Here is the daily technology #threadcast for 3/15/24. The goal is to make this a technology "reddit".
Drop all question, comments, and articles relating to #technology and the future. The goal is make it a technology center.
Here is the daily technology #threadcast for 3/15/24. The goal is to make this a technology "reddit".
Drop all question, comments, and articles relating to #technology and the future. The goal is make it a technology center.
Installing Windows XP on an iPhone
The video demonstrates how to install Windows XP on an iPhone using the UTM app, which is an emulator that allows users to run x86 operating systems on their iOS devices. The host uses the UTM app to create a virtual machine, downloads a Windows XP ISO, and installs it on the virtual machine. They also try to run Half-Life on the emulated Windows XP, which works, albeit with some performance issues.
Longer Summary ->
SVS - Scalable Video Switch Review
The Scalable Video Switch (SVS) is a modular AV selector that works seamlessly with 4K upscalers, creating a streamlined backend for gaming setups. It allows for up to 32 individual inputs and 6 outputs, and multiple stacks can be linked together for up to 248 individual inputs. The SVS is a cost-effective solution, with input modules costing around $35 and output modules costing $25. It also features automatic profile switching with the RetroTINK 4K and has a range of input and output options, including SCART, Component, Composite, and S-Video.
Longer Summary ->
Vortex V3 Review: A Faithful but Flawed Clone of the Motorola Razer V3
The Vortex V3 is a $40 clone of the iconic Motorola Razer V3, a 20-year-old phone that was popular for its sleek design and functionality. Although the V3 is a faithful reproduction of the original, it falls short in terms of performance and usability. With a plasticized and detuned design, the phone's battery life is limited, lasting only 11.5 hours on standby.
The phone's Android 11 Go operating system and 2017 processor also make it prone to crashes and lag. Despite its compact size and nostalgic design, the V3's numerous flaws make it difficult to recommend.
Longer Summary ->
Gaming on a $34 E-Waste Laptop: Can This Trash Laptop Run Anything?
The video explores the potential of a $34 e-waste laptop, the Acer Aspire 1, to run games and other applications. The laptop, released in 2017, features an Intel Celeron N3350 processor, 4GB of memory, and 32GB of eMMC storage. Despite its outdated hardware, the laptop is able to run Steam and play games like Half-Life 2, albeit with some limitations.
The video also attempts to install and run Minecraft, but is unsuccessful due to storage constraints. However, the laptop is able to run Dreamcast emulation, specifically Sonic Adventure 2, with some glitches. The video concludes that while the laptop may not be suitable for power users, it can still be useful for lightweight tasks like web browsing, and that installing Linux can breathe new life into old laptops.
Longer Summary ->
The Story of PlayStation 1
The PlayStation 1 was a revolutionary console that transformed the gaming industry. Born out of a betrayal by Nintendo in 1991, Sony's pivot led to the creation of a console that would change the face of gaming forever. With its cutting-edge CD technology and 3D polygon graphics, the PlayStation 1 went on to become one of the best-selling consoles of all time, with over 102 million units sold worldwide.
Longer Summary ->
!summarize
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Tesla CEO Elon Musk looks on as US President Donald Trump speaks to the press as they stand next to a Tesla vehicle on the South Portico of the White House on March 11, 2025 in Washington, DC.
Townsend told CNBC that the aim of the bill is to ensure Delaware corporate law is clearer and more predictable, and that the state remains attractive to both investors and corporate leaders.
Many institutional investors, legal scholars and shareholders' attorneys have opposed the bill, arguing that it would harm minority shareholders and allow boards and executives to make decisions based on their own interests rather than for the broader investor base.
The anti-Delaware sentiment has at least some political motivations. While aligning themselves with President Donald Trump, executives like Musk and Ackman are trying to publicly undermine what they describe as "activist judges" who have issued rulings they found disagreeable.
Musk also has a lot of money potentially at stake. If adopted, legal scholars have argued, the new law could help the world's richest person in his effort to reverse the court's order in January 2024 that rescinded his mammoth pay package.
In his CNBC interview, Meyer downplayed fears that a so-called DExit was underway, a reference to a mass exodus of companies out of Delaware to incorporate in other states.
Delaware boasts 2.2 million corporate entities from around the world that are registered in the state, including 81% of U.S. companies that went public last year, Meyer said, adding, "The idea that we're losing something is not totally accurate."
When he was running for governor, Meyer's campaign was heavily supported by entrepreneur Phil Shawe, a former Delaware litigant who became an outspoken critic of the state's Court of Chancery after he was sanctioned in a case concerning who should maintain ownership of a business he started with his ex-fiancee. In 2018, he moved incorporation of the company, TransPerfect, to Nevada.
Last year, Shawe spent $2 million on an ad campaign slamming Delaware, and supporting Musk, all while encouraging other companies to flee the state. Shawe also contributed over $1 million to fund a political action committee supporting Meyer.
Shawe told CNBC, in an emailed statement, that he was not involved in drafting SB21 but "had lots of concerns and ideas" about Delaware's Court of Chancery, and was "proud to have been at the forefront of this important discussion."
"Lip-Bu's compensation reflects his experience and credentials as an accomplished technology leader with deep industry experience and is market competitive," Intel said in an emailed comment. "The vast majority of his compensation is equity-based and tied to long-term shareholder value creation."
Separately, Tan agreed to purchase $25 million in Intel shares and hold them in order to be eligible for the grants and bonuses.
Klarna is the latest upstart to file for a U.S. IPO as tech companies look to hit the public market following a historically slow stretch for new offerings. Earlier this month, CoreWeave, a provider of cloud-based Nvidia processors to companies including Meta and Microsoft, filed its prospectus.
Cloud software vendor ServiceTitan hit the market in December, marking the first significant venture-backed tech IPO since Rubrik's debut in April. A month before that, Reddit started trading on the NYSE. There haven't been many other tech IPOs of note in the U.S. since late 2021, when rising interest rates and soaring inflation pushed investors out of risky assets.
