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U.S. consumers often pay more for gluten-free products, yet these items typically provide less protein and more sugar and calories compared with gluten-containing alternatives. That is the key finding of my new study, published in the journal Plant Foods for Human Nutrition. This study compared gluten-free products with their gluten-containing counterparts, and the findings suggested that many perceived benefits of gluten-free products—such as weight control and diabetes management—are exaggerated. Currently, many gluten-free products lack dietary fiber, protein, and essential nutrients. Manufacturers often add supplements to compensate, but the incorporation of dietary fibers during processing can hinder protein digestion. In addition, gluten-free products generally contain higher sugar levels compared with other products containing gluten. Long-term adherence to a gluten-free diet has been associated with increased body mass index, or BMI, and nutritional deficiencies. Gluten-free products—defined in the U.S. as those that contain less than or equal to 20 parts per million of gluten—largely lack wheat, rye, barley, and sometimes oats, all rich sources of arabinoxylan, a crucial nonstarch polysaccharide. Arabinoxylan provides several health benefits, including promoting beneficial gut bacteria, enhancing digestion, regulating blood sugar levels, and supporting a balanced gut microbiota. Our study also pointed out that it is difficult to find a gluten-free product that excels in all nutritional areas, such as high protein and fiber content with low carbohydrates and sugar. On the other hand, gluten-free seeded bread contains significantly more fiber—38.24 grams per 100 grams—than its gluten-containing counterparts. This is likely due to efforts by manufacturers to address fiber deficiencies by using ingredients such as pseudo-cereals, such as amaranth and quinoa hydrocolloids (water-soluble macromolecules used in gluten-free baked goods made with quinoa flour). These improvements, however, vary by manufacturer and region. For example, gluten-free products in Spain tend to have lower fiber content than their gluten-containing counterparts. Why it matters The term gluten-free diet has become a buzzword, much like organic, and is now a part of everyday life for many people, often without a full understanding of its actual benefits. While a gluten-free diet is a medical necessity for people who are sensitive to gluten, a condition called celiac disease, or for those with wheat allergies, others adopt a gluten-free diet due to perceived health benefits or because it’s a trend. In 2024, the global gluten-free product market was valued at $7.28 billion and projected to reach $13.81 billion by 2032. The U.S. market share is estimated to be $5.9 billion—a little less than half of the global figure. Approximately 25% of the U.S. population consumes gluten-free products. This figure is far higher than the the roughly 6% of people with non-celiac wheat sensitivity, 1% of people with celiac disease and even lower percentages of people with wheat allergies. This suggests that many people adopt gluten-free diets for reasons other than medical necessity, which may not offer health or financial benefits. What’s next Investment in research and development is essential to create more nutritionally balanced gluten-free products using locally available ingredients. This will require human feeding trials with different formulations of gluten-free products to ensure that these products meet nutritional needs without adverse effects. Collaborations between governments could help secure subsidies, which would reduce production costs and make these products more affordable. Although the initial costs of research and maintaining a gluten-free production line are high, using local ingredients and financial incentives can make these products more cost-competitive compared with their gluten-containing counterparts. Public education is also important to keep people informed about the pros and cons associated with a gluten-free diet. Sachin Rustgi is an associate professor of molecular breeding at Clemson University. The Research Brief is a short take on interesting academic work. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. View the full article

Move takes aim at the country’s aluminium industry and further tightens restrictions on its oil exportsView the full article

Chief executive Gary Nagle says mining group is seeking to boost its valuationView the full article

Figure surpasses expectations and highlights challenge for BoEView the full article

