Choosing a soundbar for gaming won’t just affect your overall enjoyment, but it could make the difference between winning and losing. There are tons of great-sounding soundbars on the market at the moment, but they’re not all suited for the fast-paced action that comes with modern console or PC gaming. We’ve chosen the Samsung HW-Q990D as the best overall soundbar for gaming thanks to its bevy of features, low lag, and ample power. It’s especially appealing if you have a Samsung TV. Here are some options to fit just about any space, play style, and budget.

• Best overall: Samsung HW-Q990D
• Most versatile: Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2.4 eARC SSE Max
• Best for LG TVs: LG S90TR Soundbar
• Best for PCs: Razer Leviathan V2 Pro 
• Best budget option for PCs: BlueAnt Soundblade Under Monitor Soundbar

I started covering and reviewing home theater gear when “Friends” was still in its original run on TV (which is to say 2004). For this test, I’ve subjected my ears to numerous soundbar systems in a variety of different settings, from company demo spaces to my own living room. I typically test audio systems with Ultra HD Blu-ray discs on a PlayStation 5, which is a very common way for most people to consume this kind of content if they want a high-end experience. 

For this test, we’ve chosen systems based on their overall performance, as well as their gaming-specific features. Several models include a “gaming mode,” which enables maximum surround sound effects and cuts down lag as much as possible to make the audio match the on-screen action. While the the best homwe theater setups (gaming or not) can get pricey, we recommend more budget-friendly soundbars when possible. 

Everyone has their own space, budget, and platform needs to think about, so we’ve made several recommendations to address as many as possible. Check out all of the options before making a purchase. 

Specs

• Size: 5.4″D x 48.5″W x 2.7″H
• Channels: 11.1.4
• Subwoofer: Included wireless
• Connections: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, HDMI

Pros

• Fantastic overall sound
• Gaming mode for low latency
• Extra features for Samsung TV users
• eARC compatibility
• Automatically adapts to its space with calibration
• Very convincing surround sound

Cons

• Expensive
• Non-Samsung TVs miss out on some features

Once you get past the relatively hefty price tag on this system, it’s hard to find anything to complain about—as we found out firsthand. The box includes a sizeable soundbar, a pair of satellite speakers, and a wireless subwoofer, all of which connect seamlessly right out of the box. When assembled, the HW-Q990D provides an 11.1.4-channel experience that rivals some standalone speaker models I have tried. 

This is Samsung’s flagship soundbar, and it works best with Samsung TVs. Paired with a recent (2023 and after) Samsung TV, it has access to the company’s Q Symphony tech, which employs the TV’s built-in speakers for better centering and clarity when it comes to characters talking on screen. 

You don’t need to have a Samsung TV to appreciate the vast majority of its positive features, however. Set to Game Mode Pro, this soundbar provides extremely low latency. It’s difficult to measure it to an exact fraction of a second, but you can tell when it’s off. The Samsung did not suffer from that problem. 

The setup is fairly simple, as the rear satellites and subwoofer are totally wireless. The guided process allows the system to self-calibrate to provide the best possible sound for your specific space. The bar is big and so is its price, but it did everything I asked of it and more. 

Specs

• Size: 3″D x 45.5″W x 3.6″H
• Channels: 9.2.4
• Subwoofer: 2 Included, wireless
• Connections: Bluetooth, eARC HDMI

Pros

• Fantastic overall sound
• Powerful bass from the subwoofer
• Very convincing surround sound

Cons

• Pricey
• Includes satellite speakers, which complicate setup

This is a full-fledged surround sound system with a soundbar at its core. The system includes a soundbar, as well as a pair of wireless subwoofers and four wireless satellite speakers. With all that gear, setup isn’t the simplest process, but the reward is absolutely worth it. This system took our award for the best overall wireless surround sound system. Each two-way satellite speaker pumps out ample sound, while the soundbar has both forward and up-firing speakers to enhance the surround effect. A pair of subs provide very serious boom, which probably isn’t suitable for apartment living unless you have very understanding neighbors. 

Regarding connectivity, this high-end soundbar comes sporting an eARC HDMI and Bluetooth 5.0, which isn’t the absolute latest version, but it has all the important things you’d need. It supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X for surround sound playback, and the chunky remote is difficult to lose. 

This setup doesn’t offer a ton in the way of gaming-specific features, but it does provide very low-latency and it won’t get in the way of your games. Plus, the over-the-top spatial audio performance will pull every last audio detail out of top-tier games. And if it’s rumble you crave, step up to the Nakamichi Dragon 11.4.6 or Nakamichi Dragon Dual 12-inch Subwoofers flagships. They cost $3,999 and $4,799, respectively, but can you really put a price on every landing, crash, point scored, etc., shaking the foundations and/or scaring the family?

