Rodeo FX has shared with AWN and VFXWorld a VFX breakdown reel highlighting some of their great work on Paramounts recent comedy adventure, Sonic the Hedgehog 3. In the film, Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails reunite against a powerful new adversary, Shadow, an all-new villain with powers unlike anything they have faced before. And yes, Keanu Reeves joins the franchise as Shadow.Jeff Fowler directs; Jim Carrey, Ben Schwartz, James Marsden, Tika Sumpter, Idris Elba, Colleen OShaughnessey, Natasha Rothwell, Shemar Moore, Adam Pally, Lee Majdoub, James Wolk and newcomers Alyla Browne and Krysten Ritter star.Rodeo FX took on the challenge of bringing Sonic 3 to life, animating Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and their formidable new adversary, Shadow. With plenty of high-speed action and destruction, the film made ample use of the studios visual effects expertise, which included the creation of a sparking Test Track chamber and a massive, all-consuming black hole.All told, the studio delivered 265 shots across 10 sequences, generating 54 digital assets with a crew of 470.Enjoy Rodeo FXs work:You can also check out the trailer:Critical in a live-action / animated hybrid film like Sonic 3 is the realistic depiction of digital characters within live-action scenes. Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles needed to maintain their signature cartoony expressiveness while seamlessly integrating into the live-action world. The team carefully refined animation rules, from the proportions of their heads and eyes to the nuances of their brightly colored fur, which posed unique challenges in lighting and compositing especially in darker sequences. Sonics movement focused on energetic expressions, while Shadows presence required controlled, stoic animation, highlighting the diverse skill set of the team.One of the films most complex sequences involved the destruction of the Test Track Chamber. As Eggman (Jim Carrey) and Shadow (Keanu Reeves) triggered a black hole, everything from tiny pebbles to an entire mountain was pulled into its gravitational force. Using Houdini Solaris and Rodeo FXs USD pipeline, the team simulated destruction with extreme detail, accounting for various material properties like concrete, metal, and vegetation. The black holes final effect saw an entire mountainside collapse, with secondary simulations of dust, debris, and vegetation adding scale and realism. This project stands as one of Rodeo FXs most ambitious animation achievements, with the four main characters appearing throughout the film, displaying a full spectrum of emotions fear, joy, anger, and determination.Rodeo FX notes that whether its Tails heartfelt warmth or Shadows chilling intensity, each character adds depth to the story, and the team is immensely proud of the final result.Source: Rodeo FX Dan Sarto is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network.

Justin Lin (Fast & Furious) is set to directBRZRKR, the upcoming Netflix feature adaptation of the popular Keanu Reeves comic. Mattson Tomlin (The Batman 2) penned the script.Reeves stars in the brutally epic saga, which follows an immortal warriors 80,000-year fight through the ages. The man known only as B" is half-mortal and half-god, cursed and compelled to violence even at the sacrifice of his sanity.A Netflix anime series, also currently in development, will further expand the BRZRKR universe by exploring different elements of the story. In the series, Reeves will reprise his lead role of B from the film and voice the character.Reeves produces alongside Stephen Christy for Boom! Studios, Stephen Hamel of Company Films, and Ross Richie. Lin also produces via his Perfect Storm banner. Adam Yoelin executive produces for Boom! Journalist, antique shop owner, aspiring gemologistL'Wrenbrings a diverse perspective to animation, where every frame reflects her varied passions.

If you check social media right now, youll find a lot of discussion surrounding Apple Intelligence. At the same time, Apple has launched a new lineup of iPads, MacBook Air models, and the latest Mac Studios. While many YouTubers and influencers have expressed disappointment with Apples approach to AI, particularly the implementation of their Apple Intelligence strategy, the company has simultaneously released one of the most powerful machines ever: the M3 Ultra Mac Studio, which is brilliant for AI.Weve been using the new M3 Ultra since its release, and for artists and TDs working doing AI in M&E , this machine is exceptionally attractive. Our M3 Ultra is far from inexpensive, but with 512GB of RAM and 12TB of storage, it is, without question, a beast when it comes to localized AI, machine learning, LLM applications, and image processing. Weve specifically been putting it through its paces with Topaz Video AI 6, which runs natively on the M3 Ultra Mac Studio.360 to 4K in Topaz Vdeio AI 6. (click to enlarge)The question that naturally follows is: why do you need this much power on a desktop? Topaz AI 6 provides a perfect answer. Unlike many AI applications, this software is not cloud-basedthough Topaz does have an early cloud prototype called the Starlight Project. For some people in production, cloud computing is a viable option, but there are compelling reasons to keep processing local. Three primary factors make local AI processing beneficial: security, speed of upload, and speed of processing. While cloud computing is an alternative for those without high-performance machines, our intense work over the past week left no doubt that in a professional environment, the M3 Ultra is an outstanding option.Security. Security concerns around AI in VFX are significant, as many clients fear that AI or machine learning tools could absorb proprietary data into cloud-based models, thereby compromising intellectual property. While this concern is often unfoundedmost AI models, including ChatGPT, do not learn from user inputs once they are built, but the client perception remains. As some great colleagues of mine recently posted, AI systems like ChatGPT are pre-trained, meaning they dont continuously learn from user interactions; instead, they operate within the confines of their