Wild "Robot on a Leash" Concept Could Find Alien Life in Our Solar System

Europa and other ocean worlds in our Solar System have recently attracted much attention. They are thought to be some of the most likely places in our Solar System for life to have developed off Earth, given the presence of liquid water under their ice sheathes and our understanding of liquid water as one of the necessities for the development of life. Various missions are planned for these ocean worlds, but many suffer from numerous design constraints. Requirements to break through kilometers of ice on a world far from the Sun will do that to any mission. These design constraints sometimes make it difficult for the missions to achieve one of their most important functions — the search for life. But a team of engineers from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory think they have a solution — send forth a swarm of swimming microbots to scour the ocean beneath a main “mothership” bot.

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Local journalism: why a tiny news operation could inspire a different approach and is attracting big name support

The sums involved aren’t huge, but the significance for local journalism in the UK should not be underestimated. The Mill is expanding as local newspapers around the UK, and the world, are closing down or shedding staff, creating news deserts where local issues go unreported. So what is the Mill doing right and could it be a model for a new type of local journalism? As someone who has worked in local journalism, including the much-missed Liverpool Daily Post, I have watched as newspapers have shut their local offices, contracted newsrooms and in some cases stopped printing and turned to web-only operations, so the success of The Mill as part of this climate is worth noting.

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Extreme Heat Could Ruin Our Technology, Too

Not only do people need to stay cool, especially in a summer of record-breaking heat waves. Many machines, including cell phones, data centers, cars, and airplanes, become less efficient and degrade more quickly in extreme heat. Machines generate their own heat, too, which can make hot temperatures around them even hotter.We are engineering researchers who study how machines manage heat and ways to effectively recover and reuse heat that is otherwise wasted. There are several ways extreme heat affects machines.

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Paralyzed woman able to speak again, thanks to brain-avatar interface

Researchers in California have unveiled two new brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) that translate brain signals into words. In two people who can no longer talk on their own, the devices enabled “speech” at speeds up to four times faster than any previous devices.“It is now possible to imagine a future where we can restore fluid conversation to someone with paralysis, enabling them to freely say whatever they want to say with an accuracy high enough to be understood reliably,” said Francis Willett, who co-authored a study of one of the devices.

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What Really Happens When Americans Stop Going to Church

Millions of Americans are leaving church, never to return, and it would be easy to think that this will make the country more secular and possibly more liberal. After all, that is what happened in Northern and Western Europe in the 1960s: A younger generation quit going to Anglican, Lutheran, or Catholic churches and embraced a liberal, secular pluralism that shaped European politics for the rest of the 20th century and beyond. Something similar happened in the traditionally Catholic Northeast, where, at the end of the 20th century, millions of white Catholics in New England, New York, and other parts of the Northeast quit going to church. Today most of those states are pretty solidly blue and firmly supportive of abortion rights.So, as church attendance declines even in the southern Bible Belt and the rural Midwest, history might seem to suggest that those regions will become more secular, more supportive of abortion and LGBTQ rights, and more liberal in their voting patterns. But that is not what is happening. Declines in church attendance have made the rural Republican regions of the country even more Republican and—perhaps most surprising—more stridently Christian nationalist. The wave of states banning gender-affirming care this year and the adoption of “proud Christian nationalist” as an identity by politicians such as Marjorie Taylor Greene (who even marketed T-shirts with the slogan) is not what many people might have expected at a time when church attendance is declining.

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10 Indispensable Skill to Unlock ASAP in 'Starfield'

Starfield has an elaborate progression system, more in-depth than anything Bethesda has done before. It’s a massive game, so it’s only fitting that your skill system equals that. With 82 different skills to choose from, all of which have four tiers to unlock, it can be hard to know what to focus on first. You likely won’t be able to unlock all of Starfield’s skills on a first playthrough, even if you spend copious amounts of time sidequesting and exploring. Each level grants you one skill point, and each tier of a skill requires one point to unlock. That means you’d need to get to level 328 to unlock everything, if that’s even possible.

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Chap shuro: Pakistan's iconic, 'healthy pizza'

"You can use any meat you have for the filling," explained chef Lal Shahzadi as she deftly pinched two slightly speckled rotis together. Her hands worked with graceful precision, almost on autopilot, sandwiching fragrant minced-meat within fluted folds of dough. "You know, like yak."Casting a glance at me standing with my mouth agape and eyes nearly bulging out of their sockets at the thought of eating a shaggy mountain ox, she broke out in an impish grin. "Or chicken."

