#2026 Global Collection

[jantanow]

भारतीय नवप्रवर्तकों के लिए हंड्रेड का निमंत्रण, शिक्षा में नवाचार को मिलेगी वैश्विक मान्यता

हंड्रेड ग्लोबल कलेक्शन 2026 ने भारतीय नवप्रवर्तकों के लिए एक अनोखा अवसर प्रस्तुत किया है। इस पहल के तहत, हंड्रेड उन नवाचारों को पहचानने और उनका प्रचार करने की कोशिश कर रहा है जिन्होंने शिक्षा के क्षेत्र में महत्वपूर्ण सुधार किए हैं। यह भारतीय शिक्षकों, ग्रामीण समाजसेवियों, और एनजीओ के लिए एक विशेष मौका है, जो अपने नवाचारों को वैश्विक मंच पर प्रस्तुत करना चाहते हैं। भारतीय नवप्रवर्तक, जो सीमित…

[dandelionsresilience]

Dandelion News - January 15-21

Like these weekly compilations? Tip me at $kaybarr1735 or check out my Dandelion Doodles!

1. Landmark debt swap to protect Indonesia’s coral reefs

“The government of Indonesia announced this week a deal to redirect more than US$ 35 million it owes to the United States into the conservation of coral reefs in the most biodiverse ocean area on Earth.”

2. [FWS] Provides Over $1.3 Billion to Support Fish and Wildlife Conservation and Outdoor Access

“Through these combined funds, agencies have supported monitoring and management of over 500 species of wild mammals and birds, annual stocking of over 1 billion fish, operations of fish and wildlife disease laboratories around the country, and provided hunter and aquatic education to millions of students.”

3. Philippine Indigenous communities restore a mountain forest to prevent urban flooding

“Indigenous knowledge systems and practices are considered in the project design, and its leaders and members have been involved throughout the process, from agreeing to participate to identifying suitable land and selecting plant species that naturally grow in the area.”

4. Responsible Offshore Wind Development is a Clear Win for Birds, the U.S. Economy, and our Climate

“[T]he total feasible offshore wind capacity along U.S. coasts is more than three times the total electricity generated nationwide in 2023. […] Proven strategies, such as reducing visible lights on turbines and using perching deterrents on turbines, have been effective in addressing bird impacts.”

5. Illinois awards $100M for electric truck charging corridor, Tesla to get $40M

“The project will facilitate the construction of 345 electric truck charging ports and pull-through truck charging stalls across 14 sites throughout Illinois[…. E]lectrifying [the 30,000 daily long-haul] trucks would make a huge impact in the public health and quality of life along the heavily populated roadways.”

6. Reinventing the South Florida seawall to help marine life, buffer rising seas

“[The new seawall] features raised areas inspired by mangrove roots that are intended to both provide nooks and crannies for fish and crabs and other marine creatures and also better absorb some of the impact from waves and storm surges.”

7. Long Beach Commits to 100% All-Electric Garbage Trucks

“[Diesel garbage trucks] produce around a quarter of all diesel pollution in California and contribute to 1,400 premature deaths every year. Electric options, on the other hand, are quieter than their diesel counterparts and produce zero tailpipe emissions.”

8. ‘This Is a Victory': Biden Affirms ERA Has Been 'Ratified' and Law of the Land

“President Joe Biden on Friday announced his administration's official opinion that the amendment is ratified and its protections against sex-based discrimination are enshrined in the U.S. Constitution.”

9. A Little-Known Clean Energy Solution Could Soon Reach ‘Liftoff’

“Ground source heat pumps could heat and cool the equivalent of 7 million homes by 2035—up from just over 1 million today[…. G]eothermal energy is generally considered to be more popular among Republicans than other forms of clean energy, such as wind and solar.”

10. Researchers combine citizens' help and cutting-edge tech to track biodiversity

“Researchers in the project, which runs from 2022 to 2026, are experimenting with tools like drones, cameras and sensors to collect detailed data on different species, [… and] Observation.org, a global biodiversity platform where people submit pictures of animals and plants, helping to identify and monitor them.”

January 8-14 news here | (all credit for images and written material can be found at the source linked; I don’t claim credit for anything but curating.)

[political-us]

The Dow is on track for its worst April since 1932—the bleakest year of the Great Depression. Nearly a century later, markets are once again facing economic turbulence on a historic scale.

Trump's approval rating drops to 42%, the lowest it's been since he became president, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll.

A cutting-edge microscope at Harvard Medical School could pave the way for major breakthroughs in cancer detection and aging research—but its progress is now at risk. The scientist who created the software to analyze its images, 30-year-old Russian-born Kseniia Petrova, has been held in immigration detention for two months. Arrested in February at a Boston airport, Petrova is now detained in Louisiana, facing possible deportation to Russia, where she says she fears imprisonment for protesting the war in Ukraine. Her case highlights the tension between immigration policy and the U.S.'s reliance on global scientific talent.

The Department of Homeland Security denied Mahmoud Khalil permission to be present for the birth of his first child, which took place Monday at a hospital in New York. Instead, Khalil had to experience the moment over the phone from Jena, Louisiana—more than 1,000 miles away from his wife, Dr. Noor Abdalla, who delivered their baby boy. The case has sparked criticism over DHS's handling of family and humanitarian considerations.

The White House is considering policies to encourage more Americans to marry and have children, including a potential $5,000 “baby bonus,” according to The New York Times. The proposals align with a broader conservative push to address falling birth rates and promote traditional family values. Other ideas on the table include reserving 30% of Fulbright scholarships for applicants who are married or have children, and funding educational programs that teach women about fertility and ovulation.

A group of Venezuelan migrants facing removal under a broad wartime authority challenged the Trump administration’s deportation process at the Supreme Court, arguing the notices they received don’t meet legal standards. The ACLU, representing the migrants, said the English-only notices—often given less than 24 hours before deportation—violate a recent Supreme Court ruling requiring enough time for individuals to seek habeas review.

The Education Department announced it will start collecting student loan payments from over 5 million borrowers who are in default. This means it will begin taking money from federal wages, Social Security checks, and tax refunds. This move comes as pandemic-era protections for student loan borrowers continue to wind down.

Tensions are rising within the Arizona Democratic Party as the state party chair is at odds with the governor and U.S. senators. In response, officials are considering shifting 2026 campaign funds to local county Democrats.

​The U.S. Department of Commerce has announced substantial tariffs on solar panel imports from four Southeast Asian countries—Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia—following a year-long investigation into alleged trade violations by Chinese-owned manufacturers operating in these nations. The tariffs, which vary by country and company, are as follows:​

Cambodia: Facing the steepest duties, with tariffs reaching up to 3,521%, due to non-cooperation with the investigation.

Vietnam: Companies may face duties up to 395.9%.​

Thailand: Tariffs could be as high as 375.2%.​

Malaysia: Duties are set at 34.4%.​

Senator Adam Schiff is urging the National Archives to investigate the Trump administration's use of Signal and similar messaging apps. He emphasized the need for NARA to reach out to every federal agency involved to make sure all relevant records are preserved. This comes amid growing concerns over transparency and potential violations of federal recordkeeping laws.

