Oceanographers on an excursion in the Southern Ocean captured a chance, unprecedented encounter with a sizable deep-sea squid. While piloting a remotely operated submersible 7,000 feet below the ocean surface from aboard the Schmidt Ocean Institute’s research vessel Falkor (too), experts glimpsed a three-foot-long Gonatus antarcticus specimen. But according to National Geographic’s announcement, the team wasn’t even supposed to be in that location when they stumbled across the elusive cephalopod.

“The ice blocks were moving so fast, it would put all the ships in danger, so we had to rearrange everything,” said Manuel Novillo, a researcher at the Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal. 

Novillo and his crewmates working on the National Geographic and Rolex Perpetual Planet Expedition originally intended to remotely explore the Powell Basin, an uncharted 9,400-foot-deep abyssal plain near Antarctica, on Christmas Eve last year. Inclement conditions and dangerous ice floes forced a change in plans. To cut their losses, researchers instead traveled to an outer edge of the Basin the following day to see what they could find.

The last-minute itinerary shift proved more surprising than anyone aboard Falkor (too) expected. Novillo noticed a shadowy figure near the vehicle’s camera as they guided the submersible deeper into the sunless depths early the next morning, and asked the pilot to try getting a closer look.

“Voilà, it appeared,” he recounted.

Novillo and colleagues were initially unsure about the exact species of squid. But whatever it was, it seemed as surprised to see the submersible as its operators were to find it—the squid released a small, green cloud of ink after noticing the robot visitor. Researchers analyzed the squid’s dimensions using the submersible’s laser measurement systems while recording a few minutes’ worth of video footage. After their brief rendezvous, the squid departed and zoomed away into the murky depths.

The oceanographers sent their data and images to Auckland University of Technology’s Lab for Cephalopod Ecology and Systematics (aka the AUT Squid Squad) to properly identify their mystery animal. After reviewing its size and physical characteristics, the AUT Squid Squad concluded that the team had captured the first-known meeting with a live G. antarcticus. Before this, the only specimens had come in the form of carcasses caught in fishing nets, or beak fragments found in other marine animals’ stomachs.

According to Kat Bolstad, head of the Lab for Cephalopod Ecology and Systematics, the telltale markers of G. antarcticus were a single, large hook found at the end of each of its longest tentacles.

“It’s not consistently visible, but it is definitely there,” Bolstad said of the hooks seen in the video.

The large Antarctic squid likely uses those large tentacle hooks to help capture meals, but beyond that, not much is known about the deep-sea creature. Experts assume daily life is likely a combination of hunting prey and avoiding its own larger predators, possibly even colossal squid. The cephalopods generally possess extremely good eyesight so that they can easily spot and avoid unwanted attention (such as a submersible’s headlights).

The specimen caught on camera displayed what appeared to be fresh scratches and sucker-induced wounds, hinting at a brush with its own hungry foes. Despite this, Bolstand said the bright coloration and size indicates it remained “in pretty good shape” since older squid tend to lose their vibrancy. The team wasn’t able to determine its sex, but if it was a female, it was nearly twice the size of past documented adult G. antarcticus. This raises the question: Do males retain their coloration throughout their lifecycles? Another explanation may be that G. antarcticus is actually multiple species, although more information is needed before making that determination.

In any case, the Christmas Day sighting marked an important moment in the study of deep-sea squid. It may be years before another specimen is seen on film, but for Novillo, the unlikely meetup is amazing enough on its own.

“What are the odds?” he said. “We were not supposed to be there and not at that precise moment.”

For more on this story, visit natgeo.com.

The post Watch the mesmerizing first-ever footage of a rare Antarctic squid appeared first on Popular Science.

Electric carmaker Tesla is trying to prevent the release of documents related to its planned robotaxi launch in Austin, Texas.

According to a Reuters report by Chris Kirkham, the company is asking the city not to release communications between Tesla and city officials from the last two years regarding the planned deployment of self-driving vehicles. “The request followed CEO Elon Musk’s announcement in January that Tesla would launch fare-collecting robotaxis on Austin public streets.”

In a letter to the state’s Attorney General, Tesla objected to the release on the grounds that the documents could contain “confidential, proprietary, competitively sensitive commercial, and/or trade secret information” that could "irreparably harm Tesla.” In response, Reuters wrote that the deployment plan is “an issue of enormous importance to Texas and the public at large” and that the public deserves information about it.