Discover the critical impact of a fast website on user experience and SEO rankings for better conversion rates. The post How To Create a Certified Fast Website To Compete In 2025 appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Coworker keeps giving me praise I don’t deserve When I got my current job a year ago, I filled a specific niche that they really needed. For the first few months, I was making a ton of new content for the organization, and making edits to existing content. Some of this was honestly low-effort, but because no one knew anything about my field, I was getting high praise for just about anything. Then after those months, requests for new content trickled down and I only had to make edits every once in a blue moon, so I shifted to doing more administrative parts of my role. Eventually I got to a point where there’s not much else that needs to be addressed and my required workload is fairly light. I’m not complaining! Now, though, the busy season has started up for me again and I have a coworker who I love working with, but she gives me so much praise I feel I don’t deserve! Example: She requested help with some content I had made last year, and gave me insight that I had overlooked a feature, so I made a simple change to a piece of content I had made and apologized for not including the option originally. She responded with a gushing email saying it’s super fine, I’m so busy making so much content with requests left and right, etc. But I’m not! And this is a common theme with this coworker; anytime she has a request, she assumes I’m super busy because when I first started and had a backlog of content to make, I was. But most of the year I was not busy, and I just feel so awkward when she says things like that. Minor problem, I know, and maybe it’s not a problem really at all. But I’d like some advice! One option is to just let it go. It’s not a big deal that she’s super gushy. But if you really feel uncomfortable with it, you could say, “Truly, I have plenty of time for work like this and I’m happy to do it.” Or even, “Our content is in a good place right now so I’m not spending as much time on this stuff as I was originally — and I really like doing it, so don’t ever hesitate to ask me to help with it.” If she keeps gushing and assuming you’re swamped after that, so be it. You’ll have attempted to set the record straight and don’t need to keep explaining. At that point you can shift to, “Always happy to do it!” 2. Can employers ask if you’re a registered voter? Yesterday my husband asked me That Question: “Is this legal?” I offered to email you and he agreed. Husband is retired and saw that a local campground had part-time openings for the summer, mainly being on-site and available to guests. The application, along with more typical questions, asks, “Are you a registered voter and if so where?” Background: Our area is rural and the small, touristy town that operates the campground has a Resort Board, two or three homeowners’ associations, and probably a local taxation district — which always seem to be feuding with each other and/or the mayor. What worries me is that they might want to see proof, like his voter ID, which has his party affiliation. The vast majority here are both Republican and ardent supporters of the current administration/regime. Husband isn’t either one (neither am I). Is it legal for a potential employer to ask if you’re registered to vote and where? In any case, what should he answer, or should he leave it blank? If it comes up in an interview, any suggested responses? (I did tell Husband I thought it might be a legal but possibly unwise question.) They can legally ask if you’re registered to vote, but it’s an odd question and I’d want to know why they’re asking. There are some positions that specifically set out to hire locally, or are required to hire people who live in a certain county or township, but they typically just ask if you’re a legal resident of X; voter registration is a whole different question. If your husband is interested in the job, he might as well go ahead and apply and either leave the question blank or answer “yes.” If he advances in their interview process and they ask anything more about it, he can respond, “Why do you ask?” and see what they say. You’re allowed to do that with intrusive or surprising questions in interviews! When you apply, you’re not committing to lay bare anything the employer might inquire about; you can push back, ask why they’re asking, or decline to answer. There may be consequences to doing that, of course, but if the alternative is that he doesn’t apply at all, I’d say he should throw his hat in the ring and see how it plays out. 3. I’m being ghosted by my current employer — can I tell my team why I’m leaving? I’ve been a contractor to a start-up for three years doing projects for a particular team. After their manager