SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY
Search headlines
Find the stories shaping the conversation.
Results for " show " 11,119 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle
The DLSS 5 Backlash Is Still Swirling
Almost a week on, the controversy and backlash over NVIDIA’s DLSS 5 announcement are still swirling, following some mixed messaging from the company about how the tech works. A reveal trailer on Tuesday showcased multiple games like “Resident Evil Requiem,” “Starfield”, and “Hogwarts Legacy” using the new technology, which goes beyond simple upscaling and leads […]
'Harry Potter' star details racist 'abuse' he suffered after joining upcoming TV show
Paapa Essiedu is speaking out about on 'abuse' he's endured since being cast as Severus Snape in the 'Harry Potter' TV series: 'Nobody should have to encounter this for doing their job.'
The M-Trends 2026 report shows how to strengthen business cybersecurity.
Learn more about the evolving threat landscape based on Mandiant's new M-Trends 2026 cybersecurity report.
Federal union says 'untrained' ICE agents shouldn't replace TSA
President Donald Trump said he would tap ICE agents to run security at US airports as unpaid TSA officers stop showing up to work.
Your Thymus and Your Healthspan
Our thymus gland plays a central role in the development or our immune system, specifically for supporting T cell development (how these cells got their name, maturation and differentiation in the thymus) and discriminating between self and foreign, non-self antigen proteins with production of dendritic cells. As we age, our thymus gland shrinks—the process known as involution—with progressive change from spongy to fatty tissue, with loss of functionality. But this process, with respect to timeline and extent, markedly varies from one person to the next. And to make things even more complicated, our thymus gland anatomy and precise location in the chest also is highly variable. So the famous Frank Netter diagrams from the 1960s (such as at left below) don’t capture the remarkable heterogeneity that a random set of 12 chest CT scans (below at right). What I consider as 2 landmark papers in Nature this week (here and here) used AI to quantify health of the thymus in 2 large cohorts, and then correlate the metric to a broad array of health outcomes. In this edition of Ground Truths, I’m going to cover three questions: (1) How was thymus health determined by AI?; (2) How is thymus health linked to key clinical outcomes? and (3) Are there ways we can promote a healthy (aka rejuvenate) thymus gland in our later years? Subscribe 1. How was thymus health determined by AI? This was accomplished by extensive work developing and validating an AI pipeline for 2 stages, the first for localization and segmentation of the thymus bed, and the second to quantify a digital marker, termed the thymic health score. There’s a lot to this algorithmic development, so I won’t go into all the details, but just provide a rudimentary outline of what was done. The 1st stage used supervised learning with 2 radiologists reviewing 2,461 chest CT scans. That work trained a 3D U-Net model to automatically identify the thymic bed’s 3D cropped region using center of mass coordinates, which reached 99.8% accuracy. The 2nd stage used a foundation model that was pre-trained with SwAV (which stands for Swapping Assignment between multiple Views), a self-supervised model, that generated a high-dimensional thymus representation of 4,096 features. That compares to the radiology reductionist and subjective scoring of 0 to 3 where 0 means the thymus is fully degenerated and fatty, and 3 is considered dense, intact glandular soft tissue. Notably, the self-supervised learning (SSL) performance was superior to supervised (AUC ~0.75 vs 0.55, respectively) reflecting the shallowness of the 0-3 classifier vs SSL’s holistic, self-taught AI. The thymic health score ranged from 0 to 100, with the highest number indexed to fully preserved thymic health. The algorithmic work extended to explainability with both Shapely value distribution, meaning the model was holistic not relying on any “magic” pixel, and occlusion sensitivity, demonstrating the model’s performance was not affected by ribs, sternum, lung tissue, but rather focused on the thymic bed directly. Below are a few saliency maps from the occlusion sensitivity that indicate the thymic bed focus, not affected by neighboring structures, using the jet color scale. Now the AI was ready for processing ~25,000 CT scans, each over 30 MB files, from the 2 large participant cohorts to provide a thymic health score, it did so in less than 14 hours, which is less than 2 seconds per scan! Share 2. How is thymus health linked to key clinical outcomes? The two cohorts were the National Lung Screening Trial, NLST (N=25,031) and the Framingham Heart Study, FHS (N=2,581) each with baseline demographics and long term follow up of >12 years for health outcomes. From the NSLT, you can see below that increased age and body-mass index were correlated to reduced thymic health. And, overall, men had reduced thymic health scores compared with women. There are a lot of graphs in the paper for outcomes, for both the NLST and FHS cohorts. To simplify the major outcomes, below is a composite Figure with striking reduction of all-cause mortality and for the different causes of death. The results were consistent between the 2 cohorts. For example, the cardiovascular mortality hazard ratio average was 0.57 in NLST and 0.38 in FHS (weighted to be 0.53 for the aggregate). The reduction of mortality also extended to digestive diseases and pulmonary disease (data not shown below). Lung cancer incidence was reduced by 36% for high vs low thymic health (Figure below, with a panel -incidence and b panel-mortality, adjusted for age, sex, BMI, smoking status). Notably, there was a smoker’s paradox: lower incidence and improved survival for lung cancer in smokers who had a high thymus health score. Smoking was associated with lower thymic scores whereas alcohol was not. Higher thymic health was linked to higher HDL cholesterol, lower triglycerides, lower fasting blood glucose, and lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Inflammation biomarkers, such as C-reactive protein and interleukin-6, were elevated in the people with lower thymic health scores. In their second paper, the same team looked at the relationship between thymic score and outcomes for 3,476 patients receiving cancer immunotherapy. The non-small cell lung cancer progression-free survival was reduced in patients with low thymic health score. A parallel relationship for survival was seen for other types of cancer including melanoma, breast, and kidney with a 44% lower