It looks like a parodybut its not. Moderna has rolled out a real TV commercial for its new mRNA shot,mNEXSPIKEa name that, in Latin, translates chillingly to violent death. As smiling

A federal judge on Friday denied Letitia James request to force federal prosecutors to turn over all of their communications with the media after it was reported that Lindsey Halligan was exchanging

A 'We Accept Food Stamps' sign hangs in the window of a grocery store in Miami, Fla., on Oct. 31, 2025. Joe Raedle/Getty ImagesPresident Donald Trump said he has directed White House lawyers to seek immediate

A research team with the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) examined samples returned by the Chang'e-6 mission from the far side of the Moon. They identified minerals that appear to be from a carbonaceous chondrite meteor, which are known to contain water and organic molecules. These findings support the theory that water and the ingredients for life were delivered by asteroids and comets to Earth billions of years ago.

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The Battle of Hastings in 1066 marks one of the most important turning points in English history. The Norman conquest of England changed the English population, culture, language, and its relationship with the rest of Europe. But what exactly happened during the fateful conflict? How did William, Duke of Normandy, defeat the Anglo-Saxon king Harold Godwinson to earn the title the conqueror.An Empty ThroneHarold Godwinson swearing an oath to William of Normandy on the Bayeux Tapestry, c. 1070. Source: Bayeux MuseumIn January 1066, the Anglo-Saxon king Edward the Confessor died childless, making him the last king of the House of Wessex. In his last moments, Edward pointed to Harold Godwinson, Englands most powerful earl. The nobles took this as a sign that he was the nominated successor and proclaimed him king. However, a comet soon appeared in the sky, a sign that trouble was coming.Harold knew he was not the only powerful ruler with a claim to the English throne. His chief rivals were Harald Hardrada, the fearsome king of Norway, and William, the canny and ruthless Duke of Normandy. Harold had met William when he was shipwrecked in France in 1064. Norman chroniclers subsequently said that he had been sent by Edward to offer William a succession agreement, though there are many possible reasons for the trip. Regardless, William and the chroniclers alleged that Harold swore an oath to uphold Williams claim to the English throne on sacred relics.The Last Successful Invasion of EnglandNorman ships and horses landing at Pevensey, Bayeux Tapestry, c. 1070. Source: Bayeux MuseumWilliam found out about Harold Godwinsons accession while hunting and flew into a rage. He rode back to his court and ordered a huge fleet built. He also sought the backing of the Pope, alleging that Godwinson was an oathbreaker and that the English church had fallen into evil practices. The Pope endowed William with his personal banner to use in battle.Williams main problem, as it would be for other prospective conquerors of England, was the weather of the English Channel. The fleet planned to launch in early August 1066, but was kept in port by unfavorable winds. On the other side awaited the English fyrd, of the Anglo-Saxon militia, arrayed on the southern coast, ready for him.As the days wore on, waiting for signs of the Norman fleet, pressure grew to disperse the English army to collect the harvest. By September 8, Godwinson relented and dispersed his army. A few days later, he learned that his brother, Tostig, and the Norwegian king Harald Hardrada had landed in Northumbria. He speedily recalled his forces and marched north. The way was open for William, if only the wind would change. It did, just after the Battle of Stamford Bridge, and the Normans landed at Pevensey on September 28.Setting the StageView of Senlac Hill from the Norman position. Source: Wikimedia CommonsThe Normans did what they did best and immediately built a castle at Hastings, providing them with a base to ravage the countryside in order to source supplies, intimidate the people, and provoke Harold Godwinson into battle. Harold had marched south as quickly as he could but stayed in London for a week, waiting for an opportunity to strike with the same surprise he had at Stamford Bridge. He may have still been seeking the element of surprise when he took up position at Senlac Hill, blocking the road to London. William was not surprised, however, and willingly advanced towards him.The English occupied the ridge of the hill. Below, between them and the Normans, was marshy ground. At their flanks were woodland and streams. All were problems for the Normans greatest asset, which was their cavalry. The English just had to stay in position and outlast the Norman charges, crying out, out, and rattling their shields with their swords