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College Baseball and Venture Capital: A Striking Parallel

2025-06-20

The author uses his son's experience as a college baseball player to draw a clever analogy between the college sports recruiting process and the venture capital fundraising process. He points out that both are full of uncertainty, high risk, and high reward, requiring shrewd decision-making and judgment about the future. The article details the striking similarities in process and strategy, comparing aspects like "pitch decks," "long maybes," and "term sheets." Ultimately, it offers advice beneficial to both athletes and entrepreneurs: clarify your goals, stick to your goals, and choose those who genuinely want you.

(bcantrill.dtrace.org)

Misc

Record-Breaking Cosmic Neutrino Detected Deep Under the Mediterranean

2025-08-15

Record-Breaking Cosmic Neutrino Detected Deep Under the Mediterranean

The KM3NeT detector, located deep beneath the Mediterranean Sea, has detected a cosmic neutrino with an unprecedented energy of 220 PeV, shattering the previous record. After rigorous analysis, the detection was confirmed, but its origin remains a mystery. Possible sources include extreme environments like galactic centers, gamma-ray bursts, or interactions with the cosmic microwave background. This discovery opens a new window into ultra-high-energy neutrino astronomy.

(www.sciencealert.com)

Tech cosmic neutrino

AI Social Simulation Reveals Fragile Democracy

2025-08-14

AI Social Simulation Reveals Fragile Democracy

Researchers used a simple AI model to simulate social media dynamics, revealing how it reinforces political polarization and creates echo chambers, hindering constructive political dialogue. While the model isn't perfectly realistic, the robustness of the mechanism it uncovered—the interplay of cultural and structural factors—is concerning, highlighting the potential negative impact of social media on democracy.

(arstechnica.com)

AI social simulation

Elvish: A Powerful Statically-Linked Scripting Language

2025-05-04

Elvish: A Powerful Statically-Linked Scripting Language

Elvish is a powerful scripting language featuring interactive shell capabilities. It's available as a statically linked binary for Linux, BSDs, macOS, and Windows. While pre-1.0, meaning breaking changes are still possible, it's stable enough for both scripting and interactive use. User documentation, including installation, tutorials, and news, is hosted on elv.sh. Development documentation is located in ./docs. A growing ecosystem of Elvish packages and tools also exists.

(github.com)

Development

Semcheck: Verify Code Against Specs Using LLMs

2025-07-05

Semcheck: Verify Code Against Specs Using LLMs

Semcheck is a tool that leverages large language models (LLMs) to verify that your code implementation matches its specification. Define semantic rules describing how your code should align with the specification, and Semcheck handles the comparison. Use it as a final check before committing or merging code. Semcheck supports various LLM providers, including OpenAI, Anthropic, and more, as well as local models and remote specification files. It's easy to set up and offers a rich command-line interface, making it easily integrable into CI/CD workflows. It even uses itself to verify its own specification.

(github.com)

Development code verification code specification

The Deno Empire Crumbles: A Postmortem

2025-05-01

The Deno Empire Crumbles: A Postmortem

Deno Deploy, touted as 'edge' hosting with 'massive global scale,' has seen its server count plummet from 35 regions in early 2024 to a mere 6 in February 2025. The author details their own negative experience with performance degradation, highlighting the stagnation of other Deno products like the Fresh framework and Deno KV. The article expresses serious concerns about Deno's future, blaming a lack of innovation and an over-reliance on chasing Node.js features.

(dbushell.com)

Development Server Count Decline

Powering Up and Disassembling a Rohde & Schwarz SKTU BN 4151/2/5 Noise Generator

2025-01-02

Powering Up and Disassembling a Rohde & Schwarz SKTU BN 4151/2/5 Noise Generator

A video on MakerTube PeerTube demonstrates powering up and disassembling a Rohde & Schwarz SKTU BN 4151/2/5 noise generator. JavaScript is required to view the video. If JavaScript is disabled, users need to enable it, use a third-party application, or review the source code on GitHub or Framasoft's GitLab. The video also notes that PeerTube may be incompatible with some browsers; Mozilla Firefox's latest version is recommended.

