Hackaday

240 articles in the Truth Foundry index. Each links out to the original.

• HamGPT: New AI Chatbot Specialized in Real-Time Ham Radio Data · HamGPT is a specialized AI chatbot that queries FCC databases and propagation reports for ham radio operators.
• Maker Builds WiFi-Enabled ESP32 Roulette Wheel with Database Tracking · A maker upgraded a 555-based roulette wheel to an ESP32 with WiFi and SQL database integration for automated scoring.
• Solar Thermal Air Panels Successfully Dry Clothes with Minimal Electricity · Greenhill Forge demonstrates solar thermal air drying reducing clothes dryer power use by over 90%
• Octopus Ribosome RNA Break Enables Advanced Intelligence via Convergent Evolution · Octopuses evolved a unique H88 rRNA break in ribosomes that boosts protein synthesis accuracy to support complex nervous systems.
• BornHack 2026 Cyber Ægg Badge Functions as Desktop Clock and MeshCore Node · The BornHack 2026 Cyber Ægg is an egg-shaped event badge that serves as a desktop clock, calendar, and MeshCore node after the camp.
• Hackaday Podcast 378 Covers Supercon, Google Earth Retirement, and Retro Tech Hacks · Hosts discuss Supercon proposals, Google Earth's desktop retirement, and various DIY tech projects in this episode.
• MacSurf 2.0 Enables OS 9 PowerPC Macs to Browse Modern Web · MacSurf 2.0 allows OS 9 PowerPC Macs to access HTTPS websites with improved performance and features.
• EU Battery Regulation Adds Exemptions for Smartwatches and Smartphones · The EU introduced six new exemption categories to its 2027 user-serviceable battery rules, including for wet devices and high-endurance smartphone batteries.
• Wireless LCD Streaming Mod for ANENG AN870 Multimeter · Custom hardware streams ANENG AN870 multimeter LCD data wirelessly using RP2040, HC-12, and ESP32-C3 for OBS overlays.
• Mercury Sloshing Creates Neon Glow in Recreated 1675 Barometric Light Experiment · Styropyro recreates Jean Picard's 1675 barometric light using mercury and neon gas in an evacuated flask to produce a bright orange-red glow when shaken.
• Railroads Paint Tracks White to Cut Heat and Maintain Freight Speeds · Union Pacific and European railroads paint continuously welded rails white to lower temperatures by 11 °C and avoid heat-related speed restrictions.
• Cheap USB 3 Hub Misleads: Only Ports Are Blue, Chipset Is USB 2 · A generic USB 3 hub contains only USB 2.0 chips despite blue port connectors.
• Bad Apple Animation Runs on CD+G Karaoke Format with Palette Swapping · Adam Gashlin runs the Bad Apple animation on CD+G hardware using palette swapping and triple buffering.
• Brown University Scientists Find Relativistic Effects in Atomic Bonds · Heavy bismuth nuclei cause relativistic effects that hybridize sigma and pi bonds in triple bonds.
• NOAA Investigates Unexpected GOES-19 Satellite Failure During Hurricane Season · NOAA's newest weather satellite GOES-19 went offline and is currently in safe mode.
• Google Earth Desktop Client To Be Retired In 2027 · Google will discontinue the Google Earth desktop client in June 2027, restricting access to mobile and browser versions.
• Open-Source AIS Transponder MANIA Aims to Revolutionize Maritime Safety · Open-source AIS transponder MANIA offers a compact, cost-effective alternative to commercial maritime tracking systems.
• Chemist Suchir2004 Turns Chromatography Into Artistic Medium · Chemist Suchir2004 uses chromatography techniques to separate ink pigments into butterfly shapes as an art form.
• Moddo Unveils Pinch: World's Smallest 32-Bit Arduino-Compatible Board · Moddo's Pinch board fits on a USB-C connector with native USB and 15 GPIO pins
• Developer Ahmed Amer Runs DOOM in a 300 MB CSS Style Sheet · Ahmed Amer created a massive CSS file that emulates an IBM PC compatible system and runs DOOM at two instructions per second.
• DIY Cardboard Top Cover for Snapmaker U1 3D Printer · Maker cmh designed a cardboard top cover for the Snapmaker U1 3D printer using a 3D-printed reference model.
• FLOSS Weekly 875: Nariman Jelveh Discusses Browser-as-OS Project Puter · FLOSS Weekly hosts Jonathan and Nariman Jelveh to discuss the Browser-as-OS project Puter.
• Japan's Hayabusa2 Spacecraft Targets Tiny 11-Meter Asteroid for Final Mission · Hayabusa2 will visit asteroid 1998 KY26 in 2031 for a final planetary defense and science mission.
• Open Source App Bypasses WHOOP Subscription for Local Data Processing · OpenStrap project creates a subscription-free, open-source app for WHOOP 4.0 wearables.
• Reviving AIM Protocol for Open-Source Instant Messaging Servers · Open-source projects enable self-hosted AIM and ICQ servers as alternatives to corporate platforms like Discord.
• New Electrofluidic Fiber Muscles Offer Humanoid Robotics Breakthrough · Researchers introduce electrofluidic fiber muscles that mimic biological actuation for humanoid robots.
• Star Trek Prompt Injection Vulnerabilities Real in Modern LLMs · Researchers confirm Star Trek logic bombs can waste tokens and cause DDoS attacks on LLMs
• DIY Beavis Ultrasound ISA Sound Card Clone Requires Rare AMD Chip · A new Beavis Ultrasound ISA sound card clone requires a rare AMD AM78C201 chip to build.
• Retro Enthusiast Replaces Sinclair Spectrum ULA with RP2050 Chip · A custom-built Sinclair Spectrum replaces its original ULA with an RP2050 microcontroller.
• Maker Builds Electromechanical Calculator Using Voltmeter Readouts · A skilled maker created a unique calculator using analog voltmeters as digit displays.