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In January, a 20-year-old man that police believe to be an internet-famous street racer known as Squeeze was sentenced to five years in prison for unrelated crimes. Many more still speed through New York City and put it all on YouTube.

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This is todays edition ofThe Download,our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of whats going on in the world of technology.Your boss is watchingWorking todaywhether in an office, a warehouse, or your carcan mean constant electronic surveillance with little transparency, and potentially with livelihood-ending consequences if your productivity flags.But what matters even more than the effects of this ubiquitous monitoring on privacy may be how all that data is shifting the relationships between workers and managers, companies and their workforce.We are in the midst of a shift in work and workplace relationships as significant as the Second Industrial Revolution of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. And new policies and protections may be necessary to correct the balance of power. Read the full story.Rebecca AckermannOne option for electric vehicle fires? Let them burn.Although there isnt solid data on the frequency of EV battery fires, its no secret that these fires are happening.Despite that, manufacturers offer no standardized steps on how to fight them or avoid them in the first place. Whats more, with EVs, its never entirely clear whether the fire is truly out. Cars may ignite, or reignite, weeks or even months after the battery is damaged or a battery fire is initially suppressed.Patrick Durham, the owner of one of a growing number of private companies helping first responders learn how to deal with lithium-ion battery safety, has a solution. He believes that the best way to manage EV fires right now is to let them burn. But such an approach not only goes against firefighters instinctsitd require a significant cultural shift. Read the full story.Maya L. KapoorThese stories are from the next edition of our print magazine, which is all about relationships. Subscribe now to read it and get a copy of the magazine when it lands on February 26!The must-readsIve combed the internet to find you todays most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology.1 Elon Musk is forcing US government workers to justify their jobsEmployees have to respond to an email by 11:59pm ET tonight or resign. (Wired $)+ The new administration is targeting government foreign interference experts. (NYT $)+ Its also waging war on what it deems woke DEI research. (Undark)+ A US government shutdown could be on the cards as soon as this month. (NY Mag $)2 Grok was temporarily blocked from telling the truth about Trump and MuskAn xAI employee got it to ignore sources that say the pair spread misinformation. (The Verge)+ An xAI engineering lead said the move wasnt in line with the companys values. (TechCrunch)3 The race to dominate satellite internet is heating upStarlink has some major competition. (Reuters)+ Chinese rocket firm Deep Blue Aerospace is eyeing an IPO. (WSJ $)+ The worlds next big environmental problem could come from space. (MIT Technology Review)4 Apple has pulled its data security tool from the UKAfter the UK government demanded backdoor access. (BBC)+ Other encrypted Apple services are still available, though. (WP $)5 How AI is changing codingThe outlook for software developers is more likely to be evolution than extinction. (NYT $)+ AI coding assistants arent always all theyre cracked up to be. (TechCrunch)+ The second wave of AI coding is here. (MIT Technology Review)6 Inside Facebooks plans to become cool againUnfortunately for the social network, you cant buy cultural cachet. (The Information $)+ How Facebook got addicted to spreading misinformation. (MIT Technology Review)7 The internet is disappearingDigital decay is setting in. What will survive of us?(Vox)+ The race to save our online lives from a digital dark age. (MIT Technology Review)8 Where are all the Apple Vision Pro apps?The number of apps made for the headset has declined every month since it went on sale. (CNBC)9 How the internet warped the meaning of loreFrom ancient myths to oversharing on TikTok. (Fast Company $)10 Not everything needs to be trackedKnowledge isnt always power when it comes to your home appliances. (The Guardian)Quote of the dayWere trying to do creative work, and AI is just pushing perfection.Lo Kalani, a Brooklyn-based hair stylist, explains to the Washington Post why she has banned clients from presenting her with AI-generated inspirational images.The big storyHow one mine could unlock billions in EV subsidiesJanuary 2024On a pine farm north of the tiny town of Tamarack, Minnesota, Talon Metals has uncovered one of Americas densest nickel depositsand now it wants to begin extracting it.If regulators approve the mine, it could mark the starting point in what the company claims would become the countrys first complete domestic nickel supply chain, running from the bedrock beneath the Minnesota earth to the batteries in electric vehicles across the nation.MIT Technology Review wanted to provide a clearer sense of the laws on-the-ground impact by zeroing in on a single project and examining how these rich subsidies could be unlocked at each point along the supply chain. Take a look at what we found out.James TempleWe can still have nice thingsA place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line or skeet em at me.)+ The best way to learn absolutely anything more quickly? Thatll be the Feynman technique.+ Heres how to use lemongrass like a pro.+ I didnt know it was possible to make a recorder sing like this, but there you go.+ Vampire couples forever!

