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Science Matters: Protecting Lake Memphremagog’s Health
NEWPORT CITY- A panel of scientists brought surprising news questioning the conclusions of a study of melanoma lesions infecting Brown Bullheads in Lake Memphremagog, PFAS levels in the food you
Scientists Found a Surprising Link Between Intelligence and How Attractive You Think You Are
New research found that people who scored higher on intelligence tests tended to rate their own looks slightly lower, but the difference was small.
Alabama governor’s race could be surprisingly competitive, prominent political forecaster says
Sabato's Crystal Ball shifted Alabama's governor's race from "Safe Republican" to "Likely Republican."
Oxford scientists discover how viruses build themselves without a blueprint
Scientists have captured virus-like particles assembling themselves step by step, revealing how a surprisingly simple process of trial and error produces complex structures with remarkable precision. The discovery uncovers a crucial molecular turning point that speeds up assembly and could lead to new ways to disrupt viruses and develop vaccines.
Surprising new pattern of groundwater loss may signal a turning point for the Colorado River Basin
During an intense drought from 2020 to 2022, the Upper Colorado River Basin lost far more groundwater than the Lower Basin did, despite having much higher natural recharge.
Farmers, Health Care and Highways: 5 Takeaways from the Kansas Senate Debate
The Republican incumbent, Roger Marshall, is facing a surprisingly tough challenge from the Democratic nominee, Adam Hamilton.
Scientists discover a surprising secret behind the human brain’s wrinkles
Scientists have discovered why common marmosets have unusually small, smooth brains despite starting development much like other primates. The secret lies in subtle changes to brain-building cells that slow neuron production, revealing new clues about how the large, folded human brain evolved.
James Webb telescope discovers surprising trove of metals around the Milky Way's supermassive black hole
New observations from the James Webb Space Telescope reveal a concentration of heavy metals near the Milky Way's central black hole. The discovery deepens a mystery about why our black hole behaves the way it does.
"100% Not" – Erik ten Hag Gives Michael Carrick Sack Verdict
As winless streaks mount and squad depth thins, Erik ten Hag slams the INEOS hierarchy while offering a surprising defense for his successor ahead of United's trip to Como.
The Surprising Reason Some People Keep Dating Narcissists, According to Science
A new study suggests people with narcissistic or manipulative traits may be more attracted to partners who share those same characteristics.
Astronauts’ hearts just passed a surprising test for Mars
A new study tracking 13 astronauts suggests that the human heart may be surprisingly well equipped for a journey to Mars, especially with regular exercise during spaceflight. Researchers found that astronauts' hearts adapted to months of weightlessness and handled simulated Martian gravity without major problems, offering new hope for future missions to the Red Planet.
The fitness test that predicts your risk of death
How quickly your heart rate returns to normal after exercise can reveal a surprising amount about your underlying health.
UNF Poll: Governor's race too close to call in final days
'A win by either candidate would be unsurprising.'
How a photo of a person’s face could help predict whether they’ll survive cancer treatment
A simple selfie could hold surprising clues to your overall health and longevity, especially among people with cancer.
Simone Biles shares surprising detail in recent game-day outfit
Simone Biles wore the outfit for the Tennessee Titans and Indianapolis Colts Sunday matchup.
Experts Reveal How MS Can Be Misdiagnosed Amid Christina Applegate’s Surprising Health Update
Christina Applegate is searching for answers after learning that she was misdiagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) five years ago — and medical experts say several conditions can be mistaken for MS, m...
Pirates Named Surprising Landing Spot For NPB Star Teruaki Sato
The Pirates' front office has some work to do this offseason to add to the team.
Which generation are the real snowflakes? Science now has a surprising answer
The answer isn't quite as simple as you might think with some complexities in the story.
The surprising conservative backlash against Justice Alito
The Republican justice’s new book has convinced many of his political allies that he’s not entirely on the level.
Scientists finally uncover why statins can cause muscle pain
Scientists have uncovered a surprising reason why statins, the widely prescribed cholesterol-lowering drugs that help prevent heart attacks and strokes, can sometimes cause muscle pain, weakness, and even severe muscle damage. Using advanced imaging technology, researchers discovered that statins can attach to a crucial protein in muscle cells and force open a channel that normally controls calcium flow. This causes calcium to leak continuously, potentially damaging muscle tissue.
Scientists discover a surprising link between vitamin C and cancer survival
A surprising clinical trial suggests that taking vitamin C daily could improve survival in people with precancerous blood disorders and early-stage blood cancers. Patients receiving the supplement had fewer adverse events and showed a promising survival advantage, raising hopes that a common vitamin could help protect against leukemia-related complications.
