Latest news with #adaptation
Daily Mirror
10 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Scientists give mind-blowing explanation about people feeling car sick in EVs
Anticipating the movement of a vehicle is key to avoiding motion sickness, which is why drivers, who should always be able to see what is coming, are less likely to feel sick than passengers Researchers have provided an answer to a baffling phenomenon affecting swathes of electric vehicle (EV) drivers. Increasing numbers of motorists and passengers are experiencing motion sickness while travelling in EVs, sparking scientists to explore what's exactly making these zero-emission rides so stomach-churning. Social media is filled with anecdotes from passengers who have felt sick in the back seat of EVs, as well as questions from potential buyers put off by this potential puking problem. The scientific explanation is rooted in how our brains process motion cues. William Emond, a PhD student researching car sickness at the Université de Technologie de Belfort-Montbéliard in France, told the Guardian: "Greater sickness in EVs can be attributed to a lack of previous experience, as both a driver and as a passenger, where the brain lacks accuracy in estimating the motion forces because it relies on previous experience in other types of cars. "If we are accustomed to traveling in non-EVs, we are used to understanding the car's motion based on signals such as engine revs, engine vibrations, torque, etc. Yet, traveling in an EV for the first time is a new motion environment for the brain, which needs adaptation." So people who have spent most of their lives getting from A to B in internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles are far more accustomed to anticipating acceleration and deceleration based on engine noise and vibration, cues that are largely absent in EVs. Research supports the idea that specific features of electric vehicles contribute to motion sickness. For example, a 2024 study carried out by the University of Wisconsin—Madison found strong correlations between the severity of motion sickness and the seat vibrations in electric vehicles. While research from 2020 published in ScienceDirect pointed to the lack of engine sound as a major factor causing people in EVs to feel car sick. The absence of these familiar cues leads to a sensory mismatch, where the signals from the eyes, inner ear and body don't align with what the brain is expecting. This is a well-known cause of motion sickness. Another factor is regenerative braking, a technology common in EVS that converts the car's kinetic energy into electricity during deceleration. This process results in low-frequency deceleration, meaning the vehicle slows down gradually and steadily rather than in quick pulses. Studies have shown that this type of braking is also linked to higher levels of motion sickness. A 2024 study published in the International Journal of Human–Computer Interaction concluded: "Our results confirmed that higher levels of RB [regenerative braking] can induce MS [motion sickness]." Anticipating the movement of a vehicle is key to avoiding motion sickness, which is why drivers, who should always be able to see what is coming, are less likely to feel sick than passengers. The lack of familiar cues in EVs means passengers, especially those in the back seat, are more likely to feel car sick. With EV ownership on the rise, researchers are exploring solutions to this 'sickening' situation. Some suggest that using visual signals, such as interactive screens and ambient lighting, as well as vibrational cues, could help passengers anticipate motion changes and reduce the likelihood of feeling sick in EVS.
Forbes
19 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
Beyond The Business Model: 4 Keys To Reinventing Local Business Success
For Phil Bevis, founder of the Seattle based Arundel Books, expanding beyond the walls of the bookstore is one of his favorite parts of running the business. It's also necessary. 'Today, a business model is good for about six months,' he told Square. 'The most important skill that a business owner can develop is that of adaptation. Being responsive to changes in the market, changes in consumer taste, or changes in customer preferences.' Today businesses like Bevis's are doing more than ever. For instance, my own local wine bar isn't just open from 4 p.m. to close. It operates as a coffee shop in the morning. Photo by Ashley Armitage Local businesses everywhere are opening add-on locations, selling online, launching merch lines, and booking customers on Instagram. What used to be a single storefront is now a multi-channel operation. At Square, we're building tools for this exact kind of complexity, ambition, and evolution. In our 2025 Future of Commerce report, business owners told us they're investing in both brick-and-mortar and digital. We see that in our own data — and hear it daily from business owners who are growing fast and need smarter systems. Here are four hard-won takeaways behind their success. When Urban Nail Box founder Rachel Dang opened her nail salon in 2017, it was tucked away on a corner with low street traffic. But she didn't let her location impact her discoverability. Rachel Dang met her customers where they were — through her app and on social media, which she integrated directly with Square Appointments. After opening as a one-woman operation, she's scaled to 34 team members and earns over $1.5 million in annual revenue. 'Square Go makes booking even easier because clients don't even have to go online,' Dang told Square. 'They can just look at their booking history and rebook in three clicks from the app. We'd estimate over 75% of our business is returning clientele, and that's a big reason for our growth.'Today, Dang runs Urban Nail Box and even opened a second business in 2022, Aroom Coffee, which she operates with her family. Pick partners who grow with you When you're running your business and focused on growth, your partners can either propel you forward or hold you back. 'There are companies that just want a bigger slice of your pie,'said Phil Bevis, owner of Arundel Books. 'Square helps you grow the pie—and then grows with you.' That's why Bevis accepted a Square Loan.1 'The application process is painless and the repayment terms are intelligently structured. Your payments rise and fall with your cash flow,' he said. It's a no brainer. Having your cash is critical to keep the lights on — from managing payroll to covering surprise maintenance costs. Adam Karpenske operates Hot Tub Boats, which customers use to cruise in the Bay Area and Seattle. Operating costs can be high, and traditional credit card companies often hold large transactions, which slows down processes for the business overall. 