Physicists Discover Geometry Underlying Particle Physics →
Physicists have discovered a jewel-like geometric object that dramatically simplifies calculations of particle interactions and challenges the notion that space and time are fundamental components of reality.
“The degree of efficiency is mind-boggling,” said Jacob Bourjaily, a theoretical physicist at Harvard University and one of the researchers who developed the new idea. “You can easily do, on paper, computations that were infeasible even with a computer before.”
I don't know enough about multi-dimensional geometry or particle physics to understand the exact impact of this discovery, but this article is a fantastic high-level look at why science believes the amplituhedron is important.
Student Entrepreneurs: If Peter Thiel Calls — Hang Up →
Management is a tremendously undervalued skill on the tech startup scene, and that single fact contributes, I believe, to the failure of more companies than any other factor. Our theoretical college drop-out entrepreneur starts her business with a serious handicap: She's never seen the job done right.
Absolutely true.
Scientists Create Never-Before-Seen Form of Matter →
Harvard and MIT scientists create strongly correlated states of photons, proving that the massless particles can interact with each other. Precursor to a lightsaber?
Against Redshirting: Why It Pays to Be the Youngest Kid in Class →
Interesting article on the relative advantages and disadvantages of holding kids back from kindergarten for a year.
The vision is that, well before the seventies have run to completion, we shall be able to design and implement the kind of systems that are now straining our programming ability, at the expense of only a few percent in man-years of what they cost us now, and that besides that, these systems will be virtually free of bugs.
— Edsger W. Dijkstra, The Humble Programmer
Well, unfortunately the bug-free vision didn't happen (far from it), but it's incredible to think about the kinds of progress we've made on breaking the "confines of intellectually manageable programs" that Dijkstra called programmers to focus on. I'm sure he would be astounded by the progress in the "design and implementation" of large-scale web applications, data mining, and high-performance computing in the last 10 years.
Trading bots create extreme events faster than humans can react →
A study looks at the occurrences of micro-flash crashes in high-frequency trading that happen faster than a human can react.
You can't waste your time looking for a great armoire because you have nowhere to put that armoire. Who needs armoires anyway? They're a symbol of what's wrong in the world, if you ask me.
— These young SF professionals choose to live in RVs
Armoires are what's wrong with the world? Really?
Outlook.com Reddit AMA →
Outlook.com hits Reddit to wait for the inevitable "when will you support IMAP" question. IT'S A TRAP! We do as of today. Hit up the instructions here and enjoy your email on more devices.
Suggestions from Reddit on what to rename Skydrive to. I vote for Driveout or Lookdrive.
I'm sensing a desire for an Outlook.com / Game of Thrones / Old Spice Guy crossover.