Author: admin

  • Apple News+ introduces Emoji Game

    Apple News+ introduces Emoji Game

    Today, Apple News+ debuted Emoji Game, an original puzzle that challenges subscribers to use emoji to complete short phrases. Emoji Game is now available in English for Apple News+ subscribers in the U.S. and Canada.1

    “Emoji Game is the perfect addition to the Apple News+ suite of word and number puzzles, turning the emoji we use every day into a brainteaser that’s approachable and fun,” said Lauren Kern, editor-in-chief of Apple News.

    Emoji Game challenges players to use a selection of emoji — including Genmoji created using Apple Intelligence — to fill in the blanks of three short phrases using as few moves as possible. Each phrase is accompanied by a clue, which the user can choose to reveal, but that will count toward the player’s total number of moves. Results can be tracked on Game Center leaderboards, or shared with friends and family through Messages, Mail, social media, or other platforms. Subscribers can access daily and archived Emoji Game puzzles in the Puzzles section of the Apple News app. Apple News+ subscribers will also be able to access Emoji Game this fall through the Apple Games app, an all-new destination designed to help players jump back into the games they love, find their next favorite, and have more fun with friends. Emoji Game joins existing Apple News+ puzzles like crossword, crossword mini, Quartiles, and sudoku.

    Apple News+ provides subscribers with access to content from more than 400 top publications, including an expansive selection of local publications like the recently added Tampa Bay Times, The Minnesota Star Tribune, and The Washington Post. In addition to Apple News+ Puzzles, subscribers also get access to a dedicated Sports section featuring content about users’ favorite teams from local and national publications, as well as a newly introduced Food section, which offers subscribers access to tens of thousands of recipes and culinary stories from top food publishers.

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  • Children under seven should not drink slushies containing glycerol, says regulator | Health

    Children under seven should not drink slushies containing glycerol, says regulator | Health

    Children under seven should not drink slushies containing glycerol because of the serious health risks they can cause, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has said.

    Glycerol is a naturally occurring alcohol and sugar substitute that helps slushies maintain their texture by preventing liquid from freezing solid.

    Children who become ill as a result of drinking slushies develop glycerol intoxication syndrome, which causes symptoms such as decreased consciousness and low blood sugar. Other symptoms include lactic acidosis, which occurs when the body produces too much lactic acid, and hypokalaemia, or low potassium.

    Previously, the FSA, the food safety body for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, had advised that children under four should not have slush ice drinks containing glycerol, and that consumption should be limited to no more than one slushie a day for children aged between five and 10 years. The FSA has revised its guidance before an expected seasonal spike in slush ice drink sales at children’s indoor play areas, leisure facilities and outdoor events over the summer holidays.

    This latest advice also applies to ready-to-drink slush ice drinks with glycerol in pouches and home kits containing glycerol slush concentrates.

    There have been nine confirmed cases of glycerol intoxication in young children who were admitted to hospital in the UK over the past three years.

    In March, paediatricians warned that children under eight should not drink slushies that contain glycerol, after a review of the medical notes of 21 children who became acutely unwell shortly after drinking one.

    Prof Robin May, the chief scientific adviser at the FSA, said: “As we head into the summer holidays, we want parents to be aware of the potential risks associated with slush ice drinks containing glycerol. While these drinks may seem harmless and side-effects are generally mild, they can, especially when consumed in large quantities over a short time, pose serious health risks to young children.

    “That’s why we’re recommending that children under seven should not consume these drinks at all, and children aged seven to 10 should have no more than one 350ml serving.

    “We’re working closely with industry to ensure appropriate warnings are in place wherever these drinks are sold, but in the meantime we are asking parents and carers to take extra care when buying drinks for young children, particularly during warmer months when consumption of ‘slushies’ typically increases.”

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  • Prospect of a ‘home’ Rugby World Cup is inspiring Zimbabwe’s Ian Prior to play on

    Prospect of a ‘home’ Rugby World Cup is inspiring Zimbabwe’s Ian Prior to play on

    Zimbabwe’s Ian Prior admits it is hard to ignore the prize at stake this weekend.

    The reigning Rugby Africa Men’s Cup champions face Namibia in Namboole, Uganda, this Saturday, with the winner of the final qualifying for Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027.