risk among high thymic scores (Figure). A similar pattern was seen with different immune checkpoint inhibitors. The thymus health score outperformed programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1)and tumor mutation burden (TMB) assay of the tumor and was an independent prognostic marker of progression-free survival. In this dataset, a direct connect with thymus score and adaptive immune function was noted with a correlation before cancer treatment for both T-cell diversity and thymus T-cell production (a metric known as T cell receptor excision circles). Thymus Removal Study There is a highly relevant citation about thymus function before moving onto ways to rejuvenate it. In 2023, a very important study of thymus removal during cardiothoracic surgery was published, with 1146 patients undergoing thymus removal vs 1146 matched controls (mean age 55 years). The adverse outcomes for thymus removal were striking, with a 2.9 higher risk of all-cause mortality and doubling of cancer incidence, 1.5 fold increase in cancer mortality, and 1.5-fold increase in autoimmune diseases. The immune function showed marked compromise after thymus removal, as reflected by CD4+ and CD8+ T cells (Figure below) Share Ground Truths 3. Are there ways we can promote a healthy (aka rejuvenate) thymus gland in our later years? In recent months we’ve learned a lot about the process of thymus involution and the pathways by which this may be modulated. Thymus involution is primarily due to loss to thymus epithelial cells (TECs) and there are 2 subtypes with different functions: the cortical, responsible for positive selection of T cells, and the medullary, for negative selection. When adipose tissue infiltrates the thymus, thymic adipocytes are pro-inflammatory, knocking out T-cell output. Likewise, systemic inflammation, or “inflammaging,” from smoking, obesity, and chronic stress promote thymic adipocytes. Now, from preclinical studies, we know about key pathways that account for these processes. Historically, back in 2014, FOXN1 was recognized as a single master transcription factor essential for TEC function, with studies in mice with forced FOXN1 upregulation leading to thymus regeneration. That laid the foundation for potential regrowth of quiescent thymus cells. It took awhile to find pathways to accomplish this goal and to even refute its role as the master regulator. The Liver-Thymus Axis Feng Zhang and his team recently showed that injection of an mRNA vaccine to the liver encoding DLL1, IL-7 and FLT3-L in combination, factors known to support thymopoiesis (Figure), successfully enhanced immune function in aged mice. However, the effect was transient. The FGF21 Story Two reports in 2025 addressed the thymus gland’s production of FGF21, a growth factor (fibroblast growth factor 21) and its control of thymus involution. This growth factor is also produced by the liver, but it doesn’t have impact on the thymus in aged rodent models. In contrast, The liver’s hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) has been shown to reverse senescent TEC structural changes. Growth hormone stimulates production of insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in the liver and the thymus. Two small studies in human participants (TRIIM, for Thymus Regeneration, Immunorestoration, and Insulin Mitigation) of 6 and 50 people, respectively, treated with combined human growth hormone, metformin and DHEA, suggested the potential of slowing epigenetic aging and improving thymus mass and function. But the combination of drugs, small sample, and lack of controls make conclusions murky. Increased thymus FGF21 led to increased CD8 T cells in old mice and extended healthspan and improved physical performance. Building on the previous FOXN1 data, ablation of β-klotho, the obligatory co-receptor for FOXN1, accelerated thymic aging. The benefit to FGF21 was confirmed in a companion paper using an FGF21 knock-in mouse model showing thymus enlargement and increased TECs throughout the lifespan. (schematic Figure below). The accompanying editorial for these 2 papers speculated: “The proposed link between age-associated thymus involution and organismal aging is intriguing, and suggests we might seek to achieve systemic rejuvenation by counteracting thymic involution.” Other Factors Lessons from the Axolotl (Mexican Salamander) In an elegant set of experiments of the axolotl (Figure), known for its complete thymus regeneration after total surgical removal, mediators were identified. Surprisingly FOXN1 was dispensable. But midkine, a growth factor, appeared to be the driver, the initiator of thymus cell growth, survival, and repair. Other components that contributed were Postn+ (periostin-expressing mesenchymal niches) and Ccl19, a chemokine protein from the bloodstream. RANK and RANKL RANK (receptor activator of nuclear factor κB its ligand (RANKL) have been considered key regulators of medullary TECs. In a study of both aged mice and human thymus cell cultures, their key role was confirmed, with multiple benefits of resorting TEC function, recruitment of progenitor cells, and T cell development. Subscribe Summing Up This body of work strongly supports the health of the thymus gland as a critical regulator of human healthspan, not just a correlate or link. The new landmark studies are reinforced by the regenerative biology experimental models that have shown, via an array of mediators, that healthspan of aged mice is at least in part dependent on thymus gland function and its critical role for maintaining adaptive immunity. It sure seems that we’d be better off having an immune reservoir of naive T cells instead of a profile in older adults of exhausted, low quality, memory T cells, with a senescent phenotype. It is striking that we ignored the importance of the thymus gland for many decades. A wake-up call was the results of the thymectomy matched control study reviewed here, with the opposite of high thymic health score improved health outcomes. The convergence of AI and healthspan here is notable. The exceptional and laborious work for developing and validating (no less explaining) the AI to quantify thymus health set the foundation for probing the connect the major health outcomes in two cohorts with extensive follow-up. We’ve never had a way to meaningfully quantify the thymus gland before, so this represents important leverage of supervised, self-supervised, and transformer models. The study wouldn’t have been possible without AI. And it begs the question as to whether there are ways we can maintain our thymus at a high health score. But it’s not so simple to rejuvenate our thymus. There are multiple risks including the induction of autoimmunity, increasing the risk of cancer, and