text
stringlengths 116
667
| label
stringclasses 3
values |
|---|---|
Meet the Chinese robot worm that could crawl into your brain . Researchers at Shenzhen have created a robot worm that can enter the human body, move along blood vessels, and hook up to neurons. The 1mm by 3mm robotic worm is powered by an external magnetic field generator. It is controlled by changing the magnetic fields around its body. The robot can squeeze through gaps by using infrared radiation to contract its body by more than a third. It can change color due to the hydrogel that it is made from. The robot can be used to deliver drugs to a targeted area
|
non-member-domain
|
A new underwater greenhouse could reveal the future of agriculture . Nemo's Garden is an underwater greenhouse project that uses the ocean's environmental qualities to create a habitat for growing fresh produce. It was designed for regions where environmental, economic, or morphologic factors make plant development challenging. More than 100 different plants have been grown using this method. Tests showed that plants produced in the environment were richer in nutritional content than those grown using traditional methods. The concept is now being exported around the world.
|
non-member-domain
|
Lucasfilm hires the YouTube deepfaker who put its Luke, Leia and Tarkin cameos to shame . YouTuber Shamook gained millions of views when he released deepfake videos that 'fixed' several CGI cameos from Star Wars and other big-budget movies. Instead of removing the videos, Lucasfilm decided to hire Shamook as a Senior Facial Capture Artist. Examples of Shamook's work are available in the article.
|
non-member-domain
|
Napster sold to London startup MelodyVR in surprise $70m deal . MelodyVR, a startup that films and streams gigs that can be viewed with virtual reality headsets, has purchased Napster for $70m. Napster, which started as an illegal downloading platform in the 1990s, currently has 3 million users with a library of 90 million licensed tracks. MelodyVR has hosted acts such as The Chainsmokers and Cypress Hill. It has studios in London and Los Angeles for artists to perform at. Users can pay to watch the
|
non-member-domain
|
Spotify will now let artists directly upload their music to the platform . Spotify has launched an invite-only beta program allowing indie artists to upload their music directly to the platform. Spotify will give 50% of Spotify's net revenue for songs uploaded this way to artists, in line with their existing deals (they give Universal Music 52-55% of revenue). Spotify has already been testing the feature for the past few months with artists like VIAA and Michael Brun.
|
non-member-domain
|
NASA’s Juno spacecraft finds just how deep Jupiter’s Great Red Spot goes . NASA’s Juno spacecraft has revealed that Jupiter's iconic Great Red Spot extends hundreds of miles into the planet. The storm's diameter is about 10,000 miles wide and between 186 and 310 miles deep. It is so large that the Juno spacecraft was able to measure the small perturbations in gravity produced by the storm as it passed over. These gravity signals were combined with previous microwave measurements to calculate the depth of the storm. While
|
non-member-domain
|
Video Of A Drone ‘walking’ A Dog During The Coronavirus Lockdown Goes Viral . A video of a dog being walked by a drone during self-quarantine has gone viral. It is similar to the scene in Back to the Future 2 when Marty spots a drone-like device walking a dog. The idea is novel but probably won't work for most animals. The American Kennel Club recommends that people do not walk their dogs with drones.
|
non-member-domain
|
Celebrating Imgur's Next Chapter . Imgur has been acquired by MediaLab. The image-sharing site reaches 300 million people and is home to one of the largest single independent communities online. MediaLab owns a range of internet brands, including Whisper, Kik, and WorldStarHipHop. Its resources and shared services will help the Imgur team add new features and tools and help grow the site.
|
non-member-domain
|
Pyright (GitHub Repo). Pyright is a static type checker for the Python language and was created to address gaps in current type checkers such as mypy. It is written in Typescript and runs within node so it does not require a Python environment, and it is typically 5x faster than other type checkers written in Python. Pyright only supports Python 3.0 and higher, and there are no plans on supporting previous versions.
|
non-member-domain
|
Woman dies during a ransomware attack on a German hospital . A woman has died in Duesseldorf University Hospital during a ransomware attack. It is possibly the first death directly linked to a cyberattack on a hospital. The hospital couldn't accept emergency patients due to the attack and the patient was sent to another health care facility around 20 miles away. Hospitals rely heavily on internet-connected devices but many aren't prepared for cyberattacks. Security experts have been saying for years that it is a matter of time before cyberattacks on hospital systems would result in someone'
|
non-member-domain
|
ML Engineering Career Transition Guide (Guide). This is a guide written by a Google Brain engineer to help software engineers who want to get into ML engineering but don't know where to start. It gives some good advice on necessary qualifications, getting experience, learning resources, and applying for jobs. There is an emphasis on AI Safety, but I think this advice is sort of applicable to all sorts of ML engineering work (so if you want to build Skynet, you should still check this out).
|
non-member-domain
|
Defensive CSS (Website). This site contains practical CSS and design tips for building future-proof user interfaces.
