1. Observation of zero resistance above 100 K in Pb₁₀₋ₓCuₓ(PO₄)₆O
Total comment counts : 42
Summary
The article is about a denied access to a certain web page. It suggests visiting a link for more information on how to restore access and guidelines for harvesting content.
Top 1 Comment Summary
This article discusses the claim that a room temperature superconductor exists and the attempts to replicate it. The production method is poorly documented, and only a fraction of the samples show interesting properties. There are variations in the results, and none of the attempts fully demonstrate the spectrum of properties and behaviors of a true superconductor at room temperature. The author believes that there is likely something interesting but not well understood about the samples. The best case scenario is that the original sample in the Korean lab is a true room temperature superconductor, while the worst case scenario is that it is another class of high temperature superconductor with limited applications.
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The article discusses the discovery of a new superconductor, LK99, which has a high temperature limit of around 138 K (-135 °C). While this is still far from room temperature, the article suggests that it is a significant discovery in the field of superconductivity. The author believes that once a new superconductor is validated, there are often methods discovered to improve its temperature or optimize other properties. The positive news of this discovery, along with recent simulation studies, leads the author to increase their belief that LK99 or a related descendant could eventually be a step towards achieving room temperature superconductivity.
2. A non-mathematical introduction to Kalman filters for programmers
Total comment counts : 26
Summary
The article discusses the concept of Kalman Filters and their importance in processing and combining multiple sources of imperfect and unreliable information to generate a more accurate estimate. It provides an accessible and intuitive explanation of Kalman Filters using a simple example of a ship’s location estimation. The article also introduces the concept of weighted averaging and variance as key components of the Kalman Filter algorithm. The article concludes by highlighting the power of coding as a language to enhance understanding and intuition in complex concepts like Kalman Filters.
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The article the user is referring to contains several mistakes in its implementation. The main error is that it fails to propagate uncertainty forward in time, leading to an underestimation of the error. This is evident in the plots, as the error bounds do not cover the true state most of the time. Additionally, the article misrepresents how passengers estimate their position by adding random fluctuations, while in reality, they use the expected value of the state at the next time step based on the current state. The article also suggests that GPS is influenced by weather, which is a common misconception. Finally, the definition of consistency used in the article is non-standard, as true consistency in estimation theory means that the estimator converges to the true value as more data is gathered. The user, who is a graduate student in estimation theory, offers to provide further clarification on these matters.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The author of the article is impressed by the simplicity with which the Kalman Filters are explained and wonders why signal processing teachers in college do not use this approach. They acknowledge that mathematical concepts are typically taught mathematically, but this can result in information loss for those who do not have the necessary background knowledge. The author also suggests that teaching methods involving intuition before rigor, such as using images to teach concepts like Discrete Cosine Transform and Wavelet Transform, may be more effective.
3. Google’s Plan to DRM the Web Goes Against Everything Google Once Stood For
Total comment counts : 54
Summary
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The article argues for lobbying for an antitrust breakup of Google due to its abuse of a monopoly position through a DRM plan. The author suggests breaking up Alphabet, Google’s parent company, into various components such as Google, DoubleClick, Analytics, Cloud, Android, Chrome, YouTube, and Waymo. They claim that separating these entities would create competition and conflict of interests. The article mentions ongoing antitrust actions against Google, including a case by the State of Texas and several state attorneys general. It encourages political activism to pressure Google to abandon its proposed DRM plan.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses how Google’s services, such as Chrome and Gmail, are part of a global-scale ad-tech framework that allows the company to push shady ads and gather personal information for dubious purposes. The author argues that Google uses its monopolies and oligopolies to intrude into people’s lives, emphasizing that Google should be seen as a shady business rather than a trustworthy company. The article suggests questioning whether banks that use Google’s services have integrity, and recommends expressing surprise and anger towards them for partnering with an advertising agency.