5 Apple TV Features Every Family Should Be Using
Apple TV has a number of surprising features that you may not be aware of, but you should definitely consider using them to make your life easier.
Dan Campbell Reveals Surprising Possibility for Lions Offensive Line
The return of Cade Mays could create an unexpected opportunity for Juice Scruggs. Dan Campbell is considering ways to keep both offensive linemen involved as Detroit prepares for Green Bay.
With GTA 6's Dating System Incoming, a Surprising Percentage of Adults Think Investing in a Video Game Relationship Is Cheating
With GTA 6's Dating System Incoming, a Surprising Percentage of Adults Think Investing in a Video Game Relationship Is Cheating.
Could Faith, Science, and the Simulation Be Mutually Reinforcing?
MIT-trained Rizwan Virk says something that is surprising: that his approach to cosmology is a branch of intelligent design.
Scientists Revived Dying Corals With Something Surprisingly Simple — A Touch From Healthy Corals
A simple touch can go a long way.
Is it true that … you need to take 10,000 steps a day to be healthy?
The fitness benchmark has surprisingly unscientific origins – yet it does contain more than a kernel of truth
If You Constantly Rearrange Your Furniture, Science Says It Reveals Something Surprising About Your Personality
The room is clean. The dishes are done, the pillows are fluffed, and yet something feels slightly off. Your gaze keeps drifting to the same corner, the same angle, the same arrangement you have stared at for weeks. Then a quiet impulse kicks in – what if the sofa faced the other way? Ten minutes...
The Rock's protein-heavy post-workout smoothie may not be right for everyone
A post-workout protein shake that Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson swears by packs 70 grams of protein powder, creatine and a surprising rice ingredient into one smoothie.
Ex-Jet Damien Woody shares health scare months after ESPN exit: 'Please get your checkups'
Former NFL player and TV personality Damien Woody shared a surprising health update with fans in a recent Instagram post.
'Whalefall' Writer Explains the Real Science That Drives the Survival Thriller
What happens in 'Whalefall' is surprisingly accurate to the real ordeal, tapping deep into primal human fears.
Eating blueberries every day may have a surprising effect on your mood
Eating blueberries every day could have surprising effects on mood, according to a small study that found greater reductions in depressive symptoms among older adults who consumed the fruit for three months. Researchers also detected changes in gut microbial enzymes, suggesting a possible gut-brain connection, although the mood benefits were not statistically significant compared with a placebo.
Physicists create a bizarre new quantum state called a fractional fermi sea
Physicists have discovered a strange new state of quantum matter in which ultracold atoms defy familiar organizational rules, forming a highly excited yet surprisingly orderly configuration called a "fractional Fermi sea." The discovery challenges established quantum theories and hints at exotic quasiparticles that scientists have dubbed potential "super-Fermions."
Scientists discover a surprising twist in Japan's 7,300-year-old volcanic apocalypse
A catastrophic volcanic eruption 7,300 years ago devastated Japan, but new research reveals that its impact on prehistoric populations was far more complex than previously believed. While some communities disappeared or declined, others unexpectedly flourished as survivors migrated, adapted, and found new ways to thrive.
Scientists Discover a Surprising New Effect of a Popular Blood Pressure Drug
A drug for high blood pressure could inspire future treatments for people with normal readings, thanks to an unexpected effect on the body’s energy-burning fat. Losartan already helps people control high blood pressure. New research suggests it could have a second use in activating brown fat, a tissue that burns energy to produce heat and
The Surprising Reason Some Children Struggle With Math, According to Science
Language and reasoning skills help predict math performance, offering clues to the learning difficulties that a test score alone may miss. Why do some students grasp mathematical concepts with ease while others struggle, even after repeated instruction? The answer may lie in abilities that extend far beyond working with numbers. Mathematics requires students to recognize
Scientists discover that male and female skin play by different rules
Scientists have uncovered a surprising difference in how male and female skin repairs and renews itself. By tracking individual skin stem cells in living mice for five months, researchers discovered that female cells work together in a highly coordinated way, while male cells operate more independently. This synchronization, driven by sex hormones, helps explain why wounds heal faster in female mice, especially during the first few days.
The Senate Race Republicans Never Expected to Sweat
With Trump’s help, Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall scrambles to fend off a surprisingly strong Democratic challenger.
