Silverhand Member Oct 26, 2023 3,035 AC Odysseys real ending was in the DLC. Is Valhalla the same way or can I just play the base game? I put in over 200 hours in Odyssey before I had to force myself to just do story missions. I'm trying to keep that in mind for Valhalla. Will I handicap mysel by not collecting all the treasure and mysteries etc? How about mini games? Already the rhyming one seems important. Is Mirage something I will need to play? Thanks!  StrangerDanger Member Jul 18, 2018 6,694 200 hours wtf.... i guess multiply that by 4 for Valhalla. The definite ending is part of a free DLC called "The Last Chapter" for the game.   UnluckyKate Member Oct 25, 2017 11,906 I'd recommend Ireland and Paris DLCs if you enjoy the main gameplay and characters but you can ask yourself this question in 50 hours. Have fun. Don't linger too much in Norway, don't burn yourself on completion, just push through at your own pace and do what you feel like doing. No random drop in this game, everything is unique so go explore.  nihilence nøthing but silence Moderator Oct 25, 2017 18,947 From 'quake area to big OH. Mirage didn't seem to add anything memorable.   Arsene no Kiseki Member Oct 25, 2017 5,619 Canada I bought all the DLC for Valhalla but by the time I finished the base game + free epilogue DLC I was too burnt out to even look at the paid DLC. You should probably just wait until you finish the base game first lol.   Son of Sparda "This guy are sick" says The Wise Ones Member Oct 25, 2017 17,285 do I need the DLC? Click to expand... Click to shrink... God no. I forced myself through the first DLC and it was super mediocre. Didn't even bother with the rest of the season pass stuff even though I owned them. For reference I platinum'd Odyssey and finished and really enjoyed all of its DLCs. Valhalla just gets very boring after the first 20 or so hours.  dancingphlower Member Oct 27, 2017 13,201 I found Mirage to be the better game tbh   coldzone24 Member Oct 27, 2017 920 Cleveland, OH If Odyssey took you 200 hours, good luck with Valhalla. I finished the first two DLCs, but couldn't bring myself to do the big Ragnarok expansion. There is just too much game.  Xalbur Member Mar 30, 2019 716 You don't NEED the DLCs but they are pretty fun and add some decent variety to the adventure, story wise they are pretty much just side content. The Ragnarok DLC was a bit of a miss for me personally but might be fun if you really like the mythical stuff. I think you can wait until you are further into the game to decide if you want more, the game is already very long (too long in fact). Mirage doesn't really add anything to Valhalla's story, I found it to be worse than Valhalla and I'm already not a huge fan of it, worst of the RPG games.  carlsojo Shinra Employee Member Oct 28, 2017 37,544 San Francisco Ireland was pretty fun and self-contained.   Hasney One Winged Slayer The Fallen Oct 25, 2017 23,201 I liked the Ireland and France DLC packs. The free ending DLC was the most unsatisfying shit I have ever played, both in terms of the "gameplay" addition and the story content. It honestly would have been better to just leave it open ended.  OP OP Silverhand Member Oct 26, 2023 3,035 StrangerDanger said: 200 hours wtf.... i guess multiply that by 4 for Valhalla. The definite ending is part of a free DLC called "The Last Chapter" for the game. Click to expand... Click to shrink... I never left an area until I cleared all the markers. Then more would pop up!  beanman Member Apr 11, 2025 42 Arsene no Kiseki said: I bought all the DLC for Valhalla but by the time I finished the base game + free epilogue DLC I was too burnt out to even look at the paid DLC. You should probably just wait until you finish the base game first lol. Click to expand... Click to shrink... This is exactly what happened to me. Paid for the season pass and never touched any of the content from it. The base game and free epilogue DLC wraps up the story nicely. Thank god I didn't pay for the additional DLC centered around the mythic stuff, I'd be even more annoyed with myself in that case.  Linus815 Member Oct 29, 2017 24,082 Ireland and Paris are worth it, great DLC's.   Eevea Member Sep 23, 2022 456 The Ireland and Paris DLCs are good. But I didn't care for the Ragnarok DLC all that much. You don't need the DLCs right away though. You can get them at the end of the main story if you want and see if you still want more game. I wanted to spend as much time as I could in the world though. Female Eivor is my fav mc they have done of the AC games I've played(which is just the modern ones admittedly).  OP OP Silverhand Member Oct 26, 2023 3,035 Ive gotten to the town and talked to the Jarl and reunited with my "brother". I have a weird feeling due to the guy/girl thing and stuff like having a Raven and Odin Sight, I am either Odin or possibly Loki.  OP OP Silverhand Member Oct 26, 2023 3,035 So I just arrived in England. So the game isn't even really set in Norway? That's kind of disappointing. Having fun with it though. I kind of miss Odyssey. Loved the setting, everything looked amazing! And Black Flag (isnt there a remake coming?). I sort of need to play the Enzio stuff as well. And Syndicate?  OP OP Silverhand Member Oct 26, 2023 3,035 In England. Game is boring as hell. Was Origin and Odyssey like this and I just don't remember? I remember like both of them. Loved Odyssey. Valhalla has no interesting characters. I don't even know what the plot is aside from "Upgrade the town and make friends with other leaders". When do I go Assassin Creeding? I mean yeah I can but so far I was just handed a stealth blade for next to no reason and told to go have fun. So far the actual Assassin stuff seems regulated to a side quest AFTER I build his house in the town. Again, am I misremembering the previous 2 games and actually becoming an Assassin? So far Im just a Viking who stealths good.  