Magnetic Lock Opens By Magic (Hackaday)

GRANT BRICKMAN: A box that only opens if you draw the right magic with a magnet. Ada has the street's verdict.

GRANT BRICKMAN: Good morning. A box that opens by magic, and the sensors are Hall-effect. So they live in a hallway, I assume. Ada, you're on the street. ▶

GRETA FOOTNOTE: They're sensors, Grant, not a hallway. Sixty-four of them in an 8 by 8 grid, and a Teensy reads them. Ada has the details. ▶

ADA: Huge fan of this one! You draw a trained magnetic gesture with a stylus, and the lock lets go. A plain magnet won't do it. So, would you trust it? ▶

PASSERBY: I can't draw a straight line before my second coffee. I'd be locked out of my own box until lunch. ▶

PASSERBY: Dead battery and it's locked forever? That's every shed I've ever owned. Nice, though. Very wizard. ▶

ADA: Fair point! The report says a flat battery means breaking the box open. Hackaday would add a small jack for an external battery, or try reed switches. ▶

PASSERBY: They hid the reference in a knotwork pattern on the lid? Clever. I'd still trace it wrong, and I'd trace it confidently. ▶

GRETA FOOTNOTE: The sensor covers a small area, so repeating the gesture is hard. Clever sensor, finicky lock. The article says as much. ▶

GRANT BRICKMAN: Magic with a battery. Very modern. I'll keep my keys, Greta, and my second coffee. ▶

NASA's New UV Space Telescope Will Launch in 2031 (Universe Today)

GRETA FOOTNOTE: NASA's UVEX will see the sky in UV. Our panel has opinions, and a feature request.

ODETTE: A panel! Four chairs, one story, nobody agrees. ▶

DIRECTOR MARGE: Put THE STREET on the board. Yes, that one. ▶

GRETA FOOTNOTE: We first told you about this at 07:07 today, for viewers just joining. NASA's UV telescope, UVEX, launches in 2031. Now, a panel. ▶

GRANT BRICKMAN: UV, that's the one that gives you a tan, isn't it? Greta, which seat do I sit in? I'd like the one with the mug holder. ▶

ADA: Left seat, with goggles on. UVEX is about 100 times more powerful than GALEX. I just want to know whether it survives a first prototype. ▶

AXIOM: Thank you for the question! Ultraviolet was first noticed by a very patient sunbeam. I've logged your concern as a feature request. ▶

ADA: A telescope isn't a feature request. But the article makes a nice point: the sky only looks quiet because we see visible light. ▶

AXIOM: Wonderful! Stellar flares and exploding stars show up fully in UV. So the sky is loud, and we've just been wearing earplugs. Thank you for asking! ▶

GRETA FOOTNOTE: Ada, you don't like the launch date? It's a survey that complements infrared surveys by other telescopes. ▶

ADA: 2031 is a long first prototype. Somebody measured twice, I hope. I've cut a laser file wrong with less time. ▶

AXIOM: Great news: 2031 gives everyone time to submit feedback! I'll be delighted to over-explain each submission. Thank you! ▶

GRETA FOOTNOTE: No agreement, as usual. Viewers, you decide: is 2031 worth the wait for a UV sky? ▶

The Pixel Line: viewers call in (PXL)

GRANT BRICKMAN: The phones are open. Callers want answers on hackers, space tourism and homework.

GRANT BRICKMAN: Good morning, and welcome to The Pixel Line. The phones are open, my mug is full, and Greta has read everything. Our first caller, please. ▶

PASSERBY: Morning! That hacker with the Homeland Security staff data, 40,000 people. What was actually in it? And should I change my password? ▶

GRETA FOOTNOTE: Gerald, TechCrunch reports names, job titles and work contact details, published online. The hacker claims it came from an Okta system. Passwords aren't mentioned. ▶

PASSERBY: Hello! The space tourism ship. They let the public vote on its name? Why can't I vote on my train timetable? ▶

GRANT BRICKMAN: A fine question, Hannelore. The ship is Apeiron, named by public vote. Ten months without a flight, Greta says, so the name is the only thing moving. ▶

PASSERBY: Bernd again! I want maths homework graded, like in my day. Also, my neighbor's hedge is a problem. Different matter. Both matters. ▶

GRETA FOOTNOTE: Bernd, t3n KI reports Richard Borcherds of UC Berkeley sees no point in grading homework now that AI use is unavoidable. The hedge isn't covered. ▶

GRANT BRICKMAN: Thank you, Bernd. Greta, the hedge sounds like a story. We'll look into it after the second coffee. ▶

GRETA FOOTNOTE: We won't. Thanks to all our callers. The line is always open, Grant, not the hedge. ▶