SpaceX Dragon Successfully Docks with ISS: A Mission Breakdown

2025-01-03
SpaceX Dragon Successfully Docks with ISS: A Mission Breakdown

SpaceX's Dragon capsule successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS) in a meticulously planned mission. The mission involved several key phases: Falcon 9 launched Dragon into orbit; Dragon then performed a series of orbital maneuvers to approach the ISS; finally, Dragon autonomously docked, followed by pressurization and crew ingress. The precision and complexity demonstrate SpaceX's advanced space technology.

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Tech Dragon ISS

YC-backed Infisical Hiring Solutions Engineer

2025-01-04
YC-backed Infisical Hiring Solutions Engineer

Infisical, a Y Combinator-backed open-source secret management platform, is hiring a Solutions Engineer. Processing over 100M secrets daily, they serve clients ranging from large enterprises to fast-growing startups. The role requires experience in development or systems engineering and a customer-facing background. Responsibilities include ensuring customer success, expanding into new use cases, and improving the product. Infisical offers competitive salary and equity, plus benefits.

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Development Solutions Engineer

uBlock Origin Faces Manifest V3 Deprecation in Chrome

2025-03-03
uBlock Origin Faces Manifest V3 Deprecation in Chrome

Starting with Chrome 127, users of uBlock Origin (uBO) will see warnings due to the deprecation of Manifest V2 extensions. uBO, a Manifest V2 extension, lacks a Manifest V3 equivalent. A lightweight alternative, uBO Lite (uBOL), has been released, but with feature sacrifices for Manifest V3 compatibility. Users must decide whether to switch to uBOL or continue using uBO on browsers like Firefox. Discussions regarding extending Manifest V2 support in Chrome until June 2025 are ongoing.

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Development

From Permissive to Copyleft: A Shift in Open Source Licensing

2025-07-10

The author reflects on their evolution of open-source licensing preferences, shifting from a preference for permissive licenses (like MIT) to prioritize maximal adoption to now favoring copyleft licenses (like GPL). This change stems from three key factors: open source has gone mainstream, making enterprise adoption easier; the crypto space has become more competitive and mercenary, making 'friendly' sharing insufficient; and Glen Weyl's economic arguments suggesting that actively promoting open source is optimal with increasing returns to scale. The author argues that copyleft, by mandating source code sharing of derivative works, effectively promotes knowledge diffusion and technological sharing, preventing resource monopolization by a few.

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Development copyleft

FTC Warns Big Tech: Don't Sacrifice Data Security for Foreign Governments

2025-08-26
FTC Warns Big Tech: Don't Sacrifice Data Security for Foreign Governments

The FTC chairman, Andrew N. Ferguson, sent a letter to major US tech companies, including Google, Apple, and Microsoft, warning against complying with foreign government demands that weaken data security, compromise encryption, or censor content. Ferguson stressed that weakening security at a foreign government's request, especially without user notification, violates the FTC Act and exposes companies to legal action. He specifically cited the EU's Digital Services Act and the UK's Online Safety Act as examples. The FTC warns these laws undermine American users' freedom and data security, reminding companies of their obligations under the FTC Act regarding data security and privacy. The letter follows recent events like Apple's temporary removal of iCloud end-to-end encryption in the UK, which was later reversed.

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Tech

Breaking Through: Open-Source Toolchain for Fuzzing Qualcomm Hexagon Basebands

2025-07-02
Breaking Through: Open-Source Toolchain for Fuzzing Qualcomm Hexagon Basebands

Qualcomm's proprietary Hexagon baseband architecture has hindered security research due to a lack of suitable tooling. This paper introduces the first open-source toolchain enabling full-system emulated fuzzing of Hexagon firmware. Leveraging a QEMU fork with Hexagon support and LibAFL, this toolchain addresses the gap in analyzing Hexagon basebands. Researchers can now perform coverage-guided fuzzing and utilize visualization tools to improve reverse engineering. This significantly advances Hexagon baseband security analysis, opening up new avenues for research and enhancing the security of billions of devices.

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Dozens of VPN Apps on App Stores Hide Chinese Links, Exposing User Data

2025-06-12
Dozens of VPN Apps on App Stores Hide Chinese Links, Exposing User Data

A new report from the Tech Transparency Project reveals that more than two dozen private browsing apps on Apple and Google's app stores have undisclosed ties to Chinese companies, potentially exposing user data to the Chinese government. The report highlights 13 VPN apps on Apple's App Store and 11 on Google's Play Store linked to Chinese firms, which are legally obligated to share data with the government. Several apps are connected to Qihoo 360, a Chinese cybersecurity firm sanctioned by the U.S. Apple responded that it allows apps as long as they comply with its guidelines and local laws, and that it has guidelines for VPN developers prohibiting data sharing with third parties. However, this raises serious concerns about U.S. user data security, echoing similar anxieties surrounding potential TikTok bans.

