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Amazon is canceling its payment partnership with Venmo only a year and some change after first offering the purchasing option to users. Venmo also announced the abrupt aboutface through a brief update to its “Using Venmo on Amazon” tutorial page, citing only “recent changes” for the policy shift. Screenshots posted to the social media platform, X, indicate a December 6 email from Amazon sent to account members echoed the news.

[Related: It’s time to make your Venmo transactions private.]

In a statement provided to TechCrunch on Thursday, PayPal (Venmo’s parent company) noted users will still be able to add their Venmo debit and credit cards to pay on the site, and added that the company still has “a strong relationship with Amazon and look forward to continuing to build on it.” Venmo is already no longer included on Amazon’s list of acceptable payments.

An Amazon spokesperson also confirmed the phaseout in an email to PopSci while noting customers can “still use nearly a dozen” alternative payment options. Amazon has never integrated a PayPal option for shoppers, either, although it does support PayPay debit cards.

Amazon and PayPal first unveiled plans for the integration in November 2021, but didn’t begin to enable the feature until shortly before the 2022 holiday season. As Bloomberg notes on Thursday, PayPal alongside similar e-commerce companies have struggled in recent months due to an increasing return to in-store shopping, alongside consumers contending with overall economic inflation issues. It is still unclear if this influenced the two companies’ decision, however.

“We expect this news is simply the result of a lack of traction, as consumers failed to adopt using Pay with Venmo as their preferred checkout method,” analysts noted to Bloomberg earlier today.

[Related: Amazon to offer instant pay to workers and more loans to sellers.]

Despite the dissolution, Amazon continues to pursue in-house financial options, particularly for its employees. In September 2022, the company announced Anytime Pay, which allows workers to withdraw up to 70 percent of their earnings as soon as they accrue. Amazon also announced a partnership with Lendistry around the same time that introduced small business loan options to independent retailers.

“Whether it’s restocking household essentials or purchasing a last-minute gift, we know that Venmo users shop over two times more frequently than the average shopper and are 19 percent more likely to make repeat purchases,” Amazon said during last year’s payment feature rollout.

The post Amazon cuts Venmo payment option barely a year after enabling it appeared first on Popular Science.

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Brandt Ranj / Popular Science

Best overall		Alpine iLX-W650		SEE IT	The Alpine iLX-W650 is compatible with Apple and Android car systems and offers dual-camera connectivity alongside a bright display, making it one of the most well-rounded options available.
Best splurge		Sony XAV-AX6000		SEE IT	The Sony XAV-AX6000 features a sleek design paired with cutting-edge connectivity and OEM compatibility.
Best budget		Pioneer MVH-S622BS		SEE IT	The Pioneer MVH-S622BS pairs all the basic essentials for enjoying radio and device audio with a barebones user interface that’s intuitive to use.

Adding an aftermarket double DIN head unit to your car is one of the quickest ways to upgrade your audio quality, media playback options, and overall user experience with relatively little effort. Because a wide majority of these stereos come standard with touchscreen interfaces, Bluetooth connectivity, and smartphone control capability, they’re an especially appealing option for aging vehicles with stereos from an earlier era. If your current head unit plays CDs or cassettes, swapping in a new double DIN one is also a great way to purge your collection and free up storage space in your vehicle in favor of newer media playback options like wireless, USB, and even HDMI. Here’s a quick rundown of our picks of the best double DIN head units for refreshing your car’s look, feel, and most of all sound.

• Best overall: Alpine iLX-W650
• Best splurge: Sony XAV-AX6000
• Best budget: Pioneer MVH-S622BS

The best double DIN head units: Reviews & Recommendations

Best overall: Alpine iLX-W650

SEE IT

Specs

• Sources: AM/FM tuner, Bluetooth, USB, SiriusXM (not included)
• Screen: 7-inch capacitive touchscreen, 800 x 480 resolution
• Smartphone features: Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
• Power: RMS: 16 watts x 4 channels / Peak: 40 watts x 4 channels
• Expandability: Rear USB, two camera inputs, subwoofer compatible, microphone included
• Equalizer: 9-band parametric with time alignment

Pros

• Shallow chassis less than 3 inches deep
• Dual-camera compatibility for front and rear views
• Swipe controls for volume and navigation

Cons

• Parking brake must be engaged to access settings

The Alpine iLX-W650 features all the best of what modern double DIN head units offer in a balanced and affordable design, making it one of our favorite aftermarket options overall. For starters, it’s less than 3 inches deep, allowing it to be installed in shallow dashboards or mounted with an optional Alpine KTA-450 amplifier for even greater dynamic range and up to 45 watts RMS per channel. The unit also features a 7-inch anti-glare capacitive touchscreen with at-a-glance swipe controls and plug-and-play compatibility with up to two cameras for monitoring front or rear views. Like many of the best double DIN head units, the Alpine iLX-W650 comes standard with an AM/FM radio tuner, Bluetooth connectivity, smartphone car controls, and SiriusXM satellite radio compatibility. While it sounds great out of the box, the iLX-W650 offers users further sound customization options through its built-in 9-band equalizer, complete with delay compensation for synchronizing your front and rear speakers. Some users may find the iLX-W650 frustrating to use because it requires the parking brake to be engaged for access to some settings. However, this is a very common feature found in aftermarket touchscreen systems designed to keep users’ eyes on the road whenever in motion.

Best splurge: Sony XAV-AX6000

SEE IT

Specs

• Sources: AM/FM tuner, Bluetooth, USB, SiriusXM (not included)
• Screen: 6.95-inch capacitive touchscreen, 800 x 480 resolution
• Smartphone features: Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
• Power: RMS: 20 watts x 4 channels / Peak: 55 watts x 4 channels
• Expandability: Rear micro-HDMI, rear USB-C, camera input, subwoofer compatible, microphone included
• Equalizer: 14-band with time alignment

Pros

• Ultra-fast 3-amp USB-C port for charging
• micro-HDMI port for playing external audio and video
• Compatible with iDatalink Maestro for enhancing OEM features

Cons

• Requires parking brake to be engaged for access to settings

Sony’s XAV-AX6000 is a stylish double DIN unit packed with the latest tech in a user-friendly design, making it a worthwhile upgrade if you’re looking for one of the best aftermarket car multimedia experiences available. In addition to including a single input for connecting a rear-view camera, the XAV-AX6000 comes with a micro-HDMI port for streaming movies and other content from a device of your choice and a USB-C port that delivers three amps of power for super-fast charging. Like our best overall pick, the XAV-AX6000 also features all the basics like an AM/FM radio tuner, Bluetooth, backup camera connectivity, and satellite radio compatibility. If you have a compatible vehicle, this double DIN head unit can also display and perform vehicle-specific functions via iDatalink Maestro.

