Latest news with #TheLastofUs
Indianapolis Star
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Indianapolis Star
Meet IndyStar investigative and politics intern Marissa Meador
IndyStar's newsroom internships are an important tradition that benefits readers, the news industry and aspiring journalists. We have nine summer interns for 2025 — students who have shown a passion for local journalism and have prior internship or student media experience. The program provides a bridge from student journalism to the professional ranks and helps the Star fill the gaps as our full-time staff take well-earned vacation time. Similarly, we're taking a break from our "Meet the Staff" feature for the summer to give you a chance to, yes, meet the interns. We also call them Pulliam fellows — in recognition of the family that used to own the newspaper and has continued to support journalism in Indianapolis — and past participants have gone on to rich careers at the Star and elsewhere in journalism. Up this week is 2025 IndyStar intern Marissa Meador. My beat is investigations, with a focus on politics. I just graduated from IU Bloomington with degrees in political science and journalism in May. My favorite part of being a journalist is the variety and unpredictability of each day. I love how the stories I write can teach me more about hidden corners of the world, from the nitty-gritty of the debate over forest management practices to the quirks of a person I'm profiling. I applied to IndyStar because I admire the great work its reporters and editors do, from hard-hitting investigations to critical community news. I grew up getting the newspaper delivered to my house in Mooresville, just south of Indianapolis, so IndyStar holds a special place in my heart. My internship is sponsored by the Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting. I'm still working through season 2 of "The Last of Us," so no spoilers please! I'll never get tired of "Don't Think Twice It's All Right" by Bob Dylan (but preferably the duet version with Joan Baez). This is an impossible question because I love them both! But I grew up around dogs and currently have a beagle named Pixie, so I may have to go with dogs. I'd love to see the beautiful sights of Utah's national parks one day. If I could travel back in time, I would meet Joan Didion. She's my favorite author and I'd love to pick her brain about how she developed her writing style.
Time Magazine
2 days ago
- Business
- Time Magazine
How Oura Keeps Pushing Smart Ring Tech Forward
On a Monday morning in late April, Oura CEO Tom Hale was feeling well-rested despite having stayed up later than usual the night before to catch the latest episode of The Last of Us . Clicking through data logged by his smart ring, he ticked off stats he was pleased with. Hale had gotten close to eight hours of sleep ('pretty rare' for him these days), including nearly 90 minutes of deep sleep. His 'efficiency'—how much time in bed he was actually sleeping—was 91 out of 100. 'My timing was perfect,' he says. 'I didn't get up in the middle of the night, which is a very typical thing for me.' Hale's sleep stats are the very reason he decided he wanted to join Oura, the Finland-based company that pioneered the smart ring category. During a stressful period in the fall of 2021, he was having trouble sleeping. He bought an Oura Ring and then made a handful of behavior changes based on its feedback about his sleep habits, like no longer drinking alcohol to unwind in the evenings. Within six weeks, he experienced dramatic results. The fix 'made me want to be a part of the company,' he says. It just so happened that Oura was searching for a new CEO, and the company is now thriving under Hale's leadership. In December, Oura announced its member base and revenue more than doubled in 2024. It's now sold more than 2.5 million rings, including the Oura 4, which was released in October. That device introduced the company's 'smart sensing' technology, which tracks blood oxygen levels, heart and respiratory rates, skin temperature changes, and movement. TIME spoke to Hale about what he attributes the company's success to, how health data can spur action, and why Oura is prioritizing women's health. This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity. These days, the ring can collect data on more than 20 biometrics. Which are you most excited about? I'm trying to age gracefully, and the two things I'm concerned about are heart health and metabolic health. I hate to admit this, but I have a sweet tooth. So for me, the metabolic part is controlling my blood sugar. Right now, I'm wearing a continuous glucose monitor. As of May, our partnership with Dexcom supports integration of that data, which means it can flow between Dexcom devices and the Oura ring and app. What I don't like to see is an enormous blood-sugar spike. I've learned there are some foods that aren't what you might consider to be a sugar bomb, but still have that effect. Rice turned out to cause a huge spike. Just by dialing back rice in my diet or consuming smaller portions, I'm able to stay within my range. That's important, because I don't want to go into prediabetes. The partnership with [glucose monitor maker] Dexcom seems like a natural fit—two companies that value data. We met with the CEO of Dexcom, and when he and his staff walked into the room, they were all wearing Oura rings. I was like, 'Well, I'm wearing a Dexcom sensor right now.' That technology was developed for people with diabetes. We want to be part of the solution that keeps people from even getting to that stage. Part of that is understanding which foods are going to affect you in a very discreet way. The thing that's so powerful about this tool is that your glucose and your glycemic response and your insulin response are going to be different based on how rested you are, what activity you've done and when you did that activity. Your genetics and biome also play a role. So a big part of what we're trying to do is educate people. You've described the Oura Ring as a doctor in the pocket—a tool to help scale up preventive care. What exactly does that mean? Wearables are a tool—they're not the answer for everything. But they're a very powerful tool, both from the perspective of predicting things or giving you feedback, and