|
non-member-domain
|
A New Strain of Drug-Resistant Malaria Has Sprung Up in Africa . Global malaria deaths declined to 409,000 in 2019, compared to 585,000 in 2010. Several countries have eliminated the disease, or are about to. A new strain of the parasite has shown resistance to one of the most commonly used malaria treatments. The new strain could lead to more deaths, an increased spread in the resistance itself, and a loss of confidence in malaria treatments. Increased funding for more testing and research capacity,
|
non-member-domain
|
Dazzling drone display during Olympic Opening Ceremony (2 minute video). This video shows the drone display during the Olympic Opening Ceremony. The display was made up of 1,800 drones. It morphs into various shapes before creating a vision of the globe in 3D.
|
non-member-domain
|
SpaceX fires up world’s largest rocket booster on the first try . SpaceX has successfully fired up Super Heavy, the largest rocket booster in the world. Booster 3 was completed around July 1 and it passed its first cryogenic proof test on July 12. It successfully ignited three Raptor engines on its first go on July 19. This is the first Starship prototype that completed its cryogenic and static fire tests on its first attempt. The success makes it clear that SpaceX's Starship launch vehicle design, production, and operations are rapidly mat
|
non-member-domain
|
Biohackers are pirating a cheap version of a million-dollar gene therapy . An international team of biohackers is creating a pirated version of a million-dollar gene therapy. Glybera is a gene therapy that costs $1 million per treatment. It treats an inherited disease that affects the fat levels in blood. The biohackers developed the first prototype of their version of the gene therapy with less than $7,000. They will require help to complete the animal testing stage, which is much more expensive. Glybera uses viruses to deliver the genes,
|
non-member-domain
|
Doodle CSS (GitHub Page). Doodle CSS is a simple hand-drawn HTML/CSS theme. This page shows off all the elements and features in the theme with interactive demos and examples.
|
non-member-domain
|
Relativity Space's massive 3D printers are reinventing rockets, and building the factory of the future . Relativity Space is a company that uses 3D printing to build rockets. The company has the world's largest 3D printers, capable of printing metal pieces up to 32-feet tall. 95 percent of the parts for its Terran 1 rocket are 3D-printed, making the rocket many times less complex compared to traditional rockets. The company aims to eventually be able to turn raw materials into a rocket on the
|
non-member-domain
|
The race is on to replace the hypodermic needle . Up to 8% of people report avoiding vaccines due to the pain of needles. Constant use of needles can also pose health risks, such as an increased risk of infection. Scientists at Rutgers University have developed a patch full of microscopic needles that can be attached to the skin and deliver a drug without causing any pain. The needles are 3D-printed with polymers and the core structure can be programmed and reshaped. They can be attached for long periods of time, which means they can
|
non-member-domain
|
An Analysis of Bitcoin's Throughput Bottlenecks, Potential Solutions, and Future Prospects (1 hour read). There has been some debate about the growth of Bitcoin's blockchain for years now, with some groups wanting to increase transaction throughput by increasing block size while others want to focus on technologies that decrease the resources necessary to run the network as it grows. This article analyzes the major throughput bottlenecks that restrict Bitcoin's safe throughput capacity and discusses what throughput capacity we can expect in the future.
|
non-member-domain
|
The Unix Game (Website). The Unix Game is a programming contest where players solve coding challenges by constructing pipelines of UNIX text processing utilities to complete the solution. There is a leaderboard and users can display badges of honor to showcase progress to friends.
|
non-member-domain
|
Ask HN: What game do you wish existed? (Hacker News Thread). This Hacker News thread contains a list of games that people wish existed. The top replies include a game that simulates being a mouse existing with regular humans, a game similar to Civilization but for countries, and a true MMORPG that simulates a real virtual world. The discussions center around similar games that already exist and the reasons why such games don't currently exist.
|
non-member-domain
|
“Expert” hackers used 11 0-days to infect Windows, iOS, and Android users . Google researchers have discovered a team of advanced hackers who have exploited at least 11 0-day vulnerabilities over nine months. The hackers used compromised websites to infect fully patched devices running Windows, iOS, and Android. Google security researchers described the group as 'highly sophisticated'. While people should still keep their software updated and avoid suspicious websites, neither of those things would have helped the victims hacked by this group.
|
non-member-domain
|
Facebook launches an ‘Audio’ hub in the U.S. for podcasts, live audio, and short-form clips . Facebook has announced a new Audio destination in its mobile app for users in the US. The feature can be accessed through the Watch tab. It allows users to discover podcasts, Live Audio Rooms, and short form audio. Facebook is working on tools that will help it identify and act upon audio content that violates its Community Standards to prevent the platform from spreading more misinformation. Screenshots of the new feature are available in the article.
|
non-member-domain
|
Scientists develop first-of-its-kind implant that relieves pain without drugs . Researchers have developed an implant that can relieve pain on demand without the use of drugs. The device works by wrapping around nerves and delivering targeted cooling via evaporation. A sensor ensures that the cooling doesn't damage any tissue. The device can be remotely activated and users can control its intensity. Cooling nerves numbs them and blocks pain signals to the brain. The device is water-soluble and it is naturally absorbed by the body after use.