LG

Specs

• Size: 5.3″D x 49.2″W x 2.5″H
• Channels: 7.1.3
• Subwoofer: Included, wireless
• Connections: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, eARC HDMI

Pros

• Affordable considering its performance
• Rear satellites included
• Center up-firing speaker helps with surround sound
• Supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X
• Bonus features for LG TVs

Cons

• Not expandable with other speakers
• Non-LG TV users will miss out on features

If you’re using an LG TV that’s newer than 2022, you can get some extra features out of this soundbar setup. Out of the box, this kit contains a soundbar, two wireless rear satellites, and a subwoofer. It connects easily with eARC HDMI. If you have a modern LG TV, you can connect wirelessly and still get Dolby Atmos sound in high resolution. That’s similar to the tech found in our top pick from Samsung. 

The WOW Orchestra feature integrates the TV’s built-in speakers in order to further expand the system’s soundstage and make dialog clearer. Also with an LG TV, one remote can control your screen and your speakers. Options for the soundbar show up directly on the TV menus so they’re easy to navigate. 

I got to compare this soundbar to several others in LG’s lineup earlier this year and found this to be the sweet spot in terms of price and performance. The spatial audio is very convincing and the overall output is plenty for even a large room. If you’re already using an LG TV, this bar will save you money and give you extra features compared to third-party options. 

Razer

Specs

• Size: 23.64″D x 3.55″W x 4.49″H
• Channels: 2.1
• Subwoofer: Included
• Connections: USB

Pros

• Built-in lighting like true gamer gear
• Impressive head-tracking feature makes for very convincing surround sound
• Bluetooth 5.0 and a headphone jack for connectivity
• Loud

Cons

• App can be annoying to setup
• Really needs a subwoofer for full sound

Most soundbars are made to sit under a TV, but this one is built to go under a computer monitor. The bar itself contains five forward-firing full-range drivers and a downward-facing woofer. The dedicated subwoofer sits on the floor under the desk to round out the sound. Even though you can use it without the subwoofer, I found the sound noticeably lacking without the extra help on the low end. 

The big draw for this high-end model comes in the form of the head-tracking tech. An infrared camera observes your head, and Audioscenic beam-forming AI technology guides positional audio directly to your ears to create a cinematic soundstage in front of your monitor. This makes the virtual surround sound performance truly impressive when you’re gaming. 

The built-in RGB lights are a given since this is a Razer product built for gamers, and it can pair with other Chroma peripherals. It does look cool once you get it set up, though controlling everything through the app can get a bit tedious. Once everything is glowing just how you like, however, this is the best desk-based setup we’ve tried. The bass-rich 3-D sound is punchy, snappy, and the adaptive sweet spot provides an excellent THX spatial audio experience. Time for studies or spreadsheets and want to use it for music? Got a roommate? Not a problem, thanks to Bluetooth 5.0 and a headphone jack.

Blueant

Specs

• Size: 8.58″D x 23″W x 2.13″H
• Channels: 2.1
• Subwoofer: None
• Connections: USB, Bluetooth

Pros

• Sleek and flat on top so it’s easy to integrate into any desk setup
• Integrated woofer provides more low-end than expected
• Supports Bluetooth for wireless connection
• 3.5mm headphone jack

Cons

• Lack of sub hurts output

If you don’t have a ton of room on your desk but want big sound, this is a great option. You don’t get a ton of bells and whistles, but that makes setup very simple. Plug it in via USB-C and you’ll have audio without much muss or fuss. It’s available in five different colors, which more than makes up for the lack of gamer RGB lights onboard. 

Bluetooth connectivity allows for wireless playback, which adds versatility. Plus, it has a 3.5mm headphone jack, so you can plug in a headset or headphones without having to get to the back of your computer or monitor. It’s a simple, great way to seriously upgrade the sound on your PC. 

Tony Ware

Maybe you don’t want to wear a bulky headset with your PS5, but you can’t have a full-on system blasting away in your living room. Well, there’s still a way you can get an immersive audio fix. Sony’s clever BRAVIA Theater U Wireless Wearable TV speaker sits around your neck and creates a personal bubble of impressively high-quality surround-sound audio. It primarily connects via Bluetooth for regular streaming of movies and music, but you can switch over to a wired connection with your DualSense for low-latency performance if you want to game with it. 

The battery lasts up to 12 hours on a charge, and the sound stays remarkably local around your head. That means you’ll get a natural speaker experience without bothering everyone else in your space. It’s a clever setup that we really like. And if you’re looking to save space but not sacrifice soundscape, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better solution than this one. 