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14 Good N95, KF94, and KN95 Face Masks to Buy Right Now

The Biden administration officially ended the national and public health emergency for Covid-19 in May of 2023 and mask mandates have been dropped in every state throughout the country. But with cases still surging, it's smart to continue masking, particularly in public indoor spaces or while spending time with people outside of your household. More subvariants are driving a surge in cases, so now's the time to upgrade your go-to mask or stock up on more. We looked into some good options (some of which we’ve tested), and here’s what we found.Updated September 2023: We removed the Titan Protect and Amston Model 1808 N95 respirator masks because they're out of stock. We also updated pricing and retailers.

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50 Cool Things Under $35 That Make Your Home Look So Much More Expensive

While you may think that you need to spend big bucks to make your home look and feel more high-end, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Amazon is a true gem for low-cost products that go a long way in upgrading different spaces throughout your residence, from a paintable TV cord cover for a mounted-installation look in the living room to a set of stepping stones that don’t get hot in the sun for your yard. And the best part is that each of these cool home upgrades is under $35 and has been vetted by reviewers, so you can rest assured that they’re worth a buy.Even a $5 bottle of wine will look good (and taste better thanks to aeration) poured from this hand-blown decanter. It’s large enough for an entire bottle of wine and is designed to hold any variety. The decanter is handcrafted from lead-free crystal.

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'Ahsoka' is Failing Its Fan-Favorite Star Wars Hero

Ahsoka is about many things — the potential return of Grand Admiral Thrawn (Lars Mikkelsen), the shortsightedness of the New Republic, and Sabine Wren’s (Natasha Liu Bordizzo) Jedi training — but is it actually about Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson)? So far, the answer to that question seems, at best, to be “maybe.” Across its first three episodes, the Dave Filoni-created series has introduced so many characters and pieces of lore that it’s unclear exactly how its plot connects back to its eponymous former Jedi.To be clear: The canonical importance of, say, Grand Admiral Thrawn’s return is obvious. The same is true for the potential rescue of Ezra Bridger (Eman Esfandi). However, when it comes to its lead’s own, personal journey, Ahsoka has had little to offer outside of her master-apprentice relationship with Sabine, which hasn’t exactly been set up to succeed.

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Here's How to Romance Shadowheart in 'Baldur's Gate 3'

So you’re making your way through Baldur’s Gate 3, thwarting the Illithid empire, righting the wrongs of Faerûn, and protecting the innocent from harm. Now it’s time for the important part: smooching your fellow adventurers.As one of the first companions you recruit, and one who seems the least likely to kill you in your sleep, Shadowheart is a popular companion to romance. But romance can be tricky in video games, and there are often unintended consequences to your choices that might leave you long resting alone permanently. If you’re interested in giving your heart to Shadowheart, here are some tips to spark a connection.

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Confessions of a Netflix DVD Dead-Ender

The company is finally retiring the famous red envelope. When it does, a certain relationship to art and time will be lost. The first set of DVDs that Netflix mailed to my apartment consisted of Pedro Almodóvar’s camp classic Dark Habits, the 2002 documentary The Weather Underground, and the Nicolas Cage action vehicle Con Air. That was 14 years and more than 500 DVDs ago, according to the data preserved on my account. Why those three films? I couldn’t tell you. What I can say is that I remain as loyal to my Netflix DVD account as I was when I first signed up, in 2009. At the time, the company had already been offering streaming content for two years. But, to the bafflement of friends and family, I’ve stuck with the movies-by-mail service through its long decline and will do so until, as the company recently announced, it shuts down on September 29.

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Which Sonos Speakers Should You Buy?

Here at WIRED, we like Sonos speakers. We really do. Throughout the past decade, we’ve reviewed all of the company’s wirelessly connectable speakers, from its small shelf speakers to its TV soundbars, and we’ve recommended every one of them. But turning your home into a Sonos-powered shrine to sound isn’t cheap. Like Apple products, Sonos speakers sell at a premium, starting at $120 for a basic model. But which ones should you buy? Read on for our recommendations.Updated September 2023: We've added our impressions of the Symfonisk Speaker Lamp (2nd Gen) and the Victrola Onyx turntable. We also fixed pricing and retailers.

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2023's Weirdest Sci-Fi Thriller is an Absurdist Masterpiece

With his tantalizingly twisted Frankenstein riff, Yorgos Lanthimos has made his best and weirdest movie to date.This line, spoken in Poor Things, is actually at odds with the movie’s message, and more in line with what we’d typically expect from Yorgos Lanthimos as a chronicler of life’s cold, oddball characters. His new film, screened in competition at the Venice Film Festival, is surprisingly moving… as well as deliciously foul-mouthed. Slicked with sexy abandon, Poor Things takes Alasdair Gray’s “unfilmable novel” from 1992 and surgically transforms it into a mordantly funny fairytale about female agency and bodily autonomy. Flamboyant, florid, fantastic, and freakish, this might well be one of the most unique movies you’ll ever see.

