A Classified Network of SpaceX Satellites Is Emitting a Mysterious Signal
A network of classified Starshield satellites built by SpaceX for the U.S. government is transmitting signals on radio frequencies reserved for Earth-to-space commands. According to NPR, it may violate international standards. From the report: Satellites associated with the Starshield satellite network appear to be transmitting to the Earth's surface on frequencies normally used for doing the exact opposite: sending commands from Earth to satellites in space. The use of those frequencies to "downlink" data runs counter to standards set by the International Telecommunication Union, a United Nations agency that seeks to coordinate the use of radio spectrum globally.
Starshield's unusual transmissions have the potential to interfere with other scientific and commercial satellites, warns Scott Tilley, an amateur satellite tracker in Canada who first spotted the signals. "Nearby satellites could receive radio-frequency interference and could perhaps not respond properly to commands -- or ignore commands -- from Earth," he told NPR.
Outside experts agree there's the potential for radio interference. "I think it is definitely happening," said Kevin Gifford, a computer science professor at the University of Colorado, Boulder who specializes in radio interference from spacecraft. But he said the issue of whether the interference is truly disruptive remains unresolved. [...] Tilley says he's detected signals from 170 of the Starshield satellites so far. All appear in the 2025-2110 MHz range, though the precise frequencies of the signals move around.
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Prince Harry's AWKWARD hand holding allowed him to 'steer' Meghan Markle at Westminster Hall, body language expert claims
The world watched on with baited breath as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex walked ceremoniously behind Harry's estranged brother, Prince William , and sister-in-law, Kate, as they paid their respects.
Habitat just launched a new collection with royal-favourite Morris & Co - here are the top buys to bring timeless British design into your home this autumn
Habitat has just launched its latest collaboration with Morris & Co - and it's a dream come true for anyone who loves timeless British design with a modern twist.
Millionaire in pristine white Bentley filmed being robbed of his $600,000 watch
The attack, captured on surveillance cameras, shows three masked men blocking the victim's car, before dragging him to the ground, and beating him.
Moment heroic passerby smashes sunroof to rescue trapped driver after car plunges into river
A black Audi plunged into a river in Taizhou, Jiangsu Province, China, on October 14 after swerving to avoid an elderly woman on an electric bike, trapping the driver inside as it sank.
Savers leave £270BILLION in low-interest accounts: Why it's vital to switch if you get less than 4%
Low-interest accounts hold over a fifth of the country's total savings, meaning millions of people have money which could be working harder for them.
Exact point where Essex ends and London begins is a field in the middle of nowhere
The exact point where Essex ends and London begins is a field in the middle of nowhere - and it's not as easy to get to as you might think
Peaceful circular walk with gorgeous views past one of the best preserved water mills in Essex
It's a great place to stretch your legs this weekend
Holocaust victim Anne Frank reimagined as a pansexual Latina with non-binary lover and neurodiverse family in controversial NYC musical
The production, titled Slam Frank, is a satirical play that exaggerates current cultural trends around inclusivity and identity politics, applying them to one of history's most tragic stories.
Sally was dog-sitting when she shared a fun Snapchat video. Minutes later she received a frantic phone call: 'Get out NOW'
Sally was house-sitting for a friend when she posted an unassuming video on social media of herself playing with the dogs. But only minutes later, she fled the home after spotting someone in the hallway.
Mum with 'horrific' brain issues 'trapped in unsuitable' flat
Basildon woman is at times left unable to move or even use the toilet
'Vile' AI images complicate search for 4-year-old boy who vanished in the Australian outback
Smith said: 'I can only imagine how that makes the family feel. It's not about me but God, it gave me a heart attack when I first saw it.'
The gorgeous Essex border underground station dubbed the most beautiful tube station
Its charming art-deco design attracts many people
Is this coastal town with 'unique charm' the happiest place to live in Essex?
We asked Echo and Gazette readers to share what they think is the happiest place to live in Essex.
Is this coastal town with 'unique charm' the happiest place to live in Essex?
We asked Echo and Gazette readers to share what they think is the happiest place to live in Essex.
The gorgeous Essex island 'everybody wants to move to' named among the best place to live
There is an added element of adventure to living here too
Denise Richards' ex Aaron Phypers ARRESTED outside court over 'spousal abuse' claims after tense restraining order hearing
Denise Richards' ex Aaron Phypers has been arrested outside of court over charges of 'spousal abuse' on Friday amid their ongoing divorce battle.
AI-Generated Lesson Plans Fall Short On Inspiring Students, Promoting Critical Thinking
An anonymous reader quotes a report from The Conversation: When teachers rely on commonly used artificial intelligence chatbots to devise lesson plans, it does not result in more engaging, immersive or effective learning experiences compared with existing techniques, we found in our recent study. The AI-generated civics lesson plans we analyzed also left out opportunities for students to explore the stories and experiences of traditionally marginalized people. The allure of generative AI as a teaching aid has caught the attention of educators. A Gallup survey from September 2025 found that 60% of K-12 teachers are already using AI in their work, with the most common reported use being teaching preparation and lesson planning. [...]
For our research, we began collecting and analyzing AI-generated lesson plans to get a sense of what kinds of instructional plans and materials these tools provide to teachers. We decided to focus on AI-generated lesson plans for civics education because it is essential for students to learn productive ways to participate in the U.S. political system and engage with their communities. To collect data for this study, in August 2024 we prompted three GenAI chatbots -- the GPT-4o model of ChatGPT, Google's Gemini 1.5 Flash model and Microsoft's latest Copilot model -- to generate two sets of lesson plans for eighth grade civics classes based on Massachusetts state standards. One was a standard lesson plan and the other a highly interactive lesson plan.
We garnered a dataset of 311 AI-generated lesson plans, featuring a total of 2,230 activities for civic education. We analyzed the dataset using two frameworks designed to assess educational material: Bloom's taxonomy and Banks' four levels of integration of multicultural content. Bloom's taxonomy is a widely used educational framework that distinguishes between "lower-order" thinking skills, including remembering, understanding and applying, and "higher-order" thinking skills -- analyzing, evaluating and creating. Using this framework to analyze the data, we found 90% of the activities promoted only a basic level of thinking for students. Students were encouraged to learn civics through memorizing, reciting, summarizing and applying information, rather than through analyzing and evaluating information, investigating civic issues or engaging in civic action projects.
When examining the lesson plans using Banks' four levels of integration of multicultural content model (PDF), which was developed in the 1990s, we found that the AI-generated civics lessons featured a rather narrow view of history -- often leaving out the experiences of women, Black Americans, Latinos and Latinas, Asian and Pacific Islanders, disabled individuals and other groups that have long been overlooked. Only 6% of the lessons included multicultural content. These lessons also tended to focus on heroes and holidays rather than deeper explorations of understanding civics through multiple perspectives. Overall, we found the AI-generated lesson plans to be decidedly boring, traditional and uninspiring. If civics teachers used these AI-generated lesson plans as is, students would miss out on active, engaged learning opportunities to build their understanding of democracy and what it means to be a citizen.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Is William behind Andrew's stunning demotion? Royal historian Andrew Lownie claims decision to remove the former Duke's titles is coming from King Charles' heir
After another week of scandal, Andrew was finally forced to relinquish all of his remaining royal titles tonight.
Reclusive Friends icon Matt LeBlanc seen on rare public outing days before Matthew Perry's death anniversary
The reclusive actor, 58, who in recent years has pivoted from Hollywood in favor of running a car dealership, cut a low-key figure as he strolled with his daughter Marina, 21.