Submission + - Solar in poor countries is creating a huge lead hazard (slowboring.com)

Submitted by schwit1
schwit1 writes: Off-grid systems use cheap old-fashioned batteries that aren’t recycled properly.

A new report from the Center for Global Development documents that most of these systems use lead-acid batteries, like Americans use in cars. Lead-acid batteries work for a while and then need to be recycled. If they're recycled safely, that's fine. But in poor countries, most lead-acid batteries are not recycled safely and they become a huge source of toxic lead poisoning.

C.G.D. believes that decentralized solar systems are currently generating somewhere between 250,000 and 1.5 million tons of unsafe lead-acid battery waste per year, a number that could grow much higher.

Americans have mostly heard about lead issues in recent years due to the tragic situation in Flint, Michigan. But on the whole, lead exposure via faulty water pipes is a relatively minor issue. Across American history, the biggest culprits for lead exposure have been lead paint and leaded gasoline. Both were phased out decades ago, but old paint chips and lingering lead in soil have remained problems for years, albeit at diminishing rates.

The global situation is quite different and much worse, to the point that in low- and middle-income countries, half of children have blood lead levels above the threshold that would trigger emergency action in the United States.

It sounds fantastical to cite numbers this high. But there is credible (albeit somewhat uncertain) research indicating that five million people per year die as a result of lead-induced cardiovascular impairments. And roughly 20 percent of the gap in academic achievement between poor and rich countries is due to lead's impact on kids' cognitive development.

Submission + - X will suspend creators from revenue-sharing program for unlabeled AI war videos (techcrunch.com)

Submitted by Muck
Muck writes: From the Too Little, Too Late Dept at TechCrunch:
X says it’s going to take action against creators who post AI videos of armed conflict without disclosure that the content is AI-generated. On Tuesday, X’s head of product, Nikita Bier, announced that people who use AI technology to mislead others in this way will be booted from the company’s Creator Revenue Sharing Program for a three-month period (90 days).

If they continue to post misleading AI content after the suspension lifts, they’ll be permanently suspended from the program.

“During times of war, it is critical that people have access to authentic information on the ground. With today’s AI technologies, it is trivial to create content that can mislead people,” Bier wrote on X. “Starting now, users who post AI-generated videos of an armed conflict — without adding a disclosure that it was made with AI — will be suspended from Creator Revenue Sharing for 90 days.”

Submission + - Tire Pressure Sensors Enable Vehicle Tracking

Submitted by linuxwrangler
linuxwrangler writes: Darkreading reports that a team of researchers has determined that signals from tire pressure monitoring systems, required in US cars since 2007, can be used to track the presence, type, weight and driving pattern of vehicles. The researchers report that the TPMS data, which includes unique sensor IDs, is sent in clear text without authentication and can be intercepted 40-50 meters from a vehicle using devices costing $100.

Submission + - TikTok Says End-To-End Encryption Makes Users Less Safe (bbc.com)

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: TikTok will not introduce end-to-end encryption (E2EE) — the controversial privacy feature used by nearly all its rivals — arguing it makes users less safe. E2EE means only the sender and recipient of a direct message can view its contents, making it the most secure form of communication available to the general public. Platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Messenger and X have embraced it because they say their priority is maximizing user privacy.

But critics have said E2EE makes it harder to stop harmful content spreading online, because it means tech firms and law enforcement have no way of viewing any material sent in direct messages. The situation is made more complex because TikTok has long faced accusations that ties to the Chinese state may put users' data at risk. TikTok has consistently denied this, but earlier this year the social media firm's US operations were separated from its global business on the orders of US lawmakers.

TikTok told the BBC it believed end-to-end encryption prevented police and safety teams from being able to read direct messages if they needed to. It confirmed its approach to the BBC in a briefing about security at its London office, saying it wanted to protect users, especially young people from harm. It described this stance as a deliberate decision to set itself apart from rivals.

Submission + - UFO files reveal giant glowing sphere over military base hidden for 35 years (dailymail.co.uk)

Submitted by schwit1
schwit1 writes: Declassified documents from over three decades ago have revealed how an encounter with a suspected UFO at the south pole was covered up.

The records unsealed this year by Argentina's Ministry of Foreign Affairs have confirmed an eyewitness account from 1991, when military personnel and civilian researchers in Antarctica detected and then saw a large flying saucer over their base.

