This week in Red Dead Online, take on new Vitalism Studies, a new Legendary Animal Sighting Mission, and more.

This week in Red Dead Online, take on new Vitalism Studies, a new Legendary Animal Sighting Mission, and more.

Scientists have discovered that a massive supernova explosion likely occurred in Earth's vicinity 2.5 million years ago. Researchers have theories across the board on whether or not it links to the period of the Ice Ages or even bipedalism. In a new research paper from the Technical University of Munich, originally reported by Universe Today, a team of researchers led by Gunther Korschinek have discovered proof of a supernova explosion in the form of a very specific manganese isotope known as 53Mn. These isotopes were discovered in a chunk of manganese crust found on Earth and what makes them unique is that they can only be produced by a supernova. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/04/10/scientists-have-revealed-the-first-photo-of-a-black-hole"] "The increased concentrations of manganese-53 can be taken as the 'smoking gun' — the ultimate proof that this supernova really did take place," Korschinek said in a press release related to the discovery.

What Is a Supernova?

Supernovae are massive explosions with the potential to sterilize or even destroy entire planets. They occur when a large star reaches the end of its life and the resulting explosion can light up nearby skies for months. Without actually seeing a supernova, scientists are able to discover one might have occurred through the large blast of chemicals the explosions release. These chemicals are blasted outwards and can form concentrations of isotopes in places like Earth's crust. Scientists have long pondered the idea that a supernova occurred in Earth's vicinity due to a concentration of an iron isotope known as 60Fe. This isotope is produced by supernovae, but scientists have never been sure that the 60Fe actually came from such an explosion, because 60Fe can also be produced by Asymptomatic Giant Branch stars. With the discovery of the 53Mn isotopes in ferromanganese crust samples on Earth, scientists also discovered 60Fe, and unlike 60Fe, 53Mn cannot be produced by AGB stars. This is why Korschinek's team believes a supernova explosion produced both isotopes. [caption id="attachment_2417621" align="alignnone" width="1041"] A Hubble Space Telescope image of supernova remnants discovered in 2017. Image credit: NASA.[/caption] "A feasible way to detect 53Mn in Earth's reservoirs is, as in the case of the finding of 60Fe, direct atom counting by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS)," Korschinek said. Korschinek's team used AMS to detect 53Mn in samples of ferromanganese crust as AMS helped pick out this isotope among other very similar isotopes like 55Mn, which is more common to begin with as its the only "naturally occurring" manganese isotope. When the scientists discovered the 53Mn, they realized it was significantly abundant in concentration, too. This led the team to further believe it was the work of a supernova explosion that occurred about 2.5 million years ago. "This is investigative ultra-trace analysis," Korschinek said. "We are talking about merely a few atoms here. But, accelerator mass spectrometry is so sensitive that it even allows us to calculate from our measurements that the star that exploded must have had 11 to 25 times the size of the sun."

Did the Supernova Impact Earth?

The supernova explosion was too far away to cause something of a mass extinction for Earth, according to the team, but it likely caused a change in climate due to a shower of cosmic rays. "However, this can lead to increased cloud formation," research paper co-author Thomas Faestermann said. "Perhaps there is a link to the Pleistocene epoch, the period of the Ice Ages, which began 2.6 million years ago." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-25-best-sci-fi-movies&captions=true"] Some researchers believe that the supernova might have led to a partial extinction known as the Pliocene Marine Megafauna extinction, while others believe a supernova like this one might have triggered humankind's conversion to bipedalism, according to Universe Today. The supernova's effects of life here on Earth is still a question of debate, but this new discovery of 53Mn provides even stronger evidence that a massive supernova explosion did occur within the Earth's vicinity 2.5 million years ago. Here's hoping Earth survives the next one, whenever that may be. If you're looking for more science stories, read about the black hole closest to Earth recently discovered and then check out this story about how Earth might be causing the Moon to rust. For something off world, read about possible signs of life discovered on Venus that date back to 1978 and then check out this story where scientists claim to have evidence of a parallel universe where time runs backward. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Wesley LeBlanc is a freelance news writer and guide maker for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @LeBlancWes. 