Surprising Bills Player Has Helped Buffalo's Offense Thrive This Year
The Buffalo Bills offense has been explosive this season so far.
NASA’s Webb reveals the wild weather of a mysterious world 20 light-years away
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has revealed that a turbulent world 20 light-years away has a surprisingly orderly weather system, with three recurring atmospheric states driven by temperature changes and shifting clouds. The breakthrough gives scientists a powerful new tool for uncovering weather patterns on distant worlds and understanding the conditions that shape their atmospheres.
This bird flies thousands of miles, but its wings have a catch
Scientists have uncovered an unexpected trade-off in the wings of the European nightjar, a bird that migrates thousands of kilometers but sacrifices high-speed flight efficiency to hunt insects with remarkable agility. Even more surprisingly, it generates thrust on the upward wingbeat, a technique that could inspire new flying technologies.
Brain cells meant to protect us may be fueling cognitive decline
Scientists have uncovered a surprising cause of age-related cognitive decline involving brain cells previously thought to be entirely beneficial. As these cells become dysfunctional, they can produce abnormal amounts of myelin, disrupting nerve fibers and potentially contributing to worsening memory and thinking skills.
Scientists discover how deep sleep builds muscle, burns fat, and boosts the brain
Scientists have discovered a surprising two-way relationship between sleep and growth hormone, revealing how the brain carefully balances physical recovery with wakefulness. The findings could help explain why poor sleep harms metabolism and brain health, potentially opening the door to new treatments for sleep and neurological disorders.
After 40 Years, Chornobyl's Radioactive Particles Are Surprisingly Stable
Not as bad as we feared.
After 40 Years, Chornobyl's Radioactive Particles Are Surprisingly Stable
Not as bad as we feared.
New RPG From Final Fantasy, Persona Vets Borrows From The Past To Ask How We Can Save The Future
Eternal Anima finds surprising strategic depth in letting you foresee your opponent's next move
I tried replacing Photoshop, Lightroom, and Acrobat with free vibe-coded alternatives, and they're surprisingly good
Got to give credit where credit's due
Stand Up for Science Traces the Surprising Story Behind Ozempic and Related Drugs in the Latest 'Traces
Venom from a desert lizard, a hormone that vanishes in minutes & 40 years of persistence: the “overnight” weight loss drug revolution wasn’t overnight at all
How“ Street Fighter”’s surprising ending sets up a sequel — and introduces an iconic final boss
The new video game adaptation comes across as a clear part one of a two-part series.
'White' dwarf stars can be purple, pink and even green, surprising new study finds
Stellar remnants called white dwarfs appear to come in a rainbow of colors, according to a new study.
Serious Progress: Ethan Taylor Most Surprising to Tom Izzo
A towering five-star freshman is shattering expectations in East Lansing, using elite mobility and reach to challenge veteran lineups while fueling the Spartans’ ambitious Final Four pursuit.
Hollywood Casino hosts inaugural Maine Science Awards
Honorees were recognized in five categories: Lifetime Achievement, Innovation, Impact, Surprising Science, and Advancing Trust in Science.
Dodgers make surprising decision on Shohei Ohtani
The Los Angeles Dodgers are on the brink of elimination in the National League Championship Series, trailing the Milwaukee Brewers 3-0, and Shohei Ohtani has been one of the biggest reasons why their offense has gone cold. But rather than dropping Ohtani further down the order or benching him completely, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts went…
Scientists discover a plastic-eating “Pac-Man” enzyme with a surprising secret
Scientists have discovered a remarkable “Pac-Man enzyme” that helps bacteria devour certain types of plastic and may offer new hope in the fight against plastic pollution. Researchers found that several biodegradable plastics completely broke down in soil within about a year, while conventional plastic remained largely unchanged.
Big Ten Preview: Week 7
There’s a headline game in the Big Ten this weekend…and some other games, too. FRIDAY NIGHT Washington (3-3, 0-3) at Purdue (3-3, 2-1), 8 p.m. on FOX Details: Who is the more surprising 0-3 Big Ten team? Washington or Penn State? Well, the Huskies travel west to take on a Purdue team that suddenly has […]
Giants Facing a Surprising Trap Game Against the Saints
The New York Giants are facing a major trap game this Sunday.
6 books that speak to the enduring appeal of monsters
These books explore our enduring fascination with monsters in new and surprising ways, from fresh takes on vampire tales to a bestiary that spans time and worlds.
Kordell Stewart reveals surprising untold origin of 'Slash' role
Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kordell Stewart sets the record straight on how his multi-position 'Slash' role actually began.
