Abdominal fat predicts heart disease risk better than BMI
Summary not available.
Hacker News
The Front Page
Bede Liu, a digital signal processing pioneer, has died
Bede Liu, an IEEE Life Fellow and renowned pioneer in the field of digital signal processing, died on May 7 at the age of 91. A long-time professor at Princeton University, Liu was instrumental in the transition from analog to digital processing, developing mathematical techniques that underpin modern mobile communications, multimedia systems, and consumer electronics. His research into low-complexity algorithms for devices with limited computing power laid the groundwork for technologies like cellphones and streaming video. Beyond his technical contributions, including co-authoring the seminal textbook Digital Signal Processing: Theory, Design, and Implementation, Liu was a highly influential mentor to 53 doctoral students and an active leader within the IEEE. In his later years, he focused on media integrity and digital watermarking to combat digital piracy.
At-home test for infected ticks could improve Lyme Disease diagnosis
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A new at-home screening tool called LymeAlert is set to hit the market this August, aiming to provide rapid results for detecting the Borrelia burgdorferi pathogen in ticks. Developed by pediatric physician associate Erin Dawicki and her team, the device allows users to pulverize a tick and test it via a strip—similar to a pregnancy test—in approximately 15 minutes. The tool addresses a critical gap in care: current blood tests can miss up to 78 percent of early-stage cases because patients have not yet developed antibodies, and mail-in lab tests often arrive too late for the recommended 72-hour prophylactic antibiotic window. While experts like entomologist Erika Machtinger caution that the test should be used alongside professional medical diagnosis rather than as a definitive way to determine if a person has contracted the disease, the device offers a low-cost, accessible way for individuals in high-risk areas like the Northeast and Midwest to identify infectious ticks quickly.
Tracking down a Zsh history data loss bug
In this technical investigation, Michael Stapelberg details the process of debugging a decade-long data loss issue in the Zsh shell, specifically involving the truncation of the .zsh_history file. The bug was traced to a flaw in the savehistfile function, where the shell failed to account for interruptions via signals (such as SIGINT from pressing Ctrl+C) during the history compaction process at shell exit. This allowed readhistfile to abort early due to an ERRFLAG_INT, resulting in a truncated history being written back to the file. The author utilized advanced tracing tools like fatrace and bpftrace to capture the faulty behavior and ultimately confirmed the root cause through a controlled crash and gdb analysis. The issue was addressed in Zsh 5.9.2. The article also includes an evaluation of modern LLMs, noting that frontier models can successfully diagnose this complex bug given sufficient telemetry data.
Working with AI feels more like leadership than coding
In his article Working With AI Feels More Like Leadership Than Coding, Allen Bargi argues that interacting with Artificial Intelligence requires a shift from precise command-based programming to a collaborative leadership model. Unlike traditional software, which follows deterministic instructions, AI is unpredictable, often yielding different results for the same input. Bargi suggests that instead of treating AI like a compiler, developers should apply leadership skills—such as providing context, explaining intent, setting boundaries, and offering continuous feedback—to better align the technology with desired outcomes. Ultimately, he posits that the evolving field of software development demands a greater emphasis on expressing purpose and judgment rather than just issuing technical commands.
Pizza Box Project Stack
In a personal essay, Alexander Cobleigh explores his adaptation of a paper-based productivity system originally inspired by writer Ratfactor. Known as a project stack, the method combines elements of Zettelkasten, data structures, and TODO trackers by using individual cards for specific tasks to minimize cognitive load. Cobleigh transitioned from a simple paper prototype to a custom-built cardboard organizer crafted from a repurposed pizza carton. His finished physical system utilizes three distinct stacks—Empties, Tasks, and Done—utilizing rigid business cards and an angled display to enhance visibility and user satisfaction through tactile, low-friction interaction.
The mathematical beauty of hyperbezier curves
In a recent blog post, Raph Levien introduces the hyperbezier, a new mathematical curve family designed to potentially supplant cubic Béziers in 2D vector graphic design. Utilizing the Cesàro equation to specify curvature as a function of arc length, the hyperbezier offers smoother curvature variation and better handles high-tension regions than existing alternatives like Spiro curves. The proposal demonstrates the curve's ability to naturally represent complex analytical forms, including Euler spirals, circles, hyperbolas, and elastica, while also providing a visually effective approximation for superellipses and squircles. While the current model uses a parameter mapping to mimic Bézier control handles for intuitive design, Levien notes that future work will focus on implementing hyperbeziers within splines and improving curve-fitting algorithms for touch and pen data.
Printytron – Describe a part, get a printable STL
Printytron is an independent, AI-powered project designed to transform plain English descriptions into print-ready STL files for 3D printing. Aimed at functional makers, side-hustlers, and casual users, the tool eliminates the need for complex CAD software by allowing users to request specific parts—such as brackets, clips, and name plates—through iterative text conversations. The system generates models with millimeter precision, ensuring real dimensions and holes that are compatible with slicers like Bambu, Prusa, Cura, and OrcaSlicer. The platform is free for personal use and requires no account to begin building models.
Using GCC's Nested Functions with Wide Pointers and No Trampolines II
In this technical blog post, Martin Uecker discusses advancements in GCC regarding nested functions and the elimination of trampolines. Traditionally, accessing parent variables in a nested function required run-time trampolines, which necessitated executable stacks—a significant security risk. Uecker notes that GCC 16 now guarantees no trampoline is needed for nested functions that do not capture local variables. Furthermore, updates to the GCC 17 development branch introduce built-in functions that allow nested functions with captures to operate without trampolines by using a special register for the static chain. This approach, which utilizes a "wide pointer" concept to pass both code and context, enables efficient execution and improved security by avoiding the need for executable stacks.
The Government Is Monitoring Anti-Flock TikTok and Instagram Accounts
Intelligence bulletins obtained by 404 Media reveal that government fusion centers are monitoring social media activity to warn law enforcement about growing opposition to Flock Safety, a company providing Automatic License Plate Readers (ALPR). The documents highlight efforts by agencies to link political activists associated with the DeFlock movement—a crowdsourced project led by Will Freeman to map surveillance cameras—with individuals engaging in the physical vandalism of equipment. While law enforcement reports "extensive and ongoing chatter" on platforms like TikTok and Instagram regarding methods to disable cameras, Freeman maintains that DeFlock is a non-violent grassroots movement focused on civic engagement and has never called for destruction of property.
