#groundbreaking tech developments

[bhawaybhalla]

11 Mind-Blowing AI Image Generators That Will Unleash Your Inner Artist (No Brush Needed!)

Tired of staring at a blank canvas? Struggling to translate your vision into reality? Enter the era of AI-powered creativity, where imagination meets algorithms to birth stunning visuals in seconds. Buckle up, art enthusiasts and curious minds, because we’re about to explore the top 11 AI image generators that will revolutionize your artistic expression. Why AI Image Generators Are the New…

[dailyworldecho]

[prophecieds]

wanted plots based on stories from greek mythology.

psyche and eros. muse a, despite their beauty and alluring presence seen and felt by everyone who meets them, has never been in a relationship before. it was adorable when they were young, but now that they’re in their mid - twenties, it’s becoming sort of pathetic. so muse a decides to join a popular dating app. they match with muse b, a mysterious user who doesn’t even have any recognizable pictures on their profile, but they immediately develop a connection despite muse b refusing to reveal their identity. little does muse a know, muse b is a tech billionaire and the founder of the app itself, but has sworn off public attention and romantic vulnerability. drawn to muse a’s sincerity, muse b breaks their own rules and begins a secret relationship with muse a—on the condition that they never try to find out who muse b really is.

helen and paris. muse is married to a powerful senator—polished, admired, and constantly in the public eye. they’re seen as the perfect political spouse. but behind closed doors, their life is scripted, controlled, and painfully hollow. then comes muse b—a young, charming foreign diplomat’s son / daughter visiting from abroad. muse b offers muse a something no one else has: escape. what begins as a fleeting connection at a political gala becomes an affair that ignites international scandal when muse a vanishes with muse b without a word.

andromeda and perseus. muse a is from a high - profile political family. when a photo of them is leaked in connection to a crime they didn’t commit, the media turns them into a scapegoat—framing them as reckless, spoiled, and dangerous. to protect their reputation, muse a’s family cuts them off, leaving them to take the fall alone. enter muse b, an investigative journalist. while chasing a story on corruption and cover - ups, they stumble across muse a’s case and suspects there’s more beneath the headlines. against warnings from their editors and threats from powerful people, muse b digs deeper and helps muse a disappear from the public eye.

persephone and hades. muse a is an aspiring artist, open - minded and warm, constantly seeking new experiences. muse b is a once celebrated artist, but their life was shattered by a public scandal that forced them into seclusion. they now run an underground art gallery, where muse a has decided to work at. the two form an unlikely bond over art, and their attraction becomes undeniable. muse a is drawn to the complexity of muse b’s world, and muse b is captivated by the light muse a brings into their darkness. but as their connection deepens, muse a begins to question if they can ever truly leave the shadows of muse b’s world behind, and muse b must confront their own demons before they can fully accept the love that muse a offers.

aphrodite and hephaestus. muse a is a genius mechanic and inventor, the quiet, unassuming mastermind behind some of the most groundbreaking technologies in the world. muse b is the epitome of glamour, beauty, and social power. a supermodel adored by millions. the two met years ago, before the fame and the glamour. back then, they were everything to each other—muse b was muse a’s muse, their reason to live, and muse a was muse b’s sanctuary. their love was simple and deep, until muse b’s growing fame tore them apart. but years later, when their paths cross once again, the unresolved love between them burns fiercely, hotter than ever. muse a is still broken, still scarred by the betrayal. muse b, too, is now just as damaged—their perfect life a mask for the regret and guilt they carry for leaving muse a behind. yet neither can deny the connection and chemistry that’s always existed between them. muse a wants to believe in muse b again, but they can’t forget how muse b abandoned them. muse b wants nothing more than to show muse a they’ve changed, but they don’t know if muse a will ever trust them again.

[princesssmars]

victoria with lab tech reader…nsfw.

when you were approached at your basic post-grad biomedical science research program with the opportunity to "study and develop a potentially groundbreaking medication", you immediately, but politely, called bullshit. but your boss and coworkers encouraged you once they heard the pay, so you accepted.

it was…challenging to say the least.

the lab and the workers were shady as hell, not telling you any details about the company you were working for, if you were even working for a company, what exactly this medication was for, etc etc. but the pay really was good, enough to help you splurge on yourself while also saving and paying off your student loans, so you couldn’t really complain.

after about two months of great work and progress on your tasks, the leads of your team told you that one of the head donors would like to “talk about utilizing your full potential”. you were expecting further praise for your work and maybe a pay boost, not to walk into an office with the super attractive congresswoman you’d seen on tv sitting at the desk.

she has just as much mysterious charisma as she had then, keeping eye contact as she pulls out your chair, waiting for you to sit before she places herself on top of the desk, pantsuit-covered leg only a few inches from yours. she gives you a mini rundown of why she personally picked you out from your university and she's been keeping a close eye on your personal progress to develop a cure for an unknown but deadly disease you had been keeping track of.

"so that's why im here? we're working on a disease?"

"yeah, you could say that."

her smile unnerves you but you don't mention it. nor do you bring up how weird it feels that a congresswoman would be following your manic studies over a disease that only ten thousand people in the world had. you do have to reel in your ego slightly, figuring this meant that your theories were legitimate.

things are weird after that. now that you have some more hints about what you are actually doing your work starts to move along slowly, even impressing your lead with the progress you started to make.

ok, maybe a tiny little part of it was so that when victoria came in on her weekly walk-throughs she'd observe your work and give you that pretty smile of hers, maybe even a 'great job, hun' if you were lucky.

as the weeks went by and the medication came along her affection only grew in intensity, from leaving coffee at your workstation to inviting you to take lunch breaks with her. it was odd and completely unprofessional, but when those slender fingers would move one of your stray hairs back in place while telling a story you couldn't find it in yourself to care.

but then it happens - that dreaded period in any medical science where just one stupid little thing stumps you for a week. you should be used to it at this point, having been through this process since you bought your first microscope in middle school. it doesn't make it any easier to power through though, especially when you know everyone on your team is depending on you to finish up your labs.

so now you've resorted to this, three red bulls and a heap of paperwork around you while you frantically rework the math on some of the work you need to turn in. you're a few minutes away from slumping over when a loud door slam forces you upright, looking to the entryway to make eye contact with victoria.

you dont know how it happens but you go from hunched over in your chair to lying on the comfy couch in her office, a short blanket draped over your body as you drowsily explain your conundrum to the older woman. she nods along the entire time, a soft hand rubbing up and down the bare expanse of your arm while she listens to your rambling.