quit on short notice, I agreed to be interim team manager. Legally I’m an hourly contractor but functionally I’m an employee. While I was clear I didn’t want this role, I said I’d do it temporarily because I believe in the company. After much back and forth without any path out of the manager role, I quit (with my next gig lined up for 30 hours/week). My boss’s boss asked me if there was any time I could spare and I agreed to 10 hours/week in a different role related to the team (an analyst, not the daily operational support to the team) since they can’t afford to hire full-time. He said he’d get the contract to me ASAP, and then … crickets the past three weeks. My manager contract ends in two weeks so I had to tell my team I’ll no longer be their manager and vaguely said I’d be moving to another role internally. My direct boss really doesn’t know what’s happening so he hasn’t communicated to me or the team. I’d understand the decision to reneg on the 10 hours/week offer since they may not have the funds or the need, but there’s no communication at all. I’ve checked in politely a couple times on Slack, and just set a meeting on my boss’s boss calendar called “contract check-in.” I don’t want to assume I’m being professionally ghosted and am continuing my duties, but all signs point to it. If that’s the case, can I just tell my team that’s what happened? Otherwise they won’t realize it’s goodbye, or will think I’m just flaky. It’s a small industry and I’m tempted to work for their direct competitors with all the industry knowledge I’ve gained from this company, which is more a spite move than anything else. If I were truly spiteful, I’d pursue through legal means since they’ve done “hidden employment” and really should be paying into my government’s payroll taxes. I know spite is never the answer but boy am I tempted! My boss’s boss thinks he’s invincible and I’d just like to take him down a peg personally. Financially, I’m FIRE and moving out of the industry anyway so I don’t see any real repercussions here. Yes, you can tell your team what’s going on; you don’t need to just disappear one day without explanation. The professional way to do it is to keep it neutral but factual (i.e., don’t sound bitter about it, even if you are): “I’d agreed to manage the team short-term but not as a long-term solution. My contract for that work is coming to an end on (date) and we’d discussed my staying on in a part-time analyst role, but from what I can tell, it doesn’t look like that will be happening, so as things stand right now I’m planning for my last day to be (date).” Also, it’s not spiteful to hold a company to its legal obligations! There can be political considerations that complicate that, but give real thought to pursuing the pay you’re entitled to. 4. Can I ask a full-time job if they’d consider hiring me part-time? Is it ever okay to email an employer to ask if they would consider hiring a part-time candidate for a position advertised as full-time? This particular company is hiring on a “continuing basis” (it’s a support staff position), and when I have been there they typically have three or four people working at a time. Is it ridiculous to contact them and see if a 40-hour position could be made 20 or maybe even 30? And if they say no, would that affect my chances if I decide I do, in fact, want to apply for full-time? Sure, you can ask. They may or may not be open to it, but there’s nothing wrong with asking. When you email, include your resume so they can get a better idea of whether you’re someone they’d consider it for. Even if they say no, it’s unlikely to harm your chances with that employer in the future, although if you do decide to apply for full-time work there at some point, they might want to probe into how committed you really are to full-time (to make sure they’re not setting up a situation where they hire you full-time but you quickly ask to move to part-time). 5. When should I tell prospective employers I won’t need health insurance? I’m taking my retirement from the federal government after 26 years of service, which includes health insurance. I’m only in my late 40s so I’m searching for a new job outside of government. At what point in the application/interview process do I mention that I don’t need health insurance? Thanks to the annuity, I don’t need to have as high pay as I did while working for the government. Not sure how to convey that while also not shooting myself in the foot. It shouldn’t come up until the offer stage, at which point you can explain that you won’t need health insurance and ask if they offer a credit for employees who don’t use their plan. Some companies do (typically as a separate line item in your benefits, not just added to your salary) and some companies don’t — but it’s more of an administrative item to raise at the offer stage, not before that. View the full article