|
non-member-domain
|
The pirate assembling a better sports streaming service . HeheStreams is a service that streams live broadcasts of every NBA, NHL, NFL, and MLB game on TV. It costs $100 a year, half of what the NBA charges for its League Pass, but without the bureaucracy and obligations to cable powerbrokers. The service is breaking all sorts of copyright laws. Local blackout restrictions and television contracts mean that consumers can't always access the content they want, which is why they turn to using alternative services.
|
non-member-domain
|
The US Just Announced Plans to Test Five Digital Currencies . The Digital Dollar Project was founded in 2020 to investigate and promote research into a central bank digital currency (CBDC). It recently declared that it will launch five pilot programs over the next 12 months to test the possible deployment of a CBDC in the US. The recent interest in cryptocurrencies places control of money back into the private sector, so central banks worldwide are executing CBDC projects to confront threats and improve payment systems for the next generation of financial technology. The data generated from the pilot programs will be publicly
|
non-member-domain
|
bullet : Beautiful Python Prompts Made Simple (GitHub Repo). Bullet allows for customized prompts in Python and has extensive support for formatting, colors, styling, and even support for emojis. There are many examples of its usage in the repository. Users can choose between bullet, check, inputs, numbers, passwords, yes/no, vertical, and slide prompts, and have full control over the style and look of the prompts.
|
non-member-domain
|
Distrobox (GitHub Repo). Distrobox creates fully mutable containers in environments where the file system is immutable or where the user doesn't have privileges to modify the host. Distrobox can be used to run any Linux distribution in the terminal, as well as install development and debugging tools, editors, and SDKs without sudo or access to a traditional package manager.
|
non-member-domain
|
Uncontrolled reentry: Why China “just not caring” is a huge problem for space . China's Long March 5B rocket is expected to make an uncontrolled reentry in the next few days. It is not the first time the China National Space Administration has opted for an uncontrolled reentry. Uncontrolled re-entries are dangerous as pieces of debris can cause damage. It is unknown where the rocket might reenter, but its erratic trajectory places it in the path of several populated areas. There are no international regulations that require controlled reentries, but it is
|
non-member-domain
|
Google helps map one cubic millimeter of human brain tissue that comes in at 1.4 petabytes . Google and Harvard University have released a browsable 1.4-petabyte reconstruction of roughly one cubic millimeter of brain tissue. The 3D reconstruction was created from 225 million 2D images of tissues collected from donors who had undergone surgery to treat epilepsy. It represents only one-millionth the volume of an entire brain. A link to the reconstruction is available in the article.
|
non-member-domain
|
Rocket Launch in New Zealand Brings Quick, Cheap Space Access . Government backed rocket launches generally cost between $150 million and $300 million. SpaceX was able to get costs down to about $60 million per launch. By using smaller rockets, Rocket Labs is able to send up satellites for a cost of just $5.7 million per launch. Rocket Labs' Electon Rocket is 56 feet tall compared to 230 feet for SpaceX's Falcon 9. Rocket Labs launches out of a remote
|
non-member-domain
|
A White Dwarf Was Observed 'Switching On and Off' for the First Time . A white dwarf has been observed flickering on and off, an event that has never been seen in other white dwarfs. The white dwarf was feeding off of an orbiting companion star. Researchers believe that something may have interfered with its fuel supply, causing reconfigurations of the white dwarf's surface magnetic field that shifted the star's brightness. The researchers hope that the observation will help them learn more about how objects such as black holes and white dwarfs feed on colossal
|
non-member-domain
|
Swift: Google's bet on differentiable programming (40 minute read). Two years ago, a team at Google started a project to make Swift the first mainstream language with first-class language-integrated differentiable programming capabilities. The project hasn't received a lot of interest as Swift is mostly unknown in the machine learning community. Swift is a better choice for machine learning as it is faster than Python and it allows for much more control while still using high-level language. While the project is not ready for general production usage, it shows that Swift could potentially become a key player in the machine
|
non-member-domain
|
FDA approves genetically engineered pigs . The FDA has approved genetically engineered pigs developed by Revivicor, a medical company, for use in food and medical products. The pigs can now be used in the production of drugs, to provide organs and tissues for transplants, and to produce meat that is safe to eat. It is the first-ever approval of an animal biotechnology product for both food consumption and medical use. The pigs lack a molecule called alpha-gal sugar, which can trigger allergic reactions. Removing the molecule
|
non-member-domain
|
Free Discourse for Open Source (Hosting). Discourse is an open source forum software company started by Jeff Atwood (co-founder/former CEO of Stack Overflow). Discourse started giving free hosting to a few open source projects a couple of years ago. Now, any project that has at least 15 contributors and a need for a discussion forum can apply to get a free hosted Discourse forum. If you're involved in any open source projects, this might be worth taking a look at.
