Author: admin

  • 6 Months and 242 Crystals

    6 Months and 242 Crystals

    “Superman” production designer Beth Mickle spent six months designing Superman’s home, the Fortress of Solitude, and a further 16 weeks building the set.

    James Gunn wanted a practical set for the place the superhero retreats to, and not something created with CG or virtual production. Mickle, who worked with Gunn on “Guardians of the Galaxy 3,” calls the Fortress one of her most challenging set builds. “We felt so much pressure to pay homage to the original and to keep audiences happy,” she told Variety. In the Richard Donner films, an ice crystal was thrown into the ground, and a crystalline structure would grow out of the ground.

    While honoring what had come before, Mickle also wanted to inject something fresh into imagining what the set would look like.

    Gunn’s film picks up in a world that is familiar as Superman (David Corenswet) and several other heroes fly around as the Justice Gang, an early prototype of what’s soon to become the Justice League. The gang is made up of Green Lantern Corps member Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion), the high-flying Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced), shape-shifting Metamorpho (Anthony Carrigan) and the super-smart Mister Terrific (Edi Gathegi). Together, Superman must face off against his ultimate nemesis, the evil megalomaniac Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult), while also balancing his relationship with ace Daily Planet reporter Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan).

    The film opens with Superman beaten down, lying in the snow. But he’s too weak to move, and so calls on Krypto the dog to save him. Once Krypto realizes Superman needs help, he drags him across the ice “home.” As they get closer, a Fortress of Solitude emerges from beneath the ground.

    It’s an awe-inspiring and familiar sight, but Mickle’s update to the Fortress is apparent.

    The Fortress exteriors were shot in Norway’s Svalbard, an archipelago between Norway and the North Pole, whose icy terrain was the perfect setting for the frosty fort. Mickle admits, “Building it was a massive challenge. We built 242 giant crystals, they’re all real.” The only interaction with CG, she says, was to create the movement of the Fortress as it rises from below the ice.

    The crystals were made from resin.“ All the resin that existed on the Eastern seaboard in 2023, we bought it all,” says Mickle, “It was cheaper than a CGI set.”

    Inside Superman’s secret base are the robots, who are referred to by their respective numbers. They heal him by exposing him to the solar rays.

    The “computer dashboard” and every crystal behind it, along with the floor, were also physical builds.

    Mickle recalled what it was like when Corenswet saw the set for the first time. “Nobody was in there because they were going to be shooting an exterior. I turned around and saw David walking up the steps in his long red cape.” She added, “He came over, was so gracious and complimented the set.”

    As for the possibility of a sequel, and whether Gunn has discussed ideas for more, Mickle’s lips remain sealed. “I’m not allowed to speak about that,” she laughed.

    Jessica Miglio

    Continue Reading

  • New Hollywood String Quartet remembers its legendary predecessors

    New Hollywood String Quartet remembers its legendary predecessors

    When four top film studio musicians formed the Hollywood String Quartet in the late 1930s, its name was presumed an oxymoron. Exalted string quartet devotees belittled film soundtracks, while studio heads had a reputation for shunning classical music longhairs.

    The musicians spent two intense years in rehearsal before disbanding when war broke out, and the quartet was brought back together in 1947 by two of its founders, Felix Slatkin (concertmaster of 20th Century Fox Studio Orchestra) and his wife, Eleanor Aller (principal cellist of the Warner Bros. Studio Orchestra). Oxymoron or not, Hollywood produced the first notable American string quartet.

    Throughout the 1950s, the ensemble made a series of revelatory LPs for Capitol Records performing the late Beethoven string quartets and much else, while also joining Frank Sinatra in his torchy classic, “Close to You.” Everything that the Hollywood String Quartet touched was distinctive; every recording remains a classic.

    The legacy of the Hollywood String Quartet is a celebration of Hollywood genre-busting and also of string quartet making. Today, the outstanding Lyris Quartet is one of many outstanding string quartets who can be heard in the latest blockbusters. Another is the New Hollywood String Quartet, which is devoting its annual four-day summer festival to honoring its inspiration as it celebrates its 25th anniversary.

    The quartet’s festival began Thursday night and runs through Sunday in San Marino at the Huntington’s Rothenberg Hall. The repertory is taken from the earlier group’s old recordings. And the concerts are introduced by Slatkin and Aller’s oldest son, who as a young boy fell asleep to his parents and their colleagues rehearsing in his living room after dinner.

    Conductor Leonard Slatkin speaks at the New Hollywood String Quartet concert at the Huntington.

    (New Hollywood String Quartet)

    The celebrated conductor Leonard Slatkin credits his vociferous musical appetite to his parents, who, he said Thursday, enjoyed the great scores written in this golden age of movie music and also championed new classical music as well as the masterpieces of the past. L.A. had no opera company in those days, and Slatkin said his parents likened film scores to modern opera scores.

