Latest news with #EventHorizon
NDTV
3 days ago
- Science
- NDTV
Is Our Black Hole Defying Physics? New AI Study Challenges Theories
Astronomers, using AI and high-throughput computing from the University of Wisconsin-Madison's CHTC, have unlocked new insights into Sagittarius A* - the supermassive black hole at the heart of our galaxy. By training a neural network on millions of simulations, researchers found the black hole is spinning near its maximum speed, with its axis of rotation aimed toward Earth. The findings are based on data from the Event Horizon Telescope and offer fresh understanding of black hole behaviour. The AI also suggests that the emission near the black hole is primarily from extremely hot electrons in the accretion disk rather than a jet, and that the magnetic fields in the disk behave differently than previously thought. This research, published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, was made possible by high-throughput computing, a distributed computing method pioneered by Miron Livny, which allowed researchers to process a massive amount of data efficiently. "That we are defying the prevailing theory is, of course, exciting," says lead researcher Michael Janssen, of Radboud University Nijmegen, the Netherlands. "However, I see our AI and machine learning approach primarily as a first step. Next, we will improve and extend the associated models and simulations." "The ability to scale up to the millions of synthetic data files required to train the model is an impressive achievement," adds Chi-kwan Chan, an Associate Astronomer of Steward Observatory at the University of Arizona and a longtime PATh collaborator. "It requires dependable workflow automation and effective workload distribution across storage resources and processing capacity." "We are pleased to see EHT leveraging our throughput computing capabilities to bring the power of AI to their science," says Professor Anthony Gitter, a Morgridge Investigator and a PATh Co-PI. "Like in the case of other science domains, CHTC's capabilities allowed EHT researchers to assemble the quantity and quality of AI-ready data needed to train effective models that facilitate scientific discovery." The NSF-funded Open Science Pool, operated by PATh, offers computing capacity contributed by more than 80 institutions across the United States. The Event Horizon black hole project performed more than 12 million computing jobs in the past three years. "A workload that consists of millions of simulations is a perfect match for our throughput-oriented capabilities that were developed and refined over four decades", says Livny, director of the CHTC and lead investigator of PATh. "We love to collaborate with researchers who have workloads that challenge the scalability of our services."
Gizmodo
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
‘Sunshine' and ‘Event Horizon' Bring Deep-Space Madness to Gruesome Heights
With Danny Boyle's recent comments about his never-made 'Sunshine' trilogy, we're revisiting that 2007 film as well as a thematically similar 1997 cult classic. Millions of miles from Earth, a spaceship receives a distress call—so its crew changes course to investigate. Disaster follows. That's famously the set-up for Alien, but it's used often in sci-fi stories, including 1997's Event Horizon and 2007's Sunshine. Sunshine's been in the news since director Danny Boyle revealed he'd originally hoped it would kick off a trilogy; that never happened, because like Event Horizon, it flopped at the box office. But both Sunshine and Event Horizon have since earned new appreciation, and they share enough similarities to make for an excellent sci-fi horror double feature. Both films riff on that Alien 'mysterious transmission' as a plot turning point; both films take place in the not-so-distant future (Event Horizon is set in 2047; Sunshine in 2057). Both films take place in uncomfortable realms of our solar system, with Event Horizon in Neptune's orbit and Sunshine near the surface of the sun. Both films discover the distress call is coming from a ship everyone back on Earth thought had been lost; in Event Horizon, it's the titular vessel, while Sunshine's Icarus II discovers its predecessor, the Icarus. Further, both films feature characters who transform from regular (if eccentric) men into outrageously evil, scenery-devouring villains. And both films feature ridiculously good casts, including those far-out space nuts: Event Horizon's Sam Neill, and Sunshine's Mark Strong. But there are some key differences too. While the weary crew aboard the search and rescue vessel Lewis and Clarke in Event Horizon is on a top-secret mission, chasing down the long-missing title ship, the Icarus crew in Sunshine is on the most high-profile assignment of all time: launching a gigantic payload into the dying sun, hoping to reignite it and save everyone back home from a frozen death. Scientists and astronauts trying to save the planet from certain apocalypse was a trendy theme around 20 to 25 years ago. The Core came out in 2003 and concerns the frantic quest to drill into the center of the flailing Earth and restore the rotation of the core. A few years earlier, we had the battle of the asteroid movies in Deep Impact and Armageddon. But Sunshine, whose central conflict evokes elements of 1961 Twilight Zone episode 'The Midnight Sun,' takes itself more seriously than your average doomsday tale. At the very start of Sunshine, we learn—thanks to a