|
non-member-domain
|
Proton Player (GitHub Repo). Proton Player is an HTML5-based streaming music player designed to be used by developers to build their own music players. It is compatible across many devices and browsers. The project is backed by a paid development team with customers. A demo player is available.
|
non-member-domain
|
Tesla launches car insurance offering in California . Tesla has launched a car insurance offering which provides Tesla owners with up to 30 percent lower rates. It will start rolling out to US states in the next few months, beginning with California. Factors such as the company's vehicle safety features, including Autopilot, make lower-priced insurance possible. Tesla doesn't use GPS or camera footage when pricing insurance, but some of the data collected from the vehicles is used when calculating insurance prices. Existing customers will be able to purchase an insurance policy in as little as one minute
|
non-member-domain
|
Travelex being held to ransom by hackers . Hackers have forced Travelex to turn off its computer systems and resort to pen and paper. The attack occurred on New Year's Eve and it forced Travelex to take down its websites across 30 countries. A ransomware gang called Sodinokibi has claimed responsibility for the attack, demanding $6 million from Travelex. It claims to have obtained 5GB of sensitive customer data, including dates of birth, credit card information, and national insurance numbers. The Information Commissioner's Office has not received
|
non-member-domain
|
Sony offers a first look at the orb-like PSVR2 headset . Sony has revealed the first photos of its upcoming PS5-compatible virtual reality headset. The PSVR2 will have similar ergonomics and balancing as the first version. It will feature a lens adjustment dial, a more rounded shape, a slimmer and lighter design, a force-feedback motor, a new cooling system, and an updated white casing for the controllers. The headset will have OLED panels with 2,000x2,040 pixel resolution per eye and a
|
non-member-domain
|
YouTube TV finally goes nationwide almost two years after launch . YouTube TV is launching nationwide, it's now available in 98% of US households. All viewers will have access to at least three out of the four major broadcasters (ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC) depending on their location, most will have all four. The subscription is meant to replace cable, and costs $40/month. There's a link inside to check if it's available for your zip code.
|
non-member-domain
|
Don’t let your issue tracker be a four-letter word. Use Shortcut. (Sponsor). Frustrated with your project management software? Shortcut is a goldilocks solution for software engineers, product managers, and designers, providing the ease of use of a simple tool with the power and flexibility of an overly complex one. Learn more.
|
non-member-domain
|
A new technique successfully fried up to 75 percent of tumors using ultrasound . Scientists from the University of Michigan used ultrasound waves to eliminate up to 75% of liver tumor material in rat bodies. The rats' immune systems were then able to remove the leftover cancerous tissues and prevent reemergence. The technique is already being deployed in human trials in the US and Europe. Liver cancer is one of the top 10 causes of cancer-related deaths in the world, with survival rates at less than 18% in the US.
|
non-member-domain
|
Kubernetes YAML Generator (Website). This page generates a YAML script based on an editable configuration. Users can specify resource types, DNS policies, containers, and other settings and easily export them.
|
non-member-domain
|
JerryScript (GitHub Repo). JerryScript is a lightweight JavaScript engine for resource-constrained devices. It is heavily optimized for low memory consumption and can run on devices with less than 64 KB of RAM and less than 200 KB of flash memory. JerryScript features a mature C API and it is easy to embed in applications.
|
non-member-domain
|
A first look at Microsoft’s new Windows 11 Android apps support . Microsoft has released the first preview of its Android app support in Windows 11 to testers in the Windows Insider program. Apps will be listed in the Microsoft Store, but users will be sent to Amazon's Appstore to get them installed or updated. The apps will run in a virtual machine side by side with other Windows apps. There are only 50 apps officially available with the preview. More details on the preview, including screenshots of the setup process and Android apps running on Windows, are available.
|
non-member-domain
|
Helix (GitHub Repo). Helix is an editor written in Rust. Its editing model is heavily based on kakoune. Helix features vim-like modal editing, multiple selections, built-in language server support, and syntax highlighting and code editing via tree-sitter.
|
non-member-domain
|
DEEP LEARNING WITH PYTORCH: A 60 MINUTE BLITZ (Website). This tutorial aims to give the student an understanding of Pytorch's Tensor library and neural networks at a high level. The student will train a small neural network to classify images. A two-minute video is available to preview the course.
|
non-member-domain
|
3D printed tiles help revive coral beds in Hong Kong coastal waters (3 minute video). Marine biologists and architects in Hong Kong worked together to develop 3D-printed clay tiles that help coral grow. Coral doesn't like sand, so the clay tiles were designed to prevent sediment buildup and to create a surface for the coral to grow. The tiles were seeded with coral and 100% of the coral was still surviving after two months. The team hopes that the tiles can be used to help other reefs damaged by pollution, fishing,
|
non-member-domain
|
Spotify Wrapped 2018 (Web Tool). Spotify Wrapped 2018 is a fun site put out by Spotify that lets you sign in with your Spotify account and relive the music you've listened to the past year. Full disclosure, you're reading a newsletter by someone who "started 2018 by listening to One In A Million by Hannah Montana".