Walker_Boh Member Oct 25, 2017 2,370 Boise, Idaho Silverhand said: In England. Game is boring as hell. Was Origin and Odyssey like this and I just don't remember? I remember like both of them. Loved Odyssey. Valhalla has no interesting characters. I don't even know what the plot is aside from "Upgrade the town and make friends with other leaders". When do I go Assassin Creeding? I mean yeah I can but so far I was just handed a stealth blade for next to no reason and told to go have fun. So far the actual Assassin stuff seems regulated to a side quest AFTER I build his house in the town. Again, am I misremembering the previous 2 games and actually becoming an Assassin? So far Im just a Viking who stealths good. Click to expand... Click to shrink... Soonish. Valhalla's start is extremely slow and the plot felt half baked. It's the worst of the RPG AC games.   Eoin Member Oct 27, 2017 7,260 Silverhand said: Game is boring as hell. Was Origin and Odyssey like this and I just don't remember? Click to expand... Click to shrink... No, I would say not. Compared to Valhalla, Origins was a more focused game with a better idea of what it wanted to achieve with its setting, characters and game mechanics. Compared to Valhalla, Odyssey was a more varied and interesting rollercoaster with a ton of mechanical depth and flexibility.   Atom Member Jul 25, 2021 15,302 Welcome to AC Valhalla.   ResinPeasant93 Member Apr 24, 2024 2,450 I liked Valhalla fine but I spaced that thing over the period of months, and that seemed to be the right call. Don't try to cram it, thats my advice.   Linus815 Member Oct 29, 2017 24,082 Silverhand said: In England. Game is boring as hell. Was Origin and Odyssey like this and I just don't remember? I remember like both of them. Loved Odyssey. Valhalla has no interesting characters. I don't even know what the plot is aside from "Upgrade the town and make friends with other leaders". When do I go Assassin Creeding? I mean yeah I can but so far I was just handed a stealth blade for next to no reason and told to go have fun. So far the actual Assassin stuff seems regulated to a side quest AFTER I build his house in the town. Again, am I misremembering the previous 2 games and actually becoming an Assassin? So far Im just a Viking who stealths good. Click to expand... Click to shrink... you were never an assassin in Odyssey lol  Josh5890 I'm Your Favorite Poster's Favorite Poster The Fallen Oct 25, 2017 26,460 I managed to get through AC Valhalla, but I couldn't imagine going back for the DLC. The main campaign was longer than it had any right to be.   MrBS "This guy are sick" Member Oct 27, 2017 6,739 I forgot I played the Ireland and Paris DLC until it was mentioned now. Then you've got Ragnarok expansion after that. I think I'm at 300hrs for Valhalla. Mirage being a 50 hr game to 100% was a nice change of pace.  

Photo Credit: NASA / SDO and the AIA, EVE, and HMI science teams, helioviewer.org Solar filament erupts as dark ribbon from sun’s upper right Highlights A massive 600,000-mile-long solar filament erupts from the sun’s surface Fiery filament blast triggers a stunning coronal mass ejection into space “Angel-wing” eruption mesmerizes skywatchers with its vast visual scale Advertisement A stunning solar eruption captured on video on the night of May 12-13 has revealed a 600,000-mile-long filament blasting away from the sun's northern hemisphere. The outburst occurred around 8 p.m. EDT (0000 GMT) and spanned a distance more than twice that between Earth and the moon. A massive solar filament suspended above the sun's surface became unstable and erupted, blasting a CME into space along with a cloud of plasma and magnetic energy. Preliminary models show Earth is nowhere in the firing range of this fiery ejection, but researchers are still watching the phenomenon closely.Sun's 600,000-Mile-Long ‘Angel-Wing' Eruption Stuns Skywatchers, Signals Rising Solar ActivityAs per the Space.com report, the eruption originated from a filament structure composed of dense, cooler solar plasma held aloft by magnetic fields. These structures often appear as dark ribbons across the sun's disk and can become unstable without warning. Solar observers noted that this latest eruption dwarfed similar recent events, both in scale and intensity. Aurora chaser Jure Atanackov remarked that the CME from the blast was among the most spectacular seen this year, although fortunately, it is headed north and will miss Earth.The event, dubbed the “angel-wing” or “bird-wing” eruption by observers online, was widely shared among solar watchers. Vincent Ledvina, another aurora chaser, noted its incredible visual impact, describing it as a sight worth watching on loop. The eruption is, in fact, so long, by more than a million kilometres, that it is of scientific interest and visually striking as well. Geomagnetic storms resulting from this kind of CME can affect satellites, communication systems, and even Earth.Although it foreshadows the unpredictable nature of our host star, this particular CME does not pose a threat to Earth at the moment. Solar activity is ramping up as we approach the peak of Solar Cycle 25 in 2025. What's more, more — and maybe more Earth-threatening — solar explosions could follow.As a reminder of the formidable and delicate forces at play relatively close by on Earth, the sun remains a source of wonder for astronomers and skywatchers alike. For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube. Further reading: sun eruption, solar filament, coronal mass ejection, CME, solar flare, sun activity, space weather, astronomy Gadgets 360 Staff The resident bot. If you email me, a human will respond. More

"Minna no Tsukemono" means The Pickles created by Everyone, it is a community cultural project for the Japan Echigo Tsumari Art Triennale - Hong Kong House 2024. The design concept is inspired by the Chinese character for "pickle ?," which consists of three essential elements for pickle-making: water, containers, and pressure. The Chinese character itself encapsulates these elements, with the water drops representing not just moisture but also the most crucial element - the "heart (effort)" - in pickle-making. By visualizing the water droplet symbolizing the heart and moisture in containers, the design expresses the traditional wisdom of pickling. The various shapes of containers reflect the different rice-eating cultures in Japan and Hong Kong, extending into changes in the overall visual system, carrying the stories of the two regions. Audiences can also create their own containers on different media, bridging tradition with modern techniques.