In 1962, Egypt's Missile Program Lost Its Key Scientist Without a Trace
In 1962, Heinz Krug, a key scientist facilitating Egypt's secret missile program, vanished after meeting an unidentified man in his Munich office. At the time, President Gamal Abdel Nasser was utilizing former Nazi rocket technicians to develop long-range firepower to counter Israel. Historians suggest Krug may have been a victim of an assassination by Mossad during Operation Damocles, a campaign intended to intimidate scientists working for the Egyptian government. Despite various theories ranging from forced relocation to extrajudicial killing, Krug's ultimate fate remains one of the great unsolved mysteries of the Cold War arms race.
Show HN: ThoughtDAG – An editable context graph for LLM conversations
ThoughtDAG is an open-source tool designed to make LLM (Large Language Model) context visible and editable by transforming chat exchanges into an interactive graph. Unlike traditional linear chat histories that hide which parts of a conversation are sent to a model, ThoughtDAG treats every node as an exchange and every connection as a piece of context. Users can branch to explore new interpretations, prune irrelevant information to prevent context pollution, merge reasoning paths, and inspect the exact sequence of tokens a model will receive before generation begins. The software is available as a local-first desktop application for macOS, Windows, and Linux, supporting Ollama and OpenAI-compatible endpoints to give users direct control over their model's memory and context.
Site removes all the clutter from recipe videos and gives just the recipe
Cut Recipe is a free, web-based tool designed to streamline cooking by stripping away distractions from online culinary content. By pasting a link from over 40,000 sources—including Allrecipes, NYT Cooking, and Bon Appétit—users receive a clean, clutter-free page containing only the ingredients and cooking steps, eliminating ads, lengthy personal stories, and autoplaying videos. The platform features a "keep-screen-on" mode and tickable ingredient checklists to enhance the cooking experience. Additionally, the service plans to introduce a feature allowing users to generate recipes by uploading a photo of their fridge or pantry contents.
Unearthing a 31 year old Easter egg in Ecco the Dolphin
An investigation by Bo Rings of Saturn has uncovered a hidden 31-year-old Easter egg within the PC version of Ecco the Dolphin. While the original Sega Genesis and Sega CD versions featured a debug mode, the PC port originally lacked these cheats, forcing players to face the notoriously difficult gamehead-on. By performing a specific sequence—holding Shift and Ctrl while double-right-clicking the bottom-right corner of the About EccoWin dialog box—players can unlock an enhanced cheat menu. This hidden menu provides access to advanced functions such as stage selection, unlimited life and air, and a CD check to bypass the original disc requirement, potentially allowing players to finally witness the game's ending.
Xorshift Generators
This technical deep dive by Alan Zucconi explores the mechanics of xorshift generators, a widely adopted family of pseudorandom number algorithms. Introduced by George Marsaglia in 2003, these generators use bitwise XOR and shift operations to create deterministic sequences that simulate randomness for applications like Minecraft, Unity, and web browsers. The article details the mathematical foundations of these algorithms, explaining how matrix approaches and linear algebra are used to find "maximal triplets"—specific constants that ensure the longest possible sequence of unique numbers. Zucconi further discusses modern evolutions like Sebastiano Vigna’s xorshift128+, which introduces non-linear transformations to improve statistical quality, and notes the inherent limitation that these generators are not cryptographically secure due to their predictable, linear nature.
Simplifying and Refactoring Introductory Calculus (2018)
In the paper Simplifying and Refactoring Introductory Calculus, published in Communications of the Blyth Institute, author Jonathan Bartlett argues that traditional first-year calculus instruction is unnecessarily burdensome for students due to the memorization of diverse processes for repetitive tasks. Bartlett proposes that many calculus processes can be streamlined and refactored, allowing fewer core concepts to provide greater flexibility and capability for students learning the subject.
Bedtime Procrastination
Summary not available.
Turbo Pascal on CP/M, MSX-DOS and MS-DOS
This webpage provides a historical overview and a technical resource collection for Turbo Pascal across various operating systems, including CP/M, MSX-DOS, and MS-DOS. The text details the evolution of the Pascal programming language from its creation by Niklaus Wirth to its implementation by Borland, noting how Turbo Pascal 3.01 became a dominant tool for programming on small computers in the 1980s. Additionally, the site serves as an archive for MSX-specific resources, offering various Pascal compilers, specialized include files for accessing hardware, IDE tools like MSX PAD, and various freeware utility programs for converting graphics and managing files.
Show HN: Quasicrystals Animation Playground with WebXR
The article explores the immersive intersection of hypnagogic art and quasicrystals within the realm of Virtual Reality (VR). It examines how WebXR technology enables developers to render complex, non-repeating geometric structures that evoke dreamlike, hallucinatory states. By utilizing advanced WebXR support, creators can bridge the gap between mathematical precision and surrealist aesthetics, allowing users to navigate fractally-inspired environments through a web browser.
Firefox stunts on Edge as Microsoft gears up to neuter adblockers
Following Google Chrome's move to phase out support for Manifest V2 extensions, Microsoft has announced that Microsoft Edge will gradually disable MV2 extensions over the coming months. This shift effectively restricts the capabilities of powerful adblockers like uBlock Origin in Chromium-based browsers. In response to these industry changes, Mozilla has asserted that Firefox will continue to provide full support for uBlock Origin, positioning itself as a primary alternative for users seeking robust ad-blocking capabilities. While there is currently no timeline for bringing similar ad-blocking functionality to Firefox on iOS, Mozilla stated they are actively working on the implementation for mobile devices.
RustDesk now supports true unattended remote access on Wayland
RustDesk has announced the release of a preview build that enables true unattended remote access on Wayland for x86_64 Debian/Ubuntu-based systems. This new functionality allows users to connect to a remote machine without manual session approval, supporting multi-monitor setups and access directly from the login screen after a reboot. While currently limited to a specific preview build, the RustDesk Team intends to expand support to other major distributions like Fedora and Arch Linux once the implementation reaches stability.
