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Mystery box shows are complicated for everyone
Silo’s third season is bigger and more ambitious.
Scientists recreated a dinosaur nest and solved a 70-million-year-old mystery
A team of researchers recreated a life-size oviraptor nest to investigate how these bird-like dinosaurs incubated their eggs millions of years ago. By combining physical experiments with heat transfer simulations, they discovered that oviraptors likely relied on both their own body heat and warmth from the sun.
Tom Kean Says Depression Led to Long Absence From Congress
After months of mystery, the New Jersey representative broke his silence about the undisclosed health issue that prompted his 117-day absence.
The Six Biggest Questions About ‘GTA VI’
We’ve learned a lot about the most anticipated video game of all time. But much of Rockstar’s blockbuster sequel to ‘Grand Theft Auto V’ remains a mystery.
Yearslong Resident Evil mystery solved: Kyle MacLachlan revealed to be Jill Valentine's 'boyfriend'
Twin Peaks star has ties to STARS
This is the real reason your cat purrs—and it’s not what you think - Futura-Sciences
The Genetic Mystery Behind the Purr If you thought your cat’s purr was just an automatic sound of happiness—like you sighing with satisfaction after a good meal—science begs to differ. Researchers from Kyoto University’s Wildlife Research Center in Japan have identified, for the first time, genetic underpinnings to this ancient...
Roku May Help Fox Avoid Aggregeddon
(Welcome to the “Most Important Story of the Week”, my bi-weekly strategy column analyzing the most important (but often not buzziest) news story of the last two weeks. I’m the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a former streaming executive who now analyzes business strategy in the entertainment industry. Please subscribe.) Scrolling through links over the last week, I stumbled across this fun headline: Wow. Formula 1 (the sport, not the docu-series) is the perfect “dog not barking”. As a reminder, each week in my Streaming Ratings Report, I call out the shows that miss every viewership chart. I dub them “dogs not barking”—like the Sherlock Holmes mystery—because without any data, we forget they even exist. This is in contrast to something like, say, a film flop—cough The Mandalorian and Grogu cough—where even underperforming at the box office is widely discussed here, there and everywhere. In the US, Formula 1 is now in “no public viewership data, so not discussed” territory. After moving to Apple TV from its former home of ESPN, basically no one talks about it. Apple did publish an initial, unsourced, unsubstantiated, (dare I say unserious) datecdote claiming more folks are watching Formula 1 on Apple than ESPN, but we haven’t gotten any updates since. This stands in contrast to when the sport streamed on ESPN, and ESPN PR provided weekly viewership figures. Formula 1 was, at best, a niche sport in America—averaging 1.3 million viewers in the Big Data Plus era—but now it’s basically anonymous. (And yeah, after moving to Apple, I very, very, very much doubt its ratings increased.) Unfortunately, that story isn’t quite big enough to warrant a section in today’s “Most Important Story of the Week” column, but I wanted to call it out, because otherwise, no one else will! Certainly, no one will write articles about the silence/ratings decline, unlike when they wrote breathless articles connecting the rise in viewership to Netflix’s Drive to Survive, including Reuters just last month. (This is a topic I’ve tried to provide a moderate/nuanced/non-hyped take since 2022.) Anyway, on to this week’s issue. I was a bit worried I didn’t have a juicy topic, then the Murdochs went out and did their Murdoch thing: buying Roku. So that’s the story of the week, and it happens to touch on quite a few themes of the streaming wars and the disruption therein. I’ll cover that, plus why more consolidation in Hollywood media looks likely, more good news on the Hollywood labor front, whether we’ll see an uptick in production in Los Angeles, some Broadway and theme park news, cellphone prices going up in the third world (and possibly everywhere), and more. Subscribe Most Important Story of the Week - Another Big Media & Entertainment Merger The story of the week is clearly Fox is buying Roku for $22 billion. I read a lot of good strategy takes on why Fox bought this streaming TV device maker—and I’ll have mine below—but what fascinates me more is how this deal connects to quite a few themes of the streaming wars, linking to everything from the pace of M&A to “aggregeddon” to Netflix’s recent M&A actions/inactions to the shift to advertising from pure play streaming and more. The only topic I can’t really connect it to is my old theory, “never bet against Rupert Murdoch” because he isn’t the one who did this deal; his son Lachlan inked it. (Do I think he provided advice, even at his 95 years of age? Sure.) That plus I have one additional piece of strategy for all entertainment players, inspired by this deal. So let’s dive into all those topics, starting with why I like this deal. Roku is a Great M&A Buy
Famous Pink Planet Mystery Decoded: JWST Says Salt Clouds are the Culprit
This Magenta world's strange atmosphere made no sense until JWST found intriguing clouds made of salt.
