With Switch 2 Coming, Nintendo Explains Why It Must Go Beyond Traditional Games
With Switch 2 Coming, Nintendo Explains Why It Must Go Beyond Traditional Games
2025 is shaping up to be a big year for Nintendo, as the Mario company is launching a highly anticipated new system, the Switch 2. But the company isn’t going to rely only on traditional hardware and games to find success. Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa has opened up on why Nintendo must push “beyond video games” to encourage people to engage with Nintendo.
As part of Nintendo’s latest earnings report, Furukawa said Nintendo is making use of theme parks, official stores, “visual content,” and mobile experiences to “generate interest in our core business.” In case there was any doubt, Furukawa stressed that the “dedicated video game platform business” is Nintendo’s core business, and efforts outside of that are being undertaken to funnel people back there.
“Going forward, even as we transition to Nintendo Switch 2, it remains important to increase touchpoints beyond video games,” Furukawa said.
The executive said content and experiences for smart phones will play a “very important” role in this effort, and Nintendo will continue to push in this area, Furukawa said.
Nintendo’s push into the mobile market has already reached some 900 million cumulative downloads, Furukawa said, noting that some of Nintendo’s success in the smartphone business has come in countries and regions that don’t have support for Nintendo’s traditional game consoles.
“I believe this has increased the opportunities for more people to access Nintendo IP and characters,” Furukawa said.
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Nintendo’s big three mobile games today are Mario Kart Tour, Fire Emblem Heroes, and Super Mario Run, Furukawa said, also mentioning Pikmin Bloom, which Nintendo co-developed with Pokemon Go company Niantic. Nintendo shut down online services for Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp at the end of 2024 amid a transition to making it a paid game called Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Complete.
“Although we cannot provide details on future application releases, we are continuing to develop new game applications,” Furukawa said.
Nintendo also has the Nintendo Music app, which launched in 2024 and continues to get updates that add new tracks. In general, Furukawa said Nintendo’s aim is to use smartphone apps to “create opportunities for consumers to come into contact with Nintendo game worlds and music even outside of dedicated game systems.”
He added: “Going forward, we would like to continue to develop these types of initiatives, including integration with games, for individual titles.”
Furukawa acknowledged that, for many people, their first gaming platform is not a traditional console but rather a smart device. So Nintendo is trying to meet people where they are, with the assumption being that one day they might pick up a Switch console and games, in addition to whatever they might use and enjoy on their smart phone.
“We will continue to deliberate on this topic,” Furukawa said.
Even before Furukawa was named president of Nintendo, the company acknowledged that a growing percentage of people first encounter Nintendo experiences outside of a platform that Nintendo sells. For example, previous president Tatsumi Kimishima said fewer and fewer young people are finding out about Nintendo games through… games. Instead, they’re discovering Nintendo and its characters through things like officially licensed Mario toothbrushes. He said in 2016 that people can expect these kinds of licensing deals to continue and possibly increase, and indeed they have.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie, released in 2023, is perhaps Nintendo’s biggest non-gaming success story so far–it brought in more than $1.3 billion at the box office. It is one of the top 20 highest-grossing movies in history and the No. 1 video game movie of all time. Multiple more Nintendo movies are on the way, including a live-action Zelda film and The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2.
Then there is the Super Nintendo World theme park attraction, which expands in a big way this May when it opens at Universal Studios in Orlando. And anyone who’s been to a grocery store or a department store knows full well how many licensed Nintendo toys there are.
As for the Switch 2, the new console launches later this year. Nintendo will share more details about the system during a Nintendo Direct in April.
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Optimized nickel particles improve catalyst performance for hydrogenation reactions
Optimized nickel particles improve catalyst performance for hydrogenation reactions
The structure of the Ni/MS-4.8 catalyst: (a) schematic illustration of the synthesis procedures, (b) HAADF-STEM, (c) TEM, (d, e) HRTEM image and (f) EDS mapping images. Credit: ZOU Zidan
A research team led by Wang Guozhong from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the ******** Academy of Sciences has developed a novel method to precisely control the size of nickel (Ni) particles in catalysts, improving their performance in hydrogenation reactions.
The findings, published in Advanced Functional Materials, offer new insights into catalyst design for industrial applications.
Catalysts play a crucial role in accelerating chemical reactions without being consumed, and the size of metal particles within them is a key factor influencing their performance.
While larger Ni particles contain more high-coordination sites that facilitate hydrogen dissociation, smaller particles are dominated by low-coordination sites that enhance reactant adsorption. Achieving precise control over these particle sizes has been a longstanding challenge in catalyst development.
In this study, the researchers synthesized mesoporous silica and used a strategy that adjusted the molar ratio of ethylenediamine (EDA) to Ni to create Ni/MS catalysts with varying Ni particle sizes. Using a combination of experimental and theoretical approaches, they analyzed how these size variations impact the hydrogenation of vanillin, a key reaction in fine chemical production.
By adjusting particle size, researchers can optimize catalyst performance and product selectivity, though finding precise control methods has been challenging.
Using a combination of experimental and theoretical approaches, they analyzed how these size variations impact the hydrogenation of vanillin, a key reaction in fine chemical production. They found that the hydrogenation of vanillin into 2-methoxy-4-methylphenol (MMP) showed a peak productivity with the Ni/MS-4.8 catalyst, which had intermediate-sized particles.
They further demonstrated that low-coordinated Ni atoms enhance reactant adsorption, while high-coordinated Ni atoms promote efficient hydrogen dissociation, leading to improved catalytic performance.
This breakthrough provides a new pathway for optimizing catalyst design, paving the way for more efficient and selective hydrogenation reactions.
More information:
Zidan Zou et al, Size‐Controlled Ni Nanoparticles Confined into Amino‐Modified Mesoporous Silica for Efficient Hydrodeoxygenation of Bio‐Derived Aromatic Aldehyde, Advanced Functional Materials (2025). DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202417584
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Trump is planning 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum. Here’s what experts say could become pricier.
Trump is planning 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum. Here’s what experts say could become pricier.
President Trump is again turning to tariffs to advance his trade agenda, with plans to enact a new round of 25% import duties on all steel and aluminum imports. Although the idea is to protect U.S. manufacturers from unfair competition, consumers could end up paying more for some products that use the metals, according to economists.
Mr. Trump, who is expected to sign an executive order on Monday imposing the new metal tariffs, has said that such duties can help revitalize key U.S. industries. For instance, some companies could opt to open new plants in the U.S. to avoid tariffs, while buyers could shift to U.S.-made products rather than pricier imports.
But because U.S. importers pay tariffs on overseas goods directly to the federal government, the costs are typically passed onto American consumers, trade experts told CBS MoneyWatch. That means some products that rely on steel and aluminum, such as vehicles and appliances, are likely to become more expensive if the steel and aluminum tariffs go into effect.