    Just about everyone has heard his parents in one film or another. Take “Jaws,” which is celebrating its 50th anniversary. That’s Aller’s cello evoking John Williams’ shark-scary earworm.

    You’ve no doubt heard New Hollywood violinists Tereza Stanislav and Rafael Rishik, violist Robert Brophy and cellist Andrew Shulman on some movie. IMDb counts Brophy alone as participating on 522 soundtracks. You might also have heard one or more of the musicians in the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Los Angeles Opera Orchestra or Los Angeles Philharmonic.

    The New Hollywood String Quartet.

    The New Hollywood String Quartet, from left: Rafael Rishik, Andrew Shulman, Tereza Stanislav and Robert Brophy.

    (Sam Muller)

    The New Hollywood’s programming may not encompass the original quartet’s range, but it is nonetheless a mixed selection of pieces that have somewhat fallen by the wayside, such as Borodin’s Second String Quartet. The original quartet’s performances and swashbuckling recording of the Borodin surely caught the attention of L.A. director Edwin Lester. In 1953 Lester created and premiered the musical “Kismet,” which adapts parts of the Borodin quartet, for Los Angeles Civic Light Opera, before it went on to be a hit on Broadway.

    Times have changed and the New Hollywood brings a more robust tone and more overt interaction to its effusive interpretation compared with the silken and playful Slatkin and crew, who were all Russian-trained players. Hugo Wolf’s short “Italian Serenade,” which opened the program, was here lush and Italianate, while on an early 1950s disc it dances more lightly.

    The big work was César Franck’s Piano Quintet. Slatkin noted that the recording, released in 1955, didn’t sell well, probably thanks to the album cover’s saturnine painting of a composer that few would recognize. Slatkin also noted that his parents weren’t enamored of their performance, but then again, he explained that they were temperamentally ever ready to find fault.

    That recording, which features his uncle, Victor Aller, a graceful pianist, is slow and commanding. Jean-Yves Thibaudet was the right guest in every way for the big-boned performance at the Huntington. He is a French pianist with a flair for German music, well suited for the Belgian French composer’s Wagner-inspired score.

    Thibaudet is also a longtime L.A. resident and an especially versatile performer who happens to be featured on the new soundtrack recording of Dario Marianelli’s “Pride & Prejudice,” which tops Billboard’s classical and classical crossover charts. He and Slatkin also go back decades, having performed together and become such good friends that the conductor turned pages for him in the Franck.

    Seeing the 80-year-old Slatkin onstage evoked a remarkable sense of history, reminiscent of the roots to L.A.’s musical openness that his parents represented. On my drive home Thursday, I couldn’t resist following the route Albert Einstein would have taken after practicing his violin when he lived a 12-minute bike ride away during his Caltech years — the time Slatkin’s parents were making music history at the studios. Like them, Einstein played with the L.A. Philharmonic (although invited once not because he was a good violinist but because he was Einstein).

    The New Hollywood and Thibaudet made no effort to relive the past in Franck’s quintet. Instead, in their opulence and expressive explosiveness, they showed Hollywood how to produce a remake that’s magnificent.

    In the meantime, Leonard Slatkin, who is a former music director of the L.A. Phil at the Hollywood Bowl, returns later this month to the venue where his parents met in 1935 at a Hollywood Bowl Symphony competition. He will conduct a July 24 program that includes a recent work by the next generation of Slatkins. His son, Daniel, is a film and television composer.

    Continue Reading

  • Pathogenic mechanisms of Fusobacterium nucleatum in colorectal cancer and emerging therapies

    Pathogenic mechanisms of Fusobacterium nucleatum in colorectal cancer and emerging therapies

    In recent years, the regulatory role of the gut microbiota in the initiation and progression of colorectal cancer (CRC) has attracted growing attention. Among the key microbial contributors, Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn) has been identified as a critical pathogenic factor in CRC. As an oral anaerobic commensal, Fn is rarely found in the lower gastrointestinal tract of healthy individuals. However, under pathological conditions, it can ectopically colonize the gastrointestinal tract. Once enriched in the colorectal environment, mounting evidence suggests that Fn is involved in multiple aspects of CRC pathogenesis, including initiation, progression, metastasis, and resistance to conventional therapies such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy.

    A recent review by Wei Wei and Diwei Zheng’s team at the Institute of Process Engineering systematically outlines the pathogenic mechanisms of Fn in CRC and summarizes both current and emerging strategies for its therapeutic targeting. Furthermore, the authors propose potential approaches to overcome existing challenges in Fn modulation, aiming to facilitate more effective therapeutic interventions and improve clinical outcomes.