Miguel Amaya, a retired Argentine Air Force non-commissioned officer, told UFO investigators in the early 2000s that he was stationed at General San Martín Base, a small scientific and military station on a tiny island in Antarctica in April of that year.

At the start of the polar night, when the sun stays down for months, an alarm went off on the station's riometer, a machine that measures changes in the upper atmosphere.

Despite the three needle pens measuring different heights of the ionosphere, the part of the atmosphere where solar radiation ionizes atoms, all of the needles began drawing the same pattern, which is scientifically impossible.

According to Amaya, outpost personnel claimed that the strange readings could only have been caused by something producing the same energy as a nuclear aircraft carrier or a large city floating over Antarctica.

Hours later, another base member was walking outside during a snowstorm when they allegedly saw 'a huge circle of light' moving slowly and silently right over the building.

The 1991 incident has finally come to light after Amaya claimed he and the other members at General San Martín Base were told never to talk about what they had seen by their superiors.

Submission + - Computer Scientists Caution Against Internet Age-Verification Mandates (reason.com)

Submitted by fjo3
fjo3 writes: Effective January 1, 2027, providers of computer operating systems in California will be required to implement age verification. That's just part of a wave of state and national laws attempting to limit children's access to potentially risky content without considering the perils such laws themselves pose. Now, not a moment too soon, over 400 computer scientists have signed an open letter warning that the rush to protect children from online dangers threatens to introduce new risks including censorship, centralized power, and loss of privacy. They caution that age-verification requirements "might cause more harm than good."

Submission + - U.S. Cybersecurity Adds VMware Aria Operations to KEV Catalog (thehackernews.com)

Submitted by joshuark
joshuark writes: The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has added a VMware Aria Operations vulnerability tracked as CVE-2026-22719 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, flagging the flaw as exploited in attacks.

VMware Aria Operations is an enterprise monitoring platform that helps organizations track the performance and health of servers, networks, and cloud infrastructure.

The flaw has now been added to the CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, with the US cyber agency requiring federal civilian agencies to address the issue by March 24, 2026. Broadcom said it is aware of reports indicating the vulnerability is exploited in attacks but cannot confirm the claims.

"A malicious unauthenticated actor may exploit this issue to execute arbitrary commands which may lead to remote code execution in VMware Aria Operations while support-assisted product migration is in progress," the advisory explains.

Broadcom released security patches on February 24 and also provided a temporary workaround for organizations unable to apply the patches immediately.

The mitigation is a shell script named "aria-ops-rce-workaround.sh," which must be executed as root on each Aria Operations appliance node. There are currently no details on how the vulnerability is being exploited in the wild, who is behind it, and the scale of such efforts.

Submission + - What Do the Numbers and Characters on Japanese License Plates Mean?

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: If you have ever looked closely at Japanese License Plates, you may have noticed that they contain much more than just random numbers. Each character, digit, and color plays a specific role in identifying the vehicle, its classification, and where it is registered. What might appear confusing at first is actually a well-organized system designed to provide clear information at a glance.

In this complete guide, you will learn exactly how Japanese License Plates work, what the numbers represent, why hiragana characters are used, and how to interpret different plate colors. By the end, you will be able to decode any Japanese plate confidently and understand the deeper meaning behind Japan’s structured vehicle registration system.

This article is written in an informative and encouraging tone to make even the most detailed aspects easy to understand.

Introduction to Japanese License Plates

Japan’s vehicle registration system is regulated by the national government and administered through regional transport offices. Every vehicle on public roads must display official Japanese License Plates, and these plates follow strict formatting rules.

Unlike many countries where plates contain only a combination of letters and numbers, Japanese plates include:

The registration location

A vehicle classification number

A hiragana character

A unique four-digit registration number

A color scheme that indicates vehicle type

This layered system ensures that authorities, insurers, and drivers can immediately identify important details about any registered vehicle.

Understanding Japanese License Plates is useful for travelers, car enthusiasts, importers, collectors, and anyone interested in Japanese automotive culture.

The Structure of Japanese License Plates

At first glance, a Japanese plate may seem complex. However, once you understand its structure, it becomes logical and easy to read.

A standard Japanese plate includes four main components:

The registration office or region name

The vehicle classification number

A hiragana character

A four-digit serial number

Let us examine each part in detail.

