Top-of-the-line barns have always been a top priority for equestrians, but these days, hot-to-trot sheds and stables are often outfitted with luxe quarters for two-legged folks as well. Theres even a name for it: The barndominium. Youve probably come across these rustic forms of architecture on Instagram and Pinterest and admired their peaceful pasture settings and their signature sloping roofs, wide-open floor plans, roughhewn finishes, abundance of windows, and pretty porches.Still, the word barndominium can mean many things to many people. To some, its a hybrid form of headquarters thats all business (stables, shop, or even a commercial enterprise) in one section and all party (or a place to eat and sleep anyway) in anotherbut all under the same roof. But, now, more and more often, it is a fully residential structure that merely resembles a hardworking place to make hay. Paul CostelloCountry music superstar Ronnie Dunn entertains friends and family at his spacious Tennessee barndominium. No matter if youre planning to work, play, or both in your new home, there are some definitive elements that make a barndominium different than any other residence. Allow us to share what those are, exactly, as well as some ideas for raising a barn(dominium) of your very own. After all, dont you deserve a home that brings you and your nearest and dearest non-stop unbridled joy? Jump to:Tour These Stunning Barn Homes:What Exactly is a Barndominium?Believe it or not, a barndominium is exactly what it sounds like. Its a combination of the words barn and condominium. More often than not, its a fully residential structure that has all the charm of a country barn but provides all the luxuries of a well-shod lifestyle inside. The most common forms of barndominiums are metal or steel-framed structures, but there are plenty of builders like Montana-based Back Forty Buildings that also create stick-built, and post-frame barndos. (In fact, you can point and click on a plan on the Back Forty website or Instagram page and make tweaks or work with them to create a totally custom design.)Lincoln BarbourJessica and Kevin Carnell filled their 3,000 square foot barndominium in Mississppi with reclaimed and locally sourced materials and modern amenities.What are the Interior Characteristics of a Barndominium?Just as there is no one-size-fits-all barndominium exterior, interiors can vary wildly, too. Many are super sleek and modern, but other owners favor more traditional rustic finishes. What you wont find? Tiny, dark rooms closed off by lots of doors. Barndos are known for their spacious great rooms that combine flowing living, dining and kitchen spaces; soaring ceilings; exposed beams; large windows; sprawling porches; and single-sloped rooflines.Dane Tashima, styling by Frances BaileySimple poplar planks (all painted Alabaster by Sherwin-Williams) line the walls and soaring ceilings in this New Jersey barndominium.RELATED: Get Farmhouse Living Room Decorating Ideas That Are Rustic, Cozy, Modern, and MoreWhy are Barndominiums So Popular?While the term barndominium was coined in the 1980s, a recent New York Times article notes that the popularity of the home style has surged since the Pandemic. In fact, the structures were featured in a survey of home builders for the first time in 2024, and 7 percent of those polled reported that they had constructed a barndominium in the last year. And its not just happening in one part of the country A rep at Back Forty says they have designs that went up in 47 states in the last year or two.So why the surge? In part, that can be explained because barndos are fun! Stylish examples are showing up all over design blogs, magazines (including Country Living!), and Instagram, and people are seeing all the possibilities (including the prospect of throwing barnburners!) that come with living in one of these things. Paul CostelloWhite walls and lots of large windows keep this barn home feeling open and inviting.On a more practical front, steel structures also incredibly durable and energy efficient, especially when theyre outfitted with reflective roofs and solar panels. Sometimes, it comes down to dollars and cents, too. Depending on where you live and the finishes you choose, building a barndominium can be cheaper than building a more traditional-style home. RELATED: 50+ Farmhouse Kitchen Ideas To Give Your Kitchen a Charming, Timeless StyleHow Do I Get a Barndominium?Because barndominiums have grown in popularity in the last five years, theres a chance you can search barndominium for sale in Alabama (or any state for that matter) on