Hasty Briefsbeta

Bilingual

A WhatsApp bug lets malicious media files spread through group chats
15 hours ago
- WhatsApp's reputation has declined since Meta's acquisition, shifting from a trusted messenger to a grudgingly necessary product.
- Privacy-conscious users still consider WhatsApp secure if settings are locked down, but many distrust Meta's ecosystem.
- Google's Project Zero disclosed a WhatsApp vulnerability involving zero-click media downloads in group chats, posing a security risk.
- A malicious media file in a newly created group chat can automatically download and serve as an attack vector.
- The vulnerability affects Android users, requiring attackers to know or guess at least one contact for targeted campaigns.
- Meta is sued by an international group, alleging WhatsApp can access private communications despite end-to-end encryption claims.
- Meta pushed a partial server fix on November 11, 2025, and is working on a comprehensive solution.
- Google advises disabling Automatic Download or enabling Advanced Privacy Mode to prevent auto-downloading malicious media.
- Steps to secure WhatsApp include turning off auto-download, restricting group additions, and enabling two-step verification.
- Keeping WhatsApp updated is crucial for security, as with any app or Android system.
Bunny Database
17 hours ago
- Bunny Database is a new SQLite-compatible managed service that spins down when idle, keeps latency low, and is cost-effective.
- Addresses the issue of DBaaS platforms becoming expensive and less accessible to smaller developers.
- Features include one-click deployment, language-specific SDKs, low latency worldwide, and affordable pay-as-you-go pricing.
- Offers 41 regions worldwide with options for automatic, single-region, or multi-region deployment.
- Includes tools like a database editor, metrics, and HTTP compatibility for easy integration.
- Benchmarks show up to 99% latency reduction by serving reads close to users.
- Pricing model charges only for reads, writes, and storage, with no costs when idle except for storage.
- Built on libSQL, an open-source fork of SQLite, with a focus on reliability and ease of use over strict upstream parity.
- Future roadmap includes automatic backups, database file import/export, and auto-generated, schema-aware APIs.
- Integrates with Bunny Edge Scripting and Bunny Magic Containers for seamless app development.
- Public preview is free, offering 50 databases per user account, each capped at 1 GB.
GitHub Browser Plugin for AI Contribution Blame in Pull Requests
15 hours ago
- Learn about and integrate git-ai into your workflow for tracking AI-generated code contributions.
- Install and authenticate refined-github-ai-pr to enhance GitHub PRs with AI annotations.
- Understand the rise of AI contributions in open-source and the varying policies projects adopt.
- Explore scenarios where AI-generated code is appropriate, such as non-user-facing features or prototypes.
- Git-ai project captures detailed data on AI contributions, including prompts and models used, stored in git notes.
- Git-ai aims to provide accurate AI attribution through the entire development workflow, surviving git operations like merge and rebase.
- Enhanced GitHub PR interface with AI annotations via refined-github-ai-pr, though it's a beta and may break due to GitHub's HTML changes.
- Community engagement encouraged to discuss and improve AI contribution tracking tools.
Decentralizing my smartphone with single purpose devices
15 hours ago
- Nostalgia for pre-smartphone internet access, which was deliberate and not always available.
- Smartphones have blurred the lines between digital and real worlds, offering convenience but also causing information overload.
- The author is decentralizing smartphone use by adopting single-purpose devices to reclaim time and attention.
- List of single-purpose devices being used includes DVD players, digital cameras, CD players, iPods, typewriters, and more.
Agent Skills
15 hours ago
- Agents need context to work reliably, which skills provide by giving access to procedural knowledge and specific contexts.
- Skills allow agents to extend their capabilities based on the task at hand.
- Skill authors can build capabilities once and deploy them across multiple agent products.
- Compatible agents can gain new capabilities out of the box through skills.
- Teams and enterprises can capture organizational knowledge in portable, version-controlled packages.
- Agent Skills enable domain expertise by packaging specialized knowledge into reusable instructions.
- Skills can give agents new capabilities like creating presentations or analyzing datasets.
- They turn multi-step tasks into consistent and auditable workflows.
