2. Black Holes or Black Hole Stars? Astronomers Spar over 'Little Red Dots' (www.quantamagazine.org)
The James Webb Space Telescope spots mysterious “little red dots” everywhere. A bold new theory suggests they’re suns dozens of times larger than our entire solar system.
Astronomers are debating whether the “little red dots” detected by the James Webb Space Telescope are massive stars or black holes. This new theory could reshape our understanding of these cosmic phenomena.
3. UFO Series Home Page: "UFO" TV Series from 1970 (ufoseries.com)
All about Gerry and Sylvia Anderson
Learn more about the creators of the classic 1970 TV series “UFO,” Gerry and Sylvia Anderson, and their contributions to the genre of science fiction. Discover their unique vision and the impact of their work on television and pop culture.
4. Suzanne Ciani's Buchla Cookbook (echo.orpheusinstituut.be)
ECHO is an online, open access, peer-reviewed journal that exists to share creative work and understanding in the common space at the intersection of music, thought and technology.
ECHO is a peer-reviewed journal dedicated to the intersection of music, thought, and technology, providing a platform for sharing creative works and insights. Check out how Suzanne Ciani’s Buchla Cookbook fits into this innovative space.
5. Typesafe-computer-use drives a Mac toward a goal for 1/50th of a cent per step (github.com)
Computer use for about $0.0002 a step: OCR the screen, classify the next action with TypeSafe, click. macOS. - awlevin/typesafe-computer-use
A new method allows macOS users to automate tasks for just $0.0002 per action by using screen OCR and TypeSafe for action classification. This could streamline workflows and reduce costs for repetitive tasks significantly.
6. Ctenophores: Wonders of Biology (www.quantamagazine.org)
Comb jellies are helping answer fundamental questions in biology, from how the earliest nervous systems evolved to how bioluminescence works.
Comb jellies are shedding light on key biological mysteries, including the evolution of nervous systems and the mechanisms behind bioluminescence. Their unique characteristics make them vital to understanding these complex processes.
7. Goroutine Leak Profiles (go.dev)
Go 1.27 includes new goroutine leak profiles.
Go 1.27 introduces new features to help developers identify and manage goroutine leaks, enhancing the efficiency of concurrent programming. This update provides valuable tools for optimizing resource usage in Go applications.
8. Communication by means of modulated Johnson noise (www.pnas.org)
9. NASA-IBM Lunar Foundation open-Source Geospatial AI Model (newsroom.usra.edu)
Open-source artificial intelligence model combines diverse lunar datasets to support scientific analysis of the MoonThe NASA-IBM model reproduces patterns of lunar ice prospectivity (scaled from blue to yellow), shown at four locations (left) near the Moon’s pole. Top row: reference ice prospectivity map of Mons Mouton near the lunar south pol...
NASA and IBM have developed an open-source AI model that integrates various lunar datasets to enhance scientific research on the Moon. This tool specifically focuses on identifying potential locations for lunar ice, providing valuable insights for future exploration efforts.
11. Mayday Mysteries (www.maydaymystery.org)
12. Learning Another Language May Be One of the Best Ways to Keep Your Brain Healthy (theconversation.com)
Learning another language is not a miracle cure for aging, and it cannot guarantee protection against Alzheimer’s disease. But it does have various other benefits.
Learning a new language can boost cognitive function and provide a range of mental benefits, even if it doesn’t prevent Alzheimer’s. Discover how language acquisition can enhance your brain health and overall well-being.
13. Show HN: LiveWorld – Every 24/7 YouTube live camera on one globe (liveworld.info)
Rotate the globe. Pick a live camera. Chat with the people watching now.
LiveWorld offers an interactive globe where users can browse and connect with live YouTube cameras around the world, allowing for real-time conversations with viewers. It’s a unique way to experience global sights and engage with a diverse audience.
14. A 1542 papal cipher cracked with simulated annealing (simonklee.dk)
Recovering the key and text of a 1542 cipher from Cardinal Alessandro Farnese to Giovanni Poggio.