Market volatility could still get in the way of Klarna's plans. The Nasdaq just wrapped up its fourth straight week of losses, closing on Thursday at its lowest level since September before rebounding a bit on Friday.
Data released Friday from the University of Michigan confirmed that consumer confidence has suffered from the ongoing tariff-related uncertainty that's underpinned the opening weeks of the second Trump administration. Consumer sentiment dropped in March to 57.9, lower than the 63.2 economists polled by Dow Jones had expected.
Founded in 2005, Klarna is best known for its buy now, pay later model, a service that allows consumers to split purchases into installments. The company competes with Affirm, which went public in 2021, and Afterpay, which Block acquired for $29 billion in early 2022. Klarna's major shareholders include venture firms Sequoia Capital and Atomico, as well as SoftBank's Vision Fund.
Thygesen said the company is also partnering with Microsoft and Google, which the company does not view as competitors because they're "not looking to become agreement management specialists."
Despite consumer sentiment and demand dipping across the board due to tariff uncertainty, Thygesen said the company has not seen anything yet in its transactional activity to indicate a slowdown in demand or growth.
"More and more people are going to want to sign things electronically," Thygesen said.
eatures NVIDIA Jetson, 18 DOF body
Footage of the N2 in action has also been publicly released and can be viewed in the video embedded below. In it, the backflipping bot performs a clean flip on a mat. On landing, the robot makes multiple corrections to footing and gait to regain stability, just like a human performing a similar trick. Given the complexity of this seemingly simple action among humans, the team spent many hours training the robot and
NOETIX claims the N2 humanoid can run at speeds of 7.2 miles per hour. At that pace, the diminutive robot would complete a 3.1-mile race in about 26 minutes. Details leaked on social media indicate the N2 features a NVIDIA Jetson, a 18 DOF (degrees of freedom) body and weighs around 44 pounds (20 kg). Following tests, the company says the robot is heading toward mass production and is expected to come with a price tag of 39,000 yuan ($5,500).
Systems deliver comprehensive protection
The integrated family of systems delivers comprehensive protection customized to the needs of each installation.
The company revealed that the solution integrates multiple sensors and effectors into an easy-to-use, shared command and control (C2) interface and uses an open architecture to enable rapid iteration and system upgrades, providing the U.S. Marine Corps with the most advanced capabilities to outpace evolving threats over the 10 year period of performance.
“This award expands our partnership with the U.S. Marine Corps, following a $200 million contract awarded in November to develop and deliver a CUAS Engagement System for the Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS),” said the company in a statement.
Early images and claims suggest support for 1,000-volt charging voltages and the aforementioned 1,000 kW power output. Some even hinted at the possibility of a full charge in just six minutes, although such comments are not from auto experts.
Commencing pre-sales of highly anticipated vehicles
At the same event, BYD is expected to commence pre-sales of its highly anticipated Han L sedan and Tang L SUV.
These models are expected to be the first to utilize the “BYD Super e-Platform” and benefit from the 1,000 kW charging technology.
The Han L and Tang L, which were previewed earlier this year, have already generated considerable interest due to their impressive performance specifications.
Regulatory filings from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) reveal that both vehicles are equipped with dual motors, featuring a 230 kW front motor and a powerful 580 kW rear motor, reported CnEVPost.
Fine-tuning hardware, algorithms
“The 21-kilometer race is a pretty extreme test,” explained Zhou Di, an expert from the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology, in an interview to Yicai Global. “In industrial and household applications, the ability to run long distances isn’t usually a top priority for robots,” he added.
However, the robotic marathon will not only serve as an ingenious marketing tool but also present a genuine opportunity to compare robots. It can be thought of as a kind of trial for potential customers and investors as well.
Both the Casbot 01 and Wheat robots stand over 5.6 feet (1.7 meters) tall and weigh about 132 pounds (60 kilograms), similar to an average human’s height and weight. However, as advanced as these two machines are, they still have a long way to go before being able to run extensively.
Missing torso of Buddha’s head discovered, solves century-old puzzle
Due to the torso’s location near the existing relic, the team performed tests to verify its association with the statue.
The renowned Angkor site has yielded a striking discovery. Archaeologists discovered a torso that unexpectedly matched an iconic Buddha head that had been unearthed more than a century ago.
Spanning 402 acres, Angkor is recognized as one of the most significant archaeological sites in Southeast Asia. It houses over a thousand buildings that are emblematic of the golden age of Khmer architecture.
Located northeast of the sprawling site, archaeologists conducted an excavation at the Ta Prohm temple last month, which was famously featured in the film Lara Croft: Tomb Raider starring Angelina Jolie.
Situated near Siem Reap city, the team from the APSARA National Authority and the Archaeological Survey of India initiated the project to recover valuable artifacts scattered throughout the complex, with the aim of preserving Cambodian art and heritage.
“It was a big surprise when we unearthed this sculpture,” archaeologist Neth Simon told The Independent, as only small fragments had been previously unearthed.
The torso was located approximately 164 feet from the location of the head, which was already discovered and is currently housed in a museum.
Pending approval, the team plans to reassemble the priceless votive, which exhibits unique characteristics previously unseen by archaeologists, from Cambodia’s rich history.
Oceanliner Designs explores the design, construction, engineering and operation of history’s greatest vessels– from Titanic to Queen Mary and from the Empress of Ireland to the Lusitania. Join maritime researcher and illustrator Michael Brady as he tells the stories behind some of history's most famous ocean liners and machines!
