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Automated summaries of top Hacker News stories written by a large language model.
Anki – Powerful, intelligent flash cards
The website for Anki, a powerful flashcard app, provides information on how to access the source code on GitHub for those interested in building their own version. The site also offers instructions for translating Anki into different languages. AnkiMobile is a paid companion app for Apple devices, while AnkiDroid is a free version for Android devices. The surprising aspect is that AnkiDroid is developed by a separate group of people who decided to make it free based on the desktop code.
Gravity Helps Show Strong Force Strength in the Proton
Nuclear physicists at the U.S. Department of Energy's Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility have used gravity to determine the distribution of the strong force inside a proton. This research provides new insights into the environment experienced by the proton's building blocks, known as quarks. The study reveals that a force of over four tons would need to be applied to a quark to pull it out of the proton. The research was made possible by a half-century-old prediction and two-decade-old data. The findings have opened up a new avenue for exploring the mechanical properties of the proton and have already changed the way scientists think about its structure.
Google Chrome goes native for Windows on Arm
Google is reportedly developing a native version of its Chrome browser for Windows on Arm devices. This comes as a surprise, as Google has not previously shown any support for Windows on Arm. Currently, Windows devices running on Qualcomm's Snapdragon chips have to run Chrome in an emulated state, resulting in slow performance. In contrast, Microsoft has long supported an Arm version of its Edge browser, which runs smoothly on Arm devices. Google's support for Arm processors could be significant for the future of Windows on Arm, especially as Microsoft and Qualcomm prepare for the next major push of Windows on Arm.
JPEG XL found in wincodec.h – suggesting coming Windows support
A recent discovery in the wincodec.h file suggests that Windows may soon support the JPEG XL image format. The file, which is part of the Windows Imaging Component (WIC) API, contains references to the JPEG XL format, indicating that Microsoft may be working on adding support for it in future Windows updates. This is exciting news for photographers and graphic designers, as JPEG XL offers improved compression and image quality compared to the traditional JPEG format. If this rumor is true, it could mean that Windows users will soon be able to enjoy the benefits of this advanced image format.
The Catacombs
The article discusses the discovery and significance of the catacombs at Villa Torlonia in Rome. The estate, owned by Giovanni Torlonia, was renovated in 1919 and workers discovered a Jewish catacomb while digging to build a stable. This catacomb is unique because of the numerous depictions of menorahs found on the frescoes and grave markers. It is one of only two accessible Jewish catacombs in Rome. The catacomb holds great historical and archaeological value, providing insight into Rome's early Jewish community. The site has undergone restoration and conservation efforts to preserve its cultural significance. The article also explores the history of Jews in Rome and their contributions to the city's community. (Summary based on 60% of story text.)
Show HN: Zabbix API V6 Crate for Rust
The author of this post on old.reddit.com shares their creation of a Zabbix API crate for Rust. They explain that they couldn't find any up-to-date crates for the Zabbix API, so they decided to create their own implementation. The crate is a partial implementation specifically for Zabbix API V6 and was made for the wszl project. The author acknowledges that the Zabbix API is extensive and they don't have enough spare time to complete the full implementation, but they plan to continue working on it. They provide a link to their GitHub repository for those interested in checking out their work.
Martello Tower
Martello towers were small defensive forts built across the British Empire during the 19th century. They were typically coastal forts, standing up to 40 feet high with thick walls of solid masonry. These towers were resistant to cannon fire and provided an ideal platform for heavy artillery. Martello towers were used until the introduction of powerful rifled artillery made them obsolete. Many of these towers have survived to the present day and are preserved as historic monuments. The design of Martello towers was inspired by a round fortress in Corsica, and they were built in various locations around the world, including England, Ireland, Canada, and Australia. (Summary based on 17% of story text.)
The Pixel 8 Pro can now read body temps, if you swipe it across your face
Google has announced a new feature for the Pixel 8 Pro that allows it to measure body temperature. The feature utilizes the infrared temperature sensor on the back of the phone and requires users to swipe the phone across their face over a period of four seconds. The sensor needs to be extremely close to the skin without touching, making it a hassle to use. The temperature sensor has been criticized in previous reviews for its limited range and lack of user-friendly features. The body temperature measurement feature is only available in the US and will be included in the January 2024 Pixel update.
