Most DIY birdhouses are made of wood to encourage cavity nesting species that would naturally find a hole in a tree to use the house. Unfortunately, an unprotected chunk of wood will deteriorate much faster than a whole tree full of holes might. A metal roof reduces the exposure to the elements, but does it make the box too hot?
[Of Human and Nature] heeded concerns from commenters and actually tested his hypothesis with a simple set of thermocouples, a heat lamp, and an assembled birdhouse. While the metal roof was held at 70˚C for four hours, the inside of the house stayed in the mid 20˚C range thanks to the separation between the roof and the actual box which allows air to flow between the two.
Birdhouses provide a stable environment in which cavity-nesting birds can raise their families. Wood is still the usual option since it suits the hollows that birds seek in trees. However, wood exposed to constant rain, snow, and sun deteriorates over time, demanding frequent repairs or replacements.
A metal roof provides a significant advantage when it comes to dealing with water and snow. It sheds them far more efficiently than bare wood. When winter storms arrive, all of that extra protection comes in handy since moisture can leak in and accelerate wood deterioration. Builders who want their homes to last from season to season typically utilize metal for this purpose.
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Summer, on the other hand, brings a whole other set of worries, as metal has a horrible habit of absorbing sunlight and becoming rather hot to the touch. If you’ve ever touched a dark car hood on a bright day, you’ll know what I mean. If the heat is then carried directly into the nesting area, it can rapidly become hot enough to harm eggs or young chicks. A builder working on a large project of 500 birdhouses opted to measure the heat rather than assuming. The design featured a solid metal roof put over a wooden nesting chamber, but allowed a small gap between the two, allowing air to flow freely underneath the metal.
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To make this sound as intense as possible, heat lamps were pointed directly at the roof, and sensors were put to monitor the temperature of the roof, the upper part of the nesting chamber, the lower part, and the air around it. The heat lights maintained a temperature of 70 to 75 degrees Celsius on the roof for several hours. Meanwhile, the temperature within the wooden piece remained constant between 22 and 26 degrees Celsius throughout, and even when the air around the test box reached 30 degrees, the protected nesting area remained as cool as you wanted. Birds become quite worried if nest temperatures exceed 40 degrees Celsius, but in our test, they remained comfortably below that threshold.
The air gap is doing all of the work because moving air transfers heat out before it soaks into the wood beneath. To top it off, the metal shade fits inside the box, and the solid wooden edges provide some solitude. So what may have been a heat trap turns out to be a lovely, stable environment. In most real-life circumstances, the birdhouses face east or receive dispersed light rather than the full south-facing sun throughout the day. Finally, the inside should be more welcoming to the common birds who will live there. [Source]
India’s digital payment share has increased over the years, with the Unified Payment Interface (UPI) growing to over 750 million daily transactions. With an aim to reach over a billion daily transactions, Dilip Asbe, MD and CEO of the National Payments Corporation of India, which oversees UPI, thinks AI would be heavily involved in the next phase for user growth, fraud prevention, and credit distribution.
During an interview with TechCrunch at Mumbai Tech Week (MTW) 2026 last month, Asbe said AI could drive the next half a billion users with NPCI, India’s central bank, and the government working together.
“AI will be used very effectively when we look at the next wave of UPI, and that includes all aspects, including reaching new users. We must use AI effectively to protect our current citizens, to find fraud, and to find mules. AI must also be used to provide credit to all the users and merchants who have digital footprints,” he said. “We must use AI to look at the voice and multilingual solutions to make onboarding simpler.”
Many companies have talked about voice as an interface being important in India for chatting with companies or systems. Asbe believes that it is early days for that, as voice models will need to be more accurate. NPCI launched a voice assistant-based interactive system in 2023. Asbe noted that adoption for that yet to take off, and with the right use case, voice can become a critical component in the payment ecosystem.
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AI in finance and regulations
In the U.S., startups and public companies are racing to add AI to finance. Coinbase and Robinhood now allow agents to trade on users’ behalf, and OpenAI lets you load personal account data into ChatGPT to get financial advice. NPCI has shown some demos around agentic commerce and payments with Razorpay last year. However, there hasn’t been a wider rollout of some of these capabilities.
NPCI’s CEO thinks that with robust regulations and a framework, India can also adopt AI-powered finance. He said that there should be enough protection for users and mitigation for risk — and in case something goes wrong, the system should be able to look at the instructions and consent given by the user to an agent.