Opinion | Menopause and the Failure of Women’s Health Care
Readers respond to “Menopause Should Not Be Such a Mystery,” an Opinion guest essay by Melinda French Gates.
Arrakihs, a Spanish mission to illuminate the mystery of dark matter: ‘We have broken molds’
Four-telescope astronomical observatory is at the heart of the first space exploration to be led by the country
It's Official: Third Galaxy Found With No Dark Matter May Solve an Epic Mystery
We've never seen anything like this.
GTA 6 and the Mystery of the Missing Ferris Wheel Reflection
Our experts chime in on the latest Grand Theft Auto trailer.
Most Women Give Birth at Night—Scientists Reveal the Surprising Reason Why - Futura-Sciences
The Night Owl Mystery of Labor This isn’t just a feeling shared by midwives and obstetricians doing overnight shifts. Research, including studies published by University College London in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, confirms this trend: spontaneous births cluster significantly during the nighttime hours. Behind this pattern lies our...
Black hole winds may be robbing giant galaxies of their future stars
Astronomers may be closing in on a long-standing cosmic mystery: why some of the universe’s biggest galaxies seem to have far fewer stars than expected. Using NASA- and JAXA-supported XRISM observations of a galaxy called NGC 4151, researchers found strong evidence that supermassive black holes can unleash powerful winds that blow away the raw material needed to make new stars.
Nicole Kidman Linked to Mystery Entertainment Executive Months After Keith Urban Divorce
Nicole Kidman is back in the romance-rumor cycle months after finalizing her divorce from Keith Urban, and the latest claim has sent fans looking for ... Read More
Scientists solve millipede mystery, and find they beat vertebrates onto land by 80 million years
"It took 10 people over a week just to find this one tiny 10-millimeter adult."
New science advisory council forms to help US government ‘resolve the UAP mystery’
Theoretical physicist and Harvard University Professor Avi Loeb shared early details about the new UAP Science Advisory Council.
Earliest outbreak of the plague killed hunter-gatherer kids 5,500 years ago
Scientists have solved a mystery that puzzled them for decades: Why were so many dead children buried by hunter-gatherers in Russia 5,500 years ago? It turns out they were killed by the earliest known outbreak of the plague, revealing new insights about the disease.
Scientists Built a Tiny “Universe” And Watched Time Emerge From Chaos
Scientists created a miniature universe using 24,000 ultracold atoms where time emerges from entropy flow, potentially solving physics' biggest mystery.
Weird Science: Historian uses carbon dating to show N.C.'s most enduring mystery isn't so mysterious
For nearly a century, American school children have been taught the same haunting mystery. In 1587, a group of English colonists landed on Roanoke Island. Then, they vanished, leaving behind only one cryptic clue carved into a wooden gatepost: the word "Croatoan."In this edition of Weird Science, Public Radio East's Annette Weston spoke with a Buxton native who is using science to dispel what he said is the myth behind the truth.
Weird Science: Historian uses carbon dating to show N.C.'s most enduring mystery isn't so mysterious
For nearly a century, American school children have been taught the same haunting mystery. In 1587, a group of English colonists landed on Roanoke Island. Then, they vanished, leaving behind only one cryptic clue carved into a wooden gatepost: the word "Croatoan."In this edition of Weird Science, Public Radio East's Annette Weston spoke with a Buxton native who is using science to dispel what he said is the myth behind the truth.
Brooks Koepka dealing with mystery injury heading into U.S. Open
Aead of the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, Brooks Koepka is dealing with a mysterious injury.
From Ancient Rome to Modern Crowds: The Mystery Of Why Humans Naturally Prefer To Turn Left
The team has put forward several possible explanations – some wilder than others.
Scientists discover a 3.5-billion-year-old asteroid impact on the moon
The first few billion years of Earth's history saw the rise of life, the atmosphere and the oceans. Still, that time is shrouded in mystery: Not many rocks remain that preserve a record of those early ...
