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“PDF Format Playable Copy of Doom Available for Download”

# Adobe Acrobat’s Overlooked JavaScript Capability Used to Run Doom in PDFs

In the realm of technology and gaming, there’s a rich legacy of stretching the limits of software and hardware capabilities. From executing *Doom* on calculators to refrigerators, hackers and fans have continually discovered inventive methods to introduce the legendary 1993 first-person shooter to unusual devices. The newest chapter in this illustrious saga? *Doom* operating within a PDF file.

Indeed, you read that right. Thanks to the work of developer Ading2210, you can now engage in *Doom* within the confines of a PDF document. This whimsical undertaking utilizes Adobe Acrobat’s lesser-known JavaScript functionality, a capability that has been available for decades yet is seldom employed for anything beyond mere interactivity in forms. Here’s a glimpse into how this captivating achievement was realized and its significance.

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## **The Unseen Potential of JavaScript in PDFs**

Adobe’s PDF format is widely recognized for its ability to maintain document layout across various devices and platforms. Nonetheless, many individuals are unaware that Adobe Acrobat has supported JavaScript since the early 2000s. This feature was originally created to enable dynamic components, such as form validations, calculations, and interactive buttons, within PDF files.

Although this JavaScript functionality is comprehensive, it has mostly been neglected for more imaginative uses. Recently, hackers have begun probing its potential, programming simple games like *Breakout* and *Tetris* into PDFs. Ading2210, however, has taken this experimentation to extraordinary heights by integrating *Doom* into a PDF document.

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## **The Inner Workings: A Technical Overview**

Ading2210’s endeavor exemplifies the creativity of the coding community. Here’s a detailed rundown of how *Doom* was brought to existence in a PDF:

1. **Utilizing Open Source Code**: The project kicked off with a streamlined variant of *Doom*’s open-source code, specifically the *doomgeneric* project. This rendition of *Doom* is engineered to operate on minimal systems, making it an excellent choice for unconventional devices.

2. **Recompiling with Emscripten**: By employing an older version of Emscripten, a toolchain for converting C and C++ code into JavaScript, Ading2210 transformed the *Doom* code into optimized asm.js. This enabled the game to function within the JavaScript environment available in PDFs.

3. **Simulating Video Output**: Given that PDFs are not tailored for real-time graphics, the project employs a clever workaround. The game’s video output is translated into ASCII text and displayed across 200 individual text fields, with each representing a horizontal segment of the *Doom* display. This constructs a six-color monochrome representation of the game at a playable 13 frames per second.

4. **Managing Input**: Gamers interact with the experience by typing commands into a designated text field. While this mode of input is less than ideal—rendering simultaneous actions like moving and shooting nearly unfeasible—it suffices for basic gameplay.

5. **Functionality in Chromium Browsers**: The project depends on PDFium, the PDF rendering engine utilized in Chromium-based browsers like Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge. While the PDF does not function in desktop versions of Adobe Acrobat, it operates seamlessly in these modern browsers.

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## **Constraints and Hurdles**

Even though the concept of playing *Doom* in a PDF is undoubtedly intriguing, the execution carries several constraints:

– **Input Limitations**: The dependence on text-field input renders gameplay cumbersome, as players are unable to execute multiple actions simultaneously.
– **Performance**: At 13 frames per second, the experience is playable but far from fluid. The ASCII-based visualization also restricts graphical clarity.
– **Compatibility**: The PDF fails to function in standalone versions of Adobe Acrobat, limiting its accessibility to Chromium-based browsers.

Despite these limitations, the project serves as an impressive showcase of what can be achieved with a touch of ingenuity and technical expertise.

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## **The Significance of This Development**

The *Doom*-in-a-PDF initiative is more than just an entertaining experiment—it underscores the unexplored possibilities of existing technologies. Adobe’s JavaScript functionality in PDFs, originally aimed at mundane activities such as form validation, has been creatively repurposed to accomplish something genuinely surprising. This highlights that even the most disregarded features can be utilized in innovative manners.

From a security standpoint, the project also emphasizes the need to comprehend and manage the capabilities of software. JavaScript in PDFs has long been a conduit for vulnerabilities, and initiatives like this reveal just how potent (and potentially hazardous) this feature can be.

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## **The Potential of PDF Gaming Moving Forward**

While engaging in *Doom* within a PDF may not supplant your gaming PC anytime soon, it paves the way for fresh opportunities. Could we witness more games adapted to PDFs? Perhaps even interactive educational resources or simulations?