Scientists have discovered that a massive supernova explosion likely occurred in Earth's vicinity 2.5 million years ago. Researchers have theories across the board on whether or not it links to the period of the Ice Ages or even bipedalism. In a new research paper from the Technical University of Munich, originally reported by Universe Today, a team of researchers led by Gunther Korschinek have discovered proof of a supernova explosion in the form of a very specific manganese isotope known as 53Mn. These isotopes were discovered in a chunk of manganese crust found on Earth and what makes them unique is that they can only be produced by a supernova. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/04/10/scientists-have-revealed-the-first-photo-of-a-black-hole"] "The increased concentrations of manganese-53 can be taken as the 'smoking gun' — the ultimate proof that this supernova really did take place," Korschinek said in a press release related to the discovery.

What Is a Supernova?

Supernovae are massive explosions with the potential to sterilize or even destroy entire planets. They occur when a large star reaches the end of its life and the resulting explosion can light up nearby skies for months. Without actually seeing a supernova, scientists are able to discover one might have occurred through the large blast of chemicals the explosions release. These chemicals are blasted outwards and can form concentrations of isotopes in places like Earth's crust. Scientists have long pondered the idea that a supernova occurred in Earth's vicinity due to a concentration of an iron isotope known as 60Fe. This isotope is produced by supernovae, but scientists have never been sure that the 60Fe actually came from such an explosion, because 60Fe can also be produced by Asymptomatic Giant Branch stars. With the discovery of the 53Mn isotopes in ferromanganese crust samples on Earth, scientists also discovered 60Fe, and unlike 60Fe, 53Mn cannot be produced by AGB stars. This is why Korschinek's team believes a supernova explosion produced both isotopes. [caption id="attachment_2417621" align="alignnone" width="1041"] A Hubble Space Telescope image of supernova remnants discovered in 2017. Image credit: NASA.[/caption] "A feasible way to detect 53Mn in Earth's reservoirs is, as in the case of the finding of 60Fe, direct atom counting by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS)," Korschinek said. Korschinek's team used AMS to detect 53Mn in samples of ferromanganese crust as AMS helped pick out this isotope among other very similar isotopes like 55Mn, which is more common to begin with as its the only "naturally occurring" manganese isotope. When the scientists discovered the 53Mn, they realized it was significantly abundant in concentration, too. This led the team to further believe it was the work of a supernova explosion that occurred about 2.5 million years ago. "This is investigative ultra-trace analysis," Korschinek said. "We are talking about merely a few atoms here. But, accelerator mass spectrometry is so sensitive that it even allows us to calculate from our measurements that the star that exploded must have had 11 to 25 times the size of the sun."

Did the Supernova Impact Earth?

The supernova explosion was too far away to cause something of a mass extinction for Earth, according to the team, but it likely caused a change in climate due to a shower of cosmic rays. "However, this can lead to increased cloud formation," research paper co-author Thomas Faestermann said. "Perhaps there is a link to the Pleistocene epoch, the period of the Ice Ages, which began 2.6 million years ago." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-25-best-sci-fi-movies&captions=true"] Some researchers believe that the supernova might have led to a partial extinction known as the Pliocene Marine Megafauna extinction, while others believe a supernova like this one might have triggered humankind's conversion to bipedalism, according to Universe Today. The supernova's effects of life here on Earth is still a question of debate, but this new discovery of 53Mn provides even stronger evidence that a massive supernova explosion did occur within the Earth's vicinity 2.5 million years ago. Here's hoping Earth survives the next one, whenever that may be. If you're looking for more science stories, read about the black hole closest to Earth recently discovered and then check out this story about how Earth might be causing the Moon to rust. For something off world, read about possible signs of life discovered on Venus that date back to 1978 and then check out this story where scientists claim to have evidence of a parallel universe where time runs backward. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Wesley LeBlanc is a freelance news writer and guide maker for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @LeBlancWes. 

