Scientists have revived microbes that were found in 100-million-year-old sediment, giving us another glimpse at what life was like in the far past. As reported by Gizmodo, an international team of scientists led by geomicrobiologist Yuki Morono from the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology revived these microbes that are actually from 101.5 million years ago. Once the microbes, which are a type of bacteria, were put in laboratory conditions, they came back to life and began eating and multiplying, as living things tend to do. Even though these microbes are over 100 million years old, they were living in low-energy conditions that allowed them to "retain their metabolic potential," according to a new research study published by Nature Communications. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-25-best-sci-fi-movies&captions=true"] “Once again, this new study extends our view of the habitable biosphere on Earth and the ability of microbes to survive under suboptimal conditions,” Virginia Edgcomb, a geologist from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution who wasn’t involved in the new study, said in an email. “It also extends our view of where viable microbial life contributes to carbon and other nutrient turnover in the deep biosphere.” There was a previous study of bacterial spores that were supposedly from 250-million-year-old salt crystal in the Permian Salado Formation in New Mexico, but not all experts agreed these were really from back then. One of the issues brought up was that the samples were contaminated. Using DNA and RNA gene profiling, these 101.5-million-year-old microbes were identified as aeorbic, or oxygen-loving, bacteria and the "lack of permeability between the thick seafloor layers" ruled out contamination. Jennifer Biddle, who is an associate professor from the School of Marine Science and Policy at the University of Delaware agreed with these findings and praised Morono. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/04/10/scientists-have-revealed-the-first-photo-of-a-black-hole"] “In fact, were I given a precious sample of Martian material with which I could conclusively prove evidence of life on another planet, I would give it to Yuki Morono,” said Biddle, who wasn’t involved with the new research. Luckily, Morono says the health risk of reviving ancient bacteria is very low as “subseafloor sediment is regarded as at low risk for health, since no infecting host, like a human, exists in this environment.” Phew. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/02/12/new-tyrannosaur-species-discovered-dubbed-reaper-of-death"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com. Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.

Marvel's ongoing Darth Vader series continues to show us a very different side of the Dark Lord of the Sith. Star Wars: Darth Vader #3 chronicles a journey we never expected to see, as Vader returns to Naboo and relives the most tragic moments of his life as Anakin Skywalker. What happens when Darth Vader travels to the last place in the galaxy he wants to revisit? Read on to find out, but beware of full spoilers for Star Wars: Darth Vader #3! [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-big-reveal-in-darth-vader-1&captions=true"] Vader would like everyone to believe the man known as Anakin Skywalker is dead and buried, but we know that's not the case. This new series seems to be devoted to exploring how Vader went from the ruthless tyrant he is in The Empire Strikes Back to the redeemed father of Return of the Jedi. A key part of that process has involved reuniting Vader with a woman who looks just like his late wife Padmé. Of course, Vader quickly learned this Padmé lookalike is actually her former handmaiden Sabé, but this unexpected reunion has dredged up all sorts of emotions and memories Vader would just as soon keep buried. And now that their shared quest has taken them to Naboo, Vader is really feeling that Prequel nostalgia: [caption id="attachment_2386240" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Art by Raffaele Ienco. (Image Credit: Marvel/Lucasfilm)[/caption] Why has Vader agreed to travel to the planet his dead wife and his current master both called home? Vader is currently hunting down anyone and everyone responsible for hiding the existence of his son Luke, while Sabé and her allies are in possession of an encrypted recording they think will reveal the identity of Padmé's killer. Those twin paths have now converged on Naboo, as Sabé, Captain Typho and Captain Tonra lead Vader to an underwater Gungan temple. Given that Vader himself is the man Sabé has been hunting, it was only ever going to be a matter of time before their alliance fell apart. And as Vader discovers in issue #3, that alliance was simply a ruse to lure him into a trap. Sabé and her allies believe Vader killed both Padmé and Anakin on Mustafar, which is essentially true (from a certain point of view). Now they hope to kill him, even if it means sacrificing their own lives in the process. [caption id="attachment_2386241" align="aligncenter" width="930"] Art by Raffaele Ienco. (Image Credit: Marvel/Lucasfilm)[/caption] This issue ends with Sabé summoning one of the massive sea monsters Naboo is so famous for, hoping the beast will destroy the temple and Vader along with it. Obviously, she's not going to succeed, but simply reuniting with the former Anakin Skywalker may have been enough to reawaken the spark of light within. However Vader gets himself out of this mess, he's in store for more surprises in the near future. At Comic-Con@Home's Lucasfilm Publishing panel, writer Greg Pak revealed the series' second story arc will connect to the events of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/24/darth-vader-comic-will-crossover-with-star-wars-the-rise-of-skywalker"] "It’s going to be a huge, hopefully deeply disturbing and entertaining and satisfying epic by the time it’s all done,” Pak told IGN. “We got permission and the green light to do some stuff I never thought we’d be able to do.” [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.