Deaths March 14, 2025
Pietro Genuardi [it], 62, Italian actor (CentoVetrine, Killer Crocodile, Paganini Horror).[3]
Abdul Ghani Kasuba, 73, Indonesian politician, governor of North Maluku (2019–2023).[4]
Ken Hall, 89, American football player (Edmonton Eskimos, Chicago Cardinals, Houston Oilers).[5] (death announced on this date)
Demyan Hanul, 31, Ukrainian activist (Right Sector), shot.[6]
Deaths March 14, 2025
Panchakshari Hiremath, 92, Indian writer, critic and translator.[7]
Peter Hric, 59, Slovak Olympic cyclist (1996).[8]
Lin Tsan-ting [zh], 94, Taiwanese cinematographer.[9]
Liu Hongru, 94, Chinese economist and banker.[10]
Deb Mukherjee, 83, Indian actor (Aansoo Ban Gaye Phool, Karate, Gudgudee).[11]
Virginia Newell, 107, American academic, author and politician.[12]
Red Lerille, 88, American bodybuilder.[13]
Alan Simpson, 93, American politician, member of the U.S. Senate (1979–1997) and the Wyoming House of Representatives (1965–1977), complications from a broken hip.[14]
Dag Solstad, 83, Norwegian author (Gymnaslærer Pedersens beretning om den store politiske vekkelse som har hjemsøkt vårt land) and dramatist.[15]
He said the dancing robots would one day be able to do menial tasks, as well as offer friendship, and expected them to retail for $20,000 to $30,000.
Starship — the world's largest and most powerful rocket — is key to Musk's long-term vision of colonizing Mars.
Standing 403 feet tall — about 100 feet taller than the Statue of Liberty — Starship is designed to eventually be fully reusable.
NASA is also awaiting a modified version of Starship as a lunar lander for its Artemis program, which aims to return astronauts to the moon this decade.
But before SpaceX can carry out those missions, it must prove the vehicle is reliable, safe for crew, and capable of complex in-orbit refueling — critical for deep space missions.
Despite the setback, SpaceX's "fail fast, learn fast" approach has helped it become the world's dominant launch services provider.
But Musk's status as one of President Donald Trump's closest advisers and his influence over federal regulators are raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest.
During Joe Biden's presidency, Musk frequently clashed with the FAA, accusing it of overregulating SpaceX over safety and environmental concerns.
Trump vowed in his inauguration speech in January "to plant the Stars and Stripes on the planet Mars."
Duffy: Boeing Lost Americans' Trust, Needs Strict Oversight
U.S. planemaker Boeing lost its way and trust of the American people after a January 2024 mid-air emergency involving a new Boeing 737 MAX and two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Friday.
Duffy also said the Federal Aviation Administration is not yet ready to lift a 38-plane per month production cap on the 737 MAX.
"When you breach the trust of the American people with that safety and with your manufacturing, we're going to put the screws to you to make sure you change your ways and start doing things right," Duffy told Fox News after a visit on Thursday to the Boeing 737 factory in Renton, Washington.
Duffy traveled to Washington and met with Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg, along with acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau, following last year's mid-air panel blowout on a new Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 airplane that was missing four key bolts.
Ortberg will testify April 2 before Congress.
"They've lost trust," Duffy said. "They have to take a look at how they're manufacturing. They have to look at their quality. They have to get it up to a place where the FAA and the American people and the airlines feel like they're producing incredibly safe airplanes."
Duffy noted that Boeing has new leadership.
Rosie O'Donnell made headlines this week...after following through on her promise to leave America. Friday morning...Sunny Hostin and the ladies on The View were discussing the departure of Rosie O'Donnell...and Sunny Hostin insinuated that she wanted to leave America too.
We reveal and react to a couple of segments from The View. We discuss Sunny Hostin supposedly being miserable in America...because Donald Trump is president. We question why Sunny Hostin chooses to stay in America...while also explaining why we believe it's all an act from Sunny Hostin.
In Trump's order, he criticized global law firms, saying they play an "outsized role in undermining the judicial process and in the destruction of bedrock American principles."
He also slammed the pro bono work such firms provide, saying they give some Americans access to top legal talent they usually could not afford.
During Trump's first administration, Paul Weiss provided legal assistance to migrant families who had been separated at the Mexico-U.S. border.
A Paul Weiss spokeswoman said the order was mainly focused on Pomerantz, who had not been affiliated with the company for some time.
Another one of Trump's orders, targeting law firm Perkins Cole, is already being challenged.
Perkins Cole had worked with George Soros and Hillary Clinton during her failed 2016 bid. It also had a role in working with a firm that compiled the "Russiagate" dossier against Trump that has since been discredited.
Judge Beryl Howell, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, blocked the order against Perkins Cole, saying that it appears to violate constitutional principles that include the ability for clients to obtain legal representation.
The president has also issued a narrower order against the law firm of Covington & Burling for offering legal advice to former special counsel Jack Smith.
Newsmax reported that a Meta spokesperson said her complaint was baseless, pointing to a 2019 Zuckerberg speech in which he said China's censorship rules make operating in the country unworkable.
Hamadeh wrote, "The latest allegations raise urgent questions about whether Meta continues to assist foreign regimes in controlling online discourse or targeting U.S. based dissidents of the CCP [Chinese Communist Party] and other totalitarian regimes."
The Arizona Republican has focused on government controls and access to speech. He posted a release on his U.S. House web page that his work was instrumental to a decision by House leaders to block the distribution of China Daily and other publications managed by the CCP at House facilities.
Qubit Counts and Hardware: Leading players like IBM, Google, and Quantinuum have systems with qubit counts ranging from dozens to low hundreds. IBM’s 2023 roadmap showcased a 433-qubit processor (Osprey), with plans for a 1,121-qubit system (Condor) in 2025. Google’s Sycamore processor hit 70 qubits in 2023, and IonQ’s trapped-ion systems are pushing toward 64+ high-fidelity qubits. These numbers sound impressive, but raw qubit count isn’t the whole story—coherence times (how long qubits hold their state) and error rates are critical bottlenecks.
Error Correction and Noise: Current systems are in the "Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum" (NISQ) era, meaning they’re prone to errors due to environmental interference and imperfect gates. Progress in quantum error correction (QEC) is accelerating—Google demonstrated a surface code reducing errors in 2023, and startups like QuEra are exploring neutral-atom approaches. Still, full fault-tolerance (requiring thousands to millions of logical qubits) is years away.
Achievements: Google claimed "quantum supremacy" in 2019 with a specific task (random circuit sampling), though it was debated as more of a benchmark than a practical win. In 2024, IBM and DARPA partnered to advance quantum utility, showing NISQ systems tackling small-scale optimization problems. Companies like D-Wave are using quantum annealing for niche optimization tasks (e.g., logistics), though this differs from universal gate-based quantum computing.