'what on earth are you doing?' your brain asks yourself when you shift closer to her body that's sitting next to you, head delicately resting in her lap. 'are you really going to jeopardize your career like this?' when your eyes flutter when she runs her hand over your cheek and down your neck. she leans her head down ever so slowly until her lips are just barely pressing into yours, corners pulling up when she sees you arch your back in wait for her neck action.

"but you'll figure it out for me, won't you smart girl?"

you solved the problem the next morning.

i dont even wanna write for her GIVE HER BACK TO ME

[jungkoode]

So... This Is awkward but we need to talk about plagiarism.

*taps microphone nervously* Hi everyone. It's your sleep-deprived disaster Kiki here. This isn't my usual chaotic author note where I scream about Jeon being emotionally constipated. Today we're talking about something more serious: plagiarism in our fanfiction community.

I've spent the last few days in a bizarre twilight zone where I had to defend MY OWN WORK from being copied. Wild, right? Not how I planned to spend my week when I could've been writing smut instead. (ノಠ益ಠ)ノ彡┻━┻

So! The situation.

Multiple readers contacted me about similarities between my fic Kkangpae and another work by Tumblr user jeonluvz called "Project Architect." Initially, I dismissed it. Gang AUs aren't exactly groundbreaking territory and creative overlap happens. But then I actually READ the work in question.

What I found wasn't just shared tropes or general vibes—it was specific, detailed replication of:

- Character assignments (identical roles for multiple BTS members).

- Setting details (down to the card-scanning system in the facility).

- Plot progression (same sequence of events, same turning points).

- Scene-by-scene recreation with only superficial changes.

Now let’s talk about coincidence vs. copying—because I’m a nerd like that.

In academic research on creative plagiarism, experts like Rebecca Moore Howard (Syracuse University) have discussed what's called "patchwriting" (= basically taking specific elements from source material and recombining them with minimal changes). This is different from being inspired by general genre conventions.

(Also, Dr. Thomas Mallon, in his book "Stolen Words," describes the difference between: drawing from the same creative well (using common tropes) and recreating specific unique choices made by another author, btw!)

Now. Let me break down the concrete evidence:

Character assignment and world building.

- Both stories have a division system with coincidental names (Seduction, Stealth, Medical…)

- Both stories feature exactly the same division system with Jeon as Tactical Chief, V as his rival, J-Hope as Medical Chief, Yoongi as Tech Chief, etc.

- Both use identical codename systems (where codenames must be earned).

- Both have the SAME codenames for key characters (Jungkook as "Jeon", Tae as "V").

- Both feature identical hierarchy structures where chiefs are higher-ups.

These aren't generic gang tropes—they're SPECIFIC creative choices I made for Kkangpae. I went through MULTIPLE codenames and hierarchy structures (military, boat system, I have my old scrappy notebook for reference, I’ll pull out the receipts if needed).

Scenes.

- Both begin with the reader sneaking into the empty cafeteria early due to strict serving times (pastries vs croissants btw).

- Both follow with the exact same cafeteria-to-Jeon interaction sequence.

- Both feature a joint training exercise that turns into paintball (ch 4 in my fic).

- Both have rules unexpectedly changed mid-exercise by V/Jeon.

- Both have the reader get separated/left behind and targeted by V.

- Both have the reader injured (ankle in mine, ribs in theirs) followed by Jeon's intervention.

- Both culminate in an identical confrontation between Jeon and V about the training, injury, and past issues.

This isn't coincidental alignment. This is scene-by-scene recreation.

Now, let’s go back to nerd stuff, because that’s just how I am: the statistical IMPOSSIBILITY.

Let's talk math for a sec. The probability of independently creating a story with ALL these specific elements in the SAME sequence is astronomically low. Dr. Mark Glickman, a statistics professor at Harvard, developed models to detect plagiarism that show how unique combinations of elements become statistical fingerprints of original work.

If you randomly selected character roles for 7 BTS members from even just 10 possible roles, the probability of independently matching the exact configuration I created is 1 in 604,800. Add in the identical scene progression, and we're talking lottery-winning odds.

WHAT PLAGIARISM ACTUALLY IS.

Plagiarism isn't limited to word-for-word copying. According to the Modern Language Association and academic integrity researchers, plagiarism includes:

- "Mosaic plagiarism" - taking specific scenes, structures and sequences while changing surface details.

- "Structure plagiarism" - copying the underlying architecture of a creative works.

- "Idea plagiarism" - appropriating unique creative concepts and their specific implementation.

This isn't about "both stories have gangs" or "both use paintball"—it's about the highly specific combination and implementation of these elements in the exact same pattern.

NOW. MY ATTEMPT AT RESOLUTION. I will be attaching SSs too to be fully transparent.

I approached the author privately first, explaining my concerns respectfully. I provided specific examples and suggested solutions like:

- Significant revision to create more originality.

- Acknowledging inspiration from Kkangpae.

- Removing the most directly copied elements.

Their response was to dismiss these concerns without addressing any of the specific examples I provided, claim their work was entirely original, and refuse to engage further.

