As promised, Samsung is bringing its Galaxy Z Trifold smartphone to shoppers in the US. The unique foldable goes on sale on January 30.
The phone was announced along with its select markets’ sale dates at the close of 2025. We didn’t have price information for Samsung’s domestic market at that time, and even though we were anticipating the Galaxy Z Trifold to cost a bundle, the actual cost is more absurd than we’d guessed. In reality, getting your hands on this slim triple-screen smartphone will run you $2,900.
Putting aside the ludicrous expense, this smartphone is pretty dang cool. After his hands-on experience with the phone at CES 2026, Engadget senior writer Sam Rutherford had overall positive things to say about the device, despite it demanding some tradeoffs in bulk. To borrow his own phrase: “I kind of hate how much I like the Galaxy Z TriFold.”
Maybe as this cutting edge design becomes easier to manufacture, prices will eventually drop into the realm of reality for the average consumer. But if you’re a person who would buy a separate smartphone and tablet, combining both into a single device might feel worth the price tag. For now, anyone willing to pay the premium in the US will receive the model that has 512GB of storage and only comes in a black color.
Five of the six casino operators in Macau have announced annual bonuses
The one-time payments are for non-executive workers
Macau enjoyed its best year since the pandemic in 2025
Macau casinos enjoyed a prosperous 2025, and the six gaming companies are sharing the riches with the people who made it all possible.
SJM Resorts’ Casino Lisboa is pictured in downtown Macau with Wynn Macau in the background. Casino employees at five of the six Macau casino companies have been confirmed for annual bonuses equal to one month’s pay. Sands is expected to join the handful in announcing bonuses this week. (Image: Getty)
As is customary in January following strong gaming years, most of Macau’s casino concessions have announced significant bonuses for non-executive workers.
Galaxy Entertainment said its one-month discretionary bonus covers about 97% of the company’s staff, with all positions from senior manager and below eligible. Melco Resorts said its one-month bonus would be paid to all “non-management” employees in Macau and Hong Kong, but did not specify what percentage of its workforce would be entitled to the special payments. MGM China said 97% of its staff in China would be paid a bonus equivalent to the employee’s salary for one month.
Wynn Macau confirmed it’s distributing a “special allowance” equal to one month’s gross salary, with the bonus celebrating the company’s 20th anniversary in the Chinese Special Administrative Region. Wynn said 98% of its 11,552-person workforce qualified for the dividend.
On Sunday, SJM Resorts said it too would issue a one-month bonus to non-executive employees. Sands China is the lone concession not to yet announce a bonus, but is expected to in the coming days.
2025 Recovery
2025 was the best year yet in the COVID-19 aftermath for Macau’s gaming industry, which is the world’s largest casino market. The six casino operators generated gross gaming revenue (GGR) of almost $30.9 billion, more than double the size of the Las Vegas Strip.
The $30.9 billion haul represented a 9.1% increase on 2024 and was 36% higher than 2023, when Macau casino revenue totaled $22.7 billion. 2025 exceeded expectations, as the casinos successfully redirected their focus from the high rollers, who had largely disappeared with the eradication of VIP junket groups, to the premium mass player and the general public.
Premium mass players still bet hundreds of US dollars per baccarat hand, with some wagering four digits per deal. While the true high rollers who bet thousands and tens of thousands of dollars per hand in private junket rooms are generally no more, the casinos say the need to offer fewer perks and comps to premium players has led to them being more profitable.
Record Visitation
The pivot to a wider market was proven with the disclosure of the 2025 visitor arrivals numbers. Macau’s Public Security Police, which handles border entries, reports that more than 40 million visitors made their way into the enclave last year.
The tally, officially 40.06 million, easily broke Macau’s previous best travel year of 39.41 million visitors set in 2019. The 2025 visitor mark represented a 14.7% surge on 2024, when 34.94 million entries were counted.
Macau will review casino investments in the new year
The Chinese city’s six casino operators agreed to invest $16 billion in nongaming projects
The pledge came in 2022 with new gaming concessions
In December 2022, the Macau government agreed to issue new gaming licenses to its six casino operators. In exchange, Sands, Galaxy, Wynn, MGM, Melco, and SJM agreed to invest many billions of dollars into resort improvements and expansions, with the bulk of the capital mandated to go to nongaming initiatives.
Macau Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai delivers the 2026 Policy Address before a plenary session of the Legislative Assembly on Nov. 18, 2025. Sam said the local government will inspect whether the city’s casinos have fulfilled their gaming and nongaming investment obligations, as dictated by their 2022 licenses. (Image: Macau Government Information Bureau)
Macau, at the direction of Beijing, used the relicensing process to field investments that will ideally bring new people to the Chinese Special Administrative Region (SAR).
The six gaming firms agreed to invest about $19.3 billion, with upwards of $16 billion stipulated for projects off the gaming floor.
Almost three years later, several of the casinos claim they’ve already carried out their investment obligations. Thousands of hotel rooms have been renovated, investments in sports and K-pop have been made, and family-friendly attractions have been developed.
Macau Chief Executive Wants Audits
During his 2026 Policy Address to the Legislative Assembly, Macau Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai said an emphasis in the new year will be on ensuring that the casinos carry out their investment responsibilities.
We will conduct a review of concessionaires’ investment projects and amounts in both gaming and nongaming sectors from 2023 to 2025, their fulfillment of social responsibilities, and compliance with laws and statutory obligations,” Sam said, as reported by Inside Asian Gaming. “We urge concessionaires to fulfill their concession contract commitments, implement gaming and nongaming investments, and expand diversified tourism projects and products.”
Since the 2022 tenders, each casino has been required to submit implementation status reports to the SAR government specifying investments made in the prior year and plans for the 12 months ahead.
“The government does monitor the investment situation.” Tai Kin Ip, Macau’s secretary for economy and finance, said earlier this year.
Macau Outlook
Macau is roaring, as its casinos, the enclave’s economic heartbeat, are experiencing their best post-COVID-19 year to date. October was the city’s best month in terms of casino revenue since October 2019, with gross gaming revenue (GGR) reaching more than $3 billion.
Year to date, Macau GGR is up 8%. The six casinos have won MOP15.28 billion (US$1.9 billion) more gaming money from players through nine months than they did in 2024.
Macau is meanwhile diversifying, with its casinos no longer being the primary focal point. Economic analysts expect GDP growth to be around 2.6% this year. As for 2026, analysts are “cautiously optimistic” about further growth, despite global headwinds like the ongoing threats of trade tariffs with the US.
