Science

There was a moment quite early into my time with Pokémon Pokopia where I sat back, exhaled, and said, “Oh dear, it’s got me.” See, I’ve not been too hot on Pokémon games for a while now, and initial trailers for Pokopia suggested that this probably wouldn’t be changing anytime soon. After spending 90 minutes with both single-player and multiplayer components at Nintendo of Europe's Frankfurt offices, however, I’m convinced: Pokopia — which has Koei Tecmo's Omega Force of Warriors fame heading up development — is going to absolutely gobble up my time. Not only that, but if it's supported by a steady stream of post-launch content (maybe some cool crossover items or events with other Nintendo properties?), it has the potential to be huge. I could tell you that Pokopia is basically Animal Cros...

Physicists' top theory about the nature of the universe may be wrong, a new study of strangely warped light suggests.The new research looked into three leading theories of dark matter, the invisible stuff that makes up most of the universe and provides structure to most galaxies, though we still don't know exactly what it is.For decades, cold dark matter (CDM) has been our leading theory for the universe's invisible scaffolding. It's a neat idea: tiny, slow-moving particles that interact only through gravity. But CDM has its problems. It struggles with explaining galactic anomalies and with describing the strange rotation curves of dwarf galaxies, for example. You may like To further test the nature of dark matter, scientists observe bent starlight from distant galaxies — a process call...

Captured on Nintendo Switch 2 (Docked) If you’re a horror fan and you own a Switch 2, you should play Reanimal. From the moment it pulls you into its bleak, nightmarish world, it’s clear that developer Tarsier Studios is building on everything it learned from the Little Nightmares series while pushing its signature horror sensibilities to unnerving new heights. This is an ambitious evolution of the cinematic horror puzzle-platformer formula the studio helped define with Little Nightmares, one that plays out less linearly in larger 3D spaces, with more varied combat and traversal mechanics and bombastic set pieces. It does so with impeccable sound design, gorgeous lighting, and pitch-perfect atmosphere. Reanimal marks a shift from the Tim Burton-esque macabre of the studio’s earlier titles ...

Here’s what you’ll learn when you read this story:A recent study offers new insight into the origin of an object known as the Shroud of Turin.Many consider the sheet to be a holy relic, marked with the impression of a dying man they believe to be Jesus Christ.Using open-source 3D modeling software, one researcher showed that, had the cloth really been laid on a real human being, the impression it left would have looked markedly different than what is actually on the sheetThis story is a collaboration with Biography.com.The Shroud of Turin has been the subject of fascination for both believers and skeptics alike since its existence was first recorded in the 14th century.The cloth in question appears to depict the face and body of an adult man with long hair and a beard—very similar to style...

Pokémon Pokopia can be described as a pocket monster-themed take on Animal Crossing with a hint of Stardew Valley thrown in for good measure. And if you're like me, that alone is probably enough to sell you on the game. However, after getting a chance to play a preview of it for around half an hour, it became immediately clear that the game's coziness levels are off the charts, but it also offers some fun twists on the genre.Co-developed by The Pokémon Company, GAME FREAK and KOEI TECMO, instead of playing as a generic trainer, you take control of a lonely Ditto who wakes up in a cave only to be greeted by Professor Tangrowth, the last surviving inhabitant of what used to be a bustling town. While the professor might look like an extra-large version of the original pokémon with glasses, it...

Here’s what you’ll learn when you read this story:A recent study offers new insight into the origin of an object known as the Shroud of Turin.Many consider the sheet to be a holy relic, marked with the impression of a dying man they believe to be Jesus Christ.Using open-source 3D modeling software, one researcher showed that, had the cloth really been laid on a real human being, the impression it left would have looked markedly different than what is actually on the sheetThis story is a collaboration with Biography.com.The Shroud of Turin has been the subject of fascination for both believers and skeptics alike since its existence was first recorded in the 14th century.The cloth in question appears to depict the face and body of an adult man with long hair and a beard—very similar to style...

To me, and I’m sure many others, the Pokémon franchise as a whole has always been “cozy.” Set in a (mostly) idyllic world with cute best friends who are always by your side, how could it not give you warm fuzzy feelings at least occasionally? We’ve had some relaxing Pokémon games over the years, but we’ve never quite had a game that embraced this secondary cozy aesthetic fully into its gameplay–until now, with Pokémon Pokopia. I played the first hour of Pokémon’s first life-sim, and the sheer amount of discovery to be made hooked me. I also played Pokémon Pokopia in multiplayer mode in a more developed world, plus, I learned more straight from the developers. Pokémon Pokopia begins with a Ditto waking up after a long, undefined slumber. It remembers its trainer in its hometown, with the na...

SMOKE + FOG = SMOG!Hello parents, teachers and students! If you’re looking for a fun way to explore how pollution and weather interact, check out this neat activity.Be sure to watch GMSA@9 on Wednesdays, when KSAT Meteorologist Sarah Spivey demonstrates and explains the science behind it.HERE’S WHAT YOU’LL NEEDMaterials needed (Copyright 2026 by KSAT - All rights reserved.)Glass mason jarAluminum foilHot waterIceSaltMatchesPiece of paperDO THE ACTIVITYSTEP 1: Put a little hot water in a 16 oz mason jar STEP 2: Put some ice sprinkled with salt on top of a piece of aluminum foil that is big enough to cover the top of the mason jarMake a pile of ice with salt on top of the aluminum foil (Copyright 2026 by KSAT - All rights reserved.)STEP 3: Using parental guidance, light the match and light t...

A revitalised Overwatch (formerly Overwatch 2) is bringing players back, propelling the game to most-watched status on streaming service Twitch, and to being one of the most played games on Steam - comfortably above copycat hero-shooter Marvel Rivals. There was even a queue to log in to Overwatch when I played yesterday evening, which is something I've never seen before. Currently there are nearly 100,000 people watching Overwatch streams on Twitch, making it the most viewed game by some way, with nearly 30,000 more viewers than second-place game League of Legends. Meanwhile on Steam, Overwatch peaked at 165,000 players, putting it briefly in the top 10. It's currently 13th, nearly 10 places ahead of genre rival Marvel Rivals, which has trumped Overwatch on Steam for a long time. Note, how...

Women have made gradual inroads into scientific careers. In Spain, they represent 39.6% of research personnel. However, their increased presence does not translate into equal conditions, and the differences that still persist also extend to scientific communication. This is demonstrated by a large-scale study recently published in the journal PLOS Biology. The authors analyzed 36.5 million academic articles and concluded that biomedical and life science research led by women spends more time in the peer-review process than that led by their male colleagues.The study used a sample of texts indexed in PubMed, the biomedical literature database, and compared the time elapsed between manuscript submission and final acceptance. The results show that studies with women as first authors or corres...