Category: starred

The last thing you ever want to do is connect a random flash drive you’ve found to your computer’s USB port. But a security researcher who goes by the nickname ‘Dark Purple’ has created an even more dangerous flash stick that can physically destroy your computer—not just infect its drives.

The USB killer v2.0 features a DC-to-DC converter that charges a set of capacitors hidden inside once it’s been plugged into a USB port. That energy is then redirected back into the device as a 220-volt electric surge, again and again, until the hardware completely fails.

The innocuous flash drive has the potential to not only destroy a computer’s USB port, but the motherboard it’s attached to, and even the machine’s processor and other connected components. In this video an old IBM ThinkPad barely lasts a couple of seconds after the flash drive was plugged into it, and while the hard drive and all the data on it survived, its motherboard needed to be replaced.

But since the USB killer v2.0 isn’t reliant on the successful installation of a trojan or virus to cause any damage, it can actually be used to destroy more than just computers. Any device with a USB port, which is almost everything these days, is susceptible to damage from the flash drive.

So moving forward, if you ever happen to find a random flash drive, it’s a good idea to not even pick it up, or even glance in its direction. Who knows what evils it might be capable of.

[Habrahabr via Ars Technica]

via Gizmodo
This Treacherous 220-Volt Flash Drive Can Fry Your Computer In Seconds

Using data acquired by the Hubble Space Telescope, scientists at NASA have updated their maps of Jupiter. The new images—shown in 4K ultra high definition—reveal changes to the Great Red Spot and rare waves not seen since the Voyager 2 mission.

NASA updates its maps of Jupiter each year, but this year’s project proved to be particularly fascinating.

The two new maps were captured by Hubble’s high-performance Wide Field Camera 3 and analyzed by planetary scientists at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. The maps, which show back-to-back rotations of the planet, make it possible to study a broad range of features, including winds, clouds, storms, and atmospheric chemistry.

Close-ups of the Great Red Spot reveals a unique filamentary feature not previously seen. (Image and caption credit: NASA/ESA/Goddard/UCBerkeley/JPL-Caltech/STScI)

Analysis of the Great Red Spot shows that it’s getting smaller and more circular. The spot, which is now more orange than red, measures 150 miles (240 km) along its long axis. The NASA scientists noticed an unusual wispy filament within the spot, which has never been seen before. This filamentary streamer is being tossed around by winds reaching upwards of 330 mph (150 meters/second).

This false-color close-up of Jupiter shows cyclones (arrows) and the elusive wave (vertical lines). (Image and caption credits: NASA/ESA/Goddard/UCBerkeley/JPL-Caltech/STScI)

The scientists also noticed a rare wave just north of the planet’s equator. The phenomenon was first spotted by the Voyager 2 spacecraft during its historic flyby in 1979, but hasn’t been seen since. The wave is situated in an area replete with cyclones and anticylones. Similar waves, called baroclinic waves, have been seen in Earth’s atmosphere where cyclones are forming.

[ NASA ]

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Email the author at george@gizmodo.com and follow him at @dvorsky. Top image by NASA/ESA/Goddard/UCBerkeley/JPL-Caltech/STScI

via Gizmodo
New Hubble Video Shows Jupiter in Glorious Ultra High Definition

As a well-traveled car enthusiast I thought I’d heard of all the greatest roads in North America. I’d driven the Tail of the Dragon and Highway 1. I used to live next to Skyline Drive. It turns out there was a better road, but it was just a secret.

In this episode of Jalopnik Investigates we look at California State Route 33, an orgasmic stretch of road that starts in Ojai and terminates in the middle of nowhere.

While some Californians and fans of Matt Farah have seen bits of and pieces of the road in videos, it generally doesn’t get mentioned when people talk about the greatest roads. In my experience, it’s the best place you can drive in North America.

There’s the perfect mix of elevation, scenery, turns, and pacing that make it exciting to drive in both directions. During the week it’s also fairly empty with only limited law enforcement.

What’s better than that?

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Contact the author at matt@jalopnik.com.

via Gizmodo
America’s Greatest Driving Road Is A Giant Secret

Admit it, you’re not necessarily a fan of all Apple’s products. Some are life changers for sure – you’ll have to pry my iPhone out of my cold, dead hands. Others are maybe more, ‘meh’. iTunes falls into that latter category for a lot of people. While it was groundbreaking back in the day, these […]

Visit What’s on iPhone for the best iPad and iPhone app reviews!
Do you want to feel like a wizard? Check the Kymera wand in Amazon: You can control your Apple TV waving a wand!

via Apple TV Hacks
How to love your Apple TV and hate iTunes, successfully (and Apple TV 4 giveaway!)

While the de rigueur ‘Keep Austin Weird’ signs can be seen at just about every dive bar, coffee house and organic food co-op here in the capital, this place is really no different than any other larger college town. It’s … Read More

The post Gun Hero of the Day: UT-Austin’s John Doggett appeared first on The Truth About Guns.

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Gun Hero of the Day: UT-Austin’s John Doggett

via kottke.org
50 unknown facts about Star Wars

Scientists testing a malaria vaccine in pregnant women made a surprising discovery that shows promise for treating cancer. When the … Continued

The post Malaria vaccine for pregnant women kills cancer appeared first on Futurity.

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Malaria vaccine for pregnant women kills cancer

Thai sticky rice (also known as sweet rice or glutinous rice) is a delightfully interactive grain that can be shaped into little balls and scoops that are perfect for dipping. The sticky stuff is usually made with a fancy basket, but you can make it with your colander.

We’ve previously discussed making Thai sticky rice using a spatter guard, but Food 52 argues that a colander is even better. Not only does it hold more rice than a spatter guard, but it’s a much more common kitchen item. (I don’t know about you, but I don’t have a spatter guard.)

Cooking the rice is pretty simple, but the most important part is buying the correct rice. Don’t overthink it, just know that Jasmine rice is not what you’re looking for; look for a rice (preferably a Thai brand like Three Horses) with words like “Thai,” “sweet rice,” and “glutinous rice,” on the packaging.

Once you have purchased the correct rice, grab a pot (with a lid or some foil to cover) and a colander. Any colander will do, just make sure the holes aren’t bigger than the grains, for obvious reasons. Food 52 can walk you through the process in a more detailed manner, but it’s as simple as steaming. Simply fill the pot with water (you want it to be a few inches below the bottom of the colander), set the colander on top of the pot, cover, bring to a boil, lower the heat, and them steam for about fifteen minutes. You now have delicious sticky rice, ready to be dipped in as many delicious sauces as you can make.

The Best Way to Make Thai Sticky Rice (No Fancy Basket Required)|Food 52

Photo by Seba Della y Sole Bossio.

via Lifehacker
Make Thai Sticky Rice Using a Colander and a Pot