    Focusing on the dual themes of “pathogenic mechanisms and therapeutic strategies,” this review first details the multifaceted roles of Fn in CRC progression. It explores how Fn contributes to disease through processes such as microbial colonization, activation of oncogenic signaling pathways, and modulation of the immune microenvironment. Key virulence factors—such as FadA, Fap2, and RadD—are highlighted for their roles in tumor development and resistance to treatment. Given its tumor-promoting effects, eliminating Fn is considered a promising strategy for improving CRC outcomes. The review systematically discusses various therapeutic approaches targeting Fn, includingsmall-molecule inhibitors (such as antibiotics and natural extracts), nanomedicines (such as inorganic nanoparticles and organic polymers) and biopharmaceuticals (such as antimicrobial peptides and phages). While these approaches have demonstrated potential in preclinical studies, they still face major challenges, including limited specificity, systemic toxicity, and disruption of microbial homeostasis.

    As our understanding of Fn’s pathogenic mechanisms deepens, highly specific and low-toxicity interventions are expected to emerge, driving CRC treatment toward greater precision, efficiency, and personalization. This review outlines several promising future directions:

    · Subspecies-targeted interventions: The therapeutic targeting of Fn subspecies remains underexplored. Future strategies may focus on dominant strains such as Fna and their specific virulence factors to enable personalized treatment.

    · Intracellular clearance: Since Fn can survive and replicate within tumor and immune cells, the development of strategies capable of eliminating intracellular Fn is crucial to overcoming its immune evasion and persistence.

    · Vaccine development: Vaccines represent a powerful tool for specific immune protection. Targeting Fn-specific virulence factors or host-interacting receptors could enable precise clearance. However, future work must address the optimization of antigen selection and adjuvant combinations to enhance immunogenicity and efficacy.

    Collectively, these emerging strategies hold the potential to overcome current limitations and serve as valuable references for developing microbe-targeted therapies in CRC and other microbiota-associated cancers.

    Source:

    Journal reference:

    Lu, J., et al. (2025). Fusobacterium nucleatum in Colorectal Cancer: Ally Mechanism and Targeted Therapy Strategies. Research. doi.org/10.34133/research.0640.

    Continue Reading

  • Swedish firm’s battery simulator can help boost EV, eVTOL’s range

    Swedish firm’s battery simulator can help boost EV, eVTOL’s range

    A Swedish firm has recently demonstrated its battery cell simulator that can boost EV performance. Aliaro revealed that its Battery Cell Simulator (BCS) empowers users to verify the Battery Management System’s (BMS) functionality.

    The system simulates both the battery cells and sensors to ensure that communication, safety functions, cell balancing, and fault monitoring algorithms work as expected.

    Simulator allows test teams to verify Battery Management System’s functionality

    Demonstrated during an event organized by Emerson (formerly NI), the system showcased its effectiveness.

    The company revealed that when testing the embedded software on the BMS, safety, availability, or cost considerations can make it impractical to perform the necessary validation tests using a complete test system.

    “The simulator allows test teams to verify Battery Management System functionality in a lab environment without using the real battery. The Battery Cell Simulator can be used in both production and validation testing, which will enable a unified testing workflow,” said Aliaro in a statement.

    Battery cell simulators use a combination of electrochemical models

    Aliaro also underlined that its battery cell simulators use a combination of electrochemical models and empirical data to simulate the behavior of lithium-ion battery cells. This allows for accurate predictions of battery performance under different operating conditions.

    Its systems can be used to evaluate the effect of different battery design parameters on battery performance, such as electrode thickness and porosity. This provides insights into the optimal design of battery systems for EV applications.

    Battery models can be deployed on the test system to test battery characteristics with real batteries.

    EV manufacturers can improve the performance of their vehicles

    “By optimizing battery designs and evaluating battery performance, EV manufacturers can improve the performance of their vehicles. This can include increasing range, reducing charging time, and improving overall efficiency,” said Aliaro.

    The company also highlighted that using a battery cell simulator can save time and resources by reducing the need for physical testing of battery cells. This allows for faster and more cost-effective development of battery systems for EV applications.

    The Battery Cell Simulation modules simulate/replace the real battery with Open, short, and ground hardware fault insertion functionality by default.

    xVolt Battery Cell Simulator demonstrated

    The system can simulate all characteristics of a battery cell or battery pack using simulation hardware and/or mathematical models using Simulink.

    It can be deployed quickly using existing models, tools, and workflows. Test systems need to be up and running quickly with fast delivery schedules.

    The test methodology reduces the need for costly real-world tests, minimizing cost and ensuring reliability. Maximize system reuse with a flexible tester designed to be extended and customized to meet changing requirements.

    The company showcased xVolt Battery Cell Simulator during recently held ‘NI Days India 2025’ event.

    Continue Reading

  • How is DNA used to identify victims of mass disasters?

    How is DNA used to identify victims of mass disasters?