initial training data. Nonetheless, some clients are adamant about avoiding AI tools altogether. With local processing, security is far easier to guarantee, giving professionals a level of control that cloud solutions struggle to match.Speed of upload. While many users have access to fast internet, uploading large filesparticularly in a remote workflowcomes at a cost. This challenge is especially pronounced for VFX professionals working with massive DPX or EXR files. In our situation, where we are focused on upscaling footage, the issue was not a case of uploading a few live action plates elements and processing them over hours, but rather dealing with vast amounts of material being repurposed. This significantly exasperates the upload problem, reinforcing the advantages of local processing.Speed of processing. This is where the M3 Ultra truly excels. With its killer M3 Ultra chip, fast RAM and high-speed storage, it processes massive datasets at an incredible rate. Rather than relying solely on benchmarks, we focus on real-world scenarios. We worked on a range of production assets for this story, some decades old and stored only in 360p resolution, others more recent, at 2K res. Our primary test involved upscaling to 4K, as it provided a meaningful balance between quality and computational demands (Topaz can scale to 8K). One specific scenario involved integrating old green screen footage with newly shot 4K material. Additionally, we experimented with extreme upscaling, pushing very low-resolution footage (360P) to 4K, to evaluate failure points and we also compared the fully released Topaz AI 6 with Topazs prototype cloud-based Project Starlight AI.Rather than discuss specifciation and the data rates of the M3 Ultra Mac Studio we explored what we can do with it, after all it was Apple who sold the original ipod as 1000 songs in your pocket, and not iPod with 5GB Hard drive.Stand alone upresing:Before diving into the green screen examples below, we first examined some traditional upscaling work performed using Topaz AI 6. In each case, the upscaling was applied to a completed shot, with clear before-and-after comparisons to showcase the improvements. Regardless of the hardware running Topaz AI 6, the results are impressive, demonstrating just how far machine learning has advanced as a powerful post-production tool.The combination of Topaz AI 6 and the M3 Ultra particularly excels when handling multiple shots. While cloud-based solutions may be viable for a single, isolated shot, the speed and efficiency of a high-performance local Mac solution are as impressive as the visual enhancements themselves.Topaz AI 6 is far from a one-click tool; it provides the flexibility to experiment with various AI models and fine-tune parameters such as motion blur, color space, and focus. The M3 Ultra tackles these complex AI-driven tasks with exceptional speed, enabling users to iterate and refine their settings efficiently. The ability to quickly generate and manipulate 5-second previews is crucial for making real-world adjustments, and in our experience, the M3 Ultra is the fastest system we have used to handle this insanely computationally intensive process.Still from a clip 1280 720 (Left) to 3840x 2160 : 4K (Right) click for larger version. High frequency details in the background and depth of field defocus are both handled extremely well.Clearly there are important issues such as providence, copyright and artist rights in any machine learning pipeline. However, upres-ing such as this is not about replacing jobs, nor dramatically removing the creative craft of the VFX. It is however all about providing incredible results that just a few years ago would have been impossible. Some of these processed shots are simply unbelievably good.The software also does SDR to HDR inverse tone mapping . It converts Rec 709, BT. 1886 (Standard Display Gamma Response) to BT. 2020, Wide Color Gamut for 4K and 8K, the color standard designed for ultra-high-definition (UHD) video.There are in some artefacts, especially on very large resolution changes, but in addition to upres-ing the same Topaz software can be used for slow-mo, noise reduction, grain removal and we bought our copy for only $299, but you can sometimes get discounts such as during Black Friday/Cyber Monday.(L) 360P upres to 4K (R). Originally shot high frame rate on a Red Epic. Click to expandOriginal Shot Slow motion: (L) 960 540 to 3840x 2160: 4K (R). Click to expandNuke: GreenScreenFor all the greenscreen comparsions we used a standard Nuke Comp setup to pull the key and examine the matte channels. Naturally, a skilled Nuke compositor could improve on the key or build on what we have done here, but the matte images below are presented as indictative rather than best of class compositing. And on the whole, they are sensible key / matte outputs (more on the Nuke setup below).Left: compressed H264 low res footage: vs. Right 4K upres . Click to expand.Greenscreen: 360p to 4KA Nearly Impossible UpscaleWe selected two sources, one being an archival MP4 clip in 360p, originally shot years ago in Las Vegas for NAB. Longtime fxguide readers may remember our infamous fxguide hangover video, (proof that what happens in Vegas doesnt always stay in Vegas). The footage had every issue imaginable: heavy compression, low resolution, and only 8-bit depth. There is no way that any reasonable imagery should be possible from such a huge leap in resolution. However, in real-world productions, sometimes archival footage is all thats available.We ran the clip through both Topaz AI 6 and the Starlight cloud tool. The processing times varied drastically between the two pipelines. The new diffussion model Starlight solution, though remarkable with its new AI-based approach, required over 50 minutes (50m 45s) to upscale just 10 seconds of footage to 2K. Meanwhile, on the Mac Studio the local 4K upscale with Topaz AI 6, (despite using a different algorithm), ran vastly faster at around 10 frames per second, (under 30 seconds for the same clip, (at higher 4K not 2K resolution!)In viewing the mattes below, the results are remarkably sharp and, most importantly, temporally stable. The stability of the algorithms outputs