3 h. ago Astronomers aim to take ‘revolutionary’ moving image of black hole

Newly appointed Cambridge professor says feat would accelerate scientific knowledge by an order of magnitudeDark, hungry and inescapable: black holes are often portrayed as the ultimate cosmic villains.But now astronomers are preparing to capture a movie of a supermassive black hole in action for the first time, in observations that could help reveal another side to these elusive – and perhaps misunderstood – space objects. Continue reading...

Politics

3 h. ago Revolutionary imaging of black hole aims to prove they are not ‘evil vacuum cleaners’

Newly appointed Cambridge professor says feat would accelerate scientific knowledge by an order of magnitudeDark, hungry and inescapable: black holes are often portrayed as the ultimate cosmic villains.But now astronomers are preparing to capture a movie of a supermassive black hole in action for the first time, in observations that could help reveal another side to these elusive – and perhaps misunderstood – space objects. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Netflix announces release date for film based on 'triumphant' book with two

The bestselling novel adaptation is coming to Netflix this May and features a star-studded cast

Culture

1 week ago Frankenstein's Jacob Elordi wins first significant career acting honor at Critics Choice Awards

The Brisbane, Australia native, 28, who played the Creature in the movie, received the honors for Best Supporting Actor at the event in Santa Monica, California.

Events

1 week ago Frankenstein's Jacob Elordi wins first significant career acting honors at Critics Choice Awards

The Brisbane, Australia native, 28, who played the Creature in the movie, received the honors for Best Supporting Actor at the event in Santa Monica, California.

Events

3 w. ago Anaconda review – Jack Black and Paul Rudd charm in unusual meta

The 1997 creature feature gets a self-referential redo that works best when it allows its two stars to lean into sillinessAnyone rightly suspicious of comedies that try to make sure they have plenty of “heart” will rightly get their hackles up during the opening section of Anaconda, which sheds the skin of its 1997 horror-adventure namesake to reveal a self-referential goof on unnecessary reboots. After an absolutely woeful attempt at a horror-movie cold open where it becomes clear that director/co-writer Tom Gormican hasn’t the merest glimmer of talent for establishing mood, building suspense or even properly unveiling a crazy creature, the movie settles in for the true mission of any great broad comedy: uh, building pathos? After years as an aspiring film-maker, Doug (Jack Black) is succeeding-yet-languishing in his compromised hometown job as a wedding videographer. Meanwhile, his childhood bestie, Griff (Paul Rudd), is following the dream by working as an actor out in Los Angele...

Politics

3 w. ago Pink platypus spotted in Gippsland is cute – but don’t get too excited

Biologist says monotreme a Victorian fisher has nicknamed Pinky is ‘unusual but not exceptional’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastCody Stylianou thought he saw a huge trout. But, skimming just below the surface, it was moving differently than a fish would.The creature surfaced and, amazed, the Victorian fisher reached for his phone. Swimming in front of him was a pink platypus. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Pink platypus spotted in Gippsland far from a monochrome monotreme

Biologist says specimen filmed by a Victorian fisher is ‘unusual’, but not a rare albino as some had wonderedFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastCody Stylianou thought he saw a huge trout. But, skimming just below the surface, it was moving differently than a fish would.The creature surfaced and, amazed, the Victorian fisher reached for his phone. Swimming in front of him was a pink platypus. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Avatar Fire and Ash: harmony is no longer guaranteed in James Cameron’s threequel – discuss with spoilers

Crucial tonal shifts mean the film asks harder questions than the series ever has before. Share your thoughts in the comments below• This article contains spoilers for Avatar: Fire and AshFor more than a decade now, James Cameron’s Avatar films have been built on the reassuring idea that the universe is alive, connected and spiritually pure. Part of the pleasure of making it to the end credits of one of them is the comforting feeling that we are nothing like all those evil humans who want to destroy Pandora’s gorgeous bioluminescent utopia of giant blue cat people and navel-gazing whale creatures. Cameron wants to remind us that if we only spent less time chasing profit and more listening to nature, everything would probably be fine.Fire and Ash is where that reassurance starts to curdle. It is still recognisably an Avatar movie: the tech is absurd, the sincerity remains weaponised, and the creatures appear to have been designed by a benevolent god with a doctorate in marine biology...

Events

last month Black holes to be shown in action in first 3D movies created using AI

Experts in black hole astronomy and artificial intelligence will combine for the project at Heriot-Watt University.

Culture