Swiss researchers have pioneered a method of cultivating metal out of water-based gel, an innovation that promises valuable applications in energy technology. The concept aims to power the production of unique sensors, biomedical devices, or energy conversion and storage components. Scientists at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, in Switzerland, have created dense, high-strength structures […] The post Scientists ‘Cultivate’ Metal Instead of 3D Printing it–and it’s 20x Stronger appeared first on Good News Network.

Books apocalyptic fiction Five Novels About Coming of Age During the Apocalypse Growing up is hard enough without the entire world falling apart around you. By James Davis Nicoll | Published on October 15, 2025 Comment 0 Share New Share Coming-of-age novels have long been popular. And why not? Not only do they offer younger readers protagonists with whom they can easily identify, coming-of-age stories offer the writer a wonderful opportunity to depict character at an especially meaningful moment of the character’s life. And what provides the perfect backdrop against which to develop character? Adversity! Therefore, it stands to reason the more adversity, the better. It’s no surprise that apocalyptic coming-of-age novels are hardly rare. Surviving1 as the world burns marvellously illuminates who one truly is. Here are five works about growing up in an apocalypse. The Chrysalids by John Wyndham (1955) The Tribulation transformed most of North America into seared wastelands populated, if they were populated at all, by mutants… but not Labrador. Labrador’s inhabitants take survival as a sign of God’s favour, a favour that must be forever earned. Virtue must be rewarded and sin punished. Among the transgressions for which authorities are most vigilant: mutation. Any animal that is deformed is killed; any mutated child is sterilized and exiled. Too bad for telepath David and his equally telepathic chums. Telepathy is just the sort of trait that gets one exiled and it only takes one careless slip for the entire group to be exposed. Flight would be prudent… if only the Tribulation had left anywhere to which they could flee. Rereading this Wyndham for the first time in decades, I was struck by a curious detail I’d overlooked as a teen. Most of the novel is about how unjust and wrong prejudice is. There’s a sudden swerve at the end, in which David’s latest allies calmly explain that not only is prejudice called for in some circumstances, so is genocide. I’ve always wondered, were readers expected to take that at face value? Or was Wyndham revealing that David’s allies were no better than the Labradorians? Brother in the Land by Robert Swindells (1984) Sheltering in a disused bunker to avoid a sudden downpour, teenager Danny Lodge inadvertently escapes from the immediate effects of a Soviet nuclear attack on Branford. Danny’s family is almost as lucky; hometown Skipley is far enough from Branford that only Danny’s mother dies during the attack. Not only do the Lodges, minus mom, manage to survive almost unharmed save for PTSD, but the Lodge family store survived… well, not intact, but salvageable. Therefore, the Lodges can easily hold out until the British government restores normalcy. This sensible plan has only two flaws: the accumulating effects of acute radiation sickness from the lingering fallout, and the fact the remnants of the British government, the Local Commission, sees the Lodge family as impediments to be removed. In the Local Commission’s defense, it is not clear that Great Britain is habitable, due to the general destruction, the irradiated cropland, and all the other fun effects of having several hundred megatons dropped on a small island. However, the Local Commission appears to go out of its way to maximize misery as it tries to salvage something from the ruins. Malice or just middle-management promoted beyond their competence? Random