html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd" Zaha Hadid Architects has unveiled a new mixed-use development that features spacious balconies inspired by nature on Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates.Called Oystra, the 128,000 square meter development consists of 950 apartments with one to four bedrooms, duplexes, penthouses, and waterfront villas. The seaside complex offers a wealth of dining, retail, and recreational options.Image © RedvertexWith a population expected to increase by 55% by 2030, Ras Al Khaimah is one of the UAE's fastest-growing emirates, necessitating the construction of an extra 45,000 dwellings to accommodate future demand, as Zaha Hadid Architects explained. The tourism industry in Ras Al Khaimah is also expanding at an unprecedented rate; by 2030, the emirate is expected to receive 3.5 million visitors annually, up from 100,000 in 2013, the firm added.Al Marjan Island's infrastructure is being developed as a top destination in the United Arab Emirates. The island's 23 kilometers of shoreline, which includes 7.8 kilometers of white sand beaches, extend 4.5 kilometers into the Arabian Sea. The island, which has parks, marinas, spa centers, and entertainment venues, is located 45 minutes from Dubai International Airport and 25 minutes from Ras Al Khaimah Airport.Image © RedvertexThe development's flowing geometries, which include expansive balconies and terraces sculpted to mimic the undulating patterns shaped by waves in sand, were designed by Zaha Hadid Architects to provide over 75% of its units with unhindered views of the sea. These balconies protect the interiors from direct sunshine while acting as smooth additions to each apartment's living area.Within its 42,000 square meter plot, which includes landscaped gardens, courtyards, swimming pools, and a beach club with a view of the bay, are Oystra's sculptural 20-story waterfront towers. The 360° infinity pool and rooftop restaurant offer expansive views of the Arabian Sea and Al Marjan Island.Image © RedvertexThrough this protected waterfront path, which is maintained cool by the predominant north-westerly winds that blow inland from the sea, inhabitants have direct access to the tree-lined coastal promenade of Al Marjan Island.Digital mapping analysis optimized the design's external solar shade and improved natural ventilation, while environmental simulations maximized efficiencies in site conditions, structure, and orientation. In addition to an insulating space between the building envelope and the project's façades that get direct sunlight, the development will incorporate seawater-based cooling. In the arid climate of Ras Al Khaimah, these tactics will improve interior comfort while lowering the energy requirement for cooling.Image © Redvertex"Our collaboration with Richmind is the result of shared ambition and creative dialogue. Oystra’s sculptural design is inspired by the natural energies of the sea and the sky, responding to its environment with a sense of dynamism and openness," said Christos Passas, Director at Zaha Hadid Architects."Oystra reflects our passion for visionary design, lifestyle innovation, and a bold approach to shaping spaces that inspire and endure through time. Working with Zaha Hadid Architects has been both a privilege and a purposeful choice. We share a vision rooted in bold thinking, design excellence, and a deep commitment to originality," said Mohammad Rafiee, Chief Executive Officer of Richmind. Image © Redvertex"Al Marjan has become a canvas for exceptional developments, and Oystra is a strong addition to Ras Al Khaimah’s narrative, reflecting the forward-thinking developments that align perfectly with Al Marjan Island's ambition and vision," said Abdulla Al Abdouli, Chief Executive Officer of Marjan.Image © PyxidZaha Hadid Architects recently completed a spaceship-like science and technology museum in Shenzhen. In addition, the firm unveiled design for a new cityzen tower inspired by Tbilisi's rolling hills in Georgia. Project factsClient: RichmindArchitect: Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA)Design: Patrik Schumacher, Christos PassasZHA Project Director: Christos PassasZHA Project Associates: Mei-Ling Lin, Joao Bravo Da Costa, Eider FernandezZHA Project Architects: Sattor Jabbor, Branko Svarcer, Kourosh Asgar IraniZHA Project Leads: Ben Kikkawa, Ekaterina Smirnova, Gaganjit Singh, Anri Gyoloyan, Nassim Eshaghi, Maria BystrovaZHA Project Team: Dahyun Kim, Elizabeth Konstantinidou, Shizhao Yang, Mirella Dourambei, Abdullah Ummer Farook, Ali Rais, Avneesh Rathor, Theodoros Tamvakis, Danae Mavridi, Canon LeeZHA Competition Project Director: Christos PassasZHA Competition Associates: Joao Bravo Da Costa, Mei-Ling LinZHA Competition Project Architects: Ben Kikkawa, Maria Bystrova,ZHA Competition Project Leads: Dieter Matuschke, Akis Polykandriotis, Anri Gyoloyan, Avneesh RathorZHA Competition Team: Abdullah Ummer Farook, Ali Rais, Dahyun Kim, Shizhao Yang, Mirella Dourambei, Theodoros Tamvakis, Gaganjit SinghZHA BIM Team: David Fogliano, Michael O’Reilly, Muaz MasriZHA Environment & Sustainability Team: Carlos Bausa, Bahaa Alnassrallah, Shibani Choudhury, Aleksander Mastalski, Aditya Ambare, Disha Shetty, Abhilash Menon, Jing XuConsultantsExecutive Architect: Dewan Architects and Engineers, DubaiFaçade Engineering: Koltay FacadesM&E Engineering: Samadhin AssociatesTransport Consultant: RMC, DubaiFire Engineer: SHE, DubaiLandscape Consultant: Cracknell LandscapesLighting Design: FPOVInterior Design: HBA, LondonSignage and Wayfinding: TDCWaste Management: Climatize, DubaiThe top image in the article © MIR.> via Zaha Hadid Architects

