The Avatar Mythics are the highlight of Fortnite currently‚ and players are discovering strange glitches that can happen with them. Did you know that Fortnite players have figured out that you can use air bending while being knocked down&;#63; Air bending is possible when you’re knocked down in Fortnite While scrolling on TikTok‚ I noticed an interesting video about a Fortnite player who managed to use air bending while being knocked down. In the video‚ you can see this player is knocked but is somehow still able to Air Wheel and then Air Jump at the end to get back to their teammate. So is this real&;#63; Screenshot: PC Invasion For now‚ it seems like this can happen through a glitch of some kind. I tested this out myself in my own Fortnite game and I unfortunately couldn’t recreate it. Although you probably can’t initiate air bending after being knocked‚ my guess is that this can happen if you get knocked while using air bending. It would make sense‚ and it see...

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A new – and indescribably cute – species of tiger cat has been identified by scientists in Brazil. Unfortunately‚ just like its other tiger cat cousins‚ the species is under threat from rampant deforestation and habitat destruction. Also known as the oncilla‚ tiger cats are small spotted cats that quietly stalk Central and South America‚ perfectly adapted for clambering in trees and hunting small prey. They are among the shyest and smallest wild cats in the Americas‚ weighing between 1.5 to 3 kilograms (3.3 to 6.6 pounds) – much smaller than most domestic house cats. Until recently‚ they were split into two species: the northern tiger cat (Leopardus tigrinus) and the Atlantic Forest tiger cat (Leopardus guttulus) along with a handful of subspecies. Researchers involved with the Tiger Cats Conservation Initiative in Brazil recently studied the appearance‚ genetic variety‚ and geographical range of the tiger cat complex‚ concluding that the family includes a third species: the clouded tiger cat (Leopardus pardinoides).Spot the difference: the two other species of tiger cat: the northern tiger cat (top) and the Atlantic Forest tiger cat (bottom).Image courtesy of Tiger Cats Conservation InitiativeThis little fella is found in the cloud forests of the southern Central American and Andean mountain chains‚ which stretch from Costa Rica through Panama‚ Colombia‚ Peru‚ Bolivia‚ and Argentina.As you can see in the map below‚ this is a separate geographical range from its other relatives. The northern tiger cat is native to the savanna and shrublands of the Guiana Shield and central Brazil‚ while the Atlantic tiger cat lives further south in forested areas of central to southern Brazil down through Paraguay and northeastern Argentina.Discovering a “new” species is often seen as a boon for biodiversity‚ but the researchers were keen to point out that all tigers cats – including the newly described species – are threatened with extinction. Like many creatures in this part of the world‚ all three species are being struck with aggressive habitat destruction and deforestation. There is also the ever-present risk of illegal hunting.A map of South America showing the historical and predicted current distribution of the three tiger cat species.Image courtesy of de Oliveira et al.‚ Scientific Reports‚ 2024.The researchers believe their latest findings highlight the need for greater protection to ward off the existential threat looming over tiger cats. However‚ the situation will prove very difficult to solve‚ especially for the newfound clouded tiger cat.Much of the range inhabited by both savanna and Atlantic Forest tiger cats sits in Brazil‚ making future conservation efforts easier to coordinate (at least in theory). However‚ the range of the clouded tiger cat consists of a thin strip running down South America through numerous countries‚ parts of which are in the midst of guerrilla conflicts.“For all tiger cats‚ very concerning area reductions‚ ranging from -50.4 to -68.2 percent‚ were identified. This also requires immediate action‚ with enhancement and reinforcement of environmental policies‚ an urgent need for Red List assessment/reassessment for all species‚ in addition to taking strong conservation action from local projects to national institutions and authorities‚” the study authors write. “The ‘Red Alert’ is on‚” they conclude. The study is published in the journal Scientific Reports.