Marvel's Avengers is getting a Fortnite crossover to go with its upcoming beta. Announced in today's War Table stream, those who finish the beta will earn a Hulk Smashers pickaxe, as well as an added style that reskins the Hulk's hands as gloves from Iron Man's Hulkbuster armour. The offer is available only on PS4 and Xbox One. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/marvels-avengers-how-crystal-dynamics-and-marvel-games-assembled-ign-first"] If you want to earn the rewards, here's when you can access the Marvel's Avengers beta throughout August:

• August 7 - PlayStation preorder beta access begins
• August 14 - Xbox and PC Preorder beta access begins, PlayStation open beta also begins
• August 21 - Open beta across all platforms begins

We learned a lot more about the beta today, including the mission types, heroes and progression included. We also learned that Hawkeye will join the Avengers line-up after launch as a free update. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Joe Skrebels is IGN's Executive Editor of News. Follow him on Twitter. Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.

Hawkeye will come to Marvel's Avengers as a free post-launch playable character, complete with a unique set of story missions. Alongside Hawkeye, there appear to be three other heroes currently planned to be added. Revealed in the second Marvel's Avengers War Table stream, the character will bring along a string of story missions which will, unlike the game's solo-only campaign, be playable in solo or co-op formats. It should please fans who were upset that Hawkeye had seemingly been left out of the Avengers again. Marvel's Avengers' take on Clint Barton is drawing primarily on the much loved Matt Fraction-David Aja collaboration on the 'My Life as a Weapon' run of the Hawkeye comic. Specifically, the design seems to be based on the Hawkeye #1 variant cover by Adi Granov. There are some barks at the end of the trailer that have left me very excited by the idea of an in-game Lucky the Pizza Dog, too. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/hawkeye-reveal-trailer-for-marvels-avengers"] It looks as though Hawkeye could be the second post-launch character for the game. While describing how the game will evolve, Crystal Dynamics explained that the launch campaign, Reassembled will tell the story of Kamala Khan reuniting the Avengers, and showed character logos that re-confirmed Captain America, Ms. Marvel, Hulk, Iron Man, Black Widow and Thor will be the playable heroes at launch. After finishing Reassembled, you enter the "ever-present" Avengers Initiative, which appears to be post-campaign content in which "you extend the experience as the Avengers, protecting Earth from all threats and incursions." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=marvels-avengers-ps5&captions=true"] During that Avengers Initiative description, four more spaces for character logos were shown. The second featured Hawkeye's logo, with the other three bearing question marks. Previously, we had suspected that Hank "Ant-Man" Pym would fill one of those slots, although he's so far been shown only as a mission giver character. Whoever the added Avengers turn out to be, we know that they'll be coming to the game for free as they're released. As for the upcoming beta period, we now know we'll be playing primarily as Kamala Khan, Hulk, Iron Man, and Black Widow. If you want more Avengers details, we've been running an IGN First on Marvel's Avengers all this month, revealing new costumes, gameplay guides, character breakdowns and much more. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Joe Skrebels is IGN's Executive Editor of News. Follow him on Twitter. Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.

Square Enix and Crystal Dynamics have revealed new details about the upcoming Marvel’s Avengers beta, including what mission types and characters will be available to play and how progress will be offered. The beta, which takes place throughout August, will contain four heroes: Iron Man, Hulk, Black Widow, and Ms. Marvel. These can all be played in the co-op segments of the beta, but you’ll actually be able to get a taste of Thor and Captain America too as the beta opens on the Golden Gate Bridge prologue mission, as seen at E3 and Gamescom in 2019. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/06/11/marvels-avengers-full-presentation-e3-2019"] Each of the characters has three skill tree pages, but only one will be available to use in the beta. This will give you the opportunity to tailor the character to your preferred playstyle by tweaking abilities and skills. After the 25 minute prologue, you’ll have access to the War Table and will be able to play through two single-player missions. Featuring Hulk and Ms. Marvel, the first sees them travel to the Pacific Northwest in search of the Olympia Archive and JARVIS, while the second relocates them to Russia to “uncover SHIELD secrets hidden deep underground.” One of these missions also includes a boss fight with Abomination. After completing the single-player content, the beta opens up and allows players to tackle a variety of other activities in co-op (or solo with AI if preferred). These are split into three mission types: HARM Rooms, Warzones, and Dropzones. Depending on the activity, these can take between 10 minutes and two hours. HARM Rooms are holographic training arenas similar to X-Men's danger rooms, and are wave-based challenges. The beta features three HARM Rooms, each with escalating difficulty. Complete all three, and you’ll be awarded a special Nameplate that you can use in the full game. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=marvels-avengers-ps5&captions=true"] Warzones are the dungeon-like missions of Marvel’s Avengers, and there are five available to play in the beta. The individual locations and objectives were not revealed as part of the War Table stream, but we do know that you’ll face both robotic and human foes. Warzones also include bunkers that contain loot and collectable comics, and players must solve puzzles to get inside. Finally, the beta will also feature an unspecified amount of Dropzones, which are among the game’s shorter, more focused mission types. Today's stream also revealed that Hawkeye will be a post-launch character, and that the beta will earn you some Fortnite rewards. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/articles/marvels-avengers-hawkeye-dlc-post-launch-character-free"] For more on Marvel's Avengers, check out our hands-on with a Thor and Ms. Marvel mission, the game's unique approaches to character design, and why the team chose M.O.D.O.K as its main villain. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer. 

