Survivor

Fallout: an expertly crafted TV adaptation that manages to incorporate some of the best elements of gameplay

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, April 25, 2024

Lucy (Ella Purnell), a vault dweller leaves the safety of her bunker for the Wasteland to search for her missing father.

Key Points: 
  • Lucy (Ella Purnell), a vault dweller leaves the safety of her bunker for the Wasteland to search for her missing father.
  • The success of HBO’s The Last of Us adaptation in 2023 set a high bar for game-to-television adaptations.
  • However, director Jonathan Nolan has said that he’s coming to this show as a fan, having been hooked on Fallout 3.
  • The show expands and develops the Fallout universe and lore, satisfying long-time fans while telling a compelling, standalone story accessible for newcomers.

Character creation and combat

  • For example, in the game, Fallout players must create their character, assign values to different attributes and select secondary perks and skills, like faster weapon reloading or radiation resistance.
  • Lucy is introduced presenting herself as a candidate for marriage to a partner from a neighbouring vault.
  • Fans will appreciate this nod to character creation while the sequence still makes sense for non-gamers.
  • Howard’s character also seems to have opted for the “Bloody Mess” character perk judging by the exploding body parts.

You have discovered Vault 4

  • Seeking supplies, the duo venture into a ruined medical centre, promptly falling through a trapdoor into Vault 4.
  • A particularly memorable encounter for me from Fallout 3 was discovering Vault 108, where I was set upon by vault dwellers, all gleefully and eerily calling out the name “Gary”.
  • Watching Lucy and Maximus (mainly Lucy – Maximus is distracted by slippers and popcorn) unpick Vault 4’s story captures that same journey.

Before the bombs fell

  • Fallout makes extensive use of discoverable messages on computer terminals in the many ruined buildings across the Wasteland.
  • These frequently offer fascinating insight into the lives of people before the bombs fell.
  • The time dedicated to these flashbacks is a real series strength, building to a franchise-defining revelation in the finale.


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Peter Howell does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Billions of cicadas are about to emerge from underground in a rare double-brood convergence

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, April 18, 2024

From late April through June 2024, the largest brood of 13-year cicadas, known as Brood XIX, will co-emerge with a midwestern brood of 17-year cicadas, Brood XIII.

Key Points: 
  • From late April through June 2024, the largest brood of 13-year cicadas, known as Brood XIX, will co-emerge with a midwestern brood of 17-year cicadas, Brood XIII.
  • A co-emergence like this of two specific broods with different life cycles happens only once every 221 years.
  • For about four weeks, scattered wooded and suburban areas will ring with cicadas’ distinctive whistling, buzzing and chirping mating calls.
  • Once the eggs hatch, new cicada nymphs will fall from the trees and burrow back underground, starting the cycle again.
  • It’s no accident that the scientific name for periodical 13- and 17-year cicadas is Magicicada, shortened from “magic cicada.”

Ancient visitors

  • Molecular analysis has shown that about 4 million years ago, the ancestor of the current Magicicada species split into two lineages.
  • The resulting three lineages are the basis of the modern periodical cicada species groups, Decim, Cassini and Decula.
  • The sudden appearance of so many insects reminded them of biblical plagues of locusts, which are a type of grasshopper.
  • During the 19th century, notable entomologists such as Benjamin Walsh, C.V. Riley and Charles Marlatt worked out the astonishing biology of periodical cicadas.

Acting in unison

  • This increases their chances of accomplishing their key mission aboveground: finding mates.
  • While periodical cicadas largely come out on schedule every 17 or 13 years, often a small group emerges four years early or late.
  • Early-emerging cicadas may be faster-growing individuals that had access to abundant food, and the laggards may be individuals that subsisted with less.

Will climate change shift Magicicada clocks?

