June 5, 20253 min readNew Hires Will Still Leave the NWS Dangerously Understaffed, Meteorologists SayNearly 600 employees left the National Weather Service or were fired in recent months. Meteorologists say 125 expected new hires will still leave the agency dangerously understaffedBy Chelsea Harvey & E&E News A tornado struck communities in Somerset and London, Ky., on May 16, 2025, leaving 19 dead and more injured. Michael Swensen/Getty ImagesCLIMATEWIRE | New hiring efforts at the National Weather Service won’t be enough to overcome staffing shortages and potential risks to human lives this summer, meteorologists warned Wednesday at a panel hosted by Democratic Washington Sen. Maria Cantwell.NOAA will hire around 125 new employees at the NWS, the agency said in an announcement first reported Monday by CNN. But nearly 600 employees have departed the NWS over the last few months, after the Trump administration fired probationary federal employees and offered buyouts and early retirements.That means the new hires will account for less than 25 percent of the total losses.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.“A quarter of the staff are not going to do the job when, let’s just say, both hurricane and fire risks are increasing,” Cantwell said during Wednesday’s panel. “[The Trump administration’s] approach in response to this has been a flimsy Band-Aid over a very massive cut.”Cantwell added that the National Hurricane Center is not fully staffed, as NOAA officials suggested last month when announcing their predictions for the upcoming Atlantic hurricane season outlook. The NHC has at least five vacancies, she said, representing meteorologists and technicians who help build forecasts for tropical cyclones in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.Meanwhile, NOAA is predicting above-average activity in the Atlantic this hurricane season. Updated fire maps also suggest that nearly all of Cantwell’s home state of Washington, along with Oregon and large swaths of California, will experience an above-average risk of wildfires by August.Kim Doster, NOAA’s director of communications, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on NOAA’s staffing shortages or the NHC’s vacancies.Three meteorologists speaking on the panel echoed Cantwell’s concerns, suggesting that staffing shortages at weather offices across the country risk forecasting errors and breakdowns in communication between meteorologists and emergency managers.At least eight local weather offices across the country are currently so short-staffed that they can no longer cover their overnight shifts, said Brian LaMarre, a former meteorologist-in-charge at the NWS office in Tampa Bay, Florida. Some of these offices may have to rely on “mutual aid,” or borrowed staff, from other NWS locations to cover their shifts during extreme weather events.But Cantwell and other panelists expressed concern that staff-sharing across the NWS could erode the accuracy of forecasts and warnings for local communities.Cantwell pointed to the meteorologists that specialize in fire weather forecasts. NOAA typically deploys those experts to provide forecasts and recommendations to firefighters on the ground when wildfires strike.“If you think you're gonna substitute somebody that’s gonna be somewhere else — I don’t know where, some other part of the state or some other state — and you think you're gonna give them accurate weather information? It just doesn't work that way,” she said.Washington state-based broadcast meteorologist Jeff Renner echoed her concerns.“The meteorologists that respond to [wildfires] have very specific training and very specific experience that can’t be easily duplicated, particularly from those outside the area,” he said.Meanwhile, LaMarre’s former position in Tampa is vacant, and around 30 other offices across the country are also operating without a permanent meteorologist-in-charge.“That person is the main point of contact when it comes to briefing elected officials, emergency management directors, state governors, city mayors, parish officials,” LaMarre said. “They are the individual that’s gonna be implementing any new change that is needed for hurricane season, blizzards, wildfires, inland flooding.”The NWS suffered from staffing shortages prior to the Trump administration. But LaMarre said he never saw such widespread vacancies, including offices unable to operate overnight, in his 30 years at the agency.He emphasized that NWS meteorologists will do whatever it takes to ensure accurate forecasts when extreme weather strikes. But too many gaps at local offices mean that some services will inevitably suffer, LaMarre added.“Whenever you look at an office that is short-staffed, that means a piece of that larger puzzle is taken away,” he said. “That means some outreach might not be able to occur. Some trainings might not be able to occur. Some briefings to officials might not be able to occur.”Reprinted from E&E News with permission from POLITICO, LLC. Copyright 2025. E&E News provides essential news for energy and environment professionals.

Some people reported an unwelcome surprise after picking up their Nintendo Switch 2 preorders at GameStop: staples used to attach receipts to Switch 2 boxes ended up damaging the screens on the console, as reported by IGN. However, GameStop says this was an issue that was “isolated” to a single store and that it has already offered replacements. When you open the box for the Switch 2, the tablet / screen part of the device is just under the top flap of the packaging. The tablet’s proximity to the top of the box possibly explains how staples could get through and poke holes in the screen — especially if the person using the stapler gave it a solid push. Reports started trickling in overnight as people got their preorders. In this post on X, for example, you can see photos of two dots on the box, a bag, and the screen. View Link To IGN, a GameStop spokesperson said that it was “investigating the matter” and promised to “make customers whole.” And on Thursday, one Reddit user affected by the problem said that they spoke with a GameStop manager who said they would be able to exchange their damaged unit. “We’ve addressed a unique case of staples damaging Switch 2 screens – isolated to one store,” GameStop says in a post on X. “Replacements have been offered. Staplers have been confiscated.”