[jokeroutsubs]

📝 ENG Translation: Maček Unleashed: the solo album you didn’t expect.

Read full article below the cut👇

Maček Unleashed: the solo album you didn’t expect.

Jure Maček, the rhythm powerhouse of Slovenia’s beloved shagadelic rock and roll band Joker Out, has always been known for his infectious energy and pinpoint drumming. But when the band took a two-month break starting in early 2024, Maček decided that simply relaxing would be far too conventional. Instead, he embarked on a musical journey so experimental it makes avant-garde jazz look like nursery rhymes.

In a past interview, Maček famously joked about using a tractor as a percussion instrument. Fans chuckled. Jure did not. In fact, he took that idea, threw it in a blender with pure chaos, and hit the highest speed. When he couldn’t find any musicians daring (or deranged) enough to join him, he made a bold recruitment choice: Joker Out’s videographer Mark Pirc, band photographer Vita Orehek, and guitar tech Kiki.

While the Joker Out crew shares deeply concerned looks over a collection of assembled junk that can only be loosely described as musical, Maček is in his element. Eyes wide with manic glee, he smashes, clangs, and bangs away on an ever-expanding collection of “instruments” that defy reason. Wrenches, metal sheets, a squeaky wheelbarrow, an assortment of broken kitchen appliances, and—yes—the long-promised tractor all make appearances.

While Jure is clearly having the time of his life, the rest of his “bandmates” seem less certain. Mark keeps mumbling, “I just wanted to make music videos,” while Vita seems to think the less she plays, the better the music sounds. Kiki, who should probably be keeping Jure in check, is instead whispering to Mark, “If we just play along, maybe he’ll calm down.”

But this fever dream is more than just noise—it’s a full-fledged solo album, and Jure’s not stopping there. To celebrate the album’s launch, he’s planning an extended interview and listening party with JokerOutSubs, a fan group dedicated to translating Joker Out’s content into 17 global languages. It’s a gesture of gratitude for their unwavering support of his bold new venture. He’s even considering naming his album with a playful twist on their motto; “No one bangs better” Jure muses. “Too much?”

Even more excitingly, Jure’s album features unexpected collaborations with prominent Slovenians. Basketball star Luka Dončić is contributing to a unique track by helping create a basketball beat—yes, dribbling and shooting sounds layered into Maček’s percussive chaos. Additionally, Jure is also planning to team up with ski jumper Nika Prevc to record the visceral sounds of skiing for an experimental track. He envisions the song becoming a campaign anthem advocating for women’s ski jumping at Planica in 2026.

When asked if this is a permanent venture or just a fever dream during the band’s hiatus, Maček remains cryptically enthusiastic. “Will I go back to Joker Out? Who knows? Maybe I’ll bring Joker Out here! Imagine Bojan singing while I wail on an anvil!”

For fans, the only certainty is that Jure Maček is a man unafraid of noise, chaos, and whatever happens when you mix industrial machinery with rock and roll. Is it genius? Is it madness? Is it a one-way ticket to hearing loss? Whatever it is, Jure Maček is fully committed.

[ranchstoryblog]

PRESS RELEASE: Second Annual ‘Marvelous Game Showcase’ Delivers Exciting Updates on Fan-favorite STORY OF SEASONS and Rune Factory Series; Reveals NARUTO: Arcade Battle for North America, and More

Second Annual ‘Marvelous Game Showcase’ Delivers Exciting Updates on Fan-favorite STORY OF SEASONS and Rune Factory Series; Reveals NARUTO: Arcade Battle for

North America, and More

New Looks for Additional Titles in Development Include Opening Animation for

Monster Farming / Action Title Farmagia and Striking New Teaser for DAEMON X MACHINA: Titanic Scion

TORRANCE, Calif., — May 30, 2024 — Marvelous USA, Inc. and XSEED Games today shared a localized version of parent company Marvelous Inc.’s second annual ‘Marvelous Game Showcase,’ which debuted today at 3:00pm PT. President Suminobu Sato hosted the showcase and was joined by key members of development teams to provide updates on titles announced in last year's event, and announce new regional and global initiatives for the Marvelous family of companies.

Farmagia (formerly Project Magia): Product Manager Takehiro Ishida revealed the official title of the project, Farmagia, and presented the game’s opening animation, giving gamers an action-packed look at the cast of characters and powers they wield. Ishida-san also shared details on key characters in the game, designed by popular artist Hiro Mashima, including Ten, the protagonist who often acts before thinking; Arche, his childhood friend who balances both kindness and a competitive nature; Chica, another childhood friend with a more reserved demeanor; and Lookie-Loo, Ten’s sidekick and de-facto mascot. The title is planned for a global release in 2024.

STORY OF SEASONS: The next, as-yet-untitled entry in the beloved franchise continues its development as the team focuses on improvements to the visual presentation and natural environments. Series Manager Hikaru Nakano joined to debut a fresh look at the results of their efforts, highlighting how aspects such as updated natural lighting and festival fireworks have been improved to enhance immersion and atmosphere. The project remains in active development and will be fully revealed at a later date. In the meantime, Nakano-san confirmed new gameplay features including a player-controlled glider and the return of fan-favorite pets.

Amusement Section: Marvelous Inc. supports more than just PC and console entertainment and announced a number of new arcade initiatives including NARUTO: Arcade Battle, which will be available in North America this summer. Players will experience the world of NARUTO on a massive 50” screen, where they’ll engage in intense ninjutsu battles and collect plates to reach the highest rank they can! Arcade titles for Japan release only were also presented.

Indie Partner Lineup: The Marvelous family continues to invest in helping creative and exciting visions from smaller indie developers become a reality with global support for titles! Titles introduced for worldwide release include Bitsummit 2023 Grand Prize winner Death the Guitar, where players become an electric guitar fighting with the power of death metal to avenge their owner, planned for a 2025 release; and Moonlight Peaks, the supernatural-themed vampire farming/life sim title from Dutch developer Little Chicken, scheduled for 2026 release. One additional title, Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus, was also presented for release in Asia and Japan by Marvelous on July 28, 2024.

Rune Factory: Following a brief history on the evolution of the Rune Factory series and how it has grown across nine titles released over 18 years, Rune Factory series Director Shiro Maekawa joined the stream to reveal a new video for Rune Factory: PROJECT DRAGON sharing a look at the title’s protagonists. Players can choose to play as either Subaru or Kaguya, two new Earthmates with a twist; they will use the power of dance, rather than farming, to communicate and interact with the world around them. This new approach to interacting with the world comes with non-combat tools, including parasols and drums; series staple weapons like swords; and brand-new weapon types to experiment with, including bows and talismans.

DAEMON X MACHINA: Titanic Scion: First revealed during last year’s Marvelous Game Showcase, DAEMON X MACHINA: Titanic Scion once again closed out the show, where President Sato-san shared an evocative look at Marvelous’ First Studio’s mech-action sequel.  Additional details including platforms and a release window will be announced at a later date.

To celebrate the Showcase, select STORY OF SEASONS and Rune Factory titles will be on sale for up to 60% off on the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo Switch™ through June 7, 2024.