The question of how to tell how old an octopus is has been at the forefront of researchers' minds as they seek effective strategies to help age these animals‚ and thereby work to combat issues associated with overfishing and the growing demand for commercially harvesting octopuses for consumption. Octopuses typically have pretty short lifespans‚ depending on the species. They may live as little as 6 months to a year – the common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) has a lifespan of 1-2 years in the wild while the giant Pacific octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini) can live for 3-5 years. But how do you go about telling the age of these eight-armed cephalopods&;#63;Current techniques for octopus aging include looking at growth increments in the hard structures of these animals‚ such as in their beaks or stylets‚ similar to looking at the rings of a tree trunk. Other techniques involve using a proxy for age such as measuring the eye lens diameter or the weight of the animal.“Over the past 30 years‚ various studies have explored different methods to age octopus‚ but only a small number of researchers worldwide have the hands-on knowledge to execute these methods in the laboratory‚” said University of South Australia marine ecologist Dr Zoe Doubleday in a statement. Given these different methods‚ the team has put together a guide to outline different techniques to age an octopus. One such measure is to use stylets‚ structures made of cartilage on either side of the mantle of the octopus. Stylets are formed in layers that are slowly deposited as the octopus ages. While stylets are a good way of measuring age‚ they vary between species in terms of shape and increment variability and may not be the best way to measure age in all octopus species. This gets extra tricky when you take into account that octopus growth rings measure days‚ not years. “Understanding an octopus’s age helps to keep fisheries sustainable‚” said PhD student Erica Durante. “If you know a species’ age‚ you can estimate how fast they grow and reproduce and how much you can catch to keep a fishery sustainable.”Octopus fisheries have expanded in recent years and are expected to keep growing to keep up with global demand. Each year‚ 400‚000 octopuses are estimated to be gathered from around 90 countries across the world. By learning the best methods to accurately estimate the ages of these animals‚ the team hopes that long-term maintenance and sustainable management practices can be put in place. “By publishing this guide and making the knowledge accessible to anyone‚ we can help keep fisheries sustainable and ensure this incredible animal continues to survive and thrive‚” concluded Dr Doubleday.The guide is published in the journal Marine and Freshwater Research. 

Long before black became the world’s most fashionable color‚ life on Earth was dressed in neon pink. Remnants of this distant rose-tinted era can still be seen in the fossilized remains of bacteria that lived in an ancient ocean 1.1 billion years ago‚ making them the oldest known biological pigments on the planet.The discovery was made in 2018‚ when researchers analyzed rocks found in a marine shale deposit hundreds of meters below the surface of the Taoudeni Basin in Mauritania. Amazingly‚ the researchers were able to extract molecular fossils of chlorophyll from the fossilized cyanobacteria within this primordial rock‚ surpassing the next oldest examples by around 600 million years.Normally green in color‚ chlorophyll is the primary pigment found in photosynthesizing plants and algae‚ yet took on dark red and purple hues when extracted in concentrated form from the ancient microbes. After dilution‚ the pigment appeared bright pink‚ providing a glimpse of the tint that may have colored the early seas.&;quot;The bright pink pigments are the molecular fossils of chlorophyll that were produced by ancient photosynthetic organisms inhabiting an ancient ocean that has long since vanished‚&;quot; explained study author Dr Nur Gueneli in a statement.In addition to resurrecting the earliest known biological color‚ the researchers were also able to reconstruct the composition of photosynthetic life in the oceans of the mid-Proterozoic era‚ which lasted from around 1.8 billion to 800 million years ago. By analyzing the nitrogen isotopic values within the fossilized pigment‚ they determined that these ancient seas were dominated by tiny cyanobacteria‚ while larger planktonic algae were virtually absent.Such a finding helps to explain why complex animals had not yet evolved at this time‚ suggesting that the kinds of photosynthesizing microbes that existed at the time simply weren’t big enough to sustain highly developed life forms. &;quot;The precise analysis of the ancient pigments confirmed that tiny cyanobacteria dominated the base of the food chain in the oceans a billion years ago‚ which helps to explain why animals did not exist at the time‚&;quot; Dr Gueneli said.&;quot;Algae‚ although still microscopic‚ are a thousand times larger in volume than cyanobacteria‚ and are a much richer food source‚&;quot; continued study author Dr Jochen Brocks.&;quot;The cyanobacterial oceans started to vanish about 650 million years ago‚ when algae began to rapidly spread to provide the burst of energy needed for the evolution of complex ecosystems‚ where large animals‚ including humans‚ could thrive on Earth‚&;quot; added Brocks.The study is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The world may soon see what could be the first ever military exercise in Earth's orbit‚ with the US Space Force finally living up to its name and using military force in space.The Space Force‚ which has been mocked for adopting the Star Trek logo as its own logo‚ having its own horse‚ and its questionable theme tune‚ has recently stepped up its activities on the space front. As well as sending an astronaut to the International Space Station‚ the force is planning to conduct a Tactically Responsive Space (TacRS) mission‚ dubbed VICTUS HAZE.The test will see two companies – Rocket Lab National Security and True Anomaly – &;quot;exercise a realistic threat response scenario in an on-orbit space domain awareness demonstration&;quot;. The exercise could involve one satellite acting erratically or maneuvering closer to the other‚ per Ars Technia. The second satellite would then make a response to defend the satellite‚ or to deter the &;quot;enemy&;quot; satellite from attacking.Though this may all seem in the realms of science fiction‚ the US is nervous of potential conflicts in space‚ with China conducting plenty of mysterious tests in low-Earth orbit.