The parish known today as Infant Jesus-St. Lawrence Church was established in 1898, two years after its original chapel building shown here was erected to serve as a mission church of St. Mary of the Assumption in Brookline Village. The St. Lawrence Church was built in 1896 on Boylston Street in the Chestnut Hill/South Brookline area of the town, built to serve a more local, well-off population in the area. The church (and the adjacent rectory) was designed by Franz Joseph Untersee, a Swiss-American architect, and Brookline resident, who designed manyRoman Catholic churches throughout the eastern part of United States. The Neo-Gothic church building is built of wood and stone with stucco and applied half timbering. Besides the large stained glass window and applied ornament, the church is notable for its square, irregularly-laid granite tower with crenelation. The church remains active in the community and very-well preserved inside and out.

close Must-turn off privacy settings on your iPhone in iOS 18.1 The CyberGuy walks you through which settings to adjust. Protecting your personal information online starts with understanding the language of the internet. We'll break down five essential tech terms that directly affect your online privacy, from the secretive Dark Web to the nuances of email etiquette.Learning these concepts will equip you to navigate the internet more securely.Stay tuned for morein this series as we dive deeper into privacy-related tech terms and other essential concepts, answering the top questions we get from readers like you!GET THE LATEST TECH TERMS, SECURITY ALERTS, TOP TECH TIPS, AND DIGITAL TRENDS STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX. SIGN UP FOR KURTS CYBERGUY REPORTIT'S FREE! People working on their laptops (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)The Dark WebA hidden internet below the surfaceBeneath the familiar internet you browse every day lies theOriginally developed by theU.S. Navy in the 1990s for secure and anonymous communication, the Dark Web has since evolved into a double-edged sword, a haven for privacy advocates, journalists and whistleblowers, as well as a hot spot for cybercriminals engaging in illicit activities.While some use the Dark Web for legitimate purposes, like bypassing censorship or protecting free speech, it's also a marketplace forstolen personal data,financial fraud, making ita high-risk zone foridentity theft.If you want to safeguard your personal information from beingbought, sold or leaked on the Dark Web, consider usingidentity monitoring services that scan underground forums and databases for exposed data.If you want to make sure your data stays out of nefarious hands and away from the Dark Web,consider identity monitoring services that can scour the internet for your data and remove it for you. Illustration of a hacker on the Dark Web (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)EncryptionSecuring your digital world, one byte at a timeEver wonder how your online banking info stays safe? Thats thanks toencryption, a process thatscrambles your data into a secret code so only authorized people (or devices) can read it.How encryption works:Turns data into unreadable text If intercepted, it looks like gibberish.Only the right system can unlock it Your bank, email provider or messaging app automatically decrypts it so you see normal text.Where you use encryption every day:Secure websites Look forHTTPS (the "S" means encrypted).Messaging apps WhatsApp and iMessage useend-to-end encryption.Online banking and shopping Protects your financial transactions.Encryption keepsprying eyes out and your private info safe because not everything you do online should be an open book.Check out other tips to protect your documents and keep them private. Saving a document with encryption (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)CAPTCHAProving you're human onlineHave you ever had to click on pictures of traffic lights or type in wavy letters before logging onto a website? Thats aCAPTCHA, a simple test designed to tell humans and bots apart.Websites use CAPTCHAs to block automated programs (like spambots) from accessing accounts, submitting fake forms or posting junk. The name stands for "Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart."So whats a Turing test? Named after computer scientist and WW2 codebreaker Alan Turing, its a challenge to see if a machine can act so much like a human that people cant tell the difference. CAPTCHAs flip the idea around, making sure youre human, not a bot!While some CAPTCHAs ask you to solve puzzles, newer versions just check if your mouse movements look human. So next time you prove youre "not a robot," youre actually helping protect the internet.But not all CAPTCHAS are created equal.Follow my guide to learn how to spot the signs of a fake CAPTCHA designed to download malware. Website using Captcha (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)SpamFrom Monty Python to malware: The evolution of spamThe term"spam" for unwanted email comes from a Monty Python sketch where the word "Spam" (referring to the canned meat) is repeatedly mentioned, overwhelming the conversation. This led to the term being used to describe the overwhelming nature ofunwanted email: spam.Originally, spam was just a nuisance flooding inboxes with promotional emails, chain letters and irrelevant ads. But, over time, spam has evolved into a major cybersecurity threat.Phishing emails,malware-laden attachments and fraudulent schemes now lurk within spam messages, tricking unsuspecting users into clicking malicious links, revealing sensitive information or even infecting their devices with ransomware and spyware.WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)? A woman encountering spam on her laptop (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)CC/BCCWho sees what? Mastering email copiesBelieve it or not, you may already know what the nicknames for these tech terms come from. If youve ever sent an email, youve probably seen CC and BCC. But what are they for?CC stands for "carbon copy," a throwback to the days of typewriters when carbon paper made duplicate copies. In email, it means sending a copy of your message to someone so they can stay