Leftovers

• Hackaday ☛ All-Band Radio Records Signals, Plays MP3s

  In these days of everything-streaming, it’s great to see an old school radio build. It’s even better when it’s not old-school at all, but packed full of modern ICs and driven by a micro-controller like the dsPIC in [Minh Danh]’s dsMP3 build. Best of all is when we get enough details that the author needs two blog posts — one for hardware, and one for firmware — like [Minh Danh] has done.

• Don Marti ☛ Don Marti: mlp 4 May 2025

• Hackaday ☛ A Delay Line Memory Demo Board

  Delay line memory is a technology from yesteryear, but it’s not been entirely forgotten. [P-Lab] has developed a demo board for delay-line memory, which shows how it worked in a very obvious way with lots of visual aids.

• Hackaday ☛ Electric Catamaran Sails High Seas Of Inland Canada

  There are a number of plans for DIY boats available online, so [Phil] went in search of one for a custom catamaran to travel the inland waterways of Canada. But none of the plans he found had options for electric motors so he modified one popular plan to include not only that, but plenty of other unique features as well throughout a long series of videos.

• Hackaday ☛ Lancing College Shares Critical Design Review For UK CanSat Entry

  A group of students from Lancing College in the UK have sent in their Critical Design Review (CDR) for their entry in the UK CanSat project.

• Standards/Consortia

  • Hackaday ☛ Train With Morse Master

    Morse code can be daunting to learn when you’re new to the game, particularly if you need it to pass your desired radio license. However, these days, there are a great many tools to aid in the learning process. A good example is the Morse Master from [Arnov Sharma].

• Science

  • Stanford University ☛ School Deans told to prepare for budget cuts

    In a Tuesday email, School of Humanities and Sciences Dean Debra Satz directed program directors and chairs to model budget cuts of up to 15% in advance of a possible decrease in funding this September.

  • Science Alert ☛ 'Super-Earths' May Be Surprisingly Common, Scientists Reveal

    There could be way more than we realized.

  • Science Alert ☛ Poor Oral Hygiene Could Be Taking a Toll on Your Heart, Expert Says

    The effects can be far-reaching.

  • Science Alert ☛ AI Detects an Unusual Detail Hidden in a Famous Raphael Masterpiece

    "The computer sees far more deeply than the human eye."

  • Science Alert ☛ Fungi on Your Skin Could Produce a Potent Antibiotic to Fight Infections

    Thank you, co-existing microorganism.

  • Science Alert ☛ Scientists Don't Know Why Consciousness Exists, And a New Study Proves It

    Two huge theories go head to head.

  • Science Alert ☛ The First Synthetic 'Mini Prion' Could Help Study Diseases Like Alzheimer's

    A huge step forward.

  • Science Alert ☛ Men Tend to Fall in Love Faster Than Women, New Study Shows

    Love changes everything – but how quickly?

  • Hackaday ☛ Hackaday Links: May 4, 2025

    By now, you’ve probably heard about Kosmos 482, a Soviet probe destined for Venus in 1972 that fell a bit short of the mark and stayed in Earth orbit for the last 53 years. Soon enough, though, the lander will make its fiery return; exactly where and when remain a mystery, but it should be sometime in the coming week. We talked about the return of Kosmos briefly on this week’s podcast and even joked a bit about how cool it would be if the parachute that would have been used for the descent to Venus had somehow deployed over its half-century in space. We might have been onto something, as astrophotographer Ralf Vanderburgh has taken some pictures of the spacecraft that seem to show a structure connected to and trailing behind it. The chute is probably in pretty bad shape after 50 years of UV torture, but how cool is that?

• Career/Education

  • University of Michigan ☛ Eight former UMich employees file lawsuit against University of Michigan for wrongful termination

    Early Thursday morning, eight former University of Michigan employees filed a federal lawsuit against the University for wrongful termination for participation in pro-Palestinian protests. The plaintiffs, one full-time employee and seven student workers, argued the University violated First and Fourteenth Amendment rights of free speech and the right to due process.

• Hardware

  • Tom's Hardware ☛ Brain interface used to edit YouTube video — paralyzed Neuralink patient also uses Hey Hi (AI) to narrate with his own voice

    Bradford Smith, an ALS patient, is the third patient to receive a Neuralink implant. This tech has allowed him to edit and upload a YouTube video, and even help him synthesize his voice using AI.