Trail Blazers Urged To Make Surprising Decision With Ja Morant
New head coach Micah Nori faces a backcourt logjam, sparking bold suggestions to bench a superstar playmaker in favor of maximizing Damian Lillard’s late-career efficiency and chemistry.
Mysterious brain activity under anesthesia challenges what we know about consciousness
Even under general anesthesia, the human brain can analyze language, recognize different types of words, and predict what comes next in a story, according to a surprising discovery by Baylor researchers. The findings challenge our understanding of consciousness and suggest that the unconscious brain is far more capable than scientists previously realized.
iPhone Duo's A20 Pro Chip Benchmarked Ahead of Launch
The iPhone Duo unsurprisingly offers performance similar to the iPhone 18 Pro, according to an early iPhone Duo benchmark shared on Geekbench 7. Both devices are equipped with Apple's 2nm A20 Pro chip with a 6-core CPU and a 7-core GPU. The benchmarked iPhone Duo (iPhone19,4) is running iOS 27.1, as expected, and it had a single-core score of 3986 and a multi-core score of 11067. That's in line with multiple benchmarks collected from iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max models.
Your Business Probably Has More Data Than Insight by Nathan Tayloe
Most businesses know more about themselves than they ever have. Leaders have access to financial reports, sales pipelines, customer data, employee metrics, website analytics, and dashboards for almost every part of the organization. CRMs track every stage of the sales process. Marketing platforms report results in real time. AI can analyze and summarize enormous amounts of information in seconds. Yet I've sat in plenty of meetings where all of that information is available, and some of the most important questions are still surprisingly difficult to answer. What's actually working? Why are customers choosing us? Where are we losing opportunities? What should we do differently? Having the data and understanding what it means are two very different things. More Information Doesn't Always Create More Clarity Over the past decade, businesses have invested heavily in visibility, and that's a good thing. We can understand performance with a level of detail that would have been unimaginable not long ago. But there's an unintended consequence. The easier something becomes to measure, the easier it is to assume it must be important. Website traffic goes up, so that looks positive. Leads increase, so marketing appears to be working. Sales activity climbs, so the pipeline looks healthy. Maybe. The numbers tell us what happened. Understanding why it happened, whether it matters, and what we should do next still requires judgment. Not Everything That Matters Fits on a Dashboard Consider a customer who ultimately contacts your company through Google. The data may attribute that lead to search. What it may not show is that the customer heard about you from a colleague six months earlier, saw your company mentioned in an industry publication, followed one of your employees on LinkedIn, and read several reviews before finally searching for your company. Google may have produced the click. It didn't necessarily create the decision. This happens throughout a business. Some of the things that matter most are difficult to reduce to a single metric: Why your best customers stay Why talented employees choose your company Why a prospect trusts one provider over another Why one service is gaining momentum while another isn't Why the market perceives your business the way it does Data can help answer those questions, but it needs context. Better Decisions Start With Better Questions One of the easiest traps for leaders is starting with the information in front of them rather than the decision they're trying to make. Instead of opening a dashboard and asking, "What does the data show?" it can be more useful to start with a different set of questions: What are we trying to understand? What decision are we trying to make? What would we need to know to make that decision confidently? That changes the role of data. Instead of looking at every number available and searching for meaning, you're using information to understand something specific about the business. Information Still Requires Judgment More sophisticated analytics and AI will continue to give leaders access to better information, faster. That's valuable, but I don't think it reduces the importance of experience and judgment. If anything, it increases it. Someone still has to decide which numbers deserve attention, which patterns matter, what context might be missing, and when the data isn't telling the whole story. The goal isn't to know more about your business simply because you can. It's to understand your business well enough to make better decisions. Good data can tell you what happened. Good leadership has to decide what it means. — Learn more about how we help organizations turn business, customer, and marketing insights into smarter strategies at tayloegray.com, or reach out directly at nathan@tayloegray.com.
Shawn Horcoff Reveals Surprising Detail About Simon Edvinsson Contract Talks
Red Wings GM Shawn Horcoff reveals new details about Simon Edvinsson contract negotiations, including direct conversations and Detroit's flexibility.
Giants Give Surprising Injury Update on Breakout Star
The New York Giants had a surprise injury update on their breakout defensive star on Wednesday. The post Giants Give Surprising Injury Update on Breakout Star appeared first on HEAVY.