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Moonphase: A Cross-Language Early Warning System

2025-06-02
Moonphase: A Cross-Language Early Warning System

The `moonphase` project offers code snippets in various programming languages to calculate the phase of the moon. These implementations are based on the algorithm from moontool, a GUI program from the 80s by John Walker, which in turn relied on the book *Practical Astronomy With Your Calculator*. The project supports systems languages, scripting languages, and DSLs, with all implementations including test cases and calculating the illuminated fraction of the moon's surface. The project emphasizes concise, self-contained code, ready for copy-pasting into your projects.

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Kastle: Founding Engineer for AI-Powered Mortgage Servicing

2025-06-22
Kastle: Founding Engineer for AI-Powered Mortgage Servicing

Kastle is seeking a Founding Engineer to build and optimize its AI infrastructure. They use AI voice agents to help major US mortgage lenders scale their contact centers and compliance operations, backed by $2.3M in funding. This role requires backend development, distributed systems, and AI integration expertise. Responsibilities include developing scalable backend services, APIs integrating with loan servicing platforms, and ensuring compliance with financial regulations (SOC 2, FDCPA, RESPA, TILA).

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Development Mortgage

arXivLabs: Experimental Projects with Community Collaborators

2025-05-06
arXivLabs: Experimental Projects with Community Collaborators

arXivLabs is a framework enabling collaborators to develop and share new arXiv features directly on the arXiv website. Individuals and organizations working with arXivLabs embrace our values of openness, community, excellence, and user data privacy. arXiv is committed to these values and only works with partners who adhere to them. Have an idea for a project that will benefit the arXiv community? Learn more about arXivLabs.

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Development

NEC2: Legendary Numerical Electromagnetics Code

2025-07-05

This website is a central repository for documentation and code examples related to NEC2 (Numerical Electromagnetics Code), a Method of Moments based electromagnetic simulation software. Developed in 1981 by Jerry Burke and A. Poggio at Lawrence Livermore Labs for the US Navy, NEC2 is now publicly available. The site offers instructions on running NEC2 in a Windows environment, tutorials, sample models, and a user manual (HTML and PDF versions) covering program description and user guides. Additionally, it provides details on constructing a BiQuad antenna, its NEC simulation model, links to a NEC mailing list, and other related resources.

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Why You Should Leave 100nF Decoupling Capacitors Behind

2025-01-30
Why You Should Leave 100nF Decoupling Capacitors Behind

This article debunks the long-standing practice of using 100nF decoupling capacitors as a default. The author argues that this practice is outdated due to advancements in IC technology (faster switching speeds) and the availability of low-cost, high-capacitance MLCCs. The article dives deep into the physics of decoupling, explaining impedance, parasitic inductance and capacitance, and their impact on power delivery network (PDN) integrity. It advocates for using larger capacitors (1uF or 2.2uF) for better decoupling, reduced EMI, and improved PDN stability. The importance of capacitor package size and its influence on parasitic inductance are highlighted. The author suggests that the persistence of outdated practices stems from cognitive load reduction and historical cost considerations.

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Beyond Copilot: Rethinking AI Design with Heads-Up Displays

2025-07-28
Beyond Copilot: Rethinking AI Design with Heads-Up Displays

This article critiques the prevalent "copilot" metaphor for AI design, advocating instead for a more effective "heads-up display" (HUD) approach. Using the analogy of airplane piloting, it contrasts the copilot model (requiring interaction with the AI) with the HUD model (directly enhancing human perception). The author argues that while a copilot might suffice for routine tasks, for complex problems, a HUD—augmenting human capabilities, such as enhanced debugger UIs—offers greater potential for breakthroughs. This piece offers a fresh perspective on AI design, emphasizing technology as an extension rather than a replacement for human capabilities.

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AI

Critical Vulnerability: .netrc Credential Leak in PSF Requests Library

2025-06-03
Critical Vulnerability: .netrc Credential Leak in PSF Requests Library

A critical security vulnerability (CVE-2024-47081) has been discovered in the widely used Python Requests library. Attackers can exploit a specific API call to leak credentials stored in the .netrc file to third parties. The vulnerability stems from the library's URL handling and was reported in September 2024, but remains unpatched. As a workaround, users are advised to explicitly specify credentials on every API call.

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Development Requests library

S-expr: A Peculiar S-Expression Parser

2025-06-18
S-expr: A Peculiar S-Expression Parser

S-expr is an S-expression parsing library featuring unique extensions to S-expression syntax. It supports single-line and multi-line strings and comments, and introduces a novel concept called "transposed blocks." Transposed blocks allow code to be written with rows and columns swapped, enhancing readability for complex nested expressions. This design aims to balance the simplicity of S-expressions with improved code readability and expressiveness. While more complex than traditional Lisp, it prioritizes a balance between simplicity and usability.

