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We’ve been covering the twists and turns of Congressman Lamar Smith’s (R-Tex.) tussle with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Rep. Smith, who chairs the House Science Committee, has accused NOAA scientists of manipulating climate data for political ends. While the NOAA has provided Smith with all the (publicly available) data and methodology behind the peer-reviewed study in question, Smith has also subpoenaed the scientists’ e-mails.

Now, a new combatant has joined the fray: conservative government watchdog and FOIA factory Judicial Watch.

According to a press release from the group, Judicial Watch submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request on October 30 for many of the same records Rep. Smith is seeking. The group requested “all documents and records of communications between NOAA officials, employees, and contractors” relating to decisions about methods for building NOAA’s global surface temperature dataset. In addition, Judicial Watch included a request for communications about Rep. Smith’s subpoena.

(credit: Glenn Asakawa, University of Colorado)

Moving data around inside a computer means shoving it through wires, which have inherent bandwidth limitations and produce a lot of heat. Once that data hits a network, however, it often runs across optical hardware, which can send information long distances at high bandwidth without needing a dedicated nuclear reactor for power.

The contrast between the two methods has most companies thinking about ways of getting optical connections inside computers and, eventually, inside chips themselves. This poses a significant challenge. While it's possible to use silicon to create light-handling features, the processes used to do so are incompatible with the CMOS techniques used to make circuitry. As a result, most efforts in this area have used separate chips: one for the processor, one for the optical interconnect.

Now, a research team has put together a single chip that handles both optical and electrical processing, and which uses an optical connection to its main memory. While the bandwidth remains low, the entire system was manufactured using standard CMOS processes. And it incorporates a small RISC processor that's able to run standard text and graphical programs.

Have you ever watched a car commercial that features exploding cutaway views of cars in motion or impossible location shots, then wondered where the CGI cars they used came from?

As it happens, many of them are the same models used in online car configurators—those 3D renders of vehicles that let you play around with different paint or trim options. Since car companies are better at building physical cars than 3D models of cars, they have long partnered with CGI firms like Mackevision (which also does effects work for Game of Thrones) to build these digital models.

It's a job that Mackevision's CEO Armin Pohl described to Ars as "a blend between magic and logic" when we spoke recently. One of the company's most recent efforts was work with Porsche on the Mission E, which Mackevision has shared with us here.

The structure of a borophene cluster. (credit: Wikimedia Commons)

Graphene is an exceptionally strong and conductive material composed of a single atomic layer of carbon. Its discovery sparked interest in the development of other two-dimensional (2D) materials, and, over the past decade, scientists have discovered hundreds. These materials boast abilities that could make a noticeable impact in areas such as electronics, thermal management, filtration, medicine, and more.

Now, an unusual atom—boron—has been used to produce a novel 2D material called "borophene."

Boron at the atomic level

Boron is one of the many materials that has been considered for development of 2D materials. Boron is an interesting atom to use as a building block for a number of reasons. First, it is a semi-metal, meaning it exhibits some properties of metals and some properties of nonmetals; as a 2D material, it thus has the potential to exhibit unique behavior.

Let us help you narrow that down, Steam. (credit: Steam Store)

Sorry wallets, but it's Steam sale time again. Yes, the Steam Winter Sale is once again upon us, offering deep discounts on over 10,000 downloadable PC titles from now through 10am Pacific Time on January 4, 2016.

Unlike previous Steam sales, this year's Winter Sale doesn't feature any deals that might vary over time. All currently discounted titles will stay at their current prices until the sale ends, with no other surprise discounts along the way. That means we can make some recommendations without worrying that prices may soon fall even lower or that other high-profile games will get discounts in the near future.

With so many games being offered this year, we thought we'd help you narrow the list down to a few titles worth your time and money. All of the 50 recommended sale-priced games listed below are good buys at their original prices—and even better deals during the next two weeks. Some are classic games that you may already own, while others are 2015 releases that have already been steeply discounted.