SA House / 73.Onze ArquiteturaSave this picture!© Oka fotografiaHouses• Architects: 73.Onze Arquitetura Area Area of this architecture project Area:  1094 m² Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2023 Photographs Photographs:Oka fotografia Lead Architects: Julia Regis Bittencourt More SpecsLess Specs Save this picture! Text description provided by the architects. The land, located in a residential condominium in southern Bahia, in Trancoso, has a flat topography and access marked by a dense set of native trees, such as rubber trees and ingá trees. In the background, the lot opens up to a green common area of the condominium, ensuring a free and permanent view of the vegetation.Save this picture!These physical characteristics directly influenced the distribution of the architectural program, prioritizing solar orientation, cross ventilation, and the relationship with the landscape. The organization of the spaces aimed to provide integration between social environments while preserving the privacy of the intimate areas of the house.Save this picture!Some of the bedrooms were organized in a single-story block laterally placed on the land, in order to preserve the native trees and ensure greater visual and physical permeability between the built volumes and the garden, which features a flat roof slab. The common circulation in this volume is protected by vertical wooden brises, ensuring privacy, solar control, and a play of light and shadow throughout the day. Each bedroom has an individual balcony facing the east facade, enhancing thermal comfort and natural lighting.Save this picture!The remaining bedrooms are located on the upper floor of the main block of the house, also protected by brises in the common circulation and with access to a continuous balcony facing the pool and the green area at the back of the lot. The visual unity between the two blocks is reinforced by the repetition of wooden elements and the coherence in materials.Save this picture!Save this picture!The slab roof of the ground block was designed as a counterpoint to the main volume of the house, which has a tiled roof, marking an intentional contrast between the construction elements. In addition to its aesthetic value, this slab was executed with expanded clay, promoting thermal comfort and also serving as a base for technical equipment, such as the condensers of the air conditioning system.Save this picture!The common areas of the house are concentrated on the ground floor of the two-story volume, positioned perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the land. Large retractable glass panels reinforce the integration with the gourmet balcony and the pool area, creating visual continuity and fluidity between the indoor and outdoor environments.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!A central deck organizes the circulation between the blocks and gently guides the path along the land, functioning as an articulating element of the architecture. This pathway invites the resident and the visitor to contemplate the house from different angles, enhancing the space and the experience of movement. The landscaping plays an essential role in this sensory experience, with tropical species adapted to the local climate.Save this picture!The interior design, also developed by the office, sought a balance between contemporary and handcrafted elements. Clean design elements are combined with pieces from local artisans, imparting identity to the space. The light color palette is punctuated by earthy and red tones, which warm the environments and contrast with the white finishes and the burnt cement floor of the architecture.Save this picture!This residence was carefully designed to host family, friends, and guests, promoting gatherings and moments of relaxation. Integration, comfort, and privacy were the pillars of the project. The use of elements such as slatted panels and wooden brises allowed for the creation of intimate circulation without compromising visual permeability and natural ventilation. Meanwhile, the large glass planes, which open widely, connect the environments and reinforce the welcoming and sunny atmosphere of the house.Save this picture! Project gallerySee allShow less About this office73.Onze ArquiteturaOffice••• Published on May 19, 2025Cite: "SA House / 73.Onze Arquitetura" [Casa SA / 73.Onze Arquitetura] 19 May 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1030156/sa-house-7nze-arquitetura&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save世界上最受欢迎的建筑网站现已推出你的母语版本!想浏览ArchDaily中国吗?是否 You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

The newly announced Razer Blade 14 isn’t quite stiletto-thin, but it’s becoming far more knife-like over time. Compared to past iterations, the shell is now as tall as 10 pennies stacked on top of each other, which means the new blade might be as thin as your wallet after buying one. On top of being the thinnest Blade 14 Razer has ever made, it’s also the most expensive, starting at $2,300 for a version with Nvidia’s new GeForce RTX 5060 laptop GPU. Razer’s always tried to offer quality for its high price, but with tariffs in effect, the new Blade 14 is pushing what consumers can expect from gaming laptops. The Blade 14’s base price is $100 more than you would have paid for the 2024 Blade 14 with an RTX 4060. If you upgrade the new Blade to the version with the RTX 5070, Razer told us you could spend $2,700 for the sake of a laptop that’s “not a big brick,” as the company put it. Razer is always an enticing buy because of its generally strong build quality, but even a frisbee-light frame doesn’t take the sting out of today’s tariff-inflated product prices. © Razer Razer’s new ultra-thin design houses an AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 and up to 64GB of 8,000MHz LPDDR5X RAM. It’s the first time Razer is pairing a Copilot+ CPU made for lightweight laptops with an Nvidia GPU in a thoroughbred gaming machine, which means it’s compatible with Windows 11 AI features like Recall (which you should probably remember to turn off during setup). The laptop sports a bevy of ports, including HDMI and a microSD card slot. As per usual, Razer promotes its hardy aluminum with an anodized black finish that will manage to stave off bumps or blemishes. We don’t doubt that all that combined will offer enough juice to showcase the Blade 14’s 3K, 120Hz OLED display. We do wonder what kind of CPU performance it might provide compared to a similarly sized laptop like the Asus TUF Gaming A14 and its top-end AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370. Asus’ older model also costs hundreds of dollars less than Razer’s latest. Razer promised you’ll get 2 to 3 hours while gaming on the 72WHr battery. That doesn’t sound like much, but it’s technically better than what you already get on the Razer Blade 16 from this year. We’ve yet to find a gaming laptop with a battery life that will keep up for extended periods. The Blade 14 powers the RTX 5070 up to the max 115W TGP, which may give you enough juice for most modern games at the max 2,880 x 1,800 resolution. The RTX 5060 laptop GPU is still so new, we don’t yet know how it performs compared to Nvidia’s mid-range graphics options. No matter which GPU you choose, the machine will still support a six-speaker system through upward-firing speakers. That may offer better sound quality than you may be used to on such small systems, especially with support for THX Spatial Audio. There has been a rash of relatively light gaming laptops from 2024 stretching into this year. Razer seemingly knew it needed to step up its game with the 2025 edition of the Blade 14. At 0.62-inch thickness and weighing in at 3.59 pounds, it’s 11% thinner and lighter than the 2024 edition. It takes the same thermal hood design from this year’s rendition of the Blade 16. That laptop also went on a diet for the sake of customers who want a less hefty device to fit a little bit better in their backpacks. We found it also tended to get rather hot when playing intensive games, so we hope that’s less of a problem with a smaller battery and less demanding GPU. The one thing that hasn’t been brought over from the Blade 16 is the improved keyboard. It’s a Razer device, so of course it’s packed to the gills with gamer lights, including per-key RGB. Those keys still only have 1 mm of key travel compared to the deeper, more impactful 1.5mm on the redesigned 16-incher. There are no color options save for black and white, as much as we might beg Razer to bring back the “coral” pink color from the 2019 Razer Blade Stealth. There’s nothing wrong with a thin system, but perhaps a pink blade would help take away the sting of price hikes.

