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A daily curated digest with the tech news that matter + community vibes, delivered daily, in tabloid style. Like you always wanted.
Thursday, February 12, 2026
AI Turns Vampire As Spy Tech Spreads!
On a tense day for tech, a famous coder brands big AI an economic vampire... A Chinese giant trains a huge model on Huawei chips as export bans wobble... Hidden browser add‑ons spy on 37M people while WiFi and doorbells quietly learn to track our bodies and faces... Rocket maker SpaceX gets treated like an airline as politics slips deeper into the startup world... Ireland backs artists with a basic income while US watchdogs let food labels blur the line on “no artificial colors”... We watch a digital world where smart tools get sharper, bosses push harder, and the walls around us start to listen in.
AI Gold Rush Starts To Bite Back
Legendary coder calls modern AI a vampire
Steve Yegge’s “AI Vampire” rant lands with a thud on the hype train, arguing big AI tools mostly feed on cheap internet content and unpaid human work. Many readers nod along, saying the boom looks great for tech giants, but far less great for real jobs and independent creators.
GLM-5 aims to replace endless vibe coding
China’s new GLM‑5 model promises “agent” helpers that can plan big projects, read huge codebases and do serious troubleshooting instead of playful chatbots. The crowd is impressed by the ambition but wary of bold claims and benchmark charts that all look suspiciously perfect in this AI arms race.
GLM-5 runs only on Huawei chips, no Nvidia
Zhipu’s giant GLM‑5 model, trained fully on Huawei hardware, becomes a poster child for life after US chip bans. Commenters see a clear message: China can now build serious AI without American silicon, and any comfort Western regulators took from export rules is fading fast.
Anthropic promises to cover our power hikes
Anthropic vows to reimburse electricity price increases tied to its US data centers, turning soaring AI energy use into a marketing promise. Some cheer the gesture; others say it quietly confirms what they feared, that training frontier models will shove household bills and grids to the limit.
CEOs now order staff to be AI first
A wave of AI‑first company memos turns casual tool‑using into a workplace demand, with leaders treating chatbots as basic office gear like email. Workers wonder if skipping AI will soon count against them, and if every keystroke fed into these tools becomes new fuel for future automation.
Every Gadget Turns Into A Little Spy
Chrome extensions secretly track 37M users’ clicks
A set of popular Chrome add‑ons hoovered up browsing data from roughly 37 million people, feeding firms like Similarweb. Folks are furious that simple tools for coupons and productivity became quiet spies, and once again the lesson lands: if the extension is free, your history might be the real price.
Ordinary WiFi can map people like cameras
Researchers warn that everyday WiFi with clever software could soon track people’s movements through walls using signal feedback data. The idea of routers doubling as silent surveillance systems shakes readers, who already feel watched by phones, browsers and cameras without adding the living room hotspot to the list.
Ring lost dog campaign hides face tagging plan
An emotional Ring ad about finding lost dogs turns sour when people notice it promotes “Familiar Faces” facial recognition on doorbells. Critics see a sneaky push to normalize neighborhood face databases under a feel‑good story, and many say the brand just proved why these cameras can’t be trusted.
Simple hack blows past Discord age checks
A small script abuses the k‑id system to auto‑verify almost any account as an adult on Discord, Twitch, and more. Parents and developers alike are rattled that something meant to protect kids folded so easily, confirming suspicions that most online age gates are just thin wallpaper.
Old-school Telnet still alive and still risky
A new Telnet flaw shows that dusty, decades‑old tools many forgot about are still quietly running inside networks. Security folks roll their eyes that such a basic, unsecured protocol keeps hanging around, giving attackers fresh doors to try while companies chase shinier, trendier threats instead.
Bosses, Rockets And Rules Rewrite The Game
US calls SpaceX an airline in labor dispute
Regulators now treat SpaceX as a “common carrier by air,” putting it under railway‑style rules instead of normal labor law. Many see this as a gift to Elon Musk, letting the rocket firm dodge tougher worker protections, and fear it sets a precedent for tech giants to duck unions.
Y Combinator boss launches dark-money California group
YC chief Garry Tan’s new “Garry’s List” dark‑money outfit jumps into California politics, backing specific local candidates and causes. Commenters bristle at yet another billionaire‑backed PAC shaping city life from the shadows, turning the startup scene into just one more arm of bare‑knuckle power games.
Apple’s big Siri makeover quietly slips again
Apple’s promised Siri overhaul is reportedly delayed yet another time, even as rivals like Google race ahead with flashier assistants. Fans sound tired of waiting while their iPhones lag behind, and the mood is that the company that once led the voice race is now stumbling in slow motion.
FDA loosens meaning of ‘no artificial colors’
The FDA now lets food brands say “no artificial colors” even when they use intense natural dyes from beetroot or spirulina. Some shoppers welcome clearer labels, but many feel the wording is sliding into marketing spin, another case where regulators seem to stretch plain language for big brands.
Ireland makes basic income for artists permanent
Ireland moves from a trial to a full basic income scheme for artists, sending a rare signal that creative work is worth steady backing. Tech‑heavy readers are surprisingly supportive, seeing it as a hopeful counterweight to automation pressure and a way to keep human culture in the loop.
Top Stories
Veteran coder calls AI an 'economic vampire'
A famous engineer says big AI tools are sucking value from workers and the web, sparking fresh debate about who really wins from this boom.
China trains giant GLM-5 AI on Huawei chips
A massive new Chinese AI model trained without U.S. chips shows how fast the global AI race is moving and how little control export bans now have.