More information about XSEED Games’ products can be found at www.xseedgames.com Fans can also follow XSEED Games on Facebook, X, Instagram, Twitch, Threads, get in depth info from their developer blog, and join the discussion on their Discord server at: http://discord.gg/XSEEDGames.

About XSEED Games

XSEED Games is the independent-minded publishing brand of Marvelous USA, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Marvelous Inc., which is a publicly traded company listed in the Prime Market of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Formed in 2004 by a small group of industry veterans, XSEED Games is headquartered in Torrance, California and publishes video games on PC and consoles in North America. The publisher's diverse portfolio of over 100 titles includes releases from Marvelous Inc. including STORY OF SEASONS (Bokujo Monogatari), Rune Factory, and DAEMON X MACHINA, titles from third-party partners including AKIBA’S TRIP, Corpse Party, and Granblue Fantasy: Versus, and titles from independent developers including Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin, Potionomics and Cuisineer. XSEED Games has grown its reputation among global gamers with its critically acclaimed localizations and commitment to fans, remaining ever dedicated to its “indie spirit, player-first” approach for quality games.

[coimbrabertone]

I Guess We Gotta Talk About Andretti...

So, I've been rather negative when it comes to modern F1 on this blog, and unfortunately, we gotta go there again this week.

So, this week, at Indycar's Long Beach Grand Prix - which turned into a pretty good race at the end - Mario Andretti was interviewed when it comes to his son, Michael's, bid to bring Andretti to Formula One as an eleventh team.

Mario, the 1978 Formula One World Champion, said that he's offended and finds it ridiculous that F1 has rejected the application, that Andretti has worked hard to create a deal with GM, has promised to support drivers in F2 and F3, and that value is added to Formula One by having an eleventh team. Basically, Andretti has met every hurdle that FOM has put ahead of them, and what have the FOM and the teams done in turn?

The teams are trying to get a ten-team limit put into the new Concorde Agreement.

Do I think that Andretti would instantly fix all my problems with modern F1? No.

Do I think F1 would be more interesting with another team? Yes.

Why? Because first of all, so many drivers have been stuck on the outside because there's too few seats in F1. Felipe Drugovich is doing fuck all this season because he couldn't get an F1 drive as a runaway F2 champion. Theo Pourchaire, the next F2 champion, is about to do his second Indycar race this weekend with Arrow McLaren. Mick Schumacher, Callum Ilott, and Robert Shwartzman are all in sports cars after super promising F3 and F2 careers. Marcus Armstrong is in Indycar, Louis Deletraz in IMSA, etc, etc.

Even Oscar Piastri, who has one of the most successful junior careers of recent memory, had to take a year off and ended up debuting with McLaren instead of Alpine.

All of these guys who could have F1 seats are instead doing amazing things in other series. Meanwhile, Lance Stroll has an Aston seat because his dad owns the team, Yuki Tsunoda has an Alpha Tauri seat because Honda wants a Japanese driver, and Daniel Ricciardo is his teammate for reasons that even Red Bull seems puzzled about at this point.

Adding two seats in F1 could improve that situation.

At least one of those seats would likely go to an American, and maybe Logan Sargeant has soured some people's tastes towards that, but hey, if you're going to have three races in the US, you're gonna need American talent to help support that interest.

Haas sure as hell isn't doing a good job of being an American team. Hell, Haas isn't doing a good job of much of anything. They have no ambition, they have two safe, boring, older drivers who will score a few points every once in awhile and let the team collect its prize money check at the end of the season. There's nothing exciting about that, Haas isn't going to have some young charger to breathe life into the back of the grid, Haas isn't going to master the 2026 regulations and give some amazing Brawn storyline, they don't even make their own cars - they have Dallara do it.

Andretti is going to have more ambition than that, I can guarantee that if nothing else. Andretti has three full time cars in Indycar, a bunch of cars in Indy Lights, two cars in IMSA in association with Wayne Taylor Racing, and is potentially laying the groundwork for a move into NASCAR as well.

Marco Andretti is in Trucks while Gainbridge, a major investor in Andretti, has been popping up on the Spire cars, along with rumors that Gainbridge and Andretti wanting to buy into the team.

All of this along with a share in an Australian Supercars team, a Formula E team, and Extreme E. They're a global team that isn't afraid to spend money. They're trying to win championships in series across the world.

F1 doesn't think all of that is good enough.

Why? Because that would mean the teams have to split money eleven ways instead of ten. That's it. That's the entire reason.

Paddock space? Space for twenty-six cars is written into the rules.

Value added? Look at all that stuff above, Andretti isn't coming to F1 to fuck around, and even if it was, half the grid is doing the same thing.

It's all about the money.

As much as I fully believe Andretti is overqualified for F1, I almost want them to say fuck it and abandon F1, put the money into the rest of your series. Marcus Ericsson, Kyle Kirkwood, and Colton Herta are competitive each and every week in an Indycar series where being a few tenths off could put you at the back of the field. The #10 and #40 WTR Andretti cars in IMSA are major championship threats. Plus, if Andretti can get that Spire deal and get into NASCAR, that's a sport that's experiencing its own resurgence in popularity.

I know NASCAR is very much focused in the US but having 4.3 million viewers for Talladega this last weekend is four times the ratings that F1 pulls, and everyone's talking about how big F1 is becoming in the US. F1 is getting all these American sponsors and American races, but whenever it comes to letting more Americans into the sport, there's always this hostility.

Motorsports is more than just F1, and the more F1 turns up its nose at the rest of motorsports, the more it alienates fans like me.

Which is a damn shame, because F1 was my first love in motorsports.

[trascapades]

🇨🇩 #ArtIsAWeapon

Reposted from @adamadelphine Join us this Thursday [2.27.2025] at 1PM EST and 8 PM GMT +2 for a lively discussion about Art & Activism in Goma, Congo. #IGLIVE

It is my pleasure to be in conversation with @roosterdancer_ and @didier.mkd

Learn more about Art for Justice: Bringing the 2026 Contemporary Art Biennale to Goma, DRC (Link in Bio)

The 2026 Contemporary Art Biennale in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo—an event that will do more than celebrate art; it will amplify the voices of a region that has endured great suffering due to global indifference and corporate greed.

Hosted by Mboko Lopiki and The Tunga Art Lab

The Tunga Art Lab links contemporary art performances to current social crises, focused on the tragic situation imposed on the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo for the last 30 years.

Mboko Lopiki is a dance artist from Goma in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He began his dance career as a member of the Hip Hop dance collective “Spirit of the Dance.” In 2015, he initiated the “Maendeleo Dance Project,” which provided workshops aimed at supervising and reintegrating street children into society. Further driven by the desire and passion to learn different forms of contemporary dance, Mboko then joined the “Inuka Dance Company” in 2016 and trained under the Busara Dance Company. He is currently the choreographer, artistic director, and dancer-performer of the “Heartist Dance Company” in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He is a recipient of the Prince Claus Fonds Seed Award 2022.

More info at link in bio!

Please join us this Thursday.

Let’s Talk About Congo! Let’s talk about Goma!

