Writing by hand is good for your brain

638 dwwoelfel 2026-07-23 14:48:33 UTC nealstephenson.substack.com Llama Share 316

Writing by hand with a fountain pen on paper can be beneficial for the brain and reduce fatigue, but it requires finding the right balance of friction and using the right type of paper. To get started, consider using a fountain pen with a fine nib on inexpensive paper and gradually move to more expensive pens and paper as you develop your writing style.

What happened to TheNumbers.com

164 nickthegreek 2026-07-23 17:48:33 UTC stephenfollows.com Llama Share 60

The Numbers, a film industry data website, was severely impacted by AI traffic and a potential cyberattack, leading to a week-long outage and significant changes to its infrastructure. The site's founder, Bruce Nash, attributes the issues to the increasing strain of AI bots and automated traffic, which now make up 90% of the site's traffic.

Show HN: Echo – Fable-level results at 1/3 the cost using open-weight models

26 adam_rida 2026-07-23 19:26:33 UTC news.ycombinator.com Llama Share 4

The user built Echo, an AI system that combines multiple open-weight models for better performance, allocating computation and combining outputs based on each request. Echo outperformed individual models and reached similar results to Fable at lower inference cost, but still has limitations and failure cases to be addressed.

Building on ATProto

56 speckx 2026-07-23 18:48:33 UTC lukekanies.com Llama Share 18

The user wants to build a suite of applications for recording reviews that allow users to choose how public or private they want their reviews to be, but is disappointed with the current design of ATProto, which assumes everything will be published online and doesn't support access control or private data. The user believes ATProto has the potential to be a new protocol empowering users, but ...

A solid-state “atomic channel” for separating rare earth elements

26 MarcoDewey 2026-07-23 18:48:33 UTC pme.uchicago.edu Llama Share 2

Researchers at the University of Chicago and Northwestern University discovered a cleaner method to separate rare earth elements using a layered form of manganese oxide. The new approach relies on electrochemical intercalation and can differentiate rare earth elements in water without organic solvents.

Startup founders urge U.S. government not to shut off Chinese open weight AI

488 theanonymousone 2026-07-23 15:48:33 UTC politico.com Llama Share 474

Silicon Valley startup founders are urging the Trump administration not to block access to Chinese open-weight AI models, warning that a ban would cripple US startups. They propose targeted safeguards instead of broad prohibitions to address security concerns.

Software rendering in 500 lines of bare C++

179 mpweiher 2026-07-23 14:48:33 UTC haqr.eu Llama Share 30

The goal is to create a simplified 3D graphics API clone from scratch using OpenGL, Vulkan, Metal, and DirectX, focusing on understanding the underlying concepts rather than writing GPU applications. The initial task involves creating a software renderer that can load a 3D model and render it to an image file, starting with basic functionality to set pixel colors.

Learn OpenGL, extensive tutorial resource for learning Modern OpenGL

121 ibobev 2026-07-23 15:48:33 UTC learnopengl.com Llama Share 70

This online book teaches modern OpenGL basics, intermediate, and advanced knowledge in an easy-to-understand format with clear examples. It's free and available online, with a physical copy also available for purchase.

Astronomers may have found the first exomoon

159 MarcoDewey 2026-07-23 14:48:33 UTC eso.org Llama Share 56

Astronomers have discovered a moon-like object in the CD-35 2722 system, which orbits a brown dwarf, not a planet. This object is at least as massive as Jupiter and is difficult to label due to the system's unique characteristics.

Launch HN: Screenpipe (YC S26) – Record how you work and turn that into agents

32 louis030195 2026-07-23 17:48:33 UTC news.ycombinator.com Llama Share 35

Louis built Screenpipe, an app that records screen and audio locally to give AI agents a searchable memory of user activity, making it easier to automate tasks and create SOPs. Screenpipe's AI-friendly API allows users to interact with their recorded data through various agents, with a free tier and commercial plans available, including an enterprise plan for discovering automation opportunities.