    While Namibia have been ever-present at the Men’s Rugby World Cup since their debut in 1999, the Sables have failed to qualify since the last of their two tournament appearances in 1991.

    As an Australian born to Zimbabwean parents, Prior is especially excited by the prospect of representing Zimbabwe on home soil at the Rugby World Cup.

    “These are the games that you play for as a player – Grand Finals. Games like this can change the course of people’s careers, not only players but also administrators, coaches. It’s really exciting and it’s great to be a part of it this weekend,” said the former Western Force player.

    “We’ve given ourselves a shot, which is very pleasing, given all the hard work that has gone in from a lot of people from inside and outside of the team over the last 12 to 18 months to get us to this position.

    “And now it is time to go and enjoy it for what it is. Playing for that spot in the World Cup is really exciting, and the cool thing from a team perspective is that we haven’t really played to our potential yet in this tournament.”

    POINTS MACHINE

    Zimbabwe defied wet conditions and determined opponents to ease past Morocco 43-9 in the Rugby Africa Men’s Cup quarter-finals before edging out Kenya, 29-23, in a thrilling semi-final last Sunday.

    The Sables are known for playing with freedom and scoring some fantastic tries from deep rather than relying on goal-kicking. 

    But Prior’s boot had a big say in both wins, scoring 37 points – just over half his team’s overall total – including a crucial late drop goal against Kenya’s Simbas.

    “We had a wet game, first game, and in the second game, Kenya put us under defensive pressure, and they were quite physical, so we haven’t been really able to unlock our (attacking) game as much as we’d have wanted to.

    “But I think we have adjusted really well, to show we are a test match side in terms of how we have adapted our game to suit the conditions and to suit the teams we are playing.”

    Prior expects another physical battle against Namibia, who Zimbabwe beat 32-10 in last year’s semi-finals, their first win over the Welwitschias in 23 years and only their third in history. 

    “They’re a quality side, they have shown that in the last seven (Rugby World Cup) campaigns,” he stated. 

    “They’re a well-drilled side, they’ll bring some defensive pressure, they’re strong in the set-piece, and it is up to us to make sure we utilise our tools in the game and put our best foot forward in the 80 minutes.

    “At the end of the day, that’s what it comes down to, who executes it best for those 80 minutes.”

    MAKING IT COUNT

    Prior has a Super Rugby winner’s medal from his time at Queensland Reds, as well as being one of only three Force players to make over 100 appearances before giving up full-time rugby last year.

    He’ll be 37 by the time the next tournament kicks off, and appearing at a Rugby World Cup for Zimbabwe would be the perfect way for him to hang up his boots for good.

    “I don’t know too much about the history of previous campaigns, where we have made it to the final and had a shot. I can’t remember the last time when that was as a nation. So to have earned our way here is really exciting,” he said.

    “Obviously, that World Cup carrot has been a goal of mine to keep going, to keep waking up at 5.30 and go to gym before I go to work and then coming back from work, picking up the kids and going to do extra training on my own, because I am not in a full-time, professional environment anymore, kicking balls down to the local park and at my local club, Associates RUFC, 

    “It’s almost taken me back to when I was trying to make it as a pro, doing all hours, outside of your work, outside of your study, and now I have got a young family and a wife.

    “They’ve been very understanding of the sacrifices I have had to make; it is time away from them, so I am looking forward to making that count on Saturday.”

    In his six caps, Prior has amassed 80 points and is yet to lose in a Zimbabwean jersey, one which he wears with pride.

    “For someone who has plied his trade in Super Rugby for 14 years and always had test ambitions, to represent my heritage nation where my family all come from – I am the only Aussie born in my family – is pretty special,” he confessed.

    ‘AN UNBELIEVABLE EXPERIENCE’

    National pride is something that Namibia’s head coach, Jacques Burger, has in abundance. 

    The devil-may-care flanker played at three Rugby World Cups for Namibia and would love to get to a fourth, this time as coach, so his players can experience what he experienced in 2007, 2011 and 2015.

    The Welwitschias are still on course to qualify for an eighth straight tournament after booking their place in this year’s Rugby Africa Men’s Cup final with a 21-7 win over Algeria in last weekend’s semi-finals.

    “It’s a sense of pride you can’t explain, standing there singing your national anthem, and knowing people back home are supporting you, and obviously, people are supporting you there as well.