across successive frames is vital to ensuring that edges do not exhibit unwanted fluctuations or boiling in a composite. While the inferred hair detail is impressive, certain elementssuch as the comb in the hairstylists hands, can sometimes be lost as the program attempts to resolve motion-blurred objects.Source: Original material comped in Nuke, matte below is provided as reference.Note the source was heavily compressed 960540 H264.Special thanks to fxguidetvs Angie and Chris who appear in this clip.https://www.fxguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Angie_960x540_comp.mp4https://www.fxguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Angie-960x540-matte.mp4Starlight (cloud based): Original Upres-ed to HD and comped in Nuke, matte below is provided as reference.https://www.fxguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Angie_1920x1080_comp.mp4https://www.fxguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Angie-1920x1080-matte.mp44K Topaz AI 6 : Original Upres-ed to 4K, again comped in Nukehttps://www.fxguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Angie_3840x2160_comp.mp4https://www.fxguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Angie-3840x2160-matte.mp4Project Starlight leverages an AI diffusion model for video to recreate expected, missing details during upscaling, resulting in high-resolution videos that are rich with detail. The feature also operates without artifacts such as incorrect object motions, a temporal error that can occur when AI doesnt create realistic output.Interestingly, in our work, the visual results favored Starlight in most cases. Since this process relies on AI-driven image generation, some hallucinations occurred, including an instance where Topaz AI 6 mistakenly rendered part of a persons hand as an additional face. On the other hand, Topaz AI 6 was stronger in handling scene transitionsour green screen footage, extracted from an edit, showed some flickering artifacts in the Starlight version, particularly at the beginning and end of the clip.1:1 scale of the low res / compressed source to the up-res 4K. Which is an incredible jump. Note the trouble resolving the logo and the face hallucination in the hand. Click for large version.Greenscreen: Production 2K to 4KFor a more controlled and sensible production example, we used professionally shot green screen footage originally captured in RAW .R3D on an EPIC camera. However, we only had access to the exported transcoded 2K files rather than the original RAW .r3d data. This scenario mirrors real-world challenges where VFX artists must integrate older footage with modern 4K backgrounds. Given the limitations, upscaling the foreground is the only viable solution. Topaz Video AI 6 supports a range of file formats, including .png, .tif, .jpg, .dpx, and .exr. However, it processes EXR files by converting them to temporary 16-bit .tiff images, meaning that 32-bit EXRs do not retain full color information. For our test, we loaded the green screen shot as a sequence of DPX files and upscaled it to 4K.As seen below, the program excels at processing faces and people in general. Hair appears sharper and more consistent, and the results avoid traditional upscaling artifacts such as ringing and excessive edge sharpening, which are common in basic kernel-based sharpening algorithms.One of the challenges of upscaling is preserving skin texture, which can often become flattened or blurred. However, in this case, pore details are enhanced in a natural and believable way, making the results highly usable. While Nuke offers internal scaling options for any footage, Topaz AI 6 appears to deliver a superior result.Source (2K):https://www.fxguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Original2KComp.mp4https://www.fxguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Original2KMatte.mp44K comp:https://www.fxguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/UpRes4KComp.mp4https://www.fxguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/UpRes4KMatte.mp4Nuke (using Cattery AI)The key for this main Greenscreen shot used MODNET which is a Cattery node for roughly segmenting the character out of the green screen, then by shrinking and expanding the matte to get an inner core matter overlayed onto of the outer soft edge (hair) matte, to feed into ViMatte, which another Cattery node for creating the overall matte. Then the matte is normalised to the value between 0 and 1. The matte is then copied to the dispelled plate.The background is simple CG element over a BG plate. The CG element has depth map generated from another Cattery node called DepthAnything, the depth map was used for defocusing the CG element. Grain also added to the CG element.Then FG was graded and multiplied, comped over the BG. BG was also graded through the FG matte to bring some more hair detail back. Both 2K comp and 4K comp were using the same setup, but with some small tweaks.Our Nuke Comp setupM3 UltraThe M3 Ultra is built for extreme performance, handling the most demanding workflows that leverage high CPU and GPU core counts alongside unified memory. If you are just surfing the Web this is not for you. The M3 Ultra is built by Apple for video editors, 3D & VFX artists, and AI researchers. We have a Mac Studio with a M3 Ultra, 32-core CPU, an 80-core GPU, 512GB of unified memory with up to 819GB/s bandwidth, and 12TB of ultra-fast internal storageenough for over 12 hours of 8K ProRes footage. On paper, the M3 Ultra delivers 50% more performance than any previous Ultra chip, with 8 efficiency cores pushing CPU speeds 80% faster than the M1 Ultra, which weve used extensively on our prior four AI-driven film projects. Ultimately, the M3 Ultra Mac Studio is an undeniable powerhouse for professionals working with AI, VFX, and machine learning applications. While cloud-based AI services like Project Starlight have their place, the performance, security, and reliability of local processing make a compelling argument for investing in high-end hardware. While unconfirmed, it is hoped that Starlight will one day also be available as a download implementation able to run locally on high-end hardware. It is currently free to test on the cloud.