|
non-member-domain
|
Have a protein you want inhibited? New software can design a blocker . Researchers have created software that can design inhibitors for target proteins to block their activity. The software designs proteins that are later encoded into DNA and inserted into yeast cells for production. The resulting proteins are easy to make and extremely stable even at high temperatures. Proteins generally have to be injected to be effective and there is no guarantee that they will go where they are needed.
|
non-member-domain
|
Developers Flee Open Source Project After ‘Takeover’ By Korean Crown Prince . Freenode is a large open-source project that runs Internet Relay Chat networks. The entire network was recently purchased by Andrew Lee, the Crown Prince of Korea. A dozen Freenode staff volunteers have resigned, saying that they believe Lee took over the network under false pretenses. It is unknown what effect the changes in the Freenode network will have on developers around the world. The former Freenode staff members have launched a new chat network to continue Freenode's mission.
|
non-member-domain
|
$5bn project to map DNA of every animal, plant and fungus . The Earth BioGenome Project is a $4.7 billion "moonshot for biology" that aims to sequence the genomes of 1.5 million species. Less than 3,500 species are currently sequenced, and only about 100 of those are at reference quality. Harris Lewin, chair of the project, believes that the project could be as transformational for biology as the Human Genome Project. He says "Having the roadmap, the blueprints...will be a tremendous
|
non-member-domain
|
If you ever wanted to help find new planets, now’s your chance . The team behind Next-Generation Transit Survey, a planet-hunting telescope array, is asking the public to double-check its computers and make a final call on what a signal is. The NGTS scans large areas of the sky to detect dips in light caused by planets crossing between the stars and Earth. There are many phenomena that can cause similar-looking dips, so humans are needed to make the call on whether a planet has been detected or not. More details about how to help, as well as links
|
non-member-domain
|
Airbnb files to go public, turned a profit last quarter . Airbnb has filed to go public under the symbol ABNB on the Nasdaq. While the company had turned a profit last quarter, it has primarily turned net losses throughout the years, with other occasional quarters of profitability. The company will set up 9.2 million shares of non-voting stock aside in an endowment fund for hosts. Airbnb claims that its community of hosts and guests differentiates it from its competitors. The pandemic had an impact on the business, but it is starting to recover in some areas
|
non-member-domain
|
Signal CEO Hacks Cellebrite iPhone Hacking Device Used By Cops . Signal founder Moxie Marlinspike recently published details of exploits for Cellebrite devices, noting that the software was missing many industry-standard exploit mitigation defenses. Cellebrite devices are used by law enforcement to gather evidence from encrypted devices. Future versions of Signal will include files that Marlinspike has implied were designed to tamper with Cellebrite devices. Signal's research into Cellebrite's software may have also uncovered some copyright violations.
|
non-member-domain
|
A New Battery-Free System Gives Devices an 'Infinite Lifetime' . BFree is a system that allows devices to smoothly operate any time power is available. It uses a power-failure resistant version of Python and energy-harvesting hardware. Anyone can use the system to make their own sustainable electronics. Last year, the researchers behind the technology unveiled a Game Boy powered by the kinetic energy of button presses. The project hopes to reduce the number of dead batteries that end up as e-waste.
|
non-member-domain
|
Nx - The fastest growing monorepo solution in the JS ecosystem . Nx is a fast, extensible build system that features built-in monorepo support. It is lightweight and it has a plugin system with support for Angular, React, Next, Next.js, Node, and more. Nx doesn't just help set up monorepos and execute tasks, it also guides developers through the development lifecycle. Links to courses and more resources about Nx are available in the article.
|
non-member-domain
|
A Swedish company offers plant based burger, and it tastes like human meat . Oumph! is a Swedish company that created human-flavored plant-based meat to encourage people to try out plant-based meats.
|
non-member-domain
|
California is cracking down on the gig economy . A new bill has been passed by the state Assembly in California that will make it harder for companies to classify workers as independent contractors instead of employees, as is common practice for many companies that wish to skirt state and federal labor laws. Hundreds and thousands of workers, ranging from Uber and Amazon drivers to manicurists and exotic dancers, would likely become employees under the new bill. As employees, workers will gain labor protections and benefits such as unemployment insurance, health care subsidies, paid parental leave, overtime pay, workers’ compensation
|
non-member-domain
|
Uber Go Style Guide (GitHub Repo). This is the style guide for writing Go code at Uber. All code should be error free when run through golint and go vet. More information on Go tools is available.
|
non-member-domain
|
Blue Origin will run an “astronaut rehearsal” during a launch this week to prep for human spaceflight . Blue Origin is planning an astronaut rehearsal during its launch on April 14. The rehearsal will include boarding, preflight operations, and then returning to a staged version of an exit capsule. It will be similar to the procedure that private astronauts will perform during a real launch. The flight will have a test dummy on board to measure data about what the launch would be like for people. Blue Origin will launch at 8 AM CDT
|
non-member-domain
|
China starts testing digital currency as Facebook's Libra faces setback . China has started trials for its digital currency. The district of Suzhou will be paying half of its travel subsidies given to public sector workers in May using the digital currency. China plans to expand its pilot schemes to Shenzhen, Xiongan, and Chengdu. The 2022 Winter Olympic games may be used as a test for the currency. China has not yet announced an official timetable for releasing the digital yuan. However, reports indicate that the currency will be available to the public later this year.
