3 kids. 2 paychecks. No home. South of San Francisco, in a fertile corner of California that feeds much of the country, working families are sleeping in shelters and parking lots. Frankie’s morning started before the sun came up, as the steadily increasing volume of his parents’ phone alarm, coming from somewhere near the dashboard, jolted … Continue reading 3 kids. 2 paychecks. No home.
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Lagrangian formulation of classical mechanics
In order to begin to make a connection between the microscopic and macroscopic worlds, we need to better understand the microscopic world and the laws that govern it. We will begin placing Newton's laws of motion in a formal framework which will be heavily used in our study of classical statistical mechanics. First, we begin … Continue reading Lagrangian formulation of classical mechanics
Physicists use light waves to accelerate supercurrents, enable ultrafast quantum computing
Jigang Wang patiently explained his latest discovery in quantum control that could lead to superfast computing based on quantum mechanics: He mentioned light-induced superconductivity without energy gap. He brought up forbidden supercurrent quantum beats. And he mentioned terahertz-speed symmetry breaking. Then he backed up and clarified all that. After all, the quantum world of matter … Continue reading Physicists use light waves to accelerate supercurrents, enable ultrafast quantum computing
Symmetry – The Simple Idea Behind Einstein’s Greatest Discoveries
Lurking behind Einstein’s theory of gravity and our modern understanding of particle physics is the deceptively simple idea of symmetry. But physicists are beginning to question whether focusing on symmetry is still as productive as it once was. The flashier fruits of Albert Einstein’s century-old insights are by now deeply embedded in the popular imagination: … Continue reading Symmetry – The Simple Idea Behind Einstein’s Greatest Discoveries
Facebook collected device data on 187,000 users using banned snooping app
Facebook obtained personal and sensitive device data on about 187,000 users of its now-defunct Research app, which Apple banned earlier this year after the app violated its rules. The social media giant said in a letter to Sen. Richard Blumenthal’s office — which TechCrunch obtained — that it collected data on 31,000 users in the … Continue reading Facebook collected device data on 187,000 users using banned snooping app
Google will stop peddling a data collector through Apple’s back door
It looks like Facebook was not the only one abusing Apple’s system for distributing employee-only apps to sidestep the App Store and collect extensive data on users. Google has been running an app called Screenwise Meter, which bears a strong resemblance to the app distributed by Facebook Research that has now been barred by Apple, … Continue reading Google will stop peddling a data collector through Apple’s back door
Procrastination is an emotional problem
I told myself I’d start writing at 10 a.m. and crank out a few sections of this article before lunch. It’s now 1:40 p.m.–and I’m finally getting started. What happened? In the commonly held view of procrastination, I failed to appropriately manage my time. Or maybe I was just lazy, unmotivated, distracted, or all of … Continue reading Procrastination is an emotional problem
The Feynman Technique: The Best Way to Learn Anything
There are four simple steps to the Feynman Technique, which I’ll explain below: Choose a Concept Teach it to a Toddler Identify Gaps and Go Back to The Source Material Review and Simplify (optional) If you’re not learning you’re standing still. So what’s the best way to learn new subjects and identify gaps in our existing … Continue reading The Feynman Technique: The Best Way to Learn Anything
An exclusive look at an original iPhone prototype
“This is a day I’ve been looking forward to for two and half years,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s late CEO, as he introduced the original iPhone on January 9th, 2007. Apple had developed the iPhone in secret over those two and a half years, and for many inside the company, the device had only been … Continue reading An exclusive look at an original iPhone prototype
This Cartoon Explains How the Rich Got Rich and the Poor Got Poor
Something massive and important has happened in the United States over the past 50 years: Economic wealth has become increasingly concentrated among a small group of ultra-wealthy Americans. You can read lengthy books on this subject, like economist Thomas Piketty's recent best-seller, Capital in the Twenty-First Century (the book runs 696 pages and weighs in … Continue reading This Cartoon Explains How the Rich Got Rich and the Poor Got Poor