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Bullies Have More Kids: A Shocking New Study

2025-03-10

Bullies Have More Kids: A Shocking New Study

New research from Brock University reveals a startling correlation: adolescent bullies tend to have more children in adulthood than their peers. The study, published in Evolutionary Behavioral Sciences, examined the link between adolescent bullying and adult fertility. Researchers found that bullies, both male and female, had higher rates of early parenthood and overall higher fertility. This suggests that bullying, in part, may be an evolutionary adaptation enhancing reproductive success. The long-term study tracked hundreds of students from grade 5 onwards, supplementing the data with retrospective accounts from adults aged 24-35. The findings highlight the long-term consequences of bullying, not just for victims, but for the perpetrators as well, raising concerns about the potential transmission of bullying behavior across generations. Future research will explore the parenting styles of bullies and whether their children are raised to be bullies.

(phys.org)

Misc bullying fertility

150 Years of Market Crashes: What We've Learned

2025-03-10

150 Years of Market Crashes: What We've Learned

This article analyzes 19 major US stock market crashes over the past 150 years, from the 79% drop of the Great Depression to the swift recovery of the 2020 Covid crash. It examines the severity and recovery time of each crash, revealing a cyclical pattern of market downturns and subsequent rebounds. While the depth and duration vary, the market consistently recovers and reaches new highs. The key takeaway: long-term investing and diversification are crucial strategies for navigating market volatility.

(www.morningstar.com)

Tech investing

Hit Reinforcement Learning Textbook: Mathematical Foundations and Accompanying Videos

2025-03-10

Hit Reinforcement Learning Textbook: Mathematical Foundations and Accompanying Videos

A reinforcement learning textbook that has received 5,000+ stars, providing a mathematical yet accessible introduction to fundamental concepts, problems, and classic algorithms. The book includes numerous examples and is accompanied by Chinese and English lecture videos (available on Bilibili and YouTube). Developed over years of teaching experience, it's suitable for undergraduates, graduates, researchers, and practitioners.

(github.com)

Development

Spy Novels and Cryptanalysis: A Literary Look at Sigint

2025-03-10

This article explores the portrayal of cryptanalysis in spy fiction. The author argues that directly describing the cryptanalytic process is difficult to make engaging for readers; successful works focus on characters and plot, not technical details. Using John Buchan and Dorothy L. Sayers as examples, the author analyzes how they cleverly handle cryptanalytic subplots. The article also mentions a few other British novels that touch on intelligence agencies and cryptography, notably recommending Michael Frayn's *The Tin Men* as a satirical take on GCHQ and a pioneering work on AI.

(siginthistorian.blogspot.com)

Misc spy fiction

Google Wins Partial Victory in Antitrust Case: DOJ Relents on AI Divestiture

2025-03-10

Google has scored a significant victory in its ongoing antitrust battle with the Department of Justice. While the DOJ still seeks significant regulatory changes to Google's search and Android operations, it has dropped its demand for Google to divest from its AI investments. Instead, Google will now be required to notify the government of future AI acquisitions. This is a substantial win for Google, which argued that restricting its AI investments would harm US leadership in the field. The government's revised proposal still includes extensive oversight of Google's search and Android businesses.

(arstechnica.com)

Tech

Global Market Sell-off: Recession Fears and Trade War Uncertainty Deepen

2025-03-10

Global Market Sell-off: Recession Fears and Trade War Uncertainty Deepen

Global stock markets suffered a sharp sell-off on Monday, driven by concerns about a potential US recession and uncertainty surrounding US trade policies. The S&P 500 plunged 2.3%, and the Dow Jones fell 1.2% in the US. European markets also saw declines, with the FTSE 100 down 0.92%, the DAX down 1.69%, and the CAC 40 down 0.9%. The pound weakened against the dollar and euro, and Brent crude oil prices dropped around 1.2%. Companies like Clarksons saw significant share price drops (21.7%) due to geopolitical uncertainties. Analysts attribute the market correction to a combination of trade war anxieties, geopolitical tensions, and an uncertain economic outlook.

