Neural Magic introduces Sparse Llama 3.1 8B, the first sparse foundation model based on Meta’s Llama 3.1 8B, boasting 98% recovery on Open LLM Leaderboard v1 and full recovery across fine-tuning tasks like math, coding, and chat. The model features hardware-accelerated sparsity optimized for NVIDIA Ampere GPUs, delivering faster throughput and lower latency. It is […]

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The paper delves into GNU make jobserver implementation, explaining how GNU make can invoke multiple commands in parallel and how jobserver solves the problem of coordinating jobs across different instances of make in a recursive build environment. The jobserver feature uses a simple pipe system, with unique considerations for handling signals and file descriptor events […]

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Beginning January 1st every year, a fresh batch of works become part of the public domain, allowing free access for all to enjoy, share, and reuse for any purpose. Various countries have different copyright laws, resulting in multiple public domains. In 2025, works by individuals who passed away in 1954 will enter the public domain […]

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Navigating her newfound fame post-Murderbot, Martha Wells’ journey is shaped by creativity, resilience, and unique characters. Her iconic creation, the soft-hearted Murderbot, defies expectations in modern science fiction, moving readers with humor and social commentary. Wells’ unexpected rise to fame from her Texas roots is a testament to her dedication and storytelling prowess. Traversing setbacks […]

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Will shares his detailed journey of creating a VX canister prop from “The Rock,” thanking RPF member Nitrox for inspiration. The prop includes hand-filled glass beads with green goo, rubber grommet spacers, wire rings, magnet wire purely for aesthetics, SmoothCast 300 resin, acrylic, brass, PLA, aluminum rods, and brass/PVC foundation. Multiple approaches were tried and […]

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KlongPy is a high-performance array programming tool in Python, based on the Klong array language and NumPy. It offers vectorized operations, CPU, and GPU backend support, seamless integration with Python’s ecosystem, and various applications across fields. Created by Brian Guarraci, KlongPy combines simplicity with powerful computing capabilities, facilitating rapid application development. Unique features include its […]

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In Kenya, the quality of coffee has seen a decline over the past few years, with many attributing the blame to an increase in Ruiru 11 and Batian varieties. However, this theory is challenged as many famous estates and associations still produce coffee with these hybrids. The system in Kenya is complex, with a colonial […]

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Silk, consisting of silk fibroins and sericin, has a rich history in ancient cultures, especially in sacrificial rituals and communication with deities. The importance of silk in rituals is evident in ancient Chinese texts, where it was used in clothes to worship ancestors and Heaven, and as materials for making books and paintings for offerings. […]

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The author explores the scientific classification and unique morphological features of the xenomorph creature from the Alien movie franchise. They propose a novel taxonomic order, Xenomorpha, to accommodate the species and suggest the presence of shared characteristics with Earth’s arthropods. The article delves into the xenomorph’s biochemistry, including its acidic hemolymph and exoskeletal resilience, providing […]

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In June 1993, the University of Colorado version of sudo introduced the iconic message: “We trust you have received the usual lecture from the local Systems Administrator. It usually boils down to these two things: #1) Respect the privacy of others. #2) Think before you type.” Todd C. Miller, the maintainer of CU sudo, is […]

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