Dwayne Johnson is spending some quality time with his family in Hawaii, where he spent his childhood.
The wrestler-turned-actor took to his official Instagram account on Sunday to share a glimpse of a traditional dance her performed with his family.
The Jumanji actor called the ‘sacred dance’ an emotional and special moment to him as he got to enjoy the tradition with his mom and daughters.
“I was blessed to have this very special moment on stage with my mom, my daughters, and our aiga (family) — dancing our Samoan culture’s sacred dance, the Taualuga,” he wrote in the caption along with a video of him dancing with a group of Hawaiian people.
“It’s custom for Samoan men to take their shirts off to proudly show our Polynesian tatau (tattoo) and the intricate stories our ink tells,” Dwayne explained. “I’m slapping the ground as a way to show my respect for how significant this is and how SACRED our ground becomes in this moment with our elders (and my daughters dancing next to me).”
“You can’t help but feel it. The mana,” wrote before calling it “emotional.”
“Life is busy for everyone – so special moments like this mean the world to me, to honor our family, our culture and always so good coming back home to Hawaii. Yesaah,” Dwayne reflected.
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Nick Ross is a veteran technology journalist who has contributed to many of Australia’s top technology titles and edited several of them. He was also the launch editor of the ABC’s Technology section. He now spends his time being a journalist, editor, publisher, media commentator, digital marketer, producer, copywriter, corporate host and media consultant, to various degrees. He covers all things business and technology including IoT, cybersecurity, UC and the professional Audio/Visual space: from consumer to B2B and Enterprise.
We’ve known for a little while now that Microsoft will allow those of us still on Windows 10 to extend our security support for another year after the end-of-life date in October. However, until now, there hasn’t really been a way to enrol in it. We knew what it’d take, but we had no way of telling Microsoft what path we’d like to take.
If you’ve been itching to get your Windows 10 supported until October 2026, then I have some excellent news for you. Microsoft has confirmed that it’s beginning to roll out a new screen that lets you pick which option you’d like to take, and while you may not see it on your PC right away, it should arrive before the end-of-life date.
In a statement to Windows Latest, Microsoft has confirmed that Windows 10 users should see new options to continue their security support for another year. These options should appear on the Windows Update page, underneath the “Check for Updates” button.
The process for enrolling your PC looks really simple. Once you tell Windows 10 that you want to continue support, it’ll pop up a wizard that will break down what the end-of-support date means for you and what you can do to extend it for another year. It then provides three options, which Microsoft seemingly hasn’t changed since it announced the extended support program: back up your Windows 10 PC to OneDrive, spend 1,000 Microsoft Points, or pay $30. Once you select one of the options, the wizard will then declare your PC safe for another year.
It’s worth noting that you have to go through the wizard while logged into a Microsoft account to get the benefits. This matches what we learned earlier, where people with only local accounts can’t extend their support.
However, Microsoft doesn’t mince words when it comes to explaining its real intent with the extended support program:
It’s great that you are opting into Extended Security Updates. This is just one step on your way to Windows 11.
Yeah, it seems that Microsoft isn’t going to allow people to cling to Windows 10 forever. In fact, if it truly does see the extended security update scheme as “one step” toward Windows 11, we can likely expect a lot more pester screens and gentle nudges in the coming year.
If you’d rather pass on jumping through hoops to have a safe and secure operating system, there are plenty of alternative paths you can take. For example, you can dodge Windows 11’s system requirements with Flyoobe, or join me as one of the escapees who are ditching Windows for Linux.
When most people think of COVID now, they picture a short illness like a cold – a few days of fever, sore throat or cough before getting better.
But for many, the story doesn’t end there. Long COVID – defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as symptoms lasting at least three months after infection – has become a lasting part of the pandemic.
Most research has focused on describing symptoms – such as fatigue, brain fog, and breathlessness. But we know less about their effect on daily life, and this hasn’t been well studied in Australia. That’s where our new study, published today, comes in.
Related: People Are Trying Nicotine Gum For Long Covid – Could It Treat Brain Fog?
We show long COVID isn’t just uncomfortable or inconvenient. People with the condition told us it can profoundly limit their daily life and stop them from doing what they want to do, and need to do.
Long COVID affects about 6% of people with COVID, with more than 200 symptoms recorded. For some, it lasts a few months. For “long haulers” it stretches into years.
The size of the problem is hard to measure, because symptoms vary from person to person. This has led to debate about what long COVID really is, what causes it, and even whether it’s real.
But mounting evidence shows long COVID is very real and serious. Studies confirm it reduces quality of life to levels seen in illnesses such as chronic fatigue syndrome, stroke, rheumatoid arthritis and Parkinson’s disease.
We surveyed 121 adults across Australia living with long COVID. They had caught COVID between February 2020 and June 2022, with most aged 36–50. Most were never hospitalised, and managed their illness at home.
