Niantic announces “Large Geospatial Model” trained on Pokémon Go player data
The linked article is about Niantic's development of a large-scale geospatial machine learning model. The model aims to accurately represent the physical world, including roads, buildings, and other landmarks, in a 3D spatial context. This groundbreaking technology has the potential to enable more immersive augmented reality experiences and enhance location-based applications. The article highlights the challenges Niantic faced in creating this model and the potential benefits it can bring to the industry, laying the foundation for the next generation of location-based services and experiences.
What is the origin of the lake tank image that has become a meme? (2021)
The linked article is about the origin of the "lake tank" image that has become a popular meme. The question explores the history of this image, which depicts a military tank partially submerged in a lake or river. The article suggests that the image may have originated from a real-world incident or training exercise, though the exact source is unclear. The discussion examines various theories and potential explanations for how this image gained traction and became widely recognized as a meme in internet culture.
Building Databases over a Weekend
The linked article is about the process of building databases. It discusses the importance of understanding the problem domain and designing the schema to meet the requirements. The article also emphasizes the need for scalability, performance, and reliability in database design. It covers various database management systems, such as relational and NoSQL databases, and provides guidance on choosing the right one for a project.
Show HN: We open-sourced our compost monitoring tech
The linked article is about a guide for hacking the MontyHome home automation system. It provides information on the hardware components, firmware, and vulnerabilities of the system, with the aim of helping hackers and security researchers understand and potentially exploit the system. The guide covers topics such as firmware analysis, network communication, and potential attack vectors, providing a comprehensive overview of the MontyHome system's security landscape.
Electrobun: Cross-platform desktop applications written in TypeScript
The linked article is about the personal website and blog of Electrobun, a developer and writer who focuses on web development, technology, and the intersection of technology and creativity. The website showcases Electrobun's projects, thoughts, and experiences, providing insights into their work and interests. The content covers a range of topics, including web development techniques, personal reflections, and explorations of the digital realm.
Weight-loss drug found to shrink heart muscle in mice, human cells
The linked article is about a weight loss drug called semaglutide, which has been found to shrink the heart muscle in some patients. The research, conducted by the University of Alberta, shows that while the drug can lead to significant weight loss, it may also have adverse effects on the heart. The study highlights the need for further research and monitoring of the long-term impacts of semaglutide and similar weight loss medications.
Z-Library Helps Students to Overcome Academic Poverty, Study Finds
The linked article is about the Z-Library, an online platform that provides free access to millions of books and academic resources. The study found that Z-Library helps students, particularly those from low-income backgrounds, overcome academic poverty by giving them access to educational materials they otherwise couldn't afford. The article discusses the positive impact Z-Library has had on students' academic performance and the ongoing debate around the legality of such platforms.
Everyone is capable of, and can benefit from, mathematical thinking
AAA – Analytical Anti-Aliasing
The linked article is about analytical anti-aliasing, a technique used in computer graphics to improve the quality of rendered images. It discusses the limitations of traditional anti-aliasing methods and introduces analytical anti-aliasing, which calculates the exact coverage of each pixel by the underlying geometry, resulting in a more accurate and higher-quality image. The article explains the mathematical principles behind analytical anti-aliasing and how it can be implemented in real-time rendering engines, providing a more efficient and effective solution to the problem of aliasing artifacts.
AlphaQubit: AI to identify errors in Quantum Computers
The linked article is about AlphaQubit, a new quantum error correction system developed by Google's DeepMind team. The system uses deep reinforcement learning to optimize the performance of quantum circuits, which are essential for building reliable quantum computers. The article explains how AlphaQubit can help overcome the challenges of quantum error correction, which is a crucial step towards realizing the full potential of quantum computing. It also highlights the potential impact of this technology on the development of practical quantum computers.