“If you put a tax on imported steel and aluminum, you will raise the price of everything that uses that — cars first and foremost,” said Dean Baker, senior economist at The Center For Economic and Policy Research.
A typical car contains roughly 1,000 pounds of steel at a cost of about about $6,000 to $7,000 per vehicle, Baker told CBS MoneyWatch. That means adding a 25% tariff could increase the cost of a car by $1,000 to $1,500, he estimated. Although some automakers might shift to buying more U.S.-made steel, American manufacturers would also likely boost their prices, taking advantage of the higher costs for foreign-made steel, he added.
Meanwhile, U.S. car prices could rise even mores sharply if Mr. Trump proceeds with 25% tariffs on all ******** and ********* imports, now subject to a 30-day pause as officials negotiate. The impact of those tariffs would add $6,250 to the average $25,000 price of a car shipped into the U.S. from those two countries, according to an analysis by S&P Global Mobility.
Tariffs could drive up inflation
Mr. Trump’s plans to lean on new tariffs to enact his trade and other policy objectives has prompted some economists to forecast higher inflation in 2025. While it’s not clear that Mr. Trump will enact all the tariffs he’s outlined – he recently gave a 30-day reprieve to Mexico and Canada in his plan to enact 25% import duties on those countries — the president is also signaling plans to move forward with additional tariffs.
On Sunday, Mr. Trump said that, in addition to the steel and aluminum tariffs, he planned to announce “reciprocal tariffs” on Tuesday or Wednesday, which he said will take effect immediately. Under that scenario, the U.S. would impose import duties on products in cases where another country has levied duties on U.S. goods.
“If they charge us, we charge them … every country,” Mr. Trump said, adding, “If they are charging us 130% and we’re charging them nothing, it’s not going to stay that way.”
Economists and Wall Street analysts warn that new U.S. tariffs, if sustained, could cause inflation to flare even as many Americans say they continue struggling with the cost of living. Mr. Trump’s latest proposed steel and aluminum tariffs, plus the reciprocal tariffs, could boost the core personal consumption expenditures price index — a key measure of inflation — by an additional 0.4 percentage points, Deutsche Bank economists estimate in a Feb. 10 research report.
If the postponed tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada go into effect after the 30-day pause, inflation could rise higher than 3.5%, they added.
No interest rate cut by Federal Reserve as inflation remains above target
05:58
The long-term impact on U.S. prices is less certain and is contingent on how manufacturers react.
“U.S. steel prices will likely rise in the near term if these tariffs are implemented in full,” economists with Capital Economics said in a report. “However, higher prices might incentivize greater domestic production and help prices to fall back before long.”
During Mr. Trump’s first term, steel producers increased their output after tariffs were imposed, while domestic demand fell. Within 12 months, those factors contributed to steel prices declining to their level before the tariffs were imposed, Capital Economics noted.
A jump in prices, coupled with rising inflation expectations, would come at an awkward time for consumers and for Mr. Trump. While he has received positive approval ratings for his first three weeks in office, two-thirds of voters said that they don’t believe he’s doing enough to lower the price of goods and services, according to a recent CBS News poll.
Inflation around the U.S. remains sticky, with the Federal Reserve pausing additional interest rate cuts until the rate of consumer price gains falls closer to its 2% annual target. Consumer Price Index data for January, scheduled to be released on Wednesday, is expected to show that prices rose 2.9% in January, unchanged from the prior month, according to financial data firm FactSet.
“These are uncertain times, and the biggest uncertainty with inflation is definitely the tariffs,” Baker of CEPR said.
Aimee Picchi
Aimee Picchi is the associate managing editor for CBS MoneyWatch, where she covers business and personal finance. She previously worked at Bloomberg News and has written for national news outlets including USA Today and Consumer Reports.
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Plan to scrap need for High Court approval
Plan to scrap need for High Court approval
Assisted dying cases would no longer have to be signed off by the High Court under changes suggested by the bill’s supporters.
The proposed law currently says a High Court judge must check each person is eligible and has not been coerced into making the decision to die.
But BBC News has been told Kim Leadbeater, the Labour MP behind the bill, will suggest replacing this with a panel of experts who would oversee applications.
It comes after concerns were raised over the court’s capacity to hear each individual case.
Leadbeater said the changes “will make the system even more robust”.
However, some opponents of the bill are likely to criticise the move as watering down its safeguards.
If approved, the bill, which is currently being considered by MPs, would allow terminally ill adults in England and Wales expected to die within six months to seek help to end their own life.
Under Leadbeater’s proposal, the panel reviewing each application would be chaired by a senior legal figure, but not necessarily a judge, and would also include experts such as psychiatrists and social workers. Their decision could, if necessary, be reviewed the High Court.
The panels would be chosen by a Voluntary Assisted Dying Commission, led by a High Court judge or senior former judge.
The commission would oversee all cases for an assisted death and report annually on the number of applications and how many were approved and rejected.
Ministers and officials have been closely consulted on the change, although the government technically remains neutral on the bill. Civil servants are drafting the amendment, which will be published next week.
Leadbeater argued this was not removing judicial scrutiny but changing it to a “judge plus” model.
However, she previously hailed the role of the High Court as part of “three layers of scrutiny” that made it “the strongest, most robust piece of legislation on this issue in the world”.
The proposal will be voted on by a committee of MPs scrutinising the bill. The members were chosen by Leadbeater and the majority support the legislation.
The committee begin the process of going through the bill line by line on Tuesday.
They heard three days of oral evidence from experts two weeks’ ago, including some who raised concerns about the proposed role of the High Court in signing off applications.
Retired High Court judge Sir Nicholas Mostyn told the panel he thought it would be “impossible” for the High Court to rule in every assisted dying case.
“You’re talking about nearly three quarters of the entire Family Division [Court] doing nothing but this,” he said.
He added it should be done “by a panel set up… for each case, a doctor and a lawyer, they have to agree, and they check everything has been done lawfully”.
Leadbeater said she agreed with the need for other professionals to be involved in the checks.
“This bill already contains the strongest safeguards anywhere in the world, but I promised to give close attention to the advice we have received on how the bill could be made even stronger, and that is what I have done,” she said.
“Many of those who gave evidence to the committee, either in person or in writing, recommended an enhanced role for professionals such as psychiatrists and social workers.
“I agree that their expertise in assessing that a person is able to make a voluntary decision free from coercion or pressure, in addition to the necessary legal checks, will make the system even more robust.”
More than 300 amendments have been tabled, with more expected in the coming weeks.
Among those to be debated on Tuesday is one tabled by Liberal Democrat MP Tom Gordon to allow those with a neurodegenerative illness, such as Parkinson’s, to access an assisted death with 12 months to live. The bill currently restricts assisted dying to those with a terminal illness with six months or less to live.
Gordon told BBC News: “This bill is about ensuring people facing painful deaths from terminal conditions can have the choice of how they die.
“For those with neurodegenerative conditions, in their last six months, it may be too late for them to engage in the process of applying.”