and axes.The Battle for EnglandNorman cavalry attacking the English shield wall, Bayeux Tapestry, c. 1070. Source: Bayeux MuseumThe battle began at 9 am on Saturday, October 14. Williams plan appears to have been to weaken the English with arrows, engage the English with his infantry, and then send his cavalry through the gaps. The arrows had little impact. Frustrated, the Norman infantry spearmen advanced, but were again unable to break through the shield wall. The cavalry offered support but fared little better. The cavalry retreated, and a rumor spread that William had been killed. In the confusion, a wing of the English army pursued its quarry down the hill. At this moment, William threw back his helmet, revealing that he was still alive, and his cavalry closed around the pursuing English, crushing and hacking them to pieces.Norman knights at the Battle of Hastings, Bayeux Tapestry, c. 1070. Source: Bayeux MuseumThere was a battle lull in the afternoon, and William changed strategy to tease English charges with feinting retreats. This weakened the English frontline, taking out the experienced housecarls who were replaced by less battle-hardy members of the fyrd. Still, the line held. William had two horses killed beneath him while fighting.Death of the Last Saxon KingHarold Godwinsons death on the Bayeux Tapestry, c. 1070. Source: Bayeux MuseumAt some point in the late afternoon, Harold Godwinson was killed. It seems likely that an arrow was shot through his eye as depicted in the Bayeux Tapestry, at which point he may have been attacked by Norman soldiers. The bodies of his brothers, Leofwine and Gyrth, were found at his side, meaning either that they died earlier and were brought to him, or that they stood with him at the end. In any case, the English army appears to have begun to collapse after the death of their leader. Some stood and fought at a site known thereafter as Evil Ditch, implying perhaps that a massacre took place.Perhaps as many as half of the English who fought at Hastings died, including the flower of the countrys native elite. Harolds body was identified the following day, possibly by his wife, Edith Swan-Neck. We do not know for sure what became of his body. William refused to allow Harolds mother, Gytha, to give him a Christian burial. Two contemporary accounts claim he was mockingly buried on a cliff so that he could continue to guard against invasion. Many choose to believe the story told by the monks of Waltham Abbey, founded by Harold, that they found the body of the last Anglo-Saxon king and buried him there.The burning of an English house, Bayeux Tapestry, c. 1070. Source: Bayeux MuseumWilliam expected a quick surrender from London and the remaining English elite, but they instead elected Edgar the Atheling, a descendant of Alfred the Great, as king. Nevertheless, there was no meaningful, protracted resistance. William was crowned king at Westminster on Christmas Day. Rebellions erupted throughout the rest of the decade, culminating in the bloody and tragic Harrying of the North in 1069 and 1070. As much as 75% of the population of the region may have died. Some historians have labeled it tantamount to genocide, and it has even been blamed for the Norths economic struggles to this day.Aftermath: Norman EnglandPlaque marking the spot where Harold Godwinson died on Senlac Hill, Battle Abbey, 2006. Source: Wikimedia CommonsIt had been fashionable until recently to diminish the significance of the Battle of Hastings, suggesting that it did not fundamentally change England or the course of history. However, most scholars now agree that it is hard to underestimate the impact of the battle. The entire English ruling class, including nobles, thegns, and bishops, was dispossessed in favor of a new Francophone elite. This had a dramatic effect on the distribution of land and wealth, the class structure, and the language, leaving the English banished from government until the 14th century. The English became second-class citizens in their own country and would remain so for some time. It also changed the physical landscape, as modest English churches became Gothic Norman cathedrals, and imposing stone castles began to proliferate across the country.In the longer term, because of Williams holdings in France, England would be embroiled for centuries in the affairs of its continental neighbor. The Normans also expanded beyond the borders of England into Wales and Ireland, but more peacefully into Scotland. Some see this early imperialism, plus the competition with France, as the ultimate origins of British colonialism. In the 17th century, intellectuals began associating the Norman yoke with the loss of ancient English liberty, which helped inspire the English Civil War, the Glorious Revolution, and eventually the American Revolution. In many ways, then, the implications of this ancient battle still reverberate to this day.

