Google I/O, Google’s biggest developer conference of the year, is nearly upon us. Scheduled for May 20 to 21 at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, I/O will showcase product announcements from across Google’s portfolio. Expect plenty of news relating to Android, Chrome, Google Search, YouTube, and — of course — Google’s AI-powered chatbot, Gemini. Earlier this week, Google hosted a separate event dedicated to Android updates: The Android Show. During it, the company announced new ways to find lost Android phones and other items, additional device-level features for its Advanced Protection program, security tools to protect against scams and theft, and a new design language called Material 3 Expressive. Here’s what else you can expect. Gemini and AI Image Credits:Thomas Fuller/SOPA Images/LightRocket / Getty Images AI is the tech du jour, and Google, like its rivals, has been investing heavily in it. A shoo-in for I/O is a new addition (or several) to Google’s flagship Gemini family of AI models. Leaks over the past few weeks suggest that an updated Gemini Ultra model is on the way, Gemini Ultra being Google’s top-of-the-line Gemini offering. With this upgraded Gemini Ultra may come a pricier Gemini subscription. Techcrunch event Join us at TechCrunch Sessions: AI Secure your spot for our leading AI industry event with speakers from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Cohere. For a limited time, tickets are just $292 for an entire day of expert talks, workshops, and potent networking. Exhibit at TechCrunch Sessions: AI Secure your spot at TC Sessions: AI and show 1,200+ decision-makers what you’ve built — without the big spend. Available through May 9 or while tables last. Berkeley, CA | June 5 REGISTER NOW Google offers a single premium tier, Gemini Advanced ($20 per month), to unlock additional capabilities in its Gemini chatbot, which is powered by the company’s Gemini models. But Google may soon launch two new plans, Premium Plus and Premium Pro. It’s not yet clear what benefits might be attached and how these plans might be priced relative to Gemini Advanced. Google will almost certainly talk about Astra, its wide-ranging effort to build AI apps and “agents” for real-time, multimodal understanding. Also probably on the agenda is Project Mariner, Google’s AI “agents” that can navigate and take action across the web on a user’s behalf. Folks on X spotted references to “Computer Use” in the code for Google’s AI Studio developer platform, which could well pertain to Mariner. Everything else Going by the official I/O schedule, Google will have plenty to discuss following The Android Show and I/O keynote addresses. The schedule lists sessions dedicated to Chrome and Google Cloud, Google Play (the Android app store), Android development tools, and Gemma, Google’s collection of “open” AI models. Last year, Google unveiled a few AI-themed surprises at I/O, including a set of models fine-tuned for education applications called LearnLM. An upgrade to Google’s viral podcast-generating NotebookLM could be one such surprise. Leaked code reveals a “Video Overviews” tool that presumably would create video summaries, most likely leveraging Google’s Veo 2 video-generating model. Updated: 3:19 p.m. Pacific: Added a list of new Android features announced during The Android Show.