informed. Everyone can see whos been CCd, making it great for keeping people in the loop without needing them to respond.GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HEREBCC stands for "blind carbon copy." Its like CC but private. Recipients in the BCC field get the email, but their names and addresses arent visible to others. This is handy for group emails where you want to protect privacy or avoid a reply-all storm.These tools help you manage communication and keep everyone on the same page. Looking to switch up your email provider to a more secure and private platform? Check out my picks - I'll take you through the pros and cons. CC/BCC outlined in red (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Kurt's key takeawaysUnderstanding these five privacy-related tech terms is essential. The Dark Web highlights the need to protect your personal data. Encryption is your digital shield, securing your information during online activities. CAPTCHAs help protect websites from automated attacks, which indirectly preserves your security. Recognizing spam protects you fromphishing andmalware. And using CC and BCC correctly in emails respects privacy. By knowing these concepts, you're better equipped to enhance your online privacy and security.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPConfused by a tech term or want something explained? We want to hear from you! Share your questions atCyberguy.com/Contact.For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading toCyberguy.com/NewsletterAsk Kurt a question or let us know what stories you'd like us to coverFollow Kurt on his social channelsAnswers to the most asked CyberGuy questions:New from Kurt:Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved. Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on "FOX & Friends." Got a tech question? Get Kurts free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

Kerry Wan/ZDNETWith the way we use our iPhones these days, it can be hard to make it through a single day on a full charge. A few FaceTime calls, some text messaging, and opening Maps a few times, and you could already be 25% down.If you've experienced this problem, you're not alone. These phones can be very power-hungry -- even the more affordable iPhone SE 4 has battery issues. The problem is made worse by all the different apps, features, and settings vying for battery life. And the kicker is there's a chance you don't even use some of these functions.Also: Apple launches $599 iPhone 16e: Best features, specs, and everything else to knowLuckily, there are a handful of settings you can tweak to maximize your iPhone's battery life, and these changes don't have to mean losing out on your favorite features. Whether you're rocking the iPhone 16 Pro Maxor a version from a few years ago, you've got options. Here are the 11 best ways to improve your iPhone's battery life.1. Turn off the always-on displayOne of the biggest power drainers on the iPhone Pro series is the always-on display. Apple finally added the feature after years of refusing to, and while the company says it'll only drain about 1% per hour, that's still almost a quarter of your battery gone each day while you aren't using your phone.How to: On your iPhone, go to Settings > Display & Brightness > Always On Display and flip the toggle to off. You'll thank me later.2. Disable haptic feedback when typing Kerry Wan/ZDNETThis is one of those features Android phones have had for years before it rolled out to iPhones. The constant buzz that goes off every time you hit a key leads to excess battery drain, especially if you're like me and are always typing.How to: Go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Keyboard Feedback on your iPhone, and flick the toggle labeled "Haptics" to off. You can also disable sound from the keyboard, which could save some battery life if you live with your iPhone ringer switched on.3. Disable "Hey Siri" detectionIf you don't use Siri regularly, chances are you don't need your iPhone constantly listening for the "Hey Siri" command. Plus, you can long-press the side button on any modern iPhone to trigger the assistant, freeing up battery power devoted to voice command detection.Also:The latest iOS 18.3 update was killing my iPhone's battery - until I disabled this popular featureHow to: Go to Settings > Siri & Search on your iPhone and tap "Listen for". From there, choose "Off," and you won't be able to use hot words to trigger Siri.4. Reduce the amount of notifications you getWhen you get a notification on an iPhone, a million things happen at once. Your display lights up, it plays a sound, it vibrates (if you have that feature turned on), and there's even an on-screen animation. If you have many apps installed, chances are you're also getting a lot of notifications every day, likely leading to battery drain you didn't even realize was happening. It's best to shut off some unnecessary actions -- not just for the battery life but also to save yourself from checking your phone every few minutes.How to: Visit the Settings app and scroll down to find the app you want to disable notifications. Tap on it, then select "Notifications". There's a primary toggle at the top of the menu that'll let you disable notifications altogether. There are also several options below it to tweak how those notifications are delivered, whether quietly in the background or simply as banners while you're using your phone. For the best battery life, disable all the notifications you don't need entirely.5. Use Focus ModesLike reducing notifications, Focus Modes can also lower the number of messages you receive by choosing which apps can contact you. You could, for example, limit notifications when you're driving or when you're at work. Apple offers pre-made Focus profiles, although you can create a custom one anytime.Also:Industry analyst predicts iPhones to get 9% price hike amidst US tariffs - and I believe itHow to: Go to Settings > Focus and select a Focus, such as Work. Then, select which apps and contacts can send you notifications while in a Focus. You can do this by selecting the Tap button, picking a contact or app, and hitting Done. You can also choose either the Lock or Home Screen to display notifications.6. Turn off nearby