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Apollo's Core Rope Memory
Most computers have some kind of permanent memory, referred to as the ROM or EEPROM, to store infrequently changing code such as a BIOS or firmware. The hardware for this memory is different to that of working memory, or RAM, which is updated frequently during the use of a computer.
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DTLS v1.3: An Introduction
The folks over at WolfSSL, the cryptography library used by MariaDB since 10.4.6, put together an amazing introduction to DTLS 1.3. The presentation is fitting for both those familiar with DTLS and those new to the topic.
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Shive and His Wave Generator
John M. Shive presents his wave generator invention in this classic Bell Labs documentary. The discussion revolves around the fundamental similarities of waves in every earthly medium. Concepts such as tuning, reflections, interference, resonance, phase, and standing waves are introduced in a visual manner with physical demonstrations.
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AI: Living The Dream
If only we could make a program that could learn. If only we could package the world’s knowledge in a format which a computer could understand. An MIT lecture from 1981 addresses these exact subjects while doing a better job of explaining AI than most presentations.
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Fireside Chat: Founders of Modern Computing
Ken Thompson is the inventor of Unix (the predecessor to Linux), B (the predecessor to C), ed (the predecessor to vi/vim), grep, and modern regular expressions. Not to be outdone by himself, he also is a co-creator of both C and Golang.
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TLS Connections Byte by Byte
Many engineers have configured applications with certificates, but do not understand how these are used. TLS, which supercedes SSL, is the network protocol on which HTTPS and so many other secure protocols are built.
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Apollo 11's Guidance Computer Crashloop
The first moon landing was nearly brought to a halt by a nasty computer bug in the system responsible for setting the Lunar Module down on the moon’s surface. This lecture on the Apollo Guidance Computer details the overall architecture as well as how the landing was executed.
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How Does an RBMK Reactor Explode?
Did the final episode of the Chernobyl HBO series leave you hungry for a more detailed explanation? Are you interested in the nuclear physics behind the disaster? MIT offers a detailed lecture on the topic including the science behind the human impact and tissue damage.
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Security Culture Lessons From Nuclear Facilities
What can we learn about security culture and posture management from the nuclear industry? If you thought nuclear facilities would have perfect security, the following lecture from Belfer Center on maximum physical security facilities is worth a watch.
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How Nuclear Bombs Work
The recent film Oppenheimer portrays the human and societal impacts of nuclear weapons while avoiding any technical depth. If you are interested in the scientific side of this story and how these lethal devices are designed, the Belfer Center online lectures are a great source of information.
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Richard Feynman on Quantum Electrodynamics
Who better to learn quantum electrodynamics and Feynman diagrams with than the man himself? Most explanations of quantum physics go on and on about how “light behaves as both a particle and a wave” and how impossible and confusing this is and how amazed you should be that such a thing happens.
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F-22 Flight Controls: Easier than a Cessna?
How does an F-22 Raptor fly? What makes its radar signature so minimal? What does it have in common with more relatable aircraft types? A U.S. Air Force test pilot visited MIT and gave a unique lecture on the topic.
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