×
Dynamic Duo Zuckerberg and Palmer Luckey Reunite for Army Combat Goggles Contract

Dynamic Duo Zuckerberg and Palmer Luckey Reunite for Army Combat Goggles Contract

Despite spending billions of dollars to make it happen, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Oculus founder Palmer Luckey were never able to make virtual reality a profitable consumer product. Teamed up again, the pair have found an audience that is more comfortable with spending lots of money for slow development timelines and little return: the US Army. According to a report from Bloomberg, Luckey’s Anduril Industries and Zuck’s Meta Platforms were among three companies tapped to produce prototypes for mixed-reality style combat goggles.

The project—which also invited a company called Rivet Industries that is headed up by the former Head of Mixed Reality at Palantir to participate, in case you were worried they couldn’t assemble the full Axis of Evil for this thing—will seek to build upon the Army’s massive, multi-billion dollar Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS) project that it launched with Microsoft. The goal is to ultimately create “new helmet-mounted mixed reality systems.”

The IVAS project will certainly be familiar to Luckey’s crew at Anduril, which took over the project after Microsoft effectively abandoned its VR/AR ambitions entirely—but not before handing over a demo product that an Army participant said “would have gotten us killed.” Just what they have done with it since taking over isn’t clear, though the project did get re-named to “Soldier Borne Mission Command” (SBMC), so that’s something.

There does seem to be quite a bit of information that will help inform the new goggles project. Anduril claimed that it will be guided by “over 260,000 hours of soldier feedback from the IVAS program,” which comes after the Army poured $1.36 billion into research, development, prototypes, according to Bloomberg. Seems like a lot of that information will be on what *not* to do, but that’s a start.

The project also appears as though it’ll make good on Zuckerberg and Luckey’s promised return to collaboration after a nasty falling out in 2017. Earlier this year, the two Trumped-up tech bros promised to make “the world’s best” AR and VR technology for the U.S. military under what they called “Project EagleEye.” The expectation was that the pair would make a joint bid for an Army contract that would be worth about $100 million. While the details on this latest deal weren’t made public by Anduril, the company did announce that Meta was a part of its bid and would be involved in the development of the goggles. Rival Rivet Industries said its contract was valued at around $195 million, per Bloomberg. So, it seems we may have a match.

Source link
#Dynamic #Duo #Zuckerberg #Palmer #Luckey #Reunite #Army #Combat #Goggles #Contract

Mere moments after Argentina lost to France in a Round of 16 match during the 2018 World Cup in Russia, commentators were already predicting it would be his final time on a World Cup pitch. “This was Lionel Messi’s final World Cup match, surely,” one stated, “and maybe his final game for his country.” Messi was 31 at the time, and many assumed they had just watched his last appearance on soccer’s biggest stage.

They were wrong.

Instead, Messi came back four years later to lift the trophy in Qatar. Then he came back again this year at 39. However, Messi is not the exception any more.

Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, has said that this World Cup will be his last after Portugal’s Round of 16 exit following the team’s loss to Spain. Brazil’s Neymar, 34, too, announced his retirement from international football, as did Germany’s Manuel Neuer, 40. Meanwhile, Guillermo Ochoa, who turned 41 this month, is stepping away from professional football after becoming the first goalkeeper to make six World Cup squads.

Even as this World Cup has felt like one long farewell tour, for many of these players, the goodbye came years later than anyone expected.

While there isn’t a definitive global dataset comparing retirement ages across generations, the evidence points in one direction: football’s elite has been getting older for decades. A 2019 peer-reviewed study published in Frontiers of Psychology tracking nearly 30 seasons of UEFA Champions League football found the average age of players rose from 24.9 years in 1992-93 to 26.5 years by 2017-18. That trend is now on full display at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which had eight players in their forties—more than every previous edition combined—including Cape Verde’s 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha, one of the tournament’s breakout stars.

What’s striking is that this celebration of more veteran players on the pitch is happening during an era of football that has produced teenage stars like Lamine Yamal, Endrick, and Bara Sapoko Ndiaye. Soccer isn’t necessarily getting older because young players have disappeared; it’s getting older because veterans are leaving later.

Research suggests professional footballers still reach their physical peak in their mid-to-late twenties, though the exact age depends on position. And while aging is gradual, players in their thirties begin to lose their explosive speed and the stamina to maintain the high-intensity running that modern soccer demands most.

