FazzNoth

Dive Brief: Intuitive Surgical’s robotic surgery dominance is “increasingly harder to break at many existing customer sites,” according to analysts at BTIG. The analysts reached the conclusion after attending the Society of Robotic Surgery’s 2022 meeting. While noting that the landscape is “far more expansive” than in the past, the analysts said Intuitive’s encircling of its robots with analytics, imaging and more makes it harder for high-volume users to move to rival technologies. Intuitive’s competitors, including larger challengers such as Johnson & Johnson and Medtronic, will need an “ecosystem approach” that goes beyond hardware to overcome the cost of switching. Dive Insight: Companies including Globus Medical, J&J, Medtronic, Stryker, Vicarious Surgical and Zimmer Biomet presented at the event, reflecting the rise in the number of businesses targeting the robotic surgery sector in recent years. The arrival of multiple rivals raised questions about the position of Intuitive, which enjoyed a near monopoly in the market for years. The competitive narrative around Intuitive has now “dissipated,” the analysts wrote in a note to investors. The shift follows setbacks to robotic surgery development programs at J&J and Medtronic, as well as Intuitive’s perceived success in entrenching its devices with existing customers. Intuitive’s ecosystem of “advanced analytics, state-of-the-art imaging, virtual and augmented reality, cloud computing” and more “make it harder for high-volume robotic surgeons and institutions (with existing robotics programs) to shift away to emerging competitive systems,” say the analysts. One surgeon discussed the difficulties of switching and why high-volume physicians will have a tough time converting. “Surgeons likened it to pilots who have to gain separate licenses on various models of planes in order to safely fly various different plane types. While this can certainly be addressed, we do think as [Intuitive’s] ecosystem grows, the switching costs will continue to rise, making it harder for companies such as [Medtronic] and [J&J] to make initial inroads on existing customer sites,” the analysts wrote. While noting the barriers to switching, the analysts did see technologies that may have advantages over Intuitive’s devices. Some surgeons said they appreciated the open console design of Medtronic’s Hugo and liked the flexibility on the number of arms, although they also saw some lower responsiveness in movement. The analysts also noted that smaller companies have been able to re-imagine and develop newer robotic systems “out of necessity to offer differentiation,” that have little physical resemblance to the systems developed by Intuitive and the other large players. “For many it’s still ‘to be determined’ but we think much smaller-form factor robotics present the most interesting and viable alternatives to larger-form factor systems today,” they wrote. https://www.medtechdive.com/news/intuitive-ecosystem-difficult-switch-competitors/626721/

Sri Lanka’s prime minister agreed to resign on Saturday after party leaders in Parliament demanded both he and the embattled president step down on the day protesters stormed the president’s residence and office in a fury over a worsening economic crisis. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said in a voice statement that he will resign when all parties have agreed on a new government. “Today in this country we have a fuel crisis, a food shortage, we have the head of the World Food Program coming here and we have several matters to discuss with the IMF. Therefore, if this government leaves there should be another government,” he said. His decision came after the biggest protest yet swept Sri Lanka as tens of thousands of people broke through barricades and entered President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s residence and nearby office to vent their anger against a leader they hold responsible for the nation’s worst crisis. Sri Lanka's prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe gestures during an interview with The Associated Press in Colombo, Sri Lanka, June 11, 2022. (Eranga Jayawardena/) Footage showed people in a jubilant mood taking a dip in the garden pool of the residence. Some lay on beds, others made tea and drank, and made “statements” from the conference room that Rajapaksa and Wickremesinghe must immediately quit. Wickremesinghe said he suggested to the president to have an all-party government, but didn’t say anything about Rajapaksa’s whereabouts. Opposition parties in Parliament were currently discussing the formation of a new government. Protesters demanding the resignation of Sri Lanka's President Gotabaya Rajapaksa swim in a pool inside the compound of Sri Lanka's Presidential Palace in Colombo on Saturday. Rajapaksa appointed Wickremesinghe as prime minister in May in the hope that the career politician would use his diplomacy and contacts to resuscitate a collapsed economy. But people’s patience wore thin as shortages of fuel, medicine and cooking gas only increased and oil reserves ran dry. Many protesters accuse Wickremesinghe of trying to save Rajapaksa when he came under pressure to resign and every other member of his powerful political dynasty quit the Cabinet. Protestors demanding the resignation of Sri Lanka's President Gotabaya Rajapaksa gather inside the compound of Sri Lanka's Presidential Palace in Colombo on Saturday. Leaders of political parties in Parliament met later and decided to request Rajapaksa and Wickremesinghe to step down, opposition lawmaker Rauff Hakeem said on Twitter. He said a consensus was reached that the parliamentary speaker should take over as temporary president and work on an interim government. Sri Lanka’s economy is in a state of collapse, relying on aid from India and other countries as its leaders try to negotiate a bailout with the International Monetary Fund. The economic meltdown has led to severe shortages of essential items, leaving people struggling to buy food, fuel and other necessities. The turmoil has led to months of protests, which have nearly dismantled the Rajapaksa political dynasty that has ruled Sri Lanka for most of the past two decades. The president’s older brother resigned as prime minister in May after violent protests saw him seek safety at a naval base. Much of the public ire has been pointed at the Rajapaksa family, with protesters blaming them for dragging Sri Lanka into chaos with poor management and allegations of corruption. At the president’s office, security personnel tried to stop demonstrators who pushed through fences to run across the lawns and inside the colonial-era building. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/sri-lankan-pm-agrees-to-quit-amid-biggest-political-turmoil/ar-AAZozFa