The George R. Brown Convention Center (GRB)a 1.1 million-square-foot behemoth designed by Golemon Architectsopened in 1987 on the eastern edge of downtown Houston.Later, a series of large buildings went up around it, including ones by Arquitectonica (Hilton AmericasHouston Hotel), Gensler (1600 Lamar Avenue and 1510 Polk Avenue), and HOK (Toyota Center). Discovery Green, a park by Hargreave Jones, completed in 2011, the same year Gensler issued a masterplan for the convention district. Now, a slew of firms are getting in on the action. Hines will serve as development manager, Populous as architect of record, Jacobs Advance Planning Group as landscape architect, and Gilbane | Flintco as construction manager on an initiative to upgrade the area surrounding GRB. The plan involves renovation work on the 1987 structure, and adding a 700,000-square-foot expansion to it dubbed GRB Houston South. Gensler is revisiting its original masterplan to improve Houstons Convention District, the 60-block area that surrounds the George R. Brown Convention Center.The $2 billion transformation project is being helmed by the Houston Mayors Office and Houston First Corporation, the citys economic development group. It comes ahead of two major events in Houstonthe 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Republican National Convention.Gensler is simultaneously developing its original master plan to improve Houstons Convention District. (Courtesy Houston First)Renderings show the expansion topped with a slatted wood roof, and the central foyer washed in sunlight. A press release from Houston First said the architecture is inspired by Houstons bayous and native prairie landscape, featuring natural tones, warm wood accents and vegetation throughout.The building incorporates low-carbon materials, high-efficiency building systems with rainwater collection and water-reduction strategies, and native landscaping in a new expansive living roof, with potential solar integration, Houston First added. These efforts will reduce the buildings environmental footprint, enhance the citys resilience and create an inclusive gathering space for generations of Houstonians.Wooden roof membranes make up the ceiling system. (Courtesy Houston First)Houston Mayor John Whitmire and Houston First Corporation shared details of the project on March 6. The vision recasts the Convention District as a hybrid residential, hotel, office, retailing, dining and entertainment development fueled by a future east-west Metro light rail line. This expansion will provide access to the Toyota Center thanks to a new 100,000-square-foot pedestrian plaza. The project is broken up into phases.New public spaces will accompany the addition. (Courtesy Houston First)Phase one of the master plan expands the George R. Brown Convention Center. The addition will have two exhibit halls, a multipurpose hall connected to a new central plaza, an atrium flex hall, and retail and dining options, and last but not least, the largest ballroom in all of Texas.Michael Heckman, Houston First CEO and president, said the ambitious project is essential for Houston to stay competitive and meet the needs of our meetings and convention customers.The addition will have massive halls for mixed-use programming. (Courtesy Houston First)Mayor Whitmire said the plan will build community, foster connection, and shape the future of Houston.Phase one, or GRB Houston South, is slated to open in May 2028, and the full project tis slated for completion by 2038.

Flowers in a Glass Vase (1704), oil on canvas, 33 26 3/8 inches. Image courtesy of Detroit Institute of Arts. All images shared with permissionLauded Dutch Golden Age Painter Rachel Ruysch Gets Her First Major Survey in the U.S.March 11, 2025ArtKate MothesMany of us are familiar with titans of the Dutch Golden Age like Frans Hals, Johannes Vermeer, Rembrandt, Jan Steen, and more. Yet fewer of us have probably heard of Rachel Ruysch (1664-1750), renowned during her lifetime for her original style but under-acknowledged through the centuries in the canon of Western art history.Co-organized by the Toledo Museum of Art, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and the Alte Pinakothek, Munich, the first major U.S. exhibition of the artists work, Rachel Ruysch: Nature into Art, introduces audiences to the breadth of her remarkable paintings.Posy of Flowers, with a Beetle, on a Stone Ledge (1741), oil on canvas, 7 7/8 9 5/8 inches. Image courtesy of Kunstmuseum BaselDuring her seven-decade career, Ruysch was the first woman admitted to the Confrerie Pictura, The Hague painters society, and she was appointed court painter in Dsseldorf to Johann Wilhelm, Elector Palatine. She rose to become one of the highest-paid artists of her day. In a foreword for the exhibition catalog, the directors explain that Ruysch achieved fame across Europe in her lifetime, but her oeuvre was little studied by art historians in subsequent centuries. She has never been the subject of a major exhibitionuntil now.Art historians consider Ruysch to be among the most talented still life artists of the era, and by the time she died at 86, she had produced hundreds of paintings. Nature into Art includes more than 90 international loans, including 48 of her most significant works.The artist was born in The Hague, The Netherlands, to parents with backgrounds in science and design. Her father was a professor of botany and anatomy, and her mother was the daughter of an architect. The artist began painting when she was around 15, copying flower and insect specimens from her fathers collection.As her artistic faculty grew, Ruysch taught her father and her sister Anna how to paint. She merged modern scientific observation with an incredible aptitude for capturing light, composition, and form, and she typically dated her paintings when she signed