Best budget: Pioneer MVH-S622BS

SEE IT

Specs

• Sources: AM/FM tuner, Bluetooth, USB, SiriusXM (not included), AUX
• Screen: LCD display
• Smartphone features: iPhone and Android control
• Power: RMS: 14 watts x 4 channels / Peak: 50 watts x 4 channels
• Expandability: Subwoofer compatible
• Equalizer: 13-band graphic

Pros

• Knob-based controls are easy to use at a glance
• Pioneer SmartSync companion app available for wireless control
• Includes classic front-panel 3.5-millimeter AUX jack

Cons

• Display may be difficult to read in bright environments

If you’re open to forgoing a double DIN head unit with a touchscreen or native Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, the Pioneer MVH-S622BS offers fantastic compatibility with Bluetooth, SiriusXM, and wired audio sources at a bargain price point. In lieu of a screen, the MVH-S622BS features a classic LCD display for viewing track and source information at a glance and an intuitive suite of knobs and buttons that make the unit easy to operate while keeping your eyes on the road. Despite lacking fully integrative smartphone support, the MVH-S622BS can still be controlled wirelessly from any smartphone using Pioneer’s SmartSync companion app. In addition to supporting USB media playback like our other picks, this best value also features a classic 3.5-millimeter audio input on its front panel so you and your passengers can take turns “passing the AUX.”

Here are more double DIN units we think are, well, head and shoulders above the rest: 

• Best CD/DVD player: Pioneer AVH-1400NEX
• Best large display: Kenwood DMX1037S

FAQs

Final thoughts on the best double DIN head units

• Best overall: Alpine iLX-W650
• Best splurge: Sony XAV-AX6000
• Best budget: Pioneer MVH-S622BS

Double DIN head units can bring an aging vehicle into the modern age and elevate your car multimedia experience with satellite radio, Bluetooth, USB, and camera connectivity. While all double DIN head units are the same size, they offer a wide variety of user interfaces, connectivity, and power options. For the broad majority of users, a well-rounded double DIN head unit like the Alpine iLX-W650 constitutes a major upgrade over older stock stereos. If you want similar connectivity with a sleeker design, a boost in power, and OEM feature support, consider a premium unit like the Sony XAV-AX6000. Finally, if you’re more interested in audio connectivity options but don’t want Apple CarPlay or Android Auto support, you can save a few bucks by going with an LCD-based unit like the Pioneer MVH-S622BS.

Why trust us

Popular Science started writing about technology more than 150 years ago. There was no such thing as “gadget writing” when we published our first issue in 1872, but if there was, our mission to demystify the world of innovation for everyday readers means we would have been all over it. Here in the present, PopSci is fully committed to helping readers navigate the increasingly intimidating array of devices on the market right now.

Our writers and editors have combined decades of experience covering and reviewing consumer electronics. We each have our own obsessive specialties—from high-end audio to video games to cameras and beyond—but when we’re reviewing devices outside of our immediate wheelhouses, we do our best to seek out trustworthy voices and opinions to help guide people to the very best recommendations. We know we don’t know everything, but we’re excited to live through the analysis paralysis that internet shopping can spur so readers don’t have to.

The post The best double DIN head units of 2023 appeared first on Popular Science.

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Years after plans were first announced, end-to-end encryption (E2EE) is finally the default communications option for Messenger and Facebook. Meta’s security update arrives following years of mounting pressure from digital privacy rights advocates, who argue the feature is necessary to protect users’ communications.

A complete E2EE rollout will take a “number of months” due to the more than one billion users on Messenger. Once chats are upgraded, however, users will receive a notification to create a recovery method, such as a PIN, for restoring conversation archives in the event of losing, changing, or adding a device.

[Related: 7 secure messaging apps you should be using.]

Meta’s messaging services have offered E2EE as an optional setting since 2016. CEO Mark Zuckerberg voiced his desire to transition to default encryption across all Meta’s products as far back as 2019. In an announcement posted to Meta’s blog on December 6, head of Messenger Loredana Crisan wrote, “[E2EE] means that nobody, including Meta, can see what’s sent or said, unless you choose to report a message to us.”

E2EE is one of the most popular and secure cryptographic methods to integrate additional privacy within digital communications. Once enabled, only users possessing a unique, auto-generated security key can read your messages. When set up properly, it is virtually impossible for outside parties to access, including law enforcement and the app makers themselves.

[Related: Some of your everyday tech tools lack end-to-end encryption.]

Services like iMessage, Telegram, WhatsApp, and Signal have long offered E2EE as their default setting, but Meta was slow to integrate it within the company’s most widely used features. In the company’s December 6 blog post, Crisan argues the company “has taken years to deliver because we’ve taken our time to get this right.” Critics, meanwhile, chalk up the tech company’s reluctance to financial incentives, as access to users’ messages means access to vast, lucrative data troves that can be utilized for targeted advertising campaigns. People share over 1.3 billion photos and videos per day through Messenger.

“Meta just did something good—protected users from the company itself!” Caitlin Seeley George Campaigns and Managing Director at the digital privacy group, Fight for the Future, wrote in a statement on Wednesday.

In addition to the E2EE update rollout, Meta also announced forthcoming features including a 15-minute “Edit Message” window, the ability to toggle “Read” receipts, a 24-hour timespan for “Disappearing” messages, and other general updates to photo and video quality.

The post Default end-to-end encryption is finally coming to Messenger and Facebook appeared first on Popular Science.

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Grinding coffee beans at home is arguably the best way to get a fresh cup of coffee, but this process can be pretty messy. The friction created by breaking up the beans generates static electricity that makes the coffee clump together and stick to the grinder. However, a team of chemists and volcanologists is here to solve this caffeinated nightmare, joining forces to investigate how moisture affects this static buildup. They found that adding a drop of water to the beans before grinding cuts the static and makes a better tasting espresso. Their findings are highlighted in a study published December 6 in the journal Matter. 

