Comment Lawyers looking for a fat payday (Score 1) 111
This probably got started by ambulance chasing lawyers looking for deep pockets.
Submission + - Startup discovers hidden abundant, clean energy and did it in an unusual way (cnn.com)
schwit1 writes: It’s a “classic needle in the haystack problem,” said Joel Edwards, co-founder and CTO of Zanskar. “There’s no one type of data that tells you that a system is below you, even if you’re right on top of it.” Instead, there are multiple indicators which are really hard for humans to put together to figure out if a system exists.
That’s where AI comes in.
The AI models Zanskar uses are fed information on where blind systems already exist. This data is plentiful as, over the last century and more, humans have accidentally stumbled on many around the world while drilling for other resources such as oil and gas.
The models then scour huge amounts of data — everything from rock composition to magnetic fields — to find patterns that point to the existence of geothermal reserves. AI models have “gotten really good over the last 10 years at being able to pull those types of signals out of noise,” Hoiland said.
Once a potential location has been found, the next step for the company is to drill down to confirm the reserve exists and is hot enough to produce utility-scale power.
That’s exactly what they did at Big Blind over the summer, drilling wells to depths of around 2,700 feet where they found porous rock at 250 degrees Fahrenheit. They know the site is at least the minimum size needed to support a power plant, but don’t yet have a sense of how big it could be.
There is also work to be done to navigate permitting processes and grid interconnection, but the company estimates the first electricity could be produced here in three to five years’ time.
That’s where AI comes in.
The AI models Zanskar uses are fed information on where blind systems already exist. This data is plentiful as, over the last century and more, humans have accidentally stumbled on many around the world while drilling for other resources such as oil and gas.
The models then scour huge amounts of data — everything from rock composition to magnetic fields — to find patterns that point to the existence of geothermal reserves. AI models have “gotten really good over the last 10 years at being able to pull those types of signals out of noise,” Hoiland said.
Once a potential location has been found, the next step for the company is to drill down to confirm the reserve exists and is hot enough to produce utility-scale power.
That’s exactly what they did at Big Blind over the summer, drilling wells to depths of around 2,700 feet where they found porous rock at 250 degrees Fahrenheit. They know the site is at least the minimum size needed to support a power plant, but don’t yet have a sense of how big it could be.
There is also work to be done to navigate permitting processes and grid interconnection, but the company estimates the first electricity could be produced here in three to five years’ time.
Submission + - Young Journalists Drone, Expose Russian Ships Off Dutch-German Coasts (digitaldigging.org)
schwit1 writes: Seven German journalism students, as a continuation of their OSINT course project, tracked the movements of ships with Russian crews off the coasts of the Netherlands and Germany and linked them to swarms of drones appearing over European military airfields and other strategic sites.
The guys not only analyzed thousands of data points, but also used leaked documents, established connections with sources in European agencies, and drove 2,500 km across three countries chasing one of the ships – even launching their own drone to fly over it.
At the end of the article, there’s precise data on the vessels, so you can follow them yourself.
The guys not only analyzed thousands of data points, but also used leaked documents, established connections with sources in European agencies, and drove 2,500 km across three countries chasing one of the ships – even launching their own drone to fly over it.
At the end of the article, there’s precise data on the vessels, so you can follow them yourself.
Comment Aussie teens already defeating the block (Score 4, Interesting) 54
https://archive.is/tRHTj
Teenagers in Australia are cheating the government’s world-first social media ban and openly mocking the Prime Minister on banned platforms.
Young people told The Telegraph how they were getting past the new age-verification technology by frowning at the camera. Others told Anthony Albanese to “f--- off” after accessing sites such as Instagram and Snapchat, which the new law has banned for those under the age of 16.
The group of self-styled “social media survivors” had skirted the ban within minutes of it being introduced on Wednesday, raising concerns that the policy is not fit for purpose.
Comment Re:Conservatives love their Eugenics (Score 4, Insightful) 199
It's not the people per se. It's their political system and their refusal to assimilate that is the problem.
I say political system, because Islam is a political system masquerading as a religion.
Submission + - Japan renders current conventional submarines obsolete (x.com)
schwit1 writes: With the Taigei class and its lithium-ion batteries, Tokyo already set a new benchmark: up to three weeks submerged without ever raising a snorkel. That, however, was merely the opening act.
Today, Toyota and Panasonic are leading the global race in solid-state batteries, with prototypes arriving in 2027–2028, mass production after 2030, and Japan’s next submarine class will be the first to use them, either in pure battery form or as a hybrid with a small reactor for onboard recharging. This hybrid would be similar to what the Chinese are developing.