Besides the usage of models, Asbe thinks that the Indian finance ecosystem has an opportunity to build small language models.
“We believe that the models will differentiate from each other based on the data sets that are made available to them,” he said. “We have a very rich data set in our ecosystem. I think there is a big opportunity for Indian companies — the banks, FinTechs, and the ecosystem — to create small language models which are sharp, specific, and as deterministic as possible.”
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Last year, NPCI launched a model called FIMI to solve user disputes. Asbe noted that it is serving over a million users to cancel mandates and resolve issues, and is scaling fast.
During the conversation, Asbe said that UPI apps have very low switching costs and most core features are shared. He noted that PhonePe and Google have poured millions into their apps to attain their market position. He said that if new apps find viable business models within the fintech ecosystem, their share will rise.
“I believe that there are multiple issues why we see this concentration risk exist, and one of the important reasons is the availability of a viable commercial model. The moment we see the commercial model being available to the ecosystem, I believe newer players will start investing very heavily,” Asbe said.
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In 2024, the payment body spun off its BHIM UPI app to make it more competitive and grow its usage. While its transaction volume has grown, its overall market share is around 1%. Asbe said that with BHIM, there is no particular target market share NPCI is eyeing. But it wants to make it a sovereign and secure alternative to other apps, Asbe said.
India is one of the biggest digital economies, and investors around the world will be looking at the regulatory landscape to put money into newer fintech solutions and make the market more competitive.
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Fake GTA VI beta keys are already draining cryptocurrency wallets worldwide
AI-generated scam websites now imitate Rockstar branding with alarming accuracy
Malware hidden inside fake game downloads can expose banking credentials instantly
Grand Theft Auto VI is not due on consoles until November 19 2026, but official preorders open soon, and cybersecurity researchers have warned criminals are already exploiting the wait with a coordinated wave of fraudulent websites.
Malwarebytes and NordVPN have both flagged sites promising “VIP early access” or exclusive beta keys to one of gaming’s most anticipated releases.
The schemes ask victims to hand over money, personal information, or both, often before any real product changes hands.
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How the scam works
Some fraudulent sites ask players to pay a few hundred dollars in cryptocurrency for a so-called VIP beta key. This method makes refunds or fraud reports practically impossible once the payment clears.
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According to Stefan Dasic of Malwarebytes, GTA VI is “the perfect bait” that can be used by cybercriminals.
The franchise sold hundreds of millions of copies and went 13 years without a new entry — conditions that make hype, and therefore impatience, unusually intense.
Gerald Kasulis of NordVPN said scammers now use AI to mimic Rockstar’s official branding so convincingly that polished emails and websites slip past a gamer’s usual scepticism.
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Some pages invoke the phrase “help us build Vice City,” a reference to the game’s fictional setting, to create a false sense of insider access.
Victims are sometimes directed to download software branded as an early build, including one fake file called GTA Mobile 6.
According to researchers, this file contains malware capable of letting fraudsters remotely access the victim’s device, often bypassing antivirus software.
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NordVPN has separately traced some of these fraudulent domains to a wider network with a documented history of spreading banking trojans, infostealers, and ransomware.
Other variants simply harvest names, addresses, dates of birth, or existing GTA login credentials, data that can then be resold.
Several of these scam sites even target PC and Android users, despite Rockstar never confirming that those versions exist yet.
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Who is being targeted?
The typical victim tends to be someone too young, too eager, or simply underinformed, and primarily driven by a desire to be first in line for the game.
However, Malwarebytes’ assessment of the scam wave reveals that the trick itself is rarely sophisticated, yet it consistently fools people regardless of age.
The character of those falling for these scams goes beyond simple naivety, since urgency and curiosity are what scammers are really exploiting across these campaigns.
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Younger players and newcomers to online gaming appear especially exposed, given their relative unfamiliarity with how official preorder and beta access processes normally function.
Neither company has data on exactly how many people have visited these sites or lost money so far.
Rockstar Games has not responded to requests for comment on the ongoing scam wave or its impact on players.
Security researchers are urging anyone tempted by claims of early GTA VI access to pause and verify the source before entering any personal or financial details.
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Players who have already entered credentials or payment information are advised to change their passwords immediately.