While growth is growth, the 2.6% projection for this year from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is a reduction from the earlier 3.6% forecast. The IMF said global trade worries tampered results.
For the past few years, Samsung has released two foldable phones at its Unpacked event. This year, however, the company has added a cheaper model to the lineup, the Z Flip7 FE, which sees the new Z Fold7 and the Z Flip7 taking up the foldable flag for the Korean hardware giant.
Samsung has once again sought to make its phones thinner, though the new models are thinner than last year’s iterations.
The company has also updated the pricing: The new Z Fold7 is $100 costlier than the Z Fold6, retailing at a starting price of $1,999. Samsung hasn’t increased the $1,100 starting price of the new model in the Z Flip line.
The new Z Flip7 FE is priced at $899 to attract people looking for a new form factor under the $1,000 price mark.
Z Fold7
Samsung’s new foldable flagship, Z Fold7 is a bit lighter than its predecessor, with the measuring scale topping out at 218 grams (compared to the Fold6’s 239 grams). It’s quite a bit thinner, too, measuring 8.9 mm when folded, down from the Fold6’s 12.1 mm girth.
The cover screen on the Fold7 is also bigger, now sporting a 6.5-inch dynamic AMOLED 2x display, while the main screen measures 8 inches when unfolded. The phone is powered by Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite processor.
Image Credits:Samsung
Samsung claims that it has made the phone more durable by putting in a restructured hinge and hinge housing. Its display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2.
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The company is now using a 200-megapixel main camera with a f/1.7 aperture, compared to the 50-megapixel camera on last year’s model.
Image Credits:Samsung
Samsung has added some AI powers to its photo editing software. You now get a Photo Assist function, which moves, erases, or enlarges objects, and adjusts angles automatically. It also uses generative AI to fill in empty spaces in pictures. The editing suite also lets users see edited and original photos side-by-side on the unfolded screen.
Z Flip7 and Z Flip7 FE
Like its bigger sibling, the Z Flip7 is also thinner this year, and comes with a larger cover screen — a 4.1-inch super AMOLED display — as well as an enlarged main display (6.9 inches). Samsung is using Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 for both the cover and the back for protection.
The company is packing a 4,300 mAh battery for the Z Flip7 — the largest ever in its Flip series. Unlike the Fold7, which uses a 3nm chip from Qualcomm, the Flip7 gets a 3nm Exynos2500 chip, made by Samsung itself.
At first glance, the Z Flip7 FE seems like a reincarnation of the Z Flip6, with its 4,000 mAh battery, a 3.4-inch cover screen, a 6.7-inch main screen, and the Exynos2400 processor.
Samsung is adding DeX support to the Flip series for the first time, so you can plug the phone into a monitor and use a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse to get a workstation-like experience.
The new phones also come with a new feature, called Now Bar, on the cover screen, that looks similar to iOS’ Live Activities. The Now Bar shows real-time activities, like the progress of a podcast or the status of a delivery.
Another feature called Now Brief presents a summary of traffic, reminders, events, and fitness insights. You’ll also get music and video recommendations based on your existing subscriptions.
Google features
Samsung has added support for Gemini Live on the cover screen of the Z Flip7, letting users use the assistant without having to unfold the phone. It also integrates with Samsung Notes.
All the new Z Flip and Z Fold phones will get support for Gemini Live’s camera and video AI features, which enable users to take pictures or videos to ask the AI bot questions.
The Galaxy Z Flip7 and the Galaxy Z Fold7 go on preorder today, and will be generally available on July 25. The Z Flip is available in 256GB and 512GB storage versions, has 12 GB RAM, and comes in Jetblack, Blue Shadow, and Coralred colorways. Meanwhile, the Z Flip7 FE is available in 128GB and 256GB versions, has 8GB of RAM, and comes in just two color options: white and black.
The Z Fold7 has three storage options: 256GB, 512GB (both with 12GB RAM), and 1TB (16GB RAM). You can choose from Jetblack, Blue Shadow, and Silver Shadow colors.
With the conclusion of the Olympic Games Paris 2024, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip6 Olympic Edition stands out as a unique memento of the event. Designed exclusively for athletes who participated in this year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games, this special edition phone blends advanced technology with design elements that celebrate the Olympic spirit.
Unboxing the Galaxy Z Flip6 Olympic Edition
Unboxing the Galaxy Z Flip6 Olympic Edition is an experience in itself. The black packaging, featuring a golden track design, immediately captures attention. The box also displays the Olympic rings, Paralympic agitos, and the Samsung logo, symbolizing Samsung’s ongoing partnership with the International Olympic Committee.
Inside the box, the packaging is divided into two sections: one for the smartphone and another for the Flipsuit Case. The box containing the phone continues the track design theme, while the Flipsuit Case box offers a vibrant mix of colors, adding an element of surprise to the unboxing experience.
A Design Rooted in Olympic Spirit
The Galaxy Z Flip6 Olympic Edition is distinguished by its bold yellow color, reminiscent of the excitement and energy that defined the Paris 2024 Games. The back of the phone is engraved with the Olympic and Paralympic emblems, as well as the Samsung logo, providing a subtle yet meaningful connection to the global event.
This foldable phone is compact but powerful, featuring a 50-megapixel rear wide-angle camera enhanced by Galaxy AI. Athletes used this camera to capture and share high-quality moments throughout the Games, including the now-famous “Victory Selfies” taken on the Olympic podium.
Tailored for Olympians
More than just a collector’s item, the Galaxy Z Flip6 Olympic Edition includes features specifically designed for athletes. Upon powering up the device, athletes were greeted with a personalized message: “You, the athletes, are the heart of the Olympic & Paralympic Movement.” This thoughtful touch reflects the phone’s theme of honoring those who competed in the Games.
The phone’s Cover Screen, known as the FlexWindow, and Main Display are also tailored to the Olympic experience. The Cover Screen displays a running track from an athlete’s perspective, while the Main Display features a circuit board design—a nod to Samsung’s technological innovations. Additionally, the device came pre-installed with apps like Athlete365, providing competition information, and Paris 2024, offering general updates on the Games.
The Exclusive Flipsuit Case
The Flipsuit Case that comes with the Galaxy Z Flip6 Olympic Edition adds another layer of personalization. Made from luxurious leather, the case includes an NFC-equipped Flipsuit Card that can be attached to it. When the card is in place, it syncs with the phone’s Cover Screen, displaying an animation that matches the card’s design. The Flipsuit Card itself features a color scheme inspired by the Olympic flag, making it a stylish addition to the phone.
