Deep dives: lost tech, batteries, and the dawn of analog computing
A deluge of forgotten innovations and emerging technologies has surfaced in the latest 'Core Dump' release from @Alvy, a sprawling collection of links ripe for the curious mind. Forget fleeting trends; this is an excavation of the fascinating, the obscure, and the potentially transformative.
Reliving the past: underwater exploration and abandoned science
First up, a remarkable gallery of historical photographs documenting the Bathysphere, the world’s first deep-sea exploration vessel—a testament to early ambition in oceanography. But the trip down memory lane doesn't stop there. The story of the Westinghouse Atom Smasher, a colossal 1937 particle accelerator now rusting in a Pittsburgh field alongside discarded washing machines and vintage cars, is truly compelling. Its abandonment speaks volumes about the shifting fortunes of scientific endeavor.
The cutting edge: solid-state batteries and analog revival
While the past captivates, the future is rapidly unfolding. Solid-state batteries, long a laboratory curiosity, are finally inching towards commercial viability. A detailed timeline traces their evolution from Volta’s 1799 experiments to contemporary breakthroughs—a compelling narrative of incremental progress. But perhaps the most intriguing find is a deep dive into analog computing. Unlike our current digital systems relying on binary code, analog machines harness continuous values, offering a fundamentally different approach to computation.
Small wonders and data security
The collection isn't all weighty science. There’s a delightfully quirky invention: the Windsible, a miniature desktop wind tunnel perfect for model testing. And for those wrestling with web navigation, a clever trick to link directly to specific content within a webpage—a boon for researchers and anyone tired of endless scrolling. The conversation around data security also gets a vital boost, with an explainer on end-to-end encryption and why trusting cloud providers implicitly is no longer an option. The digital landscape demands vigilance.
This Core Dump—the twenty-first in a seemingly endless series—builds upon previous installments, each a curated trove of digital artifacts. Core Dump I through XX offer a rich archive for those seeking the unusual and the insightful.
The sheer volume of material suggests that Alvy's backlog is considerable. One wonders if the project will ever truly be 'completed,' or if it will remain a continuously evolving digital archive. Regardless, the pursuit of forgotten knowledge—and the dissemination of emerging trends—is a worthy endeavor indeed.