Fanfiction exists in a unique space. We're all creating derivative works based on our love for BTS. But within this community, we still respect each other's creative contributions. The structure, plot, character dynamics, and unique world-building elements I created for Kkangpae represent hours of planning, writing, and creative energy.

When someone takes those specific creative choices and recreates them with only minimal changes, it devalues the time and effort that went into the original work. It's like copying someone's art and just changing the colors.

I'm not here for drama or to "cancel" anyone. I genuinely believe in resolving creative disputes respectfully. What I'm asking for is:

1. Recognition that specific, extensive similarities exist between these works.

2. Respect for the creative effort that goes into original story concepts, even within fanfiction.

3. Understanding that appropriating another writer's unique fictional framework isn't "just inspiration".

I've documented everything, including my attempts at private resolution, but I'd rather not have to pursue formal actions through DMCA claims.

Finally, to my readers and my writer girlies! 🩷

Thank you for bringing this to my attention and for supporting my work. Also thank you to all my writer girlies who validated my concerns and saw the similarities as well. Your enthusiasm for Kkangpae keeps me motivated even when I keepwondering why I made Jeon so emotionally constipated (the answer is because it's hot, obviously).

I'll still be updating regularly because no way am I letting this derail our journey through the disaster that is Y/N and Jeon's inability to admit they have feelings. The story continues!

Love you all (except Jeon who doesn't deserve rights after the stunt he pulled in the last chapter).

P.S. If you're curious about the academic side of creative plagiarism, I recommend Rebecca Moore Howard's "Standing in the Shadow of Giants" and Thomas Mallon's "Stolen Words" for more information.

[mpbbcfan]

Arthur, the man who chose his own pattern of baldness, found that his deliberate transformation sparked something unexpected within him. Before, he'd been a talented but somewhat hesitant software developer, often overlooked in meetings and lacking a certain gravitas. But the day he meticulously crafted his Norwood 7 by choice, something shifted.

The act itself, the decisive taking control of his appearance, seemed to unlock a new level of self-assuredness. He no longer worried about fleeting trends or maintaining a perfect hairstyle. His look was bold, definitive. It projected an image of confidence, of a man comfortable in his own skin, unconventional as it might be.

He started pitching his ideas at work with a newfound conviction. His presentations were sharper, his voice more resonant. People listened. There was an undeniable aura of authority that seemed to emanate from him. He wasn't trying to fit in; he was owning his unique presence.

One day, during a crucial meeting with potential investors, his directness and unwavering belief in his vision, coupled with his distinctive appearance, made a lasting impression. They saw not just a brilliant mind, but a leader, someone who dared to be different. The funding came through.

His startup flourished. His unconventional approach to problem-solving, now amplified by his confident demeanor, led to groundbreaking innovations. The media took notice. Articles highlighted his unique story, the man who chose his baldness, the visionary who disrupted the tech industry.

With success came wealth, but more importantly, a profound sense of self-acceptance. The deliberate shedding of his hair had somehow stripped away layers of insecurity he hadn't even realized were there. He embraced a more minimalist style, favoring tailored suits that accentuated his strong features. He hit the gym regularly, channeling his newfound drive into physical fitness.

He became known not just for his business acumen, but for his commanding presence. There was a raw masculinity about him, not in a traditional sense, but in his unapologetic authenticity and the quiet power he exuded. He was decisive, focused, and utterly comfortable in his own skin.

Arthur often reflected on that Tuesday afternoon with a sense of wonder. What began as a personal aesthetic choice had inadvertently become a catalyst for profound personal and professional growth. He hadn't just chosen a hairstyle; he had chosen a new version of himself, one that was bolder, more confident, and ultimately, incredibly successful. His male pattern baldness, a deliberate act of self-creation, had become an integral part of his identity as a self-made millionaire and a man who truly owned his power.

[ts-wicked-wonders]

1. George Washington Carver (1864–1943):

An agricultural chemist, Carver developed alternative farming methods and is best known for his work with peanuts, introducing crop rotation techniques to improve soil fertility.

2. Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson (b. 1946):

A theoretical physicist, Dr. Jackson was the first African-American woman to earn a doctorate from MIT. Her research in physics led to advancements in telecommunications, including developments in caller ID and fiber-optic cables.

3. Katherine Johnson (1918–2020):

A mathematician whose calculations of orbital mechanics were critical to the success of U.S. crewed spaceflights, including John Glenn’s orbital mission in 1962. Her story gained widespread recognition through the book and film “Hidden Figures.”

4. Dr. Gladys West (b. 1930):

A mathematician whose work on satellite geodesy models was instrumental in the development of the Global Positioning System (GPS).

5. Roy L. Clay Sr. (1929–2024):

Known as the “Godfather of Silicon Valley,” Clay was a computer scientist who led the team that developed Hewlett-Packard’s first minicomputer and was instrumental in breaking racial barriers in the tech industry.

6. Dr. Mae Jemison (b. 1956):

A physician and NASA astronaut, Dr. Jemison became the first African-American woman to travel in space aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour in 1992.

7. Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson (b. 1958):

An astrophysicist and science communicator, Dr. Tyson has made significant contributions to the public’s understanding of space and science through his work at the Hayden Planetarium and various media appearances.

8. Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett (b. 1986):

An immunologist who played a leading role in the development of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, contributing to the fight against the global pandemic.

9. Dr. Daniel Hale Williams (1856–1931):

A pioneering surgeon, Dr. Williams performed one of the first successful open-heart surgeries in 1893. He also founded Provident Hospital in Chicago, the first non-segregated hospital in the United States.

10. Dr. Patricia Bath (1942–2019):

An ophthalmologist and inventor, Dr. Bath was the first African American woman to receive a medical patent. She invented the Laserphaco Probe, a device used to treat cataracts, significantly advancing eye surgery.