A long-term study of Spain’s top players found these reported losses in endurance were most notable among external defenders, external midfielders, and forwards, whose roles rely on explosive acceleration to either score a goal or shield their keeper’s box. Central defenders and central midfielders, meanwhile, became more accurate passers with age, suggesting that positioning, anticipation, and decisionmaking increasingly compensate for fading speed.

Messi may be the best example of how elite players adapt with age. Rather than constantly chasing the ball, he often spends long stretches walking, reading the game before deciding exactly when to get involved. According to The Athletic, FIFA tracking data shows Messi has spent 63 percent of his movement at this World Cup walking, conserving energy for the moments that matter most.

This just goes to prove that sports science hasn’t changed the biology of aging—it changed how soccer clubs respond to it. A 2024 review of athletes with extended careers found a correlation between professionals staying at the top of their game and increasingly individualized training.

Instead of prescribing the same program to an entire squad, coaches now tailor workloads around a player’s injury history, recovery, training response, and physical capacity.

However, as players get older, experience becomes a competitive advantage. Veteran footballers increasingly compensate for declining physicality with sharper decisionmaking, game intelligence, and a better understanding of their own limits.

#Lionel #Messis #Final #World #Cupand #Death #Early #Retirementworld cup 2026,sports,soccer,health,longevity">Lionel Messi’s Final World Cup—and the Death of Early RetirementMere moments after Argentina lost to France in a Round of 16 match during the 2018 World Cup in Russia, commentators were already predicting it would be his final time on a World Cup pitch. “This was Lionel Messi’s final World Cup match, surely,” one stated, “and maybe his final game for his country.” Messi was 31 at the time, and many assumed they had just watched his last appearance on soccer’s biggest stage.They were wrong.Instead, Messi came back four years later to lift the trophy in Qatar. Then he came back again this year at 39. However, Messi is not the exception any more.Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, has said that this World Cup will be his last after Portugal’s Round of 16 exit following the team’s loss to Spain. Brazil’s Neymar, 34, too, announced his retirement from international football, as did Germany’s Manuel Neuer, 40. Meanwhile, Guillermo Ochoa, who turned 41 this month, is stepping away from professional football after becoming the first goalkeeper to make six World Cup squads.Even as this World Cup has felt like one long farewell tour, for many of these players, the goodbye came years later than anyone expected.While there isn’t a definitive global dataset comparing retirement ages across generations, the evidence points in one direction: football’s elite has been getting older for decades. A 2019 peer-reviewed study published in Frontiers of Psychology tracking nearly 30 seasons of UEFA Champions League football found the average age of players rose from 24.9 years in 1992-93 to 26.5 years by 2017-18. That trend is now on full display at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which had eight players in their forties—more than every previous edition combined—including Cape Verde’s 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha, one of the tournament’s breakout stars.What’s striking is that this celebration of more veteran players on the pitch is happening during an era of football that has produced teenage stars like Lamine Yamal, Endrick, and Bara Sapoko Ndiaye. Soccer isn’t necessarily getting older because young players have disappeared; it’s getting older because veterans are leaving later.Research suggests professional footballers still reach their physical peak in their mid-to-late twenties, though the exact age depends on position. And while aging is gradual, players in their thirties begin to lose their explosive speed and the stamina to maintain the high-intensity running that modern soccer demands most.A long-term study of Spain’s top players found these reported losses in endurance were most notable among external defenders, external midfielders, and forwards, whose roles rely on explosive acceleration to either score a goal or shield their keeper’s box. Central defenders and central midfielders, meanwhile, became more accurate passers with age, suggesting that positioning, anticipation, and decisionmaking increasingly compensate for fading speed.Messi may be the best example of how elite players adapt with age. Rather than constantly chasing the ball, he often spends long stretches walking, reading the game before deciding exactly when to get involved. According to The Athletic, FIFA tracking data shows Messi has spent 63 percent of his movement at this World Cup walking, conserving energy for the moments that matter most.This just goes to prove that sports science hasn’t changed the biology of aging—it changed how soccer clubs respond to it. A 2024 review of athletes with extended careers found a correlation between professionals staying at the top of their game and increasingly individualized training.Instead of prescribing the same program to an entire squad, coaches now tailor workloads around a player’s injury history, recovery, training response, and physical capacity.However, as players get older, experience becomes a competitive advantage. Veteran footballers increasingly compensate for declining physicality with sharper decisionmaking, game intelligence, and a better understanding of their own limits.#Lionel #Messis #Final #World #Cupand #Death #Early #Retirementworld cup 2026,sports,soccer,health,longevity

World Cup pitch. “This was Lionel Messi’s final World Cup match, surely,” one stated, “and maybe his final game for his country.” Messi was 31 at the time, and many assumed they had just watched his last appearance on soccer’s biggest stage.