Imagine waking up each day excited for work, knowing that your efforts contribute to a global movement that impacts the world. If you’re ready for a career transformation, then we have an exhilarating opportunity for you at the Interaction Design Foundation (IxDF)!Join us, and you won’t just be changing jobs—you’ll be elevating your career on a global scale. At IxDF, we’re not just a company; we’re a movement dedicated to making high-quality design education accessible to everyone, everywhere. With team members and learners from over 100 countries, your role at IxDF will have a worldwide impact. From engaging with diverse cultures to contributing to a platform that reaches millions, your daily activities will be anything but ordinary.Our Commitment to Our MembersAt the core of every decision we make and every strategy we implement lies our unwavering commitment to our members—they are the fundamental reason for our existence. This profound dedication drives us to exceed their expectations at every turn. We are on the lookout for a candidate who embodies our ethos: someone who is not only exceptionally talented and diligent but who also possesses a profound empathy for our learners' needs and a relentless pursuit of excellence. Your role will be pivotal in ensuring that each member feels valued, supported, and inspired throughout their educational journey with us.Your place in the IxDF UniverseCorrespond daily with members and prospective learners across multiple channels—email, chat, and social media—providing quick, accurate responses to their questions. You’ll troubleshoot issues, offer guidance, and ensure a seamless user experience.Act as a brand ambassador by upholding our excellent reputation in every interaction. You’ll communicate our mission and values clearly, taking pride in representing a global community dedicated to design education. It’s a big responsibility, but also incredibly rewarding!Collaborate cross-functionally with teams across the organization to improve internal workflows and enhance the platform’s user experience. You’ll be the bridge between departments, ensuring that our operations are efficient and focused on delivering the best outcomes for our members.Support our Growth team in executing digital marketing initiatives, including managing paid media campaigns and overseeing content and engagement across our social media channels.Perform general administrative and ad-hoc project support, assisting extended team members as needed. Whether it’s organizing tasks, scheduling, or helping with project coordination, you’ll ensure everything runs smoothly and efficiently.Maintain and improve documentation by ensuring that our knowledge resources are up-to-date, easy to access, and provide value to both our internal teams and learners. Your work will directly contribute to helping others succeed.Shape internal processes that directly impact engagement and key performance indicators (KPIs). You’ll analyze workflows and recommend improvements to help us provide even better services for our members.Update our internal knowledge base and contribute to department-wide initiatives focused on knowledge sharing. You’ll ensure that important insights and best practices are easily available to all, driving continuous improvement.Communicate and collaborate effectively with other teams to relay customer needs and insights. By sharing valuable feedback, you’ll help us maximize retention, improve member satisfaction, and drive growth.Embody our values as you are often the first point of contact for our community. You’ll play a key role in welcoming and supporting members, helping our foundation grow and strengthen through meaningful interactions.Take full accountability for your tasks, managing your responsibilities with independence and self-discipline. You’ll consistently deliver high-quality results, meet deadlines, and maintain focus while balancing multiple priorities with minimal supervision.About YouYou thrive in a fast-paced environment where you handle ad-hoc projects of varying complexities with ease and enthusiasm.You have experience in customer success, with bonus points if you’ve worked in digital marketing or managed social media channels.Helping people excites you, and you take pride in earning their gratitude through your support and problem-solving skills.You are resourceful and autonomous, always ready to take on new tasks and projects with a problem-solving mindset that ensures everything gets done efficiently.Attention to detail and thoroughness come naturally to you. You enjoy ensuring that every task is completed with care and precision.You relish solving problems—especially the ones that haven't even been noticed yet. Meeting specific needs of different people brings you satisfaction, and you enjoy proactively addressing challenges before they arise.You are fluent in written and spoken English with exceptional writing skills, perfect grammar and an appreciation for the power of tone, brevity and microcopy.You take full ownership of tasks, knowing what it means to see something through to completion and deliver high-quality results.Consistency is key for you, and you stay focused even when tasks become repetitive, ensuring nothing slips through the cracks.You are comfortable with tight deadlines and excel at prioritizing tasks to meet them, keeping projects on track.Resilience is one of your strengths, and when things go off-track, you bounce back quickly, offering valuable solutions to move forward.You are highly self-disciplined, thriving in a flat hierarchy where you enjoy the freedom and minimal supervision that comes with it.You are located within a time zone from Europe (UTC+0) to East Asia (UTC+8), making it easy to collaborate with our global team.Bonus PointsYou get bonus points if the art of writing isn’t just a skill, but a passion. You find joy in crafting each sentence with care and precision.You have a genuine curiosity about user experience (UX) design and are interested in how it can improve the quality