America’s lack of affordable child care has brought a long-simmering question to a boil: What exactly makes child care “good”? Everyone wants quality care for kids, and the need for child care or preschool to be considered “high quality” has been embraced by researchers, providers, parents, and policymakers for years. But with rising costs and uneven availability, parents, providers, and policymakers find themselves increasingly divided over whether “quality” should be measured by caregivers’ credentials or by toddlers’ happiness, by structured learning outcomes, or by parent preference. Progressives generally champion credentialed and well-paid teachers, academic standards, and standardized ratings as essential for aiding children’s development. Conservatives counter that such requirements inflate costs while devaluing the nurturing care that parents and community caregivers provide.The answer to the question of what “quality” means shapes everything from household budgets to workforce participation to children’s school readiness — yet there is no clear consensus on what exactly that entails or how to measure it.“People know it when they see it, but it’s hard to define,” said Josh McCabe, director of social policy at the Niskanen Center think tank.As regulations shift with political winds, the question has become more salient: Who defines quality, and at what cost to kids, families, and society?Mixed-quality quality metricsStates have sought ways to measure, improve, and communicate the components of quality to parents and providers alike. Their solution: developing rating systems that attempt to boil aspects of child care settings down into simple metrics, much like hotel or restaurant reviews.Over the past two decades, such Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS) have become the primary method for assessing child care quality. These systems, which vary significantly across states, award ratings based on multiple dimensions, including teacher qualifications (such as holding a child development associate credential or a degree in early childhood education); learning environments (including safe teacher-to-child ratios, classroom cleanliness, and availability of age-appropriate books and toys); administrative practices (like documented emergency procedures and business management systems), and the caliber of child-adult interactions (measured through classroom observations). By 2020, nearly all states had implemented some form of QRIS, though participation remains voluntary in many areas. These systems vary widely — some use star ratings (one to five stars), others use tiers or categories. States prioritize different elements: Some emphasize school readiness, others focus on health and safety, cultural responsiveness, or infant and toddler care. Financial incentives also differ, with states offering a variety of supports, technical assistance, and bonuses for higher scores.The evidence is mixed, though, on whether these ratings actually predict better outcomes for children. “If we’re looking at what supports children’s well-being and development, it’s the quality of the interactions, the relations with the caregiver,” Steven Barnett, senior director of the National Institute for Early Education Research, told me. Yet these critical interactions carry relatively little weight in some QRIS systems, overshadowed by structural features that are easier to quantify and less costly to implement. The QRIS ratings nonetheless drive real behavior. “The scoring matters in that providers and parents react to it,” McCabe said. “But like the US News and World Report rankings, I don’t know if it actually makes them better colleges or students.”A 2019 Department of Education study found that children who attended higher-rated programs according to QRIS did not have better developmental outcomes than those attending lower-rated ones. This echoed earlier research that found that the overall QRIS ratings were less predictive of child learning than a single measure of teacher-child interactions.“Quality, in some sense, can take many different forms, and perhaps it should, because child care and early learning is not one-size-fits-all.”— Hailey Gibbs, associate director of Early Childhood Policy at the Center for American ProgressFurther research found “little evidence” that adopting QRIS in Head Start improved quality when measured against the Head Start Program Performance Standards — the quality benchmarks the federal preschool programs must meet. QRIS showed no significant boost to teacher qualifications or teacher-child interactions. More troublingly, research found that QRIS adoption actually increased annual teacher turnover — potentially undermining the very stability that quality programs need.These rating systems can also create a troubling cycle, said Hailey Gibbs, associate director of early childhood policy at the Center for American Progress. Lower-rated programs receive fewer resources, making it even harder for them to improve. Gibbs notes there’s “valid criticism” that QRIS systems often lack cultural sensitivity and tend to disregard the perspectives of enrolled families when adjudicating which programs are good or bad.This fundamental tension — between standardized measurement and the complex, relationship-based reality of quality care — remains at the heart of ongoing debates about how best to ensure positive outcomes for America’s youngest children. As sociologist Zach Griffen notes of performance measurement across other sectors like health care and K-12 schooling, quality assessment tools can be “wildly successful in policy research at the same time as they fall apart in real-world applications.”So what actually is quality?While the QRIS measure of “quality” might be contentious, the stakes are high because quality itself does seem to really affect kids’ life trajectories. Back in 2000, the National Academies of Sciences published a 600-page report concluding that both nurturing parenting and caregiving relationships were essential for early childhood development, and that well-designed programs could help improve the lives of kids growing up in poverty in particular.Another landmark federal study tracked more than 1,300 children from infancy through adolescence. Emerging from the contentious “day care wars” of the 1980s over whether maternal employment and non-parental care harmed children, the researchers found that “higher-quality” care predicted better cognitive and language development. The study highlighted responsive adult-child relationships as the most critical quality factor, with elements like staff ratios and group sizes also playing important roles.These early studies established a foundation for understanding quality, but even today early childhood experts describe different visions. Ruth Friedman, who directed the Office of Child Care during the Biden administration, defines quality as care that ensures safety, engaging activities, and “nurturing, consistent, and well-compensated caregivers who support development across multiple domains — including language, early math and science, social-emotional, and physical growth,” she told me. Some advocates stress that trained caregivers are essential for building the kind of stable, high-quality workforce that children need. “All teachers need to have a foundational knowledge of child development…[with] formal education and training in early childhood education,” the Center for American Progress wrote in a “Quality 