What if extreme heat not only leaves you feeling exhausted but actually makes you age faster?Scientists already know that extreme heat increases the risk of heat stroke, cardiovascular disease, kidney dysfunction and even death. I see these effects often in my work as a researcher studying how environmental stressors influence the aging process. But until now, little research has explored how heat affects biological aging: the gradual deterioration of cells and tissues that increases the risk of age-related diseases.New research my team and I published in the journal Science Advances suggests that long-term exposure to extreme heat may speed up biological aging at the molecular level, raising concerns about the long-term health risks posed by a warming climate.Extreme heats hidden toll on the bodyMy colleagues and I examined blood samples from over 3,600 older adults across the United States. We measured their biological age using epigenetic clocks, which capture DNA modification patterns methylation that change with age.DNA methylation refers to chemical modifications to DNA that act like switches to turn genes on and off. Environmental factors can influence these switches and change how genes function, affecting aging and disease risk over time. Measuring these changes through epigenetic clocks can strongly predict age-related disease risk and lifespan.Research in animal models has shown that extreme heat can trigger whats known as a maladaptive epigenetic memory, or lasting changes in DNA methylation patterns. Studies indicate that a single episode of extreme heat stress can cause long-term shifts in DNA methylation across different tissue types in mice. To test the effects of heat stress on people, we linked epigenetic clock data to climate records to assess whether people living in hotter environments exhibited faster biological aging.We found that older adults residing in areas with frequent very hot days showed significantly faster epigenetic aging compared with those living in cooler regions. For example, participants living in locations with at least 140 extreme heat days per year classified as days when the heat index exceeded 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32.33 degrees Celcius) experienced up to 14 months of additional biological aging compared with those in areas with fewer than 10 such days annually.This link between biological age and extreme heat remained even after accounting for a wide range of individual and community factors such as physical activity levels and socioeconomic status. This means that even among people with similar lifestyles, those living in hotter environments may still be aging faster at the biological level.Even more surprising was the magnitude of the effect extreme heat has a comparable impact on speeding up aging as smoking and heavy alcohol consumption. This suggests that heat exposure may be silently accelerating aging, at a level on par with other major known environmental and lifestyle stressors.Long-term public health consequencesWhile our study sheds light on the connection between heat and biological aging, many unanswered questions remain. Its important to clarify that our findings dont mean every additional year in extreme heat translates directly to 14 extra months of biological aging. Instead, our research reflects population-level differences between groups based on their local heat exposure. In other words, we took a snapshot of whole populations at a moment in time; it wasnt designed to look at effects on individual people.Our study also doesnt fully capture all the ways people might protect themselves from extreme heat. Factors such as access to air conditioning, time spent outdoors and occupational exposure all play a role in shaping personal heat exposure and its effects. Some individuals may be more resilient, while others may face greater risks due to preexisting health conditions or socioeconomic barriers. This is an area where more research is needed.What is clear, however, is that extreme heat is more than just an immediate health hazard it may be silently accelerating the aging process, with long-term consequences for public health.Large swaths of the U.S. population are experiencing long stretches of extreme heat, as this map of cumulative heat days from 2010 to 2016 shows.[Image: Eunyoung Choi,CC BY-ND]Older adults are especially vulnerable because aging reduces the bodys ability to regulate temperature effectively. Many older individuals also take medications such as beta-blockers and diuretics that can impair their heat tolerance, making it even harder for their bodies to cope with high temperatures. So even moderately hot days, such as those reaching 80 degrees Fahrenheit (26.67 degrees Celcius), can pose health risks for older adults.As the U.S. population rapidly ages and climate change intensifies heat waves worldwide, I believe simply telling people to move to cooler regions isnt realistic. Developing age-appropriate solutions that allow older adults to safely remain in their communities and protect the most vulnerable populations could help address the hidden yet significant effects of extreme heat.Eunyoung Choi is a postdoctoral associate in gerontology at the University of Southern California.This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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MacworldMicrosoft Office is a must-have for productivity, but the usual high price and Microsoft 365s subscription fees can be a dealbreaker. But, for a limited time, you can now get a lifetime Office license for Mac for just $39.99 (82% off) while supplies last.This isnt the latest version, but Microsoft Office 2019 is a solid choice if you want the trusty basics especially for those with an older or refurbished Mac. Youll get Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, and Teams, all for a one-time paymentno recurring fees.If you rely on Microsoft 365, this is a wiser long-term investment. Instead of paying a subscription, this license stays with your Microsoft account, meaning you can use it on your Mac now and transfer it if you upgrade later.Before purchasing, check your Macs compatibility. It must run MacOS Monterey (Version 12) or newer and have at least 4GB of RAM for smooth performance.Get Microsoft Office 2019 for just $39.99 while inventory lasts.Microsoft Office Home & Business 2019 for Mac $39.99See DealStackSocial prices subject to change.

