The logo of fashion e-commerce company Shein is displayed on a smartphone with the company's website page in the background in a photograph taken in Bangkok on Dec. 6, 2024. Manan Vatsyayana/AFP via Getty

Record home battery installations unlock options for gridsand AI data centers. A backup battery system from Base Power is installed at a home in Houston, Texas. Credit: Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle

Sony 55-inch OLED 4K Ultra HD TV deal: $998 SAVE 33%: Amazon's got the Sony 55-inch OLED 4K Ultra HD TV Bravia XR8B Smart Google TV on sale for $998, down from $1,499.99. That's a 33% discount or $501.99 in savings. $998...

Two brothers from the wealthy and powerful Medici family died of malaria and were not poisoned as a rumor had suggested, archaeologists have confirmed based on a DNA analysis of the brothers' skeletons. The analysis also revealed a unique, mutated strain of malaria that may hold the key to understanding the evolution of the disease in Europe.The Medici family rose to power in the 15th century by creating the largest bank in Europe. The family used their extraordinary wealth to fund Renaissance artists and to start a political dynasty that eventually included numerous dukes, four popes and two queens of France. In the 16th century, Cosimo I took over all of Tuscany as grand duke. But within a span of 25 years, at least five of his family members died from high fevers. This gave rise to a rumor that some of them had been poisoned with arsenic by another family member, although most people believed they died of malaria.To get to the bottom of the 500-year-old Medici cold case, an international group of researchers tested the bones of two of Cosimo I's sons: Cardinal Giovanni de' Medici and Grand Duke Francesco I de' Medici, for the DNA of Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite that causes the deadliest form of malaria and that is transmitted by mosquitoes. The researchers extracted ancient DNA from the bones of Cardinal Giovanni, who died in 1562 at age 19 in the same month as his mother and younger brother Garzia, and from Grand Duke Francesco I, who died at age 46 in 1587 along with his wife. The team's study was published online June 17 in the journal iScience. Because of the almost simultaneous deaths of Grand Duke Francesco I and his wife, a rumor circulated that another brother had poisoned them over a long-standing feud. But the Medicis were known to have frequented their family villas in marshy and swampy areas of Tuscany, where malaria was prevalent well into the 20th century. Researchers found evidence of P. falciparum in the bones of both Medici brothers, confirming reports from court physicians at the time that described the brothers as sick with "tertian fever," a type of high fever that returns every three days and is a hallmark of malaria. The medical reports also revealed the brothers were treated with bloodletting.The name plate from the tomb of Grand Duke Francesco de' Medici, who died of malaria in1587. (Image credit: Courtesy the University of Pisa)"Now we can say with scientific certainty that malaria, not poisoning, killed Grand Duke Francesco de Medici," study co-author Valentina Giuffra, a medical historian at the University of Pisa, said in a statement. But the ancient-DNA study held two additional surprises.The Grand Duke's bones were positive not only for P. falciparum but also for Plasmodium malariae, a different parasite species that also causes malaria in humans, suggesting that both species contributed to the severe illness that killed him and his wife.RELATED STORIESLeonardo da Vinci's DNA may be embedded in his art and scientists think they've managed to extract some'We can no longer ignore diseases in the deep human past': Malaria influenced early humans' migrations across Africa, study suggestsDNA from dozens of human skeletons unravels history of malariaCardinal Giovanni, on the other hand, had only P. falciparum, but the specific strain that infected him was previously unknown. The strain is similar to those found in ancient and early modern Europe, but with two mutations the researchers had never seen before, they wrote in the study. "The study of ancient DNA offers us an opportunity not only to diagnose malaria in the remains of individuals from the past, but it also offers us a window for understanding the evolution of malaria species, Plasmodium falciparum in this case, which can help scientists better understand how the pathogen adapts over time," study first author Alexander Ochoa, an evolutionary biologist at Yale University, said in the statement. Further analysis of the brothers' bones is needed to determine the evolutionary relationship between the strains of malaria they carried, the researchers wrote in the study.What do you know about the bones in your body? Test your knowledge with our human skeleton quiz.