The Seneca Drums: The mystery science has yet to solve
There is a mystery underneath the Finger Lakes largest and deepest lake. It's one that has been resonating with generations as far back as the Native Americans
Simone Biles Returns to Texas Home After ‘Almost Dying’ from Mystery Health Scare While Husband Jonathan Owens Was Training In Indianapolis
Biles, 29, has revealed that she endured "the scariest experience" of her life while her husband, Jonathan Owens, was away from their home.
'Scooby-Doo: Origins' reveals what mystery-solving pup looks like in Netflix prequel, marking a first for the franchise
'Scbooy-Doo: Origins' revealed what the Great Dane pup in the upcoming Netflix prequel looks like.
Planet nine mystery deepens as new discovery challenges hidden planet theory
Astronomers have spent years searching for a possible hidden giant planet far beyond Neptune. Unusual orbits among distant Kuiper Belt objects have fueled the Planet Nine theory, but recent discoveries are challenging the idea by showing more stable motion than expected. If Planet Nine exists, it may be much farther away than originally thought.
100 Years Ago, Thousands Fell Into a Deep Sleep With No Explanation. Today, It’s Still a Mystery.
After a century of research, scientists can't agree on what it was—or whether it’s truly gone.
Scientists just solved a decades-old mystery about the black hole in the middle of our galaxy
They captured an image 100 times deeper and 80 times sharper than previous maps of the region
Trump’s Disappearing Hair-Loss Drug Fuels Fresh Health Mystery
Trump’s medical report suggests he is no longer taking the anti-balding medication.
Beluga whales keep switching mates and it may be saving their species
Hidden beneath Arctic waters, beluga whales have long kept their family lives a mystery. By analyzing DNA from more than 600 belugas in Alaska’s Bristol Bay over 13 years, researchers uncovered a surprisingly flexible mating system: both males and females regularly have offspring with different partners over their lifetimes.
\'Hair,\' murder mystery spoof, Janis Joplin tribute, \'Mad Libs\' among Gretna Theatre\'s summer shows
From one of the earliest rock musicals to a murder mystery spoof and from shows based on popular children’s books to concert tributes to musical icons, Gretna Theatre is serving
Oakmont parking lot opening day still a mystery to nearby business owners
The Oakmont Community Foundation parking lot on Allegheny Avenue, years in the making, is still closed to the public. As for why, the mystery remains. Businesses in the area are hopeful the public lot will open soon, as it will help to alleviate a longtime parking issue in the borough’s
Scientists Think a Cosmic Particle Accelerator Shot a Mystery Particle Right at Earth
A gigantic "blazar" may have fired a beam of light-speed particles at our planet, creating a 2023 "ghost particle" detection.
A stellar “Rosetta stone” reveals the source of mysterious cosmic signals
Astronomers have finally cracked the mystery behind a strange class of repeating cosmic signals that has baffled scientists for years. Using Australia’s ASKAP radio telescope, researchers traced the bursts to a rare stellar duo in which a dense white dwarf is relentlessly siphoning material from a nearby red dwarf companion. As the stolen matter spirals inward, the system unleashes powerful radio waves and X-rays every 1.4 hours.
How a YouTuber Helped Solve a Science Mystery
Scientists revisited the Antikythera Mechanism after a YouTuber’s experiment—and may have finally solved the mystery of the world's oldest computer.
Stray Nintendo Switch 2 launch trailer - adventure game appears with upgraded with visuals, frame rate, 4K, and mouse controls
Stray has now made its way to Nintendo Switch 2, and along with that, we have a new launch trailer. This edition includes upgraded visuals, 4K, and improved frame rate, alongside mouse control. More information about the title itself can be found in the following overview: Lost, alone and separated from family, a stray cat must untangle an ancient mystery...
Astronomers finally solve Saturn’s decades-long spin mystery
A decades-old mystery about Saturn has finally been solved thanks to the James Webb Space Telescope. Scientists discovered that Saturn’s changing “rotation rate” was never caused by the planet speeding up or slowing down, but by powerful winds high in its atmosphere. Webb’s unprecedented observations revealed that Saturn’s northern lights actively heat the atmosphere, creating winds that generate electrical currents, which then power the aurora all over again in a self-sustaining cycle.