(www.independent.co.uk)

Tech recession

Sony Battles AI Deepfake Songs: 75,000+ Removed, Copyright Fight Heats Up

2025-03-10

Sony Battles AI Deepfake Songs: 75,000+ Removed, Copyright Fight Heats Up

Sony Music is battling AI-generated deepfake songs mimicking artists like Harry Styles and Beyoncé. Over 75,000 songs have been removed from online platforms, but this is likely a small fraction of the problem. The proliferation of these songs is causing direct commercial harm, sparking a copyright debate. The UK government is considering new copyright laws allowing AI model training on artist material, but this has faced artist protests over the difficulty of policing copyright violations. Meanwhile, AI-generated nude deepfakes are a growing problem in US high schools, highlighting the ethical concerns alongside the technological advancements.

(gizmodo.com)

Tech AI deepfakes deepfake songs Deepfakes deepfakes music industry

YouTube Experiment: DRM-Only Videos on TV?

2025-03-10

YouTube Experiment: DRM-Only Videos on TV?

Reports indicate YouTube is experimenting with a limited rollout where normal videos only offer DRM-protected formats on the TV (TVHTML5) Innertube client. This affects not only yt-dlp, but also official YouTube TV clients (PS3, web browser, Apple TV), which also only provide DRM formats. Tests show accounts involved can only access DRM-protected versions. This suggests a potential shift in YouTube's copyright protection strategy, potentially impacting how users watch and download videos.

(github.com)

Tech Video Download

Three Steps to Zero-Downtime Deployments on AWS EKS

2025-03-10

Three Steps to Zero-Downtime Deployments on AWS EKS

Glasskube engineer Jakob shares his experience achieving zero-downtime deployments on AWS EKS. The article delves into the workings of the AWS Load Balancer Controller, highlighting two potential downtime issues during rolling updates: health check delays and pod termination delays. Three solutions are presented: enabling Pod Readiness Gates, implementing graceful application shutdown, and using a sidecar container or adding a termination delay within the application. These three steps effectively prevent 502/504 errors during rolling updates, resulting in 100% zero-downtime deployments.

(glasskube.dev)

Development Zero-Downtime Deployments

Global Language List: Supporting Over 40 Languages

2025-03-10

Global Language List: Supporting Over 40 Languages

This list showcases over 40 languages, spanning across Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas, demonstrating robust multilingual support, likely for a website, application, or other multilingual project.

(chromewebstore.google.com)

Development multilingual support internationalization

Ariane 6's First Commercial Launch Successfully Deploys CSO-3 Earth Observation Satellite

2025-03-10

Arianespace's Ariane 6 rocket successfully completed its maiden commercial launch, deploying the CSO-3 Earth observation satellite into orbit. CSO-3, the third in the series, was built for the French Defense Procurement Agency and CNES for the French Air and Space Force's Space Command. This launch completes the CSO system and solidifies France and Europe's independent access to space, providing high-resolution imagery for French and European partners.

(www.arianespace.com)

Tech Earth Observation

Generative AI Hype: Reaching its Peak?

2025-03-10

Generative AI Hype: Reaching its Peak?

Since October 2023, many exaggerated claims surrounding Generative AI have been questioned, particularly the assertion that it will dramatically boost labor productivity across most occupations. The author believes investor hype around Generative AI is nearing its peak, evidenced by NVIDIA's falling stock price. While LLMs have enabled real process innovations, such as improved efficiency in software development and customer support, their impact may be overstated. In customer support, chatbots handle routine issues, but this could lead to a degraded user experience. In software development, LLMs are replacing less experienced developers, potentially limiting the future supply of experienced developers. Furthermore, the release of DeepSeek raises questions about GPU demand. The author suggests that political influence and scam bots may be the sustainable killer app for this technology.