When it comes to Apple, all eyes are on AI. Generative AI (genAI) is the most disruptive technology we’ve seen in years; it is weaving itself into all parts of life – so why should IT management be left unscathed? It won’t be, and the latest AI-powered IT management features within the Jamf platform will soon be the kind of tools IT expects. Jamf is a leading Apple-in-the-enterprise device management (and security vendor recently began offering enterprise support for Android devices). The company has been working away on AI features to support its solutions for some time, and has at last introduced some of these at its Jamf Nation Live event. The tools are designed to boost efficiency and support better decision-making when it comes to handling your fleets. Of course, you’d expect anyone fielding genAI solutions to say something like that, so what do these tools do? Introducing Jamf AI Assistant Available as a beta, AI Assistant is designed to support tech support! That means it will help IT admins find what they need and help them understand how and why devices they do find are configured. Jamf splits these two paths into two categories: Search skill and Explain skill. Search skill lets admins perform natural language inventory queries across their managed fleets, enabling them to quickly find devices within their flotilla that meet the search parameters. The goal is to make it quicker and easier to audit managed devices for compliance, and to troubleshoot when things go wrong. Explain skill caters to another facet of an IT admin’s daily challenges. As Jamf explains, it means the genAI can translate complex configurations and policies into clear, easy-to-understand language. This helps admins make informed decisions, streamline troubleshooting and manage policies more confidently, says Jamf. While these new Jamf tools don’t automate much of the workload facing IT, it’s not hard to see how once the AI can understand what’s happening on a Mac and identify those devices that meet a set of parameters, the only missing piece is to automate some of the workflow in between. This, of course, is the direction of travel and will likely ripple across IT and every platform. Who knows, it might even make the cost of supporting Windows fleets almost as affordable as that of managing fleets of Apple devices. (Though I doubt it.) Beyond AI Jamf also made a handful of announcements outside of AI, including the general availability of Blueprints, a set of tools the company announced at JNUC last year. Blueprints builds on Apple’s Declarative Device Management framework and is designed to simplify and accelerate device configuration by consolidating policies, profiles and restrictions into a single, unified workflow. This makes a lot of sense on a road map to further AI deployment, as well as for anyone attempting to manage and deploy large Apple fleets. I imagine admins preparing for mammoth college- or school-wide deployments will have some optimism that Blueprints could help save time. Don’t neglect that education tech is expected to deploy thousands of devices in a few weeks, so these tools should be significant to them. Jamf continues working on Blueprints, and has introduced a beta release of Configuration Profiles within Blueprints. This tech consists of a new dynamic framework designed to help teams manage devices at scale, thanks to the new dynamic framework for MDM key delivery. Ticket to ride Jamf has offered a Self Service+ portal since earlier this year. Aimed at end-users, the system lets users request, download and update apps, as well as monitor their device security. Those features have been expanded with identity management tools, so users can view their accounts change passwords, and request things like temporary admin access. The beauty of Self Service+ is that it enables users to do these things autonomously while keeping their devices fully auditable and compliant. The idea is that it’s a lot better to focus the expensive tech support teams on the big problems, rather than seeing them bogged down in small, transient (albeit important), challenges.  The company also introduced Compliance Benchmarks. Based on Apple’s macOS Security Compliance Project (mSCP), this system helps IT automate the process of securing their Apple devices. Jamf has also added malware detection to its App Installers module, which means every application made available through that system is scanned to maintain security confidence. That’s really important to companies attempting to provision apps to employees, particularly if they want to avoid accidental installs of hacked malware posing as the original app. You can follow me on social media! Join me on BlueSky,  LinkedIn, and Mastodon.