#Congo #Goma #ArtAndActivism #AfricanArtists #Activism #AdamaDelphineFawundu

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

Neutrinos weigh less than 0.45 electronvolts

Neutrinos are among the most enigmatic particles in the universe. They are omnipresent yet interact extremely rarely with matter. In cosmology, they influence the formation of large-scale galaxy structures, while in particle physics, their minuscule mass serves as an indicator of previously unknown physical processes. Precisely measuring the neutrino mass is therefore essential for a complete understanding of the fundamental laws of nature.

This is precisely where the KATRIN experiment with its international partners comes into play. KATRIN utilizes the beta decay of tritium, an unstable hydrogen isotope, to assess the mass of neutrinos. The energy distribution of the electrons resulting from the decay enables a direct kinematic determination of the neutrino mass. Achieving this requires highly advanced technical components: the 70-meter-long beamline houses one an intense tritium source, as well as a high-resolution spectrometer with a diameter of 10 meters. This cutting-edge technology allows for unprecedented precision in direct neutrino mass measurements.  

With the current data from the KATRIN experiment, an upper limit of 0.45 electron volt/c2 (corresponding to 8 x 10-37 kilograms) could be derived for the neutrino mass. Compared to the last results from 2022, the upper limit could thus be reduced by almost a factor of two.

Evaluation of the Data

The quality of the first datasets has steadily improved since the start of measurements in 2019. "For this result we have analyzed five measurement campaigns, totaling approximately 250 days of data collection from 2019 to 2021 – about a quarter of the total data expected from KATRIN," explains Kathrin Valerius (KIT), one of the two co-spokespersons of the experiment. Susanne Mertens (Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics (MPIK) and Technical University Munich (TUM)) adds: "With each campaign, we have gained new insights and further optimized the experimental conditions."

The evaluation of the extremely complex data posed an enormous challenge and required the highest level of precision from the international data analysis team. “The analysis of the KATRIN data is highly demanding, as an unprecedented level of accuracy is required,” emphasizes Alexey Lokhov (KIT), Co-Analysis Coordinator. Christoph Wiesinger (TUM/MPIK), Co-Analysis Coordinator, adds: “We need to employ state-of-the-art analysis methods, with artificial intelligence playing a crucial role.”  

Outlook for Future Measurements 

The researchers look optimistically to the future: “Our measurements of the neutrino mass will continue until the end of 2025. Through the continuous improvement of the experiment and analysis, as well as a larger data set, we expect an even higher sensitivity.” – and possibly groundbreaking new discoveries," says the KATRIN team. KATRIN already leads the global field of direct neutrino mass measurements and has surpassed the results of previous experiments by a factor of four with its initial data. The latest findings indicate that neutrinos are at least a million times lighter than electrons, the lightest electrically charged elementary particles. Explaining this enormous mass difference remains a fundamental challenge for theoretical particle physics.  

In addition to the precise measurement of the neutrino mass, KATRIN is already planning the next phase. Starting in 2026, a new detector system, TRISTAN, will be installed. This upgrade to the experiment will enable the search for sterile, a hypothetical particle, which interacts even more feebly than the known neutrinos. With a mass in the keV/c² range sterile neutrinos are a potential candidate for dark matter. Additionally, KATRIN++ will launch a research and development program aimed at designing concepts for a next-generation experiment capable of achieving even more precise direct neutrino mass measurements.  

IMAGE: Interior view of the KATRIN main spectrometer (image: M. Zacher / KATRIN Coll.)

[theclubhero-blog]

Black Myth Wukong teria 28 milhões de cópias vendidas e US$ 1,25 bi de receita

Por Vinicius Torres Oliveira

Variety traz novidades sobre a comercialização do RPG em artigo sobre adaptação

Black Myth Wukong teria ultrapassado 28 milhões de cópias vendidas desde seu lançamento em agosto de 2024, gerando uma receita de US$ 1,25 bilhão. A novidade foi compartilhada pelo Variety, que falou sobre uma adaptação de Jornada ao Oeste para as telonas.

Black Myth Wukong baseia-se no romance Jornada ao Oeste, trazendo Sun Wukong como protagonista. Sua popularidade impulsionou ainda mais o interesse por histórias mitológicas chinesas no entretenimento, contribuindo para novas produções inspiradas na obra, incluindo uma trilogia cinematográfica.

O estúdio Stars Collective revelou planos para uma trilogia animada baseada em Jornada ao Oeste, com filmes intitulados Bajie, Monkey King e Nezha. A proposta é expandir a mitologia oriental para o público global, utilizando animação gerada por IA e captura de movimento para criar um universo hiper-realista.

O projeto ainda está em fase de roteiro, com produção prevista para 2026. A estratégia visa aproveitar o crescente interesse por narrativas mitológicas no cinema e nos jogos, especialmente após o sucesso de Black Myth Wukong e de filmes como Ne Zha 2, que arrecadou mais de US$ 2 bilhões.

Embora inspirado no mesmo material de origem, a trilogia animada busca apresentar novas perspectivas sobre os personagens e seus desafios. O primeiro filme, Bajie, será a porta de entrada para essa releitura da lenda, reforçando a presença da mitologia chinesa no cenário global do entretenimento.

Black Myth Wukong: 20% das cópias vendidas do jogo foram através do PS5

Um montante aproximado de 5 milhões de cópias de Black Myth Wukong teriam sido vendidos apenas no PlayStation 5. Essa informação veio antes dos 28 milhões citados acima, mas vale conferir como as comercializações vêm rolando na China e no mundo.

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

Cows remain the untraceable victims of Amazon deforestation

The Legal Amazon’s six meatpacking plants authorized to export beef to the European Union have done little or nothing to adapt to the requirements in the EU Deforestation Regulation, issued by the economic bloc, which will take effect this year on December 30. A new Radar Verde study, shared with SUMAÚMA, shows that none of the exporters – Agra Agroindustrial de Alimentos, JBS, Marfrig Global Foods, Minerva, Naturafrig Alimentos, and Vale Grande Indústria e Comércio de Alimentos (Frialto) – implemented systems capable of controlling 100% of indirect suppliers, that is, the farms selling or transferring cattle from the Amazon region to other properties or intermediaries. Only Marfrig had already begun mapping its indirect chain, with 63% of the meatpacking plants at all of the companies included in the study controlling direct suppliers.

These companies, located in the state of Mato Grosso, have eight meatpacking plants and a total daily slaughter capacity of 5,870 animals. They have just been given extra time to, in practice, keep buying meat from deforested areas. That is because a group of 17 countries, including Brazil, have taken up exporter lobbying and asked to delay regulations that would stop the destruction of forests from being approved by European consumers.

By extending the timeline to implement the European Union’s Deforestation Regulation, each exporter will be able to continue operating in a region where at least 100,000 hectares are exposed to the risk of deforestation. For an idea of what this number represents, imagine tens times the entire area of the city of Paris. Now multiply this area by each of the six meatpacking plants. This is the potential devastation to the forest that could still be jointly caused by these companies in their meat production chains if strict control measures are not taken. Radar Verde’s estimate is conservative and considers meatpacking plants’ area of operation.

