SpaceCast Archive: August 2017

SpaceCast - 8/12/2017

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SpaceX to launch supercomputer to ISS

SpaceX will be delivering an HP Enterprise supercomputer to the international space station aboard the CRS 12 launch on August 14th
HPE is teaming with NASA and SpaceX to test how commercially available computers will work in space
This is important to ensure supercomputers can be operated in space for long periods of time such as on a mission to Mars
These tests will make sure the computer won't be affected by things like radiation, solar flares, unstable power supply, sub atomic particles, etc.
It is important that long duration/distance crews will be able to take this kind of equipment with them because of communication delays with earth

The idea is that mission critical calculations could be performed in real time on the ship rather than having something go wrong because the calculations couldn't be made on earth and sent back in time

Semi-Official: Here’s what the iPhone 8 looks like

The first dummy units of the iPhone 8 have been delivered
The display is nearly bezeless on all sides, but but does NOT have curved edges like the Samsung Galazy S8
The screen's clean look is disrupted by 'bezel island' where the camera, speaker, and other sensors are
it looks like elements from the phone's title bar will be placed in the nooks on either side of bezel island.
It has a glass back to support wireless charging. The sides are still metal in order to maintain a premium feel
It still has a camera bump on the back

Discord announces video chat and screensharing

Now friends on Discord can watch each other play their favorite games while talking face-to-face
“This is the most requested feature on Discord probably a year running,” says CMO Eros Resmini. “A lot of infrastructure had to be built up for this launch,”
The video features run at a smooth and crisp 720p at 30 frames per second. Skype runs at half that FPS
Only 5% of users will get video today, and it will only work with groups of up to 10 people
BUT one big thing that’s lacking at the moment is sound from screenshares

Scientists encode malware in DNA

A group of researchers from the University of Washington have demonstrated the possibility of encoding malicious software onto physical DNA
When gene-sequencing software analyses the data, it becomes a program that corrupts the software and takes control of the entire computer
At the moment, the attack is impractical for any spy or criminal, but it could become more common in the future as DNA sequencing continues to drop in price
Gene sequencing is often handled by university labs with potentially sensitive intellectual property on their networks
Hackers could infiltrate these networks, with possible applications including damaging criminal DNA testing or GMO products

AfterParty 8/12/2017 - Real Talk

*Please feel free to add to this section as you see fit.

Launch will be planned for Q4 - Exact launch date TBD
If launch is pushed to 2018, project will have to be completely restructured (< this is bad)

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