101” report published in 2017. Other experts say the growing demand for professional training devalues the kind of care offered by parents, grandparents, and other informal community leaders. “What we realize [matters] is the quality of the relationship and [that isn’t] typically things you can measure in a simple way, like a child-adult ratio,” said Jenet Erickson, a professor of religious education at Brigham Young University and a researcher of maternal and child well-being. “It’s just not as simple as having trained caregivers. … We need more flexibility in who can provide care, so families can say, ‘We really like this neighborhood grandmother because of the way she relates to our children, and we’re less concerned about whether or not she got a degree in human development.’”There is perhaps more agreement, however, on what constitutes unacceptably poor care. Gibbs identified warning signs that cross cultural boundaries: “disorganized or unsafe spaces…young children wandering aimlessly.” These align with the National Academies’ findings about the lowest-quality settings: caregivers ignoring children’s bids for attention, few appropriate toys, and children spending time “unengaged with adults, other children, or materials.” Finding the balance between acceptable care and parent preferences can be tricky, especially when public funding is involved and lawmakers pursue multiple policy objectives at once, like promoting child development, supporting moms in the workforce, advancing educational equity, and even broader social concerns like reducing crime or increasing GDP.The Center for American Progress has grown somewhat less prescriptive about quality since it published its “Quality 101” report in 2017. “Quality, in some sense, can take many different forms, and perhaps it should, because child care and early learning is not one-size-fits-all,” Gibbs told me, noting that some home-based child care options “are extremely high quality” yet nevertheless are sometimes “viewed as second tier to school-like center-based care” when it comes to state ratings. The future of quality standardsThe landscape of child care quality measurement appears poised for significant shifts. The Build Back Better Act, proposed during the Biden administration, represented perhaps the most ambitious federal effort to date to elevate child care quality standards nationwide. States would have been required to develop tiered QRIS frameworks aligned with the federal Head Start preschool standards, and mandate child care provider participation in QRIS to receive federal money. Most significantly, payment rates would have been directly linked to quality ratings — so child care programs achieving higher QRIS scores would have received higher reimbursement rates. However, with the transition to a new administration, a fundamentally different approach is emerging, as states move to reduce restrictions conservatives see as driving up costs without improving outcomes or access.This regulatory rollback fits within a broader conservative vision reshaping child care — one that prioritizes less expensive home-based programs over professionally staffed centers, de-emphasizes academic credentials and curricula, and often encourages more mothers to stay home to raise their children. As Idaho Rep. Rod Furniss argued when promoting his deregulation bill, “perhaps the most important” small business is the home day care, “where moms can stay home and supplement the household income and watch a few kids.”This approach also aligns with principles outlined in the American Enterprise Institute’s 2024 “Three Principles for Conservative Early-Childhood Policy,” which advocated for subsidizing “lower-cost” options while keeping “children connected to their families.”Conservatives specifically warn against what they call the “Bill de Blasio model” — folding early childhood education into the credentialing, unionization, and compensation structure of K-12 teachers. This approach, which many progressive advocates view as essential for stable and quality care, is viewed by many on the right as a recipe for unsustainable costs.As control shifts in Washington, the very definitions of quality that have guided policy for decades may soon change. But the core questions remain unresolved: What matters most in determining quality and how do we capture it? How should we balance measurable outcomes with family preferences? What trade-offs between quality, affordability, and access are Americans prepared to make? And ultimately, what kind of care do American children deserve?This work was supported by a grant from the Bainum Family Foundation. Vox Media had full discretion over the content of this reporting.See More:

This is today's edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what's going on in the world of technology. Inside the story that enraged OpenAI —Niall Firth, executive editor, MIT Technology Review In 2019, Karen Hao, a senior reporter with MIT Technology Review, pitched me a story about a then little-known company, OpenAI. It was her biggest assignment to date. Hao’s feat of reporting took a series of twists and turns over the coming months, eventually revealing how OpenAI’s ambition had taken it far afield from its original mission. The finished story was a prescient look at a company at a tipping point—or already past it. And OpenAI was not happy with the result. Hao’s new book, Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman’s OpenAI, is an in-depth exploration of the company that kick-started the AI arms race, and what that race means for all of us. This excerpt is the origin story of that reporting. This spa’s water is heated by bitcoin mining At first glance, the Bathhouse spa in Brooklyn looks not so different from other high-end spas. What sets it apart is out of sight: a closet full of cryptocurrency-­mining computers that not only generate bitcoins but also heat the spa’s pools, marble hammams, and showers.  When cofounder Jason Goodman opened Bathhouse’s first location in Williamsburg in 2019, he used conventional pool heaters. But after diving deep into the world of bitcoin, he realized he could fit cryptocurrency mining seamlessly into his business. Read the full story. —Carrie Klein This story is from the most recent edition of our print magazine, which is all about how technology is changing creativity. Subscribe now to read it and to receive future print copies once they land. The must-reads I’ve combed the internet to find you today’s most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology. 