Pieces
Future gigantic solar farms might impact how much solar power can be generated
The sun's energy is effectively limitless. While resources such as coal or gas are finite, if you are able to capture and use solar power it doesn't prevent anyone else from also using as much sunshine as they need. Except that isn't quite the full story. Beyond a certain size, solar farms become large enough to affect the weather around them and ultimately the climate as a whole. In our new research published in Communications Earth & Environment, we have looked at the effect such climate-altering solar farms might have on solar power production elsewhere in the world.
A woman bought a vintage dress at an antique store. It had a secret pocket
Sara Rivers Cofield bought a 19th century dress and discovered a coded message in a secret pocket. The code was cracked years later by Wayne Chan, who identified it as a 19th-century weather report using a telegraphic code.
7 Planets in Our Solar System Will Appear in the Sky at the Same Time for One Night Only
A rare upcoming event will soon allow us to see seven planets in the sky at the same time for one night only. On February 28, 2025, Saturn, Mercury, Neptune, Venus, Uranus, Jupiter, and Mars will all come together in a planetary event for the ages.
Galaxies in the Early Universe Were Shaped Like Bananas, Study Suggests
A new analysis of images from the James Webb Space Telescope suggests that newborn galaxies were shaped like bananas, pickles, or cigars. This unexpected result could alter our understanding of how galaxies emerge and grow, and offer insight into the mysterious nature of dark matter.
Three ActiveRecord Mistakes
Many Rails developers don't understand what causes ActiveRecord to actually execute a SQL query. Let's look at three common cases: misuse of the count method, using where to select subsets, and the present? predicate. You may be causing extra queries and N+1s through the abuse of these three methods.
Can San Francisco Solve Its Drug Crisis? Five Things to Consider.
San Francisco is facing a severe drug crisis, with overdose deaths reaching record highs. The article compares San Francisco's approach to the issue with that of Portugal, which decriminalized all drugs in 2000. While San Francisco has adopted some aspects of Portugal's decriminalization and harm reduction strategies, it has struggled to achieve similar success. The piece explores five key areas where policy differences contribute to this disparity, including decriminalization, addiction treatment, harm reduction, personal attitudes toward drugs, and the need for a comprehensive strategy.
Are Ultra-Processed Foods Killing Us?
This article explores the impact of ultra-processed foods on health, drawing on a study at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The study involved feeding participants diets with varying levels of ultra-processed foods and measuring their metabolic responses. The results suggest that ultra-processed foods significantly increase calorie intake and weight gain, while minimally processed foods do not. The article also discusses the historical context of nutrition science, exploring how societal, economic, and political factors impact food choices and dietary habits.
Magic/Tragic Email Links: Don't make them the only option
The article discusses the drawbacks of using magic email links as the sole login method for websites. While acknowledging their security benefits, the author points out their inconvenience for users with multiple devices or who prefer faster login methods. The author argues that magic links are slower, less mobile-friendly, and present indirect security risks. The article concludes by suggesting that if websites insist on using magic links, they should also offer robust alternatives like passkeys, especially if their audience is tech-savvy and privacy-focused.
Hitting OKRs vs Doing Your Job
This article explores the difference between using OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) in engineering versus marketing. In engineering, OKRs can feel like a duplication of product planning, while in marketing, they clearly express intentions and focus. The author provides examples of how OKRs are used in each context, highlighting the differences in their application and effectiveness. The article also discusses the role of KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) in both fields and how they relate to OKRs.
Higher Ed's Grim New Normal
This article discusses the challenges facing higher education, including declining enrollment, the changing demographics of college students, and the financial pressures on colleges and universities. The author explores the reasons for these challenges and considers potential solutions, such as mergers and acquisitions, strategic partnerships, and innovative models for delivering higher education.
Why I'm quitting the Washington Post
Ann Telnaes, an editorial cartoonist for the Washington Post since 2008, resigned from her position after the paper rejected one of her cartoons criticizing billionaire tech and media executives. She explains that while editorial feedback and revisions were common, this was the first time a cartoon was rejected due to its point of view. Telnaes highlights the importance of a free press and holding powerful individuals accountable, concluding that she will continue to use her cartooning to voice truth to power.
How Police Undermined the Promise of Body Cameras
ProPublica's investigation reveals how police departments across the US have actively worked against the intended purpose of body cameras. Despite the hope that body camera footage would increase transparency and accountability, departments have implemented policies and practices that limit public access to the videos. These include restrictive policies on release, lengthy delays, and the use of technical barriers and legal loopholes to prevent the release of footage, even in cases of alleged misconduct. The investigation highlights the systemic failures that undermine the promise of body cameras and demonstrates the ongoing struggle for police accountability.
With the rise of AI, web crawlers are suddenly controversial - The Verge
The article discusses the increasing controversy surrounding web crawlers in the age of AI. With AI companies using websites' data for training models, the implicit agreement behind robots.txt—a file that allows website owners to control which crawlers can access their sites—is breaking down. The article traces the history of robots.txt, explores different types of web crawlers, and examines the responses of various publishers and platforms to AI data scraping. It also discusses the legal and ethical implications of this issue and potential future solutions.
Building Passwordless Email Auth in Rails: Magic links are less magical than you think
This article provides a step-by-step guide to implementing email-based passwordless authentication in a Rails application. It explores different approaches, such as using existing gems or building a custom solution, and ultimately decides to build a custom solution. The author details the process of creating a secure and user-friendly authentication system, covering aspects like token generation, email delivery, user verification, session management, and logging out.
