theverge--2020-02-07--This girls-only app uses AI to screen a user’s gender — what could go wrong?

A new social app called Giggle is pitching itself as a girls-only networking platform .
To sign up , users have to take a selfie .
And while that might not sound too invasive , the app then uses “ bio-metric gender verification software ” to determine whether that person is a woman .
If that wasn ’ t already bad enough , the technology doesn ’ t work if you ’ re trans .
“ [ G ] iggle is for all girls , ” the company points out on its website , before adding , “ Due to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trans-girls will experience trouble with being verified.
” It ’ s the stuff of a dystopian novel .
Giggle , founded by Australian screenwriter Sall Grover , supposedly looks at the bone structure of a person ’ s face to determine their gender .
That ’ s problematic on a number of fronts , not least of which is that bone structure is clearly a poor indicator of gender identity .
Nevertheless , Giggle says the science is sound .
“ It ’ s Bio-Science , not pseudo-science like phrenology , ” the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lot like pseudo-science .
On Twitter , people called out the app ’ s inherent transphobia .
“ We shall await our judgement like sheep , ” one user wrote .
“ All it takes is one selfie—if giggle lets us in , we are welcomed into the society of women , to pass forevermore .
If not , we shall be abandoned in a heap of offals and excrement.
” Grover responded to the criticism , tweeting that she ’ d consulted trans women while building the app and determined it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s limits .
“ We worked with trans girls who decided it was best to be upfront with a flaw so there wasn ’ t any hurtful misgendering , ” she explained .
Later , she said she was “ grateful for the feedback ” and agreed that some of the wording on the website was “ hideous.
” The app ’ s privacy policy is also a cause for concern , however .
As one Twitter user pointed out , Giggle can collect a ton of personal information , including peoples ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ browsing data .
Giggle is able to then share that information with third-party websites and services , including facial recognition providers , chat room providers , and marketers .
It also collects sensitive information including peoples ’ “ sexual practices or sex life , ” their criminal records , and their private health information .
It ’ s unclear why Giggle would need access to such granular data , given that its goal is primarily to connect women with potential roommates or travel buddies .
But in an era of ever-expanding surveillance , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s faces without their knowledge or consent , an app built on dubious biometric screening and extensive data collection should be cause for concern .
While Giggle ’ s website says the app is “ designed to give girls choice , control and connection , ” its technology seems to do just the opposite .
Giggle did not immediately respond to a request for comment .

A new social app called Giggle is pitching itself as a girls-only networking platform. To sign up, users have to take a selfie. And while that might not sound too invasive, the app then uses “bio-metric gender verification software” to determine whether that person is a woman. If that wasn’t already bad enough, the technology doesn’t work if you’re trans.
“[G]iggle is for all girls,” the company points out on its website, before adding, “Due to the gender-verification software that giggle uses, trans-girls will experience trouble with being verified.” It’s the stuff of a dystopian novel.
Giggle, founded by Australian screenwriter Sall Grover, supposedly looks at the bone structure of a person’s face to determine their gender. That’s problematic on a number of fronts, not least of which is that bone structure is clearly a poor indicator of gender identity. Nevertheless, Giggle says the science is sound. “It’s Bio-Science, not pseudo-science like phrenology,” the website declares.
Except it sounds a lot like pseudo-science. On Twitter, people called out the app’s inherent transphobia. “We shall await our judgement like sheep,” one user wrote. “All it takes is one selfie—if giggle lets us in, we are welcomed into the society of women, to pass forevermore. If not, we shall be abandoned in a heap of offals and excrement.”
Grover responded to the criticism, tweeting that she’d consulted trans women while building the app and determined it was best to openly admit the software’s limits. “We worked with trans girls who decided it was best to be upfront with a flaw so there wasn’t any hurtful misgendering,” she explained. Later, she said she was “grateful for the feedback” and agreed that some of the wording on the website was “hideous.”
The app’s privacy policy is also a cause for concern, however. As one Twitter user pointed out, Giggle can collect a ton of personal information, including peoples’ images, location, preferences, and browsing data. Giggle is able to then share that information with third-party websites and services, including facial recognition providers, chat room providers, and marketers. It also collects sensitive information including peoples’ “sexual practices or sex life,” their criminal records, and their private health information.
It’s unclear why Giggle would need access to such granular data, given that its goal is primarily to connect women with potential roommates or travel buddies. But in an era of ever-expanding surveillance, with companies like Clearview AI identifying people’s faces without their knowledge or consent, an app built on dubious biometric screening and extensive data collection should be cause for concern. While Giggle’s website says the app is “designed to give girls choice, control and connection,” its technology seems to do just the opposite.


theverge--2020-02-07--The coronavirus could stick around, but the way we fight it will change if it does

Countries around the world are actively searching for cases of the new coronavirus in an effort to stop its spread around the world .
But if they can ’ t contain the virus , public health officials may need to start fighting a different battle .
Right now , countries are relying on measures like quarantine and isolation and hoping that they ’ re enough to beat back the outbreak .
If those don ’ t succeed , the virus might transition from being the cause of a temporary epidemic outbreak to one that causes a new circulating disease .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the severity of the virus , the implications of that switch are still hazy .
But the progression will be driven by social and political tolerance for the new illness almost as much as it is by biology .
“ We ’ re going through the panic phase , ” says Graham Medley , director of the Centre for the Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine .
“ Governments don ’ t know what to do , people don ’ t know how to react @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reactions will change.
” Right now , China is facing a coronavirus epidemic : a rapid spread of the illness affecting a large group of people in a short amount of time .
If the epidemic continues to spread dramatically into other countries , it could become a pandemic ( and some experts say it already is ) .
If interventions still don ’ t stop the spread of the virus , it could shift from being an epidemic or pandemic and become endemic .
There ’ s no single definition of what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ epidemiologists , diseases become endemic when they ’ re continuously , predictably present in the human population .
Politicians , though , might call a disease endemic when it ’ s well-understood enough that it stops being an unknown threat for the government , Medley says .
“ For most people , the difference between epidemic disease and endemic disease is that the risks are unknown for an epidemic disease ” “ For most people , the difference between epidemic disease and endemic disease is that the risks are unknown for an epidemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus because they don ’ t know what it ’ s going to do , ” he says .
“ The definition is really based on how the risks are perceived by individuals and by governments.
” Take influenza , which technically causes an epidemic outbreak each year but doesn ’ t trigger the same kind of public health mobilization we ’ re seeing with the coronavirus .
Every time we have a new epidemic , Medley notes , people compare it to the flu and say that the flu is infecting and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t have this kind of government response to the flu every year .
The US doesn ’ t say , influenza is going to be introduced from Vietnam , so let ’ s stop all flights from there , ” he says .
But that ’ s because public health officials and governments know the risks of the flu .
They can predict its patterns and focus on mitigating its impact through education and vaccines .
People are much more comfortable with something well-understood and predictable , says Erin Sorrell , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ microbiology and immunology at Georgetown University .
“ People tolerate the risk of exposure to seasonal flu , ” she says .
“ We ’ re comparing a risk tolerance of something new and novel and not well understood , versus something we see year after year.
” Public health experts still don ’ t know how dangerous the new coronavirus can be , and their response is elevated because of that uncertainty .
In addition , because the virus is new , there ’ s still an opportunity to stop it from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s what happened with SARS , which was contained in 2004 .
Overall , endemic diseases — even though they seem less scary and come with less uncertainty — cause more illness and death than epidemic outbreaks like SARS .
But they ’ re much harder to stop .
“ The reason we react so aggressively to novel diseases is that we have a chance to contain transmission to the source of an outbreak , and prevent it from getting larger , ” Sorrell says .
“ The reason we react so aggressively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a chance to contain transmission to the source of an outbreak , and prevent it from getting larger ” Experts at the World Health Organization ( WHO ) say that it ’ s not too late to stop the spread of the new coronavirus .
Other infectious disease specialists , though , aren ’ t so sure .
“ The more we learn about it , the greater the possibility is that transmission will not be able to be controlled with public health measures , ” Allison McGeer , a Toronto-based infectious disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) is preparing for wider circulation of the virus around the world and in the US , said Nancy Messonnier , director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the agency , in a press call this week .
“ We do believe we have a window of opportunity now to prepare the US in case there is a broader spread of this outside of China , and a broader spread in the US , ” she said .
Sorrell thinks we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks if the new coronavirus can be contained .
If it looks like it won ’ t be , public health efforts around the world will likely slow their active searches for new cases and focus on efforts to treat and mitigate the impacts of the virus — similarly to how they manage the flu .
“ Those efforts are ongoing , but they ’ ll be ramped up , ” she says .
There will be more research into antivirals to treat people who are infected with the virus and continued investment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We ’ re not starting from scratch.
” If the new coronavirus can ’ t be effectively contained , it might be added to the list of diseases that people in the general population are regularly exposed to .
There are already a handful of coronaviruses that circulate , causing mild colds and respiratory symptoms .
“ Potentially , this could join that group , ” Medley says .
It also might turn into something that crops up seasonally , like the flu , circulating widely during a few months and they dying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , emerging virus to sustained threat has happened before — most recently , with HIV , which offers the closest example of what could happen with the coronavirus , Sorrell says .
“ It started as an outbreak of an animal virus spilling into humans , ” she said .
“ That had an ability to cause local , regional , and then global outbreaks , leading to a pandemic .
That led to investments in research about infection control , and the routes of transmission .
We were able to contain the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that was able to sustain itself in the population.
” HIV is still classified as a global pandemic .
But people adjusted , experts did the work to understand the best ways to minimize the risks of the virus , and there isn ’ t constant , fearful reporting about each new case of illness .
It ’ s hard to say what the process might look like for the coronavirus , but as we gather more information about the risk of this new pathogen , individuals and governmental perceptions and tolerance would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an ideal situation , public health containment efforts will be enough to halt the spread of the virus .
But if they aren ’ t , ongoing research efforts will most likely drive an acclimation to a new normal .
“ If this becomes a pathogen sustained in the population , we ’ ll understand it better because it ’ s been around , ” Sorrell says .
“ Epidemics become increasingly tolerated .
”