  • Computers Are Bad ☛ iBeacons

    You know sometimes a technology just sort of... comes and goes? Without leaving much of an impression? And then gets lodged in your brain for the next decade? Let's talk about one of those: the iBeacon.

    I think the reason that iBeacons loom so large in my memory is that the technology was announced at WWDC in 2013. Picture yourself in 2013: Steve Jobs had only died a couple of years ago, Fashion Company Apple was still widely viewed as a visionary leader in consumer technology, and WWDC was still happening. Back then, pretty much anything announced at an Fashion Company Apple event was a Big Deal that got Big Coverage. Even, it turns out, if it was a minor development for a niche application. That's the iBeacon, a specific solution to a specific problem. It's not really that interesting, but the valance of it's Fashion Company Apple origin makes it seem cool?

• Health/Nutrition/Agriculture

  • Deutsche Welle ☛ 2025-05-01 [Older] World's oldest person dies in Brazil at the age of 116 years

  • Deutsche Welle ☛ 2025-05-01 [Older] Transgender women barred from English women's football

• Proprietary

  • EA Confirms Codemasters Had Both Layoffs And Staff Redeployed To Other Studios

    At the end of April, Respawn announced they had layoffs across the studio, which was shortly followed by rumors that EA had layoffs between 300 to 400 developers across their studios. Without revealing the full number, EA confirmed they had layoffs across the whole company shortly afterwards. They said this:

    As part of our continued focus on our long-term strategic priorities, we’ve made select changes within our organization that more effectively aligns teams and allocates resources in service of driving future growth.

    And then at the start of May, Codemasters revealed that they were ending support for EA Sports WRC, and that they would stop development of their rally racing games altogether. EA took a few days afterwards but they finally confirmed that layoffs in this Southam-based studio.

  • Social Control Media

    • France24 ☛ TikTok in the spotlight as far-right candidate leads Romania's presidential rerun

      Ahead of Sunday’s rerun, Romanian authorities were keen to avoid a repeat of the November 2024 vote, which was annulled due to Russian interference on TikTok. But a balancing act between protecting freedom of expression and defending democracy against disinformation is tricky, explains FRANCE 24’s Leela Jacinto.

  • Windows TCO / Windows Bot Nets

    • Silicon Angle ☛ Main Line Health battles healthcare hackers with zero-trust strategy

      Healthcare systems are under attack by cyber threat actors, and it does not appear that there will be relief anytime soon. Nearly 400 healthcare cyberattacks were reported through the first three quarters of 2024 and over 1.2 million patients were affected by data breaches in February of this year alone.

• Security

  • Confidentiality

    • Silicon Angle ☛ Signal app clone used by Convicted Felon officials was hacked in less than 30 mins

      The security of U.S. government officials’ communications has come under the spotlight again after a modified Signal app used to archive data from third-party messaging apps was hacked in less than 30 minutes. .

    • Silicon Angle ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man administration proposes $491M cut to CISA in 2026 budget plan

      The Forrest Dump Administration has proposed a $491 million funding cut to the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency for 2026, citing the need to refocus CISA on its core mission.

• Defence/Aggression

  • Deutsche Welle ☛ 2025-05-02 [Older] China wants 'sincerity' as it evaluates tariff offer from the US

  • Deutsche Welle ☛ 2025-05-01 [Older] DR Congo seeks to strip Kabila of immunity

  • The Strategist ☛ Choose Australian companies to strengthen Australia’s defence

    Australia has a unique opportunity to reinforce its national security by fostering a stronger domestic defence industry.

  • France24 ☛ Staying behind: Olympic athletes seek asylum in Europe

    Some athletes are applying for asylum in their host countries after the Olympic Games or elsewhere in Europe, citing often security reasons or desires to advance their sporting careers further. According to an investigation by the French newspaper l'Équipe, entire Olympic teams may have chosen to remain in Europe. FRANCE 24’s Alix Le Bourdon and Clement Dalmar report.

  • France24 ☛ Sean 'Diddy' Combs sex trafficking trial opens in New York

    Jury selection begins Monday in New York in the trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs, 55, on sex trafficking and racketeering charges. Prosecutors allege he led a crime ring that forced victims into drug-fueled sex parties. Combs denies the charges, claiming all acts were consensual. His lawyer cited his "swinger" lifestyle as part of the defense.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Philippine bishops defend papal front runner over clerical sex abuse

    A watchdog group warned that Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle could not be relied on to protect children.

