Webtagr - Technology News Summarizer

Astronomers Push for Global Ban on Ground-Visible Space Advertising

2025-01-26

The American Astronomical Society (AAS) is urging a global ban on space advertising visible from Earth, citing interference with ground-based astronomy. While the U.S. has a decades-old ban, concerns exist that other nations might launch such advertisements. The AAS calls for an international convention or treaty to prohibit this 'obtrusive space advertising,' citing the potential commercial allure. Past proposals involved satellites reflecting sunlight to display logos, but no such campaigns are currently underway. The AAS is pushing the U.S. delegation to the UN's Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) to advocate for this ban.

(spacenews.com)

Tech space advertising

The One and Only Supersonic Concorde Photo

2025-01-26

This article recounts the incredible story behind the only known photograph of a Concorde flying at supersonic speed. In April 1985, a Royal Air Force Tornado jet rendezvoused with a Concorde over the Irish Sea, briefly matching its Mach 2 speed to capture the iconic image before fuel constraints forced a separation. The feat required precise coordination and multiple attempts, as the Tornado could only sustain supersonic flight for a few minutes. The article also explores the Concorde's legacy as the fastest commercial airliner in history, its technological marvels, and its eventual retirement.

(petapixel.com)

Tech Concorde Supersonic Flight Photography

Brazil Halts Sam Altman's Iris Scan Project

2025-01-26

Tools for Humanity, co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, has been banned in Brazil from offering cryptocurrency incentives for iris scans. Brazil's National Data Protection Authority (ANPD) argues this practice interferes with individuals' free will, impacting their autonomous decision-making regarding biometric data. This highlights growing global concerns about the collection and privacy of biometric data.

(economictimes.indiatimes.com)

Tech biometric data

First Fatal Crash Involving a Driverless Car

2025-01-26

A multi-vehicle crash in San Francisco marks the first fatal collision in the U.S. involving a fully autonomous vehicle with no one behind the wheel. While a Waymo self-driving car was involved, it wasn't at fault; a speeding vehicle hit a line of stopped cars, resulting in one human fatality and the death of a dog. Despite Waymo's claim of superior safety records compared to human drivers, based on millions of miles driven, the incident raises serious questions about the safety of autonomous vehicles and will likely trigger further scrutiny of the technology.

(www.nbcbayarea.com)

Tech fatal accident autonomous vehicle safety

Elon Musk's Roadster Mistaken for Asteroid

2025-01-26

An amateur astronomer discovered a near-Earth object that turned out to be Elon Musk's Tesla Roadster, launched into space aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket in 2018. This highlights a growing lack of transparency in deep space, as increasing numbers of spacecraft and rocket debris create confusion with asteroids, wasting observational resources and potentially skewing statistical analyses of hazardous asteroids. The Minor Planet Center is collaborating with JPL to improve identification systems to better differentiate between artificial and natural objects.

(www.astronomy.com)

Tech asteroid tesla roadster deep space exploration

Enshittification: It's Not Venture Capital's Fault, It's the Lack of Constraints

2025-01-26

Cory Doctorow's article delves into the reasons behind the degradation of social media platforms, arguing it's not simply due to venture capitalists' pursuit of profit maximization. The article posits that 'enshittification' stems from user lock-in (high switching costs and collective action problems), and a lack of market competition, government regulation, and labor constraints. The solution, Doctorow suggests, lies in breaking user lock-in, increasing regulation and competition, rather than simply rejecting capitalism. The article also analyzes the strengths and weaknesses of emerging platforms Mastodon and Bluesky, advocating for technical solutions (like the Free Our Feeds project) to enhance Bluesky's resilience and lower switching costs for users.

(pluralistic.net)

Tech platform degradation

Another Baltic Sea Undersea Cable Severed; Latvia Deploys Warship

2025-01-26

Another undersea data cable, this time connecting Sweden and Latvia, has been cut in the Baltic Sea, prompting Latvia to dispatch a warship. Officials from both countries suspect external factors caused the damage. The incident follows a series of similar events in recent months, raising concerns about potential sabotage and increasing geopolitical tensions in the region. A suspect vessel has been identified, headed towards Russia. The damage disrupts data transmission, but alternative routes have been established, minimizing impact on end-users.

(www.france24.com)

Tech

Nvidia's Valuation: A Looming Bubble?

2025-01-26

A former hedge fund analyst and current AI developer expresses concerns about Nvidia's stock valuation. While AI is booming and Nvidia enjoys a GPU monopoly, its high valuation faces multiple threats: a new "inference compute" scaling law suggests lower-than-expected compute demand; innovative chip architectures from Cerebras and Groq circumvent Nvidia's interconnect advantage; major tech companies are developing custom silicon, eroding Nvidia's market share; new software frameworks reduce CUDA dependency; and DeepSeek's efficient model training drastically cuts compute costs. These factors combined could lead to lower revenue growth and margins for Nvidia, making its current high valuation unsustainable.