Dispute over accord with Mauritius intensifies ahead of talks between UK prime minister and US president next week View the full article

Institutions across Balkan nation help maintain supply of doctors and dentists in BritainView the full article

Neste chief says company still bullish despite $10bn bet on energy transition yet to pay offView the full article

Shareholders in potential clash with US activist Elliott over direction of oil majorView the full article

New protections are meant to help victims of push payment scams, but experts say the system itself is in urgent need of repairView the full article

US president’s out-of-hours policy statements and U-turns boost contracts traded in SingaporeView the full article

UK-based lender reports $2.3bn fourth-quarter profit and aims to cut $1.5bn in costs by end of 2026View the full article

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) has announced the launch of the 2025 ROG Flow Z13, a compact yet powerful 2-in-1 gaming tablet now available for pre-order. The device features AMD’s Ryzen AI Max+ 395 Processor with Radeon 8060S Graphics, a high-refresh ROG Nebula Display, and upgraded cooling and memory systems designed for high-performance gaming and multitasking. Equipped with 16 Zen 5 CPU cores and 40 RDNA 3.5 GPU compute units, the ROG Flow Z13 is built to handle demanding games and multitasking workloads while maintaining power efficiency. The unified memory structure allows the CPU and GPU to dynamically share RAM, providing up to 128GB of LPDDR5X 8000MHz RAM and enabling up to 96GB of VRAM allocation for intensive gaming and AI tasks. The Flow Z13’s cooling system has been redesigned with a stainless steel and copper vapor chamber, covering 54% more of the mainboard than previous models. Dual 2nd Gen Arc Flow Fans and ultra-thin 0.1mm heatsink fins help maintain airflow efficiency. The tablet’s standing design naturally enhances heat dissipation, keeping internal temperatures low during extended gaming sessions. The 13-inch ROG Nebula Display boasts a 2.5K resolution with a 180Hz refresh rate, ensuring fluid motion and crisp visuals. The touchscreen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5 and offers 100% DCI-P3 color coverage, a 16:10 aspect ratio, and 500 nits peak brightness, making it an ideal display for gaming and content creation. Expanded Connectivity and Features Despite its compact size, the Flow Z13 offers extensive connectivity options, including: Dual USB-C ports with USB4 and DisplayPort 1.4 support Dedicated HDMI 2.1 port for external displays USB Type-A port and microSD card reader Audio combo jack for seamless headset integration The tablet also introduces a new Command Center button for quick access to system functions, an enlarged touchpad and keycaps, and a 70Wh battery, providing extended power efficiency when paired with AMD’s Ryzen AI processors. The 2025 ROG Flow Z13 is now available for pre-order via the ASUS e-shop and select retailers, including Amazon, B&H Photo Video, and Newegg. Best Buy will offer the device at launch but is not currently accepting pre-orders. Image: ASUS This article, "ASUS Republic of Gamers Unveils 2025 ROG Flow Z13 Gaming Tablet" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) has announced the launch of the 2025 ROG Flow Z13, a compact yet powerful 2-in-1 gaming tablet now available for pre-order. The device features AMD’s Ryzen AI Max+ 395 Processor with Radeon 8060S Graphics, a high-refresh ROG Nebula Display, and upgraded cooling and memory systems designed for high-performance gaming and multitasking. Equipped with 16 Zen 5 CPU cores and 40 RDNA 3.5 GPU compute units, the ROG Flow Z13 is built to handle demanding games and multitasking workloads while maintaining power efficiency. The unified memory structure allows the CPU and GPU to dynamically share RAM, providing up to 128GB of LPDDR5X 8000MHz RAM and enabling up to 96GB of VRAM allocation for intensive gaming and AI tasks. The Flow Z13’s cooling system has been redesigned with a stainless steel and copper vapor chamber, covering 54% more of the mainboard than previous models. Dual 2nd Gen Arc Flow Fans and ultra-thin 0.1mm heatsink fins help maintain airflow efficiency. The tablet’s standing design naturally enhances heat dissipation, keeping internal temperatures low during extended gaming sessions. The 13-inch ROG Nebula Display boasts a 2.5K resolution with a 180Hz refresh rate, ensuring fluid motion and crisp visuals. The touchscreen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5 and offers 100% DCI-P3 color coverage, a 16:10 aspect ratio, and 500 nits peak brightness, making it an ideal display for gaming and content creation. Expanded Connectivity and Features Despite its compact size, the Flow Z13 offers extensive connectivity options, including: Dual USB-C ports with USB4 and DisplayPort 1.4 support Dedicated HDMI 2.1 port for external displays USB Type-A port and microSD card reader Audio combo jack for seamless headset integration The tablet also introduces a new Command Center button for quick access to system functions, an enlarged touchpad and keycaps, and a 70Wh battery, providing extended power efficiency when paired with AMD’s Ryzen AI processors. The 2025 ROG Flow Z13 is now available for pre-order via the ASUS e-shop and select retailers, including Amazon, B&H Photo Video, and Newegg. Best Buy will offer the device at launch but is not currently accepting pre-orders. Image: ASUS This article, "ASUS Republic of Gamers Unveils 2025 ROG Flow Z13 Gaming Tablet" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Attorney-general accuses hard-right politician in connection with plan to assassinate rival LulaView the full article

US president threatens to intensify trade war with levies on drugs and semiconductors, tooView the full article