The robotaxi launch would be a milestone for Tesla, which has not yet delivered on its promise of fully self-driving vehicles. “Texas state law requires the Attorney General’s office to decide within 45 business days, which would be next week.”

• Austin
• Tesla
• Electric Cars
• Self-Driving Cars
• Robotaxis
• Road Safety

• iPhone 16e


• iPhone 16


• iPhone 16 Plus


• iPhone 16 Pro


• iPhone 16 Pro Max


• iPhone 15


• iPhone 15 Plus


• iPhone 15 Pro


• iPhone 15 Pro Max


• iPhone 14


• iPhone 14 Plus


• iPhone 14 Pro


• iPhone 14 Pro Max


• iPhone 13


• iPhone 13 mini


• iPhone 13 Pro


• iPhone 13 Pro Max


• iPhone 12


• iPhone 12 mini


• iPhone 12 Pro


• iPhone 12 Pro Max


• iPhone 11


• iPhone 11 Pro


• iPhone 11 Pro Max


• iPhone SE (2nd generation and later)

1. Plug your iPhone into your Mac using the supplied cable.


2. Allow the accessory to connect by clicking Allow in the dialog prompt.


3. Open a Finder window by clicking the Finder icon in the Dock.


4. Click your iOS device's name in the sidebar.
   
   
5. If this is the first time connecting your device to your Mac, click Trust in the Finder window.
   
   
6. Tap Trust on your device when prompted, then enter your passcode to confirm.


7. In the General tab, click the circle next to where it says Back up all of the data on your iPad to this Mac.


8. If you want to encrypt the backup, check the box next to Encrypt local backup, then enter a password to protect your data.


9. If you don't want to create an encrypted backup, or you've already set up encrypted backups, click Back Up Now.
   
   

1. Open Safari on your iPhone and visit developer.apple.com.


2. Tap the menu icon in the top-left corner of the page, then tap Account.


3. Under "Sign in to Apple Developer," enter and submit your Apple Account credentials using the arrow buttons, then enter the two-factor authentication code sent to your devices.
   
   
4. Tap the top-left menu icon again, then tap Account.


5. Accept the legal terms of the Apple Developer Agreement by scrolling down the page, checking the box, and tapping I Agree. You'll then be directed to a payment screen, but you can quit out of your browser from here – you don't need to pay anything.
   
   
6. Make sure your iPhone is running iOS 16.4 or later by going to Settings -> General -> Software Update. If it is, and you have just completed steps 1-5 to register a developer account, restart your iPhone. If it isn't, download and install the latest update to your device, then wait for it to restart.


7. Now go back to Settings ➝ General ➝ Software Update.


8. Tap Beta Updates. If you don't see the option, try switching off Download iOS Updates (Automatic Updates ➝ Download iOS Updates), then tap Back and it should appear.


9. Select iOS 26 Developer Beta in the list, then tap Back.


10. Wait for the Software Update screen to check Apple's servers. When the iOS 26 Developer Beta appears, tap Download and Install, then follow the instructions and wait for installation to complete.
    

• 128GB Wi-Fi - $499.00, down from $599.00


• 256GB Wi-Fi - $599.00, down from $699.00


• 512GB Wi-Fi - $799.00, down from $899.00


• 1TB Wi-Fi - $999.00, down from $1,099.00

• 128GB Wi-Fi - $699.00, down from $799.00


• 256GB Wi-Fi - $799.00, down from $899.00


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• 1TB Wi-Fi - $1,199.00, down from $1,299.00

Fungi, often misunderstood and even feared in pop culture, are proving to be potent allies in environmental restoration. Bioremediation expert Danielle Stevenson is at the forefront of mycoremediation, the use of fungi to break down pollutants and absorb heavy metals from contaminated soil. With concerns from the public fueled by fictional depictions like The Last of Us, Stevenson emphasizes that fungi are nature’s recyclers, not threats. Her work shows how certain species can transform petrochemicals, pesticides, and heavy metals into harmless compounds or concentrate them for safer removal. This nature-based method offers an affordable, less disruptive alternative to traditional “dig and dump” remediation approaches.

