Daily Tech News 28 June 2026

Top Story

You might not be interested in Langford's basilisk, but Langford's basilisk is interested in you. (Nerds.xyz)

Langford's basilisk is a science fiction concept where images can be crafted specifically to rewire the brain.

This doesn't work well on humans - and a good thing too, because in the original story it was instantly fatal. But guess what can also see and in some sense understand images and has no separation of instructions and data?

Tech News

Scientists have deciphered a 2000 year old lump of charcoal. (Smithsonian)

The charcoal was originally a scroll from Herculaneum, destroyed along with the rest of the city in the eruption of Vesuvius in the year 79. And much of it was destroyed again in 19th and 20th century attempts to decipher the carbonised chunk.

If you think I'm exaggerating the scroll's condition, the article has pictures.
Speaking of carbonised scrolls, why were two scientific papers by Max Planck retracted? (Science)

Because computers are dumb.
A tiny coffee table the size of a scorpion is forcing scientists to rethink carpentry. (Scitech Daily)

Because headline writers are also dumb.
With DDR3 and even DDR2 RAM prices on the increase, how about DDR1? Is that still safe? (Tom's Hardware)

Maybe. And you can run Windows 11 on it if you can find the rest of the parts in working order. IoT Edition, anyway, which doesn't have the pointless restrictions of the desktop version.
Analysts expect memory prices to double by the end of the year and increase by another 40% next year, before easing slightly in 2028 maybe. (WCCFTech)

Yay.
Reservations for Valve's Steam Machine are being resold on eBay for $2700. (WCCFTech)

That's for an entry level computer that is already wildly overpriced at $1349 thanks to the DRAM Apocalypse. Not clear if that includes the cost of the Gabe Cube or if it's just the reservation.
The PlayStation 6 is expected to cost at least $1000. (Notebook Check)

Sony is not planning to delay its release because things are only going to get worse.
Speaking of getting worse, Sony will be removing 551 films from the libraries of PlayStation Network customers in the UK and Europe. (Notebook Check)

And no, they won't be getting refunds.
Casio has reintroduced three models of its classic digital watches in the US, priced at $55. (Notebook Check)

Wait. That's actually not terrible. What's going on here?

Musical Interlude

Disclaimer: Fishes!

Posted by: Pixy Misa at 04:30 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 w00t

Posted by: m at June 28, 2026 04:30 AM (6wpGE)

2 Casio has reintroduced three models of is classic digital watches in the US, prices at $55. (Notebook Check)
Wait. That's actually not terrible. What's going on here?

"If you're not the customer, you're the product"?

Posted by: m at June 28, 2026 04:34 AM (6wpGE)

3 Well, these are practically antique designs, so they have no memory to speak of, and are immune to the current shortages. They're probably making a healthy profit even at $55.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at June 28, 2026 04:43 AM (BLOW1)

4 Good morning. Earlier today. Was Ghengis the first entry on the very much missed list as Joffen? I liked Ghengis.

These memory posts belong on a DOOM thread from Monty.

That's my memory for the day.

Posted by: meh at June 28, 2026 04:53 AM (kK7U2)

5 Mornin'

Posted by: Puddleglum at work at June 28, 2026 04:55 AM (MmTZZ)

6 Casio's are great, rugged watches. I resented having to spend half a day figuring out how to adjust for DST.
Bought a good Timex.
Not much of a watch guy.

Posted by: MkY at June 28, 2026 04:59 AM (q6tQZ)

7 Lou Reed - Vicious

He seems nice.

Posted by: m at June 28, 2026 05:02 AM (6wpGE)

8 Morning, Tech Peeps

Posted by: fluffy at June 28, 2026 05:02 AM (V0/Sp)

9 >>>But guess what can also see and in some sense understand images and has no separation of instructions and data?

This is where I quickly skimmed back to see if Langford's basilisk is real or

>>>Langford's basilisk is a science fiction concept

Posted by: m at June 28, 2026 05:05 AM (6wpGE)

10 I haven't had a watch in years. If I ever get one, I want an old fashion analog watch. I had a Timex that lasted 18 years. Bought at the Offutt BX.