Ecosystem Growth: Software frameworks like Qiskit (IBM), Cirq (Google), and PennyLane are maturing, letting researchers simulate and program quantum systems. Investment is booming—$2.35 billion globally in 2023 alone, per McKinsey—spanning hardware, algorithms, and talent. Over 30 countries have national quantum initiatives, with the U.S., China, and EU leading.
Applications in Play: Today, quantum computers are mostly research tools. They’re being tested for proof-of-concept work in chemistry (e.g., simulating small molecules like H₂ or LiH), optimization (e.g., traffic flow), and cryptography (e.g., attacking weaker encryption). Commercial use is embryonic, limited to hybrid quantum-classical setups.
Attack Targets Yemeni Capital Sanaa, Houthi-Run TV Says
n attack targeted the Yemeni capital Sanaa, the Houthi-run Al Masirah TV said on Saturday, without providing further details.
Egg Smuggling Surges as Prices Soar in US
With egg prices high, U.S. border officials report a sharp increase in smuggling attempts from Mexico and Canada.
With egg prices high, U.S. border officials report a sharp increase in smuggling attempts from Mexico and Canada.
Customs and Border Protection has recorded a 158% rise in intercepted egg shipments at its San Diego field office since last year, The Wall Street Journal reported.
At the El Paso border station in Texas, CBP identified more than 90 people "attempting to import raw eggs from Mexico" between January and February. Similarly, officials at the Detroit-Windsor crossing at the Canadian border reported a 36% increase in "interceptions of eggs" compared to the previous year.
From October to February, overall attempts to bring eggs into the U.S. without proper declaration rose by 29% at ports of entry, according to CBP data. Many cases do not result in penalties, as the eggs are often surrendered voluntarily.
CBP officials continue to stress the importance of agricultural security.
"It is critical that we keep our traveling public informed to safeguard our agricultural industry while continuing to facilitate legitimate trade and travel," said Sidney Aki, CBP's field operations director in San Diego.
Egg prices have decreased significantly in the past week as consumer demand decreased, resulting in supplies returning to typical levels.
The USDA reported Thursday that the average cost of a dozen large white eggs is now $4.90, down from the all-time high of $8.64 on March 5 and the lowest price recorded since Dec. 20.
Villanova fires Kyle Neptune after three disappointing seasons
One of the top jobs in college basketball just opened up again.
Villanova fired Kyle Neptune on Saturday, two days after the Wildcats were eliminated from the Big East Tournament by UConn in the quarterfinals.
They own a 19-14 overall record and an 11-9 mark in the conference, and will very likely be on the outside looking in for the NCAA Tournament.
Chinese firm’s new EV rivals Tesla Model Y with 480-mile range, 96 kWh battery
Expected to debut this summer, the YU7 retains the design language of Xiaomi’s first EV, the SU7, and features a roof-mounted LiDAR sensor on certain configurations.
The Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has revealed that tech giant Xiaomi’s new electric crossover SUV, the YU7, will offer a driving range of up to 478 miles (770 kms) and a 96.3kWh battery pack. Set to be launched this summer, the YU7 will compete against Tesla’s Model Y.
The vehicle, which would combine features of a traditional crossover SUV with a battery-powered drivetrain, also comes in a shorter driving range of approximately 419 miles and 472 miles. It is among the newly added models to enjoy purchase tax breaks, according to a notice by the ministry.
The latest YU7 milestone strengthens Xiaomi’s position in the high-performance electric vehicle market, following extensive testing and development, as it looks to continue exploring innovations in pure electric technology.
Furthermore, Xiaomi’s shares have surged approximately 340% from a February 2024 low, adding more than $10 billion to its market value. The company gained investor confidence by replicating its smartphone success in China’s electric vehicle market, and now it needs to prove that its share performance is warranted, amidst market caution.
Falcons make $10 million decision on Kirk Cousins
Kirk Cousins is staying in Atlanta — for now.
The Falcons have decided to keep Cousins on their roster past 4 p.m. ET, which means that his $10 million roster bonus for 2026 will become guaranteed, according to multiple reports.
However, the Falcons, in the end, might not be on the hook for some or even any of the $10 million.
The deal, according to NFL Network, comes with offset language, which means that if Cousins plays for another team in 2026, that franchise will pay part or all of the roster bonus.
The decision comes on the heels of a report last week from Sports Illustrated that said Cousins recently met with Falcons owner Arthur Blank in hopes of going to a place where he can be a starter.
Calif. Homeowners Facing 22 Percent Increase in Insurance
California homeowners are facing a 22% increase in insurance premiums if State Farm, the state's largest single insurer with roughly 1 million home insurance policies in California, can "justify it with data in a public hearing" next month.
“State Farm claims it is committed to its California customers and aims to restore financial stability. I expect both State Farm and its parent company to meet their responsibilities and not shift the burden entirely onto their customers,” California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara said in a statement.
“The facts will be revealed in an open, transparent hearing.”
Lara added that should State Farms' withdraw from the state "it is evident that other California insurers are unable to absorb State Farm's existing customers."
If that happens, current customers could be forced onto the California FAIR Plan, a last-resort insurance program the state is trying to move people away from.
Moscow Invites Musk for Mars Collaboration
The head of the Russian sovereign wealth fund, Kirill Dmitriev, propositioned Elon Musk Saturday morning on X that Russia and the United States should work collaboratively on a mission to Mars.
Dmitriev, who is currently serving as Russia's chief economic envoy to the U.S., posted to X that "2025 is the 50th anniversary of the first international spaceflight: the Apollo-Soyuz mission."
"Shall 2029," he asked, "be the year of a joint US-Russia mission to Mars, [Musk]? Our minds & technology should serve the glory of humanity, not its destruction."
Dmitriev's proposition came in response to a post Musk wrote early Saturday morning, announcing that his company SpaceX would be sending its Starship spacecraft to Mars next year while carrying Tesla's humanoid android Optimus in its cargo.