The leap is staggering. A 4,000 ton conventional submarine will patrol for 40 to 60 days without surfacing, sprint well above 20 knots for hours on end, and do it all more quietly than many nuclear subs, thanks to being significantly lighter and running solely on battery power.
Solid-state cells weigh roughly one-third as much, generate 40% less heat, and eliminate half the cooling systems. The result is a faster, stealthier hull that can travel thousands of kilometers without ever breaking the surface.
Those hundreds of saved tons translate directly into more powerful electric motors, extra torpedoes and missiles, cutting-edge sensors, or greater crew comfort. The same hull now carries twice the energy or twice the weapons.
It appears there are also plans to equip the system with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ micro nuclear reactor. Its design has no moving parts, which gives it excellent quietness. It’s essentially like a battery that can run for 20 years.
Today, Toyota and Panasonic are leading the global race in solid-state batteries, with prototypes arriving in 2027–2028, mass production after 2030, and Japan’s next submarine class will be the first to use them, either in pure battery form or as a hybrid with a small reactor for onboard recharging. This hybrid would be similar to what the Chinese are developing.
The leap is staggering. A 4,000 ton conventional submarine will patrol for 40 to 60 days without surfacing, sprint well above 20 knots for hours on end, and do it all more quietly than many nuclear subs, thanks to being significantly lighter and running solely on battery power.
Solid-state cells weigh roughly one-third as much, generate 40% less heat, and eliminate half the cooling systems. The result is a faster, stealthier hull that can travel thousands of kilometers without ever breaking the surface.
Those hundreds of saved tons translate directly into more powerful electric motors, extra torpedoes and missiles, cutting-edge sensors, or greater crew comfort. The same hull now carries twice the energy or twice the weapons.
It appears there are also plans to equip the system with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ micro nuclear reactor. Its design has no moving parts, which gives it excellent quietness. It’s essentially like a battery that can run for 20 years.
Submission + - This one gadget could give China a back door into the U.S. power grid (washingtonpost.com)
An anonymous reader writes: Energy companies, cybersecurity experts and lawmakers warn that U.S. dependence on Chinese inverters that can be manipulated remotely is a growing security threat.
Submission + - Sperm donor with cancer-causing gene fathered nearly 200 children across Europe (cbsnews.com)
schwit1 writes: A joint investigation by 14 European public service broadcasters has exposed a major scandal in the fertility industry: an anonymous Dutch sperm donor, who carried a mutated TP53 gene linked to Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS)—a rare condition conferring a 90% lifetime cancer risk, often striking in childhood—fathered nearly 200 children through the European Sperm Bank since 2005. Unbeknownst to the donor, a former student who passed initial screenings, the mutation affected up to 20% of his sperm, which was distributed to 67 clinics across 14 countries without adequate international oversight.
The revelation, uncovered via the European Society of Human Genetics conference where doctors flagged unusual cancer clusters in donor-conceived children, highlights systemic failures. National regulations, such as Belgium's limit of 6-12 children per donor (or 25 in the UK), were routinely violated, with one donor exceeding caps by over 10-fold. Of 67 genetically traced offspring, 23 inherited the mutation; 10 have developed cancers, including multiple tumors in some, and several died young. "We have some children that have developed already two different cancers and some of them have already died at a very early age," said cancer geneticist Edwige Kasper.
Geneticists Clare Turnbull and Edwige Kasper described LFS as a "dreadful diagnosis," imposing lifelong surveillance and emotional strain on families. The European Sperm Bank acknowledged the breach but noted no shipments to the U.S., though it operates in Canada and Mexico. No global regulatory framework exists to prevent recurrence, raising urgent calls for reform. Additional cases may surface as more children are tested, underscoring the ethical perils of unregulated sperm donation.
The revelation, uncovered via the European Society of Human Genetics conference where doctors flagged unusual cancer clusters in donor-conceived children, highlights systemic failures. National regulations, such as Belgium's limit of 6-12 children per donor (or 25 in the UK), were routinely violated, with one donor exceeding caps by over 10-fold. Of 67 genetically traced offspring, 23 inherited the mutation; 10 have developed cancers, including multiple tumors in some, and several died young. "We have some children that have developed already two different cancers and some of them have already died at a very early age," said cancer geneticist Edwige Kasper.
Geneticists Clare Turnbull and Edwige Kasper described LFS as a "dreadful diagnosis," imposing lifelong surveillance and emotional strain on families. The European Sperm Bank acknowledged the breach but noted no shipments to the U.S., though it operates in Canada and Mexico. No global regulatory framework exists to prevent recurrence, raising urgent calls for reform. Additional cases may surface as more children are tested, underscoring the ethical perils of unregulated sperm donation.