“Horrible living conditions”. That’s how employees at a Missouri animal shelter described the scene. Over the past seven days, the Kennett Humane Department has found over 20 dogs and puppies, most being cases of animal abandonment and neglect. Officer Tena Petix said the issue has become more common this summer, and it is not being taken lightly. “If it is a misdemeanor depending on how severe the crime is you get in Kennett is no less than $50 and up to $500. You can get up to 90 days in jail, you can get community service and probation up to two years,” she said. First video related: https://www.msn.com/en-us/video/news/animal-shelters-look-for-help-as-they-deal-with-overcrowding/vi-AAZiGNl She explained most of the dogs were found in locked cages outside in the heat, causing heat distress. Petix said the conditions were horrible and not survivable. “We had some brought in today, a mom and her babies,” she said. “We had a call because people saw no one at the house for several days. We went and the first thing we saw was a puppy that was deceased.” She added with temperatures at and around 100 degrees, animals outside are in danger, especially if they have little to no water. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/animal-neglect-issues-swarm-shelters-amid-hot-temperatures/ar-AAZntub

Andrea Jenkyns said she ‘reached the end of my tether’ and stood up for herself after receiving ‘abuse’ over the years. Nadhim Zahawi and Grant Shapps have both launched campaigns to become the next Conservative party leader and replace Boris Johnson as prime minister. Launching his campaign, Chancellor Mr Zahawi pledged to lower taxes for individuals, families and business and boost defence spending. Transport secretary Mr Shapps promised to end a period of “tactical government by an often distracted centre”, in an interview with The Times. His declaration comes after defence secretary Ben Wallace ruled himself out of the Conservative Party leadership contest despite his status as favourite among the Tory grassroots. And more than a dozen MPs have declared their support for former chancellor Rishi Sunak to become prime minister after Boris Johnson’s resignation. Former Tory Party co-chairman Oliver Dowden is among the seven MPs who have tweeted their support of Mr Sunak’s leadership bid using the hashtag #ready4rishi. Others who tweeted their support were Dr Liam Fox, Mark Harper, Paul Maynard, Sir Bob Neill, Mel Stride, and Jacob Young. Seven others are also backing Mr Sunak, according to reports, taking the total to at least 14. Newly-appointed chancellor Nadhim Zahawi has launched his bid for the Tory leadership and to replace Boris Johnson. He is the second Cabinet minister to declare their ambition in the space of an hour after transport Grant Shapps said he intended to stand on a platform of improving the economy and tackling the cost of living crisis. Mr Zahawi, who was brought in to replace Rishi Sunak after he resigned on Tuesday, said his focus will be on lower taxes for for individuals, families and business. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/boris-johnson-resigns-rishi-sunak-tories-replacement-latest-b2119361.html

Happy Birthday!