Zillow or other real estate site, and find one thats finished to the nines, on the market, and ready for move-in. But if you have your heart set on building one of your very own, youll have to start with finding the perfect plot. (If you plan to work and live in the same spot, make sure that its zoned appropriately.) Then do your research. Ask friends for recommendations. Poke around Instagram. And the good news is, there are plenty of companies that offer kits, which tend to be less expensive than a totally custom build. Metal building makers like Texas Barndominiums offer a few standard floor plans, and from there, clients make choices about everything from flooring and paint to cabinetry, countertops, appliances, and more. Once everything is in place, residents tend to choose hardworking-yet-handsome furnishings made to withstand both the forces of nature and young children. RELATED: 70 Farmhouse Decor Ideas to Create Your Dream BarndominiumLincoln Barbour for Country LivingRough-hewn wood and stainless steel accents look right at home in this Mississippi barndomium kitchen. Another Texas-based company, The Barndominium Company has a surprising number of luxury barndo post-frame and steel-frame plans that you can scroll through and even search by your desired number of bedrooms, baths, or stories, along with specialty features like fireplaces, safe rooms, and home gyms. The company can also put together designs for a totally bespoke barndominiums, as well as party barns, guest houses, granny pods, and even chapels.Helen Norman for Country LivingThe OConnors backyard barndominium in suburban Deleware is the ultimate party barn.Before you sign on the dotted line with any company, be sure to ask for references and ask if you can tour some of their finished projects. Find out if they have a preferred list of general contractors and vendors with whom they work on the regular. And dont be afraid to ask a million questions (including realistic price estimates) so that building your dream barndominium on the range doesnt come with unwanted stress and unhappy surprises. Tour More Barndominiums:

If you take a look at the current landscape of charging accessories in 2025, it seems like everyone is doing the same thing. Every brand has its flagship 3 in 1 charger or a 140W wall charger, or a Magsafe charging brick. So what I wanted to do is highlight some products that have brought some unique twists to a product category that seems to have been stale. Let me know which is your favorite!Be sure to check out the hands-on video below to see all these accessories in action!Kuxiu K1 & S1 Magsafe battery banksI recently wrote an in-depth review of these, so I will just highlight the main feature that really sets these apart from any other Magsafe battery bank on the market. Below are the specs that each of these bring:5000mAh power bankQi2 15W magnetic charging20W wired out and in chargingiOS widget integrationFrosted glass materialThe key difference between these two is that the Kuxiu K1 has a unique trick that twists open to reveal a 5W Apple Watch Charger and a kickstand. While the Kuxiu S1 has just one function, it also has a new solid-state battery tech. But the coolest feature (which both have) is that it integrates with the iOS battery widget. So when you connect it to your iPhone via MagSafe, you can see the battery level on your iPhone!iOS IntegrationKuxiu K1The Kuxiu K1 is on sale for for $69 while the Kuxiu S1 is on sale for $79. Both available in black and a natural titanium. Universal Cable with Apple Watch by NomadEarlier this month,Nomad released this Universal Cable. This one is super unique, and at first, I was skeptical. I didnt think I would use it as much as I did. But now it comes with me everywhere. Even though its just a cable, it technically can charge two devices at once, and the Apple Watch charger doubles as a wireless charger for my AirPods Pro!These are the key specs to note:100W USB-C PD Charging CableFast charges iPhone,iPad, andMacBookIntegratedApple WatchFast ChargerBi-directional charging0.3, 1.5m & 3m cable options with a Kevlar outer weave and electroplated metal connectorsIntegrated cable tie for cable organization The first thing I noticed was just how well-made this cable was. The kevlar really makes a difference in the overall feel and quality, and then the Apple Watch puck is the same. One cool trick is that you can charge from either side, and it will default to where the most power is coming from. For example, I can plug one end into my iPhone and then my iPhone can charge my Apple watch. But then, when