Bill Schrier Seattle
@billschrier.bsky.social
Former CTO at the City of Seattle posting about Seattle, astronomy, and information technology.
Is there such a thing as "humanist superintelligence"? Microsoft thinks (maybe "hopes") so ... @geekwire.com - www.geekwire.com/2025/microso...
Microsoft forms Superintelligence team to pursue ‘humanist’ AI under Mustafa Suleyman
Microsoft has formed a new Superintelligence team, led by Mustafa Suleyman, to pursue what it calls “humanist superintelligence” — advanced AI that remains under human control. The effort reflects Mic...
www.geekwire.com
November 7, 2025 at 5:27 AM
Is there such a thing as "humanist superintelligence"? Microsoft thinks (maybe "hopes") so ... @geekwire.com - www.geekwire.com/2025/microso...
New photos of Jupiter from the #Juno spacecraft, including some from citizen scientists who who use JunoCam’s publicly available raw images to process into image products. #astronomy - www.popsci.com/science/jupi...
Jupiter stuns in new images
Say 'gas giant.'
www.popsci.com
November 6, 2025 at 11:12 PM
New photos of Jupiter from the #Juno spacecraft, including some from citizen scientists who who use JunoCam’s publicly available raw images to process into image products. #astronomy - www.popsci.com/science/jupi...
Tesla's "Mad Max" mode: Feds investigate Tesla's two new driving modes: One, called “Sloth,” relaxes acceleration and stays in its lane. The other, called “Mad Max,” does the opposite: It speeds and swerves through traffic to get you to your destination faster. arstechnica.com/cars/2025/10...
Tesla’s “Mad Max” mode is now under federal scrutiny
The new mode added in the latest update will speed and weave through traffic.
arstechnica.com
October 27, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Tesla's "Mad Max" mode: Feds investigate Tesla's two new driving modes: One, called “Sloth,” relaxes acceleration and stays in its lane. The other, called “Mad Max,” does the opposite: It speeds and swerves through traffic to get you to your destination faster. arstechnica.com/cars/2025/10...
The trillion dollar idiot wants to build an army of our future #robotoverlords. www.wired.com/story/elon-m...
Elon Musk Wants ‘Strong Influence’ Over the ‘Robot Army’ He’s Building
In a Tesla earnings call Wednesday, the world’s richest man pondered the future of his company’s Optimus robots—and his control over them.
www.wired.com
October 26, 2025 at 11:12 PM
The trillion dollar idiot wants to build an army of our future #robotoverlords. www.wired.com/story/elon-m...
Do runners really want a robotic shoe to help them run? www.cnet.com/health/fitne...
Nike Unveils Robotic-Powered Footwear System for Everyone
Nike compares its new system, which helps runners and walkers move with less effort, to electric bikes.
www.cnet.com
October 24, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Do runners really want a robotic shoe to help them run? www.cnet.com/health/fitne...
The smart glasses #glasshole competition continues - Amazon developing new augmented reality glasses for delivery drivers, using #AI and computer vision to help them scan packages, do walking directions, capture proof of delivery, among other features. @toddbishop.bsky.social in @geekwire.com -
October 23, 2025 at 10:46 PM
The smart glasses #glasshole competition continues - Amazon developing new augmented reality glasses for delivery drivers, using #AI and computer vision to help them scan packages, do walking directions, capture proof of delivery, among other features. @toddbishop.bsky.social in @geekwire.com -
The Amazon web services #AWS outage this week reminds us that not everything needs to be connected to the Internet, for example ... arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025...
AWS outage reminds us why $2,449 Internet-dependent beds are a bad idea
“Would be great if my bed wasn’t stuck in an inclined position …”…
arstechnica.com
October 23, 2025 at 5:38 PM
The Amazon web services #AWS outage this week reminds us that not everything needs to be connected to the Internet, for example ... arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025...
Our future #robotoverlords win yet another round thanks to Amazon: www.theverge.com/news/803257/...
Amazon hopes to replace 600,000 US workers with robots, according to leaked documents
They’re taking our jobs.
www.theverge.com
October 23, 2025 at 4:50 AM
Our future #robotoverlords win yet another round thanks to Amazon: www.theverge.com/news/803257/...
Galaxy Messier 33 in the Constellation Triangulum, sometimes called the "Pinwheel" Galaxy. Photo taken 15 Oct 2025 with my Celestron Origin from Goldendale Sky Village #GSV Washington (the State). Bortle 2 skies. I am amazed by the clarity. #astronomy
October 17, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Galaxy Messier 33 in the Constellation Triangulum, sometimes called the "Pinwheel" Galaxy. Photo taken 15 Oct 2025 with my Celestron Origin from Goldendale Sky Village #GSV Washington (the State). Bortle 2 skies. I am amazed by the clarity. #astronomy
Some carmakers are bringing back buttons, thank goodness. Some touchscreen functions are ok, but gawd I hate touchscreens for everything ... 🤬- www.popsci.com/technology/c...