Justin Hill International Chapter ChairThank you all for a wonderful year! I have been reflecting on the past years activities and the many people who have contributed to the work we have done this year. I would like to thank the International Chapter Institute staff, and the current International Chapter Councillors all of whom have worked together to deliver some excellent results.I would like to thank the current Chapter Councillors for all of their efforts and time given over the past year, many of whom join us online for meetings at various times of the day and night depending on their time zones. It was wonderful to meet face to face in Hobart, Tasmania this year and collaborate with both the Tasmania Chapter, SONA and the creative directors of the Australasian Student Architecture Congress Ground Matters on Bl?ck Party, a combined celebration of International and Tasmanian Chapters awards presentations and the closing party for Ground Matters!This year we are joined by Amy Learmonth as EmAGN (Emerging Architects and Graduates network) representative on International Chapter Council, we are working to grow our EmAGN membership and engagement with this demographic within the International Chapter and having Amy in this role provides a vital connection back to the National EmAGN committee and to our emerging architect members. We have advocated for and been successful in changing criteria of the Emerging Architect Prize, the prize is now to be awarded annually rather than biannually, and further the International Chapter winner will now also be eligible to proceed to the national competition.In addition, this year we have hosted Boarding Pass events in Hong Kong, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, collaborating with the respective Institutes of Architecture in these countries. These events are always an engaging evening, an opportunity to connect with colleagues and share experiences working in architecture internationally. I encourage you to attend the next Boarding Pass event in your international region more on that next year!It can be a challenge to connect when living and working internationally and the International Chapter is delighted to be hosting some Festive Gatherings online to ensure all of our members can connect with us and share in some festive trivia. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet International Chapter Councillors in your region and our leadership team, representing you as members. Those who are not yet members are welcome to join and find out more.Finally, I would like to express my gratitude to all of our International Chapter members for their contribution to the industry this year and wish everyone a safe and relaxing holiday break.The post A MESSAGE FROM THE INTERNATIONAL CHAPTER CHAIR appeared first on Australian Institute of Architects.

Daniel Lane Tasmanian Chapter PresidentIn preparation for the recently held Presidents Lunch, which celebrates our Chapter Fellows, Life Fellows and Councillors, I have been reflecting on the past years activities and the many people who have contributed to the work we have done this year. I would like to thank the Tas Chapter Institute staff, Jen, Fi, Katie, Loren and Nina. Its amazing to see how much work is undertaken by this committed team. It really is not until you are in this position (Chapter President) that you realise what is actually being done. An incredible amount of work is undertaken, and it is often unseen; so, I would like to recognise that and thank them for that work.I would like to thank the current Chapter Councillors. This year we have tried to instigate some change. For many years, we have unfortunately seen the demise of many chapter committees, but this year we have tried to rectify that. It is not easy, and it wont happen overnight, but I would like to thank our councillors for jumping into and assisting many of the committees by taking the first steps in re-invigorating their existence. In addition, this year we have looked at getting back to our roots and focusing on the issues that relate directly with practice. We have all had our issues with planning, with heritage, and with the exorbitant amount services engineering requirements for projects. I need not go on!So, we have provided strong advocacy at both a local and a state level to identify our concerns and to attempt to overcome some of the situations we are currently facing. Through these meetings and discussions, we believe our voice has been heard. We have been invited to the table, and we firmly believe our concerns are being considered and acted upon.Changes will be made. Some have already been seen, and some are on the way which will hopefully assist with our endeavours.Finally, I would like to express my gratitude to all of our Tasmanian Chapter members for their contribution to the industry this year and wish everyone a safe and relaxing holiday break. I look forward to working with you all again in the new year.The post A MESSAGE FROM THE TAS CHAPTER PRESIDENT appeared first on Australian Institute of Architects.