“The number and complexity of adversary threats in space is constantly growing. To rapidly respond to those threats‚ we need to deliver the most advanced TacRS capabilities the U.S. has to offer‚” Lt. Col. MacKenzie Birchenough‚ Materiel Leader for Space Safari‚ said in a statement announcing the demonstration in August 2023. “VICTUS HAZE will help provide the advantage we need to assess the threats and continue our ability to freely maneuver in space.”“We recognize the significant opportunity to leverage the commercial space industry’s innovations to counter China as America’s pacing threat‚” Col. Bryon McClain‚ Space Systems Command’s program executive officer for Space Domain Awareness and Combat Power added in a statement on Thursday‚ naming China specifically. “The United States has the most innovative space industry in the world. VICTUS HAZE will demonstrate‚ under operationally realistic conditions‚ our ability to respond to irresponsible behavior on orbit.”The cost of the project is expected to be around $92 million overall‚ with True Anomaly raising around $30 million of internal private capital towards it. True Anomaly still has further demonstrations to work on before VICTUS HAZE‚ but all going well‚ the US Space Force should see its first military exercise in orbit carried out in 2025.[H/T: Ars Technica]

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Consider this proposition: “Suppose that your favorite candidate loses a close election. However‚ people on the campaign know that they can win by cheating without being caught. Would you rather have your candidate win by cheating or lose by playing fair&;#63;” Just 7% of Americans said‚ “Win by cheating.” This is from a startling new Scott Rasmussen poll. Rasmussen then put this question to those the pollster calls “the elite 1%.” They make over $150‚000 per year‚ have a postgraduate degree‚ live in densely populated areas‚ and give President Joe Biden an 82% approval rating. Why poll this group&;#63; Rasmussen said: “A heavy concentration of them went to one of 12 elite schools. ... [H]alf the policy positions in government‚ half the corporate board positions in America‚ are held by people who went to one of these dozen schools.” Thirty-five percent of this group said they would rather their candidate win by cheating than lose by playing fair. It gets worse. Rasmussen put the question to a subset of this elite 1%‚ whom the pollster calls the “politically obsessed‚” defined as those who talk about politics every day. Among this group‚ the number who would rather win by cheating jumps to 69%. Rasmussen said: “Most Americans think we don’t have enough individual freedom. Among the elite 1%‚ about half say‚ ‘No‚ we’ve got too much freedom.’ And among that politically obsessed group‚ about 7 out of 10 say‚ “There’s too much individual freedom in America.” As for why they think this way‚ Rasmussen said: “... part of the reason is because they trust government. In America‚ it’s been 50 years since most voters trusted the government to do the right thing most of the time. But among the elite 1%‚ 70% trust the government. ... They really believe that if they could just make the decisions and get us out of the way‚ we would be a lot better off.” This brings us to National Public Radio‚ whose mostly white listeners consist of the more affluent and those more likely to have college and postgraduate degrees. (Let us reserve for another time the question of why‚ in an information overload internet world full of radio and television channels‚ podcasts‚ numerous news outlets‚ etc.‚ we still  have taxpayer-supported public television and radio.) Now this elite 1% absolutely‚ positively loves NPR. Uri Berliner‚ senior business editor and reporter‚ is a 25-year NPR veteran. He insists NPR “lost its way when it started telling listeners how to think.” In a strikingly candid article‚ Berliner writes: “It’s true NPR has always had a liberal bent‚ but during most of my tenure here‚ an open-minded‚ curious culture prevailed. We were nerdy‚ but not knee-jerk‚ activist‚ or scolding. “In recent years‚ however‚ that has changed. Today‚ those who listen to NPR or read its coverage online find something different: the distilled worldview of a very small segment of the U.S. population. ... “By 2023‚ the picture was completely different: only 11 percent described themselves as very or somewhat conservative‚ 21 percent as middle of the road‚ and 67 percent of listeners said they were very or somewhat liberal. We weren’t just losing conservatives; we were also losing moderates and traditional liberals. ... “At NPR‚ we hitched our wagon to Trump’s most visible antagonist‚ Representative Adam Schiff. “Schiff‚ who was the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee‚ became NPR’s guiding hand‚ its ever-present muse. By my count‚ NPR hosts interviewed Schiff 25 times about Trump and Russia. During many of those conversations‚ Schiff alluded to purported evidence of collusion. The Schiff talking points became the drumbeat of NPR news reports. “But when the Mueller report found no credible evidence of collusion‚ NPR’s coverage was notably sparse. Russiagate quietly faded from our programming. “It is one thing to swing and miss on a major story. ... What’s worse is to pretend it never happened‚ to move on with no mea culpas‚ no self-reflection.” Who is listening to NPR&;#63; Berliner says: “Our news audience doesn’t come close to reflecting America. It’s overwhelmingly white and progressive‚ and clustered around coastal cities and college towns.” You know‚ kind of like the elite 1%.