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65 Things Under $25 on Amazon That'll Impress the Hell Out of You

The world is full of clever, problem-solving gear that is so cool you will wish you knew about it sooner. Some of it is so slick, in fact, that you will wish you invented it. It’s too late to be the inventor but it’s not too late to save yourself time, effort, and regret by dropping these 65 things under $25 on Amazon that’ll impress the hell out of you into your cart and, thereby, improve your life. Buddy is your new kitchen helper. He will hold your tasting spoon like a good dog. He can handle the heat when you want to let steam out of a pot. Snap him onto the edge of the pan and he holds the lid up with his tail. And like any cute dog, he’s good company in the kitchen.

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What Makes a Leader?

When asked to define the ideal leader, many would emphasize traits such as intelligence, toughness, determination, and vision—the qualities traditionally associated with leadership. Such skills and smarts are necessary but insufficient qualities for the leader. Often left off the list are softer, more personal qualities—but they are also essential. Although a certain degree of analytical and technical skill is a minimum requirement for success, studies indicate that emotional intelligence may be the key attribute that distinguishes outstanding performers from those who are merely adequate.

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Whatever happened to the Catalan independence movement?

In 2017, citizens of Catalonia voted in a referendum on whether the northeastern region of Spain should break away from the rest of the country and become its own republic. As the Spanish political establishment held its breath, so did the sports industry. If Catalonia achieved its long-desired independence, then Catalonian clubs like F.C. Barcelona would no longer be able to compete in Spain’s national league — a move its president, Javier Tebas, told ESPN would hurt both the club and soccer in general.Tebas’ warning intimidated many separatists, who hold Barça as dear to their heart as Catalonia itself. Still, they saw the league president for what he was: an outspoken critic of Catalonian independence who used the power of his non-political profession to push an obviously political agenda. The referendum took place, and 92% of voters elected to secede. But secede they never did, as Spain’s central government and courts declared the outcome illegal.

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Why Is My Cat Awake At Night? A Veterinarian Gives Tips on Nighttime Antics

Cats have strange habits. Among the most bizarre, to us humans at least, is their sleep schedules. They seem to laze around all day just to wake us up at 5 a.m. for some playtime. This begs the question: Are cats nocturnal?Though they seem keen on keeping us busy when we’re asleep, they’re not the creatures of the night we think they are. Understanding the reality of your kitty’s sleep-wake cycle can help you tune in to their schedule — and forgive them for batting your nose before the sun rises.

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10 Years Ago, Marvel Learned an Important Lesson -- And Promptly Forgot It

In 2013, a 15-minute short finally put the spotlight on a side character and proved women could carry their own MCU title.The MCU in 2023 looks very different than it did in 2013. In 2023, we’re gearing up for a massive team-up movie following three female heroes joining forces across the galaxy. In 2013, the MCU consisted of a number of huge blockbusters like The Avengers and Iron Man and yet only one female hero — Black Widow, who was unceremoniously introduced in The Avengers and wouldn’t get her own movie for more than half a decade.

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Plastic-Eating Critters and Bacteria Could Solve a Huge Environmental Issue

On an overcast spring morning in 2012, Federica Bertocchini was tending to her honeybees close to where she lived in Santander, on Spain’s picturesque northern coast. One of the honeycombs “was plagued with worms,” says the amateur apiarist, referring to the pesky larvae of wax moths that have a voracious — and destructive — appetite.Bertocchini picked out the worms, placed them in a plastic bag, and carried on with her beekeeping chores. When she retrieved the bag a few hours later, she noticed something strange: It was full of tiny holes.

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'Biological Recycling' Would Be Truly, Truly Amazing

On an overcast spring morning in 2012, Federica Bertocchini was tending to her honeybees close to where she lived in Santander, on Spain’s picturesque northern coast. One of the honeycombs “was plagued with worms,” says the amateur apiarist, referring to the pesky larvae of wax moths, which have a voracious—and destructive—appetite.Bertocchini picked out the worms, placed them in a plastic bag, and carried on with her beekeeping chores. When she retrieved the bag a few hours later, she noticed something strange: It was full of tiny holes.

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Why Do Almost Half of Moon Missions Fail? Here's Why Space Is Still So Risky

Moon missions, in particular, are still a coin flip, and we have seen several high-profile failures in recent years.In 2019, India attempted to land a spacecraft on the Moon — and ended up painting a kilometers-long streak of debris on its barren surface. Now, the Indian Space Research Organisation has returned in triumph, with the Chandrayaan-3 lander successfully touching down near the south pole of Earth’s rocky neighbor.