DNA solves 250-year-old mystery of the Seychelles’ lost crocodiles
Scientists have solved the mystery of the Seychelles’ vanished crocodiles using DNA from historic museum specimens. The reptiles were not a unique species after all, but an isolated population of saltwater crocodiles that likely drifted thousands of kilometers across the Indian Ocean.
A 100-year-old piano mystery has finally been solved
For more than a century, pianists and music teachers have argued over whether a performer’s touch can actually change the tone color of a piano note — and now scientists say the answer is yes. Using a cutting-edge sensor system that tracked piano key movements at 1,000 frames per second, researchers discovered that elite pianists subtly manipulate keys in ways that listeners can genuinely hear, even if they’ve never played piano before.
How do pigeons sense Earth's magnetic field? Scientists just solved the mystery.
New research suggests that pigeons use magnetic sensors in their livers.
Scientists say they've finally solved the sea level rise mystery as oceans climb nearly twice as fast
The trend is also speeding up.
'One of the great unresolved embarrassments of physics': It's been 340 years since Newton and scientists still haven't solved the secret of gravity
"The mystery is not solved."
10 Shows Like 'The Boroughs' You Should Watch Next
'The Boroughs' is a sci-fi mystery set in a retirement community, with a cast packed with people-you-like-from-those-other-things. If you're into it, here are some shows you're sure to like.
Andrea Hairston on Crossing Genres, Science Fiction, and Taking Romance Seriously
When I describe my recent novel, The Redemption Center is Closed on Sundays, as a SFF mystery romance, people frequently ask, “Wasn’t it difficult writing a murder mystery?” Yes, it was…
Massive supercomputer simulations unlock cosmic magnetic mystery
Scientists used some of the most advanced plasma simulations ever created to uncover how the universe builds enormous magnetic fields out of turbulence. The discovery could reshape our understanding of stars, black holes, neutron star collisions, and dangerous solar eruptions.
Rising Stars to stage ‘Mystery at Main St. High’
Capitol Theatre Rising Stars will present “Mystery at Main St. High” May 24 in Rome with a cast of 50 student performers.
Where in the world is this Republican congressman?
The mystery of a New Jersey congressman's absence has consumed Washington for weeks.
One mystery of the Great Pyramid’s longevity has finally been solved
Differences in how the pyramid and surrounding soil vibrate, along with design choices, have protected the structure from earthquakes.
'MOP UP MICHIGAN' | Group targets utility spending, mystery money in MI politics with proposed ballot initiative
Physicists finally solve the strange mystery of “breathing” lasers
Scientists have finally figured out how mysterious “breather” laser pulses work, solving a puzzle that has frustrated laser physicists for years. These unusual ultrafast lasers produce light pulses that rhythmically grow and shrink instead of staying steady, almost like they’re breathing.
First Ingrid match footage released for Street Fighter 6 showcasing what the mystery magical girl is truly capable of in combat
Ingrid's big launch in Street Fighter 6 is now just a week away, and we're getting our best look as to how she'll actually function in the game.A bunch of Japanese publications have just now released ...
Scientists Solved the 150 Year-Old Mystery of Why Most of Your Molecules Are Right-Handed
The shape of life’s building blocks is the result of biology, chemistry, and quantum physics colliding.
Scientists solve 200-year-old puzzle of how tobacco plants make nicotine
Scientists have uncovered how tobacco plants naturally make nicotine, solving a mystery that has puzzled researchers for nearly two centuries. The discovery, published in Nature Communications, could ...
Major shareholder of Century Entertainment transfers entire holding in mystery move linked to CEO
Hong Kong-listed gaming investor Century Entertainment International Holdings Ltd said in a Monday announcement that one if its major shareholders, Ms Ho Tsz Yi
Mystery grows around absent congressman facing tough reelection
Tom Kean Jr.’s months-long absence from Capitol Hill is the talk of the town in Washington. Where is the man? No one is saying
Scientists think they’ve cracked the mystery of human right-handedness
A new study suggests humans became overwhelmingly right-handed because of two major evolutionary shifts: walking on two legs and developing much larger brains. Researchers found that as human ancestors evolved, their right-hand preference steadily intensified — transforming a mild tendency into one of humanity’s most distinctive traits.
Stores Baffled After Being Sent Boxes Of Rare Poop Slinger Game
Collectors, retailers and influencers alike attempt to figure out which end of the gift horse these mystery packages are coming from
Test your pop culture: From Hollywood to the Heartland
Test your knowledge of entertainment with this quiz on celebrities, trends and headline-making moments. Featured this week: mystery collaborations, red carpet close calls, celebrity confrontations and...