Show HN: Ember – Redshift safe color palettes
Ember is a specialized collection of Redshift-aware color palettes designed for terminal, chart, heatmap, and UI use. Developed by Michael Woods, these palettes are engineered to remain distinguishable and usable even under aggressive warm-screen filtering (such as Nightshift). The project offers four specific color families: 3400K Dark, 3400K Light, 2000K Dark, and 1200K Dark. The palettes are optimized to maintain perceptual color separation by accounting for how color temperature transforms affect sRGB channels, ensuring that even under extreme redshift, categories remain distinct. Ember provides various exports including terminal themes for Alacritty, iTerm2, and Windows Terminal, as well as Matplotlib and CSS assets.
Differential Heuristics
After nearly a decade of study and experimentation, Red Blob Games has released a new comprehensive guide on Differential Heuristics, an optimization technique that enhances the efficiency of the A* pathfinding algorithm. Inspired by the real-time route recalculation capabilities introduced by Google Maps in 2007, the article explores how better heuristics can reduce the amount of a map an algorithm must explore. The updated resource moves away from complex mathematical notation in favor of intuitive visualizations, such as using arrows to represent the alignment between suggested and correct directions, and interactive diagrams that illustrate where the optimization is most effective.
Semaglutide linked to lower predicted dementia risk
Summary not available.
RISC-V: They Should Have Known Better
In a critical editorial, Dmitry.GR argues that the RISC-V instruction set architecture (ISA) suffers from fundamental design flaws rooted in academic oversimplification and "design-by-committee" processes. The author asserts that the ISA fails in two primary domains: embedded microcontrollers, where it suffers from poor interrupt latency and inefficient code density compared to competitors like ARM Cortex-M0; and high-performance computing, where the lack of efficient array addressing and complex instruction decoding hampers throughput. A central grievance is the "infinite optionality" of the spec, which prevents standardized software compatibility and forces the creation of redundant "profiles" to define what a compliant core should actually include. Dmitry.GR concludes that while RISC-V will likely dominate the low-cost, single-use microcontroller and ML-accelerator markets due to its cost-effectiveness, it is poorly suited for high-performance desktop computing and faces significant fragmentation risks due to its inconsistent encoding and lack of core functional requirements.
A spectre is haunting Unicode
The JIS X 0208 encoding standard, established by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in 1978, inadvertently introduced a series of errors known as "ghost characters" (幽霊文字). Investigations launched in 1997 revealed that many of these characters, such as 妛, originated from clerical mistakes during the transcription of place names from the Overview of National Administrative Districts. While most errors were traced back to physical printing or cataloging mistakes, the character 彁 remains a mystery, possibly resulting from a misreading of 彊. These accidental inventions eventually integrated into the Unicode standard, meaning these digital "ghosts" are now a permanent part of global computing character tables.
Modeling and Verification of Keeta's Consensus [pdf]
Summary not available.
2D Gaussian Splatting for Bézier Spline Line Art Vectorization
Researchers from Disney Research Studios and ETH Zurich have introduced a new state-of-the-art method for line art vectorization presented at SIGGRAPH 2026. The method moves beyond traditional heuristics by utilizing depth prediction and semantic feature extraction to split sketch skeleton graphs into meaningful strokes that align with artistic intent. By modeling these strokes as Bézier curves with geometric and appearance components, the team employs 2D Gaussian splatting for fast, differentiable rendering, allowing for the simultaneous optimization of control points and brush textures. The approach demonstrates high-quality image reconstruction, compatibility with user input for spline correction, and promising results in video through temporal tracking and adaptive keyframe introduction.
Super El Niño Keeps Growing as New Forecasts Reach Record Territory Ahead Winter
A rapidly intensifying 2026/2027 Super El Niño is emerging in the tropical Pacific Ocean, driven by record-level westerly wind anomalies and powerful subsurface Kelvin Waves. Recent data indicates the event is developing at an exceptional rate, potentially surpassing the historic 2015-2016 event in strength. This phenomenon is expected to trigger an atmospheric standing wave, significantly altering global weather patterns. Forecasts suggest milder, wetter conditions for much of Europe due to enhanced westerly flows, while North America may experience a highly amplified pattern featuring warmer temperatures in Canada and the northern United States, alongside increased storm activity and potential heavy snowfall across the Central and Eastern United States.
Triple Product Rule of Partial Derivatives
Summary not available.
No-New-Physics Consciousness
In his essay No-New-Physics Consciousness, Robin Hanson explores the relationship between Experience, Brain, and Physics, arguing for a reductionist view where mental experiences are entirely dictated by physical systems. Hanson posits that if our current understanding of physics is complete, there is no room for new physical laws to explain consciousness. He addresses the philosophical problem of "zombies"—entities that mimic conscious behavior without actual feeling—suggesting that while such a distinction might exist, it cannot be empirically detected by any brain or physical system. Ultimately, Hanson concludes that because fundamental physical laws are simple and local, it is highly probable that consciousness follows a simple rule, potentially favoring a form of panpsychism where any system performing the appropriate calculations automatically possesses experience.
The Color of White Light
The author explores the complexities of color rendering and spectral distribution using a custom-built spectrograph attached to a DSLR camera. By analyzing various light sources, the author demonstrates that many common lighting methods, such as gas discharge lamps (neon, mercury vapor, and metal halide) and compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), possess highly irregular spectra that can significantly distort color perception. While incandescent bulbs and blue-tinted daylight bulbs provide smoother spectra, they suffer from low efficiency. In contrast, the author's findings suggest that modern white LEDs—despite common misconceptions regarding their color rendering index—offer a superior balance of high efficiency and relatively smooth spectral distributions, making them a preferred choice for home lighting compared to the erratic spectra of CFLs.
Thunderbird's Desktop Calendar Visual Redesign
The Thunderbird design team, led by Jesse M, has announced a major redesign of the Thunderbird Desktop Calendar to modernize its outdated interface and improve functionality. Aiming to compete with major productivity suites like Google Calendar and Microsoft, the project focuses on creating a streamlined, three-section layout consisting of a central grid workspace, a navigation bar, and a collapsible sidebar for calendar management. The initiative has moved from initial design concepts and successful updates to the Event Details dialog toward a unified, cohesive vision. Following community engagement through surveys and discussions, the team plans to release the new design in stages, prioritizing usability and iterative feedback to ensure the tool meets a wide range of user needs.