Miami Heat Stars Rated Lower Than Expected In Defensive Rankings
Despite forming a terrifying new frontcourt tandem, Miami Heat stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo are both surprisingly low in the latest defensive player rankings, sparking debate over the league's most versatile defensive duo.
Ubisoft plans cuts at German studios, adding to wave of workforce reductions
Ubisoft is planning to reduce its workforce in Germany, where it operates a trio of studios, by about 100 workers, Game File has learned. The company wants to offer employees buyouts to, should enough people accept, avoid having to lay anyone off. “In Germany, we initiated discussions with the Works Council last week regarding a proposed voluntary departure plan across Ubisoft Dusseldorf, Ubisoft Berlin & Ubisoft Mainz,” a company rep told Game File. A “works council” is a union-like group representing employees. “The voluntary plan is the primary measure being proposed to support the intended organizational changes,” the Ubisoft rep added. The company declined to confirm the scale of the potential headcount cut. Of the impacted studios, Mainz might be the best known to the public. It leads development of the Anno series and shipped the well-reviewed strategy game Anno 117: Pax Romana in November 2025. Berlin and Dusseldorf operate as support studios within Ubisoft’s creative network. Berlin recently supported the development of Rainbow Six Siege and the Rayman Legends Retold remake. Dusseldorf also contributed to those projects, as well as The Settlers and Ubisoft-branded escape rooms. Dusseldorf is the biggest of the three studios, with some 400+ workers, compared to just over 100 at the other two, a source familiar with the reductions and the teams told Game File. More than half of these new reductions of about 100 people are expected to happen at Dusseldorf. The planned cuts were announced at a town hall for the German studios on Tuesday of last week. In an email follow-up, the studio group’s managing director, Benedikt Grindel, said the cuts were intended to “best position our German studios for the future... with a clearer focus on their role, capabilities and organizational setup needed for the work ahead.” The email was an echo of the past. In January 2025, Grindel had emailed the Ubisoft developers in his region (or studio “zone”) to explain that a round of 185 cuts at the time, including about 65 at Dusseldorf, were “essential to improve our operational efficiency and ensure the long-term sustainability of our studios, the zone and the company.” A half-decade of continued job cuts Ubisoft has been aggressively cutting its headcount for years. At the end of September 2022, it had 20,729 workers. By the end of March 2026, that total was down to 16,590. Studio management is trying to trim costs as it grapples with a changing industry and a drought of releases, let alone hits. The company announced earlier this year that it had reduced its costs since 2022 by “nearly €325 million” ($362m) and planned to lower them through 2028 by another €180 million ($200m). In June the company said it was closing down its Winnipeg and Belgrade studios and cutting roles in its Barcelona team. Even commercial and creative success hasn’t spared studios from this ongoing company-wide contraction. As Game File was nailing down details around the proposed cuts in Germany, Ubisoft management was informing workers of cuts in its Singapore studio, which shipped a hit remake of Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag this past July. Some 70 positions in Singapore are being eliminated “to align the studio with upcoming production needs,” per a company rep’s statement to Game File. In early 2024, a large team in the Singapore studio launched the multiplayer pirate game Skull & Bones. It performed poorly but has been supported with regular content updates since. Many of Ubisoft’s studios around the world are heavily subsidized via regional grants and tax breaks. Singapore had been among them for years, but received no such local assistance in the 12 months ending this past March. News of the Singapore cuts broke today alongside word that Ubisoft is also proposing the closure of RedLynx, pending negotiations with officials. The Finnish studio behind the motorbike series Trials was founded in 2000 and sold to Ubisoft in 2011. As reported by VGC (and corroborated by Game File), Ubisoft management told employees it could not come up with a new, sustainable assignment for RedLynx. The 2025 workforce at Ubisoft Dusseldorf were straight-up cuts. This time, Ubisoft is hoping the reductions at its trio of German studios will largely come from workers taking a payout to leave. The company offered such voluntary dismissals at its Massive Entertainment studio (The Division) a year ago. For the German studios’ buyouts this time around, Ubisoft and the Works Council had discussed a formula that’d pay a worker’s monthly salary multiplied by 1.5 and by the number of years they’ve worked at the company, according to Game File sources. The formula is still subject to negotiations with the Works Council and has not yet been part of an official offer to workers. It could be adjusted up or down, and it could be supplemented with additional bonuses. Asked about the floated payout formula, a Ubisoft rep told Game File, “The terms of a potential voluntary departure program remain subject to negotiation with employee representatives. No final agreement has been reached, and we won’t comment on specific proposals while discussions are ongoing.” Game File is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe Item 2: Epic’s AI adventures Epic Games (Fortnite, the Unreal engine) is all-in on using AI to try to transform the way it makes video games and game-making tools. It’s leaders appear to be undeterred by any