A New German Device is Bringing Real-Time Soil Analysis to the Field

A groundbreaking device developed by German researchers could revolutionize agriculture by bringing lab-level soil analysis directly to farmers in the field. The RapidMapper, a collaborative effort between the Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy (ATB) and Ferdinand-Braun-Institut (FBH), aims to make farming more efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable through targeted fertilization. The device addresses the limitations of traditional soil-sampling methods, which are often costly and time-consuming. Farmers typically collect samples from various fields and send them to labs for analysis, delaying nutrient adjustments. The RapidMapper offers a portable solution that allows real-time soil analysis. "Using the Raman sensor head … it was possible for the first time to detect soil components at a depth of five to ten centimeters — while in motion," said Dr. Martin Maiwald of FBH. Dr. Robin Gebbers of ATB highlighted additional insights gained from their model, including detecting carbonates and organic substances in the soil. "The first test run was a big step forward," Gebbers stated. "At our soil testing track in the Fieldlab for Digital Agriculture, we were able to demonstrate that measurements in soils are possible from a mobile platform while in motion." While data from initial tests is still being evaluated, researchers believe this technology could lead to more efficient farming practices. With agriculture facing increasing challenges, high-tech solutions like artificial intelligence are becoming popular tools for improving crop management. The German team plans to optimize soil fertility directly from the field with an integrated system that could appeal to farmers and farm machinery manufacturers alike.

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The World’s First Commercial Space Station is Getting Closer to Launch

The International Space Station (ISS) has been orbiting Earth for nearly 25 years, serving as both a laboratory and a symbol of international cooperation. But with its retirement expected around 2030, NASA is preparing for the next chapter: commercial space stations. Several companies are competing to design an ISS successor, and one of the frontrunners is Vast, a California-based startup that has partnered with SpaceX. Vast plans to launch its first station, Haven-1, as early as May 2026. Unlike the sprawling ISS, Haven-1 will be a single-module station, roughly the size of a city bus, with room for four astronauts on missions lasting up to two weeks. The company describes it as a “human-centric” design, featuring private sleeping quarters, a communal table, high-speed Starlink internet, and a dome-shaped viewing window. “It’s not designed to be a luxury hotel,” Vast CEO Max Haot said. “But we believe that in every environment, if you feel better, if you can rest better, and if you can communicate better, then you can work better.” The station will support microgravity research and manufacturing, including pharmaceuticals and semiconductors. Vast is working with Florida-based Redwire Space, which has already conducted stem cell and cancer detection studies on the ISS. “Most of our initial activity aboard Haven-1 is expected to be a continuation of the pharmaceutical research and manufacturing we’ve been doing aboard the ISS,” said Rich Boling, a Redwire vice president. Vast has grown rapidly, from about 200 employees in 2023 to 950 today, and has invested heavily in its own production facilities. The company is already welding the flight-ready Haven-1 module after completing a “qualification” version for ground testing earlier this year. NASA has been involved in structural and systems testing at its Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama. If successful, Haven-1 would orbit for three years and host four crewed missions. The first astronauts are expected to launch aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon a few months after the station reaches orbit. Customers will include government agencies, particularly emerging space nations seeking their first crewed missions, as well as private individuals willing to pay a high price for a seat. “Our number one priority is to become an actual space station company — one that has a station in orbit, has sent people to it for a duration of time and has brought them back safely to Earth,” Haot said. “That’s really the race we are in.” Haven-1 is also a stepping stone. Vast’s long-term plan is to build Haven-2, a larger, multi-module facility that could serve as a true ISS replacement. Vast isn’t alone in the race. Blue Origin, Axiom Space, and Starlab — a venture backed by Airbus and Northrop Grumman — are also developing designs. NASA will eventually select partners and purchase “station services” much like it now buys launches from private companies. Experts say the challenges go far beyond engineering. Operating a space station is extremely costly, with the ISS running at about $12 million per day. “In order to have any chance of viability, a future commercial space station will have to ‘land’ its annual operating costs somewhere in the range between $1-2 billion per year,” said Olivier de Weck of MIT. Vast says it will have spent around $1 billion by the time Haven-1 launches, funded by a mix of customer revenue and private investment from founder Jed McCaleb, who made his fortune in cryptocurrency. As the ISS nears its end, the next few years will determine if private industry can take over the job of keeping humans in low-Earth orbit. For Vast, Haven-1 is a chance to prove it belongs in that future.

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Innovative New 'Sponge' Park Saves Historic Atlanta Neighborhood From Flooding

When Hurricane Helene made its way inland, reaching Atlanta despite being 480 kilometers from the coast, the storm brought more than just heavy rain. It also tested a new city project designed to combat flooding in Vine City, a historic neighborhood with a long history of water woes. The solution? A $40 million park that acts like a giant sponge. Rodney Cook Sr. Park isn't your typical green space. While it's filled with amenities like multi-sport courts and fitness equipment, its most crucial role is managing stormwater. Developed by HDR for the Trust for Public Land, the park uses greenery and water features to absorb rain and floodwater, easing pressure on the city's drainage system. Byron Amos, an Atlanta City Council member who grew up in Vine City, remembers countless floods that left basements submerged and cars ruined. To address these recurring issues, Amos collaborated with the Trust for Public Land to bring this innovative concept to his neighborhood. "When water is rerouted through the neighborhood to this site, the pond fills up," explained Jay Wozniak from the trust. "The rain gardens and other green infrastructure throughout the park collect water and basically take the load off the city’s stormwater system." As Helene's rains poured down on Atlanta, residents braced for trouble. But instead of flooded homes, they saw Rodney Cook Park doing exactly what it was designed to do—filling up with nine million gallons of water and protecting nearby properties. "People were calling, ‘The park is flooding! The park is flooding!’ and my response was, ‘It’s doing its job,’” Amos told CBS News. Within 72 hours of Helene's impact, no evidence of a storm remained in Vine City according to Wozniak. Beyond its functionality during storms, Rodney Cook Sr. Park has been recognized for its design excellence. It has received ten major awards in architecture, design, and landscape engineering since its completion.

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Scientists Have Just Developed Technology to Bring Holograms to Smartphones

Researchers at the University of St. Andrews have made a significant stride in hologram technology that could change how we interact with smart devices, gaming, and more. By combining Holographic Metasurfaces (HMs) with Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLEDs), they offer a fresh approach to creating holograms that may be cheaper and easier to produce. Until now, lasers were the go-to for making holograms, but this team's innovative method could bring these captivating images into everyday tech. OLEDs are already common in mobile phone displays and some TVs due to their ability to emit light from a flat surface. They’re also proving useful in areas like optical wireless communications and biophotonics because they can integrate well with other technologies. Holographic metasurfaces are essentially thin arrays of tiny structures known as meta-atoms. These little units can manipulate light's properties and are used in various fields such as data storage, anti-counterfeiting, optical displays, and microscopy. For the first time, researchers have combined both OLEDs and HMs to form the basic building block of a holographic display. Each meta-atom acts like an HM pixel by controlling light beams that pass through it. This manipulation allows the creation of pre-designed images on the opposite side using light interference—a phenomenon where light waves create complex patterns when interacting. Professor Graham Turnbull from St. Andrews' School of Physics and Astronomy explained the significance: “OLED displays normally need thousands of pixels to create a simple picture. This new approach allows a complete image to be projected from a single OLED pixel!” Previously, crafting even basic shapes with OLEDs posed challenges, limiting broader applications. However, this breakthrough paves the way for smaller and more integrated metasurface displays. Andrea Di Falco, another professor in nano-photonics at St. Andrews, highlighted the potential impact: “This breakthrough will enable a step change in the architecture of holographic displays for emerging applications, for example, in virtual and augmented reality.”

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Seattle Nonprofit Inspires Home Bakers To Donate Fresh Bread To Food Banks

The smell of warm bread filled Lynda Ewaldsen’s kitchen, but the fragrant honey oat loaf wasn’t for her table. At 75, the retired university human resources director spends much of her time baking for strangers. Her loaves end up at the Edmonds Food Bank in Washington state, where families struggling with the cost of groceries turn them into sandwiches and meals. “I just get really excited about it knowing that it’s going to someone and they’re going to make, like, 10 sandwiches,” Ewaldsen said. Ewaldsen is part of Community Loaves, a Seattle-area nonprofit that pairs home bakers with food banks. Since its founding in 2020, the group has donated more than 200,000 loaves of bread and 220,000 energy cookies. Led by Katherine Kehrli, a former culinary school dean, the network of nearly 900 bakers stretches across Washington, Oregon, California, and Idaho. Kehrli said the need has only grown as grocery prices climb and federal food aid is cut. “Most of our food banks do not get any kind of whole-grain sandwich bread donation,” she said. “When we ask what we could do better, they just say, ‘Bring us more.’” At the Edmonds Food Bank, demand has nearly tripled in three years, with households served rising from 350 to almost 1,000, according to program manager Lester Almanza. Across the country, more than 50 million people a year receive food assistance, according to Feeding America. That need may rise further after a July bill in Congress cut funding for food stamps, or SNAP benefits. The Congressional Budget Office estimated 3 million people will lose eligibility. Yet assessing the fallout could soon get harder. The US Agriculture Department announced it will stop publishing its annual hunger report, calling it redundant and politicized. The final edition, after three decades, will be released October 22. Advocates warn that the change risks making hunger invisible. “Ending data collection will not end hunger, it will only make it a hidden crisis that is easier to ignore and more difficult to address,” said Crystal FitzSimons, president of the Food Research & Action Center. Almanza said funding cuts already mean at least 10% less support for his food bank this year. “It’s something that a lot of people rely on,” he said. That includes families like Chris Redfearn and his wife, Melanie, who turned to a pantry in Everett after moving to Washington in search of work. While she recently started teaching history at a local college, he is still looking for a job. “The food pantry assists with anywhere from $40 to $80 worth of savings weekly,” he said. “We’ve been able to keep ourselves afloat.” For them, finding Community Loaves bread at the pantry was an unexpected bonus. Supermarket donations often include processed white bread or sweets close to expiration. Kehrli’s bakers make honey oat, whole wheat, and sunflower rye breads with whole grains and simple ingredients. “They make it really wholesome and fibrous,” Redfearn said. “It mimics most of the health-conscious breads that are out there.” The idea struck Kehrli during the pandemic, when she was laid off from the Seattle Culinary Academy. “I love to bake and just an idea sparked: Would it be possible for us to help from our home and get important valuable nutrition to our food banks?” she said. Food pantries often reject homemade goods over safety concerns. Feeding America warns against donating them because pantries cannot confirm how they were made. But Kehrli found exceptions in Washington and neighboring states, where home-baked bread is allowed if recipes meet approved standards. Community Loaves bakers follow set recipes for bread and cookies, buy their own ingredients, and bake on a shared schedule twice a month. They drop loaves at neighborhood “hubs,” where other volunteers collect and deliver them to food banks. Ewaldsen has baked nearly 800 loaves in less than two years. She said it fulfills both a physical and spiritual need. “It’s the opportunity for me to bake something and to share something with others in the community, where they don’t necessarily need to know who I am, but they know that there’s a community that loves and cares for them,” she said. But advocates stress that generosity alone cannot fill the gap left by cuts to public aid. “It’s beautiful that our communities act this way,” said Gina Plata-Nino of the Food Research & Action Center. “But it is a loaf of bread. That is going to feed one person — and there are millions in line.”

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Rescue Dog Triumphs In Ultramarathons Across The Country

