A bubble seen galloping across a containerPedro J. Senz et al. (2025)Bubbles can be made to gallop across the roof of a liquid-filled container simply by shaking it up and down a surprise discovery that could be exploited as a cleaning technique.Pedro J. Senz at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his colleagues were studying the behaviour of waves in a sealed container using vibrations when they made a chance discovery. The team found that shaking the liquid-filled chamber up and down at particular frequencies caused a bubble that had mistakenly

An artists impression ofan environment where prehistoric plants thrivedChristian Jegou/Science Photo LibraryWhen the Earth Was GreenRiley Black (St Martins Press (US, available now; UK, later this month))The behaviour of plants is invisible to the naked human eye. They operate on timescales our imaginations cant entertain, and they run roughshod over familiar categories of self, other and community. I confess that I find them boring.Luckily, others dont Riley Black, a palaeontologist and an occasional New Scientist contributor, for one. Wandering among (or is it through?) a 14,000-year-old aspen clone, a single organism made

Palantir CEO Alex Karp said a stint at his company is a sure sign of technical expertise nowadays.Some tech recruiters agree Palantirians are top-notch hires, while others argue results matter more than the company."No doubt, Palantir is a strong hiring signal, but the idea of a golden ticket in tech is outdated," one expert told BI.Palantir CEO Alex Karp talks a big game when it comes to his employees.He's boasted on several occasions that Palantirians, as the company refers to employees, are the crme de la crme of tech workers."If you work for Palantir, everyone knows you're good," Karp said on CNBC's Squawk Box on February 18."No credible institution in commercial life can really be built without Palantir or an ex-Palantirian," Karp has also said.The company, which reported just under 4,000 full-time employees as of December 2024, recently hit an all-time high in its stock and brought in $2.87 billion in revenue in 2024. Following its most recent earnings report, Palantir hit a $240 billion market cap, surpassing companies like McDonald's and Disney. It hasn't only been clear skies, however, as Palantir's share price is down nearly 30% from its all-time closing high earlier this month.So do the people hiring from the tech talent pool buy Karp's glowing view of Palantirians?Business Insider spoke to half a dozen tech recruiting professionals to find out if having Palantir on your rsum is as powerful as Karp has made it sound.The Goldman Sachs of techDeepali Vyas, a senior Partner and global head of data, AI, and FinTech at global consulting firm Korn Ferry told BI she can "absolutely say that he's right," and she considers Palantir the Goldman Sachs of the tech industry."I've pulled people from Palantir," Vyas said. "They are a home run every single time."While she said Palantir employees tend to work long hours, the company has a "very hands-on culture" that allows even junior employees to work alongside the "brightest minds" at the company. Vyas said having that proximity helps create a certain level of training.Vyas said another factor that makes Panatir stand out is its ability to recruit people who are passionate about their work."There's something in the sauce there," Vyas said. "They want to work on the complex problems because that's what excites them."Jason Saltzman, Director of Growth at Live Data Technologies, a company that tracks employment changes, told BI that "Palantir seems to be the stop on people's career journey that accelerates them the most." Almost a quarter of former product managers at Palantir have since become founders, he said.Ex-Palantir employees also tend to end up at a big tech company or "one of the hottest startups," Saltzman said. Google and Meta as well as Anduril and OpenAI employ many former Palantir workers, he told BI."Not only is Palantir a rubber stamp on someone's rsum that allows them to go onto whatever they do next, but also many of them want to go solve the world's biggest problems that are shaping the future as we know it, either by joining a company or starting their own," Saltzman said.Some say Karp could be overstating thingsAaron Sines, director of technical recruiting at global cloud consulting firm Edison & Black, told BI that there's some truth to Karp's statement, but overall he's seeing a "results revolution" among companies, where outcomes are placed above academic credentials and company names."My team tells me all the time results are almost always coming over academic credentials," Sines told BI.Natan Fisher, the cofounder and co-CEO of tech and legal recruiting firm SingleSprout, similarly told BI that companies want to know how employees "operated under constraints, and whether they can drive impact in their environments.""No doubt, Palantir is a strong hiring signal, but the idea of a golden ticket in tech is outdated," Fisher said, adding that "the real hiring market doesn't reward brand names alone, it rewards execution and adaptability who built what and scaled systems at speed."Fisher said that tech companies often seek to hire from "multiple high-caliber" talent pools such as Ramp, Stripe, Linear, and Notion, adding that they aren't clients of his.Sines said that Palantir has a reputation for seeking out top talent and having a "rigorous" and "results-oriented" hiring strategy. However, he said that while it carries a "badge of honor," for some clients, it may signal too much intensity for others. It depends on how companies perceive culture, Sines said.Farah Sharghi, a job search coach and former recruiter at tech companies including Google, Lyft, Uber, and TikTok, said that while Palantir's hiring process is "very stringent," a good employee at Palantir may not be a good employee everywhere else because "there might be some nuances to some companies versus others in terms of cultural fit.""A Palantir engineer who's used to working on some particular type of technology might not thrive in another different size company or different cultural company," Sharghi said. "So it's really subjective relative to what the company does, what their needs are, and so on."While culture may vary across tech companies, Sharghi says the guiding philosophy when it comes to hiring is largely the same across the board."They're not looking for breadth of experience," she said. "They're looking for technical depth of experience."Alan Stein, the CEO of career-accelerating service Kadima Careers, told BI that "Palantir is a good brand name," but although it was considered, it didn't make his list of the top 100 companies that will accelerate your career."I don't think that's as impressive as some of the other companies," he said.Stein, who has worked at several Big Tech companies, including Google and Meta, said that while Palantir candidates can definitely leverage their experience into data, engineering, or government roles, it doesn't have the same brand recognition as some other bigger companies, or Ivy League institutions like Harvard."My hunch is more people would prefer four years of Harvard on their rsum," Stein said.

Gene Hackman, 95, has died, a Santa Fe Sheriff confirmed on Thursday morning.Betsy Arakawa, his wife, was also found dead at their home, alongside the couple's dog.The authorities said they do not suspect foul play.Gene Hackman has died at 95.The Santa Fe Sheriff, Adan Mendoza, told the Santa Fe New Mexican that the Oscar-winning actor died on Wednesday at his New Mexico home alongside his wife, Betsy Arakawa, and their dog.He said there was no indication of foul play.Mendoza added: "All I can say is that we're in the middle of a preliminary death investigation, waiting on approval of a search warrant. I want to assure the community and neighborhood that there's no immediate danger to anyone."The Santa Fe Sheriff's Department did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.Hackman is survived by his three children from his first marriage to Faye Maltese.This is a breaking story and will be updated as more details emerge.Hackman had his big break in 'Bonnie and Clyde' Gene Hackman was known for his tough-guy roles. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Hackman played a wide range of roles over his four-decade career, making him beloved by audiences and peers alike.His breakout part was in 1967's "Bonnie and Clyde," where he played the older brother of the gangster Clyde Barrow (Warren Beatty) for which he received an Oscar nomination. He became a leading man as the hard-nosed detective Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle in 1971's "The French Connection," which earned him an Oscar.He spent the 1970s working on movies that would become classics, such as "The Poseidon Adventure" and "The Conversation." At the end of the decade, he played Lex Luthor in "Superman" (a role he reprised in "Superman II" and "Superman IV: The Quest for Peace).The 1980s saw Hackman's star soar with movies like "Hoosiers" and "Mississippi Burning" (earning him another Oscar nomination). He started the 1990s with another Oscar win, this time for 1992's Clint Eastwood-directed Western "Unforgiven." As the decade went on he did some of his best work with "The Firm, "The Quick and the Dead," "Crimson Tide," "Get Story," and "The Birdcage."As the 2000s came around it seemed Hackman wasn't going to slow down in his 70s. He starred in wide-ranging projects: playing a football head coach in "The Replacements," being part of an ensemble cast in Wes Anderson's "The Royal Tenenbaums," and outwitting everyone in the clever "Heist."But Hackman actor had other ideas.After starring in 2004's "Welcome to Mooseport" he abruptly retired from acting.Hackman, who wrote the 1999 novel "Wake of the Perdido Star," focused more on his writing during this period. He wrote four more books, the last of which was the police thriller "Pursuit," in 2013. Gene Hackman in "Mississippi Burning." screenshot/Mississippi Burning Hackman was a Marine before he started actingHackman was born in San Bernardino, California. He moved frequently as a kid and by the time he started high school his family had set roots in Iowa. At 16, he enlisted in the Marines and served four and a half years as a field radio operator in the late 1940s. He was discharged in 1951 and, after toying with a career in media by studying journalism and television