(makertube.net)

Hardware Rohde & Schwarz Noise Generator

Exclusive: Steve Ballmer on Microsoft, the Clippers, and Life

2025-09-02

Exclusive: Steve Ballmer on Microsoft, the Clippers, and Life

This episode of the Acquired podcast features an in-depth conversation with Steve Ballmer, former CEO of Microsoft. He reflects on Microsoft's triumphs and setbacks, including its partnership with IBM, the rise of Windows, missed opportunities in mobile and search, and the success of Azure. Ballmer also shares his insights on enterprise software and how he built the LA Clippers into a winning team. The conversation covers business strategy, leadership, and personal reflection, making for a compelling listen.

(www.acquired.fm)

Startup Steve Ballmer

Anthropic Pays $1.5B to Settle Copyright Lawsuit

2025-09-06

Anthropic Pays $1.5B to Settle Copyright Lawsuit

AI firm Anthropic has agreed to a $1.5 billion settlement in a class-action lawsuit brought by authors over the use of copyrighted books to train its AI model, Claude. This marks the largest publicly reported copyright recovery in history. While a judge previously ruled Anthropic's use of the books was “exceedingly transformative” and thus fair use, the settlement focuses on the company's acquisition of millions of pirated books from sites like Library Genesis. The settlement avoids a trial where Anthropic faced potential liability for copyright infringement. This landmark case highlights the ongoing legal battles surrounding AI training data and sets a precedent for future AI companies.

(deadline.com)

AI data copyright

Microsoft Appoints New Deputy CISO for Europe to Tackle Stricter Cybersecurity Regulations

2025-05-03

Microsoft Appoints New Deputy CISO for Europe to Tackle Stricter Cybersecurity Regulations

Microsoft has appointed a new Deputy Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for Europe, responsible for ensuring compliance with the EU's increasingly stringent cybersecurity regulations, such as the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA), the NIS2 Directive, and the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA). This role is crucial for Microsoft's compliance in Europe and its global cybersecurity strategy, highlighting the company's focus on European data security and cyber resilience. While Microsoft hasn't revealed further details, the move shows the company is proactively addressing the evolving global cybersecurity landscape.

(www.csoonline.com)

Tech EU Regulations

Lolita at 70: A Literary Exploration of Voyeurism and Self-Reflection

2025-04-15

Lolita at 70: A Literary Exploration of Voyeurism and Self-Reflection

Claire Messud's essay in the LARB Quarterly delves into the enduring controversy surrounding Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita on its 70th anniversary. The piece revisits the initial scandal and ongoing critiques, exploring the depiction of child abuse and the complex readerly experience. Messud argues that Lolita transcends simple 'problematic' status, serving as a profound exploration of human nature and a challenge to readers' habits and moral responsibilities. By referencing real-life cases, the essay connects the novel's plot to actual instances of child sexual abuse, prompting self-reflection. Ultimately, Messud advocates for a critical engagement with Lolita, viewing it as an exploration of humanity, not a justification of crime.

(lareviewofbooks.org)

Misc Nabokov Lolita

Graphene Capacitors Achieve Rapid, High-Depth Modulation of Terahertz Waves

2025-08-20

Graphene Capacitors Achieve Rapid, High-Depth Modulation of Terahertz Waves

Researchers at the University of Cambridge's Cavendish Laboratory have developed a terahertz wave modulator using graphene as a tunable capacitor, achieving unprecedented dynamic range and speed. By embedding nanoscale graphene patches within metamaterial resonators, the device effectively controls terahertz waves, boasting a modulation depth exceeding 99.99% and a speed of 30 MHz. This breakthrough promises to advance technologies in terahertz communication, imaging, and sensing, paving the way for next-generation communication systems beyond 5G and 6G.

