« Tuesday Overnight Open Thread - January 13, 2026 [Doof] | Main

Daily Tech News 14 January 2026

• Every part of human bodies from the brain to, um, other bits, is increasingly overrun with microscopic particles of plastic, unless somehow every study generated by the entire field is measuring contaminants or misinterpreting normal biological processes. (The Guardian)
  
  But that couldn't possibly be true, could it?

  "I'm convinced we detected microplastics," she said. "But I've always said that [the amount estimated] could be maybe twice lower, or 10 times higher." In response to Kuhlman's letter, Prof Lamoree and colleagues said he had "incorrectly interpreted" the data.

  Well, that doesn't sound convinced. And Lamoree was the lead author on a 2022 paper that first detected microplastics in human blood.

  Prof Lamoree said: "I really think we should collaborate on a much nicer basis - with much more open communication - and don't try to burn down other people's results. We should all move forward instead of fighting each other."

  Don't ask questions. Questions are mean!

  "We do have plastics in us - I think that is safe to assume," said Materić.

  Assume?

  "But real hard proof on how much is yet to come."

  And may never arrive.
  
  
  

Tech News

• There is no audience for Apple's Vision Pro because there is no content for Apple's Vision Pro because there is no audience for Apple's Vision Pro and this is all somehow your fault according to Apple. (Stratechery)
  
  With the Apple II, and the Mac, and the iPhone, you had to fend off customers with pitchforks.
  
  With the Vision Pro that's a little less true.
  
  
  
• First they came for your DRAM. Next they came for your air conditioning. And lights. (MSN)
  
  Power demand in the US is expected to rise 25% by 2030, largely due to AI datacenter buildouts, according PJM (Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Maryland Interconnection), the largest power grid operator in the US.
  
  Is there 25% more power to go around? Uh, no.

  When Asthana took over as CEO of PJM in 2020, power plants within its service area were shutting down more quickly than they could be replaced. Six years later, that trend has continued even though power demand has risen.

  In fact, worse than no.
  
  
  
• President Trump has said that regulatory changes are on the way to prevent AI datacenters from pushing the costs for expanding the power grid onto retail customers. (Tom's Hardware)
  
  No word yet on the other problem.
  
  
  
• Where would we be without analysts? (The Register)

  "We had assumed this would be primarily a 2026 story. More and more, particularly at CES, we had conversations with folks and they're saying 'You won't find price stability in memory up until maybe late 2027.' It means that prices will stop rising. Not that they're going to drop. That's what we're hearing," he told us on Tuesday. "This could be much longer than we had previously anticipated. Not just we at IDC, but we as a collective market."

  There are still some options for buying memory that aren't insanely inflated, but they're getting fewer by the day. Most people don't eat memory like I do, fortunately, or need multiple computers in every room of the house... Like I do.
  
  
  
• The Framework Desktop has finally increased in price, for example. (Tom's Hardware)
  
  Though the 32GB model has only increased from $1099 to $1139 - which still makes it competitive with leaked pricing for the Steam Cube.
  
  The 128GB model has jumped from $1999 to $2459, a much steeper climb but less than the price increase on 128GB of RAM bought at retail.
  
  
  

Musical Interlude



Well, if memory and energy prices are going to increase tenfold, at least here's some slop to show for it.

Notable cameos, in order: JD Vance, Tony from LC Signs, Smug Alana, Kirsche Verstahl, Will Smith, Leaflit, Filian, Asmongold, Nuxanor, Joe Rogan with some assistance from Rogaine, Jeffrey You Know Who, Hasan Piker's long-suffering dog Kaya, Elon Musk (climbing the pyramid), Shoeonhead maybe, Hero Hei, Revsaysdesu, Chibidoki, Charlie a.k.a Moistcritical, Tim Pool, Itsagundam, Neuro-sama, Rick Astley, Bob Ross, Leaflit again in slime form, and God Emperor Trump.

And the guy who put this together knows exactly what he's doing, unlike the team behind that execrable Coca Cola Christmas ad. Check the name of the song.



Disclaimer: Yes, it's slop, but it doesn't pretend to be anything more.