educating you and motivating you to do the things that are hardest in preventive care—changing behaviors. For example, I stopped drinking alcohol [at night], and that was a behavioral change rooted in 30 years of my adult life. I changed it very quickly when I saw that alcohol ruined my REM sleep. We're not trying to be like doctors—but the fact of the matter is, there simply aren't enough in the U.S. With Oura, you have something on your body that's monitoring you and knows when you have a deviation from the norm. I would call it algorithmic care. There's a set of conditions in your biometrics, and we can say, 'Hey, you're getting sick, you're getting a cold, maybe you need to be checked out for something a little more serious. Maybe you should go talk to a doctor and share this data.' It's ultimately a tool that's part of your overall care. I've heard Oura staffers call what the company does 'giving your body a voice.' Is that a common phrase around the office? We say it all the time. What's really different about Oura is the fidelity of the information because of overnight tracking, as well as the accuracy of the finger [as a data collection site]. Getting it right builds trust. Lots of competitors are popping up, yet Oura's membership keeps growing. Do you attribute that to the trust you're describing? It's a couple things. If the Oura Ring says to you, 'Hey, it looks like you're getting sick,' you might go, 'Oh, I feel fine.' But two days later, when you're on the couch surrounded by Kleenex, you realize: 'It told me something I didn't already know.' That's the magic. The degree to which Oura can surprise you with something you don't know happens frequently and is, on balance, more often right than it is wrong. It's not always perfect, but it's pretty close. That gives us an edge. The other thing that's really important is that we nailed the use cases for women. How do you see women using the ring? Maybe in your late teens or early 20s, it's about knowing when you're going to have your cycle and planning for contraception. Then, as you enter your late 20s or 30s, maybe it's conception. A lot of Oura customers are trying to conceive. One of the things Oura does is it gives you a really good signal about your fertile window—which is actually our first U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved feature. Then there's pregnancy, a real focus for us this year. How do your biometrics change during pregnancy? What should you expect? Is this something maybe you need to talk to your OB-GYN about? But our vision is that we should be able to serve women and give their body a voice over pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause and menopause—that entire timeframe. Are there stories you've heard from Oura users that really stand out in your mind? So many. There was the grandfather who started to see his metrics decline. His grandkid was looking at it and said, 'Hey, grandpa, this doesn't look good. We should get you checked out.' It turns out he was on the brink of a myocardial infarction [heart attack]. There's a Paralympian who was visiting his parents at home. He's a sprinter, and he's like, 'You know, I'm not feeling great.' He's looking at his app and it's saying, 'Major signs, major signs, something is going on,' and he's like, 'No, I don't want to tell my parents because they'll put pressure on me to suck it up and keep competing.' It turns out he had appendicitis, and he basically credited Oura with helping him have the courage to say, 'I need to get this checked out. Something is going on.' Those kinds of stories aren't strictly speaking happy stories. But people get the opportunity to have agency in their health journey and to take action. That's really powerful. Disclosure: Investors in Oura include TIME owner and co-chair Marc Benioff
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Pedro Pascal reacts to 'too old' criticism over Reed Richards casting ahead of Marvel's Fantastic Four release; here's what he said
Pedro Pascal has responded to criticism surrounding his casting as Reed Richards, also known as Mister Fantastic, in Marvel's upcoming film Fantastic Four: First Steps. The actor, known for The Mandalorian and The Last of Us, acknowledged fan concerns during an interview with Vanity Fair, specifically those pointing to his age and appearance. 'I'm more aware of disgruntlement around my casting than anything I've ever done,' Pascal said. ''He's too old. He's not right. He needs to shave.'' Acknowledging the fan reactions While reactions have been mixed, Pascal admitted the feedback has been louder than he expected. Still, he remains optimistic about the movie. 'I'm getting an inkling of excitement because it seems to reflect what our common goal was... all of our hearts on a platter within this genre,' he said, adding that one can never predict how people will respond emotionally. Pascal also revealed that joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe was a challenge, but he credited Robert Downey Jr. for helping him ease into it. 'Robert is just so immediately generous and inviting,' he shared, noting that the support allowed him to stay grounded during the transition. Building his version of Reed Richards Pascal described his approach to Reed Richards as rooted in intellect, not just superpowers. In an earlier interview with ComicBook, he said he was inspired by the intelligence of an octopus—not literally, but as a subconscious guide to shape the character. Despite the skepticism from some fans, Pascal is set to lead Marvel's reboot of the superhero team alongside Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach. The film, directed by Matt Shakman and produced by Kevin Feige, also features Ralph Ineson as Galactus and Julia Garner as Silver Surfer. Looking ahead in the Marvel Universe Fantastic Four: First Steps is scheduled to release on July 25, marking the group's debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The film will be followed by Avengers: Doomsday, where Pascal and the rest of the cast are set to return. Pascal's calm and clear response shows that while he's heard the criticism, he is focused on delivering a performance that respects the character and the franchise. Whether audiences embrace his take on Reed Richards will become clear once the film hits theaters.
