Hacker News
1M8.7 earthquake in Western Pacific, tsunami warning issued
- A powerful M8.8 earthquake struck near Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia in July 2025, marking the largest global seismic event since the 2011 Tohoku earthquake. The event occurred in the Kuril-Kamchatka subduction zone, triggering numerous aftershocks and following a sequence of significant earthquakes in the region.
Japan's response and impacts
Discussion of tsunami warnings in Japan, live coverage, and actual wave heights observed. Initial forecasts of 3m waves proved overly cautious, with actual waves reaching only 40-60cm in Japan.Earthquake magnitude significance
Analysis of the 8.8 magnitude earthquake being among the strongest ever recorded, comparison to historical quakes, and discussion of P-waves vs S-waves in determining impact severity.Global tsunami impacts
Tracking of tsunami warnings and impacts across Pacific regions including Hawaii, Alaska, US West Coast. Discussion of evacuation measures and expected arrival times in different locations.
2Fast
- Fast software fundamentally changes user behavior and unlocks new possibilities. Speed eliminates cognitive friction, signals product focus and simplicity, and makes experiences feel magical. While current AI tools prioritize capabilities over performance, future optimization will enable new use cases and transform how we interact with technology.
Speed as a differentiator
Discussion on how speed is often an assumed rather than explicitly requested feature, but remains crucial for adoption. Products marketing themselves as "faster" gain attention, though real-world implementations often compromise on speed.Interface simplicity
Appreciation of HN's minimal, fast interface compared to other sites that degraded after modernization. Debate about whether HN needs minor improvements like dark mode while maintaining its core simplicity.Developer experience
Discussion of speed's impact on developer workflows, particularly comparing languages like Go vs Rust. Fast compilation and iteration enables different development patterns than slower but potentially more optimal solutions.
3‘No Other Land’ consultant Awdah Hathaleen killed by Israeli settler
- Awdah Hathaleen, a Palestinian community leader and consultant on the Oscar-winning documentary "No Other Land," was fatally shot by an Israeli settler in the West Bank. The incident occurred in Umm al-Khair village, where settler Yinon Levi allegedly fired at Hathaleen. Police detained an Israeli citizen, while the military detained others involved.
Political climate in Israel
Most Israelis support military actions in Gaza, with polls showing 64.5% unconcerned about humanitarian crisis. Society divided between settlers' supporters and critics, while minority protests government actions.Role of peacekeeping forces
Debate over whether international peacekeepers could help resolve conflict. Critics argue they're ineffective, citing past failures. Questions raised about implementation and willingness of parties to accept such forces.Settler violence
Discussion of ongoing settler attacks in West Bank, with debate over whether to classify them as terrorism. France recently labeled such actions as terrorism. Critics argue Israeli government enables settler violence.
4Our $100M Series B
- Oxide, a cloud computing infrastructure company, has raised a $100M Series B funding round led by USIT, doubling their total capital raised. The company builds integrated hardware and software solutions for on-premises cloud computing, having shipped their first system two years ago and gained growing customer enthusiasm.
Employee compensation at Oxide
Discussion of Oxide's equal salary policy ($207k) but lack of transparency around equity compensation, with debate about whether emphasizing salary equality while being opaque about equity is problematic.On-premise vs cloud computing
Debate about cloud computing costs, vendor lock-in, and whether Oxide's on-premise solution will succeed as companies realize high cloud margins and sovereignty concerns.Technical cooling challenges
Discussion of Oxide's cooling architecture, efficiency claims, and questions about how they'll handle future high-power components like GPUs given industry trends toward liquid cooling.
5Sleep all comes down to the mitochondria
Biochemical sleep mechanism
Discussion of new research suggesting sleep's evolutionary purpose relates to mitochondrial function and electron leaks, with debate about whether this explains all aspects of sleep or just one mechanismMedical applications
Exploration of potential "healthy" wakefulness drugs, treatment for conditions like ME/CFS, and discussion of how mitochondrial function relates to sleep disorders and chronic fatigueSleep variations
Discussion of natural short sleepers, claims of people who don't sleep, and factors affecting sleep needs including exercise, keto diets, and individual differences in sleep requirements
6iPhone 16 cameras vs. traditional digital cameras
- The text explains why smartphone photos aren't typically displayed as wall art, highlighting key differences between iPhone and professional camera photos. Issues include fish-eye distortion, unflattering facial features, poor shadow capture, and unnatural skin tones, which are particularly noticeable in human subjects.
