Skip to main content

2023-08-02

A room-temperature superconductor? New developments​

  • Claims of a room-temperature superconductor called LK-99 have been made recently.
  • The material is said to be easy to prepare and does not require exotic materials or equipment.
  • Replication of the results may be challenging due to the heterogeneity of the samples.
  • There has been infighting among the authors of the preprints, causing some uncertainty.
  • A lab in China claims to have replicated the material, but it has not been verified yet.
  • Two new preprints using density functional theory calculations suggest that the material could work as a superconductor.
  • Guarded optimism exists regarding the potential of room-temperature superconductivity.
  • More replication data is needed to confirm these claims.

Reactions​

  • Scientists are researching the development of room-temperature superconductors, which could revolutionize technology.
  • Room-temperature superconductors could enable lossless energy transport and lead to faster charging batteries and more efficient CPUs.
  • Existing superconducting circuits have limitations, indicating the need for further development.
  • Superconductors have the potential to impact power transmission, electronic devices, and high-energy applications.
  • Challenges in manufacturing and scalability need to be addressed on the path to commercialization.
  • There is a discussion regarding China's growing scientific influence and its potential impact on the US, including comparisons in R&D investment and scientific talent.

Pixar, Adobe, Apple, Autodesk, and Nvidia form alliance for OpenUSD​

  • Pixar, Adobe, Apple, Autodesk, and NVIDIA have formed an alliance called AOUSD to advance the development and standardization of Pixar's Universal Scene Description technology, known as OpenUSD.
  • OpenUSD is a high-performance 3D scene description technology that enables collaborative artistic expression and streamlines content production.
  • The alliance aims to enhance the interoperability of 3D tools and data and will work with other companies to shape the future of OpenUSD.
  • The AOUSD steering committee will promote the technology at industry events, with a particular focus on driving 3D interoperability and accelerating augmented reality experiences.

Reactions​

  • Pixar, Adobe, Apple, Autodesk, and Nvidia have formed the OpenUSD alliance to standardize 3D graphics technology.
  • The goal is to make it easier to build high-performance rendering and improve compatibility across different tools and industries.
  • Concerns about latency and performance on mobile devices have been raised.
  • The Universal Scene Description (USD) format and its benefits are discussed.
  • The challenges and compatibility with other tools like Blender are also mentioned.
  • USD's applicability in industries such as gaming, CAD/CAM, and 3D printing is highlighted.
  • The involvement of Apple and its VisionPro initiative in spatial computing is questioned.
  • A comparison is made between USD and Collada, with skepticism over USD's ability to cater to all users.
  • USD's support for various data representations and the involvement of Adobe, Apple, and Nvidia are acknowledged.
  • The absence of Intel and AMD from the alliance is highlighted but clarified as not permanent exclusion.

I'm betting on HTML​

  • The author emphasizes the importance of semantic HTML in the context of artificial intelligence and the limitations of social media platforms.
  • HTML is a reliable solution for building modern web applications due to its wide range of UI elements.
  • The author highlights novel and useful HTML elements and stresses the importance of proper tagging for descriptive purposes.
  • The article argues for a shift towards secondary interfaces and suggests that HTML has the potential for a revolution in usage.

Reactions​

  • The discussions revolve around different aspects of web development.
  • Topics include the utilization of HTML elements and the benefits and limitations of AI.
  • The use of custom components and the future of web development are also discussed.
  • Participants present various perspectives, emphasizing the significance of accessibility and user experience.
  • Specific frameworks and technologies are debated regarding their potential and limitations in web development.

Nim 2.0​

  • Nim 2.0 has been released with new features and improvements.
  • The update includes memory management, tuple unpacking, type inference, and support for forbidden tags in proc types.
  • Overloadable enums, default values for objects, and improved error messages are introduced.
  • The release encourages donations for bug fixes and new features.
  • Documentation, code generation, and interop with other languages have been improved.
  • Standard library modules and tools have also undergone changes.

Reactions​

  • The programming language Nim is being discussed, focusing on its features, strengths, and potential applications.
  • Users praise Nim for its speed, data structure and dataframe library, and simple type system.
  • Some express concerns about the small ecosystem and lack of high-quality libraries compared to other languages.
  • The discussions also mention Nim's interoperability with other languages like Rust and Zig.
  • There are comparisons with other languages such as Python, Rust, Go, Odin, and Java.
  • Overall, there is positive feedback about Nim's convenience, performance, and potential benefits in different domains.