[Related: Scientists brew stronger concrete with coffee grounds.]

While coffee enthusiasts and the $343.2 billion United States coffee industry have long known that coffee grinding generates static electricity, how different properties including origin or roast impact static have been more mysterious. Some baristas already use the Ross Droplet Technique and use a wet teaspoon or water on beans before grinding. 

The new study shows how moisture in espresso beans affects static charge builds up and how it can be altered. The team found that when coffee beans have higher internal moisture, they produce less static electricity. This can eliminate some waste and give consumers more bang for their buck and makes more consistent and intense-tasting espresso.

“Moisture, whether it’s residual moisture inside the roasted coffee or external moisture added during grinding, is what dictates the amount of charge that is formed during grinding,” study co-author and University of Oregon computational materials chemist Christopher Hendon said in a statement. “Water not only reduces static electricity and therefore reduces mess as you’re grinding, but it can also make a major impact on the intensity of the beverage and, potentially, the ability to access higher concentrations of favorable flavors.”

To study what factors are behind the electricity generation, Hendon worked with a team of volcanologists. During volcanic eruptions, scientists study similar electrification processes.

“During eruption, magma breaks up into lots of little particles that then come out of the volcano in this big plume, and during that whole process, those particles are rubbing against each other and charging up to the point of producing lightning,” study co-author and Portland State University volcanologist Joshua Méndez Harper said in a statement. “In a simplistic way, it’s similar to grinding coffee, where you’re taking these beans and reducing them to fine powder.”

They ground both commercially and in-house roasted espresso beans. The beans varied by factors including country of origin, roast color, processing method (natural, washed, or decaffeinated), and moisture content. They measured the amount of static electricity produced during grinding and compared the impact of grinding coarseness on the amount of electricity produced.

[Related: How a popcorn popper can help you roast coffee beans at home.]

There was no association between static electricity and where the country was grown or its processing method. However, the team did find associations between electrification and particle size, roast color, and water content. 

When the coffee had a higher internal moisture content and when it was ground at a coarser setting, less electricity was produced. The lighter roasts produced less electrical charge and the charge was more likely to be positive. 

Darker roasts tend to be drier and the dark roasts studied were charged negatively and produced more overall charge. The team also saw that dark roast coffees produce much finer particles than light roasts when ground at the same setting.

The team then tested whether grinding the beans with water changed the way espresso is brewed. The beans ground with water had a longer extraction time and a stronger brew, even if they were made with the same beans. Using water in the grinder also produced espresso shots that tasted more similar from shot to shot.  

While they only tested espresso, the team believes that these benefits should apply to many other brewing methods. 

“The central material benefit of adding water during grinding is that you can pack the bed more densely because there’s less clumping,” said Hendon. “Espresso is the worst offender of this, but you would also see the benefit in brew formats where you pour water over the coffee or in small percolation systems like a stovetop Bialetti. Where you’re not going to see a benefit during brewing is for methods like the French press, where you submerge the coffee in water.”

In future studies, the team plans to follow up with more studies on the quest to prepare the world’s best cup of coffee. This work also has implications beyond the caffeinated, and could offer insight into how granular materials are electrified.

“It’s sort of like the start of a joke—a volcanologist and a coffee expert walk into a bar and then come out with a paper, but I think there are a lot more opportunities for this sort of collaboration, and there’s a lot more to know about how coffee breaks, how it flows as particles, and how it interacts with water,” said Méndez Harper. “These investigations may help resolve parallel issues in geophysics—whether it’s landslides, volcanic eruptions, or how water percolates through soil.”

The post Chemists and volcanologists want you to make a better espresso appeared first on Popular Science.

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When it comes to studio monitors, precision, clarity, and accuracy are the name of the game. Unlike speakers designed for casual listening, studio monitors don’t “flatter” sound; rather, they provide a clear, honest window into your productions, ensuring your mixes sound exactly as you intended anywhere they’re played. As stereo slowly gives way to spatial audio, however, mix engineers have needed to expand their view from one wide bay window to an entire sparkling solarium, so to speak, and manufacturers are updating their offering to compensate for this.

Since 1995, PreSonus has been known for making affordable, innovative tools for music makers in every stage of their careers, including studio monitors, audio interfaces, and the Studio One digital audio workstation, which was recently updated to include Dolby Atmos capabilities.

This fall, the company, a subsidiary of Fender Musical Instruments, revamped its popular Eris speaker line with a completely reimagined family of powered studio monitors, available in three tiers to cater to everyone from hobbyists to pros. The entry-level Eris Essential line, starting at just $99/pair, offers onboard tuning controls and Bluetooth capability; the midrange Eris Studio line features custom waveguides and ported enclosures for superior high-frequency response and defined low end.

The flagship Eris Pro speakers, available in 6-inch and 8-inch models, are designed to offer a robust yet compact monitoring solution for both Dolby Atmos and traditional stereo and multichannel mixing. Models feature coaxial drivers, ported enclosures, room-compensating acoustic correction, and a range of inputs for both pro and consumer devices. 

I auditioned a pair of the top-of-the-line Eris Pro 8s ($499/each) paired with the Eris Pro Sub 10 10-inch powered sub ($449), the larger of two subwoofers introduced with the new Eris lines.

SEE IT

Eris Pro acoustics

The Eris Pro line showcases PreSonus’ most advanced acoustic innovations. The Pro 8 features a 1.25-inch ultra-low mass silk-dome tweeter and an 8-inch woven-composite woofer; this bi-amped speaker is powered by 140W of Class AB amplification, delivering a max output of 105 dB. Frequency response extends from 20 kHz down to an impressive 35 Hz, with a vented enclosure contributing to Pro 8’s deep, defined bass output.

Pro 8 employs a coaxial design, which places the high-frequency driver in the center of the low-frequency driver. This configuration produces more accurate phase alignment between components and creates a wide sweet spot with precise imaging, enhanced clarity, and even dispersion. [It’s a design also found in consumer speakers such as the KEF LS50 Wireless II, one of our favorite powered speakers specifically because of that spacious yet coherent reproduction. — Editor]

Coaxial speaker designs can also conserve speaker real estate; because the high- and low-frequency drivers are overlaid at a common central point, the speaker’s footprint can be smaller. (This is one of the reasons coaxial speakers are popular in automotive and architectural sound systems.)

