Argues that abandoning Scientific Linux was a strategic mistake because the distribution provided institutional independence and option value that short-term engineering savings could not capture. Scientific Linux began as a community-driven rebuild of Red Hat Enterprise Linux to give large, distributed experiments a stable, redistributable platform compatible across institutions. CERN and Fermilab shifted to CentOS after Red Hat and CentOS joined forces in 2014 to avoid duplicating rebuild work, and Fermilab ultimately retired Scientific Linux rather than produce SL8. That decision removed a ready, credible exit and the small but crucial team, processes, and infrastructure needed to reproduce an Enterprise Linux stack.
Subsequent changes vindicate the warning: Red Hat converted CentOS into CentOS Stream in 2020 and altered how RHEL sources were published in 2023, forcing the community to adopt alternative rebuilds like AlmaLinux or to leave the Red Hat ecosystem entirely. Practical pressures - RHEL 9/10 CPU baselines and the prohibitive cost (≈5.4M CHF) of replacing decades-old accelerator hardware - led CERN to plan migration of over 2,200 front-end systems to Debian 13 by end of 2026. The lesson: maintaining independent, community-backed infrastructure can be cheaper and strategically essential, and institutions should resource projects that preserve the option to operate independently.
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Chinese automakers have developed a fast-charging technology that can charge electric vehicles in five minutes. This advancement could enable China to replace all petrol stations with EV chargers within five years. (newsminimalist.com)
Hail causes billions of dollars in damages and is expected to worsen with climate change. Scientists in Colorado analyze hailstone layers to better understand their formation and improve mitigation efforts. (hcn.org)
Astronomers have captured an unprecedented image of a gas giant forming, providing new insights into planetary birth processes. This observation offers valuable data for understanding how massive planets develop in space. (phys.org)
Elephants in Kenya's Mount Elgon region are believed to self-medicate by consuming medicinal plants and mineral resources, according to local indigenous knowledge. Researchers identified 35 plant species and four soil types potentially used for health purposes by elephants, supported by detailed local observations. (nature.com)
Creatine uptake enhances the activation and immunostimulatory function of dendritic cells, supporting its potential use in cancer immunotherapy. The research shows that creatine boosts anti-tumor immunity in mice and human cells. (cell.com)
The human body is poorly designed overall, with the liver being a notable exception due to its remarkable regenerative ability. Many other parts, like kidneys and limbs, are fragile, prone to damage, and lack regenerative capacity, highlighting evolutionary trade-offs in biological design. (dynomight.substack.com)
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