of life for people around the world.You love making complex concepts accessible, and you enjoy teaching or explaining ideas in a way that’s engaging and easy to understand.You have an exceptional talent for creating structure, and you take pride in organizing processes and tasks in a way that’s efficient and clear.What We Can OfferA highly valued role: Many organizations undervalue admin and support employees, but at IxDF, you’ll be joining one of our most valued and cherished teams. Your contributions will be recognized as essential to our success.Opportunities for growth and impact: At IxDF, you’ll have room to grow professionally while making a real difference. You’ll contribute to projects that directly impact our global community, adding value to the educational experience of thousands of learners.A Global, Purpose-Driven Team – Work alongside passionate professionals from all over the world, united by a common mission.Engagement with a Thriving Global Community – You’ll have the opportunity to support and interact with our local groups, educational partners, and community initiatives. Whether it’s helping organize IxDF Local Groups, facilitating partnerships with educational institutions, or engaging with our vibrant design community, your work will contribute to a stronger, more connected global network of UX professionals and learners.A full-time position, within a fully remote organization. Daily video-based collaboration with your colleagues from elsewhere on the planet, and you’ll get to meet up on team trips every year.A work culture with no fluffy titles, political agendas and corporate drama. Your colleagues value your warm character, your strong work ethic, and the results you deliver. Junior or senior, if you embody old-school virtues of always striving to deliver results, learn and become better every day, you'll thrive at the IxDF.A daily mission to help impact, empower, and enrich the lives of millions of people by creating affordable high-end design education for everyone across the planet. It’ll be yours too.A company where the distance between idea and execution is minimal. We’re a highly agile organization with zero bureaucracy or corporate politics – and with exceptional order and efficiency.A company culture where passion meets high performance and excellence. To help us improve the world (and yourself in the process), you’ll need grit, strong work ethic, long-term thinking, and self-discipline.We thrive because we have a hands-on attitude and a bias towards action as opposed to fluff-filled, unrealistic strategies. You’ll need crisp execution skills yourself and the ability to impress your colleagues with concrete results, just like they’ll impress you.How to Learn More and Apply  To submit your application as well as learn more about our Work Culture and Values, please visit https://www.interaction-design.org/about/careers Please apply as soon as you can—we’re firm believers of “the sooner, the better” and we’re looking forward to working with you! 

Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube812k If you were a fan of Hello Kitty Island Adventure and all its New Horizons-inspired cosiness when it arrived on Switch earlier this year, then boy, do we have a surprise for you. The life-sim's first major content update has sidestepped its planned release date and landed on the Nintendo hybrid a week early — what a treat. The 'Friends, Furniture, and Frozen Peaks' update arrived on Steam last month, with dev Sunblink adding a 22nd May release date for the Switch version. It seemed to be full steam ahead on the later launch until yesterday evening, when the studio appeared on Twitter to make the surprise announcement that the update is, in fact, available right now. What's more, it's free!Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube812kWatch on YouTube The update crams in a lot of content, with a new area to explore, friend gifting, new quests and puzzles and (the biggest addition of them all) furniture stacking. The full list of everything included was shared on the Island Adventure Steam page, and we have gathered it all together for you to check out below. Hello Kitty Island Adventure - 'Friends, Furniture, and Frozen Peaks' Update (14th May 2025) More Fun with Friendship We improved gifting to make friendship even more fun! The more hearts a gift has, the more friendship you’ll get for gifting it! No more odd outlier gifts. Craft the best gifts to become friends faster!Furniture Stacking Next time you’re sprucing up a cabin, try placing an item on a table while in Edit Mode. No, seriously, this is our new favorite thing.Item Overflow Didn't make it to Friendship Island today? No worries! Items and pick-ups now accumulate over three days to better fit whatever playstyle you choose.New Area - Blizzard Peak & Snow Village A new story takes you and your friends back to Icy Peak, discovering a whole new side of the mountain along with a temperamental weather contraption.Chilly Chambers Slide your way to success in new, frosty puzzles around Icy Peak. You might have to get a bit pushy to claim the rewards inside.Sparkles Introducing Sparkles! These special Sparkles appear all around the Island at their own pace — collect and exchange them for game tickets, so you can play mini-games without waiting for reset.Flower Power Garden in the clouds with Roseanne for the fluffiest, puffiest flower yet. Explore extreme environments with Nina to grow flowers in the most challenging places on Friendship Island. These special flowers unlock unique effects to make your garden even more beautiful.Flowery Furnishings Play the Crane Game to collect the fabulous floral Merry Meadows furniture set–and bring the Merry Meadows to all of your cabins!Call Friend Phone a friend (to join you!) – your tablet now has a ‘Call Friend’ function that lets