Sony

This curious setup eschews the typical soundbar build and instead opts for four distinct panels that go around the perimeter of your space—either anchored to a wall or placed on a stand. When you set up the system, it automatically guides you through a process that tweaks each individual panel’s output to create a very effective and convincing surround sound system out of the Quad’s 16 total speaker drivers.

This is a high-end system that’s compatible with advanced surround sound technologies, such as Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and IMAX Enhanced. You can add subwoofers, satellite speakers, or even a dedicated soundbar to round out the system. It’s a truly unique setup—one that immediately impressed us when we were given an exclusive preview in March 2024—and it’s almost magical how it can save space and setup time yet sacrifice none of the fidelity of a traditional set of speakers. 

You want the audio you hear to match the action on screen. It seems like a simple request, but the process of getting everything to line up is fairly complex once you dig into it. Streaming devices and consoles send out audio and video signals that require decoding. The process of unpacking that audio only takes milliseconds, but that very slight delay can make a noticeable difference when paired up with video. Many TVs offer “gaming mode,” which tries to cut down on any possible delay with video and audio decoding, but that only goes so far. High-end soundbars, like most of the options on this list, typically pack more processing power than lower-level models, which typically results in faster overall performance. 

If you’re going with a more affordable option, however, don’t worry because you can usually fine-tune the timing yourself via menus. Here’s how to fix the audio delay between your soundbar and TV.

You love gaming, but you probably do other stuff with your TV and sound system. The systems on this list are all fairly versatile, but if you’re going with another model, you’ll want to ensure that it supports your other activities. For instance, if you’re watching a lot of streaming content, you’ll likely want something that supports Dolby Atmos or some other form of surround sound tech. That makes a big difference when watching movies, especially if you’re going to be watching high-res Blu-rays or other Ultra HD content. 

You’ll also want to check on wireless connectivity for music connections. If music is particularly important, you can go with something like the Sonos Arc soundbar (or the even newer Arc Ultra), which ties into the company’s wireless music system. Bluetooth compatibility will also allow you to simply connect your phone or computer to the soundbar and use it like a speaker, which is often simpler than having to get the TV involved just to listen to Charlie XCX. 

Some systems, including our best overall pick, combine a soundbar with satellite speakers. This can add a lot of dimension to your sound system. Some systems will allow you to add a sub-woofer (or sometimes more than one). If you’re planning to try and build a more robust system, make sure that it’s compatible with other speakers, or you’ll have to start over from scratch once you have the cash to upgrade. 

You’ll find that some TVs and soundbars work together when they share a brand. Samsung, for instance, offers a feature called Q Symphony, in which the TV’s built-in speakers work in concert with the soundbar, channel speakers, and subwoofer to make an even more robust soundstage. LG has a similar technology called WOW Orchestra. You don’t need to buy a soundbar from the same maker as your TV, but doing so can have benefits. 

The back of an AV receiver can look like a puzzle, but soundbars typically simplify things. Most popular models connect to your TV with an HDMI cable. The technology that allows this setup to work best is called ARC (or Audio Return Channel), and its most recent version is called eARC. If you connect an ARC-enabled HDMI port on your TV to an ARC-enabled HDMI port on your soundbar, then all of the devices attached to the TV will be able to take advantage of the soundbar output. This is great if you’re trying to avoid a true AV receiver (which you probably are since you’re looking for a soundbar). 

If you’re watching a lot of true high-res content, like 4K Blu-ray, you’ll want to look for eARC compatibility. The eARC standard debuted with HDMI 2.1 and provides much more bandwidth and speed than the regular ARC tech. As a result, eARC can handle higher bitrates, more audio channels, and advanced surround sound formats such as Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. If all of that sounds like nonsense to you, then don’t sweat it; just look for regular ARC.

• Best overall: Samsung HW-Q990D
• Most versatile: Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2.4 eARC SSE Max
• Best for LG TVs: LG S90TR Soundbar
• Best for PCs: Razer Leviathan V2 Pro 
• Best budget option for PCs: BlueAnt Soundblade Under Monitor Soundbar

Audio can have a profound effect on your gaming enjoyment and performance, and the best soundbars for gaming provide all the audio oomph you’ll need. While these soundbars may seem like a big investment, they’ll drastically improve just about everything you do on your home theater system, from zapping zombies to streaming Netflix. No one has ever said, “Wow, I wish all these awesome explosions didn’t sound so cool.”

The post The best soundbars for gaming in 2024 appeared first on Popular Science.