The Resident Evil origin story movie has cast nearly all of its major leads, including actors for Jill Valentine, Chris Redfield, Claire Redfield, Leon S. Kennedy, and Albert Wesker. This is yet another adaptation of Capcom’s survival horror series separate from a planned Netflix show. Production firm Constantin Film and writer/director Johannes Roberts announced the cast for its Resident Evil origin story. Set in 1998 “on a fateful night in Raccoon City” the Resident Evil movie will star Kaya Scodelario (Maze Runner) as Claire Redfield, Hannah John-Kamen (Ant-Man and the Wasp) as Jill Valentine, Robbie Amell (Upload) as Chris Redfield, Tom Hopper (The Umbrella Academy) as Albert Wesker, Avan Jogia (Zombieland: Double Tap) as Leon S. Kennedy, and Neal McDonough (Yellowstone) as William Birkin. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=resident-evil-origin-movie-cast-comparison&captions=true"] According to director Johannes Roberts in a statement, “I really wanted to go back to the original first two games and recreate the terrifying visceral experience I had when I first played them whilst at the same time telling a grounded human story about a small dying American town that feels both relatable and relevant to today’s audiences.” It appears given Roberts’ statement and the cast that this origin movie will blend elements of the first two Resident Evil games. The first game stars Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine and is set in the Spencer Mansion, a dangerous compound full of lurking horror; while Resident Evil 2 stars Claire Redfield and Leon Kennedy on a really bad first night on the job in Raccoon City. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-ign-resident-evil-game-review-ever&captions=true"] The new movie is produced by Constantin Film, the same company that produced the previous Resident Evil movie series directed by Paul W.S. Anderson. Though it doesn’t appear related to the previous film adaptations. This is also separate from the announced Resident Evil Netflix series which tells an original story about Wesker’s children after they move into “New Raccoon City.” And just because Netflix can't get enough zombies, the streamer is also premiering a new, CGI animated film titled Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness as well. Meanwhile, Anderson, who kickstarted the last Resident Evil live-action film series is directing a live-action Monster Hunter movie. This new origin movie is set to premiere in 2021. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M. Kim is a reporter for IGN.

The Resident Evil origin story movie has cast nearly all of its major leads, including actors for Jill Valentine, Chris Redfield, Claire Redfield, Leon S. Kennedy, and Albert Wesker. This is yet another adaptation of Capcom’s survival horror series separate from a planned Netflix show. Production firm Constantin Film and writer/director Johannes Roberts announced the cast for its Resident Evil origin story. Set in 1998 “on a fateful night in Raccoon City” the Resident Evil movie will star Kaya Scodelario (Maze Runner) as Claire Redfield, Hannah John-Kamen (Ant-Man and the Wasp) as Jill Valentine, Robbie Amell (Upload) as Chris Redfield, Tom Hopper (The Umbrella Academy) as Albert Wesker, Avan Jogia (Zombieland: Double Tap) as Leon S. Kennedy, and Neal McDonough (Yellowstone) as William Birkin. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=resident-evil-origin-movie-cast-comparison&captions=true"] According to director Johannes Roberts in a statement, “I really wanted to go back to the original first two games and recreate the terrifying visceral experience I had when I first played them whilst at the same time telling a grounded human story about a small dying American town that feels both relatable and relevant to today’s audiences.” It appears given Roberts’ statement and the cast that this origin movie will blend elements of the first two Resident Evil games. The first game stars Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine and is set in the Spencer Mansion, a dangerous compound full of lurking horror; while Resident Evil 2 stars Claire Redfield and Leon Kennedy on a really bad first night on the job in Raccoon City. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-ign-resident-evil-game-review-ever&captions=true"] The new movie is produced by Constantin Film, the same company that produced the previous Resident Evil movie series directed by Paul W.S. Anderson. Though it doesn’t appear related to the previous film adaptations. This is also separate from the announced Resident Evil Netflix series which tells an original story about Wesker’s children after they move into “New Raccoon City.” And just because Netflix can't get enough zombies, the streamer is also premiering a new, CGI animated film titled Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness as well. Meanwhile, Anderson, who kickstarted the last Resident Evil live-action film series is directing a live-action Monster Hunter movie. This new origin movie is set to premiere in 2021. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M. Kim is a reporter for IGN.