Mycoremediation has a long scientific history, with researchers since the 1960s exploring fungi’s capacity to break down harmful substances. As reported by Lauren Oster, Stevenson’s recent pilot project at several brownfield sites in Los Angeles demonstrated promising results: a 50% drop in organic soil contaminants within three months and significant reductions in heavy metals after one year. Her methods include pairing fungi with plants in contaminated plots and training high school students in affected communities to help with the work. These collaborative, community-centered efforts are being recognized as not only scientifically sound but socially just, targeting areas most impacted by industrial pollution.

Beyond brownfields, fungi are now being deployed in disaster recovery and post-conflict zones. Mycologist Maya Elson has led efforts to use inoculated filter socks to trap and degrade pollutants from wildfire runoff in California and Hawaii. Meanwhile, researchers are exploring how these techniques can be adapted to war-torn landscapes, where fungi can break down contaminants from explosives without destroying the soil. Scientists emphasize the importance of using native fungi and field-tested methods to ensure success and ecological safety. While fungi alone won’t “save the world,” advocates like Stevenson believe their potential lies in collective action and practical, localized solutions to some of today’s most pressing environmental challenges.

• Bioremediation
• mushrooms
• Fungi
• Brownfields
• Brownfield Redevelopment

Il Robot Plotter è un robot di navigazione autonomo che può essere utilizzato per il picchettamento autonomo di siti con elevata precisione. Questo metodo di lavoro è molto più rapido di quello tradizionale e richiede meno sforzi, poiché non è più necessario il picchettamento manuale.

Per impostazione predefinita, il Robot Plotter esegue il picchettamento manuale azionando un supporto per bombolette spray in cui viene inserita una bomboletta standard di vernice stradale. Opzionalmente, questo può essere sostituito da un modulo laser o da un modulo di perforazione. Cosa significa in pratica?

• Significativo risparmio di tempo nel tracciare, ad esempio, i bordi dell'asfalto, le linee di mezzeria, la segnaletica orizzontale, i parchi solari e le aree per i progetti di costruzione e di infrastrutture.

• Miglioramento della salute e della sicurezza (ad esempio, minore sforzo fisico e supervisione a distanza).

• Minore necessità di manodopera.

Specifiche tecniche

Compiti:

• Pre-marcatura, linee rette e curve

• Tracciatura di linee per l'applicazione dell'asfalto

• Picchettamento di punti o perforazione dl segni/buchi

• Tracciatura di segni di figurazione sulla base di modelli

Robot Plotter 

• Controllo tramite GNSS o stazione totale

• Applicazione di linee di guida con un massimo di 5 kmh

• Tracciatura di punti fino a 300 punti all'ora Durata della batteria di 8 ore - sostituibile

Applicazione web - Tyker Civil:

• Caricamento dei disegni (DXF per le linee, C5V per i punti)

• Preparazione del percorso opzionale

• Ottimizzazione automatica del percorso per II tracciamento dei punti in base alle curve di livello e aí dati sugli ostacoli

• Registrazione della produzione

Alta qualità

Il Robot Plotter è stato sviluppato per semplificare 10 massimo il tracciamento di linee e punti. Questo inizia con la preparazione del lavoro per il Robot Plotter. Tramite l'applicazione web di supporto Tyker Civil, è possibile caricare e controllare in anticipo i compiti coni disegni da utilizzare. Ciò consente di scoprire in anticipo gli errori che normalmente sarebbero stati visibili solo durante il picchettamento. In questo modo si evitano inutili ritardi durante l'esecuzione dei lavori. ll Robot Plotter è realizzato con componenti industriali di alta qualità e soddisfa i requisiti di sicurezza previsti dalla legge, il design del Robot Plotter e il suo sistema di controllo sono stati ottimizzati per tracciare linee e punti con la massima precisione. Inoltre, il Robot Plotter è dotato di tutte le opzioni utili, come il controllo della stazione totale e le funzionalità di rilievo.

Molto facile da usare

il Robot Plotter è compatto e facile da usare. Il robot entra nel bagagliaio di un'auto compatta (ad esempio, Ford Fiesta). Chiunque può quindi portarlo facilmente con sé. La macchina può essere facilmente fornita con i file delle linee (.DXF) o dei punti (.CSV) da tracciare tramite l'applicazione web Tyker Civil o una chiavet-ta 1.1513. Tramite Tyker Civil, qualcuno in ufficio può anche fornire ai Robot Plotter nuovi disegni mentre sta lavorando, li Robot Plotter è molto facile da usare. Una volta caricato un disegno sul Robot Plotter, le linee sono visibili sullo schermo. Azionando manualmente i joystick dei telecomando, li Robot Plotter può essere facilmente spostato in prossimità del percorso con linee o punti da tracciare. Selezionando il percorso da applicare tramite il touch-screen e impastando il Robot Piotter su 'Auto', il Robot Plotter inizia ad applicare linee o punti. Chi non ha mai lavorato con il Robot Plotter può essere operativo in 15 minuti. Non ci sono disegni disponibili? il plotter robot può essere ampliato con una soluzione di rilievo GNSS per creare facilmente disegni georeferenziati. Direttamente disponibili sul Robot Plotter (non è necessario un PC).