iOS 19—or is it iOS 26, as rumors suggest?—is nearly here. Apple will almost assuredly announce the latest version of the iPhone's OS next week at WWDC 2025. As such, rumors about iOS 26's features have been coming in fast, and only more so as we approach the big event. Although none of these rumors can be confirmed at the moment, they still give us a good idea about what Apple might be considering behind the scenes.Is Apple changing iOS' name?Seems that way. While we (logically) thought the next version of iOS would be called iOS 19, Apple reportedly has other plans in place. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, iOS 19 will be iOS 26, taking the name of the following year. Apple is reportedly doing this with all of its OS titles, including iPadOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26, and visionOS 26. A fresh look for iOS 26While iOS has changed considerably in recent years, the overall design language still follows the last big UI overhaul: 2013's iOS 7. It's been nearly 12 years since Apple has mixed things up, leaving users to design their own Lock Screens and app icons. According to Gurman, however, that might change with iOS 26, as well as iPadOS 26 and macOS 26. The details are scarce, but Gurman reports sources within Apple say the company wants to better align the design languages across its various products, without merging those OSes entirely, while also simplifying the way you interact with these devices. That means iOS 26 could adopt the design of visionOS, which uses circles instead of squares for app icons, translucent window elements, and the adoption of 3D—though that latter element may be difficult to translate on a 2D display.You can see those elements on display in this concept video from Jon Prosser. If the rumors are correct, we could be looking at "one of the most dramatic software overhauls in the company’s history." In addition to a new look, iOS may be getting a little less buggy. Gurman says that stability is a big priority for Apple this year, which is music to my ears.Live translation for AirPodsGurman also says that Apple is working on a live translation feature for certain AirPods models. If you're having a conversation with someone who is speaking a language you don't know, your AirPods will translate and dictate those words in your target language automatically. When you speak, your words will be translated and dictated by your iPhone, via the Translate app. This feature isn't groundbreaking—Google's Pixel Buds have offered it for years. But it'd be a great addition to iOS 26, and to AirPods users. Accessibility featuresApple doesn't reveal much about its upcoming updates before officially announcing them, but accessibility features are an exception. Last month, the company unveiled a list of accessibility features coming to devices "later this year." While they don't name iOS 26 and other "26" updates, it's pretty obvious those are the updates we'll see them in. There's a new Accessibility Reader feature that makes text easier to read across iOS; Magnifier is coming to Mac; you'll see "Accessibility nutrition" labels on the App Store, to denote how accessible an app is; Apple Watch is getting Live Captions, and Vehicle Motion Cues are coming to the Mac. 'Desktop' modeRumor has it that Apple is working on a "Stage Manager-like" desktop mode for USB-C iPhones with iOS 26. The feature would let you plug your iPhone into an external monitor, so you can extend your iPhone's screen to the larger display.This might not be a true "desktop mode" experience, like Samsung DeX, in that you might not be able to use your iPhone as a portable computer this way. But it could make it easier to share your iPhone's display when you want to connect to a larger screen. You only need to sign into public wifi networks onceIf you use multiple devices on public wifi networks, it's a pain to connect each one manually. That might be changing with Apple's upcoming updates: Gurman says that once updated, you'll only need to log into the wifi with one Apple device (your iPhone, iPad, or Mac) and the rest will automatically connect.Battery upgradesHere's a great use for AI: optimizing battery life. Rumor has it iOS 26 will analyze your usage habits and determine the right times to lower performance in the name of preserving battery life. Extending the amount of time between charges is something we can all get behind. In addition, the company may add a charging indicator to the lock screen, so you know how long your battery has left to charge. This small feature has been sorely missing on iPhones for years. Apple offers it on MacBooks, but only in Activity Monitor. I hope its brings it back to the menu bar in a future update. Your iPhone will (probably) run iOS 26With any luck, your current iPhone should be compatible with iOS 26, assuming you're currently running the latest software. Citing a source within Apple, French website iPhoneSoft.fr reports that any phone that runs iOS 18 should be compatible with iOS 26 as well. However, the iPad 7 will supposedly not be so lucky, as the website says it will not be included in the iPadOS 26 update.However, a MacRumors source says that Apple plans to drop the iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max this year. We'll have to wait and see what Apple announces on Monday to find out which phones will still be supported.A new gaming appAccording to Gurman, Apple is working on a dedicated gaming app for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and tvOS, meant to replace the existing Game Center. The app will both let you launch titles, as well as check leader boards, chat with friends, and see your achievements. If true, it'll be interesting timing, considering the announcement will come four days after the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2. I have my doubts that such an app could compete with a gaming titan like Nintendo, or that this will really expand beyond the traditional short and sweet mobile game experience, but who knows. Maybe Apple is about to become a serious gaming company. (I doubt it.)Shortcuts get Apple Intelligence integrationThe Shortcuts app lets you set up "shortcuts," which you can use to automate tasks across your Apple devices. Gurman says with iOS 26, Apple is integrating Apple Intelligence into the Shortcuts app, which might let you create shortcuts with natural language—or, in other words, describe the shortcuts you want and have the AI build them for you. Small updatesAccording to 9to5Mac, Apple has plans to add a new feature or two to a handful of apps. That includes:Messages: Automatic translation for incoming and outgoing messages, as well as polls.Music: Full-screen animated artwork on the lock screenNotes: Markdown support, a huge plus for pro-notes usersCarPlay: A redesigned UI to compliment iOS 26The merging of Siri and Apple IntelligenceAccording to Gurman, Apple plans to merge Siri with Apple Intelligence sometime during the iOS 26 patch cycle. Yes, the assistant is currently listed as being part of Apple Intelligence, but behind the scenes, it supposedly has a new LLM in the works that would unify its currently split architecture and allow it to more frequently handle complex requests. As of now, its AI features are much more limited, and most of Siri doesn't use this type of AI at all.Gurman says he expects the merger to be completed by spring of 2026 with the launch of iOS 26.4. His report states that, originally, Apple's plan was to launch a more conversational Siri in the same update, but that's been delayed and is not expected to be unveiled at WWDC 2025.Gurman also indicates that because Apple has not yet completed last year's Apple Intelligence feature rollout, any unannounced features shouldn't be expected for a while.