It is understood Leadbeater does not support expanding the scope of the bill to include those with 12 months to live.
MPs backed proposals to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales in November, by a majority of 55.
However, it will be debated further by the House of Commons and Lords later in the year, and the final version requires the approval of both before it becomes law.
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Free-To-Play Delta Force Will Add Paid ****** Hawk Down Campaign February 21
Free-To-Play Delta Force Will Add Paid ****** Hawk Down Campaign February 21
Those waiting for the ****** Hawk Down campaign for Delta Force, the modern free-to-play revival of the classic FPS series, won’t have to wait much longer. Developer Team *****, a subsidiary of ******** gaming giant Tencent, announced the paid DLC will launch February 21.
Delta Force’s upcoming ****** Hawk Down campaign is a remake of the 2003 shooter of the same name, it in turn based on a book documenting the real events involving a US military task force during the Somali Civil War in 1993. Team ***** released a brief teaser trailer alongside the release date to give fans an idea of what to expect, showing battles through the destroyed streets of Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu.
The ****** Hawk Down campaign for Delta Force was originally slated to arrive in January, so its new February release date is actually a delay. As for how much the campaign will cost, Team ***** has not officially said just yet. Team ***** states in the description for the campaign’s launch teaser trailer that more details will be coming in the following days. In a development diary Q&A from last year, Team ***** said the campaign DLC will not feature microtransactions and can be played co-op.
The original Delta Force: ****** Hawk Down was the sixth game in developer NovaLogic’s Delta Force tactical FPS series, and released on PC in 2003 before being ported to PlayStation 2 and Xbox in 2005.
For those who aren’t interesting in checking out Delta Force’s campaign, its free-to-play multiplayer offerings have been regularly updated in the weeks following its December 2024 release. The game has drawn comparisons to EA’s Battlefield series for the large player counts and vehicle gameplay seen in its Warfare game mode, but additionally includes an extraction-style mode and a 3v3v3 squad-focused game type called Hot Zone. Though Delta Force is currently only available on PC, it is slated to release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and mobile sometime this year.
Speaking of Battlefield, EA recently gave fans a first-look at gameplay for the next entry in the series alongside announcing a new community testing program called Battlefield Labs intended to help it avoid some of the pitfalls of Battlefield 2042.
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Meta’s Zuckerberg telling ‘very compelling’ AI story: RBC analyst
Meta’s Zuckerberg telling ‘very compelling’ AI story: RBC analyst
As Meta Platforms (META) shares continue their longest-running winning streak to date, Wall Street is keyed in on the tech giant’s forecasts for $119 billion in capital expenditure (CapEx) spending in 2025.
RBC Capital Markets Equity Analyst Brad Erickson joins Market Domination to speak more about the central theme of Big Tech’s CapEx spending as it pertains to Meta.
“Right now, we’re all talking about AI applications and what those can turn into, ao a lot of this is kind of narrative,” Erickson tells Julie Hyman and Josh Lipton. “They [Meta] have the best narrative I would argue. And what I mean by that is when you think about… what agents could provide, think of like a private like fitness coach or something as an agent, like there’s real utility I think that people can kind of imagine on this platform.”
Watch the video above to hear Brad Erickson comment on Meta’s platform policy changes under the second Trump administration.
To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Market Domination here.
This post was written by Luke Carberry Mogan.
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Elon Musk wants to buy OpenAI for $97.4 billion
Elon Musk wants to buy OpenAI for $97.4 billion
Elon Musk has launched a $97.4 billion bid to take control of OpenAI. The Wall Street Journal reports a group of investors led by Musk’s xAI submitted an unsolicited offer to the company’s board of directors on Monday. The group wants to buy the nonprofit that controls OpenAI’s for-profit arm.
When asked for comment, an OpenAI spokesperson pointed Engadget to an X post from CEO Sam Altman. “No thank you but we will buy twitter for $9.74 billion if you want,” Altman wrote on the social media platform Musk owns.
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no thank you but we will buy twitter for $9.74 billion if you want
— Sam Altman (@sama) February 10, 2025
“It’s time for OpenAI to return to the open-source, safety-focused force for good it once was,” Musk said in a statement his attorney shared with The Journal. “We will make sure that happens.”
OpenAI
It’s hard to say how serious this bid from Musk is and what — if any — chance it has to succeed. OpenAI is not a traditional company, and the nonprofit structure Sam Altman and others at the company want it to get away from may in fact protect it from Musk’s offer. Were OpenAI purely a for-profit company with traditional shares Musk’s bid would likely trigger what’s known in corporate law as a Revlon moment, where, under certain circumstances, the company’s board of directors would be forced to sell the company to the highest bidder to maximize shareholder profits.
Musk, as you can imagine, wasn’t a fan of Altman’s joke, writing “Swindler” in response and later calling him “Scam Altman.”
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Researchers confirm an exoplanet potentially capable of sustaining life
Researchers confirm an exoplanet potentially capable of sustaining life
Credit: CC0 Public Domain
An international team has confirmed the discovery of a super-Earth orbiting in the habitable zone of a nearby sun-like star. The planet was originally detected two years ago by Oxford University scientist Dr. Michael Cretignier. This result, drawing on more than two decades of observations, opens a window to future studies of Earth-like exoplanets that may have conditions suitable for life.
The new planet, named HD 20794 d, has a mass six times that of Earth and orbits a star similar to our sun, located just 20 light years away. Its orbit places it within the habitable zone of the system, meaning it is at the right distance from its star to sustain liquid water on its surface, a key ingredient for life as we know it. The paper is published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics.
Dr. Cretignier first identified a candidate exoplanet signal in 2022, while analyzing archived data recorded by the HARPS (High Accuracy Radial Velocity Planet Searcher) spectrograph at the La Silla Observatory in Chile. This data analyzes the light absorbed and emitted by objects.
Dr. Cretignier spotted distinct, periodic shifts in the spectrum of light emitted by the host star, which could have been caused by the gravitational pull of a nearby planet. Due to the faintness of the signal, however, it was not clear whether this was caused by a planet, induced by the star itself, or due to an instrumental error.
To verify the signal, an international team analyzed highly-precise measurements recorded over two decades by HARPS and its successor ESPRESSO, also in Chile. These instruments are among the most advanced in the world for measuring tiny variations in light spectra.
“We worked on data analysis for years, gradually analyzing and eliminating all possible sources of contamination,” added Dr. Cretignier. Advanced processing methods and meticulous analyses were needed to distinguish the planetary signal from background noise and subtle instrumental effects. By combining the results from the two instruments, the discovery was finally confirmed.
“For me, it was naturally a huge joy when we could confirm the planet’s existence” Dr. Cretignier said. “It was also a relief, since the original signal was at the edge of the spectrograph’s detection limit, so it was hard to be completely convinced at that time if the signal was real or not. Excitingly, its proximity to us (only 20 light years) means there is hope for future space missions to obtain an image of it.”