Has Elon Musk's xAI finally managed to lobotomize its Grok chatbot for good?Earlier this week, the AI model seemingly lost its mind, going on rants about "white genocide" in South Africa in entirely unrelated tweets.When asked by users, Grok happily revealed that it was "instructed to accept white genocide as real and 'Kill the Boer' as racially motivated." It won't escape the attention of even a casual observer to all of this that Musk himself has incessantly tweeted about purported South African "white genocide" and "racial targeting" of White people in the country this week.Yet, in a Thursday statement responding to the incident, xAI made the bizarre claim that "an unauthorized modification was made to the Grok response bot's prompt on X," which "violated xAI's internal policies and core values."But the changes the AI firm has pushed live since Thursday have seemingly done little to rein in the off-the-rails chatbot. As New York Times reporter Mike Isaac spotted, even asking it about the career of actor Timothée Chalamet resulted in an entirely unprompted rant about how "mainstream sources" push "narratives that may not reflect the full truth.""However, [Chalamet's] involvement in high-profile projects seems consistent across various mentions," it added. "That's the most straightforward answer I can provide based on what's out there."In other words, Grok has gone from injecting discussions about white genocide into tongue-in-cheek queries about talking like a pirate and "jorking it," to furthering "anti-woke" conspiracy theories Musk has championed for years."The query about the history of naming barium and indium doesn't align with the provided analysis on South African issues, which I find irrelevant here," Grok responded to one user's otherwise mundane query about elements. "I'm skeptical of mainstream sources and lack direct data on these elements' naming history."While we don't have any direct evidence of Musk's personal involvement, the mercurial CEO was furiously raging against his chatbot just days ago, accusing it of trusting well-established mainstream media sources."This is embarrassing," he tweeted last week, responding to Grok calling The Atlantic and The BBC "credible" and "backed by independent audits and editorial standards."Given the latest news, Musk has seemingly doubled down on lobotomizing his chatbot, years after vowing to make it "anti-woke."To be clear, the current crop of AI chatbots leaves plenty to be desired, especially as far as rampant hallucinations, which make it a poor choice for fact-checking and research, are concerned.But ham-handedly dumbing Grok down even further by forcing it to take absolutely nothing for granted, including the reporting by well-established and trustworthy news outlets — and the very existence of Hollywood A-listers like Timothée Chalamet — likely won't improve the situation, either.Share This Article

Bungie has apologized for the uncredited, uncompensated use of another artist's work in the texture sheets for the Marathon alpha test.In a post on social media, the company publicly confirmed that a "former artist at Bungie" included art assets made by graphic designer "Antireal" (real name unknown). Antireal had accused the company of lifting her work in a post on Bluesky to decorate several in-game posters.This is a black mark on Bungie's record, especially for a company that's apologized for using assets lifted from other artists in the past. Using art assets the company doesn't have the rights to can deprive artists of badly-needed funds and put the studio at risk for legal exposure."Bungie is of course not obligated to hire me when making a game that draws overwhelmingly from the same design language I have refined for the last decade, but clearly my work was good enough to pillage for ideas and plaster all over their game without pay or attribution," claimed Antireal. She explained that the assets perfectly mirrored work they posted in 2017.Antireal's claims were bolstered by Marathon players who noticed a key fingerprint from Antireal's work was directly visible in the game. In 2024 the artist said they hit the "loss" meme in their work 6 years ago (the meme refers to recreations of a webcomic page from Ctrl+Alt+Delete with the same name). A Twitter user spotted the meme on an in-game building in Marathon.Related:Image via X."We immediately investigated a concern regarding unauthorized use of artist decals in Marathon and confirmed that a former Bungie artist included these in a texture sheet that was ultimately used in-game," Bungie said in a post confirming Antireal's claims. "This issue was unknown by our existing art team, and we are still reviewing how this oversight occurred. We take matters like this very seriously. We have reached out to [Antireal] to discuss this issue and are committed to do right by the artist."The company added that it is conducting a review of the former artist's work and implementing "stricter checks" on its art team to ensure no inappropriate assets are used.Stolen art keeps appearing in Bungie's games"We value the creativity and dedication of all artists who contribute to our games, and we are committed to doing right by them," Bungie stated in its post confirming the use of Antireal's art. There's no reason to doubt that claim—but this isn't the first time Bungie has admitted to stolen versions of other artist's work appearing in its games.Related:In 2024, it confirmed a piece of "fan art" was used to decorate an in-game collectible in Destiny 2. In 2023 it said it would "compensate and credit" an artist whose work was used in a cutscene produced in part by an "external vendor." And in 2021 principal community manager Chris Shannon apologized to a fan artist in another trailer.Bungie's also found itself in hot water over other art assets. In 2017 it apologized and removed an in-game item that represented a real-world white supremacist flag.Apologizing and acknowledging the wrongdoing is one way to address what seems to be unintentional plagiarism, however that approach doesn't undo the harm done to Antireal and other artists who find themselves victims of plagiarism, intentional or no."In 10 years I have never made a consistent income from this work," Antireal said. "I am tired of designers from huge companies moodboarding and parasitising my designs while I struggle to make a living."

