light source Archives

Winsage

March 27, 2026

Announcing Babylon.js 9.0

Babylon.js 9.0 has been released, marking the most extensive update to date, featuring new tools and enhancements for web developers. Key features include: - Clustered Lighting: Accelerates per-pixel lighting calculations by grouping lights into screen-space tiles and depth slices, improving performance in scenes with many lights. - Textured Area Lights: Area lights now support emission textures, allowing images to be used as light sources for realistic lighting effects. - Node Particle Editor: A visual tool for creating complex particle systems using a non-destructive node graph interface. - Particle Flow Maps and Attractors: Introduces flow maps for controlling particle movement and gravity attractors for dynamic effects. - Volumetric Lighting: A system for realistic light scattering through fog and haze, with configurable parameters for artistic control. - Frame Graph: A Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) system for managing the rendering pipeline, optimizing GPU memory usage by over 40%. - Animation Retargeting: Allows animations from one character to be applied to another with different skeleton structures, enabling animation sharing across diverse characters. - Advanced Gaussian Splat Support: Enhancements for Gaussian Splatting, including support for multiple file formats, shadow casting, and the ability to create and modify splat data programmatically. These features enhance the capabilities of Babylon.js for creating immersive web experiences.

AppWizard

March 24, 2026

Minecraft Tiny Takeover Update Bedrock 26.10 Released via Update 3.34/1.044

The Minecraft update named Tiny Takeover (version 3.34/1.044) was released on March 24, introducing new features including unique sound sets for baby mobs, the Golden Dandelion flower that prevents baby mobs from aging, and craftable Name Tags. The update also includes various bug fixes and gameplay adjustments, such as improvements to accessibility features, character creator functionality, and graphical enhancements. Specific changes include the ability to craft Cobbled variants of Stone and Deepslate, adjustments to mob behaviors, and fixes for issues related to inventory and multiplayer experiences.

AppWizard

February 17, 2026

The Simplest Android App for Scanning Documents

FairScan is a free and open-source scanning application designed for Android users, allowing them to photograph, crop, and compile multipage documents into a single PDF file. The app prioritizes user privacy and simplicity, avoiding intrusive ads and questionable privacy practices common in other scanning apps. Users can download FairScan from the Google Play Store or F-Droid, and the scanning process involves capturing images of documents in a well-lit area, with the option to add additional pages. Scanned documents can be exported as a single PDF or multiple JPEG files. While FairScan lacks features like post-capture editing and optical character recognition, it effectively serves its primary purpose without unnecessary distractions.

AppWizard

November 21, 2025

Skelly: Poseable Anatomy Model For Android

The Skelly app, developed by Proko LLC, is a poseable, anatomically correct skeleton reference tool for artists, available for USD 6.99. It has over 10,000 downloads and a rating of 4.1 stars. Key features include a simplified version called "Robo-Skelly," proportions based on Dr. Paul Richer's teachings, compatibility with the "Loomis Head" technique, complete poseability, a Pose Library, movable camera, adjustable light source, options for light or dark backgrounds, and a reset feature. The app aims to assist artists in studying human anatomy and enhancing their creative process without the need for live models.

AppWizard

September 15, 2025

Minecraft player tries to follow the game’s weirdest recipes IRL, with mixed results

A Minecraft enthusiast successfully recreated the process of making paper from real sugarcane, which involved boiling the sugarcane, breaking down its fibers, and using a log and tree stump as a pestle and mortar to form pulp. They then created a mold and deckle, incorporating cornflour into the mixture, resulting in a fragile, brown sheet of paper. This experience has inspired thoughts of replicating other Minecraft recipes in real life.

AppWizard

August 10, 2025

How to craft Copper Lantern in Minecraft | Esports News

The Copper Lantern will be introduced in Minecraft's Fall Drop update of 2025. It serves as a decorative light source with a copper frame and a green-tinted glow. To craft the Copper Lantern, players need 8 Copper Nuggets and 1 Torch. The Copper Nuggets are made by converting a Copper Ingot, which is obtained by smelting Raw Copper. The crafting arrangement requires the Torch in the center and the Copper Nuggets surrounding it. The Copper Lantern emits a light level of 15, can be used for decoration, prevents hostile mob spawning, and develops a weathered texture over time. It can be placed on blocks or hung from structures.

Tech Optimizer

August 9, 2025

No firewalls or antivirus software—this new quantum technology using magnets promises to protect your information at the subatomic level

A team from Kyoto University has developed a light source that emits single photons, enhanced in brightness by a small magnetic field, which can be used for secure quantum communications. This technology relies on the principles of quantum mechanics, making it difficult for eavesdroppers to replicate or measure the quantum states without detection. The researchers used a one-atom-thick semiconductor sheet, WSe₂, creating traps for excitons that emit photons when relaxed. Current limitations include the need for cryogenic temperatures for operation, but advancements in materials may allow for room-temperature single-photon emission. The technology has potential applications in secure communications for sensitive transactions and could evolve into compact modules for practical use. Recent studies have demonstrated successful quantum key distribution (QKD) using true single-photon sources, indicating progress in integrating quantum technology into real-world networking.