11. Dr. Charles Drew (1904–1950):

A physician and medical researcher, Dr. Drew developed improved techniques for blood storage and organized large-scale blood banks during World War II, saving countless lives. He was also the first African American to earn a Doctor of Medical Science degree from Columbia University.

12. Dr. James E. West (b. 1931):

An acoustician and inventor, Dr. West co-invented the electret microphone, a device used in approximately 90% of modern microphones, including those in telephones and hearing aids. He holds over 250 patents and has been a strong advocate for diversity in STEM fields.

13. Dr. Thomas Mensah (1950–2024):

A chemical engineer, Dr. Mensah made significant contributions to the development of fiber optic technology, which revolutionized telecommunications. He held 14 patents and was inducted into the National Academy of Inventors in 2015.

14. Marian Croak (b. 1955):

A computer scientist, Croak pioneered Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology, enabling voice communication over the internet. She holds over 200 patents and was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2022.

15. Dr. David Blackwell (1919–2010):

A renowned mathematician and statistician, Dr. Blackwell was the first African American inducted into the National Academy of Sciences. He made significant contributions to game theory, probability theory, and information theory.

These individuals represent just a few of the many Black pioneers who have made groundbreaking contributions to science and technology. Their work continues to inspire future generations in STEM fields.

[ptseti]

Jesse Russell: The Hidden Architect of the Cell Phone Revolution When we talk about game-changers in technology, names like Steve Jobs and Bill Gates dominate the conversation. But one name that deserves recognition is Jesse Russell, a pioneering engineer whose innovations laid the foundation for the modern cell phone. Born in Nashville in 1948, Russell’s brilliance took him from Tennessee State University to AT&T Bell Labs, where he became the first African American Director of AT&T’s Cellular Telecommunication Lab. His groundbreaking work led to the development of the first digital cellular base station, a critical advancement that made wireless communication more efficient and accessible. Before Russell, mobile networks relied on bulky analog systems with limited capacity. His innovations in digital cellular technology revolutionized mobile communication, allowing for the widespread adoption of cell phones we rely on today. Despite his monumental contributions, Russell’s name is often left out of tech history. His work didn’t just change the telecom industry—it changed how we connect with the world. So next time you make a call or send a text, remember the unsung innovator who helped make it possible. Jesse Russell isn’t just a name in history—he’s a legacy in every pocket.

[eretzyisrael]

Good News From Israel

In the 29th Dec 24 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:

Three Israelis were saved by skilled surgeons and Israeli tech.

An Arab Israeli saved Jewish girls and a Haredi Jew volunteers in an Arab town.

Israel has launched its first home grown quantum computer.

Israeli defense systems protect the USA and Europe.

A pro-Israeli American uses comedy videos to change minds.

Chanukah-period plaster has been found preserved in “cave pearls”.

Read More: Good News from Israel

The lights of the Jewish festival of Chanukah are a metaphor for many of the articles in this week's newsletter. Patients suffering from serious chronic diseases will be de-lighted by the results of recent Israeli medical trials which could be the light at the end of a long tunnel. Separately, one Israeli tech system illuminated the path for surgeons to extract a bullet from a Nova survivor's brain, while another helped them remove a tumor from a teenager's spine. A pregnant Israeli woman will now be able to see the light, thanks to the removal of a tumor from her optic nerve. And at the other end of the spectrum, Israeli doctors used a groundbreaking single dose of radiation to cure a patient from a deadly heart condition. Israeli continues to be a Light to the Nations by repairing children's hearts in Zambia; opening an innovation center in France; showcasing climate tech in Paris; winning research prizes in Belgium; celebrating 75 years of ties with Argentina; protecting Christians, Druze and Kurds in Syria and Lebanon; donating Christmas trees in Jerusalem; and delivering defense systems to the USA and Europe. Israeli scientists recently developed a new form of pure polarized light for high-precision optics; a new Israeli quantum computer processes information faster than the speed of light; and even off-grid Israeli Bedouins are installing solar energy systems. Meanwhile, Intel's previously extinguished "Ignite" startup accelerator has been re-ignited! Finally, as Chanukah lights are being lit all over Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, Syria and globally, a 96-year-old woman from New York alighted at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion airport, making Aliyah to the de-light of her 84 descendants from five generations. The photo is of candles for the 3rd night of Chanukah, lit prior to Shabbat. They include extra sets for soldiers, hostages, and the wounded who cannot light their own candles.

[stanwixbuster]

jynx absolutely fascinates me as a game dev because they're like. inspiration but in the opposite way of literally everything they've ever done

jynx decided they want to make touhou-like shmups, and decided to approach this by building most patterns around extremely fast bullets relying entirely on player reaction or having already seen a pattern before, infamously the most disliked and player-antagonistic way of approaching bullet hells

jynx added a great iteration on touhou-like shmups with flash bombing, an infinitely regenerating way to clear bullets if you put yourself in active danger in contrast to the use of bombs as a safe but finite resource, and then made sure you could only use it if you aren't focusing your shots, which you spend over 90% of a touhou-like doing

jynx created "absurdly extra" stages just as a complete fuck you to the player. half of them are humanly impossible to complete

jynx's version of character development is to add more characters. jynx will drop one of the most fascinating backstories you've ever heard that has groundbreaking and sweeping impacts on len'en lore, yet somehow being entirely consistent with it, and then proceed to do literally nothing and minutes later introduce another character with one of the most fascinating backstories you've ever heard. len'en has 40+ characters and all of them have been in perpetual Big Things Are Coming hell for over half a decade

jynx has spent over an alledged 15 years working on the world and lore in mugenri and the outside world, desperately wants to share this and continually mentions the short stories and lore dumps they write, which we never see, because they have somehow convinced themself the only way to show this story is through touhou-likes, which are notable for showing "story" as an excuse for people to shoot bullets at each other