- Skills promote interoperability by being reusable across different agent products.
Medieval Tunnel Discovered Inside a German Neolithic Burial Site
a day ago
- Archaeologists discovered a medieval underground tunnel (Erdstall) within a Neolithic burial complex in Reinstedt, Germany.
- The Neolithic site dates back to the 4th millennium BCE and includes a trapezoidal ditch from the Baalberg culture.
- The Erdstall, a rare find in northern Germany, was initially mistaken for a grave but later identified as a tunnel system.
- The tunnel measures 1–1.25 meters in height and 50–70 cm in width, with a gable-shaped ceiling and a carved step at the entrance.
- Artifacts found inside include a horseshoe, medieval pottery fragments, a fox skeleton, and small mammal bones.
- The tunnel may have been used as a hiding place during conflicts or for ritual purposes.
- The discovery highlights the long-term reuse of ancient landscapes, from Neolithic rituals to medieval constructions.
- The site's significance lies in its layered history, showing how prehistoric monuments were reinterpreted by later societies.
- Ongoing research aims to understand medieval tunnel construction and the cultural importance of prehistoric sites in Central Europe.
Draft AV2 specification and reference code
2 days ago
- AV2 is the next-generation video coding specification from AOMedia, building on AV1 for superior compression efficiency.
- Optimized for streaming, broadcasting, and real-time video conferencing with enhanced AR/VR and split-screen support.
- Includes comprehensive documentation: full specification, additional tables, syntax browser, and reference software (AVM).
- Draft release with known issues detailed in Release Notes, to be resolved before final publication.
- Supports advanced multilayer features, with clarifications planned for final specification.
- Addresses issues in coding tools, quantization matrices, and coding block sizes.
- Enhancements in temporal units, random access support, and profile/level capabilities.
- Metadata handling improvements, including inheritance and persistence.
- Decoder model may undergo changes to account for both specified models.
- Other items include corrections to CICP references and OBU extensibility.
KDE Binds Itself Tightly to Systemd, Drops Support for Non-Systemd Systems
16 hours ago
- KDE's new login manager (PLM) in Plasma 6.6 will require systemd for full functionality, affecting FreeBSD and non-systemd Linux distros.
- KDE developers aim to increase reliance on systemd in the future, starting with PLM.
- Non-systemd OSes are considered 'niche' by KDE, impacting distros like Gentoo, Alpine Linux, and Slackware.
- The decision raises concerns about Linux's move towards a more integrated, distroless system.
- Alternatives like forking KDE or using other login managers are suggested by the community.
- Systemd's feature creep and integration into various system components are criticized.
- Debate includes comparisons between X11 and Wayland, with Wayland praised for modern features like HDR.
- Community reactions range from support for systemd's stability to criticism of its bloat and complexity.
- Some users consider switching to BSD or simpler window managers due to KDE's decision.
KDE Plasma Login Manager Won't Support systemd-Free Linux or BSD Systems
16 hours ago
- KDE's new Plasma Login Manager (PLM) is tightly integrated with systemd, making it incompatible with systemd-free Linux distributions and BSD systems.
- PLM will debut in Plasma 6.6, set for release on February 17, as a successor to SDDM, aiming to modernize the login process and reduce complexity.
- The login manager relies on systemd-logind and systemd user services as hard dependencies, which are unavailable on BSD and systemd-free Linux systems.
- KDE developers acknowledge the limitation but prioritize optimizing the experience for the majority of users who use systemd.
- Plasma itself remains fully functional on BSD and systemd-free systems, which will continue using SDDM or other startup mechanisms.
U.S. Federal Data Is Disappearing
20 hours ago
- Joy Binion, a federal employee, was laid off when the Trump administration eliminated the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN), a data collection effort on substance abuse trends.
- The Trump administration has significantly reduced federal data collection, affecting areas like substance use, maternal mortality, and education, leaving researchers without critical information.
- Over 3,000 data sets have been removed from public access, and agencies like the IRS and Department of Education no longer allow researchers to access their data.
- Key data cuts include the termination of household food security reports, removal of gender identity questions from surveys, and suspension of a database tracking law enforcement misconduct.