voice-over from Cillian Murphy as Icarus II physicist Capa, a guy dealing with a bomb poised to alter humankind even more than Oppenheimer's did—that the previous mission went missing seven years ago. Capa and company have been in transit now for over a year, and they're closing in on the make-or-break moment to prevent all-out extinction. Boyle and screenwriter Alex Garland carefully seed the early part of the story with hints of the terrors to come. Naming the ships Icarus and Icarus II is a bit heavy-handed—flying too close to the sun and all that—but the mood aboard Capa's ship is generally peaceful at first. Sure, the ship's doctor, Searle (Cliff Curtis), is a little too obsessed with staring at the sun, and sure, the engineer, Mace (Chris Evans), is a bit hot-tempered. But even as the mission cruises into the 'Dead Zone' that'll cut off all external communications, things seem to be going surprisingly well. Until, of course, they pass Mercury and pick up a garbled transmission from the Icarus, somehow still functioning all these years later. The debate over whether or not any crew is alive to be rescued—a cause felt more deeply by certain crew members than others—becomes a moot point when Capa decides a detour is well worth it to pick up the Icarus' abandoned payload. Their mission is the very last chance to save Earth, so if they can have two bombs at the ready, that makes the potential for success even greater. Adjusting their trajectory, however, sets off a domino effect of disasters for Icarus II, swiftly imperiling the most important space mission ever—and that's before they encounter the surprise human element that'll further seal their doom. While Sunshine's approach to science may not be entirely fact-based, Event Horizon goes full fantastical once things start to go off the rails. We need the sun to survive, but it's also frightening for a lot of reasons, all of them natural. It's hot! It's fiery! It'll burn you to a crisp! Event Horizon, on the other hand, imagines that a black hole could force a wayward ship into hell—then spit it back out into our dimension with full sentience and an urge to mentally and physically torture anyone who dares step aboard. It's a decidedly operatic idea and the production design backs that up, imagining a spaceship that pulls not just from H.R. Giger (an Alien hat-tip there), but also Hieronymus Bosch and Hellraiser. The Icarus ships are far more utilitarian (and while the AI on Icarus II sometimes goes against the crew, it's always very polite about it), but they do have a key added feature: an observation room that allows crew to admire their irradiated destination with the help of carefully calibrated safety filters. It's there that the madness of Strong's character, Icarus captain Pinbacker (a John Carpenter Dark Star hat-tip there), takes hold. Since we don't really meet him before he's become a raving, solar-mangled mix of evangelist and Freddy Krueger, we can't say if his mind was in a good place before he headed into space. In Event Horizon, we get a meaty foreshadowing that Sam Neill's character, Dr. Weir, is dealing with PTSD following his wife's death by suicide—and we get a front-row seat to his complete unraveling. However, the biggest contrast between these self-mutilated monster men is perhaps their ultimate intentions. Dr. Weir's consciousness becomes entwined with the cursed ship he designed, and he's determined to drag the Lewis and Clarke crew to hell with him. That's entirely freaky, but Pinbacker's twisted motivation is possibly worse. He believes that the sun dying is part of God's plan to end humanity. He's also come to believe that God speaks directly to him, and that none of what God has set in motion should be challenged or altered. 'He told me to take us all to heaven!' he insists, explaining why he sabotaged the Icarus and why he's determined to do the same to the Icarus II—ensuring certain death for everyone back on Earth. It's a lot of heaven talk for such a diabolical man, as the flames from the sun's surface loom ever closer. Against all odds, both Event Horizon and Sunshine find their way to—not happy endings, but something resembling hope. Event Horizon bids farewell to Dr. Weir and the haunted vessel, but lets a couple of shell-shocked characters survive. In Sunshine, all the space travelers perish, but it's implied a successful detonation has indeed kick-started the sun, and that Earth will be saved. For years, filmmakers even beyond original director Paul W.S. Anderson have talked about digging deeper into Event Horizon's world. Fans may never get to feast upon the film's legendary lost scenes, supposedly excised for being too extreme, but prequels, sequels, and most recently a TV series have been floated as potential projects. As for Sunshine, Boyle's recent mention of a trilogy came as a surprise. He didn't give any details beyond noting that screenwriter Alex Garland's ideas were 'interplanetary' and 'extraordinary,' which intriguingly suggests they went way beyond the most obvious add-ons: a prequel following Pinbacker and his crew, or a sequel that sees the Earth bounce back from solar winter. (We'd still eagerly watch either of those, however.) We may never get more Event Horizon or Sunshine. But both films as they are make for extremely entertaining sci-fi viewing—and you can rest assured, there'll always be new stories about interstellar travelers picking up distress calls and flying straight into more deep-space mayhem.