|
non-member-domain
|
Brave is launching its own search engine with the help of ex-Cliqz devs and tech . Brave, the privacy-focused browser, is launching its own search engine. It acquired an open-source search engine developed by the team behind Cliqs, a now-defunct anti-tracking search-browser combo. The engine is built on top of a completely independent index and it can deliver the quality people expect without compromising their privacy. It does not collect IP addresses or use personally identifiable information to improve search results. Brave Search will be offered as a choice to
|
non-member-domain
|
A “halo drive” could accelerate interstellar spacecraft to close to the speed of light . In 2016, Stephen Hawking and billionaire Yuri Milner planned a project to send thousands of tiny spacecraft to visit a nearby star system, demonstrating technology that would allow for interstellar travel. This technology was based on laser propulsion, which is theoretically able to accelerate spacecraft to up to 20% of the speed of light. A new theory by Daniel Kipping from Columbia University may be able to accelerate spacecraft even more, approaching relativistic speeds.
|
non-member-domain
|
Wasmer (GitHub Repo). Wasmer is a standalone JIT WebAssembly runtime, which is able to run any WebAssembly file. It aims to be fully compatible with Emscripten, Rust, and Go. Wasmer can be embedded directly into Rust applications.
|
non-member-domain
|
Israeli Startup Nanox Gets FDA Approval for Digital X-ray System . An Israeli startup, Nanox, has developed a new type of X-ray machine that generates 3D images. It emits less radiation and costs a fraction of the price of conventional imaging devices. The Nanox.ARC uses a proprietary silicon chip embedded with 100 million nanocones that generate X-rays. The FDA has granted clearance for the single-source Nanox.ARC, and Nanox expects to get the same approval for its multisource
|
non-member-domain
|
Rust GPU (GitHub Repo). Rust GPU is an attempt at making Rust a first-class language and ecosystem for building GPU code. It can currently compile and run simple shaders, but many things, such as loops and switches, aren't supported yet. An example rendering is available in the repository.
|
non-member-domain
|
Isn’t it good, Swedish plywood: the miraculous eco-town with a 20-storey wooden skyscraper . Skellefteå is a town in the far north of Sweden with a climate-conscious focus. It runs on 100% renewable energy and recycles 120,000 tonnes of electronic waste a year. The town recently erected a 20 story wooden skyscraper. It is made up of glued laminated timber and cross-laminated timber. The nature of the wood made
|
non-member-domain
|
Nvidia is reportedly preparing to abandon its $40 billion takeover of Arm . Nvidia is preparing to abandon its $40 billion acquisition of chip designer Arm. Regulators have sued to block the transaction on antitrust grounds and there are multiple other regulatory obstacles to overcome. SoftBank, who currently owns Arm, is still optimistic that the sale will go through. Nvidia is not expecting regulators to allow the deal to be finalized.
|
non-member-domain
|
Virgin Reveals Its New Design Concept for the Hyperloop . Virgin appears to have changed its mind on how it plans to build its Hyperloop since its tests at the end of last year. The company recently released new designs showing battery-powered pods that hang off tracks, rather than magnetically levitating over them. Virgin's new proposed Hyperloop system is 10 times more efficient than current MagLev trains, while still being able to move people at high speeds without direct emissions. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2027.
|
non-member-domain
|
Alright folks, gather round and let me tell you the story of (almost). In 2016, Uber was still in its hyper-growth phase. The app was starting to show some cracks, and the team was constantly doing hotfixes. As the design was scaling badly, Uber formed a team to build a new mobile architecture for the app. After a few months, the project was looking good, but as soon as the company-wide rollout began, problems started to show up. At this point, Uber had already invested too much to back out of the project,
|
non-member-domain
|
China’s social credit system stopped millions of people from buying travel tickets . The social credit system in China was launched in 2014 and is still being piloted in specific regions. A full nationwide rollout is expected in 2020. The system tracks individuals and companies on certain factors, for example, whether they pay taxes or fines, and gives them a score based on their track record. Penalties for having a low score include restrictions on travel and education. In 2018, Chinese courts denied 17.5 million requests to fly and 5.5 million train
|
non-member-domain
|
Chinese Mars rover returns first pictures . China's Zhurong rover landed in the Utopia Planitia basin on Mars early Sunday. The rover is equipped with tools to assess rock chemistry and a radar to look for subsurface water-ice. Chinese scientists hope that the rover will last at least 90 days. Images from the rover have been released and are available in the article.
|
non-member-domain
|
Swift Algorithms (GitHub Repo). Swift Algorithms is a package of sequence and collection algorithms along with their related types. It features combinations/permutations, mutating algorithms, combining collections, subsetting operations, and other useful operations.