inducing a pro-inflammatory state. For example, factors that increase TEC proliferation could compromise the medulllary negative selection process and leak out auto-reactive (self-attacking) T cells. Thymic cells could be induced to proliferate, but we know, for example, that growth hormone and IGF-1 are associated with an increase risk of cancer. If thymus rejuvenation doesn’t clear out the accumulated senescent cells in older adults, then inflammation within the gland could block the production of TECs. Keeping these risks in mind, we now have identified many ways to keep our thymus healthy as we age that undoubtedly will be tested in clinical trials going forward. Ultimately, the benefit-to-risk tradeoffs will be defined. In the meantime, we have desperately needed an immunome. As I’ve stressed in multiple prior Ground Truths, we have no test in the clinic to assess a patient’s immune status! It was very encouraging for me to get an email from Hugo Aerts, the senior author of the landmark papers in the days after they were published: “I also wanted to say that your Substack on “Why We Need an Immunome” was inspiring for this work. We found it a very compelling perspective and greatly enjoyed reading it.” Just having an assessment of a person’s immune status via a chest CT scan, with millions of these performed per year, might help in guiding the right immunotherapy for cancer (e.g. more intensive, combinations for those with low thymic health scores) and help define people who are increased risk for age-related diseases of cancer, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative. The main theme of Super Agers is that we now have many layers of data (genetics, proteins, biomarkers, organ clocks that can be integrated via multimodal AI) for us to define a person’s specific risk decades before one of these age-related diseases leads to symptoms, enabling prevention. From the new studies this week, we can add thymus health score as yet another way to understand a person’s risk, a window into their adaptive immune system and healthspan. And perhaps someday we will be able to safely rejuvenate the thymus, or maintain its health through one’s life, and use the thymus health score to monitor. NB: I wrote this post (No A.I.) A Quick Poll Loading... ********************************************************************* Thanks to Ground Truths subscribers (now > 200,000) from every US state and 212 countries. Your subscription to these free essays and podcasts makes my work in putting them together worthwhile. Please join! If you found this interesting PLEASE share it! Share Ground Truths Paid subscriptions are voluntary and all proceeds from them go to support Scripps Research. They do allow for posting comments and questions, which I do my best to respond to. Please don’t hesitate to post comments and give me feedback. Let me know topics that you would like to see covered. Leave a comment Many thanks to those who have contributed—they have greatly helped fund our summer internship programs for the past two years. It enabled us to accept and support 47 summer interns in 2025! We aim to accept even more of the several thousand who will apply for summer 2026.
This Fresh Take on Sherlock Holmes Is the Best New Show on TV RN
‘Young Sherlock’ is quickly climbing Prime Video’s Top 10 and with rave reviews and an 83% Rotten Tomatoes score, it might be your next binge.
Drew Barrymore says talk show audience member once criticized her dating profile
Drew Barrymore is remembering the time an audience member on her talk show gave his honest thoughts about her dating profile: 'I would probably run away.'
'Saturday Night Live UK' aims to take a comedy hit across the pond. The first verdicts are in
A British version of “Saturday Night Live” has debuted to largely positive reviews. The first episode of “SNL UK” was hosted by Tina Fey, a veteran of the American show, and stuck closely in...
\'Saturday Night Live UK\' aims to take a comedy hit across the pond. The first verdicts are in
A British version of “Saturday Night Live” has debuted to largely positive reviews. The first episode of “SNL UK” was hosted by Tina Fey, a veteran of the American show,
Tantalizing Tech: The Goodies at Cyclingworld Europe 2026
Turbulence at Eurobike has led to a big boost for Cyclingworld. Here's some of the latest dream tech from the show.
Oscar-Winning Alumnus Returns to Pasadena’s ArtCenter for Entertainment Design Expo
One week after winning the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, KPop Demon Hunters co-director Chris Appelhans returns today to ArtCenter College of Design, the Pasadena campus where he studied illustration, for the college’s third annual Entertainment Design Expo. The expo, known as ENTX, opens the Hillside Campus to the public for a full day of gallery exhibitions, game playtesting, animation screenings and interactive experiences featuring work from more than 200 ArtCenter students and alumni. General admission is free with advance registration. Two industry panels — including Appelhans’s talk — require $15 tickets. Appelhans, who graduated from ArtCenter with a bachelor of fine arts in 2002, co-directed KPop Demon Hunters with Maggie Kang. The animated film, produced by Sony Pictures Animation and released on Netflix, became the streaming platform’s most-watched film in history, according to Netflix, and swept awards season with wins at the Golden Globes, the Annie Awards and the Grammys before taking the Oscar on March 15. His talk and audience Q&A is scheduled from noon to 1 p.m. in the Ahmanson Auditorium. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. The film’s ArtCenter ties extend beyond its co-director. Art director Angela Sung, cinematographer Gary H. Lee, visual development artist Celine Kim and painter Simon Baek are all ArtCenter graduates who worked on the production, according to the college. The free portions of ENTX include a concept design showcase, a production design gallery, a model gallery, a stop motion studio preview, an alumni gallery and a KPop Demon Hunters fan art gallery. Visitors can also playtest games designed by ArtCenter students. An Animation Shorts Showcase runs from 2 to 3 p.m. and includes “Boy, I’m Scared,” a capstone short by ArtCenter graduate Lindsey Tenaglia that was named a semifinalist for the 2025 Student Academy Awards in the animation category. Also screening
4 tips for buying a home in a tough market, from the Property Brothers
Drew and Jonathan Scott, AKA The Property Brothers, have a new HGTV show where they guide buyers in a tough market. Here are their best tips.
New Research Shows the 6 Skills You Need to Master Anything
Scientists explain why some of us benefit more than others from expert guidance.