Eccellente servizio clienti

La qualità e la facilita d'uso non si limitano al plotter robotico in sé, t anche ciò che noi, come team dì Tyker, raPeresentiamo quando si tratta dl assistenza ah clienti, Come clienti, potete contattare un numero di telefono e un indirizzo e-mail speciali per l'assistenza e avere accesso diretto ai nostri tecnici. Questi hanno tutte le conoscenze e la tecnologia necessarie per ottenere e mantenere rapidamente il vostro Robot Plotter in perfetto stato di funzionamento. il vostro Robot Plotter è accessibile in remoto per l'assistenza, quindi siamo sempre vicini. Anche i problemi occasionali possono essere analizzati retrospettivamente sulla base delle prestazioni storiche.
Siamo inoltre sempre aperti a idee su come migliorare il Robot Plotter e saremo lieti di discuterne con voi, In Tyker lo sviluppo non si ferma mal, Le nuove versioni del software sia per il Robot Plotter che per Tyker Civii vengono rilasciate regolarmente e aggiornate automaticamente.

Contatti

TYKERRronland 12Z 6708WWI Wageningen Paesi Bassi +31 85 482 4812 info@tyker.com

 www.tyker.com

Some computers sound like they’re about to take flight. Fans roaring. Programs lagging. Random pop-ups and unexplainable slowdowns. Before assuming it’s time for new hardware, consider this: the operating system may be outdated.

Right now, Windows 11 Pro is available for $14.97, and for those still stuck on Windows 10, the timing couldn’t be better. Microsoft is officially ending support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. That means no more security updates, leaving systems vulnerable to malware, phishing, and other cyber threats.

Windows 11 Pro isn’t some superfluous upgrade. It offers a more stable, secure, and customizable experience, especially for users who need power and flexibility. Features such as BitLocker, Remote Desktop, and Hyper-V virtualization provide more control and enhanced protection for sensitive data and demanding workloads.

Gamers, streamers, developers, and multitaskers can also benefit from advanced performance tools and enhanced driver support for high-end gear. For those investing in GPUs or custom peripherals, the Pro edition helps ensure the hardware is fully utilized without the operating system getting in the way.

Many older machines can handle the demands of Windows 11 Pro, provided they meet the system requirements. And with the right OS, even a midrange PC can run smoother, faster, and quieter. No more freezing, crashing, or “fan jet” noises. Just a system that works like it’s supposed to.

Upgrade to Windows 11 Pro for $14.97 and avoid being left behind when Windows 10 support ends this fall.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

_

Microsoft Windows 11 Pro

See Deal

The post Your PC’s loud, laggy, and annoying? This $15 upgrade might fix it appeared first on Popular Science.

If an axolotl loses a leg, it gets a new one–complete with a functional foot and all four toes. Over just a few weeks or months, bone, muscle, skin, and nerves grow back in exactly the same formation as the lost limb. The endangered, aquatic, Mexican salamander are masters of regeneration, showcasing the best of an ability shared by many other amphibians, reptiles, and fish species. But how do these cold-blooded creatures do it?

That some species can regrow limbs while others can’t is one of the oldest mysteries in biology, says James Monaghan, a developmental biologist at Northeastern University. Aristotle noted that lizards can regenerate their tails more than 2,400 years ago, in one of the earliest known written observations of the phenomenon. And since the 18th century, a subset of biologists studying regeneration have been working to find a solution to the puzzle, in the hopes it will enable medical treatments that help human bodies behave more like axolotls. It may sound sci-fi, but Monaghan and others in his field firmly believe people might one day be able to grow back full arms and legs post-amputation. After all that time, the scientists are getting closer. 