Test your pop culture: From Hollywood to the Heartland
Test your knowledge of entertainment with this quiz on celebrities, trends and headline-making moments. Featured this week: mystery collaborations, red carpet close calls, celebrity confrontations and a dream cave wedding.
2026 Phillies Draft Preview Jared Grindlinger, LHP/OF
I always like to start previews with my favorite prospect. That’s often someone the Phillies have no chance at, but not this year. A reclassicification of draft eligibility made this year’s mystery box my favorite, most intriguing option. Grindlinger is a left handed Outfielder and Pitcher and is a potential 1st/2nd rounder in both roles. […]
Subnautica 2 already has huge concurrent player counts and has swum to one million sales already
Within its first 24 hours live, Subnautica 2 has made a dominating start on Steam, though console figures remain a mystery.
Bermuda Triangle Mystery 'Solved'? Scientists Reveal Structure Found Beneath Island
Bermuda still sits atop a broad swell, standing roughly 1,600 feet higher than the surrounding ocean floor, reports Carnegie Science.
Victor Wembanyama vs. Wilt Chamberlain: Who's the real NBA block leader?
A mystery looms above the game's preeminent shot-blocker and the sport at large.
Subnautica 2 has hooked me on an irresistible mystery
At the end of Subnautica 2's prologue, fear has already set in - and I haven't even reached its new ocean planet, Prote…
Will ‘Outlander’ Answer This Season 1 Mystery Before the Show Ends?
With the show's final episode on the horizon, there's one mystery that remains a top priority.
New UFO Files Suggest Something Strange Is Happening in The Skies
Not aliens, but the mystery is far from over.
Scientists discover the strange way CO2 cools part of Earth’s atmosphere
Scientists have finally cracked the mystery behind one of climate change’s strangest fingerprints: while Earth’s surface heats up, the upper atmosphere is rapidly cooling. Researchers at Columbia University discovered that carbon dioxide acts very differently high above the planet, where it actually helps radiate heat into space instead of trapping it. The team found that certain infrared wavelengths fall into a “Goldilocks zone” that becomes increasingly effective as CO2 levels rise, accelerating cooling in the stratosphere.
Scientists finally solve the 100-year mystery behind tough tires
For nearly 100 years, reinforced rubber has powered everything from car tires to airplanes, yet scientists never fully understood why adding tiny particles of carbon black made rubber so incredibly strong. Now, researchers at the University of South Florida have finally cracked the mystery using massive computer simulations that took the equivalent of 15 years of computing time. They discovered that carbon black forces rubber to “fight against itself” when stretched, dramatically boosting its strength and durability.
Mysterious Meddling in Democratic Primaries Has G.O.P. Fingerprints
A new super PAC with ties to Republicans is intervening in Democratic primaries, in one instance helping a sex therapist in Texas accused of antisemitism.
It’s not where you think: men’s “G-spot” mystery finally solved - Futura-Sciences
Unraveling the Myths: Is the Glans Really the Most Sensitive Part? For years, researchers have maintained that the glans (head) of the penis is the most sensitive area when it comes to sexual sensation. This was considered common wisdom in the urological community. But a recent study published in the...
A rare cancer-fighting plant compound has been decoded
Scientists at UBC Okanagan have uncovered how plants produce mitraphylline, a rare natural compound with promising anti cancer potential. The team identified two enzymes that work together to build the molecule’s unusual twisted structure, solving a mystery that had puzzled researchers for years. Because mitraphylline appears only in tiny amounts in tropical plants like kratom and cat’s claw, the discovery could make it far easier to produce sustainably in the future.
Springfield school board to consider new elementary-school science curriculum
Lookout Eugene-Springfield reviewed Springfield’s elementary science curriculum, which has been in process for three years. The curriculum is a mix of teacher-created lesson plans, a science curriculum called Mystery Science and science-themed segments of the district’s English Language Arts curriculum that align with state standards.
Scientists Solve 100-Year-Old Schrödinger Mystery About Color Perception
Scientists have finally cracked the hidden geometry behind how humans perceive color.
