odd look at news on the web
Boom repurposes supersonic jet engine to power AI data centers
11 December 2025 @ 6:37 am
The hot trends of civilian supersonic flight and artificial intelligence collide as Boom Supersonic announces that, as a new revenue stream, the core technology of its Mach 1+ Symphony jet engine has been adapted to run power-hungry AI data centers.Continue ReadingCategory: Energy, TechnologyTags: Boom, Turbine, Titanium coin-sized flashlight boasts 300 lm and can last a whole day
11 December 2025 @ 6:07 am
The best flashlight is the one you have on you – but it sure helps if your flashlight is easy to bring with you everywhere. That's where the ED08 from Rodman scores major points: it's roughly the size of a coin, and is thoughtfully designed to earn its keep in your EDC and adventure kit.Continue ReadingCategory: Gear, Ancient innovation: Neanderthals put a lot of thought into their crayons
11 December 2025 @ 12:03 am
The expression of symbolic behavior, such as drawing, dates back to Paleolithic societies. Alongside modern humans (Homo sapiens), we now know that Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalensis) also engaged in abstract behavior.Continue ReadingCategory: History, ScienceTags: Archaeology, Evolution, Art'Healthy chocolate' can now taste like the real thing
10 December 2025 @ 9:19 pm
Over the past few years, chocolate fans may have noticed a concerning change in the taste and texture of their favorite brands, due to confectioners adjusting their recipes in response to global cocoa shortages and sky-high prices.Continue ReadingCategory: ScienceTags: National University of Singapore, Chocolate, Soft robots, time to ditch your slow brittle eyes for fast squishy ones
10 December 2025 @ 6:51 pm
Analog cameras are nowhere near as efficient as biological eyes. If you’ve ever handled a single-lens reflex (SLR) camera, especially if it had a zoom lens attached, you know how heavy they are, and how tricky and time-consuming adjusting their focus can be.Continue ReadingCategory: Robotics, TechnologyTags: Georgia Tech, Ultra-fast single-shot tensor computing trades 1s and 0s for light waves
10 December 2025 @ 4:36 pm
Want to call someone a quick-thinker? The easiest cliché for doing so is calling her a computer – in fact, “computers” was the literal job title of the “Hidden Figures” mathematicians who drove the success of early NASA.Continue ReadingCategory: Computers, Consumer Tech, TechnologyTags: Aalto University, Anti-inflammatories act as antidepressants – but only for some
10 December 2025 @ 1:57 pm
There's a well-established link between depression and chronic low-grade inflammation. Now, a new meta-study shows that treating the inflammation can reduce depression in two ways, offering a potential alternative to antidepressants and their side effects.Continue ReadingCategory: Mental Health, Brain Health, Body and MindTiny house blends space-saving design with traditional Japanese styling
10 December 2025 @ 11:59 am
With its modest footprint and low ceilings, you're not going to be throwing any wild parties in the Nozawa. However, provided you don't want to host a rager, this compact tiny house sleeps two people in a practical interior that blends traditional Japanese design with modern space-saving ideas.Continue ReadingCategory: Tiny Houses, OutdoorsTags: This $99 ring remembers everything so your brain doesn't have to
10 December 2025 @ 9:02 am
I'm always excited to learn what Pebble is up to, because this gadget brand – which made a name for itself with its lo-fi smartwatch – decidedly does things differently. Its latest product is an AI-enabled device that seeks to avoid the pitfalls of recent fiascos in this category, with thoughtful features and an approach to packaging you don't often come across.Continue ReadingCategory: Sleep and exercise are daily essentials – but only one drives the other
10 December 2025 @ 4:46 am
A massive global study has turned up some grim news: that nearly 87% of us are not routinely getting quality sleep and meeting physical activity levels needed for our long-term health. Now, scientists have discovered that one is more influential than the other.Continue ReadingCategory: Wellness and Healthy Living, Body and MindTags: Flinders University,