The Fast Company Impact Council is a private membership community of influential leaders, experts, executives, and entrepreneurs who share their insights with our audience. Members pay annual membership dues for access to peer learning and thought leadership opportunities, events and more. Customer experience is at a tipping point. Companies are struggling to see results from AI, digital transformation, and personalization. But let’s be real: Most companies aren’t connecting the dots. Consumers want seamless, human-like engagement, but too often they’re met with fragmented systems and half-baked AI solutions. The good news? The gap between what customers expect and what brands deliver is finally starting to close—but only for the companies willing to do the hard work. This isn’t about throwing bots at every problem or chasing shiny new tools. It’s about integrating the right technologies, driving measurable outcomes, and putting the customer experience at the center of every decision. If you’re ready to leave “good enough” behind and turn customer experience (CX) into your strongest competitive advantage, here’s are five trends you need to know. Trend 1: Bridge the AI perception gap Over the last two years, consumer attitudes toward AI have markedly shifted. Research from LivePerson shows that in 2023, only 50% of consumers felt positive about using AI to interact with brands, compared to 90% of brands that embraced it. By 2024, consumer sentiment rose to 63%, signaling a closing gap. This evolution represents more than a shift in sentiment—it’s a window of opportunity. Brands that effectively integrate AI to enhance, rather than replace, human interactions are succeeding in building trust and delivering value. To capitalize, leaders must focus on using AI to create meaningful customer outcomes, like personalization at scale, proactive engagement, and actionable insights. The takeaway is clear: AI adoption should not just be about cutting costs; if the CX is right, it should be efficient while enhancing consumer experiences. Trend 2: Move from systems of record to systems of action Traditional CX platforms served as data repositories—systems of record that lacked the capability to drive real-time actions. In 2025, the paradigm has shifted. Systems of action—integrated frameworks that unify AI and human capabilities to orchestrate, automate, and personalize customer interactions across all touchpoints—enable businesses to translate data into insights and transform insights into immediate, measurable actions. These capabilities allow brands to go beyond passive data collection, using AI-driven analytics and automation to anticipate customer needs and deliver proactive engagement. For instance, integrating data streams across CRM, voice, email, and chat creates a unified view of the customer journey, breaking down organizational silos to serve customers more effectively. The key is interoperability. Brands must avoid “rip and replace” approaches that disrupt existing systems. Instead, investing in platforms that integrate seamlessly with legacy tools can create a cohesive ecosystem, driving efficiency and better customer outcomes. Trend 3: Personalization at scale The demand for hyperpersonalized experiences is transforming CX strategies. Consumers no longer tolerate fragmented interactions—they expect seamless, consistent engagement across all touchpoints. And meeting their expectations is worth it: At LivePerson, we find that brands that effectively leverage AI to blend automation with human empathy (through use of solutions such as proactive messaging or intelligent routing) report higher satisfaction scores and increased loyalty. To achieve this, brands must: Connect digital and human interactions cohesively. Use AI-powered tools to predict customer needs and recommend next best actions. Embed personalization deeply into every stage of the customer journey, from acquisition to retention. Trend 4: CX as a strategic growth driver CX has outgrown its traditional role as a support function. It’s now a strategic lever for achieving business outcomes, from revenue growth to operational efficiency. Leaders must reframe CX as a company-wide capability that drives differentiation and long-term loyalty. This involves: Customer-first metrics: Shift from siloed departmental key performance indicators to metrics like customer lifetime value and satisfaction across the entire journey. Reimagined cost centers: Transform support functions into profit centers through smart automation and efficient self-service options. Cross-functional alignment: Enable seamless collaboration between marketing, sales, and service teams by integrating shared data and insights. Trend 5: Find true AI partnerships In a crowded AI vendor market, it’s essential to choose partners that deliver real ROI. Avoid overpromises like “building a billion bots” or replacing humans entirely. Instead, prioritize partnerships that: Offer proven use cases and measurable results. Focus on enhancing human and machine collaboration. Provide flexibility and openness to integrate with your existing systems. For example, brands using LivePerson Copilot benefit from tools that amplify agent productivity and enable real-time, data-informed customer engagement. The path forward 2025 is a pivotal year for CX. As the lines between digital and human interactions blur, brands that embrace the following principles will lead the pack: Be human-centric: Let AI augment, not replace, human connections. Integrate relentlessly: Invest in platforms that bridge legacy systems and new capabilities. Focus on outcomes: Use CX to drive measurable business impact—not just operational efficiency. By focusing on these strategies, businesses can not only meet, but exceed customer expectations, turning CX into their most powerful competitive advantage. John Sabino is CEO of LivePerson. View the full article

LinkedIn study finds B2B marketers are overwhelmed with AI, though two-thirds are integrating it into their workflows. The post LinkedIn Report: AI Overwhelms 72% Of B2B Marketers appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

Remarks come hours after first high-level talks between Washington and Moscow since its invasionView the full article

Regulator’s rules are part of a broader effort to rein in the power of largest fund managersView the full article