Tom's Guide
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
How to watch 'Contact in the Desert' online – live stream UFO conference from anywhere
"Contact in the Desert" – billed as "the world's largest UFO and UAP conference" – features some of the brightest stars from 'UFO Twitter', including Ross Coulthart and George Knapp. Can't make it to the Woodstock of UFOlogy? Those without a ticket can watch it live online... Here's how to watch "Contact in the Desert" live streams from from anywhere with a VPN. "Contact in the Desert" takes place May 29 – June 2, 2025. Streaming passes from $149 (using discount code 'TOMS').• WATCH LIVE — PursingX• Watch anywhere — try NordVPN 100% risk-free Is there really any truth to the rumor that "non-human intelligence" (aliens) exist? While Congress continues to investigate the rumors of UFO crash retrivals, "Contact in the Desert" is here to bring you up to date with everything UFO/UAP. Themed "Event Horizon," the 2025 event takes place at the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa in Indian Wells, California. It offers over 50 sessions exploring topics like extraterrestrial life, AI, space travel, and consciousness. Keynote speaker Josh Gates, of "Expedition Unknown", will present on May 31. "CITD" also features renowned figures such as NewsNation's Ross Coulthart, "The Telepathy Tapes'" Dr. Diane Hennacy Powell, and UFO O.G. George Knapp, the man who uncovered Bob Lazar's truly wild claims about Area 51. Attendees can participate in workshops, night sky excursions, and live podcast recordings. Can't make it in person? You can buy an online streaming pass. Here's how to watch and stream "Contact in the Desert" 2025 live online. Whether you're in the States or further afield, you can watch "Contact in the Desert" live on the PursuingX streaming platform. There are a range of passes but for the best experience, there's the Ultimate Replay + Live pass costing $499. This gets you all the live streams, plus all the replays. It's like being there... without being there. Only want the live stream? Opt for the Live Stream pass costing $199. Not exactly cheap. But then again, it considered to be the hottest ticket in 'UFO town'. Discount code: You can get $50 off the Ultimate Replay + Live pass by using the code 'TOMS' when you get to the checkout page. There's also $25 off the Live Stream pass. Abroad? If you're traveling, or want to watch securely and privately, use a VPN. We recommend NordVPN (save 70%). Away from home at the moment and blocked from watching content on your usual streaming service? Or prefer to watch things online privately and securely? You can watch "Contact in the Desert" safely and from anywhere thanks to the wonders of a VPN (Virtual Private Network). The software allows your devices to appear to be back in your home country. Our favorite is NordVPN. There's a good reason you've heard of NordVPN. We specialize in testing and reviewing VPN services and NordVPN is the one we rate best. It's outstanding at unblocking streaming services, it's fast and it has top-level security features too. With over 7,000 servers, across 110+ countries, and at a great price too, it's easy to recommend. Get 70% off with this NordVPN deal Using a VPN is incredibly simple. 1. Install the VPN of your choice. As we've said, NordVPN is our favorite. 2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance, if you're in Australia and want to view your usual U.S. service, you'd select U.S. from the list. 3. Sit back and enjoy the action. Fire up your usual website or streaming service and tune into content as if you were back in your home country. Yes! You can watch the live stream by paying for one of the passes. They're listed in dollars but to give you an idea: The Ultimate Replay + Live pass costs $499 (around £370). This gets you all the live streams, plus all the replays. For the live stream only, then go for the Live Stream pass costing $199 (around £145). Discount code: You can $50 off the Ultimate Replay + Live pass and $25 off the Live Stream pass by using the code 'TOMS' at the checkout. Again, if you're traveling or want to watch the stream securely, we strongly recommend getting NordVPN (save 70%). You can view the live streams and videos "from any Internet connected device." You can also listen from your smartphone, laptop, desktop computer (Windows or Mac), tablet (iOS/Android) or smart TV. Please note that security settings will prevent you from using a simulcast system.