Registration Office and Regional Name

At the top of Japanese License Plates, you will find the name of the issuing office. This typically corresponds to a prefecture or major city within a prefecture.

For example, vehicles may be registered in:

Tokyo

Osaka

Kyoto

Fukuoka

Hokkaido

The name displayed does not always represent the owner’s hometown; rather, it shows where the vehicle is officially registered. In large metropolitan areas, multiple registration offices may exist within the same prefecture.

This regional identifier helps authorities track vehicles geographically and also gives enthusiasts insight into where a vehicle originates. When traveling in Japan, you might notice cars registered in distant prefectures, which can reveal interesting patterns of movement and tourism.

For collectors and importers, understanding this element of Japanese License Plates can provide context about a vehicle’s history and usage.

Vehicle Classification Numbers Explained

One of the most important parts of Japanese plates is the classification number. This number usually consists of two or three digits and identifies the type and size of the vehicle.

The classification number determines:

Engine size category

Vehicle purpose

Weight class

Passenger or commercial use

Private passenger vehicles commonly display classification numbers in the 300 range. Commercial trucks often fall within the 100 range. Buses and larger transport vehicles typically appear in the 200 range. Kei vehicles, which are compact cars with small engines, usually show classification numbers in the 500 range when privately used.

The classification number plays a major role in taxation and regulation. Different vehicle classes are subject to different inspection requirements, road taxes, and insurance costs.

When you see Japanese License Plates, the classification number immediately tells you whether the vehicle is a small kei car, a standard sedan, a truck, or a bus. This makes the system highly efficient for both authorities and the general public.

The Role of Hiragana Characters

Another unique feature of Japanese License Plates is the single hiragana character displayed between the classification number and the final registration digits.

This character serves several administrative purposes. It expands the number of available combinations, allowing more vehicles to be registered within the same region and classification. It also helps differentiate vehicle categories.

For example, rental vehicles frequently use the hiragana character , which allows observers to recognize rental cars instantly. Certain characters are avoided to prevent confusion with similar-looking symbols or offensive meanings.

The hiragana system demonstrates Japan’s careful approach to organization and readability. Instead of using Latin letters as many countries do, Japan uses its native writing system to create distinct and culturally consistent identifiers.

For those unfamiliar with Japanese writing, this character may look decorative. In reality, it plays a critical functional role in expanding the registration database.

The Four-Digit Registration Number

At the bottom of Japanese License Plates, you will see a four-digit number. This number is the unique identifier assigned to the vehicle within its regional office and classification category.

The four digits are typically separated into two pairs for readability. This formatting makes it easier for drivers and law enforcement officers to quickly record or remember a plate number.

In some cases, vehicle owners request specific numbers, similar to vanity plates in other countries. Popular combinations such as repeated numbers may be in higher demand.

Combined with the regional name, classification number, and hiragana character, the four-digit sequence ensures that each plate is entirely unique.

Understanding Plate Colors in Japan

The color of Japanese License Plates provides immediate information about the vehicle’s category. Unlike some countries where color is purely decorative, in Japan it is functional and standardized.

White plates with green lettering are used for standard private vehicles. These are the most commonly seen plates on passenger cars.

Yellow plates with black lettering are reserved for kei vehicles. Kei cars are small, fuel-efficient vehicles designed to meet specific engine and size regulations. They are extremely popular in urban areas due to their affordability and lower taxes.

Green plates with white lettering indicate commercial vehicles. Taxis, delivery trucks, and company-operated vehicles typically display this color scheme. These vehicles are subject to different regulatory standards compared to privately owned cars.

Temporary or special-use plates may have distinct color variations as well, depending on their purpose.

By simply observing the color, you can quickly determine whether a vehicle is privately owned, commercially operated, or classified as a kei vehicle.

Why Japanese License Plates Are So Detailed

The detailed structure of Japanese License Plates reflects Japan’s broader approach to regulation and efficiency. Each element exists for a reason.

The system allows authorities to:

Identify vehicle type instantly

Enforce taxation categories

Track registration locations

Manage insurance classifications

Maintain accurate vehicle records

This structure also benefits drivers. Because vehicle categories are clearly defined, road taxes and inspection requirements remain transparent and predictable.

