Embracer Group lets go of Borderlands maker for $460M after three years
Swedish giant releases the largest piece of its Katamari-like studio roll-up. Enlarge / Claptrap keeps finding himself in wild new places. Now he's heading from Sweden's Embracer Group to New York City's Take-Two Interactive. Oka.....»»
Bsal and beyond: Task force helps stave off amphibian disease threat
Amphibians—like frogs and salamanders—are the most imperiled group of animal species in the world; infectious diseases are among the greatest threats to their existence. After a decade of research, a scientific task force is poised to stave off t.....»»
LockBit leader unmasked: US charges Russian national
Russian national Dmitry Khoroshev is “LockBitSupp”, the creator, developer and administator of the infamous LockBit ransomware group, according to UK, US and Australia law enforcement agencies. The US Justice Deparment has unsealed charge.....»»
iPad Air gets a faster processor and a supersized 13-inch option
Apple's iPad Air has been given a long-awaited update, with a new size option offered alongside the usual spec bump upgrade.The 11-inch and 13-inch iPad AirThe sixth generation of iPad Air is now a reality, arriving approximately two years after Appl.....»»
Apple Pencil Pro brings squeeze gestures to new iPads for $129
Alongside its launch of the new iPad Pro and iPad Air, Apple has introduced the Apple Pencil Pro, the first significant addition to the lineup in six years.Apple Pencil ProAs previously expected, and heavily hinted at by Apple's "Let Loose" event log.....»»
Apple"s iPad upgrades march Lightning one step closer to death
After 11 years, 6 months, and 5 days of valiant charging and data service, the Lightning port is no longer on any iPad that Apple sells.You'll never see it again — a Lightning port on an iPadIt's easy to be glad about the move to USB-C for Apple de.....»»
iPad Air shootout -- 2024 M2 iPad Air vs M1 iPad Air compared
Two years after the last update, Apple has introduced the sixth-generation iPad Air with the M2 processor and a new size. Here's how they compare on paper.Fifth-gen iPad Air [left], sixth-gen iPad Air [right]The iPad Air is decidedly the mid-range op.....»»
Microsoft shuts down Bethesda’s Hi-Fi Rush, Redfall studios
Xbox maker wants to "prioritiz[e] high-impact titles" according to letter to staff. Enlarge / Artist's conception of Microsoft telling Hi-Fi Rush maker Tango Gameworks they no longer exist as a studio. (credit: Tango Gameworks).....»»
The $499 Google Pixel 8a is official, with 120 Hz display, 7 years of updates
The new Pixel 8a looks like a mid-range champion. The Pixel 8a. [credit: Google ].....»»
Sneaking science into Borderlands: Inside the game inside a game
A key to its success? Making a game that didn't look like it involved biology. Enlarge / Line up those colors and close those gaps... for science! In 2020, a new minigame appeared in the video game Borderlands 3, locate.....»»
The mastermind of the prolific ransomware group LockBit has finally been unmasked
The US places a $10 million bounty for the arrest of Dmitry Yuryevich Khoroshev. Enlarge / Dmitry Yuryevich Khoroshev, aka LockBitSupp (credit: UK National Crime Agency) Since at least 2019, a shadowy figure hiding behin.....»»
Maker Spotlight: Rob Richards
While on an online exploration for potential exhibits for Maker Faire Bay Area 2024, I chanced upon Rob Richards and his forthcoming project, “Echoes of the Heart,” slated for Burning Man 2024. Intrigued, I reached out to learn more. Hai.....»»
Global meta-analysis quantifies benefits of cover crop use
For years, both scientists and farmers have debated whether the use of cover crops—plants used to cover the ground after harvesting of main crops—have a positive or negative impact on subsequent crop yield. Hundreds of studies have been performed.....»»
Wait! Don’t update your Sonos app until you read this
The Sonos app has received its biggest update in years, but along with an improved user experience comes a not-so-nice change for music fans......»»
Boeing’s Starliner Is Almost Ready to Launch a NASA Crew Into Space
Seven years behind schedule, this month Starliner will send two astronauts to space on a mission for NASA. The troubled company still has lots of catching up to do......»»
New Vincetoxicum species found in Yunnan
Vincetoxicum is a genus of plants in the Apocynaceae family. It is distributed in Asia, especially in mountainous areas, and most of the known species occur in China and Japan. The extended Vincetoxicum includes about 150 species. In recent years, ne.....»»
How NASA"s Roman mission will hunt for primordial black holes
Astronomers have discovered black holes ranging from a few times the sun's mass to tens of billions. Now a group of scientists has predicted that NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope could find a class of "featherweight" black holes that has so f.....»»
A guide for early-career researchers in computational science
In recent years, a growing number of students have embraced scientific computation as an integral component of their graduate research. Yet since many of them are new to the field, they often have little to no coding experience, or any prior knowledg.....»»
The Google Pixel 8a is official. Here’s everything that’s new
With the Pixel 8a, Google wants you to believe that top-tier silicon, a 120Hz OLED display, and seven years of OS updates are possible in a $499 phone......»»
How conservationists brought Melbourne"s Merri Creek back from pollution, neglect and weeds
I met with a friend for a walk beside Merri Creek, in inner Melbourne. She had lived in the area for a few years, and as we walked beside the creek, past trees, native grasses, a small wetland echoing with frog calls, I talked about how it had looked.....»»
Number of religious "nones" has soared, but not number of atheists—social scientists want to know why
The number of individuals in the United States who do not identify as being part of any religion has grown dramatically in recent years, and "the nones" are now larger than any single religious group. According to the General Social Survey, religious.....»»