AirDrop sharing Maria Diaz/ZDNETAirDrop is a neat feature that lets you instantly share contact information, files, and more between two iPhones, Apple Watches, or one of each other. It's cool to use occasionally, but having the feature active can drain your battery since it's constantly on the lookout for other Apple devices to interact with. Granted, battery drain isn't too significant here, but it can be if you're in a public place with lots of other phones around.How to: Visit Settings > General > AirDrop and turn off "Bringing Devices Together". This won't disable AirDrop altogether, just the nearby sharing feature.7. Don't use Live ActivitiesIntroduced with the iPhone 14 Proseries, Live Activities can display real-time information from various apps, so you don't have to keep the app full-screen. The feature is great for tracking sports scores, Uber ETAs, and uploading progression on Instagram, among other things. As you can imagine, Live Activities can drain your battery quickly over time. If you want to squeeze out the most battery life possible, it's recommended you disable this feature.How to: Go to the Settings app and locate the apps that work with Live Activities. Tap on them, then toggle off "Live Activities" from the list of options. You can also go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode and toggle off "Live Activities" so they don't appear on the lock screen.8. Check the widgets on your lock screen iOS 18 on iPhone 14 Pro Max. Maria Diaz/ZDNETSpeaking of the lock screen, Apple recently allowed users to add widgets to the lock screen in iOS to allow for some customization and support glanceable information. I'll admit: I'm a huge fan of widgets on the lock screen, but not if they will kill my battery. I've seen the weather app, Todoist, and a few others drain my iPhone over time simply because they're constantly updating their information.Also:This pocket-sized power bank keeps my iPhone charged all dayHow to: Wake up your iPhone and press and hold on the lock screen to enter customization mode. Then, tap "Customize" and choose the lock screen itself. From there, you can remove any widgets you think are draining your battery in the background. Anything involving constant data retrieval is usually good to get rid of, while others, like the Calendar app or your fitness rings, might only drain a fraction of your battery over time.9. Reduce your refresh rateIf you own a newer iPhone Pro, you've probably noticed how silky smooth the display feels. That's because Apple includes a 120Hz refresh rate on the Pro phones, which makes everything from animations to scrolling feel more responsive. However, this uses more power than a screen with a 60Hz refresh rate, so it's best to reduce the speed if you want some extra endurance throughout the day.How to: Go to Settings > Accessibility > Motion, and turn on "Limit Frame Rate." This change will lower the display speed to 60Hz.10. Turn off Background App RefreshMost apps involve pulling data from the internet to function, and they have to refresh in the background to be ready to show you that information when you tap on them. If an app goes haywire, this can have dire consequences for your iPhone's battery life -- it could be draining while it's just sitting on your desk, and you'd have no idea. If you suspect one or more of your apps are draining your battery in the background, you should turn off Background App Refresh.Also: Wiping your iPhone? Here's the easiest way to erase all personal dataHow to: Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh on your iPhone. From there, you can tap "Background App Refresh" and toggle it off completely or stay on the main screen and disable it app-by-app.11. Use Optimized Charging Kerry Wan/ZDNETOne of the easiest ways to preserve the life of your iPhone battery's health over time is by using Optimized Charging. It's a feature built into every iPhone that dynamically adjusts charging speeds based on where you are and whether it expects your iPhone will be plugged in for a long time. For example, when you go to sleep and plug your phone in, it'll charge to 80% before slowing down, then trickle power into your phone so it's at 100% when you wake up. It's a much safer alternative than forcing your battery to charge at full speed all the time.How to: Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging and check to make sure it's enabled (it's enabled by default on every iPhone). If you own an iPhone 15 or later, you'll also have the option to cap charging to 80% to preserve your battery's health even longer.Bonus: Use Low Power ModeI didn't include Low Power Mode on the primary list because, well, it feels like a bit of a no-brainer whenever someone asks how to save battery life on their iPhone. Still, I'd be remiss not to mention it since, yes, it will absolutely save battery life, as it disables a host of battery-draining features at once, like background app refresh, fast display refresh rates, fancy animations, and more.How to: Swipe down from the top-right corner of your iPhone to access the Control Center, then tap the battery icon. Your battery status indicator will turn yellow, and you'll enter Low Power Mode. To turn it off, repeat the same process.This article was originally published on April 19, 2024, and was updated on February 20, 2025.Featured