While that size advantage might not seem like a big deal, when it comes to mixing Atmos music, Dolby recommends a minimum 5.1.4 speaker layout (referencing mains, sub-channel, and overhead “heights”) for smaller rooms, and ideally, a 7.1.4 configuration—which can eat up a lot of space (and budget) fast. 

Eris Pro’s built-in acoustic controls let you optimize speaker response for your unique space. A rear-panel Acoustic Tuning section provides controls for mids and highs, plus a three-way (flat, 80 Hz, 100 Hz) low-cut switch and an “Acoustic Space” trim (-4dB, -2dB, 0dB). I found that the speakers sat well in my acoustically treated 9- by 10-foot room, but these controls provide a fast, easy way to compensate for bass buildup and other potential room issues. 

The Pro 8’s XLR and ¼-inch TRS balanced and RCA unbalanced rear-panel inputs let you connect just about any line-level source, from studio mixers and interfaces to consumer devices. (Speakers provide RF interference and numerous protection features including output-current limiting, over-temperature, and a subsonic filter; a Power Saver mode engages after 40 minutes of no audio.) 

When you consider all this, it’s easy to see how the Pro 8’s compact coaxial design, acoustic optimization, connectivity, and affordability make it well-suited for Atmos setups as well as traditional stereo and multichannel production. (Pro 8s are wall- and ceiling-mountable for even more versatility.)

The Eris Pro Sub 10

I used the Pro 8s with the Eris Pro Sub 10 powered sub, designed to complement Pro 8s and other full-range monitors with musical, natural low-end response to 20 Hz. This formidable 10-inch subwoofer, powered by 170 watts of Class AB amplification, delivers 113 dB of room-shaking bass, and would be just as at home in a hi-fi setup as it is in a pro rig, though given the Pro 8s’ powerful low-end performance I found myself using the sub mainly to reference bass-heavy mixes. The Pro Sub 10 features a front-firing, glass-composite woofer in a vented enclosure; controls include input gain, polarity invert, a continuously variable lowpass filter for creating a seamless crossover transition, and a switchable 80 Hz highpass filter. An included footswitch provides instant subwoofer, highpass filter, and Sub Out bypass control; I reached for this convenient switch quite a bit during my tests.

Eris in action

I listened to a stereo pair of Eris Pro 8s along with the companion Eris Pro Sub 8 10-inch subwoofer in my home studio. I installed the speakers on a desk atop custom-built 6-inch wood stands. My sound sources included high-resolution commercial tracks streamed through TIDAL Max, and unmastered production files played directly from Apple Logic Pro through an Antelope Audio Discrete 4 Pro converter. (For comparison, other studio monitors used in that space include KRK-powered Rokit R6s and Focal Alpha 80 Evo 8-inch powered monitors.)

Listening to blues and Americana production tracks that centered around intricate acoustic guitar work, The Pro 8s delivered rich, full-range sound, no sub necessary. From finger slides to percussive picking, tracks sounded incredibly defined; crisp, detailed transients were presented in an expansive, lifelike sound stage. 

Although I found the Pro 8s’ deep, defined bass made the sub largely unnecessary outside of checking genre mixes, I gave both the Pro 8s and the Sub 10 a workout when I cranked up some big, bass-heavy commercial tracks. Burna Boy’s “Last Last” reproduced the track’s razor-sharp Lagos Afrobeat drum transients, lush synths, and bone-deep bass with clarity and definition that never became harsh or fatiguing, no matter how loud things got. 

Listening to Bill Evans’ stunning Tales—Live in Copenhagen (1964), the presentation was cohesive and nuanced, revealing a warmly balanced midrange and luminous ambiance. I could almost feel the air move as drummer Larry Bunker performed intricate brushwork and bassist Chuck Israels ran his fingers down his instrument. 

Ultimately, the Eris Pro setup distinguished itself with a voicing that didn’t center itself on the last word in analytical articulation but rather was best suited for contemporary music production and maintaining composure during high-impact immersive sound design (a la Atmos).

So, who should buy the PreSonus Eris Pro setup?

PreSonus’ new Eris line reinforces the company’s position of catering to the demands of a broad range of audio professionals seeking a versatile reference system. At a price point of $500 each, the Pro 8s are more competitively priced than many models in their class, making them an affordable choice for both stereo and multi-speaker setups. With their deep midrange and rich, focused bass, for me, these speakers eliminate the need for an additional subwoofer, though the Pro Sub 10 is a fitting complement, especially for referencing bass-heavy music or immersive content creators seeking extra depth. While a bit energetic for a final mastering setup, the Eris Pro line is worth a closer look for home recordists to engineers tight on space and budget but not creative vision.

The post PreSonus Eris Pro studio speakers review: Folding mighty sound into compact enclosures appeared first on Popular Science.

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After spending millions of years tucked away in rocks, fossils can sometimes resemble a completely different living thing. A turtle fossil might even bear a striking resemblance to a plant. When a team of paleontologists and paleobotanists re-examined a plant fossil first described about 20 years ago, they found out that it is actually the fossil of a baby turtle. The re-discovery is described in a study published December 7 in the journal Palaeontologia Electronica.

[Related: This 6-million-year-old turtle shell still has some DNA.]

Colombian priest Padre Gustavo Huertas collected rocks and fossils near the town of Villa de Levya from the 1950s to the 1970s. Two of the specimens Padre Huertas found were small, round rocks that had lines on them that looked like leaves, so he classified them as a type of fossil plant. They were described by Huertas in 2003 as Sphenophyllum colombianum and they date back to when dinosaurs roamed the Earth between 132 and 113 million years (Early Cretaceous period). 

This fossil’s age and where it was found piqued the interest of Fabiany Herrera, the assistant curator of fossil plants at the Field Museum in Chicago and a paleobotanist at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia in Bogotá, Colombia and his postdoctoral student Héctor Palma-Castro.

“I am neither a turtle expert nor a paleo vertebrate [expert], but my student Héctor and I knew this specimen was not a fossil leaf,” Herrera tells PopSci. “Fossil leaves are usually preserved pretty flat and don’t have a bone-like texture, so we were quite intrigued as soon as we saw the fossil for the first time.” 