Compared with countries in the Eastern Hemisphere, the United States is relatively young. Founded in 1776, it is a mere babe by international standards. Yet much of what the United States is predates the Declaration of Independence. Many of the original colonial towns and cities still exist today and are testaments to the birth of a nation. Discover ten of the oldest towns in the United States that you can still visit today, and what they reveal about American history.A Disclaimer on DefinitionTaos Pueblo, New Mexico. Source: Wikimedia CommonsThe designation of the Oldest Towns in the United States is highly problematic. There is an unspoken definitional bias that excludes Native American settlements, which has a legal and historical precedent. Native American communities are considered part of sovereign nations and are treated as domestic dependent nations. As such, they are not considered incorporated towns or cities of the U.S.Many Native American settlements are far older than the European towns on this list. Among the oldest is Old Oraibi in Arizona, which has been continuously occupied since at least AD 1100. The multi-tiered pueblo homes were built by the Hopi, or peaceful people, from local stone to suit the arid desert environment. Acoma Pueblo and Taos Pueblo in New Mexico are almost as old. The first is a sky fortress built atop a 367-foot-high sandstone mesa. The second comprises stone apartment blocks in a fertile valley in the shadow of the sacred Taos Mountains.1. San Juan, Puerto Rico, the Island Bastion of the CaribbeanCondado Beach and buildings of San Juan. Source: Wikimedia CommonsWhile not a state, but rather an unincorporated territory of the United States, Puerto Rico holds the distinction of having the oldest continuously inhabited European-founded city in the United States. Its capital, San Juan, was established by Spanish colonists in 1521 as Ciudad de Puerto Rico de San Juan Bautista, in an area inhabited by the native Tano people.While San Juan is the oldest surviving settlement, it was not the first. The original settlement of Caparra, founded in 1508, was abandoned and moved to San Juan. Throughout the colonial era, San Juan was a highly valuable strategic target and consequently was targeted by both English and Dutch military forces. Nevertheless, it remained, for the most part, under Spanish control until the Spanish-American War in 1898, after which Puerto Rico was ceded to the United States.A pedestrian street in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Source: Conde NastToday, San Juan is a vibrant city with beautiful beaches and parks, as well as historic Spanish-era buildings and modern skyscrapers. It serves as the industrial and commercial heart of Puerto Rico and is home to around 340,000 people.Columbus originally named the island San Juan Bautista, and early merchants called the main settlement and port Puerto Rico (rich port). Over centuries of usage, the names flipped, and the island became Puerto Rico and the city San Juan.2. St. Augustine, Florida, the Foothold of the Spanish EmpireSt. Augustine, Florida. Source: Wikimedia CommonsOn the northeast coast of Florida, St. Augustine is the oldest mainland city. Located 40 miles south of Jacksonville, St. Augustine was founded by the Spanish in 1565. Established 11 days after the Feast Day of Saint Augustin, the city was originally named San Agustin by its founder, Pedro Menndez de Avils, who served as Floridas first governor.St. Augustin served as the capital of Spanish Florida for 200 years before it was taken over by the British in 1763, when it was ceded in the First Treaty of Paris, which ended the Seven Years War. Florida was returned to Spain in 1783 after the Peace of Paris, and later ceded to the United States in 1819. The city alternated as the capital of Florida with Pensacola until 1824, when Tallahassee was designated the permanent capital.Panorama of the Castillo de San Marcos fort in St. Augustine, Florida. Source: Wikimedia CommonsToday, St. Augustine is a popular tourist destination that combines historical attractions with idyllic beaches. It is home to the oldest masonry fort in the United States, Castillo de San Marcos, built in 1672. Inside the town, St. George Street and its surrounds retain charming cobblestone streets lined with cafs, shops, restaurants, and significant landmarks. Popular attractions also include Ripleys Believe It or Not! Museum and Ponce de Leons Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park.Before the fort was built, St. Augustine was often ransacked by privateers and