They were wrong.

Instead, Messi came back four years later to lift the trophy in Qatar. Then he came back again this year at 39. However, Messi is not the exception any more.

Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, has said that this World Cup will be his last after Portugal’s Round of 16 exit following the team’s loss to Spain. Brazil’s Neymar, 34, too, announced his retirement from international football, as did Germany’s Manuel Neuer, 40. Meanwhile, Guillermo Ochoa, who turned 41 this month, is stepping away from professional football after becoming the first goalkeeper to make six World Cup squads.

Even as this World Cup has felt like one long farewell tour, for many of these players, the goodbye came years later than anyone expected.

While there isn’t a definitive global dataset comparing retirement ages across generations, the evidence points in one direction: football’s elite has been getting older for decades. A 2019 peer-reviewed study published in Frontiers of Psychology tracking nearly 30 seasons of UEFA Champions League football found the average age of players rose from 24.9 years in 1992-93 to 26.5 years by 2017-18. That trend is now on full display at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which had eight players in their forties—more than every previous edition combined—including Cape Verde’s 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha, one of the tournament’s breakout stars.

What’s striking is that this celebration of more veteran players on the pitch is happening during an era of football that has produced teenage stars like Lamine Yamal, Endrick, and Bara Sapoko Ndiaye. Soccer isn’t necessarily getting older because young players have disappeared; it’s getting older because veterans are leaving later.

Research suggests professional footballers still reach their physical peak in their mid-to-late twenties, though the exact age depends on position. And while aging is gradual, players in their thirties begin to lose their explosive speed and the stamina to maintain the high-intensity running that modern soccer demands most.

A long-term study of Spain’s top players found these reported losses in endurance were most notable among external defenders, external midfielders, and forwards, whose roles rely on explosive acceleration to either score a goal or shield their keeper’s box. Central defenders and central midfielders, meanwhile, became more accurate passers with age, suggesting that positioning, anticipation, and decisionmaking increasingly compensate for fading speed.

Messi may be the best example of how elite players adapt with age. Rather than constantly chasing the ball, he often spends long stretches walking, reading the game before deciding exactly when to get involved. According to The Athletic, FIFA tracking data shows Messi has spent 63 percent of his movement at this World Cup walking, conserving energy for the moments that matter most.

This just goes to prove that sports science hasn’t changed the biology of aging—it changed how soccer clubs respond to it. A 2024 review of athletes with extended careers found a correlation between professionals staying at the top of their game and increasingly individualized training.

Instead of prescribing the same program to an entire squad, coaches now tailor workloads around a player’s injury history, recovery, training response, and physical capacity.

However, as players get older, experience becomes a competitive advantage. Veteran footballers increasingly compensate for declining physicality with sharper decisionmaking, game intelligence, and a better understanding of their own limits.

#Lionel #Messis #Final #World #Cupand #Death #Early #Retirementworld cup 2026,sports,soccer,health,longevity">Lionel Messi’s Final World Cup—and the Death of Early Retirement

Mere moments after Argentina lost to France in a Round of 16 match during the 2018 World Cup in Russia, commentators were already predicting it would be his final time on a World Cup pitch. “This was Lionel Messi’s final World Cup match, surely,” one stated, “and maybe his final game for his country.” Messi was 31 at the time, and many assumed they had just watched his last appearance on soccer’s biggest stage.

They were wrong.

Instead, Messi came back four years later to lift the trophy in Qatar. Then he came back again this year at 39. However, Messi is not the exception any more.

Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, has said that this World Cup will be his last after Portugal’s Round of 16 exit following the team’s loss to Spain. Brazil’s Neymar, 34, too, announced his retirement from international football, as did Germany’s Manuel Neuer, 40. Meanwhile, Guillermo Ochoa, who turned 41 this month, is stepping away from professional football after becoming the first goalkeeper to make six World Cup squads.

Even as this World Cup has felt like one long farewell tour, for many of these players, the goodbye came years later than anyone expected.

While there isn’t a definitive global dataset comparing retirement ages across generations, the evidence points in one direction: football’s elite has been getting older for decades. A 2019 peer-reviewed study published in Frontiers of Psychology tracking nearly 30 seasons of UEFA Champions League football found the average age of players rose from 24.9 years in 1992-93 to 26.5 years by 2017-18. That trend is now on full display at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which had eight players in their forties—more than every previous edition combined—including Cape Verde’s 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha, one of the tournament’s breakout stars.

