I played Half-Life 2 for the first time this year—here’s how it went
Wake up and smell the ashes, Ms. Washenko. It's Half-Life 2 week at Ars Technica! This Saturday, November 16, is the 20th anniversary of the release of Half-Life 2—a game of.....»»
WhatsApp announces improvements to audio and video calls
WhatsApp on Thursday announced a series of improvements coming soon to audio and video calls just in time for the holiday season. According to Meta, users can expect better call quality, as well as some other new features – so read on as we detail.....»»
A new HomePod mini is coming next year, and it definitely needs Apple Intelligence
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported earlier today that Apple has been working on a new HomePod mini for next year. While the report is focused on mentioning Apple’s new wireless chip, my only request is that Apple brings Apple Intelligence support t.....»»
Character.AI steps up teen safety after bots allegedly caused suicide, self-harm
Character.AI's new model for teens doesn't resolve all of parents' concerns. Following a pair of lawsuits alleging that chatbots caused a teen boy's suicide, groomed a 9-year-old.....»»
Historian says Midwest played a crucial role in Black freedom movements worldwide
The Midwest played a central role in the growth of Black freedom movements in the 20th century. It was a key site for incubating and expanding the ideas of political activist Marcus Garvey, not only in the U.S., but globally, said University of Illin.....»»
The perfect gamer gift: The Alienware m16 gaming laptop is $445 off
The Alienware m16 is a powerful gaming laptop with plenty of RAM and storage. It's on sale now at Dell, so today is a good time to buy......»»
The Apple iPad Pro M4 is $200 off at Best Buy, and it’s incredible
The Apple iPad Pro M4 is the most powerful tablet around, and it's currently on sale at Best Buy for $200 off, making now a good time to buy......»»
Researchers develop faster hazardous spill response method
When responding to a hazardous spill, every second counts—and Purdue University researchers have found a way to maximize that time......»»
OpenAI’s Sora doesn’t feel like the game-changer it was supposed to be
OpenAI has been touting Sora as the future of video generation for nearly a year. What it released Tuesday can't possibly be what CEO Sam Altman meant......»»
Climate change intensified back-to-back Philippines storms: Study
Human-induced climate change fueled a rare string of back-to-back typhoons that battered the Philippines this year and boosted the chances of powerful storms making landfall, a new study said on Thursday......»»
Barn swallow research offers real-time insight on how new species form
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder—even if that beholder is a barn swallow. Depending on where the birds live, some of them may favor mates with a paler chest color while others find a redder chest more attractive. The difference in what these bi.....»»
Neanderthal-human interbreeding lasted 7,000 years, new study reveals
A new analysis of DNA from ancient modern humans (Homo sapiens) in Europe and Asia has determined, more precisely than ever, the time period during which Neanderthals interbred with modern humans, starting about 50,500 years ago and lasting about 7,0.....»»
Observations suggest sun-like stars emit superflares once per century
There is no question that the sun is a temperamental star, as this year's unusually strong solar storms show. Some of them led to remarkable auroras even at low latitudes. But can our star become even more furious?.....»»
Floods, insufficient water, sinking river deltas: Hydrologists map changing river landscapes across the globe
A study in Science by researchers from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and University of Cincinnati has mapped 35 years of river changes on a global scale for the first time......»»
Study reveals complex bacterial dynamics of urinary tract infections
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a major widespread health issue that affects millions of patients globally every year. These infections are not only uncomfortable, but also challenging to treat, as they may often reoccur after the first infection.....»»
Leafy greens study introduces model to evaluate food safety control strategies
You've probably heard of product recalls involving lettuce, spinach, or other leafy greens. Consuming these popular vegetables are among the main causes of food poisoning, affecting thousands of people every year. Leafy greens can become contaminated.....»»
More precise snowmelt forecasts thanks to high-resolution satellite data
SLF researchers have used satellite data to optimize their models, which they use to predict how much snow there is and when and where it will melt. This progress is important in order to be able to warn of floods and inundations in good time......»»
Virgin Galactic eyes possible expansion into Italy
US space tourism company Virgin Galactic announced Thursday it is exploring the possibility of opening a new base in Italy, potentially bringing crewed launches to Europe for the first time......»»
Apple reviving its discontinued AirPort router has never looked more likely
Once upon a time, Apple made Wi-Fi routers called AirPorts. But the company abandoned the router scene with its last AirPort discontinued in 2018. Now, a slew of recent rumors provide hope that a new AirPort could be on the way. more….....»»
One of world"s largest glacier floods triggered in Greenland
For the first time, scientists have observed the release of a massive glacial lake outburst in East Greenland, where more than 3,000 billion liters of meltwater were unleashed in just weeks. This rare, natural flooding event, witnessed by University.....»»
Atomic force microscopy reveals microtubule defects at submolecular resolution
In a study recently published in the journal Nano Letters, researchers from Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI), Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan, used frequency-modulated atomic force microscopy to reveal the submolecular structure of micr.....»»