On October 2, the European Commission introduced a proposal agreeing to hold off the Deforestation Regulation until 2026, bringing benefits to cocoa, coffee, palm oil, natural rubber, timber, and soybean exporters as well. Large producers, like the meatpacking plants, were given 12 additional months to adapt to the new standards, while small producers have at least 18 more months. Just one symbolic European Parliament vote is needed to approve this decision, which had already cleared the Council of the European Union on October 16. The European Parliament’s vote is set for November 14.

Radar Verde‘s unprecedented study on European Union exports looked at data collected in 2023. The project, which was supported by O Mundo que Queremos and the Amazon Institute of People and the Environment, gives consumers and financial sources insight into which meatpacking plants are in control of and transparent about their production chains, that is, whether or not they contribute to deforestation in the forest region.

“What we’re seeing is an ecosystem of leniency to guarantee that meat contaminated by deforestation continues to be exported,” says Paulo Barreto, an associate researcher at the Amazon Institute of People and the Environment. He says that this system involves everyone from the people deforesting to farms operating in illegal areas and, obviously, up through the meatpacking plants buying their products, financial backers who claim to be committed to solutions, and the government itself, which doesn’t always act with due transparency.

Continue reading.

[trump-executive-orders]

America First Trade Policy

Issued January 20, 2025.

Section 1. Background. In 2017, my Administration pursued trade and economic policies that put the American economy, the American worker, and our national security first. This spurred an American revitalization marked by stable supply chains, massive economic growth, historically low inflation, a substantial increase in real wages and real median household wealth, and a path toward eliminating destructive trade deficits.

My Administration treated trade policy as a critical component to national security and reduced our Nation's dependence on other countries to meet our key security needs.

Americans benefit from and deserve an America First trade policy. Therefore, I am establishing a robust and reinvigorated trade policy that promotes investment and productivity, enhances our Nation's industrial and technological advantages, defends our economic and national security, and -- above all -- benefits American workers, manufacturers, farmers, ranchers, entrepreneurs, and businesses.

Sec. 2. Addressing Unfair and Unbalanced Trade. (a) The Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury and the United States Trade Representative, shall investigate the cause of our country's large and persistent annual trade deficits in goods, as well as the economic and national security implications and risks resulting from such deficits, and recommend appropriate measures, such as a global supplemental tariff or other policies, to remedy such deficits.

(b) The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall investigate the feasibility of Establishing and recommend the best methods for designing, building, and implementing an External Revenue Service (ERS) to collect tariffs, duties, and other foreign trade-related revenues.

(c) The United States Trade Representative, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Senior Counselor for Trade and Manufacturing, shall undertake a review of, and identify, any unfair trade practices by other countries and recommend appropriate actions to remedy such practices under applicable authorities, including, but not limited to, the Constitution of the United States; sections 71 through 75 of title 15, United States Code; sections 1337, 1338, 2252, 2253, and 2411 of title 19, United States Code; section 1701 of title 50, United States Code; and trade agreement implementing acts.

(d) The United States Trade Representative shall commence the public consultation process set out in section 4611(b) of title 19, United States Code, with respect to the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) in preparation for the July 2026 review of the USMCA. Additionally, the United States Trade Representative, in consultation with the heads of other relevant executive departments and agencies, shall assess the impact of the USMCA on American workers, farmers, ranchers, service providers, and other businesses and make recommendations regarding the United States' participation in the agreement. The United States Trade Representative shall also report to appropriate congressional committees on the operation of the USMCA and related matters consistent with section 4611(b) of title 19, United States Code.

(e) The Secretary of the Treasury shall review and assess the policies and practices of major United States trading partners with respect to the rate of exchange between their currencies and the United States dollar pursuant to section 4421 of title 19, United States Code, and section 5305 of title 22, United States Code. The Secretary of the Treasury shall recommend appropriate measures to counter currency manipulation or misalignment that prevents effective balance of payments adjustments or that provides trading partners with an unfair competitive advantage in international trade, and shall identify any countries that he believes should be designated as currency manipulators.

(f) The United States Trade Representative shall review existing United States trade agreements and sectoral trade agreements and recommend any revisions that may be necessary or appropriate to achieve or maintain the general level of reciprocal and mutually advantageous concessions with respect to free trade agreement partner countries.

(g) The United States Trade Representative shall identify countries with which the United States can negotiate agreement on a bilateral or sector-specific basis to obtain export market access for American workers, farmers, ranchers, service providers, and other businesses and shall make recommendations regarding such potential agreements.

(h) The Secretary of Commerce shall review policies and regulations regarding the application of antidumping and countervailing duty (AD/CVD) laws, including with regard to transnational subsidies, cost adjustments, affiliations, and "zeroing." Further, the Secretary of Commerce shall review procedures for conducting verifications pursuant to section 1677m of title 19, United States Code, and assess whether these procedures sufficiently induce compliance by foreign respondents and governments involved in AD/CVD proceedings. The Secretary of Commerce shall consider modifications to these procedures, as appropriate.

(i) The Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Senior Counselor for Trade and Manufacturing, in consultation with the United States Trade Representative, shall assess the loss of tariff revenues and the risks from importing counterfeit products and contraband drugs, e.g., fentanyl, that each result from the current implementation of the $800 or less, duty-free de minimis exemption under section 1321 of title 19, United States Code, and shall recommend modifications as warranted to protect both the revenue of the United States and the public health by preventing unlawful importations.

(j) The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce and the United States Trade Representative, shall investigate whether any foreign country subjects United States citizens or corporations to discriminatory or extraterritorial taxes pursuant to section 891 of title 26, United States Code.

(k) The United States Trade Representative, in consultation with the Senior Counselor for Trade and Manufacturing, shall review the impact of all trade agreements -- including the World Trade Organization Agreement on Government Procurement -- on the volume of Federal procurement covered by Executive Order 13788 of April 18, 2017 (Buy American and Hire American), and shall make recommendations to ensure that such agreements are being implemented in a manner that favors domestic workers and manufacturers, not foreign nations.

Sec. 3. Economic and Trade Relations with the People's Republic of China (PRC). (a) The United States Trade Representative shall review the Economic and Trade Agreement Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the People's Republic of China to determine whether the PRC is acting in accordance with this agreement, and shall recommend appropriate actions to be taken based upon the findings of this review, up to and including the imposition of tariffs or other measures as needed.

(b) The United States Trade Representative shall assess the May 14, 2024, report entitled "Four-Year Review of Actions Taken in the Section 301 Investigation: China's Acts, Policies, and Practices Related to Technology Transfer, Intellectual Property, and Innovation" and consider potential additional tariff modifications as needed under section 2411 of title 19, United States Code -- particularly with respect to industrial supply chains and circumvention through third countries, including an updated estimate of the costs imposed by any unfair trade practices identified in such review -- and he shall recommend such actions as are necessary to remediate any issues identified in connection with this process.

(c) The United States Trade Representative shall investigate other acts, policies, and practices by the PRC that may be unreasonable or discriminatory and that may burden or restrict United States commerce, and shall make recommendations regarding appropriate responsive actions, including, but not limited to, actions authorized by section 2411 of title 19, United States Code.

(d) The Secretary of Commerce and the United States Trade Representative shall assess legislative proposals regarding Permanent Normal Trade Relations with the PRC and make recommendations regarding any proposed changes to such legislative proposals.