Countries around the world are actively searching for cases of the new coronavirus in an effort to stop its spread around the world. But if they can’t contain the virus, public health officials may need to start fighting a different battle. Right now, countries are relying on measures like quarantine and isolation and hoping that they’re enough to beat back the outbreak. If those don’t succeed, the virus might transition from being the cause of a temporary epidemic outbreak to one that causes a new circulating disease.
Because we’re still learning about the severity of the virus, the implications of that switch are still hazy. But the progression will be driven by social and political tolerance for the new illness almost as much as it is by biology.
“We’re going through the panic phase,” says Graham Medley, director of the Centre for the Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. “Governments don’t know what to do, people don’t know how to react. When we understand the risks, reactions will change.”
Right now, China is facing a coronavirus epidemic: a rapid spread of the illness affecting a large group of people in a short amount of time. If the epidemic continues to spread dramatically into other countries, it could become a pandemic (and some experts say it already is). If interventions still don’t stop the spread of the virus, it could shift from being an epidemic or pandemic and become endemic. There’s no single definition of what counts as an endemic disease. For epidemiologists, diseases become endemic when they’re continuously, predictably present in the human population. Politicians, though, might call a disease endemic when it’s well-understood enough that it stops being an unknown threat for the government, Medley says.
“For most people, the difference between epidemic disease and endemic disease is that the risks are unknown for an epidemic disease”
“For most people, the difference between epidemic disease and endemic disease is that the risks are unknown for an epidemic disease. People fear contracting this novel coronavirus because they don’t know what it’s going to do,” he says. “The definition is really based on how the risks are perceived by individuals and by governments.”
Take influenza, which technically causes an epidemic outbreak each year but doesn’t trigger the same kind of public health mobilization we’re seeing with the coronavirus. Every time we have a new epidemic, Medley notes, people compare it to the flu and say that the flu is infecting and killing far more people.
“We don’t have this kind of government response to the flu every year. The US doesn’t say, influenza is going to be introduced from Vietnam, so let’s stop all flights from there,” he says. But that’s because public health officials and governments know the risks of the flu. They can predict its patterns and focus on mitigating its impact through education and vaccines.
People are much more comfortable with something well-understood and predictable, says Erin Sorrell, assistant research professor in the department of microbiology and immunology at Georgetown University. “People tolerate the risk of exposure to seasonal flu,” she says. “We’re comparing a risk tolerance of something new and novel and not well understood, versus something we see year after year.”
Public health experts still don’t know how dangerous the new coronavirus can be, and their response is elevated because of that uncertainty. In addition, because the virus is new, there’s still an opportunity to stop it from spreading through the population. That’s what happened with SARS, which was contained in 2004. Overall, endemic diseases — even though they seem less scary and come with less uncertainty — cause more illness and death than epidemic outbreaks like SARS. But they’re much harder to stop.
“The reason we react so aggressively to novel diseases is that we have a chance to contain transmission to the source of an outbreak, and prevent it from getting larger,” Sorrell says.
“The reason we react so aggressively to novel diseases is that we have a chance to contain transmission to the source of an outbreak, and prevent it from getting larger”
Experts at the World Health Organization (WHO) say that it’s not too late to stop the spread of the new coronavirus. Other infectious disease specialists, though, aren’t so sure. “The more we learn about it, the greater the possibility is that transmission will not be able to be controlled with public health measures,” Allison McGeer, a Toronto-based infectious disease specialist, told Stat News.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is preparing for wider circulation of the virus around the world and in the US, said Nancy Messonnier, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the agency, in a press call this week. “We do believe we have a window of opportunity now to prepare the US in case there is a broader spread of this outside of China, and a broader spread in the US,” she said.
Sorrell thinks we’ll know within the next few weeks if the new coronavirus can be contained. If it looks like it won’t be, public health efforts around the world will likely slow their active searches for new cases and focus on efforts to treat and mitigate the impacts of the virus — similarly to how they manage the flu. “Those efforts are ongoing, but they’ll be ramped up,” she says. There will be more research into antivirals to treat people who are infected with the virus and continued investment into the development of vaccines. “We’re not starting from scratch.”
If the new coronavirus can’t be effectively contained, it might be added to the list of diseases that people in the general population are regularly exposed to. There are already a handful of coronaviruses that circulate, causing mild colds and respiratory symptoms. “Potentially, this could join that group,” Medley says. It also might turn into something that crops up seasonally, like the flu, circulating widely during a few months and they dying back down.
The transition from novel, emerging virus to sustained threat has happened before — most recently, with HIV, which offers the closest example of what could happen with the coronavirus, Sorrell says. “It started as an outbreak of an animal virus spilling into humans,” she said. “That had an ability to cause local, regional, and then global outbreaks, leading to a pandemic. That led to investments in research about infection control, and the routes of transmission. We were able to contain the outbreak, but it became a pathogen that was able to sustain itself in the population.”
HIV is still classified as a global pandemic. But people adjusted, experts did the work to understand the best ways to minimize the risks of the virus, and there isn’t constant, fearful reporting about each new case of illness. It’s hard to say what the process might look like for the coronavirus, but as we gather more information about the risk of this new pathogen, individuals and governmental perceptions and tolerance would settle to a new baseline.
In an ideal situation, public health containment efforts will be enough to halt the spread of the virus. But if they aren’t, ongoing research efforts will most likely drive an acclimation to a new normal.


theverge--2020-02-09--Oscars 2020: how to watch the Academy Awards online

The 92nd Academy Awards ( also known as the Oscars ) will broadcast tonight , February 9th .
It ’ s a celebration of the industry and a showdown between the year ’ s biggest movies , filmmakers , and all of the people who make them special , including actors , screenwriters , and more .
We ’ ll dig into when and how you can watch the stream below , but first , let ’ s set the stage for the event .
Last year ’ s awards show was the Academy ’ s first in 30 years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hart withdrew after homophobic tweets on his personal Twitter account and related anti-gay stand-up material resurfaced .
This year ’ s Oscars continues its host-less streak in 2020 , and the Academy is attempting to once again fill the gaps with presenters who are decidedly less controversial .
The list is very long , but some notable names include Spike Lee , Brie Larson , Gal Gadot , Steve Martin , Rami Malek , Keanu Reeves , Lin-Manuel Miranda , and more .
What time do the Oscars start ?
ABC is handling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 8PM ET / 5PM PT .
If you want to watch celebrities walk into the building on a red carpet , tune in at 6:30PM ET / 3:30PM PT instead .
How do I watch the Academy Awards online ?
ABC is accessible via an over-the-air antenna , but otherwise , you ’ ll have to be a subscriber in some form to gain access to the awards show .
If you have cable or satellite service , you ’ re probably all set .
( I hedge with “ probably ” because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can watch it on the ABC channel , or you can watch through your browser by logging in to ABC ’ s site with your cable or satellite credentials .
Alternatively , a few over-the-top streaming services offer ABC with a subscription .
Again , availability varies by region , but most people who subscribe to YouTube TV , Hulu with Live TV , Sling TV , and FuboTV should have access .
And if you only want to subscribe to watch for this one night , you ’ ll be happy to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a free trial of varying lengths ( though all require credit card information to sign up ) .
How do I watch the ceremony outside of the United States ?
ABC hasn ’ t updated its list of international partners that will broadcast the Oscars since 2017 .
But if you live outside of the US , here ’ s where you ’ ll likely be able to tune in .
What are the Oscars nominations ?
Todd Phillips ’ divisive Joker received 11 Oscar nominations , the most of any film in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 1917 , and Once Upon A Time in Hollywood each received 10 nominations .
Jojo Rabbit , Little Women , Marriage Story , and Parasite each were nominated in six different categories .
Here ’ s a full list of the nominated films .
Below is some required reading if you want to catch up on the discourse surrounding this year ’ s most talked-about films .
Updated 3:46PM ET , February 9th : FuboTV has been removed from the list of over-the-top streaming services due to the fact that it does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ error .
Vox Media has affiliate partnerships .
These do not influence editorial content , though Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links .
For more information , see

The 92nd Academy Awards (also known as the Oscars) will broadcast tonight, February 9th. It’s a celebration of the industry and a showdown between the year’s biggest movies, filmmakers, and all of the people who make them special, including actors, screenwriters, and more.
We’ll dig into when and how you can watch the stream below, but first, let’s set the stage for the event.
Who’s hosting the Oscars?
Last year’s awards show was the Academy’s first in 30 years to not have a host. Kevin Hart withdrew after homophobic tweets on his personal Twitter account and related anti-gay stand-up material resurfaced. This year’s Oscars continues its host-less streak in 2020, and the Academy is attempting to once again fill the gaps with presenters who are decidedly less controversial. The list is very long, but some notable names include Spike Lee, Brie Larson, Gal Gadot, Steve Martin, Rami Malek, Keanu Reeves, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and more.
What time do the Oscars start?
ABC is handling the televised stream, which starts at 8PM ET / 5PM PT. If you want to watch celebrities walk into the building on a red carpet, tune in at 6:30PM ET / 3:30PM PT instead.
How do I watch the Academy Awards online?
ABC is accessible via an over-the-air antenna, but otherwise, you’ll have to be a subscriber in some form to gain access to the awards show. If you have cable or satellite service, you’re probably all set. (I hedge with “probably” because availability varies by region.) You can watch it on the ABC channel, or you can watch through your browser by logging in to ABC’s site with your cable or satellite credentials.
Alternatively, a few over-the-top streaming services offer ABC with a subscription. Again, availability varies by region, but most people who subscribe to YouTube TV, Hulu with Live TV, Sling TV, and FuboTV should have access. And if you only want to subscribe to watch for this one night, you’ll be happy to know that all of these services offer a free trial of varying lengths (though all require credit card information to sign up).
How do I watch the ceremony outside of the United States?
ABC hasn’t updated its list of international partners that will broadcast the Oscars since 2017. But if you live outside of the US, here’s where you’ll likely be able to tune in.
What are the Oscars nominations?
Todd Phillips’ divisive Joker received 11 Oscar nominations, the most of any film in the runnings this year. The Irishman, 1917, and Once Upon A Time in Hollywood each received 10 nominations. Jojo Rabbit, Little Women, Marriage Story, and Parasite each were nominated in six different categories.
Here’s a full list of the nominated films. Below is some required reading if you want to catch up on the discourse surrounding this year’s most talked-about films.
Updated 3:46PM ET, February 9th: FuboTV has been removed from the list of over-the-top streaming services due to the fact that it doesn't host ABC. We regret this error.