Watch Dogs: Legion has unveiled its post-launch DLC roadmap which includes both online multiplayer and single-player content. Alongside an expansive online mode coming in December, Watch Dogs: Legion will introduce even more single-player DLC, including its first-ever Assassin’s Creed crossover. In a new announcement trailer, Ubisoft announced several post-launch DLC coming to Watch Dogs: Legion starting with the open-world Online mode in December. The Online mode will feature the full London sandbox that’s playable with up to four players, and several activities like Tactical Ops co-op, Spiderbot PvP, and Invasion. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/10/06/watch-dogs-legion-post-launch-dlc-assassins-creed-crossover"] On the single-player side, Watch Dogs: Legion continues its steady drip of adding past Watch Dogs characters to Legion. This time, Wrench from Watch Dogs 2 will join Aiden Pearce, while newcomers Mina and Darcey will also be added as playable characters. In the case of Darcey, she is a member of the Assassin brotherhood, and the first crossover between the Assassin’s Creed universe and Watch Dogs. But Legion live producer Lathiesshe Thillainathan told IGN that this crossover is more fan service, and should not be considered canon. “She’s not canon, it’s purely a fan service from our side and also the [Assassin’s Creed] side,” Said Thillainathan who added that the Legion team is “not trying to build a joint universe between [Watch Dogs and Assassin’s Creed].” Thillainathan acknowledged the speculation among fans that there is a connection between the two Ubisoft franchises (“We also read Reddit,” Thillainathan said) but this crossover is a result of the Watch Dogs team finding a fun way to work with the Assassin’s Creed team on a fan service project. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=watch-dogs-legion-post-launch-dlc-roadmap&captions=true"] Fans of Assassin’s Creed will find a lot of familiarity with Darcey’s gameplay and movement style, and Thillainathan confirmed that Darcey’s back story will weave in AC lore. But the easter eggs in Watch Dogs alluding to Assassin’s Creed will remain, for now, just easter eggs. In regards to Watch Dogs: Legion's crossover with Watch Dogs 2, we asked where Marcus Holloway, the protagonist from the game is, to which Thillainathan says that there will be "more to come." As for Watch Dogs: Legion Online and whether it’s closer to an open-world with multiplayer activities or similar to GTA: Online, Thillainathan says Ubisoft’s goal is to introduce a wide range of online activities shortly after release and then build out the components that gain traction. “[We’ll] look at player engagement up until next summer and continue to grow it based on our players,” says Thillainathan. He cites activities like Spiderbot PvP and Tactical Ops and depending on where players gravitate towards, that’s what the developers will focus on building out. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/23/watch-dogs-legion-welcome-to-the-resistance-story-trailer"] Thillainathan also stressed that Watch Dogs: Legion Online runs parallel to the single-player campaign. Meaning when Online launches, there will be a short onboarding process but players will essentially gain full access to the complete London sandbox from the get-go. The London map in Online will be the same one players will venture through in the single-player campaign, only completely accessible from the start. “It has its own onboarding and its own story. So the co-op campaign is not the endgame for the single-player campaign,” Thillainathan reveals. There’s no gated content in Online either as one of the developers’ goals was to make Online as accessible as possible when it’s released in December. There will also be cross-progression between console and PC, regardless of which PC digital store you purchase Legion from. For more, check out IGN’s final preview for Watch Dogs: Legion. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M. Kim is a reporter for IGN.