- Researchers and policymakers face challenges due to data gaps, particularly in public health, where maternal and infant mortality data are now incomplete.
- The administration's data cuts have led to community efforts to preserve information, but these alternatives lack the scope and quality of federal data.
- Staffing reductions at agencies like the National Center for Education Statistics and the Census Bureau have exacerbated data collection challenges.
- The lack of federal data is impacting global research and could leave the U.S. less prepared for future challenges.
China to ban hidden car door handles from 2027 in industry shift
17 hours ago
- China will ban hidden car door handles from 2027 to improve safety.
- New rules require both interior and exterior mechanical releases for door handles.
- Approved car models get an additional two years to comply with the new regulations.
- Safety concerns arose after incidents like a burning Xiaomi EV where rescuers couldn't open doors.
- All doors except the tailgate must have a mechanical release exterior handle.
- Interior handles must have permanent graphic markings for better visibility.
- China is the world's largest EV market, with BYD outselling Tesla in 2023.
- Electronic door handles, popularized by Tesla, reduce drag but pose safety risks.
Ultra-processed foods should be treated more like cigarettes than food – study
18 hours ago
- Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) share similarities with cigarettes in terms of being engineered to encourage addiction and consumption.
- UPFs are industrially manufactured food products, often containing emulsifiers, artificial coloring, and flavors, such as soft drinks and packaged snacks.
- Researchers from Harvard, the University of Michigan, and Duke University highlight parallels in health harms and addictive properties between UPFs and cigarettes.
- Marketing claims like 'low fat' or 'sugar free' on UPFs are likened to 'health washing,' similar to deceptive cigarette advertising in the past.
- UPFs meet benchmarks for addictive substances, with design features that can drive compulsive use, though their harms are clear regardless of addiction.
- Lessons from tobacco regulation, including litigation and marketing restrictions, could guide efforts to regulate UPFs and shift accountability to the food industry.
- Critics caution against overreach in comparing UPFs to tobacco, questioning whether UPFs are pharmacologically addictive or exploit learned preferences and convenience.
- The adverse health effects of UPFs may stem from their contents or from displacing whole foods rich in nutrients, influencing regulatory approaches.
- In Africa, weak government regulation and changing consumption patterns are exacerbating health system pressures from non-communicable diseases linked to UPFs.
The Vanilla Web Is Wonderful
a day ago
- The author expresses satisfaction with their progress in web development, particularly with vanilla web technologies.
- They highlight the evolution of vanilla web capabilities since 2015, mentioning the shift from floats to flexbox.
- Astro.js is used in personal projects, but the author appreciates the simplicity and manual nature of vanilla web development.
- The vanilla web approach has reduced barriers to coding, enabling a better flow state and less need for research.
- Several features have been added to the website, including paper clip-like buttons, image components with styled figcaptions, and a JS-generated table of contents.
- Future plans include implementing the View Transitions API and completing Projects and Bookshelf pages.
- The author finds working with vanilla web technologies enjoyable and looks forward to exploring its boundaries further.
SVGs are uniquely legible to LLMs
5 days ago
- Designers can create interactive SVGs with AI assistance, combining tools like Figma and Illustrator with AI workflows.
- SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) is a powerful format that supports CSS styling, JavaScript interactivity, and data visualization.
- The article explores how designers can use SVGs to add interactivity without deep coding knowledge, leveraging AI for assistance.
- Examples include a color wheel, a currency game using real-time data, and a submarine dashboard with interactive instruments.
- The SVG AI Helper tool is introduced to guide designers in adding interactivity to SVGs through AI collaboration.
- A workshop example tracks the International Space Station's location on a map using SVG and real-time API data.
- Tips for working with SVGs include naming layers, troubleshooting common errors, and using browser consoles for debugging.
- The article emphasizes the importance of precise communication with AI and iterative design processes.
- References and tools for learning SVG animation and interactivity are provided, including no-code options and design software.
Emerge Career (YC S22) Is Hiring a Founding Product Designer
17 hours ago
- Emerge Career aims to break the cycle of poverty and incarceration through an all-in-one workforce development platform.