production at the University of Illinois with the help of the GI Bill, Hackman moved back to California.Hackman's acting career began in the 1960s at the Pasadena Playhouse in California. There, he befriended fellow aspiring actor Dustin Hoffman, and the two hit it off as they tried to navigate their careers.The pair moved to New York City to try to make it big and soon befriended another California actor with the same goal: Robert Duvall.Alongside off-Broadway plays, Hackman found work with small TV parts. In 1964, he got a part in the movie, "Lilith," starring Warren Beatty, leading to his big break with "Bonnie and Clyde."From then, Hackman would become and all-time great thanks to his passionate performances and ability to play gruff everyman characters, but with a charming quality whenever he flashed that smile or gave that crackling laugh. Gene Hackman in "The Royal Tenenbaums." Buena Vista Pictures Hackman has three children from his first marriageIn 1956, the actor married Faye Maltese, a bank clerk from New York. The couple had three children, Christopher Allen, Elizabeth Jean, and Leslie Anne Hackman. They divorced in 1986 after 30 years of marriage.In 2000, the actor told The Irish Independent that he wasn't always present as a father. Hackman said: "I couldn't always be home with them when they were growing up and then, living in California, they've had my success always hanging over their heads.''Sometime after Hackman and Maltese split, he started dating Betsy Arakawa, a classical pianist who was 30 years his junior. They got married in 1991.Hackman never returned to actingHackman's status as a legend only grew after his retirement, as one of few icons able to walk away and stay away from the business.In one of his final interviews, in 2011, GQ asked him if he'd ever do another more movie:"I don't know," he said. "If I could do it in my own house, maybe, without them disturbing anything and just one or two people."Correction: February 27, 2025 An earlier version of this story misstated the circumstances of Gene Hackman's death. The Santa Fe New Mexican cited Sheriff Adan Mendoza as saying Hackman, Betsy Arakawa, and their dog were found dead Wednesday afternoon, not that they died Thursday. Mendoza was said to have confirmed their deaths Thursday.

When Netflix first started adding video games to its huge catalogue of streaming TV shows and films, it did so quietly. In 2021, after releasing an impressive experiment with the idea of interactive film in Black Mirror: Bandersnatch in 2018 and a free Stranger Things game in 2019, Netflix began expanding more fully into interactive entertainment.The streamers gaming offering, for a long time, was its best-kept secret. Whoever was running it really had an eye for quality: award-winningly brilliant and relatively little-known indie games comprised the majority of its catalogue, alongside decent licensed games based on everything from The Queens Gambit to the reality dating show Too Hot to Handle. Subscribers could play games such as Before Your Eyes, a brief and touching story about a life cut short; Spiritfarer, about guiding lost souls to rest and Into the Breach, a superb sci-fi strategy game with robots v aliens. The company bought or invested in several game studios known for making critically acclaimed work, including London-based Ustwo games (which was behind Monument Valley). It also established a studio in California to work on blockbuster games, staffed by veteran developers.But it seems things are changing. That blockbuster studio has been closed, as first reported by Game File, before it could ever release a game. Its latest tie-in game, Squid Game Unleashed, absolutely sucks its constructed around the celebration of slapstick violence, making it a terrible fit for a satirically violent show about capitalist exploitation. Funding a bunch of indie darlings and hiring big-name talent from the likes of Blizzard and Bungie for its game studio gave the impression that Netflix really was keen on becoming a part of the gaming industry, and doing it properly. Now that is very much in question.The company has made layoffs across its gaming divisions, including at Night Studio makers of weird-fiction supernatural teen horror series Oxenfree. It has cancelled plans for several forthcoming games that were due to join the service, including indie hits Thirsty Suitors and Dont Starve Together, and promising-looking hobbit game Tales of the Shire. Whats going on?Netflix has laid off staff across its gaming divisions, including those behind the teen horror series Oxenfree. Photograph: Netflix/NightSchoolThere have been several changes of leadership. Christopher Lee, a former EA executive who was made the companys first head of games in 2016, left to join Xbox in 2022. Mike Verdu, another former executive at EA and Oculus, became head of game development in 2021 but has since been replaced by Alain Tuscan, hired from Epic (the makers of Fortnite). Meanwhile, the firms head of developer relations Leanne Loombe who presumably has excellent taste, having brought so many wonderful indie games to the service since joining in 2021 left earlier this year.These significant strategic changes have happened in the past six months since Tuscan