|
non-member-domain
|
This Stunning Image of Our Galaxy's Center Reveals a Mysterious Phenomenon . Daniel Wang, a professor of astronomy, has stitched together hundreds of images to create a panorama of the center of the Milky Way. The resulting map captures some of the processes that occur at the galactic core. It is hard to observe the Milky Way's core due to the vast amounts of dust and gas surrounding its supermassive black hole. Wang used X-rays and radio observations to probe the region. Central regions of galaxies are believed to play an essential role in galaxy
|
non-member-domain
|
Google spin-off that stores energy in molten salt backed by Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates . Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates have both invested in a new Google spin-off company called Malta, which raised $26 million to create "solar salt", a form of salt that can store thermal energy. The idea is to use electricity from solar panels to power a heat pump, then store this energy in the salt. An advisor in Google's X division says "A lack of affordable, reliable grid-scale energy storage is currently limiting the shift to renewable energy. Malta's technology
|
non-member-domain
|
A New Membrane Can Substantially Upgrade Wearable Energy Generators . Scientists from Japan and China have created a new triboelectric fabric that can generate power from body motion while maintaining the flexibility and breathability of modern clothing. The team achieved these properties by using a multilayered triboelectric nanogenerator, nanowires, and a polystyrene charge storage layer. The technology is currently not able to generate large amounts of power, but the development of the new material represents a substantial advancement towards the future of wearable applications.
|
non-member-domain
|
A New Origami Lunar Habitat Can Unfold Into 750 Times Its Own Size . SAGA's LUNARK is a habitat designed to help people live on the lunar surface. It has a carbon fiber shell that is arranged in an origami format that allows it to expand to 750 times its size. The habitat can withstand extreme weather conditions, but inside, it offers the comforts of home. When folded, it can fit inside a shipping container, and it only takes two people to set up. Pictures of the habitat are available in the article.
|
non-member-domain
|
Ask HN: Is your company considering inflation in this year's comp review cycle? (HackerNews Thread). Companies often give raises that are lower than the rate of inflation, despite employees receiving excellent performance ratings. This can cause employee dissatisfaction, especially when they realize that they can get paid more by switching jobs. This HackerNews thread discusses annual raises, what people usually get and expect, why companies might not consider inflation when calculating raises, job-hopping, and more. Many times budgets and other factors restrict managers' abilities to give higher raises and the salary may still be acceptable without a
|
non-member-domain
|
Apple reportedly wants to make its own wireless chips for the iPhone . Apple is opening an office in southern California and hiring engineers to work on wireless radios, radio-frequency integrated circuits, and a wireless SoC. The area is home to Broadcom and Skyworks' engineering offices. It appears Apple is attempting to recruit talent from these companies so it can develop its own hardware and lessen its reliance on them. Apple has long-term supply and licensing agreements with Qualcomm and Broadcom that extend until at least 2023, so it will be some time before Apple will have its own chips
|
non-member-domain
|
New Google Wallet UI leaks early, drives user experience while Pay takes back seat as a service . Google Wallet is returning and may take over Google Pay. Wallet will likely become a place for digital cards, while Pay will remain the primary service for paying for things. It is possible that Wallet will become the main app and Pay will be the name of the service on the backend.
|
non-member-domain
|
The F1 of the future: Flying cars set to take to the skies in outback Coober Pedy . Airspeeder is a startup that aims to host a full-scale flying car race in South Australia before the end of the year. The flying cars are cheaper than helicopters and faster than air taxis. There will be no drivers racing in the vehicles initially, but the company plans to obtain the licensing to allow real pilots in the races.
|
non-member-domain
|
What's it like to bootstrap a business before it can financially support you? . Running out of cash is probably a founder's biggest fear. Indie Hackers is a community mostly made up of founders who shoulder their company's financial burden personally. They generally take one of three strategies to bootstrapping. Founders might only opt for business ideas that can generate good revenue upfront. Others might bootstrap full time while only relying on personal savings. Working on an idea while still working at a day job is also an option. It is possible to bootstrap without outside funding, but it
|
non-member-domain
|
China's digital currency comes to its biggest messaging app WeChat, which has over a billion users . WeChat plans to roll out China's e-CNY digital currency for use in its app. WeChat is used everywhere in China, with the super app offering many functions such as messaging, payments, taxi-hailing, and food orders. WeChat Pay has over 800 million monthly users. Alipay has also started trialing digital yuan payments. The People's Bank of China has expanded the rollout of its e-CNY app to certain regions and cities, allowing
|
non-member-domain
|
The Plague Killing Frogs Everywhere Is Far Worse Than Scientists Thought . Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, or Bd, is a fungus that invades the skin cells of frogs, making the skin peel and causing death. In 2007, researchers speculated that Bd had caused a population decline in over 200 species of frogs worldwide. A recent study has found that populations of over 500 species of frogs have declined due to the fungus, including 90 species that may have gone ext
|
non-member-domain
|
NASA must rework planetary protection plans, panel advises . NASA's rules for preventing the spread of earthly microbes, as well as the spread of alien life on Earth, require rethinking, according to an independent agency advisory panel. Current rules are costly and some procedures do not make sense, considering the scientific knowledge we have gained since the rules were created. The Moon is classified as potentially of interest for research on the origins of life, but few scientists now see it as an important site for studying these questions, except for at its poles. Reclassifying the Moon as nonessential for
|
non-member-domain
|
UseHooks.ts (GitHub Repo). UseHooks.ts is a React hook library written in Typescript. It contains many useful code snippets that can be easily copied to the clipboard. A hosted version is available.
