Reminder: We have to relive the horror again this weekend.
"Daylight Saving - Movie Trailer"
Saturday, October 31, 2015
Thursday, October 29, 2015
Can An Astrophysicist Change The Way We Watch Sports?
"Can An Astrophysicist Change The Way We Watch Sports?"
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Drone Shooting Legal Ruling
"Judge Dismisses Case Against Man Who Shot Down a Drone Over His Property"
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Why Self-Driving Cars Must Be Programmed to Kill
MIT Technology Review: "Why Self-Driving Cars Must Be Programmed to Kill"
The article notes that self-driving cars will have to be programmed with some sort of "ethics". The big question will be what precise code of ethics to adopt:
(Related: "How to Help Self-Driving Cars Make Ethical Decisions.")
The article notes that self-driving cars will have to be programmed with some sort of "ethics". The big question will be what precise code of ethics to adopt:
How should the car be programmed to act in the event of an unavoidable accident? Should it minimize the loss of life, even if it means sacrificing the occupants, or should it protect the occupants at all costs? Should it choose between these extremes at random?
The answers to these ethical questions are important because they could have a big impact on the way self-driving cars are accepted in society. Who would buy a car programmed to sacrifice the owner?Money quote: "People are in favor of cars that sacrifice the occupant to save other lives -- as long they don’t have to drive one themselves."
(Related: "How to Help Self-Driving Cars Make Ethical Decisions.")
Football Measurement Physics
"Football Physics: Removing The Chains".
Could we use technology instead of the "chains" to more accurately determine if a football player made a first down or not?
Could we use technology instead of the "chains" to more accurately determine if a football player made a first down or not?
Monday, October 26, 2015
Hsieh Forbes Column on Doctor 'Report Cards' And Unintended Consequences
My latest Forbes piece is now out, "Doctor 'Report Cards' May Be Hazardous To Your Health".
I discuss the rise of physician "report cards" for heart surgeons and other advanced surgical specialties, as well as some of the unintended consequences these report cards can create for patients.
I discuss the rise of physician "report cards" for heart surgeons and other advanced surgical specialties, as well as some of the unintended consequences these report cards can create for patients.
Brain-Android Interface
"Scientists Connect Brain to a Basic Tablet -- Paralyzed Patient Googles With Ease". (Via H.R. and D.J.)
Police Nunchucks
Today's not-an-Onion headline from the LA Times: "In Bruce Lee-like move, Northern California police department to adopt nunchucks". (Via Alex Knapp.)
General-Purpose Optimization Algorithm
"New general-purpose optimization algorithm promises order-of-magnitude speedups on some problems"
Throwing From Orbit
"Why Anything Thrown By Astronauts To Earth "Boomerangs". Can They Hit Earth? With An Arrow Or Bullet?" (Via H.R.)
Sunday, October 25, 2015
46-Gigapixel Photo Of Milky Way
"Astronomers Unveil a 46-Gigapixel Photo of the Milky Way That Took 5 Years to Make"
Saturday, October 24, 2015
Smelling Parkinson's
BBC: "The woman who can smell Parkinson's disease". (Via H.R. and Gus Van Horn.)
Thursday, October 22, 2015
Tim Cook On Encryption
Apple CEO Tim Cook on encryption: "You can't have a back door in the software because you can’t have a back door that’s only for the good guys".
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
NEJM On Peer-Review Fraud
New England Journal of Medicine: "Peer-Review Fraud -- Hacking the Scientific Publication Process".
Fraudulent reviews on Amazon or Yelp are bad enough. Fraudulent peer review in science and medicine could be very, very dangerous to patients.
Fraudulent reviews on Amazon or Yelp are bad enough. Fraudulent peer review in science and medicine could be very, very dangerous to patients.
Minnesota Vikings Donut Club
Yes, there is a Minnesota Vikings Donut Club. With a strict set of rules:
By even acknowledging its existence, [linebacker Chad] Greenway has already broken the first rule of Donut Club. “I’m now getting yelled at for talking about it,” he says. “It’s like Fight Club. You’re going to get me in trouble.”
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
First 3D Printed FDA Approved Medication
"First 3D printed FDA approved medication". It's for a certain type of seizure medication:
The ZipDose Technology allows Aprecia to use 3D printing technology to print a highly porous high-dose formulation that will quickly disintegrate with the sip of a liquid, thus delivering the dose quickly to the person needing it. Improving the ease delivery may help patients adhere to their treatment regimen and thus cut down on the number of seizures suffered.