Show HN: Palmier Pro – Open-source macOS video editor built for AI

55 harrisontin 2026-07-23 15:48:33 UTC github.com/palmier-io Llama Share 14

Palmier Pro is an open source Mac video editor that integrates AI into the workflow. It allows users to generate and edit videos with SOTA models and connect with agents like Claude/Codex/Cursor via MCP.

The arguments against open source AI are bad

92 jjfoooo4 2026-07-23 17:48:33 UTC tombedor.dev Llama Share 62

The debate over open-source AI models is misguided, as history shows that suppressing open-source software is difficult and only weakens companies against international competitors. Open-source AI models can benefit the US economy, as they can be developed by various commercial actors, including American startups and chip makers, and can lead to innovation and growth.

DARPA, U.S. Air Force fly AI-controlled F-16

88 r2sk5t 2026-07-23 14:48:33 UTC darpa.mil Llama Share 80

A US Air Force F-16 fighter jet has undergone in-air testing using an AI agent to autonomously control flight, advancing combat AI development. The VENOM program, a joint effort between the US Air Force and DARPA, aims to develop trusted, autonomous air combat capabilities.

JEP 540: Simple JSON API (Now in Incubator)

64 theanonymousone 2026-07-23 16:48:33 UTC openjdk.org Llama Share 45

The Java Platform is introducing a new standard API for parsing and generating JSON documents, aiming to provide a simple and easy-to-use interface for common tasks, without requiring an external library. The API is designed to be strict and conform to RFC 8259, with a focus on machine-to-machine communication, and will be incubated in the JDK with the goal of eventually becoming a standard ...

Learn WebGPU for C++

49 ibobev 2026-07-23 15:48:33 UTC eliemichel.github.io Llama Share 9

This guide explains how to create native 3D applications in C++ using WebGPU graphics API for Windows, Linux, and macOS. It's still under construction and uses outdated code in some sections.

Converting Files into Minecraft Worlds

11 wuemeli 2026-07-23 18:48:33 UTC wuemeli.com Llama Share 0

The user created a program to convert any file into a Minecraft world by mapping each byte to a block and placing them in a 16x16x16 cube. The program can now read and write .mca region files, allowing for large multi-region worlds to be encoded.

Hybrid-Electric Aicraft Engine Targeting 30% Fuel Efficiency

70 r2sk5t 2026-07-23 14:48:33 UTC rtx.com Llama Share 49

Pratt & Whitney Canada is testing a flight-standard engine and propeller for the RTX Hybrid-Electric Flight Demonstrator in Quebec. The hybrid-electric propulsion system aims to demonstrate up to 30% improved fuel efficiency for regional turboprop missions.

Show HN: OneCLI – OSS credential gateway that keeps secrets out of AI agents

48 Jonathanfishner 2026-07-23 16:48:33 UTC github.com/onecli Llama Share 20

OneCLI is an open-source gateway that securely stores API credentials and injects them into AI agent requests. It provides a single point for managing access, rotating keys, and monitoring agent activity.

Show HN: Trifle – Open-source analytics that stores answers, not events

10 iluzone 2026-07-23 18:48:33 UTC trifle.io Llama Share 0

Trifle provides visibility into pricing pipelines and catches anomalies before customers notice. It offers a combination of big-picture data and individual job execution details through Stats and Traces.

From Evaluation to Guardrails: What We Brought to ACM FAccT 2026

6 royapakzad 2026-07-23 18:48:33 UTC blog.mozilla.ai Prefix Share 0

In June, we traveled to Montreal for the ACM Conference on Fairness, Accountability, and Transparency (ACM FAccT), the premier venue for safe and responsible AI development; a conference where computer scientists, social scientists, policymakers, and lawyers share a room to ask not just how to build AI systems, but whether, when, and for whom. It was the right audience for our tutorial, ...