them, giving art historians a clear record of stylistic shifts and subject matter over time.Flowers and Fruit in a Forest (1714), oil on canvas, 38 48 1/2 inches. Image courtesy of Stdtische Kunstsammlungen & Museen AugsburgRuyschs success during her lifetime is attributed to both her unmistakable talent and the 17th-century Dutch fondness for flowers and gardening. Still life paintings of floral arrangements and tables heaping with food highlighted the beauty of nature and the gifts of plenty. The vanitas genre also sprung from the style, interpreting memento mori, Latin for remember you must die, into subtle, well-versed visual cues.Motifs like skulls, insects, rotting fruit, or wilting flowers were symbolic reminders of the futility of pleasure, power, or wealth after death.For example, in Ruyschs Posy of Flowers, with a Beetle, on a Stone Ledge, beetles and flies crawl over a spray of peonies and wildflowers that will soon wilt, and water droplets signify purity and the fleetingness of life.Nature into Art runs from April 12 to July 17 in Toledo, traveling on to Boston afterward, where it opens on August 23.Flowers (1715), oil on canvas, 29 2/3 23 3/4 inches. Photo by Photo: Nicole Wilhelms, courtesy of Bayerische StaatsgemldesammlungenAlte Pinakothek MunichIllustration from Observations of a Surinam Toad, graphite on paper, 8 x 11 in. Image The Royal Society, LondonAnna Ruysch (Dutch, active from 1685, died after 1741), A Still Life of Flowers on a Marble Table Ledge (1685), oil on canvas, 13 11 3/4 inches. Photo by Erin Croxton, courtesy of a private collection and Birmingham Museum of ArtFlower Still Life (about 1716-20), oil on canvas, 29 3/4 23 7/8 inches. Image courtesy of Toledo Museum of ArtRachel Ruysch and Michiel van Musscher (Dutch, 16451705), Rachel Ruysch (16641750) (1692), oil on canvas, 30 25 inches. Image courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of ArtNext article

Microsoft has dropped a grand total of 57 fixes to mark the third Patch Tuesday update of 2025 rising to closer to 70 when third-party vulns are taken into account including six zero-days and six critical flaws needing urgent attention.The zero-days comprise a security feature bypass in Microsoft Management Console, two remote code execution (RCE) issues in Windows Fast FAT File System Driver and Windows NTFS, two information disclosure vulnerabilities in Windows NTFS, and a privilege escalation flaw in Windows Win32 Kernel Subsystem.All are listed as exploited by Microsoft, but have not yet been made public, and all are considered to be important in their severity, carrying CVSS scores that range from 4.6 to 7.8.A seventh vulnerability, an RCE issue in Windows Access, has been listed as public but does not appear to be actively exploited at the time of writing.The six critical vulnerabilities, carrying CVSS scores of 7.8 through 8.8, are all RCE flaws. Two of them affect Windows Remote Desktop Services, and the four others relate to Microsoft Office, Windows Domain Name Service, Remote Desktop Client, and Windows Subsystem for Linux Kernel.All six of the vulnerabilities that Microsoft has labelled as exploit detected are resolved with the monthly cumulative update, said Tyler Reguly, Fortra associate director of security research and development.This means a single update to roll out to fix all of these at once. Thankfully, none of them require post-patch configuration steps. The same is true for five of the six critical severity vulnerabilities. A lot of our important fixes come from the same patch.The remaining critical vulnerability, CVE-2025-24057, and the publicly disclosed vulnerability, CVE-2025-26630, both require Office updates. For those running click-to-run, theres not a lot to do, but for those running Office 2016, there are two patches to install, one for Office and one for Access, he added.Reguly said that fortunately, this limited the amount of patching needed to resolve the attention-grabbing flaws. However, he said, they arebig ticket items and with headlines likely to state, Microsoft Patches Six 0-Day Vulnerabilities, admins will likely have a lot of questions to answer about the state of their patching.Assessing these big ticket items in a little more depth, Immersive senior director of threat research, Kev Breen said the NTFS and FAT RCE flaws probably warrant the greatest attention. These flaws form part of a chain with the two NTFS information disclosure vulnerabilities.These four CVEs are all related to a remote code execution vulnerability that is associated with mounting Virtual Hard Disk (VHD) files. These are tracked separately as CVE-2025-24984, CVE-2025-24985, CVE-2025-24991, and CVE-2025-24993, so when it comes to patch management ensure all four are covered.Breen explained that the exploit chain relies on the attacker convincing a user to open or mount a virtual hard disk (VHD) file. These are typically used to store operating systems for virtual machines and while more usually associated with VMs, there have been cases down through the years where such files have been used to smuggle malware payloads onto target systems.Depending on the configuration of Windows systems, simply double-clicking on a VHD file could be enough to mount the container and, therefore, execute any payloads contained within the malicious file, said Breen. Organisations should check their security tools for any VHD files being sent via email or downloaded from the internet and look to add security rules or blocks for these file types where they are not required.Meanwhile, Alex Vovk, CEO and co-founder of Action1, considered some of the implications of the Windows Win32 Kernel EoP flaw, tracked as CVE-2025-24984.CVE-2025-24983 provides a direct path from low privileges to SYSTEM access, making it an attractive target for attackers with initial access via