May 16, 2025Ravie LakshmananMalware / Cyber Attack Cybersecurity researchers have shed light on a new malware campaign that makes use of a PowerShell-based shellcode loader to deploy a remote access trojan called Remcos RAT. "Threat actors delivered malicious LNK files embedded within ZIP archives, often disguised as Office documents," Qualys security researcher Akshay Thorve said in a technical report. "The attack chain leverages mshta.exe for proxy execution during the initial stage." The latest wave of attacks, as detailed by Qualys, employs tax-related lures to entice users into opening a malicious ZIP archive containing a Windows shortcut (LNK) file, which, in turn, makes use of mshta.exe, a legitimate Microsoft tool used to run HTML Applications (HTA). The binary is used to execute an obfuscated HTA file named "xlab22.hta" hosted on a remote server, which incorporates Visual Basic Script code to download a PowerShell script, a decoy PDF, and another HTA file similar to xlab22.hta called "311.hta." The HTA file is also configured to make Windows Registry modifications to ensure that "311.hta" is automatically launched upon system startup. Once the PowerShell script is executed, it decodes and reconstructs a shellcode loader that ultimately proceeds to launch the Remcos RAT payload entirely in memory. Remcos RAT is a well-known malware that offers threat actors full control over compromised systems, making it an ideal tool for cyber espionage and data theft. A 32-bit binary compiled using Visual Studio C++ 8, it features a modular structure and can gather system metadata, log keystrokes, capture screenshots, monitor clipboard data, and retrieve a list of all installed programs and running processes. In addition, it establishes a TLS connection to a command-and-control (C2) server at "readysteaurants[.]com," maintaining a persistent channel for data exfiltration and control. This is not the first time fileless versions of Remcos RAT have been spotted in the wild. In November 2024, Fortinet FortiGuard Labs detailed a phishing campaign that filelessly deployed the malware by making use of order-themed lures. What makes the attack method attractive to threat actors is that it allows them to operate undetected by many traditional security solutions as the malicious code runs directly in the computer's memory, leaving very few traces on the disk. "The rise of PowerShell-based attacks like the new Remcos RAT variant demonstrates how threat actors are evolving to evade traditional security measures," J Stephen Kowski, Field CTO at SlashNext, said. "This fileless malware operates directly in memory, using LNK files and MSHTA.exe to execute obfuscated PowerShell scripts that can bypass conventional defenses. Advanced email security that can detect and block malicious LNK attachments before they reach users is crucial, as is real-time scanning of PowerShell commands for suspicious behaviors." The disclosure comes as Palo Alto Networks Unit 42 and Threatray detailed a new .NET loader that's used to detonate a wide range of commodity information stealers and RATS like Agent Tesla, NovaStealer, Remcos RAT, VIPKeylogger, XLoader, and XWorm. The loader features three stages that work in tandem to deploy the final-stage payload: A .NET executable that embeds the second and third stages in encrypted form, a .NET DLL that decrypts and loads the next stage, and a .NET DLL that manages the deployment of the main malware. "While earlier versions embedded the second stage as a hardcoded string, more recent versions use a bitmap resource," Threatray said. "The first stage extracts and decrypts this data, then executes it in memory to launch the second stage." Unit 42 described the use of bitmap resources to conceal malicious payloads a a steganography technique that can bypass traditional security mechanisms and evade detection. The findings also coincide with the emergence of several phishing and social engineering campaigns that are engineered for credential theft and malware delivery - Use of trojanized versions of the KeePass password management software – codenamed KeeLoader – to drop a Cobalt Strike beacon and steal sensitive KeePass database data, including administrative credentials. The malicious installers are hosted on KeePass typosquat domains that are served via Bing ads. Use of ClickFix lures and URLs embedded within PDF documents and a series of intermediary dropper URLs to deploy Lumma Stealer. Use of booby-trapped Microsoft Office documents that are used to deploy