Monaghan and a team of regeneration researchers have identified a critical molecular pathway that aids in limb mapping during regrowth, ensuring that axolotls’ cells know how to piece themselves together in the same arrangement as before. Using gene-edited, glow-in-the-dark salamanders, the scientists parsed out the important role of a chemical called retinoic acid, a form of vitamin A and also the active ingredient in the acne medicine isotretinoin (commonly known as Accutane). The concentration of retinoic acid along the gradient of a developing replacement limb dictates where an axolotl’s foot, joint, and leg segments go, according to the study published June 10 in the journal Nature Communications. Those concentrations are tightly controlled by just one protein also identified in the new work and, in turn, have a domino effect on a suite of other genes. 

“This is really a question that has been fascinating developmental and regenerative biologists forever: How does the regenerating tissue know and make the blueprint of exactly what’s missing?,” Catherine McCusker, a developmental biologist at the University of Massachusetts Boston who was uninvolved in the new research, tells Popular Science. 

The findings are “exciting,” she says, because they show how even the low levels of retinoic acid naturally present in salamander tissues can have a major impact on limb formation. Previous work has examined the role of the vitamin A-adjacent molecule, but generally at artificially high dosages. The new study proves retinoic acid’s relevance at normal concentrations. And, by identifying how retinoic acid is regulated as well as the subsequent effects of the compound in the molecular cascade, Monaghan and his colleagues have “figured out something that’s pretty far upstream” in the process of limb regeneration, says McCusker. 

Understanding these initial steps is a big part of decoding the rest of the process, she says. Once we know the complete chemical and genetic sequence that triggers regeneration, biomedical applications become more feasible. 

“I really think that we’ll be able to figure out how to regenerate human limbs,” McCusker says. “I think it’s a matter of time.” On the way there, she notes that findings could boost our ability to treat cancer, which can behave in similar ways to regenerating tissues, or enhance wound and burn healing. 

Monaghan and his colleagues started on their path to discovery by first assessing patterns of protein expression and retinoic acid concentration in salamander limbs. They used genetically modified axolotls that express proteins which fluoresce in the presence of the target compounds, so they could easily visualize where those molecules were present in the tissue under microscopes. Then, they used a drug to tamp down naturally occurring retinoic acid levels, and observed the effects on regenerating limbs. Finally, they produced a line of mutant salamanders lacking one of the genes in the chain, to pinpoint what alterations lead to which limb deformities. 

They found that higher concentrations of retinoic acid tell an Axolotl’s body to keep growing leg length, while lower concentrations signal it’s time to sprout a foot, according to the new research. Too much retinoic acid, and a limb can grow back deformed and extra-long, with segments and joints not present in a well-formed leg, hampering an axolotl’s ability to easily move. One protein, in particular, is most important for setting the proper retinoic acid concentration. 

“We discovered it’s essentially a single enzyme called CYP26b1, that regulates the amount of tissue that regenerates,” Monaghan says. CYP26b1 breaks down retinoic acid, so when the gene that makes the protein is activated, retinoic acid concentrations drop, allowing the conditions for foot and digit formations. 

At least three additional genes vital to limb mapping and bone formation seem to be directly controlled by concentrations of retinoic acid. So, when retinoic acid concentrations are off, expression of these genes is also abnormal. Resulting limbs have shortened segments, repeat sections, limited bone development, and other deformations.

Based on their observations, Monaghan posits that retinoic acid could be a tool for “inducing regeneration.” There’s “probably not a silver bullet for regeneration,” he says, but adds that many pieces of the puzzle do seem to be wrapped up in the presence or absence of retinoic acid. “It’s shown promise before in the central nervous system and the spinal cord to induce regeneration. It’s not out of the question to also [use it] to induce regeneration of a limb tissue.” 

Retinoic acid isn’t just produced inside axolotls. It’s a common biological compound made across animal species that plays many roles in the body. In human embryo development, retinoic acid pathways are what help map our bodily orientation, prompting a head to grow atop our shoulders instead of a tail. That’s a big part of why isotretinoin can cause major birth defects if taken during pregnancy–because all that extra retinoic acid disrupts the normal developmental blueprint. 

Yet retinoic acid isn’t the only notable factor shared by humans and amphibians alike. In fact, most of the genes identified as part of the axolotl limb regrowth process are also present in our own DNA. What’s different seems to be how easily accessed those genetic mechanisms are after maturity. Axolotls, says Monaghan, have an uncanny ability to activate these developmental genes as needed. 