Buzz Feed
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
17 Horror Movies People Watched Too Early As Kids
While it can be fun to watch a horror movie every now and then, sometimes, a really scary film will stick with you forever. So when a Reddit user asked: "What is a movie that traumatized you so badly as a kid that you are still afraid of it as an adult?" I thought I would share their answers below: "I never watched the full video in The Ring. When I watch the film, at that one part, I'll still close my eyes when the video is running. My phone won't ring mfers." Watch the trailer here: "Event Horizon. The scene where Sam Neil's character has his eyes gouged out just messed me up." Watch the trailer here: "It with Tim Curry." Watch the trailer here: "The Exorcist." Watch the trailer here: "For me, this would be all The Grudge movies: Ju-on, and the American remakes as well. When I was about 11, we were having a sleepover at my friend's house and decided that it would be a good idea to watch his older brother's Grudge movies, because 'We are big boys, we can handle it.' It's safe to say I didn't sleep much that night and was scared shitless by literally anything for many months to come. That crackling sound still haunts me to this day. Not the smartest decision that I've ever made..." Watch the trailer here: "The Descent. Fuck caves, and I can't stand scenes with thumbs through eyeballs." Watch the trailer here: "The Shining. Those twins and the tub lady." Watch the trailer here: "The Blair Witch Project. Marketing was so good for that film, I legit thought it was real. So here's 14/15-year-old me thinking I just watched a legit snuff film (opening weekend at that) and it jacked me up for a while. To this day, I get bad vibes from the movie." Watch the trailer here: "In Jaws, that scene when they look under the boat and they find... You know what I mean." Watch the trailer here: "The Dark Crystal." Watch the trailer here: "The first A Nightmare on Elm Street. I still can't watch it to this day." Watch the trailer here: "King Kong (2005). Watching those guys get destroyed by giant spiders, centipedes, and whatever the hell else that was attacking and eating them in that crevice." Watch the trailer here: "The Thing with Kurt Russell. Saw that when I was about 10, and it's always been my top horror movie." Watch the trailer here: "The Exorcism of Emily Rose? I think that's what it was called. I woke up every night at 3 a.m. and freaked the fuck out." Watch the trailer here: "Candyman." Watch the trailer here: "Thirteen Ghosts. The damn jackal just frightened the hell out of me as a kid." Watch the trailer here: "Poltergeist. I was way too young to watch that movie." Watch the trailer here: Is there a scary movie that you watched as a kid that still haunts you? Tell us all about it in the comments or via the anonymous form below:
Buzz Feed
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
"I Refuse To Watch It Again" – 15 Horror Films That Totally Exceeded Our Expectations
Recently, u/Sans010394 asked r/moviecritic, "What's a horror movie that exceeded your expectations?" So we thought we'd share some of the top responses. 1. The Ritual (2017) Netflix "It really is quite fantastic. It was one of the first newer ones I watched upon diving into the genre for the first time. The horror occurs in surprising ways." – human_not_alien 2. Event Horizon (1997) Paramount Pictures " Event Horizon with Sam Neill. I had no idea at the time what it was going in. Was so good it messed me up so much, I refuse to watch it again." – Ill_Cod7460 3. Prey (2022) 20th Century Studios "I'd even consider it better than Predator in some regards. It had a fairly linear plot, a main protagonist whom I didn't want to see get hurt, strong leads, and a Yautja costume that looked very well constructed." – NerdNuncle 4. Train to Busan (2016) Next Entertainment World 5. Talk to Me (2022) A24 "It just looked like another gimmick movie, like Ouji or something, but man was it creepy, and that ending hit hard." – BreathWithMe6 6. Oculus (2013) Relativity Media "This movie scared the shit out of me on my first watch. Not a flawless film but Katee Sackhoff really owned her role and the twists/timeline jumps keep you invested and disoriented. Still one of my favourites." – bobby_portishead 7. Let the Right One In (2008) Sandrew Metronome " Let The Right One In is so melancholy and sad and beautiful in a weird way. The American version is really good imo too, just a different vibe. The kids in both of them are so insanely good." – chainsawbearandco 8. Barbarian (2022) 20th Century Studios "I'd had some things spoiled and heard that it was a good movie but I was blown away by the quality. It's brilliantly shot, the acting is flawless, it's properly tense and the themes are perfect for this kind of movie and explored in the most interesting of ways, without saying anything too spoiler-y. Just a top tier movie and not what I expected from Zach from WKUK." – Sea_Cheesecake3330 9. The Wailing (2016) 20th Century Studios "The suspension was killing me. Never had any scare-jump but the whole time I was freaked out. I have watched it with three different groups of people and every time I was amazed. To date, I'm not sure what happened in in the end." – nomercy15 10. The Witch (2015) A24 "I was like 'ok cool, period piece with the 'is it magic or is it mundane'' trope, let's see how it plays out.' It is not mundane, and leans into that full force and it creeped me the hell out." – Careful-Release 11. Sinners (2025) Warner Bros. Pictures "I know it's new, and it's still going. Some things were visually weird a couple times, but the music was great and there was a lot more emotion than I expected. It doesn't even feel like a horror movie somehow." – feverishh 12. Sinister (2012) Lionsgate "Randomly watched it by myself one day thinking it would just be a movie that could kill some time. Messed me up bad to the point where I had trouble sleeping that night." – robertswoman 13. Midsommar (2019) A24 "Aesthetic-wise – the colours, camera shots and visual compositions were done amazingly for me." – Both-Fruit5418 "The fully bright horror movie and the kinda of delusion that ensues is horror in its own way. Loved it." – immersedmoonlight 14. Terrified (2017) Aura Films "I've never been more scared in a film so quickly. The opening shot is immediately gripping and tense. I honestly think the first 15 minutes is one of the best openings in all of horror, and should be studied in film schools. The movie is not perfect, but no horror film has ever pulled me in so quickly." – kdawgster1 15. The Night House (2020) Searchlight Pictures
