1. Microsoft AI spying scandal: time to rethink privacy standards
Total comment counts : 38
Summary
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Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses consumer privacy behaviors and the assumption that anything legally for sale is considered safe for consumers. In the digital economy, regulatory standards have drifted, allowing products with potential harmful effects to be sold. The article emphasizes the need for pushback from regulators to protect consumers.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses the failure of people’s privacy instincts and how their desire for privacy is only strong against identifiable individuals, not faceless organizations. The article argues that anti-privacy interests are aware of this and avoid triggering negative reactions by giving examples that minimize the risk of surveillance. It suggests that to make the issue more relatable to the wider public, it is important to personalize it by highlighting how companies and employers have access to personal data and can use it to manipulate individuals. The article also mentions the potential for security services to assemble dossiers on individuals and make them available to powerful individuals.
2. TPM GPIO fail: How bad OEM firmware ruins Intel TPM security
Total comment counts : 8
Summary
The article discusses a software attack that can manipulate the PCRs of a TPM (Trusted Platform Module) device, allowing an attacker to unseal any secret that uses a PCR-based sealing policy. The attack involves resetting the TPM device without physical manipulation by reassigning the reset pin to the GPIO block and driving its value low from software. This attack can be used to target TPM FDE (Full Disk Encryption) schemes like BitLocker. The article mentions that Intel platforms have a mechanism to lock the configuration of PCH (Platform Controller Hub) pins, but it is unclear if it is implemented correctly in devices. Mitigating this attack would require firmware updates to affected devices. The article also discusses how BootGuard, a feature provided by Intel platforms, can be bypassed when used in conjunction with a TPM device. The article concludes by stating that Intel does not consider this attack variant a vulnerability in BootGuard and suggests that a pre-boot firmware platform component like Intel CSME could set the lock bit as a mitigation.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses the vulnerability of the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) when an attacker has physical access to a system. The article mentions that there have been known attacks on the TPM since 2018 and that some motherboards have the TPM on a removable module, making it easier for attackers to intercept communications without desoldering the chip. It also mentions that recent Intel and AMD CPUs have firmware TPMs that run in the CPU’s trusted execution environment, making it harder to intercept communications through I2C. However, physical access to the machine still poses a risk as attackers can install keyloggers. The article includes a link to further information on the topic.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article criticizes TPM (Trusted Platform Module) as being useless for protecting a certificate and private key in a Java application. It states that there is no satisfactory Java API available to utilize a TPM 2 chip, thereby rendering its use ineffective. As a result, the only remaining option for protection is to rely on a hardcoded passphrase within the application, which is vulnerable to being easily deciphered.
3. Most life on Earth is dormant, after pulling an ’emergency brake’
Total comment counts : 14
Summary
Researchers have discovered a protein called Balon that can stop a cell’s production of new proteins. Balon was found in bacteria that hibernate in Arctic permafrost, but it is also produced by many other organisms and may be a mechanism for dormancy throughout the tree of life. Dormancy is a vital survival strategy for many organisms when faced with harsh conditions. The protein shuts down the ribosome, which is responsible for building new proteins, saving energy for basic survival needs. Balon is unique because it actively interrupts active ribosomes in the middle of their work, unlike other known ribosome-disrupting hibernation factors. This discovery could provide insights into how dormancy works and potentially help engineer organisms that can tolerate warmer climates and withstand climate change.
Top 1 Comment Summary
Karla Helena-Bueno accidentally left an Arctic bacterium on ice for too long and discovered a common hibernation factor. This accidental discovery showcases the human aspect of innovation and shows that it cannot be completely replaced by machine learning.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses the concept that humans used to be capable of hibernating. It references two sources that provide further information on this topic.
4. Saint Michael Sword: Are the cathedrals really on a straight line?
Total comment counts : 40
Summary
The article investigates whether seven famous cathedrals, all related to Saint Michael, are aligned on a straight line. The analysis involves creating a geopandas dataframe with the locations of the cathedrals and computing the geodesic line between the first and last point. It is found that the cathedrals are not aligned over the geodesics. The distance between each cathedral and the geodesic line is measured using projection and cross product methods. The conclusion is that the cathedrals are not aligned in spherical geometry, but only on the KeperlGl Mercator map projection.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses a list of various religious sites, including monasteries and sacred sites, but not cathedrals. The author notes that the presence of seven cathedrals, all named after St. Michael, in a straight line seems unlikely to be a coincidence. They compare it to the idea of seven Google complexes spread around the world in a straight line, suggesting that there may be something significant happening. In contrast, the author suggests that the existence of seven random religious sites named after St. Michael is more easily believable as a coincidence, comparing it to the presence of seven Burger Kings in a straight line.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article states that the presence of seven cathedrals is not a coincidence, but the reader disagrees, citing the abundance of cathedrals in Europe.
5. I learned Vulkan and wrote a small game engine with it
Total comment counts : 21
Summary
The author of this article discusses his experience of learning Vulkan and creating a game engine with two small game demos using it. The engine was not designed to be a general purpose engine, which contributed to its completion in just three months. The author recommends starting with learning OpenGL before moving on to Vulkan, as it is easier to grasp and provides a foundation for understanding Vulkan. The article also provides resources for learning OpenGL. The author advises against overthinking and over-engineering when working with Vulkan, and emphasizes the importance of getting things working first before refining them. The article concludes with a discussion on different graphics APIs and the author’s choice to use Vulkan for creating small 3D games on desktop platforms. Overall, the author found learning Vulkan to be challenging but not as difficult as initially perceived.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The author of the article discusses their experience in developing a metaverse client in Rust. They mention that using multiple layers, such as Vulkan, WGPU, and Rend3, creates problems due to compatibility issues and concurrency restrictions. They express frustration with the Rust 3D stack and the lack of support for certain functions. The author contemplates switching directly to Vulkan but acknowledges the challenges in writing synchronization, allocation, frustrum culling, and translucency from scratch. They also mention the issues with Vulkano, a wrapper over Vulkan and Metal, which doesn’t allow for concurrent updating of assets in the GPU.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses the benefits and purposes of the Vulkan and OpenGL graphics APIs. It states that Vulkan is great for taking advantage of advanced GPU features and offers better performance compared to OpenGL in this regard. However, the author recommends using OpenGL if advanced rendering techniques are not a priority. They argue that there is still a market for 2D and low poly games that do not require Vulkan. The article also suggests that AAA game studios often prioritize rendering quality and appearance, but there is a growing demand for gameplay-focused games. The author concludes by stating that game developers should focus on gameplay and features rather than rendering quality.