4. A list of recent hostile moves by Google’s Chrome team
Total comment counts : 39
Summary
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The article discusses the idea that the “Safari is the new IE” narrative is not entirely accurate. It points out that Safari not supporting certain APIs does not automatically make it the same as Internet Explorer (IE). It states that IE was not initially seen as an inferior browser, but rather became disliked due to its departure from standards and imposition of its own web vision because of its dominant market share. The article suggests that Microsoft may have intentionally stagnated IE to prevent competition with its desktop apps business, while Google’s motivation for potentially becoming the new IE may be centered around data collection and advertising. In conclusion, the article argues that Chrome, not Safari, is the new IE, but emphasizes the importance of understanding history to properly evaluate the comparison.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article criticizes the use of Google Chrome by tech-savvy individuals. It argues that if people stopped using Chrome and made excuses to justify its dominance, Google wouldn’t be as powerful as it is today. The author suggests that using Chrome with ad-blocking software is a lazy choice. They mention that alternative browsers like Safari and Firefox have been good options since 2023. The article also references Dante’s “Divina Commedia” to illustrate a point about laziness.
5. Hackers manage to unlock Tesla software-locked features
Total comment counts : 44
Summary
A group of hackers has discovered an exploit that can unlock Tesla’s software-locked features, including heated seats and the Full Self-Driving package, which is worth up to $15,000. This exploit is possible because Tesla vehicles have the same hardware, and owners can unlock features later through software updates. The hackers plan to present their findings next week, revealing that their “Tesla Jailbreak” is “unpatchable” and gives users the ability to run arbitrary software on the infotainment system. The hack requires physical access to the car and involves a voltage fault injection attack on the AMD-based infotainment system. The hackers believe they can unlock all software-locked features, including Full Self-Driving, but it would require more reverse-engineering. Despite the exploit, the hackers acknowledge that Tesla’s security is better than other automakers.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses a low voltage attack on the AMD secure execution environment during boot. The author questions the number of attempts needed to place the bits correctly and suggests that cutting 12V wires might be sufficient. The article highlights the claim that this attack could allow the theft of the RSA private key owned by a car, potentially posing a security concern for Tesla and its vehicle security. However, it also mentions that post jailbreak, one could potentially hide their location on Tesla’s servers.
Top 2 Comment Summary
This article discusses the issue of software locks and their implications. It argues that building cars in a uniform way for cost-saving purposes is acceptable. It also acknowledges that software unlocks for hardware already owned can be justified. However, the article criticizes the use of software locks to rent-seek on one-time costs, such as heated seats, particularly if the subscription can’t be transferred to the secondary market. It warns that this practice can hinder secondary markets by disabling certain features. The article concludes by advocating for an end to this type of practice.
6. Netscape Meteors
Total comment counts : 31
Summary
The author embarked on a search to find the original Netscape Navigator “meteors” animation, which holds sentimental value to them. After conducting various web searches and encountering resized versions with distorted pixels, they eventually discovered old versions of Mozilla but found that the animations had been removed. Frustrated, the author mentioned their search on Mastodon, and a friend tagged Jamie Zawinski, a well-known figure in ’90s software projects. Jamie provided the original animation, which had some minor imperfections that the author corrected. The article ends with links to the modified versions of the animation.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article provides links to two different versions of the Dataglyph website. One version contains an animation of a spinning compass, while the other version attributes the unused icon to Dataglyph as well.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses the process of extracting the animation from the Netscape Communicator download on winworldpc.com. The author used a specific set of commands, including the “binwalk” and “unshieldv3” tools to extract the animation files. They also used a script called “extract_images.py” from their own GitHub project to further extract images from certain files. However, the extracted frames were found to be smaller in dimensions compared to the images mentioned in the article.
7. SMS traffic pumping fraud
Total comment counts : 24
Summary
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Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses the problem of toll fraud and traffic pumping, which can lead to significant financial costs for companies. It highlights the surprising revelation that telecom providers are often the primary culprits, as they share revenue with hackers who exploit unprotected SMS channels. The article also mentions that the company, Stytch, has implemented protection measures against SMS toll fraud and offers assistance for those who encounter unexpected bills from Twilio.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article states that the model called Fraud Guard can detect and block 98% of pumping traffic with only a 0.1% false positive rate. It is effective in deterring fraudsters. A version of Fraud Guard will be available for all Programmable SMS customers, although it may have a higher false positive rate due to the wider variety of use cases supported.