Any time a new console launches, it goes without saying that the actual hardware itself and the games that it is releasing with are always the top priorities for early adopters, but for a great number of the people who are hopping aboard that early, instant pickups of accessories are also usually high on that list. The Nintendo Switch 2’s release is right around the corner, and as you would expect, upon its release, a number of different accessories will also become available to allow players to optimize, customize, and supplement their Nintendo Switch 2 experience in a variety of ways. With the console’s release right around the corner, here, we’re going to talk about a few Switch 2 accessories that will be available alongside its release, and everything that you should know about them. NINTENDO SWITCH 2 PRO CONTROLLER – $84.99 Same as with the Switch 1 (and the Wii and the Wii U), Nintendo will also offer a Pro Controller with the Switch 2, an option that many are likely to make use of. For the most part, you can expect the Switch 2 Pro Controller to be similar to the Switch 1 Pro Controller, though as you’d expect, Nintendo will offer a few upgrades and enhancements with the controller’s new version. Similar to the jump from the Switch 1 to the Switch 2 itself, you can expect iterative changes between the two controllers. Let’s talk about those… NINTENDO SWITCH 2 PRO CONTROLLER – NEW FEATURES On top of everything that you’d expect from its previous version, the Switch 2 controller will also come with its own set of new features, including GL and GR buttons on the back that you’ll be able to map different actions and inputs to, the improved HD Rumble 2, the GameChat-tied C Button, and a 3.5 mm audio jack so you can directly plug in headsets. JOYCON 2 CONTROLLERS AND STRAPS – $13.99 In case you want to have additional JoyCon 2 pairs available for multiplayer gameplay (or as backups in case your main pair stops working, even though Nintendo is promising hardier JoyCons this time around- but you never know). they will be available to pick up. For now, Nintendo has only one colour combo available for JoyCon 2 controllers. They will be sold with straps, though straps are purchasable separately as well. JOYCON 2 CHARGING GRIP – $39.99 Much like the original Switch, you can buy a separate JoyCon charging grip for your JoyCon 2 controllers, too, in case you want to be able to play with them while charging them. And much like the regular, non-charging capable JoyCon 2 grip that comes with the Switch 2 console out of the box, this grip will also have the extra GL and GR paddle buttons for players to be able to map any button or action to, and save a profile for on a per-game basis. JOYCON 2 WHEEL – $24.99 Nintendo has something of a tradition of offering steering wheel controllers with its consoles, and that will continue with the Switch 2. JoyCon 2 steering wheels are also available, and each purchase comes with two sets- a red and a blue, same as JoyCon 2 controllers. With Mario Kart World being the big Switch 2 launch title, many will presumably be picking up the steering wheel accessory (though it will of course work with other racing games as well). NINTENDO SWITCH 2 CAMERA – $54.99 One of the big signature features for the Switch 2, at least from Nintendo’s perspective, is Game Chat, the built in voice and video chat platform that will be offered to Switch 2 owners as part of a Nintendo Switch Online subscription. Obviously, the whole video chat aspect of that only makes sense with a camera, and since the Switch 2 doesn’t come with a camera built in, you can buy one separately if this is something that appeals to you. The good thing is that it seems like, at least initially, Nintendo plans to support this accessory in a fair few games too. Mario Kart World will support it right at launch, and Super Mario Party Jamboree is getting an updated native Switch 2 release to support it as well. So you should be able to get some good use out of it, if you do get it. HORI’S PIRANHA PLANT CAMERA FOR NINTENDO SWITCH 2 – $59.99 If you want a different, whackier version of the Switch 2 Camera, an officially licensed third party option is available courtesy of Hori, which is selling a Piranha Plant Camera for the console. As its name suggests, the accessory is a Switch 2 Camera that comes in the shape of Super Mario’s iconic Piranha Plant. GAMECUBE CONTROLLER – $64.99 The Nintendo Switch Online subscription will offer a brand new library of retro games on the Switch 2, with GameCube titles finally set to be added. The fan favorite console has been requested for retro compatibility on Nintendo consoles for what feels like forever now, so it’s great to see it finally happening here. Much like was the case for other home consoles added to Nintendo Switch Online, Nintendo will offer authentic recreations of GameCube controllers that subscribers can buy and use, if they want to really kick up their nostalgia into next gear. This controller will, like every other Switch 2 controller, include the C button on it. Confusingly enough, this GameCube controller will be totally separate from the GameCube controllers Nintendo has been selling for the last decade for Smash players; those, presumably, can still be used with these GameCube games, although they do lack this controller’s wireless functionality or C button. NINTENDO SWITCH 2 DOCK – $119.99 The Switch 2 will obviously come with a dock right out the box, but if you do need an additional or a spare (or, you know, a replacement in the worst case scenario), you will be able to purchase individual Switch 2 docks, just like with the Switch 1. And though this should really go without saying, do keep in mind that Switch 1 docks won’t work with the Switch 2, and vice versa. CARRYING CASES Carrying cases are something of a necessity with portable consoles for a great many people, and yes, official first party options are available with the Switch 2 as well. A first party carry case and screen protector are being sold by Nintendo, as is a larger All-in-one carrying case that will also let you carry a dock cables, controllers, and cards all together. Of course, plenty of third party carry cases and screen protector options are also available. SAMSUNG