Couple behind Luxturna gene therapy win Breakthrough Prize for life sciences
April 19, 2026, 2:18 AM EDT. Gene therapy pioneers Jean Bennett and Albert Maguire, a married pair who met while dissecting a brain, shared the $3 million Breakthrough Prize for life sciences with physician Katherine High. Their 25-year project led to Luxturna, the first approved gene therapy for blindness. Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA), an inherited retinal disorder, usually causes severe vision loss early in life; Luxturna delivers a working copy of the RPE65 gene to retinal cells, restoring vision in trials and real patients. In one trial a patient described seeing a child's face for the first time; others reported recognizing details such as furniture grain. Bennett, now retired from UPenn, warned the US political climate could threaten basic research. The ceremony in Los Angeles also honored advances in sickle cell and dementia research.
Porsche 911 GT3 S/C opens up open-air analog thrills with a manual gearbox
April 19, 2026, 12:58 AM EDT. Porsche's new 911 GT3 S/C weighs about 1,497 kg, keeping weight in check while adding a fast-closing automatic roof. It blends DNA from the 911 S/T and GT3 to deliver lightweight handling, performance and sensory feedback. The carbon fiber and magnesium components, including CFRP hood, doors and fenders, magnesium wheels, and carbon-ceramic brakes, cut non-suspended mass. Under the long hood sits a naturally aspirated 4.0-liter flat-six with 510 hp and 450 Nm, revving to 9,000 rpm and benefiting from GT3 RS-derived camshafts for a high-rev character. The car is offered exclusively with a six-speed manual, short ratios designed for driver engagement. Acceleration is 0-100 km/h in 3.9 seconds, top speed 313 km/h. The roof operates in ~12 seconds up to 50 km/h, with a wind deflector for open-air comfort, and a retractable rear wing with a Gurney flap.
NeoGeo AES+ resurge: SNK y Plaion anuncian reedición 1:1 con HDMI
April 19, 2026, 12:41 AM EDT. SNK y Plaion lanzan la NeoGeo AES+ para revivir la consola de los 90 con fidelidad 1:1, compatibilidad con cartuchos originales y salida HDMI además de AV. El anuncio añade 10 títulos iniciales, entre ellos Metal Slug, Garou MOTW y Shock Troopers, la primera salida oficial en AES de un juego de la recreativa. El precio de 80€ por cartucho genera dudas: ¿quién pagará esa suma por juegos como Fatal Fury 3 o KOF 95 cuando sus versiones japonesas pueden costar poco más? Los analistas señalan que la viabilidad a largo plazo dependerá de una segunda hornada y de la llegada de cartuchos multijuego para sostener el catálogo más allá de los éxitos de lanzamiento.
A-list stars attend Breakthrough Prize ceremony as science takes center stage
April 19, 2026, 12:27 AM EDT. An evening billed as the 'Oscars of science' drew Hollywood A-listers to Santa Monica for the Breakthrough Prize ceremony. Anne Hathaway, Robert Downey Jr., Margot Robbie, Zoe Saldana, Olivia Wilde and others walked the red carpet to honor leading researchers. The gala distributes more than $15 million annually, with each Breakthrough Prize at $3 million across Life Sciences, Fundamental Physics and Mathematics. Attendees included Bill Gates, Tim Cook, Sam Altman, Nvidia's Jensen Huang and other tech leaders. Michelle Yeoh spoke about the origins of AI and the need to understand its evolution. RDJ attended with wife Susan Downey; Gigi Hadid also appeared. The night links glamour with science, highlighting researchers shaping the future.
Steam releases four new free games for a relaxing Sunday
April 19, 2026, 12:26 AM EDT. Steam highlights four new free games for a relaxing Sunday. The titles are short, varied and require no purchases. Either Eye is an experimental, perception-driven experience that rewards careful observation. Home Invader shifts to tense, fast replies in closed spaces, delivering constant pressure. Kintsugi offers a contemplative task of reconstructing pieces and noticing fine details. Solo Knight provides classic action with progression and character upgrades for longer sessions. All four games are available today on Steam with no extra requirements. The lineup invites players to test unfamiliar genres, discover new styles, and perhaps find a hidden favorite for a quiet afternoon.
Metro 2039 returns to tunnels with psychological horror
April 19, 2026, 12:10 AM EDT. Metro 2039, the main entry from 4A Games, arrives this winter on PC (Steam and Epic Games Store), Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5. Returning to the claustrophobic tunnels beneath Moscow after the Exodus expansion, it frames a 2039 where survivors live under an autocratic regime called the Novoreich. Led by a figure known as the Führer, the regime tightens control with propaganda while promising false hope. Players assume The Stranger, a tormented protagonist forced back to a place he swore to leave. For the first time, the lead character speaks with full voice acting, boosting narrative immersion. The story, inspired by Dmitry Glukhovsky, emphasizes trauma, memory and the consequences of choices, and reflects the developers' Ukrainian roots amid a war-driven setting.