Popularly known for its bright-colored decorations and ornamental sugar skulls, the Day of the Dead is among the most celebrated and highly anticipated holidays in Mexican culture. With origins in the Catholic All Saints Day, el Da de los Muertos is a celebration of the dead influenced by both Spanish culture, imported from Europe, and ancient Aztec customs dating back centuries. Today, Day of the Dead celebrations involve days-long festivals during which celebrants visit the graves of deceased ancestors and spend time with friends and family.What Is the Day of the Dead?Four Calaveras, Patssi Valdez, 1998. Source: The Mexican Museum, San Francisco, CA.By far the most famous and iconic Mexican holiday, the Day of the Dead takes place on November 1 and 2. As the name implies, el Da de los Muertos is a celebration of the dead. Friends and families gather to honor deceased relatives, loved ones, and even long-past ancestors. It is believed that during this time, the dead can come back to Earth to visit the living. And the living welcome them with open arms.While the subject of death may seem a rather dark theme to foreigners, the Day of the Dead is a colorful, joyful, and generally light-hearted holiday. The streets are decorated with brightly colored papel picado (perforated paper), and painted sugar skulls are made and exchanged between friends. Homemade altars with skull imagery are set up in the home to welcome the dead with offerings (ofrendas) such as food, alcohol, and toys.Over the centuries, el Da de los Muertos has expanded far beyond the theme of honoring the dead to become a community celebration that celebrates life as much as death. Festivals are held where sweet treats are abundant, particularly the aptly named pan de muerto or bread of death, and people dress up as the dead with painted faces. In its essence, Da de Muertos celebrates the balance between life and death, acknowledging their relationship without dread.An Age-Old Tradition: History & Origins of Day of the DeadPhotograph of Aztec dancers in a Day of the Dead parade in Los Angeles, Richard Vogel, 2021. Source: The AtlanticThe Day of the Dead falls close to Halloween because it comes from the traditional Catholic holidays of All Saints Day (November 1st) and All Souls Day (November 2nd). Dating back to the Middle Ages in Europe, November 2nd was set aside to commemorate the dead and perform special prayers in their honor. Meanwhile, Halloween evolved out of the Celtic festival of Samhain and made its way into the Catholic calendar on All Hallows Eve, October 31.But what makes Mexicos holiday unique is the indigenous influence of Mesoamerican customs. European conquistadors brought the Catholic traditions of Halloween, All Saints Day, and All Souls Day with them, and they were combined with Aztec traditions surrounding death to create something completely new in a process known as syncretism.La Calavera Catrina, by Jose Guadalupe Posada (1910). Source: The Grace MuseumThe Aztec origin of Da de los Muertos was a spiritual holiday celebrating the Lady of the Dead, Mictcacihutl, Queen of Mictln (the underworld). The Aztecs believed that she watched over the bones of past lives, which were used to create new life in the land of the living. Once a year, she ascended to the land of the living to make sure the bones were being cared for properly. Upon her arrival, the Aztecs held celebrations for the death with dance and food to thank her for her protection.When the Spanish arrived and began forcing conversion, they fused Aztec traditions with their own Catholic holidays for the dead, All Saints Day and All Souls Day. It was a Spanish tradition for families to decorate graves, bring food for the dead, and light the way for the dead to return to their families.In modern Dia de los Muertos celebrations, Mictcacihutl has been replaced by La Calavera Catrina, a skeleton woman wearing a European hat adorned with flowers and feathers.Honoring the Dead: Da de los Muertos Celebrations & CustomsPhotograph of relatives spending the night at the graves of loved ones, Eduardo Verdugo, 2021. Source: The AtlanticThe Day of the Dead actually spans the period from October 31st to November 2nd. On the last night of October and into the early morning hours of November 1st, groups of families and friends will march together to local cemeteries to hold vigil through the night at the graves of those theyve lost. Candles, flowers, and other personalized goods and food are brought to the graveyard to be offered at the resting places of the deceased.The living sit among the dead for hours to welcome them back to Earth. In some places, this vigil is held on the 2nd of November instead and is known as La Llorada (The Mourning). When morning comes, the living and the dead