Watch Dogs: Legion has unveiled its post-launch DLC roadmap which includes both online multiplayer and single-player content. Alongside an expansive online mode coming in December, Watch Dogs: Legion will introduce even more single-player DLC, including its first-ever Assassin’s Creed crossover. In a new announcement trailer, Ubisoft announced several post-launch DLC coming to Watch Dogs: Legion starting with the open-world Online mode in December. The Online mode will feature the full London sandbox that’s playable with up to four players, and several activities like Tactical Ops co-op, Spiderbot PvP, and Invasion. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/10/06/watch-dogs-legion-post-launch-dlc-assassins-creed-crossover"] On the single-player side, Watch Dogs: Legion continues its steady drip of adding past Watch Dogs characters to Legion. This time, Wrench from Watch Dogs 2 will join Aiden Pearce, while newcomers Mina and Darcey will also be added as playable characters. In the case of Darcey, she is a member of the Assassin brotherhood, and the first crossover between the Assassin’s Creed universe and Watch Dogs. But Legion live producer Lathiesshe Thillainathan told IGN that this crossover is more fan service, and should not be considered canon. “She’s not canon, it’s purely a fan service from our side and also the [Assassin’s Creed] side,” Said Thillainathan who added that the Legion team is “not trying to build a joint universe between [Watch Dogs and Assassin’s Creed].” Thillainathan acknowledged the speculation among fans that there is a connection between the two Ubisoft franchises (“We also read Reddit,” Thillainathan said) but this crossover is a result of the Watch Dogs team finding a fun way to work with the Assassin’s Creed team on a fan service project. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=watch-dogs-legion-post-launch-dlc-roadmap&captions=true"] Fans of Assassin’s Creed will find a lot of familiarity with Darcey’s gameplay and movement style, and Thillainathan confirmed that Darcey’s back story will weave in AC lore. But the easter eggs in Watch Dogs alluding to Assassin’s Creed will remain, for now, just easter eggs. In regards to Watch Dogs: Legion's crossover with Watch Dogs 2, we asked where Marcus Holloway, the protagonist from the game is, to which Thillainathan says that there will be "more to come." As for Watch Dogs: Legion Online and whether it’s closer to an open-world with multiplayer activities or similar to GTA: Online, Thillainathan says Ubisoft’s goal is to introduce a wide range of online activities shortly after release and then build out the components that gain traction. “[We’ll] look at player engagement up until next summer and continue to grow it based on our players,” says Thillainathan. He cites activities like Spiderbot PvP and Tactical Ops and depending on where players gravitate towards, that’s what the developers will focus on building out. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/23/watch-dogs-legion-welcome-to-the-resistance-story-trailer"] Thillainathan also stressed that Watch Dogs: Legion Online runs parallel to the single-player campaign. Meaning when Online launches, there will be a short onboarding process but players will essentially gain full access to the complete London sandbox from the get-go. The London map in Online will be the same one players will venture through in the single-player campaign, only completely accessible from the start. “It has its own onboarding and its own story. So the co-op campaign is not the endgame for the single-player campaign,” Thillainathan reveals. There’s no gated content in Online either as one of the developers’ goals was to make Online as accessible as possible when it’s released in December. There will also be cross-progression between console and PC, regardless of which PC digital store you purchase Legion from. For more, check out IGN’s final preview for Watch Dogs: Legion. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M. Kim is a reporter for IGN.

Dave Bautista says that, in his WWE days, he used to hide inhalers underneath the wrestling ring due to his asthma. A fan on Twitter complimented Bautista on his "impressive" work as a wrestler with asthma and asked if he ever had an asthma attack during a match. "I hid inhalers under the ring and with people working around the ring," Bautista replied. "I’m not kidding. The cold venues were my nightmare."