A PlayStation documentary featuring interviews with Hideo Kojima, Mark Cerny, Shinji Mikami and more has been announced and will debut on September 7. From Bedrooms To Billions: The PlayStation Revolution covers the story of Sony's console career, from the PlayStation's launch in 1995 to the current generation. It will be available from the 7th of September to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the original console later in the month. The documentary will see a physical release on DVD and Bluray and will be available on demand from iTunes, Amazon, Vimeo, and more. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/29/from-bedrooms-to-billions-the-playstation-revolution-official-trailer"] A trailer has been released alongside the announcement which offers a glimpse at some of the talking heads attached to the project, including Hideo Kojima, Phil Harrison, Shinji Mikami, Fumito Ueda and more. The documentary was created by filmmakers Anthony and Nicola Caulfield, responsible for the 2014 documentary From Bedrooms to Billions, which told the story of the British video game industry from 1979 onwards. In other PlayStation news, here's every game confirmed for Sony's next-generation console, the PlayStation 5. If you're keen on the PS5 already, check out this page detailing everything we know about PS5 preorders so far. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

Twenty-five years after its original debut, the seminal anime movie Ghost in the Shell is finally being released in 4K Ultra HD. Check out the trailer for the new Lionsgate release embedded below or in the video player above: [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/29/ghost-in-the-shell-25th-anniversary-edition-official-trailer"] Directed by Mamoru Oshii and based on the original manga series by Shirow Masamune, Ghost in the Shell is set in a futuristic, post-cyberpunk version of Japan. The movie follows cybernetic police officer Major Motoko Kusanagi (Atsuko Tanaka) and her second-in-command Batou (Akio Otsuka) as they track a cyber-terrorist known as The Puppet Master. Along the way, the Major is forced to come to terms with her mysterious past and the nature of existence in a world where the line between the physical and digital worlds is blurred. This new release includes both 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray discs, along with a 4K digital copy of the film. The 4K Ultra HD version supports both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, which should ensure this release is the new gold standard in terms of visual and audio fidelity. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=ghost-in-the-shell-4k-ultra-hd-box-art&captions=true"] In addition to a commentary track from English translation writer Mary Claypool and writer/producer Eric Calderon, Batou's English voice actor Richard Epcar and animation historian Charles Solomon, this Ghost in the Shell set will include two new bonus features - “Accessing Section 9: 25 Years into the Future” and “Landscapes & Dreamscapes: The Art and Architecture of Ghost in the Shell.” Lionsgate will release the Ghost in the Shell 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack on Tuesday, September 8, at an MSRP of $22.99. You can pre-order the set on Amazon and various other retailers. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-best-anime-series-on-netflix-right-now&captions=true"] Ghost in the Shell was adapted into live-action in the 2017 movie starring Scarlett Johansson. In IGN's review of the live-action remake, we said, "Rupert Sanders' film is respectful and successful as an adaptation that strives to capture the same intellectual conversation about identity, ownership and consent that are presented in the source material." Be sure to also check out our breakdown of all the live-action anime remakes currently in development, including Netflix's Cowboy Bebop and One Piece series. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.