  • Deutsche Welle ☛ 2025-04-30 [Older] Spain: German couple arrested for locking up their children

  • Deutsche Welle ☛ 2025-04-30 [Older] Sweden: Suspect arrested after three killed in Uppsala

  • Deutsche Welle ☛ 2025-04-30 [Older] North Korea dismantles symbols of reconciliation with South

  • Deutsche Welle ☛ 2025-04-30 [Older] Occupied West Bank: Is the new PLO deputy a symbol of hope?

  • Deutsche Welle ☛ 2025-04-30 [Older] Kenya: Lawmaker shot dead in Nairobi

  • Deutsche Welle ☛ 2025-04-30 [Older] India-Pakistan tensions: Where does the EU stand?

  • Deutsche Welle ☛ 2025-05-01 [Older] Pahalgam attackers must be 'brought to justice,' India says

  • Deutsche Welle ☛ 2025-04-30 [Older] Fact check: Did India trigger a flood in Pakistan?

  • Deutsche Welle ☛ 2025-04-30 [Older] Can Cambodia get rid of landmines without US help?

  • Deutsche Welle ☛ 2025-04-30 [Older] Denmark: Several injured in Copenhagen as car lost control

  • Deutsche Welle ☛ 2025-05-01 [Older] South Korea's acting President Han Duck-soo resigns

  • Deutsche Welle ☛ 2025-05-01 [Older] South Korea's ex-president Yoon indicted for abuse of power

  • Deutsche Welle ☛ 2025-05-01 [Older] Kenyan police say politician's killing appears 'targeted'

  • Deutsche Welle ☛ 2025-05-01 [Older] Nigeria state leaders demand action against Islamist attacks

  • Deutsche Welle ☛ 2025-05-01 [Older] Oman says new Iran-US nuclear talks postponed

  • JURIST ☛ Amnesty: Poland’s suspension of asylum claims a serious threat to human rights and lives

    Amnesty International (AI) on Thursday criticized a Polish legislation suspending the right to asylum applications for migrants crossing the border from Belarus. According to AI, the law effectively codifies the unlawful forced return of migrants by authorizing border guards to disregard asylum applications without properly considering a person’s individual’s circumstances.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Nine killed after four tourist boats capsize in China, state media reports

    Nine people died when "sudden strong winds" capsized four tourist boats and plunged 84 people into the water in Southwestern China, state media reported on Monday.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Three dead, 60 hospitalised after tourist boats capsizes in China

    Around 70 people fell into the water when the two passenger boats overturned on a river in Guizhou province.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Death toll rises to 9 after tourist boats capsize in China

    The boats overturned when torrential rain swept over the Liuchong River.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Japan, China accuse each other of airspace ‘violation’ near disputed islands

    The islands in the East China Sea are a frequent hotspot in bilateral tensions.

  • Russia, Belarus, and War in Ukraine

    • Meduza ☛ Explosion and fire in Moscow apartment building leave at least two dead — Meduza

    • France24 ☛ Putin says he hopes nuclear weapons will 'not be required' in Ukraine

      Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that nuclear weapons will not be required in Ukraine. He made the comment in footage aired by Russian state television on Sunday.

    • France24 ☛ China's Pooh-tin Jinping to visit Russia on May 7-10, Kremlin says

      Chinese President Pooh-tin Jinping will make an official visit to Russia from May 7-10 at President Vladimir Putin's invitation, the Kremlin said Sunday. The Chinese leader will participate in celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany.

    • France24 ☛ Ukraine calls for full ceasefire, rejects Russia's three-day truce proposal

      Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed a three-day truce ordered by Russian leader Vladimir Putin as theatrics, but said Kyiv was ready for a full ceasefire.

    • RFERL ☛ During Prague Visit, Zelenskyy Says 'Eager' Putin Should Focus On Peace, Not Parades

      Russian drones wounded at least 11 people in Kyiv overnight, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy traveled to Prague to meet with top Czech officials.

    • RFERL ☛ Russian Air Strikes Target Kyiv As Zelenskyy Calls For 30-Day Cease-Fire

      Moscow launched air strikes against Kyiv and other Ukrainian city hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed a three-day cease-fire surrounding its May 9 Victory Day remembrances -- a truce call dismissed by Kyiv as “theater.”