At first glance, the fossils that are about two inches in diameter, looked like rounded nodules with the preserved leaves of the plant Sphenophyllum. They then noticed some key features weren’t quite right. They searched through the university’s fossil collections for other plants for comparison, and deciphering the shape and margin of the leaf in question was a challenge. The lines seen in the fossil did not look like the veins of a plant, and Herrera and Palma-Castro thought it could be bone. 

For help, Herrara reached out to Edwin-Alberto Cadena, a colleague and paleontologist who specializes in turtles and other vertebrates at the Universidad del Rosario in Bogotá. Cadena examined photos of the fossil and believed it looked like the upper shell of a turtle called the carapace. He realized that not only was it a turtle, but a hatchling of one of the world’s oldest extinct turtle species that could grow up to 15 feet long.

“Considering that the fossil hatchlings were found in the same rocks where one of the most complete and oldest marine turtles from the Early Cretaceous has been discovered, known as Desmatochelys padillai, we believe that these hatchlings could correspond to this extinct species,” Cadena tells PopSci. “Desmatochelys padillai belongs to a group of marine turtles known as protostegids, which inhabited the planet during the Cretaceous period and includes some of the largest turtles ever to have lived on Earth.”

[Related: Gigantic fossils hint at super-sized 7,000-pound sea turtle.]

Cadena and his student, Diego Cómbita-Romero of the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, further examined the specimens and compared them with fossilized turtle shells and modern shells.

 “When we saw the specimen for the first time I was astonished, because the fossil was missing the typical marks on the outside of a turtle’s shell,” Cómbita-Romero said in a statement. “It was a little bit concave, like a bowl. At that moment we realized that the visible part of the fossil was the other side of the carapace, we were looking at the part of the shell that is inside the turtle.”

To determine its age, they looked at the thickness of its carapace and the spots where the animal’s ribs were joined together in solid bone. The turtle was likely between 0 and 1 year old at death and in a post-hatchling stage with a slightly developed carapace when it died. Cadena says it is very rare to find hatchlings of fossil turtles since the bones in their shells are quite thin and can easily be destroyed over time. 

The team does not fault Padre Huertas for the mistake, as the features that he thought were leaves and stems are actually the modified rib bones and vertebrae that make up a turtle’s shell. Cómbita-Romero and Palma-Castro nicknamed the specimens Turtwig after a Pokémon that’s half-turtle and half-plant.

“In the Pokémon universe, you encounter the concept of combining two or more elements, such as animals, machines, plants, etc. So, when you have a fossil initially classified as a plant that turns out to be a baby turtle, a few Pokémon immediately come to mind. In this case, Turtwig, a baby turtle with a leaf attached to its head,” paleobotany postdoctoral student Palma-Castro said in a statement. “In paleontology, your imagination and capacity to be amazed are always put to the test. Discoveries like these are truly special because they not only expand our knowledge about the past but also open a window to the diverse possibilities of what we can uncover.”

The team hopes to conduct more examinations of these specimens, including using  micro-computer tomography to peer into the more delicate details of the bone and anatomy. They also plan to search for new fossils preserved inside these same spherical rocks and hopefully will find better-preserved hatchlings and even fully intact skeletons.

“The general public is crucial for discovering new fossils and meteorites in the US and Latin America,” says Herrera. “At the Field Museum, we receive lots of inquiries every year. Next time you find an interesting specimen and don’t know what it is, ask an expert! You could discover an exciting new species or rock from our planet’s history.”

The post Fossil first identified as plant is actually a baby turtle appeared first on Popular Science.

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AI has been eating the world this year, with the launch of GPT-4, DALL·E 3, Bing Chat, Gemini, and dozens of other AI models and tools capable of generating text and images from a simple written prompt. To train these models, AI developers have relied on millions of texts and images created by real people—and some of them aren’t very happy that their work has been used without their permission. With the launches came the lawsuits. And next year, the first of them will likely go to trial. 

Almost all the pending lawsuits involve copyright to some degree or another, so the tech companies behind each AI model are relying on fair use arguments for their defense, among others. In most cases, they can’t really argue that their AIs weren’t trained on the copyrighted works. Instead, many argue that scraping content from the internet to create generative content is transformative because the outputs are “new” works. While text-based plagiarism may be easier to pin down than image generators mimicking visual styles of specific artists, the sheer scope of generative AI tools has created massive legal messes that will be playing out in 2024 and beyond.

In January, Getty Images filed a lawsuit against Stability AI (the makers of Stable Diffusion) seeking unspecified damages, alleging that the generative image model was unlawfully trained using millions of copyrighted images from stock photo giant’s catalog. Although Getty has also filed a similar suit in Delaware, this week, a judge ruled that the lawsuit can go to trial in the UK. A date has not been set. For what it’s worth, the examples Getty uses showing Stable Diffusion adding a weird, blurry, Getty-like watermark to some of its outputs are hilariously damning.) 

A group of visual artists is currently suing Stability AI, Midjourney, DeviantArt, and Runway AI for copyright infringement by using their works to train their AI models. According to the lawsuit filed in San Francisco, the models can create images that match their distinct styles when the artists’ names are entered as part of a prompt. A judge largely dismissed an earlier version of the suit as two of the artists involved had not registered their copyright with the US copyright office, but gave the plaintiffs permission to refile—which they did in November. We will likely see next year if the amended suit can continue.

Writers’ trade group the Authors Guild has sued OpenAI (the makers of ChatGPT, GPT-4, and DALL·E 3) on behalf John Grisham, George R. R. Martin, George Saunders, and 14 other writers, for unlawfully using their work to train its large language models (LLMs). The plaintiffs argue that because the ChatGPT can accurately summarize their works, the copyrighted full texts must be somewhere in the training database. The proposed class-action lawsuit filed in New York in September also argues that some of the training data may have come from pirate websites—although a similar lawsuit brought by Sarah Silverman against Meta was largely dismissed in November. They are seeking damages and injunction preventing their works being used again without license. As yet, no judge has ruled on the case but we should know more in the coming months.