(bjornwestergard.com)

Tech

Infosec Roundup: Malvertising, Exploited Vulnerabilities, and Data Breaches

2025-03-10

Infosec Roundup: Malvertising, Exploited Vulnerabilities, and Data Breaches

Microsoft uncovered a malvertising campaign distributing malware via GitHub, impacting nearly a million devices. The campaign used pirated video streaming sites embedding malicious redirects, ultimately leading to malware hosted on GitHub that stole system information and browser credentials. Meanwhile, Red Hat becomes a CVE numbering authority of last resort, while several critical vulnerabilities are actively exploited, including an RCE vulnerability in Progress Software WhatsUp Gold and security flaws in Hitachi Vantara Pentaho Business Analytics Server. Cisco warns of the exploitation of CVE-2023-20118 and recommends hardware replacement. Popular phone cleaning apps are revealed to be sharing user data, and the US House passed a bill requiring federal contractors to implement vulnerability disclosure policies. Finally, scammers used AI-generated videos impersonating YouTube CEO Neal Mohan for phishing attacks, while Singapore considers caning for cybercriminals.

(www.theregister.com)

Tech

Archimedean-Shaped Ceramic Powders Resist Extreme Heat and Oxidation

2025-03-10

Archimedean-Shaped Ceramic Powders Resist Extreme Heat and Oxidation

A research team synthesized high-quality boride ceramic powders with Archimedean shapes, exhibiting exceptional heat and oxidation resistance. Using a refined precursor-carbon/boron thermal reduction process and a novel sol-gel method, they produced high-purity ZrB2 and HfB2 powders. Control over particle size and shape, achieved through the addition of dispersants, resulted in powders with superior crystallinity and a unique polyhedral morphology. These powders formed a thin protective oxide layer (86.43 micrometers after 3 hours at 1400°C), significantly outperforming similar materials. This breakthrough offers a new approach for developing ultra-high-temperature materials.

(phys.org)

Tech boride ceramics Archimedean polyhedra high-temperature materials

Does Visual Studio Rot Your Brain? A Programmer's Lament

2025-03-10

This article explores the impact of Visual Studio on programmers' thinking. While acknowledging its usefulness, the author argues that Visual Studio's heavy automation, particularly IntelliSense, may hinder the development of true programming skills and creativity. The author contrasts this with the pure joy of coding without such aids, emphasizing the mental benefits of a more hands-on approach. The piece also delves into the history of programming tools and speculates on the future changes brought about by Avalon (WPF) and XAML.

(charlespetzold.com)

Development

In-Browser Graph RAG Chatbot using Kuzu-Wasm and WebLLM

2025-03-10

In-Browser Graph RAG Chatbot using Kuzu-Wasm and WebLLM

This blog post demonstrates a fully in-browser chatbot built with Kuzu-Wasm and WebLLM, leveraging Graph Retrieval-Augmented Generation (Graph RAG) to answer natural language questions about LinkedIn data. The application utilizes the benefits of WebAssembly, enabling local data processing for enhanced privacy and simplified deployment. The architecture, implementation, data ingestion, WebLLM prompting, and performance observations are detailed. While current limitations exist, such as model size and speed, the advancements in WebAssembly and the emergence of smaller, better LLMs suggest a bright future for such advanced pipelines running entirely within the browser.

(blog.kuzudb.com)

AI Graph Database

Customize Games with Canvas Language: Build Your Own Game World

2025-03-10

This is an online game editing platform based on Canvas Language, allowing users to customize and modify existing games, even reprogramming the gameplay. The platform provides several preset games for users to choose from. Users can upload their own images and edit using SCL language. Once finished, users can publish their game to a custom domain, such as itch.io. This platform aims to showcase the ease of use and customizability of Canvas Language, providing users with a convenient game creation experience.

(playscl.com)

Game Canvas Language game customization

Ancient DNA Extraction from Paleolithic Artifacts Reveals Clues to 45,000-Year-Old Human Activities

2025-03-10

Ancient DNA Extraction from Paleolithic Artifacts Reveals Clues to 45,000-Year-Old Human Activities

A groundbreaking study successfully extracted ancient DNA from Paleolithic artifacts unearthed at the French sites of Quinçay and Les Cottés, and from Bacho Kiro Cave in Bulgaria and Denisova Cave in Russia. Researchers developed a non-destructive DNA extraction method using sodium phosphate buffer at varying temperatures to gradually release DNA, minimizing damage to the artifacts. This method yielded both human and animal DNA, offering invaluable genetic insights into human activities and behaviors dating back 45,000 years.