But months or years later, they were still struggling with daily activities they once took for granted.
To understand the impact, we asked them to complete two surveys widely used in health research to measure disability and quality of life – the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0) and the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36).
These surveys capture people’s own voices and lived experience. Unlike scans or blood tests, they show what symptoms mean for everyday life.
The results were striking.
People with long COVID reported worse disability than 98% of the general Australian population. A total of 86% of those with long COVID met the threshold for serious disability compared with 9% of Australians overall.
On average, people had trouble with daily activities on about 27 days a month and were unable to function on about 18 days.
Tasks such as eating or dressing were less affected, but more complex areas – housework and socialising – were badly impacted. People could often meet basic needs, but their ability to contribute to their homes, workplaces and communities was limited.
Quality of life was also badly affected. Energy levels and social life were the most impacted, reflecting how fatigue and brain fog affect activities, relationships and community connections. On average, overall quality of life scores were 23% lower than the general population.
International research shows similar patterns. One study across 13 countries found similar levels of disability. It also found women had higher disability scores than men. As long COVID disability has many facets and can change a lot over time, it doesn’t fit into traditional ways of providing health care for chronic conditions.
Another key insight from our study is the importance of self-reported outcomes. Long COVID has no diagnostic test, and people often report health professionals are sceptical about their symptoms and their impact. Yet our study showed people’s own ratings of their recovery strongly predicted their disability and quality of life.
This shows self-reports are not just “stories”. They are valid and reliable indicators of health. They also capture what medical tests cannot.
For example, fatigue is not just being tired. It can mean losing concentration while driving, giving up hobbies, or pulling away from cherished friendships.
Our study shows long COVID disrupts futures, breaks connections, and creates daily struggles that ripple out to families, workplaces and communities.
Evidence presented to the 2023 parliamentary long COVID inquiry estimates hundreds of thousands of Australians are living with long COVID.
We know disadvantaged communities are even more likely to be impacted by the cascading effects of long COVID. So ignoring the scale and severity of long COVID risks deepening inequality and worsening its impact even further.
By building services based on lived experience, we can move towards restoring not just health, but dignity and participation in daily life for people with long COVID.
We need rehabilitation and support services that go beyond basic medical care. People need support to manage fatigue, such as “pacing” and conserving energy by not overexerting themselves. Workplaces need to accommodate people with long COVID by reducing hours, redesigning job demands and offering flexible leave. People also need support to rebuild social connections.
All this requires people with long COVID to be thoughtfully assessed and treated. Listening to patients and valuing their experience is a crucial first step.
We’d like to acknowledge the following co-authors of the research mentioned in this article: Tanita Botha, Fisaha Tesfay, Sara Holton, Cathy Said, Martin Hensher, Mary Rose Angeles, Catherine Bennett, Bodil Rasmussen and Kelli Nicola-Richmond.
Danielle Hitch, Senior Lecturer in Occupational Therapy, Deakin University; Genevieve Pepin, Professor, School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, and Kieva Richards, Lecturer in Occupational Therapy, La Trobe University
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
With the help of NASA’s advanced supercomputers, a team of researchers took a closer look at the relationship between Greenland’s rapid glacier melt and carbon cycling in nearby coastal waters.
In a recent study, published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment, scientists examined Sermeq Kujalleq, a glacier experiencing rapid melting.
Aided by supercomputers, the team attempted to determine the impact of glacier meltwater in nearby fjords and how it can influence the marine ecosystems that surround them.
According to the researchers, when glaciers release meltwater into fjords, it’s not the meltwater itself that provides nutrients.
Instead, the meltwater creates powerful plumes that pull nutrient-rich deep water to the surface, where phytoplankton can use the nutrients — particularly nitrate — to grow. This can encourage certain marine species to thrive, though the effects are complex.
Dustin Carroll, oceanographer and co-author of the study, noted that uncertainty was the reasoning behind the study — as Daily Galaxy detailed.
“We were faced with this classic problem of trying to understand a system that is so remote and buried beneath ice. We needed a gem of a computer model to help,” Carroll explained in a NASA report.
As global temperatures continue to rise, it may become an even more significant factor in the melting of ice sheets. Regions in Greenland and Antarctica have experienced melting at an already accelerated rate, which contributes to rising sea levels and other climate-related changes.
As noted by the researchers, the continued rise of global temperatures is projected to increase glacial melt and runoff by 100 to 300% by the end of the century. This will also increase the likelihood of stronger blooms near glacier fjords.
Michael Wood, a computational oceanographer and co-author of the study, explained that this study is just one aspect of a much larger picture. Daily Galaxy said that the researchers looked to use their simulations more broadly on the Greenland coast and elsewhere.