resistance among gamers and some game developers around generative AI—and instead emboldened by advances, particularly in AI-assisted programming. A recap of the last three days: On Monday, Bloomberg reported that Epic management told workers last week that development of an upcoming game combining Star Wars and Marvel characters would be “AI first.” Employees would be expected to use AI models such as Claude to code the game. A manager told Epic’s developers there would be “[n]o more hand-written code” and that art for the game would be “generated with full AI workflows,” per the outlet. Just ahead of that story running, Epic founder Tim Sweeney tweeted: “We have a huge pivot underway here at Epic, moving developers around to retool for maximum AI acceleration. The aim isn’t to do the same stuff with fewer people, but to enable everyone here to build MORE and BETTER stuff, and to bring the benefits to all teams using Unreal.” In a follow-up, Sweeney predicted that most game development processes would be at least three times faster a year from now than they were in January 2026, thanks to AI. To a person on X who told him he was failing to read the room, Sweeney said: “Much of the room wants it to be 2016 again, but it’s not. Our job, as the provider of tools and technology to much of the industry, is to design for the present that is and the future that will soon be.” On Wednesday, Epic announced it was releasing a faster launcher for its Epic Games Store marketplace. It did so by stating in a blog post as clear as could be that the launcher is an AI-enabled, vibe-coded project: Programming is hard. So, instead of doing that, we vibe coded a new Epic Games Launcher that’s way faster and more responsive than the current one, and has a new look. Programming is hard? That was unexpected phrasing from a company founded by a legendarily great programmer. Back in 2011, Sweeney told me that he’d picked up programming quickly as a kid and rejoiced at the power it gave him. “I could look at any program that anybody else had written and, with enough effort, build something cooler.” Item 3: The Xbox Labs experiment (and one of the people behind it) Microsoft’s Xbox division, which is flooding the zone with announcements lately, yesterday revealed a new internal tech-tinkering team called Xbox Labs. In the words of Xbox boss Asha Sharma Labs is “a small group of game makers, engineers and scientists whose job is to turn emerging ideas into things our players and developers can experience.” Conventional wisdom coming out of the announcement is that Labs is a team that’ll focus on ideas driven by generative AI. In her announcement, Sharma cited some of the dizzying achievements in tech and gaming over the past month as AI agents and other AI tools have been deployed to swiftly figure out how popular games work, then rebuild them and mix them up. She mentioned seeing ”games rapidly decompiled and rebuilt to run on hardware they were never originally designed to support” and said “[p]erhaps more surprisingly, we’ve seen many of the biggest games in the world have been remixed into the source code of another.” (Minecraft plus Elden Ring, for example, or Fortnite + Super Monkey Ball + Overwatch + Diablo + others.) Sharma also cited the work of Windows PC games being ported to run in browsers, a seeming reference to a recent AI-assisted fan port of Halo. Or perhaps Call of Duty or GTA. Sharma didn’t use the specific term “AI” in her memo, but she came close, citing AI “agents” and their potential for game-making tools that Labs could help craft: I think XBOX has an important role to play here. Coding became the first major workload for agents because they can write, run, and test software. Games share many of those same properties, and people spend more than 72 billion hours a year playing XBOX games, roughly five times the estimated time spent writing code worldwide. We’ve spent 25 years learning how to make great games, and I want our game makers to help shape what these new technologies make possible. As we learn, we’ll share the tools we build with developers across the industry, just as we always have. When I asked an Xbox rep if Labs was an AI-centric team, they said genAI was not the focus, describing it as having a broader mandate for using new tech in new ways in gaming. As an example, they pointed to Xbox’s recently launched disc-to-digital gaming usage rights program. Microsoft didn’t specifically name anyone involved full-time in Xbox Labs yesterday, but on social media and LinkedIn, I spotted Adrian Mato IDing himself as leading the creatio of tools at Labs and talking up the launch. Mato first caught my attention in late September, when he said on X that he was “starting to build a new team at Xbox focused on products and tools for how games get built and distributed as agentic tools become more capable.” At the time, he framed AI-based tools as a supplement to traditional game dev tools. “I don’t think we need to replace them,” he said. Since then, he’s publicly shown interest in AI and in games. He’s recently spent some of his X feed marveling at the power of AI agents and praising the lighting in the latest Gears of War. Following the Labs announcement yesterday, he enthused about the Xbox Labs’ stylish landing page. He wrote: “We built some fun tools to art-direct shaders in real time, experimented with interactive ASCII art, and sprinkled in lots of tiny details. “Move your mouse to leave a colorful trail that reveals the original footage, or interact with the video to trigger bursts of particles. “A lot of love went into making it all feel just right. “More to come”
Tigers May Have a Surprise Replacement for Kenley Jansen
The Detroit Tigers could have a surprising internal replacement for Kenley Jansen. Drew Sommers' 2026 strikeout numbers make him worth watching.