Submission + - SpaceX to Pursue 2026 IPO (archive.is)
schwit1 writes: SpaceX will go public next year, aiming for a valuation of more than $1 trillion, Bloomberg reported.
The Elon Musk-led company was the first to successfully reuse rockets, bringing the cost of space travel down by around 90%; it accounted for more than half of global launches in 2024. Its broadband arm Starlink also represents most active satellites. It is expected to make $15 billion in revenue in 2025, rising to perhaps $26 billion next year.
A $1 trillion valuation on those figures would be extremely high: The only IPO at that figure was Saudi Aramco in 2019, and it had revenues of $300 billion. But SpaceX hopes Starlink, its near-monopoly on reusable rockets, and its many government contracts will justify a premium.
The Elon Musk-led company was the first to successfully reuse rockets, bringing the cost of space travel down by around 90%; it accounted for more than half of global launches in 2024. Its broadband arm Starlink also represents most active satellites. It is expected to make $15 billion in revenue in 2025, rising to perhaps $26 billion next year.
A $1 trillion valuation on those figures would be extremely high: The only IPO at that figure was Saudi Aramco in 2019, and it had revenues of $300 billion. But SpaceX hopes Starlink, its near-monopoly on reusable rockets, and its many government contracts will justify a premium.
Submission + - New FAFSA update flags colleges with 'lower earnings' for graduates (thecollegefix.com)
An anonymous reader writes: Beginning this week, the U.S. Department of Education will warn students about colleges whose graduates earn less than high school graduates through the FAFSA process.
The warning provides financial data about selected colleges, aiming to enhance transparency and help students make informed decisions regarding their education.
Over 2% of undergraduates attend schools with lower average earnings than high school graduates, yet these institutions still receive significant federal aid.
The warning provides financial data about selected colleges, aiming to enhance transparency and help students make informed decisions regarding their education.
Over 2% of undergraduates attend schools with lower average earnings than high school graduates, yet these institutions still receive significant federal aid.
Submission + - Cold Case Inquiries Stall After Ancestry.com Revisits Policy for Users (nytimes.com)
An anonymous reader writes: Since online genealogy services began operating, millions of people have sent them saliva samples in hopes of learning about their family roots and discovering far-flung relatives. These services also appeal to law enforcement authorities, who have used them to solve cold case murders and to investigate crimes like the 2022 killing of four University of Idaho students. Crime-scene DNA submitted to genealogy sites has helped investigators identify suspects and human remains by first identifying relatives.
The use of public records and family-tree building is crucial to this technique, and its main tool has been the genealogy site Ancestry, which has vast amounts of individual DNA profiles and public records. More than 1,400 cases have been solved with the help of so-called genetic genealogy investigations, most of them with help from Ancestry. But a recent step taken by the site is now deterring many police agencies from employing this crime-solving technique.
In August, Ancestry revised the terms and conditions on its site to make it clear that its services were off-limits “for law enforcement purposes” without a legal order or warrant, which can be hard to get, because of privacy concerns. This followed the addition last year to the terms and conditions that the services could not be used for “judicial proceedings.” Investigators say the implications are dire and will result in crucial criminal cases slowing or stalling entirely, denying answers to grieving families.
The use of public records and family-tree building is crucial to this technique, and its main tool has been the genealogy site Ancestry, which has vast amounts of individual DNA profiles and public records. More than 1,400 cases have been solved with the help of so-called genetic genealogy investigations, most of them with help from Ancestry. But a recent step taken by the site is now deterring many police agencies from employing this crime-solving technique.
In August, Ancestry revised the terms and conditions on its site to make it clear that its services were off-limits “for law enforcement purposes” without a legal order or warrant, which can be hard to get, because of privacy concerns. This followed the addition last year to the terms and conditions that the services could not be used for “judicial proceedings.” Investigators say the implications are dire and will result in crucial criminal cases slowing or stalling entirely, denying answers to grieving families.
Comment USPS should be once a week for most places (Score 1) 66
Also put a trashcan next to community mailboxes to recycle junk mail.
Rural locations could have residents pick up their own mail at the PO.
Force government agencies to use comm methods other than USPS.
Submission + - Many IT firms are posting job ads that unlawfully bar US Citizen applicants (x.com)
An anonymous reader writes: Several of the firms are minority-owned—meaning they receive preferential access to government contracts at the same time that they exclude US workers.
We've found dozens of examples.
We've found dozens of examples.
Submission + - Paramount Skydance launches hostile bid for WBD after Netflix wins bidding war (cnbc.com)
schwit1 writes: David Ellison-run Paramount Skydance is launching a hostile bid to buy Warner Bros. Discovery.