both return to the home for more light-hearted observations of the holiday.Day of the Dead Ofrenda altar. Source: Los Angeles Public LibraryThe home is the site of the most beloved cultural custom associated with this holiday: the ofrenda. Home altars dedicated to dead relatives and ancestors will feature images of lost loved ones along with offerings like food and toys. This will lead the visiting souls into the home to spend time amongst their living counterparts.In urban centers like Mexico City, blow-out celebrations can include parades and concerts in colorfully decorated streets teeming with tourists looking for an authentic experience. Friends will write humorous poems for each other, known as calaveritas (little skulls). These playful verses will poke fun at or honor the living subject as though they have already passed away. Calaveritas can also be written about celebrities, public figures, and even politicians as a form of comedy or satire.Heart of the Celebration: The OfrendaCovid Memorial Ofrenda, Alejandro Garca Nelo, 2021. Source: National Museum of Mexican Art, Chicago, IL.By far, the most popular way to celebrate the Day of the Dead is by creating an altar dedicated to loved ones who have passed.These home altars are called ofrendas in reference to the offerings that are left for the deceased, welcoming them into the home on the day they return to earth. Families will come together to assemble food, drinks, trinkets, and toys for those theyve lost. In addition to pictures of those who have passed, the ofrenda typically includes local fruits, fresh flowers (especially marigolds, the flower of the dead), herbs, sweets, and pan de muerto, which resembles white bones.Dia de Muertos in Juarez, by Daniela Martinez. Source: UnsplashThese treats are typically personalized, for example, featuring a late grandmothers favorite meal or a bottle of a dead great uncles favorite tequila. Since it is generally believed that the returning spirits cannot actually eat or drink the offerings, the idea is that their souls will bask in the familiar aromas they enjoyed in life. Fresh flowers and home-cooked meals are the best for this. It is easy to imagine how the deceased would relish the strong smell of freshly picked marigolds, or hot tamales put out for them by their loved ones.As well as making offerings in the home, public displays are curated for community members, historical figures, and modern celebrities who have passed away. Ofrendas have appeared in schools, historic sites, and even museums and art galleries, where they have become more like exhibits. This cultural practice has even been imported into the United States in recent decades by Chicano and Mexican communities throughout the country.Da de los Muertos & Halloween: Rival IdentitiesPhotograph of a mural reading No to Halloween and Preserve your traditions in Morelos, Mexico, Stanley Brandes, 1995. Source: Journal of American FolkloreThe Day of the Dead has a lot in common with the American celebration of Halloween. Taking place on October 31st, Halloween is based on the millennia-old pagan holiday of Samhain. Celebrated by the Gaelic peoples in Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man, Samhain was a New Year holiday held on November 1st. The Celtic belief was that Samhain was the one day of the year on which the spirits of the dead were allowed to return to Earth to roam amongst the living.Although Samhain was celebrated on the 1st of November, it technically began at sunset on October 31st. This long-held pagan belief that the dead would return on the last night of October lasted through the transition to Christianity, eventually becoming what is now playfully celebrated as Halloween.In recent decades, the American tradition of Halloween has begun creeping into Mexico. Because the Day of the Dead has become so closely tied with Mexican identity, Halloween is viewed by many as Americas influence encroaching on Mexicos unique culture. Urban communities have begun embracing the American customs, while rural Mexicans stick by El Da de los Muertos and reject the foreign influence of Halloween.A Sunday Afternoon on Alameda Central, Diego Rivera, 1947. Source: Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes y Literatura, MexicoInstitutions like churches and local governments have, in the past, discouraged Halloween celebrations. They instead encourage Day of the Dead celebrations like public ofrenda displays. Others, however, continue to embrace the merging of the two holidays and accept the influence of their neighboring country as a harmless addition to their long-practiced festivities.Regardless of these influences, el Da de los Muertos remains a uniquely Mexican holiday that embraces death with open arms, and fresh tamales.