Owners of AirPods Pro 2 in the United Kingdom can use the earbuds as hearing aids, with Apple bringing the feature live in the country a few months after the United States.The AirPods Pro 2 can be used as hearing aids - Image Credit: AppleIn the United States, users of the AirPods Pro 2 with hearing difficulties are able to use the earbuds as hearing aids in their own right. On Monday, Apple extended support for the feature to the United Kingdom.Introduced as a free update enabled on February 24, the Hearing Aid feature is a clinical-grade function that acts to a similar level as over-the-counter hearing aids. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

With a new Texas factory and increased manufacturing support across the States, Apple has announced it will create 20,000 new American jobs as part of a four-year, $500 billion investment plan to include Apple Intelligence server farms.Inside Apple's R&D center in Austin, Texas image credit: Apple

The latest edition of Architizer: The Worlds Best Architecture a stunning, hardbound book celebrating the most inspiring contemporary architecture from around the globe is now available. Order your copy today.When it was renamed in 1904, Times Square was hardly the neon playground it is today. Back then, it was rough, dim and infamous for its less-than-savory nightlife. Yet within a couple of decades, electric signs were sprawled across the faades, turning the once unremarkable intersection into a spectacle of light that was bright, brash and impossible to miss. By the mid-1920s, publicity around the glowing billboards and marquee lights had captured global attention, making the area synonymous with nocturnal showmanship and forever changing how we experience cities after dark.Of course, not every neighborhood is looking for the visual overload of Times Square, but over the last century, light has become one of the key tools in the arsenal of architects and designers. Designing for darkness is often about positioning light in a way that highlights key elements, increases awareness or provides a sense of safety. Certain projects favor a directed spotlight whose glow complements carved heritage masonry, whereas others choose vivid digital screens where video and graphical elements can shine.In all cases, lighting does more than reveal form and material. It can manipulate scale, guide movement and influence atmosphere. A narrow alley becomes a calmer, clearer and more approachable corridor when punctuated by low-level fixtures, and a vast restaurant feels smaller, warmer and more intimate when secondary lighting is precisely positioned.The following projects run the full spectrum: from bold, high-impact faades to restrained, methodically lit landmarks. Together, they prove that once the sun sets, architecture need not vanish into anonymity. And sometimes, as Times Square first taught us, light can be the making of entire destinations.Perelman Performing Arts Center at the World Trade CenterBy REX, New York City, New YorkPhotos by Iwan BaanAt the Perelman Performing Arts Center, lighting is the defining element of its identity after dark. By day, the Portuguese marble faade is a solid volume, carefully book-matched to emphasize the beautiful veining. By night, backlighting turns the stone into a semi-translucent surface, allowing the grid of panels to read more like a textured skin. The effect is perfectly calibrated, bright enough to be a presence in Lower Manhattan but never so excessive that it overpowers the materials natural depth. Inside, warm, recessed lighting ensures that even the circulation spaces feel deliberate. There is no unnecessary spectacle, just a precise execution of material and light working in tandem.The Schwarzman Center Renovation at Yale UniversityBy LObservatoire International, New Haven, ConnecticutPopular Choice Winner, Architecture +Light, 12th Annual A+AwardsPhotos by Francis Dzikowski/OttoLighting experts, LObservatoire Internationals lighting design restores the Schwarzman Centers Beaux-Arts grandeur while adapting it for contemporary student life. Externally, the limestone faade is treated with a subtle, controlled glow, ensuring presence without artificial overstatement. Inside, a layered approach allows the grand Commons dining hall, Presidents Room, and Dome Room to be appreciated to the fullest. Memorial Hall and circulation spaces take a gallery-like approach, using light to accentuate architectural details without overpowering them. Below ground, where daylight is absent, a programmable lighting system adjusts temperature and intensity to create a dynamic sense of time, ensuring the Bistro and Grotto spaces remain adaptable rather than static.Hotel W OsakaBy concrete, Osaka, Japan Few hotels embrace lighting as aggressively as W Osaka, but then again, few cities offer a more fitting backdrop. From the moment guests step through the color-shifting entrance tunnel, lighting is used not as a supplement but as the primary decorative