(www.nature.com)

Tech non-destructive extraction Paleolithic

Google Pixel 4a Battery Overheating Recall

2025-03-10

Google Pixel 4a Battery Overheating Recall

Google has launched a battery performance improvement program for its Pixel 4a phone to address overheating risks. The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission confirmed the update introduces new battery management features to mitigate the risk of overheating, preventing potential fire or burn hazards. Not all Pixel 4a devices are affected; users can check their device's eligibility through a tool provided by Google. Affected users are eligible for a $100 Google Store discount code or a $50 payment.

(9to5google.com)

Hardware Battery Overheating

The 11-inch MacBook Air: Still a Surprisingly Good Buy in 2023?

2025-03-10

The 11-inch MacBook Air: Still a Surprisingly Good Buy in 2023?

The author recounts their experience purchasing and using a used 2013 11-inch MacBook Air. Despite its modest specs (4GB RAM, 128GB SSD), the machine performs surprisingly well for everyday tasks. The author praises its portability, superior keyboard and port selection compared to the 12-inch Retina MacBook, and argues that the non-Retina display is perfectly acceptable. Ultimately, the author concludes that the 11-inch MacBook Air offers incredible value for its size and price, making it an ideal choice for users prioritizing portability and ease of use.

(morrick.me)

Hardware Ultraportable Value

Shape-Shifting Browser Extensions Steal Credentials

2025-03-10

Shape-Shifting Browser Extensions Steal Credentials

Researchers at SquareX Labs have uncovered a new class of malicious browser extensions dubbed "polymorphic extensions." These extensions can impersonate legitimate extensions like password managers in real-time, tricking users into revealing sensitive credentials. The attack proceeds in four phases: distribution, reconnaissance, impersonation, and exploitation. Attackers distribute the malicious extension disguised as a useful tool on the Chrome Web Store. Once installed, it identifies target extensions and, upon use, temporarily disables the legitimate version, replacing it with a near-identical fake. Credentials are stolen and the legitimate extension is restored, leaving no obvious trace. Because the attack uses legitimate browser features, there's no easy fix, but SquareX suggests countermeasures like restricting sudden extension icon changes and enhancing permission monitoring.

(cyberinsider.com)

Tech malicious extensions

The Rise and Fall of 3dfx: A Voodoo Story

2025-03-10

The Rise and Fall of 3dfx: A Voodoo Story

This article recounts the legendary story of 3dfx Interactive and its Voodoo graphics cards. Starting with a group of engineers leaving Silicon Graphics, they built a company based on affordable, high-performance 3D acceleration, forging close ties with game developers. They quickly dominated the PC gaming 3D market in the late 90s. However, strategic missteps (like entering the motherboard market and a failed Sega Dreamcast deal), coupled with the rise of competitors ATI and NVIDIA, led to 3dfx's acquisition by NVIDIA in 2000. Despite this, Voodoo cards and the Glide API left a lasting impact on PC gaming history and laid the groundwork for the modern GPU industry.

(www.abortretry.fail)

Tech

Dissecting Canon's STM Lens Stepper Motor

2025-03-10

Canon's STM lenses utilize a unique 2-phase bipolar stepper motor with a permanent magnet rotor and a rotationally symmetrical stator, unlike the AFD stepper motor. The article first explains the general working principle of a stepper motor, then delves into the specifics of Canon's STM motor design. The motor uses two independent coils, energized in both directions to create varying magnetic polarities, driving rotor rotation. Full-step and half-step modes are briefly mentioned, but half-step mode isn't explored further due to autofocus systems prioritizing speed over precision.

(exclusivearchitecture.com)

Hardware Stepper Motor STM Lens

Bell's Theorem: An Overlooked Quantum Milestone

2025-03-10

Bell's Theorem: An Overlooked Quantum Milestone

In 1964, John Stewart Bell published a largely unnoticed paper demonstrating that quantum mechanics is incompatible with locality, even if 'hidden variables' unaccounted for in quantum theory exist. This challenged the Copenhagen interpretation, sparking profound philosophical debates about the nature of reality. Bell's theorem was eventually experimentally verified, establishing a new foundation for quantum mechanics and prompting a reevaluation of the quantum world by philosophers. While Bell himself didn't receive widespread recognition during his lifetime, his contribution to the development of quantum mechanics is undeniable, with his work now forming the cornerstone of quantum information science.