They should also contact their bank without delay, since cryptocurrency payments in particular cannot be reversed once sent.
Micron quadrupled its revenue to more than $41bn this quarter, around $6bn more than analyst expectations.
A surge in business from AI companies and high projected earnings have sent chipmakers Micron and Qualcomm’s shares soaring.
Leading chipmakers have become some of the main benefactors of the AI race as competing tech giants spend billions to build and tap into AI data centres.
Micron witnessed a stellar quarter, quadrupling its revenue to more than $41bn – up from $9.3bn a year earlier, and around $6bn more than analysts’ set expectation of roughly $35bn.
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The company expects revenue of around $50bn for the current quarter, up from $11.3bn the year before. Analysts expected this to range around $43bn.
Micron’s shares jumped by a double digit percentage following the news yesterday (24 June), before easing marginally. They had already more than tripled this year and outpaced all other major chip stocks in the US.
Alongside the glowing quarterly report, the chipmaker announced yesterday that it signed 16 long-term agreements with data centre operators and automakers. It expects financial commitments of $22bn from the deals.
Nvidia has also tapped Micron for its HBM4 memory chips for use in its next-generation Vera Rubin platform.
Similarly, Qualcomm said it expects to create $15bn in sales from its data centre business by 2029. The company also expects $40bn in non-handset revenue by then – around double a previous fiscal target.
Company chief financial officer Akash Palkhiwala told investors that the data centre business will bring in $5bn for the fiscal year 2027 – with $1bn alone from the custom chips it will sell customers. Shares went up 15pc following the news.
Microsoft and Meta have tapped Qualcomm for its new AI chips that rely on cheap memory chips used in smartphones and laptops, while two unnamed hyperscalers will purchase custom chips, the company said.
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Qualcomm’s move to AI chips comes as the smartphone market is negatively affected in a chip shortage driven by the continuously growing demand for AI infrastructure.
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Looking for the most recent Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles.
Today’s NYT Connections puzzle is a tough one, especially the purple category. Read on for clues and today’s Connections answers.
The Times has a Connections Bot, like the one for Wordle. Go there after you play to receive a numeric score and to have the program analyze your answers. Players who are registered with the Times Games section can now nerd out by following their progress, including the number of puzzles completed, win rate, number of times they nabbed a perfect score and their win streak.
Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.
Data from Inrix.com found that American drivers in 2025 on average spent nearly 50 hours a year sitting bumper to bumper with other motorists, up from 44 hours in 2024. Something those residing in places like Chicago, and other U.S. cities that have the worst traffic know only too well. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, other than severe weather, merging is the biggest enemy to the flow of traffic.
In an effort to reduce bottlenecks, several state level agencies have been promoting something called “zipper merging.” Essentially, vehicles in the merging lane should wait to get over until nearing the lanes end, with motorists in both the merging and open lane alternating turns. But there is a lot of confusion surrounding the practice. It requires motorists in the open lane to allow mergers in and is typically reserved for specific circumstances such as lane closures. Also, a consistent speed from the merging lane is crucial. Rushing forward then hitting the brakes at the merge point go against the zipper method.
To be clear, there is no national law mandating the practice. Some states ask drivers to implement it in certain conditions and included it in campaigns to educate the public. However, others such as Utah, do have a law (41.6a-903.1) that specifically names the “Zipper method.” It’s also mentioned in Illinois Rules of the Road publication and carries a potential fine if disregarded. You should verify your areas stance on zipper merging with your local DMV.
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Why use zipper merging?
When two lanes merge into one, the zipper method asks motorists to use the entirety of the lane that’s coming to an end (rather than getting over immediately). This allows speeds to match across both lanes of traffic, improving efficiency. The slowdown affects everyone equally, which may reduce anger among drivers. Some figures, like a Minnesota study from 2013, reported by AAA.com, claim the practice can lessen traffic jams by as much as 40%. According to the Missouri Department of Transportation, congestion can see a reduction of up to 50%. Zipper merging isn’t the only way speed is used to manage traffic flow, as other methods such as a minimum speed limit sign helps reduce congestion by narrowing the disparity in speeds between motorists.
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The concept isn’t new and has been in place for years in some European countries. Belgium made it a law back in 2014, and Germany included it among its motorist regulations in 2001. Some Canadian provinces have also been campaigning for its use, with examples like British Columbia, putting up signs encouraging the practice.
