Posted by BeauHD from Slashdot
From the heads-up department: Dutch researchers have recalculated the timeline for cosmic decay via Hawking-like radiation and found that the universe may end much sooner than previously thought -- around 10^78 years, rather than 10^1100. Phys.Org reports: The research by black hole expert Heino Falcke, quantum physicist Michael Wondrak, and mathematician Walter van Suijlekom (all from Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands) is a follow-up to a 2023 paper by the same trio. In that paper, they showed that not only black holes, but also other objects such as neutron stars, can "evaporate" via a process akin to Hawking radiation. After that publication, the researchers received many questions from inside and outside the scientific community about how long the process would take. They have now answered this question in the new article.
The researchers calculated that the end of the universe is about 1078 years away, if only Hawking-like radiation is taken into account. This is the time it takes for white dwarf stars, the most persistent celestial bodies, to decay via Hawking-like radiation. Previous studies, which did not take this effect into account, put the lifetime of white dwarfs at 101100 years. Lead author Heino Falcke said, "So the ultimate end of the universe comes much sooner than expected, but fortunately it still takes a very long time."
The findings have been published in the Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics.
Posted by BeauHD from Slashdot
From the reasonable-demands department: Over 400 prominent UK media and arts figures -- including Paul McCartney, Elton John, and Ian McKellen -- have urged the prime minister to support an amendment to the Data Bill that would require AI companies to disclose which copyrighted works they use for training. The Register reports: The UK government proposes to allow exceptions to copyright rules in the case of text and data mining needed for AI training, with an opt-out option for content producers. "Government amendments requiring an economic impact assessment and reports on the feasibility of an 'opt-out' copyright regime and transparency requirements do not meet the moment, but simply leave creators open to years of copyright theft," the letter says.
The group -- which also includes Kate Bush, Robbie Williams, Tom Stoppard, and Russell T Davies -- said the amendments tabled for the Lords debate would create a requirement for AI firms to tell copyright owners which individual works they have ingested. "Copyright law is not broken, but you can't enforce the law if you can't see the crime taking place. Transparency requirements would make the risk of infringement too great for AI firms to continue to break the law," the letter states.
Baroness Kidron, who proposed the amendment, said: "How AI is developed and who it benefits are two of the most important questions of our time. The UK creative industries reflect our national stories, drive tourism, create wealth for the nation, and provide 2.4 million jobs across our four nations. They must not be sacrificed to the interests of a handful of US tech companies." Baroness Kidron added: "The UK is in a unique position to take its place as a global player in the international AI supply chain, but to grasp that opportunity requires the transparency provided for in my amendments, which are essential to create a vibrant licensing market."
< This article continues on their website >
Reddit Turns 20 2025-05-12 21:05:01
Posted by BeauHD from Slashdot
From the happy-birthday department: ZDNet's Steven Vaughan-Nichols marks Reddit's 20 years of being "the front page of the internet," recalling its evolution from a scrappy startup into a cultural powerhouse that shaped online discourse, meme culture, and the way millions consume news and entertainment. Slashdot is also given a subtle nod in the opening line of the article. An anonymous reader shares an excerpt: In 2005, if you were into social networks focused on links, you probably used Digg or Slashdot. However, two guys, Steve Huffman and Alexis Ohanian, recent graduates from the University of Virginia, wanted to create a hub where users could find, share, and discuss the internet's most interesting content. Little did they know where this idea would take them. After all, their concept was nothing new. Still, after Paul Graham, co-founder of Y Combinator, the startup accelerator and seed capital firm, had shot down their first idea -- a mobile food-ordering app -- they pitched what would become Reddit to Graham, and he gave it his blessing. Drawing inspiration from sites like Delicious, a now-defunct social bookmarking service, and Slashdot, Huffman and Ohanian envisioned Reddit as a platform that would combine the best aspects of both: a place for sharing timely, ephemeral news and fostering vibrant community discussions of not just technology, but any topic users cared about. Their guiding mission was to build "the front page of the internet," a simple, user-driven site where anyone could submit content, and the community, not algorithms or editors, would decide what was most important through voting and discussion. They deliberately prioritized user participation and conversation over flashy features or heavy editorial control.
< This article continues on their website >
Posted by Black Convoy from TFW2005
Via Chinese company
Audley Weibo account we have our first official images of the new Transformers Alpha Action Elite Wave 2. This is a new line of small and poseable G1 action figures, packaged in blind-boxes. Characters are in scale to each other standing about 13 cm to 5.5 cm tall. Following up the
previously released first wave of characters, now we have images of Wave 2 Elita-1, Perceptor, Bumblebee and Kickback & Ravage. Update #1: Official images of Megatron and Skywarp added via
Audley Weibo. Update #2: Official images of Nemesis Prime added via
Audley Weibo. See the
» Continue Reading.
The post
Auldey Transformers Alpha Action Elite Wave 2 Official Images appeared first on
Transformer World 2005 - TFW2005.COM.
Posted by from MMO Champion
Resurrections for Hardcore Deaths due to DDoS - April 24 and May 3
Originally Posted by Blizzard
(
Blue Tracker /
Official Forums)
We have identified and resurrected characters who died due to circumstances caused by distributed denial-of-service attacks on the Doomhowl realm on April 24, and on the Doomhowl and Defias Pillager realms on May 3. We are done with these restorations, and affected players should be able to select the ghost character on the Doomhowl and Defias Pillager realms and log into it to complete the process.
Please be reminded:
If we decide to restore characters lost to a DDoS attack, we will only restore characters that remain on their Hardcore realm. A character cannot be restored if the character was transferred to another realm.
Blizzard Customer Support cannot assist with issues related to characters who have died on Hardcore realms.
Please do not contact Blizzard Customer Support with any inquiries regarding character deaths on Hardcore realms.
Thank you very much!
Additional Resurrections for Hardcore Deaths due to DDoS - April 24 and May 11
Originally Posted by Blizzard
(
Blue Tracker /
Official Forums)
We’ve completed a second pass on characters lost during the April 24 DDoS, and additionally resurrected characters that died during the DDoS yesterday, May 11.
All of the above took place on the Doomhowl realm.
P.S. If you have time travel, come to my birthday party Saturday! 
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