you connect and companion together with Hello Kitty and Friends from anywhere on the Island.New Visitors Retsuko's friends and co-workers are ready to visit Friendship Island for a well-deserved getaway! Pekkle and Keroppi have buddies and pals who will need cabins, too. And don't forget to set up cabins for Hello Kitty's Grandparents.New Quests Who will become the Island Champion? How will Retsuko balance work and her vacation? Can you soothe the storm on Icy Peak? Most important: is Pochacco's workout outfit cuter than Badtz-maru's superhero get-up? Find out the answer to these questions and more with dozens of new stories and quests! We had a great time with Hello Kitty Island Adventure when it arrived on Switch earlier this year, stating, "it brings a fresh experience that is likely to subvert the expectations of any Animal Crossing expats looking for their next cosy fix," in our review. We weren't alone in our admiration either. The game went on to shift an impressive half a million copies in its first 30 days. Never underestimate the power of Sanrio, eh? New Fur-izons The physical Switch version is out this month Will you be checking out this Hello Kitty Island Adventure update? Let us know in the comments. [source store.steampowered.com] Related Games See Also Share:0 1 Jim came to Nintendo Life in 2022 and, despite his insistence that The Minish Cap is the best Zelda game and his unwavering love for the Star Wars prequels (yes, really), he has continued to write news and features on the site ever since. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment... Related Articles Nintendo Updates Its User Agreement To Crack Down On Emulation Offenders may find their Switch bricked Nintendo Reconfirms Release Windows For Major Switch 2 Games And original Switch, of course The First Review For Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time Is In A fantasy score? SNK Announces ACA NEOGEO Selection Vol. 5 And Vol. 6 For Switch Update: Multi-language release confirmed

Nature, Published online: 14 May 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-01339-xA prediction of the gravitational waves produced by interacting black holes achieves high precision and demonstrates the link between general relativity and geometry.

Forget everything you know about mini cutting tools – those are the words the folks behind CUTTIX lead with. To be frank, when I saw the CUTTIX for the first time, it hit me in waves. The compact knife is about the size of half your thumb, machined from titanium, comes with a retractable knife-steel blade, and what I can only describe as two-factor deployment. It looks nothing like the folding knives I’ve spoken about all these years, but performs just as effectively… and it’s tiny enough to fit around your keychain, occupying less space than most keys. The folding knife format is yesterday’s news, if you ask me. It’s a little too done and dusted at this point, which is why the CUTTIX grabbed my eye the moment I saw it. You don’t deploy the CUTTIX the way you would a regular folding knife. You deploy it sort of like a switchblade, but a whole lot tinier. A slider lets you eject the CUTTIX’s scalpel-shaped blade, which can cut through everything, from paper to paracord. I’d recommend just owning one, stringing it on your keychain, and forgetting about it – because that’s really where the CUTTIX shines – in being on you at all times and coming handy exactly when you wished you really had a knife within reach. Designer: Apekss Click Here to Buy Now: $59 $69 (15% off). Hurry, only a few left! Housed within a cylindrical body, almost like a metallic miniature lip-gloss, is the CUTTIX blade. The outer body, including the slider knob, is entirely machined from titanium, making it practically indestructible, waterproof, and corrosion-resistant. The shape is fairly satisfying, and treads the line between compactness and ergonomics. You can grip the entire knife squarely between your thumb and index finger, using it to cut through everything from Amazon boxes to even potentially a seatbelt in an emergency. Grooves machined onto the sides enhance your grip, giving you the dexterity you’d require with a knife that measures only 45mm (1.77″) long when closed! The way the CUTTIX is deployed is fairly remarkable. It has a dual-stage or ‘two-factor’ system to prevent it from accidentally getting deployed when in your pocket or when not in use. On the end of the CUTTIX’s body is a rotating dial that locks or unlocks the sliding knob. Click the dial into the ‘open’ position, and the push the knob on the CUTTIX’s body downwards before sliding it forward to reveal the tiny yet powerful 20mm (0.7″) blade. The blade, fashioned from durable cobalt-enriched N690 steel, handles everything from culinary to craft, and from hobbyist to tactical outdoor use. The scalpel profile makes it perfect for piercing, slashing, scoring, whittling, slicing, the works. The blade isn’t replaceable, the way most scalpel blades are, but the durable steel construction is designed to hold its edge well, even against hard materials like wood. All this sits in a form factor tinier than your pinky finger and weighing a paltry 16 grams or 0.5 ounces (around 3 nickel coins, if you’re really counting). A hole on the back of the CUTTIX lets you string a keyring or paracord through it, making it perfect for EDC you can carry with you everywhere. The idea is to forget it’s even on you, except when you absolutely need it – that’s when the CUTTIX makes its mark… literally. Click Here to Buy Now: $59 $69 (15% off). Hurry, only a few left!The post This 16g Titanium Blade Might Be the Most Compact, Versatile EDC Tool Ever Made first appeared on Yanko Design.