Conclusion
As the Olympic Games Paris 2024 come to a close, the Galaxy Z Flip6 Olympic Edition serves as a lasting reminder of this historic event. While primarily available to the athletes who competed, the phone encapsulates the spirit of the Games with its thoughtful design and athlete-focused features. From its packaging to its pre-installed apps, every aspect of the device is a tribute to the Olympics. Though specific details on availability and pricing may vary, the Galaxy Z Flip6 Olympic Edition remains a unique piece of Olympic history and a testament to Samsung’s dedication to innovation and global events.
Walt Disney famously said that Disneyland will never be completed. He was right.
The vote by the Anaheim City Council on Wednesday to approve the Disneyland resort’s $1.9-billion expansion plan is the latest of several huge investments made by the media giant at the 100-acre facility known to its fans as the “Happiest Place on Earth.”
Once upon a time, Disneyland was just a concept that grew out of a visit by Disney to Griffith Park in Los Angeles. Then on July 17, 1955, the gates were flung open at the then-$17.5-million resort and things have never been the same for the city of Anaheim.
Ticket prices on opening day were $1 for an adult and 50 cents for a child, with each attraction charging extra at each location, ranging from 10 to 35 cents.
In February 2001, Disneyland threw open the doors on its 55-acre California Adventure. At the time, the $1.4-billion addition opened to poor reviews, leading some visitors to dub the park “Six Flags California Adventure,” a biting comparison to Six Flags Magic Mountain. Over the years, the park added Cars Land in a $1.1-billion makeover, Pixar Pier and other locations that harked back to an era of California when red trolleys owned the streets.
In 2019, Disneyland opened its 14-acre Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, a $1-billion expansion that features two rides, shops and retail outlets around the “Star Wars” movie franchise theme. Jedis and stormtroopers roam about the intergalactic city that encourages role-playing with in-character staff.
“If you want to sit back and just watch the world go by, that’s also fine, but I think one of the things that we know about our guests is they want more and more to lean into these stories,” says Imagineer Scott Trowbridge, whom Disney Chief Executive Bob Iger described on social media as the “creator” of Galaxy’s Edge.
The Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run ride requires riders taking up different roles, with two gunners, engineers and a pair of pilots.
By June 2021, Disneyland set its sights on transporting guests to the world of the Marvel cinematic universe with its Avengers Campus. Built on the bones of A Bug’s Land, construction for the Avengers Campus was waylaid due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but eventually opened to much fanfare within California Adventure. The Orange County Business Journal estimates construction on the site cost $500 million, but the House of Mouse was mum on the official cost.
Avengers Campus boasts a Spider-Man stunt show with a robotic web-slinger who launches from one tower to another and flies 85 feet in the air. The character reappears as a costumed human who scales down the walls of the building to pose for photos with parkgoers at ground level.
Times staff writers Todd Martens and Hugo Martin contributed to this report.
Here we are again, gang: Glasgow Worldcon has unveiled its list of nominees for this year’s Hugo Awards. Once again, Worldcon is changing locations: this time, it’ll be Glasgow, Scotland that’ll host the annual ceremony celebrating the year’s best genre media like sci-fi and fantasy books, TV, games, and criticism.
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Nominee highlights include Ann Leckie’s Translation State and The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi S. A. Chakraborty for Best Novel, while Wang Jinkang’s Seeds of Mercury and T. Kingfisher’s Thornhedge feature in Best Novella. Video game nominees include 2023 big dogs like Star Wars Jedi: Survivor and Baldur’s Gate 3, and TV is headlined by the likes of Loki and The Last of Us’ respective standout episodes “Glorious Purpose” and “Long, Long Time.”
The 82nd Hugo Awards will take place on Sunday, August 11, and the full list of nominees can be read down below.
Lodestar Award for Best YA Book
Abeni’s Song by P. Djèlí Clark (Starscape)
Liberty’s Daughter by Naomi Kritzer (Fairwood Press)
Promises Stronger than Darkness by Charlie Jane Anders (Tor Teen)
The Sinister Booksellers of Bath by Garth Nix (Katherine Tegen Books, Gollancz and Allen & Unwin)
To Shape a Dragon’s Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose (Del Rey)
Unraveller by Frances Hardinge (Macmillan Children’s Books; eligible due to 2023 U.S. publication by Amulet)
Astounding Award for Best New Writer
Moniquill Blackgoose (1st year of eligibility)
Sunyi Dean (2nd year of eligibility)
Ai Jiang (2nd year of eligibility)
Hannah Kaner (1st year of eligibility)
Em X. Liu (1st year of eligibility)
Xiran Jay Zhao (eligibility extended at request of Dell Magazines)
Best Fan Artist
Iain J. Clark
Sara Felix
Dante Luiz
Laya Rose
Alison Scott
España Sheriff
Best Fan Writer
Bitter Karella
James Davis Nicoll
Jason Sanford
Alasdair Stuart
Paul Weimer
Örjan Westin
Best Semiprozine
Escape Pod, editors Mur Lafferty and Valerie Valdes; assistant editors Benjamin C. Kinney, Premee Mohamed and Kevin Wabaunsee; hosts Tina Connolly and Alasdair Stuart; producers Summer Brooks and Adam Pracht; and the entire Escape Pod team
FIYAH Literary Magazine, publisher and executive editor DaVaun Sanders, poetry editor B. Sharise Moore, special projects manager L. D. Lewis, art director Christian Ivey, acquiring editors Rebecca McGee, Kerine Wint, Joshua Morley, Emmalia Harrington, Genine Tyson, Tonya R. Moore, sponsor coordinator Nelson Rolon
GigaNotoSaurus, editor LaShawn M. Wanak, associate editors Mia Tsai and Edgard Wentz, along with the GNS Slushreaders Team
khōréō, produced by Aleksandra Hill, Zhui Ning Chang, Kanika Agrawal, Isabella Kestermann, Rowan Morrison, Sachiko Ragosta, Lian Xia Rose, Jenelle DeCosta, Melissa Ren, Elaine Ho, Lilivette Domínguez, Jei D. Marcade, Jeané Ridges, Isaree Thatchaichawalit, Danai Christopoulou, M. L. Krishnan, Ysabella Maglanque, Aaron Voigt, Adil Mian, Alexandra Millatmal, E. Broderick, K. S. Walker, Katarzyna Nowacka, Katie McIvor, Kelsea Yu, Marie Croke, Osahon Ize-Iyamu, Phoebe Low, S. R. Westvik, Sara S. Messenger
Strange Horizons, by the Strange Horizons Editorial Collective
Uncanny Magazine, publishers and editors-in-chief: Lynne M. Thomas and Michael Damian Thomas; managing editor Monte Lin; nonfiction editor Meg Elison; podcast producers Erika Ensign and Steven Schapansky.
