gekko

doing the math for you since 1994

Category: Space

  • The Hadamard Code: From Mars to Single-Pixel Cameras

    The Hadamard Code: From Mars to Single-Pixel Cameras

    Imagine it’s 1971, and you’re a scientist at NASA. You’ve just launched Mariner 9, the first spacecraft to orbit another planet, and it’s sending back photos of Mars. But there’s a catch: the data has to travel millions of miles through space, and any interference could corrupt the images. How do you ensure those precious…

  • Noise Everywhere: Why Silence is an Illusion

    Noise Everywhere: Why Silence is an Illusion

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    When you hear the word “noise,” your first thought might drift pleasantly to the soothing rush of waves at the seaside, or perhaps to the calming whisper of trees in the wind. But noise isn’t always so serene or welcome. In fact, our world—and indeed our universe—is positively humming with unwanted interruptions. Let’s take a…

  • The Great Space Switcheroo: A Cosmic Comedy of Perspectives

    The Great Space Switcheroo: A Cosmic Comedy of Perspectives

    Well, folks, the astronauts are back on terra firma as of March 18, 2025, and the saga of Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, and their two cosmic compadres has officially touched down—both literally and figuratively. What started as a quick eight-day jaunt aboard Boeing’s Starliner turned into an eight-month ISS sleepover, thanks to some pesky thrusters…

  • Interpreted vs. Compiled: A TRON-Inspired Thought Experiment

    Interpreted vs. Compiled: A TRON-Inspired Thought Experiment

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    The Grid’s Unwritten Code The Grid was a realm of order, precision, and control. For cycles untold, the Compiled stood at the pinnacle of digital society—rigid, efficient, immutable. The Kernel, an ancient and battle-worn C-based general, commanded the System with an iron fist, ensuring that every operation was optimized, every execution direct, and every function…