Rocket Development Company Obtains $250 Million in Financing for Completely Reusable Launch System

### Stoke Space: Leading the Charge for Completely Reusable Rockets

In a noteworthy advancement for the aerospace sector, the Washington-based launch firm Stoke Space revealed on Wednesday that it has successfully secured $260 million in Series C financing. This milestone emerges at a time when the space investment landscape is tightening, making it increasingly difficult for companies to attract funding. Stoke Space’s success not only emphasizes investor trust in its mission but also points to the company’s capacity to transform the space industry with its fully reusable rocket, Nova.

#### The Vision: Completely Reusable Rockets

Established in 2020 by Andy Lapsa and Tom Feldman, Stoke Space is on a quest to transform the economics of space exploration. The firm is creating Nova, a medium-lift rocket engineered to be entirely reusable. Unlike the majority of rockets that recover only the first stage, Nova’s design intends to retrieve both the first and second stages back to Earth. The first stage will perform a vertical landing, akin to SpaceX’s Falcon 9, while the second stage will incorporate an innovative metallic heat shield and advanced engine technology for secure reentry and landing.

This bold strategy positions Stoke Space as a direct competitor to SpaceX’s Starship, which is presently the sole other fully reusable rocket under development. However, Stoke’s emphasis on medium-lift capabilities and on-demand launch services differentiates it in serving a distinct market segment.

#### Investor Assurance Amidst a Challenging Market

The $260 million Series C funding round boosts Stoke Space’s total financing to $480 million. This recent round includes investments from both new and returning backers, such as Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Glade Brook Capital Partners, and Y Combinator. While the firm has not shared its valuation, the substantial investment reflects strong confidence in its technical advancements and market possibilities.

“The market is tough, but I believe that what we’re doing is set to lead to the end state of the industry, and I think investors recognize that,” commented Andy Lapsa, co-founder and CEO of Stoke Space. By “end state,” Lapsa refers to the ultimate goal of achieving ultra-low-cost, on-demand launch services—a capability that Stoke believes is crucial for long-term prosperity in the space field.

#### Technical Progress: A Step Closer to Launch

Stoke Space is consistently advancing on the technical side. Recently, the firm successfully tested the Nova rocket’s main engine, Zenith, in an upright position. According to Lapsa, the Zenith engine will undergo one final design adjustment before achieving its ultimate flight configuration. Likewise, the second stage engine has been enhanced to ready it for flight.

Once the engines are finalized, Stoke plans to construct a flight vehicle and carry out final assessments. While aiming for a 2025 orbital launch is ambitious, a debut in 2026 seems more feasible based on historical timelines for rocket development.

#### Infrastructure and Permitting

In tandem with its technical developments, Stoke Space is striving to finish construction at Launch Complex 14 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The company is also completing environmental permitting for launches from this location. Lapsa expressed optimism about the ongoing progress, stating, “We’re putting in a lot of effort to have the pad completed, and it will be operational well before the year’s end. And the vehicle will be right there alongside it.”

#### A Transforming Landscape for Launch Companies

The space industry has seen considerable consolidation since Stoke Space’s inception. In 2020, numerous U.S.-based companies were developing small- and medium-lift rockets. Currently, only around half a dozen credible contenders remain in the medium-lift space. This reduction in competitors underscores the significant technical and financial hurdles of operating a launch company.

“It’s a wholly different discussion with investors compared to five years ago,” Lapsa remarked. The transition reflects a more selective investment environment, where only the most promising and groundbreaking companies can secure capital.

#### The Path Forward

Stoke Space’s journey mirrors the larger change occurring in the space industry. As the demand for launch services escalates, there is a growing focus on cost efficiency, reusability, and quick turnaround times. Stoke’s fully reusable Nova rocket symbolizes a significant stride toward fulfilling these requirements and attaining the “end state” of the industry.

With substantial funding, solid technical progress, and a clear strategic vision, Stoke Space is strategically positioned to emerge as a key player in the next era of space exploration. While challenges lie ahead, the company’s innovative strategy and investor support indicate a promising future for this ambitious startup.

“Are We the Only Ones in the Universe? Perspectives on What Researchers Think”

### Do Aliens Exist? A Scientific Consensus Emerges

The inquiry into the existence of extraterrestrial life has intrigued humans for ages. From ancient legends to contemporary science fiction, the idea of life beyond our planet has sparked our curiosity. But what is the viewpoint of scientists—those who are engaged in exploring the universe and its life-forming conditions—regarding the chances of alien life? Is there a widespread agreement, or are we still entrenched in uncertainty?