Computational photography effects
Discussion of how phone cameras prioritize vibrant, processed images over accuracy, comparing it to the "loudness wars" in music. Users debate whether this trend responds to consumer preferences or diminishes photo quality.Camera convenience vs quality
Users weigh the tradeoffs between always-available phone cameras versus dedicated cameras' superior image quality. Many note phones are sufficient for casual shots while dedicated cameras remain essential for serious photography.Focal length differences
Debate about how shooting distance and focal length choices affect photo distortion, with some arguing the article unfairly blamed phones for distortion that was actually due to photographer positioning.
7Irrelevant facts about cats added to math problems increase LLM errors by 300%
Human vs AI comparison debate
Discussion about whether comparing LLMs to human performance is relevant or tired, with some arguing it's essential for understanding AI capabilities while others say focus should be on improving AI systems independently.Cat facts as attack vector
Analysis of how injecting irrelevant cat facts into prompts can significantly increase error rates and response lengths in LLMs, with debate about potential applications and implications for AI security.Real world deployment concerns
Discussion about risks and challenges of deploying LLMs in critical applications like finance, law and healthcare given their vulnerability to simple adversarial attacks.
8RIP Shunsaku Tamiya, the man who made plastic model kits a global obsession
- Shunsaku Tamiya, former president of Tamiya, Inc., passed away at 90. He transformed the company from a transport firm into a renowned manufacturer of model kits, leading innovations in plastic models and setting industry standards for quality and precision, particularly in automotive models.
Model building hobby
Discussion of plastic model building's evolution from traditional kits to Warhammer/Gundam, painting techniques, and nostalgia. Many note hobby's shift from youth activity to adult pursuit with better quality kits but fewer young builders.RC cars and Tamiya
Memories of Tamiya RC cars like Grasshopper and Hornet, their performance modifications, and discussion of how modern RC cars are overpowered compared to classic models. Recognition of Tamiya's commitment to quality and detail.Industry and manufacturers
Exploration of different model kit manufacturers across countries, their specialties in different scales/subjects, and how they've survived for 50+ years serving niche market of dedicated hobbyists.
9ACM Transitions to Full Open Access
- ACM is transitioning to full Open Access publishing by 2025, making all research content freely available. The initiative includes ACM Open, a framework for institutions offering unlimited publishing without APCs, and a new Digital Library model with Premium and Basic access options launching in 2026.
Open access licensing
Discussion about whether papers are truly "open access" per Berlin Declaration, with concerns about missing explicit licenses for older influential papers and need for proper archival rightsPublishing costs
Debate about high publication fees ($700-1800) and their implications, including potential impact on paper quality and burden on researchers from developing countriesUSENIX vs ACM
Comparison of publishing experiences, with USENIX praised for streamlined process and easy access to papers, while ACM noted for more complex organizational structure
10Try the Mosquito Bucket of Death
- The article explains how to create a "Mosquito Bucket of Death" - a DIY mosquito control solution using a bucket filled with water, organic matter, and MosquitoDunks containing bacteria that kill mosquito larvae. This environmentally-friendly method is more effective and less harmful than chemical sprays, though it takes about a month to see results. The setup involves preparing water-filled buckets with leaves and sticks, then adding the bacterial treatment to kill larvae when mosquitoes lay eggs.
Bucket effectiveness for mosquito control
Debate on whether bucket traps actually reduce mosquito populations, with consensus that they work best when combined with eliminating other standing water sources and getting neighbors to participate.Alternative mosquito control methods
Discussion of various other approaches including CO2 traps, fans with screens, commercial solutions like In2Care, and UV light traps, comparing their effectiveness and environmental impact.Local vs widespread control
Discussion about whether localized mosquito control efforts can be effective given mosquitoes' mobility, with insights about their limited flight range and breeding habits.