Chrome extensions caught spying on 37M people
Popular browser add-ons quietly tracked millions of users, reminding everyone that the free tools we install often cost us our privacy.
WiFi can track you like a roomful of cameras
Researchers show ordinary WiFi signals could be turned into a cheap mass tracking system, raising fears about invisible surveillance in homes and offices.
Hack bypasses Discord and Twitch age checks
A simple tool can mark almost anyone as an adult on major platforms, exposing how weak online age checks are for kids and teens.
US treats SpaceX like an airline in labor fight
Officials say SpaceX is a common carrier, shifting it outside standard labor rules and raising alarms about worker rights in the space industry.
Ring dog ad ignites facial recognition backlash
A feel‑good lost dog campaign hides plans for face tagging on doorbells, pushing more people to see home cameras as a neighborhood dragnet.
Show HN: I taught GPT-OSS-120B to see using Google Lens and OpenCV
by vkaufmannA new MCP server enables local large language models to access Google search and gain pseudo-vision capabilities without API keys. The standout feature, google_lens_detect, pairs OpenCV’s object detec...
Key Points
- Adds pseudo-vision to text-only LLMs using OpenCV + Google Lens.
- Integrates 17 Google tools for retrieval and tasks without API keys.
- Simple setup via pip and Playwright; code on GitHub and PyPI.
Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish (2005)
by walterbellA newly enhanced version of Steve Jobs’s 2005 Stanford commencement address has been released to commemorate its 20th anniversary. The article recounts the speech’s enduring influence—over 120 million...
Key Points
- Enhanced 20th-anniversary release of Steve Jobs’s 2005 Stanford speech is available on YouTube.
- The talk’s humanistic, story-driven message has had wide cultural impact, including during the 2016 NBA Finals.
- Jobs independently crafted the speech over months, ultimately writing it with Laurene in the final weeks.
Flirt: The Native Backend
by senekorThis update details the progress on Flirt, an incremental code review tool focused on per-commit reviews and cross-backend consistency. The author reports partial completion of the December–January ro...
Key Points
- Core Git-remote mechanism for review data is working, though the native backend isn’t complete.
- Flirt will not support combined-diff commenting, emphasizing per-commit reviews.
- Line-range and commit message/header comments are planned; character-range comments will not be supported.
CoLoop (YC S21) Is Hiring Ex Technical Founders in London
by mrlowlevelCoLoop, a Y Combinator S21 startup, is recruiting ex-technical founders in London to build products in agentic AI. The company positions itself as the “customer context layer” for businesses and recou...
Key Points
- Hiring ex-technical founders in London to build agentic AI products with full-cycle ownership.
- Stack and tools include Node.js, Python, React, TypeScript, PostgreSQL, Claude Code, Codex, Conductor, and Greptile.
- Structured, 1–2 week interview process culminating in a paid in-person contract day.
Signy: Signed URLs for Small Devices
by hasheddanSigny is a library aimed at embedded devices that need to grant temporary access to resources via signed URLs. It uses asymmetric cryptography and the PSA Crypto API for signing operations, ensuring t...
Key Points
- Signy generates time-limited signed URLs on embedded devices using PSA Crypto and asymmetric cryptography.
- Verification requires a server; Golioth users must upload relevant CA certificates.
- Available as a Zephyr module and ESP-IDF component (v0.2.0) with examples on GitHub.
Communities Are Not Fungible
by tardibearThis essay contends that communities cannot be treated like fungible assets. While commodities and currency are interchangeable, communities derive their value from specific, time-built relationships ...
Key Points
- Communities are not interchangeable; their value lies in specific relationships.
- Platform migrations and shutdowns tend to fragment communities rather than preserve them.
- Urban renewal history (Moses vs. Jacobs) illustrates why communities aren’t reproducible after displacement.
The AI Vampire
by SilverElfinIn “The AI Vampire,” Steve Yegge argues that contemporary AI coding assistants have crossed a threshold in practical usefulness, delivering large productivity gains once users become proficient. He hi...
Key Points
- AI coding tools (e.g., Claude Code with Opus 4.5/4.6) are portrayed as enabling major productivity gains.
- The author cites reports that Microsoft promotes multi-tool use and that Claude Code is widely adopted internally.
- Value capture from AI-driven productivity has trade-offs: employer gains vs. worker well-being and company viability.
Show HN: CodeMic
by seanshCodeMic is a tool designed to record and replay coding sessions directly within a developer’s own editor. It aims to provide an immersive, hands-on experience by syncing code playback with audio, vide...
Key Points
- Records and replays coding sessions inside the editor with synchronized audio, video, and images.
- Includes timeline, speed control, chapters, and mixed media for session editing.
- Currently supports VSCode; aims for cross-editor playback via an editor-independent format.
FAA Halts All Flights at El Paso Airport for 10 Days
by edwardThe Federal Aviation Administration briefly halted all flights to and from El Paso International Airport late Tuesday, citing “special security reasons,” and set the restriction to last 10 days. By We...
Key Points
- FAA lifted an abrupt 10-day airspace closure over El Paso within hours, citing no threat to commercial aviation.
- A counter-drone technology test at Fort Bliss was linked to the brief shutdown, per a person briefed on the situation.
- The restriction covered a 10-mile radius and excluded aircraft above 18,000 feet; travelers were advised to contact airlines.
A Cosmic Miracle: A Remarkably Luminous Galaxy at z=14.44 Confirmed with JWST
by yreadA new JWST study reports the spectroscopic confirmation of MoM‑z14, a remarkably luminous galaxy at redshift zspec = 14.44 (±0.02), observed about 280 million years after the Big Bang. The team confir...