theverge--2020-02-09--From the Strategist: The best running hydration packs and water bottles

While most races provide aid stations with water or Gatorade along the course , it isn ’ t always as easy to quench your thirst when you ’ re running on your own .
Fortunately , there are lots of options for carrying water with you — handheld bottles , of course , but also more technical waist packs and even vests .
Andy Waterman , a marathoner and head of content at the running apparel brand Tracksmith , explains one reason why you might consider wearing a so-called hydration pack : “ They let you explore new routes where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ practicing with the fuel you ’ ll use on race day.
” Choosing what to use to stay hydrated on a run is largely a matter of personal preference .
Some might prefer the minimalist convenience of a handheld bottle , while others may want to go hands-free with a backpack-style vest or a belt with space to stash your phone , keys , and energy gels .
Whatever you choose , though , it ’ s important to consider its capacity , as you ’ ll need more water if you ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s very hot out .
“ Determine your fluid needs , choose the appropriate size , and then prioritize comfort , ” advises running coach Jason Fitzgerald .
To find the best of each kind , we asked Waterman , Fitzgerald , and six more runners what they use to stay hydrated while training .
Waterman says waist packs are “ the Goldilocks combination of being hands-free without adding extra layers across your body like [ a vest ] .
” They generally can hold more water than a handheld bottle , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a solid choice for marathon training .
Bette Clark , co-team captain and former president of Van Cortlandt Track Club , says one advantage of a waist pack is that “ you can carry gels , cell phone , [ and ] money ” in addition to a fluid , but she cautions that hydration waist packs “ can loosen and or bounce if not positioned just right.
” Waterman recommends this Camelbak style that has a generously sized zipper pocket for other essentials , and is easily adjustable for a perfect fit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comes with the brand ’ s popular Podium Chill water bottle — which I and other runners I know have used and praise highly , because it ’ s insulated to keep water cold longer and has a twist-to-close valve that prevents spillage while you ’ re moving .
( Waterman says the 21-ounce bottle stores enough water to get him through a 20-mile marathon training run ) .
Designed in collaboration with ultrarunner Rob Krar , this belt comes with a soft bottle that collapses down flat when it ’ s empty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sits securely against her back and has a pocket on the opposite side for storing keys and a phone .
Its smaller Velcro pouches can hold energy gels , and thanks to their loop straps , Clark says , “ you can even hitch a cap or light jacket to the pack.
” If you ’ re training for distances longer than a marathon , it ’ s probably time to invest in a hydration vest that holds more water and can accommodate extra gear .
When Running Ruminations blogger Erin Mink Garvey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ training for her first 50K ultramarathon in 2014 , she was intrigued by the woman-specific fit of this style .
“ One of the reasons I gravitated toward it was that everything was designed with female ergonomics in mind , ” she says .
Compared to unisex vests , the Ultra Vesta allows for more adjustment based on bust size and women ’ s upper body compositions .
Garvey wore hers during the ultra and had no issues with chafing , rubbing , or bouncing .
Five years later , she still uses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lots of wear and washing .
David Roche , coach and founder of the SWAP running team and co-author of The Happy Runner , agrees , telling us that Ultimate Direction makes “ cool , light options that work well ” for men , too .
Both the men ’ s and women ’ s vests come with two water bottles to drink from ( they ’ re stored in pockets on either breast ) , but they ’ re also compatible with a reservoir ( sold separately ) .
If you prefer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ read on for a couple of options .
Like Garvey , Elinor Fish , founder and CEO of Run Wild Retreats + Wellness , thinks comfort is key and says , “ It ’ s worth looking for a gender-specific fit to get a size that works best for you.
” She uses this vest , which is also made for women , because “ the soft fabric makes it feel like part of my body so I don ’ t notice at all.
” With the ability to adjust the straps around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allows for a more personalized fit for different bust sizes .
She ’ s never experienced bouncing or chafing with it , even while running for hours in the mountains with a full pack .
Clark recommends Nathan ’ s women ’ s vests as well .
She calls them “ very comfortable , ” and says the front pockets provide easy access to her gear .
According to Tom Daly , co-founder of the running and yoga lifestyle brand District Vision , “ Salomon cranks out the best light- and mid-weight vest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ especially on trails where you aren ’ t likely to spot a water fountain — he recommends choosing a pack with a reservoir for water and a drinking straw .
“ No hands needed and no need to stop .
Forrest Gump will be proud , ” he says .
This vest ’ s reservoir holds 1.5 liters of water , so you can spend hours on the roads or trails without worrying about running out .
Daly adds the exterior pockets for holding your race nutrition are “ a bonus not to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a typical run where you won ’ t be isolated too long , a handheld bottle is great to carry everything you need without getting bogged down.
” Sean Fortune , the owner and founder of Central Park Coaching , tells us that although he does most of his training in the park — where there are operating water fountains from spring through fall — he actually prefers carrying his own bottle so he doesn ’ t have to stop at one of the public fountains , which are often crowded .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ because it ’ s insulated and keeps his water cold .
“ If my water is warm , I don ’ t want to drink it , ” he says .
“ It also fits comfortably in my hand and has room for my big iPhone and a gel or two.
” Roche , who appreciates the bottle ’ s simplicity , is also a fan .
“ The 18-ounce handheld is curved to fit in your hand and I usually forget about it after ten minutes , ” he says of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strap that holds it in place and prevents any bouncing around .
“ I want an option that streamlines the process of getting out the door , and with a bottle , you can just grab it and go.
” Fitzgerald likes handhelds , too , and says he ’ s even used one on runs longer than two hours .
When she ’ s on a short run and isn ’ t carrying gels or extra gear , Clark likes a minimalist handheld water bottle , too .
She recommends looking for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comfortably , with strap that can be adjusted.
” While some handheld bottles , like the Nathan style above , have larger pockets for phones , she finds those too bulky and prefers to run with one like this , which has just a small key pocket .
Depending on how far you like to run , there ’ s a 12-ounce and 20-ounce option .
When he doesn ’ t need a full pack , Daly opts for this small , collapsible bottle .
With a bite-to-drink spout , it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There ’ s no strap to secure it to your hand , but when it ’ s empty you can simply stick it in your shorts pocket .
Vox Media has affiliate partnerships .
These do not influence editorial content , though Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links .
For more information , see

