Hackaday Podcast Episode 246: Bypassing Fingerprint Readers is Easy, Killing Memory Chips is Hard, Cell Phones vs Sperm

Hackaday Podcast Episode 246: Bypassing Fingerprint Readers is Easy, Killing Memory Chips is Hard, Cell Phones vs Sperm

It’s the week after Thanksgiving (for some of us) and if you’re sick of leftovers, you’re in luck as Elliot and Dan get together to discuss the freshest and best inter-holiday hacks. We’ll cue up the “Mission: Impossible” theme for a self-destructing flash drive with a surprising sense of self-preservation, listen in on ET only to find out it’s just a meteor, and look for interesting things to do with an old 3D printer. We’ll do a poking around a little in the basement at Tektronix, see how easy it is to spoof biometric security, and get into a love-hate relationship with both binary G-code and bowling balls with strings attached. What do you do with a box full of 18650s? Easy — make a huge PCB to balance them the slow way. Is your cell phone causing a population crisis? Is art real or AI? And what the heck is a cannibal CME? Tune in as we dive into all this and more.

Check out the links below if you want to follow along, and as always, tell us what you think about this episode in the comments!

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Episode 246 Show Notes:

News:

Strong auroras likely as powerful solar flare eruption hurls possible ‘cannibal CME’ toward Earth (video)

What’s that Sound?

Guess the sound for a chance to win a Podcast T-shirt!

Interesting Hacks of the Week:

Easily Bypass Laptop Fingerprint Sensors And Windows Hello
Harvard SETI Project Helps ID Mystery Sound
A 48 Volt Battery Pack With Carefully Balanced Cells

A Beginner’s Guide To Lithium Rechargeable Batteries

An Automated Watch Cleaner From An Older 3D Printer

Wristwatch Revival – Restoration of a $100,000 Rolex GMT From 1958!

G-code Goes Binary With Proposed New Format

MeatPack

Fail Of The Week: This Flash Drive Will NOT Self-Destruct In Five Seconds

Mission Impossible theme song (Original) – YouTube
USB Drive Keeps Your Secrets… As Long As Your Fingers Are Wet?

Quick Hacks:

Elliot’s Picks:

Capacitive Rainmeter Measures The Sky Water Just Fine
Tektronix’s Ceramic CRT Production And The Building 13 Catacombs
Single-piece Tank Chassis Goes Robotic
In New Doctor’s Office, Stethoscope Wears You

Dan’s Picks:

Come For The PCB Holder, Stay For The Tour Of FreeCAD
A Tube Guitar Amp For A Modest Budget
Bowling With Strings Attached: The People Are Split

Can’t-Miss Articles:

How Do You Prove An AI Didn’t Make Your Art?

Double-Dose Of AI Turns Daily Tasks Into Works Of Art

Mobile Phones And The Question Of Declining Sperm Quality