Best Fanzine
Black Nerd Problems, editors Omar Holmon and William Evans
The Full Lid, written by Alasdair Stuart and edited by Marguerite Kenner
Idea, editor Geri Sullivan
Journey Planet, edited by Michael Carroll, Vincent Docherty, Sara Felix, Ann Gry, Sarah Gulde, Allison Hartman Adams, Arthur Liu, Jean Martin, Helena Nash, Pádraig Ó Méalóid, Yen Ooi, Chuck Serface, Alan Stewart, Regina Kanyu Wang, James Bacon and Christopher J. Garcia
Nerds of a Feather, Flock Together, editors Roseanna Pendlebury, Arturo Serrano, Paul Weimer; senior editors Joe Sherry, Adri Joy, G. Brown, Vance Kotrla.
Unofficial Hugo Book Club Blog, editors Olav Rokne and Amanda Wakaruk
Best Fancast
The Coode Street Podcast, presented by Jonathan Strahan and Gary K. Wolfe
Hugos There, presented by Seth Heasley
Octothorpe, by John Coxon, Alison Scott, and Liz Batty
Publishing Rodeo, presented by Sunyi Dean and Scott Drakeford
科幻Fans布玛 (Science Fiction Fans Buma), production team 布玛（Buma)，刘路（Liu Lu)，刘倡（Liu Chang)
Worldbuilding for Masochists, presented by Marshall Ryan Maresca, Rowenna Miller, Cass Morris and Natania Barron
Best Editor (Short Form)
Scott H. Andrews
Neil Clarke
刘维佳 (Liu Weijia)
Jonathan Strahan
Lynne M. Thomas & Michael Damian Thomas
杨枫 (Yang Feng)
Best Editor (Long Form)
Ruoxi Chen
Lindsey Hall
Lee Harris
Kelly Lonesome
David Thomas Moore
姚海军 (Yao Haijun)
Best Professional Artist
Micaela Alcaino
Rovina Cai
Galen Dara
Dan Dos Santos
Tristan Elwell
Alyssa Winans
Best Dramatic Presentation (Short Form)
Doctor Who: “The Giggle”, written by Russell T. Davies, directed by Chanya Button (Bad Wolf with BBC Studios for The BBC and Disney Branded Television)
Loki: “Glorious Purpose”, screenplay by Eric Martin, Michael Waldron and Katharyn Blair, directed by Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead (Marvel / Disney+)
The Last of Us: “Long, Long Time”, written by Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, directed by Peter Hoar (Naughty Dog / Sony Pictures)
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: “Those Old Scientists”, written by Kathryn Lyn and Bill Wolkoff, directed by Jonathan Frakes (CBS / Paramount+)
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: “Subspace Rhapsody”, written by Dana Horgan and Bill Wolkoff, directed by Dermott Downs (CBS / Paramount+)
Doctor Who: “Wild Blue Yonder”, written by Russell T. Davies, directed by Tom Kingsley (Bad Wolf with BBC Studios for The BBC and Disney Branded Television)
Best Dramatic Presentation (Long Form)
Barbie, screenplay by Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach, directed by Greta Gerwig (Warner Bros. Studios)
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, screenplay by John Francis Daley, Jonathan Goldstein and Michael Gilio, directed by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein (Paramount Pictures)
Nimona, screenplay by Robert L. Baird and Lloyd Taylor, directed by Nick Bruno and Troy Quane (Annapurna Animations)
Poor Things, screenplay by Tony McNamara, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos (Element Pictures)
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, screenplay by Phil Lord, Christopher Miller and Dave Callaham, directed by Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers and Justin K. Thompson (Columbia Pictures / Marvel Entertainment / Avi Arad Productions / Lord Miller / Pascal Pictures / Sony Pictures Animation)
流浪地球2 / The Wandering Earth II, based on the novel by 刘慈欣 Liu Cixin, screenplay by 杨治学 Yang Zhixue, 郭帆 / Frant Gwo, 龚格尔 Gong Geer, and 叶濡畅 Ye Ruchang, script consultant 王红卫 Wang Hongwei, directed by 郭帆 / Frant Gwo (中影创意（北京）电影有限公司 / CFC Pictures Ltd, 郭帆（北京）影业有限公司 / G!Film (Beijing) Studio Co. Ltd, 北京登峰国际文化传播有限公司 / Beijing Dengfeng International Culture Communication Co, Ltd, 中国电影股份有限公司 / China Film Co. Ltd)
Best Related Work
All These Worlds: Reviews & Essays by Niall Harrison (Briardene Books)
中国科幻口述史, 第二卷, 第三卷，(Chinese Science Fiction: An Oral History, vols 2 and 3) ed. 杨枫 / Yang Feng (8-Light Minutes Culture & Chengdu Time Press)
A City on Mars by Kelly Weinersmith and Zach Weinersmith (Penguin Press; Particular Books)
The Culture: The Drawings, by Iain M. Banks (Orbit)雨果X访谈 (Discover X), presented by 王雅婷 (Tina Wong)
A Traveller in Time: The Critical Practice of Maureen Kincaid Speller, by Maureen Kincaid Speller, edited by Nina Allan (Luna Press Publishing)
Best Graphic Story/Comic
Bea Wolf, written by Zach Weinersmith, art by Boulet (First Second)
Saga, Vol. 11 written by Brian K. Vaughan, art by Fiona Staples (Image Comics)
Shubeik Lubeik, Deena Mohamed (Pantheon); as Your Wish Is My Command (Granta)
三体漫画：第一部 / The Three Body Problem, Part One, adapted from the novels by 刘慈欣 (Liu Cixin), written by 蔡劲 (Cai Jin),戈闻頔 (Ge Wendi), and 薄暮 (Bo Mu), art by 草祭九日东 (Caojijiuridong) (Zhejiang Literature and Art Publishing House)
The Witches of World War II written by Paul Cornell, art by Valeria Burzo (TKO Studios LLC)
Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons written by Kelly Sue DeConnick, art by Phil Jimenez, Gene Ha and Nicola Scott (DC Comics)
Best Game or Interactive Work
Alan Wake 2, developed by Remedy Entertainment, published by Epic Games
Baldur’s Gate 3, produced by Larian StudiosChants of Sennaar, developed by Rundisc, published by Focus Entertainment
DREDGE, developed by Black Salt Games, published by Team17
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, produced by Nintendo
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, developed by Respawn Entertainment, published by Electronic Arts
Best Series
The Final Architecture by Adrian Tchaikovsky (Tor)
Imperial Radch by Ann Leckie (Orbit)
The Last Binding by Freya Marske (Tor)
The Laundry Files by Charles Stross (Tor)
October Daye by Seanan McGuire (DAW)
The Universe of Xuya by Aliette de Bodard (Gollancz; JABberwocky Literary Agency; Subterranean Press; Uncanny Magazine; et al.)