Amtrak plans to double passenger rail service in Stanislaus County, California, thanks in part to an $18.7 million federal grant, reports John Holland in The Modesto. “The money, announced Oct. 29, will go toward second tracks and boarding platforms at the Modesto and Denair stations. This will allow passenger and freight trains to pass each other without delays, said Edward Barrera, deputy division chief for public affairs at the California Department of Transportation.”

Amtrak is also expanding the Altamont Corridor Express, which connects the Central Valley and San Francisco Bay Area. “The southern extension will bring service to Manteca, Modesto and Ceres as soon as 2026 under the current timeline. Turlock would follow in 2029 and Livingston and Merced between 2030 and 2033.” Some stations would connect to the California High-Speed Rail line, which gained a key approval for the final southern segment this summer.

The expansion work will also include pedestrian and vehicle safety improvements such as crossing gates, signs, and sidewalks.

• Amtrak
• Passenger Rail
• California High-Speed Rail
• Central Valley
• San Francisco Bay Area
• Trains
• Train Travel
• Public Transit
• intercity trains

Denver’s public shared bikes and scooters will likely break ridership records this year, according to the Denver Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI), with 5.6 million rides so far and 6 million rides projected by the end of the year.

An all-time single day ridership high was recorded on Saturday, June 15, when 39,868 trips were made. September was the highest ridership month, with a recorded 795,823 trips made, according to DOTI data.

As Noah Festenstein explains in The Denver Gazette, “Overall, roughly 19.5 million trips with bikes and scooters were recorded since 2021, according to DOTI data, which shows usage has increased year-over-year.”The city’s e-scooter program is the most used in the country.

To better support micromobility and biking in Denver, DOTI is conducting a user survey to understand ridership behaviors and potential safety concerns.

• Denver
• Shared Mobility
• Bikeshare
• bike share
• Micromobility
• E-Scooters
• Bikes
• Biking
• Active Transportation

For New York City locals, jaywalking has long-standing — but illegal — practice. But, according to a CNN article by Julianna Bragg, pedestrians in the Big Apple can now, for the first time since 1958, legally cross the street at any time without adhering to traffic signals. The change was made official last week after Mayor Adams neither signed nor vetoed the bill legalizing jaywalking that the city council passed in September.

“Supporters of the bill, including one of the sponsors, Council Member Mercedes Narcisse, believe this legislation is a step toward improving racial justice. New York police officers have historically faced criticism for targeting people of color with jaywalking tickets,” Bragg writes. StreetsblogNYC reported back in May that 92 percent of jaywalking tickets issued in New York City in 2023, which carry up to a $250 fine, were issued to Black and Latino pedestrians.

NYC city officials and police officers initially came out against the bill as it was being considered earlier this summer. The police argued that ticketing jaywalking helps reduce traffic deaths. Bragg reports that over the past five years 200 people have died while crossing the street in the middle of the blog or against traffic signals, accounting for around 34 percent of all pedestrian fatalities. But, as explained by Peter Norton, the 100-year-old effort to first codify “jaywalking” was driven by enterprises with a business interest in automobiles who wanted cars to be the priority road user. Indeed, traffic experts like Angie Schmitt and Charles T. Brown have long argued that jaywalking is a concept developed by auto companies not to keep pedestrians safe but rather to shift the blame away from reckless drivers who kill them.

New York City is now among a handful of states and major U.S. cities that have decriminalized jaywalking in recent years, including California, Virginia, Nevada, Denver, and Kansas City, Missouri.

• New York City
• Jaywalking
• Jaywalking Laws

If you see this on Nov. 4, 2024, you have a unique opportunity to save up to $700 on a Samsung Galaxy S10+ or Galaxy S10 Ultra tablet when you trade in a qualifying device. The list of qualifying devices is fairly extensive, and the company is currently offering inflated values for a very limited time. Even if you have an old second-generation iPad kicking around, Samsung will give you $300 for it. You won’t get close to that if you’re trying to sell a device that old online. The deal includes trade-ins on laptops and smartphones as well. It’s a very short promotion, though, so don’t sleep on it.

Samsung

This high-end tablet has a 12.4-inch AMOLED screen and 16 hours of battery life on a single charge. The base $999 price includes 256 GB built-in storage, S Pen compatibility, water and dust resistance, and optional cellular connectivity if you don’t mind paying for a data plan.

Samsung

Samsung’s flagship tablet offers everything you’d get from the Galaxy Tab S10+ but adds an even bigger 14.6-inch screen. The top-end model also has 16 GB RAM and a full terabyte of built-in storage.