Nickname: @FazzNoth Video author: MoreSidemen Name of the game: Fall Guys Link video: Rate this video 1-10: -

Cubroid has once again return to Kickstarter to raise the funds required to launch their new ARTIBO robot, designed to provide a portable friend you can take anywhere, offering features to help make your life “that much simpler”. Watch the demonstration video below to learn more about Cubroid’s second Kickstarter project. ARTIBO is now available to back with pledges starting from $79 or roughly £60 for super early bird backers, offering a considerable saving of the recommended retail price of $149. A variety of accessories are also available for the cute robot which help you expand its functionality, look and style. Equipped with a friendly voice for more natural responses ARTIBO as an affordable robot with a personality that measures just under 100 mm high and is easy to set up with no coding necessary. “Artibo’s chatbot function allows you to receive natural and clear responses from Artibo when you ask a question or make a request. Using the camera in the AI block, Artibo can decipher and recognize objects and/or images.” To learn more about the service architecture, features and functionality of ARTIBO jump over to the official crowdfunding campaign page by following the link below. If all goes well worldwide shipping is expected to commence during November 2018. https://www.geeky-gadgets.com/artibo-robot-hits-kickstarter-31-07-2018/

The first half of 2022 was unkind to equities, and technology stocks were among the most egregious offenders. Obviously, that’s a drag because tech is the most prominent sector exposure in a variety of broad market strategies. Exchange traded funds such as the Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) and the Invesco NASDAQ 100 ETF (QQQM) aren’t dedicated technology offerings, but they are more than adequate proxies on the sector. Allocating about half their weights to tech stocks, QQQ and QQQM are clearly responsive to goings-on in the tech sector. If the worst is behind in the group, and if it’s poised for better things in the second half of 2022, the Invesco ETFs could leave first-half disappointment in the rear view mirror. Fortunately, valuation is no longer a barrier to entry with tech stocks and ETFs. “Although macroeconomic concerns are on the top of investors’ minds, we still see strong underlying secular tailwinds in technology, such as cloud computing and semiconductor adoption. Technology is now 20% undervalued and 21% undervalued within software, where we often see moaty companies,” noted Morningstar analyst Brian Colello. That’s potentially good news for QQQ and QQQM because the Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX), which is the underlying index for both ETFs, is chock full of semiconductor and software stocks. Roughly 15 of the tech stocks in the ETFs are chip names. The funds’ significant software exposure is also relevant from a valuation perspective. “Software remains the most attractive subsector, 20% undervalued. High-flying growth stocks from 2020 have crashed and many now trade well below our fair value estimates. Meanwhile, more mature, higher-quality software names now provide investors with an attractive margin of safety,” added Colello. Previously among the highest-flying tech names, cloud computing stocks have come back to earth in considerable fashion. However, that isn’t altering the need for expanded cloud services, and that pullback is making valuations more attractive. That could be a catalyst for QQQ and QQQM because the ETFs are homes to multiple cloud names. “In software, IT departments have been focused on digital transformation, first from the secular shift to cloud computing and software as a service, followed by the coronavirus pandemic and the critical rush to implement remote working tools. We foresee enterprises using software to modernize all types of business processes, in turn leading to software industry growth at a low-double-digit CAGR,” concluded Morningstar’s Colello. https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/software-stocks-could-support-tech-rebound

Over five years after the release of the Nintendo Switch, fans are salivating for news about a new console, whether that be a rumored Switch Pro or Switch 2. Last night, it seemed almost certain that a new console was on its way. As Twitch streamer Shokio wrote on Twitter, Nintendo had just made YouTube videos about the Nintendo Switch Lite and the OLED model private, which made it appear as though we might soon see a trailer announcing the newest hardware. Instead, we got a Splatoon-themed OLED Nintendo Switch. To be fair, it's a pretty cool-looking device (the gradient joy-cons!), but … talk about anti-climax. Debuting on August 26, this admittedly very cute Switch is intended to drum up hype for Splatoon 3, which comes out on September 9. It's not uncommon for Nintendo to release themed consoles franchises like Pokémon and Animal Crossing have earned the same treatment but in a time when it really seemed like we were getting new hardware, stylish joy-cons can only cushion the blow so much. But Nintendo putting videos on private is far from the only piece of evidence that got fans riled up. On this day last year, Nintendo released the first trailer for the OLED console. Plus, according to Nintendo's public financial data, the company saw significant spending increases for hardware development and raw materials over the last year, which seems like a sign of a new console. But there could be a number of reasons why the company is increasing its spending in these arenas -- remember at the start of the pandemic when a Nintendo Switch was harder to get your hands on than toilet paper and N95s? Perhaps stockpiling materials can help Nintendo avoid another bottleneck situation? With the release of Valve's Steam Deck, which lets you play PC games on the go, competition in the mobile gaming space is heating up. So, today's disappointing announcement might not mean we will never get our Switch Pro/Switch 2/whatever they'll call it but in the meantime, we're playing Hades for the millionth time on our original Switch, using our second set of controllers after we fell victim to joy-con drift. https://news.yahoo.com/nintendo-released-switch-pro-haha-155552591.html

