Why Basketball Sneakers Squeak

Nature article on why basketball sneakers squeak. 

Summary of the Nature article from Beyond Euclid: 

"High-speed cameras showed the rubber sole rapidly snapping and slipping against the floor on impact — hundreds of tiny wave pulses, similar to fault ruptures in earthquakes. The tread pattern forces these into regular intervals, producing a steady pitch instead of noise. Flat sole: random noise. Patterned tread: something close to a tone."

Spotting AI Voice

How to detect AI-generated prose.

Winter Tire Update

"These new winter tires have studs that retract as it warms up". (Via H.R.)

Cat Physics Update

"Flexible feline spines shed light on 'falling cat' problem". (Via H.R.)

The First Multi-Behavior Brain Upload

"The First Multi-Behavior Brain Upload". Click the Eon systems link to see the video. (Via G.F.)

Headphones On United Airlines

"Good: United Threatens To Kick Off Passengers Who Don't Use Headphones"

AI Not Replacing Radiologists

CNN: "This job has become the ultimate case study for why AI won't replace human workers"

From personal experience -- our practice is busier than ever, and we are still looking to hire more (not fewer) radiologists.

If LOTR Characters Had Access To Modern Level 1 Trauma Care

Surgeon Dr. Ron Barbosa discusses how medical outcomes could have improved if major characters from Lord Of The Rings had had access to a modern Level 1 Trauma Center.

Hsieh Forbes Column On Coffee And Dementia Protection

My latest Forbes column is out: "Coffee And Tea Consumption Associated With Lower Dementia Rates".

Key points: The anti-dementia benefit appears to apply to caffeinated coffee and tea, but not with decaf coffee. 

Pollan On AI

Michael Pollan: "AI Will Never Be Conscious"

Learning Languages

"Why people fail at learning languages". (Via M.A.)