undefined 10, 2024
NASA volunteers complete year-long mission in 3D-printed Mars bunker in Texas
After 378 days in a 3D-printed Mars-simulation bunker in Texas, NASA volunteers Kelly Haston, Anca Selariu, Ross Brockwell, and Nathan Jones have completed their mission and were set free. The CHAPEA mission, which started on June 25 last year, aimed to study crew health and performance. At a news conference, Selariu expressed her dedication to the Mars mission and gratitude towards her friends and family for their support.
Boeing Will Plead Guilty to Criminal Fraud. Guess Who’s Going to Jail?
Boeing will plead guilty to criminal fraud charges related to the 2018 and 2019 737 Max crashes, the U.S. Department of Justice announced. The plea deal includes a $243.6 million fine, but no jail time for Boeing employees, angering victims' families. The crashes killed 189 people in Indonesia and 157 in Ethiopia. Boeing will admit to conspiring to mislead the FAA about plane safety. This plea deal mirrors a 2021 settlement, which DOJ claims Boeing violated. Victims' families call it a miscarriage of justice.
What the Arrival of A.I. Phones and Computers Means for Our Data
Apple, Microsoft, and Google are promoting a new era of AI-powered smartphones and computers designed to automate tasks like photo editing and sending birthday wishes. However, these advancements require more user data. Your Windows computer might take frequent screenshots, an iPhone could integrate data across apps, and an Android phone might listen to calls to detect scams. This shift raises significant privacy concerns, as AI demands comprehensive access to our data to offer personalized services, diverging from the previously siloed use of apps and files. The tech industry, spurred by OpenAI's ChatGPT, has shifted its strategies, heavily investing in AI, believing it will become essential for users.
Amazon Echo Spot 2024 With Alexa Integration, Semi-Circular Display Launched
Amazon launched the Echo Spot 2024 ahead of Prime Day on July 16. This updated smart speaker, priced at $79.99, features a semi-circular display and no camera, unlike the 2017 model. It offers improved display and audio quality. Prime members can buy it for $44.99 during the sale. Available in Black, Glacier White, and Ocean Blue, the device is currently in select markets with no plans for India. The new Echo Spot has received hardware upgrades and better performance.
PySkyWiFi: completely free, unbelievably stupid wi-fi on long-haul flights
The plane reached 10,000ft. I connected to the in-flight Wi-Fi, which required credit card details. However, I noticed that logging into my airmiles account was free. Upon logging into my JetStreamers Diamond Altitude account, I realized I could access the entire internet through the account. I decided to build a prototype in Python called PySkyWiFi. By updating the name field of my airmiles account, I could use it as a tunnel for simple instant messaging, chatting with myself as a proof of concept.
Guide to attending a space launch in person
The text is a detailed guide to space launches, providing insights on how to find the nearest launch site, details on various global launch sites, and information about commonly used rockets. It explains launch schedules, describes what to expect on launch day, and offers tips for watching livestreams and photographing launches. Additionally, it covers different types of launches, what to bring to a launch, and answers frequently asked questions about attending and understanding space launches.
Reverse Engineering TicketMaster's Rotating Barcodes
I bought concert tickets from TicketMaster expecting printable PDFs for offline use, but they only offered Mobile Entry with rotating barcodes on their app. This modern system pales compared to traditional PDF tickets, which are reliable offline and universally accepted. At a crowded event, poor internet left me struggling to access my QR code for entry, while others faced similar issues. Despite eventually getting in, the experience highlighted the drawbacks of this high-tech approach over simpler, more dependable methods.
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Tesla’s Model Y ‘Juniper’ redesign might come soon
A prototype of a redesigned Tesla Model Y, codenamed "Juniper," has been seen in California with covered bumpers and a front-mounted camera, suggesting updates similar to the recent Model 3 refresh. The Model 3 received revised bumpers, new headlights and taillights, and a changed logo earlier this year in the US. Speculation arises whether the new Model Y will also adopt these changes and possibly remove traditional steering stalks, aligning with Tesla’s recent design and feature updates across its vehicle lineup.
How Hezbollah is trying to counter Israel's high-tech surveillance
BEIRUT, July 9 (Reuters) - Coded messages. Landline phones. Pagers. Following the killing of senior commanders in targeted Israeli airstrikes, the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group, Hezbollah, has been using some low-tech strategies to try to evade its foe's sophisticated surveillance technology, informed sources told Reuters.
How the Brain Decides What to Remember
György Buzsáki, from his early days tinkering with radio waves in Hungary to his current role as a neuroscience professor at NYU, now explores how brain waves influence memory. His research, including recent findings on "sharp wave ripples," reveals these high-frequency bursts as crucial for both storing and selecting memories. These waves fire during rest and sleep, suggesting interruptions in brain activity are vital for memory formation—a concept Buzsáki likens to musical pauses in Beethoven's symphonies.