In 1990, the Leaning Tower of Pisa closed to the public. The building had been steadily subsiding southward since the late 20th century, and engineers feared it was on the verge of collapsing. That the white marble structure would not be like a regular tower had been clear from the beginning. In the 12th century, when the Leaning Tower of Pisa was only three stories high, the leaning problem was already evident. Subsequent attempts to straighten it were all unsuccessful, resulting in the peculiar banana shape of the tower. Read on to discover more about the Leaning Tower of Pisa.Why Is the Leaning Tower of Pisa Leaning?A photo of the Leaning Tower of Pisa in 2024. Source: Wikimedia CommonsItalian writer Gianni Rodari described the Leaning Tower of Pisa as a necessary and beautiful mistake, declaring: Mistakes are necessary, useful as bread and often also beautiful: for example the tower of Pisa. Indeed, while most towers stand tall, the worldwide fame of this medieval structure stems from its odd shape and noticeable southward slope. Inventing creative holding up poses has become almost a must for the millions of tourists who visit the tower every year. But why exactly does the Leaning Tower of Pisa lean?Geological studies have shown that the leaning is due to a foundation problem. Like the entire plane of Pisa, the subsoil of the square where the tower is located is made by lagoon and marsh deposits that consist of silts, clays, and fine sands intercalated with the wind-borne sands of the ancient coastal dunes.Image showing the tilt of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, by University of Ferrara/CyArk. Source: Wikimedia CommonsGeotechnical engineers have identified four distinct layers in the soil beneath the Leaning Tower of Pisa, each with its unique properties. Estuarine deposits, such as sands and clays, make up most of the upper layer. The second layer, which reaches a depth of about 131 feet, consists of marine clays. According to experts, the pliable upper clays (known as Pancone in Italian) are responsible for the foundation problem that resulted in the southward inclination of the tower.Professor John Burland of Imperial College London, one of the engineers leading the restoration efforts, likened the soil under the Leaning Tower of Pisa to a soft carpet. After reaching a critical weight and height, it starts to compress, causing a leaning instability to the structure. Indeed, the tower began to lean (first northward and then southward) in the early stages of its construction. A sudden halt in the construction due to a series of wars likely saved the initial stores from collapse, as it allowed the foundation to settle.Where in Italy is the Leaning Tower of Pisa Located?Aerial view of Piazza dei Miracoli showing the Baptistery, Cathedral, and Tower of Pisa, photograph by Guglielmo Giambartolomei, 2020. Source: Wikimedia CommonsThe city of Pisa, where the tower is located, lies in Tuscany on the plain of the Arno River, about 50 miles west of Florence. First a Roman colony and then a Christian bishopric, Pisa, unlike many other Italian cities, managed to survive the fall of the Roman Empire. Due to its proximity to the Tyrrhenian Sea and fertile hinterland, Pisa became a flourishing commercial center in the 11th century.In 1016, with the assistance of Genoa, the Pisans forced the Saracens out of Sardinia. Then, in 1063, Pisa widened its hold on the Mediterranean Sea by sacking Muslim Palermo. In the 12th century, the citys traders established several settlements in Syria during the Crusades. By then, Pisa had become a major naval power in the Italian peninsula, rivaling cities such as Venice and Genoa.Image of the Leaning Tower of Pisa showing the classical capitals and blind arches, photograph by AJ Butler, 2008. Source: Wikimedia CommonsAs Pisas political strength grew, so did the wealth and civic pride of its residents. Work on the Cathedral began in 1063 in what would later be known as Piazza dei Miracoli (Square of Miracles). A testament to the citys identity and power, the cathedral was built using materials from the Roman monuments as if to depict Pisa as a second Rome. On the facade, an engraving tells visitors