward distribution, paralleling modern approaches in machine learning.

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.@pixunestudios' Mehdi Goodarzi took us behind the scenes, revealing how the team creates game art and cinematic trailers, collaborates with global brands like Adobe and Rovio, and helps developers bring their visions to life.Learn more: https://80.lv/articles/from-game-art-to-cinematic-trailers-how-pixune-helps-game-studios-stand-out#gamedev #3d #3dart #animation #cinematics #sponsored #ad

Nicolas Dick, a winner of this year's Substance 3D Designer Insanity Awards, joined us to discuss how he created a generator that places leaves along a stem and gives the material a stylized watercolor look, resulting in an endless array of procedurally generated art.Read the interview: https://80.lv/articles/procedural-watercolor-like-plant-generator-in-substance-3d-designer/