While most races provide aid stations with water or Gatorade along the course, it isn’t always as easy to quench your thirst when you’re running on your own. Fortunately, there are lots of options for carrying water with you — handheld bottles, of course, but also more technical waist packs and even vests. Andy Waterman, a marathoner and head of content at the running apparel brand Tracksmith, explains one reason why you might consider wearing a so-called hydration pack: “They let you explore new routes where water might not be available while still practicing with the fuel you’ll use on race day.”
Choosing what to use to stay hydrated on a run is largely a matter of personal preference. Some might prefer the minimalist convenience of a handheld bottle, while others may want to go hands-free with a backpack-style vest or a belt with space to stash your phone, keys, and energy gels. Whatever you choose, though, it’s important to consider its capacity, as you’ll need more water if you’re running longer or when it’s very hot out. “Determine your fluid needs, choose the appropriate size, and then prioritize comfort,” advises running coach Jason Fitzgerald. To find the best of each kind, we asked Waterman, Fitzgerald, and six more runners what they use to stay hydrated while training.
Best overall hydration waist pack
CamelBak Delaney Hydration Waistpack
Waterman says waist packs are “the Goldilocks combination of being hands-free without adding extra layers across your body like [a vest].” They generally can hold more water than a handheld bottle, but less than a vest, making them a solid choice for marathon training. Bette Clark, co-team captain and former president of Van Cortlandt Track Club, says one advantage of a waist pack is that “you can carry gels, cell phone, [and] money” in addition to a fluid, but she cautions that hydration waist packs “can loosen and or bounce if not positioned just right.” Waterman recommends this Camelbak style that has a generously sized zipper pocket for other essentials, and is easily adjustable for a perfect fit on any body. Plus, it comes with the brand’s popular Podium Chill water bottle — which I and other runners I know have used and praise highly, because it’s insulated to keep water cold longer and has a twist-to-close valve that prevents spillage while you’re moving. (Waterman says the 21-ounce bottle stores enough water to get him through a 20-mile marathon training run).
CamelBak Delaney Hydration Waistpack / Best overall hydration waist pack $51 on Amazon
Best hydration waist pack with a collapsible bottle
Nathan VaporKrar Hydration WaistPak
Designed in collaboration with ultrarunner Rob Krar, this belt comes with a soft bottle that collapses down flat when it’s empty. Clark loves how the wide belt sits securely against her back and has a pocket on the opposite side for storing keys and a phone. Its smaller Velcro pouches can hold energy gels, and thanks to their loop straps, Clark says, “you can even hitch a cap or light jacket to the pack.”
Nathan VaporKrar Hydration WaistPak / Best hydration waist pack with a collapsible bottle $54 on Amazon
Best overall hydration vest
Ultimate Direction Ultra Vesta 4.0 Hydration Vest (Women’s)
Ultimate Direction Ultra Hydration Vest 4.0 (Men’s)
If you’re training for distances longer than a marathon, it’s probably time to invest in a hydration vest that holds more water and can accommodate extra gear. When Running Ruminations blogger Erin Mink Garvey was looking for a hydration vest while training for her first 50K ultramarathon in 2014, she was intrigued by the woman-specific fit of this style. “One of the reasons I gravitated toward it was that everything was designed with female ergonomics in mind,” she says. Compared to unisex vests, the Ultra Vesta allows for more adjustment based on bust size and women’s upper body compositions. Garvey wore hers during the ultra and had no issues with chafing, rubbing, or bouncing. Five years later, she still uses it and says it holds up to lots of wear and washing. David Roche, coach and founder of the SWAP running team and co-author of The Happy Runner, agrees, telling us that Ultimate Direction makes “cool, light options that work well” for men, too. Both the men’s and women’s vests come with two water bottles to drink from (they’re stored in pockets on either breast), but they’re also compatible with a reservoir (sold separately). If you prefer a vest with a built-in reservoir, read on for a couple of options.
Ultimate Direction Ultra Vesta 4.0 Hydration Vest (Women’s) / Best overall hydration vest $135 on REI
Ultimate Direction Ultra Hydration Vest 4.0 (Men’s) / Best overall hydration vest $130 on REI
Best women’s hydration vest with a reservoir
Nathan VaporHowe 12L 2.0 Hydration Vest
Like Garvey, Elinor Fish, founder and CEO of Run Wild Retreats + Wellness, thinks comfort is key and says, “It’s worth looking for a gender-specific fit to get a size that works best for you.” She uses this vest, which is also made for women, because “the soft fabric makes it feel like part of my body so I don’t notice at all.” With the ability to adjust the straps around the chest and waist separately, it allows for a more personalized fit for different bust sizes. She’s never experienced bouncing or chafing with it, even while running for hours in the mountains with a full pack. Clark recommends Nathan’s women’s vests as well. She calls them “very comfortable,” and says the front pockets provide easy access to her gear.
Nathan VaporHowe 12L 2.0 Hydration Vest / Best women’s hydration vest with a reservoir $200 on REI
Best unisex hydration vest with a reservoir
Salomon Skin Pro 10L Backpack
According to Tom Daly, co-founder of the running and yoga lifestyle brand District Vision, “Salomon cranks out the best light- and mid-weight vest packs.” For very long runs — especially on trails where you aren’t likely to spot a water fountain — he recommends choosing a pack with a reservoir for water and a drinking straw. “No hands needed and no need to stop. Forrest Gump will be proud,” he says. This vest’s reservoir holds 1.5 liters of water, so you can spend hours on the roads or trails without worrying about running out. Daly adds the exterior pockets for holding your race nutrition are “a bonus not to be overlooked.”
Salomon Skin Pro 10L Backpack / Best unisex hydration vest with a reservoir $150 at Amazon
Best overall handheld bottle
Nathan SpeedDraw Plus Insulated Water Bottle - 18oz
Roche says that “for a typical run where you won’t be isolated too long, a handheld bottle is great to carry everything you need without getting bogged down.” Sean Fortune, the owner and founder of Central Park Coaching, tells us that although he does most of his training in the park — where there are operating water fountains from spring through fall — he actually prefers carrying his own bottle so he doesn’t have to stop at one of the public fountains, which are often crowded. Fortune likes this Nathan bottle, primarily because it’s insulated and keeps his water cold. “If my water is warm, I don’t want to drink it,” he says. “It also fits comfortably in my hand and has room for my big iPhone and a gel or two.” Roche, who appreciates the bottle’s simplicity, is also a fan. “The 18-ounce handheld is curved to fit in your hand and I usually forget about it after ten minutes,” he says of the bottle, which also has an adjustable strap that holds it in place and prevents any bouncing around. “I want an option that streamlines the process of getting out the door, and with a bottle, you can just grab it and go.” Fitzgerald likes handhelds, too, and says he’s even used one on runs longer than two hours.
Nathan SpeedDraw Plus Insulated Water Bottle - 18oz / Best overall handheld bottle $37 $30 on Backcountry
Best handheld bottle with size options
Amphipod Hydraform Jett-Lite Thermal Insulated Handheld Hydration Bottle
When she’s on a short run and isn’t carrying gels or extra gear, Clark likes a minimalist handheld water bottle, too. She recommends looking for a bottle that “fits in hand comfortably, with strap that can be adjusted.” While some handheld bottles, like the Nathan style above, have larger pockets for phones, she finds those too bulky and prefers to run with one like this, which has just a small key pocket. Depending on how far you like to run, there’s a 12-ounce and 20-ounce option.
Amphipod Hydraform Jett-Lite Thermal Insulated Handheld Hydration Bottle / Best handheld bottle with size options $25 on Amazon
Best collapsible handheld bottle
Salomon Soft Flask 250ml - 8 oz
When he doesn’t need a full pack, Daly opts for this small, collapsible bottle. With a bite-to-drink spout, it’s pretty much guaranteed not to leak. There’s no strap to secure it to your hand, but when it’s empty you can simply stick it in your shorts pocket.
Salomon Soft Flask 250ml - 8 oz / Best collapsible handheld bottle $15 on Backcountry


theverge--2020-02-09--All the ways China’s coronavirus outbreak is affecting tech

The tech sector is currently feeling the impact of the coronavirus , with companies closing offices , stores , and factories in China as well as restricting employees from nonessential travels to the country .
The closures , which were initially expected to last through the Lunar New Year holiday week in late January , have now extended to February 10th , though it is still unclear whether most companies will be back up and running by Monday .
Multitudes of short and long-term effects are anticipated , from postponed events to companies potentially missing a holiday launch target due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s a look at how the coronavirus has already affected the industry .
Earlier this month , major tech companies announced they would temporarily shut down all corporate offices , manufacturing factories , and retail stores across China .
These companies include Apple , Samsung , Microsoft , Tesla , and Google .
( Google has also closed offices in nearby Hong Kong and Taiwan . )
Most of the closures were expected to last until Sunday February 9th , though some companies did not specify when exactly the offices would reopen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Deirdre O ’ Brien , wrote in an internal email that offices and contact centers are expected to open “ next week , ” while retail stores ’ reopenings are still being determined .
“ Additional cleaning , health protocols and local restrictions around public spaces will factor into this decision , ” she wrote .
But it sounds like “ next week ” might mean as late as February 15th for many stores , according to Bloomberg .
Amazon has not yet announced office closures in Beijing , Shenzhen , Shanghai @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have an office in Wuhan , where the virus is believed to have originated ) , but is requiring employees to get approval for any essential travels to China .
Employees who are traveling in and out of China are also advised to work from home for a period of 14 days before returning to the office .
While Facebook does not have offices in China , it also warned employees against nonessential travels to the country .
LG and Razer have also advised similarly .
Whether travelers can even get to China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 50 airlines worldwide have now suspended flights in and out of the country .
As many products are manufactured in China ( or use parts from Chinese vendors ) , experts are also warning customers to expect shortages for various smartphones , VR headsets , cars , and other tech accessories .
The Foxconn and Pegatron closures in China , for example , are expected to potentially delay iPhones and AirPods production as factory workers are unable to resume work .
( The two manufacturing plants are responsible for nearly all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) On Saturday , the Nikkei Asian Review reported that China is blocking Foxconn from reopening its Shenzhen plant given the working and living conditions at that factory , and that Foxconn had independently decided to keep its Zhengzhou plant closed pending government review .
Facebook has also stopped taking new orders for its latest Oculus Quest VR headset , citing the outbreak for the delay .
“ [ Like ] other companies we ’ re expecting some additional impact to our hardware production due to the Coronavirus .
We ’ re taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employees , manufacturing partners and customers , and are monitoring the situation closely .
We are working to restore availability as soon as possible , ” the company said in a statement to Android Central .
The Quest had been on back-order since around the holiday season ; retailers had initially said the headset would be available again in early February , but the date has been pushed back to as late as March 10th for the 64GB version .
For fans of the niche gaming ROG Phone II , Asus has also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t be available again until further notice due to the coronavirus .
Due to factory closures , Tesla is also citing the coronavirus for postponed Model 3 deliveries , though the company said it only anticipates a “ one to one-and-a-half week ” delay .
Other Chinese brands that expect to see production delays include Oppo , Xiaomi , Lenovo , and Huawei , according to the South China Morning Post .
“ Companies which rely on components from Hubei will be the most impacted , such as Lenovo , ” Nicole Peng @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ For companies like Huawei , whose operations are in Guangdong , the situation is less severe , although no company right now will be able to resume factory operations at 100 percent capacity.
” Similarly , products across the tech sector that were expected to ship in early February have now been delayed due to the virus .
These include the Nintendo Switch console , games , and accessories , including the much-adored Animal Crossing edition ( that one is specifically delayed in Japan ) , Ring Fit Adventure , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have also withdrawn their attendances for the upcoming Mobile World Congress conference in Barcelona .
Nvidia , LG Electronics , ZTE , and Ericsson have all either partially ( in the case of ZTE ) or fully pulled out of the event citing potential risks for further disease outbreaks .
While the World Health Organization has upgraded the coronavirus ’ status to a global health emergency , it hasn ’ t necessarily recommended canceling global conferences like MWC .
“ There is no evidence at present to suggest that there is community spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not currently requesting that large gatherings are cancelled , ” a WHO spokesperson said .
Huawei , which was expected to host a developers ’ conference next week , has also postponed its event until the end of March .
Week two of a major League of Legends tournament has also been indefinitely delayed since January 26th , with no updates from the pro league ’ s Twitter account since .
Similarly , Blizzard has announced that Overwatch League matches in February and March have been canceled , while the FIA has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ race that was slated to take place in late March .
As of Thursday evening , the coronavirus death toll has risen to 638 while more than 31,000 people have been infected worldwide .
As the situation appears to worsen , it ’ s unclear just what Monday will look like in China when the extended holiday period lifts — and how long it will take for the country to recover from the impact of these closures .
Update , February 9th , 2:55AM ET : Added a report that Foxconn will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the time being , and that Nvidia will also no longer be attending MWC 2020 .