Much more research is needed to understand exactly how and why that is, and to get to the very root of regeneration ability, but the implication is that inducing human limbs to regrow could be easier than it sounds. 

“We might not need to turn on thousands of genes or turn off thousands of genes or knock out genes. It might just be triggering the reprogramming of a cell into the proper state where it thinks it’s an embryo,” he says.

And lots of research is already underway. Other scientists, McCusker included, have also made big recent strides in attempting to unlock limb regeneration. Her lab published a study in April finding key mechanisms in the lateral mapping of limbs–how the top and bottom of a leg differentiate and grow. Another major study from scientists in Austria came out last month pinpointed genetic feedback loops involved in positional memory, which help axolotl tissues keep tabs on where lost limbs once were and how they should be structured. 

Still, it’s likely to be decades more before human amputees can regain their limbs. Right now, the major findings fall in the realm of foundational science, says McCusker. Getting to the eventual goal of boosting human regenerative abilities will continue to take “a huge investment and bit of trust.” But every medical treatment we have today was similarly built off of those fundamental building blocks, she says. 

“We need to remember to continue to invest in these basic biology studies.” Otherwise, the vision of a more resilient future, where peoples’ extremities can come back from severe injury, will remain out of reach.

The post A chemical in acne medicine can help regenerate limbs appeared first on Popular Science.

If you own an iPhone, you’re never far away from a major or minor software update. So while iOS 18.4 doesn’t introduce as many features as the main iOS 18 release, it does come with a few interesting new tricks.

Specifically, there’s now the option to open your favorite chat in Messages, right from the lock screen. It might be the group chat with your friends, for example, or the one-to-one conversation you’ve got going with your partner. If there’s a special conversation that stands out, you can now get at it more quickly.

It’s not difficult to set up via the Shortcuts app—and it adds to the other shortcuts and customizations you can make. In fact, any shortcut you can imagine can be put on the iOS lock screen for easy access, though currently there’s only room for two at a time.

This new iOS 18.4 feature works through the Shortcuts app, so head there first. Tap + (plus) in the top right corner, then search for the “open conversation” shortcut in the text box. When the link appears, tap to select it.

You then need to choose the conversation to open: Tap on the blue Conversation field to do this, then pick a chat from the Messages app. A list of all the contacts you’ve been chatting with recently shows up, so make your pick—you can choose SMS and RCS conversations, as well as those handled by iMessage.

You can then tap Done to save the shortcut on your iPhone. If you like, you can configure several shortcuts to several chats, and switch between them as needed—not just from the lock screen, but from wherever shortcuts appear (like the Control Center, for example).

With our shortcut(s) created, we can head to the lock screen and make use of the latest customization options there. With your phone locked, tap and hold on the display, then choose Customize and Lock Screen.

You’ll see two shortcuts down in the lower left and right corner—usually the flashlight and the camera, if you’ve left the defaults in place. Tap the – (minus) button to clear either the right or the left shortcut, then tap the + (plus) button that’s revealed.

Pick Shortcuts, then tap Choose to select one, and then tap the Open Conversation shortcut you just created. No more configuration is required, and you simply need to tap Done to confirm. In the future, long press on this shortcut, and your chosen chat appears (after you’ve gone through lock screen security).

It’s easy to see how the same approach can be used to set up other shortcuts. iOS 18.4 has only just added the ability to link to a specific conversation inside Messages, but there’s lots more that you can do with these links from the lock screen.

For example, you can set up a link to send a message to a particular recipient—both in Messages and third-party tools such as WhatsApp. If there’s someone you find yourself messaging a lot, it can save you some time.

You can also pick a Set Messages Focus Filter shortcut, which will instantly apply one of the focus modes on your iPhone to message notifications. The benefit of having them on the lock screen is you don’t need to dig through a variety of menus to find them.

Messaging apps know full well that some of your conversations are more important than others—it would be a little strange if they weren’t—and most of the popular mobile messaging apps give you tools for prioritizing certain chats, on top of the links you can place on the lock screen.

In Apple Messages, for example, long press on a message and choose Pin to keep it at the top of the chat list. There’s a similar feature in WhatsApp, only in this case you need to swipe right on a message in the chat list to find the Pin option.

And don’t forget Siri either: With a “hey Siri” voice command or a long press on the power button, you can invoke the digital assistant and get it to send a message to a contact, in a choice of apps—even from the lock screen.