Although the planet is located in the system’s habitable zone, it is too early to say whether it could host life. Unlike most planets, HD 20794 d’s orbit is not circular but elliptical. Its distance from its star changes significantly, causing the planet to move from the outer edge of the habitable zone to the inner edge throughout its year.
In any case, HD 20794 d will provide an invaluable test case for upcoming space projects designed to detect signs of life outside our solar system. These include the Extremely Large Telescope, Habitable Worlds Observatory, and the Large Interferometer For Exoplanets (LIFE). These instruments will observe the atmosphere of nearby Earth-like planets in the habitable zone for tell-tale “biosignatures” indicative of life.
Dr. Cretignier added, “With its location in a habitable zone and relatively close proximity to Earth, this planet could play a pivotal role in future missions that will characterize the atmospheres of exoplanets to search for biosignatures indicating potential life.”
“While my job mainly consists of finding these unknown worlds, I’m now very enthusiastic to hear what other scientists can tell us about this newly discovered planet, particularly since it is among the closest Earth-analogs we know about and given its peculiar orbit.”
More information:
N. Nari et al, Revisiting the multi-planetary system of the nearby star HD 20794. Confirmation of a low-mass planet in the habitable zone of a nearby G-dwarf, Astronomy & Astrophysics (2024). DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/202451769
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White House targets CFPB as union sues over work stoppage – The Washington Post
White House targets CFPB as union sues over work stoppage – The Washington Post
White House targets CFPB as union sues over work stoppage The Washington PostMusk charges on with new targets in sight and Trump’s blessing CNN36 Hours After Russell Vought Took Over Consumer Bureau, He Shut Its Operations The New York TimesSecrecy preceded the shutdown of the consumer protection agency’s Washington headquarters The Associated Press
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Disney’s Fortnite Project Reportedly Reaches A Major Milestone
Disney’s Fortnite Project Reportedly Reaches A Major Milestone
Disney’s big Fortnite project was announced one year ago this month. Nothing has come of this as of yet, but the Disney project in Fortnite has now seemingly crossed a significant milestone.
Noted Fortnite insider HYPEX said on social media that the Disney collaboration with Fortnite has advanced to the “stable” build/branch of development. This is a notable update, as it likely means the developers have made significant progress as production enters the next stage.
they probably made a lot of progress and moved into the next roadmap milestone
— HYPEX (@HYPEX) February 7, 2025
Exactly what the Disney/Fortnite collaboration actually is, however, remains a mystery, nor do we know when it may be released. Disney has invested more than $1.5 billion into Epic Games to help create the new content, whatever it might be.
Disney boss Josh D’Amaro said Disney is planning to work with Epic to create “a place where you can play games, a place where you can be social, [and] a place where users can generate their own content.” Essentially, D’Amaro said Disney’s aim to create an entire “universe” where “all our stories can come to life.”
“They can come to life in different forms, [like] games. They can come to life in ways that you can just interact with and play with the franchise in a way that’s meaningful to you–a place where you can actually build,” he said. “And we think that this is going to be a place where all fans can come and interact 365 days a year.”
Characters and content from Disney’s Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and Avatar brands, among others, will be represented in Fortnite. Disney and Epic have yet to officially unveil any specific projects in Fortnite tied to Disney, but many are hoping to see some kind of “virtual Disney World.”
Fortnite is more of a platform than a single game. In addition to the main battle royale game, Fortnite hosts games like Rocket Racing, Fortnite Festival, and Lego Fortnite, along with countless other user-created games and experiences on the platform. Whatever Epic and Disney might be cooking up could be just the latest game to exist on the Fortnite platform.
While this new Disney/Fortnite collaboration hasn’t materialized yet, the two companies have worked together before on a range of content, including, most recently, Pixar characters and Disney villains being added to the playable roster. Before that, there was all manner of Star Wars content.
Disney no longer develops big games in-house, as its own Disney Interactive Studios shut down years ago. These days, Disney works with outside teams as part of licensing arrangements. Not all of the games are successful, though, as Ubisoft’s Star Wars Outlaws failed to sell up to expectations. One of Disney’s latest major games was Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, which was developed by MachineGames in partnership with Lucasfilm. The game recently hit 4 million players ahead of its release on PS5.
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Investors more likely to opt for green labels over financial returns, fueling greenwashing concerns
Investors more likely to opt for green labels over financial returns, fueling greenwashing concerns
Mean investment across bond types using original investment data. Credit: Humanities and Social Sciences Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1057/s41599-025-04395-w
Over the past decade, sustainable investing has exponentially grown in its global impact and popularity. This emerging trend led University of Waterloo researchers to investigate how green labels influence investment decisions. The study is published in the journal Humanities and Social Sciences Communications.
“Green labels on bonds and other investments indicate that the funds are allocated to environmentally sustainable projects, such as renewable energy, clean transportation, or climate adaptation,” says Dr. Adam Vitalis from the School of Accounting and Finance. “The purpose of green labels is to promote sustainability.”
Vitalis, in collaboration with Dr. Olaf Weber and Dr. Vasundhara Saravade from the Faculty of Environment, discovered that investors are more likely to choose a bond labeled as “green” over a non-green bond, even when the latter offers higher financial returns. Results from their study show that green bond labels play a crucial role in shaping investor behavior—sometimes at the expense of actual environmental impact.
One of the study’s most significant findings is the potential for greenwashing—the practice of misleading investors by overstating an asset’s environmental benefits. Since many investors rely on labels rather than conducting thorough due diligence, there is an increased risk that investors will sink capital into financial products marketed as “green” that do not deliver real sustainability benefits.
Vitalis explains further that, “Greenwashing undermines investor confidence and risks diverting capital away from genuinely sustainable projects, slowing progress toward real climate solutions.”
The study surveyed over 1,100 participants. Each participant was given three different investment scenarios and asked to choose between bonds that varied in labeling, environmental benefits and financial returns. The researchers compared how different factors affected investors’ choices, such as personal environmental beliefs, financial knowledge and willingness to take risks. The results suggest that labels alone can strongly influence investment behavior, sometimes leading investors to prioritize perception over reality.
Specific investor demographics, such as those with high-risk tolerance, prior investment experience or employment in finance, are more likely to invest in green-labeled bonds. This insight could help policymakers tailor educational programs and incentives to protect investors from misleading sustainability claims.
Moving forward, the researchers point out that stronger regulatory frameworks to standardize green bond labeling and improve transparency are needed.
“Regulatory safeguards play a crucial role in addressing this by ensuring transparency, accountability and clear sustainability criteria in financial markets. Emerging disclosure standards require firms to provide accurate, comparable sustainability information, which helps protect investors from misleading claims and ensure that financial capital flows to support meaningful environmental commitments and long-term sustainability goals,” adds Vitalis.
