Blog

  • The Avengers Assemble in Exclusive Digital Comic ‘The Only Certainty Is Change’

    The Avengers Assemble in Exclusive Digital Comic ‘The Only Certainty Is Change’

    In a world constantly shifting beneath their feet, even heroes must adapt.

    Marvel and NordVPN unite in an exclusive digital comic to tell a bold new story about transformation and the power of staying one step ahead. Read THE ONLY CERTAINTY IS CHANGE for free, right here!

    Watch as Black Widow, Black Panther, Iron Man, Captain Marvel and the Hulk take down a nefarious foe…the Super-Adaptoid himself!

    See the story come to life in the motion comic below!

    Continue Reading

  • Netflix will let users customize and share clips on mobile

    Netflix will let users customize and share clips on mobile

    Netflix on Wednesday announced a new update to its “Moments” feature, allowing viewers to choose a start and end point on clips to save and share.

    The feature, which is only available on mobile devices, was first rolled out last year, for viewers to save scenes that they love — and share them.

    The new update coincides with the release of the second part of season 2 of the popular show “Wednesday.”

    Netflix’s new update to the “Moments” feature is looking to capitalize on viral moments in shows like “Wednesday.” The update includes a “clip” option on the screen to adjust the length of a segment. After it’s clipped, the video will save to viewers’ “My Netflix” tab for rewatching or sharing.

    During the first season of the series — a spin on the classic TV show “The Addams Family” — a scene of the title character, Wednesday, dancing went viral and became one of the series’ most popular moments. “Wednesday” is the most popular Netflix show to date, with more than 252 million views, according to the company’s website.

    The first part of the series debuted in August and has raked in tens of millions of views so far.

    The new update comes as Netflix is revamping its brand, with a redesigned homepage and a vertical video feed on mobile that looks similar to TikTok.

    The streaming giant has implemented a variety of strategic moves since its brief period of stagnation in 2022 — from updating its features to business initiatives like a cheaper ad-supported subscription plan and a password-sharing crackdown.

    Netflix no longer releases subscription data, but the streamer reported it had more than 300 million paid memberships in January.

    Continue Reading

  • Imran Khan’s nephew gets bail in Jinnah House attack case

    Imran Khan’s nephew gets bail in Jinnah House attack case



    his file photo shows Aleema Khan’s son Shahrez Khan. — Instagram/shahrezkhan.tri/File 

    An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore on Wednesday accepted the post-arrest bail plea of Shahrez Khan, nephew of incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan, in a May 9, 2023 violence case.

    Earlier in the day, the ATC reserved its verdict on the bail petition filed by Shahrez — son of PTI founder’s sister Aleema Khan — in the Jinnah House attack case. He was arrested on August 21.

    The May 9 riots broke out across the country following the arrest of the PTI founder in a corruption case in 2023. The violence included attacks on military and state installations, with the Jinnah House incident becoming one of the most high-profile cases.

    At the outset of today’s hearing, Shahrez’s counsel argued that allegations of inciting PTI workers had been leveled against his client, but the prosecution failed to produce any evidence to support the claims.

    At this, the public prosecutor, while opposing the bail plea, told the court that the suspect’s affidavit had not been verified.

    The court reserved its verdict after hearing arguments from both sides and announced it later in the night.

    Earlier on August 30, the Lahore police presented Aleema’s son before the ATC court Judge Manzer Ali Gill upon the completion of his physical remand.

    During the hearing, the prosecution sought an extension in physical remand for further investigation from the accused. Judge Gill, rejecting the police request, sent him on judicial remand.

    It is pertinent to mention here that Khan’s second nephew, Shershah, is also in the police custody in the May 9 riots case. He was also arrested on August 22.

    Following the expiry of his five-day physical remand, the ATC on August 29 sent Shershah on a 14-day judicial remand in the violence case.

    Sources had told Geo News earlier that both of the suspects were primarily arrested for their alleged involvement in the Jinnah House attack.

    “Shershah was present with Hassan Niazi at the time of the Jinnah House attack and had earlier been booked in connection with the case. He was facing accusations of arson, vandalism, and torching a police van, as well as “running an anti-state digital campaign for months”.