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Why zipper merging has struggled to gain traction among U.S. drivers
Slavica/Getty Images
The zipper merge tends to go against certain unwritten rules many drivers have followed for years. Kevin Gutknecht of the Minnesota DOT summed up the problem in an interview with NewsChannel5.com, “From kindergarten on we’re told we need to stand in line and stay in place in line.” A motorist who successfully merges at the first opportunity, can feel slighted when another driver continues past them in the closing lane, because it can be interpreted as cutting ahead in line.
The zipper method can create frustration from both early mergers and those who follow it correctly. A motorist following the zipper method can become increasingly upset that others aren’t willing to allow them to merge, trapping them in place. Situations like these can cause tempers to boil over, especially when motorists become more aggressive trying to force a merge. Surprisingly, Louisiana has the most road rage in America, according to Consumer Affairs.
Some states have taken a step back on the zipper merge idea, like Tennessee. According to a Tennessee Department of Transportation statement published on Fox17.com, “It requires a significant amount of not only public education, but also public compliance. According to our traffic division, some states have had issues with getting the public to comply with the “take turns” direction.” Some law enforcement officials in Arizona have expressed their opinion that the zipper method would work well in an idyllic society, but reality is different.
Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.
Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? The first two across clues are perfect for summer vacations. Read on for all the answers. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.
If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.
“This year, the company is laying the groundwork to turn that technology into a fully-fledged, scalable business from an expensive science project.”
IBM said last month it plans to form a new independent subsidiary called Anderon, a foundry to produce the silicon wafers needed to make quantum-computing processors. The venture is seeded by a $1 billion investment from the Trump administration and another $1 billion of IBM’s own cash.
Anderon will give the company a new line of business in selling wafers to other quantum-computing companies. It will also provide a steady stream of wafers to continue developing its own quantum technology, positioning IBM to capture part of what the Boston Consulting Group projects will be a $90 billion to $170 billion market for quantum-computing providers by 2040…
The company also plans to spend an additional $9 billion over five years to advance the final stages of its quest to build a quantum-mechanics-powered computer capable and reliable enough for widespread use, a goal known as fault tolerance. That computer, named Starling, is being targeted for 2029. With Anderon, IBM is thinking beyond Starling, or even a more powerful quantum computer planned for 2033.
Looking for the most recent regular Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles.
The World Cup is swinging into the knockout round, and today’s Connections: Sports Edition includes a World Cup category. If you’re struggling with the puzzle but still want to solve it, read on for hints and the answers.
Connections: Sports Edition is published by The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by The Times. It doesn’t appear in the NYT Games app, but it does in The Athletic’s own app. Or you can play it for free online.
Hints for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups
Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.
Yellow group hint: Very cool!
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Green group hint: Hoops data.
Blue group hint: Allez les Bleus!
Purple group hint: Where the dunking happens.
Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups
The Snapdragon 8 Elite chip underneath is the same silicon powering flagship smartphones in 2025, and on a tablet, it translates into multitasking, gaming, and document work that never asks you to wait for the hardware to catch up.
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That performance lands on a 3.2K display running at up to 144Hz with Dolby Vision support, 12-bit colour depth, and 345 PPI, so whether you’re editing a presentation or watching something on a long journey, the screen is doing full justice to whatever’s on it.
The 11.2-inch size sits in a body just 5.75mm thick and weighing 485 grams, which means the Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro fits into a bag without thinking about it and stays comfortable through sessions that would make a heavier tablet feel like work.
Battery life is rated at up to 18 hours of continuous video streaming from the 9200mAh cell, and 67W HyperCharge brings it back quickly when you do run it down, so the charging cable rarely needs to be a fixture on your desk.
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The quad speaker setup with Dolby Atmos support means audio holds up without headphones, which matters more on an 11-inch screen than it ever does on a phone, and HyperOS 3 ties the software experience together with system-wide AI features across apps.
Not sure whether a tablet or a phone upgrade makes more sense right now? Our best smartphones 2026 guide and best Android phones 2026 roundup lay out the strongest options across both, so you can make the call with the full picture in front of you.
The Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro is a top 11-inch contender for those who would like a Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 or iPad Pro, but can’t stomach their price tags. It costs less, while providing similar real-world results. Its screen isn’t class-leading, with lesser contrast than the best, but it only stands out because the bar is so very high in 2026.
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