A team of scientists have discovered what appears to be DNA in a dinosaur fossil dating back 125 million years, though some experts have advised caution when reviewing the findings.

Palaeontologist researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences published a paper on Communications Biology detailing the DNA discovery, which was found within a portion of cartilage from a Caudipteryx specimen. This peacock-sized theropod dinosaur inhabited the Jehol Biota – in what is now Liaoning in northeast China – during the Early Cretaceous period.

The team extracted a piece of cartilage from the right femur of the specimen, then, under a microscope, they treated the cells with chemicals called hematoxylin and eosin, which are used to stain and light up different tissue structures. The same staining method was applied to cartilage cells from a chicken to compare results between the two samples.

Both specimens reacted to the dyes in the exact same way, with one dinosaur chondrocyte revealing a nucleus with fossilized threads of chromatin — a complex of DNA and protein. However, Chemistry World says some experts think the staining technique is "not precise enough to indicate whether certain compounds are present."

"We are obviously interested in fossilized cell nuclei because this is where most of the DNA should be if DNA was preserved," Alida Bailleul, corresponding author of the study, said in a press release. "So, we have good preliminary data, very exciting data, but we are just starting to understand cellular biochemistry in very old fossils. At this point, we need to work more."

Bailleul recognizes that the data from this most recent study is just a "starting" point to strengthen their understanding of DNA preservation, with further research needed to support their findings. Whatever comes from any future research, Bailleul says dinosaur cloning will always remain a fantasy, even if scientists end up having "their entire genome sequenced."

This isn't the first time that scientists have recorded finding biomolecules in ancient dino fossils. Last year, a group from the same academy discovered organic material within 75-million-year-old dinosaur fossils, including cartilage cells, proteins, chromosomes, and DNA. A few years before that, Imperial College London found blood cells in a fossilized dinosaur claw.

Adele Ankers is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow her on Twitter.

An officially licensed Resident Evil board game has crowdfunded over $900,000 after a highly successful start on Kickstarter.

Having launched on October 26, the game's campaign quickly smashed through its initial funding goal of £100,000 – that's around $137,000. With 15 days left of its crowdfunding drive still to go, that target now seems a distant memory. At the time of writing, the co-op horror game has just eclipsed $900,000 and it doesn't look to be slowing down.

Brace yourselves for terror — Resident Evil: The Board Game is live NOW on Kickstarter!https://t.co/rhjCrBwDWq

— Steamforged Games (@SteamforgedLtd) October 26, 2021

Resident Evil: The Board Game is being created by veteran tabletop company Steamforged Games in partnership with Capcom. Steamforged is certainly no stranger to the franchise, having previously worked on board games for Resident Evil 2 & 3. It has also made other tabletop games linked to different video game franchises including Horizon: Zero Dawn and Dark Souls, so it looks like the project is in pretty safe hands.

In its latest pursuit into Capcom's esteemed franchise, the tabletop creator will take players back to where the series began, with the upcoming board game based upon the 2002 remake of the original Resident Evil.

Steamforged says that players will "step into the boots of a S.T.A.R.S member and enter the sinister Spencer Mansion to uncover the horrifying truths within." While exploring the area, players will need to "search for secrets and survivors," navigate an open world "crawling with enemies" and ensure their survival all while the game's danger level rises around them.

When checking out the Kickstarter, fans currently have two different pledge options that they can pay for in order to receive a copy of the game at launch. Starting at £72 (around $100) the game's Bravo Pledge guarantees players a copy of the core Resident Evil board game as well as all of its unlocked goals. A more pricey option also exists in the campaigns Alpha Pledge, which not only guarantees fans access to the core game and unlock goals but also a number of additional expansions and exclusive add-ons.

In other related news, this isn't the first time of late that members of the S.T.A.R.S team have made it back into the public spotlight. Epic Games' Fortnite recently added Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine into the game as part of a collaboration with Capcom to celebrate all things spooky. For more on Resident Evil make sure to check out this article detailing how Resident Evil 7 has become the first game in the series to ship 10 million copies.

Jared Moore is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter

Epos makes good gaming headsets. Emerging from the Demant and Sennheiser split, the company had a history with developing audio-based devices prior to its 2019 debut. The major emphasis was seemingly always on sound quality over everything else.

Being able to hear and be heard are the two of the most important features of any headset. And while none of Epos’s headsets have landed on our Best Gaming Headset list, they’re known to excel in this regard. That’s certainly the case with the company’s solidly built H6Pro, a wired headset that’s only hindered by an uncomfortable fit.

Epos H6Pro – Design and Features

The Epos H6Pro comes in two variations: a closed and open acoustic model (the latter of which was used for this review). Both offer a sturdy, lightweight frame with a slim metal headband wrapped in soft padding. Thick plastic surrounds the adjustable portions, which connect at the earcups via a 2-axis hinge. The cups’ similar plastic and metal combo is offset by thick memory foam padding and the open acoustic design. At a glance, the H6Pro looks rather sleek.