• Galaxy Tab S10+ | 12GB (RAM) + 512GB | Wi-Fi | Platinum Silver | 12.4″
• Galaxy Tab S10+ | 12GB (RAM) + 256GB | AT&T | Moonstone Gray | 12.4″
• Galaxy Tab S10+ | 12GB (RAM) + 256GB | US Cellular | Moonstone Gray | 12.4″
• Galaxy Tab S10+ | 12GB (RAM) + 256GB | Verizon | Moonstone Gray | 12.4″
• Galaxy Tab S10+ | 12GB (RAM) + 256GB | T-Mobile | Moonstone Gray | 12.4″

• Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra | 12GB (RAM) + 256GB | Wi-Fi | Platinum Silver | 14.6″
• Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra | 12GB (RAM) + 512GB | Wi-Fi | Moonstone Gray | 14.6″
• Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra | 12GB (RAM) + 256GB | Wi-Fi | Moonstone Gray | 14.6″

The post Save up to $700 on a Samsung Galaxy S10 tablet when you trade in an old device appeared first on Popular Science.

A new Colorado program funded through the federal Inflation Reduction Act will help residents retrofit their homes with climate-friendly, energy-efficient appliances and weatherization, reports Sam Brasch for Colorado Public Radio.

The Home Electrification and Appliance Rebate program will contribute $7.6 million to the state’s existing Weatherization Assistance Program and efficiency improvements in multifamily housing as well as offer rebates directly to residents.

Final numbers are yet to be decided, but residents can get up to $8,000 for a heat pump or $840 for electric stoves and clothes dryers in addition to existing rebates from the state and local utilities. “The initial investment represents a small portion of a $70 million grant for the program already awarded to the state by the U.S. Department of Energy. $46 million of the funding will go toward rebates for low- and moderate-income consumers set to launch sometime next year.”

• Energy Efficiency
• Inflation Reduction Act
• Federal Funding
• Climate Change
• Resilience
• heat pumps
• Retrofits
• Weatherization

Black Friday is weeks away, but you can beat the crowds (and shipping deadlines) by taking advantage of early deals right now. One of the best early Black Friday home deals we’ve seen is a 50% price cut on Dyson’s Digital Slim Cordless Vacuum. The powerful cordless stick vacuum has never been discounted before, making it a perfect time to pick one up, whether you’re shopping for yourself or a friend.

Dyson

Dyson created its Slim Cordless Vacuum to work on any surface and specifically designed its motorbar to prevent tangling when cleaning pet hair. Its motor spins at up to 120,000 rotations per minute, and its top filter prevents 99.99% of particles from escaping through, so you’re not recirculating dust while you clean. Dysons says the Slim Cordless Vacuum can run up to 40 minutes per charge, and you can unload its dust bin with the push of a button to avoid having to touch the debris.

Dyson includes a charging dock that mounts onto the wall, so you never have to worry about losing the charger, which is a nice touch. The vacuum also comes with attachments, which allow you to use it as a handheld vac. Cleaning your home may never be fun, but the Dyson Slim Cordless Vacuum will allow you to clean more quickly and efficiently, so you can get back to activities you’d rather be doing instead. This deal puts one of the most powerful cordless stick vacuums in your hand for a lot less money.

• Dyson Outsize Origin Cordless Vacuum $399.99 (Was $599.99)
• Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool Gen1 HP10 – Purifying Fan Heater $399.99 (Was $609.99)
• Dyson V11 Origin Cordless Vacuum Cleaner $399.99 (Was $569.99)
• Dyson Ball Animal 3 Upright Vacuum Cleaner $299 (Was $399.99)
• Dyson Purifier Cool TP4B Purifying Fan $299.99 (Was $549.99)
• Dyson Pure Hot+Cool Link Purifier Heater Fan HP02 $399.99 (Was $629.99)

The post For the first time ever, this Dyson cordless vacuum is 50% off at Amazon appeared first on Popular Science.

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“Because they don’t own the land beneath their homes, mobile home residents are at the mercy of the park’s owners, who could raise their rents or even shut down the park altogether as the land is redeveloped,” writes Kevin Hardy in Stateline. As more investors buy up mobile home parks, the resident ownership model is a key tool in the fight to keep this housing type affordable. 

Coming together to buy one of these parks can be a daunting task for residents — but that could be changing. “Earlier this year, the federal government made available $225 million in grants for improvements at mobile home communities, including those owned by residents, and announced plans to allow resident-owned parks to access federally insured financing to keep rents low or make improvements.” These steps could pave the way for more cooperatively owned parks and protect residents from steep land rent hikes.

According to Hardy, “Currently, 22 states have laws requiring or encouraging owners of manufactured home parks to give homeowners the opportunity to purchase their land collectively. Those laws can vary wildly, with some requiring that the residents be given the right of first refusal, while others simply require park owners to provide notice of their intent to sell.” Some industry groups are pushing back, arguing that resident ownership is not always in the best interest of the residents.