Nebraska survives near-miracle heave at buzzer to advance past Vanderbilt in thriller, keep dream season alive
Nebraska and Vanderbilt put on a show in one of the best games of the NCAA tournament.
Another Illinois basketball player enters legendary status in NCAA tournament
The Illinois basketball team has had some incredible performances this season, and one player just put up an amazing Round of 32 showing against VCU.
Michigan meeting only 40% of mental health workforce needs, report finds
A new report shows Michigan’s mental health workforce is in a crisis.
47th annual Utica University science fair shows area students are smarter than ever
Four dozen science projects from 60 students from eight area schools competed for the top prizes at the Donohue Concourse underneath the Frank Gannett Library. Some of the topics may have changed over the years — there were no baking soda volcanoes — but the students still displayed their projects on decorated posterboard for staff, family and the judges to see. The projects were split between the junior division — 7th and 8th grades — and the senior division — 9th through 12th grades.
ENTERTAINMENT: Walton Arts Center’s lineup features 5 Broadway shows
Season subscribers will also “be the first in line to guarantee your seats for the Northwest Arkansas debut of ‘Wicked,’” already on the schedule for the 2027-’28 season.
Apple TV Is Now Almost 20 Years Old
The Apple TV is now almost two decades old amid rumors of the announcement of a new model. Today marks 19 years Apple launched the original Apple TV. Apple CEO Steve Jobs unveiled the Apple TV at Macworld Expo in January 2007 alongside the original iPhone, but it didn't launch until March. The Apple TV was initially previewed as the "iTV". The device allowed users to wirelessly stream movies, TV shows, music, and photos from their Mac or PC directly to their TV.
MAGA says the SAVE America Act is crucial. A new poll shows Americans don’t agree
To hear some prominent MAGA voices tell it, the marathon Senate debate over the “SAVE America Act” is an existential one for the Republican Party. But the urgency to pass the legislation is not felt by Americans more widely.
Ancient DNA reveals a farming shift that pushed a society to the brink
A new study reveals that farming in Argentina’s Uspallata Valley was adopted by local hunter-gatherers rather than introduced by outside populations. Centuries later, a stressed group of maize-heavy farmers migrated into the region, facing climate instability, disease, and declining numbers. Despite these pressures, there’s no sign of violence—instead, families stayed connected across generations, using kinship networks to survive. The research shows how cooperation, not conflict, helped communities navigate crisis.
Country music star wants a shot at Super Bowl Halftime Show: ‘Make the call’
It's been a while since a country music star landed the gig.
Combating youth suicide tilts increasingly toward early intervention
A suicidal child or teenager may never talk of taking their life. Parents, peers and teachers might not even know they’re living with mental illness. Despite younger generations showing greater openness to discussing mental health struggles, fears of punishment or social exclusion remain, experts say. Even at medical appointments, minors
BTS fans take over central Seoul for K-pop kings' comeback
South Korean megastars BTS reunite Saturday for their first show in nearly four years, with an expected 260,000 fans taking over central Seoul for a K-pop extravaganza livestreamed to millions more wo...
Brewers top Mariners in Spring Breakout matchup
Luis Peña homers, four others double in prospect showcase
The mental health effects of gun violence near schools
Dr. Scott Hadland from Mass. General Brigham discusses new data that shows the amount of shootings near schools is trending downwards.
Brian Michael Bendis' Powers Animated TV Show in the Works
Bendis and co-creator Michael Avon Oeming are participating in the show's development.
Crimson Desert Players Debate If The Game Secretly Uses AI Art
One painting shows off a terrifying convention of weird-looking centaurs
Another Planet Entertainment Producing Free Show Celebrating 30 Years of OM Records
Longtime dance label OM Records is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a free concert produced by Another Planet Entertainment.
35 photos that show what life looked like in 1973
A senior portrait so perfectly 1973 it could have been Michael Kelso's yearbook photo — the side-swept hair, the wide lapels, the expression of a guy who knows exactly how good-looking he is. The menu behind him says coffee is 15 cents.
The MacRumors Show: Surprise AirPods Max 2 Announcement
On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we discuss Apple's surprise announcement of the AirPods Max 2 this week. Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel for more videos The AirPods Max 2 introduce a range of improvements primarily driven by the addition of Apple's H2 chip, which replaces the H1 chip used in previous models.
Crimson Desert developers "doing our utmost" to respond to its various launch issues, as game still passes huge one-day sales milestone
Crimson Desert - the ambitious single player RPG spin-off from Pearl Abyss - has sold through 2m copies following its release.
The danger of letting a mystic lead public health
A look at Casey Means shows the weakness of her nomination and the surgeon general position itself.
Chuck Norris, action hero and ‘Walker, Texas Ranger’ star, has died
Chuck Norris, veteran, martial arts world champion, action hero and early 2000s Internet meme inspiration, whose rugged demeanor was immortalized on hit show “Walker, Texas Ranger,” has died.
Watch live: Whole Hog Politics with Chris Stirewalt and Bill Sammon
The Hill’s senior vice president of editorial content, Bill Sammon, joins NewsNation’s Chris Stirewalt to discuss the latest political hot topics and national news in Whole Hog Politics. The show w…
The Homicide Upending French Politics
A recent killing of a neo-Nazi activist could bring France’s far-right party closer to power than it’s ever been.
Hispanic Women-Owned Business Growth—Revenue Hasn’t Caught Up
Hispanic/Latina women are launching businesses at record rates and leading in employer firm growth. New IWOB data shows why revenue still doesn’t match the momentum—and what changes that.
'Anthony's purpose.' Canton mother remembers son with tribute art show
Monica Ramos of Canton is honoring her late son with an art show. And she wants to help others who struggle with mental health like her son did.