Netflix has announced the premiere date and released first-look images for Ryan Murphy's upcoming thriller series, Ratched, which was created by Evan Romansky, a recent film-school grad who wrote the script on spec. The streaming giant has confirmed that Nurse Ratched will be ready to see you soon, so start scheduling your appointments with Netflix, as the eight-episode series officially premieres on September 18. Ratched serves as a prequel series to One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and tells the origin story of the nefarious nurse Mildred Ratched who arrives in Northern California in 1947, seeking employment at a leading psychiatric hospital where new and unsettling experiments have begun on the human mind. The first batch of images, pictured in our gallery below, capture Ratched's early journey towards becoming a nurse before turning into a full-fledged monster. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=ratched-12-first-look-images&captions=true"] Per the official synopsis, Mildred sets out on a clandestine mission to present herself as "the perfect image of what a dedicated nurse should be, but the wheels are always turning and as she begins to infiltrate the mental health care system and those within it, Mildred's stylish exterior belies a growing darkness that has long been smoldering within, revealing that true monsters are made, not born." The series stars Sarah Paulson as Ratched, Cynthia Nixon as Gwendolyn Briggs, Judy Davis as Nurse Betsy Bucket, Sharon Stone as Lenore Osgood, Jon Jon Briones as Dr. Richard Hanover, Finn Wittrock as Edmund Tolleson, Charlie Carver as Huck, Alice Englert as Dolly, Amanda Plummer as Louise, Corey Stoll as Charles Wainwright, Sophie Okonedo as Charlotte, and Vincent D'Onofrio as Gov. Wilburn. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-best-horror-tv-shows-on-netflix-right-now&captions=true"] The suspenseful new drama series is executive produced by Ryan Murphy, as part of his five-year mega-deal with the streaming giant, together with Ian Brennan, Sarah Paulson, Alexis Martin Woodall, Aleen Keshishian, Jacob Epstein, Jennifer Salt, Margaret Riley, Michael Douglas, Robert Mitas and Tim Minear. Ratched officially arrives on Netflix on Friday, September 18. For more on the exciting new series' that are heading to the small screen this year, check out our rundown of the biggest shows coming to streaming in the second half of 2020. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice will be getting a new update on October 29, 2020, that will add a boss rush, new outfits, and a Remnants system that will allow players to send messages to help others on their journey. As revealed on the Activision Games Blog, the first part of this update is the Reflections and Gauntlets of Strength, which can be accessed through the Sculptor's Idols. The Reflections of Strength allows for players to take on any previously defeated boss. The Gauntlets of Strength, on the other hand, has you facing off against Sekiro's bosses in consecutive battles. If the Wolf (player character) were to die at any point, he would have to start from the beginning. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/12/24/your-top-5-games-of-the-year-2019-power-ranking"] The Sculptor's Idols will also allow the Wolf to change into three new outfits, including Tengu and Old Ashina Shinobi. Two of these outfits can be unlocked via Gauntlets, while the third is unlocked by beating the game once. It should be noted that all outfits are purely cosmetic in nature. Lastly, Remnants are recordings of player's actions for up to 30 seconds at a time. After a player records one of these Remnants, it can be uploaded along with a message to help others making their way through Sekiro. If a community member watches and rates a Remnant, the owner of it will have have their HP recover for free. This will be especially helpful for those Sekiro players who are playing for the first time on Google Stadia, which will be released on the streaming service on October 29, 2020 as well. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice was released in 2019 and, in our review, we said "Sekiro evolves From Software’s formula into a stylish stealth-action adventure that, naturally, emphasizes precision and skill in its combat. It walks the line between deliberate and patient stealth and breakneck melee combat against threats both earthly and otherworldly." [poilib element="accentDivider"] Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com. Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.

Netflix has released the opening scene from The Umbrella Academy Season 2 ahead of Friday's premiere. The streaming giant shared the "explosive surprise" scene on Wednesday, giving fans a chance to preview the opening moments of episode one, which will officially drop into everyone's timelines (and Netflix watch lists) on July 31.

We have an explosive surprise for you Watch the opening scene of The Umbrella Academy season 2 before the rest drops into your timeline on Friday. pic.twitter.com/m4ntwXcbGx

— Umbrella Academy (@UmbrellaAcad) July 29, 2020

The clip opens with Five descending from a swirling time vortex and emerging from an alleyway in downtown Dallas to discover that he has seemingly landed in an alternate timeline for November 25, 1963, where the streets are commandeered by Soviet troops and battle tanks. He spots a newspaper amongst the rubble, with a headline that reads: "Soviets Attack U.S., JFK Declares War on Reds." Without hesitation, Five's siblings step into the ensuing chaos and unleash their superpowers in a series of action-packed sequences detonated by the backing track of Frank Sinatra's "My Way." Hazel interrupts the chain reaction of explosions, bullets, and bangs as he zaps onto the scene to rescue Five from the impending nuclear apocalypse and give him a chance to save his family. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/27/the-umbrella-academy-s2-7-big-questions-we-have"] An adaptation of Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá's comic book series of the same name, The Umbrella Academy follows the lives of a dysfunctional family of superheroes. It proved to be a huge hit for Netflix, which reported that 45 million households had watched the show, and quickly ordered a second season. We awarded the first season an 8.5 review, calling it "hilariously twisted, subversively stylish, and surprisingly poignant." We named it as one of the best new TV series of 2019, and one of the best comic book series - plus, it was IGN People's Choice Winner in both of those categories. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=umbrella-academy-season-2-30-images&captions=true"] The Umbrella Academy Season 2 will be released on Netflix on July 31 with 10 hourlong episodes. If you have never watched The Umbrella Academy before, then you might want to read our explainer about the characters and team, and if you have, then you might need a refresher on Season 1's ending. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.