phishing, malware, compromised credentials, or insider threats, said Vovk.Although classified as high complexity, well-resourced attackers including state-sponsored groups and cyber criminal organisations have historically overcome such constraints through automation and repeated attempts. Race-condition vulnerabilities in kernel subsystems have proven to be reliably exploitable, given sufficient attacker persistence and environment predictability. Organisations heavily dependent on Windows infrastructure including enterprises, governments, and critical infrastructure sectors are at risk. Kernel-level privilege escalation vulnerabilities remain highly valuable to attackers, as they serve as a key pivot point in advanced cyber attacks, enabling deeper network infiltration and persistent access, said Vovk.Read more about Patch TuesdayFebruary 2025: Microsoft is correcting 57 vulnerabilities in its February Patch Tuesday, two of which are being actively exploited in the wild, and three of which are critical.January 2025: Thelargest Patch Tuesday of the 2020s so farbrings fixes for more than 150 CVEs ranging widely in their scope and severity including eight zero-day flaws.December 2024: Microsoft has fixed over 70 CVEs in itsfinal Patch Tuesday update of the year, and defenders should prioritise a zero-day in the Common Log File System Driver, and another impactful flawin the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol.November 2024: High-profile vulns in NTLM, Windows Task Scheduler, Active Directory Certificate Services and Microsoft Exchange Servershould be prioritised from Novembers Patch Tuesday update.October 2024: Stand-out vulnerabilities in Microsofts latest Patch Tuesday drop include problems in Microsoft Management Consoleand the Windows MSHTML Platform.September 2024: Four critical remote code execution bugs in Windows and three critical elevated privileges vulnerabilitieswill keep admins busy.August 2024: Microsoft patches six actively exploited zero-days among over 100 issuesduring its regular monthly update.July 2024: Microsoft has fixed almost 140 vulnerabilities in its latest monthly update, with a Hyper-V zero-daysingled out for urgent attention.June 2024: An RCE vulnerability in a Microsoft messaging feature and a third-party flaw in a DNS authentication protocol are the most pressing issues to address inMicrosofts latest Patch Tuesday update.May 2024: A critical SharePoint vulnerability warrants attention this month, but it is another flaw that seems to be linked to the infamous Qakbot malwarethat is drawing attention.April 2024: Support for the Windows Server 2008 OS ended in 2020, but four years on and there's a live exploit of a security flawthat impacts all Windows users.March 2024: Two critical vulnerabilities in Windows Hyper-V stand out onan otherwise unremarkable Patch Tuesday.

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StrandsNew York TimesLooking for Tuesdays Strands hints, spangram and answers? You can find them here:Puzzling situation for me today, no pun intended, where I have completed the entire puzzle understand the answers and how they relate to the spangram, but not the clue at all.How To Play StrandsThe New York Times Strands puzzle is a play on the classic word search. Its in beta for now, which means itll only stick around if enough people play it every day.Theres a new game of Strands to play every day. The game will present you with a six by eight grid of letters. The aim is to find a group of words that have something in common, and youll get a clue as to what that theme is. When you find a theme word, it will remain highlighted in blue.Youll also need to find a special word called a spangram. This tells you what the words have in common. The spangram links two opposite sides of the board. While the theme words will not be a proper name, the spangram can be a proper name. When you find the spangram, it will remain highlighted in yellow.Be warned: Youll need to be on your toes.Some themes are fill-in-the-blank phrases. They may also be steps in a process, items that all belong to the same category, synonyms or homophones, The New York Times notes. Just as she varies the difficulty of Wordle puzzles within a week, [Wordle and Strands editor Tracy]What Is Todays Strands Hint?The hint today from the NYT today is the thing I still dont get even after completing the puzzle. I did a different one after that I think is better.Bearing GiftsMine is:Young PotentialThat should get you started.What Are Todays Strands Answers?The spangram is below and the rest of the answers will branch off from that after that.PRODIGYAnd where you find it:StrandsNYTThe answers are:TALENTKNACKPROWESSSTRENGTHSKILLCHOPSFLAIRStrandsNYTBearing gifts? I dont get it. I get these describe someone gifted but its a really weird clue. The rest of these pretty clearly relate to the clue, albeit I cannot remember I heard anyone says Knack or Chops oud loud. Or Flair, outside of the Office Space movie. Very strange puzzle today, and if you get the bearing part of the clue, please explain it to me.Follow me , and .Pick up my sci-fi novels the and