(youtubetranscriptoptimizer.com)

Tech

Iron Age Society Centered on Women: Ancient Genomes Reveal a Matrilocal Past

2025-01-26

An international team, led by Trinity College Dublin, has unearthed a fascinating glimpse into Britain's Iron Age through ancient DNA. Analysis of over 50 genomes from a Dorset burial site revealed a society structured around female lineage. The study indicates that husbands joined their wives' communities, with land potentially inherited through the maternal line, a system called matrilocality. This pattern wasn't unique to Dorset; similar findings in other Iron Age cemeteries across Britain suggest a widespread phenomenon, challenging traditional views of gender roles and highlighting the significant social and political influence of women in this era. The research published in Nature adds compelling genetic evidence to archaeological observations.

(www.tcd.ie)

Tech Iron Age Ancient DNA Matrilocality

Former Tech CEO Sues Journalist for $25M Over Sealed Arrest Record

2025-01-26

Maury Blackman, a former tech CEO, is suing journalist Jack Poulson for $25 million after Poulson published details of Blackman's sealed 2021 domestic violence arrest. While a judge sealed the record, the information remains accessible online. Blackman argues the publication caused reputational harm and violated California law, while Poulson contends it served the public interest and is defended by the Electronic Frontier Foundation. The case highlights the conflict between freedom of the press and individual privacy, particularly concerning sealed records.

(sf.gazetteer.co)

Tech Freedom of the Press Defamation

Render Secures $80M Series C to Revolutionize Cloud for the AI Era

2025-01-26

Render, a cloud platform boasting over 2 million developers, announced an $80 million Series C funding round, bringing its total funding to $157 million. Addressing the limitations of legacy cloud platforms, Render offers a powerful yet user-friendly infrastructure. Its platform attracts 100,000 new developers monthly. Focusing on a balance of flexibility and ease of use, Render supports diverse languages and frameworks. Further, it's developing AI-focused tools to streamline workflows, empowering businesses to innovate rapidly in the age of AI.

(render.com)

Tech

California Lithium Battery Plant Fire Sparks Clean Energy Safety Concerns

2025-01-26

A massive fire at one of the world's largest lithium-ion battery storage facilities in Monterey County, California, burned for five days, destroying roughly 80% of the batteries. This is the fourth fire at the Moss Landing Power Plant since 2019, raising concerns about California's increasing reliance on renewable energy and battery storage. The incident has prompted calls for stricter safety regulations and more local control over siting of battery storage facilities. A state assembly member has introduced a bill requiring local engagement in permitting and establishing buffer zones around sensitive areas. While initial EPA testing showed no immediate public health threat from toxic gases released, residents remain concerned about long-term impacts.

(www.yahoo.com)

Tech lithium battery safety

Austin Rents Plummet: A Construction Boom's Unexpected Consequence

2025-01-26

Austin rents have been falling for nearly two years, a stark contrast to the pandemic-era surge. A massive apartment building boom in the Austin-Round Rock area has flooded the market with tens of thousands of new units, creating a surplus that's driven down rental costs. While this offers some relief, housing affordability remains a significant challenge, with many renters still heavily burdened by housing expenses. The construction boom itself was fueled by a shift in political attitudes towards housing development, with city officials becoming more supportive of new projects.

(www.texastribune.org)

Tech Austin rents apartment construction housing crisis

Are Americans' Perceptions of the Economy and Crime Broken?

2025-01-26

Americans' views on the economy and crime are increasingly partisan, creating a disconnect between perception and reality. Despite positive economic indicators, many believe the economy is failing; similarly, despite a decades-long decline in crime, most believe it's rising. This is especially pronounced in the 2024 election cycle. The article introduces the Real-Time Crime Index, a project aiming for a more accurate, near real-time picture of crime trends by aggregating data from hundreds of police agencies. While acknowledging data imperfections, the index reveals declines in murders and violent crime, contradicting public perception. The author argues that media plays a crucial role in shaping public opinion and should strive for more objective, transparent reporting to mitigate partisan biases.

(www.niemanlab.org)

Tech media crime rate economy

Vanguard's No-Go on Bitcoin ETFs: A Long-Term Investor's Perspective

2025-01-26

Vanguard recently announced it won't be launching a Bitcoin ETF or other crypto products. Their reasoning centers on Bitcoin's immaturity as an asset class, extreme volatility, and lack of inherent economic value. Vanguard views Bitcoin as speculation, not investment, unsuitable for long-term, buy-and-hold investors. They emphasize their investor-first philosophy, citing past decisions to reject leveraged/inverse funds and over-the-counter stocks as examples of prioritizing client protection.

