[14th July 2024] Interesting Things I Learnt This Week


1. Self-hosting your location history with OwnTracks : OwnTracks is an open-source alternative to Google Maps Timeline, allowing users to privately track and store their location history. Many are dissatisfied with Google's upcoming changes to location history storage and seek a replacement. OwnTracks involves a server-side component to store location data and mobile apps to report location. The author details a setup using Docker, Caddy, and Tailscale for a private, self-hosted solution. While the initial setup is complex, the author finds OwnTracks promising, with potential for improvement in the mobile app's user experience and the web app's features.

My Take: OwnTracks is an interesting alternative. I have not tried it yet, the only thing I am scared of is hosting something which is accessible on the internet. 


Source: Florida Museum

2. Sea level rise claims first victim, tree cactus goes extinct : Rising sea levels, linked to climate change, are believed to have claimed their first victim in the US - the Key Largo tree cactus. Discovered in 1992, this rare cactus thrived in a single Florida Keys population. By 2021, saltwater intrusion, storms, and erosion reduced their numbers to just six. Researchers fear this is a grim warning for other coastal plant life.

My Take: Its a sad thing we discovered Key Largo tree cactus so recently and now its all but gone. There might have been so many different such species of plants and animals which have been gone due to climate change way before we are even able to identify. I dont know if anyone who can really do anything about them will take any initiative to make the change. I am just sad right now. 


3. This lab-grown meat probably tastes like real beef : Scientists are developing lab-grown meat that better replicates the taste and smell of real beef. This could improve public perception of cultured meat and make it a more appealing alternative to traditionally farmed meat. Researchers believe this technology has the potential to expand beyond just beef to encompass the flavors of other animals and food products.

My Take: There has been a long time since development on plant based on and lab grown meat. Impossible is something I did try out once, but frankly I being a vegetarian, I found it less tastier than the vegetarian option. But then again, I am not the target audience. I hope they are able to make great progress with this and  probably the ISS or new equivalent of it can serve the same prepared there someday.


4. Edith Clarke: Architect of Modern Power Distribution : Edith Clarke, a pioneering electrical engineer, revolutionized power system analysis.  Despite being the first female electrical engineer at MIT and the first female EE professor in the US, her work on "symmetrical components"  laid the groundwork for analyzing complex, long-distance power grids. This innovation is a cornerstone of modern power distribution, ensuring the stability and efficiency of the systems that deliver electricity to our homes and businesses.

My Take: Such a humbling story of a great engineer. We often do give a lot of credit to Edison for bringing the light bulb but it would not have been feasible without all the different geniuses who worked to solve different problems in different domains to enable the magnificent achievement that electricity at home is. We are doing the same by idolizing  people like Elon Musk for example, when there were so many amazing people who contributed to making the electric car Roadster possible. I hope someday we will hear many more such stories.

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