For car enthusiasts, the detail adds depth and cultural meaning. Decoding a plate reveals more than just ownership; it tells a story about how the vehicle fits into Japan’s transportation framework.

Cultural Significance of Japanese License Plates

Beyond regulation, Japanese License Plates hold cultural value. Japan is known for its meticulous design standards, and license plates are no exception.

In recent years, special edition plates featuring regional mascots, landmarks, and promotional artwork have been introduced. These designs celebrate local identity while maintaining official formatting rules.

Collectors and fans of Japanese automotive culture often appreciate the clean typography and structured layout of authentic Japanese plates. Decorative replica plates have become popular among enthusiasts who want to showcase their love for Japanese vehicles.

For fans of kei trucks, sports cars, or classic imports, authentic-style plates add visual authenticity to displays, garages, and car shows.

How to Read a Japanese License Plate Step by Step

If you encounter Japanese License Plates, follow these steps to decode them:

First, read the regional name at the top. This tells you where the vehicle is registered.

Second, identify the classification number. Determine whether the vehicle is private, commercial, bus, or kei class.

Third, note the hiragana character. This helps differentiate the vehicle within its category and may indicate special usage such as rental.

Fourth, read the four-digit registration number. This is the vehicle’s unique identifier.

By applying this simple method, you can interpret any Japanese plate confidently.

Comparing Japanese License Plates to Other Countries

When compared to systems in Europe or North America, Japanese License Plates provide more structured classification details.

Many Western systems focus primarily on identification rather than classification. In Japan, however, the plate itself conveys meaningful administrative data.

This layered format enhances regulatory clarity and reflects Japan’s emphasis on order and organization.

For those importing Japanese vehicles, understanding the plate system provides helpful context about original registration and intended use.

The Appeal of Authentic Japanese License Plates

Authentic-style Japanese License Plates are admired worldwide for their distinctive look and cultural authenticity. Enthusiasts often display replica plates in garages, workshops, and at automotive events.

High-quality embossed aluminum plates replicate the exact dimensions and typography of official Japanese plates. These replicas allow collectors to celebrate Japanese automotive heritage while maintaining respect for legal requirements.

Whether you own a kei truck, a JDM sports car, or simply appreciate Japanese design, authentic-style plates bring a unique aesthetic to your collection.

Conclusion: Decode and Appreciate Japanese License Plates

Now that you understand what the numbers and characters on Japanese License Plates mean, you can view them with a completely new perspective. Each section of the plate serves a functional purpose, from the regional identifier to the classification number, hiragana character, and unique four-digit code.

Japan’s license plate system reflects precision, organization, and thoughtful design. By learning how to interpret these elements, you gain insight into Japanese vehicle culture and regulatory structure.

If you are passionate about Japanese vehicles or want to add an authentic touch to your collection, consider exploring high-quality Japanese license plate replicas crafted to match genuine JDM design standards. Authentic embossed aluminum plates capture the spirit of Japan’s roads and make a bold statement for any automotive enthusiast.

Discover the meaning behind every character, celebrate Japanese automotive culture, and bring the style of Japanese License Plates into your own garage today.

Submission + - Mark Zuckerberg Buys $170M Mansion on 'Billionaire Bunker' Island In Miami (aol.com) 2

Submitted by schwit1
schwit1 writes:
  • Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan have purchased a $170 million property in Miami's exclusive Indian Creek community
  • The mansion, still under construction, will feature nine bedrooms, 15 bathrooms, and luxury amenities like a 1,500-gallon aquarium
  • The purchase sets a record for Miami-Dade County and follows a rise in luxury real estate sales in Florida

Mark Zuckerberg is expanding his already impressive — sometimes controversial — real estate portfolio with a record-breaking purchase in Miami.

The Meta CEO, 41, and his wife, Priscilla Chan, 41, closed on a $170 million property in the sunshine state on Monday, according to the Wall Street Journal . A spokesperson for the couple declined to comment to PEOPLE.

Submission + - ChatGPT Gets GPT-5.3 Instant Update With Less 'Cringe,' Fewer Hallucinations (macrumors.com)

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: OpenAI today updated its most popular ChatGPT model, debuting GPT-5.3 Instant. GPT-5.3 Instant is supposed to provide more accurate answers and better contextualized results when searching the web. The update also cuts down on unnecessary dead ends, caveats, and overly declarative phrasing, plus it has fewer hallucinations.