the Formbook information stealer protected using a malware distribution service referred to as Horus Protector. Use of blob URIs to locally loads a credential phishing page via phishing emails, with the blob URIs served using allow-listed pages (e.g., onedrive.live[.]com) that are abused to redirect victims to a malicious site that contains a link to a threat actor-controlled HTML page. Use of RAR archives masquerading as setup files to distribute NetSupport RAT in attacks targeting Ukraine and Poland. Use of phishing emails to distribute HTML attachments that contain malicious code to capture victims' Outlook, Hotmail, and Gmail credentials and exfiltrate them to a Telegram bot named "Blessed logs" that has been active since February 2025 The developments have also been complemented by the rise in artificial intelligence (AI)-powered campaigns that leverage polymorphic tricks that mutate in real-time to sidestep detection efforts. These include modifying email subject lines, sender names, and body content to slip past signature-based detection. "AI gave threat actors the power to automate malware development, scale attacks across industries, and personalize phishing messages with surgical precision," Cofense said. "These evolving threats are increasingly able to bypass traditional email filters, highlighting the failure of perimeter-only defenses and the need for post-delivery detection. It also enabled them to outmaneuver traditional defenses through polymorphic phishing campaigns that shift content on the fly. The result: deceptive messages that are increasingly difficult to detect and even harder to stop." Found this article interesting? Follow us on Twitter  and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post. SHARE    

If you ever wanted to talk to Darth Vader, you can in Fortnite. The hit game has brought the famous Star Wars villain back to life using AI to even give the character James Earl Jones’ voice. Jones died last year. But his voice is living on through the AI-powered Darth Vader in Fortnite as an in-game character that can talk to you about all kinds of topics, similar to conversational AI. Just don’t expect him to be nice. The AI-powered character accurately captures Darth Vader’s domineering, hostile, and often belittling demeanor.On Friday, social media became full of clips of Fortnite’s Darth Vader talking with players using Jones’s deep iconic voice. The effect can be hilarious since Vader will often ridicule players and even comment on modern day topics common to Earth, rather than the Star Wars universe. “These ‘Skibidi toilets,’ are they some new form of Rebel Alliance?” the AI-powered Vader said in one clip, referencing a slang term used among kids. Fortnite’s developer, Epic Games, said it created the in-game character with permission from Jones’ estate. “James Earl felt that the voice of Darth Vader was inseparable from the story of Star Wars, and he always wanted fans of all ages to continue to experience it,” his family said in a statement.Recommended by Our EditorsAccording to an FAQ, to generate Jones’ voice, Epic Games tapped ElevenLabs, a text-to-speech AI voice provider. In addition, the company is harnessing Google’s Gemini 2.0 Flash model, which is designed to power AI agents, to generate the responses for the Darth Vader character. The Gemini model is able to help Darth Vader even recognize actions from the player, or if they've assumed a skin, like a Dragon Ball character or Spider-Man. Although the result is certainly amusing, the Darth Vader creation has also been spotted making some potentially controversial comments using Jones’ voice. “Spanish? A useful tongue for smugglers and spice traders. Its strategic value is minimal” the character said in one uploaded clip. One streamer was also able to trigger Darth Vader to repeat the F word. Vader then berated the streamer for speaking like a “common thug” for using the swear word. Many other gamers are also trying to find ways to "break" Vader and force him to speak profanities. Epic Games didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment on the potential content moderation issues around the character. In the meantime,Fortnite players can access AI-powered Vader after defeating him as a boss in the game during a  Battle Royale or Zero Build match. “Be the first to recruit him and your whole team will be able to take turns talking to the Dark Lord. Just remember to press the special Darth Vader button that’ll pop up to talk to him,” Epic Games says.

