China’s Mars Rover Discovers Signs of Recent Water in Martian Sand Dunes

A new study suggests water on Mars may be more widespread and recent than previously thought

Another Open Source Alternative to ChatGPT Released by Hugging Face

No matter which side of the debate folks fall on, it seems clear that the open source push isn’t slowing down.

== a pdf with a bit more detail
(https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-04-energy-rest-years-reveals.html)

Bilingualism may stave off dementia, study suggests

People who spoke two languages daily in their youth tended to score higher on memory tests later in life, the researchers found.

Human basal metabolic rate has declined over the past 30 years

Surprisingly, this decline could be traced to a reduction in BMR rather than activity expenditure, which, by contrast, was slightly but significantly increased in both sexes.

NASA Power Tweak Extends Voyager 2 Mission Even Longer

The interstellar traveler is gradually losing power, but a clever tweak means it can continue running all of its scientific instruments.

Brit Fusion Magnets Set For US Gamma Ray Bombardment Test

Tokamak Energy off to Albuquerque desert to douse kit in radiation.

ASML, Europe’s Most Valuable Tech Firm, Is at the Heart of the US-China Chip War

The low-profile firm has become crucial to a half-trillion-dollar global industry.

Colorado Governor Signs Tractor Right-to-Repair Law Opposed by John Deere

Manufacturers must provide repair parts, embedded software, and documentation.

As Sea Levels Rise, the East Coast is Also Sinking

Coastal lands are subsiding and losing elevation, making rising seas all the worse.

SpaceX’s Starship launch caused a fire in a Texas state park

Federal agencies say debris from the blown-up spacecraft spread across hundreds of acres.

Record high temperatures in Nunavik pose threat to Inuit way of life

‘Huge thaw’ in northern Quebec significantly reducing time out on land, says locals.

Anglo-Saxon coins: Illegally held hoard rewrites English history

The recovery of 44 Anglo-Saxon coins that were hawked on the international black market has helped reshape historians’ understanding of English history.

‘Game Changer’ Method Lets Scientists Peer Into – and Fly Through – Mouse Bodies

Latest version of imaging technique enables use of thousands of antibodies that can map specific cell types.

World’s biggest cumulative logjam mapped in the N.W.T. — and it stores tons of carbon

Deposits of wood in the Mackenzie River Delta would cover a third of Yellowknife

Parrots who learn to video call feathered friends feel less lonely, study finds

‘We wanted to see how we could leverage technology to improve their quality of life,’ said co-researcher

== have not yet checked out the on-line archive
Royal Society: Four incredible objects that made science history

One of the first scientific findings signed by a woman is now online for the public to see for the first time.

US Policing AI at Companies To Make Sure It Doesn’t Violate Civil Rights

“Claims of innovation must not be cover for lawbreaking,” Lina Khan, chair of the Federal Trade Commission, told reporters.

Electric airplane towing concept could mean longer zero-emission flights

Magpie Aviation says it’s already conducted successful short-range tests.

Republicans attack Biden with a fully AI-generated ad

The video popped up soon after the president announced his re-election bid.

== sorry, article sounds a bit like an ad
The Zelim Guardian is an automated search and rescue craft

It can venture out when conditions are too dangerous for human crew.

== ?$
== I looked at notion, but…
Meet the people who use Notion to plan their whole lives

The workplace tool’s appeal extends far beyond organizing work projects. Many users find it’s just as useful for managing their free time.

NASA Demonstrates a Breakthrough In 3D Printable High-Temperature Materials

The high-temperature alloy could be used to build stronger and more durable parts for airplanes and spacecraft.

Las Vegas-To-California Bullet Train Gets Bipartisan Backing

A bipartisan congressional group from Nevada and California asked the Biden administration Monday to fast-track federal funds for a private company to build a high-speed rail line between Las Vegas and the Los Angeles area.

Moths Are More Efficient Pollinators Than Bees, Shows New Research

Moths are more efficient pollinators at night than day-flying pollinators such as bees, finds new research from the University of Sussex, published March 29 in PLOS ONE.

NVIDIA made an open source tool for creating safer and more secure AI models

NeMo Guardrails is available through the company’s AI Foundations service.