A painting by street artist Banksy with an environmental message and an estimate of up to 5 million pounds ($6.3 million) is going up for auction, with some of the proceeds helping victims of the Los Angeles wildfires. Sotheby’s auction house said Tuesday that “Crude Oil (Vettriano)” is being sold in London next month from the collection of Mark Hoppus, bassist with California skate-punk band Blink-182, who sees Banksy as a kindred spirit. Hoppus said he was drawn to the subversion, humor and intelligence of Banksy’s work and the similarities between “skateboarding, punk rock and art.” “I feel like street art and punk rock have the same core,” Hoppus said. “The left-out and overlooked making their own reality. … Just go make art. It’s the same spirit. And I’ve loved art and especially street art ever since realizing that.” “Crude Oil (Vettriano)” is part of a 2005 series of works in which Banksy put a satirical spin on famous paintings — withering Vincent van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” and smashing the diner window in Edward Hopper’s “Nighthawks.” The artist said his aim was to show that “the real damage done to our environment is not done by graffiti writers and drunken teenagers, but by big business.” The work going under the hammer is based on “The Singing Butler,” a painting by Scottish artist Jack Vettriano showing a couple in evening dress dancing on a beach as servants proffer sheltering umbrellas. Banksy has added a sinking oil liner and two figures lugging a barrel of toxic waste. “We loved this painting since the moment we saw it,” said Hoppus, who bought the artwork with his wife, Skye Everly, in 2011. He said the painting – “unmistakably Banksy, but different” – has hung in the family’s homes in London and Los Angeles. Hoppus said he would use the proceeds of the sale to buy work by upcoming artists. Some will go to the California Fire Foundation, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and Cedars Sinai Hematology Oncology Research. Banksy, who has never confirmed his full identity, began his career spray-painting buildings in Bristol, England, and has become one of the world’s best-known artists. His mischievous and often satirical images include two male police officers kissing, armed riot police with yellow smiley faces and a chimpanzee with a sign bearing the words, “Laugh now, but one day I’ll be in charge.” Several of his works have sold for multiple millions at auction. The record is almost 18.6 million pounds ($25.4 million at the time) paid at Sotheby’s in October 2021 for “Love is in the Bin” – an image of a girl with a balloon that partially self-destructed during an auction three years earlier thanks to a shredder hidden in the frame. “Crude Oil (Vettriano)” is on display at Sotheby’s in New York until Thursday and in London Feb. 26-March 4. —Jill Lawless, Associated Press View the full article

