Non-IT News Thread
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@nadnerb said in Non-IT News Thread:
@mlnews said in Non-IT News Thread:
US lab stands on threshold of key nuclear fusion goal
A US science institute is on the verge of achieving a longstanding goal in nuclear fusion research.
The National Ignition Facility uses a powerful laser to heat and compress hydrogen fuel, initiating fusion. An experiment suggests the goal of "ignition", where the energy released by fusion exceeds that delivered by the laser, is now within touching distance. Harnessing fusion, the process that powers the Sun, could provide a limitless, clean energy source. In a process called inertial confinement fusion, 192 beams from NIF's laser - the highest-energy example in the world - are directed towards a peppercorn-sized capsule containing deuterium and tritium, which are different forms of the element hydrogen.Images of Stargate Atlantis come to mind. Specifically where Rodney wipes out a Solar System.
I thought that's what the Large Hadron Collider was for?
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Hurricane heading to Mexico's Yucatan. Expected to be pretty rough. Our office there is preparing with stockpiling water and getting ready to go offline.
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@scottalanmiller said in Non-IT News Thread:
Hurricane heading to Mexico's Yucatan. Expected to be pretty rough. Our office there is preparing with stockpiling water and getting ready to go offline.
Was watching some of the recent notices on the National Hurricane Center and visualizing where the office is and how it would track your direction.
Stay safe - do you know where 'higher' ground is and the route to get there?
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@gjacobse said in Non-IT News Thread:
@scottalanmiller said in Non-IT News Thread:
Hurricane heading to Mexico's Yucatan. Expected to be pretty rough. Our office there is preparing with stockpiling water and getting ready to go offline.
Was watching some of the recent notices on the National Hurricane Center and visualizing where the office is and how it would track your direction.
Stay safe - do you know where 'higher' ground is and the route to get there?
As he is on the pacific coast and in Nicaragua, not the Yucatán peninsula, not close.
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@jaredbusch said in Non-IT News Thread:
@gjacobse said in Non-IT News Thread:
@scottalanmiller said in Non-IT News Thread:
Hurricane heading to Mexico's Yucatan. Expected to be pretty rough. Our office there is preparing with stockpiling water and getting ready to go offline.
Was watching some of the recent notices on the National Hurricane Center and visualizing where the office is and how it would track your direction.
Stay safe - do you know where 'higher' ground is and the route to get there?
As he is on the pacific coast and in Nicaragua, not the Yucatán peninsula, not close.
While it may have seemed implied - but I do know where House Miller is - and just how much farther South it is to most historically tracked hurricanes.
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Nature: Rattlesnakes' sound 'trick' fools human ears
Rattlesnakes have evolved a clever method of convincing humans that danger is closer than they think, say scientists.
The sounds of their shaking tail get louder as a person approaches, but then suddenly switches to a much higher frequency. In tests, the rapid change in sound made participants believe the snake was much nearer than it was in reality. The researchers say the trait evolved to help snakes avoid being trampled on. The sibilant sound of the rattlesnake's tail has long been a movie cliché. The tell tale rattle is made by the rapid shaking together of hard rings of keratin at the tip of the reptiles' tails. Keratin is same protein that makes up our fingernails and hair. -
Something we have discussed in here a few times.
Elon Musk says we need universal basic income because 'in the future, physical work will be a choice'
Tesla CEO Elon Musk is stepping behind the universal basic income movement because of the potential rise of robots — in fact, he's working on one himself.
During a Thursday presentation on artificial intelligence (AI) hosted by Tesla, Musk said he is working on creating a "Tesla Bot," or a robot that would do "dangerous, repetitive, and boring tasks" so humans don't have to. But Musk recognized that the creation of this robot might take the place of jobs that people are currently getting paid for, which is why he said a guaranteed income will likely be necessary in the future.
"Essentially, in the future, physical work will be a choice," Musk said during the presentation. "This is why I think long term there will need to be a universal basic income," he added.
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@jaredbusch said in Non-IT News Thread:
Something we have discussed in here a few times.
Elon Musk says we need universal basic income because 'in the future, physical work will be a choice'
Tesla CEO Elon Musk is stepping behind the universal basic income movement because of the potential rise of robots — in fact, he's working on one himself.