  • As glaciers retreated from what is now the U.S. some 10,000 to 20,000 years ago, periodical cicadas filled eastern forests.
  • Today there are 12 broods of 17-year periodical cicadas in northeastern deciduous forests, where trees drop leaves in winter.
  • Because periodical cicadas are sensitive to climate, the patterns of their broods and species reflect climatic shifts.
  • Although periodical cicadas prefer forest edges and thrive in suburban areas, they cannot survive deforestation or reproduce successfully in areas without trees.
  • In the late 19th century, one Brood (XXI) disappeared from north Florida and Georgia.
  • Climate change could also have farther-reaching effects.
  • As the U.S. climate warms, longer growing seasons may provide a larger food supply.
  • This may eventually change more 17-year cicadas into 13-year cicadas, just as past warming altered Magicicada neotredecim.
  • We hypothesize that this was due to climate warming.


John Cooley receives funding from the National Science Foundation and the National Geographic Society. Chris Simon has received funding from the National Science Foundation, the Fulbright Foundation, the National Geographic Society and the New Zealand Marsden Fund.

SBA Recognizes 2024 Phoenix Award Winners of the Year for Outstanding Disaster Recovery Efforts

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, April 9, 2024

WASHINGTON, April 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today,  Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman , head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and voice in President Biden’s Cabinet for America’s more than 33 million small businesses, recognized the 2024 Phoenix Award winners for outstanding disaster recovery efforts by a small business, public official, and volunteer.

Key Points: 
  • WASHINGTON, April 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today,  Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman , head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and voice in President Biden’s Cabinet for America’s more than 33 million small businesses, recognized the 2024 Phoenix Award winners for outstanding disaster recovery efforts by a small business, public official, and volunteer.
  • “SBA’s 2024 Phoenix Award winners inspire us and remind us that even in the face of disaster, tragedy, or uncertainty, America at its core is about hope, possibilities, and an unwavering commitment to working together to strengthen our communities,” said Administrator Guzman.
  • “These honorees represent the power of determination and adaptability,” said Francisco Sánchez Jr. , Associate Administrator for the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the Small Business Administration.
  • Jacqueline was first introduced to the SBA back in 2020, receiving an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) due to the pandemic.

Qualigen Therapeutics Announces Poster Featuring Positive Early Clinical Experience with QN-302, a Novel First-in-Class G-Quadruplex Experimental Anti-Cancer Drug, at the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) 2024 Annual Meeting

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, April 9, 2024

CARLSBAD, Calif., April 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Qualigen Therapeutics, Inc. (“Qualigen” or the “Company,” Nasdaq: QLGN) today announces that a poster featuring its early clinical experience with a novel first-in-class G-Quadruplex experimental anti-cancer drug, QN-302, was presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2024 held April 5 – 10 in San Diego, California.

Key Points: 
  • CARLSBAD, Calif., April 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Qualigen Therapeutics, Inc. (“Qualigen” or the “Company,” Nasdaq: QLGN) today announces that a poster featuring its early clinical experience with a novel first-in-class G-Quadruplex experimental anti-cancer drug, QN-302, was presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2024 held April 5 – 10 in San Diego, California.
  • Dose escalation initiated (patient #101-004) after three patients successfully completed cycle 1 of the initial dose.
  • Dose escalation will be continued, with more patients being enrolled in the coming months.
  • One patient was withdrawn from study 3/1/2024 after 4 months of stable disease.

Inozyme Pharma Announces Positive Topline Data from Ongoing Phase 1/2 Trials of INZ-701 in Adults with ABCC6 Deficiency (PXE) and ENPP1 Deficiency

Retrieved on: 
Monday, April 8, 2024

BOSTON, April 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Inozyme Pharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: INZY) (“the Company” or “Inozyme”), a clinical-stage rare disease biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics for the treatment of pathologic mineralization and intimal proliferation, today announced positive topline safety, pharmacokinetic (PK), pharmacodynamic (PD) and exploratory efficacy data from the Company’s ongoing Phase 1/2 clinical trials of INZ-701 in adults with ABCC6 Deficiency (PXE, pseudoxanthoma elasticum) and ENPP1 Deficiency.

Key Points: 
  • “We are excited by the excellent safety and preliminary efficacy profile of INZ-701 in adults with ABCC6 Deficiency,” said Douglas A. Treco, Ph.D., CEO of Inozyme Pharma.
  • The patients were assigned to three dose cohorts of INZ-701: 0.2 mg/kg (n=3), 0.6 mg/kg (n=3), and 1.8 mg/kg (n=4).
  • For trial design details, please see the section entitled “INZ-701 in ABCC6 Deficiency Phase 1/2 Clinical Trial Design” below.
  • For trial design details, please see the section entitled “INZ-701 in ENPP1 Deficiency Phase 1/2 Clinical Trial Design” below.