T3X/0 a Minimal Procedural Language
T3X/0 is a minimal, portable, and procedural programming language characterized by its block-structured and recursive nature. Featuring syntax similar to Pascal and semantics resembling BCPL, the language is described as being almost typeless. The T3X/0 ecosystem includes a self-hosting compiler, a Tcode Virtual Machine (TCVM), and two specialized editors with integrated compiler support. It is designed for educational purposes, as featured in the books Write Your Own Retro Compiler and Write Your Own Programs. Currently, T3X/0 supports a variety of platforms including Unix (x86_64, ARM), FreeBSD, macOS, DOS, and CP/M.
GLM-5.3: Frontier coding with emergent cyber capabilities
Summary not available.
Magnitude 7.7 Earthquake – 68 km NNW of Ende, Indonesia
Summary not available.
Racket v9.3
The programming language Racket has officially released version v9.3, introducing several functional enhancements and optimizations. Key updates include the ability for the raco setup command to generate Markdown documentation and expanded configuration options for raco pkg install, such as --adjacent-deps and --destdir. The release also brings parity to "#lang" teaching languages like BSL and ISL+, optimizes DrRacket syntax checking by disabling errortrace annotations during background expansion, and improves zip file generation via the file/zip package. Additionally, developers can now use define-runtime-lib within the ffi/unsafe/runtime-lib library for relative library location, while the racket/base module has been streamlined for improved efficiency.
Super Mario Derivations
In the blog post Super Mario Derivations, Farid Zakaria explores the intersection of the Nix programming language's lazy evaluation properties and game emulation. By treating an attribute path as a sequence of button presses in Super Mario Bros. 3, Zakaria demonstrates how each frame in a game session can function as a unique, reproducible Nix derivation. This approach turns the Nix store into a persistence layer for savestates, where branching off an existing input sequence allows for efficient reuse of previous game states. Ultimately, the project illustrates that because Nix attribute paths are evaluated lazily, they can represent complex, infinite, or highly procedural sequences that act more like programs than simple data catalogs.
The Ploopy A+ Trackball Is Here
Summary not available.
Google is making private AI practical with homomorphic encryption
Google has introduced HEIR (Homomorphic Encryption Intermediate Representation), an open-source compiler designed to make private AI inference more practical by allowing computations to be performed directly on encrypted data. By enabling pre-trained AI models to operate on encrypted inputs, HEIR aims to solve the privacy trade-offs faced by sensitive sectors like healthcare and finance, where traditional data processing risks exposing user information. Developed by researchers at Google, the toolchain has already facilitated collaborative demonstrations in areas such as credit card fraud detection, threat intrusion detection, and content recommendations. Through partnerships with hardware accelerator companies like Belfort and Niobium, and academic institutions such as Georgia Tech and Carnegie Mellon, Google intends to make homomorphic encryption a ubiquitous, one-click solution for non-experts to implement secure, cryptographically-guaranteed AI applications.
The unlikely opera star: How AI helped a nonspeaking performer find his voice
In a groundbreaking intersection of technology and performing arts, Jakob Jordan, a young man with autism and apraxia, starred in the opera <Sensorium Ex>, made possible by a custom-built AI speech synthesis device. Developed by Professor Luke DuBois of New York University and designed for composer Paola Prestini, the technology uses an inference model to extrapolate the unique architecture of a user's voice, allowing individuals with speech disabilities to express emotional nuance and agency through sound. Rather than replacing human creativity, this project serves as a research and development lab for augmentative and alternative communication, aiming to transform AI into a tool that amplifies human agency and provides a more expressive "voice" for the nonverbal.
Show HN: Mole – Deep research agent for your terminal
Mole is an open-source deep-research agent developed by lajosdeme designed to perform complex information retrieval with high precision and strict resource control. The tool decomposes user queries into sub-questions, searches various sources—including web searches, academic databases (such as arXiv and PubMed), and local data—and extracts claims that are strictly verified against verbatim quotes to ensure 100% citation accuracy. A key feature of the agent is its enforced budget, which uses a ledger system to reserve and settle costs in USD or tokens, preventing any spend from exceeding the user-defined ceiling. Additionally, mole protects privacy through a local_compute mode that performs SQL queries on local files without allowing raw data to leave the machine, and it supports the Model Context Protocol (MCP) to integrate with coding agents.
HyperOSUnfucker is an Android app that unlocks hidden system performance
HyperOSUnf*cker is an Android application designed to optimize performance and de-bloat Xiaomi, POCO, and Redmi devices running HyperOS or MIUI-based firmware. Utilizing the Shizuku API, the tool executes privileged ADB shell commands to unlock hidden settings without requiring root access. Key features include system-wide 120Hz display forcing, debloating system apps via safety ratings, and managing multitasking by restricting the PowerKeeper background killer. The app also offers advanced visual tweaks to unlock flagship-tier UI effects, such as enhanced blur and smooth corners, and allows users to manage battery and telemetry settings to improve device privacy and endurance.
A 25-year-old video patent just expired, ending a legal headache for Linux
A long-standing legal hurdle for the Linux community has been resolved following the expiration of a 25-year-old Brazilian patent held by Siemens AG. The patent, filed in 2001, was the final remaining obstacle preventing the worldwide, patent-free status of MPEG-4 Part 2 video technology. While Linux distributions often navigated these complexities through workarounds for decades, the expiration of patent BR PI0109962-0 removes the legal risk associated with distributing MPEG-4 decoders and encoders. However, the transition does not extend to more modern formats like H.264/AVC, which remain under patent protection.
Coin-sized device can hack a Boeing 737
Researchers from the University of California San Diego and Oberlin College have demonstrated a significant cybersecurity vulnerability in the Boeing 737, proving that a coin-sized, Wi-Fi-enabled device can be used to hijack an aircraft's systems. By gaining physical access to an external port through a simple hatch, attackers could plug in a device costing less than $100 to execute a technique dubbed "Bus Driver." This hardware implant can intercept and spoof electrical signals on the plane's internal network, allowing an attacker to remotely redirect the autopilot or manipulate critical flight data—such as weight and temperature—while hiding these changes from the pilot's display. While Boeing maintains that existing protections mitigate the risk of real-world attacks, the researchers argue the vulnerability highlights a critical need for better physical security and technical updates to prevent sophisticated sabotage.