I plug the other end into a MacBook or a wall charger, it switches the charge. So its still charging the Apple watch but will also charge the iPhone. Genius!The Universal Cable sells for $100, and right now, the 1.5m option is the only one in stock. InfinaCore P3 ProThis product really blew me away because it has everything anyone would ever need. On the surface its about the size of an Apple wall brick that you would get with a MacBook Pro but can do so much more than just that. Here is the spec list:65W max charging speed2x USBC ports1x USBA portQi2 wireless charger10,500mAh built in batteryLCD display for live diagnotics like charge speed, charger temperature and battery levelSo not only can you charge three devivces while wired in, but you can also fast wireless charge your iphone and there is even a battery bank built into it. It also has folding prongs so when you can plug it into any AC outlet and it will charge the battery bank as well as the plugged in devices. This charger is on sale on Amazon for $74 and there is an addition 5% coupon that you can check off. This is great as an everyday carry type of charger. Nomos Charging StationThis charger is great as a charging station. I use this to make sure my battery packs, my lighting equipment, my UltraHuman ring and other auxilary accessories are charged up. Supports the Qi2-certified 15W wireless charging for iPhoneSupports 140W PD3.1 USB-C super fast charging.2 USB-C ports, 1 USB-A port, 1 built-in 140W retractable USB-C cable, plus Qi2-certified Magsafe wireless charger, allows you to charge up to 5 devices at the same timeLCD display allows you to monitor the charging status in real time, providing visual feedback on the charging speed and power allocation of each port.Magsafe plate can be propped up to 60 and adjust heightThe form factor and the LCD display are what really do it for me. I love being able to see that my lighting equipment is drawing 60W of power at all times, or that my ring is charging at 2W. The Nomas Charging Station is availble on Amazon for $119 but there is an additional 10% of code on the product page!Anker MagGo 35W Power bankThis is one of those no-brainer accessories that you can throw in your bag, purse, backpack, or even your pocket. The form factor is small and portable. It charges up to three devices at once, has 35W output, and even has a little LCD screen that gives you those live diagnostic stats.Here is what you need to know:10,000mAh Power BankCharge up to 3 devices with a built-in USB-C cable, USB-C port and adjustable Apple Watch charger.Supports dual charging with 30W USB-C output and 5W wireless Apple Watch chargingThe Anker MagGo 35W comes in four different colors and sells on Amazon for $79 but there is a 15% coupon that you can apply on the product page!Alogic Ark ProNow, if you need something that packs more power but is still portable, then the Ark Pro is worth considering. The form factor is perfect for traveling and what I love is that there is an included cable that attaches to the Ark Pro that acts as lanyard so it never gets lost and you always have a USB-C cable on the ready. Here are the specs:27,600 mAh battery (Largest allowed on planes for travel)Max total output is 160W2X USB-C PD ports (each capable of 140W charging)1X USB-A port (cable of 22.5W charging)Diagnostic display that shows wattage, temperature, charge cycles and moreBuilt-in USB-C Cable capable of 140WThe Ark Pro is available from Alogics website for $129. Idea for those MacBook Pro users that are on the go!Final takeAs I stated at the beginning of the post, I love seeing companies innovate in this realm. It is cool to see how these have gone from just being a charger to now having multiple functions, form factors, displays, and so much more. What do you think? Which one of these is something you would want? Is there a product that you use often that I should consider checking out? Lets discuss below!Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