Acts of Senseless Violence by Jack Womack (1993) Twelve-year-old Lola Hart lives with her family in the sort of upper-class bliss only New York can offer. True, her father’s scriptwriting career runs hot-and-cold, but as long as Lola’s mother keeps her academic position, the Harts will be fine. It would take calamitous political chaos and a general economic collapse to push the Harts out of their comfortable niche. Calamitous political chaos and a general economic collapse force the Harts to embrace diminished expectations. Neither Mr. or Mrs. Hart truly grasp how radically their world has changed, or that the old order is never coming back. Lola is a realist. The tween understands the new reality and is determined to do whatever it takes to be one of the survivors. Readers looking for a feel-good coming-of-age novel should seek out this Womack—once they’ve read it, they will have a far clearer grasp of feel-good’s antithesis. You cannot look for something until you understand what it isn’t. The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe (2012) Sixteen-year-old Kaelyn’s homophobic father reacted badly to the revelation that his son Drew is gay, moving the family to a small island, far from Drew’s Toronto boyfriend. By pure coincidence, this means that when a novel disease breaks out, Kaelyn and her family are in an ideal place to wait out the pandemic… if only the outbreak were on the mainland and not on the island itself. The new disease is highly infectious. It is also phenomenally lethal. Prudence says to flee the island, which is why the mainlanders make a point of hulling every boat they can find. Therefore, Kaelyn and her rapidly dwindling circle of family and friends can only do their best to survive with whatever was on hand when the island was isolated. Or, as seems more likely, struggle futilely before perishing. I know it strains credibility that Canada’s single-payer health system would react to a novel virus with anything short of peerless, efficient professionalism from the loftiest federal office down to the humblest rural clinic. Accept the novel’s premise as akin to faster-than-light travel or telepathy—an implausible element needed to make the story work. War Girls by Tochi Onyebuchi (2019) The Western powers have gifted the world with nuclear war and rapid climate change. Having transformed Earth, the West scattered glittering space stations across the Solar System and decamped en masse for the stars (or at least interplanetary space). As for Earth, no doubt its remaining occupants will straighten things out. Nigeria borders the new uninhabitable zone and is itself fractured along ethnic lines, the Igbo against the rest of Nigeria. Onyii is still young but she’s already a cybernetically-enhanced veteran. This may give her the skills she needs to rescue her adopted sister Ify from Nigerian kidnappers…but not before the Nigerians turn Ify into a weapon pointed at Onyii. Some readers may think that War Girls is just mainly a civil war novel, a Gundam-influenced reprise of the Biafran War of 1967–1970. How apocalyptic could a civil war possibly be? You really don’t want to gain personal experience with the answer to that question, so let’s just say that civil war has been, and will always be, sufficiently apocalyptic. Since many authors begin the writing process considering how best to motivationally immiserate their protagonists, it’s no surprise that so many subgenres, including coming-of-age works, feature apocalypses. These works are just five out of many. I am sure to have omitted some of your favourites—you may wish to mention them in the comments below.[end-mark] Some characters may choose not to survive, given the horrifically unpleasant choices they face. I recall that a number of characters in Battle Royale decided not to survive on the terms offered. ︎The post Five Novels About Coming of Age During the Apocalypse appeared first on Reactor.

Five and a half years after the world was shut down for a novel virus, some people are still feeling the effects of the initial illness. Dubbed “long covid,” a collection of symptoms linger well after the initial illness occurred. What Is Long Covid? Known formally as post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC), here’s what it is: Long COVID is defined as a chronic condition that occurs after SARS-CoV-2 infection and is present for at least 3 months. Long COVID includes a wide range of symptoms or conditions that may improve, worsen, or be ongoing. Long covid can linger for months or even years, and in some cases, it becomes a chronic condition that can be severe enough to cause disability. Symptoms include the following from the CDC: General symptoms Tiredness or fatigue that interferes with daily life Symptoms that get worse after physical or mental effort Fever Respiratory and heart symptoms Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath Coughing Chest pain Fast-beating or pounding heart (also known as heart palpitations) Neurological symptoms Difficulty thinking or concentrating (sometimes referred to as “brain fog”) Headaches Sleep problems Dizziness when you stand up (lightheadedness) Pins-and-needles feelings Change in smell or taste Depression or anxiety Digestive Symptoms Diarrhea Stomach pain Constipation Other symptoms Joint or muscle pain Rash Changes in menstrual cycles It can turn into a serious chronic illness, according to the Open Medicine Foundation: Numerous studies have revealed a significant overlap in symptoms reported by patients with Long COVID and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). An NIH-funded study found that new cases of ME/CFS were 15 times higher than pre-pandemic levels. According to the results, 4.5% post-COVID-19 participants met ME/CFS diagnostic criteria, compared to 0.6% participants that had not been infected by SARS-CoV-2 virus. These findings provide additional evidence that infections, including those caused by SARS-CoV-2, can lead to ME/CFS. Long covid causes a serious decline in the quality of life of people who suffer from it. What Causes Long Covid? A study by the University of Kansas determined that the illness was caused by spike proteins that remained in the body. The study looked at 116 COVID-19 patients who were hospitalized at the University of Kansas and analyzed the viral RNA and Spike protein in these patients. Most of the follow-ups occurred between 8 and 12 weeks, however, some went as far as 24 weeks or more. The team found that measuring viral RNA and Spike Proteins was helpful in understanding Long Haul Covid. In fact, the degree of the Spike protein was most closely connected with three variables: blood d-dimer level, length of hospital stay, and intensity of hospitalized symptoms. Dr. Peter McCullough has suggested that individuals who have been vaccinated may be more susceptible to long COVID. It is likely that immunization worsens post-COVID symptoms despite producing antibodies against the Spike protein because COVID-19 mRNA vaccinations add additional genetic code and Spike protein to the body. The CDC disagrees with this conclusion, and in fact, believes that the opposite is true. Research shows COVID-19 vaccination is the best available tool to prevent Long COVID, including in children. I encourage you to do your own research on this divisive subject. Long Covid Treatments Treatment options can be limited and there is not one set treatment by the medical community. The Cleveland Clinic offers these options: Medication. Providers can treat certain symptoms and conditions, like cough, headaches, anxiety and depression with medication. If they can find an underlying cause for long COVID (like blood clots), they might be able to treat the cause with medications. Stellate ganglion block or olfactory retraining. Providers can use these treatments to try to bring back your sense of smell and taste. A stellate ganglion block numbs certain nerves in your neck that can affect your sense of smell. Olfactory retraining uses common smells to help your brain remember what things should smell like. Physical therapy. Physical therapy incorporates exercise, massage and other treatments that can help you with pain or movement issues. Pulmonary rehabilitation. Pulmonary rehabilitation is a special kind of exercise and education program that can help you breathe better and learn how to manage breathing issues at home. Counseling. Counseling gives you someone to talk to who can help you manage the psychological effects of severe or long-term illness. The Wellness Company has another protocol. They have a product called Ultimate Spike Detox, which is stronger than their previous Spike Support product. If you find that you need something stronger, this could be the answer for you. It’s an extra strength formula designed to use the McCullough Base Spike Detoxification Protocol, which was published in several major medical journals. It contains natural ingredients and is classified as a dietary supplement. If you’ve been suffering from the effects of covid long after the initial illness is gone, I encourage you to give the Ultimate Spike Detox a try. It attacks the root problem – spike proteins – instead of merely treating the symptoms. What About You? I know that some folks say “covid doesn’t exist” and “it’s just the flu” but I had an extremely severe case of it back when I was living in Mexico. Luckily, I didn’t suffer long-term side effects, but I personally know several people who have. Have you had covid? Was it mild or severe? Do you have any of the symptoms of long covid? Have you seen a doctor for it? Please share your experience in the comments section. The post Long Covid: What You Need to Know appeared first on The Organic Prepper.

Trump to Rampaging Hamas: Disarm, or We'll Disarm You

High aurora activity is forecasted. Fingers crossed for no clouds!

The tech allowed Keith Thomas to control the hands of other people, including another with a spinal cord injury.

This is the first time estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone have been detected in human skeletal tissues.

Actress Bette Midler traveled over to CBS and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Tuesday to pay tribute to the eponymous host as he winds down his show. While Midler avoided wishing a plague on Colbert’s bosses, she did gush over him in the form of a song that included several references to Colbert’s Lord of the Rings fandom as well as President Trump’s backside. Colbert began by noticing Midler brought a rolled-up piece of paper with her, “Thank you so much for being here. Did you bring your diploma?” Midler immediately swooned, “Well, it's not my diploma. It's yours. I want to beg you, don't go. Don't go. Don’t go. Don't go.”     She added, “I worked this up for you because I wanted to thank you personally and publicly for all you did for me for these last nine and a half years. I would not—really. And I mean this from the bottom of my heart. I would not—I'm going to cry. I would not have made it through without you. I really wouldn't have.” Midler further told Colbert that, “You were a voice of sanity and reason and honesty and most important, honor. Honor.” Eventually, Midler revealed that the paper contained lyrics to a song she wrote that began, “It must have been cold here at The Late Show, despite the high ratings and awards, you need a gig that's more worthwhile now that you're more in demand than Epstein's file.”     Midler’s ode continued, “Did you ever know that you're my Frodo? You stand for what's right with wit and class. Thank you. And I hold you high as the great eagles 'cause you never kissed the orange ass. You never kissed the orange ass, never kissed the orange ass. Oh, you, you, you, you never—” After the audience finished with “kissed the orange ass,” Midler got to what she thought was the best part, “Fly, fly, fly away like Gandalf's golden wings. Thank you. Thank you. Thank God for you, the lord of all our rings.” Being the Tolkien nerd that he is, Colbert surely knows that the Lord of the Rings is Sauron, the main villain of the series. Bad Lord of the Rings analogies aside, Colbert is arguably the most partisan of all the late night hosts, which is saying something considering the competition. When Midler says Colbert helped her through the last decade, it reveals that for liberals, the late night comedy shows have become a group therapy session first and a comedy show second. Here is a transcript for the October 14-taped show: CBS The Late Show with Stephen Colbert 10/15/2024 12:04 PM ET STEPHEN COLBERT: Thank you so much for being here. Did you bring your diploma? BETTE MIDLER: I did. I did. Well, it's not my diploma. It's yours. I want to beg you, don't go. Don't go. Don’t go. Don't go. COLBERT: I am here until May before I return to Narnia. MIDLER: I know, but I'm not coming back. COLBERT: Oh, okay. MIDLER: No, I might. I worked this up for you because I wanted to thank you personally and publicly for all you did for me for these last nine and a half years. I would not—really. And I mean this from the bottom of my heart. I would not—I'm going to cry. I would not have made it through without you. I really wouldn't have. COLBERT: Oh, that’s very sweet of you to say. Thank you. MIDLER: You were a voice of sanity and reason and honesty and most important, honor. Honor. COLBERT: That's nice of you to say. Occasionally funny I hope too. MIDLER: Oh no, wait. That goes without saying. You're hilarious, but it's all this other stuff mixed in which is so rare nowadays. Anyway. So I wrote a little something for you and— COLBERT: It’s a proclamation? MIDLER: I feel you're a national—Well, it's a kind of a proclamation. You know, I have a long reputation for singing certain talk show hosts off the air and so— COLBERT: I know that. I was going to show everybody this, this is you famously with Johnny back at the end of his run.  MIDLER: Oh yes, famously with Johnny. COLBERT: I would never compare myself to Johnny, but that —I know, of course. MIDLER: No, no, no, please. You know, I sang Krusty the Clown off too. COLBERT: Krusty? I knew Krusty well. He deserved it. MIDLER: I did. I sang Krusty —  he sure did. I was in a Simpsons once I was thrilled. Thrilled. Anyway, so this is what I wrote. But I have to find my note and I haven't sung in a long time, so I— COLBERT: What note do you need? MIDLER: I need a —   If I only knew. I think it's a B-flat. But I wouldn't do it. I would go... MMM. It must have been cold here at The Late Show, despite the high ratings and awards, you need a gig that's more worthwhile now that you're more in demand than Epstein's file. Did you ever know that you're my Frodo? You stand for what's right with wit and class. Thank you. And I hold you high as the great eagles 'cause you never kissed the orange ass. You never kissed the orange ass, never kissed the orange ass. Oh, you, you, you, you never—   AUDIENCE: Kissed the orange ass. MIDLER: Wait, wait, wait. COLBERT: No, I don't get to kiss you? MIDLER: This is the best part.  Fly, fly, fly away like Gandalf's golden wings. Thank you. Thank you. Thank God for you, the lord of all our rings.

The comprehensive and definitive 720-page book collects—for the first time—every one of his song lyrics alongside never-before-seen reproductions of handwritten pages from his own notebooks. The post Complete Johnny Cash Lyrics Book Arrives appeared first on Best Classic Bands.