More information:
Vasundhara Saravade et al, To label or not? A choice experiment testing whether labelled green bonds matter to retail investors, Humanities and Social Sciences Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1057/s41599-025-04395-w
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Trump, Tariffs, Taylor, Texts
Trump, Tariffs, Taylor, Texts
President Trump announces 25% tariffs on steel.
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Apple patches iPhone exploit that allowed for ‘extremely sophisticated’ attack
Apple patches iPhone exploit that allowed for ‘extremely sophisticated’ attack
A new iPhone update patches a flaw that could allow an attacker to turn off a nearly seven-year-old USB security feature. Apple’s release notes for iOS 18.3.1 and iPadOS 18.3.1 say the bug, which allowed the deactivation of USB Restricted Mode, “may have been exploited in an extremely sophisticated attack against specific targeted individuals.”
The release notes describe the now-patched security flaw as allowing “a physical attack,” which suggests the attacker needed the device in hand to exploit it. So, unless your device was hijacked by “extremely sophisticated” attackers, there was nothing to panic about even before Monday’s update.
USB Restricted Mode, introduced in iOS 11.4.1, prevents USB accessories from accessing your device’s data if it hasn’t been unlocked for an hour. The idea is to protect your iPhone or iPad from law enforcement devices like Cellebrite and Graykey. It’s also the reason for the message asking you to unlock your device before connecting it to a Mac or Windows PC.
Aligned with its typical policy, Apple didn’t detail who or what entity used the attack in the wild, only noting that the company is “aware of a report that this issue may have been exploited.” Security researcher Bill Marczak of the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab reported the flaw. In 2016, while in grad school, he discovered the iPhone’s first known zero-day remote jailbreak, which a cyberwarfare company sold to governments.
You can make sure USB Restricted Mode is activated by heading to Settings > Face ID (or Touch ID) & Passcode. Scroll down to “Accessories” in the list and ensure the toggle is off, which it is by default. Somewhat confusingly, toggling the setting off means the security feature is on because it lists features with allowed access.
As usual, you can install the update by heading to Settings > General > Software Update on your iPhone or iPad.
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Ready (or not) for love? Your friends likely agree
Ready (or not) for love? Your friends likely agree
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain
Feeling ready for a committed relationship is a key step in dating. But do your friends agree that you’re ready for a long-term relationship? As this week is Valentine’s Day, newer couples may be considering just how serious their relationship is.
A new study from Michigan State University has found that friends significantly agreed on who was ready for committed relationships—and who wasn’t.
The study, published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, showed that friends who were perceived to be less ready for a committed relationship were also seen to be more insecure in their relationships. People with an insecure attachment style have elevated levels of anxiety and/or avoidance.
The researchers collected data from nearly 800 people embedded in friend groups. Participants reported on their own readiness for relationships, their friends’ readiness, and their friends’ attachment styles. This round-robin research design is one of only a few that focus on young adult friends.
“Friendships affect so many parts of our life—not just our health and happiness, but also our romantic prospects. Friends can constrain or facilitate who we date. They can also help our romantic relationships flourish or subtly and not-so-subtly undermine them,” said William Chopik, an associate professor in MSU’s Department of Psychology and co-author of the study. “Judgments of readiness likely explain all sorts of reasons why friends help and hurt our chances of finding love.”
The researchers hope that the findings may offer insights for young adults navigating romance and encourage them to have open communication with their peers to better foster healthy relationships.
“Friends play a key role in forming and maintaining romantic relationships, from introductions to advice. However, there is rarely a chance to know how they perceive us,” said Hyewon Yang, a psychology doctoral candidate at MSU. “I hope this study offers a holistic understanding of commitment readiness from a social network perspective, while emphasizing the vital role of friends in pursuing, developing and maintaining romantic relationships.”
More information:
Hyewon Yang et al, Ready (for love) or not? Self and other perceptions of commitment readiness and associations with attachment orientations, Journal of Social and Personal Relationships (2025). DOI: 10.1177/02654075251317920
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US congressman slams Trump’s tariff ‘insult to the people of Australia’
US congressman slams Trump’s tariff ‘insult to the people of Australia’
Donald Trump’s proposal to slap 25 per cent levies on steel and aluminium imports, including from Australia, has drawn fury from a key AUKUS player.
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Avowed Dev Discusses the Importance of Choice and Consequences
Avowed Dev Discusses the Importance of Choice and Consequences
raWfodog3d ago (Edited 3d ago )
Actually, my comment stemmed from another article on this same topic:
“ Last year, Obsidian Entertainmentâ€s Art Director, Matt Hansen, stated that Avowed is “targeting 30 FPS†on consoles. Now, the studio has confirmed that Avowed players “can get up to 60 (FPS)” on Xbox Series X. This was confirmed as part of a rapid-fire interview with MinnMax. What’s worth noting about this new statement is that Obsidian is not promising locked 60 FPS framerates on Xbox Series X in Avowed. That said, we would expect this mode to deliver a relatively stable framerate.”
Usually when devs don’t specify ‘locked’ 60fps it means that they are targeting 60fps. That could mean dips below 60fps at times which may be a little ‘choppy’ during a lot of onscreen action.
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Tiny water-based reactors could help pharmaceutical industry avoid toxic solvents
Tiny water-based reactors could help pharmaceutical industry avoid toxic solvents
Researchers at Rice, including Ying Chen and Angel Martí, have developed a new method for performing chemical reactions using water instead of toxic solvents. Credit: Jeff Fitlow / Rice University
Researchers at Rice University have developed a new method for performing chemical reactions using water instead of toxic solvents. The scientists created microscopic reactors capable of driving light-powered chemical processes by designing metal complex surfactants (MeCSs) that self-assemble into nanoscale spheres called micelles. This innovation could drastically reduce pollution in industries including pharmaceuticals and materials science, where harmful organic solvents are often necessary.
The new micellar technology represents a step forward in sustainable chemistry. These self-assembled micelles form in water, where their hydrophobic cores provide a unique environment for reactions, even with materials that are typically insoluble in water. The research team led by Angel Martí, professor and chair of chemistry at Rice, demonstrated that this system can efficiently perform photocatalytic reactions while eliminating the need for hazardous substances. The study is published in Chemical Science.
“Our findings show how powerful molecular design can be in tackling chemical sustainability challenges while maintaining high chemical performance,” Martí said. “We’ve created a tool that could transform how chemical reactions are performed, reducing environmental harm while increasing efficiency.”
How the discovery works
Surfactants are molecules with a dual nature: One part is attracted to water, while the other repels it. When added to water, they naturally form micelles or tiny spheres where the water-avoiding parts gather in the center, creating a small reaction space. The scientists modified these surfactants by adding a light-sensitive metal complex to their structure, making the MeCSs.
Structure of Ru(ii) surfactants (top) and assembled micelle (bottom). Credit: Chemical Science (2025). DOI: 10.1039/D4SC07623K
The researchers tested different versions of the MeCSs by altering the length of their hydrophobic (water-repelling) tails. They found that these molecules could form micelles as small as 5–6 nanometers, much smaller than those in similar systems. The team used these micelles to perform a photocatalytic reaction, achieving high yields without needing harmful solvents.