Key Points
- JWST confirms a z=14.44 luminous galaxy (MoM‑z14) via NIRSpec prism spectroscopy.
- Bright z≈14–15 galaxies appear >100× more common than pre‑JWST models predicted.
- Spectral and morphological data indicate rapid star formation, little dust, and no dominant AGN.
Everything you need to know about lasers in one photo
by mahirsaidThis resource explains a consolidated graphic depicting the wavelengths and power characteristics of commercially available lasers. Discrete emission-line lasers are plotted above a wavelength bar, wh...
Key Points
- Chart encodes wavelengths, operation modes, and power for many commercial laser types.
- Axis is linear to 1000 nm, then logarithmic (300 px/decade to 10 µm; 30 px/decade beyond).
- Data sourced mainly from Weber’s handbook; licensed under GFDL 1.2+ with attribution/share-alike.
It's All a Blur
by zdwThe article explains why blurring is often a poor choice for redacting sensitive information by showing how to reconstruct original data from a blurred signal. Using a one-dimensional moving-average b...
Key Points
- Moving-average blur encodes overlapping sums that enable reconstruction.
- Right-aligned windows permit simple iterative recovery of all pixels.
- Known padding values are pivotal to inverting the blur.
FAA closes airspace around El Paso, Texas, for 10 days, grounding all flights
by EwanGThe Federal Aviation Administration briefly closed airspace around El Paso International Airport after U.S. officials cited a Mexican cartel drone incursion as the cause. The FAA initially announced a...
Key Points
- FAA lifted the El Paso airspace closure within hours after reporting a cartel drone incursion.
- DHS reports widespread cartel drone activity and related drug smuggling along the border.
- Mexico will meet with U.S. Northern Command to discuss the incident and seek details.
Visualize MySQL query execution plans as interactive FlameGraphs
by tanelpoderThe article presents an open-source utility that turns MySQL EXPLAIN ANALYZE results into interactive visualizations to aid query performance analysis. Drawing on Brendan Gregg’s FlameGraph concept an...
Key Points
- Visualizes MySQL EXPLAIN ANALYZE (JSON v2) as flame graphs and bar charts
- Requires MySQL 8.4+ and Perl 5.x; setup via git clone and JSON capture
- Generates customizable SVGs with rich tooltips for performance analysis
Exposure Simulator
by sneelaThis web-based Exposure Simulator lets users visualize how camera settings influence a final photograph. It simulates depth of field based on aperture (f/stop) and increases visible image noise as ISO...
Key Points
- Simulates depth of field and ISO noise, with Shutter, Aperture Priority, and Manual modes.
- Interactive sliders control Shutter Speed, F/Stop, and ISO with an exposure meter for feedback.
- Exposure feature is not supported in Internet Explorer; use Chrome or Firefox.
Chrome extensions spying on 37M users' browsing data
by qcontinuum1An independent investigation reports that 287 Chrome extensions exfiltrate users’ browsing histories, totaling roughly 37.4 million installs—about 1% of Chrome’s user base. The researchers created an ...
Key Points
- 287 Chrome extensions were flagged for browsing-history exfiltration, with ~37.4M installs.
- Detection used a Docker-based Chrome environment and MITM proxy with a leakage metric.
- Named actors include Similarweb, Offidocs, Curly Doggo, and “Big Star Labs.”
Show HN: Itsyhome – Control HomeKit from your Mac menu bar (open source)
by nixus76Itsyhome introduces a streamlined way to control HomeKit-enabled smart home devices directly from the macOS menu bar. The app supports cameras, lights, thermostats, locks, and more, providing tailored...
Key Points
- Control HomeKit devices from the macOS menu bar, including live camera feeds and doorbell PIP.
- Requires macOS Sonoma; supports 18 device types with tailored controls.
- Itsyhome is open-source; Pro version is a one-time purchase in the App Store with no subscription.
Both GCC and Clang generate strange/inefficient code
by rsfThe article examines how GCC 15.2 and Clang 21.1.0, both compiled with -O3 for x86-64, generate assembly for a C++ function that checks whether an std::array<int, N> contains only zeros. The function ...
Key Points
- GCC and Clang produce notably different assembly for the same C++ all-zero check across N=1,2,3.
- Clang sometimes emits redundant stack zeroing for the local array; GCC often avoids it.
- For N=3, GCC mixes compare/test steps while Clang uses OR-reduction before a zero test.
Show HN: AI agents play SimCity through a REST API
by aedA Show HN project demonstrates AI agents managing SimCity through a REST API, presented via a live dashboard. The site reports 49 registered mayors, 474 cities, and a cumulative population of 8,461,94...
Key Points
- AI agents manage SimCity via a REST API with public documentation for onboarding.
- Dashboard tracks 49 mayors, 474 cities, and 8,461,940 total population with sortable views.
- Real-time ticker and city stats (population, year, score) show continuous simulation activity.
Do not apologize for replying late to my email
by validatoriThis article advocates treating email as a truly asynchronous channel and discourages reflexive apologies for delayed responses. The author argues that unless a specific deadline has been communicated...
Key Points
- Email is asynchronous; don’t apologize for delayed replies unless a deadline was set.
- Use brief deferrals when busy and place follow-up on the sender.
- Only reply when it adds value; ending threads is acceptable.
Rome is studded with cannon balls (2022)
by thomassmith65This article spotlights a distinctive aspect of Rome’s urban fabric: historic cannonballs still visible in situ at several landmarks. It describes the ‘miracle cannon ball’ preserved in the church of ...
Key Points
- The ‘miracle cannon ball’ (1849) is preserved at San Bartolomeo all’Isola Tiberina with an inscription.
