HBOs The Last of Us Season 2 is filling out its cast list with six more names ahead of its premiere this April.Details on how the live-action adaptation will expand on the source material were revealed by Variety today. The full list of actors coming to the show includes Joe Pantoliano (Memento, The Matrix), Alanna Ubach (Euphoria, Bombshell), Ben Ahlers (The Gilded Age, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina), Hettienne Park (Dont Look Up), Robert John Burke (RoboCop 3), and Noah Lamanna (Star Trek: Strange New Worlds).The last-minute additions to the shows upcoming retelling of The Last of Us Part II reveal the names that will play both characters included in the original games and new faces, too. Newcomer Pantoliano, for example, is set to play Eugene. Youd be forgiven for forgetting that Eugene already exists in The Last of Us universe as Ellie and Dinas pot-smoking friend. He originally only exists as little more than a moment in the lengthy single-player sequel, but in The Last of Us Season 2, the character will get a bit more screen time.Showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann explained to Variety that, in a way that is similar to what gaming fans saw with Bill in Season 1, audiences can expect Eugenes background to be expanded upon in Season 2.I get excited when I see these opportunities, Druckmann said. Im like, Oh, I dont know Eugene that well! The story we told [in the game] was somewhat superficial. The way this character comes in really gets to the heart of Joel and Ellie and their relationship.Burke, meanwhile, has been tapped to play The Last of Us Part II bar owner and bigot sandwich-giver, Seth. Lamanna rounds out the cast of familiar faces as Kat, who is said to have dated Ellie before The Last of Us Part IIs story begins. Meanwhile, Ubach, Ahlers, and Park have been picked to play new characters named Hanrahan, Burton, Elise Park, respectively.PlayThe group of fresh faces joins the already stacked cast for The Last of Us Season 2, including Pedro Pascal as Joel, Bella Ramsey as Ellie, Isabela Merced as Dina, Kaitlyn Dever as Abby, and Gabriel Luna as Tommy. The showrunners had previously suggested that the events of Part II would be told throughout multiple seasons, so expect more surprises to be revealed when as episodes roll out.The Last of Us Season 2 brings the events of The Last of Us Part II into the live-action universe April 13. For more on HBOs follow-up season, you can read up on why it sounds like the show is primed to tell its story over the course of four seasons. You can also check out more from Druckmann, who says Season 2 will feature some pretty brutal cut content from the original sequel video game.Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He's best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).

News Andor Season 2 Just Teased One of Star Wars Most Tragic EventsBefore the Death Star became functional, the Ghorman Massacre was one of the Empire's deadliest attacks on its people.By Brynna Arens | March 5, 2025 | | Photo: Des Willie | LucasfilmWe already know that the Galactic Empire ruled by Emperor Palpatine is ruthless and cruel. Weve seen it not just in Andor, but from the very first Star Wars movie, A New Hope. A ruling party that creates a giant death weapon that can destroy a planet in an instant is not going to be known for its compassion and kindness. That being said, a special look at the upcoming second season of Andor has revealed that the series is set to show a tragic event from Star Wars history the Ghorman Massacre.The Ghorman Massacre was first introduced in Legends canon, and has since been mentioned in canon in the Star Wars: Rebels episode Secret Cargo. What we know about the event thus far is that the Empire used Stormtroopers to slaughter a group of peaceful protestors on the planet Ghorman as a show of power and make it clear that any form of dissent will not be tolerated.In Legends canon, protestors are blocking Captain Wilhuff Tarkins ship from landing on the planet, standing on his landing pad as a form of resistance to the Empires unjust taxation. Tarkin isnt explicitly told by Palpatine to go ahead and land on top of the protestors, but Palpatine doesnt really dissuade him from doing so either.We dont yet know whether or not this particularly gruesome aspect of the massacre will be part of Andors depiction, but regardless, the Ghorman Massacre is still a tragedy. In Star Wars: Rebels, we hear about the massacre in the aftermath. Mon Mothma speaks out about the tragedy, calling out Palpatine specifically for his cruelty. Doing so puts a massive target on her back and forces her to leave Coruscant and go on the run. The Ghost crew is tasked with protecting Mon Mothma from the Empire and getting her to safety on the planet Dantooine.Not only does the Ghorman Massacre finally show the galaxy how far the Empire is willing to go to maintain its power, but it also pushes Mon Mothma to speak out in a more public way. So far in Andor, weve really only seen Mon Mothma working behind the scenes and in the shadows to do good and support the rebellion how she can. This seems to be the first time she is so blatantly outspoken about the Empire and Palpatine, and its an important turning point for the rebellion to have a senator speaking out in their favor.The special look shows us glimpses of the building tension on Ghorman and the deadly massacre that ensues, as well as a look at the senate chambers on Coruscant. This means that well likely get to see both this tragic massacre and the political aftermath that follows.The Ghorman Massacre is a tragedy, but theres no doubt that Andor will be able to show us how it transpired with tact, grace, and a fire that makes us all want to rise up and resist. Im not saying that this will be season 2s Narkina 5 prison break moment, but this has the potential to be just as, if not more, impactful.

