Posts by gecho

Happy with your existing Windows 10 setup? Good, because Windows 11 could turn its nose up at your CPU

I've been happily using my core i5-750 since 2009. Currently runs Windows 10 with dual 4k / 1080p monitors just fine. Only reason I even bothered switching to Windows 10 was for the independent monitor scaling.

Hubble Space Telescope to switch to backup memory module after instrument computer halts

The Hubble had a soft capture mechanism installed during the final servicing mission to aid future autonomous docking for deorbit. But hopefully the telescope can get a robotic servicing mission and reboost to keep it operating several more decades.

International Space Station scores powerup with solar panels that 'roll out like a tape measure'

Re: Dozen spacewalks

The station has a 2 handed attachment for the robot arm that seems to hardly ever get used.

Don't give up on Planet Nine yet: Hubble 'scope finds just such a world a mere 336 light-years away

Nice thing about the Vera Rubin telescope is that it will image the entire southern sky every night for 10 years. The computing infrastructure will then be able to automatically find anything new or moving in the solar system from the 20TB of nightly images from the 3200 megapixel camera. Unfortunately there could be a Starlink satellite in nearly every image it takes.

I've seen it claimed that once the Vera Rubin survey telescope begins operation, it should be able to find planet 9 (if it exists) in less than a year even if it happens to be a small black hole.

Behold, the Ultimately Large Telescope: A revived proposal for a 100-metre liquid-mirror star scanner on the Moon

Re: Ultimate cost

I propose a more affordable version which shall be called the Penultimately Large Telescope.

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away... a pair of black holes coalesced resulting in largest gravitational wave we've seen

Re: Gravitational waves?

Interesting video on the observatory: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iphcyNWFD10 The variation they are measuring is 1/10,000 the width of a proton.

It's been five years since Windows 10 hit: So... how's that working out for you all?

Monitor Scaling

What finally convinced me to switch from 7 to 10 was buying a UHD second monitor last year. I needed the per monitor DPI scaling to get a usable experience out of a UHD monitor paired with the older 1080p one. Win 10 is working well for me on a core i5 from 2009.

Anyone for a round of Ging Gang Goolie? Solar Orbiter probe snaps little 'campfires' flickering on Sun's surface

Re: Fascinating

Also interesting that it is the fastest human made object. It hit a speed of 393,044 km/h on the last pass, and is expected to hit 690,000 km/h on a pass in 2024.

Don't Flip out or anything, but the 'flexible glass display' on Samsung's latest pholdable doesn't behave like glass

With the number 2 it appears to be permanently deforming the screen rather than scratching it. I'm curious if applying a controlled amount of heat might smooth that back out (or just create a warped mess).

Absolutely smashing: Musk shows off Tesla's 'bulletproof' low-poly pickup, hilarity ensues

Laminated Side Glass Safety Risk?

Following a severe accident where your doors can't be opened, being about to smash tempered glass (or having it break in the crash itself) can be a useful feature for getting people out of the vehicle.

Boffins hand in their homework on Voyager 2's first readings from beyond Solar System

Wrong Orientation in Diagram?

Come on NASA, the solar system is tilted ~60 degrees to the direction of travel through the galaxy.

Cubans launching sonic attacks on US embassy? Not what we're hearing, say medical boffins

Tinnitus

Claim there is a sonic attack and everyone suddenly notices their tinnitus.

Slap visibility beacons on bikes so they can chat to auto autos, says trade body

Re: Traffic Light Detection

All our detectors are pole mounted and most are camera based. Even if they are properly calibrated they get knocked out of position the several times a year the wind hits 90+ km/h.

They appear to be this one: https://www.econolite.com/products/detection/autoscope-encore/

Traffic Light Detection

A side benefit could allow traffic lights to detect cyclists better. Locally 95% of traffic lights have vehicle detectors installed, but are aimed so poorly they don't pick up cyclists. In a few spots I've discovered I have to cross the yellow line to trigger a green light. This could also enable cross traffic / overtaking warnings on cycling head units.

I believe there is a push to put this tech in all mobile phones as well to help cars detect pedestrians. Not just autonomous vehicles, but manually driven ones with automatic braking. So its not just cyclists being targeted. Dog tags soon after that. Maybe squirrels.

MY GOD, IT'S FULL OF CARS: SpaceX parks a Tesla in orbit (just don't mention the barge)

Orbit / Broadcast Longevity

I'm curious how long space dude will be able to broadcast. Like does the test payload have solar panels or just a battery. Eventually he'll be out of range (presuming NASA won't allocate any time on their deep space network for this mission). But will his orbit bring him back within range of Earth somewhere down the ... road.

2018's first spacewalk bugged by software

Speaking of Robotic Hand

I haven't heard anything regarding whether the Dextre add-on for the Canadarm2 is getting any use at all on the ISS. Maybe it is more of an experiment itself rather than a tool. The Mobile Base System that the arm can ride on doesn't seem to get mentioned much either.

Mythbuster seeks cash for roller skates to wear in virtual reality

I always wanted a pair of moonwalk shoes.

Private sub captain changes story, now says reporter died, was 'buried at sea' – torso found

Burial at sea on a 3 hour tour? A 3 hour tour!

New DNA 'hard drive' could keep files intact for millions of years

Re: What could go wrong?

Infinite monkeys with DNA synthesizers.

Cinema boss gives up making kids turn off phones: 'That's not how they live their life'

Piracy Ok Too?

Paying for movies and music isn't how many live their lives either.

SpaceX's Musk: We'll reuse today's Falcon 9 rocket within 2 months

Weight Savings

If the rockets can be reliably landed it would be worth the extra expense to make them lighter by using more expensive composites, thus increasing payload.

Pakistan URINE STORM: Google Maps chokes off user editing

Re: How many edits do they get?

Pretty much every individual action needs to be submitted as an individual edit. Going from OpenStreetMap editing I found this extremely frustrating. Something as simple as adding pathways in a park could require dozens and dozens of individual edits. When multiple connected additions are made, the editing of most attributes is locked out, so you have to go back a few days later to change the path surface from the default value.

Want faster fibre? Get rid of the glass

Or a very small tunnel boring machine.