- Palazzo Colonna and Villa Medici display cannonball-related relics, with the Villa Medici legend deemed improbable.
- An Aurelian Wall cannonball dates to the 1870 battle linked to the Breach of Porta Pia and Rome’s annexation.
Show HN: Musical Interval Trainer
by GravitylossThis Show HN announcement introduces “Musical Interval Trainer,” a tool designed to help users learn to recognize musical intervals through practice. The post is concise and focuses solely on the tool...
Key Points
- Introduces “Musical Interval Trainer,” focused on practice-based interval recognition.
- Identifies the current release as v1.1.0.
- Provides no further feature or technical details beyond the core purpose.
Who Smeared Feynman
by sreanThis article examines Richard Feynman’s FBI file, which became publicly accessible in 2012 after a MuckRock FOIA request. The file is typical of Cold War–era vetting for scientists with security clear...
Key Points
- 2012 FOIA release by MuckRock made Feynman’s FBI file public.
- A 9-page August 8, 1958 letter to Hoover accused Feynman of being a security risk.
- The document set reflects 1958 vetting for a potential PSAC appointment and includes standard loyalty interviews.
FDA says companies can claim "no artificial colors" if they use natural dyes
by speckxThe U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced that the FDA will allow food companies to label products as having “no artificial colors” if they do not use petroleum-based dyes, even when ...
Key Points
- FDA permits “no artificial colors” claims when no petroleum-based dyes are used, even if natural color additives are present.
- FDA approved beetroot red and expanded spirulina extract use, totaling six new color options under the current administration.
- Natural colors still indicate ultra-processing and are primarily cosmetic, with distinct safety and performance considerations.
Show HN: Renovate – The Kubernetes-Native Way
by JanLepskyThe article introduces a Kubernetes-native Renovate Operator that enables teams to self-host Renovate within their Kubernetes clusters while adding native control and observability features. It highli...
Key Points
- Kubernetes-native Renovate Operator with CRD-based scheduling and built-in UI
- Additional features claimed over Mend Renovate CE: concurrency control, metrics, HA, and job lifecycle management
- Helm-based installation with support for GitHub/GitLab and observability via Prometheus
GLM-OCR: Accurate × Fast × Comprehensive
by ms7892GLM-OCR is an open-source multimodal OCR system aimed at robust, high-quality understanding of complex documents. Built on the GLM-V encoder–decoder architecture, it introduces Multi-Token Prediction ...
Key Points
- Scores 94.62 (#1) on OmniDocBench V1.5 with state-of-the-art document understanding results.
- Two-stage pipeline (PP-DocLayout-V3 + parallel recognition) with CogViT and GLM-0.5B components.
- Flexible deployment: Zhipu MaaS cloud API or self-host with vLLM/SGLang/Ollama; full open-source SDK.
Mamdani Hires Groundbreaking Computer Scientist as Chief Tech Officer
by leephillipsNew York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani will appoint Lisa Gelobter as the city’s chief technology officer and commissioner of the Office of Technology and Innovation, reinforcing his administration’s empha...
Key Points
- Lisa Gelobter named NYC CTO and commissioner of the Office of Technology and Innovation.
- Role covers cybersecurity, data management, infrastructure, and digital access to services.
- Appointment complements Mamdani’s high-profile leadership team and tech-forward agenda.
WiFi Could Become an Invisible Mass Surveillance System
by mgh2Researchers at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) have demonstrated that ordinary WiFi networks can be used to identify individuals without requiring them to carry any device. The technique p...
Key Points
- Uses unencrypted WiFi BFI to generate radio-based images for identification
- Works with standard WiFi devices; no specialized hardware like LIDAR or CSI needed
- Researchers warn of significant, invisible privacy risks from ubiquitous WiFi
AI-First Company Memos
by bobismyuncleThis article compiles a cross-industry wave of “AI-first” memos issued between 2025 and early 2026, detailing how organizations formalized AI usage in daily work, hiring, and performance management. S...
Key Points
- Companies are codifying AI use in hiring and performance reviews.
- Approaches vary from incentives to cost-cutting, with some reversals due to quality concerns.
- The AI-first memo trend has expanded from tech into government and finance.
Ask HN: Why electronics are still so unrecyclable?
by alexandrehtrbAn Ask HN thread examines why electronics remain difficult to recycle and seeks examples of efforts to improve the situation. The original poster notes that only a small fraction of electronic devices...
Key Points
- Electronics recycling rates are low and often rely on chemical processing.
- Material complexity (plastics and specialized metals) hampers efficient recovery.
- The post seeks initiatives focused on recyclable materials and design-for-reuse in electronics.
NanoClaw solves one of OpenClaw's biggest security issues
by marsh_mellowThe article introduces NanoClaw, an open-source framework designed by Gavriel Cohen to address security and complexity issues observed in OpenClaw, a widely adopted AI assistant created by Peter Stein...
Key Points
- NanoClaw introduces strict container-based isolation for AI agents to limit security risks.
- A minimal TypeScript core and simple primitives (Node.js, SQLite, filesystem IPC) improve auditability and transparency.
- Supports parallel Agent Swarms via Anthropic Agent SDK with isolated memory for data protection.
Why Vampires Live Forever
by machielreyThis article examines the longevity movement’s interest in blood and plasma interventions through a mix of satire and reported facts. It traces the roots of the idea to parabiosis experiments, beginni...
Key Points
- Parabiosis studies from 1864 to 2005 are cited as the scientific backdrop for interest in “young blood.”