    “Getting an opportunity to play against the world’s best rugby players is an unbelievable experience, and I have been fortunate enough to experience that.

    “Everybody here, all the teams, that’s what they fight for, to get that opportunity, to represent their country at a World Cup.

    “Careers don’t last forever, but the memories you make as players are everlasting. 

    “We want to make sure we make some great memories together, and in order to do that, we have to be successful. We have to work hard, fight hard, and stick together through the tough times.

    “The World Cup is the ultimate goal and we’ll make sure we do everything possible to qualify.”

    Photo: Rugby Africa

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  • Slack bolsters search with AI, adds transcriptions and summaries for huddles

    Slack bolsters search with AI, adds transcriptions and summaries for huddles

    As the race to bake in AI features into productivity apps intensifies, Slack is bolstering search on its app with AI features, adding transcription and summaries for huddles, and a way to see recaps of channels and threads.

    Using AI, Slack now lets you search across channels as well as connected apps (like Google Drive, Salesforce and Teams) to surface relevant files and conversations. This feature will be available on Slack’s Business and Enterprise plans.

    Image Credits: Slack

    The company is also using AI to bolster Huddles, the company’s voice and video chat feature, with call transcriptions, summaries, and the app will automatically highlight key action items brought up in calls.

    And to help users catch up on conversations, Slack will offer summaries of messages in a channel or thread if you were away.

    The company said that it will roll out a way for users to get a summary of another user’s profile, showing their role and recent work. There are also plans for a feature in the Activities tab that will surface action items when you’re looking at a message mentioning you.

    Image Credits: Slack

    Slack added that it is working on a feature that would let you use AI to explain a message in the context of the given conversation.

    Image Credits: Slack

    For Canvas, a collaborative panel that lets users share guides, documents, and information, the company plans to add an AI-powered writing assistant that would help users create a canvas from any conversation or change the existing content’s formatting.

    Techcrunch event

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    The app’s also getting a design makeover — we’re getting a unified space for all shared files, lists, and Canvas items.

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  • Disney IP anchors theme parks. Here’s why it works

    Disney IP anchors theme parks. Here’s why it works

    General views of Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland on April 06, 2024 in Anaheim, California.

    Aaronp/bauer-griffin | Gc Images | Getty Images

    The “Happiest Place on Earth” turns 70 this week.

    Disneyland, a pillar of the Anaheim, California, community since 1955, was a passion project of founder Walt Disney, a place where adults and their children could have fun together. It also served as a place where the longtime media company could show off and weave together different pieces of its business from films, television shows and comic strips to music and merchandising.

    Disney’s portfolio of intellectual property has been the bedrock of its theme parks since the very first location opened its doors. These days, the company’s experiences division, which includes parks, resorts, cruises and consumer products, remains one of its best profit drivers. Operating income for the unit for fiscal 2024 was more than double that of the content-centric entertainment division, where the IP originates.

    Disneyland in Anaheim began with more than a dozen attractions, many of which were pulled directly from Disney’s archive of theatrical films. Among them were Mad Tea Party based on “Alice in Wonderland,” Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride from “The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad,” Peter Pan’s Flight, Snow White’s Enchanted Wish and Dumbo the Flying Elephant.

    Over the past seven decades, Disney has opened a total of 12 theme parks across the United States, Europe and Asia, with another set to open in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, in the coming years. It also has a fleet of cruise ships, which is set to double by 2031, and nearly 60 resort hotels and vacation properties globally.

    “If you go back now 70 years ago, Walt knew the great stories that he was creating, if he combined those with the technologies that were at hand at the time with this idea of an immersive experience that he could create something that no one else had ever done,” said Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Walt Disney’s parks and resorts. “And it really set the Disney brand apart.”

    Vice president Richard M Nixon, Mrs. Patricia Nixon, Tricia Nixon, 9 years, Julie Nixon, 7 years, Donnie Nixon (nephew), Fess Parker (actor), CV Wood, Junior (General manager of Disneyland), Anaheim, California, August 11, 1955.

    University Of Southern California | Corbis Historical | Getty Images

    The first rides at Disneyland were interspersed with original creations like Jungle Cruise, Autopia and the Disneyland Railroad.