This article contains spoilers for episodes one and two of Daredevil: Born Again.Midway through the premiere of Daredevil: Born Again, we see something we rarely ever see in the series: Wilson Fisk looking small. Shot from behind in his headquarters, Fisk appears to be dwarfed by his campaign director Sheila Rivera (Zabryna Guevara) and his right hand man Buck Cashman (Arty Froushan), who squabble over his tactics in the mayoral race.Just when Rivera seems to have gained the upper hand and can push Fisk toward traditional means, she gets interrupted by a young, energetic staffer named Daniel Blake. Obviously, Blake is ambitious and knows what hes doing by one-upping Rivera in front of Fisk. But Blake is something else, something that Fisk desperately needs as he enters into the realm of politics. Blake is a true believer.Played by Michael Gandolfini, son of The Sopranos star James Gandolfini (which places Born Again over The Penguin as the superhero heir of the seminal mob show), Daniel Blake is easily one of the most exciting characters in the first two episodes of Born Again.Blake was invented for the show, but the Mayor Fisk storyline does come from the pages of Marvel Comics. In the comics, Fisk had someone very different in the Deputy Mayor position, someone who wasnt quite so much of a true believer: Matt Murdock.Devils AdvocateBut wait! you shout. Why would Fisk ask Murdock to be Deputy Mayor? Doesnt he know that Matt Murdock is Daredevil?The answer to your question, as with almost every question of this type, is Comics.Yes, Fisk learned Daredevils secret identity long ago, as did everyone else in the world. But as a thank you for rescuing them, the children of Kilgrave the Purple Man (David Tennants character from Jessica Jones) used the mind-control powers they inherited from their father to wipe Daredevils secret identity from the world. So when the newly-elected mayor needed someone, in his words, above reproach to help convince New Yorkers that was sincere in his efforts to serve the city, he had no qualms about calling Murdock.The first part of the Mayor Fisk storyline ran through 2018s Daredevil #595 600, written by Charles Soule and illustrated by Stefano Landini and Ron Garney. As in Born Again, Mayor Fisk finds the former Kingpin of Crime using his new position to outlaw vigilantes, which handcuffs Murdock. As Daredevil, hes seen as a criminal threat. As Murdock, an assistant district attorney when the arc begins, he has to build a case against Daredevil.So when Fisk asks him to join the staff as Deputy Mayor, Murdock thinks hes found a way to fight back. Now, even viewers of the show realize that Matt Murdock, charming and well-meaning as he is, often makes very bad decisions. Thats even more true of comic book Matt, which he hears immediately from Foggy Nelson (who has also died in the comics, but comics being comics, gets to come back to life sorry TV fans). If theres one thing I know about Wilson Fisk, Foggy warns Matt; its that if you think youre playing him, he is definitely playing you.Sure enough, thats exactly what Fisks plan is, to bury Murdock under so much red tape that he cant do any work in the DAs office to undermine the administration. And it seems to work until Fisk gets attacked by Hand Ninjas and incapacitated, which puts into effect an arcane rule change that Matt and his associate in the Mayors office Steve uncovered while going through that red tape. This rule means that the Deputy Mayor takes over when the Mayor cannot serve. In other words, Matt Murdock becomes Mayor of New York City.Join our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!The Electorate From HellIts unlikely that Daniel Blake will get to follow a similar arc. First of all, hes not Daredevil. Second, the series is more interested in using Blake to show how Fisk wins over the electorate. The man on the street segments from the first two episodes, produced by Ben Urichs neice B.B. Urich (Genneya Walton), show the community response to Mayor Fisk, people who have lost faith in the system but arent willing to throw it all away.Daniel Blake represents something different. He sees Fisks disruption of the political system as an opportunity for guys like him, guys who want to have power and dont have to deal with people holding them into account. Blake shows how Fisks brutality and disregard for law and order isnt a problem among some voters. No, its his very cruelty that makes him an attractive leader.Thus, Blake joins the Fisk administration for the exact opposite reason as Murdock. He doesnt want to find ways to stymie Fisks over-turning of law and order. He wants to help Fisk brutalize others, in the hopes that he too will get to brutalize people.Matt Murdock may be Daredevil, a man whose baser instincts drive him to put on a devil costume and beat up bad guys. But Daniel Blake is a sinner, someone who sees the evil that Fisk does and embraces it. Thats bad news for New York City, because Daniel Blake is far from alone. Will Daredevil be alone in opposing Fisk? Thats what were going to find out this season on Daredevil: Born Again.New episodes of Daredevil: Born Again stream every Tuesday on Disney+.