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 came out of nowhere. Yes, it made waves at Microsoft’s Xbox showcase last summer. And true, it continued to look exceptional as it revealed its star-studded cast. But I don’t know that anyone expected it to get quite so much love as it has, and not just from diehard RPG fans. It’s currently the highest-rated game of 2025 on Metacritic and a possible frontrunner for Game of the Year at the Game Awards. No one could have predicted this. Except someone did: the director of Baldur’s Gate 3. Suggested ReadingBaldur's Gate 3 Narrator Reads Your Down-Bad Tweets Share SubtitlesOffEnglishview videoSuggested ReadingBaldur's Gate 3 Narrator Reads Your Down-Bad Tweets Share SubtitlesOffEnglishOnly a few months back at The Game Awards 2024, Larian Studios CEO Swen Vincke took the stage to announce that year’s GOTY winner—Astro Bot—but also to offer his prediction for who would win the best game of 2025 and every year after that as well. “How do I know this? Well, an oracle told me,” he joked. TheBG3, which swept most awards shows the year prior, laid out what would be the defining qualities of future winners as an allegory for what he hoped more studios and companies would strive for in the years ahead. “The oracle told me that the Game of the Year 2025 is going to be made by a studio who found the formula to make it up here on stage,” Vincke said. “It’s stupidly simple, but somehow it keeps on getting lost. A studio makes a game because they want to make a game they want to play themselves. They created it because it hadn’t been created before. They didn’t make it to increase market share. They didn’t make it to serve the brand. They didn’t have to meet arbitrary sales targets, or fear being laid off if they didn’t meet those targets.”He continued,They were driven by idealism, and wanted players to have fun, and they realized that if the developers don’t have fun, nobody was going to have any fun. They understood the value of respect, that if they treated their developers and players well, the same developers and players would forgive them when things didn’t go as planned. But above all they cared about their games, because they love games. It’s really that simple. The speech’s relevance to the circumstances surrounding Sandfall Interactive and its debut game hasn’t gone unnoticed among Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 fans as the developers have talked about their passion for the genre and the classics that inspired them. At a time when turn-based RPGs are considered more niche, Expedition 33 doesn’t shy away from throwback features like a world map and separate battle screens, all in service of a story that’s not afraid to leave players fumbling for answers. The connection to Vincke’s speech recently blew up on the game’s subreddit. “It’s not that Expedition 33 is a perfect game,” wrote one fan. “If you look for flaws or things that other games have that E33 doesn’t, you’ll find a few things. But still, the game has passion at its every corner and that’s what really sticks with us in the end. The flaws are so easy to ignore because the things that really matter are perfect.”In a video game industry struggling to please players and hit sales targets amid swelling budgets, increased competition, and stagnating creativity, Expedition 33 has been turned into something of a golden child: a small team utilizing off-the-shelf tech and extensive outsourcing to bring a good idea to fruition without breaking the bank or succumbing to feature bloat. The efficacy of that roadmap for other developers is debatable, but the results so far speak for themselves. Following Vincke’s advice might not guarantee success, but not doing so increasingly seems to assure mediocrity..

Evening star For the first time in the US, a rotating detonation rocket engine takes flight "Hypersonics is one of the critical technologies to remain ahead of our national competitors." Eric Berger – May 14, 2025 6:47 pm | 23 A rotating detonation rocket engine takes off in New Mexico. Credit: Venus Aerospace A rotating detonation rocket engine takes off in New Mexico. Credit: Venus Aerospace Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only   Learn more A US-based propulsion company, Venus Aerospace, said Wednesday it had completed a short flight test of its rotating detonation rocket engine at Spaceport America in New Mexico. The company's chief executive and co-founder, Sassie Duggleby, characterized the flight as "historic." It is believed to be the first US-based flight test of an idea that has been discussed academically for decades, a rotating detonation rocket engine. The concept has previously been tested in a handful of other countries, but never with a high-thrust engine. "By proving this engine works beyond the lab, Venus brings the world closer to a future where hypersonic travel—traversing the globe in under two hours—becomes possible," Duggleby told Ars. A quick flight The company has only released limited information about the test. The small rocket, powered by the company's 2,000-pound thrust engine, launched from a rail in New Mexico. The vehicle flew for about half a minute, and, as planned, did not break the sound barrier. Governments around the world have been interested in rotating detonation engine technology for a long time because it has the potential to significantly increase fuel efficiency in a variety of applications, from Navy carriers to rocket engines. In contrast to a traditional rocket engine, in which a highly pressurized propellant and an oxidizer are injected into a combustion chamber where they burn and produce an energetic exhaust plume, a rotating detonation engine is different in that a wave of detonation travels around a circular channel. This is sustained by the injection of fuel and oxidizer and produces a shockwave that travels outward at supersonic speed. Sassie Duggleby and her husband, Andrew Duggleby, founded Venus Aerospace nearly five