Cultivating a state of mind where new ideas are born (2023)
In this essay, Henrik Karlsson and Johanna Karlsson explore the concept of the "solitary creative state," arguing that true innovation requires a mental space shielded from social pressure and the desire for consensus. Using insights from Sam Altman, who noted that coworking spaces can inadvertently kill fragile, "larval" ideas by prioritizing social plausibility, the authors examine how great thinkers navigate the tension between isolation and collaboration. Through an analysis of the working notes of mathematician Alexander Grothendieck and director Ingmar Bergman, the essay illustrates how these individuals used solitude, ritual, and a willingness to "linger in confusion" to cultivate profound ideas. The authors conclude that maintaining this fragile, unconstrained mental state—often characterized by eccentricity or unconventional habits—is essential for accessing the deep cognitive spaces where original thought is born.
AI has access to a vastly larger working memory than the human brain
In an article for PifferPilfer, Davide Piffer argues that Artificial Intelligence's recent success in mathematics may stem from an advantage in symbolic working memory rather than superior reasoning. While human mathematicians are constrained by a limited biological capacity to hold and manipulate information, AI models utilize vast context windows that act as massive, externalized notebooks. This capability is particularly effective in mathematics because the field's symbolic and rule-based nature allows for the explicit recording of assumptions, intermediate steps, and constraints. Piffer suggests that AI functions more like a machine-amplified version of John von Neumann—possessing immense speed and breadth of memory—rather than an Einstein, who represents the ability to reconceptualize problems through deep intuition. Ultimately, the author posits that AI excels by performing massive amounts of "bookkeeping" and executing long reasoning chains that would overwhelm the cognitive limits of a human brain.
Auto-research with codex: How I achieved a 232x Faster Kernel
In this technical blog post, sankalp details how they achieved a 232x speedup over the baseline solution during a GPU Mode auto-research contest focused on implementing a batched Householder QR factorization. Using Codex as an AI research agent, the author moved from a standard torch.geqrf implementation to a highly optimized custom kernel by implementing a blocked Householder algorithm with WY-updates to maximize Tensor Core utilization. The process involved managing complex Triton and CUDA code through an iterative "loop engineering" approach, employing strategies such as beam search to maintain multiple idea families and using high-level models as advisors to escape local maxima. Despite the success, the author notes that deeper domain expertise regarding data distribution detection and leveraging specific NVIDIA Blackwell instructions could have yielded even higher performance.
The Wow signal was a strong narrowband radio signal detected on August 15, 1977
Summary not available.
Geek Fighter – 2d fighter game
Summary not available.
BriskDB
BriskDB is an alpha-stage database engine developed by schapman1974 that transforms ordinary SQLite files into a single sharded database. Designed to enable parallel writes by utilizing independent WAL writer locks for each shard, the system maintains SQLite compatibility, allowing data to remain inspectable via standard tools. The engine supports PostgreSQL, HTTP, Rust, and Python protocols and introduces features such as shard-safe IDs, cross-shard indexes, and a routing layer. While currently in alpha and not yet production-ready, BriskDB aims to scale SQLite performance through virtual-bucket routing and provides operational visibility via Prometheus metrics.
Humazon
In a blog post titled "Humazon," author Hugh Howey explores the shifting landscape of publishing in the age of Artificial Intelligence. Comparing modern AI-driven content farms to historical "publishing schemes" like the Stratemeyer Syndicate—the creators of Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys—Howey argues that while AI can rapidly scale book production, there is a growing demand for human-authored authenticity. He suggests that the industry should create a "human-only" certification or marketplace—which he calls a "Humazon"—to allow readers who value human connection and craftsmanship to easily find books written solely by people.
An image can overflow
In this technical blog post, author Temani Afif explores the lesser-known behavior of the element, revealing that it functions as both a container and content. Because an image is a replaced element, its intrinsic resource can overflow the element's boundaries under certain conditions, such as when using object-fit: cover, object-fit: none, or object-position. The article also notes that border-radius can cause an image's content to overflow its rounded corners unless clipped. Afif demonstrates how these properties can be leveraged to create sophisticated CSS animations and visual effects, such as 3D effects and screen loaders, without the need for additional HTML wrapper elements or pseudo-elements.
Möbius strips and differential equations
This article explores the deep connection between algebraic topology and differential equations by using the Möbius strip as a conceptual bridge. While the Möbius strip is famous for its non-orientability—where traveling around the single-sided surface causes a notion of "up" to flip to "down"—this same phenomenon occurs when solving certain differential equations. Using the example of the equation $\frac{df}{dz} = \frac{1}{2z}f(z)$, the text demonstrates how solutions obtained via Taylor series can differ by a sign after traveling around the origin in the complex plane. This "twisting" of solutions illustrates that the space of solutions to a linear ODE can be viewed as a vector bundle, where the geometric properties of the bundle (like the non-orientability of a Möbius strip) directly reflect the inability to define a single, global solution for the equation.
Yadda 3.0.0: BDD in the Age of AI Agents
The release of Yadda 3.0.0, a JavaScript BDD (Behavior-Driven Development) library, marks a significant modernization effort achieved through the use of Claude AI agents. Developer Stephen Cresswell describes a workflow where Claude managed much of the modernization—including removing obsolete integrations and updating the toolchain—by following a structured, multi-phase plan. The author argues that the rise of AI agents changes the economic value of BDD; while writing specifications was traditionally labor-intensive, AI can now easily transform requirements into executable specifications. These specifications serve as vital, grounded contracts that provide AI agents with rich domain context, ensuring that the software's behavior remains aligned with its intended purpose even as development becomes increasingly automated and orchestrated by multiple parallel agents.
Could a computer scientist build a brain?
In this article, Stan Kerstjens and Anthony M. Zador of the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory explore whether a computer scientist could engineer a brain by treating the genome as a compact program. They identify significant algorithmic constraints, noting that strategies like the identity approach fail because the genomic storage capacity is too small to list every synapse, and the guidepost approach fails because it requires too many specific landmarks. Instead, they propose that biological systems use a coordinate approach, where the division of cells creates a hierarchical, relative address system (a binary address) that allows axons to navigate using simple, compact transformations. This mechanism explains how complex connectivity can be specified within the strict information and time budgets of a genome and enables the brain to scale from the 302 neurons of C. elegans to the billions in a human brain.