pirates, including Sir Francis Drake in 1586 and infamous English pirate Robert Searle in 1668.3. Jamestown, Virginia, the Turbulent Birth of English AmericaAn image of how Jamestown looked in 1614. Source: Store Norske LeksikonOne of Americas most famous colonial towns, Jamestown was founded in 1607 and is recognized as the first permanent English settlement in the Americas. The early years of the town were marked by hardships, including disease and famine, as well as conflict with the Indigenous population. During the Starving Time of 1609 and 1610, only 60 of the colonys original 214 settlers survived. The survivors abandoned the colony but returned after receiving supplies.John Rolfe was credited with helping the town survive by introducing his tobacco crop, which became Virginias most prominent export. He married Pocahontas in 1614, and two years later the couple traveled to England to promote the Jamestown colony. Sadly, Pocahontas did not survive to make the return journey.Reconstruction of homes in the Jamestown Settlement, Virginia. Source: Wikimedia CommonsIn 1676, the settlement was burned down during Bacons Rebellion, but was rebuilt soon after. It then served as the colonial capital until 1699, when the capital was moved to Middle Plantation, later named Williamsburg.In the 18th century, Jamestown was permanently abandoned, but its physical remains live on as an archaeological and historic site that serves as a national park that is open to visitors. The site is home to a replica of the original fort that was built there, as well as Powhatan Town, a recreation of a Native American settlement that exhibits the dealings the Native Americans had with the European colonizers.Excavations in 2012 found the fractured skull and a shinbone of an English girl, dubbed Jane, who died in the Starving Time. Further examination shows she had been cannibalized by desperate settlers.4. Santa Fe, New Mexico, the Oldest Capital City in the NationDowntown Santa Fe, New Mexico, at dusk. Source: iStockLed by Don Pedro de Peralta, Spanish colonists founded the city of Santa Fe in 1610 as the capital of Nuevo Mxico, which was a province of New Spain. The Pueblo drove the Spanish out of Santa Fe in 1680, but the Spanish regained control 12 years later.Santa Fe was part of the Mexican Empire after 1821, when Mexico won its independence from Spain, but was ceded to the United States after the MexicanAmerican War in 1848. In 1851, Santa Fe became the capital of the US Territory of New Mexico, and later retained its status as the capital of the newly established state.Pueblo Revival architecture in Santa Fe, Virginia. Source: Wikimedia CommonsToday, Santa Fe is ahub of culture that fuses Mexican, Spanish, American, and Indigenous cultural influences. Despite having a population of around 90,000 people, the city boasts an impressive 250 art galleries and three annual art events. Santa Fe also has one of the largest art markets in the United States. So prevalent are arts and culture in Santa Fe that around 10 percent of the local population is involved in these industries!Santa Fe has no glass skyscrapers and neon lights. In 1958, the city passed a law mandating that all buildings in historic zones mimic its famous Pueblo Revival and Territorial architectural styles.5. Hampton & Kecoughtan, Virginia, the Strategic Gateway of the ChesapeakeHampton, Virginia. Source: iStockBefore the arrival of English colonists, the area that became Hampton, Virginia, was populated by Powhatan peoples and was known as Tsenacommacah. The arrival of the English changed this dynamic, and Hampton was established in 1610.The nearby Powhatan settlement of Kecoughtan was originally on friendly terms with the colonists, but hostility soon broke out after 17 English mutineers were killed there in 1609. In the summer of the following year, Kecoughtan was captured and became Elizabeth City Parish, later incorporated into the young town of Hampton. The survivors fled to other groups within the Powhatan Paramount Chiefdom.Downtown street in Hampton, Virginia. Source: Wikimedia CommonsBecause of its location, Hampton bore witness to the beginning and end of slavery in America. The first enslaved Africans arrived through Hampton in 1619. A century and a half later, Hamptons Fort Monroe was the site of one of the most important steps in the collapse of slavery. Here, slaves petitioned the Union commanding officer and asked to be classified as contraband of war, thus ensuring that they would not be returned to their legal owners. Thousands of slaves followed suit, making their way to Freedom