Paramount will go straight to WBD shareholders with an all-cash, $30-per-share offer. Netflix is $27/share
Netflix won a bidding war for the Warner Bros. film studio and HBO Max streaming service, but it doesn't plan to buy WBD's TV networks.
Paramount has repeatedly argued keeping Warner Bros. Discovery whole was in the best interest of its shareholders.
Paramount will go straight to WBD shareholders with an all-cash, $30-per-share offer. Netflix is $27/share
Netflix won a bidding war for the Warner Bros. film studio and HBO Max streaming service, but it doesn't plan to buy WBD's TV networks.
Paramount has repeatedly argued keeping Warner Bros. Discovery whole was in the best interest of its shareholders.
Submission + - Fish-inspired filter removes 99% of microplastics from washing machine wastewate (techxplore.com)
schwit1 writes: Some fish feed by means of filtration; these include, for example, mackerel, sardines, and anchovies. They swim through the water with their mouths open and sift out the plankton with their gill arch system. "We took a closer look at the construction of this system and used it as the model for developing a filter that can be used in washing machines," says Blanke, who is a member of the transdisciplinary research areas Life & Health and Sustainable Futures at the University of Bonn.
During their evolution, these fish have developed a technique similar to cross-flow filtration. Their gill arch system is shaped like a funnel that is widest at the fish's mouth and tapers towards their gullet. The walls of the funnel are shaped by the branchial arches. These feature comb-like structures, the arches, which are themselves covered in small teeth. This creates a kind of mesh that is stretched by the branchial arches.
The filter element in the center imitates the gill arch system of the fish. The filter housing enables periodic cleaning and installation in washing machines.
"During food intake, the water flows through the permeable funnel wall, is filtered, and the particle-free water is then released back into the environment via the gills," explains Blanke. "However, the plankton is too big for this; it is held back by the natural sieve structure. Thanks to the funnel shape, it then rolls toward the gullet, where it is collected until the fish swallows, which empties and cleans the system."
This principle prevents the filter from being blocked—instead of hitting the filter head-on, the fibers roll along it toward the gullet. The process is also highly effective, as it removes almost all of the plankton from the water. Both are aspects that a microplastic filter must also be able to deliver. The researchers thus replicated the gill arch system. In doing so, they varied both the mesh size of the sieve structure and the opening angle of the funnel.
"We have thus found a combination of parameters that enable our filter to separate more than 99% of the microplastics out of the water but not become blocked," says Hamann. To achieve this, the team used not only experiments but also computer simulations. The filter modeled on nature does not contain any elaborate mechanics and should thus be very inexpensive to manufacture.
The microplastics that it filters out of the washing water collect in the filter outlet and are then suctioned away several times a minute. According to the researcher, who has now moved to the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada, they could then, for example, be pressed in the machine to remove the remaining water. The plastic pellet created in this manner could then be removed every few dozen washes and disposed of with general waste.
During their evolution, these fish have developed a technique similar to cross-flow filtration. Their gill arch system is shaped like a funnel that is widest at the fish's mouth and tapers towards their gullet. The walls of the funnel are shaped by the branchial arches. These feature comb-like structures, the arches, which are themselves covered in small teeth. This creates a kind of mesh that is stretched by the branchial arches.
The filter element in the center imitates the gill arch system of the fish. The filter housing enables periodic cleaning and installation in washing machines.
"During food intake, the water flows through the permeable funnel wall, is filtered, and the particle-free water is then released back into the environment via the gills," explains Blanke. "However, the plankton is too big for this; it is held back by the natural sieve structure. Thanks to the funnel shape, it then rolls toward the gullet, where it is collected until the fish swallows, which empties and cleans the system."
This principle prevents the filter from being blocked—instead of hitting the filter head-on, the fibers roll along it toward the gullet. The process is also highly effective, as it removes almost all of the plankton from the water. Both are aspects that a microplastic filter must also be able to deliver. The researchers thus replicated the gill arch system. In doing so, they varied both the mesh size of the sieve structure and the opening angle of the funnel.
"We have thus found a combination of parameters that enable our filter to separate more than 99% of the microplastics out of the water but not become blocked," says Hamann. To achieve this, the team used not only experiments but also computer simulations. The filter modeled on nature does not contain any elaborate mechanics and should thus be very inexpensive to manufacture.
The microplastics that it filters out of the washing water collect in the filter outlet and are then suctioned away several times a minute. According to the researcher, who has now moved to the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada, they could then, for example, be pressed in the machine to remove the remaining water. The plastic pellet created in this manner could then be removed every few dozen washes and disposed of with general waste.
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Bus error -- driver executed.