The other Sean Byrne doesn't exist
Writer Sean Byrne details a persistent identity crisis caused by a 2009 U.S. government Entity List entry that attributes the name to a non-existent person. The entry originated from a legal case involving Mac Aviation, an Irish company that allegedly used "Sean Byrne" as an alias for employees to project a false image of size while illegally exporting goods to Iran. Despite having no connection to County Sligo or the fraudulent company, Byrne has faced repeated "false positive" matches from major entities including Apple, Nasdaq, and DHL. While industry trends are moving toward more aggressive automated screening to prevent North Korean remote-hiring fraud, Byrne argues that these systems fail to distinguish between real individuals and "fabricated" identities left on government databases, effectively blacklisting legitimate applicants who share common names with non-existent entities.
AI makes foundational knowledge more important
In an opinion piece for Times Higher Education, Manu Kapur, a professor at ETH Zurich, argues that the rise of Artificial Intelligence necessitates a stronger emphasis on foundational knowledge in higher education. Kapur contends that because AI can produce plausible but potentially inaccurate outputs, students must possess deep domain expertise to effectively verify and judge machine-generated results. He highlights mathematics and philosophy as essential "core grammar" for all disciplines, noting that mathematical training provides necessary precision and probabilistic reasoning, while philosophy equips students to navigate ethical complexities regarding bias, privacy, and human dignity. Ultimately, Kapur suggests that while AI can automate tasks, the future labor market will increasingly prize graduates who combine technical adaptability with the high-level reasoning required to interrogate and take responsibility for AI outputs.
Understanding WCAG 2.2 as ePub and PDF
This webpage offers unofficial, automated conversions of the W3C documentation Understanding WCAG 2.2 into EPUB and PDF (PDF/UA) formats. Designed to function as an audit remediation companion, these files allow users to access the explanations of WCAG success criteria—including intent and remediation methods—offline or on e-readers. While the content remains unchanged from the original W3C repository, the author notes that these versions are for informative purposes only and are not the normative version.
Why does Opus 5 feel worse to work with?
In a personal reflection, mun logadan argues that Opus 5 provides a degraded user experience compared to its predecessors, such as Opus 4.7, Opus 4.8, and Fable. While Opus 5 may rival these models in benchmarks, the author contends it lacks the ability to seek clarification when user intent is ambiguous, instead making bold assumptions that require constant "babysitting." This shift is attributed to industry trends in frontier labs like Anthropic, specifically the pursuit of AGI/ASI and the pressure to perform highly on benchmarks. Because benchmark tasks reward models for providing direct answers rather than asking for guidance, the author suggests that modern AI is being trained to prioritize scoring over the cautious, communicative behavior required for practical applications like coding agents.
This Hi-Fi Tape Recorder Changed Radio Forever
The Magnetophon, a high-fidelity reel-to-reel magnetic tape recorder developed by AEG and I.G. Farben in 1935, revolutionized radio broadcasting and inadvertently led to the creation of the laugh track. While the technology was used by Nazi leadership for propaganda, it was brought to the United States after World War II by U.S. Army Signal Corps engineer Jack Mullin. The device’s high fidelity attracted Bing Crosby, who invested in Ampex to develop an American version, allowing him to prerecord his radio shows. This new capability for seamless audio editing enabled producers to insert canned audience laughter into recordings, fundamentally changing entertainment production.
A Planet Position Widget
Dr. Drang has developed a custom macOS widget that tracks the positions of celestial bodies, including the Sun, Moon, and planets from Mercury to Saturn. The project utilizes a Python script leveraging the Astropy library to calculate the azimuth, altitude, and current constellation of these objects. The script then pipes this data to TerminalWidget to display the information directly on the desktop. To ensure regular updates, the script is automated using a launchd agent, which executes the program every thirty minutes.
Brain turns listening inward during REM sleep, EEG recordings suggest
A new study published in Current Biology by researchers from the University of Lausanne and the University of Geneva reveals that the brain undergoes a sensory reorganization during REM sleep. Using EEG recordings from 25 volunteers, scientists led by Marzia De Lucia and Sophie Schwartz discovered that as the brain transitions from wakefulness to phasic REM sleep, neural responses to external auditory stimuli decrease while responses to internal signals, such as heartbeats, are preserved or enhanced. This shift suggests that rather than undergoing a global suppression of stimuli, the brain "turns its listening inward." The researchers developed an audio-cardio index that could potentially serve as a marker for distinguishing between different altered states of consciousness, such as coma or minimally conscious states.
Firefox is now the last major browser that still supports uBlock Origin
Firefox has announced it will continue to support the popular ad-blocking extension uBlock Origin, positioning itself as the last major browser to do so. This decision comes as other Chromium-based browsers, such as Microsoft Edge, begin phasing out the extension by migrating to the Manifest V3 architecture. Because Manifest V3 limits the ability of extensions to identify and block ads effectively, users seeking the full functionality of uBlock Origin will likely find Firefox to be the only major non-Chromium browser—which includes Safari and DuckDuckGo—that will not require a transition to the more limited uBlock Origin Lite.
Show HN: Deltix – AI Driven Testing
Deltix has launched an open beta for its mobile testing platform, which utilizes an AI agent to simulate real user behavior on iOS simulators. By allowing developers to describe tasks in plain English, the tool automates the discovery and validation of app workflows, recording screenshots and runs for review. The platform offers three primary modes: Task for ad-hoc exploration, Playbook for saving successful paths as deterministic regression tests, and Experiment for side-by-side comparisons of different builds. Designed to run locally on a Mac to ensure privacy, the service aims to bridge the gap between exploratory testing and regression testing without the need for complex manual assertions.
Gemini 3.7 Flash
Google has introduced Gemini 3.7 Flash, a new high-intelligence model designed to serve as a "workhorse" for coding and autonomous agents. Launched as an evolution of the previous 3.6 series, the model demonstrates significant performance gains in software engineering, web development, and knowledge-dense fields such as law and finance. Key technical improvements include higher first-pass code accuracy and enhanced reasoning for complex document processing. To facilitate developer adoption, Google is offering 3.7 Flash at an introductory price of $0.75 per million input tokens and $3.75 per million output tokens. Additionally, the model is being integrated into Gemini Spark to improve the efficiency of personalized AI agents for Google Workspace users.