Mobile World Congress 2025 has brought the tech world to the busy streets of Barcelona to tout its latest, greatest innovations. And we've seen plenty in our time here, from quirky concepts to products you can actually buy. (Of course, we've also eaten our weight in tapas and maybe even tried a few local beers.)As the show draws to a close, we wanted to give you an overview of the top products we saw. Though not all of them are things you can buy, they're all innovative in their own way, offering something that makes them stand out from the crowd -- a design, an idea or even just a price.Here, then, are CNET's top picks from Mobile World Congress 2025.Nothing Phone 3A and 3A Pro Here is the Nothing Phone 3A on the left and Nothing Phone 3A Pro on the right. Andrew Lanxon/CNETLondon-based tech company Nothing is best known for its affordable Android phones that light up on the back, and the new Phone 3A and 3A Pro follow that format. The two models share most of their key specs, including a decent Snapdragon 7S Gen 3 processor, a vibrant 6.7-inch display and a 5,000-mAh battery.And while both have 50-megapixel main cameras, the 3A Pro has a more advanced autofocus system and a periscope camera for better-looking zoom shots. I put it to the test around Barcelona and got some pretty cool images. Watch this: Unboxing the Nothing Phone 3a Pro Shot With a 3a Pro's Camera 00:37 Crucially, both phones are also affordable, with the 3A starting at $379, and the 3A Pro starting at $459. Not bad for phones that include Google's Gemini AI tools and offer six years of software and security support.Read more: Samsung Display Wowed Us With Its Concept Devices at MWC 2025Samsung Galaxy A26, A36, A56 phones The Samsung Galaxy A26, A36 and A56. Andrew Lanxon/CNETWe can't talk about affordable phones without mentioning Samsung's new Galaxy A series. The company took the wraps off the latest additions to the range, including the $300 Galaxy A26, the $400 A36 and the $500 A56. (Why isn't there an A46, I wonder.)All three have the same 6.7-inch display and 5,000-mAh battery, but spending more on one of the higher-end models will get you a more-powerful processor, more RAM and a slightly more potent camera setup. AI features baked into Samsung's One UI -- as well as Google Gemini and Circle to Search -- are available on all three.Xiaomi's modular camera concept The Xiaomi modular camera concept. Andrew Lanxon/CNETXiaomi's 15 Ultra, with its awesome rear cameras, might really be the best phone of the show, but it's not that far removed from last year's 14 Ultra, and I had my eye on something else from the company.Its "modular optical system" as Xiaomi calls it, is essentially a camera lens and large sensor that attaches to the phone, giving you a pro-quality imaging setup that still uses your phone as the brain, to take advantage of instant editing and social sharing. It's not dissimilar to Sony's QX10 from 2013, which was arguably ahead of its time, but I really liked it as an idea. MWC 2025: Xiaomi's Photography-Focused 15 Ultra Is a Powerhouse See all photos Sadly, Xiaomi's lens is very much being shown off as a concept. I really hope this one makes it as far as the shop shelves. As a professional photographer, I love the idea of having something that lets me get higher-quality images than my phone, without the added bulk of carrying a full-size camera and lens setup.HMD Fusion X1 phone for teens The HMD Fusion X1 is a stepping stone between an offline childhood and an online adulthood. Katie Collins/CNETThough we normally talk about which smartphones have the most power or the best camera or the longest battery life, HMD's Fusion X1 serves a very different purpose than most phones. It's aimed squarely at young teens and allows parents to limit access -- or screen time -- from their own phone, to help their kids develop a healthier relationship with technology and social media."Whereas most phones with parental controls either rely on an app that can be deleted or bypassed, the Fusion X1 combines app-based controls baked deep into its version of Android OS." CNET's Katie Collins explains in her hands-on with the device. "This creates a locked-down safe space where kids can still have limited access to Snapchat, WhatsApp and TikTok -- if their parents agree."The HMD Fusion X1 will be available in May for 229 (about $290 converted).Read more: RedMagic 10 Pro's $1,499 Golden Saga Phone Comes to MWC 2025Aurzen Zip folding projector The Aurzen Zip projector. Tara Brown/CNETProjectors tend to be bulky items you'd usually mount to your ceiling and leave in place. The Aurzen Zip is a different beast altogether. Using a folding mechanism that makes it look a bit like a Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6, the Zip can stand on a surface and project your movies up to 80 inches in size, and then fold down into something small enough to fit in your pocket.It works over Apple AirPlay, allowing you to stream Netflix videos from your iPhone, though an HDMI adapter will also be available, if you want to plug in your laptop to stream other content. Its battery provides up to 1.5 hours of use, so watching Dune 2 will require you to plug it in, but it features fast charging to get the juice back quickly. MWC 2025: The Coolest Phones We've Seen at the Show See all photos Though its 720-pixel resolution won't suit cinephiles, its small size makes it great for taking 'round to your friend's place for a movie night, traveling, or simply using in a space-challenged apartment.Following its successful Kickstarter launch, the Zip will go on general sale later this month, starting at $300.Read more: RealMe's Pro 14 Color-Changing Phone Takes a Bath at MWC 2025Tecno Spark Slim The Tecno Spark Slim is thinner than a pencil. It felt super light in my hand. Abrar Al-Heeti/CNETThough rumors suggest Samsung's teased Galaxy S25 Edge may be just under 6 millimeters thick, Tecno's Spark Slim concept takes that even further. At just 5.75mm, it purports to be the world's slimmest phone, and in person it really