Manufactured housing can cost as much as 45 percent less to build per square foot than site-built homes, making them an affordable option for lower-income households, but are often regulated out of neighborhoods largely due to unwarranted stigma. Now more states, including Maine and New Jersey, are enacting or strengthening laws aimed at encouraging collective ownership of mobile home parks and allowing manufactured housing in all residential neighborhoods.

• Mobile Home Parks
• manufactured home parks
• manufactured housing
• Mobile Homes
• housing affordability
• Affordable Housing
• Cooperative Housing
• Resident-Owned Communities
• Resident-owned mobile home parks

• M3, 8GB RAM, 512GB - $1,099.00, down from $1,599.00


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• M3 Max, 36GB RAM, 1TB - $2,899.00, down from $3,499.00


• M3 Max, 48GB RAM, 1TB - $3,271.84, down from $3,999.00

We don’t know how or why it happened–perhaps a particularly deadly, Homo sapien-specific virus. Or maybe it was a more drawn-out decline brought on by unfettered climate change, escalating conflict, and collapsing food supplies. Regardless of the circumstances, imagine that people have gone extinct. Suddenly the geologically brief moment of human dominance on Earth is over. So, what happens next? 

We only have speculation. There’s no single correct answer, nor certainty. Yet people have considered versions of this apocalyptic thought experiment for centuries, if not millenia, says Carlton Basmajian, an associate professor of community planning at Iowa State University who studies cities. Ideas of human extinction and societal dissolution are rampant in religious texts and myths of ancient cultures. 

In recent decades our environmental footprint has become more intense and well-understood and so, perhaps, has awareness of our own fragility. Through the threat of the atomic age, pandemics, and climate change, we have a clearer sense than ever before about how we could be eliminated or eliminate ourselves. “Perhaps people are even more cognizant now of the limits to human survival,” says Basmajian. 

And, perhaps by considering Earth after us, we can get a realistic understanding of all the ways we’ve shaped and changed the planet, says Alan Weisman, an environmental journalist and author of multiple books including the 2007’s The World Without Us. For him, writing on the idea was a way to reach those who might otherwise be turned off by environmental literature, and get a broader swath of readers to consider the reality of our species-level legacy. “If we all just suddenly vanished, everything left would be the sum total of our environmental impact.” 

Without people around to keep things running, water and electricity would quickly stop flowing through pipes and wires, says Basajian. Gas and coal power plants require a steady diet of fuel and water pumps need both human operators and power. The subway and traffic tunnels underneath major cities would flood, says Weisman, without the functioning pumping systems that keep them dry now. 

In humid environments, interior drywall would mold. Fallen trees would crush roofs in storms. Fires would go unextinguished. In seismically active zones, earthquakes would wear down and eventually topple structures. Vining plants would cover walls and push apart bricks and siding. And wooden structures, including the vast majority of residential buildings framed with wood beams, would rot. Even creosote-soaked telephone poles wouldn’t last more than 20 years, estimates Basmajian. “Anything wood, especially in a wet climate, is going to degrade pretty quickly,” he says. Newer construction buildings, built from the 1980’s onwards, are made from lighter wood and lower quality materials and would fall apart especially fast, he adds. 

Mid-century steel and glass skyscrapers would last longer, Basmaijan imagines, but not forever–especially considering those flooded tunnels, which could easily collapse streets and lead to inundated foundations. The Empire State Building is anchored to bedrock, but if water were to seep into its lower levels from the subterranean train tracks beneath West 33rd Street, perhaps its supports would corrode and fall away. 

Sturdy stone buildings would remain standing the longest, predict both Basmajian and Weisman. But over the course of a few centuries, most every municipality would fall into visible ruin–resembling the abandoned monuments and cities of the fallen Roman Empire, the Ancient Egyptians, or the Incas. Even now, there are parts of some American cities that have been effectively abandoned, which show how quickly these processes of decay take hold, Basmaijan notes. “Houses are caved in, streets are cracked, trees grow through structures,” all in a matter of a decade or two. 

Of all surface-level human infrastructure, Basmaijan says roads would be the most persistent signs of civilization. Major highways through dry, non-seismic areas would be especially prone to lingering. Yes, they’d crack as the planet shifts beneath them, but “they’re so big and so over-engineered that they would persist for a long time,” he says. 

If buildings, roads, and ruins were buried by sediment–perhaps in flood events or through land subsidence–they’d be more likely to last, says Jan Zalasiewicz, an author and emeritus professor of paleobiology at the University of Leicester in the U.K., who penned the 2008 book The Earth After Us. 