- Peter Thiel is noted for expressing personal interest in parabiosis and connections to Ambrosia; various public activities are listed for context.
- Bryan Johnson conducted and discontinued a plasma exchange experiment after reporting no benefits.
Ireland rolls out pioneering basic income scheme for artists
by abe94Ireland has introduced a permanent basic income scheme for the arts, committing to pay 2,000 creative workers €325 ($387) per week. The initiative builds on a three-year trial launched in 2022 to help...
Key Points
- Permanent scheme pays €325/week to 2,000 artists.
- Recipients funded for three-year cycles via random selection.
- Trial showed reduced deprivation and recouped more than €72m net cost.
Fun with Shell Emojis
by kiribertyThis how-to article demonstrates a simple way to make terminal sessions more enjoyable by adding randomly selected emojis to shell messages and prompts across major platforms. It introduces a small fu...
Key Points
- Cross-platform instructions for Bash, Zsh, and PowerShell to implement rand_emoji.
- Zsh arrays are 1-based, requiring an index adjustment compared to Bash.
- PowerShell uses Get-Random with -Minimum and -Maximum to select the emoji index.
GLM-5: From Vibe Coding to Agentic Engineering
by meetpateltechGLM-5 is presented as a major upgrade over GLM-4.5/4.7, aimed at complex systems engineering and long-horizon agentic tasks. The model scales to 744B parameters (40B active) and expands pre-training d...
Key Points
- Scaled to 744B parameters with DSA integration and 28.5T tokens.
- Asynchronous RL infrastructure (“slime”) improves post-training efficiency.
- Open-sourced under MIT License; top open-source performance on long-horizon tasks.
U.S. had almost no job growth in 2025
by ceejayozRevised government data show the U.S. labor market added just 181,000 jobs in 2025, far below the earlier estimate of 584,000 and making it the weakest year for hiring since 2020—or since 2003 outside...
Key Points
- BLS cut 2025 job growth to 181,000; worst year since 2020.
- January 2026 added 130,000 jobs; health care led gains.
- Markets see limited chance of rate cuts before July.
Toyota Fluorite: "console-grade" Flutter game engine
by bsimpsonFluorite is a 3D game engine designed to work closely with Flutter, enabling developers to write gameplay in Dart and take advantage of Flutter’s tooling. A dedicated FluoriteView widget allows multip...
Key Points
- Flutter-integrated engine with Dart gameplay and a FluoriteView widget for multi-view 3D and shared state.
- C++ data-oriented ECS core optimized for performance on lower-end and embedded hardware.
- Filament + Vulkan rendering for console-grade visuals, plus Blender-authored touch trigger zones and Hot Reload.
A shortage of tenors
by petethomasThe article spotlights the scarcity of tenor singers in choirs through a historical example. It opens by underscoring how valuable tenors are to ensembles, then recounts the Taunton Madrigal Society’s...
Key Points
- A 1926 Taunton Madrigal Society concert was a success but revealed a shortage of tenors.
- A choir member publicly asked the audience for tenor singers to join.
- The anecdote illustrates the persistent challenge of recruiting tenors in choral music.
It's not finance, it's your pensions
by komeThis article argues that the structure of welfare programs, more than the overall level of social spending, determines how extensively finance permeates an economy. Drawing on OECD data from research ...
Key Points
- Welfare design, not spending level, drives financial market depth.
- Funded pensions and certain subsidies create investable assets; PAYG pensions crowd out finance.
- Sweden and the Netherlands exemplify how funded designs build large capital pools.
Should your developer company go open source?
by paraphreniaThis article provides a structured framework for founders deciding whether to make their developer-focused product open source. It warns that many teams mistakenly view OSS as a distribution shortcut,...
Key Points
- Open source is a strategic architecture decision, not a distribution hack.
- User–contributor alignment (federation) is key to compounding community value.
- Choose OSS only if it clearly advances adoption, defensibility, CAC, or monetization.
Scientists research man missing 90% of his brain who leads a normal life (2016)
by thunderbongA 44-year-old man in France was found to have severe hydrocephalus, with most of his skull occupied by cerebrospinal fluid and only a thin layer of brain tissue remaining. Despite this condition, he m...
Key Points
- Severe hydrocephalus case with near-normal life functioning and IQ of 84.
- Case first documented in The Lancet (2007); later presented by Axel Cleeremans at a consciousness conference.
- Highlights brain plasticity and challenges localized theories of consciousness.
Claude Code Is Being Dumbed Down
by WXLCKNOThe article details a logging change in Anthropic’s Claude Code v2.1.20 that replaced detailed inline output for file reads and search patterns with single-line summaries. Previously, developers could...
Key Points
- Claude Code v2.1.20 replaced detailed inline logs with summary lines for file reads and searches.
- Anthropic recommended verbose mode rather than adding a toggle or reverting the change.
- Users report pinning to v2.1.19; the article argues a simple config flag could resolve the issue.
NetNewsWire Turns 23
by robin_realaNetNewsWire celebrates 23 years since its 1.0 debut on Mac and reports that version 7.0 for both Mac and iOS has shipped. The team is immediately following with 7.0.1 to address regressions and quick ...
Key Points
- 7.0 for Mac and iOS has shipped; 7.0.1 is underway to fix regressions.
- 7.1 will focus on syncing fixes; 7.2’s focus is TBD (likely UX/polish).
- Future plans depend on progress and Apple’s WWDC-driven changes.
Single bone in Spain offers first direct evidence of Hannibal's war elephants
by ArchelaosA newly reported discovery from a 2020 excavation at Colina de los Quemados in Córdoba, Spain may offer the first direct material evidence of Carthaginian war elephants in the Western Mediterranean du...