The tech sector is currently feeling the impact of the coronavirus, with companies closing offices, stores, and factories in China as well as restricting employees from nonessential travels to the country. The closures, which were initially expected to last through the Lunar New Year holiday week in late January, were soon extended to February 10th. Officials in some provinces and districts are now telling companies not to reopen until March 1st.
Multitudes of short- and long-term effects are anticipated, from postponed events to companies potentially missing a holiday launch target due to the nationwide office closures. Here’s a look at how the coronavirus has already affected the industry.
Related Everything you need to know about the coronavirus from China
Store closures
Earlier this month, major tech companies announced they would temporarily shut down all corporate offices, manufacturing factories, and retail stores across China. These companies include Apple, Samsung, Microsoft, Tesla, and Google. (Google has also closed offices in nearby Hong Kong and Taiwan.) Most of the closures were expected to last until Sunday, February 9th, though some companies did not specify when exactly the offices would reopen.
Apple’s head of people, Deirdre O’Brien, wrote in an internal email on February 7th that offices and contact centers were expected to open the week of February 10th, while retail stores’ reopenings were still being determined. “Additional cleaning, health protocols and local restrictions around public spaces will factor into this decision,” she wrote. At the time, it was thought that could have been as late as February 15th for many stores, according to Bloomberg. We’re past that date, and Apple is still being cautious about store reopenings; in a rare investor update published on February 17th, Apple said it is “gradually reopening our retail stores and will continue to do so as steadily and safely as we can.” The company did say that its corporate offices and contact centers in China are open.
Amazon has not yet announced office closures in Beijing, Shenzhen, Shanghai, or Guangzhou (it does not have an office in Wuhan where the virus originated), but it is requiring employees to get approval for any essential travels to China. Employees who are traveling in and out of China are also advised to work from home for a period of 14 days before returning to the office.
While Facebook does not have offices in China, it also warned employees against nonessential travels to the country. LG and Razer have also advised similarly. Whether travelers can even get to China is a whole other issue, as more than 50 airlines worldwide have now suspended flights in and out of the country.
Production shortages and launch delays
As many products are manufactured in China (or use parts from Chinese vendors), experts are also warning customers to expect shortages for various smartphones, VR headsets, cars, and other tech accessories. The Foxconn and Pegatron closures in China, for example, are expected to potentially delay iPhones and AirPods production as factory workers are unable to resume work.
On Saturday, February 8th, the Nikkei Asian Review reported that China is blocking Foxconn from reopening its Shenzhen plant given the working and living conditions at that factory and that Foxconn had independently decided to keep its Zhengzhou plant closed pending government review. The Zhengzhou factory, aka, “iPhone city,” is where the bulk of the world’s iPhones are assembled. Bloomberg says that Zhengzhou might resume limited production the week of February 10th, but with a small number of workers who didn’t travel home for the New Year.
Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge
Facebook has also stopped taking new orders for its latest Oculus Quest VR headset, citing the outbreak for the delay. “[Like] other companies we’re expecting some additional impact to our hardware production due to the Coronavirus. We’re taking precautions to ensure the safety of our employees, manufacturing partners and customers, and are monitoring the situation closely. We are working to restore availability as soon as possible,” the company said in a statement to Android Central.
The Quest had been on backorder since around the holiday season; retailers had initially said the headset would be available again in early February, but the date has been pushed back to as late as March 10th for the 64GB version.
For fans of the niche gaming ROG Phone II, Asus has also warned customers that the device won’t be available again until further notice due to the coronavirus.
Due to factory closures, Tesla is also citing the coronavirus for postponed Model 3 deliveries, though the company said it only anticipates a “one to one-and-a-half week” delay. It planned to resume production at its Shanghai factory on Monday, February 10th.
Other Chinese brands that expect to see production delays include Oppo, Xiaomi, Lenovo, and Huawei, according to the South China Morning Post. “Companies which rely on components from Hubei will be the most impacted, such as Lenovo,” Nicole Peng, mobile analyst at Canalys, said. “For companies like Huawei, whose operations are in Guangdong, the situation is less severe, although no company right now will be able to resume factory operations at 100 percent capacity.”
Image: Nintendo
Similarly, products across the tech sector that were expected to ship in early February have now been delayed due to the virus. These include the Nintendo Switch console, games, and accessories, including the much-adored Animal Crossing edition (that one is specifically delayed in Japan), Ring Fit Adventure, and The Outer Worlds.
In its February 17th investor update, Apple also warned that revenue will be lower than expected because of coronavirus’ impact on iPhone supply and reduced retail traffic in China. The company did say that its iPhone manufacturing sites have reopened but that they are “ramping up more slowly than we had anticipated.”
Event shake-ups
After multiple tech companies either partially or fully pulled out of the Mobile World Congress (MWC) conference in Barcelona due to coronavirus concerns — including Sony, Amazon, Nvidia, LG Electronics, ZTE, and Ericsson — the GSM Association, which organizes MWC, canceled the show.
Some game developers are limiting their event travel as well. PlayStation, Oculus, and Facebook Gaming have pulled out of the Game Developers Conference, and Sony also announced it would be skipping Pax East.
While the World Health Organization has upgraded the coronavirus’ status to a global health emergency, it hasn’t necessarily recommended canceling global conferences like MWC. “There is no evidence at present to suggest that there is community spread in Europe, so WHO / Europe is not currently requesting that large gatherings are cancelled,” a WHO spokesperson said.
Huawei, which was expected to host a developer conference in February, has also postponed its event until the end of March. Week two of a major League of Legends tournament has also been indefinitely delayed since January 26th, but the league said it would be hosting online scrimmages starting on February 26th.
Similarly, Blizzard has announced that Overwatch League matches in February and March have been canceled, while the FIA has scrapped plans for an upcoming Formula E race that was slated to take place in late March. PUBG’s April global qualifier event set in Berlin has also been postponed until further notice.
The coronavirus death toll has risen to more than 2,200 while more than 76,700 people have been infected worldwide, as reported on this WHO map.
Update February 9th, 2:55AM ET: Added a report that Foxconn will be keeping two major plants in China closed for the time being, and that Nvidia will also no longer be attending MWC 2020.
Update February 10th, 10:50AM ET: Added additional details of MWC event withdrawals, resumption of Tesla production, and PUGB event cancellation.


theverge--2020-02-08--Cruise lines ban Chinese passport holders over coronavirus fears

Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Lines are banning passengers from their cruise ships who hold passports from China , Hong Kong , or Macao “ until further notice ” because of the coronavirus outbreak , the companies announced Friday .
Norwegian tells The Verge it is also banning crew members who hold any of those passports .
In addition , Royal Caribbean says it won ’ t allow any guest or crew member on board one of its ships if they ’ ve traveled “ from , to , or through ” China , Hong Kong , or Macao in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nationality — or anyone who ’ s come in contact with someone who ’ s been to those places in the same time frame .
Carnival is reportedly following a similar guideline set out by the cruise industry ’ s trade group , but said after this article was published that it is not banning the passport holders .
Norwegian Cruise Lines is taking it even further , saying it won ’ t allow guests or crew members to board if they ’ ve traveled to those places in the last 30 days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offering a full refund to affected passengers who have already booked travel ; Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean did not respond to questions about whether they are offering customers any sort of restitution .
The news comes after at least three cruise ships have run into coronavirus outbreaks or scares over the last few days , two of which were quarantined .
Multiple cruise ships have had coronavirus outbreaks or scares this week Early Friday , 27 Chinese nationals were screened for the virus on one of Royal Caribbean ’ s ships @ @ @ @ @ @ @ following docking in New Jersey .
Four of those passengers were sent to a local hospital for closer observation , though no cases of the coronavirus were confirmed .
The Anthem of the Seas was supposed to set off on a new trip on Saturday , but that has now been delayed ; Royal Caribbean is offering passengers on that trip “ a 1-day refund in the form of an onboard credit ” plus “ a pro-rated credit ” if passengers “ pre-purchased any packages such as , beverage , internet , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cruise Line did not immediately respond to questions about what they are doing for customers who ’ ve been banned but had previously scheduled travel .
Anthem of the Seas passengers have so far fared better than those on Carnival ’ s Diamond Princess ship , which is currently quarantined until February 19th off the coast of Yokohama , Japan after 61 cases of the new coronavirus were confirmed .
A third ship , owned by the tourism arm of Malaysian conglomerate Genting , is currently quarantined outside Hong Kong after at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been over 30,000 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus since the outbreak began in late January , with the majority in China .
At least 638 of those people have died , while over 1,700 people have recovered .
In the weeks since the outbreak began , the US government has tried to both limit travel to China and set up screenings and quarantines to reduce the chance of admitting any more contagious people into the country .
The US State Department initially warned Americans not to travel to China , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ consider departing using commercial means.
” US Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar has since declared a public health emergency , and the government started diverting flights from China to the US to seven airports for advanced screening .
President Trump followed that move with a proclamation that any foreign national who tries to enter the US within 14 days of having traveled to China will be turned away .
In turn , all of the major US airlines that operate routes to and from China have suspended those flights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ airlines like Lufthansa and Air Canada .
None of those airlines went as far as denying travel to China , Hong Kong , or Macao passport holders before suspending their flights .
But airlines also operate in a far more diverse and competitive global market .
Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Lines , meanwhile , collectively make up more than 30 percent of the overall global cruise ship market , behind only Carnival , and are therefore in a far more powerful position to take such drastic steps .
Update February 8th , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Corporation about its restrictions and refunds .

Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Lines are banning passengers from their cruise ships who hold passports from China, Hong Kong, or Macao “until further notice” because of the coronavirus outbreak, the companies announced Friday. Norwegian tells The Verge it is also banning crew members who hold any of those passports.
In addition, Royal Caribbean says it won’t allow any guest or crew member on board one of its ships if they’ve traveled “from, to, or through” China, Hong Kong, or Macao in the last 15 days, regardless of nationality — or anyone who’s come in contact with someone who’s been to those places in the same time frame. Carnival is reportedly following a similar guideline set out by the cruise industry’s trade group, but said after this article was published that it is not banning the passport holders.
Norwegian Cruise Lines is taking it even further, saying it won’t allow guests or crew members to board if they’ve traveled to those places in the last 30 days. Only Carnival said that it is offering a full refund to affected passengers who have already booked travel; Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean did not respond to questions about whether they are offering customers any sort of restitution.
The news comes after at least three cruise ships have run into coronavirus outbreaks or scares over the last few days, two of which were quarantined.
Multiple cruise ships have had coronavirus outbreaks or scares this week
Early Friday, 27 Chinese nationals were screened for the virus on one of Royal Caribbean’s ships, the Anthem of the Seas, following docking in New Jersey. Four of those passengers were sent to a local hospital for closer observation, though no cases of the coronavirus were confirmed.
The Anthem of the Seas was supposed to set off on a new trip on Saturday, but that has now been delayed; Royal Caribbean is offering passengers on that trip “a 1-day refund in the form of an onboard credit” plus “a pro-rated credit” if passengers “pre-purchased any packages such as, beverage, internet, or dining.” Both Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line did not immediately respond to questions about what they are doing for customers who’ve been banned but had previously scheduled travel.
Related Everything you need to know about the coronavirus from China
Anthem of the Seas passengers have so far fared better than those on Carnival’s Diamond Princess ship, which is currently quarantined until February 19th off the coast of Yokohama, Japan after 61 cases of the new coronavirus were confirmed. A third ship, owned by the tourism arm of Malaysian conglomerate Genting, is currently quarantined outside Hong Kong after at least eight coronavirus cases were confirmed.
There have been over 30,000 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus since the outbreak began in late January, with the majority in China. At least 638 of those people have died, while over 1,700 people have recovered.
In the weeks since the outbreak began, the US government has tried to both limit travel to China and set up screenings and quarantines to reduce the chance of admitting any more contagious people into the country. The US State Department initially warned Americans not to travel to China, and told citizens who are already there to “consider departing using commercial means.”
Related The new coronavirus is not an excuse to be racist
US Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar has since declared a public health emergency, and the government started diverting flights from China to the US to seven airports for advanced screening. President Trump followed that move with a proclamation that any foreign national who tries to enter the US within 14 days of having traveled to China will be turned away.
In turn, all of the major US airlines that operate routes to and from China have suspended those flights, as have a number of international airlines like Lufthansa and Air Canada.
None of those airlines went as far as denying travel to China, Hong Kong, or Macao passport holders before suspending their flights. But airlines also operate in a far more diverse and competitive global market. Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Lines, meanwhile, collectively make up more than 30 percent of the overall global cruise ship market, behind only Carnival, and are therefore in a far more powerful position to take such drastic steps.


theverge--2020-02-08--This weekend, save on the 16-inch MacBook Pro, truly wireless earphones, and the PS4 Pro

Only the best deals on Verge-approved gadgets get the Verge Deals stamp of approval , so if you 're looking for a deal on your next gadget or gift from major retailers like Amazon , Walmart , Best Buy , Target , and more , this is the place to be .
Vox Media has affiliate partnerships .
These do not influence editorial content , though Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links .
For more information , see our ethics policy .
Most of the deals that we publish at The Verge come and go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s just the way it works sometimes .
However , some deals are still happening and they ’ re just as good as they were earlier this week .
Apple ’ s 16-inch MacBook Pro it introduced in late 2019 ( shown above ) is up to $ 200 off at Best Buy .
The most affordable build costs $ 2,249 ( usually $ 2,399 ) , and it has a six-core Intel Core i7 CPU , 16GB of RAM , AMD ’ s Radeon Pro 5300M graphics chip , and a 512GB @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 200 off Apple ’ s more powerful configuration .
It has an eight-core Intel Core i9 CPU , 16GB of RAM , AMD ’ s Radeon Pro 5500M graphics , and a 1TB SSD .
Usually $ 2,799 , you can get it right now for $ 2,599 .
To get this discount , you ’ ll need to be a My Best Buy member , and signing up is free and only requires an e-mail address .
Amazon ’ s capable , truly wireless earphones that have Bose ’ s noise isolation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They ’ ll cost you $ 90 , which is a great price if you ’ re deciding between this and the many more expensive options out there from Apple , Sony , and others .
Alternatively , Wellbots is offering a big limited-time discount on Anker ’ s Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro that have a few features up on Amazon ’ s model listed above .
They , too , have above-average sound quality and a comfy fit .
But if you want them to come in a case that supports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anker truly wireless earphones have you covered .
Normally $ 150 , you can get them for $ 110 with the offer code VERGEMUSIC .
It ’ s no secret that Sony plans to release the PlayStation 5 later this year .
But if you haven ’ t yet played through all of the exclusive games for the PlayStation 4 like God of War ( and in 4K , no less ) , Woot is offering a good deal on the PS4 Pro console .
Usually $ 399 , it ’ s $ @ @ @ @ @ @

Most of the deals that we publish at The Verge come and go before the weekend arrives. That’s just the way it works sometimes. However, some deals are still happening and they’re just as good as they were earlier this week.
Apple’s 16-inch MacBook Pro it introduced in late 2019 (shown above) is up to $200 off at Best Buy. The most affordable build costs $2,249 (usually $2,399), and it has a six-core Intel Core i7 CPU, 16GB of RAM, AMD’s Radeon Pro 5300M graphics chip, and a 512GB SSD.
You’ll get $200 off Apple’s more powerful configuration. It has an eight-core Intel Core i9 CPU, 16GB of RAM, AMD’s Radeon Pro 5500M graphics, and a 1TB SSD. Usually $2,799, you can get it right now for $2,599. To get this discount, you’ll need to be a My Best Buy member, and signing up is free and only requires an e-mail address.
Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, Intel Core i7) / Was $2,399, now 6 percent off for My Best Buy members $2,249 at Best Buy
Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, Intel Core i9) / Was $2,799, now 7 percent off for My Best Buy members $2,599 at Best Buy
Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge
Amazon’s capable, truly wireless earphones that have Bose’s noise isolation tech built in are $40 off. They’ll cost you $90, which is a great price if you’re deciding between this and the many more expensive options out there from Apple, Sony, and others.
Amazon Echo Buds / Was $129, now 31 percent off $90 at Amazon
Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge
Alternatively, Wellbots is offering a big limited-time discount on Anker’s Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro that have a few features up on Amazon’s model listed above. They, too, have above-average sound quality and a comfy fit. But if you want them to come in a case that supports USB-C charging and wireless charging, these Anker truly wireless earphones have you covered. Normally $150, you can get them for $110 with the offer code VERGEMUSIC.
Anker SoundCore Liberty 2 Pro / Was $150, now 33 percent off with offer code $110 at Wellbots
It’s no secret that Sony plans to release the PlayStation 5 later this year. But if you haven’t yet played through all of the exclusive games for the PlayStation 4 like God of War (and in 4K, no less), Woot is offering a good deal on the PS4 Pro console. Usually $399, it’s $299 for a limited time.
Sony PlayStation 4 Pro / Was $399, now 25 percent off $299 at Woot


theverge--2020-02-08--9 new trailers you should watch this week

The Good Place wrapped up last week — I won ’ t get into much detail here ( I feel like a ton of people are waiting to watch it when the whole season ’ s available on Netflix ) — but I did want to write briefly about just what a great series it ’ s been .
One of the things that made The Good Place so great was just how much of a plot it infused into the traditional sitcom formula .
Yes , a typical episode involved a core cast of characters dealing with a somewhat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was almost always constant forward movement .
That pressure made every episode feel fresh and important , and the added tension made the comedy play that much stronger .
One thing I found fascinating about the final episode ( again , no spoilers ) was how the show almost stepped outside of that structure .
It felt more like a coda than a true conclusion ( which , arguably , came earlier ) .
That made for a lovely , if also surprisingly relaxed , sendoff and some really sweet moments with its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I really appreciated the show ’ s dedication to giving Ted Danson truly perfect human lines right until the end .
Check out nine trailers from this week below .
Disney put out a final trailer for Mulan this week , showing off more of its colorful , cleanly shot , and epic battle sequences .
I haven ’ t come away with a particularly strong understanding of what the movie will be like from all these trailers — in fairness , most people probably have a good understanding of the story @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Disney just wants to get across how beautiful and inspiring it ’ s intended to be .
The film comes out March 27th .
The new Chris Rock and Samuel L. Jackson movie is , somehow , a Saw spinoff and , somehow , also more of an action movie than a horror movie .
At the same time , this will probably be one of the best Saw movies .
It comes out May 15th .
With the Coen Brothers ’ permission , John Turturro is bringing back his brief but colorful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jesus Rolls has a great cast and , whether this character can sustain a full film or not , looks like plenty of fun from this first trailer .
It comes out March 6th .
A new documentary series that debuted on Netflix this week takes a look at the history of black actors in Hollywood .
It speaks to some huge names — Whoopi Goldberg , Barry Jenkins , and John Boyega among them — and seems to look ahead at what the future holds for black artists in film .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but Disney ’ s 30-second Super Bowl spot included the very first footage from three highly anticipated series — series that ’ ll be key to whether Disney+ ’ s momentum can continue : The Falcon and the Winter Soldier , WandaVision , and Loki .
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier arrives in August ; WandaVision premieres in December ; and Loki is expected next year .
The director of Call Me By Your Name and — more aptly , in this case — the 2018 Suspiria remake returns with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more like something shot 60 years ago .
I ’ m not really clear on what ’ s going on , but it looks wonderfully moody and creepy .
The short premieres February 15th on Mubi .
Two sisters work together to cover up a murder after one of them kills a man in Blow the Man Down .
For something with such a dark premise , the movie looks surprisingly charming and funny .
It comes out March 20th .
The director of Sicario : Day of the Soldado has a new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a globe-spanning epic about the cocaine trade .
It comes to Amazon on March 6th .
So for one , Punk ’ d is coming back with Chance the Rapper as its star .
But on a broader note , this is one of the first trailers for the series set to arrive after Quibi launches on April 6th .
Quibi put out a bunch of trailers this week , and you can watch a bunch of them here — others include Idris Elba driving cars around and a reboot of The Fugitive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but I ’ m still not sure quite how many people want to pay for this odd new mobile-centric service .
( Quibi , full disclosure , is working on a series with Vox Media , The Verge ’ s parent company . )

