FanDuel and Draft Kings have been in the headlines recently as attorney generals across the country are looking to identify daily fantasy sports gaming as gambling. Here’s the short explanation: daily fantasy sports are getting a lot of attention because they change the language of skill-based play for money (not illegal) to luck-based play for money (illegal). You can learn a ton about the history of sports gambling and these complex issues at play right now from this Sports Illustrated podcast....

Genevieve Spanjer Wright, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Maryland’s Auditory Neuroethology Laboratory, didn’t set out to find this, she says. Initially, the goal was to study how bats learn from each other. In a recent paper, she and her colleagues explain how bat social calls help the animals call dibs on their prey. Like many bat researchers, Wright and her colleagues get bats when someone calls animal control complaining about a flying mammal in the attic, she explains....

In fact, this split between iPhones and iPads has been going on for several years, and past versions of iOS have previously included features that could only be enabled on tablets. Here are all the ways iOS is already different on the iPad, as well as what’s to come. Different app designs From the earliest days of the iPad, developers have had the opportunity to produce both iPhone and iPad versions of their apps, with the latter specially designed for larger displays....

The question came from an important place. The Hadean eon is what scientists call the first chapter of Earth’s history—the fiery and mythopoetic time from our planet’s formation until about 4 billion years ago. And clay minerals, often found today in soils around the world, play a key role in some of the many theories of how life began. But according to Hazen, a mineralogist at the Carnegie Institution for Science in Washington, D....

Beyond the striking displays that we see by daylight, many minerals glow with hidden colors under ultraviolet rays. And the coolest part is, their shining colors and otherworldly fluorescence are all thanks to a few small tweaks and imperfections. What even is a mineral? Minerals are “considered to be naturally occurring, inorganic solid substances,” Rossman explains. But he says even that definition can sometimes get “fuzzy.” “If a tree decays and leaves some crystalline material behind....

Ceremonial South Pole This spot is more about photo ops than geographical accuracy. It, along with everything else on the East Antarctic Ice Sheet, shifts 33 feet toward the Weddell Sea each year, moving the decorative flagpole farther from Earth’s geographic bottom. Skiway Military planes, equipped with skis and rockets to navigate the ice, transport researchers to and fro during the southern summer. But when temperatures drop and sunlight grows scarce, air ­traffic ceases, leaving the 40-odd ­winter-​overers completely isolated....

Going forward, you can read (and reread) your quarterly PopSci issues in our desktop, smartphone, and tablet apps. Existing subscribers can follow the steps below to get access to Spring 2021: Calm in high-res on any device. New subscribers can head on over to popsci.com/subscribe to get set up. Once you’ve accessed your digital subscription, you can also download the Popular Science app for iOS or Android. Just log in with the same account number or email address....

At the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, near San Diego, the Navy is “looking at being able to generate private 5G networks for forward operating bases,” Benjamin Cohen, director of the NavalX Southern California TechBridg, told DefenseOne at a conference on 5G Futures held July 28. Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) are set up during a war, often but not always in a counter-insurgency conflict, where they host troops and vehicles near the expected fighting, allowing the military to rapidly respond to threats....

The home screen of the platform now has a large featured section advertising shows on services you may not subscribe to, along with algorithmically curated recommendations and trailers. There’s also a smaller row of apps in the midst of everything, which can make it hard to find what you’re actually looking for. If you’ve been a victim of Google TV’s redesign, know that you can get rid of the clutter by downloading a launcher....

Epidemiologists have focused a huge amount of attention on hunting down the moment those viruses made the interspecies leap. Which bats? When? But there’s another, broader question to be asked: Why do certain mammals bump into each other at all? And are there forces that make it more likely that a diseased bat ends up in a place where it can infect people? In research published last week in the journal Nature, an international team of disease ecologists found that as climate change reshuffles the habitat of mammals, it will make them much more likely to swap viruses....