Though glacier meltwater doesn’t feed phytoplankton directly, it does stir up nutrient-rich water that fuels big summer blooms in Greenland’s fjords. This boosts productivity and supports the marine food web but only modestly increases carbon dioxide uptake, according to the study. As the world continues to warm, Arctic marine ecosystems may also be affected.
“Looking to the future, there are several key measurements required to understand ecosystem changes now and in the coming decades,” the study reads. “Additional measurements of nutrient availability are required to constrain model results, especially in coastal regions and fjords, which are hotspots of productivity yet often devoid of biogeochemical measurements.”
While the scope of the team’s research focused on Greenland, its tools and methodology weren’t restricted to a single location. Wood explained that the findings can serve as a blueprint for other regions to determine the impacts of the changing world, which might range from increasing intensity of severe storms to extended droughts.
“We didn’t build these tools for one specific application,” Wood said. “Our approach is applicable to any region, from the Texas Gulf to Alaska. Like a Swiss army knife, we can apply it to lots of different scenarios.”
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As National Head of Investment, Crowley will lead the agency’s investment team across all markets, as it focuses on driving accelerated growth outcomes for clients. She will continue to work alongside UM’s National Head of Media Planning to align trading and planning outcomes, while also driving consistency, quality and innovation across the agency’s investment product.
Says Anathea Ruys, CEO UM Australia: “Britt is an incredible force in our business and since she joined UM, I have been so impressed by her nuanced approach to partnership and negotiations, her care for the people she works with, her commitment to delivering exceptional outcomes for clients and her desire to make our media industry better and stronger.
“We need unquestionable quality at this level, and Britt delivers, so I am delighted she has taken on this important and expanded role and will continue to ensure UM delivers consistent quality with pioneering and precision-driving media execution.”
Crowley joined UM in September 2024, bringing a wealth of experience working in senior agency roles, with deep expertise creating market leading trading solutions/strategies to deliver effective campaigns, trusted media-owner relationships and a proven record of delivering exceptional results for clients across multiple categories.
On her new role, Crowley says: “It’s an incredibly exciting time to be in the media business. The pace of change in technology and data means we can create smarter, more impactful ways to connect with audiences. I’m looking forward to working with our talented teams and partners to deliver standout campaigns that not only drive growth for our clients but also set new benchmarks for innovation in the market.
“This year has been exciting for UM, highlighted by the brand’s new global proposition, new client wins and award-winning work that truly showcases our team’s talent. I’m proud to be part of such a high-achieving agency and can’t wait to accomplish even more together.”
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Kevin Jonas threw in a surprise solo performance at a recent Jonas Brothers concert.
The musician, 37, debuted a new song Changing during the band’s tour stop in Boston on Saturday.
“I’m super nervous, so bear with me,” Kevin told the crowd as he appeared onstage with a guitar in hand, per a fan-captured video posted to X.
The music to the intro of the song then played and the eldest Jonas brother started singing the lyrics to the new track as the crowd cheered.
Details on the song’s release or future plans remain under wraps. However, Kevin is the only member of the Jonas Brothers who has yet to release a solo track throughout the trio’s career.
The performance marked Kevin’s first solo appearance since 2010, when he performed Scandinavia on the first season of the Jonas Brothers’ Disney Channel series JONAS.
Kevin’s brother Joe Jonas, 36, released his first solo track Say No More and subsequent debut solo album Fastlife in 2011. Meanwhile, brother Nick Jonas, 32, released his debut solo song Jealous in 2014.
New fMRI evidence shows that the brain’s hand and lip maps remain stable years after amputation, reshaping our understanding of neuroplasticity and guiding future prosthetic and rehabilitation strategies.
Study: Stable cortical body maps before and after arm amputation. Image Credit: SeventyFour / Shutterstock
In a recent study published in Nature Neuroscience, a group of researchers tested whether adult arm amputation triggers large-scale cortical reorganization by tracking hand and lip representations with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) before and up to 5 years after surgery.
For decades, students learned that after a hand is lost, the face invades its territory in the brain. Yet amputees feel vivid phantom fingers and can try to move them, suggesting preserved maps. Classic animal studies and early human imaging supported extensive reorganization in the primary somatosensory cortex (S1). Newer human work points to stability, with phantom movements engaging handlike patterns.
The authors also highlight that phantom activity can be confirmed by residual limb muscle contractions, indicating genuine motor attempts rather than imagined actions. The field lacks longitudinal data following the same people across surgery.
Comparisons of affected and unaffected hemispheres, and replication in primary motor cortex (M1), are essential to reconcile models, and further research is needed to identify who reorganizes, when, and why.
Three adults scheduled for unilateral arm amputation (P1, P2, P3) were studied twice before surgery and at 3 months, 6 months, and at follow-up (1.5 years for P1; 5 years for P2). Sixteen able-bodied controls (Ctrl) were scanned at four sessions over 6 months; a separate group of 22 younger controls was additionally analyzed for P1.