took over. Current co-CEO Greg Peters said in an earnings call early this year that Netflix was refocusing its gaming efforts. Based on all our learnings and under the leadership of Alain Tuscan we are refining our strategy. Peters described how the streamer would focus on narrative games based on Netflix intellectual property such as party and couch co-op games, saying: We think of this as a successor to family board game night, or an evolution of what the TV game show used to be games for kids, no ads, no payments and more recognisable mainstream titles.None of that looks great for any of the studios Netflix has bought over the past few years, all of which were lauded for their original, creative and unusual games.The inevitable conclusion is that Netflix is retreating to a safe, predictable gaming strategy, which is immensely disappointing for anyone who hoped that the streaming giant might be a much-needed source of investment in gaming creativity. In the earnings call, Peters kept reiterating how successful that Squid Game tie-in had been: depressingly, it is the companys most successful game, despite being as thin and transparent as a piece of wet tissue. It looks as if we can expect much more of that in future.I had once worried that, like Google before it, Netflix would simply exit the gaming space as soon as it became evident that it is a really expensive, unpredictable and difficult business to break into. It seems that the streaming giant is keen on sticking around, but no longer so keen on investing in creativity and quality. I would urge whoever takes up the $1.3m job as Netflixs next face of games to remember that these things are not mutually exclusive. By investing in originality alongside those nailed-on licensed games and big names, you will ensure that Netflix has a real future in games. One can fund the other, and the one eternal truth of the games business is that quality really, really matters and gamers know when theyre being condescended to.What to playDramatic and exciting Monster Hunter Wilds. Photograph: CapcomThe latest in Capcoms superb action series, Monster Hunter Wilds, is out this week. Ive played these games for almost 20 years, and about 12 of those were spent trying to convince people that they do get good eventually, after you get past the initial boring gathering quests and steep learning curve. Monster Hunter World, from 2018, made the series a lot friendlier, though, and Wilds makes it friendlier still: its 15-hour single-player story is full of dramatic and exciting fights against awe-inspiring, intimidating creatures.Its like an extended tutorial on what makes Monster Hunter brilliant. After the first couple of quests you will need no further convincing, even if youve never played one of these games before.Available on: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X Estimated playtime: skip past newsletter promotionSign up to Pushing ButtonsFree weekly newsletterKeza MacDonald's weekly look at the world of gamingPrivacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.after newsletter promotionWhat to readMicrosoft used the game Bleeding Edge to train a new generative AI model called Muse. Photograph: MicrosoftMicrosoft has unveiled a new generative AI model, Muse, that can create gameplay footage. They call it a World and Human Action Model (WHAM). It was trained on a Ninja Theory game, Bleeding Edge, seemingly without its players knowledge. Wired quotes many game developers who hate this entire idea, but that hasnt stopped Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella from enthusing about the possibility of a whole game catalogue made by AI.The publisher of the ludicrously compulsive card game Balatro won a victory recently, persuading PEGI to downgrade the games age rating from an 18-plus to 12-plus. (It is not a gambling game, but it does feature playing cards and a version of poker rules, hence the adult-only rating.) This is a good step from PEGI bringing nuance to their ratings criteria, said the games developer. I hope this change will allow developers to create without being unfairly punished.Assassins Creed Shadows has leaked after retailers broke its street date, meaning players have been streaming the game from their physical disc copies. If youre looking forward to it, beware the internet for spoilers.NetEase, a Chinese company that has invested hugely in western and Japanese game development recently, is reportedly scaling back its interest in video games, putting more than a dozen studios at risk. Bloomberg reports that hundreds of jobs and several games have already been canned.Warner Bros Discovery has cancelled its Wonder Woman game and is closing three of its video game development studios, reports Reuters. The company joins Microsofts Xbox and Sony, who closed offices last year to reduce costs.What to clickQuestion BlockNintendo Labos Toy-Con Piano. Photograph: NintendoReader Michael asks:My sister has rigid screen-time restrictions for her 10-year old son, who isnt allowed a Switch but is obsessed with video games. As his uncle, and as a game designer, I want to fuel his passion, but I respect her boundaries. Unfortunately, his limited game time is largely spent playing dopamine-fuelled, hyper-casual