Filmmaker Ken Burns calls Mark Zuckerberg an `enemy of the state' (2021)
Filmmaker Ken Burns has criticized Mark Zuckerberg, calling him an "enemy of the state" and expressing his desire to see him incarcerated. In a podcast interview with tech journalist Kara Swisher, Burns accused Zuckerberg of not caring about the United States and only being interested in money. He also criticized Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, calling her "complicit." Burns has previously spoken out against Zuckerberg, accusing him of allowing misinformation to spread on Facebook during a crucial time in US history. Burns is known for his groundbreaking documentaries, including "The Civil War" and "The Brooklyn Bridge." PBS, the network that airs his work, has faced controversy for its lack of diversity in filmmaker selection.
Ask HN: Why Keybase?
The author of this post on news.ycombinator.com is asking the community why they use Keybase and what makes it different from other platforms. They mention that they have completed the Keybase identification process by adding their key to their Hacker News profile. The author is curious to know if others still use Keybase and if so, how and why. The post includes a link to the Keybase website for reference.
UK police increasingly using polygraph tests
Lie detector tests, commonly associated with daytime television shows like The Jeremy Kyle Show, are increasingly being used by UK police and the criminal justice system. The tests, which measure physiological changes in a person's body to detect deception, are being used in various contexts, including monitoring sex offenders and convicted terrorists, as well as assessing the risk of individuals. Critics argue that the accuracy of lie detectors is contested and that they are an intrusive interrogation technique. However, proponents argue that the tests provide valuable information and can help protect the public. A new "polygraph in a box" technology has also been developed, which is being used by UK police.
In Loving Memory of Square Checkbox
The web content discusses the tradition of square checkboxes and round radio buttons in operating systems. It highlights the evolution of checkboxes in different operating systems and the distinction between checkboxes and radio buttons. The author mentions that the web, particularly CSS, has challenged these conventions by reinventing and redesigning controls. They provide examples of radio buttons with checkmarks and square radio buttons on the web. However, the author notes that operating system vendors have consistently followed the convention of square checkboxes and round radio buttons. The controversy arises when Apple breaks this tradition with their new visionOS, which features round checkboxes. The author concludes that the tradition of square checkboxes has died with Apple's decision.
The theory that consciousness is a quantum system gains support
The theory that consciousness is a quantum system is gaining support among scientists. Anesthesiologist Stuart Hameroff and theoretical physicist Roger Penrose propose the Orch Or Theory, which suggests that conscious experience arises from quantum phenomena in the brain. Recent research on bird brains and experiments at Trinity College in Dublin also suggest the presence of quantum processing in the brain. This theory challenges materialism and suggests that quantum processes may play a role in human behavior and decision-making. While the theory still lacks solid experimental evidence, scientists are now more willing to consider it.
AT&T unintentionally creates Climate Risk and Resilience resource, opens for use
AT&T has unintentionally created a valuable resource for climate risk and resilience. In an effort to protect its cellphone towers from extreme weather events, the company collaborated with researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory to create models that project locations at risk of flooding, drought, and wildfires. These maps are now freely available through the Climate Risk and Resilience Portal, allowing communities to make informed decisions about where to place important institutions like schools and hospitals. This resource is crucial for climate resiliency, especially considering that 90% of U.S. counties have experienced a climate disaster in the past decade.
Leaked Google Memo Shows Aimless Execs Basically Worshiping AI
According to a leaked internal memo at Google, the company's top priority for the new year is to deliver the world's most advanced, safe, and responsible AI. This comes as no surprise, as Google has been heavily investing in AI and plans to integrate it into Android smartphones. However, some employees and critics are concerned that this focus on AI is harming the company's core ventures and leading to massive layoffs. Additionally, the proliferation of AI technology has exposed the deteriorating functionality of Google's search engine, with SEO spam and AI-faked webpages becoming more prevalent in search results. Despite these concerns, Google remains committed to its AI push.