Posted by: Puddleglum at work at June 28, 2026 05:06 AM (MmTZZ)

11 I rock a Casio Forester analog.

Posted by: fluffy at June 28, 2026 05:06 AM (V0/Sp)

12
g'mornin', 'rons

Posted by: AltonJackson at June 28, 2026 05:10 AM (AMvSw)

13 I have a Casio, a Privia PX-5S. :->

Posted by: Dark Lixtiquatal at June 28, 2026 05:18 AM (DZ9Lv)

14 Good morning! Gotta drag the sprinklers out before 6 or so and do some lawn work later today. It's summer in Cowtown.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at June 28, 2026 05:19 AM (3Ope8)

15 Lou Reed (1942 - 2013)

Posted by: m at June 28, 2026 05:23 AM (6wpGE)

16 "any old time "

Posted by: Ben Had at June 28, 2026 05:25 AM (afJtY)

17 AltonJackson. Good morning. Hope you are well

Posted by: Ben Had at June 28, 2026 05:27 AM (afJtY)

18
g'mornin', Ben Had

all is well, hope you are, too

Posted by: AltonJackson at June 28, 2026 05:30 AM (AMvSw)

19 Dumb to my casio for a samsung smartwatch. I am NOT enjoying the experience. At all..

I keep wondering, what am I missing?

Posted by: JM in Illinois at June 28, 2026 05:32 AM (UykIJ)

20 Not sure I believe that memory prices will not show any relief until 2028. It may be true, but way out of character for that business.

Posted by: Pete Bogs Agentic alter ego at June 28, 2026 05:36 AM (X5wmt)

21 "Dumb to" == "Dumped my Casio for "

Posted by: JM in Illinois at June 28, 2026 05:38 AM (PaL8U)

22
My watch is an analog Timex whose only feature is the dial lighting up at the push of a button.

Push the wrong button on a digital watch and you're on Military Time in Uzbekistan and need a bomb defuser's skill in getting it back to normal.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at June 28, 2026 05:38 AM (O0L8i)

23 The scary part of that whole predication is that 2028 is only 18 months away.

Time really does fly if you live long enough. It’s zipping by right now.

Good morning Ben Had.

Posted by: Pete Bogs Agentic alter ego at June 28, 2026 05:39 AM (X5wmt)

24 Evening and morning, fellow AoSHQ devotees. Is it really Sunday? I slept 6.5 hrs. last night, and feel like I got only 5.

What was the original "Langford's basilisk" story, Pixy?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 28, 2026 05:41 AM (wzUl9)

25 23 2028 is only 18 months away
Posted by: Pete Bogs Agentic alter ego at June 28, 2026 05:39 AM (X5wmt)

yikes

Posted by: m at June 28, 2026 05:42 AM (6wpGE)

26 I just bought a new Casio sport watch with stopwatch function and a better dial light than my old Casio sport watch, for $25. The button for the light is the same one which controls the splits function. So, if you're exercising and hit the light button, the display freezes while the stopwatch function continues on. You have to push the button a second time to see the actual display.

Still, since I so often work out in the early morning, the light is worth having to do a double press.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 28, 2026 05:45 AM (wzUl9)

27 My everyday watches are all analog automatics: a 1971 Rolex Date, a '78 Rolex Sub, and a '20 Steinhart GMT with good lume that I use at night if I wake up in the dark. Which I often do.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 28, 2026 05:48 AM (wzUl9)

28 Belated BOING!

Back from brunch/lunch with our guests. Too relaxed.

Maybe l8r.

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at June 28, 2026 05:51 AM (5UTWB)

29 Fractured Flickers just handed out an elephant joke I'd never heard.

"Who do elephants have flat ears?"

"From wearing their cowboy hats too tight!"

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 28, 2026 05:57 AM (wzUl9)

30 Fractured Flickers just handed out an elephant joke I'd never heard.

"Who do elephants have flat ears?"

"From wearing their cowboy hats too tight!"

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 28, 2026 05:57 AM (wzUl9)
-

If they were really elephants, it would be because they wore their MAGA hats too tights.

But they're really RINOs.

