Discover the Latest Innovations: Hackaday Links for November 16, 2025

We’re not claiming to be experts, but when working with expensive equipment, the first rule is clear: don’t break it. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what happened to the Deep Space Network’s 70-meter dish antenna at Goldstone, California. NASA recently announced an outage that occurred in mid-September. This antenna, affectionately called DSS-14, is crucial for communicating with satellites and space probes, from the Moon to the far reaches of our solar system. The Deep Space Network has antennas in Goldstone, Madrid, and Canberra, strategically placed to ensure full sky coverage.

Losing DSS-14 is a setback for NASA, especially as interest in lunar missions heats up. The antenna was damaged when it was “over-rotated,” stressing the cables and piping. Although NASA didn’t specify which axis was affected, it’s suspected that it may have exceeded the azimuth limit, possibly wrapping cables too tightly. One has to wonder if there are physical stops to prevent such issues. Let’s hope DSS-14 gets fixed soon.

In another surprising moment, Russian engineers faced a tough situation during the reveal of their new AI-powered humanoid robot, AIdol. The demo began poorly as the robot struggled to move gracefully, stumbling and collapsing on stage. It was awkward for everyone involved, especially with the upbeat walk-out music playing.

The theme of rough workdays continued with a computer technician who undertook the daunting task of cleaning a GPU that had been neglected in a smoker’s home for years. The restoration process showcased just how dirty technology can get. It’s a grim reminder of how some work environments can lead to unimaginable messes.

Speaking of unique jobs, consider those generating training data for AI domestic robots. One worker, Naveen Kumar, films himself performing simple tasks like folding towels. This footage is then used to teach robots how to move. Even more bizarre, a partnership between an AI startup and a real estate company allows real estate videos to train robots. If your house has recently been for sale, it might be contributing to robot training!

Lastly, imagine being a European astronaut and potentially eating protein made from… urine. The product, known as Solein, is created through a process involving microbes and electricity. In space, it may even use urea harvested from astronauts. While the taste remains unknown, we can only speculate.

These examples underscore the fascinating and often challenging world of technology and innovation. Whether it’s repairing equipment, training robots, or exploring new food sources, there’s no shortage of surprising stories in the tech landscape.



Source link