Zetas Cartel Leaders Arraigned in US on Drug Charges
The brothers appeared in a Washington, D.C., courtroom, facing charges of engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise that involved multiple murder conspiracies, the Department of Justice said in a statement.
The sibling former leaders of Mexico's notorious Zetas cartel were arraigned Friday in the United States on multiple charges, including drug trafficking, firearms possession, and money laundering, the U.S. Department of Justice said, CBS News reported.
Brothers Miguel and Omar Trevino Morales — known as "Z-40" and "Z-42" — led one of Mexico's most feared organized crime gangs before its collapse. The two were among 29 drug suspects that Mexico expelled to the United States last month amid increasing pressure from President Donald Trump to curb drug smuggling.
Monster Storm Kills Six, Sparks Threat of Tornadoes, Fire
The threat of violent tornadoes in parts of the U.S. proved deadly as well as destructive as whipping winds moved east into the Mississippi Valley and Deep South on Saturday, with at least six people killed and scores of homes decimated.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The threat of violent tornadoes in parts of the U.S. proved deadly as well as destructive as whipping winds moved east into the Mississippi Valley and Deep South on Saturday, with at least six people killed and scores of homes decimated.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported that two adults were killed in the Bakersfield area in Ozark County and multiple people were injured. Coroner Jim Akers of Butler County, Missouri, said a couple was sleeping in their Butler County home, roughly 110 miles (177 kilometers) east of Bakersfield, when a tornado ripped it apart.
A blaze in Roberts County, Texas, northeast of Amarillo, quickly blew up from less than a square mile (about 2 square kilometers) to an estimated 32.8 square miles (85 square kilometers), the Texas A&M University Forest Service said on X. Crews stopped its advance by Friday evening.
About 60 miles (90 kilometers) to the south, another fire grew to about 3.9 square miles (10 square kilometers) before its advance was halted in the afternoon.
High winds also knocked out power to more than 260,000 homes and businesses in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois and Indiana, according the website poweroutage.us.
The National Weather Service issued blizzard warnings for parts of far western Minnesota and far eastern South Dakota starting early Saturday. Snow accumulations of 3 to 6 inches (7.6 to 15.2 centimeters) were expected, with up to a foot (30 centimeters) possible.
Supreme Court to Hear Trump Birthright Order Appeal
The Supreme Court said Friday it will consider the Trump administration's request to allow restrictions on birthright citizenship to take effect in part while legal fights play out.
In their virtually identical filings Thursday, acting Solicitor General Sarah Harris urged the justices to partially block preliminary injunctions, issued by federal district judges in Washington state, Maryland, and Massachusetts, that bar the government from implementing Trump's Inauguration Day executive order on birthright citizenship anywhere in the country.
The court, which had the option of rejecting the request, signaled it would consider the appeal by ordering responses from states and organizations that have challenged the constitutionality of Trump's order to be submitted by April 4, multiple media outlets reported.
Canada May Cancel F-35 Fighter Contract With US Over Tariffs
The Canadian government is considering canceling its contract with U.S. defense contractor Lockheed Martin in light of the imposed tariffs by the Trump administration, the CBC reported.
In June 2023, Canada signed a $19 billion contract to purchase 88 of the fifth-generation F-35 fighter jets from Lockheed Martin. But the Canadian government is looking for alternatives to their air defense in response to the ongoing tariff war and President Donald Trump's repeated remarks about making Canada the 51st U.S. state.
Canada has already paid for 16 of the aircraft and is weary about supporting and maintaining a mixed fleet of fighter jets that would require their own unique training, hangers, infrastructure, and supply chain, all of which would increase cost. The first shipment of F-35s is scheduled to be delivered early in 2026.
Energy always has an upper limit
Currently, scientists believe that energy can, in theory, be released at infinitely high levels. This makes some equations in quantum gravity impossible to solve.
Now imagine space and time were not smooth but made of tiny, indivisible building blocks—like pixels on a screen — similar to how energy and momentum in quantum mechanics come in small, indivisible packets called quanta.
In such a world, you wouldn’t be able to move an object by just any distance. Instead, it would jump in fixed steps. Similarly, time wouldn’t flow continuously but would tick forward in tiny increments, like the ticking of a clock.
These steps are so incredibly small that we don’t notice them in everyday life. According to general relativity, gravity comes from the curvature of spacetime. If spacetime itself is not smooth but made of small chunks, then this curvature must also follow a step-like, quantized pattern.
Moreover, if spacetime is made of tiny steps, then energy release must also have an upper limit—just like how nothing can go faster than the speed of light. Interestingly, this maximum power, called Planck power, is “unimaginably large (10⁵³ watts) but still limited,” Wieland explained.
“If my theoretical considerations prove true, it will be possible to break down the power of gravitational waves into the smallest quanta,” he added.
A part of the ongoing quest
Since the 1930s, it has been believed that general relativity and quantum mechanics don’t share any connection. However, as research delves deeper into quantum physics and macroscopic phenomena like black holes, the need to unify these theories has become increasingly clear.
In separate research works, scientists previously used Einstein’s field equation and entropy to explain how gravity, spacetime, and other macroscopic phenomena can be described using quantum mechanics.
Therefore, the current study is not the first attempt at the unification of the two theories, but it’s probably the first to use Planck power, a well-recognized fundamental unit, to shed light on the missing connection.
However, all these theories are still limited to assumptions and equations. Hopefully, further research work will reveal a way to experimentally validate concepts such as quantum gravity and quantized spacetime.
“We are excited about the non-traditional companies who are providing low-cost, adaptable, long-range UAS platforms. This project has been directed by Congress to rethink how we get capabilities to military forces quickly and at scale, achieving results faster than conventional methods,” Emeneker noted.
The companies selected for the Artemis contracts include Swan, a U.S. software firm collaborating with a Ukrainian UAS manufacturer; Dragoon, a U.S.-based company; Aerovironment, also U.S.-based; and Auterion, another U.S. software firm partnered with a Ukrainian UAS firm.