MICROSD EXPRESS CARD – 256 GB FOR NINTENDO SWITCH 2 – $59.99 The Switch 2, much like every other current generation machine on the market, comes with a built in SSD for its internal storage, to allow for quicker game streaming and loading times. But, much like on other systems, this poses a unique dilemma when it comes to expanding the storage space available- in fact, the problem is more pronounced for the Switch 2 because as a hybrid console, it can’t really rely on large SSD enclosures. The answer lies in its support for MicroSD Express cards- the “express” part of the name is important, because these cards read and write data incredibly fast, at speeds comparable to a solid state drive. These cards are the only microSD cards that will work on a Switch 2- the regular ones can be used to transfer or store screenshots and videos, but other than that, you need a microSD Express card. Currently, these cost a fair bit, but since this is a market standard format, hopefully the prices will go down very quickly over time. NINTENDO SWITCH ACCESSORIES COMPATIBILITY The most important point to keep in mind for Switch 2 accessories, arguably, is this one- every single Switch accessory and controller you already own is compatible and supported on the Switch 2. There are some obvious exceptions where those have been necessary- as mentioned, regular microSD cards won’t work on Switch 2 beyond in a very limited capacity, and obviously you cannot use you existing Switch 1 carrying cases or screen protectors for your much larger Switch 2. But those obvious exceptions aside, everything works on the Switch 2, other than when you need to use specific features that weren’t available with the Switch1. So, for instance, while your old Switch 1 JoyCons will work with the Switch 2,, you won’t be able to use any C button related features, since, well, there is no C button for you to use. Similarly, you can continue using your Switch 1 Pro Controller with the Switch 2, but you won’t be able to use it to power on your console. So if you’re not really in the mood to spend a lot of money on getting these accessories, which, let’s face it, are going to be pricey- well, you don’t have to. Most of your existing stuff will work just fine, with some caveats.

Browning Industrial Park / MULTIPLE Architecture & UrbanismSave this picture!© Bruno Dias Ventura Architects: MULTIPLE Architecture & Urbanism Area Area of this architecture project Area:  15562 m² Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2024 Photographs Photographs:Bruno Dias Ventura Manufacturers Brands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers:  Joris Ide, Ozklux, VMZINC, ZumtobelMore SpecsLess Specs Save this picture! Text description provided by the architects. The Browning Park project emerged from a strong ambition: to transform a derelict industrial site - once home to Herstal's weapons industry - into a vibrant green lung at the heart of the city. Over time, the site had become a sealed and fragmented grey zone, disconnected from its surrounding neighborhoods. The project was driven by a desire to reverse this fragmentation by creating a continuous pedestrian path, reopening the site, and reconnecting it with its urban context. This central promenade became the backbone of the design, around which inclusive and fully accessible public spaces were thoughtfully arranged.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!One of the most significant challenges stemmed from the condition of the site itself. Decades of industrial activity had left behind polluted soils and substantial infrastructural remnants. A deep soil remediation process - reaching depths of up to 12 meters - was required before any development could begin. This necessary intervention also offered the opportunity to reshape the topography and increase permeable surfaces, thus improving rainwater infiltration and boosting the site's resilience to climate change. Another key challenge involved balancing heritage preservation with new uses. The former Browning factory, for instance, had to be partially dismantled, structurally reinforced, and reimagined, while retaining its historical identity.Save this picture!In terms of construction, the project focused on reusing existing structures wherever possible. The factory's original metal frame was preserved and strengthened, and a new timber roof was added to create a covered public hall. Adjacent to it, the garden integrates remnants of the steel framework, which now supports wild vegetation and forms a robust, weather-resistant landscape feature. These gestures embody the project's commitment to circularity and a low environmental footprint.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The spatial layout of the park was carefully designed to accommodate a wide variety of users and age groups. Along the main pedestrian spine, a sequence of diverse atmospheres and uses unfolds: a skatepark, a playground, picnic areas, outdoor fitness zones, a square with a fountain, a woodland area, and a flower garden. All these features are barrier-free and fully accessible.Save this picture!The project was developed in close dialogue with the people of Herstal and future park users. A series of public consultations and co-creation workshops were held throughout the design process, ensuring the park would reflect local needs and aspirations. The involvement of municipal services, which will oversee the long-term maintenance of the park, the hall, and the intergenerational house, was also crucial to ensuring the project's durability and success.Save this picture! Project gallerySee allShow less Project locationAddress:Herstal, BelgiumLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this office MaterialSteelMaterials and TagsPublished on June 05, 2025Cite: "Browning Industrial Park / MULTIPLE Architecture & Urbanism" 05 Jun 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1030623/browning-industrial-park-multiple-architecture-and-urbanism&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

23andMe has a path to a higher purchase price than the $256 million offered by biotech giant Regeneron after the genetic-testing company’s former chief executive pushed a bankruptcy court to reopen its sale process.