Last week, all 27 EU heads of state met in Brussels to oversee the continents largest military expansion in decadesa response to Cold War-level tensions. Yet, as Europe re-arms, a bigger threat looms: climate collapse, which no arsenal can deter. With unchecked climate change poised to halve global GDP in decades, security now hinges on rethinking energy itselfstarting with the military.Ministers wait for the start of an the EU Defence Summit in Brussels on March 6, 2025 in Brussels, ... [+] Belgium. European Council President Antonio Costa hosts a special EU summit dedicated to "European defence and Ukraine". (Photo by Thierry Monasse/Getty Images)Getty ImagesInsurance experts warn that unchecked climate change could slash global GDP by 50% in the coming decades, destabilizing economies and societies alike. Security isnt just about defense budgets and troop deployments; its about maintaining the economic foundations that nations rely on.As Europe re-arms, the critical question is this: Will it invest in a military that locks itself into fossil fuel dependenceor will it seize the opportunity to lead in green defense innovation, securing both its national security and economic future?"We cannot choose between either green or strong armed forces; we need strong and green at the same time."NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stands in front of a mine clearance tank on the grounds of ... [+] the military technology company FFG (Flensburger Fahrzeugbau Gesellschaft) in Flensburg, northern Germany, on June 20, 2023. (Photo by Axel Heimken / AFP) (Photo by AXEL HEIMKEN/AFP via Getty Images)AFP via Getty ImagesGreening the Armies A research paper from the Council of the European Union's General Secretariat, ... [+] exploring the possibilities of a sustainable and fossil-free military. As global defense sectors expand, this report examines how military innovation can align with climate goals to enhance security while reducing environmental impact.(c) European UnionThe Case for a Fossil-Free MilitaryMilitary Emissions: A Hidden WeaknessModern warfare is fueled by oil, and thats a problem.Global militaries account for up to 5.5% of total CO emissions, surpassing the emissions of entire nations like Japan or Russia.The U.S. Department of Defense alone emits more than Sweden or Portugal, making it the worlds largest institutional consumer of petroleum .Fuel transport missions in Iraq and Afghanistan exposed the high cost and vulnerability of oil-dependent supply chains. In 2007 alone, an estimated 170 servicemembers were killed or wounded safeguarding fuel convoyscasualties that starkly illustrate how these missions, relentlessly targeted by insurgents, became a lethal liability for American troops.European military leaders recognize this risk:If the military are the only ones using fossil fuels, then we will need to do our own exploration, our own refineries, our own logistics of the whole fuel chain, and that cannot be reality.We thought we had a deal with Gazprom, but we actually had a deal with Mr. Putin.A fossil-free military would significantly reduce these vulnerabilities, decreasing dependence on adversary-controlled energy sources and unstable fuel supply chains. While jet fuel and diesel remain essential due to their unmatched energy density, a clear, phased transition toward biofuels, hydrogen, and electrificationstarting with logistics and base operationscould meaningfully lower risks from geopolitical threats, volatile energy markets, and rising operational costs. Critics argue that fossil fuels energy density remains unmatched for combat, but phased transitionsstarting with bases and logisticsprove the shift is feasible without sacrificing readiness.The Biggest National Security Risk Is Not a Foreign AdversaryYet military emissions are only part of the challenge. The deeper issue is energy dependency itselfone that exposes supply chains to geopolitical shocks and battlefield vulnerabilities.For decades, military power has relied on oil-fueled logistics chains, diesel-powered armored vehicles, and jet fuel-reliant air forces. But as climate change accelerates, this dependence has become a direct national security risk.That risk isnt just tacticalits economic. As mentioned before, insurance experts warn that unchecked climate change could slash global GDP by 50% in the coming decadesdriven by crop failures, mass migration, and resource warstriggering economic and social destabilization on a scale never seen before.Geopolitical energy shocks also remain a significant threat. Russias invasion of Ukraine exposed Europes dangerous reliance on Russian fossil fuels, a vulnerability that directly extends to military energy supply chains.Meanwhile, China is rapidly positioning itself as a global leader in military clean energy innovation. From hydrogen-powered drones and AI-driven autonomous combat vehicles to nuclear-powered warships, China is integrating next-generation technology into its defense strategy. Perhaps most ambitiously, it is exploring space-based solar poweraiming to beam limitless, renewable energy from orbit to sustain military operations without reliance on fossil fuels. If Europe delays its transition, it risks not only an economic setback but also a strategic disadvantage in the energy-driven warfare of the future.Defense Spending Has Historically Driven InnovationRheinmetall taking part in EU project for sustainable forward operating basesImage credit: Rheinmetall Press Release"A significant improvement in energy ratios can also be achieved for military operations. Optimizing energy efficiency during deployed operations places special demands on technology. We look forward to using our skills and experience to support our customers' sustainability goals."Military R&D has transformed global industries before, and it can do so again:The Internet & GPS- Originally developed for military use, now essential for global commerce.Medical Advancements- Battlefield medicine has revolutionized civilian trauma care.Nuclear Power- First used in military submarines before becoming a global fossil-free energy source.A European commitment to green military technology would ensure both strategic dominance and cleantech leadership.Proven Examples of Fossil-Free Military techGripen has for the first time undergone a series of test flights with 100% biofuel. This ... [+] demonstrates that the aircraft can be flown with an alternative fuel and gives valuable knowledge for future possible use of alternative fuel.Photo: Saab Linus Svensson, Creative CommonsA whole array of recent