games on a web browser. Ive been advocating for a Switch so he can play something more nutritious. She has cautiously asked me to recommend some appropriate games. Top of my list are Mario, Zelda and Animal Crossing. Since youre a mother and a gamer, are there any in particular youd recommend?You cant go far wrong with Nintendos games in terms of safety and child appropriateness. (I also appreciate that the Switch doesnt have a YouTube app, or an easily accessible web browser.) For a 10-year-old, its going to come down to what hes interested in: is he into adventure stories? If so, Zelda is the thing (BOTW is a 12 but if your sister is strict about that, Links Awakening is 7-plus). My animal and dinosaur-obsessed boy loved Pokmon passionately (Sword and Shield are the best Switch picks). Mario is a huge hit in my house with both my kids. Despite their very different personalities, they both adore Mario Party Jamboree I think as adults we often dismiss these casual-ish party games but theres tremendous variety and creativity in the 100+ different minigames. Minecraft (offline!) is also obviously a mainstay for that age group, too. Nintendo Labo is also a parent-pleasing option due to all the cardboard crafting, if your sister is coming around from a belief that video games are inherently bad.Ive had many versions of this conversation with other parents who arent enmeshed in gaming themselves. It has reminded me that when parents try to ban something, we often create problems that were not aware of. Your nephew is fascinated by video games, but hes playing the least nourishing versions of them possible through the only means he has. My parents restricted my own game-playing time to weekends only when I was wee, hoping to put the brakes on my passion for them. (That worked out brilliantly.) Where possible, I think were often better off engaging with the things our kids enjoy, while also helping them moderate themselves and keep to our boundaries. Its time-intensive, but worthwhile.If youve got a question for Question Block or anything else to say about the newsletter hit reply or email us on pushingbuttons@theguardian.com.

EXCLUSIVE: Peter Murphy, Senior Director of Marketing at The Pokemon Company International, told Daily Star about what makes the Pokemon video games so special, and what to expect from future instalmentsTech10:00, 27 Feb 2025Expect more "cross-generational experiences" in future Pokemon titles(Image: The Pokemon Company)Pokemon is a franchise that spans anime, card games, movies, books, toys and just about everything else, but for many it'll be best remembered as a video game.The juggernaut franchise that's now worth billions all began with a pair of Game Boy games, after all, and the series has showed no signs of slowing down with Pokemon Legends Z-A likely to be a big part of today's Pokemon Presents event (2pm UK time, folks).We caught up with Peter Murphy, Senior Director of Marketing at The Pokemon Company International to ask about all things Pokemon, as well as what fans can expect from upcoming games.Scarlet and Violet marked the series' most recent generation(Image: The Pokemon Company)We asked what it is about the core Pokemon RPG series that resonates so well with fans.He said: "For me personally, its the constant evolution of the series characters and general innovation. Game Freak are masters of their craft, and they spend a lot of time creating engaging and unique Pokmon characters. Their incredible character designs are then taken across all products in the world of Pokmon - they are the bedrock of the brand and give fans a way to connect with all of our different offerings.""Pokmon Red and Blue introduced trading via a link cable, which at the time felt like pure magic. The spirit of connection in Pokmon is so special and the video games foster a completely different type of community," Murphy explains."They act like a bridge connecting people like I have not seen before in other titles - everyone has their own unique story and adventure whilst also collaborating across generations via trading and battling. The Pokmon characters themselves are timeless and innovations like Pokmon Home means you can take your Pokmon that you have built connections with in the video games across the franchise."While Murphy wouldn't comment on specific lessons learned from Scarlet And Violet's technical issues at launch, he did suggest that upcoming titles would continue to lean into "cross-generation experiences".He added: "The series has even expanded to cross compatibility with mobile apps. For example, many Pokmon caught in Pokmon GO can be transferred in the core video game series.""These cross-generation experiences are unique to Pokmon and that is one of the reasons they are so special to all of us. In terms of the future, Game Freak are always able to surprise and delight the fans with new technologies and experiences so the future will surely be a bright one for the Pokmon video game series."Article continues belowFor more on from our interview, check out Murphy's comments on the increased popularity of the Pokemon Trading Card Game in the UK, and the "key challenges" of saying goodbye to Ash Ketchum.For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.