Gran Turismo Spec IV Update Part 1 Arrives Tomorrow: All Confirmed Features & Content
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQjemMrk4Wk It's felt like long wait since series creator Kazunori Yamauchi surprisingly announced the Gran Turismo 7 Spec IV update six weeks back, but the first part of it is now in sight with the update confirmed to arrive tomorrow, Thursday October 15. For
The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time Remake's Latest Trailer Shows A Lot Of Old, But Some Surprising New
The Switch 2 remake is mostly a faithful reimagining of the N64 classic, but it is making it easier to face old foes once more
'Zelda: Ocarina of Time' Switch 2 hands-on preview: Strange, beautiful, and surprisingly thoughtful
Yes, the art style looks good once you play it.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe updated to Version 4.0.1 (patch notes)
Nintendo has released another update for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, following the surprisingly robust 4.0.0 update last month. The latest update, Version 4.0.1, doesn’t add any fresh new content…
Inside Wynonna Judd’s heartfelt performance at SXSW Austin
A decade ago, Wynonna Judd played one of the most surprising and memorable shows ever at the South By Southwest Music Festival in Austin, TX.
Bob Mackie's surprising cause of death is revealed
A death certificate reveals fashion icon Bob Mackie’s true cause of death, clarifying initial reports that the designer died of pneumonia.
The surprising psychology of morbid curiosity
US defence secretary Pete Hegseth’s plan to livestream the execution of Nidal Malik Hasan has incurred condemnation from human rights groups and politicians on all sides. But according to Coltan Scrivner, an author and psychologist at Arizona State University and expert on morbid curiosity, people are still likely to watch in large numbers. He explains why we are drawn to dark and disturbing content, and Madeleine Finlay tells Ian Sample how consuming this kind of material can harm observers’ mental health
Maxx Crosby reveals what stands out when tackling Patrick Mahomes
Image Press Agency/Depositphotos Crosby shares a surprising detail about Mahomes’ reaction Maxx Crosby and Patrick Mahomes may be fierce rivals on the field, but their latest encounter has revealed a funny detail about their battles. The Las Vegas Raiders defensive end shared what he notices when he gets close enough to hit the Kansas City…
This Economist Studied Millions of Business Owners. He Uncovered the Surprising Way Everyday Americans Actually Get Wealthy
Owen Zidar, co-author of the book founders can’t stop talking about, "The Everywhere Millionaire," sat down with Inc. to mine the largest-ever dataset on entrepreneurs.
The surprising Chicago businesses getting burned by pricey diesel
Chicago's hidden diesel economy is feeling the squeeze as soaring fuel costs eat into profits for tour boat operators, shredding companies and film crews.
Scientists uncover a hidden map of the brain with 539 distinct regions
Scientists have uncovered a hidden layer of organization in the brain by creating the first detailed 3D map of its lipids, the fatty molecules essential for brain structure and communication. By analyzing millions of measurements from mouse brains, researchers identified 539 distinct chemical zones, revealing patterns and boundaries that traditional brain maps have missed. Surprisingly, even white matter, once thought to be relatively uniform, contains a complex patchwork of chemically distinct regions.
Physicists discover “astonishing” property of light that defies expectations
Scientists have uncovered a surprising hidden ability of light that allows it to develop spinning, twisting behavior as it travels through empty space, without special lenses, mirrors, or materials. Researchers discovered that light’s internal geometry can naturally produce left- and right-handed patterns, challenging long-standing assumptions about how light behaves. By carefully arranging a beam’s structure, scientists can control where and how these spinning patterns emerge, unlocking a new way to manipulate light.
If You Have a "Junk Room" at Home, Science Says You Likely Share These Surprising Personality Traits
You know that room. The one where the holiday decorations share shelf space with old textbooks, a broken lamp you keep meaning to fix, and three bags of clothes destined for donation – someday. You close the door when guests come over, maybe even lock it. Most of us treat that space like a guilty...