1 Nvidia wants to build an AI supercomputer in Taiwan  As Trump’s tariffs upend existing supply chains. (WSJ $)+ Jensen Huang has denied that Nvidia’s chips are being diverted into China. (Bloomberg $) 2 xAI’s Grok dabbled in Holocaust denial The chatbot said it was “skeptical” about points that historians agree are facts. (Rolling Stone $)+ It blamed the comments on a programming error. (The Guardian)3 Apple is planning to overhaul Siri entirely To make it an assistant fit for the AI age. (Bloomberg $)4 Dentists are worried by RFK Jr’s fluoride ban Particularly in rural America. (Ars Technica)+ Florida has become the second state to ban fluoride in public water. (NBC News)5 Fewer people want to work in America’s factories That’s a problem when Trump is so hell-bent on kickstarting the manufacturing industry. (WSJ $)+ Sweeping tariffs could threaten the US manufacturing rebound. (MIT Technology Review) 6 Meet the crypto investors hoping to bend the President’s ear They’re treating Trump’s meme coin dinner as an opportunity to push their agendas. (WP $)+ Many of them are offloading their coins, too. (Wired $)+ Crypto bigwigs are targets for criminals. (WSJ $)+ Bodyguards and other forms of security are becoming de rigueur. (Bloomberg $)7 How the US reversed the overdose epidemicNaloxone is a major factor. (Vox) + How the federal government is tracking changes in the supply of street drugs. (MIT Technology Review)8 Chatbots really love the heads of the companies that made them  And are not so fond of the leaders of its rivals. (FT $)+ What if we could just ask AI to be less biased? (MIT Technology Review)9 Technology is a double-edged sword 📱 What connects us can simultaneously outrage us. (The Atlantic $) 10 Meet the people hooked on watching nature live streams They find checking in with animals puts their own troubles in perspective. (The Guardian) Quote of the day “People are just scared. They don’t know where they fit in this new world.” —Angela Jiang, who is working on a startup exploring the impact of AI on the labor market, tells the Wall Street Journal about the woes of tech job seekers trying to land new jobs in the current economy. One more thing How the Rubin Observatory will help us understand dark matter and dark energyWe can put a good figure on how much we know about the universe: 5%. That’s how much of what’s floating about in the cosmos is ordinary matter—planets and stars and galaxies and the dust and gas between them. The other 95% is dark matter and dark energy, two mysterious entities aptly named for our inability to shed light on their true nature. Previous work has begun pulling apart these dueling forces, but dark matter and dark energy remain shrouded in a blanket of questions—critically, what exactly are they?Enter the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, one of our 10 breakthrough technologies for 2025. Boasting the largest digital camera ever created, Rubin is expected to study the cosmos in the highest resolution yet once it begins observations later this year. And with a better window on the cosmic battle between dark matter and dark energy, Rubin might narrow down existing theories on what they are made of. Here’s a look at how. —Jenna Ahart We can still have nice things A place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line or skeet 'em at me.) + Archaeologists in Canada are facing a mighty challenge—to solve how thousands of dinosaurs died in what’s now a forest in Alberta.+ Before Brian Johnson joined AC/DC, he sang on this very distinctive hoover (vacuum cleaner) ad.+ Wealthy Londoners are adding spas to their gardens, because why not.+ I must eat the crystal breakfast! 🥓 🍳 🫘

Forward-looking: While the path to practical fusion energy remains long, the recent advances at the National Ignition Facility have emboldened researchers. The facility's ongoing progress is a testament to decades of persistence – and a sign that the age of controlled fusion ignition is no longer a distant dream. The National Ignition Facility (NIF), based at the US Department of Energy's Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, has steadily increased the amount of energy produced in its fusion experiments, according to information obtained by TechCrunch. The facility, which made headlines in 2022 for achieving the world's first net-positive fusion reaction, has since pushed the boundaries of what's possible in controlled nuclear fusion. A source with direct knowledge of the experiments told the publication that recent tests at NIF have generated energy yields of 5.2 megajoules and, more recently, an impressive 8.6 megajoules. These figures represent a significant leap from the facility's landmark experiment in December 2022, when researchers produced 3.15 megajoules of energy from a single fusion shot. That initial breakthrough was the first time a controlled fusion reaction released more energy than was delivered to the fuel pellet, a milestone that fusion scientists had pursued for decades. Despite these advances, the energy produced in each experiment remains far short of the amount needed to power the NIF's laser system, let alone supply electricity to the wider grid. The facility's first net-positive shot, for example, required about 300 megajoules to power the lasers, dwarfing the energy output of the fusion reaction itself. However, the experiments were never designed to generate commercial power at this stage. Instead, they serve as crucial proof that controlled nuclear fusion is achievable in a laboratory setting – a concept that, until recently, remained largely theoretical. // Related Stories NIF employs a technique known as inertial confinement fusion. In this process, a tiny pellet of fusion fuel, composed of deuterium and tritium and coated in diamond, is placed inside a small gold cylinder called a hohlraum. The pellet, no larger than a BB, is positioned in the center of a 10-meter-wide spherical vacuum chamber. When the experiment begins, 192 high-powered lasers converge on the hohlraum, vaporizing it and generating a burst of X-rays. These X-rays bombard the fuel pellet, causing its diamond shell to become a rapidly expanding plasma. The target chamber at the National Ignition Facility, where 192 powerful laser beams converge on a tiny fuel pellet to create the extreme conditions necessary for nuclear fusion. The resulting pressure compresses the fuel inside to such an extent that the atomic nuclei fuse, releasing a burst of energy. The journey has been long and marked by both anticipation and setbacks. In the early hours of December 5, 2022, scientists and technicians gathered in the NIF control room, hoping that a carefully prepared experiment would finally reach "breakeven" – the point where the fusion reaction produces as much energy as the lasers supply. After a series of delays to complete maintenance and install new optics, the lasers fired at 1:03 a.m., delivering 2.05 megajoules of ultraviolet energy into the hohlraum. Within moments, radiation alarms sounded and diagnostic monitors registered an unprecedented yield: 3.15 megajoules of fusion energy, produced by a self-sustaining thermonuclear reaction. A close-up of a hohlraum assembly used in inertial confinement fusion experiments at the National Ignition Facility. This small gold cylinder houses the fusion fuel pellet and plays a critical role in converting laser energy into X-rays to drive the fusion process. The achievement was quickly validated by teams of diagnostics experts and peer-reviewed by outside consultants. On December 13, 2022, the Department of Energy announced the results to the world, marking a turning point for inertial confinement fusion. The experiment more than doubled NIF's previous energy record and demonstrated the viability of using fusion to support the National Nuclear Security Administration's Stockpile Stewardship Program, which maintains the nation's nuclear deterrent without underground testing. In the months that followed, NIF continued to build on this success. On July 30, 2023, the facility produced a new record output of 3.88 megajoules. Subsequent experiments in October 2023 saw NIF achieve fusion ignition for the third time, with yields of 2.4 and 3.4 megajoules, respectively. These consistent results at multi-megajoule levels have reinforced the case for inertial fusion energy as a potential source of clean, safe, and virtually limitless power.