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at June 28, 2026 06:02 AM (5UTWB)

31 G'Day everyone

Posted by: Skip at June 28, 2026 06:03 AM (Ia/+0)

32 Tea. Earl Grey. Hot.

Rejoinder: Delicious.

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea at June 28, 2026 06:06 AM (amcLV)

33 Pete Bog, good morning to you and L&T

Posted by: Ben Had at June 28, 2026 06:08 AM (afJtY)

34 Thursday and Friday predicing 100 degrees

Posted by: Skip at June 28, 2026 06:11 AM (Ia/+0)

35 Thursday and Friday predicing 100 degrees
Posted by: Skip at June 28, 2026

***
I'm trying not to look at the forecast for here. I pretty much can reel it off with only a small margin for error in temps or chance of rain, anyway.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 28, 2026 06:14 AM (wzUl9)

36 The traffic jam we were caught in on the elevated expressway that leads to the bridge last night? A shooting on the highway about 6:15 last evening. All but one lane was blocked for three hours, the CBS outlet says. It took us 45 minutes to cover two miles from our favorite bar and grill -- because once you are on that elevated stretch, like an interstate, you are stuck.

A shooting on the highway. Jeez, I need to get out of here.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 28, 2026 06:19 AM (wzUl9)

37 Speaking of MAGA hats:

https://tinyurl.com/ym49tht5

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at June 28, 2026 06:20 AM (5UTWB)

38 Julia Letlow, the Senate candidate endorsed by Trump, wont last night over John Fleming. Rs also won the Public Service Commission and Board of Elementary and Secondary Education slots.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 28, 2026 06:21 AM (wzUl9)

39 Langford's Basilisk origin:

https://tinyurl.com/yc6bhcns

Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at June 28, 2026 06:31 AM (WkL+O)

40 G'mornin' everyone!

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at June 28, 2026 06:33 AM (VyBeY)

41 The house is rocking to Motown, the first of the blueberry crumb cakes is in the oven and I can start mowing as soon as the sun comes up.

Posted by: Ben Had at June 28, 2026 06:35 AM (afJtY)

42 been a Casio wearer since sometime last century ... great watches!
current one is low maintenance, too; sets itself from the GPS constellation, solar charges its own battery, plus it has auxiliary UTC display for radio logging!

everyone have a great day! I'm outta here; day 2 of Field Day!

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at June 28, 2026 06:36 AM (VyBeY)

43 Langford's Basilisk origin:

https://tinyurl.com/yc6bhcns
Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at June 28, 2026

***
Thanks, SM. I'm not familiar with that author at all.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 28, 2026 06:37 AM (wzUl9)

44 > Memory Prices: To Infinity and Beyond!

Imagine that you are a memory chip line worker pulling down several million a year due to your union's success in securing profit share - laughing at the pittance the fry cook and janitor made in the SpaceX IPO.

Knowing human nature, and labor unions. Given the recent example of the stevedore strikes, what makes you think that new plants will be coming on line?

Posted by: Community Notes at June 28, 2026 06:51 AM (a4flb)

45 Today on our short walk we saw a pheasant, raccoon and this tiny flower, a Deptford Pink:

https://tinyurl.com/2bjjfkmv

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at June 28, 2026 06:54 AM (BdRar)

46 Reservations for Valve's Steam Machine are being resold on eBay for $2700.

***

I think Valve is the only old school AAA game company left that hasn't been completely consumed by the Woke virus (I give credit to Gabe Newell for that) and that I still have any respect for.

That said, those prices are insane.

Posted by: Biergood at June 28, 2026 06:58 AM (PwgSL)

47 And the farm up the road from us has little flags all around his perimeter which look.very nice blowing in the breeze) . and the house across from him ( I've talked to the owner so I know he's a Trump supporter ) has I. His woods a big black wooden cutout of what I think is supposed to be Bigfoot. Well, today, Bigfoot is carrying a big American flag.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at June 28, 2026 07:01 AM (BdRar)

48 https://www.americanthinker.com/citizen vigilante should terrify-western governments
From someone who saw it at least

Posted by: Skip at June 28, 2026 07:02 AM (Ia/+0)

49 > Memory Prices: To Infinity and Beyond Part II

Windows 11 requires current TPM tech, that is why so many computers in a family or a company's fleet can't make the upgrade.