DNA of World’s Oldest Tortoise, 194, Reveals Surprising Discovery, According to Scientists Studying Aging
A new look at the genes of Jonathan, who is considered to be the world’s oldest known land animal, reveals interesting insights about longevity
Scarred blood vessels may be one clue to APOE4’s Alzheimer’s risk
Scientists know APOE4 raises Alzheimer’s risk. A surprising change in blood vessel cells may help explain how.
CNET's iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max’s Battery Tests Show Surprising Results
Turns out the new iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max have more to offer than just their fancy camera and new burgundy color. Both performed well in our battery tests.
Sylvester Stallone’s Rivalry With Arnold Schwarzenegger Takes Surprising Turn
Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger are both so famous that they need no introduction. However, their long-running rivalry has remained in the spotlight for years. Now, their rivalry has take...
Can science prove the Earth is round? Every major test points to the same conclusion
Earth's shape can be tested in surprisingly simple ways without relying on space photographs. The strongest part of the evidence is how many independent observations lead to the same answer.
Takeaways from the South Carolina Senate debate
South Carolina has emerged as perhaps the most surprisingly competitive Senate race late in the 2026 midterm elections. And on Sunday night, appointed GOP Sen. Darline Graham, Democrat Annie Andrews and Libertarian nominee Kasie Whitener took part in the only debate currently scheduled in the race.
Popular weight loss drugs linked to a surprising fingernail problem
Popular GLP-1 weight loss drugs, such as Ozempic and Wegovy, have been linked to unexpectedly high rates of nail detachment, hair loss, and scalp inflammation, with some problems occurring several times more frequently among users. Researchers found that weight loss alone could not fully explain the differences, suggesting there may be more to these overlooked symptoms.
Bucs vs. Steelers odds: Opening lines for Week 6 matchup
Bucs vs. Steelers odds: Opening lines for Week 6 matchup The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are coming off their first victory of the 2026 season after pulling off a surprising 24-16 road win over the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday Night Football. Now, Tampa Bay returns home to face the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 6. But are […]
Scientists discover why a 100-year-old mushroom disease won't go away
Scientists have uncovered a surprising secret behind a mushroom disease that has frustrated growers for more than a century: It involves more than 17 species of harmful bacteria, not just one. The discovery could explain why treatments have struggled to stop the disease and open the door to more effective, eco-friendly solutions.
Scientists make stunning discovery that could help explain why life exists
Scientists have discovered that the universe's fundamental physical constants may be finely balanced to make life possible. Even tiny changes to these constants could make liquids too thick or too thin for essential biological processes, potentially preventing life as we know it. Surprisingly, these life-friendly conditions existed billions of years before living cells appeared. The findings raise intriguing questions about why the laws of physics seem so well suited to life.
11 Players Withdraw From WTA Wuhan Open
As the Asian swing continues the final stretch of the season prior to the WTA Finals, a significant number of withdrawals have affected the Wuhan Open just days before the tournament starts. Which Players Withdrew from the WTA Wuhan Open? Elena Rybakina is among the most surprising withdrawals from the tournament. Weeks after becoming World …
Eye on Politics: Abbott and Hinojosa clash, surprising state Senate race
In the race for AI dominance, the U.S. relies on a surprising ally: China
The Trump administration paints AI development as a winner-take-all contest, but U.S. data centers are full of made-in-China equipment and many U.S. companies rely on Chinese AI.
'Swamp-like colors' on the moon: New NASA report reveals strange sights from Artemis II mission — Space photo of the week
Astronauts on NASA's Artemis II mission saw surprising "jaundiced yellow" and "swampy green" colors on the moon during their close lunar flyby, a new report reveals.
A surprisingly simple way to relieve knee arthritis pain without pills or surgery
A surprisingly simple change in how you walk could help relieve knee arthritis pain and even slow joint damage. In a year-long clinical trial, researchers found that adjusting the angle of a person's foot while walking reduced osteoarthritis pain by an amount comparable to medication, without requiring drugs or surgery. Even more promising, MRI scans revealed that participants who adopted the personalized walking technique experienced slower deterioration in a marker of knee cartilage health.
Unexpected New Details Emerge on Eagles’ Cam Jurgens Trade
The Philadelphia Eagles and Baltimore Ravens made a surprising move prior to agreeing to their Cam Jurgens trade. The post Unexpected New Details Emerge on Eagles’ Cam Jurgens Trade appeared first on HEAVY.