During a Thursday presentation on artificial intelligence (AI) hosted by Tesla, Musk said he is working on creating a "Tesla Bot," or a robot that would do "dangerous, repetitive, and boring tasks" so humans don't have to. But Musk recognized that the creation of this robot might take the place of jobs that people are currently getting paid for, which is why he said a guaranteed income will likely be necessary in the future.
"Essentially, in the future, physical work will be a choice," Musk said during the presentation. "This is why I think long term there will need to be a universal basic income," he added.
Us all in the future
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Afghanistan: The desperate scramble to escape
"Get back, get back," screamed the British soldier at a crowd gathered in front of the secure compound where those being evacuated by the UK embassy are taken before flying out.
In front of him, many frantically waved their British passports in the air, hoping to be allowed through but a group of Afghan security guards wielding rubber hoses tried to push them back. Many in the crowd had not received any indication they would be evacuated, but had pitched up in any case, desperate for a route out of Afghanistan. Others, however, had received emails from the embassy telling them arrive here, and wait to be processed for a flight. -
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Pfizer becomes first Covid vaccine to gain full FDA approval
Pfizer's two-dose Covid-19 vaccine has received full approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) - the first jab to be licensed in the nation.
The vaccine had initially been given emergency use authorisation. Its two jabs, three weeks apart, are now fully approved for those aged 16 and older. The approval is expected to set off more vaccine mandates by employers and organisations across the country. It comes amid lingering vaccine hesitancy among many Americans. In a statement, the FDA said its review for approval included data from approximately 44,000 people. The vaccine, which will now be marketed as Comirnaty, was found to be 91% effective in preventing Covid disease. Acting FDA commissioner Janet Woodcock said that the public "can be very confident" the vaccine meets high safety, effectiveness and manufacturing quality standards. -
Airbnb offers free accommodation for 20,000 Afghan refugees
Online accommodation platform Airbnb has said it will house 20,000 Afghan refugees at no charge to help them resettle across the world.
The company's boss said the move was in response to "one of the biggest humanitarian crises of our time". He said the firm felt a responsibility to step up. Chief executive Brian Chesky added: "I hope this inspires other business leaders to do the same. There's no time to waste." "As tens of thousands of Afghan refugees resettle around the world, where they stay will be the first chapter in their new lives. For these 20,000 refugees, my hope is that the Airbnb community will provide them with not only a safe place to rest and start over, but also a warm welcome home." he said. -
South Korea becomes first major Asian economy to raise interest rates
South Korea has become the first major Asian economy to raise interest rates since the coronavirus pandemic began.
The Bank of Korea increased its base rate of interest from a record low of 0.5% to 0.75%. The move is aimed at helping curb the country's household debt and home prices, which soared in recent months. Central banks around the world are trying to balance the impact of ongoing Covid-19 infections against economic risks such as high inflation. It is the first time the Bank of Korea has raised its main interest rate for almost three years. The decision comes as the central bank attempts to balance helping to support the country's economic recovery against the risks of surging debt and rising inflation. Policy makers for Asia's fourth largest economy had been signalling that they were ready to increase the cost of borrowing since May. -
Covid: Vaccine complications dwarfed by virus risks
A major review of vaccines suggests the AstraZeneca jab does raise the risk of blood clots and another serious condition that can cause bleeding.
But the study found the risk of such problems following a coronavirus infection was still much higher. The University of Oxford-led team also found an increased risk of stroke after the Pfizer jab - but again at a much lower rate than after infection. The team said it once again showed the "substantial" benefit of vaccination. It comes after a coroner ruled on Thursday that BBC Radio Newcastle presenter Lisa Shaw died because of complications from the AstraZeneca jab. The 44-year-old died in May after developing headaches a week after getting her first dose. She suffered blood clots in the brain. -
Hurricane Ida: One million people in Louisiana without power
A million people are without power in Louisiana from Hurricane Ida, which has been downgraded to a tropical storm.