    While Disney would bring a number of non-IP attractions to life over the next few decades — Matterhorn Bobsleds, Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, Big Thunder Mountain and Space Mountain, among them — in the last decade, the company has committed to utilizing its existing catalog of stories to fuel new and updated attractions in its domestic and international theme parks.

    Collecting stories

    Much of that strategy has come in the wake of CEO Bob Iger’s acquisition of four major studios — Pixar (2006), Marvel (2009), Lucasfilm (2012) and 20th Century Fox (2019) — which brought coveted franchises under the House of Mouse roof.

    “I think we’ve been fortunate now in that we have gone after that IP, brought it into the Disney fold, and just made the brand even more powerful,” D’Amaro said.

    Many of these brands already appeared in the company’s parks as part of licensing deals, like Star Tours, which opened in 1987; Indiana Jones Adventure, added in 1995; and Buzz Lightyear Astro Blaster, which debuted in 2005.

    The company also opened entire lands — curated areas that have themed rides, food and entertainment centered on one piece of IP. This included A Bug’s Land, which opened in 2002 at Disney’s California Adventure park, based on Pixar’s “A Bug’s Life” and Pandora — The World of Avatar, set on the fictional planet Pandora from Fox’s “Avatar” film and built at Animal Kingdom in Florida.

    General views the Pandora The World Of Avatar Dedication at the Disney Animal Kingdom on May 23, 2017 in Orlando, Florida.

    Gustavo Caballero | Getty Images Entertainment | Getty Images

    Many of these additions came under the leadership of then-CEO Michael Eisner, who helmed the company from 1984 until 2005.

    Chief among his acquisitions was securing the IP for Star Wars and Indiana Jones — two of the biggest franchises of the time — according to Gavin Doyle, founder of MickeyVisit.com. Eisner “went and licensed it and brought it into the parks,” Doyle said.

    Attendees sit in the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run ride following the unveiling of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Walt Disney Co.’s Disneyland theme park in Anaheim, California, U.S., on Wednesday, May 29, 2019.

    Bloomberg | Getty Images

    Decades later, Disney acquired Lucasfilm, which owns both film franchises, and expanded their presence.

    In 2019, the company opened two identical Star Wars-themed lands, one in Florida at Hollywood Studios and one in California at Disneyland. A new Indiana Jones attraction is planned for Disney’s Animal Kingdom as part of the park’s new Tropical Americas area. It is set to open in 2027.

    Fueling Disney parks with IP

    Last year, revenue growth in Disney’s experiences division was the strongest of any Disney division.

    Experiences posted record revenue and profit for fiscal 2024, with revenue rising 5% for the full year to $34.15 billion and operating income up 4% to $9.27 billion.

    Heading into 2025, the company said it expected to see 6% to 8% profit growth for experiences in fiscal 2025 — and that’s before it breaks ground on a slew of planned land expansions, new rides and re-themed attractions.

    “While investor focus understandably remains on near-term attendance and consumer spending trends, renewed momentum in creating successful content with Disney’s premium IP play a crucial role in generating long-term earnings power across parks, Disney+ and accelerating the unique advantage of the Disney flywheel across its portfolio,” said Robert Fishman, analyst at MoffettNathanson.

    Disney is relying heavily on IP as part of its 2023 pledge to invest $60 billion in experiences over the next decade.

    On the docket is a new villains land coming to Magic Kingdom, a “Monsters Inc.” land at Hollywood Studios, an “Encanto” ride at Animal Kingdom and the expansion of Avengers Campus with two new attractions. Disneyland is also expected to open a new Avatar area inspired by the scenery in the upcoming “Avatar: Fire and Ash.”

    Of course, these new developments also come with some drawbacks. Fan-favorite rides and even whole lands have shuttered or been re-themed as a result.

    Anaheim’s A Bug’s Land closed in 2018 so the space could be used to build Avengers Campus, a Marvel-themed land. DinoLand at Animal Kingdom is disappearing to make space for the new Tropical Americas area. At Magic Kingdom, Rivers of America, Tom Sawyer Island and the Liberty Square Riverboat have shut down to make room for an area called Piston Peak — a second Cars-themed land modeled after America’s natural parks.

    For individual rides, the most recent change was the re-theming of Splash Mountain at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. It was refreshed as Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, based on the characters from “The Princess and the Frog.”