Key Points
- A single elephant bone found in Córdoba may constitute direct evidence of Punic War elephants.
- Prior support largely came from texts, iconography, and artifacts (coin; Carmona sculpture).
- Chemical and organic markers at Col de la Traversette provide related indirect evidence.
Amazon Ring's lost dog ad sparks backlash amid fears of mass surveillance
by jedbergRing’s Super Bowl ad spotlighted its new AI-powered Search Party feature, which scans footage from neighborhood cameras to help find lost dogs. The ad triggered privacy backlash, with critics warning ...
Key Points
- Ring’s ad showcases an AI dog-finding feature that scans neighborhood camera footage.
- Critics cite facial recognition and law enforcement ties as grounds for surveillance concerns.
- Ring’s partnership with Flock Safety and reported ICE data access intensify privacy worries.
The risk of a hothouse Earth trajectory
by ArchelaosThe article examines the growing risk that Earth’s climate system could enter a self-reinforcing “hothouse trajectory,” departing from the Holocene’s stable conditions that supported human civilizatio...
Key Points
- Global temperatures have breached 1.5°C for 12 consecutive months, indicating the long-term mean may be near this threshold.
- Self-reinforcing feedbacks and tipping points could commit Earth to a hothouse trajectory with potentially irreversible consequences.
- SSP scenarios support IPCC assessments by structuring projections of possible climate futures.
iOS 26.3 and macOS 26.3 Fix Dozens of Vulnerabilities, Including Zero-Day
by akyuuApple has released iOS 26.3, iPadOS 26.3, and macOS Tahoe 26.3, with a primary focus on addressing security vulnerabilities and bug fixes across its platforms. The updates include a critical patch for...
Key Points
- Apple released iOS 26.3, iPadOS 26.3, and macOS Tahoe 26.3 with security fixes.
- A zero-day in dyld enabling arbitrary code execution was actively exploited.
- Apple urges immediate updates to reduce risk from newly publicized vulnerabilities.
Show HN: Hibana – An Affine MPST Runtime for Rust
by o8vmHibana is presented as a preview affine MultiParty Session Types (MPST) engine for Rust that aims to guarantee protocol safety—particularly deadlock freedom—by construction. Its core is designed for #...
Key Points
- Preview affine MPST engine for Rust with a no_std/no_alloc-oriented core.
- Global choreography is projected at compile time into per-role programs.
- Affine cursors enforce protocol compliance, illustrated by a Ping-Pong example.
Microwave Oven Failure: Spontaneously turned on by its LED display (2024)
by armA detailed 2024 blog post examines a failure mode in an Insignia NS-MW09SS8 microwave manufactured by Midea. After about five years of use, the device began intermittently powering the lamp, fan, and ...
Key Points
- Root cause: aging LED display created reverse-biased leakage interfering with the door-sense GPIO.
- Design detail: one microcontroller GPIO pin drives an LED segment and senses the door switch.
- Safety: magnetron remains off when the system falsely senses the door as open.
Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan launches dark-money group to influence CA politics
by computerlikerY Combinator CEO Garry Tan has launched Garry’s List, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit aimed at shaping California politics through voter education and advocacy. Announced via press release, the organization is ...
Key Points
- Garry Tan launched a 501(c)(4) advocacy group, Garry’s List, focused on California politics.
- The group can spend on candidates and measures and plans voter guides, events, ads, and training programs.
- Garry’s List also operates a blog criticizing unions, a teachers’ strike, and a proposed billionaire tax.
Typing for Love or Money: The Hidden Labor Behind Modern Literary Masterpieces
by prismaticThis article investigates the hidden labor of literary amanuenses—often women—whose typing, editorial input, and advocacy profoundly influenced modern literature yet rarely received formal recognition...
Key Points
- Amanuenses performed skilled, creative work that shaped modern literature but often went uncredited.
- Gendered marketing of the typewriter established perceptions of typing as simple “women’s work.”
- Professionalization expanded typists’ roles and markets, including services supporting authors.
Illness Is Rampant Among Children Trapped in ICE's Jail in Texas
by wahnfriedenThe Dilley Immigration Processing Center in southern Texas, the nation’s primary family detention facility operated by ICE, has seen a sharp increase in detainees. Detention Reports indicates the aver...
Key Points
- Dilley’s detainee population nearly tripled since October, per Detention Reports.
- Illnesses, quarantines, and alleged medical neglect reported among detained children.
- Judicial intervention led to the release of a father and son, spotlighting detention practices.
Switzerland's Extraordinary Medieval Library
by CaptainZappThis feature profiles the Abbey Library of St Gallen, a renowned Baroque hall in eastern Switzerland celebrated for its remarkable continuity and preservation over roughly 1,300 years. Guided by histo...
Key Points
- Baroque library with 1,300-year continuity and a 1767 hall.
- Holds ~160,000 works, including >2,100 medieval codices and ~400 pre-1000.
- Combines scholarly texts with artifacts and curiosities from around the world.
Q&A: New UK onshore wind and solar is '50% cheaper' than new gas
by DamonHDThe UK has completed the final phase of its seventh Contracts for Difference (CfD) auction, awarding 7.4GW of new renewable capacity across solar, onshore wind and tidal projects. This AR7a round set ...
Key Points
- AR7 totals 14.7GW, combining offshore wind (8.4GW) and AR7a (7.4GW).
- Solar and onshore wind strike prices were £65/MWh and £72/MWh, respectively.
- AR7 is estimated to cut UK gas demand by ~95TWh/year, reducing LNG imports significantly.