The post New iPhone trick puts your favorite chat on the lock screen appeared first on Popular Science.

The FDA has greenlit the first lab-grown fish for public consumption, and it’s already available in a restaurant. The dish’s developers at the startup Wildtype confirmed the regulatory milestone last week, but for now, hungry and curious taste-testers will need to head to Portland, Oregon, to sample the company’s “cultivated salmon.”

“We’re proud to share that we completed a thorough pre-market safety consultation with [the] FDA,” Wildtype said in its announcement along with a link to the agency’s response letter.

FDA’s Director Office of Food Chemical Safety, Dietary Supplements, and Innovation Human Foods Program confirmed the agency has “no questions at this time” about Wildtype’s “cultured salmon cell material,” and described it “as safe as comparable foods produced by other methods.”

As The Verge notes, such consultations are entirely voluntary for companies, but can still serve as a means to boost consumer confidence and help legitimize a product.

Wildtype’s salmon is not the first lab-grown food to receive the FDA’s stamp of approval—that honor went to two companies’ cultured chicken in 2022—but this does mark the first time a lab-grown fish has earned the distinction. What makes Wildtype’s project particularly distinctive is its choice of salmon cut. Unlike lab-grown chicken or beef, the company is creating sushi-grade “saku” cuts that are intended to be eaten raw. These uniformly cut blocks of fish are most often served as sashimi, and do not require any cook time.

To achieve this, Wildtype’s researchers first harvest living cells from Pacific salmon before transporting them for cultivation. In specially designed equipment, these cells are then grown in cultures with conditions similar to those in the wild fish itself. These include fine-tuned pH levels, temperatures, nutrients, and other factors that induce the cells to develop to a point when engineers can harvest them. From there, the team integrates “a few plant-based ingredients” to help hone the flavor, texture, and appearance of wild salmon filets.

Wildtype’s cultivated salmon debuted in late May at Kann, a James Beard Award-winning Haitian restaurant located in Portland, Oregon. Overseen by chef Gregoary Goudet, the saku cuts are currently paired with spiced tomato, pickled strawberry, strawberry juice, and a rice cracker topped with epis, a pesto-like traditional Haitian blend of garlic, peppers, and herbs. Kann will begin including the salmon on its daily menu in July, while Wildtype says another four restaurants plan to integrate the fish into their own dishes in the coming months.

The next restaurants have yet to be named, but they likely won’t be located in one of the eight states that have already instituted bans on serving lab-grown meat. These prohibitions aren’t based on any particularly well-founded concerns, however. Critics frequently cite a threat to the farming industry, but given the comparative costs, lab-grown meat isn’t likely to supplant traditional options anytime soon.

The post FDA approves lab-grown salmon appeared first on Popular Science.

My thoughts often feel like endless streams of information. That’s until someone asks me the name of a stranger I met six or seven seconds before, and my mind goes blank. Mind blanking is much more common than you might think. Researchers think that our minds are blank somewhere between 5 and 20 percent of the time. Neuroscientists face significant hurdles in adding color and detail to the mystery of an empty mind, but new research is trying to establish the edges of these formless thoughts. 

Athena Demertzi, a cognitive neuroscientist at the University of Liège, recently published a review paper on mind-blanking research. The field has struggled to agree on what the term means–Demertzi’s paper lists no fewer than seven different definitions. Her preferred view is that mind blanking is about “the impression of having no thoughts or not being able to report any thoughts.” 

This interpretation is intentionally vague, as people can use all kinds of language to self-report a mind blank. Examples include “I don’t remember what I was thinking” or “I wasn’t paying attention.” Demertzi says that this can trip up researchers who attempt to incorporate other brain processes, such as memory, into their work.

Within this broad definition, Demertzi then works to separate different strands of mind blanking. This work is fraught with complications. One of the most reliable tools for examining the brain’s inner workings is functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Demertzi explains that fMRI researchers often ask their volunteers to “think of nothing” while in the scanner. Doing so causes activation along the midline of the brain in regions like the cingulate cortex, says Demertzi. However, rather than being a marker of a blank mind, this signal is a cognitive marker of the effort required to suppress thoughts. 