Indiana Democrats accused Republicans of holding much-needed economic relief hostage by delaying the upcoming special session in order to craft a bill focused on restricting abortion access. Gov. Eric Holcomb had originally called lawmakers back for a special session starting on July 6 to send a collective $1 billion back to Hoosiers in order to combat inflation. If approved by lawmakers, each Hoosier would receive $225. Once the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, though, lawmakers pushed back the start date to July 25 in order to also address abortion. Spokeswomen for both the Republican House and Republican Senate said legislative leaders made the decision to "minimize logistical issues." Restricting abortion may mean more children in poverty: Indiana already lags on funding. Democrats including Anderson Rep. Terri Austin went to the Statehouse on Wednesday to prove a point, but because they're in the superminority in both chambers, they have little power. "Given that we're now looking at a three week delay for even starting the conversation on how best to distribute economic relief," Austin said, "we wanted to come here today to tell Hoosiers that we are ready to work for them, even if our colleagues on the Republicans side of the aisle are not." Sen. Shelli Yoder, D-Bloomington, argued lawmakers could have met at the Statehouse as planned on July 6 to pass some form of economic relief, and then returned later to address abortion access if they chose. "Relief should not be held hostage to the supermajority's unpo[CENSORED]r and disorganized policy debate," Yoder said. "Our liberty and our livelihoods should not be subject to the whims of the supermajority." Some Hoosiers still haven't the last relief check Once the refund is approved by lawmakers and signed into law, it could take months to receive. Some Hoosiers are still waiting on the $125 automatic taxpayer refund they are owed due to the budget surplus. The state started dispersing that money in May. While Democrats aren't opposing the idea of a refund, they've asked for the suspension of the state's gas tax since March. State Republican leaders largely dismissed the idea because they said it would benefit those who are just passing through Indiana, instead of targeting relief directly to citizens. In fact, the gas tax increased again July 1 as part of a previously passed state law. “This is the fastest, fairest and most efficient way to return taxpayers' hard-earned money during a time of economic strain,” Holcomb said in a statement in June when he called the special session. “Indiana’s economy is growing and with more than $1 billion of revenue over current projections, Hoosier taxpayers deserve to have their money responsibly returned." Austin said that had lawmakers suspended the gas tax at the end of March, each Hoosier would have saved $168 if they filled up a 15-gallon tank of gas once per week. Democrats have also asked for Republicans to expand who qualifies for any tax refund, so that more lower income Hoosiers can reap the benefits, including those on social security, disability and supplemental security income. If the requirements mirror those of the Indiana automatic taxpayer refund, only those who filed an Indiana resident tax return would qualify. "The current inflation we're seeing meant that Hoosiers on a fixed income are getting less goods for more money," said. Rep. Cherrish Pryor, D-Indianapolis. "That's why we must include those people in any economic relief we pass." Lawmakers will convene for special session on July 25. It's not yet clear at what point in a pregnancy lawmakers will restrict abortion access, or whether they will allow for any exceptions. https://eu.indystar.com/story/news/politics/2022/07/06/indiana-abortion-special-session-dems-criticize-taxpayer-refund-delay/7823657001/

A search of a Mogadore home on Tuesday by the Portage County Sheriff's Office not only turned up drugs and guns, they said, but also a large number of animals and reptile. The Portage County Sheriffs Office Drug and Violent Crime Unit and the Mogadore Police Department executed a warrant at 21 Second Ave. where they reportedly found five dogs, one cat, one rabbit, four ferrets, five snakes, three tarantulas, a scorpion, two alligators, three turtles, one snapping turtle, 300 fish, six ducks and two geese. The animals were all removed by the Portage Animal Protective League. These ferrets were among a large number of pets of various species found during an investigation at a Mogadore home Tuesday. The sheriff's office also said Investigators located two firearms, ammunition, items commonly used in the distribution of controlled substances, a digital scale, THC wax, and Hashish oil. Portage County Job and Family Services was also contacted about a child living in the home. No charges have been reported, but the controlled substances will be sent to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation for further analysis, the sheriff's office said. The sheriff's office said criminal charges are expected. https://news.yahoo.com/sheriff-alligators-scorpion-snakes-among-190743801.html