    He allegedly went into hiding after the violence and later fled to London, where he remained for nearly two years, the sources added.

    Continue Reading

  • World’s largest solar telescope captures clearest view of solar flare | National

    World’s largest solar telescope captures clearest view of solar flare | National






    (NSF/NSO/AURA via SWNS)


    By Dean Murray

    The clearest pictures ever taken of a solar flare have been taken by the world’s largest solar telescope.

    Record-breaking images from the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope in Hawaii reveal a flare four times the diameter of Earth in the highest resolution ever.

    The coronal loops seen within the flare are very fine strands averaging about 48.2 kilometers (approximately 30 miles) wide, with some loops as narrow as 21 kilometers (about 13 miles), the smallest coronal loops ever imaged.

    The observations could reshape how we understand the Sun’s magnetic architecture and improve space weather forecasting.

    The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), who operate the telescope, said: “This marks a potential breakthrough in resolving the fundamental scale of solar coronal loops and pushing the limits of flare modeling into an entirely new realm.”


    Taiwanese-American NBA pioneer Jeremy Lin retires at age 37

    Astronomers captured the dark coronal loop strands with unprecedented clarity during the decay phase of an X1.3-class flare on Aug. 8, 2024.







    image

    Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope




    Coronal loops are arches of plasma that follow the Sun’s magnetic field lines, often preceding solar flares that trigger sudden releases of energy associated with some of these magnetic field lines twisting and snapping. This burst of energy fuels solar storms that can impact Earth’s critical infrastructure.

    “This is the first time the Inouye Solar Telescope has ever observed an X-class flare,” says Cole Tamburri, the study’s lead author who is supported by the Inouye Solar Telescope Ambassador Program while completing his Ph.D. at the University of Colorado Boulder (CU). “These flares are among the most energetic events our star produces, and we were fortunate to catch this one under perfect observing conditions.”

    The new findings could suggest that these loops might be elementary structures—the fundamental building blocks of flare architecture.

    “If that’s the case, we’re not just resolving bundles of loops; we’re resolving individual loops for the first time,” Tamburri adds. “It’s like going from seeing a forest to suddenly seeing every single tree.”

    Continue Reading

  • Modifiable birth defect risk factors found in 2 in 3 US women

    Modifiable birth defect risk factors found in 2 in 3 US women

    Modifiable birth defect risk factors found in 2 in 3 US women | Image Credit: © WavebreakMediaMicro – © WavebreakMediaMicro – stock.adobe.com.

    Investigators have identified the presence of at least 1 modifiable risk factor for birth defects in two-thirds of reproductive-aged women, publishing their findings in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.1

    These findings included low red blood cell (RBC) folate concentrations in 1 in 5 women, diabetes in nearly 5%, obesity in 1 in 3, and tobacco exposure in nearly 1 in 5. Investigators stated that this data can be used to identify and challenge modifiable risk factors to reduce the risk of birth defects.1

    “The most significant finding—that two-thirds of women of reproductive age had at least one modifiable risk factor—highlights how common these changeable risk factors are. The good news is that they can be lowered,” said Arick Wang, PhD, epidemiologist at the CDC.1

    Assessing risk factors

    Data from a US sample was obtained through household interviews and in-person health examinations.2 Investigators also conducted 2 dietary-intake 24-hour recall interviews for each participant to complete. The collected data was categorized into 5 cycles of 2 years and 1 pre-pandemic cycle of 3.2 years, all from 2007 to March 2020.