'Those transactions go to the bank and they might hold those funds for two weeks. As an independent business person trying to meet payroll every two weeks, you need your funds going,'he said. Let data drive your decisions While partners are critical, visibility into daily transactions and sales reports is the foundation to strong business decisions. I often hear owners say data backs up their instincts or keeps their ego in check. 'Our reports give us a way to actually predict business. We know when we're going to be busy and we're not guessing. Which gives us time to do the rest of our jobs,'Steven Edwards, Rental Operations Manager at Hot Tub Boats said. In the Square Dashboard app, you can see everything about your business in one place and manage essential tasks in real time. 'I'm kind of addicted to the dashboard,'said Claire Randall, CEO at Grand Central Bakery. 'I can compare today's sales to the same day last year, across all 12 cafes.' If you're operating multiple locations like Randall, a bird's-eye view can help you make daily decisions at different storefronts. It can also shape high-stakes calls, like timing and placing a new location. Use tech to personalize your customer experience But the more data you have as an owner, the better experience you can give your customers. For Rachel Dang at Urban Nail Box, the visibility from her tools gives her team a hospitality edge. 'Every nail tech can see our customer profiles. They know if the client booked first available or with them specifically. Prior to the appointment they're able to review their history and get an idea of who they are before they arrive,'she said. As a result, clients that she's worked with when she first started out as a one-women operation continue to come in. The same goes for the customers at Grand Central Bakery. 'We've been in business for so long that we have customers who grew up with Grand Central and now bring their families. We also have employees who grew up coming here,'said Claire Randall. Behind every sale is a story. An exchange between our neighbors and our community. 'Square has helped us start new businesses, grow existing ones, create jobs, and invest in our communities. That's what real partnership looks like.'said Phil Bevis . From growing a loyal customer base to opening new concepts, these business owners are proof that the right tools — and the right partners — can turn ambition into action. Thanks to integrated tools like Square Dashboard, Square Loans1, and Square Go, businesses aren't just managing the day-to-day — owners are planning for the long term. 1 Square, the Square logo, Square Financial Services, Square Capital, and others are trademarks of Block, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. Square Financial Services, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Block, Inc. All loans are issued by Square Financial Services, Inc. Actual fee depends upon payment card processing history, loan amount and other eligibility factors. A minimum payment of 1/18th of the initial loan balance is required every 60 days and full loan repayment is required within 18 months. Loan eligibility is not guaranteed. All loans are subject to credit approval.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Iconic Stephen King novel is being adapted for the THIRD time... and fans aren't happy about it
One of Stephen King's most popular books is getting adapted for the screen for a third time - and fans aren't happy about it. According to Deadline, Doug Liman will direct a theatrical adaptation of King's The Stand. Released in 1978, King's epic post-apocalyptic novel centers on factions of people trying to survive after a deadly pandemic. The lengthy tome was acclaimed by critics and went on to become one of the author's bestselling books. It's been adapted twice before for television, first in 1994 as a four episode miniseries that took home two Emmys. The 1994 version starred Molly Ringwald and Rob Lowe, and was written and produced by King himself. It was then revived once again by CBS in 2020 as a nine-episode limited series starring James Marsden, Alexander Skarsgård, Whoopi Goldberg, Amber Heard. Liman's upcoming version will be the first time that The Stand has been adapted theatrically. Fans of the novel have already expressed their frustration with the theatrical version, claiming that a movie isn't enough time to capture the expansive story. 'Unless it's committed to six movies and filmed back to back like Lord of the Rings style I'm not sure there is a reason to make The Stand theatrical,' commented one. 'Multiples movies right? Right? That book CANNOT be told in one film. It simply can't,' wrote another. A third commented, 'Again?! This will be the third attempt. All we want is a Dark Tower series please!' Another wrote, 'I think the scale of The Stand is deserving of the big screen. However, I think it should be a trilogy.' While fans are wary of the big screen adaptation, The Stand appears to be in good hands with Liman directing. Liman was behind some of the most popular action hits of the last few decades, including Edge of Tomorrow, The Bourne Identity, Mr & Mrs Smith, and the recent Road House remake with Jake Gyllenhaal. Both Ben Affleck and George A. Romero have attempted to the develop The Stand for the big screen in the past with little luck. Meanwhile, King currently has a number of projects in the works based on his novels. First up is The Institute, which is set to scare viewers when it hits MGM+ next month. The eight-part limited series follows the terrifying story of Luke Ellis, a 12-year-old prodigy whose life is shattered overnight when he's kidnapped and wakes up inside a shadowy facility known only as The Institute. Inside, he meets other children with psychic abilities who are being subjected to disturbing and painful experiments under the watchful eye of the calculating Ms. Sigsby, played by Emmy-winner Mary-Louise Parker. While the children initially believe that they're there to be taught and cared for, they soon discover that the staff at The Institute are trying to weaponize their powers for evil. King's fans were furious earlier this year when Netflix announced it would be making a reboot of his novel Cujo. Amazon Prime also revealed that they're turning his iconic novel Carrie into a series.