EXCLUSIVE: We asked Peter Murphy, Senior Director of Marketing at The Pokemon Company International, about how it felt to see longtime series protagonist Ash Ketchum leave the long-running animeTech09:30, 27 Feb 2025Ash remains iconic, not just inside Pokemon but in pop-culture more broadlyWhen you think of Pokemon characters, there's a good chance if you're not thinking of a 'Mon, you're thinking of Ash Ketchum.Pallet Town's rising star was loosely based on the first gen games' protagonist Red, but grew into an affable, capable trainer in his own right, and led the Pokemon anime series for a whopping 25 seasons.Still, all things must come to an end, and in December 2022, The Pokemon Company confirmed that Ash (and his faithful Pikachu) would be leaving the series.We caught up with Peter Murphy, Senior Director of Marketing at The Pokemon Company International to talk all things Pokemon, including the decision to let the iconic duo leave the long-running series.Pokemon's anime has gone in a different direction, and that's OK(Image: The Pokemon Company)"It is always hard to move on from a cast of characters that so many fans have grown up loving," Murphy explains."One of the key challenges we had with Pokmon Horizons was making room in fans hearts for brand new experiences and characters. Many of us grew up with Ash and Pikachu and the memories that fans have with these iconic characters will always stay with them.""We knew the future of our animation series needed to be respectful to the legacy of the show and Ash and Pikachus adventures," he adds."This was a key area we really had to focus on during production. We realised the feeling of adventuring with your best friends, growing and learning on lifes journey has always been a key component of what made the Pokmon Animated series what it is.""These elements are clearly shown in Liko and Roys adventures across the world of Pokmon. One of our objectives with Horizons was to make the animation feel exciting and fresh to new viewers whilst feeling familiar for our fans. We have dual boy and girl protagonists for the first time who are on their own separate adventures but very much together for the ride."We asked how fans have taken to the change in leads, and Murphy has been pleased by the reaction..He added: "The reception we have seen from fans has been fantastic and we hope viewers have seen some of themselves in these characters and feel connected with them on a personal level.""We wanted viewers to feel the same sense of adventure that they did as a child watching the show for the very first time and so far, the feedback from our broadcast partners and the community has been so positive we hope we achieved that."For more on from our interview, check out Murphy's comments on the increased popularity of the Pokemon Trading Card Game in the UK.Article continues belowFor the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.