So You Want To Intern At SpaceX
"11 tough interview questions you may have to answer if you want to intern at SpaceX". (Via Rand Simberg.)
Monday, October 19, 2015
Curling and High-Tech
The latest curling technology controversy: "Top curling teams say they won't use high-tech brooms". (Via Tyler Cowen.)
iWatch Epilepsy App
"Johns Hopkins Launches iWatch Epilepsy App for Open Source ResearchKit". (Via H.R.)
Sunday, October 18, 2015
How Scientists Fool Themselves
Nature: "How scientists fool themselves -- and how they can stop". (Via Rand Simberg.)
Cheap Lighting
Wired UK: "In 1800 the average person had to work for 5.4 hours to afford one hour of reading light In 1880 kerosene lamps reduced that down to 13 minutes per hour. In 1960 that shrank to 3.6 seconds. Today: 0.1 seconds, thanks to LED bulbs."
Thursday, October 15, 2015
Real Time Facial Expression Transfer
Whoa: Computer tracks facial expressions from one person and puts it on the face of a second person in real-time. This is super-cool/super-creepy.
If one wants to be a pessimist, this is a great way to get video "confessions" of political prisoners, without them having to actually say anything!
If one wants to be a pessimist, this is a great way to get video "confessions" of political prisoners, without them having to actually say anything!
Wednesday, October 14, 2015
Mysterious Star
"The Most Mysterious Star in Our Galaxy"
Astronomers have spotted a strange mess of objects whirling around a distant star. Scientists who search for extraterrestrial civilizations are scrambling to get a closer look.Personally, I'm hoping it's a Niven-style Ringworld.
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
MacArthur Windfalls
NYT: "How MacArthur Geniuses Handle Their Money Windfalls". Short answer: Better than the average lottery winner.
Monday, October 12, 2015
Sunday, October 11, 2015
MIT Online Degree
"For 1st time, MIT's free online classes can lead to degree".
It will still cost some money, but less than via the traditional route.
Also, "For students, it's also a new route into the university, bucking the traditional admissions system that relies on past academic records. 'That admission system works well for people who went to schools we know very well,' [MIT Presdient] Reif said. 'But for people from outside that familiar circle, it can be hard to break in.'"
It will still cost some money, but less than via the traditional route.
Also, "For students, it's also a new route into the university, bucking the traditional admissions system that relies on past academic records. 'That admission system works well for people who went to schools we know very well,' [MIT Presdient] Reif said. 'But for people from outside that familiar circle, it can be hard to break in.'"
Good Dinosaur
"How Pixar Changed All The Rules To Make The Good Dinosaur A Stunning Masterpiece". (Via H.R.)
Saturday, October 10, 2015
Gene Patents Dead?
"Gene patents probably dead worldwide following Australian court decision". (Via H.R.)
Thursday, October 08, 2015
Wednesday, October 07, 2015
Space Law and Mark Watney
According to this legal analysis, Mark Watney of The Martian is not a "space pirate." (Via Rand Simberg.)
Tuesday, October 06, 2015
Monday, October 05, 2015
Parker on Fermi
Randall Parker's answer to the Fermi Paradox:
I have a proposal for the "Why Aren't The Aliens Here Already?" question: Every time biological intelligence evolves it eventually creates artificial intelligence before spreading out into the stars. The AIs always wipe out their creators. Then the AIs are smart enough to realize that this is a universal pattern and that they are now threats to each other. So each AI civilization hides.(Via Instapundit.)
Sunday, October 04, 2015
Driverless Taxi Experiment to Start in Japan
"RoboCab: Driverless Taxi Experiment to Start in Japan"
Japan’s cabinet office, Kanagawa prefecture and Robot Taxi Inc. on Thursday said they will start experimenting with unmanned taxi service beginning in 2016. The service will be offered for approximately 50 people in Kanagawa prefecture, just south of Tokyo, with the auto-driving car carrying them from their homes to local grocery stores.
According to the project organizers, the cabs will drive a distance of about three kilometers (two miles), and part of the course will be on major avenues in the city. Crew members will be aboard the car during the experiment in case there is a need to avoid accidents.
Christmas Drones
"FAA fears 1 million Americans will receive drones for Christmas and use them unwisely"
Thursday, October 01, 2015
Danish Travel Commercial
"A new ad by Danish travel agency Spies Rejser tells mothers to encourage their kids to make grandchildren by sending them on sunny, active vacations."
Interview With A Courtroom Artist
"The Beautiful People Are The Hardest To Draw: Interview With A Courtroom Artist"