Traditional employee benefit are not suited for today's workforcegettyYou're losing 17% of your employees' work time.Instead of focusing on their jobs, theyre stuck dealing with personal distractions.And your benefits? Theyre doing nothing to help.Thats the hidden cost businesses are paying today. For decades, the formula for employee benefits was simple: offer healthcare, retirement plans, and a few perkslike gym memberships or wellness stipendsand employees would stay loyal, engaged, and productive. This worked in a world where people climbed corporate ladders and stayed employed, sometimes even with the same employer for decades.But that world is gone.Todays workforce is fluid, mobile, and increasingly independent. Employees bounce between jobs, industries, and even career paths, often combining salaried roles with freelance gigs or entrepreneurial ventures. Job tenures are shrinking, and the gig economy is reshaping howand whypeople work.The benefits offered must be relevant to these evolving career paths. Yet, most companies are still offering benefits designed for a stable, long-term workforce that no longer exists. And whats more, they are doing so facing rising costs with diminishing returns, while employees feel unsupported and disconnected from the resources meant to help them thrive as they navigate the relentless challenges of macro-level disruptionspandemics, economic uncertainty, environmental disastersand daily distractions such as home repairs, family logistics, and constant digital interruptions. Traditional benefits, designed for stability and predictability, are no longer fit for purpose.The real question isnt whether employee benefits need to changeits how fast companies can evolve before the entire system collapses under its own weight.The Employers Burden: Rising Costs, Shrinking ReturnsAnthony Knierim, Managing Director at Reward Gateway | Edenred, explained in an upcoming episode of The Future of Less Work podcast that the old benefits model was built on the assumption that employees would stay for years, so companies could invest in long-term health and retention strategies. But thats not how the workforce works anymore.The pressure isnt just about employee turnoverits financial. As benefits costs rise year over year without measurable outcomes, CFOs are increasingly stepping into the conversation and questioning the value of these investments. Knierim captures this growing frustration: If our people arent happy with what were offering and were not seeing measurable outcomes, why are we still investing in this model?Adding to the complexity is the rise of the independent workforce. Contractors, freelancers, and gig workers dont fit into traditional benefits frameworks and often lack access to employer-sponsored healthcare or wellness programs. For example, a freelance graphic designer juggling multiple clients might struggle to access affordable health coverage or paid time off, leaving them without crucial support during periods of illness or high stress. While that might not seem like a concern for employers, it is a concern for the people they want to hire. The more people know that they will, at some point, combine or transition to independent work, the more they voice their dissatisfaction with benefits that are only benefits as long as they stay employed with this employer.And so companies must rethink how they support a workforce that is more dynamic, diverse, and transient than ever before.Flexible Benefits Arent Enough: The Hidden Cost of Everyday StressThe solution isnt to abandon employee benefits but to rethink how theyre offered. One possible model is the well-being walleta flexible, personalized spending account that gives employees control over how they invest in their health and lifestyle.Younger generations, in particular, prioritize well-being over traditional perks like entertainment or dining. And they seek workplaces that support their personal goals, whether related to fitness, mental health, financial security, or family. Employers need to stop asking, How can we get employees to stay longer? and instead focus on, How can we create the happiest, most appreciative experience with our employees for the time that we have them?But even with greater financial flexibility, employees remain overwhelmed by the mental load of everyday life. From scheduling home repairs to managing healthcare claims and family logistics, these routine tasks drain energy and productivity. Jon Cooper, CEO of Overalls, a concierge-style life support service, highlighted how these seemingly small issues create a significant hidden burden. Most benefits address a small sliver of the workforce, Cooper explains. And yet when you survey the workforce, 80% of employees say theyre stressed.The root cause? Its not major life crisesits the constant stream of small, disruptive problems that wear employees down, ultimately chipping away at productivity and focus throughout the workday. The things that come up over and over again are just the little daily distractors, Cooper says. Its the washing machine breaking, a snow day shutting down school, trying to contest an incorrect charge on a credit card.These issues dont wait for employees to clock out. Coopers data reveals that 90% of these life problems occur during working hours, typically between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. The result? Employees lose an average of six and a half hours a week dealing with personal issuesan invisible drain on focus and productivity that amounts to nearly a fifth of their workweek.Traditional benefits fall short in addressing these daily stressors. Most problems dont fit neatly into one benefit category. A financial issue might also be a caregiving issue, or a housing problem. Employees often bounce between multiple benefit solutions in search of support, which only adds to their frustration and stress.The Future of Benefits: A Smarter, Purpose-Driven ApproachThe traditional benefits modeldesigned for a workforce with long-term stabilityis no longer sustainable. To meet the needs of todays workforce, companies must offer dynamic, flexible support that empowers employees to manage their well-being while reducing their cognitive load.Technology, particularly AI-driven platforms, will play a pivotal role in reshaping how benefits are delivered. In the future, AI can proactively recommend relevant resources to employees, offering a seamless and intuitive experience. Imagine an AI assistant that doesnt just respond to inquiries but anticipates needs by asking: What do you need today?The future of employee benefits isnt about offering moreits about offering smarter, more personalized, and impactful support. Companies that embrace this evolution will not only attract and retain top talent but will foster environments where employees can thrive, both personally and professionally.Because at the end of the day, your best employees dont work for you because they have tothey work for you because they want to. The most forward-thinking organizations will ensure that working for them helps employees achieve not just professional goals, but their personal purpose in life.