Ask HN: Who is hiring? (August 2023)​

  • The summary provides guidelines for job postings on a specific platform.
  • It suggests that companies should include their location and specify if they accept remote or visa candidates.
  • If remote work is not an option, the term "onsite" should be used.
  • It advises individuals to only email if they are interested in the job.
  • The summary also offers links to additional resources for job searching.

Reactions​

  • Various companies across different industries and locations are currently hiring for technical roles.
  • Companies such as Caim, SmarterDx, Friendly Captcha, and ProPublica are seeking candidates for various technical positions.
  • Job opportunities are available at Virta Health, Apple, OpenSynergy, and Messari, among others.
  • Val is specifically looking for a founding engineer on their social coding platform.
  • ML6, SwiftKick Mobile, Maxint.com, and Foxglove are also actively recruiting.
  • Positions include machine learning engineer, software engineer, data engineer, iOS engineer, and ML engineer.
  • Remote and onsite work options are available.
  • Technologies mentioned in the job postings include Python, TensorFlow, Google Cloud Platform, Flutter, Typescript, Node.js, MongoDB, AWS, React, React Native, and Redux.
  • Job postings are also available in Sydney, Australia from companies like SIG, Property Meld, and TriumphPay.
  • Numerous other companies are hiring across different locations and industries, such as Rockstar Games, Canvas, and Holland & Barrett International.
  • Roles include database engineers, software programmers, developers, traders, and quants.

Oregon decriminalized hard drugs – early results aren’t encouraging​

  • Oregon passed Ballot Measure 110, which decriminalized the possession of small amounts of all drugs three years ago.
  • The state's drug problems have not improved since the implementation of this policy.
  • There has been a significant increase in overdose deaths in Oregon.
  • The policy's implementation and enforcement measures have faced criticism.
  • Three children under the age of 4 recently overdosed in Portland, raising concerns about the effectiveness of the policy.

Reactions​

  • The discussion focuses on the role and effectiveness of shame in society, specifically regarding drug addiction, societal norms, and personal responsibility.
  • Participants have different opinions on whether shame is necessary for regulating behavior or if it can cause harm and discrimination.
  • Topics such as diversity, crime rates, and flaws in the justice system are also mentioned during the conversation.
  • There is a debate about the possible advantages and disadvantages of using shame as a means to maintain social order.

Electronic Structure of LK-99​

  • The paper investigates the electronic structure of a possible room-temperature superconductor, Pb9Cu(PO4)6O, using density-functional theory calculations.
  • The study suggests that the material is in an ultra-correlated regime and may display either flat-band superconductivity or a correlation-enhanced electron-phonon mechanism when doped.
  • These findings challenge earlier speculation suggesting that the material is a diamagnet without superconductivity.

Reactions​

  • The discussion explores the discovery of a potential new superconductor called LK-99.
  • Room-temperature superconductors are a topic of both excitement and skepticism.
  • Advancements in AI and fusion technology are also discussed.
  • There are discussions about potential government cover-ups of UFO technology.
  • Bitcoin and AI models are also topics of discussion.
  • The impact of COVID-19 on individuals is considered.
  • The challenges of scientific research and funding are discussed.
  • A recent paper suggests that LK-99 could be a room-temperature superconductor.
  • Contradicting results regarding superconductivity and diamagnetism complicate the findings.

Hacker mods an M1 Mac mini to receive power over Ethernet instead of AC​

  • A hardware hacker has successfully modified an M1 Mac mini to run on the Power over Ethernet (PoE) protocol.
  • This was achieved by removing the Ethernet port and adding components for power delivery.
  • The modding process will be published by the hacker.
  • However, due to limitations, PoE is expected to be used as a secondary power source.
  • The M1 Mac mini was chosen for testing because of its power efficiency.
  • More details about the modding process and the compatibility of PoE with other Macs with Ethernet ports are expected to be revealed in the future.

Reactions​

  • The discussions are centered around the feasibility and benefits of using Power over Ethernet (PoE) to power devices like the M1 Mac mini.
  • Participants are discussing the need for higher wattage support and exploring alternative power sources like USB-C PD and batteries.
  • Proper waste disposal and the implementation of modular batteries are highlighted as important considerations.
  • Concerns are raised regarding compatibility, reliability, and potential risks associated with PoE.
  • Discussions also touch on power distribution, transformer-less devices, voltage considerations, and the limitations and challenges of PoE technology.

Could the world go PFAS-free? Proposal to ban ‘forever chemicals’ fuels debate​

Reactions​

Splitting the Web​

Reactions​