examples prove that clean defense tech is not a pipe dream. Swedens JAS 39 Gripen fighter has successfully flown on 100% biofuel, demonstrating that high-performance military aircraft can transition to renewable energy. In France, the military has implemented Eco Camp 2025, deploying solar-powered field bases to reduce reliance on fuel convoys. Meanwhile, the British Army has developed hybrid-electric armored vehicles that lower fuel consumption and improve stealth, with future models potentially incorporating hydrogen propulsion to further reduce emissions.The war in UkraineThe war in Ukraine is demonstrating the strategic advantage of low-emissions weaponry. Ukrainian forces have successfully integrated low-cost, commercially available drones into frontline operations, reducing reliance on fuel-intensive military vehicles and aircraft. These drones offer enhanced battlefield agility, cost-effectiveness, and tactical flexibilitydelivering precision strikes and reconnaissance at a fraction of the cost and carbon footprint of traditional weapons systems. This shift not only improves operational efficiency but also underscores the future of warfare: adaptable, decentralized, and less dependent on fossil fuels.China taking the leadThe race for clean military technology is already underway. China has rapidly positioned itself as a leader in green defense innovation, integrating next-generation energy solutions into its military strategy. If Europe delays, it risks not only an economic setback but also missing a crucial opportunity to lead the future of defense. In 2024, Chinas investment in clean energy reached nearly the scale of global fossil fuel investments, totaling approximately $940 billion. More than half of this investment went into its electric vehicle, battery, and solar industries, significantly outpacing other global markets. Importantly, Beijing controls critical minerals like lithium, copper, and rare earth metals, securing a key advantage in the next generation of military and civilian energyIf Europe fails to transition to a fossil-free military, it risks not only being outmaneuvered in conflict but also becoming strategically dependent on foreign energy technologies.Conclusion: Fossil-Free Military Power: Europes Economic LifelineThe fundamental role of military power is not to wage war, but to prevent it. A well-equipped, energy-independent military serves as a deterrent, reducing the likelihood of conflict. But while a strong military can deter adversaries, it cannot deter climate collapse.If Europe integrates clean energy innovation into its military modernization, it will secure long-term energy independence, freeing itself from volatile oil markets and ensuring operational resilience. By leading the world in military cleantech, Europe has the opportunity to gain both strategic and economic dominance, setting the global standard for sustainable defense. At the same time, investing in fossil-free military technology will reduce global security risks, addressing climate-driven instability before it escalates into full-scale conflict.However, if Europe remains locked into another century of fossil fuel dependence, it risks being outpaced by China, which is rapidly advancing in military clean energy innovation. Operational costs will rise as fossil fuel prices fluctuate and supply chains become more fragile, making European forces increasingly vulnerable to energy shocks. Even its own deterrence capabilities could weaken, as outdated energy infrastructures fail to keep pace with the evolving demands of modern warfare.The choice is clear: Europe can lead the future of defense by embracing a fossil-free militaryor risk falling behind in the new era of security and power.When Militaries Fail to Invest in Green InnovationEurope is at a crossroads: it can embrace military clean techor double down on outdated systems. Unfortunately, recent defense procurements suggest that some nations are still stuck in the past.Despite the clear strategic and economic benefits of a fossil-free military, many defense procurements continue to lock in outdated technology. A striking example is Swedens recent 1.4 billion procurement of 775 military trucks. Instead of investing in modern, lower-emission alternatives, all vehicles were ordered with diesel engines based on the Euro III emissions standarda regulation that is 25 years old and has been replaced multiple times. These trucks will remain in service for decades, further entrenching fossil fuel dependency in Swedens military infrastructure. The reasoning? A perceived need for maintenance simplicity and avoiding reliance on modern emissions-control technologies like AdBlue. Yet while Sweden locks itself into fossil fuel dependence, other militaries are proving that hybrid and electric alternatives are already combat-ready and operationally effective.This failure to modernize is not just an environmental issueits a missed opportunity for strategic leadership. While China and other global powers invest heavily in green military technology, Europe risks falling behind by making procurement decisions based on outdated assumptions rather than future security needs.The question is no longer if militaries must decarbonizebut whether Europe will lead or be forced to followWith 800 billion in military investments planned, the EU faces a decisive moment: lock in fossil fuel dependence or shape the next generation of global security. To prioritize security, Europe must mandate green procurement in its defense budget, accelerate military-to-civilian tech transfers, and foster public-private cleantech partnershipssteps that overcome oil industry resistance to ensure energy independence and leadership. No military can defend against climate collapse, but innovation and investment can. The window is narrowingEuropes future depends on acting now.