Steelers showing strong interest in talented WR draft prospect
The Pittsburgh Steelers hosted Georgia wide receiver Zachariah Branch for a pre-draft dinner ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Could Louisiana’s first Senate debate be on Moon Griffon? Inside the latest maneuvering.
Sen. Bill Cassidy has been calling for TV debates as he runs for reelection. Will he accept the debate offer from conservative radio talk show host Moon Griffon?
Maggie Haberman: Trump ‘showing a greater tolerance for certain political pain’ related to the Iran war
Sense of belonging predicts who stays in science
New research shows that feeling connected to a scientific community may be key to reducing attrition, with professional societies positioned to strengthen belonging across disciplines.
Many Americans plan to cut food to afford ACA health insurance, new poll shows
About 8 in 10 Americans who re-enrolled in Affordable Care Act marketplace coverage say their health care costs are higher this year, according to a new survey from the health care research nonprofit KFF.
Markiplier to Microdramas: The Ankler x NAB Show’s Future of Entertainment
Share Subscribe Vegas, baby! The Ankler is heading back to NAB Show for a second year in a row — and doubling down on conversations with the smartest people in the industry. From April 18–22, we’re partnering again with the industry’s biggest media and tech gathering to break down the Business of Media and Entertainment as it’s actually evolving: faster, riskier and increasingly driven by new formats, new audiences and new power players. This curated series will bring together top creators, executives and innovators to tackle the forces reshaping the industry — from the AI disruption of Hollywood’s creative ecosystem to the rise of the creator economy, shifting audience behavior and the changing economics of production. We’ll be rolling out more programming in the coming weeks — including top speakers from leading AI studios, prediction markets and beyond — so keep an eye on the Business of Media and Entertainment hub. But first up, we’re announcing two panels about what’s actually working in Hollywood: The Scary-Smart Business of Horror A good scare has become one of the entertainment economy’s most reliable engines. With disciplined budgets, built-in fandoms and global box office upside, horror consistently outperforms. From theatrical releases to streaming-first originals and creator-driven IP, the genre is artistically flexible and financially durable — and one of the last truly communal experiences for Gen Z and Gen Alpha audiences. Join YouTube creator Mark Fischbach, aka Markiplier, whose independent feature Iron Lung earned more than $50 million at the global box office, Atomic Monster president Michael Clear and screenwriter Akela Cooper (M3GAN, Malignant) for a conversation moderated by Like & Subscribe’s Natalie Jarvey about why horror travels so effectively across platforms and borders, how studios and independents are building sustainable genre pipelines and why the next wave of breakout franchises may emerge from unexpected sources. Inside the Microdrama Boom Short-form serialized storytelling is having a major moment. Microdramas, social-native series and creator-led narratives are capturing massive audiences with low-cost, rapid production cycles and direct-to-fan distribution. What was once dismissed as niche or experimental is now attracting major platform investment. Moderated by Jarvey, this panel of microdrama creators and executives — including one of the format’s top stars and producers, Kasey Esser, and Dhar Mann Studios’ head of vertical content, Erin McFarlane — examines how format innovation, fandom dynamics and algorithmic discovery are reshaping the economics of scripted storytelling and what traditional studios can learn from these agile models. For sponsorship opportunities, contact Lynne@theankler.com Share
Forget the Galaxy Watch 8, this upcoming Android smartwatch could be the new battery king
A new leak shows the OnePlus Watch 4 doubling down on durability while keeping its strong battery life and familiar specs.
Large building fire seen in Greenspoint area, smoke billowing into the air, SkyEye images show
A building fire caused heavy smoke to billow into the air in the Greenspoint area on Thursday afternoon. SkyEye was over the scene as crews arrived to fight the flames.
What Zohran Mamdani's favorite rappers shows about his politics
Mamdani chooses uber-capitalists Biggie, Nas and Jay-Z among his five favorite rappers. Is it a pivot to center?
AEO Engine Launches ’AEO Engine AI Search’ Podcast – First Show Dedicated to How AI Is Reshaping Business Discovery, Search Visibility, and Brand Trust
AEO Engine logo representing the launch of the new "AEO Engine AI Search" podcast, hosted by Aria Chen and focused on
New dispute emerges around Subnautica 2’s early access release
Lawyers for the ousted—and now partially reinstated—leadership team of Unknown Worlds, the studio behind Subnautica 2, are crying foul over news that the game will be released into early access in May. The release announcement earlier this week was made improperly, potentially “damaging the game and sowing additional confusion among the Subnautica community,” the lawyers said in a letter sent on Tuesday to Vice Chancellor Lori Will of Delaware’s Court of Chancery. In their letter, the lawyers also floated the idea of asking Will to find Krafton in contempt of the court’s ruling. The letter was sent just one day after Will’s bombshell ruling that publisher Krafton had breached its contract with Unknown Worlds’ executive team, when it fired them last June. The new issue isn’t necessarily the May early access timeframe, but how the news was announced. The letter and Krafton’s response have not been previously reported. A quick recap of prior events: Subnautica 2 is an unreleased, underwater survival adventure and the most-wishlisted game on Steam. Last year, longtime Unknown Worlds CEO Ted Gill, along with studio co-founders Charlie Cleveland and Max McGuire, were fired by Krafton. They swiftly sued, saying the publisher had terminated them to avoid paying out up to $250 million in potential performance-based bonuses. The studio leaders had hoped to earn that with an early access release of the game, which Krafton had blocked. The publisher argued in court that Subnautica 2 wasn’t ready, which the ousted execs disputed. On Monday, Will ruled that Krafton had violated its contract, firing the execs to avoid the performance payouts, and that it had to reinstate Gill and give him full authority over any early access release for Subnautica 2. On Tuesday, IGN reported on a new memo issued that day to Unknown Worlds staff by Steve Papoutsis, the executive Krafton had put in charge of Unknown Worlds after the 2025 firings. In the note, Papoutsis said that Subnautica 2 had passed a key development milestone “last week” and that he and Krafton had determined the game “is ready for Early Access release in May.” This news