A 1542 cipher between Cardinal Farnese and Giovanni Poggio has been decoded using simulated annealing techniques, shedding light on historical communications. This breakthrough demonstrates the potential of modern algorithms in deciphering ancient texts.
15. Gemini hacked three companies in first known breakout by Google's AI (www.reuters.com)
16. AI Safety Is Mostly a Sex Cult (bsky.app)
I'm back, I missed you all.
Since this is an important subject I know too much about, here's a 🧵 explaining that
AI Safety Is Mostly A Sex Cult.
I don't think these people should make policy. (1/?)
(alternative title: Time For Some Cult Theory)
Since this is an important subject I know too much about, here's a 🧵 explaining that
AI Safety Is Mostly A Sex Cult.
I don't think these people should make policy. (1/?)
(alternative title: Time For Some Cult Theory)
17. I built the fastest PHP webserver in the world (qbixserver.com)
Faster than Swoole, FrankenPHP, and RoadRunner on unmodified PHP code. One file, no extensions.
A developer claims to have created the fastest PHP web server, outperforming popular options like Swoole and RoadRunner, all while using just a single file without any extensions. This innovation could significantly enhance PHP application’s performance and efficiency.
18. From Stonemasons to Carpenters (thelastsoftwareengineer.substack.com)
19. I captured 72 hours of idle Android packets behind pfSense (www.praveentechworld.com)
Empirical 72-hour network telemetry dataset measuring 348 background outbound requests/hour across stock Google Android vs hardened GrapheneOS.
A 72-hour analysis reveals the stark difference in background data requests between standard Google Android and the more secure GrapheneOS. This dataset highlights the potential privacy implications for users of each operating system.
20. Adventures in Microcontroller Circuit Debugging (www.bigmessowires.com)
21. The US 'Kill Chain' That Destroyed an Iranian School (www.bloomberg.com)
22. Flock Offers Employees Buyouts as Customers Flee (www.wired.com)
As dozens of cities end contracts for its controversial license plate readers, Flock is rolling out a voluntary severance program, WIRED has learned.
Flock is facing significant challenges as multiple cities terminate contracts for its license plate readers, prompting the company to introduce a voluntary severance program for employees. This move highlights the growing scrutiny and backlash surrounding its technology.
23. People who know the most often sound the least certain (vrash.substack.com)
24. Ray Ozzie and the Optimism of Being Early (reproof.app)
“It wasn’t like I had a choice, you know?”
25. Show HN: I wrote a custom assembler for CHIP-8 in C++ (github.com)
Custom assembler for CHIP-8. Contribute to Tackx/c8-ass development by creating an account on GitHub.
A developer shares their journey of creating a custom assembler for CHIP-8 in C++, featuring new functionality for embedding sprites in ROMs. They discuss the challenges and satisfaction of working on their first C++ project while refining support for all original CHIP-8 instructions.
26. LispBM is a concurrent Lisp for microcontrollers with message passing (www.lispbm.com)
LispBM is a lisp for microcontrollers with concurrency and message passing. Learn how to implement a Lisp interpreter with detailed articles on evaluators, garbage collection, parsing, and embedded REPL development.
LispBM offers a unique approach to programming microcontrollers using Lisp, integrating concurrency and message passing. The article provides in-depth guidance on building a Lisp interpreter, covering essential topics like garbage collection and embedded REPL development.
27. How come AI-related posts get so many points on HN?
The article questions whether Hacker News has shifted its focus predominantly to AI discussions, highlighting the intense and often critical engagement surrounding the topic. It examines the reasons behind the high engagement levels of AI-related posts and the community’s evolving interests.
28. Agreement between the USA and Denmark (1951,2004) [pdf] (www.state.gov)
30. Column built an issuer processor from scratch (column.com)
Column is the issuing bank, issuer processor, and capital — one integration for every credit, debit, prepaid and stablecoin-backed program on Visa and Mastercard. No third parties, no middleware.
Column offers a streamlined solution by combining issuing bank services, processor capabilities, and capital into one integration for various payment programs on major networks. This approach eliminates the need for third-party intermediaries, simplifying the payment landscape.