Still though, we’re only talking on the order of thousands of years. With more time, less than a million years–“surface evidence of humans would be gone or difficult to recognize,” estimates Zalasiewicz. Some artifacts, like Bronze sculptures, ceramic pots and mugs, and gold ingots will hang on, buried by time, says Weisman. And still other signs will remain sub-surface. There will be so-called technofossils, made up of durable metals and plastics, Zalasiewicz explains, as well as fossil evidence of the mass extinction, climate change, and sea level rise that humans have precipitated. 

You might be wondering about nuclear power plants. Assuming they’re online at the time of the human extinction, many of the 440 active nuclear plants on Earth would eventually melt down without maintenance. Water would evaporate from their cooling systems, and the rising heat would lead to nuclear explosions. Would that be enough to vaporize or irreparably mutate everything on the planet, extinguishing life? Maybe, says Weisman, “that’s a wild card.” 

But maybe not. The worst meltdown ever to occur was the Chernobyl explosion, which released about 400 times as much radioactive material as the bomb that the U.S. dropped on Hiroshima. Radioactive fallout from Chernobyl contaminated about 58,000 square miles of land. The most acutely impacted zone, known as the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, is about 1,000 square miles. 

Yet Earth is 197 million square miles big. “The damage here will be relatively minor and local,” says Zalasiewicz. There are caves, deep oceans, and large expanses of land and water very far away from any nuclear plant. It’s probable that lots of life would survive 440 Chernobyls. After all, atomic weapons tests following WWII released about 100 to 1,000 times as much radioactivity compared to Chernobyl, according to estimates from the International Atomic Energy Agency, and we’re still here.

“We’ve had meltdowns. They char an area, but not the entire planet. It’s a big disastrous fire and a wave of radiation, but it doesn’t go on forever,” says Basmajian. And even in the most irradiated parts of Chernobyl, nature has made a big comeback. In many ways, the Zone is now something of a wildlife refuge, with lingering radiation protecting plants and animals from people. “When humans fled, nature flooded in,” says Weisman.  

A short list of species would be doomed to die with us, including co-evolved pests like head lice and bed bugs, as well as human-specific microbes, says Weisman. Then, there are the domestic breeds of animals people have created, which would quickly be outcompeted by their wild peers, cows and dogs wouldn’t last long on their own, he says. Housecats, in contrast, would likely be fine–continuing to live on as feral mesopredators–eating birds and rodents and being eaten by coyotes, wolves, bears, and bigger cats. 

A handful of endangered species are currently supported through human breeding programs and hands-on interventions. The fate of animals like giant pandas, vaquita porpoises, and Panamanian golden frogs would depend on the conditions that exist for these animals in our absence, says Weisman. Most of their difficulties, like habitat loss or poaching, are human-caused. Yet critically small populations and established animal diseases wouldn’t necessarily magically resolve once we disappear. 

For everything else, life would continue on. Humans have shaped evolution in innumerable ways. Some of our influence would linger on in our absence. Climate change will remain a factor for millennia. Though temperatures will stop increasing after a few decades without more human emissions, the global average won’t fall back to what it was before the industrial revolution for thousands of years. Carbon feedback loops that have already been triggered, including wetland methane release and permafrost thaw could extend this timeline, says Weisman. 

On a local level, heavy metal and chemical pollution from unmaintained factories and infrastructure will exert pressures on the organisms trying to survive nearby, along with the radiation from those aforementioned meltdowns. Though with enough time, all of this contamination will be diluted until the effects are negligible. 

Despite these difficulties, and despite the mass extinction we’ve already caused, we won’t be leaving behind a barren Earth. In the worst past extinction, the Permian-Triassic, 80-90% of all marine species and 70% of all terrestrial vertebrates died off. Then, life rebounded, as it always seems to do. “After every extinction event, this place is devastated, but life is so resilient it comes back,” says Weisman. 

It’s impossible to know what exact species might succeed us to dominate the planet, if anything–perhaps things settle to a different sort of equilibrium. But “as in past extinctions, the survivors are usually the generalists–small, tough, adaptable,” says Zalasiewicz. Rats may no longer have human structures and food to rely on, but maybe they’d find new resources to take advantage of in their large social colonies, he posits.

In our absence, Earth would continue on. Our planet does not ‘need’ us. Life would last at least until our sun grows too hot to support it. Even if some organisms manage to survive boiled oceans, when our star begins its final death knell and expands into a red giant, billions of years from now, “all the inner-ring planets will probably turn into cinders,” says Weisman.