Pink Villa
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Will Jin make BTS ARMY climb walls and play with water during Run Seokjin tour? Fans spot massive concert stage
BTS member Jin is all set to embark on his solo tour. Called the RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR, this will be his debut set of individual concerts across the world, starting with 2 shows in South Korea. Ahead of the first gig on June 28, fans have begun spotting the preparations made by the BIGHIT MUSIC staff as well as the singer himself. The biggest surprise came in the form of a climbing wall near the Goyang Stadium, which the fans are speculating will be their entry to the concert. When photos from the concert venue were shared by BTS ARMY attending the first dates, they were surprised by the massive, daunting rock climbing wall that stood beside. Some joked that they would be made to climb it as an entry to the show, and while unlikely, one may never know what awaits a BTS fan when Jin gets to planning. Known to have been working towards a fun and immersive tour, the Abyss singer previously teased plans inspired by his Run Seokjin YouTube variety show. RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR plans Run Jin, an adaptation of RUN BTS, is a solo program airing weekly on YouTube, which sees the BTS member taking on fun and challenging tasks with the end goal of logging out from his work. He invited many of his celebrity friends and fellow K-pop stars to the episodes, churning out some very interesting content for his fans who would tune in, in large numbers. Previously, an advisory was shared by the RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR staff members, asking the attendees to wear comfortable shoes. They were recommended not to wear heels. This fueled rumors that they might be required to partake in activities. Plus, ponchos and raincoats would also be provided to the fans as water works will be expected. This further raised doubts from the fans if they would be asked to perform tasks alongside Jin as the singer tries to clear levels instead of holding a normal singing concert. Excitement is at an all-time high as the BTS member keeps mum about his plans. Jin will then take his tour to Japan, North America and Europe, concluding in August.
Forbes
2 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
How Global Finance Undermines Climate Adaptation And Resilience
Stone pillars in the surge tank area of the Metropolitan Area Outer Underground Discharge Channel in ... More Kasukabe, Saitama Prefecture, Japan, on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023. Japan has financed enormously expensive infrastructure projects to protect cities from catastrophe, but old adaptation plans may not be enough against increasingly heavy rains. Photographer: Akio Kon/Bloomberg Despite years of global pledges and financial innovation, climate finance is not reaching where it is needed most. The countries most exposed to these growing threats often remain the least equipped to finance effective adaptation and resilience. Adaptation, the work of building resilience to a changing climate, remains the orphan of climate investment. A Climate Finance System Built To Fail The Most Vulnerable According to the Climate Policy Initiative's latest analysis, the Global Landscape of Climate Finance 2025, annual global climate finance reached a record-breaking $1.9 trillion in 2023, more than tripling over six years. Between 2021 and 2023, climate finance grew by an average of 26% per year, significantly faster than the 8% annual growth seen from 2018 to 2020. If this pace continues, the world could meet $6 trillion in annual climate investment by 2028. Yet even this rapid growth leaves a significant gap between investment and needs. Some studies estimate that energy needs alone could require up to $2.4 trillion annually, while BloombergNEF and UN analyses project that aligning with the Paris Agreement will demand around $5.6 trillion per year from 2025 to 2030. When the scope expands to include sectors such as industry, buildings, transport, and especially adaptation and resilience, total investment requirements rise sharply. CPI estimates that $8.6 trillion per year is needed by 2030 to stay on track for a 1.5°C pathway. For many emerging markets, the logic of global finance is cruelly circular. Climate risk increases sovereign risk, which raises borrowing costs, reducing governments' fiscal space to invest in adaptation. Thus their vulnerability increases. 'This holds back development and prevents the very investments needed to reduce their vulnerability,' said Professor Ulrich Volz, Director of the Centre for Sustainable Finance at SOAS, speaking at a recent panel co-hosted by SOAS and the Anthropocene Fixed Income Institute. The discussion laid bare a system that is structurally failing the Global South and explored how it might be rebuilt. CPI data reveals that only about 10% of total climate finance currently goes toward adaptation, with little evidence of a significant upward trend. Mitigation, the reduction of emissions through investment in clean energy transport and industrial efficiency, continues to attract the lion's share of climate finance, driven in part by a record-breaking rise in private capital. For the first time in 2023, private climate finance exceeded $1 trillion, thanks to household spending on EVs, rooftop solar, and energy-efficient homes. In