tool. The acrylic-paneled lobby is a nod to Osakas neon aesthetic, stripping out the visual noise but keeping the electric energy. Creative lighting design is everywhere you turn. In the WET Deck and bar, LEDs are fully integrated into walls and ceilings, transitioning from deep blues to vibrant pinks and violets and even the pool is a bold expression of lighting. In the guest rooms, the approach is more restrained but equally as well considered.COQODAQBy Rockwell Group, New York City, New YorkPhotos by Jason VarneyAt COQODAQ, lighting is as precisely engineered as the menu. The series of illuminated arches that define the dining space create a sense of rhythm without overpowering the elegant material palette. Below, low-level lighting defines booths while maintaining a feeling of privacy, while backlit lacquered paneling enhances the depth of surfaces without overexposing them. Rockwell Group avoids the typical pitfall of overproduced hospitality lighting and nothing here is theatrical for the sake of it. The restrooms follow the same methodology, with backlit oval mirrors that extend endlessly into black walls. Providing enough functional light yet not deviating from the refined look.YOFC HeadquartersBy Gensler, Wuhan, ChinaPhotos by RAWVISION studioAs the worlds largest optical fiber manufacturer, YOFCs headquarters needed to function as both a corporate flagship and a brand statement. Genslers smart faade system does both, using motorized louvers to adjust transparency, glare control, and heat reduction throughout the day. At night, the strategy shifts the curved faade panels are backlit, emphasizing the sweeping motion of the buildings five-winged form. This is not branding through signage but through architecture itself, with the lighting reinforcing the companys identity as an innovator in connectivity.Harbin Creative Design CenterBy FANGFANG STUDIO, Harbin, China At the Harbin Creative Design Center, lighting is entirely integrated into the architecture. The space is made up of a series of overlapping D motifs, stacked and rotated and the lighting strategy follows suit. Recessed ceiling panels mirror the geometric logic of the interior, diffusing illumination and avoiding any harsh focal points. In lower areas, hidden lighting ensures surfaces are highlighted without visible fixtures, maintaining a clean look throughout. At the entrance, LED line lights and hose strips subtly highlight the glass brick archway. The building remains visible without resorting to overexposed faade lighting.SphereBy ICRAVE, Las Vegas, Nevada At Sphere, lighting is not a detail. It is the architecture. Inside and out. Its bold and innovative, like the building itself. Everywhere is edged in strip light while pin lights, orbs and decorative features add to the layers. The reflective black flooring doubles the lighting effect, extending the perceived depth of the space. Food outlets are designed as self-contained glowing objects, ensuring visibility without introducing visual noise. Even wayfinding is integrated into the lighting. Everything is programmable, adaptable and engineered for immersion.Grid 2By Spark Architects, Chicago, IllinoisJury Winner, Retail, 11th Annual A+AwardsPhotos by Fabian OngRather than erasing its past, Grid 2 embraces adaptive reuse with a lighting strategy that transforms instead of replaces. The most significant move is at the corner, where the faade has been turned into an illuminated beacon, combining neon-edged framing, oversized signage and graphical lighting to create a new identity for the aging structure. The social stair combines programmable lighting, reinforcing the role of the outdoor performance space. The result is an example of how lighting can transform an existing buildings function without the need to erase its architectural history.Chamber ChapelBy Puri Lighting Design, Nanjing, ChinaPhotos by Shengliang SuChamber Chapel follows a strict hierarchy of intensity, emphasizing spatial clarity and symbolic presence. The spire is the brightest element, acting as a visual landmark, with carefully positioned 300W floodlights ensuring even coverage while minimizing glare. The entrance and bell tower openings are lit with warm yellow light, creating a sense of depth and visual warmth. The stepped faade is illuminated by concealed linear fixtures, allowing each architectural layer to remain legible without visible light sources. Inside, custom frameless downlights are integrated into the curved walls so that the illumination supports the architecture rather than disrupting it. The reflecting pool remains unlit, relying solely on the buildings own glow to maintain a clear, uninterrupted mirror effect.The latest edition of Architizer: The Worlds Best Architecture a stunning, hardbound book celebrating the most inspiring contemporary architecture from around the globe is now available. Order your copy today.The post Built for the Night: 9 Projects That Come Alive After Dark appeared first on Journal.

