literature.cafe

The concept of panspermia has ancient roots, with mentions in various philosophical texts and doctrines. However, it gained scientific credibility in the 19th century. Notable scientists like Lord Kelvin and Svante Arrhenius began advocating for the possibility of life being spread through space by meteoroids or radiation pressure, respectively. In modern times, the hypothesis has been discussed in the context of astrobiology, the study of life in the Universe, and has been examined through various scientific lenses.

Panspermia is a hypothesis that has the potential to revolutionize our understanding of life’s origins and distribution in the Universe. While evidence supporting this theory is still circumstantial, ongoing research in astrobiology, planetary science, and astronomy continues to provide important insights. Whether or not panspermia is ever proven, the questions it raises and the research it inspires make it an important subject for scientific inquiry.

Summary

In a harsh example of Trump’s immigration crackdown, U.S. Army veteran and Purple Heart recipient Jose Barco faces deportation to Venezuela, despite serving in Iraq and suffering severe combat injuries.

After his citizenship application vanished during service and he served prison time for a violent offense linked to untreated trauma, ICE detained him upon release.

Venezuela won’t accept him, leaving him stateless.

Barco’s case spotlights the Trump administration’s punitive policies toward veterans, erosion of due process, and broader threats to constitutional rights under his increasingly authoritarian leadership.

No premiere date announced yet. The new PV is here. Check out the ANN article for additional information. Synopsis from AniList:

Once upon a time, there was Winter. Winter was once the only season in the world—but such an existence was too lonely to bear, and so it created Spring to love. Before long, the earth wished for more time to rest in the cycle, and Summer and Autumn were born. The ones who carry the cycle are called the Agents of the Four Seasons. Hinagiku, the Vernal Agent, disappeared from this land ten years ago, taking the season of spring with her. Now, after incredible hardship, she has returned to restore the cycle to its proper state—and, as in the myth passed down since the dawn of time, she sends her love to Winter.

This indirect use of palm oil is often overlooked in the zero-deforestation accounting process, despite its growing use, according to a report by U.S.-based advocacy group Rainforest Action Network (RAN). The report found that palm oil-based animal feed is now the single largest palm oil product category imported by the U.S., accounting for 36% of all palm oil imports into the country by weight.

archived article (Wayback Machine)

archived report from RAN (Wayback Machine)

During a visit to Egypt, President Emmanuel Macron said France will move towards recognising a Palestinian state.

Note: I just realised that there was also an article, so here it is.

The global rush to AI technology will require almost as much energy by 2030 as Japan uses today. One data center today consumes as much electricity as 100,000 households, but some of those currently under construction will require 20 times more.

Processing data, mainly for AI, will consume more electricity in the US alone than manufacturing steel, cement, chemicals and all other energy-intensive goods combined, according to a report from the International Energy Agency.

AI has the potential to reverse all the gains made in recent years in advanced economies to reduce their energy use, mainly through efficiencies. The rapid increase in AI also means companies will seek the most readily available energy – which could come from gas plants, which were on their way out in many developed countries. In the US, the demand could even be met by coal-fired power stations being given a new lease on life, aided by Donald Trump’s enthusiasm for them.

https://archive.ph/n4xyL

Why do so many games rely on client-side anti cheat and stuff like kernel level anti-cheat?

Anti Commercial-AI license

Premieres January 2026. The new PV is here. Check out the ANN article for additional information. Synopsis from AniList:

When Lizel mysteriously finds himself in a city that bears odd similarities to his own but clearly isn't, he quickly comes to terms with the unlikely truth: this is an entirely different world. Even so, laid-back Lizel isn't the type to panic. He immediately sets out to learn more about this strange place, and to help him do so, hires a seasoned adventurer named Gil as his tour guide and protector.

Until he's able to find a way home, Lizel figures this is a perfect opportunity to explore a new way of life adventuring as part of a guild. After all, he's sure he'll go home eventually... might as well enjoy the otherworldly vacation for now!

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.sdf.org/post/32443864

Hong Kong national security police have taken away the parents of wanted US-based activist Frances Hui Wing-ting for questioning, the Post has learned, after Washington imposed a new round of sanctions on local officials for what it called "transnational repression".

A source said that Hui's mother and father were escorted to two police stations in Sha Tin on Thursday.

Hui, who left the city in 2020 and is now based in the United States, is among 19 activists with HKcopy million bounties on their heads for allegedly violating the Beijing-imposed national security law in Hong Kong.

[...]

In 2022, Hui was granted political asylum in the US. She now serves as a policy and advocacy coordinator at the Washington-based Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation, which is considered "anti-China" by city authorities.

[...]

Arts Atlanta:

The Reservoir, a world-premiere play on the Alliance Hertz Stage through May 4, in co-production with Geffen Playhouse and the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, opens with the manic main character Josh coming off the heels of a bender. His mother is at her wit’s end, near ready to give up on her chronic...

Aggressive deportation tactics have terrorized farmworkers at the center of the nation’s bird flu strategy, public health workers say.

I've been playing through Avowed since it came out and loving it. Although admittedly I was already a big Pillars of Eternity fan.

Then South of Midnight has come out recently and blown me away. I had low expectations but it is pretty much a new Psychonauts game.

The puzzler Chants of Senaar has been very fun so far with a unique take on the puzzle genre in terms of learning a new symbol based language.

Finally Blue Prince comes out today and it's got 10/10 review across the board. I feel like I am getting good value from my sub at the moment.

With games now jumping from one generation of consoles to the next, when is the best time to play something? Is there ever a best time?

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/28396595

From WABE Politics News:

For the first time in decades, America needs to produce more electricity. In many places, a sharp uptick in power demand has been driven by data centers, the industrial buildings […]

Ideally your answer is a sub that you are currently posting to but few others are posting to.