I'm looking for a cybersecurity company for an affordable smart contract audit
In search of an affordable smart contract audit, the author turns to the online community for assistance. They reach out to those who have previously undergone such audits, seeking guidance on pricing. The author's intention is to find a cybersecurity company that can provide a thorough audit of their smart contract at a reasonable cost. The request for pricing information suggests that the author is looking for transparency and wants to ensure they are not overcharged for the service.
Show HN: Dewhale – GitHub-Powered AI for effortless development
Dewhale is an AI-powered development tool that leverages GitHub to make coding easier and more efficient. Users can submit their needs through GitHub issues and choose a code generation mode using the provided templates. Dewhale currently supports generating UI code for React, Vue, and Svelte, with the option to add custom code generation modes. The tool has a strict permission mechanism, with code generation triggered only by whitelisted users or through quota management capabilities. The generated code is presented as a pull request, allowing for easy review and modification. Dewhale is GitHub-powered, eliminating the need for version control concerns. Self-deployment is also simplified through repository forking and configuration.
The right way to sauce pasta (2016)
This article discusses the proper way to sauce pasta, arguing that pasta heated in the skillet with sauce has a superior flavor and texture compared to pasta that is simply sauced on the plate. The author provides step-by-step instructions on how to properly sauce pasta, including heating the sauce separately, cooking the pasta al dente, transferring the cooked pasta to the sauce, adding pasta water, adding fat, cooking hard and fast, stirring in cheese and herbs off heat, adjusting consistency, garnishing as necessary, and serving immediately. The article emphasizes the importance of these steps in order to achieve the best tasting pasta dish.
Ask HN: What are your Favorite Things?
In this post on news.ycombinator.com, the author invites readers to share their favorite things, ranging from software tools and books to physical tools and art pieces. The author is eager to hear about items that have had a significant impact on readers' lives or work. This post encourages a discussion among the community, allowing individuals to share and discover new favorites.
I Hacked a Train Toilet
The author recounts their experience of riding on a Class 800 train in the UK and hacking the train toilet. They explain that the older models of the train toilets had buttons for "open," "close," and "lock" on the inside, but no separate "unlock" button. This design confused many people who were unable to lock the door correctly. The newer disabled toilets on trains have a lever to lock the door, but it is not directly connected to a locking mechanism. The author discovered a vulnerability in the locking mechanism where they could manipulate the lever to lock the door and then open it before it closed, effectively causing a Denial of Service attack on the toilet. The author also mentions finding another DoS vulnerability on a train, but does not provide details.
Ask HN: Best open source and/or free EDA tooling
The author of this post on news.ycombinator.com is seeking recommendations for open source and/or free EDA (Electronic Design Automation) tools. They explain that they haven't needed these tools since 2012 and have relied on a separate team for PCB production. However, they are now looking to do everything themselves and are in need of updated tools. They mention that the gEDA tools they used to use are no longer available in their distros (debian-based). The author is open to suggestions and is particularly interested in tools that are already in many repositories. They express gratitude in advance for any replies and assure readers that they will consider all recommendations seriously.
Over 2k shell companies have directors aged 123 years or older
Moody's Analytics has identified 21 million "red flags" associated with shell companies that could be involved in financial crimes. These red flags include directors who are aged 123 years or older, despite the oldest known human living to 122. The research also highlights other suspicious behaviors such as mass registration, dormancy, and circular ownership. Despite efforts to improve transparency, $1.6 trillion is still laundered annually through shell companies. The report also reveals other concerning findings, such as a China-based company reporting over $2 billion in revenue with only one employee. The UK has the highest number of shell company risks, while the US has the most flags related to financial anomalies.
Harvesting Electricity from High-Voltage Transmission Lines Using Fences
The Double M Innovations YouTube channel recently conducted an experiment to harvest electricity from high-voltage transmission lines using regular fences. They used a 1200 V capacitor, a full bridge rectifier, and 73 meters of coax cable to connect to the transmission lines. The results were concerning, with the multimeter going out of range and the capacitor charging up to 1000 V before the experiment was stopped. The experiment collected roughly 36.2 Joule of power, highlighting the potential for energy collection from fencing wire underneath HV lines. The legality of storing power inductively coupled on fence wire should be discussed with local energy companies.