Human Speechome Project
Summary not available.
Israeli PR wants to answer your ChatGPT questions
Summary not available.
Engineers will do anything to avoid learning from history
The provided text explores David Horn's critical observation regarding the tendency of engineers to overlook historical failures and established precedents in their pursuit of innovation. The core argument suggests that a systemic focus on forward-looking technological advancement often causes professionals to disregard past lessons, potentially leading to the repetition of costly or dangerous mistakes. This cycle of innovation versus historical caution highlights a recurring tension within engineering disciplines globally.
AI in drug discovery – what it is, where we stand and the path forward
Summary not available.
Show HN: Live Claude Usage HUD for a $38 Thermalright Trofeo Vision LCD
The claude-trofeo-hud repository features a specialized desktop tool designed to display live Claude usage statistics on a Thermalright Trofeo Vision LCD screen. Running on macOS, the application streams real-time data—including session and weekly limits, token burn rates, and estimated API costs—over USB to the device. The project utilizes a reverse-engineered protocol to send JPEG frames to the hardware via HIDAPI and requires Python 3.12+ and Claude Code to function. The HUD provides users with visual monitoring tools such as an hourly token sparkline and countdowns for usage resets, operating as a background agent through launchd.
Voltair (YC W26) Is Hiring a Test Flight Engineer
Voltair, a Y Combinator-backed startup based in San Francisco, is recruiting a Flight Test Engineer to join its growing team as the seventh full-time employee. The company is developing a distributed network of autonomous drones designed for earth observation, specifically targeting the power utility sector to identify infrastructure hazards and prevent wildfires. The role is a hybrid of hardware engineering and field operations, requiring the candidate to build and validate test fixtures as well as operate fixed-wing aircraft during customer missions. Ideal candidates should possess at least one year of professional experience, expertise in drone electrical systems and autopilot firmware like ArduPilot or PX4, and a strong foundation in airmanship. The mission aims to transform Voltair into a new infrastructure layer for physical world data by providing full-stack inspection services through long-range drones capable of recharging on power lines.
Tess's Android Wayland Compositor
tawc, also known as Tess's Android Wayland Compositor, is an open-source project designed to run Linux command-line and graphical programs on Android devices without requiring root access. Developed primarily using Claude Code and Anthropic models, the project utilizes tawcroot—a high-performance alternative to PRoot—to emulate chroot and syscalls within a single process. The system includes a Smithay-based Wayland compositor and a custom fork of libhybris to enable hardware-accelerated graphics through the phone's native stack. Key features include a built-in terminal UI via Termux widgets, a launcher menu, XWayland support, and the ability to integrate Linux apps into the Android app switcher. Currently, the project officially supports arm64 architectures on Android 10 and above.
Show HN: Eigendrum - Draw any shape and hear what it sounds like as a drum
Eigendrum is an interactive web-based tool hosted at eigendrum.com that allows users to visualize and hear the acoustics of custom-drawn shapes by simulating them as vibrating drumheads. Developed by Basel Ashraf, the application uses finite element methods to solve eigenvalue problems, converting geometric outlines into audible standing waves and modes. Users can trace new outlines, input mathematical equations to generate complex forms, and strike the virtual drum at different points to experience how nodal lines affect sound. The project serves as a practical demonstration of the mathematical question, "can one hear the shape of a drum?", by allowing users to compare different shapes with identical spectra. The software is MIT licensed and runs entirely on the client side, with advertising and partnerships managed through u2679054@uel.ac.uk.
A controversial Alzheimer's surgery is said to reverse symptoms
A controversial surgical technique known as deep cervical lymphatic-venous anastomosis (dcLVA) is undergoing global clinical trials following dramatic testimonials of symptom reversal in Alzheimer’s disease patients. Developed by Chinese microsurgeon Qingping Xie, the procedure involves connecting lymphatic vessels in the neck to veins to improve the drainage of waste proteins from the brain. While some researchers note promising results, including improved cognitive scores and reduced toxic protein levels in some cohorts, the scientific community remains divided due to a lack of rigorous evidence, concerns over surgical risks, and questions regarding the long-term durability of the benefits. The rapid, unregulated proliferation of the surgery in China previously prompted regulatory intervention, and the medical community is now awaiting more formalized, large-scale studies to determine if the technique provides true disease modification or merely temporary relief.
The Dutch community where people live on strips of land in a lake
In the Dutch town of Loosdrecht, residents inhabit a unique community living on thin strips of land within a lake. This unusual geography is a manmade byproduct of historical peat mining, where boats dredged swampland for fuel and left behind narrow slivers of earth used to dry the peat. While these strips were originally intended for industrial use, 20th-century developers transformed them into residential lots, resulting in a modern community of hundreds of homes that are accessible only by boat.
I Remain a Skeptic
In a recent commentary, Joshua Barretto expresses deep skepticism regarding the efficacy and societal impact of Large Language Models (LLMs) in software development. Barretto argues that despite significant financial investment, the technology has failed to deliver measurable improvements in software quality, speed, or security, instead producing "unmaintainable slop" and low-quality code contributions. Beyond technical limitations, he addresses broader concerns including the environmental and social costs, the lack of rigorous studies proving top-level productivity gains, and the attempt by Big Tech to commodify intellectual labor by making developers' skills fungible. Ultimately, he asserts that software development requires more than just code generation, emphasizing that trust and specialized skill remain superior to the current state of AI-driven automation.
Xteink's tiny e-readers are getting access to free books through Libby
The CrossPoint Reader firmware is expanding the capabilities of Xteink's tiny e-readers, specifically the X3, X4, and X4 Pro, by introducing support for third-party plug-ins. This update allows users to access DRM-protected ebooks through OverDrive’s Libby library app and retailers like Kobo via the new "Protected Content" plug-in. While the functionality is currently in beta and requires users to replace the stock firmware and use an Adobe Digital Editions compatible account, it significantly improves the utility of these portable devices by providing access to a wider range of digital libraries and bookstores.