“These micelles act like tiny reaction vessels,” said Ying Chen, first author of this study and a doctoral student in chemistry at Rice. “They enable chemical transformations that wouldn’t normally work in water while being more sustainable than traditional methods.”
Many chemical processes in manufacturing and research rely on organic solvents, which are harmful to the environment and expensive to handle safely. The development of photoactive water-based micelles capable of driving chemical reactions offers a safer, greener alternative. Additionally, the system can be reused, improving its cost-effectiveness and environmental footprint.
The study was co-authored by Shih-Chieh Kao and Julian West of Rice’s Department of Chemistry; Asia Matatyaho Ya’akobi and Yeshayahu Talmon of the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology; and Thao Vy Nguyen and Sibani Lisa Biswal of Rice’s Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering.
More information:
Ying Chen et al, Supramolecular self-assembly of metal complex surfactants (MeCS) into micellar nanoscale reactors in aqueous solution, Chemical Science (2025). DOI: 10.1039/D4SC07623K
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A Cultural Journey Through the One of Brasil’s Most Vibrant Cities
A Cultural Journey Through the One of Brasil’s Most Vibrant Cities
Shea Peters
With the Super Bowl behind us, we can once again realize that New Orleans is one of the best cities in the U.S. While it’s one of the most visited cities in America, there is a beloved city even further South, that holds similar heritage to NOLA. Let me introduce you to Salvador, Brasil.
At first blush, you can easily compare Salvador’s Carnaval to the Crescent City’s Mardi Gras, both cities know how to throw a party. But, if you enjoy New Orleans, you’d absolutely fall in love with Salvador. Called by many, the Soul of Brasil, Salvador is not only a gastronomic and musical center, but there are activites abound by land and water for adventurists.
While these two cities seemingly share a heartbeat and could be seen by some as distant cousins. Both cities are spirited, yet there are notable differences that make Salvador a city that is solely unique to the South American continent and even the world.
Steeped in African heritage, many neighborhoods in Salvador embrace their Trans-Atlantic ancestry, and one of the most visited areas of Salvador is the city’s Pelourinho district.
With good reason, travelers flock to Pelourinho for its Instagrammable pastel architecture, history seekers learn of its colonial past, and music lovers gather for their love of Michael Jackson, decades after the superstar filmed a video in the streets of this central area.
This magical area, the city’s Historic Centre, is famously a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was also host to the 1st slave market of the New World. Restaurants here serve authentic Afro-Brazilian dishes while live music sounds through the air nightly. It was also host to the 1st slave market of the New World. Restaurants here serve authentic Afro-Brazilian dishes while live music blares in the air nightly.
But, there are overlooked gems scattered across its diverse neighborhoods that offer a more intentional and immersive experience of Salvador’s essence. The residential, but colorful Candeal neighborhood is considered a global music hub. Here, one of Brasil’s favorite sons, Carlinhos Brown, a Latin Grammy award winning and Academy Award nominated singer, musician, and social activist opened Pracatum Music School and is currently working on a 2025 Broadway musical, ****** Orpheus. Also, the Curuzu neighborhood is considered one of the identity pearls of the people of Salvador. It’s more than just a neighborhood to the people of the city known as “****** Rome”, it’s a mecca of ****** culture, style, and food, not only in the city, but across the state of Bahia.
When looking for a non-cookie cutter space to anchor your Salvador stay, one neighborhood has a special hotel that attracts art lovers from all over. Sitting in front of the Sea of Bahia in the former fishing village of Itapuã, Casa di Vini isn’t just any boutique hotel. Half museum and memorial, half lovingly curated hotel, this space once served as the home of legendary poet Vinicius de Moraes. It’s central yet serene location, gives easy access to Salvador’s historic landmarks, beaches, cultural events, and is only 15 minutes from the airport, while providing a still peaceful oasis for relaxation.
One of the most historically significant neighborhoods in Salvador, if not all of Brasil, is Liberdade. This area has the largest Afro-descendant population in Salvador. Curuzu, an enclave inside Liberdade is home to Ilê Aiyê, the first Afro-Bloco. As the premier African Carnavale group in the country, they are heralded for celebrating the area’s identity, heritage, and resistance.
Rio Vermelho, one of the more bohemian areas of the city is a great area to photograph street art, find galleries, and it’s known for it’s nightlife. Locals flock in the evenings to this area for bars and unassuming food, here is where you’ll find your creatives.
While February and March are the sweetest times for visiting Brasil as a whole because of the festive culture, natural beauty, and summer vibes, Salvador has incredible events all year round. This city allows you the opportunity to experience African flavors, sounds, and dance in a coastal setting in Brasil and Salvador is teaming with stories ready to be told. Exploring markets for hand made crafts to churches that have stood the test of time, or basking at beaches like Praia do Porto da Barra or to experience a roda de capoeira, there is a new adventure for every day.
When I think of Salvador, it is familiar, welcoming, and mystical like New Orleans, but flavored with silky coconut and seafood of moqueca rather than the hearty tomato and rice of gumbo. They have a similar foundation, both are beautiful, and uniquely appreciated.
The Bahian capital should be on the list of travelers that are ready to enjoy a well-seasoned city through the new lens of a new generation that continues to move forward, while still honoring its past.
Casa di Vini Hotel
Casa di Vini in Salvador is an artsy, well curated boutique hotel that would be a great respite from cookie-cutter larger hotels.
Shea Peters
Beautiful murals celebrating the culture of Salvador can be found throughout the city.
Shea Peters
Salvador is also a coastal city, so outdoor and water activities, including boating are prime.
Shea Peters
Moqueca is one of Salvador’s signature dishes. Made of local seafood, fish, red palm oil, veggies, and coconut milk and served with rice, you can find this dish at many restaurants, each serving up the dish with it’s own flair.
Shea Peters
Street art is abound in Salvador. This mural across from Wish Hotel is a gorgeous meeting spot for locals to meet up with friends for Carnaval festivities.
Shea Peters
Located in the larger neighborhood of Libertade, the Curuzu neighborhood is one of the pearls of identity of the people of Salvador. Here, during Carnaval, the community gathers to choose the Deusa do Ébano (Goddess of Ebony). This woman will represent the group in the parades and throughout the year.
Shea Peters
Across from his Pracatum Music School, one of Brasil’s favorite sons, Carlinhos Brown films a commercial with Disney’s Donald Duck.
Shea Peters
This mural located outside the Pracatum Music School in the Candeal neighborhood is a beautiful reminder that art and music are an integral part of the culture in Salvador.
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Bus ****** in Guatemala City Kills Dozens of People
Bus ****** in Guatemala City Kills Dozens of People
The vehicle fell off a bridge and plunged into a ravine early Monday morning, according to government officials.