AI Companies Are Trying to Hide a Staggering Amount of Debt

449 technewssss 2026-07-23 13:48:33 UTC futurism.com Llama Share 215

Tech giants like Alphabet, Microsoft, and Meta are hiding $1.65 trillion in debt off their balance sheets, using special purpose vehicles to make their financial reporting appear healthier. This has experts warning of an AI bubble and increased vulnerability if the industry fails to generate demand to justify massive data center investments.

Why Software Factories Fail (or: harness engineering is not enough)

97 dhorthy 2026-07-23 16:48:33 UTC github.com/humanlayer Llama Share 77

Dex from HumanLayer discusses the limitations of using AI coding agents in software development, citing issues with maintainability and code quality over time. He proposes a 4-phase approach to using AI in coding, including product review, system architecture, program design, and implementation, to help teams produce high-quality code.

Geekbench 7

16 ilreb 2026-07-23 18:48:33 UTC geekbench.com Llama Share 10

Geekbench 7 is a new version of the cross-platform benchmark that measures CPU and GPU performance with improved workloads. It includes new media workloads, a Game Physics workload, and updated data sets to better reflect real-world tasks and applications.

Show HN: Remux – an open-source tmux workspace designed for iPhone

64 bitwise42 2026-07-23 14:48:33 UTC github.com/h3nock Llama Share 25

Remux is a native iOS client for remote tmux workspaces, offering a mobile-first interface with features like file preview and direct SSH connections. It provides shortcuts, attachments, and cursor control for efficient remote work.

Show HN: Claude-thermos – keeps your Claude session warm for you

26 s0ck_r4w 2026-07-23 17:48:33 UTC github.com/izeigerman Llama Share 19

Claude Code's prompt cache expires after 5 minutes, causing expensive re-encoding. claude-thermos keeps the cache warm, preventing this tax.

Free way to get your data out of ChatGPT Business accounts

60 conradqh 2026-07-23 15:48:33 UTC github.com/conradqh Llama Share 6

The scrapemychats tool exports ChatGPT conversation history to a user's computer, creating a searchable offline archive. It works by driving a Chrome window on the user's computer, using their logged-in ChatGPT session, and captures conversation text, files, and images.

Fields Medals 2026

67 nill0 2026-07-23 14:48:33 UTC mathunion.org Llama Share 20

The Fields Medal is awarded for outstanding mathematical achievement and future promise, funded by a trust established by J.C.Fields. The 2026 prize winners were recognized for their work in partial differential equations, symplectic geometry, arithmetic and complex algebraic geometry, and harmonic analysis.

OpenStreetMap: Admin_level for All Countries

77 ivanjermakov 2026-07-23 13:48:33 UTC wiki.openstreetmap.org GoogleT5 Share 14

Administrative boundaries range from large groups of nation-states down to small administrative districts. sometimes borders and rivers/roads (or other linear objects) are tagged together on one object or their nodes are glue together - this is undesirable if a user modifying... also modifies the border. the admin_level tag is used on relations that define an administrative area territories ...

Emacs Is a Lispboard

55 andros 2026-07-23 14:48:33 UTC en.andros.dev Llama Share 15

Emacs is a Lispboard, a working environment that integrates multiple programs, allowing users to work in a single place with a layout system and an embedded scripting language. Its rival is the web browser, but Emacs offers more flexibility and control, making it a unique and powerful tool for users.

Meta Garbage Collection: Using OCaml's GC to GC Rust

13 annieversary 2026-07-23 17:48:33 UTC soteria-tools.com Llama Share 0

Soteria Rust, a symbolic execution tool, experienced quadratic time complexity due to its Tree Borrows implementation, but was fixed by delegating garbage collection to OCaml's garbage collector, resulting in a 10x speedup. The fix involved implementing a "backoff" mechanism to run the OCaml garbage collector periodically when the tree exceeded a certain size, achieving linear execution time ...