When Matt Duffer creates a world, its generally one you want to get the hell out of. Alongside his twin brother, Ross, Duffer has created some of the most disquieting spaces to hit the big and small screen, from a post-apocalyptic bunker with a serious rodent issue in the 2015 thriller Hidden, to the dark spore-ridden alternative universe, The Upside Down, in the ongoing Netflix superhit, Stranger Things. But when it came to Duffers own Los Angeles home, he wanted something a little more comfortable. Specifically, he wanted ELLE DECOR A-List design firm Nickey Kehoe.Id been looking at designers [online] when I had no money and went, Well one day maybe they'll do my house, Duffer remembers.There was just one problem: Duffer didnt have a house. He had been living in a Los Angeles apartment between long stints filming Stranger Things in Atlanta.It was kind of like a single guy apartmentit was not meant for two people, says Sarah Hindsgaul, Duffers fiance and a hair designer (the pair met on the set of Stranger Things, where Hindsgaul masterminded coifs ranging from from Elevens buzzcuts to Steve Harringtons mullets).Haris KenjarOne of the most challenging spaces in the house was the living room, which had a long, narrow layout. Kehoe opted to create multiple seating areas but with a surprising twist: no sofas. There wasnt enough depth to have a sofa facing the fireplace, so these four central chairs felt like an unlock to that room, she says. It felt like a really fun disruptor.At a certain point, Sarah and I came back from Atlanta and we're just like, this is just too disgusting, Duffer says. After a towel-clad Duffer came face-to-face with an intruder, the couple knew it was time to say sayonara to the bachelor pad. Duffer recounts, I was like, not only is this place gross, it's unsafe.The pair was drawn to the hillside enclave of Los Feliz because it would mean living near Duffers creative partner, Ross (the siblings are frequently credited as the Duffer Brothers on their projects), and because of its preponderance of charming, historic homes. If we were ever able to afford a house, we wanted one of those 1920s Spanish houses, rather than something new or modern, Duffer says.Haris KenjarAn inviting pool is shaded by a regal oak tree, an atelier de troupe chaise is covered in a george spencer textile and the banquette is upholstered in a schumacher fabric.They fell in love with a five-bedroom 1927 house that cascaded from its hillside site like a fairytale castle. But if its mature oak tree and view of the Griffith Observatory didnt clinch the deal, a bit of design kismet certainly did: its interiors had been designed by Nickey Kehoe cofounder, Amy Kehoe.I was like, wow, okay, so this is really meant to be, Hindsgaul says.But would Kehoe be willing to return for an encore? We purchased the house without knowing whether or not she would do it. We figured she was probably somewhat selective, says Duffer.Luckily for Hindsgaul and Duffer, Kehoe was eager to return and finish what she had started. There was a warm-up with the first client and I got to lean into that a bit more with the next evolution, Kehoe says. This time, I definitely pushed into the whimsy and the romance [of the home].Because the bulk of the architectural rejiggering had been done for the previous homeowner, Kehoe was able to focus on furnishing the house and enlivening it with color. I love color, Kehoe says. Certain clients are able to live with it more than others. And because Sarah is a hair and makeup artist, I really felt simpatico with her. It allowed some of these bolder color moments to be unleashed.Still, Hindsgaul ventured slightly out of her comfort zone. Im from Copenhagen. Being from a country where we paint everything white, I had a heart attack every time Amy was like, we're gonna do this in black, she jokes. So it was a pretty big journey for me.From the first renovation, Kehoe had observed that burnt orange was a color that liked being in the house. This led to a sunset-inspired palette of yellows, soft pinks, and reds. Its a color story that we tweaked in each room, and the house welcomed it, Kehoe adds.Step Inside This Magical L.A. HomeDuffer, for his part, was all in. My philosophy always is to find people whose work you love and who are really good at what they do, and then, as much as possible, leave them alone.But the producer did have one stipulation: His Stranger Things pinball machineemblazoned with swirls of blue and purple and a menacing Demogorgon, a creature from the serieshad to have a spot in the house.It's not every day you're incorporating a pinball machine, Kehoe, who tucked the prized arcade game into a corner of a sun-washed card room, says. I'm