And it’s not just artists and authors. Three music publishers—Universal Music, Concord, and ABKCO—are suing Anthropic (makers of Claude) for illegally scraping their musicians’ song lyrics to train its models. According to the lawsuit filed in Tennessee, Claude can both quote the copyrighted lyrics when asked for them and incorporate them verbatim into compositions it claims to be its own. The suit was only filed in October, so don’t expect a court date before the end of the year—though Anthropic will likely try to get the case dismissed.

In perhaps the most eclectic case, a proposed class-action lawsuit is being brought against Google for misuse of personal information and copyright infringement by eight anonymous plaintiffs, including two minors. According to the lawsuit filed in San Francisco in July, among the content the plaintiffs allege that Google misused are books, photos from dating websites, Spotify playlists, and TikTok videos. Unsurprisingly, Google is fighting it hard and has moved to dismiss the case. As they filed that motion back in October, we may know before the end of the year if the case will continue. 

[ Related: “Google stole data from millions of people to train AI, lawsuit says” ]

Next year, it looks like we could finally see some of these lawsuits go to trial and get some kind of ruling over the legality (or illegality) of using copyrighted materials scraped from the internet to train AI models. Most of the plaintiffs are seeking damages for their works being used without license, although some—like the Authors Guild—are also seeking an injunction that would prevent AI makers from continuing to use models trained on the copyrighted works. If that was upheld, any AI trained on the relevant data would have to cease operating and be trained on a new dataset without it. 

Of course, the lawsuits could all settle, they could run longer, and they could even be dismissed out of hand. And whatever any judge does rule, we can presumably expect to see various appeal attempts. While all these lawsuits are pending, generative AI models are being used by more and more people, and are continuing to be developed and released. Even if a judge declares generative AI makers’ behavior a gross breach of copyright law and fines them millions of dollars, given how hesitant US courts have been to ban tech products for copyright or patent infringement, it seems unlikely that they are going cram this genie back in the bottle. 

The post Generative AI could face its biggest legal tests in 2024 appeared first on Popular Science.

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Do you know someone with piles of old photos and negatives eager to be preserved and revitalized? The Kodak Slide N Scan Film & Slide Scanner bridges the gap between the past and present by transforming cherished memories into digital format. It’s on sale for just $169.97 (reg. $224) through Dec. 17 with code KODAK. Best yet, if you order by Dec. 7, you’ll get guaranteed on-time holiday delivery. 

This scanner, crafted by Kodak, a prominent name in the realm of photography, helps bring back moments from the past. The essential Kodak Slide N Scan Film & Slide Scanner is designed to rejuvenate old photos and negatives, preserving memories for generations to come.

Featuring an exceptionally intuitive interface that seamlessly guides you through the process, the Slide N Scan streamlines the often daunting transition from prints to digital. Whether dealing with negatives or slides, this device caters to both, establishing itself as a versatile companion for vintage photography enthusiasts. Its impressive rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars from satisfied purchasers is a testament to its performance.

Boasting an impressive resolution of 14/22MP, this scanner captures every nuance found in the original photograph or negative. It rejuvenates faded hues and rekindles the elements of the photo with precision. Crafted using state-of-the-art technology, the scanner enables the editing and sharing of cherished memories while preserving their authentic essence.

Whether searching for a meaningful present for a friend or family member or eager to embark on a personal journey through time, the Kodak Slide N Scan Film & Slide Scanner makes for an excellent holiday gift that seamlessly blends technology with sentiment.

Snag the Kodak Slide N Scan Film & Slide Scanner for $169.97 (reg. $224) and free shipping with coupon code KODAK and give the gift of preserving memories through Dec. 17 at 11:59 p.m. PT. Purchase it before Dec. 7 for on-time holiday delivery. 

Prices subject to change.

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While the name “fire-ice” may sound like an oxymoron, natural gas is very real. Fire-ice or methane hydrate is a natural gas that is frozen solid deep underneath the ocean floor. There is evidence that is previously thawed during periods of warming and released the potent greenhouse gas called methane, according to a study published December 6 in the journal Nature Geoscience. Increasing ocean temperatures from further human-caused climate change could potentially melt more fire-ice, releasing more polluting methane. 

[Related: How AI could help scientists spot ‘ultra-emission’ methane plumes faster—from space.]

Why is methane a problem?

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, methane accounts for roughly 16 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. It is the second most abundant anthropogenic greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide. It is 25 times more effective than carbon dioxide at keeping heat locked in the atmosphere. However, it has a much shorter half-life than carbon dioxide and generally lingers in the air for less than a decade. 

Agriculture is one of the primary methane polluters, but methane can come from anywhere food or plants decompose without oxygen, like marshes, landfills, and fossil fuels. In 2021, methane emissions was added to a list of climate change priorities to tackle in the next decade by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The methane from fire-ice is also believed to have played a role in past climate changes and methane was linked to current ocean warming in the southern hemisphere in 2020. 

Searching the pockmarks

In the new study, an international team of scientists used advanced 3D seismic imaging techniques to study a portion of fire-ice located off the coast of Mauritania in northwestern Africa. According to the Department of Energy, gas hydrates like these were once believed to be rare, but are now thought to exist in vast volumes and to include 250,000 to 700,000 trillion cubic feet of methane.

[Related: Satellites traced super methane plumes to Turkmenistan’s gas fields.]

The analysis found a specific instance where dislodged methane traveled over 25 miles from the deeper parts of the continental slope up to the edge of the underwater shelf. This possibly occurred when the portion of fire-ice separated during warming periods over the past 2.6 million years, when the frozen gas began to thaw. The methane was potentially released through a field of underwater depressions called pockmarks during past warm periods on Earth. 

“Our work shows they [pockmarks] formed because methane released from hydrate, from the deepest parts of the continental slope vented into the ocean,” study co-author and Newcastle University petroleum geologist Richard Davies said in a statement. “Scientists had previously thought this hydrate was not vulnerable to climatic warming, but we have shown that some of it is.”

Researchers have previously analyzed how changes in bottom water temperature near continental margins may affect the release of methane from hydrates. According to the team, these earlier studies primarily focused on a small portion of global methane hydrates in shallower areas. The new study looks at the release of methane from the base of an area called the hydrate stability zone. This region is if the ocean is roughly 1,476 to 2,296 feet deep. The study found that the methane released from the hydrate stability zone traveled a long distance towards land.