(phys.org)

Tech terahertz modulation

AI Now Writes 80% of My Code: A Developer's Perspective

2025-09-03

AI Now Writes 80% of My Code: A Developer's Perspective

An engineer shares their experience integrating AI into production development workflows. From writing every line of code themselves, 80% of initial implementations are now AI-generated, shifting focus to architecture, review, and managing multiple threads. Treating AI like a 'junior developer who doesn't learn' became their mental model for success. The workflow involves using AI to brainstorm solutions, then iterating on the often-flawed initial output. Challenges include AI's inability to retain context across sessions and its tendency to confidently generate incorrect code. Solutions involve creating project-specific context files, integrating AI with various tools, and adjusting code review processes. The author concludes that AI empowers developers to work faster and produce better solutions, not replace them.

(www.sanity.io)

Development

Iroh: Revolutionizing Network Communication for Faster, Simpler Connections

2025-06-26

Iroh: Revolutionizing Network Communication for Faster, Simpler Connections

Iroh is a novel network communication framework built on QUIC, enabling public key dialing and automatic discovery and maintenance of the fastest connection. Iroh attempts direct connections, falling back to public relay servers if necessary, with continuous monitoring for optimal speed. It offers pre-built protocols like iroh-blobs for large file transfers and iroh-gossip for building scalable publish-subscribe networks, simplifying development. Primarily written in Rust, Iroh also provides FFI bindings for other languages.

(github.com)

Development network communication

UAE's Ambitious Genomic Sequencing Project: Mapping the Nation's DNA

2025-08-21

UAE's Ambitious Genomic Sequencing Project: Mapping the Nation's DNA

Abu Dhabi is significantly expanding its national genomic sequencing project by collecting DNA from Emirati newborns, aiming to place the UAE at the forefront of healthcare. The project has already mapped the genomes of 68% of Emirati citizens, and voluntary at-birth sequencing is offered to detect over 800 treatable childhood genetic conditions. Addressing the global underrepresentation of Arab genomes (around 1% mapped), this initiative tackles public health challenges and expands personalized healthcare. M42, the state-backed AI firm running the project, is seeking collaborations with other nations and pharmaceutical companies to leverage its growing dataset.

(www.semafor.com)

Tech Genomic Sequencing Personalized Healthcare

Apple's iOS 26 Beta Drops: Liquid Glass Design Makes a Splash

2025-07-25

Apple's iOS 26 Beta Drops: Liquid Glass Design Makes a Splash

Apple has released the first public betas of its next major software updates, including iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26, watchOS 26, and tvOS 26. The standout feature is the new "Liquid Glass" design language, inspired by visionOS and characterized by extensive use of transparency. Initial developer betas saw significant changes, leading Apple to refine the translucency and Control Center design. The update also simplifies versioning, using '26' across the board for easier identification of the latest software.

(www.theverge.com)

Tech Apple Software Update

Dorsey's $10M Bet on Decentralized Social Media

2025-07-20

Dorsey's $10M Bet on Decentralized Social Media

Jack Dorsey, Twitter co-founder and Block CEO, has invested $10 million in "andOtherStuff," a collective aiming to revolutionize social media through open-source projects. The team, including Dorsey and former Twitter employees, focuses on decentralized protocols like Nostr, developing apps such as Shakespeare (a Nostr app building platform) and heynow (a voice note app). Dorsey criticizes traditional social media's reliance on advertisers, advocating for a more open, decentralized model. He and former Twitter employee Evan Henshaw-Plath launched the podcast "revolution.social" to discuss the future of social media, highlighting the potential of Nostr and the pitfalls of centralized platforms.

(techcrunch.com)

Tech Decentralized Social Media

Meta's Onavo App: A Stealthy HTTPS Traffic Hijack

2025-08-01

Meta's Onavo App: A Stealthy HTTPS Traffic Hijack

A recent class-action lawsuit against Meta reveals evidence suggesting the company may have violated the Wiretap Act. Court documents and reverse engineering of the Onavo Protect app show Meta used a technique called "ssl bump" to intercept encrypted HTTPS traffic, decrypting traffic to specific domains like Snapchat, YouTube, and Amazon. This involved tricking users into installing a CA certificate issued by "Facebook Research." While ineffective on newer Android versions, this method effectively gathered user data from 2016 to 2019. The incident highlights the potential for large tech companies to violate user privacy and abuse mobile security mechanisms.