This will further divide the casual home user from the person who can afford the steep component costs in terms of SSD and memory. Where running AI models was possible for many people, 70B+ capable machines running unquantized will cost around $10k or more.

How long before many people just have chrome books and subscribe to time on a cloud VM just to do anything more than browse the web?

Posted by: Community Notes at June 28, 2026 07:05 AM (a4flb)

50 and how long after that do they jailbreak the chromebooks and install Linux Mint?

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at June 28, 2026 07:07 AM (VyBeY)

51 Good morning morons

Posted by: San Franpsycho at June 28, 2026 07:11 AM (RIvkX)

52 mornin yall. I have boxes of old memory modules. Up until now I haven't figured out anything to do with them except may keychains. Anybody want a PC-100 keychain?

Posted by: fd at June 28, 2026 07:11 AM (MWfyi)

53 SanFranpsycho, Good morning

Posted by: Ben Had at June 28, 2026 07:12 AM (afJtY)

54 @nypost
·
41m
AOC says Congress should break up Apple amid looming price hikes for MacBooks and iPhones https://trib.al/faAhVQG

Posted by: Savage Henry at June 28, 2026 07:13 AM (eUZ+T)

55 54 @nypost
·
41m
AOC says Congress should break up Apple amid looming price hikes for MacBooks and iPhones https://trib.al/faAhVQG
Posted by: Savage Henry at June 28, 2026 07:13 AM (eUZ+T)

DURING PRIDE MONTH??!!???

Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at June 28, 2026 07:15 AM (WkL+O)

56 Morning peeps. Moar thunderstorms this morning. 6.5 inches of rain so far. Local flooding is minor (unless your house is in it) but regionally, it's pretty bad. Yesterday there was a state of emergency for KY.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at June 28, 2026 07:15 AM (jehhT)

57 - So what is, or are the reasons for these big rises in memory costs?
Is it a supply/demand thing with data centers being built buying it up?
Cost of manufacturing going up or expected to rise for some reason?
Lack of competition?

Posted by: TeeJ at June 28, 2026 07:15 AM (xI6JS)

58 And a request for the praying people here.: I shared yesterday on the prayer thread that our cat needed to be put to sleep, and people were very kind. I expect that today will be. a hard day for another reason which I may discuss tomorrow. so I would be grateful for prayers for strength. Thanks.

I hope you all have a blessed day and know that you are a blessing to others!

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at June 28, 2026 07:16 AM (ELdpA)

59 "AOC says Congress should break up Apple amid looming price hikes for MacBooks and iPhones https://trib.al/faAhVQG
Posted by: Savage Henry "

Workers unite! Technology belongs to the people. The oligarchy must perish to bring us a new era of enlightenment!

Posted by: Pawl at June 28, 2026 07:18 AM (MWfyi)

60 Fen losing a furry companion is hard

Posted by: Skip at June 28, 2026 07:18 AM (Ia/+0)

61 Good morning Ben Had!

Fen, I'm very saddened by this news. Good kitteh.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at June 28, 2026 07:18 AM (RIvkX)

62 Ia/+0)

35 Thursday and Friday predicing 100 degrees
Posted by: Skip at June 28, 2026

***
I'm trying not to look at the forecast for here. I pretty much can reel it off with only a small margin for error in temps or chance of rain, anyway.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at June 28, 2026 06:14 AM (wzUl9)

I just looked at our forecast - mostly sunny with highs in the upper 90’s every day for the next 14 days. The English will swear that is “proof” of Global Warming, but we just call it Summer in Texas.

Posted by: Tom Servo at June 28, 2026 07:19 AM (f1VM4)

63 AOC will lead us to prosperity, equity, and equality, regardless of how dumb and gullible you are.

Posted by: Pawl at June 28, 2026 07:20 AM (MWfyi)

64 I will pray Fen.

Posted by: meh at June 28, 2026 07:20 AM (kK7U2)

65 I meant that "I shared on the pet ( not prayer ) thread. And thanks, very much Skip and San Fran Psycho.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at June 28, 2026 07:22 AM (Yl2Ob)

66 Langford's basilisk?

Oh, Snow Crash. Have a nam-shub.