Goodbye, annoying touchscreens. Welcome back, buttons?
Why some carmakers are bringing back your beloved knobs.
www.popsci.com
October 14, 2025 at 12:45 AM
Some carmakers are bringing back buttons, thank goodness. Some touchscreen functions are ok, but gawd I hate touchscreens for everything ... 🤬- www.popsci.com/technology/c...
Nebula NGC7822, Constellation Cepheus taken with my Celestron Origin Telescope from West Seattle, Bortle 7/8 skies 25 Sept 2025. This nebula is almost impossible to see visually, which may be the reason it doesn't have a common name like "torch flame nebula" or something similar. #astrophotography
October 12, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Nebula NGC7822, Constellation Cepheus taken with my Celestron Origin Telescope from West Seattle, Bortle 7/8 skies 25 Sept 2025. This nebula is almost impossible to see visually, which may be the reason it doesn't have a common name like "torch flame nebula" or something similar. #astrophotography
New jet replaces windows with screens <-- when I first saw this headline, I was thinking "screen doors". www.popsci.com/technology/p...
Luxury jet replaces cabin windows with video screens
HD cameras beam panoramic images inside.
www.popsci.com
October 9, 2025 at 11:29 PM
New jet replaces windows with screens <-- when I first saw this headline, I was thinking "screen doors". www.popsci.com/technology/p...
Did Billiard Balls lead to our present craziness in using plastic for everything? #savetheelephants - www.popsci.com/environment/...
How billiard balls led to plastic everywhere
The drive to save elephants had some unforeseen conservation consequences.
www.popsci.com
October 8, 2025 at 11:47 PM
Did Billiard Balls lead to our present craziness in using plastic for everything? #savetheelephants - www.popsci.com/environment/...
Cederblad 214 Nebula part of the NGC7822 cloud in the constellation Cepheus, imaged 5 October 2025 from Bortle 7 skies in West Seattle using my Celestron Origin with nebula filter. About 1 hour exposure, reprocessed a bit on the Origin itself. Arrow lower right indicates north. #astrophotography
October 6, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Cederblad 214 Nebula part of the NGC7822 cloud in the constellation Cepheus, imaged 5 October 2025 from Bortle 7 skies in West Seattle using my Celestron Origin with nebula filter. About 1 hour exposure, reprocessed a bit on the Origin itself. Arrow lower right indicates north. #astrophotography
Seattle scientist shares #Nobel Prize for medicine. She didn't answer her phone because it was a Swedish number and she thought it was spam, but called back after listening to the voicemail. @kuow.org - www.kuow.org/stories/the-...
Seattle scientist among medicine Nobel Prize winners for work on peripheral immune tolerance
Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell and Shimon Sakaguchi won the Nobel Prize in medicine on Monday for their discoveries concerning peripheral immune tolerance.
www.kuow.org
October 6, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Seattle scientist shares #Nobel Prize for medicine. She didn't answer her phone because it was a Swedish number and she thought it was spam, but called back after listening to the voicemail. @kuow.org - www.kuow.org/stories/the-...
Will China beat the US back to the moon? Can the US catch up? NASA squandered billions developing an expensive "space launch system" demanded by Congress to put jobs in their states. Now the US is in a hole, falling further behind. #space @sciguyspace.bsky.social
- arstechnica.com/space/2025/1...
- arstechnica.com/space/2025/1...
How America fell behind China in the lunar space race—and how it can catch back up
Thanks to some recent reporting, we’ve found a potential solution to the Artemis blues.
arstechnica.com
October 2, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Will China beat the US back to the moon? Can the US catch up? NASA squandered billions developing an expensive "space launch system" demanded by Congress to put jobs in their states. Now the US is in a hole, falling further behind. #space @sciguyspace.bsky.social
- arstechnica.com/space/2025/1...
- arstechnica.com/space/2025/1...
Is there actual paid customer demand for suborbital space flights offered by Jeff Bezos Blue Origin? The company is thinking about scaling up to weekly flights of its New Shepherd rocket. @b0yle.bsky.social on @geekwire.com - www.geekwire.com/2025/blue-or...
Blue Origin reportedly plans to expand New Shepard suborbital space fleet and launch facilities
Blue Origin plans to scale up its New Shepard suborbital space program for weekly launches — and is thinking about a second launch site.
www.geekwire.com
October 2, 2025 at 2:26 AM
Is there actual paid customer demand for suborbital space flights offered by Jeff Bezos Blue Origin? The company is thinking about scaling up to weekly flights of its New Shepherd rocket. @b0yle.bsky.social on @geekwire.com - www.geekwire.com/2025/blue-or...