According to Bloombergs Mark Gurman, Apple is gearing up to launch a new version of the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air with the M4 chip. The company is preparing for a debut in March.Weve been hearing rumors about this M4 MacBook Air for the longest time. References for it even leaked within the macOS 15.2 beta back in December, suggesting its launch was around the corner. Mark Gurman even made reference to the fact that the MacBook Air was on track for an earlier launch than other spring products like iPhone 16e and iPad Air. Nonetheless, the iPhone 16e launched, and theres still no MacBook Air.That should be changing soon though. Gurman reports that the new M4 laptop should launch in March, and Apple is currently preparing marketing, sales, and retail teams for it. He also says current M2 and M3 models are facing low inventory in stores.Other than the M4 chip, we dont really have many expectations for the M4 MacBook Air. Some plausible upgrades include Thunderbolt 4 (rather than USB 4/Thunderbolt 3), as well as a Center Stage camera, and a nano-texture display option. All of these upgrades debuted on other M4-equipped Macs.Are you looking forward to the launch of the M4 MacBook Air? Let us know in the comments.My favorite Apple accessories on Amazon:Follow Michael:X/Twitter,Bluesky,InstagramAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

The James Webb Space Telescope has peered 13 billion years in the past and tens of billions of light-years away from our planet.And in a recent experiment, scientists decided to look deep into a black hole that's way closer to home where they were met with an explosive light show.AsCNNreports, scientists at Northwestern University turned the groundbreaking space telescope onto Sagittarius A*, the central black hole at the heart of our Milky Way Galaxy that's about 26,000 light-years away from Earth, to see what its sensitive instruments would pick up.In the most detailed look at that black hole ever undertaken, the astrophysicists observed incredible flares of light spewing out of Sagittarius A* that CNN described as resembling pyrotechnics.As the researchers explained in a new paper published inThe Astrophysical Journal Letters, these types of flares usually burst out of accretion disks, or swirling disks of hot gas and dust. Though they're not completely sure of its origin, the scientists behind this discovery say they think it came from an accretion disk located just beyond the black hole's event horizon a region with gravity so densethat even light can't escape."In our data, we saw constantly changing, bubbling brightness," Farhad Yusef-Zadeh, a physics and astronomy professor at Northwestern who was the study's lead author, told CNN. "And then boom! A big burst of brightness suddenly popped up. Then, it calmed down again."As Yusef-Zadeh acknowledges, these fantastic flares appear to be happening at random."We couldnt find a pattern in this activity," he said. "The activity profile of this black hole was new and exciting every time that we looked at it."Though they're effectively invisible, astronomers are able to "see" black holes because of their effect on the things around them. Anything that wanders too close to one gets sucked into its gravitational pull. Any dust and gas that gets pulled in starts to swirl super-fast in that maelstrom, forming accretion disks that heat up as they "feed" the black hole.While the mechanism that fuels black holes is pretty well understood, astrophysicists don't know exactly why these galaxy-powering bodies emit these bright, energetic flares. According to Yusef-Zadeh, the flares witnessed in Sagittarius A* are singular even for such mysterious motions."Flares are expected to happen in essentially all supermassive black holes, but our black hole is unique," he explained. "It is always bubbling with activity and never seems to reach a steady state."Over a period of a year, the researchers watched Saggitarius A* in eight-to-ten-hour increments. During that time, as Yusef-Zadeh explained, "we noticed changes in every observation.""We saw something different each time," the scientist told CNN, "which is really remarkable."More on James Webb discoveries: Scientists Surprised to Realize Red Dots in James Webb Images Are Black HolesShare This Article

Image by Joanne Ho-Young Lee / MediaNews Group / The Mercury News via GettyDevicesGovernment bogeyman Elon Musk has been accused by his number-one nemesis, "212" rapper Azealia Banks, of having a "botched penis implant" a funny-sounding but extremely real and dangerous complication that can occur when people try to surgically make their dicks bigger.This whole debacle began when Banks was, as she is wont to do, hating on Musk in a deeply personal way. Responding to news that the billionaire had secretly fathered his 13th known child with 26-year-old conservative influencer Ashley St. Clair, the artist joked that the multi-hyphenate business owner's penis "is probably non functioning" due to his avowed ketamine usage (which can indeed result in erectile dysfunction.)In response, a random user quipped that they'd heard Musk has a "botched penis implant." Banks immediately pounced on the