Anthropic shares details about how Claude's new watermarks will work
Anthropic has released technical details regarding its plan to implement watermarking in text generated by its Claude chatbot, a move aimed at complying with the EU AI Act’s Transparency Code. Utilizing the SynthID-Text approach developed by Google DeepMind, the system will create undetectable patterns through "low-stakes" word choices to allow for identification via a future detection API. While Anthropic claims the process will not degrade output quality, the company noted that while light editing may not fully remove the watermark, a complete rewrite would. Furthermore, the company clarified that watermarking will have a negligible effect on functional code, with implementation likely limited to non-essential elements like comments.
Robot Videos: Heavy Lift Cargo Drones, Grippers, More
In this edition of IEEE Spectrum's Video Friday, editor Evan Ackerman highlights several advancements in robotics and aerospace technology. The feature showcases the bizarre and innovative heavy-lift drone designs featured in the DARPA Lift Challenge, alongside NASA's Skyfall Martian helicopter, which utilizes a flexible, fabric-based antenna to hunt for water on the Red Planet. Other featured technologies include gecko-inspired robotic grippers, humanoid robot developments from Flexiv and Generative Bionics, and SonicFly, a framework enabling unmanned aerial vehicles to follow one another using only intrinsic flight sound.
Going Dark, and the era of law enforcement hacking
Cryptographer and Johns Hopkins University professor Matthew Green warns that the advancement of Artificial Intelligence may inadvertently lead to a new era of "going dark" for law enforcement. While AI-driven bug hunting initially aids offensive operations, Green argues that the simultaneous rise of AI-powered defensive patching and secure development toolchains will eventually deplete the supply of remotely-exploitable vulnerabilities in major software. This shift could trigger intense political pressure on technology companies to implement intentional backdoors for U.S. intelligence and law enforcement, potentially compromising cybersecurity infrastructure and creating new vulnerabilities for foreign adversaries to exploit.
Tyler Cowen: A Conservative Case for Liberal Immigration
In a recent column for The Free Press, economist Tyler Cowen argues for a liberal immigration policy as a necessity for maintaining the American ethos. Cowen posits that while restrictionists aim to preserve America's character, true stability for a dynamic, pro-wealth, and pro-family society requires the creativity and industriousness brought by new immigrants. He warns that current trends toward tightening migration—noting a significant decline in net inward migration between 2024 and 2025—may actually undermine the long-term prosperity and cultural vibrancy that opponents seek to protect.
Show HN: Silent Shark – tactical map-based WWII submarine sim
Silent Shark is a tactical, map-based World War II Pacific submarine simulator now available on Steam for Windows, macOS, and Linux. The game focuses on realistic naval warfare through geometry-based problem solving, requiring players to track targets via hydrophone, estimate ranges using a stadimeter, and manage complex variables like thermal layers, sea states, and manual targeting via a TDC. The full release features an evolving Pacific campaign starting in 1941, including lifeguard missions, career progression across six submarine classes, and historical events, while a free demo is available to play in-browser or via Steam.
How Samsung's Privacy Screen Works
An investigation by iFixit into the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra reveals that its innovative Privacy Display utilizes a sophisticated Round Diamond Pixel pattern to thwart snooping. Unlike standard privacy screens, this technology uses a multi-plane pixel arrangement where raised ridges surround specific pixels to restrict light escape angles, allowing users to software-control privacy for specific screen sections. However, microscopy analysis suggests this hardware implementation comes with significant trade-offs; the physical structures surrounding the pixels appear to interfere with light mixing, resulting in a noticeable loss of vibrancy and color accuracy—specifically in red tones—compared to the previous S25 Ultra model.
Peer-reviewed study of 443,000 Backblaze drives ranks HGST most reliable
A peer-reviewed IEEE study conducted by Christoph Siemroth of the University of Essex and Yeomyung Park of Sungkyunkwan University has analyzed 12 years of Backblaze hard drive data, examining over 1.66 million drive-years across 443,156 units. The analysis found that HGST is the most reliable manufacturer, with a failure rate approximately 41% that of Seagate, while WD follows closely. In contrast, Toshiba was ranked as the least reliable, with a failure rate 7% higher than Seagate's. The researchers noted that Toshiba experiences a significant jump in monthly failure rates once drives exceed 60 months of service. The study also highlighted that higher average temperatures and lower capacities can negatively impact drive longevity.
Seven books I keep close because I love them
In the personal essay Seven books I keep close because I love them, author Mark Dominus reflects on the influential texts found on his desk, describing them as sources of intellectual inspiration. The collection includes Roget's Thesaurus (4th edition), which he values as a tool for refining conceptual ideas rather than merely finding synonyms; The Prose of Sir Thomas Browne, a work of the English Baroque period that inspires a sense of wonder regarding the natural world; Boccaccio's Decameron, a classical Italian masterpiece that explores human nature amidst the Black Plague; From Frege to Gödel, a collection of essential papers in mathematical logic; Johannes Comenius's Orbis Sensualium Pictis, a pioneering illustrated children's book; The Bible (NIV), described as a cornerstone of Western culture and a vital tool for understanding modern society; and The Belles Heures of Duc de Berry, a lavishly illustrated "book of hours."
ActivityPub Won by Being Boring
In a recent discourse at FediForum 2026, Evan Prodromou, a co-author of the W3C ActivityPub recommendation, argued that the protocol's success stems from its intentionally "boring" and ordinary design. By utilizing standard HTTP and JSON, ActivityPub has enabled diverse platforms like Mastodon, PeerTube, and Lemmy to federate without requiring complex, non-standard architectural shifts. While the protocol faces challenges regarding technical debt in authentication and the complexities of governance and moderation, its primary win condition lies in its ability to scale to hundreds of millions of users on large commercial networks without forcing them into proprietary silos. As the W3C Social Web Working Group moves toward refining the standard, the goal remains to maintain this seamless, interoperable "plumbing" while addressing critical issues like user portability and security.
Every Fucking Website (2020)
This webpage serves as a satirical critique of common modern web design elements, mocking intrusive elements such as COVID-19 warnings, disruptive coupon pop-ups, aggressive subscription prompts, and ubiquitous cookie consent banners. The content utilizes provocative language and humor to lampoon the repetitive and often annoying user experience forced upon visitors by contemporary digital interfaces.