It has been 3 months since ACSA canceled the Fall 2025 Journal of Architectural Education (JAE) issue about Palestine and fired its interim executive editor, McClain Clutter. In response, the JAE editorial board resigned in protest. ACSA subsequently put out a solicitation for services to honor its contract with Taylor & Francis, who publishes JAE, and it sought new theme editors to publish an alternative Winter 2025 issue. ACSA also hired Maverick Publishing Specialists to conduct an independent review of JAE and ACSA editorial policy and practices related to the terminated 79.2 Palestine issue. University of Houston’s Rafael Longoria and Michelangelo Sabatino of the Illinois Institute of Technology are the Winter 2025 JAE 79:2 editors. Their theme for the issue? “Educating Civic Architects.” The new call for papers situates itself in our “increasingly complex economic, environmental, and political reality.” Theme editors seek “contributions that explore the full range of expressions of civic architecture and community design—past, present, and future.” The word “civic” is repeated throughout the open call, which echoes the Trump administration’s recent mandate for “beautiful federal civic architecture.”  The open call asks: “How might educating civic-minded architects help inspire and guide the profession? How do architecture schools foster a culture of collaboration with community and city leaders? How can design research inform the evolving role that civic-minded architects can play? Beyond the design studio, what role should the teaching of history, theory, professional practice, policy, technology, and other disciplines play in educating civic architects?” The open call cites Luiz Paulo Conde, an architect who became the mayor of Rio de Janeiro; former Peruvian architect-turned-president ​​Fernando Belaúnde Terry; and Jaime Lerner, an architect-turned-mayor-turned-governor from Brazil as cases to emulate. Terry organized PREVI, an ambitious social housing competition in Lima in the 1970s, but he also launched a settler-colonial campaign in Peru’s Indigenous territories. (Terry’s effort was outlined in his 1965 book Peru’s Own Conquest.) Italian mayors Giulio Carlo Argan and Massimo Cacciari, of Rome and Venice, respectively, were other examples of aesthete politicians JAE cited. Domestic examples are also offered, like Joseph P. Riley Jr., former mayor of Charleston, South Carolina; Harvey Gantt, former mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina; and Maurice Cox, who was mayor of Charlottesville, Virginia, before going on to leadership roles in Detroit and Chicago city government. Practicing architects are cited, like Richard Rogers and Johanna Hurme of 5468796 Architecture. The editors also invite reflections on postmodernism as it led to “increased attention on contextual design, vernacular architecture, and perhaps more significantly a reinvigorated interest in urban design.” ACSA executive director Michael Monti told AN: “We solicited proposals from a number of potential editorial teams. The interim editorial team for the Fall 2025 issue was selected through a committee of the Board of Directors. They authored the theme and the Call for Papers.” “The organization continues with the next steps for the journal that we communicated to our membership in the spring. This includes an external assessment of decisions, processes, and structures related to JAE and ACSA,” Monti added. “We are also convening a special committee to provide guidance on broader threats and issues facing our member schools. Those steps will inform the appointment of a new Executive Editor and Editorial Board in the upcoming months as well as the direction of the journal.” Disclosure: The author previously responded to the JAE’s call for papers for its now-canceled issue on Palestine.

House of the Future | 1956 Photograph Exhibited at the 1956 Ideal Home Exhibition in London, the House of the Future by Alison and Peter Smithson is a visionary prototype that challenges conventions of domesticity. Set within the context of post-war Britain, a period marked by austerity and emerging optimism, the project explored the intersection of technology, material innovation, and evolving social dynamics. The Smithsons, already recognized for their theoretical rigor and critical stance toward mainstream modernism, sought to push the boundaries of domestic architecture. In the House of the Future, they offered not merely a dwelling but a speculative environment that engaged with the promise and anxieties of the atomic age. House of the Future Technical Information Architects: Alison and Peter Smithson Location: Ideal Home Exhibition, London, United Kingdom Client: Daily Mail Ideal Home Exhibition  Gross Area: 90 m2 | 970 Sq. Ft. Construction Year: 1956 Photographs: Canadian Centre for Architecture and Unknown Photographer The House of the Future should be a serious attempt to visualize the future of our daily living in the light of modern knowledge and available materials. – Alison and Peter Smithson 1 House of the Future Photographs 1956 Photograph © Klaas Vermaas | 1956 Photograph 1956 Photograph 1956 Photograph 1956 Photograph 1956 Photograph 1956 Photograph 1956 Photograph Design Intent and Spatial Organization At the heart of the House of the Future lies a radical rethinking of spatial organization. Departing from conventional room hierarchies, the design promotes an open, fluid environment. Walls dissolve into curved partitions and adjustable elements, allowing for flexible reinterpretation of domestic spaces. Sleeping, dining, and social areas are loosely demarcated, creating a dynamic continuity that anticipates the contemporary concept of adaptable, multi-functional living. Circulation is conceived as an experiential sequence rather than a rigid path. Visitors enter through an air-lock-like vestibule, an explicit nod to the futuristic theme, and are drawn into an environment that eschews right angles and conventional thresholds. The Smithsons’ emphasis on flexibility and continuous movement within the house reflects their belief that domestic architecture must accommodate the evolving rhythms of life. Materiality, Technology, and the Future Materiality in the House of the Future embodies the optimism of the era. Plastics and