|
non-member-domain
|
Google Maps will soon show COVID vaccine locations . Google will start loading Search and Maps with information on vaccination sites. The update will roll out in the coming weeks to Arizona, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas, with more areas to come. Users will be able to search 'COVID vaccine' and view location results, appointment information, and other site information. Google will be opening up various Google facilities as vaccine sites. It plans to launch a 'Get the Facts' campaign across its services to provide authoritative information to the public about vaccines.
|
non-member-domain
|
Principles and Techniques of Data Science (Website). This is the textbook for Data 100, the Principles and Techniques of Data Science, at UC Berkeley. The course assumes that the student is comfortable with the information presented in Data 8, Berkeley’s Foundations of Data Science course. Previous knowledge of Python and familiarity with partial derivatives, gradients, vector algebra, and matrix algebra is also required.
|
non-member-domain
|
New Google Pay debit card lets you actually spend the money people send you . Android users in the US will soon be able to request a Google Pay Balance Card that will allow them to spend their Google Pay balance. The card will be NFC tap-and-pay only. The Google Pay app will allow P2P payments. Users will still be able to transfer their balance to a bank account for free. There are plans to introduce Google Bank Accounts later in the year that will be full-blown digital bank accounts.
|
non-member-domain
|
Samsung caught throttling 10,000 phone apps—and its own home screen . Samsung has been accused of throttling 10,000 Android apps. It uses an app called the Game Optimizing Service to throttle non-benchmark apps, dropping performance by up to 45%. The behavior has been observed on the Galaxy S10, S20, S21, and S22. Users have been able to produce wild performance changes by changing app package names. The throttling applies to many apps, not just games. It even applies to Samsung
|
non-member-domain
|
The ugly, geeky war for web privacy is playing out in the W3C (23 minute read). The World Wide Consortium (W3C) is an online community where the people who operate the internet discuss how the internet should work. Decisions are made by consensus in public GitHub forums or open Zoom meetings. The W3C has become a key battleground in the war over web privacy. As browsers have started to embrace and implement web privacy measures, the companies that rely on cross-site tracking are fighting for their survival. This article covers the privacy debate from both
|
non-member-domain
|
Tiny KABOOM (GitHub Repo). Tiny KABOOM is a teaching aid designed to help with the understanding of raytracing for explosions in C++. It is written in 180 lines of code and it is accompanied by a guide that explains the theory and reasoning behind the code.
|
non-member-domain
|
Hub (GitHub Repo). Hub is a method of storing, accessing, and managing datasets with version-control for PyTorch/TensorFlow. It stores datasets on the cloud so that data can be accessed anywhere. Hub makes any data type stored on the cloud usable as fast as if it was stored on-premise.
|
non-member-domain
|
Mark Zuckerberg says the internet needs a ‘more active role’ for regulators . Mark Zuckerberg has highlighted four areas (data portability, election integrity, harmful content, and privacy) which he believes require regulation, in an op-ed published on March 30. He stated that a more active role is required by governments to counter broader threats in society while balancing freedom of expression. It appears that after facing years of problems relating to privacy and content, Zuckerberg feels that internet companies should have more responsibility to enforce standards on harmful content and that regulators should define this content and set out guidelines for
|
non-member-domain
|
Coinbase removes ‘backed by US dollars’ claim for USDC stablecoin . Coinbase has made an important update on the USD Coin page following an audit. The page previously stated that all of the coin's reserves were held in cash, but the audit found that USDC's reserves were not fully backed by US dollars held in a bank account. Coinbase's USDC page now states that each USDC is backed by one dollar or asset with equivalent fair value. Users can always redeem one USDC for one US dollar. Circle, the company that oversees USDC,
|
non-member-domain
|
Building an adaptive favicon . This article teaches readers how to build an adaptive favicon with SVG. Custom favicons are a great way to polish a web project. They are usually made using ICO files, but browsers have recently started allowing SVGs. A live demo, as well as a video version of the article, is available.
|
non-member-domain
|
Learn Javascript (Web App). This is an introduction to modern Javascript with very small lessons and an online code editor where you can immediately apply those lessons. It requires a GitHub account to get started, but the design is nice and the exercises are really easy to follow.
|
non-member-domain
|
New SpaceX Starlink Maritime service brings internet to boats . Boat owners will now be able to access Starlink's internet service from the most remote waters across the world.
|
non-member-domain
|
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.