At just 9 pounds and 6 years old, Jellybean doesn’t exactly look like a marathon runner. But the tiny Chihuahua mix has become one of the Sacramento region’s most unexpected endurance athletes — and a local legend on four legs. Since being adopted during the pandemic in 2020 by Davis resident Andrew Owens, Jellybean has gone from shelter dog to ultramarathoner, completing four full marathons and multiple 50-kilometer trail ultras, often leading the pack at an 8-minute-per-mile pace. “She doesn’t look like the typical half-marathoner, let alone a marathon finisher,” Owens said. “But as she sprints past runners or crosses the finish line, she challenges every stereotype and assumption. Jellybean reminds us that potential isn’t defined by appearances. It’s about heart, determination, and the work we’re willing to put in.” Jellybean, who fuels up on kibble, training treats, and the occasional Chipotle kids’ meal (chicken and cheese, vet-approved), has become a fixture in the Sacramento running community. Together with Owens, she trains weekly at UC Davis and is a familiar sight at Fleet Feet Davis’ Run Crew nights and local race events. Her running form is distinct — a gentle, sideways trot that almost looks effortless, according to friend and fellow runner Derraugh Dawson. “She just glides along,” Dawson said. “She’s pushed Andrew from my 11-minute mile pace down to a seven- or eight-minute mile.” Jellybean’s running resume includes: • A 3:47 finish at the Garmin Kansas City Marathon (8:40 min/mile) • Two 50K ultras in 2022 (Berkeley Trail Adventure and San Lorenzo River Trail) • A return to the San Lorenzo race in 2023 • Regular track workouts and long runs across the region Sarah Pitfield, a former Fleet Feet coach and science teacher, says Jellybean’s body is built for distance. “She’s all muscle,” Pitfield said. “Bigger dogs and humans take more impact with each stride. Jellybean just floats — and at the end of a marathon, she’s often the one with the most energy.” Owens, who was once a semi-casual runner with a German Shepherd named Kodie, didn’t initially plan on adopting a small dog. Jellybean was nervous and destructive at first, and didn’t take to running immediately. But she bonded quickly, and after one more chance on the trail, she found her stride — and never looked back. These days, Owens says, if Jellybean sees him lace up his shoes without her, she gets upset. And when she does run, she runs with joy. "It’s disbelief and then it’s awe,” Owens said of the reactions from fellow racers. “‘If that dog can do it, maybe I can run a 10K.’” Now with over 1,000 followers on her Instagram page (@jellybean26.2), Jellybean has become a symbol of unexpected grit and motivation for runners of all levels. She’s helped others, like Owens’ friend Peter Blando, seek out athletic dog companions of their own — Blando adopted a Chihuahua mix named Bacon to join him on runs. Jellybean doesn’t drink much water, but enjoys being misted on hot days. She’s content with a few licks and some chicken treats during races. When she’s not racing? She’s known to indulge — Owens admits she once downed half a charcuterie board in one go. Her story, though lighthearted, continues to make a big impact. “If that dog can do it, what’s stopping me?” is a question more than a few runners have asked themselves after seeing Jellybean blaze by.

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This Popular Halftime Act is Set To Return After Injury, and Fans are Excited For Her Comeback

Months after a frightening fall sidelined her from the halftime spotlight, Red Panda is officially on the mend — and planning a return. Rong Niu, the world-famous unicycle performer known for her jaw-dropping bowl-flipping act, is recovering from a serious wrist injury she suffered during a WNBA Commissioner's Cup halftime show in July. The accident, which happened mid-performance while Niu balanced atop her 7-foot unicycle at a game between the Indiana Fever and Minnesota Lynx, required extensive surgery and forced her off the court for the rest of the WNBA season. But now, she’s gearing up for a comeback. "We are sending out this note to thank everyone for their heartfelt wishes to Red Panda for a speedy recovery from her fall," said her agent Pat Figley in a statement on Sunday. "It was a very serious injury and she did require surgery. She appreciated all the sincere follow-up. It was amazing and very touching." Figley confirmed that Niu is already back to practicing and is aiming to return to her iconic halftime performances during the upcoming 2025–26 college basketball and NBA seasons. "She is recovering well and is practicing. She is looking forward to performing this season," Figley said, though no exact return date has been set. Before her fall, Red Panda was a halftime legend. For over two decades, she’s been a must-see act, often drawing fans to stay in their seats during breaks rather than heading for concessions. Her signature routine — balancing on a tall unicycle while flipping and catching bowls on her head using only her foot — earned her a loyal following and viral fame. Niu’s performances have spanned everything from NBA arenas to college basketball courts across the U.S. Her skill, precision, and seemingly impossible balance made her a fan favorite, and news of her injury was met with widespread concern. Now, with her recovery well underway, Niu is eyeing a return to the spotlight. And if her past shows are any indication, fans will be ready, and staying in their seats, when she does.