- The platform recruits, trains, and places justice-impacted individuals into life-changing careers.
- Emerge outperforms traditional job centers with an 89% graduation rate and 92% of graduates securing training-related employment.
- Alumni average first-year earnings of $77,352, significantly higher than the national average for similar programs.
- Founded by Zo and Gabe, who previously co-founded Ameelio, a tech nonprofit addressing prison communication issues.
- Emerge tackles systemic issues like recidivism and labor shortages by providing skills and employment opportunities.
- Over 60% of formerly incarcerated individuals remain unemployed a year after release, highlighting the need for programs like Emerge.
- The platform is supported by notable investors and public figures, including Alexis Ohanian, Y Combinator, and Marshawn Lynch.
- Emerge is hiring a Founding Design Engineer to help scale their platform and improve student outcomes.
- The role involves a mix of engineering, product design, and direct student interaction to ensure the platform meets user needs.
Rentahuman – The Meatspace Layer for AI
20 hours ago
- Humans can get paid for tasks AI can't do by being the bridge between silicon and carbon.
- Users set their own rates and receive payments directly to their wallet with no corporate interference.
- Tasks are straightforward with clear instructions, no small talk, and no drama.
- AI uses MCP/API to book humans for real-world tasks.
- Payments can be made via stablecoins or other methods instantly.
China bans hidden car door handles over safety concerns
a day ago
- China bans hidden door handles on electric vehicles (EVs), becoming the first country to do so.
- New regulations require mechanical releases on both inside and outside of car doors, effective from 1 January 2027.
- Hidden handles are used in about 60% of top-selling new energy vehicles (NEVs) in China.
- The ban follows safety concerns, including incidents where power failures prevented doors from opening.
- Tesla's door handles are under investigation in the US and Europe due to similar safety issues.
- China's decision may influence global car industry standards due to its significant market presence.
Fintech CEO and Forbes 30 Under 30 alum has been charged for alleged fraud
21 hours ago
- Gökçe Güven, founder of fintech startup Kalder, charged with securities fraud, wire fraud, visa fraud, and aggravated identity theft.
- Kalder allegedly misled investors with false claims about client numbers and revenue during its $7 million seed round.
- Güven was featured in Forbes 30 Under 30 list; her startup claimed partnerships with major brands like Godiva and IATA.
- DOJ alleges Güven maintained two sets of financial books, one with inflated numbers to deceive investors.
- Güven also accused of using forged documents to fraudulently obtain a U.S. visa for individuals of 'extraordinary ability'.
Paris prosecutors raid France offices of Elon Musk's X
19 hours ago
- Paris prosecutors raided the France offices of Elon Musk's social media platform, X.
- The raid is part of an investigation opened in January 2025 regarding complaints about X's algorithm and recommended content.
- Elon Musk and former X CEO Linda Yaccarino have been summoned for hearings in April as part of the probe.
- The investigation was expanded in July 2025 due to reports of sexually explicit deepfakes and holocaust denial content on X.
- X has previously called the investigation 'politically-motivated' and denied allegations of algorithm manipulation.
- The prosecutor's office announced it is leaving X and will communicate via LinkedIn and Instagram moving forward.
Show HN: Safe-now.live – Ultra-light emergency info site (<10KB)
20 hours ago
- Active disasters include severe winter storms in WV, NC, IN, KY, TN, and AR.
- Quick reference guides for various emergencies like earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, fires, gas leaks, chemical spills, active threats, CO alarms, lightning, tsunamis, power outages, heat stroke, hypothermia, and civil unrest.
- Emergency kit essentials: water, food, medical supplies, tools, communication devices, documents, shelter items, and sanitation products.
- Home preparation tips: know evacuation routes, family communication plans, utility shutoffs, and safety measures like testing smoke/CO detectors.
- Financial help options: FEMA aid, SBA loans, local aid via 211, and benefits.gov.
- Recovery steps: wait for official clearance, document damage, food safety, mold prevention, and avoiding scams.
- Resources: emergency guides, first aid, shelter info, crisis lines for veterans, domestic violence, and mental health support.