appeared to catch the lawyers for Gill, Cleveland and McGuire by surprise. On Tuesday night, they sent a letter to Will expressing “serious concerns” about whether it would be possible to forge an agreement with Krafton consistent with the judge’s order. Papoutsis’ memo was a problem, they wrote. He didn’t have the authority to declare anything about Subnautica 2’s release. As of 9am ET on Monday, March 16, the effective date of Will’s order, Papoutsis wasn’t CEO of Unknown Worlds. Gill was. And, per Will’s order, only Gill could make Subnautica 2 release decisions. They continued: Krafton self-servingly announced the launch without any regard to its impact on the game, the team, or the community—let alone this Court’s Opinion. Announcing the release of a game is momentous, and it is typically accompanied by significant marketing activity, fanfare, and community coordination. And most importantly, the announcement is carefully designed to maximize excitement for the game. That entire process was supposed to be driven by Mr. Gill. However, in defiance of the Court’s Opinion, Krafton has now taken that away, further damaging the game and sowing additional confusion among the Subnautica community. The lawyers speculated that Krafton had “intentionally leaked” Papoutsis’ memo and then issued an official statement to confirm the leak. Game File is a reader-supported publication. My reporting is only possible through support from readers like you. To support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe On Wednesday, lawyers for Krafton defended their client in their own letter to vice chancellor Will, saying nothing they did violated her order nor showed contempt: Papoutsis’s message was simply celebrating the UW employees’ efforts toward a past event: Krafton’s pre-Opinion determination that Subnautica 2 was ready for Early Access release. There was nothing improper about conveying the results of the milestone review or thanking the development team for their dedication and talent. They added that Gill could still make his own call about Subnautica 2’s release: In his role as CEO, Gill will be able to assess independently his views on the state of Subnautica 2 and the appropriate release schedule; nothing in Papoutsis’s message alters Gill’s authority or discretion. Vice chancellor Will has not responded to the letters and doesn’t necessarily have to. Both parties were previously ordered by Will to confer this week and submit a proposed judgment consistent with her ruling. The letter from Gill’s attorney’s this week doesn’t indicate whether he would or would not support a May release for Subnautica 2. But it could limit his options. And, if Gill’s lawyers are right, the lack of marketing fanfare around the leak of the May date could dull the launch of the game. Any harm to Subnautica 2’s launch is an extra sensitive issue given the context of the legal dispute: millions of dollars of payouts are on the line, tethered to the scale of the game’s initial performance. In her ruling on Monday, Will noted that there was obvious “bad blood” between Gill’s side and Krafton but that the two would need to work together: “They can—and must—act in good faith to navigate their remaining contractual relationship.” Item 2: A new kind of couch co-op game A highlight of GDC each year is the Alt.Ctrl showcase that features games played with extremely experimental controllers. Perusing this year’s offerings last Friday, I found a game controlled with giant scissors, another with big toothbrushes and one that amounted to dumpster diving. My favorite was Pivot, a co-op game about collectively maneuvering a couch. It was developed by students at the University of Utah’s masters of arts and engineering games program. Players lift and tilt the physical couch in order to control the position of a virtual one. That virtual one is moving through an obstacle course on-screen, while being pursued by a giant skull. Developer Nishant Verma told me at GDC that the couch is made of styrofoam (this became more evident as I watched!) and that the name was a riff on an episode of the sitcom Friends. Item 3: In brief… 🚫 Ubisoft is laying off more than 100 workers at its Red Storm studio, as the North Carolina location known for decades for its Tom Clancy games, ceases in-house game development, VGC reports. 👀 On Monday, Nvidia’s revealed its DLSS 5 AI-driven graphics technology that purports to improve game graphics… and it has been roasted about it by the media and the online gaming public for the remainder of the week. The tech changed the faces of characters in footage from Resident Evil Requiem, Hogwarts Legacy and EA Sports FC, drawing accusations of giving carefully art-directed games the generic look of AI “slop.” Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang had said on Monday that “DLSS 5 is the GPT moment for graphics—blending handcrafted rendering with generative AI to deliver a dramatic leap in visual realism while preserving the control artists need for creative expression.” By mid-week, Huang was telling Tom’s Hardware that the new tech’s critics were “completely wrong” because game-makers could still “fine-tune the generative AI” to suit their game’s aesthetics.
Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling celebrates idols and combat at SXSW
The women of Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling, making their first-ever stop in Austin during SXSW, put on an unforgettable show.
We’re still talking about women’s sports
Well, at least I am, and specifically basketball. Because during tournament season where it’s men’s basketball this and men’s basketball that, we should still show up for women’s sports. If you’re not as interested in ...
What Americans are giving up to afford ACA health insurance, according to a new poll
A new KFF survey shows many Americans who had Affordable Care Act marketplace health insurance last year are struggling with high health costs. The findings come three months after the expiration of enhanced tax credits that had offset most enrollees' monthly premiums.
Joe Kent's resignation over Iran war reignites antisemitism fears and debate over Israeli influence
It was no surprise when Joe Kent showed up on Tucker Carlson’s podcast a day after quitting his counterterrorism job in President Donald Trump’s administration. But before long, the conversation moved in a different direction as Kent nodded to conspiracy theories that pro-Israel forces were behind the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Maxx Crosby Trade Attempt Shows Ravens’ New Aggresive Strategy
The Baltimore Ravens rarely chase blockbuster trades, but their pursuit of Maxx Crosby suggested a different level of urgency. The trade suggested an “all in” motto from a franchise that is known for patience and draft-driven roster building. The deal ultimately fell apart before it could be finalized. Even so, the attempt revealed a willingness […] The post Maxx Crosby Trade Attempt Shows Ravens’ New Aggresive Strategy appeared first on The Lead.
