Self driving cars have had many incremental improvements. I think fusion power is actually making progress, not clear about solid state batteries. Seems more companies closing than making solid progress.

Fusion is one of those things that will probably not be done in my lifetime (the hype cycle on that has been forever, remember cold fusion from U of Utah?). I'm much more optimistic about solid state batteries.

The obvious fraud from the 90s?

But, the real issue seems to be that fusion has a large nuclear waste problem. Ironically, probably more so than fission reactors. It can be fixed, but probably not in first gen reactors. However there are companies pushing designs that solve it already

I did my PhD in an adjacent area and its not clear any of these come anywhere close to regenerating your enamel.

Thanks for chiming in. What do you think they do, and why do you think they are perceived as being more effective than they actually are? Any thoughts on the bacteria-morphing one?

I don't know too much about the bacteria stuff. Regarding enamel, the native structure is very intricate and contributes to the properties. Most of the acellular chemical reminalization just deposits disorganized minerals on the teeth. It might be improved vs. doing nothing (I'm not sure but I do use fluoride reminalization from the dentist) but its not regenerating your enamel. Imagine just slapping some concrete or mortar all over a slowly decaying intricate brick wall vs. rebuilding the brick structure; you may mitigate complete collapse but you didn't fix the decaying brick wall.

Did you see this article which claims "New gel restores dental enamel"

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45826995

Yes, I knew a few of the authors from my time in grad school. Certainly much closer to mimicking the enamel structure but not a commercial therapy yet.

I thought the insect breathing work at the synchrotron was cool https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.1078008

They seem to be 10 years out forever.

Its like a big yacht will have a small boat to take you to shore. The big planes need to carry little planes that can land at small local airstrips close by. Problem solved.

If you use the TSA-free private terminal then you basically have Jet Suite X, its ok. The planes are old and there is nothing in the terminal if you do get stuck waiting so its not really amazing.

I have a common first initial and last name and that's my gmail and I get more email for other people than myself

If your institute doesn't have an in house glass blower and you need one, I've been happy with these guys for the past 20 years https://adamschittenden.com/

I lived in WA and NV and didn't notice either of these. I miss not having to deal with state taxes not to mention the 10% of my income that goes away to who knows what.

If you are high income, of course you don't notice differences in levels of regressive taxes on consumption (including real property taxes, which, while not nominally this, for most people end up as a—direct for homeowners and indirect for renters—consumption tax on housing) as you do levels of progressive taxes on income (which is why frequently the income-tax-heavy states with higher average tax burdens also have lower tax burdens at equivalent income levels for median and lower incomes.)

It looks like Washington state makes most of their money from sales tax. And, wow, that's regressive.

No but everything in WA costing 10% more than the sticker price is a pain in the butt, especially if you are a lower income individual.

I'm Canadian so I guess I was used to this and its now worse in California with state income tax as well!

Frequent replacement is critical, my understanding is the activated carbon filters typically provided have very limited capacity. More so when compared to the lifetime of the hepa.