Large modern office buildinggettyWhat if you could just run to the supply room, and Xerox an entire firm? What would that look like?Well, it might be expensive. But probably not as expensive as humans.Dwarkesh Patel gives us an idea in a new collaborative essay Jan. 31 talking about the potential for all-AI companies.Suggesting that everyone is sleeping on the collective advantages AI will have and seriously underestimating how different the world will look, Patel lays out some theories about how this would work.Replication Power Changes EverythingCurrently, firms are extremely bottlenecked in hiring and training talent, Patel writes. But if your talent is an AI, you can copy it a stupid number of times. What if Google had a million AI software engineers? This ability to turn capital into compute and compute into equivalents of your top talent is a fundamental transformation. Since you can amortize the training cost across thousands of copies, you could sensibly give these AIs ever-deeper expertise - PhDs in every relevant field, decades of business case studies, intimate knowledge of every system and codebase the company relies on.Going on this premise, the author continues to spin out predictions of high functionality, for example, that human teams can be replicated for projects, that AI will be copying in ways that will transform both management and labor and that theres going to be a lot of close cooperation between these non-human players, that will astound us. Forecasting no miscommunication, ever again, Patel focuses, throughout, on the idea that seamless transitions will unlock more benefit than we think.Knowledge Transition in the Post-Human EraHeres one central component of Patels essay talking about AI firms the author contrasts the process of knowledge replication or transmission in human firms, and that of theoretical AI corporations:Humanity's great advantage has been social learning our ability to pass knowledge across generations and build upon it, he writes. But human social learning has a terrible handicap: biological brains don't allow information to be copy-pasted. So you need to spend years (and in many cases decades) teaching people what they need to know in order to do their job. Look at how top achievers in field after field are getting older and older, maybe because it takes longer to reach the frontier of accumulated knowledge. Or consider how clustering talent in cities and top firms produces such outsized benefits, simply because it enables slightly better knowledge flow between smart people.Supposing that innovation increases with larger population size, Patel welcomes us to consider how armies of AI agents will work pretty much in lockstep.Under the Hood: How it WorksSo how does AI accomplish this kind of internal mind-meld thats going to allow collaboration, not just data, to fly at the speed of light around the world?Patel mentions the practice of speculative decoding, so I looked that up.ChatGPT defines it capably:Speculative decoding is a technique to speed up text generation from large language models (LLMs) by using a smaller helper model to propose multiple tokens at once, which the larger model then quickly checks or verifies. In simpler terms, it is a way to reduce the number of calls to an expensive (large) model, without significantly changing the quality or distribution of the generated text.You can also invoke phrases like ensemble learning, or distillation, but in the end, it boils down to the same thing: robots working together, either cognitively, physically, or both.Whats Valuable? And a Monolithic View of CompaniesElsewhere, the essay veers into a look at Randian, winner-take-all territory.Patel suggests that, given the changes, only one role will still be valuable to companies. Thats right: its the CEO.So what becomes expensive in this world? Roles which justify massive amounts of test- time compute, he writes. The CEO function is perhaps the clearest example. Would it be worth it for Google to spend $100 billion annually on inference compute for mega-Sundar? Sure! Just consider what this buys you: millions of subjective hours of strategic planning, Monte Carlo simulations of different five-year trajectories, deep analysis of every line of code and technical system, and exhaustive scenario planning.Imagine mega-Sundar contemplating: "How would the FTC respond if we acquired eBay to challenge Amazon? Let me simulate the next three years of market dynamics... Ah, I see the likely outcome. I have five minutes of datacenter time left let me evaluate 1,000 alternative strategies.Later, Patel quotes Gwern Branwen talking about what companies could do to proliferate themselves:Why do we not see exceptional corporations clone themselves and take over all market segments? Why dont corporations evolve such that all corporations or businesses are now the hyper-efficient descendants of a single ur-corporation 50 years ago, all other corporations having gone extinct in bankruptcy or been acquired? Why is it so hard for corporations to keep their culture intact and retain their youthful lean efficiency, or, if avoiding aging is impossible, why [not] copy themselves or otherwise reproduce to create new corporations like themselves? Corporations certainly undergo selection for kinds of fitness, and do vary a lot. The problem seems to be that corporations cannot replicate themselves Corporations are made of people, not interchangeable, easily copied widgets or strands of DNA.In the same vein, Patel quotes von Neumann: All stable processes we shall predict. All unstable processes we shall control. And then asks this set of questions:So then the question becomes: If you can create (AI agents) for any task you need, why would you ever pay some markup for another firm, when you can just replicate them internally instead? Why would there even be other firms? Would the first firm that can figure out how to automate everything will just form a conglomerate that takes over the entire economy?Companies, he writes, exist to reduce transaction costs. Precision and detail-oriented success relies on a process of grounding in an outer loss function. Those are thin moats, though, for human relevance. The reality is that we all need to take a closer look at what is going to happen to business.