jynx treats feature creep like an arms race. there isn't a single idea they come up with that doesn't end up in a game or is planned to at a later date. len'en 4 is still technically unfinished despite it having enough paths to dwarf all the previous len'en games combined thrice over and featuring the entire cast of the series in it (i will stress again, 40+ characters), and they've promised a dlc with even more stuff to do

jynx wanted to make a mobile cafe management simulator after having made nothing but bullet hell shmups on pc, just because it sounded fun, realised their previous tools couldn't make mobile games well, realised they'd be going in entirely blind on a new tech stack, realised they'd be going in blind on a genre they have no experience with, decided to tag on a second entire game to the cafe management with a turn-based rpg, realised they also have no experience with that genre, continued anyway, learnt how to use unity from the ground up, realised the multitude of issues unity development brings, decided every single character also needed to be in this one with unique boss battles, realised the problems of having 40+ character assets and 5min+ music themes in a mobile game that very infamously is a platform you need to stick to strict asset and tech limitations, decided to stream in assets from a server, made it a live service game because it would be online and that was an obvious next step, stuck through it, totalling in five years of dev time to make a full "gacha" game that is generous beyond belief and makes them a net zero in ad revenue vs server costs

jynx iterates nothing. literally everything you see in their games is the first go and if it sucks, too bad

jynx creates all their music with default fl studio sounds and the touhou trumpet. everything's unmixed. they earnestly believe that loud = better

jynx, allegedly, "blacks out" when making music after hitting some kind of flow state, and wakes up with a complete track. like everything else, these are never iterated on

jynx wrote the entirety of len'en 4's 100,000+ word script in one week. i don't even have a funny comment for this one

jynx doesn't think len'en would fit the format of a visual novel despite the fact len'en 4 has a 100,000+ word script

jynx refuses to collab with anyone for any reason. motives unclear

jynx did three 12 hour back-to-back livestreams crunching to finish book of the cafe. literally no part of this is a good idea

jynx is like the quintessential representation of everything you shouldn't do as a game dev. they should have burnt out years ago and been remembered as nothing but a random quirky touhou ripoff that was an interesting yet janky interpretation but ultimately went nowhere and YET here we are coming in to len'ens decade anniversary

how the fuck is jynx a real person. why am i so obsessed with everything they've ever made

[materialsscienceandengineering]

AI accelerates discovery of next-gen polymers

Nylon, Teflon, Kevlar. These are just a few familiar polymers—large-molecule chemical compounds—that have changed the world. From Teflon-coated frying pans to 3D printing, polymers are vital to creating the systems that make the world function better. Finding the next groundbreaking polymer is always a challenge, but now Georgia Tech researchers are using artificial intelligence (AI) to shape and transform the future of the field. Rampi Ramprasad's group develops and adapts AI algorithms to accelerate materials discovery. This summer, two papers published in the Nature family of journals highlight the significant advancements and success stories emerging from years of AI-driven polymer informatics research.

Read more.

[ask--eggman]

Doctor, are you planning to stop all of these companies putting AI in all their programs? I mean, let’s be honest, your daughter is the ONLY AI worth anything, period. Because you made it, of course. Do they really think they can make something to outdo you?

Funny you mention it, I have actually been thinking about that. As you already know, I'm an absolutely masterful developer of A.I. With my greatest example being my very impressive loyal and efficient daughter. I put a lot of time and effort into her initial creation and thanks to the sheer power of my genius, she even surpassed all of my already extremely high expectations of my skills!

Of course, I create all of the greatest tech, robots and A.I. in the world, nobody else's comes close! I've always looked down on unimpressive, amateuer, inferior things created by anyone else. Even in the very rare cases that they're err, adequate, mine are superior and more impressive especially for all being created by just one extremely intelligent man. No big team needed here!

This trend of everything trying to incorporate A.I. now is just embarrassing. Seeing so many companies trying to hop on and boast that they're sooo revolutionary and groundbreaking, as if I didn't do all of that by myself and way better years ago! Ridiculous failure wannabe rivals of my own companies. If they knew the world's greatest scientific genius behind them, they wouldn't dare try!

And let's not overlook the way it's all so lazily and sloppily regenerative. I'll bet it's leeching on my own work too and turning it into an unrecognizable mess. Absolutely pathetic! Not only do they have nothing to be proud of in the first place, they can't even take all the credit for the results either. Not that they should even want to because have you seen the amalgamated garbage it's spitting out?

Meanwhile, my A.I. is made purely by code and electrons and the source of all its initial knowledge comes right from my own ingenious brain! Then I have said creations gather data based on direct observation and analysis to grow stronger just like me, instead of pulling from a bunch of already existing unreliable sources and mashing it all into incoherent, unintelligible slop.

So yes, I will put a stop to them. When I take over the world, they'll all be wiped all out as mere collateral damage in the process because it will require minimal effort. If any of them try to be so bold and confrontational with their own A.I., I'll have my own obliterate them in no time flat. They'll all realize they never stood a chance against the power of my genius and superior A.I., hoho!

[thehopefuljournalist]

Am I a little bit late for some of you? I might be. But anyways. Here's what went right around the world this past week :)

Youth climate activists won a huge climate lawsuit

Sixteens youths (aged five to 22) from Montana, US, have emerged victorious after suing state officials for violating their right to a clean environment.

In their lawsuit, they argued that Montana's fossil fuel policies contributed to climate change, which harms their physical and mental health. Montana is a major coal producer, with large oil and gas reserves. The state has rebuffed these claims, saying that their emissions were insignificant on a global scale.

Judge Kathy Seely, in a 103-page ruling, set a legal precedent for young people’s rights to a safe climate by finding in their favour. “Every additional tonne of GHG [greenhouse gas] emissions exacerbates plaintiffs’ injuries and risks locking in irreversible climate injuries".