    • RFERL ☛ Sanctions, War Tribunal On Agenda As EU Ministers Prepare For Warsaw And Lviv Meetings

      European Union foreign ministers will gather in Warsaw this week for an informal council meeting and then head to Lviv in a show of solidarity with Ukraine in the face of a major Victory Day celebrations in Russia.

    • Meduza ☛ Trump says U.S. ‘closer’ to agreement with one side in Russia–Ukraine talks, declines to say which — Meduza

    • France24 ☛ Romania votes in presidential rerun after annulled election sparked political crisis

      Eleven candidates are vying for the presidency in Romania as voters cast their ballots on Sunday in the first round of an election redo. Polls opened at 7am (0400 GMT) and will close at 9 pm (1800 GMT). Romania’s political landscape was shaken last year when a top court voided the previous election in which the far-right outsider Calin Georgescu topped the first round, following allegations of electoral violations and Russian interference, which Moscow has denied.

    • France24 ☛ Former presidential candidate Calin Georgescu and Romania's annulled vote

      Romanians returned to the polls on Sunday in a rerun of November's annulled presidential election that left the country in deep political turmoil. The Constitutional Court cancelled last year's vote after NATO critic Calin Georgescu won the first round, citing Russian interference and illegal campaign financing.

    • RFERL ☛ Romanian Ultranationalist Simion Set To Win First Round Of Presidential Vote -- Race Tight For Second Place

      Romanian ultranationalist candidate George Simion wrapped up a solid victory, though not the majority needed to avoid a runoff, in a presidential election nearly six months after an initial vote was abruptly canceled amid allegations of a Russian influence campaign.

    • France24 ☛ Romania exit polls point to 'comfortable lead' for far right's George Simion

      Eurosceptic George Simion appeared on course for victory in the first round of Romania's presidential election re-run on Sunday, exit polls showed, after a ballot seen as a test of the rise of The Insurrectionist-style nationalism in the European Union. FRANCE 24's correspondent Maria Gerth-Nicolescu has the details.

    • Meduza ☛ Russia stages children’s military parade in Vladivostok, with North Korean students in attendance — Meduza

    • Latvia ☛ Leaders of defence committees from nine countries to gather in Tallinn

      Next week, the leaders of the National Defence Committees of nine countries will gather in Tallinn, Estonia, to take part in the Annual Security and Defence Forum of the Defence Committees of Nordic and Baltic Sea Countries, which will focus on strengthening Europe’s military defence.

• Environment

  • JURIST ☛ US Justice Department sues four states over climate initiatives

    The US Department of Justice (DOJ) Thursday filed lawsuits against Hawaii, Michigan, New York, and Vermont over “unconstitutional” and “burdensome” climate change initiatives. The lawsuits fit into two categories. First, the DOJ filed suits against the states of New York and Vermont over their “climate superfund laws.”

  • Energy/Transportation

    • The Straits Times ☛ ‘US tariffs don’t hurt’: Chongqing’s car sector a bright spot amid trade turmoil

      Chongqing produces one in every eight cars in China.

    • NYPost ☛ ‘Dead cheap’ trip through Qantas-owned holiday website TripADeal ends in $3.2K shock

      When an Aussie couple booked a dream holiday, including scoring business class flights for just $1000 each through a travel site owned by Qantas they were ecstatic – but things took an unexpected turn when they later learned an extra $5000 could be added to their bill.

  • Wildlife/Nature

    • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Environmentalist Jenny Quinton on running eco-education centre Ark Eden and protecting Hong Kong’s ‘big nature’

      For almost three decades, Hong Kong environmentalist Jenny Quinton has planted tens of thousands of trees on Lantau Island, where montane forests are surrounded by waters that are home to rich marine life, including the uniquely pink Chinese white dolphins. Lantau, Hong Kong’s largest island, is vibrant with wildlife and vegetation.

• Censorship/Free Speech

  • NYPost ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man announces 100% tariff for movies produced outside US: ‘National Security threat’

    "This is a concerted effort by other Nations and, therefore, a National Security threat. It is, in addition to everything else, messaging and propaganda," Convicted Felon said in a post on Truth Social.

• Civil Rights/Policing

  • Deutsche Welle ☛ 2025-05-01 [Older] Germany updates: Thousands rally in Berlin for Labor Day

Monopolies/Monopsonies