Roasted vegetables are one of the simple pleasures in life. There's barely any preparation, their unique flavors become sweet and concentrated, and you're rewarded with a symphony of textures—crispy, chewy, juicy, and fluffy. It’s a great example of food that can actually be healthy and taste delicious, and you don’t have to be a trained chef to make them perfectly. The key is: Don’t complicate it. I have the most success using this simple treatment. Two things signal roasted veggie perfection: charred spots and wrinkles. While these might be descriptors for something “ugly,” don’t be fooled. The well-browned areas signal delicious complexity of flavor, due to the Maillard reaction, and the wrinkles signal the veggie in question expanded with steam while cooking through, and now has a soft interior and crispy exterior. All you need is high heat, a bit of oil, and a generous sprinkle of salt. I usually assemble a mélange of three to five different veggies on one sheet pan, but you can certainly roast just a single type of vegetable instead. Trim and prepare your vegetables If you're using broccoli, maybe you cut the florets from the woody stalk. If you've chosen tomatoes or small pepper, then maybe you halve them or you leave them whole. The most important thing to do is keep the size consistent so all of the pieces cook at the same rate. I like to roast big chunky vegetables, so I’ll prepare them to be inch-and-a-half rounds or hunks. Add fat and salt Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann I put all of the vegetables in a large mixing bowl, and drizzle about a tablespoon of neutral cooking oil over them (canola or corn oil is fine). Toss about a half teaspoon of salt into the bowl. Using your hands, start to toss the vegetables, scooping the bottom ones up to the top. Every time you scoop, squish and rub the veggie pieces to make sure everything is well coated in oil and salt. Roast the veggies Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann Dump the contents of the bowl onto a foil-lined or unlined baking sheet. The arrangement doesn’t matter too much, but if I have any veggies with a skin—like halved potatoes or zucchini—I arrange them skin-side down so they’re less likely to stick to the pan. Pop the pan into a 400°F oven. Depending on the vegetable and its size, they’ll roast for 10 to 40 minutes. For large cuts, root vegetables, mushrooms, or squash, cook them for an initial 20 minutes. Then give the pan a shake, check on things, and bake for another 10 to 20 minutes, or until you’re satisfied with the color. Timing differs, but there's wiggle roomWhen timing roasted vegetables, practice makes perfect. Green beans might only take 12 minutes while broccoli needs a bit longer, and cauliflower longer still. When in doubt, just stick around and don’t be afraid to check their status, especially with root vegetables. You can always slice a tester to make sure it’s cooked through. Let the vegetables cool on the pan out of the oven for five to 10 minutes. This gives them time to deflate and emit some steam which will help loosen any stuck ones from the pan. Arrange them on your plates and serve. If you’re wondering whether it’s possible to roast vegetables in an air fryer, it is, and you should. It’s the same preparation method, but keep in mind that you’re limited by the size of your air fryer—you might have to work in batches if you’re cooking for a large group. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. I teach a handful of cycling classes every week, and after each one, I grab a spray bottle of cleaner and a paper towel from the back of the studio and give my stationary bike a wipe-down. It only makes sense: The whole point of being on it is to get all sweaty and gross, and it's inevitable some of that sweat will wind up on the bike. I have no idea what's in the bottle of cleaner, as I trust the gym's cleaning team to provide me with the right tools to keep the equipment in good shape. But when it comes to my Peloton at home, I am the cleaning team, which means I have to be much more on top of things. Here's what I've learned about how to clean every part of the machine after four years of ownership. Clean your Peloton after every rideFirst, keep a microfiber cloth or roll of Clorox wipes nearby so as soon as you dismount, you can wipe down your seat and handlebars. There isn't a ton of space on the bike itself to hang a cloth, and it's my duty as a spin teacher to gently suggest you not hang it off your handlebar when you ride, lest you go to grab the bar, accidentally yank the towel off, and lose your grip. (I don't let people in my classes cover their handlebars with sweat towels for this reason.) I keep a jumbo roll of pre-moistened Clorox wipes on hand and use those on the metal components, seat, and handlebars as soon as I finish a session. It works great. If you own a Peloton, you're probably already tired of spending extra money to buy accessories for it, but consider picking up a simple peel-and-stick hook for a nearby wall or even a shoe hanger designed to dangle off the bike itself and stashing your microfiber cloth there for easy post-ride access. Whether it makes more sense for you to use a rag or wipes, as long as you're wiping it down after each session, you're doing enough to keep it from getting too grimy between more serious cleanings. Do an occasional deeper cleanAbout once a month, I dampen a rag and use a dot of dish soap, then wipe down the whole bike, minus any of the electrical components, including the outlet cord powering the bike and the wires connected to the screen (which I just wipe down with a dry microfiber cloth). Scrub the base, wheels, various adjuster handles, and everything else, then go back over it with a dry cloth. Peloton's website suggests using baby wipes for this, but a damp towel works just as well. Notably, I tried to move my seat the other night and found that my adjuster handle was stuck. There could be two causes: It's been way too long since I cleaned it and that thing got sticky and nasty or I used too wet of a rag last time and it got gummy with dried soap. Either way, that's not good for the bike I spent so much on, nor is it good for me to have to deal with. Today, I cleaned it with a damp—but not soaked—soapy cloth, making sure to get in every nook and cranny. Then, I went over it with a dry cloth to make sure no soap remained behind. Wipe in all the nooks and crannies, like the adjustor handles. Credit: Lindsey Ellefson Take care with the screenTo clean the screen, Peloton recommends first holding down the red button on top until it powers down, then using an ammonia-free cleaner designed for use on LCD, plasma, or other flatscreen, and wiping with a microfiber cloth. Windex is a suitable option, and that's what I use once a month, or when the screen is visibly covered in dust, dry sweat, or whatever else. When powered off, the screen is incredibly reflective and difficult to photograph, so forgive me, but in the photo below you can see the improvement made with just one pass of Windex. A little before-and-after action with the Windex Credit: Lindsey Ellefson Other Peloton cleaning recommendationsIf you're feeling uneasy about using your existing cleaning products on the bike, consider investing in some designed for use on workout equipment. Wipex comes recommended by users on Reddit and is an affordable option that can ease your worries about what you're slopping all over your $1,500 device. During your monthly-or-so deeper clean, don't forget about the mat you have probably placed under the machine—wipe that down with a damp rag and a dab of dish soap or the Wipex cloths too. Finally, you should also be cleaning and deodorizing your shoes. Because the Peloton has no straps that enable you to wear regular athletic shoes, like most bikes at studios do, you have to ride using specialty cycling shoes. That's an annoying added expense, but it can also cause some stink, since those shoes are only used for sweaty activities and never get to leave the house and feel a nice breeze. Wipe down the exterior with your Wipex, Clorox, or soapy cloth, but to deodorize the interior, sprinkle some baking soda and leave them overnight before vacuuming and wiping it out. Full disclosure: I don't do that because I leave mine clipped to the pedals at all times and irrationally hate clipping and unclipping them. As a result, they're always hanging upside-down when not in use, so baking soda will fall right out. I spray the interior of mine with a mix of half vinegar, half water, then let them air dry for a day. It works great. Spritz the inside of your cycling shoes to keep them odor-free, please. Credit: Lindsey Ellefson View the full article