    On June 12, 2025, an Air India flight crashed shortly after takeoff, killing 260 people. The plane was carrying over 33,000 gallons (125,000 liters) of fuel, leading to a massive fire, and several bodies were charred beyond recognition, fragmented or otherwise rendered unrecognizable. To identify the bodies, officials sought DNA samples from the victims’ family members. More than two weeks after the disaster, the completed DNA analysis successfully identified every person lost in the crash.

    Around the world, DNA analysis is the gold standard for identifying human remains following these kinds of mass disasters, whether they’re transportation accidents like the Air India crash, major natural disasters or terrorist attacks. But how does DNA analysis actually work? And how does it help identify victims in these disastrous events involving mass fatalities?

    Continue Reading

  • The #1 Habit to Avoid for Better Heart Health

    The #1 Habit to Avoid for Better Heart Health

    • Between desk jobs, long commutes and TV time, many of us spend hours sitting every day.
    • However, this habit may silently be raising our risk of heart disease.
    • Fortunately, there are easy strategies to help break the habit, no workout required.

    Heart disease is the leading cause of death in U.S. adults. While some heart disease risk factors like family history, sex and age are out of your control, others can be managed with a healthy diet and lifestyle. On the flip side, there are some habits we should avoid, say heart-health experts. And the biggest one is sitting too much.

    Between desk jobs and catching up on our favorite TV shows, it’s all too easy to spend most of our day sitting. In fact, roughly 1 in 4 American adults spend more than eight hours sitting every day. So, we asked the experts to share why too much time sitting is so problematic for heart health and what you can do about it. Here’s what they told us.

    Why You Should Avoid Sitting Too Much for Better Heart Health

    It Can Slow Down Circulation

    Your heart works hard all day long to pump blood throughout your body. However, it doesn’t do this job alone. Muscle contractions are also important for good circulation. “Long periods of sitting slow circulation, which can increase blood pressure and lead to blood pooling in the legs,” says cardiovascular nutrition specialist Veronica Rouse, M.A.N., RD, CDE. When resting muscles aren’t helping circulate your blood, your heart has to work harder to pump blood throughout your body. Over time, this may increase your risk of heart disease. That may be one of the reasons why research has found that people with sedentary jobs may be 34% more likely to die from heart disease than people who spend their workdays upright, says Rouse.

    It May Contribute to Weight Gain

    Being inactive is linked with weight gain and obesity, which puts you at a higher risk for heart disease, says Lisa Andrews, M.Ed., RD, LD. That’s not the only reason you should be breaking up periods of sitting time with some physical activity. Missing out on physical activity also encourages the development of visceral fat, aka belly fat. Too much visceral fat can increase inflammation, which, in turn, can contribute to more weight gain—a vicious cycle that can be hard to break.

    It May Promote Insulin Resistance

    Another reason to get up and out of your chair is that inactivity may lead to the development of insulin resistance. When you have insulin resistance, your body is less responsive to insulin. This hormone normally shuttles glucose from your blood into your cells for energy. Trouble is, when insulin stops working effectively, blood glucose levels rise. Over time, this can lead to the development of type 2 diabetes and can eventually damage your blood vessels, increasing your risk of heart disease. 

    One review found that the more sitting time a person clocked each day, the higher their risk of insulin resistance. Regularly moving your body makes your muscles grab glucose from your blood to use for energy, potentially protecting you from heart troubles. 

    You May Miss Out on Other Heart-Health Benefits

    In addition to all the above adverse effects of sitting too much, too much sedentary time means you’ll miss out on all the other positive things moving your body does for your heart. “Physical activity directly improves nearly every cardiovascular risk factor,” says cardiologist  Elizabeth Klodas, M.D. “Even 20 minutes of walking a day helps lower blood pressure, reduces inflammation, improves blood sugar control and supports healthier cholesterol levels, all critical to reducing heart disease risk. More movement equals more protection.” 

    Strategies to Improve Heart Health

    Sitting too much is a hard habit to break, but it can do so much good for your heart. If you are looking for more ways to give your heart some love, try these expert  strategies:

    • Make Time for Exercise Snacks: “Try exercise snacks, which are short bursts of movement throughout the day,” says Rouse. “These mini movement breaks are easy to fit into daily routines and have been shown to improve insulin sensitivity and vascular health.” They’re so powerful that research has found that taking a quick one-minute exercise snack every one to four hours throughout the day can help lower blood sugar and triglycerides and improve blood flow throughout the body. If you could use a reminder, Rouse suggests setting a timer to tell you it’s time to get up and move.
    • Embrace the Mediterranean Diet: Following a healthy eating pattern can also go a long way in protecting your heart health. Andrews recommends the Mediterranean diet, which emphasizes heart-supporting fruits, veggies, legumes, whole grains, nuts, seeds and olive oil. It’s so effective that research has found that it may cut the risk of dying from heart disease by nearly 50%.
    • Get Checked: When life gets busy, it’s all too easy to skip (or cancel) routine doctors’ visits. For the sake of your heart, make your annual checkup a priority. “You can’t feel high cholesterol or blood pressure, so it’s important to get those numbers checked and address any risks early,” says Klodas. 

