HMM: Introducing perceptein, a protein-based artificial neural network in living cells. “Westlake University in China and the California Institute of Technology have designed a protein-based system inside living cells that can process multiple signals and make decisions based on them.”
Archive for 2024
December 23, 2024
The concept of dark energy emerged to reconcile observations of distant supernovae. These celestial explosions appeared farther away than expected if the Universe’s expansion were consistent with a purely gravitational model. Physicists theorized that a repulsive force, dubbed dark energy, was driving the acceleration. This idea became a cornerstone of the ΛCDM (Lambda Cold Dark Matter) model, the standard framework for cosmology.
However, recent observations have raised questions about the accuracy of this model. The “Hubble tension”, for instance, reveals discrepancies between the current expansion rate of the Universe and its inferred early expansion from the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB). Additionally, data from advanced instruments like the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) suggest that the ΛCDM model struggles to account for evolving patterns in cosmic structures.
Researchers at the University of Canterbury, led by Professor David Wiltshire, offer an alternative explanation that removes the need for dark energy altogether. Their timescape model proposes that the appearance of an accelerating Universe is an illusion caused by the uneven effects of gravity on time.
The theory hinges on a key principle of Einstein’s general relativity: gravity can distort the flow of time. In regions of space with strong gravitational fields, such as galaxies, time runs more slowly compared to vast, empty voids in the cosmos. These differences in time dilation mean that clocks in galactic regions would measure billions of years less than clocks in cosmic voids.
Previously: Maybe ‘dark matter’ doesn’t exist after all, new research suggests.
I’m no astrophysicist but dark energy and matter always felt a bit like cheats.
FORMER MOSSAD AGENTS REVEAL SECRETS OF 10-YEAR EXPLODING PAGER OPERATION:
Mossad began conducting tests with their newly developed devices to figure out the exact amount of explosives needed to limit the damage to the person holding the pager, the pair claimed.
Because Hezbollah’s pager was small and slick, the team had to enlarge theirs to fit the explosives.
Gabriel said: “I remember the day that I came to our director and put it on the table. He was furious, he was telling us: ‘There is no chance that anyone will buy such a big device. It’s not comfortable in their pocket. It’s heavy’.”
Two weeks later Gabriel convinced the spy chief to go approve the mission, he claimed. Mossad then used fake advertisements on YouTube to launch the new pager which was robust, dustproof, waterproof and had a long battery life.
He said: “We make advertising movies and brochures, and we put it on the internet. And it became the best product in the beeper area in the world.”
It’s a shame that mid-level Amazon Studio execs hate James Bond so much – because this material would provide an awesome subplot for 007 and Q if and when the franchise returns to the big screen.
EXCORIATION IS GOOD, LEGISLATION IS BETTER: Automakers excoriated by Senators for fighting right-to-repair: OEMs also called out for selling data they collect on drivers.
MY LATEST SUBSTACK ESSAY: Never Give Up! Never Surrender!
BEN RHODES, BARACK OBAMA HARDEST HIT: Khamenei’s Brilliant Failure.
Khamenei has always had an internal struggle between his caution and his audacity. The latter, always encouraged by his beloved Gen. Suleimani, certainly had the high ground the last several years, even after Suleimani’s death. And after the general’s passing, lesser men, like Ismail Qa’ani, attempted to fill the void. The 85-year-old supreme leader is now flailing, unable to give speeches that aren’t immediately dismissed. Unforgivably for an Islamic revolutionary, he misjudged the Jews and he was too clever with the regime’s nuclear ambitions. In retrospect, he should have put aside his concerns about latent American power and pushed the envelope during Biden’s presidency as there was likely nothing there that would have pushed back. If the Islamic Republic had had the bomb on October 6, it’s likely Israeli actions would have been significantly different, perhaps sufficiently different to save Hezbollah, which in turn might have saved Syria.
Failure abroad always sends shock waves home. Khamenei, who has so far never failed to crush all those aligned against him, is now likely obsessed with how his foreign mistakes may embolden his enemies, both foreign and domestic.
If you missed it yesterday: Iran’s Energy Crisis Hits ‘Dire’ Point as Industries Are Forced to Shut Down.
NIFTY: 3D-printed long-range solid rocket motor aces testing, can give edge to US. “Ursa Major’s Lynx 3D printing technology was used to manufacture the solid rocket motor. This, in combination with Raytheon’s digital engineering capabilities, enabled the partners to accelerate development times and cut production costs, according to a statement.”
READER FAVORITE: Carhartt Men’s Knit Cuffed Beanie. #CommissionEarned
JAMES LILEKS: Christmas traditions, and how to break them.
BILL WHITTLE’S HOT MIC: When Pork Flies: 7,000 BC — December 19th, 2024.
‘THE BLACK SWAN ELECTION:’ Trump’s Campaign Chiefs Tell Their Inside Story.
[Politico’s Jonathan Martin]: What did Trump think personally of Biden as an opponent?
[Trump co-campaign manager Chris LaCivita]: I don’t think he had any respect at all.
[Trump chief pollster Tony Fabrizio]: I think he did a lousy job as president.