Something to look forward to: The concept of a lunar economy, once confined to science fiction, is rapidly becoming a tangible reality. Nations and private companies are racing to establish a foothold on Earth's celestial neighbor to harness the moon's natural resources to construct scientific infrastructure and develop capabilities for future deep space missions. This modern-day lunar gold rush has attracted diverse participants, from established space agencies to innovative private firms. One such company in this space race is the Texas-based firm Firefly Aerospace. On January 15, Firefly launched its Blue Ghost 1 mission, marking a significant milestone in the development of an Earth-moon delivery system.Currently en route to the lunar surface, the Blue Ghost lander faces a series of challenging tasks. These include entering lunar orbit, executing a controlled descent to Mare Crisium in the moon's northern hemisphere, surviving extreme conditions, deploying scientific equipment, conducting environmental readings, and autonomously drilling and extraction of dust particles suspended above the lunar surface.Firefly's mission is part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative, which aims to use private sector innovation to solve space exploration challenges. While NASA focuses on returning astronauts to the moon through the Artemis program, private companies are tasked with developing the infrastructure for supply delivery and sample return missions.The Blue Ghost lander carries a payload of 10 experiments, including a computer designed to measure circuit resistance to space radiation and a specialized camera for studying the phenomenon of floating regolith the loose, broken rock and dust that covers the solid rock. Additionally, the lander will capture images of a lunar eclipse, offering a unique perspective on this celestial event.As the lunar economy takes shape, attention is turning to the potential exploitation of lunar materials. Of particular interest is helium-3, a rare isotope with applications in nuclear fusion, quantum computing, and medical imaging. Helium-3, which is scarce on Earth, is believed to have accumulated in the moon's regolith due to solar winds. Companies like Interlune are planning lunar mining missions that will be targeting helium-3 extraction specifically.Beyond helium-3, researchers are exploring the use of lunar minerals and water to produce oxygen and hydrogen for rocket propellant. These initiatives could pave the way for sustained human presence on the moon, potentially leading to the development of lunar infrastructure such as roads, railroads, and even concrete structures.As missions like Blue Ghost pave the way for future lunar exploration and resource utilization, the once-distant concept of a lunar economy is rapidly materializing. In the coming years, images of landers entering lunar orbit and establishing delivery systems in space are expected to become commonplace, heralding a new era of space exploration and economic activity beyond Earth's atmosphere. // Related Stories

In brief: Rolls-Royce continues its push into the electric vehicle market with the introduction of the Black Badge Spectre the most powerful car the brand has ever produced. This new model represents a natural evolution for the iconic luxury automaker, long associated with quiet, smooth-riding vehicles that seem tailor-made for electrification. The Black Badge Spectre builds on the success of the standard Spectre Rolls-Royce's first electric car which was reportedly the most requested Rolls-Royce model in Europe last year. This popularity reflects the changing demographics of Rolls-Royce customers, who are increasingly younger and more environmentally conscious.The Black Badge edition of the Spectre showcases a striking design that blends traditional Rolls-Royce luxury with a more aggressive, street-savvy aesthetic.Notable features include an Illuminated Pantheon Grille and a new Vapour Violet color option, inspired by the neon lights of 1980s and 1990s club culture.Chrome elements have been replaced with darker hues, and customers can opt for an Ice Black bonnet for added distinction. The interior boasts a carbon weave technical finish, while new 23-inch five-spoke forged aluminum wheels complete the exterior look.Beyond its visual appeal, the Black Badge Spectre offers significant performance upgrades. Power output has been increased to 485 kW (659 hp), accessible via a new Infinity button on the steering wheel. The vehicle's chassis, steering, and suspension damping have been refined to enhance dynamics and reduce body roll during acceleration and deceleration. // Related StoriesA new "Spirited Mode" feature, akin to launch control, enables the car to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.1 seconds, shaving 0.3 seconds off the standard Spectre's time. This burst of power is made possible by a temporary boost to 1,075 Nm of torque.In a nod to its heritage, Rolls-Royce draws a parallel between the Black Badge Spectre's power boost and the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine used in the Supermarine Spitfire. The company likens the Infinity button to the switch Spitfire pilots could engage for an extra burst of power.While Rolls-Royce maintains its tradition of not disclosing prices or sales figures, the company anticipates strong demand for the Black Badge Spectre. This confidence stems from early client interest, which even prompted the creation of a clandestine fleet of Black Badge Spectres before the official unveiling.The transition to electrification appears to be smoother for Rolls-Royce compared to other luxury automakers. This success can be attributed in part to the BMW Group's backing, which has provided advanced technology, including a customized version of its iDrive infotainment system.One potential drawback is that the Spectre's massive 120 kWh battery has a relatively modest 195 kW maximum charging speed. However, this doesn't seem to be a concern for Rolls-Royce's clientele likely because many owners have staff to handle charging and maintenance tasks.