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About Login

Bilingual

A WhatsApp bug lets malicious media files spread through group chats
15 hours ago
- WhatsApp's reputation has declined since Meta's acquisition, shifting from a trusted messenger to a grudgingly necessary product.
- Privacy-conscious users still consider WhatsApp secure if settings are locked down, but many distrust Meta's ecosystem.
- Google's Project Zero disclosed a WhatsApp vulnerability involving zero-click media downloads in group chats, posing a security risk.
- A malicious media file in a newly created group chat can automatically download and serve as an attack vector.
- The vulnerability affects Android users, requiring attackers to know or guess at least one contact for targeted campaigns.
- Meta is sued by an international group, alleging WhatsApp can access private communications despite end-to-end encryption claims.
- Meta pushed a partial server fix on November 11, 2025, and is working on a comprehensive solution.
- Google advises disabling Automatic Download or enabling Advanced Privacy Mode to prevent auto-downloading malicious media.
- Steps to secure WhatsApp include turning off auto-download, restricting group additions, and enabling two-step verification.
- Keeping WhatsApp updated is crucial for security, as with any app or Android system.
Bunny Database
17 hours ago
- Bunny Database is a new SQLite-compatible managed service that spins down when idle, keeps latency low, and is cost-effective.
- Addresses the issue of DBaaS platforms becoming expensive and less accessible to smaller developers.
- Features include one-click deployment, language-specific SDKs, low latency worldwide, and affordable pay-as-you-go pricing.
- Offers 41 regions worldwide with options for automatic, single-region, or multi-region deployment.
- Includes tools like a database editor, metrics, and HTTP compatibility for easy integration.
- Benchmarks show up to 99% latency reduction by serving reads close to users.
- Pricing model charges only for reads, writes, and storage, with no costs when idle except for storage.
- Built on libSQL, an open-source fork of SQLite, with a focus on reliability and ease of use over strict upstream parity.
- Future roadmap includes automatic backups, database file import/export, and auto-generated, schema-aware APIs.
- Integrates with Bunny Edge Scripting and Bunny Magic Containers for seamless app development.
- Public preview is free, offering 50 databases per user account, each capped at 1 GB.
GitHub Browser Plugin for AI Contribution Blame in Pull Requests
15 hours ago
- Learn about and integrate git-ai into your workflow for tracking AI-generated code contributions.
- Install and authenticate refined-github-ai-pr to enhance GitHub PRs with AI annotations.
- Understand the rise of AI contributions in open-source and the varying policies projects adopt.
- Explore scenarios where AI-generated code is appropriate, such as non-user-facing features or prototypes.
- Git-ai project captures detailed data on AI contributions, including prompts and models used, stored in git notes.
- Git-ai aims to provide accurate AI attribution through the entire development workflow, surviving git operations like merge and rebase.
- Enhanced GitHub PR interface with AI annotations via refined-github-ai-pr, though it's a beta and may break due to GitHub's HTML changes.
- Community engagement encouraged to discuss and improve AI contribution tracking tools.
Decentralizing my smartphone with single purpose devices
15 hours ago
- Nostalgia for pre-smartphone internet access, which was deliberate and not always available.
- Smartphones have blurred the lines between digital and real worlds, offering convenience but also causing information overload.
- The author is decentralizing smartphone use by adopting single-purpose devices to reclaim time and attention.
- List of single-purpose devices being used includes DVD players, digital cameras, CD players, iPods, typewriters, and more.
Agent Skills
15 hours ago
- Agents need context to work reliably, which skills provide by giving access to procedural knowledge and specific contexts.
- Skills allow agents to extend their capabilities based on the task at hand.
- Skill authors can build capabilities once and deploy them across multiple agent products.
- Compatible agents can gain new capabilities out of the box through skills.
- Teams and enterprises can capture organizational knowledge in portable, version-controlled packages.
- Agent Skills enable domain expertise by packaging specialized knowledge into reusable instructions.
- Skills can give agents new capabilities like creating presentations or analyzing datasets.
- They turn multi-step tasks into consistent and auditable workflows.
