Dark Forces, Chiral Walls: Exploring a New QCD Transition
![The system explores domain-wall profiles within a [latex]Z(3)[/latex] symmetry, demonstrating how chiral backreaction influences their structure and evolution as a natural consequence of the system’s inherent decay.](https://arxiv.org/html/2601.15342v1/Fig4_PRL_pretty.png)
A new theoretical model details how the interplay of confinement and chiral symmetry breaking shapes phase transitions within a hidden sector governed by dark QCD.
![The system explores domain-wall profiles within a [latex]Z(3)[/latex] symmetry, demonstrating how chiral backreaction influences their structure and evolution as a natural consequence of the system’s inherent decay.](https://arxiv.org/html/2601.15342v1/Fig4_PRL_pretty.png)
A new theoretical model details how the interplay of confinement and chiral symmetry breaking shapes phase transitions within a hidden sector governed by dark QCD.

Dungeon Masters who’ve been running games for a while often use challenging non-player characters (NPCs) to create tricky traps, puzzles, and stories for their players. However, it doesn’t always go as planned! I spoke with a DM named Oskar about some of the Dungeons & Dragons NPCs that he and others enjoy using to surprise and challenge their players.

Because this is a limited, special edition of the game, the cover art for the regular version hasn’t been revealed yet. You’ll be able to pre-order the game starting January 30th, just one week from now.

Guillermo del Toro has always been a fan of H.P. Lovecraft, especially the story At the Mountains of Madness. He announced in 2010 that he’d finally gotten the go-ahead to make it into a movie, a project he’d dreamed of for years. However, little news has surfaced since then, and it appears Hollywood is reluctant to approve the film. Despite del Toro’s continued efforts, the movie remains stuck in development, potentially indefinitely.

A new framework leverages the power of locally-run artificial intelligence to identify security vulnerabilities hidden within Python code’s looping structures.

At the time of writing (and wiping one’s brow), ENA was trading at $0.17, down a heart-stopping 20% on the weekly chart. The downtrend, now in its fourth week, shows all the resilience of a soggy biscuit. Yet amid this desolation, a curious thing occurred: the whales-those blubbery leviathans of the investment deep-poked their snouts above water and began noisily sucking up ENA like it was plankton at an all-you-can-eat buffet.

Here’s a look at some of the most anticipated horror games scheduled for release in 2026. While exact dates aren’t available for every game, they are all confirmed to launch this year, with some arriving in just a few weeks. If you’re a fan of scary games, this is a roundup of the biggest titles coming out over the next year.

For years, Game Freak, the developer of Pokemon, has faced criticism for the series’ technical and visual limitations. Their new game, Beast of Reincarnation, is a significant shift, boasting the high production values and impressive graphics expected from a modern, top-tier game. It’s a departure from the more cartoonish style typically seen in their games, including the Pokemon series. The story follows Emma the Sealer and her dog, Koo, as they journey across a ruined Japan to defeat a corrupted being. Gameplay is also dramatically different for the studio, offering an action RPG experience with a fast-paced combat system similar to games like Black Myth: Wukong and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.

The popular manga and anime series One Piece is nearing its conclusion, and the final story arc is introducing long-awaited, incredibly powerful characters like Shanks and the Five Elders. These formidable figures, naturally, possess unique and impressive abilities.

Okay, so the Purple Emperor bug? That one gave me a headache at first! You need to find it on Day 12 in Heartopia, and let me tell you, it’s not a simple catch. Heartopia is massive, and this bug isn’t just anywhere. It only shows up in specific spots, and to make it even harder, it also needs certain weather conditions to spawn. It can be super frustrating when you’re running around aimlessly, but trust me, once you learn where to look and when to be there, it gets way easier. I’m going to walk you through exactly how I finally caught mine in Heartopia.