synthetic finishes dominate the interior, forming seamless surfaces that evoke a sense of sterility and futility. Often associated with industrial production, these materials signaled a departure from traditional domestic textures. The smooth, malleable surfaces of the house reinforce the Smithsons’ embrace of prefabrication and modularity. Technological integration is a key theme. The design includes built-in appliances and concealed mechanical systems, hinting at a utopian and disquieting automated lifestyle. Bathrooms, kitchens, and sleeping pods are incorporated as interchangeable modules, underscoring the house as a system rather than a static structure. In doing so, the Smithsons prefigured later discourses on the “smart home” and the seamless integration of technology into daily life. This material and technological strategy reflects a critical understanding of domestic labor and convenience. The house’s self-contained gadgets and synthetic surfaces suggest a future in which maintenance and domestic chores are minimized, freeing inhabitants to engage with broader cultural and social pursuits. Legacy and Influence The House of the Future’s influence resonates far beyond its exhibition. It prefigured the radical experimentation of groups like Archigram and the metabolist visions of the 1960s. Its modular approach and embrace of technology also foreshadowed the high-tech movement’s fascination with flexibility and systems thinking. While the project was ephemeral, a temporary installation at a trade fair, its theoretical provocations endure. It questioned how architecture could not only house but also anticipate and shape new living forms. Moreover, it crystallized the Smithsons’ ongoing interrogation of architecture’s social role, from their later brutalist housing schemes to urban design theories. In retrospect, the House of the Future is less of a resolved design proposal and more of an architectural manifesto. It embodies a critical tension: the optimism of technological progress and the need for architecture to respond to human adaptability and social evolution. As we confront contemporary challenges like climate crisis, digital living, and shifting social paradigms, the Smithsons’ speculative experiment remains an evocative reminder that the architecture of tomorrow must be as thoughtful and provocative as the House of the Future. House of the Future Plans Axonometric View | © Alison and Peter Smithson via CCA Floor Plan | © Alison and Peter Smithson, via CCA Floor Plan | © Alison and Peter Smithson, via CCA Section | © Alison and Peter Smithson, via CCA Section | © Alison and Peter Smithson, via CCA Section | © Alison and Peter Smithson, via CCA Section | © Alison and Peter Smithson, via CCA Section | © Alison and Peter Smithson, via CCA House of the Future Image Gallery About Alison and Peter Smithson Alison and Peter Smithson were British architects and influential thinkers who emerged in the mid-20th century, celebrated for their critical reimagining of modern architecture. Their work, including projects like the House of the Future, the Robin Hood Gardens housing complex, and the Upper Lawn Solar Pavilion, consistently challenged conventional notions of domesticity, urbanism, and materiality. Central to their practice was a belief in architecture’s capacity to shape social life, emphasizing adaptability, flexibility, and the dynamic interactions between buildings and their users. They were pivotal in bridging the gap between post-war modernism and the experimental architectural movements of the 1960s and 1970s. Credits and Additional Notes Banham, Reyner. Theory and Design in the First Machine Age. MIT Press, 1960. Forty, Adrian. Words and Buildings: A Vocabulary of Modern Architecture. Thames & Hudson, 2000. Smithson, Alison, and Peter Smithson. The Charged Void: Architecture. Monacelli Press, 2001. OASE Journal. “Houses of the Future: 1956 and Beyond.” OASE 75, 2007. Vidler, Anthony. Histories of the Immediate Present: Inventing Architectural Modernism. MIT Press, 2008. Canadian Centre for Architecture (CCA). “House of the Future.”

Any time a new console launches, it goes without saying that the actual hardware itself and the games that it is releasing with are always the top priorities for early adopters, but for a great number of the people who are hopping aboard that early, instant pickups of accessories are also usually high on that list. The Nintendo Switch 2’s release is right around the corner, and as you would expect, upon its release, a number of different accessories will also become available to allow players to optimize, customize, and supplement their Nintendo Switch 2 experience in a variety of ways. With the console’s release right around the corner, here, we’re going to talk about a few Switch 2 accessories that will be available alongside its release, and everything that you should know about them. NINTENDO SWITCH 2 PRO CONTROLLER – $84.99 Same as with the Switch 1 (and the Wii and the Wii U), Nintendo will also offer a Pro Controller with the Switch 2, an option that many are likely to make use of. For the most part, you can expect the Switch 2 Pro Controller to be similar to the Switch 1 Pro Controller, though as you’d expect, Nintendo will offer a few upgrades and enhancements with the controller’s new version. Similar to the jump from the Switch 1 to the Switch 2 itself, you can expect iterative changes between the two controllers. Let’s talk about those… NINTENDO SWITCH 2 PRO CONTROLLER – NEW FEATURES On top of everything that you’d expect from its previous version, the Switch 2 controller will also come with its own set of new features, including GL and GR buttons on the back that you’ll be able to map different actions and inputs to, the improved HD Rumble 2, the GameChat-tied C Button, and a 3.5 mm audio jack so you can directly plug in headsets. JOYCON 2 CONTROLLERS AND STRAPS – $13.99 In case you want to have additional JoyCon 2 pairs available for multiplayer gameplay (or as backups in case your main pair stops working, even though Nintendo is promising hardier JoyCons this time around- but you never know). they will be available to pick up. For now, Nintendo has only one colour combo available for JoyCon 2 controllers. They will be sold with straps, though straps are purchasable