Why was this grand observatory razed to the ground? Ulugh Beg, prince and governor of Samarkand in present day Uzbekistan, was probably a better astronomer than governor. He built the world's most advanced observatory in the 1400's. #astronomy @atlasobscura.com - www.atlasobscura.com/places/ulugh...
Ulugh Beg Observatory
Light still pours into the ruins of this ancient Islamic observatory.
www.atlasobscura.com
October 1, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Why was this grand observatory razed to the ground? Ulugh Beg, prince and governor of Samarkand in present day Uzbekistan, was probably a better astronomer than governor. He built the world's most advanced observatory in the 1400's. #astronomy @atlasobscura.com - www.atlasobscura.com/places/ulugh...
A vaccine developer and a climate scientist walk into a bar - ok,ok, they really wrote a book. Who is really behind the "war on science"? arstechnica.com/science/2025...
The current war on science, and who’s behind it
A vaccine developer and a climate scientist walk into a bar write a book.
arstechnica.com
September 30, 2025 at 12:13 AM
A vaccine developer and a climate scientist walk into a bar - ok,ok, they really wrote a book. Who is really behind the "war on science"? arstechnica.com/science/2025...
1927 Paramount Studio Map Of California Filming Locations That Look Like Foreign Countries & Regions
brilliantmaps.com/california-f...
brilliantmaps.com/california-f...
1927 Paramount Studio Map Of California Filming Locations That Look Like Foreign Countries & Regions - Brilliant Maps
Map found via reddit
brilliantmaps.com
September 27, 2025 at 5:26 PM
1927 Paramount Studio Map Of California Filming Locations That Look Like Foreign Countries & Regions
brilliantmaps.com/california-f...
brilliantmaps.com/california-f...
Is Saturday 27 September the coolest mathematical date of our lifetime? It's a "global square date". Well, ok ... www.popsci.com/science/sept...
Why September 27, 2025 is the 'coolest mathematical date of our lifetime'
Get ready for a whacky series of numerical coincidences.
www.popsci.com
September 27, 2025 at 1:16 AM
Is Saturday 27 September the coolest mathematical date of our lifetime? It's a "global square date". Well, ok ... www.popsci.com/science/sept...
Apparently it is legal for Amazon (and other stores) to sell sprays which have the "odor of feces" aka "fart spray". However it is not legal to use the spray almost daily for weeks at a South Carolina high school. @arstechnica.com - arstechnica.com/culture/2025...
Felony charges after South Carolina high school filled with “fart spray”… for weeks
Let’s dig into the science of stink.
arstechnica.com
September 26, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Apparently it is legal for Amazon (and other stores) to sell sprays which have the "odor of feces" aka "fart spray". However it is not legal to use the spray almost daily for weeks at a South Carolina high school. @arstechnica.com - arstechnica.com/culture/2025...
The Wizard Nebula, NGC 7380, in the Constellation Cepheus, taken earlier this week with my Celestron Origin telescope in the Bortle 7 skies (that's pretty light-polluted) of West Seattle. 7130 second exposure (about two hours). #astrophotography
September 26, 2025 at 6:41 PM
The Wizard Nebula, NGC 7380, in the Constellation Cepheus, taken earlier this week with my Celestron Origin telescope in the Bortle 7 skies (that's pretty light-polluted) of West Seattle. 7130 second exposure (about two hours). #astrophotography
Jeff Bezos is frustrated with the slow progress of his rocket company #BlueOrigin compared to Elon Musk and #SpaceX (as are the rest of us). He's got New Glenn and is apparently planning a "New Armstrong" to rival #Starship. @b0yle.bsky.social writes in @geekwire.com www.geekwire.com/2025/space-r...
The space race is tightening up for Blue Origin and SpaceX, and for America and China
A newly published book focuses on parallel space races involving Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk, and America and China.
www.geekwire.com
September 26, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Jeff Bezos is frustrated with the slow progress of his rocket company #BlueOrigin compared to Elon Musk and #SpaceX (as are the rest of us). He's got New Glenn and is apparently planning a "New Armstrong" to rival #Starship. @b0yle.bsky.social writes in @geekwire.com www.geekwire.com/2025/space-r...
FRAPs - frenetic random activity periods - aka “zoomies.” Why is your dog so happy to see you and how does she(he) recognize you? It might be the jingling of your keys or your smell (ah "scent") or it might be your Oxytocin. www.popsci.com/science/why-...
Why your dog gets so excited to see you
Memory, scent, and strong bonds fuel the joyous reunions between dogs and their pet parents.
www.popsci.com
September 25, 2025 at 10:30 PM
FRAPs - frenetic random activity periods - aka “zoomies.” Why is your dog so happy to see you and how does she(he) recognize you? It might be the jingling of your keys or your smell (ah "scent") or it might be your Oxytocin. www.popsci.com/science/why-...