    People pass by while riding in the Tiana’s Bayou Adventure log flume thrill ride at the Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World on April 3, 2025, in Orlando, Florida.

    Gary Hershorn | Corbis News | Getty Images

    While some Disney parks fans have balked at the changes the company has made to the parks, the strategy has expanded the company’s fan base and driven revenue growth across its global footprint.

    “It’s interesting because the IP is not always for the most vocal theme park fan,” Doyle said. “By definition, the IP is meant to broaden the audience.”

    “The whole company’s premised on entertaining, great storytelling,” D’Amaro said. “And in all of our stories, whether they be in animation or through our traditional characters or Star Wars or Marvel or Pixar, there’s this sense of connection to these characters. There’s this emotion that’s created, and then we carry that through into the theme parks.”

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  • Oral Semaglutide Offers Kidney Benefits in T2D

    Oral Semaglutide Offers Kidney Benefits in T2D

    TOPLINE:

    The administration of up to 14 mg oral semaglutide for about a year led to a reduction in the urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) by over 40%, without changing the rate of kidney function decline in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

    METHODOLOGY:

    • Researchers in Spain conducted a retrospective cohort study to evaluate the real-world effectiveness of oral semaglutide on kidney outcomes in patients with T2D.
    • They included 819 patients (median age, 63 years; 45.8% women) with T2D who initiated oral semaglutide (up to a dose of 14 mg/d) between 2021 and 2022, had undergone kidney function tests within 3 months before starting oral semaglutide, and had at least one follow-up measurement at 3 months.
    • In this cohort, the baseline median estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was 88.1 mL/min/1.73 m2, and the median UACR was 12 mg/g; 33.5% of patients had an UACR ≥ 30 mg/g, 47.2% had chronic kidney disease (CKD), and 57% were on background SGLT2 inhibitor treatment.
    • Co-primary endpoints were changes from baseline in the UACR and eGFR slope at 6 and 12 months.

    TAKEAWAY:

    • At 12 months, oral semaglutide use led to a reduction in the UACR by 40.0% in the overall cohort and by 50.7% and 49.9% in those with an UACR of 30-299 mg/g and ≥ 300 mg/g, respectively (P < .001 for all).
    • Across all albuminuria levels and CKD stages, the median eGFR remained stable, with median values of 88.1 and 87 mL/min/1.73 m2 at 6 and 12 months, respectively.
    • Low risk for liver fibrosis (measured using the fibrosis-4 index) was associated with over fivefold higher odds of achieving a more than 30% reduction in the UACR (adjusted odds ratio, 5.50; P = .006).
    • Fewer than 5% of patients had a major adverse kidney event by follow-up, and those who stopped semaglutide or had higher low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels faced a higher risk.

    IN PRACTICE:

    “Our data strongly suggest the renal benefits of oral semaglutide in a broad population of PWT2D [people with T2D]. Given the global supply chain issues for subcutaneous GLP-1 RAs [receptor agonists], the results of this study may be helpful in supporting clinical decision making,” the authors wrote.

    SOURCE:

    This study was led by Oscar Moreno-Pérez, General University Hospital Dr Balmis of Alicante, Alicante, and Rebeca Reyes-Garcia, University Hospital of Torrecárdenas, Almería, both in Spain. It was published online on July 11, 2025, in Clinical Kidney Journal.

    LIMITATIONS:

    This study was limited by its retrospective observational design without a control group and by potential variability in UACR measurements. The lack of adherence data and a short follow-up period may have led to an underestimation of kidney events. Additionally, selection bias could not be ruled out despite adjustment for confounders.

    DISCLOSURES:

    This study received a grant from Novo Nordisk to subsidise publication costs. Some authors reported receiving honoraria and/or consulting fees from several pharmaceutical companies, including the funding agency.

    This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.

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  • Tecno Claims Thinnest Tri-Fold With Phantom Ultimate G Fold Concept

    Tecno Claims Thinnest Tri-Fold With Phantom Ultimate G Fold Concept

    Most of the mobile phone players are showing their cards right now, and many are folding — on purpose. Tecno is the latest phone-maker to show off a new foldable phone, but this one bends in a different way than some others: a three-screen tri-fold concept.