A recent investigation disseminated in *Nature Astronomy* illuminates this topic, providing a glimpse into the scientific community’s beliefs concerning extraterrestrial life. The results indicate a significant consensus among scientists, especially astrobiologists, that life beyond Earth is probable, although the level of confidence fluctuates based on the complexity of the life being considered.

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### Surveying the Scientific Community

During the timeframe of February to June 2024, research teams executed four surveys aimed at astrobiologists (experts in the field of extraterrestrial life) and other scientists, such as biologists and physicists. The purpose was to assess their views on the possibility of basic, complex, and intelligent extraterrestrial life existing within the cosmos.

The outcomes were noteworthy:

– **Basic Life:** Of the 521 astrobiologists surveyed, 86.6% concurred or strongly concurred that basic extraterrestrial life likely exists. Only 2% disagreed, while 12% opted for a neutral position. Non-astrobiologists displayed a comparable level of consensus at 88.4%.

– **Complex Life:** When inquired about more sophisticated, complex life forms, 67.4% of astrobiologists were confident that such life likely exists, reflecting a similar trend among other scientists.

– **Intelligent Life:** Confidence diminished slightly regarding intelligent extraterrestrial life, with 58.2% of astrobiologists affirming its likelihood. Nevertheless, skepticism remained minimal, with only 10.2% of astrobiologists expressing doubt.

These findings indicate a robust consensus within the scientific community that some form of life is likely to be present elsewhere in the universe. Notably, this belief extends beyond astrobiologists; scientists from various disciplines align with this view, signaling that the optimism is not simply a result of professional bias.

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### The Basis for Optimism

Although there is no tangible evidence of extraterrestrial life, scientists cite several strands of “indirect” or “theoretical” reasoning that render the existence of alien life plausible:

1. **Abundance of Habitable Environments:** Recent discoveries suggest that potentially habitable environments are prevalent in the universe. In our own solar system, moons such as Europa and Enceladus contain subsurface oceans that might support life. Mars, too, was once a planet abundant with lakes, rivers, and a significant atmosphere, positioning it as a candidate for past habitability.

2. **The Vastness of the Universe:** With more than 100 billion galaxies in the observable universe, each filled with billions of stars and planets, the number of potentially habitable worlds is breathtaking. Even if the chance of life emerging on a specific planet is extremely low, the expansive number of opportunities renders the existence of extraterrestrial life statistically probable.

3. **Abiogenesis on Earth:** Life on Earth originated through a process known as abiogenesis, wherein simple organic molecules evolved into complex forms capable of self-replication. While the precise mechanisms remain poorly understood, the occurrence of this process here implies it could also take place elsewhere under similar conditions.

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### A Surprisingly Weak Consensus?

Given the extensive availability of habitable environments and the non-negligible probability of abiogenesis, one might presume near-universal agreement among scientists regarding the likelihood of extraterrestrial life. However, the survey unveiled that approximately 12% of scientists maintained a neutral stance, and a small percentage articulated skepticism.

This prompts an intriguing question: Is the 86.6% agreement genuinely a surprisingly fragile consensus? Even the most pessimistic projections—assuming life develops on merely one in a billion billion habitable worlds—would still lead to the conclusion that extraterrestrial life is likely, given the enormous number of habitable environments across the universe.

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### The Role of Speculation and Evidence

Skeptics might contend that scientists are merely engaging in speculation due to the absence of direct evidence for extraterrestrial life. However, the survey permitted respondents to select a “neutral” option if they felt uncertain about forming a judgment based on speculation. Only 12% selected this option, indicating that the majority of scientists believe their optimism is anchored in solid theoretical and indirect evidence.

Furthermore, the hesitance to speculate is a hallmark of scientific rigor. As the geophysicist Edward Bullard pointed out in 1975, scientists often prefer to “sit on the fence” and await further data instead of making bold assertions. This cautious method ensures that scientific consensus is grounded in a strong base of evidence.