not sure his wife is as excited about it, but, you know, we made it work.Last summerfive years and two babies laterDuffer and Hindsgaul made the decision to leave their beloved Los Feliz hideaway in search of a bigger place. We were bursting basically, Hindsgaul, who also has two teenage children, explains.It's gonna forever hold a really special place in our hearts, says Duffer. It was our very first house.But this saga is one that has a happy ending: the couple has already enlisted Kehoe for the design of their new family home. And Duffer has added two more pinball machines to his collection.Anna FixsenDeputy Digital EditorAnna Fixsen is the deputy digital editor of ELLE DECOR, where she oversees all facets of ELLEDECOR.com. In addition to editing articles and developing digital strategy, she writes about the world's most beautiful homes, reviews the chicest products (from the best cocktail tables to cute but practical gifts), and reports on the most exciting trends in design and architecture. Since graduating from Columbia Journalism School, she's spent the past decade as an editor at Architectural Digest, Metropolis, and Architectural Record and has written for outlets including the New York Times, Dwell, and more.

The Apple silicon era has not been kind to the Mac Pro, and the target market for Apples most niche machine shrank even more today. However, its always darkest before the dawn, and that may be the case for this Mac workstation.Table of contentsA brief history of the Mac ProIts hard to be a Mac Pro.The product name dates back to 2006 when the Power Mac G5, equipped with a PowerPC chip, was replaced with a desktop tower of the same design that used an Intel processor. In 2013, Apple released the much smaller cylindrical Mac Pro that proved to be as cursed as it was beautiful.Apple returned to a more machined version of desktop tower design in 2019, throwing away the so-called trash can design for an approach that valued both form and function. Paired with the 6K Retina resolution 32-inch Apple Pro Display XDR, the Mac Pro returned to its throne as the most powerful machine in Apples lineup. Apple even sold storage and GPU upgrades that could be added separately.A year later, the Apple silicon transition began.The Mac Studio strikesApples M1 processor raised the performance floor compared to Intel chips. The first Apple silicon chip that powered the Mac was greatly beneficial for the MacBook Air and iMac. Cooler M1 performance allowed Apple to remove the laptops fan without compromising performance. Meanwhile, the iMac undertook a redesign that more closely resembled a giant iPad than an all-in-one desktop.Apple later introduced M1 Pro and M1 Max chips that powered the redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro notebooks. Each chip introduced a higher performance ceiling for Apple silicon.In 2022, Apple introduced an all-new desktop workstation. The Mac Studio debuted alongside the M1 Ultra chip basically two M1 Max chips combined. While this dramatically raised the performance ceiling for Apple silicon, it also made the three-year-old Intel Mac Pro seem like a forgotten machine once again.Meanwhile, there was hope for an M2 Extreme chip with even higher performance to appear in an Apple silicon Mac Pro. In reality, manufacturing such a chip likely proved too costly for such a niche computer.Apple silicon Mac Pro stumbles onto the sceneIn 2023, the first Apple silicon Mac Pro finally replaced the 2019 Intel Mac Pro. However, this was no return to the glory days of the decade before the previous decade.Instead, the Mac Pro used the same M2 Ultra chip as the second-generation Mac Studio. Apple silicon includes the CPU, GPU, and RAM in a single package, removing the option to throw additional RAM and GPU performance at the Mac Pro over time. With performance literally matched, Mac Pro had only one thing over Mac Studio at this point: ports and PCIe slots.But with Apple silicon, these PCIe slots cant be used to upgrade GPU performance with graphics cards. Like with every other Apple silicon Mac, GPU power is determined at the time of purchase when you configure the number of GPU cores.Apples description of what the Mac Pro PCIe slots can be used for is narrow:You can install many different PCIe cards in your Mac Pro, such as fibre channel cards, fiber networking cards, video and audio I/O cards, storage cards, and ethernet cards.The press release for the M2 Ultra Mac Pro pointed to audio and video professionals with internal expansion needs when explaining the products purchase:The new Mac Pro brings PCIe expansion to Apple silicon for pros who want the performance of M2 Ultra and rely on internal expansion for their