What’s striking is that this celebration of more veteran players on the pitch is happening during an era of football that has produced teenage stars like Lamine Yamal, Endrick, and Bara Sapoko Ndiaye. Soccer isn’t necessarily getting older because young players have disappeared; it’s getting older because veterans are leaving later.

Research suggests professional footballers still reach their physical peak in their mid-to-late twenties, though the exact age depends on position. And while aging is gradual, players in their thirties begin to lose their explosive speed and the stamina to maintain the high-intensity running that modern soccer demands most.

A long-term study of Spain’s top players found these reported losses in endurance were most notable among external defenders, external midfielders, and forwards, whose roles rely on explosive acceleration to either score a goal or shield their keeper’s box. Central defenders and central midfielders, meanwhile, became more accurate passers with age, suggesting that positioning, anticipation, and decisionmaking increasingly compensate for fading speed.

Messi may be the best example of how elite players adapt with age. Rather than constantly chasing the ball, he often spends long stretches walking, reading the game before deciding exactly when to get involved. According to The Athletic, FIFA tracking data shows Messi has spent 63 percent of his movement at this World Cup walking, conserving energy for the moments that matter most.

This just goes to prove that sports science hasn’t changed the biology of aging—it changed how soccer clubs respond to it. A 2024 review of athletes with extended careers found a correlation between professionals staying at the top of their game and increasingly individualized training.

Instead of prescribing the same program to an entire squad, coaches now tailor workloads around a player’s injury history, recovery, training response, and physical capacity.

However, as players get older, experience becomes a competitive advantage. Veteran footballers increasingly compensate for declining physicality with sharper decisionmaking, game intelligence, and a better understanding of their own limits.

#Lionel #Messis #Final #World #Cupand #Death #Early #Retirementworld cup 2026,sports,soccer,health,longevity

SAVE $400: The 27-inch OLED LG Ultragear gaming monitor is on sale for $499.99 at Amazon, down from the standard price of $899.99. That’s a 44% discount that matches the best price we’ve seen at Amazon.


$499.99 at Amazon
$899.99 Save $400

 

Summer is the perfect season to make home gaming upgrades. Even if you love the summer heat, gaming provides an occasional indoor reprieve. If you’ve been getting by with a less-than-ideal gaming setup, check out this gaming monitor deal.

As of July 15, the 27-inch OLED LG Ultragear gaming monitor is on sale for $499.99 at Amazon, down from the standard price of $899.99. That’s a 44% discount that matches the best price we’ve seen at Amazon.

Once you go OLED, you won’t go back. The 27-inch LG Ultragear is perfect for smooth gameplay, getting a 240Hz refresh rate and a 0.03 millisecond response time. Your days of dealing with lag and ghosting will be long gone with this fresh upgrade. Plus, it comes with VESA DisplayHDR True Back 400 certification.

LG equipped the monitor with an anti-glare screen that helps minimize bothersome reflections that could spell a distraction. The 27-inch display means it’ll fit well on most desks without taking over the space.

The included stand can tilt and pivot to your desired position, and you can adjust the height. In addition, the monitor has a borderless design. Since not everyday can be filled with gaming, the monitor will also be great for work tasks or streaming a movie.

While it’s sitting at the record-low price from Amazon, make the upgrade to the 27-inch OLED LG Ultragear gaming monitor. It’s currently under $500 which is close to a 50% discount.

#monitor #deal #Ultragear #OLED #gaming #monitor">Best monitor deal: Take 44% off the LG Ultragear OLED gaming monitor
                                                            SAVE 0: The 27-inch OLED LG Ultragear gaming monitor is on sale for 9.99 at Amazon, down from the standard price of 9.99. That’s a 44% discount that matches the best price we’ve seen at Amazon.
    
    
    
        
                                        
                                        
                    
                                                    9.99
                                                             at Amazon
                                                        9.99
                                                                                         Save 0
                                                                        
                
                                         
                    
        
    

Summer is the perfect season to make home gaming upgrades. Even if you love the summer heat, gaming provides an occasional indoor reprieve. If you’ve been getting by with a less-than-ideal gaming setup, check out this gaming monitor deal.As of July 15, the 27-inch OLED LG Ultragear gaming monitor is on sale for 9.99 at Amazon, down from the standard price of 9.99. That’s a 44% discount that matches the best price we’ve seen at Amazon.Once you go OLED, you won’t go back. The 27-inch LG Ultragear is perfect for smooth gameplay, getting a 240Hz refresh rate and a 0.03 millisecond response time. Your days of dealing with lag and ghosting will be long gone with this fresh upgrade. Plus, it comes with VESA DisplayHDR True Back 400 certification.
        SEE ALSO:
        
            Grab this OLED Samsung Odyssey G5 gaming monitor for 0 on Amazon — save over 0
            
        
    
LG equipped the monitor with an anti-glare screen that helps minimize bothersome reflections that could spell a distraction. The 27-inch display means it’ll fit well on most desks without taking over the space. 