Iranian politician’s Australian links revealed; how One Nation won in Farrer; the mystery of ‘gaping’ whales
Australia’s handling of Iran sanctions in spotlight; voter shifts to One Nation seen across Farrer; research sheds new light on whale behaviour
No Case Should Remain Unsolved coming to PS5 this summer
PLAYISM will release Somi-developed mystery adventure game No Case Should Remain Unsolved for PlayStation 5 this summer, the companies announced.
James Webb telescope zooms in on a black hole that could reveal the truth about 'little red dots'
A peculiar object dubbed an 'X-ray dot' could help solve the mystery of the 'little red dots' discovered by the James Webb Space Telescope.
Physicists discover quantum particles that break the rules of reality
Physicists may have just cracked open a hidden side of the quantum world. For decades, every known particle was thought to belong to one of two categories — bosons or fermions — but researchers have now shown that bizarre “in-between” particles called anyons could also exist in a one-dimensional system. Even more exciting, these strange particles may be adjustable, allowing scientists to tune their behavior in ways never before possible.
From The Sheep Detectives to Rivals: your complete entertainment guide to the week ahead
Hugh Jackman and Emma Thompson star in a farmyard mystery, while the spirited bonkbuster returns for a smutty second outing
Weird Science: Research using everyday trash to figure out how litter travels from city streets to the ocean.
Led by NC State and NC Sea Grant, the study involves releasing GPS-equipped plastic bottles into the Neuse River to track their movement in real time. The goal is to solve the mystery of how land-based waste transforms into the marine debris that clutters our coastlines.
Before the Evil Empire: The Bronx Bombers
The origin of the Bronx Bomber nickname is shrouded in mystery.
Tarik Skubal's elbow is now MLB's biggest mystery. His recovery time from surgery could be difference between a $250M and $450M deal
The da Vinci bloodline is unlocking the genius’s genetic secrets
After centuries of mystery, scientists are edging closer to uncovering Leonardo da Vinci’s biological secrets. A massive 30-year effort has mapped his family across 21 generations, identified living male descendants, and even confirmed shared DNA markers that stretch back to the Renaissance. Meanwhile, excavations at a family tomb in Vinci could provide ancient remains for comparison, raising the possibility of reconstructing Leonardo’s genetic profile.
MIT scientists finally reveal the hidden structure of a mysterious high-tech material
For decades, relaxor ferroelectrics have powered everything from medical ultrasounds to sonar systems, yet their inner atomic structure remained a mystery—until now. Researchers have finally mapped their three-dimensional structure in unprecedented detail, uncovering hidden patterns in how electric charges are arranged at the nanoscale. The breakthrough not only challenges long-standing assumptions about how these materials behave but also allows scientists to refine the models used to design them.
New science cracks open the mystery of the world's largest fish
For a decade, Konservasi Indonesia — Conservation International's local partner — tracked whale sharks across the open ocean, offering new clues for how to protect them.
Sony clarifies recent PlayStation DRM update
PlayStation fans and gaming preservations have been alarmed since late last week that a new 30-day timer attached attached to newly-purchased digital games for PlayStation 4 and 5 might render those games unplayable if the system they’re on is offline for longer than a month. But a rep from Sony told Game File today that new system will require only a single online check before it functions as a perpetual license for the digitally purchased game. That is consistent with a newer theory that emerged by gamers testing the 30-day timer over the last two days. “Players can continue to access and play their purchased games as usual,” a rep for PlayStation told me over email. “A one-time online check is required after purchase to confirm the game’s license, after which no further check-ins are needed.” The rep’s explanation squares with the current understanding among players about what’s happening. A multi-day mystery A post last Friday by YouTuber Lance MacDonald spread awareness over the 30-day timer. Quickly, players began stress-testing the system, removing a battery within their PlayStations and checking what would happen if their systems were offline past the timer window. They noticed that setting a PS4 or PS5 to be the “primary” console—a common Sony-authorized method to retain rights to a digital game—wasn’t overriding the 30-day limit. On Tuesday came the breakthrough: A gamer called Andshrew on the Resetera forums posted the results of some tasting. They found that digital games purchased on PS4/PS5 after some time in mid-April would get a 30-day timer that could then be removed and replaced with a perpetual license that would allow the game to be played offline. The transition to the perpetual license occurred some number of days after the digital game was purchased and the system was connected to the internet. They believed that a PlayStation’s online check-in would trigger the license change no sooner than 15 days after the user had purchased the game. This synced with the theory that Sony’s new system is related to the 14-day window that PlayStation users have to request a refund for digitally purchased games. The new timer/check-in system could be a way to defeat some exploit in that refund system, some users theorized. Game File is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe In a follow-up, I asked the Sony rep if the 15-day timeline is accurate or if the perpetual license can be activated sooner after purchase. If they share more, I’ll update this post. Sony has not said why they’ve introduced the timer and whether it is designed to stop people from exploiting the refund system. But their explanation suggests that this new DRM method should not result in long-term loss of access to digitally purchased games, just because a PlayStation is offline for a month or Sony’s servers are down. Xbox flashback For many some gamers, the initial reporting of the 30-day timer conjured memories of Microsoft’s disastrous May 2013 announcement of the Xbox One, which was going to require an internet-connected check-in once a day, lest your games become unplayable.1 After widespread backlash, Microsoft abandoned that plan, ahead of the Xbox One’s launch. 1 Fun fact: That 24-hour check-in detail was my scoop from an interview I had that day with then-Xbox exec Phil Harrison. I was EiC of Kotaku at the time and rushing from one Xbox One preview appointment on Microsoft’s campus to another. I phoned the news in to reporter Jason Schreier, who wrote it up for the site.