Best Short Story
“Answerless Journey”, Han Song / 没有答案的航程, 韩松, translated by Alex Woodend (Adventures in Space: New Short stories by Chinese & English Science Fiction Writers)
“Better Living Through Algorithms” by Naomi Kritzer (Clarkesworld May 2023)
“How to Raise a Kraken in Your Bathtub” by P. Djèlí Clark (Uncanny Magazine, January-February 2023)
“The Mausoleum’s Children” by Aliette de Bodard (Uncanny Magazine, May-June 2023)
“The Sound of Children Screaming” by Rachael K. Jones (Nightmare Magazine, October 2023)
美食三品 (“Tasting the Future Delicacy Three Times”), 宝树 / Baoshu (银河边缘013：黑域密室 / Galaxy’s Edge Vol. 13: Secret Room in the Black Domain)
Best Novelette
I AM AI by Ai Jiang (Shortwave)
“Introduction to 2181 Overture, Second Edition”, Gu Shi /〈2181序曲〉再版导言, 顾适 translated by Emily Jen (Clarkesworld, February 2023)
“Ivy, Angelica, Bay” by C.L. Polk (Tor.com 8 December 2023)
“On the Fox Roads” by Nghi Vo (Tor.com 31 October 2023)
“One Man’s Treasure” by Sarah Pinsker (Uncanny Magazine, January-February 2023)
“The Year Without Sunshine” by Naomi Kritzer (Uncanny Magazine, November-December 2023)
Best Novella
“Life Does Not Allow Us to Meet”, He Xi / 人生不相见, 何夕, translated by Alex Woodend (Adventures in Space: New Short stories by Chinese & English Science Fiction Writers)
Mammoths at the Gates by Nghi Vo (Tor)
The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Older (Tor)
Rose/House by Arkady Martine (Subterranean)
“Seeds of Mercury”, Wang Jinkang / 水星播种, 王晋康, translated by Alex Woodend (Adventures in Space: New Short stories by Chinese & English Science Fiction Writers)
Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher (Tor)
Best Novel
The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty (Harper Voyager)
The Saint of Bright Doors by Vajra Chandrasekera (Tor)
In today’s fast-paced digital age, having the right tools to stay connected, productive, and secure is paramount. Samsung understands this need and has introduced its latest innovation – the Galaxy Book4 series. Packed with intelligent features, powerful performance, and sleek design, these laptops are not just devices; they’re companions for your everyday tasks. Let’s dive into what makes the Galaxy Book4 series stand out in the crowded PC market.
Variants to Suit Your Style
The Galaxy Book4 series comes in three distinct variants: the Galaxy Book4 Ultra, Galaxy Book4 Pro, and Galaxy Book4 Pro 360. Each variant caters to different user preferences and needs, ensuring there’s a perfect fit for everyone. Whether you’re a creative professional seeking maximum flexibility or a business executive prioritizing portability and performance, there’s a Galaxy Book4 model tailored just for you.
Powerful Performance Meets Intelligent Design
Under the hood, the Galaxy Book4 series packs a punch with its robust hardware and cutting-edge technology. Powered by the new Intel Ultra 9/7 Processor, these laptops deliver lightning-fast performance, seamlessly handling demanding tasks with ease. But it’s not just about raw power – Samsung has also focused on intelligent design to enhance user experience. The Dynamic AMOLED 2X touchscreen display offers stunning visuals with vibrant colors and sharp contrast, making every image pop. Plus, features like Vision Booster and anti-reflective technology ensure optimal viewing in any environment, be it indoors or outdoors.
Seamless Connectivity for Enhanced Productivity
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Availability and Beyond
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In conclusion, the Galaxy Book4 series ticks all the boxes for modern-day consumers – style, performance, connectivity, and versatility. Whether you’re a student, professional, or entrepreneur, these laptops are sure to meet and exceed your expectations. So why settle for anything less? Upgrade to the Galaxy Book4 series today and experience the difference for yourself.
If you like vaporware and looking at phones and gadgets you’ll never own, then Barcelona’s Mobile World Congress (MWC) is the trade show for you. This week’s annual menagerie revealed new devices like the TCL Nxtpaper 14 and a working model of Motorola’s rolling phone display. Other brands—namely Samsung—used the…
Wall Street titan and Asset manager Franklin Templeton has applied for an Ethereum Spot Exchange-Traded Funds (ETF) after a struggle to gain approval for their Bitcoin Spot ETF in early January.
Asset Manager Files For Spot Ethereum ETF
Asset managers have gravitated toward the Ethereum spot ETF since the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved the Spot Bitcoin ETF. Franklin Templeton is the latest manager to apply with the SEC to get approval for this financial product.
The asset manager’s move came after successfully introducing the BTC spot ETFs. This is a notable step toward making more crypto investment products accessible to institutional and individual investors.
James Seyffart, a senior analyst from Bloomberg Intelligence, also shared the update with the crypto community on X (formerly Twitter). Seyffart’s X post included a screenshot of the asset manager’s filing and data regarding other applicants.
According to the post, Franklin Templeton is the eighth company in the cryptocurrency market to file for product approval. Previous asset managers to file applications for Ethereum ETFs include Hashdex, BlackRock, Fidelity, Ark and 21Shares, Grayscale, VanEck, Invesco, and Galaxy.
Per the official filing, a Delaware statutory trust is how the Franklin Ethereum Trust is set up. The ETF aims to give investors access to ETH in a regulated manner by allowing them to store it directly through a custodian.
It states in the company’s S-1 filing that the proposed “Franklin Ethereum Trust” will hold ETH and “may, from time to time, stake a portion of the fund’s assets through one of the more trusted staking providers.”
