The Morning After: Voyager 2 is alive!
Plus, why computers can’t talk to animals, and M3 chips are coming.
NASA has regained contact with Voyager 2, only one of two human-made objects to leave the solar system. The agency lost touch with the probe on July 21st after a series of planned maneuvers pointed it two degrees away from Earth. It would have reset its orientation in October, but agency officials didn’t want to wait that long to get back in touch.
The Voyager 2 team used a network of ground-based transmitters to “shout” a command to the probe, telling it to turn back toward Earth. This bellowed order took 18.5 hours to reach the apparatus, and it would take just as long before NASA would learn it was successful. It’s a testament to human ingenuity, but also a vital reminder to not miss a second of data coming from Voyager 2 since NASA believes it may not function properly after 2025.
— Dan Cooper
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Why humans can't use natural language processing to speak with the animals
The complexities of speech are nothing compared to birdsong.
Surely computers, as powerful as they are these days, are smart enough to decode simple animal calls? That’s the question at the heart of Andrew Tarantola’s latest feature, which asks why we don’t yet have Google Translate for animal speech. Turns out, as simple as a bird call may sound to our ears, it’s one of the most complex vocal systems ever developed. Read on to learn why, in fact, we’re the plain-speaking simple folk, not our pets.
Apple is reportedly testing M3 chips for new Macs arriving this fall
The company may wish to speed up its release schedule for new machines.
As night follows day, Apple releases new products with a name one integer higher than one it presently sells. It’s no surprise we’re hearing M3 chips are currently being tested in anticipation of a refresh later in the year. What might surprise, however, is the hint Apple may speed up its release schedule to refresh its computer offerings faster than it does now.
Kamado Joe Konnected Joe review: A highly versatile smart grill
It’s a smart charcoal-burning grill for your preferred meat season.
There are plenty of smart grills, but one that burns charcoal rather than pellets is a slightly taller task. Kamado Joe’s Konnected Joe has been in Billy Steele’s possession for the last few weeks as he tests out this versatile and, crucially, charcoal-burning smart grill. There’s still plenty of summer left, so find out if you wanna snag one of these by reading his review.
PayPal introduces its own stablecoin pegged to the US dollar
PayPal USD will help you make purchases or pay other users.
Stablecoins pegged to a real-world asset are meant to be a necessary counter to the volatile world of cryptocurrency. PayPal has introduced its own in the form of PayPal USD, a currency pegged to the US dollar, which you can use to buy stuff or pay your friends. It’s not clear, however, if regulators have given their blessing or if PayPal is about to get a few thousand sternly worded letters from the Federal Reserve and the SEC.
Amazon Prime Big Deal Days: Here's what to expect this October Prime Day
Prime Day comes but onc… twice a year.
Amazon is once again planning a second Prime Day-style shopping event in October. This Amazon Prime Big Deal Day, aside from being a mouthful to say, will offer a bonanza of deals both on Amazon’s own hardware – and everything else. If you’ve got an eye on snagging some bargains ahead of the holiday shopping season, check out our guide to prepare for what’s to come.
