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These are the articles, movies and extra that caught the eye of TechCentral’s editorial group over the previous 72 hours.
- Excel is so highly effective you can even use it to resolve Sudoku puzzles: Microsoft Excel’s energy extends past knowledge monitoring; it could possibly even clear up Sudoku puzzles. A Reddit consumer has created an Excel-based Sudoku solver utilizing formulae and conditional formatting, demonstrating Excel’s versatility. The solver maps cells to sub-grids utilizing advanced formulation. Whereas not probably the most environment friendly method to clear up Sudoku, it showcases Excel’s capabilities and potential for studying. Learn extra on XDA. DM
- Well-known purple star Betelgeuse may truly be two stars: Astronomers counsel that Betelgeuse, the well-known purple supergiant star, would possibly even have a smaller companion star, presumably explaining its irregular dimming sample. Dubbed “BetelBuddy”, this companion may have an effect on the star’s behaviour and problem earlier assumptions about when Betelgeuse will go supernova. Nevertheless, detecting this companion is tough as a result of Betelgeuse’s excessive brightness. Learn extra on Gizmodo. DM
- Weird, nine-day seismic sign attributable to epic landslide in Greenland: In September 2023, an enormous landslide in Greenland’s Dickson Fjord prompted a weird nine-day seismic sign, leading to a 200m-high mega-tsunami. The occasion, linked to local weather change, underscores how warming temperatures are reshaping the planet. Learn extra on Ars Technica. DM
- Inside Google’s 7-year mission to provide AI a robotic physique: This text delves into Google’s bold venture to provide AI a bodily presence by means of robots. Regardless of progress in utilizing AI to show robots duties like tidying up and navigating areas, the venture was shut down in January 2023 as a result of excessive prices. The problem of merging AI with robotics stays, particularly given the worldwide want for automation. Learn extra on Wired (delicate paywall). DM
- Sturdy El Niños primed Earth for mass extinction: A brand new research means that the end-Permian mass extinction, 250 million years in the past, was influenced by excessive El Niño climate patterns triggered by volcanic eruptions. These mega-El Niños prompted chaotic climate, killing forests and life on land earlier than impacting marine life. The analysis raises considerations that rising greenhouse fuel ranges immediately may trigger comparable excessive climate occasions. Learn extra on Science.org. DM
- Google says it’s made a quantum computing breakthrough that reduces errors: Quantum computing guarantees vastly extra computing energy than conventional computer systems possess. Nevertheless, the potential for breakthroughs in quite a lot of functions together with drug discovery, simulation and optimisation is overshadowed by the proneness to errors of quantum computer systems. Google now says it has discovered a method to scale back these errors. Learn extra within the MIT Expertise Assessment (exhausting paywall). NN
- New guide examines the story of Invoice Gates and the evolution of his public picture: This podcast interview with creator and New York Instances journalist Anupreeta Das centres on her new guide, Billionaire, Nerd, Savior, King: Invoice Gates and his Quest to Save Our World. Das explores numerous elements of Gates’s life, together with his connection to controversial businessman David Epstein. Take heed to the podcast on GeekWire. NN
High tales on TechCentral prior to now 24 hours
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