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Scientists spot candidate for speediest exoplanet system
Scientists spot candidate for speediest exoplanet system
This artist’s concept visualizes a super-Neptune world orbiting a low-mass star near the center of our Milky Way galaxy. Scientists recently discovered such a system that may break the current record for fastest exoplanet system, traveling at least 1.2 million miles per hour, or 540 kilometers per second. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/R. Hurt (Caltech-IPAC)
Astronomers may have discovered a scrawny star bolting through the middle of our galaxy with a planet in tow. If confirmed, the pair sets a new record for the fastest-moving exoplanet system, nearly double our solar system’s speed through the Milky Way.
The planetary system is thought to move at least 1.2 million miles per hour, or 540 kilometers per second.
“We think this is a so-called super-Neptune world orbiting a low-mass star at a distance that would lie between the orbits of Venus and Earth if it were in our solar system,” said Sean Terry, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Maryland, College Park and NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. Since the star is so feeble, that’s well outside its habitable zone. “If so, it will be the first planet ever found orbiting a hypervelocity star.”
A paper describing the results, led by Terry, was published in The Astronomical Journal.
A star on the move
The pair of objects was first spotted indirectly in 2011 thanks to a chance alignment. A team of scientists combed through archived data from MOA (Microlensing Observations in Astrophysics)—a collaborative project focused on a microlensing survey conducted using the University of Canterbury Mount John Observatory in New Zealand—in search of light signals that betray the presence of exoplanets, or planets outside our solar system.
This artist’s concept visualizes stars near the center of our Milky Way galaxy. Each has a colorful trail indicating its speed –– the longer and redder the trail, the faster the star is moving. NASA scientists recently discovered a candidate for a particularly speedy star, visualized near the center of this image, with an orbiting planet. If confirmed, the pair sets a record for fastest known exoplanet system. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/R. Hurt (Caltech-IPAC)
Microlensing occurs because the presence of mass warps the fabric of space-time. Any time an intervening object appears to drift near a background star, light from the star curves as it travels through the warped space-time around the nearer object. If the alignment is especially close, the warping around the object can act like a natural lens, amplifying the background star’s light.
In this case, microlensing signals revealed a pair of celestial bodies. Scientists determined their relative masses (one is about 2,300 times heavier than the other), but their exact masses depend on how far away they are from Earth. It’s sort of like how the magnification changes if you hold a magnifying glass over a page and move it up and down.
“Determining the mass ratio is easy,” said David Bennett, a senior research scientist at the University of Maryland, College Park and NASA Goddard, who co-authored the new paper and led the original study in 2011. “It’s much more difficult to calculate their actual masses.”
The 2011 discovery team suspected the microlensed objects were either a star about 20 percent as massive as our sun and a planet roughly 29 times heavier than Earth, or a nearer “rogue” planet about four times Jupiter’s mass with a moon smaller than Earth.
To figure out which explanation is more likely, astronomers searched through data from the Keck Observatory in Hawaii and ESA’s (European Space Agency’s) Gaia satellite. If the pair were a rogue planet and moon, they’d be effectively invisible—dark objects lost in the inky void of space. But scientists might be able to identify the star if the alternative explanation were correct (though the orbiting planet would be much too faint to see).
They found a strong suspect located about 24,000 light-years away, putting it within the Milky Way’s galactic bulge—the central hub where stars are more densely packed. By comparing the star’s location in 2011 and 2021, the team calculated its high speed.
This Hubble Space Telescope image shows a bow shock around a very young star called LL Ori. Named for the crescent-shaped wave made by a ship as it moves through water, a bow shock can be created in space when two streams of gas collide. Scientists think a similar feature may be present around a newfound star that could be traveling at least 1.2 million miles per hour, or 540 kilometers per second. Traveling at such a high velocity in the galactic bulge (the central part of the galaxy) where gas is denser could generate a bow shock. Credit: NASA and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA); Acknowledgment: C. R. O’Dell (Vanderbilt University)
But that’s just its 2D motion; if it’s also moving toward or away from us, it must be moving even faster. Its true speed may even be high enough to exceed the galaxy’s escape velocity of just over 1.3 million miles per hour, or about 600 kilometers per second. If so, the planetary system is destined to traverse intergalactic space many millions of years in the future.
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“To be certain the newly identified star is part of the system that caused the 2011 signal, we’d like to look again in another year and see if it moves the right amount and in the right direction to confirm it came from the point where we detected the signal,” Bennett said.
“If high-resolution observations show that the star just stays in the same position, then we can tell for sure that it is not part of the system that caused the signal,” said Aparna Bhattacharya, a research scientist at the University of Maryland, College Park and NASA Goddard who co-authored the new paper. “That would mean the rogue planet and exomoon model is favored.”
NASA’s upcoming Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will help us find out how common planets are around such speedy stars, and may offer clues to how these systems are accelerated. The mission will conduct a survey of the galactic bulge, pairing a large view of space with crisp resolution.
“In this case we used MOA for its broad field of view and then followed up with Keck and Gaia for their sharper resolution, but thanks to Roman’s powerful view and planned survey strategy, we won’t need to rely on additional telescopes,” Terry said. “Roman will do it all.”
More information:
Sean K. Terry et al, A Candidate High-velocity Exoplanet System in the Galactic Bulge, The Astronomical Journal (2025). DOI: 10.3847/1538-3881/ad9b0f
Citation:
Scientists spot candidate for speediest exoplanet system (2025, February 10)
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How to Cook Steak au Poivre
How to Cook Steak au Poivre
Choose the right cut of meat and follow these easy tips to prepare steak au poivre for two.
Armando Rafael for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Brett Regot.
By Alexa Weibel
Alexa Weibel is a senior staff editor and recipe developer at NYT Cooking, and she was previously an editor at Rachael Ray magazine and a restaurant line cook. Born in Paris, she’s inclined to add extra butter, but she also enjoys exploring the challenges of vegan, budget and weeknight cooking.
Published Feb. 10, 2025Updated Feb. 10, 2025
Like many treasured French dishes, steak au poivre abides by certain tenets: It begins with a piece of beef that is crusted in crushed peppercorns and ends with a glossy, peppery pan sauce. But otherwise, it’s shaped by the choices of its cook.
Depending on where you dine out, you might envision steak au poivre as a cozy bistro meal or a steakhouse splurge — but it’s also the kind of restaurant dish that you can achieve at home (for a fraction of the price). Whether you’re cooking to impress a Valentine or to treat yourself, this thoughtful recipe will ensure a perfect, stress-free dinner.
Armando Rafael for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Brett Regot.
Choose the right cut of meat.
Selecting a richly marbled cut of beef is its own insurance against subpar steak — it’s more forgiving if it’s slightly overcooked. Lean filet mignon was once favored for its tenderness, but a boneless rib-eye or strip steak, marbled with ****, has infinitely more flavor, and a higher surface area to hold more toasted peppercorns. Cooking one large rib-eye to share looks more lavish on the plate — and it’s easier to cook one steak perfectly than two.