According to OpenAI, it tweaked the Instant model to address complaints about tone, relevance, and conversational flow, which are issues that don't show up in benchmarks. GPT-5.2 Instant had a "cringe" tone that could be overbearing or make unsubstantiated assumptions about user intent or emotions. The new model will have a more natural conversational style and will cut back on dramatic phrases like "Stop. Take a breath."

Users found that GPT-5.2 Instant would refuse questions it should have been able to answer, or respond in ways that felt overly cautious around sensitive topics. GPT-5.3 Instant cuts down on refusals and tones down overly defensive or moralizing preambles when answering a question. The model will no longer "over-caveat" after assuming bad intent from the user. GPT-5.3 Instant also provides higher-quality answers based on information from the web. OpenAI says that it is able to better balance what it finds online with its own knowledge, so it is less likely to overindex on web results.

Submission + - US Government iPhone-Hacking Toolkit Is Now in the Hands of Foreign Spies (wired.com)

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: Security researchers at Google on Tuesday released a report describing what they're calling "Coruna," a highly sophisticated iPhone hacking toolkit that includes five complete hacking techniques capable of bypassing all the defenses of an iPhone to silently install malware on a device when it visits a website containing the exploitation code. In total, Coruna takes advantage of 23 distinct vulnerabilities in iOS, a rare collection of hacking components that suggests it was created by a well-resourced, likely state-sponsored group of hackers.

In fact, Google traces components of Coruna to hacking techniques it spotted in use in February of last year and attributed to what it describes only as a “customer of a surveillance company." Then, five months later, Google says a more complete version of Coruna reappeared in what appears to have been an espionage campaign carried out by a suspected Russian spy group, which hid the hacking code in a common visitor-counting component of Ukrainian websites. Finally, Google spotted Coruna in use yet again in what seems to have been a purely profit-focused hacking campaign, infecting Chinese-language crypto and gambling sites to deliver malware that steals victims cryptocurrency.

Conspicuously absent from Google's report is any mention of who the original surveillance company “customer” that deployed Coruna may have been. But the mobile security company iVerify, which also analyzed a version of Coruna it obtained from one of the infected Chinese sites, suggests the code may well have started life as a hacking kit built for or purchased by the US government. Google and iVerify both note that Coruna contains multiple components previously used in a hacking operation known as “Triangulation” that was discovered targeting Russian cybersecurity firm Kaspersky in 2023, which the Russian government claimed was the work of the NSA. (The US government didn’t respond to Russia’s claim.)

Coruna's code also appears to have been originally written by English-speaking coders, notes iVerify's cofounder Rocky Cole. “It's highly sophisticated, took millions of dollars to develop, and it bears the hallmarks of other modules that have been publicly attributed to the US government," Cole tells WIRED. “This is the first example we’ve seen of very likely US government tools—based on what the code is telling us—spinning out of control and being used by both our adversaries and cybercriminal groups.” Regardless of Coruna's origin, Google warns that a highly valuable and rare hacking toolkit appears to have traveled through a series of unlikely hands, and now exists in the wild where it could still be adopted—or adapted—by any hacker group seeking to target iPhone users.

Submission + - Seagate just unleashed 44TB hard drives (nerds.xyz)

Submitted by BrianFagioli
BrianFagioli writes: Seagate says it is now shipping its Mozaic 4+ HAMR-based hard drives at up to 44TB per drive, with production deployments already underway at two hyperscale cloud providers. The company claims the platform is the only heat-assisted magnetic recording implementation currently operating at scale, and it is targeting a path from todayâ(TM)s 4+TB per disk toward 10TB per disk, eventually enabling 100TB-class drives. In a one-exabyte deployment, Seagate estimates Mozaic could improve infrastructure efficiency by roughly 47 percent compared to standard 30TB drives, cutting both footprint and energy consumption.

While GPUs dominate AI headlines, large-scale storage remains the economic backbone of training and archival workloads. HAMR uses a tiny laser to heat the disk surface during writes, allowing higher areal density without sacrificing stability. With most major cloud storage providers reportedly qualified on the Mozaic platform, Seagate is positioning spinning disks, not flash, as the long-term answer for cost-effective AI-scale data growth.