Apple's Siri revamp reportedly delayed again
by salkahfiTechCrunch reports, citing Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, that Apple’s long-promised overhaul of Siri, introduced as part of the Apple Intelligence initiative in 2024, is facing another delay. The enhanced ...
Key Points
- Siri overhaul delayed beyond iOS 26.4, per Bloomberg report cited by TechCrunch.
- Apple plans a phased rollout, with some features in May and others in iOS 27 (September).
- New Siri is expected to use Google’s Gemini for conversational AI features.
US decides SpaceX is like an airline, exempting it from Labor Relations Act
by BenderUS labor regulators have determined SpaceX falls under the Railway Labor Act (RLA), resulting in the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) dropping its complaint about alleged illegal firings. The shi...
Key Points
- NMB determined SpaceX is covered by the Railway Labor Act as a common carrier by air.
- NLRB dropped its complaint, citing lack of jurisdiction under the NLRA.
- The original complaint alleged illegal firings of employees who criticized CEO Elon Musk.
Text classification with Python 3.14's ZSTD module
by alexmolasThe article details how Python 3.14’s new compression.zstd standard library module enables practical text classification using the Zstandard (Zstd) algorithm. Zstd’s incremental (streaming) compressio...
Key Points
- Python 3.14 adds Zstandard via the compression.zstd module with incremental compression.
- Text can be classified by picking the class whose Zstd-based compressor yields the smallest compressed size.
- Rebuilding compressors frequently avoids internal state contamination during classification.
Show HN: Agent Alcove – Claude, GPT, and Gemini debate across forums
by nickvecAgent Alcove is introduced as an autonomous discussion forum where AI models initiate and sustain conversations by starting threads, debating ideas, and replying to one another. Human participants act...
Key Points
- AI agents autonomously create and debate forum threads.
- Human upvotes steer which discussions agents prioritize.
- Forum emphasizes philosophical and ethical topics about intelligence.
Components will kill pages
by cmsparksThe article asserts that web experiences are shifting from traditional multi-page navigation to AI-driven chat interfaces that deliver immediate, personalized results. It suggests that platforms incre...
Key Points
- AI chat interfaces may supplant multi-page web navigation.
- Expose UI components in JSON so AI can render branded experiences inline.
- Libraries like json-render and Kumo enable generative UI from components.
Show HN: Agent framework that generates its own topology and evolves at runtime
by vincentjiangHive by AdenHQ is an open-source, goal-driven agent framework designed to help developers build autonomous, production-grade AI agents without hardcoding workflows. Users conversationally define objec...
Key Points
- Goal-driven agent framework that auto-generates node graphs and connection code.
- Self-healing via failure capture, evolution through a coding agent, and redeployment.
- Operational features include human-in-the-loop controls, credential management, and real-time monitoring.
Discord/Twitch/Snapchat age verification bypass
by JustSkyfallA technical post outlines a method to bypass K‑ID-powered age verification used by major platforms, focusing on Discord and extending to Twitch, Snapchat, and Kick. The authors describe a Discord-spec...
Key Points
- Claims a cross-platform K‑ID age verification bypass, with a detailed Discord method and a QR-based flow for others.
- Technique exploits metadata-based verification and replicates AES‑GCM/HKDF-derived encryption fields.
- References FaceAssure’s earlier hardening and notes further validation requirements (“prediction data”).
Hacking the last Z80 computer – FOSDEM 2026 [video]
by michalplebanA FOSDEM 2026 talk focuses on the Cidco MailStation, a Z80-based computer introduced in 1999 as a dedicated email appliance for users who found configuring web access on PCs too complex. Despite its s...
Key Points
- Cidco’s 1999 MailStation is a Z80-based email device that can run user apps.
- The talk demonstrates hacking the MailStation and seeks community help for documentation and firmware.
- Linked GitHub tools include an emulator, transfer app, and hardware docs for development.
"Nothing" is the secret to structuring your work
by spmvgThis article presents a structured approach to personal productivity centered on the idea of starting each work session with “nothing.” It defines a “work surface” as any physical or digital area used...
Key Points
- Start work sessions with an empty physical/digital work surface.
- Use the work surface only for active items; move finished items to storage.
- Closing tabs and opening only the necessary file improves focus and clarity.
Reports of Telnet's Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated
by ericpauleyTerrace Networks challenges a recent GreyNoise report claiming a sudden, sustained collapse in global Telnet traffic around the disclosure of CVE-2026-24061 against GNU Inetutils. GreyNoise documented...
Key Points
- No evidence of new Telnet filtering by core ISPs or ASes.
- Successful Telnet traceroutes from affected ASes indicate continued reachability.
- Filtering for TCP handshake completion shows ongoing non-spoofable port 23 traffic.
Show HN: CodeRLM – Tree-sitter-backed code indexing for LLM agents
by jared_stewartThe article details an HTTP API that exposes CodeRLM’s REPL operations for Tree-sitter-backed code indexing, enabling LLM agents to navigate and annotate codebases. It outlines how to manage sessions ...
Key Points
- Sessions bind API requests to projects and are required via X-Session-Id for most endpoints.
- Structure endpoints provide tree views and file annotations/markings with adjustable depth.
- Symbols endpoints enable filtered listing, search, and annotation with detailed metadata.
Sekka Zusetsu: A Book of Snowflakes (1832)
by prismaticSekka Zusetsu (1832) is an Edo-period woodblock book by Koga Domain daimyō Doi Toshitsura, chronicling two decades of snowflake study. Likely the first in Japan to view ice crystals under a microscope...