The End of Retirement
This article explores the changing landscape of retirement in Canada, highlighting the challenges faced by individuals entering retirement in the face of increased longevity, economic uncertainty, and the changing nature of work. It questions the traditional notion of retirement and proposes a more adaptive and gradual transition into a later life stage, advocating for phased retirement and systemic changes to address ageism in the workplace.
Sound
This article explores the nature of sound, from the microscopic behavior of air particles to the macroscopic phenomena of pressure waves and their interaction with the environment. It uses interactive demonstrations to illustrate key concepts such as frequency, amplitude, phase, and the Doppler effect.
Your relationship with technology in 2024
This newsletter explores the empty promises of modern technologies and what we can do to build better tech habits this year. It discusses how tech companies capture our attention and offers suggestions for a healthier relationship with technology, including improving screen time, leveraging helpful apps, and setting boundaries.
This local hot sauce sent two people to the hospital. We signed a waiver to try it.
This article discusses the experience of trying Stein's ghost-basco sauce, a very spicy hot sauce from Stein's Beer Garden and Restaurant in Mountain View, California. The sauce is made with Carolina Reaper, Trinidad Scorpion, and Ghost chili peppers and is so hot that it sent two people to the hospital. The author and a photographer tried the sauce and describe the intense burning sensation and the measures they took to mitigate the heat. The article also discusses the waiver they signed before trying the sauce and includes comments from the chef about the sauce's creation and intensity.
Menlo Park runners qualify for National Junior Olympics Cross-Country Championships in Indiana
The Run Club Menlo Park team had 19 of its 29 runners qualify for the Junior Olympics championship race in Indiana on December 14.
A Giant Leap for the Leap Second. Is Mankind Ready?
A top scientist has proposed a new way to reconcile the two different ways that our clocks keep time. The article discusses the history of leap seconds, the challenges they pose for technology companies, and a proposed solution: the leap minute.
Tiredness experienced by Long-COVID patients has a physical cause
Researchers from Amsterdam UMC and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU) have discovered that the persistent fatigue in patients with long-COVID has a biological cause, namely mitochondria in muscle cells that produce less energy than in healthy patients.
The Personal, Political Art of Board-Game Design
Amabel Holland is a board game designer who creates games that are both complex and engaging, often tackling difficult social and political issues. Her games are known for their innovative mechanics and their ability to immerse players in an experience. This article explores Holland’s life and work, and how she uses game design to express her personal and political views.
How Random is xkcd? - Comfortably Numbered
The author investigates the randomness of the xkcd "random" comic button, using statistical tests to determine its quality. The article explores concepts of randomness, including the use of random number generators in cryptography and the counterintuitive nature of randomness. It also discusses the birthday paradox and its implications for the perceived bias in the xkcd random comic selection.
A 'Second Tree of Life' Could Wreak Havoc, Scientists Warn
Research on so-called mirror cells, which defy fundamental properties of living organisms, should be prohibited as too dangerous, biologists said. Scientists warn that within a few decades, they will be able to create a microbe that could cause an unstoppable pandemic, devastating crop losses or the collapse of entire ecosystems. The consequences could be globally disastrous. Mirror cells could evade most of the barriers that keep ordinary organisms in check. They could be resistant to most antibiotics. There is a call to abandon the research.
Concerns in Rails: Everything You Need to Know
Concerns are an important concept in Rails that can be confusing to understand for those new to Rails as well as seasoned practitioners. This post explains what concerns are, how they work, and how & when you should use them to simplify your code, with practical, real-world examples.
The 7 Best Places to See the Total Solar Eclipse
This article discusses the 7 best places to view the total solar eclipse on April 8th, 2024, considering factors such as weather, accessibility and lodging. It emphasizes the importance of booking accommodations well in advance and provides safety tips for viewing the eclipse.
I can't sleep
A personal reflection on the author's emotional response to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, interspersed with factual information on the atrocities committed, and a call for action against the complicity of tech investors and others.
The Great Lightbulb Conspiracy
This article discusses the Phoebus cartel, a group of lightbulb manufacturers who conspired to shorten the lifespan of lightbulbs in order to increase sales. The cartel was successful in reducing the lifespan of lightbulbs from 1,500-2,000 hours to 1,000 hours. However, the cartel's actions ultimately led to its downfall, as competitors were able to produce cheaper lightbulbs that lasted longer.
Can Brain Science Help Us Break Bad Habits?
This New Yorker article explores the potential of brain science to help people break bad habits. It delves into the complexities of habit formation and examines various scientific approaches aimed at altering ingrained behaviors.
Why Japan's Rail Workers Can't Stop Pointing at Things - Atlas Obscura
A seemingly silly gesture is done for the sake of safety. Japan's rail system has a well-deserved reputation for being among the very best in the world. Train conductors, drivers and station staff play an important role in the safe and efficient operation of the lines; a key aspect of which is the variety of physical gestures and vocal calls that they perform while undertaking their duties. The system is in place across a number of industries in Japan.
Netflix Never Used Its Million Algorithm Due To Engineering Costs
Netflix never used the $1 million algorithm it awarded in 2009 because the engineering costs to implement it were too high for the small gain in accuracy. Furthermore, Netflix's shift to streaming prioritized immediate recommendations based on real-time user behavior, making the complex algorithm designed for DVD-by-mail obsolete.