years ago with the long-term goal of developing powerful rotating detonation engines and building a hypersonic aircraft that could carry perhaps a dozen passengers and travel at astonishingly fast speeds worldwide. Aiming for hypersonics in the near term Such a prospect is many years into the future, however. In the meantime, Venus is looking at more near-term opportunities and revenue sources. The company is seeking to position itself as a leader in affordable hypersonic flight for commercial and defense applications. "It is vital for US interests that the government continues to fund efforts to maintain America’s economic competitiveness and national security," Sassie Duggleby said. "Hypersonics is one of the critical technologies to remain ahead of our national competitors. We’re fortunate to have robust interest from both government and commercial sectors." Sassie Duggleby said Venus cannot disclose specific customers yet. "We're actively engaged with US defense and national security agencies as well as commercial partners exploring hypersonic applications in logistics, aerospace, and future mobility—including large primes," she said. "The enthusiasm we’re seeing reflects a broad recognition that Venus’s technology can unlock new operational and economic possibilities across multiple markets." Venus has a long way to go to reach its ultimate goal of highly efficient, hypersonic commercial flight. But the engine that flew this week is a good start toward proving that such a future, at least, is possible. Eric Berger Senior Space Editor Eric Berger Senior Space Editor Eric Berger is the senior space editor at Ars Technica, covering everything from astronomy to private space to NASA policy, and author of two books: Liftoff, about the rise of SpaceX; and Reentry, on the development of the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon. A certified meteorologist, Eric lives in Houston. 23 Comments

The last weekend in May is known for barbecues, beaches, and the best Amazon Memorial Day sales. Whether you’re lounging away or traveling over the holiday weekend, the best deals are a click away from arriving at your doorstep. AD editors searched Amazon for the best markdowns on vacuums (and other home appliances), furniture, mattresses, bedding, as well as patio furniture to usher in the summer. We found the best-selling home items already on sale that might even rival some Black Friday deals.Whether you’re looking for smart home gadgets or ways to update your bedroom, read on for Memorial Day deals that will fetch you the lowest price now, at least until Prime Day comes around.Our Top Picks for the Best Early Amazon Memorial Day Sales:Best Mattress Deal: Helix Midnight Luxe Mattress, $2,374 $1,780Hotel-Quality Bedding: Mellanni Hotel Luxury 1800 Sheet Set, $70 $37Best for Birders: Netvue by Birdfy Smart Bird Feeder with Camera, $360 $300An Outdoor Entertaining Essential: Everdure Cube Portable Charcoal Grill, $119 $109Best Vacuum Deal: Dyson V15s Detect Submarine​ Wet Dry Vacuum, $950 $798Browse by CategoryVacuumsPhoto: Terri WilliamsDyson V15s Detect Submarine​ Wet-Dry VacuumThis wet-dry vacuum from Dyson is one of the most versatile model's money can buy—it can be used on hardwoods and carpets with vacuum and mopping functionality. “The beauty of this design is that all of the water is contained in the separate wet roller head, so I can remove it, attach one of the other roller heads, and dry vacuum in other parts of my home,” says contributor Terri Williams, our resident cleaning device expert, in her review. It's a standout for tackling tough stains and picking up debris, and it's designed to cover 1,000 square feet with its 300 milliliter water tank.Levoit Cordless Vacuum CleanerThis Levoit model is “proof that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get a good vacuum,” says Williams in her best of Levoit review. Similar to higher-end models, this home cleaning gadget runs for 50 minutes in eco mode and has a serious filtration system. Williams likes that it can go completely flat to clean tricky places such as under the couch. The three LED lights ensure you don’t miss dust as you go. With this low price and superb cleaning power, you can see why it is a favorite.Shark HV322 Rocket Corded VacuumYes, this Shark stick vacuum is corded, but with more than 18,000 five-star reviews, this top-rated machine needs to make its way into your home. Weighing just under nine pounds, it has an extra-large dust cup so you can pick up every last crumb and crumble. Convert it into a handheld vacuum to get into the tight spot between the stair step and the riser or between the couch cushions.Bissell CrossWave HydroSteam Deluxe Wet Dry VacWhen your floors need an extra oomph, the Bissell CrossWave HydroSteam Deluxe is your BFF. Its steam technology helps tackle stubborn messes on kitchen tile and beyond. Use it on a carpet or area rug to give it a light refresh. When it’s time to spruce up the vac itself, the washable filter is easy to maintain.FurnitureMellow Naturalista Classic Platform BedThe simple design of the midcentury modern Mellow platform bed frame makes it easy to assemble. It’s made of solid wood and comes in multiple hues, including pine, cherry, and black. With 8.5 inches between the floor and the frame, you have plenty of storage space too. Bonus: Amazon Prime members get a free two-day delivery.Serwall Foldable Adirondack ChairA Memorial Day sale for outdoor furniture is not something you want to miss. If you don’t have an Adirondack chair, now is the time to snag one. The composite material model by Serwall comes in 12 colorways, including teal, apple green, and sky blue. There is also a cup and mobile phone holder so all your comforts are right there with you. It also folds, allowing you to store these in a neat stack when the season’s over.Poly & Bark Pure-Aniline Italian Leather SofaThe best couches on Amazon are part of the early Memorial Day weekend sales. Poly & Bark is one of our top picks thanks to its sleek, modern corner-blocked frame (made of kiln-dried wood) with pure-aniline Italian leather upholstery. When it ships, all you have to do is attach the legs.Walker Edison Modern Curved Reeded TV StandWhen it comes to buying TV stands from Amazon, you’ve got options and great deals. To help you narrow it down, go for a contemporary design with curves and reeded detail. Choose from mocha or oak options to suit your living room color palette. This one has plenty of storage space and open shelving to display home decor.Bedding & MattressesCasper Sleep Original PillowThe Casper Sleep Original pillow was voted as the best cooling pillow tested by AD editors and contributors. It works for all types of sleepers—back, side, and stomach—and skews on the firmer side. “This is actually my boyfriend’s pillow,” says contributor Madeleine Luckel. “I usually like really soft pillows, while he likes firmer ones. However, I like this product so much that I try to steal it all the time.” One of the reasons she snags it is because it stays cool and “it really is at some indescribable sweet spot in terms of its firmness.” Since the fill is made of a polyester microfiber that’s covered in a cotton cover, it’s also machine-washable.Helix Midnight Luxe MattressSales events are sweeter when you can score 25% off a really, really good mattress, like the Helix Midnight Luxe. According to our best mattresses on Amazon reviews, this one earns the title of “best for back pain.” AD contributor Gaby Ulloa reports that she wakes up “feeling refreshed and well-rested each day” without any back pain whatsoever (something that happens when she sleeps on a new mattress). The hybrid model contains 1,000 individually wrapped coils with targeted pressure to relieve back pressure, help with spinal alignment, and prevent motion transfer. In terms of firmness, it’s about a six on a scale of one to 10.Lauren ArzbaecherLauren ArzbaecherMellanni Hotel Luxury 1800 Sheet SetThis might be the best buy for Amazon sheets. With more than 245,000 five-star reviews, it’s definitely at the top of our list for best Memorial Day sales. Not only are these “lightweight and airy,” sheets a steal, according to contributor Kristi Kellogg, “they've held their shape, color, and softness through dozens of washes.” With 45 colorways to choose from—pastels, florals, and stripes—you have plenty of options to stock up on these super soft and wrinkle-resistant bed sheets.Lane Linen 100% Organic Long-Staple Cotton SheetsLane Linen organic cotton is luxury at a fraction of the price. The breathable fabric is Oeko-Tex certified and feels crisp yet soft. At $40 for a four-piece set, it’s a rare find. We love the polka dot and speckled grey pattern, but you decide as there are 32 colors to choose from. In her review, Kellogg adds, “they haven’t faded or pilled,” even after several years of use.Home AppliancesDyson Purifier Hot+Cool Air Purifier, Heater, and FanAmazon is discounting the Dyson Purifier Hot+Cold by almost 30%, and you don’t want to snooze on this limited-time deal. “This air purifier is definitely a splurge,” says commerce editor and tester Audrey Lee. “Are there other air purifiers out there that work just as well at a lower price point? Probably—but I would say it’s the combination of a high-quality air purifier, fan, and heater that makes this one worth its price.” Lee used the remote control and the Wi-Fi-enabled Dyson Link app to set it up. “The purifier itself works like a dream, and I noticed within a week of use that I felt noticeably less congested,” she says in her air purifier review. “I appreciated that the Hot+Cold has an auto mode, which continuously monitors room temperature and indoor air quality, while also running the fan or heat to the degree of your choosing.” What’s more, it’s also an oscillating smart fan with adjustable airflow, so you can be ready for hot summer days.Netvue by Birdfy Smart Bird Feeder with CameraThe solar-powered bird feeder with a built-in AI gadget that can identify more than 6,000 bird species is an Amazon tech deal you don’t want to miss. It’s made with Forest Stewardship Council-certified bamboo, and the waterproof camera is encased in a carbonized shell so it won’t corrode. Thanks to the night vision feature, you can watch the birdies day and night.Nashia BakerCoway Airmega AP-1512HH(W) True HEPA PurifierAccording to Nashia Baker, senior commerce editor, the quality of Coway Airmega purifier is “second to none.” Baker is a big fan of the auto mode. “This is a favorite feature of mine, as it automatically detects the air quality through three LED light modes: blue (good), purple (moderate), and red (unhealthy),” she says in her review. “Whenever there’s a change in the air quality, like if I’m cooking, the LED light adjusts to either purple or red, and the air purifier picks up its speed to quickly regulate it. Usually in just a matter of minutes, the LED light changes back to blue and the air purifier goes back to a whisper-quiet sound.” If you happen to live in a place where pollen, allergens, and air pollution don’t seep through your doors and windows, the purifier will automatically default to auto mode.Everdure Cube Portable Charcoal GrillWe can’t not include a grill in an Amazon Memorial Day sale roundup. Grill designs come in plenty of options, and we love that this portable version by Everdure Cube is accessible to all (even if all you have is a tiny patio). Lightweight steel is what makes this barbecue grill a perfect pick for a day of grilling at a park or a beach. While it is small, you can still cook up to six small burgers or three small steaks. And cleaning is a breeze thanks to the removable grill rack.