The creative director behind upcoming open world RPG The Blood of Dawnwalker, Mateusz Tomaszkiewicz, has revealed that the upcoming game will be designed around the concept of player agency and freedom of choice. Speaking in a recent issue of PCGamer Magazine (via GamesRadar), Tomaszkiewicz spoke about the idea of the narrative sandbox of The Blood of Dawnwalker.Its how we allow you, the player, to interact with it, said Tomaszkiewicz. So the core of it is maximizing players agency and freedom of choice, while, at the same time delivering the high-quality narratives that we are known for crafting in the past.This means that players will have plenty of choices not only on the games narrative, but also in gameplay terms as well. Players will be allowed to explore the world freely while also getting to make important choices throughout their time questing in The Blood of Dawnwalker.He revealed that the title will make use of a synergetic approach to side quests and other side content, bringing in comparisons to The Witcher 3, where Tomaszkiewicz previously worked as a lead quest designer.Design director Daniel Sadowski also spoke about The Blood of Dawnwalker, and how it will have a world that feels dynamic. According to Sadowski, both action and inaction in Dawnwalker have serious consequences. This means that the world wont just be waiting for the player to get around to doing things, and story events might even progress without protagonist Coens intervention.Tomaszkiewicz has previously revealed more details about the game, including the fact that its open world will not be a massive one. Instead, the studio wants the open world in The Blood of Dawnwalker to be smaller and denser, much like Tomaszkiewiczs favourite open-world games.It was an open world, but it was much smaller, and it kind of made me experience it differently compared to these behemoths where its just impossible to really know every nook and cranny because its so big, so you kind of rush through it, Tomaszkiewicz said in an interview last week. But when the world is a bit smaller, and you explore it more calmly and more relaxed, you kind of get to memorize these places, and it feels more like you actually know the place. It makes you feel like youre more inhabited.One of the games biggest unique features is its internal time limit. Players will have to contend with an in-game time limit of around 30 days, during which they will have to take on various quests, and decide whether they would like to instead explore some of the games side content.This is the most important thing for me, said Tomaszkiewicz. Because when you put it together, it makes something really unique this feeling of urgency in the games can be upgraded. For example, when youre playing The Witcher 3, and you know that Ciri needs help, but you decide to play Gwent [], you feel that its a game, and its a really good game. But its a game.The Blood of Dawnwalker is in development for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.

NetherRealm Studios has announced that the final DLC character for Mortal Kombat 1, the T-1000 from Terminator 2: Judgment Day, will be available on March 25th. Kombat Pack 2 and Khaos Reigns expansion owners will get access on March 18th. Check out the latest teaser below, showcasing the Terminator in action.Played by Robert Patrick, who lends his voice and likeness, the T-1000 was an advanced machine that utilized liquid metal to alter its shape. It allowed for blades to attack and even granted absurd durability. The former comes up during combat, while his metal form allows for transitioning between combos. Of course, he also has a Fatality that pays homage to his film.Perhaps more intriguing, however, is Madam Bo as a new Kameo Fighter. Players will remember her from the Fengjian Teahouse during the base games story, where she plays a minor role.Mortal Kombat 1 is available for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch. Check out our review of it and the Khaos Reigns expansion. NetherRealm hasnt commented on further support for the title, though it did add a new ninja inspired by Pink Floyd.

Bossa Games affected by unknown number of staff cuts"We wish we had found a way of navigating this turmoil without resorting to the decision of scaling back our teams"Image credit: Bossa Games News by Sophie McEvoy Staff Writer Published on Feb. 24, 2025 Bossa Games has been affected by another round of layoffs, with an unknown number of staff affected.In a statement shared to LinkedIn, co-founder and co-CEO Henrique Olifiers said the studio had made the decision to "scale back" its team following the release of Lost Skies."We've had to make the painful decision to scale back, focusing on the late-state production of Lost Skies and its upcoming launch, ensuring the game is successfully released and evolved for its players for the foreseeable future," Olifiers said."Once Lost Skies is established and enjoying live operations, we'll reshape into small teams working independently on novel game ideas brought to players as early as possible."He added: "We wish we had found a way of navigating this turmoil without resorting to the decision of scaling back our teams, but unfortunately we've failed this endeavor."Olifiers referred to the turbulent state of the games industry, and that this had a direct result on the decision."The past couple of years have brought a significant amount of disruption to the games industry at large, with treasured studios, teams, and games being shut down or significantly scaled back," he noted."We've read all the news, suffered through the changes ourselves or seen it through the eyes of peers and colleagues affected."At the end of 2023, the developer made around one third of its team redundant with 40 employees remaining to work on Lost Skies.Olifiers said the reason for these layoffs was because of AA and indie games not getting attention among AAA titles, increased operational costs, and delayed funding decisions.