A chronic amputee group (n = 26) provided context. fMRI was acquired on a 3 Tesla scanner. T1 weighted magnetization prepared rapid acquisition gradient echo anatomy and blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) echo planar imaging were collected (repetition time (TR) 1.5 s, echo time (TE) 35 ms, field of view (FOV) 212 mm, 2 mm isotropic voxels).
During scanning, participants performed movements of each finger, lips, and feet; after surgery, they attempted phantom hand movements and completed imagery control scans. Analyses focused on S1, Brodmann area 3b (BA3b), with replication in M1. A general linear model (GLM) estimated condition beta weights.
Multivoxel analyses included support vector machine (SVM) decoding across sessions and representational similarity analysis (RSA) using cross-validated Mahalanobis distances. Region of interest (ROI) definitions, center of gravity (COG) shifts, and smoothing parameters (full width at half maximum (FWHM) 3 mm) followed procedures.
a, Experimental timeline. Scans before and after amputation were conducted across 4–5 time points: twice before, and at 3 months, 6 months and 1.5 (P1)/5 years (P2) after amputation. b, Illustration depicting the three participants 6 months after amputation, including their subjective description of their phantom limb position. c, Phantom movements are not imaginary. Univariate activity (z-scored) contrast map displaying a participant’s attempts to open and close the phantom hand versus imagining movement, 6 months after amputation. d, Participant’s hand (red) and lip (blue) cortical activation maps (contrasted against feet movements) in the affected hand hemisphere across 4–5 sessions. All maps were minimally thresholded at 33% the maximum z-statistic and used a common color scale (the participant’s maximum z-statistic > 4.5). Participants agreed to have their image reproduced. Brain illustrations in a were created in BioRender.
Across sessions spanning before and after surgery, all three case participants generated phantom hand sensations and could volitionally attempt phantom finger movements; phantom movement produced stronger activity than imagining movement, and was accompanied by residual muscle contractions in the stump, confirming genuine motor control.
Hand and lip activity in the hemisphere contralateral to the missing hand were tracked across time using matched tasks. COG shifts for the hand and individual fingers fell within the able-bodied Ctrl distribution at 6 months, and voxelwise finger patterns before amputation correlated strongly with those at the final scan.
Decoders trained on pre-amputation finger pairs classified post-amputation patterns above chance, and RSA with cross-validated Mahalanobis distances confirmed significant consistency across sessions, including long-term follow-ups. Together, these multivoxel metrics indicate stability of the hand map in S1, with similar evidence in M1.
The study also tested a central prediction of remapping: increased lip activity in the deprived S1 hand region and expansion of lip map boundaries toward hand territory. Neither pattern emerged. Across timepoints, lip univariate activity in the hand region stayed within the Ctrl range, the lip COG did not drift toward the hand, and lip map boundaries showed no expansion.
One participant (P2) did show a temporary increase in lip–thumb representational distance at 6 months, which returned to the typical range by 5 years. When compared with a chronic amputee cohort (n = 26; approximately 23.5 years since amputation) and a secondary Ctrl cohort (n = 18), the case participants’ phantom hand and lip COGs fell within group distributions, and lip activity in the S1 hand region matched the chronic amputee pattern.
The authors note that some case participants showed slightly, though not significantly, higher lip activity than chronic amputees.
Transient deviations were detected but were idiosyncratic rather than systematic. At 6 months, P1 showed a temporary reduction in average finger selectivity relative to Ctrls that returned to the typical range by 1.5 years; P3 showed a similar transient reduction in decoding at 6 months. P2 already had reduced classification accuracy before surgery due to impaired motor control, which complicates the interpretation of post-amputation changes.
The authors note that some transient reductions did not survive statistical correction and may reflect classifier sampling variability across long intervals. In the unaffected hemisphere, intact hand finger selectivity and lip metrics showed typical session-to-session variability relative to Ctrls.
A separate analysis found that for the missing hand, only P3 showed a brief reduction in average inter-finger correlation at 3 months, which normalized by 6 months.
Overall, the longitudinal evidence demonstrates stable hand and lip cortical maps across amputation, with only brief and participant-specific reductions near the early post-amputation window.
In adults, arm amputation did not trigger large-scale remapping of S1 or M1. Hand representations and lip maps remained topographically stable, while multivoxel structure could be decoded across surgery, with brief dips early after amputation.
The findings support a deeper conceptual shift: S1 is not a passive relay of peripheral input but maintains an internal, resilient body model that persists even after sensory loss. This stability matters clinically, as it supports training strategies that leverage intact hand representations for prosthetic control and for targeted neurostimulation or sensory feedback. The longitudinal design, small sample, and adult cohort limit generalization, and child plasticity may differ.
Future work should test diverse etiologies, ages, and rehabilitation paths to determine when cortical maps reorganize and how interventions shape outcomes.
Journal reference: