Daily Archives: March 21, 2022

Finally, something good!Big Sun Energy

For once, weve got positive news! The US Bureau of Labor Statistics says wind and solar jobs will be among the fastest-growing occupations in the next ten years, providing more renewable energy and paychecks to thousands of Americans.

The government agency said wind turbine technicians will be at the top of the list, and solar photovoltaic installers is in third place. There doesnt seem to be any mention of other renewable energy jobs in the top ten but hey, well take what we can get. Wind turbine jobs are expected to see a 4.7% increase between 2020 and 2030, and solar installers a 6.1% increase in the same time period.

Although both average annual salaries were under $50,000 in 2020, the agency didnt say whether salaries will increase by 2030, but we sure hope they do.

The data was last updated in late 2021, but its never been more relevant. Gas prices hit record highs in the US this month and President Biden is looking toward the Green New Deal for permanent solutions to fossil fuel dependancy. As conflicts drag on in Yemen and Ukraine, its more important than ever to lean toward clean energy and energy independence.

It makes sense that wind and solar jobs are growing so fast. States around the country are investing in new solar farms and US-based energy mega-giant Shell is looking at building giant wind farms in the ocean. Its even more heartening to hear that in regions like Appalachia, which have long been known for energy and coal production, abandoned mine land is being reclaimed and turned into clean energy production sites.

More jobs, more clean energy and more energy independence? We seriously cant think of anything to complain about with this new data and we hope you cant either.

More on Earth and energy: The Sea Ice That Protects Antarctic Glaciers Just Completely Shattered, Scientists Say

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Government Says Wind and Solar Among Fastest-Growing Occupations in Next Ten Years - Futurism

Weve spent much of the past two years living in the past nostalgic about elements of life we took for granted before the coronavirus pandemic, spending lots of hours remembering the people we miss.

Its been said by so many, but the coronavirus pandemic has also been a crisis in comprehending time. Two years after the first shelter-in-place orders, time feels as flexible and surreal as it ever has. Sometimes, yesterday feels like it happened a year ago. Other times, February 2020 feels like it just took place.

As we reconcile with the past, its worth wondering: What will the future look like in a world still suffering from the pandemic? Well, its probably going to be a time when were putting ourselves, and our society, back together. Thats a recurring theme in the forecasts from two Bay Area futurists author Annalee Newitz and Marina Gorbis, executive director of the Institute for the Future.

We asked each of them to offer thoughts on what life in the Bay Area will be like six, 12 and 24 months from now. They paint a picture to come of hope and denial, of struggle and celebration, of housing solutions and poop surveillance.

Gorbis: First of all, Im not sure that (the pandemic) is over. It looks like, from what is happening in Europe, this period of closing down and opening up, I think its likely to continue. Whatever its going to be, its not quite over. Whatever happens, I dont think were going to be shutting down in the same way we were shutting down early on. It will be much more surgical, much more selective.

We have a lot of people who are likely to have long-term health conditions, as a result of COVID, but also as a result of having an aging population. We dont know everything about it. We have a tremendous amount of mental health issues. And just a kind of malaise, particularly among young people. I mean, when you wake up every morning and you see that the environment around you that you know is not going to exist, its hard not to have mental health issues.

The good thing about this, as a result of COVID, were going to find a lot more scientific discoveries that go beyond COVID and are connected to other kinds of viruses and well understand more. I think thats likely to be happening.

Marina Gorbis, executive director of the Institute for the Future, she worries there will be a time the Bay Area makes a decision to forget about the pandemic.

Newitz: In six months, I think a lot of us will still be dealing with the aftereffects of the terror weve been living with. Were still going to be processing our feelings about how we want to live.

I think we need to start saying, Things are going to change. Things have changed. Things are going to change again. I dont think its ever going to be same as it was. Its living in a world where we will change.

There are stats showing people have been drinking more. People have been depressed and lonely. And thats understandable. A lot of us have had loved ones who weve lost or have been sick, and its horrible. Everyone who has been dealing with the pandemic, were going to be carrying it for a long time.

Gorbis: California has a large budget surplus, like a once-in-a-lifetime budget surplus. Between that and the infrastructure investments from the federal government, there will be once-in-a-lifetime investments in California in terms of infrastructure, probably in education. Everything from preschool and higher ed and other things. Thats a positive thing. Climate mediation, which is very much needed in California. I hope we spend it wisely.

On the other side of it, theres clearly a lot of emphasis on building more low-income and affordable housing. Thats coming from foundations, thats coming from the state, from local governments. And alternative forms of housing. I think well see some new models of housing that dont just provide housing, but also give people assets, longer-term economic security.

Futurist Annalee Newitz released the book Four Lost Cities: A Secret History of the Urban Age during the pandemic.

Newitz: Lots of people have pointed out, and theyre right, (the pandemic) has sped up the development around remote work and also around delivery services. That is all stuff that I think will continue to get more complex and elaborate. Were going to have more and more gig work and (as a result) many more people who are not covered with insurance.

There is going to be this continued obsession with cryptocurrency. Im not sure why its related to the pandemic, but I think its people panicking with how to make money and save their money. Its been a time of so many people having economic insecurity ... so crypto just felt like the thing to invest in. Or NFTs. I think there is going to be some really horrific set of scams that will impoverish people in a bad way, and it will be related to cryptocurrency.

The other thing I think is really interesting, now we have all this sewage surveillance. Poop watching. Its been really effective at figuring out what the viral load is in your particular area. I think thats going to become really typical, people are looking at our sewage. Some tech company is going to be like, We have a toilet that can read your poop. Like, Were seeing a viral load. Or, Your microbiome is showing that you are eating too much fat. You wont have that in 12 months, but you could see people pitching that idea.

Gorbis: There is a historian of science, Charles Rosenberg, who compares pandemics to dramas in four acts. The first is random response. This is happening, were throwing all we can at it, but we dont know what works. The second stage is what he calls progressive revelation, which is all these vulnerabilities that have been there for a long time, that have been suppressed or denied or covered, and suddenly you cant suppress them anymore. The third one is public response and theres sort of an agreement on what needs to be done. The fourth one is reckoning. You have time to think about, why did this happen, what caused it, what can we do to prevent it? I think were between the public response and the reckoning. I dont think theres a lot of reckoning yet about what exactly happened and why. Its a process that will continue.

I think there is a fifth act we need to add to that. That is amnesia. Were really good at forgetting things. I think we will be surprised at how quickly people will want to forget (the pandemic) and will want to go back to normal.

Newitz: Historically, when people have been through things like pandemics, there has been a big effort to forget it. Not because theyre afraid of it, but because theyre sick of it. I wouldnt be surprised if, looking forward two years, no one is talking about it all.

Nobody wants to talk about those years we were stuck in our houses. (But) how do we make sure we have institutional memory, so the next time we have a pandemic were ready and are prepared? And, not just the pandemic, but other natural disasters, because thats what this is, a microbial natural disaster.

Robert Morast is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: robert.morast@sfchronicle.com

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Two Bay Area futurists predict we'll stop talking about the pandemic, and have more poop surveillance - San Francisco Chronicle

Things are not okay.At Both Ends

Hey, is anybody available to check on the two of the coldest places on Earth? Because its pretty clear theyre going through something.

In the last week alone the Washington Post reported that temperatures in Eastern Antarctica could have soared as much as 90 degrees warmer than usual. The national pub also reported that a bomb cyclone could bring Arctic temperatures near the melting point as they soared 50 degrees above normal this weekend.

Thats right both of Earths poles are experiencing what experts are calling unprecedented warming at the same time.

It is impossible, we would have said until two days ago, said Antarctic climatology researcher and journalist Stefano Battista on Twitter Friday, pictured below.

According to the Post, temperatures have been closer to 0 degrees Fahrenheit, much hotter that the usual minus-50 or minus-60 degrees. Thats especially scary since the continent is entering autumn and losing 25 minutes of sunlight every day.

The warming was caused by warm air and moisture in the atmosphere, in similar fashion to the separate cyclones effects on the Arctic. Although the Post reports that the region is still in the six-month-long polar night temperatures over the weekend could hit 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

How many times have you heard Speak now or forever hold your peace at a wedding? It applies here too.

Its true that things are bad. Remarkably so, in fact, in terms of climate change. But you know what it isnt? A lost cause. Claiming otherwise isnt helpful and would be better left unsaid. Even back in 2019, Forbes was reporting that apocalyptic claims about climate change are wrong. They also discourage people from acting at a time when Earth needs it most.

Although some neer do wells on social media might have you think otherwise, theres still time to act and positively impact the environment and climate change.

We just need to do it now.

More on good climate news: Government Says Wind and Solar Among Fastest-Growing Occupations in Next Ten Years

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Something Is Up In With Earth's North and South Poles - Futurism

What are they trying to say?Blue and Yellow

Is it a protest? Or an homage to the cosmonauts alma mater? Hard to say, but one things for sure the bright yellow and blue space suits three Russian cosmonauts wore to board the International Space Station yesterday were hard to miss, especially compared to the drab colors worn by the stations existing crew.

The crew launched early Friday in a Soyuz spacecraft and arrived at the ISS hours later. Video of the team entering the station show them wearing the colorful new suits, which look suspiciously similar to the colors of the Ukraine flag. As Russias violent invasion of the country drives even more civilian casualties, some experts suspect the cosmonauts were showing support for the Ukrainian people although others caution against rushing to judgment in a complex and eyebrow-raising situation.

Eric Berger, senior space editor at Ars Technica, tweeted yesterday that its hard to say exactly who planned the fashion choice, but retweeted a translated statement from another space exploration fan who said a member of the crew riffed that there was simply too much yellow fabric in the warehouse that needed to be used. Berger said that could be a clever quip to distract from the political reality.

Not everyone is convinced the Russians wanted to support Ukraine. Others hypothesize the suits could be paying respect to Bauman Moscow State Technical University. In a tweet yesterday, Roscosmos head Dmitry Rogozin celebrated the all-Russian crew who graduated from the college.

All of them are graduates of the Bauman Moscow State Technical University, Rogozin said in an English translation provided by Google.

You mightve guessed already, but the universitys colors are blue and yellow. Its completely possible thats what the team was referencing with their new suits although its worth noting that Berger, whos one of the medias top experts on international space relations, pushed back against that theory.

The cosmonauts stunt is admirable if it was indeed to support Ukraine, but if so they could be serious trouble or even danger. Rogozin has threatened both the US and Europe with a violent ISS crash over the conflict, and Russian President Vladimir Putin has been stifling anti-war demonstrations and arresting protestors.If the cosmonauts went off script, itd be a particular affront to Rogozin, who in yet another open-to-interpretation remark bragged earlier this week that the incoming crew were in fighting shape.

For now, Berger is keeping an open mind for explanations.

With that said, orchestrating the fabrication of these flight suits, and getting them packed on board Soyuz during a late-load process, would have required a fair amount of traceable activity in Baikonur,he wrote. Hopefully we can find out what really happened.

More on the European conflict: Elite Ukrainian Drone Pilots are Reportedly Making All the Difference

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Russian Cosmonauts Board Space Station Wearing Colors of Ukraine Flag - Futurism

Honestly, same. Horny Hornets

Like Bugs Bunny dressing up like a lady to trick Elmer Fudd, scientists have discovered that sex can be used to lure giant invasive hornets into traps.

The researchers, who published their findings in the journal Current Biology, created a synthetic sex pheromone to attract the male Vespa mandarinia known more sensationally as murder hornets and capture them in traps that also contain a fake female hornet.

We were able to isolate the major components of the female sex pheromone, a odor blend that is highly attractive to males who compete to mate with virgin queens, James Nieh, an entomologist at the University of California at San Diego and coauthor of the paper, told Gizmodo.

When these components or their blend was tested in sticky traps, they captured thousands of males,he added.

The team hopes their research can be used to combat the invasive species, which preys on endangered bee species throughout North America. In fact, the hornets wreak havoc on $100 million worth of bee-pollinated crops each year, CNN reports.

Luckily, the chemicals are widely available throughout the US, so it should be fairly easy for farmers and anyone else who doesnt want horrifying hornets attacking their bees to replicate the traps.

That said, its not a perfect system to combat the invasive species. Allen Gibbs, professor of life sciences at the University of Nevada, toldCNNthat it might just attract male hornets that have already mated thus leaving the impregnated female hornet free to fly off and start a new colony.

So yeah, these hornets are completely willing to risk their lives for a booty call which, honestly, might show that theyre not so different from some humans.

READ MORE: Sex traps can lure thousands of male giant hornets to their death, study finds [CNN]

More on sex, baby: Scientists Say We Really Have to Talk About Boning in Space

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Murder Hornets Have One Weakness, Scientists Say: Sex - Futurism

In 1988, Kodak, the leading film company at the time, hired Faith Popcorn to tell them about the future of film. Drawing on research and over a decade (at that time) of experience with BrainReserve, her marketing consultancy, she told Kodak that the future of film would be digital. But Kodaks vision was narrowed by success and specificity. Thats not what we asked you, the team told Popcorn. We wanted to know the future of film. They abruptly showed her the door.

Faith Popcorn is a futurist, a specialist who uses a broad array of signals, trends, forecasts, and other models to project plausible outcomes for the future. Companies often bring in these experts to help them strategize long term and prepare for changes looming beyond the horizon. For most people, attempting to see into the future is like trying to peer around a corner: You wont know what it looks like until you get there. However, there are practices that futurists useand that you can developthat will improve your accuracy in understanding what the future is likely to bring and allow you to move with agility once it arrives.

Three prominent futurists and thought leadersAmy Webb, Faith Popcorn, and Rita McGrathoffer a three-step process to help avoid pitfalls many experience when they try to plan for the future and develop a set of strategies to take action in a variety of scenarios.

Most future trend reports are oriented toward an industry: Top Ten Trends in Fintech, Top Ten Trends in Healthcare, etc. This is a mistake.

Amy Webb is the founder of the Future Today Institute, one of Thinkers50s top management thinkers of 2021, and author of the newly released book on the future implications of synthetic biology, The Genesis Machine. She teaches an MBA course on strategic foresight and futures forecasting at the NYU Stern School of Business. Her method of quantitative futurism uses data to model out possible, feasible future scenarios and develop strategies around them.

Her approach begins with plotting out a fringe map of developing trends that may be relevant to you. When doing so, she advises organizations to broaden their perspectives. When people think about the future, they tend to focus on one thing, she explains. For example, if theyre trying to figure out the future of cars, they really need to be thinking about the future of mobility. If they only consider the future of cars, that limits us to a future where we only have cars.

Like Popcorns visit to Kodak in the 1980s, you can see that holding tightly to a narrow definition of your industry can be disastrous. By widening your aperture, you open up an array of possible scenarios and likely future concepts. This will help you refine a variety of strategies to have in your back pocket.

Rita McGrath is a global expert on innovation and corporate growth strategy, well known for her ability to help companies see around corners in order to avoid disruption. She suggests that, to help you assess which of the broad, cross-industry trends are most important, you should detail your assumptions and develop ways to test them, quickly and inexpensively:

With more data, you can then take the next step. Its breaking your monolithic plans into addressable checkpoints, getting the results of your experiments back and re-planning. That is the magic.

Based on your insights, data, and continued questioning, you start separating the signals from noise, identifying which potential trends to pay attention to, which allows you to start formulating your plans.

Futurism is not only about spotting trends. New technologies dont determine the future. Rather, futurists start with trends to begin to identify emerging concepts and language around those technologies. For example, the idea of a taxi service was not new, but Ubers concept of coordinating uncoordinated passengers and drivers revolutionized ride-sharing. Not long after, we began to hear about the uberization of industries.

McGrath proposes that big changes begin to show themselves at the edges of organizations and marketplaces, where you will discover emerging customer problems, ways those problems are being solved, and diverse perspectives.

To contact these edges, McGrath recommends finding your helpful Cassandras, as Andy Grove, the late CEO of Intel would say. She explains:

These are people who are often not in a decision-making capacity, but who have deep insight into changing phenomena. Listen to them. More importantly, regularly get away from the day-to-day to look at how the weak signals of future change are developing. Many things are knowable, but not if you arent paying attention.

Speaking not just to formal experts but to people on the edges, working to solve problems, will require getting out of your comfort zone and your bubble of personal network or experiences. Organizations can facilitate this by empowering small, agile teams and incentivizing employees to bring up uncomfortable or contradictory insights.

All three women agree on scouting out trends on the edges of society and organizations. Popcorns BrainReserve sources from the insights of 10,000 visionaries and future thinkers across industries. A quantitative futurist, Webbs approach uses a team to develop a fringe map of signals of change in technology and society.

Popcorn shared the No. 1 mistake people make when trying to predict the future in an interview:

I think the greatest error that people make . . . is trying to extrapolate whats going to happen from what happened in the past. That is a major error. The way to figure out the future and become an overnight futurist is to look forward.

When you attempt to predict the future based on what is currently happening, you limit the scope of your imagination to the companies, thinking, and trends already at play today. That leaves little room for new standards, technologies, and ideas that are sure to develop over time. Popcorn suggests taking the opposite approach using a technique called backcasting: Look ahead 10 or 20 years, visualize an imagined future of your industry, then create a chronological roadmap of what it will take to get there.

Webb and many other futurists also use backcasting to work backward from an imagined future state. However, she warns against the temptation to set timelines. Webb argues the need to think outside of the typical one, three, or five-year strategic planning horizons, because the evolution of our industry will be impacted by multiple technologies and concepts that will evolve at differing paces. Its not hard to predict the future one or decades from now. But the timing by which the milestones to that future will appear is hard to predict. Trying to follow a rigid linear timeline leaves organizations vulnerable to disruption.

Ancient Greeks used two different terms to describe time. The one we are most familiar with, chronos, refers to sequential (or chronological) time. Their second word, kairos, refers to time as being marked by opportune time for action. Chronos is quantitative; kairos is qualitative. Chronos seeks to tell you the date and year in which something will happen. Kairos seeks to tell you under what conditions something will happen.

Effective backcasting demands kairos, which flies in the face of traditional planning methods.

McGrath offers a practical way to plan without a timeline. After identifying the critical trends you want to track (step 2), define the critical indicators that determine whether a trend is now changing things. For example, when the cost of solar energy drops to be within 10% of fossil fuel and when insurance claims for floods and forest fires grows by 30 then we will see an acceleration in the mainstream adoption of alternative energy. This point in time is not defined by a date but by a state.

Kodak (and others) realized the methods of skilled futurists are becoming more critical as companies across industries face unprecedented speeds of change. In the past, disruption was sporadican organization built up economies of scale, found a strategy that worked, and relied on that same strategy for years with minimal adjustments.

Today, the future is accelerating more rapidly and causing mass chaos. This requires a different approach. By broadening your perspective beyond your industry, exploring the edges of the areas you explore, and backcasting without a timeline you will begin thinking like a futurist. You will be more skilled at anticipating disruption and be prepared to thrive in an uncertain world.

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What we are doing wrong when we try to predict the future - Fast Company

In an attempt to kill two birds with one stone, Massachusetts U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren is trying to sanction Russia and regulate cryptocurrency at the same time. In doing so shes pissed off the cryptosphere at-large but also, surprisingly, non-crypto evangelists, too.

On its face, Sen. Warrens new Russia/cryptocurrency regulation bill represents an attempt to squeeze blockchain businesses that do business with both Russia and the US, essentially forcing them to choose between the two countries, and exerting economic pressure on Russia as it continues its invasion of Ukraine.

But as many, many critics have noted, theres some major issues with the proposed legislation.

Analysts at the DC-based Coin Center think tank wrote in a blog post that the bills key conceit suggesting Russian oligarchs could use crypto wallets to launder tons of money is implausible, given the public nature of blockchains, which record every transaction on open digital ledgers. Additionally, its broad language would criminalize a host of activities that are not, to the minds of the posts writers, criminal.

The bill would place sweeping restrictions on persons who build, operate, and use cryptocurrency networks even if they haveno knowledge or intent to help anyone evade sanctions, the blog posts authors, Jerry Brito and Peter Van Valkenburgh wrote, adding that the bill itself is unnecessary, overbroad, and unconstitutional.

On the other side of Capitol Hill, some Democrats have also taken issue with Warrens attempts to regulate the burgeoning industry as well.

The future of finance and the internet should not be left to a gerontocracy of regulators who appear to be on a personal crusade against crypto, Rep. Ritchie Torres, a freshman congressman representing New York City, told Politico in an interview about the bill. Congress, which has a new generation of legislators, should have the final word.

You should never define any technology by its worst uses, he added. Theres more to crypto than ransomware, just like theres more to money than money laundering.

Even some of Warrens own constituents, like Evan Greer of the Fight for the Future digital advocacy group, believe that the language of the bill makes its main message that crypto needs regulation an afterthought.

This is really disappointing, Greer wrote. She is right that the crypto industry deserves more scrutiny, but this bill is terribly written, blatantly opportunistic, & attacks a problem that doesnt exist.

Backlash to the bill has resulted in a campaign against it from crypto enthusiasts as well, resulting in calls for concerted political action from a crowd that generally doesnt do that type of thing. Some have even gone so far as to suggest that Americans who own crypto should consider leaving the country, which iscomically on-brand for reverent crypto obsessives.

Its rare that people from this many walks of life agree on anything, much less agree on the same points. It remains unclear whether Warrens bill will be passed, but if it does, crypto may look a lot different.

READ MORE: Crypto Advocates Say Elizabeth Warrens Sanctions Bill Is Unconstitutional [Vice]

More on the Russian crypto issue:Major Crypto Exchanges Say They Wont Shut Down Russian Transactions Unless Theyre Forced

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Everyone Hates Elizabeth Warren's Crypto Regulation Bill - Futurism

Earbuds and other small in-ear headphones may be well-suited for listening to music and podcasts on the go, but if youre looking for full-spectrum sound and superior noise isolation, a solid pair of over-ear headphones is the only way to go. The best over-ear headphones have comfortable, securely-fitting designs and pack convenient features like noise cancellation, long battery life, and wireless connectivity to elevate your listening experience whether youre commuting, working, working out, or just relaxing. In this article, Ill highlight a few of the best over-ear headphones currently available and break down a few things to look for when buying your next pair.

Best Overall: Apple AirPods Max Best Wired: beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro Best for Working Out: Beats Studio3 Wireless Headphones Best Over-Ear: Sony WH-1000XM4 Best Budget: Soundcore Life Q30

Over-ear headphones have come a very long way since they first appeared at the turn of the 20th century now, theyre wireless devices with well-rounded sound and noise-canceling capabilities. When compiling our list, we looked at a few key criteria of modern designs to determine the best over-ear headphones for every type of user.

Sound: The most important aspect of a pair of headphones is the sound that it delivers. This list consists of over-ear headphones that are predominantly oriented for everyday consumer listening; i.e., heavy bass boost and an exciting, present high-end that helps listeners maintain a high degree of immersion and engagement with listening material. Some of the over-ear headphones on this list have exaggerated sound and even user-customizable sound, while others are oriented toward audio professionals and have an almost aggressively neutral and honest sound.

Noise-Cancelling: Noise-canceling tech brings over-ear headphones to new heights of performance by drowning out environmental noise and delivering audio to users ears with improved clarity. Nearly every item on this list features an active noise-canceling mode except for the wired choice, the beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO, which is best suited for studio use rather than use in the outside world.

Battery Life: Wireless over-ear headphones are only as good as the batteries they hold, so we made sure to select over-ear headphones with single-charge battery life of at least 20 hours where applicable. Not only does longer battery life ensure that headphones are more likely to be ready when users need them, but it can also make the difference between a high-performing pair of wireless headphones and a non-functioning paperweight.

Form and Fit: The best over-ear headphones have a snug-yet-comfortable fit that can be adjusted for the needs of a variety of users. When compiling this list, we took care to select over-ear headphones that deliver minimum fatigue to users ears and heads while ensuring that each selection maintained a secure fit to prevent sliding during use.

Why They Made The Cut: The Apple AirPods Max are a feature-rich pair of over ear headphones with a great balance of style and sound quality.

Specs: Weight: 13.6 ounces Sound Profile: Flat with scooped highs; adaptive EQ Battery Life: 20 hours

Pros: Stylish and comfortable design with five color options Balanced and accurate frequency response with a wide soundstage Chip-assisted adaptive EQ

Cons: Relatively heavy; not ideal for workouts Expensive Lacks a 3.5-millimeter wired connector option

Despite sharing a name with Apples ubiquitous small-stemmed earbuds, the AirPods Max are an entirely unique pair of over-ear headphones that pack wireless connectivity and a balanced full-spectrum sound in a stylish package. Like their earbud-shaped siblings, the AirPods Max feature Apples unique Adaptive EQ feature, which automatically adjusts the headphones sound and EQ (equalization) curve according to the particular fit and seal on users heads. Along with a 20-hour battery life, dynamic head tracking, and a hear-through transparency mode, the AirPods Max have a flat and neutral sonic profile that makes them one of the most well-rounded and versatile over-ear headphones on the market for every type of listening.

Weighing in at 13.6 ounces, the AirPods Max arent exactly the lightest over-ear headphones out there. If youre looking for a lighter over-ear option that stays snug during workouts, the Beats Studio3 Wireless Headphones may be a better choice. The AirPods Max are also relatively pricey thanks to their build quality, feature set, and style factor, so thats something to consider depending on how and where you plan to use them. One last limitation to note is the AirPods Maxs lack of 3.5-millimeter audio port, which means that youll need some type of Bluetooth bridge to use them with older audio equipment.

Why They Made The Cut: Comfortable, customizable ear pads and an airy open-back design make the DT 1990 Pro one of the best over-ear headphones currently available for critical applications like mixing and mastering.

Specs: Weight: 13 ounces Sound Profile: Present bass and gently lifted highs Battery Life: N/A

Pros: Pro-grade, high-spec design for critical audio editing Comfortable earpads encourage long-term use Very broad and accurate frequency response

Cons: TRS plug requires adapter for use via Lightning and USB-C Pricey, though not beyond what youd expect for pro audio gear Open-back design leaks sound despite being more accurate

Audiophiles and professional audio editors looking to get the most fidelity and accuracy from their system will be hard-pressed to find a better choice of wired over-ear headphones than the beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro. While they cost nearly double the AirPods Max and outprice every other pair of headphones on this list, the DT 1990 Pros build quality, feature set, and meticulous accuracy make them a relative bargain in the pro audio world.

The beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro headphones come with two sets of swappable earpads: one tailored for critical and analytical listening, and the other tailored to deliver a more sculpted sound thats ideal for listening to your favorite music. This customizability makes the DT 1990 Pro equally appealing for discerning audio professionals and enthusiasts alike, granting users of every type access to the headphones extended and detailed frequency response.

As a pair of wired over-ear headphones, the DT 1990 Pro arent capable of connectivity via Bluetooth. In fact, theyre limited to 3.5-millimeter and quarter-inch TRS connections, so youll need an adapter to use them with Lightning devices. Theyre also designed with open-back construction, which prevents frequencies from building up and resonating within the housing itself. Overall, this makes for a more accurate listening experience, but it means that some sound will inevitably leak into the room, making them less ideal for quiet or shared spaces.

Why They Made The Cut: The Beats Studio3 are some of the lightest over-ear wireless headphones in their class and feature a firm grip to keep them secure during strenuous workouts.

Specs: Weight: 9.17 ounces Sound Profile: Bass boost with sculpted mids and highs Battery Life: 22 hours

Pros: Super lightweight for unencumbered movement Long-lasting 22-hour battery life in noise-canceling mode Includes 3.5-millimeter cable and hard case

Cons: Good build quality, but feels fragile due to low weight Firm fit may become uncomfortable over long periods Lacks sound customization options

If youre looking for the best headphones for working out but crave a more secure alternative to earbuds, the Beats Studio3 are definitely worth a look. Despite being a fully over-ear design with a headband, they weigh in at a paltry 9.17 ounces, making them suitable for use during a variety of activities. They also feature a sculpted wide-spectrum frequency response with boosted bass for a more immersive listening experience and louder volumes. A snug, adjustable fit keeps them secure around your head without limiting your movement, and their 22-hour battery life allows them to stay charged between multiple workouts, too.

The sound of the Beats Studio3 is full-bodied and heavy on the bass, which makes them particularly suited for listening to hip-hop, electronica, and any other style of music that can get you hyped for your workout. The only downside to this is the Studio3s lack of EQ customization, which means that youre limited to the native EQ on your streaming app or music device if you want to make any adjustments. The Studio3 is also equipped for fully wireless playback via Bluetooth, but they also include a 3.5-millimeter TRS audio cable for compatibility with older devices if youre still rocking an older-gen iPod or other MP3 player.

Why They Made The Cut: The Sony WH-1000XM4 packs a robust combination of stylish design, long battery life, and industry-leading noise cancellation to make a well-rounded pair of premium over-ear headphones.

Specs: Weight: 9 ounces Sound Profile: Bass heavy; customizable Battery Life: 30 hours

Pros: Lightweight design with quick and easy Bluetooth pairing Five internal microphones for high-fidelity noise cancellation and voice capture Long 30-hour battery life and automatic wear detection

Cons: Capacitive touch controls can be triggered accidentally Heavy reliance on app control Speak-to-chat implementation is somewhat unreliable

A dedicated pair of noise-canceling headphones can be indispensable for staying focused during noisy commutes or while working in loud and crowded places, and the Sony WH-1000XM4 delivers some of the best noise-cancelling performance available in the over-ear headphone category hands-down. Available in three matte finishes and featuring a super-light design, the WH-1000XM4 has a long 30-hour single-charge battery life and offers incredibly thorough noise cancellation across the entire sound spectrum thanks to its array of five built-in mics. The headphones can pair to two devices at a time via Bluetooth, making them a good choice for moving between your phone and computer without missing a beat. They also feature a very powerful and bass-heavy EQ curve thats great for immersive listening, but users can adjust this to taste via the Sony smartphone app too.