Lambkill Ridge / Peter Braithwaite Studio Ltd.Save this picture! Peter BraithwaiteTerence Bay, CanadaArchitects: Peter Braithwaite Studio Ltd.AreaArea of this architecture projectArea:660 ftYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2023 PhotographsPhotographs:Peter BraithwaiteManufacturersBrands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers: Kohltech, Maibec Lead Architects: Peter Braithwaite More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. Affectionately named, Lambkill Ridge has its moniker derived from the common name for a local plant, Sheep Laurel, which can be found in abundance along the barren lands of Terence Bay, Nova Scotia. Designed as a getaway for a nature enthusiast young family of four, the architecture features two nearly identical volumes mirrored along a long, narrow boardwalk that connects the access road to the winding nature trails beyond.Save this picture!Save this picture!Hoisted up off the forest floor and trust into the tree canopy, the intention was to situate the user prominently into the natural environment, provide breathtaking views over the barren lands and out to the ocean from the loft spaces within, and encourage the natural landscape to continue to thrive throughout. The long ascent up the two-tiered stairwell and along the boardwalk provides views to the entrance of a subtle trailhead that is framed by the two darkened volumes.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The first volume that you encounter upon your climb is the sleeping pavilion, where you will find the mechanical closet boasting fully sustainable equipment, a full bath, and a sleeping loft above. The second volume, also known as the living pavilion, houses a white-oak-clad kitchenette, the main living space with a wood-burning stove and a guest sleeping loft above. Designed to be largely off-grid, key features include a window designed to maximize both thermal heat gain, as well as passive ventilation to help regulate temperatures in all months of the year, an incinerating toilet, and a rainwater collection and filtration system.Save this picture!Save this picture!While the exterior volumes sit starkly in the landscape, the interior materiality draws upon local resources and adds prominent design features to this modest project. Locally sourced, rough-hewn hemlock is showcased while highlighting typical light-timber framing practices found in the region. As the structures are 'outsulated' (insulation on the outside of the framing), black-metal electrical conduits along with other black-metal features are strewn throughout adding a level of industrialism that juxtaposes the raw nature of the hemlock.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessAbout this officeMaterialWoodMaterials and TagsPublished on February 27, 2025Cite: "Lambkill Ridge / Peter Braithwaite Studio Ltd." 27 Feb 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1027355/lambkill-ridge-peter-braithwaite-studio-ltd&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

The 18th Istanbul Biennial Unveils The Three-Legged Cat, A Three-Year Artistic ExplorationSave this picture!Courtesy of Biennial FoundationThe Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (KSV) has appointed Christine Tohm as the curator for the 18th Istanbul Biennial, which will take place in three phases over three years from 2025 to 2027. According to the Biennial Foundation, this edition was postponed from 2024 by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (KSV). This Biennial remains Trkiye's largest international exhibition dedicated to contemporary art, offering a significant platform for artists globally.Christine Tohm, a prominent figure in arts curation and community building, is the founder of Ashkal Alwan in Beirut and is known for initiatives that advance artistic practices and arts education. Her curatorial work has received numerous accolades, including the UNESCO-Sharjah Prize for Arab Culture and the CCS Bard Audrey Irmas Award for Curatorial Excellence. Tohm's curatorial practice emphasizes the importance of collaboration and engagement with local communities, aligning well with the Biennial's evolving format.Save this picture!The 18th Istanbul Biennial will be titled The Three-Legged Cat and will unfold in three distinct phases. The first leg, scheduled from 20 September to 23 November 2025, will feature works by over 40 artists alongside a public program of performances, screenings, and talks. The Biennial will be free and centered on themes of self-preservation and futurity. The second leg, in 2026, will focus on establishing an academy and collaborating with local initiatives through a series of public programs. The third and final phase, from 18 September to 14 November 2027, will bring together the experiences and dialogues from the previous years, culminating in exhibitions and workshops. Related Article 12 Architecture Events to Pay Attention to in 2024 I have found working in the arts to be most transformative, not only in moments of formal presentation but, more importantly, during its productionin the creative process, everyday exchanges, openings, studio visits, and reading groups. Therefore, the 18th Istanbul Biennial should invest as much in the production process as in its presentation. The extended timeframe of three years will allow the Biennial to engage more deeply with the local scene and foster projects and collaborations around collective questions, contexts, and communities. --Christine Tohm Save this picture!Since its inception, the Istanbul Biennial has been hosted at various iconic sites around the city, including the Hagia Sophia Museum and the Bosphorus Bridge, providing artists with unique spaces to present site-specific works. Under the curatorship of Christine Tohm, the Biennial will continue to explore new perspectives within both historic and contemporary contexts.In other similar news, the Tallinn Architecture Biennale 2024 has officially opened to the public. Hosted at the Museum of Estonian Architecture and across multiple venues in the center of the city, the event is centered around the theme "Resources For a Future." In Jeddah, The Diriyah Biennale Foundation has revealed the theme and title for the 2025 Islamic Arts Biennale: And all that is in between, exploring how faith is experienced, expressed, and celebrated through the acts of feeling, thinking, and making. Finally, the Beta Architecture Biennial opened to the public on September 13, under the curatorial direction of Oana Stnescu, in Timioara, Romania.Image gallerySee allShow lessAbout this authorNour FakharanyAuthorCite: Nour Fakharany. "The 18th Istanbul Biennial Unveils The Three-Legged Cat, A Three-Year Artistic Exploration" 27 Feb 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1023115/18th-istanbul-biennial-appoints-christine-tohme-as-curator-for-upcoming-edition-in-turkiye&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