AT&T helps complete the first ‘space-based voice call’ using a standard smartphone

The successful AST SpaceMobile test brings consumer access one step closer to reality.

Dirty spring snow carries more than dirt. There are also other pollutants we can’t see

Tiny pollutant particles harmful to humans and environment lurking in snow.

== seen some previous words on this combination
Recent, rapid ocean warming ahead of El Niño alarms scientists

A recent, rapid heating of the world’s oceans has alarmed scientists concerned that it will add to global warming.

How ‘rewiggling’ Swindale Beck brought its fish back

“Nature needs chaos, it needs randomness,” says Lee Schofield from the RSPB.

Stability AI Launches StableLM, an Open Source ChatGPT Alternative

The Alpha version of the model is available in 3 billion and 7 billion parameters, with 15 billion to 65 billion parameter models to follow.

The North Seas Can Be the World’s Biggest Power Plant

Tomorrow, we will be taking another crucial step toward a green and independent Europe.

== Canadian perspective
How peatlands on the Prairies are at risk from climate change

Peatlands cover around 3% of the global land mass, but store 30% of soil carbon.

== book review
Bringing the lofty ideas of pure math down to earth

There is no shortage of popular books and lectures on math—but they can only teach us so much.

How China Censored Research About Covid-19

What is now clear is that the study was not removed because of faulty research. Instead, it was withdrawn at the direction of Chinese health officials amid a crackdown on science.

Another Ocean Climate Solution Attempted by California Researchers

Is there a way to cleanse seawater of carbon dioxide and then return it to the ocean so it can suck more of the greenhouse gas out of the atmosphere to slow global warming?

Stoney Nakoda Nations elders, knowledge keepers share traditional ways to respect bears

Panel of speakers share traditional knowledge as bears awake from dens.

Australian defence review plots pivot from armour to missiles

Australia will speed up efforts to buy longer range missiles to counter the growing threat from China, a major defence review says.

Dreams: Can a drawing help unravel their secrets?

For as long as I can remember - at least once a week - I have experienced a recurring dream.

== and so it likely should be
Nuclear Fusion Won’t Be Regulated in the US the Same Way as Nuclear Fission

The nation’s top regulatory body for nuclear power plants and other nuclear materials, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, has officially voted to regulate nuclear fusion differently than fission.

Is It Time to Stop Saying ‘Learn to Code’?

Historically, learn-to-code efforts have provided opportunities for the few, but new efforts are aiming to be inclusive.

Startups are Using GPUs to Simulate Quantum Computers

Some are turning to startups who are pivoting to using powerful chips to run quantum-inspired software on regular computers as they bide their time.

ARM is reportedly building a chip to show what its designs can do

the resulting design is “more advanced” than any semiconductor produced in the past

== book excerpt
We’d likely have to liquidate Jupiter to build a Dyson Sphere around the Sun

And given the literally astronomical costs of resources needed to construct such a device — the still-theoretical-for-humans Dyson Sphere — having one in your solar system will also serve as a stark warning of your technological capacity to ETs that comes sniffing around.

== yjc, I truly regret the loss of all the little retail shops, each with their own personality
== pretty much all gone, whether gift shop or butcher
What browsing in a store offers that online algorithms just can’t

Author Jason Guriel explores why having a look around can feel special

== Canada specific
The inescapable math of climate change

The latest political skirmish over the carbon tax left out the most important facts

== yjc, amazing the jobs we’ve never heard of
Looking after tiny islands ‘best job in the world’

After 13 years, Jonathan Grant is to retire as the caretaker of three tiny uninhabited Scottish islands.

==?? repeat?
CNN: Planet Earth ‘Just Failed Its Annual Health Checkup’ (https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/21/world/wmo-report-state-of-climate-intl/index.html)

Droughts, floods and record low ice levels – from the top of the world’s mountains to the depths of the ocean,

== yjc
Brecon Beacons: Bannau Brycheiniog rebrand shows why names matter

Anyone who has ever experienced announcing their new baby’s name to friends and family will have realised something - people care about names.

Can Consumers Break Free of the Tech Industry’s Hold on Their Messaging History?

It’s an app for all your social apps. And part of an entirely new way to think about chat.