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Try Thinking and Learning Without Working Memory - SharpBrains

Working memory, critical for conscious thought and everyday tasks, operates like a mental scratch pad with limited capacity that can affect decision-making quality. Research shows that while conscious thinking excels at simple decisions, unconscious thinking proves more effective for complex choices exceeding working memory capacity. Working memory can be improved through targeted training, potentially increasing IQ and cognitive performance.

DeepSeek 'shared user data' with TikTok owner ByteDance

South Korea has accused Chinese AI startup DeepSeek of sharing user data with ByteDance, leading to its removal from app stores. The accusation follows cybersecurity concerns and potential data sharing with Chinese state-owned entities, though the extent of data transfer remains unclear. Multiple countries have banned DeepSeek from government devices amid privacy concerns.

Among world’s top researchers 10% publish at unrealistic levels, analysis finds

Research reveals that about 10% of top global scientists are producing unusually high numbers of publications and gaining new co-authors at implausible rates. Analysis of Nobel laureates shows publication rates typically peak at 20 papers yearly and 35 new co-authors annually, suggesting current excessive rates may indicate 'paper pumping' and questionable practices.

14 years of systemd

Lennart Poettering's FOSDEM keynote discusses systemd's 14-year evolution from an init system to a comprehensive suite of Linux OS building blocks, highlighting its growth to 150 binaries, adoption by major distributions, and future focus on boot integrity, IPC improvements, and image-based deployments.

Moving on from 18F. — ethanmarcotte.com

A former 18F designer shares their experience leaving the government agency amid concerning changes in leadership and organizational structure. The resignation was prompted by potentially problematic interviews conducted by unnamed officials, followed by mass layoffs of probationary employees. The narrative highlights the intersection of government work, labor rights, and the impact of politically-driven organizational changes.

Introducing Pi-hole v6

Pi-hole v6 introduces major improvements including an embedded web server with REST API, advanced filtering capabilities, and consolidated configuration management in TOML format. The release features a redesigned interface with basic/expert modes, native HTTPS support, and a new Alpine-based Docker image for enhanced performance and reduced footprint.

Are Electric Cars Really That Much Cheaper to Operate than ICE?

A comprehensive analysis reveals that EVs offer significant long-term savings despite higher upfront costs, with break-even points around 140,000-200,000 kilometers and 30% lower maintenance costs. Financial benefits depend heavily on individual driving patterns and charging habits, with home charging providing the most cost-effective solution.

Tesla was hit by a wave of protests over Musk, sales are crashing, insiders are waking up

Tesla faces widespread protests across North American stores amid declining sales and growing internal dissent. Employees and senior managers have expressed concerns about Elon Musk damaging the company's brand and mission, with some suggesting his resignation would benefit Tesla. Despite growing discontent, most criticism remains private due to fears of retaliation.

Scripton

Scripton is a novel Python IDE featuring real-time visualization capabilities, integrated plotting toolkits, and interactive debugging features directly within the development environment. The platform offers built-in support for multiple libraries, GPU-accelerated rendering, and a sophisticated REPL, making it ideal for scientific computing and data visualization tasks.

By the end of today, NASA’s workforce will be about 10 percent smaller

NASA's workforce has decreased by approximately 10% in the past four weeks, with around 750 employees accepting deferred resignations and over 1,000 probationary employees being terminated. Field center directors have been instructed to prepare for potential additional significant workforce reductions, pending budget negotiations between the White House and Congress.