html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd" Table of ContentsTable of ContentsWhy do TV speakers suck? (Can we axe them?)More HDMI ports, pleaseTake a pause on Panasonic?On todays You Asked: Why do TV speakers suck and why even bother putting speakers in TVs? Why dont TVs get five HDMI ports? Will Panasonic abandon the US again, and should you even buy one of their TVs?Zeke Jones / Digital TrendsMike writes: Why on earth, in 2025, do TVs still insist on wasting space with built-in, inadequate speakers? I can understand lower budget/entry-level TVs, but if people are spending $2,000+, are they likely using an AVR or soundbar? Id think the added real estate and the cost savings would entice the TV makers to drop the speakers in their higher-end TVs. Plus, they could push their own brand of crappy soundbars. Thanks!First off, not all soundbars are crappy. However, I do understand your point. To address this whole speakers-in-TVs issue, lets talk about TV tuners.RelatedDid you know that in 2016 and 2017 TV brand Vizio removed over-the-air tuners from its M series and P series TVs? This move meant they werent allowed to call them TVs. In the US, the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) requires that to be called a television, a display must have an over-the-air tuner. Vizio had to market them as monitors or home theater displays.Vizio may have thought at the time, Everything is going to streaming now and many of our customers will likely never use a tuner, and besides, you can stream a lot of live TV now, too. Soon, folks wont even need an antenna, so why not stand out by going in a new direction and omit the tuner?Dan Baker / Digital TrendsIf this was Vizios thinking at the time, it seems a bit like an Apple move, right? Apple is all: Were removing the headphone jack from our phones because who uses wired headphones anymore? Everythings going wireless. We have to be bold. We have to have the courage to do this.Except Vizio wasnt Apple, and the consumer reaction to the tuner being removed was not warmly received (which is an understatement). Vizio ended up walking back that decision. Some could argue that was the beginning of the brands decline from a once strong market position. The lesson here: Dont make Apple moves unless you have Apple money and Apple power.Some of us cant imagine having a high performance or high-end expensive TV without a similarly premium audio system to go with it we see the speakers built into the TV as completely unnecessary. However, a reminder: Folks who feel this way are very much in the minority. TV manufacturers actually pay attention to feedback from their customers, especially when that feedback indicates that a decision resulted in lost revenue. They likely know that if they did not include speakers in their TVs, the backlash would be uproarious, and companies cant afford that kind of negative PR. The Vizio situation is likely regarded as a stark example of what not to do.Beyond that, theres not much to be gained by not putting speakers in a TV. It wouldnt lower costs significantly or make the TV noticeably slimmer. Theres really no upside. Omitting speakers is a high-risk gamble that would not pay meaningful dividends.If a TV brand had the same amount of market-shifting power and control as Apple, I suppose they could force people to get supplemental audio systems. Yet, even if they had that kind of power (and they wouldnt), its the kind of bold move that could sink a brand. So, I dont see it happening anytime soon.Which brings us to the question: Why do TV speakers tend to suck? TV manufacturers may have to put speakers in a TV, but that doesnt mean they are motivated to make them great. The speakers need to be just good enough to not piss people off. Theres a big difference between not having something at all and having something that is disappointing but ancillary to the primary function of the device: the picture.Also, consumer obsession over increasingly thin TVs forced manufacturers to come up with audio solutions that fit in very little space. However, transducers by their very nature need some space to sound good. It also helps if they are firing at your ears, as opposed to down at the floor. As manufacturers put weaker and weaker audio systems in their TVs that continued to sell well, they learned that customers would accept paltry audio systems if the TV on the whole was good enough.There are some exceptions to this rule. Some extremely high-end TVs from Hisense, TCL, Sony, and Panasonic include premium audio systems. Sometimes that effort works well, and sometimes it doesnt.Zeke Jones / Digital TrendsA good audio system does add some cost and complexity to a TV, and in some cases it can even be a bit of a gamble specifically, the Panasonic Z95A, which basically has a built-in soundbar strip at the bottom of the TV. It sounds great, but some folks dont love how it looks. It reminds me of when Sony built speaker strips onto the left and right side of some TV models. It sounded pretty good, but folks disliked the look, and Sony swiftly discontinued the practice.There isnt a lot of motivation to outfit a television with a premium audio solution, but theres also a lot of risk involved in not including one at all. It makes sense to take that good-enough approach and leave it at that.Zeke Jones / Digital TrendsDionicio writes: With the high number of devices were able to connect to our TVs, is there any reason why TV manufacturers do not simply add a fifth HDMI port?This is a really interesting question. As part of my answer, I remind folks that, as enthusiasts, we may assume our personal needs or wants are similar to those of the greater public. However, thats just not the case.Anecdotally, I can tell you that many folks dont connect anything to their TVs other than a soundbar, perhaps. The surge in streaming popularity and the convenience of built-in streaming platforms makes it easy to buy a TV and not require another device. Cable and satellite subscribers are dwindling at a faster rate than ever, so those cable and satellite boxes are taking up fewer HDMI ports on TVs. Also, disc players and disc sales are on a steep decline (much to my chagrin).Digital TrendsGame consoles are super popular, and most households have just one and not two, three, or four. Increasingly, more people need just a single HDMI port and a huge chunk of the public dont even use the three or four HDMI ports they have.This is why we dont see more TVs from brands like Sony, Panasonic, TCL, and