Staking is the act of locking up digital currency to maintain the operations of a blockchain network. They plan to stake some of the ETF’s ETH holdings to supplement its income through staking rewards.
The Price Of ETH Rallies Amidst The Update
Franklin Templeton’s spot Ethereum ETF application was made in light of the price of ETH experiencing an uptick. However, no solid proof exists that the latest development impacted the price of crypto assets.
Ethereum was trading at $2,661 as of press time, indicating an increase of over 7% in the past 24 hours. Data from CoinMarketCap shows that its market capitalization is also on the upside, marking an increase of over 7%.
Meanwhile, its trading volume has increased significantly by over 172% in the past day. Due to the rise, ETH now ranks third in the entire crypto market by trading volume.
ETH trading at $2,679 on the 1D chart | Source: ETHUSDT on Tradingview.com
Featured image from iStock, chart from Tradingview.com
Disclaimer: The article is provided for educational purposes only. It does not represent the opinions of NewsBTC on whether to buy, sell or hold any investments and naturally investing carries risks. You are advised to conduct your own research before making any investment decisions. Use information provided on this website entirely at your own risk.
A strange new type of star referred to by scientists as an “old smoker” has been discovered after a years-long astronomical study.
According to four different studies recently published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, these recently discovered stellar objects are essentially really large and very old stars that emit puffs of what appears to be smoke and dust after many decades of inactivity.
These stars were discovered using a powerful giant telescope located deep in the mountains of Chile. Lead author of one study and co-author of the other three, Phillip Lucas, said that thus far, scientists are not completely sure what creates this effect in the old smoker stars.
“Everything we have been able to learn about them suggests that this is a case of stars throwing off puffs of smoke—for reasons that we don’t fully understand,” Lucas said. “We weren’t sure if these stars were protostars starting an eruption, or recovering from a dip in brightness caused by a disc or shell of dust in front of the star — or if they were older giant stars throwing off matter in the late stages of their life,” Lucas said
Originally the studies were focused at finding newborn stars, oftentimes surrounded by dust and gasses making them hard to see. This is why the VISTA (Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope) in Chile, capable of seeing infrared light, was used to scan the skies for the stars other telescopes would not be able to see. As Dr. Zhen Guo, Fondecyt Postdoc Fellow at the University of Valparaiso in Chile and lead author of two studies explained, these newborn stars often help to form new solar systems over time.
“Our main aim was to find rarely-seen newborn stars, also called protostars, while they are undergoing a great outburst that can last for months, years, or even decades,” Guo said. “These outbursts happen in the slowly spinning disc of matter that is forming a new solar system. They help the newborn star in the middle to grow, but make it harder for planets to form. We don’t yet understand why the discs become unstable like this,” Guo said.
The old smoker stars are a kind of red giant. Red giants are stars which have essentially expired, that is, they’ve run out of hydrogen fuel and have “died” in a sense. This often causes violent energy outbursts from the star for a while. Our own sun will go through this one day in the far off future, swallowing several of the inner planets in the course of its death according to NASA, though the fate of the Earth remains relatively unclear when this happens. Luckily, it’ll be several billion years before this occurs so it will more than likely be somebody else’s problem by then.
The team of scientists involved with these studies found several red giants, 21 to be exact, that appeared to be a bit different than those found in the past. They chose seven of these stars to focus on and noticed unusual characteristics that puzzled them, most noticeably the smoke and dust they appeared to exert which is how they received the moniker ‘old smoker.’
“These elderly stars sit quietly for years or decades and then puff out clouds of smoke in a totally unexpected way,” said Dante Minniti, a professor in the department of physics at Andrés Bello University in Chile and coauthor on three of the studies, in a press release “They look very dim and red for several years, to the point that sometimes we can’t see them at all.”
Most of the stars the team studied were found near the center or the nucleus if you will of the Milky Way Galaxy, known as the innermost nuclear disc. Lucas explained that these newly discovered stars could potentially play a role in the way elements are distributed across the galaxies.
“Matter ejected from old stars plays a key role in the life cycle of the elements, helping to form the next generation of stars and planets,” Lucas said. “This was thought to occur mainly in a well-studied type of star called a Mira variable. However, the discovery of a new type of star that throws off matter could have wider significance for the spread of heavy elements in the Nuclear Disc and metal-rich regions of other galaxies.”
A “treasure trove” of stunning new images showing 19 spiral galaxies have been captured by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, the European Space Agency said on Monday. The images reveal “stars, gas, and dust on the smallest scales ever observed beyond our own galaxy,” the Milky Way, the agency said.
According to the agency, researchers are analyzing the new images to find out how these galaxies originated. NASA says they were taken as part of the Physics at High Angular resolution in Nearby GalaxieS (PHANGS) program, and show off millions of stars that “sparkle in blue tones.” They also reveal “glowing dust,” and stars that are still developing, NASA said.
Some of the “newest, most massive stars in the galaxies,” can be found in the images, said Erik Rosolowsky, a physics professor at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada. PHANGS researchers have also released what NASA says is the largest catalog ever of roughly 100,000 star clusters, a list that Rosolowsky says allows for analysis “vastly larger than anything our team could possibly handle.”
But that isn’t all. Researchers said the galaxy pictures also show off “large, spherical shells” that were possibly created by exploding stars, as well as supermassive black holes, which can be seen as galaxy cores with pink and red spikes.
Janice Lee, a project scientist for strategic initiatives at Baltimore, Maryland’s Space Telescope Science Institute, said the galaxy images are “extraordinary.”
“They’re mind-blowing even for researchers who have studied these same galaxies for decades,” Lee said. “Bubbles and filaments are resolved down to the smallest scales ever observed, and tell a story about the star formation cycle.”
See the 19 new images of spiral galaxies below.
Spiral galaxy IC 5332
Face-on spiral galaxy, IC 5332, was captured by the James Webb Space Telescope and shows dust glowing in infrared light. IC 5332 is 30 million light-years away in the constellation Sculptor.
NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Janice Lee (STScI), Thomas Williams (Oxford), Rupali Chandar (UToledo), PHANGS Team
Spiral galaxy NGC 628
Webb’s image of spiral galaxy NGC 628 shows it’s densely populated and anchored by its central region, which has a light blue haze. Within its core are older stars, represented by blue lights. NGC 628 is 32 million light-years away in the constellation Pisces.
NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Janice Lee (STScI), Thomas Williams (Oxford), PHANGS Team
Spiral galaxy NGC 1087
This image of NGC 1087 shows so much light that the galaxy’s arms “look muddled,” James Webb researchers said. NGC 1087 is 80 million light-years away in the constellation Cetus.
NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Janice Lee (STScI), Thomas Williams (Oxford), Rupali Chandar (UToledo), PHANGS Team
NGC 1300
NGC 1300’s center is highlighted by a bright white point, surrounded by a yellow circle, and according to James Webb researchers, is “tiny compared to the rest of the galaxy.” NGC 1300 is 69 million light-years away in the constellation Eridanus.
NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Janice Lee (STScI), Thomas Williams (Oxford), PHANGS Team
NGC 1365
NGC 1365’s core covers roughly an eighth of the entire image, with the central region looking “like an angled, smashed oval” with six light white diffraction spikes, James Webb researchers said. NGC 1365 is 56 million light-years away in the constellation Fornax.
NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Janice Lee (STScI), Thomas Williams (Oxford), PHANGS Team
NGC 1385
James Webb researchers say this image shows NGC 1385 as a “messy” galaxy with a difficult-to-distinguish spiral shape. NGC 1385 is 30 million light-years away in the constellation Fornax.
NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Janice Lee (STScI), Thomas Williams (Oxford), PHANGS Team
Spiral galaxy 1433
The central core of Spiral Galaxy 1433 takes up roughly a fifth of this James Webb image, researchers said, and a blue haze of stars make up a “large bar structure.” NGC 1433 is 46 million light-years away in the constellation Horologium.
NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Janice Lee (STScI), Thomas Williams (Oxford), PHANGS Team
Spiral galaxy NGC 1512
Along with the spiral galaxy, this James Webb image also shows “two larger foreground stars with at least six different diffraction spikes,” researchers said. NGC 1512 is 30 million light-years away in the constellation Horologium.
NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Janice Lee (STScI), Thomas Williams (Oxford), PHANGS Team
Spiral galaxy NGC 1566
Researchers say the “densely populated” spiral galaxy NGC 1566 features two prominent arms as well as “innumerable bright blue pinpoints of light.” The galaxy is 60 million light-years away in the constellation Dorado.
NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Janice Lee (STScI), Thomas Williams (Oxford), Rupali Chandar (UToledo), Daniela Calzetti (UMass), PHANGS Team
Spiral galaxy NGC 1672
This galaxy’s spiral shape is not as apparent in this James Webb image, researchers said, but NGC 1672 is acnhored by its center and features “two spiny orange” arms that rotate clockwise. NGC 1672 is 60 million light-years away in the constellation Dorado.
NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Janice Lee (STScI), Thomas Williams (Oxford), PHANGS Team
Spiral galaxy NGC 2835
The dense spiral galaxy NGC 2835 has a central region “immediately engulfed in the orange spiral arms,” James Webb researchers said, and was seen with a “blue glow of stars” that spread outward from its core. The pink and blue lights toward the bottom of the image are likely background galaxies. NGC 2835 is 35 million light-years away in the constellation Hydra.
NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Janice Lee (STScI), Thomas Williams (Oxford), PHANGS Team
Spiral galaxy NGC 3351
This image of NGC 3351 is just a still, but James Webb researchers say the spiral arms that form a roughly circular shape around it make it appear “as if there’s movement.” NGC 3351 is 33 million light-years away in the constellation Leo.
NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Janice Lee (STScI), Thomas Williams (Oxford), PHANGS Team
Spiral galaxy NGC 3627
The spiral galaxy NGC 3627 features two spiny arms and was captured by the James Webb telescope with stars seen “scattered across the packed scene.” NGC 3627 is 36 million light-years away in the constellation Leo.
NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Janice Lee (STScI), Thomas Williams (Oxford), PHANGS Team
Spiral galaxy NGC 4254
This James Webb scene of a “densely populated” galaxy shows NGC 4254 with counterclockwise spiny arms and lots of stars scattered across the galaxy. NGC 4254 is 50 million light-years away in the constellation Coma Berenices.
NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Janice Lee (STScI), Thomas Williams (Oxford), PHANGS Team
Spiral galaxy NGC 4303
The spiral galaxy NGC 4303’s central region is seen about midway down in this image, and clusters of blue stars can be seen throughout. NGC 4303 is 55 million light-years away in the constellation Virgo.
NASA, ESA, CSA, ESO, STScI, Janice Lee (STScI), Thomas Williams (Oxford), PHANGS Team
Spiral galaxy NGC 4321
This spiral galaxy is shaped like a “smashed circle,” according to James Webb researchers, and features a prominent spiral arm across the bottom of the image. NGC 4321 is 55 million light-years away in the constellation Coma Berenices.
NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Janice Lee (STScI), Thomas Williams (Oxford), PHANGS Team
Spiral galaxy NGC 4535
NGC 4535 was captured by the James Webb Space Telescope as having a small central region with a light orange haze and “filaments of flowing dust” crossing into its spirals, according to James Webb researchers. The galaxy is 50 million light-years away in the constellation Virgo.
NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Janice Lee (STScI), Thomas Williams (Oxford), PHANGS Team
Spiral galaxy NGC 5068
NGC 5068 is a spiral galaxy, although its shape is hard to register with the image captured by the James Webb Space Telescope. Some of the lighter red areas “look like smoke drifting up,” researchers said. NGC 5068 is 20 million light-years away in the constellation Virgo.
NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Janice Lee (STScI), Thomas Williams (Oxford), PHANGS Team
Spiral galaxy NGC 7496
This spiral galaxy captured by the James Webb Space Telescope reveals the galaxy’s core is small compared to the rest of the galaxy, with the central region starting “as a bright white dot that melts into bright oranges,” according to researchers. NGC 7496 is 24 million light-years away in the constellation Grus.
NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Janice Lee (STScI), Thomas Williams (Oxford), PHANGS Team
NASA is taking steps to prepare for future long-term occupation on the Moon by seeking input from the lunar and scientific communities on ways to convert lunar soil and other naturally-occurring compounds into oxygen.
The nation’s leading space organization made an announcement Monday asking for input on In-situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) technologies, which in this case means using materials found on the moon, the vast majority of which are moon dust, to produce fuel, oxygen, water and other resources human beings might use or consume. These processes may one day make it possible for human beings to enjoy a sustainable presence on the moon or other planets without the need to shuttle resources to and from Earth.