Did he talk about his age at all?
LaCivita: He would say he’s cognitively impaired. He said it all the f**king time.
But did he say something along the lines of “Joe’s really gone down hill the last few years?”
LaCivita: I’ve heard him say things like that.
What did he think of Kamala Harris as an opponent?
LaCivita: Not very bright.
He just didn’t think she was that formidable. But stronger than Biden?
Fabrizio: I don’t know about that. I think different than Biden.
How so?
LaCivita: Her numbers were going to improve. The Democrat numbers were going to improve because they had someone with a pulse.
That was his view?
LaCivita: Yeah.
And your polling showed that?
LaCivita: Yeah, she consolidated her base.
Is there one big thing that you think we’re missing in this campaign that was enormously consequential or at least significant?
LaCivita: You guys have written about the impact of the assassination attempt. But I don’t think people give enough credit to the fact that the world has a visual. It’s an iconic visual. But I don’t think people have given enough credit to that visual.
Him holding up his fist.
LaCivita: And what that visual means. And what the visual conveys. Not only about him, but the country as a whole. Americans get knocked down, but they always fight back. And that visual is as quintessential America as the f**king flag is.
Fabrizio: I am always amazed, I’ve learned not to be amazed, but he has this ability in most cases to put his finger on something. And you say to yourself: “Where did he come up with that?” But he just does. Then you test it and, holy shit, he’s right.
Needless to say, read the whole thing.
BUT NOT THE MORE ATTRACTIVE MEMBERS OF EITHER GROUP, HENCE THE DESPERATION:
Luigi discourse being increasingly about how hot he is and decreasingly about why he did it—a handy reminder that the Left is now almost entirely women and gay men.
— Paul Heron (@Paul_Heron_) December 21, 2024
INDEED:
Tell me more about “toxic masculinity” pic.twitter.com/WVbQR0BC26
— Oilfield Rando (@Oilfield_Rando) December 23, 2024
“AT THIS POINT, WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE?” AS ANOTHER CRMINAL ENABLER ONCE ASKED: Was It Really Joe Who Just Spared Death Row Killers?
KURT SCHLICHTER: No Circular Firing Squads This Time, Republicans.
#JOURNALISM: This is What Happened—This is How it is Reported.
LIFE IN THE BLUE ZONES:
The Subway Burning Victim’s Name was AMELIA CARTER.
She was 29 years old. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/w9ffed1NNO
— Henry (@HenryBack2Play) December 23, 2024
ED MORRISSEY: Ethics Committee Final Report: ‘Substantial Evidence’ Gaetz Committed Statutory Rape.
Gaetz has repeatedly pointed out that the Department of Justice/FBI investigated these same allegations and declined to charge him. And that’s true, but it’s not quite on point, and it’s also not the exoneration that Gaetz at least implies it to be. The language quoted here specifically refers to “substantial evidence,” which is not the standard for prosecution. It’s not even the “preponderance of evidence” that would meet the standard for a successful civil lawsuit. “Substantial evidence” is a phrase that really doesn’t have a legal meaning as much as it does a political meaning — which is the context in which Ethics Committees operate, in fact.
This language strongly suggests that the House Ethics Committee would have taken some “substantial” political action, had Gaetz remained in Congress. Given the allegations here, one has to believe they would have recommended a rare expulsion from the House. George Santos got expelled by the House in a 311-114 vote the previous year over accusations of fraud and misuse of funds, allegations which almost seem quaint in comparison. The second-most recent expulsion from the House was Ohio’s James Traficant two decades earlier, a Democrat who had been convicted in court of bribery and racketeering before being expelled. These allegations against Gaetz would likely have been too serious to recommend censure. Would a GOP-controlled House have expelled Gaetz over it? He must have thought so, or else he wouldn’t have taken the face-saving AG appointment as a means to end the process.
Ed notes that Gaetz is publicly speculating about running in the special election to replace Marco Rubio in the Senate next year, but concludes, “Maybe, but the more that comes out about Gaetz’ activities, the less likely that seems. He may need to content himself with the good gig he landed this month at OAN as one of its featured hosts.”
BIDEN’S PARTING GIFTS: Biden commutes death sentences of child killers and mass murderers 2 days before Christmas.
MORE NUKES IS GOOD NUKES… BUT MAYBE PICK A SIMPLER DESIGN AND KEEP IT ON SCHEDULE AND ON BUDGET: France’s most powerful nuclear reactor comes on stream after 12-year delay.
EMPTY HONORS FOR A HOLLOW MAN: Fauci holds several ‘professor’ titles at Georgetown but never teaches.
Dr. Anthony Fauci is a “distinguished university professor” at Georgetown University but does not appear to have taught a single course since his appointment, nor does he have any future classes scheduled.
The title of “University Professor” is “Georgetown’s highest professional honor that recognizes extraordinary achievement in scholarship, teaching and service,” according to the university announcement.
It has been a year and a half since the Jesuit Catholic university announced Fauci would have the title at its medical school. He also joined the McCourt School of Public Policy at the same time.
Bearing false witness.