A polar bear mom and cub on sea ice, off the coast of Svalbard, Norway. Kt Miller / Polar Bears InternationalShareIts a big world out there, especially for polar bear cubs emerging from their dens. An international team of researchers observed these special first steps thanks to nearly a decade of camera footage taken in remote Svalbard, Norway. The footage and its implications for polar bear conservation are detailed in a study published February 27 (International Polar Bear Day) in the Journal of Wildlife Management.Mother bear with three cubs. Recorded using a remote camera as part of the maternal den research in Svalbard, Norway with Polar Bears International, the Norwegian Polar Institute, and the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. CREDIT: Polar Bears International / Norwegian Polar Institute / San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.The waning days of winterPolar bear mothers in the Arctic generally give birth in early January around the start of the new year. The cubs are born completely blind, do not have their signature snow-colored fur, and generally weigh about one pound. After they are born, they begin to grow rapidly, nursing on milk thats about 31 percent fat. By the time they are ready to leave the den in the spring, they are up to 20 times bigger than they were at birth.The cubs begin to emerge from their birthing den sometime between February and April each year. The duration of the denning period, the timing of when they come out of their dens, and the time spent at the den site after emergence can all impact the survival of polar bear cubs. Polar Bears International believes that fewer than 50 percent of cubs survive to adulthood.Polar bear mothers are having increasing difficulties reproducing due to climate-driven changes, and are likely to face further challenges with the expansion of the human footprint in the Arctic, Louise Archer, a study co-author and postdoctoral fellow at the University of Toronto Scarborough, said in a statement, Were excited to introduce new tools to monitor bears during this vulnerable time and to gain insight into their behavior across the Arctic, so that we can work to protect cubs and therefore the species. Every den we monitored had its own story, every data point adds to our understanding of this crucial time and supports more effective conservation strategies. Get the Popular Science newsletter Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.Watching densIn this new study, female polar bears in Svalbardan archipelago between mainland Norway and the North Polewere fitted with GPS satellite collars. The devices recorded their location, activity levels, and body temperatures. The team then used the collar data to pinpoint where the dens were located. The team then trekked into Svalbards mountains and set up timelapse cameras at 13 den sites from 2016 through 2020 and in 2023. The data from these cameras complemented the satellite tags with more detailed insights into maternal den behavior. The satellite collars are still accurate, but are more useful for monitoring the bears over extended periods and in more remote areas.The video footage and satellite tag data revealed some important behavioral information. Families emerged around March 9th in Svalbard and seemed to abandon the den earlier than previously observed in this population. More monitoring is needed to see if this is a trend, but changing the timing of denning could jeopardize cub survival since they have less time to develop before traveling to the sea ice.In some instances, the bears also emerged from the den for less than a minute before they went back inside. Other outings lasted several hours. As far as permanently leaving the den, the footage indicated that polar bears stay near their dens for an average of 12 days, but it varied between the families from two to 31 days.Additionally, some of the moms switched dens. They were observed leaving their original dens and then moving their family to a new den. The cubs also rely heavily on their mothers. They were only seen without their moms 5 percent of the time. Cubs in Svalbard generally depend on their mothers for up to 2.5 years.[ Related: How do polar bears keep ice off their fur? Grease.]A critical period of lifeAccording to the team, this combination of collar data and timelapse cameras show unique insights into very important denning behavior. Continued monitoring and the protection of known denning areas could help ensure the survival of future generations.This study provides a rare glimpse into one of the most vulnerable and critical periods in a polar bears life, offering insights that can help guide our collective conservation efforts, Megan Owen, Vice President of Wildlife Conservation Science at San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, said in a statement. By combining innovative technology with long-term research, were gaining a deeper understanding of the challenges polar bear moms and cubs face in a rapidly changing Arctic. Protecting denning habitats is essential for population health, and this study provides invaluable insights that will help guide protective management.