“This is an important discovery. So far, research efforts focused on the shallowest parts of the hydrate stability zone, because we thought that only this portion is sensitive to climate variations,” study co-author and geophysicist at the GEOMAR research institute in Germany Christian Berndt said in a statement. “The new data clearly show that far larger volumes of methane may be liberated from marine hydrates and we really have to get to the bottom of this to understand better the role of hydrates in the climate system.”

The team from this study plans to look for more evidence of methane vents along the margins of the ocean floor. It is planning an expedition to drill further into the ocean’s pockmarks and to search for evidence of past climatic warming events in the geologic record. This kind of data  could help scientists better predict where massive methane seeps are most likely to occur as the effects of human-caused climate change continue to warm the Earth. 

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Amanda Reed

Best overall		Zeiss Conquest HD Binocular		SEE IT	Special coatings provide clear views in inclement weather by preventing water from sticking to the lens, as well as improving the colors and brilliance of images.
Best for birdwatching		Maven B1.2 42mm		SEE IT	They’re a small, compact size, with sharp, quick focus can keep up with birds off the beaten path and on the move.
Best night vision		JStoon Night Vision Goggles		SEE IT	The lenses project an image onto a 2.31-inch digital screen, where you can easily adjust to one of seven infrared (IR) levels to keep eyes on the object while establishing the best views.

Binoculars bring everything from birds to planets into view, but finding the right pair means looking first at when and how you plan to use them. Deciding on a budget is also a good idea, as these devices can easily cost well over $2,000. However, you don’t need to take out a loan to see the moon, a sporting event, or wildlife with crystal clarity. The binoculars’ magnification, objective lens size, weight, and lens coatings are only a few of the specs that will affect the optic quality. We’ve got the rundown on the important specs and five recommended pairs of the best binoculars that are more than worth their price.

• Best overall: Zeiss Conquest HD Binocular
• Best for birdwatching: Maven B1.2 42mm
• Best for hunting: Vortex Optics Viper HD Roof Prism Binoculars
• Best night vision: JStoon Night Vision Goggles
• Best budget: Vortex Optics Crossfire HD Binoculars

How we chose the best binoculars

We evaluated several key specs when considering the best binoculars. Specifically, we looked at the magnification, objective lens size, field of view, and lens coatings. All of these factors ultimately combine to determine the quality.

The magnification and objective lens need to create a balance between viewing quality and field of view so that it’s fairly easy for users to track their desired object. Lens coatings make a big difference in light transmission. We looked for coatings that enhanced the brightness and clarity at the magnification and objective lens size.

Finally, we consider weight and ease of focus. Heavy binoculars can weigh down the neck or may require a tripod for easier viewing. Pairs that are easy to focus allow easier tracking of fast objects like birds or participants in sporting events. For those who are a little active and adventurous, binoculars for hiking can help you track down avian friends and cool trees as you stop at a mountain vista overlooking a lake.

The best binoculars: Reviews & Recommendations

There are many sights to behold with the right pair of binoculars. One of our recommendations should let you view faraway mountains, animals, or even your neighbor’s dog taking an illegal poop in your backyard.

Best overall: Zeiss Conquest HD 8×42 Binocular

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Specs

• Weight: 28 ounces
• Magnification: 8x
• Objective lens: 42 mm

Pros

• View 384 feet at 1,000 yards
• Lens design and coatings provide bright images
• Quick focus

Cons

• Interpupillary distance may be too large for some users

This pick from Zeiss combines everything we love in binoculars into a single pair. They’re relatively lightweight at only 28 ounces, so birders and hunters can wear them around their necks without feeling weighed down. The 8×42 size provides the right balance of magnification to the objective lens for a generous field of view that shows 384 feet at 1,000 yards. The high-quality glass lenses transfer 90 percent of light, working beautifully in low-light conditions.

Zeiss uses a LotuTec coating that provides clear views in inclement weather by preventing water from sticking to the lens. Another coating improves the colors and brilliance of images. Birders, in particular, like the quick focus of the center knob, which is designed to jump right into the action for fast-moving objects.

A con to watch out for is the interpupillary distance (the distance between the eyepieces). You may need an extender piece if you have a narrow pupillary distance (distance between the center of your pupils).

Best for birdwatching: Maven B1.2 42mm ED Binoculars

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Specs

• Weight: 26.8 ounces
• Magnification: 10
• Objective lens: 42

Pros

• Sharp, quick focus
• Excellent low-light performance
• Small, compact, and easy to carry
• Water and fog-proof

Cons

• Expensive

The Maven B1.2’s bring quick clarity to the birding world. They’re lightweight at only 26.8 ounces, yet the 10x magnification and 42mm objective lenses provide an excellent field of view. Their field of view is relatively wide for 10×42 binoculars at 388 feet from 1,000 yards.

One of the reasons they’re a great pair of binoculars for bird-watching is the brightness and colors the lenses and coatings create. They reflect as much light as possible so that you see true colors.

The B1.2s also have a sharp, quick focus that can keep up with birds on the move. We also like the small, compact size. You can take them off the beaten trail to catch more unusual birds without feeling weighed down. Finally, they’re water and fog-proof to let you keep gazing even if the weather turns. The downside is that they’re pricey and more of a best splurge type of purchase. If you want to look at your avian friends while on your phone, consider the Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder, which lets you take photos of the winged wonders who feast upon the luscious Michelin five-star seed mix in the feeder.

Best for hunting: Vortex Optics Viper HD Roof Prism Binoculars

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Specs

• Weight: 43 ounces
• Magnification: 10x
• Objective lens: 42mm

Pros

• Clear views of the high-density glass lenses excellent in low-light
• Lifetime warranty
• Durable rubber casing
• Quick, responsive focus

Cons

• On the expensive side

The Vortex Optics Viper HD Binoculars bring a lot of great specs together into a highly functional pair of hunting binoculars. They’re not the most powerful, lightest, or high-tech, but they bring those three elements together into a near-perfect balance.

The 8x magnification with the 42mm objective high-density lenses lets in light that keeps images clear, even in low light. The rubber casing gives them added durability for hunters who trudge through rough, steep terrain, too. For those quick glances, the focus snaps into place with single-hand adjustments. That’s all supported by a decent field of view of 319 feet at 1,000 yards. Finally, Vortex offers an impressive lifetime warranty. These are pricey, and that warranty ensures your investment won’t be wasted after a fall or drop out in the field.

