UNDERSTANDING WHEN AND why a cell dies is fundamental to the study of human development, disease and aging. For neurodegenerative diseases such as Lou Gehrig's disease, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, identifying dead and dying neurons is critical to developing and testing new treatments. But identifying dead cells can be tricky and has been a constant problem throughout my career as a neuroscientist. Until now, scientists have had to manually mark which cells look alive and which look dead under the microscope. Dead cells have a characteristic balled-up appearance that is relatively easy to recognize once you know what to look for.

Understanding when and why a cell dies is fundamental to the study of human development, disease, and aging. For neurodegenerative diseases such as Lou Gehrig's disease, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's, identifying dead and dying neurons is critical to developing and testing new treatments. But identifying dead cells can be tricky and has been a constant problem throughout my career as a neuroscientist. Until now, scientists have had to manually mark which cells look alive and which look dead under the microscope. Dead cells have a characteristic balled-up appearance that is relatively easy to recognize once you know what to look for. My research team and I have employed a veritable army of undergraduate interns paid by the hour to scan through thousands of images and keep a tally of when each neuron in a sample appears to have died.

Sebastian Bernard, the lead developer and designer for hit indie game Dead Cells, has created a new game that will have you fighting fires, solving mysteries and saving cats. Yes, you'll play a firefighter in Bernard's new 2D action-adventure game entitled Nuclear Blaze -- one who gets air-dropped into a secret military facility that went up in flames for unknown reasons. In the complex, you'll have to use your firehose wisely to deal with the wildfire spreading uncontrollably throughout each section. You'll also have to deal with backdrafts, exploding walls and complex sprinkler systems. But you won't just be trying to put out a blazing inferno in the game: You also have to rescue survivors (cats included) and investigate every nook and cranny to find hidden secrets that would help you figure out the site's true nature, as well as solve the mystery behind the fire.

This is not a representation of what 2020 felt like -- it's a screen shot from Dead Cells. This is not a representation of what 2020 felt like -- it's a screen shot from Dead Cells. And thank goodness for that, right? Amid worldwide shutdowns, strenuous conversations about police reform, and an endless election cycle, we could all use a break. Do what I do: Pick up your Switch (or whatever console you use) and give yourself a well-deserved, news-free distraction.

The Xbox Series X has a number of display-related technologies and features that we haven't seen in any console before. This includes support for 4K at 120Hz over HDMI 2.1 and variable refresh rate (like AMD's FreeSync). But the upcoming PlayStation 5 and most new graphics cards will also have HDMI 2.1. One feature that Microsoft's console does have a monopoly on for now, however, is something called auto-HDR. The company is using a machine-learning process to add support for high-dynamic range, which -- as the name suggests -- expands the display range for both contrast and color. Even more than a higher resolution, this is the tech that makes most modern TVs look better than your old flat panels.

Cry it out from the rooftops: we survived 2018. And in this long, complicated year, a few games stuck out as the best, the most interesting, the most surprising, of the year. Whether you're catching up over the holidays or just looking for fuel to argue with your friends, here are our picks for the best videogames released in 2018. Games are a vast and varied field, friends; so are opinions. Monster Hunter has, for a certain variety of player, been a big deal for years.

Wrinkles, crow's feet and laughter lines could become a thing of the past thanks to 3D modelling. A computer programme has developed that looks at how the upper layers of the skin fold to form wrinkles. It found that drier skin plays a major role in the development of the unwanted signs of ageing. By looking at how the wrinkles form in the first place, researchers hope to develop treatments to remove the unwanted creases. 'Besides its critical physiological functions as a biochemical barrier, this very thin layer plays a key role in determining the characteristics of skin micro-wrinkles, even in younger people,' said Dr Limbert.