Alabama politics shift as PAC attacks, policy gaps, voters collide
A mystery PAC roiled GOP primaries as lawmakers logged narrow gains and a report found 800,000 Alabamians remained outside the electoral process.
Scientists finally solve mystery of strange “golden orb” found 2 miles deep
A mysterious “golden orb” found more than two miles deep in the Gulf of Alaska left scientists baffled for over two years, sparking wild speculation about its origins. After an intensive investigation combining deep-sea expertise, microscopic analysis, and advanced DNA sequencing, researchers finally cracked the case. The strange object turned out not to be an egg, sponge, or anything alien, but the remains of tissue from a giant deep-sea anemone.
Mystery of golden orb found in depths of ocean off Alaska finally solved: 'Everyone was like, What the heck? What is that?'
A two-and-a-half-year-old mystery concerning a strange golden object found miles below the sea surface isn't an egg or sponge — it's from an anemone-like animal.
Mezcal worm in a bottle DNA test reveals a surprise
The famous mezcal “worm” has long puzzled scientists, but DNA testing has finally cracked the case. Researchers found that all sampled larvae were actually agave redworm moth caterpillars—not a mix of species as once believed. While the discovery clears up a long-standing mystery, it also raises concerns about sustainability. Growing demand for mezcal and edible larvae could put pressure on wild populations and the agave plants they depend on.
Video: Scientists Solve ‘Golden Orb’ Mystery
After more than two years of investigation, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have identified an unknown creature dubbed the “golden orb.” The orb perplexed researchers and enthusiasts of the deep sea around the world after it was found in 2023 near Alaska.
Scientists just uncovered a 3 million-year climate mystery in Antarctic ice
Ancient Antarctic ice is revealing a surprising new chapter in Earth’s climate story, stretching back 3 million years. By analyzing tiny pockets of trapped air and rare gases, scientists have discovered that while the planet cooled significantly—especially in the oceans—levels of key greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane changed only modestly. This unexpected mismatch suggests other powerful forces, such as shifting ice sheets, ocean circulation, and Earth’s reflectivity, played major roles in driving long-term climate change.
Golden Blob, a Mystery From the Deep Sea, Is Identified
The strange, shiny discovery, retrieved from the ocean near Alaska in 2023, turned out to be part of an anemone, scientists said.
Stunning 132 million-year-old dinosaur tracks are rewriting history
A long-standing mystery in southern Africa’s fossil record is beginning to unravel. After massive lava flows 182 million years ago seemed to erase evidence of dinosaurs in the region, scientists have now uncovered surprising new clues along the Western Cape coast. Dozens of dinosaur tracks, about 132 million years old, have been discovered in a tiny stretch of rock near Knysna—making them the youngest ever found in southern Africa.
U.S. scientists solve the mystery of a golden orb discovered in the deep sea. Here's what it really is
The enigmatic orb has undergone extensive examination and DNA testing, enabling scientists to reveal its true origins
Chinese Scientists Have Been Dying Mysterious Deaths Too
As the US questions the untimely deaths or the disappearances of top scientists, China is grappling with the same mystery at home.