    • Catch Those Zzz’s: When it comes to heart health, diet and exercise are usually the first things that come to mind. However, making sure you get enough quality sleep at night could be just as important. Regularly getting less than seven hours of sleep is associated with a higher risk of heart disease. No wonder the American Heart Association lists sleep as one of their “Life’s Essential 8” foundational strategies for better heart health.

    Heart-Healthy Recipes to Try

    Our Expert Take

    Between desk jobs, long commutes and unwinding in front of the TV, most of us spend way too much time sitting. Yet, it’s silently raising our risk for heart disease. In fact, experts say avoiding too much time on your tush is the No. 1 thing to avoid for better heart health. Sitting too long can slow down blood circulation and may promote weight gain and insulin resistance. Plus, when you’re sitting, you’re missing out on the many benefits of physical activity. The good news is that even short one-minute movement breaks every hour or so can help counteract the effects of sitting. “You don’t have to be perfect … just better,” says Klodas. “Small, consistent changes can make a real difference, often in as little as 30 days.” So, set a timer on your phone to help you remember to get up and out of your chair for a quick movement break. Your heart will thank you for it.

    Continue Reading

  • I Accidentally Learned Just How Durable the Galaxy Z Flip 7 Is

    I Accidentally Learned Just How Durable the Galaxy Z Flip 7 Is

    If you’re concerned about how durable Samsung’s foldable phones can be, I’m here to tell you not to worry. And that’s especially true when it comes to the new Galaxy Z Flip 7. 

    After less than six hours with the Galaxy Z Flip 7, I accidentally performed my own informal drop test. At a catered affair in Brooklyn, I walked outside to get a view of the waterfront, and when I pulled the Z Flip 7 out of my pocket, I fumbled it. I watched helplessly as Samsung’s newest foldable phone fell to the ground. The noise it made when it clacked against the concrete caused everyone around to look at me with a knowing, sympathetic expression that said, “Aw, that’s a shame. Your phone is toast.”

    This story is part of Samsung Event, CNET’s collection of news, tips and advice around Samsung’s most popular products.

    Have you ever dropped your phone? There’s that Schrödinger’s cat-like moment before you pick it up when you’re anxious to see if the phone survived.

    Fortunately, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 was fine. The 4.1-inch cover screen didn’t have any cracks or scuffs. The 6.9-inch inner display was unharmed because the phone was shut. The only tell that it kissed the ground was a tiny scuff on the bottom of the phone near the microphones. Samsung’s claim that its new “Armour Flex Hinge” is built to withstand impact is indeed true.

    In the early days of foldable phones, one of the biggest unknowns was their durability. It’s amazing that about six years later, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 can handle being dropped on concrete like it had landed on a velvet pillow. Now, I still wouldn’t take the Flip 7 (or any foldable phone) to the beach, as it can only withstand particles that are 1mm or larger. So going to a confetti factory would be fine, but a salt factory is a definite no-no.

    The Galaxy Z Flip 7’s thin design

    Galaxy Z Flip 7

    The Galaxy Z Flip 7 is 6.5mm thick when open and 13.7mm thick when closed.

    Joe Maldonado/CNET/PCMag

    The star of Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event was the Galaxy Z Fold 7. At 8.9mm thick when closed, the Fold 7 is ridiculously thin. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 looks like it also went on Ozempic, but it’s 13.7mm thick when closed. That’s slim, but not Fold 7 slim. Why couldn’t the Flip 7 be super slim like the Fold 7? I just keep imagining a Galaxy Z Flip 8 with the same thinness as the Fold 7.

    For some perspective, here’s how the Flip 7 compares to its clamshell kinfolk:

    Galaxy Z Flip 7 thickness vs. other flip phones

    Phone Closed Open
    Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 13.7mm 6.5mm
    Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 14.9mm 6.9mm
    Motorola Razr Plus 15.32mm 7.09mm
    Motorola Razr Ultra 15.69mm 7.19mm
    Motorola Razr (2025) 15.85mm 7.25mm

    The Galaxy Z Flip 7’s big cover screen

    Three Galaxy Z Flip 7 phones in a line

    Here are three Galaxy Z Flip 7 phones in different colors.

    Joe Maldonado/CNET

    The original Galaxy Z Flip had a tiny, 1.1-inch pill-shaped cover display. It was perfect for showing the time but pretty much useless for anything else. The defining feature on the Galaxy Z Flip 7 is its 4.1-inch cover display. The screen looks incredible. I was checking my notifications on the screen under direct sunlight and was able to read everything. One of the hang-ups I had reviewing the Galaxy Z Flip 6 was switching from the inner screen to the cover display outdoors. There would be times on sunny days where I could barely make out what was on the cover display, despite having no issues with the main screen.