workflows. Mac Pro features seven PCle expansion slots, with six open expansion slots that support gen 4, which is 2x faster than before, so users can customize Mac Pro with essential cards. From audio pros who need digital signal processing (DSP) cards, to video pros who need serial digital interface (SDI) I/O cards for connecting to professional cameras and monitors, to users who need additional networking and storage, Mac Pro lets professionals customize and expand their systems, pushing the limits of their most demanding workflows.Nearly two years later, the Mac Pro has managed to slip into even more niche territory. Thats because Apple updated the Mac Studio today with a mildly awkward chip selection.Starting today, you can order a Mac Studio with either an M4 Max chip or an all-new M3 Ultra chip. Yes, M4 sounds newer than M3, but the comparison is really between a single M4 Max chip and two M3 Max chips.The new Mac Studio is the first and only machine with the M3 Ultra chip, once again giving it the title of most powerful Mac ever.The Mac Pro, with its seven PCIe slots, remains on the M2 Ultra chip.Mac Studio versus Mac ProComparing the M3 Ultra to the M2 Ultra is essentially the same as comparing the Mac Studio to the Mac Pro for now. This comparison is really not favorable to the Mac Pro.At a high level, the M3 Ultra Mac Studio can be configured with up to 1.5x faster CPU performance and 2x faster GPU performance than the Mac Pro. RAM, which is crucial with running local AI models, is even more of a dramatic compare. Weve charted the top specs for each machine to compare.Mac StudioMac ProCPU32 cores24 coresGPU80 cores76 coresRAM512GB192GBSSD16TB8TBDisplay8 4K displays, 8 6K displays, or 4 8K displays8 4K displays, 6 6K displays, or 3 8K displaysPorts6 Thunderbolt 5 ports, 2 USB-A ports, HDMI port, 10Gb Ethernet, SDXC card slot8 Thunderbolt 4 ports, 3 USB-A ports, 2 HDMI ports, dual 10Gb Ethernet, 7 PCIe slotsThe Mac Pro is still the champion of ports at least. Mac Pro hopeSo how could the M3 Ultra Mac Studio possibly be good news for the Mac Pro? The answer requires a generous amount of hope for Mac Pro fans. Patience too, but a prerequisite for being a Mac Pro fan is taking the long view.Keeping the Mac Pro on the M2 Ultra chip while updating the Mac Studio to the M3 Ultra chip does set up a future scenario for the Mac Pro to reclaim its throne as the most powerful Mac yet again. Apple could keep the Mac Studio on the M3 Ultra and save the M4 Ultra exclusively for the Mac Pro.One caveat is that Apple seems to indicate that it may not make an Ultra version of each chip generation. Thats at least how Apple explains the Mac Studio having M4 Max and M3 Ultra options. I choose to believe thats just a convenient answer to an awkward marketing issue.Then comes the more philosophical question. Is it actually better for customers to have a more powerful Mac Pro if it means holding back the Mac Studio in the future?Say the Mac Pro does get updated to an M4 Ultra chip in the future. Why wouldnt the Mac Studio also get the M4 Ultra then as well? Mac Pro fans dont argue that the Mac Studio should be less powerful. They argue that the Mac Pro has a case designed to handle higher thermal conditions than the Mac Studio the kind of thermal conditions created by even higher performance output.Best Apple accessoriesFollow Zac Hall on X, and listen to Runtime with co-host Sophia Tung on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

iOS 18.4 has been available in beta for less than two weeks, and following beta 2s arrival earlier this week were still discovering updates and changes. The latest: there are two new App Store additions that should make downloading apps and updates just a little bit nicer of an experience than before.#1: Apple Intelligence-generated review summariesThe number of Apple Intelligence features across Apples devices keeps growing. In iOS 18.4 beta 2, that includes an AI upgrade to app and game reviews.As weve reported was coming, now when browsing an app or games App Store listing, Apple Intelligence offers a summary of all the submitted user reviews.The new Review Summary synthesizes feedback submitted by users into a short, simple paragraph summary of how the app fares among users.Ive enjoyed having a similar feature available inside Amazons shopping app for a while, as its a convenient way to get an overview of what people think of a product. Adding it to apps and games makes a lot of sense and should help users save time reading reviews.