Fortress to take advantage of this precedent.Today, the population of Hampton is largely made up of descendants of the original colonists and the African-American slaves who flocked to Fort Monroe, as well as southerners with local roots, and families connected to Fort Monroe and Langley Air Force Base.NASAs first research center was established at Hampton in 1917. This is where brilliant African American women mathematicians worked as Human Computers.6. Albany, New York, the Dutch Trading Empire on the HudsonThe skyline of Albany, New York. Source: Wikimedia CommonsAlbany, the capital of New York State, was formally chartered as a city in 1686. However, it was established by Dutch settlers who built Fort Nassau on Castle Island (now the Port of Albany) in the early 17th century. This was primarily a fur-trading post, which drew hostility from the French and the Indigenous people who wanted to control the trade. Fort Nassau was damaged by flooding in 1618, but was replaced by Fort Orange, built on the mainland in 1624.The fort and the surrounding areas became known as the town of Beverwijck or Beaverwick in English. It was taken by the English in 1664 and renamed Albany, but recaptured by the Dutch in 1673 and renamed Willemstadt. The following year, the English took permanent possession of the city.State Capitol, Albany, New York. Source: Wikimedia CommonsOver the centuries that followed, Albany has become a significant hub for culture and the arts, many of which are reflected in the citys architecture. Of note are the Albany Institute of History and Art and Ten Broeck Mansion, as well as the New York State Museum. Today, Albany is a thriving city of 100,000 people in the State Capital area, and over 1 million people in the greater metro area.Albany and its Dutch settlers reportedly held the first recorded celebration of the Feast of St. Nicholas in the New World in 1675.7. Plymouth, Massachusetts, the Mythos of the Pilgrim FathersRecreation of Plimoth(sic) Plantation. Source: Wikimedia CommonsOne of the most famous historical sites in the United States, Plymouth Rock is where the Pilgrims landed on December 21, 1620, when they arrived in the New World on board the Mayflower.Unprepared for the challenges that lay ahead, the settlers were beset by the harsh winter and famine. Almost half the original 102 settlers died. Their fortunes were changed, however, thanks to the compassion shown by a local Indigenous tribe, the Wampanoag, who shared their food with the struggling Pilgrims and taught them how to fish, hunt, and cultivate crops in their new home.Pilgrim Hall Museum, Plymouth, Massachusetts. Source: Wikimedia CommonsArmed with this knowledge, the Pilgrims were able to turn Plymouth into a prosperous town. Today, the town is home to more than 60,000 people as well as the oldest continually operating museum in the country, the Pilgrim Hall Museum.The Mayflower was meant to land near the mouth of the Hudson River, but brutal storms pushed it north to Cape Cod. With winter approaching, the settlers decided to stay put, even though they did not have the legal right to settle there, requiring the Mayflower Compact.8. Gloucester, Massachusetts, the Oldest Fishing Port in AmericaEastern Point Lighthouse, Gloucester, Massachusetts. Source: Wikimedia CommonsLocated just an hour north of Boston, Gloucester holds the official title of Americas oldest seaport. It was founded in 1623, three years before Salem and seven years before Boston. It started with just 14 English fishermen who set up a permanent outpost. While living conditions were harsh, the abundance of cod kept drawing fishermen back, and Gloucester was officially incorporated as a town in 1642.The sea in the area is deadly, and it is estimated that more than 10,000 fishermen have lost their lives in the area since the town was founded. On a single night on February 14, 1862, a storm sank 15 ships and killed 120 men. Nevertheless, the settlement thrived as new immigrants arrived, especially from Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, and also from Portugal and Sicily.Hammond Castle, Gloucester, Massachusetts. Source: Wikimedia CommonsToday, the citys historic harbor is still home to active fishing boats, as well as world-class whale-watching vessels. A popular attraction is Hammon Castle, a medieval-style castle built in the late 1920s.The Quick-Freeze food industry was born in Gloucester when Clarence Birdseye moved there and saw how fish caught in the dead of winter froze instantly and still tasted excellent when thawed months later. He perfected the quick-freeze