Hisense including four HDMI 2.1 ports the need doesnt exist at a high enough scale for companies like MediaTek, which makes the System on Chip (SoC) that brands use in their TVs.From a business decision perspective, I think were more likely to see four HDMI 2.1 ports from MediaTek before we see five HDMI ports. Also, this would require a complete redesign of the existing boards to accommodate the space, and that one decision would set off a flurry of TV redesigns. Even small changes at scale take a lot of work.As enthusiasts, its easy to assume everyone else feels similarly and has the same needs and wants as we do. In the same way that most folks dont even want a desktop computer let alone one with a $2,000 graphics card most folks dont require five HDMI ports. So, were forced to use A/V receivers or external HDMI switchers to fill our niche needs. (I like that, though. It costs a bit of money, but thats what this hobby requires.)Digital TrendsPatrick writes: Im still really considering the Z95B. Does the recent news about Panasonic necessarily make this one to avoid? Would FireTV updates come from Amazon?As many TV enthusiasts already know, there is some worry that Panasonic could end up selling off its TV division in about a year or so. This comes from Panasonic Holdings Company President Yuki Kusumi, who made that statement during an online press conference on February 4. Naturally, with the future of Panasonics TV business in question, some are wondering whether it is smart to buy a Panasonic TV.My answer: Yes, I think it is safe to buy a Panasonic TV, and for two reasons one is practically and analytically based and one is more personal (and optimistic). However, I obviously dont have a crystal ball, so dont come at me if you buy a Panasonic TV and then Panasonic exits the US market in a year.Zeke Jones / Digital TrendsNot only do we lack a crystal ball, we dont have adequate insight into the motivation behind Kusumis statement. It is possible he needs it known that he is a smart, practical businessman who is looking at all options that will help ensure the long-term health of Panasonics business holdings, which, by the way, are vast. Simply acknowledging that something is under consideration can give shareholders enough confidence to prevent them from bailing out, further threatening the companys financial viability.Theres no guarantee that a sale is inevitable, and I dont think we have enough information to read this as Panasonic TV is on the ropes. At least I hope not.I do think that Panasonics re-entry into the US market is a sign that the brand believes that if it is successful at regaining part of the US TV market share, it will help strengthen its TV division overall. Given how much it took to make that happen, I take it as a sign that theres more optimism than pessimism around their TV business right now.One way to help ensure Panasonics TVs continue being true Panasonic TVs and not just another brand licensed out to some other manufacturer is to buy Panasonic TVs. They are excellent TVs. I think it is safe to purchase one even if Panasonic sells off its TV division, and, in a possible worst-case scenario, stops sending out firmware updates. The TVs are good enough that they wont need a ton of firmware updates, and any updates to streaming apps will be on the Amazon side. The TV should still be viable for many years.Zeke Jones / Digital TrendsIf we still have die-hard fans of Pioneer Kuro and Panasonic plasmas out there happily rocking their TVs, a Panasonic TV purchased today is going to hold up well at least as well as, if not better than, most TVs produced today. The replacement cycle of TVs is now much shorter than it used to be, but relative to that replacement cycle, I think a Panasonic TV purchase now is as safe as it gets.On a personal note, I hope that Panasonics TV business can stay healthy and see consistent growth in the US market. Competition in this space is a good thing for consumers. On a more practical note, I dont think we have enough information to be forecasting doom and gloom for Panasonic TVs not yet, anyway. Were seeing the kind of headlines that get clicks and theres some merit to the concern but I think its far too early to be forecasting demise.That statement may not age well. I could be wrong. But right now, the way things are going in this world? I am choosing optimism and hard work over pessimism and surrender.Editors Recommendations

Leakception? The Pixel 9a just leaked in a video uploaded to YouTube, except it wasnt the focus of the video. The video focused on the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge; the Pixel 9a just happened to be caught in the frame for a few seconds. Originally uploaded by YouTuber Alexis Garza (better known as @technologiaconalexis), the video has since been removed but as with all things on the Internet, its never really gone.Eagle-eyed fans took screenshots of the YouTube short before it was removed. The lighting isnt the best, and the resolution leaves something to be desired, but its still a clear photo of the upcoming handset. The cutout for the flash looks larger than expected, and the camera itself looks small compared to it.Recommended VideosThat said, this quick peek at the phone looks nearly identical to earlier renders, as well as the case leaks from multiple outlets. It also lines up with the massive leak we saw just a few days ago from WinFuture. As with all leaks, nothing is confirmed until the phone is released, but it would be surprising to see a different design at this point.RedditThe Google Pixel 9a is expected to run off a Google Tensor G4 chip, come with 8GB of RAM, and have two storage variants: 128GB or 256GB. The phone is also expected to have a 5,100mAh battery with support for both wireless and wired charging. While the Pixel 9a will have less powerful hardware to the main Pixel 9 lineup, it will also come at a much more affordable price.Please enable Javascript to view this contentGarzas YouTube video didnt reveal anything new about the handset, but the circumstances of the leak are especially amusing when you consider this isnt the first time a Pixel has leaked from an unexpected place. In 2018, the Pixel 3 XL was left in the back of a rideshare, and was spotted again a week later on the subway. Its just one more instance of a long history of odd, random locations for these phones to appear.

MacArthur cared for the city and its people, but he had few options for avoiding the worst aspects of building-by-building urban battle.