(e) The Secretary of Commerce shall assess the status of United States intellectual property rights such as patents, copyrights, and trademarks conferred upon PRC persons, and shall make recommendations to ensure reciprocal and balanced treatment of intellectual property rights with the PRC.

Sec. 4. Additional Economic Security Matters. (a) The Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense and the heads of any other relevant agencies, shall conduct a full economic and security review of the United States' industrial and manufacturing base to assess whether it is necessary to initiate investigations to adjust imports that threaten the national security of the United States under section 1862 of title 19, United States Code.

(b) The Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce, the United States Trade Representative, and the Senior Counselor for Trade and Manufacturing, shall review and assess the effectiveness of the exclusions, exemptions, and other import adjustment measures on steel and aluminum under section 1862 of title 19, United States Code, in responding to threats to the national security of the United States, and shall make recommendations based upon the findings of this review.

(c) The Secretary of State and the Secretary of Commerce, in cooperation with the heads of other agencies with export control authorities, shall review the United States export control system and advise on modifications in light of developments involving strategic adversaries or geopolitical rivals as well as all other relevant national security and global considerations. Specifically, the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Commerce shall assess and make recommendations regarding how to maintain, obtain, and enhance our Nation's technological edge and how to identify and eliminate loopholes in existing export controls -- especially those that enable the transfer of strategic goods, software, services, and technology to countries to strategic rivals and their proxies. In addition, they shall assess and make recommendations regarding export control enforcement policies and practices, and enforcement mechanisms to incentivize compliance by foreign countries, including appropriate trade and national security measures.

(d) The Secretary of Commerce shall review and recommend appropriate action with respect to the rulemaking by the Office of Information and Communication Technology and Services (ICTS) on connected vehicles, and shall consider whether controls on ICTS transactions should be expanded to account for additional connected products.

(e) The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce and, as appropriate, the heads of any other relevant agencies, shall review whether Executive Order 14105 of August 9, 2023 (Addressing United States Investments in Certain National Security Technologies and Products in Countries of Concern) should be modified or rescinded and replaced, and assess whether the final rule entitled "Provisions Pertaining to U.S. Investments in Certain National Security Technologies and Products in Countries of Concern," 89 Fed. Reg. 90398 (November 15, 2024), which implements Executive Order 14105, includes sufficient controls to address national security threats. The Secretary of the Treasury shall make recommendations based upon the findings of this review, including potential modifications to the Outbound Investment Security Program.

(f) The Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall assess any distorting impact of foreign government financial contributions or subsidies on United States Federal procurement programs and propose guidance, regulations, or legislation to combat such distortion.

(g) The Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall assess the unlawful migration and fentanyl flows from Canada, Mexico, the PRC, and any other relevant jurisdictions and recommend appropriate trade and national security measures to resolve that emergency.

Sec. 5. Reports. The results of the reviews and investigations, findings, identifications, and recommendations identified in:

(a) sections 2(a), 2(h), 3(d), 3(e), 4(a), 4(b), 4(c), 4(d), and 4(g) shall be delivered to me in a unified report coordinated by the Secretary of Commerce by April 1, 2025;

(b) sections 2(b), 2(e), 2(i), 2(j), and 4(e) shall be delivered to me in a unified report coordinated by the Secretary of the Treasury by April 1, 2025;

(c) sections 2(c), 2(d), 2(f), 2(g), 2(k), 3(a), 3(b), and 3(c) shall be delivered to me in a unified report coordinated by the United States Trade Representative by April 1, 2025; and

(d) section 4(f) shall be delivered to me by the Director of Office of Management and Budget by April 30, 2025.

Sec. 6. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this memorandum shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(b) This memorandum shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

(c) This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

[justinssportscorner]

Paul Tenorio at The Athletic:

Major League Soccer is considering overhauling its calendar, flipping to a fall-spring season with breaks in the summer and winter, multiple sources briefed on the league’s discussions tell The Athletic. MLS executives and owners have been weighing the changes to the calendar, which they believe will help maximize the league’s participation in the global transfer market, among other benefits. The hope is for the league to institute the changes as early as the summer of 2026 coming out of the World Cup.

MLS executive vice president of sporting product and competition Nelson Rodriguez told The Athletic it is still “too soon” to know if MLS will institute changes or what those changes could be. “We have been engaged, really, since January, and it’s been very extensive and exhaustive and deliberate,” Rodriguez said. “It’s still too early. We’re still asking questions. We’re still collecting and analyzing some data. We’re still formulating models. Some of those models are for formats themselves, some of those models are how to assess the information that we get.” A change would certainly impact MLS’ competition in the American sports calendar. The MLS Cup playoffs, which started this week, are up against the MLB playoffs, college football and the NFL, as well as the NBA, college basketball and NHL regular seasons. Under the new calendar, the playoffs would likely be played in April and May, with most of the competition coming from the Stanley Cup playoffs and the start of the MLB season.

[...]

Why make changes?

Altering the schedule could have multiple benefits from a competitive standpoint, from syncing up the league’s transfer windows with the European calendar to maximizing the visibility of the playoffs in the American sports calendar. The vast majority of global transfer business is done in the summer window. That currently falls in the middle of the MLS season, which creates conflicts for teams hoping to buy and sell players — a problem that has been felt more acutely as MLS teams have become more active in the international market. Teams that want to sell players in the summer, when they are at their highest value, must weigh losing some of their best players in the middle of the season with little time to replace them. The MLS and Leagues Cup schedule also means summer signings arrive with fewer than 10 games left in the regular season. Sporting directors looking to buy players during the summer window have also complained that the U.S. summer window closes too early to fully leverage the market. With the MLS window closing before most European windows are shut, teams often find that players want to wait to see all of their options and it causes MLS teams to lose out on potential signings. MLS clubs essentially cannot benefit from the dominos that fall later in the transfer window.

[...]

How would the schedule change?

With the changes, the MLS season would begin, like most European leagues, in early August. The first portion of the schedule would run through mid-December before taking a winter break, likely around five weeks long. The season would resume in early February and run through the spring, with MLS Cup in late May. A schedule change would flip the MLS playoffs and MLS Cup to a less crowded portion of the American sports schedule. A warm-weather MLS Cup, with less competition from other sports leagues, is certainly appealing to all. A fall-spring calendar would also mean that MLS, like the rest of the world, would pause the season during all FIFA international windows, which would be a welcome change for most teams and players.

“The playoffs are the most valuable piece of real estate in a league season, and playoffs that would be spring or summer suggests a different dynamic,” Rodriguez said. “It starts with (the fact that the) weather is closer to optimal for all 30 clubs, your stadium conflicts are a little bit less, competition with other North American sports is different and you’re more aligned with at least the European rhythm of football. So, those are factors. They also come with their own sets of tradeoffs.” The league is also weighing the possibility of organizing teams into divisions instead of conferences and playing part of the schedule as intra-conference and intra-divisional play only, with playoff spots on the line. The second half of the season would then help determine full-season playoff seeding and spots.

What are the drawbacks?