(corporate.vanguard.com)

Tech Bitcoin ETF Long-term investing

Wayland vs X11 Input Latency: Hard Numbers

2025-01-26

The author quantitatively compared input latency between Wayland and X11 using a 240 FPS phone camera to record mouse movements. Results showed Wayland had roughly 6.5ms more average latency than X11, approximately one screen refresh cycle. While the experiment had limitations, the results suggest a clear latency difference, potentially explaining the perceived lag experienced by some users.

(mort.coffee)

Tech input latency

The Protester's Guide to Smartphone Security: Stay Safe, Stay Connected

2025-01-26

This comprehensive guide provides crucial information on securing your smartphone during protests. It covers essential steps like setting strong passcodes, disabling biometric authentication, hiding notifications, and disabling lock screen actions to prevent data theft and misuse by authorities. The guide recommends using secure messaging apps like Signal, regularly backing up data, and employing additional pre- and post-protest measures such as keeping your device locked, utilizing backup communication networks, and scrubbing photo metadata. The article stresses the importance of understanding your rights and minimizing risks of surveillance.

(www.privacyguides.org)

Tech smartphone security protest safety

App-Enabled Price Fixing: How Big Tech Masks Monopoly Power

2025-01-26

Big Tech uses apps to mask price-fixing schemes, exacerbating inflation. The article exposes how food industry giants manipulate prices through data brokers and tacit collusion, citing examples in eggs, frozen potatoes, and meat. These companies leverage information asymmetry and technology to squeeze out smaller businesses and reap exorbitant profits. This isn't limited to food; similar issues plague real estate and fire equipment sectors, prompting discussions on antitrust laws and regulatory action.

(pluralistic.net)

Tech inflation price fixing

Epic Journey: A 200-Ton Neutrino Detector's Odyssey

2025-01-26

The 200-ton spectrometer for the Karlsruhe Tritium Neutrino experiment (KATRIN) completed an epic 63-day, near 9000-kilometer journey from Deggendorf to Karlsruhe, Germany. Too large (nearly 10 meters at its widest point) and heavy for road transport, it embarked on a complex journey by barge and sea, navigating the Danube, Black Sea, and Mediterranean before finally reaching the Rhine and being lifted into place by a massive crane. The trip wasn't without incident, including a storm that damaged its protective cover, but its successful arrival paves the way for the experiment to directly measure the mass of the neutrino.

(www.symmetrymagazine.org)

Tech neutrino physics experiment

Fintech's Failure to Disrupt Big Banks

2025-01-26

Despite years of effort, Fintech companies haven't significantly disrupted large banks. A look at 2024 Q4 results from major US banks reveals their continued strength. While Fintech has made inroads in areas like payments and small business lending, core banking functions (deposit-taking and loan issuance) remain largely untouched. Large banks have invested heavily in catching up technologically, maintaining high profitability, and even surpassing Fintech in mobile user numbers. The author questions whether this disruption will ever happen, suggesting it may require more time, generational shifts, or a co-existence model.

(www.popularfintech.com)

Tech Banking Disruption

AI-Powered Lawmaking: A Shift in the Balance of Power

2025-01-26

Artificial intelligence is increasingly involved in the legislative process, subtly altering the balance of power between the legislative and executive branches. The rising complexity of laws is driving legislators to utilize AI for tasks ranging from bill drafting to policy analysis, boosting efficiency. However, potential risks exist, including the manipulation of AI to favor specific interests. The article explores AI's impact on legislative efficiency and power dynamics, highlighting the ensuing challenges and opportunities.

(www.lawfaremedia.org)

Tech Legislation Power Balance

15-Year-Old Builds $30 Open-Source Phone: Challenging the Smartphone Industry

2025-01-26

Gabriel Rochet, a 15-year-old, has created Paxo Phone, a fully functional open-source smartphone built for just $30. This DIY phone utilizes open-source hardware and software, boasting high modularity and customizability, allowing users to modify both hardware and software to fit their needs. Paxo Phone challenges the closed and irreparable nature of the traditional smartphone industry, offering a practical platform for learning electronics and computer technology while prompting reflection on digital freedom and the repairability of electronic devices.

(paxo.fr)

Tech DIY phone

Did Private Equity Worsen the L.A. Fires?

2025-01-26

The recent devastating Los Angeles wildfires were exacerbated by a shortage of operational fire trucks, over half the LAFD's fleet being out of service. This isn't solely due to budget cuts, but rather the result of a private equity roll-up. American Industrial Partners (AIP) consolidated fire truck manufacturers into REV Group, creating a near-monopoly that jacked up prices and delivery times. This left the LAFD struggling to replace aging vehicles, hindering their ability to fight the fires. The article argues this situation highlights the need for stronger antitrust enforcement to prevent similar crises.