    The Phantom Ultimate G Fold Concept follows in Tecno’s tradition of showcasing its mobile design prowess. This one looks like a reworking of the Phantom Ultimate 2 the company previewed in August 2024 (and which has not shipped). As a tri-fold phone, Tecno’s phone joins Huawei’s Mate XT Ultimate, which is available now outside the US, and a rumored Samsung Galaxy G Fold that execs have hinted is coming later this year. (Meanwhile, at least one prominent phone-maker is sitting out the foldable game, but maybe not for long.)

    A hand holds a folded version of a tri-fold phone, revealing how the hinges between panels works.

    The Phantom Ultimate G Fold Concept, folded.

    Tecno

    Unlike the Mate XT Ultimate, which unfolds in a Z-pattern like an accordion, the three panels of the Phantom Ultimate G Fold Concept fold in on each other (hence the “G” moniker when you look at the phone from the bottom).

    But just engineering a foldable phone isn’t enough these days — it has to be slim. And in this respect, Tecno is trying to thin the field. The Phantom Ultimate G Fold measures 3.49mm thick when unfolded, exposing a 9.49-inch display with “minimal creasing,” according to Tecno. By contrast, the Huawei Mate XT Ultimate is 3.6mm at its thinnest point, and Samsung’s latest two-panel Galaxy Z Fold 7 is 4.2mm thick when unfolded.

    Looking at a tri-fold phone from the top edge. A person holds it with one hand and uses the other to point at the screen.

    The top-down view of the Phantom Ultimate G Fold Concept shows just how thin it is when unfolded.

    Tecno

    When folded, Tecno’s device measures 11.49mm, making it thinner than the Huawei’s at 12.88mm but still chunky compared to non-folding phones like the iPhone 16 Pro (8.25mm) or the single-fold Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 (8.9mm). But that’s a trade-off to be expected.

    Thinness by itself is impressive, but as we’ve learned, it needs to be backed up by stability. Tecno says the Phantom Ultimate G Fold includes a custom-engineered dual-hinge system that incorporates a waterdrop hinge anchoring the panel to the right to fold first, and a larger primary hinge holding the left panel. Thanks to a dual-cam design, that large hinge can be set in a partially folded configuration, presumably propping it up to do things like watch content or take video calls.

    A tri-fold phone on a table, looking at it sideways.

    The two hinges of the Phantom Ultimate G Fold can be seen when looking at it from the top in its folded state.

    Tecno

    Other specs for the Phantom Ultimate G Fold are currently scarce, other than it will include an “over 5,000-mAh” battery. That’s pretty good for most phones, but it’s unclear how much power will be siphoned by that big 9.49-inch display in regular use. When looking at the Mate XT Ultimate last year, CNET’s Sareena Dayaram felt that its 5,600-mAh battery could be an issue due to the large inner screen.

    Tecno says it will include a “high-performance chipset” and a “versatile triple-camera system,” but did not supply further details. While the latest mobile silicon can handle multiple screens, we’ll wait to see if the Ultimate G Fold can run apps well with its unique display system.

    There’s also no anticipated price or shipping target; Tecno expects to showcase it at Mobile World Congress 2026.


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  • Largest Martian meteorite ever found sells for $5.3M in US auction

    Largest Martian meteorite ever found sells for $5.3M in US auction

    The largest piece of Mars ever found on Earth was sold for just over $5 million at an auction of rare geological and archaeological objects in New York on Wednesday. But a rare young dinosaur skeleton stole the show when it fetched more than $30 million in a bidding frenzy.

    The 54-pound (25-kilogram) rock named NWA 16788 was discovered in the Sahara Desert in Niger by a meteorite hunter in November 2023, after having been blown off the surface of Mars by a massive asteroid strike and traveling 140 million miles (225 million kilometers) to Earth, according to Sotheby’s. The estimated sale price before the auction was $2 million to $4 million.

    The identity of the buyer was not immediately disclosed. The final bid was $4.3 million. Adding various fees and costs, the official sale price was about $5.3 million, making it the most valuable meteorite ever sold at auction, Sotheby’s said.

    The live bidding was slow, with the auctioneer trying to coax more offers and decreasing the minimum bid increments.

    The dinosaur skeleton, on the other hand, sparked a bidding war among six bidders over six minutes. With a pre-auction estimate of $4 million to $6 million, it is one of only four known Ceratosaurus nasicornis skeletons and the only juvenile skeleton of the species, which resembles the Tyrannosaurus rex but is smaller.