Summer is a time for fun. A time for the beach, vacations, and cookouts with friends and family. We get it—it’s hard to resist the temptation of hot sun, cool waves, and good company, even as a pandemic rages across the country. But even in states where the virus seems to be under control, there’s no 100 percent-effective way to safely go outside. All you can do is choose how to mitigate the risk you take....

Services such as Spotify and Netflix want to keep you listening and watching for as long as possible, so they work hard to serve up new stuff at every turn. That means recommended playlists, suggestions about shows you might like, auto-play options, and more. A lot of these engagement strategies are powered by algorithms that consider what you’ve previously listened to and watched, then suggest something new along similar lines....

“[It] can be an added parenthood stressor,” says Whitney Casares, pediatrician, author, and founder of the online community Modern Mamas Club. She often hears parents talking about trying to ensure precious moments don’t slip away into the technological abyss. Some people invest in online storage or turn to apps, while others go old school and create physical albums just like their own parents might have. But if you’re confused about what would suit you best, know there are some innovative methods that can stand the test of time....

1. Don’t panic When an unexpected creature is flying around your living space, you might be tempted to grab a rolled-up newspaper and start swatting. Resist that urge. While a flying bat may call to mind a giant insect or a furious bird, this nocturnal mammal isn’t out to hurt you. Bats won’t attack you unless provoked, they won’t fly toward you and get caught in your hair, and, no, they are not out to drink your blood....

Bear in mind this is still a very early version of the next-generation Edge, so you should expect bugs and the occasional crash. Still, if you want to see if what Microsoft has been working on can supercharge your browsing, now’s your chance. Why the new Edge? You might not realize it while you’re using them, but underpinning every web browser is a browser engine: The bits of the software that translate raw website code into something presentable on screen....

Don’t panic If sunset is fast approaching and you turn a corner you thought for sure led to a trailhead that’s nowhere in sight, your first reaction might be panic. For most, the mere notion that you might be lost is enough to trigger anxiety, but it’s imperative that you remain calm. Decisions made out of fear are almost never constructive and drastic measures taken without level-headed consideration can often make a bad situation worse....

Instagram It’s a good idea to check out the built-in features available in Instagram first, just so you know what’s possible without any third-party apps. Long-press on Your story from the home screen, then tap Add to your Story, followed by Select, and pick the images you want to use. Choose Next and Layout and start organizing. Not only is this an easy, fun way to add a bit more flair to your story, it means fewer photos left by the wayside....

Double-Fried French Fries with Garlic Aioli Adapted from “101 Epic Dishes” by Jet and Ali Tila © Page Street Publishing 2019. All rights reserved. Ingredients Garlic Aioli 2–3 peeled garlic cloves mincedSalt and pepper, to taste, divided2 egg yolks, separated1 cup (240 ml) extra virgin olive oil, divided1 tablespoon (15 ml) fresh lemon juice Fries 4 medium cloves garlic, finely mincedAbout 1⁄4 cup (10 g) total of chopped fresh herbs (such as parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme)2 tbsp (6 g) minced chives3 large russet or Kennebec potatoes (about 21⁄2 lb [1....

What you’ll need: For all holes: SandpaperPutty (spackling, plaster, or whatever you want to call it)Putty knifePaintPaper towels (or a cloth) For larger holes: Wire mesh patching kitScissors Optional Drop clothHeat gun (or hair dryer)Marker If you don’t have a putty knife, just about anything with a flat edge and at least one smooth side will work—a butter knife, a paint stirrer, or even a ruler. You’re also going to create a fair amount of dust while patching holes, so it’s worth considering how you’ll handle it....

Just read a damn newspaper By far the simplest way to get the news without resorting to social media is to go old school. Channel your grandpa and subscribe to an actual, real life newspaper—or at least the website or app of one. It can seem hard to take time away from Facebook, Twitter, and Reddit if you want to stay on top of the latest news, but it doesn’t have to be....