separately as well. JOYCON 2 CHARGING GRIP – $39.99 Much like the original Switch, you can buy a separate JoyCon charging grip for your JoyCon 2 controllers, too, in case you want to be able to play with them while charging them. And much like the regular, non-charging capable JoyCon 2 grip that comes with the Switch 2 console out of the box, this grip will also have the extra GL and GR paddle buttons for players to be able to map any button or action to, and save a profile for on a per-game basis. JOYCON 2 WHEEL – $24.99 Nintendo has something of a tradition of offering steering wheel controllers with its consoles, and that will continue with the Switch 2. JoyCon 2 steering wheels are also available, and each purchase comes with two sets- a red and a blue, same as JoyCon 2 controllers. With Mario Kart World being the big Switch 2 launch title, many will presumably be picking up the steering wheel accessory (though it will of course work with other racing games as well). NINTENDO SWITCH 2 CAMERA – $54.99 One of the big signature features for the Switch 2, at least from Nintendo’s perspective, is Game Chat, the built in voice and video chat platform that will be offered to Switch 2 owners as part of a Nintendo Switch Online subscription. Obviously, the whole video chat aspect of that only makes sense with a camera, and since the Switch 2 doesn’t come with a camera built in, you can buy one separately if this is something that appeals to you. The good thing is that it seems like, at least initially, Nintendo plans to support this accessory in a fair few games too. Mario Kart World will support it right at launch, and Super Mario Party Jamboree is getting an updated native Switch 2 release to support it as well. So you should be able to get some good use out of it, if you do get it. HORI’S PIRANHA PLANT CAMERA FOR NINTENDO SWITCH 2 – $59.99 If you want a different, whackier version of the Switch 2 Camera, an officially licensed third party option is available courtesy of Hori, which is selling a Piranha Plant Camera for the console. As its name suggests, the accessory is a Switch 2 Camera that comes in the shape of Super Mario’s iconic Piranha Plant. GAMECUBE CONTROLLER – $64.99 The Nintendo Switch Online subscription will offer a brand new library of retro games on the Switch 2, with GameCube titles finally set to be added. The fan favorite console has been requested for retro compatibility on Nintendo consoles for what feels like forever now, so it’s great to see it finally happening here. Much like was the case for other home consoles added to Nintendo Switch Online, Nintendo will offer authentic recreations of GameCube controllers that subscribers can buy and use, if they want to really kick up their nostalgia into next gear. This controller will, like every other Switch 2 controller, include the C button on it. Confusingly enough, this GameCube controller will be totally separate from the GameCube controllers Nintendo has been selling for the last decade for Smash players; those, presumably, can still be used with these GameCube games, although they do lack this controller’s wireless functionality or C button. NINTENDO SWITCH 2 DOCK – $119.99 The Switch 2 will obviously come with a dock right out the box, but if you do need an additional or a spare (or, you know, a replacement in the worst case scenario), you will be able to purchase individual Switch 2 docks, just like with the Switch 1. And though this should really go without saying, do keep in mind that Switch 1 docks won’t work with the Switch 2, and vice versa. CARRYING CASES Carrying cases are something of a necessity with portable consoles for a great many people, and yes, official first party options are available with the Switch 2 as well. A first party carry case and screen protector are being sold by Nintendo, as is a larger All-in-one carrying case that will also let you carry a dock cables, controllers, and cards all together. Of course, plenty of third party carry cases and screen protector options are also available. SAMSUNG MICROSD EXPRESS CARD – 256 GB FOR NINTENDO SWITCH 2 – $59.99 The Switch 2, much like every other current generation machine on the market, comes with a built in SSD for its internal storage, to allow for quicker game streaming and loading times. But, much like on other systems, this poses a unique dilemma when it comes to expanding the storage space available- in fact, the problem is more pronounced for the Switch 2 because as a hybrid console, it can’t really rely on large SSD enclosures. The answer lies in its support for MicroSD Express cards- the “express” part of the name is important, because these cards read and write data incredibly fast, at speeds comparable to a solid state drive. These cards are the only microSD cards that will work on a Switch 2- the regular ones can be used to transfer or store screenshots and videos, but other than that, you need a microSD Express card. Currently, these cost a fair bit, but since this is a market standard format, hopefully the prices will go down very quickly over time. NINTENDO SWITCH ACCESSORIES COMPATIBILITY The most important point to keep in mind for Switch 2 accessories, arguably, is this one- every single Switch accessory and controller you already own is compatible and supported on the Switch 2. There are some obvious exceptions where those have been necessary- as mentioned, regular microSD cards won’t work on Switch 2 beyond in a very limited capacity, and obviously you cannot use you existing Switch 1 carrying cases or screen protectors for your much larger Switch 2. But those obvious exceptions aside, everything works on the Switch 2, other than when you need to use specific features that weren’t available with the Switch1. So, for instance, while your old Switch 1 JoyCons will work with the Switch 2,, you won’t be able to use any C button related features, since, well, there is no C button for you to use. Similarly, you can continue using your Switch 1 Pro Controller with the Switch 2, but you won’t be able to use it to power on your console. So if you’re not really in the mood to spend a lot of money on getting these accessories, which, let’s face it, are going to be pricey- well, you don’t have to. Most of your existing stuff will work just fine, with some caveats.