NASA issued a Request for Information (RFI) for ISRU technologies which essentially allows them to start officially gathering information from outside parties for their future Lunar Infrastructure Foundational Technologies demonstration, also known as LIFT-1. LIFT-1 can be described as the foundation for the next phase of American lunar occupation, NASA’s officially designated program to put American boots back on the moon for the first time since the Apollo 17 mission in December of 1972.
“Additional LIFT-1 objectives may include demonstrating new landing technologies, surface operations, and scalable power generation in the Moon’s South Pole region,” a NASA press release said. “With the RFI, NASA is asking for input from the lunar community to inform an integrated approach inclusive of launch, landing, and demonstration of surface infrastructure technologies as part of a subscale ISRU demonstration.”
One of the many issues standing in the way of human occupation on the Moon or anywhere else beyond Earth is that it’s very difficult, expensive and time consuming to bring enough resources for everybody. Launching a rocket ship from Earth costs multiple millions of dollars no matter how you slice it and every pound on board makes it monumentally more expensive. As such, long term space occupation isn’t really practical or feasible without ISRU technology.
NASA leadership described ISRU technology development as a crucial necessity for the longevity of our astronauts, their equipment, and the possibility of one day creating permanent human settlements on the Moon or beyond.
“Using in-situ resources is essential to making a sustained presence farther from Earth possible. Just as we need consumables and infrastructure to live and work on our home planet, we’ll need similar support systems on the Moon for crew and robots to operate safely and productively,” said Dr. Prasun Desai, acting associate administrator of the Space Technology Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington.
NASA has already showcased certain ISRU technologies, most notably MOXIE, a small instrument onboard the Mars Perseverance Rover which successfully converted atmospheric carbon dioxide into usable oxygen on April 20, 2021. This type of conversion is useful on a planet like Mars which has an atmosphere rich in carbon dioxide. However, the moon has virtually no atmosphere according to NASA, so technology must be created to extract oxygen from naturally occurring minerals in the ground.
NASA has several investments in ISRU technology already in the way of prospecting, extraction and mining initiatives as well as several outstanding academic and industry partnerships but the RFI issued Monday, which is open until December 18, is specifically looking for information on chemical processes capable of harnessing resources from lunar dust and soil.
“Chemical and thermal process developments may provide options to break down naturally occurring minerals and compounds found on the Moon and convert them to propellant or human consumables,” the press release said. “Other potential longer-term applications could lead to extraterrestrial metal processing and construction of lunar surface structures using resources found on the Moon.”
Another representative from NASA leadership said in a written statement that the idea of harnessing oxygen and other usable resources from the ground has been theorized about for a long time but the idea may soon be utilized for real life space travel.
“An ISRU technology demonstration approach has been a topic of discussion within the Lunar Surface Innovation Initiative and Consortium communities for several years,” said Niki Werkheiser, director of Technology Maturation in STMD. “This RFI is the next phase to make it a reality.”
The LIFT-1 RFI can be found here and is open for responses through Dec. 18 at 5:00 p.m. EST. Additionally. NASA will host an industry forum on Monday, Nov. 13 at 1 pm EST.
The death of Brazilian soccer legend Pelé on Thursday ignited a wave of mourning across the world. And for those at NASA, the 82-year-old’s death even surpassed the realms of the planet.
The space agency tweeted its own tribute for “the legendary Pelé” on Thursday, sharing a mesmerizing photo of a spiral galaxy that depicts the colors of Brazil – green, yellow and blue. The image, captured by the Galaxy Evolution Explorer satellite, shows the galaxy NGC 300 which lies in the constellation Sculptor.
NGC 300, according to NASA, is about 7 million light-years away and is known for its “vigorous star formation.” This particular image was captured in 2005. The blue dots in the outer arms of the galaxy’s spirals are the young stars, while older stars are congregated towards the center in yellow and green colors. The small bursts of pink indicate gases being heated by “hot young stars and shocks due to winds from massive stars and supernova explosions,” NASA said.
We mark the passing of the legendary Pelé, known to many as the king of the “beautiful game.” This image of a spiral galaxy in the constellation Sculptor shows the colors of Brazil. pic.twitter.com/sOYfKdTeAJ
Pelé, whom many referred to as “The King,” spent roughly 20 years playing soccer in Brazil, both for the club Santos and the country’s national team. In 1958, he helped lead Brazil to win the World Cup at just 17 years old, making him the youngest world champion of all time. He led his team to two more victories, in 1962 and 1970, becoming the only player to win three of the global tournament.
And his World Cup accolades go beyond the wins themselves. According to FIFA, Pelé is also the youngest person to score in a World Cup game, the youngest person to score a World Cup hat trick and the youngest finalist in the World Cup’s history. His victories led FIFA to name him the greatest player of the 20th century.
Pelé had been undergoing treatment for colon cancer since 2021. The hospital at which he was being treated at the time of his death said Thursday that he died from multiple organ failure.
For the first time ever, you can time travel through space to the edge of the visible universe from the comfort of your own home. Johns Hopkins University unveiled a first-of-its-kind map on Thursday that allows users to scroll through 200,000 galaxies – “the span of the entire known cosmos.”
The map is a “slice of the universe” that combines more than 20 years of data to showcase information previously only seen by scientists with “pinpoint accuracy and sweeping beauty,” Johns Hopkins said.
In it, people can see a colorful rainbow spectrum of dots representing the actual positions and colors of 200,000 galaxies, each filled with their own billions of stars and planets. The spectrum is so vast that it dates back 13.7 billion years to a bright tie-dyed-esque line that shows an actual photo of the edge of the observable universe. Called the “Cosmic Microwave Background,” the image is the first flash of light emitted after the big bang.
Visualization of the map of the universe.
B. MÉNARD & N. SHTARKMAN
Johns Hopkins professor and map creator Brice Ménard said that he was inspired by astronomy pictures growing up, and “now it’s our time to create a new type of picture to inspire people.”
“Astrophysicists around the world have been analyzing this data for years, leading to thousands of scientific papers and discoveries. But nobody took the time to create a map that is beautiful, scientifically accurate, and accessible to people who are not scientists,” he said. “Our goal here is to show everybody what the universe really looks like.”
The data included in the map was captured by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, which uses a telescope in New Mexico to capture broad perspectives of the night sky. For 15 years, it captured nightly images in different positions to gather the necessary data.
“In this map, we are just a speck at the very bottom, just one pixel. And when I saw we, I mean our galaxy, the Milky Way which has billions of stars and planets,” Ménard said. “We are used to seeing astronomical pictures showing one galaxy here, one galaxy there or perhaps a group of galaxies. But what this map shows is a very, very different scale.”