        
            Mashable Deals
        
        
            
                            
                    
                    
                    
                    
                    
                        By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
                    
                
                        
        
    
The included stand can tilt and pivot to your desired position, and you can adjust the height. In addition, the monitor has a borderless design. Since not everyday can be filled with gaming, the monitor will also be great for work tasks or streaming a movie.While it’s sitting at the record-low price from Amazon, make the upgrade to the 27-inch OLED LG Ultragear gaming monitor. It’s currently under 0 which is close to a 50% discount.

                    
                                            
                            
    
        Topics
                    Gaming
                    Work From Home
            

                        
                                    #monitor #deal #Ultragear #OLED #gaming #monitor

27-inch OLED LG Ultragear gaming monitor is on sale for $499.99 at Amazon, down from the standard price of $899.99. That’s a 44% discount that matches the best price we’ve seen at Amazon.


$499.99 at Amazon
$899.99 Save $400

 

Summer is the perfect season to make home gaming upgrades. Even if you love the summer heat, gaming provides an occasional indoor reprieve. If you’ve been getting by with a less-than-ideal gaming setup, check out this gaming monitor deal.

As of July 15, the 27-inch OLED LG Ultragear gaming monitor is on sale for $499.99 at Amazon, down from the standard price of $899.99. That’s a 44% discount that matches the best price we’ve seen at Amazon.

Once you go OLED, you won’t go back. The 27-inch LG Ultragear is perfect for smooth gameplay, getting a 240Hz refresh rate and a 0.03 millisecond response time. Your days of dealing with lag and ghosting will be long gone with this fresh upgrade. Plus, it comes with VESA DisplayHDR True Back 400 certification.

LG equipped the monitor with an anti-glare screen that helps minimize bothersome reflections that could spell a distraction. The 27-inch display means it’ll fit well on most desks without taking over the space.

The included stand can tilt and pivot to your desired position, and you can adjust the height. In addition, the monitor has a borderless design. Since not everyday can be filled with gaming, the monitor will also be great for work tasks or streaming a movie.

While it’s sitting at the record-low price from Amazon, make the upgrade to the 27-inch OLED LG Ultragear gaming monitor. It’s currently under $500 which is close to a 50% discount.

#monitor #deal #Ultragear #OLED #gaming #monitor">Best monitor deal: Take 44% off the LG Ultragear OLED gaming monitor

SAVE $400: The 27-inch OLED LG Ultragear gaming monitor is on sale for $499.99 at Amazon, down from the standard price of $899.99. That’s a 44% discount that matches the best price we’ve seen at Amazon.


$499.99 at Amazon
$899.99 Save $400

 

Summer is the perfect season to make home gaming upgrades. Even if you love the summer heat, gaming provides an occasional indoor reprieve. If you’ve been getting by with a less-than-ideal gaming setup, check out this gaming monitor deal.

As of July 15, the 27-inch OLED LG Ultragear gaming monitor is on sale for $499.99 at Amazon, down from the standard price of $899.99. That’s a 44% discount that matches the best price we’ve seen at Amazon.

Once you go OLED, you won’t go back. The 27-inch LG Ultragear is perfect for smooth gameplay, getting a 240Hz refresh rate and a 0.03 millisecond response time. Your days of dealing with lag and ghosting will be long gone with this fresh upgrade. Plus, it comes with VESA DisplayHDR True Back 400 certification.

LG equipped the monitor with an anti-glare screen that helps minimize bothersome reflections that could spell a distraction. The 27-inch display means it’ll fit well on most desks without taking over the space.

The included stand can tilt and pivot to your desired position, and you can adjust the height. In addition, the monitor has a borderless design. Since not everyday can be filled with gaming, the monitor will also be great for work tasks or streaming a movie.

While it’s sitting at the record-low price from Amazon, make the upgrade to the 27-inch OLED LG Ultragear gaming monitor. It’s currently under $500 which is close to a 50% discount.

#monitor #deal #Ultragear #OLED #gaming #monitor

Post Comment