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Four Reasons Why Zoom Meetings Are So Exhausting (and How to Fix It)

2025-01-09
Four Reasons Why Zoom Meetings Are So Exhausting (and How to Fix It)

Stanford researchers have identified four key causes of 'Zoom fatigue': excessive close-up eye contact, constantly seeing yourself on camera, restricted mobility, and increased cognitive load. Excessive eye contact and large face sizes create stress; constantly seeing yourself leads to self-criticism; limited movement and higher cognitive load exacerbate fatigue. Solutions include reducing Zoom window size, hiding self-view, increasing movement, and taking 'audio-only' breaks. A Zoom Exhaustion & Fatigue (ZEF) scale is also being developed to measure the extent of Zoom fatigue.

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NetChoice Sues Maryland Over Child Online Protection Law

2025-02-03
NetChoice Sues Maryland Over Child Online Protection Law

NetChoice has filed its tenth lawsuit challenging state internet regulations, this time targeting a Maryland law designed to protect children from harmful online content. NetChoice argues the law is an unconstitutional speech restriction, pointing to Maryland's existing online privacy laws. Building on previous Supreme Court victories establishing content moderation as First Amendment protected, NetChoice challenges a reporting requirement mandating platforms report their services' impact on children. They contend this allows subjective determination of 'best interests of children', leading to discriminatory enforcement. NetChoice maintains that even well-intentioned child safety measures can backfire, potentially creating data vulnerabilities. The lawsuit highlights the ongoing tension between online safety and free speech.

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Tech

arXivLabs: Experimenting with Community Collaboration

2025-07-04
arXivLabs: Experimenting with Community Collaboration

arXivLabs is a framework enabling collaborators to develop and share new arXiv features directly on our website. Individuals and organizations working with arXivLabs share our values of openness, community, excellence, and user data privacy. arXiv is committed to these values and only partners with those who adhere to them. Have an idea to improve the arXiv community? Learn more about arXivLabs.

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Tech

Juno's Jupiter Revelation: Challenging Our Understanding of Solar System Formation

2025-08-25
Juno's Jupiter Revelation: Challenging Our Understanding of Solar System Formation

NASA's Juno probe, defying expectations, continues to unravel Jupiter's mysteries. Far beyond its planned lifespan, Juno has revealed a Jupiter unlike any previously imagined: bizarre geometric storms, a surprisingly light and fluffy core, and an unusual ammonia distribution in its atmosphere. Juno's discoveries not only reshape our understanding of Jupiter but also challenge existing theories of solar system formation. Key findings include a core that's neither solid nor gaseous, but a diffuse mix of both, and the discovery of "ammonia ice rain" in Jupiter's atmosphere. While its mission is nearing its end, Juno's legacy is indelible.

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Tech Juno

From Ruby to Python: A Programmer's Evolving Preferences

2025-08-26

A seasoned Ruby programmer shares their journey of evolving programming language preferences. Initially, they cherished Ruby's elegance and conciseness, but over time, Python's improvements, especially the introduction of type hints and pattern matching, shifted their perspective. They found Python's strengths in team collaboration and ultimately chose it as their primary language, highlighting the importance of practicality and team dynamics in a programmer's language choice.

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Development

RubyGems.org's Multi-Layered Defense Against Malicious Gems

2025-08-26

RubyGems.org recently thwarted an attack involving malicious gems designed to steal social media credentials. Their success stems from a multi-layered security approach: automated detection (static and dynamic code analysis), risk scoring, retroactive scanning, and external intelligence. Upon detection, suspicious gems undergo manual review; confirmed malicious gems are removed and documented. In a recent incident, RubyGems.org removed most malicious packages before Socket.dev's report and actively collaborated on the investigation, demonstrating effective security response. The article encourages community participation in security maintenance and calls for corporate support of RubyGems.org's security efforts.

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Development Malicious Gems

Liu Jiakun Wins 2025 Pritzker Architecture Prize

2025-03-14

Liu Jiakun, an architect from Chengdu, China, has been awarded the prestigious 2025 Pritzker Architecture Prize, architecture's highest honor. His work masterfully blends seemingly opposing elements – utopia and daily life, history and modernity, collectivism and individualism – creating buildings that respect cultural history while remaining deeply connected to the lives of ordinary citizens. He prioritizes public spaces, cleverly balancing density and openness in crowded cities, integrating buildings seamlessly into the fabric of urban life as infrastructure, landscape, and public space all at once. His designs demonstrate a reverence for culture, history, and nature, incorporating elements of classic Chinese architecture with modern design sensibilities. Examples include the gently sloping eaves of the Suzhou Museum and the window walls of the Chengdu Egret Gulf Wetland Park, showcasing both tradition and innovation.