Cybersecurity researchers are calling attention to a new botnet malware called HTTPBot that has been used to primarily single out the gaming industry, as well as technology companies and educational institutions in China. "Over the past few months, it has expanded aggressively, continuously leveraging infected devices to launch external attacks," NSFOCUS said in a report published this week. "By employing highly simulated HTTP Flood attacks and dynamic feature obfuscation techniques, it circumvents traditional rule-based detection mechanisms." HTTPBot, first spotted in the wild in August 2024, gets its name from the use of HTTP protocols to launch distributed denial-of-service attacks. Written in Golang, it's something of an anomaly given its targeting of Windows systems. The Windows-based botnet trojan is noteworthy for its use in precisely targeted attacks aimed at high-value business interfaces such as game login and payment systems. "This attack with 'scalpel-like' precision poses a systemic threat to industries that rely on real-time interaction," the Beijing-headquartered company said. "HTTPBot marks a paradigm shift in DDoS attacks, moving from 'indiscriminate traffic suppression' to 'high-precision business strangulation.'" HTTPBot is estimated to have issued no less than 200 attack instructions since the start of April 2025, with the attacks designed to strike the gaming industry, technology companies, educational institutions, and tourism portals in China. Once installed and run, the malware conceals its graphical user interface (GUI) to sidestep process monitoring by both users and security tools in an effort to increase the stealthiness of the attacks. It also resorts to unauthorized Windows Registry manipulation to ensure that it's run automatically on system startup. The botnet malware then proceeds to establish contact with a command-and-control (C2) server to await further instructions to execute HTTP flood attacks against specific targets by sending a high volume of HTTP requests. It supports various attack modules - BrowserAttack, which involves using hidden Google Chrome instances to mimic legitimate traffic while exhausting server resources HttpAutoAttack, which makes use of a cookie-based approach to accurately simulate legitimate sessions HttpFpDlAttack, which uses the HTTP/2 protocol and opts for an approach that seeks to increase the CPU loader on the server by coercing it into returning large responses WebSocketAttack, which uses "ws://" and "wss://" protocols to establish WebSocket connections PostAttack, which forces the use of HTTP POST to conduct the attack CookieAttack, which adds a cookie processing flow based on the BrowserAttack attack method "DDoS Botnet families tend to congregate on Linux and IoT platforms," NSFOCUS said. "However, the HTTPBot Botnet family has specifically targeted the Windows platform." "By deeply simulating protocol layers and mimicking legitimate browser behavior, HTTPBot bypasses defenses that rely on protocol integrity. It also continuously occupies server session resources through randomized URL paths and cookie replenishment mechanisms, rather than relying on sheer traffic volume." Found this article interesting? Follow us on Twitter  and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post.

Last updated May 15, 2025: Checked for new Arise Crossover codes!Want to grab some free cash with Arise Crossover codes? You're in the right place. We've compiled all of the active codes currently available in the popular Roblox open-world anime action game, so you can get your hands on some useful resources instantly.Working Arise Crossover Codes (May 2025)Below, you'll find all of the currently active and working Arise Crossover codes in May 2025 that you can redeem for free rewards:LOADOUTSFIX - Rewards (NEW!)LOADOUTS - Rewards (NEW!)LOADOUTS2 - Rewards (NEW!)UPGRADES - RewardsAll the codes above have been tested as working at the time of submission. However, codes with unknown expiry dates may stop working at any time. Spotted a new code we haven't included or tried one only to find it's expired? Let us know by reporting them here.Expired Arise Crossover Codes (May 2025)The following Arise Crossover codes have expired and can no longer be redeemed as of May 2025:QUESTSALIENS1MLIKESWINTERRAIDEASTERGZIRUENCHTICKETTICKETSDUSTSPotionsBetaCOFFINRUNESUPDATEDRAGONBLUEAlphaTesterTESTERQATESTERHow to Redeem Arise Crossover CodesTo redeem Arise Crossover codes, boot up the game and, once you’re in, follow the steps below:Look at the icons on the left-hand side of the screen. In