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The Australian town where people live underground

On the long road towards central Australia, as you travel 848km (527 miles) north from Adelaide's coastal plains, is a scattering of enigmatic sand-pyramids. Around them, the landscape is utterly desolate – an endless expanse of salmon-pink dust, with the occasional determined shrub.But as you venture further along the highway, more of these mystery constructions emerge – piles of pale earth, haphazardly scattered like long-forgotten monuments. Every now and then, there is a white pipe sticking up from the ground next to one.

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'Ahsoka' is Undermining the Most Important Cornerstone of Star Wars Canon

“The Force resides in all living things,” explains Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson) to her unlikely apprentice, Sabine Wren (Natasha Liu Bordizzo), in the latest episode of Ahsoka. “Even you.”Ahsoka is not the first Star Wars story to try and make sense of the Force, how it works, or how Jedi and Sith are able to use it at will. The title character is using the same rhetoric we’ve heard from the likes of Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) in the Star Wars prequels, and from Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guiness) in the original trilogy. Saying that the Force resides in every living thing is like saying water is wet — but Ahsoka skirts tradition by suggesting that anyone can be taught to harness it, not only those with off-the-chart midichlorian readings.

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Little Rock

My friend’s friends, his new line brothers, are huddled in the kitchen, taking turns burning an ancient alphabet into their biceps, along their lower legs, into their chests. They howl, licking their chops, relaying a single bottle and a branding iron like twin batons. Decoupled from livestock, or the institution of slavery, it’s explained to me as the ultimate act of devotion, of fidelity, the best illustration of what it looks like to love. But I want to tell you, there are certain smells we are not equipped for, cannot unknow, like how the tongue can’t lap back a word, and a bell cannot be unrung. First, the hair glows like a live wire, then the skin whines like a feral cat caught in a trap. Oh, the brothers howl until snot balloons in the nose. One of them notices me nursing my beer and whispers: I don’t think blood should be here. Then the sun becomes an aerosol of sweat and creosote, a fragrance of old rose and spoiled milk, of feces and mud.

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A K-Drama Without a Drop of Romance

This is an edition of The Atlantic Daily, a newsletter that guides you through the biggest stories of the day, helps you discover new ideas, and recommends the best in culture. Sign up for it here.Welcome back to The Daily’s Sunday culture edition, in which one Atlantic writer reveals what’s keeping them entertained.

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The Hard Side of Change Management

Everyone agrees that managing change is tough, but few can agree on how to do it. Most experts are obsessed with “soft” issues, such as culture and motivation, but, say the authors, focusing on these issues alone won’t bring about change. Companies also need to consider the hard factors—like the time it takes to complete a change initiative, the number of people required to execute it, and so forth.

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The True Joy of Sandbox Games Is Breaking Them

I’m nervous about Starfield. I’ve enjoyed Bethesda’s other open-world RPGs, but I’m not super into postapocalypses, and Skyrim’s fantasy world didn’t engage me much. But I love space. Games set in space are my jam. So I’ve been wanting a game like Starfield since before Bethesda announced it. But after playing Tears of the Kingdom (among others), I’m worried Starfield will be missing the one thing that elevates the best games in the genre: the developer-intended ability to absolutely break the game.To be clear, I don’t mean mods, console commands, or cheat codes. As much as I’m in favor of all those things, I’m talking about when a game presents puzzles and challenges with a few expected ways to solve the problem but also gives players the tools to sidestep or break those challenges. Like, say, by building a Lynel-killing aerial laser array.

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I Use This Overpriced Travel Stroller Every Single Day

Travel strollers are meant for—you guessed it—travel. When I started testing strollers, I assumed I would just ignore this category for any purpose besides long-haul trips or flights. Travel strollers, also called lightweight or umbrella strollers, have fewer features, since they focus on being as easy to carry as possible. For as small as they are, they weren't as cheap as I expected. Some were even pricier than strollers designed for everyday use.I ended up testing two lightweight strollers side by side: the Nuna TRVL, a $500 travel stroller, and the Joovy Kooper, a $250 lightweight stroller. The Joovy came with more features for half the price, including a place for me to put my water and keys, which almost no stroller I tested had.

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50 Cheap Things That Make Your Home Look & Feel More Expensive With Almost No Effort

Outside of work, home is where I spend the most amount of time — which is precisely why I like to try and make it look as nice as possible. The only catch is that I have to stick to my monthly budget, which immediately rules out any pricy renovations. Luckily, there are tons of cheap things on Amazon that can make any home look and feel more expensive with almost no effort. From solar-powered lights to plush all-season bedding, I’ve made sure to fill this list with items that every home can benefit from.Not only is this set of six towels available for just $40 but they’re also made from soft, ring-spun Turkish cotton, making them just as absorbent as they are soft. The best part? The colors won’t fade after dozens of washes — and you even have the choice of two: dark grey or black.

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