The earcups are nearly bare; besides the boom mic and a large circular volume dial, there aren’t any external buttons or switches. This helps in providing seamless lines, where the aesthetics bleed into one another for an overall uniformed appearance. There are some bits that stand out though. For instance, the left cup features a magnetized surface that secures either the detachable mic or a metal plated cover. Below that is where the headset’s cables connect – either a PC cable (that splits into the green/pink headset/mic plugs) or a 3.5mm cable for console and mobile device use. The right cup sports the volume dial that, without its slightly raised notches, would otherwise go unnoticed.

Unique to this build is the open acoustic design. Each earcup has a breathable top half that mitigates some of the heat that builds up during play. They also allow the transfer of exterior sound, making it easier to hear whatever’s going on in a player’s immediate surroundings. Speaking of sound, the H6Pro has strong inner components. While I can’t speak on Epos’ claim of having the best transducers on the market, I can say that this headset produces high quality audio. The biggest explosions, the faintest footsteps, team chatter – it was possible to hear it all with minimal effort in most cases. Just plug in the H6Pro and go.

Epos H6Pro – Performance

The H6Pro is compatible with the Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, PC and mobile devices, all via 3.5mm connection. No matter what platform I tested it on, it performed splendidly. I could easily communicate with other players in various games or through apps like Discord. The headset’s mic always picked up my voice. Unless of course, I wanted to mute myself by raising it up towards the headband. Lowering the mic back down would prompt a nice “click” letting me know I could be heard again.

On the flipside, when it came to in-game sounds, the H6Pro kept me immersed. This proved beneficial when playing games like Back 4 Blood; it was possible to avoid getting pounced on when you can hear enemies lurking around corners. The headset seems to push all sounds forward with little to no overlap. This is boosted by virtual surround sound options on consoles – Windows Sonic and 3D audio/Tempest for the Xbox X/S, PS4, and PS5 – and supposedly through the Epos Gaming Suite, when paired with the company’s GSX 300 external sound card (sold separately).

While the H6Pro was great to use with various consoles, including the Switch, it performed best when connected to my PC. Just being able to fine tune the sound gave that set up the edge. And that’s without using the Epos Gaming Suite. This is partially due to the lack of external features on the H6Pro and how the Xbox One, Xbox X/S, PS4, and PS5 are designed.

There are no toggles or switches on the H6Pro that control a console’s chat mixer. Meaning that you’ll have to manually change the volume of chat opposite of in-game sounds via your console’s audio settings. The problem here is that not all of them are created equal. On Microsoft’s consoles, there’s a chat mixer that becomes available after you’ve plugged in a wired headset. The same with Sony. The difference is that Sony’s consoles only seem to allow you to either change all audio (to hear chat and game or just the chat) or audio within a party.

What this means is that, as long as I’m in party chat on a PS4/5, I can separate chat from in-game sounds. This also works if I empathize in-game chat over my party. But this effect stops working when I leave a party. On my Xbox One and Xbox Series X though, the mixer controls all chat. No matter where I am or what game I’m playing, I’m able to tweak what sounds are heard. All of this would be negated if the H6Pro had exterior functions that could adjust these settings by itself.

To be fair, this isn’t a huge problem as most wired mics don’t have these chat mixer features. And considering that most people tend to hang out in party chat, regardless of their preferred console, I doubt anyone will really notice. That said, Microsoft gets the edge when it comes to fine tuning chat when playing with random gamers online.

When it comes to hearing and being heard, the H6Pro shines. I especially liked the open acoustic design as it kept me engaged with my surroundings without taking me out of the action. Unfortunately, my gaming sessions with this headset were always short lived due to its tight fit. The 2-axis hinge is supposed to help the H6Pro conform to your head. The mechanism doesn’t seem to actually give very much though, resulting in a ton of pressure; I had to remove my glasses at one point because of the pain from the cups being pressed against my skull. This might not be an issue for everyone, but for me at least, despite having memory foam covered cups and a somewhat flexible frame, the H6Pro was very uncomfortable to wear.

Fena: Pirate Princess Season 1 is now available to stream on Crunchyroll, Adult Swim's website, and VRV.

When a show has the words "Pirate Princess" in its title, there are certain promises and expectations of royalty and swashbuckling being made. Sure, the show can subvert expectations, but a show about Batman should at some point have Batman in it, right? Though the first co-production between Crunchyroll and Adult Swim offers plenty of pirate fun and high-seas adventures, viewers should know that a show about a pirate princess, this is not. Instead, this is the closest we've come to a Da Vinci Code anime, with reincarnations, secret organizations, and religious treasure hunts that culminate in an ending that brings to mind the final choice of Mass Effect 3.

Fena: Pirate Princess takes place in a fantastical alternate version of the 18th century, full of ninjas and pirates, where high-tech submarines and ironclads are frequent sights in the high seas and machine guns are as common as muskets and cutlasses. It is here that we meet Fena Houtman, a young orphan who decides to take fate into her own hands, escape a life of forced sex work, and join a band of ninjas to look for treasure — and also possibly El Dorado and the Garden of Eden or something.