does look almost bizarrely skinny.Often, slim phones compromise on battery life, simply because there's less space to fit all those cells. But somehow Tecno has managed to squeeze in a whopping 5,200-mAh battery, along with 50-megapixel main and ultrawide cameras.It's very much still a concept, so some of these specs should be taken with a pinch of salt. Still, I'd love to see a phone like this that focuses on being easier to hold and sliding into the pocket of a pair of skinny jeans. The company says the device would be made of sturdy materials, but I am concerned about how easily it might bend, especially if I were to sit down with it in my back pocket. That would be a nasty way for any phone to go.Honorable mention: Lenovo solar powered laptop It's a laptop with solar cells built into its lid. Tharon Green/CNETLenovo has a host of concept devices at the show this year, including some neat-looking screens you can attach to your laptop's main one to extend your workspace. But our favorite is the solar-powered laptop, which features an array of solar cells on its lid.Lenovo says these cells are especially efficient and that after just 20 minutes of direct sunlight they can provide enough juice for an hour of video playback. Still, as CNET's Josh Goldman points out, it's less about powering the laptop entirely with solar, and more about extending the battery life when you can.Read more: Honor Teases Agentic AI Phone That Will 'Revolutionize' Our DevicesIt's certainly a neat idea, though I can't imagine it being especially practical for everyday use. For one, who wants to work on their laptop in bright sunlight? And crucially, when you're working on your laptop, the back of the screen will likely be angled down, away from the sunlight, so it can only really recharge when it's closed and not in use. Still, we're always super keen to hear about ways that tech firms are making use of renewable energy, even if it's sticking solar panels on a poncho.

Update: Here's the official reveal.Remember last year when The Pokmon Company teamed up with Japanese vehicle manufacturer Toyota to create a real-life Miraidon motorbike?Read the full article on nintendolife.com

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is investigating the data-labeling startup Scale AI for compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act, TechCrunch has learned.Thats a federal law that regulates unpaid wages, misclassification of employees as contractors, and illegal retaliation against workers.The investigation has been active since at least August 2024, a document seen by TechCrunch shows. And its ongoing, according to a person directly familiar with the matter.The mere existence of an investigation doesnt mean Scale AI has done anything wrong, of course, and the investigation could find in favor of the company or be dismissed.Scale AI is based in San Francisco and was valued last year at $13.8 billion. It relies on an army of workers it categorizes as contractors to do essential AI work, like labeling images for Big Tech and other organizations.Scale AI spokesperson Joe Osborne told TechCrunch that the investigation was initiated during the previous presidential administration and that Scale AI felt that its work building, testing, and evaluating AI was misunderstood by regulators then.Osborne said that Scale AI has worked extensively with the DOL to explain its business model and that conversations have been productive. More generally, Osborne said that Scale AI brings more flexible work opportunities in AI to Americans than any other company and that feedback from its contributors is overwhelmingly positive.Hundreds of thousands of people use our platform to showcase their skills and earn extra money, Osborne said.Scale AI is indeed a popular gig work platform. But it has recently faced legal challenges from some ex-workers over its labor practices. Two lawsuits were filed against the startup one in December 2024 and the other in January 2025 from former workers alleging they were underpaid and misclassified as contractors instead of employees, denying them access to protections like overtime pay and sick days.Scale AI has strongly disputed the lawsuits, saying that it fully complies with the law and works to ensure its pay rates meet or surpass local living wage standards.Scale AIs international labor practices were also the subject of an investigation by the Washington Post in 2023. Workers overseas described to the Post demanding work at low pay as contractors. The company said at the time that pay rates were continually improving.The U.S. Department of Labors website says it is able to resolve most cases administratively but that employers who violate the law may be subject to fines and potentially imprisonment. The DOL also has the power to force employers to reclassify their workers as employees.For example, in February 2024, hotel staffing startup Qwick settled a DOL case by paying $2.1 million and announcing that all California workers performing work using the Qwick app would be classified as employees, Bloomberg Law reported.Scale AI also appears to be among the Silicon Valley firms seeking and seeing favor with the new presidential administration. Its CEO and founder Alexandr Wang, for instance, attended Donald Trumps inauguration in January like many other tech CEOs.More telling, Scale AIs former managing director, Michael Kratsios, is President Trumps nominee as new director of the White Houses Office of Science and Technology Policy. Kratsios previously served as the U.S.s chief technology officer during the first Trump administration.In this position, Kratsios will advise Trump on science and technology matters. This position has no oversight over the Department of Labor. Kratsios was part of a Senate hearing on February 25 but has not been confirmed yet. Kratsios didnt respond to a request for comment.U.S. Department of Labor spokesperson Michael Petersen told TechCrunch that it cannot confirm or deny the existence of any investigation, per long-standing policy.Topics