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Britain's Strongest Grandmother Breaks Four World Records Months After Starting Powerlifting

At 65, Martine Barons has earned a new nickname in Britain: the country’s strongest grandmother. The mother of three and grandmother of four has smashed four world records in powerlifting, just 18 months after picking up the sport “by accident.” Barons, who works full-time as an academic researcher at Warwick University, only started lifting weights in December 2023. “I was surprised to find a talent for powerlifting at the age of 63 after being poor at sports all my life,” she told SWNS. “I get enormous pleasure from training and competing—and the health benefits of increased strength and mobility are astonishing.” Since then, she has been training five times a week, two hours a day. The results have been dramatic. She has now won four major international titles in her division, including back-to-back European Championships in Finland and Poland, and two World Championships in Limerick, Ireland, and Idaho in the United States. “It does make me happy and quite emotional to think about what I have managed to achieve. I never thought in the space of 18 months I could have achieved this,” she said. “I have to pinch myself sometimes as I can’t believe it’s me. I’m still in shock, as it all started by chance, really.” That “chance” was a trip to the gym with a colleague. “I took up powerlifting by complete accident. I went to a gym with a friend of mine who is a physical training instructor and she showed me how to deadlift. She was impressed that I could pick up 60kg. Then I picked up 100kg a few weeks later. It must be good genetics. I’m unusually strong for my age and gender.” Her strength quickly translated into records. She added 10 kilograms to the squat world record by lifting 100kg, 7.5 kilograms to the deadlift record with 155kg, and 12.5 kilograms to the overall powerlifting total with 312.5kg across lifts. She also bench pressed 57.5kg. Her most recent triumph came this year, when she won world titles in powerlifting, deadlift, and bench press in the Masters 5, Raw, U90kg division. “I’m a person who needs a goal, so when my friend said you should compete, it was ‘all hands on deck’,” she said. “To be good at a sport for the first time is kind of nice. I’ve found I’m good at something, so why not?” Barons, who lives in Stratford-upon-Avon, is already setting her sights on her next challenge: the British Single Lifts Championship at the Arnold Sports Festival in Birmingham in March 2026. “I’m proud to represent my country,” she said. “It’s not something I thought I’d ever do.”

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Teen Inventor Creates Solution To Eliminate a Hazardous Substance From Drinking Water

A 14-year-old girl from Florida has developed a new way to clean up one of the most stubborn pollutants in our drinking water — and it’s already getting national attention. Sheyna Patel, a student from Orlando, has invented a non-toxic hydrogel that removes 93% of PET microplastics from water. Her innovation works like a sponge, soaking up plastic particles that would otherwise remain in the water we drink. The breakthrough earned her a finalist spot in the prestigious 3M Young Scientist Challenge, one of the top STEM competitions in the United States. "I entered the 3M Young Scientist Challenge because of my passion for STEM research and environmental preservation," Sheyna told the 3M Young Scientists Lab. "This competition offers me a chance to showcase my findings and represent the innovative ideas I have toward tackling real-world problems." Microplastics — tiny fragments of plastic smaller than 5 millimeters — are everywhere. They’ve been found in tap water, bottled water, sea salt, seafood, even the air we breathe. And while scientists are still learning exactly how they affect human health, early studies show disturbing signs: DNA damage, inflammation, and changes to gene activity linked to diseases like cancer. Despite this growing threat, the tools to clean up microplastics are still limited. That’s where Sheyna’s invention stands out. Her hydrogel targets polyethylene terephthalate (PET), one of the most common and harmful forms of plastic, used in everything from water bottles to packaging. The hydrogel is not only effective — removing nearly all of the PET from test samples — but also safe and simple to use. According to The Australia Today, Sheyna’s project could pave the way for broader applications in water treatment facilities or even home-use filters. Plastic pollution has exploded in the last 70 years. In 1950, the world produced about 2.2 million tonnes of plastic. Today, that number is closer to 495 million tonnes annually, with up to 2.2 million tonnes ending up in the ocean each year, according to data from Our World in Data. “Despite the massive scale of the problem, young people like Sheyna offer hope,” said Bernardo Lemos, a researcher at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, who studies the effects of microplastics. “There are so many unknowns — but we are seeing more data that suggest microplastics affect human biology.” For Sheyna, this project is just the beginning. When asked where she sees herself in 15 years, she told 3M she hopes to be “in a leadership role within a field I'm passionate about, driving innovation, mentoring others, and contributing to meaningful advancements that benefit not only my organization, but society as a whole in STEM.” In a world where plastic pollution is everywhere, it’s young innovators like Sheyna who are showing that real solutions may be closer than we think — and often come from those least responsible for the problem.