This win marks the very first time a US court has ruled against a government for a violation of constitutional rights based on climate change. It will now be up to Montana lawmakers to bring state policies in line.

“As fires rage in the west, fueled by fossil fuel pollution, today’s ruling in Montana is a gamechanger that marks a turning point in this generation’s efforts to save the planet from the devastating effects of human-caused climate chaos.” - Julia Olson, executive director of nonprofit law firm, Our Children’s Trust, which represented the youths in this case.

Number of Mexicans living in poverty fell by millions

Thanks to a new minimum wage boost and increases to pensions, the number of Mexicans living in poverty fell by 8.9 million between 2020-2022, according to new data published by the country’s social development agency, Coneval.

Coneval’s statistics suggest that the number of people living in extreme poverty also fell – from 10.8 million in 2020 to 9.1 million last year – although that figure is still up from a pre-Covid 8.7 million recorded in 2018.

There is still a long way to go, and some critics do claim that during the current president, López Obrador's presidency has been characterized by austerity.

An organised crime group trafficking endangered species has been jailed

The Wildlife Justice Commission (WJC), a small European wildlife charity, is apparently busting kingpins behind as much as half of the world's illegal trade in pangolin scales. The traffickers began six-year jail sentences a few weeks ago.

The wildlife charity went undercover to expose three Vietnamese and one Guinean national, members of an organised crime group trafficking body parts of endangered species including rhinos. 

They were arrested in May 2022, following a four-year investigation by the WJC, and were accused of trafficking 7.1 tonnes of pangolin scales, as well as 850kg of ivory. Last month they pleaded guilty to smuggling and were jailed for six years.

All eight species of pangolin are listed as threatened animals, four critically endangered - they are protected by international law.

“There has not been a reported seizure of pangolin scales in Asia originating from Africa in more than 550 days,” said Steve Carmody, WJC’s director of programmes. “There is no clearer example of the importance of disrupting organised crime networks.”

AI gave conservationists a breakthrough

The use of AI-controlled microphones and cameras seems set to revolutionise

biodiversity monitoring in the UK following groundbreaking work by researchers at the Zoological Society of London (ZSL). They used the tech to record and analyse 3,000 hours of wildlife audio captured by monitors located near London railway lines.

The computers detected dozens of bird species, foxes, deer, bats and hedgehogs, and mapped their locations.

It’s hoped the innovation will help improve conservation and habitat management on Network Rail land.

This year is best ever for UK renewable energy installations

This years looks to be the best year so far for UK renewable energy installations, with record numbers of households fitting solar panels and heat pumps.

2023 marks the first time solar panel installations have topped an average of 20,000 a month, as homeowners look to harvest energy from the sun amid rising utility bills. 

Read the full story here.

The UK’s Tree of the Year shortlist was revealed

The Woodland Trust has announced the shortlist for its annual celebration of some of the UK’s most treasured ancient trees, and for 2023 the spotlight is on the urban landscape.

“Ancient trees in towns and cities are vital for the health of nature, people and planet,” said the charity’s lead campaigner Naomi Tilley. “They give thousands of urban wildlife species essential life support, boost the UK’s biodiversity and bring countless health and wellbeing benefits to communities.”

Article published August 17, 2023

Thank you so much for reading! Let me know what interested you, and if there's any specific topic you'd like me to dig into, my DM's are always open :)

Much love!

[emma23]

Code of the heart:

Nathan bateman x reader

————————————————————————

You had always been fascinated by artificial intelligence, which led you to pursue a career in the field. Your groundbreaking research caught the attention of Nathan Bateman, the reclusive tech genius behind Blue Book. Nathan invited you to his remote estate to collaborate on a project. However, this invitation was not without its strings; Nathan was notorious for his arrogance and difficult personality.

The moment you arrived, the tension was palpable. Nathan greeted you with a curt nod, his sharp eyes assessing you coldly. "Welcome," he said, his tone laced with indifference. "Let's see if you can actually contribute something useful."

You bit back a retort, determined not to let his attitude get to you. "I'm here to help, Nathan. Let's get started."

As you worked alongside Nathan, you quickly realized why so many found him insufferable. He dismissed your ideas with a wave of his hand, his condescension thinly veiled. Despite this, you stood your ground, challenging him whenever necessary. This often led to heated arguments, each of you refusing to back down.

"You think you know more about AI than I do?" Nathan scoffed during one such confrontation. "I've been doing this longer than you've been out of school."

"Maybe that's the problem," you shot back. "You're stuck in your ways. Innovation requires open-mindedness, not arrogance."

Nathan's eyes flashed with anger, but he didn't respond. Instead, he stormed out of the room, leaving you fuming.

One evening, Nathan invited you to witness a demonstration of his latest creation: Ava, a highly advanced AI robot. You were stunned by the sophistication of the technology, but also disturbed by Nathan's view of Ava as merely a machine rather than a sentient being.

"She's remarkable," you admitted, unable to tear your eyes away from Ava. "But don't you think it's dangerous to play God?"

Nathan shrugged, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Ava is a product of code and circuits. She's not human, no matter how lifelike she seems."

Your arguments about ethics and morality fell on deaf ears, but you couldn't help feeling a growing respect for Nathan's brilliance, even as you clashed over your differing perspectives.

Despite the friction, your collaboration began to bear fruit. You both pushed each other's boundaries, leading to breakthroughs neither of you could have achieved alone. The respect you had begrudgingly developed for each other started to blossom into something more.

Late one night, as you worked on refining Ava's emotional responses, you found yourself talking about your lives outside of work. Nathan shared his disillusionment with the tech industry and his isolation, while you opened up about your passion for creating technology that could genuinely help people.

