#089: Unforeseen Consequences
20 years ago, a small game studio called Valve released their first game. But even before that, the demo proved so good that other games were being cancelled just because of that. It went on to win over 50 “Game of the Year” awards, and is now considered one of the greatest video games of all time. Ask any gamer who was around back then, and they can probably tell you about the first time they played Half-Life, and the influence it had on the games that came after it: Unforeseen Consequences: A Half-Life Documentary (YouTube).
Good Old Times
Drilling into glaciers tells us a lot about the weather that our ancestors had during their lives. From the layers of old snow, scientists can tell a lot about what was in the air at that time. And a recent analysis revealed yet another reason why living in the Dark Ages sucked: Why 536 was ‘the worst year to be alive’.
It Knows Where You Live
Our smartphones contain a lot of technology that used to be in separate devices. Among them is GPS, which allows your phone to pinpoint your location down to a few meters. That has useful applications, like navigation or tracking a run, but some apps then go on and sell that data: Your Apps Know Where You Were Last Night, and They’re Not Keeping It Secret.
Well-intentioned Wanton Destruction
Superheroes are the last line of defense against humanity’s enemies, stalwart defenders of peace, and generally good role models to look up to. It’s their enemies that do the bad stuff, and who you’re supposed to be afraid of. But forget movie villains — it’s the “good” superheroes that are the most violent.
Jolly Good Legal Advice
An Interview With Santa’s Lawyer gives us a glimpse into all the legal legwork that goes into that one day of frantic present delivery.
📖 Weekly Longread 📚
There’s a lot of research going into new drugs that can slow or even halt the aging process. But a new contender has emerged — and it’s an old one: The Safe, Boring, and Extremely Cheap Drug That Could Cure Aging