Submission + - Meta's AI Display Glasses Reportedly Share Intimate Videos With Human Moderators (engadget.com)

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: Users of Meta's AI smart glasses in Europe may be unknowingly sharing intimate video and sensitive financial information with moderators outside of the bloc, according to a report from Sweden's Svenska Dagbladet released last week. Employees in Kenya doing AI "annotation" told the journalists that they've seen people nude, using the toilet and engaging in sexual activity, along with credit card numbers and other sensitive information.

With Meta's Ray-Ban Display and other glasses with AI capabilities, users can record what they're looking at or get answers to questions via a Meta AI assistant. If a wearer wants to make use of that AI, though, they must agree to Meta's terms of service that allow any data captured to be reviewed by humans. That's because Meta's large language models (LLMs) often require people to annotate visual data so that the AI can understand it and build its training models.

This data can end up in places like Nairobi, Kenya, often moderated by underpaid workers. Such actions are subject to Europe's GDPR rules that require transparency about how personal data is processed, according to a data protection lawyer cited in the report. However, Svenska Dagbladet's reporters said they needed to jump through some hoops to see Meta's privacy policy for its wearable products. That policy states that either humans or automated systems may review sensitive data, and puts the onus on the user to not share sensitive information.

Submission + - LibreOffice says its UI is way better than Microsoft Office's (neowin.net) 1

Submitted by darwinmac
darwinmac writes: While many users choose Microsoft Office over LibreOffice because of its support for the proprietary formats (.docx, .xlsx, and .pptx), others prefer Office for its "better" ribbon interface. These users often criticize LibreOffice for having a "clunky" UI instead of the "standard" ribbon interface you would find in Word, Excel, and other Office apps.

Now, Neowin reports that LibreOffice is fighting back, arguing that its UI is actually superior because it is customizable, with several modes such as the classic toolbar interface, an Office-inspired ribbon layout, a sidebar-focused design, and more. Furthermore, it argues that there is no evidence that the ribbon offers "superior usability" over other interface modes.

Incidentally, the characterisation of ribbon-style interfaces as "modern" or "standard", used by several users, is not based on any objective usability parameter or design principle, but is the result of Microsofts dominance in the market and the huge investments made when the ribbon was introduced in Office 2007 as a new paradigm for productivity software.

Before this, LibreOffice had also criticized its competitor OnlyOffice, accusing it of being "fake open source" because it believes OnlyOffice is working with Microsoft to lock users into the Office ecosystem by prioritizing the formats mentioned earlier instead of LibreOffice's own OpenDocument Format (ODF).

Submission + - The AI CEO's Favorite Book Predicted His Own Crisis (adafruit.com)

Submitted by ptorrone
ptorrone writes: Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has been recommending Richard Rhodes's "The Making of the Atomic Bomb" to employees for years. Copies sit on coffee tables at Anthropic HQ. The book documents what happened every time Manhattan Project scientists tried to set conditions on how their work was used: Szilard was threatened with internment, Bohr was told he was near "mortal crimes," Oppenheimer learned to stop organizing or lose access. Last week the Pentagon designated Anthropic a supply chain risk for refusing to remove guardrails on autonomous weapons and mass surveillance. OpenAI signed the same contract hours later with the same red lines, just worded differently. Rhodes already told us how this goes. Adafruit has the full review.

Submission + - India's Top Court Angry After Junior Judge Cites Fake AI-Generated Orders (bbc.com)

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: India's Supreme Court has threatened legal consequences after a judge was found to have adjudicated on a property dispute using fake judgements generated by artificial intelligence. The top court, which was responding to an appeal by the defendants, will now examine the ruling given by the lower court in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh. The Supreme Court called the case a matter of "institutional concern" and said fake AI-generated judgements had "a direct bearing on integrity of adjudicatory process."

[...] Coming down sternly against the fake judgements, the top court last Friday stayed the lower court's order on the property dispute. It said the use of AI while making judgements was not simply "an error in decision making" but an act of "misconduct." "This case assumes considerable institutional concern, not because of the decision that was taken on the merits of the case, but about the process of adjudication and determination," the top court said. The court said it would examine the case in more detail and issued notices to the country's Attorney and Solicitor General, as well as the Bar Council of India.