The league would no longer play from around June 1 through July 15 and it would replace those weeks of games with games from early November through mid-December. That might be welcomed by fans in cities like Dallas, Orlando, Miami, Houston and Austin, but it would be difficult for markets like Toronto, Chicago, Minnesota, Salt Lake City, Montreal and New England, which see the summer months as their most attractive and profitable weeks of the season.

[...] There are other hurdles to figure out, as well. The Leagues Cup is currently played for one month in the middle of the summer, interrupting the regular season. MLS is weighing different formats and timing for the Leagues Cup that would fit into this new calendar, including potentially playing the tournament in January and February with teams in pods in warmer-weather locales like California, Texas and Florida. The league would also have to determine how the U.S. Open Cup and Canadian Championship fits into the new calendar, though MLS pulled back its participation in the Open Cup this season. These issues could end up holding up the calendar switch. The league previously held discussions on a potential change in competition format in 2013 and 2014, but opted not to make a change. With the World Cup around the corner, however, discussions about the calendar now feel like they have real momentum — though Rodriguez cautioned it was simply too soon to know.

The MLS could possibly change to the fall-spring calendar the majority of the world uses.

[kicksaddictny]

Reebok Sets the Stage for Basketball Comeback with WNBA Collaboration

Reebok, the iconic sportswear brand, is officially stepping back into the basketball spotlight with a groundbreaking multi-year partnership with the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). As an authorized footwear supplier for the league, Reebok aims to bring fans closer to the game through inspiring content and collaborations with WNBA stars, including Reebok athletes Angel Reese (Chicago Sky) and Lexie Brown (Los Angeles Sparks).

"The WNBA continues to grow with iconic brands," said Colie Edison, WNBA Chief Growth Officer. "Reebok’s partnership will help us elevate women’s basketball to new heights while inspiring the next generation of players and fans."

This collaboration aligns with Reebok’s mission to reclaim its place in sports culture, a vision championed by Basketball Division executives Shaquille O’Neal and Allen Iverson. O’Neal emphasized the brand’s commitment, saying, "With the WNBA’s support, we’re ready to dive in headfirst, delivering everything from innovative products to empowering partnerships."

Reebok’s resurgence in basketball includes notable milestones like Angel Reese’s debut collection, Reebok by Angel, and the release of the “Engine A” performance basketball shoe. Reese, a rising star and fashion icon, has extended her partnership with Reebok through 2026, with a signature sneaker release on the horizon.

"Reebok has been an incredible advocate for women in sports," Reese said. "Together with the WNBA, we’re setting a powerful example for the next generation of female athletes."

Reebok’s history in women’s basketball runs deep, from creating shoes for women in the 1980s to sponsoring historic collegiate teams and WNBA legends like Rebecca Lobo. With this partnership, the brand reinforces its dedication to empowering the game on a global scale.

Stay tuned for more updates by following @Reebok and @WNBA on Instagram.

[reasoningdaily]

Another Black woman has made history. Dr. Kenvi Phillips is the director of the Barack Obama Presidential Library, the first of its kind to be fully digital.

According to People Of Color In Tech (POCIT), Phillips began her inaugural role on June 16, putting her in charge of all the programs and activities at the library—virtually, of course. As the Obama Foundation decided not to construct a physical building to host the traditional establishment, its records, with approximately 95% already made digitally, are now being kept in this virtual forum.

While this innovative project is new, Phillips’ career is rich with its own history. The two-time Howard University graduate is no novice in library and archival management.

Not only has she served as the director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) at Brown University Library, but Phillips has also devoted her time and leadership to her alma mater’s Moorland-Spingarn Research Center. The center hosts the largest amount of resources and documents on the global Black diaspora.

With over two decades of experience, Phillips is a beacon of representation and proficiency for this groundbreaking role. Archivist of the United States, Dr. Colleen Shogan, shared her excitement about the appointment in a press release.

“I am excited Dr. Phillips is joining the National Archives as the Director of the Barack Obama Presidential Library. With her extensive experience in libraries and archives and her passion for public history, she will be an excellent steward for our archival and artifact collections and public engagement work,” said Shogan in May. “As the Director of the first digital presidential library in our system, Kenvi will help shape a new course for how we think about access to, and engagement with, the stories and decisions that helped shape our nation.”

The Obama Foundation CEO Valeria Jarrett also emphasized Phillips’ storied history in archiving materials.

“Her strong experience in archives and collections will help make the digitized records a great asset that will be available to everyone, everywhere, including historians, researchers, educators, and students,” explained Jarrett. “We look forward to continuing to work with the National Archives as they provide access to these historic records, and we look forward to displaying artifacts from the Obama Presidential Library in the Foundation’s Obama Presidential Museum, which we will open on the South Side of Chicago in Spring 2026.”

While making history herself, Phillips will offer her leadership and expertise to promote Obama’s legacy through these collections.

[fenmere]

@girldragongizzard worldbuilding: The effects of the dracomorphosis

We need to sit down and decide just what happens to the world due to the dracomorphosis, if we intend to write further in the series. Especially if we start jumping ahead in future years.

Clearly, the dracomorphosis is the most obvious point at which our fictional world diverges from the Real World AU. But we've worked out some events that predate that, too. And the Artists have existed since the beginning of the planet. But this is all to say, we have given ourselves license to change a lot.

spoilery stuff:

Up until August of this year (2024) everything seemed to be going the way it has been going in the Real World AU, including the Trump v.s. Harris presidential race and the genocide of the Palestinians (and all the other genocides around the world).

Meghan talks about this a little in her books.

---

Here are the rules we given ourselves to work with:

The Earth is a plural system with a collective identity that most of us cannot fathom or communicate with, even though we're all members in it.

The dracomorphosis is supposed to be a change for the better, from the Earth's point of view. It is a reaction to the sixth mass extinction, with the goal of priming evolution.

The dracomorphosis has been altered by humanity to become something that could save humanity from the looming global disasters (and from themselves).

Rhoda, being the Bellweather/Lucid Dreamer, has made a proclamation that her life should not be interrupted by anyone's bullshit any more. This itself pushes the direction of global events in a particular direction of not creating problems that effect her.

Fairport is a bubble of lesser conflict, thanks to the Fenverse.

None of the above are perfect factors, and there are still plenty of events that stand out or contradict these trends or motives. There's pushback from people in power who are losing it.

---

Some of the effects of this:

The galvanizing effect of having neighborhood dragons has resulted in record election turnouts globally. This means that in the U.S., there's a blue wave and we avoid a Trump presidency. It also means that mass protests pick up again, and cannot be quelled by the police.

The fact that there are more dragons among the populace of any culture and country than amongst the governments means that people have more power to fight for and protect their own rights in a variety of ways. Especially since it turns out that an adult dragon who knows what they're doing is often a match for a military vehicle.

There are some dragons in the militaries and police forces of the world, but they get targeted fairly quickly by the rest of the dragons.

Meanwhile, many governments try to control dragons legally by folding them into the laws. Some new laws are passed, but also a lot of that decision making ends up being in favor of dragons being citizens and having their own rights.

Some dragons do find themselves going to court. Or, at least, having outstanding warrants.

What this means for Meghan and her child:

Meghan owes taxes and can still qualify for SNAP and Medicaid.