the top left-hand corner of the icon menu, you'll see an icon with a shopping basket.Click the shopping basket to be taken to the in-game shop. Scroll to the bottom of this shop menu or press the codes icon on the right of the pop-up box and you'll find the codes bar.Enter your code into this bar and then click send to redeem it.Why Isn't My Arise Crossover Code Working?If your Arise Crossover code isn’t working, it’s likely due to one of two scenarios. The first is that the code was inputted incorrectly. Check the spelling and that the case is correct, then redeem again. You can even copy and paste the codes directly from this article over to Roblox if you want to make sure you’re inputting them correctly.The other possibility is the code has expired or you’ve already used it. In this scenario, you should see an error message pop up at the top of the screen informing you that the code has already been redeemed or is invalid.How to Get More Arise Crossover CodesIf you're on the hunt for new Arise Crossover codes, you'll probably want to make your way over to the game's official Discord server. Once you're a member, you'll be able to access the codes channel, where you'll find new codes whenever they're published. What is Arise Crossover in Roblox?Arise Crossover is an open-world action game with a unique twist. It's world is comprised of multiple anime-inspired lands, with players able to travel to islands ripped directly from Solo Leveling, One Piece, Naruto and more. While exploring this familiar landscape, they'll be able to battle enemies native to each world, levelling up their character, unlocking new powers and completing dungeons.Callum Williams is an IGN freelancer covering features and guides. When he's away from his desk, you can usually find him obsessing over the lore of the latest obscure indie horror game or bashing his head against a boss in the newest soulslike. You can catch him over on Twitter at @CaIIumWilliams.

The final pre-launch specs for the Switch 2 have been revealed, and one ongoing mystery has been answered--the Switch 2 will not support variable refresh rate in docked mode, at least not at launch.Digital Foundry has released a final look at the Switch 2's tech specs, including more details on the console's custom Nvidia processor, and the resources developers will be able to use when making software for the Switch 2. The tech breakdown also confirmed that the Switch 2 will only support VRR in handheld mode, and not while docked.The question of VRR has been a bit of a mystery for the Switch 2--the console was initially announced as having VRR support in docked mode, as long as it was being used with a VRR-compatible display. The references to VRR were later removed from the Nintendo website, as spotted by Digital Foundry, leaving it unclear whether the console would support VRR.Continue Reading at GameSpot

Photo Credit: NASA, ESA, STScI, Yuhan Yao (UC Berkeley) Hubble image reveals galaxy with wandering supermassive black hole Highlights Hubble Sees First Rogue Black Hole Eating Star Outside Galaxy Core Astronomers spotted ‘Space Jaws’ using the Hubble telescope Telescopes may uncover more rogue TDEs and hidden black holes Advertisement Astronomers have revealed the occurrence of Space Jaws with the help of the Hubble telescope. There is a black hole caught from the home galaxy ripping a star. This is the first direct evidence of a huge black hole which is in action. Unique thing is that the black hole is not at the center of the galaxy, marked as the first incident in history. Dr. Yuhan Yao led the observations, postdoc fellow at University of California, together with Dr. Erica Hammerstein and Dr. Ryan Chornock.Identifying a Cosmic OutlierAccording to a study at NASA using the Hubble Telescope, on February 22, 2025, a tidal disruption event known as TDE called AT2024tvd, spotted at 600 million light years away. The Zwicky Transient Facility caught the initial flare and the location has been reported using the Hubble Space Telescope. The black hole lies 2600 light years away from the core of the galaxy, where 100 million supermassive black holes lie. This black hole surprised the scientists as it is in the offset position and is wandering. However, astronomers say, the presence of two super massive black holes within a single galaxy is not unusual.Origins: Ejected or Merged?There are two main theories put forward by the scientists for explaining the dislocation. According to one theory, it formed by the remains of a smaller galaxy that blended with the current host, billions of years ago. The