The Good Place wrapped up last week — I won’t get into much detail here (I feel like a ton of people are waiting to watch it when the whole season’s available on Netflix) — but I did want to write briefly about just what a great series it’s been.
One of the things that made The Good Place so great was just how much of a plot it infused into the traditional sitcom formula. Yes, a typical episode involved a core cast of characters dealing with a somewhat predictable set of hijinks, but there was almost always constant forward movement. That pressure made every episode feel fresh and important, and the added tension made the comedy play that much stronger.
One thing I found fascinating about the final episode (again, no spoilers) was how the show almost stepped outside of that structure. It felt more like a coda than a true conclusion (which, arguably, came earlier). That made for a lovely, if also surprisingly relaxed, sendoff and some really sweet moments with its core cast. More than anything else, I really appreciated the show’s dedication to giving Ted Danson truly perfect human lines right until the end.
Check out nine trailers from this week below.
Mulan
Disney put out a final trailer for Mulan this week, showing off more of its colorful, cleanly shot, and epic battle sequences. I haven’t come away with a particularly strong understanding of what the movie will be like from all these trailers — in fairness, most people probably have a good understanding of the story already. Mostly, it seems like Disney just wants to get across how beautiful and inspiring it’s intended to be. The film comes out March 27th.
Spiral
The new Chris Rock and Samuel L. Jackson movie is, somehow, a Saw spinoff and, somehow, also more of an action movie than a horror movie. At the same time, this will probably be one of the best Saw movies. It comes out May 15th.
The Jesus Rolls
With the Coen Brothers’ permission, John Turturro is bringing back his brief but colorful character from The Big Lebowski. The Jesus Rolls has a great cast and, whether this character can sustain a full film or not, looks like plenty of fun from this first trailer. It comes out March 6th.
They’ve Gotta Have Us
A new documentary series that debuted on Netflix this week takes a look at the history of black actors in Hollywood. It speaks to some huge names — Whoopi Goldberg, Barry Jenkins, and John Boyega among them — and seems to look ahead at what the future holds for black artists in film.
Disney+ Marvel shows teaser
I hate to include a teaser this brief, but Disney’s 30-second Super Bowl spot included the very first footage from three highly anticipated series — series that’ll be key to whether Disney+’s momentum can continue: The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, WandaVision, and Loki. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier arrives in August; WandaVision premieres in December; and Loki is expected next year.
The Staggering Girl
The director of Call Me By Your Name and — more aptly, in this case — the 2018 Suspiria remake returns with a new short film that looks and sounds more like something shot 60 years ago. I’m not really clear on what’s going on, but it looks wonderfully moody and creepy. The short premieres February 15th on Mubi.
Blow The Man Down
Two sisters work together to cover up a murder after one of them kills a man in Blow the Man Down. For something with such a dark premise, the movie looks surprisingly charming and funny. It comes out March 20th.
ZeroZeroZero
The director of Sicario: Day of the Soldado has a new series coming up that appears to be a globe-spanning epic about the cocaine trade. It comes to Amazon on March 6th.
Punk’d with Chance the Rapper


theverge--2020-02-08--A new spacecraft is journeying to the Sun to get a never-before-seen look at the star’s poles

Share All sharing options for : A new spacecraft is journeying to the Sun to get a never-before-seen look at the star ’ s poles This weekend , the European Space Agency and NASA are launching a new , hardened spacecraft bound for the center of our Solar System , where it will get a view of our Sun that no vehicle has seen before .
The probe , dubbed the Solar Orbiter , will be tasked with observing the Sun ’ s poles , in hopes of better predicting how our parent star behaves .
Up until now , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Sun have stuck around the star ’ s mid-section , orbiting in line with all the planets in the Solar System .
But the Solar Orbiter is set to fly a path around the Sun at a high angle , so that it can get a glimpse of the polar regions that have eluded our observations for so long .
Just like Earth , the Sun also has poles on its “ top ” and “ bottom , ” but they ’ ve been hard to see since our planet orbits near @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scientists figure out some of the mysteries of our star Once in this lopsided orbit , the Solar Orbiter will come within 26 million miles , or 42 million kilometers , of the Sun , gathering images and data from a truly unique vantage point .
Hopefully , this new information can help scientists figure out some of the mysteries of our star that have remained unsolved for decades .
Specifically , they want to know what drives our star ’ s strange 11-year cycle , where it alternates between times of intense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We understand the cyclic behavior ; we ’ ve observed it for 400 years , ever since people have pointed the telescope at the Sun , ” Daniel Müller , the ESA ’ s project scientist for the Solar Orbiter mission , tells The Verge .
“ But we don ’ t really know why it is 11 years and obviously [ what drives ] the strength of the cycle.
” At the beginning and end of its 11-year run , the Sun ’ s massive magnetic field completely switches direction .
During @ @ @ @ @ @ @ places , going from positive to negative or from negative to positive .
The strange process dictates how the star is going to behave for the next decade .
During this 11-year period , the Sun alternates between what ’ s known as solar maximum and solar minimum .
When the Sun is at solar maximum , sunspots dominate its surface , while the Sun is relatively sunspot-free during solar minimum .
This sunspot cycle also coincides with just how much junk the Sun sends our way .
Highly energized particles are constantly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outward in all directions , eventually making their way to Earth .
But when the Sun is at solar maximum , this particle parade gets much more volatile and intense .
The Sun ’ s solar flare activity heats up , and the star will burp up a whole bunch of particles at a time , which carry pieces of the Sun ’ s magnetic field — creating a highly energized chaotic cocktail that zooms toward our planet .
“ What we want to be able to do is reliably forecast space weather @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its own strong magnetic field that acts like an umbrella , shielding us from most of the Sun ’ s particles .
But when a large influx of solar plasma heads our way , it can be an issue .
These events can perturb our magnetic field and trigger geomagnetic storms — also known as space weather events .
This can potentially muck up spacecraft that are in orbit around Earth , like our GPS satellites , and heighten the radiation risk to astronauts on the International Space Station .
A strong enough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the ground .
Scientists have been trying to better understand this behavior for decades , so that we can best prepare for potential storms .
“ What we want to be able to do is reliably forecast space weather conditions in the Earth environment , ” says Müller .
Researchers have gotten good data of the Sun ’ s magnetic field from its middle , but since the poles are an important part of this flipping process , scientists are eager to observe them as the Sun evolves .
“ We ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is at the poles , ” says Müller .
That ’ s where Solar Orbiter comes in .
Roughly the size of a small bus , the box-shaped spacecraft houses 10 instruments , designed to take images of the Sun ’ s surface , as well as gather data on the star ’ s magnetic field , its atmosphere , and more .
These precious tools are protected by Solar Orbiter ’ s most essential piece of equipment : its heat shield .
The shield is a large rectangular piece of titanium that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It is coated with a special material called SolarBlack that can absorb the intense heat from the Sun , preventing Solar Orbiter ’ s instruments from getting fried .
Thanks to the design , the shield will be able to withstand blazing temperatures of more than 1,100 degrees Fahrenheit ( around 600 degrees Celsius ) .
“ Behind the heat shield the rest of the spacecraft is hiding.
” “ Behind the heat shield the rest of the spacecraft is hiding , and we have to keep that heat shield pointing at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ’ re doing maneuvers , ” says Ian Walters , the project manager for Solar Orbiter at Airbus , which built the spacecraft .
Of course , the instruments will need to look at the Sun from time to time to get the data that they need .
Engineers have built little doors into the heat shield that will open and close every so often to allow some of the instruments to get a view of the Sun .
Taking measurements will heat the instruments up , but a special radiator at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conduct the heat away from the instruments and out into space .
If it all works , then Solar Orbiter will get some of the closest images ever taken of our Sun ’ s surface .
“ At closest approach , it will roughly be three times better resolution than anything we ’ ve seen so far on ground , ” says Müller .
Solar Orbiter is set to launch late Sunday night at 11:03PM ET from Florida , out of the newly renamed Cape Canaveral Space Force Station .
Its ride into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operated by the United Launch Alliance .
It ’ ll then spend the next two years traveling toward the Sun , swinging by Earth and Venus a few times to pick up speed and get into its angular orbit around the star .
It ’ s a similar route to one that another NASA spacecraft took towards the Sun two years ago .
In 2018 , NASA launched a solar-bound spacecraft called the Parker Solar Probe , which has gotten closer to the Sun than any human-made vehicle has come before .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Sun that is better shaping our understanding of how the celestial body works .
Like most other solar vehicles , the Parker Solar Probe is orbiting in line with the planets and it ’ s not equipped with a camera .
Solar Orbiter will be able to complement that mission with its unique route and instruments .
“ There ’ s an amazing amount of synergy between these two missions , ” says Müller .
“ They ’ re not really competing with each other .
They really have complimentary focal points.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s excited for Solar Orbiter to venture to a new region of our Solar System that we ’ ve never really been to before .
Going to these unexplored poles means scientists will probably learn something new .
“ This is really something that no one can tell you what will it look like exactly , ” says Müller .
“ But we really hope that we can fill in this blind spot in our knowledge of the Sun .
”

