Tafeln am Limit: Zwei Millionen Menschen auf Hilfen angewiesen

Mehr Bedürftige, weniger Lebensmittel: Es fällt den Tafeln immer schwerer, arme Menschen zu unterstützen. Ihr Bundesvorsitzender sieht den Staat in der Pflicht und warnt vor Überlastung der Helfer.

Mehr Bedürftige, weniger Lebensmittel: Es fällt den Tafeln immer schwerer, arme Menschen zu unterstützen. Ihr Bundesvorsitzender sieht den Staat in der Pflicht und warnt vor Überlastung der Helfer.

Busting a myth: Saturn V rocket wasn’t loud enough to melt concrete

It also wasn’t loud enough to ignite grass or hair, or “blast rainbows from the sky.”

Scientists disproved a myth claiming the Saturn V rocket tested on the Apollo 4 mission in 1967 was loud enough to melt concrete.

Enlarge / Scientists disproved a myth claiming the Saturn V rocket tested on the Apollo 4 mission in 1967 was loud enough to melt concrete. (credit: NASA/Getty Images)

There's rarely time to write about every cool science-y story that comes our way. So this year, we're once again running a special Twelve Days of Christmas series of posts, highlighting one science story that fell through the cracks in 2022, each day from December 25 through January 5. Today: Busting the popular myth that the Saturn V launch was loud enough to melt concrete.

The 1967 Apollo 4 mission was an uncrewed flight to test the Saturn V rocket as a viable launch vehicle for future manned missions. The test was a smashing success and a critical step in the US space program. But the Saturn V was also incredibly loud—so loud that a rumor emerged claiming that the acoustic energy was sufficient to melt concrete. That is not the case, according to an August paper published in a special educational issue if the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America (JASA).

"The Saturn V has taken on this sort of legendary, apocryphal status," said co-author Kenneth Gee of Brigham Young University. "We felt that, as part of the JASA special issue on Education in Acoustics, it was an opportunity to correct misinformation about this vehicle." In addition to the authors' analysis, the paper includes several problems for students to solve relating to the event—including a tongue-in-cheek problem involving using acoustic temperature to make a grilled cheese sandwich.

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Ukraine-Krieg: Das große Pokern um den Sieg

Kann der Westen die Sanktionen durchhalten? Und wer blufft, mit welchen Folgen? Und über allem die Frage: Wie wahrscheinlich ist ein Sieg der Ukraine? (Teil 2)

Kann der Westen die Sanktionen durchhalten? Und wer blufft, mit welchen Folgen? Und über allem die Frage: Wie wahrscheinlich ist ein Sieg der Ukraine? (Teil 2)

Lilbits: Handbrake adds AV1 support, Fairphone 4 can now run Android 13 (unofficially)

The Fairphone 4 is a smartphone with mid-range specs that began shipping in 2021, but which should be supported at least until the end of 2025 thanks to Fairphone’s commitment not only to continue releasing software updates, but also spare parts…

The Fairphone 4 is a smartphone with mid-range specs that began shipping in 2021, but which should be supported at least until the end of 2025 thanks to Fairphone’s commitment not only to continue releasing software updates, but also spare parts. And while Fairphone has a pretty good track record of providing its own software […]

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Lenovo ThinkCentre M60Q Chromebox with Alder Lake-U is now available for $300 and up

The Lenovo ThinkCentre M60Q Chromebox is a compact desktop computer with an Intel Alder Lake processor, support for up to 32GB of RAM, and support for eMMC or SSD storage. Lenovo first introduced the M60Q last September, and then revealed detailed spe…

The Lenovo ThinkCentre M60Q Chromebox is a compact desktop computer with an Intel Alder Lake processor, support for up to 32GB of RAM, and support for eMMC or SSD storage. Lenovo first introduced the M60Q last September, and then revealed detailed specs in December. Now entry-level models are available for purchase for around $300. The entry-level […]

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Lenovo ThinkCentre M60Q Chromebox supports up to an Intel Core i5-1235U Alder Lake processor

The Lenovo ThinkCentre M60Q Chromebox is a compact desktop computer with an Intel Alder Lake processor, support for up to 32GB of RAM, and support for eMMC or SSD storage. When Lenovo first introduced the M60Q in September, the announcement was rather…

The Lenovo ThinkCentre M60Q Chromebox is a compact desktop computer with an Intel Alder Lake processor, support for up to 32GB of RAM, and support for eMMC or SSD storage. When Lenovo first introduced the M60Q in September, the announcement was rather light on details. Now detailed spec sheets are available, giving us a better idea […]

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Hisense Hi Reader Pro is an Android smartphone with a 6.1 inch E Ink display

The Hisense Hi Reader Pro is a smartphone with mid-range specs including a Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 processor, 4GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage. Up for pre-order in China for less than $250, there’s one thing that makes this phone different from …

The Hisense Hi Reader Pro is a smartphone with mid-range specs including a Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 processor, 4GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage. Up for pre-order in China for less than $250, there’s one thing that makes this phone different from most others though: its display. Instead of an LCD or AMOLED screen, the […]

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Lenovo YogaBook 9i dual-screen laptop leaked