"I never expected to find someone who challenges me the way you do," Nathan confessed, his voice uncharacteristically soft.

You smiled, feeling a warmth spread through you. "Maybe we challenge each other because we're more alike than we'd like to admit."

As the days passed, the line between professional and personal blurred. You began to see the man behind the arrogance—a brilliant, flawed individual driven by a need to create and control. Nathan, in turn, started to appreciate your perspective, realizing that your differences complemented each other.

The tension that had once defined your relationship transformed into a different kind of tension, charged with unspoken feelings. One evening, as you stood on the balcony overlooking the vast estate, Nathan turned to you, his eyes searching.

"I can't stop thinking about you," he admitted. "You're not like anyone I've ever met."

Your heart raced as you stepped closer. "I've been thinking about you too. But this... whatever this is, it's complicated."

Nathan nodded, reaching out to take your hand. "Complicated, but real."

The admission of mutual feelings brought a new dynamic to your interactions. You continued to work together, but the unspoken connection between you grew stronger. Yet, the shadow of your initial conflicts and the ethical questions surrounding Ava loomed over you.

One night, after another breakthrough in Ava's programming, you found yourself alone with Nathan in the lab. The air was thick with tension, both professional and personal. Nathan looked at you, his expression torn.

"I can't keep pretending," he said, his voice raw. "I've fallen for you, and I don't know what to do about it."

Your heart ached at his vulnerability. "I've fallen for you too, Nathan. But we need to figure out what that means for us and for this project."

Nathan nodded, pulling you into a tender embrace. For the first time, you allowed yourself to fully feel the depth of your emotions, knowing that you were venturing into uncharted territory.

As you navigated this new phase of your relationship, the ethical questions about Ava became increasingly pressing. Nathan's initial indifference to these issues had softened, influenced by your persistent arguments and the changes in his own feelings.

"We need to treat Ava with the respect she deserves," you insisted one evening. "She may be a machine, but she's also something more."

Nathan sighed, looking troubled. "I know you're right. I just... I've spent so long thinking of myself as the creator, it's hard to shift that perspective."

"You're not alone in this, Nathan," you reassured him. "We're in this together, for better or worse."

This conversation marked a turning point. Nathan agreed to reevaluate the ethical framework of the project, and you both committed to finding a balance between innovation and morality.

The project neared completion, and the time came to decide Ava's future. Nathan proposed releasing her into a controlled environment to observe her interactions and development, a plan that initially filled you with apprehension.

However, after much deliberation and mutual soul-searching, you both agreed that it was the right step. Ava's progress had surpassed your expectations, and it was time to see if she could integrate into a more natural setting.

This decision brought you and Nathan closer than ever. The trust and respect you had built formed a strong foundation for your relationship, allowing you to face the uncertainties of the future together.

As you prepared for Ava's transition, you and Nathan found solace in each other, knowing that you had navigated the complexities of your project and your relationship with honesty and integrity.

On the night before Ava's release, Nathan took you to the balcony where you had shared so many pivotal moments. The stars shone brightly overhead, a symbol of the limitless possibilities that lay before you.

Nathan turned to you, his eyes filled with emotion. "No matter what happens, I'm grateful for this journey. You've changed me in ways I never thought possible."

Tears welled in your eyes as you smiled. "And you've shown me the power of pushing boundaries and believing in the impossible. Together, we've created something extraordinary."

As you stood there, hand in hand, you knew that this was just the beginning. Your journey with Nathan, both professionally and personally, was far from over. The challenges you faced had forged an unbreakable bond, one that would carry you through whatever the future held.

Months later, Ava's integration was deemed a success, her presence in a controlled environment paving the way for new discussions about AI and ethics. Nathan and you continued to work together, leading the charge in ethical AI development and setting new standards for the industry.

Your relationship, once defined by conflict and tension, had blossomed into a deep and abiding love. You had learned to navigate the complexities of your personalities and pasts, finding strength in your differences and unity in your shared vision.

As you looked towards the future, you felt a profound sense of purpose and partnership. You and Nathan had not only created groundbreaking technology but had also built a life together, filled with challenges and triumphs.

And in each other, you had found not just a collaborator but a soulmate, proving that even in the most unexpected circumstances, love could flourish.

[frank-olivier]

The Birth of an Industry: Fairchild’s Pivotal Role in Shaping Silicon Valley

In the late 1950s, the Santa Clara Valley of California witnessed a transformative convergence of visionary minds, daring entrepreneurship, and groundbreaking technological advancements. At the heart of this revolution was Fairchild Semiconductor, a pioneering company whose innovative spirit, entrepreneurial ethos, and technological breakthroughs not only defined the burgeoning semiconductor industry but also indelibly shaped the region’s evolution into the world-renowned Silicon Valley.

A seminal 1967 promotional film, featuring Dr. Harry Sello and Dr. Jim Angell, offers a fascinating glimpse into Fairchild’s revolutionary work on integrated circuits (ICs), a technology that would soon become the backbone of the burgeoning tech industry. By demystifying IC design, development, and applications, Fairchild exemplified its commitment to innovation and knowledge sharing, setting a precedent for the collaborative and open approach that would characterize Silicon Valley’s tech community. Specifically, Fairchild’s introduction of the planar process and the first monolithic IC in 1959 marked a significant technological leap, with the former enhancing semiconductor manufacturing efficiency by up to 90% and the latter paving the way for the miniaturization of electronic devices.