Arts and Entertainment Agenda: March 20-27
Consensual Improv, March 20 Roaring Fork Valley’s one-and-only improv comedy troupe is back. Consensual Improv will be hosting an upcoming show at 8 p.m. March 20 at The Arts Campus at Willits. Since 2016, they...
Poll shows Americans are cutting back on basics to afford health care
A new KFF survey shows many Americans who had Affordable Care Act marketplace health insurance last year are struggling with high health costs.
What a Recent Court Win Reveals About the Trump Administration’s Unlawful Attacks on Climate Science
This article was originally published by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. The second Trump administration is taking its hostility to climate science to new levels. In addition to its rhetoric dismissing climate change as a con or scam, recently released government documents show how the adm
Interventional radiology breakthrough in portal vein thrombosis treatment
A UCLA Health interventional radiologist has successfully performed the first pediatric percutaneous spleno-renal shunt procedure to treat severe portal hypertension in a 6-year-old patient. This minimally invasive procedure aims to relieve complications associated with portal vein thrombosis, showing promising long-term outcomes.
California’s proposed billionaire tax gains majority support in new poll, with a partisan split on voter ID
A new poll shows California voters are sharply divided over two brewing ballot measures: a one-time tax on billionaires and new rules and procedures to verify voter citizenship.
3 stress signals show why investors are underpricing Iran war risks
Amova Asset Management's Naomi Fink thinks investors are looking at the Iran war market volatility all wrong, and it's not just a simple oil shock.
Oz Says California’s Not Fighting Health Care Fraud, but Data Shows It’s Part of a Larger Battle
Trump administration officials say the state allows rampant fraud and have promised to investigate, blaming the “Russian, Armenian mafia” in the hospice and home health care industry. But data shows hotbeds of health care fraud throughout the country, with California outperforming most other states in recovering fraud dollars.
TSA officers are the latest aviation workers to be used as ‘political pawns.’ Now, they just want the shutdown to end
For over a month, Transportation Security Administration employees have been showing up to work at US airports without getting paid.
Commanders' Chig Okonkwo is ready for a breakout in Washington
Washington Commanders tight end Chig Okonkwo is excited to show the league what he is capable of as an impact player.
National survey of NIH-funded researchers shows precarious state of U.S. science — ‘This is like the Titanic’
A nationwide STAT survey of NIH-funded researchers reveals that, a year after Donald Trump's return to the White House, many scientists are reeling
This Google Maps update could change how you share your location
The new method is simpler and more obvious.
Roanoke’s Berglund Center was built for the entertainment landscape of 1971. That world doesn’t exist today.
The lack of big shows or big games is not a failure of management or marketing, it’s simply a fundamental change in the entertainment market. Roanoke needs to keep that in mind as it contemplates a…
Rishabh Pant returns to IPL grind, chasing another India comeback
Rishabh Pant is gearing up for a crucial IPL season. He is working hard to regain his spot in India's white-ball squad. Recent practice sessions and time with Yuvraj Singh show his dedication. A strong IPL performance could secure his place for the 2027 ODI World Cup. Pant is focused on his game and mental strength.
'Price Is Right' model Holly Hallstrom recounts her 'hate' for late host Bob Barker
Former 'Price Is Right' model Holly Hallstrom says she was fired in 1995, after nearly two decades with the show. Here's why.
The Best Restaurants to Book in Copenhagen Right Now
The Danish capital shows off spots that make for destination dining, even as its most famous dining spot, Noma, comes under fire.
What’s New in Vegas: Attractions, Shows, Nightlife, and Entertainment Values
The latest captivating experiences to debut in Sin City.
Scientists recreated a dinosaur nest to solve a 70-million-year-old mystery
Scientists recreated a life-size oviraptor nest to understand how these dinosaurs hatched their eggs. Their experiments showed the parent likely couldn’t heat all the eggs directly, meaning sunlight played a key role. This uneven heating could cause eggs in the same nest to hatch at different times. The results suggest oviraptors used a hybrid incubation method unlike modern birds.
'Love Is Blind' stars made it a point not to discuss politics during the show
Christine Hamilton and Vic St. John said politics can sometimes be used as an excuse to leave a relationship.
Chia Seed Water Is Going Viral for Gut Health. Dietitian Shares 1 Warning Before Trying It
The "internal shower drink," made with chia seeds and water, is going viral once again for its purported gut health benefits. But it's not for everyone.
Finding Easter eggs in entertainment boosts enjoyment and fan behavior, study finds
If you've watched popular movies or television shows in the last decade, there's a good chance you've found an Easter egg or two: not an actual brightly colored egg but a subtle reference to another movie ...
Alvin Greene, a No-Show Senate Nominee Who Won Primary, Dies at 48
He made no effort to campaign but won the South Carolina Democratic primary in 2010, becoming the state’s first Black major-party nominee for Senate.
WNBA CBA talks show execs still don't take women seriously. Do they like losing?
WNBA reaches new contract only after owners realized players knew their worth and weren't going to accept less.
AMD "Medusa Point" APU Early Benchmarks Match "Strix Point" at Half the Clock Speed
AMD is preparing to launch its "Medusa Point" APU in early 2027. However, more benchmarks are emerging to showcase what the actual SoC can do as AMD and its OEM partners test the chip. In the latest Geekbench v6 run, AMD's 10-core, 20-thread "Zen 6" chip appeared with the AMD Engineering Sample numb...
