Text-To-4D Dynamic Scene Generation

Text-To-4D Dynamic Scene Generation: "We present MAV3D (Make-A-Video3D), a method for generating three-dimensional dynamic scenes from text descriptions." (Via G.F.)

Fielder Photos In Public Domain

"Colorado's most famous nature photographer donates life work to public domain".

John Fielder's work is excellent, and I'm glad to know people will be able to enjoy and share it with his blessing.

Hsieh Forbes Column: The Power Of Ordinary English To Improve Healthcare

My latest Forbes column is now up: "The Power Of Ordinary English To Improve Healthcare"

Fish Spending Money

"In Japan, pet fish playing Nintendo Switch run up bill on owner's credit card"

Mutekimaru had previously installed sophisticated motion detection tracking software in fish tanks, enabling the fish to remotely control a Nintendo Switch console...

During the next seven hours, the fish reportedly managed to change the name of their owner’s Switch account before twice logging into the Nintendo store, where users can purchase games and other downloadable content.

They also managed to “check” legal terms and conditions, downloaded a new avatar and even set up a PayPal account from the Switch – sending an email out to their owner in the process, video from the livestream appeared to show.

But things didn’t end there. The fish were also seen adding 500 yen ($4) to Mutekimaru’s Switch account from his credit card during the livestream -- exposing his credit card details in the process...

Liquid Metal Robot

"Scientists Made a Liquid Metal Robot That Can Escape a Cage Like a Terminator". (Via D.J.)

Light Posting Notice

Admin note: Posting may be light-to-nonexistent this week due to external obligations.

Splines Explained

Video: "The Continuity of Splines". (I haven't watched the full 1 hour 13 minute video yet, but it comes highly recommended.)

Bad Math Proofs

Oded Margalit: "Wrong Mathematical Proofs for Possibly Correct Claims"

Passwords Vs. Passkeys

Wirecutter: "Everything to Know About Passkeys for a Password-Free Future"

Vaccines For Bees

"In a breakthrough, US approves world's first vaccine for honeybees". (Via H.R.)

AI Voice Simulation

"Microsoft's new AI can simulate anyone/s voice with 3 seconds of audio"

Microsoft researchers announced a new text-to-speech AI model called VALL-E that can closely simulate a person's voice when given a three-second audio sample. Once it learns a specific voice, VALL-E can synthesize audio of that person saying anything—and do it in a way that attempts to preserve the speaker's emotional tone.

Useful Desk Stretches

"Got neck and back pain? Break up your work day with these 5 exercises for relief"

2022 Bulwer-Lytton Winner

The Grand Prize winner of the 2022 Bulwer-Lytton contest hails from CO! 

 

Wolfram Alpha Plus ChatGPT

"Wolfram|Alpha as the Way to Bring Computational Knowledge Superpowers to ChatGPT". (Via G.F.)

Robust Roman Concrete

"Riddle solved: Why was Roman concrete so durable?"

Shellmets

"Meet Shellmet, a sturdy and lightweight helmet made of discarded scallop shells". (Via H.R.)

"Forever" Drones

"Chinese scientists develop laser-powered drone to stay aloft 'forever'"

How Much Do Top Chessmasters Earn?

"The Biggest Chess Prizewinners In 2022 (And How Much They Made)". (Via Tyler Cowen.)

Computers And Bureaucracy

Andrew Ducker says: "This is my favourite story about computers and bureaucracy"

 

Comet Coming To A Planet Near You!

"Possible naked-eye comet will visit Earth for 1st time since Neanderthals in 2023". (Via A.M.)

Cargo Cult Quantum Factoring.

Scott Aaronson: "Cargo Cult Quantum Factoring". (Via A.B.)

AI Detector

"A college student created an app that can tell whether AI wrote an essay"

Element Origins

"Where Your Elements Came From". (Via H.R.)

The featured periodic table is color coded to indicate humanity's best guess as to the nuclear origin of all known elements. The sites of nuclear creation of some elements, such as copper, are not really well known and are continuing topics of observational and computational research. 

Time To Start Paying Attention To AI

Video: "It's Time to Pay Attention to A.I. (ChatGPT and Beyond)". (H/t: F.G.)

Science Of Silly Walks

This is a great paper in the BMJ (British Medical Journal) on the metabolic effects of adopting the "silly walks" from the classic Monty Python skit.

The Cleese version of the silly walk (Mr. Teabag walk) burns off 2.5x the energy due to "walking inefficiently".  The Palin version (Mr. Putey walk) not so much.

Twisting Molecules

Argonne National Laboratory: "Scientists turn single molecule clockwise or counterclockwise on demand"

Name Collision In Pro Golf

"Augusta National Sends Masters Invite To Wrong Scott Stallings, Hilarity Ensues In Instagram DMs"

AI Lawyer?

"Can GPT Pass the Multistate Bar Exam?"

tldr; not yet, but likely within the next 18 months.

Hsieh Forbes Column: The Perverse Persistence Of Fax Machines In American Medicine

My latest Forbes column: "The Perverse Persistence Of Fax Machines In American Medicine"

Insecure Department Of Homeland Security

"Department of Homeland Security Can't Even Secure Its Buildings Against People It Fired"

A new report by Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General shows that the department is systemically failing to revoke tens of thousands of “personal identity verification” cards that allow staff to enter sensitive, secure facilities and access internal data networks, despite being warned about the problem for 15 years. The issue is made worse, the report continues, by the fact that Homeland Security’s internal record-keeping is so shoddy that it was impossible to determine how many ex-staffers have working access cards they aren’t supposed to.

New Works In Public Domain

"Welcoming 1927 to the Public Domain":

The Sherlock Holmes books came to an end in 1927, and with it the release of The Complete Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan-Doyle (vol I and vol II). Other biggies include Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather and Mosquitoes by William Faulkner. 

Feynman Calculations

"Method for solving notorious calculus problems speeds particle physics computations: Numerical technique reduces vexing Feynman integrals to simpler linear algebra"