Over just four months, DIU and the Department of Defense successfully crafted a problem statement, solicited proposals, evaluated 165 submissions, and conducted flight demonstrations for those selected, leading to contract negotiations.
They presented various UAS options, highlighting their versatility, from military-focused systems to consumer models, emphasizing durability and efficiency.
A representative from the Ukrainian defense sector noted the dual role of their drones in combat and humanitarian missions, stating, “In Ukraine, these drones perform critical functions for our military, but they are also instrumental in delivering humanitarian aid to areas that are too dangerous for human access.”
The use of drones in such operations underscores their potential to save lives while adapting to the challenging realities of modern warfare.
In this system, electrical fields simultaneously stimulate muscle tissue and dynamically adjustable mechanical resistance. The co-stimulated muscle tissue demonstrates robust driving performance, allowing faster robot movement, as per the researchers.
Enhanced artificial muscle tissue
Chinese researchers used the system to create enhanced artificial muscle tissue that could power a small caterpillar-like robot to move at a maximum speed of 2.38mm per second – faster than other reported lifelike robots driven by artificial skeletal muscle tissue. The maximum contraction force of the artificial muscle increased by 98 percent, and the performance of the artificial muscle in some aspects was similar to natural muscle, reported SCMP.
St. John's clinches first Big East Tournament championship in 25 years with win over Creighton
St. John’s is a Big East Tournament champion again.
Saturday night’s second half was this remarkable season neatly packed into 20 brilliant minutes.
A jam-packed Garden full of St. John’s fans on their feet, making the building sound like it was 1985. One defensive stop after another became one easy basket in transition after another.
There was RJ Luis Jr., Kadary Richmond and Zuby Ejiofor taking turns burying Creighton, switching off like good and trusting teammates will in this 82-66 thrilling Big East Tournament championship game victory.
Once that run started, the second-seeded Bluejays were done, much like Marquette the night before, much like so many opponents throughout this Red Storm winter of joy.
It oddly began with a Luis technical foul, after he sank a 3-pointer. The junior celebrated too much.
Steven Ashworth pulled Creighton within two. Then came the St. John’s avalanche. An 18-5 burst that began with consecutive Richmond baskets inside and was capped by a Luis layup.
The lead was now 15. St. John’s was on its way to its first Big East Tournament title in 25 years, likely headed to a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
They missed their first six shots while Creighton hit seven of its first eight.
The Bluejays cooled off from there, missing 14 of their next 16 attempts, but still led by three at the half.
The Red Storm struggled mightily from the field, shooting 33.3 percent. Luis and Simeon Wilcher each misfired on four of their five shots, and St. John’s didn’t attempt a single free throw over the opening 20 minutes.
Kalkbrenner controlled the paint as he usually does, and the Red Storm got impatient, taking quick jumpers.
!summarize #tesla #semi #nevada #factory
After Elon Musk’s Delaware exit, state lawmakers weigh bill to overhaul corporate law
Delaware lawmakers are considering a bill that aims to make the state attractive to investors and executives.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk turned Delaware's corporate law into a hot-button topic last year after a judge there ruled that his $56 billion pay package from 2018 was illegally granted and should be rescinded.
In social media posts, Musk smeared the judge and became an outspoken critic of Delaware's judiciary, moving the site of incorporation for Tesla and his other companies out of the state while encouraging others to follow suit. Dropbox moved its site of incorporation to Nevada, and Bill Ackman said his Pershing Square Capital Management would exit Delaware. Meta and Walmart are reportedly considering leaving.
After a flurry of such announcements, Delaware's Senate Majority Leader Bryan Townsend, a corporate attorney by trade and former clerk for Delaware's Court of Chancery, began looking into the matter with fellow elected leaders. He then moved to sponsor a bill, known as SB 21, aimed at making Delaware a more attractive state for businesses.
On Thursday, the state Senate voted to pass an amended version of SB 21. If it passes Delaware's House of Representatives, in a vote expected next week, and gets signed by the governor, the bill would change the state's corporate law. Notably, it would alter how companies can use independent directors and other officials to ensure deals they've made will pass muster in court, and limit the records that shareholders can obtain from companies when investigating possible wrongdoing.
Intel's new CEO receives $66 million in options and stock grants on top of $1 million salary
Lip-Bu Tan, who was named CEO of Intel this week, will receive $1 million in salary and about $66 million in stocks and grants vesting over the coming years.
New Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan will receive total compensation of $1 million in salary and about $66 million in stock options and grants vesting over the coming years, according to filing on Friday with the SEC.
Tan was named as the chief of Intel this week, spurring hopes that the chip industry veteran can turn around the struggling company. Intel shares are up nearly 20% so far in 2025, and most of those gains came this week, following Tan's appointment. He starts next week.
Tan will receive $1 million in salary, and he is eligible for an annual bonus worth $2 million.
He will also receive stock units in a long-term equity grant valued at $14.4 million, as well as a performance grant of $17 million in Intel shares. Both grants will vest over a period of five years, although Tan won't earn any of those shares if Intel's stock price drops over the next three years. He can earn more stock if the company's share price outperforms the market.
Tan will receive a package of stock options worth $9.6 million, as well as a new hire option grant worth $25 million.
In total, Tan's compensation package has about $66 million in long-term equity awards and options in addition to salary, bonuses, and legal expenses. If Intel goes through a change of control, Tan could be eligible for accelerated vesting, according to the filing.
And I just watched a video that makes fun of Intel too!!!!
Buy now, pay later lender Klarna files for U.S. IPO
Klarna filed its paperwork with the SEC on Friday to go public on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker symbol KLAR.
Klarna, a provider of buy now, pay later loans filed its IPO prospectus on Friday, and plans to go public on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker symbol KLAR.
Klarna, headquartered in Sweden, hasn't yet disclosed the number of shares to be offered or the expected price range.
The decision to go public in the U.S. deals a significant blow to European stock exchanges, which have struggled to retain homegrown tech companies. Klarna CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski had hinted for years that a U.S. listing was more likely, citing better visibility and regulatory advantages.