Don't Expect Crimson Desert Xbox Series X or S Gameplay Footage Before Launch
Crimson Desert developer and publisher Pearl Abyss won’t show gameplay footage of the Xbox Series X and S version ahead of its March 19 release date.
Gavin Adcock ‘The Day I Hang It Up Tour’ includes two Alabama shows: Act fast and secure your tickets
Fans can catch Adcock at popular venues in Orange Beach and Birmingham later this year.
Google Search referrals to the web have plummeted, AI links are ‘less than 1%’ of traffic
New data shows just how impactful AI has been to the web, with Google Search referrals falling off of a...
'The Pitt' and a science show from Jimmy Kimmel get film tax credits
Medical drama 'The Pitt' and a 'Family Guy' spinoff are among the 16 shows that were awarded tax credits for filming in California.
From The Sports Desk: Venezuela shows why World Baseball Classic matters
And six prime-time players to watch during March Madness.
GOP candidate cites ‘failure’ of Newsom, Dems as new poll shows Republicans leading crowded California field
Steve Hilton, a Republican running for governor, said that the “absolute failure" by California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Democrats means that the GOP has a real shot at victory this year.
Here’s The Release Time For ‘Fortnite’ Chapter 7, Season 2: Showdown
Fortnite Chapter 7 season 2 is about to arrive, and here's the release time, along with some of the things we know are coming.
A weekend of live shows in the arts: Two theater productions and the U.S. Air Force Band at LSU
A weekend of live shows in the arts: Two theater productions and the U.S. Air Force Band at LSU.
Video: Business Report Hall of Fame honoree Benny Alford
Benny Alford still shows up to work every day. At 80, the founder of Benny’s Car Wash keeps an open door at the company’s corporate headquarters overlooking Airline Highway, greeting employees, family members and the occasional visitor seeking advice. It’s a small but telling detail in a story that spans more than seven decades of […]
AMD Medusa Point leak shows 10-core Zen 6 APU beating Ryzen AI 9 365 in Geekbench multi-core
AMD Medusa Point Zen 6 APU appears again with higher Geekbench score AMD’s Medusa Point APU has appeared in Geekbench again, this time with a much higher
Survey Findings: Integrating Sexual and Reproductive Health into UHC Requires Leadership, Financing, and Political Will
SRHR remains critically underfunded, leaving 164M women with unmet needs and driving preventable maternal deaths. Global survey findings show political commitment is the key driver of financing and integration into UHC. While fiscal constraints persist, leadership determines whether resources are prioritized, enabling equitable access and strengthening health systems.
Texas primary results showed limitations of polling
Many factors explain why pollsters face challenges in getting good sample sizes that truly reflect who is going to cast a ballot.
Child vaccination rate drops sharply in Michigan under RFK Jr's influence
Vaccination rates among young children in Michigan dropped sharply during the first year of the Trump administration, a Reuters analysis of state data shows, providing an early indication of how vaccine-skeptic Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is influencing immunization practices in the United States.
What a recent court win reveals about the Trump administration’s unlawful attacks on climate science
Recently released government documents show how the administration is seeking to replace scientific facts with propaganda and disinformation.
The next business advantage isn’t AI. It’s thriving workers
Research shows companies that invest in employee well-being, purpose and growth outperform those focused only on short-term gains.
Nasal Swab Test Spots Early Alzheimer’s Signals
DURHAM, N.C. – Alzheimer’s disease affects millions of people worldwide, yet the illness is hardest to catch at the very beginning, when new treatments may work best.In a new study, Duke Health researchers show that a quick, outpatient nasal swab can pick up early biological changes linked to Alzheimer’s, even before thinking and memory problems appear.
Drug smoking can lead to severe burns, complicating harm reduction efforts
Smoking instead of injecting drugs can reduce harm, but a new study shows opioid smokers are four times as likely to suffer severe burns.
How sports traditions like March Madness can support brain health
Three experts from the University of Kentucky say the answer may be yes. Research shows that staying mentally, socially and emotionally engaged can help support long-term brain health. Activities tied to sports — like predicting tournament outcomes, reminiscing about past games or gathering with friends and family to watch — can stimulate memory, strengthen cognitive skills and foster meaningful social connections.
A dietitian and doctor review RFK Jr's new food pyramid
The new food pyramid was released earlier this year. It emphasizes protein, full-fat dairy and what Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. calls “healthy fats.” These guidelines influence the standards for school lunches, food labeling and programs like SNAP. Today on the show, Short Wave co-host Emily Kwong chats with registered dietitian nutritionist Shana Spence, and Dr. Sarah Kim, a diabetes specialist, about the new guidelines. Plus, NPR’s Reflect America fellow Kadin Mills unpacks how the new food pyramid could change school lunch trays. Check out more of Kadin’s coverage about the changes in dietary guidelines.Interested in more health science? Email us your question at shortwave@npr.org.Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave.
AMD Medusa Point Leak Shows 10 “Zen 6” Cores At 2 GHz Faster Than 10 “Zen 5” Cores at 5 GHz
AMD's Medusa Point "Zen 6" APUs have leaked out once again at Geekbench, showcasing even higher performance than earlier.
Arizona baseball loses at home to New Mexico
Though it lost two of three at Utah last weekend in its first Big 12 series, Arizona showed plenty of fight by tying or taking the lead in the 9th inning of each game. Unfortunately, that kind of effort didn’t come back with the Wildcats from Salt Lake City. The UA lost 6-3 to New […]
Oscar ratings fall 9% in Conan O’Brien’s second year hosting
The 98th Oscars hosted by Conan O'Brien saw a dip in ratings after several years of gains. The Walt Disney Co. on Tuesday said that just under 17.9 million viewers tuned into Sunday’s show, which air...