May 12
Astronomers have unveiled the first wild but fuzzy image of the supermassive black hole at the center of our own Milky Way galaxy.
May 12
Scientists reveal first image of the black hole in the center of our galaxy
Posted in: Today's ChiliScientists have imaged a black hole before, but now they’ve captured a picture of the most important example — the one at the heart of the Milky Way galaxy. Researchers using the Event Horizon Telescope have revealed the first image of Sagittarius A* (aka Sgr A*), the supermassive black hole at the center of our home galaxy. The snapshot confirms both the presence of the black hole and provides more details of how these extreme space objects work.
Like the black hole spotted inside M87, Sgr A* is bending all the light around it — hence why it looks so similar. They’re far from identical beyond this, however. The Milky Way’s hole is over 1,000 times smaller and less massive. That made it a challenge to accurately visualize the gas whipping around the hole, as it orbits in minutes where M87’s gas takes days or even weeks. And while the object is huge at 4 million times more massive than the Sun, M87’s counterpart is billions of times more massive.
The team needed the Event Horizon Telescope’s network of radio observatories to produce the imagery over the course of multiple nights. They developed new imaging tools, and used a mix of supercomputing power (to analyze and combine data) and black hole simulations to help compare their findings. The project took five years to complete, including 100 million hours of supercomputer time at the US’ National Science Foundation.
The image finally helps humanity see the center of the galaxy, which sits roughly 27,000 light-years away. It should also help study black holes in general — astronomers can now compare images of two different black holes to refine their models of how these supermassive examples behave. The improved understanding of gas behavior could shape understandings of how galaxies form and evolve. The light ring data also lined up well with predictions based on the Theory of General Relativity.
You can expect more data going forward. The EHT is continuing to expand, and conducted its largest observation effort yet this March. Scientists hope for both more detailed images and videos of Sgr A* and other black holes in the “near future,” according to the NSF. All told, black hole visuals could be relatively commonplace before long.
Our own black hole! Astronomers have just revealed the 1st image of the supermassive black hole at the center of our Milky Way galaxy using the @ehtelescope– a planet-scale array of radio telescopes that emerged from decades of NSF support. https://t.co/bC1PZH4yD6#ourblackholepic.twitter.com/pd96CH3V0m
— National Science Foundation (@NSF) May 12, 2022
May 12
Mobile gaming is serious business now. The biggest titles out there are games like Fortnite and Genshin Impact, helped along by legions of kids getting their first smartphone. Lots of game publishers are putting out console-quality experiences on mobile, and it’s taken time for gaming accessories to catch up. But they have, and now players have a number of controller options to suit their play style. We’ve sorted through the leading options to highlight the pros and cons of each, so you can decide which one is the best for getting your game on (the go).
For players who prefer PlayStation-style controllers: 8BitDo Pro 2
Kris Naudus / Engadget
8BitDo has built itself a reputation for versatile gamepads that can work with multiple systems, from the Nintendo Switch to the Raspberry Pi. And while the Pro 2 is one of our top controllers for the Switch, it’s also a pretty great option for Android and iOS as well. The advantage to using these with your phone is also the free 8BitDo software that gives you extensive customization options for the buttons; it even has more options than you’ll find on Nintendo’s system. Of course, being a Bluetooth gamepad means it’s easy enough to jump back and forth, making this a good investment for people who own multiple portable devices (like a Switch).
Pros: PlayStation-like design is comfortable; configuration software is robust; controller is available in multiple colors
Cons: Not small and would be best carried around in a case
Buy 8BitDo Pro 2 at Amazon – $50
For players who like Xbox-style controllers: SteelSeries Nimbus+ and Stratus+
Kris Naudus / Engadget
While the PlayStation’s DualShock design has gained its share of devotees over the years, the Xbox gamepad is the stereotypical image of the gamepad in many people’s minds (as well as the Discord logo). So it makes sense that there are a lot more mobile gaming options with that shape, and the best ones come from SteelSeries: the Nimbus+ for Apple-made devices and the Stratus+ for Google-based devices (Android and Chromebook).
The two controllers are, for the most part, identical. They have shoulder buttons and triggers, the d-pad is the same, and they both include sturdy phone mounts for attaching your device at the top — the type that clamps in place automatically. Unlike a clamp from a more generic company, the one SteelSeries provides with both controllers won’t fight you during the process of mounting your phone.
Pros: More players are likely to be familiar with Xbox-style controllers; both models include sturdy clamps for clipping your phone to the controller.
Cons: You have to buy a different controller based on what OS you’re using; the controller with the clamp attached is unwieldy
Buy Nimbus+ at Amazon – $70Buy Stratus+ at SteelSeries – $60
For players who want to turn their Android phone into a Switch or Steam Deck-like device: Razer Kishi
Kris Naudus / Engadget
Let’s be honest, the form factor is a big reason that devices like the Switch are so popular. They’re comfortable to hold, well-balanced and really put the screen front and center. You don’t really get that with a phone clamp or table stand. Luckily, Razer’s Kishi is a super affordable option that’s easy to slide your phone into — though the setup admittedly wasn’t as quick for me as the SteelSeries options. But at least the direct connection it forms with the phone using USB-C is faster than Bluetooth.