U.S. stocks pushed higher Wednesday afternoon amid a choppy day as the risk of a recession remained top of mind for many investors. The S&P 500 was up about 0.73% as of 2:45 p.m. ET. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and Nasdaq each also turned positive on the day, shaking off earlier losses. The moves came after minutes from the Federal Reserve reaffirmed the central bank remained focused on tightening monetary policy as needed to bring down inflation. "Participants concurred that the economic outlook warranted moving to a restrictive stance of policy," minutes from the central bank's June meeting stated, "and they recognized the possibility that an even more restrictive stance could be appropriate if elevated inflation pressures were to persist." Earlier on Wednesday, new data painted a mixed picture on the current state of the economy. Job openings came in greater-than-expected at nearly 11.3 million for May, pointing to persistent tightness in the labor market and ongoing labor scarcities relative to vacancies. Separately, the Institute for Supply Management's closely watched services index dipped to the lowest level since May 2020 as of June, with service-sector employment and new orders each especially weakening during the month. Crude oil prices held below $100 per barrel after falling below that threshold for the first time since mid-May on Tuesday as investors increasingly bet that a downturn might weigh on demand for energy. Bitcoin prices rose back above $20,000. And Treasury yields climbed across the curve, though the benchmark 10-year yield edged just above 2.82% to hover near its lowest level in about six weeks. Prospects of a deep economic downturn have stoked ongoing volatility in markets, with investors weighing whether inflation and a more aggressive Federal Reserve tightening cycle will curb growth to the point of tipping the economy into a recession. And some key economic data, from consumer sentiment to spending and purchasing managers' indices, have each softened or turned lower in recent prints. "A broad-based slowdown in overall consumer spending has already been underway this year, led by deterioration in the goods category, with services providing little in the way of offset," Barclays' Jonathan Miller wrote in a recent note. And as sentiment indexes from the Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index to University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers decline, he added, that "may indicate that a more precautionary mindset might be setting in, which would make households more inclined to hoard excess savings accumulated during the pandemic." Whether and if so, when and how deeply a recession takes hold has become a key question for market watchers and has left the stock market languishing in a bear market. "For the last several months, the market's been watching the economy choke on inflation," Matt Kishlansky, GenTrust Head of Asset Allocation, told Yahoo Finance Live. "There's really no consensus between the stock market and the bond market as to what we do in the interim and where we're headed." In the bond market, the 10-year Treasury yield has slid from a more than decade high of over 3.4% in mid-June to below 2.9%. And Fed Funds futures have shown investors are now pricing in a lower terminal rate for the Federal Reserve or the rate at which the Fed will stop hiking short-term interest rates — than they were just a couple weeks ago. "So if you try to reconcile those two numbers, the bond market's telling you that before the ink is even dry on the last interest rate hike, the Federal Reserve is going to have to start cutting rates in order to deal with the economic fallout from those rate hikes," Kishlansky added. "[The] bond market's, in essence, saying that a recession is a fait accompli at this point. The stock market's not so sure." https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/stock-market-news-lives-updates-stocks-rise-after-fed-minutes/ar-AAZg1Z8

DH2 - Good lyric & Cool song

Request Accepted. I hope you will continue to be interested in the project.

Request Rejected. Reason: You can only join 2 projects in the community and you made a request where you were already accepted.[Here] However, thank you for your interest.

I will give you pro. I hope you keep your promise and I will take into consideration what you have said.

Voted.