accusation by claiming that Claire "Grimes" Boucher, her former friend who shares three children with the unelected White House official, told her the same thing.As the fine folks atKnow Your Meme report, the Twitter-happy rapper is an extremely non-credible source, on Musk and pretty much everything else. Beyond claiming that she was held "hostage" at Musk's house in 2018 after Grimes allegedly invited her over for a threesome under the guise of making music together, Banks has long had an erratic and, at times, concerning internet presence.Whatever is going on with Musk's member is, thankfully, none of our business at Futurism but that doesn't change the horrific nature of penis implants gone awry, which are a very real concern.In the summer of 2023,The New Yorker and ProPublica dropped a jaw-dropping investigation into James Elist, a Beverly Hills urologist whose "Penuma" device a garish portmanteau for "Penis New Man" led to absolutely bloodcurdling complications for some of the men who got it implanted.Billed as a reversible and safe procedure, Elist's implant was, in many documented cases, anything but. Hawked in outlets like GQ and Esquire, men whose Penuma implantations went wrong said that they experienced stabbing pains during sex, numbness, and disgusting fluid-filled pus bubbles. One man told ProPublicaandThe NYer that his implant became detached and poked through the skin of his penis, and the tiny hole it formed festered, became smelly, and made a crunching sound when air passed through it.Despite those horrendous complications, Elist got off relatively scot-free with medical board probation in California for "repeat negligent acts." He's also still selling Penumas rebranded under the name "himplants" after successfully suing a Texas-based company for stealing his dangerous dick implant idea.There's also a psychological component. Like other risky body modification surgeries, the procedures alsoprey on male insecurities and according to one person who had to have his implant removed, it ended up making his penis smaller to boot.In other words, botched penis implants are no laughing matter and people who get them deserve pity, not derision.More on Musk's alleged sex life: An Influencer Says She Had Elon Musks Baby and the Drama Is Pretty Spectacular, Even by His StandardsShare This Article

If you're one of the artificial intelligence enthusiasts who bought a Humane AI pin, it's time to say goodbye. The wearable device, which CNET principal writer Scott Stein compared to "an AI-powered Star Trek communicator pinned to your shirt," is on its way out.Humane is being acquired by HP, and announced Tuesday that it would stop selling the pins. And don't think you'll have a lot of time to wind down your use of your pin, either -- this is a pretty accelerated timeline.Read more:Humane AI Hands-On: My Life So Far With a Wearable AI Pin"Your Ai Pin will continue to function normally until 12 pm PST on February 28, 2025," Humane said in the statement. "After this date, it will no longer connect to Humane's servers, and .Center access will be fully retired."The AI Pin features will no longer include calling, messaging, AI queries and responses, and cloud access, and on Feb. 28, all remaining consumer data will be deleted, the company said."We strongly encourage you to sync your Ai Pin over Wi-Fi and download any stored pictures, videos, and notes from .Center before February 28, 2025," the statement said. "If you do not do this, your data will be lost upon deletion on February 28, 2025 at 12pm PST."A representative for Humane did not immediately respond to a request for comment.First-hand experienceCNET's Scott Stein reviewed the device in April 2024, noting that the $699 pin seemed like science fiction but was a chore to use."The ideas inside Humane's vision were interesting, but the execution -- and its total lack of connection with any phone -- made it feel absurd," Stein said on Tuesday. "Also it was hard to control, didn't work well and overheated extremely quickly."Stein enjoyed the language translation feature and said its camera quality was "fine but not great." The device did not respond to voice activation and instead must be constantly tapped to be put into service.The pin could read things out loud, try to identify cars, plants and locations, or describe a room, Stein said in his review. But not without issues. When he asked it to identify a can of Spindrift flavored sparkling water, it told him instead about a 2022 Apple TV Plus movie, possibly mishearing his asking the device to "look" for the movie's title, "Luck."