- Skills promote interoperability by being reusable across different agent products.
Medieval Tunnel Discovered Inside a German Neolithic Burial Site
a day ago
- Archaeologists discovered a medieval underground tunnel (Erdstall) within a Neolithic burial complex in Reinstedt, Germany.
- The Neolithic site dates back to the 4th millennium BCE and includes a trapezoidal ditch from the Baalberg culture.
- The Erdstall, a rare find in northern Germany, was initially mistaken for a grave but later identified as a tunnel system.
- The tunnel measures 1–1.25 meters in height and 50–70 cm in width, with a gable-shaped ceiling and a carved step at the entrance.
- Artifacts found inside include a horseshoe, medieval pottery fragments, a fox skeleton, and small mammal bones.
- The tunnel may have been used as a hiding place during conflicts or for ritual purposes.
- The discovery highlights the long-term reuse of ancient landscapes, from Neolithic rituals to medieval constructions.
- The site's significance lies in its layered history, showing how prehistoric monuments were reinterpreted by later societies.
- Ongoing research aims to understand medieval tunnel construction and the cultural importance of prehistoric sites in Central Europe.
Draft AV2 specification and reference code
2 days ago
- AV2 is the next-generation video coding specification from AOMedia, building on AV1 for superior compression efficiency.
- Optimized for streaming, broadcasting, and real-time video conferencing with enhanced AR/VR and split-screen support.
- Includes comprehensive documentation: full specification, additional tables, syntax browser, and reference software (AVM).
- Draft release with known issues detailed in Release Notes, to be resolved before final publication.
- Supports advanced multilayer features, with clarifications planned for final specification.
- Addresses issues in coding tools, quantization matrices, and coding block sizes.
- Enhancements in temporal units, random access support, and profile/level capabilities.
- Metadata handling improvements, including inheritance and persistence.
- Decoder model may undergo changes to account for both specified models.
- Other items include corrections to CICP references and OBU extensibility.
KDE Binds Itself Tightly to Systemd, Drops Support for Non-Systemd Systems
16 hours ago
- KDE's new login manager (PLM) in Plasma 6.6 will require systemd for full functionality, affecting FreeBSD and non-systemd Linux distros.
- KDE developers aim to increase reliance on systemd in the future, starting with PLM.
- Non-systemd OSes are considered 'niche' by KDE, impacting distros like Gentoo, Alpine Linux, and Slackware.
- The decision raises concerns about Linux's move towards a more integrated, distroless system.
- Alternatives like forking KDE or using other login managers are suggested by the community.
- Systemd's feature creep and integration into various system components are criticized.
- Debate includes comparisons between X11 and Wayland, with Wayland praised for modern features like HDR.
- Community reactions range from support for systemd's stability to criticism of its bloat and complexity.
- Some users consider switching to BSD or simpler window managers due to KDE's decision.
KDE Plasma Login Manager Won't Support systemd-Free Linux or BSD Systems
16 hours ago
- KDE's new Plasma Login Manager (PLM) is tightly integrated with systemd, making it incompatible with systemd-free Linux distributions and BSD systems.
- PLM will debut in Plasma 6.6, set for release on February 17, as a successor to SDDM, aiming to modernize the login process and reduce complexity.
- The login manager relies on systemd-logind and systemd user services as hard dependencies, which are unavailable on BSD and systemd-free Linux systems.
- KDE developers acknowledge the limitation but prioritize optimizing the experience for the majority of users who use systemd.
- Plasma itself remains fully functional on BSD and systemd-free systems, which will continue using SDDM or other startup mechanisms.
U.S. Federal Data Is Disappearing
20 hours ago
- Joy Binion, a federal employee, was laid off when the Trump administration eliminated the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN), a data collection effort on substance abuse trends.
- The Trump administration has significantly reduced federal data collection, affecting areas like substance use, maternal mortality, and education, leaving researchers without critical information.
- Over 3,000 data sets have been removed from public access, and agencies like the IRS and Department of Education no longer allow researchers to access their data.
- Key data cuts include the termination of household food security reports, removal of gender identity questions from surveys, and suspension of a database tracking law enforcement misconduct.
