PayPal has launched the Transaction Graph Insights & Measurement program, offering merchants a comprehensive view of actual purchase behavior across multiple platforms, enabling more accurate measurement of campaign effectiveness and consumer trends, and helping brands identify high-intent shoppers and drive better business outcomes.
Brandt Ranj shares his love for the OXO 11 lb Stainless Steel Food Scale, highlighting its adjustable pull-out display, durability, and usefulness for precise baking measurements, especially for recipes requiring exact ingredient ratios. He appreciates its long-term reliability and ease of use, though suggests improvements like a rechargeable, replaceable battery for even better functionality.
The coastline paradox highlights the difficulty in measuring coastlines due to their complex, fractal-like nature, where the length varies depending on the measurement scale used. This paradox arises because coastlines are not straight lines but intricate shapes with many features, leading to different measurements by different organizations. The issue has significant implications for international laws and resource rights, as coastal baselines are used to determine maritime boundaries. The paradox underscores the challenge of defining coastlines accurately, as they are constantly changing due to natural factors like erosion and sea level rise.
A study suggests that measuring obesity using the traditional Body Mass Index (BMI) may not be as accurate as using the waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), especially for children. The research, part of the Children of the 90s study, found that WHtR is a more effective measure of body fat. This new method could provide a more accurate assessment of obesity, as demonstrated by BBC West health correspondent Matthew Hill.
The distance to stars has been a long-standing mystery, with early attempts by scientists like Robert Hooke, Christiaan Huygens, and Isaac Newton yielding varying results. Hooke attempted to measure stellar parallax, but his method was flawed. Huygens used a method involving the Sun's brightness, while Newton used a planet as an intermediary. However, it wasn't until the 1830s that astronomers successfully measured stellar parallax, leading to the modern understanding of stellar distances.
South-Central Pennsylvania experienced snowfall with reported amounts ranging from 2 to 4 inches in various counties. The National Weather Service provided instructions on how to measure snowfall accurately, emphasizing the use of a snow board and yardstick to record measurements at locations unaffected by drifting.
Blood pressure readings can vary widely depending on who is taking the measurements, where and when they are being taken, and what type of medical device is being used. Inaccurate readings can have life-threatening consequences for patients managing high blood pressure, a major risk factor for heart disease. Experts recommend following specific guidelines to ensure accurate measurements, such as avoiding smoking, caffeine, and exercise prior to measurement, using a calibrated cuff on a bare arm, and sitting in an upright position with back support. Consistency in monitoring blood pressure changes is also important, and multiple measurements should be taken to calculate an average.
A low-cost CH32V003 MCU, lacking temperature measurement functionality, can be improvised to include a temperature sensor by measuring the drift between two internal clocks and using it to calibrate a temperature graph. By utilizing the automatic wake-up unit (AWU) and accessing the LSI clock source indirectly, a temperature plot was obtained, although the absolute accuracy of this method may vary per MCU. This crude temperature measurement solution could be sufficient for basic applications.
Hurricane Otis, a Category 5 hurricane, made landfall in Acapulco, Mexico, with sustained winds of 165 mph. A wind gust of 205 mph was recorded at the port authority, potentially making it one of the top 15 strongest wind gusts ever recorded globally. The measurement was taken by a sonic anemometer on a tower, although the tower was lower than the standard height for wind measurement. Extreme wind gust measurements are challenging due to equipment destruction and the presence of intense precipitation and debris.
Quantum physicists from Hiroshima University have challenged traditional views of fixed physical properties by revealing that the results of quantum measurements are fundamentally tied to the interaction dynamics between the measuring device and the system. Their findings suggest that reality is shaped by the context of these interactions, providing evidence against the belief that our world can be reduced to a mere configuration of material building blocks. The study highlights the importance of understanding the dynamics of measurement interactions in interpreting quantum experimental data and calls for a revision of our understanding of the meaning of experimental data in quantum mechanics.
Pinkbike conducted a poll to determine whether people prefer using the metric or imperial system for measuring bikes. While the metric system is considered more logical and consistent, the use of imperial units is still prevalent, particularly in the US and the UK. The bike industry is gradually shifting towards metric measurements, but a mix of both systems is still commonly used. Pinkbike seeks to include both units in their reviews, but the poll aims to gauge user preferences.
When faced with a burnt resistor without a schematic or readable markings, a technique suggested by Learn Electronics Repair involves cutting away the burned resistor and measuring the remaining pieces to get an approximate value. While it may not work for all types of resistors or surface mount components, it can be a helpful method for troubleshooting in the absence of other information.
Mont Blanc, the tallest mountain in the Alps, has shrunk by 2.2 meters since 2021, reaching its lowest height in recent memory. The new official height is 4,805.59 meters. Climate and glaciology experts caution against linking the shrinkage to global warming, as variations in wind and precipitation play a significant role. The decline could be due to lower summer precipitation, and researchers hope to gather data on the impact of climate change on the Alps. The region has already experienced a loss of glaciers and permafrost due to global warming.
France's tallest mountain, Mont Blanc, has decreased in height by over two meters in the past two years, measuring at 4,805.59 meters (15,766.4 feet). The decline may be attributed to lower summer precipitation. The mountain's peak measures 4,792 meters above sea level, but its ice and snow covering varies annually due to weather conditions. Researchers have been measuring Mont Blanc every two years since 2001 to study the impact of climate change on the Alps. The recent measurements were conducted by a team equipped with high-tech tools and a drone.
Physicists have successfully observed and measured an "unobservable" quantum phase transition, thanks to advancements in quantum computing. Using clever techniques and the brute-force power of quantum computers, researchers were able to detect and study the entanglement structure of chains of qubits, providing evidence for the existence of entanglement filling the chain. This breakthrough has sparked interest in the role of measurements in generating new phenomena and has opened up new possibilities for manipulating and supercharging entangled states of quantum matter.