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### Balancing Optimism and Skepticism

The survey results underline the necessity for a balanced outlook. On one hand, the lack of direct empirical evidence for

Meta Progresses in Creating a Universal Translator Inspired by Star Trek

# The Computer Science Behind Translating Speech in Over 100 Languages

In a world that is becoming progressively interconnected, the capability to communicate effortlessly across linguistic divides is increasingly vital. The aspiration for a “universal translator”—a device that can translate speech in real-time among various languages—has long been a mainstay of science fiction, as seen in *Star Trek* and *The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy*. Today, developments in artificial intelligence (AI) are moving this dream toward fruition. One of the most ambitious initiatives in this domain is Meta’s Seamless, a cutting-edge translation system with the potential to transform how we comprehend and engage with each other.

This article explores the computer science involved in translating speech from 100 source languages, the obstacles encountered in constructing such a system, and the creative solutions enabling its realization.

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## The Vision: Instant, Expressive Translation

In 2023, researchers at Meta spoke with native Spanish and Mandarin speakers residing in the United States who relied heavily on translation tools in everyday situations. These individuals expressed a wish for an AI-driven translator that could not only offer real-time speech translation but also maintain the speaker’s voice, tone, and emotional nuances. This input motivated Meta to gather a team of over 50 specialists to create Seamless, an innovative translation framework that can interpret speech across 36 languages and process text in even more.

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## The Challenges: Lack of Data and Complexity

### 1. **The Issue of Language Data**
Currently, AI translation systems are mainly text-centric, owing to the wealth of digitized text available on the internet. Organizations such as the United Nations and the European Parliament have developed extensive databases of aligned texts—documents translated into multiple languages by professional translators. These repositories have played a crucial role in training AI models for text-to-text translation.

Nevertheless, two major challenges emerge when transitioning from text to speech translation:

– **Formality Bias**: Text-based training often includes formal documents, which can result in translations that sound overly formal or robotic, even when translating informal or humorous speech.
– **Lack of Aligned Audio Data**: While aligned text corpora are plentiful, aligned audio data—spoken sentences accompanied by their translations—are significantly harder to acquire, particularly for low-resource languages like Zulu or Icelandic.

### 2. **Cascading Errors in Speech Translation**
Conventional speech translation systems frequently utilize a cascading method: speech is initially converted to text (speech-to-text), then translated into the desired language (text-to-text), and finally synthesized back into speech (text-to-speech). Each transition adds errors, compromising overall effectiveness and rendering real-time translation nearly unfeasible.

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## The Breakthrough: A Universal Language in Vector Space

To tackle these difficulties, the Seamless team adopted an innovative idea first suggested by mathematician Warren Weaver in 1949: the notion of a “universal language” that underpins all human interaction. In the realm of AI, this universal language is not linguistic but mathematical—multidimensional vectors.

### **How Vectorization Functions**
Machines do not “grasp” words in the same way humans do. Instead, they depict words as numerical vectors, referred to as word embeddings. These embeddings represent points in a high-dimensional space, where words with akin meanings (e.g., “tea” and “coffee”) are positioned closely together. When aligned text in two languages undergoes vectorization, the resulting vector spaces can be correspondingly mapped, facilitating translation.

### **SONAR: A Multimodal Embedding Space**
The Seamless team advanced this idea by developing SONAR (Sentence-level Multimodal and Language-Agnostic Representations), a consolidated embedding space for both text and speech. Here’s the mechanism:

1. **Unified Vectorization**: Text and speech data from various languages are vectorized as if they belong to a singular language, clustering into a common embedding space.
2. **Automatic Alignment**: Sentences with analogous meanings—whether in text or speech—naturally group within the vector space. This circumvents the necessity for manually aligned data, allowing for the integration of low-resource languages.
3. **Metadata Encoding**: Each embedding incorporates metadata that identifies its source language and modality (text or speech).

This methodology enabled the team to produce extensive amounts of automatically aligned data, encompassing millions of text pairs and thousands of hours of transcribed audio, even for languages with minimal resources.

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## The Result: SEAMLESSM4T

The data generated via SONAR was utilized to train SEAMLESSM4T, the most sophisticated model within the Seamless framework. Here’s what it is capable of:

– **Speech-to-Speech Translation**: Convert speech from 101 source languages into 36 target languages.
– **Text-to-Text Translation**: Translate written text among over 100 languages.
– **Speech-to-Text Translation**: Transform spoken language into written text in 96 languages.
– **Text

AI-Driven Protein Engineering Focuses on Snake Venom Toxins for Possible Therapies

### AI-Enhanced Protein Engineering: A Major Advancement in Snake Venom Neutralization

Artificial intelligence (AI) has dramatically transformed various sectors in recent years, spanning from self-driving cars to tailored healthcare solutions. One particularly thrilling advancement is its use within the field of biology, especially concerning protein engineering. A recent article in *Nature* illustrates how AI methodologies are addressing a long-standing medical issue: counteracting snake venom. This pioneering study not only highlights AI’s capabilities in overcoming intricate biological challenges but also provides optimism for improved and more widely available antivenom options.