8. Man spends entire career mastering crappy codebase
Total comment counts : 89
Summary
Software developer Arthur Westbook, who spent 35 years working on a medical software codebase, has announced his early retirement at the age of 58. Westbrook contributed hundreds of lines of code during his tenure and believes he grasped over 4% of the entire codebase. His retirement will require the company to find two junior developers and a Keurig machine to replace him. Westbrook plans to engage in street performance and dumpster diving, as well as experiment with culinary creations.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses the presence of a specific type of person in every company. This person is knowledgeable about old, complicated code and is willing to explain its history and the politics surrounding it. Despite the frustration that comes with encountering legacy code, this person is appreciated for their expertise and willingness to help.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article is about a man named Karl Hackerman who spends his entire career job hopping. He believes that the reason he keeps changing jobs is because everyone else is writing bad code. Karl is known for complaining in meetings, particularly about not being able to use the latest frameworks and best practices at work. He thinks that his colleagues have settled for being wage slaves instead of striving to be the best programmers. Despite his behavior, people tolerate him because they know he will quit within six months. Karl is now 47 years old, and he has not held a job for more than a couple of years. He has mostly been freelancing and trying to sell books on outdated tech and frameworks.
9. Pixel Pump: Open-source vacuum pickup tool
Total comment counts : 6
Summary
The Pixel Pump is an open-source manual pick and place assist tool created by Robin Reiter. The tool is now ready for shipping after a lengthy development process. The project was initially entered into the 2021 Hackaday Prize and was praised for its clean design and open architecture. The Pixel Pump is accompanied by the SMD-Magazine, which is a container for parts that come on SMD tape rolls. The tool is open-source, allowing for modifications and additional features. The article also mentions alternative DIY options for vacuum pickup tools, including inexpensive systems and those built around small electric vacuum pumps. Various users share their experiences and suggestions for using different tools, emphasizing the importance of a vacuum pump in placing SMD parts quickly and efficiently.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses a product that looks impressive but is considered expensive at $500. However, it suggests that those who frequently assemble or sell PCBs could easily recover the cost. As a hobbyist, the product may be too costly.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The user is asking about the purpose of something mentioned in an article. They are wondering if a similar product already exists and can be used for circuit assembly.
10. The infamous coin toss
Total comment counts : 19
Summary
The article discusses the concept of ergodicity breaking in economics and introduces the “Peters coin toss” as an example. In this gamble, a fair coin is tossed, and if it lands on heads, 50% is added to the current wealth, while if it lands on tails, 40% is subtracted. The article explores the implications of averaging wealth over many different systems versus averaging over time and highlights the non-ergodic nature of the gamble. It explains that while wealth averaged over many systems grows at a rate of 5% per round, wealth averaged in one system over a long period of time decreases at roughly 5% per round. The writer emphasizes the significance of ergodicity breaking in understanding economic growth processes, questioning mainstream economic decision theories based on expected value, and addressing conflicts between individual and collective interests. The article also mentions various extensions and applications of the Peters coin toss, such as Kelly betting, optimal leverage, cooperation puzzles, and wealth inequality dynamics.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses the results of a simulation that examines the distribution of wealth. After running the simulation with 100,000 iterations, it is found that the average net worth increases, but the distribution of wealth is skewed. Only 13,704 individuals have a net worth of more than $1, while 53,935 have a net worth of less than $0.01. The investor who made the most money had a net worth of $1,171,830. The median wealth of all investors was $0.00515378. The article argues that the wild income distribution is caused by the fact that the average log(wealth) decreases over time. The author also mentions that most figures from the simulation are highly variable, and increasing wealth concentration is an inherent aspect of capitalism. The suggested solution to this issue, albeit sarcastically, is to “eat the rich.”
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article talks about how the choice of +50%/-40% in a bet is clever because it appears advantageous for the gambler based on the naive expected value. However, if the bet was changed to “double your money” (+100%), it becomes clear that the fair downside would be “halve your money” (-50%). The article explains that in order to balance out increases and decreases in repeated games, the percentage differences need to be much greater than just a 10% difference.