Ida brought 150mph (240km/h) winds when it made landfall, leaving a trail of destruction through the state before passing into Mississippi. One person was killed when a tree fell on their home in Ascension Parish, in Louisiana's Baton Rouge area. However, the full scale of the destruction will only become clear as the day goes on, officials said. "Daylight will bring horrific images as the damage is assessed", tweeted Shauna Sanford, communications director for the Louisiana Governor. President Joe Biden had previously said Ida would be "life-threatening", with the National Hurricane Center warning that heavy rain could still cause flooding in parts of the state. -
Caldor fire: Lake Tahoe deserted as Californians evacuate
Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated from the shores of Lake Tahoe in northern California as a major wildfire continues to spread.
The Caldor Fire has already burned more than 191,000 acres, with just 16% of the fire brought under control. More than 3,500 firefighters have been deployed to combat the blaze, which began more than two weeks ago. One hospital has been forced to evacuate, with patients transferred to other facilities in the region. Five people have been injured, while more than 700 properties have been damaged or destroyed, according to authorities. -
International Space Station facing irreparable failures, Russia warns
The International Space Station (ISS) could suffer "irreparable" failures due to outdated equipment and hardware, a Russian official has warned.
At least 80 percent of in-flight systems on the Russian segment of the ISS had passed their expiry date, Vladimir Solovyov told state media. He also said small cracks had been discovered that could worsen over time. Russia has often raised concerns over hardware and has suggested it could leave the ISS after 2025. The station was built in 1998 as part of a joint project between Russia, America, Canada, Japan and several European countries and was originally designed for a 15-year lifespan. Mr Solovyov, the chief engineer at the space company Energia, which is the leading developer of Russia's section of the ISS, said: "Literally a day after the [in-flight] systems are fully exhausted, irreparable failures may begin." -
Afghanistan: Fate of Panjshir Valley in balance amid heavy fighting
The fate of Afghanistan's Panjshir Valley - the final holdout against Taliban control - hangs in the balance as heavy fighting continues.
Taliban sources told Reuters news agency that they had seized the area, but the resistance fighters they are battling denied this. One of the resistance leaders, Amrullah Saleh, dismissed claims he had fled, but said the situation was "difficult". The fighting in Panjshir is reported to have left hundreds dead. The valley, north of the capital Kabul, is one of Afghanistan's smallest provinces and the only one not to have fallen to the Taliban. The traditional anti-Taliban stronghold is home to somewhere between 150,000 and 200,000 people, and is hidden behind mountain peaks. The resistance - which includes former Afghan security force members and local militias - is led by local tribal leader Ahmad Massoud. His father successfully fought the Soviets who invaded in the 1980s, and the Taliban in the 1990s. -
@mlnews said in Non-IT News Thread:
Afghanistan: Fate of Panjshir Valley in balance amid heavy fighting
The fate of Afghanistan's Panjshir Valley - the final holdout against Taliban control - hangs in the balance as heavy fighting continues.
Taliban sources told Reuters news agency that they had seized the area, but the resistance fighters they are battling denied this. One of the resistance leaders, Amrullah Saleh, dismissed claims he had fled, but said the situation was "difficult". The fighting in Panjshir is reported to have left hundreds dead. The valley, north of the capital Kabul, is one of Afghanistan's smallest provinces and the only one not to have fallen to the Taliban. The traditional anti-Taliban stronghold is home to somewhere between 150,000 and 200,000 people, and is hidden behind mountain peaks. The resistance - which includes former Afghan security force members and local militias - is led by local tribal leader Ahmad Massoud. His father successfully fought the Soviets who invaded in the 1980s, and the Taliban in the 1990s.And the US in the 2000s.
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James Webb: Hubble successor given mid-December launch date
It's a date for your diary and one that's not to be missed.
The $10bn James Webb Space Telescope is expected to launch on 18 December. Yes, countless targeted lift-offs have come and gone in the past, but this one has a reality to it that the others didn't: the successor observatory to Hubble is now actually built. All that is required is to ship the finished telescope to French Guiana, put it on the top of an Ariane rocket, light the engines and stand well back. "It's fantastic for everybody; it's a real boost for all those that have worked on the project," said Prof Gillian Wright, the senior UK scientist on Webb who co-leads one of the telescope's four instrument packages.