Submission + - California introduces age verification law for all operating systems. (tomshardware.com)

Submitted by CubicleZombie
CubicleZombie writes: California's Digital Age Assurance Act (AB 1043), signed by Governor Gavin Newsom in October 2025, requires every operating system provider in California to collect age information from users at account setup and transmit that data to app developers via a real-time API, with the law taking effect on January 1, 2027.

Even Linux.

Submission + - Microbes might be able to planet hop on asteroid shrapnel (science.org)

Submitted by sciencehabit
sciencehabit writes: Some microorganisms may have little trouble surviving being blasted into space on planetary debris when an asteroid hits. That finding, published today in PNAS Nexus, comes from subjecting a particularly hardy species of desert bacteria to a simulation of the immense forces produced by an asteroid collision. The research lends support to the idea that life jettisoned off world could spread to and seed new worlds by clinging to space rocks.

To simulate an asteroid impact in the lab, the researchers put Deinococcus radiodurans, a bacterium from Chile’s high-altitude deserts that may better resemble a hypothetical life form adapted to the harsh martian environment, on a membrane sandwiched between two steel plates. The team then used a gas-fired gun to fire a projectile with another plate attached, which struck the bacteria sandwich at up to 480 kilometers per hour. This subjected Deinococcus to extreme pressures of up to 3 gigapascals (GPa), or about 30 times the pressure experienced at the ocean’s deepest point.

The bacteria largely shrugged off the cataclysm. At 1.4 GPa, nearly all the microbes survived. “[Survival] was so high that I had to do the experiment multiple times to check and make sure that I didn’t mess anything up,” says one of the authors. At 2.4 GPa, survival dropped to 60%, which she still considers remarkably high.

When the team compared the bacterium’s genes before and after the experiment, they found the collision boosted the activity of genes involved in repairing DNA and maintaining the cell membrane. Deinococcus may survive an asteroid impact better than the average microbe because it has a thick cell wall, which might be resilient to extreme pressures, compared with other microbes. The bacterium might also be a survivor against varied traumas because it’s adept at healing its own DNA. “Life finds a way,” says one scientist.

It’s possible that life on a planet regularly bombarded with asteroids would be able to adapt to those frequent fusillades, priming them for a role as spacefaring seeds. The findings may also mean revisiting our assumptions for where life might be on neighboring planets and moons. “If you’ve got a planet in a solar system that has life on it,” says one scientist, “there’s a possibility for some of that life to move across the system.”

Submission + - CATL unveils 1.1M mile EV battery, charges in 12 min, retains 80% @ 3,000 cycles (interestingengineering.com)

Submitted by fahrbot-bot
fahrbot-bot writes: Interesting Engineering is reporting that CATL, formally known as Contemporary Amperex Technology Limited, has introduced a new fast-charging electric vehicle battery platform designed to significantly reduce charging times while maintaining long-term durability.

The company released performance data for its 5C battery, stating it can fully charge in about 12 minutes while supporting extended cycle life.

The engineering focus behind the platform centers on enabling ultra-fast charging without accelerating battery degradation. A 5C charge rate allows a battery pack to accept high power input, enabling rapid replenishment comparable to short refueling stops.

According to the company’s testing, the battery retained at least 80 percent of its original capacity after 3,000 full charge and discharge cycles under standard temperature conditions. This translates to a projected driving lifespan approaching 1.5 million miles.

The battery was also evaluated under high-temperature conditions to assess real-world endurance. At 140F, it maintained 80 percent capacity after 1,400 cycles, indicating sustained performance even under thermal stress, though with reduced cycle life compared to moderate conditions.

Material innovations underpin the system’s performance. The cathode features a protective coating to reduce structural breakdown during rapid cycling, while the electrolyte contains additives that detect and seal microscopic cracks that could accelerate degradation.

The separator incorporates a temperature-responsive coating that moderates ion movement during heat buildup, helping stabilize the cell during repeated fast charging.

Submission + - Superagers' 'Secret Ingredient' May Be The Growth of New Brain Cells (sciencealert.com)

Submitted by alternative_right
alternative_right writes: According to a study of 38 adult human brains donated to science, superagers – people who retain exceptional memory as they age – have roughly twice as many immature neurons as their peers who age more typically.

Moreover, people with Alzheimer's disease show a marked reduction in neurogenesis compared to a normal baseline.

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