    Women of reproductive age (WRA) status was determined through self-reported sex and age, with reproductive age defined as 12 to 49 years. Patients with a positive pregnancy test or self-reporting pregnancy or lactation were excluded from the analysis.2

    There were 5,374 nonpregnant, nonlactating WRA included in the final analysis, 66.4% of whom presented with at least 1 known risk factor of birth defects and 10.4% with 3 or more based on the all-risks profile. When assessing risks with the nonfolate risk profile, these rates were 59.1% and 6.3%, respectively.2

    Nutritional supplement use and folate intake

    Of WRA, 6.7% had very low food security, while consumption of FA-containing supplements was reported in approximately 28% and both FA- and B12-containing supplements in 27.2% Consumption of supplements with at least 400 µg/day of FA was reported in only 12.6%.2

    When excluding supplement use, 98.7% of patients had FA intakes under 400 µg/day. RBC folate concentrations under 748 nmol/L were reported in 19.5%, obesity in 33.8%, diabetes in 4.8%, and prediabetes in 28.9%.2

    An increasing trend of women with at least 1 known risk factor was observed over time, from 65.3% between 2007 and 2010 to 69.5% between 2015 and 2020. Rates of women with at least 1 nonfolate risk also rose from 55.3% to 64%, while the prevalence of RBC folate concentrations 748 nmol/L declined from 23.4% to 17.9%.2

    Trends over time

    Rates of very low food security, total FA intake under 400 µg/day, obesity, diabetes, and prediabetes increased over time, while rates of active tobacco use and daily FA intake over 400 µg/day decreased. A correlation was reported between age and presenting with at least 1 risk factor.2

    Non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic patients were significantly more likely to present with at least 1 risk factor vs White patients, with rates of 80.4%, 70%, and 62.2%, respectively. For the nonfolate risk profile, these rates were 70.3%, 62.8%, and 56.2%, respectively.2

    These results indicated a high prevalence of modifiable risk factors for birth defects among US women. Investigators concluded women should visit their physician before pregnancy to prevent adverse outcomes.2

    “Every growing family hopes for a healthy pregnancy and healthy baby. Understanding modifiable risk factors for birth defects helps families, health care providers, and public health professionals make data-informed decisions that can lead to healthier pregnancies and babies,” said Wang.1

    References

    1. Two thirds of reproductive-aged women have at least one modifiable risk factor for birth defects, study reveals. Elsevier. August 26, 2025. Accessed September 3, 2025. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1095031.
    2. Wang A, Zauche LH, Crider KS. Trends and prevalence of modifiable risk factors for birth defects among US women of reproductive age: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007 to March 2020. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 2025. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2025.107947

    Continue Reading

  • WhatsApp patches exploit allowing hackers to target Apple users

    WhatsApp patches exploit allowing hackers to target Apple users

    NEW YORK — WhatsApp has patched a security vulnerability that allowed sophisticated attacks against the Apple devices of “specific targeted users.”

    The messaging app, owned by Meta Platforms, said in a blog post that its vulnerability, chained with a bug found in iOS and iPadOS, allowed hackers to exploit and steal information from Apple devices.

    In a post on X, Amnesty’s Security Lab researcher Donncha Ó Cearbhaill said the malicious campaign lasted about 90 days. He said other apps beyond WhatsApp may also have been affected.

    WhatsApp said in a statement that less than 200 users were targeted and that the company had notified those affected. All users have been encouraged to update their app to the latest version to fix the issue.

    It’s not immediately clear who, or which spyware vendor, is behind the attacks.

    Apple also acknowledged the vulnerability in its systems and issued patches to fix the flaws.

    Continue Reading

  • WhatsApp patches exploit allowing hackers to target Apple users – The Washington Post

    1. WhatsApp patches exploit allowing hackers to target Apple users  The Washington Post
    2. WhatsApp fixes ‘zero-click’ bug used to hack Apple users with spyware  TechCrunch
    3. CISA Warns of WhatsApp 0-Day Vulnerability Exploited in Attacks  CyberSecurityNews
    4. CISA Adds TP-Link and WhatsApp Flaws to KEV Catalog Amid Active Exploitation  The Hacker News
    5. Unpacking the latest WhatsApp Zero-Click Exploit  Entrepreneur

    Continue Reading

  • Solvency & Reinsurance in Europe – Review of the Solvency II Report – Year End 2024

    This report looks at what is the optimal solvency ratio for an insurance company, or in other words, what is the optimal balance between risk and capitalization, and how P&C reinsurance contributes to achieving this ratio. 

    For the second time, following a comprehensive analysis of the data publicly disclosed by 2,500 insurance companies in Europe (including the UK and Switzerland) in 2025, the report provides some insight on these questions, along with a few benchmarks.
     

    Related articles

    2024 European captives analytical review of Solvency II reports | SCOR (October 2024)

    Solvency & Reinsurance in Europe – Review of Solvency II reports | SCOR (September 2024)

     

    Continue Reading

  • New Open-Source Tool Makes Complex Data Easily Understandable

    New Open-Source Tool Makes Complex Data Easily Understandable

    Scientists at the University of Duisburg-Essen have developed Datavzrd, an open-source tool that transforms complex tables into interactive, easy-to-use reports. This breakthrough promises to make massive datasets clearer and more accessible across scientific disciplines. Credit: Shutterstock

    Datavzrd makes complex datasets interactive and easy to use. It works across scientific fields without programming knowledge.

    Tabular data is central to scientific research, whether in medicine, the social sciences, or archaeology. Yet transforming raw tables into something clear and usable is often labor-intensive, especially when the datasets are large or complicated.

    To address this, the Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine (IKIM) at the University of Duisburg-Essen has created Datavzrd, an open-source tool that converts ordinary tables into interactive and visually engaging HTML reports. Importantly, it requires no programming skills or additional software. The development was recently described in the open-access journal PLOS One.

    Raw tables are often hard to interpret and can quickly become overwhelming. Typically, data points cannot be sorted, filtered, or connected, and when tables are shared, much of their context is lost. Existing solutions, such as R Shiny, provide useful visualization and interactivity but usually demand advanced technical expertise or specialized software.

    User-friendly solution at IKIM

    Datavzrd, designed at IKIM, avoids these drawbacks. Reports generated with the tool can be viewed directly in a web browser, attached to manuscripts, or sent by email. They stay fully interactive even when handling massive datasets with millions of rows. “The big advantage of Datavzrd is that it is particularly user-friendly and low-maintenance,” explains Felix Wiegand, a computer scientist involved in its development.

    Wiegand, a member of Prof. Dr. Johannes Köster’s research group at IKIM, emphasizes the tool’s simplicity. “The reports are not programmed, but simply described in an easy-to-understand text file – similar to a profile that specifies which data should be displayed and in what way. This allows even users without programming experience to prepare their data quickly and clearly.” He adds that the tool can also represent complex relationships across multiple tables, enabling users to explore hierarchies or link related entries. A tutorial further streamlines its use, making it accessible to a wide range of researchers.

    Wide applications in research

    The IKIM team demonstrates the versatility of Datavzrd in the publication using various examples, including these two: In a molecular tumor board, genetic findings and therapy options are presented interactively on a patient-specific basis – just as required in medical practice. And in an archaeological study, decorated clothing elements from various archaeological sites are prepared in a comparable manner and presented in a linked format.

    “Datavzrd makes data-based results intuitive, flexible, and sustainable,” says Felix Wiegand, summarizing the advantages. “It is suitable for almost all disciplines and scientific fields – from research and teaching to evaluation.”

    Reference: “Datavzrd: Rapid programming- and maintenance-free interactive visualization and communication of tabular data” by Felix Wiegand, David Lähnemann, Felix Mölder, Hamdiye Uzuner, Adrian Prinz, Alexander Schramm and Johannes Köster, 22 July 2025, PLOS ONE.
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0323079

    Never miss a breakthrough: Join the SciTechDaily newsletter.

    Continue Reading

  • SpaceX launches 28 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral – upi.com

    SpaceX launches 28 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral – upi.com

    1. SpaceX launches 28 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral  upi.com
    2. SpaceX’s Sunday morning Falcon 9 launch sends 1,900th Starlink to orbit in 2025  Spaceflight Now
    3. SpaceX launches satellites with the debut of a new Falcon 9 rocket  upi.com
    4. Is there a launch today? Upcoming SpaceX, NASA, ULA, rocket launch schedule at Cape Canaveral  yahoo.com
    5. SpaceX targeting tonight for Starlink mission from Vandenberg SFB  Lompoc Record

    Continue Reading