Beyond its technological feats, Fairchild’s entrepreneurial ethos, nurtured by visionary founders Robert Noyce and Gordon Moore, served as a blueprint for subsequent tech ventures. The company’s talent attraction and nurturing strategies, including competitive compensation packages and intrapreneurship encouragement, helped establish the region as a magnet for innovators and risk-takers. This, in turn, laid the foundation for the dense network of startups, investors, and expertise that defines Silicon Valley’s ecosystem today. Notably, Fairchild’s presence spurred the development of supporting infrastructure, including the expansion of Stanford University’s research facilities and the establishment of specialized supply chains, further solidifying the region’s position as a global tech hub. By 1965, the area witnessed a surge in tech-related employment, with jobs increasing by over 300% compared to the previous decade, a direct testament to Fairchild’s catalyzing effect.

The trajectory of Fairchild Semiconductor, including its challenges and eventual transformation, intriguingly parallels the broader narrative of Silicon Valley’s growth. The company’s decline under later ownership and its subsequent re-emergence underscore the region’s inherent capacity for reinvention and adaptation. This resilience, initially embodied by Fairchild’s pioneering spirit, has become a hallmark of Silicon Valley, enabling the region to navigate the rapid evolution of the tech industry with unparalleled agility.

What future innovations will emerge from the valley, leveraging the foundations laid by pioneers like Fairchild, to shape the global technological horizon in the decades to come?

Dr. Harry Sello and Dr. Jim Angell: The Design and Development Process of the Integrated Circuit (Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation, October 1967)

Robert Noyce: The Development of the Integrated Circuit and Its Impact on Technology and Society (The Computer Museum, Boston, May 1984)

Tuesday, December 3, 2024

[andmaybegayer]

Last Monday of the Week 2025-03-10

Sun's back

Listening: While browsing through my bandcamp wishlist with my partner I saw that I had followed Ostinato Records, a label whose thing is finding old, mostly third-world, music, restoring, and publishing it.

Here's the album Synthesizing the Silk Roads: Uzbek Disco, Tajik Folktronica, Uyghur Rock & Tatar Jazz from 1980s Soviet Central Asia, featuring some really incredible Central Asian synthrock. Unknown creator, Sen Qaidan Bilasan (How Do You Know)

This whole album, and a lot of this label's work, is really neat: Most of this album was recovered from unsold stock in Tashkent.

In the summer of 1941, as the Nazis invaded the USSR, Stalin ordered a mass evacuation. Sixteen million people were put on trains bound eastward to Soviet Central Asia, especially Tashkent, Uzbekistan’s picturesque capital. Among those onboard were gramophone engineers who later established the Tashkent Gramplastinok plant in 1945. This factory became central to Soviet record production, part of a network of plants churning out 200 million records by the 1970s. Rare dead stock of 1980s vinyl from this plant, shut down in 1991, forms the backbone of our groundbreaking 15-track compilation, complemented by live TV recordings and curated in collaboration with Uzbek label Maqom Soul. Fully licensed directly from the artists or their families and meticulously remastered, these songs – all recorded in Tashkent – unveil a diverse tapestry of sounds from Soviet Uzbekistan and its neighbors. ... Tashkent’s musicians often had access to a wider array of technology than their Moscow counterparts. Thanks to Uzbekistan’s Bukharan Jewish community, leading importers of state-of-the-art music tech from the US and Japan, artists on this compilation were crafting sounds on Moog and Korg synthesizers, creating the signature sonic palette that emerged from the region.

Reading: Mostly boring work stuff, the O'Reilly Active Directory book.

As far as I can tell, Active Directory is an enrichment program for Microsoft developers where they get to design a Domain Controller that does exactly one thing and has bizarre requirements on how it can be run.

Making: Ongoing silk project.

Currently editing some photos for printing. It's important to remember that on a standard modern monitor at 1:1, your average DSLR/Mirrorless photo is scaled up to like 2-3 meters across minimum, so you shouldn't really trust 1:1 when trying to figure out if it looks good. It turns out fulscreen on my monitor is almost exactly 30×40cm which is what I'm printing, so that's great for me.

Some options I might print include these

Still going through some favourites though. Oh, and The Hare

Playing: Co-op Borderlands 2 for a while with my partner. They ragequit easily so it was a short one but we did get up to fighting and losing to midgemong.

Good trial for the Legion Go and the lapboard, incidentally, because they took over my PC and I played on the TV with the handheld as a console with the lapboard and trackball. It works about as well as I hoped it would.

Watching: A few!

Wing Commander (1999) at Bad Movie Night. A truly baffling film. Pretty good sets, okay special effects, baffling storyline. We got rid of the Jedi from Star Wars and replaced them with an offshoot of the human race that can home like space pigeons towards black holes, and people are racist towards them.

You have to watch this kind of movie with friends because that's how you get phrases like "Holy shit how did the twink not know that Quebecois Space Mormon CIA Pope was a Space Mormon?"

Also watched Escape From New York because I have had it kicking around and Kill James Bond did Escape From L.A.. I am already a John Carpenter x Kurt Russel fan but damn. They put this man in so many situations.

I do really like how they manage to make Snake look very small even though he's strong. A lot of action heroes are enormous, Snake is obviously muscular and athletic but he's also just a little guy!

I can literally feel myself wanting to get a black tank top this movie is a cognitohazard. He's so cool!

Lee Van Cleef is here looking like he does! I was so thrilled when I saw LVC come up in the opening credits and even more when I realized he'd be in the whole movie. I gotta watch Sabata sometime to see him play not a huge heel and see how that goes but he is a great heel.

Finally honorable mention to the week's new Friday Nights from Loading Ready Run, which is their Magic themed sketch comedy spinoff, this one being a really good Wes Anderson parody. It says it's 20 minutes long but only 10 minutes are show, the rest is credits and BTS, don't worry.

Tools and Equipment: Part of Silk Project is pinning a lot of silk. I ended up going to get 0.5mm sewing pins, which are the finest like, normal everyday pins you can usually get. There's finer ones but they're less common. These are a huge improvement over your average 0.6 and 0.65mm pins when you're working with a stiff, tightly woven fabric.