Best night vision: JStoon Night Vision Goggles

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Specs

• Weight: 20.3 ounces
• Magnification: 3x (optical), 4x (digital)
• Objective lens: 25mm

Pros

• 2.31-inch screen
• Seven infrared adjustment levels
• Six hours of recording time

Cons

• Limited distance

The JStoon Night Vision Goggles have a 3x optical zoom and 4x digital zoom. They’re among the best night vision goggles for the money. The lenses project an image onto a 2.31-inch digital screen, where you can adjust to one of seven infrared (IR) levels. Easy IR adjustment lets users keep their eyes on the object while adjusting for the best views.

This model also comes with a memory card and has a built-in camera that can run for six hours. The combination lets you watch animals, the city, or anything else at night and record it for sharing or later viewing. A water-resistant case is nice, though waterproofing would be a little more helpful in inclement weather. Its IP56 water resistance rating means it’s easily—but not fully—protected from dust and can withstand spray from powerful water jets, according to DSM&T.

The downside with this model, and many other night vision binoculars, is that the viewing distance is limited to about 100 feet, depending on the conditions.

Best budget: Vortex Optics Crossfire HD Binoculars

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Specs

• Weight: 23.8 ounces
• Magnification: 8x
• Objective lens: 42mm

Pros

• Lightweight at 23.8 ounces
• Waterproof
• Rubber armor coating
• Adjustable eyecups for viewing without eyeglasses

Cons

• Focus can be finicky

The Vortex Optics Crossfire HD Binoculars are some of the best value binoculars. They offer excellent optics and quality at a price that’s far below similar binoculars. The Crossfire’s multi-coated lenses increase light transmission for truer, brighter colors.

At 23.8 ounces, they’re a light option within this price category. Adjustable eyecups extend for use without eyeglasses or sunglasses. However, they’re just as easily used in their starting position with glasses on.

They have an aluminum shell encased in a rubber armor coating for added grip and waterproofing, and the nitrogen purging and o-rings complete the weather-proof design.

The only downside (and we had to look hard) is that the focus can be finicky for some users.

What to consider before buying the best binoculars

You’ve eyed binoculars for a while, but picking the right ones for you can be overwhelming enough to make you cry. There are a few things you should look for before setting your sights on a particular pair of binoculars:

Magnification and objective lens

The magnification and objective lens size are the two specs used to describe binoculars. The first number is the magnification, and the second is the objective lens size. For example, a pair of 7×42 binoculars have a 7x magnification and 42mm objective lens. While these aren’t the only specs to consider, they are a good starting point, especially if you know how you want to use the binoculars.

Many people jump to the highest magnification with the largest lens, but that’s not always the best choice. You can get excellent views from 7×42 binoculars if you’re looking at birds when compared to a 10×42. The higher magnification of the 10×42 reduces the field of view, making it more difficult to track a tiny bird.

It’s key to match the magnification and objective lens to fit the purpose of the binoculars.

Purpose of the binoculars

How and when you use the binoculars makes a big difference in the right pair for you. If you want a pair for the occasional sporting event or camping trip, you probably don’t need as big of a budget or a pair of binoculars as a devoted birdwatcher.

Birdwatchers need binoculars with a 7x to 10x magnification and 25mm to 42mm objective lens. Those specs typically give the binoculars good magnification and light, so you see the birds in true color. Within those specs, the binoculars won’t be too heavy or narrow the field of view too much either.

Hunters may need higher magnification models to see big game from 500 to 1,000 yards or more. True colors aren’t as important, but 38mm to 42mm objective lenses offer a good balance between weight and light transmission.

However, hunters also need weatherproofing and rubberized casings to resist inclement weather and keep a good grip. Weight can also be a factor. A heavy pair of binoculars can get uncomfortable if you’re hiking through elk country all day.

Stargazers need at least 8x but can go as high as 15x magnification and at least 42mm to 75mm. These binoculars get heavy and may require a tripod to hold them steady when looking at small objects.

Field of view

Field of view describes how many feet you see when looking through the binoculars from a particular distance, which is usually 1,000 feet. The field of view may be 333 feet at 1,000 feet away, which is great for hunting and birdwatching.

You typically need a larger field of view when you’re tracking small objects from a great distance, like stars or tiny birds from over 1,000 feet away. Keeping a sparrow in your sights at 12x is hard because the field of view gets too small.

Stargazing is another time when you need a wider field of view to keep the object in your sights. High magnification may let you see planetary moons other than our own, but keeping them within the field of view will be difficult unless the binoculars also have large objective lenses and a wide field of view.

FAQs

Final thoughts on the best binoculars

• Best overall: Zeiss Conquest HD Binocular
• Best for birdwatching: Maven B1.2 42mm
• Best for hunting: Vortex Optics Viper HD Roof Prism Binoculars
• Best night vision: JStoon Night Vision Goggles
• Best budget: Vortex Optics Crossfire HD Binoculars

The Zeiss Conquest HD Binoculars are the top pick for their high-quality optics, lightweight, and bright images. They’re an investment, but they offer superior viewing. Those on a tighter budget will appreciate the Vortex Optics Crossfire HD Binoculars. These binoculars show great views, are lightweight, and waterproof. Their quality and optics outpace their price. We’ve just scratched the surface of magnification here, and if you’re looking to look beyond the Earth’s surface as well, consider exploring the universe with one of the best telescopes.

Why trust us

Popular Science started writing about technology more than 150 years ago. There was no such thing as “gadget writing” when we published our first issue in 1872, but if there was, our mission to demystify the world of innovation for everyday readers means we would have been all over it. Here in the present, PopSci is fully committed to helping readers navigate the increasingly intimidating array of devices on the market right now.

Our writers and editors have combined decades of experience covering and reviewing consumer electronics. We each have our own obsessive specialties—from high-end audio to video games to cameras and beyond—but when we’re reviewing devices outside of our immediate wheelhouses, we do our best to seek out trustworthy voices and opinions to help guide people to the very best recommendations. We know we don’t know everything, but we’re excited to live through the analysis paralysis that internet shopping can spur so readers don’t have to.

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