(physics.aps.org)

Tech Bell's Theorem Hidden Variables

Thousands Trapped After Myanmar Scam Center Rescue: A Humanitarian Crisis Unfolds

2025-03-10

Thousands Trapped After Myanmar Scam Center Rescue: A Humanitarian Crisis Unfolds

Thousands of young men and women rescued from Myanmar's scam centers find themselves trapped in overcrowded detention facilities, facing a humanitarian crisis. Despite a large-scale operation involving Thai, Chinese, and Myanmar authorities, repatriation efforts are slow, leaving many stranded without adequate medical care or food. The rescue highlights the rampant issue of cross-border cyber scams and the need for greater international cooperation to combat this criminal industry. Many victims, initially lured by promises of lucrative jobs, endured brutal conditions, including beatings and starvation, before their release.

(apnews.com)

Misc cyber scams humanitarian crisis

Hacking the Clock: How Scientists Are Reviving Ancient Forests

2025-03-10

Hacking the Clock: How Scientists Are Reviving Ancient Forests

Britain faces a biodiversity crisis, with the decline of ancient oak trees threatening countless species. This article explores how scientists are using technology—from laser scanning and microbial injections to artificial wounding—to accelerate the development of features in young trees that mimic the habitats found in centuries-old giants. This 'veteranization' process, while seemingly destructive, speeds up the natural creation of hollows and decay crucial for supporting diverse ecosystems, bridging the centuries-long gap between young and ancient trees, and offering hope for endangered species.

(www.noemamag.com)

Tech

World's Longest Immersed Tunnel: Linking Denmark and Germany

2025-03-10

World's Longest Immersed Tunnel: Linking Denmark and Germany

Denmark and Germany are building the world's longest immersed tunnel, the Fehmarnbelt Fixed Link, set to open in 2029. This 18-kilometer tunnel will more than halve travel times between the two countries and become the world's longest combined road and rail tunnel. The €7 billion+ project uses 89 massive prefabricated concrete sections, each weighing 73,000 tons. Despite some environmental concerns, the project is expected to bring significant economic and environmental benefits, boosting freight and passenger traffic, and reducing carbon emissions.

(www.cnn.com)

Tech immersed tunnel Denmark Germany

arXivLabs: Experimental Projects with Community Collaborators

2025-03-10

arXivLabs is a framework for collaborators to develop and share new arXiv features directly on the website. Individuals and organizations involved share arXiv's values of openness, community, excellence, and user data privacy. arXiv only works with partners adhering to these principles. Got an idea to enhance the arXiv community? Learn more about arXivLabs.

(arxiv.org)

Development

The Chilling Effect: How Fear is Silencing America

2025-03-10

The Chilling Effect: How Fear is Silencing America

America is experiencing an unprecedented chilling effect on free speech. The President and his allies are using political pressure, threats, and dismissals to silence critics, targeting nonprofits, media outlets, and even academics. This fear permeates various sectors, from academia to media, leading to widespread self-censorship. The situation eerily resembles Putin's Russia, although the US boasts a more independent judiciary, media, and civil society. However, these institutions are under attack, and their willingness to act is being tested. Only by more people bravely stepping up to defend fundamental freedoms can this unsettling trend be reversed.

(donmoynihan.substack.com)

Misc political repression chilling effect

Restate: Simplifying Complex AI Game Workflows

2025-03-10

Restate: Simplifying Complex AI Game Workflows

This article demonstrates building an interactive text-adventure game from a single user prompt using the Restate framework. The application orchestrates image generation, audio synthesis, and multiple large language model calls, tasks traditionally requiring complex message queues and error handling. Restate simplifies this with durable handlers and built-in concurrency primitives, providing automatic retries, state management, and guaranteed request execution. The author details the application architecture, code implementation, and challenge solutions, showcasing how Restate efficiently handles long-running workflows and improves developer productivity.

(restate.dev)

Game

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