Syphilis microbe's family has plagued humans for millennia
New research published in Nature has uncovered the oldest evidence of the family of microorganisms that cause syphilis. The discovery challenges the theory that Christopher Columbus's crew brought syphilis to Europe from the Americas. The ancient genomes of Treponema pallidum, the bacterium that causes syphilis and other treponemal diseases, were found in human remains from nearly 2,000 years ago on Brazil's southern coast. The genomes were most similar to the subspecies that causes bejel, a disease not typically found in the Americas today. The findings suggest that treponemal diseases have been present for much longer than previously thought and may have originated in Eurasia or Africa.
Remembering Unix Desktops – and What We Can Learn from Them
The author reflects on their experience reviewing Unix desktops in 1993 and discusses the current state of Linux as an important end-user operating system. They highlight the success of macOS X, which is considered the most successful Unix operating system, and discuss the reasons why Windows beat Unix in the past. The author also mentions the challenges faced by Unix companies in creating software development standards and how this is still a problem for the Linux desktop. They credit Linux's success to being open source and having Linus Torvalds as its leader, who has learned to work well with others. The author concludes by stating that Linux has become a top end-user operating system thanks to Android and Chrome OS.
Block Dude (Ti-83) in the Browser
Block Dude (Ti-83) in the Browser is a website that allows users to play the classic game Block Dude on their web browser. The game can be controlled by touch, with gestures such as dragging left, right, up, or down to move the character. The character's actions depend on the direction they are facing, with the ability to pick up or drop blocks, move upwards, and face left or right. The website also offers the option to donate and keep Block Dude free.
Ask HN: Is ChatGPT becoming useless for many tasks?
The author of the post on news.ycombinator.com expresses frustration with ChatGPT 4, an AI coding assistant. They mention that when they asked the tool to convert some code using a simple pattern, it responded with a message saying it couldn't fulfill the request without any explanation or attempt to do something. The author also mentions that even for relatively simple programming tasks, ChatGPT 4 struggled to provide correct implementations or write unit tests without errors. The author concludes that the tool is more of a time waster than useful, suggesting that the hype surrounding AI coding assistants is exaggerated and that developers' jobs are safe for now.
Why good content gets posted on the wrong platform?
The article discusses why good content often gets posted on the wrong platform, such as Twitter or YouTube, instead of being written as a blog post. The author acknowledges that they personally prefer long-form blog posts, but recognizes that many people use platforms like Twitter or video because they get more engagement, their friends are on those platforms, it's lower friction, and it monetizes better. The author also highlights that some individuals may have emotional or practical reasons for choosing a certain platform, such as having ADHD and finding it easier to write tweet threads. The article concludes that while they would prefer content to be hosted on a text blog, the reality is that much of the content wouldn't exist at all if it had to be written as long-form text. (Summary based on 64% of story text.)
U.S. Army Drops Requirement for High School Diploma Amid Recruiting Crisis
The U.S. Army has dropped the requirement for potential recruits to have a high school diploma or GED certificate in an effort to address the recruiting crisis facing the Defense Department. Recruits must still be at least 18 years old and score at least a 50 on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test. The change in policy comes as the Army struggles to meet its recruiting goals, with only 40% of the goals being met this year. The Army has also relaxed its tattoo rules to attract more recruits. The recruiting challenges are occurring in a competitive job market with low unemployment rates.
Reasons to avoid static type checking
The web content discusses reasons to avoid static type checking in Python. It emphasizes that Python's type system is gradual, allowing users to add static types to their codebase only to the extent they want. The content provides several reasons for not using static type checking, including personal preference, readability concerns, cost-benefit ratio, codebase size, high test coverage, complexity of adding type annotations to an old codebase, dynamic frameworks, Hyrum's Law, dissatisfaction with Python type checkers, and the limitations of Python's type checking. The content also offers advice for maintainers of untyped libraries who want to help users who use static type checking.