V2 Text, Background & Effects

Thunder Kid II: Null Mission has now arrived on all modern consoles! Developed by Renegade Sector Games and published by EastAsiaSoft, Thunder Kid II pays homage to retro action games from the 1980s arcades. This type of game is somewhat uncommon in the modern day, but developers have tried to replicate the addictive nature of the genre’s best titles. So, does Thunder Kid II make a dent in the genre? Narratively, Thunder Kid II has just enough to weave a clear story. As Thunder Kid, you must defeat the returning Robot Empire that has kidnapped countless humans. Text is brief but lacks unnecessary filler. Subsequently, I was motivated to complete levels and reach the next lines of dialogue. Thunder Kid II – as stated on EastAsiaSoft’s official site – is “a low-poly 3D run ‘n’ gun action game controlled from behind the main character”. While not revolutionary, it’s hard to deny the addictiveness of great run ‘n’ gun titles. They’re satisfying, albeit simple, well, most of the time. In fact, emphasis on the oversimplicity as ‘run ‘n’ gun’ is half of the control scheme! Thunder Kid II has four inputs; players can run, strafe, jump and shoot their way through levels. Being quite a short game (90 minutes at most), Thunder Kid II requires a basic control scheme (this is true of most run n’ gun titles), but this is too straightforward. Variety in ammo types or the ability to crouch could’ve freshened up the formula, but instead, gameplay lacks profundity. World design too succumbs to repetitiveness. Platforming is often undemanding, despite a few pleasant surprises along the way. The sixth world easily has the most intriguing platforming due to moving obstacles and enemies simultaneously shooting. But, there’s not a great deal of challenge. Some struggles I had were due to depth perception, clipping platforms that seem easily reachable. Other platforms I couldn’t even reach, although technically they should be possible. Shooting is barebones, as is the case in any run ‘n’ gun title. A singular bullet fires at enemies straight ahead with a decent range. Every enemy type has set health points and so does Thunder Kid. Four health points is fair, especially as some obstacles or enemies can quickly take two away. As mentioned previously, it’s disappointing to have a lack of combat or weapon variety, especially for a 2022 game, regardless of style. Unfortunately, most levels are bland. At best they occasionally offer challenge, and the player can swiftly complete them. Enemies become more and more predictable later on, the game becoming less and less progressive. Enemies become incredibly predictable due to strict attack patterns, making the game too easy with a lack of curveballs. It’s a shame because each boss provides something unique, and in fact, boss battles are the best levels of Thunder Kid II. While, again, nothing revolutionary, I enjoyed most boss battles. Bosses are less static than the common enemy types, adding intensity for sure! Attack patterns keep the player on their toes – especially later on – as your health can deplete dramatically in a chain of attacks. Some can be quite infuriating (the final boss is far too cheap), but overall, they achieve their goal. Not to mention the boss battle theme is the game’s best piece of music. Overall, music becomes irritating quite quickly. The majority of tracks have a tedious 30-second loop, and I chose to turn the sound down for this reason. Never forget how important good music is to a player’s experience. There’s the synth that retro 80s games have in their music, but the tracks are too brief and forgettable. Speaking of aesthetics, I have no issue with the visual design of Thunder Kid II. In fact, I think it’s a delightful callback to titles from the 80s that flourished in arcades. However, this kind of title must make up for visual design with tight controls and tough yet fair platforming. Unfortunately, it doesn’t quite hit the mark in either aspect, but at least it ticks off the retro ‘low-poly 3D’ aesthetic. Thunder Kid II has other minor elements that I appreciate. For a start, the alternative paths with collectible gold tokens are enticing. These paths offer some of the toughest challenges in the game. While it usually takes a couple of attempts at best, there’s at least depth and some sense of replayability. Speaking of which, you can replay any completed level at any time from the menu. Any tokens you’ve missed? No problem! Thunder Kid II is also a very quick platinum trophy if you’re looking to add another to your collection. However the platinum is unlocked without beating the game or obtaining every collectible, which is slightly disappointing and doesn’t encourage replayability. A score system or time trial would’ve been a massive plus but a feature which is also, unfortunately, absent. My main gripe with Thunder Kid II is the bugs and glitches associated with what should be death pits. Whether it be spikes or water, Thunder Kid doesn’t always die; death pits that should work are not coded correctly. While not game-breaking (as you can press ‘Reset to Checkpoint), it’s disappointing. Thunder Kid II: Null Mission is far too basic to be considered as anything special or standout. Gameplay is simply not challenging enough for the average player, whether it be down to combat or platforming. There are undoubtedly nice touches, such as the aesthetics, collectibles (which have no purpose) and story, but there’s little else on offer. I never played the first Thunder Kid title, but if it’s any more basic than its sequel, then it’s not worth your time. For £2-3, it’s perhaps worth buying it but nothing more. There are better titles out there for your buck, but it’s not terrible. https://gamingrespawn.com/reviews/57202/thunder-kid-ii-null-mission-review/