The Kishi’s biggest advantages — besides Razer’s high-end build quality — are its passthrough charging, so you never need to detach it to charge your phone, and the size it folds down to when you do take it off your device. It’s smaller than the SteelSeries controllers, making it ideal for throwing into a small bag.
Pros: Provides a direct connection to a phone instead of relying on Bluetooth; folds up compactly when not in use
Cons: Phone with Kishi attached may feel bulky; doesn’t work with iPhones
Buy Razer Kishi at Amazon – $90
For players who want to turn their iPhone into a handheld console: Backbone One
Kris Naudus / Engadget
The USB-C port on the Kishi restricts it to Android devices, and Razer doesn’t make an iOS equivalent. However, the new Backbone One is made for Apple devices, though at a higher cost (due to being newer and from a smaller company). My colleague Mat Smith was a big fan of the One when he tried it, and in my own use it has a few advantages over the Razer device, namely a cleaner design and a more sweat-friendly matte texture. It also features Apple-specific buttons, ones that are much bigger and thus easier to hit than the ones on the Kishi.
Pros: Nice matte finish; specifically made for iPhone users
Cons: Expensive; only works with iPhones
Buy Backbone One at Amazon – $100
For players who want the most portable controller possible (or the cutest): 8BitDo Zero 2
Kris Naudus / Engadget
If you have big hands, the 8BitDo Zero 2 is definitely not for you, and your hands will likely cramp if you spend too long playing with this diminutive Bluetooth controller. But for everyone else, it’s definitely worth a look, if only because it’s so small there’s no reason to keep it on you at all times in case of an emergency. Not that we could tell you what constitutes a gaming emergency, but if one does come up you’ll be glad to have this on hand. It truly is keychain-sized, so you can clip it on your backpack or slide it into a Switch carrying case with ease. And we love the bright colors, which are based on the Switch Lite design and should blend in with your spring and summertime apparel.
Pros: Cute and tiny; comes with a strap for attaching to a bag
Cons: Too small for gamers with big hands
May 12
The Boys’ spinoff adds a couple more supes. Jeff Goldblum promises scary dinos in Jurassic World: Dominion. Plus, what’s coming on The Flash and Kung Fu. To me, my spoilers!
May 12
The Event Horizon Collaboration, the group behind the first-ever image of a black hole, just achieved another huge accomplishment: an image of Sagittarius A*, the black hole at the center of the Milky Way. This is a breakthrough in our understanding of our home galaxy and the astrophysics of its center.
May 12
“I never leave home without pepper spray, with the safety unlocked and in an accessible place in my pocket.”
May 12
HP Z-Series Serves Up New Laptop Workstations, Displays, And A Thunderbolt Dock For 2022
Posted in: Today's ChiliHP is back with its next update to the Z-series laptop lineup, introducing new ZBook Studio and Fury models alongside an upcoming display and more.
May 12
Meta started renaming its products after the company switched its name: The Oculus Quest and Facebook Portal devices, for instance, are now known as the Meta Quest and Meta Portal. It’s only natural for the company to also plan the future of its payments experience as it continues to expand into the metaverse, and that includes a name change for it. Stephane Kasriel, Meta’s head of fintech services, has revealed in a longer post about the metaverse that the company is soon renaming Facebook Pay to Meta Pay.
Kasriel said that Meta is “in the very early stages of scoping out what a single wallet experience might look like.” While it has no concrete plans yet, Meta is looking into how you can prove who you are and how you can carry that identity into different metaverse experiences. The company is also examining how you can store and bring your digital goods wherever you go in the metaverse and how you can pay friends and businesses easily with your chosen payment method.
Kasriel oversees the company’s financial division, which includes the Novi crypto wallet. Former Facebook exec David Marcus spent years trying to get Novi off the ground, but the wallet launched without support for the Diem cryptocurrency that he co-founded. In the end, Marcus stepped down in 2021 and Kasriel renamed the division as Meta Financial Technologies when he took over.
Facebook’s name change signified a new era for the company that’s now pinning its future on virtual reality and the metaverse. It hasn’t been smooth sailing for the internet giant, though. In 2021, Meta’s Reality Labs division that serves as home to its hardware and metaverse initiatives lost $10 billion and will hire fewer employees this year as a result. More recently, Reutersreported that the division will be axing some of its projects and postponing others, because it could no longer afford some of the initiatives it originally planned.
May 12
Like Garfield’s inability to resist lasagna, or ALF’s obsessive craving for cats, Lego has joined forces with Hasbro to create a new set that will be completely irresistible to children of the ‘80s who can now budget sizable chunks of their incomes to scratch nostalgic itches: behold Lego Optimus Prime.
May 12
ESPN tried to corral Eric Reed, who trained long shot winner Rich Strike, about the sexist slur.
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