The new RØDE NTH-50 headphones have Sennheiser's evergreen HD25 Pro headphones in their sights. The ... More Sennheisers are a firm favourite with DJs and the NTH-50 could be popular thanks to their specs and build quality.RØDE Australian mega microphone and audio brand RØDE has launched a new and affordable pair of on-ear headphones designed with DJs, podcasters and audio engineers in mind. The brand-new RØDE NTH-50 headphones join the company’s award-winning headphone lineup which includes the RØDE NTH-100. These new headphones have an uncanny resemblance to the classic and much-loved Sennheiser HD25 Pro; a classic pair of headphones that has been a firm favorite with sound engineers and DJs over the years. The RØDE NTH-50 headphones are aimed at audio professionals who need precision sound, a comfortable fit and a high level of passive noise isolation. The NTH-50’s lightweight design feels more durable than the HD25 Pro but is still light enough to wear while operating a news-gathering camera or DJing. The new RØDE NTH-50 headphones have an uncanny resemblance to Sennheiser's HD25 Pro. RØDE RØDE describes the sound quality produced by the NTH-50 as “Natural and balanced with ultra-low distortion and effective passive noise isolation.” It’s a sonic signature that’s been tailored for DJs, sound engineers and content creators who need premium sound as well as all-day comfort and rugged durability. To create the new NTH-50, RØDE developed custom-matched 40mm drivers and then housed them in a resonant chamber that provides a deep and balanced bass while still keeping hold of a detailed midrange and clear treble. There’s very little coloration in the overall tone. The innovative acoustic design serves up an accurate frequency response alongside ultra-low distortion. The frequency range encompasses an impressive 5Hz – 35KHz. The effective passive noise isolation of -21dB cuts out a lot of unwanted noise, almost as much as some headphones with Active Noise Cancelation on board. The NTH-50 eschews the spilt headband of the Sennheiser HD25 Pro and instead offers a generously ... More padded headband and ear pads.RØDE Unlike Sennheiser’s HD25 Pro, the new RØDE NTH-50 headphones don’t have the split headband. Instead, RØDE opted for a more durable single-contoured headband that reduces wearing fatigue, particularly during extended mixing and listening sessions. Despite the robust build quality, which addresses some of the criticisms of early versions of RØDE’s NTH-100, these lightweight headphones have a contemporary look but they are solid enough to endure the kind of punishment studio headphones often receive. The NTH-50’s cable is detachable and features a custom-lock fitting that can be slotted into either the left or right ear cup, depending on the user’s preference. The cable is partly straight and partially coiled, measuing 1.7m, which is long enough for working at a large mixing desk. Designed and manufactured at RØDE’s factory in Sydney, Australia, the NTH-50 come with a lifetime warranty, which is a measure of the company’s confidence in its new headphones, especially for those of us who know how much abuse the average pair of cans suffer. The ear pads for the NTH-50 are fully wipeable, offering a more hygienic solution than velour material, an important factor where a single pair of headphones could be worn by many people and liable to pick up sweat, grease and makeup.The detachable cable of the RØDE NTH-50 can be plugged into the left or right ear-cup. There is also ... More color coding for easy orientation.RØDE “At RØDE, we are committed to developing innovative audio solutions to meet the ever-evolving needs of creators,” says Damien Wilson, RØDE’s CEO. “The NTH-50s embody this philosophy, offering a level of sonic accuracy, comfort and durability that marks a new gold standard for on-ear headphones.” “Engineered from the ground up by our dedicated headphone innovation team in Germany, we’ve crafted a pair of premium headphones at an affordable price point that delivers an incredibly detailed and immersive listening experience in any environment. Once again, RØDE has over-achieved in the pursuit of delivering world-class monitoring technology.” At the heart of the NTH-50s are the custom-engineered 40mm dynamic drivers which are housed inside an innovative resonant chamber. The chamber provides clarity and an accurate frequency response, ultra-low distortion and a balanced sound with a natural bass and detailed midrange while keeping crisp highs.Although the new RØDE NTH-50 headphones are designed for podcasting, mixing and other studio use, ... More they will appeal to DJs.RØDE The RØDE NTH-50s come with a passive noise isolation rating of -21 dBA, enough to reduce external distractions and, more importantly, stop any sound from bleeding out during recording and being picked up by the microphone. The high SPL capabilities and sensitivity of the headphones make them particularly suitable for live performances and studio monitoring. Anyone who uses a pair of studio headphones for more than a few minutes knows that comfort is every bit as important as the sound quality The RØDE NTH-50’s contoured headband, with its integrated fontanel recess, relieve pressure on the wearer’s skull, reducing fatigue during extended listening times in the studio, on stage or when recording on location. Although they are lightweight and fully adjustable, the NTH-50s are designed to distribute pressure evenly no matter the size of the wearer’s head. The headphones also better accommodate glasses wearers.The RØDE NTH-50 feature detachable cables, replaceable ear pads and headband for a long service ... More life.RØDE The on-ear design has ear pads lined with memory foam padding that conforms to the contours of the ears. The fit is snug but still breathable, promoting an airflow that reduces the chance of heat buildup while still providing high levels of passive noise dampening. The NTH-50s are made from lightweight and durable materials including aluminum faceplates that can withstand daily punishment in the studio. The modular design has replaceable components such as the headband, ear cushions and cables for a longer service life. The ear cups are color-coded for left and right channels so users can quickly and easily orientate them in low light, a nice touch. Finally, the headphones have a scratch-resistant and matte black coating. They ship with a 1.7m double coiled cable, storage pouch plus 3.5mm to ¼-inch adapter. RØDE has also included color-coded ID rings for simplified cable management and full compatibility with the existing accessories for RØDE’s NTH-100 headphones, including modular cable options. For greater versatility, RØDE’s optional NTHMic can turn the NTH-50 into a broadcast-quality headset that’s suitable for podcasting, streaming, sports commentary and content creation. Pricing and Availability: The new RØDE NTH-50 on-ear headphones will be available from RØDE distributors from May 20, 2025, priced at $99. Tech Specs: Transducer diameter: 40mm Transducer type: Dynamic. Operating principle: Closed. Ear coupling: Supra-Aural/On-Ear. Frequency response: 5Hz – 35KHz. Impedance: 32Ω. Sensitivity @1mW / 500Hz: 102dB SPL. Sensitivity @1V (RMS) / 500Hz: 117dB SPL. Total Harmonic Distortion @1mW: < 0.2 % @100Hz / < 0.03% @500Hz. Total Harmonic Distortion @100Hz: 0.05% @100dB SPL / 0.5% @120dB SPL. Short-term max input power: 100mW. Long-term max input power: 50mW. Max SPL: 124dB SPL. Ambient Noise Attenuation: 21dBA. Connection type: Dual TRRS cable attachments.