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A Historic Record Shop in the UK is Being Honored With a Special Recognition

A legendary Liverpool record shop with ties to John Lennon and football icon Bill Shankly has been honoured with a blue plaque, cementing its place in the city’s musical history. The Musical Box, one of the UK’s oldest record shops, has served music fans for four generations. Now run by Tony and Paula Quinn, the family-owned store in Tuebrook has been a fixture in Liverpool’s cultural landscape since long before The Beatles were famous. “We are deeply honoured,” said Mrs Quinn of the permanent tribute. The shop was recently refreshed with a facelift led by their son Craig, continuing the family tradition into its fourth generation. The plaque was made possible through a collaboration between Liverpool City Council’s heritage team and the UNESCO City of Music initiative. It will be unveiled by Antiques Roadshow expert Wayne Colqhoun, who previously suggested that the shop’s upper floor could be converted into a museum. For Paula and Tony, the moment is especially meaningful for Tony’s mother Diane, now in her 80s, who took over the business from her own mother Dorothy. “It will be a special moment for us all,” said Mrs Quinn. The shop’s musical legacy runs deep. Before Beatlemania swept the world, John Lennon and original Beatles drummer Pete Best were regular customers. Best confirmed they frequented the shop in their early days. In 1972, Liverpool FC manager Bill Shankly famously walked in to buy a copy of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards' hit Amazing Grace. Kevin McManus of UNESCO City of Music, who helped spearhead the recognition, said the shop remains an important part of Liverpool’s music identity. “Last time I was in the Musical Box I bought a heart-shaped red vinyl limited edition of Pete Wylie’s Heart As Big As Liverpool,” he said. “I already had it on five different CDs, but I wanted it on vinyl.” McManus added that while writing a book about Liverpool’s country music scene years ago, many local musicians brought up the Musical Box unprompted. “I began to learn more about its long history. It is another small element of what makes Liverpool a special music city.” With the new plaque, that element is now officially recognised — a tribute not just to the artists who passed through its doors, but to a family who kept the music playing for more than a century.

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Bad Bunny To Headline 2026 NFL Super Bowl Halftime Show

Bad Bunny is set to light up the stage at one of the most-watched events in the world next year. The NFL, Apple Music, and Roc Nation have announced that the Puerto Rican rapper-singer will headline the Super Bowl Halftime Show on February 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. In a statement, Bad Bunny expressed his excitement about this opportunity. "What I’m feeling goes beyond myself," he said. "It’s for those who came before me and ran countless yards so I could come in and score a touchdown… this is for my people, my culture, and our history." Jay-Z, founder of Roc Nation, praised Bad Bunny's influence and contributions. "What Bad Bunny has done and continues to do for Puerto Rico is truly inspiring. We are honoured to have him on the world’s biggest stage,” he stated. Bad Bunny, aged 31, was chosen over other speculated artists like Taylor Swift and Metallica for this prestigious slot. Though performers do not receive payment for their halftime performances, the exposure from such an event is unparalleled. However, Bad Bunny probably doesn’t need much boosting; he's already one of the globe's most-streamed artists. His accolades include three Grammy Awards and twelve Latin Grammy Awards. He has also made waves in cinema with roles in films like Bullet Train and Happy Gilmore 2. This year, Bad Bunny leads the Latin Grammy nominations with twelve nods, surpassing renowned producer Edgar Barrera. His latest album 'DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS' has been critically acclaimed and even made it onto Euronews Culture’s Best Albums of 2025... So Far list. The publication highlighted how the album pushes boundaries while staying true to modern reggaetón. The upcoming performance follows Kendrick Lamar's historic turn as this year's headliner. Lamar became the first solo rapper to headline a Super Bowl Halftime Show and set new viewership records with 133.5 million tuning in—surpassing even Michael Jackson's legendary show in 1993.

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