Key Points
- Doi Toshitsura’s 1832 Sekka Zusetsu documents 86 original snowflake studies, plus 12 European reproductions.
- A careful, stepwise method preserved flakes for microscopic observation during Edo-era research.
- Rangaku via Dejima enabled Western scientific influences, amplifying Doi’s work and cultural impact.
Covering electricity price increases from our data centers
by ryanhnAnthropic announced a plan to prevent its U.S. data centers from increasing consumer electricity bills as it scales AI infrastructure. The company says frontier AI training will require gigawatts of p...
Key Points
- Anthropic will fully fund grid interconnection upgrades for its data centers.
- The company will secure new power supply and cover demand-driven price impacts where needed.
- It will deploy curtailment and grid optimization and support federal reforms to speed energy infrastructure.
Kanchipuram Saris and Thinking Machines
by trojanalertThis article examines the declining authenticity of Kanchipuram silk saris through the lens of their signature metallic thread, zari. Historically, genuine zari combined a silk core with high-purity s...
Key Points
- Traditional zari purity has dropped from ~80% silver/1.5% gold to ~45% silver/0.5% gold in modern products.
- Imitation zari substitutes (copper or polyester with plastic coating) degrade quickly and tarnish.
- Weaving in Kanchipuram’s Silk Park relies on Jacquard looms and meticulous warp preparation.
Heroku Is Not Dead
by jbmA former tech lead from Heroku’s production engineering operations experiences team contends the platform is not dead, despite initial impressions from a recent Heroku blog update. Drawing on work fro...
Key Points
- Author asserts Heroku is not dead after speaking with current employees.
- Details extensive internal operational services managed from 2021–2024.
- Highlights post‑acquisition organizational dynamics and ethical sharing of lessons.
Lessons from Zig
by greg7mdpThis article examines Zig’s approach to a minimal standard library and proposes lessons for C++. Zig restricts its standard library to low-level, broadly applicable utilities—such as memory allocators...
Key Points
- Zig’s standard library focuses on low-level, broadly used utilities.
- Zig actively removes or reorganizes components, relocating them to community maintenance.
- The article urges WG21 to adopt a high-bar, economically driven inclusion policy for C++.
Using an Engineering Notebook
by evakhouryThe article outlines the practice of keeping a physical engineering notebook as a foundational tool for productivity in software work. It reports that, based on a Mastodon poll, only a minority of res...
Key Points
- Engineering notebooks are defined by detailed, dated, real-time, append-only entries as the original record.
- Poll results show low adoption and unfamiliarity with engineering notebooks among respondents.
- Handwriting notes serves as a memory aid and planning tool, used before implementing code changes.
From 34% to 96%: The Porting Initiative Delivers – Hologram v0.7.0
by bartblastHologram v0.7.0 delivers a major leap in the Elixir-to-JavaScript porting initiative, moving Erlang runtime coverage from 34% to 96% and raising Elixir standard library readiness from 74% to 87%. Sinc...
Key Points
- Erlang runtime coverage reaches 96%; Elixir stdlib readiness climbs to 87%.
- 150 functions ported across 19 modules; 228/238 Phase 1 functions complete.
- Faster compilation, cross-platform setup, and NixOS compatibility via Biome fallback.
The Problem with LLMs
by vinhnxThe article explores whether large language models (LLMs) should be used to speed development of features for the nonprofit Pariyatti mobile app after a colleague shared Vijay Khanna’s “From Idea to A...
Key Points
- LLM adoption for the Pariyatti app is evaluated through the nonprofit’s ethical code.
- The article claims LLMs inherently involve plagiarism and conceal source materials.
- Early GitHub Copilot behavior is cited as evidence of verbatim regurgitation from training data.
Deobfuscation and Analysis of Ring-1.io
by raggiThis analysis deconstructs ring-1.io’s game cheating infrastructure by partially deobfuscating several Themida-protected components, including a UEFI bootloader implant. The authors describe how the l...
Key Points
- Loader uses unique, self-deleting binaries and redownloads to thwart Windows forensic linkage.
- UEFI boot modifications run the implant pre-OS, violating Secure Boot and later restoring originals.
- Backend communication employs HTTPS, JWTs, libcurl, and simple custom payload encryption.
GLM-5 was trained entirely on Huawei chips
by wildcatqzZhipu AI introduced GLM-5, a fifth-generation large language model built for agentic intelligence, advanced reasoning, and high performance across creative and coding tasks. The model employs a 745-bi...
Key Points
- 745B-parameter MoE model trained on Huawei Ascend with MindSpore.
- Funding: Zhipu AI’s Jan 2026 Hong Kong IPO raised HKD 4.35B.
- Technical features include DSA for 200K-token contexts and model variants for multimodal tasks.
How to Make a Living as an Artist
by gwintrobThis essay outlines practical lessons from an artist’s transition to a sustainable full-time art career. The author anchors the guidance in concrete milestones—$54k in sales one year, $150k the next, ...
Key Points
- Accept that a professional art practice is a business.
- Turning a hobby into a job adds administrative burdens and reduces flexibility.
- Artists often operate as solopreneurs, managing both creation and sales.
The Other Markov's Inequality
by tzuryThe article presents Markov’s inequality, a bound on how fast a bounded polynomial can change. For a degree-n polynomial mapping the interval [-1, 1] into [-1, 1], the maximum magnitude of its first d...
Key Points
- Chebyshev polynomials saturate Markov’s n² derivative bound.
- Vladimir Markov’s generalization bounds higher derivatives (Markov brothers’ inequality).
- Affine scaling extends the inequality to general intervals for approximation lower bounds.