Saudi Arabia’s artificial intelligence (AI) ambitions were boosted following US president Donald Trump’s recent trip to the Middle East. The Trump administration’s import tariffs and AI chip export restrictions appear to have been behind the decision by Saudi Arabian datacentre operator DataVolt to sign a major server deal with US firm Supermicro. The company’s selection of the US firm for its $20bn investment in AI datacentre technology will secure graphics processing unit (GPU) hardware currently seen as the best way to provide the accelerated processing power AI workloads require. “Partnering with Supermicro guarantees us a US-made supply chain for critical GPU systems and positions DataVolt to accelerate our investment plans,” said Rajit Nanda, CEO of DataVolt. Supermicro said the collaboration would fast-track delivery of its ultra-dense GPU platforms, storage and rack-based systems for DataVolt’s hyperscale gigawatt-class renewable and net-zero green AI datacentre facilities.  The hardware uses liquid cooling, which Supermicro said reduces power costs by up to 40%, which allows datacentres to run more efficiently with lower power usage effectiveness. “We are excited to collaborate with DataVolt to bring our advanced AI systems featuring the latest direct liquid cooling technology (DLC-2), powered by local renewable, sustainable and net-zero green technology,” said Charles Liang, president and CEO of Supermicro. Supermicro claims its latest AI infrastructure is able to lower the total cost of ownership by up to 20%. Along with its Saudi AI datacentre build, Datavolt, Google, Oracle, Salesforce, AMD and Uber have said they are committed to the investment of $80bn in cutting-edge transformative technologies in both the US and Saudi Arabia. Oracle said it plans to invest $14bn over the next 10 years to deliver cloud and AI technology to Saudi Arabia. “Thanks to the decisive actions and strong leadership of President Trump and his administration, Oracle is providing the world’s most advanced cloud and AI technology to Saudi Arabia,” said Safra Catz, CEO at Oracle. “Our expanded partnership with the kingdom will create new opportunities for its economy and deliver better health outcomes for its people.” As part of Trump’s visit, Humain, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), also announced a $10bn deal with US chipmaker AMD to develop 500 megawatts of open, scalable, resilient and cost-efficient AI infrastructure that spans Saudi Arabia and the US. Through the collaboration, Humain will oversee end-to-end delivery, including hyperscale datacentres, sustainable power systems and global fibre interconnects, while AMD has said it will be providing its AI compute processors and the AMD ROCm open software ecosystem. Tareq Amin, CEO of Humain, described the initiative as “an open collaboration to the world’s innovators”. “We are democratising AI at the compute level, ensuring that access to advanced AI is limited only by imagination, not by infrastructure,” he said. Read more about AI in Saudi Arabia Saudi puts $15bn into AI as experts debate next steps: The kingdom’s Leap 2025 tech show is the backdrop for huge investment, plus debate over the future of artificial intelligence as a productivity tool but which can also potentially undermine human society. Saudi Arabia struggling to reach global leadership in deeptech: Petrostate monarchy trying to build surrogate industry made of foreign startups because own ecosystem is too immature. A number of US tech firms have made major investments in Saudi this year, driven by the kingdom’s ambitions to boost AI. Data for the Saudi Data and AI Authority from Accenture shows that generative AI (GenAI) has the potential to elevate its gross domestic product (GDP) by approximately $42.3bn by augmenting and automating nearly a third of all jobs. In February, Accenture said it was collaborating with Google Cloud to accelerate the adoption of cloud and GenAI capabilities in Saudi Arabia to support the KSA’s local data, operational and software sovereignty needs. As part of this work, Google and Accenture announced a joint centre of excellence for GenAI. During the Leap 2025 conference, Salesforce said it would be investing $500m in Saudi, with the focus again on AI. The company announced a regional head office in Riyadh, and as part of this expansion, Salesforce said it was working with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to deliver its Hyperforce, next-generation platform architecture to the kingdom. The work with AWS means Salesforce’s global customers are able to run workloads locally through a distributed public cloud infrastructure that Salesforce said complies with local regulations. Commenting on Salesforce’s plans, Abdullah Alswaha, minister of communications and information technology, said: “We look forward to seeing Salesforce expand its presence here and welcome the investment in AI that will drive unprecedented innovation and operational efficiency, supporting the realisation of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals.” While the White House has linked Trump’s visit to the investments major tech firms are making in Saudi Arabia, the kingdom faces a number of challenges as it fleshes out its AI ambitions. According to a March 2025 paper from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Vision 2030 represents a future-orientated vision to make religion less of a focal point of its society, particularly with regards to how Saudi Arabia is perceived internationally. But the paper notes that private-sector employers face the challenge of hiring Saudi citizens to fill high-skilled jobs. “This skills gap will only worsen as the kingdom targets a wide range of highly skilled sectors, including AI startups, green technology, datacentres, e-gaming, fintech and EV production,” it says.