(www.thebignewsletter.com)

Tech private equity fire trucks

Bacteria Build Living Gels in Polymers: A New Twist on Biofilms

2025-01-26

Caltech and Princeton University scientists have discovered that bacteria growing in polymer solutions, like mucus, form long, intertwined cables—a kind of ‘living Jell-O.’ This is significant for understanding diseases like cystic fibrosis, where thickened lung mucus fosters dangerous bacterial infections. The discovery also has implications for studying biofilms (the slimy coatings on surfaces) and their industrial impacts. The researchers found that external pressure from the polymers forces the bacterial cells together. A theoretical model accurately predicts when these cable structures will form. The reason for cable formation remains a mystery: it may be a bacterial defense mechanism or conversely, a way for the body to expel the infection more easily. This unexpected finding opens up new avenues of research into bacterial growth and biofilm control.

(www.caltech.edu)

Tech polymers biofilms

White House Seeks Oracle's Help to Save TikTok from US Ban

2025-01-26

To prevent a nationwide ban, the White House is negotiating with Oracle and other investors to transfer control of TikTok's algorithm, data collection, and software updates to American companies. While ByteDance, TikTok's Chinese owner, would retain a minority stake, US investors would hold a majority. This aims to comply with US law mandating TikTok's separation from its Chinese parent company. However, the deal faces hurdles, including TikTok's high valuation and securing congressional approval. Recent signals from Chinese regulators suggest they won't block a majority US ownership, but uncertainties remain about the long-term commitment of the Trump administration and the cooperation of Apple and Google.

(www.npr.org)

Tech

Texas Data Privacy Lawsuit: Allstate Accused of Illegally Collecting Driver Data

2025-01-25

The Texas Attorney General's office filed its first lawsuit under the Texas Data Privacy and Security Act (TDPSA), targeting Allstate Corporation for allegedly sharing driver location and other driving data without user consent. Allstate and its subsidiary, Arity, are accused of secretly collecting and selling "trillions of miles" of driving behavior data through a software development kit (SDK) embedded in third-party apps like Life360. This violates Texas' privacy law, which mandates notice and consent for processing sensitive data. While the Texas law has shortcomings, such as limiting lawsuits to the Attorney General, this case highlights the need for stronger data privacy enforcement and sets a precedent for other states.

(www.eff.org)

Tech

Tesla Roadster Mistaken for Asteroid

2025-01-25

An object initially identified as a newly discovered asteroid, 2018 CN41, was quickly revealed to be Elon Musk's Tesla Roadster launched into space in 2018 during a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket test. This humorous incident highlights the growing challenge of tracking space debris. An amateur astronomer initially mistook it for a near-Earth object, and the Minor Planet Center initially listed it as a new asteroid. While the issue was swiftly resolved, it underscores the increasing number of untracked space objects that could hinder efforts to protect Earth from potentially hazardous asteroids.

(www.usatoday.com)

Tech Space Debris Asteroid

Ellison: AI-Powered Surveillance Will Keep Citizens in Line

2025-01-25

Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison envisions a future where AI powers a massive surveillance system, constantly monitoring citizens to ensure "good behavior." This system would analyze data from various sources, including police body cameras, security cameras, and even doorbell cameras. Ellison also predicts AI drones replacing police cars in high-speed chases. While highlighting potential improvements in policing, his comments raise significant concerns about privacy and the potential for societal control.

(www.businessinsider.com)

Tech AI Surveillance Privacy Concerns Ellison

Open-Source Social Media Rivals Meta in Kickstarter Campaign

2025-01-25

Daniel Supernault, the Canadian developer behind Pixelfed, Loops, and Sup – open-source alternatives to Instagram, TikTok, and WhatsApp – is launching a Kickstarter campaign to raise $1 million for further development. These apps are part of the growing decentralized 'fediverse', using the ActivityPub protocol. Driven by a desire for alternatives to centralized platforms controlled by billionaires, these open-source apps are gaining traction. The campaign also aims to support the Pixelfed Foundation and address Supernault as a single point of failure for the project.

(techcrunch.com)

Tech open-source social media

EHT Reveals Turbulent Accretion Flow Around M87*'s Black Hole

2025-01-25

The Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) Collaboration has released a new analysis of the supermassive black hole at the center of Messier 87 (M87*), combining observations from 2017 and 2018. The study confirms that M87*'s black hole rotational axis points away from Earth and highlights the significant role of turbulence within the accretion disk in explaining the observed shift in the ring's brightness peak. Using a vastly expanded simulation image library, the team confirmed the counter-clockwise 30-degree shift of the brightest region of the ring between 2017 and 2018. This research represents a major step forward in understanding the complex dynamics of black hole environments.

(eventhorizontelescope.org)

Tech Black Hole Event Horizon Telescope Accretion Disk

Category: Tech