Mint
2 days ago
- Science
- Mint
Scientists find 99 million-year-old zombie fungus in very rare fossils from the dinosaur era
A piece of 99 million-year-old amber has revealed a shocking sight. It's a fly with a zombie fungus growing from its head. Another fossil in the same amber shows a young ant infected by a similar fungus. The ant and the fly were then trapped in sticky tree sap that became amber. These are among the oldest known examples of fungi controlling insects, killing them in the process. Chinese researchers studies the fossils by using microscopes and 3D scans. Lead author Yuhui Zhuang from Yunnan University said such rare finds help in understanding ancient relationships between fungi and insects. Also Read | Scientists are stunned by how these tiny insects use Milky Way as a guide 'Overall, these two fossils are very rare, at least among the tens of thousands of amber specimens we've seen, and only a few have preserved the symbiotic relationship between fungi and insects,' CNN quoted Zhuang as saying. 'The discovery of these two fossils suggests that terrestrial ecosystems were already very complex, and that Ophiocordyceps, in particular, may have begun to act as 'predators' of insects in the Cretaceous period, regulating the populations of certain groups,' Zhuang added. Also Read | Are we inside a black hole? New study challenges Big Bang theory Some fungi are called 'zombie-ant fungi' because they can control ants' behaviour to spread their spores. This strange idea inspired the video game and TV series The Last of Us. Scientists believe the fungus found in a fossilised ant could be an early form of today's zombie-ant fungi. These fungi likely controlled the ant's body before killing it. Such ancient parasitic fungi are very rare, so not much is known about their history. Experts say these fungi played a big role in shaping life on Earth. Even though amber shows us many hidden species, we still only see a tiny part of the full picture. Each insect probably carried many unseen parasites, fungi or bacteria. New fossil discovery The new fossil discovery shows these fungi existed even during the dinosaur era, around 99 million years ago, and had already attacked insects. According to experts, they may have helped control insect populations back then. Today, such fungi still infect many insects like ants, flies and beetles. Scientists say the fungus enters the ant's body through a weak spot and reaches its brain to control its actions. Interestingly, flies are rarely affected today, which makes a fossil of an infected fly very rare and exciting for researchers.
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Downey praises Pedro Pascal's Hollywood journey
In a recent Vanity Fair interview, Robert Downey Jr. lauded co-star Pedro Pascal for his 'slow trajectory to becoming a household name,' calling it a reaffirmation of his faith in Hollywood. Downey reflected on Pascal's journey, emphasizing its authenticity in an industry increasingly driven by instant virality. Pascal, who gained global prominence with lead roles in The Mandalorian and The Last of Us, is currently cast as Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic) in the upcoming Fantastic Four: First Steps. He is set to join Downey in Avengers: Doomsday, scheduled for a December 18, 2026 release. Pascal admitted during an interview that he'd faced backlash over his age, appearance, and casting—but said Downey's support helped him feel 'seen and safe' amid industry skepticism. Downey specifically called Pascal's success 'a wildly hot streak' that reinforced his confidence in how the entertainment business continues to reward dedication. Pascal himself expressed gratitude for Downey's mentorship. In Vanity Fair, he credited Downey with making him feel welcomed and steady in high-pressure environments, saying the veteran actor's warmth allowed him 'to be afraid, hungry, or ambivalent' without pressure. Avengers: Doomsday will merge the Avengers, Wakandans, Fantastic Four, X-Men, and New Avengers to confront Doctor Doom, portrayed by Downey. The interconnected MCU project follows Fantastic Four: First Steps, which debuts July 25, 2025. Downey's praise of Pascal comes at a moment when many actors are spotlighted for rapid success, making Pascal's story of perseverance stand out.