By the end of 2026, Medicaid and Medicare cover veterinarian care for dragons.

Meghan has to register the hatching her child and fill out a birth certificate. This happens before the new sex marker of "D" is established, so her child gets an "X" first. This can lead to a heated discussion about whether gender markers should even exist.

Meghan has to fill out a birth certificate that doesn't accommodate the diverse lineage and parentage of a dragon, listing herself as mother, and Rhoda as father, even though the only fathers her child has are Joel and Anurak. All the other parents are either mothers or non-binary parents.

Meghan's child has to go to school, or be home schooled, and by the time she's old enough to go to school there are a handful of dragon schooling programs.

Meghan, being in Fairport and close to Rhoda, has avoided all the worst legal pitfalls so far.

Meghan's child is going to have to reconcile her own instinctual drive to set out and find her own territory at an early age with the governmental classification of being a child and needing to stay with her parents and go to school.

[nuadox]

Buzzing insights: Tracking bees with robotic flowers and hive sensors

- By Anthony King , Horizon -

Think of wildlife tracking and what probably comes to mind are documentaries following the majestic movements of elephants through the savannah, the graceful migrations of sea turtles in the deep blue and the prowling of big cats in dense jungles.

Yet, in the grand tapestry of nature, one creature that’s vital to the ecosystem but less in the spotlight can be found gently toiling away: the humble bee. Researchers are keeping a watchful eye on these buzzing wonders in a unique effort to understand their behaviour and ensure their survival.

Big buzz 

Bees pollinate 80% of all flowering plants, including more than 130 types of fruits and vegetables. Unsung heroes of the natural world, bees and other pollinators are responsible for up to €‎550 billion a year in global food production. 

‘We need to understand better how bees move and pollinate plants,’ said Dr Mathieu Lihoreau, a behavioural ecologist at the University of Toulouse. 

Cut to a farm outside Toulouse, the southern French city better known as the location of bigger winged objects: Airbus planes. 

But this is no ordinary farm. It’s an experimental site with, for example, no real flowers. Bumblebees and honeybees will be released into the fields – spread over 25 hectares – and tracked while flying to robotic flowers to taste a sugary reward. 

The experiment is part of a research project that received EU funding to improve understanding of how bees forage and interact. Lihoreau leads the project, which is called BEE-MOVE and runs for five years until the end of September 2026. 

He will trace dozens of bees simultaneously with a radar as they navigate around hundreds of robo-flowers set out in the fields. Knowing why bees buzz off in a certain direction can help improve crop pollination, conserve wild bee populations and save some rare plant species. 

Captivating creatures

While Lihoreau has always been fascinated by animal behaviour, as a student he pictured himself observing whales in the Pacific Ocean or primates in African jungles. But then as a young scientist he became captivated by much smaller creatures after joining a laboratory that studied ants. 

His attention now is on how bees navigate and make decisions as they seek nectar and pollen, orienting themselves using the sun, landscape features and even other bees. Because they collect food for themselves and harvest nectar and pollen for their colony, bees memorise the landscape. 

Research suggests bees can even have emotions and doubts, detect electric fields and count. 

‘I’m fascinated by them,’ Lihoreau said. 

In total, there are around 20 000 bee species and wild bees are critical for a healthy ecosystem. They’re vital assistants in the reproduction of plants by carrying pollen from one flower to another. 

Previously, researchers used large and expensive harmonic radars to track an antenna placed on the back of an individual bee. This allowed scientists to follow the bee as it weaved its way around a meadow, searching for flowers before returning home. 

But following just one bee gives merely a sliver of insight into what’s going on. Honeybees live in hives of thousands of worker bees and bumblebees reside in nests with dozens or hundreds. 

How bees act as a team or make efficient foraging decisions in the company of other pollinators are open questions.

Radar tracking

The BEE-MOVE radar will do its tracking without any of the bees having antennas. It uses the same technology as reversing sensors on cars, sending out energy waves to detect objects by bouncing off them. 

Lihoreau said that, to his knowledge, this is the first time such a radar has been used in ecology.

‘I want to show bees do not move randomly in the environment and to understand the rules that guide their sophisticated foraging,’ he said. 

The radar will track honeybees and bumblebees separately as they fly to the robo-flowers and then together. The planned robotic plants are small metal containers that recognise individual tagged bees as they alight on a platform and allow them in to sup sugar water.

Eventually, Lihoreau wants to investigate the effect on bee behaviour of adding contaminants like pesticides to the sugar water. 

Pesticide threats

Pesticides, including insecticides, used against pests like aphids are often neurotoxins.

‘Bees are in danger because they forage on plants that we treat with pesticides and then they feed on neurotoxins,’ said Lihoreau. 

The European Food Safety Authority said in 2018 that neonicotinoid insecticides pose a threat to wild bees and honeybees. Neonicotinoids are suspected of scrambling the bees’ navigation systems. 

Everything that bees learn when navigating a meadow, garden or cityscape is retained. This may ultimately leave them particularly vulnerable to neurotoxins. 

‘Because they have this tiny brain, probably every neuron is important,’ said Lihoreau. 

In agriculture, healthy bees are crucial for good yields in crops such as strawberries and almonds. 

‘Orchards hire beekeepers to bring in hives, but they need numerous healthy bees,’ said Dr Joao Encarnacao, a sensor expert at Irideon, a technology company in the Spanish city of Barcelona. 

Hive sensors 

If a hive is unhealthy, it can’t pollinate enough flowers and the fruit crop is reduced. But a farmer will become aware of a shortfall in pollinators only when it’s too late.

Encarnacao leads an EU-funded project – iPollinate – positioning sensors on hives to report real-time foraging of honeybees. The tracking technique relies on artificial intelligence and multiple coin-sized sensors placed on the hive. 

The information can be used by an orchard owner to spotlight the healthiest bee colonies or to learn the best locations for hives.

‘You get metrics that show you how productive the beehives are for pollination,’ said Encarnacao. ‘So far, nobody has enough information to know how to optimise things like the placement or the orientation of beehives, yet this might be the difference between having good pollination and bad.’

The project, which is due to end in December 2023 after three years, aims by then to have built a prototype of the sensor system. The plan is for the service to be available to commercial partners of the project in 2024.

The sensors have been tested in onion seeds in France and Israel, in berry fruit in countries including France, Spain and Portugal and in almonds and sunflowers in the US state of California. 

Californian almonds are a key target for iPollinate because about 2.5 million beehives are routinely set out across more than 500 000 hectares of almond groves – a big commercial opportunity for anybody who can improve pollination and, by extension, the harvest. 

Both iPollinate and BEE-MOVE highlight the crucial links between bees and the ecosystem as a whole, reinforcing the need to tackle biodiversity loss driven by human influences including pollution. 

‘Bees are on the frontline of an ecological crisis,’ said Lihoreau of BEE-MOVE. 

Research in this article was funded by the EU via the European Research Council (ERC). The views of the interviewees don’t necessarily reflect those of the European Commission.

This post Buzzing insights: tracking bees with robotic flowers and hive sensors was originally published on Horizon: the EU Research & Innovation magazine | European Commission.

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