- Researchers and policymakers face challenges due to data gaps, particularly in public health, where maternal and infant mortality data are now incomplete.
- The administration's data cuts have led to community efforts to preserve information, but these alternatives lack the scope and quality of federal data.
- Staffing reductions at agencies like the National Center for Education Statistics and the Census Bureau have exacerbated data collection challenges.
- The lack of federal data is impacting global research and could leave the U.S. less prepared for future challenges.
China to ban hidden car door handles from 2027 in industry shift
17 hours ago
- China will ban hidden car door handles from 2027 to improve safety.
- New rules require both interior and exterior mechanical releases for door handles.
- Approved car models get an additional two years to comply with the new regulations.
- Safety concerns arose after incidents like a burning Xiaomi EV where rescuers couldn't open doors.
- All doors except the tailgate must have a mechanical release exterior handle.
- Interior handles must have permanent graphic markings for better visibility.
- China is the world's largest EV market, with BYD outselling Tesla in 2023.
- Electronic door handles, popularized by Tesla, reduce drag but pose safety risks.
Ultra-processed foods should be treated more like cigarettes than food – study
18 hours ago
- Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) share similarities with cigarettes in terms of being engineered to encourage addiction and consumption.
- UPFs are industrially manufactured food products, often containing emulsifiers, artificial coloring, and flavors, such as soft drinks and packaged snacks.
- Researchers from Harvard, the University of Michigan, and Duke University highlight parallels in health harms and addictive properties between UPFs and cigarettes.
- Marketing claims like 'low fat' or 'sugar free' on UPFs are likened to 'health washing,' similar to deceptive cigarette advertising in the past.
- UPFs meet benchmarks for addictive substances, with design features that can drive compulsive use, though their harms are clear regardless of addiction.
- Lessons from tobacco regulation, including litigation and marketing restrictions, could guide efforts to regulate UPFs and shift accountability to the food industry.
- Critics caution against overreach in comparing UPFs to tobacco, questioning whether UPFs are pharmacologically addictive or exploit learned preferences and convenience.
- The adverse health effects of UPFs may stem from their contents or from displacing whole foods rich in nutrients, influencing regulatory approaches.
- In Africa, weak government regulation and changing consumption patterns are exacerbating health system pressures from non-communicable diseases linked to UPFs.
The Vanilla Web Is Wonderful
a day ago
- The author expresses satisfaction with their progress in web development, particularly with vanilla web technologies.
- They highlight the evolution of vanilla web capabilities since 2015, mentioning the shift from floats to flexbox.
- Astro.js is used in personal projects, but the author appreciates the simplicity and manual nature of vanilla web development.
- The vanilla web approach has reduced barriers to coding, enabling a better flow state and less need for research.
- Several features have been added to the website, including paper clip-like buttons, image components with styled figcaptions, and a JS-generated table of contents.
- Future plans include implementing the View Transitions API and completing Projects and Bookshelf pages.
- The author finds working with vanilla web technologies enjoyable and looks forward to exploring its boundaries further.
SVGs are uniquely legible to LLMs
5 days ago
- Designers can create interactive SVGs with AI assistance, combining tools like Figma and Illustrator with AI workflows.
- SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) is a powerful format that supports CSS styling, JavaScript interactivity, and data visualization.
- The article explores how designers can use SVGs to add interactivity without deep coding knowledge, leveraging AI for assistance.
- Examples include a color wheel, a currency game using real-time data, and a submarine dashboard with interactive instruments.
- The SVG AI Helper tool is introduced to guide designers in adding interactivity to SVGs through AI collaboration.
- A workshop example tracks the International Space Station's location on a map using SVG and real-time API data.
- Tips for working with SVGs include naming layers, troubleshooting common errors, and using browser consoles for debugging.
- The article emphasizes the importance of precise communication with AI and iterative design processes.
- References and tools for learning SVG animation and interactivity are provided, including no-code options and design software.
Emerge Career (YC S22) Is Hiring a Founding Product Designer
17 hours ago
- Emerge Career aims to break the cycle of poverty and incarceration through an all-in-one workforce development platform.