(haxrob.net)

Tech HTTPS interception

Ex-Googler Exposes the Dark Side of the Tech Utopia

2025-06-06

Ex-Googler Exposes the Dark Side of the Tech Utopia

A former Google employee's blog post details their experience working at Google's Brazil office, revealing a stark contrast between the company's polished 'best place to work' image and the harsh realities faced by its employees. The author describes overwork, the illusion of 20% time, suppression of dissent, and discrimination against temporary and contract workers. Their personal experiences highlight Google's internal hierarchy and inequality. Ultimately fired for questioning company policies and exposing internal issues, the account prompts reflection on tech company culture, social responsibility, and the inherent conflicts between labor and capital in a capitalist system.

(wordsmith.social)

Startup Tech Company Culture

Zip Codes: Pitfalls and Alternatives in Data Analysis

2025-02-07

Zip Codes: Pitfalls and Alternatives in Data Analysis

This article exposes the flaws of widely used zip codes in data analysis. Zip codes aren't based on actual geographical boundaries but rather on mail delivery routes, leading to biases in reflecting demographic trends and human behavior, potentially resulting in erroneous conclusions. Using the US as an example, the article analyzes discrepancies between zip codes and census block groups in income data, highlighting how zip code analysis can mask critical issues, such as the Flint water crisis. The article suggests using more precise address data, census units, or spatial indexes like H3 and quadkey as alternatives to zip codes for more accurate and reliable data analysis.

(carto.com)

Tech Spatial Data Science Zip Codes

The Emotional Logic of Tech Choices

2025-05-26

The Emotional Logic of Tech Choices

Hacker News is full of blog posts justifying obscure tech choices with seemingly rational arguments. But often, these are masks for deeper emotional motivations. People choose technologies based on feelings: comfort, familiarity, or a nostalgic connection to a particular era. Using obscure tech becomes a form of symbolic magic, tying technology to personal identity. The author argues that acknowledging and embracing these emotional drivers is fine, but warns against self-deception. Rational assessment of costs and benefits is crucial to avoid wasting time on pointless pursuits.

(borretti.me)

Development developer culture

A Decade of Photography: From Wanderlust to Reflection

2025-06-10

A photographer's decade-long journey across the globe, from Canada to Japan, Europe to the US, explores the meaning of photography. His journey evolved from technical mastery to cultural exploration and self-expression, shifting from chasing social media validation to pursuing in-depth projects. He witnessed the fragmentation of culture in the digital age and the impact of AI on artistic creation. Ultimately, he realizes that true value lies not in quantity or attention, but in long-term commitment to one's work and personal expression.

(leejo.github.io)

Design

New Zealand's Superconducting Thruster Heads to the ISS

2025-02-28

New Zealand's Superconducting Thruster Heads to the ISS

Victoria University of Wellington's Paihau-Robinson Research Institute has developed a magnetoplasmadynamic (AF-MPD) thruster using high-temperature superconductors (HTS). This innovative thruster boasts 99% less power consumption and three times the magnetic field strength compared to traditional copper electromagnets. A technology demonstrator, 'Hēki,' is en route to the ISS for testing, validating the HTS magnet and flux pump's reliability in space and conducting a radiation shielding experiment. This paves the way for a more efficient 'Kōkako' thruster, promising a significant reduction in the space industry's reliance on chemical rockets.