This weekend, the European Space Agency and NASA are launching a new, hardened spacecraft bound for the center of our Solar System, where it will get a view of our Sun that no vehicle has seen before. The probe, dubbed the Solar Orbiter, will be tasked with observing the Sun’s poles, in hopes of better predicting how our parent star behaves.
Up until now, practically all vehicles we have sent toward the Sun have stuck around the star’s mid-section, orbiting in line with all the planets in the Solar System. But the Solar Orbiter is set to fly a path around the Sun at a high angle, so that it can get a glimpse of the polar regions that have eluded our observations for so long. Just like Earth, the Sun also has poles on its “top” and “bottom,” but they’ve been hard to see since our planet orbits near the Sun’s equator.
helping scientists figure out some of the mysteries of our star
Once in this lopsided orbit, the Solar Orbiter will come within 26 million miles, or 42 million kilometers, of the Sun, gathering images and data from a truly unique vantage point. Hopefully, this new information can help scientists figure out some of the mysteries of our star that have remained unsolved for decades. Specifically, they want to know what drives our star’s strange 11-year cycle, where it alternates between times of intense activity and times of quiet.
“We understand the cyclic behavior; we’ve observed it for 400 years, ever since people have pointed the telescope at the Sun,” Daniel Müller, the ESA’s project scientist for the Solar Orbiter mission, tells The Verge. “But we don’t really know why it is 11 years and obviously [what drives] the strength of the cycle.”
The 11-year itch
At the beginning and end of its 11-year run, the Sun’s massive magnetic field completely switches direction. During this impressive flip the poles essentially trade places, going from positive to negative or from negative to positive.
The strange process dictates how the star is going to behave for the next decade. During this 11-year period, the Sun alternates between what’s known as solar maximum and solar minimum. When the Sun is at solar maximum, sunspots dominate its surface, while the Sun is relatively sunspot-free during solar minimum.
The Sun producing a large solar flare in 2014 Image: NASA/GSFC/SDO
This sunspot cycle also coincides with just how much junk the Sun sends our way. Highly energized particles are constantly breaking free from the Sun and speeding outward in all directions, eventually making their way to Earth. But when the Sun is at solar maximum, this particle parade gets much more volatile and intense. The Sun’s solar flare activity heats up, and the star will burp up a whole bunch of particles at a time, which carry pieces of the Sun’s magnetic field — creating a highly energized chaotic cocktail that zooms toward our planet.
“What we want to be able to do is reliably forecast space weather conditions.”
Fortunately, our planet has its own strong magnetic field that acts like an umbrella, shielding us from most of the Sun’s particles. But when a large influx of solar plasma heads our way, it can be an issue. These events can perturb our magnetic field and trigger geomagnetic storms — also known as space weather events. This can potentially muck up spacecraft that are in orbit around Earth, like our GPS satellites, and heighten the radiation risk to astronauts on the International Space Station. A strong enough storm can even disturb the power grid on the ground.
Scientists have been trying to better understand this behavior for decades, so that we can best prepare for potential storms. “What we want to be able to do is reliably forecast space weather conditions in the Earth environment,” says Müller. Researchers have gotten good data of the Sun’s magnetic field from its middle, but since the poles are an important part of this flipping process, scientists are eager to observe them as the Sun evolves. “We’re missing the key part, which is at the poles,” says Müller.
Surviving the Sun
That’s where Solar Orbiter comes in. Roughly the size of a small bus, the box-shaped spacecraft houses 10 instruments, designed to take images of the Sun’s surface, as well as gather data on the star’s magnetic field, its atmosphere, and more. These precious tools are protected by Solar Orbiter’s most essential piece of equipment: its heat shield.
An artistic impression of Solar Orbiter with its heat shield Image: ESA
The shield is a large rectangular piece of titanium that adorns one side of Solar Orbiter. It is coated with a special material called SolarBlack that can absorb the intense heat from the Sun, preventing Solar Orbiter’s instruments from getting fried. Thanks to the design, the shield will be able to withstand blazing temperatures of more than 1,100 degrees Fahrenheit (around 600 degrees Celsius).
“Behind the heat shield the rest of the spacecraft is hiding.”
“Behind the heat shield the rest of the spacecraft is hiding, and we have to keep that heat shield pointing at the Sun for the entire duration, unless we’re doing maneuvers,” says Ian Walters, the project manager for Solar Orbiter at Airbus, which built the spacecraft.
Of course, the instruments will need to look at the Sun from time to time to get the data that they need. Engineers have built little doors into the heat shield that will open and close every so often to allow some of the instruments to get a view of the Sun. Taking measurements will heat the instruments up, but a special radiator at the base of the heat shield should conduct the heat away from the instruments and out into space.
Solar Orbiter with its heat shield attached Image: ESA
If it all works, then Solar Orbiter will get some of the closest images ever taken of our Sun’s surface. “At closest approach, it will roughly be three times better resolution than anything we’ve seen so far on ground,” says Müller.
Eyes on the star
Solar Orbiter is set to launch late Sunday night at 11:03PM ET from Florida, out of the newly renamed Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Its ride into space is an Atlas V rocket, operated by the United Launch Alliance. It’ll then spend the next two years traveling toward the Sun, swinging by Earth and Venus a few times to pick up speed and get into its angular orbit around the star.
It’s a similar route to one that another NASA spacecraft took towards the Sun two years ago. In 2018, NASA launched a solar-bound spacecraft called the Parker Solar Probe, which has gotten closer to the Sun than any human-made vehicle has come before. The mission has already gathered valuable data about the Sun that is better shaping our understanding of how the celestial body works. Like most other solar vehicles, the Parker Solar Probe is orbiting in line with the planets and it’s not equipped with a camera. Solar Orbiter will be able to complement that mission with its unique route and instruments. “There’s an amazing amount of synergy between these two missions,” says Müller. “They’re not really competing with each other. They really have complimentary focal points.”


theverge--2020-02-07--Watch Motorola’s ‘real’ flip test for the new Razr foldable

We ’ re still not sure when you ’ ll actually be able to buy Motorola ’ s re-imagined flip phone in stores , but we do have a brand-new video of the folding screen Motorola Razr for you to watch — because Motorola was apparently so unhappy with CNET ’ s original fold test , it decided to share a video it ’ s calling “ The real razr flip test.
” The first thing you ’ ll probably notice is how slowly and surely Motorola ’ s robot flips that screen open and closed — you ’ ll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this video .
More importantly , Motorola ’ s bot doesn ’ t put any pressure on the hinge itself .
It ’ s a gentle , bar-shaped hand nudging the screen open , and a second hand flipping it closed .
How much hinge stress is realistic ?
The reason that ’ s important is because CNET didn ’ t actually wind up destroying the Razr ’ s folding OLED screen — the publication wound up damaging the hinge , and it ’ s not clear whether that hinge damage was the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ borrowed from SquareTrade ) being improperly designed or calibrated , or because there ’ s actually a flaw with the hinge in Motorola ’ s handset .
Motorola , of course , claims that CNET ’ s machine is the one to blame .
Here ’ s a statement that Motorola sent us alongside the video link : SquareTrade ’ s FoldBot is simply not designed to test our device .
Therefore , any tests run utilizing this machine will put undue stress on the hinge and not allow the phone to open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ test inaccurate .
The important thing to remember is that razr underwent extensive cycle endurance testing during product development , and CNET ’ s test is not indicative of what consumers will experience when using razr in the real-world .
We have every confidence in the durability of razr .
But I have a hard time thinking that Motorola ’ s robot test tells us much more than CNET ’ s did .
Even if the SquareTrade robot may have put too much stress on the hinge , Motorola seems to avoid stressing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ d imagine the reality would be somewhere between .
A real human being could put some stress on the hinge — not to mention tossing it in pockets alongside dirt and debris .
It ’ s worth remembering that Samsung ’ s original Galaxy Fold needed to be redesigned partly because dust could get inside the hinge and damage the display , even though we ’ d seen Samsung ’ s robots fold it many times before , a test which gave the company enough confidence to claim it would “ outlast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years of use at 100 folds a day .
And it ’ s not a great sign of confidence that you can ’ t yet find the Razr in stores , or that the company didn ’ t broadly seed it with reviewers ahead of launch day , or that — although Motorola says the phone ’ s screen should last at least two years — it also says that “ lumps and bumps ” might be a normal thing to expect .

We’re still not sure when you’ll actually be able to buy Motorola’s re-imagined flip phone in stores, but we do have a brand-new video of the folding screen Motorola Razr for you to watch — because Motorola was apparently so unhappy with CNET’s original fold test, it decided to share a video it’s calling “The real razr flip test.”
The first thing you’ll probably notice is how slowly and surely Motorola’s robot flips that screen open and closed — you’ll only see them fold six times in this video. More importantly, Motorola’s bot doesn’t put any pressure on the hinge itself. It’s a gentle, bar-shaped hand nudging the screen open, and a second hand flipping it closed.
How much hinge stress is realistic?
The reason that’s important is because CNET didn’t actually wind up destroying the Razr’s folding OLED screen — the publication wound up damaging the hinge, and it’s not clear whether that hinge damage was the result of CNET’s machine (borrowed from SquareTrade) being improperly designed or calibrated, or because there’s actually a flaw with the hinge in Motorola’s handset.
Motorola, of course, claims that CNET’s machine is the one to blame. Here’s a statement that Motorola sent us alongside the video link:
SquareTrade’s FoldBot is simply not designed to test our device. Therefore, any tests run utilizing this machine will put undue stress on the hinge and not allow the phone to open and close as intended, making the test inaccurate. The important thing to remember is that razr underwent extensive cycle endurance testing during product development, and CNET’s test is not indicative of what consumers will experience when using razr in the real-world. We have every confidence in the durability of razr.
But I have a hard time thinking that Motorola’s robot test tells us much more than CNET’s did. Even if the SquareTrade robot may have put too much stress on the hinge, Motorola seems to avoid stressing the hinge at all, and I’d imagine the reality would be somewhere between. A real human being could put some stress on the hinge — not to mention tossing it in pockets alongside dirt and debris.
It’s worth remembering that Samsung’s original Galaxy Fold needed to be redesigned partly because dust could get inside the hinge and damage the display, even though we’d seen Samsung’s robots fold it many times before, a test which gave the company enough confidence to claim it would “outlast 200,000 folds,” or roughly five years of use at 100 folds a day.