#2: Pausing app downloads and updatesMost of the time, if youre downloading a new app or updating an existing one, its not a problem to let that download run until its finished.In some cases thoughwhether due to poor connectivity, network congestion, or some other issueit would be nice to be able to pause a download.Before now, the only way to pause a download was to stop it entirely, thus forcing you to restart from scratch when youre ready to continue.But in iOS 18.4, theres a new pause button to temporarily halt an app or updates download, then resume it without losing your original progress.Its a small change, but a nice one for those times you hit a snag with a download.What do you think of these iOS 18.4 App Store changes? Let us know in the comments.Best iPhone accessoriesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Woke MillsMar 5, 3:13 PM EST/byNoor Al-SibaiNow That Trump Has Driven The Evil Woke From Science, Researchers Reveal the True Effects of Windmills on the Human BrainMaybe the real "woke mind virus" were the social contagions we made along the way. Mar 5, 3:13 PM EST/Noor Al-SibaiImage by Getty / FuturismStudiesWindmills, like wokeness, have a very prominent hater in the White House and a new study suggests that President Donald Trump is spewing malarkey on both fronts.In a new study out of Poland, researchers specializing in acoustics and neuroscience found no evidence that so-called "wind turbine syndrome" a baseless conservative boogeyman promoted by Trump and fossil fuel-linked groups, suggesting that sound from wind farms induces mental illness, cancer, or even death is any more "stressful or bothersome than road traffic noise."Instead, as the Adam Mickiewicz University researchers found when reviewing related studies for their paper for the journalHumanities and Social Sciences Communication, this pseudoscientific "condition" appears to be the result of social contagion spread by misinformation campaigns.As the multi-disciplinary team of scientists noted, even people who have "tendencies towards rumination or reduced capacity for reflection and ambiguity tolerance" grouchy folks,basically don't seem to have any actual cognitive response when exposed to windmill sounds in a lab.To get to these results, these researchers recruited 45 healthy university students, comprised of 30 women and 15 men, all between 18 and 25 years old a sample population of "mature individuals" who were, as a recent meta-analysis study has shown, in an age group that tends to be more sensitive to noise than their older counterparts.Without telling the participants the purpose of the study or what type of sounds they would be exposed to, the researchers played the group either windmill sounds, traffic noise, or silence. The group that had been exposed to windmill sounds were then asked what sound they had heard, and none were able to identify it as anything other than white noise.This study is far from the first to conclude that "wind turbine syndrome" phenomenon is not rooted in cognitive or acoustic science and because it was conducted in Poland, the scientists behind it were able to say as much without worrying about losing their academic funding.In the United States under Trump's second regime, however, this sort of research would almost certainly not be funded at a public institution due to the president's sweeping anti-diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) push that aims to eliminate such "woke" science from this country.It seems obvious to most even-keeled observers that Trump and Elon Musk's "anti-woke" campaign is meant to drive those who oppose their agenda out of public life but hey, at least Europe still has real science.More on the anti-woke agenda: Trump Orders NASA to Purge All Mentions of Women in Leadership On Its WebsitesShare This ArticleImage by Getty / FuturismRead This Next

It's been more than a week since Elon Musk offered to go on "The Daily Show" and it appears that he's already backing out.On Monday evening, Stewart took the unelected billionaire head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to task for not following up on his claim that he would sit for an interview if it "airs unedited" which is, as the newly returned host notes, how it always goes for in-studio appearances.After the show's account said Stewart would be "delighted" to bring Musk on, however, the SpaceX and Tesla owner issued a cryptic quip saying that is Stewart "much more a propagandist than it would seem."Though it's not an outright refusal, that comment coming in the days after the "Daily Show" host publicly challenged Musk to play ball suggests that, as he did with his abandoned cage match with Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg back in 2023, be trying to weasel his way out of an interviewthat would almost certainly make him look foolish and unprepared.Dispelling Musk's "propagandist" charge, Stewart said that although he has "some criticisms" about DOGE an understatement, given that he got so worked up when bashing the agency that he broke a mug and hurt his hand during his inaugural post-retirement episode he generally is in support of more efficient use of taxpayer dollars.Addressing Musk directly, the host suggested that there's neither harm nor foul if Musk chooses not to go on the show but lying about it seems like a bridge too far."Can we just drop the pretense that you wont do it because I dont measure up to the standards of neutral discourse that you demand and display at all times?" Stewart said. "Because, quite frankly, thats bullshit. You know it, I know it. Bullshit."It's obviously too soon to tell whether or not the South African emerald scion will, for once, live up to his word. Given that we haven't seen Stewart this feisty for a while, Musk may have good reason for his cold feet.Share This Article

From retail to restaurants, 2025 hasnt exactly been kind to several notable chains spread throughout the U.S..READ MORE: 21 Fast-Growing Restaurant Chains Opening Just About Everywhere In 2025Some, like Advance Auto Parts and Dollar General, are both closing and opening locations as they look for fresh approaches to win back customers. Unfortunately, the closings way outnumber the openings.Other chains have closed down for good. Party City went away in February. Arts and crafts store Joann followed shortly after.Here is a look at which chains are closing or have closed locations in 2025.Chains That Are Closing or Have Closed Locations in 2025The list of chains that have closed locations or have plans to shutter stores later in 2025 continues to grow at a rapid pace.Gallery Credit: Rob CarrollREAD MORE: Beloved 90s Foods You Can Still Eat TodayGet our free mobile appOnce-Beloved Fast Food Items That No Longer ExistThese defunct fast food items have gone down in history. Wouldnt you love to eat them again?

One of the main concerns people have regarding OTC hearing aids is setting up the devices on their own. Without a doctor, it can feel daunting to solve your communication needs, and that's a primary barrier to the over-the-counter hearing aid market.I was impressed with the Omni hearing aid because of how it performed and the support that Audicus offers its customers. That's why the Omni OTC hearing aid from Audicus is my pick for the best overall OTC hearing aid.When you unpack the Omni OTC hearing aid, you'll notice you get more than other brands offer: a charging case, carrying case, dry capsule, earwax guard disc and a ton of ear domes. An extensive manual details what the products do and how it all works. You'll also have access to Audicus support staff to help you set up your hearing aids and walk you through the process. They were borderline relentless in offering support, which is often what people need.The Omni OTC hearing aid is one of the sleekest over-the-ear devices I tested. It has an updated feel with same-color buttons that are easy to press but blend into the silhouette. The Audicus hearing aids are so comfortable and lightweight that you won't even notice you're wearing them.Pros:Audicus includes features that other brands don't, particularly the dry capsule and earwax guards. The dry capsule is a spongy orange block inside the charging case, which wicks moisture away from the devices while in the case. The earwax guard replacement comes in a wheel that easily allows you to replace the guard under the silicone dome of the earpiece. Neither feature was available in other products.The app, called Hearing Remote, is easy to use. However, like other brands, the app took a few times to recognize my devices, something the Audicus representative warned me about.The Hearing Remote has four "environments" that determine how the devices amplify and filter sounds: Automatic, Conversation, Auditorium and Car/Plane.Audicus offers monthly care packages that include cleaning materials and other essentials.Cons:The Omni over-the-counter hearing aid from Audicus is expensive. However, Audicus offers financing, as well as more affordable devices.The charging case is much bigger than the other OTC hearing aids on the list. However, Audicus offers a smaller carrying case that's much more reasonable for carrying around.If you adjust your hearing aids on the device or in the app, they reset each time you put them into the charging case. You can call Audicus to have them return to your base setting.Battery: Rechargeable battery that lasts 18 hours on one charge.Price: $1,898 for both hearing aids. Financing plans are available.Warranty: Two-year warranty. 45-day money-back guarantee.Style: Behind the earBluetooth: Yes