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Xlibre: A Modern Xorg Fork Challenges Wayland's Dominance

2025-06-17

Wayland, touted as a modern replacement for Xorg, faces criticism for its incomplete functionality and forceful adoption. It struggles in crucial areas like remote desktop, custom keyboard bindings, and legacy software support. This raises concerns within the open-source community as Wayland's shortcomings impact user experience, especially for those with disabilities. In response, Xlibre, a fork of Xorg, aims to modernize Xorg and provide a complete and stable alternative. Xlibre offers a glimmer of hope for the Linux desktop, but its success in challenging Wayland remains to be seen.

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Development

Microsoft Makes Copilot Chat Free for Business Users

2025-09-16
Microsoft Makes Copilot Chat Free for Business Users

Microsoft is bringing its AI-powered Copilot Chat and agents to all Microsoft 365 business users for free. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote now include a Copilot Chat sidebar for drafting documents, analyzing spreadsheets, and more. While this free version offers helpful features, a $30/month per-user license unlocks premium capabilities such as file uploads, image generation, and access to the latest technology like GPT-5, ensuring faster responses and higher availability. Microsoft will also integrate sales, service, and finance Copilots into the Microsoft 365 Copilot subscription in October, potentially lowering costs for some businesses.

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Tech

AI Overload: A Day in the Dystopian Future?

2025-05-23

From an AI alarm clock to a gym with excessive security measures and a car constantly boasting about its features, the protagonist's day is overwhelmed by pervasive AI. This seemingly convenient future is filled with suffocating annoyances and privacy violations, prompting reflection on the overdevelopment of AI technology and the lack of human interaction.

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Tech

Giant Gullies Swallowing African Cities

2025-08-31
Giant Gullies Swallowing African Cities

Massive gullies are opening up in African cities, swallowing homes and businesses, displacing hundreds of thousands. A new study reveals that an average of 118,600 people in the Democratic Republic of Congo alone were displaced between 2004 and 2023 due to these expanding fissures. The problem stems from a combination of natural and human factors—cities built on sandy soils with inadequate drainage systems, leading to erosion during heavy rains. Unless urgent action is taken, millions more could be displaced in the next decade. Researchers urge increased investment in improved drainage, sustainable infrastructure, and community engagement to find effective and long-term solutions.

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Bolt3D: Generating 3D Scenes in Under 7 Seconds

2025-03-19
Bolt3D: Generating 3D Scenes in Under 7 Seconds

Bolt3D, a collaborative effort from Google Research, VGG, and Google DeepMind, generates realistic 3D scenes in a mere 6.25 seconds on a single GPU. The model uses a multi-view diffusion model to generate scene appearance and geometry, then regresses splatter images using a Gaussian head. Finally, it combines 3D Gaussians from multiple splatter images to form the complete 3D scene. Supporting one or more input images, Bolt3D generates unobserved scene regions without reprojection or inpainting, showcasing a significant leap in 3D scene generation speed.

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Wendelstein 7-X Stellarator Achieves Record-Breaking Plasma Duration

2025-07-21
Wendelstein 7-X Stellarator Achieves Record-Breaking Plasma Duration

Germany's Wendelstein 7-X stellarator has set a new world record during its OP 2.3 campaign, achieving a high fusion triple product value in its plasma for 43 seconds. This milestone signifies a significant step towards a future fusion power plant. The record was made possible through international collaboration, notably a pellet injector from Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and diagnostic equipment from other labs in Europe and the US. Beyond the triple product, the experiment also achieved milestones in energy turnover and plasma pressure.

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Tech

Never the Same Movie Twice: A Generative Documentary About Brian Eno

2025-04-11
Never the Same Movie Twice: A Generative Documentary About Brian Eno

The documentary 'Eno', about the influential musician Brian Eno, is a groundbreaking work of generative filmmaking. Using custom software, each screening randomly assembles interview clips and archival footage, resulting in a unique cinematic experience every time. This isn't AI-generated content; instead, it utilizes human-written rules to create something entirely new. Director Gary Hustwit and his partner have founded Anamorph, aiming to expand this generative filmmaking technology across genres, offering movie theaters a unique draw and pushing the boundaries of cinematic art.

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Why I Once Wrote Clojure

2025-05-03

The author professionally used Clojure for five years, initially loving it, but ultimately hating it for the same reason: boredom. The author couldn't force themselves to write generic enterprise code for soulless corporations, but could if it was fun. Clojure, Go, Rust, Zig, and other new technologies helped maintain interest. The author speculates that Clojure's creation and high adoption in fintech stem from the boredom of highly intelligent engineers. High-paying jobs require highly intelligent engineers, but they get bored easily and need intellectual stimulation. Enterprise code writing is relatively boring, so fintechs allow engineers to use 'toys' in the codebase to lower turnover.

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Development engineer burnout
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