Production I.G's work on Fena really shows why they are one of the biggest anime studios working today. If nothing else, this truly is a marvel to look at. The character designs are memorable and distinct, and the action is dynamic and fluid, fully delivering on the swashbuckling sword and gunfights you'd want out of a pirate/ninja anime. Likewise, the show boasts some of the most beautiful environments in animation this year. Every new location is different than the one before and instantly recognizable, whether it's Germany, England, or Shangri-La, with grand vistas and detailed backgrounds that sell the epic adventure we're embarking with imagery alone.

But pretty vistas don't make a show. The reason we embark on the adventure is that Fena is a fantastic and charismatic character, with infectious energy and great chemistry with the rest of the cast, who are a delight to follow episode by episode. Likewise, the contrast between the violent fights and cartoony visual gags works rather well. The problem is that Fena has next to nothing to do on her own show. For a series that started out with the promise of a main character who is no one's damsel in distress, a heroine in a world where the only historical pirates are women, Fena never really does anything but get kidnapped, ask for help from the men in her life, and have the plot explained to her.

Though Fena: Pirate Princess makes it clear from the start that it is an alternate world, the show includes plenty of callbacks and references to real history to keep fans of the Golden Age of Piracy busy, especially once we are introduced to an all-female pirate crew. That being said, this is no Vinland Saga, so don't expect the show to be super concerned with staying true to history either.

The first few episodes do a great job in building an old-fashioned pirate treasure hunt, with surprising twists and turns that raise the stakes while staying in line with this heightened world. After all, the Pirates of the Caribbean movies started with an army of the dead and only got crazier from there. But as the season went on, it introduced more and more ludicrous ideas that make it resemble The Da Vinci Code more than a pirate adventure, leaving the swashbuckling fun behind in favor of one-upping the twists and turns of the previous episode. Though there are still some good character moments and the action never stops, the last two episodes introduce so many new ideas and themes out of nowhere that brings to mind the ending of Mass Effect 3 or even Game of Thrones, leaving plot threads open in favor of a grand statement it never justifies.

Hypnotic premieres Wednesday, Oct. 27 on Netflix.

Midnight Mass' Kate Siegel stars in Netflix's new chiller, Hypnotic, about a woman who falls victim to a conniving, cruel therapist and his post-hypnotism triggers. Siegel, a stalwart member of Mike Flanagan's "Flanagang," impressively elevates a lot of this film, but ultimately can't save it from feeling like an outdated, bare-minimum thriller designed to take up space in a sea of streaming fare.

Just the premise alone — an evil hypnotist — feels excessively yesteryear, when fewer people would have known the broad basics of hypnosis, and turning that particular therapeutic practice into something menacing would feel more subversive and fresh. Just coming off like a movie that was written decades ago — especially in the '90s when there were a ton of psychological thrillers where someone seemingly normal in a person's life was a psycho (The Hand that Rocks the Cradle, Pacific Heights, Single White Female, etc.) — gives this one a toothless timestamp.

That's what you get with Hypnotic: all the familiar beats from all those past movies, including people thinking the hero is mentally unwell, friends and loved ones getting taken out for snooping, and a weirdly neat wrap-up considering the lives lost and questions raised.

Siegel, who's been nothing short of mesmerizing in her husband Mike Flanagan's Netflix fare (Hush, which she leads and collaborates on, is particularly fiendish and fun), plays a woman recovering from a tragedy, Jenn, who decides to give therapy a whirl. Jason O'Mara (Marvel's Agents of SHIELD, The Man in the High Castle) plays Dr. Meade, a psychologist who, within a few lines of dialogue, suggests to Jenn that she be hypnotized on the spot, in her first session. This is brought up here only to note how the film also, for the sake of plot, doesn't pay much heed to how therapy works either.

In the subsequent weeks. Jenn finds herself having weird dreams and then actually losing time. It all leads to Jenn digging into past crimes involving accusations against a rogue hypnotherapist, a trustworthy detective who's sort of half on the case (played by Psych's Dule Hill), and the realization that she's now powerless against Dr. Meade because he can shut her down with a single word.

Now, there are for sure moments within this movie that are born of true terror, including the sheer idea of being utterly helpless and paralyzed and at the feet of a madman. It's not unlike the phobia of being awake during surgery — being conscious, trapped, and in torment. But Hypnotic, designed to be a rather middling tale with dulled edges, doesn't make the most of those moments from a horror standpoint. It offers up only muted stakes and mild danger.

Siegel is great at drawing out the most from very little, but her character is still short-sighted here. Perhaps it's because we've grown accustomed to her having such well-crafted and meaty roles in series like Midnight Mass and The Haunting of Hill House that it's become more notable when she has to work harder to make a role feel more layered than it is. But the film itself, too, is a very quick and easy by-the-numbers story that pulls too many punches and plays things too safe to be memorable. When Dr. Meade's full plan is revealed, the silliness sort of escalates to a new level as he's transformed from an empty suit villain into something more ridiculous and cartoonish.