    Samsung has increased the maximum brightness of the Flip 7’s cover screen to 2,600 nits, which is the same as the inner display. Both screens now top out at 120Hz, too, which should make for a much more consistent experience by having system animations, gameplay and scrolling through a social feed look super smooth.

    The 6.9-inch inner screen is big, but it doesn’t feel unwieldy when I use it. The Flip 6 had a 6.7-inch display, but that extra 0.2 inches on the Flip 7’s screen makes it feel much bigger, which my middle-aged eyes are grateful for.

    In terms of functionality, the cover screen’s natural state is widgets. And some, like Spotify’s widget, are all I need in lieu of using full apps. But I want apps on the home screen, so I need to enable this functionality in the Labs section of Settings and download the MultiStar app. It takes a couple of minutes to set up, but I do wish the interface supported apps by default.

    The Galaxy Z Flip 7’s cameras

    samsung-unpacked-2025-cnet-12

    The Z Flip 7 has a 50-megapixel camera with a wide-angle lens and a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera in its cover screen.

    Joe Maldonado/CNET

    The Flip 7 has three cameras: a 50-megapixel wide-angle, a 12-megapixel ultrawide and a 10-megapixel selfie camera (in the main 6.9-inch screen). The cameras are the same as those on the Flip 6 and Flip 7 FE. But the phones run on different processors, so differences or improvements in photos and videos (if any) will come from Samsung’s processing and machine learning.

    Here are some of my favorite photos from the Galaxy Z Flip 7 so far:

    The New York skyline


    Enlarge Image

    The New York skyline

    I grabbed this shot of the New York skyline with the Flip 7’s main camera set at 2x. The highlights and texture in the clouds really make this photo pop.

    Patrick Holland/CNET

    Two people posing in front of a Galaxy Unpacked sign


    Enlarge Image

    Two people posing in front of a Galaxy Unpacked sign

    This image of CNET’s Tara Brown and Vanessa Hand Orellana was taken with the Flip 7’s main camera, which did a good job of handling the combination of warm front lighting and the bright white backlight from the sign.

    Patrick Holland/CNET

    A New York street at night after it rains


    Enlarge Image

    A New York street at night after it rains

    New York streets look great at night after it rains, especially in this photo I took with the main camera.

    Patrick Holland/CNET

    Little Italy in New York


    Enlarge Image

    Little Italy in New York

    I’m a fan of ultrawide cameras, and this snap that I took with the Flip 7 is one example why. I like the way Samsung’s ultrawide lens distorts and exaggerates the subject and makes it look more dramatic.

    Patrick Holland/CNET

    Inside of an air plane


    Enlarge Image

    Inside of an air plane

    Here’s another photo from the phone’s main camera, taken in a dim airline cabin.

    Patrick Holland/CNET

    Two photos side by side


    Enlarge Image

    Two photos side by side

    Both these shots are from the main camera. The one on the left was lit purely by the sign, from behind me. And the one on the right captures the texture and details of the large gelato cone.

    Tara Brown, Patrick Holland/CNET

    Galaxy Z Flip 7 final thoughts for now

    Galaxy Z Flip 7

    The hinge on the Galaxy Z Flip 7 is nearly 30% smaller compared with the one on last year’s Galaxy Z Flip 6.

    Joe Maldonado/CNET/PCMag

    Samsung gave its foldable line a major overhaul. And while the Galaxy Z Fold 7 feels like an entirely different phone from previous Folds, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 seems like a nice refinement. I will say that I’ve had only two days with the phone. And as enamored as I am with the larger cover screen, I’m excited to see how the battery life measures up.

    Samsung gave the Flip 7 a 4,300-mAh battery (compared with the Galaxy Z Flip 6’s 4,000-mAh battery), but I wonder if the increased capacity will be offset by the power needed for its Snapdragon 8 Elite chip and those larger, brighter displays.

    I have a lot more testing to do. But as I work my way toward a full review, I’ll try not to drop the Flip 7 anymore.

    Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 specs vs. Motorola Razr Ultra, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6

    Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 Motorola Razr Ultra (2025) Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6
    Cover display size, tech, resolution, refresh rate 4.1-inch AMOLED, 948×1,048p, 120Hz refresh rate 4-inch pOLED, 2,992×1,224p, up to 165Hz variable refresh rate 3.4-inch AMOLED; 720×748 pixels; 60Hz refresh rate
    Internal display size, tech, resolution, refresh rate 6.9-inch AMOLED, 2,520×1,080p, 1-120Hz refresh rate 7-inch AMOLED; 1,272×1,080p, up to 165Hz variable refresh rate 6.7-inch AMOLED; 2,640×1,080 pixels; 1-120Hz refresh rate
    Pixel density Cover: 342ppi. Internal: 397ppi Cover: 417 ppi. Internal: 464 ppi Cover: 306 ppi. Internal: 425 ppi
    Dimensions (inches) Open: 2.96×6.56×0.26 Closed: 2.96×3.37×0.26 Open: 2.91×6.75×0.28 Closed: 2.91×3.47×0.62 Open: 6.5 x 2.83 x 0.27 Closed: 3.35 x 2.83 x 0.59
    Dimensions (millimeters) Open: 75.2×166.7×6.5 Closed: 75.2×85.5×13.7 Open: 73.99×171.48×7.19 Closed: 73.99×88.12×15.69 Open: 165.1×71.9×6.9 Closed: 85.1×71.9×14.9
    Weight (grams, ounces) 188 g (6.63 oz) 199 g (7 oz) 187 g (6.6 oz)
    Mobile software Android 16 Android 15 Android 14
    Cameras 50 megapixel (main), 12 megapixel (ultrawide) 50 megapixel (wide), 50 megapixel (ultrawide) 50 megapixel (wide), 12 megapixel (ultrawide)
    Internal screen camera 10 megapixel 50 megapixel 10 megapixel
    Video capture 4K at 60fps 4K TBD
    Processor Samsung Exynos 2500 Snapdragon 8 Elite Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
    RAM/storage 12GB + 256GB, 12GB + 512GB 16GB + 512GB, 1TB 12GB + 256GB, 512GB
    Expandable storage No None None
    Battery 4,300 mAh 4,700 mAh 4,000 mAh
    Fingerprint sensor Yes Side Side
    Connector USB-C USB-C USB-C
    Headphone jack None None None
    Special features One UI 8, IP48 water resistance, 25-watt wired charging, Qi wireless charging, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, Galaxy AI IP48 rating, 68-watt wired charging, 30-watt wireless charging, 5-watt reverse charging, dual stereo speakers, Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic cover display, 3,000 nits peak brightness on cover display, 4,500 nits peak brightness on main display, 5G. IP48 rating, 25-watt wired charging, wireless charging + powershare, 3x optical zoom (up to 10x digital and 30x Space Zoom with AI Super Resolution tech)
    US price starts at $1,100 $1,300 $1,100


    Continue Reading

  • Club World Cup diary: Pedro Neto | News | Official Site

    Club World Cup diary: Pedro Neto | News | Official Site




    The last entry into our Club World Cup diary comes from Pedro Neto, who remembers his friend, Diogo Jota…








    When I step onto the pitch on Sunday, know that I want to win this competition for Diogo Jota.

    He will always be with me. He will always be remembered. My thoughts are still with him, his brother Andre Silva, and their families. It’s such a difficult moment.


    Diogo immediately stood out to me when I came to England. I was very young and arriving in a new country, and he was one of the key players at Wolves. But he helped me and my family a lot, and I learned so much from him about life and football.

    Diogo was part of our group of Portuguese players – there were quite a lot of us! Ruben Neves, Joao Moutinho, Ruben Vinagre, Rui Patricio, myself, and Diogo. We were so close and spent a lot of time together off the pitch.

    We are still in contact now and these guys, and the memories I have, will stay with me for the rest of my life. It’s why it’s so tough to now be without Diogo.

    He was a warrior, a guy who would always be ready to fight for you. Yet he had this big smile and his laugh…it is one of the things that I will always remember.


    When I heard the news, I spoke with the coach and everyone was very supportive. We had the game against Palmeiras and it didn’t make sense for me not to play. With the personality Diogo had – something else that will always stay with me – I think he would’ve wanted us to play.

    I have this feeling that Diogo is still protecting everyone who was close to him. It’s why I want to be a warrior for him. Sunday is no different.

    It will be my second final with Chelsea, and we can be crowned world champions. That is the focus. I want to win. I want to win it for Diogo.








    Continue Reading

  • How to get all backpack attachments and upgrades – Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

    How to get all backpack attachments and upgrades – Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

    There are some really useful items to be found.

    Death Stranding 2 allows you to unlock small improvements that, over time, combine to make your life much easier. This is good, as enemies grow more dangerous, and the terrain becomes more inhospitable. You will need all the help you can get.

    How to get all backpack attachments and upgrades in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

    Terminal menu options in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
    Source: Shacknews

    There are several attachments available to enhance your backpack. You will need to access the Backpack Customisation option under Fabrication and Management at a terminal, and select the options to add components. All the upgrades take up space on the backpack, and you will only have room to attach so many of them, so think carefully about what you want, and use the shoulder buttons to rotate them, should you need to.

    Personally, I went with grenade pouches as I found them to be incredibly useful, along with the extra battery, and then I mixed and matched depending on what I was struggling with on any given Order.




