6. Mitsubishi robot solves Rubik’s Cube in 0.305s
Total comment counts : 25
Summary
Mitsubishi Electric has created a robot called TOKUFASTbot that can solve a Rubik’s Cube in record time. The robot uses servo motors and an AI color-identifying algorithm to solve the cube in 0.305 seconds, beating the previous record of 0.38 seconds. While the machine is impressive, there were questions about how the cube could withstand such fast turning. Mitsubishi also released videos comparing the speed of their machine to everyday occurrences. Although the cube specifications were not provided, the achievement is still remarkable.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article discusses the speed of robots and emphasizes that most people cannot fully comprehend their abilities. It suggests that understanding the speed of robots is something that should be intuitive for those living in the modern world. The author also mentions the possibility of robots rising up in the future, but says it may not be anticipated.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article discusses the benefits of speed cube robots. These robots are incredibly fast in their movements and have a futuristic appearance. However, there is a downside as if they jam, the cube explodes.
7. Researchers to retract landmark Alzheimer’s paper containing doctored images
Total comment counts : 23
Summary
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Top 1 Comment Summary
The article published in Nature in 2006 contradicted previous research conclusions regarding Alzheimer’s disease. The discovery has been seen as a waste of time and resources for scientists who believed in the paper’s findings. Additionally, the lives of individuals with Alzheimer’s may have been negatively impacted.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article suggests that to reduce fraud in research, incentives need to be changed. It proposes that grants and faculty positions should be based more on the quality rather than the quantity of publications. Additionally, there should be a greater emphasis on basic research and less on translational research, as the latter can lead to exaggeration and fraudulent practices. The article criticizes the emphasis on immediate practical value in research, stating that it encourages researchers to overstate the impact of their work.
8. Show HN: Original 8x16 ASCII Fixed Width Font: Classic Console Neue
Total comment counts : 10
Summary
The article discusses a “Matrix Digital Rain Animation in JavaScript” and provides instructions on how to view and download the animation. It also mentions different font options and provides guidance on how to set a specific console font in Windows through the Windows Registry.
Top 1 Comment Summary
Modern DOS is an alternative option in the mentioned space. It is liked for its more permissive license and the use of slashed zero instead of a dotted zero.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The article mentions that the font being talked about has support for Cyrillic, Armenian, and Georgian languages. The author appreciates this because not many fonts have support for all three languages. They mention that another font, Iosevka, does not have support for Armenian and Georgian.
9. PSA: If you’re a fan of ATmega, try AVR Dx
Total comment counts : 19
Summary
The article discusses the release of Microchip’s new series of 8-bit AVR microcontrollers, namely AVR DA, DB, DD, and DU. While these products are primarily marketed for automotive and industrial applications, they offer significant improvements in terms of cost and functionality for hobbyists as well. The new AVRs have architectural improvements such as higher clock speeds, reduced power consumption, better ADCs and DACs, on-board op-amps, and programmable logic units. They also feature a simplified programming and debugging interface and can be easily ported from older AVR models. The article highlights some of the differences between the models, with AVR DA being the baseline option, AVR DB offering additional signal processing capabilities, AVR DD being a stripped-down version for smaller and cheaper applications, and AVR DU featuring an on-die USB subsystem. Overall, these new AVR microcontrollers are a cost-effective and user-friendly option for various applications.
Top 1 Comment Summary
The article recommends hobbyists to purchase a specific microcontroller for its affordability, comprehensive documentation, and user-friendly features. It highlights the convenience of connecting the microcontroller via USB and editing Python code directly. The article also expresses that microcontrollers have become enjoyable to work with again.
Top 2 Comment Summary
This article discusses the author’s experience working with microcontrollers, particularly the transition from 80C51s to AVR ATmegas. The author praises the AVR tooling, highlighting its compatibility with Linux and ease of use compared to competitors like PIC. They also mention the relatively better documentation of AVR, as PIC documentation often presented challenges with non-mainstream features. While the author is no longer actively working with microcontrollers, they express excitement that AVR continues to strive for a good product despite competition from cheaper alternatives like ESP32s and ESP8266s.
10. Super Heavy has splashed down in The Gulf of Mexico
Total comment counts : 65
Summary
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Top 1 Comment Summary
The author of the article is impressed with the rate of descent of a SpaceX rocket, which goes from 8km to 1km in 20 seconds before hovering above the water. They express anticipation for the launch facility in central Florida, predicting that it will attract large crowds of spectators. The author also recommends visiting the NASA Kennedy Visitor Complex, describing its various attractions such as the original Apollo launch control room, a horizontal Saturn V rocket, and the Atlantis shuttle suspended from the ceiling with scorch marks and tiles.
Top 2 Comment Summary
The author expresses awe at the remarkable progress of the Starship, observing that despite the visible burning of its flap during reentry, it not only survived but also maneuvered and successfully completed a splashdown. This achievement is particularly impressive given that it was achieved in just four test flights.