Science fiction has become reality as we carry phones that act like small computers in our pockets. Yet even as technology advances, we are held back by the power source behind the technology, limiting the advantages these devices represent. From the moment we turn on a device, the clock is ticking as the battery degrades and loses capacity. On a daily basis, making sure a battery is charged and ready to go is a hassle, and we all forget to plug it in overnight from time to time. For me, as a content creator and with cameras, drones, tablets, microphones, and other devices to keep charged, it can become quite a chore to ensure all my electronics are functioning when I need them. To make matters worse, in many phones and other mobile devices, replacing the battery is difficult or downright impossible. But a solution is on the horizon. One day soon a battery revolution will arrive using an unlikely combination of nuclear waste and diamonds. From the beginning to the end of our electronics’ life cycles, batteries pose many problems. Mining lithium and other components of the batteries we currently utilize is a dirty, destructive business as is the refinement of these rare materials. As demand increases, these impacts will afflict more and more of our wild landscapes with potentially disastrous consequences. Once our batteries die, they and the devices they power all-to-often end up rotting in landfills. Sometimes our electronic waste is shipped overseas, where it is then inexpertly salvaged or burned, and ends up in the air and water. Only a small percentage of our discarded electronics are actually, responsibly, recycled. If only batteries didn’t degrade so quickly, such waste could be dramatically reduced. How nuclear tech could be our solution Of all the promising new battery tech being worked on today, the most exciting has to be nuclear batteries. Not only would such batteries potentially last dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of years, but they would also generate their own power from radiation. In the not-so-distant future, our batteries might not only outlast our phones and possibly exceed our own life spans many times over, but they would never need to be recharged.As if the concept of nuclear batteries couldn’t sound any crazier, the ones that might one day find their way into our phones and cars would actually be made of artificial nanodiamonds. To call the science behind these nanodiamond batteries complex is an understatement. Essentially, in the simplest terms possible, radioactive elements are extracted from nuclear waste and encased in diamonds using chemical vapor deposition. The diamond then acts as a transducer to transform the radiation into electricity. In addition to longevity and self-charging capability, nuclear batteries would revolutionize smartphone design. They would make charging ports unnecessary, so phones could be fully waterproofed and made much tougher than ever before. It’s also conceivable, as artificial diamonds become cheaper to produce, that our phones may soon be diamond-coated and thus practically indestructible. Beyond phones, these nuclear batteries could potentially power every electronic device we use today. From smartwatches and earbuds to cars, drones, and even robots. Once you start thinking about it, you realize that nanodiamond batteries have the potential to change many aspects of our technology that are being held back by the limitations of our current, deeply flawed battery design. The company trying to make nuclear batteries a reality One of the leading companies developing this technology is NDB, an acronym that stands for “Nano Diamond Batteries.” In the words of NDB CEO Dr. Nima Golsharifi, when interviewed for an episode of the Energy Cast podcast: “Speaking metaphorically, it’s similar to solar panels; the difference is that NDB generates electricity using the radiation from radioactive materials instead of the sunlight” Diamond batteries are also a possible solution to the long-neglected issues surrounding the disposal of waste from nuclear fission power plants. Enormous quantities of this highly dangerous material exist all over the world, and storing or disposing of it is incredibly expensive. However, this waste is also rich in energy, and it’s what powers the nuclear batteries NDB is developing. As Dr. Golsharifi puts it: “NDB solutions, and the purpose of our company, is to make good use of these byproducts and resolve the nuclear waste issues, and in turn help the environment by promoting the nuclear energy which is a clean source, and in turn supporting the society by creating a sort of circular economy.” Of course, a logical question you might well ask is whether or not these batteries are safe. There’s a stigma around anything to do with nuclear power, which is a potential roadblock to the adoption of this technology, but Dr. Golsharifi believes that this fear can be overcome through education: “Not many people know that most smoke detectors contain radioactive material; still, they have them at home without any problem.” The radiation from nuclear batteries is safely locked away within those minuscule diamonds. “We have a transducer locking system which prevents the isotope from being accessed in bulk and being used for purposes other than the NDB’s power source. We specifically do this by the nanoscale ion implantation of radioisotopes within our structure, and this allows us to meet various consumer safety requirements” explains Dr. Golsharifi. NDB has put extensive research into ensuring that their batteries are safe enough to use in products like phones and cars. In many ways, NDB batteries do not produce emissions or harmful radiation. Nuclear batteries composed of almost indestructible diamonds are probably safer than lithium-ion batteries, which have been known to explode and catch fire. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/nuclear-waste-diamonds-and-how-they-can-revolutionize-smartphone-batteries/ar-AAZ8Pbj