machine and launched Birdseye Seafoods.9. New York, New York, the Global Legacy of New AmsterdamCastello Plan of New Amsterdam. Original dated 1660; redraft by John Wolcott Adams from 1916. Source: Wikimedia CommonsWhile the English were arriving in New England for religious freedom, the Dutch came to the mouth of the Hudson River to make money. In 1624, the Dutch West India Company established a permanent fur-trading post on Governors Island, which quickly expanded to the southern tip of Manhattan, which they named New Amsterdam. In 1626, they traded goods with the local Lenape people for Manhattan Island. However, scholars note that the Lenape likely interpreted this as an alliance or land-use treaty rather than an outright sale.The Dutch settlers struggled to encourage affluent Dutch settlers to come to America, so they opened their doors to anyone. By 1643, the 500 residents reportedly spoke 18 different languages. The colony quickly became a thriving commercial hub.Dutch merchants trading with Native tribes in New Amsterdam. Source: Granger Historical Picture ArchiveThe English were jealous of this Dutch settlement on the finest natural harbor in the region. English warships sailed into the harbor in 1664, but the Dutch surrendered as they did not want to let their profitable town be destroyed. King Charles II gave the colony to his brother, James, Duke of York, and New York was born. The rest, as they say, is history.New York was an important strategic prize in the American Revolutionary War and was the site of the largest battle in the entire war. It then became the first official capital of the United States under the new Constitution.10. Salem, Massachusetts, the Epicenter of Puritan Witch HysteriaDerby Street, Salem, Massachusetts. Source: National GeographicA few years older than Boston, Salem was originally a Native American fishing village called Naumkeag, but it was abandoned when a group of English settlers arrived in 1626, and the English moved in. Two years later, a new wave of well-funded Puritan settlers arrived and joined the settlement, which was renamed Salem, derived from Shalom, the Hebrew word for peace.Salem soon became famous as the epicenter of a wave of mass hysteria that resulted in the Salem Witch Trials starting in 1692. The hysteria actually began in Salem Village, called Danvers today, roughly five miles inland. But the executions took place in Salem Town, modern Salem.Gallows Hill, Salem, where hangings took place. Source: Boston Public LibrarySalem Town had already played a pivotal role in American History. In 1636, decades before the Revolutionary War, the Massachusetts General Court ordered the scattered volunteer militia units of the colony to organize into formal regiments. The First Muster took place on Salem Common, and it is officially recognized as the birthplace of the US National Guard.When the war broke out, Salem-based privateers played an essential role, capturing and destroying hundreds of British merchant ships. Consequently, after the war, Salem ships were banned from British ports. Instead, they sailed around the Cape of Good Hope and chartered new direct trade routes between America and China, India, Russia, and Japan.Despite not being where the witch hysteria started, modern Salem has embraced its spooky past and is now the undisputed Witch City. Laurie Cabot opened the citys first occult shop in 1971, and she was named the official witch of Salem in 1977.

When it comes to keeping upcoming major projects completely under wraps, it seems that even Nintendo, a company that once managed to keep everything locked away in top-secret vaults, has been falling victim to a few leaks here and there lately.

Just like its predecessor nearly two decades ago, Nintendo's Star Fox remake puts you in the middle of a ruthless war raging across the Lylat System thanks to Dr. Andross, and General Pepper calls upon Fox and his band of mercenaries to help turn the tide in their favor. However, in true mercenary fashion, there has to be something in it for you, the player.

Meccha Chameleon was released on June 10th, and since then, it has exploded in popularity. Of course, if the game is going to keep everyone's attention, the developer is going to want to make a few additions and changes.

Mesh wi-fi routers need to work with speed and reliability, but there's only one brand that can hold the top spot after Consumer Reports' close examination.

Apple's no stranger to packing its apps with handy features, and the simple Notes app is no exception. Step up your game with these tips and tricks.