that the treasures pillaged from Palermo funded the buildings construction. In 1152, the city began erecting a circular Baptistery near the Cathedral. The Camposanto (cemetery), founded in 1277, was the last monument added to the square before the tower.The Piazza dei Miracoli derives its evocative name from a passage in Gabriele DAnnunzios Forse che s forse che no (Maybe Yes, Maybe No). In the 1910 novel, the story of the passionate affair between Paolo Tarsis and Isabella Inghirami, DAnnunzio mentioned the square while describing Paolos flight over Pisa: The Ardea [the name of the plane] circled in Christs sky, over the prato dei Miracoli [meadow of miracles]. In 1987, the square was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site list.When Was the Leaning Tower of Pisa Built?A map of Pisa in 1540, by Jacopo Filippo Foresti. Source: Wikimedia CommonsAccording to Giorgio Vasaris 16th-century The Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, Guglielmo in the year 1174, together with the sculptor Bonanno, laid the foundations of the belfry of the cathedral in Pisa. There is little record of the construction process, but a carving on the entrance of the tower states that work began in August 1173.A sculptor active in Pisa in the 11th century, Bonanno later created the bronze Porta Reale (destroyed by a fire in 1595) and Porta San Ranieri for the Cathedral. In the 19th century, fragments of a funerary inscription with his name were found at the foot of the tower. His signature, Bonanno civis pisanus (Bonanno Pisan citizen), is also carved on the gate of Monreale Cathedral in Palermo, Sicily. In 2019, Giulia Ammannati, a researcher at the Scuola Normale Superiore of Pisa, confirmed Vasaris attribution to Bonanno while restoring the full text carved in the funerary inscription: I who, surely, have erected, founding it, an admirable work, am the Pisan citizen named Bonanno.The first three floors of the tower were constructed between 1173 and 1178. The structure was meant to act as the bell tower of the nearby Cathedral. After the masons added the third floor, however, the foundation began to settle unevenly, and the tilt became immediately visible. As masons and architects began to work on a solution to the leaning problem, construction came to a halt. Indeed, a ca. 1233 parchment containing the first known depiction of the Leaning Tower of Pisa shows the initial three floors topped by a dome.A hypothetical map of Pisa in the 11th century. Source: Wikimedia CommonsIn the 1280s, architect Giovanni di Simone resumed work at the tower and attempted to correct the inclination by making the new floors taller on the buildings shorter side. Di Simones efforts, however, were disappointing as the tower sank deeper into the ground. Thus, construction paused again. The uneven height of the marble blocks also resulted in a banana-shaped structure, with the bell chamber slightly closer to the perpendicular than the base.Meanwhile, the rivalry between Pisa and Genoa worsened, as both maritime republics sought to control the trading routes connecting the Tyrrhenian Sea with Sicily, North Africa, and the Middle East. Around 1282, war broke out between the two cities. Two years later, in August 1284, the two rival fleets clashed in the Battle of Meloria, one of the biggest naval battles of the Middle Ages. The day ended with Pisas defeat.Despite its defeat, the city managed to retain its independence and remained a leading Tuscan center in the 13th and 14th centuries. It came under Florences control in 1406. In the 1380s, Simone Pisano finally completed the tower, bringing to a close a centuries-long, arduous construction process. The tower stood 185 feet high and weighed 14.453 tonnes, and it was still leaning.Whats Inside the Leaning Tower of Pisa?The first staircase leading to the sixth floor of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, photograph by Joanbanjo, 2011. Source: Wikimedia CommonsThe Leaning Tower of Pisa has a hollow cylindrical body. Two staircases, totalling 294 steps, lead to the top of the tower. The first one starts from the base and reaches the sixth floor, where a second narrower helical ramp leads visitors to the