Short Takes – 5-4-23

The era of software-defined battery startups is here. TechCrunch.com article. Click-bait title for article describing niche battery industry. Pull quote: “Enter artificial intelligence. Battery companies have started to turn to machine learning to understand how batteries degrade over time, how they might charge faster and even which combination of materials might produce a better cell. The move toward specialization is creating more niches for startups. It’s also a transition that appears to be driving parts of the early-stage battery industry to behave more like the software sector: quick to scale, and possibly, quick to fail.”

Ax-2 Mission to Inspire the Next Generation of Space Explorers through STEAM Outreach. AxionSpace.com article. Pull quote: “During Axiom Mission 2 (Ax-2), the crew will dedicate time engaging with students, educators, and the public about the importance of science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math (STEAM). The Ax-2 crew will conduct a series of science investigations and demonstrations while working with students on Earth, including through amateur radio, a student art competition from space, educational kits, and engaging in student-led projects with universities like MIT.”

Cybersecurity in season 3 of The Mandalorian. Kaspersky.com blog post. May the 4^th be with you. Pull quote: “Of the new things we learned from this season of The Mandalorian, we now know how droids get their software updates. It turns out, they visit bars to get updated… through booze! (I guess that makes a good excuse when asked “why are you drunk again?”: “Just updating, darling!”) The bars serve the drink Nepenthe, which is a lubricant for protection against mechanical wear-and-tear mixed with subparticles delivering programming updates and new commands from the mainframe. Truth be told, this doesn’t seem very safe: droids operate in almost every corner of the galaxy, while it’s the first time ever we see a bar for them. Still, at least now we know they can get any updates at all!”

Senators hopeful they can keep rail safety bill on track after East Palestine. TheHill.com article. Pull quote: “Vance, another co-sponsor, also sounded confident about the passage of bipartisan safety legislation. He told The Hill that he believed they were likely to get a markup this month and that they’d be able to get support from several Republicans on the Senate Commerce Committee to start.”

It’s the End of a World as We Know It. NYTimes.com article. Red dwarf eats planet. Pull quote: “Now that scientists have seen a real example of planetary engulfment, they can search the skies for similar patterns that fit the blueprint. The new observations also provide a grisly sneak peek of the literal end of the world. When the sun enters its red-giant phase, our familiar home planet is likely to die within its infernal embrace.”

Biden-⁠Harris Administration Announces National Standards Strategy for Critical and Emerging Technology. WhiteHouse.gov fact sheet. Pull quote: “Standards are the guidelines used to ensure the technology Americans routinely rely on is universally safe and interoperable. This Strategy will renew the United States’ rules-based approach to standards development. It also will emphasize the Federal Government’s support for international standards for critical and emerging technologies (CETs), which will help accelerate standards efforts led by the private sector to facilitate global markets, contribute to interoperability, and promote U.S. competitiveness and innovation.

Russia says U.S. was behind Kremlin drone attack, drawing quick denial. Reuters.com article. Pull quote: “He [Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov] said the United States was "undoubtedly" behind the incident and added - again without stating evidence - that Washington often selected both the targets for Ukraine to attack, and the means to attack them.”