(spectrum.ieee.org)

Tech space propulsion superconducting technology ISS experiment

Vanta: A Lightweight Network Behavior Analyzer – A Student's Thank You

2025-06-02

Vanta: A Lightweight Network Behavior Analyzer – A Student's Thank You

Vanta is a lightweight, fast, command-line network behavior analyzer that reconstructs protocol-level flows and extracts structured activity from captured data. Unlike full-featured GUI tools like Wireshark, Vanta prioritizes clarity, structure, and simplicity, making it ideal for custom scripting and minimal setups. It supports parsing HTTP, DNS, and TLS (with partial fingerprinting), automatically reconstructs bidirectional flows, and outputs clean JSON summaries. Developed on a MacBook Air M1 by an undergraduate student as a thank you to universities that supported international students.

(github.com)

Development

LLMs Can See and Hear Without Any Training

2025-04-26

LLMs Can See and Hear Without Any Training

This groundbreaking research demonstrates that Large Language Models (LLMs) can understand images and audio without any additional training. By cleverly leveraging existing LLMs, image captioning, audio captioning, and high-quality image generation techniques, researchers enabled LLMs to 'perceive' images and sounds. The project's open-source code and datasets facilitate reproducibility and further exploration.

(github.com)

AI

AI's Bottleneck: Data, Not Algorithms?

2025-06-30

AI's Bottleneck: Data, Not Algorithms?

AI has seen incredible progress, but the pace seems to be slowing. This article argues that past major AI breakthroughs (DNNs, Transformers, RLHF, reasoning models) stemmed not from novel algorithms, but from unlocking new data sources (ImageNet, web text, human feedback, verifiers). The author suggests future breakthroughs will likely come not from algorithmic innovation, but from effectively utilizing new data sources like video and robotic sensors, as existing datasets may be approaching their knowledge limits.

(blog.jxmo.io)

AI model limitations

DC Shocker: Passenger Jet Collides With Black Hawk Helicopter

2025-01-30

DC Shocker: Passenger Jet Collides With Black Hawk Helicopter

An American Airlines passenger jet collided with a Black Hawk helicopter mid-air near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in northern Virginia. The incident resulted in a shutdown of flights at the airport, with search and rescue teams currently searching the Potomac River for survivors. Eyewitnesses reported a large explosion and loud noise. Social media posts show footage of the explosion from a Kennedy Center webcam and what appears to be a subsequent search and rescue operation. Casualty information is pending.

(www.mediaite.com)

Tech Black Hawk helicopter American Airlines

Efficient Search in Local-First Web Apps using a DSL

2025-04-24

Efficient Search in Local-First Web Apps using a DSL

This article presents an efficient search system for local-first web applications built using a Domain-Specific Language (DSL). Leveraging TypeScript and parser combinators, a robust, maintainable, and extensible search engine is created. By defining an Issue interface and parsers, the system parses DSL queries, generates an Abstract Syntax Tree (AST), and ultimately produces predicate functions for data filtering. Performance tests demonstrate the system's ability to efficiently handle millions of records. The article also explores performance enhancements such as indexing, query optimization, and caching.

(www.claudiu-ivan.com)

Development

Pilot Study: rTMS Shows Promise in Treating Sleep Bruxism

2025-05-05

A small, open-label pilot study investigated the effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on sleep bruxism (SB). Twelve SB patients underwent five days of rTMS treatment. Results showed significant reductions in both the intensity of jaw-closing muscle electromyographic (EMG) activity during sleep and self-reported muscle soreness during and after treatment. This pilot study suggests potential therapeutic benefits of rTMS for SB, warranting further, more controlled studies.

(pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

Tech rTMS sleep bruxism electromyography

Sleeping Giants: Unexpected Carbon Sinks in Streams

2025-04-14

Sleeping Giants: Unexpected Carbon Sinks in Streams

University of Vermont researchers discovered that large, downed trees in streams store significant amounts of carbon, a pool that's growing over time. Field studies in New Hampshire and New York revealed old-growth forests hold four to five times more carbon in stream wood than mature forests. The research highlights the crucial role of large, old trees in forest carbon cycling and the climate change mitigation benefits of preserving old-growth forests. The findings offer valuable insights for Vermont landowners, informing sustainable land management practices that incorporate carbon storage and natural climate solutions.

(phys.org)

Tech carbon sequestration forest ecosystems

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