To block out this signal, Demertzi tried a different strategy. In a 2023 study, her team monitored the brains of people at rest in a scanner. At random intervals, participants were asked to report what they had been thinking of. The team then analyzed the brain activity patterns in the seconds preceding their response. The brains of individuals who reported blank minds showed a distinct signal, a pattern involving a momentary synchronization of brain networks. “They are all deactivated,” says Demertzi. This signal is also seen during sleep or anesthesia, she adds. 

This finding is supported by other research that has established a strong link between mind blanking and the level of stimulation our brains are experiencing, called arousal. When arousal levels are low, mind-blanking episodes are more likely to occur. This is suggested to be because high arousal is necessary to keep up a continuous stream of thought. 

There may be a cost to keeping up a very high state of arousal, however. At high levels, this focus tips over into anxiety, which inhibits performance. Demertzi’s paper points out that these anxious states can lead to racing thoughts that may blur individual ideas and make them hard to recall–another form of mind blanking. 

In certain cases, mind blanking can even be a feature of clinical conditions. “We know that it manifests in clinical states like ADHD,” says Demertzi. Unmedicated kids with ADHD report mind blanking at a higher rate than kids without the condition. Other conditions that feature racing thoughts, like generalized anxiety disorder, also include mind blanking as a related feature.

The ultimate question for Demertzi is why mind blanking happens in the first place. Researchers are still trying to figure this out, although she suggests that the link to sleep and arousal may be a hint. “When we sleep,” says Demertzi, “Our neurons are getting rest by throwing away what has been accumulated throughout the day through the glymphatic system.” 
Demertzi says that this toxin-clearing function–which is disputed by some sleep neuroscientists–may also occur in brief periods while we are awake. We notice these “pit stops” in cognition as mind blanks. Ultimately, these blanks may be a way our brain maintains high function for the rest of our waking experience. “How can you sustain a continuous wakeful life if our brains are not helping a bit?” says Demertzi.

The post What happens when our brain goes blank appeared first on Popular Science.

Affordable housing is hard to build not because of lack of need, but because of how it's financed. This guide explains the basics, including:

• Capital Stack: Projects are funded through a mix of debt and equity, used to cover land, construction, and soft costs.
• The Funding Gap: Affordable rents generate less income, meaning smaller loans—creating a gap that must be filled to make a project viable.
• Closing the Gap: Developers use a mix of:
  • Subsidies (grants, tax credits, vouchers)
  • Cost-saving strategies (donated land, fee waivers)
  • Lower-cost capital (below-market loans and equity)
• Why It Matters: Understanding these tools helps advocates, policymakers, and funders support more sustainable, equitable housing development.

• Affordable Housing
• Housing Development
• Housing Costs
• Housing Supply

This year’s swag at the Early Check in at Infinite Loop #WWDC25 #WWDC2 pic.twitter.com/yBo1CxuYwB

As a dad who’s spent more time than I’d like to admit wrestling an iPad away from my toddler, I’ve seen the dark side of kids’ screen time. Those hyperactive, ad-riddled apps turn my kid into a tiny, overstimulated zombie. So when I stumbled upon this Pok Pok: Lifetime Subscription—a Montessori-inspired app designed for kids aged 2 to 8—I was intrigued.

Pok Pok isn’t your typical kids’ app. There are no levels, no timers, and no “You Win!” screens. Instead, it offers open-ended play that encourages curiosity and exploration. Think of it as a digital sandbox where kids can tinker with shapes, explore space, or go on number journeys—all without the pressure to achieve a high score.

For parents looking to introduce their kids to screen time in a healthy, guilt-free way, Pok Pok is a game-changer. It was designed by early childhood experts to be enriching and supportive of children’s development. What sets Pok Pok apart is its commitment to low-stimulation interactivity. The hand-drawn animations and gentle sound design create a calming experience that doesn’t overwhelm young minds. Plus, it works offline on iPhone, iPad, and Android, making it a lifesaver during long car rides or flights. And with no in-app purchases or hidden fees, I don’t have to worry about surprise charges.

From a developmental standpoint, Pok Pok aligns with Montessori principles, focusing on hands-on learning and independence through play. It supports cognitive, social, and emotional development, helping kids build foundational skills in STEM, problem-solving, and language. And with regular updates, there’s always something new to explore.

Right now, a lifetime subscription to Pok Pok is $49.99, with the code SAVE10 at checkout. That’s a one-time purchase for endless educational play.

Sale ends July 20 at 11:59 p.m. PT

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