Before PC makers like Asus and Lenovo started producing tablets with foldable displays that allowed you to use them like a laptop, a handful of companies had tried something a little different: dual-screen laptops that put a second screen where you&#8…

Before PC makers like Asus and Lenovo started producing tablets with foldable displays that allowed you to use them like a laptop, a handful of companies had tried something a little different: dual-screen laptops that put a second screen where you’d normally find a keyboard. It’s been a little while since we’ve seen a new […]

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Australia Launches Copyright Enforcement Review & Consultation

The Australian Government will conduct a review of current copyright enforcement measures in 2023, to ensure they remain “appropriate, effective and proportionate.” The Attorney-General’s Department has released an issues paper for public consultation, the first step towards determining whether Australia’s existing enforcement regime is fit-for-purpose.

From: TF, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.

australiaOver the past five years the Australian Government has committed significant resources to several copyright-related initiatives, not least the Copyright Amendment (Online Infringement) Act 2018.

In preparation for 2023 and beyond, the government wants to determine whether enforcement measures available under existing copyright law remain appropriate, effective and proportionate. The first stage of that process begins with an issues paper published by the Attorney General’s Department.

Copyright Enforcement Review & Consultation

Copyright in Australia is governed by the Copyright Act 1968 which is administered by the Attorney-General’s Department.

Copyright infringement, such as downloading/sharing music, movies and TV shows, is punishable under civil and criminal law, depending on individual circumstances. The Copyright Act also allows rightsholders to request ISP blocking injunctions against overseas pirate services, and pursue legal action against those who circumvent technical protection measures.

Through its Copyright Enforcement Review the Government seeks to understand current and emerging enforcement priorities and the challenges they face within the existing framework, as shown below.

aus copyright enforcement framework

A public consultation seeking views from “all parts of the copyright system,” including rightsholders, users, institutions and service providers, will help the government determine if changes are required to ensure the protection of creative content moving forward.

The government says that proposals should not impose “unreasonable administrative or economic burdens” on those expected to implement them.

Overall Piracy Shows No Strong Trend in Either Direction

The issues paper states that most Australians who consume content online “do the right thing,” but a minority still consume content in a way that infringes copyright.

The government acknowledges that any infringement is troubling for rightsholders but notes that “data does not indicate a strong upward or downward trend in demand for unlicensed and infringing digital content over recent years.”

What the data does show, however, are shifts in specific forms of infringing content consumption. While music, movie and TV show piracy show a general downward trend, piracy of content in the publishing sector is on the increase.

australia piracy trends 2017-2022

“The growth in visits to publishing piracy sites in recent years is driven to a large extent by increases in visits to sites categorised as Manga sites, which accounted for over 60% of Australian visits to publishing piracy sites in 2021,” the paper adds.

aus copyright review questions

The detail in the review suggests a willingness to look at all aspects of copyright enforcement in Australia, from those defined under law to measures obtained via private, commercial agreements.

Industry and Statute-Based Mechanisms

Any development of industry-driven mechanisms must take place within existing law, but their nature allows participants to go beyond their legal obligations. While these types of agreements can limit friction and reduce the need for legal action, more often than not the first casualty is transparency.

Examples include collaboration between industry partners to identify and take down allegedly infringing content more quickly, or the utilization of automatic content recognition tools to prevent content from reappearing following a takedown.

Site-Blocking Measures

Statute-based mechanisms available under the Copyright Act will also face scrutiny during the government’s review. One example is Australia’s 7-year-old site-blocking mechanism, which to date has blocked 1,600 sites following an initial injunction, and an unspecified number under 300 extension orders tackling replacement domains, mirror and proxy portals.

Previous reports from the government, rightsholders, and anti-piracy groups have praised the efficacy of blocking in Australia. A 2018 report from Incopro (pdf) noted that it “resulted in a usage reduction of 53.4% to blocked sites when comparing usage recorded in November 2017 to before blocking took effect.”

In 2020, the MPA reported (pdf) that blocked pirate site users “increased consumption of content on legal viewing sites in the post-period following the blocking by 5%.” A 2021 OCI survey found that 59% of citizens who encountered a block simply gave up, with 18% seeking legal access instead.

Given the gentle prompting in the issues paper, those who previously praised Australia’s blocking program may be encouraged to demand more. Technological “tools and techniques” including VPNs can be used to bypass site-blocking, the paper notes, adding that the use of custom DNS services “may be increasing.”

aus copyright review questions2

Major rightsholder submissions may cite blocking circumvention as an issue but are more likely to focus on improvements to the existing system. Australia’s approach to blocking is extremely thorough and the legal process is meticulous, but by most standards, it is very, very slow.

Rightsholders may be hesitant to request too much, but the speed of blocking following an application is likely to be a key issue. It might be too soon for Australia, but no one should be surprised if there are calls for a fast-track administrative blocking system, operated by a new or designated authority, and assisted by industry-nominated ‘trusted notifiers’.

The Copyright Enforcement Review issues paper can be found here (pdf) and the announcement here. Submissions can be made here (link)

The consultation ends March 7, 2023

From: TF, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.