China Tesla rival BYD signs $1bn Turkey plant deal
BYD, China's largest electric-car manufacturer, has finalized a $1 billion deal to establish a manufacturing plant in Turkey, aiming to produce up to 150,000 vehicles annually by late 2026. This initiative, expected to generate 5,000 jobs, was sealed during an event in Istanbul attended by President Erdogan and BYD's CEO. The move comes amid escalating tariffs on Chinese EVs in the EU, prompting BYD to leverage Turkey's EU Customs Union membership for tariff advantages and support its expansion beyond China amid international market challenges.
Facebook keeps asking me to say ‘happy birthday’ to dead people
The text reflects on the poignant impact of social media algorithms and digital footprints after the loss of friends. It criticizes Facebook's insensitivity in reminding about deceased friends' birthdays and contrasts the permanence of online data with the impermanence of life. It discusses coping with grief through digital memories and explores the complexities of managing digital legacies, including Facebook's "legacy contact" feature. Ultimately, it wrestles with the paradox of digital presence after death, highlighting both the comfort and discomfort it brings in mourning and remembering loved ones.
The 8 best video games of 2024 so far
The article discusses the rapid pace of the year so far and reflects on the abundance of video game releases. It highlights popular titles from 2023 that continue to captivate, such as Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Baldur's Gate 3, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Diablo IV, and Marvel's Spider-Man 2. It also lists notable new releases of 2024 without ranking them, emphasizing the diversity and quality of games available in the first half of the year.
It’s not them, it’s us: the real reason teens are ‘addicted’ to video games
The article discusses the issue of video game addiction, highlighting a recent article in the Observer magazine that explores its impact on individuals and families. Despite concerns, statistics from the UK's National Centre for Gaming Disorders indicate that true addiction is rare, affecting less than 1% of teenage gamers. The article questions why so many young people are drawn to video games, suggesting it's often a choice amidst restricted outdoor activities and diminished public spaces. It critiques societal pressures on teens, including excessive monitoring and diminishing recreational options, contributing to their indoor activities.
AI-generated exam papers go undetected in 94% of cases, study finds
The University of Reading conducted a study revealing that AI-generated exam papers are highly difficult to detect within UK universities' systems, with 94% remaining undetected. Published in PLOS ONE, the study found AI-generated papers often received higher grades than those by real students, except in modules requiring abstract reasoning. The researchers expressed significant concern over the implications for academic integrity and suggested exploring new policies to manage AI's influence in education.
Apple iOS 18: How to set up and use the new ‘Eye Tracking’ feature on iPhone
Apple recently announced new accessibility features for iOS 18, including Eye Tracking, which allows users to control iPhones and iPads using only their eyes. This feature, available in the iOS 18 Developer Beta, utilizes the Face ID camera without requiring additional hardware. To set it up, users must place their device on a flat surface about half a meter away, ensure the camera lens is clean, and maintain adequate lighting. Apple advises positioning to avoid direct light sources that could interfere with accurate eye movement tracking.
Wheel Falls Off United Airlines Boeing Plane in Mid-Air
Another incident involving a Boeing aircraft losing a wheel occurred when a United Airlines flight, Boeing 757-200, departed from Los Angeles and landed safely at Denver International Airport after the wheel fell off mid-flight. This marks the second such incident this year for United, following a similar event involving a Boeing 777-200 in March. United confirmed the safety of all 174 passengers and seven crew onboard, with investigations underway to determine the cause of the incident.
Space Force clears Blue Origin and Stoke Space to bid for fast-turnaround launches
The U.S. Space Force has approved Blue Origin and Stoke Space as eligible providers for small-satellite launches under its Orbital Services Program 4 (OSP-4). This designation allows the companies to compete for contracts aimed at Tactically Responsive Space missions, with a contract ceiling of $986 million through October 2028. Blue Origin, with its New Glenn rocket set for its first launch in September, aims to support NASA's EscaPADE mission to study Mars. Stoke Space, developing its Nova rocket, targets a 2025 orbital test launch following successful engine tests.
Stolen crypto doubled to $1.38 billion in the first half of 2024, research firm says
In the first half of 2024, cryptocurrency hackers amassed $1.38 billion in loot, more than doubling last year's $657 million. Major attacks, notably the theft of over $300 million in bitcoin from DMM Bitcoin, drove this surge. Common tactics included compromising private keys and seed phrases, and exploiting address poisoning to deceive victims into sending funds to fake wallets. Despite stable security measures, higher crypto prices likely boosted the total value stolen, according to TRM Labs' report on crypto theft trends.
Decoding the digital euro: A potential new means of payment
The European Central Bank (ECB) is progressing with plans for a digital euro aimed at modernizing payment methods while safeguarding privacy and accessibility. With cash payments decreasing and digital transactions rising, the digital euro aims to complement existing currencies rather than replace them. It will be issued directly by the ECB as a stable and universally accessible form of electronic money, distinct from cryptocurrencies and bank deposits. Stakeholders express concerns about its impact on financial inclusion and user privacy, while legislative frameworks are being finalized to advance the project.