I hid inhalers under the ring and with people working around the ring. I’m not kidding. The cold venues were my nightmare. https://t.co/kpAPQ9EKpz

— Shadow Person Dave Bautista (@DaveBautista) October 6, 2020

Bautista, under the name Batista, is a six-time World Heavyweight Champion in the WWE. His first World Heavyweight Championship win gave him a title that lasted 282 days, which is still a record for longest reign in that title's history. Bautista quit the WWE in 2010 and briefly returned in January 2014, only to leave again in June 2014. Guardians of the Galaxy would arrive in theaters a couple of months later and Bautista's Hollywood career began, although he returned for some WWE appearances in 2019. Watch a classic interview with Dave Bautista and Michael Rooker from Comic-Con 2013 where Bautista compares fighting in the WWE to fighting in a Marvel movie: [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2013/07/21/guardians-of-the-galaxy-dave-bautista-and-michael-rooker-interview-comic-con-2013"] In the years since the first Guardians movie, Bautista has played a Bond villain in Spectre and had a small role in the critically-acclaimed Blade Runner 2049. He reprised his Guardians role in a 2017 sequel and had a major role in Avengers: Infinity War. He teamed up with his Blade Runner director, Denis Villeneuve, to appear in Dune, which was recently delayed to October 2021. He's set to appear in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 as well as Zack Snyder's zombie movie Army of the Dead. Bautista's character in Army of the Dead is already getting an anime spinoff series at Netflix to tell his backstory. And as for Guardians 3, franchise director James Gunn said that Vol. 3 will probably be his last and it will likely be the last Guardians movie with the "current team." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=dune-movie-images&captions=true"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Petey Oneto is a freelance writer for IGN who highly recommends the movie Fighting With My Family starring Florence Pugh. Really underrated wrestling movie.

Dave Bautista says that, in his WWE days, he used to hide inhalers underneath the wrestling ring due to his asthma. A fan on Twitter complimented Bautista on his "impressive" work as a wrestler with asthma and asked if he ever had an asthma attack during a match. "I hid inhalers under the ring and with people working around the ring," Bautista replied. "I’m not kidding. The cold venues were my nightmare."

I hid inhalers under the ring and with people working around the ring. I’m not kidding. The cold venues were my nightmare. https://t.co/kpAPQ9EKpz

— Shadow Person Dave Bautista (@DaveBautista) October 6, 2020

Bautista, under the name Batista, is a six-time World Heavyweight Champion in the WWE. His first World Heavyweight Championship win gave him a title that lasted 282 days, which is still a record for longest reign in that title's history. Bautista quit the WWE in 2010 and briefly returned in January 2014, only to leave again in June 2014. Guardians of the Galaxy would arrive in theaters a couple of months later and Bautista's Hollywood career began, although he returned for some WWE appearances in 2019. Watch a classic interview with Dave Bautista and Michael Rooker from Comic-Con 2013 where Bautista compares fighting in the WWE to fighting in a Marvel movie: [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2013/07/21/guardians-of-the-galaxy-dave-bautista-and-michael-rooker-interview-comic-con-2013"] In the years since the first Guardians movie, Bautista has played a Bond villain in Spectre and had a small role in the critically-acclaimed Blade Runner 2049. He reprised his Guardians role in a 2017 sequel and had a major role in Avengers: Infinity War. He teamed up with his Blade Runner director, Denis Villeneuve, to appear in Dune, which was recently delayed to October 2021. He's set to appear in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 as well as Zack Snyder's zombie movie Army of the Dead. Bautista's character in Army of the Dead is already getting an anime spinoff series at Netflix to tell his backstory. And as for Guardians 3, franchise director James Gunn said that Vol. 3 will probably be his last and it will likely be the last Guardians movie with the "current team." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=dune-movie-images&captions=true"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Petey Oneto is a freelance writer for IGN who highly recommends the movie Fighting With My Family starring Florence Pugh. Really underrated wrestling movie.