bell chamber. As in many Romanesque-style buildings, a series of feritoie (single-lancet windows) in the walls allow for dim lighting. The steps show signs of erosion in the middle after centuries of use.The bell chamber offers visitors a panoramic view of Piazza dei Miracoli and Sienas city center. There, it is also possible to take a closer look at the seven bells, one for each musical note: Assunta, Crucifix, San Ranieri, Dal Pozzo, Pasquareccia, Terza, and Vespuccio. Originally named Giustizia, the San Ranieri bell (named after Pisas patron saint) was once located in the Palazzo di Giustizia (Courthouse), where it rang to announce the sentencing of a traitor to death. At the center of the chamber, a glass panel covering an opening in the floor adds some light to the dimly lit interior.Upon stepping into the entrance, the Leaning Tower of Pisas slope is immediately noticeable, as the floor is inclined southward. The tilt of the structure remains visible while climbing the stairs.Will the Leaning Tower of Pisa Fall?A late 19th-century engraving of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Source: Wikimedia Commons/Library of Congress, Washington DCOver the centuries, several architects and engineers tried to find a way to reduce the Leaning Tower of Pisas tilt. Around 1838, Alessandro Gherardesca added a marble walkway around the construction, believing it would help strengthen the foundation. The excavation, however, nearly caused the tower to collapse. Equally unsuccessful was the 1934 attempt to stabilize the base with grout injections. The towers lean continued to grow.At the end of the 1980s, the Leaning Tower of Pisa was tilting 5.5 degrees (about 15 feet) from its perpendicular. In 1989, its tilt increased from 0.04 inches to 0.08 inches. Despite the injection of grout and various reinforcements, it became clear that the famous Italian hallmark was in danger of collapse. Thus, in 1990, the tower was closed to the public for nearly 12 years, as geotechnical engineers embarked on a delicate restoration process.While previous stabilization projects had tried to add cement and weights to straighten the tower, this time, the engineering team opted to extract the soil from beneath its foundation. First suggested in 1962 by Leonardo Terracina, the method of underexcavation had already been employed to correct the lean of bell towers in England and Holland.Lead weights placed near the towers base during the stabilization work, photograph by Rolf Gebhardt, 1998. Source: Wikimedia CommonsThe drilling program in Pisa began in February 1999. For the next three years, 41 corkscrews extracted soils from the south side of the tower. At the same time, lead weights were added on the north side and steel cables attached to the third floor to prevent the tower from falling in case something went wrong.Initially, the extraction seemed to be unsuccessful. Then, the tower finally began to rotate toward its north side. By June 2000, the medieval structures leaning had been corrected by six inches. In 2001, the restoration project ended, and the tower reopened to the public.With the stabilization work, the tower is expected to remain stable for about 200 or 300 years. As long as its center of gravity falls within its base, the Leaning Tower of Pisa will remain standing. Today, a series of sensors ensures the structures stability, and the biggest threat to its survival is the possibility of a strong earthquake hitting Tuscany or Pisa.

The longevity of Pokmon as a series is incredibly interesting to me. Its one of the few franchises which has survived since the very beginning of gaming as we know it, and continues to be an absolute juggernaut to this day. For every underwhelming release, GameFreak will respond a few years later with a game which blows everyone out of the water Pokmon Z-A is the latest as of writing and is nothing short of spectacular.

Baldur's Gate 3 is all about adventuring, which typically means you will find some neat loot if you look in enough places and complete enough quests. You can find everything from common magical items to the most legendary of items that will help you, whether you are a fighter, wizard, druid, or bard.