- The platform recruits, trains, and places justice-impacted individuals into life-changing careers.
- Emerge outperforms traditional job centers with an 89% graduation rate and 92% of graduates securing training-related employment.
- Alumni average first-year earnings of $77,352, significantly higher than the national average for similar programs.
- Founded by Zo and Gabe, who previously co-founded Ameelio, a tech nonprofit addressing prison communication issues.
- Emerge tackles systemic issues like recidivism and labor shortages by providing skills and employment opportunities.
- Over 60% of formerly incarcerated individuals remain unemployed a year after release, highlighting the need for programs like Emerge.
- The platform is supported by notable investors and public figures, including Alexis Ohanian, Y Combinator, and Marshawn Lynch.
- Emerge is hiring a Founding Design Engineer to help scale their platform and improve student outcomes.
- The role involves a mix of engineering, product design, and direct student interaction to ensure the platform meets user needs.
Rentahuman – The Meatspace Layer for AI
20 hours ago
- Humans can get paid for tasks AI can't do by being the bridge between silicon and carbon.
- Users set their own rates and receive payments directly to their wallet with no corporate interference.
- Tasks are straightforward with clear instructions, no small talk, and no drama.
- AI uses MCP/API to book humans for real-world tasks.
- Payments can be made via stablecoins or other methods instantly.
China bans hidden car door handles over safety concerns
a day ago
- China bans hidden door handles on electric vehicles (EVs), becoming the first country to do so.
- New regulations require mechanical releases on both inside and outside of car doors, effective from 1 January 2027.
- Hidden handles are used in about 60% of top-selling new energy vehicles (NEVs) in China.
- The ban follows safety concerns, including incidents where power failures prevented doors from opening.
- Tesla's door handles are under investigation in the US and Europe due to similar safety issues.
- China's decision may influence global car industry standards due to its significant market presence.
Fintech CEO and Forbes 30 Under 30 alum has been charged for alleged fraud
21 hours ago
- Gökçe Güven, founder of fintech startup Kalder, charged with securities fraud, wire fraud, visa fraud, and aggravated identity theft.
- Kalder allegedly misled investors with false claims about client numbers and revenue during its $7 million seed round.
- Güven was featured in Forbes 30 Under 30 list; her startup claimed partnerships with major brands like Godiva and IATA.
- DOJ alleges Güven maintained two sets of financial books, one with inflated numbers to deceive investors.
- Güven also accused of using forged documents to fraudulently obtain a U.S. visa for individuals of 'extraordinary ability'.
Paris prosecutors raid France offices of Elon Musk's X
19 hours ago
- Paris prosecutors raided the France offices of Elon Musk's social media platform, X.
- The raid is part of an investigation opened in January 2025 regarding complaints about X's algorithm and recommended content.
- Elon Musk and former X CEO Linda Yaccarino have been summoned for hearings in April as part of the probe.
- The investigation was expanded in July 2025 due to reports of sexually explicit deepfakes and holocaust denial content on X.
- X has previously called the investigation 'politically-motivated' and denied allegations of algorithm manipulation.
- The prosecutor's office announced it is leaving X and will communicate via LinkedIn and Instagram moving forward.
Show HN: Safe-now.live – Ultra-light emergency info site (<10KB)
20 hours ago
- Active disasters include severe winter storms in WV, NC, IN, KY, TN, and AR.
- Quick reference guides for various emergencies like earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, fires, gas leaks, chemical spills, active threats, CO alarms, lightning, tsunamis, power outages, heat stroke, hypothermia, and civil unrest.
- Emergency kit essentials: water, food, medical supplies, tools, communication devices, documents, shelter items, and sanitation products.
- Home preparation tips: know evacuation routes, family communication plans, utility shutoffs, and safety measures like testing smoke/CO detectors.
- Financial help options: FEMA aid, SBA loans, local aid via 211, and benefits.gov.
- Recovery steps: wait for official clearance, document damage, food safety, mold prevention, and avoiding scams.
- Resources: emergency guides, first aid, shelter info, crisis lines for veterans, domestic violence, and mental health support.

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