CURE Media Group and Oncology Nursing News announce Kristen Dahlgren as keynote speaker for the 2024 Extraordinary Healer® event

Retrieved on: 
Friday, April 5, 2024

This award honors oncology nurses whose compassion and expertise improve the lives of their patients.

Key Points: 
  • This award honors oncology nurses whose compassion and expertise improve the lives of their patients.
  • “We are honored to have Kristen Dahlgren as our keynote speaker for the 2024 Extraordinary Healer recognition program,” said Mike Hennessy Jr., president and CEO of MJH Life Sciences®, the parent company of CURE.
  • For the first 30 years of her career, Dahlgren traveled the world where she actively worked on documenting some of the biggest news stories.
  • For more information on the 2024 Extraordinary Healer event and to register, please visit the event page .

One More Child and Premier Trailer Leasing Hit the Road with Anti-Trafficking Message

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, April 4, 2024

LAKELAND, Fla., April 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In partnership with One More Child , Premier Trailer Leasing committed to placing up to 3,000 decals on their trailers to bring more awareness to the issue of human trafficking.

Key Points: 
  • LAKELAND, Fla., April 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In partnership with One More Child , Premier Trailer Leasing committed to placing up to 3,000 decals on their trailers to bring more awareness to the issue of human trafficking.
  • “Premier is excited to join forces with One More Child,” said Jim AuBuchon, president and CEO of Premier.
  • Truck stops are known to be popular venues as traffickers move their victims to various locations for commercial exploitation.
  • In 2023, One More Child provided anti-trafficking services to 1,007 individuals while impacting 12,969 people through education, advocacy and awareness.

Resilience through music: Violins of Hope exhibition showcases historic instruments connected to the Holocaust

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, April 4, 2024

Scheduled to run from May 3 to June 16, 2024, Violins of Hope is a poignant collection of string instruments dating from before and during the Holocaust.

Key Points: 
  • Scheduled to run from May 3 to June 16, 2024, Violins of Hope is a poignant collection of string instruments dating from before and during the Holocaust.
  • “Violins of Hope marks a significant milestone as the first internationally-themed music exhibition hosted by the National Music Centre,” said Andrew Mosker, President and CEO, National Music Centre.
  • “We are excited to host this moving exhibition that promotes hope and healing through music.
  • For further information regarding the Violins of Hope exhibition and ticket purchases, please visit studiobell.ca .

RAINN Marks Beginning of Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month (SAAPM) 2024

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, April 2, 2024

Washington, D.C., April 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On April 1, 2024 RAINN , the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization, marks the beginning of Sexual Assault Awarness and Prevention Month (SAAPM) .

Key Points: 
  • Washington, D.C., April 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On April 1, 2024 RAINN , the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization, marks the beginning of Sexual Assault Awarness and Prevention Month (SAAPM) .
  • SAAPM is a time where RAINN and our partners raise awareness of sexual violence and the role we can all take in preventing it.
  • April 9, 2024 - Participate in RAINN Day, a day of exponential reach when we ask every RAINN friend, follower and fan to share our National Sexual Assault Hotline.
  • RAINN will also be on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. for a day of meetings with legislators and policy advocacy.

Child Abuse and Sex Trafficking: What You Might Not Know

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, April 2, 2024

This month serves as a powerful reminder that child abuse prevention is not a solitary effort.

Key Points: 
  • This month serves as a powerful reminder that child abuse prevention is not a solitary effort.
  • On a state level, the statistics for child abuse in Florida in 2023 show concerning trends with reported cases on the rise.
  • Child abuse and sex trafficking are closely related, with child sex trafficking being a form of child abuse that occurs when a child under 18 is advertised, solicited, or exploited through a commercial sex act.
  • It is crucial to raise awareness about these interconnected challenges during Child Abuse Awareness Month and recognize the shared vulnerabilities that contribute to these forms of exploitation.