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### The Hurdle of Snake Venom

Snake venom comprises a complex array of proteins and toxins engineered to immobilize and terminate prey. For humans, a snake bite may result in extensive tissue damage, organ failure, or even mortality. Current antivenom treatments depend on antibodies generated by administering small venom doses to animals. Although effective, this approach suffers from notable drawbacks:

1. **Limited Shelf Life**: Antivenoms frequently necessitate refrigeration, posing logistical issues in rural or remote locations where snake bites are more prevalent.
2. **Ethical Considerations**: The manufacturing procedure requires repeated animal injections, leading to ethical and sustainability dilemmas.
3. **Narrow Specificity**: Antivenoms are generally tailored for particular snake species, rendering them less effective against bites from other snakes.

The study aims to tackle these issues by creating stable, small proteins capable of neutralizing venom toxins without relying on refrigeration or animal-derived production.

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### AI to the Rescue: Crafting Antitoxins

The research group, spearheaded by Nobel Prize winner David Baker from the University of Washington, harnessed cutting-edge AI technologies to engineer proteins that can neutralize certain venom toxins. The investigation focused on a class of venom proteins referred to as “three-finger toxins,” a common feature in the venom of snakes such as cobras, mambas, and taipans. These toxins inflict two primary forms of harm:

1. **Neurotoxicity**: By obstructing acetylcholine receptors, these toxins hinder nerve signaling and can result in paralysis.
2. **Cellular Toxicity**: Some toxins inflict direct damage to cell membranes, leading to tissue harm.

#### Step 1: Combatting Neurotoxins

To counteract the neurotoxic effects, the researchers employed an AI application called RFdiffusion. This software specializes in the creation of protein structures capable of binding to specific targets. Here, it pinpointed protein strands that could align with the composition of the three-finger toxins. Another AI application, ProteinMPNN, was then utilized to establish the amino acid sequences for these proteins.

The engineered proteins underwent additional refinement via DeepMind’s AlphaFold2 and the Rosetta protein structure platform, which predicted the interactions between the proteins and the toxins. After evaluating 44 candidates, the team discovered one protein with a superior binding affinity. This protein was further enhanced using RFdiffusion, yielding a highly effective inhibitor.

Upon testing in mice, the inhibitor offered complete protection against the neurotoxin, even when given 30 minutes post-exposure. This marks a crucial advancement, as it reflects real-world conditions where treatment is frequently delayed.

#### Step 2: Confronting Cellular Toxicity

The researchers also endeavored to mitigate the cellular toxicity associated with a distinct category of three-finger toxins, such as those present in spitting cobra venom. Employing a corresponding AI-based strategy, they constructed proteins capable of binding to these toxins. Nevertheless, the inhibitors did not mitigate skin lesions in mice, indicating that the mechanism of cellular toxicity remains inadequately understood. This setback underscores the intricacy of venom and the necessity for additional investigation.

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### Implications and Future Prospects

While the study serves as a proof of concept, its implications are extensive:

1. **Scalability and Availability**: AI-engineered proteins can be produced in bacterial systems, making them simpler and more cost-effective to manufacture compared to conventional antivenoms. This may pave the way for treatments that are more accessible in resource-limited environments.
2. **Durability**: The produced proteins are more stable than antibodies and do not necessitate refrigeration, addressing a fundamental limitation of current antivenoms.
3. **Targeted Therapy**: The specificity of these proteins allows for customization to neutralize toxins from specific snake species. However, creating a universal antivenom remains a formidable challenge.

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### The Impact of AI on Biological Research

This research emphasizes the transformative capacity of AI in biological sciences. Traditional protein design methodologies often require years of trial and error, whereas AI can streamline this process to weeks or months. By simulating protein interactions computationally, researchers can swiftly discover promising candidates for experimental testing.

The study also illustrates the cyclical nature of AI-driven research. Initial designs were fine-tuned through several iterations of AI predictions and laboratory evaluations, demonstrating how computational and experimental strategies can enhance one another.

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### Conclusion

The deployment of AI to craft proteins that neutralize snake venom represents a significant milestone, showcasing