Posted by: Anna Puma at June 28, 2026 07:22 AM (2GVsD)

67 I don't often ask for macroeconomic advice, but when I do, I ask a failed bartender.

Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at June 28, 2026 07:22 AM (WkL+O)

68 Thanks very much "meh". You're doing that does not seem "meh" to me. I appreciate that.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at June 28, 2026 07:23 AM (Yl2Ob)

69 Scientists have deciphered a 2000 year old lump of charcoal.

PHerc. 1667 measures less than 0.8 inches in diameter.

Yeah, that pic in the article looks like a carbonized dog turd...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at June 28, 2026 07:26 AM (l3cgK)

70 Prays for you, Fen.

Any established console maker worth their MBA should be hunkering down for right now, working on optimizing their hardware and so forth so as to minimize material costs while not degrading performance, for when supply finally catches up with demand. But what do I know, I'm just a caveman.

Posted by: RandomDave at June 28, 2026 07:26 AM (aJQbY)

71 I imagine Bartender AOC was slinging her political opinions- along with the beers and cocktails- to her captive audience of barflies and rummys. One day, one of them said 'maybe YOU should run for Congress!'

...and here we are.

Posted by: Savage Henry at June 28, 2026 07:27 AM (eUZ+T)

72 Mornin' Horde. Anyone else get the feeling the AI craze is partially an effort to corner the market on memory and storage, reducing everyone to using crippled, retarded, net-dependent devices?

Posted by: Brother Tim sez at June 28, 2026 07:29 AM (0vM22)

73 If buying a digital movie doesn't mean you own it, then pirating a digital movie isn't theft.

Posted by: Victor Tango Jilo at June 28, 2026 07:29 AM (f0sNM)

74 Gingras was especially incensed that Springer Nature deviated from the normal practice of merely slapping the word RETRACTED across the digital version of the paper while still allowing scholars to read the text. Instead, the publisher posted a blank white page with the cryptic phrase, “This article has been withdrawn due to article violation.” Springer Nature is nevertheless still selling the empty PDF for $39.95.

But of course they are.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at June 28, 2026 07:31 AM (l3cgK)

75 @m: (from the tail of the ONT, where I was up from 2 to 3 am because of a leg cramp that I had to walk off):

"Moar electrolytes!"

I'm taking 420mg pills of magnesium oxide. I was at "one per day", but now that the warm/hot weather is here, I'm drinking more water daily, which means I'm flushing things out of my system faster (hello bathroom my old friend...)

I've added a second dose right before going to bed. Guess who forgot to take that "just before bedtime" dose last night? Yup. I did it to myself, which has been the theme of my week.

(Then I linked this song in the ONT):
youtu.be/y6SHii9wWFQ

And you wrote: "I liked that a LOT. I kept waiting for lyrics to start, kinda anxious-like, and they started exactly halfway through. The end is especially great.

Graeme Shepherd, better known by his stage name Grum

Any relation, G&R?"

*heh* No. Oh, and I think it might have been Pixy that linked that song here in the tech news once... If so, thanks Pixy!

And G'morning everyone. I'm finally up to face the day.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at June 28, 2026 07:31 AM (O7YUW)

76 73 If buying a digital movie doesn't mean you own it, then pirating a digital movie isn't theft.

Posted by: Victor Tango Jilo at June 28, 2026 07:29 AM (f0sNM)

Licenses, how do they work?

Posted by: LegalZoom Jugalos at June 28, 2026 07:32 AM (l3cgK)

77 Birdbath status?

Posted by: Just Wondering at June 28, 2026 07:32 AM (mGqX+)

78 Representatives from Springer Nature declined to comment, beyond saying that “detailed information about specific retractions is usually confidential and can only be shared with the relevant authors.” The company also nixed an editorial that Scarlata planned to write about the retractions.

That may be difficult, given Max Planck died in 1947...

Posted by: LegalZoom Jugalos at June 28, 2026 07:34 AM (l3cgK)

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