$8 at Crunchyroll Carries Dragon Ball Daima Crunchyroll $8 at Crunchyroll See more details See at ExpressVPN Best VPN for streaming ExpressVPN See at ExpressVPN See more details Table of Contents We've seen Goku go Super Saiyan 3, and then Super Saiyan 4 (insert jaw-drop) in Dragon Ball Daima, and now only one episode remains in the series.Forty years ago, Akira Toriyama introduced Dragon Ball, a now-iconic series that's been adapted from its origins as a popular manga into a franchise that includes books, anime and merchandise. Goku, Vegeta, Piccolo, Gohan and more are cemented in history.As part of a commemorative celebration of Dragon Ball, Toei Animation launched Dragon Ball Daima, a fresh story that plunged Goku and friends into another adventure. Shrunken down to child-size versions of themselves, they wind up in a place called the Demon Realm. Fans have seen Goku, Supreme Kai and newcomers Glorio and Panzy make their way through the new world.The series marks the final project of the late Toriyama, who died last year but left a legacy of work celebrated by fans and peers alike.Scroll on the learn when to watch the final episode of the new anime and how a VPN could be a useful tool.Read more:Best Anime Streaming Services of 2025 Bird Studio/Shueisha/Toei AnimationFinale release date for Dragon Ball DaimaDragon Ball Daima began streaming back in October, but its finale will air onCrunchyrollon Friday, Feb. 28, at 11:45 a.m. ET/8:45 a.m. PT. CNET/Crunchyroll Crunchyroll is home to thousands of anime titles, including simulcasts, on-demand releases and originals. You can sign up for a free account to stream ad-supported content on the service. Just note that not all titles are available with the free version, and there is a wait for new releases. Anime fans who want immediate access to new episodes should opt for Crunchyroll's basic $8 ad-free premium subscription. Two other premium tiers are available if you want to upgrade your plan, and there's a free seven-day trial for new subscribers. $8 at Crunchyroll How to watch Dragon Ball Daima from anywhere with a VPNPerhaps you're traveling abroad and want to stream Crunchyroll while away from home. With a VPN, you're able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to the anime series from anywhere in the world. There are other good reasons to use a VPN for streaming, too. A VPN is the best way to stop your ISP from throttling your speeds, as it encrypts your traffic. Using a VPN while traveling also adds an extra layer of privacy to your devices and logins on public Wi-Fi networks. Plus, streaming TV can be smoother with a reliable, quality VPN that'spassed our testsand security standards. You can use a VPN to stream content legally as long as VPNs are legal in your country and you have a valid subscription to the streaming service you're using. The US and Canada are among the countries where VPNs are legal, but we advise against streaming or downloading content on illegal torrent sites. We recommend ExpressVPN, but you may opt for another provider from our best list for streaming VPNs, such as Surfshark or NordVPN. James Martin/CNET If you're looking for a secure and dependable VPN, our Editors' Choice is ExpressVPN. It's fast, works on multiple devices and provides stable streams. It's normally $13 per month, but you cansign up for ExpressVPN and save 49%-- the equivalent of $6.67 per month -- if you get an annual subscription.ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.Read our review of ExpressVPN. See at ExpressVPN Follow the VPN provider's instructions for installation, and choose a country where Dragon Ball Daima is streaming on a service like Crunchyroll. Before you open the streaming app, make sure you are connected to your VPN using your selected region. If you want to stream the show on more than one device, you may need to configure each one to ensure you're signed in. Go to settings and check your network connections to verify you're logged in and connected to your VPN account. Now you're ready to open Crunchyroll to stream.If you run into issues with streaming, first make sure your VPN is up and running on its encrypted IP address. Double-check that you've followed installation instructions correctly and you've picked the right geographical area for viewing. If you still encounter connection problems, you might need to reboot your device. Close all apps and windows, restart your device and connect to your VPN first. Note that some streaming services have restrictions on VPN access.