Regardless of how well Doom: The Dark Ages maintains the formula of the series, there are new things for you to learn before diving in. Doom: The Dark Ages is a fast-paced, first-person action game where the golden rule is to shoot, punch, or explode anything that moves. Otherwise, you will probably die. Traversing the infernal maps to complete the campaign requires not only good reflexes — you also need to use everything at your disposal to survive the battlefield. Whether you’re a longtime Doom fan or this is your first time slashing hellspawns to the thrum of metal riffs, there’s plenty to learn. But we can help! Below, see our beginner’s tips for Doom: The Dark Ages. Your shield is more than just protection At first glance, your shield might not look like much in comparison to, say, a rocket launcher. It is, however, your strongest tool in Doom: The Dark Ages — and by mastering it, you can face legions of hellspawns without too much trouble. First, besides protecting yourself from incoming damage, you can use the shield to propel yourself toward a target. While this is initially introduced as an offensive maneuver, you can adapt it to quickly escape from a tight situation. When in danger, look for a faraway enemy and use your dash! You can also interrupt enemies with the shield by dashing at them as they charge their attack. Another option is to throw your shield once this option becomes available. When it hits large demons, the shield sticks to them, stunning them for a few seconds. Use this time to run or finish them. Parry everything You can do more with your shield than just dash and stun. Parrying is an important mechanic in Doom: The Dark Ages, which you should always do when you see attacks highlighted in green — called Hell Surge attacks — coming. A shockwave. A giant arrow of demonic energy. It doesn’t matter. If it’s green, you can parry and deflect it back to its source. The potential of parry Hell Surge attacks comes especially when you’re facing multiple enemies at the same time because the deflected Hell Surge projectile won’t hit only the source — it can kill whatever else is close to the source. And once you unlock some shield upgrades, this feature becomes stronger. (Although there is some timing to worry about when parrying, it’s nothing that you can’t tweak to your preferences in the settings.) Weak enemies make you stronger  If you’re new to the Doom universe, some fights might feel overwhelming, especially when facing big bad demon boys who are followed by small minions that’ll annoy you throughout the whole fight. You must learn that these little fellows are there to actually help you, though.  In Doom: The Dark Ages, you can only recover health by killing enemies. Brutal, right? But when fighting a boss, you need to stay alive long enough to put them down. That’s when the weak minions come in. You must use them to restore your health. Whenever you’re low on health, run around the arena and find some weakling to kill before getting back to the real target. Always check your map It won’t take you long to realize how straightforward Doom: The Dark Ages’ maps are. Even so, checking your map constantly is crucial in this game as it will highlight the location of objectives and collectibles. For collectibles to appear on the map, you must first open the area. Once you get close to them, their symbol will be shown on the automap.  Keeping track of what is around you by consistently checking the map is a good practice to not ignore secret rooms and weird corridors. (In general, the harder to reach, the worthier the prize.) In the worst-case scenario, you’ll grab a Life Sigil and some gold, which are still considerably rare in the game. Swap guns constantly The Doom games have always been about shooting demons and, although you have a cool shield now, this remains the main idea in Doom: The Dark Ages. However, regardless of how pumped you might get from the soundtrack, you can’t run toward every encounter and hope to survive by relying on a single gun.  Dark Ages has a large arsenal of different weapons, and each one is meant to respond to a specific kind of enemy. Accelerator is the one you want to switch to when enemies with shields appear, while Pulverizer should be your go-to option when a wave of enemies approaches. If you don’t change to a better weapon for each enemy and situation, death is the most likely result.  Your fists are as powerful as your guns  This is a simple but powerful mindset to have while playing the game. While it is totally possible to simply shred enemies shooting thousands of bullets at them, this is not the best way to kill them. If you hit enemies with melee attacks, they will drop ammo, giving you the chance to stay in the fight longer — and kill enemies faster! At the same time, if you can daze enemies, you can execute them. You just need to hit them hard enough to almost kill them for a purple circle to appear in front of the enemy. Then, use the execute command to gain more health than a regular kill, which can bring you back from near death. So, considering how much you gain from fighting with your bare hands, stop wasting bullets and go punch some demons!