Klarna is continuing to rebuild after a dramatic downturn. Once a pandemic-era darling valued at $46 billion in a SoftBank-led funding round, Klarna saw its valuation slashed by 85% in 2022, plummeting to $6.7 billion in its most recent primary fundraising. However, analysts now estimate the company's valuation in the $15 billion range, bolstered by its return to profitability in 2023.
Revenue last year increased 24% to $2.8 billion. The company's operating loss was $121 million for the year, and adjusted operating profit was $181 million, swinging from a loss of $49 million a year earlier.
Shares of DocuSign surge 14% on strong earnings, AI boost
CEO Allan Thygesen said the company has "started to turn the corner on the core business."
Docusign rose more than 14% after reporting stronger-than-expected earnings after the bell Thursday.
"We've really stabilized and I think started to turn the corner on the core business," CEO Allan Thygesen said Friday on CNBC's "Squawk Box." "We've become much more efficient."
Here's how the company performed in the fourth quarter FY2025 compared to LSEG estimates:
Earnings per share: 86 cents vs. 85 cents expected
Revenue: $776 million vs. $761 million
The earnings beat was boosted in part by the electronic signature service's new artificial intelligence-enabled content called Docusign IAM, a platform for optimizing processes involving agreements.
"It's tremendously valuable," Thygesen said. "It's opening a treasure trove of data. ... We're seeing excellent pickup."
Looking to fiscal year 2026, Thygesen said Docusign expects IAM to account for low double digits of the total growth of the business by Q4.
!summarize #quantumcomputing #future #computing #technology
China startup unveils humanoid robot that can perform continuous backflips
The NOETIX N2 can run at speeds of 7.2 miles per hour, featuring a NVIDIA Jetson and a 18 DOF (degrees of freedom) body.
Scientists from the Beijing-based NOETIX Robotics have developed a new meter-tall humanoid robot that is capable of performing near-perfect continuous backflips. Called the NOETIX N2, this 4.2 foot tall robot features innovative hardware to ensure stability while performing the feat.
According to Jiang Zheyuan, technical leader of the development team, performing a backflip is harder compared to a frontflip as human feet are longer in the front. To enable the robot’s backflip action faultlessly, the team came up with innovative hardware designs to ensure the robot’s stability. For example, the heavy joints of the humanoid’s limbs are placed closer to its crotch to make it easier to rotate in the air.
“This joint is not connected to its thigh, but to its knee by a connecting rod. By moving the joint upward, we minimized the inertia of its legs,” Jiang explained. Powerful rotors and lighter materials are used to build the robot and give it substantial strength.
Wow, that's... Sooner than I expected.
US firm’s unmatched anti-drone power could fail rival military’s attack with new system
The system combines sensors and effectors into a user-friendly, unified control interface.
The U.S. military is set to get higher anti-drone power with the latest system developed by a California-based defense firm.
Anduril’s AI-powered Counter Unmanned Aerial System (CUAS) leverages the power of AI and advanced autonomy to address evolving aerial threats and protect military installations.
The company’s end-to-end CUAS system reportedly supports the entire kill chain in one easy-to-use interface with precision, accuracy, and reliability. With this system, rogue drones are identified, tracked, and disabled in any environment, day or night.
Latest system to address evolving aerial threats, protect military installations
Now, Anduril has been awarded a $642 million, 10-year Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Program of Record by the U.S. Marine Corps to deliver, install, and sustain Installation-Counter small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (I-CsUAS).
The firm’s comprehensive I-CsUAS solution can equip the U.S. Marine Corps with the hardware and software capabilities required to address evolving aerial threats and protect installations worldwide over the next decade.
Anduril maintained that this program validates the firm’s CUAS advantage, enabling 24/7 autonomous operations powered by Lattice, Anduril’s advanced software platform. Lattice uses AI to autonomously detect, track, identify, and neutralize aerial threats, empowering human operators to rapidly make critical decisions with minimal manpower.
China’s EV giant to beat Tesla with 1,000 kW charging, promises for 10-min full charge
This technology seeks to eliminate the charging wait time, making it as convenient as refueling a gasoline vehicle.
Chinese automotive giant BYD is set to unveil a groundbreaking battery electric vehicle (BEV) platform and ultra-fast charging technology on Monday, March 17th, at its Shenzhen headquarters.
The company’s “BYD Super e-Platform” launch event promises to introduce charging capabilities that significantly surpass current industry standards, including Tesla’s latest Supercharger.
The highlight of the event will be the unveiling of BYD’s new ultra-fast charging technology. As per reports, it can have a staggering 1,000 kW of power.
“1,000-kW flash charging that allows refueling and charging to have the same speed,” reads a promotional poster released by BYD, according to CnEVPost.
Double the charging power of Tesla superchargers
This technology aims to achieve charging speeds comparable to refueling a traditional gasoline vehicle. Apparently, it can fully charge a 100-kWh battery pack in approximately 10 minutes.
This effectively doubles the charging power of Tesla’s V4 Superchargers, which currently peak at 500 kW. Tesla began deploying its V4 Superchargers, capable of 500 kW, in the US in October 2023 and plans to introduce them to China in 2025.
The Chinese company asserts that the “BYD Super e-Platform will use disruptive technology to completely solve the biggest headache in EV use.”
Besides, speculation surrounding BYD’s supercharger capabilities has been circulating on Chinese social media.
Chinese humanoids train for the world’s first robot marathon in Beijing
The robot-racers will be limited to humanoid, bipedal models like Casbot’s Casbot 1 and Magiclab’s Wheat. Competitor robots can be remote controlled or fully autonomous.
China is set to host what has been dubbed the world’s first robot half-marathon in Beijing on April 13, prompting several of the country’s leading robot developers to train and prepare their humanoids for the race.
The event—designed to showcase robots’ speed, agility, and performance—will provide a novel way to promote Chinese robotic technology. The race will run for 13 miles (21 kilometers), and will prove to be a stress test for the robots, pushing their hardware to limits.