But while rocks retain their layers in this heating process, our impacts on the planet will remain visible. “As long as the Earth persists and has recognizable strata, the signs of humans will persist,” says Zalasiewicz. 

And maybe, deep in space, some signs will last even longer. The voyager spacecrafts that have left our solar system were built to persist and carry evidence (in the form of a golden record) of human civilization to possible distant alien worlds. Barring a collision or a black hole, they’ll keep going. “If I had to place a bet–and it’s a safe bet because no one will ever be able to collect on it–I would say those are going to be the longest lived human artifacts out there,” says Weisman.

This story is part of Popular Science’s Ask Us Anything series, where we answer your most outlandish, mind-burning questions, from the ordinary to the off-the-wall. Have something you’ve always wanted to know? Ask us.

The post Without humans, what would happen to Earth? appeared first on Popular Science.

Paris will begin limiting car traffic in the city’s central core, according to an article in Le Monde, per a decree issued by Mayor Anne Hidalgo, who has for years championed a more walkable, bikeable Paris, and co-signed by the city’s police department. “The decree applies to the first, second, third and fourth districts in the capital, an area of some 5.5 square kilometers that includes landmarks such as the Louvre Museum and Tuileries Gardens.”

Vehicle access will be restricted to “emergency vehicles, buses, taxis, people with reduced mobility, motorists living or working there and so-called ‘destination traffic’ including those in the area for a specific reason such as a medical appointment, shopping, or cinema visit.”

The limited traffic zone (ZTL) is expected to lead to as much as a 30 percent decrease in traffic on the busiest roads. “The system will be enforced via a system of proof of residence and online declarations, with an initial grace period as people get used to the new rules, the city hall said.”

• Paris
• Traffic limited zone
• Car-light Cities
• Traffic
• Walkability

• AirPods Pro 2 updated with the latest firmware


• iPhone or iPad running iOS/iPadOS 18.1 or later


• A quiet environment


• About 5 minutes of uninterrupted time

1. Put your AirPods Pro 2 in your ears.


2. Open Settings on your iPhone.


3. Tap your AirPods Pro name at the top of Settings.


4. Under "Hearing Health," tap Take a Hearing Test.
   
   
5. Answer the preliminary questions about your age and recent loud noise exposure.


6. Follow the fit test to ensure your ear tips create a proper seal.


7. When the test begins, tap the screen each time you hear a tone.


8. Complete the test for both ears (the test will automatically switch sides).
   
   

• Up to 25 dBHL: Little to no hearing loss - can hear normal conversation easily


• 26-40 dBHL: Mild hearing loss - can hear normal speech at close range


• 41-60 dBHL: Moderate hearing loss - requires raised voices to understand speech


• 61-80 dBHL: Severe hearing loss - can only hear very loud speech or shouting

1. Go to Settings ➝ your AirPods Pro


2. Scroll down to Hearing Health


3. Tap Media Assist.


4. Toggle Media Assist on.


5. Choose Use Hearing Test Results to apply your recent test data, or Custom Setup to manually adjust settings.

I’m not a designer. I’ve struggled with Canva and barely made it out of Microsoft Word’s graph builder, but when I want to look like I’m a pro at turning complex data sets into streamlined visuals, I use Visio. With Microsoft Visio Pro 2024, it’s a whole lot easier just to assemble data visuals of all kinds using a huge menu of 250,000 customizable shapes and templates. 

Instead of paying for a subscription to Visio, I’m getting a lifetime license to Visio Pro 2024 for $79.97 (reg. $579). Here’s what that means. 

Visio has templates for everything from basic graphs to seating charts. You can use it to make a full floor plan or just to organize a pie chart. One of the most exciting features is its ability to create data-linked diagrams. That way, you can connect your diagrams directly to real-time data from sources like Excel and SQL Servers. 

In terms of design and usability, Visio 2024 has advanced formatting options and enhanced visual styles. The software offers a range of tools for shape formatting and text adjustments, so diagrams not only communicate ideas effectively and look polished. 

Collaboration is also easier with Visio 2024. The real-time collaboration lets multiple people work on the same diagram, which si great for remote work. And the integration with Microsoft 365 means you can seamlessly connect to PowerPoint and Word. 

Don’t worry about security. Visio was built on Microsoft’s trusted cloud infrastructure, so it makes sure all your diagrams are encrypted and compliant with international standards. 

This license lasts for life and connects directly to your Microsoft account. 

Get a Microsoft Visio Pro 2024 Lifetime License on sale for $79.97. 

Microsoft Visio Professional 2024: Lifetime License for Windows – $79.97

See Deal

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

The post Microsoft Visio makes me look like a pro designer appeared first on Popular Science.