Doxx/Darkflare: DarkFlare TCPoCDN (TCP over CDN)
The linked article is about a DarkFlare, an open-source web application firewall (WAF) that provides protection against various web application attacks. It is designed to be easy to configure and deploy, and can be used to protect web applications running on various platforms, including Apache, Nginx, and IIS. The article discusses the features and benefits of DarkFlare, including its ability to detect and block common web application attacks, such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and cross-site request forgery (CSRF). The article also provides information on how to install and configure DarkFlare, as well as how to customize its rules and settings to meet the specific needs of a web application.
Vapi (YC W21) Is Hiring Founding Senior Engineer (Front End)
Undergraduates with family income below $200k will be tuition-free at MIT
The linked article is about MIT's new tuition policy for undergraduate students. Starting in the 2024-2025 academic year, MIT will provide full tuition coverage for students from families with incomes below $150,000 annually. This move aims to make MIT more accessible to students from lower and middle-income backgrounds, aligning with the institute's commitment to diversity and inclusion. The policy is expected to benefit around half of MIT's undergraduate population and further enhance the university's efforts to ensure a world-class education is within reach for talented students regardless of their financial circumstances.
SQL, Homomorphisms and Constraint Satisfaction Problems
The linked article is about using SQL to represent and query graph-like data structures. It discusses the concept of a "common table expression" (CTE) in SQL, which allows for the creation of recursive queries that can traverse and analyze graph-like data. The article provides examples of how to use CTEs to model and query various graph-like data structures, such as hierarchical data and social networks, within a relational database management system.
Fashion History Timeline
New Calculation Finds we are close to the Kessler Syndrome [video]
The linked article is about a YouTube video that explores the concept of AI ethics and the potential risks and concerns associated with the development and deployment of artificial intelligence. The video discusses the importance of ensuring that AI systems are designed and used in a responsible and ethical manner, and highlights the need for robust governance frameworks to address issues such as bias, privacy, and transparency.
How good are American roads?
The linked article is about the quality of American roads and the challenges the country faces in maintaining its infrastructure. It highlights the deteriorating condition of roads across the United States, with many roads and bridges in need of repair or replacement. The article discusses the factors contributing to this problem, including funding shortfalls, the aging of the road network, and the impact of extreme weather events. It also explores potential solutions, such as increased investment in infrastructure and the adoption of new technologies and materials to improve road durability and longevity.
Show HN: Autotab – Programmable AI browser for turning web tasks into APIs
Hey HN, we're Alexi and Jonas the co-founders of Autotab (https://autotab.com). Autotab is a chrome-based browser you can teach to do complex tasks, with a simple API for running them from your app or backend.
Here is a walkthrough of how it works: https://youtu.be/63co74JHy1k, and you can try it for free at https://autotab.com by downloading the app.
Why a dedicated editor?
The number one blocker we've found in building more flexible, agentic automations is performance quality BY FAR (https://www.langchain.com/stateofaiagents#barriers-and-chall...). For all the talk of cost, latency, and safety, the fact is most people are still just struggling to get agents to work. The keys to solving reliability are better models, yes, but also intent specification. Even humans don't zero-shot these tasks from a prompt. They need to be shown how to perform them, and then refined with question-asking + feedback over time. It is also quite difficult to formulate complete requirements on the spot from memory.
The editor makes it easy to build the specification up as you step through your workflow, while generating successful task trajectories for the model. This is the only way we've been able to get the reliability we need for production use cases.
But why build a browser?
Autotab started as a Chrome extension (with a Show HN post! https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37943931). As we iterated with users, we realized that we needed to focus on creating the control surface for intent specification, and that being stuck in a chrome sidepanel wasn't going to work. We also knew that we needed a level of control for the model that we couldn't get without owning the browser. In Autotab, the browser becomes a canvas on which the user and the model are taking turns showing and explaining the task.
Key features:
1. Self-healing automations that don't break when sites change
2. Dedicated authoring tool that builds memory for the model while defining steps for the automation
3. Control flows and deep configurability to keep automations on track, even when navigating complex reasoning tasks
4. Works with any website (no site-specific APIs needed)
5. Runs securely in the cloud or locally
6. Simple REST API + client libraries for Python, Node
We'd love to get any early feedback from the HN community, ideas for where you'd like the product to go, or experiences in this space. We will be in the comments for the next few hours to respond!