    Bidding for the skeleton started with a high advance offer of $6 million, then escalated during the live round with bids $500,000 higher than the last and later $1 million higher than the last before ending at $26 million.

    People applauded after the auctioneer gaveled the bidding closed.

    The official sale price was $30.5 million, inclusive of fees and costs. That buyer was also not immediately disclosed, but the auction house stated that the buyer plans to loan the skeleton to an institution. It was the third-highest amount paid for a dinosaur at auction. A Stegosaurus skeleton called “Apex” holds the record after it was sold for $44.6 million last year at Sotheby’s.

    Parts of the skeleton were discovered in 1996 near Laramie, Wyoming, at the Bone Cabin Quarry, a gold mine known for its dinosaur bones. Specialists assembled nearly 140 fossil bones, along with some sculpted materials, to recreate the skeleton and mounted it so it’s ready to exhibit, Sotheby’s says. It was acquired last year by Fossilogic, a Utah-based company specializing in fossil preparation and mounting.

    It’s more than 6 feet (2 meters) tall and nearly 11 feet long, and is believed to be from the late Jurassic period, about 150 million years ago. Ceratosaurus dinosaurs could grow up to 25 feet long, while the T. rex could be 40 feet long.

    The bidding for the Mars meteorite began with two advance offers of $1.9 million and $2 million. The live bidding proceeded slowly, with increases of $200,000 and $300,000, until it reached $4 million, then continued with $100,000 increments until it reached $4.3 million.

    The red, brown and gray meteorite is about 70% larger than the next largest piece of Mars found on Earth and represents nearly 7% of all the Martian material currently on this planet, Sotheby’s says. It measures nearly 15 inches by 11 inches by 6 inches (375 millimeters by 279 millimeters by 152 millimeters).

    It was also a rare find. There are only 400 Martian meteorites out of the more than 77,000 officially recognized meteorites found on Earth, the auction house says.

    “This Martian meteorite is the largest piece of Mars we have ever found by a long shot,” Cassandra Hatton, vice chairman for science and natural history at Sotheby’s, said in an interview before the auction. “So it’s more than double the size of what we previously thought was the largest piece of Mars.”

    It’s not clear exactly when the meteorite was blasted off the surface of Mars, but testing showed it probably happened in recent years, Sotheby’s says.

    Hatton said a specialized lab examined a small piece of the red planet remnant and confirmed it was from Mars. It was compared with the distinct chemical composition of Martian meteorites discovered during the Viking space probe that landed on Mars in 1976, she said.

    The examination found that it is an “olivine-microgabbroic shergottite,” a type of Martian rock formed from the slow cooling of Martian magma. It has a course-grained texture and contains the minerals pyroxene and olivine, Sotheby’s says.

    It also has a glassy surface, likely due to the high heat that burned it when it fell through Earth’s atmosphere, Hatton said. “So that was their first clue that this wasn’t just some big rock on the ground,” she said.

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  • NASA preps key piece of Artemis IV moon rocket for lunar mission photo of the day for July 17, 2025

    NASA preps key piece of Artemis IV moon rocket for lunar mission photo of the day for July 17, 2025

    Recently, NASA tested a payload adapter at the Marshall Space Flight Center as part of the preparation for the upcoming Artemis IV mission.

    What is it?

    The massive, dark circular payload adapter was carefully lowered from Test Stand 4697 to Test Stand 4705 for storage, after successfully completing initial structural tests. The next stage is for flight engineers to run quality checks on the adapter before building the final device.

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  • Bitcoin price stalls below $120,000 as Ethereum and XRP rally

    Bitcoin price stalls below $120,000 as Ethereum and XRP rally

    • Bitcoin consolidates around $118,000 on Thursday amid cooling volume and rising spot ETF inflows.
    • Ethereum rally extends, nearing $3,500, supported by a robust technical structure and growing institutional appetite.
    • XRP bulls aim for record highs after breaking above $3.00 resistance.

    The cryptocurrency market appears to be gearing up for a major run, evidenced by Ethereum (ETH) and Ripple’s (XRP) breakout in the last 24 hours. As Bitcoin’s (BTC) recovery stalled under $120,000 on Wednesday, the two leading altcoins extended gains above key resistance levels, suggesting potential capital rotation into mid and large-cap altcoins. 

    Market overview: US House ‘Crypto Week’ back on track 

    The United States (US) House of Representatives’ self-proclaimed ‘Crypto Week’ is back on track after the lawmakers cleared a procedural bottleneck, allowing key crypto legislation to advance to the final votes late Wednesday. A previous vote on Tuesday had failed to advance the legislation, forcing President Donald Trump to intervene.

    The House is expected to vote on the GENIUS Act on Thursday and advance it to President Trump’s desk if it passes for his signature. Notably, the CLARITY Act could undergo the final vote next week before the House goes on recess in early August. Moreover, the Senate will have to vote on the Market Structure CLARITY Act before it can reach the President’s desk for signing.

    Passing all three crypto bills, including the GENIUS Act, the CLARITY Act, and the Anti-Central Bank Digital Asset (CBDC), is expected to foster clear regulations for digital assets in the US. 

    One of President Trump’s campaign promises was to remove the legislative hurdles that have been stifling innovation and ensure clear regulations that will help build America as the global leader in cryptocurrency.

    The Bitcoin price did not react to the House’s successful procedural vote and continues to consolidate at around $118,000 during the European session. Altcoins, including Ethereum and XRP, edge higher at the time of writing, showing no signs of fatigue.

    Data spotlight: Bitcoin, Ethereum ETF inflows rising 

    Ethereum spot Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) recorded the highest inflow on record of approximately $726 million on Wednesday, marking a significant increase from the previous day’s $192 million. This surge in US ETH spot ETFs underscores the growing institutional interest in Ethereum, resulting in a cumulative total net inflow of $6.48 billion and total net assets of $16.41 billion.

    Ethereum spot ETF data | Source: SoSoValue 

    As for Bitcoin spot ETFs, the inflow volume almost doubled from Tuesday’s $403 million to an average $799 million on Wednesday. None of the 12 ETFs licensed in the US experienced outflows, with BlackRock’s IBIT emerging as the best-performer with roughly $764 million streaming in.

    Bitcoin spot ETF data | Source: SoSoValue 

    Chart of the day: Bitcoin consolidates ahead of another breakout 

    Bitcoin price shows signs of consolidation, with bulls aiming for highs above $120,000. A recovery attempt on Wednesday failed to breach the $120,000 hurdle, resulting in a brief correction to the daily low of $117,017.

    Despite the lull in price action over the past 24 hours, Bitcoin appears technically bullish, supported by a buy signal maintained by the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) indicator since June 26. 

    The blue MACD line crossing above the red signal line indicated a buy signal for traders to consider buying BTC. If the signal holds with the green histogram above the zero line expanding, the path of least resistance could stay upward, thereby increasing the probability of BTC closing in on record highs of $123,218.

    Still, traders should temper their bullish expectations considering the Relative Strength Index (RSI) near overbought territory at 69. Profit-taking and volatility due to macroeconomic uncertainty could result in a trend reversal toward the 50-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) currently at $108,990.

    BTC/USDT daily chart

    Altcoins update: Ethereum, XRP uptrend steady

    Ethereum extends the bullish outlook, closing in on the short-term resistance at $3,500 at the time of writing. Its uptrend is backed by steady institutional demand and a robust technical picture, accentuated by a Golden Cross pattern formed when the 50-day EMA crossed above the 100-day EMA on July 10. The day’s close could confirm a second Golden Cross pattern, if the 50-day EMA settles above the 200-day EMA.

    Traders will look for movement above $3,500 hurdle to ascertain the uptrend’s strength as they expand their bullish scope toward $4,000. In the event of the trend reversing downward, key tentative areas worth monitoring for support include $3,217, tested in January, and $2,880, a resistance-turned-support level.

    ETH/USDT daily chart

    As for XRP, the path of least resistance appears to be upward, backed by several bullish signals, including a MACD indicator buy signal and the overbought, yet upward-looking RSI.

    XRP/USDT daily chart

    Like Ethereum, XRP has the backing of a Golden Cross Pattern as observed with the 50-day EMA above the 100-day EMA on the chart above. The token is only 5% away from reaching record highs of $3.40.

     

    Cryptocurrency prices FAQs

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