    Upgrade How to get
    Backpack Cover Hit Connection Level 2 with the Collector.
    Bell Charm Hit Connection Level 2 with The Novelist’s Son.
    Chiral Antigravity Device Hit Connection Level 2 with The Government’s Base.
    Crpyobiote Charm Hit Connection Level 4 with Heartman’s Lab.
    Extra Battery Hit Connection Level 4 with Distribution Center North of Mountain Knot City.
    Grenade Pouch Completer Order No. 37
    Large Grenade Pouch Hit Connection Level 3 with the Cosplayer.
    Love Knot Complete Order No. 53
    One Dollar Coin Hit Connection Level 1 with the Spiritualist.
    Spare Ammo Container Connect the Government’s Base to the network.
    Large Spare Ammo Container Lv1 Hit Connection Level 3 with The Government’s Base.
    Large Spare Ammo Container Lv2 Hit Connection Level 4 with The Government’s Base.
    Stabilizer Complete Order No. 46
    Utility Pouch Hit Connection Level 2 with the Cosplayer.
    Weather Talisman Hit Connection Level 2 with the Weather Station.
    Windmill Hit Connection Level 1 with Distribution Center South of Lake Knot City.

    For more Death Stranding 2: On the Beach guides and news, make sure you stay with Shacknews.

    Contributing Guides Editor

    Hailing from Ireland, Aidan has been conditioned by local weather conditions to survive hours at his PC grinding through whatever game is offering the lowest possible drop rates for loot. He thinks the easiest way to figure out what fans of games want to read is to just be a fan of games. You can normally find him logged into Warframe, Destiny, or a gacha game. You can reach out to him on X @scannerbarkly.

    Continue Reading

  • Social media analysis reveals emotional burden of children with multiple health conditions

    Social media analysis reveals emotional burden of children with multiple health conditions

    Children with multiple long-term health issues undergo severe emotional stress at the same time as they are trying to cope with the physical challenges of their condition, a study has found.

    Research led by the University of Plymouth used AI language models to analyze sentiments and emotions expressed by almost 400 pediatric patients and their caregivers on social media. In particular, they wanted to assess young people’s opinions regarding their care and experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the impact that had on their emotional and psychological wellbeing.

    Using anonymous data sourced from the Care Opinion platform they found that of the narratives analysed, almost 94% of the comments posted were classed as negative and less than 6% were positive. More than six out of ten negative comments were classed as being associated with sadness, with feelings of fear (at almost one in every six comments) also being prevalent.

    Children with conditions such as cancer, asthma, chronic pain and mental health conditions showed particularly high emotional distress, highlighting the emotional burden of managing multiple long-term health issues.

    The COVID-19 pandemic was also shown to exacerbate the negative sentiments, particularly sadness and disgust, with patients expressing frustration with the healthcare system while isolation and disrupted care routines triggered intense emotional responses.

    And while just 6% of the comments were classed as positive, the study found that most of them related to effective communication, compassionate care, and successful treatment outcomes.

    The researchers say the study highlights the importance of supporting vulnerable young patients managing complex medical conditions, and the need for integrated care approaches to both physical and emotional well-being.

    This research was conceived and led by Professor of e-Health Shang-Ming Zhou, and its data analysis was implemented by MSc Data Science and Business Analytics student Temidayo (Israel) Oluwalade with support from Dr. Hossein Ahmadi in Plymouth’s Centre for Health Technology, Dr. Richard Sharpe with Cornwall Council, and Professor Lin Huo with Guangxi University. 

    Professor Zhou, a recognized expert in the use of AI to analyze health data, said: “To our knowledge, this is the first study of its kind to analyze the sentiments and emotions of pediatric patients using social media data. Our findings bring to light the deeply emotional journey patients with multiple long-term health issues go through, fills a critical gap in knowledge for healthcare professionals and agencies. It also highlights the disproportionate emotional burden faced by paediatric patients with multiple health issues and their caregivers during the COVID pandemic, showing the need for targeted interventions to address emotional responses during public health emergencies.“

    Israel Oluwalade, who graduated with a Distinction in 2024, added: “As I worked through the dataset, I was particularly struck by how clearly children’s emotional responses aligned with specific comorbidity patterns – for example, fear and sadness were especially dominant among those discussing multiple hospital visits or long-term medication. What also surprised me most was the unexpectedly high frequency of ‘satisfaction’ and ‘amazement’ in posts referencing kind staff or successful treatment episodes. It reminded me how digital expressions can reflect not only distress but also resilience and hope, even among young patients with complex conditions.”

    Source:

    Journal reference:

    Oluwalade, T. I., et al. (2025). Comorbidities and emotions – unpacking the sentiments of pediatric patients with multiple long-term conditions through social media feedback: A large language model-driven study. Journal of Affective Disorders. doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2025.119752.

    Continue Reading