Bit-twiddling optimizations in Zed's Rope
The linked article is about the rope optimization techniques used in the Zed text editor. It explains how Zed's rope data structure, a type of self-balancing binary tree, is designed to efficiently handle large text documents by minimizing memory usage and providing fast text editing operations. The article delves into the specific techniques used, such as lazy node updates and in-place updates, and how they contribute to Zed's performance and scalability, particularly when working with large files.
Google stops letting sites like Forbes rule search for "Best CBD Gummies"
The linked article is about Google's efforts to combat "parasite SEO" practices, where low-quality sites copy and repost content from established publishers to rank higher in search results. Google has announced updates to its search algorithm that will penalize such sites, prioritizing original, high-quality content from reputable sources. This move aims to improve the overall user experience and maintain the credibility of Google's search engine.
Does the Internet Route Around Damage? – Baltic Sea Cable Cuts
The linked article is about the impact of cable cuts in the Baltic Sea on internet connectivity. It discusses how the internet is designed to route around physical damage, but significant outages can still occur due to the concentration of critical infrastructure in certain regions. The article examines the resilience of the internet's routing system and the potential consequences of such cable cuts, highlighting the importance of diversifying and strengthening the underlying network infrastructure.
Gregglogger
Pipe Viewer – A Unix Utility You Should Know About
The linked article is about the Pipe Viewer (pv) utility in Unix-like operating systems. Pipe Viewer is a command-line tool that displays the progress of data through a pipeline, providing information such as the transfer rate, the percentage of data processed, and the elapsed time. The article explains how Pipe Viewer can be used to monitor the progress of various operations, such as file transfers, database backups, and network traffic, making it a valuable tool for system administrators and developers.
Apple fights to keep DOJ antitrust suit from reaching trial
The linked article is about Apple's motion to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding alleged antitrust violations. The article states that Apple is arguing that the DOJ's lawsuit fails to provide evidence that the company's App Store practices have harmed consumers or competition. Apple claims that its policies, such as requiring developers to use its in-app payment system, are necessary to protect user privacy and security. The article notes that the outcome of this case could have significant implications for the tech giant's business model and the broader digital ecosystem.
Between the Booms: AI in Winter – Communications of the ACM
The linked article is about the current state of artificial intelligence (AI) and the potential for another "AI winter" - a period of reduced funding and research interest in the field. The article discusses the history of AI hype cycles, the current challenges facing the field, and the need for more realistic expectations and long-term investment in fundamental research to ensure the continued progress and societal benefits of AI technology.
Exploring the Cost and Feasibility of Battery-Electric Ships
Science Talk – What Are Pulsar Planets? (2022)
Bird flu in Canada may have mutated to become more transmissible to humans
The linked article is about the increasing number of bird flu cases in Canada due to a concerning mutation of the virus. The article highlights that the mutation has allowed the virus to spread more easily among humans, raising fears of a potential pandemic. Health officials are closely monitoring the situation and urging the public to take precautions, as the outbreak could have significant implications for human and animal health if it continues to evolve.
Show HN: Cardo ‒ Open Source desktop podcast client
Show HN: Cardo - Open Source Desktop Podcast Client
Hi, I'm an amateur developer from Spain. I have released this desktop podcast client that works on Windows, Mac and Linux.
It's a modest project, but it might be useful for you, it has syncing capabilities with Antennapod, Kasts, Repod or other clients. You can manage your subscriptions, queue episodes and even download them to listen to later.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts.
Europe's Internet resilience mitigates impact of submarine cable cuts
The linked article is about the resilience of internet connectivity and the challenges faced by Cloudflare in maintaining reliable connections during the Baltic cable cuts. It describes how Cloudflare's global network and routing strategies enabled them to quickly adapt and reroute traffic, ensuring minimal disruption to their customers. The article highlights the importance of redundancy and diverse connectivity options in maintaining a resilient internet infrastructure, especially in the face of unexpected events like cable cuts.