According to reports, the robot-racers will be limited to humanoid, bipedal models like Casbot’s Casbot 1 and Magiclab’s Wheat. Competitor robots can be remote controlled (including semi-autonomous) or fully autonomous. The top finisher could win a modest sum of 5,000 Yuan ($691) as first prize.
There will also reportedly be prizes for robots that demonstrate the best gait, are most popular, as well as for robots that cross the finish line. Entries are restricted to robotics startups, research institutes, universities, robot clubs, and other innovative entities worldwide.
!summarize #xai #grok3 #elonmusk #ai #llm
Musk: Starship to Depart for Mars at End of 2026
Starship — the world's largest and most powerful rocket — is key to Musk's long-term vision of colonizing Mars.
SpaceX founder Elon Musk said Saturday its massive Starship rocket would leave for Mars at the end of 2026 with Tesla humanoid robot Optimus onboard, adding that human landings could follow "as soon as 2029."
"Starship departs for Mars at the end of next year, carrying Optimus. If those landings go well, then human landings may start as soon as 2029, although 2031 is more likely," Musk said on his X social network.
Musk, who is also the Tesla CEO, brought out the company's Optimus robots at an event last year.
Well, I'm not really optimistic about this Mars project...
Why not?
Can't explain it... It feels too costly and too impractical and too uneeded?
Would like being proven wrong, though.
IRS to Re-Evaluate Modernization in Light of AI
The U.S. Internal Revenue Service is taking a "strategic pause" in its technology modernization investments to re-evaluate its operating approach in light of new artificial intelligence technologies, a senior IRS career technology official said Friday.
The agency will review a number of technology modernization initiatives that have been taken in recent years, including a new direct free filing system for tax returns that was launched last year under the Biden administration, the official told reporters.
The official said the IRS did not have a specific number of staff cuts in mind as a result of the technology pause, but said there would be an opportunity to "realign the workforce to those new ways of doing business."
Rep. Hamadeh: Did Meta Help China Censor Americans?
Rep. Abe Hamadeh R-Ariz., has challenged Facebook and Instagram parent company Meta Platforms Inc. about its purported plans for a censored platform in China.
In a post on X, Hamadeh's office wrote: "Today, Congressman Hamadeh sent a letter to Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg regarding a whistleblower's shocking allegations that Meta assisted Communist China in their censorship efforts in America. If true, these claims indicate a willingness to collaborate with an authoritarian regime to suppress free expression, contradicting Meta's public statements on free speech and digital rights. We eagerly await their response."
Hamadeh's office posted the letter the congressman wrote after a Washington Post report report about a Securities and Exchange Commission whistleblower complaint filed by Sarah Wynn-Williams, Meta's former global policy director.
!summarize #ai #darkside #technology #60minutes
Planck power could unlock missing links beween quantum spacetime, Einstein’s relativity
When spacetime is divided into tiny units, the obscure connection between quantum theory and generally relativity suddenly becomes clear.
Looks like we’re closer than ever to connecting general relativity and quantum mechanics. A new study suggests that when we break down spacetime into tiny discrete units, gravity, which is a macroscopic phenomenon, can be explained through quantum theory.
In most everyday situations, this mismatch between the two theories doesn’t cause problems because general relativity applies to large objects (planets, stars, galaxies), and quantum theory applies to tiny particles (atoms, photons).
However, in extreme cases like black holes and the Big Bang, we need a theory that includes both. For example, in a black hole, gravity is so strong that all matter collapses into a single point. To understand this, we must see how gravity behaves at the quantum level.
This is where the new study could help. “Our approach is that space and time themselves are not continuous but consist of small portions. If this thesis is correct, then gravity can also be described with the help of quantum theory,” Wolfgang Wieland, study author and a theoretical physicist at the Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU), said.
US military to test Ukraine’s long-range drones in hunt for low-cost warfare tech
This testing aligns with a congressional mandate that seeks to develop loitering munitions that can efficiently operate in an electromagnetic contested environment.
The U.S. military is planning to test Ukraine’s long-range drones for the first time.
The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) has awarded contracts to four companies as part of the Artemis project, which aims to assess the operational capabilities of long-range, one-way unmanned aerial systems (UAS).
This initiative, executed in collaboration with the Department of Defense’s Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition & Sustainment, is set against the backdrop of ongoing conflicts and the evolving demands on military technology.
As part of the Fiscal Year 2024 budget, the DIU’s effort is specifically tasked with operational testing these platforms in environments where Electronic Warfare (EW) and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) support may be limited or denied.
This testing aligns with a congressional mandate that seeks to develop loitering munitions that can efficiently operate in an electromagnetic contested environment, all while maintaining a cost structure conducive to large-scale deployment.
US to evaluate Ukraine’s long-range drones
Trent Emeneker, the DIU program manager overseeing this project, highlighted the significance of partnering with innovative companies.
Robots to soon require exercises like humans for more strength, lifelike agility
The latest system proposed by Chinese researchers relies on electrodes to deliver uniform electrical stimulation to promote muscle contraction and growth.
According to a study, robots built with lab-grown skeletal muscle tissue could require physical exercises similar to those of humans. Called biohybrid robots, these innovations can achieve lifelike agility with exercises like human workouts.
A new study from China concluded that physical training of artificial muscles during their growth phase can double contraction strength. It can also enable biohybrid caterpillar-bot to move much faster than conventional processes.
Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences proposed an electromechanical co-stimulation system to boost the effectiveness and performance of artificial skeletal muscle tissues.
Mechanical training for the artificial skeletal muscle
Published in a January issue of the peer-reviewed journal Advanced Functional Materials, the researchers developed a system to simultaneously apply electrical and mechanical training to the artificial skeletal muscle as it grows like human muscle is trained.
According to the study, Chuang Zhang and co-workers, inspired by the training mode of human skeletal muscle, proposed the electromechanical co-stimulation system for the enhanced culture of artificial skeletal muscle tissue.
!summarize #technology
!summarize #technology #space
!summarize #technology #space
!summarize #technology
!summarize #technology #china #chip