A new artificial intelligence company from one of the cofounders of OpenAI is quickly becoming one of the most highly valued AI firms in an increasingly crowded marketplace. Ilya Sutskever’s Safe Superintelligence (SSI) is in the process of raising in excess of $1 billion with a valuation topping $30 billion. Bloomberg reports San Francisco-based Greenoaks Capital Partners is leading the deal and plans to invest $500 million itself. Greenoaks did not reply to a request for comment about the investment. $30 billion might be well short of the $340 billion valuation OpenAI boasts, but it’s still well above many others in the space, including Perplexity, which has a $9 billion valuation. The new figure is significantly higher than SSI’s $5 billion valuation in its last round, held this past September, when it raised $1 billion from investors including Sequoia Capital and Andreessen Horowitz. SSI was founded by Ilya Sutskever, Daniel Gross, and Daniel Levy last June, just one month after Sutskever departed OpenAI. Very little is known about the company so far, aside from its stated goal of building . . . well, a “safe superintelligent” AI system. The company does not yet have a product on the market. “We approach safety and capabilities in tandem as technical problems to be solved through revolutionary engineering and scientific breakthroughs,” the company’s website reads. “We plan to advance capabilities as fast as possible while making sure our safety always remains ahead. . . . We have started the world’s first straight-shot SSI lab, with one goal and one product: a safe superintelligence.” Ilya Sutskever, born in Russia but raised in Jerusalem, studied with AI pioneer Geoffrey Hinton, who has warned about the dangers of AI. A short stint at Google led to his meeting and ultimately working with cofounders Sam Altman, Greg Brockman, and Elon Musk, on the organization that would become OpenAI. (Musk would later call Sutskever the “linchpin” to OpenAI’s success.) Sutskever was one of the board members who led the push to remove Altman from the CEO role at OpenAI for a short period at the end of 2023. Sutskever and Altman reportedly clashed over the pace at which generative AI is being commercialized. Days after helping orchestrate the coup, Sutskever reversed course, signing onto an employee letter demanding Altman’s return and expressing regret for his “participation in the board’s actions.” He was removed from the board after Altman returned. (Sutskever isn’t the only OpenAI alum working on his own AI project. On Tuesday, former chief technology officer Mira Murati officially announced Thinking Machines Lab, her AI startup.) When Sutskever left OpenAI, he posted on X that he was working on a new project “that is very personally meaningful to me about which I will share details in due time.” Even with the subsequent announcement about SSI’s creation last June, those details remain scant. SSI and Sutskever have dropped a few hints, however, saying that they plan on creating a single product with one focus and one goal. And SSI has made it clear that it plans to ignore pressure from markets or investors to release its product. “Our singular focus means no distraction by management overhead or product cycles, and our business model means safety, security, and progress are all insulated from short-term commercial pressures,” the website reads. Sutskever is widely respected as one of the world’s top AI researchers, which makes this possible funding round less surprising (even if the company’s valuation is higher than expected). Despite that, he has eschewed the spotlight for much of his career, not doing many interviews, but speaking about AI’s potential for both good and bad when he does. “AI is a great thing. It will solve all the problems that we have today. It will solve unemployment . . . disease . . . poverty,” he said in a documentary titled, iHuman, from filmmaker Tonje Hessen Schei, which came out in 2020. “But it will also create new problems,” Sutskever continued. “The problem of fake news is going to be a million times worse. Cyberattacks will become much more extreme. We will have totally automated AI weapons. I think AI has the potential to create infinitely stable dictatorships.” View the full article