@mervofthesea.bsky.social
Reposted
In my ongoing attempts to give you a break from *gestures widely* THE HORRORS:
Let's talk about the utterly bizarre science of cats' purring.
Here's a weird starting point:
There are NO cats (Felidae) that can BOTH roar AND purr.
Cats that roar = genus Panthera
Cats that purr = genus Felis
Let's talk about the utterly bizarre science of cats' purring.
Here's a weird starting point:
There are NO cats (Felidae) that can BOTH roar AND purr.
Cats that roar = genus Panthera
Cats that purr = genus Felis
January 24, 2026 at 11:12 PM
In my ongoing attempts to give you a break from *gestures widely* THE HORRORS:
Let's talk about the utterly bizarre science of cats' purring.
Here's a weird starting point:
There are NO cats (Felidae) that can BOTH roar AND purr.
Cats that roar = genus Panthera
Cats that purr = genus Felis
Let's talk about the utterly bizarre science of cats' purring.
Here's a weird starting point:
There are NO cats (Felidae) that can BOTH roar AND purr.
Cats that roar = genus Panthera
Cats that purr = genus Felis
Reposted
I wish people would understand the difference between analytical "AI" and generative algorithms using LLMs. The former is used for pattern recognition at high rates and precision humans can't replicate and highly useful in medicine and science. The latter is autocomplete with delusions of grandeur.
April 30, 2025 at 6:26 AM
I wish people would understand the difference between analytical "AI" and generative algorithms using LLMs. The former is used for pattern recognition at high rates and precision humans can't replicate and highly useful in medicine and science. The latter is autocomplete with delusions of grandeur.
Reposted
The alarming consolidation of federal government data and processes into private corporate control threatens democratic oversight, public transparency, and national security – all without adequate safeguards or accountability.
"On the rooftop patio of the General Services Administration headquarters, an agency staffer recently discovered something strange: a rectangular device attached to a wire that snaked across the roof... a transceiver that communicates with Elon Musk’s vast and private Starlink satellite network."
April 17, 2025 at 11:19 AM
The alarming consolidation of federal government data and processes into private corporate control threatens democratic oversight, public transparency, and national security – all without adequate safeguards or accountability.
Reposted
For @vanityfair.com, I wrote about Meta's defense of training its AI on millions of pirated books, including: they didn't read the pirated copies, it would be annoying to license them, and they don't think the books are individually worth anything to them, anyway. www.vanityfair.com/news/story/m...
This Is How Meta AI Staffers Deemed More Than 7 Million Books to Have No “Economic Value”
As more than a dozen lawsuits churn ahead, newly unsealed case files reveal the company’s stance: The pirated books Meta used to train its AI, including ones by Beverly Cleary, Jacqueline Woodson, and...
www.vanityfair.com
April 15, 2025 at 4:26 PM
For @vanityfair.com, I wrote about Meta's defense of training its AI on millions of pirated books, including: they didn't read the pirated copies, it would be annoying to license them, and they don't think the books are individually worth anything to them, anyway. www.vanityfair.com/news/story/m...
Reposted
NOAA just announced a long list of datasets that are going away🧪⚒️🌊: www.nesdis.noaa.gov/about/docume...
Download what you need asap and send comments to: [email protected]
Download what you need asap and send comments to: [email protected]
Notice of Changes
Notices of changes are formal public announcements of planned services changes to applications and other products.
www.nesdis.noaa.gov
April 17, 2025 at 12:44 AM
NOAA just announced a long list of datasets that are going away🧪⚒️🌊: www.nesdis.noaa.gov/about/docume...
Download what you need asap and send comments to: [email protected]
Download what you need asap and send comments to: [email protected]
Reposted
“It’s amazing that others in this room underwrote electing a man who, in the last week, single-handedly destroyed all of American science. It’s amazing how much good science you can destroy with $320 million and RFK Jr, very fast.”
— Seth Rogen’s censored remarks presenting the Breakthrough Prize
— Seth Rogen’s censored remarks presenting the Breakthrough Prize
April 16, 2025 at 3:10 AM
“It’s amazing that others in this room underwrote electing a man who, in the last week, single-handedly destroyed all of American science. It’s amazing how much good science you can destroy with $320 million and RFK Jr, very fast.”
— Seth Rogen’s censored remarks presenting the Breakthrough Prize
— Seth Rogen’s censored remarks presenting the Breakthrough Prize