contrast, the process of adjusting to the physical impacts of climate change, adaptation, remains drastically underfunded. The disparity is not just about money but about measurability. Mitigation benefits are easier to quantify: emissions reduced can be tracked in metric tons of CO₂, and financial returns can be modeled through carbon markets or energy savings. Adaptation, however, often delivers diffuse or delayed benefits: stronger infrastructure, early warning systems, or climate-resilient agriculture do not generate immediate profits, but they prevent future losses. This measurability gap has led to a system that favors what can be easily counted over what is urgently needed. Adaptation is not optional, it is necessary to manage the impact of climate shocks. Yet until it is valued appropriately in financial systems, it will remain sidelined. Climate finance remains dominated by debt instruments. Grants account for just 6% of flows, despite their critical role in funding adaptation and public goods. CPI also highlights that concessional flows have not scaled significantly. While investment in clean energy and mitigation technologies has surged, adaptation finance remains chronically underfunded. Some argue this is due to its complexity and context-specific nature, which often lacks a clear commercial return. 'There is a business case for adaptation, and we can demonstrate that through better data and performance-based approaches that start to drive down the perception of risk,' said Amal-Lee Amin, Managing Director at British International Investment (BII). BII is working across Africa and Asia to mainstream physical climate risk into private investment decisions, and is part of a growing movement to quantify resilience as a financial benefit. 'If we are more consistent in demonstrating where risk is being managed, we should be reducing the cost of capital,' she said. This is critical to breaking the cycle of underinvestment. Despite a growing array of tools such as green bonds, blended finance, and SDG-linked debt, access to capital remains out of reach for most. Pablo Perez, Sustainable Capital Markets Structurer at BNP Paribas, noted that even mitigation finance tools like green bonds are often inaccessible to emerging economies due to technical complexity. He warns that the complexity and time to prepare documentation locks out most potential issuers, especially those without a dedicated debt management team. And while development banks have tried to fill the gap, they often come with their own challenges. 'There's a critique that DFIs crowd out risk capital,' said Ulf Erlandsson, CEO of the Anthropocene Fixed Income Institute. 'They pick the high-grade assets, whereas the higher-risk assets are left alone.' From Risk Transfer to Risk Sharing One of the more provocative ideas came from Simon Zadek, founding partner of Morphosis, who challenged the entire premise of de-risking, a common practice where public institutions take the first loss to make projects palatable for private investors. 'This isn't de-risking,' Zadek said. 'It's a risk transfer, from private investors to taxpayers.' He argues the shifting of financial risk onto public balance sheets raises questions about the sustainability and fairness of this model in an increasingly climate-unstable world. He pointed to remittances, an almost $700 billion annual flow to low- and middle-income countries, as a potential untapped source of resilience capital. 'That's more than all aid, development finance, and FDI combined,' he noted. The challenge is that we don't have obvious mechanisms to channel that into adaptation investment. There are promising ideas. Erlandsson discussed CoRAL Bonds (Contingent Resilience-Linked Bonds) that reduce interest payments for countries meeting resilience targets. Shakira Mustapha of the Centre for Disaster Protection emphasized the power of climate-resilient debt clauses (CRDCs), which allow countries to pause debt payments after disasters without defaulting. 'It is a time-bound deferral that is eventually repaid,' she said. 'It's not cancellation; it is a form of budget reallocation that's really important for ministries of finance, especially when you're fiscally constrained. Liquidity relief is valuable.' However, for such tools to be effective, they require global coordination, regulatory support, and most importantly, a willingness to rethink who carries the risk. Erlandsson also suggested that the window to socialize climate-related financial risk between the Global North and South is closing and said: 'Ten years from now, when some of the physical effects start hitting…that's when everyone's going to be in distress.' Ultimately, panelists agreed that the challenge is not just about tweaking financial instruments. It is about redefining the financial architecture that governs development and resilience. From empowering SMEs to strengthening domestic capital markets, from simplifying debt instruments to monetizing resilience, the message was clear: we need new rules for a new era. "We're heading towards something between two and three degrees and in that situation, our normal understanding of how to apply risk-based solutions with fancy financial engineering kind of stops working," said Zadek. The world may well be approaching a tipping point, not just ecologically, but economically. If finance doesn't evolve quickly, it may end up reinforcing the very risks we were hoping it would manage.