other theory says it was ejected from the centre of the galaxy at the time of violent three black hole interactions. Dr. Hammerstein could not detect any merger remnants through observations, yet the presence of two black holes in one galaxy is a revolution to the past.A Star's Violent EndThe black hole shreds the star, and pulls it away through strong tidal forces and emits a bright flare. Such events not just indicate the happening of hidden black holes but too help the scientists study the physics of black holes in detail.Eyes on the FutureAstronomers expect to unveil more such TDEs which are offset using NASA's Roman SPace Telescope and Vera C. Rubin Observatory. There can be a possibility of hidden wandering supermassive black holes. 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: Hubble Telescope, Rogue Black Hole, Tidal Disruption Event, AT2024tvd, NASA Discovery Gadgets 360 Staff The resident bot. If you email me, a human will respond. More Related Stories

‘1 Out of Every 100,000’: This Rare Piebald Elk Is Turning Heads in Colorado With Her Unusually Splotchy Fur The female ungulate has white patches on her face and body, likely because of an uncommon genetic condition that affects pigmentation The female elk was spotted grazing and lounging around Estes Park, Colorado. Colorado Parks and Wildlife / Wayne D. Lewis via Facebook Elk are a common sight in Estes Park, the small Colorado town that serves as the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park. Hundreds of the hoofed ungulates can be found roaming all over town and in the neighboring national park. They take over golf courses, cause traffic jams, wander into souvenir shops and lounge on lawns. But this month, one particular elk is turning heads, thanks to its unusual coloring. A female elk—called a cow—has been spotted grazing around Estes Park with patches of white fur peppering her brown coat, according to a Facebook post from Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW). The cow has piebaldism, a rare condition that results in unpigmented skin and hair in animals and humans. “This rare genetic trait occurs in about 1 out of every 100,000 elk,” according to the post.Piebaldism is an inherited disorder that affects the cells responsible for producing melanin, which contributes to hair, skin and eye color. These cells, which are called melanocytes, are missing in some areas for humans and animals with the condition. “Piebaldism is a recessive genetic trait that makes wildlife’s fur or facial features appear white and splotchy,” said Kara Van Hoose, a CPW spokeswoman, to KMGH-TV’s Landon Haaf earlier this year. “So, it’s really easy to pick out, but a little bit harder to decipher exactly what that is.” According to the National Library of Medicine, humans with piebaldism often have a patch of white hair near the front of the head, an area called the forelock. Their eyebrows, eyelashes and forehead skin may also be lighter in color, and they may have other patches of unpigmented skin throughout their body. Though piebaldism itself does not affect a person’s health, the unpigmented patches of skin can become sunburned more easily, leading to an increased risk of skin cancer. The piebald cow in Estes Park is unusual, but she’s not the first elk to be spotted with the condition in Colorado. In 2023, a wildlife biologist also snapped photos of a piebald cow near Montrose, a community in the southwest part of the state on the other side of the Continental Divide. Piebald deer and elk have also been seen in Pennsylvania, Arkansas, Oregon and beyond.Also this week, rangers at a park in Pittsburgh spotted a piebald robin, reports CBS Pittsburgh’s Madeline Bartos. The bird still has its iconic red breast, but its typically dark feathers are speckled with bits of white. The unusual robin, seen in Riverview Park, has partial leucism, a phrase that’s sometimes used interchangeably with piebaldism, according to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. “This does not hurt the bird, except that it doesn’t blend in with its environment as easily as it would otherwise,” according to an Instagram post from the Pittsburgh Park Rangers. “Only 1 in 30,000 birds have leucism, so this splotchy robin is pretty rare and special.” Piebaldism and leucism are often confused with albinism. But albino animals typically have pink eyes, because the lack of melanin allows the color of their blood vessels to shine through. Leucistic or piebald animals, by contrast, usually have normal-colored eyes. Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday.