Science

The Legacy of Kain franchise might be one of the most beloved cult franchises in gaming (for Millennial goths with an English degree, like myself, at least). The dark fantasy action-adventure series kicked off with Blood Omen back in 1996, and followed that up with Soul Reaver in 1999, before a three-year run of Soul Reaver 2, Blood Omen 2, and Legacy of Kain: Defiance rounded off the series for a very long time in 2003. Fast-forward 21 years, and we saw the release of Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered in 2024 - reigniting dormant fans everywhere and bringing the esteemed series back into the spotlight. Today, during PlayStation's State of Play presentation (and then in a news blast shortly after), Crystal Dynamics announced that we're getting two more releases in the LoK se...

Our ability to imagine is part of what makes us who we are—not just as individuals, but also as humans. It turns out, though, that we may not be the only species capable of playing pretend. In a string of experiments, scientists sat down, set the table, and hosted pretend tea parties with a bonobo named Kanzi to see if he’d play along—and he did. Producer Kathleen Davis chats with study author Amalia Bastos about Kanzi, what it means to imagine, and how our definition of “humanness” keeps changing. Further Reading Donate To Science Friday Invest in quality science journalism by making a donation to Science Friday. Donate Source link

Image: Konami Following the reveal of a second Metal Gear Solid Collection today, Konami has updated the Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 for the Switch 2 and Switch. According to reports, the Metal Gear Solid 2 and Metal Gear Solid 3 are now running at a resolution of 1080p, with 60fps performance. On the Switch, these titles were limited to 30fps. Update: We've now got the official English patch notes from Konami's Metal Gear Solid website. The details below focus on the updates for the Switch version of the title, as well as the added support for the Switch 2. If you want to see the screenshots (and comparisons) included alongside these patch notes, or find out what else has been updated in other versions of the collection, visit the official page. On this page: Metal Gear So...

Image via WCU.West Chester University’s Science on Tap series brings faculty experts to Barnaby’s Restaurant for free monthly talks, combining engaging scientific discussion with a lively, informal dining atmosphere in downtown West Chester. West Chester University’s (WCU) free Science on Tap talks by WCU experts will continue this semester at Barnaby’s Restaurant (15 South High Street, second floor). Programs take place once a month at 6:00 PM. Each session features a different WCU expert sharing interesting ideas and research, new information, and discoveries. The program invites audience participation with opportunities to ask questions, spark discussion, and connect with fellow science enthusiasts. And of course, the audience can order from Barnaby’s food and beverage me...

Josh Sobel, who was formerly a tech artist and rigger on live-service shooter Highguard, posted a lengthy, eye-opening blog about his time working on the free-to-play FPS that has struggled since launching last month on consoles and PC.  Sobel also talks about the response it got after its reveal and the harassment he suffered. On February 12 Sobel, a former Wildlight Entertainment developer who worked on Highguard for two and a half years, shared a post on Twitter containing thoughts he says he has been wanting to share “for a while.” In the post, titled “Reflecting On Shipping My First Game,” Sobel reveals that the day leading up to Highguard‘s big reveal at the 2025 Game Awards was “amongst the most exciting” in his life. “The future seemed bright,” added the developer. However, shortly...

Recorded on: Sep 23, 2025 Carbon dioxide (CO2) is often seen as the problematic byproduct of modern lifestyles that threatens our planet’s stability – at least within conversations among environmentalists. But this perspective overlooks the fundamental role of CO2 in everything on Earth, from the food we eat to the houses we live in to our bodies themselves. Despite this reality, the carbon cycle as we know it has been interrupted in ways never before seen in Earth’s history. How could understanding the deep history of CO2, as well as humanity’s relationship with this controversial and vital molecule, help us prepare for the planetary changes ahead? In this episode, Nate is joined by science journalist Peter Brannen, who reframes CO2 from an industrial pollutant to a miraculous substance ...

Rayman: 30th Anniversary Edition launches on February 13 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, PC via the Ubisoft Store and Steam, and with a Ubisoft+ subscription. Rediscover the magical world of Rayman as you rescue Electoons and save the world from Mr. Dark by punching and hair-coptering your way through memorable areas like the Dream Forest and the musical chaos of the Band Lands. Everything Included in Rayman: 30th Anniversary Edition Celebrating thirty years of the iconic limbless hero, the Rayman 30th Anniversary Edition includes: Five versions of the 1995 classic, including PlayStation, Atari Jaguar, MS-DOS, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance Never-before-playable SNES prototype 120 additional levels from bonus level packs Reimagined soundtrack by composer Christophe Héral Enhanced ...

Tiny plastic fragments known as microplastics and nanoplastics have spread across the planet. They have been found in deep ocean waters, farmland soils, wildlife, and even inside the human body. Despite their widespread presence, researchers still do not fully understand what happens after these particles enter living organisms. A new study outlines a fluorescence-based technique that could allow scientists to monitor microplastics in real time as they move through the body, change chemically, and eventually break down. Plastic production worldwide now surpasses 460 million tons per year. Each year, millions of tons of microscopic plastic particles are released into the environment. Scientists have identified these particles in marine animals, birds, and human tissues including blood, live...

Image: Konami After multiple reports of a second collection, Konami has today officially confirmed Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 is on its way to the Switch and Switch 2 on 27th August 2026. Like the original volume, this will also be getting a physical release. Konami has outlined exactly what you can expect from this "physical version", and unsurprisingly, it's a Game-Key Card release on the Switch 2. Meanwhile, on the original Switch, it appears you'll also be required to download part of the collection. Here are the specifics from the official Konami Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 webpage (Note: this is based on Konami's information for the Americas). Switch 2: Physical Version Minimum Space Required : 30.4 GB METAL GEAR SOLID 4: Guns of the Patriots - Master...

Edgeøya, an island in the southeastern part of the Svalbard archipelago, is defined by stark Arctic expanses and rugged terrain. Still, even here—halfway between mainland Norway and the North Pole—life persists, from mosses to polar bears. The southern lobe of Stonebreen, a glacier that flows from the Edgeøyjøkulen ice cap into the Barents Sea, gives the landscape a different kind of life. Its ice pulses like a heart. The apparent heartbeat comes from the ice speeding up and slowing down with the seasons. This animation, based on satellite data collected between 2014 and 2022, shows how fast the glacier’s surface ice moves on average during each month. In winter and spring, the ice flows relatively slowly (pink); by late summer, it races toward the sea at speeds exceeding 1,200 meters p...