Posted on February 22, 2025February 22, 2025 by Mark ThompsonNASA Downgrades the Risk of 2024 YR4 to Below 1% NASA astronomers have been continuing to monitor the trajectory of asteroid 2024 YR4. The initial calculations suggested a 1.3% probability of an Earth impact event, which temporarily increased to 3.1% as more data came in. However, and with a sigh of relief, recent analysis brings encouraging news: the Earth impact probability has decreased significantly to 0.28%, though calculations now show a 1% chance of lunar impact. Observations will continue with the James Webb Space Telescope so stay tuned.Asteroids are rocky, airless worlds that are remnants left over from the formation of our Solar System about 4.6 billion years ago. They range in size from tiny pebbles to massive bodies hundreds of kilometres across. Most asteroids are found in the asteroid belt between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter although some follow paths that bring them closer to Earth. Occasionally, they can pose a threat to Earth, which is why astronomers and space agencies closely monitor their orbits and develop potential deflection techniques.Asteroid Ryugu as seen by Japans Hayabusa 2 spacecraft, which returned a sample of the ancient asteroid to Earth in 2020. Image Courtesy ISAS/JAXA Asteroid 2024 YR4 is one such asteroid that has had gripped the nationsmedia over recent weeks. Its a near-Earth object that was discovered on 27 December 2024, by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) in Chile. Initially, it had an estimated 1.3% chance of impact with Earth in 2032, making it one of the highest-risk asteroids ever recorded. However, further observations raised that risk!Atlas 2 on Mauna LoaAstronomers use systems like ATLAS to identify near-Earth objects (NEOs) that could pose a potential threat to our planet. It was developed by the University of Hawaii and funded by NASA and consists of a network of telescopes positioned around the world to provide continuous sky surveys. Its primary goal is to detect asteroids before a potential impact, allowing for timely warnings and mitigation efforts. Since its installation, ATLAS has successfully discovered thousands of asteroids, including hazardous ones just like 2024 YR4.Understanding the level of threat from asteroids like 2024 YR4 requires time, time and observations. Imagine a game of tennis and the ball is hit, sending it flying over the net. A photographer sat in the crowd grabs a snapshot of the ball as it flies over the net. The picture is a clear, sharp capture of a point in time however analysis of the image can only reveal the exact location of the ball and not its trajectory. Its the same with asteroids, once they are discovered, a single observation will reveal where it is but a series of observations are required to understand where its going. Ok so this is a simplistic view but it shows how important continued observations are to asteroids like 2024 YR4.Further observations of asteroid 2024 YR4, conducted during the night of 19-20 February have revealed encouraging results. NASAs planetary defence team have reported that the probability of an Earth impact has decreased to 0.28%. Monitoring will of course continue to refine trajectory predictions, but current calculations indicate a slight increase in the possibility of lunar impact, now estimated at 1%. These percentages are of course tiny and pose no cause for alarm but 2024 YR4 will continue to be observed over the coming months, just to be sure.Source : Additional Observations Continue to Reduce Chance of Asteroid Impact in 2032

Avowed doesn't have a planned PlayStation release currently, though if you're playing on PC, some mods will let you imagine you are. Read more

Nierly ThereYes, Square Enix has announced a special Nier 15th anniversary livestream for April, no, it hasn't said anything about a new gameThe main focus will be on merch and events, it seems.Image credit: Square Enix News by Oisin Kuhnke Contributor Published on Feb. 23, 2025 Nier is celebrating its 15th anniversary later this year, and to mark the occasion, Square Enix is hosting a special livestream.This coming April 22, it'll have been 15 years since the original Nier released on PS3 and Xbox 360, a title that received pretty mixed reviews but has obviously gone on to birth an incredibly beloved series thanks to its sequel Nier Automata and its own remaster in 2021, not to mention a (now defunct) mobile game, books, and plenty more. So, as part of celebrating its anniversary, Square Enix is hosting a livestream on its official YouTube channel on April 19, where it will "deliver the latest information on events and merchandise planned to be held in commemoration of the 15th anniversary, along with talks from developers." To see this content please enable targeting cookies.There will also apparently be a mini live performance during the program, and it'll last about two and a half hours. Of course, creator Yoko Taro, series producer Yosuke Saito, and composer Keiichi Okabe will also be there, alongside senior game designer Taura Takahisa, and Grimoire Weiss/ Pod 042 voice actor Hiroki Yasumoto. Now, as exciting as this livestream sounds, particularly considering key art for Reincarnation, the delisted mobile game, is featured in the announcement, I wouldn't jump the gun just yet, as Japanese livestreamed events like this don't always contain any big pieces of news.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. It is the 15th anniversary, though, and Saito did actually tease the next game in the series, as well as something more mysterious, in an end-of-year interview in 2024, so it is entirely possible something like that will be announced. Nier Automata actually turns eight years old today, which is making me feel uncomfortably old, so it would be nice if another Nier game manages to come out before I enter the next decade of my life. For now, we'll just have to keep our fingers crossed that something gets shown off.