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Submission + - U.S. employee well-being hit new low in 2024, survey reveals (phys.org)

Submitted by alternative_right
alternative_right writes: The latest research confirms a decline in general employee well-being since 2020. In 2024, employees reported the lowest well-being scores on record, as opposed to 2020, when employees reported the highest well-being scores.

"In some cases, the lower scores represent a reduction in employee flexibility for either flexible hours or remote work," the latest research states. "In other cases, these scores could be related to challenges associated with greater economic shifts related to inflation or productivity needs."

"What we're seeing is a growing gap between how leaders and their teams experience the workplace," said Smith. "Managers may feel a return to normalcy, but that doesn't mean their employees do. Leaders must be cautious not to assume their own well-being reflects the broader workforce at their organization. The data shows a potential disconnect, and that's a signal for action."

Submission + - Moss spores survive 9 months outside International Space Station (phys.org)

Submitted by alternative_right
alternative_right writes: To find out, Fujita's team subjected Physcomitrium patens, a well-studied moss commonly known as spreading earthmoss, to a simulated a space environment, including high levels of UV radiation, extreme high and low temperatures, and vacuum conditions.

They tested three different structures from the moss—protenemata, or juvenile moss; brood cells, or specialized stem cells that emerge under stress conditions; and sporophytes, or encapsulated spores—to find out which had the best chance of surviving in space.

The researchers found that UV radiation was the toughest element to survive, and the sporophytes were by far the most resilient of the three moss parts. None of the juvenile moss survived high UV levels or extreme temperatures. The brood cells had a higher rate of survival, but the encased spores exhibited ~1,000x more tolerance to UV radiation. The spores were also able to survive and germinate after being exposed to 196C for over a week, as well as after living in 55C heat for a month.

Comment Re:Good use. (Score 2) 72

Not a big fan of this, but I'm pretty certain they need that money to actually replace all the working parts of the reactor. Only the concrete shell will be reused. They could probably use the same amount of money to fix reactor 2 the same way, they are just not touching it because of history.

Submission + - Physicists reveal a new quantum state where electrons run wild (sciencedaily.com)

Submitted by alternative_right
alternative_right writes: Electrons can freeze into strange geometric crystals and then melt back into liquid-like motion under the right quantum conditions. Researchers identified how to tune these transitions and even discovered a bizarre “pinball” state where some electrons stay locked in place while others dart around freely. Their simulations help explain how these phases form and how they might be harnessed for advanced quantum technologies.

Submission + - Google invests $40B in Texas for cloud, AI growth (kxan.com)

Submitted by alternative_right
alternative_right writes: On Friday, Google announced a $40 billion investment in Texas.

The funding was part of Google’s “Investing in America” initiative, which it said was to further American innovation.

“The investment will boost cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, with the development of data center facilities, programs to strengthen energy capacity and affordability, and workforce training in the state,” the Texas governor’s office said.

Gov. Greg Abbott joined Google leaders and state officials to announce the investment.

Submission + - Did Hitler have a micropenis? (yahoo.com)

Submitted by know-nothing cunt
know-nothing cunt writes: Researchers have analyzed a sample of DNA believed to belong to Adolf Hitler, which they say reveals the dictator of Nazi Germany had a genetic marker for a rare disorder that can delay puberty, according to a new documentary.

The research, which took more than four years to complete, was led by geneticist Turi King, a professor at the UK’s University of Bath who is known for identifying the remains of King Richard III. King said she verified that a piece of material taken from a couch in the bunker where Hitler shot himself in 1945 was soaked in the dictator’s blood by comparing a DNA sample recovered from the blood with a confirmed relative of Hitler’s.

The most striking finding from the team’s analysis was that Hitler had a mutation on a gene called PROK2. Variants in this gene are a cause of Kallmann syndrome and congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, King said. In boys, these conditions can delay puberty and cause undescended testicles.

“Basically, they are characterized by low testosterone levels. You either don’t go through puberty or you go through a partial puberty... 5% of cases get associated with a micropenis, ” King said, referring to a small but normally structured penis.

Submission + - Is having children really cost-prohibitive? (washingtonexaminer.com)

Submitted by sinij
sinij writes:

Many couples don’t believe they can afford to start a family. As the cost of living continues to balloon, this affects a couple’s ability to raise children comfortably. For those contemplating whether to have children, the mere cost of child care, which is an average of $15,600 per year, provokes questions of whether it is even feasible.

This is not just future generation's problem. Catastrophic lack of affordability for housing, healthcare, and childcare results in fewer kids, this in turn means that in 20 years there will be less adults working and paying taxes, in turn bankrupting social nets. So today's childlessness crisis will translate to tomorrow destitute seniors crisis.

Comment Re:nothi (Score 1) 176

Well usable fusion being just 20-30 years away did happen and is still happening. I guess at some point they will even be right!

https://www.scientificamerican...

I think it’s probably now about 15 to 20 years [away],” says University of Cambridge nuclear engineer Tony Roulstone, who wasn’t involved in the Wendelstein experiments. “The superconducting magnets [that the researchers are using to contain the plasma] are making the difference.

Comment Re: Short AAPL (Score 1) 65

by ArsenneLupin (#65795118) Attached to: Apple Tries Selling $230 iPhone Pocket 'Sock'

It's not a dumb idea by itself, only overpriced.

It is a dumb idea. You store the phone at a location where it's easy to lose, but hard to get when you need it. Indeed, movement of the ankle while walking will slowly push the phone out of the pocket. And when you need your phone (for texting, or for accessing the internet), you need to kneel all the way down to get it.

Comment Re:in soviet russia we fail you! (Score 1) 111

by chefren (#65792868) Attached to: Russia's AI Robot Falls Seconds After Being Unveiled

It's easy to conclude from your own source that this is not the same as the USSR nationalising private businesses and farms - not just some of them but all of them, in order to implement state socialism. Points from the article that indicate that they are not implementing state socialism like the USSR. The current Putin regime is fascist, not socialist.

NSP documented 102 cases of asset seizure from private owners since the invasion in February 2022, spanning a broad range of industries but are concentrated in strategic sectors seen as vital to sustaining Russia’s war effort.

Strategic industries. Check.

Reselling these nationalized businesses both brings in revenue and “reshapes the business elite so their fate is tied to the regime’s survival."

Reselling instead of keeping these as state-owned. Check.

Replacing private owners with managerial experience “with those who owe their success to the state will inevitably reduce overall economic efficiency,” Yakovlev said.

Putting them under management of more loyal owners. Check.

Comment Re:in soviet russia we fail you! (Score 3, Insightful) 111

by chefren (#65792584) Attached to: Russia's AI Robot Falls Seconds After Being Unveiled

Mass nationalization of private property? Check.

This just has not happened, instead we have fascist style hostile takeovers of businesses by oligarchs and other people from Putin's inner circle. Private businesses are still allowed to exist and operate as long as they toe the party line. This is much more similar to Nazi Germany or fascist Italy.

Nationalisation of some strategic industry during wartime is not uncommon, see the Selective Service Act of 1940 in the US, with which certain factories and shipyards were nationalised to ensure production capacity for ships and weapons needed for the war.

An all-powerful president self-appointed for life? Check.

It's not a Check because in the USSR the general secretary was appointed by the party, not self-appointed, and could also be ousted by the party (see Khrushchev). The USSR looked a lot like China still does today in this regard. In Russia, the party is subservient to Putin, not the other way around.

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