One drawback of the Sony WH-1000XM4 is that its heavy emphasis on high-tech features can sometimes get in the way of the user experience. For example, nearly all functions of the headphones from simple device pairing to EQ customization must take place within a mobile app on your smartphone. While the interface itself is fairly intuitive and can be great for tech-savvy users, it does make for a clunky workflow, particularly for users who want to use the headphones with a computer. The headphones touch controls perform in a similar way, inviting users to interact with a streamlined, button-free interface thats unfortunately less suited for precise control than a traditional design. Also, the WH-1000XM4s speak-to-chat function is designed to automatically pause your music whenever you speak, but it can be triggered easily by ambient noise. To be clear, the sound quality and noise cancellation of the Sony WH-1000XM4 is second-to-none just be prepared for a small learning curve when youre getting started.

Why They Made The Cut: The only thing more surprising than the Soundcore Life Q30s impressive battery life and sound quality is its sub-$100 price tag.

Specs: Weight: 9.3 ounces Sound Profile: Bass heavy with treble boost; customizable Battery Life: 40 hours

Pros: Extended 40-hour battery life Best bang-for-your-buck active noise canceling performance Customizable EQ via the app

Cons: Build and fit lack premium feel of durability and stability Low-fidelity sound from built-in mic Transparency mode isnt very well-executed

If youre looking to spend under $100 on the best over-ear headphones for your money, the Soundcore Life Q30 are one of the most appealing options available, thanks to their loaded feature set and incredibly long battery life. In active noise-cancelling mode, the Q30 successfully blocks sound from nearly every part of the spectrum including the notoriously difficult bass range, making them a great choice for achieving high isolation performance on a budget. They have a sculpted EQ curve thats ready-made for dance music and other energetic audio material, but users can customize and fine-tune the headphones sound via a smartphone app as well.

While the Soundcore Life Q30 offers incredible value for their price, their somewhat plasticky build quality can leave something to be desired if youre looking for a more durable or premium fit and finish. Their low cost is particularly apparent when considering the sound of the built-in microphone, which sounds thin and one-dimensional when compared to the full, lifelike sound of a premium set like the Song WH-1000XM4. Also, other advanced features like the Q30s transparency mode often dont function as intended, resulting in drastic volume changes and erroneous muting in noisy environments. If youre looking for reliability and durability, you might want to spend a bit more on something like the Beats Studio3 or the Sony WH-1000XM4, but if youre on a budget, the Soundcore Life Q30 is absolutely the best option on the market in its price range.

Wireless Bluetooth connectivity is more or less the norm these days, but if youre looking to play music from an older MP3 player, iPod, or even a computer that doesnt have Bluetooth capability, youll need a pair of over-ear headphones with 3.5-millimeter wired capability. Many of todays best over-ear headphones include 3.5-millimeter cables for optional wired functionality, but some of the markets leading models like the Apple AirPods Max do not. If you want a mix of Bluetooth and traditional wired functionality, the Beats Studio3, Sony WH-1000XM4, and the Soundcore Life Q30 are all excellent options.

Unlike consumer headphones, which typically alter the sound of audio and other musical material to make it more lively, present, and punchy for the active listener, the best over-ear headphones for audio editing have a balanced, neutral, and unaffected sound that gives listeners the most accurate and unbiased representation of the source material. Over-ear headphones like the beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO offer a perfect example of a flat and neutral sound thats ideal for critical listening and editing purposes.

Active noise cancellation, often abbreviated as ANC, is a fairly common feature found in over-ear headphones and some in-ear headphones. By actively listening to the users environment and canceling out ambient noise, noise-cancelling headphones elevate the traditional isolating function of headphones to new heights. Not all over-ear headphones feature active noise cancelling, but you can find the feature in every price bracket from the budget Soundcore Life Q30 all the way to the premium Apple AirPods Max.

Over-ear headphones are the best design to choose if youre looking for high-performance sound isolation and audio quality. The Apple AirPods Max is a stylish and well-rounded example of the best over-ear headphones currently available, but if you want something a little less expensive or require 3.5-millimeter connectivity, the Beats Studio3 is a satisfactory alternative. If high-performance noise-canceling is your priority, the Sony WH-1000XM4 are some of the best noise-canceling over-ear headphones currently available thanks to their five-microphone array. Audio editors should look to the beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO for the best over-ear headphones for audio editing, mixing, and mastering thanks to their incredibly comfortable design and super-flat response. If youre on a budget but still want some of the best noise-canceling performance available, the Soundcore Life Q30 may be just what you need.

This post was created by a non-news editorial team at Recurrent Media, Futurisms owner. Futurism may receive a portion of sales on products linked within this post.

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The Best Over-Ear Headphones of 2022 - Futurism