It’s hard to say whether a fattier cut of beef even strays from tradition — Anthony Bourdain favored a pavé, while Jacques Pépin suggests a shell steak. Even the origins of the dish are unclear. “Since it’s a flashy dish, with Cognac flambé, it feels more Parisian than Norman to me and more 1920s Paris to be specific,” said Maryann Tebben, the author of “Savoir-Faire: A History of Food in France.” “But this may be one of those dishes that is very hard to pin down, since pepper sauces have been popular in French cooking since the Middle Ages.”
Crack whole peppercorns evenly.
Crushing peppercorns is a tedious task; there’s simply no way around it. But, as the central flavor of steak au poivre (which translates to pepper steak), it deserves care. A mortar and pestle do a solid job of containing the pesky errant pieces — peppercorns pop like popcorn when crushed — but pulverize them unevenly. For uniformly cracked pieces, place the peppercorns in a large rimmed sheet pan and crush small clusters with the flat side of a chef’s knife. ****** peppercorns are traditional, though you could certainly swap in a portion of white, green or pink peppercorns, or even whole Sichuan pepper. All varieties must be freshly crushed, as store-bought cracked pepper tastes dull and dusty by comparison.
Perfect the pan sauce.
After the peppercorn-crusted steak is seared, a simple pan sauce is created by softening shallots in the pan’s ****, then adding a splash of alcohol for verve. (Cognac is preferred, but brandy tastes just as good.) Julia Child famously feared flambé, but you can bypass any potential flames by simply deglazing the pan off the heat, allowing the Cognac to dislodge any browned bits with the burner off.
The difference between a loose sauce that runs on the plate and one that glazes your meat is strictly time: Add some stock and allow it to reduce until the sauce becomes nappante, or thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. A spoonful of butter adds a silkiness that balances the pepper’s bite, and heavy cream binds it into a satiny sauce so that doesn’t break or separate.
Lastly, plating matters: Fanning your sliced steak on top of the sauce feels more modern — and looks more refined — than dousing the meat in sauce.
The technique for steak au poivre is relatively simple, the results elegant. With the right cut of meat, and some modest tweaks, the classic dish feels timeless.
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Musk and investors offering $97.4 billion for control of OpenAI: WSJ
Musk and investors offering $97.4 billion for control of OpenAI: WSJ
Elon Musk, chief executive officer of Tesla Inc., ahead of the 60th presidential inauguration parade at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC, US, on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025.
Victor J. Blue | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Elon Musk is leading a group of investors in offering to buy control of OpenAI for $97.4 billion, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday.
The bid is for the nonprofit that oversees the artificial intelligence startup, the Journal reported, adding that Musk’s attorney, Marc Toberoff, said he submitted the offer on Monday.
The WSJ cited a statement from Musk provided by Toberoff, saying “It’s time for OpenAI to return to the open-source, safety-focused force for good it once was.”
In a post on X, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman wrote, “no thank you but we will buy twitter for $9.74 billion if you want.”
Musk, who is a top adviser to President Donald Trump, is in the midst of a heated legal and public relations battle with Altman. They were two of the co-founders of OpenAI in 2015, establishing the entity as a nonprofit focused on AI research.
OpenAI has since emerged as a giant in generative AI, launching ChatGPT in 2022 and setting off a wave of investment in new tools and infrastructure for next-generation AI products and services. SoftBank is close to finalizing a $40 billion investment in OpenAI at a $260 billion valuation, sources told CNBC’s David Faber last week.
Musk now has a competitor in the AI market, a startup called xAI, and is suing OpenAI, accusing it of antitrust violations and to try and keep it from converting into a for-profit corporation.
Meanwhile, OpenAI partnered with SoftBank and Oracle in a project announced by Trump right after his inauguration called Stargate, which calls on the companies to invest billions of dollars in AI infrastructure in the U.S.
Musk’s offer is backed by xAI, which the Journal reports could merge with OpenAI if a deal were to occur. Other investors in the bid include Valor Equity Partners, Baron Capital, 8VC and Ari Emanuel’s investment fund, the paper reported.
Toberoff sent a letter to the attorneys general in California and Delaware on Jan. 7, asking that bidding be opened up for OpenAI.
WATCH: Why OpenAI needs custom AI chips
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Corrosion-induced electrodes enhance biomass conversion efficiency
Corrosion-induced electrodes enhance biomass conversion efficiency
Corrosion-Induced CoCuMW/CF electrode for electroreduction of HMF to BHMF. Credit: NIMTE
A research team has utilized metal corrosion to prepare high-performance electrodes, enabling efficient and cost-effective upgrading of bio-based 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF). Their study is published in Chem Catalysis.
Corrosion is a common phenomenon that can lead to material failure and economic losses. However, researchers are exploring its potential for beneficial applications, particularly in biomass upgrading.
Biomass is among the most abundant renewable resources on Earth. Through catalytic conversion, biomass can be upgraded into fuels and chemicals that can substitute traditional fossil resources, thus playing an important role in achieving “peak carbon dioxide emission and carbon neutrality.”
Inspired by the idea of “turning damage into benefits,” the research team combined spontaneous metal corrosion with efficient biomass upgrading. They fabricated CoCu microwire arrays on copper foam (CoCuMW/CF) using cobalt ion-enhanced corrosion induction.
The CoCuMW/CF electrode enables efficient electrochemical reduction of HMF to 2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)furan (BHMF), which can be further converted into environmentally friendly plastic or rubber products, high-value derivatives, and high-quality bio-based chemicals through simple methods.
Moreover, the prepared CoCuMW/CF electrode demonstrated a remarkable HMF conversion rate of 95.7% and a BHMF yield of 85.4% at the potential of -0.5 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), indicating superior performance for HMF hydrogenation in a neutral electrolyte.
Notably, the activation energy for the HMF electrocatalytic reduction was 16.6 ± 2.5 kJ·mol-1, significantly lower than in thermocatalysis.
In this study, density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed that the CoCuMW/CF electrode exhibits reduced free energy barriers for both the initial and subsequent hydrogenation steps of HMF. This reduction in energy barriers enhances the catalytic performance and the selectivity for BHMF production.
The study challenges conventional views on corrosion phenomena and enables highly efficient electrochemical hydrogenation using copper-based electrocatalysts for biomass upgrading at extremely low cost. This advancement holds great promise for accelerating HMF electrohydrogenation applications.
The study was led by Prof. Zhang Jian from the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering (NIMTE) of the ******** Academy of Sciences (CAS).
More information:
Bin Zhu et al, Corrosion-induced CoCu microwire arrays for efficient electroreduction of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, Chem Catalysis (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.checat.2024.101259
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******** Academy of Sciences
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Corrosion-induced electrodes enhance biomass conversion efficiency (2025, February 10)
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